tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28454167026462876312024-03-12T20:59:34.611-04:00The Sandra Seeley ColumnSandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-74283507800216147102017-02-16T21:15:00.000-05:002017-02-16T21:15:01.650-05:00Ballet at the Benedum<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My first professional ballet was La Bayadere, The Temple Dancer. Next came Le Corsaire, The Pirate. This year on February 11th, we saw Alice In Wonderland, the White Rabbit following girl, who enters a world of magic and mayhem.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mesmerized by the stability and precision of the dancers. It was only recently that I learned that Mikhail Baryshnikov considered this ballet to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest classical works in the history of ballet. It helps to read the synopsis of each ballet before seeing the performance. However, in The Kingdom of the Shades scene, one does not have to know that the hero Solor smoked opium to blur the painful edge of the loss of his murdered love. Or know that she, along with the other temple dancers, is coming to him in a vision as she descends from the heights of the Himalayas to the depths of his sorrow. All one has to do is see and listen with one's heart. To this day, three years later, I can still visualize those beautiful, athletic ballerinas descending their mountain. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Le Corsaire had a different, international dance flavor. The opening scene takes place in a bazaar populated with Turks, Greeks and Armenians. This ballet followed the love affair of Medora, the ward of an unscrupulous bazaar owner and Conrad, the pirate. It involved kidnappings and re-kidnappings and a third kidnapping, all in the name of love. It contains an enchanting <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=pas+de+deux">Pas de Deux.</a> This time I was</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> able to guess the meaning of a Pas de Deux. What I did not realize at the time was that this was among classical ballet's most famous and performed excerpts. I'm so grateful that I have access to unlimited instant replays as I close my eyes and hear the musical memories and see the beauty of dance in my mind. It was fun to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">learn that humor in the plot and audible laughter in the audience is permissible and appreciated. This ballet had it all, drama, love, humor and most of all, such talented dancers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For our third ballet, Alice in Wonderland, the costumes, set designs, choreography, and cast of characters became "curiouser and curiouser." Sort of like Tchaikovsky collaborated with Lewis Carroll producing classical nut cases. But, oh what fun it was to see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was smiling as broadly as The Cheshire Cat as I was danced into the fantasy world of furniture on steroids, growing and shrinking to change our perspective of Alice's size. I marveled at the dancing doors, and wondered how that was engineered. My favorite scene was the Tea Party. A floating teapot the size of a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, poured out a "chunk" of tea causing the audience to erupt in laughter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm hoping no animals were harmed in the making of this zany ballet. Silly me, I was confused at first thinking the pipe smoking caterpillar entering on a huge mushroom was actually the Mock Turtle. The smoke in my head cleared, and I was soon able to correctly identify the Frog Footman, Fish Footman, Mad Hatter, 4 lobsters, monkey, crab and Gryphon, the lion/eagle creature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plot thickened as we encountered The Garden of Living Flowers, the aforementioned animals swimming in a pool of tears, the Queen's Croquet Match, a baby tossed around like a pizza in the making and The Queen of Hearts involved in a trial based on some stolen tarts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So in conclusion, some ballet trivia. Little girls often come to ballets dressed as their favorite character. Recently, I saw many adorable Alices. Big girls, read my daughter, came dressed in an adorable pink tulle knee length skirt and killer heels. Audiences are respectful and appreciative. Our seats in all three ballets have been spectacular. Having a live orchestra adds another dimension to the whole experience. There seems to be a thread of smoke weaving among the ballets, whether it's opium induced stupors or kidnapping enabled by drugs or who knows what that pipe smoking caterpillar/turtle stuffed into his pipe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And to those readers who claim not to enjoy ballet, Lewis Carroll and I both say, "Off with their heads!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">See you next year at Swan Lake. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-71058459014579530612017-02-10T13:17:00.000-05:002017-02-10T13:17:26.109-05:00Kris Kristofferson Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Aged To Perfection</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kris wore his jeans and age with equal comfort. <i>The Silver-Tongued Devil </i>was able to laugh in the face of infirmity as a harmonica dropped to the floor and he joked about the pains involved in picking it up. I would venture to say that 95% of his audience was able to also feel his pain in their own 70 or 80 year old bodies. Silver hair, silver facial hair, and Silver Sneaker eligible, but vintage Kris<i> Helped Me Make It Through the Night</i> with style and grace. He made no excuses for an aging voice, he made a few self-deprecating comments about his less than virtuoso guitar playing skills and he delivered beyond our expectations. His voice often growled with emotion, perhaps infused with glimpses of mortality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My favorite son-in-law, who represented half of the millennial generation present, informed me that Kris was misdiagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. His memory loss apparently was due to Lyme disease. I admired Kris even more when I did additional research on his background. I learned that he was a literature major in college, Rhodes scholar, Army Captain, helicopter pilot and struggling musician for many years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My favorite daughter, who represented the other half of the millennial generation present, came to the show not expecting to like it. It wasn't long before she admitted that she was enjoying it. We laughed about the way Kris ended most songs with either a premature "thank you" or an "I'm done" comment. She said she appreciated his comments because it was hard to tell when one song ended and another began. I told her I had an advantage because I knew every song, word for word. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standing ovations throughout the concert and enthusiastic cheering as songs began as well as a few shouted requests ( admonished by a succinct "Not yet" from Kris ) added technicolor moments to a show that did not need costume changes, back-up singers, a band, elaborate sets or pyrotechnics to dazzle the audience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All too soon, the evening came to an encore as satisfying as an after dinner kahlua and cream, the lights came up and people didn't need a mood ring to know what they were feeling. My own mood was nostalgic. Kris' limo was waiting for him outside the theater. I wondered if Kris' immediate destination was Pittsburgh International followed by a flight to his home on Maui. I said a silent prayer of gratitude for music in general and a plea to <i>Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm done. Thank you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-20862109398018776532017-02-05T18:00:00.000-05:002017-02-05T21:29:33.787-05:00Eulogy For Wolfgang<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wolfgang, we didn't have enough time with you.<br />
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January 19, 2017 was the worst day of our lives. Late morning we called the vet, who would make a house call at 7:00 PM. We sat on death row with you all day counting down the hours. You made many trips outside just to feel the grass, see the sky and smell your favorite scents. You said your good-byes to Debbie, your favorite mail carrier, who always left treats in the mailbox for you. We pulled out all your toys one by one, and tried to engage you in play. We know eating was difficult for you, but you still managed to eat some of your favorite Frosty Paws ice cream and apple slices. If I have a choice, my last meal will be ice cream also.<br />
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We hugged and kissed you as many times as you and time would allow. How can this be the last time we will feel your heart beating in rhythm with ours? How can we do what needs to be done? How can we not?<br />
