Beneath the Wraps

Well, the assembly was mostly on our voting responsibility - or at least that's what I got out of it.   The instructor asked.   What is November 11?   Here are some of the answers: "Doomsday"    "the best liar wins"   "Election hot mess, the day of voting" We were referred to this website and quote. John Adams said: "There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution." We watch a less-than-exciting video and then the conversation starts up again: "I've heard that many reports say that the voting system is rigged, can be hacked, is faulty, that is fixed, that we just show up with false hopes in that the decision is already made by the 5 big families" "Th...

            Coffenberry Middle School (the school that Jenna currently attends) starts each morning with a meeting.   To make it fun and entertaining, they often call for volunteers to perform skits or lip sinking songs or what have you. Two weeks ago, Jenna and her friend Annett performed "Barbie Girl" Just last week, I drove her to the school to pay a lunch fee.    Someone recognized her as we got out of the car.   "Hey, it's Barbie Girl!"              I find it ironic that Jenna hadn't played with Barbies that often - they were just too girly.   There is very little about Jenna that seems girly - and yet she takes it as a compliment when someone calls her Barbie Girl.             Jenna is not afraid to be herself.          ...

Jenna's school is made of several buildings.   The other day when we received our voter's "pamphlet" we also received a card for a separate measure - a district bond.   I had not known until then how old some of the buildings are. Her sixth-period class is in a building that was built in 1930.   Her 2nd and 5th-period classes are in a building that was built in 1935 with annex (that may be where she meets) built in 1948.   The main building was built in 1947 and the elementary school (not included in her schedule) was built in 1949.   The oldest building (not on her schedule either) was built in 1927.   It looks it. Roland made a fuss over why this bill or measure wasn't presented 30 or 40 years ago.   Maybe it was.   We weren't here so we don't know. Meanwhile, Jenna walks from building to building.   And you are seeing it accurately.   It is all uphill.   The colored broken lines represent Jenna's footprints througho...

Yesterday was the last day to register to vote - at least for this upcoming election.   We received the "Voter's Pamphlet" although I don't know why they call it that.  It's more like a book - a thin text book with lots and lots of words.  It is our first time voting in Oregon.  Our  "pamphlet' included a page  If you are a US citizen, live in Oregon, and are 18 years old and have registered to vote You have the right to vote . . . . . even if you are homeless . . . even if you have been convicted of a felony but have been released from custody, even if you are on probation or parole. . . . even if you have a guardian and even if you need help reading or filling out your ballot . . . or cast your ballet if you are in line by 8pm on Election Day . . . to know if you are registered to vote . . . to choose whether or not you want to register as a member of political party . . . to use...

Ever since we moved to Myrtle Creek, I had been looking online for any history of the town or library.   It hadn't occurred to me that the library would have its own scrapbook - one that I'd love to copy and share.   Let me just start with the introductions on the display case - excluding the pictures that I don't have. Humble Beginnings The first library in Myrtle Creek was established in 1912 in a two room, unheated cabin by a group of local citizens that staged a parade and fair to collect enough books.   The monthly rent for the location was $5.00.   Patrons war charged $1.00 a year to use the library.   It was run solely by volunteers, which were hard to get because the place was unheated, and operated by donations.   Sadly, it was eventually closed because all the members of the group responsible for the library moved out of town. New Beginnings In 1950, the Girl Scout library in the basement of a local church became open to the public. ...