Category Archives: life

Who Knew Gmail Issues Could Ruin A Day at School

gmail

But more than that, who knew Gmail issues would still have an effect on my class tomorrow.

*sigh*

So last Thursday, whether you were even aware of it or not, Gmail was down for a bit. While I am just as addicted to my email as any other thoroughly modern Millie, it didn’t ruin my day in a way you would think.

You see, during Thursday’s class, the students were all to create new email accounts on Gmail. Only Gmail wasn’t going to have anything to do with that. Out of 15 kids with 2 kids already having Gmail accounts and 12 emails bounced back.

This was not going to bode well for class today. And it didn’t.

The good news, the majority of the accounts it turns out just needed to get their final activation. Only about four didn’t go through and had to start over. Then two kids couldn’t remember their passwords.

I have to say, I never actually expected this to be a tough task. I figured we’d breeze right through it. I mean we really take email for granted. We remember so many user names and passwords for so many different accounts. But the mere act of creating user names and passwords probably took most of the time.

Today, the big challenge was actually getting them to log into their accounts correctly and to send emails without typos in the email addresses. Some of the kids laughed at me for having them sign out and in and send me three emails but really, it took that long until they finally got the hang of it.

I think we did a pretty good job of making up for lost time. We shall see how replying and forwarding goes on Thursday. Should be fun, can’t wait!

When Did I Become an Adult?

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When did I stop thinking only about myself and start putting others at the top of my list? When did I decide it was perfectly fine to go without a haircut so that the dog, yes, the DOG could get his haircut? When did I decide that shoes should indeed be comfortable?

And more importantly, when did I decide that planning out the menu a week in advance just might be a good thing? Mind you, I haven’t yet implemented this strategy – which is why I’m sitting here at nearly 7:00PM trying to figure out what to make for dinner – but it’s still a good idea that in my former life I previously would have laughed off.

playful_kids

I want to be a kid again. I want to be carefree. I don’t want to have to be the one in charge. I don’t want to have to do the dishes and make dinner or do laundry. I don’t want to have to schedule my week. I just way to run and play and frolic and well, make a mess and not have to be the one to clean it up.

I say we lead a revolt. I say we create a whole week where we embrace our inner child (or would that be children?) and run amok. Who wants to join me?

Pasadena Humane Society Needs Your Help

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pasadena humane

You may not have heard, but once again, there are massive fires going on in our neck of the woods. And let me tell you, its pretty nasty out there. Many of the local pets are temporarily being housed at the Pasadena Humane Society over on Raymond.

I read in the LA Times that they needed some food and litter, so I headed out to Smart & Final and made a run. While there, they thanked me profusely for the litter (and the food) and then started talking amongst themselves about what they still needed.

They’re in desperate need for the following:

cat litter
timothy hay
bird food
rabbit food
pee pads
towels

So please, do what you can. They’ll take whatever you can offer. They’re crazy busy and those little critters can’t take care of themselves.

For those of you that would like to help out, but aren’t local, you can make a donation to the Pasadena Humane Society here.

It’s Official, It’s Been a Helluva Week

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I was trying to recall just why it is I didn’t seem to get around to posting in any of my blogs. I managed to start a couple of posts in each, but never got around to finishing them.

Then I remembered the week – keep in mind, in between all this, I was working on various projects…

Friday: drive down to Temecula for a pre-dinner meeting

Saturday: biz meeting in Fallbrook, drive back home

Sunday: different biz meeting in LA

Monday: 2-3 hour doctor appointment

Tuesday: business lunch and evening networking event

Wednesday: only day with nothing planned and dinner at home – worked on finalizing ’08 taxes

Thursday: LWL event

Friday: date night with hubs (still talked business)

Saturday: avoiding the intense Valley heatwave and headed out for two movies & dinner with a friend

Today: relaxing day at home, in the AC avoiding all the smoke and ash from the nearby fires

La Canada Fires

This week, I’m happy to say, is much more low key and I’m really looking forward to it. Now if we can only get the cooler temperatures we had a couple weeks back and get rid of those nasty fires then all would be good.

