EngineerGal's Tales

#Kindergarten is Key...

2012-09-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be ignited.”

~ Plutarch

I have a superhero hiding in my neighborhood. Shhhh... Don't tell anyone, but she lives right next door to me; she is a Kindergarten TEACHER! You may not notice when you first meet her, or when you see her doing everyday neighborly things (walking her dog, mowing the lawn), BUT the moment she steps into her classroom she is a caped crusader bringing structure, learning and love to the world of her five-year-old students.

I had the pleasure of visiting my neighbor's classroom today; it was an adventure -- observing and interacting with a room full of 5-year-olds all functioning at different levels is fascinating! A little tiring too, but extremely rewarding; I can't wait to go back...

Robert Fulghum was right, everything you NEED to know you DO learn in Kindergarten (socially-speaking): be nice, share, take turns, raise your hand, pay attention, put things back where you found them, etc. Academically, there is a little more to learn beyond Kindergarten, but how to READ and WRITE, basic addition/subtraction and telling time coupled with calendaring will actually take you pretty far!

I was one of those ~~obnoxious~~ zealous children that couldn't wait to go to school every day to learn something new; I would actually wake my mother up in the morning! I am grateful to all of my teachers for ~~putting up with~~ tirelessly channeling my enthusiasm in a constructive manner, helping to shape me into the life-long learner I am today.

THANK YOU

#Learning #Teacher #Read #Write #Kindergarten #Add #Subtract #Student #Education

#NationalVoterRegistrationDay...

2012-09-25T12:49:00.001-04:00

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting." ~Franklin Delano Roosevelt

www.nationalvoterregistrationday.org

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Astonishingly, in 2008, 6 million Americans didn’t vote because they missed a registration deadline or didn’t know how to register. Election Day is fast approaching and every vote counts. Your right to vote is one of the most basic rights you have as an American. BE INFORMED. Many states’ rules have changed this year; make sure you know what is now required in your state. Absolutely everything you need to know to be ready to vote November 6th is available on this excellent and user-friendly website: www.vote411.org

Check Registration Status

See if Early Voting is offered

Locate your Polling Place and check its Hours of Operation

See a personalized Ballot preview for your State/County

Determine if you need ID to vote November 6th and see what types are permissible

Your Vote Is Your Voice

Don't miss your chance to be heard!

#925NVRD #Register #Vote #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #Election2012 #GOTV

#Remember911...

2012-09-11T12:19:00.001-04:00

"We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey."

~Kenji Miyazawa

An excerpt from President Obama's remarks at the Pentagon today speaking on the eleventh Anniversary of September 11th:

"And even though we may never be able to fully lift the burden carried by those left behind, we know that somewhere, a son is growing up with his father’s eyes, and a daughter has her mother’s laugh -- living reminders that those who died are with us still.

So as painful as this day is and always will be, it leaves us with a lesson that no single event can ever destroy who we are. No act of terrorism can ever change what we stand for. Instead, we recommit ourselves to the values that we believe in, holding firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

That’s the commitment that we reaffirm today. And that’s why, when the history books are written, the true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear or hate or division. It will be a safer world; a stronger nation; and a people more united than ever before.

God bless the memories of those we lost. And God bless these United States of America."

Pentagon Memorial

Flight 93 Memorial

World Trade Center Memorial

#Honor911 #NeverForget #WTC #Pentagon #Flight93 #WorldTradeCenter #PatriotDay #DayofService #DayofRemembrance

International #Literacy Day... [UPDATED]

2012-09-08T11:43:00.001-04:00

"Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers."

~Harry S. Truman

For over 40 years UNESCO has been celebrating International Literacy Day by reminding the international community that literacy is a human right and the foundation of all learning. "Shockingly, more than 796 million adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) and 130 million youth in the world cannot read and write. #Illiteracy is costing the world economy over USD $1 trillion dollars each year. Lifting the education level of the adult population by one year, could result in a 6% increase in per capita income; the global community is literally throwing money away." -World Literacy Foundation (April 2012); The Economic and Social Costs of Illiteracy.

According to a study performed by researchers Hart and Risley in the US, "children of professional families hear an average of 2,153 words per hour, in working class families 1,251 words per hour, and in welfare families only 616 words per hour." The sad truth/consequence of this is that illiterate people are typically trapped in a cycle of poverty with limited opportunities for employment or income generation; they also have significantly higher chances of poor health and often turn to crime and/or dependence on social welfare or charity to survive.

