My Philadelphia Story

me at City Hall in Philadelphia... it is a gorgeous building!

a couple interpreting friends and workshop presenters

As you know, last week I attended a conference in Philadelphia. These conferences take place every two years, and this is the third one I have attended. This year may have been my last national conference. I'm not sure. This year I felt so worn out by it all! I don't know if that is my age, the fact that it came only one week after my son's wedding, or because it was my third one so the novelty has worn off. Luckily, some of the workshops were excellent, so my interest was piqued. (Some weren't so excellent; I'll just ignore those.)

This was an excellent workshop and

included an interesting panel.

Here is my list of what I learned and what I appreciated about attending this conference:

1) I totally admire the people who put so much energy into working at the national level in our professional organization and/or doing research to learn more and more about our career and how it works. They amaze me, and I am so thankful they have the interest and ability to serve in those ways.

2) I learned some things that may help influence my decision about what to do on a part-time basis after I retire.

3) I saw some people I had met at our conference two years ago. We had very little time to talk, but it was great to see familiar faces.

4) There is always more to learn about American Sign Language and about how the process of interpreting works. It fascinates and humbles me. (See #1 again. Thank you, people who have super brains.)

5) Back when our organization was new, these conferences drew a few hundred attendees. This one had 3,000! It has been exciting to be in such a changing and growing field.

6) I was reminded that I need to keep working on my skills and keep learning how to be an interpreter. Even though I have been doing this for nearly 27 years, I am nowhere near the "end point" and nowhere near the level of mastery that I would like to be. I need to remember not to be complacent about my skills and my professionalism.

7) Being in the presence of greatness was very inspiring.

My pal, Barack, dropped by to ask my

opinion on some education questions. Cool.

Fictitious Names and Real Live Herbs

photo is from ilovemybaby dot org

I have been using made-up names for my family members on this blog. They are named in my profile.

My daughter hated her made-up name, Marjorie, and also hated the name I gave to her boyfriend: Greg. So I decided to go really far out. I re-named some of my family members. I hope this doesn't confuse my readers. I'll try to make it clear.

From now on my daughter is Autumn and her boyfriend is Harley. My son is Greene and his wife is Hummingbird.

My husband will continue as Charles. Sometimes I even call him Charles IRL!

Now for the herbs part. I ran across a great idea for preserving herbs such as cilantro, basil, etc. etc... so you can use them year-round. We've wondered what to do and have sometimes let our extra cilantro get all dried and icky and then we just toss it. What a waste!

Here's the tip on how to keep them fresh and useable: from 4 Bushel Farm.

http://4bushelfarm.blogspot.com/2009/08/secret-life-of-frozen-basil.html

Please Touch Museum Toy Drop

When I was in Philadelphia I did a toy drop (see The Toy Society). I love doing drops in other cities and states! Charles and I stopped by the Please Touch Museum in Philly. It is Fab.U.Lous! If you have kids and make it to Philadelphia, go there! The building itself is a sight to see. We didn't even pay to go in, but we still saw that it is fantastic! (Here's an interesting note: the building was an old, abandoned thing which they bought for one dollar and refurbished. Now it is absolutely gorgeous!!)

Anyway, here's the toy drop at the Please Touch Museum. Most families approached via this ramp which was close to the parking lot. Believe me, it was hard to find a space between families when no one was coming up the ramp, and no one was looking and I could do the quick drop and photograph anonymously! But we managed. That's Charles nonchalantly strolling up the ramp, making sure no one is watching me.

We went inside, oohed and aahed, took some pictures, shopped in the store, checked out the cafeteria and did a potty stop.. came out and waited for our bus... and while waiting at the bus stop we saw a family find the toy! A few others had looked but decided not to go for it. This family did! I could tell the mom was reading the little blurb and thought it was cool! (She was trying to explain and show it to her husband who was doing his guy thing and not paying much attention.) I managed to get this picture of the little girl holding my (now her) toy. I feel comfortable posting it, because I didn't get her face. Charles stood in front of the museum, "posing" while I aimed at the family and photographed them instead of Charles. Aren't we sneaky??

