Happy New Year everyone! Hope last night was fun. We enjoyed being with friends, but the night feels so fake, so artificial. I was in a great conversation with someone and had to end it to watch the ball drop. Sure I stood close to Tuvia. We hugged, and then made it through the group to share the moment but I felt gypped a bit. I did watch what I was drinking but not as much what I ate and that was a mistake on today, the day after. Oh well, just took a zantac and the rice and soup are feeling warm and comfortable lining my stomach today. I was ready to make an end to this 2nd year journal and then realized that officially I still have another day before I begin the next one, but shhh, don't let it out. I'm going to begin right now, on the first day of 2009. Join me... Bonnie

Okay, enough Today, I am writing and it's just beginning to snow here. SNOW, why not? It's winter outside and lovely inside. I have the opportunity to HAVE IT ALL! Watching it snow with no where to go, at this moment. That could change later, if it doesn't stop. It could hurt the wedding for Friday, but we will be there. Of course, I won't be driving. Just need to work on the dress. Haven't dealt with that. It's only Wednesday. Okay today, last day of 2008 and the last entry of this blog. Year 3 is coming here, not sure how we will move to 3 but move, we will. What will be different? Well, probably nothing tomorrow. Getting up as usual with the guilt of the WEDDING still on my head, but maybe I can make some progress this morning. I want to get it moving in a cool way and so far the tutorials I've subscribed to aren't helping. Still missing a few pieces but I am getting closer. It's in my head even if it's not in reality yet. I have done some work for my grants. Nice, nice, nice...should be fun tonight at Jane's house. New people to connect with...and 60 is coming...believe that? I will be 60 in August. Hope it's as good as the first 59. Okay I need to get moving, shower and a lesson later and then Tuvia should arrive in the early afternoon and get ready with me for the party tonight. YES!!!!!!!! I will need a nap to prepare for it.

UP and it's windy and there's a call for some snow tonight and more on Friday and that night is a wedding of one of my old students. Adjustments will be made. Good here, that Tuvia has no issue with driving in snow. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but I can't do it anymore. As for yesterday it was a great day. Lots of activity all in my pj's. Perfect. Some online purchases, bills got paid, practice, reading about Practicing, planning for a party here on Sunday, NO SNOW ALLOWED! and a mac lesson today and our grant is almost done so, now I need to focus some effort on tech in our big grant and then move to new projects for the spring. It's good, all good. I do need a movie but not today or tomorrow. New Year's Eve with friends and a group of new people.
All good.... And my third year here begins on Thursday. EXCITING! But for now I am moving out and getting to writing some of our HVWP grant.. YES!!!!!!

Ah, the sun, a fire in the fireplace, sheets in the washing machine, the apartment is neat and I am here poised to get moving on more projects hanging over my head. Feels good , although I would like to hear that Israel doesn't have to fight in Gaza. But it looks like they will be entering with troops. A shame that we aren't closer to peace there. I wonder if Barack will make a difference there and everywhere? Could that happen? I think we are all hoping for good things no matter who we once voted for. Tuvia and I sat and watched the 60 Minutes walk through Barack's rise. We both remembered that moment we made the shift, his race speech and we never looked back.
And today, I'm beginning to plan for our trip to DC, centering my interest on the camera I take along to document the experience. I'm thinking that my good camera is too big and too good to risk in a crowd so I'm back online shopping around for something small, good and inexpensive. Not hard to find. So one this great morning, I want to use it wisely so there' s no regrets, no guilt. Exercise, guitar, some Hebrew, my DS piece still, and lots of writing.... Okay, can do some of it at least... And I need to think about New Year's Eve and the upcoming wedding on Friday night... and maybe my belated Chanukah party next Sunday. Always events coming...

