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enCouragingBliss: The New To Do List

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0400

Marcy and I are fast approaching the 8th anniversary of intentionally giving up our car.As I have written about in the past, we occasionally rent a car for the weekend to run errands, go to family events, and (rarely) get out of town. These occasions for rental become fewer and fewer as we become more and more discerning about out time and (personal) energy usage.When I know we are going to be renting a car in the near future, I start what I entitle the "Car List."This is a list of things that we need to get or to do. Over a couple of weeks, we add and add to these lists.These lists always start the same: Cat litter. When you have four cats, buying cat litter in large quantities is imperative when one has a vehicle to do so. When we first decided to go car free, cat litter was the one thing I couldn't figure out how to get any other way.But from there, these lists can go anywhere from new jeans to candles to a rug for the bathroom and on and on.Over a few weeks, the list gets very...very...very long.Until one day, perhaps a week or so before the actual rental, I realize we have created a big enough list to put a small country into debt.And so the next phase begins: the crossing off.For many days, the crossing off continues as we pare down and really focus on what it is we need -- as opposed to all those things that we want.Sometimes by the end, the list barely contains more than the original cat litter.Besides teaching us about simplicity when it comes to shopping, car rental (as opposed to owning) has taught us a lot about priorities.So, here is the new way for you to make lists that more closely reflect who you are and what you really, truly, deeply, in-your-heart want out of this short and sweet life.At the beginning of each week, make a To-Do list.Then, sit down with a cup of tea or a bit of wine and some relaxing music and do some soul searching.Your task -- if you should choose to be this brave -- is to cut out, at minimum, 50% of what you've written down.I double dog dare you.This is a chance to get really clear about your life.Are you willing to take that chance?(Photo & Text Copyright: Christine C. Reed, blisschick.net, 2009, Outside Cleveland Museum of Art)

A clearer picture of Apollo 11’s lunar landing

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0400

Where were you when Neil Armstrong took that “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”? This 7-year-old was sitting on the TV room floor in our West Erie home watching Jules Bergman explaining the maneuvers on ABC. As NASA celebrates the 40 year history of the first moon landing, they have released digitally-enhanced footage of this historic event. Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News gives us some perspective of what it took to bring those pictures from the moon back home:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

NASA has gone all out to remember what is probably it’s finest hour. A full 40th anniversary site has been created, including a fascinating real time radio stream of all transmissions between the spacecraft and the Johnson Space Center in Houston. An amazing tribute of technology and media.

Mary, Mary, how does your garden grow?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:44:00 -0400

Rather well, thank you!We have planted heirloom tomatoes in two varieties: black cherry (supposedly with true black fruit) and Hawaiian currant (no bigger than a pea). Next to them are yellow pear tomatoes. Can you tell we go for the mini? I found out the hard way that in my garden, the shorter the span from flower to harvest the better. A big tomato will be eaten or somehow ruin itself with water spots or one of a thousand other tomato maladies before reaching ripeness. Get 'em in, get 'em out is my tomato motto.Darling Husband and I cook with a lot of fresh peppers, so we have jalapenos and Thai style chilies growing. The trick to jalapenos is to leave them on the plant long enough to crack or turn red or both. That's when you know the flames of hell have been sucked up through the soil by the roots and deposited firmly in the jalapeno where they belong. Thai chilies, by the way, grow straight up like witch hats.Some years, our garden has stopped at the tomato and hot pepper point, but this year we have a cucumber plant and two zucchinis. It's hard to watch the squash blossoms bloom and not pick them, stuff them, batter them and fry them. It's also hard to get much of a zucchini crop if you pick all the flowers. We're being as patient as we can. I'm also pleased to boast half a dozen flowers on my cucumber plant, which is curling tendrils around my ornamental mini garden fence as if it's expecting a tornado of Oz proportion. Of course, this doesn't count our half whiskey barrel, home to our yearly herb garden. This year we've planted oregano, short leaf basil, Thai basil, thyme, flat leaf parsley and sage. Our herbs always grow into unruly bushes, thanks to a wonderful compost mixture my parents "make" behind their barn with various yard clippings. It's also the reason my tomato plants come up to my chest, I think.

What an odd burger we made

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:43:00 -0400

And yet, yummy. Topped with Camembert, a vinegar slaw and french fries. Hmm. Don't have anything else to say about it, actually.

