#Kindergarten is Key...

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.”

~ Plutarch

I have a superhero hiding in my neighborhood. Shhhh... Don't tell anyone, but she lives right next door to me; she is a Kindergarten TEACHER! You may not notice when you first meet her, or when you see her doing everyday neighborly things (walking her dog, mowing the lawn), BUT the moment she steps into her classroom she is a caped crusader bringing structure, learning and love to the world of her five-year-old students.

I had the pleasure of visiting my neighbor's classroom today; it was an adventure -- observing and interacting with a room full of 5-year-olds all functioning at different levels is fascinating! A little tiring too, but extremely rewarding; I can't wait to go back...

Robert Fulghum was right, everything you NEED to know you DO learn in Kindergarten (socially-speaking): be nice, share, take turns, raise your hand, pay attention, put things back where you found them, etc. Academically, there is a little more to learn beyond Kindergarten, but how to READ and WRITE, basic addition/subtraction and telling time coupled with calendaring will actually take you pretty far!

I was one of those obnoxious zealous children that couldn't wait to go to school every day to learn something new; I would actually wake my mother up in the morning! I am grateful to all of my teachers for putting up with tirelessly channeling my enthusiasm in a constructive manner, helping to shape me into the life-long learner I am today.

THANK YOU

#Learning #Teacher #Read #Write #Kindergarten #Add #Subtract #Student #Education
 

#NationalVoterRegistrationDay...

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt



www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Astonishingly, in 2008, 6 million Americans didn’t vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn’t know how to register. Election Day is fast approaching and every vote counts. Your right to vote is one of the most basic rights you have as an American. BE INFORMED. Many states’ rules have changed this year; make sure you know what is now required in your state. Absolutely everything you need to know to be ready to vote November 6th is available on this excellent and user-friendly website:  www.vote411.org

• Check Registration Status
• See if Early Voting is offered
• Register to Vote (deadlines!)
• Locate your Polling Place and check its Hours of Operation
• See a personalized Ballot preview for your State/County
• Determine if you need ID to vote November 6th and see what types are permissible

 
 

Your Vote Is Your Voice

Don't miss your chance to be heard!

 

#925NVRD #Register #Vote #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #Election2012 #GOTV

 

#Remember911...

"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."

~Kenji Miyazawa

An excerpt from President Obama's remarks at the Pentagon today speaking on the eleventh Anniversary of September 11th:

"And even though we may never be able to fully lift the burden carried by those left behind, we know that somewhere, a son is growing up with his father’s eyes, and a daughter has her mother’s laugh -- living reminders that those who died are with us still. 

 

So as painful as this day is and always will be, it leaves us with a lesson that no single event can ever destroy who we are. No act of terrorism can ever change what we stand for. Instead, we recommit ourselves to the values that we believe in, holding firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess. 

That’s the commitment that we reaffirm today. And that’s why, when the history books are written, the true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear or hate or division. It will be a safer world; a stronger nation; and a people more united than ever before. 

God bless the memories of those we lost. And God bless these United States of America."

Pentagon Memorial 

Flight 93 Memorial 

World Trade Center Memorial

 

 

#Honor911 #NeverForget #WTC #Pentagon #Flight93 #WorldTradeCenter #PatriotDay #DayofService #DayofRemembrance

International #Literacy Day... [UPDATED]

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."

~Harry S. Truman

For over 40 years UNESCO  has been celebrating International Literacy Day by reminding the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning. "Shockingly, more than 796 million adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) and 130 million youth in the world cannot read and write. #Illiteracy is costing the world economy over USD $1 trillion dollars each year. Lifting the education level of the adult population by one year, could result in a 6% increase in per capita income; the global community is literally throwing money away." -World Literacy Foundation (April 2012); The Economic and Social Costs of Illiteracy.

According to a study performed by researchers Hart and Risley in the US, "children of professional families hear an average of 2,153 words per hour, in working class families 1,251 words per hour, and in welfare families only 616 words per hour." The sad truth/consequence of this is that illiterate people are typically trapped in a cycle of poverty with limited opportunities for employment or income generation; they also have significantly higher chances of poor health and often turn to crime and/or dependence on social welfare or charity to survive.

