Off the Path Journal

We've moved!

2011-12-22T23:45:00.000-05:00

My sincere apologies for any inconvenience, but I've decided to move Off the Path; it can now be found at: offthepathjournal.wordpress.com.

The move was done in part for convenience - I moved the Withywindle Blog to WordPress a few weeks ago, and it's nice to be able to manage the two together. But I'm working on a change of focus for Off the Path; it will still be my personal blog, but as all my nature writing and photography can now be found at the Withywindle Blog, I can use Off the Path to delve into another passion of mine - Witchcraft. I'm really looking forward to exploring my faith and practice in Witchcraft in writing.

I'm taking this opportunity to re-work the blog a bit (you'll find that it looks quite a bit different), and I may choose to move some past posts over to Withywindle; but either way, you can still find all my old posts in one place or another. I hope you'll join me at my new site!

Blessings,

Cynthia

An Open Letter to Hunters in the Northeast

2011-11-03T14:48:00.000-04:00

I posted the following on the Withywindle Blog, and feel passionate enough about the topic (coyote hunting) that I'm cross-posting it here.

An Open Letter to Hunters in the Northest

I spoke at a tracking conference last weekend (http://www.northeastwildlifetrackers.org/) and MassWildlife had a past issue of their publication (from 2009) on display. I was disappointed to find that one of the main articles in this issue was about hunting coyotes – the tricks and tips hunters use to more effectively kill this animal.

I have written an open letter to the hunters of Massachusetts (and the other northeastern states, if this comes their way) in response to this article. I don’t know what the chances are of it getting published in MassWildlife's magazine so I'm posting it here and at my personal blog (Off the Path Journal).

To the hunters of Massachusetts:

Let me open this letter by stating that I am pro-hunting. I have friends and family members who are hunters and I appreciate and advocate for (most of) what they do. I believe that hunting must be done safely and responsibly, and that most of the time that is the case. I also really appreciate the work that MassWildlife does to help educate hunters about safety, regulations and the intricacies of their sport. I’m an even bigger fan of subsistence hunting – consuming the animals taken or (as my father has done on occasion) giving that animal to someone who subsistence hunts and could really use the animal(s) that someone else killed in a season.

However, I do have a problem with predator hunting; in particular, the killing of eastern coyotes (coywolves). Of the hunters I know who kill coyotes, none of them consume the ones they kill (unlike the deer, squirrels, rabbits and turkey they take). They do it simply because (as was stated to me by more than one individual) “it was there”. So what? I find the concept of killing something “just because” troubling. Not to mention the killing of a social, intelligent animal with no regard for the role it fills in its ecosystem and family structure.

Eastern coyotes are the closest thing the northeastern US has to a top-level predator in our natural world, and disregarding the importance and relevance of that role by people who love the outdoors is distressing. All of the hunters I know are avid outdoorspeople. They love the natural world and being a part of it. If that’s the case, why do they show so little understanding or caring of eastern coyote’s role in that world? They are labeled as ‘varmints’ and ‘pests’. There’s no bag, possession or season limit on them in the state of Massachusetts (but there are for squirrels and frogs and almost everything else except crows – can you think of an animal that’s more abundant then the grey squirrel??).

Additionally, the eastern coyote is a very social animal. It takes a mated pair to raise a litter of pups, and if you kill one parent the pups’ chances of survival are decreased (I realize that that isn’t much concern for someone who doesn’t care for this species to begin with, but it’s worth knowing). Coyotes often mate for life and bond strongly with their mate. If you have a dog at home think about how your dog shows love for its ‘pack’ (you & your family). Coyotes are canines, and show just as much affection for their coyote pack as your dog does for its ‘pack’ (in case you think I’m anthropomorphizing here, I’ve supplied resources at the end of this letter – this behavior has been noted by biologists and casual observers for decades). When you kill a member of a coyote pack you disrupt their social structure and the whole pack knows the loss.

Killing coyotes will NOT reduce their numbers here, or anywhere else. I just can’t say this enough. There are over 40 years of scientific research to prove this point (see resources). In fact, many times the opposite happens – coyote numbers increase in a given area when an individual(s) is killed. At the risk of making this long letter even longer, I won’t go into the biological and ecological reasons for this, but see the book Suburban Howls (info in resources) for some very specific observations of just this phenomenon. The eastern coyote is a creature that has been created by human interference in the natural world. If we don’t like how abundant they are, we have no one to blame but ourselves (these facts are also proved by scientific observation and data). And killing all you want won’t make a difference. They’ll just keep coming back.

I understand (and support) the need for control on wild animals that live in and around densely human-settled areas, become too habituated to people, and as a result become dangerous. Educating people how to live safely around ALL wildlife will go a long way towards reducing human/coyote interactions (Mass Wildlife has a terrific publication on living with coyotes on their website). But when hunters kill coyotes in the northeast, they’re often not hunting the ones in the suburbs – they’re out in state forests and conservation land.

So my question to the responsible hunters out there – whether I know you or not – is this: why do you still kill coyotes? You aren’t going to control their population. They aren’t going to decimate the deer population (seriously – have you seen the number of deer in the northeast?). And you’re most likely not going to eat what you kill. So why are you really doing it? Ask yourself. There are plenty of game animals out there for sport and consumption. Is it ‘just because’? And if so, what does that say about an individual who kills just for the sake of killing? That’s what I find disturbing.

Cynthia Menard, Naturalist
Withywindle Nature Programs

Resources:

Beckoff, Marc, ed. Coyotes: Biology, Behavior and Management, Academic Press Inc., 1978 (The book has since been reprinted by the Blackburn Press, 2001)

Parker, Gerry, The Eastern Coyote: Story of it's Success, Down East Books, 1995

Way, Jonathan, PhD., Suburban Howls, Dog Ear Publishing, 2007

Another Attempt at NaBloPo Mo Underway

2011-11-02T10:32:00.000-04:00

I've decided to take another stab at NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) on the Withywindle Blog. I'll cross-post relevant stuff here, but check out my other blog for daily updates (as long as they last).

Lammas Alter

2011-08-13T17:14:00.001-04:00

My Collection of Collections

2011-04-22T16:28:00.003-04:00

Late last year on the Withywindle Blog, I posted about artist Lisa Congdon's project 'A Collection A Day', in which she posted to her blog 365 different collections that she had accumulated over time. She has since come out with a book photographing her efforts, which you can find here.

Her project inspired me to take a closer look at my own collections, and to consider why I have them. In the process some questions came up. What constitutes a collection? Is it number or intention? Is there a critical mass at which a collection is (or isn't)? Some of my collections happened accidentally, others are very small, but quite intentional. And some of my accidental collections only started out that way, and later became intentional. Also, when does something qualify as vintage? What about antique (I have a good sense when it comes to cars and books, but not other objects)? I've had to guess or use my best judgement on these questions, often reffering to the 'Collection A Day' project for reference.

