tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42686375498970445512024-02-21T05:15:06.766-05:00Wandering WondermentAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-61128119822922168522014-06-26T22:25:00.001-04:002014-06-26T22:25:04.594-04:00Going Halvsies Next week is Independence Day, which marks our nation's birthday and the traditional "halfway" point of summer. I could count out days and check out how accurate this tradition is, but let's face it, that would take time and brain cells (not much of either, but still more than I have to spare at the moment). I know the trope about teachers and summers off, but I'm still waiting for when in my teaching career I'll have a summer off. I had a decent portion of the month of May off while my son still had classes and I had some time after exams and final grades had been turned in for the spring semester. Of course, that time was spent preparing a manuscript for publication and preparing my summer class materials.<br />
<br />
Once the boy is out of school every summer, I start the fun of splitting time between parenting and teaching without any down time. It's less effective this way, with the thousand and one questions, requests, and interruptions that come with a child, but as an adjunct it's not as if I have big bucks to spend on camps, day care, and babysitters so we make do. On the positive side, he gets to be involved with my class preparations so we try out fun things for lab- making a model of a muscle filament, doing exercises and naming the actions, muscles, and joints involved, and testing reflexes for a few ideas. He's also involved with my students and I on our summer research projects, which you can check out over <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/44188-trait-versus-origin-invasive-plants-and-their-native-cousins-face-off" target="_blank">here</a>. We're having a great time with that, chaotic and topsy-turvy as it is.<br />
<br />
One thing that is for-sure at the halfway point is my summer classes. I did manage to secure a handful of weeks of inexpensive but good day camp stuff for Kenny thanks to the Kent Parks and Recreation department and a gift from my mom, so that's helping to give me some time to deal with class prep, grading, and starting to think about autumn classes (not to mention the perpetual job hunt for a full time teaching job).<br />
<br />
I'd love to be half way through my summer break. Heck, I'd love to have half of a summer break. But I guess I went into the wrong profession, or at least at the wrong time. <br />
<br />
Whatever. I love my job, I love my students, I love our research. Maybe someday soon the US will again love education even a tiny bit. Until then, us teachers will just keep toiling on over summer break to do the best that we can this and every day of the year. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-81574546762766399182014-06-01T16:01:00.002-04:002014-06-01T16:01:56.358-04:00Balancing Ethos, Pathos, and LogosI have a second grader at home- almost a third grader, as the school year draws to a close- and a smart one at that. Anyone reading this who also happens to have a second grader, or had one in the past, can probably attest to how humbling an experience this is. The questions are endless, and they're starting to get pretty interesting. No longer are we hearing the simple "Why is the sky blue?" type questions that can be answered with a fairly vague generalization like "It's because of the way light bounces off of molecules in our air." Instead, he now wants to know what molecules, how are they "bouncing," what about rainbows, what if the molecules go away, what if there were even more molecules, what would we have to do for the sky to be green, and what about sunrise and sunset when the sky is a color other than blue? <br />
<br />
Then he stops listening about halfway through the answer, comes back with "But what if you're wrong?", and my head explodes.<br />
<br />
I appreciate skepticism, and I am thrilled that he's willing to challenge authority, but it also gets old when all that skepticism and challenge are aimed at me incessantly. I'm not going to lie, I don't have the highest self-confidence in the world, but I'm working on it. Being a woman in science and an adjunct in higher ed does not exactly help, although my experience has not been as bad as some of them described by Deirdre Redmond and commenters in The Chronicle of Higher Education's "<a href="http://chronicle.com/article/A-Black-Female-Professor/146739/" target="_blank">A Black Female Professor Struggles with 'Going Mean.</a>'" <br />
<br />
My own issues aside, this seems a recurring theme in our culture right now, unfortunately. We take the word of a pastor as infallible, but the findings of the vast majority of climatologists can be dismissed without thought. Discredited and falsified studies get more public attention and "buy-in" than the current data that is contradictory to the falsified findings. Non-profit organizations with misogynist leanings can persuade people that crucial health and safety studies are "cruel and unusual" and ignore the numbers of people saved by those "cruel and unusual" studies every year, including some people very dear to me. The idea that skepticism means one person's ignorance is weighted and valued the same as another person or group's research is not what skepticism is supposed to mean, but today we've gotten to point (thank you, Fox News) where this is exactly what people mean when they say "skeptical" or "balanced reporting." It's frustrating, it's anti-science and anti-education, and we need to stop acting like everything is subjective (not that everything is objective, either; the world's too complex for binaries). Preferably before my head explodes.<br />
<br />
So what I've been talking with Kenny on this matter is this- How about simply considering why you're challenging someone before doing so? Think to yourself "Who am I challenging and why am I challenging them?" If you wouldn't be challenging them if they looked differently, then maybe you need to re-evaluate your skepticism. If you have problems believing them because of your history with them (lying, exaggeration, etc.) maybe you need to reconsider your association with them. If you're challenging them because they're stating something that goes against your prior experience or knowledge, point that out to the person. If none of these are true, maybe you're not being skeptical, but a contrary a-hole.<br />
<br />
