What a fun day. I started it out with getting a crown replaced. Now that that is out of the way I can get to the fun stuff. Went to the office and dropped off money and went over what has happened while I was gone. Lots of things to cover… ideas to bounce off, notes to explain, etc.
We had an inquiry for an order from Spain for 15,000 strings that they want by the end of May. Do I treat that as an order, prank or what. We are corresponding with them to find out at this point.
Finished the newsletter and took it to a friend Doris Hyde to proof. She finds everything. She was my first clerk who retired when she reached 77. Now she works in the yard and her flowers are beautiful.
Took Randy (My Webmaster) and Lynna, his wife (My Office Manager) to “The Back Porch” for lunch. It was just a bunch of home cooking. Ribs for appitizer, chicken fried steak sandwiches, home cut potato fries, onion petals and we were too full for desert.
Had some lab work this afternoon and then picked up strings from Goodwill. They weld them and have them bagged by color and it is our jobs (Jim and mine) to count them in the bagged assortments. If that order goes through, we better get busy.
Spent some time in the yard. I have some tomatos growing in pots. They are starting to bloom. When you brush one with your hand it really smells like summer. I also have green beans, summer squash, beets, cucumbers and bell peppers up. Right now my Iris plants are blooming. The Azaleas are just finishing.
Well, off to have dinner and meet with friends.
Dave
Last night I gave a program for the First Baptist Church, Blackwell, OK. We had a number of senior adults and then the kids. A nice mix. There was lots of laughter as some of the seniors couldn’t get their hands to do what they had done 60 of 70 years ago. The kids learned some of the stories that I don’t tell in school. They can now share them. We had a good time.
I was at Blackwell Middle School today. We had a little confusion as to when I should start so I was way early for the day. They made it a special day for the 6th graders and I only saw them. The schedule was changed around for them and then the 7th and 8th grade teachers found out it would affect their class schedueling, so things were revised. It worked out fine and all the 6th graders had a very good time.
I am finally home from my round about trip to Alaska, Kansas and then Oklahoma.
Dave
Named after one of the mountains overlooking the school, the school is in the Matanuska Valley. I arrived just as State Police were closing the only highway to try to catch a carjacker. They got him but it really messed up travel plans for many, including the 4th grade that were going into the Museum in Anchorage.
I spend the day with Diony Tribble the librarian. We met in Fairbanks at the library convention in February and he had been wanting to get me for some time but just didn’t work it out. I am so glad we did. His kids were wonderful. A school of 420 I saw classes all day long.
The second grade had a play in the evening and there was an art show of kids’ work around the school as well as having the “String Man” return. Kids brought parents in to see the Swan, Porcupine, Whale and Fox and a few other favorites. Some of the parents joined in and remembered some of their childhood games. The kids also brought the parents in so they could get a book or DVD.
Between school and the evening program I went into Wasilla and had fresh halibut. There is nothing like it in the fish world. All in all, it was a great way to end up my Alaska trip. Drove home at 9:00 and the sun was still shining. Got gas and am ready to return the car and get on a plane in the morning.
Tomorrow I fly to Oklahoma City, OK and then drive to Wichita, KS for a retreat I go to each year. Will arrive there about 3 AM. I think I will sleep tonight.
Dave
Mornings take more time than in Oklahoma. I have a garage to park in there and it is warmer. Here I have to leave time to start the car and turn on the front and back window heaters. Then I have to scrape the windows. If I start driving too soon, before the heaters have warmed the windows, they just start to ice over again.
Amy dropped off some books at Chinook Elementary school for me that they needed and I went to my last Anchorage school. Tudor is a smaller school tucked away in a neighborhood. Ms. Leslie, Leslie McNeely is the librarian and had things set up in there for me. I even had a free period due to the way things worked out.
During that time, I had 5 sixth graders come in and I taught them the spider. They are now responsible for teaching the rest of the school. Since that figure takes more time to learn, I find it easier to teach a few and let them handle it.
The classes went smoothly and teachers were very involved. Ms. Leslie sent out for lunch at a Gyro place and it was wonderful. The olives were very salty and reminded me of Palestine. Ended the day with third graders because they had been on a field trip till then. They were great. Their teachers looked more tired than the kids…I wonder why?
Went back up to Bear Valley School to drop off some books and then came home to get some things packed. Amy and a friend and I are going out for dinner so I can have some fresh halibut. I’ll let you know how it was.
Dave
I stopped by Fairview and picked up the few books that Jeanne didn’t sell and the money, then drove a short distance to Abbot Loop Elementary. “Charlie” Polak the librarian, had arranged with the music teacher to trade areas so I was settled into the music room for the day. She had been selling strings since they arrived, a week ago. Do you think the kids were ready????????
“Charlie” had Googled my name last week to find some information to use for promotional material. The first “hit” under David Titus was a for an arrest warrent for someone in Seattle. I assured her it was not me. They had already figured it out, but we wonder who else ran across it and wondered. Google has its’ good points and bad.
This was a hyped up day since the 4th, 5th and 6th grades were going to a concert in downtown Anchcorage mid day. When they came back the 5th and 6th came directly off the busses to the music room for the string program. They were really full of energy and had not had time to expell it. I really had to “project” to keep them on task. They did a most admirable job of being present to the moment.
Many of the kids knew things since they had used the strings all week so they were quick to pick up new things. There was a great variety of ethnic backgrounds also to bring into this. We really had a good time. I am going back to the school at 6:45 for an evening program of stories and strings with the parents. I am just back at the house to refresh and regroup.
I went back to the school and we had a nice group of about 40 adults and children. A very comfortable group of people who were coming out to see what their kids were going on and on about. I taught one man “the eye of the needle” that looks likie magic. Then when anyone else wanted to know how to do it, I sent them to him. That is what it is all about. Each one, teach one. I did that with a couple of other figures and the place started humming.
