BRB
;~bTags: BRB
Monday, June 26, 2006
Casa Babel
I know that all kids grow at their own pace, but I am starting to wonder if speaking to him in three languages is the best thing. Why, well here is a list of his words:
bye (and bye-bye), ashes (said like asses, a potty mouth already, uhh-ohh... these are the ones he uses with any frequency... I think their may be one or two more intelligible ones (he does babble quite a bit).
So, of course I start worrying about his development, because that is what we are supposed to do as parents, aren't we? So, I looked at where he should be...
Babycentral.com informs me of the following (Squinks are bolded - my comments in Italics)
Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Turns the pages of a book
• Has temper tantrums when frustrated
• Becomes attached to a soft toy or other object - for a few days anyway
Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Discovers joy of climbing
• Stacks three blocks
• Learns the correct way to use common objects (e.g. the telephone)
Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
• Takes off one piece of clothing by himself
• Gets finicky about food
• Switches from two naps to one – most of the time
Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Uses a handful of words regularly
• Enjoys pretend games - what are pretend games?
• Likes riding toys
Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Responds to directions (e.g. "Sit down")
• Feeds doll - nope
• Talks more clearly
Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
• Dances to music
• Sorts toys by color, shape, or size
• Kicks ball forward - he does but I think it is on accident
Mastered Skills (most kids can do)
• Will "read" board books on his own - he has always done this
• Can pedal when put on trike
• Scribbles well - Huh?
Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)
• Strings words together in phrases - in his own language
• Brushes teeth with help
• Builds a tower of four cubes
Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
• Throws ball overhand
• Takes toys apart and puts them back together
• Shows signs of toilet training readiness
They go on to say:
13 to 18 months
Now your child is using one or more words, and he knows what they mean. He'll even practice inflection, raising his tone when asking a question, saying "Up-py?" when he wants to be carried, for example. He's realizing the importance of language as he taps into the power of communicating his needs.
Some signs to look out for:
13 to 18 months
Your child isn't saying any words by 15 months (including "mama" or "dada"), didn't babble before his first birthday, is unable to point to any body parts, or you still can't understand a word he's saying by 18 months.
I have never done body parts with him, he doesn't know them... was I supposed to? I mean if he looked at my eye and touched it I would, but never played a game of it...
They go on about bilingual situations... and We don't exclusively speak to him in one language... we can't, if it involves the other adult knowing what the one is saying... so we all mix...
Is there a right way to do this?
I HATE feeling like a failure.
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Saturday, June 24, 2006
random translations
Via Jodiferous
THE RULES:
1. Randomly pick a song from your music library.
2. Find the lyrics for the first four verses/chorus
3. Go to Google translation and translate the lyrics from English into German.
4. Take the new German lyrics and translate them into French.
5. Take the new French lyrics and translate them into English.
6. Post the NEW English lyrics and have people guess the original song
My random song is:
I was wounded to see,
if I still smell
me concentrates on a pain
the only thing which is true
the needle, violently break a drilling
the old close friend passage attempts to kill him all
far me remembers however all that has me,
my softer friend of each one than I know,
go today in at the end
and you could have it
my whole kingdom of dirtiness
me leaves far
you with niederwerfen me forms
wounded you
me carries this one crowns spine
after chair of my liar
of the defective thoughts
me cannot repair
under the marks of time
to disappear the feelings
you am fully different somebody
me am still towards right-hand side here that
me to have, to become
my friend softer
each one than I know, goes far
in at the end
and you could have it
my whole kingdom of dirtiness
me leashes you with niederwerfen
me forms wounded you
if I could still begin
million miles eliminates
me were held to
me a manner found
THE RULES:
1. Randomly pick a song from your music library.
2. Find the lyrics for the first four verses/chorus
3. Go to Google translation and translate the lyrics from English into German.
4. Take the new German lyrics and translate them into French.
5. Take the new French lyrics and translate them into English.
6. Post the NEW English lyrics and have people guess the original song
My random song is:
I was wounded to see,
if I still smell
me concentrates on a pain
the only thing which is true
the needle, violently break a drilling
the old close friend passage attempts to kill him all
far me remembers however all that has me,
my softer friend of each one than I know,
go today in at the end
and you could have it
my whole kingdom of dirtiness
me leaves far
you with niederwerfen me forms
wounded you
me carries this one crowns spine
after chair of my liar
of the defective thoughts
me cannot repair
under the marks of time
to disappear the feelings
you am fully different somebody
me am still towards right-hand side here that
me to have, to become
my friend softer
each one than I know, goes far
in at the end
and you could have it
my whole kingdom of dirtiness
me leashes you with niederwerfen
me forms wounded you
if I could still begin
million miles eliminates
me were held to
me a manner found
My creation - is it real?
