Did you know what we saw in the sky yesterday?
No, not a bird, and not superman. Yes, it was a plane but it was a special plane!
We were on the way home from my daughter's play yesterday. She said "What is that supposed to be?" then "OH MY GOODNESS!" I glanced over and at first could not make it out either. Then I looked again and was so surprised to see the space shuttle being carried piggy back by the plane!!
We immediately pulled over and turned around to try to get pictures but we could not. We even headed out towards Johnson Space Center to get another look, but we could no longer see the shuttle and plane, so knew we would be too late by the time we got there.
I knew the shuttle was being carried back to Florida from El Paso that day but it was so cool to see it as it made a courtesy fly by at Johnson Space Center!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Did You Know Why We Haven't Dropped Comcast?
Did you know why we haven't dropped Comcast?
We have actually tried! If you read the last post, you will see why we are so frustrated and want to drop the Comcast service. We cannot keep an internet connection. This has been going on since the beginning of September!
I guess it was in October when I told my husband I wanted to try AT&T. He talked to them, since that is who our cell phones are with. He was told that their internet service is not available everywhere. And in the town we live, there has been a deal made with Verizon, so AT&T won't be coming in here!
So we kept waiting, being assured time and again that Comcast had us "fixed up for good". Yesterday my husband talked to Verizon. He was told that the speed for the regular package was "1" and the upgrade was "3". Comcast is "4", so not too different. But when my husband looked at the info online, he found that that the speed on the upgrade was only 1.5. That's a big difference so he called back to confirm. Well, the "3" is "in general" but the speed really depends on how far away you live. He told them that is false advertisement and we are not interested.
So, we are still waiting on Comcast to resolve the issue. They have been responsive, it's just that they don't know what's wrong and cannot get it fixed. At least they have not charged us in all this time...
We have actually tried! If you read the last post, you will see why we are so frustrated and want to drop the Comcast service. We cannot keep an internet connection. This has been going on since the beginning of September!
I guess it was in October when I told my husband I wanted to try AT&T. He talked to them, since that is who our cell phones are with. He was told that their internet service is not available everywhere. And in the town we live, there has been a deal made with Verizon, so AT&T won't be coming in here!
So we kept waiting, being assured time and again that Comcast had us "fixed up for good". Yesterday my husband talked to Verizon. He was told that the speed for the regular package was "1" and the upgrade was "3". Comcast is "4", so not too different. But when my husband looked at the info online, he found that that the speed on the upgrade was only 1.5. That's a big difference so he called back to confirm. Well, the "3" is "in general" but the speed really depends on how far away you live. He told them that is false advertisement and we are not interested.
So, we are still waiting on Comcast to resolve the issue. They have been responsive, it's just that they don't know what's wrong and cannot get it fixed. At least they have not charged us in all this time...
Did You Know We are Unlucky With Computers?
Did you know we are unlucky with computers?
I don't what the deal is, but we have had really bad luck with our computers this year. It all started when Comcast took over RoadRunner. We had trouble with Comcast starting in Feb. By Sept. we had put in eight calls to them for trouble. Maybe not a huge deal, but it's at least once a month that there was trouble. Then, since just before the hurricane, we have had unstable internet connections. We have not paid Comcast since September and will not be paying for this last week either. They have no idea what the problem is (it's going on with our neighbors too, so it's not on our end.) Anyway, so right now I've got a connection for the first time in two days.
And, in the miidst of all that, my daughter's laptop gave out. We had even gone so far as to get their old school desks (ok, they are really office furniture computer desks) out of the attic for her to have someplace to set it up in the living room. And then, it fried. The internal circuit board shorted out. The guy said it would cost too much to fix it. So, we are just biding our time with our computer with intermittent internet service...
I don't what the deal is, but we have had really bad luck with our computers this year. It all started when Comcast took over RoadRunner. We had trouble with Comcast starting in Feb. By Sept. we had put in eight calls to them for trouble. Maybe not a huge deal, but it's at least once a month that there was trouble. Then, since just before the hurricane, we have had unstable internet connections. We have not paid Comcast since September and will not be paying for this last week either. They have no idea what the problem is (it's going on with our neighbors too, so it's not on our end.) Anyway, so right now I've got a connection for the first time in two days.
And, in the miidst of all that, my daughter's laptop gave out. We had even gone so far as to get their old school desks (ok, they are really office furniture computer desks) out of the attic for her to have someplace to set it up in the living room. And then, it fried. The internal circuit board shorted out. The guy said it would cost too much to fix it. So, we are just biding our time with our computer with intermittent internet service...
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Did You Know I Signed Up for a Half Marathon?
Did you know I signed up for a half marathon?
In the past I was never too interested in running that much. My husband had wanted to do a marathon. It's just that most are on Sundays and we won't miss church to go do it. He has been a "bandit" in the Houston marathon by going up early and running as much as he could alongside the crowd, then dropped out and made it back in time for church! He even signed up for a marathon after that, but got injured and couldn't run it. This time, I found one on New Year's Day. I love the idea that it is on Jan. 1 (which is not a Sunday this year.) Also, it is a run/walk on a flat course with no time limit (other than having to be done by dark.) So I figured I'd give it a try. My friend Marathon Bird is going to run it with me. My other friend is on the waiting list (yes, registration is already full!) I have begun my training which is really compressed into a short time frame. But I am looking forward to it. I hope I can do the majority of it jogging, but know that if all else fails, I can walk it.
