Louise Maine

Animals as best friends

2009-07-02T02:08:00.000-04:00

Sometimes the furry critters are your best friends. (I know many don't understand.)

No matter what you do or think of yourself, they see the real you.

Your family and friends may not be liking you.

The world in which you move may be hateful and unyielding.

You may find that you are swimming upstream or running into walls.

It doesn't matter. Your furry friend is always there for you and waiting for you. Mine was my savior these last two years. These last two years have been the roughest in my life on many levels and he was the one constant I had who held no judgments. (I know many have worse.)

Despite enjoying NECC with my son and delivering a good poster session, I just wanted to hug my furry friend but he is no longer here. I miss him terribly. (Too many emotions buried deep just keep surfacing.)

Getting ready for NECC

2009-06-21T21:53:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I leave in about 4 days (spending a little time with my SIL before heading to the conference.) My session description can be found here.

Accomplished:

Printed my NECC planner. If I could clone myself, I could actually be in all the places at the same time.
Printed all hotel info.
Added all other events that I have to my planner.
Decided where I could carve out some free time in the planner for sanity.
Added more information and a discussion to my NECC ning page.

Still to finish:

Finishing touches on the powerpoint for the session.
Tweaks to the background for bulletin board.
Packing up all the assorted materials (handouts, business cards, clips to hang up the background...)
Creating a packing list (while I am thinking about it all...)

After the training last week on the ITSI portal from the Concord Consortium, I feel a little rushed. The training however was great and worth the time. Met some great people and had fun and laughs.

Looking forward to meeting up with other educators and sharing!

Tags: ITSI, concord consortium, NECC, wiki, wikicentral

Shooting skeet

2009-06-10T18:01:00.001-04:00

Shooting skeet, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Moving target practice. Needless to say, there is no picture of me doing this - I am awful at it. Ryan does a great job and has improved so much over the years. It was fun to watch and try...

How does your garden grow?

2009-06-10T17:13:00.001-04:00

How does your garden grow?, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

So fat not too much work and growing really well. There will be a time though when there will be more weeding, picking, canning, and freezing. But, it still makes me happy.

Lesson plans

2009-06-04T14:03:00.001-04:00

Lesson plans, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Last week of lesson plans. Can sure use the break!

Birthday sombrero

2009-05-08T07:26:00.001-04:00

Birthday sombrero, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Yesterday was Mike's 44th birthday. Now he can't really say I am older as we are the same number. While he excused himself, I told the waiter it was his birthday. Later during the dinner, he told us we had better not think about having them sing to him. Oops - too late. He was a big sport anyway, sombrero and all!

Trillium

2009-05-08T07:24:00.001-04:00

Trillium, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Have not seen these since Michigan where they are becoming rare and I think are protected. Beautiful!

New peeps!

2009-04-17T20:11:00.001-04:00

New peeps!, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

New additions ot the farm family!

Son taught himself green screen

2009-03-21T21:52:00.001-04:00

Son taught himself green screen, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

...using Vegas movie studio, a digital camera, and green fabric. Can't wait to see what he does with a HD DVD video camera (getting for his birthday) and some lights. That's my buddy.

Video of little lambs

2009-03-19T19:10:00.001-04:00

Video of little lambs, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Check out the video of the lambs and moms. Will take another one later when the moms are resting but the babies continue to play.

Last set of babies?

2009-03-19T19:09:00.001-04:00

Last set of babies?, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

In just under three weeks, we believe we have 40+ baby lambs. Many of them are twins. It is the shortest lambing season ever and pretty tough separating many having babies at the same time. Now is the fun time of watching them jump around and play.

Peach trees early buds

2009-03-14T18:21:00.001-04:00

Peach trees early buds, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

I took this picture while lying on the ground and shooting upwards with a telephoto lens. Can't wait until there is buds...then leaves...then peaches!

Homemade spirits

2009-02-21T15:45:00.001-05:00

Homemade spirits, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

The picture I used in the label is from a friend's barn - it is hand painted. This year we made our own brandy from peaches on our orchard tress. The shiraz wine was made from a kit I bought my hubby for Christmas. Since we are enjoying a bottle today, a picture was in order!

Cast iron cake molds

2009-02-21T15:43:00.001-05:00

Cast iron cake molds, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Love these but never use! My mom used these when we were little and I have pictures of bunny and lamb cakes when we were wee babes! One day need to use - BTW, my mom is the woman on the right in the picture.

