Would you let a teenager choose your career?

Would you let a teenager choose your career? If you went to college, that's basically what you did. And what I did, too. At 17, I wanted to be a marine biologist. then at 19, I changed my mind & became a graphic designer. I'm so happy being a designer, I can't even imagine how different my life would be, if I stayed with biology major.

Now, I'm a mom. And I see it from a different angle. My first son was a mechanical engineer major. But the rigors of college, combined with late night video gaming with friends, led to a dead end. Switching majors to forensic chemistry, at an easier school, has been a good move for him. he's working in a chem lab over summer, and enjoys the work, which indicates for me that this is the right direction.

Middle son is a senior. He's smart, tests well, works hard, etc. But he's changed his mind about majors a few times: neurology, bioengineering, mathematics, with a computer science minor, or a music minor. I really want him to go into college undecided, and find out what he loves to do, and pursue it.

cheap glasses!

Check it out! I got these prescription glasses & sunglasses from Zenni Optical for about $15 each. That's frames, tinting, & shipping. So, if you're broke or cheap, you can still take care of your vision. Or if you're loaded, you can have glasses to go with every outfit you own.

You can thank me for it later!

Zombie Golf Lodge

I was reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a delightful adaptation of Jane Austin's classic costume drama, lifting the text whole cloth, and inserting brain-eating zombies! And it really works. Anyway, I'm reading this & I had a vivid dream about zombies, golf, making commercials for dental floss, and a rock band. Thus Zombie Golf Lodge was born. I talked it over with my family & they thought is was a rocking idea, we talked characters, scenes, dialog, jokes, even the movie poster. And started a super, double secret blog to collaborate on the project. I wasn't sure about the secrecy issue, since I felt anonymity was a greater threat than plagiarism.

Imagine my surprise & delight when I learned this morning that there's a Zombie Short Film Festival call for entries!

From Boingboing:
Talented Toronto writers & filmmakers, Jim Taylor & Cory Laffin, have announced the first and are calling for submissions. The festival will be held in Toronto, at the glorious Revue Cinema (in my friendly neighbourhood Parkdale) on October 30th. The criteria for submissions is pretty straight forward: 1) It must be a short film with a maximum running time of 20 minutes; and 2) It must involve zombies. Further details can be found on their web site."

So anyway, I asked Teressa at work if she could help me on this. She's produced tons of newscasts and even written a screenplay which garnered recognition. Teressa loved the concept, and had great ideas to add. Her husband can be the sleazy bartender that makes a great flaming zombie!

Also talked to Jessica at work, & she knows a local metal band who might want to be in it.

I"m so pumped for this project!!!!!

I want a macaw!

Sunday, we went the bird show in Peoria. This wasn't like the one in Cahokia Mounds, where trained wild birds of prey displayed their tricks for bits of rat meat, swooping inches over the audience's heads, all sharp beaks & talons. This was like the dog show, but with birds.

A large room was lined with tables displaying cages of birds, or bird accessories. I looked for an African Grey, like Alex, from the book "Alex and Me," a parrot that learned language, not just copying sounds, but the meaning & use of words. Not that I was going to get a bird, but it was something I was interested in.

There were many kinds of birds for sale, but I fell in love a little bit with a scarlet macaw. On three large natural wood perches, almost as tall as me, stood 3 macaws. They were intimidating with their beady eyes and huge beaks! But I put out my hand to the the center one, and he latched his beak on my diamond ring! He pinched my knuckle and the ring, so stong was his grip, stronger than a clothes pin, I struggled with him, and pulled free. Michael came over to see what the racket was, and the bird, put it foot out to him, and touched his arm. It reminded me of when we got our cat Joy from the pound, when she put her paw out through the cage door and petted me. Joy picked me. And this bird picked Michael.

Michael put out his arm to him, and he stepped up. He explored Micheal, biting the hair on his arm, his beard, and hair. Mike pet his back, and let him climb all over. You can see this in the picture. The bird talked, too. When he bit Michael, and Mike said "No" the bird said "Oh brother!" And the bird snuggled up under his chin, and said "I love you." And he chuckled, too.

We all took turns holding the bird. He was so friendly, and looking for affection. He was like a nippy pup. The other birds just stood on their perches. This one had big personality. I wanted him. The seller came over. He could see how we all played with him, and this was fine with him, he likes his birds socialized. I saw him cup his hands around the bird's ear and whisper, "I love you." So that's how he taught him! The bird was 19 months old (they live to 50!) And he was selling him for $1900. OK, I don't want him that much. Although it's a fair price, considering.

This guy at work is getting me mad

This guy at work threw a punch at my stomach today, he didn't make contact. this is the second time he's done this. I was standing with my supervisor & the secretary, holding a hot cup of coffee. It was totally uncalled for. He just walked up to me & did this. Why? this guy is 60, and OCD, talks to himself, talks killing people. He has a gun.

He had a terrible childhood. One of 11 children, his parents made him work for his own money for clothes, shoes, haircuts, everything! from the time he was 8.

I feel sorry for him. I know there's a neglected little boy inside. and I thought we had a good working relationship. I don't understand the hostility. but maybe crazy doesn't need a reason.

I reported it to the director, who made him appologise.

Florida fun cont.

Yesterday, Sunday, we drove north, while my niece & her family drove south, and we all met up at the Brevard Zoo. It was great to see Becky again, and wish I could have spent a lot more time with her. But kids got restless & we had to go our separate ways.

Today, Monday, we went to the beach again. It was a nice day for swimming. So nice to sit under the sade of a palm tree on a sunny beach in December.

We have a free day tomorrow, then Wednesday is New Years Eve. Thurs, we're going to Sarasota, just for one night, then Friday & Saturday are big travel days back to Illinois.

Florida Cont.

It's Sunday morning, very early, and no one is up but me. We're sleeping 4 in a room. Hank & I have the bed, Michael has the inflated mattress, and Larry is on the pull out couch. William is sleeping on the pullout couch next door with Frankie & Eli.

So let me catch up the vacation. We arrived last Sunday. On Tuesday we saw my Aunt Claire in Miami. She's 75 now, and lives in the same house she has lived in for 48 years. The neighborhood has turned Cuban around her, and she's never learned Spanish, but can get by with English, LOL! My cousin, Shawn & his daughter, Kelly came, and we all went out for lunch at a Cuban restaurant called Versille (sp). It was wonderful.

Wednesday, we saw my Aunt Karen & Uncle George. Frankie & Eli came with us to meet them.

Thursday, Christmas, we saw Claire, my sil's mother up in Pembrook Pines. Pedro was in Peurto Rico visiting his sick, former bil. We had a great deli lunch with her. Nice bagels and lox, fish salads, humus. .. foods we can't get in Macomb. We went to her pool, but only William, Hank & Eli swam. Pedro's son is coming out of jail Jan 1, and they're going to be putting him up, until he gets back on his feet.

Friday, we went to the beach. Nobody swam, because of the tide. It was warm, maybe 80, and breezy. Will chased seagulls. We all had ice cream.

Saturday, we just relaxed a bit. Hank met a friend for lunch. I did some window shopping...Mike needs a new laptop. Had store-bought sushi for dinner.

Today, Sunday, we're going to drive up to Brevard Zoo, about 2.5 hours to meet with my niece, Becky, her husband Mike, and their kids: Ashly, Jesse, Cory, & Sarah. They're coming down from Ocala, about 3.5 hours, so it's not quite half way.