How lucky for Kevin and his family to be jetting off to Japan and how lucky for me to host this week’s DayinS and Anne is rising to the challenge next week.(More details to come)

This week, maybe selfishly, I’m going to suggest that you send me a photo to upload along with your distilled text for the week.

It was about a year ago that D’Arcy Norman suggested that, we might challenge ourselves to shoot a photo a day for the year 2008 and share as many of them as possible.

“What’s today’s picture?”

He calls it “mindful seeing,” and explains in a post he wrote last January:

Mindful seeing is the process of turning off the filters, of seeing your surroundings unfettered and unobstructed.

When viewing the world without filtering, even the most boring and banal subjects can become wondrous and interesting. We are constantly surrounded by interesting things that we normally don’t see – textures, lighting, patterns, shapes, objects, groupings, even messages.

Photographers are often described as distancing themselves from their surroundings by “hiding behind a camera” or “viewing the world only through a viewfinder.” I see photography from the exact opposite side of the coin. By mindfully seeing the world around me, I feel as though I am seeing much more than I would otherwise. I see patterns, convergence, divergence, shadows, lighting, juxtaposition, and composition that are likely missed by others. That’s not to say that I am “better” than any other – just that by being mindful of what I am seeing, I am aware of what is around me. And when I am aware, I am better able to take an interesting photograph.

If you’re interested, the group’s still there, and  now there’s  the 2009 challenge.

Of course there’s Photo Fridays at Flickr where we’ve been sharing together since June and going strong.

I joined this challenge as of January 1, 2009 on my  photo blog, every day and  so far so good. What will I discover about myself?

I want to keep returning to D’racy’s quote to rethink my passion for capturing images.

So if this challenge whets your appetite,  get out our camera and capture something in your world with some of your wondrous words along side or just words is always welcome of course.

Cant’ wait to see what Kevin has to share with us, You can send me your photo in an email:

blkdrama@me.com and leave your sentence as a comment below.

Bonnie

Hi everyone,

Sorry I’m late, but I stalled today giving our DinS community extra time to share a bit of life and now, without further ado, here we go…

I was at a loss until yesterday morning myself, and I’m glad I was patient:

I wonder, if this guy will be extra busy on December 25th?  As I walked outside,early  yesterday morning, I was running late but  he and three relatives greeted me and challenged me to take the time to grab my camera from its warm space and here’s my reward!

It was great to see Gail in San Antonio for the NWP conference and then to vist her blog today and remember to listen to a great TTT podcast on digital media. It’s always a pleasure to visit her blog.

Despite all the gloom and doom around the economy, it truly is the non-material things that make the holidays a magical season.

Congrats to  host Kevin, for his Edublogs 2008 nomination for a blog we have come to love! Right?

Stuck in a time warp between one holiday and another, I have suddenly realized that there is just not enough time to get a major project (puppet theater) up and running and completed — 2009, here we come.

It was great seeing Cynthia In SA.  We got to write and photograph together!

Because Adair and Tommy LaRue are coming home for Christmas on Tuesday–yes, this Tuesday–Larry and I have spent the entire day cleaning and baby proofing the house–again.

Lisa is right to the point- a place we would all like to be now!

All right…Done!

Ken our resident poet, never lets us down and here’s the proof:

modest thought bringing
humble faith to those singing
of Christmas giving

Paul is sharing a Christmas memory as we get closer to the big day:

I was nine when I thought to myself, “Why does Santa’s handwriting look just like my mom’s?”

Matthew, (a double nominee for a ‘08 Edublog Award)  given all he is dealing with still makes time to share his bit  of fun and giving.

I’m in the process of moving, I may be changing jobs, but the most stressful of all is having to purchase a Secret Santa gift.

And last but never, least, Lynne who we  missed this year at the NWP in San Antonio.  I kept looking over my shoulder, hoping to see your smile. Next year? In Philly? My fingers are crossed.

Selecting poetry for an annual exchange with WP friends of over 25 years reminds me how important the Writing Project is not only in my professional but also in my personal life (and growth). Missed seeing NWP techies this year, but you are still a big part of my holiday fun.

So here you have it.  Thanks for joining me here with your memory gems. Next week we are off to share at Nancy C’s blog More details to follow….

Wait….Here’s Nancy for herself:

My blog’s identity crisis has been resolved, I think and I’m feeling good about being back in regular blogging mode!

Happy Holiday preparations,

Bonnie

The election is over and I am even more focused, like many other Americans on the news, anywhere I can get some.  I spend more time now listening to NPR instead of my Ipod or WFUV offerings of new music I love in my car.

It isn’t just because I am enjoying the coming of a fresh democratic President.   It’s also because I wonder, with horror, what will happen tomorrow, next week, next month to our economic health.  I wonder just how bad it will get before I have to really change my life style.  I keep watching TV commercials for the coming holiday season.   Seems like life as usual.  Is it?

I am wondering about how this will impact on our writing project work in professional development inservice projects.  I am sure I’m not the only one wondering and asking these same questions.

I wasn’t going to write about this.  I have a movie review I’m working on, a reflection on my experience at the National Writing Project annual meeting last week, but I can’t.  I am here, wondering as  CNN runs in the background.

I am not shopping much this season, but that’s nothing new.  As a Jew who celebrates Chanukah with just my small, immediate family, we have moved away from gifts in favor of donations  for everyone now that the “kids” are all in college and beyond.  My visits to the mall are only for eating out and my one-on-one Apple lessons.  So life continues for me as usual.  I have my candles for the Menorah and I’m hosting this year’s family holiday latke party.

But I keep focused on our future.  I hope that Barack will make a difference but there’s so much to deal with.  It was good to see him out visting the governors’ meeting with a bipartisan message of concern and support.

I am looking to 2009 with concern and hope, still.

How about you?

Bonnie

I was psyched for this new November challenge and I began at midnight on November 1, 2008. I had an old story that I wanted to delve into and I loved the first week, wondering what all the worry was about. I was clicking out 1600 words most days and I loved the motivation of word count and I stayed anchored in a moment and dug deeper than I might have under other circumstances.

I had two characters: Jessie Rosen a teacher, modeled on my life and her first manicurist, Molly Evans a senior in high school and a lover of tattoos. I alternated between chapters for each character and I was having fun. But at some point in the second week, I started slowing down. My ideas weren’t drying up but my energy needed to be channeled into other, more timely projects. The National Writing Project Conference in San Antonio was coming (I leave tomorrow) and I had presentations to work on. Life got in the way.

I tried to stay with it. I felt guilty about letting it go. But finally, I had to leave it. But just think, I have 20,000 words I didn’t have before. I could pick it up still and truck to the second half but it’s okay now, either way. I don’t feel the guilts anymore.

So off I go to San Antonio and I’m looking forward to exploring a new city, reconnecting with NWP buddies and presenting.  In fact, I will be watching the TWO WRITING TEACHERS, Stacey and Ruth present on Saturday morning at the NCTE!

Sometimes the challenges are just too challenging, don’t you think?

Bonnie

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/grantorino/

Update;

Yesterday I watched this trailer here, in the privacy of my home, on this small computer screen, but tonight as we waited patiently for the start of our movie in a theater with 300 other watchers, this trailer began and I sat up in my seat and puffed up like a proud hen.  Imagine, my drama boy on a movie screen rubbing elbows as Clint’s priest.

I was breathless and I can’t wait to see it again and again and again…

Bonnie

Hag Semeah Culam! Holidays continue in Israel. Eight days of Sukkoth begin- a harvest holiday, commemorating the Jewish journey in desert when the Jews fled from Egypt and here I am enjoying the fruits.

I’m back in summer: shorts, sandals, T-shirts.  I am enjoying Hebrew, more than ever before, not speaking in full conversations but more comfortable opening my mouth with other than familiar English.

I am wondering what I’m missing back home.  Good to have my internet connection back.  I can’t live without it. Can you?

So I’m back with my latest camera, out on the beach, clicking away, wondering if there’s anything new to share.  Here goes:

It’s a gorgeous fall just outside my window, my latest DS piece is done and ready to present on Thursday after a marathon with it yesterday, Rosh Hashanah began last night with a lovely dinner, we have a day ahead with friends and family and the stock market tanked yesterday.

I was just getting on my nordic track, on a break from my computer work and I turned on CNN for company, and there it was, at 3:30, we were down 640 points and building.

What happened?

Tuvia didn’t sleep much last night.  I did, but now it’s the day after, and what will happen now?

Is it life as usual?  Are people going to keep shopping? What will happen if they don’t?

People keep losing their homes, students need college loans, businesses need credit, banks are collapsing…

I’m listening to everything and wondering, what will happen next?  Can we continue as if nothing happened?

Bonnie

Shared with Flock – The Social Web Browser
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It ’s the last Slice for the Summer and it comes in the midst of the Democratic Convention

It was exciting last night. I had my online Hebrew class at 8, and without the sound on , I could see that nothing was happening yet. As we finished, the buzz centered around Ted Kennedy and his video created by Ken Burns. I watched and like the convention crowd. was thrilled to see Kennedy appear in the flesh as the lights came up. The Liberal Lion of the Senate! What a place he has carved for himself in our history. He grew into his shoes as he lost one giant brother after the next. I was mesmerized and then Michelle Obama, followed him with her own powerful story.

I’m back on the couch for the second night and I am watching, not for myself. Obama has my vote, but I am watching as a member of this community. I am thrilled by the theater and I hope it’s working for others.

I take my role as a voter seriously. I remember when my mom shared her vote with me. I got to pull the lever for her and she assured me that one day I would have my own vote. I have never missed a vote even though my candidates didn’t always win. But I’m back again, getting excited about the next time I can wake up early on a Tuesday morning in November and walk down to our polling place and pull my lever.

How lucky we are to live in America!

Bonnie

I’m just beginning the Sunday task of reading through my Boil Down Your Day in a Sentence. It’s always daunting at first to create a platform to share the gold that’s been growing in my blog comments. As the Olympics come to a close, I am taking the plunge while there’s still water in the pool.

Some of our boilers have just begun a new school year so let’s start there:

We have Lynn (our hostess for next week), who is not new to teaching but middle school is her challenge this year.

A gaggle of seventh graders made me laugh all week.

Sounds like she is captured! I’m not surprised.

Illya is also returning to her teaching life and in need of acclimating to her school rhythm from leisure. I’m sure Illya, you are up to the challenge.

The hubbub of school life begins again as I try to find my rhythm between the comings and goings.

Sara touches on school life outside her classroom and that’s always tricky.

I vacillate between the euphoria of an all-new school administration who *gets it* about education, and isolation from my grade-level team, who don’t *get me*.

Rick shares a dilemma I remember well as a high school drama director.

The hardest part about coaching elementary school soccer is telling nineteen kids that they did not make the team.

And then we have the group who are using their last few days to enjoy and prepare for their classroom return.

Grace has had a busy summer in the world of technology, working with teachers at the New York City Writing Project in July and then as a learner herself. She is a passionate learner. BRAVO, Grace.

I absorbed a lot of helpful strategies related to scaffolding at the QTEL Institute which can be summed up in the words of Aida Walqui, “Amplify don’t simplify.”

If you haven’t clicked over to Stacey’s blog, now might be a perfect opportunity. She has created a mixed media piece using Smilebox.

Stacey shares a Shabbat dinner with us.

And even though dogtrax is still on blog vacation, he is resurfacing. Welcome back Kevin, we’ve missed you!

The proofreading process for a book about technology in the classroom (of which I am co-editor) is becoming agonizingly nitty-gritty with details but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m not sure where Elona is, but it sounds like her life is rich as she learns from her granddaughter Lauryn about early matters of the heart.

My week has been a delightful one because my granddaughter Lauryn, who just turned nine yesterday, has been teaching me about the world from her nine year old perspective. Did you know that the world would be a better place if all the boys lived in one half and all the girls lived in the other half. Boys are so annoying when you’ve just turned nine, don’t you know!

And even though Anne is not on summer break, it sounds like she’s had an amazing educational experience beyond the four walls of a classroom. Check our her blog for more details.

Spending time as a host to an Indonesian Islamic teacher was a rewarding one, and witnessing the look of sheer excitement on his face after riding around our wet paddocks on our four wheel motor bike, watching my husband shear a sheep and working with the young students at school made the effort all worthwhile.

And Ken seems to be focused on the reality of chocolate. What do you make of his weekly share?

DEANZ’s chocolate reality, digital fantasy, ideas of note to enact – but native or immigrant, heed the statistics, it’s death to the digital fact.

Kate seems to be taking a leap of faith, moving out of the classroom and back to her passion for theater. I can’t wait to hear more about her new challenges.

A new week, a return to the old days and a revival of an almost-lost love.

Oops, I need something.

I spent a fantastic two days working with my Hudson Valley Writing Project and remembering why I remain an HVWP born-again.

Here’s where we began our Visioning Retreat, working on a site mission/vision statement.

Thanks for making my hosting role so much fun. See you again and next week we are off to Lynn’s site. Check your email for further news and reminders.

Bonnie

Late Breaking News:

Tracey is holding on tightly to her last week of vacation and used her early Monday morning time to compose a sentence for us and here it is:

A few more days until school calls, in the sun, listening to music, words and phrases jumping out at me when they can, behind the keening of the cicada on the tree, confirming why I do what I do and how I feel at this time of year: excited, anxious, rising.

Hang on,.Jo has one more to add.  Her 39th birthday celebrated at her school’s open house.  Good thing for my I was an August baby and summer vacation lasts for us, until Labor Day in September.  I don’t know if I could give up my day.

I spent my 39th birthday meeting about 60 of my 107 new 9th- and 10th-graders, most of whom came with their parents to Open House.

TELL NO ONE! is a French thriller that holds you captive for 2 hours and 5 minutes and you savor every moment.

Even though the new Batman installment, The Dark Knight, is filling theaters with no end in sight, I’m telling everyone I know to be on the look out for TELL NO ONE.

I did drag Tuvia to Batman’s opening on Friday. Great reviews, but it was hard to watch. It was dark, the violence was suffering and the chase scenes were loud and long.

There was great acting from the late Heath Ledger, from the Dark Knight, Christian Bale, who brought depth to his character once again. Pretty boy Aaron Eckhart was terrific as the human hero. Fold in the minor character dynamic duo of Michael Kane and Morgan Freeman and love squeeze, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Credit must be paid to the director/screenwriter: Christopher Nolan, but I didn’t enjoy the experience.

I was pretty sure about Tell No One, just from the trailer. It’s in French for starters, the language that sounds like love The hero(Francois Cluzet )is someone who could pass for a young Dustin Hoffman.

Kudos to director-screenwriter Guillaume Canet, who adapted Harlan Coben’s English-language best seller with Philippe Lefebvre.

Let me share its set up:

A young doctor is visiting his childhood summer place with his lovely, loving wife. They visit the lake they remember as children. They undress, swim and nap, wrapped together on a platform. It’s turning dark. She returns to shore. He lingers. She screams. He is knocked unconscious and falls into the lake. Eight years later a widower and lost without his wife, he receives an email from her: I am alive but Tell No One, they are watching.

Now I ask you, can you stay away? I couldn’t. In fact, I can’t wait to see it again. Tuvia is grateful that there was life after The Dark Knight.