The Erie Zoo

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:26:00 -0400

Liv and I finally made it to the zoo here in Erie, it's about 4 miles away from our house so it was a real struggle to get there! The 2 year old orangutan was very cute, he lives with his mom and dad that were doing their very best to ignore him, like all good parents. There was also a strange man that was sitting on the outside of the window talking to the dad orangutan and playing peek-a-boo with him.... freaky. Every zoo needs a sleazy kangaroo... sick and wrong. It was neat that we got to just walk in the pen with the kangaroo's and wallaby's.Me and Liv walking across one of the cute little bridges.I love a two toed sloth, everybody should have one... me and Liv want a baby one!The giraffe's were cute but I really miss handi-giraffe at Hogle Zoo.My favorites were the Wild African Dogs.Liv's favorite was the tamarin monkey. Of course no Zoo trip is complete until you make a stop at the gift shop, Liv got a stuffed version of her favorite. All in all it was a pretty cute zoo, always a little bit sad to look at caged animals, but cute.

Summer League Game Recaps, Two For the Price of One

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:40:00 -0400

I didn't delay this post on purpose. I've just been busy with freelance writing that I actually get paid for as opposed to this, which I simply do for the love of the game. But enough about me, there are two Raptors Summer League game reviews to do.First, from Wednesday: Raptors 74, Suns 73I didn't see the action, but it sounded like one of the better endings from Las Vegas this week. Here's the description taken from the official Summer League recap:The Toronto Raptors (2-2) rallied from nine down in the fourth quarter to claim a 74-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns Wednesday night in the 2009 NBA Summer League presented by EA SPORTS from the COX Pavilion in Las Vegas. The Raptors got game-ending heroics from DeMar DeRozen and Ekene Ibekwe, who nailed the game-winning basket and blocked a last second shot, respectively. The Raptors rallied in the final 7:28 and got the game-winning basket via alley-oop from DeRozen with 46 seconds remaining in the game. The Suns’ Goran Dragic went coast-to-coast with seven seconds remaining and put up a running jumper that was swatted away by Ibekwe. Unfortunately, Ibekwe landed awkwardly and had to be taken off the court via stretcher.Ibekwe sustained two sprained wrists and received six stitches in his chin.Then, earlier tonight, the Raptors won yet another one-point contest, edging Milwaukee 84-83.Blog Talk BayHawk is proud to report that Quincy Douby, late of the Erie BayHawks, drained the game winner against the Bucks with 1.3 seconds left. The late-game heroics helped the former Rutgers star overcome two consecutive subpar shooting performances. However, Douby did convert 14 of 17 free throws in the games against Phoenix and Milwaukee while also dishing out a team high 9 assists over the same span.DeMar DeRozan had back-to-back impressive performances, scoring 20 points apiece versus the Suns and Bucks on a combined 17-29 shooting along with 9 rebounds, 5 assists and just 2 turnovers.Ibekwe played a very solid game against Phoenix before sustaining the injury. He finished the game with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, including the one that saved the game.And finally, after another sluggish performance against the Suns, Smush Parker did bounce back with some productive minutes against the Bucks by getting to the free throw line, though he still shot just 3-13 from the field.For full blog content, please visit eriebayhawks.blogspot.com

Book Joy

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:16:00 -0400

I was just looking around over on Amazon.com and came across the best thing...from the people who brought you Pride and Prejudice and Zombies...Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters! It comes out in September. On the cover is a girl in a period dress in the arms of...a Davy Jones-wanna-be. I couldn't stop laughing!I also got paid! Long story short, but while I am a PA State System of Higher Education...I get paid out of a different area that is only partially funded by the state, so I am getting paid. The idiots in the capitol still don't have a budget yet! Hello...it is the middle of the month.Anywho...I splurged a little and went over to Big Finish Productions' website and purchased the book on cd that Kavan Smith read for Stargate Atlantis...Impressions. I have heard good things about it and can't wait!Well, I am off to see what other kind of trouble I can get into...the night is still young!