It won't save the world, but maybe thinking and talking about these things will get us a step in the right direction.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-84619585947992461382014-03-20T22:13:00.001-04:002014-03-20T22:15:13.019-04:00Joining the CrowdIt's no secret that I love a good pedagogy discussion or idea, something new to try in my classroom, so it should be no surprise that when there was some discussion on SciFund Challenge and other spaces about crowd-funding as a novel source for filling the gap that's so often left between what we have in the class and what we need in the class that I would jump on board. The possibility of challenging my students to engage in original research and integrate their own learning alongside science communication?<br />
<br />
Hot d*mn, that sounds like fun!<br />
<br />
And more importantly, that sounds like a recipe for an extraordinarily awesome experience for this semester's class, and a chance to improve the available materials for classes to come.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://experiment.com/projects/biological-diversity-on-a-northeast-ohio-college-campus" target="_blank">So I took the chance</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm still taking that chance, really. I have a crowd-funding proposal going on for the next few days (until 26th March), to raise some funds for my students' project. And when I say "I," I mean my students. They wrote it. They made the budget. They've been working on the protocols. With my help, sure, but they're the primary content drivers in this project, I just gave them the assignment and the support to do what they're doing.<br />
<br />
And what they're doing, quite frankly, is pretty freaking cool. We're surveying the biological diversity (or how many and what type of organisms) on KSU Trumbull campus. This has been done at the KSU Stark campus by Matthew Lehnert and some of his students, and I might be expanding this work to the main campus with an Upward Bound class this summer (depends on whether or not I get that job). <br />
<br />
Some other stuff my students are working on can be seen on our <a href="http://digitalresearchsymposium.com/" target="_blank">Digital Research Symposium</a> website. Right now, it's last semester's work that is up, but I'll be adding this semester's batch this weekend. If you appreciate quality education, if you believe in students as capable and creative thinkers able to take agency in their own research endeavors, if you think that research can act as a catalyst to solid learning, then go check out what we're doing, and maybe make a contribution. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-90221748517857198912013-09-16T07:17:00.000-04:002013-09-16T07:17:07.998-04:00Classrooom ChangesThe school year is in full swing now in Kent, and we're heartily
enjoying life with a second grader. Specifically, we're enjoying this
second grader and his second grade class. This year, our school is
trying out a mixed 1st and 2nd grade classroom. Two teachers, two
student teachers, and two grades in an extra large room (really two
rooms with a collapsible wall between them that's not used very often
now). Kenny's been thrilled about it so far, and seems to be doing well
with this new set-up, in part because the first grade teacher was his
teacher last year, and he really enjoyed working with her. We're glad
that he has another year in a safe place where he enjoys learning, and
his official teacher for this year has a similar pedagogy and manner to
his first grade teacher. His daily pattern is familiar, he's making
progress on school work, and meeting new friends.<br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
I
may not work with young kids, but I do teach, and I take my profession
seriously. So much in education is bad news- rising tuition, rising
student loan amounts, another assessment added to the schedule, and test
prep taking more and more time away from teaching. With all of that,
it's great seeing innovation and child-centered learning still making
its way into some areas. Classrooms being treated like research,
following evidenced-based practices and contributing to that evidence,
trusting teachers to take leadership of their own classrooms, those are
the things that I like to hear happening. <br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
In
my own classrooms, I'm trying some new things, as well, like virtual
presentations and some new lab activities. It's surprising how
different things feel with just a little bit of a difference; those
little changes make such a big deal in overall outlook. For me, seeing
changes in my syllabus come together, and seeing how other people shape
their classrooms for the students (with supportive administrators,
even!) brings a renewed feeling of excitement about my profession. <br />
<br />
Over the weekend, Dwight and I saw Dark Side of the Moon, a Pink Floyd tribute band in our area, and went with two of our friends who also work in education. We reflected a bit on the irony of four teachers enjoying "The Wall," but honestly, the world has changed so much since then that it's not a fair comparison. Pink Floyd rails against the almost demonic image of a stern class headmaster, who was the final say in his classroom. He was an authority figure, and Pink Floyd tends to have a very anti-authoritarian bent. Today, most teachers are not authoritarian, but instead nearly as powerless as students in the classroom. Legislation about standards, exams, meetings, IEPs; administrators with their list of demands; helicopter parents who will question any decision about their child from the teacher, and in some cases complain to the principal about every decision concerning their child. <br />
<br />
I can't sympathize with the teacher in "The Wall," and I don't think the current situation strikes the correct balance in the classroom, either. And it is a balance between a teacher's autonomy in the classroom and meeting the need to ensure that children are getting a high quality education. We haven't found that balance yet, but I'm hopeful that the pendulum will swing back towards teacher autonomy soon.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-66348744149917139872013-08-22T22:12:00.001-04:002013-08-22T22:12:13.107-04:00Down TimeI've been crazy busy with my current class lately (to the point where my hourly pay- yes, this teaching job is hourly- may actually be lower than minimum wage). It's an interesting set-up, accelerating an entire semester into one month. I'm not a stranger to long work hours and abbreviated time tables, but this one takes the cake. A four credit hour general education class for non-majors, and it's possibly the most exhausting class I've taught. Each day of class is the equivalent of more than the typical week in a standard semester, so there's very little time to relax and evaluate a lesson before jumping straight into the next one. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.<br />
