tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84891178206644623532024-03-23T03:13:45.275-07:00The Great American Field TripWhere learning meets the road.
Driving cross country with 4 kids for 3 months. The minivan departs August 26, 2011. America is our classroom.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-60997075486163467292011-11-28T09:44:00.000-08:002011-11-28T09:59:26.988-08:00A Lucky Feeling<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT7uQ1M6SRdNlb8bWPZx9MSgyXagQq9cVgvW1GB32-7REV4-Jn1CeW1KHkhVzzU_pxW-Z0ccsZHwjpT2_6xAxsL4-UqbtvsLIbA4DaZ_Tb_bvTPVdX137QTaQ8I6vi5bs3iqut-_VqjJq/s1600/end+of+the+trip+101.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT7uQ1M6SRdNlb8bWPZx9MSgyXagQq9cVgvW1GB32-7REV4-Jn1CeW1KHkhVzzU_pxW-Z0ccsZHwjpT2_6xAxsL4-UqbtvsLIbA4DaZ_Tb_bvTPVdX137QTaQ8I6vi5bs3iqut-_VqjJq/s640/end+of+the+trip+101.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">The last 2 days of The Great American Field Trip was like the last day of school carnival, graduation and rainy day recess all rolled into one. I half heartedly suggested Helen Keller’s autobiography on CD. And by the reaction of everyone, I realized it was like a teacher assigning homework the day before break. I suggested hiking in Arizona, but there was only one thing on everyone’s mind – we were 10 hours from home, and excitement was mounting. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I tried to gather some enthusiasm for the desert scenery. As a last ditch effort I attempted to make the tumbleweed that rolled by an educational moment but I had already lost them. In many ways, I knew the trip was already over. The mental energy had already shifted. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYzW6i4uT81GLcIRhc2dYTPB7hikvWcKcGBXeqFmtToG79_Tf138ftybFCULZG2q02gPsb5YzQHc950gO-1RkbmykOifWzC9vOUinSiFa_e-jspCOsL8WVdmKruBFl3cWXfPjm-iiNrWT/s1600/end+of+the+trip+094.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYzW6i4uT81GLcIRhc2dYTPB7hikvWcKcGBXeqFmtToG79_Tf138ftybFCULZG2q02gPsb5YzQHc950gO-1RkbmykOifWzC9vOUinSiFa_e-jspCOsL8WVdmKruBFl3cWXfPjm-iiNrWT/s640/end+of+the+trip+094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small tumbleweed rolls by. Santa Rosa, New Mexico</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I knew my audience well and it was time to let go. I broke all the rules. The kids watched Jimmy Neutron and Tom and Jerry DVDs we bought at Walmart. I let Janey buy some teeny bopper magazines. We ate at MacDonald’s. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For three months every day offered a new perspective, a new adventure. But these last couple days were about driving towards the familiar. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My kids had never been gone long enough to miss home. It's a lucky feeling. We are so fortunate to have been able to take this trip and luckier still to have a home to come back to. Home is more than our house. In a larger sense it is belonging to a community. The familiar grocery store, and favorite restaurants, parks and beaches. Knowing how to get places. And most of all home is the group of friends and family we were eager to hug. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The emptiness that homeless people feel began to take on even sadder implications in stark contrast to what awaited us with each passing mile. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Janey had a plan and prepped everyone for it – when we turned on our street, we would all say in unison, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home” until we pulled into our driveway. It was the best way to finish. Pulling into our driveway was a triumphant feeling wrapped in a bit of disbelief. Screams. Hollers. Car doors flying open. Legs running to the front door.<br />
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All the planning and research and dreaming and was now replaced with memories.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Now that we are home, many have asked me “How was your trip?” or “How does it feel to be home?” “What was your favorite place?” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can only imagine the strange look on my face as I hesitate to string together a coherent sentence. My mind races through the explosion of mental pictures, memories, and emotions that stir behind my tired eyes. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Stretches of roads: flat roads, windy roads, hilly roads, farm roads, two lane roads, toll roads, and city roads. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Flashes of corn fields, redwood trees, monuments, bison, rivers, museums. Rocket ships, covered wagons, cannons, cotton fields, sand dunes.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Faces and voices.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Fried Chicken and macaroni and cheese in Georgia and Alabama, she crab soup in Virginia, bison burgers in South Dakota. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Conversations, observations, realizations, adaptations, ruminations, and navigations.<br />
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Closeness, togetherness, waywardness, happiness. <br />
</div>I loved it all. <br />
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A few of my favorite things from the Great American Field Trip: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrYFC64sgOmyphe42iHJW9sL6fzaT3p-ulCrYGL1ROXecdBBL7-yBhTIAxhuZPIfNw27-_9gECsVCP7cu46nkhR0BSoOWj_QDSqiJKezCHK0Q49pUlSLkPUhNB2qjT3AbAxJwDqlksYCc/s1600/outerbanks+134.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrYFC64sgOmyphe42iHJW9sL6fzaT3p-ulCrYGL1ROXecdBBL7-yBhTIAxhuZPIfNw27-_9gECsVCP7cu46nkhR0BSoOWj_QDSqiJKezCHK0Q49pUlSLkPUhNB2qjT3AbAxJwDqlksYCc/s640/outerbanks+134.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZjbe-kI9ajNxULxxBWznQ5yCQEHq2OcwPOgd7Cgx7CZ_TLvUAU4Dvgpa1Zp1KsEuc3KEFA1vURCvi9Kv04Si8Ht5Hinn897mCPosaCk1hTY-aCSWucyuCGvoFM-ykqjkZXYUt5m-5MAn/s1600/outerbanks+171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZjbe-kI9ajNxULxxBWznQ5yCQEHq2OcwPOgd7Cgx7CZ_TLvUAU4Dvgpa1Zp1KsEuc3KEFA1vURCvi9Kv04Si8Ht5Hinn897mCPosaCk1hTY-aCSWucyuCGvoFM-ykqjkZXYUt5m-5MAn/s640/outerbanks+171.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5WLXExHlQi25nkQkuQs4IugOxEw4r9EtvZnAfYztOW_cKSbMVYDO7Fg6QZ-u2FnLqI_P6q68G2TSDeGgZ980TyRsbgNrA-xocNDD88Dbym7_lDcWCfer87LIXGIP67-2cmx6q4PtNums/s1600/redwoods+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi5WLXExHlQi25nkQkuQs4IugOxEw4r9EtvZnAfYztOW_cKSbMVYDO7Fg6QZ-u2FnLqI_P6q68G2TSDeGgZ980TyRsbgNrA-xocNDD88Dbym7_lDcWCfer87LIXGIP67-2cmx6q4PtNums/s640/redwoods+058.JPG" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discovering</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3GiSZsl_GGyam43evDWJZukaAMYCbzouo-buxQSOn3VheaSATfcEZWWCKtXZXgJVQgjQMGdmrtjgmk4V6J6egLSzBcZcGwWmDj_j8mpbOMtOBhJCnrKNENNy0AtnaaNABtrjLgjJ39dX/s1600/Mummum+and+grandpa%252C+cruise+Janey+261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3GiSZsl_GGyam43evDWJZukaAMYCbzouo-buxQSOn3VheaSATfcEZWWCKtXZXgJVQgjQMGdmrtjgmk4V6J6egLSzBcZcGwWmDj_j8mpbOMtOBhJCnrKNENNy0AtnaaNABtrjLgjJ39dX/s640/Mummum+and+grandpa%252C+cruise+Janey+261.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touching</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nyCxAF2yupOg_HNzZQl-Zr_HssvZn3ujw6RvezBmnPHwqKpyA5ZUYscVwnaIiqYlpnRrn0tzUjXcK5FqYLclFV94gPf0X_Q-mgMKTisTJpvnYPaHaV2yk1GzAon_wR-Rx_d5t3k3I6Zt/s1600/Mummum+and+grandpa%252C+cruise+Janey+313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nyCxAF2yupOg_HNzZQl-Zr_HssvZn3ujw6RvezBmnPHwqKpyA5ZUYscVwnaIiqYlpnRrn0tzUjXcK5FqYLclFV94gPf0X_Q-mgMKTisTJpvnYPaHaV2yk1GzAon_wR-Rx_d5t3k3I6Zt/s640/Mummum+and+grandpa%252C+cruise+Janey+313.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loudness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QnS8bFLbJz5oDvgfZPAu5Zgp4YhA2smAE5o01au6_nLqEGoOsNwWYAH86FkZaQ7l0fT19swgODOTmMsEQpxikkhBgB5Cy_4QnV3bb_aAYE-W9SWOjtJC-EpwEZhXDD1h7KoG-e0LiG63/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QnS8bFLbJz5oDvgfZPAu5Zgp4YhA2smAE5o01au6_nLqEGoOsNwWYAH86FkZaQ7l0fT19swgODOTmMsEQpxikkhBgB5Cy_4QnV3bb_aAYE-W9SWOjtJC-EpwEZhXDD1h7KoG-e0LiG63/s640/tenessee+mississippi+075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiteness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOg8AEsTIC0H0UHIRNm0bdcgD6_AH4MWnX7Z2p8MLBEkzJ9LimJGz71WQaOFNJotvH01KPKtRBl9kATe2tfR92cLEJqqV3nFezUH56R129dgDq5yroTVo-uMp1kJFPBdTmUIjTd1qK-P8/s1600/maryland+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOg8AEsTIC0H0UHIRNm0bdcgD6_AH4MWnX7Z2p8MLBEkzJ9LimJGz71WQaOFNJotvH01KPKtRBl9kATe2tfR92cLEJqqV3nFezUH56R129dgDq5yroTVo-uMp1kJFPBdTmUIjTd1qK-P8/s640/maryland+037.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Motion</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l1kluTtIDZCQMDZ4c3SARFJxyl27Ea3omP01hnfv5v9yHJYUT-DPa8sMY5zbqepnE9YWDJm1h_fMPdu0lqMH0o9lO_UCuOUy5B6Ru0d5VBnMjXp0kmXpqUkWrxWsKWx7Eqs2QDzGXbsz/s1600/OR%252CID%252CWY%252CSD%252CIA+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l1kluTtIDZCQMDZ4c3SARFJxyl27Ea3omP01hnfv5v9yHJYUT-DPa8sMY5zbqepnE9YWDJm1h_fMPdu0lqMH0o9lO_UCuOUy5B6Ru0d5VBnMjXp0kmXpqUkWrxWsKWx7Eqs2QDzGXbsz/s640/OR%252CID%252CWY%252CSD%252CIA+289.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflection</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvhFGZM4OpSDGd6C8-Q7eSsegJz7jNmRQhSDoCaxNPjMN62HrBpbMwH4mMA2SYlj6WaUWBa8IVMiSQroT_E5vRr2oyRmAY2j10-d0ONxCEvmZ1ij-nEkWH4Ms-uiGBMDCcVSIlJEiol4h/s1600/end+of+the+trip+049.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvhFGZM4OpSDGd6C8-Q7eSsegJz7jNmRQhSDoCaxNPjMN62HrBpbMwH4mMA2SYlj6WaUWBa8IVMiSQroT_E5vRr2oyRmAY2j10-d0ONxCEvmZ1ij-nEkWH4Ms-uiGBMDCcVSIlJEiol4h/s640/end+of+the+trip+049.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamwork</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_jVQNKH0QZCaCph0e9nuYs7xCek-VkcQuSAgVdK16_TM-Zp-yAjf6bQGO_SE1xkUrlfKuypFsWyjefYQ7h4GgzVi_WK3d3w9m8dmbDP2VFK0Lod9lfZ0qL0QY-ZhJ9ak9DqtyfjZaxw-/s1600/end+of+the+trip+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_jVQNKH0QZCaCph0e9nuYs7xCek-VkcQuSAgVdK16_TM-Zp-yAjf6bQGO_SE1xkUrlfKuypFsWyjefYQ7h4GgzVi_WK3d3w9m8dmbDP2VFK0Lod9lfZ0qL0QY-ZhJ9ak9DqtyfjZaxw-/s640/end+of+the+trip+048.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great American Field Trip has been one wild ride!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJrLNqLk65wijM9aAvAOGvlbWfQMqPyxl3O9gqLUf2kITioP_qUVdZ8H9BQqg8F0Jcuxg2HPUlUVuTA8sHOccRMIRm4CFr0w-jwbnNDE48KGzmrXx3XD94knqlkiKL-JDeArkrluMJyeN/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJrLNqLk65wijM9aAvAOGvlbWfQMqPyxl3O9gqLUf2kITioP_qUVdZ8H9BQqg8F0Jcuxg2HPUlUVuTA8sHOccRMIRm4CFr0w-jwbnNDE48KGzmrXx3XD94knqlkiKL-JDeArkrluMJyeN/s640/tenessee+mississippi+057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This field trip has ended but our path is still unfolding. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Please don't be a stranger </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">and stay tuned for the new year for the unveiling of my new website!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-50945117691808633902011-11-23T14:40:00.000-08:002011-11-23T14:40:55.776-08:00Homecoming - But First...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">We are home! </div><div class="MsoNormal">I have showered in my shower and slept in my bed. I want to write about that and it will be my next post. But I would be remiss if I didn't first write about our last major stop on the Civil Rights section of our field trip - Little Rock, Arkansas. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The U.S. Supreme Court found segregation in schools unconstitutional in 1954. Three years later in 1957, the vast majority of schools were still segregated.<span> </span>In September, 1957, nine black teenagers risked their lives as they became the first to desegregate the enormous Central High School in Little Rock.<span> These nine were carefully selected from a group of students who volunteered and were carefully screened. Initially there were close to 20, but the number dwindled as families received threatening phone calls and students knew they would not be allowed to play sports or participate in extracurriular activities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span></span>They became known as the Little Rock Nine.<span> </span>They endured physical, emotional, and verbal abuse from students on a daily basis throughout the year. <span> </span><span> </span>They were pushed down staircases, tripped, kicked, and shoved. They had feces and urine thrown on their lockers and had rocks hurled at them during P.E. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The rest of the students who did not participate in these hateful ignorant acts, dare not be risked being called a "nigger lover" and although they wanted to show support, they felt they could do nothing and feared for their own safety if they did. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"> The administration did nothing. <span></span>These nine were completely isolated and many of the teachers offered little support as many were staunch segregationist and didn't believe they should be there. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The visitor's center run by the National Park Service was directly across the street diagonally from the enormous high school. <a href="http://www.nps.gov/chsc/index.htm">Click here to find out more</a> We saw photographs and watched videos of the Little Rock Nine and other former students sharing their memories. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">One display that really got me was a pair of saddle shoes with the quote from one of the brave nine "Everyday, I would wake up, polish my shoes and go off to war." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It was one of the first news stories that the nation could watch live. <span> The country watched in disbelief when President Eisenhower called in the 101st Airborne and instructed the National Guard be under federal orders to escort the students into the school. The first two attempts concluded with a closing of the school. The country watched reporters being victims of the viscous mob, many of whom did not have a student at the school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span> </div><div class="MsoNormal">L Alex Wilson black journalist from the Tri-State Defender Memphis Tenn. was there that day covering the story. He had a 5 month old daughter at home. He was kicked, pushed and even had a brick thrown at his head. He never fully recovered from the brain injuries, developed Parkinsons and died three years later. Here is a photo of the mob attacking Mr. Wilson. Notice the brick in the guy's hand who is kicking him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLW1wUjoJt-nKjuarGovtfvsa0zhQL-md5z6uHMjgCGZXVdrR3b117jPcTsjElmfAXWT6e3TkKCVIrm58CgfJhOuMYSWNRWMQX8TtEzNzY6A4iT3-rQ9bx0xwc3vhmsdtJLlNisSp2yQ5/s1600/l+alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLW1wUjoJt-nKjuarGovtfvsa0zhQL-md5z6uHMjgCGZXVdrR3b117jPcTsjElmfAXWT6e3TkKCVIrm58CgfJhOuMYSWNRWMQX8TtEzNzY6A4iT3-rQ9bx0xwc3vhmsdtJLlNisSp2yQ5/s640/l+alex.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uEL4An2Ci7Gw4Yo7SlzMdm2Exyqdz7m-lb5xMuGGYW6SS7csPfP6w_3PLe4f6tqDpM6iUMB2SVTiytiOBIeLBfIUG9LM0lu7Lpb95XvNnP0lcy1FEjg2CsZcX7uJuCBadJXw3Wb5wZvu/s1600/wilson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uEL4An2Ci7Gw4Yo7SlzMdm2Exyqdz7m-lb5xMuGGYW6SS7csPfP6w_3PLe4f6tqDpM6iUMB2SVTiytiOBIeLBfIUG9LM0lu7Lpb95XvNnP0lcy1FEjg2CsZcX7uJuCBadJXw3Wb5wZvu/s640/wilson.