Notesgirl Libby (aka Notesgirl) gives her thoughts on life, from her new job as a high school English teacher, to her old industry in Lotus Notes and other technologies, to grad school, literature, running, cooking, yoga, and other varied interests. Tune in and take note. http://www.notesgirl.coml/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf en-us Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:50:34 -0500 Web of Deception, Chapter 5: Grimalkin Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:50:34 -0500 NOTE: This is a continuation of the "Web Of Deception" round-robin story. If you're late to the party, please start with http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/web-of-deception-chapter-5-grimalkin.htm NOTE: This is a continuation of the "Web Of Deception" round-robin story. If you're late to the party, please start with Chapter 1 on Ben's site and go from there. You can also follow the RSS feed hosted at http://www.andthentheboilerburst.com/WebOfDeception.rss.

After dinner that night, Callie examined Mike’s leg again. He had calmed down from the afternoon's excitement, and didn't seem to think much of Callie's story about the strange little man in the garden. She wasn't sure whether to be pleased or upset that he dismissed even Dufay's sneaking down the driveway. On the one hand, it meant Mike wouldn't get in her way – he was just as enamored and blind as he'd been from the start. On the other hand, it might've been nice to have some help for a change.

Still, he'd been getting progressively cranky all afternoon and when she put her hand on his leg she understood why – his leg was burning with fever. What had seemed like mere scratches that afternoon were deeper than they had looked at first and the wounds had not closed at all, but were still oozing slightly. She shook her head, worried and wondering, fingering the piece of black wool that she still had in her pocket.

"Callie, it really hurts," Mike muttered. "Do you think we should go to a doctor after all?"

"Well, if we can find one who can help, maybe we should," Callie replied, washing his leg with witch hazel. She was thinking quickly now and wondering how to try something without completely freaking Mike out. "Why don't you let me finish bandaging this and I'll go to the pharmacy to see if that strange Mr. Dufay can recommend a clinic nearby. You just rest here, drink your beer, and read your book, er, Schmoops." As she spoke, she turned slightly away from Mike's gaze and pulled the wool scrap from her pocket. Reaching down to pat him reassuringly on the leg with one hand, she let the wool fall onto his leg with the other, leaning forward to kiss him and block it from his view.

"Well, that sounds ok – although maybe you should ask him what he was doing in the yard and running off like that. You're no just trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me, are you?" he teased in reply, pulling her down to deepen the kiss. "You're sure you can find the way on your own?"

"There's not enough beer in the house get you inebriated, my wee laddie," Callie laughed back at him, lapsing in the soft burr she spoke with when she wasn't paying attention. She frowned at the piece of wool, which had looked fragile and had now shriveled even smaller, and lightened in color, turning grey while she watched. Smiling grimly at the one, tiny healed spot on his leg, she nonchalantly scooped the wool up with one hand, kissed Mike again, and promised to bring him another pint before she left. "I just have to find a few things from one of my boxes, first, and I'll make sure you're doing alright before I go."

She pulled her black sweater out of a box in the back bedroom, and, looking furtively around, although she knew Mike was still on the sofa, she also pulled out a blue velvet pouch, and sniffed to make sure its contents were still fresh enough. "They'll do, if they must," she grumbled to herself, "but I really have to get a garden started here soon. I got out of that city just in time."

Pocketing the pouch and slipping the sweater into her knitted bag, she picked up her keys and dropped a fresh pint off next to her sleeping husband. "Oh, aye, you'll sleep for a wee while, then, won't you? The healing will do that, and just as well; you won't worry if I'm gone for a while."

Quietly, Callie slipped out of the house and, grateful that the recent equinox meant that the days were long enough that it was still light out, walked down the path toward town. Slipping her sweater on and keeping one hand in her pocket, she whistled a peculiar tune and, although she appeared to be paying no attention to her surroundings, listened intently for noise in the brush. "I know you're out there, grimalkin," Callie whispered to herself.

"Of course I'm out here." The cat was riding the woman's shoulders, looking for all the world like a very old, very filthy, witches' familiar. "But knowing how to call me doesn't change anything. For you or that bloody fool fence post you live with."

"Are you sure of that, then?"

Startled, JC thought fiercely to himself, "Damn certain I'm sure. You smell like them, you sound like them, you look like them. I don't trust you. You can't be her and you can't help. You'll only be in the way." What he said was: "He won't heal." Then he started to jump off her shoulder. He found his claws stuck in the webbing of the coarse black sweater she wore and started hissing and cursing. "Damn you, you...fae, witch, whatever the hell you are... I..."

