My team lost yesterday. What a roller coaster of emotion it was! I really thought that Bloom could win the game and in fact they went into the half leading the game. Unfortunately a few turnovers and a very bad call by the officials put the final score at 27-24 in favor of California University of PA. So now California goes on to the semi-finals to play Minnesota Duluth. I believe they will have a home game in western PA which is good because the weather in Duluth this time of year is mighty cold. Do I think Cal can beat Duluth--without a doubt. They certainly have the personnel and the will to get the job done. Having been to the semi's last year they know what it takes. It's about time another PSAC representative made it to Florence.
I am already looking forward to next season. It will be the last season for Danny Latorre as quarterback and with the two red shirt freshman running backs maturing, it should be a great season. I just wish I were a little closer to the action. Being 1500 miles away makes it difficult to make the game each Saturday and division II football doesn't generally make it to the networks. I've really enjoyed the last two weeks as the championship rounds have at least made it to a web cast sponsored by the NCAA and CBS. Visuals certainly make the game more interesting and exciting.
I'd like to offer my congratulations to the Huskies on another outstanding season. Danny Hale and his staff do a great job every year with their recruits. They are in contention almost every year with a very limited budget. I might also add that BU offers a fine academic education as well. From its beautiful small town location to the friendly people, from academics to sports teams it is truly one of the best that Division II has to offer.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Happy THANKSgiving
Wow, a month since my last post. I wish that were an indication of something really exciting that happened, but alas, I've just been busy with the business of life and work and family.
We're about to celebrate Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Since I was very little, this holiday has been the one most anticipated, even beyond a child's Christmas. Being an only child and having parents who did not believe in overindulgence, Christmas was mostly a religious holiday for me. And that's good, for those humble religious experiences helped mold me into a productive, moral, ethical adult.
Thanksgiving, though, was a different holiday, when everyone gathered at one family house or another to celebrate another year of family, friends, gifts of good health and good fortune. Dinner was a week long affair, with my mother preparing pies and cookies, homemade cranberries and rolls, turkey, sometimes ham, and tons of vegetables--yum--my favorite. The good silver came out in the weeks before and was lovingly polished, washed and restored to its shiny splendor. My grandma Jones' Noritake, purchased before WW II adorned my mother's mahogany table. Everything was special about this day, but the food and table were certainly the centerpiece. It didn't hurt that I loved to eat!
And who would join us? In the early days, it was both sets of grandparents, my favorite great Aunt Lizzie and her husband, Uncle George and my mother's sister Catherine and her family. As I grew older, the scene changed slightly and my father's two brothers, David and Harold and their families would also join us. Our small house would burst at the seams with people in every room, preparing, cooking, serving, cleaning up, discussing the good ol' days the whole time. I loved the crowd, the talk of things past, the attention--it was wonderful. I especially liked hearing the story of the first Thanksgiving, which my mother told, of Pilgrims who had struggled over the first winter and who had managed to plant and harvest and decided to have a celebration to give thanks for their good fortune. Who would know that 40 years later I would discover that I descended from one of those very Pilgrims of whom my mother often spoke. I still lament that neither she nor my dad were alive when I made my discovery. It would thrill them both to know that I was from the same hearty stock that first set foot in the new world in 1620.
Today I often share stories of that first Thanksgiving, called a harvest feast, with my students. There are so many good books that tell the story, but my favorite is still The First Thanksgiving by Alice Dalgleish. Written in 1954, it's a story I've heard many times, but it took on new meaning when I discovered that Stephen Hopkins, a central character in Dalgleish's book was my 11th great grandfather and that his eldest daughter, Constance, was my 10th great grandmother. In the last five years, I've read a lot of books about the first Thanksgiving and the Pilgrim journey, but two of the best are Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower and a relatively new book by Mayflower researcher, Caleb Johnson called Here Shall I Die Ashore Stephen Hopkins: Bermuda Castaway, Jamestown Survivor, and Mayflower Pilgrim.
