Fellow Travelers

Chuck and I, Zion 2005

Fellow Travelers

Brazil, Costa Rica, Hawaii, East Coast, West Coast, Zion, Chicago, and the Northwest, all places traveled to with my fellow traveler and companion, my husband. Travel is one thing that defines our relationship.

Someone once told me that a test in a new relationship is to travel together. If you travel well, then your daily life together will hold. I believe that it to be true. My husband and I have been together 18 years. We travel well and our day-to-day life travels well. What I love is that we get up early to be on the road.

I am the planner (except the Brazil trip, it was the result of my husband winning a sales contest and was already planned). It must be the librarian in me, the researcher of information. I want to know as much as I can before I go. I love maps, books (especially the ones about the little known places of our destinations).

I tried once to be spontaneous on a trip. I have a friend who lives that way. It was the twenty-first birthday journey with my daughter. We left Las Vegas headed by car to Reno, no hotels reservations; we would make them we arrived. We decided to go through Death Valley, Ca (because we were being spontaneous) thus, we did not arrive into Reno until after 10 PM. We were lucky to find a Motel 6. Never again.

My favorite trips with my husband are when we leave immediately after my last day of school. We load up the Prius and head east. One year it was to Zion National Park. Last year it was to our friends in Idaho. It was good medicine to leave town. I shift faster into relax mode by leaving familiar surroundings. My husband loves to drive so I can either read or sleep.

I feel fortunate to have a fellow traveler in my husband. His curiosity about the world and my planning how to get there makes a good team. I look forward to traveling again this summer.

To meet other fellow travelers, visit Sunday Scribblings.

One Deep Breath: Childhood Story

What a great prompt. I have thought about this all week. Would it be the trials and tribulations of learning to ride my bicycle, or learning to tie my shoes, or a family vacation. Last night, I spent time with my twenty-three month old granddaughter, We danced. The spark ignited.

tap shoe performance
sequins, top hat, county fair
tap, tap, tap applause

lessons continued
empty living room for practice
big dreams,big wishes

what? really? a shoe lost
no money to replace it
dance with grand child now

My parents waited a long time to furnish the living room. It was a place to practice. And when I lost my shoe, no extra money to correct the carelessness of a child.
Thank you Chris of Tears Shed on Paper for the prompt. For more, head to One Deep Breath.

Six Degrees of Separation, Well Maybe Twelve

Last week I wrote about Parade Magazine’s America’s GivingChallenge. My friend and colleague, Peggy Padden. Two of her three sonshave been diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia (Jake died in 2003 from it).
Have you heard about Kevin Bacon’s six degrees site?http://www.sixdegrees.org/. It is a major sponsor of this contest. And you know the idea, everyone is connected by 6 degrees of separation.
Peggy and I are. My daughter went to a wedding a couple of years back in Seattle. I knew that Peggy was going to a wedding at the same time in Seattle. She had just lost her son Jake, and social outings were very difficult. Well, Charlotte, my daughter, calls and tells me she saw Peggy at the wedding. I couldn’t believe it. It turned out that a cousin on Charlotte’s husband side married a cousin from Peggy’s husband’s side of the family. See six degrees of separation…(well, actually probably 12degrees).
So…I am hoping that you will donate to the cause, keep the Faconi Anemia Research Fund at in the top four. Please be sure to select the charity badge and donate through the badge.Here is the site: http://www.parade.com/givingchallenge?source=pressAGC.
I find it interesting that the two top charities are about saving animals. I totally believe that animals should be taken care of and rescued and save. I also believe that no parent should ever be forced to join the “I lost a child club” and hopefully, through research, a cure will be found for Fanconi Anemia. Please consider donating.

Paying It Forward

Here are two great ways to “pay it forward”. I hope you might be able to help both.