My creation - is it real?
Originally uploaded by Blair Necessities.
OK, So here is my swap for coloriffic swap-o-rama... I am so hoping that my recipient loves it, or at least likes it. I threw a few things in there that were not "official" colors, but put them inside things that were "official" colors. My hand made items are on the upper right, a kitty pin cushion and some uber large magnets. I sent some fabrics (lower right) and then filled the rest with goodies I thought my swap partner would enjoy and use. This has been an interesting experience, and I enjoyed it very much!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Pandora Internet Radio
I just found this place! If you want to save space but like to listen to music while tapping away at the old keyboard you might want to try it!Pandora Internet Radio
I guess broadband helps a bit too, but I have tried it for a few days now and like it a lot and I have learned about some new bands and songs I like.
I guess broadband helps a bit too, but I have tried it for a few days now and like it a lot and I have learned about some new bands and songs I like.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine... ad infinitum
When I was little, my favourite song was Yellow submarine... of course, the only words I knew were "yellow" and "submarine" which I would repeat for what I am sure felt like hours on end...
Well, it seems that the Squink follows in those very same footsteps... for your viewing pleasure... Ring around the rosie...
Tags: ashes
Well, it seems that the Squink follows in those very same footsteps... for your viewing pleasure... Ring around the rosie...
Tags: ashes
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Essay on self exploration Part 2
It seems many thought I was being too hard on myself. My mother included, who told me that when she read it she thought to herself something like, “I failed if she thinks this way about herself”. I am not sure where that, which made people think this, was in the essay; to me it was more of a look at how I usually perceive myself (a kind person) is not quite the truth. However, what I was looking at in the essay was what is it that makes my attaining the status of kind person so nebulous… and that is those situations where I allow my very cruel streak to show forth. Thankfully, I can’t find any recent examples where I find I have been cruel to the caliber I was in my youth. But… and I must add this here, I think that reflecting on these things is important.
My recollection of myself in my youth is one of being kind and loving, not hateful, mean or spiteful. I tried to be kind with many different people, but as far as attaining my desired state of grace, I was lacking. I am sure that raging hormones and such allowed for this to happen, as I am not so inclined to tell people that I think they are being stupid or idiots or even fat to the extent I would have in the past, though I do try hard to answer questions honestly. Additionally, my inclination now is to put seeds into their paths to allow them the chance to reflect and judge themselves. After all, age has taught me that I am certainly in no position to judge, and especially to judge harshly for most people. I think pedophiles can be judged… and I am referring to adults that hurt little children, not, for example, consensual sex between a 16 year old and an 18 year old. The later may be stupid behavior but not worth judging to the extent that the first example is. I think this may be the mother in me, though I certainly felt as an aunt and I felt it as a one-of-those-random-every-day-person-without-little-children in her life people. What changed, in becoming a mother, is the rage at those who would hurt little children. But that, I think is a justified rage or anger.
But I digress. It is interesting to note that as my 20th year high school reunion approaches that I am coming into contact with people I knew then. There is another person with whom I was friends then that has come back into my life… and through no desire of my own. they have befriended a very good friend of mine, one I have had for these past 20 years or so… now, truth be told I found this person to be pedantic and a manipulator, and as such I severed our friendship, I did not do this gracefully, but how does one do that, tell someone they don’t want them in their lives anymore because they have some major growing up to do… I don’t know, I don’t think I have gained anymore from these past years other than to say I am much pickier about whom I choose to call a best friend. Well, I agreed to go to dinner with everyone and I was civil, because at this point I still found her a little annoying but in an entertaining way. I thought everything had gone nicely at dinner and felt comfortable with this bizarre friendship triangle. Then I get a phone call from my friend, the good one, and was informed that all the ex-friend could talk about was how rude I was, and how obvious it was that I still did not like her. Well, that had not been true, up until that phone call. So, I am back at thinking this person has not left their manipulative ways, and I now run the risk of losing a friend that I have had for 20 years (because she is that good). Frankly, I would hate to think that we lost all those years of putting up with each other (the good friend), but I don’t need this kind of drama in my life. So where does this leave me…
Well, I guess, right back where I started.
