Poltergeist Thwarted?

Our poltergeist problem has continued, even when the light switch was replaced. The light would come on at will, the fan would come on at other odd times. The good thing about the new switch is that there is a small switch at the very bottom which turns everything off, and so far, when it's off at night, the light nor fan have come on.

Homecoming

This is a video of the El Roble Band in the Homecoming Parade this afternoon.

Pacific Standard Time Zone

As I watch the start to MLB postseason, I once again realize how fortunate it is to be on the west coast. Soon the Angels/Red Sox game will start, just in time for Californians to watch during dinner, but it will be close to my bedtime on the east coast.

And by watch, I mean follow along online since I don't have cable (as noted in an earlier post about MLB!).

William Butler Yeats

Several years ago I came across Yeats' poem, The Lake Isle of Innesfree. I was captivated by it, and taught it to students as a model for their poems that would start "I will arise and go now."

This weekend while at the Orff workshop, I heard this Yeats poem, and immediately fell in love with it. I think I shall memorize it.

The Song of Wandering Aengus

I WENT out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,	5
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,	10
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran	15
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;	20
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

Planning Ahead

Today I heard from both daughters, independently, about their plans to be home for Christmas. It will be great to have everyone here again, and I'm sure that the time will zip by until December.

Yard Art

I finally found a pot I liked (with a price I was willing to pay) for the wood sticks we bought at IKEA this summer.

Claremont: On the Same Page 2009

Although this blog is titled "Life in Claremont" it is usually about my life in Claremont. Today I shared with many Claremonters the first event of the Friends of the Claremont Library's city-wide read. Steve Lopez, columnist for the LA Times spoke about his book, The Soloist which tells the story of Nathaniel Ayers, former Julliard student who ended up on LA's skid row after he was afflicted with schizophrenia. The story is compelling and has no end, yet. Steve Lopez is a good storyteller, not only on paper, but as a speaker, as well. Little Bridges was packed downstairs, and it was good the event was there, because there wouldn't have been room at the Claremont Library.

More Orffing!

Another Saturday, another Orff workshop. This time we drove to Hermosa Beach to see the amazing and wonderful Doug Goodkin. The magical thing, to me, about Orff is taking a small nugget of music or verse and playing with it and expanding it and creating something much larger and complete. One of the chants we used today was the simple "Criss Cross Applesauce." My kinders are going to have fun with that one on Wednesday!

The Dodgers

I am noticing a trend. The Dodgers seem to play much better when they are on local network tv and I can watch them, rather than following them on mlb.com. I am not going to get cable just to help the Dodgers out. Someone call Joe Torre (although he probably has nothing to do with the telecasts).

October - Fall Colors

Last year our persimmon tree yielded about 6-7 fruits. This year we look to have at least 30, and they have just started turning their red-orange.