Frog and Goat

Lunch

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Frog

that is all

Posted in Eating | 2 Comments

Today I’m at the office alone (meaning my unit isn’t here) and I’ve been whipping through some work. I noticed that a significant portion of policy that our client posts to their public website was redirecting to some other place.

I was feeling generous and so emailed the person who manages that program to let her know. She called me and proceeded to ask me if I wanted a part-time job with her unit working on a high-level policy project. It was flattering but at the same time INSANE. She said I have a good reputation and that she knew I could take care of the work. I politely declined but promised I’d think about it.

I got off the phone and laughed my head off. I am so not that person. But, I knew someone who might be and she’s now making a connection to find out if she could work on that project. I really hope it works out for her because she has years of experience and knows that part of policy thoroughly. Unlike me.

After the phone conversation, I got an email from the program manager saying she’d passed the problem to a middle manager who is in charge of that stuff. Since that person was copied in the email, I pointed out another rather embarrassing gaffe and said please see this page because that’s out there for all the world to see. Middle manager said, “Oh that’s not really a problem, we’re waiting to put in links once other projects get finished”. Clearly she didn’t read my email because the problem is within that which is already posted. Hello, Ms. Peter Principle. It’s nice to meet you.

Posted in Thinking | Comments Off

Dumbubba

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Frog

Quick background: the year we had all the snow we fed a female cat because there was a butt-load of snow. She begat Jim. Then she begat Baby (yeah, clever name). Then a few months ago she showed up with 5 kittens. One of them is called Dumbubba. This story explains why the name is not inappropriate.

This is the state I found Dumbubba in this morning. Apologies for the grainy picture. It was just before 6am and I didn’t want to turn on the light and startle Dumbubba.

I marked the trouble spots. The cat had managed to get his back legs wedged into the back of the chair. When I went out to the porch, he struggled because I am only supposed to feed him, but touching him is not allowed.

I attempted to calm him and grab him at the same time. He freaked the hell on out, but his back legs were firmly wedged. I went into the house to get the oven mitts. By this time, the cavalry had arrived in the form of Simon, Dumbubba’s brother (Fuzzy–who will probably get a coveted spot in the house) and Jim. Jim stood around to watch the fun and Fuzzy took the opportunity to go in the house to get the good food out of the bowl in the kitchen.

I firmly grabbed the stuck cat and he bit the oven mitts, hissed, spat and freaked out some more. His legs were really wedged. Simon does not like it when a cat acts the fool, so he climbed into the chair to beat Dumbubba in the face. Because, really, there’s nothing better than being wedged into a chair, being grabbed by a woman you don’t trust and then having a big orange cat beat you in the face. Good times.

Finally, I unstuck Dumbubba and held the squalling, twisting cat in the air for a few seconds. As his back legs popped out of the chair, he threw a mighty fart into the air and then skittered off the porch. He left wet foot prints. I assume that was sweat, but the oven mitts are slated to be washed when I get home.

Posted in Generic Thoughts, Watching | 3 Comments

Been to the Mercantile

Posted on July 4, 2011 by Frog

Pa and I hitched up the mule and went into town a bit ago. We had our annual shopping to do.

I think we done good:

Posted in Watching | 3 Comments

The End is Nigh!

Posted on June 26, 2011 by Frog

I don’t know what I was thinking when I signed up for 3 online courses this summer. My advisor let me in on a trick that seems completely acceptable to everyone which is sign up in the first session for as many classes as you want and then finish them as you get to them throughout the summer. So, basically that means you start them, take an incomplete and then finish them in the last session. Somehow that’s getting more time and spending less money or something. To me that sounded like madness. Spread the work out over the whole summer? No thank you.

I have one more thing to turn in tomorrow and then I’m done. Days before the actual end of the semester and now the rest of my summer will be spent in idleness. Relative idleness.

Today we need to dig up some or all of the garlic and begin the drying process. I also have a feeling we’ll pick a bucket of blackberries. I think the better-half will be pressed into service to make a crumble/roll/cobbler/grunt/what-have-you. And, a nap. I definitely see a nap in my future.

Posted in Eating, Gardening | Comments Off

A Truck Driver

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Frog

Last night was Nut2′s graduation from pre-school. She was dressed in a girly dress with a matching head band. That’s an important detail for what’s to follow.

The pre-school is the same one that Nut1 went to and the graduation ceremony hasn’t changed that much. Some, if not all, of the songs are the same and there was the cuteness factor of the kids. The final part of the ceremony is when the kids get their diplomas and are asked what they want to be when they grow up.

There are lots of firefighters and race car drivers. There was one kid who said he wanted to be a dentist. And, then there was Nut2 looking as girly-girl as I’ve ever seen her. She said she wants to be a truck driver.

You know what happened next, right? My heart grew three sizes.

Posted in Listening | 3 Comments

I Haz Complaints

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Frog

I’m halfway through my summer courses. There’s one course that is specifically designed for people who are K-12 teachers who want to be instructional technologists at their schools. Hooray for them. It’s too bad the assignments don’t take into account the rest of us who are taking the class.

I’m sure the GTA who has to read my assignments (and there are assignments due every other day) is sick of hearing about my non-traditional classroom examples. Whatevs. I’m tired of having to convert everything I read and write into something that meets my needs. At least I’m getting some ideas for new techniques so my interest level is still pretty high.

The other two classes are fascinating. They are about audio and video. I’m a horrible videographer. I just hope my critiques of how bad my videos are wins some points because the movies I’m creating certainly won’t. There are reasons why people pay to go to film school. I suppose I’ll also get some credit for improvement.

In other news, the heat is getting on my nerves. We’re still two weeks away from summer. What happened to the crazy, zany idea of spring?

Posted in General Spleen Venting, Generic Thoughts | Comments Off

Soaking up sun and wine

Posted on June 4, 2011 by Frog

We went to a wine festival in the college town today. It was a pretty small event with a half dozen wineries, a few craft vendors, a band and some food. The proceeds from ticket sales go to scholarships for local high school kids.

This was the third year and by accounts today was the nicest weather day yet…sounded like previous years were all about the rain.

We drank some pretty darn good local wine and some forgettable ones too. We ended up buying a couple of blush/rose from a brand new winery. Should be great wine for hanging out this summer.

Forgot to add that we had a crab cake which included corn. Awesome.