Has anybody else got stuck at the end of an email because they didn't know what to put on that line above their name? I just did. It took me a minute to write the email and nearly half and hour to end it.
I must have so much time on my hands tonight that I'm pondering the various meanings of email sign offs. My usual is 'regards'. If it want it to sound a tad warmer, I use 'take care'. If its just meaningless emails on Facebook then I probably put a 'cheers' on the end or just not have anything before my name.
But when I really think of it, they sound a little fake. I would genuinely like to say 'Have a nice day!' but I always think that the other person would just assume that I don't really mean it. So, I leave that off. For my own fun, I would like to just stick a 'Live Long and Prosper' permanently before my name but that would make people think I'm odd.
It turns out that there are plenty of articles on this topic. The funniest site I stumbled across was this list of email signatures :
1. Warning: Dates in Calendar are closer than they appear.
3. Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
4. I.R.S.: We've got what it takes to take what you've got!
5. We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
6. Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.
He who laughs last thinks slowest!
7. Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
8. Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
9. Artificial Intelligence usually beats real stupidity.
10. Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
11. "Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes."
12. Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy.
13. Consciousness: that annoying time between naps.
14. I don't suffer from insanity. I enjoy every minute of it.
15. Better to understand a little than to misunderstand a lot.
16. Where there's a will, I want to be in it.
17. Okay, who put a "stop payment" on my reality check?
18. We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART?
19. All generalizations are false.
20. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
21. C program run. C program crash. C programmer quit.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
More Photos From Our Garden
I can't help it. Adrian was doing such a good job at watering the plants this morning that I just have to share it here. Both Aaron and Adrian seem to be growing up with gardening as a very normal, every day part of life. They enjoy it out there and even ask to do weeding! For example, Aaron might say "Can we watch TV?", I'll say "No". He'll think awhile and then jump up and down asking "Can we do weeding instead?? Please!" And Adrian, well, he just gets excited about whatever Aaron is getting excited about.
Definitely very different to how I was when I was a kid. In fact, up until two years ago, I detested having to do anything in the garden.
These photos were taken right after we came home from dropping Aaron off at school so there wasn't even the older brother influence around to make him do all this work while I walked around with my camera.
Definitely very different to how I was when I was a kid. In fact, up until two years ago, I detested having to do anything in the garden.
These photos were taken right after we came home from dropping Aaron off at school so there wasn't even the older brother influence around to make him do all this work while I walked around with my camera.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Aaron's Carrots
Around six months ago, Aaron said that he would like to plant carrots in our garden. So, out we went to get some seedlings. I should have bought some seeds but the little punnets of seedlings looked very cute and I thought it would save us a teeny bit of time.
Over the past month, I've been trying to check on the carrots by digging around the sides. I always picked the one at the corner but that must have been the only dud one because there was no carrot there, just a little ball of pale orange.
Today, my father checked on a different one and look what we found!
We ended up pulling three out of the ground for dinner tonight. They aren't perfect looking and they didn't taste extra sweet but they were grown by Aaron.
By the way, this is the dud that I kept checking on over the past month.
I hope this was the only dud because we only had a total of 12 plants.
Over the past month, I've been trying to check on the carrots by digging around the sides. I always picked the one at the corner but that must have been the only dud one because there was no carrot there, just a little ball of pale orange.
Today, my father checked on a different one and look what we found!
We ended up pulling three out of the ground for dinner tonight. They aren't perfect looking and they didn't taste extra sweet but they were grown by Aaron.
By the way, this is the dud that I kept checking on over the past month.
I hope this was the only dud because we only had a total of 12 plants.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Plus Side of a Kids Only Environment
I've been in a very positive mood this week. To continue with that, I'm going to list as many positives as I can about not interacting much with other adults.
The lack of interaction with other adults has long been one of the major complaints of stay at home moms. I've definitely felt that way too but as I "listened" to the few friends I do stay in touch with through instant messaging, it occurred to me that there are a few benefits to hanging out with kids and only kids.
1) For most of the day, I am treated to genuine smiles and laughter.
2) When they are unhappy about something, they let me know clearly and its easily fixed with a cuddle or some food. And then, they forget all about the issue without holding a grudge.
3) Except for my own, I don't need to deal with other people's stupidity or inefficiency.
4) There is only awe and admiration for the things in our world with children around.
5) We live and experience the present. Little children don't plot, have no hindsight, and don't try to manoeuvre themselves ahead of the competition.
6) I don't have to feel anxious that I'm going to miss a deadline and even if I do, nobody berates or belittles me.
7) I am only surrounded by people who love me. They might throw a ball in my face every now and then or wet my clothes but there aren't any knives in my back.
8) I never need to feel self conscious about the way I look, the ideas that I have or the actions I carry out.
9) New ideas are readily tried out.