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Wolfgang, we tried to be as courageous as you. For seven months you battled the oral melanoma that spread to your lungs, and for the last two days of your life made it painful for you to lie down. So painful that you were literally on your feet for eighteen hours each day, your legs shaking in protest. The radiation did not help. The chemotherapy did not help. We knew it was time to help end your suffering. You didn't deserve this horrible disease.<br />
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I prayed to God, St. Francis, St. Michael, St. Jude and other saints for a miraculous cure. Perhaps the miracle is that you will be someday welcoming us home once again. Jessica said you were in Heaven playing with your purple ball. So that's where you hid that ball! We've been searching for that little ball for almost ten years.<br />
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You brought so much laughter and love into our lives. we reminisce daily about your loyalty, protection, playfulness, intelligence, goodness and love.<br />
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The Washington Area Humane Society where we found each other, told us you were an 8 week old black Lab mix. The DNA test that we had done last year, told us you were a Boxer, Chow Chow, Boston Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog mix, with no Lab in sight. You told us you were a Wolfgang.<br />
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As Dr. Mary Ann met you for the first time close to 7 PM, you announced her arrival (ever vigilant), raised your hackles until you could determine if she was friend or foe, then wagged your tail in greeting and played with her on the living room floor.<br />
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We circled you with our love, and held you in our arms. As the sedative took effect, you were finally able to lie down and rest. And then you were at peace. It brings us some comfort knowing you died in the very same spot that your beloved Grandma Rose died 7 months earlier. She was definitely waiting for you with a treat on the other side of that Rainbow Bridge.<br />
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Ed suggested we keep your ashes until one of us is called home, and then bury them in the casket with one of us. I loved that idea, but then told him, "You know I want Wolfgang with me!" He smiled and I think he agreed.<br />
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Since you've been gone Wolfgang, on two different occasions, I thought I heard the tags on your collar jingling. I wasn't asleep or dreaming at the time. I thought it was my imagination, but Ed said maybe it wasn't. I'd like to think your spirit is still here with us, ever vigilant.<br />
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Thank you Wolfgang for loving us so unconditionally. We loved you just as much in return. You'll always be our good boy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s1600/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s200/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" width="88" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-48467739011560123572015-09-28T16:00:00.000-04:002015-09-28T16:07:40.381-04:00Circle of Life<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun rolling high<br />
Through the sapphire sky<br />
Keeps great and small on the endless round</td></tr>
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"From the day we arrived on this planet, The Circle of Life is moving us all." And yesterday our family circle widened, with many of us witnessing the surprise proposal as Brandon, on bended knee, asked for Jessica's hand in marriage with a sapphire and diamond ring. It was an emotional day filled with love, tears of joy and laughter.<br />
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Two families are now in the early stages of blending. We get to share treasured stories with fresh ears to hear. Our family gains a new son, grandson, brother, cousin, etc. Our daughter, Jessica, gains a second family of loving relatives.<br />
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Exciting plans will soon begin while "visions of sugarplums dance in our heads."<br />
Wedding date, church, hall, gown, music, flowers, parties, colors, food, guest lists, invitations, oh my!<br />
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I've already started a mental list: lose more weight, learn to dance, earn more money and shop for my dress. However, my number one priority as the MOB is to enjoy the journey with my daughter and soon to be son-in-law as we march ever closer to that joyful processional down the aisle into happily ever after.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found our place<br />
On the path unwinding<br />
In the circle<br />
The circle of Life</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s1600/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s200/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" width="88" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-23151078932587546712015-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:002015-09-21T00:00:02.008-04:00Pittsburgh By Duck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ducky Birthday To You!<br />
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Today is Mom's 98th birthday which we celebrated on Saturday by taking her on the Just Ducky tour of Pittsburgh. When asked if this was something she wanted to do, she replied, "I'm game!" So here she is wearing her Cocoon sunglasses, ready to roll (literally) at Station Square.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Amphibious Vehicle</td></tr>
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Rose is a former Monessen Greyhound who fell in love with a Donora Dragon. She met her Andy when she and a girlfriend stole several pieces of chocolate covered cherries from an unopened box in his unlocked car that just happened to be parked near her house. The girls were sitting outside on her porch when the cherries called to them. Andy returned to his car, and asked them if they saw the thieves. They denied any knowledge of this heinous crime, but struck up a conversation that lasted for more than 57 years. It was only after several years of marriage that Rose admitted to being the Cherry Thief. Every Valentine's Day after that, Andy bought his sweetheart a box of her favorite candy.<br />
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Rose did not pursue this life of crime, but went on to become a national award winning quilter and seamstress. She won the top prize in <i>Needlecraft</i> magazine's Christmas 1988 contest with her poinsettia quilt.<br />
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She became fascinated with Tiger Woods even though she knows nothing about golf. Early in his career, she started clipping newspaper articles about him, and saving them in page protectors placed in binders. To this day, we are trying to figure out a way to send these scrapbooks to him. Any suggestions? We want to be certain he gets them, and not a PR person or agent.<br />
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She became Supermom to five children. Here is a "duck's eye view" of her superpowers:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtFJWculV5ntpLIL3wKWWy8PQawVO1RtzmwAths71QLKh1x77xuPvIqZOcXSl50GZqhwUCFQgEwbpWPXSESPR-VzRfjeZ8-emYyQpv_ILCvgKE6OEmDsWVZnN6SadVJywg9jn7rGjkgA/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtFJWculV5ntpLIL3wKWWy8PQawVO1RtzmwAths71QLKh1x77xuPvIqZOcXSl50GZqhwUCFQgEwbpWPXSESPR-VzRfjeZ8-emYyQpv_ILCvgKE6OEmDsWVZnN6SadVJywg9jn7rGjkgA/s320/FullSizeRender+%25286%2529+-+Edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faster than a speeding baseball</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More powerful than a Steel Curtain<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIqLIydJhQlxUmTgG6mQmHpqJ19x1gw6BbNNGN9lnHLvqL5SX_cPUIkfZlUi0tF65Hj5Tq42S5tX3lC-SUs0bmhjnxwvCHm870yFcUynApvZD_-Qqv402EPQqgkIoGN3dr2-e9gVPRq0/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRIqLIydJhQlxUmTgG6mQmHpqJ19x1gw6BbNNGN9lnHLvqL5SX_cPUIkfZlUi0tF65Hj5Tq42S5tX3lC-SUs0bmhjnxwvCHm870yFcUynApvZD_-Qqv402EPQqgkIoGN3dr2-e9gVPRq0/s320/FullSizeRender+%25288%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCpeuYroiAUj6_SDsmQb5L4xbnCCDyt644vTY5V3TQ6ERWsq4kcgwBl9nTT7XaDuez-1uh4b2q9QP6aY3dMOrfMe7jZCbf8sbB7wj-QGA0ACpKBzcJtS6pbgbF74_pAGlwWGI6Lt5_FM/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCpeuYroiAUj6_SDsmQb5L4xbnCCDyt644vTY5V3TQ6ERWsq4kcgwBl9nTT7XaDuez-1uh4b2q9QP6aY3dMOrfMe7jZCbf8sbB7wj-QGA0ACpKBzcJtS6pbgbF74_pAGlwWGI6Lt5_FM/s320/FullSizeRender+%25289%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fountain of love, beauty and grace<br />
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Supermom did not get the opportunity to fulfill her youthful ambition to become a hairstylist, but instead, assumed the disguise of Rose Warholic, mild-mannered housewife in a great metropolis.</div>
