Some of my favorite videos.Wild West Show I used to love Young Riders and thought about writing a book having Buck Cross find a community of Kiowas who intermarried with the Jewish followers of Levi Strauss and full in love with a woman who is half Kiowa Half Jewish. tried to do the research it never happened but I have met Kiowas who were part of that group in Oklahoma.

Lessons from Miracle Milo: One Dog’s Battle with Osteosarcoma

Lessons from Miracle Milo: One Dog’s Battle with Osteosarcoma
Posted on August 1, 2010 by fightcaninecancer

One of the first questions that pet owners often ask after hearing that their dog has cancer is, “how much time do we have?” And no matter what the answer, it’s easy to interpret the vet’s response as a kind of promise. Like a timer has been set for our pet’s life, quickly running down to those dreaded final days. We believe that this ‘guess’ about how long our pets will survive is true and we plan and we prepare according to this imaginary date on the calendar.

But, sometimes our dogs don’t know that they’re supposed to be living on someone else’s timeline and seem to go out of their way to prove the statistics wrong. They demonstrate a remarkable strength and will to live that surprises everyone – reminding us that we can never lose hope in the fight against cancer.

Milo was a dog who fit this description perfectly. But then again, Milo started out as a bit of a surprise when he joined his family almost by accident when he was 4 ½ years old back in January 2006. As his mom Beth explains, “We had recently lost our precious cat Scamper and had started teaching American Red Cross Pet First Aid. We were handing out flyers one day and stopped by a pet adoption event in Oakland, CA. One of the dogs up for adoption was Milo, a lab mix with double dew claws on both hind legs. It was love at first sight.”

From the scar on his face, you could see that Milo had known pain in his past, and had probably suffered at the hands of other humans. But, when he was taken in by a rescue called Hopalong and cared for in a kind foster home, he discovered what it meant to be safe and loved. All he needed was that forever home, and now he had finally found it with Beth and Tom.

Once Milo came home to live with his new family, he continued to thrive. His true personality came out and he showed himself to be an energetic, intelligent and affectionate dog who loved treats, walks, going to the dog park and going to doggy daycare. He was a happy and healthy dog who even loved helping out during the Pet First Aid classes. Life was very good for sweet Milo.

On September 9, 2009, however, Milo started limping after a walk. More than just a pulled muscle, Milo’s family was devastated when they found out that Milo had osteosarcoma — bone cancer. The vet said he only had three months to live and suggested amputation and chemotherapy. Fortunately, Beth and Tom already had pet insurance through Pet’s Best. They had gotten it for Milo after he had eaten something off the ground one day, resulting in an $800 vet bill. But for the recommended treatment for Milo’s osteosarcoma, pet insurance would only cover $7,000, and full treatment would be much more than that. It was money that his family just didn’t have.

Not willing to give up, Milo’s devoted family decided instead to pursue Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO) surgery to ease Milo’s discomfort by cleaning up the bone and giving him a false hip joint. They also searched for additional ways that they could support Milo in his brave fight against such an aggressive type of cancer. They spent hours searching the internet for information about canine cancer, and found online support groups where they gained valuable information from other pet owners about supplements and treatment options that even their vet didn’t know about. All of this research helped them decide how to best help Milo live a high quality life throughout his fight with cancer. As a result of their research and by working with their vet, Beth and Tom decided to switch Milo’s food to Hill’s n/d, a grain-free diet created specifically for dogs with cancer, and they started him on a line of supplements from K9 Medicinals which had a solid reputation for helping to extend the lives of dogs with cancer. Milo started getting (5) capsules of K9 Immunity daily, along with along with (1) Transfer Factor capsule and (2) K9 Omega capsules. They credit these supplements in particular for keeping Milo alive well past the initial three month prediction.

Milo shows off his battle scars after FHO surgery.

During Milo’s battle, Beth and Tom were also able to experience the kindness of others who want to help save the lives of dogs in need. When the pet insurance money ran out, they searched online and found out about an organization called Labrador Harbor, which is dedicated to providing funding for Labrador Retrievers in California who are in need of medical care. Labrador Harbor agreed to fundraise for Milo and helped to ensure that he could get the life-extending care he needed to continue his battle with cancer. Beth and Tom also did their part to help raise funds to help their boy by posting flyers about Milo in supermarkets and pet stores and by talking to other dog owners, co-workers, and neighbors. It seemed that so many people wanted to help save the life of this special dog. One neighbor who owned a store even had a collection can for Milo to help out.

Throughout his journey with cancer, Milo was a true warrior and inspired all those who met him. The vet staff who worked with him were among his biggest fans, continually rooting for him and encouraging him to keep on fighting. He was a living testament for how long a dog could survive an osteosarcoma diagnosis without amputation or chemotherapy. He truly lived up to his nickname, “Miracle Milo”, with his fierce determination and ability to defy the odds and keep surviving despite all of the challenges he had faced throughout his life.

