It's Friday (except it's not! I cheat and backdate!) and it's time to feast (except I'm not hungry!). What's up today (besides one more hour until tomorrow)?
Appetizer: On average, how many times a day do you yawn?
Ok, seriously. I'd like to know who on earth could answer that question. Do people actually count these things? Next....
Soup: What was your most memorable school field trip?
I went to school in the olden days when we didn't really take field trips. Scanning my memory banks, I'd have to vote for three-season camping we did in middle school. I can't remember anything particularly memorable about it, except that it was fun. I doubt I yawned very much during those trips.
Salad: Fill in the blank: I was extremely (blank) this week.
I was extremely un-yawny this week as I tried to recall a memorable school field trip.
Main Course: What color do you think of when you hear the word "soothing"?
Blue. Dunno why. *Yawn*
Oops. One.
Dessert: What is something, that, if you had to, you could save up the money to buy within one month?
You know when you play Trivial Pursuit, and you get sentences that have to twist and turn themselves into a pretzel so they can form a question, and then you have to repeat the nonsensical question about 12 times until you can figure out what exactly the question really is? It's a lot like this question, which makes no sense. I hate those. *Yawn*
Two.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Friday's Feast
It's Friday (except it's not! I cheat and backdate!) and it's time to feast (except I'm not hungry!). What's up today (besides one more hour until tomorrow)?
Appetizer: On average, how many times a day do you yawn?
Ok, seriously. I'd like to know who on earth could answer that question. Do people actually count these things? Next....
Soup: What was your most memorable school field trip?
I went to school in the olden days when we didn't really take field trips. Scanning my memory banks, I'd have to vote for three-season camping we did in middle school. I can't remember anything particularly memorable about it, except that it was fun. I doubt I yawned very much during those trips.
Salad: Fill in the blank: I was extremely (blank) this week.
I was extremely un-yawny this week as I tried to recall a memorable school field trip.
Main Course: What color do you think of when you hear the word "soothing"?
Blue. Dunno why. *Yawn*
Oops. One.
Dessert: What is something, that, if you had to, you could save up the money to buy within one month?
You know when you play Trivial Pursuit, and you get sentences that have to twist and turn themselves into a pretzel so they can form a question, and then you have to repeat the nonsensical question about 12 times until you can figure out what exactly the question really is? It's a lot like this question, which makes no sense. I hate those. *Yawn*
Two.
Appetizer: On average, how many times a day do you yawn?
Ok, seriously. I'd like to know who on earth could answer that question. Do people actually count these things? Next....
Soup: What was your most memorable school field trip?
I went to school in the olden days when we didn't really take field trips. Scanning my memory banks, I'd have to vote for three-season camping we did in middle school. I can't remember anything particularly memorable about it, except that it was fun. I doubt I yawned very much during those trips.
Salad: Fill in the blank: I was extremely (blank) this week.
I was extremely un-yawny this week as I tried to recall a memorable school field trip.
Main Course: What color do you think of when you hear the word "soothing"?
Blue. Dunno why. *Yawn*
Oops. One.
Dessert: What is something, that, if you had to, you could save up the money to buy within one month?
You know when you play Trivial Pursuit, and you get sentences that have to twist and turn themselves into a pretzel so they can form a question, and then you have to repeat the nonsensical question about 12 times until you can figure out what exactly the question really is? It's a lot like this question, which makes no sense. I hate those. *Yawn*
Two.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Oceanside Resolutions
There are lots of reasons why I never make resolutions in January. One big one is my genetic disposition to not do what everybody else is doing. Examining my life because society tells me so is not my idea of fun, and besides, I hate being slave to a calendar.
Another reason is that January is simply an inconvenient time. After surviving December (and being a musician, let me tell you, December is a serious survival kind of month), the last thing I feel like doing is making a self-improvement wish list. Come January 1st, all I want is a long winter's nap. I don't need resolutions. I need recovery.
For me, recovery comes in June. It rolls in on salty waves, soaring low over the tide with the pelicans. It tickles me with that wonderful ooshy feeling of sand between my toes and then melts me into a puddle of relaxation as I settle into my beach chair with a good book and a cold drink.
It's no wonder that I spend fifty frantic weeks of the year waiting for beach time. No matter how stressed I am or how overbooked my life has become, the cure for what ails me waits at the end of Highway 12 in North Carolina. And it's here, with fishing boats, laughing gulls and the warm sun on my back, that I have both the time and the inclination to sit down, think, and take stock.
This year as I pondered my personal state of the union, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of non-vacation time thinking about vacation, waiting for vacation, and wishing everything would hurry up so it would be time for vacation. How dumb is that? Why do I think I have to travel six hundred miles to relax?
The answer, of course, is that I don't have to. Or maybe more accurately, I shouldn't have to. My oceanside resolution (less a to-do list and more an attitude adjustment) was to carve out those spaces in my life and in my house where I can relax, and think, and read, and just be. This isn't to say that I don't need to go on vacation anymore and sit next to the ocean and ponder. No, no, that's still very important, especially since oceans, sea turtles and slow southern drawls are in short supply here in Michigan. But if I can create spaces that aren't crammed full of commitments and possessions, maybe I can rediscover a little bit of me that gets lost along the way 50 weeks of the year.
Another reason is that January is simply an inconvenient time. After surviving December (and being a musician, let me tell you, December is a serious survival kind of month), the last thing I feel like doing is making a self-improvement wish list. Come January 1st, all I want is a long winter's nap. I don't need resolutions. I need recovery.
For me, recovery comes in June. It rolls in on salty waves, soaring low over the tide with the pelicans. It tickles me with that wonderful ooshy feeling of sand between my toes and then melts me into a puddle of relaxation as I settle into my beach chair with a good book and a cold drink.
It's no wonder that I spend fifty frantic weeks of the year waiting for beach time. No matter how stressed I am or how overbooked my life has become, the cure for what ails me waits at the end of Highway 12 in North Carolina. And it's here, with fishing boats, laughing gulls and the warm sun on my back, that I have both the time and the inclination to sit down, think, and take stock.
