Visual Journal

My most recent hand made journal. I was inspired to use fabric sampler remnants as the spine - works great, and what wonderful colors. Covers are painted cardboard, and the inside pages are made of watercolor paper. Book size is approx. 9"x6".

Children's Museum

Did they even have these when we were kids? There seems to be one in every city these days. A fun afternoon was spent at the one in Vegas, where the kids got to play dress up, sing karaoke, make ice-cream, and generally run around.





























You can see other pics from the afternoon here.

Recent Reads

1. Art Making, Collections, and Obsessions: An Intimate Exploration of the Mixed-Media Work and Collections of 35 Artists.
Fun book to read, and delightful visually. It's always interesting to see what people collect. I like the image of artists as magpies, collecting shiny objects.

2. Name All The Animals
My book club's April book. The story about how a family copes/does not cope with a death in the family. The story is told from the POV of the sister who is left behind. Overlays of faith, family, loss, and growing up. Members of the book club loved it, and while it had many wonderful images, I doubt I would have finished the book on my own.

3. Change of Heart
The most recent Picoult book - the one I went to listen to her reading recently. The author does a good job of taking a situation and showing it's many facets. Found the book interesting, though certainly not as good as My Sister's Keeper.

Park Girls

Pics from a play afternoon in the park. Why is it that we stop swinging when we become adults?
You can see more of pics from that afternoon here.

Empty

Ain't this a sign of the times? Who would have thought that cell phones would be so ubiquitous? These stripped phone booths remind me of a time that seems so long ago. The real question is where will Superman now change into his cool outfit?

Inbox

I can tell it's going to be a busy day - just look at what is in the inbox!

Neighbours

It's always fun to see the many way that people are creative. These are pics from some of my neighbours yards.

Bellagio Girls

If you get to Vegas, you gotta check out the decorations at the Bellagio - they do an amazing job.
These pics of my sister, sister-in law, nieces and yours truly are taken over xmas - yes, am finally getting around to posting these. The entire Bellagio photo set can be seen here.
I do think that I have the cutest nieces!

The most wonderful time of the year

Other than football season, this is the most wonderful time of the year: the local ice-cream stand is open for business. It has been a long, hard winter, and I for one am delighted that I can walk over and get me some home-made "bear claw".

Food for thought

Susan sent me this funny link - read the text below the pic. I laughed out loud - brilliant in so many ways.

Mailbox Art

The weather is beautiful out here - though we could certainly use some rain - if only to flush away the pollen. On a walk yesterday, found some creative souls. Aren't these fun?

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and my pal Michele pointed me to this link.

I have always struggled with poetry - believe that I have repressed memories regarding them! I write some poems of my own. We ask all visitors to the boat to leave a Haiku in the log, and yet, I simply cannot sit and read a book of poems. Every year, I pick a couple of collections to read, and I like some and do not like others. The learning and expansion of my mind continues ....

Recent Reads

So many books, so little time....

Duma Key
I used to be a huge King fan - he has written some amazing books and short stories - Misery and Dolores Claiborne, are a couple that come to mind. But I lost interest in his books after IT - right about the Dark Tower series - huh? Well, decided to take the plunge and read his new book, and really enjoyed it. King has a wonderful way of scaring you in bits, and before you know it you are not breathing. I blew through this 600+ page book in 4 days, and I worked 2 of those days; and I had to stop reading by 10:30 at night or else I would not be able to sleep. A wonderful sort of creepy, scary story.

Education Article

I had this article published in a trade ezine earlier this month. DAC stands for Design Automation Conference, and is the largest annual show in my industry.

Education: A Lifelong Adventure

In Bill Gates’ recent testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, he highlighted the gathering threat to U.S. preeminence in science and technology innovation. For the United States to secure its continuing global leadership in technology innovation, he warned, we must as a nation commit to a strategy for excellence in, among other things, education.

There is a crisis in our public education systems today.

As professionals in the technology arena, most of us have an inkling of the statistics that reveal the seriousness of the state of education in our country. According to the U. S. Department of Education, we have one of the lowest high school graduation rates in the industrialized world. Thirty percent of ninth graders, and nearly half of all African American and Hispanic ninth graders, do not graduate on schedule. Of those students who do graduate and go on to college, a full 25% must take remedial courses on material they should have learned in high school. Less than 40% of our high school students graduate ready to attend college.

