Check It Out

From the  Poetry Thursday group; offerings from lesser known contributers.

Friends laugh together

One day

Friends argue

Next day snow falls

We are lucky

Friends again
–Kiagh, 3^rd Grade

Last week I wrote about  Parade Magazine’s America’s Giving
Challenge.  My friend and colleague, Peggy Padden. Two of her three sons
have been diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia (Jake died in 2003 from it).

Have you heard about Kevin Bacon’s six degrees site?
http://www.sixdegrees.org/.  It is a major sponsor of this contest.  And
you know the idea, everyone is connected by 6 degrees of separation.

Peggy and I are.  My daughter went to a wedding a couple of years back in
Seattle.  I knew that Peggy was going to a wedding at the same time in
Seattle.  Well, Charlotte calls and tells me she saw Peggy at the wedding.
I couldn’t believe it and it turns out that a cousin on Charlotte’s
husband side of the family married a cousin from Peggy’s husband’s side of
the family. See six degrees of separation…(well,actually probably 12
degrees).

So…I am hoping that you will donate to the cause, keep the Faconi Anemia
Research Fund at second place and help them to move to first place.  Please
be sure to select the charity badge and donate through the badge.
Here is the site:  http://www.parade.com/givingchallenge?source=pressAGC.

I find it interesting that the two top charities are about saving animals.  I totally believe that animals should be taken care of and rescued  and save. I also believe that no parent should ever be forced to join the “I lost a child club” and hopefully, through research, a cure will be found for Fanconi Anemia.  Please consider donating.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Yes, I know this is the second Friday of January.  Last week our poetry group did not meet because:

1. I left for a doctor’s appointment.

2. The students experienced a real live drill because we had a rare tornado heading our way!I missed the experience but today, some of the group came back to that moment last week. (NOTE: the mall is still there.  It became cler to me that my fifth grade writers have discovered the joy of shopping at the mall and they would be so sad to see it gone. Was an “aha” moment that they are growing up.)

I am always intrigued by the poem choices.  Today I threw out a quote from Lucy Calkins to be mindful of , “poetry is seeing the world in a new way.”  They were also encouraged to try and write in 15 words or less.

One word in a mouth
Is like all the others
Waiting to be said.              
–Clare, 2^nd grade (written over the break)

Tornado

We are all sitting in the hall
Whoosh, whoosh
All scared
Friends talking
Ha, ha
Oops!
Not allowed
Fears
Pray
Ahhh!           
–Sabrina, 4^th grade 

My dog-toy poodle
Black fur loves snow
Loves me licking my
Face like crazy            
–Jenna, 2^nd grade

 Penguins all around
Warm
Fuzzy
Like a pillow
Just been hugged
By their mama           
–Olesya, 3^rd grade 

Crystal all around
Flies down sparkles
Charm my life           
–Ashlyn, 2nd grade 

Spinning winds around outside
Sitting in halls
Scared, worried
Turn out fine           
–Tasha, 5^th grade 

Tornado flash boom, boom
Thunder roars.
What’s
That we all say?
Booom
Bang, we all scream.
We find out
The mall is gone.           
–Ahbre, 5^th grade

For more poetry, visit,  Farm School.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

In case you missed this but the second annual CYBILS Award shortlists were announces on January 1, 2008.  I missed it.  I was one, out of town, and two, still too sick to care much.

But today is a new day.  We have ice. I look out my window and it doesn’t look icy but it’s there.  I discovered this when I walked outside to grab the paper. Slip, slip, slip.

So what better time to catch up on my sorely neglected library blog?  I am one the judging panel for the CYBILS Poetry shortlist.  It is my second year and I am thrilled to be a part of it again.  We have seven books to consider this year and that is great.  A couple books on the list have been recognized by the American Library Association.  Will our choice for best poetry match?  You will have to find out on February, 14, 2008.

The books are arriving at my house and it is like Christmas all over. Even better, because I am well and back to my usual self.

I am catching a few minutes to read and drink a little tea.  I might even get to my childhood story written in haibun style for One Deep Breath.  It is a good thing to have a late start.

Happy Reading.

MsMac

Here are two great ways to “pay it forward”.  I hope you might be able to help both.

America’s Giving Challenge by Parade Magazine:

I posted about my friend and colleague Peggy Padden about a year ago. She is on my hero list. She lost one of her three sons’ to Fanconi Anemia and her youngest has the disease. She is active in creating opportunities to raise money for research.

Just this last week she sent an email:

“As many of you know, in 2003, 2 of my 3 sons were diagnosed with Fanconi anemia, a life threatening genetic disease that leads to bone marrow failure and cancers.  My son Jake, 21 at the time, tragically passed away 8 mo. after being diagnosed.  My youngest son Spencer, now 20 is stable and doing well as a sophomore at University of Oregon.  It is just a matter of time before the disease manifests itself in him as well.
You may have seen an ad in Parade Magazine Sunday about America’s Giving Challenge. $50,000 will be given out to each of 4 U.S. based charity groups that get the most online donations by Jan. 31st.  Not the most MONEY, but the most individual donations! Each person can only donate once.  

Guess what?  The Fanconi Research Fund has made it to the top 4.  Let’s keep it that way and make it to number 1.  Please consider going to the site and making a donation.  It is the number of individual donations not the amount.
 

Books of Love:

Nina was three when she lost her struggle to Fanconi.  She spent many days in the hospital and yet children’s books were hard to find. Nina loved reading.  Therefore, Megan Spears, a family friend, decided last fall to do something.  She started a book drive, “Books of Love”in memory of Nina.  The goal is to collect and donate 500 books to Child Life Department at Doernbecher Hospital.  Books can be sent to:

 Books of Love; c/o Megan Spears; 40335 McCormick Court; Sandy, Oregon 97055

I hope you are able to either send a book, make a donation or both. Happy Reading.

MsMac

 
Oregon Garden Frog 2007

frog hops, hops-splash
startles photographer, yikes
wants photo taken

Please vote for Mister Frog at http://www.photooftheyear.net/

Vote for it and nine others in the “Top 100″

Vote for it under the category of water (You can only vote for one in this category)

Voting concludes on January 13, 2008

To see the other nine I submitted visit here: Deo Writer.

Happy Reading.

MsMac