I had some of the kids show what they could do, including a 5 year old who was good at making the most basic opening and another boy who could do a “Look at this” trick. I also talked about the value of storytelling in the home and told a couple of stories without strings and a couple with strings. This week is “Unplug the Screens” week at the school.
I left there and went to the Lucky Wishbone for a strawberrry shortcake made with hot biscuits. Yum. Home to rest.
Dave Titus
I am tired. Went to the school this morning and they had the music room set up for me. A nice space. The library, music, art and PE departments put their money together to have me come. Piper Coulter, the librarian seened to arrange things and they went very smoothly. Even though it was during “specials” time, many of the teachers came.
They sent out for sandwiches for lunch and we had a half hour to eat and visit, then back to the kids. What a great bunch. The principal had a meeting but came back to be with the 5th graders because as a group they can have an attitude problem. Guess what? No problems. Piper even took pictures of them helping each other figure out the things. This string stuff is magical.
Amy took me to meet some friends for a little dinner get together. We visited and I did a little string stuff but came home fairly early. I am tired. This really is work, even though I love doing it. Going to turn in.
Dave
I had the day to just do fun things. I slept late…on purpose this time and then enjoyed my coffee and some quiet time. Then went to REI and bought a silk shirt. They are so good for layering and take up so little room for traveling.
Ate at a Mexican restaurant and then went to the Native Heritage Center for some special programing they had going on. Went in the gift shop and found that they had just sent an order for books on Friday. I will check with the person in charge on Monday to see if I can just give them the books and save shipping.
Asked a couple of the crafts people out there if they had basket earings. One woman called a friend who makes them and when I left the center, I went to her apartment and purchased a pair. They are beautiful small grass baskets made into earings.
I also drove around a little just to admire the mountains. Surrounding Anchorage, they are just beautiful. Snow covered against the white sky, they are so magnificent. I also enjoyed them on my drive back from Wasilla yesterday. I have been looking out for moose but have not seen one on this trip yet. Just as well as they can be a real hazard when driving.
Went out to dinner with a librarian friend, Charlotte Pendelton. She has been very interested in the String Ministry and a faithful supporter. We had dinner at the “Yak and Yetti” restaurant with her friend Steve and other library friends, Chris and Alex. Chris sent some home baked goodies home with me.
Home before dark and ready to wind down.
Dave
Wow! What a busy day!
My alarm didn’t go off so I had 1 hour to get ready and make the 45 minute drive to the school. Made it with 10 minutes to spare…no I even stayed kind of within the speed limit. They were ready for me with coffee, Thanks Be.
Bonnie Cavanaugh has been the librarian there for 9 years and I was last there on her first year. Time for me to come back. She worked with Karen Davis from the Wasilla Public Library to bring me to the school. A couple of families came to the programs but most were at a Home School Convention held today also. That was too bad they missed it.
We did 7 sessions, back to back with 30 minutes for lunch. Some of the kids were in there a couple of times because of scheduling. Choir was on a field trip and some of the kids were on a scavenger hunt so it was a loose day at the school. We had a lot of fun and the teachers joined in with the kids. In fact, one of the teachers came in after school and ask for help doing the crocodile.
I stopped by Fariview School on my way home to drop off a couple of videos they needed. All the kids I saw had strings on their wrists or were making something with them. One of the primary teachers stopped me and thanked me for coming. She said she wasn’t very happy that they were spending the money on something her kids would not be able to do…and after the program she changed her mind and said it was the best program they have ever had.
When I am tired from a busy day, that is just what I need to hear. Thanks.
Dave
What a great day. The librarian, Chip Nordoff worked it out for me to visit his school. There was collaberation between the Chinook PTA and the Law firm of Farley and Graves to pay for the booking. Thanks.
Cook Inlet Tribal Council has a couple of staff…Paul Asicksik and Gail Knutson who work to give Native kids a helping hand in their work and culture. Paul and Gail stayed with me all day to observe and be there if I needed any help. Thanks to them for organizing the passing out of strings…and collecting the rubber bands that are on them. It is not a good idea to have 75 loose rubber bands in the group. And they also make a mess on the floor that are hard to sweep up.
The school is having an event tonight for parents and Chip thought that they would sell some books then. The kids will be more than happy to show off their new skills. I went into the office after school and a teacher and secretary were laughing over cat’s cradle. Haven’t done it in years they said.
Dave
Jenn Spain is a 5th grade teacher. She is the one that arranged for me to come to the school. I was at that school 2 or 3 years ago. She said that the kids voted for what they wanted and I came out overwhelmingly. Later I found out that they had already booked me to make sure I could come before they voted. Don’t tell the kids.
I moved from room to room with a cart for my things. It is not one of the more affluent schools and since Jenn does not see all the kids like a Librarian would, the books did not get much pre visit publication. A few were perpared to buy but most said they would bring their money tomorrow. We will probably have modest sales.
On the other hand, Bear Valley called by noon today to say that they had sold out and needed more. I went over there after school and left some more books and DVD’s for them. They had a bag of money for me…and no one can wad up dollars more than elementary kids do. Those sales do help me keep my cost to schools down.
I went to the post office and sat in the parking lot and unwadded money and turned everything around the right way. Had a couple coin wrappers for the quarters and organized the money. Then I went in and bought a money order to send back to Lynna. Since I don’t bank here. that is a good way to take care of the cash. The counter lady was very gracious when I appeared with all those small bills. After yesterday, I am suprised she could even stand.
Well, wondering what to do for supper. I haven’t heard from Amy, so I will chill out and wait. It is a beautiful sunny but cold day here. Cold as in 25 degrees.
Dave