In the past I was never too interested in running that much. My husband had wanted to do a marathon. It's just that most are on Sundays and we won't miss church to go do it. He has been a "bandit" in the Houston marathon by going up early and running as much as he could alongside the crowd, then dropped out and made it back in time for church! He even signed up for a marathon after that, but got injured and couldn't run it. This time, I found one on New Year's Day. I love the idea that it is on Jan. 1 (which is not a Sunday this year.) Also, it is a run/walk on a flat course with no time limit (other than having to be done by dark.) So I figured I'd give it a try. My friend Marathon Bird is going to run it with me. My other friend is on the waiting list (yes, registration is already full!) I have begun my training which is really compressed into a short time frame. But I am looking forward to it. I hope I can do the majority of it jogging, but know that if all else fails, I can walk it.
Did You Know There Are Different Types of Pearls?
Did You Know There Are Different Types of Pearls?
When I was in school, we read the book The Pearl. I have to say I did not appreciate it like I should have. And I had no idea that
pearls were so beautiful, nor that there were a variety of types of Pearls .
I have since learned that pearls are valued based on their type. They even come in a variety of shapes and colors. To start with there are the freshwater pearls found mostly in lakes and rivers in China. These pearls do come in a range of colors, sizes and shapeswith the most common being oval or rice shaped. There can be ten to fourteen pearls found inside one mussel.
There is also the Japanese Akoya pearl found in saltwater oysters. These are known for their luster and brilliance and are known as the diamond of the sea. These are the most popular kind of pearls.
Next is the Tahitian black pearl. I had no idea that pearls came in any color besides the opaque whitish-pink color. These elegant pearls are one of the rarest and most valuable pearls. Their colors range from peacock green to silver and purple and the only naturally black pearl. These are some of the largest pearls available.
You can also find the South Sea pearls. These are among the most rare and valuable pearls because of their size and satiny luster.
The conch pearls come from the Queen conch of Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These are known for their “flame structure” and give the appearance of a fire burning on the surface.
I'd have to say that a pearl necklace made out of any of these exquisite stones would be a gorgeous gift!
When I was in school, we read the book The Pearl. I have to say I did not appreciate it like I should have. And I had no idea that
I have since learned that pearls are valued based on their type. They even come in a variety of shapes and colors. To start with there are the freshwater pearls found mostly in lakes and rivers in China. These pearls do come in a range of colors, sizes and shapeswith the most common being oval or rice shaped. There can be ten to fourteen pearls found inside one mussel.
There is also the Japanese Akoya pearl found in saltwater oysters. These are known for their luster and brilliance and are known as the diamond of the sea. These are the most popular kind of pearls.
Next is the Tahitian black pearl. I had no idea that pearls came in any color besides the opaque whitish-pink color. These elegant pearls are one of the rarest and most valuable pearls. Their colors range from peacock green to silver and purple and the only naturally black pearl. These are some of the largest pearls available.
You can also find the South Sea pearls. These are among the most rare and valuable pearls because of their size and satiny luster.
The conch pearls come from the Queen conch of Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These are known for their “flame structure” and give the appearance of a fire burning on the surface.
I'd have to say that a pearl necklace made out of any of these exquisite stones would be a gorgeous gift!
Did You Know Dr. Seuss was a WW II Political Cartoonist?
Did you know Dr. Seuss was a WWII political cartoonist?
I don't remember ever hearing this before. I got an email about some current exhibits at the Holocaust Museum Houston. One is the work of Dr. Seuss during the war years and the political cartoons he drew for the New York newspaper PM. He focused on the issues America needed to address at the time and how individuals could become aware and involved. He worked to inspire people to care about the fate of human beings. Theodor Seuss Geisel's exhibit runs through July 5, 2009. The exhibit is based on the book "Dr. Seuss Goes to War" by historian Richard H. Minear.
I don't remember ever hearing this before. I got an email about some current exhibits at the Holocaust Museum Houston. One is the work of Dr. Seuss during the war years and the political cartoons he drew for the New York newspaper PM. He focused on the issues America needed to address at the time and how individuals could become aware and involved. He worked to inspire people to care about the fate of human beings. Theodor Seuss Geisel's exhibit runs through July 5, 2009. The exhibit is based on the book "Dr. Seuss Goes to War" by historian Richard H. Minear.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Did You Know We Are Stupid Parents?
Did you know we are stupid parents?
I actually got a book for my kids for Christmas with the title Stupid Parents. I like the premise of the book. It is written to teens and tells them basically how to get their parents off their back. Things like honesty, talking, and building trust are big issues the book approaches. It does eventually tell the kids that their parents really aren't stupid, but love them and want the best for them and don't always know how to do that. The end of the book does actually deal with parents who are being stupid-using drugs or have alcohol problems-and tells the kids how to find help for that situation. All in all I think the book does a good job of helping kids and parents both to keep the relationship moving in a linear motion. Moving the parent/child relationship forward into adulthood is a tough job for us all!
I actually got a book for my kids for Christmas with the title Stupid Parents. I like the premise of the book. It is written to teens and tells them basically how to get their parents off their back. Things like honesty, talking, and building trust are big issues the book approaches. It does eventually tell the kids that their parents really aren't stupid, but love them and want the best for them and don't always know how to do that. The end of the book does actually deal with parents who are being stupid-using drugs or have alcohol problems-and tells the kids how to find help for that situation. All in all I think the book does a good job of helping kids and parents both to keep the relationship moving in a linear motion. Moving the parent/child relationship forward into adulthood is a tough job for us all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)