Saturday, November 12, 2005

Educating the masses

Okay- giving myself too much credit. But this stuff can be fascinating, motivating, punctuating. yep.


-Deforestation: The Lorax : One of the TOP Books of all time. really really. If you don't want to Buy it, go to the library, borrow it from me, steal it from a little kid. whatever it takes! (um, disclaimer- i don't mean that. the little kid thing...maybe try READING it to the child. much better!)



right-o. moving on...


-Invasive Species: can I say Scary!
** Time for a game. Match the Title to the Picture!**

-Zebra Mussel - Encrusted vector averaging current meter near Michigan city, Ind., in Lake Michigan taken June 1999
-Giant salvinia is a fast-growing fern that can clog ponds and lakes. Forming mats up to 2 feet thick, the plant gobbles up oxygen and blocks sunlight needed by other water dwellers.
-Day-old sawfly larvae devour a melaleuca leaf in skirmish-line fashion.
-Asian Longhorned Beetle - female ovipositing in sugar maple
-brown tree snake
-Formosan subterranean termites













Absolutely Repulsive, Right! and there are MILLIONS of examples. Rabbits, Toads, Ivy, rats, mice, weeds, flowers, CATS and DOGS-domestic and wild (Dingos!), on and on.
More Info

Moving on

-Biodiversity (focusing on Marine Bio.):

beautifully written, at a glance Info. Worth the Click

And, Seriously people, LOOK AT THIS POSTER! What amazing creatures! aliens, really!

And that is my massive post for the day. I'm leaving you without detail on Ecotourism and Globalization, because I'm tired of blogging.

Let me know if this was overwhelming or fun. I prefer FUN, so be honest!

Irony is...

Being at the computer all day, and not updating the blog once. BUT I did get heaps accomplished yesterday (for notes on prior progress, check out the fashion post. pathetic).
side note: poor Mrs Kreft would balk if she heard this definition of "irony." Cheers to defying HS english. which I loved. apparently I am feeling defiant. maybe I should post humpty dumpty again. or I should just not post at all since all I am doing is referring to old posts... done and done.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

For Lambhead

Your birthday Gift:

Which Tree did You fall from?

Taken word-for-word from an email forward:

WHAT TREE DID YOU FALL FROM? Find your birthday and then find your tree. This is really cool and somewhat accurate. Then send it to your friends, including the one that sent it to you, so they can find out what tree they fell from but don't forget to change the subject line to your tree.

Find your tree below and see what you are like...
Dec 23 to Jan 01 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 (only) - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 (only) - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 (only) - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 (only) - Beech Tree

TREES (in alphabetical order)

Apple Tree (Love) -- quiet and shy at times, lots of charm, appeal, and attraction, pleasant attitude, flirtatious smile, adventurous, sensitive, loyal in love, wants to love and be
loved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, many talents, loves children, needs affectionate partner.

Ash Tree (Ambition) -- extremely attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be very egotistic, reliable, restless lover, sometimes money rules over the heart, demands attention, needs love and much emotional support.

Beech Tree (Creative) -- has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, good organization of life and career, economical, good leader, takes no unnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on keeping fit (diets, sports, etc.).

Birch Tree (Inspiration) -- vivacious, attractive, elegant,friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.

Cedar Tree (Confidence) -- of rare strength, knows how to adapt, likes unexpected presents, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, a great speaker, determined, often impatient, likes to impress others, has many talents, industrious, healthy optimism, waits for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Chestnut Tree (Honesty) -- of unusual stature, impressive, well-developed sense of justice, fun to be around, a planner, born diplomat, can be irritated easily, sensitive of others feelings, hard worker, sometimes acts superior, feels not understood at times, fiercely family oriented, very loyal in love, physically fit.

Cypress Tree (Faithfulness) -- strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give but doesn't necessarily like it, strives to be content, optimistic, wants to be financially independent, wants love and affection, hates loneliness, passionate lover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered at times, can be unruly and careless, loves to gain knowledge, needs to be needed.

Elm Tree (Noble-mindedness) -- pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands, tends not to forgive mistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous, good sense of humour, practical.

