Beneath the Wraps

          As I mentioned in my last post, I am up to two classes again. In one accounting class I am required to used QuickBooks online.   The other feels like a refresher course - though I think I'd get more out of it if I had the same instructor that I had for 101 and 102.               My payroll instructor wasn't exactly monotone, but his voice did seem unenthusiastic for the most part - as though he'd rather be sitting in a dentist chair getting his teeth drilled than having to teach a class.   One instructor that I have is at the other extreme - trying to compensate for the less-than-exciting material by being "overly" enthusiastic.   I almost feels like I am taking a class taught by my brother-in-law.             The instructor I like listening   to the most is the one I have for QuickBooks. ...

                My appreciation for art is so-so.   There are certain paintings that appeal to me for various reasons - and perhaps on a subconscious level, it is the lighting and balance and whatever other techniques are used by the artist.   Usually, it is the subject of the painting.   That is what I am focused on, not the colors, tones, hues or layers for example.   All the detail that is put into a professional painting seems overwhelming to me and actually seems to detract from the beauty that I had seen there initially.             In college, I once took an art appreciation class - just to force myself to understand and hopefully appreciate it more.   It backfired. I was so put out by the symbolic gestures and the history, it's a wonder I didn't drop the class.   I would struggle with these foreign concepts and tri...

          I had heard that a lawsuit had been brought against WEN® Hair Care Products,  although I hadn't known when or why.  I recently looked it up on line.  I don't know how many articles share this information as I read through only a few.  I personally haven't had a problem with the product itself.  If there was any hair loss, it went unnoticed.   I LOVED the product.  I immediately felt a tremendous difference with the texture of my hair and Jenna's hair.  I could actually attempt to style our hair without cringing.  I loved the feel of my hair and heard that it smelled great.  I wasn't happy with the "build-up" that seemed to be forming on my scalp - though I never blamed WEN.  As I have stated in several posts before, I have a LOT of hair.  Often the thickness gets in the way and my scalp doesn't always get a proper rinse.       ...

            When commercials come on, Roland will usually watch them and critique them.   Depending on the station, he will sometimes tire of them and start changing channels.   Recently during his channel hopping, he landed on a program focusing on individuals searching for   biological connection.   As the story unfolded, a connection was made due to a facebook post in which the biological mother wished her unknown daughter a happy birthday.   It matched the same birthday of the child who was seeking her mother.   It got me to wonder if the boys half sister on their mother's side might be looking for her biological past.                 About six months before Roland met his first wife, she had given birth to a part white/part Asian daughter.   She'd given her up for adoption and said that the adoptive...

          I'm actually quite impressed with Roland's phone skills.   I got rid of cable as we were paying outrageous amounts each month.   We have been able to pick up six stations with an antenna we purchased, but there was a day when I'm assuming the weather had interfered and we were only down to two.           As mentioned previously, Jenna and I could live without the TV or cable.    We watch it because it's there, but would not miss it if it wasn't.   But Roland likes having the TV and had called another company to see how much cable would run.           So our internet was with Charter.   We NEED the Internet.   Roland works from home online.   We both go to school online.   We need the Internet.   We do not need the cable.   Nevertheless, Roland found a great deal in whi...

            Roland comes off as a domineering parent sometimes.   Jenna absolutely hates it when she is told to comb her hair or wear a coat or dress nicely or what have you.   The more he makes suggestions or "harps" on the subject, the more rebellious she is about it.             I will admit that I am not as observant.   For three and a half years I have tried fixing her hair and seeing it wreck before we get to school.   I stopped fighting.   Richard has only begun.   Although he has been a teenager, he's never been a girl.   We have hormones.   There seem to be chemical imbalance just before that time of the month.   Let it go.             The rain in Oregon is different from rain in Utah.   Desert rain is wet.   It soaks you.   Oregon rain - even wh...

            I am now in my eighth mod ( school credit courses crammed into a four week period) at school.   I have taken thirteen classes (ten credited), have had twelve instructors, 33.6 credits and have maintained a 4.0 average (which for me is quite an accomplishment)             For three weeks we are required to post and participate in a discussion. Only five of my classes offered a discussion during the fourth week.   Thus far all of my female instructors have made comments to each student on the discussion board except for one week my English instructor (see here ). I think that week was just an exception for that class, or so I am guessing.             Each week for three weeks students are graded upon discussion, an assignment, and an assessment.   References are required when pos ting...

I have an ancestor named Robert Stuart Stirrat Purdie.   That's his name.   Both middle names are pronounced "Stew-ert".   My mom had told me that it was a custom (whether in the family or community is unknown) for the parents to name the child (in this case middle name) after the first visitor who calls after the baby was born.   Friends Stuart and Stirrat (whose last names are unknown to me at this time) arrived together to call upon the family - thus Robert was given two identical middle names, although different spellings.   Comes in handy when trying to piece together if various records do indeed belong with the ancestor you're trying to find.   I have not run into any juniors or seniors on either side of my family (well, not until the lines of royalty - which thus far are just names - the accuracy of their relation is also unknown.   They didn't actually use Junior and Senior but I, II, II, IV, etc.)   My grandmother wanted to name h...

I went outside to put a card in the mailbox.  The air is so bleak right now.  It's a stay-at-home-and-cuddle-at-the-fireplace day.  I could hear this song (the tune itself) describing more than just the weather