The record of American students in math and sciences is particularly alarming. Tests indicate that U.S. fourth graders rank among the top students in the world in science, and above average in math. By the time they reach eighth grade, they are only average compared to their peers in other nations. By 12th grade, U.S. students score near the bottom in math and science, across all industrialized nations. As a result, too many U.S. students enter college without even the basic skills needed to pursue a degree in science and engineering.

It is hard to disagree with Bill Gates’ stance regarding the importance of education from a competitive and societal standpoint. In fact, I so strongly felt the need to better understand what has gone wrong with education, and to, in some way, be part of the solution, that I recently took a year out from my career in technology to teach. I chose to teach seventh grade science in an urban Massachusetts public school.

The experiences I had teaching science to those seventh graders were exciting, frustrating, eye opening, and infinitely rewarding. Here are some of the things I learned:

• Most students are hungry to learn, but the structure of public school classroom education and the budget pressures in many communities leave both students and teachers underserved.
• Seventh grade is around the time that the lack of a solid foundation in math and science starts to stress kids. Students, particularly girls, either get hooked on science or lose all interest in it.
• The quality of math and science teachers in the public schools is proportional to the compensation provided for them.
• Until teachers are held accountable for understanding the material that they are hired to teach, it is the students who will be shortchanged.

You may not be able to take a year away from your current profession and teach math or science as I did. If you are reading this, you do have the power to make great changes in the quality of public education in your community. Here are some steps to take:

• Take an interest in the quality of public school education.
• Encourage your employer to get involved. Sponsor a science field trip, provide supplementary educational materials, and expose children to the rewards of careers in technology.
• Volunteer to tutor a child in math or science.
• Ask your children’s teachers what help they need to succeed.
• As a person in a technology profession, volunteer to talk about what excites you about your work.

Moving forward, I’m encouraged by Bill Gates’ call to action and applaud his use of his celebrity status to bring attention to this problem. He recommends a commitment from the U.S. government to build a strategy for innovation excellence, and suggests a set of initiatives and policies to provide the foundation to strengthen U.S. competitiveness. His proposal to build educational opportunities for students to ensure they have the skills to succeed is an idea we all should embrace. As someone who has been on the front lines, I endorse these reforms to improve educational opportunities and invest in our young people. Take a moment while at DAC to consider how you, as a technology professional, can effect improvements in public education.

To read the entire transcript of Bill Gates’ testimony March 12, 2008 before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, visit: link

Tax Day Cometh

Oh do not even get me started!

Barns

Love barns. Want to someday own land with a barn - there is something magical about them. Pics of a lovely barn from a recent Stowe weekend.

Night at the movies

I find it incredibly ironic that as TVs get bigger and better with HD, the content of movies continues to deteriorate (at least Hollywood ones). How long before the movie industry goes bust do you think?

1. Gone Baby Gone
Woof! Casey Affleck simply is not lead actor material. The movie is simply not worth the time, and I was looking forward to it - it's a Dennis Lehane story. Ah well, glad that I did not pay the $10 to see it in the theater.

2. Away From Her
Simple, lovely movie about a couple who have been together for 40 or so years, when the wife gets Alzheimer's. The story of love and loss, and how people cope. Beautiful.

3. La Vie en Rose
I see why Marion Cotillard got the Oscar for best actress - wow! Though the movie itself dragged a bit, it was interesting to learn about the life of Edith Piaf.

Visual Journal

Here are some recent pages. So glad to be feeling better.

Flu Season

Been hit twice this season .... did not even know that you get it twice.

Some interesting watching material when you are sick:

1. House MD
No matter what you've got, and how miserable you feel, you are simply grateful to not have what they have on the show.

2. Sicko
Oh, why did I watch this while sick? So many things to talk discuss - but my mind can only hold one thought at the moment, and that is - let's move!

Recent Reads

1. The Middle Place
This book is about a woman and her father dealing with cancer. What could have been a depressing story is told with honesty, wit and courage. This is a story of a woman who clearly loves being her fathers daughter. I enjoyed reading this memoir, and it asks the question: what makes one an adult?

2. The Lost Painting
Here is another book that opened my world just a little larger. I learned about how art is lost, and found. How masterpieces are restored. It has inspired me to check out other books that talk about Caravaggio's works. He was an incredible painter - the way he shows light is simply breathtaking. His art that I have been lucky enough to see, have also stopped me in my tracks. The book starts out strong, but the author does get lost midway. Still if you are interested in art, this non-fiction is a good read.

3. The 4-Hour Work Week
How can that title not pique your interest? I read it in one sitting - the guy has some good ideas. I was not impressed with the VPA idea - but can see how others might be. Many of his ideas though did resonate, and I especially like the idea of taking your retirement in chunks through out your life, as opposed to waiting till the end to take it one large chunk. I do that already, and the book gave me ideas to marinate on - what is my muse?

Easter Bunny

Did the bunny leave you goodies? Here is one of the bunnies loading up the eggs.

Trip Essentials

“I travel light; as light, that is, as a man can travel who will still carry his body around because of its sentimental value.” - Christopher Fry

It's always interesting for me to see/read about what people pack for a trip. Most people take way too much. On our trip to Venice saw people with HUGE suitcases, and if you've been to Venice and walked up and down the thousands of little bridges, you know how horrible that must have felt.

I have a policy that if the stuff does not fit into 2 carry-on sized bags, it simply does not go. I must admit though that the hardest part for me is limiting the number of books I take along. Yes, I am aware that one can buy books in various countries, but there you go being rational again. If I traveled as much as I used to in my frequent flier days, I would surely invest in a Kindle (though might have to get the rev 2 version anyway!).

Examples of things that always travel with me:

• camera, batts, charger, phone
  
• journal, pens, watercolors, glue stick
• books - have never traveled with only one
• sunglasses, toiletries (travel sized)
• sarong (think scarf, skirt, towel, sheet, etc)
• water bottle, swimsuit, tevas, walking shoes
• book light, iPod, medicines
  
• socks, undies, tops and bottoms that are culturally appropriate (I do laundry on the road)

What makes your essentials list?

Happy Spring!

On this auspicious day (the vernal equinox - a day of equal light and dark), this is also my 300th post here. Incredible no? In celebration, I leave you with these thoughts I got from a co-worker.

Zen Sarcasms:

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2 The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt or a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn , so if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.

6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

9. If at first you don't succeed...... skydiving is not for you.

10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

12. Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.

13. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

14. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put back in your pocket.

15. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

16. Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

17. There are two theories to arguing with a women - Neither one works.

18. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

19. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

The State of the Economy

When you need a laugh check this and this out.

St Patrick

Hope you all celebrated St Patty's Day in style.

Some of my fave things:

1. How can you not celebrate a guy who rid Ireland of snakes?
2. There's nothing better than being around Irish folks on this day (especially in Dublin)
3. The local parade is a wonder - people come from all over the world to march
4. What's not to like about a day you are expected to wear green?
5. There were lines at 7am (!) at the local pubs - people waiting to get in and have a drink before they headed to work maybe?
6. Babes makes the best boiled dinner in the universe - maybe she'll share the recipe. Yummy.
   

Visual Journal

A couple of recent pages. The first 2 are from the smaller book, and the 3rd one is from a larger book that I'm experimenting with. The paper in both books is rather thin, so has it's challenges, but am learning about what works and what does not. I always love how what I end up with is not what I had in mind - it's often so much better.

Fiction

Recent Reads

1. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life
Recently completed this audio book. As you might recall, my daily commute has become much shorter (a fact that I celebrate daily), and it now takes me longer to get through an audio book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it is well written, made me think, taught me things I did not know, and had me really hungry most of the time. Would highly recommend it.

2. The Gathering
My book club book this month is the Man Booker award winner. I did not love it. Not even sure that I liked it. Parts were tough to get through. I did enjoy the authors wonderful writing style, and there were parts I had to remind myself to breathe, but as a whole, the story did not draw me in.

3. Shark in the Park
A fun romp with my nephews. Jonah in particular had really large eyes though out the story. Too cute.

4. How I Became a Pirate
Another fun read with the boys. Luke loved this one. For the next couple of days, they kept talking about how pirates do not say "please" or "thank you". We have been working on manners. Been having fun reading kid books to find ones that I think they will like.

Author Reading

There sure are some nasty bugs going around this winter. Might have to consider the flu shot next year. On on to some fun stuff.