<br />
I'm not usually one to enjoy relaxing or vacation. I tend to be the one that takes their laptop on a night out to keep working. On the bright side, I'm learning from this experience how important it is to let the mind process material during breaks. Switching gears and letting the brain just soak in what it's been working on makes the learning process more efficient, and effective. <br />
<br />
I know it's not a new observation. I know there's plenty of research documenting this same effect. But you know what? Having a reminder of what you already know is a great lesson. And slowing down and enjoying the moment is a lesson I need reminders of from time to time. <br />
<br />
No matter how bad a situation is, there's also something to be learned from it. Or so I keep telling myself. <br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-69697239157100820792013-08-12T21:26:00.000-04:002013-08-12T21:26:00.466-04:00The Passing of a Folk HeroIt's no secret that I'm a die-hard music fan; it soothes my savage soul, so to speak. Since before we moved to Kent, I've enjoyed the musical contributions made to Ohio airwaves by WKSU, the National Public Radio station run by Kent State University. For over 30 years, the station has brought folk, classical, and news to Northeast Ohio and farther if you had a good antenna. They've also helped to host the annual Kent State Folk Festival, and more recently spawned Folk Alley- a 24/7 streaming online all-folk station. Folk Alley has since made the switch to not just internet, but having an HD channel of its own as well. While at this point in time classical music is a bit easier to find on the dial, stations that play both older and current folk hits are few and far between, and classical is slipping away slowly but steadily. It's within this atmosphere of radio-wave homogenization and declining cultural arts investment, that I reflect with a heavy heart on the station changes at WKSU. <br />
<br />
New management to any organization invariably brings some changes. That's no surprise, and everyone expected that having a new station manager would bring some new ways of doing things and maybe some differences to the old line-up. I don't know that anyone was expecting quite the wholesale re-ordering that we've experienced. And I definitely didn't expect the <a href="http://www.wksu.org/classical/2013/08/05/missing-your-music/">dismissive tone</a> to any opposition to the new format. Obviously, there are great places like <a href="http://www.eartothegroundmusic.co/">Ear to the Ground Music</a> (from the <a href="http://www.eartothegroundmusic.co/author/lisa-regula-meyer/">Shameless Self Promotion department</a>) to find new folk tunes, but typically speaking surfing on the radio is where we are first introduced to new music. Searching the internet to find something requires that a certain level of interest is already there, and that takes away a particular serendipity. <br />
<br />
There's a certain irony in all this. Folk music- by its very name, music for the masses- moving off of the standard radio format, currently analog, onto the newer less common radio format which requires additional equipment for most people. This move is taking folk away from us regular folks, and the same with classical music. Sure, there are a couple of hours on the weekend, but not like what Kent and the other WKSU listeners are used to. This, alongside the recent downtown redevelopment with expensive high end shops, and the loss of community green space, has me very much disliking gentrification in my neck of the woods. You can hear the inequality growing. But that's what our city council has decided needs to happen, so that's what's going to happen. Maybe November's off-year elections will be more interesting than I had expected.<br />
<br />
On the bright side, us little folks are working together and getting some cool stuff done on our own terms, like the new <a href="http://ediblekent.blogspot.com/">Edible Kent</a> endeavor and pARTy and Snack-nic outdoor art extravaganza to help replace our <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/27430-support-kent-s-new-integrated-art-and-environmental-education-space">community green space.</a>. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-56491295161945170582013-08-09T22:20:00.001-04:002013-08-09T22:20:30.053-04:00Corporate ConundrumIt's Moral Dilemma Time, kids! All right, so the answer is already
decided (us teachers gotta eat, you know), but I've been thinking a lot
lately on corporate colleges and their impact on the higher education
landscape. This is mainly because I've been hired by one, so I feel the
need to at least cogitate on the matter.<br />
<br />
On the plus
side, they can seem to have some innovative structures (one month-one
class systems; social support systems like child care connections;
flexible class delivery modes). On the negative side (and it's a big
negative side), they rely heavily on part-time adjuncts and may not have
any tenure. Where I'm working currently has about half of the pay of a
typical class that I teach, and is hourly not salary (and only pays for
contact hours, not prep or grading time). Frankly, what bugs me even
more than the pay is the bureaucracy. There are a million and a half
"Thou shalts" and "Thou shalt nots." Oddly, with all the rigamarole,
there's no time-sheet.<br />
<br />
All of the metrics for this
private, for-profit school are horrendous as is typical for PFPS,
whether you look at graduation rate, retention rate, employment after
graduation, etc. The classes are a joke. The instructors are a mixed
bag, but without any time to plan or grade lessons, even the best
instructor is going to face challenges. The resources offered are there
to help keep students coming back, not moving forward; help with
getting financial aid and government assistance, not help with actually
getting an education. <br />
<br />
It's despicable, the way these
companies profit off of failing students. It's worse than I had ever
thought these places could possibly be. But you know what? I have a
family to take care of, so I'm doing it. Now if you don't mind, I need
to go bleach my eyeballs and scrub half of my skin off for taking part
in this fleecing. <br />
<br />
Thank goodness for neo-liberal education de-formers, at all levels of education.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-38059154312194670752013-06-27T11:20:00.000-04:002013-06-27T11:20:16.367-04:00Ding-Dong, DOMA's Dead!Yes, this is yesterday's news, but this is the first I've had a chance to sit down and write down a coherent response to SCOTUS's ruling. Yesterday's response on my part was confined to whooping, hollering, and maybe a few tears. <br />
<br />
Obviously, this is great news for all same sex couples in the 12 (soon 13, after SCOTUS instructed the lower court to dismiss the Prop 8 case out of California) jurisdictions that allow marriage equality. For people in states like Ohio, where there are constitutional bans on same sex unions, the ruling is less clear right now. Part of the confusion lies in the distinction of how federal organizations define marriage- by place of celebration, or place of residency. If the place of celebration is used, then federal benefits should be a very real possibility. Hopefully, there will be some consistency brought to the definition soon, and to my (admittedly limited- so please feel free to correct me) knowledge that could be done without an act of Congress in most cases. As if Congress was active in the first place right now. <br />
<br />
If the place of residence is used, then it's a harder fight, and the couple would likely have to reside in a marriage equality state. <br />
<br />
What really throws a wrench in the works (or has the potential to be a huge break through), is the Full Faith and Credit Clause. Article IV, Section 1 of the US Constitution states:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress
may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records
and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof."</blockquote>
This is the fun little clause that allows you or I to have a destination wedding, or to move after we're married and have that marriage recognized. This clause and the due process and equal protection portions of the Fourteenth amendment were the grounds that the court used to decide Loving v. Virginia. It's important to note, however, that yesterday's decision was based on the due process clause of the Fifth amendment instead. Also of note, to me anyway, is that while <i>Loving </i>and <i>Windsor</i> were decided on different bases, the framing and terminology were similar. From <i>Loving</i>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Equal Protection Clause requires the consideration
of whether the classifications drawn by any statute constitute an arbitrary
and invidious discrimination. </blockquote>
and From <i>Windsor</i>: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
DOMA’s principal effect is to identify and make unequal a subset of
state-sanctioned marriages. It contrives to deprive some couples married
under the laws of their State, but not others, of both rights and
responsibilities, creating two contradictory marriage regimes within the
same State.</blockquote>
While SCOTUS yesterday refused to affirm that marriage is a constitutional right by refusing to rule on Prop 8, Warren did make that claim in the <i>Loving </i>case that stopped miscegenation laws. I think that's an important reality to remember.<br />
<br />
And just for the sake of CMA, this is a thought experiment on my part, I am not a lawyer, and really, don't take legal (or any) advice from a blog. Especially one written by me. :) <br />
<br />
For other, related interpretations of the possible effects of Full Faith and Credit on marriage equality, there's some good (if dated) discussions here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://old.nationalreview.com/comment/franck200403160942.asp">National Review</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/righttomarry.htm">Doug Linder, Law Professor, University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.ivanhoffman.com/marriage.html"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.ivanhoffman.com/marriage.html">Ivan Hoffman, JD</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mavdisk.mnsu.edu/parsnk/2008-9/POL%20680-Fall/documents/POL%20680%20readings/comparative%20policies-%20wk%2011/state%20judiciary%20same%20sex%20marriage.pdf">JP Feldmeier, 1995. Publius 25(4):107-126.</a><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-14734458331738497142013-06-20T23:36:00.000-04:002013-06-20T23:36:01.385-04:00My Body, My SelfThis evening our little family went out for an early weekend dinner and decided to try Fresco, a new local place in Kent notable for their salsa bar. The food was fantastic, the had good beer, my day's classes had gone well, I had new replica jaws to play with, Kenny and I picked lots of strawberries, and I'd been up to a round of "Secret Santa" around town. I'm sure I could have been in a better mood, but I'm not sure how I would have gotten there. We were sitting waiting at our table for our food when it happened. There were hands at my side and a face on my shoulder, and it was not my friend the newly minted Dr. Sohom- one of the few people that I allow to creeper-hug me without a fight. <br />
<br />
Dear Fellow Fresco Patron-<br />
<br />
What made you think that you could come that close up behind a stranger in a restaurant with her family? Why did you think that it was OK to rearrange my clothing to cover a tattoo on my back? What part of my appearance gave you any indication that I wanted to hide my tattoos or was embarrassed by them? Why on Earth were you surprised at my reaction, which was merely an expletive directed at you and not a fist heading towards you? Would you ever even consider doing this if I had been a man? Do you have any idea of the moment of sheer terror I feel at a stranger's (and some not-strangers') touch? Have you thought about how your feeling of entitlement to my body fits into the larger social picture. Have you ever considered that not all people enjoy physical contact, and in fact some people are positively averse to it? Have you ever thought that maybe their aversion to touch has something to do with a feeling of lack of autonomy, often thanks to people like you? What makes you think that it's appropriate to slut-shame random women in front of their children? Do you really have this little respect for your fellow humans? <br />
<br />
Do us all a favor and can the moralizing and misogyny, alright. <br />
<br />
Gah. Invasion of personal space and body shaming are not things that I enjoy or take lightly, and nor should any sane person. How is this crap even considered OK today?!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-57764595533375640222013-06-17T23:02:00.002-04:002013-06-17T23:02:52.744-04:00Belated Happy Fathers' Day!Yeah, I meant to write this yesterday. Yeah, I'm a day late. Yep, I also sent out cards/gifts late, too (or will, when I get them out). Yes, I am aware of how much I suck. And yah, I'm OK with these facts.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to lie- Fathers' Day is hard for me. Like many people, my Dad's not here anymore. I'm grateful for my spouse, who's a great dad to our Bug, but he's not always such a great partner to me. Also not uncommonly, what family we do have is split across the state and farther; our older family members have less than great health and we have less than a little bit of spare time. H3ll, Dwight even had to work on fathers' day, so there went any dinner plans. <br />
