Winter Wonderland

This is the time of year I'm insanely busy, gathering up cans to feed the hungry, getting hats and mittens for children in need (I wish knitting didn't hurt me so much I would love to just make the hats), doing Toys for Tots and then today volunteering my time so young kids can come in an have a fun holiday experience.

For me, it was fun too (except that i had to listen to 4 songs from the Polar Express and one from a Muppets Christmas on a continous loop for four hours). Seeing their eyes lighting up when they saw my trains does really make me want to look into if not fostering, then getting back into the Big Sister thing. I haven't done that in years. I'm surprised at how many kids still love trains.

Speaking of charity, I know some of you have done this before, asking for donations via paypal. What's the best way to do that? Do you just need my paypal name or what? I'm going to be doing a walk for the homeless in January and I want to open it up for donations. I've done a lot of work with the homeless when I was practicing medicine, donating a lot of time to both homeless and battered women shelters. One of my biggest disappointments was getting injured before I could save enough up to go with Doctors without Borders. I still try to get students involved with that doing scut work.

Tis the season, so if you have a charity that means a lot to you, let me know. I'll put it on my web page at work. The students use it to find things for their organizations to do.

Speaking of giving, I need to round up the towels and old bedding and take it back to the pet shelter. The orange kitten is back. He'll be going too.

I figure this is all very good for my karma (big believer in that) I just wish i felt better. I have a fever now and my eyeballs feel like they're boiling in their sockets. Bah. I'm going to go relax Roy (he's not sure what to do with little orange Kyo) and rest for a bit before getting up tomorrow and doing it all again.

And to those first readers for Riding With Strangers (my nano) have you received it (besides you mulzrule) if not let me know. If you wanted to read it, let me know here too. I'm working on the climax now. Whee. I WILL get this done soon. Feels good.

On rudeness

But first the happy meme

Day 7 of happy. I'm happy i found my If Buddha got Stuck book. I wanted to finish it and I'm happy that the Merlin as a detective story I'm reading is pretty good.

Other than that I feel like hell. It would help if my sugar was under control. I wouldn't get this sick but I can't take my diabetic pills because of the contrast dye,not for another day. So my sugar is high which makes me highly irritable, and I'm very sick. Bah. What a way to spend my first day off.


Now onto the rudeness. Thursday I was asked to do a small content lecture on the scientific evidence of evolution to teachers for grades 3-9 as part of a grant to up teacher knowledge in math and science. I spent a week preparing this including getting labs that were kid friendly since well i don't teach kids.

The coordinator introduced me...dead silence and fish eyes. Usually guest speakers get some sort of acknowledgement but okay. I'm not here for the applause. I start the lecture...and they stare at me as blankly as my students. They don't answer questions put to them. The labs I found...they didn't even pay attention and when I was done the coordinator tried to start a round of applause and thank yous...he was the only one. I'm so glad I put work into this and took time off during finals week. I think I'm done with this grant. They have always met me and the other profs with hostility and really the pay doesn't warrent this. I did two years. Good enough for the resume thank you.