Beneath the Wraps

  Jenna's rough drawing of what Echo and "Attitude" might appear as icons I think I have created a couple of posts in which I refer to “ Alexa ” .   We have two, an echo and one built into the sound system for the TV.   Jenna had won the echo two and a half years ago when we had gone to Salem for an open house for the online school that Roland works for.   We kept it over the fireplace for over a year before Roland purchased a new sound system for the television.   He had a choice of making it “ Okay Google ” or “ Alexa ”.   I told him to go with “ Okay Google ” so the two wouldn’t both activate at the same time but he chose not to listen to me and go with Alexa and moved the Echo into Jenna’s room.   But her room is too close and both would activate – at least simultaneously. We now have the Echo in our room and have an alarm set to go off at 5:15 each weekday morning. Our room is located right next door to Jenna’s and so often both will act...

           Bonnie really is a sweet dog.  She constantly wags her tail.  She will follow family members around from room to room so that she doesn ’ t get left behind.  Jenna was away for three hours on Saturday and Bonne whined from the moment she left until the moment Jenna returned.  Yesterday she decided to make herself my buddy.  It was too cold for both of us to take her on a walk – although we did let her out to do her thing.  She somehow believed the weather would be different out the front door than it was out the back.           Bonnie is threatened by dogs that are smaller than her.   She doesn ’ t seem to have any problems with cats.   She enjoys chasing squirrels and playing in the leaves.   I had the opportunity of seeing her violent side when she darted into the street to chew out a small dog walking with his/her owners.   I had never seen that b...

           For the last two days I’ve accepted work assignments from two different schools to fill in for aides who have been given the assignment to keep an eye on specific students.   I feel for the students who are trying their best but allow themselves to get distracted by the one who is “unique” or has “special needs” and may be treated with “kid gloves” when they, themselves are not and wonder why a certain classmate is allowed to get away with things that they cannot.           I understand the need to allow a “special needs” to have the same opportunity as those who are considered the norm.   I think it equally important for the “norm” to be exposed to “special needs” as they learn about discipline, social skills and other things that are not a part of academics but still need to be learned.   But at whose expense?           Though the ...

        On July 27, 2012 I had created this post comparing my husband, his children and I to the personalities of the 100 acre wood and had dubbed myself as Rabbit because he is always so uptight.   He may have mellowed a bit from Walt Disney's animation to computerized animation used in the 2018 movie "Christopher Robin".   But as the focus was not about Rabbit but only made a brief appearance along with Owl, Kanga and Roo, it's hard to say.           I, on the other hand, am a lot more mellow.   I haven't been uptight since moving to Oregon.   I feel free.   I don't feel trapped.   The wonders of breathing clean air.   I'm not as organized as Rabbit - though I would like to be. I still don't care for gardening - though I do eating produce fresh from the garden.   We failed at having a garden in 2018, but should be back on track this year.     ...

            Love my three-year-old nephew.   He reminds me of Jenna with his sophisticated vocabulary and knowledge.   His parents said he is currently into volcanoes - claiming that they saw 18 on the way her and four since they arrived.   Jenna may have used the word "volcano" to mean hill or mountain, but volcano is much cooler to say as there are more syllables.             BJ also likes to jump and suck his thumb.   I wonder if he jumps over volcanic lava the way that Jenna used to - well still does at times.   What a great imagination!             Thumb sucking is hard to break.   We had used a food substitute called imitation butter to get Kayla to stop sucking her thumb as it was the only non-harmful thing we could find to put on her thumb that she didn't enjoy sucking.  ...

            I can remember working for one company in which two part-time employees shared a desk.   Marilyn preferred having a mat on the floor in order to easily slide her chair under her desk, but Connie was in a wheel chair; it also slipped on the mat, but not in a positive way.   She did not want the mat anywhere near the desk.             Two different people.   Two different needs.   And who's to say either one of them may be wrong.   It is only one example of one size does not fit all.             I had watched an interview once in which the interviewer discovered that Kelly Clarkson hides her trophies - or at least kept them away from public display. I can't find the reference however, but I remember thinking "Good for her."             ...

            Yesterday I started two new classes in addition to a grant class I'm taking for the library.   The two classes I'm taking currently delve into personality.   I have a feeling my head will fill faster than my fingers will be able to keep up. I've taken intelligence quizzes before - even before I started taking classes online.   I see the growth in my answers.   The instructor made the suggestion to look at where we were ten years ago and where we are now emotionally.   This is what I've written - but feel that it's too long for the discussion.   Even if I reference myself, I don't have anything to put in APA form as a reference.   So I'm posting it here - although you may have read it all before.             Ten years ago I walked with my three year old daughter to the school.   We took many walks around not only our neighborhood but my mom'...

I used to spend more times reading others' blogs.  After we moved to Oregon, the time I spend reading blogs has diminished.  Once in a while I will go through a certain post.  After reading some of  Mrs. Pepper's posts, I decided to take a challenge/invite that she had created for certain bloggers.  But I'm guessing she also has a bigger following than I do.  Many of my readers don't have their own blogs.  So here are my answers : 1. If you could have chosen your own name, would it be the same one you have?   no.  My mom has ALWAYS Loved my name.  I got to the point where I tolerated it.  But it's still not my favorite. I chose LaTiesha Cannon as my blog name.   But I really do like name that starts with J: Jenna, Julie, Jaime, Jennifer . . . probably Jenna or Jamie. 2. What is your favorite song? It varies from time to time.   There is such a large variety of songs that I really like.   I don't k...

          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...

   My dad was a man of few words.   He did not share much of himself with anyone - including his own children.   So when he did share experiences with us - particularly about his past - it was indeed a rare treasure.   Although I may have not appreciated it at the time, I now realize what a treasure it truly was.        We were having a family home evening lesson - I'm thinking on judgement.  I remember him sharing an example from his past.  He said that there was a boy in his class who was not all that nice, one that had the reputation of a bully.  Someone whose personality clashed with everybody.  My dad was no exception.  He said though he had tried, he just didn't like the guy.        One day the teacher had given the class an exam.  My dad said his arm was in a cast at the time, and he wasn't able to write the answers in the given amount of time.  When ...

         About a year and a half after we moved in, Jenna was out in front playing with Wesley.   Wes introduced her to Blake, who lived around the corner.   Blake and Jenna decided to be friends and ditched Wesley who had decided to climb on the roof next door.   Both Blake and Jenna were mortified by his decision.          The next day Blake came over to play with Jenna.   It just happened to be her birthday and she had turned seven.   I had a party planned with many of her friends from the old neighborhood.   Jenna asked if Blake could go with us.   I told them both that we would need permission from Blake’s parents – or parent rather.   Like many of the children over here, Blake came from a broken home.          Blake left the house and made his way back in what felt like only two minutes.   He said it...