Angela's Hope

Suicide is a difficult topic to read about and discuss.  Of course, one cannot compare this with the aftermath of experiencing such a horrible tragedy.  

 

I am sad to share that the brother of my friend, Angela Maiers, very recently took his own life.

Angela is dedicating her Choose2Matter cause to her brother, Chrissy.   Please take the time to read her post and share it with others.  At the very least, tell your loved ones they matter. 

Even if you think they already know, look into their eyes and tell them.  It is Angela’s hope to raise awareness and help others who are suffering and let kids know that their genius is valued.   

Please help us spread the word.  Read the article Angela dedicated to her brother.

#YOUMATTER

#CHOOSE2MATTER

#THANKYOU

Choose2Matter: My Personal Story

Angela Maiers shared her important message on a TEDx talk: YOU MATTER.   Her intent was to raise awareness and motivate others to make a difference in the world.  No action is too small. Angela’s message has transformed lives and motivated others to share her message and make a difference. 

I shared Angela's video with my children.  They were immediately motivated and in an effort to help Angela spread the word, my kids invited their friends over to watch Angela's video.  After they watched the video, the group met Angela via Skype.  See the You Matter Young Leaders' video response and conversation with Angela.

You Matter has now developed into a non-profit organization and a movement: Choose2Matter.  We hope you will join us.   You can help spread the word by telling others face-to-face, joining the Choose2Matter Facebook Group and following the conversation/sharing on Twitter by using the hashtags #YOUMATTER  and #CHOOSE2MATTER.  Not sure how to use these on Twitter?  I'd be happy to show you!  Just ask! :)

My friend and Choose2Matter team member, Sheri Edwards shares about Choose2Matter on her blog: What Else?

Global events are coming soon.  Stay tuned!

YOU MATTER!

Cookie Love

Photo by Laurie Hansen

Do you love someone who is watching his/her cholesterol? Here is a recipe that was tested and approved by our household "Cookie Monsters."  These treats are heart healthy, low in fat and sugar, and taste sort of like granola bars.  They are also a nice "indulgence" for someone with a restricted diet, minus the guilt.  Sweet!

QT's Peanut Butter Choco-Chunk Cookies

2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (We used Smucker's with honey.  Note: This contains a bit of added sugar.)
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
2, 1oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, crushed or chopped into small pieces

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F.  Mix banana, egg whites, vanilla, peanut butter and honey until smooth.  Add oats, flour, baking soda, chocolate and mix.  Spoon onto non-stick cookie sheet, flatten each a bit with a fork.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Makes about 11/2 dozen large cookies.  Enjoy!

Tweet Smart (again!)

This was originally published onThe Innovator Network, a.k.a. The Innovations Lab Blog (original post: Tweet Smart) but I felt it was worth repeating. Perhaps I am preaching to the choir. If so, maybe you can share with a few "non-believers"?

I often describe Twitter as one of a few things:

· A room filled with people where you can enter, shout a message and run back out again

· A pool filled with floating free info that you may gather and sort through as needed

· A gathering of individuals and groups where you may meander through quietly and listen in on interesting conversations or stop and chat for a while

I use Twitter to connect, promote, collect, share and sometimes just spread some love. Twitter is sort of a collective consciousness that some claim will make you smarter! At least that is what David “@dmullen”Mullen says. In his article, Five Ways Twitter Will Make You Smarter, David shares the following rationale:

1. You get access to different points of view.

2. The people you follow point you to great resources you wouldn’t find otherwise.

3. You can poll your followers.

4. You can learn what consumers are saying about your company or your client’s brand.

5. Twitter will make you a better writer.

I find number 5 intriguing, but what I like most about Twitter is that it is a place to be nice and benefit from the niceness of others. On Twitter, everyone shares knowledge. Remember what Robert Fulghum said? “Share everything.” Just like in Kindergarten. And it’s fun!

A hat tip goes to Steven W. Anderson (@web20classroom), as he shared David Mullen’s (@dmullen) blog post via Twitter!  And, of course, one to you @profdebock!

Nothing.

I wrote a poem about nothing.  Not in the spirit of George's idea for a show about nothing, but rather, nothing as it pertains to something.  Something really important.
Why a poem?  I'm not sure.  Because it's (I'm) emotional, I guess. 
Of course, there's  always a back story:  I was inspired by a friend who, at his surprise, needed immediate open heart surgery.  I wanted to send something, give them something. 

