The Great Brain Project

Our local elementary school has a project the first graders complete called "The Great Brain Project." The idea behind it is that the kids choose a subject, become an expert on that subject, and then share their expertise with their classmates.

In LuLu's class, kids became GBs--Great Brains--on countries, insects, games, etc.

Pretty cool, no?

But you know what's cooler?

My friend Janae telling me she was doing her own GBP (Great Brain Project) on gelato. (Her son's was on hawks.)

I thought she was joking at first.

She wasn't.

And isn't.

Janae's setting out to learn about gelato AND find the best gelato around (our city, on vacations, etc.).

I think everyone should have a Great Brain Project.

I'm picking "cake" for mine.

What about you?

What subject do you want to become an expert in?

Tethered

This morning I woke up early to write on the computer. It's a daily routine for me: wake up a few hours before everyone, do some reading, do some writing, get ready, do a few loads of laundry, pay bills if needed, etc.

Most of these things I do on the computer.

My new computer.

The one that's all mine.

(PS: I just got my own laptop for the first time. Until now, I've been sharing a computer with the kids. Our 6 kids. Not super easy, I might add.)

Only this morning my computer wouldn't connect/identify the wireless router.

I can't stand computer problems.

But you know what's worse than having computer problems?

Having someone else use your computer and then having computer problems.

You see, Dave was the last one to use my computer. (Did I mention it's MY computer? Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine!!!!!!!!)

So somewhere between Dave's use and this morning, my computer decided to stop connecting to our wireless router, aka THE WORLD WIDE WEB.

In other words, I could use my computer just fine . . . if I wanted to write an essay in WORD!

But otherwise, I was without an internet connection . . .

to THE WORLD WIDE WEB!

Which, in 2010, is pretty much like having a dead phone line OR no electricity. (And that's not hyperbole/overstatment/drama people!)

I guess it's not really all that bad though. Our internet connection is still "live" or working. 

I'm not without a phone line or electricity.

I can still connect to the WORLD WIDE WEB.

I just have to LITERALLY connect to it--AKA "run a 16-inch cord from my computer to the WALL near our computer desk (yes, 16 inch)."

So as I sit here and write this morning--tethered to the internet and wall, I realize that I have never fully appreciated the whole "wireless" concept.

Phones without cords.

Game controllers without cords.

Computers without cords.

Really, think about it: wireless technology may be one of the greatest inventions known to humankind--EVER!

Well, aside from Lucha wrestling . . .

Lives So Different

A photo-essay in today's NY Times has me thinking. It's entitled, "To Those With Nothing, Soccer Is Everything."

I guess since I was young, I have had this sense of how fortunate my life is/has been. I'm not saying my life is free from pain, but it's definitely so so so different than the lives of many people around the world. (My basic needs--clothing, shelter, food, water--have always been met. That makes me among the world's fortunate. And, it also makes for a pretty good life.)

You see, for some unspecified reason, here I am FILLING my cupboards to overflowing in the Utah, wondering if I should pay retail price for Toy Story 3's new Wii game, while literally a "world away," a boy is making a soccer ball from plastic bags and playing the game without shoes or proper clothing.

That's heavy to me.

And what's "heavier"? (And yes, I grew up in the 70s and have a free-pass to using "heavy" as an adjective.")

What do I do about it?

What Would Your Perfect Day Look Like?

I'm reading a book (well, maybe it's more like a workbook, but anyhow) that asks you to really be purposeful about your life. The author challenges you to think about subjects you might not normally think about.

And the goal?

Well, I think the author's goal is to help you realize that you're in charge of the life you live.

Ya hear me?

You're in charge of the feelings you have.

You're the one that defines what kind of life you live.

It's all in your court, relatively speaking.

In other words, I can't choose what happens to me in life,

but I can choose how I respond.

So, my point!

I really liked this one exercise:

Describe your perfect day.

Would your perfect day center around food, family, fun?

Solitude?

Travel?

Entertainment?

Think about it.

Write it down.

Revise it.