“We thought Milo would live forever,” says Beth, “but on July 25, 2010, his cancer leg started swelling and getting larger. It was getting harder and harder for him to walk, even though he still wanted to run and play and wag his tail. The vet really couldn’t do anything and there was no guarantee if amputation would work or not. So on July 27, with great sadness, we decided it was time to send Milo to the Rainbow Bridge.”

Too often the argument made against pursuing treatment for pets with cancer is that treatment won’t substantially lengthen their life. As if you can put a price tag on or somehow quantify how much time is worth the effort to try to save a loved one’s life. But who can judge how much time is ‘worth it’? Even if blessed with a few extra weeks or months, families can make so many memories and share such precious time together.

Milo’s story proves how important and valuable even a few extra months of life can be. Milo survived an amazing 10½ months past diagnosis, when he was originally given only 3 short months to live. It may not seem like a lot of time to some, but in those extra 7 ½ months that Milo beat the odds, he also:

* Made it to his 4 year adoption anniversary on 1/30/2010
* Made it to his 9th birthday on 6/1/2010
* Survived 2 dog fights, even though he lost part of his ear
* Had time to grow back all of the hair lost from the FHO surgery (probably thanks to K9 Omega supplements he was taking)

And most importantly, Miracle Milo and his family had 7 ½ extra months filled with the joy of each others’ company.

Milo is now at the Bridge, but his legacy lives on. “We want others to know that there is hope with cancer,” says Beth. “Milo was a brave fighter and he defied many odds. By sharing Milo’s story, we hope that others can learn from our experience.” And part of that experience is realizing that nothing is impossible. Every dog diagnosed with cancer has the potential to beat the odds too.

Milo

Rest in peace Milo
6/1/2001 to 7/27/2010
Marvelous, Intelligent, Lovable, Only dog for us
Beth & Tom


If you would like to help other dogs like Milo who are battling cancer, to give them the opportunity to receive the lifesaving treatments they deserve, please consider making a donation in his honor to the Bear Hope Fund, which helps other labs with cancer, at www.labradorharbor.org/bearhopefund.html.

5 Lessons Learned from Milo’s Journey

1. Don’t get discouraged if you find that you don’t meet low income guidelines for certain funding resources. There are many ways to fundraise on your own and you may be surprised at how many people are willing to help. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask.
2. Get pet insurance when your dog is young! It can be a critical resource when faced with major surgery or a serious illness like cancer.
3. Talk with other pet owners and look for online support groups to connect with others who may be able to help.
4. If you find a supplement that you like, talk to the company and tell them how it has helped your dog. Some companies will even provide a free bottle of a supplement if they can use your testimonial on their website or in marketing materials.
5. Plan ahead and make your dog’s final arrangements so you don’t need to worry about making these critical decisions while in the middle of your grief. If you don’t know where to start, ask your vet. They can usually recommend companies who can handle cremation or burial as well as companies that provide memorials and urns. They may even be able to help you obtain a discount on these items as a client of theirs.

Scotty Lago Matador Giveaway Winner
March 16, 2010 – 9:22 pm PT by Me
Tags: Giveaway, Matador, Scotty Lago —



A couple of weeks ago, we held a SCOTTY LAGO giveaway contest presented by MATADOR. Scotty ended up having to leave the Olympics early so in honor of him, the objective of the contest was to tell us a time when you were kicked out of something. We thoroughly enjoyed everyone who took the time to share his or her story with us but as you know, there can only be one winner. And there was one particular story that really blew us away.

The winner of the Matador contest goes to Beth Morris who is from Oakland, CA. Scotty got her attention during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver a few weeks back. She was impressed that Scotty supports kids with cancer. Her dog Milo just made it with bone cancer in his 6th month so Milo (pictured below) inspired her to submit a story.


Here is Beth’s winning story…

“As a girl scout I went on a Wider Opportunity to El Paso Texas. We visited White sands national monument and I stole some white sand by putting it in a plastic bag. At the EL Paso airport security stopped me. Since El Paso is near the Mexican border they thought that a 15 year old was smuggling cocaine. I was kicked off my flight and they brought drug-smelling dogs and when they realized it was white sand they were all laughing. I could not call my family to let them know. Then the flight I was supposed to be on crashed and everyone was killed. When I finally got through to my family they almost had a heart attack. Being kicked off of that Delta Flight actually saved my life. To this day I still don’t fly into Dallas Fort Worth airport on Delta”

Pretty crazy story. Congratulations to Beth and enjoy the beef sticks!

Turbulent Sea Christine Feehan Book Trailer

Awesome video the lyrics fit the story.

Summer Sleuths Adult Reading Program

This summer I worked at a public Library in both the reference and children's departement. Like all the California Public Libraries we had Catch the Reading Bug for preschool to preteens, Metamophosis for teens, but for adults we had the Summer Sleuths reading program. Adults had the opportunity to read ten books and get entered in a weekly drawing for gift certificates. At the end of the summer they got to have a sit down dinner party with a mystery entertainer and earn prizes and play games. As an employee I could not participate, but these were the books I read over the summer, The program lasted until August 2nd.

