MamaMo

You're Welcome

2009-01-06T09:29:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a good tender-hearted cry today, here it is:

Inspiration for the Week

2009-01-05T08:46:00.004-05:00

"Love cannot remain by itself -- it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service."
* Mother Teresa

This Just In...

2008-12-31T02:03:00.001-05:00

Inspiration for the Week

"Pain is weakness leaving the body."
U.S. Marine Corps

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-12-26T23:53:00.004-05:00

Happy Merry Rama-Chanu-KwanzMasTice
OR
ChristmaSolKwanziHanukAdan
whichever you observe!!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-12-22T01:13:00.002-05:00

"Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It is beyond me.

But in the main, I feel like a brown bag of miscellany propped against a wall. Against a wall in company with other bags, white, red and yellow. Pour out the contents, and there is discovered a jumble of small things priceless and worthless. A first-water diamond, an empty spool, bits of broken glass, lengths of string, a key to a door long since crumbled away, a rusty knife-blade, old shoes saved for a road that never was and never will be, a nail bent under the weight of things too heavy for any nail, a dried flower or two still a little fragrant. In your hand is the brown bag. On the ground before you is the jumble it held — so much like the jumble in the bags, could they be emptied, that all might be dumped in a single heap and the bags refilled without altering the content of any greatly. A bit of colored glass more or less would not matter. Perhaps that is how the Great Stuffer of Bags filled them in the first place — who knows?"

* Zora Neale Hurston, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," The World Tomorrow (May 1928)

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-12-19T23:07:00.001-05:00

or...
How to Start a Winter Break Off the Right Way!By passing out on the couch after your third episode of "How It's Made" and avoiding folding laundry (again!)

Inspiration for the Week

2008-12-15T11:14:00.004-05:00

"To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives.
Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day.
Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought.
And Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy.
But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
* Jim Valvano, NC State Basketball Coach, 1980-1990

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-12-12T09:33:00.002-05:00

Couldn't decide between this
and this
Both from a conference in SC last Dec.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-12-08T23:05:00.001-05:00

WARNING: view this only if you're ready for a good cry.
Devon Gundry - "Armed" from Justin Baldoni on Vimeo.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-12-01T05:39:00.001-05:00

"In the practice of tolerance
one's enemy is the best teacher."
* The Dalai Lama

Thank You!

2008-11-24T12:26:00.000-05:00

My brother-in-law is recovering wonderfully and everything looks good (even the HUGE scar!). Thank you all for your prayers and kind thoughts.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-11-24T07:50:00.001-05:00

"Give people light, and they will find their way."
* Ella Baker

Inspiration for the Week

2008-11-17T12:11:00.001-05:00

"Do what you feel in your heart to be right —
for you'll be criticized anyway."
* Eleanor Roosevelt

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-11-14T09:12:00.001-05:00

This is Elle riding her water horse (Uncle Eddie) this summer in Texas.
Please keep him in your prayers today - he's undergoing surgery this morning.

I Believe the Children Are Our Future

2008-11-13T05:51:00.001-05:00

I get to go see this guy tomorrow with my daughter's first grade class - wish you ALL could come with me!

What a glorious day it'll be when we all feel this way about each child!

Oh What a Night!

2008-11-12T13:56:00.008-05:00

We had such a great time last night - as Bahá'ís, we celebrated the birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Arabic for "The Glory of God"). Religious beliefs aside, I have to tell you that there just aren't many groups as diverse, hopeful, and service-oriented as Bahá'ís. It makes it alot of fun to be at our parties. Since you couldn't join us, I'll give you a little peek into an all out joy fest!

We warmed up the crowd
with a little break-dancing, Latino style.
Stories were shared
and some Irish folk dancing.
We learned and sang a prayer, using sign language too.
Voted for most creative dessert.
Had many chances to re-connect with friends.
Enjoyed some live music.
Then the music (and the tall guy in the back!) inspired a conga line, and the dancing didn't stop for the next 2 hours!
There was an impromptu meeting of the "Tall" club (the shorty in red is 6'4"!)
Parents had fun with their kids.
Kids had fun with their siblings.
We enjoyed some hot tea and all those creative desserts from earlier!
The dancing continued...
Not everyone was in to it though.
Some went so far as to employ techniques of civil disobedience to prevent their mom (me) from dragging them out on to the dance floor with her.

In summary, that diverse, one-human-family loving group all went away with even bigger smiles on their faces.

(This wasn't everyone - just the ones that closed the place down!)

A Little Teary Today

2008-11-11T10:01:00.004-05:00

It's Veteran's Day - a day of many and mixed emotions for me. I come from a family of strong military service, especially during wartime. My grandfather served as a fighter pilot in WWII. My dad was an Army Airborne Ranger infantryman in Vietnam - I can't even begin to fathom what his two tours (two years) were like there. My younger sister was an Army chemical/biological/nuclear warfare officer during the Gulf War - I remember not even being able to catch a glimpse of the news playing on TV without bawling. My own love of country and desire to serve the glorious principles that this great nation embodies moved me to join the Air Force.

Last week, I stumbled upon an amazing show on PBS - Medal of Honor, stories and reflections from several living (definitely a minority) award recipients. It left me with tear-stained cheeks and the burning desire to know WHEN will we stop sending the best of our youth/citizenry off to suffer the emotional and physical and spiritual ravages of war.

This is offered for all those who have served and are serving and will serve...

