Change

Let's see if I can make this one stick.

I read a lot, both online and off. Today I had several thoughts.

The fire at Slave Lake has caused a great deal of destruction and my heart hurts for those who have lost their homes and/or businesses. It could have been so much worse. This devastating event needs to be looked at as an opportunity for change if the people of Slave Lake are to recover.

One of the things the community lost was it's beautiful, new library. Punch Jackson wrote an excellent tweet "During #SlaveLake rebuild a "temporary" library may be required for community info, access to computers(and), leisure reading". At first I was "leisure reading"? But it makes sense. So many people have lost their homes, they have nothing. Others will need a place to escape the stress. A temporary library could help rebuild the community's spirit.

On Twitter I have also been following the #falmac11 symposium and #inplay11 conference tweets. While one was for library staff and the other for teachers as I read my twitter feed some of the posts could have come from either event. I hope there were educators at #falmac11 and library staff at #inplay11. The ideas shared have value to both fields. The feeling that things need to change, in both areas, has risen to a feverpitch. Yet it's like we have reached the edge of a cliff that we know we have to go over, but haven't quite gathered up enough courage to jump. If we don't make a move soon, it won't matter. The push from behind will drive us over.

I want to cry...

I just spent 1hr working on a blog post and lost it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I guess I'll start again.

Lots to think about

In the last week I've had a video conference on new books for children, teens and adults, our provincial library conference, an online library unconference and the Federal Election.
My brain is swirling.
Time for some reflection and thoughts on what all of this really means to me.

Not a bad day :-)

My parents called first thing this morning,
Hubby was at work.
The pets were clamoring to be fed,
And the dog outside.
Youngest son awoke,
and gave me an unexpected hug,
Then the dog and I had a nice long walk.
Reading's done,
Now hubby's home so we'll go for lunch.
The sun's still out but will change
to rain.
Only half way through but,
it's not a bad day.

Being a Parent

One of the hardest parts of being a parent is letting your children fail. It goes against every instinct a parent has, yet is the most important opportunity we can give them. If there is no failure than can be no success. And learning to handle that failure well, is a life skill everyone should have.

Our youngest has reading comprehension difficulties that make all book learning a slow and tedious process. He has gradually been working through 2 correspondence courses that he must have to get his high school diploma. I have been at him for months to get the work done. This has gotten me a lot of "yeah, I know"'s but not so much work done.

Last night we were at a grad meeting, discussing the requirements to be included in the graduation ceremony and other details. He was stunned to hear he had until May 1st to have all of his course work handed in. I had been telling him this for months but it took someone else saying it before he took it seriously. AHHHHHH!

He was practically in tears because he knew there was no way he could get everything done by May 1st. At home we discussed the options and I stressed that while he might not participate in the ceremony, he still had a chance to qualify to take the diploma exams and thus get his high school diploma. (Of course I didn't say he would keep at it until he did pass, although that was what I was thinking)

This morning he spoke to the principal of his own volition and got an extension on his course work. I don't now the details of the conversation (he is never good at sharing) but the result has given him the incentive that he needed.

Even if things don't work out, he learned something important. And that makes it all worth while.

30 Poets/30 Days

Go read Charles Ghigna's Be Still in the World at GottaBook. It's part of 30 Poets/30 Days and it is awesome!
Go, Now!

VOTE!

Working on getting youngest registered to vote in next month's election. I'm trying to educate them about the need to vote even if you don't think your vote will accomplish anything.
May be one vote can't but if everyone who hasn't been voting actually did, things might be VERY different.