Johnson, who is a Mayflower descendant, although not from Hopkins, has done an outstanding job presenting the life of this man named Stephen Hopkins. It was Johnson who first published information refuting previous beliefs that Stephen Hopkins was from Wortley, Gloucester County rather than from Hursley, Hampshire County. Stephen Hopkins was only forty when he landed at Plymouth in 1620, but already he had been shipwrecked in the Bermuda Triangle, mutinied, was sentenced to death, convinced the powers that be to set him free, spent time in the Jamestown colony, was written into Shakespeare's The Tempest (written about the shipwreck of the Sea Venture) as Stephano, and then took his entire family, wife Elizabeth, daughters Constance and Demaris and son Giles on board the Mayflower for the 66 day voyage to the new world, during which time his son, Oceanus was born. Once there Hopkins is a stalwart survivor. In fact, the Hopkins family was the only in tact family to survive the first winter. He was a strong influence in the formation of the new colony. Signer of the Mayflower Compact, Hopkins with his friend, Myles Standish, led exploratory parties and became an integral part of the negotiations with Massasoit. He also housed Squanto in his home. When he died at the age of 63 he left an extensive last will and testament in which not only his children, but also his cows are named.
Wow! I can hardly believe that this man, who lead this extraordinary life was my ancestor. One of the things I try to instill in my students is the importance of talking to their parents and grandparents while they have the opportunity; to ask questions of them, their childhoods, their loves and passions. It was those very questions that lit a fire in me and caused me to investigate my own ancestry. Each period that I research becomes so much more real to me because I know an ancestor lived through it and helped to make it happen. Gives me pause to wonder if someday, some granddaughter or grandson, several generations removed will be asking questions about me.
We're about to celebrate Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. Since I was very little, this holiday has been the one most anticipated, even beyond a child's Christmas. Being an only child and having parents who did not believe in overindulgence, Christmas was mostly a religious holiday for me. And that's good, for those humble religious experiences helped mold me into a productive, moral, ethical adult.
Thanksgiving, though, was a different holiday, when everyone gathered at one family house or another to celebrate another year of family, friends, gifts of good health and good fortune. Dinner was a week long affair, with my mother preparing pies and cookies, homemade cranberries and rolls, turkey, sometimes ham, and tons of vegetables--yum--my favorite. The good silver came out in the weeks before and was lovingly polished, washed and restored to its shiny splendor. My grandma Jones' Noritake, purchased before WW II adorned my mother's mahogany table. Everything was special about this day, but the food and table were certainly the centerpiece. It didn't hurt that I loved to eat!
And who would join us? In the early days, it was both sets of grandparents, my favorite great Aunt Lizzie and her husband, Uncle George and my mother's sister Catherine and her family. As I grew older, the scene changed slightly and my father's two brothers, David and Harold and their families would also join us. Our small house would burst at the seams with people in every room, preparing, cooking, serving, cleaning up, discussing the good ol' days the whole time. I loved the crowd, the talk of things past, the attention--it was wonderful. I especially liked hearing the story of the first Thanksgiving, which my mother told, of Pilgrims who had struggled over the first winter and who had managed to plant and harvest and decided to have a celebration to give thanks for their good fortune. Who would know that 40 years later I would discover that I descended from one of those very Pilgrims of whom my mother often spoke. I still lament that neither she nor my dad were alive when I made my discovery. It would thrill them both to know that I was from the same hearty stock that first set foot in the new world in 1620.
Today I often share stories of that first Thanksgiving, called a harvest feast, with my students. There are so many good books that tell the story, but my favorite is still The First Thanksgiving by Alice Dalgleish. Written in 1954, it's a story I've heard many times, but it took on new meaning when I discovered that Stephen Hopkins, a central character in Dalgleish's book was my 11th great grandfather and that his eldest daughter, Constance, was my 10th great grandmother. In the last five years, I've read a lot of books about the first Thanksgiving and the Pilgrim journey, but two of the best are Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower and a relatively new book by Mayflower researcher, Caleb Johnson called Here Shall I Die Ashore Stephen Hopkins: Bermuda Castaway, Jamestown Survivor, and Mayflower Pilgrim.
Johnson, who is a Mayflower descendant, although not from Hopkins, has done an outstanding job presenting the life of this man named Stephen Hopkins. It was Johnson who first published information refuting previous beliefs that Stephen Hopkins was from Wortley, Gloucester County rather than from Hursley, Hampshire County. Stephen Hopkins was only forty when he landed at Plymouth in 1620, but already he had been shipwrecked in the Bermuda Triangle, mutinied, was sentenced to death, convinced the powers that be to set him free, spent time in the Jamestown colony, was written into Shakespeare's The Tempest (written about the shipwreck of the Sea Venture) as Stephano, and then took his entire family, wife Elizabeth, daughters Constance and Demaris and son Giles on board the Mayflower for the 66 day voyage to the new world, during which time his son, Oceanus was born. Once there Hopkins is a stalwart survivor. In fact, the Hopkins family was the only in tact family to survive the first winter. He was a strong influence in the formation of the new colony. Signer of the Mayflower Compact, Hopkins with his friend, Myles Standish, led exploratory parties and became an integral part of the negotiations with Massasoit. He also housed Squanto in his home. When he died at the age of 63 he left an extensive last will and testament in which not only his children, but also his cows are named.