• 1. Moonstruck by Susan Grant
  See my review on my blog. This book rated an A+ in my book
  
  
• 2. Warrior Rising by P.C. Cast
  As a fan and reader of Mythology, I like her Goddess Summoning books in which she has modern world mortals meet Olympians. This book dealt with her version of The Iliad by Homer in which two middle age women who die have their souls transplanted into a dead Greek Priestess and her handmaiden. They help Achilles and his cousin. The book had an interesting twist, but it was not one of her better ones. I rate it a B.
  
  
• 3. Mistress of the Art of Death by Arianna Franklin
  This was one of the books that was part of the Readers Roundtable Adult book discussion group at the library I worked. Children are being killed and the Jews of Medevial England are being accussed. The King of Italy sends Adelia, a foresenics investigator along with a large Arab, and a Jew named Simon to protect her. Clues from dead bodies help solve this mystery. It was a hard book to put down definately an A in my book.
  
  
• 4. The Cure by Sonia Levitin
  I have always liked this author since I read Journey to America
  and The Return. This book is a mixture of sci-fi and historical fiction. The Year is 2407 and everyone wears a mask to emphasize conformity, and tranquility has been implemented via genetics, drugs, and therapy. Everyone also has a twin.

  16-year-old Gemm needs to cure his nonconformist desire to create music. He is sent back to 1348, the time of the Black Death in Strasbourg, France. Gemm lives the life of Johannes, the son of a wealthy moneylender in a small Jewish community. This book is similar to Lois Lowry's The Giverand deals with racism, conformity, and history. Definately an A for young adults.
  
  

• 5. The Singing Mountain by Sonia Levitin
  Many college students are seeking to find their place in life. Visit any campus and you will see religious groups trying to recruit them. I worked at an orthodox Jewish school and also had many orthodox Jewish neighbors when I lived in New Jersey. I went to a high school that had many Jewish students and had two classmates who were killed when their bus was blown up while visiting Israel so this book touched me deeply.
  

  Mitch Green is a California boy who has just graduated high school. He decides to take a trip to Israel before entering UCLA. In Israel, Mitch becomes involved with an orthodox group and learns more about his heritage and decides he wants to stay in Israel and live the orthodox life. His mom and his cousin Carlie make a trip to Israel to try rescue him and bring him home. The dramtic events in the final chapters help them to appreciate the unique heritage of their family.
  A wonderful and very thought provoking read for young adults definately an A.
  
  

• 6. The Serpent's Tale by Arianna Franklin
  This is a sequel to Mistress of the Art of Death. Adelia and her Arab protector Mansur are called upon by King Henry II to investigate the suspicious death of Rosamund Clifford who died after eating poisonous mushrooms. Adelia is also forced to work with Bishop Rowley Picot who is the father of her daughter Allie who she still has feelings for but marriage is out of the question.
  Not as exciting and hard to put down as the first book in the series. A B in my book.
  
  
• 7. Walk Away the Pounds by Leslie Sansome
  I bought this book because one of my favorite places De Lauers newstand was going out of business. It has some good information and the success stories are motivating reads. I did buy a pedometer step counter which lasted about 2 months and joined a local walking group. This book may work well for others, but the exercise routines, program and videos that I checked out from the library just were not my cup of tea. Probably because I do not get into using videos for workouts.
  Average maybe about a C or C+.
  
  
• 8. California Driver Handbook 2008
  Ok I am not the world's greatest driver. I did not learn how to drive until I was 21
  because I did not have access to a car until then. I still can't parallel park to this day. Library school and coming from out of state is expensive so I did not drive for at least 5 years. I made a rolling stop and got caught by a red light camera. Big fine $410 plus $19 to be allowed to go to traffic plus an additional $38 to the school. Well anyway in an 8 hour class you do go through the whole manual. listen. watch movies, and I did learn some things. I will be careful from now on.
  A for the book. Its explains things well and has some good illustrations.
  
  
• 9. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs
  I eagerly waited for this book after reading the novella Alpha and Omega in the anthology On The Prowl. Anna is transformed into a Werewolf against her will and is abused by the pack. Charles Cornick is Salish (an American Indian tribe) and Welsh. His father is the head of all the werewolves in North America and he is sent to investigate Anna's pack. They fall in love and Cry Wolfdeals with their move to Montana. One problem that I found was that the book referred to incidents that happened in the novella a little too much and could be confusing for someone who did not read it. I would have also liked in there was something mentioned about Charle's heritage and his mother was supposed to have had powers. A lot about werewolf society was explained and made it interesting. I think the author would have done better to combine the novella in the same book. I may or may not read other books in this series. I would give it about a C or C+ average did not really do anything for me.
  
