Addendum: #8. buy and use a 3D printer

Since the last post, I already downloaded a program called Slic3r, found some skull keychain designs on Thingiverse, learned how to digitally double them up on the printing bed, and exported the STL format to gcode, so it would work on my printer.

While I printed them: I fixed the filament sizing on Slic3r; I digitally quadrupled the skull keychains on the printing bed, converted the file and saved to my new Mac desktop (old one is too outdated for Slic3r); I found three animal figurine designs I may print for my nephew someday, converted the files and saved to desktop; I found some anatomical heart keychains, quadrupled, converted, and saved them too.

I am terrified of getting everything wrong and sometimes it keeps me from doing anything, but I LOVE LEARNING OKAY.

Oh. And here are the skulls:

Original goal list posted here.

Completed: #8. buy and use a 3D printer

I bought the Monoprice Mini 3D Printer a really long time ago -- maybe a year or more -- but did as I often do with anything new that comes with instructions: got afraid, overwhelmed, and regretful and shoved it in my closet, still in box.

This winter break I have been challenging myself to "just try" a lot of things. This was one. I'm going to be honest and tell you that I almost threw it out the window at least once, but, regardless, today I learned how to: set it up, use the internal computer and mini SD card, feed the filament and troubleshoot, and print the included sample.

Granted, I still have to set up computer programs to change STL shareware files to gcode so that I can print some things I actually want. Also, I eventually want to learn my own designs.

However, today, I dipped in a toe (and it wasn't as cold as I thought).

Original goal list posted here.

Progress: 26/30 - #18. read 30 texts that will aid in my teaching

I had vowed to never use a digital reader, scoffing at people who looked at phone or tablet screens, mentioning something about "my book". My future home will have a wall-to-wall library of books - you know, real ones - and as a tactile book-lover and teacher of literature, I see the preservation of this future lost art as vital.

On Christmas evening, I ventured into Google Play, while trying to assist a student via email to find a cheap and easy version of a certain book that would otherwise take too long to order to even complete the independent study.

It was there that I discovered this free memoir. I read 80% of it on my phone, waiting on dinner, grateful for the busy but quiet sensory break. Oh and, boy, could I relate:

Here is another recommendation to add to my mental-memoir-list.

Also, do not worry, for I have not quite joined the digital dark side. However, it may be nice to "carry" some ultra-light extra digital copies of books while travelling, in the case that I burn through all my real ones too quickly.

Original goal list posted here.

Progress: 25/30 - #18. read 30 texts that will aid in my teaching

Like The Lowland, I bought this novel when I landed in Delhi from Dharamsala and had to wait 10 hours for my next flight. However, shortly after, I discovered the miniature and inexpensive sleeping / showering rooms and used up my time napping instead. This book has sat on my shelf for almost precisely two years since -- until my next international trip. It still served its purpose to make travel tolerable -- just on several plane rides into the future.

This novel is beautiful, informative, tender, harrowing, heartbreaking. As I've mentioned previously, I want to construct an Enhanced-recommended ISU list for 2D this upcoming school year, and this would be one of those listed.

I also want to read The Kite Runner.


(I am also grateful that this has been a summer of travel, rest, love, and reading. Oh, my life.)

                     Original goal list posted here.

Progress: #2. join a choir

My Pop! Choir

My Pop Choir's Fall 2017 Term- LP

Mondays, September 11th to November 13th.

NOTE: Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 9th session being replaced by a session Wednesday October 11th!

Time: 7:15 - 8:45 pm.

LP Location: Eglinton St. George's United Church, 35 Lytton Blvd

"Do I have to audition for My Pop Choir™?

Goodness no. My Pop Choir™ welcomes everyone who loves to sing. This is about a safe, comfortable experience. Skill levels and experience ranges from member to member but you’d never know it because when we all sing together – we have one voice.

I’m really nervous…will I have to sing alone?

No one has to sing alone at any time during the Sessions. Even finding your vocal range is done with the choir as a group – at no time, do you sing alone. We know that it may take some courage to come out and join in this wonderful experience but you’ll soon find your fears were unfounded – one of the reasons My Pop Choir™ was created, was to create a safe environment in which we could leave stress & worry behind.

Do I need to know how to read music?

Absolutely not. We use music sheets but they're simple and many members use them simply to follow when their voice group goes up or down; and for the lyrics, of course.  We learn by listening to the choir master play and sing the notes, and by repetition.

Do I need singing experience?

We often hear “I love to sing, but I’m not a singer”.  Members would all say the same thing. Some members have had choir experience but most have not. The only obvious prerequisite is that you enjoy singing."

Sounds like my kind of choir, so I signed up!

[Original goal list posted here.]

Completed: #16. volunteer with elephants

Elephant Nature Park
Volunteer, 1 Week Program
August 7 - August 13
Chiang Mai, Thailand

I hope everyone gets the chance to be so in love.

[Original goal list posted here.]

Progress: 24/30 - #18. read 30 texts that will aid in my teaching

I'm not going to lie: I found reading this book to be very painful. It wasn't written in a way that allowed me any emotional investment in the characters and, consequently, their outcome. Moreover, I'm not even sure of the narrative purpose or closing circumstance of any of the characters on the periphery. At best, it's written like a 235 page National Geographic article - but, most unforgivably, poorly edited. This is something I fail to understand when (1) someone considered the author to have enough merit to be published, (2) presumably the book had an (overpaid) editor, and (3) I was considering making it available as a reading option to high school students (who should be positively influenced to write by what they read, as opposed to inevitably catching mistakes for the author). I feel like cracking out a red pen, noting page-by-page edits, and mailing it back to the publisher. Alas.

So... Why did I continue reading?

(1) My dad says I'm not a quitter.

(2) I need to know if my first impressions are justified, because I give everything (and everyone) more than enough chance to prove itself.

(3) I'm in Thailand, the Wi-Fi is spotty, and I can't leave this centre in the evening.

As a "novel" that boasts a bird-watching quest at its centre that is fueled by environmental conservation against hydrofracking, I was considering this text for the assignment option outlined in my previous post. Does it fit the bill for a hero's quest through an environmental lens? Sure. Does it pass the test as something I would want my students to read? Can't say it does. At most, I'd leave it as an option with all my uncensored warnings as penned above.

Any recommendations for (good) environmentally-themed novels?


[Original goal list posted here.]