Up, up on Sunday and wondering, about the gym. Amazing how much better I'm feeling with just a few paragraphs of writing on the grant with Kevin. Of course there's more to write there, more to write on our HVWP grant more to do.
I have been practicing guitar every day and reading a book about just that subject: Practicing and it's so cool to be reading and reading about just that subject that sometimes torments me. For about a year, last year it was tough to be to the guitar for a practice session. I felt guilty about it, really guilty but I just didn't do enough. Since my return to classical guitar with enthusiasm in the fall and Jon's more regular opportunities for weekly lessons, I've been feeling terrific and making new progress and I'm almost finished with a piece that's been taking forever.
So that's great.
Today we will be lunching with my parents at Charlie Brown. Nice to see them. Tuvia of course, always pushes me to spend more time with them. I'm grateful for that push. Nice that he's still sleeping at 7:30.
Today I think we will continue to stay away from the movies. Just a bit of a break to digest our marathon.
Today, Sunday, what will it look like? Not sure.
At the moment it's creepy outside. Misty.

I missed my morning writing for a good cause, hosting our planning session for Empire State Network's upcoming annual weekend retreat, this year, in New Paltz. We had a lean and mean group sitting around my dining room table working as we ate bagels etc. and drank lots of coffee and as we got the planned end, noon, no one got up, not for another hour and as we moved through our morning we began using our computers to create a Ning site and something on Facebook and even move some to SKYPE and that was wonderful, really wonderful. As usual, I am proud and happy and professionally satisfied to be connected to the NWP/HVWP/ESPNW etc, etc.
And as for Tuvia, I'm proud to be with him as well as we find our way to movies that stimulate our thinking and move us emotionally. LOVED The REader, just for that. It deals with the the generation of "Nazi" offspring. Time to move away a bit from the gas chambers to the population that has to live with the crimes. Loved Kate Winslet, the rest of the cast, the screenplay, the structure. Sure, we will see more of the new movies, but they won't all equal this piece. And I working on other things as well. More work makes me happy. Less eating? No, that's not happening.

Good morning on the day after Christmas and everything will be opened. Last night at the mall, where we saw Doubt the place was hoping. Only movies. Everything else was closed and that was weird, but the movie was an actor's playground and we watched 3 amazing stars work together with aplomb. A blow out from Merle Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. I never got to the play and now I wish I had. We got there comfortably early and had our pick of seats but sadly not everyone could say that. The room was beyond packed with people arriving even when the theater was dark. Bad move. I had to smile when as we were picking up our tickets a couple ahead of us were so disappointed that they were closed out of Clint/Chris' Gran Torino. Although I hope they are coming for the real movie, Clint is not Dirty Hairy of old. I'm happy with that but maybe not everyone. Ahhh it's all about Chris this time for me. Last night at our diner, I did realize that a meeting at my house I was thinking would take place next weekend is really going to happen this weekend, as in tomorrow. What was I thinking? Okay, a quick change in plans and sleeping spots and some quick shopping and we are set. And of course a rearranging of movie theaters for this afternoon. The Reader is up for attention. Tickets ordered and ready to pick up. Parking? Tuvia is in charge. Bagels for tomorrow coming from Long Island with Katelin. Hope I get a poppyseed. Coming down the the New Year!!! But first a session with Anthony at 8, right on schedule.

I am up on Christmas morning. The sun is up and shining. Breakfast is finished quickly as usual and Tuvia is probably home by now and it's only 8:35 and I have the morning to write here, to begin creating my movies for 2008 list, write a bit of mail and then to the challenges: exercise here, guitar? writing for grants, my DS wedding movie that I think about now alot and that's a good thing. Am I missing a challenge? Hebrew: Did some of that yesterday, Hebrew homework due in the two weeks, done and off to my teacher and already back to me corrected so I can do more. Good there. And some reading? My Kindle is filling...I'm going to save that. I like creating a mini grant with Kevin on Google Docs. So much fun to arrive there, read the new pieces he's created and then add a bit of my own and move to other things and then return to more...I like that process. I can't do it all at once and it's good to know that whatever I add is respected and will be blended well into the fabric of the piece. And then there's my HVWP grant and that will move the same way with even more hands working together on it. Again, for me it's all about collaboration, quality collaboration. In fact next weekend a new collaboration with our New York Empire team as we create the beginning of our weekend retreat for the end of February. Lots of great minds here working and eating together. What fun awaits. So many projects hanging out there, and all before the end of the year. It's exciting! So I'm going to get off and move to another screen but not for long. I'm going to force myself off this and get going... Have a full and rich Christmas Day my friends. Chanukah is going strong for us.