  
• 10. Turbulent Sea By Christine Feehan
  I was excited to read about the 6th magical Drake sister, Joley the spell singer and Ilya Prakenskii, cool, inscrutable, dangerously sexy, and working in the shadow of his infamous reputation—that of a secret Russian hit man on the payroll of a notorious mobster. Ilya has appeared in other books and is a man of mystery and a 7th son of a seventh son. Last night I watched the movie Hitman and I wondered if Ilya actually went to a similiar school. Bizare huh? I wish that more about his family and background was included but maybe that will happen in a future books. The video for the book is awesome, just Joley and Ilya look different then they are described in the book. A B+.
  
  

New White Buffalo Born

The white buffalo is sacred to most Plains Indian tribes and is often seen as a sign of great changes in the world. To some tribes it is a blessing. Others believe it is a sign of peace, prosperity, unity and hope.

On August 31,2007 in North Dakota, White Cloud, a female buffalo with albinism, gave birth to her 5th calf. The calf is a male and his name is Dakota Miracle.

Moonstruck by Susan Grant

I loved the Outworldly Men series which was about the Jasper family trying to save earth from an alien invasion. Your Planet Or Mine (Book #1) featured Jana Jasper and her romance with Cavin of Far Star. My Favorite Earthling (Book #2) featured Jana's older brother Jared trying to save Earth by marrying Queen Keira. How To Lose An Extraterrestrial (Book #3, and my favorite) in ten days features Evie Jasper, Jana's and Jarrett's sister, helping a former assassin to have a new life and then falling in lover with him. In all three books, Susan Grant created a world involving the Coalition, their enemies, the Drakken Horde, and the newly found planet Earth.

Now Susan begins a new series, The Borderlands. The first book is Moonstruck. The war has ended and a new intergalactic treaty has been signed. Coalition starship Admiral Brit Bandar, aka Stone-Heart, is now captain of the Starship Unity, which in addition to Coalition officers, has Drakken and Earthling crew members.

The Borderlands series is slightly darker and goes deeper to explore a galaxy left reeling after a thousand year war ends, thanks to the Jasper family, introduced in the Outworldly Men series. If you like paranormal, futuristic, sci-fi, and romance you will love Moonstruck. This book was impossible to put down. It was interesting to see the Coalition, Drakken, and earth cultures intermingle. I also liked that Brit and Finn were middle-aged (40 and 35), Tango's cocky humor, Hadley's innocence, and the imperial wraith Bolivarr fascinated me. I hope that in her future books Susan explores Wraiths further. Be warned there are some steamy love scenes and some sex, so not for teenagers. I can't wait for book #2 The Warlord's Daughter.

Smoke Signals - How Do We Forgive Our Fathers?

This is one of my favorite movies.
I love the final scene. Very powerful when Victor releases his father's ashes in the Spokane River to swim with the salmon. Did you know Adam beach who played Victor is now going to medical school?

Shielder Series

I have always been a paranormal fan ever since my mom let me read Moonbeams and Magic by Janelle Taylor. I like futuristic stories about other galaxies and space travel, but I like Paranormal because it combines romance and science fiction.


I found the author Catherine Spangler by mistake. I saw a book in the bookstore called
Shadow Fires. The cover looked beautiful and the plot sounded good. A young woman named Jenna who had visions was looked upon a freak by her race. She becomes a bride to a warlike species called the Leors who were
humanoids cross breed with reptiles. The Leors are seeking brides from other races because their race is not producing offspring. Jenna struggles to fit in to the world on Saura which has slaves and is a desert world. I like the book so much that I backtracked and went to the beginning.

In Shadower, Sabin Travers works as (Shadower)a bounty hunter to earn money for his race ,the Shielders. who are being hunted down because they can not be mind probed. He meets Moriah Cameron, a smuggler who has had a bad past with Shadowers. In Shielder, Nessa Ranul is shunned by her people because she is lame and suffers seizures. She agrees to be injected with a virus that is killing Shielders and travels to get it to another Shielder colony. Her ship breaks down and she is rescued by Shadower Chase McKnight who is actually a Physician whose world was destroyed by a similar virus. Nessa needs to get to her destination in 4 weeks. Shadowers are hunting Shielders so she can't tell Chase the truth. In Shamara, Nessa's older brother Jarek is trying to find a safe haven for his people. Eirene Kane is on the run from being traded to a Leor warrior as a bride. Jarek realizes that she is an enchancer, a race with special healing abilities that is thought to be extinct. He needs her help but he killed her father many years ago in self defense.

In Shadow Crossing, Moriah's younger sister ,Celie and Chase and Nessa's daughter Raven, making shocking discoveries about their clients who may be both royalty and androids. Celie fears men because he father was a Shadower who sold her and Moriah as endentured servants. Raven is young and ready for romance. What will happen when both girls meet Jardonian royalty?


I love the characters in the Shielder world. So many races all in another galaxy. I wish the author would write more Shielder books.

Sunny Author

Never thought I would be into these books as I not a fan of Erotic novels, but I read excerpts in On the Prowl and Over the Moon. i didn't care much for the explict sex scenes and erotic stuff, but I thought the concept of the Monere species was interesting. I just finished Lucinda: Darkly Demon Princess Chronicles and enjoyed them better than the Mona Lisa books. There was sex scenes, but not hard core. The fantasy world of Hell was very imaginative and vivid, whereas the Mona lisa books had too much more eroticism and not much plot. I still will continue to read Sunny's books, I want to live forever and be immortal so I will still read about the Monere world. Sunny is a physician by trade and the healing rituals in the story plus the shifting of human and animals forms do make interesting reads.

The White Buffalo Calf Woman and albinism

I'm not Lakota, but my godparents are Dakota from Devils lake, ND and my bloodsister Alone in the Wind is too. I did my Masters thesis on teaching science using American Indian Legends and this legend fascinates me. I put up a few links for you.
White Buffalo Calf Woman Legend

I love the ending:

The sacred woman then took leave of the people, saying: "Toksha ake wacinyanktin ktelo, I shall see you again."

The people saw her walking off in the same direction from which she had come, outlined againest the red ball of the setting sun. As she went, she stopped and rolled over four times. The first time, she turned into a black buffalo; the second into a brown one; the third into a red one; and finally, the fouth time she rolled over, she turned into a white female buffalo calf. A white buffalo is the most sacred living thing you could ever encounter.

The White Buffalo Woman disappeared over the Horizon. Sometime she might come back. As soon as she had vanished, buffalo in great herds appeared, allowing themselves to be killed so tha the people might survive. And from that day on, our relations, the buffalo, furnished the people with everthing they needed, meat for their food, skins for their clothes and tipis, bones for their many tools.

In 1994, Miracle the white buffalo was born. If you go to

Miracle's color changes

Amazingly even though born white, Miracle turned black, red, and yellow before dying of an age of ten in 2004. In 2006, Miracle's secind chance was born. No realtion to Miracle but born on the same farm. Three months later he was killed along with four other buffalo when struck by lightning.

Wikipedia lists under "White Buffalo" that:
Mahpiya Ska ("White Cloud") (Cherokee:ᎤᏁᎬ ᎤᎶᎩᎸ) is an albino White Buffalo born July 10, 1996. She has resided since 1997 at the National Buffalo Museum and Cultural Center in Jamestown, North Dakota. Mahpiya Ska has been certified by the National Bison Association as an albino white bison; she is deaf and has impaired vision. She has had four brown calves. On August 31, 2007, she gave birth to a white calf. The calf has yet to be tested, but it is believed to be albino.

Even though the Lenni-Lenape (Delaware)traditions do not have spiritual importance or beliefs that the white buffalo is a sacred sign, I nevertheless have always been interested in albinism especially in animals and people of color. I went to high school with a boy who was black with albinism, I worked with a teacher who was white with albinism and I had a library school student who was chinese with albinism intern with me. The teacher I worked with who had albinism started off as a special day aid and went on to become a teacher. She did not let her vision issues hold her back and the kids really liked her. My school did not hire her on and I lost track of her. I have since then been reading more about albinism in popular culture and looking for famous people with albinism. Among American Indian tribes, both the Hopi of Arizona and the Kuna in Panama have very high rates of albinism in their population. The children's picture book rattlesnake dance mentions a Hopi with albinism as one of the dancers in a snake dance cermony.

Though sacred in many Native cultures, its sad that today's media portrays people who have albinism as freaks and villians especially in movies. I hope that one day that will change. Even one of my favorite authors Susan Grant portrayed some members of an alien race with albinism as evil in her novel Contact, but then made up for it by having one emerge at the end as a heroine.

Goodbye To Madeline L'engle

I don't like to talk about it because its scary, but sometimes I get visions. When I was in 1st grade I made a mistake and told a teacher that i had dreams of flying to Japan each night in my sleep and they made me see the school psychologist. Visionsare a part of American Indian life and to have one is special. Some full bloods go through life never having one, and envy us Metis or mix bloods who have them every now and then.

I don't get them too often. I have not had one since my adopted grandfather Milton died in I 1997 and my turtle necklace broke. I knew he was gone. In the most recent vision that i had over labor day weekend. I saw something white. The white buffalo calf woman is the first thing that came to my mind, but I am not Lakota. I have always been interested in learning about people who have albinism since I went to high school with someone who had it and also loved snowflake the Gorilla. I found that there was a rock star in Singapore who had albinism I wrote him he wrote me back. Seems like a cool guy. Didn't let his lisp or vision stop him. I was also fascinated by Miracle, the white buffalo. Did you know she turned white, brown, red, and yellow like the prophecy? But I am not lakota its not my world to live in. When I when on my vision quest at 21, I knew I was a rainbow a bridge between worlds but whose worlds. Hence my name tsiblenti okwa "carry the sky woman". It seems ironic my ex fiancee called me Plongee which means rainbow in Malay.


A turtle got stolen from a classroom at school. I have an affinity with turtles hey they are my medicine sign. I knew it wasn't dead because white is not death. When the buffalo calf woman left earth she was white. The turtle was found the next day. I looked on the Internet today, one of my favorite authors Madeline L'engle is gone. Why was white in my vision? (White Buffalo calf woman, Takana 's death, Mo's betrayal,Madeline L'Engle's death?)

4th or 5th grade maybe. My brother got the book A Swiftly Tilting Planet for his birthday. He didn't want to read it, but I did and so did my sister, because the unicorn flying on the cover looked cool.
Charles Wallace goes back in time to save the world. Time traveling, soul traveling! It was the coolest book. We had fights who would keep it in our room. I also read Camillaand A ring of Endless light. They are ok but nothing like the Kairos world, too chronos for me. ,br>

I forgot about Madeline till library school. I had to read A Wrinkle in Time for Resources for Ages 6-12. I fell in love with Madeline's books again.

I just found this on : Wikipedia L'Engle's best-known works are divided between "chronos" and "kairos"; the former is the framework in which the stories of the Austin family take place, and is presented in a primarily realistic setting, though occasionally with elements that might be regarded as science fiction. The latter is the framework in which the stories of the Murry and O'Keefe families take place, and is presented sometimes in a realistic setting and sometimes in a more fantastic or magical milieu. Generally speaking, the more realistic kairos material is found in the O'Keefe stories, which deal with the second generation characters.

The Murry-O'Keefe and Austin families should not be regarded as living in separate worlds, because several characters cross over between them, and historical events are also shared.

A theme often implied and occasionally explicit in L'Engle's works is that the phenomena that people call religion, science and magic are simply different aspects of a single seamless reality; a similar theme may arguably be discerned in the fiction works of C. S. Lewis or Diane Duane.[citation needed]

I felt for Polly when she lost her virginity in A house like a Lotus. I was glad that she decided not to see Zachary Gray again in An Acceptable Time. He already hurt Vicki in A ring of Endless light I cried when Sandy and Dennys had to leave the world of Noah's ark in Many Waters. Many waters still run deep.
I loved when Simon found his roots in Dragons of the Water. and Vicki and Adam were together in Troubling a Star.. I connected more with the Murray-O'Keefes then I did with the Austins even though I liked Vicki and Adam. Her adult novels A severed wasp and a Live coal at sea did not do much for me even though I liked some of the characters.

I became an Episcopalian while at SJSU. The Canterbury church really helped me to heal after I went through near death and heartbreak. Madeline's son -in -law Alan Jones was dean of Grace Catherdral but I never met him. What happened to Polly did she ever go to medical school? We know that Suzy married Josiah but what of Adam and Vicki? They said that Madeline was working on another O'keefe murray book this time about Meg. Now there will be no more Murray O'Keefe books.

Madeline is gone. I think of the poem by William Stafford

"Vacation"

One scene as I bow to pour her coffee:--

Three Indians in the scouring drouth
huddle at a grave scooped in the gravel,
lean to the wind as our train goes by.
Someone is gone.
There is dust on everything in Nevada.

I pour the cream

Is this what Jim Morrison who people said i may be related to saw in his vision as a little boy?( Don't laugh but both of us share the same crazy hair and the same Scotch-Irish bloodline and maybe members of the Morrison family clan, but too far removed to be more than a distant relation)Besides only the older generation remembers The Doors anyway.

Madeline, I remember reading and falling in love with your books. You are now at peace and surrounded by white light. One day I'll meet you and I'll find out what happened to Polly and Adam and Vicki.

Thing #23: Thoughts about School Library 2.0

I can't believe it. I made it finally. Our district Library and technology encouraged all of us ( 7 K-5 LMTS, 3 6-8, 3 high school) to do this. She promised us incentives if we completed it and I am competitive I love challenges. I also feel so technophobic and feel like I am a tech idiot compared to my other colleagues so I thought it would be something neat for me to try to learn. Two of my colleagues completed it way before me, but I was also teaching 3rd grade summer school so I had to go at a slower pace. Thanks to their comments of encouragement and those of other library 2,0 team members, I can now join the team.


1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

• setting up a blog was so cool and neat. My husband even decided to make one, but did not update like I did
  
• Making images using imagechef, image generator, adding images to my posts
  
• Making trading cards
  
• Cataloging on Library Thing
  
• Playing with You Tube, watching videos, and inserting them
  
• getting comments from others including two of my favorite authors
  
• Showing my husband and colleagues that even though I am not a tech goddess I can do it
  
• networking more with other LMTS in my district

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

I did an online class through Chapman and hated it. I also hated video generated classes. I never thought that I would get into an Online class like I did with this one. I was constantly checking my blog for comments and was even able to teach my tech god husband a thing or too and he says that I should not call myself a media pspecialist or teacher because I always need help. This program really built up my confidence that I could do it. I never thought I would get past week 2 because I had trouble with my avator. I also got to know two of my colleagues better. I am now thinking of teaching blogging to seniors as I don't know if I can do it with my students yet but maybe adults.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I never thought that my husband would make a blog. My colleagues have created a LMT and lesson plan exchange blog that is helping me to learn more ideas since we can't always meet all the time. I even was able to share some of my ideas with them which for me was a plus as I always felt inferior because I don't have their tech skills. I learned about things like Wikis, and rss feeds that I never knew existed. I plan on continuing my blog.

