Exhaustion.  This week was non-stop – all five days I was up before 6 am, and although I made it to bed most nights by 10, the days were so full, I practically ran through them.  Yesterday I finished the week by going to the NEFDC Conference in Worcester.  I did debate going, but I’m so glad I did.  I learned some great ideas for the classroom, and I think I’m going to try to write some of them up this next week.  This coming week, being Thanksgiving week, I expect to go a little slower; or at least be a little less full.  So today, I’m just thinking about having another weekend day of moving slower and trying to rest.  Exhaustion.

Today I read Llama Llama Red Pajama – not once – but twice!   Did you?  As part of JumpStart’s Read for the Record Program, I enjoyed reading the book to a group of early childhood pre-service teachers, and a group of women who donated books and pajamas to local service agencies for children in need.

Children’s literacy is at the heart of so many important achievements in their lives.  Try to find a way to support children’s – all children’s — access to books.

Today I’m thinking about the joy of reading aloud for a great purpose!

We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today (Weds Oct 5, 2011)

Steve’s brilliance, passion, and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

In 1976, my husband was a novice engineer and member of the (in)famous Homebrew Club (we met at Stanford the SLAC).  I worked at the Byte Shop in Palo Alto where one of my responsibilities was to take orders for the ‘new’ Apple I — and then go to Steve’s garage and pick up those that were ordered to deliver to the other computer stores in the Bay area.

I imagine in the next few days many people will come out of the woodwork and claim to have known this genius of a man.  What I know and learned from Jobs was that geniuses are only human.  When I sold those little memory boards and ran my errands to his garage, none of us could know what would be in 35 years time.
It’s been a long and interesting ride, Steve, we and the world will miss you.  Today I am thinking of Steve Jobs and his family.  My deepest sympathies go to his family on the loss of that human being you knew and loved.

For more details of his life — there are many articles like these online:
http://www.macworld.com/article/162763/2011/10/remembering_steve_jobs_the_man_who_saved_apple.html
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

When hubby and I were recently in Savannah, we went on a Foodie Tour – more about that another day, and one of the places we stopped was Perk - coffee roasters!  We ate some fine food samples on this tour; but this was a highlight for me.  I don’t even drink coffee!  But, I did taste the sample that was offered – and what was completely fascinating to me was the tour of the one room roasting production and the explanation by the owner of how it’s done.  (And, by the way, for a non-coffee drinker, the sample was fabulous!  If I had this stuff around the corner, I might actually have to have a cup every day!).  The tour itself rushed the guy a bit, but the 20 minutes was so worth it!  Explore the website,maybe even order some to try – you won’t regret it — and if you are in Savannah, stop by!

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