"Not so fast, grimalkin." Callie almost purred at the snarling cat who was hissing and spitting, back raised with the instinctive anger of a cat, although she guessed he'd prefer to be yelling at her in his own form. "I won't hurt you now, grimalkin, unless you make me."

"What do you mean 'now'? And stop calling me grimalkin. You called me, I'm here. My name's JC; not grimalkin. I'm warning you, stop arseing around with me before I get really mad."

"Well, now that you've told me your name, why don't you tell me why you attacked Mike, and why you're here – with all those others." Silence, and then more hissing came from her shoulder. She fingered the now fragile piece of wool. "Perhaps you'll also tell me why that fool Dufay is providing Web to that little... what is he anyway? And why in Mab's name are you going around as a cat?"

"Hrmph. Say 'in Loki's name' instead and you'll be closer to the mark. Bastard was trying to help Freya – she needed a new cat to pull her coach after one had an accident. I suspect Loki caused the accident and was trying to cover it up, but either way, I'd been a bleeding idiot and trusted him after...well, never mind. So, here I am. Stuck working for them. Of course, you could tell me how you managed to even smell different." The cat grumped a bit, hissed, and tried again to either claw her or retract his claws. Sniffing, JC said, "I know you've got some."

"I do. Can you handle it?" Suddenly standing straighter, she said quietly, "Someone else is out there, but I can't tell who. Can you?" There was no noise from woods – not even birdsong or the sound of the brook – as she sniffed the air, continuing to walk toward town.

"Hm. If you'd let me free I could go check, you know. I guess it is a bit too silent, but it's not Dufay; he said he was going to –." The cat broke off, moaning and growling low in its throat. "It's her..."


A few notes: A grimalkin is a cat - but not a completely normal feline: it's usually old and evil-looking, grey, and associated with demons, witches, or fae. Freya is a Norse goddess, associated with fertility, sensuality, and love, who is often also connected with elves and faeries. She is reputed to drive a carriage that is pulled by two large cats. Loki is a Norse god - most often a shape-shifter who likes to play pranks of varying degrees of cruelty.

I now pass the torch or baton or whatever it is, somewhat the worse for use, to the extremely talentedJohn Vaughan, aka Jonvon, with the somewhat evil request that he include the word epigamic in his installment, despite the fact that the Notes dictionary doesn't recognize it as a word.
]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/web-of-deception-chapter-5-grimalkin.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/web-of-deception-chapter-5-grimalkin.htm?opendocument&comments Speaking of Writing... Web of Deception Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:15:00 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=speaking-of-writing....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/speaking-of-writing....htm Writing or blogging Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/speaking-of-writing....htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/speaking-of-writing....htm Ben L.'s awesome idea for writing a shared story - round-robin style - with a bunch of friends, well, it sounded like just what I needed to fill all that copious spare time I was going to have after I finish the thesis-y writing. Actually, it's more something to clean my writing palate, if you will -- too much thesis, not enough fun.

So, I'm on board with the Web of Deception crew -- illustrious folks (so far, the list includes: Duffbert, Julian, jonvon, Francie, Gabriella, Wild Bill, Andre Guirard, Steve McDonagh and Rob McDonagh, and Jess, and Nathan, and Miller)! The story will be written chapter-by-chapter, one per author, and you can keep up with the story through the feed Julian set up.

Ben wrote the first chapter and tagged Julian for the second - let's see what Julian makes of the somewhat spooky first chapter and the need to include the word "equinox" in the second. Fun! ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/speaking-of-writing....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/speaking-of-writing....htm?opendocument&comments Capstone Presentation Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:34:29 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=capstone-presentation.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/capstone-presentation.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/capstone-presentation.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/capstone-presentation.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/capstone-presentation.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/capstone-presentation.htm?opendocument&comments Re. Rob’s Perfect Employer Post: My take Fri, 7 Mar 2008 11:43:08 -0500 Rob had a great post the other day about his perfect employer and job. It's been on my mind a lot of late, as I try ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=perfect-employer.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/perfect-employer.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/perfect-employer.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/perfect-employer.htm Rob had a great post the other day about his perfect employer and job. It's been on my mind a lot of late, as I try to decide what's next for me. I remember one time, oh about 12 years ago, I had a long talk with my then-roommate Julie about perfect job, working conditions, etc. It's amazing how different my thoughts are now. I suspect this is a work in progress. I know enough to know that I don't have a perfect job. There are many jobs and career paths that could work for me and at which I think I could be successful. But I know some of the things I need and some of the things i can't accept.

