Rope

Rope

End of my rope

so I'm letting go

and noticing that 

above, below and all

around me,

there God is.

Kings Singers

     I first discovered this group in the 70's and when I spent 9 months in Europe in 1977, picked up their LP, the one with Billy Boy.  That was a wonderful LP enjoyed for a long time, until I switched over the cd's.  Well, the Kings Singers came to Baldwin Auditorium at Duke last night.  And what a show!  I thought about the LP I used to have and wondered whatever became of it.  I think I left all  of my LP's in Blacksburg with an old boyfriend.  Man, he got  the motherland!  James Taylor, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and those two special ones from England.

It was magical seeing the Kings Singers last night for the first time.  They all came out and signed cd's and programs for the audience.  There were two sisters from Rock Hill who have seen them about 50 times.  They call themselves their "groupies."

I got all six to sign my shirt and they were happy to oblige.

job ideas

Barnes and Noble

Sylvan Learning

Person County

Take me Home (on James Taylor)

He jumped into my arms, oh,

he nearly knocked me over,

take me home with you!

oh, James I can't do that.

Well let's talk to Trudy first

She doesn't let me do anything

Please take me with you please

James, I can't let go.

We didn't see the parents much.

They never seemed to be around.

(RE-WORK) Frozen Tears (RE-WORK)

from Linda Pastas, Something About the Trees

and Kathy Craig, Climbing the Stairs  (READ AT OASIS ON NOV. 15TH, Chapel Hill

form:  Pantoum



I remember the day that my father died
The house was quiet and still
My mother in the living room with the undertaker
Making plans and turning pages

The house was quiet and still
Low voices planned funeral arrangements
My mother in the living room with Mr. Oakley
Asked me to go upstairs.

My father dead?
My child's mind reeled
escaped to National Geographic
My father's gift from the year before.

My child's mind reeled.
I was just fifteen, home from school
Escaping to the Rome Colesium
on the crisp slick page before me

Saturday Morning Breakfast, New Bern

"I love chocolate milk."   "Me too."  "I'm ready for some turkey sausage."

I see flashing blue lights on his sneakers.   Flashing pink lights on her boots.

"Do you want me to cut up your sausage?"

Four beautiful children just sat down at the table next to me.  Four!

The mother seems to hardly get her voice about a whisper as her children eat quietly.  The three boys, one girl, help each other.  The oldest boy places a napkin on his little brother's lap.  Little brother removes it.

Mom finally gets her own breakfast and sits down to eat.  I will remember this family for a long time.

My Chinese Name

I am feeling a bond with China because of my Chinese neighbors.  I wonder what my name would be in Chinese?

how about Da-Xia Shi?   

DUKE IN CHINA

   Today, there was a panel discussion from at the John Hope Franklin Center.  Duke Students in China presented about their Chinese language immersion program in Beijing.  The experience culminated in a talent show.  The Duke students were a diverse group, representing China, Korea, and Nigeria.

     Interesting to note that the students studied Mandarin Chinese and invested thousands of hours in learning the language.

Do Lexile Scores Pigeon Hole Children?

http://lexilebad.blogspot.com

here's and interesting article that state lexile scores may actually do more harm than good.   the research shows that free choice in reading is the way to go.



Hemingway too easy for 4th graders?  The lexile score for Mr. Popper's Penguins is higher than Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises?  Ridiculous?  You bet!  Do your child a favor and stay away from lexiles.

Be Sure to Verify!

I was thinking about starting a new blog through Blog Press and contacted the company.  Then I read a few poor reviews on the service.  

Lesson:  Be sure to verify and assess!  Check things out before changing what already works.

5 Good Things

I met John Hope Franklin's son today, John Whittington Franklin, and his wife Debbie.

I got a ride to next week's appointment.

I listened to Gwendolyn Brooks read "We Real Cool."

Had a healthy vegan dinner.

Arranged for a job interview.

Dear Man

You can ask for what you want

this can be helpful in building communication

challenging stuff -- like what you’ve have been through