There are probably many more than this but I'll stop now. I think many of these only exist when children are very young and I feel lucky to be enjoying every day of it.
The lack of interaction with other adults has long been one of the major complaints of stay at home moms. I've definitely felt that way too but as I "listened" to the few friends I do stay in touch with through instant messaging, it occurred to me that there are a few benefits to hanging out with kids and only kids.
1) For most of the day, I am treated to genuine smiles and laughter.
2) When they are unhappy about something, they let me know clearly and its easily fixed with a cuddle or some food. And then, they forget all about the issue without holding a grudge.
3) Except for my own, I don't need to deal with other people's stupidity or inefficiency.
4) There is only awe and admiration for the things in our world with children around.
5) We live and experience the present. Little children don't plot, have no hindsight, and don't try to manoeuvre themselves ahead of the competition.
6) I don't have to feel anxious that I'm going to miss a deadline and even if I do, nobody berates or belittles me.
7) I am only surrounded by people who love me. They might throw a ball in my face every now and then or wet my clothes but there aren't any knives in my back.
8) I never need to feel self conscious about the way I look, the ideas that I have or the actions I carry out.
9) New ideas are readily tried out.
There are probably many more than this but I'll stop now. I think many of these only exist when children are very young and I feel lucky to be enjoying every day of it.
Crazy Pasta Making
I've been meaning to put up these pictures for several days now but I've had a sudden burst of inspiration and have started on several craft projects at once. Anyway, the whole family had so much fun making our own pasta for the first time that I just had to share these silly photos.
But first, a serious one of Aaron trying his hand at kneading the dough. It wasn't only his first time kneading anything, it was also mine. I've never even made play dough let alone any other type of food that needs dough. It was messy work! Our eggs went everywhere before I got things under control for Aaron to try out.
Finally, we got to try out the new pasta maker. The instructions just said to keep putting the dough through at each of the settings from one through to nine. So thats what we did...
Yes, I realise now that I should use smaller balls of dough. I also know now that I've got to have something setup to hang the cut pasta up before we cook them. This time, we grabbed some chopsticks but it wasn't practical. He eventually ended up with three chopsticks in each hand.
Dinner was a lot later than usual but we loved it. It wasn't really very hard to make and now that I know what to expect, I think we will be a lot quicker the next time. In fact, that time is going to be tomorrow but instead of making pasta, we're making 'pan mee'. This is a Hokkien style noodle - same ingredients as pasta but in different proportions.
But first, a serious one of Aaron trying his hand at kneading the dough. It wasn't only his first time kneading anything, it was also mine. I've never even made play dough let alone any other type of food that needs dough. It was messy work! Our eggs went everywhere before I got things under control for Aaron to try out.
Finally, we got to try out the new pasta maker. The instructions just said to keep putting the dough through at each of the settings from one through to nine. So thats what we did...
Yes, I realise now that I should use smaller balls of dough. I also know now that I've got to have something setup to hang the cut pasta up before we cook them. This time, we grabbed some chopsticks but it wasn't practical. He eventually ended up with three chopsticks in each hand.
Dinner was a lot later than usual but we loved it. It wasn't really very hard to make and now that I know what to expect, I think we will be a lot quicker the next time. In fact, that time is going to be tomorrow but instead of making pasta, we're making 'pan mee'. This is a Hokkien style noodle - same ingredients as pasta but in different proportions.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Not Yet A Smooth Talker
We all know that when a child gives his opinion about something, its usually a very honest one. Of course, I have been treated to several less flattering remarks like "I think your bum looks a bit big in that." but I think Aaron is just repeating what I say.
As we were leaving to go to Mass this morning, Aaron noticed my new shoes and was quick to announce how good they looked, and how they looked nice on me. I thanked him and thought to myself that perhaps, he will grow up to be one of those people that genuinely compliment others.
Two seconds later, I thought I had confirmation that he was definitely going to be one of those people. Either that or a real ladies man. He was gushing about how he thought I looked very pretty today. "What did you do?" and "Did you do something different?" and "You are so pretty!" He went on and on, completely unprompted. He didn't follow on from there by asking for something and neither was he 'naughty' in the minutes before. He was just very sweet.
Yes, I got a real buzz from it and he was completely well behaved for the entire time we were at mass. Unfortunately, right at the end, as he sat there looking at me, he said "Hey Ma, I can see all the little holes on your face. They're like freckles but not. Why are they there?"
EEK! They are my pores. My ENLARGED pores! I suppose they would seem large if you look at them from 10cm away. And y'know, the light wasn't exactly very flattering either. Whatever the case, that was enough motivation for me to instantly commit to a stricter daily face cleansing/toning/moisturizing regimen. Whatever it takes!
So, he's not a smooth talker yet. Thats ok. He just needs a few lessons in tactfulness. I'd rather he was an honest person instead of one of those that are full of compliments that you're not sure if you should believe.
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