I was at a book reading/signing at my local bookstore last week. The featured author was Jodi Picoult. I have read several of her books, and love this one. The place was packed with about 250 people, some of whom arrived 4 hours early to get a seat and a ticket to have books signed. I cannot think of the last time I was surrounded by so many readers, and interestingly, so many young women - middle or high school age. When Jodi got up to the podium, the girls in front of me started nudging each other and nodding vigorously to things she said. Very heart warming I must say.

Ms. Picoult read from her new book and answered questions from various books. It was interesting to hear her talk about her research project and talk about how she learned about the Gnostic Gospels and the selection process for how the church decided which books to include, and which books to delete from the final version of the New Testament. Now, as someone who has read about this, it was not really news to me, but there was a visible strain in many of the people there. There seemed to be a general lack of air for awhile, until she moved on to, oh the death penalty - the room seemed to take a collective breath. Fascinating.

Rosakutty

I just had to share this article that my Aunt R sent me. Pretty dang amazing no?
Click on image to enlarge.

Recent Reads

1. The Commoner
Do you love days when you can simply lay about and read? I sure do, and had one such day recently. I started and finished this book is about 24 hours - wonderful to simply get immersed in a book for extended periods of time. Time takes on a different quality and even the light seems different.

This book has gotten rave reviews, and I'm not sure I understand why. It is an interesting read, in that one gets an glimpse into the life of the Japanese court - but it lacked the depth of character or story-telling that many Asian writers infuse into their stories. I found it a pleasant enough read, but did not love it.

2. People of the Book
Loved reading this book. It is not the best work I've read by the author, but very interesting. I love the idea of following the life of a book - getting to see all the times and places the book settles for a while, in the midst of the Inquisition and book burning bouts of history. The story is told in vignettes that span time and countries, and the only thing in common is the book. Delicious.

Journaling

Check out this post I read today.

I cannot recall a time I did not journal.

I've got tubs of filled or mostly-filled books. I use all types of books - lined, unlined, handmade, spiral bound - it makes no difference. I just have to write. I also use electronic journals - I keep it simple and use Word. At times I write for hours, at times only for about 5 mins. I have periods where I write daily and then spells where weeks or even months can pass with no writing at all. (I have learned that these are the times that I need to write the most). At any given time I have about 4 journals going. I always travel with one, and have a small one in my purse that I can pull out to jot something down at a moment's notice.

What do I write about? Everything. I write about what happened. Things that inspire me. Ideas I get. Brilliant passages in books I've read. Quotes that capture something true. Names of books I want to read. Cute things that my ns say or do. Really everything. Sometimes they are simply diaries - what happened, when and to whom. Other times they are much more introspective, as I try to noodle something out. My travel journals have stuff stuck to the pages - tickets, ads, just about anything that captures my interest.

In the past several years, I've also started keeping visual journals - some pages end up on this blog. This has been a stretch for me. I tend to me more comfortable with words, and I've found that images - personally created, or pasted in - can often capture a mood, feeling, moment much more effectively than words can. I have journals that are intensely private, and ones that are public.

I do not know another way to be. Do you journal?

Visual Journal

Some recent entries:

Maldives

Climate Connections recently had a podcast on the Maldives, and I was reminded of the azure waters and lovely atolls. Hugs to all my cousins out there. Here are some photos from my visit in 03.

Oscar turns 80

I stayed up way past my bedtime to watch the Oscars last Sunday. Here are 5 random thoughts of the night:

1. I love the red carpet - it's fun to see what people are wearing; even though they might not have eaten for months to look that good.
2. Jon Stewart was an awesome host - love his sense of humor, and I almost fell off my couch when he talked about how usually when we have a black or woman president, some asteroid is about to crash into the planet.
3. Was it just me or was everyone waiting to see who would take a header on the slippery spot?
4. I had only seen one of the films nominated in any category (Juno).
5. Love that so many of the Oscars went to foreigners.
   

Lunar Eclipse

Hope you got out last night to see the last total lunar eclipse until 2010. It was visible from all of NA, and we lucked out with a clear, cold night. Babes and I bundled up and headed outside with hot chocolate to watch the magic. Absolutely stunning.

Imagine what it was like when the moon was the only light at night, and as you looked up it started to get "eaten" - surely you must have felt that you angered the gods in some way.