Murphy

2009-02-17T17:41:00.001-05:00

Murphy, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

He finally had his own photo shoot. In a house with 4 dogs, he is usually the ignored one!

Valentines Day

2009-02-17T05:02:00.001-05:00

Valentines Day, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day! Mine was great despite having a cold! Sushi, candy, and wine!

Great-grandma

2009-02-02T14:44:00.001-05:00

SSPX0021.jpg, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

My 96 year old Grandma with one of the dogs. We try to take them in to visit once or twice a week. She loves the company.

Fall beauty

2009-02-01T12:59:00.001-05:00

Fall beauty, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 31 pic: I created a scrapbooking layout using a plotter fitted to cut and emboss metal and cardstock. The layout was used to create a poster for the company. When they updated the advertising, I was allowed to keep it. One of my favorite layouts!

Female cardinal

2009-02-01T12:56:00.001-05:00

Female cardinal, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 32 picture: Love the female cardinal! The lack of color in the body makes her pretty pink "lipstick" stand out! Shot was taken from inside using a telephoto lesson (even through glass!)

Snow landscape January 2009

2009-01-31T10:34:00.001-05:00

Snow landscape January 2009, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

This picture I think is so pretty!

frozen in ice

2009-01-31T10:24:00.001-05:00

frozen in ice, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 30 pic - Glad I took this picture as today it looks very different.

Hardy

2009-01-19T06:20:00.003-05:00

Hardy, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 19 photo - This is the alpha dog in our 4-dog household. It is rare to find him calm and this photo captures it. You still can sense his attitude.

Knee deep

2009-01-19T06:20:00.001-05:00

Knee deep, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 18 photo - After record cold for days, the snow arrived! In the end we had 2 feet of snow.

Duke

2009-01-19T06:19:00.001-05:00

Duke , originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 17 pic - Let me in! He does not handle the cold very well and would rather stay inside than brave it. He will run in and make a lap around the room before settling down in front of the fireplace!

sheep

2009-01-18T15:59:00.001-05:00

sheep, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 16 picture: Winter will just not go away. Extreme cold and even more snow is on the way. I think they do not mind being locked in right now. I know I don't.

This is being posted on the 18th. We now have 2 feet of snow and have had quite a bunch of winter.

candles on a cold night

2009-01-15T07:56:00.001-05:00

candles on a cold night, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 14 photo: Too cold to go out and get a bunch of wood for a fire (plus keeps rest of house cold.) Candles will do the trick. This is one of the coldest snaps this country has seen in years. We are expecting two hour delays for school. the kids of course would like an actual snow day!

leo

2009-01-15T07:54:00.001-05:00

leo, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 13 photo: The gecko on the prowl for crickets. Leo belongs to my son Ryan. It is a good thing the pics of the pinky mice being eaten were fuzzy. Cool but gross.

Clean desk

2009-01-15T07:53:00.001-05:00

Clean desk, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 12 photo: Monday 1/12 was clean your desk day! This is as good as it will look!

Shovel more here...

2009-01-11T10:26:00.001-05:00

Shovel more here..., originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 11 photo. After shoveling comes a little playing. A buried child makes an easy target!

Buried

2009-01-11T10:24:00.001-05:00

Buried, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 10 photo. Poor squirrel statue buried under the fallen snow.

Last artifact of the holidays!

2009-01-11T10:23:00.001-05:00

Last artifact of the holidays!, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Day 9 photo. The lonely wreath still stands. All the other decorations are put away.

Blast of winter - Day 8 photo

2009-01-08T08:59:00.001-05:00

Blast of winter, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

After Christmas with no snow, finally some white on the landscape! Yesterday, ice and no school! Today, 2 hour delay and off to school soon. After snapping picture, wanted to play outside with the dogs!

As fresh as it gets! Day 7 photo

2009-01-08T08:57:00.001-05:00

As fresh as it gets!, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

These are eggs from chickens on our small farm. Unless you have had farm fresh (day old), you have no idea what you are missing!

Still of winter - Day 6

2009-01-08T08:40:00.001-05:00

SSPX0009.jpg, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

This tree is just so still, conserving energy, waiting till Spring...