So here's the collection list. Many - particularly the books and related ephemera - are part of larger collections (which I've noted). The few photos I have at the moment I've included below.

Book Collections:
   Stephen King & related
   Arkham House titles
   Natural History books
   Field Guides - vintage and modern
   Coyote ecology and mythology
   Signed/inscribed
   Antique
Postcards:
   Animals
   Promotional
   Artistic/unusual
   Vintage
Bookmarks
Admission tickets (concerts, plays, etc.)

Business cards

Stamps

Currency

US Coins

Foreign coins

US & foreign bills

Maps

Buttons

Name badges

Shoulder bags

Beaded/charm bracelets
Horse figurines
Dragons
Tea canisters/tins
Pottery
   Bowls
   Cups/goblets
   Plates
   Teapots
Woven baskets
Signs (mostly photographed)
Tarot card decks
Musical instruments
Decks of playing cards
Non-board games
Dice
Tree, plant & leaf galls
Animal scat (preserved/dried - I know it's still gross. I'm a naturalist, I can't help it)
Bird feathers
Stones/rocks
Tumbled/polished gemstones
Landscape art (paintings/drawings/photography) by small/local artists
Wild bird photographs (taken by Obo)

Admission Tickets (partial collection)

Bookmarks (partial collection)

NYC Subway sign, part of sign collection

Another part of the sign collection

Spring Beginnings

2011-03-09T20:46:00.001-05:00

Cross-posted at the Withywindle Blog

A few weeks ago the bird calls in our yard started increasing, much to my delight. Mourning Doves have made an appearance along with Hairy Woodpeckers and American Robins, and the 'phoebe' song of the Black-Capped Chickadee is becoming more common. Although none of these birds migrate during the winter, the longer days and (slightly) warmer temps have prompted the early beginnings of breeding season, and their presence is much more conspicuous now.

I love how, in the dreariest part of winter, you can find signs of spring if you're paying attention. A walk through the woods on our property at work on a warm February day revealed a number of insects moving about and an increase in water movement in the brook. And when those warm temps (50F) stayed for a few days, buds on the maple trees began to swell.

On a trip to Florida last week, I heard my first Barred Owl of the season, and yesterday heard two more - one at work, and one at home. I love owls - their call gives me comfort that the wild is never far from my door. The spring equinox - Ostara - is just a few weeks away, and we will celebrate it's wet, muddy arrival with much joy (and seedlings in the kitchen).

Our Last Chance Pup

2010-11-19T22:09:00.003-05:00

Our newest family member came home this past Saturday: we adopted a puppy from Alabama! A beautiful 8 month-old German Shepherd we've named Freya. Finding her was a bit serendipitous; I sent our a fairly random email to a rescue organization up in New Hampshire (Loyal Hearts Puppy Rescue), inquiring about whether they had any young Shepherds available for adoption (it was one of several inquiries I sent out that week). I received a response telling me that they didn't have any Shepherds within their network, but knew of one in Alabama at a kill shelter. She was due to get euthanized in just a few days. They sent two pictures, and I fell in love with her right away - what a cutie!!!

With the understanding that we needed a dog who wasn't going to be aggressive with young children, they pulled her from the shelter, and put her in quarantine/foster care until she could be vaccinated, spayed and transported up here. Her foster mom reported that she was super sweet and mellow, and everyone who worked with her was falling in love with her. Researching her travel up here opened my eyes to a whole industry that revolves around rescuing dogs from the south and bringing them up to New England to foster and adoptive families. In fact, an 8-week TV documentary was made about the transport company (PETS) the rescue agency used to bring Freya up here - it was called Last Chance Highway, and documented the owners and workers of PETS and some of the animals and families they helped bring together.

Freya left Alabama on a Thursday morning, and arrived in Connecticut on Saturday afternoon. We were so excited to go meet her transport and see Freya for the first time!! R. could hardly stand the wait once we arrived at the meeting point, and I completely shared his excitement and impatience (although I took a more stoic Mom role for most of it). As soon as we met her, I think we all (including Freya) knew that this was the right fit all the way around. She has settled into our home and our hearts with lightening speed. How could she know, after only being with us for a few hours that she was in her forever home? Walking her that evening I took a fall and she bolted away, getting the leash out of my hand. I had a stab of real fear - we live on a busy road, and there was no telling where this dog, completely away from anything familiar, might go. But all she did was run back to our door and then look back at me. I called to her and she came running to me, huddling at my feet with her tail wagging. Freya knew she was home.

Baby Nick-Names

2010-05-14T22:47:00.004-04:00

R. was my little pea, but A. is my little bean. Don't know why, but so it is. They are both my pumpkins (still and always) and each (were or are) my kidlits. A. is also 'A-bug' and 'A-bear'. Babies are just so darn cuddly!

Herb Harvesting and Random Nature Notes

2010-04-29T22:10:00.004-04:00

Went to my family's house in the Catskills for a few days, and harvested coltsfoot for a cough I can't get rid of. This is my first time harvesting and using fresh herbs, so still researching... will also get in touch with an herbalist friend of mine to check in about this.

Bummed that we missed the Elder Faith's Beltane celebration on Saturday... such a beautiful day, but we really needed to get on the road. As it was, it took us over 6 hours to get out to the cabin. Totally worth it though... (always is).
_________________________________________________

Random nature notes from today's short walk at work:

Saw and heard my first sharp-shinned hawk of the season

Really strong wind makes me feel small and insignificant (am I the only person who feels this way?)

Heard a red-wing black bird calling the end of it's 'konk-la-ree' call (which would just be the 'ree' part, I suppose) over and over again on the course, despite all the wind and blowing trees

Blog for the 2010 NEEEA Conference in Vermont

2010-04-17T17:25:00.004-04:00

The 2010 NEEEA Conference is being held in VT this year (the conference rotates through the 6 New England states - it's in MA next year!!), and although that's cool enough all by itself, the folks in Vermont are planning all kinds of really great stuff for this year's conference. They've got a conference blog at: 2010designourfuture.blogspot.com; it's a great way to stay in touch with what's going on with the conference - check it out!!

A Snapshot of Our Lives Away From Work

2010-04-07T11:33:00.004-04:00

Cross-posted at the Withywindle Blog

Regardless of your religious observance (or lack there of), holidays are about taking time away from the everyday to be with friends and family. This Easter we had an unexpected dinner at our house as my in-laws (who's house we normally would have had dinner at) were away at the last minute. I had a moment yesterday of perfect contentment and found some time to jot it down:

It’s afternoon, and I am standing at the counter making a spinach casserole. I am wearing our infant son in a front pack as I drain the spinach and mix the other ingredients. The baby is asleep, and I occasionally peer down at him and kiss his head. I put a ham in the oven a few hours earlier, and now it fills the kitchen with its good smell. On our table in the corner filled with windows is a blue and white flowered table cloth, and later we will set it with my grandmother’s china, and my step-mother’s crystal glasses. It is warm and sunny outside, and fresh air and sunshine pervade our farm-style kitchen.

Our older son is playing in our back yard with his cousin. My husband and his sister and her husband are outside supervising the boys, but really doing more conversing while the kids work out their own play. Later they will (with a small suggestion from me) discover the joy of climbing the big rock in our yard, and I know that it will be a large part of son's playscape for the years that we remain in this house.

I am deeply content. I love the sounds of the children in the yard, and although my back aches a bit, also love the feel of my small son resting against my body. I can hear him breathe, and am comfortably warmed by his body. I am aware of how much I love cooking for my family, caring for my children, and being a mother. I am pleased that we are able to have our extended family in our house for this Easter dinner, even though we celebrated our own holiday two weeks ago. Before we start our meal we will give thanks and recognize both the Easter holiday, and the celebration of spring.

NaBloPoMo for April

2010-04-07T11:23:00.001-04:00

I've decided to undertake NaBloPoMo for the month of April, but will mostly be posting on the Withywindle Blog, with a few cross-posts here. Happy Spring!!

Weird Science - A List of Pecular Lists

2010-02-24T22:23:00.005-05:00

Cross-posted at Withywindle Blog.

The site How Stuff Works (new to me) has a really interesting compilation of facts and articles, many of which are sorted into 'top ten (or five, in some cases)' lists. I think I could spend quite a bit of time sorting through all their info, but here's a quick list of some of their weirder lists that I discovered on my first foray:

5 Strange Things in the Smithsonian's Collection (includes some macabre presidential artifacts and a chunk of Rt. 66)
Top 5 Ghost Tours (world-wide; 3 in Europe, 2 on the east coast of the US)
5 Lost Cities
4 Paranormal and Other Strange Roadside Attractions (I'm particularly diggin' the museum in Louisiana)
Top 5 Worst Corporate Icebreakers
5 Wacky Small Town Festivals (Festival of Near Death Experiences, or Headless Chicken Festival anyone?)
Top 5 Unsolved Brain Mysteries (Nature vs. nurture, the mysteries of sleep and more)
5 Modern Abandoned Cities

International Space Station Resource

2010-02-13T13:59:00.002-05:00

I've been really interested in seeing photos of the International Space Station from the inside, and found this great, interactive resource while I was searching NASA for pics: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/ISSRG/.

Backyard Tracking

2010-01-23T16:16:00.003-05:00

Took a short break from household tasks to go out and look at tracks in our backyard and the adjacent power lines this afternoon. Found whitetail deer and red fox in our yard: the deer walked straight through, fox(es) stayed to the brush line. Next door in a clearing under the power lines were deer, fox and eastern coyote (or coywolf, as Jon Way is appropriately calling them). Two sets of older coyote tracks and one newer - possibly from last night or this morning. One of the older coyote tracks intersected with a fresher red fox trail traveling along the far tree line. The red fox carefully stepped inside the old coyote tracks for a few paces before traveling on along the tree line again (not before urinating in the intersection, however).

Can't believe (well, alright I can - we have a infant at home) this was the first time I got out tracking this season. I definitely need to break out my snowshoes and get out down at our OE center this week...

Rewilding - A Conversation on Conservation

2010-01-07T17:17:00.005-05:00

The NPR radio show On Point had a fantastic conversation with Caroline Frasier (author of "Rewilding the World; Dispaches from the Conservation Revolution") about the concept and progress of "rewilding":bringing back large areas of wilderness around the globe. An example of this is the Y2Y - Yukon to Yellowstone Initiative.

The process of rewilding (and the part of the radio program I was able to listen to today) brought up some questions for me, which are probably answered in Caroline's book. I wonder what the criteria is for rewilding. What is the state of wilderness that people want to bring back (and why)? What about human-wildlife interactions? Everything from wildlife in backyards to mitigating roadkill when major roads and highways are part of a proposed wilderness/wildlife corridor are important parts of the conversation. Not to mention that there is a large segment of the population (at least in this country) that doesn't want to see an increase in wildlife interactions (particularly with larger carnivores) in their towns/neighborhoods.

Another part of the rewilding conversation is the reintroduction of top-level predators where they've been extirpated, something that is near and dear to me as I've been studying the wolf reintroduction process for some time. I'm quite interested in find out how this topic is broached by the different conservation projects in Caroline's book.

Hope to pick up a copy of this book soon and learn more....

Family Update - Birth Announcement!!

2009-12-01T12:50:00.005-05:00

Our newest family member was born on November 22nd, 2009 at 2:13 PM, weighing only 5 lbs., 14 oz., despite being 13 days past his due date. We brought him home from the hospital on Nov. 24, and he and I are both doing well (other than some sleep deprivation...).

Welcome to the family precious little boy!!

A Year (to date) of Facebook Posts

2009-11-15T12:42:00.011-05:00

Between work, pregnancy and home concerns, I haven't been taking the time to journal that I'd like to (I have started working on Rowan's scrapbook again, which is something...). Lately, it's been easier to keep my updates going on Facebook, so I compiled (most of) my postings from 2009 to look back at the year:

is icing a sore back and cursing being a clutz! (Jan. 18)

is listening to R's breathing through the monitor (Jan. 19)

is trying to psych up her 4-year-old for the Super Bowl (it's not working) (Feb. 1)

tried a neti pot for the first time today... (Feb. 6)

has just seen 'pictures' of the new baby... 9 weeks 2 days, 1 inch long, and beautiful little heartbeat... bliss. (April 8)

is psyched once again for the [Contra Banditos] CD recording... less than 3 weeks to go! (May 5)

loves hearing the crickets outside the open kitchen door (ahh, spring!) (May 19)

felt the baby moving for the first time last night!! (May 30)

spent a lovely day celebrating father's day, our anniversary and the solstice at DeCordova Museum; now off to make twice baked potatoes... (June 21)

is having a baby boy!!! 12 oz. as of this evening, and quite the little gymnast! (June 30)

is tired of the nausea and constant fatigue. (July 18)

went canoeing today with the guys. Yea! (July 25)

enjoyed celebrating Lammas yesterday. (Aug. 2)

now has a broken toe.... grrr. (Aug. 11)

off to the Catskills - hope everyone has a fabulous holiday weekend! (Sept. 4)

is on her own with R for the weekend. Man, the house is quiet after bedtime... (Oct. 9)

smells like a campfire (yum). Thanks Brenda! (Oct. 10)

is officially in the last month of her pregnancy. (Oct. 13)

is glad R. had a great time at his party - thanks to everyone who came and helped make it successful!! (Oct. 26)

Had her last day of work yesterday, and will be at home preparing for baby. (Oct. 29)

Happy Halloween, blessed Samhain, and happy 5th birthday to my beloved son! (Oct. 31)

is still pregnant, but only has 4 more days until her due date. Does housecleaning really bring on labor??? At least my house will be clean.... (Nov. 5)

due today, but no progress to report. Raspberry leaf tea, housecleaning and walking are all being tried... any other recommendations?? (Nov. 9)

...still incubating. Have an ultrasound on Monday and doctor's appointment Tuesday to schedule an inducement. Oh well.... (Nov. 15)

Letterboxing as a Means to Exploration

2009-09-09T20:48:00.000-04:00

We took one of our many trips out to the Catskills this past weekend (probably the last before the baby comes), and since my mobility is more limited these days (9 weeks to go!) I went to the North American Letterboxing website to look up area boxes we could search for without too much hiking. The result is that we discovered some new places, one of which turned out to be the most beautiful walk I've ever taken on the east coast... and I'm pretty sure we never would have discovered this incredible mountain meadow if we hadn't been in search of a letterbox. When we started letterboxing this past winter, I hadn't considered this aspect of it - all the new places it would take you, or new features of places you already knew, but hadn't discovered.

If you're not at all familiar with letterboxing, it's much like geocaching, but without the GPS. See the Letterboxing website for a full description (www.letterboxing.org), but the basic idea is finding clues (usually online, and there are many, many websites devoted to letterboxing) and searching out the box(es). The boxes contain a log book of some sort, and a rubber stamp (with or without ink pad) usually hand-carved and unique to the box. Carry around your own stamp (pre-made or hand-made), ink pad and journal/log book for recording the boxes you find. That's pretty much it!

As I might have mentioned (once or twice) I love creating lists, so tallying up our box finds is always satisfying. But the real rewards are the intangibles... spending time outside with my family, and finding new places to treasure and re-visit.

I'm Not Dead Yet - Updates and More

2009-07-27T20:01:00.008-04:00

Ugh - has it really been over 5 months since I've posted? Doesn't matter I suppose, that I've had loads of great post ideas along the way (what the heck were they, anyway?). Well, I'll blame my pregnancy (6 months along!) and resulting fatigue for much of it. Not to mention that spring and summer just get crazy-busy with outdoor ed and camp.

So if you don't live in New England, this may be news to you, but we haven't had much of a summer here, weather-wise. Only 6 days in the month of June with no rain, and several days of severe storms in July along with unseasonably cool temps (too many rainy days that didn't get out of the 60's to even think about) have made this a nearly forgettable summer. Nearly, that is, if you can overlook the two days in a row of tornado watches, flooding rain, and a microburst in town that brought a foot of water running down main street, along with quarter-sized hail. We were fortunate (!!) at camp not to get quite the severity of the storm that hit town, but frighteningly close cloud-to-ground lightening right during dismissal time was more than enough for us. Whew. I have no desire to go though that ever again.

Given how tired I've been (weekends are usually spent in recovery mode), I haven't gotten a chance to get out and play (when not at work, anyway) much this summer, which made our trip this weekend even better. We took the canoe out for the first time this season with the initial idea of paddling the Nashua River up in NH. What on earth we were thinking, I have no idea. Did I mention the flooding rains we've gotten around here? And never mind that we drive past a good stretch of the Nashua to and from work, and just Friday were amazed at how high the water level was. So we get all the way up to Nashua, just to have Obo's father read us an article in the newspaper about accidents on the river and warning people to stay away. Great.

Ok, so we drove back down to MA and paddled at Paradise Pond in Leominster State Forest. One of the things I love about Paradise Pond is how secluded it feels (even though it's right off rt. 31). With the surrounding hills and over 4,000 acres of forest, you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere. They don't allow motorboats, which goes a long way towards the solitude paddlers can experience. R. had a great time - so much so that when we stopped for a picnic (and it was the picnic I used to persuade him to go paddling in the first place) he was all about getting back on the water as soon as we were done eating.

Not much else to report, I don't think (or at least nothing that's coming to my tired little brain). We're looking forward to attending the Lammas Fair at the work (it's an outdoor ed center & camp; camp) hosted by the Society of Elder Faiths. With the busier season, we haven't been keeping up with their events as much as we'd like, so I'm sure this will be quite enjoyable. Off to bed... I'm hoping to keep the blog more active going forward, but rest first!

Boskone 46 Update, Day 2

2009-02-14T12:21:00.003-05:00

Withywindle Books is selling at Boskone 46 this year; I'm including my posts for the Withywindle Blog here, to continue on with my daily blog posting attempts - even though I've missed a few days this month already.

Cross-posted at Withywindle Blog

Boskone has been underway since yesterday at 5 PM (for dealers, anyway), and I'm glad to see that today seems busier (in terms of numbers, if not sales) then yesterday. I don't know if it's the new location of the Huckster's Room, or if the space is actually larger, but it feel much more spread out and the number of people in attendance yesterday felt quite small. It doesn't help that we're in the back of the room (last year we were right up front, which was lovely) so it takes people longer to get around to our section. But even walking around, the crowd seemed smaller. I haven't done much walking around this morning but overall it's busier – much more like previous years.

I'm hoping to get out later on – I've got to at least head up to the lobby and check email; Greg Bear is signing today and I'm looking forward to meeting him. More later!

I Miss Father Ted

2009-02-10T23:35:00.003-05:00

This was such a great show - what a shame it only went for 3 seasons; even sadder that we've lost Dermot Morgan (the day after season 3 ended, no less). I was introduced to Father Ted by one of our British staff (when I was at Wildwood) who gave Obo and me season 3 on DVD (he didn't have room to pack it on the way back - too much good 'American' stuff to bring home).

LARPing Camp

2009-02-09T11:18:00.003-05:00

Cross-posted at Withywindle Blog.

Well, it's official - there really is a camp for any interest. At the camp fair I was working at on Sunday, there were representatives from a camp called Wizards and Warriors - day and residential camps where kids can learn swordsmanship and armor making, and participate in LARPing (live action role playing), by making their own characters and living in a medieval village!

This is so cool... I don't think I would have wanted to do this as a kid (I was way too horse-crazy), but as a camp professional (and fantasy freak), I think it's fabulous!

Random Update

2009-02-08T21:13:00.002-05:00

So, this is the first post this month where I feel like I have nothing in particular to say, but need to write anyway. Let's see...