This is the first time I've witnessed someone finding my toy drop, and it was SUPER FUN!

See how gorgeous this building is? Wowzers!

Wednesday Women VII, Updated

I'm home after a long week in Philadelphia, where I attended a conference. There were 3,000 of us attending the conference! We took over the city! You could identify us two ways: by the badge/ID bag we all wore around our necks (which was official entry into the workshops) or by the sign language flying around everywhere. It was a national conference of Sign Language Interpreters and Deaf people. So we made a big splash with our visual conversations.

Wednesday came along, and it was time for my Wednesday Women Lunch. For the first time that week, I happened to be alone for lunch! Never fear -- I ate at a popular market that was near our hotel and that was invaded by all of us badge-bearers and signing folks. I sat down at one of the few empty chairs in the place, and I was with two women from my conference. I didn't know them, but they were wearing badges and signing to each other. It would have been a perfect opportunity to include them in my Wednesday Women experience. But... they did not acknowledge my existence.

When you have been interpreting for nearly 27 years, as I have, and you sit down with two young signing women who are not using their voices, you can pretty much tell with a quick glance and from the way they are signing whether they are hearing or deaf. Well... these obviously were a couple of young hearing signers who wanted to practice and wanted to appear to be deaf, or fluent in sign language, or something. Maybe they were just completely intrigued with themselves.

At any rate, I chose not to be assertive and introduce myself. They never even glanced my way, and never showed the slightest curiosity about me, so I just enjoyed my lunch alone. Had they glanced my way, I would have started a conversation with them (and they might have had their picture at my blog - a dubious honor, but still...)

The picture is the market where I ate. I did not get a picture of my silent partners and my alone self or even of the food I ate. Next week I'll be with friends who will know I'm there and will converse with me!

Wednesday Women VII

photo of Philadelphia City Hall, by davidtoc @ Flickr

Surprise! I have been in Philadelphia all week, attending a conference. I was sneaky and prepared posts to magically appear on the days I was gone. I'm back home today, but I need time to upload photos, tell you about who I ate lunch with on Wednesday, and just rest up and "digest" my week. So... later (hopefully soon) I'll talk about my Wednesday Women. Check back soon!

My Open Heart

This is my story of opening my heart to let God's love shine (see Ladies of Grace at Beth's blog).

Now don't expect to read about how I performed a miracle. I did not! The idea of opening one's heart is to notice the small ways you can be a gracious person in the course of your ordinary daily events. Not to move mountains, not to convert anyone, not to be a big hero or a martyr. Just to be more gracious and to remember that God's love is in your heart - it should be shared, not hidden.

So this is what happened to me. I read the first chapter in Beth's book, A Heart Like His. The thought was in my mind about making my heart warm and soft instead of cold and hard. So.. I happened to attend a gathering of some acquaintances I had known in the past. I was not terribly fond of these people. But during this gathering, something happened. I remembered in the middle of the gathering that I didn't want to have a cold heart.

Deep inside my heart, I believe that everyone is basically good -- even the bad people. Every bad person starts out as a Child of God, and through bad experiences and bad choices, he or she learned to do bad things. But that does not mean that I should be bad back at them!

So there I sat in this gathering of acquaintances that had never been my best friends and never will be. I opened up my heart a crack, and I realized that I could be patient. I could listen. I could purposely be non-judgmental. I didn't have to turn into their Best Friend Forever, but I could be a nice person and give them respect. So I did! And guess what! I ended up having fun! Opening my heart, just a crack, let me see some of the good inside these acquaintances. I was able to laugh and enjoy the time. And hopefully they enjoyed the gathering a little more than they might have expected, too.

So... that's my story. A very small thing. I opened my heart. I tried to be gracious rather than impatient and hard-hearted. It felt good! And I hope to remember this experience and try to be this way more often. Wouldn't the world be a much better place if we could all strive to be Ladies (and Gentlemen) of Grace every day?

Open your heart today, and tell your story at Beth's blog... I would love to hear more stories, and you might win a prize!