Winter leaf impression

2009-01-06T08:39:00.001-05:00

SSPX0008.jpg, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Hats off to my son, Ryan who saw this great shot on a walk with the dogs. This picture was taken on 1/5/09. The leaf must have originally been on the ice but as warmer temps caused it to melt, it fell below . Cool effect!

jake

2009-01-04T15:26:00.001-05:00

jake, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Share the road

2009-01-03T18:15:00.003-05:00

Share the road, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

Enough said.

Farm fence line

2009-01-03T18:15:00.001-05:00

Farm fenceline, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

After the edge of our woods is a great fence line along my in-law's property. On the edge of the woods (behind the photographer), is an old stone fenceline that is very old as well as remnants of old barbed wire fence.

Happy pups

2009-01-03T18:13:00.001-05:00

Happy pups, originally uploaded by hurricanemaine.

This is really how the dogs walk. They line up this way and turn quite a fair amount of heads in the process. The larger brown dog on the left is actually my nephew's dog.

Joined the 2009 365 photos group on flickr

2009-01-03T17:24:00.002-05:00

As part of a 365 photo challenge posted on twitter, here are a few local pictures. This challenge will be a great way to get back into taking pictures. I used to take loads of pictures but have fallen out of not only picture-taking, but scrapbooking.

These pics are actually from my sister-in-law Jennifer Sizemore, though...

I will post more than 365 to make up for them not being mine.
consider the one of the dogs as "mine" as I had to walk the dogs in order to keep them in their line.

Wow!

2008-10-19T18:43:00.002-04:00

Many of what I have been reading online and digesting these days is summed up well by Colin Powell on Meet The Press.

Let me say that as a teacher who is making great gains in 21st century learning and creating critical thinkers who can look at both angles of information, annotate, and think, I am impressed with Barack Obama's campaign. Let's face it, his advisers are transparent yet a definite force in his campaign. He has surrounded himself with the best thinkers. He would do the same as president if given the chance. Those of us who know what a personal learning network is can understand that. The Republican party on the other hand has not learned this lesson and resorts to strategies that are grasping to the air.

I found Colin Powell's speech to be well thought out and heartfelt.

I have too much going on...

2008-09-28T12:31:00.005-04:00

Has it been two months since I blogged here? I know I have blogged here and here and here since then. I know, 4 blogs, am I nuts? Yes, actually, but I am trying to maintain on several fronts to open doors in future areas. Nuts, I know.

However, I am attempting to leverage the great web 2.0 technologies I talk about day in and out to help me. I am also focusing on things I know work (that are not revolutionary) to help as well. So here goes:

Finish going through the rest of my house and declutter (I actually did a lot this summer). Have 3 bins: Trash, Donate, and Maybe (sell or donate is probably where they will go)
Create a no distraction zone - it was the couch but the TV sometimes interferes, it can be the breakfast counter (my last use was the time I fell off the bar stool - don't ask - and was in a cast for 6 weeks), it can be my craft room provided I follow the next step...
Use Remember the milk to automate my schedule for keeping the house clean (and my craft room). I currently have tasks set for each day - it is easier to keep the house clean this way instead of spending a whole weekend morning. I am also learning to put in even small tasks to manage business, home, and work items that need to be done. The little woohoo messages they give you as you cross items off your list is great too!
Make a short list of 4 or 5 things I love and include one a day
Single task - I really thought I was good at multitasking but that is not the case. Spend enough time to get to a certain point and then put aside for review if not possible to finish. (If my work makes me think of an idea for another project, note it but do not go and work on that one too.) Add also that this task should be timed so loss of focus does not increase time spent on it.
Start my day with peace. I try, and I actually get there a little bit. After my husband leaves and the dogs have been fed and potty-ed, I may read, sit in silence with coffee, mull the news, read blog posts, exercise, etc.
Eat nothing from a box - okay we aren't counting cereal, but eating whole foods makes you think twice about what you eat and is not so ready that you grab without thinking. Don't ask my kids or husband what they think about this.
Go paperless. I am close to this. Need to automate a few more things but sometimes it is necessary for me to print off in order to read and mull over properly.
Have 3 tasks for the day. Tough for me. I generally think I can get 20 things done in a day. Realistic until family, students, and others start interacting. I think i can handle this and perhaps create a maybe list in case extra time comes my way.
Get rid of two things for every new thing that I bring in to my house (exception: food. We have to. We live out of town, can get really poor weather in winter, and I have a large pantry for storage). This will help with the first strategy.