America’s Giving Challenge by Parade Magazine:
I posted about my friend and colleague Peggy Padden about a year ago. She is on my hero list. She lost one of her three sons’ to Fanconi Anemia and her youngest has the disease. She is active in creating opportunities to raise money for research.
Just this last week she sent an email:
“As many of you know, in 2003, 2 of my 3 sons were diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a life threatening genetic disease that leads to bone marrow failure and cancers. My son Jake, 21 at the time, tragically passed away 8 mo. after being diagnosed. My youngest son Spencer, now 20 is stable and doing well as a sophomore at University of Oregon. It is just a matter of time before the disease manifests itself in him as well.You may have seen an ad in Parade Magazine Sunday about America’s Giving Challenge. $50,000 will be given out to each of 4 U.S. based charity groups that get the most online donations by Jan. 31st. Not the most MONEY, but the most individual donations! Each person can only donate once.
Guess what? The Fanconi Research Fund has made it to the top 4. Let’s keep it that way and make it to number 1. Please consider going to the site and making a donation. It is the number of individual donations not the amount.


Books of Love:
Nina was three when she lost her struggle to Fanconi. She spent many days in the hospital and yet children’s books were hard to find. Nina loved reading. Therefore, Megan Spears, a family friend, decided last fall to do something. She started a book drive, “Books of Love” in memory of Nina. The goal is to collect and donate 500 books to Child Life Department at Doernbecher Hospital.

Books can be sent to:
Books of Love; c/o Megan Spears; 40335 McCormick Court; Sandy, Oregon 97055
I hope you are able to either send a book, make a donation or both.

One Deep Breath: Moonstruck

The prompt at One Deep Breath this week is "Moonstruck". My journey took two paths.

moonset, 2006

mysterious light
peeks out behind shrouded veil
hidden companion
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

luscious square melts
bittersweet, creamy taste here
Moonstruck chocolate

For more, please visit One Deep Breath.

Photo of the Year: I Made the Top 100

Oregon Garden Frog 2007

Please vote for Mister Frog at http://www.photooftheyear.net/

Vote for it and nine others in the "Top 100"

Vote for it under the category of water (You can only vote for one in this category)

Voting concludes on January 13, 2008

One Deep Breath: Frost

sparkle fringe outline
seize the diamonds-quick
vanish before us

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

frost dancers line edge
quickstep into the new year
pirouette and poof!

For more thoughts on frost, visit One Deep Breath.

Will They Make the Top 100?

These ten photos in this collage represent my picks for submission to Multnomah County Educational School District's "Photo of the Year" Contest. Last year this one made the top 100:

Mackey's Dahlia 2006

I will know on Sunday if any made this year's list.

Merry "Cough" "Ah-choo" New Years

fever, spasm, cough
week in bed, holiday fun

germs-go away now

This has been the state of affairs at my house since last Saturday. I left school on Friday, thinking, "must be all the sugar that was lurking in the school", eat light and retired to bed. Got up early on Saturday morning (5:30 AM) to finish the cards, and go out shopping EARLY before everyone else was out and about. Towards the end of shopping, I realized that my cough was more than allergies.

Came home took a nap and awoke with a fever. Left daughter and son-in-law to scramble for a last minute baby-sitter. Sunday on the couch all day. Monday, a doctor's appointment only to confirm I had a viral infection (and 9 coming for Christmas Eve dinner , an 18 pound turkey in the oven).

Lessons...

mom's kitchen stay out

clean-up following dinner?

you bet, thanks, let go

For the first time in many years, my china was washed not by me. I let go of the quality of wrapped presents and gave IOU's for gifts, I had planned to make. And now, I think I may be on the mend of this stupid infection which just has to run its course.

I hope you all had a great holiday. Happy New Year!

One Deep Breath: Yummy

I admit, I am a week behind. The idea was there but did not get to it until yesterday.

aunt lizze's shortbread

butter, powdered sugar flour

new year good luck food

++++++++++++++++++++++++

chocolate, condensed

milk, nuts melded together

fudgy goodness

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ginger biscotti

tricky recipe-think!

mac's ginger bars

I made the biscotti once. It does not cooperate so I call them "Mac' s Ginger Bars"

There is a new prompt at One Deep Breath but you can still read the others from last week. Head on over.

One Deep Breath: Container

sparkly containers
homemade presents wrapped to go
joyful evening

Oh, how I love this prompt and thank you One Deep Breath for sharing it again! This week was busy but fun. On Thursday, I attended a gathering for the third in which you arrive with six gifts and leave with six gifts. The idea is to receive items that might be used for the holidays or give to friends, co-workers, or even to indulge yourself.
We eat, socialize, and then settle into a rounds of gift getting. I bring photographic cards each year to give. Many bake delectable treats.

