I’ve Got Moxie #4: There Are Those Who Call Me… Mom?
It still blows me away that my body made people. PEOPLE. Right? Some people call it "a miracle", I'm just blown away by the impressive biological processes.
Olio #4: Bloom’s Taxonomy
Used in education and teaching, Bloom's Taxonomy describes gradually deeper levels of understanding, and can be used in pretty much any subject, including math, science, history, literature, and more.
The Liner Notes of Photographic History #4: Astrophotography
Taking pictures of the sky isn't new. The first photograph of the sun, a daguerrotype, was made in 1845 by French physicists Louis Fizeau and Lion Foucault, proving that from the earliest days of photography, people were turning their cameras to the skies.
Things to Love #4: Retrofuturism
Retrofuturism includes imagined styles from the future, conceived of in the past. The 20th century was filled with these kinds of things, as we aimed for the sky and then participated in the Space Race. Anything space-y and modern was cool.
Bristol Box #4: For Those Who Like Cats
This Bristol Box is filled with items for people who like (or love) cats. You don't necessarily have to have a cat for this Box; it's for those who just can't get enough cat in their lives.
I’ve Got Moxie #3: My Books and Self-Publishing
I've got two books published currently. For one of them, my co-authors and I went the traditional route with traditional publishing. For the other, I self-published. Why? Because that book I wrote for myself, just for fun.
Olio #3: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
I mostly think of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a mental exercise. There is a lot of truth in it, but it is more food for thought and discussion.
The Liner Notes of Archival History #3: The National Archives
The National Archives of the United States is worth a trip in person, if you can. But if you can't, their website is a treasure trove of information, history, and jaw dropping resources.
Things to Love #3: Family History and Genealogy
From an early age I've been interested in genealogy. My paternal grandmother had so much information about where and who she came from. I remember seeing a huge, handwritten wheel that was made with her at the center and her family branching out from there. I was struck by it all. And, when she died, I volunteered to be the caretaker of all of the family history documents, letters, photos, and memorabilia.
Bristol Box #3: Travel to England!
If you don't have the time or the means to travel to England, you can pretend, with a Bristol Box full of English goodies. Disclaimer: I have yet to actually set foot in England, so these might be a bit stereotypical for "tea time", but hey, it's all in fun.
New Old Content
I’ve recently backfilled in a bunch of posts from my old blog, so scroll down to see some interesting new old content!
I’ve Got Moxie #2: Learning German
I took Spanish in school. It made the most sense, since I had already had some Spanish in elementary school, and I had a couple of Spanish-speaking people in my family. I'm glad to have learned what Spanish I did, and living here in Arizona, it really does come in handy. But I always kind of wished I'd learned some German.
Olio #2: Jane Austen Mad Libs*—Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen Mad Libs*. Because why not. If I run out of other ideas, I may make this a semi-regular feature, at least making it through her six major works. And maybe some other public domain works. Let me know if you have any requests!
The Liner Notes of Ancient History #2: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
When I was a kid, I heard about the Seven Wonders of the World on a semi-regular basis. But, other than the Great Pyramid at Giza (though I always thought the Pyramids were in Cairo proper because I knew nothing of Egyptian geography), I had no idea what the other six wonders were.
Things to Love #2: The Smithsonian
Imagine a museum of the highest caliber. Imagine there being no admission cost. Now imagine that there are almost a couple dozen of them, each specializing in a different topic, all within the same general geographic area, most reachable by public transportation (though hard to park at). That... is the Smithsonian.
Bristol Box #2: Learn to Draw
There are at least three different kinds of people. Those who can just naturally draw, those who can't and don't care, and those who can't but want to improve. I'm speaking to that last group in this post.
I’ve Got Moxie #1: Yoga
I've had a love hate relationship with yoga for a decade or two. I mostly love it, and, once I've been at it a while, I'm pretty good at it. But I have a few problems.
Olio #1: Winnie the Pooh Characters: My Take
Wherein I give my take on the many characters of 'Winnie the Pooh'. The ones that "everyone" likes I don't necessarily like. And the "universally" reviled characters, well, sometimes I understand where they are coming from.
The Liner Notes of Government History #1: Postal Service General Delivery
What does General Delivery mean? How has it been used? Can you still use it today?
Things to Love #1: Mid-Century Modern Design
In residential architecture, I love Craftsman, Tudor, Gothic, and more. Including Mid-Century Modern. This love of Mod transfers to things other than architecture, as well. I love the style in furniture, shapes and patterns, advertisements, movie intros, and, yes, houses.