Let's see... in no particular order...
  • An employer who successfully walks the line between trusting me to get the job done and one who seems disinterested. I don't want to work all by myself, otherwise I'd go back to being self-employed. I want to work as part of a team. That means, you know, collaboration (I know, shock there), and teamwork, and discussing what ought to happen. I find that the coolest ideas come from discussing my cool ideas with someone who might also have cool ideas - suddenly the cool ideas get together and become amazing. On the other hand, I'm not saying that I want to be in meetings constantly or on call 24-7 so that I can't get some work done and get my life lived as well. I've been there and done that and grown out of it.
  • An employer who shares. I want to know what's going on with the company and the business as much as I can. I hate surprises and I hate feeling left out. I've got enough experience and expertise (15 years, more or less, in all kinds of industries and companies) and intelligence that I can usually be helpful. Or, if it's something that's not appropriate to be shared, at least tell me that much. I'm not nosy, I just don't like to be left out when I may be affected or be able to help or take advantage of something.
  • An employer who has a mission and values. People and companies change and that's ok; necessary in fact, but they have to have a plan and know what they're willing to do to achieve that plan... and what they're not willing to do. And I have to be able to know and agree with that. I'm a great evangelist...as long as I believe in what I'm evangelizing. And when I don't, it doesn't work at all.
  • An employer who knows that a company's greatest assets are its people. I'm going to work extremely hard at whatever I'm doing. Appreciate that and don't turn around and screw me over. Plus... take advantage of my skills and knowledge. Take time to figure out what I'm good at doing and connect that with what you need, even if it's not what seems obvious.
  • An employer who believes me when I tell them what I need - personally and professionally - to be successful. I know myself a little bit, and I know what kind of help I need and where I need coaching/mentoring and if I'm willing to ASK for a specific kind of management, it might make sense to listen and at least consider whether you can make that happen.
  • An employer who treats me like an adult and communicates with me. All the time. If I make a mistake, tell me. If we need to do something differently, tell me. If I'm doing a great job, tell me.
  • I don't like working for myself completely. It's not that I don't have entrepreneurial ideas, but I'm pretty risk averse and need to know where that next mortgage payment is coming from.
  • I work hard. But I can't work 70 hours a week every week for very long without being unhappy. If a project with a deadline crops up, I'm there. But I expect that projects will be scoped appropriately and planned so that this isn't the case all the time. I have a life and am better at what I do when I'm living it.
  • I'm not made to do exactly the same thing day after day. I'm better at variety, troubleshooting, projects, making things happen on a schedule.
  • Money's not everything, but it's not nothing either. Know what you can afford to pay and have a plan for bonuses, raises, benefits, etc. Communicate it. I'll tell you if my needs change for some reason. Regular performance and salary/benefits reviews are important. I should never be surprised by what we talk about in a performance review, but it's a good idea to have the regular discussions so that we stay on the same page and we can make career and salary updates as appropriate. This is also a good time to check in about larger career issues - are we happy with each other? do we need changes? do I have ideas or hopes that I've been waiting to talk about? Where to next - for both of us. Stagnant isn't healthy for people or companies.
  • Blogging, conferences, writing articles - depending on the industry and etc, these should be seen as the great marketing they can be, and discussed openly, and encouraged when appropriate.
  • Don't lie to a client about what I know how to do. I won't lie to you about what I can do. I can learn - fast - and am happy to do so, even on the fly. But don't tell someone I know something that I don't. In fact, don't lie to a client or me about anything.
  • Don't yell at me or other employees. Yes, i worked for someone who did this. In public. Never again. Mistakes or bad decisions do happen. You can be upset, but please try to be in control.

In return, I will be where you need me to be, when you need me to be there. I will be a team player and as much of a leader as you give me the chance to be. I will be diligent and meticulous. I will use all that great brain power I've got to do what you ask me to do or what I see needs to be done. I will ask questions and be thoughtful and work as though all the profits were going in my pocket. I will be the best representative of your company that I know how to be. if the door is open, I will come to you if something upsets me. I will try to resolve it. I will learn. I will think.

I'm sure there are more, but if I keep writing this, I'm not writing my thesis. Off I go. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/perfect-employer.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/perfect-employer.htm?opendocument&comments Airplane Peeves, and more... Thu, 6 Mar 2008 18:32:41 -0500
I'm sitting in the kitchen, with the ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=airplane-peeves-and-more....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/airplane-peeves-and-more....htm Rants Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/airplane-peeves-and-more....htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/airplane-peeves-and-more....htm
I'm sitting in the kitchen, with the window barely cracked open behind me, but I can feel the temperature dropping as it's been doing since mid-afternoon. It's probably 45 degrees at most now, and it was probably 70 this afternoon. In a bit, I'll likely move into the living room to curl up by the fire to keep writing.

There's a lot going on right now. Personal stuff, career stuff, school stuff, health stuff. Trying to do my best to keep my focus on the paper for a few more weeks and really get it done and off my plate so I can pay attention to all that other stuff.

One thing did catch my attention in today's email, however. There's a AAA article entitled "Midair manners" about how to behave on planes. It mentions, among other things:
Easy Does It
Before you recline your seat, check behind you. Don't recline it all the way if it looks as though it's going to make the person behind you uncomfortable. And put the seat back gradually; you want to avoid spills and broken computer screens on the tray table on the back of your seat.


I can't tell you how many times my laptop screen has been endangered or my bottle of water knocked off the table by a person reclining too far, too fast, with no consideration for the fact that someone was sitting behind them. Other pet peeves of mine include the people who fall asleep and end up sleeping on your shoulder, people who don't know the current rules of the security lines, and so don't have their tickets or IDs ready, or who leave their shoes on and slow the process to glacial speeds, and people who don't pay attention - to where they're walking or standing, to their kids, to their purses and bags that are slamming into the people near them, or to the basic rules of common courtesy. I know we have to spend a lot of time when we travel and I know that airports are full of indignities, but we aren't in your house or your bedroom and don't want to see, hear, or smell any of those things that should be kept behind closed doors.

Hm. Guess I've got a few opinions. What are yours? Have any airplane/airport pet peeves? ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/airplane-peeves-and-more....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/airplane-peeves-and-more....htm?opendocument&comments Is this spring? Sat, 1 Mar 2008 09:49:05 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=is-this-spring.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/is-this-spring.htm Houston Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/is-this-spring.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/is-this-spring.htm felt like spring.

Once it feels like spring, though, that reminds me that spring always seems to mean changes. New growth, getting rid of the things that don't work. Looking for things to be hopeful and excited and enthusiastic about. I'll say that I expect all of this to be on my horizon, although at the moment I have to turn back to the thesis and focus - I'll put all my enthusiasm there for the moment. Enthusiasm used grows instead of dissipates, right?

We voted early this week and were pleased to see the long lines, even as the polls were getting ready to close. A teacher at my school even organized a bus ride for all the juniors and seniors who were old enough, wanted to vote, and had no other way to get to the polling place. The election process offers another change about which to be hopeful. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/is-this-spring.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/is-this-spring.htm?opendocument&comments Have you heard... Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:41:25 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=have-you-heard....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/have-you-heard....htm Links You Might Like Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/have-you-heard....htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/have-you-heard....htm might describe this as indiscriminate. Either way...

Today is the first day since I've been home sick that I could bear to listen to much, either television or music (the headache has been too painful), so I watched a movie called Once. The movie was okay, but the song, Falling Slowly, is now permanently embedded in my brain. It reminds me very much of Split Enz (maybe think about "Charlie" or "Stuff and Nonsense") in the melody, and even a little in the words.

Anyway, combine my search for the song with a couple of timely Neil Gaiman posts (one of the few blogs I read all the time - I feel like I know the guy, I read about him so often), and I'm now a member of Last.FM, social music networking. It's got no business value to me, that I can see, and I may be the last one of you on board here (although a quick search through my Google contact list implies not), but it's COOL. Want to hear a song before you go buy it? Want to hear songs in the same genre or tag cloud? Want to hear similar artists to a favorite artist? Want to make (or listen to a friend's) radio station of favorite songs? As Gaiman describes it:
"I'm playing with Last FM whenever I'm in front of the computer. I love having Radio Me -- the idea of a radio station that magically plays only stuff I like when I'm away from home or away from the iPod. And I was surprised to discover there are people out there with musical tastes so scarily close to mine (which is, in my head, so all-over-the-place as to be uncategorisable) that I've started checking out things they like too. Gave in on the friending people thing, because, as someone pointed out, it made it easier for people than just bookmarking my page".


So, I'm not suddenly an expert at amazing music, but I'd love to hear what you're listening to and get to know some more cool music, and you, through your music. Looks like some features are free - joining, listening, etc., but if you want to have your own personal radio station, made of songs you've "loved," you have to shell out US$3 for a month. Haven't yet decided if I'm up for that, but we'll see... (By the way, if you know Cindy, ask her nicely to share her playlist for Radio Free Cinzia - I've got the songs on my iTunes now and on a CD and they're some of my favorites.)

Right. Off now for more cough syrup and couch snuggling. I'm so tired of this damn fever! ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/have-you-heard....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/have-you-heard....htm?opendocument&comments Home sick today... Fri, 8 Feb 2008 12:06:57 -0500
While curled up on the couch watching trashy TiVo'd shows, I noticed a familiar song -- from < ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=home-sick-today....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/home-sick-today....htm Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/home-sick-today....htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/home-sick-today....htm
While curled up on the couch watching trashy TiVo'd shows, I noticed a familiar song -- from R5 Launch to Toyota Sequoia ad.