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"> I read in a book that he held on to his hat, and although it was knocked off several times, he kept putting it on his head because he was a gentleman. He never ran because he said the students didn't. And he never fought back. I bought some great books there, let me know if you want to borrow them! </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAXGlz8fJ0b0D3SOVF05ocY1PeowN17hS_CXG1YnaQpQHjin89ZDlGYN7iGM1FZBCXbL5lB4yNnjUFJaRjFoeRGeUqXOH5A7htWZRoQMltpBJRwxx2WtEGwpze6UgJDIwdTTkVv2s7vma/s1600/Central+High+Integration%252C+Little+Rock%252C+1957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAXGlz8fJ0b0D3SOVF05ocY1PeowN17hS_CXG1YnaQpQHjin89ZDlGYN7iGM1FZBCXbL5lB4yNnjUFJaRjFoeRGeUqXOH5A7htWZRoQMltpBJRwxx2WtEGwpze6UgJDIwdTTkVv2s7vma/s640/Central+High+Integration%252C+Little+Rock%252C+1957.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Elizabeth Eckford on her first day of school at Central High. </td><td class="tr-caption"> </td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">With a Park Ranger, on the second morning we visited the center, we were able to go into the high school and see parts of it. It was weird because school was in session and we saw students. My imagination almost hurt from being right where so much hatred and pain took place. (I have photos of our visit but in the unpacking chaos, don't know where I set my camera down. )</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Little Rock shook me up quite a bit. Payton will be starting high school in less than a year and many of his friends are in high school. It hit very close to home. I should certainly hope that when he does start high school he be an ambassador of justice and compassion and never be a silent witness to any bullying or mistreatment of a fellow student. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">For that matter, none of my kids may plead ignorance now. These road school lessons will be tested again and again, in and out of school.How they perform on these tests mean far more to me than any grade they earn on paper pencil graded test they will be given in school. If we see an injustice happening against another person. We must speak out and reach out. This is easier said than done, especially if you risk your or your family’s personal safety to do the right thing. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>In addition, I will try to regularly remind them of the privilege it is to attend school without any roadblocks and to take that opportunity lightly will not be tolerated. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>I was grateful for the long drive to Oklahoma City that followed Little Rock. It was necessary to have time to think, grieve and process. Had I been at home, and not on Interstate 40, I may have been too easily distracted afterward. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>Oklahoma gets a bad wrap. I found the gently rolling hills and farmland that make up the eastern part of the state a welcome tranquil. I liked Oklahoma City's simpleness and desire to offer cultural, culinary, sports, natural attractions. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Oklahoma City is the kind of town you can do in a day, and I was able to check off the 3 main things I wanted us to learn about: </div><div class="MsoNormal">1. The Trail of Tears - the relocation of Native Americans from the southeastern United States after the passage of the 1830 "Indian Removal Act" (as unbelievable as it is, that is what it was called)</div><div class="MsoNormal">2. The Dustbowl</div><div class="MsoNormal">3. The 1996 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City - and visiting the memorial. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thankfully there was an awesome museum in Oklahoma which covered all of this and more. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">From there, Alburquerque New Mexico, was our next stop. Suddenly, we found ourselves, only 11 hours from home. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Like horses who speed up when they know they are near their barn, My kids wanted to hit the road and get back to their barn. <span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Selling Arizona to them was like selling an Eskimo snow.<span> </span><span> </span>Even the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world was nothing compared to the wonder of home. </div><div class="MsoNormal">And that is another story, which I will save for tomorrow... </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-1853450237946190712011-11-21T10:46:00.000-08:002011-11-21T10:46:51.107-08:00Asking for Your Help I just found out this morning that my essay was chosen as a finalist on Sonia Marsh's "Gutsy Living" contest. She is a mother, author, blogger, and has definitely done some Gutsy Living. It is an honor to be selected an one essay for this month will be chosen as the winning essay. Much of it will depend on how many comments each essay gets.<br />
<br />
Please <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/ql33S">click here</a> to be directed to the Gutsy Living blog read my essay. At the bottom, you can leave your comment. While there, you will learn more about Sonia and her upcoming book. <br />
<br />
Thank you very much for your help!<br />
<br />
JillUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-56890706899815674892011-11-20T09:50:00.000-08:002011-11-20T09:50:43.651-08:00Crossings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal">When the brand new Greenville Bridge opened to traffic last year, it replaced an old two lane bridge built in 1940. The new bridge is the longest cable-stayed span on the Mississippi River and its 4 lanes of traffic carries passengers across a two and a half mile stretch of river connecting Mississippi to Arkansas. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The first time we crossed the Mississippi, we were heading west and visited Hannibal Missouri, hometown of Mark Twain. The town is situated right on the Mississippi and its influence on Twain’s life could not be overemphasized. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was a little hard on myself because in my mind we were behind the reading schedule. The kids and I had completed <i>Tom Sawyer</i> just in time for our arrival in the small town along the mighty river, but had not even started <i>Huckleberry Finn</i>.<span> </span>I was excited to be there, but there were also small pangs of guilt.<span> </span>It <span> </span>was my fault we had not finished both books.<span> </span>If I had only been <span> </span>more insistent that we listen to the audio book for longer periods on our drive. <span> </span>Often, days would go by that we would not listen at all. <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We started the audio version of <i>The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</i> just as we left Hannibal and just as our trip “East of the Mississippi” began.<span> </span>Maybe, I reasoned, that after visiting Hannibal,<span> </span><i>Huck Finn </i>would mean even more. <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span>It is a long book, and, just as with <i>Tom Sawyer</i>, we had several starts and stops. There were times we weren’t in the car very much like when were with cousins in Ohio or the week we were in D.C. <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, when we did listen to the book, I would routinely pause the story to check for understanding and discuss what was happening. We touched on the themes about questioning societal norms, grappling with one’s conscience, and the true meaning of friendship.<span> </span>Additionally, there are several different southern dialects in the book, plus it was written in the 1880’s. Rushing through, we would miss too much and I didn’t want the kids to miss Twain’s brilliant humor. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Needless to say, the book took longer than I thought to get through and I felt the pressure of the long list of books I wanted to read with them.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> <span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal">I vocalized my feelings on several occasions, “Come on, you guys, we are going to get home from this trip and I am not going to let anyone out of the car, because we are going to be sitting on our driveway finishing <i>Huckleberry Finn.</i>”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then the single most magical moment of our trip happened.<span> </span>There is no way I can think of that we could have planned it better. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We did finish <i>Huckleberry Finn</i> – literally on top of the Mississippi River!<span> </span>We were on the last chapter as we found ourselves approaching the Greenville Bridge by complete chance.<span> </span>I slowed my car down as much as possible to savor the odds defying occasion. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the final words of the book were read, we looked out on the darkening river, the trees covered islands, and the orange sky. It was effortless to imagine Huckleberry Finn and Jim on the raft somewhere out there.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b>“We said there warn’t no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don’t. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.”</b><span> </span> </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Chapter 18</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i>"It's lovely to live on a <span class="yshortcuts"><span id="lw_1321802905_0">raft</span></span>. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened." </i></b><span> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Chapter 19</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We were about midway over the bridge as the last words of the book came through the speakers of my car. </div><div class="MsoNormal">We erupted in cheers and high fives.<span> </span>“We did it!” <span> </span>“Yes!” <span> </span>“Whoo Hoo!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We marveled at how we could have finished that book anywhere; in a city, along a stretch of freeway or a country road in any of the many states we had been listening to it. <span>But what better place to finish than on the Mississippi itself. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">We crossed the Mississippi River two times on our trip. Both times with Mark Twain </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And look at that. I was so worried about finishing <i>Huckleberry Finn</i>, when really, it all worked out in its own time and in its own way.<span> </span>Way better than I ever could have imagined. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As I think of the moments suspended above the river now, I think of the flood of emotion that came with the crossing.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As the trip is coming to a close, I asked Payton if he feels he has changed. <span> </span>“No”, he answered.<span> </span>And then upon brief reflection said, “I feel more aware” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Great American Field Trip has been a bridge between before and after. <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>A crossing which has change each of us forever more. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is the only photo I have of us crossing the Greenville Bridge. I grabbed my phone and shot this throught the windshield. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-5_GxhTqgWGuRn6pV6yuw8Lh5PaSgp-i81v73GPGGpGuZlpdgFFcr_Amv7LDBf7Ddz-fauGKJp-Wkln3VR4_MEHtTyYANhu_jrdATMy79mq_Hd0AY3S7TxBfTxDrjcF_zGEvGy_uGn1/s1600/greenville+Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLy-5_GxhTqgWGuRn6pV6yuw8Lh5PaSgp-i81v73GPGGpGuZlpdgFFcr_Amv7LDBf7Ddz-fauGKJp-Wkln3VR4_MEHtTyYANhu_jrdATMy79mq_Hd0AY3S7TxBfTxDrjcF_zGEvGy_uGn1/s640/greenville+Bridge.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-38925173830531651822011-11-17T08:21:00.000-08:002011-11-17T08:33:58.810-08:00Being Green in Leland Mississipppi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFTklVPYAd5TmKAD_h-6wsQfrvBOfBL07kLg52zBHFIVd9b4t3_WPLsBodBRS5DOAsLuNJ3wgrB6RccLyovbqAlMOBv-7BnuCG7iz-AzAuCi0TsNJtkynDO0Gc2xBD0KgD_zk6XwZX6A/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+110.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFTklVPYAd5TmKAD_h-6wsQfrvBOfBL07kLg52zBHFIVd9b4t3_WPLsBodBRS5DOAsLuNJ3wgrB6RccLyovbqAlMOBv-7BnuCG7iz-AzAuCi0TsNJtkynDO0Gc2xBD0KgD_zk6XwZX6A/s640/tenessee+mississippi+110.JPG" width="358" /></a> <br />
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The Great American Field Trip would not be complete without a stop in Leland, Mississippi. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, and voice of Kermit the Frog, spent his childhood in Leland. His genius, creativity, and unique, lovable puppets, taught a generation of kids everything from letters and numbers to feelings and life lessons like sharing and cooperation. <br />
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As a child, I was obsessed with the muppets. I had all of the stuffed animals which lived on my bed, had books and records, a subscription to Sesame Street magazine. I watched Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and of course the different Muppet movies.<br />
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Kermit the Frog was always my all time favorite. One year, my mom let me have a birthday party for Kermit the Frog. Kermit's birthday included green paper plates and frog cupcakes. <br />
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While I did not have had the words then to describe what it was about Kermit that spoke to me, I think I can put it into words now. Kermit was kind, he was fair, he was humble. He also was a bit of an underdog with unwavering optimism. You couldn't help root for him.<br />
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As a news reporter, on Sesame Street, he interviewed storybook characters such as Little Miss Muffet or Jack an the Beanstalk. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWE3uF9u9-g&feature=relmfu">Here he is interviewing Humpty Dumpty. </a><br />
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Kermit was a natural born leader, physically, he was small and perhaps lacked brawn, but his influence on the other Muppets was huge. His distinct nasaly voice made him all the more lovable. His vulnerability made it so that you realized, you weren't the only one who dropped things, made mistakes, or misunderstood stuff sometimes. <br />
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In Washington D.C. we saw the very first Kermit the Frog in the Smithsonian. Jim Henson made this puppet from his mother's old wool coat and two ping pong balls for the eyes. The Smithsonian is a long way from the rural Mississippi town where Jim Henson spent his childhood.<br />
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The museum was small but Dorothy, a native a Leland was a wealth of knowledge. She was a few years ahead of Jim in school. (Henson would be 75 this year) <br />