"Briefly, I have traveled this long distance, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to this western continent in the desire and hope that the strongest bond of unity may be established between America and Persia [Iran]. I know this to be your wish and purpose also and am sure of your cooperation. We shall, therefore, offer supplication in the divine threshold that a great love may take possession of the hearts of men and unite the nations of the world. We will pray that the ensign of international peace may be uplifted and that the oneness of the world of humanity may be realized and accomplished. All this is made possible and practicable through your efforts. May this American democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement. May it be the first nation to proclaim the universality of mankind. May it be the first to upraise the standard of the Most Great Peace, and through this nation of democracy may these philanthropic intentions and institutions be spread throughout the world. Truly, this is a great and revered nation. Here liberty has reached its highest degree. The intentions of its people are most praiseworthy. They are, indeed, worthy of being the first to build the Tabernacle of the Most Great Peace and proclaim the oneness of mankind. I will supplicate God for assistance and confirmation in your behalf."
'Abdu'l-Bahá, 1912

Inspiration for the Week

2008-11-10T06:31:00.000-05:00

"I must sing my song. There may be other songs more beautiful than mine, but I must sing the song God gave me to sing, and I must sing it until death."
* Charlotte Hawkins Brown

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-11-07T09:26:00.001-05:00

My Girl Scout troop is not only fun to camp with,
they're absolutely ADORABLE too!!

Inspiring, Even Though It's Not Monday

2008-11-05T23:40:00.004-05:00

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Barack could run.
Barack ran so our children can fly."
~JayZ.

Prayer for America

2008-11-04T11:34:00.003-05:00

"O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal."

* 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 1912

Inspiration for the Week

2008-11-03T05:09:00.001-05:00

A few awesome bumper stickers seen on a car last week at soccer practice:

"I'm pretty sure when Jesus said 'Love your enemies'
He meant don't kill them."

"God bless the whole world - no exceptions"

Justice

2008-11-02T00:05:00.005-04:00

I've been meditating on the following passage this week, and found it amazingly appropriate to the juncture we find ourselves at as a country (and planet). So I thought I'd offer it to you for your contemplation as well.

"Difference of capacity in individuals is fundamental to human existence. It is not possible for all to be alike, for all to be equal. Yet human affairs, in their entirety, should be governed by the principle of justice.

Justice is not limited; it is a universal quality. It must operate at all levels of society. Justice must be sacred, and the rights of all people must be guarded. The laws of society must be formulated and enforced in such a way that it is not possible for a few to amass wealth and for others to be destitute. Among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty.

Each member of society should enjoy the benefits of civilization, because every individual is a member of the body of humanity. If one member of this body is in anguish or distress, all the other members must necessarily suffer. How can one member be afflicted and the others be at ease? Yet today because of the lack of harmonious relations, some members of society are satisfied, living in the utmost comfort and luxury, while others are in want of food and shelter. Today's society lacks the necessary reciprocity and symmetry; it is not well arranged. Laws and principles are needed that will ensure the well-being and happiness of all the members of the human family.

Justice is established on the pillars of reward and punishment. People are motivated to be just by the hope for reward and the fear of punishment. These two sentiments are necessary if oppression is to be prevented. The legislators and administrators of the laws must be aware of the spiritual consequences of their decisions. When an official knows that he will be held responsible for his actions beyond this earthly life, he will be inspired to act with justice. The ruler who knows his judgments will be weighed in the balance of Divine Justice will surely avoid oppression."
excerpted from Arising to Serve, written by the Ruhi Foundation in 1987

NaBloPoMo

2008-11-01T23:07:00.003-04:00

Oh. my. gosh.
I succumbed to peer pressure from Mrs. G and signed up to participate in NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) - where you write a post for your blog EVERY DAY for the month of November. So here I am "cheating" already with a lame post, and it's only the first day!

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-10-31T09:49:00.005-04:00

There's nothing quite like the fun you have when
extended family gets together to celebrate!

Living in Gray

2008-10-29T12:49:00.004-04:00

We must get beyond the "black and white" of perception and embrace the "gray" of reality. "Terms like 'conservative,' 'liberal,' and 'progressive' do not, and cannot, do justice to the complex reality of our politics and our experience as humans," writes George Lakoff in his new book The Political Mind.

"Barry Goldwater, 'Mr. Conservative,' had the general conservative worldview for foreign and military policy and economic policy, but had the general progressive worldview about Native American rights, about religion, about gays in the military ("You don't have to be straight to shoot straight"), and about governing itself, where he believed in honest, open, and cooperative government as opposed to government by obedience." pg.70

No matter who wins on Tues., as a nation we are going to HAVE to work together, if we expect to address any of the immense challenges we are now faced with. This will require effort on our part, suspension of judgment of others, the ability to maturely disagree without attacking each other with meaningless "labels", and the willingness to find our common ground as a firm foundation from which to build our society. Just as it is with genetics, where we are 99.5% similar, why do we center so much of our energy around that .5% difference?

Inspiration for the Week

2008-10-27T00:57:00.005-04:00

"Adults are what's wrong with our children."
* Marian Wright Edelman
in her new book The Sea Is So Wide and My Boat Is So Small

LOVE this woman!! Saw her interviewed on one of my favorite shows Tavis Smiley.

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-10-24T06:00:00.002-04:00

Being a long-time politico, I can't tell you how amazing it felt to go vote yesterday and find out that I was the 3,428th voter in just one week of early voting at one of the five early voting locations in my county. Best feeling EVER in the mere 24 years I've been voting.

I Put the S.O.S. in Bossy

2008-10-23T14:23:00.000-04:00

HELP!!! I am in need of a massive Bossy intervention!

Because, my house is all...(trust me - this bathroom is off-white; any illusion of color is merely reflection off the floor)

And Bossy's is NOT.

The ONE spot of color in my house is the girls' bathroom, and I agonized a full six months over the soundness of painting this small inconsequential room the EXACT color the shower curtain packaging recommended!!
I figured, now that your web re-design project is over, and your daily poverty party is well underway, you might need a new project to occupy your time - and boy would this occupy some time.

I'm desperate; I'm tired of off-white; and at this point, I'm open to ANY and all suggestions, especially from people with gorgeous kitchens, warm comfy living rooms, cute bathrooms, similar child-induced-chaos issues, or even just great hair.

Just keep in mind that any color for the living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, breakfast area must match the floor - gorgeous "burnt sienna" concrete "tile".

Torn

2008-10-21T06:26:00.000-04:00

So, do you know that strange conflicted feeling you get when your college, angst, anti-establishment, fringe music is now MUZAK at the computer store in the mall?!!