These are not new or revolutionary but a focus on these may make a difference in my ability to manage tasks and time. Do you do any of these strategies and how do you feel about them?

Taking the Rock band guitar up a notch

2008-07-25T18:35:00.004-04:00

As a Pazzles design team member, I get to play with interesting materials as well as designing new cutting files. Our June task was to use vinyl on anything in our home. Waiting to the last minute (that is not a trait of mine - I just could not get an idea I loved), I stumbled upon a DOA Xbox guitar and the idea hit me. I used a quote that my SIL Jennifer Sizemore used on a past layout: "Life without music would be a mistake."

Well, it was chosen for Design of the Month at Pazzles. I am so excited. Now to decorate the other guitars in the household.

Tags: Pazzles, Rock Band

May technique kit - Grungeboard

2008-04-16T17:42:00.004-04:00

The Scrapaholix technique kit is Grungeboard. I made this cute layout of my son't new furniture. It was tough to see the hand stamped dinosaurs being painted over by the sand colored painted - or should I say buried over!? It was great to see him pick furniture and see his style emerge.
The grungeboard was fun to work with. It is much different than chipboard, much like leather. After using an ink pad on it and spraying it with glimmer mist, it only curled up a little and flattened out as it dries. The color was actually more vibrant on the grungeboard as well. The grungeboard was used to make two of the squares on the left page (top right and bottom left square) as well as the tag, "R" and "O" in the title. It is tough to see the glimmer mist and this looks much better in person.

Tags: grungeboard, scrapaholic-usa, scrapaholix

First attempt at a header

2008-01-01T17:10:00.000-05:00

So, I should have done this last night after Jen showed me how to make a custom header. But, it is okay as a first attemp on my own. Not sure what I am missing but was unable to drag the digital paper down to a smaller size, so instead I cut and pasted a section of it. I know it is not balanced and great, but a first attempt. Mostly I don't know exactly what I want here yet. So, here it will stay until I do decide (and I learn again how to manipulate the paper - maybe the way I opened it?)

So, after almost a week of company, the dogs are all sleeping and I might not be far behind them. We had a great visit from Dave, Jen, and Jacob (and Beau), heard some great news (!!!), and ate some good food.

The kids are not looking forward to school tomorrow though they won't admit they are bored. I am not going to school as I have a Drs. appointment. After dislocating my little finger, I tore ligaments. Unfortunately it is my right hand which had me rewrite my "to do" list for the holidays - I have no use of fingers in that hand. Oh well, maybe there will be good news tomorrow but I think there is another two weeks in a cast.

So, Happy Holidays to all! Anyone make a resolution? Mine is just to continue to improve. Since there are so many areas that can occur in, I can just choose, right?

Design team submission

2007-12-10T06:54:00.001-05:00

I made this layout for Pazzles Design Team using cosmo cricket papers and my pazzles pro cutter. Normally I don't take pics of my layouts, but this one I like. Well, I would change things now, but it is done. The picture is from saturday night. Becca went to her Winter Formal. She did not get her hair done, buy an expensive dress, etc. I a actually glad - she is less materialistic now. She does not fit the mold of everyone else. I was stressing about it last week as she would be underdressed, but was told that was what kids were supposed to do (choose the best dress in their closet). Why call it a Winter FORMAL then? Oh well. She had fun!

Green Christmas...

2007-12-08T11:44:00.000-05:00

Alright, I already have a pile of presents under the tree. We have a loose budget. Wouldn't it be great if we just did tradition without the spending. I can't help but think of Little Women and Amy saying that "I am desperate for drawing pencils" but then they are still so thankful anyway. I know it is a different time and era but if the kids weren't around, it would be different. So why can't we just stop buying? Because it is not normal. I ran across Don't Buy anything for Christmas. Once you get to their ideas it is really great.
for example, my in laws are always a gift problem. Not only do thy have everything, they probably have two of everything! I may get them the stuff they would have to go out and buy on a shopping trip instead. Maybe throw in a few things they might not consider. Still workng on that list - I guess I need to hurry!

Also visit Ten thousand villages. Helping the environment and changing the world are ideas I discuss in my classes but do not completely follow. By buying from companies such as Ten thousand villages, you give a hand up to some of the poorest areas of the world. On top of that, you start to change society by giving value especially to women where they have not been valued before. Not sexist but true: If the value of women around the world were to change, then many of the problems that exist there will begin to change.

