Deep Thinking

I finally have the addresses of my two sons at basic training. It looks like they won’t be graduating and having family visit days the same week either so I think I can balance this. If you have written to someone at basic or away overseas serving during war time, you know the balancing act of writing. How do you write to include funny anecdotes, sweet messages of hope and pride, and a little bit of meat so they know you aren’t playing all the time that they are gone? As the coordinator of information for their friends I need to post and distribute their addresses. I really should have asked them for their myspace password again but then I would have been tempted to go in and clean up their misspellings (OCD is hard). Instead I’ll post here:

PVT Chen
E Co 3/330
198 ITB
5550 Leonard DR Bldg 3105
Fort Benning, GA 31905

PVT Chiupka
B-310 INF 1st PLT
495 Iowa Ave Unit 25
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 65473

Both boys went in as PFC (private first class). Both warned me about only sending photos, newspaper clippings and letters right now. They don’t want to be the first to be disciplined for receiving contraband cookies. Maybe later after they discover no one actually dies when food is delivered. Right now the fear factor is strong.

I was there the first year the National World War II memorial opened. I returned this year with my friends Allison and Nancy. It was Nancy’s first visit. You can see some quick shots I took on my flickr account. Each time I go I am struck anew with how much attention to detail went into the planning for this memorial. When I could not recall the significance of each star in the Freedom Wall with the words here We Mark The Price of Freedom, I asked the helpful park attendant. He reminded me that each star stood for the lives of 100 service members killed during World War II. There are 4,000 stars.

Maybe I shouldn’t be visiting memorials so soon after sending two boys to basic training while our country is involved in this war?! I learned from my friend Margaret how her son has arrived in Iraq to help train Iraqi’s, but how the group he has worked with throw down their rifles and flee under fire. It is only one story of many, but we should be reading all of them. Marc Aronson on the SLJ blog stated it well. We need to be reading the military blogs of our troops to hear about things from their point of view, also.

I met with publishers of children’s books and pled for more books about war, military and weapons. Somehow everyone keeps publishing books on peace when the students are clamoring to read about the battles of the past. As my sons reminded me, if you don’t know the history, you are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. We need both types of books.

Have you seen the newly released standards National Educational Technology Standards for Students: The Next Generation? Great format. One pager listing 6 key areas:
1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts

Thanks for the info that the link was corrupted. I have fixed it again. I totally agree with the comments below and from what people told me walking through ALA. We must have relevance laterally in our profession. The librarians, the information people, the technicians, the educators - however you define them - must see the overlaps and consistencies in our standards so we can value each other.

I apologize for the dearth of my blogging lately. You have seen my schedule, but you don’t see the amount of transit time it takes to get between hotels and rooms with the huge amount of baggage I carry. While I am sitting in so many meetings, I am taking the time to get to know the people around me. I am discovering that it is not as vital for me to take minute minutes with every person’s conversation. Instead, I am taking the time to listen carefully and to go around to actually meet people.

I am sad that some of you are not here. You meet absolutely wonderful passionate people who work hard to make all libraries better. You meet delegates from all divisions that are concerned about developing relationships with school librarians. You meet friends from years past. You meet publishers who listen to you when you ask for certain types of books for your populations. You meet authors who are so excited to hear the personal stories you can tell them about your students’ interactions with their titles. You meet some nut cases that you think “You’re a librarian?!” (Note, I took the phrase nut cases from an ALA Council document on obstacles that prevent ALA members from running for a council seat.)

I have yet to meet a nasty person or anyone who refuses to help. I met new people at the AASL 101 program where we tried to communicate what AASL is, why, and how you should be involved. I met delegates of the Chinese American Library Association (you rock!). I met many new members to the profession. I met YALSA members who are passionate about intellectual freedom, access, and strong nonfiction for the YA crowd. I met the leaders of ALA and they are actually human. Even the parliamentarian Eli is a real person who strives to help everyone understand complicated vocabulary and reasons for procedures.