I was fortunate to be raised in a household with parents who were both avid readers. As a result, I developed a voracious appetite for reading very early on -- books, magazines, billboards, street signs (seriously, I used to annoy the hell out of my parents while we were driving down the road) -- absolutely ANYthing in print. Finances were tight growing up, so purchasing books was not common for my family; frequent trips to the library were required to keep us all 'in books'. In fact, once my father retired he would often read one book per day! I lost my appreciation for the public library when I was older and gainfully employed, usually choosing to pick up a book in a store when I was running errands rather than make a separate trip to the library. Now, as an unemployed person, I am once again making regular trips to the local public library, and I am grateful for the selection of FREE books available to me anytime.

Speaking of the #library, I picked up a new book yesterday by my favorite current fiction writer and it's calling my name as I type; time to wrap this up... If you're passionate about reading like me, find Volunteer opportunities in your community at VolunteerMatch (use keyword: literacy). In addition, information on other ways to help in the US and around the world is available through the following organizations: ProLiteracy, Room To Read, International Reading Association, FirstBook, International Book Project; for readers in the Finger Lakes region, please educate yourselves about the Family Reading Partnership. Happy reading to all!

UPDATE 09/10/12 -- Check these websites out!

These sites recommend new books/authors based on #books you've enjoyed #reading:
What Should I Read Next?  Your Next Read 

This site recommends books based on a particular topic: Lazy Library

This site recommends books based on your mood: WhichBook

#NaturalWoman

"Vanity dies hard; in some obstinate cases it outlives the man."

~Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a secret to confess: I dye my hair. I started getting pesky whitish-gray hairs when I turned 18; I began dying my hair IMMEDIATELY - I was far too young to be sporting that type of mature look! Once I was a little older and gainfully employed,  I had my hair dyed by a professional; going to the salon was an (expensive) every 6-week treat to myself. I would arrive, change into a coloring gown top, take a sip from my nice cool glass of cucumber water and instantly feel the stresses of the outer world melt away. The next 2-3 hours would be spent catching up with my stylist, processing under a dryer (damn you resistant grays!), laughing with my shampoo girl and trying to make it to the register without purchasing any additional products to take home. I would emerge from the salon feeling alive, beautiful and full of renewed confidence! Who knew hair color (and a good cut) could do all that?

Well, once one starts dying, one really can't stop; at least not if you're interested in going out in public without a hat. Dying my hair is now one of my least favorite chores. Granted, dying one's own hair is considerably more cost-effective (less than $10 a box), and that matters, since my unemployed beauty budget is basically zero dollars. In my previous life I used to balk at the slightest sign of roots (color emergency!); I am much more relaxed about it now -- an inch of regrowth? -- I can wait another few days...  So, here I am nearly two decades later gloved up in my bathroom doing the deed for myself. *Sigh* I really miss the serenity of the salon and the cucumber water.

As you've probably guessed, I'm not a girly-girl by any means. Sure, I like pretty things and love a little bling here and there, but I don't wear make-up all the time and I don't wear a lot of pink. In fact, my favorite accessory to wear while running errands is a baseball cap (just plain black, no MLB allegiance for me); coloring is my one true feminine vanity vice. I hope that when I finally do decide to go 'au naturel' I look as good and happy as this beautiful woman:

Getty Images

There's no other way to end this post except with a song, enjoy...  Natural Woman

 

 

#NFL Football Frenzy...

Are you READY?!?

In fact, my friends and family are currently saying:



Today's post is proudly inspired by the:

 

Specifically,

Because I am 100% a:

And,

In case you're not familiar with the 'Steelers':

This is my motto for the rest of the Season:

If you're 'addicted' like me, the full 2012 NFL Season schedule is available here.

GO STEELERS!!!



#Alzheimers Awareness... [UPDATED]

September is World Alzheimer's Awareness Month.





My Dad (1931-2009)



In honor of my amazing father, please educate yourselves and join me in spreading information about Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Quick Facts

• Worldwide, 35 million people are affected by dementia.
• 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
• One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
• Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented or cured.
• More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
• Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012.



