World Book Wednesday

Volume U

United Arab Emirates- "Pedestrians and automobiles jam a crowded street in Dubayy." 

Doesn't look anything like Dubai three decades later.

United States- This photo is supposed to represent a typical apartment complex that a typical American might live in. On my first look I thought it was a public housing project. Some research showed it is Stuyvesant Town in New York City, which rents a one bedroom apartment for $2800 a month. How can something that looks like Cabrini Green rent for that much?

Answer: White people live here.

United States, History of The: 1870-1916- "The lives of the poor and the rich contrasted sharply during the industrial period. Poor city people lived in a crowded tenement and could barely afford the necessities of life. But the wealthy, such as the well-dressed antique shoppers at the right, enjoyed lives of luxury."

History always repeats itself, folks.

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations

Happy Homemaker Monday

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The Weather:::

It's very pleasant outside right now. I turned off the AC and opened the windows. It may get too warm this afternoon but the fresh air in the house is nice for now.

On my reading pile:::

The Changeling. It's a book I read when I was young and just rediscovered.

On my tv:::

No time for TV this week.

On the menu for this week:::

Monday- Burgundied Beef

Tuesday- Cabbage and Sausage

Wednesday- Chinese Chicken Salad

Thursday- Tuna Melts

Friday- Matzo Ball Soup

Saturday- Five Can Hot Dish

Sunday- Garlic Shrimp and Pasta

On my to do list:::

Clean off the dining room table and eat there. Same thing as last week. I'll do it when I get a Round 'Tuit.

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

If I have time I'd like to work on the baby mobile. I hope to get it done before he grows out of the bassinet and crib.

Homemaking Tips:::

Make a list of little extra jobs around the house that you can refer to when the kids want something. "You can have some cookies if you ______." They can be simple tasks that you just don't get to on a regular basis like dusting the baseboards in one room or straightening out one drawer.

Looking around the house:::

Still have the dead flowers on the kitchen table. Anthony is entertaining Xavier in his swing and folding laundry. The dishes are done and the living room just needs a quick pick up. Savory the cat is curled up on my foot, purring.

From the camera:::

No wonder I never get anything done; I have to watch the baby sleep.

World Book Wednesday

Volume T

Teaching- "Teachers at all levels guide the learning of students in various ways. Sometimes, teachers help students individually. At other times, they instruct an entire group." 

This must have been a very well funded college. There are no fewer than eight giant
suspended television sets  in the lecture hall. That's a state of the art facility!

Telephone- This entire article was hilarious and archaic, but something about it makes me think things were better back then.

The large type and a half page illustration says this is an important article.

This photo was taken over thirty years prior to the first hands-free laws.
This guy was using a rotary car phone for Pete's sake.

No mention of a contact list stored within the phone's memory where you
can also keep track of a fax number and email address. A what and a what?!

I know we have gone far beyond this technology, but I dearly wish I had this in my house.

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations

Happy Homemaker Monday

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The Weather:::

Hot, hot, hot. I guess its technically still summer, but I'm done with the heat.

On my reading pile:::

I have a bunch of articles on defunct public housing projects and dead malls.

I'm thinking about becoming an urban explorer.

On my tv:::

Jeopardy

On the menu for this week:::

FINALLY! The first time since Baby Xavi joined us, I have a menu! I can't guarantee we will actually eat these things this week, but I wrote it down and went grocery shopping, so that's a start.

Monday- Chicken Taco Bowls

Tuesday- Ham and Macaroni and Cheese

Wednesday- Corn Bread Casserole and Green Beans

Thursday- Apple Pork Chops and Rice

Friday- Sesame Salmon and Veggie Mash

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday- Roast Beef and Ranch Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

On my to do list:::

Clean off the dining room table and eat there

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

I'm making a shrinky dink mobile for the baby. I'm using laser printable plastic that I've never used before. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Homemaking Tips:::

When my weekly menu calls for veggies to be cut or cheese to be shredded, I like to do as much of it as I can on Sunday afternoons. Sometimes I don't cook because I don't have time to do the prep, so having everything ready to just mix or cook helps.

Looking around the house:::

I see a clean enough house. There are still dead flowers on the kitchen table that I got when I was in the hospital with the baby (by the way, the baby is eight weeks old today.) We all have places to go and people to see today but all the boys are lollygagging (loudly) upstairs.

From the camera:::

Bobby adores Xavier

World Book Wednesday

Volume S

Science- "Electronic computers are used widely in various fields of science. Many scientific problems are so complex that they would require years to solve without the aid of computers." 

It probably takes longer to figure out how to use this contraption
than it would to just figure out the answers by hand.

Skateboard- "Experienced skateboarders can perform such stunts as endovers and wheelies. Endovers are a series of 360-degree turns. Wheelies are performed by riding the board so that two wheels are off the pavement."

I've seen too many goofy footed punks nose grind the
ridgepole of a house to be impressed by a wheelie.

Superstition- "A traditional belief that a certain action or event can cause or foretell and apparently unrelated event." 

Is it really necessary to illustrate these ideas?
Does anyone not know what walking under a ladder looks like?

The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book-Childcraft International, 1979. Includes all photos and quotations

Happy Homemaker Monday

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The Weather:::

It's so humid! The weatherman said thunderstorms, but all we got was humidity.

On my reading pile:::

I've been doing some internet reading about old public housing projects. Please don't ask me to explain why because I really don't know. 

On my tv:::

Master Chef

On the menu for this week:::

I'm still flying by the seat of my pants. The baby lets me do more and more every day so I hope to be menu planning soon.

On my to do list:::

Figure out a weekly schedule

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or creating:::

Lanyards with Anthony

Homemaking Tips:::

No tips this week; this is 'Just Getting By' after all.

Looking around the house:::

I'm not home this morning; I came to the shoeshine stand with Napoleon. Looking around I see a man-cave that passes as a place of business. There are shoes everywhere! I see dusty shelves and little piles of stuff that shouldn't be here. But we're jamming to some Jamiroquai so hopefully I can get in the groove and get things cleaned up.

From the camera:::

Time for Super Why! I don't know why he was naked (maybe because Daddy was asleep on the couch and not paying attention).