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Here are photos from the museum:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUHXAvUclVCTJEfYxQ1MLcP1eAamz_BCZVfjO1QkkBEmep-YbK6VfyGO4jD4mzzNmVo0XpUhEXIuOD-qmg1feGn48GaIXKW4kWINfMJKl5KMFY_Dcew88JH5I43ujEsmEUmj7WzqMpXZy/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+099.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnUHXAvUclVCTJEfYxQ1MLcP1eAamz_BCZVfjO1QkkBEmep-YbK6VfyGO4jD4mzzNmVo0XpUhEXIuOD-qmg1feGn48GaIXKW4kWINfMJKl5KMFY_Dcew88JH5I43ujEsmEUmj7WzqMpXZy/s640/tenessee+mississippi+099.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRxd7olJKfHD4DumfGubGd-mWvMOtEA76sQ4pdc0CTxQrvdaRlOy-goeZ9XaYvRUeG0EkSU2HZ58H0rqsdSVtSKmeFRm2MWuEoirr248kNCYJGHtRH-5RwLdcrdjOi5qDNMS8Rjb-ZNos/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+115.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRxd7olJKfHD4DumfGubGd-mWvMOtEA76sQ4pdc0CTxQrvdaRlOy-goeZ9XaYvRUeG0EkSU2HZ58H0rqsdSVtSKmeFRm2MWuEoirr248kNCYJGHtRH-5RwLdcrdjOi5qDNMS8Rjb-ZNos/s640/tenessee+mississippi+115.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZx8Mh5DdSnOLMeCcIAsW0RrkPP6uLuUbGdjnsDDfL8GnFxuNBUmd2BXnC8R1FgunkpD1-CQhx9zi3X_W7HmuotmukgH5_WWFbx4LpQYyfu74VRiWxj0DfgiiIaujFW_D2m9iUqBAuqMk/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+116.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZx8Mh5DdSnOLMeCcIAsW0RrkPP6uLuUbGdjnsDDfL8GnFxuNBUmd2BXnC8R1FgunkpD1-CQhx9zi3X_W7HmuotmukgH5_WWFbx4LpQYyfu74VRiWxj0DfgiiIaujFW_D2m9iUqBAuqMk/s640/tenessee+mississippi+116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The museum is a reflection of the man Jim Henson was. The beauty lies in making everyone feel welcome. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTYMJnNCdx13OsC9vq6D3ZkREEKwQRFiCNPeb3u7c0qXxVJxSaUtGPiEG4hFPK5z5TXRRgL6_zRxYiXiwnmEX65RQpyp_1yJANGBDBRtrHTfIDheUwFYA_DDSg89Xz5-rLc3tWqrOupiJ/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+100.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTYMJnNCdx13OsC9vq6D3ZkREEKwQRFiCNPeb3u7c0qXxVJxSaUtGPiEG4hFPK5z5TXRRgL6_zRxYiXiwnmEX65RQpyp_1yJANGBDBRtrHTfIDheUwFYA_DDSg89Xz5-rLc3tWqrOupiJ/s640/tenessee+mississippi+100.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQA9etF8dv_p9ctLOqeyr5MceKmnCQFh-ckuHKAeWvaj5H3fs8Qms0YSXmeBfOLpsRhrpbP7NrVjXx_yPBnojTqMsCadbt6jcMpZkbWWRj-Vgvn55Gv27KgintkZsUsgZWblW3Pz9rZb/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOQA9etF8dv_p9ctLOqeyr5MceKmnCQFh-ckuHKAeWvaj5H3fs8Qms0YSXmeBfOLpsRhrpbP7NrVjXx_yPBnojTqMsCadbt6jcMpZkbWWRj-Vgvn55Gv27KgintkZsUsgZWblW3Pz9rZb/s640/tenessee+mississippi+101.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJWP7chxS-FbLRmbg9Gy7OZFRcAlN1TcrqVXCLf5FBEuWt7wzR7kg94c3gCwUbBpvxoNWwuIFK-gSx_RXP-D9FORFLQLoOD9oci1PCUOBW9pm1CWaI6QIf32ioa7qKuv-4MuIjeAnCa_p/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJWP7chxS-FbLRmbg9Gy7OZFRcAlN1TcrqVXCLf5FBEuWt7wzR7kg94c3gCwUbBpvxoNWwuIFK-gSx_RXP-D9FORFLQLoOD9oci1PCUOBW9pm1CWaI6QIf32ioa7qKuv-4MuIjeAnCa_p/s640/tenessee+mississippi+151.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaeZuXJvCsYdr6cFAbV5TMUbvOXdSuGeVeR03uFQ3xB_yF1_0AimATIt7GeD-0SK1pkNzLWNiboweK9SXb2AY5aQ7JgiR22NilptGqqSkh6wk1rf7qU0oMMB2-GxZSdcrqAnWNgs2bhR-/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+138.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaeZuXJvCsYdr6cFAbV5TMUbvOXdSuGeVeR03uFQ3xB_yF1_0AimATIt7GeD-0SK1pkNzLWNiboweK9SXb2AY5aQ7JgiR22NilptGqqSkh6wk1rf7qU0oMMB2-GxZSdcrqAnWNgs2bhR-/s640/tenessee+mississippi+138.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw1869sUE4nv0K2OFteWrva79w2GX5EiG_ivghLMc0sGtPSHqJxGg3uywIdlygU-fXdVUt5v3rQFJGY-HYq7SPtqc4NVc-c37rzXuaqghoCm4HJqn-tRyYj4mnRhdD5KmkRQxXdlJVUvM/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLw1869sUE4nv0K2OFteWrva79w2GX5EiG_ivghLMc0sGtPSHqJxGg3uywIdlygU-fXdVUt5v3rQFJGY-HYq7SPtqc4NVc-c37rzXuaqghoCm4HJqn-tRyYj4mnRhdD5KmkRQxXdlJVUvM/s640/tenessee+mississippi+111.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> When you leave the museum, you follow the green frogprints along the road to the Rainbow Connection Bridge in Honor of Jim Henson. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispSsPpaNAHO1dAOhj7kttOkh_ZTMJ8ywSt0deUF83vr71GkARwnA5D-0SBaQyGWcVj5jtChyjXgi9abUb7jY63kUZBe6veLOLF2WxAskUjpl6LxMe05KGZOmyjBZj2aqomIDLZaDFMbwd/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispSsPpaNAHO1dAOhj7kttOkh_ZTMJ8ywSt0deUF83vr71GkARwnA5D-0SBaQyGWcVj5jtChyjXgi9abUb7jY63kUZBe6veLOLF2WxAskUjpl6LxMe05KGZOmyjBZj2aqomIDLZaDFMbwd/s640/tenessee+mississippi+155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUKGU8DX64I9U0O5qHdEGKoTRyFUBJbzcG8yu8k94Dn0UaH_ffWNjP7OWgBA89BEdCUl77N3Pl_3Dh96vzeouWX59oQ1cVMJn-kssfnQueg4jotp09Or7aARir_uvUoQCIR47hWBcZ2d2/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUKGU8DX64I9U0O5qHdEGKoTRyFUBJbzcG8yu8k94Dn0UaH_ffWNjP7OWgBA89BEdCUl77N3Pl_3Dh96vzeouWX59oQ1cVMJn-kssfnQueg4jotp09Or7aARir_uvUoQCIR47hWBcZ2d2/s640/tenessee+mississippi+156.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> The rails of the bridge are painted green!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyt3AT4ZKl-rysV09sy6t-_SPr8WnptISY_wYUj2Mrtt4DPsAOpsKyUpnKcnLQ4hb7-eIgQrzZy4bzdRvb6b-_pTVbx8SFyVEMwfVdsAdUj2gE-HX0wgSYmUMvHgcj6sQXu4r3dCDe-X5/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyt3AT4ZKl-rysV09sy6t-_SPr8WnptISY_wYUj2Mrtt4DPsAOpsKyUpnKcnLQ4hb7-eIgQrzZy4bzdRvb6b-_pTVbx8SFyVEMwfVdsAdUj2gE-HX0wgSYmUMvHgcj6sQXu4r3dCDe-X5/s640/tenessee+mississippi+158.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> View from the bridge... I have expected to see Kermit on a log with his banjo.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Click <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%22The%20Rainbow%20Connection%22%20Why%20are%20there%20so%20many%20songs%20about%20rainbows%20and%20what%27s%20on%20the%20other%20side?%20Rainbows%20are%20visions,%20but%20only%20illusions,%20and%20rainbows%20have%20nothing%20to%20hide.%20So%20we%27ve%20been%20told%20and%20some%20choose%20to%20believe%20it.%20I%20know%20they%27re%20wrong%20wait%20and%20see.%20%20Someday%20we%27ll%20find%20it,%20the%20rainbow%20connection.%20The%20lovers,%20the%20dreamers%20and%20me.%20Who%20said%20that%20wishes%20would%20be%20heard%20and%20answered%20when%20wished%20on%20the%20morningstar?%20%20Someone%20thought%20of%20that%20and%20someone%20believed%20it.%20Look%20what%20it%27s%20done%20so%20far.%20What%27s%20so%20amazing%20that%20keeps%20us%20stargazing%20and%20what%20do%20we%20think%20we%20might%20see?%20%20Someday%20we%27ll%20find%20it,%20the%20rainbow%20connection.%20The%20lovers,%20the%20dreamers%20and%20me.%20All%20of%20us%20under%20its%20spell.%20We%20know%20that%20it%27s%20probably%20magic.%20Have%20you%20been%20half%20asleep%20and%20have%20you%20heard%20voices?%20I%27ve%20heard%20them%20calling%20my%20name.%20%20Is%20this%20the%20sweet%20sound%20that%20calls%20the%20young%20sailors.%20The%20voice%20might%20be%20one%20and%20the%20same.%20%20I%27ve%20heard%20it%20too%20many%20times%20to%20ignore%20it.%20It%27s%20something%20that%20I%27m%20supposed%20to%20be.%20%20Someday%20we%27ll%20find%20it,%20the%20rainbow%20connection,%20the%20lovers,%20the%20dreamers%20and%20me.%20Someday%20we%27ll%20find%20it,%20the%20rainbow%20connection,%20the%20lovers,%20the%20dreamers%20and%20me.%20%20%20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM">here</a> to see the opening scene of the original Muppet Movie when Kermit is playing is banjo in the swamp singing the Rainbow Connection.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"The Rainbow Connection"</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?<br />
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.<br />
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.<br />
I know they're wrong wait and see.<br />
<br />
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.<br />
The lovers, the dreamers and me.<br />
Who said that wishes would be heard and answered when wished on the morningstar?<br />
<br />
Someone thought of that and someone believed it.<br />
Look what it's done so far.<br />
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing and what do we think we might see?<br />
<br />
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.<br />
The lovers, the dreamers and me.<br />
All of us under its spell.<br />
We know that it's probably magic.<br />
Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?<br />
I've heard them calling my name.<br />
<br />
Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors.<br />
The voice might be one and the same.<br />
<br />
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.<br />
It's something that I'm supposed to be.<br />
<br />
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me.<br />
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers and me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSFLZ-MzIhM</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Hoping the new Muppet Movie will stay true to Jim Henson's simple genius. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QFTklVPYAd5TmKAD_h-6wsQfrvBOfBL07kLg52zBHFIVd9b4t3_WPLsBodBRS5DOAsLuNJ3wgrB6RccLyovbqAlMOBv-7BnuCG7iz-AzAuCi0TsNJtkynDO0Gc2xBD0KgD_zk6XwZX6A/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-82112600482414192242011-11-15T19:57:00.000-08:002011-11-15T19:57:57.817-08:00100% Cotton<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal">So we’re driving down the road in rural Mississippi and I am seeing this stuff looking like cotton balls littering the sides of the road. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Then I realized, “Oh my gosh! That is cotton!” I remembered the fields in South Carolina looking like expanses of snowy fields. We were told by locals cotton harvest would soon begin.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">These cotton fields in Mississippi had just been harvested. The fields were nothing but small nubs and dirt now. I know that today harvest is done by machine, but I could vividly imagine the slaves bent over for hours in those same fields. Their ghosts seem to still hover in a landscape which has changed little in the last 150 years. I imagined the songs they sung as their calloused and cut hands moved with dexterity around the prickly plants, removing the cotton. Some of the farms houses may have been built pre Civil War, by the looks of how weathered and worn they were. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The cotton we saw were the little bits that did not make it into the huge freight car sized piles neatly stacked and waiting to be picked up and delivered to world markets any day. We pulled over and the kids picked up the cotton. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Are these things inside the seeds, Mom?" Sally asked. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Although on some level I know cotton is a plant, I never give it much thought. Well over 90% of my wardrobe is cotton, but when was the last time I gave thought to the plant that gave birth to my favorite sweatshirt, t-shirt, or pajamas? We all know that removing nail polish with anything other than a cotton ball is a joke. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Before this trip, none of us had ever actually seen cotton growing.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>In school I remember learning about Eli Whitney and his invention of the cotton gin. But until Sally asked me the question about the seeds and I looked back to see her futzing around with the cotton, I had never given Eli and his invention much thought. Seeing Sally struggle to get to the seeds and remove them from the cotton seemed a harder task than completing a Rubic's cube. </span><span>When I was a kid and again in high school, I learned about this part of history the way I learned my spelling words. Just rattled them off, unmoved emotionally.</span><span> It suddenly hit me, Eli Whitney's invention was world transforming! A machine could do the laborious task of removing the seeds at speeds that could only be imagined. I had to go online and google "Eli Whitney and the cotton gin."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>The Chinese proverb "Tell me and I forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I understand" was illuminated by our little encounter with cotton. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>I wondered why not one teacher had ever passed around freshly harvested cotton to the class and timed us in our attempts to get the seeds out of cotton. This simple hands on activity would have really drove the point home. I am assuming it could not be that difficult to get a hold of some. Or, taken one step further, I began to woder how hard would it be to grow cotton with the kiddos when we got home. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>I found some information on www.cottonspinning.com</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>From the website:</span></div><i>Would you like to see the progress of this amazing plant in your own home? Plant seeds indoors in 3" peat pots. Keep in a warm, sunny place, turning the pot a little each day. Best to start your plants indoors about 4 weeks prior to putting them outside. Transplant directly into the ground or a large outdoor pot when all danger of frost is over. To transplant, tear off the bottom of the peat pot. Water the plant well for the first few days. Keep in a sunny spot and away from a lot of wind. Make sure the ground is warmed above 60 degrees and put in well tilled loose sandy loamed soil. "</i><br />
<i> I like to plant cotton into a large pot so I can move it indoors during the winter and put the plant out again next spring. It will last several years if it does not get frost bitten. </i><br />
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Driving through the South, it was apparent just how much cotton is still such a vital part of the economy and culture of this "land of Dixie" My kids had no idea why I kept singing, "I wish I was in the land of cotton..." and I had to hum the rest because I never learned that song all the way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt holding his cotton that he picked up on the side of edge of the field.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sally in the car with her cotton. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is my next t-shirt in there? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cotton on the side of the road for miles.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-37343314366306210222011-11-12T09:30:00.000-08:002011-11-12T09:30:26.495-08:00Amish in Tennessee?When you think of Tennessee, you may think music - Elvis Presley's Graceland, Nashville's Grand ol' Opry, the blues of Memphis, country, gospel, bluegrass. Dolly Parton. - You may think Smokey Mountains. But, if you are like me, you don't think of Amish people.<br />
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We were turning out of our parking lot of our motel, in Lawrencburg, TN, when all of the sudden a black carriage, pulled by a horse rode by in the middle of the road, just in front of us. It was like a Twilight Zone time warp moment.<br />
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Across the street we pulled into a strip mall parking lot. Two more horse and buggies were tied up to the green painted posts meant for just that purpose judging from piles of horse poo right there. A woman dressed in black, with a black scarf or hat and black simple wire framed dark glasses - sort of like John Lennon, sat in one of the carriages. She must have been waiting for the mister to buy something in the Tractor store. Although the Amish do not use tractors, they may have been buying some tools. <br />