I Cannot Believe I Own This

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:11:00 -0400

If you watch anything on the Food Network you will notice many of the stars using enameled cast iron cooking pots. I have wanted one ever since I first started noticing them. I have several recipes that start with cooking on the stove and then have to be transferred to the oven. Unfortunately, I never had a pot I could use on the cook top and then in the oven without fear of melting something plastic off of it.Around Christmas my husband and I were at Macy's and I was looking these pots over pretty well, especially a blue Martha Stewart number. He kept insisting I get one, I kept saying I couldn't stomach the thought of buying a pot for $100.00... or more in some cases. So, I never got one. Until now.I was looking around Macys.com the other day and saw that the Martha Stewart blue pot I had wanted so badly at Christmas was on CLOSEOUT! I added one to the shopping cart online but when I went to check out I discovered that with tax and shipping I really wasn't saving that much more than I would have at Christmas. So, today I called Macys and, after the fourth phone call, I finally got someone on the line. The sales lady went and found the pot and held it for me until I could get there tonight. In addition, she offered me a coupon worth $10.00 off. In total my pot, which originally cost an ASTOUNDING $160.00, was only $63.00.If you want one, I think I got the last one in Erie at Macy's, but they are still available online if you want to pay shipping.

MICHIPICOTEN, NEAH BAY in Port

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:57:00 -0400

MICHIPICOTEN arrived in port at 2000 Wednesday night and docked at the North Pier to unload sand from Thessalon, Ontario. This is the third, and probably final, load of sand delivered for the Presque Isle sand replenishment program. MICHIPICOTEN departed Erie shortly after midnight bound for Ashtabula, Ohio to load coal for Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.NEAH BAY returned to Erie last night and remained anchored in Presque Isle Bay throughout Thursday.Motor Yacht SCOTT FREE underway in Lake Erie on Wednesday night.MICHIPICOTEN turns for the channel.Another view.Passing buoys 3 and 4.Stern view.Approaching the North Pier.The workboat seen between the MICHIPICOTEN and North Pier carries two deckhands from the vessel.MICHIPICOTEN unloading.USCG 25573 inbound the channel.NEAH BAY at anchor. Erie Shipping News © 2006-2008 by Jeff Thoreson. When using stories, credit is always appreciated.

Killing Time

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:38:00 -0400

So with my enlisting on hold I’ve decided to use my time productively. I just ordered my credit reports, I know I need to get my debt in order if I plan on joining the military. I should have them in probably 2-3 weeks. Once I get them I’ll start making calls to my creditors and see what kind of payment plans I can set up (then after improving my credit a bit I’ll apply for a loan to pay them off and just make my payments to the loan company). Also starting to work up to a workout routine and diet. Now that our schedule has been changed so that we get off of work at 11PM there should be no problem for us to be in bed by midnight so that we can be up early. Hopefully we can find an efficiency apartment, downsize our belongings quickly and then we can change our schedule to one that will be more day-shift oriented(going to be hard to work out with less than 6 hours of sleep, but it should help us prepare for the rigours of service).

Blog It To Em’ Straight

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:17:00 -0400

Have you thought about the ways blogging can help you promote your company? For starters, it’s direct communication; blogging allows you to speak openly and honestly with your customers. This type of writing allows you get to share your expertise with a larger audience, and one who’s actually interested in what you’ve got on your mind. It’s an activity that builds community. Blog notification works better than posting on websites themselves, and better than e-mail. Your customers can come back and visit from time to time, but they don’t feel obligated to, which makes it very casual. Today we’re going to pass along a couple of tips to help you get the most out of this method of communication. First, consider your readers. Is this a personal blog or a business blog? Do your readers want to get information, to get an “expert opinion,” or to ask questions about a product? Coming up with answers to those questions can help you set the tone and decide what information to include. Second, remember that people write blogs mainly to be read. You don’t want people to take one look at your posting and say, “Whoa, I’d better get comfortable if I’m going to read this whole thing.” Because chances are, they aren’t going to get that comfortable to read your post, and if they do, they won’t remember much except for how long it was. You want them to read it and get something out of it. So don’t make it too long, and make sure you write in such a way that everyone can understand.

its peanut butter jelly time..

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:57:00 -0400

do you remember that song? "its peanut butter jelly time.." its stuck in my headeveryday in Africa we ate PB&J SandwichesThis was the one My loving husband made for me that daySome people were sick of the sandwiches by the end of the tripNot meI loved itand still crave them everydayit felt like I was back in school againSpeaking of school - Freeland is taking a test right nowYes, in the middle of summer he has an examThe joys of med school.. but really its just to get it out of the way so he doesnt have to do it during the semester when everything else is so busy.Oh and I havent told you that we have visitors coming! Freelands mom & Carl are coming in tomorrow. And then my mom & Mark are coming the next week! Its going to be fun. We have lots planned. Im sure more than anything (besides seeing us) they will just love being out of the Texas heat.Stay tuned I promise to post more pictures from the Orphanage and around Uganda so you can see what it was like! And now that Freeland is home - Summer has officially started - which means the festivals around Erie are in full swing!Thank you for your emails & thoughts about our friends! They said before that they definitely feel everyone's prayers so I know they covet all of yours now.

