Monthly Archives: December 2010

A Very Merry Christmas, Vacation and New Year 2011 to You All

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Susan Spann

This is my last scheduled post of 2010.  Blogging will resume at the usual five-a-week (yeah, that’s minimum) pace on January 3, 2011.  Stopping by between now and then might earn you a surprise or two if something happens that … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons Learned, Running Amok | Comments Off

Next Time I’m Hiring a Hit Squad.

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Susan Spann

As most of you are probably aware, I received a box with water and rocks in it as an early Christmas present.  As an unexpected bonus, two of the rocks came with living inhabitants.  The first a peacock worm, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Lessons Learned, Something's Fishy Here | 2 Comments

Should This Be On Your Christmas List?

Posted on December 21, 2010 by Susan Spann

The last minute gift for that person on your list who has saggy pants everything? The Sags Gadget. An inventor in Harlem, New York has finally solved the “saggy pants problem” once and for all.  After noticing that neighborhood teens … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | Comments Off

A (Very) Little Christmas Humor

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Susan Spann

Behind the 8-ball today, trying to finish up work at The Job Which Must Not Be Named before taking some time off for Christmas.  That said, I know your day would be ruined without something to read, so in honor … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | Comments Off

Do You Know Where Your Bicycle is?

Posted on December 17, 2010 by Susan Spann

I’ve suspended my Friday review posts through December in favor of Christmas memories shared, in the hope of inspiring myself (and the rest of you) to share your own stories with others.  (Or here, in the comments.  That’s always welcome … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | 1 Comment

Why Poinsettias, Anyway?

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Susan Spann

Easter has lilies and Valentine’s Day without a rose would never smell as sweet.  In similar fashion, poinsettias are the flower (well, plant) of Christmas. But why? Aside from needing some brilliant vegetation for the cats to eat and throw … Continue reading →

Posted in Shiny Dinglehoppers | 5 Comments

On Rocks, and the Things We Can Learn From Them

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Susan Spann

Last Sunday I received my Christmas present: a 59-gallon salt water aquarium which will become a species-specific soft reef for seahorses and pipefish. As of 5pm Monday night, it looked more like a box of water with rocks. Reef tanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | 4 Comments

Almost Meaningful

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Susan Spann

I spent most of last night playing with my early Christmas present – the 59-gallon salt water reef tank I’ve wanted since I was eight.  It has no seahorses yet, but that doesn’t make it any less fun. I intended … Continue reading →

Posted in Something's Fishy Here | 2 Comments

Welcome to New Zealand! (Now Go Home.)

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Susan Spann

December 13, 1642: Abel Tasman discovers the island of New Zealand.  Unfortunately, his attempt at landing was repulsed by native tribesmen when the Dutch navigator’s trumpet signals (used to coordinate ship movements) were misinterpreted as war horns.  After losing several crewmen, … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | 6 Comments

History is Personal Too.

Posted on December 10, 2010 by Susan Spann

It’s easy to think of history as “things that happened to someone else, most of them now long dead.”  Most history has to be studied in that way.  Time moves in linear fashion and education lends itself to macro-scale views. … Continue reading →

Posted in Running Amok | 4 Comments