LINDSEY STIRLING... 

not just another violinist 

When Piers Morgan told Lindsey Stirling the world had no place for a dancing hip-hop violinist it simply strengthened her resolve to be herself. 

“The same reasons I was told I wouldn’t succeed are the reasons people travel hundreds of miles to see me now,” she laughs. “Because it’s different. Because it’s something you haven’t seen before…”

Lindsey is a classically-trained violinist. She combines her love of the violin with her love of futuristic music and dance. Her You Tube video "Crystallize" has racked up an amazing 78 million views. 

filmed at the ice sculptures... Midway, Utah

Stirling, a modern independent recording artist, was raised in a small Mormon community in Gilbert, Arizona. Her conventional childhood was rocked as she struggled with an eating disorder in early adulthood. Having nearly given up the classical training she worked so hard for, the violin became her comfort as she healed.

After being eliminated from America's Got Talent, Lindsey began composing and is now selling out concerts in Europe, America, Russia and Asia.

"The challenge is to love yourself for who you are, be your best self, and to encourage others to do the same.”

Lindsey Stirling... 
a very young remarkable woman of a certain age!

A LONG DAY...

Just sat through an eight hour seminar our school is hosting. Its based on the bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.  I am exhausted to say the least and we have two more days to go. 

Stephen and Sandra Covey

Dr. Covey is brilliant. This video clip is over an hour and a half long so you might not want to watch it all at once. It is, however, worth listening to. What is offered is profound. Hope you find it as worthwhile I as did.

SUMMER IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS ...

 Cascade Springs in Provo Canyon

It took it forever, but it is finally here... early summer... beautiful blue skies and temperatures that stay right around eighty.  I am loving every moment, knowing that the real heat is on its way. 

The back side of Mt. Timpanogos

I live in the country on an acre. I keep most of it in grass because its easier to mow that to pull weeds. My little neighbor lady is in her 90s and not up to doing either one.  This morning her son brought over two "lawn mowers"  my favorite kind.

They will have those weeds down to the nubs in a couple of weeks. 

Willie Holdman Photography

http://www.historicparkcityutah.com/willie-holdman-photography

MEET HARRIETTE THOMPSON...

running full speed through life!

At the age of 76 Harriette Thompson made her marathon debut. Now fifteen years later she just finished the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon as its oldest competitor, setting a new record in her age group of 7 hours and 7 minutes. 

She trains, running loops around the small lake in back of her retirement community in Charlotte, North Carolina.

With no arthritis in her hands, knees or feet she says she only feels her age after a race. 

"Some young girls come in limping. At least I don't feel that bad."

Harriette first began running to accompany a friend who was "walking" for leukemia and lymphoma. 

Because some of her friends had suffered from cancer she took on the challenge, generating more than $90,000

The mother of five and the grandmother of 10 she has lived a "grand life" as a classically trained pianist. 

Harriette was a soloist with several symphony orchestras around the world and played three times at Carnegie Hall. 

She sailed across the Atlantic with her children, relocating to Vienna where she infused them with culture and taught them a new language. 

Still passionate about her music, it fills the halls of the retirement home she shares with her husband Sydnor. Her 9-foot, 6-inch Bösendorfer piano that once sat on the stage of the Vienna Concert House, now sits by the window of her living room.

Harriette Line Thompson a truly remarkable woman!

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Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/05/26/4934622/at-91-harriette-thompson-taking.html#.U40FN_ldXa4#storylink=cpy

FATHERHOOD... lucky kids!

my son and his daughter

Even though Father's Day is a couple of weeks away, I just couldn't resist sharing this video.  Everyone should have a dad like this :)

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I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS...

I spent some time this weekend reading about Maya Angelou. What an example of perseverance and becoming a better version of one's self. 

All that I listened to were in awe of her very essence. She morphed from a life filled with pain to a truly beautiful human being. She makes me want to try harder to be more gentle and forgiving and less self-serving!

I Know why the Caged Bird Sings 

Maya Angelou

A free bird leaps on the back of the wind
and floats downstream till the current ends
and dips his wing in the orange suns rays and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage
can seldom see through his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill
of things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill
for the caged bird sings of freedom.” 

Still I Rise

Maya Angelou

Her words and her example will live on...

"Become somebody's rainbow in the clouds"

Have a beautiful and blessed Sunday

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THE LOVE OF LEARNING ...

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books."     

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

School is out, its such a bitter/sweet time. I look forward to summer and all that it offers but I will miss the kids, the magic of teaching and the moments when the "joy of learning" happens for me.


As my own children progressed through school I was voracious about what they were learning. My youngest took AP English and I followed along, reading everything he talked about. I cried as I finished John Steinbeck's The Red Pony. It was a wrenching moment when Billy Buck makes the ultimate sacrifice to keep his promise to Jody. 

Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" left me in awe at his skill as a writer. How could he say so much without saying what he was talking about?

This was my first year teaching 6th grade math.  I knew I was in for a "ride"  I finally understood where Pi came from and how to use it.

I was good with geometric solids and finding the area of parallelograms and triangles but then I had to teach them how to multiply positive and negative numbers.  That's simple until you get to ....  negative x negative = positive

I remember learning this. I did the process but I never understood the "why"  I asked everyone of my fellow teachers. They just repeated to me a negative x negative = positive.  I know that but why???  "Just do it"  they said.


I went to my son who gave me the very lengthy mathematical explanation which I completely did not understand.


Then... I "googled" it and this is what I found...






If I said to you "Don't eat that"  that's a negative.
If I said to you, "Don't, don't eat that" it is a double negative that means  EAT IT!  (a positive) In that context I got it and going down that "rabbit hole" was fun.


After lots of coaxing, all the lost and overdue library books have been  accounted for except one, a little picture book titled, Galileo's Treasure Box. 

As I looked at the title I thought ... I know who Galileo is. Then the little voice in my head said... 
"Yeah, so what do you know about him?" Once again I googled it. Oh my word... so interesting.

Galileo was the father of modern astronomy and modern physics. He did not invent the telescope but he improved it and was the first to use it to study the stars. He showed us that there was much more going on in the heavens than anyone suspected. 

He observed the four largest moons circling Jupiter that are now referred to as "Galilean moons" and showed us that our earth is NOT the center of the universe.

He made contributions to the law of inertia, developed the first pendulum clock (quite a feat since previously there was no accurate way to keep time) and directly influenced Newton's work on gravity by showing that any two objects of varying weight, if dropped from the same height will hit the ground at the same time. This was very radical thinking in his day and in direct opposition to the teachings of Aristotle.

Is there a point to all this?  YES!  Learning is fun and being a lifelong learner makes the future exciting and mysterious.

There is so much out there... I never want to be too old to learn something new!

Enjoy this 3 minute mini biography about Galileo...