Thursday, June 11, 2009

My terrible terrible memory

I seem to have a problem with long-term memory, short-term memory, and attention span. Here, let me provide a few examples:
  • I started boiling eggs, forgot about them, and then went to class. They exploded all over the kitchen before my roommate found them and turned them off.
  • I frequently forget that I am making tea within seconds of starting, even if the tea is sitting right in front of me. It sometimes takes 30-60 minutes before I realize it.
  • I'll turn on the stove, put a pan down, and walk away.
  • There are many discrepancies between my brother's memories and my memories of events when we were younger.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Unconditional Parenting

http://www.alfiekohn.org/up/index.html

Most parenting guides begin with the question "How can we get kids to do what they're told?" -- and then proceed to offer various techniques for controlling them. In this truly groundbreaking book, nationally respected educator Alfie Kohn begins instead by asking "What do kids need - and how can we meet those needs?" What follows from that question are ideas for working with children rather than doing things to them.

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Gifts

I have mixed feelings about receiving and giving gifts. First of all, I am really bad at picking out gifts for other people, and it is often stressful for me. Secondly, a gift that you never wanted can be quite a burden.

On the other hand, there are so many things that I have received that I did not realize I wanted until they were given to me, or things that I wanted but not enough to pay for them myself.

My parents-in-law gave us an electric kettle, an iron tea pot, and a calphalon wok. They are now some of my favorite items in the kitchen.

Erinne's friend gave us a baby toy that plays music. It has been surprisingly effective at putting Dorie to sleep (the baby that Erinne watches).

My manager at Galois insisted on getting us a KitchenAid mixer as a wedding present. We never would have shelled out the cash to by this for ourselves, because we never realized how valuable it is.

There are of course many other things, but these are the ones that stand out.