May 15 2020

Here's to good luck on finals, great joy in your future and a fantastic, safe summer! Miss y'all!

Last post Spring 2020 Ms Ash

May 14 2020

Today sees some penultimate moments (the second to the final one - see a real definition at the end of today's blog). This is the penultimate blog (I will end tomorrow). For some Juniors this is the penultimate year winding down. For seniors, this is your penultimate week. For seventh graders, this is your penultimate year in middle school. Hmmmm - feels good getting to the "end in sight" moments in life - but also a little scary! Don't fret - be the good human we know you are and treat others and yourself well - everything else will work out. I wish you luck studying this week and on your finals next week.

If you had the chance yesterday to see the Thunderbirds flyover - it was great! My sister, 89 year old mother and quite a few neighbors all hung out in the road outside our houses and watched them fly over in Round Rock. I love the noise they make! I'll include a movie of the Thunderbird pictures I took on the library FB page and put the link here when I'm done.

Definition from m-w.com

penultimate

Definition of penultimate

1: next to the last the penultimate chapter of a book

2: of or relating to the next to the last syllable of a word a penultimate accent

May 13 2020

Don't forget to look up around 2:30 ish today for the Air Force Thunderbirds flying over Georgetown, Round Rock and Austin - supporting our medical professionals who are the "soldiers" on the front-lines helping people fight the virus. I put the map of the flyover below - but you can also click on Air Force Thunderbirds to go to their FB page and find all the information.

Halfway through review week already! Wow - I know you'll be swamped during finals - so I will be wrapping up my blog on FRIDAY! Ack - but you know I'm available via email anytime; please email if you have a question or need to find a resource or just check in and let me know how you're doing! I will post final pictures on Monday after I finish coloring all weekend to catch up! I'm reading a great series (Guardians of the Galaxy meets Indiana Jones) by Chris Wooding (he wrote Silver and The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray). I started on Book 4 (go figure) and am almost done reading the Ace of Skulls. I checked our local Round Rock Library and they had books 1 & 3! So I'll have to find book 2. This is how I end up reading series in weird orders (book 4, 1, 3, 2 in this case!). Go figure. But it's great fun!

Study well, do great and be good to yourselves.

May 12 2020

I hope y'all are reviewing for finals! I know it's now a "pass/fail" course, but that doesn't mean "don't do anything" it means do enough (and a little extra in case) to PASS! Think of the credits you gain for less anxiety than normal?! So - good luck studying; if you need help on structuring study time, something you don't understand in content, let me know and if I can't answer it - I'll find you the teacher on campus who can!

I'll be running the blog through the last day of school so pop in for the latest in coloring, or weird stuff I find on the web, or just a "hello" and virtual hug!

The owl is finished and I've started my most favorite one yet (and a great one for summer): Anything is Possible!

May 11 2020

Welcome to Monday! I have great news - MackinVia has added another 1500 books to our e-book AND audiobook collection. Woohoo!! Visit your home campus library page to get to the them. One of them is a favorite on our campus: Yummy : the last days of a Southside Shorty - Neri, Greg.

Also - I thought I had posted this blog for y'all with animals hugging humans (too cute! kind of scary too) but I don't see it so here you are: YouTube. Hope y'all had a great Mother's Day and made a momma happy! As we wind down the school year, start thinking about what will make you happy over the summer? What will you engage in or who will you engage with? How do you stay safe and sane during the summer? Don't forget - you can access all of the e-books and digital materials from your home campus libraries over the summer too! Peace.

May 8 2020

Two days to Mother's Day; ten days to my sister's birthday! We'll be quaran-celebrating low key this year! Speaking of Mother's Day and flowers - here's this morning's shot of the Super Flower Moon #whyilovescience. I also found the cutest (10 minute long) pictures of animals hugging humans! Okay - kind of cheesy but if you need a feel-good moment and the idea of roosters, kittens, lions, bears, alligators.....giving you a hug make you feel good - then watch this!