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Rose would like to thank Miss Maggie, the captain of our Duck, who performed admirably on land and sea. She would like to thank James, our tour guide, who devoted a lot of personal time to our group, and kept telling her how awesome she was. She would like to thank the Just Ducky agent who wanted to take her dancing Saturday night. (You should have gone out with him, Mom!) She would like to thank all twenty-nine passengers who sang Ducky Birthday To You, and congratulated her as they disembarked. And of course, she would like to thank her two daughters and their husbands, her granddaughter and her boyfriend, and her two newest grandchildren from Latvia (who won the Ducky prize for travelling the greatest distance to be with their Babushka) for joining her on this adventure.<br />
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She sends a hearty QUACK,QUACK,QUACK to thank her three sons in California, their wives, and all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who could not be with her in person, but would have if they could have.<br />
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And Mom, all of us would like to thank you for all that you have done for us for the past 98 years. How does one even begin to repay the huge debt we owe you? The answer is: We can't. All we can do is wish you the happiest of birthdays and many more. We love you more than words could ever express. We are also planning your 99th and 100th birthday celebrations. I'm thinking one might include a helicopter ride over your metropolis and another may include a visit with Tiger Woods! We consider him a fourth brother anyway. Or perhaps a trip to Switzerland, your dream vacation. I can already hear you saying, "I'm game!"<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-39747289901937341512015-09-14T00:00:00.000-04:002015-09-14T08:02:33.096-04:00Friendly Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From coast to coast in 51 minutes</td></tr>
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I would like to share a memory as vivid as the day it happened over 45 years ago.<br />
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This particular recollection took place in the early 1970's. I was flying solo from Pittsburgh to Tampa, Florida as a young, single female. Some people may have considered me fairly attractive. Also, since this is my story, I can remember (invent) my physical description! But, I believe the attractiveness factor played a role in this story. And this description is stored in my ROM, so it's not easily altered!<br />
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But, I digress. As often happens in air travel, my expected landing in Tampa did not occur on the expected date. Due to heavy fog, the plane was diverted to Jacksonville for the night. The hotel accommodations were luxurious and complimentary.<br />
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Breakfast the next morning was problematic. I stood in the entrance to the hotel restaurant, and realized, with all the passengers trying to eat at the same time, there were no empty tables. And no time to wait, since the plane was leaving, with or without me, in one hour.<br />
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However, I noticed the pilots' table had an empty seat. At the same time, the pilots noticed me, and invited me to join them. Breakfast turned into a Getting Acquainted Party with lots of laughter. Not wanting the party to end, the captain invited me to join them in the cockpit for the 51 minute flight from Jacksonville to Tampa. What an invitation!<br />
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Striding along with the pilots, carrying only my small overnight suitcase, they told me to act like a guest stewardess, as we walked right past the security checkpoint. Acting very stewardessly, I was right behind the pilot and co-pilot as we boarded the plane. They escorted me to my seat in the cockpit directly behind the pilot, but on a raised platform. Without a doubt, this was the best seat in the house! I found out years later that as a general rule, paying passengers are not permitted to fly in jump seats. Hence the "act like a guest flight attendant" command. <br />
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I was on visual overload as I noted the crazy amount of instrument panels, controls, etc. Then in auditory wonder as I listened to the pre-flight checklist confirmations between the pilots and tower through my headset. To experience the take-off anxiety while viewing it through a window the size of the Florida Panhandle (roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide) was mind-blowing. At cruising altitude, the view was amazing. I didn't want it to end.<br />
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Once the airplane was on autopilot, the human operators were able to focus on the broader aspects of aviation such as resuming the Get Acquainted Party. Soft drinks and snacks were plentiful. Also, I witnessed a practical joke played on one of my new funny friends. This involved an orange falling on the captain's head when he opened an overhead compartment. I did wonder if they were following best practices while flying a monster jet.<br />
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But all too soon, it was time to fasten my seat belt for a 3D, technicolor landing. Travelling at roughly 158 nautical miles per hour goes by before you know it. Perhaps my breakfast companions didn't exactly follow protocol by inviting me to share their ride, but I thank them for the extraordinary Take Your "Stewardess" to Work Day!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-82273881675665312015-09-07T00:00:00.000-04:002015-09-07T00:00:01.500-04:00Dear Dad<br />
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I'm a steelworker's daughter, the first of the baby-boomer generation, raised on my Dad's WWII Navy stories, who misses him more every year. He sailed on his final voyage twenty years ago, today. There are countless things I would like him to know, so Dad, this one's for you:<br />
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Dear Dad,<br />
<br />
You joined the Navy because of the attack on Pearl Harbor. You would be devastated to know about the attack on 9/11/2001, in the heart of New York City and all the senseless attacks in our schools, churches, movie theaters, marathons, transportation systems, police forces and on random individuals. How fervently you would have prayed your daily Rosary for peace.<br />
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Do you know that every man, woman and child now carries a cell phone, including me? They are no longer the size and weight of gold bars (roughly 27 pounds), but fit easily in pockets and purses. I can just see you shaking your head at technology. I remember how I used to love watching you develop pictures in your darkroom. Yes, we can take instant digital photos on our cell phones, but I miss the charm and intimacy of our darkroom conversations.<br />
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Do you know that you now have twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren? You also have three granddogs that live locally. One even lives in your house! They all would have admired and loved you. I wish you could tell me if dogs really do go to Heaven. I like to picture you playing with Cindy, our dachshund, that you bought for us so long ago.<br />
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Do you know about Facebook? I wonder if you would be posting your opinions, although I have my doubts. I remember how much you used to love writing letters to everyone from the President to politicians to friends and relatives. I still have the copies you made and answers received. When you left us in 1995, Bill Clinton was the POTUS. Since then, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have led our country. We don't know who the next leader will be, but I can imagine the blistering letters you would have written to Donald Trump. (Trust me, he wouldn't care.) I remember that "blistering" was one of your favorite words.<br />
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Do you know there is now a 47" flat screen TV in your living room? I can still remember my excitement when you brought home our first black &white television in the 1950's. Do you know that PBS still shows re-runs of some of your favorite programs like <i>The Lawrence Welk Show</i>?<br />
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Do you know of all the scandals in sports since Pete Rose was accused of betting on his own baseball team? I hope you and your boyhood friend, Stan Musial, are reminiscing about The Good Old Days. I loved hearing how you and Stan grew up and played together in Donora, PA, the Home of Champions. Did you really teach Stan everything he knew about baseball? I'll never forget how you took me to see Stan play his last game in Pittsburgh before he retired. How he spotted you in the stands and came over to talk with us. I still have the Get Well cards he sent you when you became so ill. Do you know that they named a bridge for him in Donora? I think they should name one for you, also. Just sayin'.<br />
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Do you know that the Civic Arena and Three Rivers Stadium no longer exist? I'll never forget how you took me to see Robert Goulet and Nat King Cole perform at the Civic Arena. Those nights became even more magical when the roof opened to let the real stars shine down on us. Dad, do you know how "Unforgettable" you are?<br />
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Do you know how bravely your wife and our Mother has struggled to survive without you? Your Rose literally experienced a Trial by Fire when lightning struck the house you built, causing major fire and water damage. She lived in our neighbor's house for a whole year while they were in Florida, and supervised the restoration process. As you know, she'll be 98 years old on September 21st. Old age is demanding a steep toll of her. We'll celebrate her birthday and also what would have been your 76th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Dad!<br />
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Do you know how much we all love and miss you? We have faith that one day we will all be together again. To paraphrase the poem, <i>The Ship</i>, by Bishop Charles Henry Brent: You are not gone; only gone from our sight.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-38928661010308432142015-08-24T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-24T00:00:03.678-04:00Memories of Waianae Elementary School<br />
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It's hard to believe, but the fifth grade students I taught in 1969 at Waianae Elementary School are now around 56 years old. Soon to be Senior Citizens with children and grandchildren of their own. How is this possible? Thanks to mental instant replay, I can travel back in time and see myself as I once was, forever twenty-three years old.<br />
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I'm living in a furnished teacher's cottage. Just a quick stroll across the playground, and I'm in my classroom, or vice versa. No rush hour traffic jams for me! My rent is $12.00 a month which includes water. Gas or electric for heat is not necessary. My three roommates are from California and life-long friendships are being formed.<br />
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The campus of Waianae Elementary School occupies fifteen acres of land with 1,350 students from grades K-6 (six sections per grade). Every two grade levels share a two story building. It reminds me of a collection of motels. I'm on the upper level of the 4th/5th grade building. Every classroom door on campus opens to the outside with decks running the length of the upper levels. Open the classroom door and windows, and you are rewarded with cooling tropical breezes.<br />
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The office, cafeteria and library are also in separate buildings. The whole playground area is the gym. The ocean, which is two blocks away, is the "pool." My favorite assignment is helping the physical education teacher teach two weeks of swimming in the pool. We walk to the ocean every day, swim for one period, eat lunch on the beach for one period and walk back to school for a few afternoon classes.<br />
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Teachers have no free periods, but who cares? We all teach in a self-contained classroom, including Art and Music, and are free to take the students outside to play whenever the students or teachers need a fun break. Laughter is mandatory. Please use your outside voices!<br />
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Instruction is still rigorous and data driven. Administrators hold workshops to implement IOTA (Instrument Observation Teaching Activities). For my Pittsburgh Public School District teacher friends, think RISE without the illegal steroids! IOTA has six areas of teacher competence: Director of Learning, Counselor and Guidance Worker, Mediator of the Culture, Link with the Community, Member of the School Staff and Member of the Profession. Imagine doing your job to the best of your ability and being praised for it. What a concept!<br />
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My twenty-four students are poster children for cultural diversity: Hawaiian, part Hawaiian, Oriental, Caucasian, Filipino, Hispanic, African American, etc. The economic character of the community is largely low income and rural. Many speak Pidgin English. They say "junk" to everything they don't like, but have the kindest hearts. I am the grateful recipient of countless leis and mangoes.<br />
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Every morning the whole school population meets at the outdoor flag pole for opening exercises: The Pledge of Allegiance, singing, announcements, etc.<br />
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Every afternoon, the students are dismissed at 2:00. "Plenty time for teacha" to head back to the beach for some R&R. Also plenty naval officers on stand-by. Just sayin'. <br />
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So many memories. I'm thinking about the time I did a kaleidoscope art project with my students. The assignment was to look through a kaleidoscope and draw the multiple images. The girls later told me the boys were viewing my legs!<br />
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I'm thinking about the time Brent decorated his Open House folder with swear words. When asked for an explanation, he said his Japanese mother can't read English.<br />
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I'm thinking about the time we went on a "scursion" (aka excursion, aka field trip) to Iolani Palace, The Capitol Building, Ala Moana Shopping Center and lunch in a park. The students said the highlight of the trip was riding escalators for the first time in their lives (a rather stressful experience for me since some students were afraid to get on, and others were circling around for second and third trips!) and also it was "good fun" watching two love birds kissing in the park - "plenty sex going on!"<br />
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I'm thinking about the etiquette class taught at school to introduce the students to dining in a restaurant. Ordering from a menu, seating the girls, using crystal glasses and china dishes and removal of baseball caps all added to the elegance of enjoying a meal in style. Of course this was before every person alive had an electronic device attached to some body part, but I'm thinking this class is even more relevant today.<br />
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I'm thinking about the May Day celebration consisting of singing contests, lei making contests, field day competitions between classes, guest performances by the visiting Navajo Nation and an actual Maypole dance by the children weaving over and under colorful ribbons.<br />
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I'm thinking, dear Hawaii, "to your arms someday I'll return to stay." In the meantime "I'll Remember You" fondly.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-41673778621496895462015-08-17T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-17T00:00:02.005-04:00Supermagnet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I just finished reading <i>The Secret</i> by Rhonda Byrne for the third time.<br />
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The first time was around nine years ago. I decided to just play around with the Law of Attraction according to the basic premise of <i>The Secret</i>: I can attract something to myself through the power of my mind. Thoughts operate on different frequency levels and can be measured. Like a human transmission tower, my magnetic thoughts are sent out into the Universe attracting all like things on the same frequency, and then returned to me. Thoughts become things. The Law of Attraction is always working, whether I believe it or understand it or not.<br />
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<i>The Bible</i> also tells us, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22) So the Three Step Plan in both books seems to be: Ask, Believe, Receive.<br />
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I asked for a Lamborghini and 20/20 vision. I also asked for a red horseshoe magnet as tangible evidence of the Law of Attraction. The red magnet idea came from a man, who after reading <i>The Secret</i>, decided to ask for a feather with particular markings on it so he would know without a doubt that if he saw this feather, it had come to him through his intentional use of the Law of Attraction. Two days later, as he was about to walk into a high-rise building on a street in New York City, he looked down and there was the exact feather he had visualized, unique markings and all.<br />
