Slip, slip, slipping by

Summer is slipping by... too quickly! In reality I have only 2 weeks left until my obligations to Waldorf and my schools start! It seems like only yesterday school got out for summer. Of course new school supplies are in the stores for the picking.

Yesterday Lynne and I went to see the Sorcerer's Apprentice movie. I love Nicholas Cage! He did well in this movie. I think Lynne went along to keep me company but she ended up liking the movie too. It's not The Matrix, but it has some very nice special effects. If you're a movie buff, you'll catch some lines from other movies. Lynne, however, did not like the ending. Since I don't want to spoil it, I'll leave it at that.

Speaking of movies and actors, I'm a little sad about one of my favorite actors - Mel Gibson. I just don't know what's up with him lately.

He ain't right in the head.

I'm very disappointed in his personal life choices right now. But he is human and who am I to judge?

Please add your prayers to mine for these people who need healing thoughts: Mary N., Bobbie C. & Susan C. I hope you feel better and heal fast!

I just finished the book, The Named by Marianne Curley. Now for the sequel, The Dark. The third book in the Guardians of Time Trilogy is The Key. I enjoyed the first book. If you like fantasy, sci fi, time travel, or history, you'll like this series. It's not heavy sci fi like Star Trek or Star Gate. It's fantasy.

I forgot to wish Ethan N. a happy b-day on FB. So will today. I didn't forget Dale H. I get all my news on FB! Devin & Laura R. sold their house, Brad H. has a girlfriend, Kevin & Tina R. had a tree fall during a bad storm, Amy W. flew to Las Vegas, Chris R. is stationed at Ft. Riley, and a lot of people are on vacation in wonderful places!

RAGBRAI [The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa] went through my town last Tuesday. I heard around 20,000 bikers pedaled from Algona to Clear Lake that day, around 60 miles. One of my neighbors took the trip. Dave M. said that he started in Algona early in the morning and made it to CL before lunchtime. The line moved fast, as he said he was going between 17 and 23 miles/hour. Lance Armstrong has done a leg of RAGBRAI in the past, but right now he's doing the Tour De France.

On a more personal note, I get my hair cut today and eyebrows waxed!

Friday was Terri A.'s last day at the Shepherd. Now it's on to

Focus! Photography by Terri.

Lynne and I went over to Nora Springs to celebrate with Terri and John. We enjoyed supper from The Nora Inn. Roger and Barb A. stopped by too.

I visited with my sister, Tina S-R, on Thursday as she stopped by en route to visit her grandson, Stratton.

Well, enough for now.
Until next time.....
Theresa

Techno Girl!

Well, not really 'Techno Girl' because I don't know/use every tech tool, but I'm working on it! I spent yesterday updating blogs, created a Flickr account, reading email, etc.
I especially like www.edu.glogster.com and www.Animoto.com. With Glogster, you can create online posters with movable parts. I have 2 examples of Glogster on my FB profile page. With Animoto you can create 30 second videos from your photos. Both of the basic packages are free with paid upgrades available.
I have so many tech tools that I have had to compile a list to include my username and password. I know, bad choice! But how else will I remember?!?
Lynne has suggested a stack of books for me to read. I finished her "my most favorite book of all time" Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black. I need to acquire the sequel, Ironside. Holly Black is the co author of The Spiderwick Chronicles. It was a good read, especially if you like fantasy. This story has faeries instead of vampires and werewolves. The explicit language and adult situations make it a young adult book for ages 12 and up. Book Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band until an ominous attack forces Kaye back to her childhood home. Kaye discovers she is really a pixie faerie, switched at birth with a human child. She is asked to help save the Seelie world of the faeries, but is hampered by her love of the evil Unseelie World's First Knight -- a struggle that could very well mean her death. A fun, magikal read!
I am starting on the 'Guardians of Time Trilogy' by Marianne Curley. [The Named, The Dark, and The Key]. I'll let you know how these go. Book Summary: Ethan, one of the Named, fights the Order of Chaos and its destruction in the present by traveling through time.
There is much info on the net about fairies, faeries, fey, etc. Start with Wikipedia. You will find some variation of the wee folk in many cultures and countries. I even found ways to attract them to my home and garden - which I might try! First I have to get me a little birdhouse and decorate it to please my guest!
Just as Dorothy met a good witch, and a bad witch, there good and bad faeries. I won't weigh down this post with fairy info - if you're interested - find a good faerie book or surf the net or email me and we can discuss it!
Check out my journey down the Technology Trail in my blog: www.techwalks.blogspot.com. Share some of your tech finds with me!
HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY, CHRIS R.! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!
Until next time...
Theresa