Learn the 10 Signs here



If someone you love is experiencing ANY of these signs, please review this information with them and urge them to visit their physician without delay; it is vitally important to be PROACTIVE when dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Change your Facebook, Twitter and other profile pictures to the #ENDALZ icon for the month of September:

Participate in the Alzheimer's Association's 'Go Purple' campaign.





Detailed Info here

 

TOGETHER we CAN make a difference!

 

Thank you.

 

Update 09/19/12 - Exciting News!

 

EPFL's Blue Brain Project has discovered neuroscience's Holy Grail: the 'connectome'. So, why does this matter? The connectome allows for accurate modeling of synapses in the human brain; in lay terms, how information flows in the brain. This new synaptic modeling capability will lead to improved understanding of how the brain actually functions. Understanding brain function is paramount to improving diagnoses and finding cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. You may read the full article here and/or watch a short video explanation of this breakthrough discovery:

 



 

#RNC2012 Liar, Liar... [UPDATED]

"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it."

~Emily Dickinson

Okay, I know this is NOT a political blog (and it isn't, I promise) but I am compelled to address the dangerous precedent that was set at the #GOP2012 #RNC this week: reinventing history. Please note, reinventing history is a politically correct label coined by a major media outlet that I do respect (they provided more substance in their 'Facts Take A Beating' piece today); I simply refuse to beat around the bush with cutesy or pc labels, a spade is a spade in my world. Bottom line: the #RNC was overflowing with brazen, bold-faced lying and it is NOT ACCEPTABLE; even Fox News called Rep. Ryan out very publicly here -- yes, FOX NEWS! I am honestly surprised that the pants of certain speakers did not burst into flames while they were delivering their addresses in Tampa. For those of you thinking, "Whatever, bleeding-heart Liberal crazy lady..." please know that I will also be watching the #DNC next week with the same critical eye with respect to fact checking and TELLING THE TRUTH. I live for the day when ALL people, politicians pundits and ordinary folks alike, take the Emily Dickinson quote I shared above to heart!

Previously, I was worried about the appalling apathy Americans were demonstrating with respect to the upcoming Presidential Election. Now, my true fear is the large number of US Citizens (aka: potential voters) who are deluded devotees of the current deceitful Republican party-line; these potential voters follow their leaders unquestioningly, regardless of facts; they refuse or simply cannot be bothered to review any of the numerous, independent or partisan, fact checking resources available today: Independent Voter Network,  FactCheck,  Politifact, etc.; these blind party faithfuls are the most dangerous potential voters of all. President Kennedy addressed this condition perfectly in his June 11, 1962, Yale University Commencement Address: "For the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought."  -John F. Kennedy

Scary, right?!? But oh, SO true ... And, based on the way honest Politicians and Pundits are maligned by our mass media today, George Orwell nailed it even earlier when he published 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' in 1949:

It's time America, join me, STEP UP: Rebut the myths -- THINK -- and if you feel obliged to honor the past, take a positive page from our forefather's playbook: Be a Revolutionary, speak and seek the truth! Thank you.

UPDATE 09/01/12:
I would be remiss if I didn't also include links to the brilliant satire delivered by two of my favorites on Comedy Central last night for #RNC2012 Wrap-Up...

Jon Stewart - The Daily Show

'Fist Full of Awesome' [video]

Stephen Colbert - The Colbert Report

'America Strikes Back - Episode IV: A New-ish Hope' [video]

 

 

How Do You Measure A Year?

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."

-Garrison Keillor

 

Especially Double Fasciotomies:

 

 

Truer words have never been written. Big, ugly physical scars on the outside and tiny tears in the fabric of one's emotional being that can't be seen at all. Healing from a serious injury must occur on the inside as well as the outside and the time it takes is unique to each person.

Today marks one year from the date of the closure of my double fasciotomy. One year and and three days from the moment my mother found me unconscious and unresponsive on my bathroom floor; my heart still aches for her when I think about it. In my previous life, years were measured by accomplishments at work and celebrations with friends and family; time always seemed to fly by. This past year has been marked by rehabilitation and attempting to re-enter the workforce; I'm ready for some celebration...  

