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How do you sum up a life as rich as this one? You don't. Mom was a remarkable woman, an extraordinary mother, and an amazing grandma. She enriched my life in so many ways. She drove me crazy. She made me laugh. And as sad as I am that she's died, I am so very, very happy she lived.
Mary Louise "Billie" Noble, aka Mom
November 29th, 1919 - November 29th, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
The Super Ted!
The Ted and I in Metropolis, IL (Home of Superman!) Who needs Underdog when you've got The Super Ted!?
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Spinstering On The Move
Useful things we've found while packing . . .
Notice the Vick's VapoRub! And, evidently Anacin is really good for neuralgia!
Check out the expiration date on that Aspirin
What every kitchen needs!
Notice the Vick's VapoRub! And, evidently Anacin is really good for neuralgia!
Check out the expiration date on that Aspirin
What every kitchen needs!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Melodrama of Spinstering
In my Intro to Theatre class, we watched the movie "The Count of Monte Cristo" and they were asked to write a paper explaining why this movie is a good example of melodrama.
According to my Intro kiddies:
"The film, 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' would be considered a good example of melodrama. Melodrama can be best defined as a popular culture manifestation that emphasizes different plots and focuses on the protagonist who seeks revenge from evil at the end."
"Another few characteristics [of melodrama] are exotic locations increased realism, which is when they are on real horses, and recent historical events or people, and that is Napoleon."
"Another trait of melodrama, which was found in this movie, is the actual historical figure of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. Not only is he a character in this film, but there is references throughout the entire plot to his infamous historical blunder: his quality as a traitor to his country."
It's good to realize that the movie would be considered an example of melodrama, or at least a manifestation of popular culture that emphasizes different plots and a protagonist bent on revenge. I'm also glad to know that exotic locations can increase realism, but only when they are on real horses and not fake ones. That clears things right up for me. Although, I'd like to know how the horses feel about being ridden by exotic locations. That sounds uncomfortable and awkward, but I could be wrong. I was also surprised to learn that France is a historical figure. Certainly, I never realized that Napoleon encompasses historical events or people. I thought he was a crazy French guy who tried to take over the world after the French Revolution, but clearly he was just guilty of making an infamous historical blunder, not conquering half of Europe.
Grading is making my eye twitch.
According to my Intro kiddies:
"The film, 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' would be considered a good example of melodrama. Melodrama can be best defined as a popular culture manifestation that emphasizes different plots and focuses on the protagonist who seeks revenge from evil at the end."
"Another few characteristics [of melodrama] are exotic locations increased realism, which is when they are on real horses, and recent historical events or people, and that is Napoleon."
"Another trait of melodrama, which was found in this movie, is the actual historical figure of France, Napoleon Bonaparte. Not only is he a character in this film, but there is references throughout the entire plot to his infamous historical blunder: his quality as a traitor to his country."
It's good to realize that the movie would be considered an example of melodrama, or at least a manifestation of popular culture that emphasizes different plots and a protagonist bent on revenge. I'm also glad to know that exotic locations can increase realism, but only when they are on real horses and not fake ones. That clears things right up for me. Although, I'd like to know how the horses feel about being ridden by exotic locations. That sounds uncomfortable and awkward, but I could be wrong. I was also surprised to learn that France is a historical figure. Certainly, I never realized that Napoleon encompasses historical events or people. I thought he was a crazy French guy who tried to take over the world after the French Revolution, but clearly he was just guilty of making an infamous historical blunder, not conquering half of Europe.
Grading is making my eye twitch.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Spinstering By The Skin Of My Teeth
So, my horoscope for today is as follows:
Leo
July 22 - August 22
You really need some rest, dear Leo. Even though you have a list of tasks and errands a mile long, see if you can leave some of them for later. All signs indicate that you should not stray too far from home today, if you can possibly help it. You are easily distracted, making you prone to accidents. Behind the wheel of a car is not the place for you to be right now. Stay home and tackle all those little chores you've been meaning to get to.
What am I doing at work? Oh, yes . . . we have a show going on. And I have classes to teach. And there's a Gala to plan. And my car needs to get inspected. Oh, and it's in desperate need of an oil change. And there is that problem with the car's AC that needs to get fixed. And my apartment is a dark, unholy pit of dispair with barely a path leading from the bedroom to the door. And my dog is out of bones. And I'm running out of clean clothes. And I have a stack of grading that's as tall as I am.
So, what am I doing wasting my time blogging?
Aaaaargh.
Leo
July 22 - August 22
You really need some rest, dear Leo. Even though you have a list of tasks and errands a mile long, see if you can leave some of them for later. All signs indicate that you should not stray too far from home today, if you can possibly help it. You are easily distracted, making you prone to accidents. Behind the wheel of a car is not the place for you to be right now. Stay home and tackle all those little chores you've been meaning to get to.
What am I doing at work? Oh, yes . . . we have a show going on. And I have classes to teach. And there's a Gala to plan. And my car needs to get inspected. Oh, and it's in desperate need of an oil change. And there is that problem with the car's AC that needs to get fixed. And my apartment is a dark, unholy pit of dispair with barely a path leading from the bedroom to the door. And my dog is out of bones. And I'm running out of clean clothes. And I have a stack of grading that's as tall as I am.
So, what am I doing wasting my time blogging?
Aaaaargh.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Spinstering Incognito
OK, so I've been told that I'm being lax in reporting my various adventures in spinstering. Well, the truth is, there haven't been much in the way of adventures, spinstering or otherwise. But here goes nothing . . .
Next week I travel to the far off land of ACTF to present a workshop on drawing the figure. I'm very excited. To be honest, I've always wanted to teach a basic drawing class. So, this will be a treat for me, though I'm very nervous about it all.
