Life in the key of E flat minor

I'm not a proponent of fowarding e-mails around. I'm more one who talks about something I've read to see if others have too, and if not, I'll foward the link then. Today a got an email via the IGRAB listserve that was a link to a story from ESPN.com . Of course, being a sentimental sap, this story really moved me. Personally, it reminds me of why I try to be a better person. Yet it shows me how far we have come as humans. As an aside, here's an example of how far we still need to go. Under the auspices of the Diversity Alliance , Penn launched the Diversity Alliance Speaker Series which is designed to expose the Penn community to the rich and varied accomplishments of its graduates through inviting alumni representing one or more of the Diversity Alliance member organizations to speak about their areas of professional expertise and their personal experiences. A reply that the Diversity Alliance got from a metro-Philadelphian just charmed me. I think Penn should ...

My uncle recently retired from the Camden Police Department and the story made a nice piece in the Courier Post (the local Camden and Camden County newspaper.) It's a brief update, but I wanted to share the news story with you.

So by the start of week 5, I f inished week 4 of my gym routine: shoulders, legs and arms. I should be able to do all of week 5 this week. Now, I'm adding some core training into the mix. So on my days-off, I'll just wake up to do some ab excerises. I googled core exercises and this good link from the Mayo Clinic came up. I've noticed that I'm pushing myself more. I'll add 5 or 10 more pounds to each set, and I can barely do it, but the amount that almost killed me last week is now the weight I use for my second to last set. Though I can't say I see any changes, but I'm not looking for the hard. Some others have said they've noticed a change, so I hope it's happening and I'm just ignorant of it. Regardless, I'm glad that I was able to jump back on the bandwagon. This week with my mom's surgery really threw off my schedule. (And I'm glad to report that mom's been cutting down her pain medication rather rapidly.)

So, I've gone to my first class in about 10 years. The class is a writen seminar and the teacher seems to have a wonderful following. It was really exciting to be in an learning environment again. Now, will I get in? I'm not enrolled in the Masters in Liberal Arts, yet. So I'm not a priority for getting into the class, but I don't know how low on the pecking order I am. So I have a wish and a pray... and it left me signing modified A Chorus Line . I have to work the rest of the week to find out if I'm in. If not, I'm going to see what else the teacher is teaching this semester and fit into that in lieu of this memoir class. Vivat Academia.

I am seriously working on taking a class this sememster. I have filled out the first round of paperwork, and now I'm trying to get permission to take English 435 - Writing and Remembering: a Memoir Workshop . According to the online class description: This workshop will help both new and experienced writers explore the elements that go into creating an effective memoir - the storytelling that allows writers to recreate for their readers the events that helped them shape their inner lives and sense of self. Through exercises and assignments, students will tap into their memories and imagination and learn how not only to validate the stories and the themes of their own lives, but how to write vividly about them. We will focus on details, pace and tone, as well as on revision and on the ethics of how to write "truth" when it may have an impact other people's lives. We will also mine a deeper understanding of the craft by reading from a wide range of writers, including J...

It's so difficult to return to work and actually work today. So I've been deleting the spam in my work inbox, responding to those legitamite e-mails and reading my friends' and family's blogs -- one blog at a time. Today on South Philly Dad, I learned that my friend Jeff sends Christmas cards to Ed Rendell, Dolly Parton and Bill Clinton. Also, while pondering his unborn child's future accent , I learned that I am spot on for Philadelphia accent. What American accent do you have? Your Result: Philadelphia Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you're not from Philadelphia, then you're from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. If you've ever journeyed to some far off place where people don't know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn't have a clue what accent it was they heard. The Inland North The South The Northeast The Midland Boston North ...

Well, I didn't live up to my goal of 100 posts for 2006, but I tried. Is that what resolutions are all about? Working on being better? Quickly, I wanted to get my first post of 2007 up on 1/1/07. I have had good 2006 and my blog has really helped me improve. So, it's back to the gym tomorrow. (I've hit the gym 3x a week for the last two weeks and I'm working on some muscle groups in 8 week cycles. That keeps me there.) Here's two drinking 8 glasses of water. I will be working on my book ideas, and I'm signing up for a class working toward the MLA. Happy New Year and here's to a year's worth of learning more about yourself and liking it.