<br />
I'm extremely grateful for the time I had with my father. He was an amazing person who helped shaped me into who I am to this day, and if it weren't for him I'd be even more broken than I already am. He gave me confidence, inquisitiveness, logic and reasoning, and great hair. Then he died and I've been trying to pick up the pieces ever since. <br />
<br />
I'm not the only one with this burden to bear; my sister and mother and so many more people miss him, too, but we all have our individual journey to travel in our pain. Some of us handle pain more or less effectively, and a lot of that depends on the support we grew up with and the skills we learned as a child. I'm immensely thankful that I received love, support, and skills from my father, but less face it, loosing a parent hurts whenever and however it happens. I can be appreciative and sorrowful at the same time, as can any other human. We're complex critters, humans, and extremely diverse. Far more so than some quips in the card aisle or cliched neckties and cookouts would imply. <br />
<br />
No matter how you recognized the day, and no matter how you nurture the next generation, thank you for all you do, dads everywhere. You make differences left and right, so make the best of those differences.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-9798932004323112362013-06-08T10:56:00.001-04:002013-06-08T10:56:33.664-04:00First Grade ReflectionSchool wrapped up for Kenny this past week. He's been on summer break for two days now, and starts camp up on Monday, which is good because I take on another teaching assignment on Monday. <br />
<br />
I have to say, the kiddo had a good year. Ended up with all "E"s (for excellent, not the alternative to an "F") and is reading above grade level. He happily repeats that last point to try and get out of reading if he thinks he has better things to do. He's seen an exceptional amount of growth academically and developmentally this year, with a lot of thanks going to the amount of support he has had from his amazing teachers and others who have worked with him. I can teach biology, and Dwight can do history, but there's no way that the two of us could handle teaching reading and the social skills that Kenny has mastered this year. It's just not our forte. It's this ability to supplement my own failings, and my recognition of those failings, that make me so grateful for our school and neighborhood. <br />
<br />
I know it's cliche, but it takes a village to raise a child. It takes a village to do a lot of things well. No person can be everything that is needed or has all the necessary skills for complex tasks, and raising and educating a child is most definitely a complex task. Also a complex task- juggling two adults with jobs and studies with a school schedule straight out of the nineteenth century. So for the summer, I'm just as thankful for the Kent Parks and Recreation for their dedication to providing programming over the summer (and surround care during the school year) that make the summer break so much more enjoyable for our family.<br />
<br />
I know, I know, we wouldn't have to rely on others if one of us would stay home. But that's not what works for us, and really, who can afford to do that today? Not us, that's for sure. Kudos to those of you who can, you're stronger than I am. We could use family, except we don't have extended family near us, and our families have their own lives to live. Dwight and I have moved on from our home towns, as have our parents and siblings; "leaving the nest" wasn't really necessary for us since the nest left, too. At this point, like many people today, we rely on our community more than our family, because we have dispersed families and a close knit community. <br />
<br />
As time passes, people grow and change. The little boy that entered first grade last August is not the same child that's sitting and reading on the couch right now. The society we are now is not the same as it was when public school first became an option. We have to adjust to those changes culturally the same as I have to adjust to new parenting demands for my child, hopefully by improving and doing our best to fulfill new needs.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-27081470603919343962013-05-25T22:28:00.000-04:002013-05-25T22:28:31.562-04:00Memorial Day 2013<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer in the temperate
zone of the Northern hemisphere, and for Dwight and I who, like many of our
peers, grew up with World War II veterans as grandparents, Memorial Day has
always been a schizoid holiday. The
somber decorating of graves and remembering of the dead doesn't mix easily with barbecues and parades. Dwight has more
reason to feel ambivalent about the day, as his grandfather died of a cold that
developed into pneumonia after visiting graves one cold wet Memorial Day. We were lucky to grow up knowing only an all-volunteer
military force in the US, which was not the case for our parents or
grandparents. We also grew up in a time
of relative peace, with the only active conflict that either of us knew of
being Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and those really didn't impact
us to a great degree. From a historical
standpoint, we were very lucky.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then came September 11, 2001. What followed has been over a decade of the
War on Terror since the Authorization of Military Force. My son has grown up his entire life in a
state of war, exactly the opposite of Dwight and my experience. Strangely, I don’t know that those
differences have made much of an impact on his life to this point. While I’m glad that he still has a sense of
security and Dwight and I have tried to foster that, I’m not sure what it says
about our nation that we can accept a state of perpetually heightened security
as a normal thing with no consequences. There is no real news coverage, and it’s been
quite some time since much discussion about this state of affairs has
occurred. Even the protests within our
country of the use of military force are barely a blip on the news radar
lately. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What happened to the world where we honored the fallen in
part by not jumping into protracted wars?
Or maybe I’m being nostalgic and it never existed, I don’t know. Either way, it seems to me that a better way
to those who have died in service to our country would be to do our best to