Christmas party pics

2007-12-06T08:21:00.001-05:00

Celebrating the holidays in style!

2007-12-05T14:36:00.000-05:00

I had the best time at my husbands Christmas party last weekend. He works for Reliant Energy at the Keystone station. The party was held in the London Ballroom at Chestnut Ridge Resort in Blairsville. It is a beautiful place, tastefully decorated, and an unbelievable facility. I need to make my way back there some time in the future. Now that I see you can go eat there, it would be a new place to try and a great change of pace.

We had beef, chicken (which was wonderful), a great assortment of vegetables and sides as well as a chocolate mousse cake. Dancing was great and the DJ emceed many of the games that night, played our requests promptly and was very attentive.

But most importantly was the attention to detail provided by Paula and Cheryl from Keystone Station. I have been in charge of Christmas parties before and know the work required. These ladies' outdid themselves. I really want them to know how much their efforts, time, and talent that they put in to the event was appreciated. I hope everyone had a wonderful time - I know I did! I really want them to know what a great job they did.

Everyone I met was warm and wonderful and I had the best conversations with those at our table. I especially am glad that everyone was so good about getting out there to dance. It was a fantastic evening and would love to get together with them again. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of us - especially since I was all dolled up in a knockout dress! Next time, I'll bring the camera - but doubt I would have as much time to have fun.

Happy Holidays everyone!

2007-12-05T13:16:00.001-05:00

Technorati Profile

2007-11-21T12:19:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving. It is hard to believe it is already here and that Christmas is just around the corner. It has been a tough fall emotionally. Too many things going on in and out of the family. I look forward to moving on and this is a great time to do so. I want to stop and truly appreciate what has been given to me.

1. Unconditional love. Lord knows I have tested my husbands patience and yet he still does all the little things that shows he loves me. He is such a great guy and I love him. I need to say that more often!

2. The bridge between past and future. AKA, my kids. It is exciting and challenging to watch them grow up. They change and sometimes I am not sure if the change is good or not. But they are their own person and will always remember the bigger lessons from the past, I hope. I remind myself when faced with the teenage challenges that they are actually put here to teach me something.

3. True friends. I have a lot of contacts but have just a few really good friends. That is all you need.

4. My health. Lately that has been a complaint but I am also at my lowest in fitness. Seems to me there is a connection. I had less sicknesses and ailments when I was fit. Time to get started again (oh, age really does not matter).

5. My SIL's. As I don't have a sister, I do love them like one. I wish we lived closer and we did not have so much going on all of the time. I can't wait until Christmas to see Jen and in February I see Sunni!

More reflection to come...

So now we have a problem, where have you been?

2007-11-21T09:11:00.001-05:00

I hear a lot of people talking about prices of gasoline, fuel oil, electricity, natural gas, etc. The next logical increase is the cost of all of the goods that are made from fossil fuels (90% of what we use daily is made from oil) and have to be trucked across the country. My only response: Where have you been?

My beef? Those who for decades talked about how all of the conservationists were out of their minds. How they discussed the downfall of the environment and their solution would destroy all of our ways of life and raise taxes. Are you kidding me? When are we going to learn to be proactive and stop the nonsense? The cost of changing/cleaning up, etc. is enormous.

So everyone is complaining and I know that we can't change the past, but what are you doing now? Are you going to continue to complain or are you going to do something to make a change for the better, model a better way of life for the future, and teach the younger generation that you do care. By the way, they think you don't. There are a lot of very angry young people upset about the state of the world. The problem seems enormous but everyone working together can accomplish much. We all have to give up a little now or we stand to have to give up a lot more in the future. It is all too easy to think it will just work out by itself. Ask yourself, what do you believe? What will you do?

So what do I do? For me, I have been concerned about this since the 70's. Sure, I still consume my share but take a definite stand on many issues. I have used my own cloth bags for shopping long before it became popular (is it where you are?). As a matter of fact, certain family members did not want to be seen with me when I used those bags. I have recycled as long as well (BTW I do not live where there is curbside recycling), I limit trips in a car (one with better gas mileage), combine my trips, grow my own produce and even make our own dog food. I can go on and on about computer use, using resources and electricity, but will actually be doing this for my high school classes soon.