Merry Christmas to All, especially my buddies, Karen and Kevin. Here it's a rain day and probably will be tonight as well. I was hoping for some snow, but at least it will be warmer tomorrow when we get to a movie. Last night Tuvia and I went out for dinner with friends and found, right around the block, practically, a fish restaurant that we both enjoyed and so far, the prices are reasonable. YES!!! We haven't been with these friends in a long time and while they were also excited about the coming of Barack we spent lots of the evening talking about the economy and of course there's not too much we can say that's positive, but it was good to share a meal, dessert and good conversation with them. A year ago their infant grandson, newly born was touch and go and now, he's one and going strong. I have a guitar lesson today at noon. Lots of time to play a bit, to get to the gym, to plan a nice dinner for Tuvia. He will be working today and that's very good for his mind and being. I have grant writing to stay with and that's good for me. My Wedding DS is with me always now and that's good. Still no pressure from the couple. Hope you have great plans for tonight and tomorrow and time for family to enjoy the holidays. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Tonight is the 4th candle for us on Chanukah.

Morning. We are getting closer to Christmas. A shame there could be rain and not snow to usher in the holiday. I understand, but then again, I lost my Chanukah party because of weather. The threat of snow, how I remember it well. I always directed the snow play and often snow directed my play more than I did. I remember lots of early-morning conversations with principals, determining our performance future, how to make the best of a tough situation. I think this would make a good Slice of Life Tuesday entry on my regular blog. Hold that thought. As for yesterday, what fun, well Hebrew online wasn't. I couldn't concentrate,even though I wanted to. I was prepared for more of what we had been working on last week and the focus of the lesson was logically on Chanukah with all the vocabulary one would need. Oh well, I kept thinking about Peter, wondering if he really cared about that lesson, after all he's not Jewish, but I suppose, why not? He is taking Hebrew as a language and this is a Jewish holiday. I have to ask him. Feels strange that he won't be continuing with us for Part 2 of our class. We are a group and he is one of the 4. My fave. Oh well. I'm sticking with it!
I'm going strong with guitar. Good year for me. I'm making some progress with the grants I'm writing, slowly though. Good talk with Tom yesterday about what comes next. All good, but now for a conversation with my mom... And I have the wedding piece to play with. Off I go for Slice of Life Tuesday

This writing year is coming to an end on New Year's Eve and I'm ready for a clean slate because things on this account are just too slow. Imagine, too slow. How easily we get spoiled by speed.
As for today it's really freezing and Tuvia's cell phone wasn't working and once again we are dependent on our objects to work and provide channels for communication. I couldn't get to him and he couldn't get to me and as he drove home he was ready to stop a police car to use a phone to call me. He didn't and soon he was home and communication with me once again. Whoops...interruption: family issues about Chanukah, my 90 year old mom , and then a call from HVWP and Tom and that moves me away from here into the world of work and getting grants written. Okay...I have to get off the couch, close this window, even though it took forever to get it opened, and get to exercise and wonder where Dana is. Oh well...I am ready to move... I could keep writing, but I've lost the time focus. I am feeling the pressure of today's list of activities...

Happy Chanukah to all! No family, no latkes, but the candles are shining brightly. Now 7 more nights to come. Even as an adult it's a fun holiday, especially sharing it with Tuvia. We actually enjoyed Chinese left-overs and the cleared snow, still a white blanket outside.
It was a great day, filled with phone conversations and work on the things I've been feeling guilty about. So with the help of the computer, I can open and close pages of writing, sometimes leaving them all open at the same time and then moving to my other computer where I'm working on my wedding movie. All good even though it's all moving slowly. Tuvia is sitting next to me, tooth pick in hand, waiting patiently for 60 minutes as the football games winds its way to the end of the 4th quarter, slowly. He's watching my new tv screen as if he cares and knows what's going on. Yesterday he watched Slumdog Millionaire with the same feeling of patience, but there I was hooked from the start and he was vacant from the start. I never lost interest and he never found the point of it, but he sat politely and patiently. I don't think I could have done the same. As for tonight, I have Hebrew to work on and some guitar. Wow, the game is over and 60 minutes will begin right on time. YES!!! Okay, I'm almost off as well. Just a few more minutes to write a bit more about the great time we had today enjoying the beginning of winter even with its weather obstacles. The sun appeared at just the right moment and the complex staff made sure to have the service necessary to support life moving out of apartments, into cars and off into the world. It was great to lunch at Strawberry Place. Today we were able to get the best table in the house. Usually on a Sunday, we are at the counter rather than waiting to be squeezed into a small table space. Okay, I am now off as 60 minutes is previewing its evening stories. See you in the am.