This year as I pondered my personal state of the union, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of non-vacation time thinking about vacation, waiting for vacation, and wishing everything would hurry up so it would be time for vacation. How dumb is that? Why do I think I have to travel six hundred miles to relax?
The answer, of course, is that I don't have to. Or maybe more accurately, I shouldn't have to. My oceanside resolution (less a to-do list and more an attitude adjustment) was to carve out those spaces in my life and in my house where I can relax, and think, and read, and just be. This isn't to say that I don't need to go on vacation anymore and sit next to the ocean and ponder. No, no, that's still very important, especially since oceans, sea turtles and slow southern drawls are in short supply here in Michigan. But if I can create spaces that aren't crammed full of commitments and possessions, maybe I can rediscover a little bit of me that gets lost along the way 50 weeks of the year.
Oceanside Resolutions
There are lots of reasons why I never make resolutions in January. One big one is my genetic disposition to not do what everybody else is doing. Examining my life because society tells me so is not my idea of fun, and besides, I hate being slave to a calendar.
Another reason is that January is simply an inconvenient time. After surviving December (and being a musician, let me tell you, December is a serious survival kind of month), the last thing I feel like doing is making a self-improvement wish list. Come January 1st, all I want is a long winter's nap. I don't need resolutions. I need recovery.
For me, recovery comes in June. It rolls in on salty waves, soaring low over the tide with the pelicans. It tickles me with that wonderful ooshy feeling of sand between my toes and then melts me into a puddle of relaxation as I settle into my beach chair with a good book and a cold drink.
It's no wonder that I spend fifty frantic weeks of the year waiting for beach time. No matter how stressed I am or how overbooked my life has become, the cure for what ails me waits at the end of Highway 12 in North Carolina. And it's here, with fishing boats, laughing gulls and the warm sun on my back, that I have both the time and the inclination to sit down, think, and take stock.
This year as I pondered my personal state of the union, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of non-vacation time thinking about vacation, waiting for vacation, and wishing everything would hurry up so it would be time for vacation. How dumb is that? Why do I think I have to travel six hundred miles to relax?
The answer, of course, is that I don't have to. Or maybe more accurately, I shouldn't have to. My oceanside resolution (less a to-do list and more an attitude adjustment) was to carve out those spaces in my life and in my house where I can relax, and think, and read, and just be. This isn't to say that I don't need to go on vacation anymore and sit next to the ocean and ponder. No, no, that's still very important, especially since oceans, sea turtles and slow southern drawls are in short supply here in Michigan. But if I can create spaces that aren't crammed full of commitments and possessions, maybe I can rediscover a little bit of me that gets lost along the way 50 weeks of the year.
Another reason is that January is simply an inconvenient time. After surviving December (and being a musician, let me tell you, December is a serious survival kind of month), the last thing I feel like doing is making a self-improvement wish list. Come January 1st, all I want is a long winter's nap. I don't need resolutions. I need recovery.
For me, recovery comes in June. It rolls in on salty waves, soaring low over the tide with the pelicans. It tickles me with that wonderful ooshy feeling of sand between my toes and then melts me into a puddle of relaxation as I settle into my beach chair with a good book and a cold drink.
It's no wonder that I spend fifty frantic weeks of the year waiting for beach time. No matter how stressed I am or how overbooked my life has become, the cure for what ails me waits at the end of Highway 12 in North Carolina. And it's here, with fishing boats, laughing gulls and the warm sun on my back, that I have both the time and the inclination to sit down, think, and take stock.
This year as I pondered my personal state of the union, it occurred to me that I spend a lot of non-vacation time thinking about vacation, waiting for vacation, and wishing everything would hurry up so it would be time for vacation. How dumb is that? Why do I think I have to travel six hundred miles to relax?
The answer, of course, is that I don't have to. Or maybe more accurately, I shouldn't have to. My oceanside resolution (less a to-do list and more an attitude adjustment) was to carve out those spaces in my life and in my house where I can relax, and think, and read, and just be. This isn't to say that I don't need to go on vacation anymore and sit next to the ocean and ponder. No, no, that's still very important, especially since oceans, sea turtles and slow southern drawls are in short supply here in Michigan. But if I can create spaces that aren't crammed full of commitments and possessions, maybe I can rediscover a little bit of me that gets lost along the way 50 weeks of the year.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
It's Raining, It's Pouring
We left the beach and its absolutely fabulous weather on Saturday. Our entire week was filled with blue skies, fluffy clouds, lovely breezes, and warm sunshine clocking in at a pleasant 82 degrees. It rained on occasion, but only at night when all we were tucked in our wee little beds with visions of sandy beach bums dancing in our wee little heads.
From our meteorological nirvana we traveled north to Maryland where, for the last four days we have enjoyed rain, heavy downpours, more rain, torrential rain, flash floods, real floods, more rain, and a generous forecast of rain for the next several days. Local weather personalities have broadcast tales of woe from mud pits formerly known as major highways, flooded parking garages, homeowner's backyards, closed intersections in downtown Washington DC, several non-functioning Metro stations, and various tourist attractions (National Zoo, National Archives, Natural history, American history) that are all closed.
It was noted by those in the know that this sudden fixation on the weather and the government's inability to handle the demands of Mother Nature seemed to have temporarily knocked out the neverending television reporting of the Technicolor terrorist network (Scaring the pants off you since 2002!). It seemed to me that if the terrorists were paying any attention whatsoever, all they need to do is show up with a bunch of hoses and our nation's capital is pretty well screwed.
From our meteorological nirvana we traveled north to Maryland where, for the last four days we have enjoyed rain, heavy downpours, more rain, torrential rain, flash floods, real floods, more rain, and a generous forecast of rain for the next several days. Local weather personalities have broadcast tales of woe from mud pits formerly known as major highways, flooded parking garages, homeowner's backyards, closed intersections in downtown Washington DC, several non-functioning Metro stations, and various tourist attractions (National Zoo, National Archives, Natural history, American history) that are all closed.