For those of you who dismiss the concept of attending due to finances, I want to tell you that you can do this conference on a limited budget. I drove this year. Friends with me are providing the gas. Another friend with us took the van on to his friend’s house for free parking (vs. $30 per day). Two other friends (Margaret and Lynn) that have their room provided by the state organization are allowing me to crash their room with them to stay. As for food, since Friday morning I have spent $8.50 for soup, roll, & drink at the Natural History Museum and $7.70 for french onion soup at the Hotel Washington skyline terrace restaurant so we could see the DC skyline at night. All other meals have come from conference events, packages of crackers, and even a generic version of Slim-Fast to replace a meal. There are vendor events and receptions that have provided appetizers. The hotel has coffee in the room. The exhibit hall had tons of little snacks and there will even be a big closing event with food. I use the ALA shuttle buses or walk instead of cabs. If I have to take a cab, I’ll ask people

You can do this conference on very little funds. I’d love to hear the techniques you use to save money at conference.

I’m positive that something will catch my eye and I’ll have to drag out the computer at ALA to stay in touch. In the meantime I am driving today with son #3, Nancy, Allison, and Michael (my parent volunteer). Together we are an awesome team. Lots of meetings to attend. Packed 4 pairs of shoes. One last stop to make because I left my suit at the dry cleaners. Gheesh! Some days we don’t remember anything.

There are too many meetings I need to attend. Going on ALA Council and on AASL as Director-Elect of Region 4 after annual means orientations, observations, and more. Legislative meetings take time. Affiliate Assembly responsibilities take time. Some meetings I’ll be able to attend, some I’ll have to pass this round.

Friday June 22
Attempt to attend the advocacy workshop in the morning WCC Washington Convention Center 103 A
ALA WO/COL/Legislation Assembly Joint Meeting 1:30-3:30 PM WCC Rm 204C
ALA COL 3:30-5:30 observe for Ruth Toor to report for Sat. mtg WCC Rm 158 A/B
Gareth Stevens private event drop in and out 5-5:30 PM at the Capital Grille
AASL Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee 5:30-7:30 PM WCC Rm 203 A/B
AASL Affiliate Assembly 1 8-10 PM WCC 146 C
YALSA’s 50th Anniversary Party 10-11:59 PM Renaissance Washington DC Ballroom West

Saturday
ALA Council Orientation Session 8:30-10:30 AM WCC Ballroom
AASL President’s Program 10:30 AM -12:oo PM Renaissance Mayflower Grand Ballroom
EXHIBIT HALL 12-1:30
AASL 101 1:30-2:15 PM WCC Rm 160
EXHIBIT HALL 2:15-4:00
ALA WO-COL Grassroots Subcommittee Meeting 4-5:30 PM WCC RM 141
ALA Opening Session 5:30-7:00 PM WCC Hall D
Scholastic Intro’s BookFlix 7:00-9:00 PM Renaissance Mayflower Grand Ballroom
Private ALA Pres. reception 9:30-11:0oPM Renaissance Washington

Sunday
AASL Affiliate Assembly II 8-11:59 AM Renaissance Washington DC Ballroom West A/B
ALA Council 1 10:45-12:15 pm WCC Ballroom
EXHIBIT HALL 12:15-1:30
ALSC/AASL/YALSA Joint Legislative Committee 1:30-3:30 Hotel Washington Rm Capital
ALA President’s Program 3:30-5:30 WCC Ballroom
Private ALA Pres. Reception 5:30-7:00 Renaissance Washington
Private Coughlan Invite 6:30 Capital Grille
Hug the walls to listen to Newbery/Caldecott speeches