I was fortunate to be raised in a household with parents who were both avid readers. As a result, I developed a voracious appetite for reading very early on -- books, magazines, billboards, street signs (seriously, I used to annoy the hell out of my parents while we were driving down the road) -- absolutely ANYthing in print. Finances were tight growing up, so purchasing books was not common for my family; frequent trips to the library were required to keep us all 'in books'. In fact, once my father retired he would often read one book per day! I lost my appreciation for the public library when I was older and gainfully employed, usually choosing to pick up a book in a store when I was running errands rather than make a separate trip to the library. Now, as an unemployed person, I am once again making regular trips to the local public library, and I am grateful for the selection of FREE books available to me anytime.

Speaking of the #library, I picked up a new book yesterday by my favorite current fiction writer and it's calling my name as I type; time to wrap this up... If you're passionate about reading like me, find Volunteer opportunities in your community at VolunteerMatch (use keyword: literacy). In addition, information on other ways to help in the US and around the world is available through the following organizations: ProLiteracy, Room To Read, International Reading Association, FirstBook, International Book Project; for readers in the Finger Lakes region, please educate yourselves about the Family Reading Partnership. Happy reading to all!

UPDATE 09/10/12 -- Check these websites out!

These sites recommend new books/authors based on #books you've enjoyed #reading:
What Should I Read Next? Your Next Read

This site recommends books based on a particular topic: Lazy Library

This site recommends books based on your mood: WhichBook

#NaturalWoman

2012-09-07T12:28:00.000-04:00

"Vanity dies hard; in some obstinate cases it outlives the man."

~Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a secret to confess: I dye my hair. I started getting pesky whitish-gray hairs when I turned 18; I began dying my hair IMMEDIATELY - I was far too young to be sporting that type of mature look! Once I was a little older and gainfully employed, I had my hair dyed by a professional; going to the salon was an (expensive) every 6-week treat to myself. I would arrive, change into a coloring gown top, take a sip from my nice cool glass of cucumber water and instantly feel the stresses of the outer world melt away. The next 2-3 hours would be spent catching up with my stylist, processing under a dryer (damn you resistant grays!), laughing with my shampoo girl and trying to make it to the register without purchasing any additional products to take home. I would emerge from the salon feeling alive, beautiful and full of renewed confidence! Who knew hair color (and a good cut) could do all that?

Well, once one starts dying, one really can't stop; at least not if you're interested in going out in public without a hat. Dying my hair is now one of my least favorite chores. Granted, dying one's own hair is considerably more cost-effective (less than $10 a box), and that matters, since my unemployed beauty budget is basically zero dollars. In my previous life I used to balk at the slightest sign of roots (color emergency!); I am much more relaxed about it now -- an inch of regrowth? -- I can wait another few days... So, here I am nearly two decades later gloved up in my bathroom doing the deed for myself. *Sigh* I really miss the serenity of the salon and the cucumber water.

As you've probably guessed, I'm not a girly-girl by any means. Sure, I like pretty things and love a little bling here and there, but I don't wear make-up all the time and I don't wear a lot of pink. In fact, my favorite accessory to wear while running errands is a baseball cap (just plain black, no MLB allegiance for me); coloring is my one true feminine vanity vice. I hope that when I finally do decide to go 'au naturel' I look as good and happy as this beautiful woman:

Getty Images

There's no other way to end this post except with a song, enjoy... Natural Woman

#NFL Football Frenzy...

2012-09-05T18:44:00.003-04:00

Are you READY?!?

In fact, my friends and family are currently saying:

Today's post is proudly inspired by the:

Specifically,

Because I am 100% a:

And,

In case you're not familiar with the 'Steelers':

This is my motto for the rest of the Season:

If you're 'addicted' like me, the full 2012 NFL Season schedule is available here.

GO STEELERS!!!

#Alzheimers Awareness... [UPDATED]

2012-09-02T18:09:00.000-04:00

September is World Alzheimer's Awareness Month.

My Dad (1931-2009)

In honor of my amazing father, please educate yourselves and join me in spreading information about Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Quick Facts

Worldwide, 35 million people are affected by dementia.
5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
One in eight older Americans has Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the only cause of death among the top 10 in the United States that cannot be prevented or cured.
More than 15 million Americans provide unpaid care valued at $210 billion for persons with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Payments for care are estimated to be $200 billion in the United States in 2012.

Learn the 10 Signs here

If someone you love is experiencing ANY of these signs, please review this information with them and urge them to visit their physician without delay; it is vitally important to be PROACTIVE when dealing with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Change your Facebook, Twitter and other profile pictures to the #ENDALZ icon for the month of September:

Participate in the Alzheimer's Association's 'Go Purple' campaign.

Detailed Info here

TOGETHER we CAN make a difference!

Thank you.

Update 09/19/12 - Exciting News!

