Site Commercialisation Meme

I happened upon a discussion about site commercialisation recently. Seems that most people were ambivalent, or that's how I read them. It seemed okay for people to review products and sell ads on the sidebar, and even use the site to sell books or crafts, but writing posts for pay...seemed...iffy.

It shouldn't be.

No one, including myself, who writes posts that are sponsored, that include links, is getting rich off of them. I would imagine the reasons people write are as varied as the people who write them. For some, it's extra pin money, a little extra to pay for a hobby, or something new. For others, it's the difference between having internet, cable or a telephone..or not.

Are all of the posts written for money well written? No. Let's face it, some writers can make any topic interesting and funny and you'll never notice the link slipped in. Most of us can write some posts well, and others seem forced. Sometimes it's the writer, and sometimes its the topic given.

Imagine having to write a post around a word that sometimes has absolutely no connection with your day to day life. Challenge yourself. What would you write about the word: ...... humm. I've been racking my brain and I can't come up with a single word that no one of my readers could do something with. (Ya'll seem to be a rather diverse group--loves ya!)

So, consider this a meme, or a challenge. Choose a word from the list and include it in a post. When you're done, add a word to the list, more if you can think of them, and then, tag some other's to do the same exercise. You have to be able to write the post in such a way that it fits in with the rest of the posts on your site.

So, the rules:
1. Choose a word or phrase from the list, one that is not usually used in your blog. (extra points if you had to google the phrase to figure out what it was)
2. Write a post that includes that word or phrase, naturally, in the post.
3. Make the post consistent with the general theme of the rest of your posts.
4. Add a word to the list and tag a few people.

link back to me, if you wish, or not, if you don't!

• Piaget
• diets
• diet pills
• viagra
• anodized aluminum
• incense
• Plumeria
• tourism
• Rolex
• Waterman pens
• Cream of Wheat
• Sedgwick CMS
• digital clock
• fetlock
• flywheel
• pedagogical soundness
• TEKS
• TAAS
• dental hygiene
• gigabit ethernet switch

Okay, now, your turn.

Interesting

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NFDS - The Guide

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on what's in front of you (the foreground) and how that is affected by the details of life. You are also particularly drawn towards the shapes around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to deal directly with whatever comes your way without dealing with speculating possibilities or outcomes you can't control. You are highly focused on specific goals or tasks and find meaning in life by pursuing those goals. You prefer a structured environment within which to live and you like things to be predictable.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

Pay It Forward

Okay folks, a new meme is upon us. However, unlike other memes, this one brings you a present.

Here’s how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I do not know what that gift will be yet, and it won’t be sent this month, probably not next month, but it will be sent (within 6 months) and that’s a promise! What YOU have to do in return, then, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
I will now Pay It Forward to you THREE, I wonder who you will be?! Please, be a PIF! You will enjoy it just as much as we do!
And, remember…you have 6 months to get your gifts done! Come on, you know you would love to be one of my angels. Then, one day, when you least expect it, you will get a gift that I have made especially for YOU!
Please remember, you don’t have to knit or crochet to participate, anyone who can make a nice handmade gift is welcome to join.

The first three to volunteer will get a gift from me, handmade (maybe hand grown?) and in return will post an invitation to three others to play.

I can't wait to see who wants to play.

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged for a Meme by Knitting Painter Woman . Y'all should go over and say Hi.

Here are the rules for playing if you are inclined to following rules:
1. link to the person that tagged you.
2. post the {very important} rules on your blog.
3. list 6 very unimportant, random nothings about yourself {should be an easy one}
4. tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.

Let's see, most things about me are fairly unimportant, but here goes:

1. I love balsamic vinegar, really good balsamic vinegar, and will pay somewhat more than I should for it.
2. I have a HUGE number of tomato seedlings I've just re potted, and I've almost no where to plant them. Uhmm... any one need some tomato plants?
3. I was once the only white member of an otherwise all black Gospel Choir. I took a perverse delight seeing one woman walk into a pole as she was walking past us at a performance.
4. I used to have long hair. It was so long, it reached past my hips and almost half-way to my knees. It was a red-gold color and I long considered it my only "good" feature.
5. I won't eat soggy bread. It gives me the creeps.
6. Cilantro tastes like soap to me and smells like old dirty socks.