My friend Cindy was in NJ recently and brought back some Tastykakes in honor of Stephanie Plum. Janet Evanovich's Plum books are one of my guilty pleasures. I giggle constantly reading her, have a tiny hankering to be a wimpy, lucky bounty hunter, and after all, recognize the curly crazy hair and the Miata. :-) As for the Tastykakes, I tried a peanut-butter and chocolate. Not bad. A good Entenmann's chocolate donut is better.

I'm not sure why, but In Bruges, opening soon, has tickled my fancy - looks like a movie I want to see. Other recent movies for me include 27 Dresses and P.S. I Love You, both of which I liked in spite of myself. Actually, I really liked P.S. I Love You - Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler (300) were engaging and funny. I think lately when I've gone to a movie, all I've really wanted was to relax and not have to work too hard.

Thanks for the cheering comments, leads on jobs, and emails after the last message. We'll see what happens. I'm still keeping my option open - couple of things I'd truly love to do, some things I think I'd be good at and enjoy.

For now, I'll leave you with a cute kitty picture. The kitten is Freya, adopted as a sort of Christmasy present. The puppy is a stuffed dog I won playing boardwalk games on the Boardwalk at Lotusphere.
kitty and puppy small.JPG ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/home-sick-today....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/home-sick-today....htm?opendocument&comments You can’t go home again... Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:21:39 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=you-cant-go-home-again....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/you-cant-go-home-again....htm Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/you-cant-go-home-again....htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/you-cant-go-home-again....htm
This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I feel that success in the world is somewhat predicated on forward motion. However, that doesn't change the fact that, somehow, it can be disappointing if you make the mistake of expecting things and people to be as you left them. It's made me a bit melancholy this week, as I tried to figure out what could possibly be making me sad -- I spent time with some people I truly care for, I saw lots of friends and acquaintances, I talked to lots of people about career/job opportunities, I had good food and drink... What's to be unhappy about?

As usual, only your own attitude can truly make you unhappy. If I don't try to fit this year into the patterns and templates of years' past, and look at it as a new door to walk through inquisitively and positively rather  than a scuttling back to the safety and happiness of an old door that may still be open, I feel much better about the week, my life, and my possibilities. That nostalgia is an impossible challenge to live up to, so it's best to leave it in the scrapbook and make new expectations, memories, adventures. Perhaps this time, the lesson will stick. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/you-cant-go-home-again....htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/you-cant-go-home-again....htm?opendocument&comments Notesgirl mail and Lotusphere 08 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:51:19 -0500
Number one: Notesgirl mail was down for a day or so, so if you've sent me mail in th ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm
Number one: Notesgirl mail was down for a day or so, so if you've sent me mail in the last 24-48 hours and not received a response, please drop me another note. Sorry!

Lotusphere was so fun, even though I was only there for the long weekend. Lots of great visiting time with Kitty and Warren and Liz and Rob and Bill and Richard and Michael and Terri and Dec and Susan and Duff and brief fly-by visits with others....and, and, and. Not enough time, not enough visiting, but definitely better than last year when I missed the trip completely. Spoke to lots of folks about finding my way back into the Lotus business... Nothing concrete yet, but we'll see what works out. Hated that I missed so many folks I'd hoped to see - Rocky and Glen and Luisa and Philippe, and, and, and. Still, thanks for so many who gave me a warm welcome (back) and all those who had positive, supportive things to say for the future. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/notesgirl-mail-and-lotusphere-08.htm?opendocument&comments I believe the term is "sqeeeee"! Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:20:38 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/i-believe-the-term-is-sqeeeee.htm?opendocument&comments Happy New Year Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:30:54 -0500
I've spent most of the first week of my holiday vacation regrouping and recuperating, not from being sick ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=happy-new-year-2007.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/happy-new-year-2007.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/happy-new-year-2007.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/happy-new-year-2007.htm
I've spent most of the first week of my holiday vacation regrouping and recuperating, not from being sick exactly, but from being worn out and a bit blue. This week, though, is all about working on my master's thesis, planning the year to come, and visiting with friends.