Let’s Get Shallow: Making Time for Personal Care

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Threading
I don’t know about you, but sometimes, time just seems to get away from me. Heck, sometimes LIFE seems to get away from me. One minute and I’m on track and working my butt off. All is good. The next minute I look in the mirror and I’m a mess.

How did I let that happen?

I know we hear all the time that we should remember to make time for ourselves. You know what they say, if mama ain’t happy, ain’t no body happy. But I tend to think of all that as making exercise or yoga, or meditation or whatever a priority. You know, remembering to work free time into your schedule. Not getting a haircut or getting my brows done.

Well, I don’t have much of a problem working free time into my schedule (the joy of running your own business). I remember to schedule time to visit with my friends and colleagues. I even manage to remember to take a vacation day or sick day from time to time.

Apparently, what I can’t seem to remember is to get a haircut, touch up color or fix my brows. It’s bad enough I cut (not trimmed…CUT!) my own bangs a couple weeks ago.

Man, when did I become such a sight?

For the past couple of weeks, I kept telling myself that I would just get it all taken care of before school starts up again. You know, before I have to get back into the public eye. But judging from the look of the alternatively colored hairs I’m seeing popping up, I don’t think I can wait much longer. Let alone wait another 3-4 weeks.

The good news, at least for me, is that I do my own color. So I just needed to run out to the nearest CVS and pick up a box of Fabulous Brunette #5 and get to work on those unruly brows while I’m waiting and I’ll be good to go.

Good thing too since we leave later this afternoon for a business meeting down San Diego way. So all this self-care stuff got me thinking…I can’t be the only one here. What do you tend to let go of or put off when you get busy? Or are you the type of person that keeps all your self-care and maintenance scheduled at all times?

I just need to schedule a facial and an adjustment and my self-care, remember to take time out for me time is complete.

What an Amazing Experience

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I’ll admit it, I’ve been talking about the Remote Area Medical organization for a couple weeks now. They were coming to LA for their longest gig thus far (eight days) to service the under and uninsured. Their goal was to serve 20,000 or so.

We showed up for our shift on Saturday and there were lines everywhere. In fact, our job wound up being line control in one of the vision services. There wasn’t all too much organization and we were told to just ask around and see where we might be needed.

I’m not a fan of dentists, so rows and rows of dental procedures (and the sound of drills) was NOT my thing so we walked right on by. Someone suggested we head over to vision, so we ended up in Vision II (first, basic exam was over, now onto the prescription exam).

We spent the majority of our time there working the end of the line – the hubs took the middle and I took the end. It was a pretty slow moving process since around lunch (when we arrived) there were only 2-3 eye doctors working. Eventually, things picked back up again and there were about 6-8 or so available. Even so, not everyone got seen and a good chunk of my “end” people were sent home without care, told to come back on Sunday.

Had I known they needed more medical, dental and vision doctors, I would have picked up the phone book and started calling. I remember what it’s like to be broke or barely making ends meet (in my case, in college) and being in serious need for medical care. And since I’m not a fan of the dentist, you better believe I put that one off as long as possible. So I get it.

Free services, even if it takes all day – hell, for some it took 2-3 days – is worth it…if you can get it. I’m looking forward to my next shift on Tuesday (RAM’s last day). I’m sure it will be gut wrenching knowing we’re turning people away and that there isn’t a come back tomorrow for them. But I also know it’s doing a lot of good.

Check out the MSNBC video below for some scenes from the event those first couple of days…

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Days Like This Were Made For a Hammock

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Today, in the sunny San Fernando Valley, it’s a breezy 84 degrees. It’s the perfect sort of weather to hang out outside (in the shade). If I had my dream house, with my dream backyard, the boys and I would be working out on the patio or swinging along on a hammock.

