President Elect Barack Obama - 11-4-08

Friends:

I traveled on Election Day so I early voted more than a week before the general election day. I had to be at the airport by 5am to travel to Boston, Massachusetts. I flew from New Orleans to Memphis, where I caught my connecting flight to Boston. In Memphis, I was able to catch some election coverage before my next flight, seeing how long some of lines at the polls were. It was a long travel day. I arrived in Boston around 1pm.

I am presenting a professional development workshop for librarians in the Southeastern Massachusetts Public Library System. My client, Vickie, picked me up from the airport. We then headed to the library’s administration building in Middleboro, Massachusetts. Vickie and I got along great, excited about the upcoming election results. She still had to vote so she whisked me to a pizza place where i ordered a monster calzone to bring to my hotel room.

Once at the room, I turned on the TV, watched for a bit, and then decided to take a little nap. I was exhausted - I had not slept the night before! When I woke up, I Skyped with my family. I watched election results on several networks but mostly CNN. It was looking good for Barack. Then, we all learned that he took Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida! Once the California polls closed, it was time…

Around 11pm, the news broke. Barack Hussein Obama became the President-Elect. He will be the 44th President of the United States. The news was moving. I truly relate to Barack. I am the daughter of an immigrant. My mother is from the Philippines. I lived abroad as a child. I also lived in Hawaii (at the same time as Barack too). I come from a middle class family. I am of mixed race.

I was moved to tears. I knew that I had witnessed a truly great piece of American history. Not only did America vote for change, but we saw the face of America change right before our eyes. We now have an African American man who will be the next great leader of the free world. Barack Obama united people of all races and creeds. He motivated a nation into action, a nation once lulled into political apathy.

Barack Obama’s speech was equally moving. He reiterated his “Yes we can!” message and reminded us that the victory was not his, but ours.

Here is a portion of his speech:

“This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.”

I even received a thank you email from President-Elect Obama, a message he emailed and texted to all of his supporters.

I am proud to have been a part of this moment in American history. I don’t normally espouse my political views but I believe it’s time for all of the people of the United States of America to come together, united under one flag as one people. It’s time for change, a change that will ripple around the world. It’s time for change that will unite our country and change that reaches out to other countries. It’s time… I believe definitely that, “Yes we can.”

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Gambit Weekly 40 Under 40 Awards @ Louisiana Artworks - 11-3-08

Friends:

On Monday evening, I attended Gambit Weekly’s 40 Under 40 Awards ceremony at Louisiana Artworks. Gambit Weekly is Louisiana’s largest weekly newspaper. Each year they give an award to 40 people under 40 years old who are movers and shakers in the community. In 2003, I was an honoree so each year, I am invited to the reception as an “alum.”

This year, the award reception was held at the brand new Louisiana Artworks, an arts incubator with artist studios and museum/art space combination. Here are some of the interesting art installations I viewed. This one really blew me away. It is art made with human hair! Creative and a little weird at the same time…

Human Hair Art Installion at Louisiana Artworks - 11-3-08

This art installation featured cracked mirrors and spray paint. Look at the interesting “reflection.”

Cracked Mirror Art Installation at Louisiana Artworks - 11-3-08

This next one is my favorite. It is made entirely of paper napkins!

Paper Napkins Art Installation at Louisiana Artworks - 11-3-08

Here is a close-up of one of the napkins…

Paper Napkins Close-up - 11-3-08

A friend and colleague in the arts, Gene Menerey, Director of the Entergy Arts Business Center, won an award. It was a fun evening and I met some very interesting people. In addition, I made great contacts as well. I really enjoyed seeing the new Artworks (before it is open to the public). After that reception, I had to get home and finish packing for my trip to Massachusetts.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Stories on Board at Audubon Elementary - 11-3-08

Friends:

On Monday, I presented a professional development workshop at Audubon Elementary for the teachers. I forgot my digital camera but was able to take a few pictures with my phone camera.

I presented, “Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales.” I showed the teachers my method of turning folktales into board games that the students create. They story-mapped, chose stories, and then worked in groups to create their board games. Finally, they played their board games and then traded games with other groups and played theirs.

A Teacher Finishing "A Cooking Chick Race" - 11-3-08

Here are P.E. teachers playing the game they created to teach health concepts based on the story of “The Tortoise and the Hare.”

PE Teachers Playing "A Healthy Pace Wins the Race" - 11-3-08

This is a group of teachers playing “Lil Red’s Tale,” based on the folktale, “The Little Red Riding Hood.”

Teachers Playing "Lil Red's Tale" - 11-3-08

This game is called “3 Pig-Opoly” based on the story of “The Three Little Pigs.

3 Pig-Opoly Game - 11-3-08

It was a fun workshop and the teachers appreciated a new technique that integrated reading, writing, and even mathematics into an engaging learning activity they could share with their children.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Girls & Their Turkey Cupcakes - 11-1-08

Friends:

On Saturday after Halloween, Eliana’s cousins, Camrynn, Ashlynn and Jasmynn, and our friends’ daughter, Marie, came to spend the night. We had a super slumber party. Above, L-R Eliana, Marie, Jasmynn and Ashlynn sit proudly with their turkey cupcakes.

The cupcakes are made with Nutter Butter cookies, chocolate chips, candy corn, icing, and a small piece of Twizzler. Here is a closeup of the Turkey Cupcake.

Close-up of Turkey Cupcake - 11-1-08

Here is a close-up of the cupcake from behind.

Close-up of Back of Turkey Cupcake - 11-1-08

Afterwards, the girls made princess crowns decorated with gems, stickers, and a chenille stick. Here is Eliana and Marie putting the final touches on Eliana’s crown.

Eliana & Marie working on princess crown - 11-1-08

After making crowns, the girls went on to bead pretty necklaces.

Eliana & girls beading necklaces - 11-1-08

It was a fun night for all the girls. In the morning, I cook a hot breakfast of hashbrowns and chorizo and egg burritos. Then the girls went to work and helped clean my house - sweeping, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathrooms. Thank you girls! I love y’all!

I love being a mom and an aunt!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne