Thoughts of.....EDU743

My friend Courtney and I were given the challenge to update EDU 743. Our first real discussion took place in my classroom after school. We were talking about ways and means to experience writer's workshop in a format that would be a little different than a threaded discussion. Something she said reminded me of my blog from 2007 and I leaned over to the computer and shared what I had done for a class back awhile. Right away we thought of the possibilities and got more and more excited! We decided to begin blogging with each other while working out the finishing updates to the course work. NEVER in my wildest dreams did I think the blogs of EDU743 Summer B would be so highly creative! I am so excited with what I have seen, read, and heard from you (the reader). The other instructors in the course are equally excited!

To give you a small background, in summer of 2007 I was STRUGGLING with a technology course I was taking. I had the choice of 3 assignments and had tried hard to complete the first two and failed miserably. With my spirits at their lowest low, I attempted the 3rd and final assignment.....blogging! I never would have thought that 2 years later I would even think of guiding someone else though the maze of technology for an online writer's workshop!

As the class comes to an end, I am sure many of you will close up your blogs and move on. I think I'll leave mine open for you to come by and visit sometimes...please say hi if you stop by...

"Lester"

"He's back"....several times a day we have a little red squirrel that visits the deck, lays in the bird feeder trays, and braves the jaws of two Brittanys ready to make him their daily snack. He has gotten quite used to us and today 'posed' for several pictures. This time I was about 2 feet away and he did not seem to care!

"Home again"

This afternoon as we crossed the bridge that spans the river between Maine and New Hampshire, I paused to remember the events of the past week. WOW! Using a GPS for the second time in our lives, flying to Phoenix and arriving in 115 degree heat, driving up to Flagstaff and "enjoying" 67 degrees, visiting the breathtaking views of the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, and the Grand Canyon, driving to the Hoover Dam, and arriving to the heat, glitz, noise, and excitement of Las Vegas....wow we have had quite a vacation!

The GPS is an amazing invention. We nicknamed her "Sally" and she took on a life and personality of her own. My dad, who is 80 and does not want anything to do with computers and anything modern, loved "Sally". He actually named her and helped to create her "persona". I saw a "set" in the Harley Davidson showroom in Las Vegas of some skeletons dressed in Harley gear holding a sign saying, "but its a dry heat". Well, yes...but it is a hot heat too! It was a huge relief to leave the heat of Phoenix for the more pleasant weather in the mountains. Las Vegas heat did not seem quite so oppressive but perhaps it is the "killer air conditioning" everywhere or the fact that you are so caught up in the glitz that you forget how hot you are..I don't know. Coming back home today and dealing with the damp, clammy, humid weather at home made me wish for a little of that dry heat.

The final day/night in Las Vegas was busy. It was time to buy some last minute gifts, see all you could see, and the night we had been waiting for....the show by Terry Fator. If you did not see him on the show, "America's got Talent", let me just say...he is one very talented man! His show was unique, entertaining, amazing, and all the other adjectives you would use to describe a great show. He engaged and embraced his audience. My seat was center stage, 5 rows back...true VIP seats as we were told by the usher. Sadly, the meet/greet after the show was cancelled, but the pictures and memories will last for a long time. After the show, it was time for one last visit to the casino...yep...the penny slots...I won and lost my $3.00 again and again. My luck changed, however, and my winnings reached $7.13 before tumbling to $3.30. So...I cashed out, and dragged Greg to the walk way to enjoy the volcano eruption one last time.

"Sally" directed us to the airport, we made it through security, had lunch, and waited for our Southwest flight back to Manchester. Sitting in the waiting area, we visited with fellow New Englanders and shared stories about the hotels, casinos, shows, we had all enjoyed over the past week. One little guy told me David Copperfield made his mom disappear on stage and a honeymoon couple told me about having dinner at the top of the Stratosphere...

We are home safe and sound...I just finished reading everyone's latest blog postings, graded a few of the final writing workshop pieces that have been submitted. It is time for a little tv, a good book, and bed...