Monday
ALA WO-Legislation Assembly 8-10 am WCC Room 140A
AASL Booth in Exhibit Hall 10-11 am WCC Exhibit Hall
EXHIBIT HALL 11-12
AASL Awards Luncheon 12-2:00 pm WCC Room 207A (see I do eat)
AASL All-Committee Meeting Leg. Meeting 2:30-3:30
EXHIBIT HALL 3:30-5:00
ASPCA Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award Ceremony 5:30-7:30 Renaissance Washington DC Ballroom East
Library Of Congress Reception 6-8:00 LOC

Tuesday
ALA Council II 9:15 AM -12:45 PM WCC Ballroom
AASL Board of Directors III/Orientation 12:00-3:00 PM WCC Room 156 (includes my lunch)
ALA Library Day on the Hill 11-4:00 PM

Wednesday
ALA Council III

What am I missing out on? All the technology stuff that I WANT to attend, but can’t because I’m stuck in meetings like:
LITA meetings on blogging, OCLC blogging get-together (which I don’t even know where it is),
Michael Stephens YALSA Using Technology to Market to Young Adults,
ALA -PIO PR Forum - 10 Cool Technologies that Can Impact the Public Relations Plan @ your library (YouTube, Blogs, Wikis, RSS, MySpace and more. Are these just sizzle or are they the steak? Are we ready to move beyond simple Web sites and e-mails? Has your library’s PR plan been adapted to the Library 2.0 world? Web 2.0 is coming fast and it’s big. W),
ACRL -LPSS Can Blogs Be Trusted?
ALA -WO briefings on Saturday mornings (I did blog about the Social Participation briefing at Midwinter)
AFL -AILA AILA- American Indian Children’s Literature: Identifying and Celebrating the Good
ALSC Nurturing a Love of Books Through Readers Theatre
ALSC Search and Research: How Three Nonfiction Writers Navigate Information Overload (Learn how nonfiction authors do their research and how librarians can use their methods to help guide patrons. Prominent children’s nonfiction authors will speak alongside their editors about their research process. Sy Montgomery will speak along with pub)
Sizing Up America’s School Libraries: The first annual report on the AASL Longitudinal Survey of School Library Media Centers by Keith Curry Lance
AASL Promoting Diversity through Young Adult Literature
LITA Top Technology Trends
ACRL -WSS Once Upon a Furl in a Podcast Long Ago: Using New Technologies to Support Library Instruction
ALSC 2007 Newbery/Caldecott/Wilder Banquet (I can’t afford to eat at this conference anyway - sigh)

If you notice, I don’t have a great deal of time for food at any of these events and, quite honestly with the change of status in my household, there are no funds to dine out. So, PLEASE, if you see me eating two Snickers or two Reeses at a booth, just look the other way and don’t get between me and the chocolate. I may be existing entirely on sugar. Anyone have a breakfast for Friday, Saturday or Tuesday to attend?

Other areas I need to remember:
ALA Store (drooling allowed)
ALA Emerging Leaders Poster Sessions

I couldn’t resist. I found this “severe case of Pfefferitis” entry from Brooklyn Arden about Susan Beth Pfeffer’s fall 2006 title Life As We Knew It and I was intrigued. Since I inexplicably found myself in the Books A Million store (only 2 miles from my house, heaven!) with nothing particular in mind, I asked at the desk if they had the title. Of course I couldn’t remember the title. Having a mom who managed a bookstore for 20 years I know all about people who walk in and can’t remember enough about the book they saw on TV or in a newspaper review, but still insist that any title you suggest isn’t it. Fortunately, I have Joe. Joe, the manager at BAM, who won’t give up. I have finally met someone as determined as myself to ensure that he finds the title I wants and gets it in my hands. While I was describing the plot from the blog post, all the employees gathered around. When he finally found the title and special ordered it for me, they forced him to order copies for themselves, too.

