Messiah College, class of 2030 and 2032

Is it brainwashing, a little bit? Probably yes. But don't you think your brain needs to be washed?

Positive expectations. Let's go with that.

So I took the godkids over to campus today: beautiful fall day, blue skies, leaves changing color, students all over campus (We hadn't been there since summertime, when Messiah is mostly conferences rather than students). And with Big Frog advising a Collaboratory group this year, he's on campus every week, and he passes along greetings from the faculty and staff on a consistent basis; a little friendly pressure to come visit. Not only did we both graduate from Messiah, Big Frog also worked there for years as their first electrical engineering technician. So we're enthusiastic about the godkids getting involved.



But unlike at Cupboard Maker ("You can't go in the staff areas because you don't work here, yet!"), at Messiah we not only went down the classroom halls, we also went to where the teachers (professors, obviously, but how do you explain that to kids in preK and kindergarten?) have their offices. And they got to meet the department admin, who fortunately is possibly the most relationship-oriented person I know. Any plans she had to accomplish stuff in her last half-hour of the day went out the window when we showed up, and the kids were playing with all the animal puzzles she had from assorted Burkina Faso trips, as well as a solar-powered dancing flower. Intrigued, they said it ran by "Magic!"

That being said, they also said there were monsters in Frey, to which the admin replied that there were, "No monsters, only engineers."




Also, in terms of family history, M&D have always known, from the very first time we visited Messiah, that Uncle Big Frog used to work in the blue building, Frey, and Aunt Middle Frog used to work at the library, Murray. But today they mind-blowingly learned that the launch area by the creek used to be all grass, and that was where Uncle Big Frog asked Aunt Middle Frog to marry him. ("WHAT?!?!?!") And they also saw the building (Solly) where Aunt Middle Frog used to live when she was exactly the same age as their oldest sister is right now.

We'll let that bounce around in their brains for awhile. Class of 2030 and 2032.

New toy!

Got our 3Doodler, the very first Kickstarter we backed!
It's kind of like wireframe art, made with extruded plastic. You can even draw into the air with it!

Think different

A similar Einstein quote: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.

So science agrees with faith: Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Honey, I Shrunk... but I'm driving a really cool Hot Wheel!

Hot Wheels cars are 1:64 scale.

What if Honey I Shrunk the Kids were real and you started zapping at things?


Source: Mattel
Thanks to GeekMom for the find!

HR

"God has these bizarre personnel policies."  -Chuck Wingate, Bethesda Mission

which tangentially reminds me of:
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
― Frederick Buechner

What tugs at your heart?

Mad Hatter

Taa daaah! 

And this Halloween top hat is done (after easily three hats worth of unpicking and redoing, and trips to two different craft shops before finding more of the color I started with at WalMart, which admittedly is probably where I found the color initially) well before 1) any of the Halloween parties we've been invited to and 2) before our next trip to the Ren Faire.

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More touchups! And I wore it to the Faire¹ and to the Cupboard Maker Halloween party. Inordinately pleased with myself as a Maker.

1 So glad to have a costume that warmly kept my head covered -- never been to the Faire in October before. Usually we're there in August on a Hot Faire Day. (Rowan and the Rose have spoiled The Wild Rover for me with this delightful parody.)

Public phones

Just caught the end of All Things Considered today, on the topic of smartphone addiction (who, me?). They closed with a delightful haiku:

Bring back the phone booths.
Tough to put on cape and tights
In an Otterbox.

Audio available at npr.org. This bit is at 1:18.

You know more ASL than you may think

Source: Poorly Drawn Lines
Thanks to Rebecca for the find! Keep practicing, girl!

I do not think that means what you think it means.

Today's adult Sunday School and worship service were focused on building community. Our church leaders often say that "circles are better than rows", which is to say, the corporate worship is important, but accountability and personal growth comes in small groups (life groups/cell groups/discipleship groups). And there is no better way to bond than over food! Big Frog and I often enjoy lunch out with our Deafies after church. Which means that after worship we need to figure out what we want to eat and where.

Now, Big Frog and I are both hearies. And you should know that one of the BIG rules in Deaf Culture is: Don't correct a Deaf person's signs. If a hearie learns a sign from a Deaf person, the Deaf sign is right. Adopt their sign for future use, especially with that individual. By all means, ask for them to repeat it, to clarify, but their sign is right. There is so much regional sign that even from MD, where I learned ASL, to PA, where I live now and interact with Deaf, there are significant differences. Also, I have been signing longer than the Deaf couple at our church. Bite your tongue, girl!! (Bite your hands??)

There are four parts of describing a sign: 1) handshape, 2) location, 3) movement, 4) facial expression.

And changing just one element can be the difference between choosing a place for a TERRIBLE lunch and a LIGHT lunch.

Here are the signs, courtesy of SigningSavvy: TERRIBLE, as compared to LIGHT as in lightweight. The mental link that got twisted, I'm sure, is LIGHT/LAMP.

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They also are investigating different options for their next home, now that they've both retired. And prominent among those options is moving to Florida, where they have family. One individual in particular has been poking them for years to move south.

As my RVP said recently, an Action personality, by the time they tell you they're thinking of doing something, they've probably already done it. But a Stable personality researches and deliberates and weighs options.

But what the conscious mind thinks may not be quite what the subconscious mind is working towards. When we asked them what kind of timeframe they were thinking of moving, although the wife voiced YEAR, she signed HOUR.

Hopefully they'll tell me if I don't need to terp this week because they've packed up kit and caboodle and left the state.

Princess Bride kids

As You Wish

source: The Art of Patrick Ballesteros

Did you spot the grandpa? Miracle Max & Valerie?
(I also like his Brownie Coats take on Firefly.)

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Also looking forward to getting our next Kickstarter reward: The Princess Bride: Prepare to Die!.

Not boring.

found on Patricia Polacco's FB

Yes, please

source: quote: Addison on PFN, 10/7/2013; image: Fascinating Places

Jareth

source: Cinemania

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Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered
I have fought my way here
To the castle beyond the Goblin City,
To take back the child that you have stolen,
For my will is as strong as yours,
And my kingdom is as great.
You have no power over me.

~ Labyrinth ~

100 top children's books of the last 100 years, New York Public Library list

I am delighted to find that I remember reading 64 of these books on the New York Public Library's list

Which others would you add? 
I think Caddie Woodlawn should make the list, and I'm surprised not to see more Shel Silverstein. 

I wish Sandra Boynton were represented and Suzanne Bloom.