How Does One Measure A Year?

525,600 minutes

31,536,000 seconds

...

We definitely need to close this post out with a song; I'm thinking this calls for a little 'RENT' -- click to listen: Seasons of Love

#PresidentialElection2012...

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King, my hat is off to you, truer words have never been spoken. Okay, time for full disclosure (in case you didn't infer on your own): I am a WOMAN, I am a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, I am LIBERAL, I believe Women ARE EQUAL to men (remember, I AM an Engineer) and that Women MUST have the RIGHT TO CHOOSE. If that upsets you, and you no longer wish to read my blog, I'm sorry that you are unable to recognize and value other's opinions different from your own; I wish you well. That said, this is NOT a political blog, however some things have transpired recently related to our Presidential election and I simply will not be able to live with myself if I don't encourage all of you to make INFORMED political decisions.

Too many of us assume that people that we like/enjoy the company of, people who are in our lives every day, share our own political views and personal values -- this is simply NOT true -- because of this assumption, and our general reluctance to speak up/out about our own views, our nation has become one of general apathy and complacency; this is NOT acceptable. We are a Democracy, we MUST stand up for what we believe in and vigorous debate about the FACTS must be a part of every single person's decision-making process. Please BE INFORMED of the ACTUAL facts. In my personal opinion, I find the most unbiased information to come from public television and radio. LISTEN to NPR; WATCH the NewsHour on PBS -- you owe it to yourselves AND to our Country. Thank you.

#Virtual Vacation...

"When all else fails, take a vacation." -Betty Williams

 

It's funny how, even as a grown adults, the closer it gets to the end of August, the more frantic we become about 'squeezing in' a vacation. You'd think once we got past our own years of schooling, and those of our children (where applicable), we'd be open to vacation at any time throughout the year. Yet, for some reason, we still remain narrowly focused on Summer as the ultimate vacation season. Personally, I'm an equal opportunity vacationer -- as in, I do NOT discriminate (season-wise) -- any time of year, any exciting destination; you name it, I am your girl!

I do have one tiny complication to vacationing at this point: my unemployed status. So, for the time being, I need to satisfy myself vicariously through friends and family, or with my new find: virtual vacations. Don't worry, I am not referring to creepy Second Life avatar world here; my version of virtual vacationing is much more tame. I had one this morning in fact, right in my coffee mug: Green Mountain's Island Coconut...

"Indulge your senses with this delightfully fragrant, tropical taste treat. We've captured the lush aroma of freshly grated coconut – fruity, fresh, exotic – and blended it with the subtle sweetness of a lightly-roasted, Central American coffee. The result is as refreshing as it is unexpected. Be transported to your own private island paradise with our Fair Trade Island Coconut." * Flavor also available for standard coffee makers. Nutritional Information: Our flavored coffees are free of calories and carbs, and have no additional nutritional impact. We add no sugars or sweeteners of any kind. So while our flavors may taste indulgent, they're absolutely guilt-free.

Honestly, they are not exaggerating with their description; the aroma really does transport you on a quick, mental trip to paradise! Hmmm... this coffee is fast becoming my favorite virtual destination; the only downside to this flavor is that it's seasonal. <Note to Self: hoard as many boxes as possible ASAP!> But first, I think I'll have another cup; if anyone needs me, I'll be here...

Sweet, Sweet Sleep...

“O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, That thou no more wilt weigh mine eyelids down,

 And steep my senses in forgetfulness?"

 ~William Shakespeare

Lately, much to my chagrin, my nights have been going like this:

Normally, my day begins like this:

Currently, seriously considering resorting to this:

Hmmmm... Clearly, this job would be bigger than my 'new best friend' can handle; looks like I may need to make a trip to the basement for old reliable:

REALLY glad I kept it around!

#London2012 Wrap-Up...

Apparently my brain was still stuck in training mode for my proposed Olympic event Tuesday; I nearly established a new personal best! I'm sure it had absolutely nothing to do with the fabulous food and wine pairing 'plus' events of Monday night, or my 3AM bedtime. Yeah... productivity-wise I'm going to need a 'mulligan' for Monday and a 'try again' for Tuesday. Anywho, back to our regularly scheduled programming -- being a gal myself, I'm focusing my #London2012 wrap-up on the Ladies.

