Hard Habit to Break

The campus is coming alive as we get closer to this weekend and new student orientation this weekend. For me things are slowing down as today I only had 2 trainings and tomorrow only one!!!  Thursday and Friday NO TRAININGS! It was also fun today to take faculty pictures for our Math/Physics department.  It was a nice break from Google Apps.

However, for many of my co-workers things are going to get crazy.  I’ll be helping out with the refresh day to help collect the laptops from the faculty and return them at the end of the event.  The weekend with the new students and returning students coming back there will be lots of action. 

I’m excited about the weekend and the start of the football season.  I have my new lens and am excited to see what I can get from it.  It should be a good time.

It’s almost time to go to the gym.  See if I can work out some of the sources that I got from Sunday’s workout. 

Keeping with my tribute to Chicago here’s another featuring Peter Cetera

Hebrew School

A funny from one of my friends:

Hebrew Lesson

At the Henry Street Hebrew School, the rabbi finished the day's lesson. It was now time for the usual question period.

"Rabbi," asked little Melvin, "there's something I need to know."

"What's that, my child?" asked the rabbi.

"Well, according to the Scriptures, the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, right?"

"Right."

"And the Children of Israel beat up the Philistines, right?"

"Uh--right."

"And the Children of Israel built the Temple, right?"

"Again you are correct."

"And the Children of Israel fought the Egyptians, and the Children of Israel fought the Romans, and the Children of Israel were always doing something important, right?"

"All that is correct," agreed the rabbi. "So what's your question?"

"What I need to know is this," demanded Melvin. "What were all the grown-ups doing?"

And for our Virtual Vacation Hungary a lake in Balaton

Labor Day Monday

Most Mondays are usually the downer day, but today was an exception. Unlike most of America I had to work. Well, didn't HAVE to I could have taken a vacation day, but hey it's usually cooler at the office than at home.

Today I was able to accomplish several things and walked away feeling good about the days accomplishments. Plus I got on the scale this morning and got really good news... <drum roll please> I'm down another pound. Now grant it there's a lot more to go, but over the past 4 weeks I've dropped almost 5 pounds. The secret... I read this book by Joyce Meyer, Eat and Stay Slim.  The key that Joyce pointed out was the importance of only eating when you're actually hungry and quit turning to food for emotional support and acceptance. And STOP eating when you're comfortable.  I tend to be an emotional eater, the past 4 or 5 years I've had a lot of stressers in my life, many of my own doing so it's time to take God at his Word and "Cast all my cares upon Him, for He cares for me." The down side of Joyce's strategy is it's a slow process.  However, in the long run it is the best process.

For my virtual vacation today we are going to Austria.  And webcams in honor of Mozart.



This webcam has time lapse pictures from the day that are fun to look at.

Beginning of the Labor Day Weekend

Friday is the day new students arrive back on campus.  It's an exciting time with lots of cheering and starry eyed freshman begin the next major journey of their life.  It's fun! It's also exhausting.  I will spend the day doing orientations for those who participate in our laptop leasing program.  So... today my vacation spot... Xaman Ho which came up when I did a search for Cancun... Enjoy the beach

He Amazes Me!

Mark is still struggling with the new school.  He tells me he's keeping an open mind, but I'm not all that convinced. But tonight we were grabbing a quick bite to eat at Sam's Club before youth group. Mark was talking 90 miles a minute and I just causally mention, "You need to be back on your meds." to which he responded, "Ya I was going to mention that." As we talked about it he told me that he needed to be back on his medicine for his ADHD.  I admire his self awareness and his willingness to admit what he need.

Today we're going to visit the Czech Republic:

The last Tuesday of August

Second day of school for Mark and he's doing okay. Today he admitted he liked the way his teacher was running the class, but he didn't like the people. Which isn't new, he has people issues on a regular basis.  Of course, tonight before going to bed he told me he was "homesick" for Glen Oak and wanted to go back.  All I can do is hope and pray that he will make some good friends.

It's been awhile since I went to Poland so I'll head west (at least I'm pretty sure it's west) to Germany.

So where we are in Hamburg

This is a fun site there's 7 webcams to choose from:

This is going to be a busy week, but I've already accomplished some things so I feel good about.  Hopefully the rest of the week will be productive.

Another Day in Paradise

The closer we get to Labor Day Weekend the crazier life becomes. Today I had the pleasure of meeting 6 new staff employees and a bunch of new faculty. No idea how many, I didn't count, I'll get a list tomorrow so I will know.  I did three sessions and I'm exhausted.  Two were pretty much the same session but then I did a Windows 7 session. First Windows 7 session I've done.  I think it went alright though I felt a little scattered.  Lots of fun things to talk about in Windows 7.  The crazy thing was my boss and co-worker had fun standing outside the room making faces.  I need to find an appropriate response. Paybacks....

