Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

Saturday at the Kimmel Center

Every year my mom takes me to the Kimmel Center for Christmas to see Peter Nero and the Philly Pops. I love going to the Kimmel center. This is a trip conducted by the Seniors Citizens of South Jersey so that can be quite entertaining in itself.

We left at 11 AM and went to the Moshulu for lunch. http://www.moshulu.com/site/main.asp . I have never eaten on the Moshulu so this was new and exciting. It is docked at Penn's Landing. It is a 4 star restaurant. I had the Chicken.

Than it was off to the Kimmel Center for the Philly Pops Christmas Concert http://www.phillypops.com/. It was so good. The Von Trapp Children were there singing with the pops this year. (You remember Kirk from the movie, Sound of Music - he says in the movie, "I'm Kirk and i'm incouragable." - these Von Trapp children were his great great grandchildren). They were really good. There were 4 of them.

The concert was about two hours long. Not long enough - I love just being inside the concert hall. It is like being inside of a huge violin. Music is such a wonderful gift from God.

Of course, now our tree is decked out with a new ornament from the Kimmel Center - actually two this year. The newest musical instrument is a trombone. (The last two years brought a violin and a flute). I would have only gotten the one ornament but they also have a new brass ornament that is a likeness of the Kimmel Center - of course, I had to have that!!

It was a great day. Let the holidays begin!!!! (But not too fast, I've got so much to do!!!) REJOICE!!

Back to Work

Have you ever noticed how after a vacation it is so hard to get back to work. I did not darken the doors of the workplace for a whole week. (at a convention for 3 days and home celebrating turkey day for 5). So, we are back, and I must get motivated. I really do like my job - but at this time of the year there is so much to do!!

I spent the last few days decorating trees, making gifts, weeding through old decorations. The house looks like Christmas exploded. Boxes, storage containers, ornaments are everywhere. Will I ever get it done? Yes, I will. Every year I fret over getting everything accomplished and somehow it all gets done. I really do love this season. I stitch all year to get ready. I love to decorate the tree and ponder over each ornament on the tree and where it came from. Tree decorations are a great way to remenisce about family events and people who have touched our lives.

It is not truly Christmas until one watches the movie White Christmas, a true classic. So, on Saturday night while home alone (eveyone else was out) I did it - I watched White Christmas. I can now declare, "It IS The Christmas Season." Let's rejoice and celebrate the birth of The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!!

21st Century Learning

Here I am doing something I never dreamed I would do - writing a blog. I have never much wanted a public face. I'm not even sure I like to write! But, here I am writing for the world to see.

In my lifetime we have gone from typewriters and carbon paper to this!! The way students communicate and learn is changing before my eyes.

I'm involved in a project at work/school that is making me so much more aware of 21st century learning. Leaning is in transition, as Karl Fisch says, "Shift Happens". Well, it is happening to me and I'm getting involved in the ways that our students are now learning. Let's see, I have an I-Google, I share in a Wikki and am involved in several Ning's along with this Blogspot. I'm experimenting with developing a Ning for my Accounting class. The more I do, the more I want to do. Not only is this a learning experience, it is fun. One of the Ning's I participate in is a Stitchers Showcase. I LOVE stitching. I love to share what I do and see what others do. This whole thing is so amazing. I'm seeing the stitching of people from all over the world. My world is shrinking and my knowledge is growing.

My fellow educators - I encourage you to get involved in this 21st century learning. We have access to the whole world - it is at our fingertips.