The Spinstermobile, which I fondly refer to as my Love Machine, is up and running again. The saga of the neverending car trouble (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahh) began the morning after I got back to MA from my winter sojourn west. After putting 3000 miles on the Love Machine in less than three weeks, I got up that morning to find my tire was going flat. Really, I was just overjoyed it didn't happen somewhere in the boonies of I-90 with the little black dog in the front seat. That would have sucked. So, the tire being not completely flat, I crossed my fingers and drove it very slowly to a discount tire place in town, where I was promptly told (and shown) that my tires were all crap and needed desperately to be replaced.
Of course.
So, after negotiating over new tires, I sit myself down in the waiting area, thinking all the while about a meeting I had that afternoon and having no idea if I'll be able to make it now (not to mention how I was also lamenting the fact that I couldn't even get back into the state without voicemail from work on my damn cell phone).
I was lost in this quandry when the tire guy came back to the waiting area and said these ill-fated words; "We have a problem." He's holding my rim in his hands and he takes a seat next to me, explaining how the rim is cracked and that's why my tire originally went flat. Well, they're just a tire place, and they can't fix cracked rims, but he knows of a guy who can weld it (which will cost about 1/4 the amount it would if I were to get a new rim). So, he puts the spare on my car and I take the cracked rim and new tire to this place out of town to get welded.
Three days later, I pick up the now fixed rim, with the tire on it, they put the whole shebang on my car and I drive directly to the discount tire place to get the wheels aligned. I'm waiting in their tire rubber-smelling waiting area and the tire guy (a different one) comes back, with those same ill-fated words on his lips. "We have a problem."
Yes, of course we do. My life wouldn't be complete if we didn't.
It turns out there's some play in my right inner tie rod. I know nothing of cars. I don't speak his crazy moon language. But I know enough to be afraid of the phrase "throw a rod" and to know that this mysterious new ailment needs to be fixed. What's more, at this point the discount tire place is not making any more money off me coming in to get the wheels aligned, so it's not like they're trying to pull one over on me. So, I have to get the car checked out again, this time by a mechanic in town. I do. I needed a new right inner tie rod. Wow! does the Love Machine handle better now with new tires and a new right inner tie rod. Go figure.
So, with trepidation, I go back to the discount tire place to get the wheels aligned and wait for those ill-fated words. And wait. And wait. And . . . the guy comes back, happy as a lark (well, not really, but who cares), and says they're all done, hands me my keys and sends me on my merry way. Thank you Jeebus!
This would just about cover the latest in spinstering adventures, the trials and tribulations of a spinster navigating the pitfalls of day-to-day existence--usually rather poorly, regardless of new tires and new right inner tie rods--and trying to maintain some sense of balance. Stay tuned and maybe I'll post something again in the next decade . . .
Next week I travel to the far off land of ACTF to present a workshop on drawing the figure. I'm very excited. To be honest, I've always wanted to teach a basic drawing class. So, this will be a treat for me, though I'm very nervous about it all.
The Spinstermobile, which I fondly refer to as my Love Machine, is up and running again. The saga of the neverending car trouble (ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ahh) began the morning after I got back to MA from my winter sojourn west. After putting 3000 miles on the Love Machine in less than three weeks, I got up that morning to find my tire was going flat. Really, I was just overjoyed it didn't happen somewhere in the boonies of I-90 with the little black dog in the front seat. That would have sucked. So, the tire being not completely flat, I crossed my fingers and drove it very slowly to a discount tire place in town, where I was promptly told (and shown) that my tires were all crap and needed desperately to be replaced.
Of course.
So, after negotiating over new tires, I sit myself down in the waiting area, thinking all the while about a meeting I had that afternoon and having no idea if I'll be able to make it now (not to mention how I was also lamenting the fact that I couldn't even get back into the state without voicemail from work on my damn cell phone).
I was lost in this quandry when the tire guy came back to the waiting area and said these ill-fated words; "We have a problem." He's holding my rim in his hands and he takes a seat next to me, explaining how the rim is cracked and that's why my tire originally went flat. Well, they're just a tire place, and they can't fix cracked rims, but he knows of a guy who can weld it (which will cost about 1/4 the amount it would if I were to get a new rim). So, he puts the spare on my car and I take the cracked rim and new tire to this place out of town to get welded.
Three days later, I pick up the now fixed rim, with the tire on it, they put the whole shebang on my car and I drive directly to the discount tire place to get the wheels aligned. I'm waiting in their tire rubber-smelling waiting area and the tire guy (a different one) comes back, with those same ill-fated words on his lips. "We have a problem."
Yes, of course we do. My life wouldn't be complete if we didn't.
It turns out there's some play in my right inner tie rod. I know nothing of cars. I don't speak his crazy moon language. But I know enough to be afraid of the phrase "throw a rod" and to know that this mysterious new ailment needs to be fixed. What's more, at this point the discount tire place is not making any more money off me coming in to get the wheels aligned, so it's not like they're trying to pull one over on me. So, I have to get the car checked out again, this time by a mechanic in town. I do. I needed a new right inner tie rod. Wow! does the Love Machine handle better now with new tires and a new right inner tie rod. Go figure.
So, with trepidation, I go back to the discount tire place to get the wheels aligned and wait for those ill-fated words. And wait. And wait. And . . . the guy comes back, happy as a lark (well, not really, but who cares), and says they're all done, hands me my keys and sends me on my merry way. Thank you Jeebus!
This would just about cover the latest in spinstering adventures, the trials and tribulations of a spinster navigating the pitfalls of day-to-day existence--usually rather poorly, regardless of new tires and new right inner tie rods--and trying to maintain some sense of balance. Stay tuned and maybe I'll post something again in the next decade . . .