Blog Awards

I would like to thank my friend over at http://www.amberinglass.blogspot.com/ for nominating me for this award. I was quite surprised to receive it and consider it an honor to be chosen as a creative blogger. I hope that Rather Be Writing is a blessing to you and your family as a resource for entertainment, education in writing and grammar as well as encouragement as a writer and/or Christian business person. I, too, have been inspired by a few creative bloggers/writers and would like to nominate seven more people to receive this award. I have not chosen randomly but for my faith and gratitude to these people for being either high quality writers or inspirational bloggers. Some of my nominees fit both categories. All are highly creative people who I respect and admire.



Here are my choices to nominate for the Kreativ Blogger award (Sorry, I just have to add that I'm a really bothered by the spelling of the award. I'm a bit OCD I suppose.) Anyway, here they are, not in any particular order.



1. Terri Tiffany. http://http//terri-treasures.blogspot.com/ Terri is an excellent writer who inspires me in so many ways. A many time published writer, her stories have been in Chicken Soup for the Soul and several other anthologies and Sunday School publications. She is also a great friend who I have mentioned several times on my blog. Terri's creativity shines through in her topics and the way she interacts/provokes comments on her blog. Kudos, Terri!


2. Next is Dawn Gregg, of Attaching Hearts.http://attachinghearts.blogspot.com/ Her blog was one of the first and best blogs I found of Christian parents of adoptive children with Reactive Attachment Disorder. Whenever I need some encouragement, I just go to her page and the music and posts lift me up. One of the creative things she does is to take pictures of heart shapes that she finds and post them as signs of God's love to us. I love it! Dawn, you're a creative blogger. I admire you!



3. The next one is my friend, Debbie Hannan, who is a strong woman who knows how to nurture the people around her and she writes about it in the most unique ways--so transparent yet mysterious. Debi, you are also a great writer! You have a gift. Your blog is not just a way for you to document your healing process. I think you have a book in you. You are a shining star!http://singlemominacomplicatedworld.blogspot.com/

4. Of course, I cannot leave out JoJo Tabares, who is one of the most creative blogger-writers I know! I love all of her websites and products but this one takes the cake.http://www.fortheloveofpurple.com/ Congratulations, Purple Princess! You are tops on creativity! (Hugs, Purple Power and all that Purple Jazz!)

5. My dear friend, Gidget Blunt is another creative blogger who writes in a way that I wish I could-concise. She is also a fellow TOS Crewmember who reviews products for vendors who have an agreement with The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. She writes about this, that and everything and is certainly one of my favorite creative bloggers and the name of her blog fits. She is a gem! Garden of Gems. http://www.gardenofgems.blogspot.com/

6. Next, is Tiffany at Hillside Hollow.http://hillsidehollow.blogspot.com/ Talk about creative! She makes new jeans out of old ones, creates unique recipes, blogs about lapbooking, sports, outdoor adventures, homeschooling, chocolate and a myriad of other topics. She always has eye-pleasing layouts and is apparently more tech savvy than I because she can always get her photos to line up perfectly and even wraps the text around it with textboxes for the outline of the words. Did I mention, I adore her? Tiffany, you are definitely a creative blogger!


7. Last, but not least, is a friend I am just getting to know. She is part of our homeschooling group and is also an adoptive parent. I "met" her via the web after some kind ladies from the group told me I should connect with her because we had some commonalities in our lives. She was a great help to me and still is. Her blog is very, very interesting and she writes tactfully about incredibly unique experiences, even some I would be too shy to discuss with my close friends if they were my experiences! (And I'm not shy in most people's opinions.) Melissa is a wonderful, organized person who is very creative in her blogging. I always look forward to seeing what new thing she is going to write about! So, Melissa, you are my 7th and final nominee. http://kiwiyates.blogspot.com/

So...

Here are the rules for the award (and I quote):

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

OKAY: so here are my seven things that you might find interesting about me:

1. I grew up in a family that sang and performed music, puppetry, ventriloquism and traveled across the New England States under the name, Victory Messengers. We also had a small television program.

2. I have taken acting classes and love performing arts. I met my husband while we were teamed up as singing/dancing partners in a musical at Family Life Ministries in Bath, NY where he worked.

3. I can't dance. But I want to try. I am just afraid to do it in public so I borrowed videos from the library two weeks ago and I'm planning at some point when my schedule eases up to bust a move in my living room. I will first hide all camcorders and digital cameras.