There's a small possibility that I may come to the first weekend of Lotusphere this year. I can't take any days off, so I wouldn't be there for the week (and there's nobody to pay my fees to get in), but some good friends have offered a couch/floor/bed space in their room for a night or two, so I may show my face with a handful of CVs and many hugs for my friends in the crowd. We'll see if I can afford the flight (yay for Continental miles) and make it work out. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/happy-new-year-2007.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/happy-new-year-2007.htm?opendocument&comments Putting things in Perspective Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:07:58 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=putting-things-in-perspective.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/putting-things-in-perspective.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/putting-things-in-perspective.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/putting-things-in-perspective.htm
And then last night, I got phone calls from three friends to let me know that another friend had passed away. Joel had been dealing with, suffering with, leukemia for almost a year, and finally, despite having some successes, a host of infections proved too much and now his wife and three children are left behind without his physical presence in their lives. I feel so sorry for them...and more bereft for myself than I have any right to feel.

 I met Joel my first week of college - he was dating my college roommate, Kat. Joel's roommate and I became close friends - I'm lucky enough to still count him and his wife and kids among my closest friends, but after college, Joel and I drifted apart and while I've been following his saga and sending positive thoughts, I've not actually seen him in years. And yet, last night, I wept over his loss - for his family, for my own mortality and the mistakes I've made that have kept me from living every moment to its fullest (despite knowing I should and wanting to), and for the helplessness I feel - can't help his family, can't help him, can't help my friends, and can't prevent whatever will happen in life.

I sat in the car with Philip telling Joel stories - how he was the reason I first worked at RenFest and how I always wondered if it was due to his influence that Kat and I finally became friends; memories of a choir concerts that we sang in together early in college. Most of my clear memories of Joel are from that first year in college, when he and Kat were all but inseparable. When I'm done with these papers and such, I plan to go back through my pictures and journals from that time just to enjoy the happy memories.

Of course, to keep the perspective balanced (as much as possible), there is a bright side of this loss and sadness. It prompted me to drop a note to a long-lost ex. We parted on very poor terms, many years ago. At the time, I blamed it all on him. Of course, through growing up and making my own mistakes, I came to realize that nothing is ever just one person's fault in a relationship. I forgave him and myself as part of my healing from my divorce, but thought it smacked of something icky to send a note saying that, especially because I thought it might hurt his wife's feelings, so I didn't. But we recently found each other those ubiquitous social networking sites, and "friended." And it seemed right to tell him about this loss - I thought he might not know, but he was definitely part of that group in college, and so I sent a note. It felt nice to know that even if that scar wasn't completely gone that we could talk and say gentle, kind things to one another again.

Perspective. It reminds you that things could always be worse and that it's only what you do and how you live and the choices you make that can make things any better. So, here's to friends and forgiveness and living your life each day to avoid regrets and hurting yourself or others. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/putting-things-in-perspective.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/putting-things-in-perspective.htm?opendocument&comments Remember Me? Sat, 17 Nov 2007 14:13:10 -0500
Let's see...
I got a yoga teacher certification, trained for and ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=remember-me.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/remember-me.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/remember-me.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/remember-me.htm
Let's see...
I got a yoga teacher certification, trained for and competed in my first triathlon, trained for and ran my third half marathon, helped a friend through a crisis (I hope), am almost done with my final semester in graduate school after taking two classes this semester, taught three preps at school, and tried like hell to figure out what I'm doing right and wrong with my life.

I read a fair amount (although I've been doing a lot of compulsive re-reading), study, and work. I did some great cooking this summer, with my new basil and mint plants, but I've not done much cooking since school started in August.

I've been to visit my mom and my grandmother, although both too briefly. I haven't had time or money to do much other travel

 I've wondered what the right next career move would be for me and how to make my personal life make me happy and not make others too miserable. I've  been sad to miss the Lotus world with all its current excitement and rejuvenation.

I've started lots of great posts about articles I've read, movies I've seen, books I've read, thoughts I've had, but I stop before I finish and publish. Perhaps as I come to the end of what has been an incredibly challenging semester I'll find ways to figure out how to get what I want and need, and that clarity will bring more comfort with and inspiration for writing. Still, thanks for the handful of folks who've asked why the blog has been dark and checked to make sure I was still doing okay. Thanks also to the friends I don't see regularly, who drop an email or a hi! on Facebook - it means a lot. For my local friends, who I actually get to see more regularly, well, I wish it were more regularly, and thanks for all the support, fun, and friendship.

Look for more from me, soon, I hope. Have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving holiday this week, if you're in the US. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/remember-me.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/remember-me.htm?opendocument&comments Monday, Monday Mon, 18 Jun 2007 11:16:55 -0500
The last month of school was filled with extremely la ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=monday-monday.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/monday-monday.htm General life tidbits Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/monday-monday.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/monday-monday.htm
The last month of school was filled with extremely late nights of grading and planning, plus homework for my grad school. I don't think any of my friends has really seen or heard from me much. Then of course was the trip. Freshmen at our school take a week-long colleges and southern civil rights tour the week after school ends. So, I was gone from Sunday evening to the next Friday night... and the next Saturday morning, I began a week-long yoga teacher training course. Saturday was a clean house, book club morning. In the afternoon, Philip took me to see Spamalot - very funny.