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Five miles down the road, we found ourselves in a horse and buggy tour - led by Jerry, a non Amish farmer with a thick, slow Southern drawl. He lives adjacent to the Amish and from his country store on his farm, offers horse drawn buggy tours. But his buggy had thick rubber tires and cushioned benches in the back of the wagon. <br />
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Jerry was a wealth of information about the Amish lifestyle. <br />
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We passed a few of their one room school houses. There is no jungle gym, no library, school cafeteria, blacktop. No computer lab, theater, or gymnasium. At one school we must have been passing at recess. Kids were running around on the grass. Looked like tag. They were all dressed the same in black and dark blue. Girl's heads covered in scarves, boys wearing straw hats. We waved to them and they waved back smiling. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amish school. The building that looks like a house is the school and the 2 little white structures are the bathrooms, one for girls and one for boys. <br />
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Jerry, our guide told us that the Amish children all learn Pennsylvania Dutch and German first. They start school at 6 years old and that is when they start learning English. The kids finish school at fourteen and then begin working full time farming, making furniture, sawing logs, raising livestock, weaving baskets, etc. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amish house and farm. The parents, and grandparents, and at times great grandparents live adjacent to one another. Literally, their homes are in some cases connected. Amish people do not have their own money until they are 21. Anything they earn before that, goes to the parents. And they get money from their parents. Even if they are married. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC0YcSmr9ZYO9LCxYHe85WP0kixAl-mBDm7LwXOPTeBsKo3K-6Env0kMZyjtiZ13Mqx8QfLESyKTgq3xHATkQYS5s4MFjvcbVC5ziwltTbpr6GFF8gnoBcPwBNxOUDQxkRaXntvFiqjUA/s1600/tenessee+mississippi+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPC0YcSmr9ZYO9LCxYHe85WP0kixAl-mBDm7LwXOPTeBsKo3K-6Env0kMZyjtiZ13Mqx8QfLESyKTgq3xHATkQYS5s4MFjvcbVC5ziwltTbpr6GFF8gnoBcPwBNxOUDQxkRaXntvFiqjUA/s640/tenessee+mississippi+023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>They use no electricity, don't drive cars, they all wear the same type of clothes. They are a primarily self sustaining community who only pay taxes on the land or sales tax if they go into town (in their buggies) and buy something. The Amish do not believe in taking pictures and do not own mirrors. They take what the bible says literally - (I googled it for those of you who are wondering when I was able to start quoting scripture) “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. <br />
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It was yet another slice of the American Pie we were fortunate enough to be exposed to on the road. <br />
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We stopped and bought different homemade things from a few of the families. a loaf of white bread, a loaf of pumpkin bread, molasses cookies, chocolate covered nuts, rocky road type candy, a simple wood toy, a handwoven basket. <br />
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I was debating on buying a large jar of homemade strawberry and a jar of raspberry jam. Which would be a welcome change from the jelly packets we have been using. I am cringing but I actually said what popped into my mind first,"But I don't have a refrigerator" (being on the road) does this need to be refrigerated?" The bearded Amish man, in his black trousers, suspenders, straw hat said, "We don't have refrigerators" <br />
Then I stumbled over my words trying to recover from the lamest thing I've ever said by saying something about assuming they had ice and do they have to keep the jam cold on ice after they open it. <br />
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He said no. (dang it!) <br />
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I felt like a refrigerator apologist and did the only thing left I could think of since shutting up hadn't occurred to me. Blame my mom. "Growing up my mom was always saying, that things have to be refrigerated after you open them. They brainwash us into thinking everything has to be refrigerated." <br />
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(Was this really coming out of my mouth!!!!!) <br />
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I now have two jars of opened and unrefrigerated jam. PB&J for lunch today.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-713134268462745802011-11-11T08:13:00.000-08:002011-11-11T08:23:58.914-08:00In the Fishbowl With the DawgHello! <br />
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First of all, I want to express my deep gratitude to anyone who has served our country today. Happy Veteran's Day. We appreciate the small and large sacrifices you have made. Today is your day to take a bow as we applaud and salute you. <br />
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Today is also Friday - Mom's Voice day. <br />
A while back I promised to tell you about our new favorite dog. Read all about it when you<br />
click <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/11/11/learning-life-lesson-athens-ga/">here to read this week's Mom's Voice</a> column. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPcx0CQYhUrONoXmgM4oL8EEuSArcmubqK8uSkBNqwb-pwf2M3vRn6MCe9hzb7ciYksJjGWWE6zTuYAC6vGiNSEl0rInYNaLyPjfitTCmSgq305dTw6JnoFVMLp7YUrBCSXzREIQug5G3/s1600/UGA+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPcx0CQYhUrONoXmgM4oL8EEuSArcmubqK8uSkBNqwb-pwf2M3vRn6MCe9hzb7ciYksJjGWWE6zTuYAC6vGiNSEl0rInYNaLyPjfitTCmSgq305dTw6JnoFVMLp7YUrBCSXzREIQug5G3/s400/UGA+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parker Moore (AKA Hairy Dawg) and Payton enjoying some soul food at Weaver D's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplB4D6RpU-FZVX3j8-FLlcKtRghyphenhyphensSJu7y30iRTkWpQEYIp88gFZLNR59lTNWGl9PiAcesT62LyfaTrJfXs-tc2kZ46kWV7kZ0L4uU34KFah3yoy290wqVuzyibuwqL3TsdPSYe_AUhF6/s1600/UGA+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplB4D6RpU-FZVX3j8-FLlcKtRghyphenhyphensSJu7y30iRTkWpQEYIp88gFZLNR59lTNWGl9PiAcesT62LyfaTrJfXs-tc2kZ46kWV7kZ0L4uU34KFah3yoy290wqVuzyibuwqL3TsdPSYe_AUhF6/s400/UGA+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang with Weaver D. </td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmrN6wjnibN2Yh4734u2Rs7c6O43J6gPy2Ygc_MIT6wbJEmD1VXXjbB42Bxq2Reh-xUG6sIEha8FSroIjpmTYURGdjf4Kba7PuxRUGtTiRAjMQZvSzE9nP47jmBFN3HNMGtXyoEKyRj0A/s1600/UGA+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimmrN6wjnibN2Yh4734u2Rs7c6O43J6gPy2Ygc_MIT6wbJEmD1VXXjbB42Bxq2Reh-xUG6sIEha8FSroIjpmTYURGdjf4Kba7PuxRUGtTiRAjMQZvSzE9nP47jmBFN3HNMGtXyoEKyRj0A/s640/UGA+023.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>At the edge of the basketball court at UGA<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvisDQi-0kuMQl6CXE3DC0K3Fs91aGYlNx9Rt51HwNXv-QtHY14215KR912PgO3iOjBiOEKPAkGtf6nai0yuZAixehB3qGYfOpKFLtHE_UxvhwHLFyqKiwS_FlAXvp5xcJo0kB4JGJSLFb/s1600/UGA+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvisDQi-0kuMQl6CXE3DC0K3Fs91aGYlNx9Rt51HwNXv-QtHY14215KR912PgO3iOjBiOEKPAkGtf6nai0yuZAixehB3qGYfOpKFLtHE_UxvhwHLFyqKiwS_FlAXvp5xcJo0kB4JGJSLFb/s640/UGA+027.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall on the UGA campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2BnV3NrUoQZzEn09yW-ksa9I7cs1pUcIRN9xsjmSMeCNnFSU4vSrSkfMjTTlcpQWQwKPnNxMcLLfoCOzoIDXShyOiukmnSCOYl73q5KRNlvWwAfbln7-IBNrJyKBcWBL9PbfrjVD7w47/s1600/UGA+029.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2BnV3NrUoQZzEn09yW-ksa9I7cs1pUcIRN9xsjmSMeCNnFSU4vSrSkfMjTTlcpQWQwKPnNxMcLLfoCOzoIDXShyOiukmnSCOYl73q5KRNlvWwAfbln7-IBNrJyKBcWBL9PbfrjVD7w47/s640/UGA+029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an example of the beautiful architecture on the UGA campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIF7s3Bp1apSKPCQxoTL3U5m6Ig3uG0MElTXk4U0obF3sjM4NMtgTw-XLgvnwd0ENBcu3-OrxcvsqhLVAlN8TCInk3OlimikUKLW3s16alPkjF0ckScSxsn3O03ZAfnbHbjWmZjvFKMFA/s1600/UGA+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIF7s3Bp1apSKPCQxoTL3U5m6Ig3uG0MElTXk4U0obF3sjM4NMtgTw-XLgvnwd0ENBcu3-OrxcvsqhLVAlN8TCInk3OlimikUKLW3s16alPkjF0ckScSxsn3O03ZAfnbHbjWmZjvFKMFA/s400/UGA+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We get outfitted at the UGA bookstore. Here with Parker and roommate Dave</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBJggmgbTSBpeBOZ7QYyHgAJx-SHPEZcbVqt9p-PH1oJyy_ji5Fh1rlwbZw5QmPBhuFNoWq9vVoL3akf9mXIKbihAGFvAbqU-3xu_Sr1K-8qrW77e4GsNMxX0EednkkuQeIpl4Xy8Sopg/s1600/UGA+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBJggmgbTSBpeBOZ7QYyHgAJx-SHPEZcbVqt9p-PH1oJyy_ji5Fh1rlwbZw5QmPBhuFNoWq9vVoL3akf9mXIKbihAGFvAbqU-3xu_Sr1K-8qrW77e4GsNMxX0EednkkuQeIpl4Xy8Sopg/s640/UGA+040.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the street from the bookstore, Sanford Stadium - the calm before game day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6Bi6bAxyhoiwf7XhW_-jkT2zuAbtMTaEtH_Mz5O1DdQ8EZ0E7W3O_Q3F7_ibg18DuQMXEqdxCZAu0AIJnaL4kOxc4bumF1RxgrFprbcFnSdo2o-Xpn5iHiHPtYg72MtywSr7HeFX7jkX/s1600/UGA+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj6Bi6bAxyhoiwf7XhW_-jkT2zuAbtMTaEtH_Mz5O1DdQ8EZ0E7W3O_Q3F7_ibg18DuQMXEqdxCZAu0AIJnaL4kOxc4bumF1RxgrFprbcFnSdo2o-Xpn5iHiHPtYg72MtywSr7HeFX7jkX/s640/UGA+049.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">PARKER: "Excuse me ladies, my friend Payton here has never been to UGA before and was wondering if he could take a picture with you. PAYTON: "Why thank you Parker"</td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">GAME DAY!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-24416297286065235252011-11-10T07:47:00.000-08:002011-11-10T07:47:42.207-08:00Not Just Another Stroll in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> This is Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Looks peaceful doesn't it? The statue is of Martin Luther King Jr. He is facing the 16th Street Baptist Church. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4j273cmvLp8JYEPyXck7iF5OW39u_ePg663oN1g30DRzuLUnc0Vc4NkxR91Bz1pXB6YEE9Tx3hiSZxS0YQeVtv74G4T-HajG7k4LQnNidTSQ3OjK33cFypDI2quKEnt5LwJ1ydQmo-RP/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+024.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcy4HWZxae3jC2r_CI3ZrHqGwK7h5UhPRnI6BMIuUk3HueeCG0FUePi5-uG9SVoXXkxAN-ry02DyC79BEVvUsnrH1-Ub_mVuzgCtqEDa8ivY__ecb5e3MLnqYFvlgeaPaR39q75JMcFCd/s640/montgomery+and+burmingham+023.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Below are photographs taken in and around Kelly Ingram Park in 1963. Civil Rights demonstrators were attacked with fire hoses with power so strong it was said afterward it took the bark off trees. Police dogs, trained to attack were used on peaceful protesters. </div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-k6zNj8az0iSekjVxnhHu6w4-hn9yx4jC9DeBIca0J7xd2zifgNgFS8mWl5OHtnkP7G0tLyr_9zCWmMgfIYW6LJdetOh0pOxNM9f_2CjCUVZvEMrEPijuLLw9FvbcH3LybjipIQMB-OC/s1600/fire+hoses+birmingham+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-k6zNj8az0iSekjVxnhHu6w4-hn9yx4jC9DeBIca0J7xd2zifgNgFS8mWl5OHtnkP7G0tLyr_9zCWmMgfIYW6LJdetOh0pOxNM9f_2CjCUVZvEMrEPijuLLw9FvbcH3LybjipIQMB-OC/s640/fire+hoses+birmingham+1.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwCe4PIAU3LJOmMqpnoeM4013Ty_uxmSgc_xzzV2wknN5bvZ_DwGwdsHyF7bkofZXSR9NFMCH0hq__0Hriu0Y7SOZXMocKWAxmutMsJLvBdS4SqDdhLt6-xh_MpoawlH05P-l7-qvCHDy/s1600/fire+hoses+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZwCe4PIAU3LJOmMqpnoeM4013Ty_uxmSgc_xzzV2wknN5bvZ_DwGwdsHyF7bkofZXSR9NFMCH0hq__0Hriu0Y7SOZXMocKWAxmutMsJLvBdS4SqDdhLt6-xh_MpoawlH05P-l7-qvCHDy/s640/fire+hoses+3.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHTpYV6XuhbAIpjPk0NwWFzTgrrjui17PDEnMST6DiIFVy9IXedsydXD9DO_4Qs5HJKTTbWI7kje1AJ7aKWLyU1bFn3-FtDemeNCPnrrhXL8WS0nGsVBdF-LuthhixxZWsJp2rdwnHhTR/s1600/dog+attacking+civil+rights+demonstrator.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHTpYV6XuhbAIpjPk0NwWFzTgrrjui17PDEnMST6DiIFVy9IXedsydXD9DO_4Qs5HJKTTbWI7kje1AJ7aKWLyU1bFn3-FtDemeNCPnrrhXL8WS0nGsVBdF-LuthhixxZWsJp2rdwnHhTR/s640/dog+attacking+civil+rights+demonstrator.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8suHYH761X1QNTVcHfrui05rgbxmCbKK_HHPZ4XEYJlqEThvSzO7R85uH2wPZiNpBa-gT5WwiRGZcU3HYh53OKr15pp1Hz3RwIIbJvwbE3rA08oPasideQCAWIOvwY27-oFLZ_izUM8Xg/s1600/dog+attacking+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8suHYH761X1QNTVcHfrui05rgbxmCbKK_HHPZ4XEYJlqEThvSzO7R85uH2wPZiNpBa-gT5WwiRGZcU3HYh53OKr15pp1Hz3RwIIbJvwbE3rA08oPasideQCAWIOvwY27-oFLZ_izUM8Xg/s640/dog+attacking+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-k6zNj8az0iSekjVxnhHu6w4-hn9yx4jC9DeBIca0J7xd2zifgNgFS8mWl5OHtnkP7G0tLyr_9zCWmMgfIYW6LJdetOh0pOxNM9f_2CjCUVZvEMrEPijuLLw9FvbcH3LybjipIQMB-OC/s1600/fire+hoses+birmingham+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, although the park is peaceful and especially beautiful with the fall colors, statues pierce the quiet and calm shouting out reminders of what took place when men, women, and children simply tried to exercise their first amendment rights. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4j273cmvLp8JYEPyXck7iF5OW39u_ePg663oN1g30DRzuLUnc0Vc4NkxR91Bz1pXB6YEE9Tx3hiSZxS0YQeVtv74G4T-HajG7k4LQnNidTSQ3OjK33cFypDI2quKEnt5LwJ1ydQmo-RP/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+024.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4j273cmvLp8JYEPyXck7iF5OW39u_ePg663oN1g30DRzuLUnc0Vc4NkxR91Bz1pXB6YEE9Tx3hiSZxS0YQeVtv74G4T-HajG7k4LQnNidTSQ3OjK33cFypDI2quKEnt5LwJ1ydQmo-RP/s640/montgomery+and+burmingham+024.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_xp7bUOCjgbMzO81MJvT5LDqGMZCybQdopgXdP6BfN8MwKf1zsahDZWRcrlHDFrBZv7YrTaCOIdmR-1K3ij4mIdgBhven4dW5HYS_s8eRB_EJtxbb0mmm65Aq8JX55hAq7iNz0fkTEaO/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+025.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_xp7bUOCjgbMzO81MJvT5LDqGMZCybQdopgXdP6BfN8MwKf1zsahDZWRcrlHDFrBZv7YrTaCOIdmR-1K3ij4mIdgBhven4dW5HYS_s8eRB_EJtxbb0mmm65Aq8JX55hAq7iNz0fkTEaO/s640/montgomery+and+burmingham+025.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwhu_2ZU9V2hNOUBa_wjPYBr0pHFexwtimc_MAEMVl5KLOk2XAqV4LJANoeX_BNVGnS4VSoWHH9_p3-nUrT1Rna9LrsaUSEiOY4jInIiFDy0QsdPpWsL25YhxZrpFxvTnM4pxeOZ6xMF6/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQtn1rcAxawZoElThyphenhyphenz8g4AQbdfmjgAjP9DOO6JX0BTLAT-2wgd6qUAoIvHAA_cDDxj5EhXu7Hj4ldu-wMuTCSkBqHJiCyq7mwDodCK1UF8f2SvU-TRC2P4O5gk7sdiqAWH7wSvcnaNSp/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQtn1rcAxawZoElThyphenhyphenz8g4AQbdfmjgAjP9DOO6JX0BTLAT-2wgd6qUAoIvHAA_cDDxj5EhXu7Hj4ldu-wMuTCSkBqHJiCyq7mwDodCK1UF8f2SvU-TRC2P4O5gk7sdiqAWH7wSvcnaNSp/s640/montgomery+and+burmingham+027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> This sculpture depicting the fire hoses, gives you the chills. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwhu_2ZU9V2hNOUBa_wjPYBr0pHFexwtimc_MAEMVl5KLOk2XAqV4LJANoeX_BNVGnS4VSoWHH9_p3-nUrT1Rna9LrsaUSEiOY4jInIiFDy0QsdPpWsL25YhxZrpFxvTnM4pxeOZ6xMF6/s1600/montgomery+and+burmingham+018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-30598574849743263392011-11-09T08:43:00.000-08:002011-11-09T08:48:21.099-08:00Love, Loss, Learning<div class="MsoNormal">In 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, Denise McNair was 11 years old. Mirian Monago was only 8 and looked up to Denise. Denise treated Mirian as a friend, not just a little kid. Mirian’s smile widened as she remembered, “I was thrilled at having an older friend. I really looked up to her.