I do.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-10-20T07:14:00.000-04:00

"When I am working on a problem I never think about beauty. I only think about how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong."
* Buckminster Fuller

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-10-17T02:15:00.002-04:00

Even when I wake up in kind of a fog, there's always that bright beacon of hope calling me out of it.

Stuck

2008-10-16T15:58:00.002-04:00

Well... I went and got a song stuck in my OWN head, but it seems rather appropriate (and strangely comforting), so I thought I'd share it with you. ENJOY!

[With thanks to Mary Alice for re-planting it in my head months ago.]

The Times, They Are A-Changin'

2008-10-16T09:25:00.005-04:00

There's so much talk of change, and now even events that have us reflecting (I hope) on things we've just routinely accepted. So I thought I'd jump on this whole "change" bandwagon, embrace the spirit of the age and... get a haircut! (baby steps...)

Though my original hairstyle was highly versatile:

I'm really enjoying the new look:

What have you changed lately? (meaningful or superficial)

Build-a-Day with MamaMo

2008-10-13T06:05:00.021-04:00

First, my apologies Mrs. G - if your day is predictable and routine, mine is... the OPPOSITE of that. There is NO typical day in the life of MamaMo, so sit back and imagine the endless possibilities. [This post should be just a simple and clear as the info on health insurance options I just ~~slept~~ read through on-line; yes, we're contemplating joining the world of the "insured"!]

Wake up WAY too early (I don't know how you do it, Bossy).

Get the youngest one on the bus.

School lunches - if you're organized & on top of things, you prepare school lunches the night before. If you're me, you frantically throw three lunches together while ~~screaming at~~ gently encouraging your middle child to get ready for school. If you're successful, and there are no other distractions (papers to sign, jackets/socks/shirts/clean underwear to find, permission slips to return TODAY!), you won't have to bring lunches in later.

Did I mention I'm not a morning person?!!

Drive the middle one and her best friend to school.

Luckily the oldest one is pretty self sufficient.

The only constant in my day - walking the dogs.

Check blogs for my daily dose of funny.

[see "Places I Visit" on left]

Choose one of a sprinkling of school-related duties [help in class, take care of critters, chaperone field trip]

Pick one or two household errands:

Add a chore or two (or more!):

One thing you won't find me doing any more - dishes! I got "fired" for lack of even trying. [See chores later in evening]

Hopefully, I remember to fix myself lunch - this usually is tied to whether or not I remembered to fix myself breakfast.

Realize I only have another hour or two before the "afternoon shift", and frantically: [organize something, get dinner going M/T/W, and/or prep for soccer]

Meet the bus (and any extra children I may have coming my way - child care, playdates possible only on Tues. or every other Fri.)

Snack, which I sometimes get a reprieve from fixing when the right friend comes over for a playdate:

Shuttle off to one of the following:

Every other Friday - Girl Scouts!

For dinner we have a choice between a lovely home-cooked meal and last minute drive-thru/leftovers/sandwiches (they're not just for lunch any more!)

In between any/or all of that - there's my supervisor/beat-cop role [making sure the youngest 2 practice violin, the oldest 2 do their homework, everyone does pet care, keeping the peace (managing access to radio/computer), enforcing whose turn it is in the shower, chores] and sometimes we have a meeting to go to.

If all goes well - a half hour of QUIET TIME!!!

Followed by reflections on the day and prayers

and bedtime, which is usually delayed by one of the following: need for bandaid/medicine, forgotten homework, urgent need for a particular item/outfit for school the next day.

Then I finally get to sit down with my husband, but I have to watch:

Maybe we sneak in a TiVo'd Daily Show or Colbert Report before he falls asleep - then I get the remote and watch one of MY shows:

A quick pee for the dogs.

One last check of the email/blogs/facebook.

Off to bed (way too late, usually - clock reads 1:37 a.m.).

But through it all - most important is to remain detached and open enough to always have time to scrap all this (or add more to it!) in favor of helping out a friend and/or neighbor in need.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-10-13T01:02:00.002-04:00

"Know what is the purpose of life that you are inclined to serve, that you are drawn to. Do what makes your heart leap rather than simply follow some style or fashion. Not everyone can or should be a scientist. Not everyone can or should be any one thing. People need to know what kind of purpose they can serve."
* Jonas Salk

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-10-10T09:50:00.004-04:00

Came across this one yesterday while searching for some college stuff:

That's me (hello 80's perm in the 90's!!) in a "previous life" with a group of fellow "community organizers" - yikes! they're everywhere!!

p.s. square photo?! Polaroid - yes way!!

Yet Another Sign of the Apocolypse

2008-10-07T10:00:00.000-04:00

Ride with me for a moment... My girls have reached a stage (12 & 9) where life revolves around the radio - just waiting for those favorite songs to play (the pop ones they play at least twice a day EVERY day). When riding around town, I usually defer to them on choice of station, but I'm not lax in my Mom duty of throwing an occasional eye-rolling, especially when the shrieky, giggley, "OMG! my favorite song!" songs come on. So we're riding home, listening to THEIR station, when I hear a few familiar notes, and loudly proclaim, "I can't believe it! They're actually playing some GOOD music for a change!!" and I crank the volume. Only...

I think I'm getting ready to hear a great song by one of my all time favorite bands, The Clash:

But what I get instead, almost immediately, another shrieky, giggley, OMG! pop song:

OOPS!!

2008-10-07T00:21:00.001-04:00

O.K., so I did, in fact, jinx myself. The computer worked for all of ONE day, then fried again for the week. I think we may have FINALLY addressed the root cause (a dying/dead battery on the motherboard), but I am NOT gonna get too excited yet. We'll see tomorrow if we're still in business.

Inspiration for the Week - for me

2008-09-29T22:47:00.001-04:00

"FINALLY!! This friggin' computer is workin'!!!!"
oops... did I just jinx myself?! :-)
* MamaMo

Inspiration for the Week

2008-09-22T14:39:00.002-04:00

"I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education."
* Wilson Mizner

p.s. still no luck with my computer - have to re-load the operating system, uuuugggghh!!
Hope to be fully functional (able to access my photos!) soon.