4. I really want a daughter. I'm praying about a situation that might bring one into my life. I'm not pregnant either.

5. My secret desire is to upgrade my education and I want degrees in multiple areas of study: Psychology/Counseling, Secondary Education with concentrations in English and History (I took Elementary Ed prior), Special Education, Music and Journalism. I'm not ambitious at all am I? Maybe I will finish when I'm eighty.

6. I hate to cook, but don't mind baking.

7. I never eat when I'm writing a big project. I'd rather drink my meals or order an I.V. ! My poor family. Good thing hubby cooks. Your turn now.

Answers To Dr. Wordwielder's Wisdom Quiz

1. Floridians are fond of “yard (a. Sailing OR b. saling)”. B. Yard-SALING though technically it is yard sales not saling.
2. Under His Wings Womens Center held a vigil for domestic violence survivors; the gentleman brought a candle and attended because he: a. realized that actions speak louder than words OR B. wanted to add fuel to the fire. A. Actions speak louder than words. He certainly would not want to add fuel to the fire.
3. Abecedarian. Define it. Is it: A. one who uses an abacus to teach Mathematics OR B. a beginner or learner of the alphabet? B. An Abecedarian is one who is a beginner or learner of the alphabet.
4. Blogstruck. Being enamored with a topic about which one of your colleagues has posted via a weblog or social media device. Ms. JoJo, I liked your coined word. Thank you for playing.
5. The misspelled word was suppose to be "friend". One would shudder at the thought of having a fiend stick closer than a brother!
6. “When a medical professional starts poking and ribbing you, it is not a good idea to command ‘Cut it out, sir”—the accidental appendectomy patient. Saying cut it out to the doctor is not a wise idea if he is a pun person. One might also end up with a missing organ!

Dr. Wordwielder's Words of Wisdom

Dr. Word Wielder here. I trust that in my absence, you’ve all been brushing up on your grammar. Ms. BeckyJoie has been teaching her children about root words and prefixes. They seem to have adapted fairly well and are developing an affinity to stretching their vocabulary by using words that they have never heard of nor understood prior. In fact, I think one of them has decided that he shall take up a hobby of the same ilk that Ms. BeckyJoie has chosen for her career. He has begun writing stories and making up sentences using the words from his lessons. I do believe that he was found using a cardboard box turned tablet to do so because he wanted to pen the words quickly and illustrate them himself. Ms. BeckyJoie was estactic, to put it in the common vernacular. I too, congratulated her on the successful passing of the torch. With a bit of mentoring, the young chap might actually become skillful at the craft. Perhaps, someday, he shall develop a desire to pursue a career in communications and enroll in my university classes. But for now, I think that it is a good idea for him to engage in Writing Workshops and critique circles of his peers. Perhaps, I shall talk his mother into beginning a Workshop in the new umbrella school in which he partakes. I shall not have the time to teach him myself.

I’ve been busy from top to toe with preparations for the new semester at the university. My classes are at an abundance of attendees, which is excellent for the sake of our educational institution in this era of global financial crisis about which we hear ad infinitem. (Regardless of the financial situation, I assume that I shall fare fine with my collection of rare, antique books though I wouldst die a thousand deaths of starvation before parting with them).

Nevertheless, the flurry of life’s whirlwinds shall not prevail this evening as it has in the past week or so. I do believe Ms. Oakes has repaired her technical issues with people who cough too much (hackers). Now I shall deliver my weekly lesson. I would like you also to add a word on an area of English, Grammar or Writing about which you have questions. Then leave your answers in the box marked “comments” and I shall return later to grade them. Thank you so much for your faithful participation. I am delighted to have you in my correspondence class hosted via the Internet.

DIRECTIONS: I shall post one or more of these weekly. Sometimes I shall include them all. You will need to understand the rules and definitions.

1. Hectic or Helpful Homonyms. (Select the correct homonym. .They are hectic when used improperly and helpful when fitly used.)
2. Ideal or Idiotic Idioms. (One feels like an idiot unless he or she uses these idioms correctly.)
3. Wise or Wacky Words. (Sometimes I shall share a wise word for your use. At other times, it shall be a strange or wacky word that you, the readers shall help to define.)
4. Comical or Cute Coinage. (Step one. I share terms that I find cute or comical. Step two, you share a word that you find fitting in either category as well. We shall sharpen each other’s intellect.)
5. Spelling Slips. This shall include words that are commonly misspelled. You will need to select the correct one.
6. Pun Fun. I do relish a bit of dry, English or New Englandish humor. Puns are a way of life for some of Ms. BeckyJoie’s family as well. Here I shall share a pun and I would like you to share one also.