As for my classes, I educate. We are researching, we are understanding viewpoints and problems around the world, and we are hoping to make change. The same message here I am giving to them. They have a voice and they want to be heard. I am encouraging thoughts turning into action. I hope it becomes contagious.

2007-08-20T18:16:00.000-04:00

Well, I started out gung ho with the blog – I think I made 3 entries the first day. What has happened since? Perhaps life and a little attitude has happened – it is summer by the way. Let me explain. As I have been sitting and thinking about who cares if anyone reads what I have to say and who cares if I read what anyone has to say, my school email has filled up with edtech emails and blog entries I have subscribed to. Now that I am finally reading them it has occurred to me that I have not really faced my own attitudes about blogging.

Writing about what I am thinking is somewhat self-centered, don't you think? I am obviously the only one in my brain and if I write it all down, am I stuck on myself? Not really. That is just what I think others are thinking and I should not have that opinion toward anyone else either. If it is not meaningful to me, I don't need to read it. But someday it may be and the great thing about electronic communication is that it will be there for some time (another reason to be very careful).

Mostly I think that no one cares what I think (oops – there I go talking like one of the teenagers). Vicki Davis says it best in her blog:

It is about improving communication and facilitating effective, meaningful, educated, civilized conversation. And when it gets students excited about communicating and learning, then it just becomes a number one friend of a good teacher.

Even if your blogging is not tied to education, it is all about communication. The focus is not only on sharing but also connecting. I learn a lot by reading about the thoughts and experiences of others. It is important to make meaningful communication and use it constructively and just as thoughtfully. Even blogs or posts that polarize people are useful (this is a scrapbooking message board with passionate members): 2 peas

My hope is to use the blogs as a tool for not only my learning and communcation but also for that of my students. By thinking differently about blogs in general, I might just learn something after all.

2007-08-14T21:00:00.001-04:00

I think we have finally recovered from the weekend visit to Jen's in Manassas. What a blast! After we arrived, I took the boys, Jake, and Hardy to the playground while the girls went to get manicures. That evening we went to a Stampin Up class and made the cutest card and tin. On Saturday, we went to Target (wish we had one of those near us). We spent the afternoon at the Mall before playing a Laser tag game and then being entertained at the Japanese Steakhouse. It was a great show. Topped off with Coldtone Creamery for dessert, it was a great day! I had cake batter ice cream and it was so good. On Sunday, it was Jen's birthday. We went to a birthday crop and Jen was queen for the day (with regal clothes to boot!). Afterward we had a cookout but we had to leave early to get home! Too much fun and a great way to celebrate her 39th birthday.

2007-08-08T08:32:00.000-04:00

I am fascinated by the web 3.0 tools that exist out there. My kids are familiar with it. Xbox Live and World of Warcraft are web 3.0 tools. I have visited the virtual world Second Life and think it is cool that you can take classes there and actually walk into a virtual classroom or a virtual shop and buy items there. Maybe the wave of the future? I think it is too unregulated yet to be safe but I looked around and then created my own avatar in photobucket to feel part of this new world. You can actually create one that looks like you at a different site, but I might have to pay for that. I might try that next. I am finding these things while doing research for using technology in my classroom. I don't think it keeps me focused though as it seems to divert my attention. Does this happen to the kids too? Either I have ADD or I don't multitask on the computer as well as I thought.

Speaking of getting things done, I no longer make an item like "clean the house". I now say specifically what cleaning the house is. Sweep the carpet, scrub the tile, etc. Seems weird to do that but it is hard to see how much time a big item like "clean the house" can take. Breaking it down means you can do little parts one at a time. Now to apply this to my lesson planning. If I write "plan my lessons in Academic Biology for September" I will spend time thinking "What does that mean?" I would be more focused overall to break up the tasks into actual actions and then have great fun crossing off the list as I go. This is my new goal.

2007-08-06T10:09:00.000-04:00

After Scrapbooking for over a decade, I have reached another plateau of being burnt out. Why? All the stuff! At heart, I really hate all the stuff I use and wish I did not want more. I have actually not created too many scrapbook pages of late (design team, business and life interferes) and think that it always proceeds a change in style, etc. This brings me to the top 5 scrapbook tools I like, need, covet, etc.