Viva Las Vegas

Greetings from the city that never sleeps! We have enjoyed our time here..Greg and I have gone to some of the other hotel/casinos at night to see as much as we can before leaving tomorrow. Today we drove out to Red Rock Canyon and the scenery is so different from the east coast green. Today we are going over to the Venetian to take a gondola ride and then to a show here at the Mirage tonight. Tomorrow is a travel day back to NH and then on Sunday morning back to Maine. I am just about ready to do the online checkin for the airline so more from Maine next week.

Arizona

Greetings from Flagstaff Arizona! We arrived in Phoenix yesterday, Sunday, and were greeting with 115 degree heat. Dry heat or not...it is hot! We spent the night and this morning headed up the road to Flagstaff. This was our first trip using a GPS to find where we were going. We did pretty well...only got turned around a couple of times. We checked into our hotel here in Flagstaff and then headed out to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. As we drove through the National Park and ahhed at the sight, we realized it was getting chilly....It is about 67 degrees outside and rainy! What a difference a few hours makes. Tomorrow we are heading to the Grand Canyon. Greg wants to take a helicopter tour...I still need convincing!

Blue

Before going to Florida in April, I decided that my "summer attire" needed a face lift. Armed with my JC Penney and Dress Barn coupons, I went in search of some much needed summer wear. I am not a shopper by nature..rather I am a looker. I will look and look, carry it around, think it over, put it back, etc. In Dress Barn I found some capris that I liked so after much soul searching and urging by my husband to "just buy them pleeeeease" I bought a white pair and a navy blue pair. At JC Penny, I found some pale pink, tan, and off white shorts. I came home and filled the Good Will bag with my old worn out summer clothes. Upon our return from Florida, in an attempt to help me, Greg put a load of "colored" clothes in the washing machine. Somehow mixed in with that load was my granddaughter's favorite horse tshirt and my navy blue capris....Needless to say, the color from the navy capris bled all over the horse tshirt and it went from being a favorite to a playshirt. Picture the look of horror on an 8-year old's face when Grandpa tried to explain what happened to her favorite horse tshirt! From that day, we have always washed the navy capris with the towels or by themselves.

Yesterday I was rushing around to finish up the last of the laundry so that I could pack for our trip to the southwest, and my last load was a load of my colored clothes. I was not paying attention and into the washer with my "new" pink shorts, and two pair of light tan shorts, went the infamous navy capris. Yup...I ruined 3 pairs of shorts and 2 tshirts. All of my shorts and tshirts are now light blue! So, this morning when JC Penney opens at 10 a.m. I will be there hoping there are still shorts and tshirts in the store! The infamous navy capris....I put them in recycling this morning~

Feathered friends and others....

This morning, like most mornings, the bird feeders were a very busy place! Our deck off the kitchen is about 10 feet or so off the ground. I have wooden planters attached to the top deck railing planted with yellow petunias. Usually my theme is red and white or pink and white, but this year I was feeling yellow. There are two large metal bird feeder poles attached to the top deck railing as well. These poles hold a feeder with sunflower and nut combination food for the larger birds, suet for my woodpeckers, a tube style feeder for my little birds, and a hummingbird feeder. There is usually a waiting line for the feeders in the morning and early evening.
We don't live in the woods but it is "country-like" here so of course we have the occasional squirrel. The dogs patrol the perimeter faithfully hunting out the rascally squirrels and they learn quickly to find somewhere else to hang out.....buuuut, there is one little red squirrel who just doesn't get it. This little red squirrel dearly loves the sunflower and nut seed and will lay in the tray of the feeder and eat until it can't hold another seed. On Sunday, the poor little thing was trapped on the lower deck support beam by two Brittany Spaniels just waiting....It was there for hours! The dogs were relentless and just sat there. Finally, we got the dogs inside and coaxed the squirrel down. Yesterday, he was trapped on the top of the deck railing and tried to climb up the side of the house, lost his grip, fell, and luckily just escaped Hanna who had turned away to get a drink. I just looked, and he is back.....

