Beneath the Wraps

            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. ...

                        Roland has two daughters, age 22 and 20.   When they were younger, Frances liked to draw and paint - mostly paint, but she learned a variety of artistic methods.   Pamprin was very theatrical.   She enjoyed singing and performing.   Both were skilled at what they enjoyed.             Their biological mother had enrolled each in various classes according to their interests. Pamprin had performed in the Salt Lake   children's choir.   Her mother also drove her to several auditions for commercials. Frances had entered several of her paintings into contests.   One she had painted of Adam and Eve.   It hung on our wall for a few weeks before she took it down to enter in another contest.   We never saw it again.     ...

The assignment for last week in my management class was on the Associations with Decision Making Process.   Our topic: Panera Bread.   I did some research and was able to put my thoughts together by Wednesday afternoon.   It is the earliest I have ever turned in an assignment for that class.   It was graded right away and I had received full credit.   Nice. This week we don't have a written assignment.   Our discussion post is on Strategic Planning: Mission, Vision, and Goal Statements.   It needs to be 250 words and of course references.   The topic: the public library.   Are you kidding me?   That just happens to be where my passion lies right now.   Words and thoughts poured out of me. Initially, there were over 600 words.   I kept cutting it down.   This morning my post looked something like this (grey words were not posted to my discussion but kept for this blog)        ...