Fifth Grade Poetry Lesson: Imitating the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
#TheLoveSongOfJAlfredPrufrock was my 10YO’s and my literary lesson today (‘Wellness Wednesday’ for virtual public school). It just kinda happened because, as we were leaving the house this AM, K said, "Let us go then, you and I." I have been using this phrase for years to signal to the kids that we are finally leaving. It’s probably my favorite stanza, though I’m adding “Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let us go and make our visit”…
To the Marriott Organization
During my last car-camping therapy trip, I was caught out in the rain and hesitantly booked a last-minute hotel room, choosing only among those that Hotwire had given ribbons (or stars or whatever) for Covid preparedness. I only stayed one night, but it made clear to me that the hotel service in America is hardly being held to high standards with regard to air circulation and ventilation…
The Ugly Pumpkin: A Fun and Funny Children's Picture Book for Halloween *and* Thanksgiving
I have been meaning to do a full review of this book all month, and now Halloween has come and gone! No worries, *The Ugly Pumpkin* (by David Horowitz) is an even better Thanksgiving book (and it lets the kids hold on to Halloween a little longer)…
From the City (Seamus Rooney)
This is the first song written and produced by my 17YO son Seamus, included here as part of his college application(s)…
Visit Pilot Mountain. Stay at Jomeokee Campground (even if it's just for the day).
Jomeokee Campground in Pinnacle, NC, is one of the most beautiful places I have ever spent the night (and I have camped throughout the US, Australia, and New Zealand). I encourage you to visit and camp (if you are up for it), particularly during the week when you may have the entire grounds to yourselves.
Twitter Haiku?
A very short, poetic (in the most modern sense) introspection while trying to get back to work…
Election 2020: On Being Asked to ‘Chip In’
Every political ad imploring me to ’chip in’ pisses me off - it doesn’t matter which candidate ‘approved this message’. What a horribly dysfunctional Capitalist country we live in. At the end of the day, they don’t need our money, they need our votes…
The Ironic Story Behind My Sweet Bessie Van
Eight to ten years ago, back when I lived in a South Durham Home Owner's Association (HOA), my neighbor across the street complained about the chalk drawings on our driveway, then my Obama signs, then our vegetable garden - all of which resulted in violation letters and my presence before the HOA board of directors to defend my actions…
Re: Trump paid more in taxes to foreign countries than to US
To the Trumpians who are shouting False News, as well as the ones who are proclaiming how smart Trump is, all I can say is: Time will Tell. ‘Course Trump could clear all this up by releasing his tax returns, like Romney did when Reid falsely accused him of not paying taxes…
To Amazon
Below is what I put in the 'description' box of the second Amazon Seller 'support case' I filled out after sifting through heaps of obscure help links and pages. If you have experienced similar problems with Amazon, please take the time to type up your frustrating experience and post it - if not in the comments here, then somewhere else. If we have learned anything in recent years, it's that even small predatory practices should be called out. Better late than never :-) …
What’s in a word?
Recently a childhood friend posted on Facebook: “If I ever did anything that you thought was racist or that offended you, I’m sorry.”
“How can you apologize for something when you don’t even know what it is you’re apologizing for?” I responded.
Since then, I’ve thought a lot about how I may have facilitated the racism that is unavoidable in our world today, and one memory keeps surfacing…
Get up off of our knees...
I think about the horrible division, greed and just plain hatred boiling in our collective consciousness right now and remember it's been simmering throughout history and will simmer again. Then I come across the video below. "Open your eyes to my heart, Lord" the song repeats. I think God knows our hearts all too well and that he is desperately trying to open our eyes to His…
Upon being pressed to look deeper behind the Covid “smokescreen”
Looking deeper... I see a government that is fine with letting hundreds of thousands of citizens die because they refuse to impose simple medically advised procedures (masks and social distancing) that would enable businesses to open safely; I see a government that refuses to require registration, background checks, and commonsense laws to protect it’s most vulnerable population from gun deaths that profit gun sellers, manufacturers, and lobbyists; I see…
Halgo European Deli and Groceries
“After providing a uniquely Polish experience in Durham, NC, for 12 years, Halgo European Deli has closed it’s doors. In memoriam, I’m reposting my review of them back in 2017. I’m sad not to be able to go through their doors again.”
Celebrate the benefits of Musical Education on World Music Day (June 21)
This June 21, musicians of all skill levels and genres around the world will show off their prowess on World Music Day. Founded 38 years ago in Paris, France, the Fête de la Musique is a public celebration of the musical arts that has blossomed into a beloved international event. As it draws near, it's a good time to learn more about the important role music plays in our children's education…
Teaching Density to Elementary Students: Lesson Plans for Building Lava Lamps Using Materials Found at Home
The craft-store franchise AC Moore went out of business just before the Covid Quarantine was imposed. One of the prizes among the windfall we brought home was a do-it-yourself lava lamp kit. My son followed the first of several recipes provided with the kit and, with the help of his teenage brother, created a lava lamp that garnered the admiration of everyone in the family that evening. What follows is how we constructed more lava lamps using stuff we already had in our kitchen…
Voice In My Head Today (#VIMHT)
Do you ever feel like, no matter how you try, you can't make things the way you want them to be? That's because YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL …
Despite Psychopathic Capitalism...
Mark Zuckerberg makes a disgusting amount of money by appealing to the ids in all of us that demand instant recognition and gratification and, thanks to Facebook etc., now get it. This makes me angry at times and hopeless more often. How can a person joyfully prey upon and purposefully amplify the baser side of humanity just for money and personal glory? If this is the way our world works, then why even set the alarm clock?
Weeding (my contribution to National Poetry Month)
I've been doing a lot of gardening with the kids these last couple of weeks; and, whenever I garden with kids (I used to run a public in-school gardening club), somebody always defends the weeds. It always makes me contemplate the word and concept of genocide, which is what prompted me to write the poem below…
Easy Scientific Explorations of Eggs in honor of Easter or Any Time
It's time for another eggs-cellent Science at Home experiment from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences! I received these easy and super fun activities via email and couldn't find a link with the instructions. Therefore, I am posting them here and referencing the NCMNS, which is a wonderful and *free* place to expose your kids (and yourselves) to science…