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I had ordered from the Universal Catalog, and just needed to wait for delivery. On my way to work the next morning, I heard on the radio, "Your Lamborghini is at the Auto Show at Pittsburgh's Convention Center. "OK," I thought, "the Universe is just messing with me. Good one, Universe."<br />
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Filling my gas tank that same morning, my total came to $20.20. Since I ordered perfect eyesight, there had to be a connection. I was seeing 20/20. You may think this is a stretch in receiving what was requested, but in my mind the planets were aligning themselves in my favor and I was grateful.<br />
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Did I really believe I would receive a Lamborghini and perfect eyesight? Absolutely not! Did I believe I would receive a red horseshoe magnet? Absolutely!<br />
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When I walked into my classroom that morning, the first thing I saw was a red horseshoe magnet (the one in the picture with this article) sitting in the chalkboard tray. I still get chills thinking about my amazement. I had told no one except the Universe about my desire for this particular magnet. To paraphrase <i>The Secret</i>, it wasn't my job to figure out how this could happen, only to believe that it would. To this day I don't know how I received that magnet, but I do know why. I asked, believed and received.<br />
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The big question in my mind today is why didn't I continue believing in the power of my mind? Even after reading <i>The Secret</i> for the second time, I did nothing to pursue my dreams in this proactive manner. I let doubts and negative thoughts derail my plans. Guess what I got in return? More doubts and negative thoughts because in essence that's what I was sending from my transmission tower. In reflection, I sometimes thought my wishes would come true, and then what? Afraid of success? Crazy thinking, huh?<br />
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They say the third time is a charm, so here goes. I'm asking for and working toward the following goals: I believe I can be a published author. I believe I will soon vacation at the Heceta Head Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast in Oregon. I believe I will soon live a life of abundance filled with financial security and the ability to help less fortunate relatives, friends and strangers.<br />
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You may be scoffing, but my red horseshoe magnet is proof. If I had truly believed it was possible and truly wanted a Lamborghini and perfect eyesight badly enough, I would have them today. Read <i>The Secret</i> to learn about real life health and monetary miracles. Apparently the Universe doesn't distinguish between a dollar or a million dollars.<br />
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So ask, believe and receive. When the Universe answers, "Your wish is my command!" remember to show your gratitude.<br />
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Just sayin'<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pKaAQT0GOUegIySVDTT042Ngdr4zJCBNFM0QmtL-fhZJFlI8N_UeBCWw3tqt2aaLnCUkrVDl26CgxgdsfE7BN26Gi1HONEVGqNRq6rP5tOBpXa56X5OEqbZb26oPIsTD_AQrLEGbeks/s1600/IMG_0121+%25281%2529+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-pKaAQT0GOUegIySVDTT042Ngdr4zJCBNFM0QmtL-fhZJFlI8N_UeBCWw3tqt2aaLnCUkrVDl26CgxgdsfE7BN26Gi1HONEVGqNRq6rP5tOBpXa56X5OEqbZb26oPIsTD_AQrLEGbeks/s1600/IMG_0121+%25281%2529+-+Edited.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you for financial security!</td></tr>
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Contact <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">Sandra Seeley</a> today.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-606666980998581152015-08-10T00:00:00.000-04:002015-08-10T00:00:02.180-04:00Renewed Passions - Guitar Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMn5LAOZZcYLvcGJBlqG0HKIWnbArQ6W7lRzluSZ_EzSpdmCxYw0_ewhI-UWQTsjMrTD_iZe2RGQlPj1b2b64MYNzxd_kVCiSuBMs6VWTGetcAAM5arS3N7Or5yX4WUT3r9VyrkT72M/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDMn5LAOZZcYLvcGJBlqG0HKIWnbArQ6W7lRzluSZ_EzSpdmCxYw0_ewhI-UWQTsjMrTD_iZe2RGQlPj1b2b64MYNzxd_kVCiSuBMs6VWTGetcAAM5arS3N7Or5yX4WUT3r9VyrkT72M/s320/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529+-+Edited.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
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From the 1960's to my personal 60's (spanning 50 plus years), from Peter, Paul and Mary to Keith Urban, from protest marches to gratitude for just being able to walk, this wannabe musician is finally taking guitar lessons again. (I took lessons for about a year in my flower child days.)<br />
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You can find me every Wednesday afternoon jamming (or trying to) at <i>From the Top Music Shop</i> in Monongahela, PA. Bill and Renee Teck, owners and instructors are top of the line musicians. My instructor, Bill, is patience personified. I don't know what he says to Renee about me when I leave, but he gives me praise, confidence and motivation. In other words, the ideal teacher.<br />
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My Yamaha acoustic guitar has weathered the years well. It responds to classical, folk and rock commands equally, depending on the skill of the person playing. YouTube makes it possible to practice with any musician, living or dead. I recently practiced with Mick Jagger, The Beatles, Crosby, Stills & Nash and of course lots of 60's folk singers. How cool is that?<br />
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Playing my guitar is therapeutic. It's cheaper than any drug, doesn't require a prescription (although it is addictive) and it does not psychoanalyze me. Plus it is very difficult to eat while playing. No need to use any Weight Watcher bonus points!<br />
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I've experienced first hand the power of music therapy. When 97 year old Mom was recently hospitalized for a perforated ulcer and subsequent surgery, she was exhibiting symptoms of Hospital Delirium. Apparently this is the most common complication of hospitalization among people ages 65 and over. She was agitated, noisy and hallucinating. She insisted there was a garage sale taking place in her hospital room, and wanted me to put money down on the nice chest of drawers. Did I mention that she was very NOISY? Nothing would quiet her until I decided to sing to her. I told her it was rude to talk while someone was singing. Much to my surprise, my singing immediately soothed her. She had a smile on her face and quiet on her lips. However, I'm not sure what annoyed the nurses more, Mom's ranting or my singing.<br />
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One of my Bucket List goals is to be a member of the band called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Bottom_Remainders">Rock Bottom Remainders</a>. According to Wikipedia, this is a rock and roll band consisting of published writers, most of them amateur musicians and popular book, magazine and newspaper authors. Dave Barry plays lead guitar and Stephen King plays bass guitar. Other author/musician members have been Amy Tan, Greg Iles, honorary member Maya Angelou and a "band" of others.<br />
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To quote Dave Barry, my absolute favorite humor columnist, about their band, "We play music as well as Metallica writes novels." In that case, I could join right now if only I were published. Does a blog count?<br />
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In conclusion, The Rolling Stones have told me I can't always get what I want, but I sure hope I NEED to learn how to play my guitar (even though my little hands are struggling) and I NEED to acquire tickets to hear Dave Barry speak as part of the Author Series in 2016 Pittsburgh. If any of my readers have tickets for sale or for "give," please contact me. In return, I promise to sing for hours at any Hospital Delirium Event of your choice.<br />
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Just sayin'<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-60514707498845594502015-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-20T00:00:04.455-04:00Last First Impression - Hawaii<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkGbJNhm0EKgXeUA0FOkWhMuaY1bLaevD5vjWNjyL9Z1rouV0q9S2td51jDskQIifuLy_SZABW-NA7twyYTPtTd_v12CO6EvgB5xo4wYfP4Bi0nzV-T3DQwE04LSQVZuOKoSALlayzrs/s1600/pokai-beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkGbJNhm0EKgXeUA0FOkWhMuaY1bLaevD5vjWNjyL9Z1rouV0q9S2td51jDskQIifuLy_SZABW-NA7twyYTPtTd_v12CO6EvgB5xo4wYfP4Bi0nzV-T3DQwE04LSQVZuOKoSALlayzrs/s320/pokai-beach.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkGbJNhm0EKgXeUA0FOkWhMuaY1bLaevD5vjWNjyL9Z1rouV0q9S2td51jDskQIifuLy_SZABW-NA7twyYTPtTd_v12CO6EvgB5xo4wYfP4Bi0nzV-T3DQwE04LSQVZuOKoSALlayzrs/s1600/pokai-beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Pokai Bay<br />
Waianae, HI<br />
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Landing at Honolulu International Airport after midnight in the summer of 1969 was a quiet experience. No lei greetings. No girls dancing the hula. No ukulele music. No principal's wife to meet me and drive me to my new home. Just a tired 22 year old 5th grade teacher who due to an air traffic controllers' strike had been stranded in San Francisco for 12 hours, thereby arriving on Oahu long after my arranged meeting time. The skies of United Airlines were rather unfriendly that day.<br />
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Morning One opened with the promise of tropical sensory delights. The smell of the Pacific Ocean reached me on a primal level. It surrounded me as it surrounded the island, enveloping both of us in rhythmic hugs. The northeast Trade Winds lifted my hair with a lover's touch. The exotic flowers of plumeria, hibiscus, birds of paradise, orchids, bougainvillea and my personal favorite, anthuriums dazzled my eyes and spritzed my pulse points with their blended notes.<br />
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It was hard to believe I was actually on the island I had dreamed about for years. I had watched the TV shows: <i>Adventures in Paradise</i>, <i>Hawaiian Eye</i>, and <i>Hawaii Five-0 </i>knowing I<i> </i>was destined to<i> </i>have my own adventures in paradise.<i> </i><br />
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This 40 mile long by 26 mile wide stretch of volcanic real estate was to be my home for the next year. Teacher's Cottage 6A at 85-220 McArthur Road, directly across the playground from Waianae Elementary School, was my address. You might say I lived under the rainbow. But the whole island was mine to explore. Thanks to a roommate from California who had her Ford Mustang shipped via special delivery, explore we did.<br />
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Probably my most memorable destination was Pearl Harbor. Being the daughter of a WWII Navy veteran, and growing up hearing all of his Navy stories, I was overcome with emotion as I gazed down at The <i>USS Arizona</i> and thought about all the historic events that transpired there and around the world as a result of December 7, 1941.<br />
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My Happy Place will always be the hidden treasure I discovered right in my own backyard. And that place is known as Pokai Bay. A five minute walk on the leeward side of Oahu brought me to the perfect beach. Picture yourself walking on powder soft sand in a thick crescent shaped cove. The ideal spot for swimming and snorkeling or napping. The pristine turquoise waters beckon. Once in the tranquil bay, you turn toward shore to experience the awesome wonder of green mountains and blue sky, topped with a rainbow.You can't help but think, "How Great Thou Art". Turn around and you may see a friendly whale or dolphin breaching just for you and waving Aloha. Finally, you stretch out on the warm sand under a coconut tree. The palm branches swaying in the breeze and waves lapping the shore lull you to sleep and sweet dreams. Soothing Hawaiian melodies play in your head. Now repeat daily. <br />
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I one lucky wahine. Lucky I lived Hawaii! Aloha nui loa...until we meet again.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator who has taught in Hawaii, where Kanela was born; Bethel Park, where her 3 children were born and in the inner city schools of Pittsburgh Public where her passion for the underprivileged began. Kanela's Korner is often 95% fiction and 5% fact, leaving the reader to do the math. Her motto is: Funny or not, here I come! Her faithful assistant, Wolfgang, is always by her side. He looks just like a black Lab and works for treats. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br />
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Contact <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">Sandra Seeley</a> today.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-85028857982808070092015-06-22T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-22T18:58:26.134-04:00Vow of Silence Nullified<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After one and one half years of retirement from the Pittsburgh Public School District, I'm calling an end to my self-imposed (possibly district-imposed) vow of silence. There are some truths that need to be told. Perhaps administrators and law makers will take heed, and the children just may benefit.<br />
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I wrote my article, "<a href="http://sandraseeley.blogspot.com/2007/01/future-champions.html">Future Champions</a>" in 2007. What I didn't disclose to my readers was after that amazing breakthrough and connection with my students, I was forbidden, yes forbidden, to do anything like that ever again.Why? Because it was not part of the curriculum. Had I been allowed to continue motivating and challenging the students in my own way, I would not have had the discipline issues and low test scores that were so prevalent. I was told by Principal X that the coloring portion of the lesson was totally pointless. However, I knew in my heart that this would keep my students calm while meditating on the passage they had just heard. My thinking was validated only yesterday when I read the article, "For Adults, Coloring Invites Creativity and Brings Comfort" by Barbara J. King. In the article, Ms King quotes clinical psychologist Kimberly Wulfert for EverydayHealth.com:<br />
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In coloring, you've got this physical sensation of the <span style="text-align: center;">tool you're using touching on the paper. You also have </span><span style="text-align: center;">the feeling in your hands and fingers holding this tool, and moving in different rhythms as you fill in the space. You're</span><span style="text-align: center;"> being mindful, and when you move in a rhythmic fashion for an extended period of time, that becomes a meditation. </span><br />
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Instead, I was put on the dreaded Improvement Plan because my students acted out and didn't care about tests. I was supposed to take control and motivate within a very structured curriculum. Principals and Assistant Principals literally <span style="color: red;">observed with stopwatch in hand.</span> I once spent more than the allotted 10 minutes on a Vocabulary segment of the reading lesson because the students lacked understanding. Since I was being observed at the time, I was given a low rating for Fidelity to the Curriculum! Reading lessons followed a weekly pattern from which we were not supposed to deviate. Pacing Guides were Biblical in nature. Thou shalt be on Unit 2 Lesson 3 when every other reading teacher in the district is also on the same lesson. Weekly Tests and Unit Tests were dispensed from on high at exactly the same time, ready or not. The pattern became boring to me as well as the students.<br />
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Another curriculum faux pas on my part was again the unpardonable sin of deviating from said curriculum. The reading lesson was on "The Intelligence of Animals." I read a true story about Koko, the gorilla. He communicated in sign language with his trainer. The students were fascinated by this story. Again, I was caught sharing something outside the curriculum, and criticized harshly for this. Is it any wonder that teachers, this one included, often suffer some form of PTSD? I still have nightmares reliving the classroom fights (to be continued in another article) in addition to battles with administrators over my teaching methods. I don't know whether my physical injuries from students or mental ones from principals hurt me more.<br />
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I believe the most outrageous thing a school principal ever did to me was to send my end of year evaluation via School Police. The officer arrived at my home in a marked police car, dressed in full uniform. (My heart rate and anger are accelerating as I write this.) All other teachers had their evaluations placed in their school mailboxes. I might add that I lived an hour away from this school. The officer had to travel 2 hours round trip to deliver a "<span style="color: red;">Satisfactory</span>" rating! He didn't even understand why he was at my door. I did offer him refreshments, but he was in a hurry to drive another hour back to Pittsburgh to perhaps fight crime! This principal was just outright vindictive, possibly angry about not being able to give me an Unsatisfactory rating. Who knows? And my neighbors all knew that I was the only person around who worked for Pittsburgh Public. How embarrassing! How to explain Officer Dave's presence? <br />
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I began teaching covertly at times. The principal is out of the building. This would be a good time to demonstrate character development in a non-curriculum approved novel to my older readers by showing the length and depth author, Lee Child, went to bring to life his protaganist, Jack Reacher. If I could find these students today, I would be willing to bet they could still name at least 10 characteristics of Jack Reacher. They would also be able to develop a character of their own in Writers' Workshop, which I also taught. This happened 8 years ago. Isn't lifelong retention one of the goals of teaching?<br />
