Hello Blogworld...I am alive and I owe you an apology. My schedule has been hectic and I don't have any excuses. This is the first year that I have had a real girl scout troop and we've been busy. We sold a ton of girl scout cookies, earned badges and I am now certified for camping. Chris has already laid down the proclamation, "NO Camping in our family". Too Bad!!
I have also taken 2 semester classes in the "Way of the Master" at church and have led someone to Christ. It was totally amazing. I also gave my testimony for the first time in my life and again it was an amazing, terrifying and emotional experience.
C is starting Kindergarten next year so we had to do an IEP which basically is what the goals are for his learning and achievement over and above being a normal Kindergartener.
I promise to write more and get over the time issue and writer's block issue.
I have also just finished reading "Wicked" and it is a great book but a little too graphic for me. My Sunday School Classmates are going to see the Broadway play in December and I can't wait for them to tell me about it.
Please accept my apology for not keeping you in the loop but life got in the way and I need to reclaim my writing.
Have a great week!!!
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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Can you say "UH OH" in Chinese
As I took the last 1/2 hour of my lunch break to catch up on the latest news on CNN, I saw an article where the global economy has hit the U.S. A. big time. It appears that China is investing its resources in our banking and stock markets to help our economy. China is aggressively investing in the U.S. publicly held companies as well as playing in our stock market. This is a bad idea.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071223/BIZ/712230342/1005/biz
We are now becoming dependent on foreign countries for our economic growth. Since its less than 10% of the companies assets and they do not have stock votes, the government says its o.k. I believe this isn't good a good idea. If China invests enough in our financial situation, how can we (as Americans) be assured that China won't use it against us as a negotiating tactic?
I am not comfortable with foreigners investing in our finances or wanting to utilize a privately held coastal business where custom officials aren't allowed in.
This is the first step towards the downward spiral of dependency on foreign aide. Lets get our budget under control and be more fiscally responsible and stay the INDEPENDENT Nation that we want to be.
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http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071223/BIZ/712230342/1005/biz
We are now becoming dependent on foreign countries for our economic growth. Since its less than 10% of the companies assets and they do not have stock votes, the government says its o.k. I believe this isn't good a good idea. If China invests enough in our financial situation, how can we (as Americans) be assured that China won't use it against us as a negotiating tactic?
I am not comfortable with foreigners investing in our finances or wanting to utilize a privately held coastal business where custom officials aren't allowed in.
This is the first step towards the downward spiral of dependency on foreign aide. Lets get our budget under control and be more fiscally responsible and stay the INDEPENDENT Nation that we want to be.
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Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Disney is For EVERYONE!!
For Christmas, our family went to Disney and as you know we have a son who is mobility impaired to an extent. He walks with the aid of crutches and leg braces. This was our first time to Disney with the exception of Chris who has been several times. My concern as a mom was that all of the kids would have fun and be able to get around but most of all be happy.
Since we have a handicap parking pass, we were able to park at the front entrance of the park. At Magic Kingdom (which was Day 1 and this post will be about), there is a wheelchair waiting in the parking area for your use. We were able to transfer C to the wheelchair and put his crutches on the back of the chair to push him down the walkway to get to where the wheelchair rentals were. The price isn't bad. $10 day or if you rent for 3 or more days, then the rate was $8 a day. We paid for a 5 day rental.
Going to the monorail was easy. We went up the ramp with the rest of the patrons and when the cast member saw us, we were ushered to the handicap entrance where they provided a ramp for easy boarding. Once all of the wheelchairs, strollers were on, the the rest of the patrons were able to get aboard and find a place to rest for the 10 minute ride.
We went during week 50 for this year and the most we waited in line was about 10 - 15 minutes. The cast members were always polite and asked if he needed to stay in his chair or could we transfer him to the ride. We transferred C on all of the rides and he had a blast. His sisters also had a great time and enjoyed the interactions with the characters.
The characters were awesome. They would engage C and make him feel especially important. His sisters were also treated with big hugs and autographs. Since the crowds weren't huge, we were able to maneuver C around easily and he enjoyed talking to the cast members and touching noses of the characters he met.
The kids were ecstatic to meet their favorites; B - loves tinkerbell so she traded pins to collect a good supply of tinkerbell pins and she loved meeting the Princesses, K loves Cinderella and I thought she was going to pee her pants with excitement when Cinderella arrived at our table during the princess dinner. C loves Pluto. He told him "I wub u" a bunch.
We also had purchased tickets to Mickey's Merry Christmas Party. 20,000 tickets were sold and we all had to wear wristbands. We had a blast and when we arrived at the Character Dance, Chip and Dale (the chipmunks) made C's night. They took his hands and danced with him so he could be with his sisters and the rest of the kids.
A cast member came by and asked if the characters were paying enough attention to him and I said that everyone was doing an awesome job. It still brings tears of joy thinking about him dancing with the rest of the kids.
So if you are planning a trip to Disney and have mobility issues, don't worry. This is the year of a million dreams and Disney will make your dreams come true as they did for us.
Here's to your dreams,
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Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Its a New Year but the same ME!!
Our New Year's Eve family blast was the usual except the kids decided to make home made confetti and we had a confetti fight at Midnight. What fun and what a mess.
We visited Chris' grandmother who has passed the 90th year of life and she is still smart as a whip and glad to have family come and visit and take watch out for her.
Its the start of the new year and I am still looking for the right job with the right attitude. I don't make resolutions as I will break them within the 1 hour mark so I don't do it. I am hoping to get more into studying the Bible to equip me to deal with life. I am finishing up my first evanglism class and will be getting ready for the second the class. Its a pretty cool class as it gets me out of my comfort zone.
I am also hoping to drop some weight so I can wear the "cool" clothes again and be the "cool" mom. I want to go a little more green so my part will include eating less gaseous foods so I won't produce too much methane gas which should help the ozone.
Since we are going into an even year I am hoping that the oddball stupid stuff that has happened to us in 07 will not happen in the wonderful 08 even year.
Did you make any resolutions? Do you keep them?
Let me wish you a happy new year!
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We visited Chris' grandmother who has passed the 90th year of life and she is still smart as a whip and glad to have family come and visit and take watch out for her.
Its the start of the new year and I am still looking for the right job with the right attitude. I don't make resolutions as I will break them within the 1 hour mark so I don't do it. I am hoping to get more into studying the Bible to equip me to deal with life. I am finishing up my first evanglism class and will be getting ready for the second the class. Its a pretty cool class as it gets me out of my comfort zone.
I am also hoping to drop some weight so I can wear the "cool" clothes again and be the "cool" mom. I want to go a little more green so my part will include eating less gaseous foods so I won't produce too much methane gas which should help the ozone.
Since we are going into an even year I am hoping that the oddball stupid stuff that has happened to us in 07 will not happen in the wonderful 08 even year.
Did you make any resolutions? Do you keep them?
Let me wish you a happy new year!