Ditto

2008-09-11T23:25:00.002-04:00

See Wednesday's post. :-(

Inspiration for the Week

2008-09-07T22:33:00.003-04:00

"Kids don't care what you know
until they know that you care."
* Sherlock Graham Haynes

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

2008-09-03T13:28:00.001-04:00

Dead computer again!!
Hopefully this time it's just a software glitch.
Send good vibes my way, please.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-09-01T10:13:00.002-04:00

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. ... Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
* Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hopeless

2008-08-27T09:56:00.006-04:00

I've still got it. You'd think after this many years of real life, I'd have lost my "edge", but listening to Hillary Clinton's speech last night confirmed it -- I remain a hopeless idealist. I actually found myself in tears throughout most of it.

Now, I'm a staunch "Independent", so this post isn't about politics, it's about hope. I know that sounds corny, but welling up from deep inside me is the hope we will (and the belief we can) collectively create the kind of community that nurtures each individual's capacity then harnesses it through service to the community. We must. I'm reminded of my favorite Bill Clinton quote, "There's nothing wrong with America, that can't be fixed by what is right with America."

Jesus wasn't kidding when he promised the "meek shall inherit the earth." Evidence abounds. "The world in the past has been ruled by force, and man has dominated over women by reason of his more forceful and aggressive qualities both of body and mind. But the balance is already shifting -- force is losing its weight and mental alertness, intuition, and the spiritual qualities of love and service, in which woman is strong, are gaining ascendancy. Hence the new age will be an age, less masculine, and more permeated with the feminine ideals -- or, to speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements of civilization will be more evenly balanced." ('Abdu'l-Bahá, 1912)

cue music...

Inspiration for the Week

2008-08-25T06:13:00.001-04:00

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power,
the world will know peace."
* Jimi Hendrix

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-08-22T02:11:00.003-04:00

O. M. frickin' Gosh!!

Meet-the-teacher-night can mean only one thing...
school starts Monday!
Where did the summer disappear to so quickly?!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-08-18T02:17:00.002-04:00

"You cannot teach a person anything;
you can only help him find it within himself."
* Galileo

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-08-15T10:36:00.002-04:00

See that adorable young girl on the bottom left?!Tomorrow, we're going to her wedding. How do 13 years fly by so quickly?!!

Uuggh!!

2008-08-12T15:11:00.002-04:00

Today I'm treating the house (most especially my bedroom) for fleas - gross.But all I kept thinking was, "At least it's not bed bugs."

Inspiration for the Week

2008-08-11T06:07:00.000-04:00

"When an idea is ready to be spoken - it is ready when there is someone ready to speak it. If you wait until people are ready to hear it, it is no longer an idea."
* Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-08-08T11:54:00.003-04:00

When I arrived home from visiting my sister in Texas, my kitchen looked like this:
Which was pretty thrilling considering I left it looking something like this:
Much love to my incredibly wonderful stepkids, Vahid and Leyla, and my loving husband for the best gift EVER!!

Catching Up

2008-08-07T00:26:00.009-04:00

Well, I'm back from 10 fun-filled relaxing (and, yes, hot) days with my sister and her family in Texas (post forthcoming), and catching up on email, blogs, facebook, etc... and I discover that I've been tagged with a meme by foolery. So here goes:

1. What is your favorite quotable line from a movie?
My husband and I quote movies ALOT, but the most invoked has to be: about every third line from Dumb and Dumber including (but not limited to)
"Good bye my loooooove!"
"Our pets' heads are fallin' off!"
"There's no jobs in this town."
"Hello, 'Flo'..."
"I'm gonna go with my instincts on this one."
"You're hands are freethzing!"
"I'll stay here at the bar and put out the vibe."
"So you're saying there's a chance."
"I desperately want to make love to a school boy!"
(somebody stop me!)

2. Who is the most famous person you've talked to?

Lynn Swann

He ate at a restaurant where I waitressed in Raleigh, NC. I wasn't his server, but I marched on up to his table and got his autograph for my Mom, who's a HUGE fan of his. He was immensely kind and patient with me, and a genuinely decent person - it was a great experience.

3. How many bags/boxes of potato or corn chips are consumed in your house per month?
We're also not big chips eaters, but if the question had been about mini white powdered sugar donuts...
4. What foreign food dish so you prepare from scratch and serve?
It'd be easier to count the "traditionally American" meals I prepare. I'm a BIG fan of international foods, the legacy of being vegetarian for so long.
5. What is your favorite section at the supermarket?
Produce - because it's just so dern purty.

6. What was your high school team's mascot and what were your school colors?
We were (are) the Jacksonville Eagles and our colors - blue and gold.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-08-04T07:22:00.000-04:00

"It is better to fail trying to do something challenging, than to live your whole life doing only that which is easy."
* my sweet husband

Fav. Foto Friday - belated

2008-08-02T12:52:00.003-04:00

Having so much fun here in Texas... went to Sea World!!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-07-28T07:01:00.001-04:00

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something
when his job depends on not understanding it."
- Upton Sinclair

Extra! Extra!

2008-07-27T21:07:00.000-04:00

Guess who I'm visiting right now?!!!

Haven't changed much... have we?!! (Well, except for position)

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-07-25T10:06:00.002-04:00

I'm working on a little collage project that I can't WAIT to tell you about (but I'm gonna HAVE to)!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-07-21T13:26:00.000-04:00

"Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."
• Martin Luther King Jr.

Have fun!!

2008-07-18T11:22:00.004-04:00

Some close friends of mine (6, to be exact)[not pictured: the littlest-cutest one!]

have headed up north for a college tour (sound like anyone we know?)
So, I thought I'd share with them some of the highlights of Bossy's tour of New England ~~Starbuck's~~ colleges, just for fun. The easiest way I figured to do that was share them here, so they can read them while on the road.
Bossy shared some guidelines and then went to: GWU, Yale/Harvard, Tufts/Amherst/Williams/Cornell, NYU. Here's her summation of NY.