My computer. I upgraded last year to a Toshibe Portege M400-S4031. I haven’t even unlocked its potential yet. My friend Klo Oxford played with it for 10 minutes and did things with it I haven’t yet (there is the technophobe in me coming out). I should learn from my son and just play with it. It is a tablet PC and I can draw, create my own elements, and do amazing things with the computer and its software. I am hoping to learn how to Digital Scrapbook as well as use it to its tre capacity with the Creative Cutter.

My Pazzles Creative Cutter. I have the Pro. I can do amazing things with it. It not only makes great titles and die cuts that are truly customized to what I need, but it can also emboss, engrave, draw and write, distress, make stamps, etc. I have been a member of the design team for the past 2 years and it has been wonderful in improving my proficiency with the cutter and my ability to design. This last year I have been given some great materials to play with including iron on material of which I made this great tote (Thanks to Jen Sizemore for the inspiration). This has really taken me out of my comfort zone and made me use the cutter in different ways.My biography
My Projects 1 My Projects 2
My Projects 3
My Projects 4
Ad in Memory Makers

My wide format printer HP Photosmart 8750. I now take all digital pictures and only print the ones that I need when I need them.

Cardstock. I am pretty basic at heart and you can do a lot with it – especially with my cutter.

My Susis cutter. I wish I had bought the 14 inch style but otherwise love that it is self-sharpening. It is a workhorse.

Other runner-ups: My ATG 700 tape dispenser – large but very economical, stamps and stamp pads, ribbon…

2007-08-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

So I will start with the basics: My family. I love my family. My husband Mike is very hard working and the epitome of what it means to have goals and work for them. He is very successful and a good example about how to work hard now and steer yourself for the future plans. My daughter Becca has entered those wonderful teenage years (read: 15). That is not just meant to be sarcastic but wonderful in that she is trying to find herself though it has managed to give her parents more gray hairs than we are supposed to have at the age of 42. She is talented musically, athletically, and pretty smart as well. I hope she comes back to some of these things as there are many kids who would love to have some of that talent. My son Ryan is now officially a teenager and not a technophobe like his mother. He is a gamer though he doesn’t take it seriously like others. He is very talented musically and loves animals and nature, especially if it is a reptile or amphibian. He is very laid back normally so maybe we will be spared more gray hairs.

The other members of our family are the four legged kind. We have 2 ferrets. A boy named Sebastian (Becca’s) and a girl named Sabrina (Ryan’s) provide plenty of entertainment. They are full of personality and are fun to watch when we let them run around the scrapbooking studio and they steal items frequently. We also have 4 dogs. We rescued all of them from a pound. I love that. Sure, they may still have found there way to a good home, but people who know us know that our dogs are just plain spoiled. Hardy is a Pomeranian and is Ryan’s dog. He rules all the others. Anyone who has a Pomeranian would agree. Murphy is a poodle/terrier mix and is the family dog. He is very laid back, somewhat lacking upstairs and gets along with everyone and every dog. He is the dog that everyone wants to take home with them. Duke is a Great Dane and a very loveable dog and very well behaved for his size but has to be watched that he does not get too carried away as he is still a puppy (at 105 pounds)! The last is Jake, who is a long haired Chihuahua. He is the sweetest and actually not as high strung as the short haired varieties. Jake and Duke are quite a sight together as their size is definitely an extreme and they are also very protective of me as they are mine. They can be quite a handful at times especially those days when they won’t walk the way they should or at mealtime. But they are loving and definitely members of the family.

2007-08-06T08:14:00.000-04:00

I have been wanting to blog for some time. Why haven’t I started? Simply, I am somewhat of a technophobe. Really. The truth is that I have always jumped into the new technologies after some period of sweating it out internally. What if it is just a fad? What if no one agrees or likes what I have to say? What if I fall flat on my face? At some point I just decide to do it and jump in. Usually it is after thinking that I need a lot of time to get it started. It is usually not the case. Of course, I have spent plenty of time mulling it over in my brain. But actually creating the blog (or insert whatever technology it is today) was easy.

Now I am excited. After all, I have a lot to say. Don’t I tell my students that they have a lot to say and should say it? I am also an average writer. By blogging, my writing will improve. That alone is reason to do it. This may be a better alternative to that paper journal I never seem to keep up with. I really should have started long ago.

So here I go, entering the blogging world. Thanks for bearing with me hearing my views of education, scrapbooking and all that I am passionate or thinking about at the time. Now that I am here, I keep asking myself, what took me so long?