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
Authors are Blooming all Around
My daughter's B's first grade teacher has published his 2nd book. Its in the stylings of Eragon and other Fantasy Science Fiction Reading. If you want to support a local author, he lives in Colonial Heights, and love to read, please read the description below and if you like, please purchase it through Amazon.com for $10.17
Knight Of The Dove
Publication Date: November 2007 Published By: Kerlak Publishing ISBN: 0-9788777-6-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-9788777-6-7
SynopsisAmaria Eversvale, the Knight of the Dove, is a ruined woman. Once a proud soldier and icon of the Illidor army, her life has been tragically altered forever. In avenging the brutal murder of her husband, she had called upon the dark gods and committed a massacre at Erdoth Fortress. Now a victim of the sinister god's sinister whispers, her life has become a constant struggle to ignore the temptations and promises of evil.Author's NotesStylistically, Knight of the Dove vastly differed from my previous novel, Tower of Ruin (or anything else I’d written before). In an attempt to exercise my creative muscles, so to speak, I approached this story in a manner that proved difficult, but was ultimately quite rewarding. It’s still written in typical 3rd person, but almost the entire script is viewed from a single person's perspective. I intentionally came in thinking this would be an "anti-plot driven" novel, centered exclusively on one character, that being the heroine (though calling her a hero is subjective), Amaria Eversvale. I was reaching for a wistful, almost brooding, atmosphere. I’m quite happy with how it turned out, and wouldn’t change anything. It’ll be interesting to see how the readers respond to it. People might hate it, they might not. In the world of fiction, you just never know . . .Please note that the prequel to this book, the short story “A Dove Before Dawn,” (in the Time Intertwined Anthology) is included at the beginning of the novel as a special addition.
Website design and programming by William A. Kooiker© Copyright 2005-2007
Keep Reading,
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Knight Of The Dove
Publication Date: November 2007 Published By: Kerlak Publishing ISBN: 0-9788777-6-4 ISBN 13: 978-0-9788777-6-7
SynopsisAmaria Eversvale, the Knight of the Dove, is a ruined woman. Once a proud soldier and icon of the Illidor army, her life has been tragically altered forever. In avenging the brutal murder of her husband, she had called upon the dark gods and committed a massacre at Erdoth Fortress. Now a victim of the sinister god's sinister whispers, her life has become a constant struggle to ignore the temptations and promises of evil.Author's NotesStylistically, Knight of the Dove vastly differed from my previous novel, Tower of Ruin (or anything else I’d written before). In an attempt to exercise my creative muscles, so to speak, I approached this story in a manner that proved difficult, but was ultimately quite rewarding. It’s still written in typical 3rd person, but almost the entire script is viewed from a single person's perspective. I intentionally came in thinking this would be an "anti-plot driven" novel, centered exclusively on one character, that being the heroine (though calling her a hero is subjective), Amaria Eversvale. I was reaching for a wistful, almost brooding, atmosphere. I’m quite happy with how it turned out, and wouldn’t change anything. It’ll be interesting to see how the readers respond to it. People might hate it, they might not. In the world of fiction, you just never know . . .Please note that the prequel to this book, the short story “A Dove Before Dawn,” (in the Time Intertwined Anthology) is included at the beginning of the novel as a special addition.
Website design and programming by William A. Kooiker© Copyright 2005-2007
Keep Reading,
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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Dads are Important Too!!
I was reading articles on the web as I usually do and found this awesome article written by Roland Martin on CNN on the importance of fathers in black America (his words). This is so dead on.
The article stated that if fathers stepped up tothe plate when they get their girlfriends pregnant and took the responsibility, the jails would be less crowded. He also went on to say that teenagers should be looking at colleges instead of baby names. Unplanned pregnancies happen but we shouldn't shun the girl, congratulate the guy and treat it as a blue ribbon day.
As a mom, I can say that regardless of race, dad's are important. Our children look to dad for play and to see how far they can push the boundary. Daughters will look at their dad and will see what kind of husband they want or don't want based on Dad. Sons look to dad to see what kind of man they want to grow up to be. Sorry mom's but we can't be a dad. We can only do the best that we can because face it, we don't think like boys or men.
Parenting is an equal partnership. It takes two to have a baby and it takes two to raise one. Don't discount dads because they didn't give birth. Their role as provider and leader teaches the children the importance of both sides of parenting. Our children of today are our teenagers of tomorrow and adults of the future. Lets give our kids the chance they need by giving dad the credit he deserves and show the importance of their role.
If you want to read the article, here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/11/roland.martin/index.html
Hope you have an awesome night!!
Beamer 319
The article stated that if fathers stepped up tothe plate when they get their girlfriends pregnant and took the responsibility, the jails would be less crowded. He also went on to say that teenagers should be looking at colleges instead of baby names. Unplanned pregnancies happen but we shouldn't shun the girl, congratulate the guy and treat it as a blue ribbon day.
As a mom, I can say that regardless of race, dad's are important. Our children look to dad for play and to see how far they can push the boundary. Daughters will look at their dad and will see what kind of husband they want or don't want based on Dad. Sons look to dad to see what kind of man they want to grow up to be. Sorry mom's but we can't be a dad. We can only do the best that we can because face it, we don't think like boys or men.
Parenting is an equal partnership. It takes two to have a baby and it takes two to raise one. Don't discount dads because they didn't give birth. Their role as provider and leader teaches the children the importance of both sides of parenting. Our children of today are our teenagers of tomorrow and adults of the future. Lets give our kids the chance they need by giving dad the credit he deserves and show the importance of their role.
If you want to read the article, here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/11/roland.martin/index.html
Hope you have an awesome night!!
Beamer 319
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Can you truly go Green?
This past week, I have been reading a lot of articles on being green and how we can do some simple things to stay green. It may be simple but I don't believe it will truly happen. If you want to get rid of the green house effect, it will mean you will have to make a real commitment to do it. This is what the scientists are saying:
It seems that divorce is paying a huge part to the green house effect. If no one was divorced in 2006, there would be 1 million less houses which would mean a decrease in trash pick up, use of electricity, less gas being used in cars. Can people go back to the era of no divorce. That would be awesome and you would be helping the environment. I do believe in divorce where physical abuse occurs but because you changed your mind about being married because it got hard is now unacceptable. We need to save the environment. So remember the original "I do" means forever.
The second thing we need to do is not pass gas. It seems that humans, pigs, cows and sheep produce so much methane gas that it is causing the green house effect. The Netherlands produce 50% more methane gas than anywhere else in the world. So say good bye to Mexican Food and other foods that cause the production of the passage of gas or you can buy an over the counter product like Beano. The kangaroo on the other hand does not produce methane gas so they don't need to modify their eating habits. So invest in Beano or another over the counter medicine that stops gas passage. Remember to be like Roo.
So remember, if you want to help the environment, stay married and don't pass gas. Sorry husbands, but when you pass that gas under the blanket and then barricade your wife under the covers so she can get the full effect, this is counter productive to having a green environment.
Have a great weekend.
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It seems that divorce is paying a huge part to the green house effect. If no one was divorced in 2006, there would be 1 million less houses which would mean a decrease in trash pick up, use of electricity, less gas being used in cars. Can people go back to the era of no divorce. That would be awesome and you would be helping the environment. I do believe in divorce where physical abuse occurs but because you changed your mind about being married because it got hard is now unacceptable. We need to save the environment. So remember the original "I do" means forever.