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">On the morning of September 15, 1963, the friendship was cut short. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Four men, members of the Ku Klux Klan, planted a box of dynamite with time delay under the steps of the 16<sup>th</sup> Street Baptist Church near the basement. The church was filled with people, including 26 children. The explosion happened at 10:22 a.m. killing 4 girls. One was Denise McNair. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday we sat at breakfast in Birmingham, Alabama. (My friend Jean and her daughter Sara had flown into meet us.) At breakfast we got to talking to a woman in her 50’s who worked at our hotel. We learned she is a former teacher and enjoys her hobby as a jazz singer. We felt an instant connection with this beautiful, gentle voiced, intelligent woman. We discussed books, and places to visit. We mentioned we would be visiting the Civil Rights Institute and the 16<sup>th</sup> Street Baptist Church. That is when she told us her memory of being an 8 year old girl, happy to have an older, wiser friend to look up to - 11 year old Denise McNair. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Mirian welled up as she told us often when she has a jazz concert, she will silently think, “This is dedicated to you Denise” She wonders what Denise would have become had her life not been taken away at 11 years old. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This hit close to home as my 11 and 9 year old daughters listened intently. Sally, at 9 looks up to the older girls in her theater group. There are a few who treat her like a friend - not just a little kid. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mirian and my girls shared something deep. We all share it. The desire to have a true friend and the joy of having one. May my girls never, ever have to experience, the unspeakable pain of one being murdered. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">No textbook, no lecture could have been a more effective tool in teaching my kids something about the Civil Rights Movement. No test could ever measure what they learned but I knew, when I saw them hug Mirian goodbye. I saw it when we stood in the 16<sup>th</sup> Avenue Baptist Church. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">This is the heart of the Great American Field Trip. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Planning this cross country journey, I knew one of the most important parts would be visiting the Deep South and learning about the Civil Rights Movement. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We had a blast in Savannah and in Athens, GA at the University of Georgia (read about that in my Mom’s Voice column Friday) but, as much as the south is known for its beauty, comfort food, and southern hospitality, it is also where some of our nation’s ugliest and shameful events took place. Where terrifying acts of hatred and injustice against black people was the norm for a sickening amount of time. With hate group memberships soaring in this country, there is still work to be done. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The wounds of the Civil Rights Movement run deeper than I ever thought possible. The dichotomy of strength and grace, the courageous acts of ordinary people amongst the backdrop of segregation is a difficult to comprehend. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> I was happy to have to company of another adult during this part of our journey. The comfort of a Jean, a close friend, to share the tears and heaviness of what we saw and learned. Someone to help me try to explain to my kids what I am unable to explain to myself. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With Jean and Sara, we visited Atlanta, Montgomery and Birmingham. I have so much to share about what we saw and will write more tomorrow. I do fear my words will dilute what is in my heart. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I will end with excerpts from Sally and Janey’s journal. (I asked permission) Sally drew two thumbs on the page of her journal one was colored in with her ball point pen, one was not. Next to the thumbs she wrote “You tell me the difference that is a white thumb and a black thumb. That is how they judged respect. There is no difference!” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Janey wrote, “Today was a really intense day. First the day started out with us coming across a woman who worked at our hotel at breakfast. She knew one of the girls who died when the KKK bombed the church. How heart-breaking. I have to write about it tomorrow because I’m still trying to get over it.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Please click here to listen to <a href="http://www.singsnap.com/snap/r/b9abe885%20">Mirian Monago singing "Bye Bye Blackbird" </a>You can also listen to other songs she has recorded on Singsnap. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janey standing next to the spot of the explosion and the memorial stone with the names of the girls that were killed.</td></tr>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-43564645718964555242011-11-04T07:53:00.000-07:002011-11-04T07:53:47.626-07:00Mom's Voice Column - The Moments Between the MomentousClick <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/11/04/moments-momentous/">here to read this week's Mom's Voice column </a>in the Newport Beach Independent.<br />
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<br />
ITINERARY UPDATE:<br />
We are enjoying the South tremendously. Still in Georgia. Just spent the last couple of days with our favorite new dog - details coming soon....<br />
My friend Jean and her daughter Sara are flying into Atlanta to meet us for a long weekend tonight. We will be saying farewell to Georgia and heading into Alabama on Sunday.<br />
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The journey West has officially begun. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-65768145689664134852011-11-02T21:00:00.000-07:002011-11-02T21:05:24.851-07:00Trick-or-Treat Y'all<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A lot of people have asked where we spent Halloween. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were in Savannah, Georgia. It was like trick or treating on a movie set. Gorgeous Spanish Moss trees, big houses with shutters and columns. Friendly people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sally ran to me from one house saying, "mom, that man just gave us candy and then said, 'Y'all have a good night, y'all be safe" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">Wyatt is a spy, Janey is Mrs. Beiber, and Sally is a magic bunny. Unfortunately Payton had to stay in the hotel because he pulled something and his neck was so stiff he couldn't move. But we didn't stay out too long, and came back and took Payton on a drive-thru southern Trick-or-Treat - We drove through Chick Fil-A and Krispy Kreme. All's well that ends well. </td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We didn't carve pumpkins. But a couple days before Halloween, we did stumble upon the best church carnival EVER. We found it when we heard gospel singers out of our car window...We immediately pulled over to investigate. As if the gospel singers weren't enough - down home carnival games, a gospel rapper, dancers, (all members of the church) and free snow cones and hot dogs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkEbxUFjruoZqEQ3H9fwF7soAD8MLk0_DRigMdQoXjyPHA5yte17VyZBu4s7D1PL_QWVD_0rciQoA01iaB5wRXA6Vz0YI6P3SmAT9w-KBRepdS1f-84Wp6NttMWGTPQZ7sputiWpy1jof/s1600/cuise+and+savannah+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkEbxUFjruoZqEQ3H9fwF7soAD8MLk0_DRigMdQoXjyPHA5yte17VyZBu4s7D1PL_QWVD_0rciQoA01iaB5wRXA6Vz0YI6P3SmAT9w-KBRepdS1f-84Wp6NttMWGTPQZ7sputiWpy1jof/s640/cuise+and+savannah+120.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I envy their soulful and powerful voices. I wish I was up there singing with them. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt gets some pointers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSm_GEN39DO4ixz9JPp5UQ25MjzIgjTWszdV93_lvJ5bzsohT-2FYin2kGr6AIrjoet34SBwn3U2nhGQp1CB73avHdHolatEPa5doTRfYTHodMYm4S6NcNw7qMlRQmUeJDCJ_x5BBfieV/s1600/cuise+and+savannah+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGSm_GEN39DO4ixz9JPp5UQ25MjzIgjTWszdV93_lvJ5bzsohT-2FYin2kGr6AIrjoet34SBwn3U2nhGQp1CB73avHdHolatEPa5doTRfYTHodMYm4S6NcNw7qMlRQmUeJDCJ_x5BBfieV/s400/cuise+and+savannah+127.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt goes fishin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-73446645047946998662011-10-30T21:09:00.000-07:002011-10-30T21:09:14.387-07:00How Now Brown Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Did I mention we got to milk a cow by hand on a plantation near Charleston, South Carolina? For those of you who know about my love of cows, I am sure you are not taking this news lightly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2e8HwbNj8QiVYqsCyvZwLgdVGDizJNRp8KZLMhqOSBwzfWOf9Rz5GC1p2GSqG2ZT-CUD9el_eDKs1KCuck6WyCbdqSPnHf2LXJtWLrFlVSipFYwXsZBgbaDsTAyygqhDCFOcOmRNKnU/s1600/south+carolina+028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS2e8HwbNj8QiVYqsCyvZwLgdVGDizJNRp8KZLMhqOSBwzfWOf9Rz5GC1p2GSqG2ZT-CUD9el_eDKs1KCuck6WyCbdqSPnHf2LXJtWLrFlVSipFYwXsZBgbaDsTAyygqhDCFOcOmRNKnU/s400/south+carolina+028.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
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Her name is Annabelle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4npZhRVth0dHlNRjSicvou2GXqA7zD2MJy9IMKUEWLhzayZ6-jhom1nK3eFNKEBE0tZT4RiA4LhZWX8AQOjW2sVFx7kYCk5sKgi_9NpvP9ibcTNXURGZc8E-KFyzlU7nfuRxFlmhry-Gd/s1600/south+carolina+037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4npZhRVth0dHlNRjSicvou2GXqA7zD2MJy9IMKUEWLhzayZ6-jhom1nK3eFNKEBE0tZT4RiA4LhZWX8AQOjW2sVFx7kYCk5sKgi_9NpvP9ibcTNXURGZc8E-KFyzlU7nfuRxFlmhry-Gd/s320/south+carolina+037.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKG0I-nl4GdNhHU5r5zaK760QD-oqnTFi5eRyBp5Ugx_TEd4am5eQtczo1Zv3WDNCMKDYYR0VdiSqV-2kfb4U77-phdAWRgIRxhtwE2eHvAnacB9W-brQ-m4yuff5kO1U80YvpUtLz4mH/s1600/south+carolina+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKG0I-nl4GdNhHU5r5zaK760QD-oqnTFi5eRyBp5Ugx_TEd4am5eQtczo1Zv3WDNCMKDYYR0VdiSqV-2kfb4U77-phdAWRgIRxhtwE2eHvAnacB9W-brQ-m4yuff5kO1U80YvpUtLz4mH/s400/south+carolina+035.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp6NYnwkj9alLxI1d9JebN45IsDvvY4wES23XIt2SE4MNXmF5PwCBsykDJBcPXgJeQCDrx7mWIcNQ6pSfd3AU981QgER6wniVMtkGOK1y8VceUsuKbB7JxwKPdDCqgR5MMuK_XdULSHIZ/s1600/south+carolina+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkp6NYnwkj9alLxI1d9JebN45IsDvvY4wES23XIt2SE4MNXmF5PwCBsykDJBcPXgJeQCDrx7mWIcNQ6pSfd3AU981QgER6wniVMtkGOK1y8VceUsuKbB7JxwKPdDCqgR5MMuK_XdULSHIZ/s400/south+carolina+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table> Oh, and who knew that cashmere came from goats? Seriously, these were the softest goats we ever felt. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnAebU25FZqfrMYvxKSUS2xaDzSToVXnsr5e-EtOl2q9he9yKzaBldn2k_ErirKBqqtkFk2uEyWhaj8hwQXsbsRoQJnZBq-6ncGS5VdM7kGhtS4a04xP3K3WnPn8cWCDJ6_f1cRzA0Nnh/s1600/south+carolina+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnAebU25FZqfrMYvxKSUS2xaDzSToVXnsr5e-EtOl2q9he9yKzaBldn2k_ErirKBqqtkFk2uEyWhaj8hwQXsbsRoQJnZBq-6ncGS5VdM7kGhtS4a04xP3K3WnPn8cWCDJ6_f1cRzA0Nnh/s640/south+carolina+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">The dark side to the Plantation. Janey reads the names of all the slaves that lived on this plantation from 1738 until 1865 - the year the Civil War ended. Next to each name - how much each one cost. Before the revolution, it was recorded in British pounds. After, it showed $. </td><td class="tr-caption"><br />
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</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-51098126556631395122011-10-29T20:11:00.000-07:002011-10-29T20:13:56.317-07:00Soaring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzx3zW4aPnzLNGW7V3Cy78BoiM3DyBIUrNl5UcGMFpnDdTTLnDjWO5XQHmmX2iDwOqMf7uipqDRsJgAda1OPsMAJIXZVEAxsC-MSDhd4OYMc87h6UCybyxTQkWGzmvg4mbD7sAVuO_2pcE/s1600/outerbanks+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>In September 1997, a week after Payton was born, we found ourselves back at Hoag Hospital- but this time not on the Maternity floor. My dad was in bad shape and needed a blood transfusion. His overnight stay confirmed his kidneys were failing and he would have to immediately begin dialysis 3 days a week. He was in dire need of a functioning kidney.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">We returned to Hoag again and attended a lecture on live kidney donation. I immediately volunteered to be tested. We waited and finally got the call – I was a match. This signaled the beginning of our journey into the world of organ donation. It was a long road, but finally 3 months shy Payton’s second birthday, a successful transplant took place. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The kidney not only gave my dad a second chance at living life to the fullest, but gave Payton, and his 3 future siblings an opportunity to get to know their grandpa. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">12 years later, a special section of our Great American Field Trip is coming to a close tonight as I write this. Tomorrow, my parents who have joined us for 10 days fly home. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If we thought we were packed in tight before, this past week we have had to organize the minivan with 7 people representing 3 generations, 6 suitcases, a cooler, books, headphones, first aid kit, a small arsenal of replica guns from various wars, water bottles, tissues, a trash bag, cameras and cell phones, sweatshirts, backpacks, purses and… a carload of functioning vital organs – Thank goodness. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">We had great serious discussions, and grand laughs in and out of the car. We learned a lot about history, geography and science. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">One highlight was visiting the exact spot the Wright Brothers made their first successful flights near Kitty Hawk, N.C. in 1903. We ate lunch in a restaurant that was the sight a telegram was sent home:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">"Success four flights Thursday morning all against twenty one mile wind started from level with engine power alone average speed through air thirty one miles longest flight fifty nine seconds inform press home Christmas."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Obviously the entire world has been changed by the invention of airplanes but I feel that telegram sealed the fate of my own life. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">My dad was from the generation of boys that all had at least one model airplane in their bedroom. His love of making models branched into flying radio control airplanes and eventually earning his own pilot’s license. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> I have great memories of our family flying in a tiny 1947 Navion to places with small airstrips like California’s Gold Country. I was very proud of my dad and his ability to soar in the sky. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It felt like an adventure, climbing onto the wing’s black scratchy non slip patch and into our seats. Dad would remove the chocks from the tires, get in, pull the glass canopy closed and twist his wrist to lock it into place. Then with his big important headphones he would talk to the people in the air control tower. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Dad: <i>Niner one seven seven six</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Tower: <i>Clear</i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">My sister and I would hold hands and giggle as we went faster and faster down the runway until the butterflies flew wildly in our stomachs upon take off. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">I think it is my dad who made me want to feel those exciting butterflies again and again in life. It's a big reason I am on this trip with the kids. <br />