4.What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept? I would prefer just thing numbers instead of weeks. Weeks maybe me feel like I was really behind.


5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?
I feel so inferior and like a tech idiot compare to the other LMTS in my district. This discovery program really gave me the confidence to try new things. I would definately do it again.
6. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote CSLA learning activities
Awesome. It gave this tech newbie alot of self-confidence.

I don't know how ready and confident I feel about teaching blogging to students, but I will continue to maintain my blog and also blog with the others LMTS in my district and show my colleagues and administrators my blog. Thank you for a wonderful class. i will also post comments to others that really encoraged me to keep going.

week #9: thing #22 E-Books and Audio Books

I think that audio books are great for ESL students, Special day students, and those that are visually impaired. They are even better when they can be use along with the book to see the words and view the pictures. Some of the other LMT's that I work with record books. I am not into making cd-roms for books. Many students don't have a way of listening to them at homeat least in my population and I don't want to have to keep track or replace if lost. I do not by audiobooks unless its a core novel for a grade level. I have a few but they don't get checked out much because our resource room and reading room also have collections. I wonder though if listening to a book is like reading Cliff notes instead. Is the author reading word to word or is it abridged?

There are some e-books sites that I have used for students like

• Starfall
• Children's Books Online the Rosette Stone Project
  
• TumbleBooks for Kids
  
• Children's Storybooks Online

These sites are active with pictures and texts. I could see e-books as a great choice to get kids to read more because they love computers or also if you need a book for class and bookstore is sold out and library does not have anymore. I have read e-books, but I prefer a print copy in case I want to lay down and read can't do on a PC.

Week #9 Thing #21 Podcasts

For me this was the worst and most unpleasant activity so far for Library 2.0. I spent several hours on yahoo podcasts and I did not find one thing that interest me. I typed in every topic that I even had the slightest interest in and every time I placed a podcast it put me to sleep. I am not an audio person. I do not listen to cd-roms and I will not play any because I always scratch and ruin cd's and my husband gets mad. I don't even like to listen to music nor do I own an ipod or cd player. I used to have a cassette player but it broke and they don't make them anymore. I could see podcasts working for someone who likes to listen to audio, but not me I listen to the radio in the car and that's about it. I also am not into itunes either, because my music is limited to listening to the radio in the car. I could see itunes useful for aerobics instructors making their own music. Maybe if I become a water aerobics instructor, I may have use for it, but since I'm not really into music I would have no idea what songs to even pick. Yes, I still use VHS's because i am afraid that I'll scratch DVD's as I have already ruined one.

I could see kids maybe enjoying podcasts to talk about something they posted on the web or a report, but they would have to ask another teacher for help because audio is not something I enjoy. I also read about Vodcasts. Maybe that's something I'll explore more because I am more a visual person.

The Library

Thanks to my colleague CRV for sharing this. The kids will never say the library is boring again.

Week #9: Thing #20:You tube

They say video killed the radio star. I don't know about that because I had too much fun. I commute about 50 miles to work everyday and I listen to the Bone 107.7. Sometimes they do paradies of popular songs like " Dirty Deeds Done with Sheep for AC/DC's Dirty Deeds done dirt cheap, "Curry and Rice Girl" for Hullaback girl, and "The Devil went to Jamaica" for Charlie Daniles The devil went down Georgia. I thought the songs were funny, and on You tube I actually found the videos, I was laughing silly.


When I was in high school, we used to love babysitting at someone's house who had MTV. I had a blast from the past going through You tube and finding videos that I used to love to watch in high school. With all the reality shows on MTV, I don't watch it anymore. Now that I know about You Tube, I can always find videos I like or used to love. You Tube is also a great tool, if a patron comes to the library and asks for information on a video. For example: How many times has Dolly Patron's song "Jolene" been made into a music video? Go to You Tube to find the answer


On to the library side of things, I found the Conan the librarian video to be cool. Every year I show my first graders the Reading Rainbow video Alistar in Outer Space and it has a Conan the Librarian cartoon clip. Maybe this will empower students to learn the Dewey Decimal System or to return books on time. Library Dominoes reminded me of the wild dreams a kid has on playing dominoes with library books. As a kid, I would play with my grandparents dominos and try to do the domino effect. i also remember the question I got right on the MSAT, that communism was like a domino effect. Once the Berlin wall came down, it was the end to communism in Eastern Europe. I think the only communist countries left are: Cuba, Laos, China, Vietnam, and North Korea.