Up and the snow is all around us with plans for more tonight. Will there be Chanukah tomorrow night? Sure, but probably without a celebration at my place. Snow will hold us all back. Snow taking control. Of course, it could be worse, much worse, but in my reality, the personal blues are taking over and Tuvia is here working hard to combat them. Oh well, I was able to take the blues and compose a 6-word creation for Kevin, so all is not lost. I suppose today will be great if I can make some headway on the writing projects I have and the wedding project I've been playing around with now, honing down photos and arranging and rearranging pieces of voice over and video. I haven't found the great hook yet, but I'm playing. The process is way to slow for Tuvia. He keeps asking, are you making progress? I don't know. I'm "in it" at the moment. I need some action today, some time outside. I'd like to see Slumdog Millionaire today. Looks great!
Okay, I'm moving to another screen now. I have to find out where my raisins are... Snow anyone? Winter! Bonnie

Snow anyone? It's still exciting, especially when I canceled my 8AM gym appointment but strangely, I will miss being there. I haven't been there since last Sunday and even though I've been exercising daily at home, there's something about the focus in the gym environment that I've come to appreciate. Just me and my Shuffle and the weights to challenge me beyond where I've been. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. As for today, I have all my toys with me at Tuvia's. I have my computer work, my guitar, Hebrew, an exercise ball and lovely DVD to direct me and I love the anticipation of snow and there's writing to be done for our grants and nothing to hold me back except myself, and my procrastinating. But I have gotten much better with the help of this writing into the day. Kevin and I are moving ahead with our new collaboration plans and we have begun to get some positive responses on the Ianthology idea. I'm sure Kevin will suggest something more exciting than I anthology. I'm ready to oblige. As for Tuvia, beware. He will not be patient to hang out for long in house, snow or no snow. I would bet we will be on our way to a movie today. But he has me to contend with. Snow!!!!!!

I'm here and writing, salivating to be in this writing/thinking mode, wondering how this will move. All those thoughts swirling around, what will get captured here? I was amazed yesterday when my new TV arrived with two delivery guys from PC Richards who were not native Americans, probably from Eastern Europe, maybe Russia. The lead guy heard my particular requests and went to work without much detail. I offered him more than he needed and he on moving at his own speed of expertize. I followed him around offering my help, explaining more. He was polite but I was unnecessary. He saw the problem and attacked i with comfortable expertise. He is here with more skills than I'm sure he needs for this job, but within 30 minutes or less, he my new TV installed, my old Tivo moved to the bedroom, my speaker wires reconnected and a short explanation offered for all the clickers. Of course I opened my wallet. Of course I offered them something to say THANK YOU. Nothing had to be moved. And to prepare I had emptied my wall unit of all breakables. They never moved anything. Everything was operated from the front of the unit. Wow what a operation, what collaboration! I need to call PC Richards and pass on my BRAVO Having this flat screen will take some getting used to, it's flat. I think I'm going to miss my SONY Trintron. Shhh, don't tell anyone. As for today, I'm off to Apple early in the morning for my one on one focusing on Final Cut with Gene and then across to Shoprite for more eggs and oil and then back home for another experiment with latkes preparation.
What was so cool yesterday was a Skype conversation with my buddy Kevin. A short face-to-face focused on our new collaboration, bringing our two sites together in late March during the New England Sites meeting to for our mini retreat with some of our tech team, sharing strategies for our SI tech embedding and then planning a mini grant to create a pilot local version of the Eanthology for WP continuity with writing and feedback that seems to be a place where new TCs and old, feel excited and hoping to continue with after their SI's. How does that sound out there??? Anyway, I just created and Google Doc for it, so the collaboration continues. Anyway, I need some OJ even though it's still dark out. Happy Thursday. NO SNOW SUNDAY ALLOWED.