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Mom always believed in Dad. Belief in our own dreams is a necessity, but having another believe in your dream helps it take flight.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Dad's passion for radio control airplanes overflowed into creating a business. Almost 40 years ago, he founded Hobby People “<i>dedicated to the true champions, those who fly for fun</i>” and began selling models, radio control planes, cars, helicopters and rockets. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Through thick and thin, our family business has been dedicated to keeping simple joys a part of people’s lives. My husband has been there in sickness and health for all of us. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">It was powerful walking around the exact spot Orville and Wilbur’s hard work, persistence and unwavering faith (despite many failures) finally paid off. <br />
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Twelve years ago, our kidney transplant was also a success due to doctors, patients, and surgeons before us taking risks and believing it could be done.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Parents in front of the Wright Brother's Statue (Kill Devils Hill - Near Kitty Hawk, NC)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 generations on a bench in Yorktown, Virginia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manassas Civil War Battlefield in Virginia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa and Payton playing checkers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt running down the exact spot of the Wright Brother's first successful flights. Dream Big, my baby. Never give up! </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i>And...with the holidays coming, here is my shameless plug; Support a family business who believes in hard work and the power of dreams. Ours, and yours. Visit us Hobby People online <a href="http://www.hobbypeople.net/">www.hobbypeople.net</a> Or, come by the store closest to you in Southern CA. Let them know I sent you. </i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-15048104966803677262011-10-23T20:44:00.000-07:002011-10-23T20:46:00.808-07:00From Sea to Shinning SeaOur first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean was an exhilarating moment for me. We made it all the way across America!<br />
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Taken from where we were staying in Duck, North Carolina (part of the Outerbanks) this photo will always remind me: Don't give up on dreams!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-80888597368464910302011-10-21T18:50:00.000-07:002011-10-21T18:58:15.719-07:00Battle of Yorktown - in Janey's WordsJaney writes my column this week <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/10/21/letter-battlefield/">click here to read</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janey in front of the hand-dug trenches on the battlefield at Yorktown, Virginia.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for battle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt coming out of the trenches to sneak up on the American and French soldiers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-6183563314132776422011-10-19T08:09:00.000-07:002011-10-19T16:18:29.619-07:00A Rainstorm and a RainbowCambridge Maryland is located on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. If you are like me and you only have a vague understanding of Maryland (as in it is a state on the East Coast which borders D.C.) then you may be surprised to learn about some of the geography like me. <br />
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Here is a map of Maryland - the Chesapeake Bay can not be over-emphasized. I learned there is more coastline on Maryland than any other state in the lower 48. <br />
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Cambridge, birthplace of <a href="http://www.math.buffalo.edu/%7Esww/0history/hwny-tubman.html">Harriet Tubman</a> is on the eastern shore of the bay. Above Maryland is Pennsylvania - where Harriet and others working the Underground Railroad helped slaves escape. This area of Maryland is also known as Tidewater lands because they are so low and so effected by the changing tides. In fact, we learned, just as some kids in some parts of the country do not have school because of snow days, there are days when the tide comes up so high, the two lane road is completely submersed. The kids stay home from school - and are given assignments, or they would be stuck there when the tide comes up, with no road to get home. <br />
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The flat lands with beautiful scenery make it perfect for bike riding.<br />
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We had a <a href="http://www.blackwaterpaddleandpedal.com/">guided bike ride.</a> It was fabulous. Within minutes of our departure, the skies unleashed an impromptu rainstorm. Chubby raindrops pelted us as winds whipping through grasses and trees, swirled down the street and pushed against our efforts to pedal.<br />
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It ended as quickly as it began and a bit later we were treated to a rainbow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt was attached to my bike so he could keep up no problem. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just behind the kids is a yellow house - it's actually Bucktown Village Store. This is the spot, Harriet Tubman was hit with a two pound iron in the forehead, causing a major head injury. The man who threw the iron was an overseer who intended to hit another slave with the iron in an attempt to stop him from running. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside of the Bucktown Village Store (our guide and her husband own the store and live next to it)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Payton starting out</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the gorgeous farmlands surrounding the area.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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We saw where Harriet Tubman was born, and where her mother and father lived. The area hasn't changed much since then. Harriet, after escaping to the north, came back 19 times and helped save 300 slaves by being a conductor on the Underground Railroad that originally helped her. She came back for her parents and her sister and as much of her family she could help escape. Harriet lived to be 91 and died of pneumonia where she lived in Auburn, NY. <br />
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Cambridge was also home to the Powhatan Indians. Susan, our guide's mother was Powhatan and so she was able to educate us about the Natives of this area.<br />
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We rode a bit into the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge - many species of water fowl live here under protection.<br />
The only bummer was since it had just rained, this very wet area erupted in mosquitoes.<br />
It was like the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation" when they see the Grand Canyon for 2 seconds then leave. Susan was so excited to point out through the trees the enormous nest made of sticks - on any other occasion it was gawk worthy and we would have taken several pictures. Instead, we spotted the nest as we were jumping around, swatting and yelling at the blood thirsty little buggers attacking us. (Susan, meanwhile was standing as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening, still telling us about the eagle's nest). We ran back to the bikes - still swatting and jumping and pedaling away to drier land (as we swat and yelled out some more) Payton instantly put about a quarter of a mile between him and us.<br />
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As an aside, the bike ride was a great compliment to our visit to the Harriet Tubman museum in town a day earlier. It was very small, but the woman working there was a wealth of knowledge. Inez Lincolna - she was the 4th generation in her family who was given a feminine form of Lincoln by adding an A. (How smart is that!)<br />
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She told us all about growing up in a segregated Cambridge. How the street the museum was on was the dividing line between the black side of town and the white side of town. She told us about her memories of being arrested during protests and that her mother was even arrested - she laughed heartily at this thought because she said her mom had never cussed or smoked or drank and to pick her up from jail was so unlike her.<br />
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The little square outside the courthouse - well that was where the slave auctions were.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids at the museum with Inez Lincolna standing with a mural. Harriet Tubman is between Sally and Wyatt</td></tr>
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The bike ride - with the storm and the rainbow was so symbolic of everything that has taken place in the area. <br />
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After the bike ride, we began the itchy 2 hour plus drive to pick my parents up at the airport back in Virginia. <br />
We are traveling with Mum-mum and grandpa for 10 days. More about that soon!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another end to another busy day on the Great American Field Trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-59801691812745507102011-10-17T06:35:00.001-07:002011-10-17T06:39:50.828-07:00TEAM RYAN - by PaytonFor those of you who don't already know, Payton enjoyed blogging so much, he decided to start his own blog called "Generally Speaking"I copied and pasted the post below from his blog. If you want to check his out the address is <a href="http://www.generallyspeaking.blogspot.com/">www.generallyspeaking.blogspot.com </a><br />
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Team Ryan, by Payton Fales<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">One of the greatest parts of this trip has been meeting locals, and hearing their stories, good or bad. The past few days we were in Cambridge, Maryland, the childhood home of Harriett Tubman. While there we ate lunch at a Gastropub, called<a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheHighSpot"> High Spot</a>, after paying the check, we struck up a conversation with one of the waiters working there, and they shared a story that really struck a chord:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A boy named Ryan Summers (the son of the owners of the restaurant where we ate) was struck by lightning in July, while attending a family reunion. His heart immediately stopped beating, and his mother gave him CPR, until the ambulance came to his rescue. He was rushed to the hospital, where they managed to save his life. </div><div class="MsoNormal"> Afterward he traveled from hospital to clinic to hospital to clinic. He was just recently released from his last hospital to begin therapy. The effect of the lightning strike had much of the same effect as a stroke, he lost memory, and the ability to talk, and accomplish everyday feats. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The story is both tragic and full of hope. It provides a feeling of gratitude, for our own health, and safety of our friends and family. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">While we were at the restaurant we noticed that all the staff was wearing “Team Ryan” wristbands, and we inquired whether they were for sale. When the answer was yes, we immediately bought them. After all, the money went to a great cause. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I bought ten extra wristbands, and want to share them with those who are truly interested in helping Ryan, and his family. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">First ten people to comment on this, share it with friends or family, and visit his <a href="http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/ryanjamessummers">website</a>, will receive a “Team Ryan” wristband. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FDkyM_bmRu2IEC6MCPADX9Vsjs2oCs7h2OoEyKOycbx9NHs1wXShAi4kMs-JEMqhbE89w3vG7ffjZizeVKy4-yDOAijAbmwi4eLn65eUdt-NduyHObsIL312o2anpqhGKRmKRvMbfNWN/s1600/003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FDkyM_bmRu2IEC6MCPADX9Vsjs2oCs7h2OoEyKOycbx9NHs1wXShAi4kMs-JEMqhbE89w3vG7ffjZizeVKy4-yDOAijAbmwi4eLn65eUdt-NduyHObsIL312o2anpqhGKRmKRvMbfNWN/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-6394531067895623042011-10-14T22:21:00.000-07:002011-10-14T22:21:11.054-07:00Mom's Voice Column Explores the Stones of Hope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZhCoFlNIPY9MmO30Vc04ZApRBghZW3_jiVhz158Krb52eBTFalM88RDZEHE7zagRIYFmy47k0-SlNI96jnM8xI6Xt2DC7p3hTv5cM-WgvVBTCDacc6rmr987W67E4VP-kmdLEQNGZ111/s1600/washington+d.c+079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>"OUT OF A MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR, A STONE OF HOPE"<br />
