Guestlist: We Love School

My friend Liz had a pictorial realization about loving her kids' school, and is sharing it with us here in her own words:

A couple days ago, I spent the morning with several other parents at my kids’ school, helping the Elementary II and Middle School switch rooms. The kids did a huge amount of work. I kept seeing things that made me feel so grateful to be part of that community. It started with spotting one of my all-time favorite books lying on top of a pile of science texts. Seeing Dr. Williams’s poems on the biology and chemistry books made me happy. While I scuttled to get my phone, somebody moved it to join the language arts books. But still. No one's tying him down.

1. WCW is in the room.

2. There's knitting lying around on the floor. It's no big deal.

3. There's beauty everywhere.

4. Boys mess with pretty stuff, too.

5. Instead of drab texts, they use books
a person actually wants to look at.

6. They walk the walk.

7. Kids understand the logic of their environment so
completely that they were able to set the room up
pretty much independently.

8. Crayon colors are stored with their complements,
so you can really see them.

9. There's no uniform.

10. They provide necessary instruction.

Actors Who Deserve Oscars for Performances on TV Shows

I think the Academy should make an exception to its silly rule about only awarding Oscars for movie performances in the case of these four actors:

1. Andre Braugher, Homicide
   Have you seen Homicide? Andre Braugher's character is so intense he has a stroke!
2. John Noble, Fringe
   I would watch John Noble read from the phone book.
3. David Tennant, Doctor Who
   Just thinking about David Tennant as The Doctor makes me cry.
4. Martin Freeman, Sherlock
   Specifically the last scene of the last episode of season two. You would have to be a robot to not be moved by that deliciously sad scene.

Guestlist: Found List Repository

My friends Jim & Elisa found a notebook full of lists, with no way to return it to the nameless owner. Here is just a sampling:

• Video tape it!

• Seaweed snacks.

• Syrup

• Boswelia

• Vitality Boost

• Lunchable

• D Batteries

• 9 Volt

• Staples -- Flash Drives

• Library!

• Staples Return

• Radio Shack - Lantern

• Julie and her divorce.

• Shawn and her bloodletting

• My ice cream

• Melatonin

• Toothpaste

• Call groomers

• Big bandaids

• **Carrots!

• Target -- Giant Bow

Borrowed List: 10 Reasons to Slow Down

From the blog Unclutterer

1. Think things through. This doesn't have to take a lot of time, but can be very helpful. By slowing down long enough to assess what's happening around you, you're more equipped to better understand many a situation, rather than just seeing what's on the surface.
2. Make fewer mistakes. When you take your time, you're less likely to trip yourself up. That's because you've thought about most (if not all) of the important details.
3. Make better decisions. When you spend more time thinking about the pros and cons of which direction to go, you're likely to come to more well-rounded and fleshed out conclusions. You may also see your intended path more clearly.
4. Become a better listener. Taking the time to really listen to what someone tells you means that you'll have better conversations. Instead of immediately crafting a rebuttal to what someone says before they finish speaking, you'll really hear them and get a better idea of what they're trying to communicate.
5. Become calmer. I find that when I'm not rushing around, I tend to be less agitated and less prone to getting frustrated. I also think more rationally.
6. Be more productive. One of the benefits of thinking more rationally is that you are more successful at prioritizing and working on the things that need your attention first (you know, instead of playing Angry Birds).
7. Be more efficient. This might seem counterintuitive, but by slowing down, you can actually get more done. It's because you'll spend less energy trying to cram everything into your day and you'll work more effectively at getting the important things completed.
8. Be happier. Who's not happy when they cross stuff off their to do list?
9. Be more focused. Have you ever realized that when your mind is racing, you're sometimes paralyzed and unable to actually make a decision or take action? When you take a few minutes to gather your thoughts, you're better able to focus on the task at hand.
10. Be more open to doing nothing. Or, doing something fun. Any something other than working. This means I can get back to sitting still, and enjoying it.

Reasons Why I Am Happy to Be Back Home

1. missed my sweetie
2. love Memphis water!
3. tired of breathing in all of that recirculated air in the hotel/convention center
4. ran out of aunts to visit in the Chicago area

What Is Going on at the Airport Right Now

• That guy isn't paying an additional $2.75 for an earlier flight. He's just not doing it.
• Lady with chest tattoo is wondering why so-and-so can't take a bath at her own house?
• Earphones guy wants to make sure we all enjoy his very festive music.
• The gate attendant across the way doesn't know why the departure time keeps changing when the pilots are telling her they can't leave yet.
• Cough cough
• She don't never want to see her no more.
• Trail mix man to my right says "Oh my gosh" about something gate attendant says, hoping to engage me in conversation.