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-07-18T11:18:00.002-04:00

Silly chin faces are always good for a laugh!

I Ran 10 Laps!!! (2.5 miles)

2008-07-15T14:52:00.008-04:00

As promised, here's the story:
I have always hated running. I was always athletic (played soccer, softball, field hockey, swimming, track, cheerleading, power lifting, water polo, AND lacrosse), but never had that super-fit athletic drive that would have propelled me to being more than simply good at any of these sports, and

I hated running.
My side hurt, I had trouble breathing, and my mind wasn't into it
(I hated it!)

After graduating from high school, I had one month to build up some strength and endurance for entering Air Force Basic Training (read: the ultimate full-body workout program!). Enter "running" - more specifically, my father, sister and I trained to run the Peachtree 10K Road Race in Atlanta. We ran it, more importantly, we finished it! The next day I entered the Air Force.

So here I sit, not doing much of anything. In fact, I haven't done anything athletically strenuous since college (19 years ago). I'm not out of shape, per se - I mean, I have carried babies, chased kids, played games, gone camping, etc., but I can get winded if I have to go up more than one flight of stairs.

Last month, my husband proposed a running program for himself and the older girls, and BOY was I thankful to be left out of that little family project. The girls were excited about it, but returned home from the first day at the track in "high whine" mode. The high drama persisted so long, that that once-upon-a-time athlete in me started getting a little perturbed. All my pep-talking was met with, "You just don't know how hard it was!! (whine, whine, cry, cry)" So, the next day I put on the ol' running shoes, so I could show them I DO now how it feels, and if I can do it, so can they (all the while CRYING inside because - I hate running!!) I ~~ran~~ slowly jogged-walked 3 laps, and it just about did me in. But I didn't give up! I decided to stick with it, mostly because I'm tired of not recognizing the person in the mirror when I catch a "profile" shot.

My husband designed the program:
* on M, W, F we go to the high school track and run laps (we started with 4 and each week we add a lap - right now we're up to 8 laps) and stretch afterwards [the 10 laps was a special "push yourself to see if you can do it" exercise about 3 weeks in]
* on T, Th, Sa we walk a brisk 2 miles (with the dogs) around the neighborhood, and come home to do sit-ups (YEAH!!)
* My husband and I have to wait one hour after exercising before eating (let's our bodies "snack"on themselves for faster weight loss)
* everybody has to eat one serving of raw fruit before breakfast and one serving of raw vegetables before lunch and dinner
* we drink PLENTY of water throughout the day
* we're getting to bed earlier/on-time and taking a half hour nap in the afternoon

It's pretty simple actually, but the effects have been dramatic!! First of all, in the four+ short weeks we've been doing this, my energy level has more than doubled. I'm cleaning, getting things done, multi-tasking more effectively, and just feeling better. Instead of wanting to sit and just watch TV from 8:00pm on, because I feel exhausted (even though I haven't done much); I actually have energy (and time) to be creative, think and read (the fun, fun stuff of life!). It reminded me of something I had learned in one of my many previous lives - ordering the bulk foods for a health food store.

There are two different meanings to feeling tired, and it's important to distinguish between them, becuase they have two VERY different remedies. Being physically tired comes from, duh, exerting yourself physically - solution: rest. BUT, being mentally tired, from the stress and strain of life, requires physical activity to remedy. Resting, doing nothing, increases your feelings of exhaustion, if it's mental. So next time you feel tired, ask yourself if there's a physical reason you SHOULD be tired, and if not, strap on your shoes and meet me at the track!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-07-14T14:57:00.003-04:00

"One can't believe impossible things."
Said the Queen, "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I'd believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-07-11T11:23:00.002-04:00

July 4, 1984I hate running. Why in the world would this be a "fav foto"?!!!
Stay tuned - I'll explain on Tues., 'cause Friday is all about the fotos!!

The Harvest

2008-07-09T10:09:00.003-04:00

So... what do you do in a family of five when this is the sum total of the blueberry harvest from your garden?!
You hurry up and divide it before Dad gets home from work!

This Just In...

2008-07-08T13:11:00.012-04:00

So, two weeks ago, my computer melted - actually, just one of the USB port cables did, but the whole computer "died". Luckily, one of my friends loaned me an old laptop, say "Hi!"

so I could at least get on-line to order some new computer parts and check a few blogs. But for some reason, this snarky little computer wouldn't even let me view my blog, much less post to it. I have my "new" old computer back finally, so I thought I'd catch you up on what you missed during the down time.

We were visited by royalty (happens frequently), this time by the Queen of (and I kid you not) "Chenaeiouyrda" [that's pronounced chi-na-ra, sort of]
Went to the local Rescue Squad open house and got to pretend we had broken our leg at a football game!
Got dressed up to go worship and eat a fantastic meal
at the local Hindu temple.
Celebrated a birthday - OMG Faith is 12!!(and, yes, that IS a chemistry set she's so excited to receive;
apparently my "nerd gene" is dominant - YES!!!!!)

Had a homemade brownie & lemonade stand
...and ate some profits
...and donated a snack to the renovation efforts at a
neighborhood arts camp.
FINALLY cleaned some space in the garage to unleash our creative spirit.
I missed Mrs. G's open house (boo hoo), though I did bake some bread for the event (actually cheated and bought "par-baked" bread from Whole Foods and just gave it the last 12 minutes of baking for crispiness).
Had a great time eating watermelon at the Race Unity Picnic.
Went to an AMAZING gospel choir concert and got spiritually refreshed (I'm still floating!)
Had a momenatry lapse of sanity and adopted two guinea pigs - whaaaa!!