It was noted by those in the know that this sudden fixation on the weather and the government's inability to handle the demands of Mother Nature seemed to have temporarily knocked out the neverending television reporting of the Technicolor terrorist network (Scaring the pants off you since 2002!). It seemed to me that if the terrorists were paying any attention whatsoever, all they need to do is show up with a bunch of hoses and our nation's capital is pretty well screwed.
It's Raining, It's Pouring
We left the beach and its absolutely fabulous weather on Saturday. Our entire week was filled with blue skies, fluffy clouds, lovely breezes, and warm sunshine clocking in at a pleasant 82 degrees. It rained on occasion, but only at night when all we were tucked in our wee little beds with visions of sandy beach bums dancing in our wee little heads.
From our meteorological nirvana we traveled north to Maryland where, for the last four days we have enjoyed rain, heavy downpours, more rain, torrential rain, flash floods, real floods, more rain, and a generous forecast of rain for the next several days. Local weather personalities have broadcast tales of woe from mud pits formerly known as major highways, flooded parking garages, homeowner's backyards, closed intersections in downtown Washington DC, several non-functioning Metro stations, and various tourist attractions (National Zoo, National Archives, Natural history, American history) that are all closed.
It was noted by those in the know that this sudden fixation on the weather and the government's inability to handle the demands of Mother Nature seemed to have temporarily knocked out the neverending television reporting of the Technicolor terrorist network (Scaring the pants off you since 2002!). It seemed to me that if the terrorists were paying any attention whatsoever, all they need to do is show up with a bunch of hoses and our nation's capital is pretty well screwed.
From our meteorological nirvana we traveled north to Maryland where, for the last four days we have enjoyed rain, heavy downpours, more rain, torrential rain, flash floods, real floods, more rain, and a generous forecast of rain for the next several days. Local weather personalities have broadcast tales of woe from mud pits formerly known as major highways, flooded parking garages, homeowner's backyards, closed intersections in downtown Washington DC, several non-functioning Metro stations, and various tourist attractions (National Zoo, National Archives, Natural history, American history) that are all closed.
It was noted by those in the know that this sudden fixation on the weather and the government's inability to handle the demands of Mother Nature seemed to have temporarily knocked out the neverending television reporting of the Technicolor terrorist network (Scaring the pants off you since 2002!). It seemed to me that if the terrorists were paying any attention whatsoever, all they need to do is show up with a bunch of hoses and our nation's capital is pretty well screwed.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Unconscious Mutterings
I say ... And you think :
1. Newspaper :: Print
2. Crucify :: Destroy
3. Sausage :: Meat
4. Handy :: Man
5. Cloak :: And Dagger
6. Drunk :: Toasted
7. Fuel :: Gas
8. Caress :: Tender Touch
9. Itch :: Scratch
10. Vehicle :: Car
Sunday Mutterings
What common links could exist
With Itch, Drunk and Cloak?
1. Newspaper :: Print
2. Crucify :: Destroy
3. Sausage :: Meat
4. Handy :: Man
5. Cloak :: And Dagger
6. Drunk :: Toasted
7. Fuel :: Gas
8. Caress :: Tender Touch
9. Itch :: Scratch
10. Vehicle :: Car
Sunday Mutterings
What common links could exist
With Itch, Drunk and Cloak?
Unconscious Mutterings
I say ... And you think :
1. Newspaper :: Print
2. Crucify :: Destroy
3. Sausage :: Meat
4. Handy :: Man
5. Cloak :: And Dagger
6. Drunk :: Toasted
7. Fuel :: Gas
8. Caress :: Tender Touch
9. Itch :: Scratch
10. Vehicle :: Car
Sunday Mutterings
What common links could exist
With Itch, Drunk and Cloak?
1. Newspaper :: Print
2. Crucify :: Destroy
3. Sausage :: Meat
4. Handy :: Man
5. Cloak :: And Dagger
6. Drunk :: Toasted
7. Fuel :: Gas
8. Caress :: Tender Touch
9. Itch :: Scratch
10. Vehicle :: Car
Sunday Mutterings
What common links could exist
With Itch, Drunk and Cloak?
Sunny Day for Rafting!
Have you ever gone rafting? If you have, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, prepare. You are about to be told by Tinytuna.
As you can tell, me and my fellow tunas went whitewater rafting on the 16th of June. We were on our way to this event when we realized that we wouldn't be there on time (we had to be there a half hour early). We called the office, and they said,
Office Lady: Just get here without getting a ticket.
So we did. We got there in time and we were relieved. I was afraid that it was one of those companies that if you aren't there on time, you don't go at all. But I was proven wrong. We were put into rafts, and given guides to help us.
We put the boat in the water, and got our places. Then we took a minute to learn some commands, (All forward, forward one, forward two, hit the deck, paddle right, paddle left, and take a break.) After this lesson, we were off. I was really nervous that we would all fall out of the boat, but we didn't.
There were six big rapids on this trip down the Ocoee River. The first rapid was very fun, and after that I started to have fun and not be scared anymore. At one point there was a gentle part of the water and we were allowed to jump in and swim if we wanted. As you could have guessed, I jumped in, and swam after the boat. When it was time to get back into the boat, we were pulled in by the top of our life jackets (hard, so that it hurt) and we went on.
Since we had one of the two major guides, sometimes we had to wait to see if other rafts needed help (like throwing out a rope if someone was caught in the rapid). So we waited, and when the raft had come through safely, we continued. We went on for a while, until we came to the last rapid.
Our Guide: ( Turns to me.) Will you get to the front of the raft, and hang on to that rope?
Tinytuna: (nod's, and hands paddle to mom, and goes to the front of the boat and grabs the rope with all her might.)
From then on, I had the time of my life. Wild rapids! I was riding them like a bucking horse. Only one took me by surprise because I was looking behind me at Greentuna. After we had gotten over the rapids, I heard the round of applause. When the ride was over, I turned to Greentuna.
Tinytuna: Okay! That was WICKED AWESOME!! I think that should be our tradition every year! WOO-HOO!!
Greentuna: We could try to do it.
So all's well that ends well. We found a new thing to do, and to have fun with it. Tune in the next few days for another blog by Tinytuna!
