Tuesday, December 30, 2008

They weren't all about crushing the joy


I should clarify.

The signs mentioned previously were in special garden areas. One was at the entrance of the Japanese garden with lots of ground coverings not of the grass variety that would trample easily. Not to mention delicate plants and rock arrangements. Running and tromping would destroy the peace, design and meaning of the garden.

This picture is a sculpture, of sorts, that spirals around the tree and encourages you to walk in it and watch, or even help, the red pinwheels move around. You may notice grass did not survive under the tree and that's okay. And there were many areas you could explore.

Again, to run a point into the ground - it's all about the situation and many now don't get that.

I agree, may have been a more positive way to word the signs. But they did make me chuckle.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Signs of the Times



Visited a lovely botanical garden. Lots of paths and beautiful interesting plants and gardens. But, it seems like with most places, they are struggling to find ways to encourage people, and dare I say children, to behave appropriately in that situation. They want people, and children, to enjoy and appreciate, but not destroy. They want them to respect their environment and the others who may come to visit. Is this anti kids-will-be-kids? I don't think so. It's trying to remind people that appropriate behavior varies with the situation. It's one of the lessons we should teach our children.
Or at least I think so. But I feel in a minority about that.
There are some ways I could adapt the wordage to my work situation. Even in a more positive way.
Please read, peruse, look, browse, sample, etc. Even take a couple home. Books are provided for readers of all ages.
Now if there was a way to get the don't run and scream and throw the toys and where is your grown-up anyway across. If we are allowed to do that.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

So I can write off my trip as a business expense




This is the Central Library for the city of San Antonio. I saw a picture of it on a bus schedule and we could work it in, so had to check it out. (By the way, yay! for cities with great public transportation.) There are critiques out there and artsy photos on Flicker, but it was fun too see. It is in the middle of and older area of town that they are working on and it obviously doesn't blend in with the surroundings. It is very open on the inside. The basement was turned into a book store (having been a coffee shop - hmmmmm) Nice and colorful on the inside, too.


Under the category of it-seemed-like-a-good-idea-at-the-time was this terrace. What you can't see are the two small raised pools of water at each end which feed into the fountain by a raised trough. (You can see some of it by opening the picture.) It was hard to take because I had take the picture through a door that said "Terrace Closed". It isn't open often. On the other side of this, the 3rd floor there was another terrace, some of it under a roof, no water feature, also closed. Now for the interesting part. This is on the 3rd floor which is the children's area. It was clean, uncluttered and colorful. And they can't use the terraces often due to unattended children. Hmmmmm And I know what else you are thinking, why would you want to haul your kids up to the 3rd floor by elevator or escalator? Had a nice chat with the staff.


This glass sculpture, the Fiesta Tower, stands 26 ft through the atrium. It has 917 pieces of individually blow glass with an average of 3 feet. It weighs 4,500 pound. I had to take the picture through a plexiglass barrier added to the edge of the open wall, added later because too many kids kept trying to hang over the edge. It is awesome, none the less. So, as we think of ideas for our new and moving branches, I'm sure the artist is available.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Decisions

Fortune Cookie:
Good judgment come from experience.
Experience comes from bad judgment.

Horoscope for today:
No matter what you are debating doing right now, you aren't going to come to any conclusions today -- so don't push yourself too hard. Instead, use this day to do some more research on your options. Go online and find out what other people who have been in your situation choose to do -- and how they feel about their decision. Ask for advice from your friends. Making a decision about your life doesn't always have to be something you do alone.

All I'm trying to figure out is whether I should bail on work because of the weather.

hehe

Research indicates ice not moving in until noon, so if I leave a little early I'll miss it and it should be above freezing by the time I come home tonight. Most people aren't me and choose to go. Experience tells me I usually get too worked up over nothing. But..... if it doesn't get to 34....maybe I can just stay at work all night?

Yep, I'm most definitely a crazy person. Not to mention a bit of a wimp.

It will be fine. Besides, my co-workers know me and the 24-hour flu excuse won't fool them today.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

So did you hear the one about the blonde at the library

My mom sends me library related stuff she finds in the paper and recently sent this:

Mary walked into a library, walked up to the front desk and said to the librarian: "I'll have a cheeseburger, fries and a large coke, please."
The librarian is stunned and stares blankly back at the blonde and Mary thinks that the librarian must not have heard her. Mary therefore repeats her request in a loud voice: "I'LL HAVE A CHEESEBURGER, FRIES AND A LARGE COKE!"
"Miss, I'm sorry, but this is a library" said the librarian sternly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," whispered Mary, and repeated in a very soft voice: "I'll have a cheeseburger, fries and a large coke."

The funny parts to me were different than the intended, I'm sure. First, change the cheeseburger to coffee and soon that will be a legitimate request. Although, I've suggested a service we should have at our drive through window to make some money should be fries. As in "Do you want fries with that?" And the quiet part and sternness - really! We are all about noise now.

So, yeah, very funny.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

So Here's My Logic

I decided on kids shoes - they were $1.50 less than adult shoes. Since the athletic type were pretty bad, decided on the other type. Didn't take the ones that looked in good condition and useful - some kid may really need those. Found a pair of girls dress-up shoes with 2-inch heels. Don't think most 9-year-olds need 2-inch heels, but what do I know. Got them. May be all wrong for the project.

But, yeah, mostly just making a tacky comment on having to bring old shoes at the last minute anyway.