Fig Tree (Sensibility) -- very strong minded, a bit self-willed, honest, loyal, independent, hates contradiction or arguments, hard worker when wants to be, loves life and friends, enjoys children and animals, sexually oriented, great sense of humour, has artistic talent and great intelligence.

Fir tree (Mysterious) -- extraordinary taste, handles stress well, loves anything beautiful, stubborn, tends to care for those close to them, hard to trust others, yet a social butterfly, likes idleness and laziness after long demanding hours at work, rather modest, talented, unselfish, many friends, very reliable.

Hazelnut Tree (Extraordinary) -- charming, sense of humour, very demanding but can also be very understanding, knows how to make a lasting impression, active fighter for social causes and politics, popular, quite moody, sexually oriented, honest, a perfectionist, has a precise sense of judgment and expects complete fairness.

Hornbeam Tree (Good Taste) -- of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is not egoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable and disciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgment in an emotional partner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings, mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.

Lime Tree (Doubt) - intelligent, hard working, accepts what life dishes out, but not before trying to change bad circumstances into good ones, hates fighting and stress, enjoys getaway vacations, may appear tough, but is actually soft and relenting, always willing to make sacrifices for family and friends, has many talents but not always enough time to use them, great leadership qualities, is jealous at times but extremely loyal.

Maple Tree (Independence of Mind) -- no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy and reserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident, hungers for new experiences, sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.

Oak Tree (Brave) -- robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.

Olive Tree (Wisdom) -- loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced, avoids aggression and violence, tolerant, cheerful, calm, well-developed sense of justice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.

Pine Tree (Peacemaker) -- loves agreeable company, craves peace and harmony, loves to help others, active imagination, likes to write poetry, not fashion conscious, great compassion, friendly to all, falls strongly in love but will leave if betrayed or lied to, emotionally soft, low self esteem, needs affection and reassurance.

Poplar Tree (Uncertainty) -- looks very decorative, talented, not very self-confident, extremely courageous if necessary, needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, often lonely, great animosity, great artistic nature, good organizer, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.

Rowan Tree (Sensitivity) -- full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egotism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

Walnut Tree (Passion) -- unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic, aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous, unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but often admired, ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.

Weeping Willow (Melancholy) - likes to be stress free, loves family life, full of hopes and dreams, attractive, very empathetic, loves anything beautiful, musically inclined, loves to travel to exotic places, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with when pressured, sometimes demanding, good intuition, suffers in love until they find that one loyal, steadfast partner; loves to make others laugh

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Good song =)

Audio Adrenaline \ Ocean Floor
the mistakes I've made
that caused pain
I could have done without
all my selfish thought
all my pride
the things I hide
you have forgot about

they're all behind you
they'll never find you
they're on the ocean floor
your sins are forgotten
they're on the bottom
of the ocean floor

my misdeeds
all my greed
all the things that haunt me now
they're not a pretty sight to see
but they're wiped away
by a mighty, mighty wave
a mighty, mighty wave

your sins are erased
and they are no more
they're out on the ocean floor
take them away
to return no more
take them away
to the ocean floor

jana's job of the day...




My job today is (was) to finish the Bus Announcements, get a good start on Lesson Plans, and download this stuff into my Ipod to be ready to have "on the go." The progress? Lunch with mom and Barb =), and ONE measley lesson plan almost done. dang it!
The "good" news? I have been inspired by 1. Adam Duckworth's Blog and 2. The box full of my fashion-designing sister's clothes to check out some brilliant fashion websites!! Top on the list: girlshop.com !
Photos: some favorites from girlshop. only too $$, unnecessary (I reallllly don't need them), and I like more Color.
WHAT I'VE NOTICED: I have gotten Much more excited about fashion in the last few months then I have in years! Why would this be?
1. Colorado: the area is allll about the outdoors. My wardrobe was composed of athletic gear, because instead of the mall, friends meet for a hike. or for the weekend, head to the mountains. Boulder and fashion- not as big a deal (depending on the "crowd")
2. ISV: who has the strength to pack around fashion?? I wear things 2 days in a row. (um, 3 days in a row...). Comfort and versitality (is that a word?). Maybe 1 skirt, but that's pushing it. as are jeans. they're heavy!
SO WHY NOW? basically, because I have a box full of my sister's clothes to choose from. no joke. The wedding didn't help either- getting dressed up for a week straight. it became fun.