Hope you're having a fantastic summer too!!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-07-07T02:07:00.004-04:00

"The primary task of the soul will always be
to investigate reality,
to live in accordance with the truths
of which it becomes persuaded
and to accord full respect to the efforts
of others to do the same."
* Universal House of Justice
(world governing body of the Bahá'ís)
in it's 2002 Letter to the World's Religious Leaders

Oh Yeah!!

2008-07-04T18:25:00.001-04:00

Hey Mrs. G, look what I went out and bought today!!

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-07-04T13:13:00.003-04:00

Happy 4th of July!!Where in the world do you wear sweaters on the 4th, you may ask?!

ALASKA!! of course
(recognize the glasses, Mrs. G?!!)

Inspiration for the Week

2008-06-30T16:35:00.003-04:00

"I don't know what I may seem to the world," he said before he died, "but, as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the sea-shore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me." An evocative simile, much quoted in the centuries that followed, but [Isaac] Newton never played at the seashore, boy or man. Born in a remote country village, the son of an illiterate farmer, he lived in an island nation and explained how the moon and sun tug at the seas to create tides, but he probably never set eyes on the ocean. He understood the sea by abstraction and computation.

extract from Isaac Newton by James Gleick

HELP!!!

2008-06-23T12:38:00.001-04:00

My computer "melted" Sat. night!! I'm borrowing a friend's laptop to pay our bills and order the replacement parts for the computer - other than that, I won't be on-line much this week. I'll catch up with everyone's blogs this weekend (I hope).

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-06-20T00:13:00.005-04:00

YEAH!! Someone got a bang-ectomy yesterday. And can someone tell me why it is so difficult to cut a simple straight line across a forehead?

Pruning

2008-06-18T10:09:00.005-04:00

Today I earned my keep by pruning the overgrown
"bush"(?!) on the corner of our deck.

I also learned that I am, in fact, my father's daughter(pile 2 of clippings - yes, I got a little carried away;
apparently, it's genetic)

Nice to Meet You

2008-06-17T12:15:00.005-04:00

I've been contemplating lately the nature of these virtual relationships we develop through blogging. Foolery mentioned her awkwardness over referring to these relationships as "friends" when she's with the friends/family she actually physically interacts with - and I can relate to that. I've gone through all sorts of linguistic gymnastics to share the wit and wisdom I gain from reading other blogs. So why is that?!!

Being a highly social extrovert, I'm friendly with everyone I meet; add "Southern" into the mix, and you get someone who's not afraid to strike up conversations with strangers at the store or on the street. But, whenever I meet a new friend, someone who becomes more than just a casual acquaintance, there's a feeling I get -- we "connect", you might even call it a form of "attraction". What's interesting to me is that I can get the same feeling from even just a few "comment volleys" with fellow bloggers. Once, I simply read a comment on, my friend, Mrs. G's blog, read the commenter's description of herself on her blog, and just felt like I'd found a long lost sister. [Really!! I even hesitated before typing "sister", but that's actually how I felt.]

Reflecting on this phenomenon, I realize that it affirms my faith in God. I'm what you might label an agnostic, who is highly religious. Words are immensely inadequate to describe my (or anyone's) spirituality, but I'll try. I mellowed from full-blown, in-your-face atheism [not all atheists are like that, but I sure was] to agnosticism in my mid-20's, then had what many would call a "born again" experience. I made it through my "fundamentalistic" phase and now find myself joyously contemplating complex questions and doubts in the protection of an abiding certitude.

Back to "blog friends" (hasn't someone coined a cute word for that yet?! I mean, other than Sarah). This ability to connect that transcends our physical reality (we utilize none of our physical senses, unless someone posts a photo or video) surely indicates that there is more to the human reality than just our physical being - we are spiritual beings as well. And that's the place where we connect on-line, no matter what we call ourselves.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-06-16T01:57:00.003-04:00

"It is the perfection of God's works that they are all done with the greatest simplicity. He is the God of
order and not of confusion."
also
"Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."
Sir Isaac Newton

this post inspired by my recent viewing of this awesome program

Happy Fathers' Day!

2008-06-15T23:25:00.006-04:00

Ahhhh... it doesn't get any better than a best friend,
an ice cold O'Douls, and a soccer game.Unless, of course, it's followed by a couch snuggle with ALL your children.AND an amazing dinner with the "adopted" family members too.

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-06-13T22:29:00.003-04:00

Three years ago, Pouran and her best friend transformed themselves into their favorite animals, with a little help from some downloaded mask patterns and a HUGE love for their respective critters.

What's in a Word?

2008-06-12T23:38:00.006-04:00

sur•re•al [suh-ree-uhl] - adjective
1. going to a college dive-of-a-bar in some alleyway downtown to watch your kids play a "gig"
2. having your favorite 80's angst music (The Smiths) piped in as filler after their set

YEAH!! School's Out!

2008-06-10T12:19:00.002-04:00

Now we can do alot more of this in the morning!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-06-09T06:20:00.001-04:00

''Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way...''
- Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

Why Do We Do It?

2008-06-06T14:27:00.003-04:00

I've just spent the afternoon in tears, contemplating the immense spiritual impact (cost) of war. If you want to know why, listen to this (on the far left, click "Listen"). [WARNING: it'll be a "deep cry" inducer] Join me in praying EXTRA hard this Tuesday.

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-06-06T00:26:00.002-04:00

Popsicles on the steps of the Dept. of Agriculture building in D.C. (before hopping on the Metro home).

Freestylin'... R-R-R-Random

2008-06-05T08:52:00.008-04:00

While walking the dogs the other day, I spotted this in the grass and oddly enough, my mouth started watering. No, I'm not on the "starvation diet" - it was one of those forgotten memories from my youth that suddenly came flooding back. You see, I spent some time in the Air Force after high school. Don't believe me? Oooo... scary, huh?!! (Mrs. G, I hope you managed to escape that particular haircut.) One of my favorite Air Force experiences was S.E.R.E. training, which involves:
S. = Survival (how to live off the land)
E. = Evasion (how to avoid being captured in enemy territory)
R. = Resistance (not divulging secrets when they imprison you)
E. = Escape (yeah, right)

For "Survival", we learned cool stuff like: making a tent out of your rain poncho, how to kill and eat rabbits, finding and boiling water when you have NOTHING, the amazing taste of slowly "grilled" (over a lighter or match!) crickets and grasshoppers, figuring out where the heck you are, and, the one that triggered this whole thing, how heavenly it feels to come upon a wild strawberry when you've been subsisting on crickets and grasses for a couple of days!

p.s. the span of time between the Prom photo and the knife photo -
4 months, WOW!