Read all about it in my <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/10/14/hope-history/">column this week</a>. (By the way there is an edit error towards the end - Obviously I know not to refer to something's proximity as "near at") <br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I would like to say a very big Thank You to the kids' teachers last week: A World War II Veteran, a Park Ranger, an actor, Martin Luther King, and a stranger. </span></b></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyatt meets a real live hero. He told us about being a Pilot and taking off from and landing on an aircraft carrier in the ocean. BRAVE! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Park Ranger at Gettysburg who taught us all about how all the dead bodies were buried, what went into the making of the first National Cemetery, and all kinds of things about the Gettysburg Address. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpavoC5hpLgwv-2ktzuiKLJZa_HhvS2e0lRW08Z2MVifOddvu3S6A5OKFJMzFxyVkaO4DDbqd3-WS2sxwnv1O5TfeseVYI3HgH4g-nAW5n60-_gdy2cTmeJtmVi3DFPUfpH6p1dvLKLGF/s1600/gettysburg+030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpavoC5hpLgwv-2ktzuiKLJZa_HhvS2e0lRW08Z2MVifOddvu3S6A5OKFJMzFxyVkaO4DDbqd3-WS2sxwnv1O5TfeseVYI3HgH4g-nAW5n60-_gdy2cTmeJtmVi3DFPUfpH6p1dvLKLGF/s400/gettysburg+030.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actor at the Smithsonian where we participated in a role playing - reenactment of the events that took place at the Lunch Counter Sit-in at the Woolworth's in Greensboro North Carolina in 1961. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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A real section of the lunch counter. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Martin Luther King - and the people we met at the memorial who shared stories of living in segregated Alabama. Full disclosure, I did not take this photo, we were there at night and it was too dark. This is from Google images. But the one below is us... Gives you an idea how big it is! </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZhCoFlNIPY9MmO30Vc04ZApRBghZW3_jiVhz158Krb52eBTFalM88RDZEHE7zagRIYFmy47k0-SlNI96jnM8xI6Xt2DC7p3hTv5cM-WgvVBTCDacc6rmr987W67E4VP-kmdLEQNGZ111/s1600/washington+d.c+079.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZhCoFlNIPY9MmO30Vc04ZApRBghZW3_jiVhz158Krb52eBTFalM88RDZEHE7zagRIYFmy47k0-SlNI96jnM8xI6Xt2DC7p3hTv5cM-WgvVBTCDacc6rmr987W67E4VP-kmdLEQNGZ111/s640/washington+d.c+079.JPG" width="358" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-86351129042802576602011-10-13T20:59:00.000-07:002011-10-13T21:12:57.026-07:00Go Navy!Only 45 minutes from Washington D.C. is the quaint and very colonial town of Annapolis, Maryland. Narrow tree lined streets, brick sidewalks, restaurants serving crab, cute old houses, with black shutters framing paned windows, all give that Eastern Seaboard feel. <br />
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But the crown jewel of Annapolis is of course the Naval Academy. Just being there is an emotionally charged experience. The men and women here are held to a standard well above any most of us have ever or will ever experience. They have surpassed their perceived physical, emotional and mental limits and are growing stronger in all areas everyday. Our safety as a nation depends upon it.<br />
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Here is a plaque positioned just inside the pedestrian gate: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrLJuKK8w8GUb97FMwLchYMY8scuwvwvurkW2obkbPlfVueh8HIXINH-mCbqTqJ_OUp1sPVukePz3n6p8IIWCHmFeRffBTqWvsnFW3YMg6OUzv1TCX33ck2370sgtsvNeM463qE9u2jzb/s1600/District+6-20111012-00398.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrLJuKK8w8GUb97FMwLchYMY8scuwvwvurkW2obkbPlfVueh8HIXINH-mCbqTqJ_OUp1sPVukePz3n6p8IIWCHmFeRffBTqWvsnFW3YMg6OUzv1TCX33ck2370sgtsvNeM463qE9u2jzb/s400/District+6-20111012-00398.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
It says: <i> </i><br />
<i>The mission of the Naval Academy is to develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically; and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor, and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.</i><br />
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Before we left on our trip, a fellow lacrosse parent in CA was able to arrange for Payton to be able to see the Navy Lacrosse team practice. We came on to the campus ("Yard" as they call it) just as the midshipmen (students) were finished with classes and ready to start their afternoon of athletics. Looking for Dewey field that the lax team practices on, we past the football team running to their field, and the sailors readying their boats. The track was filling up with athletes too, some holding poles or discus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb3W7GPMoJA1Lh_yTflBk0D1aEkBSvFC1BIgoz1kSMXsbzrq48mpJ5mORu0bkx607JZGikOPb-1Fe90djf3YZu3aE04vHcIpUoUWNOUQ1qG0rBpYcLivCm0wAS6y_xrHv_QXcixgJSqcq/s1600/maryland+029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyb3W7GPMoJA1Lh_yTflBk0D1aEkBSvFC1BIgoz1kSMXsbzrq48mpJ5mORu0bkx607JZGikOPb-1Fe90djf3YZu3aE04vHcIpUoUWNOUQ1qG0rBpYcLivCm0wAS6y_xrHv_QXcixgJSqcq/s400/maryland+029.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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If there was ever a time I needed everyone to pretend that I had 'raised them right', it was now. Payton helped me drill them. It was important that if anyone asked them a question they not say "Yeah" - say, "Yes Sir" or Yes, Ma'am" Also, for the love of God, please don't fight or draw anymore attention to ourselves than necessary. <br />
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On the Yard with a view of the harbor.</a></div><br />
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We found the lacrosse field and stayed for the entire 2 hour practice. On the sidelines, there were a few injured players and a few of the team managers. They were very informative and answered all of our questions about the team, and life as midshipmen. <br />
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The lacrosse team is of course top notch. Their speed and stick handling skills were great to watch, not to be outdone by the constant focus and hustling that did not wane for a second for the entire two hours. The practice was not to be outdone further by the view to the left: the bay, sail boats, and wooded hills dotted with gorgeous houses on the other side. To the right, stone buildings on the Yard some, that date back to pre Civil War. And from somewhere in the distance the crack, crack, cracking of the rifle team's practice. We thought is was thunder until someone explained...<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">After the practice we met Coach Ryan Wellner and Goalie Coach Mickey Jarboe. Both were gracious and made Payton feel welcome. If you look closely, you will see true pride and happiness on Payton's face that he is sandwiched between two (for lack of a better term )complete studs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5tcnNNAmoP93UtX4W2WfP6rd7VC8nJr_N_K4_L0tJdlnbwDkI9YlDaIm7fQsD0rCjqVtsV0sp8p03fL3i-pi-u2YJ9knaIQ6XCCVayRsc2sA8R9_T9V2LdIqAZaiwEHilHgLfGSzufjY/s1600/maryland+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5tcnNNAmoP93UtX4W2WfP6rd7VC8nJr_N_K4_L0tJdlnbwDkI9YlDaIm7fQsD0rCjqVtsV0sp8p03fL3i-pi-u2YJ9knaIQ6XCCVayRsc2sA8R9_T9V2LdIqAZaiwEHilHgLfGSzufjY/s640/maryland+045.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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The following day, we returned to the Naval Academy. We went to the visitor's center and walked around the Yard, and ate lunch in the one place visitors can eat. We missed seeing the lunch formation because they moved it inside due to the drizzle. We saw the midshipmen (that is the term used for both men and women I found out there is no such word as midshipwomen) in their daily uniforms rather than their sports uniforms. I embarrassed my kids more than once asking to take a pictures with the sharply dressed future naval officers. <br />
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Just to give you an idea of how their college experience may have differed from yours or mine, I copied and pasted below from Naval Academy Website:<br />
And by the way a "plebe" pronounced pleeb - is a freshman. They come to the Naval Academy to start school the summer just after high school graduation and it is something like hardcore boot camp. <br />
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<div class="featureBody"><b>A typical weekday schedule looks something like this:</b><br />
<div class="float-left"><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">5:30 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Arise for personal fitness workout (optional)</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">6:30 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Reveille (all hands out of bed)</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">6:30 - 7:00 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Special instruction period for plebes</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">7:00 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Morning meal formation</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">7:15 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Morning meal</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">7:55 - 11:45 a.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Four class periods, 50 minutes each</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">12:05 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Noon meal formation</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">12:10 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Noon meal</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">12:50 - 1:20 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Company training time</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">1:30 - 3:30 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Fifth and sixth class periods</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">3:45 - 6:00 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Varsity and intramural athletics, extracurricular and personal activities; drill and parades twice weekly in the fall and spring</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">6:30 - 7:15 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Evening Meal</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">8:00 - 11:00 p.m.</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Study period</div></div><div class="schedFormat"><div class="col-thirds float-left">Midnight</div><div class="col-twothirds float-right">Taps for all midshipmen</div></div><div class="schedFormat">"When you add to this schedule the time required for military duties, inspection preparation and extra academic instruction, you can see the demands on your time are considerable."<br />
</div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhdUMaIuKdJ5_lsLfc6jtxA7l7YZVQJ9ZTIc6T43x_bDe8pg3anMzOcXDyRaezY9AuePyY5skbpHWSPXkF0ANPpGdZmj_zb6tGw_h1XcwXWPpFokR53gSJqqOSmuz5oEfTg0sZYFpWZXY/s1600/District+6-20111012-00391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhdUMaIuKdJ5_lsLfc6jtxA7l7YZVQJ9ZTIc6T43x_bDe8pg3anMzOcXDyRaezY9AuePyY5skbpHWSPXkF0ANPpGdZmj_zb6tGw_h1XcwXWPpFokR53gSJqqOSmuz5oEfTg0sZYFpWZXY/s640/District+6-20111012-00391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="schedFormat"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8smhd2mZnp0Thzy8mOCqdzwq0IhX0hibi71LTDG5rubO-ApxsKdutlr2z_oFM95EqFp8_UKTJ3QSw_yfHIse_0QbEa7SXxSFk4cLPrtI2la30GeKPu39xV1KGjb_OQyDXpuRCZrTUl-9B/s1600/District+6-20111012-00390.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8smhd2mZnp0Thzy8mOCqdzwq0IhX0hibi71LTDG5rubO-ApxsKdutlr2z_oFM95EqFp8_UKTJ3QSw_yfHIse_0QbEa7SXxSFk4cLPrtI2la30GeKPu39xV1KGjb_OQyDXpuRCZrTUl-9B/s640/District+6-20111012-00390.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVCoFdsiAogpJDgWfcZ1LdHhVkOkKevqzB6wzcbDf6NAn1wAhx-jMILrjEdRiCh6z8SSHxGoJowZaFSkYtnnZ0ZFqjNYuaU4w-vY2w4W1KessWL7wWL1c6DrSNvyd9C2ypfLO3Vqq6kFO/s1600/IMG01033-20111012-1231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVCoFdsiAogpJDgWfcZ1LdHhVkOkKevqzB6wzcbDf6NAn1wAhx-jMILrjEdRiCh6z8SSHxGoJowZaFSkYtnnZ0ZFqjNYuaU4w-vY2w4W1KessWL7wWL1c6DrSNvyd9C2ypfLO3Vqq6kFO/s320/IMG01033-20111012-1231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="schedFormat"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmrt_A7PLhIfBNXiKP1r6tuhOE_6JwgL_E9nW0Jh_YhnozmvmWfr_9n-jIQqgtghZ_Kh8sH2Vxf8Tvt1MhN-e3K9jXythSM8__mfBCUC2fHYEENTG53PCxDJLABUzvj4n_7Lsipt6uV2J/s1600/District+6-20111012-00395.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmrt_A7PLhIfBNXiKP1r6tuhOE_6JwgL_E9nW0Jh_YhnozmvmWfr_9n-jIQqgtghZ_Kh8sH2Vxf8Tvt1MhN-e3K9jXythSM8__mfBCUC2fHYEENTG53PCxDJLABUzvj4n_7Lsipt6uV2J/s640/District+6-20111012-00395.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="schedFormat"></div><div class="schedFormat">So happy that the kids and I were exposed to this level of work ethic, patriotism, integrity, and intelligence. I saw proud and confident men and women, but a lot of smiles and laughter too. In the photo above, Sally is drinking lemonade. Two midshipmen had set up a little lemonade stand table... turns out they had lost a bet having to do with the Navy football game. - the losers would have to have a lemonade stand in the Yard. </div><div class="schedFormat"></div><br />
It was all in good fun, as obviously, at the Naval Academy there are no losers. </div><div class="float-left"></div><div class="float-left"><br />
Go Navy! </div><div class="float-left"></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-21043367473985852052011-10-08T18:48:00.000-07:002011-10-08T18:48:12.953-07:00Mom's Voice ColumnRead a little more about Ohio in my column <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/10/07/lesson-family-values/">here</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK38a_6o00aGvaHBFTdQ3m4fWvi_seQiqRRYOoth3obzuPp_MvJ_L-RCmtTih_zyqI-X7KApKjhYEKuDQFAHhNNiyOGK91T2pOiNf85ZU3buV4bJKypIz_ee5qNCI6Qx9Hcrwky-FEqYOV/s1600/Ohio+048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK38a_6o00aGvaHBFTdQ3m4fWvi_seQiqRRYOoth3obzuPp_MvJ_L-RCmtTih_zyqI-X7KApKjhYEKuDQFAHhNNiyOGK91T2pOiNf85ZU3buV4bJKypIz_ee5qNCI6Qx9Hcrwky-FEqYOV/s400/Ohio+048.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Autumn in Ohio</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ITINERARY UPDATE: From Ohio we went to Gettysburg, PA which was phenomenal. We are in Washington D.C. right now with Edie and Nick Crabtree and having a great time. Edie and I are off to go pick up the Ethiopian food we ordered (after feeding the kids pasta we made in our hotel kitchenette) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-14205704161582441932011-10-03T19:44:00.000-07:002011-10-03T19:52:11.176-07:00Visiting Family and the Pennsylvania Turnpike<div class="MsoNormal">Here’s a song most of you probably didn’t hear your parents sing to you while growing up, but it was one of the first songs I learned…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<i>“It’s round on the ends and “hi” in the middle, tell me if you know….</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Now isn’t that a cute little riddle – round on the ends and “hi” in the middle</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>You can find it on the map if you look high and low.</i><br />
<i>The O's are round, it's high in the middle.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<i>O-H-I-O</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
We spent 4 nights with our Aunt Myra and Uncle Bernie, Cousins Michelle, David, Darla, Hallie, Abby, Charlotte, Zach and Sydney. It took very little for the kids to have the time of their lives. </div><div class="MsoNormal">So thankful for every second we were together. Also, the kids saw where their grandparents (my mom and dad) lived, and went to high school. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
More about our time in Columbus coming this Friday in my <a href="http://newportindy.com/2011/09/30/meeting-twain-lincoln-today%E2%80%99s/">Mom's Voice column.</a> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">From Ohio it was a 6 hour drive directly east to Gettysburg, PA. We broke it up into 2 days. </div><div class="MsoNormal">Today’s drive took us through some of the most beautiful countryside I had ever seen. Especially since in some places the leaves are all starting to burst with golds, reds, and yellows. A section of the Appalachians rises up through here and below the mountains are grassy hillsides dotted with dairy farms, grassy hills, red barns, and neat rows of crops growing. <br />
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So picturesque, which makes it all the more impossible to comprehend that on 9/11, this serene stretch of countryside was the scene of horrific crash and heroic acts of the passengers of flight 93. There is a new memorial which was 15 minutes off the Pennsylvania Turnpike from where we were, but I decided to not stop in the rain and take the kids to the actual field. But we paid our respects to the heroes by acknowledging we were passing though a battlefield of sorts as we were coincidentally heading to another.<br />
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It is not something you can read about or see through the lens of a news camera. Driving through this area gives one context to the reality that we were in fact attacked on our soil. Unbelievable - it was hard to get it out of my mind.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Instead of feeling down, I decided to feel gratitude for our freedoms.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Like the fact I am able to drive a car for starters! We also celebrated our freedom by eating Hershey bars and listening to 4 more chapters of Huckleberry Finn on CD. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">And we exercised our right to free speech by arguing and expressing our frustrations towards one another after being cramped in the car for 2 days - despite beautiful scenery and Hershey bars. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4w3vhkSsbIjLvjlwiZfwXY_t3-szqFNHEbbiN_A-RdyxQstYIhLDmnwELAKhVTII4O5iNTk_TwiwVkPRhrc42JDxN-0ENsj1rgkKoNQ9UdboSVTWReY64efriHKLbupY2dz5NfTVjV8V/s1600/PA+turnpike+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4w3vhkSsbIjLvjlwiZfwXY_t3-szqFNHEbbiN_A-RdyxQstYIhLDmnwELAKhVTII4O5iNTk_TwiwVkPRhrc42JDxN-0ENsj1rgkKoNQ9UdboSVTWReY64efriHKLbupY2dz5NfTVjV8V/s400/PA+turnpike+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> While this photo doesn't show the awesome fall colors we are beginning to see here and there, it is a great example of the little towns typical of the ones we passed through on Highway 30 known as Lincoln's Highway, on the way to Gettysburg. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-26092416580746460342011-10-01T08:13:00.000-07:002011-10-01T08:18:46.959-07:00Wyatt Feels Inspired to Blog<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Wyatt seems to have caught the blog bug and the other day asked if he could post. Below is exactly what he wrote by himself. I changed nothing and made no corrections. I did add photos at the bottom. It took him a very long time and he said he wasn't done yet, so there may be more to come. This was his take on the Children's Museum in Indianapolis: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">The day that we where suppost to go to the meseum we drove by and saw three things</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> #1 Three dinosaurs with wich hats</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">#2 A dinosaur that looks like it is braking in</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">#3 A big sign that said CLOSED ON MONDAY.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So the next day we came back and we loved it plus all hands on!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It had something called fireworks of glass! It was a huge thing of blone glass! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">It even had the real bummbull bee the auto bot it said he was the smallest auto bot . I now you think it souneds amazing cause it is.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GygiQbguxaRe8Xhxel7-Y8MSVKE5xnmu6DRaCyertMV_p_LrZBHg5bD16z4VmCQTggPXZwiyHXoSC1N8yNXKHcglIbk3Dd0Qxaw_voZw6JSRJcD2ldaUHyi9zS00kJSKhP9YAMMnIvVP/s1600/indiana+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GygiQbguxaRe8Xhxel7-Y8MSVKE5xnmu6DRaCyertMV_p_LrZBHg5bD16z4VmCQTggPXZwiyHXoSC1N8yNXKHcglIbk3Dd0Qxaw_voZw6JSRJcD2ldaUHyi9zS00kJSKhP9YAMMnIvVP/s400/indiana+064.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Exterior of the Children's Museum<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBUA8kl_OE6BxgkWRVPkRGgs63DbVjLJ92uyKLZuaK0HQXNxrBZjhyw6UU4PW0QzxHUReEWozLKZTFy5lG_K1U5KcwwJ8yRfsEmSiVHZn9V60oDhABtRzRZON2FnltN5jPTJVASeQmnk3/s1600/indiana+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBUA8kl_OE6BxgkWRVPkRGgs63DbVjLJ92uyKLZuaK0HQXNxrBZjhyw6UU4PW0QzxHUReEWozLKZTFy5lG_K1U5KcwwJ8yRfsEmSiVHZn9V60oDhABtRzRZON2FnltN5jPTJVASeQmnk3/s640/indiana+062.JPG" width="358" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRZTf-d6mfErfqQjWZDDQPmoRHLsa_a69sMgGR76vFrSeRsnPlaHVXdU76Lbq3sgjS3YLuQnQxyDczfPxpNQ_gOKn83mn5TEyuBXhQPbs3bsSH0UC6z3WI4UuqdXarbI-YBvNLUvzcb0/s1600/indiana+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYRZTf-d6mfErfqQjWZDDQPmoRHLsa_a69sMgGR76vFrSeRsnPlaHVXdU76Lbq3sgjS3YLuQnQxyDczfPxpNQ_gOKn83mn5TEyuBXhQPbs3bsSH0UC6z3WI4UuqdXarbI-YBvNLUvzcb0/s400/indiana+003.JPG" width="223" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We all agreed with Wyatt. The museum was all its cracked up to be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And he was right. We pulled up after a 3 hour drive from Illinois and everyone was all excited seeing dinosaurs busting in and out of the museum walls. Excited also just to get out of the car I suppose. And lo and behold: The big sign said "CLOSED ON MONDAYS" well...there was a one in seven chance that we would be there on a Monday. Luckily, we stayed 2 nights in Indianapolis so we came back on Tuesday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One thing that stood out for me (besides the ridiculous incident when Payton drank out of another family's water bottle) was seeing the kids all play and maybe even learn together, like the one room school house idea. For us, I guess that would be the one minivan school house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was an exhibit about recovering stuff from what they believe is Captain Kidd's ship in the Caribbean. The real video and photos as well as real artifacts were interesting, but being able to "scuba dive" and do research on the sunken cannons just like the real divers was even more fun. Sally and Wyatt worked together "underwater" measuring and taking notes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK_LT7mAheNdjf92wsDchpGZjRN__9CYSvwVnqg0OZSKKfw5UPdflbaniA6DWA7iMoIDL7TuK_ztLDlPsXPcJVeWWqtEKZBAD6zvBLl9YFxcQbO6aIm4BJNxq2dtBipkoWI3Yi4-TY0bu/s1600/indiana+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK_LT7mAheNdjf92wsDchpGZjRN__9CYSvwVnqg0OZSKKfw5UPdflbaniA6DWA7iMoIDL7TuK_ztLDlPsXPcJVeWWqtEKZBAD6zvBLl9YFxcQbO6aIm4BJNxq2dtBipkoWI3Yi4-TY0bu/s640/indiana+012.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEJEQIA94f3FWRntu6N7Q0cuhbKM4cT7MURiVyF_o6o3CAUCSyG35KHdzxoAkQP2aKdlr_sTa-Ktc5XYjEeTRohiYXuDvsYgONP7JA1daPYvbIxeRUPXKPv-BspY0YOhdKh-nhAkEWoJi/s1600/indiana+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEJEQIA94f3FWRntu6N7Q0cuhbKM4cT7MURiVyF_o6o3CAUCSyG35KHdzxoAkQP2aKdlr_sTa-Ktc5XYjEeTRohiYXuDvsYgONP7JA1daPYvbIxeRUPXKPv-BspY0YOhdKh-nhAkEWoJi/s640/indiana+016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan2rQhq8RrZKym4z9tjaCaOp8GZPwi_-_5PPXUsyhdErRL2iO3iFJwZUiW8ifO57LqyO4czUY9FoWuHXPvUH1Q4qaC4lKL0oAaKc0YfUmqLK-AItdpXe8pD9e4M0a9gFl5yOBAQ5fppZo/s1600/indiana+052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan2rQhq8RrZKym4z9tjaCaOp8GZPwi_-_5PPXUsyhdErRL2iO3iFJwZUiW8ifO57LqyO4czUY9FoWuHXPvUH1Q4qaC4lKL0oAaKc0YfUmqLK-AItdpXe8pD9e4M0a9gFl5yOBAQ5fppZo/s400/indiana+052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Janey and Sally with the cells they built in the science lab with a scientist</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0X3J5Rm662IYTD8u6QMuAo2Pk27haaug-nCwTov8s6ZH48DnBjPj84e0hm2li2uIRAA9hXMcSi7MIewsPH2UY1xDIPik-lVs4LHIEsBjotEdBmm4fHX-tmY0Zkpgr5Vzy_DtmIaOPPXl/s1600/indiana+045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0X3J5Rm662IYTD8u6QMuAo2Pk27haaug-nCwTov8s6ZH48DnBjPj84e0hm2li2uIRAA9hXMcSi7MIewsPH2UY1xDIPik-lVs4LHIEsBjotEdBmm4fHX-tmY0Zkpgr5Vzy_DtmIaOPPXl/s400/indiana+045.JPG" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wyatt and Payton work together learning about locks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">ITINERARY UPDATE: We are in Columbus, Ohio right now spending time with family. More on that to come. We did the midnight at Waffle House run last night, so Payton can check that off his wish list. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-72260183117768514582011-09-27T21:12:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:12:48.945-07:00FROM PAYTON - A day at the museumWe spent four hours today at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, one of the most renowned hands on museums in the world, and after that amazing experience, here's my big story.<br />
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When we were in one of the exhibits I got a little bit thirsty, and I thought we had a water bottle, so I walked over to the corner where our stuff was. I saw the water bottle and started chugging it, and all of the sudden I something went into my mouth (besides the water) and I started choking. Classic me. Anyway so I spit it up, looked in the bottle and realized there was a straw. And my mom looked over at me, because of the scene I was making. And asked me where I got the water bottle,I turned around and pointed to to the pile, and then to my horror I realized that the pile did not contain anything belonging to my family.<br />
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I realized I had taken, drunk from, and spit into a water bottle belonging to a family nearby who were playing with their little boy with some blocks.<br />
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And instead of doing the mature thing, like tell the family what happened and offer to buy them a new water bottle, I grabbed my moms arm, stuffed the bottle in her jacket she was wearing, and dragged her out of the exhibit. <br />
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And thats the end of my story, from the Indianapolis children's museum. Figured I'd share it. <br />
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Love, <br />
PaytonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8489117820664462353.post-83576373789735290242011-09-26T17:05:00.000-07:002011-09-26T17:58:08.032-07:00Payton's Guide to Midwest CuisineA post by Payton<br />
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Midwest Food. Let's discuss it. We are now in Indianapolis, Indiana, and we have begun seeing different food and restaurants in the area. We have lately started seeing restaurants such as: Steak and Shake, Waffle House, White Castle, and Bob Evans. If you don’t know what any of these are, or haven’t eaten at any of places, here is a guide of what you need to know. <br />
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For those of you who don’t know what <a href="http://www.steaknshake.com/">Steak and Shake</a> is, let’s get this straight; it is not a Jamba Juice for meat (that’s what I thought it was). They do not juice steak. It is basically In-n-Out, that serves steak burgers. The word shake, is referring to milkshakes. But do not let the idea of <br />
<blockquote>“steak burgers”</blockquote>fool you. for those of you who are think that this place is better, or fancier than the average fast food restaurant, it isn’t. STEAK and GROUND BEEF, ( for those of you who are still having trouble-ground beef is hamburger) IS THE SAME THING. BOTH FROM COWS. You’re all welcome, I just saved you from intense disappointment. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYvU3J2WeoKYjo7D34rKBdUKX_cJrH8YaCxmTyzPoG1hL91I1FUQFs_L1rvkq_teFOpN4o-8_ZceCwbzXjc6SfbKioH4b4fPQYj1zt2mh1TGDoCff0UMvGQBKwkTpzGnPDMRz91O1FOq8/s1600/FW_WAFFLEHOUSE-300x241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYvU3J2WeoKYjo7D34rKBdUKX_cJrH8YaCxmTyzPoG1hL91I1FUQFs_L1rvkq_teFOpN4o-8_ZceCwbzXjc6SfbKioH4b4fPQYj1zt2mh1TGDoCff0UMvGQBKwkTpzGnPDMRz91O1FOq8/s1600/FW_WAFFLEHOUSE-300x241.jpg" /></a></div>Next…<a href="http://www.wafflehouse.com/">Waffle House</a>. <br />
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To quote the brilliant philosopher, Jim Gaffigan, <br />
<blockquote>“If you don’t know what Waffle House is, imagine a gas station bathroom-that serves waffles”</blockquote>. Gaffigan is spot on. But let it be known, Waffle House, is AMAZING! <br />
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<blockquote>“If your ever up at 2 am and see a waffle house, remember, there’s still time to make one more bad decision”</blockquote>–Jim Gaffigan. <br />
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But when you eat there, there should be minimum diarrhea, so long as you don’t order any meats. <br />
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Waffle house is one of my favorite road stops. <br />
<a href="http://www.whitecastle.com/"><br />
White Castle</a>.<br />
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To explain what white castle is, it may be the only place that some of you will walk into and say, “ you know, I saw a McDonalds a few blocks down…”. That being said, if you ever get the chance, eat there at least once, just to say you did, it will be an experience you will never forget. <br />
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In a society that values supersize, White Castle’s burgers are surprisingly small. They are all sliders. This is a mere deception, thought up by corporate white castle. Because you never just have one burger. And THEY know that. That’s how they designed the menu.<br />
For instance, the Sack Meal 1 is the base package. It includes 4 hamburgers, a medium fry and a small drink.<br />
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Or maybe, the crave case is what you need: <br />
<blockquote>“Food for many, or a very hungry individual.</blockquote>The Crave Case includes thirty 100% <br />
<blockquote>“Beef”</blockquote>Original Sliders in a convenient carrying case. Perfect for your next group event!”<br />
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And for a side, maybe you would like some fries, cheese fries, fish sticks, (really?) mozzarella sticks, onion rings, chicken rings, (what?) or onion sticks. <br />
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If you ever DO go to White Castle, you may notice that their burgers have little holes, and you may ask yourself, what are these? To answer your question, those are the bullet holes from where they shot the rat. <br />
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Now, onto <a href="http://bobevans.com/">Bob Evans</a>. There is actually not much to criticize about this place. It’s pretty down-home and cozy, and has the bendiest bendy straws ever!!!!!! Also, It may be the best 3 dollar meal you ever get at a restaurant. ONE ISSUE- their booths only seat 4 people. WHAT IS THAT? So I’m being forced to sit in a CHAIR, because you people didn’t manufacture big enough booths!? Disgraceful. <br />
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So, there you have it. A quick analysis of some places to be envied by Californians.<br />
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Love, <br />
PaytonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3