Cheers!
As you can tell, me and my fellow tunas went whitewater rafting on the 16th of June. We were on our way to this event when we realized that we wouldn't be there on time (we had to be there a half hour early). We called the office, and they said,
Office Lady: Just get here without getting a ticket.
So we did. We got there in time and we were relieved. I was afraid that it was one of those companies that if you aren't there on time, you don't go at all. But I was proven wrong. We were put into rafts, and given guides to help us.
We put the boat in the water, and got our places. Then we took a minute to learn some commands, (All forward, forward one, forward two, hit the deck, paddle right, paddle left, and take a break.) After this lesson, we were off. I was really nervous that we would all fall out of the boat, but we didn't.
There were six big rapids on this trip down the Ocoee River. The first rapid was very fun, and after that I started to have fun and not be scared anymore. At one point there was a gentle part of the water and we were allowed to jump in and swim if we wanted. As you could have guessed, I jumped in, and swam after the boat. When it was time to get back into the boat, we were pulled in by the top of our life jackets (hard, so that it hurt) and we went on.
Since we had one of the two major guides, sometimes we had to wait to see if other rafts needed help (like throwing out a rope if someone was caught in the rapid). So we waited, and when the raft had come through safely, we continued. We went on for a while, until we came to the last rapid.
Our Guide: ( Turns to me.) Will you get to the front of the raft, and hang on to that rope?
Tinytuna: (nod's, and hands paddle to mom, and goes to the front of the boat and grabs the rope with all her might.)
From then on, I had the time of my life. Wild rapids! I was riding them like a bucking horse. Only one took me by surprise because I was looking behind me at Greentuna. After we had gotten over the rapids, I heard the round of applause. When the ride was over, I turned to Greentuna.
Tinytuna: Okay! That was WICKED AWESOME!! I think that should be our tradition every year! WOO-HOO!!
Greentuna: We could try to do it.
So all's well that ends well. We found a new thing to do, and to have fun with it. Tune in the next few days for another blog by Tinytuna!
Cheers!
Sunny Day for Rafting!
Have you ever gone rafting? If you have, you know how much fun it is. If you haven't, prepare. You are about to be told by Tinytuna.
As you can tell, me and my fellow tunas went whitewater rafting on the 16th of June. We were on our way to this event when we realized that we wouldn't be there on time (we had to be there a half hour early). We called the office, and they said,
Office Lady: Just get here without getting a ticket.
So we did. We got there in time and we were relieved. I was afraid that it was one of those companies that if you aren't there on time, you don't go at all. But I was proven wrong. We were put into rafts, and given guides to help us.
We put the boat in the water, and got our places. Then we took a minute to learn some commands, (All forward, forward one, forward two, hit the deck, paddle right, paddle left, and take a break.) After this lesson, we were off. I was really nervous that we would all fall out of the boat, but we didn't.
There were six big rapids on this trip down the Ocoee River. The first rapid was very fun, and after that I started to have fun and not be scared anymore. At one point there was a gentle part of the water and we were allowed to jump in and swim if we wanted. As you could have guessed, I jumped in, and swam after the boat. When it was time to get back into the boat, we were pulled in by the top of our life jackets (hard, so that it hurt) and we went on.
Since we had one of the two major guides, sometimes we had to wait to see if other rafts needed help (like throwing out a rope if someone was caught in the rapid). So we waited, and when the raft had come through safely, we continued. We went on for a while, until we came to the last rapid.
Our Guide: ( Turns to me.) Will you get to the front of the raft, and hang on to that rope?
Tinytuna: (nod's, and hands paddle to mom, and goes to the front of the boat and grabs the rope with all her might.)
From then on, I had the time of my life. Wild rapids! I was riding them like a bucking horse. Only one took me by surprise because I was looking behind me at Greentuna. After we had gotten over the rapids, I heard the round of applause. When the ride was over, I turned to Greentuna.
Tinytuna: Okay! That was WICKED AWESOME!! I think that should be our tradition every year! WOO-HOO!!
Greentuna: We could try to do it.
So all's well that ends well. We found a new thing to do, and to have fun with it. Tune in the next few days for another blog by Tinytuna!
Cheers!
As you can tell, me and my fellow tunas went whitewater rafting on the 16th of June. We were on our way to this event when we realized that we wouldn't be there on time (we had to be there a half hour early). We called the office, and they said,
Office Lady: Just get here without getting a ticket.
So we did. We got there in time and we were relieved. I was afraid that it was one of those companies that if you aren't there on time, you don't go at all. But I was proven wrong. We were put into rafts, and given guides to help us.
We put the boat in the water, and got our places. Then we took a minute to learn some commands, (All forward, forward one, forward two, hit the deck, paddle right, paddle left, and take a break.) After this lesson, we were off. I was really nervous that we would all fall out of the boat, but we didn't.
There were six big rapids on this trip down the Ocoee River. The first rapid was very fun, and after that I started to have fun and not be scared anymore. At one point there was a gentle part of the water and we were allowed to jump in and swim if we wanted. As you could have guessed, I jumped in, and swam after the boat. When it was time to get back into the boat, we were pulled in by the top of our life jackets (hard, so that it hurt) and we went on.
Since we had one of the two major guides, sometimes we had to wait to see if other rafts needed help (like throwing out a rope if someone was caught in the rapid). So we waited, and when the raft had come through safely, we continued. We went on for a while, until we came to the last rapid.
Our Guide: ( Turns to me.) Will you get to the front of the raft, and hang on to that rope?
Tinytuna: (nod's, and hands paddle to mom, and goes to the front of the boat and grabs the rope with all her might.)
From then on, I had the time of my life. Wild rapids! I was riding them like a bucking horse. Only one took me by surprise because I was looking behind me at Greentuna. After we had gotten over the rapids, I heard the round of applause. When the ride was over, I turned to Greentuna.
Tinytuna: Okay! That was WICKED AWESOME!! I think that should be our tradition every year! WOO-HOO!!
Greentuna: We could try to do it.
So all's well that ends well. We found a new thing to do, and to have fun with it. Tune in the next few days for another blog by Tinytuna!
