Personal: April 2004 Archive Page

A Tree-Mail 'Thank You'Jerz's Literacy Weblog)

Sometimes, even for a cyber-guy like me, an old-fashioned, hand-crafted "Thank You" note just makes it all worthwhile. From my former student Kirsten Schubert, who really knows how to make a fellow feel appreciated.

You're very welcome, Kirsten!

Handwriting Analysis and Fortune Telling

Yesterday I was at St. Vincent College's "Earth Day," where a man named Dennis collected handwriting samples and offered a personality reading.

I let him go through his schtick -- which included all sorts of affirming things like I am a resource person for too many people, I've either had a financial opportunity recently or I will soon, and I've recently been having some kind of medical problem in my left knee, or possibly my right shoulder, or somewhere in my back; perhaps it's an old injury or it's a sign of something that will come soon. He then did the same for my wife, and much of what he told her was the same -- probably because the harried looks on our faces as we chased our kids around was pretty much a neon sign that blinked out "I feel overstressed and tired".

When he was done, I told him, "About 30% of what you told me may possibly apply to me, another 50% would apply to anyone you see walking down the street, and the medical stuff about knees and shoulders and backs is completely wrong." Then, feeling like a bit of a jerk (after all, this guy was volunteering his time at St. Vincent's and he wasn't charging anything), I added something like, "... but it was fun to hear what you had to say, thanks for volunteering your time."

There was a line of about four people waiting for their turn, so I left.

Crutches, Pills, Insomnia, and OversleepingJerz's Literacy Weblog)

I had every intention of getting up this morning to attend several presentations at the writing center conference that took place here at Seton Hill this weekend. My wife called me at the office last night... (she's in Texas visiting her parents). It turns out my son is on crutches (he jumped off a bed and may have chipped a bone) and while everyone was dealing with him, my daughter got her mommy's purse, unzipped it, took out a package of Sudafed, and seems to have swallowed three pills (nobody saw her do it, but she said Mommy's "candy" was "tasty").

I turns out everyone is fine -- the poison control center said that she could've taken up to six before they got worried. Still, we're all rather stressed by the whole incident... we were up late last night talking, and I didn't hear my alarm this morning.