November 30, 2010

Day 334


AAAACK! Christmas catalogs are already over-running the kitchen table, and it's not even December yet! (And yet, they are so fun to look through!)

Today's Quote: The lyrics to "Look Away" by Thousand Foot Krutch

She's everything to everyone
Wish I could have seen it come
Down but I heard it correctly.
It seems everything she knows is now
Five minutes to close and that's
Not a lot of time when you're nervous.

And they say don't look away, don't be afraid
When you want to turn back a million times.
It might get colder but wait til it's over.
Darling you'll find your way.
And she said

I will not look away this time,
Take all these cuts and make them shine.
And all this pain I feel inside,
So I can find my way home again.
I will not look away this time,
Take all these cuts and make them shine,
Don't wanna be perfect just alright.

He's on his way to nowhere
'Cause he heard it was safe there.
And safe is something valuable here.
He spent half his life searching
And the other half working
To find out if Jesus is real.

And they said son look away, don't be afraid
When you want to turn back a million times
And it might get colder but wait til it's over.
Son you will find your way.
And I said

I will not look away this time,
Take all these cuts and make them shine.
And all this pain I feel inside,
So I can find my way home again.
I will not look away this time.
Take all these cuts and make them shine.
Don't want to be perfect just alright.

And every time, every line, every time you want to say goodbye,
Every time, every line, every time you want to say goodbye sing.

I will not look away this time.
Take all these cuts and make them shine.
And all this pain I feel inside.
So I can find my way home again.
Take all these cuts and make them shine.
Don't wanna be perfect just alright.

She's everything to everyone
Wish I could have seen it come down
But I heard it correctly,
It seems everything she knows is now
Five minutes to close and that's
Not a lot of time when you're nervous.

November 29, 2010

Day 333

I have really enjoyed my OU Math Department hoodie:


But, I'm worried that it might be dead now. :( I was wearing it Saturday over my Razorbacks T-shirt for the football games, and when I took it off, I noticed these stains all down the arm (and, more faintly, on other parts of the hoodie):


You're seeing these after being stain treated twice with different stain products. :( Next step, the stain professionals (dry cleaners). Problem is, I'm not entirely sure what the stains ARE, so it's tough to know how to treat them. Bummer. I love that hoodie.

Quote of the Day: "Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." -- Elsie de Wolfe (borrowed from a friend's facebook status)

November 28, 2010

Day 332

A few pictures from the trip home today:




No need to adjust your screen. Oklahoma roads really are just that exciting. :)

In other (more interesting) news, Happy Birthday to my mother-in-law, Tia!

Quote of the Day: "May you live all the days of your life." -- Jonathan Swift

November 27, 2010

Day 331

Near the end of a long day of football-watching and errand-running, both dogs and people just wanted to crash on the couch...


Today's Quote: "If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow." -- Rachel Carson

November 26, 2010

Day 330


Taking a break from browsing at Best Buy to try out the display of super-expensive noise-canceling headphones...

Today's Quote: "Gravity is not responsible for people falling in love." -- Einstein

November 25, 2010

Day 329

Thanksgiving Day! We had food,


dessert,


and good times with family.


What more could you ask for? We are thankful for so much this and every year.

Quote of the Day: "In the essentials: Unity. In the non-essentials: Liberty. In all things: Love." -- Augustine

November 24, 2010

Day 328

Dinner and shopping and girl time with Emily tonight! Yay!


Quote of the Day: "One falsehood spoils a thousand truths." -- African proverb

November 23, 2010

Day 327

A couple of sweet pictures of the Marsh family's "Sadie-bug":



Quote of the Day: "Those who deserve love the least need it the most." -- as seen on a sign at a Fort Smith business many many years ago

November 22, 2010

Day 326

A quick shot of the Elm Street Parking Garage all lit up at night:


Quote of the Day: "A true friend is the rarest of all blessings." (as found on a very special coffee mug) :)

November 21, 2010

Day 325

So, I finally caved and made Page's Peanut Butter Fudge recipe today. It was surprisingly easy, so I'm wondering if I screwed something up. :) Guess I'll find out tomorrow when I have taste-testers! Does it look right?