My favorite of all that I have to share is the 1987 Betty Glover Library Workout Tape ad. This was hilarious and brought me back down memory lane to things we don't see anymore like the old phonograph and card catalogs. Good for teaching library history ha!ha! Great 80's music too.

Week #8 Thing # 19 Check out Library Thing

I was just looking at Craigslist and a local nursing home was looking for someone to help catalog their collection of 200 books. Wow maybe I should email them about Library thing. One of my colleagues told me that I should give my tech god husband a name. Problem is there is no goddess of books in mythology Athena/Minerva, the goddess of wisdom is the closest. The only one that could be close to technology I think could be the Roman god, Janus, god of gates, doors, and new beginnings. Maybe new beginnings is technology and there have always been Luddites and neo-Luddites who were and are against it. Well I'll just me the goddess of books and my husband can be the tech god or god of technology.


Well back to Library thing. I looked up a few young adult books that are near and dear to me. The White Mountains by John Christopher. I read all of his books in the Tripod Series (When the Tripods came, The White Mountains, City of Gold and Lead, and Pool of Fire..This series is so similar to The Matrix movies. This book was introduced to me in library school as a coming of age book. Will lives in futuristic England, he is about to be "capped" ( when children become adults they receive a metal cap on their head and are slaves to the Tripods), but he decides to make a joruney to the White Mountains (Switerzland) where he will be free. 364 others chose it too.


Books I like that deal with American Indians teens are: DogWolf by Alden Carter and A Woman in her Tribe by Margaret A. Robinson. Annette and Pete are mixed bloods who live both in the white world and Indian world. They both are unsure about their place in society until their elderly Grandparents help them to find that link. Both of these books are special to me, because Annette is a Nookta from Canada and Pete is Metis ( mixed blood French and Indian). In Canada, I was considered to be Metis. The books are not so well-known because Dogwolf only has 5 others choosing it and A Woman in her Tribe only has one other.


I have always been fascinated with the Falashas (Ethiopian jews). I am not Jewish, but my first teaching job was at a Jewish school and I have some dear eldery friends who are Jewish. I met a Falasha at SJSU who adopted by an American rabbi and his wife. The Return by Sonia Levitin follows Josas, Desta, and Alamaz as they escape from Ethiopia to Israel. The most powerful scene in the book is the end. Operation Moses has stopped. Desta goes to the Wailing Wall and prays and feels touched by God. She feels that she has returned home. The Falashas believe that they are descendants of the Queen of Sheba and are often called Queen of Sheba's heirs. Only chosen by 11 others.


Last on my list is Summer Hawk by Deborah Savage. Taylor hates leaving Philadelphia for the country town of Alton, Pennsylvania. She finds an injured baby hawk and forms a friendship with a wildlife biologist and a boy she can't stand at first and learns about love, forgiveness, and raptors. Only chosen by 5 others.


I showed this to my Techgod. He was amazed and things maybe we can catalog our home library collection. He was like wow there even are pictures of some books and maybe you could swap the book with someone. This tool could be used for Classroom teachers to catalog their classroom libraries. Also many schools have reading incentives contests. Why not have students set up a library thing catalog and catalog the books as they read them along with writing a short summary for each book?

Week 8 Thing #18 Online Productivity Zoho

Oh Wow! This was so easy to do. i set up an account in Zoho and use their word processor. Very similar to word. here is my post it worked. Next I'll try a spread sheet

I asked my tech god husband if he ever heard of ZOHO. He said no. He also said why bother with it just send documents as attachements. I explained to him that if I am not at my computer at home I can get the document from anywhere as long as its in ZOHO.  I have had trouble emailing documents from new computers to old computers so hopefully Zoho will make them easier to read.  It also will be easy for students to access files they make in school at home as long as they have internet access.

Week #7 Thing #17 Sandbox

It was neat getting to look at some of the other curriculum ideas for other school library 2.0 topics. I posted Idea #32 I will have my students research topics like planets, states, animals, california history. They have to create a report and list sources. Other students can go into wiki and add things that they learn. For example:
Students could compile facts on a wiki that they know about an animal or planets. Other students could add facts as they find them out.

I could also see using wikis for kids to post questions that they think are on an exam and have other kids try to answer them. Teachers throughout the district could also post lesson plans tips and ideas on a wiki and that way others could get ideas without having to go to meetings. I could also see wikis used for student council meetings. Kids could read others idea and comment if they like or not.

What do we know about Pluto?
- It was discovered in 1930.
-It is very cold, because its far away from the sun.
It takes 248 years to orbit the sun, so a year on Pluto is 48 years.
Sometimes Pluto is closer than Neptune
Pluto has three moons. Two are small, but one Charon is just as large as Pluto.

Wikis could also be used for debating pros and cons and answering questions without knowing their identify. For example, we could discuss what will happen in 2012 when the space probe makes it to Pluto, why or why not we could live on Pluto, what would life on Pluto be like.