What the heck... I'll play

2008-06-03T11:22:00.011-04:00

We'll, everybody's all in "prom mode", so when Mommy's Martini launched the prom carnival, I figured "What the heck, I'll play." Only because this is one of my all-time favorite memories, AND it's not like I have 15 things I REALLY SHOULD be doing instead! :-)

So, we moved to Alabama the summer before my Junior year (Army brat), and shortly after school started, I managed to luck into dating him:

(shameless plug for gorgeous boyfriend)

But, by the end of that year we were no more, because I was all ego this and "you don't own me" that. Which is a real shame, because I truly loved him. Senior year was rocky, and we were on-again-off-again many times (due to my early-onset menopause), but when it came time for the Junior-Senior Prom, there was only one person I would go with - him. Senior Prom was just too special to me to be spent with anyone else. If the story ended there, it would have been the perfect romantic, fun-filled, best ever time I had in high school. But it was even better.

You see, my sister had a boyfriend, a true love, also. He was from somewhere up north, because, while the folks around him were like "Hey y'all", he was "youse guys" every other sentence. They were both sophomores (read: banned from the Prom), which would have been meaningless, if it weren't for the fact that my family was moving to Pennsylvania that summer [which, for those of you geographically- challenged, is VERY far away from Alabama. The down-side of being an Army brat]. I can't remember exactly how it happened, but I'm sure there were tears involved, which any little sister knows is the FASTEST way to a big sister's heart. I talked it over with "him", and we came up with a brilliant idea: "he" would take my sister to the Prom as his date, and I would take my sister's boyfriend as mine. After separate romantic dinners (I still get wistful when I see a Red Lobster), we met up outside of Prom, and "switched" partners. The site of "him" entering the Prom with my sister, raised a few eyebrows (small town), but they signed in and went on through to find a table. When her boyfriend and I waltzed in a few minutes later, everyone knew what was up, and most folks didn't like it. We each danced with our "official dates" for the first dance, then played switch-eroo for the rest of the evening. Chaperones kept periodically coming up to us to ask who our date was, and we've have to stop dancing and point them out across the room. Folks were furious, some schoolmates too, but the four of us had one amazing evening!
(My sister's the gorgeous one in the green dress, with the perfect hair and the "professionally" applied makeup, who was a tomboy that somehow always managed to look picture-perfect. I am the one with the perm-gone-awry-80's-do, AND the gorgeous date!)

Official Prom P.S.
Guess what I just found while looking for my Air Force photo? Junior-Senior Prom (literally, she was a junior, he a senior) the very next year. Recognize the dress?!! Hands-down looks better on little sis, though she did opt for the sensible heels this time. And how can you tell it was still the 80's?! ...more hair than face!

Inspiration for the Week

2008-06-02T08:51:00.002-04:00

"We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time."
* T.S. Eliot

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-05-30T09:03:00.004-04:00

The girls and I had a great time in DC last weekend,
visiting my cousin and his family.

Rhetorical Question - Memorial Day Edition

2008-05-27T12:56:00.004-04:00

What lengths would YOU go to
to retrieve a 35¢ balsa airplane off your sister's roof?

And how LONG would you spend contemplating it?

Inspiration for the Week

2008-05-26T19:52:00.002-04:00

"Well, I listen to the wind come howl,
telling me I have to hurry
I listen to the robin's song saying not to worry

So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
There's so much left to know,
and I'm on the road to find out."

Cat Stevens (a.k.a. Yusuf Islam)

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-05-23T11:05:00.003-04:00

When your 4 year old comes to you and says, "Mama, I want to make a dress for myself out of paper," here's what you do:
(1) suppress your desire to respond, "Honey, I don't think paper is going to be able to make a dress. Is there something else you'd like to make?" [and trust me, it took all my strength to fight back those words, being the practical person I was/am]
(2) stand back and marvel at the incredible creativity that can be released from a child with the desire, encouragement and raw materials supportive of that creativity.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2008-05-20T09:43:00.002-04:00

WOW! Thirteen years... seems like forever ago AND just yesterday.

Inspiration for the Week

2008-05-19T08:46:00.003-04:00

(Congratulations David!)

"One must have a large dose of humanity, a large dose of a sense of justice and truth in order to avoid dogmatic extremes, cold scholasticism, or an isolation from the masses. We must strive every day so that this love of living humanity is transformed into actual deeds, into acts that serve as examples, as a moving force."
* Che Guevara, 1965

"Che's life is an inspiration for every human being who loves freedom. We will always honor his memory." Nelson Mandela

Fav. Foto Friday

2008-05-16T13:02:00.002-04:00

This is the first page of a scrapbook I began recently. I took part in a workshop that guided me through a reflection on my beliefs about life. It was a wonderful experience - I pondered things I'd long ago taken for granted. So know I have a guidebook, should anyone ever want to take a quick tour through my head and heart.

"Getting to Knoooow You.." (you MUST sing it)

2008-05-15T11:10:00.014-04:00

So I stole this great "meme" idea from foolery - here goes...

What is your name?

Favorite foods:

Relationship status:

Celebrity crushes:

[oh wait... I was supposed to stop at three, wasn't I? :-) ]

Favorite TV shows:

Musical performers you like:

What you had for breakfast:

Something you are wearing:

Favorite colors:

Favorite electronic items:

Something fun you did in the last 3 months:

How do you feel right now?

Kitchen Math

2008-05-14T09:22:00.005-04:00

In a large pan, sauté 1 chopped onion in some oil, add 4 chicken thighs (or 3 breasts) cut into chunks, and throw in some salt and pepper for fun.

