Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
Lessons

1. What kind of out-of-school lessons did you take as a kid?

I took piano lessons for a couple of years in elementary school with Mrs. Schumann. All the girls did--somehow, boys weren't expected to, which was itself an early lesson in sexism. I had to walk to her house, about 8 short-blocks, crossing a very busy four-lane road. What were my parents thinking??

Later on, in junior high and high school, I took flute lessons from Shirley Nicholls, who graduated from high school with my brother. She did lessons in her parents' house, right across the street from me. Funny how much, thinking back now, I really enjoyed those lessons.

2. What valuable lesson did you learn this past week?

I can't think of any new and earth-shattering ones, just reminders of a lot that I tend to forget: "Attitude is everything." "Be open to whatever is going to happen." "Take my allergy meds, or else suffer the consequences." "Trust, but verify." "Hold doctors' feet to the fire when I don't feel good."

OOOH! Here's a good one that I did 'learn' this week: when a patron is looking at porn on the computer, dropping a copy of the policy next to them with the appropriate section circled and walking away will, at least temporarily, clear them out of the buildng.

3. Who in your life really needs to be taught a lesson?

The usual suspects: Katherine, CT, etc. I don't want to think about it--those people irritate the snot out of me and I don't want to have to think about them today.

And Sparky, of course, has several lessons he needs to be taught; he doesn't irritate me except in a couple of very specific areas.

4. What kinds of lessons would you love to have a private teacher for right now?

Biblical Greek, Hebrew...and for Sparky, Japanese. My nephew James, sort-of offered shooting lessons, which I may take him up on. I'm considering taking piano lessons again once Sparky is out of the house, too.

5. What steps have you taken to lessen the impact of these rough economic times?

[I love puns!]
I am trying to cook at home more than we eat out. We have put off a couple of expensive things (ahem, new cars, ahem), and are generally just watching our output more closely. We are saving LOTS on gas right now because Beast has been working from home every day, or getting his gas reimbursed as a travel expense when he's on the road.