Cheers!
But Wait, There's More
And then yesterday we made a quick detour so we could get up, stretch our legs, and shoot a cannon.
Because we could, I guess.
Because we could, I guess.
But Wait, There's More
And then yesterday we made a quick detour so we could get up, stretch our legs, and shoot a cannon.
Because we could, I guess.
Because we could, I guess.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Great Things
As TinyTuna hurtles towards her teenage years, I find her challenging me on every word uttered and every decision made, as only a 12-year old expert on EVERYTHING can do. It's not a surprising turn of events, but it is both trying and tiring, to say the least.
By the same token, when she isn't being trying and tiring, we have had some very thoughtful conversations about choices and responsibility. I'm grateful for these moments, and try to remember them when I am so frustrated I want to sell her for gas money.
Middle school age is so volatile, it's hard to know what you might face from day to day and minute to minute. And perhaps because kids this age are so unpredictable, it seems nobody expects much of anything from them at all. To many, the goal of the middle school is survival, and if everybody comes out in one piece on the other side, it's a real victory.
Now don't get me wrong; when compared to the alternative, I'm all for survival. But I also believe that kids -- all kids -- are capable of so much more. Kids have the power to do great things. And it was for this reason that we took a (huge) side trip and started our vacation in a small town in rural Tennessee. We took TinyTuna to a middle school that did -- and is still doing -- great things.
Several years ago, eighth graders at Whitwell Middle School studied the holocaust as a way to learn about diversity, intolerance, cruelty and the power of the human spirit. As they discussed how six million lives were lost, one of the students asked what six million was -- because they had never seen six million of anything. From that simple question came the inspiration for The Paper Clip Project, whose success led to the Children's Holocaust Memorial, whose inspiration led to the award-winning documentary film.
Year after year the eighth graders picked up where the previous class had concluded. They learned. They worked. They inspired others. These kids from whom we often expect so little did great things.
This past year TinyTuna and her Grammy-Award winning MSU Children's Choir gave a world premiere of a large-scale choral work called Voices of a Vanished World. Through music and poetry the kids -- many of them middle-school aged -- learned about the people of the Holocaust. The work was a combination of traditional Yiddish and Hebrew folk-songs, as well as original compositions that explored complex themes: family, grief, loss, lives forever changed, and the eternal belief that in spite of all the destruction, goodness and humanity will prevail. Pretty heavy stuff for pre-teens. But they sang. They discussed. They learned. And in the end as they sang in concert, they sang with a sense of sympathy and intensity and understanding far beyond their years. It truly was a great thing.
TinyTuna had seen the Paper Clips documentary and decided she really wanted to go to Tennessee to see what the kids of Whitwell had done. So off we went. As we drove into town we recognized several places from the documentary, and were quite excited when we reached the school. We were given a tour by two Whitwell students, who shared with us everything they had learned. TinyTuna presented the students with a poster from her concert, along with a copy of the choir's Voices of a Vanished World CD that they recorded earlier this spring.
To watch this exchange between kids from whom we often expect so little was overwhelming. I saw new friendships being forged from the rural south and suburban north. I saw kids sharing stories and information about a time before their own, about people they never knew, and about injustices they never faced. And they did this with a deep respect and a sincere hope that through their respective projects, they would make a difference in this world.
On that hot afternoon in Whitwell, Tennessee, I had no doubt.
These were kids who, when given the opportunity, did what they do the best:
Great things.
By the same token, when she isn't being trying and tiring, we have had some very thoughtful conversations about choices and responsibility. I'm grateful for these moments, and try to remember them when I am so frustrated I want to sell her for gas money.
Middle school age is so volatile, it's hard to know what you might face from day to day and minute to minute. And perhaps because kids this age are so unpredictable, it seems nobody expects much of anything from them at all. To many, the goal of the middle school is survival, and if everybody comes out in one piece on the other side, it's a real victory.
Now don't get me wrong; when compared to the alternative, I'm all for survival. But I also believe that kids -- all kids -- are capable of so much more. Kids have the power to do great things. And it was for this reason that we took a (huge) side trip and started our vacation in a small town in rural Tennessee. We took TinyTuna to a middle school that did -- and is still doing -- great things.
Several years ago, eighth graders at Whitwell Middle School studied the holocaust as a way to learn about diversity, intolerance, cruelty and the power of the human spirit. As they discussed how six million lives were lost, one of the students asked what six million was -- because they had never seen six million of anything. From that simple question came the inspiration for The Paper Clip Project, whose success led to the Children's Holocaust Memorial, whose inspiration led to the award-winning documentary film.
Year after year the eighth graders picked up where the previous class had concluded. They learned. They worked. They inspired others. These kids from whom we often expect so little did great things.
This past year TinyTuna and her Grammy-Award winning MSU Children's Choir gave a world premiere of a large-scale choral work called Voices of a Vanished World. Through music and poetry the kids -- many of them middle-school aged -- learned about the people of the Holocaust. The work was a combination of traditional Yiddish and Hebrew folk-songs, as well as original compositions that explored complex themes: family, grief, loss, lives forever changed, and the eternal belief that in spite of all the destruction, goodness and humanity will prevail. Pretty heavy stuff for pre-teens. But they sang. They discussed. They learned. And in the end as they sang in concert, they sang with a sense of sympathy and intensity and understanding far beyond their years. It truly was a great thing.
TinyTuna had seen the Paper Clips documentary and decided she really wanted to go to Tennessee to see what the kids of Whitwell had done. So off we went. As we drove into town we recognized several places from the documentary, and were quite excited when we reached the school. We were given a tour by two Whitwell students, who shared with us everything they had learned. TinyTuna presented the students with a poster from her concert, along with a copy of the choir's Voices of a Vanished World CD that they recorded earlier this spring.
To watch this exchange between kids from whom we often expect so little was overwhelming. I saw new friendships being forged from the rural south and suburban north. I saw kids sharing stories and information about a time before their own, about people they never knew, and about injustices they never faced. And they did this with a deep respect and a sincere hope that through their respective projects, they would make a difference in this world.
