February 24, 2009
Harry Potter lives a life of public service. Even as a young boy he was willing to work with his friends to help the community. While Harry is a fictional character, even our non-fiction wizards and muggles can learn a little from Harry's dedication for public service. Recently, as interest in public service rises, I've had requests for books and lessons that focus on public service ideals for students. I've started many public service projects with kids over the years,...
February 19, 2009
Okay okay, quit your snickering that's not what I mean but I figured it would get your attention. The six inches I'm referring to is the six inches of hair that was bundled than cut from mine today and will be sent to an organization called "Locks of Love." This seems to be a small amount of hair when you consider that it was down to just below my waist when I went in to the beauty college in the next town over this afternoon and now is just be low my shoulder blades. But the...
February 17, 2009
Not too long ago, I came out to my mother. I think when we take on something like that, something that seems so enormously significant, it never really plays out exactly as we’d imagine. Maybe it’s just me, because I do lead an active fantasy life, always dreaming about what could or might happen, but when faced with reality, I’m never as articulate as I’d like to be. My voice becomes shaky and I forget everything I wanted to say. But then something even better...
February 17, 2009
When the road you walk is rough going and it seems like everything is ganging up on you, why do we set our crafts aside and stare at them unfocused? I know I do it. I've recently done it. Having received some rather sad news last month, I really have not touched my crafts since then until this weekend. The joy/focus/mojo just hasn't been there. The desire missing. Somehow this weekend, something caused me to think about finding the joy of it again and I realized...
February 16, 2009
Sometimes, just sometimes, the crafting desire or 'mojo' as one of my friends calls it just isn't there. Different reasons but often, going through unexpected events can just wipe out the urge to make something as your mind tries to deal with the events that are or have occurred. Lately, I've found myself in that place as my husband and I were completely shocked to learn of the death of our friends' fourteen year old son. The younger of her two boys, J was always upbeat, helpful...
February 15, 2009
Excuse me for, well thinking, but since when did we (as a society) allow our government officials the ability to limit a child's right to use a library? Certainly not here, not in the United States of America. from the ALA .....The American Library Association (ALA) released a letter to Congress yesterday, urging members to take action against a recent opinion ruling released from the General Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that would require public, school, academic...
February 15, 2009
First of all I need to finally send out a huge thank you to Jason Breeden for creating my banner. He did a great job and I love it! So, the day that all us singles dread is approaching. Yep, Valentine’s Day has returned. I have always enjoyed Valentine’s Day, in a relationship or not. I think they both have their perks, and I didn’t realize this until I stopped moping around on Valentine’s Day. When I did that, I...
February 09, 2009
I recently wrote a review of an educational book about boys in our classroom. Another book I'd like to suggest to all teachers and parents is Failing at Fairness, How our School Cheat Girls. This book looks at the cultural phenomenon that leaves girls feeling left behind in both science and math. I think back to the first Harry Potter book and realize that our wizarding classrooms don't seem to have this problem, but one shortfall in many classrooms today is the trend to focus science...
February 03, 2009
Lots of buzz over the last week about a possible return (again) for Dr. Martha Jones, played by Freema Agyeman, in one of this year's upcoming specials. You can find the rumors here, here, here and here. Now, take that with the appropriately-sized grain of salt - I think there were a lot of rumors floating around in the last few months on purpose to keep fans from being completely unsurprised by the announcement of the 11th Doctor. (Come on, not even one of the names rumored was Matt Smith! You...
January 24, 2009
I've often wondered about the IQ of Fred and George Weasley. It's an odd thing to think of, but when you spend much of your time thinking about learning patterns it's inevitable. If you looked at their grades, it's ironic that these two intelligent young men didn't receive the highest marks, yet they both were succesful business men. While George now lives on without Fred, I'd bet both of them knew early on, that boys didn't fit into schools the way...
January 24, 2009
"I sometimes think we sort too soon." -Albus Dumbledore, “The Prince’s Tale,” Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Me, too, Dumbledore, me, too. The other day at work a customer called me "sir" then "ma'am" then, frustrated, threw his hands up in the air and said "I don't know which." I turned beet red and said nothing; not my usual tack, but I was surprised; most customers just ask my name and figure it out. Why did this guy even have to say "sir" or "ma'am"? ...
January 24, 2009
Yeah, I know this was announced a few weeks ago. Admittedly, I've been in denial. It's not that I have anything against Matt Smith becoming the 11th Doctor. He's just so not what I expected that I really was speechless. The one thing I said they'd have to do was avoid bringing on a David Tennant lookalike. And what have they done? OK, he's not as hot as Tennant, but he's defined by his hair, and he's gangly and skinny. So all I say now is, I trust the Moff to make the decision, and it must be...
January 22, 2009
A fun thing that I got off of Hank Green's Vlogbrothers video today. All you have to do is copy and paste the quotes and replace my name with yours. Try it and paste the results in the comments! "Candace needs" a firm, consistent hand that will establish house rules. Does this mean I'm head of gryffidor sometime in the future? "Candace looks like" she spends many a Friday night getting drunk with friends at Hardee's. NOT TRUE. So not true. I swear to God and on my Harry...
January 18, 2009
Just a (what I hope will be) brief update from me about what’s going on in Nina’s world of singing, as I am simply bursting with excitement! In some of my previous ramblings I have told you about the singing course I did, the lure of the limelight and my passion for singing harmonies, and I have been promising to tell you what I planned to do about getting all of those things together this year… well, here it comes, finally:I have created my own all female close harmony singing group! Yes!...
January 18, 2009
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