An aside... If you get the chance, check out the video by Sarah McLachlan :'World on Fire' on afterglow. I found it on yahoo music. Someone told me to watch it, so I did and there is a scene about a little boy that made me cry. I don’t usually like Sarah McLachlan all that much, she is in that its OK area… but the video was a nice reminder about our world and its pain and suffering, and just how lucky I am. I like those things, it appeals to the charitable side of my nature. That and it reminds why I think everyone should visit a third world country.
Tags: self, blair
My recollection of myself in my youth is one of being kind and loving, not hateful, mean or spiteful. I tried to be kind with many different people, but as far as attaining my desired state of grace, I was lacking. I am sure that raging hormones and such allowed for this to happen, as I am not so inclined to tell people that I think they are being stupid or idiots or even fat to the extent I would have in the past, though I do try hard to answer questions honestly. Additionally, my inclination now is to put seeds into their paths to allow them the chance to reflect and judge themselves. After all, age has taught me that I am certainly in no position to judge, and especially to judge harshly for most people. I think pedophiles can be judged… and I am referring to adults that hurt little children, not, for example, consensual sex between a 16 year old and an 18 year old. The later may be stupid behavior but not worth judging to the extent that the first example is. I think this may be the mother in me, though I certainly felt as an aunt and I felt it as a one-of-those-random-every-day-person-without-little-children in her life people. What changed, in becoming a mother, is the rage at those who would hurt little children. But that, I think is a justified rage or anger.
But I digress. It is interesting to note that as my 20th year high school reunion approaches that I am coming into contact with people I knew then. There is another person with whom I was friends then that has come back into my life… and through no desire of my own. they have befriended a very good friend of mine, one I have had for these past 20 years or so… now, truth be told I found this person to be pedantic and a manipulator, and as such I severed our friendship, I did not do this gracefully, but how does one do that, tell someone they don’t want them in their lives anymore because they have some major growing up to do… I don’t know, I don’t think I have gained anymore from these past years other than to say I am much pickier about whom I choose to call a best friend. Well, I agreed to go to dinner with everyone and I was civil, because at this point I still found her a little annoying but in an entertaining way. I thought everything had gone nicely at dinner and felt comfortable with this bizarre friendship triangle. Then I get a phone call from my friend, the good one, and was informed that all the ex-friend could talk about was how rude I was, and how obvious it was that I still did not like her. Well, that had not been true, up until that phone call. So, I am back at thinking this person has not left their manipulative ways, and I now run the risk of losing a friend that I have had for 20 years (because she is that good). Frankly, I would hate to think that we lost all those years of putting up with each other (the good friend), but I don’t need this kind of drama in my life. So where does this leave me…
Well, I guess, right back where I started.
An aside... If you get the chance, check out the video by Sarah McLachlan :'World on Fire' on afterglow. I found it on yahoo music. Someone told me to watch it, so I did and there is a scene about a little boy that made me cry. I don’t usually like Sarah McLachlan all that much, she is in that its OK area… but the video was a nice reminder about our world and its pain and suffering, and just how lucky I am. I like those things, it appeals to the charitable side of my nature. That and it reminds why I think everyone should visit a third world country.
Tags: self, blair
Friday, June 16, 2006
Essay on self exploration Part 1
I have been corresponding with an old friend for a while now. Like many friendships, this one had its good points and its amazingly low points. In the end, neither of us were very good friends to the other, though we cared for the others well being very deeply. So, through a certain googled name, we came in contact again… it has been interesting to say the least. It has brought back a lot of the anger, on both our parts I think, on how we treated the other. Which is a shame, but it is a very interesting process. In part, because we are speaking honestly for the first time in a very long time, also, because the process has been very liberating as well as humiliating. Facing ones nastier past is not the easiest of tasks. You are forced through their or ones own dialog to look at ones actions, not from the ego point of view, but from the more global view. Looking at how one behaved as an adolescent, in my case, requires a lot of self forgiveness and exploration of the reasons why I treated some folks so terribly.