EPFL's Blue Brain Project has discovered neuroscience's Holy Grail: the 'connectome'. So, why does this matter? The connectome allows for accurate modeling of synapses in the human brain; in lay terms, how information flows in the brain. This new synaptic modeling capability will lead to improved understanding of how the brain actually functions. Understanding brain function is paramount to improving diagnoses and finding cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. You may read the full article here and/or watch a short video explanation of this breakthrough discovery:

#RNC2012 Liar, Liar... [UPDATED]

2012-08-31T19:27:00.000-04:00

"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it."

~Emily Dickinson

Okay, I know this is NOT a political blog (and it isn't, I promise) but I am compelled to address the dangerous precedent that was set at the #GOP2012 #RNC this week: reinventing history. Please note, reinventing history is a politically correct label coined by a major media outlet that I do respect (they provided more substance in their 'Facts Take A Beating' piece today); I simply refuse to beat around the bush with cutesy or pc labels, a spade is a spade in my world. Bottom line: the #RNC was overflowing with brazen, bold-faced lying and it is NOT ACCEPTABLE; even Fox News called Rep. Ryan out very publicly here -- yes, FOX NEWS! I am honestly surprised that the pants of certain speakers did not burst into flames while they were delivering their addresses in Tampa. For those of you thinking, "Whatever, bleeding-heart Liberal crazy lady..." please know that I will also be watching the #DNC next week with the same critical eye with respect to fact checking and TELLING THE TRUTH. I live for the day when ALL people, politicians pundits and ordinary folks alike, take the Emily Dickinson quote I shared above to heart!

Previously, I was worried about the appalling apathy Americans were demonstrating with respect to the upcoming Presidential Election. Now, my true fear is the large number of US Citizens (aka: potential voters) who are deluded devotees of the current deceitful Republican party-line; these potential voters follow their leaders unquestioningly, regardless of facts; they refuse or simply cannot be bothered to review any of the numerous, independent or partisan, fact checking resources available today: Independent Voter Network, FactCheck, Politifact, etc.; these blind party faithfuls are the most dangerous potential voters of all. President Kennedy addressed this condition perfectly in his June 11, 1962, Yale University Commencement Address: "For the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -John F. Kennedy

Scary, right?!? But oh, SO true ... And, based on the way honest Politicians and Pundits are maligned by our mass media today, George Orwell nailed it even earlier when he published 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' in 1949:

It's time America, join me, STEP UP: Rebut the myths -- THINK -- and if you feel obliged to honor the past, take a positive page from our forefather's playbook: Be a Revolutionary, speak and seek the truth! Thank you.

UPDATE 09/01/12:
I would be remiss if I didn't also include links to the brilliant satire delivered by two of my favorites on Comedy Central last night for #RNC2012 Wrap-Up...

Jon Stewart - The Daily Show

'Fist Full of Awesome' [video]

Stephen Colbert - The Colbert Report

'America Strikes Back - Episode IV: A New-ish Hope' [video]

How Do You Measure A Year?

2012-08-24T20:25:00.001-04:00

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars."

-Garrison Keillor

Especially Double Fasciotomies:

Truer words have never been written. Big, ugly physical scars on the outside and tiny tears in the fabric of one's emotional being that can't be seen at all. Healing from a serious injury must occur on the inside as well as the outside and the time it takes is unique to each person.

Today marks one year from the date of the closure of my double fasciotomy. One year and and three days from the moment my mother found me unconscious and unresponsive on my bathroom floor; my heart still aches for her when I think about it. In my previous life, years were measured by accomplishments at work and celebrations with friends and family; time always seemed to fly by. This past year has been marked by rehabilitation and attempting to re-enter the workforce; I'm ready for some celebration...

How Does One Measure A Year?

525,600 minutes

31,536,000 seconds

...

We definitely need to close this post out with a song; I'm thinking this calls for a little 'RENT' -- click to listen: Seasons of Love

#PresidentialElection2012...

2012-08-21T20:49:00.000-04:00

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King, my hat is off to you, truer words have never been spoken. Okay, time for full disclosure (in case you didn't infer on your own): I am a WOMAN, I am a REGISTERED DEMOCRAT, I am LIBERAL, I believe Women ARE EQUAL to men (remember, I AM an Engineer) and that Women MUST have the RIGHT TO CHOOSE. If that upsets you, and you no longer wish to read my blog, I'm sorry that you are unable to recognize and value other's opinions different from your own; I wish you well. That said, this is NOT a political blog, however some things have transpired recently related to our Presidential election and I simply will not be able to live with myself if I don't encourage all of you to make INFORMED political decisions.

Too many of us assume that people that we like/enjoy the company of, people who are in our lives every day, share our own political views and personal values -- this is simply NOT true -- because of this assumption, and our general reluctance to speak up/out about our own views, our nation has become one of general apathy and complacency; this is NOT acceptable. We are a Democracy, we MUST stand up for what we believe in and vigorous debate about the FACTS must be a part of every single person's decision-making process. Please BE INFORMED of the ACTUAL facts. In my personal opinion, I find the most unbiased information to come from public television and radio. LISTEN to NPR; WATCH the NewsHour on PBS -- you owe it to yourselves AND to our Country. Thank you.

#Virtual Vacation...

2012-08-18T12:03:00.000-04:00

"When all else fails, take a vacation." -Betty Williams

It's funny how, even as a grown adults, the closer it gets to the end of August, the more frantic we become about 'squeezing in' a vacation. You'd think once we got past our own years of schooling, and those of our children (where applicable), we'd be open to vacation at any time throughout the year. Yet, for some reason, we still remain narrowly focused on Summer as the ultimate vacation season. Personally, I'm an equal opportunity vacationer -- as in, I do NOT discriminate (season-wise) -- any time of year, any exciting destination; you name it, I am your girl!

I do have one tiny complication to vacationing at this point: my unemployed status. So, for the time being, I need to satisfy myself vicariously through friends and family, or with my new find: virtual vacations. Don't worry, I am not referring to creepy Second Life avatar world here; my version of virtual vacationing is much more tame. I had one this morning in fact, right in my coffee mug: Green Mountain's Island Coconut...

"Indulge your senses with this delightfully fragrant, tropical taste treat. We've captured the lush aroma of freshly grated coconut – fruity, fresh, exotic – and blended it with the subtle sweetness of a lightly-roasted, Central American coffee. The result is as refreshing as it is unexpected. Be transported to your own private island paradise with our Fair Trade Island Coconut." * Flavor also available for standard coffee makers. Nutritional Information: Our flavored coffees are free of calories and carbs, and have no additional nutritional impact. We add no sugars or sweeteners of any kind. So while our flavors may taste indulgent, they're absolutely guilt-free.

Honestly, they are not exaggerating with their description; the aroma really does transport you on a quick, mental trip to paradise! Hmmm... this coffee is fast becoming my favorite virtual destination; the only downside to this flavor is that it's seasonal. <Note to Self: hoard as many boxes as possible ASAP!> But first, I think I'll have another cup; if anyone needs me, I'll be here...

Sweet, Sweet Sleep...

2012-08-16T15:53:00.001-04:00

“O sleep! O gentle sleep! Nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee, That thou no more wilt weigh mine eyelids down,

And steep my senses in forgetfulness?"

~William Shakespeare

Lately, much to my chagrin, my nights have been going like this:

Normally, my day begins like this:

Currently, seriously considering resorting to this:

Hmmmm... Clearly, this job would be bigger than my 'new best friend' can handle; looks like I may need to make a trip to the basement for old reliable:

REALLY glad I kept it around!

#London2012 Wrap-Up...

2012-08-15T16:09:00.000-04:00

Apparently my brain was still stuck in training mode for my proposed Olympic event Tuesday; I nearly established a new personal best! I'm sure it had absolutely nothing to do with the fabulous food and wine pairing 'plus' events of Monday night, or my 3AM bedtime. Yeah... productivity-wise I'm going to need a 'mulligan' for Monday and a 'try again' for Tuesday. Anywho, back to our regularly scheduled programming -- being a gal myself, I'm focusing my #London2012 wrap-up on the Ladies.

Seems logical, right? Okay, maybe not Iron 'MAN', but how about 'Wonder WOMEN'? The London Olympic Games was full of fantastic female firsts, a few phenomenal highlights:

Of the 10,000+ athletes that participated in the London Games, 45% of them were Women. At long last, every country’s delegation included at least one female athlete and every sport included both male and female competitions. Special note to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei for sending their first-ever female athletes and Women's Boxing being added as an event.

For the first time, Americans sent more female athletes than male. US Women won 58 of the 104 medals earned by TeamUSA; 29 of them Gold. Two-thirds of the times you heard the US national anthem played, it was because a female had earned the top spot in her event. If US Women were a Country, they would have placed fifth in overall medals and THIRD in Gold medal wins! EXTRAORDINARY. What better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Title IX?

<Speaking of Title IX, More magazine has a must-read article in their June 2012 issue showcasing the changes and benefits related to the law experienced by Women to date: '37 Words That Changed Women's Lives Forever'. Some additional perspective: the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, held the same year Title IX was passed, had no women's basketball event or women's soccer event; women's water polo, women's rowing, women's cycling, women's boxing and women's judo did not exist.>

At this point you may be asking yourself, "Just who are these TeamUSA Wonder Women and what events did they medal in?" Here's a Gold medal run down with some fun facts too:

In the pool, Women's Water Polo won Gold for the first time. Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni and Allison Schmitt each nabbed the Gold in her specialty (Franklin took both the 100m and 200m Backstroke); later they combined for the 4x100m IM Relay and garnered another Gold as a team. The 4x200m Free Relay (Franklin, Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Schmitt) set a new Olympic Record and grabbed Gold as well. 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, the youngest member of the American team, won Gold in the 800m Free.

US Women brought team Gymnastics Gold back to the US for the first time since 1996. Gabby Douglas won the all-around title, the first time an African-American Woman has done so. Aly Raisman won a Gold medal in the floor routine, another first for the United States.

At the track, US Women proved a force to be reckoned with, winning several single events: Sanya Richards-Ross (400m), Allyson Felix (200m), Brittany Reese (Long Jump) and Jenn Suhr (Pole Vault); breaking a 27-year-old World Record in the 4x100m Relay (Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight and Carmelita Jeter) and finishing up with an unbelievable performance in the 4x400m Relay (DeeDee Trotter, Allyson Felix, Francena McCorory and Sanya Richards-Ross), beating the other teams by more than four seconds.

The US Women's Soccer team added another Gold medal to its stash, taking its third straight medal by beating Japan 2-1 in a thrilling rematch of the World Cup final. The Women's Basketball team won its fifth straight Gold, something that has never been done by any team in the history of the Olympics. All seven of America's cycling medals were earned by Women, with 39-year-old Kristin Armstrong winning Gold in the Individual Time Trial. The Women's Rowing Team captured Gold in the Women's Eight event.

Rounding out the count: Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings had their historic three-peat in Beach Volleyball Gold; Doubles Gold for the Williams sisters and Singles Gold for Serena in Tennis; 17 year-old Claressa Shields' ground-breaking Gold in Women's Middleweight Boxing; Gold for Jaime Lynn Gray in 50m Rifle, Kimberly Rhode in Skeet Shooting (Rhode has won an individual medal in each of her five consecutive trips to the Olympics) and Kayla Harrison, the first US athlete to win a Gold medal in Judo. Again, these are only the GOLD medals awarded to the US Women, you may see the full list of TeamUSA medal results here. WOW!

I think Judo Gold medalist, Kayla Harrison, summed up the 'girl-power-effect' here perfectly: “I’ve been thrilled to see how well US women have done. It feels amazing to be a part of something so much bigger than myself, I definitely feel connected. To be able to say, I’m a strong confident young woman and an Olympic champion is amazing and I hope we have a million young girls inspired right now.” If the TeamUSA Wonder Women can inspire a grown woman, as they have me, I am positive they have inspired the young girls too...

TeamUSA Women Exemplify the Olympic Motto: Faster, Higher, Stronger!

AP/Getty/Reuters Images

#Olympics Hangover...

2012-08-13T02:33:00.000-04:00

I know I promised a wrap-up post on my #Olympic obsession today, but the little gray cells are not quite ready for that yet; let's go with a 'reality' post instead:

So... I guess my Olympics hangover was a tad worse than I thought. I woke up at 12PM today, yes you read that correctly, NOON. Confession: okay, I didn't go to bed until 2AM, but I am not a great sleeper, so TEN hours of uninterrupted sleep is completely out of the ordinary for me. Hmmm... if sleeping-in were an Olympic event, I might have medaled today! <Note to Self: begin drafting letter to IOC immediately.>

After checking the time on my phone and registering that it was, in fact NOON, I sprang out of bed like an Olympic vaulter. <Note to Self: train for 2016?> Alas, this idea didn't last long as I promptly tripped and fell on my face. Ah, back to reality...

Next, I thought I might throw a load in the wash, but remembered it really is best for me to ALWAYS begin my day with coffee (even at noon) so I headed to the kitchen instead. This was definitely a multi-k-cup day so I grabbed my favorite GIANT mug -- we're talking a minimum TWO k-cups to fill people -- and proceeded to caffeinate. The fog began to lift! It was still a little hazy though, so I went for a second round; good thing I added to my k-cup hoard yesterday. =)

Muffin shown for GIANT mug scale reference.

After spending some time job hunting (a.k.a web-surfing since my brain is out of order today) I remembered that my awesome Sister and Brother-In-Law were taking me to The Switz for a food and wine pairing dinner, so I jumped into the shower <Note to Self: hurdles 2016?> and proceeded to try to find an outfit for the evening. I'm not sure if any of you are like me, but choosing an outfit can destroy an entire room if I'm not careful; I wasn't careful today.

Anyway, dinner was FANTASTIC! Six delicious courses paired with Rooster Hill wines; I must admit, NY State wines have come a long way over the last few years. If you like dry whites, you should definitely try their Chardonnay and Dry Riesling. Did I mention how awesome my Sister and Brother-In-Law and are? Seriously, I am grateful each and every day for my amazing family. It's wonderful to celebrate with them in the good times and lean on them in the bad; having their constant support makes this undefined part of the journey bearable too... Cheers to all of you!

Farewell #London2012 ...

2012-08-12T23:28:00.000-04:00

WOW. I seem to be in a bit of a post-Olympic stupor... I can't imagine why, I've just been holed up in the house for seven-plus days live-streaming and replaying events 24/7. I mean seriously, the Olympics has nothing on Engineering school; er, watching the Olympics, that is... Anyway, I promise a more thorough and enchanting recap forthwith; in the meantime, I share this heartfelt sentiment:

Thank you #London2012 and ALL Olympic Athletes for 17 days

of epic displays of superior sportsmanship and astonishing athleticism!

The flag has been passed and the flame extinguished, but the spirit lives on...

London, UK - Closing Ceremony 08/12/12 Jamie Squire -- Getty Images

On a lighter Closing Ceremony note, Matt Zoller Seitz wrote a fun review, 'The London 2012 Closing Ceremony: Both Kitschy and Irresistible', for Vulture: "There wasn't a moment that wasn't in questionable taste; not only did the broadcast refuse to trouble itself over this, it claimed splendid-tawdry opulence, irreverence, and surrealism as defining aspects of U.K. pop culture. It was the least starchy closing ceremony in my lifetime." I would have to agree with him 100% on the 'least starchy' comment. Yet, even among all of the absurdity and frivolity, there was a sincerity that came through; he identifies it best in his closing: "The most informal touch was the most moving: The athletes arrived on field in unison rather than filing in nation by nation. Imagine there are no countries; it isn't hard to do."

Change W. Lee -- NY Times

'Imagine there are no countries; it isn't hard to do.

Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too.

Imagine all the people living life in peace.

You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one.

I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one.'

Jed Jacobsohn -- NY Times

Click Here to watch the Closing Ceremony John Lennon tribute: Imagine

#RunMollyRun - Extra...

2012-08-10T22:13:00.001-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS MOLLY HUDDLE

ON COMPETING IN YOUR FIRST EVER

5000M OLYMPIC MEDAL RACE!

London, UK - Women's 5000m Final 08/10/12 Matt Kryger-USA Today Sports

Molly ran against the top women's distance runners in the world today and claimed the honorable title of 11th fastest woman in the world! Staying with the pack for the majority of the race, she turned on her kick in the last mile powering through in a fantastic 4:32 and finishing with a total time of 15:20.29. Official race results here. VERY IMPRESSIVE!

London, UK - TeamUSA Distance Ladies All Decked Out For Closing Ceremony 08/12/12 Personal Photo

Watching our small hometown rally around this remarkable young woman with the 'Run, Molly, Run!' campaign and actually being connected to a first time Olympian has been a PHENOMENAL experience; here's hoping for a repeat in RIO!

#RunMollyRun...

2012-08-10T05:46:00.000-04:00

"Many thanks to everyone from New York and especially my home town of Elmira for the encouragement and support over the last few weeks. I hope to represent you well in London!" -Molly Huddle*

I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to one of the reasons I am so obsessed with #London2012: Molly Huddle. Molly is a distinguished and accomplished distance runner who hails from Elmira, NY; she also just happened to qualify for the US Olympic Team in the 5000m. No biggie, right? WRONG. This is HUGE. So huge that our Chamber of Commerce launched a campaign with the logo shown above; banners, t-shirts, posters, event viewing parties, more tweets and FB status updates devoted to her and 'Run, Molly, Run!' than one can count! Our entire populous, including anyone who has ever lived here, is rooting for 'our' girl. It is FANTASTIC!

Eugene, OR - Molly with teammates Kim Conley and Julie Culley immediately

following their 5000m qualification for the US Olympic Team. 06/28/12

Of course I speak in jest when I say she 'just happened' to make the Olympic team; Molly's achievements are legendary. Her climb to the Olympics began early: starting in high school where she competed as a one-person cross-country team, going undefeated during the regular season, and setting a national high school record in the two-mile run with a time of 10:01. She followed this by becoming a nine-time All-American in Track & Field, tying the late Ryan Shay's school record, at the University of Notre Dame. In addition, Molly currently holds the title of fastest American woman of all time in the 5000m at 14:44.76, set in 2010 at the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels. To add to that, she won the 2011 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship 5000m with a time of 15:10.01, and was leading with 100 meters to go at the 2012 US Olympic Trials before ultimately being passed down the stretch by Julie Culley; both earned Olympic team berths at 15:13.77 and 15:14.40 respectively. These are just the highlights people; read her full Olympic bio here. AMAZING!

London, UK - Julie, Molly and Kim all decked out for Opening Ceremony

Parade of Nations. 07/27/12 - Personal Photo

Just in case we aren't all properly impressed yet, some facts about this 12.5 lap race: the Women’s 5000m is a fairly new Olympic event making its debut at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. The current World Record is 14:11.15 held by Ethiopian, Tirunesh Dibaba, earned in 2008 in Oslo; the Olympic Record is 14:40.79 held by Romanian, Gabriela Szabo, earned in 2000 in Sydney and the US Record is 14:44.76 held by our very own, earned in 2010 in Brussels. Interestingly, no US woman has ever medaled in the event or finished in the top eight. Molly put an authoritative foot forward in the semi-final Tuesday when she went right to the front and ran among the top two or three over the entire distance of the race, ultimately finishing eighth overall and securing her spot in the final Friday. GO MOLLY!

London, UK - Molly setting the pace in the semi-final to ensure her

advance to the 5000m final Friday. 08/07/12 - Kirby Lee / USA Today

You read her quote at the start of this post, you've seen the pictures; Molly is a delightful, dedicated, talented and grounded young woman on the precipice of extraordinary achievement. Friday at 8:05pm London Time, she will run the race of her life thus far; please join me in cheering Molly on -- medal or not, she is one exceptional young woman who has made her hometown impossibly proud... RUN, MOLLY, RUN!

*Quote Source: http://www.metro.us/newyork/national/article/1147716--meet-the-olympian-molly-huddle metro.us

Shiny Happy People...

2012-08-09T23:59:00.001-04:00

WOW. Day 13 has been extraordinary! TeamUSA ran away with it - GOLD medals, OVERALL medals - Medals, Medals Everywhere!

Source: www.london2012.com

I stumbled across a fascinating interactive page on the NY Times Olympic blog site which displays a globe-inspired graphic presentation of detailed medal results from 1896 to present day; this really is a must-see! Click here to visit the site and make sure to click on different years in the timeline; notice how the specific events included in each Olympics change as well as the medal dispersion across the 'globe'.

Photo by LOCOG via Getty Images

Something else unique to each Olympics are of course the medals themselves, but also the ribbons used to display them. The medals being awarded in the London 2012 Games were designed by British artist David Watkins. You may satisfy all of your medal design, specification and selection curiosities here. Slate chose to look past the medals and focus instead on just the ribbons; this is an interesting lyrical write-up that you should definitely take a peek at on their Five-Ring Circus Olympic blog here.

Whew... there was so much activity today I actually had two laptops live-streaming events (w/PIP) as well as a regular television set to watch everything on my list! I'm headed to bed with REM stuck in my head... =)

Click here to listen: Shiny Happy People

#London2012...

2012-08-08T19:55:00.000-04:00

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” -Pierre de Coubertin

Oh, hello again! To say I've been distracted by the Summer Olympics is quite possibly the understatement of the year; I have been CONSUMED. My obsession began with the quirky opening ceremonies and has only intensified with each passing day. Given the myriad of ways to be "plugged-in", and the sheer number of events, one can easily occupy nearly every hour in the day by watching/reading/commenting/sharing these epic displays of sportsmanship and athleticism. Case in point, a phone call I received from a friend today:

Her: Hi, whatcha doin'?
Me: Sitting in my pj's live streaming the Games.
Her: Do I have to come over there and burn your pj's? I think you're in need of an Olympic intervention!
Me: Ummmmm, talk to you later!

In my defense, I do not entirely disagree with her that I may be in need of an intervention, but the gold medal beach volleyball match was just starting (yes, it was 4pm Eastern) and I really needed to focus on Kerri and Misty's THREE-PEAT!!! Seriously, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if I missed seeing this record, third-straight, gold-medal-winning, celebratory exchange LIVE...

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

That said, the frustrating/upsetting "real" World can wait. I am going to continue to live in my live-streaming cocoon of excellent sportsmanship and superior athleticism for as long as I can; it's good for my psyche. I encourage all of you to join me...

But First, Coffee...

2012-08-01T08:02:00.002-04:00

I have long started my day with a cup of coffee; it's a requirement before one can expect me to think or be civil. I used to brew a pot and have more than one cup; I've been trying to cut back on my caffeine intake though, so I purchased a single cup brewer thinking it would be easier to stick to my new one cup rule. Ha! I'd like to introduce you to my new best friend:

Yes, each cup of coffee I brew does cost a bit more than my previous standard pot, but oh my God does it taste good! I am definitely having trouble sticking to my one cup rule and I've begun hoarding boxes of k-cups so I never have to worry about my second (or third, or fourth) cup. My neighbor instantly had Keurig-envy; thankfully her daughters bought her one as a gift so she didn't have to live with the green monster for too long. They say everybody should believe in something; I believe I'll have another coffee...

Pets Are Family Too...

2012-07-31T10:48:00.000-04:00

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Some close friends of mine have been forced to end the lives of their beloved dogs recently due to terminal illness. I understand the pain and impossibility of that choice first-hand; I had to put my beloved Weimaraner, Cole, down for the same reason a few years ago. Pets are family members. Hell, in my home, pets are very nearly PEOPLE. Grieving the loss of a family pet is identical to grieving the loss of a human loved one. If you know someone in this situation, please don't ever say, "it's only a dog/cat"; most importantly, do not ever judge or condemn a pet owner for making one of the most difficult but HUMANE decisions of their lives. I am not an overtly religious person, but I do choose to take some comfort in believing that all dogs DO go to Heaven. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're all having a huge play-date together right now...

Cole

Addie

Bruno

Chloe

Monday, Monday...

2012-07-30T08:22:00.001-04:00

I'm not one who appreciates/respects edicts, but this is one I could definitely follow:

Monday has never been my favorite day of the week; I would usually start dreading it sometime early Sunday morning. The self-punishing would follow Sunday night in the form of feverishly attempting to squeeze all of the chores I had planned to do over the weekend into the 8pm-Midnight slot. As a result, I religiously experienced the feeling of epic failure and my dread of Monday would increase exponentially. Yes, 'Monday', you win. I would imagine 'Monday' sitting back in all its glory, raising a glass and smiling condescendingly at having bested me yet again.

One might think that an unemployed person would feel differently about the "start of the week"; at least I hoped that would be the case for me. Alas, I still dread Mondays since they now represent all of the gainfully employed people in my life returning to their jobs and professional identities, while I sit at my kitchen table searching and applying to jobs with my professional identity waning by the day. Definitely not what I had planned on for this point in my life, but I will not let it beat me! Instead, I focus on weekends which are non-threatening/safe because my professional (employed) friends and family are available to have coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks and I'm not nagged by that feeling that I'm supposed to be at work. Who's raising their glass and smiling now, 'Monday'?

I feel a song coming on; let's close with a little Mamas & Papas today. =)

Click Here To Listen: Monday, Monday

We're Not In Kansas Anymore...

2012-07-29T13:11:00.000-04:00

My plan to begin blogging in earnest was delayed a bit by Mother Nature Thursday in the form of tornadoes. Yes, you read that correctly, TORNADOES, plural. You must understand, we do not ever have tornadoes in upstate NY - it is literally unheard of - so to have three tornadoes touch down in a period of 30 minutes on Thursday is truly mind-blowing. I'm beginning to think Mother Earth has joined forces with Mother Nature to teach all of us a HUGE lesson, but we'll save that issue for another post. Here's an excerpt that shares some NWS details:

"The National Weather Service confirmed that three tornadoes touched down in Chemung and Steuben Counties on Thursday. All were categorized as EF-1 (defined as winds between 86-110 mph). ... The third and most powerful tornado hit Elmira near 4:00pm with winds up to 110 mph. The tornado touched down near Route 352, then moved through West Elmira, into downtown Elmira, then Church Street. From there the tornado tracked southeast towards Jerusalem Hill Road, where it finally lifted. The total track length was nearly 10 miles long."

You can see images of the damage and read the entire article here.

Needless to say, our town has been filled the last few days with the endless whirrrrring sound of chainsaws and the smell of fresh sawdust and pine needles permeates the air. Neighbors who don't typically take time to socialize are uniting to help each other clear limbs and debris from their yards and streets. Several thousand customers are still without power as the utility companies work tirelessly to restore service; the last estimate stated 95% of customers will have power restored by midnight tonight. The damage to homes, businesses, cars and streets is severe; clean up and repair is, and will continue to be, a monumental effort for some time to come. Our town is devastated, yes, but "things" can be repaired and replaced. The most important and extraordinary fact that we must not forget is that no severe injuries or fatalities resulted from our storm. I am beyond grateful for this and I hope everyone else is too.

UPDATE 08/08/12: Satellite Image Depicting Path of Elmira Tornado 07/26/12
Once again, grateful for no serious injuries or deaths!

Source: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/bgm/WeatherEvents/Severe/july262012/ef1_elmira.shtml

And so it begins...

2012-07-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

Several people have been telling me that I MUST start writing a blog; here goes!

Disclaimer: I am not one who typically succumbs to peer pressure. However, due to the fabulous state of the economy, and a few other things beyond my control, I do find myself with some extra time on my hands; this seems like a potentially constructive way to spend it. I hope you will all agree. =)