prevent similar deaths in the future. I
realize this is a crazy idea, but it was one that I was glad to hear somewhat <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/05/23/186305171/transcript-obama-addresses-counterterrorism-drones">spoken</a>
to by the president on Thursday. His
words weren't perfect, but they were far better than what I've come to expect
from him over his first term. Of course,
this is from the woman who takes pride in her family history of pacifism. All I know is that freedom isn't free, and I
say thanks every day to those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom, I
just wish our politicians should show some appreciation and stop creating more
war-dead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-33930242935117105572013-05-23T15:54:00.000-04:002013-05-23T15:54:35.935-04:00Catching Up (Or Trying To)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, yeah, I ran just a little behind last week, and didn't get a chance to do my <a href="http://scifundchallenge.org/blog/2013/05/11/outreach-training-class-week-3/">SciFund Challenge </a>homework, and as penance, I'm posting it publicly here. This might be more punishment for you than for me, and for that I apologize. But here goes...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Title:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose Not the
Path of Apathy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Intended Audience: General public, especially those with an
interest in the outdoors for recreation of other activities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m sure you’re asking why on Earth one would study the
interactions of amphibians and plants, and I don’t blame you one bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To most reasonable people, the connection is
tenuous at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two groups don’t
compete with one another for most resources, neither preys on the other all
that often, and they don’t have any parasitic interactions, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no intelligent purpose behind looking
into the connections of the two groups, any more than there’s any cause to
looking at how cell phones impact refrigerators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Unless of course, you're interested in this little frog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="344" width="425"><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowNetworking" value="all" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#444444" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.earthrangers.com/video/fpembed-5b5181895.swf" /><embed src="http://www.earthrangers.com/video/fpembed-5b5181895.swf" width="425" height="344" scale="noscale" bgcolor="#444444" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" wmode="window"></embed></object><div style="margin: 3px 0px;">
<a href="http://www.earthrangers.com/video/amphibians/golden-frogs-in-a-plant-video_5b5181895.html" target="_blank">Amphibians - Golden Frogs in a Plant</a></div>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until you scratch the surface, that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then you start to see the ways this odd
couple of the wetland world belongs together perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like plants forming the physical structures
of the habitat through which amphibians must navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or amphibians’ appetite for insects that
otherwise consume far more plant tissue and spread pathogens among plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there’s the nitrogenous wastes from
amphibians that fertilize plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally the protection that plants give to amphibians from mammalian,
avian, and reptilian predators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
connection totally makes sense now, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s the thing about science, the sense is all there,
sometimes you simply need someone to explain it to you, or you need to have a
few experiments under your belt before you see it first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the US we tend to talk about people who
“get” science and math, and people who don’t, as if understanding science is
some inherent trait in only select people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thankfully, that’s not the case, anyone can understand science, and in
fact, all children start out as scientists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Exploring the world and testing to see cause and effect- that’s science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observing what goes on in front of you
intently, trying to hear patterns in the sounds others make- that’s
science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying one step, having it not
work out, trying a different step, and repeating this process until you finally
get your feet to work and support your weight- that’s science.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all very rudimentary, but it’s science
nonetheless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s go back to those amphibians and plants that I study,
and think about why on Earth they might be important to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you engage in science on a daily
basis or not, you matter in the scientific process, because some of dollars
help to fund research through taxes, through company Research and Development
budgets, and through donations to charitable organizations like the American
Cancer Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also matter because
much of today’s science- the “applied” portion of it- has as its purpose
improving your life in some way, shape, or form, and you matter because the
people you elect as your representatives help (or hinder) shape science funding
and education policy decisions, for better or worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We’ve established why amphibians and plants matter to each
other, but why would these things matter to you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one thing, both can be used as ways to
measure the quality of a habitat, through the Amphibian Index of Biotic
Integrity and Floristic Quality Assessment Index, respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether or not you live in a wetland like
where these organisms are found (and I truly hope you don’t, for many reasons),
those habitats benefit you, through water filtration and flood buffering, as
habitat for organisms you might enjoy slightly more than amphibians like
migratory birds and waterfowl, as recreational places to visit and enjoy the