One Book South Dakota

When I visited South Dakota in June, I bought a book which is their "One Book South Dakota" project - everyone in South Dakota is encouraged to read this book. It intrigued me, so I brought it home (to Minnesota).

Recently I finished reading the book. It's called Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch by Dan O'Brien.

I learned so much! I guess in my earlier life I didn't pay close enough attention to history AND to ecology lessons. I knew that we European settlers did loads of damage to the native culture, language, lifestyle, religion, and wildlife that we encountered. (My ancestry is Scottish/Irish/English which qualifies me to speak as "we" when I talk about the white settlers who came to what is now the USA.) What I didn't know enough about was how we also raped the countryside and paid NO attention to the natural cycles and what really works and doesn't work in our new home.

This book talks about the plant ecology and cycles that happen in the Great Plains area. Buffalo are perfectly adapted to the land and climate. The plants of the prairie thrive in the presence of buffalo, and buffalo thrive on the varying plants and in the extremes of hot and cold that happen here. But we Europeans, who thought we knew best, introduced cattle and fences and over-grazing and feedlots. The cattle don't thrive here; they freeze to death, they ruin the prairie and the plant ecosystem, then we have to shoot them full of chemicals and hormones and whatnot to pretend they are healthy and successful. And the cattle farmers in the Great Plains area have a tough time making a living, trying to do something that doesn't really work.

Duh! Buffalo are so great for so many reasons. This book really opened my eyes. Here's one surprising (to me) fact about the consumption of buffalo meat: did you know that it is lower in cholesterol, fat, and calories than even chicken?? I knew it was healthier than beef, but didn't know it was even better than chicken.

Here's another tidbit of information for you: if you decide to start eating buffalo (bison) meat, you have to make sure it is free-range, grass-fed and not feedlot force-fed. Some farmers who switch to raising buffalo still force them through the same process that cattle do: feedlots where they get fake stuff pumped into them... their fear produces adrenaline which changes the meat.... buffalo and cattle do not have the same habits; one animal is wild and the other is domesticated. They should be raised differently. So to get true, healthy, happy, tasty, buffalo meat, one must be sure to get the grass-fed, free-range kind.

I'll bet a lot of people don't know that. I bet even grocers and meatcutters don't know. Maybe Buffalo for the Broken Heart should be a One Book Great Plains States project. Heck, maybe it should be a One Book United States of America project. I think it is a worthwhile book to read! If you are interested, look for it in your library or local independent bookstore. (Had to get that plug in... my sister is an independent bookstore owner.)

Ladies of Grace

Have you noticed my new Ladies of Grace button (see sidebar)? It came from Beth at Walk a Mile. She read a book (A Heart Like His) that encourages people to open their heart... it doesn't take an enormous effort. In fact, don't even do anything new. Just notice, in your normal day, where you can open your heart and be more Christ-like or God-like.

Visit Beth's blog and leave a comment; this will enter you into her drawing for a book and a couple of other prizes. Start to think about opening your heart, and how you can share Grace (a free gift of love) with those around you.

I have a story to share that happened to me... but I will post it in a few days. It happened in my normal course of daily events. I just opened up a little, and felt at peace, and had fun where I thought I wouldn't. It was a Gracious Moment.

Can you, too, be a Lady or Gentleman of Grace? I think you can. Open your heart and give it a whirl!

Feelin' Groovy!

Wow... don't believe my previous post entitled "still tired". I wrote that yesterday and scheduled it to post while I was asleep. It had been true for several days, but then last night I finally had a long and deep sleep. Today I feel great again! Energy is back on the upswing. Hooray!!!!!!!

Still Tired

photo from life-with-confidence dot com

It's amazing, but Charles and I are still tired after the wedding. Like physically worn out. I had no idea we had worked that hard, and/or that we had mentally exerted ourselves that hard. I'm surprised that we are still tired.

I went to the cabin to de-stress and have been taking it easy. But I'm still moving slowly around the house, and hardly doing anything. I put meals in the crock pot, and I sit on the deck and read. We have had the most beautiful weather for deck-reading! I love it! However, I don't read for long - I start to stare into space, day dream, or even doze off. Not making much headway in my book!