On that hot afternoon in Whitwell, Tennessee, I had no doubt.
These were kids who, when given the opportunity, did what they do the best:
Great things.
Great Things
As TinyTuna hurtles towards her teenage years, I find her challenging me on every word uttered and every decision made, as only a 12-year old expert on EVERYTHING can do. It's not a surprising turn of events, but it is both trying and tiring, to say the least.
By the same token, when she isn't being trying and tiring, we have had some very thoughtful conversations about choices and responsibility. I'm grateful for these moments, and try to remember them when I am so frustrated I want to sell her for gas money.
Middle school age is so volatile, it's hard to know what you might face from day to day and minute to minute. And perhaps because kids this age are so unpredictable, it seems nobody expects much of anything from them at all. To many, the goal of the middle school is survival, and if everybody comes out in one piece on the other side, it's a real victory.
Now don't get me wrong; when compared to the alternative, I'm all for survival. But I also believe that kids -- all kids -- are capable of so much more. Kids have the power to do great things. And it was for this reason that we took a (huge) side trip and started our vacation in a small town in rural Tennessee. We took TinyTuna to a middle school that did -- and is still doing -- great things.
Several years ago, eighth graders at Whitwell Middle School studied the holocaust as a way to learn about diversity, intolerance, cruelty and the power of the human spirit. As they discussed how six million lives were lost, one of the students asked what six million was -- because they had never seen six million of anything. From that simple question came the inspiration for The Paper Clip Project, whose success led to the Children's Holocaust Memorial, whose inspiration led to the award-winning documentary film.
Year after year the eighth graders picked up where the previous class had concluded. They learned. They worked. They inspired others. These kids from whom we often expect so little did great things.
This past year TinyTuna and her Grammy-Award winning MSU Children's Choir gave a world premiere of a large-scale choral work called Voices of a Vanished World. Through music and poetry the kids -- many of them middle-school aged -- learned about the people of the Holocaust. The work was a combination of traditional Yiddish and Hebrew folk-songs, as well as original compositions that explored complex themes: family, grief, loss, lives forever changed, and the eternal belief that in spite of all the destruction, goodness and humanity will prevail. Pretty heavy stuff for pre-teens. But they sang. They discussed. They learned. And in the end as they sang in concert, they sang with a sense of sympathy and intensity and understanding far beyond their years. It truly was a great thing.
TinyTuna had seen the Paper Clips documentary and decided she really wanted to go to Tennessee to see what the kids of Whitwell had done. So off we went. As we drove into town we recognized several places from the documentary, and were quite excited when we reached the school. We were given a tour by two Whitwell students, who shared with us everything they had learned. TinyTuna presented the students with a poster from her concert, along with a copy of the choir's Voices of a Vanished World CD that they recorded earlier this spring.
To watch this exchange between kids from whom we often expect so little was overwhelming. I saw new friendships being forged from the rural south and suburban north. I saw kids sharing stories and information about a time before their own, about people they never knew, and about injustices they never faced. And they did this with a deep respect and a sincere hope that through their respective projects, they would make a difference in this world.
On that hot afternoon in Whitwell, Tennessee, I had no doubt.
These were kids who, when given the opportunity, did what they do the best:
Great things.
By the same token, when she isn't being trying and tiring, we have had some very thoughtful conversations about choices and responsibility. I'm grateful for these moments, and try to remember them when I am so frustrated I want to sell her for gas money.
Middle school age is so volatile, it's hard to know what you might face from day to day and minute to minute. And perhaps because kids this age are so unpredictable, it seems nobody expects much of anything from them at all. To many, the goal of the middle school is survival, and if everybody comes out in one piece on the other side, it's a real victory.
Now don't get me wrong; when compared to the alternative, I'm all for survival. But I also believe that kids -- all kids -- are capable of so much more. Kids have the power to do great things. And it was for this reason that we took a (huge) side trip and started our vacation in a small town in rural Tennessee. We took TinyTuna to a middle school that did -- and is still doing -- great things.
Several years ago, eighth graders at Whitwell Middle School studied the holocaust as a way to learn about diversity, intolerance, cruelty and the power of the human spirit. As they discussed how six million lives were lost, one of the students asked what six million was -- because they had never seen six million of anything. From that simple question came the inspiration for The Paper Clip Project, whose success led to the Children's Holocaust Memorial, whose inspiration led to the award-winning documentary film.
Year after year the eighth graders picked up where the previous class had concluded. They learned. They worked. They inspired others. These kids from whom we often expect so little did great things.
This past year TinyTuna and her Grammy-Award winning MSU Children's Choir gave a world premiere of a large-scale choral work called Voices of a Vanished World. Through music and poetry the kids -- many of them middle-school aged -- learned about the people of the Holocaust. The work was a combination of traditional Yiddish and Hebrew folk-songs, as well as original compositions that explored complex themes: family, grief, loss, lives forever changed, and the eternal belief that in spite of all the destruction, goodness and humanity will prevail. Pretty heavy stuff for pre-teens. But they sang. They discussed. They learned. And in the end as they sang in concert, they sang with a sense of sympathy and intensity and understanding far beyond their years. It truly was a great thing.
TinyTuna had seen the Paper Clips documentary and decided she really wanted to go to Tennessee to see what the kids of Whitwell had done. So off we went. As we drove into town we recognized several places from the documentary, and were quite excited when we reached the school. We were given a tour by two Whitwell students, who shared with us everything they had learned. TinyTuna presented the students with a poster from her concert, along with a copy of the choir's Voices of a Vanished World CD that they recorded earlier this spring.
To watch this exchange between kids from whom we often expect so little was overwhelming. I saw new friendships being forged from the rural south and suburban north. I saw kids sharing stories and information about a time before their own, about people they never knew, and about injustices they never faced. And they did this with a deep respect and a sincere hope that through their respective projects, they would make a difference in this world.
On that hot afternoon in Whitwell, Tennessee, I had no doubt.
These were kids who, when given the opportunity, did what they do the best:
Great things.
Friday's Feast
This Friday's Feast is made by the fabulous Tinytuna!