There was one friend that I once told she was fat, to her face. In retrospect, she was not fat, (and you don't know how mush I fought to not write "all that" here) though she was most certainly not the nicest person and did hurt many friends of mine... but, frankly, that did not give me license to hurt her feeling so badly. Now, I have to admit, it this occurrence of calling her fat, happened after imbibing a few bottles of champagne while in a hot tub (these do not mix BTW)… but what gave me license to drink that way… for one it was illegal for me to drink (though I did often and well during these years of my life) and it is also, and most importantly, quite contrary to my nature to behave that way. Sadly, that was not the only time I was mean to that girl. And when I think about what I did to her (in absence of what she did to me and any one else), contrition is not enough, I almost feel worthy of a hair shirt and self flagellation.
Now, that is also an interesting idea… that feeling of intense remorse that makes one feel that worthiness is not attainable, unless through acts of contrition. I think my growing up in a South American catholic environment may be the origin of some of this, in addition to trying very hard to be a good person and hating ones failures in that attempt. After all I did join in on a pilgrimage where we crawled on our knees to the church once... I was 6 or so and it was my choosing.
Where can I find solace that the long term repercussions, of these times when I behaved so abominably, are not negative ones to her anymore? Can I assume that she took these situations and turned them into more positive ones? I do not fear damnation, I know in my heart that I try very hard to be a good person; that I try to behave honorably, to be patient with folks who think differently than I, that I work very hard at tempering my tongue when I hear or see things I consider unfair and/or condescending... When I don’t think people are trying to attain a higher standard themselves. Now this may be what some may call my standard, but I think there is a universal ideal on how folks should be treated… that standard is the one to which I am referring. Sure there is a gray area, but all the religions touch on it, the most famous probably being to love thy neighbor or the golden rule…
I guess my point is that it is always hard to face that in the past I was not the nicest of people and that I could sink so very low, and that I allowed a sense of retribution to direct me to behave poorly.
PS I am listening to the Magic Flute - I always get reflective when I listen to Mozart.
Tags: self, blair
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Word Association
- Band :: Aid
- Tan :: Black and
- Mount :: Vesuvius
- Arcade :: video
- Customize :: google home page
- Hamburger :: helper
- Solid :: ground
- Forbidden :: fruit
- Deter :: Dieter
- Torment :: torture
The hamburger one is embarrasing, but I swear I have never used the stuff!
Via Mrs. Ootfp
Tags: Word Association
Monday, June 12, 2006
well...
| You scored 52% Gryffindor, 24% Ravenclaw, 20% Hufflepuff, and 4% Slytherin! |
| Difficult. Difficult. Plenty of courage. Not a bad set of brains. A good heart. And the determination to prove yourself. But where to put you? BETTER BE - The house with the highest percentage you scored. Ps: If it's the same number, pick the one you think is most right for you. We are not determined by our talents but by our choices-A.D |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Hogwarts Sorting Hat Test written by itui on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test |
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
screenshot of my blog
screenshot of my blog Originally uploaded by Blair Necessities.
KEY:
blue: links (a tags)
red: tables (table, tr, td tags)
green: divs
violet: images (img tags)
yellow: forms (form, input, textarea, select, option tags)
orange: block formatting (br, p, blockquote tags)
black: root (html tag)
gray: all other tags
and thanks to ::dura:matter:: for sending me there
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Happy Blogiversary Nettie
My guest post will be on nettiebelle.com sometime today.
UPDATE: It is up! Don't forget... we have a few more weeks of this celebration.
Happy blogiversary to you
Happy blogiversary to you
Happy blogiversary, dear Nettie
Happy blogiversary to you.
Tags: blogiversary
UPDATE: It is up! Don't forget... we have a few more weeks of this celebration.
Happy blogiversary to you
Happy blogiversary to you
Happy blogiversary, dear Nettie
Happy blogiversary to you.