So, I'm now a certified yoga teacher. I just need to figure out how it makes sense to use that certification. I'm also on what I consider to be the first actual day of my summer vacation. Of course, I'm not completely done - I still have to finish the yearbook and I have to finish up and turn in a paper on which I received and extension. Time to get the energy level back up. I spent yesterday reading and snoozing and reading again. It's so hard not to use today the same way. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/monday-monday.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/monday-monday.htm?opendocument&comments National Honor Society Thu, 3 May 2007 17:35:52 -0500 National Honor Society. Yesterday our faculty council met to determine selection criteria and bylaws. It seems ... ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=national-honor-society.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/national-honor-society.htm Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/national-honor-society.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/national-honor-society.htm National Honor Society. Yesterday our faculty council met to determine selection criteria and bylaws. It seems perfectly reasonable to me that an honor  society would have a stringent petition process (you're not allowed to call it an application). Our kids will have to be selected first based on their grades - probably a 3.35 cumulative GPA or higher. After they go through the grade screening to determine who's eligible, they'll also have to complete a petition that will include an essay (about how they embody the National Honor Society values of character, leadership, and service) and present their resume describing their service, their work, and their activities. Of course, they'll also be evaluated by their teachers, coaches, and administrators. As soon as they finish creating their petitions, we'll abstract out the names and evaluate the packets.

I'm excited about starting an honor society chapter at school - even though are kids are great, I think anything we can do to encourage them to value scholarship even more than they do is a good idea. I have fond memories of my NHS chapter, although I don't think we were all that active. I think my college honor societies were more active - I'm still a member of Golden Key International Honour Society and the national leadership honor society - Omicron Delta Kappa. ODK and Golden Key had us actually do some service activities for our school and community when we were students (I think - I have to admit it's been quite a few years - never you mind how many...).

I'm not the advisor for our NHS chapter - I'm just on the faculty council - but I definitely hope we will have our kids continue to do more of the kinds of service projects they already do during our Summer of Learning activities (SOL) - they do volunteer work, go to college campuses, work in possible future fields, and more. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/national-honor-society.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/national-honor-society.htm?opendocument&comments This Captures Me to a T Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:55:29 -0500 Unshelved strip after my friend http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm Humor Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm Unshelved strip after my friend Shelly sent me a strip one time. (At least, I think it was Shelly - she's my librarian (archivist) friend, so it would make sense.) The comic often resonates with me as a reader... and as someone who's thought about a career in a library - after all, what do I like better than books?! Every Sunday, they have a "book club" issue that has their characters give the high points of a book they've recently read. They've covered some great books, from Neil Gaiman's Coraline to A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (look for these and others in their archives). In any case, this strip had to be shared - I think most dedicated readers have had this happen to them:

Image:This Captures Me to a T ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/this-captures-me-to-a-t.htm?opendocument&comments Page Numbering Tip in MS Word Sat, 28 Apr 2007 18:57:31 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm Software Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm
Insert a page number using the Insert Auto Text option on the Header and Footer toolbar. Then move just three buttons down on that same toolbar to the Format Page Number button. Using this button, you can include the chapter number , change the number format, and decide whether you want to continue numbering from the previous section or start at some other number. Very useful. Can't imagine why I didn't remember it was there. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/page-numbering-tip-in-ms-word.htm?opendocument&comments A YouTube Find for English Teachers (and more sci-fi annotated links) Sat, 21 Apr 2007 09:37:50 -0500 http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm Links You Might Like Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm Lloyd Alexander Prydain books and the Tolkein's The Hobbit around fourth or fifth grade and got sucked in completely. I was already a reader, but I think that these books made me the unstoppable, want-to-read everything person I am today.

Anyway. I digress. My point was that in my blog-wander this morning, I found some interesting things you might want to peek at:

When I taught "The Tell-Tale Heart" this year, we did a great "Producing Poe" exercise (based on this PBS lesson plan), where the kids decided how they would produce a movie of the story, from music to lighting and actors. They were focused on picking a mood and evoking that mood through all their choices. Perhaps next year, a nice capstone to that lesson would be to show this video of the 1953 animated version of the story. Eerie and spookily done. (via SFSignal.com)

The Internet Review of Science Fiction (IROSF), where they're trying to create a true literary magazine dedicated to SF (currently free). One story from the current issue that caught my eye -- "Telling Stories of Your Life: The Use of Second Person Narration in SF," an essay about point of view in science fiction, especially second person. This topic is of interest to anyone discussing point of view in literature - and might be a good hook if your students like science-fiction (or if you do!). An earlier related article discusses voice in more general terms.

