Blogging

This might be my final blog.  It certainly isn't something I have to keep doing now that I've met the requirements for the e-publishing course.  Like Tabitha, if I do continue, I won't do three a week.  This class has certainly been an experience.  I have to admit I learned a lot.

Now I have some 25 pages of revisions to do for my memoir class... sigh.  The end is in sight!

Candle Holder

During the Christmas of 2006, my boyfriend got me a candle holder.  It's a heavy lead crystal.  The bottom picture is the more accurate of the two.  The top picture has a yellow votive candle in it that makes it the amber color.  I'm a fan of candles and the light displays that they make.  However, I'm not a huge fan of scented candles.  They are mostly too cloying for me.  This particular candle holder puts off the prettiest reflection of any I have.

Cooper's Hawk

This is a Cooper's Hawk that frequents the front of my house.  These pictures were taken from my living room through the screen in the window.  He is a magnificent creature.  Once, when I was standing on the porch talking to a friend, a small bird flew out of the bird feeder between us.  Darn if the hawk didn't swoop down from somewhere and snatch that little bird right out of the air in front of me.  It was startling, a one-of-a-kind event.

Guest Poet

I teach the creative writing program at Catonsville High School (which I am sure I've mentioned before this).  We have a guest poet program where local poets come to my classes and read; they also answer questions; sometimes they do activities with my students.  Today's guest was Michael Fallon, a professor at UMBC.  It was a pleasure to hear him read from his latest manuscript.

Pure Wine Cafe

If you haven't tried Pure Wine Cafe on Main Street in Ellicott City, you should give it a try.  Four of us went there Saturday evening after dining at Portalli's.  The hot mulled cider was great, as was a dessert wine from Portugal.  If you prefer something refreshing, the white peach sangria that is made on the premises is also delicious; it was recommended to us by the waitress at Portalli's.

Snowmageddon

The snow of 2010 was not to be believed.  It was ridiculous, three feet after three feet.  This year, according to the Farmer's Almanac, the winter will be more mild:

Annual Weather Summary: November 2010 to October 2011

Winter will be colder and drier than normal, on average, with below-normal snowfall in New England and above-normal snowfall elsewhere. The coldest periods will be in mid-December, January, and mid-February. The snowiest periods will be in early January and mid- and late February.

As a school teacher, I'm not sure I'm pleased.  Random snow days are so delightful.

My Hypertext Story

My hypertext story is finally on line.  It took me more hours and more aggravation than I would have anticipated!  Of course the darn thing was due tonight!  Oh well, I turned it in on a disc; now, it's available on the Internet.  Dreamweaver itself wasn't the problem.  The problems came with uploading over 100 files into the University of Baltimore H drive.  I was successful after I removed the files for the fourth time and reloaded them into the parent directory.  I figured it out with the help of Liz!  She is amazing.  Enjoy!

Promethean Board

This week has been exhausting.  Tonight I feel like someone beat me with a stick about my head and shoulders.  Besides my two grad school classes (which are almost finished for the semester), I signed up and am taking whiteboard training.  I just had a Promethean Board installed in my classroom.  Since the training is 15 hours, it's a one credit MSDE graduate credit and comes with the obligatory homework assignments.  I have to create flip charts.  Okay, so it's fun.  I don't really have the time.

That's what the thing looks like.  It's mounted in the front of my classroom, will project anything on my computer, shows movies, and is interactive.  It's pretty amazing.

In addition to this, I am creating a Wiki at pbworks.com for my spring semester British Literature classes.  It is the approved Wiki site for Baltimore County Public schools and isn't as user friendly as I would like.

Tonight I am catching up my laundry.  I wish I was going to the Story Slam at 7:30 but that's not happening.  I wish I was going to hear Sarah Jane Miller read tomorrow night, but that's not happening either.  I wish I was going to Minas on Saturday evening at 5 to hear Gerry LaFemina and Jessica Blau, but that doesn't look promising either.  I have GOT TO FINISH my hypertext story!!!

Thanks, I finished (not the story, just the rant).