July 22, 2010

Whether the Weather be: Sunny breaks (53 F/12C)
In the News: Typhoon lashes China (Source: New Zealand Herald online edition)
Events of Note: Unit 3: Drafting Initial Discussion Board Responses

* A little later posting here today, as I've been shopping online, and attending to various bits of 'housekeeping'. I have also largely been concentrating on completing some of my college work for this Unit, slightly ahead of schedule. I've also decided to re-open my "Insanities" blog. It'll be re-named, "Rose-Tinted Ramblings". One drawback is that my doing so requires a paid membership from me, in advance. Rather unfortunate given the state of the economy. Since I currently have no need (nor desire) of owning a mobile/cell phone in my immediate future, my internet connection is my main form of communication with my outside world. In fact, I haven't owned a mobile device since 1993. My husband owns one because of the transient and on-call nature of his work, but I rarely even call him at work, unless it's a real emergency.

* My daughter will start Kindergarten this coming Fall, so tomorrow she has an appointment for her annual medical exam. I'll be keen to see how she's progressing physically and emotionally, compared with other children of her age. In New Zealand, when children turn five, they start in first grade (or Year 1). Having my daughter not starting school, as I traditionally think of it, until age six, seems slightly strange to me. New Zealand also doesn't have a school lunch program, either. Although, to hear tell the latter is not exactly regarded as an entirely healthful option. The U.S. and California, in particular, has a lot of health, social and welfare programs that are simply non-existent or not available in New Zealand; Food-Stamps, WIC, TANF. N.Z has an unemployment benefit, but it's not based on the wage you were earning while employed, It's a set amount for all claimants, regardless of their previous occupation. Here in Eureka, the price of gasoline is the highest in the whole of the U.S. Yet, in New Zealand, gasoline is still costing around US$8/gallon!.

* Time to do some reading for school. It's sunny outside, at last. Not that I'll be seeing too much of it. Oh, well-short-term sacrifice for longer-term gain (that's what I'm telling myself, anyway!).

See you on the Boards!.