Quote of the Day: Lyrics to "For Those Who Wait" by Fireflight


This is for those who wait

Another day another waiting game
A little different but it’s still the same
I am here but wheres the One I’m longing for
I’m having troubles feeling all alone
When my heart find a home
I want to hope but sometimes I just don’t know
I know I’m not the only one

(Chorus)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

I want to open up my eyes
I know that I’m in need is time
I’m growing stronger every single day
God, I’m gonna lead them to You now
Letting go all of my fear and doubt
I can’t do this on my own so I’ll give You control
I know I’m not the only one

(Chorus)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
The pressure makes us stronger
The struggle makes us hunger
The hard lessons make the difference
And the difference makes it worth it

(Chorus)
So you sing a lullaby
To the lonely hearts tonight
Let it set Your heart on fire
Let it set You free
When you’re fighting to believe in a love that you can’t see
Just know there is a purpose
For those who wait

Set your heart on fire
This is for those who wait

November 20, 2010

Day 324

Today was "Sooner Saturday," where high school students come to OU to tour the campus and various departments, get information about coming to OU, etc. I helped with the Math Department's Open House from 11:30-2:30 (really 3:00). There were some slow moments, and another grad student started working on this puzzle that requires you to assemble odd-shaped pieces into a tetrahedron. At one point, he gave up and just stacked all the pieces on the pile. Here's the result (which I dubbed "a tetrahedron after a hard night") from two different angles:



Today's Quote: "There is nothing that can be said by mathematical symbols and relations which cannot also be said by words. The converse, however, is false. Much that can be and is said by words cannot successfully be put into equations, because it is nonsense." -- C. Truesdell

November 19, 2010

Day 323

Before Patrick started P90X, he had me hide his last stash of peanut butter M&Ms. Tonight, we got them out for date night. :) Also, you can see how chapped this weather is making my hands. :(


Quote of the Day: "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

November 18, 2010

Day 322


Relaxing on the couch watching The Big Bang Theory. :)

Quote of the Day: Heard the J. J. Heller song "Your Hands" on the radio this morning, and it just seemed to fit my mood. So, I am quoting the lyrics instead of simply someone's words tonight in hopes that it speaks to one of my blog readers, too.


I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn’t there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

November 17, 2010

Day 321

Had a great dinner at Freebird's tonight with Candace... and totally forgot to take a picture. :( Fortunately, I had saved part of my brownie that I could use for evidence:


Just for the record, the name comes from the way the brownie is made, not its contents. :)

Quote of the Day: "To be mature means to face, and not evade, every fresh crisis that comes." -- Fritz Kunkel

November 16, 2010

Day 320


One of the many "unique" art pieces on campus. It's tough to tell in this picture, but it's a boy reclining, and his middle is submerged in the ground. It always looks relaxing to me.

Quote of the Day: "Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not." -- George Bernard Shaw

November 15, 2010

Day 319


Yes, this is our bathroom shower. Yes, I closed the curtain because the shower desperately needs to be cleaned. And yes, there is a reason that the shower is significant today:

I get cold easily. This is probably a shock to precisely none of you. However, once in a while, I get REALLY cold. As in, my hands and feet turn a lovely shade of purple, I shiver frequently, and I simply can't get warmed up. I have found that the most effective cure for this kind of cold is to just take a warm shower. Somehow, that manages to finally do what 4 layers of clothing / blankets cannot. So today, I am thankful for hot water and warm showers. :)

Today's Quote: "The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." -- Edward Bulwer-Lytton

November 14, 2010

Day 318

We had to run by Walmart after church today, and Patrick went in to pick up what he needed while I stayed in the car. When he returned, he brought me these:


So sweet! Plus, I love the bright fall colors!

Quote of the Day: "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. The courage to continue is what counts." -- Winston Churchill

November 13, 2010

Day 317


Santa's helper was busy wrapping and organizing today. (Yes, I like to start early.)

Daily Quote: "Wisdom has two parts: 1) having a lot to say, and 2) not saying it." -- from a Dove Chocolate wrapper

November 12, 2010

Day 316

Thanks to soon-to-expire Monopoly coupons, I had a free Egg McMuffin courtesy of McDonald's this morning:

I don't typically like to eat breakfast out, and I don't think I'll pick up the habit anytime soon (hey - I love my cereal in my pj's). But, it was kind of a nice change of pace for today.

I also wanted to give a quick glimpse into a common occurrence during football season around here. Technically, people aren't allowed to set up tents (etc.) for tailgating until noon on Friday. However, to save their spots, they come "camp out" on Friday mornings - EARLY. They do this on the street that runs beside the stadium, which also happens to be a main thoroughfare through campus, so I drive by them on my way in each Friday. Today, I tried to get some cell phone camera shots as I drove (so I apologize for the quality).


Tents sitting out on the grass, waiting to be constructed at noon.


They even bring out port-a-potties for the tailgaters!

What I can't figure out, though, is how these people have jobs that allow them to take off a half (or full) day on Friday so many times during football season! And, where can I get one? ;)

Quote of the Day: "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure." -- Colin Powell

November 11, 2010

Day 315

Couldn't bring myself to work tonight, so I baked instead. :) Pumpkin bread!