Tags: blogiversary
Sanctimonious
sanc·ti·mo·ni·ous
adj.
Feigning piety or righteousness: “a solemn, unsmiling, sanctimonious old iceberg that looked like he was waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity” (Mark Twain).
sancti·moni·ous·ly adv.
sancti·moni·ous·ness n.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
sanctimonious.
sanctimonious adj : excessively or hypocritically pious; "a sickening sanctimonious smile" [syn: holier-than-thou, pietistic, pietistical, pharisaic, pharisaical, self-righteous]
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
I find this to be an intriguing word.
It was noted that I was not an enthusiastic supporter of this post by its writer.
So I told him why, though I feel like the Bible verse I left him tells it all.
(Eph 4:29-32 NASB) Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
And since it appears that he is unable to interpret the Word... I will tell him what this verse says to me...
It was reminding him that his is not the place to sit in judgement, his is not the place to let bitterness and such rest and his IS the place to bring kindness and forgiveness.
adj.
Feigning piety or righteousness: “a solemn, unsmiling, sanctimonious old iceberg that looked like he was waiting for a vacancy in the Trinity” (Mark Twain).
sancti·moni·ous·ly adv.
sancti·moni·ous·ness n.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
sanctimonious.
sanctimonious adj : excessively or hypocritically pious; "a sickening sanctimonious smile" [syn: holier-than-thou, pietistic, pietistical, pharisaic, pharisaical, self-righteous]
Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University
I find this to be an intriguing word.
It was noted that I was not an enthusiastic supporter of this post by its writer.
So I told him why, though I feel like the Bible verse I left him tells it all.
(Eph 4:29-32 NASB) Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
And since it appears that he is unable to interpret the Word... I will tell him what this verse says to me...
It was reminding him that his is not the place to sit in judgement, his is not the place to let bitterness and such rest and his IS the place to bring kindness and forgiveness.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
She's once, twice, three times a
Crazy.....
yup, that is moi!
REASON #1
I am doing this:
I swap with Swap-bot!
Interesting you may say... but I looked at the caliber of crafts these ladies put out and I am sure hoping that someone likes my little items, the ones that I am pouring my heart into...
Mrs. OOtfp... wanna help? You are a fabulously crafty lady... no, never mind... you must work on your school work and learn to be the worlds most effective listener... (woot! ~ you already are!!!)
Reason #2
After the post by the Three Graces ... check out the one for today... I was rendered speechless, I don't know what to say, it is a rant... and focuses primarily on the ugliness of passion (with a passion). I think I better stop here...
[insert minor expletive here]
Nettie is still having a guest-post-all-week-long blogiversary event... mine will still be up this Wednesday, it is still a great topic, and I am still regretting what I wrote (less so after today)... some hard acts to follow!
Tags: Swap, blogiversary
P.S. I am feeling rather L33T today... I am Queen dork! <- Reason #3 folks!!!1!
yup, that is moi!
REASON #1
I am doing this:
I swap with Swap-bot!
Interesting you may say... but I looked at the caliber of crafts these ladies put out and I am sure hoping that someone likes my little items, the ones that I am pouring my heart into...
Mrs. OOtfp... wanna help? You are a fabulously crafty lady... no, never mind... you must work on your school work and learn to be the worlds most effective listener... (woot! ~ you already are!!!)
Reason #2
After the post by the Three Graces ... check out the one for today... I was rendered speechless, I don't know what to say, it is a rant... and focuses primarily on the ugliness of passion (with a passion). I think I better stop here...
[insert minor expletive here]
Nettie is still having a guest-post-all-week-long blogiversary event... mine will still be up this Wednesday, it is still a great topic, and I am still regretting what I wrote (less so after today)... some hard acts to follow!
Tags: Swap, blogiversary
P.S. I am feeling rather L33T today... I am Queen dork! <- Reason #3 folks!!!1!
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
A very good post about Cultural Competence
The Ancestress Hypothesis: The laws and politics of cultural competency
I think this really says something about the state of the world in as far as the interaction of different cultures goes... of any and all colors.
What do you think?
I think this really says something about the state of the world in as far as the interaction of different cultures goes... of any and all colors.
What do you think?