yes, I am done now.

questions

Okay, I'd rather blog these than email them! fun fun
1. Nicknames: anything with bean, like beanhead. my sis calls me beevis. and I get janajo often
2. Do you enjoy reading horiscopes? not really. maybe if they had our star signs lined up correctly I'd be more interested, but they haven't looked at the sky in 2000 yrs and I'm really a Taurus though they call me a Gemini! Astronomy (which touched on Astrology) in college did do me some good!
3. What is something strange that you do? shower in the dark.
4. What is the craziest animal you've ever touched? I have been lucky here. my favorites have been a baby howler monkey, a joey (baby kangaroo), a crocodile, emu, and maybe a llama (no spitting!).
5. Terms of endearment you use often? lots. my favorite is "love bug" especially for my kitty
6. Do you collect anything? funny comics from the peach section, and Archies.
7. Latest movie you recommended to someone else? View from the Top and Finding Nemo
8. Newest thing purchased? A fall/spring jacket, something more than the fleese for nicer occasions!
9. Oldest piece of clothing used? shoes from HS. they will be worn to New Community tonight!
10. Do you generally carve happy or scary pumpkins? hm. well. I carved a ghost and a tree last year. what is that? I guess scary
11. Favorite Roller Coaster? Millenium Force!!!!!!! yay
12. Favorite genre of food? Gosh. Mediterranian (Greek, Lebonese, ...) and maybe Mexican
13. Latest book recommended? the workbook "To Live is Christ" by Beth Moore, so I do it with others while I'm gone- keep me accountable! :)
14. What instrument would you like to play? guitar. I'm trying- but my fingers hurt. boo
15. What instrument did you play in the past? French Horn baby
16. What sport do you wish you could play? easy! soccer
17. What's your favorite sport TO play? not so easy. Ultimate Frisbee, Snow Skiing, and Tennis
18. Your favorite sport to Watch? American and Australian Football! actually, aussie is the best, but I hate to admit that!
19. What was your most recent concert? can't remember
20. What's a favorite quote of yours? Dedicated to Abby :) for memories' sake!
"When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste your time on what might have been- just lie on your back and float!"

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

DEFYING SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS


One of my favorite posts
Photo: Humpty-Dumpty surviving Katrina. notice the remains of a seaside carnival in Gulfport Miss in the background

The Windy City!

I looove Chicago. I love it. g.r.e.a.t city. Furthermore, I love Moody Bible Institute. For a few years in a row, I was pretty dedicated to attending Founder's Week held annually in Feb. This absolutely deep-hitting conference will be taking place Feb. 6-11. Such speakers as James McDonald and Andy Stanley are attending!!!! This years theme: The Living Word: "In the beginning was the Word..." .

what is not perfect about this situation? I get home on Feb. 9th. right smack dab in the middle. perhaps this won't stop me...

Monday, November 07, 2005

psyching myself up













As I do prep. work too late at night...
By the way: has anyone seen this show choreographed to "Time To Say Goodbye" ??? THE BEST. Seriously, we sat at the fountain for, like, 2 Hours on our way thru, just waiting for that song! was it worth the wait? You Betcha

travel necessities

Alright, I am doing what I can to prepare for my trip- especially the spiritual aspect. Here is the list:
1-Travel Bible
2-Devotional workbook. so I am regimented. At home, no biggie, but this is necessary when I'm going from one hotel room to another
3- Brain-enhancing projects. a) 6 Environmental lesson plans. I need to earn my $ somehow! b) Spanish on cd- the goal is still to be fluent some day. c) Cell phone clock is set to analog. that's a real brain-teaser!
4-Journal.

My Solutions:
1:


Rock On! Weather-proof, bag-crushing-proof, small, ESV,... it's perfect




2:
"A spiritual odyssey through the life of one of Christian's most fervent journeymen and one of Christ's most passionate followers, the Apostle Paul."





3-c:

I highly recommend clicking this picture and looking at these clocks enlarged. they're awesome!





4: TBA. I've looked and looked, but "Jana Journals" must be a certain breed. Soft, bendable covers with Lined pages. it's surprising how difficult this is to find!