Happy Friday All - I'm heading for a haircut (since they're opening today!) and my hair is driving me nuts (making my eyes tickle and I'm not supposed to touch my face!). So - if you don't recognize me in the fall it's because it is still growing out! And I have a food-belly-baby from quarantine! :) Smile.

Happy Friday y'all

May 7 2020

So driving this morning on my way to a car shop (check on an oil leak) I was reminded: stop and smell the (coffee? flowers? happiness?) Full Super Flower Moon! An amazing cool shot that I had to circle around and pause to take a moment to capture it on my phone! Plus it's the last Super moon for 2020? Who knew?

It reminded me: take joy in the little things...in everything. Hope you find spots of joy in your day today!

May 6 2020

Happy School Nurse's Day Nurse Filley!!!

You are AwEsOmE!

Also - it's National Nurse's Day so thank ALL of the nurses you know. Speaking of being thankful - I am so glad I am surrounded by family and friends - at least virtually and a little bit in RL - but I'm wondering about those who don't have such a strong support network? How can I help/support you? And perhaps - if you're stuck somewhere doing nothing - you could support others! I just saw a tweet from the Teen Librarian Toolbox. A mother and daughter team are making cards and sending them to anyone who needs to get something in the mail. What a great idea!

Now I know with the Covid pandemic rules, doing some community support things are out - but what if you could make a card and go hold it up to the window of a senior nursing home? Or simply leave it on the step and let them wait 24 hours to open/share it with their clients? (you would have to call them first to make sure it was ok!) What a great thing to do for those who need more!

I was going to save up all of my drawings and give them out at school next year but I really think it's going to work better if I give them out now! I can stop every week at someplace new with a coloring sheet. I might have to start out at STARRY just cause they rroc in supporting some of our students!

May 5 2020

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Don't forget to celebrate (following all that stuff called rules....) and make sure you take joy in the little things!

Speaking of Joy - I went to find out if I could read my favorite little kid book aloud (copyright issues and all that) and I found a YouTube cartoon of it! Looks like it was released on the Discovery Channel at some point but here is the cartoon version of Harold & the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. What's great is the voice in the cartoon follows the book exactly - so if you have the book (or can get to it online) you can read AND watch at the same time! Love it.

Why was this my favorite (next to Ookpik the Arctic Owl) was because it was almost total imagination! While Harold drew a moon and a straight line, in my head I added a couple of stars and made a squiggly path through the woods....as the book went on, Harold continued to adventure ... and so did I! Love it. What are YOU reading?

May 4 2020

Happy Monday! Best part about Mondays? They END! Ha ha. No really - I always enjoy and hate Mondays (a fresh start, a new week vs. weekend's over, time to get to it!) I'm adding a video of the coloring sheets for the Open Your Wings & Fly - I used Lenny Kravitz's Fly Away because it just seemed right.

So I was thinking about May in general and this May in particular and I wondered: how are y'all handling things? Getting ready for summer? Do you have a summer job? are you looking for one? Should you be? How are you going to keep yourself safe and sane and supported over the next few months?

Please don't forget there are many places and resources to help and support you (the link above is a great place to start - now only do the people know how to talk to you when they answer your calls, they know TONS of resources that will help). Just remember: I care! Be good to yourself.

May 1 2020

Already May? Time to Open Your Wings & Fly!

Birds are crawling into the tiny birdhouse on our porch with twigs and soft roots so I'm figuring it's getting close to hatching time! Two years ago - a stray neighborhood cat "got the birdhouse" and one of the chicks. When we went to pick up the lid and rest of house we scooped everything back in, thinking that was it. But there was a baby bird in there buried under the pile of twigs that used to be a nest! We moved the little house to a safer (much higher) spot and the baby chick survived. Two birds have come back again and they look the same (okay - so how can you tell little finches apart anyway??!). They zoom right into the same birdhouse and are building their nest now.

My mom's been wanting/needing a haircut for a month now - so she hacked off some hair in the back of her head and left it on the table for soft stuff for the nest. She looks crazy but hair grows back and now the baby birds will be happy - so mom's happy - and that's basically what counts!

Hope you find joy in something you do/see/hear/feel/experience today! Keep an eye out - I know good things are happening! Like watching a baby eagle in the nest way up high!

Tons of really cool live wildlife webcams (thanks Mr Carson!)

April 30 2020

Wow - it's been kind of computer-crazy the last few days - lots of typing, organizing, data-collecting. In between - I'm data collecting with my car (driving it with a dye in the oil line so the guys at Foundation Auto can find out where the leak is!). ah - while I *do* love data (being an uber-geek and all) there are times..... LOL

Speaking of Data - here's a real nerd question: if you were a character on Star Trek - which one would you be? Believe it or not - I was asked this question during an interview in Seattle. About 20 students and one teacher were on the interview board (student votes weighed as much as teacher votes - pretty cool school). Of course, first I had to ask which Star Trek (the original? Next Generation? Deep Space Nine? etc.) and then I said my character would be Data (although I was torn with Spock in the original!). Hmmm, things you never thought you'd know about your librarian eh?

As we head to May 1st and the re-opening - no matter where you find yourself - treat yourself well. And don't forget your "totally you" time! Here's my latest update on coloring. Happy Let's Re-open Texas day tomorrow!

April 29 2020

Wow - can't believe April is almost done - May 1st Governor Abbott is opening up some Phase I businesses and areas! Please enjoy the new-found freedom but be CONSIDERATE - social distance, wear a mask, remember you might be meeting someone like me (who has an 89 year old mom at home) and when you stop at the store to get gas, or pick up dinner, you might spread a virus that would hurt others....so please! (I know - teens hate this) Follow the Rules and be safe.

Phew - mothering/being adult is over now - relax. I'm working on finishing up some coloring so I can color something a bit more crazy! I'm too sarcastic to be this upbeat all the time (LOL). I do really like this picture and phrase though.

Some way cool stuff from SLJ including digital magazines and other online reading items.

Happy Wednesday all and keep reading!

April 28 2020

On May 10th - we will celebrate mother's day! I spent last weekend getting ready with a card - or coloring page! (and no - I didn't draw it!) This gives you a couple of weeks to consider a mother's day card, gift, coupon (I have given my mother a coupon for a free day from cooking before! It was greatly appreciated - until the family had to eat my cooking! LOL).

I searched Google images for mother's day drawings - with the usage rights to "reuse with modifications" (so you're taking them legally!). If you're struggling with your "mom relationship" right now - you could always do a cute bunch of balloons instead of hearts! Hopefully y'all will figure out how to get back to the love-phase!

Don't forget our teachers, counselors, staff are all here to support you!

Email any of us with questions, concerns.

April 24-27 2020

Well - Last time I tried to run a blog I lasted three days before I gave up! I'm not giving up - I like talking to/with my students (don't forget to email me and say "hey"!) - but I did somehow manage to miss posting on Friday! Anyway - hope y'all had a happy weekend and are continuing to take care of yourselves/loved ones.

I read a post about one of my Fave Puzzle Builders gone-missing - I am glad you've been found and hope everything is okay. Speaking of puzzles - my sister and I finished a really hard one! Weird size and shapes for pieces. But it was fun - a little at a time - and we got it done over time. That's kind of my philosophy right now! Just kick it out - get 'er done - and take care while doing so!

Another coloring/calm session!

April 23 2020

Take care of yourself! And if that means taking care of your parent(s) at the same time, well - you're in luck! Today on the PTA facebook page, at 11 am and again at 8 pm, your parents can view "How can Parents Practice Self-Care when Stuck Inside?" by our very own awesome Dr. Amy Grosso!

And let's not forget to reach out to your teachers who will help and support you at any time! If you're not sure how to get ahold of someone at the Opportunity Center - please use this page for best contact info and links (there's also a button on the top right of this page that brings you to RROC Distance Learning).

I've started a new coloring page that reminds me of Lenny Kravitz's hit song Fly Away - just remember if you Open Your Wings and Fly in the real world, not just inner-self, please do it 6 feet apart!

April 22 2020

As you can probably tell with the picture below - I spent a little extra time coloring and finished it! Yeah! I am usually sick of a picture by the time I'm on my last day of coloring it - and very ready to start a new one! Does that happen with you and projects or papers or homework? Persevere! Keep going - it's worth finishing it - and then you know you can start something else that's exciting / that you're looking forward to doing.

Speaking of looking - I have two links today - one to Virtual Tours of Museums and one of Virtual Tours of National Parks. Enjoy! Way cool stuff at the Galileo Museum in Italy.

While you're on the National Parks article - check out Hawaii - I lived there from age 2 - 5 because my dad was stationed on Oahu. I remember rain & naptime every afternoon and worrying about Santa's reindeer getting wet! What causes you to worry? How do you handle it? Don't forget there are people who can and would love to help with that! (check out the helpline above)

April 21 2020

Well, y'all know how much I like going off on (ADD) tangents - here's the result of my latest: Galileo's Virtual Museum located in Italy (the non-virtual museum). So many very cool things! Make/play/create. Always! Not a bad motto. Speaking of making - my nightly coloring is going well! How's your daily "5-10 minutes all for yourself" gig going? Have you written a song? Doodled? Read? Relaxed? Hope so! Don't forget how much structure helps to give you a sense of peace and purpose - and don't forget to take time off from your structure!

CONTEST: Earth Day - Deadline is April 23. Go to Take Care of Texas website for info and contest rules.

I'm currently reading NEXUS by Ramez Naan and I thought I'd like it. The beginning was a bit slow for my taste but about a quarter of the way into it - it definitely picked up the pace! I'm loving it now and stayed up way too late reading it - hope to finish it in the next day or two and will post (to the right) my latest review of it in GoodReads. What are you reading?

April 20 2020

Yippee! Week three - and another chance to ensure you are meeting your educational goals and personal goals - while staying safe sane and silly! How might you make sure all of this is going on? Be Engaged - Yup - you've heard it enough IN the library - now listen in the VIRTUAL library!

Here's something that might engage you too! There are so many things going on digitally I can't keep up - and I don't want to overwhelm you - so e-mail me if you need more to do! But locally - a lot of folks are sharing stuff you can check out: Local activities

I've also started coloring another sheet - and am still working on a puzzle with my sister - it's a hard one! But we take it one piece at a time. I also want to remind you to checkout your school library and all of the cool stuff they have now in the digital world! Mackin Via has TONS of new titles - and some of the books will read aloud as you read with them - what's better than that? Happy Monday!

April 17 2020

Welcome to Friday! It's important to keep track of your days and reward yourself for completing a second week of school! Go paint, play, read, dance, write music, whatever is awesome for you. In other words - celebrate success. Overcome obstacles. All that stuff.

Okay - enough adultishness. After I got done with work - or during lunch: I colored, read e-mail with my sister's dog on my lap and more importantly - helped sister with the new puzzle she started last night! Looking forward to a week-end of family and reading! Always love reading. Of course, I pick the right stuff! Zip me an email if you need a book recommendation! And remember:

have a GREAT Weekend - be good to yourself.

April 16 2020

Happy it's-almost-Friday of your 2nd digital learning week! I'm attaching a couple of pictures to remind you of some "take care of yourself" things during the shutdown!

1st - Ms Ash getting ready to go into the store! Like the mask? I actually really wanted to order a bunch of V for Vendetta masks - not only because he was my hero and the graphic novel AND movie were great - but because it's keeps nose and mouth fully covered. Who doesn't love Guy Fawkes?! A bit of parliamentary history for y'all.

2nd - Reminding you to do something you enjoy for at least 5-10 minutes a day. Whatever it is. Here's my "feel good" moments - coloring! Go figure eh?

Take care of yourself - take care of each other!