Please visit One Deep Breath for more.

One Deep Breath: Adventure

Quiet Paths suggested "adventure" as the theme.

mr. squirrel thumps tail

eats sunflower seeds, dogs bark

glass wall separates

++++++++++++++++++++

two granddaughters play

princess dresses make believe

adventure magic

+++++++++++++++++++++

frost whiskers on leaves

sun peeks out above mountain ridge

wind sings morning song

For more, please visit, One Deep Breath.

One Deep Breath: Belonging

Squash, Milwaukie Famer's Market
October, 2007

"Belonging", the prompt at One Deep Breath fits the theme of this year's Thanksgiving card.

bountiful autumn
family, food, friends, blessings
love surrounds, give thanks

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

More on Belonging:

dark envelopes me

fire flickers, sparks pop ignite

quiet soul song heard

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

words, laughter, chatter

family gathers around

mirror reflects joy

For more, please visit One Deep Breath. Thank you to Glad who proposed this prompt.

Robert's Snow: An Auction to Raise Money for Cancer Research

"Let It Snow" by Annette Simon

For week's there have been many bloggers from the children's lit world (kidlitosphere) bringing awareness to a snowflake auction. This money is for cancer research. I am featuring five artists on my library blog, "Check It Out". Today's artist is Annette Simon.

Beach, sand instead of snow, growing up in Ohio without an ocean nearby and now living in Ponte Vedra , FL; those thoughts all figured into Annette Simon’s snowflake, “Let it Snow”. Her snowflake will be in the first auction, November 19-23 at Robert’s Snow.

Annette says, “The beach is a great place to make up stories about what you can see (or not).” Then look at her snowflake closely. “Do you see “that faraway boat”, the “tiny triangle”? She imagines it’s hosting a party; “on my snowflake’s boat, kids are dancing. Trust me.”

Why did she use simple shapes? Annette says that she could say it was for “purely aesthetic/design reasons or for lack of time due to the antics of a teenage son. Either sound suspicious. Both are true.”

However, the snowflake sparked a new idea for a book involving all kinds of ocean things. Annette told me she is dancing with the starfish these days and went on to say, “if the snowflake sells at all, I will consider it a success. I am truly humbled to be in the company of these artists.” It will sell I am sure.

Some random questions for my snowflake artist:

What is on your nightstand?

On my nightstand: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (embarrassed to say I've not yet read); March by Geraldine Brooks (haunting), Talk Talk by E.L. Konigsburg (she's from Ponte Vedra), Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi, illustrated by Sara Fanelli, and Artist to Artist by the folks at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.
Chocolate: Dark, milk, or white?
Mmmm. Dark chocolate. Dark. Dark. Dark.

Favorite childhood book?
From The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (and yes, I acted like a blithering idiot the first time I met her), E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan, my aunt's Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew collections. Oh, and the first book I ever truly read on my own: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. (Love love Dr. Seuss.)

Some childhood book-related trivia: My mom's maiden name is Carroll. Though we all know, Lewis Carroll was not the real name of the author of Alice in Wonderland, it was not my fault that all my elementary school friends thought we were related. Nope. Not one bit.

More trivia: In third grade, I won a poster contest for Fire Prevention Week. It was the first time I was paid for my words and artwork (five whole dollars that I promptly spent on colored pencils and chocolate), and my poster was displayed at the town's new firehouse (Grand Opening). I felt like a celebrity.

Whom would you like to meet?

George Clooney and I share the exact same birthday. And of course, one day I would like to tell him in person.

If you were not an artist, what occupation would you choose?

I can't imagine not doing art in some form. For a while, I dreamed of leaving advertising to be an art teacher. However, I've realized I simply do not have the kind of patience good teachers must have. (I bow down to teachers. No kidding.)

Annette Simon has recently made her foray into the kidlitosphere world. Her opening comment to me was, “Don't you just love the kidlitosphere?” Her book, Mocking Birdies, was a finalist for The Writers' League of Texas Teddy Awards, a pick for the American Institute of Graphic Arts' 50 Books/50 covers exhibit, and named a Best Book for Children by the Association of Booksellers for Children.