Wow! I can hardly believe that this man, who lead this extraordinary life was my ancestor. One of the things I try to instill in my students is the importance of talking to their parents and grandparents while they have the opportunity; to ask questions of them, their childhoods, their loves and passions. It was those very questions that lit a fire in me and caused me to investigate my own ancestry. Each period that I research becomes so much more real to me because I know an ancestor lived through it and helped to make it happen. Gives me pause to wonder if someday, some granddaughter or grandson, several generations removed will be asking questions about me.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Of Life and Death
Friday afternoon I attended a memorial service for the mother of a dear friend. Lest those of you who know me think this was the passing of a woman in her seventies or eighties, let me enlighten you. This was the death of a woman my age, whose daughter befriended me 14 years ago as I experienced some of the darkest days of my life. Amy’s friendship got me through a difficult divorce. She bolstered my damaged self image and supported my quest to reposition my talents and move forward. She brightened my days, over and over again, for months on end. Meeting her mom on many occasions, it was evident where Amy got her fantastic smile, her witty charm and her everlasting joyous outlook—from her mother, Alice.
As
Mostly I remembered getting the news of her passing. I hadn’t heard my phone ring in the middle of a crowded IKEA. As I listened to the phone message, the crowds became invisible and I caught my breath in one giant gasp, followed by tears of sadness—grief for my beautiful friend Amy, and her brother, who had lost both of their parents in such a short time. Sorrow because
I suppose the message I am most imparting is the briefness of our earthly sojourn. Making the most of every moment is essential. Giggling with my six year old grandson, sharing a book with my kindergarten students, instructing my older students about the power of the written word, those in books, but more importantly their own—through all of these, I give away a small piece of myself that will be my legacy.
“The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live.”
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Please Watch this Video
A few days ago I posted some facts about John McCain that I thought were important for people to know before they went to the polls. Apparently, Barack's campaign advisors have determined it is important as well. Some will say this is a negative attack. I say it is an informative video. It isn't so much that McCain attempted to cover up fraud, which he did, but that he hasn't changed his polices against deregulation since then.
Folks, you can not allow the kindergarten kids to guard the cookie jar while the teacher is out of the room. The same rule applies to officers of large financial institutions. Faulty accounting caused the savings and loan crisis and bad judgment by five senators attempted to cover it up and allow it to continue.
This video is narrated by a federal regulator who was there during the whole debacle. He makes sound economic sense.
http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo
Folks, you can not allow the kindergarten kids to guard the cookie jar while the teacher is out of the room. The same rule applies to officers of large financial institutions. Faulty accounting caused the savings and loan crisis and bad judgment by five senators attempted to cover it up and allow it to continue.
This video is narrated by a federal regulator who was there during the whole debacle. He makes sound economic sense.
http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Another Huskies Win
Well, October 4th has come and gone and my alma mater has won another D2 football game. They are more than halfway through the season with 6 wins and no losses. Next week will be a real test as they meet long time rival East Stroudsburg University Warriors. I have no doubt they can win the game. In my opinion, the Warriors, a rather young team, will not be able to hang with the Huskies through the whole game. This is also a home game for the Huskies after two away. I imagine they are happy to back home on their new turf. I just wish I could be there to see the game. Instead, I'll be at my computer listening to WHLM on the Internet, applauding and yelling as though I were sitting in the stands.
GO HUSKIES BEAT THE WARRIORS!!
GO HUSKIES BEAT THE WARRIORS!!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thirty Days and Counting
In about thirty days, the voters of this country go to the polls to elect the 44th president of the United States. The decision will affect all of us for at least four years and possibly longer. I say longer, because our current president's bad fiscal judgment and horrendous foreign policy has put this nation in a very precarious position that will effect us for years to come. As I get closer to retirement, I wonder if I'll be able to afford it. My question for all of those voters is: Are you still thinking seriously about voting for John McCain, that rebel maverick, and his pit bull, hockey mom, VP candidate, Sarah Palin? To listen to John and Sarah in their respective "debates" you would think both belong to some mythical third party because they sure weren't acknowledging that they had anything to do with the Republicans who held office for the last eight years.
If you haven't made your decision yet, think about these facts.
First, John McCain, as a prisoner of war, gave aid and comfort to the enemy in the way of giving military information and participating in radio broadcasts for the communists and meeting with communist delegations that including the Cubans. These matters never reached a military court even though other soldiers in similar situations were court martialed. In 1989, US Senator, John McCain, was one of five US Senators accused of corruption as part of the Savings and Loan scandal. Known as the Keating Five, only 2 of the five managed to save their political careers. One was McCain, the other John Glenn. Miraculous what name recognition will do for you. Even today, John McCain calls himself a maverick despite the fact that he has supported George W. Bush on almost every political decision in the last eight years. Yes to tax cuts for the highest economic brackets, yes to war in Iraq based on false intelligence. He voted against bills supporting women's rights in the area of reproduction, including the Teen Pregnancy Education Act. In several other matters, Mr. McCain chose the route of No Vote, perhaps so he could later say he did not support the failed policies of the Bush administration.
John McCain is also the man who didn't know how many houses he owned. Okay, we all know his wife is the one with the money, but he has been married to her since 1980--don't tell me he doesn't know how many properties she or they own. And if he truly doesn't know--are you sure you want him running the largest democratic nation in the world?
To all in public education, John McCain supports vouchers as well as charter schools and merit pay for teachers. All three ideas weaken public education in my humble opinion. Frankly, I am tired of Washington politicians telling the nation how bad our public education system is. There is NO other nation in the world who educates the masses as we do.
And now for Sarah...is there anyone in Alaska prepared to vote for her--or only those who want her out of the state? As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin, who ran on fiscal conservatism, spent an unapproved $50,000 to remodel her office. She attempted to fire the city librarian because she refused to comply with Ms. Palin's censorship of certain books (this librarian blogger opposes censorship). As governor, Palin supported the "bridge to nowhere" appropriation until it became a national joke and even then, kept the money in Alaska. So much for being fiscally responsible and cutting down on pork barrel expenditures. Ms. Palin attended five colleges and universities in six years before receiving a degree in journalism. Apparently in all that time she did not work on a school paper, or do anything else journalism related. And apparently that journalism education did not help her in her interview with Katie Couric where she came off as naive, uneducated, small minded conservative--who later reported on FOX that she didn't like Katie's questions--that she simply wanted to inform the public, in an unfiltered way, of what would happen if Barack Obama became president. The public would like to hear what Palin and McCain offer, but they never talk about that--mostly because they have nothing to say.
Frankly, Sarah Palin, master of folksy phrases like 'you betcha,''straight up,' and 'darn,' scares the 'heck' out of me. She is totally unqualified to be vp let alone slipping into the presidency should something happen to McCain.
Join me at the polls on November 4. Let's make sure that we really do bring CHANGE to Washington politics and our national government.
If you haven't made your decision yet, think about these facts.
First, John McCain, as a prisoner of war, gave aid and comfort to the enemy in the way of giving military information and participating in radio broadcasts for the communists and meeting with communist delegations that including the Cubans. These matters never reached a military court even though other soldiers in similar situations were court martialed. In 1989, US Senator, John McCain, was one of five US Senators accused of corruption as part of the Savings and Loan scandal. Known as the Keating Five, only 2 of the five managed to save their political careers. One was McCain, the other John Glenn. Miraculous what name recognition will do for you. Even today, John McCain calls himself a maverick despite the fact that he has supported George W. Bush on almost every political decision in the last eight years. Yes to tax cuts for the highest economic brackets, yes to war in Iraq based on false intelligence. He voted against bills supporting women's rights in the area of reproduction, including the Teen Pregnancy Education Act. In several other matters, Mr. McCain chose the route of No Vote, perhaps so he could later say he did not support the failed policies of the Bush administration.
John McCain is also the man who didn't know how many houses he owned. Okay, we all know his wife is the one with the money, but he has been married to her since 1980--don't tell me he doesn't know how many properties she or they own. And if he truly doesn't know--are you sure you want him running the largest democratic nation in the world?
To all in public education, John McCain supports vouchers as well as charter schools and merit pay for teachers. All three ideas weaken public education in my humble opinion. Frankly, I am tired of Washington politicians telling the nation how bad our public education system is. There is NO other nation in the world who educates the masses as we do.