The second thing we need to do is not pass gas. It seems that humans, pigs, cows and sheep produce so much methane gas that it is causing the green house effect. The Netherlands produce 50% more methane gas than anywhere else in the world. So say good bye to Mexican Food and other foods that cause the production of the passage of gas or you can buy an over the counter product like Beano. The kangaroo on the other hand does not produce methane gas so they don't need to modify their eating habits. So invest in Beano or another over the counter medicine that stops gas passage. Remember to be like Roo.
So remember, if you want to help the environment, stay married and don't pass gas. Sorry husbands, but when you pass that gas under the blanket and then barricade your wife under the covers so she can get the full effect, this is counter productive to having a green environment.
Have a great weekend.
Beamer 319
Friday, December 7, 2007
I went to a Birthday Party and the Guest of Honor was Ignored
I go to this birthday party every year and I wonder why people who come ignore the guest of honor. They don't wish him a Happy Birthday. People always say it was the best party of the year and what a great way to be with friends but they ignore the Guest of Honor. It truly upsets me when I see this happen so I decided to post about it to get some feed back.
Every year, people anticipate this birthday party and buy all sorts of gifts and take up the stores Christmas sales. How would you feel if people who loved you and knew it was your birthday and instead of saying Happy Birthday (insert your name), they would simply say Happy Friday or whatever the day of the week it was? People who didn't like you came by anyway just to see what was going on but didn't speak to you or accept you. How would you feel?
If you haven't guessed it, I am talking about Christmas. This is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Its HIS birthday. Do you say Happy Birthday Jesus on Christmas Day? During this Christmas Season, do you say "Merry Christmas" or do you take Christ out His day and say "Happy Holidays"?
If you don't believe in Christ, why do you celebrate it? I'm curious to know. It doesn't matter to Jesus, he loves you no matter what but it hurts Him to know that you reject him.
Please remember that Christmas is the time of year to Celebrate Jesus' birthday but its also a time when the world can start with a fresh beginning and we can hope for better days ahead.
Merry Christmas and please remember the true meaning of Christmas.
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Every year, people anticipate this birthday party and buy all sorts of gifts and take up the stores Christmas sales. How would you feel if people who loved you and knew it was your birthday and instead of saying Happy Birthday (insert your name), they would simply say Happy Friday or whatever the day of the week it was? People who didn't like you came by anyway just to see what was going on but didn't speak to you or accept you. How would you feel?
If you haven't guessed it, I am talking about Christmas. This is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Its HIS birthday. Do you say Happy Birthday Jesus on Christmas Day? During this Christmas Season, do you say "Merry Christmas" or do you take Christ out His day and say "Happy Holidays"?
If you don't believe in Christ, why do you celebrate it? I'm curious to know. It doesn't matter to Jesus, he loves you no matter what but it hurts Him to know that you reject him.
Please remember that Christmas is the time of year to Celebrate Jesus' birthday but its also a time when the world can start with a fresh beginning and we can hope for better days ahead.
Merry Christmas and please remember the true meaning of Christmas.
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Thursday, November 29, 2007
Lessons Learned as a Wife
We've been married almost eight years so we have passed the proverbial seven year itch. However, I must say that I myself usually got the itch to leave about once a year. Usually due to a nuclear catastrophe that seems to appear yearly in our marriage. However, I remember the things that I learned and stay in for the fight. This is what I have learned:
Husbands don't change their spots. When we were dating my husband had the same flaws that he has now. I chose to ignore them or thought that I could fix them. The flaws are a part of who he is so I just pray about whatever it is that he is doing that I find annoying. I can even pray out loud for the world to hear if I want to.
I am not perfect. I also have my flaws and imperfections. I didn't marry a "yes dear". I married a person and when my ugly shortcomings arise, I hope he prays for me. I have to remember that I am only one person and I cannot do it all or have it all.
When I said I do, it was a Commitment. I made a commitment for better or worse, sickness and in health. This also includes patience, understanding and kindness which I seem to run short of during times of getting ready for work and putting kids to bed. So when my husband disappoints me or hurts my feelings, I will be there for the long haul by forgiving him. True forgiveness never brings it up again and moves on. You don't forget it, you just ignore it.
Just because your married, it doesn't mean the pursuit stops. We have a monthly date night. During the date night, we don't discuss work or children. We actually try to stay connected as a couple so when the kids grow up, I won't wake up and say, Hello. Who are YOU??. Keep talking and its ok to have different opinions and a good debate.
Sex shouldn't be a reward. It should be about romance. Sex should never be about winning a bet. When it becomes a type of reward, it removes the wanting to over to the "have to" side of life. Sex should always stay in the want column.
Its o.k. to have a girls night out or a guys night out. Its important to stay connected to your friends and to have fun with them. Friends should be yours, mine and ours. Trust is what keeps you together and your friends keep you grounded. My friends knew me before I was a mom so they remind me of who I was when I get too judgemental of others.
Most of all, Love should be patient, kind, and understanding especially when you're blogging and you are interrupted by your loving husband who wants to talk about the football game with all the trimmings. Just smile and say that's great. I'm glad you had a good time.
In the eight years that we've been married this is what I have learned. I hope to learn more but more especially, I hope to beat the odds and be married to one guy for hundred years.
Have a great night.
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Husbands don't change their spots. When we were dating my husband had the same flaws that he has now. I chose to ignore them or thought that I could fix them. The flaws are a part of who he is so I just pray about whatever it is that he is doing that I find annoying. I can even pray out loud for the world to hear if I want to.
I am not perfect. I also have my flaws and imperfections. I didn't marry a "yes dear". I married a person and when my ugly shortcomings arise, I hope he prays for me. I have to remember that I am only one person and I cannot do it all or have it all.
When I said I do, it was a Commitment. I made a commitment for better or worse, sickness and in health. This also includes patience, understanding and kindness which I seem to run short of during times of getting ready for work and putting kids to bed. So when my husband disappoints me or hurts my feelings, I will be there for the long haul by forgiving him. True forgiveness never brings it up again and moves on. You don't forget it, you just ignore it.
Just because your married, it doesn't mean the pursuit stops. We have a monthly date night. During the date night, we don't discuss work or children. We actually try to stay connected as a couple so when the kids grow up, I won't wake up and say, Hello. Who are YOU??. Keep talking and its ok to have different opinions and a good debate.
Sex shouldn't be a reward. It should be about romance. Sex should never be about winning a bet. When it becomes a type of reward, it removes the wanting to over to the "have to" side of life. Sex should always stay in the want column.
Its o.k. to have a girls night out or a guys night out. Its important to stay connected to your friends and to have fun with them. Friends should be yours, mine and ours. Trust is what keeps you together and your friends keep you grounded. My friends knew me before I was a mom so they remind me of who I was when I get too judgemental of others.
Most of all, Love should be patient, kind, and understanding especially when you're blogging and you are interrupted by your loving husband who wants to talk about the football game with all the trimmings. Just smile and say that's great. I'm glad you had a good time.
In the eight years that we've been married this is what I have learned. I hope to learn more but more especially, I hope to beat the odds and be married to one guy for hundred years.
Have a great night.
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Wisdom of a 9 year old
When I was in my daughters' room tonight, I came across this carefully folded piece of paper. On it was written 3 things on Love:
1. Love is a Miracle
2. Love is Important
3. Love is a wonderful thing
Wow! Don't we usually take the ones we love for granted. I know I do. I will take B's advice and remember the three things of love.