The camp fair was fun, and relatively successful. Saw a few (but not many) folks I knew.

My headaches have been awful this weekend due to the coughing (despite being zoned out on cough suppressant for the past 48 hours).

I'm still using the neti pot.

Yep, that's it. Goin' to bed.

Neti Pot is Working... Sort Of

2009-02-07T20:46:00.005-05:00

So, the neti pot worked in terms of getting rid of the congestion - and pain! - in my head last night. Unfortunately, the end result is that it all went into my chest, and now I have the most awful cough. Even worse, the cough is one of those deep, chest rattling coughs that makes your head ache, which lead into a migraine that just wouldn't quit today. Ugh. Loads of meds later, most of the pain is gone, but I'm a bit fuzzy headed...

Off to a camp fair tomorrow!! (I love camp fairs!)

It Takes Longer to Pass 8 Ounces of Water Through Your Sinus Cavity Than You'd Think

2009-02-06T20:58:00.004-05:00

Yes it does. I would imagine that once you have the technique down, it goes a little quicker, but for my first effort with a neti pot, I was surprised at how long it took. If you're not familiar with the neti pot concept, you use a pot of some kind with a spout to pass warm salinated (is that a word?) water through one nostril, into your sinuses and back out the other nostril. Sounds appealing, eh?

I have a wicked head cold, and a friend and colleague recommended it to me. This wasn't the first time I'd heard of it, but the thought made me squeamish until today, when I was ready to try any non-chemical method of reducing the sinus pressure in my head. Did it work? Verdict is still out... I'll report back in a few days.

Randomly, as the saline was passing through my nose for the first time (and even for the second time), I was instantly transported to the beaches of St. Petersburg, Fl., where I spent time visiting my mother as a kid.

Hmmm.... Day 4

2009-02-04T22:44:00.000-05:00

I know some days are going to be harder than others for posting... I'm hoping that it doesn't get difficult early on - like, on day four.

R. came to work with me today; I wish I could bring him to the preschool here everyday, but A: that's expensive, and B: my schedule is too erratic to be good for him. He gets to spend quality time with Daddy in the afternoons (who can pick him up by 3:30 or 4 every day), and I don't drop him off until 8 or 9, so it's not a terribly long day at daycare, which I like.

But he's so darn cute, and I love being able to surreptitiously watch him be his own little person when he's here...

Astrophysics, Not Astronomy

2009-02-03T15:13:00.004-05:00

Cross-posted at Withywindle Blog.

I've picked my book for the 2009 Science Book Challenge - Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku. In my post on the Withywindle Blog about the Science Book Challenge, I had mentioned wanting to read something on astronomy, as I had been thinking about it recently. However I've since realized that astrophysics would be the more correct subject, I just couldn't think of it at that moment.

It's weird to say, but I really have been thinking about astrophysics lately (who hasn't??). I had recently started a fascinating article in a magazine, (possibly Popular Science, but I don't quite recall) about the universe and how many facets of it seems uniquely designed to create life, rather than life being a happenstance. Or something to that effect - I never got a chance to get very far into the article, as I was in a doctor's office and had to leave it behind.

Thinking even farther back, this past summer I spent a few hours by myself in a van with no radio, and I got to thinking about the creation of the universe (isn't that what happens to everyone when they're alone in a van with no radio??), and what might exist outside our universe, and so on, and so on, and eventually thought, "I need to read a book on this!". So I'm going to.

Day 2 - I Need a Tape Recorder

2009-02-02T14:01:00.004-05:00

A few months ago friend of mine suggested using a tape recorder to record R's voice and our conversations. I don't have one (naturally), but was really wishing for one this morning. I'm running about, trying to get myself ready for work and there's my little munchkin, standing in the kitchen singing "I've Been Working on the Railroad" from his Wee Sing book - so unbelievably cute. The cutest thing, of course is that he wasn't really singing from the book (as he can't read yet), but would thumb to the correct page and start singing. Then he'd go to another page and sing what was on there. When he ran out pages he recognized he started asking me to sing, and then he'd join in.

I'd love to record our morning routine (when it goes well, that is; no one would want to hear us when it doesn't): the things he does and doesn't want to do for himself (this morning it was his socks - "I can put them on all by myself!"; and he did), all the cute little questions from him, and my "mommy" answers... I was so acutely aware this morning particularly, how fleeting this all will seem in a few years.

NaBloPoMo - First Day!!

2009-02-01T16:08:00.003-05:00

OK, so I've decided to give National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) a go for the month of February. I honestly didn't choose February because it has the fewest days, but because it was the first full month following my discovery of NaBloPoMo (but 28 instead of 30 or 31 does make a slightly more appealing goal, I suppose...).

I liked the idea of doing this, as I really want to be more consistent in my journaling efforts, and this was a great kick-start. We'll see how it goes; this month's topic is 'want'. They say topics are optional, but a focus helps... I want to succeed at blogging/journaling every day this month... here goes!!

Passionately Curious

2009-01-29T13:26:00.004-05:00

While looking for a long-lost poem that I had heard on the Writer's Almanac in 1999, I stumbled across a second grade teacher's blog called Passionately Curious (where she had, much to my delight, reprinted the poem - see below). I was so charmed by this view into her classroom, it made me long to be a second-grade teacher. The title of her blog was what caused me to click over to it in the first place; passionately curious is an apt description for so many of the naturalists and educators I know. I also discovered (in her bio) the source of the blog's title:

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. - Albert Einstein

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Here's the poem I was searching for:

Something Told the Wild Geese

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered - "Snow."
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned - "Frost."
All the sagging orchards
Steamed with amber spice,
But each wild breast stiffened
At remembered ice.
Something told the wild geese
It was time to fly -
Summer sun was on their wings,
Winter in their cry.

Rachel Field

Richard Louv's Blog on Children and Nature

2009-01-28T12:34:00.008-05:00

One of my MEES colleagues sent around an article from Richard Louv's blog: "Field Notes from the Future" - something I probably should have been aware of before now, but wasn't. Richard Louv is the author of the powerful book Last Child in the Woods, which (among other things) deals with an issue he termed "nature deficency disorder"; an topic environmental educators all over the world have have since taken on. All the blog articles all well worth reading (and there aren't that many, so get started!), but there's an article on there that really struck me called Singing for Bears. Read it.

25 Random Things (About Me)

2009-01-27T09:33:00.013-05:00

A few friends of mine sent me this note on Facebook recently: “25 random things about me” (or something like that). I loved the idea because it really got me thinking... what don't most of my friends know about me? And of that (mostly useless) information, what's worth telling them? I also loved getting this from them and learning some trivial, and not-so trivial things about them. Here's what I came up with:

1. If I could only use two words to describe myself I would use fiery and passionate

2. I performed in Carnegie Hall when I was sixteen (not by myself... with a regional youth symphony orchestra)

3. I spent most of my childhood wishing I were almost any animal other than human (preferably a furry one)

4. I have two tattoos and plan to get more; each one is, or will be, a piece of my soul inscribed on my skin.

5. Until I met my husband, I was dead certain that I would never have children

6. I was born on a Friday the 13th (April) and my son was born on Halloween (at 13:13).

7. I LOVE to sing!!!

8. I am amazed (and pleased) at how much being a mother now defines me; my son has helped me find parts of my soul I never knew existed

9. I don't make friends very easily, and so I cherish the ones I have; they mean more to me than they will ever know (even though I'm lousy at keeping in touch)

10. Halloween is my very favorite holiday (and was prior to the birth of my son).

11. I haven't done nearly enough world traveling

12. Making a difference in the world is the main force that drives me every day.

13… is my favorite number.

14. I keep thinking about what I’m going to do when I win the lottery, but I don’t play it.

15. I discovered I had claustrophobia when attempting to enter one of the pyramids of Egypt during Ramadan in 1997.

16. If I could live anywhere in the States, it would be in the Monadnock region of NH – I went to camp there as a child and worked and went to school there as an adult. Someday (someday) I plan to return.

17. My Sicilian grandfather has a rather...interesting...heritage

18. I love, love, love, to swim, but not in ponds with squishy bottoms (which is most of them)

19. If I could be doing anything at (almost) any moment, it would be riding a horse

20. After 12 days with no power in our house last month, I discovered that there are few more satisfying things than sitting down to a meal cooked in your own house with your family (with all the lights on...)

21. My favorite author is Stephen King; I'd love to sit down and talk with him

22. I could probably identify 90% of the plants and animals in your backyard (stole this one from Kate - thanks!!)

23. I collect coins (I'm such a geek)

24. I never told the person who inspired me to become an educator that he did so (I will though, I swear!)

25. I love my name.

New Beginnings

2009-01-19T18:03:00.004-05:00

We have a new president... and I am so thrilled. I watched the inaguration today at work with the kids with an intensity I've never given to presidental politics (around interruptions for things like heating up lunch, and coaxing a 5-year old to eat her chicken). I truely hope that the change that will come, will find us at home as well.

After the challenges of the ice storm, losing the baby and our wonderful Pandora - not to mention the health issues Obo and I have faced lately - we could use some change. The good news is that things feel like they're moving back to normal for our household (despite my back injury after slipping on ice Sunday, grrr.). Smiles and laughter were far more present than they have been for quite some time.

I have hope.

Predators and an Overabundance of Whitetail Deer in MA

2009-01-08T16:50:00.007-05:00

I'm giving a talk on predators tonight at the Y; in preparation I was thumbing through an old issue of Massachusetts Wildlife (Nov. 2006), as I had seen mentioned on the cover an article about whitetail deer over-population. After reading the article, I have to say I'm even more fired up for my talk. It did a good job discussing the history of whitetails in New England, their human-caused decline and re-growth, and talked about the challenges we face living with a large, abundant mammal so close to our civilization. Hunting, however was the only method mentioned as a means of restricting the deer population (discounting natural causes which would result in ecosystem destruction and disease and starvation for thousands of animals). The article discussed the pros and cons people feel about hunting (while mentioning that the author - Tovar Cerulli - is a hunter himself) and proposed it as the best viable solution to the deer problem.

I happen to think that hunting is an excellent form of population control for our out-of-control deer population (and agree with the author that it's our best solution right now). And I also happen to think that a healthy predator population (i.e. - wolves) is also a potential solution. Reintroduction of wolves is a very controversial topic - no doubt about it. But much to my frustration, the author didn't even MENTION the role predators naturally play in keeping ungulate populations healthy and stable, and that fact that our top level predators are missing here in New England - and that's a big problem. Regardless of how you feel about an issue like predator re-introduction, to not even mention it as an ecological issue drives me crazy. People can continue on their way with their misconceptions about predators big and small, ignorant of how imbalanced our forests are without the biggest ones present. I'm SO glad I'm running my program this evening. **Stepping off my soapbox**

As an aside, I will be leading a tracking program in the central MA region this Saturday, January 16th from 10 - 12:30. If you're interested in attending, send me an email and I'll get you the details.

The Daily Coyote

2008-12-23T12:51:00.004-05:00

I was in Borders with Obo the other day, and saw the most beautiful (well, they're all beautiful, but then I'm biased) coyote staring out at me from the cover of a book. Turns out it's a book called "The Daily Coyote", and of course I picked it up immediately and started reading... it's the story of an author and photographer (Shreve Stockton) in Wyoming who adopted a coyote pup to keep it from dying without it's parents (who were shot, incidentally, by her friend - who then gave her the pup; I find that slightly disturbing, but I haven't read the whole book yet and will try to withhold judgement for now). The book documents the author's life from pre-coyote (his name is Charlie) through their first year (I believe) together. It started out as a blog - http://www.dailycoyote.net/ - which is still up and running where she posts the most amazing photos of Charlie, and gives information and updates on their lives.

I am dead jealous. I can't imagine the challenges faced by trying to live with a wild animal - even one that you've raised yourself. I have enough knowledge and respect for wildlife that I can't say I would ever deliberately undertake such an effort (raising my four-year-old is enough of a challenge!). But I'm jealous nonetheless. I adore coyotes, and am moved by the photos and experiences Shreve Stockton shares in her book and on her blog.

Day 11 With No Power...

2008-12-22T07:35:00.003-05:00

We're on day 11 following the ice storm, and still have no power. We spent our first two nights at a co-workers house in Framingham, and the third night up in Nashua with my in-laws. I found a friend of mine who had an available generator on Monday, and Obo trekked to Lowell to fetch it and hook it up to the house to get the furnace running.

So that's the way we've been living... heat and hot water thanks to the generator, and a few lights, but that's about it. Cooking needs to take place outside on our camp stove (a real pain in a snow storm, as Obo will tell you following Friday night), and our fridge still has the odor of spoiled food (despite a thorough cleaning - we're going to take bleach and baking soda to it this week) so we're not willing to use it yet, even if the power does come on.

With the twin snow storms this past weekend, we gave up and went back to Nashua on Saturday. We waited last night for the majority of the snow to abate, but that meant that we didn't get home until 8:30 PM. and had a 40 degree house to try and heat. Man, was it cold going to bed last night!! I've slept outside in 40 and even 30 degree weather, but don't exactly relish the feeling of camping in my own bedroom.