Appetizer:
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, how much do you like your job?
Tinytuna: Can't answer! I don't have one. Except maybe school, but that's no job.
Soup:
When do you think was the last time you were lied to?
Tinytuna: **crickets**
Salad:
Share some lyrics from your own favorite songs.
Tinytuna:
1. But everybody wants to put me down.
They say I'm going crazy.
Find me somebody to love!
2. If I could fly away, I'd see her today, and look into her blue eyes and say:
"Thank you for the lessons. Boy, you taught me well.
And thank you for the recipes, I'm cooking fairly well.
And thanks for all the happy times, with just you and me.
And when you see the Lord please thank him, for giving you to me."
3. Dark Lady, laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one,
Dance to her gypsy music, till the brew was done.
Dark Lady played black magic till the clock struck on the 12.
She told me more about me than I knew myself.
Main Course:
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
Tinytuna: Pills!
Dessert:
Fill in the blanks: "My (blank) is very (blank)."
Tinytuna: My mom is very special!
Appetizer:
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, how much do you like your job?
Tinytuna: Can't answer! I don't have one. Except maybe school, but that's no job.
Soup:
When do you think was the last time you were lied to?
Tinytuna: **crickets**
Salad:
Share some lyrics from your own favorite songs.
Tinytuna:
1. But everybody wants to put me down.
They say I'm going crazy.
Find me somebody to love!
2. If I could fly away, I'd see her today, and look into her blue eyes and say:
"Thank you for the lessons. Boy, you taught me well.
And thank you for the recipes, I'm cooking fairly well.
And thanks for all the happy times, with just you and me.
And when you see the Lord please thank him, for giving you to me."
3. Dark Lady, laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one,
Dance to her gypsy music, till the brew was done.
Dark Lady played black magic till the clock struck on the 12.
She told me more about me than I knew myself.
Main Course:
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
Tinytuna: Pills!
Dessert:
Fill in the blanks: "My (blank) is very (blank)."
Tinytuna: My mom is very special!
Friday's Feast
This Friday's Feast is made by the fabulous Tinytuna!
Appetizer:
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, how much do you like your job?
Tinytuna: Can't answer! I don't have one. Except maybe school, but that's no job.
Soup:
When do you think was the last time you were lied to?
Tinytuna: **crickets**
Salad:
Share some lyrics from your own favorite songs.
Tinytuna:
1. But everybody wants to put me down.
They say I'm going crazy.
Find me somebody to love!
2. If I could fly away, I'd see her today, and look into her blue eyes and say:
"Thank you for the lessons. Boy, you taught me well.
And thank you for the recipes, I'm cooking fairly well.
And thanks for all the happy times, with just you and me.
And when you see the Lord please thank him, for giving you to me."
3. Dark Lady, laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one,
Dance to her gypsy music, till the brew was done.
Dark Lady played black magic till the clock struck on the 12.
She told me more about me than I knew myself.
Main Course:
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
Tinytuna: Pills!
Dessert:
Fill in the blanks: "My (blank) is very (blank)."
Tinytuna: My mom is very special!
Appetizer:
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, how much do you like your job?
Tinytuna: Can't answer! I don't have one. Except maybe school, but that's no job.
Soup:
When do you think was the last time you were lied to?
Tinytuna: **crickets**
Salad:
Share some lyrics from your own favorite songs.
Tinytuna:
1. But everybody wants to put me down.
They say I'm going crazy.
Find me somebody to love!
2. If I could fly away, I'd see her today, and look into her blue eyes and say:
"Thank you for the lessons. Boy, you taught me well.
And thank you for the recipes, I'm cooking fairly well.
And thanks for all the happy times, with just you and me.
And when you see the Lord please thank him, for giving you to me."
3. Dark Lady, laughed and danced and lit the candles one by one,
Dance to her gypsy music, till the brew was done.
Dark Lady played black magic till the clock struck on the 12.
She told me more about me than I knew myself.
Main Course:
What do you do/take when you are in pain?
Tinytuna: Pills!
Dessert:
Fill in the blanks: "My (blank) is very (blank)."
Tinytuna: My mom is very special!
Friday, June 23, 2006
Karma Pulls The Plug
Sadly, my mysterious wireless connection from the beach house is no more. Karma has pulled the virtual plug and has told me to go out and play, which I plan to do, right after I deal with work issues, check my email, wave hi to my blog and finish drinking my blackberry Italian Soda here at the Dancing Turtle while I forfeit my computer to TinyTuna and GramTuna so they can do the same.
Ahh, vacation!
(p.s.: Since we will be leaving the beach tomorrow (kicking and screaming and sobbing, not necessarily in that order) I'll be back to having a real connection tomorrow night. Just in case you were worried)
Ahh, vacation!
(p.s.: Since we will be leaving the beach tomorrow (kicking and screaming and sobbing, not necessarily in that order) I'll be back to having a real connection tomorrow night. Just in case you were worried)
Karma Pulls The Plug
Sadly, my mysterious wireless connection from the beach house is no more. Karma has pulled the virtual plug and has told me to go out and play, which I plan to do, right after I deal with work issues, check my email, wave hi to my blog and finish drinking my blackberry Italian Soda here at the Dancing Turtle while I forfeit my computer to TinyTuna and GramTuna so they can do the same.
Ahh, vacation!
(p.s.: Since we will be leaving the beach tomorrow (kicking and screaming and sobbing, not necessarily in that order) I'll be back to having a real connection tomorrow night. Just in case you were worried)
Ahh, vacation!
(p.s.: Since we will be leaving the beach tomorrow (kicking and screaming and sobbing, not necessarily in that order) I'll be back to having a real connection tomorrow night. Just in case you were worried)
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
First Day of Summer?
Greentuna: The Dancing Turtle?
Tinytuna: Yes, The Dancing Turtle.
Greentuna: What is that place?
Tinytuna: The Coffee Shop! In North Carolina!
Greentuna: **crickets**
This small conversation, Tinytuna made up to impress her readers. The first day of summer and I am working? I should be at our beach house, taking a break from the BEACH! It is hard work to swim for a long time in the ocean.