The British Are Coming, The British Are Coming!

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:30:00 -0400

Not really, but the Jennings are coming! Not us, silly. The Texas Jennings! Adam's parents will be here tomorrow to meet their sweet grandson and we are so excited to have them!It has been difficult for Mike & Jule to get down because Adam's grandpa (Henry's namesake) lives with them and they take care of him. But they were able to schedule a weekend to come up while Jule's sister & husband take care of Grandpa.And you know what? I'm feeling generous. I will let them change every diaper this weekend. I vow to let them jiggle him and walk him in laps around the house during fussy time and I will even let them babysit him while I go see the 6th Harry Potter. Gosh, I have a giving heart.So, come on Jennings! We can't wait to see you! Meanwhile, we do need to come up with some grandparent names for Mike & Jule. My parents are Mama Lulu and Poppa Bob. Jule is a spanish teacher so I was thinking something along that but any suggestions, bring them on and I will present them to Mike & Jule this weekend! Hey-o!

All Good Relationships Take Work

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:15:00 -0400

Today we’re going to discuss Relational Marketing. It’s a great way to build SEO rankings. First, think about when you’re using a search engine. How many pages do you check before you click a link? Our guess is you won’t normally go past page three, unless you’re really searching for some rare info. That being said, if your site’s not in a search engine’s top twenty spots you might as well be in the millionth. You’ve probably already noticed that a business blog can help you build relationships with your customers. And that’s important in relational marketing, because customers prefer to do business with people they know and trust. Blogs help develop trust. Bloggers usually write in a conversational tone. They include personal bits of information from the writer to the reader. One good reason to keep your blog regularly updated is: the first thing a visitor to your site will notice is that it’s frequently updated. Keep your site interesting, and visitors keep coming back. Before you know it, they’re your customers.