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The message I would like to impart to the powers that be is: Let every teacher teach his/her way. We are as unique as our students. We are trained professionals. Trust us to do our job to the best of our ability. Don't try to micro-manage every lesson. Don't send the school police out of their jurisdiction to deliver a letter. (I would love to know how that was even possible to accomplish.)<br />
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Just writing this article made my blood pressure increase enough to heat the metal watch band against my wrist. Just imagine the stress when I was an active member of the teaching profession. Writing this article also made me miss those wonderful teaching moments where teaching was pure joy. I miss those moments and my students.<br />
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Just sayin' ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s1600/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvZ0Mpl4szBUm5Rjcmx-zVTEvpRrjWMPX6djNxC4DsAZt-irgeMvFs255MH7_Y3DTyhES6B8WdWDt7JWLX4XhvdeOVhxOyNbqZWw85UWOHgIg02q6LNSFG9apchQGCm7GYqaFkiZKay4/s200/Sandy-head-shot-002.jpg" width="88" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-16425778892018981452015-06-15T00:00:00.000-04:002015-07-22T18:59:07.116-04:00The Principals Who Thought They Were Royalty<br />
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A Modern Day Fairy Tale<br />
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Once upon a time, back in the day and in the hood, there were two principals, one male and one female. They wore their fancy clothes, lofty ideals and arrogance like a cloak of immunity.<br />
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Meanwhile, the teachers of the realm toiled in the fields of despair, extended day after extended day. They wept with deep sorrow over their dangerous classroom conditions. They skipped lunch. And the principals profited from their labor.<br />
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Out of the masses, arose a small group of old-timers who remembered a long ago time when children did not run the schools. They actually remained seated. They did not hurl expletives and desks with equal force.<br />
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This little weary group of rebels longed for the time to come when they could speak freely without repercussions. They believed in Martin Luther King's Dream and had some visions of their own. Many years and tears later, their brightest moment came. It was decreed that they were RETIRED! Whether retirement was forced or voluntary, they were "free at last."<br />
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Warning to principals in any kingdom: If the cloak fits, do the Paso Doble. However, sometimes the bull is victorious!<br />
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Just sayin' ...<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7999992370605px; line-height: 23.1399993896484px;">If you would like to get in touch with </span><a href="http://sandraseeley.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7999992370605px; line-height: 23.1399993896484px;" title="Sandra Seeley">Sandra Seeley</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7999992370605px; line-height: 23.1399993896484px;">, send her an </span><a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7999992370605px; line-height: 23.1399993896484px;" title="Email Sandra Seeley">email</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.7999992370605px; line-height: 23.1399993896484px;"> today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sandra Warholic Seeley</span> is the creator and author of Kanela's Korner and The Sandra Seeley Column. She is a lifelong educator whose teaching experience ranges from suburban Bethel Park, PA to Hawaii to urban Pittsburgh Public's Homewood, Hill District and Squirrel Hill communities. She has taught in every grade level from Kindergarten through Grade 5. She has a Master's Degree in Education from The University of Pittsburgh with a minor in English. Her passion has always been the teaching of Communications: Reading and Writer's Workshop. She is now a freelance writer. To contact the author, click the <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" target="_blank">following link</a>.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-38759813760998961832014-04-03T23:18:00.001-04:002014-04-06T13:33:47.786-04:00Beer Belly or Soda Belly?After watching Dr. Robert H. Lustig's 1 hour 29 minute 36 second lecture titled: <i>Sugar: The Bitter Truth</i>, I learned 2 bitter truths. Truth Number 1: Dr. Lustig pronounces the "fruc" in fructose to rhyme with "truck". Therefore we are consuming copious amounts of fruck-tose. Truth Number 2: Stop eating it today!<br />
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I knew fructose was bad for humans, but was mesmerized by Dr. Lustig's presentation, even the biochemistry segment. My brain was able to metabolize all of his information. (Unlike our bodies which metabolize fructose as fat. Fructose's fraternal twin brother is Ethanol. So if you want to know what happens to fructose in your body, just think about how your body reacts to several of your favorite alcoholic beverages with only minor differences. Only the liver can metabolize fructose, therefore it's a toxin. To quote the good doctor, "Fructose is ethanol without the buzz."<br />
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I want to read every food label now before purchasing packaged foods. I want to purge my pantry of fructose lurking in cans, boxes and jars. I'm tempted to forego my Weight Watcher Diet in favor of the Paleolithic Diet of eating only raw foods.<br />
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Fructose is a very serious opponent to our health. In fact, it's toxic. It's lethal. It can start before birth. We worry about crack babies, why not the same concern for fructose babies?<br />
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According to Dr. Lustig, "Fat does not cause fat. Fructose causes fat." It is addictive because it tricks our brains into thinking we are hungry. So we eat more fructose and in a vicious cycle, we no longer can trust our satiety signals.<br />
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So why does the FDA allow fructose to be in our foods? I learned in the lecture that the FDA gave fructose GRAS status. (Generally Regarded As Safe) Their reasoning is that fructose is a chronic toxin and they only regulate acute toxins! Do members of the FDA have families? Do they care about their own health?<br />
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And what about the USDA? Their job is to sell food, so putting them in charge is like the fox watching the hen house. <span style="color: red;">Just possibly the members of Club USDA have too much fat in their brains and pockets.</span><br />
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In Weight Watchers I learned that a pound of fat weighs the same as a pound of muscle. In <i>Sugar: The Bitter</i> <i>Truth</i>, I learned that a calorie is not a calorie. There are good carbs and bad carbs. Glucose is the energy of life, while fructose will hasten your death.<br />
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I'm going to leave you with my favorite quote from the lecture and a Call to Action. Dr. Lustig preached, "When God made the poison (fructose), he also made the antidote (fiber). I urge you, my readers, to eat more fiber and be a voice to end fructose in our food. God help us all.<br />
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Contact <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">Sandra Seeley</a> today.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2845416702646287631.post-20041009953690310802007-01-07T20:44:00.000-05:002015-06-10T18:08:11.739-04:00Future Champions<b>We All Need Inspirational Stories, Even <a href="http://ww2.sandraseeley.com/">Humor Columnists</a></b><br />
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I thought I would tell a story that is near and dear to my heart.<br />
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A while back, my older brother Patrick, wise in years of experience, gave me a small digital voice recorder for my personal note taking. While sitting around the table, reading the instructions and figuring out which buttons to push, he decided to give me an example of how the new technology works. So Patrick searched for something that he could read into the mic. It was at this time that he was reading a motivational book titled, <u>What to Say When You Talk to Your Self</u>, by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Shad%20Helmstetter&tag=tgiffriday5st-20&index=blended&amp;linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Shad Helmstetter</a>, PH.D. Skimming through the pages, he settled on a section of the book that begins with, "I can do anything I believe I can do!" and ends with, "I am an exceptional human being." Talk about killing two birds with one stone, oops, no killing birds here. But it was great to be able to see and hear how the voice recorder functioned as well as hearing the very inspirational passage read out loud. It sent chills through me.<br />
