Claremont Library

I haven't checked out a picture book at the Claremont Library for many years now, but today I wanted a copy of Peter and the Wolf to read to my 2nd graders. The online directory said that two copies were available, so I set out to find one of them. It used to be that all the A's were in one section, B's the next, but with no order other than that. To my delight, I found that they are now alphabetized with the first three letters of the author's last name and kept in order!

CUSD Calendar

Our school district sends out robo calls occasionally with various information. I get the ones for the music program, but usually not others since I am a consultant, and not an employee, for the district. Last night I got what I assume was for every phone number they have in the directory. For the first time since I've been involved in the district (starting as a parent in 1990), school will start before Labor Day this fall. This year it will begin on Tuesday, August 31. I'm curious as to what other changes will come to the calendar. Maybe we'll take off the day before Thanksgiving?

Lenten Book Discussion

Claremont UCC will be discussing The Last Week: A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan during Lent. Like other Borg books I've read, this one gives the reader an historical context to help us understand the Bible as the original readers would have.

We have the opportunity to attend one of three discussions each week - Sunday mornings, Wednesday mornings, Wednesday evenings. The book will also serve as the basis for Sunday sermons during Lent.

Egads! Redux

Just as I had feared in my Sept. 8, 2009 post. Arriving in the mail, THREE more traffic violations from Italy from our trip LAST March. Two at 107 euros, one at 111 euros. We're out another $450 as the price for getting lost. Twice in Arezzo and once in Siena. Factor in the first ticket of $150 from Florence, we could have ridden trains all over the place.

String Student Concert

The string students of the Claremont USD can be very proud of the work they have done so far this year. We had a great concert last night at the El Roble gym. We had over 80 beginning strings, over 40 in the Elementary Orchestra and about 40 in the El Roble Orchestra. Here I am conducting our orchestra favorite - Dragon Slayer.

Caught in the Act!

Aha! I caught this little squirrel nibbling on one of our tangerines this morning. I am going to be a little more vigilant in picking up the fruit from the ground since these little squirrels are messy eaters and don't clean up their peels when they are finished!

Collision of Holidays

In honor of Valentine's Day, we went out for dinner. In honor of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger), we ate at one of the best Thai restaurants around - Bangkok Blue in LaVerne. Knowing we didn't have a reservation, we went out to dinner early, and it's a good thing we did. We found a table right away, but by the time we left, the place was full. I had beef panang tonight, and it was fabulous. I have just enough left for lunch tomorrow, too!

Sunny Weekend

After chilly and rainy weather for the past month or so (it's hard to remember just how long), the sky is blue, and the temps have reached into the 70s today. Mother Nature must know that it's parents weekend at the Claremont Colleges. I took a little walk through several campuses today and saw a myriad of activities as well as a multitude of strolling people - parents with nametags and students leading them around.

Watch your Carry-on Luggage

Here is a local story from the LA Times. A Pomona College physics major is suing the TSA for violation of "his rights to free speech and protection against unreasonable search and seizure" after they found Arabic flashcards in his carry-luggage.

Where the Winter is Real

While California has been having its share of winter weather in the form of rain storms and mudslides, the east coast has been ground to a halt. Claire's school was closed down on Monday, Wednesday, and today, although they've managed to have some kind of food available. She sent me this picture of the view from her room. It doesn't really show the depth of the snow. This is the first real wild snow weather Claire has experienced, and I asked her what she thought about it. She said she was about done with it.

*later* Turns out school is closed tomorrow, too.