I came across this photo of my parents when they were young.  I’m guessing it was around 1938 - the year they were married.  Maybe it was after they were married - around 1940 or so.  I’m sure that when my mother reads this, she’ll let me know when the photo was taken.  They look so young, so in love, so happy.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  I definitely come from “good stock.”

I like things that are convenient.  That’s why I always have address stamps to save time and energy when I need to put my return address on a letter or envelop and to identify things that belong to me.  At school, I use a stamp with my name to identify my books.  That’s important at school because after awhile I forget which books and materials I bought with my own money and which books were bought with school money.  So whenever I buy a book or other materials with my own money, I put my stamp on it.  Then whenever I change classrooms or schools - or when I retire - I’ll know for sure which items are mine and which items I stay at the school.  It has been a very valuable practice over the years because after a few months I forget

I’ve purchased my custom business cards from VistaPrint for several years.  I was able to design a totally unique business card that other teachers admire whenever they see them.  Now VistaPrint also had rubber stamps, along with lots of other personalized items.  They also have a special deal for anyone who places an order for address tamps.  Use coupon code “Stamp25” at checkout to receive 25% off your stamp order.

We had a very full week in New York City.  From 8:00 each morning till 4:00 each afternoon we were in classes.  However, once four o’clock rolled around, we were off and running - often literally.  I did more walking last week than I’ve done since the week RT and I spent in Alaska a couple years ago.  We got a week pass for the subway system, and we used those passes a lot.  It’s amazing how quickly one can become comfortable with riding the subway.  We also used taxis a few times when it was late and we just didn’t want to spend a hour or more getting back to our hotel - plus the long walk from the subway station to the hotel.  Taxis were wonderful.

I have to admit that my favorite part of the week was seeing “Wicked” on Broadway.  I saw two Broadway shows.  The other one was “Jersey Boys” and it was wonderful, too.  The two shows are so different that there’s no way to compare them.  “Wicked” was so unexpected.  The story, the music, the set - it just blew me away.  It was funny, it was sad, it was romantic.  The music was beautiful. 

Our seats at the Gershwin Theater were wonderful - near the front, on the aisle.  Our seats at “Jersey Boys” were on the third row from the back of the balcony.  Maybe that had something to do with it not making as big an impression on me as “Wicked.”

While the Wicked Witch of the West was a great character, I’m afraid it was Glinda, the good witch, who stole the show.  She was hilarious.  “It’s Glinda - the ‘Ga’ is silent!” was one of the funniest lines.  I think it was good that I didn’t know the storyline before I saw the show.  I came into it with no knowledge beyond “it’s about the witches from the Wizard of Oz - from when they were babies up to the time of Dorothy.”  That was it.  So the storyline was new to me - and thoroughly delightful.

If you ever go to NYC, you should make time to see “Wicked.”

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:  Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.  One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.

Tiara tip to Fausta.

Last Monday I was on the Late Show with David Letterman.  Well, I was in the audience for the late Monday taping - the show that was aired on Friday.  At one point the camera panned the audience, and when I got home and watched the show, I saw myself - a very clear image - although it was only for a microsecond.

It was fun to watch the clockwork nature of how the program works.  First of all we had to get tickets.  I was with a group of 13 people visiting NYC.  I went online several weeks before the trip to apply for tickets.  I didn’t hear a word from them till the week before our trip.  I tried to get tickets for all 13, but they were only able to provide tickets for 8 of us.  I had to email all the names, and I had to promise that all eight people would be there.  It was a like a contract.  If someone couldn’t be there, I had to promise to substitute someone else for that person.  Several hours before the show, I received a phone call confirming that all eight of us would indeed be there.  Filling all the seats was very important to them.

Once we were in line, there were young folks (interns?) who got the audience pumped up and ready to cheer even the most lame jokes and oneliners.  “If you’re on the fence about whether or not a joke is funny . . . it’s FUNNY!  Think about it or dissect its merits on the way home.  While you’re in the audience - everything’s funny!”  We were instructed about how to laugh, how not to laugh, what sounds were permissible and what sounds were not allowed.  We were even told what not to wear (no t-shirts with logos, and no groups wearing matching shirts - they distracted Dave).  We were told that bathrooms were closed - no one could take a bathroom break during the show.

Except a woman a few seats in front of me DID leave for the bathroom during one of the commercial breaks in the show.  Immediately several interns rushed down to point out the empty space and one of them hurried over to sit in the empty seat.  The intern remained in the seat for the rest of the show.  There could NOT be an empty seat during the show.  The woman did not return to her seat.  I guess she was banished to a corner somewhere to pay penance for having to attend to nature during the Late Show.

