hellouhhhhh world!!

i just love this song [kissing u]

cuz wen i.m kissin u my senses come alive. alomost all the puzzle pieces i.ve been tryna findfall right into place you.re all that it takes.my doubts fade away wen i.m kissin u.

lols

nth happened yet

so i'll let u noe wen it does ok!

hellouhhhh!!

finali mah com is back to normal!!

lyk da new look/?

well i do!

i.m addicted to never let you go. lisen!

Karma Candles

During Amy's sleep over, Cynde found ear wax candles and bought a set. As disgusting as they are, they really do clean out a clogged ear and Dylan said, "I can hear better. This is great." Of course, you look like a human birthday cake when they are in process, but they are worth the wait.

Many moons ago, my Aunt Bobbie introduced me to the candles and for a few years, they are what people got for Christmas. Those introduced to the Crandalls often found themselves lying on their side and being lit up.

The karma returned, however, when I was given a candle treatment myself. If you've never done it, I highly recommend it.

We're famous...in Sherburne

And here is why I love small town press. Our presence for dinner in Sherburne, New York, made the news and the celebration of Pat Lemery's 90th birthday has been made historical. We go for the famous garlic pizza and a flashback in time (with wonderful company of a witty, beautiful piece of Sherburne history) and our names go up in lights. That is brilliant, if not quirky, indeed!

Karen's Karma - Not a foolish post (sorry)

For Christmas, Karen painted a mailbox for my parents so they would have an original piece of artwork at the end of the driveway. I took a photograph of it several months ago, but noticed my dad had installed it now that the weather has turned. I decided it is time for a post.

I like to think of this as a karmic gesture not only for my parents (any piece of art work is a gift, in my opinion, especially because it is created by the hands of someone important), but also for the mail people. I'm sure they go through their paper-load routine and notice any slight change along the route, like this original mailbox that is truly unique.

There are some who drive around neighborhoods and smash mailboxes with a baseball bats. Others drive around in an adolescent stupor and accidentally run over mailboxes (like my friend Carrie did to ours in high school). Then there are the Karen's of the world that see the potential for making our streets a little more colorful and special.

I prefer the Karens.

Trying to make sense of the senseless.

Over the weekend and at the cow project at St. Vincent Church, I noticed a pair of dentures in the hallway that leads from the congregation hall to the apartments where many of the pastors and nuns live. I asked about the dentures and was told they've been there for a few weeks. Surely, someone would see a man or woman of the cloth without their teeth and be able to say, "Oh, I know where your teeth are...they're in the hallway by the garage."

Random.

Then, at the gym yesterday, when all the treadmills were taken, I went into the movie theater to do an elliptical. Someone had put on American Pie 2 ... a frat boy satire of oversexed college life. I started to watch it, but then realized the other people in the room were women (some large, some old, some pregnant) and I found the whole experience rather strange. I'm sweating, have my iPod on, and able to hear all these women laughing at the buffoonery of the film. At one point, an employe brought a tour through the room that included a mother and several teenage girls. I thought to myself, "How are they seeing this room full of fools watching this boob-fest as they work out?"

Random. The events seem odd and I'm trying to make sense of them.

Karma is universal and in the family

Asked to work with teachers-in-training, I presented last night on my work in Kentucky and Syracuse with students and families from Africa and how a recognition of global realities are pertinent to English classrooms. Above is a soundless video posted on YouTube from my cousins Hoops4Hope program and I laugh because I'm in the very beginning (a glimpse) bent over a pile of sneakers that were collected and delivered to Long Island.

Two of the young men I work with came with me and talked about their life histories of coming to America and learning to be students.

Although I don't work directly with my cousin, Mark, his work is central to my goals as an educator and human being. We are related by blood and mind, and I'm very thankful to know him and to support his international cause. Through sports, literacy, story, and hope, young people around the world are given a chance. This is the kismet I believe in and I hope to continue throughout my life.