When chicken is just shy of cooked through, add the sauce - our favorite:but they have a variety, and we also like Korma and Rogan Josh.

Serve over rice (long grain basmati from a burlap bag is the best - must have something to do with the burlap):
Don't forget the yogurt on the side, and ENJOY!!Of course, if you're a vegetarian, have your mom pick out the chicken chunks before she serves it to you, even though you wish she'd find a way to make you some without the chicken juice!

Women's Prayers for Peace

2008-05-13T09:34:00.007-04:00

Given the proximity of Mother's Day to Memorial Day, I've been reflecting lately [see quotes below] on what one mom (this mom) might be able to actually DO to further the cause of peace. I've decided that, for now, I'll encourage the women I know to join me in an exercise of positive intentions. I invite YOU to join me in honoring all those who have served and sacrificed for their country (ALL countries -- but here are the stats on some of America's fallen; this doesn't include the current war, which can be found here and Iraqi casualties are currently over 50,000), by praying for peace.
For the next 5 Tuesdays (May 20 thru June 17), let's take a few moments in the beginning of our day to remember/pray/meditate/reflect on peace. I'll be inviting friends to join me at my home at 8:00am Tuesdays, and though you may not be able to be here physically, you are certainly welcome to join us spiritually. Soon I'll post a link to a lovely collection of interfaith prayers I've accumulated on peace, in case you're looking for something appropriate to use. If you have a favorite quote or prayer about peace, I'd LOVE it if you'd share it with me.

********
"Therefore, strive to show in the human world that women are most capable and efficient, that their hearts are more tender and susceptible than the hearts of men, that they are more philanthropic and responsive toward the needy and suffering, that they are inflexibly opposed to war and are lovers of peace. Strive that the ideal of international peace may become realized through the efforts of womankind, for man is more inclined to war than woman, and a real evidence of woman's superiority will be her service and efficiency in the establishment of universal peace." 'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 284

"Today there is no greater glory for man than that of service in the cause of the "Most Great Peace." Peace is light whereas war is darkness. Peace is life; war is death. Peace is guidance; war is error. Peace is the foundation of God; war is satanic institution. Peace is the illumination of the world of humanity; war is the destroyer of human foundations. When we consider outcomes in the world of existence we find that peace and fellowship are factors of upbuilding and betterment whereas war and strife are the causes of destruction and disintegration. All created things are expressions of the affinity and cohesion of elementary substances, and non-existence is the absence of their attraction and agreement. Various elements unite harmoniously in composition but when these elements become discordant, repelling each other, decomposition and non-existence result. Everything partakes of this nature and is subject to this principle, for the creative foundation in all its degrees and kingdoms is an expression or outcome of love. Consider the restlessness and agitation of the human world today because of war. Peace is health and construction; war is disease and dissolution. When the banner of truth is raised, peace becomes the cause of the welfare and advancement of the human world. In all cycles and ages war has been a factor of derangement and discomfort whereas peace and brotherhood have brought security and consideration of human interests." 'Abdu'l-Bahá

"Briefly, I have traveled this long distance, crossed the Atlantic Ocean to this western continent in the desire and hope that the strongest bond of unity may be established between America and Persia. I know this to be your wish and purpose also and am sure of your cooperation. We shall, therefore, offer supplication in the divine threshold that a great love may take possession of the hearts of men and unite the nations of the world. We will pray that the ensign of international peace may be uplifted and that the oneness of the world of humanity may be realized and accomplished. All this is made possible and practicable through your efforts. May this American democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement. May it be the first nation to proclaim the universality of mankind. May it be the first to upraise the standard of the Most Great Peace, and through this nation of democracy may these philanthropic intentions and institutions be spread throughout the world. Truly, this is a great and revered nation. Here liberty has reached its highest degree. The intentions of its people are most praiseworthy. They are, indeed, worthy of being the first to build the Tabernacle of the Most Great Peace and proclaim the oneness of mankind. I will supplicate God for assistance and confirmation in your behalf." 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 1912

Inspiration for the Week

2008-05-12T00:02:00.003-04:00

"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song."
* Maya Angelou

Fav. Foto Friday - Folkmoot Edition, part deux

2008-05-09T15:17:00.011-04:00

As if last Friday's international celebration were not enough, the whole week following Folkmoot, the gym is transformed into an international bazaar called the "Learning Gallery."All the countries represented that year have a display;
here's the Native American one:
It centers around a beautiful backdrop, painted by the art teacher (on a single bedsheet), in a postcard-style tribute to that country/culture. The artwork that each child made is also part of the display. There's a variety of cultural items on display as well. And finally, each area has an engaging learning activity (or two) for that country/culture.

Each child is given a "passport" (complete with school photo on their personal info page) and invited to explore every country they can (they're listed in the passport).You can visit India:

Play with cars in homage to Detroit:
Try to guess the English equivalent of certain Australian words:
Take a stroll through New York:
Color your very own flag of China:[Elle's class got to go through with their "4th grade reading buddies"]

Make paper butterflies in Chile:Or, you can head over to Russia:
Where you can challenge a buddy to a game of chess:
Once you've had lots of fun at a particular country, you go to get your passport stamped for that country. You earn your stamp by sharing something you learned about or did in that country.
[Third graders and older must share 3 things.]
Then, it's off to another country, like England, for a little futbol.
You can also simply admire the wonderful artwork created by your school-mates; like these carnival dancers from Brazil:Russian artist inspired found object art:
or Greek pottery:

Banners from countries made in previous years, but not featured in the current year, are used to decorate the hallways. I know I said it before, but it bears repeating...
I LOVE this school!!!

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm

2008-05-08T14:40:00.004-04:00

I've been deeply pondering this one lately.I may have arrived at a personal action step.
I promise to share it next Tues.

Extra. Extra.

2008-05-07T17:43:00.002-04:00

Thank you Elle for reminding me just how beautiful dandelions are.