Quote of the Day (in honor of Veteran's Day): "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." -- Elmer Davis

Thank you to all those who have courageously served to defend our freedoms and protect our nation and its people. We can't say enough about how this country values your commitment and the sacrifices you and your families have made.

November 10, 2010

Day 314

Two random campus shots today:

1. I LOVE the fall colors from my office window - you can see such a great mix of green with orange, red, and yellow in the nearby neighborhoods. Hopefully those colors come through in this photo:


2. I had to walk across campus today to borrow something from a professor in another building. On the way, I saw this displayed on the "South Oval":


Yes, that is an inflatable bounce-around. With college kids inside. The best part is, I wasn't the only one who stopped to take a picture of this!!!

Random thought: Could today be considered a kind of "Pi Day" on the blog? (Notice my eagerness to mix math and dessert?)

Quote of the Day: "A man is like a fraction whose numerator is what he is and whose denominator is what he thinks of himself. The larger the denominator the smaller the fraction." -- Count Lev Nikolgevich Tolstoy

November 9, 2010

Day 313

I had some errands to run this morning, and as I was driving around Norman, I kept noticing the beautiful fall foliage that is finally starting to emerge! Enjoy!




Quote of the Day (inspired by the leaves and the good 'ole Oklahoma wind): "A wind has blown the rain away and blown the sky away and all the leaves away, and the trees stand. I think, I too, have known autumn too long." -- e. e. cummings

November 8, 2010

Day 312

When I walked by this clock today, my first thought was, "I know you how feel, buddy." Then, I knew it had to be today's blog picture. :)


Quote of the Day: "Poetry is to prose as dancing is to walking." -- John Wain

November 7, 2010

Day 311

What's that hanging out in our fridge?


Leftover Cheddar Bay Biscuits from lunch at Red Lobster! Yum! And in case you're curious why they're in a baggie instead of a take-home box... well, they might have left the restaurant wrapped in napkins inside my purse. :)

Quote of the Day: "Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." -- Helen Keller

November 6, 2010

Day 310


Patrick started P90X this week, so today he got himself a new "toy" (pull-up bar). I keep wanting to swing from it. Is that so bad?

Quote of the Day:
God, grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
--Reinhold Niebuhr--

November 5, 2010

Day 309

I might have gone a bit overboard with the paper towel purchase yesterday...


In my defense, they were much cheaper per roll this way. Now I just have to find a place to store them, because I'm guessing "under the piano" isn't a viable long-term option.

Quote of the Day: "We've opened our minds so much that our brains have fallen out." -- a guy in my classes last fall during a discussion of critical theory - I thought it was so funny that I remembered it this long!

November 4, 2010

Day 308

Yesterday, I tried a really good diet / caffeine free soda during a Math Club panel on graduate school. Naturally, I had to grab an extra can on the way out:


It's currently in my office fridge awaiting the day when I REALLY need a boost. :) In other news, I had an interesting view when I got into my car after a trip into Walmart today:


Seriously, pretty much the entire actual truck was above my entire car. How do you even get into a vehicle like that???

Quote of the Day: "To love at all is to be vulnerable." -- C. S. Lewis

November 3, 2010

Day 307


Duo of the Day: 1. I finally caved and used the hairspray. My hair turned out better. I was a little bitter, because now I can't go without it again. :-P 2. The mouthguard... stress keeps getting to my mouth!

Quote of the Day: "Scratch the surface of most cynics and you find a frustrated idealist -- someone who made the mistake of converting his ideals into expectations." -- Peter Senge

November 2, 2010

Day 306

It's Election Day! Make sure you get out to vote so you can get an awesome sticker like this:


At least in Oklahoma, polls are open until 7:00 PM tonight. Once you vote, you get to wear your "I made a difference today" face, like so:


And, in honor of Election Day, a somewhat political-sounding quote:

He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that. -- John Stuart Mill

November 1, 2010

Day 305

While working on my teaching plans for this week, I decided that Friday I would break my students up into groups to practice some new skills. So, I took one of their standard roll sheets and highlighted the names so that each group was a particular color. That way, when the roll sheet circulates at the beginning of class, students will learn what group they're in without me having to stand in the front of the class and announce it. Then, I can just tell them where I want each group to locate and let them scatter into their groups. I also group by many criteria: Ability, personality, gender, making sure people aren't with their "buddies", etc. It takes me a while to do this, but (I hope) it really helps class to run smoothly on groupwork days. Plus, students never get bored with their group because it changes every time! Here's this week's roll sheet (with identifying information protected):


Quote #5: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -- Eleanor Roosevelt