please advise

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:09:00 -0400

(note: I've edited this because I really don't like having information about someone else's brat on my site. If you didn't get a chance to read the original, let me know, I'll be glad to send it to your email)Let me start by saying:Nakeds. We all have one. Some of us have innies and some of us have outties and we all have boobs and hair patches of varying sizes and locations. Big effing deal.Jake knows all the private parts (everything covered by a bathing suit) and how to honor his and respect everyone else's.There is a little girl who is giving all sorts of mixed messages to my boy. She talks about her vagina (she calls it a peach), she lifts her shirt and asks Jake to lift his so they can touch bellies, she loves to see the boys' butts, she pinches nipples and offers hers to be pinched back and she's been trying to take the boys under the kitchen table while she does this.I almost don't give a rat's ass about any of this. They are three year olds that spend a lot of time together and that's what three year olds do and lucky for moms everywhere three year olds also talk about every damned thing they did during the day, especially fun stuff like belly rubs and boobie pinches and when I ask Jake if he has ever touched her vagina he says no and when I ask if she has touched his penis he screams NOOOOO! because that's what I taught him to do if anyone ever touches his penis.I tell Jake that it isn't nice to pinch butts or boobs or show bellies and his answer is always "she wants me to but I said no" or "I didn't but she did" and I tell him to be sure it stays that way. I tell him it's okay to wonder what a vagina looks like and it's okay for a girl to wonder what a penis looks like but it's not okay to look and touch one anothers. And he understands that.I have spoken to all adults involved in this, and everyone is aware there is a problem. These children are not left unsupervised, but like adults, kids know how to sneak a pinch or a slap or a feel in no time flat. The mother of this girl has been unwilling to see that there is a major problemI feel like it's important to mention that this little girl dances like she belongs on Univision.Real Sabado Gigante stuff.It's hard to look at.Sad.She is tanned.She has a haircut that rivals anything I've ever done with my mop.I see where she is headed.4.25 am today Jake runs out of his bedroom upset because"mickey wanted to be like his friend donald so he didn't wear any pants and when he went out to play with goofy and donald and daisy and minnie he got in trouble because minnie saw his penis and now they can't play together because minnie's mom said so".I told him that Mickey was wrong to leave his pants in the Clubhouse and he shouldn't be running around with his penis out and hopefully Minnie's mom explains to Minnie that if anyone ever shows her his penis again she is to go tell a grownup and it was only a dream and sometimes dreams can be scary or upsetting but it's all over now.That's a little different than what's going on in his life, but I'm sure it's tied together.Am I handling this right?Should I be more uptight? Less?This little girl will most likely be out of here by fall so I'm thinking to just let it drop and hope it doesn't go any further than it does but Ack! I don't think anything of a sexual nature involving children should just be hoped away, no matter how age appropriate.I'm confident that the hugs and kisses and peeks and touches between the two (and the other boys at daycare) are completely innocent but it upsets me to think that a mom thinks my son is invading her daughter's personal space.That's my big issue here. The rest of it is fluff. Developmental fluff. Ohgod. Fluff is such a bad choice of word. The rest is fringe. Developmental fringe. I don't want anyone thinking that my child is hurting someone. I want to be sure we are all clear on everything.It bothers me that I'm thinking of a little girl as being "fast". That I'm picturing her sweet little manicured hands on my child's body. So gross and disturbing.I know that Jake is being raised in a house that maybe has a little more openness about penises and vaginas and boobs than some other kids are, but the only openness that is present at home is the fact that girls have vaginas to pee out of and boys have penises to pee out of and mommies have bigger boobs than daddies because they make milk to feed the babies in them.Jake is allowed to touch his penis all he wants, in his bedroom. He knows that he isn't to touch it in front of anyone else and no one should touch thier penis or vagina in front of him.Jake knows that no one else other than a doctor, mommy, and daddy should ever touch his penis. Not even if he is at a relative's house getting a bath. He can go unwashed down there for a day and it's not going to fall off.He knows nothing about penetration or any other creepo sexy stuff. I don't even think that he thinks that babies drink out of boobs, just that milk is made there and then babies get bottles. I didn't have to explain to him that babies come out of vaginas, thanks to the miracles of modern science and the almost-faded 4 inch scar I have on my belly.So what? What do I do?My poor kid is having dreams about Mickey's penis.How do I get through this without giving my kid some weird complex that lands him living in my basement when he's 40 years old because he is so afraid of mouse vaginas and pantsless ducks that he's afraid to do anything that involves taking off his shirt in front of aggressive women?If I have one goal in parenting it's this: I don't want to be responsible for my boy growing up to be a sexless Dungeons and Dragons weirdo.Tell me, how can I be sure that won't happen?