Are you prepared sufficiently to attempt the examination?

Learning Language is the sharpening stick for the scholar's sword.

Here are the questions. Remember to consult the rules above. Choose the correct answer and post to the blog. Each category is numbered and defined above.

1. Floridians are fond of “yard (a. Sailing OR b. saling)”.
2. Under His Wings Womens Center held a vigil for domestic violence survivors; the gentleman brought a candle and attended because he: a. realized that actions speak louder than words OR B. wanted to add fuel to the fire.
3. Abecedarian. Define it. Is it: A. one who uses an abacus to teach Mathematics OR B. a beginner or learner of the alphabet?
4. Blogstruck. Being enamored with a topic about which one of your colleagues has posted via a weblog or social media device.
5. What is this misspelled word suppose to be? “A Fiend is someone who sticks closer than a brother.”
6. “When a medical professional starts poking and ribbing you, it is not a good idea to command ‘Cut it out, sir”—the accidental appendectomy patient.

Well, it is time for me to retire for the night. I hope that you enjoyed yourself while taking my examination and that you were able to guess the correct answers. Re-read the rules, please, ladies and gentlemen, and then post your answers here and also on your own blog, giving a link back to my grammar lesson. Once, again, I think Ms. BeckyJoie for allowing me to have time and space on her webpage. Until next time, my companions….

Dr. Wordwielder, signing off. Writers: take this to heart. Teachers, tell your students: Use wise words when working and writing this week. Wield them well and wisdom will walk with you.

Kind Kids

A little over two years ago, I was a co-writer on a Kind Kids Curriculum written for children in daycares and preschools from Birth to Age Five, preposed to pilot in Lake County schools and/or VPK. The program is extensive and includes parenting help for teenage or young mom's in how to nurture and teach kindness to their children as well as opportunities for people in the community to encourage acts of kindness in society in general. It will include puppetry, cartoons, games, stories, songs and more. It's still in the development stage as it was put on hold due to funding issues.

This week, I received an email informing me that the project is back on the front burner as we are working on the filming of videos for corporate funding of the pilot. At this time, we are looking for local families with three year olds who would like to be filmed as part of this volunteer effort to create a kindness curriculum that will help combat the violence and apathy of today's society and turn the hearts of parents toward their children.

The organization with which I work that is founding this program is Kindness Works International. http://www.kindnessworksinternational.org/ My initial involvement with this project was in co-creating characters, skits, and games to help promote kindness. I also wrote and recorded a song that was filmed for an introductory video. Feeble, mind you, but original, LOL. I have not been super-involved with the project over the last few months but I do know of the original intent. If it has stayed true to it's original track, then I support the cause-whole heartedly and expect to be involved again soon with more curriculum writing. It's very exciting.

Although KWI is a secular organization, there are many people of faith working cooperatively with them to promote the traditional values to future generations through this curriculum and other ventures, such as college scholarships they handed out based on Kind Acts and more. A spokesman for the organization is contemporary Christian singer named, Norman Lee. You can view one of his KWI videos and listen to his music here.

http://www.normanleeprayon.com/home.html

Another wonderful participant in KWI is my friend, the very kind-hearted painter/photographer, http://www.myronleggett.com/ About two and a half years ago, he painted a portrait of Rachel Scott (Columbine victim) for her mother and helped KWI launch it's One Act of Kindness project. His actions did cause a giant ripple and we were touched by it's reaches.

It was through his project that our middle son was brought to our attention as a young person who needed an adoptive family. To sum it up, one act of kindness led to another which led to another and here we are with two teen boys we didn't know we were going to adopt. That happened after I became involved with the curriculum-writing end of things. It was a beautiful story. While writing the scope and sequence for the courses, my son's public school teacher, a Christian who had been praying for God to bring her student a family, came in to the room and the shop owner where we were meeting asked her opinion of the curriculum. Then she told us about this boy who needed a family. She described him and I began bawling. I knew she was describing my future son. My husband and I had prayed for specific things and God answered by dropping in our laps this boy with his list matching our prayer list. Wow. When we finally saw a picture of him, we saw our other son as well and began praying about him. We adopted the first child by himself and then a while later, after months of prayer, we adopted the second son-not related. Now we have a house full. We have an opportunity to show kindness to those who've not known it much in their lives. It is our hope that our acts of kindness to them, spurred by the acts of kindness by which we found them, will also ripple into more kindness and love from them to others. And who knows how our adoption of them will affect those around us and them? Only God knows. Now you have a part of our story of how KWI touched our lives.

