A Friend's Blog - @spedteacher

It Isn’t In the Air « Education On The Plate
This is a link to @spedteacher's blog,  Education On the Plate.

I've known the author for,  let me see, 42 years.  We were fuzzy faced teenagers, ready to hit the streets & make the world a better place.  We worked for reform, attended demonstrations, some that turned into riots, others into moments of communal bliss.

We grew up but still each of us tried to make life better for people on a more personal level, one person or family at a time.

Read this story & the rest of the blog to see how @spedteacher hasn't given up on the world yet.

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They're Saying New Blogger

I usually write blog entries using software outside of Blogger.  This is because the Blogger interface leaves much to be desired.  Old hat, so to speak.  When I saw this page on TechCrunch, I rushed right over here without watching the film...

To be somewhat disappointed at seeing, as Nicely  Nicely would say, same old-same old.

Ahh! but careful examination does show there have been subtle changes, in the composition, template set up and the general interface with the writer.  What we need now is the fancy-dancy interface, portal so to speak, they are calling the Dashboard.

Back to the page creation software, but I will visit the Blogger homeland more often.
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Happy Thought Motorcycle Adventures: The Day my Husband Fell in Love....with his Kawasa...

"How could something so boring looking require so much love, be so much fun and have all the boys drooling over it..." My niece @HappyThought1 wrote in her blog below:

Happy Thought Motorcycle Adventures: The Day my Husband Fell in Love....with his Kawasa...:

I commented that she had entered into an epiphany when she answered the question above by embracing the joy her husband found instead of rejecting it out of hand as a danger to him, which it certainly is, or as competition to her, which it is no longer.

Until I saw them in person for my recent six decade birthday, I was still a tad worried, as all good Uncles should be.  But now I too have embraced their honest joy.  My wife, er.... not so much.  We can work on that.

You should go there and watch the videos they've made of their drives through the beauty that is Washington State.  If you have the time, don't miss the pieces she did going for a her licence.  Some very funny parts there while being entirely education as to the process.
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Freezing Rain is Never a Good Thing

Several times in my impetuous youth,  & before the blessing of anti-lock brakes, I've touched my brake while driving in freezing rain only to find the ton of so of metal containing me floating effortlessly in a circle off the road, connecting with nothing more solid than a fresh snowbank.
So far.
When I once asked my uncle why old people drive so slow.  "How do you think they got to be old people? " He answered.
Now that my beard is white, it seems just the right thing to do when I drop 5 mph below the speed limit when I pass the first car that has slipped off the road, falling victims of the freezing rain & black ice.
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We're Having a Heatwave!

When I looked at my HTC Evo screen and saw it was 50 degrees F.  I was shocked.  Glancing out the window,  a winter landscape of white still greeted me. But I was also surprised by the smokers standing in their shirtsleeves.

The view is sending me conflicting information.

Should I replace the torn winter coat of wait another year? It's the Scot in me combined with living the last 20 or so years in New England.
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Second Dog Down

Last week our mother's dog Maya gave up the ghost.  Today it was our sister's golden lab Hopi.

Sadness continues. 
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You May Not Believe This

It came as quite a surprise to me,  after seeing them on CBS Sunday Morning, I am not a fan of Black Eyed Peas.  The super bowl half time show was 90% hype & 10% blinking lights.

Thank the stars for TiVo.

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Lassie Spoof So Far the Best Commercial

I wonder, though,  how many in the audience will see the connection?

Even if they don't, with the volcano, the laughs came freely.
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National Anthem Massacred

The young lady who "sang" The Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of the Super Bowl caused me severe pain. Just saying...
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The King's Speech

That was a most enjoyable movie!  Good company at dinner followed by a movie with no explosions or car chases, (unless you count the man they followed in fog), and yet I still cheered and clapped.  See it.
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A Night Out on the Town!

I think Randolph is a town. Dinner for nine at NYA JOE'S,  reservations made online followed by all of us pulling a u-ee to go see The King's Speech.

Though not one to normally enjoy large crowds involved in social circumstances, I am determined to kick Winter's butt & enjoy myself tonight.
We'll see, won't we?
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We Have a New Barber!

For the past 17 years I've been going to the same barber.  Around the new year she moved to Florida.  This is a traumatic thing for a man of my age. 

After letting my hair grow for three months, to the point where it was attracting comments, it was time to find another Barber. Not a hairdresser mind you, but a real barber who would cut my hair & not style it.  I did and his name is Dee.

Hello Dee - have fun in Florida, Barbara!
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Feeling Overworked

Every once in a while a Friday comes along & I ask myself why do I continue working.  This was one of those day. 
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Droid App For Blogger

Just when I was wondering if I'd ever find time to bring Belltowernews back to the vibrant, almost daily discourse it was in the beginning, we are saved by @neilhimself when he twittered Blogger has a Droid app.
Watch out world!  We are back in the saddle!
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Booker T & the M G 's - Green Onions (Original / HQ audio)

If I was going to pick a funeral song, this one would be near the top of my list.

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Three Month Reprieve

For those who are following the lymphoma adventure: Dana Farber CI scanned me yesterday.  The oncologist came into the examination room with a huge smile on her face.  I have seen the other face.  She said it looked good but she had to wait for one more opinion. UP-down!!

Then UP again when she came back, thumbs up, saying "See you in three months!"

Another reprieve from the Governor.
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Bizzard Backyard

My family where there is no snow think it would be wonderful to come play in this snow.

My family who are here are out shoveling the driveway.

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Merry Christmas

This was a very pleasant morning.  Just the stocking and core family gifts.  The major gathering is tomorrow.  That will be fun.  This was pleasant.  They are different in subtle ways with neither being better, but more appropriate to the time, place and people.

The gist of the matter, this is a holiday, last year, I didn’t know if I would make or not.  I am so happy I did.

Love is good.  Don’t waste it!!!

Hogmanay!!!

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Boom! December!!

My friend, the highly talented M. F. Conklin is sharing on Facebook the horror story of her returning from a holiday in the country to find her city apartment without heat or hot water.

"On the Fritz" New Yorkers say.

Anyone have the origin, of the fritz phrase not my dear Friend's freezing.

Around the same time we found water in the basement laundry of our most New England shack.

At first we thought it water coming up from the ground.  We checked the pits wherein lay our sump pumps. (plural)

Amazingly dry.

Further investigation found the water to be coming from under the wall dividing the laundry from the boiler room.

We were hoping it was a leak from the water heater.  Nope....

To be continued....

Wican in Afgan Countryside

Listening to NPR, an odd color piece came on telling of a Wiccan rite being celebrated near the front line.  It was a sweet piece accented by the comment about two MP's standing by to ensure no one came along and did something "STUPID."

That is so Americans.

Don't forget to vote!

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