Seems logical, right? Okay, maybe not Iron 'MAN', but how about 'Wonder WOMEN'? The London Olympic Games was full of fantastic female firsts, a few phenomenal highlights:

Of the 10,000+ athletes that participated in the London Games, 45% of them were Women. At long last, every country’s delegation included at least one female athlete and every sport included both male and female competitions. Special note to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei for sending their first-ever female athletes and Women's Boxing being added as an event.

For the first time, Americans sent more female athletes than male. US Women won 58 of the 104 medals earned by TeamUSA; 29 of them Gold. Two-thirds of the times you heard the US national anthem played, it was because a female had earned the top spot in her event. If US Women were a Country, they would have placed fifth in overall medals and THIRD in Gold medal wins! EXTRAORDINARY. What better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX?

<Speaking of Title IX, More magazine has a must-read article in their June 2012 issue showcasing the changes and benefits related to the law experienced by Women to date: '37 Words That Changed Women's Lives Forever'. Some additional perspective: the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, held the same year Title IX was passed, had no women's basketball event or women's soccer event; women's water polo, women's rowing, women's cycling, women's boxing and women's judo did not exist.>

At this point you may be asking yourself, "Just who are these TeamUSA Wonder Women and what events did they medal in?" Here's a Gold medal run down with some fun facts too:

In the pool, Women's Water Polo won Gold for the first time. Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni and Allison Schmitt each nabbed the Gold in her specialty (Franklin took both the 100m and 200m Backstroke); later they combined for the 4x100m IM Relay and garnered another Gold as a team. The 4x200m Free Relay (Franklin, Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Schmitt) set a new Olympic Record and grabbed Gold as well. 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, the youngest member of the American team, won Gold in the 800m Free.

US Women brought team Gymnastics Gold back to the US for the first time since 1996. Gabby Douglas won the all-around title, the first time an African-American Woman has done so. Aly Raisman won a Gold medal in the floor routine, another first for the United States.

At the track, US Women proved a force to be reckoned with, winning several single events: Sanya Richards-Ross (400m), Allyson Felix (200m), Brittany Reese (Long Jump) and Jenn Suhr (Pole Vault); breaking a 27-year-old World Record in the 4x100m Relay (Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter) and finishing up with an unbelievable performance in the 4x400m Relay (DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross), beating the other teams by more than four seconds.

The US Women's Soccer team added another Gold medal to its stash, taking its third straight medal by beating Japan 2-1 in a thrilling rematch of the World Cup final. The Women's Basketball team won its fifth straight Gold, something that has never been done by any team in the history of the Olympics. All seven of America's cycling medals were earned by Women, with 39-year-old Kristin Armstrong winning Gold in the Individual Time Trial. The Women's Rowing Team captured Gold in the Women's Eight event.

Rounding out the count: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings had their historic three-peat in Beach Volleyball Gold; Doubles Gold for the Williams sisters and Singles Gold for Serena in Tennis; 17 year-old Claressa Shields' ground-breaking Gold in Women's Middleweight Boxing; Gold for Jaime Lynn Gray in 50m Rifle, Kimberly Rhode in Skeet Shooting (Rhode has won an individual medal in each of her five consecutive trips to the Olympics) and Kayla Harrison, the first US athlete to win a Gold medal in Judo. Again, these are only the GOLD medals awarded to the US Women, you may see the full list of TeamUSA medal results here. WOW!

I think Judo Gold medalist, Kayla Harrison, summed up the 'girl-power-effect' here perfectly: “I’ve been thrilled to see how well US women have done. It feels amazing to be a part of something so much bigger than myself, I definitely feel connected. To be able to say, I’m a strong confident young woman and an Olympic champion is amazing and I hope we have a million young girls inspired right now.” If the TeamUSA Wonder Women can inspire a grown woman, as they have me, I am positive they have inspired the young girls too...

TeamUSA Women Exemplify the Olympic Motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger!

AP/Getty/Reuters Images