The Birthday boy!

Yesterday, Sunday, was my grandson's 4th birthday party. He does not go to daycare and does not really have any "friends" so his mom invited the cousins that live up here in Maine along with family, to come over for his party. Excitedly we began to change the kitchen into a room with a theme of SPIDERMAN. There were spiderman plates, cups, napkins, and tablecloths. There was a huge spiderman banner in front of the slider. The cupcakes were red and blue with white "webs" and spidermen sitting on them. The guests began to arrive...the cousins all carrying Spiderman gift bags...Great Grampie was next to arrive, Nana, Auntie Foo, Aunt Jan and Uncle Mickie, and lastly Great Nana and Great Grampa...I did not know they made so many different kinds of spiderman bags... Let the festivities begin! It was a sea of red and blue tissue paper as each bag was literally dumped out by the birthday boy and the cousins. From where I sat, safely away from the action, it was hilarious! My daughter in law was trying to slow them down, take pictures, and see what gifts he was opening...she finally gave up. It was similar to shoveling water...the more she tried ...the faster they moved. My son, my father, my husband, Amy's mother, and I laughed until we cried...I think Amy just cried!

After the frenzy of gifts it was time to have cupcakes and ice cream...yes lets load them up with sugar now...then everyone changed into bathing suits and went outside for turns in the slip and slide....Imagine this....5 kids aged 4 thru 8 high on birthday gifts, cupcakes, sugar, and koolaide, running and having fun on the slip n slide! I will look for a picture to post another time but honestly it was energy in motion....

Go back to sleep...

This is a picture of our garage on March 23, 2007. At 11:03 p.m. on March 22nd, I had just hung up the telephone saying good night to my husband (he drives over-the-road from Scarborough, Maine to Harrisburg, PA) checked to be sure the alarm clock was set, turned out the bedside lamp and rolled over when I heard a faint creaking sound. Thinking nothing of it, I was just about asleep when I heard the loudest crash and bang I have ever heard...I leaped out of bed, raced down the stairs, and stared in horror at the sight of our detached garage. This picture was taken the morning after. FORTUNATELY, no one was injured, the cars were not in that garage but in the one under the house, and the dogs and cat were safely inside for the night. There was also no electricity over there so the danger of fire was slim. Not knowing what to do, I called my husband and asked him to pull over to the side of the road for a minute...that probably scared him more than anything...and when I told him what had just happened he asked all the normal questions...Is everybody okay? Are the dogs okay? ....and then as reality set in...he asked me to call the Insurance company and report the accident, and then the best advice ever....just go to bed Karen, theres nothing I can do from here and I don't want you outside and getting hurt. Okay, now who can sleep after something like this?
This morning as I was up with the dogs at 5:00 a.m. to let them out, bring them in, give them food and new water, let them out, bring them in, pass out the chew bones, I am wide awake. So....I call Greg to say hi (he is on his way home from Connecticut this morning), he says, "Is everybody okay? Are the dogs okay?" and then the best advice ever..."just go to back to bed Karen, it is way to early to be up for the day, you'll be ready for bed at 7:00 tonight" Now I ask you, who can sleep after all this?

Let the sunshine in...

