On Saturday, February 8, I mailed just one letter for the LetterMo (Month of Letters) challenge. This one was a letter sent to another LetterMo participant, this one in Pennsylvania. I was traveling (on yet another college visit) and sent it from a hotel mailbox in Harrisonburg, Virginia. No breathtaking scenes, clever pictures, or quirkyContinue reading “Month of Letters, Day 8 (and Day 9)”
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College Craziness, Boston-Style
Last weekend we took a quick road trip to Boston for yet another college visit. Jon Morgan made the first cut at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and was invited up for an interview and portfolio review. He’s applying as a Composition major, not a Performance major, so he did not have to audition on pianoContinue reading “College Craziness, Boston-Style”
February 3 Writer Birthdays
1612 – Samuel Butler, English poet and satirist. 1763 – Caroline von Wolzogen (born Caroline von Lengefeld), German novelist and biographer of Friedrich Schiller, her brother-in-law. 1811 – Horace Greeley, influencial American editor who founded the New York Tribune. 1826 – Walter Bagehot, English economist and journalist whose father-in-law was the founder of the Economist,Continue reading “February 3 Writer Birthdays”
January 31 Writer Birthdays
1624 – Arnold Geulincx, controversial Belgian author and philosopher who tried to work out more detailed versions of a generally Cartesian philosophy. 1735 – J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur (born Michel Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur), French-American essayist famous for his book Letters from an American Farmer, which drew on his experience farming in OrangeContinue reading “January 31 Writer Birthdays”
D.O.E. Applauds Student Reflections Heroes
The U.S. Department of Education celebrated the national winners of the 2018-19 PTA Reflections contest earlier this month with a recognition event, art show, and student performances at the D.O.E.’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. With seven National winners in our Northern Virginia District, we felt well-represented by our talented kids! Entrants could use any ofContinue reading “D.O.E. Applauds Student Reflections Heroes”
Postcards From the World, Part 2
Here are my favorites of the Postcrossing postcards I’ve received in the past few days. (Never heard of Postcrossing? It’s an international postcard exchange site; for details, see my earliest Postcrossing post at this link and also a more recent Postcrossing post at this link.) First, I received the first card below on January 4.Continue reading “Postcards From the World, Part 2”
Uncle Gerry
He wasn’t biologically related, but I knew him since I was 4, and I always called him Uncle Gerry. I remember him standing on a ladder, painting the trim while belting out “If I Were a Rich Man” or something by Gilbert & Sullivan. He was always in charge of the Children’s Work Detail onContinue reading “Uncle Gerry”
January 2 Writer Birthdays
1814 – Luise Mühlbach, pen name of Clara Mundt, German writer best known for her popular works of historical fiction. 1828 – Elizabeth Rundle Charles, prolific English writer of poems, stories, biography, and religious books, and translator of hymns. 1873 – Saint Thérèse of Lisieux – French Roman Catholic nun best known for her TheContinue reading “January 2 Writer Birthdays”
137 Books Read in 2019
I just finished reading the novel My Name is Lucy Barton, by Elizabeth Strout. It is the 137th book I’ve read in 2019, and most likely will be the last. So this updates my recent post, 135 in 2019 (and Counting), which recognized my completion of the GoodReads 2019 Reading Challenge; my goal was 135Continue reading “137 Books Read in 2019”
December 25 Writer Birthdays
1771 – Dorothy Mae Ann Wordsworth, English author, poet, short-story writer, and diarist who was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth. 1781 – Lady Morgan Sydney, Irish novelist, author of The Wild Irish Girl. 1869 – Charles Finger, Newbery Medal-winning British author best known for Tales from Silver Landsl. 1890 – Robert Ripley,Continue reading “December 25 Writer Birthdays”
