tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78134399226539799162024-03-12T19:25:48.438-07:00The Accidental BloggerThis was all a mistake because I thought I had to have a blog in order to reply to Gloria's blog.jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.comBlogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-85062074268133421802013-01-16T08:20:00.000-08:002013-01-16T08:20:08.597-08:00The Persistence of Snow<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Christmas snow falls heavily</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Big flakes</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The dog running wildly across the lower field</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The snow covering old snow</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Covering trees in lace, again</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The silence of snow pervasive</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The scent of snow intoxicating </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We walk, the dog following, chasing, running ahead</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Alive in the moment of utter delight</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We hear our breathing</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Low words murmured in the church the snow creates</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Simple joy in watching the flakes spiral down </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Driving away the snow crunches under the tires</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Weeks pass</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The snow persists outside my classroom door</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Reminding me of the ephemeral the momentary existance</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Temperatures rise</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The snow persists, but diminishes in the afternoon sun</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Children running on the bare playground</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">California persistent in their psyche </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">They come to school wearing shorts and light jackets </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In nineteen degree temperatures</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The snow persists</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A daily reminder that it is January</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No matter the sunny afternoon</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Saying to the trees that white will be worn again</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn1-2zlflVb7QpLXO45lKA6xwApfyinqmveSZJdBMcxTIAQeczhiIpukp_pR6SuJwu1J5Wtuh9bt0WlLpz2bwJzHXK9jqAHeQ1tuo7jrShMpUGOUd7XHilUqCdcifFCNMQT1antTDuTiH/s1600/Snow+at+Whitmore+Winter+Solstice+0+01+28-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMn1-2zlflVb7QpLXO45lKA6xwApfyinqmveSZJdBMcxTIAQeczhiIpukp_pR6SuJwu1J5Wtuh9bt0WlLpz2bwJzHXK9jqAHeQ1tuo7jrShMpUGOUd7XHilUqCdcifFCNMQT1antTDuTiH/s640/Snow+at+Whitmore+Winter+Solstice+0+01+28-30.jpg" width="640" /></a>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-27876447384258186392012-03-18T10:08:00.001-07:002012-03-18T10:08:17.250-07:00Noodles on St. Patrick's Day<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VlXd7DdWluY?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-84933533110070105012012-03-18T09:54:00.001-07:002012-03-18T09:54:08.137-07:00Noodles in the Sac!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MrFHUO74Rgo?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-54734891405009334782011-09-17T15:19:00.000-07:002011-09-17T15:21:56.463-07:00The Tree of Life<div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The air is cooler now in the waning days of summer</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I pull the chambray shirt around me as sun changes to shade along the trail</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The leaves of the trees are still green</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The birds calling out in the bright morning sun</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>But the underbrush, once lush, is now faded</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Dusty, waiting, leaves already falling</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The scent of transition</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The trail follows a riverbed of scattered rocks</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Then back into the trees</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Crossing a slough I step into the water</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Cold and cloudy, no longer clear and flowing</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> It is waiting, too</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Dew covered grass keeps my legs wet as I climb the opposite bank</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A hawk takes wing, suddenly</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The dog giving useless joyful chase</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Now the river is close</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The raucous sound of geese gets louder</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The trail breaks into the open</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The river sparkling, flowing, rumbling over rocks</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Geese cover an exposed area of rocks in the center of the river</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i> Incessant in their conversation, one lone great white egret sits in their midst, silent hunched</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The dog swims and I wade, the sun warmer now</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I soak my chambray shirt in the cold water and put it on, dripping</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>It is my insurance against the heat as we start back</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Again playing cat and mouse with the sun and shade</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Entering the last, the longest, bit of woods along the trail</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>We pause at a volunteer tree, a fruit tree of happenstance, revered on other continents</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Non-native, out of place, it's broad deep green scalloped leaves flowing out of deeper shade</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Seeking sun, the branches of the fig tree reach out heavy with fruit turning purple</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I reach up and eat its sweet offering </i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>In the treetops over my left shoulder the last moon of summer gives her assent as I plunder</i></span></div><div style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The tree of life</i></span></div>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-70747473266391980992011-09-11T09:15:00.000-07:002011-09-17T14:31:29.332-07:00I Closed My Eyes<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I dreamt of an America in 2021</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>She was beautiful and her arms overflowed with the bounty of the land</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Snowcapped mountains in Alaska to beaches in the Florida Keys</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Lobstermen bringing in the catch in Maine to condors soaring over the Grand Canyon</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Her heart was full to overflowing with the prosperity of her people</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>In cities and towns and farms those people went about the business of the day</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>They asked about the uncle's illness, how was the fishing trip, and how is your daughter liking kindergarten</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The air was fresh on a September morning and the rivers clear</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>People went to work and built things that others needed</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The pay collected flowed back and helped the downtrodden and the ill</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Bringing a smile to the lips of our beautiful goddess that guards the Golden Door, her light still beckoning</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>People worshipped or not but understood the right and revered its preservation lest we all be denied</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Not everyone agreed, but all respected the will of the people as the ultimate form of governance</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Those elected, as well, looked ever to their constituents for guidance and showed the door to those who would have them stray into doing harm to this nation</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Grandparents ran up to the boarding gates of airports to swing grandchildren in the air when they came to visit, walking unhindered through the concourses </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The privacy of the conversation on a cell phone between a wife and a soldier serving in a faraway land was sacrosanct as was the video of the new niece sent to the aunt </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>As a nation, there were still tough decisions to make but there was no venom as we were all Americans and all loved this country equally and without reserve</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>And no one wanted, ever, to go back to the dark days of 2011</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I dreamt of an America in 2021</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>In dedication to Woody Guthrie, as this is still our land.</i></span></div>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-3946254249028149982010-10-23T09:41:00.000-07:002010-10-23T09:41:19.390-07:00Wordle Test<a href="http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2618901/Swimming_in_the_Summer_of_Blackberries"
title="Wordle: Swimming in the Summer of Blackberries"><img
src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/2618901/Swimming_in_the_Summer_of_Blackberries"
alt="Wordle: Swimming in the Summer of Blackberries"
style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd"></a>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-8320956095723057452010-10-16T16:12:00.000-07:002010-10-16T16:12:20.092-07:00The saga of the invisible eagles continues... ;)<object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/HR7P7vwn9Hk/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HR7P7vwn9Hk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HR7P7vwn9Hk?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-10718592372526364102010-10-10T17:36:00.000-07:002010-10-10T17:36:17.282-07:00Sacramento River, Morning 10-10-10<object style="background-image:url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/FePAmydxeV8/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FePAmydxeV8?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FePAmydxeV8?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-35351760801790769192010-10-03T12:17:00.000-07:002010-10-03T12:17:55.091-07:00Morning Walk 10-3-10<object style="background-image:url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/rgGrPbB6XZA/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rgGrPbB6XZA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rgGrPbB6XZA?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-86492306087417598272010-08-29T14:17:00.000-07:002010-08-29T14:17:41.220-07:00Kim and Noodles Discuss Immigration Policy, Sacramento River<object style="background-image:url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/5_o6w2vjl2s/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5_o6w2vjl2s?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5_o6w2vjl2s?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-81027935831317170292010-08-28T12:20:00.000-07:002010-08-28T12:20:53.317-07:00August Rain Anderson River Park 8-28-10<object style="background-image:url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/AX1mVxwLaBk/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AX1mVxwLaBk?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AX1mVxwLaBk?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-35202655609428440712010-08-22T16:01:00.000-07:002010-08-22T16:08:27.123-07:00Swimming in the Summer of Blackberries<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></b></i></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>This summer is the summer of blackberries</i></span><br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>We swim in the barely cool water</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Across the little bay</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>And pick blackberries along the shore each Sunday</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>This year big and juicy </i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>They droop down toward the water</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Beckoning outstretched fingers </i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Eating our fill noting the oncoming ripening berries</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Already thinking of eating them next Sunday</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Laughing and washing our hands in the clear water </i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>We slowly float back across the bay on our backs</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Watching circling ospreys </i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>The sky and lake melting together</i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i> </i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Feeling each ripple of delicious water</i></span></div><div style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>In the heat and sun of lazy August</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Already dreaming of the nap to come</span></span></i></span></span>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-47476369413505615362010-08-09T14:23:00.001-07:002010-08-09T14:23:47.190-07:00Last Vacation Trip to Whiskeytown<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jCAYndHCoVo&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jCAYndHCoVo&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-78372319921954977712010-08-06T15:38:00.000-07:002010-08-06T15:38:37.997-07:00My last early morning walk of the summer<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2tkkiiS5CUI&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2tkkiiS5CUI&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-3528856155609037352010-08-04T11:05:00.001-07:002010-08-04T11:05:58.420-07:00Morning Walk with Noodles 8-4-10<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gRsHpmSHzF4&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gRsHpmSHzF4&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-16749271057990357172010-08-02T16:58:00.001-07:002010-08-02T16:58:54.342-07:00Blackberries and Swimming at Whiskeytown<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X1QttuMBpz8&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X1QttuMBpz8&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-89858020825713177002010-07-31T13:35:00.000-07:002010-07-31T15:26:24.677-07:00A Response From A Teacher to President Barack Obama's Speech on Educational Reform<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCHMyFU6aEU">Race to the Top</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't think that I am the only teacher in this country that feels that we are witnessing the crumbling of our schools, in real time, as each day goes by. Here in California each day passes and the state fiddles around in Sacramento with no hope of a budget in sight. This means our districts can't plan rationally for the new school year that is only a few weeks away for most of us. In this county over one hundred teachers have been let go over the last two years, with children in most districts facing larger and larger class sizes. Hard fought reforms in class size reduction in kindergarten through third grade classrooms are being tossed by the wayside as districts across the state now struggle to provide minimum services to students. All over the state teachers are being asked to give back, on health care, step increases, funding for classroom supplies, and on and on. Yet, we are still under the thumb of No Child Left Behind, all of us feeling the pressure to improve or maintain our API numbers and AYP status, as help from Washington stagnates in the summer heat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I listened with interest, but diminishing hope, to President Obama's speech about education this last week. I watched it three times, and read and annotated the text. My reaction was not positive. Time is wasting, we need help now, and there is no relief in sight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the very beginning of the speech, and not in particular relation to the topic of Race to the Top (RTT), President Obama briefly mentions the foreclosure crisis that is ongoing. This is where I'll begin, because most districts across the United States still get a substantial amount of funding from property taxes. All over the US home values are declining, and the foreclosure of a home in your neighborhood can undercut the value of all the other homes. This can result in the assessed valuation of the homes to decline, which results in less tax revenue, and that results in less funding for schools. Regardless of what President Obama labels as important, there is one thing that is irrevocably true. No district in the United States can meet any reasonable educational standards without adequate funding. I don't think there is a single school district in this state, today, that could accurately describe its financial circumstances as adequate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, in the hard light of reality, RTT is useless. The disastrous situation at hand has outstripped any relevance that RTT might have had. Why is this? It is because RTT only has about five billion dollars to distribute. This is now not even a drop in the bucket. Currently, in California alone, the biggest school districts in the state (Los Angeles, San Diego, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, etc.) are looking at combined deficits of over one billion dollars, one fifth of the RTT funds. Yet, in this round of RTT funding, the entire state is only eligible for about $700 million in grants. In order to even be eligible ("compete" as President Obama says, triggering uncomfortable feelings about beating some other deserving school districts in this very much unwanted race) the State of California's K-12 system has spent some unknown millions of dollars jumping through RTT hoops, perhaps for naught. Now it has been announced that the State of California has attained eligibility. What does that mean? Maybe nothing, as eligibility does not guarantee that the state will actually see any of the money. Even if we do get some of it, it will not go far given the huge hole we are in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, throughout the speech the President lauded this paltry five billion dollar RTT program as "the single most important thing" being done for education, apparently in the history of the United States. Late in the speech he acknowledges the overall financial plight of schools and teacher layoffs ( "like saving teachers’ jobs across this country from layoffs") and pledges to help. In the haze of early summer, it may have escaped many that the Congress was considering an emergency aid package of over $20 billion to avoid teacher layoffs, but the Republicans easily defeated this, by asking why more money should be appropriated, when most of the rather small amount of five billion dollars for RTT was still languishing in the government coffers two years after it was appropriated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">President Obama also characterizes the response to RTT as enthusiastic ( "For the most part, states, educators, reformers, they’ve responded with great enthusiasm"). Why does this ring false? Could it be because of the states that have completely dropped out of RTT in frustration? Perhaps because, at this point, with so much at stake, we are starting to feel, as teachers, like we're being taken for another ride (NCLB, Whole Language, etc.)? Personally, my own vision of this process of getting RTT funds looks more like a sad line of state education superintendents, all tattered Oliver Twists, approaching the stern headmaster, Arne Duncan, raising their empty bowls, and asking, "Please, sir, can I have some more?" Desperation can certainly result in feigned enthusiasm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Much of President Obama's speech is filled with truisms and platitudes with which no educator would ever disagree. We all want what is best for the children of America. We all dream of a day when education will be fully funded, and the needs of all students can be met in our classrooms, and when teachers are respected as professionals. Of course it is absurd to repeat the mistakes of the past and expect different results. But, his statement "Our children get only one chance at an education, so we need to get it right" struck a real chord with me. Most teachers, in a few weeks, will be looking at a group of new students walking into classrooms all across the United States, and RTT funding will not be present in the vast majority of those classrooms, leaving the teacher, once again, to scrape up whatever he or she can to make the year a success for those students, and "get it right." And, if sufficient real funding is not found quickly, the possible educational outcomes for all those children can only get worse and getting it right will become an unobtainable dream.</span>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-83378317871964494572010-07-30T15:00:00.000-07:002010-07-30T15:00:10.586-07:00Anderson River Park, Dawn, 7-29-19<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w3OrI8Axq2k&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w3OrI8Axq2k&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-58715070791282881982010-07-28T07:48:00.000-07:002010-08-02T17:03:21.644-07:00Blackberries<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuRudgwmwdd6IYLFzowoS3yx6IzId6eMssaloEOc6kXekE5-Ti26CJihyWbDDMuqZihxCXBW31W9eqFCrdN1vf1B2m4m2ae26AxlUggorLVhQwDXKgeylZc6LIRryxOGwpXkT-Nf6rKjs/s1600/blackberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuRudgwmwdd6IYLFzowoS3yx6IzId6eMssaloEOc6kXekE5-Ti26CJihyWbDDMuqZihxCXBW31W9eqFCrdN1vf1B2m4m2ae26AxlUggorLVhQwDXKgeylZc6LIRryxOGwpXkT-Nf6rKjs/s400/blackberries.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Himalaya Blackberry is an invasive plant</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Expansive, it creeps forward over everything</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Dawn creeps too</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> Quickly fingers reach forward</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Prize within reach</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Soft dark fruit juices running down fingers into a stained palm</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Everything summer contained in that tiny berry</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Legs scratched bleeding but still reaching forward</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The sweet flavor of summer irresistible</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Deep memories, laughter, warm sun</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Children, brothers, sisters, friends</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Picking wild berries long ago</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Reminding don't eat too many fill the bucket</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Anticipation of tomorrow's berries and ice cream</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lost in the moment</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>We didn't hear the sounds of the absentee neighbor</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Until he shushed us away from "his" berries</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Then divine intervention as he drove away</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Berries beckoning once again</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>These blackberries beckon still</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>As always the blackest ripest juiciest just out of reach</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Stretching, arms raked by thorns</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Searching for the branch that droops heavy</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The sun rises and the bucket is filled</i></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pausing to look at the prize</i></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The refrigerator door closes</i></span>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-41139182023646464592010-07-22T10:28:00.000-07:002010-07-22T10:28:41.915-07:00Holy Crawdads, Batman!<object style="background-image: url("http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/SjIBKp2fywA/hqdefault.jpg");" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SjIBKp2fywA&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SjIBKp2fywA&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-12773433433544670402010-07-20T12:31:00.000-07:002010-07-20T12:31:39.246-07:00Dawn 7-20-10<object style="background-image: url("http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/DQVvpl78wxM/hqdefault.jpg");" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQVvpl78wxM&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/DQVvpl78wxM&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-48710118501398975142010-07-19T16:09:00.000-07:002010-07-19T16:09:48.090-07:00Mt. Lassen 7-19-10<object style="background-image: url("http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/Hjbm3keGOtg/hqdefault.jpg");" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hjbm3keGOtg&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hjbm3keGOtg&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-83500921869657630882010-07-19T08:31:00.000-07:002010-07-19T08:31:00.153-07:00Awakening 7-8-10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KT0OdgV85FzwM_rlhbTJt3xKbRc0zit-kx0GbNFBnbC30OIwJqWMj-znYkWKm7NMSxQCKU9EDbXP-5cVUx6BveSt01Hc_3CuZt5fTg1yFaZHuddU0WGzbjgehWzLJnWbaHnqQ4A2vYut/s1600/ferncanyon_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KT0OdgV85FzwM_rlhbTJt3xKbRc0zit-kx0GbNFBnbC30OIwJqWMj-znYkWKm7NMSxQCKU9EDbXP-5cVUx6BveSt01Hc_3CuZt5fTg1yFaZHuddU0WGzbjgehWzLJnWbaHnqQ4A2vYut/s320/ferncanyon_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Brook and birdsong</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ripples on the Klamath</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Cool fog and quiet</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> early morning light </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMrVRttTbLQTFXin9gXtjRT71o80EcBoqfl_vL6xzL0vJA8Leo_N7heXxhVHEPPiStrb0W875W74WOT23TkQ2nLthDyM1S995ya8GEkwAoQYmfTjnQpCGerb_wq4NGO8ghGMXlKcXizaT/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMrVRttTbLQTFXin9gXtjRT71o80EcBoqfl_vL6xzL0vJA8Leo_N7heXxhVHEPPiStrb0W875W74WOT23TkQ2nLthDyM1S995ya8GEkwAoQYmfTjnQpCGerb_wq4NGO8ghGMXlKcXizaT/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span></span></div>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-44661990781214602142010-07-12T20:49:00.000-07:002010-07-12T20:49:57.850-07:00Sacramento Sculptures 7-12-10<object style="background-image: url("http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/AvMugLxSD30/hqdefault.jpg");" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AvMugLxSD30&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AvMugLxSD30&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7813439922653979916.post-81203194562100694002010-07-11T14:33:00.000-07:002010-07-11T14:33:55.009-07:00Swimming with Noodles<object style="background-image: url("http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Vq5aQfnnhhA/hqdefault.jpg");" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vq5aQfnnhhA&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vq5aQfnnhhA&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>jessie27mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01598287851942064764noreply@blogger.com0