outdoors, and through increased property values because of access to those high
quality recreational areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I could go on and on about why to care about the
environment, but I’m running short on time this week so I, cutting out at this
point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know your thoughts in the
comments. Is the environment important to you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why or why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-4355732560173263902013-05-13T22:37:00.000-04:002013-05-13T22:37:10.940-04:00Teachers Be Learning, Yo!May is my "off month" from teaching, so I'm taking the time to expand my own education with the SciFund Challenge class and a KSU Learning Institute "A Mirror to the Mind: Metacognitive Practices to Help Students Learn How They Learn." All sorts of fun stuff on science outreach, thinking about thinking, and communication. Yes, the idea of reaching out to people I don't know, communicating effectively, and collaboration- some very touchy feely type crap- is very much outside my comfort zone, but I'm enjoying what I've learned so far, and pushing myself beyond my limits. <br />
<br />
Last week's lesson in SciFund Challenge was about the message box, a way of organizing and delivering a targeted message about your research. The message box has five components, and always leaves a path to work your way back to the main points of your topic. There's a full discussion of this concept in Chapter 8 of "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Ivory-Tower-Making-Science/dp/1597266647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367622895&sr=8-1&keywords=escape+from+the+ivory+tower">Escape From The Ivory Tower</a>" by Nancy Baron, and some discussion on <a href="http://www.compassonline.org/">Compass Online</a>, and the <a href="http://www.escapefromtheivorytower.com/">book site</a>. <br />
<br />
The center of the message box, or The Issue, focuses your whole talk, and is where you define the issue. Around that focal point are the four major points of the message box- So What? The Problem? The Benefit? and Solutions?- which all relate back to the issue at hand. "So What?" describes why your audience should car about the issue. "The Problem?" looks at the specific part of the broader that you are addressing, your piece of the puzzle, if you will. "Solutions?" talks about possible solutions to the problem. "Benefits?" addresses how the solutions you propose might benefit society. <br />
<br />
For my research, my message box might look something like this:<br />
<br />
The Issue- Amphibian populations are showing declines globally, and the causes remain elusive.<br />
So What?- Frogs and salamanders are voracious predators of insects that cause problems for humans, like mosquitoes, and they are a large source of food for other species that we enjoy, like birds, fish, and small mammals.<br />
The Problem?- Invasive plants are changing habitats, and homogenizing ecosystems, both of which could lead to a loss of diversity and may play a part in amphibian declines.<br />
Solutions?- Possible solutions include better prioritizing of conservation resources, control and elimination of invasive species, and monitoring of amphibian populations.<br />
Benefits?- When we conserve amphibians, we gain great little insect-eating machines, which lessens our need for pesticides and slows the spread of some diseases, and maintains the integrity of various habitats by ensuring continued diversity. <br />
<br />
It needs some work, I'll admit, but making myself think about how to say things, and how to express the importance of research is good practice, right?<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong></strong></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-51326503000095211782013-05-01T14:23:00.002-04:002013-05-01T14:23:27.168-04:00My Summer "Break"Having finished my teaching duties for the spring semester, I am ON BREAK! Of course, I go back to teaching the week of Memorial Day. Fabulous, right? So what do I do to enjoy all this free time while I'm in between classes? Take a class, obviously. Specifically, I'm taking the <a href="http://scifundchallenge.org/">SciFund Challenge</a> class over the next few weeks to learn more about science outreach and communication. Not exactly biochemistry, but rigorous in its own way. <br />
<br />
Today was the first synchronous portion of the class, hosted on Google Hangouts, and it was definitely interesting. Talk of expectations, goals, purpose of the class, introductions and so on filled the time, although there were some really good points from Jai Ranganathan about funding models and the scientific process, and how those things are changing. This discussion comes on the heels of an announcement earlier this week that Congress wants to <a href="http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2013/04/us-lawmaker-proposes-new-criteri-1.html?ref=hp">remove the peer review process</a> for awarding NSF grants- one of the largest sources of research funding for basic science- and instead substitute Congress' own judgment. Talk about politicizing science! <br />
<br />
As we see funding sources for research drying up, and universities hiring more non-tenure track faculty instead of tenure lines, and more courses moving online through MOOCs and other options, higher ed is definitely changing. As institutes of higher ed have classically been the place where the bulk of basic research is done, this is troubling. No longer can educators rely on relative job security, and no longer can researchers rely on grant money. That's both scary as all get out, and as just as exciting. If scientists are going to continue to receive funding for their research, they have to communicate with the public about why their research deserves funding. <br />
<br />
Education doesn't take place just inside the four walls of the academy (or any four walls); education happens everywhere. Science doesn't just happen inside the four walls of a lab; science happens everywhere. We need to recognize these facts, and help to foster education and science in more diverse formats than we have previously. I'm not saying that this will be an easy switch for those of us who like our cloistered little corners of the world, but it's an important switch, and maybe one that will lead to more public understanding of science, and ultimately a better educated populace. <br />
<br />
I think we can all agree that that last point would be a good thing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-87581269282362841262013-05-01T12:42:00.002-04:002013-05-01T12:42:48.362-04:0030/30- AccomplishmentI finished, I did it, I'm done!<br />
