Thursday, December 30, 2010

Friday Fragments, Episode #127


What a treat it's been to have off this week. That doesn't mean my brain is any less fragmented, though, so I have plenty to offer today.  Get ready for bits and pieces from my brain; those too short for stand-alone posts but too good to let go. Collect your random thoughts and join me!

***As I draft this post, I really hope I take the time to redo my header soon--We are way past leaves on trees right now!

***I really love the Watch What You Watch PSA hosted by Girl Scouts (and others). Its message about not letting your beliefs be shaped by others is excellent. To learn more about this very worthwhile program, visit their website here.

***You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice. [source unknown]

***Kyle's part-time job involves detailing cars at a local car dealer. Today, he went in two hours early and detailed my car as a present to me. It looks amazing!  I am so grateful. That kid is a keeper!

***Kendall discovered a really creepy app for her phone. It's called Caller ID Faker, and it allows you to call people in a disguised voice! She called me and had her voice disguised as a boy. YIKES. I can only see trouble with that app!  I'll be adding this to the post I wrote on Tuesday, in which I shared several useful apps. This is one parents should know about.

***Still need a unique gift for someone? We received Buckyballs for Christmas from Brother 4444 and his wife. They're very funky/fun and relaxing to play with. The ad warns that they are impossible to put down. I concur.

***A very generous friend surprised me this week with a "thank you" gift that was way over-the-top but very much appreciated--Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not a purse/shoe fanatic (I've had the same purse, year-round, for over a two years now), so they might be surprised to learn that I LOVE my Luvali Convertible Handbag and am positively giddy about it! Mine looks something like this, only it's polka dots and patterned in black and white.


I'm so excited about the fact that it's just the right size for me and that I can put more covers ($25 or so) on my birthday wishlist.  Seriously, I am really excited. Can you tell? (And no, this is not a paid/compensated review--I just really love this thing!


***I'm super bummed that my new FLIP Mino video camera (Christmas gift) turned out to have a screen that was about 20% smaller than the FLIP cameras that I've used for a couple of years now at work. I returned it. :(   On the bright side, I can still use the ones at school, and I plan to apply for a grant to buy the FLIP Slide for my own classroom next year. If you can afford one, I highly recommend the FLIPs--They are super-user-friendly and have terrific, free (also easy-to-use) editing software that's included.

***I don't know about you, but we've had garlic in a jar in our fridge for nearly a year. Does that stuff last forever?

***If you've never read Dave Berry's A Journey into My Colon and you really need a good belly laugh, check it out. It's not new, but it's timeless. I read it in an email, but you can find it here (scroll down to where it says, "Dear Brother" and read from there.

***Believe it or not, one of the gifts that touched me the most this year was the fact that Kyle came home from college with a baggie full of used printer cartridges for my classroom--He remembered that we're having a contest and took the time to gather the cartridges for me. Between that and the car detailing, that kid is really earning his inheritance. (No, I don't have anything worth inheriting. Shhhh!)

***For Christmas, I bought an incredible deal (70% off) on yoga classes for myself and Kendall from Groupon. I highly recommend receiving their emails for your city; you'll be amazed at some of their deals (and the fact that Google is trying to buy Groupon right now is a hint to how great it is). Check it out here.

Now it's your turn to leave your fragments for us to catch up with you!



23 comments:

  1. Wow, Kyle is really being incredibly thoughtful. Wonder where he gets that from?

    I have two Flip Minos and I love them. The size of the screen does not bother me because they are the only model I've ever owned. So convenient and easy to use.

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  2. Isn't it great when you get a "it's not really me" gift that you find is really you?!! That changeable purse looks like it would be a lot of fun.

    Your kids are fabulous - of course your son came home with ink cartridges!

    Kristin - The Goat

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  3. I want my car detailed so badly... what a great kid.

    LOVING... LOVING that purse!!!

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  4. Kyle sounds so great! It's really nice to watch your kids grow up and develop their personalities. Especially when they're awesome!
    I don't like that phone app either. Too creepy.
    Happy New Year!! xoxoxoxo

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  5. I feel like the grown-ups in Christmas Story saying you'll shoot your eye out - but those buckyballs are very dangerous around small kids. If two of them are ever ingested they can pinch tissue together and require surgery. I don't know too much about the apps but I heard there are apps to change your caller ID to whatever you want such as police dept. Well now that I've been Mr. Downer, thanks for hosting FF once again.

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  6. Wow, Lisleman! That is really important information!! Thank you!

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  7. I dig the frags, yo.

    Funny you should ask about jarred garlic. I have a huge bottle I've been spooning out of for a year and as best as I can tell, it's fine.

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  8. Just checked out Buckyballs. Amazing!

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  9. good job kyle!! what a sweetie to do the car and for remembering your class goal with the ink.

    that phone app scares me a bit. but you know, i remember having some immature fun pranking folks when i was young. before caller ID got you into serious trouble with folks. hopefully harmless and silly.

    that is a crazy purse! i have no idea about garlic, ours never lasts that long ;-) but we also have never seen a vampire, so that is good, right? hahahahaha

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  10. What a thoughtful kid! Very sweet! I am glad you had a nice Christmas! There are soooo many apps on phones that scare me, ugh.

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  11. You really have great kids! Happy New Year to all the 4444's!

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  12. Funny, I almost put in my fragments how great Groupon is! I have it for 3 cities near me.

    Your kids are awesome!

    My girls got a flip to share. I videoed swim practice last night! It is so fun!

    Happy New Year, my friend!

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  13. Go Kyle! Keep that kid for sure!

    Happy New Year!

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  14. I need my car detailed soooo bad!

    And aren't school breaks so necessary?

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  15. Ok... I wanna see the car! My Geek Son is much like your Kyle, don't we Mama's grow good boys???

    God bless ya and have a marvelous weekend sweetie!

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  16. We gave our teen son bucky balls and he enjoys them so much I can never find them to play with them myself. Happy New Year.

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  17. I hope you guys have had a nice Christmas, and have a wonderful "Living Social"-- It's like groupon but I find it easier to use, especially on an iTouch, etc.

    :)

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  18. umm, apparently I cannot type hahaha. My comment should have said-- "I hope you guys have a nice Christmas & a wonderful 2011. I have a fave app for my iTouch called Living Social-- It's like groupon but I find it easier to use."

    hahahah :P

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  19. Stopping by to wish you a happy new year!

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  20. Awesomeness on Kyle's part. See what happens when you raise an Eagle Scout? If only he could detail my car, too... it really needs it!

    And garlic? Bottle garlic? THROW IT AWAY. Just buy the real stuff, it's so easy to chop when you need it and tastes so much better. What you have in the jar will be rancid now. Ick. :)

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  21. Oh oh oh - and do you know about Donorschoose.org? Sign yourself and your classroom up for the Mino project!

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