I asked what the family needed.  His wife said, “Nothing.  We have everything that is important to us.”  He’s alive. 

Of course, friendship and support go a long way.  But things?  Things leave much to be desired.

So here it is..

Pow!

A moment of panic scrambles in, but leaves

As the light of realization reveals:  I need nothing

It’s all here

with me

now

In loving memory of Kim M.

Living in Paradise

Photo by Laurie Hansen

A morning walk can be quite an adventure here in paradise.  I met this fella the other day.  This majestic Great Egret measured about waist-high and seemed to walk in slow motion as he hunted for lizards.         

How would you like to happen upon this odd creature on a morning stroll?   

Photo by Carolyn Hoffman

Read more in the original article in the Palm Beach Post by Willie Howard.

Paradise, indeed!

FREE WEBINAR: GUEST ANGELA MAIERS

Who: YOU
What: Free webinar, "Co-Sponsored by EdTechTeacher MassCUE and METAA" 
Why: Because you believe in "Education driven by passion"
When: Thursday January 26, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST
Where: EdTechTeacher Blackboard Virtual Classroom
              Register here: http://conta.cc/A208jj

#YOUMATTER

It's Nice to Share

This graphic and other optical illusions can be found on http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/illusion/illusions.htm

I am digging a post by @brad5patterson shard via @seburnt on Twitter.  Brad asks educators to share "a quote that defines your teaching style.

This is a tough one for me- so many quotes, so little time!  However, the first thing that came to mind is the illusion I found (above) a few years back.

Don't you think this captures the essence of teaching?  I feel very fortunate.
Thanks for reading- now go share something :)

~Laurie

Will Worlds Collide?

Artwork by L.Hansen

Are you like me? I sort of live my life in two worlds: Online as a blogger, researcher, networker and educator and in a place some may call the "real-world" where I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, networker, volunteer, chief, cook and bottle washer.

To quote Marcel the Shell, "I love where I live..." It all depends on perspective, I guess. I love where I live online and in the real world, too. In my online world, I have made friends, met famous people (I really did!), made acquaintances, learned new things and even organized a small group to help a social cause. Although, I've not had success in Second Life flying as an avatar without crashing into buildings or walking without falling off the edge. My friend says the internet may be considered another dimension. Interesting, no?

In the real world, we live in paradise. Our home is magical, musical and wondrous. We have two daughters, one teen and one tween and my husband is a musician. Need I say more? I have met a few famous people face to face, too, come to think of it. Too bad we didn't have cell phones and Twitter back then so I could show you.  Unfortunately, my disposable camera read "0" at that very opportune moment.  Alas.

As you may already know, bringing the online and the real world together, or at least the people in them, has been noted to have value. At the very least, I have noted this. There is a lot of talk on education forums (on Twitter in particular- well, specifically, on #Edchat) about how technology is useful and necessary for teaching and learning. It is suggested that those who are not taking advantage of technology and social media (Facebook, blogs and Twitter, to name a few) are excluded, missing out.

Let's face it- if we submerge ourselves in any one thing in particular, we will not be aware of what else is around us or, for that matter, what's happening online. Have you missed out on a recent holiday savings because you didn't bid on a Groupon deal? Did you read about the latest breaking news on Twitter, perhaps, or maybe Facebook?  Did you then Retweet it or maybe share it on Facebook? It's nice to share!

Have you ever missed a punchline when your friend was telling a story because someone texted you or you had to check just one more email? Have your eyes wandered onto your monitor while you had a phone in your ear and you missed the number to press "for English" and then had to redial yet another time? I hate it when that happens!

Being “well connected” can be very stimulating as well as exhausting.   I greatly appreciated my time off from online teaching over the holidays. It was the first time in a long time I was completely unplugged, the first time I took my own advice. Well, it was actually Richtel's advice that I advocate and share via blogging-which is kind of ironic if you think about it. While I was "away" from work, I set my Microsoft Outlook Out of Office message. I did not answer emails. I did not Tweet. I was, in essence, "away" from one part of my life.  It was nice.

Well, as you can see I am back in the virtual saddle. In an effort to connect, network and share, I present to you Vicariosity: A blog that may help connect two worlds for the good of all or maybe just for fun. 

I hope to lasso you in.

~Laurie

P.S.

Will worlds collide? Where there is a Will there is a way! Private joke, folks. Or maybe it is a little obvious. Hat Tip to ya in the title there, my friend. Did ya notice?