Here's to love.
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1. Love is a Miracle
2. Love is Important
3. Love is a wonderful thing
Wow! Don't we usually take the ones we love for granted. I know I do. I will take B's advice and remember the three things of love.
Here's to love.
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Special Needs Kids get Robots to Drive
I was watching Art Fennell tonight and they were speaking of the latest developments for special needs kids. Having a child that didn't walk until he was 3 and being mobility impaired his entire life, it is with such awesome excitement that I learned what the University of Delaware has developed.
The focus of this important and innovative research being conducted at the University of Delaware that could have significant repercussions for the cognitive development of infants with special needs. The University is seeking candidates to use this innovative equipment which is a blessing to those parents who want their children to be independent.
Here is the article that is located on the University of Delaware Website:
"Two UD researchers--James C. (Cole) Galloway, associate professor of physical therapy, and Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering--have outfitted kid-size robots to provide mobility to children who are unable to fully explore the world on their own.
The work is important because much of infant development, both of the brain and behavior, emerges from the thousands of experiences each day that arise as babies independently move and explore their world. This is the concept of “embodied development,” Galloway said.
Infants with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other disorders can have mobility limitations that disconnect them from the ongoing exploration that their peers enjoy.
“If these infants were adults, therapists would have options of assistive technology such as power wheelchairs,” Galloway said. “Currently, children with significant mobility impairments are not offered power mobility until they are 5-6 years of age, or older. This delay in mobility is particularly disturbing when you consider the rapid brain development during infancy. Their actions, feelings and thinking all shape their own brain's development. Babies literally build their own brains through their exploration and learning in the complex world.”
When a baby starts crawling and walking, everything changes for everyone involved. “Now consider the negative impact of a half decade of immobility for an infant with already delayed development,” Galloway said. “When a baby doesn't crawl or walk, everything also changes. Immobility changes the infant, and the family. Given the need, you would think that the barriers to providing power mobility must be insurmountable. In fact, the primary barrier is safety.” Therapists and parents fear a young child in a power wheelchair might mistakenly go the wrong way, end up in a roadway and get hit by a car.
“This is, of course, understandable, and is the same fear that every parent with a newly walking infant faces. It is the solution to the safety problem that is the real barrier. The current clinical practice is to avoid power mobility until the child can follow adult commands,” Galloway said. “Your parents didn't wait until you followed their every command before they let you walk--they held your hand, they required you to stay near them and alerted you to obstacles in your way. This is the way infants learn real world navigation, and it is exactly these safety features that are being built into our mobile robot.”
“Our first prototype, affectionately called UD1, was designed with smart technology that addresses each of these safety issues so that infants have the opportunity to be a part of the real world environment,” Agrawal said.
UD1 robot developers (from left) Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering, James (Cole) Galloway, associate professor of physical therapy, and Ji-Chul Ryu, a doctoral candidate in UD’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.The tiny robot is ringed with sensors that can determine the obstacle-free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself. The next prototype, UD2, will build on the current technology to provide additional control to a parent, teacher or other supervising adult.
“In this way, we can bind technology and human need together to remove barriers for movement in the environment,” Agrawal said.
Galloway said no one had ever tried using robots with babies--early experiments show that seven-month-olds can learn to operate the simple joystick controls--and he is passionate about the possible benefits to children with special needs of even younger ages.
“Infants with limited mobility play in one location while their peers or siblings go off on distant adventures all over the room or playground,” Galloway said. “With the robot, they become the center of attention because their classmates want to try it. We predict that this increased social interaction alone will provide an important boost in their cognitive development.”
The idea sprang from a parking lot conversation in which Agrawal approached Galloway, who he knew worked with babies with special needs, and said he might have developed something of interest. Agrawal is a robotics expert who had been developing a fleet of small, rounded robots that could work as a unit through a wireless network.
Galloway knew of Agrawal's successes with rehabilitation robotics for adults but admitted to being anti-robot for pediatric rehabilitation at first. Galloway was convinced otherwise within minutes of his first visit to Agrawal's laboratory. “When I saw his little robots, it was easy to envision a baby driving one,” he said. “We knew from our previous work that newly reaching infants could use a joystick to control a distant toy. This and other research strongly suggests that very young infants can be trained in real world navigation. It was a special feeling to see a potential solution to a really serious health-care gap for young kids. There was and still is a special tingle when we think of the not so distant future. “
Thus, UD1 was born. The researchers took their robot to the UD Early Learning Center, which has a wide range of infants, a gymnasium for initial training on the robot and a varied outdoor landscape to use as a test track.
“It was a relief when we saw that the children quickly grasped the use of the joystick,” Agrawal said. “If they had just sat there or cried, it would have been back to the drawing board. But over time we have seen them gradually increase their time with the robot and the amount of distance they cover.”
The tiny robot is ringed with sensors that can determine the obstacle-free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself.The project will now move on to a second generation with more than one robot. The goal is to place multiple mobile robots with special needs infants in communities throughout Delaware and to gather data to analyze how they are used and what the children learn so that the research team can continue to make modifications.
Both note that Delaware, with its mix of urban, rural and suburban communities, is a model state for a clinical project such as this. “For a real world mobility device to emerge, we have to build it for exploring the real world experienced by infants and their families, and then rigorously study its performance in that world,” Galloway said.
Both said the project will significantly expand understanding of young infants' learning capacity and provide a model for tracking the development of real world exploration with laboratory quality data.
They believe the training, robot design and new technology derived from the project will provide the foundation for the first generation of safe, smart vehicles for infants born with mobility impairments.
They want the UD1 product to be light enough for moms to stow in a car trunk, and robust enough for babies to use in the home, yard and playground, and maybe even the beach.
This interdisciplinary project is bringing together students and researchers from fields that have had little or no interaction: engineering, early childhood education and pediatric therapy.
“The research, educational and health care impact is hard to overestimate, given the critical nature of early development, the relatively short time to prepare special needs infants to enter mainstream education and the complete lack of power mobility early in life,” Galloway said. “This project has so many positives, and is of interest to so many in the community. We are encouraging everyone interested in special needs infants to get involved--from parents to policymakers. We are thinking locally and globally at the same time.”
He added, “Although there are special needs kids in every community, you have never seen a special needs child driving themselves down Main Street in Newark, and neither has anyone else in any community anywhere. They, and often their families, are hidden citizens. We predict that very soon that will change in Newark, and then across Delaware, and then who knows. But time is of the essence because there is a baby being born right now who could use this today. That is the race we are in, so back to work.”
The UD1 robot is being developed to be light enough for moms to stow in a car trunk, and robust enough for babies to use in the home, yard and playground.Agrawal, who directs the UD robotics laboratory, received his doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1990 from Stanford University, where he was a research assistant in the university's robotics laboratory. He taught and conducted research at Ohio University from 1990 until 1996, when he joined the UD faculty. He received his bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur and his master's degree from Ohio State University.
Galloway, who directs the UD Infant Motor Behavior Laboratory, received his doctorate in physiological sciences from the University of Arizona in 1998 and joined the UD faculty in 2000. He received bachelor's degrees in exercise science and biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987 and in physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1989.
Providing important technical support to the project is Ji-Chul Ryu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with expertise in the planning and control of mobile robots.
The UD Early Learning Center is a focal point for interdisciplinary research on early learning and development, prevention, intervention and education. It provides exemplary infant, toddler, preschool and kindergarten care to a diverse population of approximately 180 children, specifically targeting children with risk factors including poverty, foster care and disabilities. ELC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a recognition awarded to only 5-7 percent of all child care centers nationwide. The center, which is part of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, received the Governor's Award of Excellence in Early Care and Education in 2006.
Article by Neil ThomasPhotos by Kathy F. Atkinson "
Thank you University of Delaware for helping our children assimilate better in our communities.
Beamer 319
The focus of this important and innovative research being conducted at the University of Delaware that could have significant repercussions for the cognitive development of infants with special needs. The University is seeking candidates to use this innovative equipment which is a blessing to those parents who want their children to be independent.
Here is the article that is located on the University of Delaware Website:
"Two UD researchers--James C. (Cole) Galloway, associate professor of physical therapy, and Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering--have outfitted kid-size robots to provide mobility to children who are unable to fully explore the world on their own.
The work is important because much of infant development, both of the brain and behavior, emerges from the thousands of experiences each day that arise as babies independently move and explore their world. This is the concept of “embodied development,” Galloway said.
Infants with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other disorders can have mobility limitations that disconnect them from the ongoing exploration that their peers enjoy.
“If these infants were adults, therapists would have options of assistive technology such as power wheelchairs,” Galloway said. “Currently, children with significant mobility impairments are not offered power mobility until they are 5-6 years of age, or older. This delay in mobility is particularly disturbing when you consider the rapid brain development during infancy. Their actions, feelings and thinking all shape their own brain's development. Babies literally build their own brains through their exploration and learning in the complex world.”
When a baby starts crawling and walking, everything changes for everyone involved. “Now consider the negative impact of a half decade of immobility for an infant with already delayed development,” Galloway said. “When a baby doesn't crawl or walk, everything also changes. Immobility changes the infant, and the family. Given the need, you would think that the barriers to providing power mobility must be insurmountable. In fact, the primary barrier is safety.” Therapists and parents fear a young child in a power wheelchair might mistakenly go the wrong way, end up in a roadway and get hit by a car.
“This is, of course, understandable, and is the same fear that every parent with a newly walking infant faces. It is the solution to the safety problem that is the real barrier. The current clinical practice is to avoid power mobility until the child can follow adult commands,” Galloway said. “Your parents didn't wait until you followed their every command before they let you walk--they held your hand, they required you to stay near them and alerted you to obstacles in your way. This is the way infants learn real world navigation, and it is exactly these safety features that are being built into our mobile robot.”
“Our first prototype, affectionately called UD1, was designed with smart technology that addresses each of these safety issues so that infants have the opportunity to be a part of the real world environment,” Agrawal said.
UD1 robot developers (from left) Sunil Agrawal, professor of mechanical engineering, James (Cole) Galloway, associate professor of physical therapy, and Ji-Chul Ryu, a doctoral candidate in UD’s Department of Mechanical Engineering.The tiny robot is ringed with sensors that can determine the obstacle-free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself. The next prototype, UD2, will build on the current technology to provide additional control to a parent, teacher or other supervising adult.
“In this way, we can bind technology and human need together to remove barriers for movement in the environment,” Agrawal said.
Galloway said no one had ever tried using robots with babies--early experiments show that seven-month-olds can learn to operate the simple joystick controls--and he is passionate about the possible benefits to children with special needs of even younger ages.
“Infants with limited mobility play in one location while their peers or siblings go off on distant adventures all over the room or playground,” Galloway said. “With the robot, they become the center of attention because their classmates want to try it. We predict that this increased social interaction alone will provide an important boost in their cognitive development.”
The idea sprang from a parking lot conversation in which Agrawal approached Galloway, who he knew worked with babies with special needs, and said he might have developed something of interest. Agrawal is a robotics expert who had been developing a fleet of small, rounded robots that could work as a unit through a wireless network.
Galloway knew of Agrawal's successes with rehabilitation robotics for adults but admitted to being anti-robot for pediatric rehabilitation at first. Galloway was convinced otherwise within minutes of his first visit to Agrawal's laboratory. “When I saw his little robots, it was easy to envision a baby driving one,” he said. “We knew from our previous work that newly reaching infants could use a joystick to control a distant toy. This and other research strongly suggests that very young infants can be trained in real world navigation. It was a special feeling to see a potential solution to a really serious health-care gap for young kids. There was and still is a special tingle when we think of the not so distant future. “
Thus, UD1 was born. The researchers took their robot to the UD Early Learning Center, which has a wide range of infants, a gymnasium for initial training on the robot and a varied outdoor landscape to use as a test track.
“It was a relief when we saw that the children quickly grasped the use of the joystick,” Agrawal said. “If they had just sat there or cried, it would have been back to the drawing board. But over time we have seen them gradually increase their time with the robot and the amount of distance they cover.”
The tiny robot is ringed with sensors that can determine the obstacle-free roaming space, and will either allow infants to bump obstacles or will take control from the infant and drive around the obstacle itself.The project will now move on to a second generation with more than one robot. The goal is to place multiple mobile robots with special needs infants in communities throughout Delaware and to gather data to analyze how they are used and what the children learn so that the research team can continue to make modifications.
Both note that Delaware, with its mix of urban, rural and suburban communities, is a model state for a clinical project such as this. “For a real world mobility device to emerge, we have to build it for exploring the real world experienced by infants and their families, and then rigorously study its performance in that world,” Galloway said.
Both said the project will significantly expand understanding of young infants' learning capacity and provide a model for tracking the development of real world exploration with laboratory quality data.
They believe the training, robot design and new technology derived from the project will provide the foundation for the first generation of safe, smart vehicles for infants born with mobility impairments.
They want the UD1 product to be light enough for moms to stow in a car trunk, and robust enough for babies to use in the home, yard and playground, and maybe even the beach.
This interdisciplinary project is bringing together students and researchers from fields that have had little or no interaction: engineering, early childhood education and pediatric therapy.
“The research, educational and health care impact is hard to overestimate, given the critical nature of early development, the relatively short time to prepare special needs infants to enter mainstream education and the complete lack of power mobility early in life,” Galloway said. “This project has so many positives, and is of interest to so many in the community. We are encouraging everyone interested in special needs infants to get involved--from parents to policymakers. We are thinking locally and globally at the same time.”
He added, “Although there are special needs kids in every community, you have never seen a special needs child driving themselves down Main Street in Newark, and neither has anyone else in any community anywhere. They, and often their families, are hidden citizens. We predict that very soon that will change in Newark, and then across Delaware, and then who knows. But time is of the essence because there is a baby being born right now who could use this today. That is the race we are in, so back to work.”
The UD1 robot is being developed to be light enough for moms to stow in a car trunk, and robust enough for babies to use in the home, yard and playground.Agrawal, who directs the UD robotics laboratory, received his doctorate in mechanical engineering in 1990 from Stanford University, where he was a research assistant in the university's robotics laboratory. He taught and conducted research at Ohio University from 1990 until 1996, when he joined the UD faculty. He received his bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur and his master's degree from Ohio State University.
Galloway, who directs the UD Infant Motor Behavior Laboratory, received his doctorate in physiological sciences from the University of Arizona in 1998 and joined the UD faculty in 2000. He received bachelor's degrees in exercise science and biology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987 and in physical therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1989.
Providing important technical support to the project is Ji-Chul Ryu, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with expertise in the planning and control of mobile robots.
The UD Early Learning Center is a focal point for interdisciplinary research on early learning and development, prevention, intervention and education. It provides exemplary infant, toddler, preschool and kindergarten care to a diverse population of approximately 180 children, specifically targeting children with risk factors including poverty, foster care and disabilities. ELC is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, a recognition awarded to only 5-7 percent of all child care centers nationwide. The center, which is part of the College of Human Services, Education and Public Policy, received the Governor's Award of Excellence in Early Care and Education in 2006.
Article by Neil ThomasPhotos by Kathy F. Atkinson "
Thank you University of Delaware for helping our children assimilate better in our communities.
Beamer 319
Monday, November 19, 2007
Redskins Lost, 911 called and Crabs in FEMA Trailer
And that's how our Sunday ended. The Redskins lost a close game. Dallas actually earned the win as the Skins did give it their all. Shortly after the game, we had to call 911 as my husband injured his hand while doing a "honey do" list item. The crabs are in a FEMA Container as they lost their home due to the accident.
I had asked my husband to dump the sand out of the terranium so we can put in fresh sand and make the crabs happy as they have been kind of crabbie (no pun intended). While dumping the sand, he lost control of the terranium and it cut his hand. He came into the house saying "Help me, I'm bleeding". It was a mess. I couldn't tell where the cut was and Chris couldn't elaborate so I called 911. The ambulance came along with a Police Officer. The Officer showed up to make sure that I didn't do willful harm to him or he didn't try to kill himself. I told the Officer that the Redskins had lost but it wasn't worth dying over. He saw Chris and said "Hey aren't you K's dad?" You gotta love a small town. Anyway, once he verified that this was indeed an accident, he went off his merry way. The ambulance bandaged him up and off they went. Since the ambulance was there, we had one spectator and he was wearing Dallas from head to toe. I guess he wanted to make sure that it wasn't a game related injury.
The crabs lost their home so they are in a temporary container without food or water. They should be fine for today. We are getting a bigger and better home for them. Hopefully, they will enjoy their new digs since we are responding quicker than the big guys.
Chris went to Patient First and got his tetanus shot and was reprimanded for not getting stitches. The doctor loved my wrapping job since I had to rewrap his wound after putting peroxide on hit. Needless to say the One Handed Chris needs to make friends real soon so he can go to the restroom. He also golfless for awhile.
So that is how our weekend ended. Hope you had a great weekend.
Beamer 319
I had asked my husband to dump the sand out of the terranium so we can put in fresh sand and make the crabs happy as they have been kind of crabbie (no pun intended). While dumping the sand, he lost control of the terranium and it cut his hand. He came into the house saying "Help me, I'm bleeding". It was a mess. I couldn't tell where the cut was and Chris couldn't elaborate so I called 911. The ambulance came along with a Police Officer. The Officer showed up to make sure that I didn't do willful harm to him or he didn't try to kill himself. I told the Officer that the Redskins had lost but it wasn't worth dying over. He saw Chris and said "Hey aren't you K's dad?" You gotta love a small town. Anyway, once he verified that this was indeed an accident, he went off his merry way. The ambulance bandaged him up and off they went. Since the ambulance was there, we had one spectator and he was wearing Dallas from head to toe. I guess he wanted to make sure that it wasn't a game related injury.
The crabs lost their home so they are in a temporary container without food or water. They should be fine for today. We are getting a bigger and better home for them. Hopefully, they will enjoy their new digs since we are responding quicker than the big guys.
Chris went to Patient First and got his tetanus shot and was reprimanded for not getting stitches. The doctor loved my wrapping job since I had to rewrap his wound after putting peroxide on hit. Needless to say the One Handed Chris needs to make friends real soon so he can go to the restroom. He also golfless for awhile.
So that is how our weekend ended. Hope you had a great weekend.
Beamer 319
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Women don't have rights in Saudi Arabia
I was reading CNN this morning before church and came across an article regarding a rape victim in Saudia Arabia is being punished by 200 lashes and 6 months in jail. It seems the 19 year old female met with a male without an escort. Both of them were abducted and raped. The male rape victim isn't getting in sort of punishment because after all he is a male.
Her lawyer now has been barred from representing her because her case has gone public in an attempt to influence the judiciary process. As the rapists prison center increases so does the female victim.
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/17/saudi.rape.victim/index.html
You thought the US has issues. Saudi Arabia is supposedly one of our allies but you don't hear much about how they treat their female citizens. What are your thoughts?
Happy Sunday!
Beamer 319
Her lawyer now has been barred from representing her because her case has gone public in an attempt to influence the judiciary process. As the rapists prison center increases so does the female victim.
Here is the link to the article:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/17/saudi.rape.victim/index.html
You thought the US has issues. Saudi Arabia is supposedly one of our allies but you don't hear much about how they treat their female citizens. What are your thoughts?
Happy Sunday!
Beamer 319
Saturday, November 17, 2007
New Zealand doesn't allow FAT IMMIGRANTS!
I was reading Fox News tonight and came across an article where a U.K. couple were seeking residency in New Zealand and the Immigration department denied the wife entry as she was overweight. It seems that their government funded healthcare system can't afford it.
Here is the link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312056,00.html
With all of the discussion regarding immigration reform and universal healthcare, could we be heading toward the New Zealand way of thinking? My stance is clear on universal health care, we shouldn't do it as this will increase our taxes even more than what we pay and will have to wait months to see a doctor or worse yet have to travel out of our way to get medical treatment.
I, however, like the fact that New Zealand has an enforceable immigration law where we can't even protect our borders. What are your thoughts? Do you want to live the New Zealand Way??
Here is the link:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312056,00.html
With all of the discussion regarding immigration reform and universal healthcare, could we be heading toward the New Zealand way of thinking? My stance is clear on universal health care, we shouldn't do it as this will increase our taxes even more than what we pay and will have to wait months to see a doctor or worse yet have to travel out of our way to get medical treatment.
I, however, like the fact that New Zealand has an enforceable immigration law where we can't even protect our borders. What are your thoughts? Do you want to live the New Zealand Way??
Thursday, November 15, 2007
BROWNIE TURF WARS!!!
I have been told by my daughter's school teacher that a Brownie Turf War has formed in her classroom. It seems that K and her troop mate M have engaged in a bit of brownie turfdom with 2 other girls in her classroom from another troop. School yard fights now have a new twist.
When Ms. R asked for Brownies to line up, it appears that the other troop insisted that K and M were not Brownies but imitators as they were not a part of their troop. K and M not taking this too kindly told them they were in a Brownie Troop and K said my Mom's the Leader. The argument according to K went something like: Other troop, "My troop is better than your troop". "K and M's response was "My troop is doing Friends are Fun Badge and Yours isn't...NANANANA BOO BOO to YOU!!" The 4 girls are not speaking but giving each other the "look".
Who would have thought that being a Brownie would be like this. I reminded my troop that the Girl Scout Law says that we are sisters to every girl scout so we should always try and get along with them and not engage in turf wars. My troop agreed so we will have to wait to see what happens on World Thinking Day in February or closer still the Christmas Parade.
If you see on TV where Brownie troops were engaged in troop fighting, you knew about it first as you heard it here in the land of Blog. Just so you know Brownies are 1st and 2nd graders so we are not talking middle schoolers.
Hope you have a great night!!
Beamer 319
When Ms. R asked for Brownies to line up, it appears that the other troop insisted that K and M were not Brownies but imitators as they were not a part of their troop. K and M not taking this too kindly told them they were in a Brownie Troop and K said my Mom's the Leader. The argument according to K went something like: Other troop, "My troop is better than your troop". "K and M's response was "My troop is doing Friends are Fun Badge and Yours isn't...NANANANA BOO BOO to YOU!!" The 4 girls are not speaking but giving each other the "look".
Who would have thought that being a Brownie would be like this. I reminded my troop that the Girl Scout Law says that we are sisters to every girl scout so we should always try and get along with them and not engage in turf wars. My troop agreed so we will have to wait to see what happens on World Thinking Day in February or closer still the Christmas Parade.
If you see on TV where Brownie troops were engaged in troop fighting, you knew about it first as you heard it here in the land of Blog. Just so you know Brownies are 1st and 2nd graders so we are not talking middle schoolers.
Hope you have a great night!!
Beamer 319
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
When Acorns Attack!!!
My house has turned into a war zone thanks to the Oak trees and the falling acorns. If you like being pummeled by marble size acorns and walking on acorn marbles, then my house is the place to be.
We love the fall. The leaves change color and the air smells fresh and crisp. We don't love acorns. We have 2 huge Oak trees that shade the front of the house. Its wonderful during the summer time. But during the fall of acorns, we are now required to make a dash.
Acorns fall continuously and you can hear them hit the roof of the house. Its sounds like sleet. The front yard is covered in acorns. When you walk on them, it feels like walking on marbles or worse yet ice. As you strive to keep your balance walking to your car, it is raining acorns. Acorns falling on your head hurts. If you enjoy being pummelled by marbles, rocks and hail, then you would love the feel of the acorns.
The squirrels are smart as they travel from branch to branch avoiding the rain of acorns. I think secretly, this is their way of getting revenge on us for taking back our attic. You know how possessive squirrels can be. Last year they would peer through our bedroom window and give us that look of "You just wait!!"
My truck has dings on it caused by acorns. I don't have acorn coverage on the insurance so I guess I will have to live with acorn dings. Who would have thought acorns would be considered a deadly weapon. So beware when the acorns attack your house.
I hope you have a great night. I am off to sleep to the sound of acorns hitting my roof.
Take Care,
Beamer 319
We love the fall. The leaves change color and the air smells fresh and crisp. We don't love acorns. We have 2 huge Oak trees that shade the front of the house. Its wonderful during the summer time. But during the fall of acorns, we are now required to make a dash.
Acorns fall continuously and you can hear them hit the roof of the house. Its sounds like sleet. The front yard is covered in acorns. When you walk on them, it feels like walking on marbles or worse yet ice. As you strive to keep your balance walking to your car, it is raining acorns. Acorns falling on your head hurts. If you enjoy being pummelled by marbles, rocks and hail, then you would love the feel of the acorns.
The squirrels are smart as they travel from branch to branch avoiding the rain of acorns. I think secretly, this is their way of getting revenge on us for taking back our attic. You know how possessive squirrels can be. Last year they would peer through our bedroom window and give us that look of "You just wait!!"
My truck has dings on it caused by acorns. I don't have acorn coverage on the insurance so I guess I will have to live with acorn dings. Who would have thought acorns would be considered a deadly weapon. So beware when the acorns attack your house.
I hope you have a great night. I am off to sleep to the sound of acorns hitting my roof.
Take Care,
Beamer 319
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Colonial Heights Gets it Right In Education
Tonight was the 2nd Annual All A Recognition to all of the students who had an all A average in school for last year. Our oldest daughter has made both Recognitions. I think Colonial Heights has a lot of issues just like every where else but where we excel at is recognizing the importance of hard work and giving great award.
The award was a wrist watch. The face of the watch says Colonial Heights All A Award 2007. What a cool thing to give someone as recognition for the time that was spent in doing homework and studying for tests. The Award Ceremony is possible because of the Education Foundation which raises money all year round. We also receive donations from local businesses as well as individuals. Through a group effort, Colonial Heights is able to hold this award ceremony.
There were 479 students recognized from 5 schools. The breakdown is Colonial Heights High School, Colonial Heights Middle School, Lakeview Elementary, North Elementary and Tussing Elementary. The whole ceremony started promptly at 7 and was over by 8:10pm. We stayed for the refreshments and we were on our way home by 8:15pm. It went by efficiently and everyone had a great time.
The one thing that I did notice was that the high schoolers were dressed casual as though this was no big deal. The middle schoolers were dressed in sunday casual. The elementary students would win best dressed as they were dressed to the nines with one wearing a full on suit with tie. Its interesting how the perception of the award as it relates to the students age. B wanted to wear her Christmas dress but I was able to persuade her to save it for her holiday dance at school and she should wear the other dress we purchased that is reminiscent of the 1960s.
All the students were proud as peacocks and I can't wait until the pictures are available for purchase. As I said, Colonial Heights has its problems but when it comes to education they do excel.
PROPS TO COLONIAL HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM!!!
Have a great night!!
Beamer 319
The award was a wrist watch. The face of the watch says Colonial Heights All A Award 2007. What a cool thing to give someone as recognition for the time that was spent in doing homework and studying for tests. The Award Ceremony is possible because of the Education Foundation which raises money all year round. We also receive donations from local businesses as well as individuals. Through a group effort, Colonial Heights is able to hold this award ceremony.
There were 479 students recognized from 5 schools. The breakdown is Colonial Heights High School, Colonial Heights Middle School, Lakeview Elementary, North Elementary and Tussing Elementary. The whole ceremony started promptly at 7 and was over by 8:10pm. We stayed for the refreshments and we were on our way home by 8:15pm. It went by efficiently and everyone had a great time.
The one thing that I did notice was that the high schoolers were dressed casual as though this was no big deal. The middle schoolers were dressed in sunday casual. The elementary students would win best dressed as they were dressed to the nines with one wearing a full on suit with tie. Its interesting how the perception of the award as it relates to the students age. B wanted to wear her Christmas dress but I was able to persuade her to save it for her holiday dance at school and she should wear the other dress we purchased that is reminiscent of the 1960s.
All the students were proud as peacocks and I can't wait until the pictures are available for purchase. As I said, Colonial Heights has its problems but when it comes to education they do excel.
PROPS TO COLONIAL HEIGHTS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM!!!
Have a great night!!
Beamer 319
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
I am so Confused
I am so confused on how this blogging works. Yesterday, I was skimming posts and saw a post from the editor to the Richmond Music Journal. She married the son (Bobby) of a great friend of my (Saundra). I left a comment on her blog. Did all of the steps including the keying in the crazy confirmation thing you do. I went back to her blog last night to see if she had responded to what I had written. My comment wasn't there. It was like it never happened.
Last night I started writing my blog and had to save it. My husband hops on the computer and whips out something to write about and posts it. I go back to my writing and post after him but it appears on RVA Blogs as though I had posted way ahead of him. My post appears on the 2nd page instead of the first. I don't understand.
Today at work, I stayed a few minutes late to leave a comment on a fellow bloggers writing "Godless and Proud of It". I left a lengthy comment and went back into it tonight to see if he had a response. Guess What!! No Comments. What is going on....
Am I not doing something right or is this like HEROES where I am locked in my own nightmare. Can't get it to post right.
ARRRGGGGHH!! Please help me by telling me what in the world is going on.. Why won't my comments stay??? Am I that boring or worse yet too controversial for the world?
Your enlightenment would be of great help!!
Beamer 319
Last night I started writing my blog and had to save it. My husband hops on the computer and whips out something to write about and posts it. I go back to my writing and post after him but it appears on RVA Blogs as though I had posted way ahead of him. My post appears on the 2nd page instead of the first. I don't understand.
Today at work, I stayed a few minutes late to leave a comment on a fellow bloggers writing "Godless and Proud of It". I left a lengthy comment and went back into it tonight to see if he had a response. Guess What!! No Comments. What is going on....
Am I not doing something right or is this like HEROES where I am locked in my own nightmare. Can't get it to post right.
ARRRGGGGHH!! Please help me by telling me what in the world is going on.. Why won't my comments stay??? Am I that boring or worse yet too controversial for the world?
Your enlightenment would be of great help!!
Beamer 319
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
This Article Broke My heart on so many levels
I was reading online articles on MSN, Fox News and CNN. I came across an article regarding a girl who was a conjoined twin and one of the twins died. This little girl was born with 4 arms and 4 legs but that's not why my heart broke.
My heart broke because the village where this little girl was born in India thought of this little girl as sacred and did not support the family's wishes to let the 2 year old have surgery to remove the extra limbs. It also broke my heart that in India, the family only makes a $1 a day and couldn't afford the surgery. She is getting the surgery because of the hospital's foundation.
The village is going to build a temple so they can worship her. She is a little girl. She is not God. It saddens me that this little girl who deserves a normal happy life will be looked upon as a God and not the child she is.
It also brings to light how we take things for granted. We have Hollywood writers going on strike for more money. We complain when we have to pay bills and when we can't get a day off of work. We don't consider that we are rich compared to 2/3 of the world. Even our poorest in the United States are richer than people in 3rd world countries.
Here is the link to the CNN story in case you would like to learn more.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/11/06/india.girl/index.html
I hope you have a great night and remember that you are wealthy beyond your dreams.
May God Bless You,
Beamer 319
My heart broke because the village where this little girl was born in India thought of this little girl as sacred and did not support the family's wishes to let the 2 year old have surgery to remove the extra limbs. It also broke my heart that in India, the family only makes a $1 a day and couldn't afford the surgery. She is getting the surgery because of the hospital's foundation.
The village is going to build a temple so they can worship her. She is a little girl. She is not God. It saddens me that this little girl who deserves a normal happy life will be looked upon as a God and not the child she is.
It also brings to light how we take things for granted. We have Hollywood writers going on strike for more money. We complain when we have to pay bills and when we can't get a day off of work. We don't consider that we are rich compared to 2/3 of the world. Even our poorest in the United States are richer than people in 3rd world countries.
Here is the link to the CNN story in case you would like to learn more.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/11/06/india.girl/index.html
I hope you have a great night and remember that you are wealthy beyond your dreams.
May God Bless You,
Beamer 319
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sheetz is NOT Family Friendly
My daughters play Soccer so on a Saturday morning, we stop at Sheetz to pick up a snack and water before my 7 year old's soccer game. The magazine rack is next to the snack aisle and displayed prominently on the upper rack (all 3 rows) were adult magazines. I am talking Playboy, Vixen, Nude of the Year along with the Hunting magazines. The adult oriented magazines ( I call it PORN) were in clear plastic wrap and displayed so my daughter could see it with ease.
I wrote to the corporate office describing what I saw and how dismayed that I was at the "family friendly" atmosphere wasn't so family friendly. Here is the response I got from my email concerning this issue:
"Thank you for your recent email concerning Adult Magazines. We always appreciate our customers taking the time to talk to us. While we understand that you may not care to read some of the magazines we sell, it is important you know that Sheetz does not sell pornography. The adult magazines we sell are not pornographic, as this is illegal. Understand Sheetz is committed to being a responsible retailer. Not only do we abide by the law, we take many extra steps to address the concerns you have about products ending up in the wrong hands. We have taken the utmost care with how magazines are displayed, being sensitive to the fact that families shop in our stores. We require adult magazines to be sealed in a plastic bag with only the title exposed. We also display the magazines only on the highest shelves, in the back, to limit viewing to adults only. We also restrict the sale of adult magazines to customers over the age of 18, and require identification at the point of sale to ensure the age restriction is not violated. We are in the business of providing all our customers with the kinds of quality products and services that they are looking for. It is not our intention to offend any of our customers.
Thank You,
Jim Coleman"
According to Sheetz Playboy, Hustler, Vixen are not pornography. I'm sorry but if you have to be 18 to buy a magazine because it has naked women or men then to me its pornography.
My children and I will now go to WAWA or any number of other gas stations in our area. If you don't mind your children seeing these types of magazines prominently displayed then you should go to sheetz, but, if you agree with me, please take a stand as a parent.
Hope you have a great evening!!
Beamer 319
I wrote to the corporate office describing what I saw and how dismayed that I was at the "family friendly" atmosphere wasn't so family friendly. Here is the response I got from my email concerning this issue:
"Thank you for your recent email concerning Adult Magazines. We always appreciate our customers taking the time to talk to us. While we understand that you may not care to read some of the magazines we sell, it is important you know that Sheetz does not sell pornography. The adult magazines we sell are not pornographic, as this is illegal. Understand Sheetz is committed to being a responsible retailer. Not only do we abide by the law, we take many extra steps to address the concerns you have about products ending up in the wrong hands. We have taken the utmost care with how magazines are displayed, being sensitive to the fact that families shop in our stores. We require adult magazines to be sealed in a plastic bag with only the title exposed. We also display the magazines only on the highest shelves, in the back, to limit viewing to adults only. We also restrict the sale of adult magazines to customers over the age of 18, and require identification at the point of sale to ensure the age restriction is not violated. We are in the business of providing all our customers with the kinds of quality products and services that they are looking for. It is not our intention to offend any of our customers.
Thank You,
Jim Coleman"
According to Sheetz Playboy, Hustler, Vixen are not pornography. I'm sorry but if you have to be 18 to buy a magazine because it has naked women or men then to me its pornography.
My children and I will now go to WAWA or any number of other gas stations in our area. If you don't mind your children seeing these types of magazines prominently displayed then you should go to sheetz, but, if you agree with me, please take a stand as a parent.
Hope you have a great evening!!
Beamer 319
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