Me Bad

I really have not been very loyal to my blog! Please forgive me. This is the 3rd attempt to complete it.
Lately [and this is no excuse-BTW] I have been busy.
On Friday, 16-JUL, Lynne and I and the 2 dogs drove out to Marie & Jeff's house in Colorado. We returned on 20-JUL. What a long drive. Marie says I can fly out of Omaha and be in Denver in less than 2 hours. Our road trip was 13 hours long. You know Nebraska is a very wide state!
We are putting in a new library automation system [Destiny] at my West Hancock schools and I have been attending meetings in Britt about that. I was there this last Thursday and Friday and have another one next Monday. They are webinar conference calls. Then I have another one with the library aides on 3-AUG. We plan to be up-and-running when school starts!
I am on the technology team at my Belmond-Klemme schools and we're meeting too. Dr. Scott McLeod is scheduled to attend our before school PD! I think our leader, Trish M., is really doing a nice job to get us ready to 'face' the digital natives.
On that note, I have been using my twitter account to learn about new and innovative ways to use technology tools. There is so much and so many neat ideas from other educators for education! If you are a tweet, check out ShannonMiller, McLeod, TMorrisBK, jamiefath, NJSaurs, or TheresaReiter [me]. There are a number of teachers from B-K who are tweeters too! That's what I use Twitter for - a network of other educators who share their ideas and finds. OK. OK. I'm also following Gene Simmons, Craig Ferguson, and Catherine Bell!
Well, it's the weekend! Enjoy!
Until next time....
Theresa

Happy American Independence Day [10 days late!]

OK, so I'm a little late. Hope your 4th of July was great!
Steve was here over the 4th. He spent the whole previous week working on the house in Rockwell. He filled a huge dumpster with junk from the shed and house. He comes back to finish the job during the last week of August. Steve went home on the evening of the 5th.
On July 5th we went to get Geoff in Minneapolis. He didn't take to the wilderness of Alaska and came home on that day. Right now Geoff is taking classes at St. Olaf in Northfield. On July 6th, my Dad and I traveled to Keokuk-Lee-IA. Dad had some cemetery stuff to finish and I worked on my Daughters of the American Revolution info.
Yes, that's right - I'm going to be a DAR! God, Home and Country! My Revolutionary ancestor is Moses Justus, a Minuteman and Private in the Continental Army in North Carolina and Virginia. He served from 1774-1781.
While in Keokuk we were able to visit with my Aunt Mary Margaret, Uncle Dewain & Aunt Ruth, and cousins Shirley, Bonnie, Sandy, Bobbie, Billy & Blake. See my FB page for pictures.
I also saw the recently discovered tunnels under the Main Street and 6th Street of Keokuk. It seems a building fell down and when they started to clean up the area, tunnels were found. Some say human bones and whiskey kegs were found in the tunnels. I have pictures on my FB page. Now there's a movement to save the tunnels as history of Keokuk.
Today is my good friend Terri's birthday. I enjoyed lunch with her, her sister, Kim, and her parents, Jack & Diane, as well as Geoff and Lynne today at Applebee's in MC.
Plans are to leave for Colorado on Friday to visit Marie and Jeff. We are driving out there. We plan to return on Tuesday (7/20). I am taking my dogs, Cricket & Nattie with us.
Well, I finally got my school contract. It is for 3/4 time. 1 day a week @ B-K [no teaching], 2 days a week @ WH, 2 days a month @ Ventura and some odd days here and there for B-K. I am also going to work @ Waldorf College as the evening reference librarian 4 nights a week with a rotating weekend. I should be busy! While I am a whiz at the Dewey Decimal System [go ahead, ask me a question], the WC library is categorized by the Library of Congress System. I haven't used that system in a l-o-n-g time. I don't start at Waldorf until Aug 31st and then only work during the academic year, so I still have summers free.
For the rest of July and the 1st week in August I will assisting with the implementation of the Destiny automation system in the WH library media centers. It will be nice to get that done! I was very happy when I was allowed to get it!
Well, I best close for now.
Until next time...
Theresa