I was warned. I knew that once I opened this book I couldn’t stop. I just don’t listen to warnings. I began at 12:45 a.m. Do I need to tell you that I know exactly what time the birds start heralding sunrise? I had to read it twice. Once as I raced through for the plot. The second time to read the indepth stuff and begin my survivalist grocery list. I have saved it in the note section of my cell phone so I am prepared if I’m not at home when a disaster strikes and need my grocery list. Chocolate chips are big on my list. Go read this comment to understand why.

I was warned. I dismissed everyone’s claims of food cravings while they read this book. Fortunately #3 son was hungry at 2:30 so I could go fix him something to eat and count the cans of mixed vegetables and tuna I had on hand.

When I woke this morning, I found Susan Pfeffer’s blog and a few other links:

Bookshelves of Doom’s comments “As irrational as it may be, Life As We Knew It scared the crap out of me. It made me want to stockpile food and hook up the wood stove. It also made me want to move further inland, just in case.”

Sci Fi Wire interviewed Susan Pfeffer for this title named a finalist for the Andre Norton Award for best young-adult SF/fantasy novel of the year. It was nominated for seven awards I believe, but I save many of my middle grade fiction novels for summer reading.

Random House on Susan Pfeffer allowed me to sign up for new title announcements

LibraryThing on Susan Beth Pfeffer shows I am not alone in my need to have this book

Inter-Galactic Playground’s not totally shining review blogpost “Survival the American Way” points out an area that bothered me in the book, but I don’t expect perfect characters so it didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It simply gave me something to discuss with readers and that’s what I’m looking for - books that make you think, react, and respond. If you have ever made hard choices, you’ll understand why Pfeffer took one mom’s focus totally on her family and aversion to altruism without creating a simplistic message that we should all take care of one another. Personally I believe I would handle this situation differently, but Pfeffer is writing a second story on the disaster so hopefully we’ll get to see a different viewpoint.

Tracy K at GVPL Book Picks for Teens writes this title:

was kind of like a car crash I couldn’t stop looking at. While I was reading it, when I woke up in the morning I felt very relieved that the world as we know it is still here. This was an intense, thought-provoking book which will remain with me.

Does this make me a gawker? I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next installment. It’s a very good thing I waited until summer vacation to read this. What should I read next?

This week I have watched #2 son leave for Fort Leonard Wood, MO on Sunday for basic training and on to become an animal care specialist for the U.S. Army. I missed two of his calls earlier this week, but, Hooray, he called tonight and I was able to shout out a hello during his ten-second call. I will also be able to watch photos of him and his group from the army websites. They really are using technology to keep the families involved.

I watched #1 son leave today for Fort Benning, GA for basic training and to become an airborne Infantry Ranger. He was laughing because he was the group leader with the highest rank even though he was the youngest one on the bus. Main responsibilities - don’t lose the meal checks and everyone’s medical records. We could have warned him that he’d be tapped as a leader from the get-go.

I have put #1 son’s #1 girl on a bus for Florida after we had the chance to shop for clothes, make up & shoes (her bags were lost on the bus on her trip up here) plus go to the bookstore because she loves to read (go figure #1 son would choose a reader girl!) and pour over the old photos of all four sons. I love the questions looking at photos spark. Having someone else gush over your children, your dogs, and your wacky hair over the past years was great fun.

I delivered #3 son’s friends back to their house. Seems everyone wants to keep my house filled so I don’t get lonely. I tried the best I could to stay out of #3 and #4 son’s way as they take over all the space previously occupied, including rooms, refrigerator, and on the computer. I admit it was frightening to see #3 son behind the steering wheel helping move #1 son’s car into the shade. The glee as he stroked the steering wheel and said, “This car is MINE now!” Perhaps you should avoid our neighborhood as I teach him how to drive this month….

#4 Son is quickly assuming responsibility for keeping things running at home. He left several notes on the television, DVD player and remote control informing me that the 14 year old remote for the TV from Germany has finally died and if I push the power button on the TV, it will never turn on again. Pressure! Who knew #4 son would step up so quickly. Perhaps he’ll clean his room next.