Meanwhile, if you are a local family who wishes to contribute to KWI through filming, donations or volunteer hours, please contact me via email at rjeremiah2911@embarqmail.com. Thanks. Help start a ripple in your life and that of others today.

WEB DESIGN FOR KIDS AND CURIOUS GROWN-UPS

This is a copy of a product review that I have posted at my Leaders in Learning Blog. I thought that some of you other writers who are technologically challenged like me might appreciate this review also.

Technologically-Challenged?

I’ve found a web design program that is technically not challenging at all.

As a writer and blogger, I’ve always wanted to learn html. So I purchased a book at a local discount store and even borrowed a few from the library but became disappointed when I felt like I was reading French in a mirror backwards. (The only French I know is my middle name and a Sunday School song.)

So, you can imagine how excited I was to receive a copy of a web design program for kids! I have two kids living at home and was a curious grow-up, so I figured it had to work for me but I was also a nervous, semi-literate html writer. In fact, I knew just enough about html to get myself in trouble.

After I began to watch this DVD, I felt a little better. It is very basic and non-threatening, guiding you step by step, through the stages of designing a web page. The only tools you need to have are the NOTEPAD program, Internet Explorer, your television and a DVD player. Well, maybe there is one more thing you need. You will want your remote control so you can pause the video and practice the lessons. (Alternatively, you can play it on the computer but you’ll have to be a pro at toggling screens).

You will want to keep your eyes on the TV screen or computer monitor as scenes transition between Brian Richardson’s mellow teaching and the computer screens of his equally mild-mannered teenaged students. I enjoyed watching and noting the manners and attitudes of respect shown by the teens as well. We did keep the remote handy so we could freeze the frames and copy the text.

The whole video is low-key and pretty easy to follow. My boys enjoyed watching their works in progress turn up as real webpages featuring their names and everything. The video showed how to create a Word Pad Document and then convert it into a web page. It also taught the kids how to create folders, save to various drives, how to find hidden code on popular web pages and more. Most of the clips were instruction on building the webpages. Both of my boys tried it. One of them was a little frustrated because his computer program was slightly different and we had to fiddle around to figure out how to convert the page to html and back to a WordPad document. Once we figured out how to do it, he jumped right back into designing. I sat with my laptop nearby and played around with the fonts and colors right along with my boys. Sometimes, we got so interested in making the letters scroll, changing the backgrounds and making up our own funny sayings, that we had to stop the movie to get back on track but each clip had enough review on it, that we were able to catch up quickly.

We learned about sandwiches--no, not those kind-my two boys became hungry at the thought of sandwiches, too--stop signs, the use of <> signs as well as how to make text scroll across the page in various directions. (See the title at the top? It's scrolling, aren't you proud of me? )Somehow the code made sense to us when it hadn’t before. I guess it was encouraging to see younger people, with less education than I, able to create and decorate a webpage. It gave me the courage to try it myself and not be intimidated by the computer words and code.

I didn’t get to watch all of the video while my laptop was available(multi-tasking took me away at times), but my boys watched the whole thing with interest.

I hope to spend more time working with the video. I have a lot more to learn from it.

What a great investment! It has a money back guarantee and for the special price of $19.99 (normally $40), a reticent or challenged learner can benefit from a low cost way to try out a potential career/hobby. It’s not for a programming savvy individual but it worked well for my kids and little old me. And who knows? It might be future job training for one of my boys. I can picture him now, making his business cards and brochures and selling people on hiring him to build their web pages.

As far as the quality of the video and acting, well, it was not super-engaging. The few jokes were somewhat flat but as a beginner instructional video, it was not bad. And the author/producer has a good motivation for selling his product. Not only does he want to help you learn to be more technologically skilled BUT also he donates a portion of the price toward charity. You might like to check out what he does and leave a comment. You can read up about that here. http://shinealight.ivillage.com/sbo-profile/?ProfileID=1168

Oh and for the other curious grown-ups: I looked up what HTML stands for—it’s an acronym for: Hyper Text Markup Language. With a name like that, no wonder everyone is shaking in their rhetorical boots. Folks who resemble that remark need to watch this video.

Do I recommend it? You bet. I did learn a lot and my kids enjoyed it as well. It was so easy compared to most other HTML programs and in the end, left me feeling like I actually might be able to play around more with designing web pages. I guess you could say, it takes the “timid” out of “intimidated”.

