No spell check

I'm going to write this post without spell check. Why you ask? So that people can see just how badly I spell. So far I think that it's pretty good, but most words are in the range of 5 to 6.

Let's tell some stories.

As a kid I was always frustrated with spelling. Teachers response when you asked them to spell something was simply "look it up in the dictionary" or "sound it out". Since English isn't phonetic sounding it out doesn't work too well. Being able to look something up in a dictionary implies (to me) that you you already know how to spell it. It's like asking "how do I drive to Steve's house?" and being told "Just ask Steve. He's at his house.". Useless.

Aside: I think that I'm doing well so far.

I have a memory when I was in grade 3 (?) I had to ask my friend how to spell "car" because I had no idea. I could spell it yesterday. I'd be able to spell it tomorrow. It's just when I needed to spell it then, I couldn't. He laughed. He mocked. I was embarrased, but what can you do? My brain just was not cooperating with me right then.

Today at work I was having a conversation with a co-worker and talking about her kids having to learn spelling. She more or less said that if I have trouble with it, I just have to work a bit harder at it and then I'll figure it out. wtf. Does she not think that I've been working "a bit harder" at it for 30+ years? I write and write and write to practice my communication skills. It still feels like pushing water up hill. I think that I'm slowly making progress. The conversation felt like if you told someone that struggled with their weight all their life to just "stop being fat and you'll feel better".

How do I deal with it? I avoid problem words. Words like unfortunally and inconvience. I use google as a spell checker by putting my word into a sentence since (thank the FSM) it can figure out context. I ask my wife. I make jokes about it. I install spell check plugins before they are part of core systems. I have my tricks and work arounds. But that's what they are.

I just can't see spelling errors. For other people they stick out like a sore thumb. My brain glides over them. People who don't struggle can't fathom what it's like to struggle with an issue. Oh, they might have tons of other things they struggle with, but for some reason the brain doesn't understand that everyone has issues. Or maybe it's their heart that doesn't understand.

*sigh*

Optimizing for Different Thing

Today at work I had a discussion with a co-worker about how we're going to both take time off when our new little one comes along. It was confusing because mentally we were both trying to optimize for something totally different. Laura and I try to optimize for time off, ideally together as a family. My co-worker was trying to optimize for money. He didn't understand why I didn't pressure / encourage Laura to go back to work as soon as possible. The idea had never crossed my mind and just seemed so... foreign.

Some times I don't get people. After being able to pay for a roof over my head, food on the table and basic transportation, all the rest is gravy. (note: I'll admit we don't have "basic" home / food / transportation... we added some gravy). The only thing that is impossible to buy is time. Time to go back, do it again, play with your kids, etc.

When I hear someone say "I need a fast internet connection." No, that's a want. Very different. Do you need a super fast connection so 4 different people in your home can watch netflix at the same time? Pah. Maybe rationalizing it as a need makes it feel that it justifies the cost. But it's important to separate the two and know which is which.

It just boggles my mind that people aren't trying to maximize how much time they can spend with their family. Those moments are all we have. In the end they will be lost in time, like tears in rain.

Sick - Day 8

Ugg. Day 8 of being sick. I must say, not a fan.

What uplifting and life lesson can we take from this? It's simple: don't get sick.

It's almost 10 pm. That's like.... 2 hours past my bedtime.

Below are the people that I want to be well for.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

The best and hardest point of my day is usually walking from home. That's when both Laura and Alice are at the window waving enthustically and wishing me a good day. It warms my heart so much to see them, but it cuts a bit that I am leaving them for the day.

As problems go, having family that love you very much and are not afraid to show it is a pretty good problem to have. 

Banana Airplane

This morning while holding a half eaten banana (with peel) Alice says "banana airplane! Naaa errrrr!" as she glides her banana around.

These are the awesome moments that I want to remember.

Update: that evening we had a great presentation of the bread cow on the kitchen-table-engeti. Moo moo mmmm!

Challenge Accepted!

One of the more challenging things to take pictures of (for me) lately is our daughter. She will smile, but for a 1/250 of a second. She's have neat, done up hair, for 7 seconds. Most of the time she'll stay in one place - but that doesn't mean that she's still. Using natural light can be a bit of a challenge.

I've also got to figure out which apperature I should use to get all the faces in the focus, yet still have a nice short depth of field. There are always more challenges.

Why is daddy going "darrh!" all the time?