Finally I've arrived to begin my day with some writing into it. Snow last night and bit to deal with on windshields. Tuvia took time getting it off and driving on home. I wanted to help him, but of course, he wouldn't call to have me join him in the cold. A gentleman to a fault. It's hard to complain to friends about that behavior. Oh well. Today I'm getting a new TV, waiting to hear when it will arrive. So I'm sitting tight before I start to dismantle the wall unit with all my lovely possessions, I want to keep whole. I'm sure this will be a big pain and I hope the new one lasts as long as I old Sony Triniton which is still not dead but feeling its age. And I suppose I'm ready for a new one. Now if we were talking about computers, there'd be question, I would have replaced without a question, years ago. The TV is at least 15 years old, pre Tuvia. Can you imagine a computer lasting 15 years? I don't think so. I can't wait to hear more about the future, Tri-book mac. Then later today, I'm off to NYC again to see my buddy Nancy and share some food and great talk with her. This is really a belated Obama celebration with her, especially as he became Time's Person of the Year. Of course! Nancy is even more left than I am and love that! Someone more left...keeps me on my toes. My wedding DS is now officially in my head. As I fell asleep last night I was thinking about it, creating it. Good, I need to relieve my guilt with its presence. Good to get the issue of latkes out of there. Do I need a food processor??? Should I see if Joy has one? Let me call... Okay, time to get going, or should I wait to hear when they will arrive??? Funny, I don't care about TV's

I'm here, through all the screens and that should get better in my year three journal beginning with the new year. Can you believe it? That's the relationship we have with time. It's moving faster than we can ever deal with. Oh well. Great Hebrew lesson last night. Of course it's all about being prepared and I was. Just listening to the lesson from last week really helps and the homework was to compose some sentences and it was fun to figure out how to best do that. I tried using the Hebrew letters on the language option but it took too long. I have a cool program, Sketch where once I created a blank page, I could draw the letters and then send it to my teacher. She got it right away and corrected it for me and used it with the class. And this week we worked on something that Tuvia has started with me: infinitives. I didn't understand the rules behind their creation and that's where the class could make sense of them. Tuvia and I have agreed to speak at least 15 minutes a day of only Hebrew around a topic I know...We will see how this works. But it's time to renew for the second level and I think I'm joining in...debating if it pays to do it two times a week for a shorter period of time than once a week for the 9 months. I'm not sure if I want to give up two nights a week. I have to think about this one. I am planning to spend some of this day cooking latkes with a combined recipe from my sister-in-law and my buddy Agita. We will play. Fun and Tuvia will be ready to taste. I have my ealy morning lesson today as usual. Guitar is feeling good and then I need to get cracking on the wedding Ds and HVWP work. Okay... early morning darkness. Probably no snow here today but maybe tomorrow. I'm almost looking forward to it as long as it doesn't get in my way. I'm off to the city tomorrow night to hang out with my buddy Nancy. Lots to do... YES!

Okay, I've been up for a while. Tuvia is out and working, probably, I've spoken with my mom, created a To Do list for today, a grocery list for the Latkes on Sunday, I've changed the bedding and washed the old sheets, I've watched Tom Cruise on the Today Show, who cares! I have a fire in the fireplace, I've written a Memoir Monday about Gran Torino and Chris, I am just about to begin writing about tech this year at the HVWP and NWP... I am itching to call Eileen although she might not be home yet from Florida, and the list continues... I love the early part of the day, when it's fresh and I can still do it all. As it progresses and I don't don't IT ALL, or even close, I start feeling like I'm wasting great time opportunities, but there's tomorrow to try again. I think my best days are when I get very close to the morning list on paper of in my head...that's it! So I'm on my way...I have to get off here sooner...so here I go...time to clean out some drawers...socks first! Have a great MONDAY!

