Flowing with Van Gogh
I was struck this morning by the satellite image of the three storms brewing in the Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center is predicting an above-average likelihood for storms to hit the east coast this year, making the stretch between North Carolina and Massachusetts as likely to get hit as Florida or the other Gulf [...]
It’s all coming back…
Really, it is. Your provide a little space in your life, some breathing room, some opportunity for clarity, and the reason why we’re here presents itself….clearly. I’ve spent most of the weekend NOT running here or there, grading this or that, but rather reading, writing, biking, spending time with old friends, family, and some new [...]
Sunday Prayers
Good Sunday, everyone. A few days ago, I arrived home and was greeted by my screaming son, who wanted to know if I saw the praying mantis outside. I told him that I did not, and just as quickly as he told me all about the green-brown bug standing sentry by the front door. he [...]
Tranquility: Peace in Process
photo: http://alittlecrafty.com I’ve always been fascinated with Chinese characters, and the symbol for Tranquility is one that means a great deal to me. Quite literally, the symbol depicts male dominance in the Chinese tradition, where the smaller symbol of a man’s “roof” hovers over the symbol for “woman.” I like the explanation provided in The [...]
30-Second Life Check: What Are You Telling The World?
Thank God for stop lights. If you are like me, it’s not hard to get caught up in the whirlwind of life, sweeping you off your feet as you try desperately to keep up with family, work, and various social networks—real and virtual—that matter a great deal to you. In fact, we often get swept [...]
Grains of Faith
My day ended on Friday with a few of my students performing an impromptu and largely unintentional intervention. They gathered around my desk–again, unintentionally–and randomly offered some stern advice that I needed to take a breather, that Spring Break couldn’t come soon enough. They even offered that my tension had worn off on a few [...]
Solstice Thoughts: Footsteps in History Aren’t Made Sitting Down
My friend Michelle blogged about a young girl who lost her battle with cystic fibrosis last week, and I was drawn to her caringbridge site for so many different reasons. As a teacher, I’ve lost too many kids to tragedies–some in their control (drugs, car accidents) and some not (murder, cancer, cystic fibrosis). So when [...]
A Mac Worth Rebuilding
I feel like Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein, though I just got all my hair chopped off today and I can’t do that mad laugh that he does so, so well. All else, though, applies. Me -n- my Mac, we’re Puttin’ on the Ritz. Here’s the background: I bought my G4 Titanium Powerbook at the [...]
Blueberries for Us
Blueberries for Sal….Do you remember reading this book when you were younger? I have wonderful memories of my mother reading this book to me before I had learned to read. I remember asking her to read it over and over again so I could memorize the text that went along with the pictures. I wish [...]
A Quintessential Moment With Cancer
This day, with each of its moments slowing to the length of no less than an hour, punctuated by the reverberating beat of my heart, a pulsed give-and-receive of life running through me and back again. And again. And again still one. more. time. This day, where I began stuck in melancholy, missing my mother [...]
rusvw on Facebook
rus vw’s bookshelf
the my99 Challenge, 2008!
Web Badge Image Code