Anyone willing to do this meme is now considered tagged. It's kinda fun, coming up with the facts about yourself. You get to think what you consider important about you and what's unimportant.

Passion Meme

I like teaching. More than anything, even gardening, it has given me happiness and made me feel as if I were doing what I was supposed to do with my life.

I was tagged with this meme by the Ambulance Driver. I'm supposed to write about the one thing I've tried to teach all my students. One thing...one underlying theme that defines my teaching career...that's hard to identify without some considered and deep thought.

I dreamed about it last night. I wrote this whole post in my dream last night. Too bad the hard copy of that dream post didn't make it into the waking world. It would have made things so much easier, and faster.

I do remember the highlights of the dream and the central premise. One problem though...it's not a singular premise, it is a double one. The two ideas are tied together for me, and that explains why I was having trouble with limiting myself to the one most important thing that I wanted all my students to take away with them after their time with me.

To understand the two and their connection I need to tell you something about myself. I love Horton the Elephant. You know, the guy that hatched an egg, and saved a little planet of people? Long before the movie, Horton was my hero of choice.

While I like, and can even quote from "Green Eggs and Ham", by Dr. Seuss, my favorite character was always Horton. I identified with that elephant, even when I was a young, skinny (fancy that!! skinny!! ME!) little girl, I knew that Horton was the one character I wanted to grow up and be like. Humm...that could explain...nahhh...it's just a coincidence, (isn't it?) that I'm looking more and more LIKE Horton every year...

What endeared Horton to me was his absolute certainty that keeping a promise, no matter what, was important. "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant, an elephant's faithful, one HUNDRED percent!" No matter what indignities, no matter what danger, no matter how uncomfortable, Horton kept his promise. Something about that kind of constancy made me want to be like that. I don't always make it, but I do try.

Then, I got to read "Horton Hears a Who" book. I was enraptured once again, to see Horton enjoying the unlikely friendship of something so small that he had to take the voice he heard on faith. He couldn't see his friend, he couldn't prove the existence of his friend, but again...he was faithful, kind, considerate...in short: he was Horton. "..a person's a person, no matter how small.." Ya gotta love it, ya gotta love him.

What was it that I tried to teach my students? I tried to teach them to enjoy learning about the little things in this world and not to give up just because something gets difficult.

I worked for a small school district on the Texas Gulf coast for 12 years, first as a remedial reading teacher and then as an English as a Second Language/early childhood teacher. How small was the district? Well, I was one third of the staff for the Prekindergarten program and I was THE Prekindergarten ESL teacher for the entire district.

One of the first groups I taught were some fifth graders who had difficulty reading. They were a disparate group, with not much in common with one another, except that they didn't like reading and weren't too fond of one another sometimes. This was especially true of one particular girl. She was...y'all...she was mean. She called the other kids every racial slur I'd ever heard of, and taught me a few new ones.

I had to establish one very firm and unyielding rule with this class. NO ONE was allowed to tease or try to hurt another person. I couldn't control what they did outside of the hour a day I saw them, but for that hour, they were going to behave with some courtesy towards one another. It was an uphill battle, with many many one on one talks with this difficult girl. But my persistence, insistence and stubbornness on this point did make a difference in how the other students in the group treated one another. How much difference, I wasn't to know for eleven years afterwards.

The last year in that district was the 1999 to 2000 school year. I was teaching Prekindergarten and when it was time for the first parent/teacher conferences, I had to share some bad news with a parent. I'd caught her daughter and another girl making fun of another little girl in the class. I told her that, I just would not allow that to continue, and that I would not countenance any teasing.

"I know," said the mom, "You never did. And we always felt safe in your class.

The mother's answer floored me. "I was in your class when I was in fifth grade. You taught us reading and you didn't allow anyone to tease anyone then either."

I was speechless. First, because I'd never had the child of a child I'd taught in my class. I suddenly felt kinda...old. But mostly, I was astounded. And embarrassed. I didn't recognise the woman.

