So, what is a starnado, and why did starnado make the cut as the name of this blog? After asking my colleagues for ideas and getting responses like "johnsiedoesbikesandteachin" I decided to ponder ideas on my own. Honestly, my favorite idea was "jackofall" since I do often feel as though I am a jack of … Continue reading Starnado??
The novel coronavirus. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first pandemic of my lifetime to virtually close the United States. With this post I hope to propose a connection between the current pandemic and a book I read last summer, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme by Richard Brodie. Logos and marketing … Continue reading Virus of the Mind
A little poem inspired by a tradition in our family. Peace! BINGO Welcome to the danger round, where everyone's a winner. The key is clearing the prize table, before we get to dinner. With four cards drawn and the call card filling there's no chance you will not win. Unless you aren't paying attention, lets … Continue reading Happy Holidays!
This post is aimed at those of us who teach. Teachers Pay Teachers is a convenient site for teachers to access a wide variety of resources to use in the classroom. Many resources are available for free, and can be save you some time in creating new activities. During my student-teaching I was given the … Continue reading Teachers Pay Teachers
Last week I posted about finally finishing my children's book "Have you seen my charger?" . This week I would like to share a little poem from my Nana. Betty Gaskell (Fluegge) was my Nana. My maternal grandmother and I miss her dearly. Nana had many gifts, but did not always show them off. I … Continue reading BIOLOGY- A Love Poem
It took a couple years of intermittently working to write the story, find an illustrator, find a way to publish, and then get the courage to finalize the project. I am excited to share that my first book is complete! Physical copies have arrived and Print On Demand (POD) is available for ordering your own … Continue reading I Wrote a Children’s Book!
Have you ever felt 'off'? Things you used to do with ease seem to take a lot of focus and effort. Or you are going through the exact same motions as before, but you don't feel fulfilled like you used to. As much as you try to get out of a funk, nothing seems to … Continue reading Singing and Swinging: What to do when you lose your way
Christmas Day is just inserted in the title because it is referenced later and it nicely abbreviates to CD. This abbreviation also happens to be the same for a Certificate of Deposit, which is really what this post is about. I imagine most of us have likely been in the position where it is right … Continue reading A ‘Interest’ing Trick to Save for Christmas Day
PostedI sit. I Listen. I allow silence to surround.With winter fading and spring awaiting,no leaves on tree or ground.With little wind the forest rests, and invites me to do the same.I close my eyes and rest as well,and let the woods reclaim.With mother nature all around it’s easy to let go.Of all my stress and … Continue reading Posted: A Nature Poem
Last week in The Grand Rapids Press I found it interesting to find two articles which seem to pivot around the same idea. Article #1 titled "These toys can help kids have healthier minds, bodies" was written by a Harvard Health doctor and the list of toys to help a child's mind includes: Blocks, drawing … Continue reading Back to Basics Entertainment
There was a time in my life when I enjoyed getting mail of any kind. Packages, junk mail, bank statements, ads, and newspapers were a welcome addition to my mailbox. For me those days are numbered. I am getting tired of carrying junk mail from mailbox directly to the recycling bin. For the most part … Continue reading Junk Mail
Starnado 