I set out a goal<br />
And managed the whole, <br />
One epic battle has been won.<br />
<br />
Another small notch in my belt<br />
I'll keep on winning,<br />
Victories pinning<br />
I always handle what I'm dealt.<br />
<br />
I keep going for one more day<br />
Build on past success<br />
I never take less<br />
Than giving each chance all I may.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-45467801280046454702013-04-29T12:22:00.003-04:002013-04-29T12:22:33.042-04:0029/30- Light We<br />
are all<br />
made up of<br />
stardust through and through and our light shines<br />
in everything that we do in our life.<br />
We can burn bright and brief<br />
or dim and long but either way <br />
we shine and we let the world<br />
know just where we<br />
may stand.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-50754741400848614342013-04-28T21:34:00.001-04:002013-04-28T21:34:51.294-04:0028/30- AlexisI'm not sure if you might know this,<br />
But your strength and your feistiness <br />
Kind of remind me of my sis<br />
Your words take away loneliness.<br />
<br />
I had forgotten writing's draw<br />
And the way the story can heal.<br />
But we "met" when my wounds were raw<br />
I couldn't help but love your zeal.<br />
<br />
Your courage pulled me from abyss,<br />
You showed me how not to hem-haw.<br />
Your passion I just had to steal,<br />
Your courage pushed me to write, Miss.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-67052965497644345612013-04-27T08:31:00.000-04:002013-04-27T08:31:00.067-04:0027/30- Wake up<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
sun </div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
w a r m s</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
soil</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-81818705552840654322013-04-27T07:45:00.002-04:002013-04-27T07:45:28.226-04:0026/30- Weekend Shift<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
When the weekend comes at last</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Quiet is not found.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I have to think all too fast</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
While my head spins round.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I remember in the past</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I loved the sound</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Of Friday, but now- aghast!-</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
It's off to work I bound.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-41327329216104172132013-04-25T07:06:00.004-04:002013-04-25T07:06:34.656-04:0025/30- Dawn<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I wake each morning</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
And think of what's to come</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Hope flies through my mind</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
As Helios flies through the sky.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-57973055635578441602013-04-24T13:29:00.004-04:002013-04-24T13:29:47.723-04:0024/30- CornersRain coming down <br />
Not feeling like I'll drown<br />
It's been a good day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-88728249717185765612013-04-23T14:13:00.002-04:002013-04-23T14:13:25.634-04:0023/30- Calling<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Frog</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
calling loudly,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
marking his space</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
in the world.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Trying</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
to get him</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
some.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-19887801247213490412013-04-23T14:01:00.001-04:002013-04-23T14:01:13.799-04:0022/30- Maintenance<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Spring is here, each day is longer than the last.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Everything appears to be green and growing,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
The winter's cold is finally going.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
All will be better than things were in the past.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
As the sun rises toward the main mast</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Farmers prepare new seeds for the sowing.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Spring is here, each day is longer than the last,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
All will be better than things were in the past.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
At my boldness, you might find yourself aghast,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
With you, I'd like to be in a boat, rowing.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Or out in the garden happily hoeing.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Anything to ensure that our bond stays fast. </div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Spring is here, each day is longer than the last.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4268637549897044551.post-65358374280253341992013-04-21T22:15:00.003-04:002013-04-21T22:15:53.581-04:0021/30- Perseverance <div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
There's a place I've gone all my life,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
The single spot that's free of strife.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Somewhere for weary minds to rest</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
For tomorrow to be my best.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
The days are long, but nights are bold.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I fear I won't get to grow old.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
Ev'ry day I'm put to the test</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
For tomorrow to be my best.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
"I think I can" ain't quite enough</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
So I'll continue being tough.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
I only say this half in jest-</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
For tomorrow to be my best</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
There's a place I've gone all my life,</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
For tomorrow to be my best.</div>
<div style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15780410047718841042noreply@blogger.com0