please advise

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:05:00 -0400

(note: I've edited this because I really don't like having information about someone else's brat on my site. If you didn't get a chance to read the original, let me know, I'll be glad to send it to your email)Let me start by saying:Nakeds. We all have one. Some of us have innies and some of us have outties and we all have boobs and hair patches of varying sizes and locations. Big effing deal.Jake knows all the private parts (everything covered by a bathing suit) and how to honor his and respect everyone else's.There is a little girl who is giving all sorts of mixed messages to my boy. She talks about her vagina (she calls it a peach), she lifts her shirt and asks Jake to lift his so they can touch bellies, she loves to see the boys' butts, she pinches nipples and offers hers to be pinched back and she's been trying to take the boys under the kitchen table while she does this.I almost don't give a rat's ass about any of this. They are three year olds that spend a lot of time together and that's what three year olds do and lucky for moms everywhere three year olds also talk about every damned thing they did during the day, especially fun stuff like belly rubs and boobie pinches and when I ask Jake if he has ever touched her vagina he says no and when I ask if she has touched his penis he screams NOOOOO! because that's what I taught him to do if anyone ever touches his penis.I tell Jake that it isn't nice to pinch butts or boobs or show bellies and his answer is always "she wants me to but I said no" or "I didn't but she did" and I tell him to be sure it stays that way. I tell him it's okay to wonder what a vagina looks like and it's okay for a girl to wonder what a penis looks like but it's not okay to look and touch one anothers. And he understands that.I have spoken to all adults involved in this, and everyone is aware there is a problem. These children are not left unsupervised, but like adults, kids know how to sneak a pinch or a slap or a feel in no time flat.I feel like it's important to mention that this little girl dances like she belongs on Univision.Real Sabado Gigante stuff.It's hard to look at.Sad.She is tanned.She has a haircut that rivals anything I've ever done with my mop.I see where she is headed.4.25 am today Jake runs out of his bedroom upset because"mickey wanted to be like his friend donald so he didn't wear any pants and when he went out to play with goofy and donald and daisy and minnie he got in trouble because minnie saw his penis and now they can't play together because minnie's mom said so".I told him that Mickey was wrong to leave his pants in the Clubhouse and he shouldn't be running around with his penis out and hopefully Minnie's mom explains to Minnie that if anyone ever shows her his penis again she is to go tell a grownup and it was only a dream and sometimes dreams can be scary or upsetting but it's all over now.That's a little different than what's going on in his life, but I'm sure it's tied together.Am I handling this right?Should I be more uptight? Less?Should I talk to the other mom?This little girl will most likely be out of here by fall so I'm thinking to just let it drop and hope it doesn't go any further than it does but Ack! I don't think anything of a sexual nature involving children should just be hoped away, no matter how age appropriate.I'm confident that the hugs and kisses and peeks and touches between the two (and the other boys at daycare) are completely innocent but it upsets me to think that a mom thinks my son is invading her daughter's personal space.That's my big issue here. The rest of it is fluff. Developmental fluff. Ohgod. Fluff is such a bad choice of word. The rest is fringe. Developmental fringe. I don't want anyone thinking that my child is hurting someone. I want to be sure we are all clear on everything.It bothers me that I'm thinking of a little girl as being "fast". That I'm picturing her sweet little manicured hands on my child's body. So gross and disturbing.I know that Jake is being raised in a house that maybe has a little more openness about penises and vaginas and boobs than some other kids are, but the only openness that is present at home is the fact that girls have vaginas to pee out of and boys have penises to pee out of and mommies have bigger boobs than daddies because they make milk to feed the babies in them.Jake is allowed to touch his penis all he wants, in his bedroom. He knows that he isn't to touch it in front of anyone else and no one should touch thier penis or vagina in front of him.Jake knows that no one else other than a doctor, mommy, and daddy should ever touch his penis. Not even if he is at a relative's house getting a bath. He can go unwashed down there for a day and it's not going to fall off.He knows nothing about penetration or any other creepo sexy stuff. I don't even think that he thinks that babies drink out of boobs, just that milk is made there and then babies get bottles. I didn't have to explain to him that babies come out of vaginas, thanks to the miracles of modern science and the almost-faded 4 inch scar I have on my belly.So what? What do I do?My poor kid is having dreams about Mickey's penis.How do I get through this without giving my kid some weird complex that lands him living in my basement when he's 40 years old because he is so afraid of mouse vaginas and pantsless ducks that he's afraid to do anything that involves taking off his shirt in front of aggressive women?If I have one goal in parenting it's this: I don't want to be responsible for my boy growing up to be a sexless Dungeons and Dragons weirdo.Tell me, how can I be sure that won't happen?

I’m Bored

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:00 -0400

Water is the Soul of the Earth Continuing from last week with water-based activities, if you’re not interested in sailing but would still like to get out on the waters of Lake Erie, there are quite a few more options. I know this is long, but with summer being half over already, I wanted to cover [...]

Extreme Events

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:23:00 -0400

ok, this is kinda long overdue...a few weeks ago i was able to help out with Erie's Extreme Makeover home. i was scheduled by the Maleno team to work a 6 hour shift on Monday June 29 (630pm-1230am), and scheduled with Grace to work four hour shifts Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.Most of my time Sunday was spent at the registration tent helping Danielle & Dave. Then i went around with them figuring out which houses we were going to work on for the side project (landscaping).Monday night was awesome. Co-worker Bethany and i waited for almost an hour before we were able to go down to the house, but once we went down we didn't stop working! We helping in the house in the basement, laying down tarp, sanding walls, and sweeping/cleaning. We spent time outside the house carrying stupid things (i think it was all busy work), and moving drywall, blocks, foamy stuff, and various other things to different locations. We were pretty exhausted Monday night, but excited that we got to be in the house and work closely with the contractors inthere.bethany and i before our attempt at sanding drywall.we did anything they asked us to, haha!Tuesday night i didn't go down. i was stuck at work finishing up a bid that was due on Wednesday.Wednesday night was almost the best. Co-worker Bethany met Tony, the assistant in the Art Tent, and was asked to help with some "projects" for the house, so i worked with them when i arrived. We spent the night threading plastic silverware with paperclips (secret project) and helping move stuff into the house. We ended up staying until 1230am again. Also, we got to see Ty and get a picture with him! It was pretty crazy.i've never met anyone really famous before...so seeing Ty and the rest of the crew from Extreme Makeover was super exciting. Ty was the only one i saw on a day we could get a picture, though.late, late, late Wednesday night. waiting to do something with the silverware.Thursday was the absolute best. Bethany and i left work at 9am and went straight to the art tent to finish the projects. We worked in the house pretty much all day, got to meet Mary J. Blidge, and be on camera! We worked in and around the house until 20 minutes before the family came home, then watched from the upstairs porch of a family that Bethany helped with landscaping. it was an awesome view, so exciting!!right after they MOVED THAT BUS!!! so exciting!the "Art Tent Crew" with TonyThat week was such an amazing experience. Working with such incredible and talented people, seeing "famous" people (who didn't do nearly as much of the awesome stuff as you'd think...), helping such an honorable and deserving woman, and being a part of such an awesome side project thanks to Grace was all so awesome.