A TOS CREWMEMBER REVIEW OF THE DVD, “WEB DESIGN FOR KIDS (…AND CURIOUS GROWN-UPS!)” filmed by Brian Richardson

Technical Difficulties

Rather Be Writing will return after technical difficulties are remedied. Thank you for your patience.

Dr. Wordwielder is Weary

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Dr. Wordwielder here with your weekly word examination. I shan't be long. I'm a mite bit weary this evening as I've made several trips out in the rain and doing so depletes this old chap of any gumption he might have thought in his possession.

First, I purposed to go to the local library for their annual used book sale in a quest for a few, desired, old faithful books, some of which have been on my wish list for quite some time now, perhaps ten years. I've handled the modern copies but they do not compare to the quality striven for by every business worth it's salt in yesteryear. It was imperative that I not be late for this very important date with alibris, so I skipped breakfast and gobbled down a light nosh of pickled eggs followed by a slice of brown bread. I advanced to my car in hopes that the motorway would not be too cramped. Of course, you know that the weather in Florida is about as fickle as a mood ring and one must prepare for the best and worst to come. I tossed a brolly in the boot even though it was bright and warm from the golden sun. Walking away, I glanced in the rear view as I approached the driver's side. I noted a few bread crumbs in my mustache so I reached up to brush them away, only to accidentally nudge my bi-focals. They fell off my face but I quickly scooped the cap off my woolen head and caught them. To my great surprise, the neighborhood children who were waiting on the arrival of the school bus, must have believed that I was a magician performing a trick, as they giggled and clapped (after a gasp or two). I have to admit, it was a pretty brilliant chance for me to cover up what might have been a fateful accident. I turned and gave a slight bow and then climbed into the vehicle.

As I motored toward the library sale, little droplets of water began to drip onto my windscreen and form into little pools. I turned on my wipers and gave way to the yellow cab that seemed to be out of place in this area and didn't he know it? Perhaps he was from New York or something. He almost ran me off the road, but I was able to right myself and keep on track until I reached the slip road to the adorable village that's name includes the title for Mountain but is really a hill with a few slight curves. At any rate, the precipitation had weakened and I was not too disappointed as I had no way of reaching my protection that was lying by itself in the rear of the car.

The library was as I had hoped it would be, quiet as a museum at night (although I heard someone wrote a movie about strange happenings in one museum). The early bird catches the worm, you know. I stood at the door, awaiting the librarian who came a moment later with the keys. I had not arrived a minute too soon. As we entered the building, cars were motoring up into the lot like ants on honey at a picnic. I mustn't blame them. There were a grand amount of books available. I gazed on a copy of "The Royal Path of Life" by Thomas Haines and company. It was a giant volume containing pages of velum, black and white drawings and advice written in a grandfatherly tone, yielding wisdom as well as debating the issues of contemporary society. I longed to purchase it but pondered the thought of carrying the monstrosity along with me as I browsed the other tables.

The aroma of musty paper wafted o'er the room and to me it was the scent of heaven unleashed. I picked up a copy of John Greenleaf Whittier's poetry, a fine book with an embossed red rose on the front. It contained an autograph on the title page and was addressed to a colleague of his. I ran my fingers across the edges and marveled at how the grainy cover could suddenly feel so smooth over the center of it, as if ribbon with a rose underneath, had been woven in like fabric across the cover. I placed the anthology back down on the table and picked up a plain book that looked like it had been wrapped in a brown paper bag, only it felt more like burlap. It was a copy of Riverside Literature Series Numbers 13 and 14, the Song of Hiawatha, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Delighted, I opened the book and saw that it was a true find for only $10.00. I snatched it up quickly and proceeded to the cashier, checked out and left. It had always fascinated me to read stories of the Natives in early America and Longfellow was no slouch in the telling of it.

Since the hour is late and since Ms. BeckyJoie has requested that I weigh in on the matter of good literature, I shall forgo the lengthy examination and post but one or two questions. Prior to that, I shall share with you a portion of the book I was able to acquire. I do hope that you will grant a weary old man some forgiveness for an atypical post this eve. This is only an excerpt of the poem titled, "Hiawatha's Friends" in "The Song of Hiawatha". I am posting it in response to Ms. JoJo Tabares weblog article about friendship and what constitutes such. Don't you think that Longfellow does an excellent job of describing Hiawatha's feelings toward friends?

