penn

The power of small things

I'm an advocate of little things adding up to big things when enough people care. In the realm of public education, this plays out through the work of an excellent charity, Donors Choose. I've supported their works for a few years now. In a nutshell, teachers write up requests for various supplies or materials, the site posts them, and we get to choose what is funded. It's one of my favorite forms of voting with my dollars. I've supported many programs, most of which are environmental or scientific in focus. But it is a book request that has brought me to tears.

A few months ago, I donated to a request to purchase a set of classic books for a school library. I have read many of the books, and it is so tragic that a school can't even afford to replace books that are an integral part of literary history. I didn't donate a lot, but I think I must have been the last donor who completed the project because I received a great packet of thank yous in the mail today (donors who donate over $100 OR finish a project get packets). The letters from these students were heartfelt and thoughtful. My favorite came from a gal named Shannon:

Dear Leah,

My name is Shannon. One of my favorite things to do is read. I know that must be heard to believe because you don't hear that from many teenagers. One of my favorite books to read is classics. One of the classic books I saw in the school library was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.

My mom and I saw the movie with Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon. I fell in love with the story line and when I found out that it was a book, I had to get it. I went to the library in my school and got it.

I wanted to write this note to say thank you for donating these wonderful classic books like Little Women. I hope my school library will be able to get more. Thank you!

Shannon

This was one of MY favorite books as a child. In fact, I have a really old copy of this book that sat next to my alarm clock for years (when you get an urge to read Little Women, you've just got to have it right there).

I love this site because it allows anyone to help out a classroom anywhere. You can pick to just support high poverty, high needs classrooms, and you can pick a school right in your backyard. You can pick projects you love or fund desperately sad needs (the last project I funded was asking for whiteboard markers).

I believe so much in this project that I'd like to ask the help of my readers. First of all, please pass along the word. Even if you can't donate, I hope you can re-blog my project page to get these deserving projects funded. Second, if you're able to donate, I'd truly appreciate it. Here's my giving page!.

As a thank you, if you donate to a project before 2011, let me know. I will send you a photograph I have taken! You can let me know color/theme/etc or choose a specific photo from my flickr page. I have photos from all around the world and lots of cool nature ones. Just let me know what you're interested in and where to mail it, and I will be happy to get out a photo to you. You can contact me at lapenn (at) gmail (dot com).

Thanks for your support!

I am a master

of the unintentional pun. My latest transgression, in a facebook status update:

I learned about floods in geology. Water is lots of fun :-) can I run off and be a hydrobiologist?

It took my cousin to point out: "Oh I thought that was just a play on words. Floods and runoff. But I guess you are serious."

And here I was talking about actually going back to school to study hydrobiology. I know, I know, I am already in school to study education and get my teaching license. But I am sorely tempted to move to Colorado and study water and biology.

There are too many fun things to do in life.

Edmund Fitzgerald Day

In the middle of geology lecture, our professor stopped and said, "okay, everyone, why is today special? Why is it important?" We all scrambled for ideas. Veteran's Day isn't until tomorrow, and there's no other holiday around this time. It must be something somewhat geologically related, because why mention it in class otherwise? Finally, someone pulled out an iphone and found out: today is Edmund Fitzgerald Day. Thirty-five years ago today, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior during a November squall.

As I'm a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot, and as Lake Superior is one of my favorite places, I can't believe I didn't put it all together. I just listened to the song a few days ago! Wait, you haven't heard the song? Oh, you must!

There we go! Good, isn't it? I'm a fan. Great Lakes Brewing Company also makes an Edmund Fitzgerald Porter that I hear is delicious (apparently lots of people think so.

They're still not sure what sunk the Edmund Fitzgerald. Lots of ideas but no solid answer. There's still a small exhibit on the Edmund Fitzgerald in the maritime museum in Duluth (a great city, to be sure). Nice to have a few mysteries even in this day and age of major discovery, isn't it?

The Thing Is by Ellen Bass

via Mighty Girl

The Thing Is

to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.

(From Mules of Love, via The Writer’s Almanac.)

A few pics

Some scenes from my life over the last few weeks. Just wanted to share something. I'm counting down the days until Thanksgiving break (just two more full weeks and then two short days!). After Thanksgiving break, I have one last week of class and one week of finals. I miss all of you and wish I could be sharing more!

Two of my favorite creatures!

A lovely red plane that floated overhead as I was photographing a soccer match.

This time, I DID take this photo of the moon. Also shot during the soccer match where I saw the plane.

From a few weeks ago. I love fall!

My desk at work. I spent a lot of time here studying and prepping lessons. I'm at least glad I have a space where I can leave things.

Who doesn't love fungi?