There are much worse things to go on about!
I’m sorry for the ongoing pet, body, and other woes. I have an older cat who’s begun peeing wherever he is when he’s startled, increasing joint pain for me, and a still-upcoming ortho surgery consult for my lovely wife. Despite these flies, the ointment’s still pretty good overall.
I worked with a Taiwanese teacher who wrote a master’s thesis on the differences.
Chinese essays have classic essay forms and still try to stick to that form. They really use flowery language and I have to break them of that habit in English.
They don’t emphasis the typical construction of English high school papers, with topic sentences for each paragraph or, for longer essays, an introduction that ties into all the paragraphs.
We have to spend time learning better organization so all the thoughts are better organized and things stayed together.
The mother of my student wants me to teach her “more beautiful” expressions, but the girl needs to learn English essay organization.
So it’s more about demonstrating mastery of classic forms than about constructing an efficient argument/statement piece? Neat!
Yes! Exactly.
I taught English language and American culture for 11 summer terms; this shift in essay style seems to be generally hard for Asian students. I once gave a talk on the 5-paragraph essay at a Vietnamese university, at their request. The students, especially the young women, rolled their eyes and said, “Yes, yes, we know that already,” then, in the 15-sentence worksheet I gave them, wrote highly Chinese-style essays in response to a pretty standard US college admissions prompt. Though I was sure they could all tell me how to write a 5-paragraph essay, most had a hard time showing me (or didn’t care to show me) an actual essay with the structure and focus put into action.
MMP is where we each prattle about what we think about and do all day.
I logisticate, waste time in my chair, or eat. You do your kids & teach other kids. So that’s what everybody else gets to hear about. Which for each other of us is pretty exotic, not mundane at all. At least what you do is important: the next generation is the only one we’ve got. Gotta launch them correctly or all is lost. And I do mean all. Hat’s off to you Sensei.
It is irk and all but I was pulling for a 4-pack of exotic microbrews. Still, that was thoughtful of everyone there.
That is a cool name. Via the miracle of YouTube last week I learned of a very odd town name which is now one of my favorites in that quirky Midwestern way: “Washington Court House, Ohio”. Yup, three separate words. Whoever heard of a town with the word “house” as a free-standing word? Not I.
Great credentials mean nothing if they’re too rushed to use them on you.
I have switched out of several specialists around here for just that reason. It’s only partly the practitioner’s fault; as you say their corporation drives a lot of this. OTOH, they are called “professionals” for a reason, and if they’re willing to practice low-quality medicine for a greater paycheck, maybe I’ll find somebody else able to practice higher quality medicine with greater professionalism.
Finding such is easier said than done of course, but perhaps worth the push. If your PCP, like mine, is not from that high-production mold it’s a good bet they have plenty of contacts with that same more-professional mindset. Birds of a feather …
As to me:
The ride to MIA was uneventful and we were even early. It still being morning traffic time I got a nice breakfast at the airport: ribeye and eggs, potatoes, and my first coffee in about 24 hours. Which was sorely needed. Once fed, and with traffic somewhat subsided I set off for home. Of course the pay station at the parking lot exit lane I picked was broken so had to back up and go to another one. It’s all new equipment and no more reliable than the falling apart obsolete wreckage it replaced. They did however raise parking rates as soon as the new equipment was installed; gotta pay for it somehow I guess. Gripety gripe gripe!
Home timely, Her Ladyship greeted, laundry launched, and gear reconstituted for my next short-notice callout. Coffee is wearing off, so nappage is soon, after which I’ll lift the whole loaf of contents out of my suitcase and do the odd, unfamiliar, & confusing task of packing for a vacation.
Of course a couple things from my work bags have to come along, which invites forgetting them now, or misplacing them after we return. It’s so easy when you can do the same thing every time with no creativity or oddball remembering required. Soon enough the pack-for-work procedure can be memory-dumped and with luck soon after the “going traveling for the hell of it” packing procedure will be ingrained. Yaay!
Before this post I was busy learning about the Chicago Transit Authority, Ventra, and all the rest. Probably end up using that to/from the airport and Uber around town. No plan to rent a car.
That’s a pretty good idea. Of course, knowing my two, they’d see Hubby or I with the ice cream and would go searching for it. But maybe if I put a knife in the bag… (BtY is scared spitless of any type of knife.)
And? We like hearing about your students and the SenKids. It’s an interesting look at life in another country for me, seeing how many things are different and how many are the same. Heck, most of what I talk about are my kids, Hubby, or inanities happening in my life. It’s all good!
Definitely glad that you’re taking that extra time to rest today. I’ve found that even when I think that my back is improved enough to get a lot done, it only takes one wrong move to prove how wrong I was. Especially when I’m on smaller amounts of sleep. Enjoy another rest day. And I’m glad that Polar is getting back to himself.
I’m so glad that I wasn’t the only one. It makes me feel even more like I’ve come home! 
Found money is always good. I keep checking regularly in the hopes that I forgot some somewhere, but nothing yet. Though I am still checking out various studies for extra cash. Not found money, but still not difficult money either most of the time.
We all have to play to our strengths…
I always hated those kinds of minutes. Just let me do minutes according to the agenda and then I won’t have as much overlap. Hubby has to do the minutes for one of the governing bodies regarding research, and that’s it’s own fine kettle of fish. He’s got to be careful what to name and what not to name, and follow different bosses’ directions on what can and can’t be in the minutes… Normally, I tell him I’ll happily help him with anything if he wants me to type it up. Not this.
I need to get my hair redyed as well. I’m just still really bouncing back and forth on the color - purple or a metallicish shimmery blue-green. It won’t be happening until next week because of the convention, but it’s still been on my mind.
Some more, I could understand. It’s the huge leaps in price and lowering in the amount your getting that just look like greed to me.
When I was still among the soda drinking population, I would go to Sonic for my drinks. Ordering through the app gets me half price drinks any time, any day. I usually get a 44 oz drink with two add ins and it’s still less than $2 with tax. Places that I go with sit-down service… more and more often, I’m getting myself a glass of water.
Have a great time picnicking!
pilot, glad you made it home, even if the situation wasn’t ideal. I don’t blame you for the nappage in the recliner. I hope the neck gets feeling better soon!
metalmouse, I’m reminding myself that someone has to drink the water that are mass produced American beers. (Yep, I’m a beer snob!)
Niner, glad that you’re back! And I’m glad that the conference served to clarify a few things and give you more contacts in the library world. And the information that will help you tailor your interview is invaluable. Good luck Friday!
I was looking through FB memories and realized that today is the 13th anniversary of when our first cat, Tai, went over the Rainbow Bridge. He’d been a six month old street kitty when we got him and he made the move with us from Philly to Nashville. When we moved from our first Nashville apartment to the second, we had a night where the power went out. Somehow, Tai got caught in the arm of the pull-out couch and I had to physically pull him out. We took him to the emergency vet, found his temperature was 90 degrees, and the vet was pretty sure that he’d damaged his back and that he may have had brain damage. Letting him go was the hardest decision we’d ever had to make. I’ve got his and his brother Lemon (who we lost about 5 or 6 years ago) 's ashes on my mantle. I burned their names into their boxes with a wood burner. We’ve been without kittehs since Lemon, and as much as I miss having pets, I’m not sure if we can afford one while trying to get both kids through high school. The plan will be to have pets again someday.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll be pretty gone for the next almost week. The gaming convention runs from Wednesday through the following Monday, 1300-0000 for me (since, as much as I love the gamers in Europe, 0400 is far too early for me along with the other slots). I’m looking forward to it, though I’m still pretty nervous about the games I’m running. But that’s typical. By the time I have my players on the call with me, I’ll be in the zone and playing them like puppets. Bwahahahahahahahaha
Today is just a day of trying to get everything together for the games I’m running, creating and printing out my cheat sheets, talking with friends, making sure that I have all my character stuff written out… just having a day for me to do what I need to do and look good doing it.
This is the new dress that came in the mail yesterday and I love how it looks on me and feels on me. I’m flouncing around singing, “I Feel Pretty”.
I’m sure that if they’d thought of it, they would have gotten me some local microbrews.
Birthday cards and occasional decorations happen here, but usually it’s just a BIG EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT! It was very nice to get the Monsters. 
(I didn’t get a card though.)
It occurred to me that the colonoscopy prep diet includes white rice, so I made congee (jook) for breakfast. I tried an Instant Pot recipe from online, which had the wrong amount of water by half (i.e., it made rice, not congee), but additional water and more time yielded a very nice, thick porridge, which I ate with the egg, tamari, and ginger juice I’m allowed to have.
Looking at how the dress and hair coordinate and go with your skin, etc. I think your new hair color should be something along the blue-green line rather than purple. Just seems more “you” FWIW. YMMV of course.
Work has kicked my butt lately so I’ve mostly just been derping on FB videos and enjoying the cool rainy weather.
But, yanno, hi and all.
I know exactly what you mean.
You look fabbo, BTW.
Maybe there’s only one house? And it doubles as the courthouse since all 4 of the town’s citizens live there? “I get to be bailiff!” “No fair! You were bailiff last time!”
I know just what you mean! It’s weird, though, before I moved here from Dustbin, Wyoming, I assumed I’d have closer and easier access to top-notch medical care. No more driving 100 miles each way to see specialists! WRONG! My rheumatologist is in Seattle, 70 miles away. I was going to one here, but he moved. Now there’s only one, and he’s AWFUL, so he has few patients. Some of my eye specialists are also in Seattle, as is my dermatologist (for cutaneous lupus). There are some of these docs closer, but because I don’t drive, they’re a lot harder to get to.