Local Nonprofit Launches Character Curriculum

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:12:00 -0400

The Women's Care Center of Erie County, Inc has recently launched Carington's Wild Character Adventure (CWCA), an innovative and exciting character education curriculum designed for Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade.Years of research, development, field testing and refinement have resulted in the production of the CWCA curriculum! The CWCA curriculum reflects key components of the Resiliency Wellness education model:Skills for lifeHigh expectationsMeaningful engagementOpportunities for connectedness and bonding Carington the giraffe leads the “wild” adventure! Children discover the value of character by exploring exotic and domestic animals, each creatively paired with a key character trait.To take part in the adventure or to find out more: http://www.characteradventure.com/

Radio passages: Cervi, Toomey mourned, Kasem retires

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:00:00 -0400

Over the past few weeks the radio community both locally and nationally has seen more losses. The founder of WVCC, now WMVL/Linesville-Meadville, Art Cervi passed away on Sunday, June 14th at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie. He was 89. According to the obituary in the Meadville Tribune, Cervi was a World War II veteran who went to work at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh after the war. It wasn’t until he was 50 years old when he went after his dream and began WVCC after receiving notoriety as a DJ of big band and pop music first in Pittsburgh then throughout the Meadville area. He operated WVCC for 33 years, selling it to Joe Vilkie in 2003. I remember Art as a very kind and generous gentleman who was in his element out in the public, holding court on “radio row” every year at the Crawford County Fair. David Twomey A quick rising star who left us much too soon was David Twomey, who died on June 30th in Arlington, VA due to complications from the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. David was a Portland, ME native who came to Gannon University for his undergrad degree. While at Gannon, he served as News Director and New Media Director for WERG, for which he created what is arguably the best radio website in Erie, and that’s five years ago. He also worked at St. Vincent Health Center in corporate communications while in Erie. His love for media and politics flourished at Gannon, leading to an internship for Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, and a Master’s degree from Emerson College in Boston in organizational and political communications. In March 2007, he moved to Washington and began working for the Environmental Protection Agency, then finally to the federal courts as Operations Coordinator for Digital Media Services. Services were held July 7th in Portland. David was one of those amazing college students who made as much of an impact on Erie, as Erie made on him. He is sorely missed by his class and work mates. Casey Kasem Finally, Casey Kasem is no longer counting down the hits. Kasem announced “number one” for the final time on the 4th of July, on his American Top 20 AC countdown (it was “Second Chance” by Shinedown). After 39 years of music tidbits, long-distance dedications, and “feet on the ground…reaching for the stars,” he is leaving the franchise. For the first time on July 4, 1970, the iconic voice of broadcasting took us through a week’s worth of hits, with artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Temptations, and the Jackson Five appearing in the Top 10, all the way down to number one, “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” by Three Dog Night. Kasem was AT40’s host from 1970 until 1988, when he left ABC Watermark in a contract dispute. He began “Casey’s Top 40″ a year later on Westwood One, while Shadoe Stevens hosted AT40. Kasem revived AT40 in 1998 on what would become a part of Premiere Radio Networks and hosted the CHR countdown until 2004, when Ryan Seacrest took over, and Casey began an Adult Contemporary version of the chart, American Top 20 and American Top 10 which ended on July 4th. His voice lives on in television commercials, movie trailers, the voice of Shaggy on Scooby Doo, as well as reruns of his 70’s and 80’s countdowns on stations across the country and on Sirius/XM satellite radio. Now, back to the countdown!