The dog next door set off the morning alarm at 5:35 a.m. Hanna quickly woke up, ran up the stairs to tell Dixie, and the morning was off! We have the Invisible Fence around our property so my sole duty this morning was to stumble down the stairs, put the collars on two very eager and excited dogs, and to throw open the front door! Knowing they would only be a minute or two, I stand at the door to wait for their return. Dixie does at least two laps of the yard and Hanna is right on her heels. The birds are lined up at the bird feeder, one holding a sign saying "you are out of seed", the red squirrel is laying in the seed tray, and the coffee pot is giving out fresh gurgles as it begins the morning routine. Yes, the dogs are at the door...I am ready for them with their bowls of food. Dixie wolfs her down while Hanna is a little daintier. Hanna needs to have several head pats before beginning...Dixie is finished and pacing at the door to go out. Finally, the coffee pot is ready and Hanna is about 1/2 finished with her breakfast. I stand at the door to let Hanna out and notice just how beautiful everything looks in the sunshine. I take my morning coffee out onto the deck to enjoy the sunshine. It is chilly...only about 50 degrees..I look out at the pool...time for another bottle of shock and a back wash I think.. Okay, the birds are really getting upset...no suet, no seed, and what are you doing on the deck while we are trying to eat...I am watching the chickadee bravely sit on the deck railing...waiting...I see the others hovering nearby on the tree limbs...waiting...okay, I get the message.

A boat?

If you are reading through my blog you may have read the horrible details of the accident that my husband had with his jeep. Finally the jeep is at the body shop for repair and the insurance company for the young lady that hit us is paying for a rental. Because we are having a SUV repaired, the rental company provided us with a SUV. It is the biggest, whitest, boat I have seen in a while. The name on said boat is "Dodge Durango". Greg has set off the panic alarm 3x, been unable to get the key out of the ignition about 3x, and had to coast into the gas station because they did not give us a full tank of gas when we picked it up! Sooooo, long story short, the "boat" is in the driveway and the Nissan is with Greg going to work. He is happy...car is full of gas, this car is a "push button" ignition so don't need to worry about getting the key stuck anywhere, and he is probably not going to accidently hit the panic button when he tries to open the door with the key.

How I spent my summer vacation...

On Saturday, my daughter-in-law, her two children, and I left Maine in search of summer! We told the kids we were travelling until we found summer. At 8 and 3 they were up for the challenge. Haliey thought we should go to Texas to find summer and Jordan thought we might find it at Nana's (here in Maine) but Amy and I KNEW summer was hiding out in Florida! We packed our sunscreen, bathing suits, and flip flops and flew from Manchester New Hampshire airport to Orlando for a brief visit to the "happiest place on earth", Disney World! Haliey figured it out as soon as we got to the airport...I did not know that second graders could read "Orlando"..actually she did not see the sign at the gate but she heard the boarding announcement. Her face was a kodak moment...unfortunately my "sony" and her mom's "fuji" were not ready for the big moment so it was not recorded anywhere but in our very fond memories of Haliey. Her brother is another story. Three year olds are so self absorbed and unaware sometimes....we posed him in front of the Magical Express sign, he shook hands with the large Mickey hand as we boarded the bus, and he watched the movie on the bus UNTIL TINKERBELL made an appearance and he asked his mom in his dear little voice, "is summer in Florida?"
It was hot hot hot in the daytime. I got up early because my body does not understand vacation mode yet and sat at the beach. I heard my name bellowed, a door slam, and the moment of peace was over...two kids and a grammy in pjs on the beach in florida at 6:30 am --wonderful! We went to Disney Marketplace, made our own tshirts, ate lunch at the TREX restaurant, played in the fountains, and enjoyed the morning. We headed back to the resort (Carribean Beach) changed and went to the big pirate pool for the rest of the afternoon. We had planned that if Jordan took a nap, we would go to the Magic Kingdom that night. It was extra magic hours and MK was open until 2am...We knew the recipe....sun + play + pool = nap...well Jordan had other ideas...he fell asleep at 7:30 and slept for 2 hrs. We decided not to go and watched the fireworks from our beach instead. The next day we did the pool all morning, went back to Disney Marketplace to ride the train and buy some pins. We took the boat over to Fort Wilderness and had dinner at Trail's End. Our server was from Bath, Maine. He had worked at BIW for 10 years before moving south.
We never did make it to the parks and you know what....nobody minded! It was a totally relaxing and fun filled 4 day adventure. We searched for summer; we found it; we came home trying to bring it with us--today tells me it got scared and went back home...