Recent Reads

1. Bird by Bird
A couple of my book club buddies and I are taking a personal essay class, and this book was recommended by the instructor. I loved it. The author is honest, funny and gives good advice - several of which I have already started to use.

2. Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trip
Absolutely delightful. I have already taken several of these trips, and so many more to go. Wonderfully inspirational - got the travel itch!

Dudus

Caught the nasty bug thats been floating around and been doing a lot of sleeping the past several days. Finally feeling better, and am so excited about that.

4 things to be happy about:
1. Susan and I had an excellent brunch at here:
- always feels like you suddenly landed in Paris
- their hot chocolate is out of this world
2. We attended a concert at Symphony Hall:
- Mozart's Requiem by the Handel and Hayden Society
- wonderful afternoon of music
3. Finally got a chance to visit the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston:
- it really is quite a beautiful church
- the Mapparium is simply amazing - could send hours in there
4. My parents are in town - been ages since I last saw them.

Happy Valentine's Day

This is a day filled with so many expectations.

So what do you want today?
Have you asked for it?
Or better yet, why not give it to yourself?

Got hand-made cards and dino brownies decorated with frosting and M&Ms from my nephews. Plan on enjoying some of them with lunch today.

TV Shows

Those of you who know me, know that I do not have cable, and I'm aways asking friends to recommend shows they find interesting. Here are a couple that I am currently watching on DVD:

1. Friday Night Lights
I love this show. Stumbled upon it on Amazon and am hooked. I'm currently watching season 1, which I'm told is the best season. I know that states like Texas have passionate high school football fans, and honestly, I have never understood why. I mean, it's high school. This show is so much more than high school and football - love how it is done.

2. Ugly Betty
I have friends who constantly tell me about this show, so I've watched season 1. I really dislike the name of the show - but like that the main character is mexican and looks like she eats once in a while. Very soapish with some interesting twists.

3. House
I have yet to meet a medical show I did not like. I find the guy rude, the women inspid, but love the mystery of solving a case from clues. Am learning about all these diesases I had no idea about. Am in the midst of season 2.

What's your fave show?

Visual Journal

Where does the weekend go? Seems to fly by in the blink of an eye. Winter is back - temps around 9F this morning; wind chill even lower. Ouch.

Some new pages. I find that I like doing the detailed line drawings while listening to a podcast. Something soothing about it.

Grass as a keystone species

Check out this fascinating talk by Michael Pollen.

Recent Reads

1. To Kill A Mocking Bird - what am amazing book!
I love the idea of an entire town reading the same book - we started the one town, one book program last year, and this book is the 2008 choice. Wow! It puts a whole new meaning on the word "classic". I read that this was the only book Harper Lee published - well, one is all she needed to write I guess. How does one follow up that book? Absolutely loved it.

2. The Digital Photography Book
Not as technical as many of the books on photography I usually read - but this is a good refresher.

3. True Colors
I love visual journals, and love the idea of collaborative journals. This book is a fun look at how some women artists interpret color.

Visual Journal

Found that I did not create much in terms of art in Jan - not sure why - maybe just needed time away from my supplies. I've decided to try something new - 2 books of very different sizes and materials. The smaller one is a 2008 calendar - got it for $2 at B&N - clearance once the holiday rush is over. The nice thing is that I can create 2 page spreads, and am less inclined to worry about messing up "good paper".

Podcasts

The great news is that we moved our company to Acton, which makes my commute about 10-15mins on back roads - I love it!

The problem (if one can call it that) is that it is too short a time to really get into a book. So I've started listening to podcasts more. A couple that I regularly subscribe to are:
1. On Point with Tom Asbrook (NPR)
2. Fresh Air (NPR)
3. The Connected Generation
4. The Accidental Creative
5. Education with John Merrow

I'm always looking for new ones, so added several more that I have not had a chance to listen to yet. What's your fave podcast?

Super bowl 42

Oh what a game! Even though the Pats lost, it was a great game until the end - and that is what made it fun to watch. Some really good football - though Brady was not hot yesterday - was his ankle bothering him more than he let on? Either way, the Giants deserved to win the game - they simply played better football.

It's funny how quickly the dynasty story got squashed. I think there was simply too much pressure to be perfect. What does the rest of the season matter, if you cannot win the games that really count? Well, it's 6 weeks to baseball right? :-)

Classic Americana