As for my PCP, he’s the one who referred me to this ortho clinic. There are 22 ortho docs practicing there, so they pretty much own the ortho biz for miles around. It’s getting harder and harder to find independent docs.
One last thing, and then I’ll shut up. I had an optometrist in Wyoming who was da bomb. He took lots of time with each patient, never rushed anyone , answered every question, and explained things thoroughly. We patients had to weight about 90 minutes to be seen.
My, how I DO go on! Sorry about that.
Afternoon all. Back from bicycling away 500 calories and adding 20 minutes in the sauna for good measure, so of course snacked on some snacks and diet sodas, so at least I probably broke even… Did clean my toilets today, might even take the mop to them here in a bit…active, I am…
nellie, you can go on anytime. I’m lucky that my PCP, eye doctor, and dentist are all with 4 miles of my house. They all seem reasonably competent, we’ll see how it goes when the old body starts breaking down in the years ahead.
shoe, glad you checked in, hope work becomes less onerous and you can spend more time with us.
Real Fish, that dress looks great on you. And thanks for sharing the feline memories.
suzie, sounds like the pre-colonoscopy diet has improved since mine. Enjoy.
flyboy, enjoy drinking on the job…energy drinks, of course…
Oh, you mean these guys? Chicago Transit Authority (album) - Wikipedia Enjoy the trip.
Why Sensei, what do you think the rest of us do? MMP is Monday Morning Post, but it really should be called the Monday Morning Prattle. I think I can say we enjoy hearing about it, especially from a really competent and excellent teacher (which you are).
Niner, just go into that interview and be you; knock’em dead with your knowledge, skills and abilities.
OK, think I’m caught up, need to get that mop out and working. All y’all have a good day now.
The reason I asked it that if you like good food there is a good brewery in town with great food too. And on Tuesday night they have trivia!
That looks fab and so do you, RealFish!
Howdy Y’all! Been a day of high sloth and general overall uselessness culminatin’ in an early sup of leftovers. This afternoon has been rainy/stormy which made for some nice weather for day drinkin’ on the back porch. More rain/storms are on the way accordin’ to TWPTB. Bring 'em on I say!
Taters glad you took another day off to deal with the back issues. Yay for Polar feelin’ better today!
RealFish you look f-aaaaaa-bu-lous!
Niner you’ll be aces on the job interview, I just know it to be true!
Home, exhausted, hungry/not hungry… Only 2 teachers showed up, and one didn’t want to go on the boat ride, but we had a nice little putt-putt up the Patuxent a little ways. I feel like I should eat some real food, but I don’t feel like making anything. Maybe I’ll just have an orange or some grapes.
It was a nice day on the water, tho a bit bumpy coming back because we were going into the wind and into some chop. Luckily, our marina is near the end of a very sheltered creek, so the ride smoothed as soon as we got off the big river. We’re still figuring exactly how to come into the slip, but the headsets make communication much simpler, and I’m learning what to tell FCD as we’re backing in.
But now it’s time to kick back and have some major chillage. I read everything but I have nothing to add - hugs to all and have some ice cream. 
I’ve been in the Patuxent, but not on the Patuxent. (The Little Patuxent, that is.)
nm discourse
Well … I got packed for tomorrow’s trip, then it being Tuesday we walked for craft tacos for dinner. The radar had thunderstorms inland heading our way but I thought they looked like they were kinda pooping out. It had rained earlier during / after my nap but by now the puddles had long since drained leaving just damp sidewalks. So umbrellas in hand we set off, hoping for the best but prepared for the less-good.
All the restaurants in that area were having a slow night. The heavy rain midafternoon and the threat of more in the evening seems to have scared away the crowds. More for us. Yaay. We sat outside, but did specify a table under the fixed roof, not under an awning or umbrella. Which they had readily available.
Fine tacos & 'ritas were had and as we started home we had the barest of sprinkles, more like the occasional spit. I never bothered unfurling my brolly. The thunder played a subdued and happy tune in the clouds above, petering out completely along the way.
Just now the last of the Sun is pinking the undersides of the clouds and all is well in the world.
We are saddened to see that the weather in Chicago this late week and weekend will be more like late Apr than early Jun. Lows in the mid 50s and highs in the mid 70s for a few minutes before the damp chill sets in again? Who ordered that?!?
Packing sweaters, not shorts. Grumble grumble.
Speaking of which, I expect to have little time for MMPing the rest of this week. My accustomed weird flavor of normalcy returns on Monday morning, but probably not before.
Cheers all. Don’t let any more pets escape or accidents happen while I’m in absentia.