So we missed Yule last night due to the storm, but plan on doing a small celebration at home tonight. This is the most un-holiday-ish holiday season I can remember. We haven't done any x-mas shopping (cards are out of the question), and missed holiday events we had planned on attending with the Society of Elder Faiths last weekend. Blah. I'm looking forward to traveling to see my family over New Year's. Hopefully that will help us feel more like celebrating...

In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out what I haven't learned from our experiences so far (there has to be a silver lining there somewhere). Certainly one lesson I have learned is not to take anything for granted. As Obo said to me last week, these things always happen to 'somebody else'. Well, not this time. And a line from an article that I read in Pan Gaia magazine recently has stuck with me... something to the effect of whatever can happen, can happen to you (relative to planning for lean times). I certainly feel like we're there right now.

Surprising Damage from Ice Storm

2008-12-12T18:08:00.005-05:00

Central MA (along with many other parts of New England) was hit with a massive ice storm yesterday afternoon, which lasted into this morning. Weather and local officials said it was the worst storm in at least 10, and some said even 30 years. As a transplanted New Yorker, it's definitely the worst storm I've ever seen. And the damage surrounding our house is phenomenal.

I was up all night last night listening to the gun-shot and thunder-rumbling sounds of tree limbs crashing to earth all around us. It was the most terrifying night I can remember. I was half-convinced that the pine next to our driveway was going to crash into the house. It didn't, thankfully (actually the house and both cars have escaped unscathed so far - there's still more limbs and power lines coming down, and hopefully that will continue). Poor Pandora was a nervous wreck, panting and pacing all around our bedroom. We finally gave up (she was keeping us awake, along with all the racket outside) and gated her downstairs, and she spent the remainder of the night sitting in front of the gate, knocking into it with her paws, and panting loudly. Needless to say, I didn't sleep at all last night.

We're without power, as is most (if not all) of our town, and driving down to work today was a hazard, with no traffic lights at major intersections, and trees limbs and power lines all over the place. We're trying to decide if we're going to try and stay at home tonight, or head elsewhere for a warmer night....

Wolves and the Ranching Way of Life

2008-12-08T16:31:00.010-05:00

I just heard an interesting story on NPR regarding wolves and ranching. I’m a wolf advocate, so these stories particularly garner my interest. It started out by reminding us that the Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves are being de-listed (from the endangered species list) at the end of this year; a relief to ranchers who will be allowed to hunt them on (and off) their property. While I’m not in favor of de-listing these wolves yet (and although the science for doing so with this population is sound [this time], I vote with the argument for not de-listing until the species is appropriately recovered throughout it’s entire former range*) they didn’t focus on this statement. Rather they used it to segue way into the struggles that ranchers now have in order to make a living every year; a perspective I found refreshing.

The main point of the story being that wolf predation of cattle is the least of a rancher’s worries, even though the loss of just a few head of cattle can be thousands of dollars to an individual rancher. It was mentioned that wolves don’t even account for the majority of cattle takes in a given year – coyote and grizzly bear do. Unfortunately for wolves however, (and anyone familiar with reintroduction efforts of the species can tell you this) they become the scapegoat because so many people have a visceral reaction to them. They are seen by many who work the land as the ultimate predator that men (often the grandfathers and great-grandfathers of today’s ranchers) worked to eliminate from their lands completely. Sadly though, an ecological perspective – the importance of top-level predators in an ecosystem – is lost in the daily struggle to make a living. Not a perspective that I can’t understand, but I find it sad nonetheless. Isn’t the struggle to make a living and expand our way of life the argument which justified the deaths of so many Native Americans during the colonization and western expansion of our country?

The story went on to talk about the diminishing returns ranchers are seeing every year - making it harder for them to stay in business. And some ranchers are taking big money from developers to sell off their land, creating what could become a drastic change in the western landscape. The question was raised whether traditional ranching, or multi-million dollar tourist "ranches" and increasing development would become the future of the west. They wrapped up the story succinctly by stating that among all the woes facing ranchers, wolves are the one issue that they can “put in their crosshairs and pull the trigger on.”

___________________________________________________
*More on the argument for delaying wolf de-listing... Waiting until wolves are recovered throughout their former range (see this link from the US Fish and Wildlife service for a map) before de-listing has a sound scientific argument: a population potentially under threat (and yes, despite their strong numbers now, humans still can prove a threat to wolf populations - we've already shown this to be true by eradicating this once wide-spread species in the first place) wouldn't be an isolated one, and could [potentially] renew itself if necessary with individuals - and genes - from a more stable one. Additionally, some argue that recovering wolves in their entire former range, instead of saying that they're stable just "here", is truer to the spirit of the endangered species act.

Random Bits from an Outdoor Ed Director's Office

2008-11-20T15:53:00.008-05:00

Things found in my office, following crazy-busy summer and fall seasons...

Rubber chicken
Various short (and some not-so-short) bits of 'dead' climbing rope
The skin (and fur) of an eastern coyote
Slinky
Defective steel carabiners (still waiting to be sent to manufacturer)
Lots of warm clothing
Slightly smashed wasp in identifying jar (left over from summer - "do you know what this is??")
29" auger drill bit
Large box of galvanized nails
Recurve bow (belonging to co-worker)
Hand-made shark fin for shark costume (consisting solely of corrugated cardboard and duct tape)
"Herbal Armor" bug repellent (still sitting on desk, despite current 30 degree weather)

I won't get into the loads of paper and books scattered all over, but at least I have time to clean up now...

Help!! I've just become a Minivan-driving Soccer Mom!!

2008-11-07T12:56:00.006-05:00

I think that if I checked in with myself 15 years ago, I would have sworn this would never happen to me (of course, I was convinced I wasn't going to have kids until I met Obo)... but it's true: I signed R. up for soccer (he starts in April), and we just bought a minivan. I swear I was like, 18, just a year or two ago!

I keep looking at that phrase - "minivan-driving soccer mom" and am still so convinced that it doesn't apply to me. I know who that woman is - or should be in my mind - and I don't look or feel anything like her! (perhaps all women go though this denial phase when they join the ranks?) I remember feeling something like this after R. was born; I'd see myself putting our little baby in his car seat and loading him into the car and think, "this can't be me, I'm WAY too young to have a kid!". And then I'd remember that I'm in my early 30's (then) and yes, this was in fact me, loading a baby into a car. And now the baby is a pre-schooler (signed up for soccer!) and we're trying to have another and wanted a newer family-sized car... Oh, I know! I can blame this all on the dog - if we didn't have a dog we could use the extra space for gear and.... no, that doesn't work. Never mind. I'm sure I'll get used to my new ride eventually.