A late writing. Not planned but what can you do, life got in the way today. Up early and off to cooperate with the Rick side of the family to meet my parents at the diner for a late/early breakfast/lunch without Tuvia, but that was part of the cooperation side. It was fine. No issues, no tension but always walking on eggshells. And next week my place for family Chanukah with a good chunk of the family and I'm up for the challenge of some cooking. All good! Tuvia will be helping, or I will have to find things to have him do. A partner for sure. Home is the sunshine with challenges in mind for later. New toys to work with: Ipod Classic, radio/speakers...for music everywhere easily. There's always the next toy... And there's a new challenge now folded in: to learn Final Cut Studio with the support of online tutorials from Lynda.com Time for a great movie: great- I'll Always Love You... Kristen Scott Thomas where have you been??? Glad you are back and not just a pretty face, that's for sure. This one is a wow. I need to write about it on my blog... Then home for dinner and Hebrew, exercise and some writing and NO guitar...oh well tomorrow!
I am powering down... Good night and writing into the morning...

Yesterday Tuvia and I spent the afternoon in New York City. We walked to see the tree on 5th ave. and the skaters, the season without feeling too crushed. But we were really there to see Gran Torino because it isn't opening in Rockland and I couldn't wait until December 25. At 3:00 we arrived at the Lowes on 68th st. and rode the escalator up to the second floor and with time to kill I enjoyed at bit of popcorn, but I was anxious to get into the theater and get watching. The theater was almost totally empty but gradually, even on a Friday afternoon, it began to fill. I wondered, did anyone in the audience know that Chris Carley was in the movie? Of course not. How many movies that I seen with people I knew in them, probably none. But that's what made this one so different.
Chris had been sharing this adventure with me and I was busting to see what he had done. Tuvia could have waited but knew I couldn't and didn't hesitate to join me. Okay, we got through the ads and previews, and finally the theater darkened and we were ready. I knew the story, read all the early reviews and the movie opened in the church and this was Chris' territory, as its priest. Clint stood at the casket of his dead wife and Chris took to the pulpit. And I was nervous, busting...not enough time for him to establish his character... But Chris never went away for long. He kept coming back, pushing his way in... It was hard watching at first...a very good movie, great work by Clint. But the scenes with Chris, Chris looked so young to be a priest that Clint treated as a adult. Chris was great, with a look of Spencer Tracey, but it was hard for me to sit still. I was watching a movie but not casually. Not the same experience. I kept waiting for more of Chris and there was...He opened and closed this one. I hope this moves his career to allow me to have more experiences with him on the screen.
BRAVO Chris Carley.

Late today. Exercise Friday mornings. Today I got a break: 9 not 8, but even still, too much to do so early. Go figure, I used to be teaching by 7:30 AM not so long ago. We do adapt quickly. I was up to watch the ticker tape read that the upstate schools were closed, my old school was closed, my Rockland school no, and I was free as well to get up and get driving.
So Anthony demanded a lot from me. All good. An hour of sweating! Then back in the car and home to Paramus and planning for the afternoon in NYC. Central: getting to see Chris in Gran Torino ASAP! Lincoln Square Theater on Broadway and 68th. Of course, Tuvia wants to see and do more. A visit to 42nd St., the tree etc. and I'm thinking about what camera I have with me. Go figure. I actually have my Iphone and my Flip... my God what am I doing with all these adult bought toys? I will play with them today, I will, but this afternoon is for Chris with a big of popcorn. Of course, I still need time to read, to review Hebrew, to play guitar to at least, think about the DS project I have on the table...Still my challenges. And the rain is done and the sun is shining...nice! Enjoy...

Thursday morning with the hint of ice to come. Upstate it's probably there. Maybe an 2:00 delay. Oh, I remember...my favorite. A few extra hours at home in the morning and then a short school day without penalty. What a hard time to be in school though with the threat of cuts coming, probably threatening the most humanizing elements of education: music, art, drama etc... What can I do to prevent this? As for our writing project? We are good and I hope we can continue to remain optimistic and strong. Last night, I'm feeling last night. An hangover from great, rich food treats. We opted for an array of appetizers instead of the conventional entrees with their ridiculous price tags. I hate being ripped off. But our version of tapas, that was so much fun and so much cheaper and so much food. I will pay today. Good reminder to get back on the wagon. I got on and keep trying to stay there, but ahhh, temptations taste great! But there's nothing like waking up and feeling in control...well last night counts as my cheat meal and I can't get another one until next week, after Wednesday...I have to plan it carefully. Today is another Mac lesson at the Apple store. Another Mega Millions lottery ticket, over 200 million, chicken, chicken, chicken... And the Golden Globes will be announced this morning. Gran Torino watch! Off to Paramus!

Back from our annual holiday dinner with my GNO book club- 3 of us together for over 10 years. Wow! We've shared lots of books and lots of meals and most important, lots of our lives. And we continue to enjoy moments of our lives. Bonnie understands my phototag needs. Her husband shares my craziness, Julia though gets crazy, but she was good tonight as we captured our trioness. Earlier today, I was back with my HVWP leadership team, meeting to talk about our work and plan for our grant writing. Good demand to get us to focus on where we've been and where we are moving to.. And ride up and back came with James Taylor and Yo-yo Ma, offering music to drive with... I am home now, with a few drinks to get out of my system but it's all good, all good.... Happy holidays!

I'm here in my space early, as usual. What continues to drive me is challenge guilt. I have lots to do this month. Lots of writing for grants and applications for more work with the NWP etc. It used to freak me out to be challenged with writing, but something has to get easier,especially when I write every day for the personal challenge of it. I'm back with Memoir Mondays and Slice of Life Tuesdays and Write on Wednesdays. I was struggling during the NWP SA period but I'm back now with my own schedule on my Apple calendar that I can't live without. I am poised to work on my wedding piece, just wondering if I should just use Final Cut directly and not Imovie to begin a draft. I'm not sure.
I have my videos on both. It easier to move photos and VO back and forth between the other programs to clean them up. I don't know... I want to master Final Cut and the Studio. That's my media challenge. And tonight is Chris' opening in LA! I hope I see some pictures soon. I am there with him. Yesterday was filled with fun and tension, guilt to include guitar practice and Hebrew onLine...what I'm enjoying is the sharing in class with Peter and Peggy and wondering if I should continue for another course... Probably...

Good Monday morning! I am happy to be home today and ready to work through my list of things...of course the wedding video is high up there, exercise, guitar for tomorrow, Hebrew tonight....help!!!! But first I'm here and then moving to Memoir Mondays and then a movie review of Milk...and then some thinking about the calls to make... It's all good...the week ahead with a new album of music to listen to... yo Yo Ma has done it again...an album for the holidays with a new twist...lots of collaborations Yo Yo style...Just watched his work with James Taylor on Charlie Rose and then a video of their work...I'm in heaven...and yesterday I found a guitar piece that I would like to play a version of Stairway to Heaven...I can't wait to play it for Jon tomorrow and have him begin to recreate it for me...Ahh, I love playing guitar...reminds me, I need time for it today...a day ahead to craft...it will kill me to throw it away...Dana will arrive soon with my second cup of coffee from DD to get me going but I will probably remain here too long...oh well.. I have to get moving to the next screen...more to come... Keep warm will you...

Morning! Sunday, with a dusting of snow and that's exciting. Snow is fine in small doses and early, in the months of December and January, when it's a novelty but usually it lasts way too long, into February and March. Oh well, just makes you appreciate the coming of spring that much more. I have my fingers crossed that there's no snow on January 20th and that it's not too cold so I can really enjoy being outside in DC. with the others who are venturing down there for the history of it all. I am beginning my wedding DS. I have photos, video, vo's all ready to put into my Imovie software and wonder about what I will do with it all, what will move it along. I think the video will be the center for this piece and who knows where it will go. I think there will be a DS and a photo slide show with a slew of their photos and extras from me but the ds piece, while it will be longer, needs to tell a story and now run on and on for the sake to just including everything. No one will have the patience to watch it. the ceremony, the dances etc...Now how to slice and merge....that's the challenge! Saturday Seminar yesterday still thinking about the collaboration that is not an easy one, how can I best deal with it, make it better for me and for her and for the group. Too much one upping... Today begin a thrill of movies all out to qualify to the Academy Awards and the Christmas moving-going season... Milk today and this week Chris and Clint in Gran Torino! Can't wait...the reviews are beginning to appear and Clint already has a best actor award and the movie has a screenwriting credit. Great for Chris and his career to be in a movie many people will see even if he just gets a line or two in a review. Lots of people will see him on the screen as they opt for a Clint Eastwood extravaganza. But first Milk.