And then . . .

try to live that "perfect day."

Now, remember the point of the exercise is to realize that you are in charge of your life. 

And while "jetting to 4 international destinations for pizza" may seem impossible, it's really not.

You can MAKE incredible things happen when you set your mind to it. 

Make it happen, people.

As for me, my Perfect Day?

It would include time spent enjoying the people, places, and food that I love--free from time constraints, worry, mosquitos.

A day of smiling, really. 

And nothing too jet-set.

Sure, I'd love to go to the Eiffel Tower, but that wouldn't make THE perfect day for me.

For me, THE perfect day is one spent laughing with people/things I love:

I'd want the whole day with Dave. (Dave in an apron, really. LOL!)

The whole day with these guys, too. (Including the pooch. That guy makes me happy.)

I'd like to go to the beach with our family--and run into my family, Dave's family, the Hucks, and our favorite friends/family there. All of us in one place for the day--without any cellphones or computers.

Just us, an Igloo, a few Boogie Boards, and TIME.

We'd sit in the sun. Swim in the salt water.

(Oh, and since it's my Perfect Day, we'd be in Del Mar, California--a place I know well.)

I'd like to read.

I'd like to listen to music the whole day. Sometimes SUPER loud music. And dance.

I'd like to do Yoga. Outside.

I'd like to bake some bread. (And deliver it--to friends--riding bikes with the kids.)

I'd like to make Boeuf Bourguignonne--Julia Child's Boeuf Boiurguignonne.

I'd like to do sparklers at night.

And I'd like to see Fahdji the Cat again. But since that would require some crazy Harry Potter magic, I'd like to sit back and remember all of the fun we had with that big cat.

PS: There's more I'd do, but it's only 24 hours. I'm trying to be realistic!

Probably a good idea to have 5 or 6 Perfect Days on the list waiting to happen.

Happy Birthday Rebecca!

Really thoughtful.
Excellent eggroll-maker. (HINT. WINK WINK.)
Her Boys are her life!
Everyone should live next to a neighbor that weeds for them!
Crazy green-thumb.
Clever and witty (you make me laugh).
Always serving others.

Hope you have a super day, Rebecca!

Being World Class

When Dave and I were getting ready for our honeymoon (20 years ago--eeek!), he packed two suitcases:

one with his clothes, toothbrush, etc.,

and

one full of books!

And no, I'm not kidding.

It's funny (now)--because that is SO Dave. He is a modern day philosopher in my mind. He's always thinking. Always questioning. Always trying to understand people, processes, the world around him. It's one of the things I love most about him--his love of books/ideas.

Anyway, this month he's been reading a book I think I'm going to have to read, so I thought I would share:

It's called Bounce: Mozart, Federer, Picasso, Beckham, and the Science of Success, by Michael Syed.

The basic overview of the book is that becoming "world class" takes practice, work, time, commitment. Excellence isn't something that you are "born with" or have a genetic predisposition for; excellence, success, is something you practice. (And if I understand Dave correctly, this applies to all areas of our lives, not just being World Class at something "famous." You can be a World Class wife, mother, etc.)

Sounds pretty interesting. Don't you think?

(PS: Just to be clear, my blog is just a journal/photo album for me. I don't have any tie or sponsor to the products, people, places I recommend or review on the site. And if I ever do, I will let you know right up front.)

Let Freedom Ring!

We love the Fourth of July . . .

and the Third of July . . .

and the Second of July . . .

and living around so many kind, funny, and generous people . . .

because it's been Independence Day here since Friday!

(Kiddie parade, picnic/BBQ at the park, and fireworks--woo hoo!)

The kids and I went to Wyoming Friday and found 3-foot sparklers there. Hilarious. (PS: The Fourth of July in Wyoming is pretty much like Thanksgiving Day for Macy's. BUSY!)

(PS: This may be my last photo on the blog for a spell. I sat on my camera and rendered it "broken" just before the fireworks last night. Ugh. How do you keep your electronics "on your person" and not whack them on every hard surface known to man?)