Emotionally this has been a trying week. Professionally this week I received a copy of Knowledge Quest KQ Volume 35, No. 4 with an article I wrote inside on conference going. I did receive a request to reprint part of the article for the AASL Advocate Preview coming soon to your mailboxes or you can download it here. I prefer you read it in print or in the KQ format online where you can read the entire article once the newest edition is uploaded, plus you can write all over it so I know you read it. Oops! Sorry, tripping over the ego there.

You see, I am just a little girl at heart. I still feel tremendous excitement when I see my name in print, on a blog, or mentioned anywhere. It goes back to my long held desire to be capable of creating original thoughts. I have these ideas in my head and I want to try them out on you to see if they are practical and useful. If you agree, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s awesome that you even read about it and now we can talk about why you don’t agree. Maybe you have a tremendously original thought that I should know about and that I can then wish I’d had. Isn’t this why we are excited about web 2.o? It’s the interactivity. I really want to know that while I’m thinking, you are thinking too and sometimes we intersect.

My only concern is how we are storing and archiving these ideas we create so we have the memories for the future generation to trip back on and laugh.

I posted on SLJ’s Practically Paradise next week’s schedule for the Summer Blog Blast Tour organized by Colleen Mondor of ChasingRay blog fame. Unfortunately the site is down at the moment so I am also posting the schedule here for quick reference. Interest is growing. Authors want to be interviewed. Bloggers want to ask them questions and share their answers. We, the readers, want the behind the scenes scoop. I want to thank Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast for helping me get this information out to you. Thanks Jules!

Here’s the master schedule:

Sunday, June 17

Gene Yang by Sarah (at Finding Wonderland at http://writingya.blogspot.com/)

Monday, June 18

Tom & Dorothy Hoobler by Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray (http://www.chasingray.com/)
Mitali Perkins by Kelly Herold at Big A, little a (http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com/)
Sara Zarr by Jackie at interactivereader (http://interactivereader.blogspot.com/)
Justina Chen Headley by Vivian at Hip Writer Mama (http://hipwritermama.blogspot.com/)
Justine Larbalestier by Liz at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy (http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/)
Dana Reinhardt by Kimberly at lectitans (http://lectitans.livejournal.com/)
Brent Hartinger by Eisha & Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://www.blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/)
Laura Ruby by Kelly Fineman (http://kellyfineman.livejournal.com)
Jordan Sonnenblick by Little Willow (http://slayground.livejournal.com/)
Ysabeau Wilce by Tanita (at Finding Wonderland at http://writingya.blogspot.com/)

Tuesday, June 19

Bennett Madison by Gwenda at Shaken & Stirred (gwendabond.typepad.com)
Shaun Tan by Elizabeth Bird at A Fuse #8 Production (now at http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.html)
Chris Crutcher by Leila at Bookshelves of Doom (http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/)
Holly Black by Gayle & Trisha at The YA YA YAs (http://theyayayas.wordpress.com/)
Kazu Kibuishi by Sarah Stevenson at Finding Wonderland (http://writingya.blogspot.com/)
Christopher Golden by Little Willow (http://slayground.livejournal.com/)
Cecil Castellucci by Mindy at Propernoun.net (http://propernoun.net/)
David Brin by Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray (http://www.chasingray.com/)
Kirsten Miller by Jen Robinson (http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/)
Sara Zarr by Kelly Herold at Big A, little a (http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com)
Sonya Hartnett by Eisha & Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings)

Wednesday, June 20

Mitali Perkins by Vivian at Hip Writer Mama (http://hipwritermama.blogspot.com)
Svetlana Chmakova by Sarah Stevenson at Finding Wonderland (http://writingya.blogspot.com/)
Dana Reinhardt by Jackie at interactivereader (http://interactivereader.blogspot.com)
Laura Ruby by Liz at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy (http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/)
Holly Black by Gwenda at Shaken & Stirred (gwendabond.typepad.com)
Hilary McKay by Leila at Bookshelves of Doom (http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com)
Kirsten Miller by Erin at Miss Erin (http://misserinmarie.blogspot.com/)
Chris Crutcher by Mindy at Propernoun.net (http://propernoun.net/)
Julia Ann Peters by Elizabeth Bird at A Fuse #8 Production (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.html)
Carolyn Mackler by Gayle & Trisha at The YA YA YAs (http://theyayayas.wordpress.com/)