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It was at this time I came up with an inspirational plan for my very special fourth grade students. By the way, all my students are special students, so this plan was for all of them. You see, I teach 4th grade in the Pittsburgh Public School District at <a href="http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/WeilTechnologyFactSheet.asp" target="ext">Weil ALA</a> (<a href="http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/acceleratedlearningacademies.asp" target="ext">Accelerated Learning Academy</a>) in the Hill District, the heart of the Pittsburgh urban community. This is one of the inner city schools that many of the children come out of single parent households, or poor and broken homes, with children feeling unloved, and are generally neglected in their personal lives. The new Accelerated Learning Academies were designed to raise the student achievement of all children at every level, and this program specially targets the socio-economic disadvantaged group.<br />
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Now, at this point it is important to understand that all of the teachers in this school are facing very difficult situations on a daily basis. Many of the students at the school ignore all types of authority. Teachers are constantly battling with students. Many of the students during the school classes, stand, walk, fight, jump on desks, throw pencils, erasers, desk chairs, and even occasionally throw the desks themselves - all the while the teachers are trying to teach the subject matter. In fact, to give an idea of how tough it is to be a teacher there, when I called in sick for three days, a month ago, three different substitute teachers were called in for each of the three days. In each case, they all left the school before the day was over and said that they would never return to teach at that school again, for any reason.<br />
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Why do I tell you this? This is to set the stage for the next part of the story that is truly remarkable to say the least. While thinking, what can I do to reach these students and make an impact into their lives, my mind wandered back to that recording my brother had done on the digital voice recorder he had given me. You see, I also started reading the book from Shad Helmstetter. I thought, my students might be able to get something useful out of that passage of the book, and what better way to share it with my students than with the new technology of digital recorder that still had my brother's reading of the book's passage on it.<br />
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The students are required to read a number of books throughout the year. I check to see what books they are reading and we try to discuss the various books. So, I decided to share with them the book I was reading. I introduced the book and author, and then said that my brother recorded a passage that I wanted to share with them, if they would just please listen to it.<br />
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Once I turned it on, I was literally shocked at their reaction. Here is what was said in the book.<br />
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I can do anything I believe I can do! I've got it and every day I get more of it. I have talent, skills, and ability.<br />
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I set goals and I reach them. I know what I want out of life, I go after it, and I get it.<br />
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People like me, and I feel good about myself. I have a sense of pride in who I am and I believe in myself.<br />
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Nothing seems to stop me. I have a lot of determination. I turn problems into advantages. I find possibilities in things that other people never give a chance.<br />
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I have a lot of energy - I am very alive! I enjoy life and I can tell it and so can others. I keep my self up, looking ahead, and liking it.<br />
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I know that I can accomplish anything I choose, and I refuse to let anything negative hold me back or stand in my way.<br />
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I am not afraid of anything or anyone. I have strength, power, conviction, and confidence! I like challenges and I meet them head on, face to face - today especially<br />
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I am on top of the world and I'm going for it. I have a clear picture in my mind of what I want. I can see it in front of me. I know what I want and I know how to get it. I know that it's all up to me and I know I can do it.<br />
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Roadblocks don't bother me. They just mean that I am alive and running, and I'm not going to stand still for anything.<br />
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I trust myself I've got what it takes - plenty of it - and I know how to use it. Today, more than ever. Today I am unstoppable! I've got my self together and I'm getting more together every day. And today - look out world, here I come! <br />
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Limitations? I don't even recognize them as limitations. There is no challenge I can't conquer; there is no wall I can't climb over. There is no problem I can't defeat or turn around and make it work for me.<br />
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I stand tall! I am honest and sincere. I like to deal with people and they like me. I think well; I think clearly. I am organized; I am in control of myself and everything about me.<br />
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I call my shots and no one has to call them for me. I never blame anyone else for the circumstances of my life. I accept my failings and move past them as easily as I accept the rewards for my victories.<br />
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I never demand perfection of my self, but I expect the very best of what I have to give - and that's what I get!<br />
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I never give my self excuses. I get things done on time and in the right way. Today I have the inner strength to do more than ever.<br />
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I am an exceptional human being. My goals and my incredible belief in myself turn my goals into reality. I have the power to live my dreams. I believe in them like I believe in myself. And that belief is so strong that there is nothing that diminishes my undefeatable spirit.<br />
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<a href="http://www.whoareyoureally.com/">Shad Helmstetter</a> - What to Say When You Talk to Your Self</blockquote>
Each and every one of my students sat stone still, completely silent and totally engrossed in listening to the words that were recorded. When it had ended, the reaction was something out of a <i>Rocky</i> movie, there was silence for a few seconds, followed by a loud applause, cheering, with fists pumping to the ceiling. They were all truly touched by that passage.<br />
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I finally got them settled down again and passed out an abstract coloring page that I wanted them to color (just to keep their hands occupied) while thinking about what they had just heard. I also asked them to imagine, just imagine, what if each one of us could do anything we wanted to do, anything with no boundaries. More silence with a lot of thinking going on. That was the first and only time where my students sat for 20 to 25 minutes, completely still, and completely quiet. Since then I have received several letters from my students - unsolicited, with one a few weeks ago, that refers to the recording and how much of an impression it made on them, and how much it means to them to have a teacher teaching them things that they really need to know.<br />
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If you would like to get in touch with <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/" title="Sandra Seeley">Sandra Seeley</a>, send her an <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm" title="Email Sandra Seeley">email</a> today.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://sandraseeley.com">Sandra Seeley</a> is a writer, author, and a speaker. Contact her by <a href="http://sandraseeley.com/email-writer.htm">email.</a></p></div>Sandra Seeleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10284587081278007747noreply@blogger.com4