An amazingly cool online exhibition of science fiction at the University of Delaware: From Verne to Vonnegut, A Century of Science Fiction. This annotated, illustrated list is the best in sci-fi, categorized for your reading inspiration.

Two wide-ranging discussions (by wide-ranging, here I mean appearing on blogs across the blogsphere), one on how and what to suggest to kids who have been hooked into reading through the Harry Potter books (Here and here). Harry will be done this summer, and it would be a true shame to let those readers go - so these bloggers have started categorized lists of suggestions. Here are a few of mine:

SCIENCE FICTION
12 AND UNDER:
YOUNG ADULT: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card; Piers Anthony's Bio of a Space Tyrant series; Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide books; Glory Road, Starship Troopers, and most everything else by Robert Heinlein
ADULT: Old Man's War/Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi; David Weber's Honor Harrington series; Dan Simmons' Illium and Olympos; Vernor Vinge's A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky; most anything by Spider Robinson, although I particularly like the Callahan books

FANTASY
12 AND UNDER: The Dark is Rising sequence, by Susan Cooper; The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander; Watership Down, by Richard Adams
YOUNG ADULT: Summerland, by Michael Chabon; Old Kingdom books, by Garth Nix; Heir of Sea and Fire books, by Patricia McKillip; The Belgariad series, by David Eddings; Robert Silverberg's Majipoor Chronicles; Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn  books, by Tad Williams
ADULT: A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin; Anne McCaffrey's Pern books
ALL AGES: Neil Gaiman books, like Stardust, Good Omens, and American Gods; C.S. Lewis' Narnia books; JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books; Orson Scott Card's Enchantment; Robert Aspirin's MYTH books are a serious giggle

The other discussion was on how sci-fi had been ghettoized as a genre and how it's breaking out now (here, here, here, here, here, and here). I've never thought sci-fi fantasy was a ghetto, but I know that many people have looked askance at my reading it over the years. ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-youtube-find-for-english-teachers.htm?opendocument&comments A Good Media Day for English Teachers Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:08:10 -0500
http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/trackback?open&id=a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm Humor Libby Ingrassia http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm?opendocument&comments http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm
This morning on they way to work, I was lucky enough to be running a few minutes late. When I run late, I sometimes get to hear my favorite NPR show - Engines of our Ingenuity. Today's Engine's episode (transcript or audio of episode 1926) was a discussion by guest Andrew Boyd on the topic of rhetoric. Rhetoric's original meaning is persuasion, although it has come to mean any complex writing. English, humanities, history, and philosophy teachers probably have a good background in discussing rhetoric's origins - popularized by the sophists in ancient Greece, sophist rhetoric was attacked by Plato as not leading to truth. Take a listen to this episode and consider Aristotle's belief that "logic is required to find truth but rhetoric is necessary to communicate truth." This clip would be a good introduction to rhetorical writing or speaking, dissecting persuasive writing (ads or marketing), or convincing students that "persuasive communication isn't an unpleasant afterthought, it's a vital part of bringing ingenious ideas to life."

Then on The Colbert Report - the Colbert versus Sean Penn "Meta-free phor all; Shall I Nail Thee to a Summer's Day?"(video)... Who does metaphor-offs? I love Colbert! "Love is a full-length mirror?" lost out to "love is a battlefield" in  the human emotions category. Of course, if you want to show this clip, you'll need to be comfortable showing/discussing George Bush's dirty and blood-soaked underwear and its metaphorical meanings, because that was Penn's metaphor-of-choice for the evening. Still, he beat Colbert 10,000 to 1 in the contest, moderated by former poet laureate Robert Pinsky. Giggle. Colbert closed with promises of a hyperbole-off with George Clooney in the future. I can hardly wait!

Some links of interest regarding rhetoric or metaphors:

Read Aristotle's Rhetoric  as hypertext.
Then, take a look at some links for rhetoric and composition - from definitions to blogs and writings. You might also want to familiarize yourself with some rhetorical terms, from alliteration to zeugma, with examples.
If you're thinking about producing some rhetoric yourself, you might look at some examples, first, from this archive of speeches, sermons, lectures, debates, etc.

What's a metaphor? Here's one answer. And some suggestions for using metaphors in creative writing. Some metaphors we live by and with. And some metaphor poems: I taught Fog and Fire and Ice and The Eagle when taught metaphor and simile in poetry a few weeks ago. So much fun! ]]> http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dxcomments/a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm http://www.notesgirl.com/notesgirl/notesgirl.nsf/dx/a-good-media-day-for-english-teachers.htm?opendocument&comments