Thursday, June 21

Eddie Campbell by Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray (http://www.chasingray.com/)
Sara Zarr by Kelly Fineman (kellyfineman.livejournal.com)
Brent Hartinger by Jackie at interactivereader (http://interactivereader.blogspot.com/)
Justine Larbalestier by Kelly Herold at Big A, little a (http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com)
Cecil Castellucci by Gwenda at Shaken & Stirred (gwendabond.typepad.com)
Ysabeau Wilce by Little Willow (http://slayground.livejournal.com/)
Jordan Sonnenblick by Jen Robinson (http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/)
Chris Crutcher by Tanita at Finding Wonderland (http://writingya.blogspot.com/)
Kazu Kibuishi by Kimberly at lectitans (http://lectitans.livejournal.com/)
Mitali Perkins by Eisha & Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings)
Laura Ruby by Gayle & Trisha at The YA YA YAs (http://theyayayas.wordpress.com/)

Friday, June 22

Tim Tharp by Colleen Mondor at Chasing Ray (http://www.chasingray.com/)
Justina Chen Headley by Kelly Herold at Big A, little a (http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com).
Ysabeau Wilce by Gwenda at Shaken & Stirred (http://gwendabond.typepad.com)
Dana Reinhardt by Little Willow (http://slayground.livejournal.com/)
Julie Ann Peters by Sarah Stevenson at Finding Wonderland (http://writingya.blogspot.com/)
Cecil Castellucci by Liz at A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy (http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/)
Bennett Madison by Leila at Bookshelves of Doom (http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com)
Holly Black by Eisha & Jules at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings)
Justine Larbalestier by Vivian at Hip Writer Mama (http://hipwritermama.blogspot.com)
Kirsten Miller by Elizabeth Bird at A Fuse #8 Production (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379.html)

Saturday, June 23

Justina Chen Headley finishes out the week with Tanita at Finding Wonderland (http://writingya.blogspot.com/)

Look at the number of people on this planet who speak Chinese. Don’t you think it would be wise to start learning a little? When I travel to DC for NLLD, several of my state representatives point out the debt the U.S. government currently owes China. Businesses keep their eyes on China. There are tremendous opportunities. So what’s stopping you? No teachers perhaps? Look at today’s announcement from the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland.

“Chinese Learning Objects
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Chineese Learning Objects addresses the critical need for high quality materials by developing e-learning lessons that will help students improve their ability to read Chinese.

This project responds to a growing interest in Chinese language study that has not been met by an infrastructure of highly qualified teachers or excellent materials appropriate to secondary school students. Not only will the project provide an additional source of instructional materials, it will allow schools to use technology to moderate the effects of a severe teacher shortage by supplementing face-to-face instruction with technology-delivered learning activities.

Beginning in July 2007, instructional materials will be available via the Internet without costs, user ID, or password. In addition to meeting reading proficiency needs in secondary students, the materials will be accessible to students in lower level courses at colleges and universities, to government personnel seeking to improve their reading skills, and to the public at large. CD-ROMs will be available to schools that prefer an alternative to the online version.”

Having lived in Taiwan, ROC, earned a doublemajor in Modern Languages/Chinese and formerly being married to a Chinese man, you would think I’d do better at reading and writing Chinese. Alas! I need a refresher course. I have lots of phrases and vocabulary words tumbling through my mind, but when I attempt to read Chinese, I panic. I’m pleased that resources like this are out there for everyone to use.