Full day! An early morning out and off to New Paltz for a Saturday Seminar for photos and a meeting with Ell/Tech and a reconnection with Mary at BOCES. Good morning with great workshops and nice support for our SI08 TC presenters. It was all good/almost all good. Some issues with collaboration that I have to deal with. The day was cold and stimulating and I was more than not comfortable with my people. And on the way I was ready to return to life with Tuvia and enjoying lunch and the day back with him in Paramus. All good and reading time with my Kindle. I think I miss writing into the day, though, not after it. Tomorrow morning...

Can the news get much worse? I supposed everyone is waiting to see just how it will impact on their lives. I keep living and wondering and writing about this. And each day the news is worse. I still get my hair worked on monthly, my trainer session each Friday at the gym, my house gets cleaned by Dana every other week and I work on my guitar with Jon every Tuesday morning...I hope my staff remains with me. As for life as usual, yes, life continues to be usual...Full, exciting! Up early, out to the gym, some frost on my windshield. Some email problems and off to Apple to clear it up after the gym. Now, back at Tuvia's I was writing here and planning to be off after lunch to shop for friends coming for dinner tonight. What could be a better way to spend a cold, but sunny December? As for my work on the wedding...it's fun moving back into the past, to that day in September. How do i bring that to a DS without getting boring. There's way too much here. I think I need to begin with the video, although I have selected photos from my group of 600+ Karen did send me even more and I will take a look there... I love being in the process of creating... Off I go! Tomorrow begins early: Up and out for SUNY and a Saturday Seminar!

Okay, I know I was going to write here at the end of the day, but I had that urge to begin here, although I've been clicking away on my new DS project, the wedding I worked on and I'm back with my editing software, getting used to the buttons and windows. Always takes a bit of time to reconnect with old tools. And there's a frenzy of very exciting work coming: Empire Network, a meeting over Christmas at my house, a tech retreat with Kevin, some family pieces, our site grant writing, getting the PPT's from our NWP sessions out to the participants...what else??? Dover DS in the spring... And dinner tomorrow night for a great couple I love being with. Tuvia is good. Loves to socialize. And life continues to be full and flourishing...Im probably spending too much money,... So let's see if I have more to add here later... I have this morning to myself and then lunch and the rest of Thursday with Tuvia... okay...I'm off...

Took a really long time to get to this screen, but I've been patient here with my other online tools but it does make you crazy. I decided to try writing at the end of the day when the day is fresh but I am tried,really tired. Let's try. I was up and writing a lot: a slice of life Tuesday, a Write on Wednesday, an invite for Boil Down your week... I got the exercise and dress and arrive with time to spare for my Apple lesson and pretty much Gene tried to help me get back some of my Flock tools but no luck. By next week I'm hoping to have a good chunk of my wedding piece ready to move to Final Cut...I'm actually using Final Cut now. I forgot. I wonder if I can move the video to I movie...I I did wait too long to play guitar. I just didn't have patience for myself. Saturday is a seminar in New Paltz, Friday night, dinner here with Jane and Michael and Tuvia. Chris' movie with Clint is getting closer to going public and it's so cool to have him share it with me. We've been speaking daily and I love it.
I am looking into getting a new TV but something just basic. Not like buying a computer. But my 15 year old SONY is feeling its age and it's getting worse. I can't write anymore.
So good night to all....It's been a good one, seeing my Y ladies for lunch,even if I did eat too much. Ugh. Okay time to clean up and move on to the bedroom...I'm off.