Two good friends had Hiawatha,
Singled out from all the others,
Bound to him in closest union,
And to whom he gave the right hand
Of his heart, in joy and sorrow;
Chibiabos, the musician,
And the very strong man, Kwasind.
Straight between them ran the pathway,
Never grew the grass upon it;
Singing birds, that utter falsehoods,
Story-tellers, mischief-makers,
Found no eager ear to listen,
Could not breed ill-will between them,
For they kept each other's counsel,
Spake with naked hearts together,
Pondering much and much contriving
How the tribes of men might prosper.
Most beloved by Hiawatha
Was the gentle Chibiabos,
He the best of all musicians,
He the sweetest of all singers.
Beautiful and childlike was he,
Brave as man is, soft as woman,
Pliant as a wand of willow,
Stately as a deer with antlers.
When he sang, the village listened;
All the warriors gathered round him,
All the women came to hear him;
Now he stirred their souls to passion,
Now he melted them to pity.
From the hollow reeds he fashioned
Flutes so musical and mellow,
That the brook, the Sebowisha,
Ceased to murmur in the woodland,
That the wood-birds ceased from singing,
And the squirrel, Adjidaumo,
Ceased his chatter in the oak-tree,
And the rabbit, the Wabasso,
Sat upright to look and listen.
Yes, the brook, the Sebowisha,
Pausing, said, "O Chibiabos,
Teach my waves to flow in music,
Softly as your words in singing!"
Yes, the bluebird, the Owaissa,
Envious, said, "O Chibiabos,
Teach me tones as wild and wayward,
Teach me songs as full of frenzy!"
Yes, the robin, the Opechee,
Joyous, said, "O Chibiabos,
Teach me tones as sweet and tender,
Teach me songs as full of gladness!"
And the whippoorwill, Wawonaissa,
Sobbing, said, "O Chibiabos,
Teach me tones as melancholy,
Teach me songs as full of sadness!"
All the many sounds of nature
Borrowed sweetness from his singing;
All the hearts of men were softened
By the pathos of his music;
For he sang of peace and freedom,
Sang of beauty, love, and longing;
Sang of death, and life undying
In the Islands of the Blessed,
In the kingdom of Ponemah,
In the land of the Hereafter.

The vivid language and grammar of this piece is inspiring in a literary and philosophical sense. I simply adore Longfellow's use of poetic devices. For example,
his use of similes and metaphors such as "pliant as a wand of willows", "stately as a deer with antlers" and "spoke with naked hearts together" show his astute knowledge of how to appeal to the interest and intellect of his readers. What eloquent words he uses that we might understand and feel what Hiawatha, the main character feels toward his friends. What magnificent usage of the colour and imagery that evoke in us a sense of our presence in the story. I noticed also that the gentleman used a subtle amount of alliteration. For instance, "teach me tones wild and wayward", "eager ear" and the like. He does employ a set rhythm which engraves the words and details upon the mind of the reader. Not many folks are skilled at the art of using multiple, hyphenated words so close together but Longfellow used them like they were pieces of a song-of course they are-the Song of Hiawatha. "Singing birds, that utter falsehoods, Story-tellers,mischief-makers, Found no eager ear to listen, Could not breed ill-will between them."

Although I am merely skimming the surface, the literary content of Longfellow's poetry is an example from which a good poet and writer can learn much about entertaining the reader and using quality grammatical tools. But I shall have to lecture more at another hour.

The hour is late and I'm rambling as I suppose stodgy old people do. I shan't have another cup of coffee as I need to arise early tomorrow for another round of lectures at the university. So I shall leave you with an abbreviated version of my weekly examination.

Don't forget to post your responses and return again in a day or so for the answers.

Two Questions this week.


1. Hectic or Helpful Homonyms. Which homonym is correct? Two weeks prior to today, I, Dr. William Wordwielder did visit the local book (sellers or cellars).

2. Ideal or Idiotic Idioms. If you make companionship with a fool, you might also be taken for one because as everybody knows, (a. You must never count your chickens before they hatch OR b. Birds of a feather flock together.)

By the way, I neglected to inform you about the results of my audition last Wednesday evening for the church worship ensemble. It appears that my style of vocal expression is not compatible with the music selections used by the choral director for the ensemble but the director was pleased with my audition so that he added an extra chair in the choir itself and placed me in the back to assist the bass and baritone sections as I possess a three octave range and there was no need for another tenor. Thank you all for your interest in my endeavor. I recently heard about another option where I might be able to sing with a collage of singers. For now, I shall retire and wish you all a good night's rest, though as I said it is late and you shall probably read my ramblings on the morrow. Good night. Don't forget to comment. Parting is such sweet, nay, bittersweet sorrow.