I forgot.

Happy fall! Happy autumn!

Technically, the equinox used to be considered the middle of fall. Fall started at what we'd now consider the middle of summer. I think. And Halloween was the beginning of winter, with the solstice ("Midwinter") being the middle, not the beginning. Which makes sense. Why should the shortest day be the START of winter? Wouldn't the start be when you notice the days are getting short, and it's really getting cold out?

[Poll #356015]

People!

Learn about the lj-cut. It's in the FAQ. It's your friend. One, small quiz is about as much as should be visible on your main page at any one time. Long surveys, big pictures, more than one quiz? HIDE THEM IN A FRIGGIN' CUT.

Really, it's bad enough when people don't cut pictures that only they have. I guarantee, any quiz you post, you're not the first. Nobody wants to see the same quiz 20 times on their friends page.

No, I'm not going to force you to change. I won't even keep ranting about it. But I periodically feel the need to ask people to start cutting their stuff.

God, I hate latin.

I really do. My approach to translation is like this:

Look at the latin.
Put it off.
Realize it's due in three hours.
Open up an English translation of the text.
Go through the latin.
Translate.
Compare to the text.
Go back, see how they got their translation.
Translate again.
Ask for help.
Cry.
Submit work.
Worry that it's no good.
Stutter.
Repeat.

There's got to be an easier way.

Seth's figured out how to use the piano.

What's interesting is HOW he uses it. Not just as a "fun thing", but as a "I'm stressed" thing. If he's getting upset about something, he'll scream, then walk over to the piano, play a few notes, and go back to what he was doing, calmer. It's certainly easier for us to take than his screaming his head off, and it seems to help him.

He's also figuring out how to repeat simple (VERY simple) tunes on it, if you play the tune on the piano first. Impressive, considering a lot of adults can't master that!

(I'm also teaching him to point when he wants something instead of screaming. Right now he screams, then points, so I think he still needs work. I'm impressed, though. I distinctly remember being seven, eight years old and not able to point at things. I was stunned to find out that babies are expected to do that before they turn two!)