Leave a comment. Your name will be in a drawing for a copy of her book. Annette graciously donated a book to my library and a book for the drawing. I told her to let me pay for it and she said,” no way.” Therefore, I will bid on her snowflake instead. It reminds me of California winters as a child. I will draw the winner on November 19.
Please visit the other illustrators today and get ready to start bidding on these wonderful treasures of original art while helping to raise money for cancer research.

One Deep Breath: Loneliness

It is Friday. I have haiku to contribute. It has been a good week. "Loneliness" is the prompt for the week thanks to Patois.

misty fog threads city
a leaf tumbles, floats from branch
I peer from window

nose pressed on window
rain drop drips against cold pane
waits, anticipates

packages unwrapped
tree lights blink, cast shadows
unseen emotions

Please visit One Deep Breath for more.

One Deep Breath: Change

I see a small group of students for lunch on Thursdays. We write poetry. I often use the prompts by One Deep Breath for the group as appropriate. Lots of times I write as well. Wrote this but missed the posting deadline.

scrunch, crunch, scuffle, kick

burnt sienna leaf carpet

spring recycled here

For more, visit One Deep Breath. My goal is to get posted before the comments close this week.

Mrs. Halloween: You Have to Have Fun

Yesterday was Halloween. My husband and I joined our daughters and their families to take the grand babies trick or treating. It is what grandparents do, right? It morphed into the grandparents (that would be me and my husband) dressing up.

The morning started out normal. I left for school in black,white, and orange striped socks (I LOVE striped socks), a black skirt, burnt sienna top and black vest. I adorned the creepy spider postage stamp pin on the vest (more on that, later). As I was passing through the garage, I remembered a crazy hat so I grabbed it. This was about as close to dressing up as I could get without, blatantly shouting, "I have fun on Halloween even though others hate the holiday."


These days at school it is business as normal (well, in some rooms it is like that and others rooms? Let's say they have a lot of fun) We have a large part of our school population that does not acknowledge Halloween. Now there are some who don't even want their children participating in anything related to harvest activities. My second graders notices the creepy spider pin and thought it was great. Mostly the boys, the girls, not so much.


But I digress. So through out the day, the idea grew: create a little costume myself. A black wig for under the hat, dark eye make-up. I headed to the local store after school. That was a last minute mad house. And found not just a wig but a hat with a spider web and green hair! Plus besides the black lipstick, I found "tattoo sleeves" for my husband!


My three year old granddaughter referred to me as "Mrs. Halloween" after the initial fright wore off. Too funny. Her uncle (dad of our other grandchild) showed up as "Pooh".





We all started off and what a blast. The neighborhood we visited was packed with families. A cold, crisp night with crunchy leaves beneath brought back memories of when my parents took me around. Could it be a new tradition has begun?

Disclaimer about Sporatic Blog Entries

My blog entries have been sporadic of late. I am the kind of person who wants to do it all: One Deep Breath and Sunday Scribblings as well as the two new writing prompt sites: Writers' Island, and Totally Optional Prompts. I have not contributed to them even though I my intentions have been good. (And we all know where the path of good intentions leads).

I am focused right now on a different writing project. It's writing for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Very reflective yet technical writing. The volume and intensity of this focus is revving up. There is a deadline: March. Everything needs to be done by March. Then I get to take an on-line test. WooHoo.

So for now, I am putting the two new prompt sites on the back burner. I give myself permission to miss prompts from ODB and SS as needed. I may read your blog but not comment. Now I must get back to working on the NBPTS.

Sunday Scribbles: Hospital

"Hospital" is this week's prompt. Oooh, it hit a nerve deep within me. I had a previous life. A life which died close to twenty years ago.

invisible girl

stitches removed, fifteen all

black eye tells the tale

I am blessed and surrounded by love these days. For more on hospitals, click here.

One Deep Breath: Closeness

This week, One Deep Breath asks that we consider the idea of closeness.

daughters by marriage
love DNA connects us
close family ties

diagonal mountains

divide red rivers west, east

chard-organic

See how others wrote about closeness here.