The good thing for me is that I'm not having to dash off to work and keep that insanity flowing through my brain. So I expect to get back to normal very soon... meanwhile poor Charles is trying to recover while also going to work every day. All I know is, this head- and heart-stress (even though it was good stress) wears out an old person! Whew!

More From the Wedding of 7/25

Since the wedding I have had some time to think and reflect. My son and his wife make a great couple! They love each other, and it shows. People admire the great relationship they have. This makes me so super happy for my son!

I have been feeling very nostalgic about both my kids... I love them so much and want nothing but good for them! When I was in the midst of raising them and life was sometimes hard, it was easy to get bogged down in the daily grind. I sometimes lost the warm, fuzzy feeling of Mom Love.

The wedding helped me to take another look and to remember the deep well of Mom Love I have for my kids. They are so special in my heart.

Thanks for listening to me being sappy! It has been such a fun time for me... I'm lucky to have had this fun summer, especially the wedding, that has helped to open up my heart. Now enjoy looking at a few more pictures, and thanks for visiting!

the bride and brideswomen

the groom and groomspeople

my little family, expanded by one

bride and groom and 4 crazy parents

our great-nephew with a toy I made for him (for his 2nd birthday)

one of three yummy cakes (caterer was "Chow Girls")

kissy

hubby's parents with grandchildren, expanded by one

(one "expansion" was at work)

the wedding party

the two pleased moms

Wednesday Women VI

My Wednesday Lunch with Women this week took place in Little Falls, Minnesota. Beth, L--- and C--- and I (see my finger?) stopped there on our way home from the cabin. Here we are, eating at Subway. I love the variety of women with whom I have shared lunch so far this summer! Next week's might be a total surprise, even to me. Stay tuned and see........

I'm thankful for:

1) my son and new daughter-in-law whose wedding was so bursting with love and such fun; I'm so impressed with who they are
2) friends with whom I get to share lake cabins
3) ice cream with peaches and strawberries
4) good laughs with the in-laws
5) all the nice comments from blog visitors who read my post about son's wedding.. thanks for all the friendly comments. I've been so busy and tired, I am not responding to each one, but I definitely do appreciate the friendliness and support.
6) the beauty of nature, esp. northern Minnesota. I'm thankful for this glorious earth!
7) amazing things I learn from books - and fabulous bookstores that share the joy
8) my niece who turned 30 years old yesterday! Now she's only 9 years younger than I am!

Vacation Time!

After the wedding, I wanted hubby and me to go up to the cabin. He preferred to stay home, so I took along my pal, Beth, Beth's daughter, L---, and daughter's friend C---. Hubby missed out on a great vacation!

We had gorgeous weather, a lovely place to stay, clean and clear lake to swim in, and good books to read. What could be better? On the day that was chilly we had already chosen to do the touristy stuff - a serendipitous choice as it would have been a little cold for swimming anyway.

We visited the source of the Mississippi River which we waded across several times, ate lunch at the visitor's center, and then went into town and shopped. After a return trip to the cabin we read, napped, played cards and board games.

Too soon it all came to an end, and now we're back home to do chores and real life. Shucks. Vacations never last long enough! (P.S. Son and DIL are on honeymoon; we have heard no word from them which is a good thing. They must e having fun.)

Fabulous Day!

The long-awaited wedding took place and everything flowed smoothly and joyfully. What a fabulous day! Perfect weather... love and joy were flowing freely... we all had a blast. Here's a wee peak at some of the events of the day.

processional-- [music by the Beatles on CD]

groom and his parents (hubby and me)

bride and her parents


the wedding at our "rock patio chapel of love"

wedding officiant is bride's father!

married!

dancing for joy!

the (very) happy couple

reception at a city park -

food was delicious!!!


I had to make it a quilty event somehow... I gave this quilt to my SIL just because.. and a matching pillow for a good nap.

There are zillions more pictures. Some of them will show up here at my blog. Not right away, though. I'm tired!! I'm going to rest for a few days. And bask in the glow of happiness.