Shelfari: Book reviews on your book blog

Followers

There's  a new person following this.  I hope it isn't too dull!  I found another blog about the Camino.  I think it is really just an online journal that these ladies kept while they traveled.  Funny thing, they were on the Camino at the same time we were.  Small world, I guess.  The more I think about it, I would love to go back to Barcelona and see Pamplona as well.  Next time, I think I may back track.  This journey gets in your blood in a way.  I think for me, it is never finished.  I go back to my original reaction to the journey...I am forever "On the way."

24 days

until Christmas.  We are beginning to get weding information.  September seems a long way away, but I have a feeling that it will be on us before we know it. 

I guess if I'm going to blog, I need to decide if this is personal or professional...can't decide.  But on a personal note, I read a message from Mimi McCaul today and it reminds me of how great the Buttimer experience was.   Buttimer opened the door for me to be more receptive to the Camino.  I think that I'm going to work on having some kind of retreat/reunion for Diane, Katie, Mimi, maybe Sr. Regina and Carol..not to mention Mary and Trish.  It would be so nice to reconnect.

Happy Birthday

Cranberry, the polar bear, is 6 years old today.  MH, Austin, Henry and I went to sing Happy Birthday.

Johnny Mercer

So, I was listening to NPR and heard the story about Johnney Mercer.  I love those old songs.  I had no idea that he was madly in love with Judy Garland, or that some of his best songs were written for and about her. 

Listen to these  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120541054#end
and read the story   http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.phpstoryId=120541054#end

Private v. Public

Well, since nobody is going to see this, I guess it really doesn't matter   if I make it private or not.  I am looking at technology a little differently these days.  I still believe that educationally speaking we are moving too far away from teaching the basics. In a lot of ways, computers are removing independence from the learning process.  Students rely on computers to spell for them, to correct their grammar, to add and stubtract...never mind multiply and divide.  Things that used to be a matter of memorization, like the state capitals for instance, are now a google search.  You may ask yourself, why memorize when your Iphone can give you the answer, but I think there is an element of discipline in thinking that is being lost...maybe I'm archaic, I don't know. 
From my position here in the library, I see a lot of things that happen across the curriculum.  Even teachers take the easy way out.  With the student load and the time constraints...you are being asked to rear some of these children for the parents..it is certainly understandable.  BUT there are some basics that have been lost.  We are producing very few really curious children these days.  It's all about the grade not the pursuit of something new.

Widgets

Somehow or other I managed to add a widget to my blog.  Way to go me!