Sadly, we have no shade trees, no lounge chairs, no hammock and well, no patio or even a backyard to use. Such is apartment life. Of course, that hasn’t stopped the boys and I from spending some time just relaxing out on the front stoop.

And I know that I’ll have that laptop ready, relaxing backyard in no time!

Photo by Living in Monrovia

Volunteers Are Still Needed for FREE MEDICAL, DENTAL & VISION Event 8/11 – 8/18 @ the Forum

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August 11 through 18, 2009 at the Forum, the Remote Area Medical (“RAM”) team and over 500 volunteer doctors from our community will provide over 20,000 patients with FREE medical, dental and vision care. With an estimated 47 million people in the United States uninsured, this opportunity is right on time. FCBC and SMG are donating the Forum as the host site and agreed to partner with RAM and many other community partners to help make a difference. Please join us!

We need your help! They are still in need of volunteers in some service areas, particularly in optometry, ophthalmology, dentistry, general medical and nursing. If you have colleagues and friends in these specialties, please encourage them to attend. They can always use non-medical support volunteers, also.

Since the start of the event is upon us, new volunteers need not send in the application forms, but should come to The Forum on the day they wish to volunteer and complete the registration process when they arrive. Medical volunteers remember to bring your certification. For more information click here.

The event cannot be a success without hundreds of volunteers each day. Please inform and encourage your co-workers and friends to volunteer. The more medical and non-medical volunteers on hand, the more patients the RAM team may plan to serve.

Please pass this info along to your friends and your family.
SPREAD THE WORD that both medical and non-medical volunteers are STILL needed.
SPREAD THE WORD that these FREE services are available.

AUGUST 11 – AUGUST 18, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
at
THE FORUM in INGLEWOOD
3900 W Manchester Blvd

Beginning at 5:30AM daily

REMOTE AREA MEDICAL EVENT

To provide free MEDICAL, VISION, and DENTAL care for uninsured, underinsured, unemployed, under-employed persons

First come/First Served Basis each day – Please show up early!

PS – if you’re not in the LA area, check out RAMusa.org to see where you can help out in your area.

I Won a Trip to London!!

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British Airways is doing this new promotion with a couple entrepreneurial organizations. Their goal is to promote international travel as a way to build your business. Totally cool, right?

I mean, check out what I won:

Flight to London
Welcome and introductory events in the US and London
Meet and mingle on board with other winners
A networking forum with top business leaders
Presentations and discussions on how to do business in the UK and abroad
A one-night stopover at the Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel
Complimentary Heathrow Express tickets if you need to go into central London

And then after the actual event, I can fly on to ANY destination that British Airways flies..for as long as I want…and then they’ll fly me back home to LA. That’s AWESOME!

But…um…I won’t be going.

First off, I can’t really take the time off teaching. I mean, when you’re a teacher, you pretty much know your schedule in advance. And to take an extended time off, in the middle of the semester, is just well, bad form. It’s even worse form considering I’m the lead teacher this year. And well, I’d really like to keep this job.

On top of that, this trip would cost me a pretty British pound. While the flight and conference is covered, you’ll notice that there’s no food covered and they only have one night at the hotel. So if I stay any longer – or take advantage of the flight to the destination of my choice – that’s all going to cost extra. And by extra…I mean British extra. We all know how just stepping into London automatically doubles the price of anything you’d buy in US.

So as cool and exciting as a business trip to London just might be…I won’t be going at this time. Some other lucky winner will be going in my place (since the prize was non-transferable). And knowing that everything happens for a reason, I’m sure something truly A.MA.ZING. will be right around the corner. Can’t wait!

Photo: Photogen.com

Heading Out to Get the Cars

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In case you missed it last week, we had some automotive challenges in our home. Trust me, Thursday wasn’t a fun day to be me.

Luckily, by late afternoon Friday, our cars were ready to be picked up. It only took three buses, a late lunch at the Apple Pan, a couple of blocks on foot, $1000 for both cars, an emergency gas station visit for (expensive) gas, and four hours of my day.

Here is how our journey played out…