And now for Sarah...is there anyone in Alaska prepared to vote for her--or only those who want her out of the state? As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin, who ran on fiscal conservatism, spent an unapproved $50,000 to remodel her office. She attempted to fire the city librarian because she refused to comply with Ms. Palin's censorship of certain books (this librarian blogger opposes censorship). As governor, Palin supported the "bridge to nowhere" appropriation until it became a national joke and even then, kept the money in Alaska. So much for being fiscally responsible and cutting down on pork barrel expenditures. Ms. Palin attended five colleges and universities in six years before receiving a degree in journalism. Apparently in all that time she did not work on a school paper, or do anything else journalism related. And apparently that journalism education did not help her in her interview with Katie Couric where she came off as naive, uneducated, small minded conservative--who later reported on FOX that she didn't like Katie's questions--that she simply wanted to inform the public, in an unfiltered way, of what would happen if Barack Obama became president. The public would like to hear what Palin and McCain offer, but they never talk about that--mostly because they have nothing to say.
Frankly, Sarah Palin, master of folksy phrases like 'you betcha,''straight up,' and 'darn,' scares the 'heck' out of me. She is totally unqualified to be vp let alone slipping into the presidency should something happen to McCain.
Join me at the polls on November 4. Let's make sure that we really do bring CHANGE to Washington politics and our national government.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Death of an Idol
Paul Newman died yesterday. I cried today when I heard the news. He was a hero of mine since my adolescent eyes first meet his baby blues in The Silver Chalice. I must have been 13 or 14 years old and the 1955 movie was on our brand new color television. It was Paul's first big screen performance and the movie was not notable, but I knew the very moment I saw him on screen that I was in the presence of someone who would be long remembered. I continued to follow his career, watching older movies on television and the newer ones in the theater. I aged with Paul, even though he is almost three decades older than me. And how he did age, naturally, beautifully becoming such a distinguished older man. The last two roles that I admired him in were his performance as Kevin Costner's father in Message in a Bottle and the role of John Rooney in Road to Perdition. In between that first movie and his last, there were so many memorable moments. Here are just a few of mine, well worth watching, again and again.
The Color of Money (1986) .... Fast Eddie Felson
Absence of Malice (1981) .... Michael Colin Gallagher
Slap Shot (1977) .... Reggie 'Reg' Dunlop
The Sting (1973) .... Henry Gondorff
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) .... Butch Cassidy
Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Luke
Hombre (1967) .... John Russell
Harper (1966) .... Lew Harper
Hud (1963) .... Hud Bannon
The Hustler (1961) .... Eddie Felson
Exodus (1960) .... Ari Ben Canaan
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) .... Brick Pollitt
The Long, Hot Summer (1958) .... Ben Quick
My admiration for Paul extended far beyond his ability as an actor. His long marriage to Joanne Woodward survived in part because they removed themselves from the superfluous environment of Hollywood. They raised their children in Connecticut and managed to stay out of the public eye. Paul also pursued other interests, outside of acting. His long time association with racing was something that I am sure gave him great satisfaction. He was a competent driver. And then there's his establishment of Newman's Own brand giving us all quality healthy foods with profits filtering to nonprofit organizations. I hope this business will be continued by his daughter Nell.
I am going to miss Paul Newman, with his bedroom blue eyes and grin that was wider than the big screen. His on and off screen legacy will be with us for a long time to come.
The Color of Money (1986) .... Fast Eddie Felson
Absence of Malice (1981) .... Michael Colin Gallagher
Slap Shot (1977) .... Reggie 'Reg' Dunlop
The Sting (1973) .... Henry Gondorff
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) .... Butch Cassidy
Cool Hand Luke (1967) .... Luke
Hombre (1967) .... John Russell
Harper (1966) .... Lew Harper
Hud (1963) .... Hud Bannon
The Hustler (1961) .... Eddie Felson
Exodus (1960) .... Ari Ben Canaan
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) .... Brick Pollitt
The Long, Hot Summer (1958) .... Ben Quick
My admiration for Paul extended far beyond his ability as an actor. His long marriage to Joanne Woodward survived in part because they removed themselves from the superfluous environment of Hollywood. They raised their children in Connecticut and managed to stay out of the public eye. Paul also pursued other interests, outside of acting. His long time association with racing was something that I am sure gave him great satisfaction. He was a competent driver. And then there's his establishment of Newman's Own brand giving us all quality healthy foods with profits filtering to nonprofit organizations. I hope this business will be continued by his daughter Nell.
I am going to miss Paul Newman, with his bedroom blue eyes and grin that was wider than the big screen. His on and off screen legacy will be with us for a long time to come.
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