Bear Tracking

2008-11-03T18:18:00.007-05:00

My Grandmother passed away this Thursday - the day before Samhain, appropriately enough. It was a good opportunity to introduce R. to why we celebrate Samhain and what it means... even if it made for a more melancholy holiday weekend (and birthday, if you're born on Samhain).

As a result we've been traveling the past few days to spend time with my side of the family, and went to go see Dad who was up in the Catskills. They had gotten over a foot of snow last week, and a fair amount of it was (is) still around. This morning, Thelma mentioned to me that there were tracks on the side yard which she and Dad thought were bear - so of course I had to go look... even though they had been pretty fresh the day before, there is so much melting going on that there were hardly any details left to the tracks. But given the overall gist, combined with the general size and stride of the prints, there was no doubt that they were bear tracks. I took some pictures which Thelma will hopefully email along soon (didn't bring our camera with us) so I can post them - these are the first bear track photos I've gotten... we did some backtracking, but the prints disappeared (along with the snow) under some hemlocks at the front edge of the property and we could only follow them so far (and I was SO not dressed for tracking... we had only gone for the night, and left today for the Berkshires to see Aunt L. and Uncle W. today - which is where I'm writing this).

This reminds me that I was supposed to attend a tracking conference on Saturday, which I obviously missed due to family concerns. Bummer - I hope they'll have one next year... I'll have to be sure to attend a Walnut Hill program this winter; with any luck there will be one before my own tracking class down at the Y in February...

NY Photos Online

2008-10-19T15:23:00.008-04:00

I put a small album together of photos from our most recent trip to theCatskills here on Facebook. I do believe you have to be a member of Facebook (and a 'friend' of mine) to view the photos (sorry, I'm not too keen on just posting pictures of the family randomly on the web for anyone to view...). It's easy to join, if you're interested. If you not, email me and I'll send you copies.

You can see from the photo why we love being up there so much... this is the view from the front of the cabin to the mountains and our barn down below. We went for Columbus Day weekend, and the weather was amazing!! Didn't do a whole lot (Obo went shooting with Dad and hauled some logs to be cut into firewood; Grandma, R. and I went to an Octoberfest fair outside of Margretville, and R. helped Grandma plant some groundcover), we were just happy to get away for a few days. The past few weeks have been super crazy with work and other obligations; can't wait for November when my schedule settles down a bit. On top of managing the course and my 25 or so staff during our busiest season right now, I have to submit a new $100k budget and marketing plan for next fiscal year. Yippee...

Cheers!

Wolf Double Talk

2008-10-17T16:28:00.006-04:00

One of my colleges brought to my attention a newspaper clipping about guy who brought a live wolf to the library in the town next to us for a children’s program the other day. There was a photo and blurb in the local paper, and the photo showed a guy with a wolf on a leash sitting between his feet.

I will put aside the fact that the wolf in the photo looked more like a skinny husky than a wild wolf for the moment, to say this… after going to the website for his organization to find more info out about them (and I won't name the individual or his organizaion until I have spoken with them directly), I am quite upset about the message they are sending. I'm not out to bash his organization, because I'm sure that they have great information intheir programs and I'm all for wolf education - we need more of it, not less! And I do plan to either attend one of their programs, or talk with them by phone to pose my questions.

But what are you REALLY saying when you bring a ‘wild’ animal into a public setting that has been “raised by us at home”… ? Even if they say to their audiences that wolves shouldn’t be kept as pets, they are giving a double message (do as I say, not as I do). Right on their website is information about pups they are raising and socializing with opportunities for the public to (by paying) go camping and ‘play with the pups’. There’s a fine line when working with wildlife for educational purposes, and I think these folks have crossed it.

"My Mommy Plays Music With Her Friends"

2008-10-16T21:57:00.005-04:00

I mentioned the other day that R. has taken to listening to the Contra Banditos CD at night (all night, every night...). Well, we were driving in the car the other day listing to Old Crow Medicine Show, and I guess it must have reminded him of the Banditos (we cover two of their songs) and he said that his favorite song on the Banditos CD was the one 'where all the girls sing together'; this is 'To Be Good', which he has heard us perform live on several occasions. He then asked me what the name of the Banditos CD was; I explained that it didn't have an official name yet, since we weren't done with the recordings. He said, 'well I think you should call it: “My Mommy Plays Music With her Friends”' (on the evenings when I head out to practice with the Banditos, R. invariably asks where I'm going, and my response is always - “I'm going to play music with my friends!”). I told him that I would bring his suggestion for a CD title back to the rest of the band the next time I'm at a rehearsal (which I haven't done yet...). R.'s response was: “I think they'll think it's funny!”. Laughing, I told him I was sure they would enjoy his suggestion, especially since quite a few Banditos are also mommies, playing music with their friends.

Goodnight Routine

2008-10-06T20:24:00.001-04:00

I have to record this or it will get forgotten (like too many other sweet moments)... R.'s newest nighttime ritual is to have music playing (a CD on repeat) when he goes to sleep. For the past few weeks it's been one of several classical CDs (designed for kids); but I made a CD of the current recordings from the Contra Banditos to give to family members and Obo played his for R. He loves it so much that he now listens to the Banditos CD all night on repeat (which means we do as well...). I guess we've done a good job so far with the recordings... His other new addition to the evening is to say (and I have no idea why) "Bubbles!", which we must say in return.

Bubbles!

No more pink!

2008-10-06T17:04:00.001-04:00

Whew - had to get rid of that pink template; it was giving me a headache. More later...

42nd NEEEA Conference

2008-10-05T21:21:00.002-04:00

I spent this past weekend at the 42nd annual NEEEA (New England Environmental Education Alliance) Conference at Sargent Center in Hancock, NH. The last time I was able to spend the weekend at a full NEEEA conference was 6 years ago - the last time the conference was in NH, actually. One of the reasons I love being at NEEEA (yes, in addition the renewed contacts, professional development and other 'official' goodies) is that it essentially is a weekend of camp for educators. For anyone who knows me even slightly, you know I love camp - so this is just a blast, as far as I'm concerned. There wasn't much chance of my not attending this year; I'm on the board for both NEEEA as well as MEES (the Massachsuettes Environmental Education Society). For those outside of our little ee world, the six New England states each have an environmental education organization which is what makes up the population of NEEEA. Just to be confusing, you aren't automatically on the NEEEA board, if you're on the board of a New England state org. I'm the MA state rep for NEEEA, so happen to serve on both, but there are plenty of people on other state org boards that aren't part of the NEEEA board.

Hmm... this post was supposed to be more about my weekend at the conference, rather than a run-down of ee orgs in New England, and now it's late and I need to go to bed. I'll continue my weekend post tomorrow.

NaBloPoMo

2008-01-28T14:40:00.004-05:00