We were all disappointed when we learned that Sean Combs (P Diddy) was the guest - along with a comedian we’d never heard of.  I can think of few entertainers that are lower on my list of who I’d like to see in person than Sean Combs.  Every time I tell someone about being in the audience at the Late Show, they ask who the guest was, and when I tell them, their response is the same - “Oh.”  Disappointment.  Pity.   However, “it was what it was” and we enjoyed the show despite the lack of good jokes or fascinating guests. 

After we had checked in, we had about an hour to kill before the show was taped.  We went to the Italian restaurant next door, Angelo’s Pizza, for a quick dinner.  Considering it was 6:00 in the evening, and several of us hadn’t eaten since 4:00 that morning, we enjoyed the meal.  The food was mediocre.  I had a barely warm chicken parmigiana.   I guess if your restaurant is next door to the Ed Sullivan theater, the quality of your food isn’t important.  People will eat there simply because of the location.  We did.

Despite mediocre food and comedy, the evening was a blast!  We cheered and laughed and clapped enthusiastically - just as we had been instructed.  It was fun to see Paul Shaffer.  The band is great although Shaffer tries to ham it up too much.  Bethany, the Late Show person I talked with several times in the week prior to our trip to arrange our tickets, was wonderful - friendly and helpful.  That was one of our NYC experiences.  Stay tuned for much more.

I was at Teachers College of Columbia University in NYC this past week for their February Institute for teachers.  When I was packing for the trip, I had my laptop in its carrying bag and ready to go when I decided that I didn’t want to deal with a laptop in the airport or have to carry it with me everywhere - especially since the room where we would be staying didn’t have internet access.  So I left my laptop at home.  I would take notes the old fashioned way - with pen and paper. 

I found it fascinating, though, to see the number of laptops in the sessions I attended.  “School” has sure changed since the last time I took a university class four years ago.  Laptops were everywhere, and I watched as other students took notes, created charts and otherwise used their laptops efficiently and effectively to organize and save the information from each class session.   More than once I wished that I had brought my own laptop so I could make my notes more complete. 

One laptop user sat beside me during one session and glanced over at my notebook in which I was writing my notes by hand.  “Does that really work for you?” she asked me skeptically. 

It is rare in my professional life that I travel - especially a trip lasting a week.  However, extremely early tomorrow morning, twelve other reading specialists and teachers from my school system and I will travel to New York City for the week.  During the days, from 8:00 to 4:00, we will attend a class at Teachers College of Columbia University.  It’s an incredible opportunity.  On Monday afternoon (our travel day - no classes) and on the late afternoons and evenings of the other days, we will be the ultimate tourists - seeing as many sights as we possibly can.  Here are seven touristy things I intend to enjoy this coming week in NYC.

(1) Being in the audience of the Late Show with David Letterman.  Bethany, the person in charge of getting audience members for each show, has been so nice.  I had to go online to request group tickets.  She wasn’t able to give us enough seats for all 13 of us, but she was able to give us eight seats.  So eight of us will be in the audience tomorrow night (for the show that will air on Friday).  So watch Letterman Friday night and see if they show the audience at all.  I’ve already got my DVR set to record the show.

(2) Wednesday evening some of us are going to see “Wicked” which is a Broadway show about the childhood of the witches from Wizard of Oz.   It’s one of the top shows right now, and I’m really loking forward to seeing it.

(3) Thursday night some of us will see “Jersey Boys” which is another Broadway show.  This one is about the singing group The Four Seasons.

(4)  Since the Empire State Building is open until very late each evening, I hope to visit it after one of the Broadway Shows.  I want to go to the observation deck and think fondly about movies such as “An Affair to Remember” and “Sleepless in Seattle” in which the Empire State Building was featured prominently.

(5) The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.  When I taught fifth grade, we spent a lot of time talking about Ellis Island and the experiences of immigrants coming to America.  I’ve visited The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island once before but I’d like to see them again.

(6) Central Park - I just want to take a walk in part of Central Park.  That’s it - just stroll around for a little bit.

(7) I would LOVE to spend a few days going through museums.  However, they all close too early for us to see them after our classes are over each day.  So I will save them for another trip in the future.

I told RT that he’s going to be like Grandma Moses and wait until his later years to give his artistic and creative side full rein.  Here is this morning’s poem - inspired by watching the birds on the bird feeders outside out family room windows:

RT wrote this poem this morning as a “gift” to bring a smile to my face.  I think it is beautiful.  What do you think?

Seeking Unity

A lonely flighted goose
wings across the
lighted moon

with grace and
mystery.

Flying high
above the wintry, barren
fields

He moves so
gallantly -

Moves to join
a forming vee
to build again
a
family.

~Copyright 2008, RTJ~

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