Anyway, it is the first day of summer, (as you should know already!) The first day of summer, and it looks like it is about to pour on our heads. Some first day of summer, this has been.
It all began when I was down at the beach today. I was playing with some friends I had met the year before, and trying to catch some waves. One of my friends said, that she couldn't touch the bottom of the ocean. I knew this was a bad sign, and I told her to grab my boogie Board, and I would pull her closer, so she could stand up in the water.
unfortunately, we were caught in the undertow, and out in the ocean very far. I suddenly couldn't touch the bottom either. We fought the ocean, for about five minutes, and then, a family member of my friend came out and saved us, just in time.
This gave Greentuna a scare. Later today she told me,
Greentuna: Water is the most dangerous thing on the earth. More dangerous than fire, and wind. This is because, if you are far out in the ocean, and you have nobody to save you, or are caught in the undertow, you are gone. Even grown-ups do it, if they are not paying attention.
My water adventure, taught me a lesson. The saying, "A day saved is a day earned" which I got from "A penny saved is a penny earned", I found is entirely wrong. I hope to never again encounter that ever. I was scared and I still am now.
Greentuna was happy I was still here to type this blog, and I was happy to. What a great first day of summer, this turned out to be.
Good-night!!
Tinytuna: Yes, The Dancing Turtle.
Greentuna: What is that place?
Tinytuna: The Coffee Shop! In North Carolina!
Greentuna: **crickets**
This small conversation, Tinytuna made up to impress her readers. The first day of summer and I am working? I should be at our beach house, taking a break from the BEACH! It is hard work to swim for a long time in the ocean.
Anyway, it is the first day of summer, (as you should know already!) The first day of summer, and it looks like it is about to pour on our heads. Some first day of summer, this has been.
It all began when I was down at the beach today. I was playing with some friends I had met the year before, and trying to catch some waves. One of my friends said, that she couldn't touch the bottom of the ocean. I knew this was a bad sign, and I told her to grab my boogie Board, and I would pull her closer, so she could stand up in the water.
unfortunately, we were caught in the undertow, and out in the ocean very far. I suddenly couldn't touch the bottom either. We fought the ocean, for about five minutes, and then, a family member of my friend came out and saved us, just in time.
This gave Greentuna a scare. Later today she told me,
Greentuna: Water is the most dangerous thing on the earth. More dangerous than fire, and wind. This is because, if you are far out in the ocean, and you have nobody to save you, or are caught in the undertow, you are gone. Even grown-ups do it, if they are not paying attention.
My water adventure, taught me a lesson. The saying, "A day saved is a day earned" which I got from "A penny saved is a penny earned", I found is entirely wrong. I hope to never again encounter that ever. I was scared and I still am now.
Greentuna was happy I was still here to type this blog, and I was happy to. What a great first day of summer, this turned out to be.
Good-night!!
First Day of Summer?
Greentuna: The Dancing Turtle?
Tinytuna: Yes, The Dancing Turtle.
Greentuna: What is that place?
Tinytuna: The Coffee Shop! In North Carolina!
Greentuna: **crickets**
This small conversation, Tinytuna made up to impress her readers. The first day of summer and I am working? I should be at our beach house, taking a break from the BEACH! It is hard work to swim for a long time in the ocean.
Anyway, it is the first day of summer, (as you should know already!) The first day of summer, and it looks like it is about to pour on our heads. Some first day of summer, this has been.
It all began when I was down at the beach today. I was playing with some friends I had met the year before, and trying to catch some waves. One of my friends said, that she couldn't touch the bottom of the ocean. I knew this was a bad sign, and I told her to grab my boogie Board, and I would pull her closer, so she could stand up in the water.
unfortunately, we were caught in the undertow, and out in the ocean very far. I suddenly couldn't touch the bottom either. We fought the ocean, for about five minutes, and then, a family member of my friend came out and saved us, just in time.
This gave Greentuna a scare. Later today she told me,
Greentuna: Water is the most dangerous thing on the earth. More dangerous than fire, and wind. This is because, if you are far out in the ocean, and you have nobody to save you, or are caught in the undertow, you are gone. Even grown-ups do it, if they are not paying attention.
My water adventure, taught me a lesson. The saying, "A day saved is a day earned" which I got from "A penny saved is a penny earned", I found is entirely wrong. I hope to never again encounter that ever. I was scared and I still am now.
Greentuna was happy I was still here to type this blog, and I was happy to. What a great first day of summer, this turned out to be.
Good-night!!
Tinytuna: Yes, The Dancing Turtle.
Greentuna: What is that place?
Tinytuna: The Coffee Shop! In North Carolina!
Greentuna: **crickets**
This small conversation, Tinytuna made up to impress her readers. The first day of summer and I am working? I should be at our beach house, taking a break from the BEACH! It is hard work to swim for a long time in the ocean.
Anyway, it is the first day of summer, (as you should know already!) The first day of summer, and it looks like it is about to pour on our heads. Some first day of summer, this has been.
It all began when I was down at the beach today. I was playing with some friends I had met the year before, and trying to catch some waves. One of my friends said, that she couldn't touch the bottom of the ocean. I knew this was a bad sign, and I told her to grab my boogie Board, and I would pull her closer, so she could stand up in the water.
unfortunately, we were caught in the undertow, and out in the ocean very far. I suddenly couldn't touch the bottom either. We fought the ocean, for about five minutes, and then, a family member of my friend came out and saved us, just in time.
This gave Greentuna a scare. Later today she told me,
Greentuna: Water is the most dangerous thing on the earth. More dangerous than fire, and wind. This is because, if you are far out in the ocean, and you have nobody to save you, or are caught in the undertow, you are gone. Even grown-ups do it, if they are not paying attention.
My water adventure, taught me a lesson. The saying, "A day saved is a day earned" which I got from "A penny saved is a penny earned", I found is entirely wrong. I hope to never again encounter that ever. I was scared and I still am now.
Greentuna was happy I was still here to type this blog, and I was happy to. What a great first day of summer, this turned out to be.
Good-night!!
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