I looked at her blankly. The surprise on my face must have shown, because she went on to explain her answer, and kindly, to tell me who she was. She wasn't the "mean girl", but she had been one of the children who'd had trouble with some of the other students.

Until then, I'd not realized just how consistent I'd been in that rule. Like breathing, it was just something I did.

Kindness and courtesy are important. Safety to try new things and to try again without fear is important. Those two things make it easier to create an environment where the students are open to and able to learn new things. It clears the way for laughter. It's just easier to teach someone who's happy to be there with you. It makes it a lot more fun for the teacher too.

I'm also supposed to tap 5 other educators out there. (4 so far, I'll be posting another later)

• The rules for the meme are:
  
  Post a picture or make/take/create your own that captures what YOU are most passionate for students to learn about.
  
  Give your picture a short title.
  
  Title your blog post "Meme: Passion Quilt."
  
  Link back to this blog entry.
  
  Include links to 5 (or more) educators.
  
  
  
  Guusjem
  Boudicca
  Mostly Cajun
  Bob

Update: this is late, but the timing for this was not good, as The Round Hirsute One, has had a loss. I'll miss reading about his dad and their Chinese Buffet excursions.

A Meme

DNR, from What? tagged me with a meme.



The rules are:

* link to the person who tagged you ,

* post the rules on your blog,

* share six non-important things/ habits/ quirks about yourself,

* tag at least 3 people at the end of the post and link to their blog,

* let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



Only 6? There are a lot of people (my family lately, it seems), who would tell you that most things about me were non-important. But, since there are NON family members who may not agree with my family's assessment:



1) I dislike....no I mean I REALLY dislike the taste of cilantro and bell peppers.

2) In my opinion, small dill pickles are the perfect side to a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich.

3) I was 12 before I knew people made burnt orange clothes, cars or any other item..on purpose.

4) I grew up near Texas A&M University (thus, number 3)

5) I sometimes get motion sick in elevators.

6) I like flying kites.



Hummm... who to tap on the shoulder.....


ERICA
BOU
and
CARLA

Thinkin'

Meet Alaska Singles

Nerdism

Meme!!

I was tagged by this pretty lady and this lovely lady for this meme. So here we go.....


1. Post the rules for the meme at the beginning of your post.
2. This meme consists of the blogger listing eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged in this post are to write their own post listing their own eight random items and list the rules.
4. At the end of the post/meme, list the folks you are tagging and leave them notice of such in their comments.


Eight Random Items About ME.

1. I LIKE anchovies on my pizza. Why? I don't know. They're salty, smell to high heaven and taste yummy. 'Pup hates'm with a purple passion. This causes a problem on the few times we allow ourselves a pizza, as I am the one who orders. If he doesn't want a pizza with half of it covered in anchovies...well........

2. I am a storyteller. Y'all, I can tell fairy tales to adults and have them spellbound. I've done it. It's a cool feeling to look out at an audience and see somewhat surprised enjoyment on faces.

3. When I'm happy doing anything, I tend to sing snippets of songs. This is especially true when I am tutoring. Something, a word or a phrase, brings a song to mind, and I sing parts of it. Fortunately, I can carry a tune.

4. When I was singing regularly, I sang women's a cappella barbershop with the Sweet Adelines. I sang the high harmony part. I had a three octave range. I miss being able to do that. Perhaps, when we've got the last of the debt from the last two years paid off, I can take off the nights of tutoring I need to go and join a local chorus.

5. I know a LOT of kid's songs, old songs, campfire songs...you name it. The chorus I sang with used to play a game where the teams would throw out a word and see if the other team could come up with a song with that word in it. After the fifth time I was the last one singing...they stopped playing the game. Dang.

6. No one in my family, especially 'Pup, will play Scrabble with me. Hey. My daddy taught me that it was disrespectful not to play to win. 'Pup won't play Canasta or Spades against me either. It's not that I'm a bad winner. It's just that usually.... I win.

7. 'Pup WILL play Backgammon against me. He used to play for hours at a time when he was in college. He usually wins. Well...mostly.

8. I can speak VERY loudly. And I don't mean shouting. Shouting implies that one is straining one's voice. I can make a gymnasium full of third, fourth and fifth graders fall silent in fear when I speak loudly enough that even a hundred or more of them cannot drown me out. This has been a useful talent. What can I say? My voice...carries. When I was singing with the chorus, I'd sometimes be the only tenor amoung 30 other voices. I was more than enough tenor, thankyouverymuch.

Okay, now for the tagging. Uhmmm. Hummm. Most of the people I read and would do this meme....have done this meme. If you've not........then consider yourself tagged.

Me Me Meme

Well, no one tagged me, but I’ll do it on my own.

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom and my grandma. If I’d ever been able to have had a daughter, she’d have been Nancy also. Once, one of my grandmother's friends greeted me and said, "Ah, I hear you're Nancy too."... "Nope", I replied. "I'm Nancy 3... my mom's Nancy 2...." Yah, I'm a smart alec sometimes.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? When I take my time, my handwriting is very good. When I’m in a hurry…I’m the only one who can read it. I can also write in script backwards. It comes in handy when one is stuck in an inservice meeting and the presenter is an idiot. It always gave me an opportunity to express my disgust, but keep it somewhat private. Nonetheless, friends who knew me always knew it was not a good sign when I was taking notes backwards.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Thin shaved corned beef, or ham.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No, and not because I never wanted any. And no, I’m not sharing that story.

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so.

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Depends on the situation. When I do, I’m very angry. A lot of my sarcasm gets written down, backwards.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? nope. Got’m taken out and tubes put into my ears when I was 30. I was a late bloomer.

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not on your life!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Maple sugar Creme of Wheat or chocolate Malto Meal.

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? I try not to wear shoes that have laces. When I do, I untie them……..if I have to…

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Emotionally, yes. Physically, I used to be very strong, and one of my first jobs was as a laborer building a nuclear power plant. I used to carry around very heavy beams. My hair was past my hips back then, and I wore it under my hard hat. I couldn't braid it, or it would be too bulky to fit. At lunchtimes, when I took off the hard hat, I had a guilty pleasure in the soft gasps of surprise from some of the guys there as it fell out and down. I had pretty hair.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Bluebell, buttered pecan.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their body language. If it doesn’t match what they’re saying I become very suspicious. I’ve met many people who have made me want to run the other direction. They turned out to be not very nice people.

RED OR PINK? Green.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My weight.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Walking wherever I wanted to go.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Green pants, brown sandals.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Two of the best peaches I've ever eaten in my life. They were "Saucer" peaches, tho I've seen them labled as donut peaches or Saturn peaches.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? 'Pup talking to Chuckles.

IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? aquamarine or burnt sienna

FAVORITE SMELLS? cinnamon, balsamic vinegar, roasting meat, basil, lemon oil, peppermint.

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My boss.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Uhmmm. None

HAIR COLOR[S]? I was born with no hair. It finally grew in a copper/gold orangy red color. I hated it when I was young, but now that I’ve gone completely white, I willingly color it as near as I can to what it was.

EYE COLOR? Bue, except when they look green…….or gray. Depends on the light.

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? I’d like to, but have too many allergies...watery eyes are no fun when the contacts float away.

FAVORITE FOOD? Why is this question requiring a singular response? My answer would have to be soooo plural. There have not been many foods I’ve tried that I don’t like. The exceptions are anything with cilantro, bell peppers or pimentos in it.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy. I don’t do scary movies.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Lord of the Rings trilogy movies. (DVD)

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? tan shirt with a green and brown print

SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. I don’t like being cold.

HUGS OR KISSES? ?? if done correctly, one leads to the other, and neither is neglected.

FAVORITE DESSERT? Peach cobbler

MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? No one. Sigh

LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Everyone... double sigh...

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? My mouse, duh!

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Numbers

FAVORITE SOUND[S]? Water falling, birds singing, wind blowing, thunder in the distance.

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? why should it be one or the other? Both have good songs and bad.

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? A trip to Washington D.C.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can sing pretty well. I also have a talent for teaching.

WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? Anyone….