So for my Virtual Vacation tonight I'm going to skip over to Poland. Sorry I'm tired so only one Webcam for Poland. This is a park in Barlinek.

First time trip to Estonia

Tonight I decided to visit some place new.  Estonia.  And yes, there are web cams in Estonia.

Here is Tallin:



And a wind farm... didn't know they had wind farm in Estonia.

and finally Raekoja



Tomorrow starts new faculty orientation. This year we are after lunch.  Hopefully all will go well.  I really need to plan what I'm going to say.  Plus I get to teach someone how to back up on the Mac.  I'm hoping Susie's directions are right.  Otherwise, I'll look like an idiot.  OK, nothing new.

One week from tomorrow we start our student training.

A Teenager for only a Month Longer

This morning I overslept, which sadly is nothing new. I'm just not a good morning, but thankfully I have a boss who's not uptight about that.  So I'm rushing around this morning trying to get ready, thankfully Mark was cooperative and got ready quickly.  Then I get this text:

It is sad to think that in a month you won't be the mother of a teenage anymore.

My only response: Uffda.

It's hard to believe that Tim turns 20 in a month.  I'm WAY too young to have a 20 year old son!!!!  So beware the closer to September 12 it gets the more depressed I may get.  :(

So for my Virtual Vacation tonight I opted for Finland. The first working web cam I found is probably the prettiest one I've ever seen.  And by far the best picture.

Welcome to Suomenlinna Finland:

Here's a nice one from Helsinki Port:



But I think the funnest one is their road weather cams.  When you get to the page you can click on the map or the listing below.

Enjoy your Virtual trip in Finland.

The Month of August

I think the month of August is my least favorite month of the year. There's no holidays, often unbearably hot, but most challenging is some much has to happen before Labor Day weekend and the start of the new school.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job and the people I work with I just get overwhelmed from time to time and I try to do too much. But it will all get done and I'll live to do it again next year.  This week is almost over and it's just been one meeting after another.  Overall it was productive, I had one very draining session today, but the person really is very nice.

So with all that said, I really need my virtual vacation since I'm too poor to travel to any of these places, I just enjoy a virtual world....

Today I'm in Denmark (at least I think it's Denmark) I'm including more than one WebCam this time...

Click on the Fish tank (and I don't ask why):






A beautiful lake or ocean I have no idea since I don't read Denmark:



Another beautiful scene:

No idea where I'll be tomorrow...  but hopefully it will be peaceful and relaxing!

Lillihammer Norway

From Sweden we move to Lillihammer

Back to our Virtual Vacation

I'm all out of funny signs, at least for now, I'm sure there will be more... so I'm back on vacation.  We're still in Sweden but this time we're in Mora, Sweden.  The below picture was captured just before sunrise.  Click on the picture and see the current view.  Of course, they are 9 hours ahead so they're pretty much sleeping when we're up and around:



Next we're heading to Stockholm:

I love this picture! And it's fun to watch the cars and people go by!

Taking a Virtual Vacation

In a previous version of MagnusonHouse I was building a virtual vacation around the world. For different reasons I’ve abandoned that journey.  But I think now it’s time to start up my virtual vacation once again!!  Today we’re visiting Kristianstad, Sweden.  My husband’s family has direct ties back to Sweden as his grandfather came here to the United States as a young man.  By the time I moved to California Harry (Erwin’s Grandfather) had developed some dementia so I didn’t really know the amazing man I understand him to be.

Enjoy the view:

View from over Kristianstad - Click the photos to see current picture


Wetlands:


Remember Sweden is 9 hours later than SoCal
If you’re curious to where Kristianstad, Sweden is, it’s the red dot near the coast:

Taking a Virtual Vacation

In a previous version of MagnusonHouse I was building a virtual vacation around the world. For different reasons I’ve abandoned that journey.  But I think now it’s time to start up my virtual vacation once again!!  Today we’re visiting Kristianstad, Sweden.  My husband’s family has direct ties back to Sweden as his grandfather came here to the United States as a young man.  By the time I moved to California Harry (Erwin’s Grandfather) had developed some dementia so I didn’t really know the amazing man I understand him to be.

Enjoy the view:

View from over Kristianstad - Click the photos to see current picture


Wetlands:


Remember Sweden is 9 hours later than SoCal
If you’re curious to where Kristianstad, Sweden is, it’s the red dot near the coast: