199.9 Mike and 800 pounds of Iron

Yes, this is how my husband and I spent our Saturday before Christmas watching our 25 year old son lift 800 pounds...that's 4 times his weight, yes, nobody I know can do this..including the"heavyweights" that were at this competition too!

Unbelieveable determination and drive...and before you start thinking he's all brawn and no brain...he's finishing up his masters and on to his doctorate in exercise phys...yes, that's me in the green taking the shot...I'm one of his biggest fans!

Move Forward, Move On

So, when you are faced with thought processes that don't line up with your own...do you move on or do you move forward and work around "those"? Lately, I feel like moving ... and I have in a forward direction (imho) but some are not moving with me..

I enjoy sharing my learning processes and engaging in forward thinking conversations..I just need more face to face people that can do this.

Which is why I lean on my PLN daily for inspiration, perspiration and challenging me to keep movin!

I can wait....

I can wait a little longer for things I care about. ..

A good laptop to help me with my work at my school.

Some productive time to finish up my presentations I will be giving shortly.

Time spent with my family this holiday season.

Getting my health balanced.

*is this not the coolest and wierdest picture at the same time? Found it on Flickr Storm...LOVE that image site!

My wallet feels strangely free

Waaaay back in September of 2002, when our oldest left for college, we felt somewhat of a cushion as we made tuition payments. BUT, YOU N E V E R (never should be in BOLD 72 font!) save enough.

So, we started "sacrificing", working extra jobs (really opportunities) and some how, some way the day finally came. The last tuition bill for our "baby" was paid in full today...my wallet feels strangely free and I never thought this day would come! But it did soooooo...I"M GONNA CELEBRATE ALL WEEKEND!!

My F2F Educational Technology Network--METC

Who says you can't multitask with the best of them...What's that song? Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle......

Learning about, Learning of..

Now that I know I'm going to have the pleasure of doing a Google 3 hour precon at FETC, working along side Dean Shareski...it is on to learning more about his work. I have heard of him many times, always in a good way and I respect him and his work ethic. (Seems he does alot for one educator!)

Now, I'm on the hunt to learn more about him and his work so I can grow and of course be further motivated in my educational technology endeavors. I can't think of anything more worthwhile than to learn from others..and I try to use THAT philosophy every day!

We've already started getting acquainted through Twitter...a great way to collaborate!

AM I EARLY OR AM I LATE??

Ok, does everyone know these websites that have my attention lately or am I early?? (LOVE to be early!)

http://www.issuu.com/

great place to develop content!

http://www.readthewords.com/

read anything in english, spanish or french!

http://www.mind42.com/

a concept map--free! with all kinds of media embedded

Looking forward to working with the Missouri Business and Marketing Teachers at the Lodge of Four Seasons. DESE is such a great group of dynamic people!

A thought to ponder!

Now that we have a horse, I have found he actually eats less than our son! And another plus, I really don't have to cook oats!

National Change your Password Day!

So far, I've been lucky, no one has stolen my identity. I've heard horror stories and they are still continuing for some of my friends. Lately, on twitter,( this is not documented yet), but a friend of mine at work asked me if I had jumped on this site and yes, gave my twitter name and password.
I KNOW better, but since it was suggested by a trusted friend, I trusted the site.. whoops, my first mistake.
I changed my password after this conversation and now I'm throwing this out to cyberspace..we should have more conversations about changing your passwords...we should each set time up during the year to actually do this task instead of waiting for an incident to happen. So I propose we change passwords quarterly...everyone should take time out of their busy lives to change their passwords...before their luck runs out....

Thanks to my fellow GCT!

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2008

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: tools learning)

This is the first place to just glance at all the favs of 2008...now to organize this list!

All that is 2.0

Definitely life has changed in Web 2.0...we can do ANYTHING, quicker, better and most of all CHEAPER...(*remember those days of actually waiting to get a CD in the mail to load on your computer?)

Now, we need to organize! I have my own methods, and the wallpapers out there with all of them listed are "cute" and I've seen several people attempt to organize their own...so as a Google Certified Teacher, I'm going to use SITES to make my tool box pretty and shiny, because I use that tool box EVERYDAY!!

Now when my Teachers need one of my tools, they will be ready and waiting...until then, you can still continue to use http://ww2.ikeepbookmarks.com/clane

ELECTION DAY is O-V-E-R!!

It only took me 30 minutes to vote (rumor has it some Missourians took over 5 hours!!) and as I jumped from channel to channel, it was on the DAILY SHOW with Jon Stewart that I found out the man I voted for had won. At first, I thought he was joking, but my laptop was zoned in to CNN and yep, it truly was HISTORY...

For the first time, in a long time, I'm excited about the next 4-8 years. Yes, it's not going to all be flowers and fun, but I'm thinking we can find our way out of the toilet....

75 more days before there are NO MORE BUSHES in DC!!!!

A moment 2 brag 'bout my baby!

My only daughter has been a joy since the day she was born. I have watched her in awe (and a bit of envy at times!) how she has grown into such a wonderful adult. Currently she is in her senior year of college and receiving a BFA very soon.

Being an Art Major has its own set of challenges..

What? not smart enough to get a real degree? Huh? You play with colored pencils?

But, my baby just sold her first art piece...cold hard cash on the line (and no, this person is NOT a relative!) maybe there aren't enough decimels on the other side of that period, but there will be...I know it's gonna happen...I just hope I'm around to get THAT phone call!

My daughter is the coolest woman on the planet...She has such a great joie le vivre!

It's about time!

http://www.mywebspiration.com/

ITS HERE!! Inspiration free...and I hope more software that Teachers find invaluable will become free..ok, open source has got some great pieces, but Inspiration is such a great product!

A B I G Thank you!

Day after day, when I am frustrated by the events of the day, of the equipment I "get to" use, the people I deal with, the mindset of others...I jump on my network of GCTs and all is well. I know that on any given day I can call on any of them for support, feedback and continual good thoughts...Its nice to know they are in my back pocket...
I am very grateful for this wonderful network of innovative, POSITIVE MINDED, intelligent individuals!

My Southern Side of the Family

My cousins came to visit from Florida and thank goodness the weather in St. Louis was perfect! Where to go to show them true St. Louis hospitality??...FOREST PARK~~home of the 1904 World's Fair...we visited the zoo and saw the penquins, cause if you live in Florida...can't see many of them, right?

ITS all about the RAYS!! ....and I can't wait to see them for the next couple weeks on TV!!!

MUST SLOoow down!

OK, I admit I have a fault..I need to learn how to slow down or I'm gonna break down. Sooo much to do, presentations, portfolios, parties, and that's just the letter P...(*get it? goes along with the picture??)

sigh, I just have to try one step ahead...that way...at least I can FEEL like I'm staying in synch...

Google Earth, Google Maps

This isn't a google map, but its a map to how I learn... Colorful, check, messy, check, evolving, check...I just hope I'm able to continue on my learning path for a long time ...

Funny thing, I'm spending Monday helping participants to learn about Google Earth, and I'm going to do some higher level thinking myself with all of these wonderful speakers and presenters!

I admit it, I'm a groupie for this googler!

Robin:"Cindy,how do you like my hour long personal training session with Google Earth?"

Cindy: "THIS IS AWESOME...*just when I thought I knew Google Earth...."

Sigh, I'm a groupie...yep, Robin, who works for Google is THE MAIN MAN when it comes to Google Earth. Allison Merrick connected me to him in the morning, and I was lucky enough to pick his brain for over an hour by myself. Wow, I have so many new tools in my GE toolbox!

EVEN MORE GOOGLE GOODNESS

I

AM

SO

LUCKY!!

I have three other friends, Google Certified St. Louis Teachers to play with now...

Bill, Stephanie and Josh..yep, we're presenting at the METC together...PLNs...ironic, eh?

Yeah, NONE of us can wipe the smiles off our faces cause we played in the Chicago GOOGLE OFFICES allllll day!

GOOGLE DOCS ROCK ( I heart FORMS!!!)

Whew, deep breath, just got done doing an all day training with 27 of my Lindbergh Teachers. We have started our path on the ELITE II Program. and by Dec 1st, we will have 99 Teachers rockin..

In the past, we have used my free zoomerang account to configure an assessment piece, and I always had to worry about printing it out before it ended (hey the free one works like that!) and it....is....soooooo .... yesterday!

Today, I made a GOOGLE FORM, incorporating all of my assessment questions, I then took the URL and threw it in www.metamark.net to make a short URL and then they went online and filled it out...prints out as a pdf (so I can give it to my boss) and these Teachers are so lucky!! Not only do they get all of the deep PD that goes with ELITE, but they also get to be Googlized...and they liked it!!!

Say cheese!

I just got done reading an article about photos which should never have been posted online. Hello? Maybe, these people should think twice, no, in these particular instances they should reflect three times before putting their stoopid pictures online for the world and their employers to see.

I have to tip my hat though to the "smartest" man. He was soo proud of the fact he had won a body building strong man competition and not only had pictures of his buff body in a speedo for the world to see, but a video was on youtube also! It would have been great, however, he had just been awarded disability because of back problems two weeks before the contest. wow...I hope his back feels better soon, cause he is going to be spending quite a bit of time standing in the unemployment line.

We should take these real life stories and share with students the stupidity, unethical, you fill in the blank circumstances and learn from them. We can start with character education and go up to ethics and end up in COMMON SENSE...hopefully!

Wii fit age = 87

...and that's ok, cause Dad IS 87 and did pretty darn good hitting those soccer balls on the wii fit!

Now, we gotta get him on roller blades!!

My Vista View

Is Vista a vermin? Seems NOBODY that I listen to has anything good to say about it.

I was listening to two grad students last night whining about the fact that VISTA had lost two very important files, (meaning papers that were due)..yes, they went through the proper search means and found nothing...scary...

So, I jumped in and talked about "cloud computing"..a concept they hadn't heard of (it's so cool to explain something new to grad students!)

So, I explained had they kept those files in google docs, they would still have them, they would be "in the clouds" so to speak...yep, we learn lessons everyday. I didn't bother to tell them I learned my lesson the hard way too! There is nothing worse than being done with a paper--go to send it in..and poof...magically GONE!

VISTA...my viewpoint.

Learning beliefs

I'm working on a class and I'm attempting to make this awesome glogster piece (professor will either love it or hate it!) and TWICE, I'm 3 seconds from hitting the publish key and ZAP! POOF! Gone, history page laughs at me and I'm gonna try O N E more time and then seek another idea out...
Glogster? You can embed, video, mp3, links, jpgs...I'm in love with it, unless it refuses my affection (again!) on the third try!

Looking Back...

I spend so much time looking forward, I rarely get a chance to reflect on the past. I'm working on my personal electronic portfolio and its been pleasurable to review the master's classes I've taken and review all that I've learned and thus grown...can't wait for 256 more days to pass...I'll be in Columbia MO with bells on...
Sure I have the countdown gadget movin and groovin!!

KUNG POO FIGHTIN!

For awhile now, hubby and I walk EARLY in the mornin...nice habit, really and the weather is perfect. Along the roads we walk, sometimes we run into joggers, drunks, newspaper man, sprinklers and other dogs.
We are aware of our dog's poop habits and carry the obligatory newspaper plastic bag to pick up the evidence...and I usually carry it...so when a huge springer spaniel decided to attempt to meet our little Bo..I shouted at him and hit him in the face with Bo's poop bag~~thus, (sing along!) I was KUNG POO FIGHTIN...that dog was fast as lightenin....

Moonlight Ramble in Downtown St. Louis

Got to bed at 3 am on Sunday morning, yes, I was sober. . Did a bike ride with thousands of others under the moonlight Saturday night and never could stay up with these cool kids -- LA, Lauren and Mike. Joe and I had fun and loved being with them, even though they fly down the street, or maybe, just maybe, Joe and I are slowing down a little...

Where, Oh where did my laptop go?

It's the start of ANOTHER school year...and I had to give my laptop up to one of our teachers...gasp, gasp...I feel like a fish out of water, like my right arm is missing, I've lost my wallet, can't find my keys...it sucks...BUT

My bag is now verrry light, I'm not "on" 24/7, I've almost gotten used to it...we'll see as time progresses...its only been 48 hours, yes, I'm counting!

Rumor has it we will be getting new laptops in a couple weeks, I think I can last that long...I have everything saved on three different flashdrives (thanks, Ann for letting me borrow one, I have ALOT of music!)

So, has anyone seen my arm, wallet or keys?

Google Apps

I've been asked to present at the next Google Teacher Academy in Chi-town and hopefully the cubbies will be in the World Series and I'll get to do TWO things I thought would never happen!!

So, I'm presenting on Google Apps and finding my way around the latest Google Map feature...DID YOU KNOW you can grab the route and move it with your mouse? DID YOU KNOW you can add destinations? Yep, new and very cool!

My Family Rocks!

So what do you do with your family on a Saturday night?Yep, Rock Band is huge in my house..and don't worry, NO ONE is quitting their day job!!!

The New Sheriff (Superintendent) is in Town! *hope he stays for a long while!

How often do you get to jam with your boss and the new superintendent? Yeah, we had a BBQ to welcome the new "Sheriff" and what better way to warm up the crowd than to play a couple of his favorites...wow...this guy can PLAY!!!!

btw, did you know the fiddle is Missouri's instrument? Yeah, I didn't know it either until today!

I pledge allegiance..

Ok, everyone knows I adore Google Earth for MANY reasons (see googleearthgoods.pbwiki.com)...but, have you checked out Google Maps lately? WHOA!! Cool things are happening, and then you can embed it inside Google Earth...How awesome is that?
This picture reminds me ...I wish I had more memory...

tonight is the night

It's been a week since we sat down for 12 hours and were given, shown, and immersed ourselves willingly to everything Google. So, tonight, several of us will get together and sift through it all, remind each other, and share a few laughs and pictures.

Learning? Oh yes, we'll learn from each other tonight and throughout our times together. It doesn't have to be f2f, we've got tooo many other ways and reasons!

Even More....

Yeah, I was right there and then I went all over BOTH campuses and I have to tell you there is even more but I'm whipped..12 hours with 49 like minded individuals can leave you feeling numb and (almost) speechless...I need even more time to dissolve...

I'm alive, alert and ready to do!

GOOGLE NIGHT BEFORE:having too much fun. Went to dinner last night with the (GCT dinner club we are calling ourselves), cause we've already made plans to do a webinar together..and continue discussions...
I impressed them when I sat down and told them each of their names...(duh, their pics are on the wiki) Darren from Australia is very nice and he is picking my brain about staff dev. Brian, a local pointed us to two great dining places...dishdash was the name of the place...mediterrean and delicious..MaryFran --well you get the idea, EVERYONE shared "stuff" and it is the same everywhere...
Everyone feels like I do, how lucky we are, we really can't believe it...etc..
Saw the YAHOO building and a great street called INNOVATION...wouldn't you love to work on a street called INNOVATION??

Chat and Chew

Tonight, 12 of us got together to meet prior to the big event tomorrow...Australia, California, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Pennsylvania..I know I missed someone...but, we decided we all got initially connected because of TWITTER...yes, we are connected and had such a great share session...can't wait for more fun tomorrow....it keeps getting better...
Dishdash was the perfect dining spot, thanks to a local GCT!!

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood of CALIFORNIA!

Made it to my room, contacted others at other hotels..sunny and gorgeous and everything you've heard about driving out here is correct!!!
Thanks to Hertz and GPS..I don't have a care in the world...about the highway anyway...
Now, I'm trying to make the butterflies fly in formation..
TOMORROW
IS
GOOGLE ....gulp!

I've been Googlized!

Ok, if you don't like Google, come back in a couple of weeks, cause that is how long it is going to take me to come down off this natural high..

Tomorrow, TOMORROW is my flight to San Jose, I meet up with about 10 people I've been talking to virtually on our wiki for chat and chew for dinner tomorrow night and the fun continues on Wednesday at the Googleplex.

THE POWER OF A WIKI...There are 50 of us and 20 of us have been hanging out on a wiki with pics, our videos we submitted and I already "know" almost half the group..
HOW COOL IS THAT????

8:30 am to 7:30 pm is our training time...I know that we have some GCT retirees coming in to talk, Jerome Berg (google lit trips) then the people that are still speaking in whole sentences, we are all celebrating our new GCT status at a gathering at a local place to melt down...hope to get a voicethread made just to get some random thoughts from all of these fellow GCTs..

I have cleaned out all images from phone and camera...charged all my electronics...bought a new outfit. Hey, I am representing the fine state of Missouri...and I respect all that is Google..yep, I'm wearing a skirt...quit laughing...

more later...must TRY to sleep!

My Strong Son, Mike

So, what's wrong with this picture? Read the shirt...So, what is wrong with this picture? N O T H I N G !! My son can deadlift a car, throw a cheerleader sky high (and catch her) tell you things about chemical reactions and nutritional information that will make your head spin.
Right brain and Left brain , FULLY engaged!
Oh, and did I mention his quick wit and big heart?

THIS bothers me..

Everyday I read the newspaper..(for those of you who need some education) that is that rolled up thing you'll see on some people's lawn in the early morning hours if you are out joggin or God forbid, just coming home.
The newspaper reminds me of my growing up years, we used to get TWO newspapers at my home when I was growing up! (maybe that is where I became an avid reader, ya think?) I love sitting down and going from stem to stern with the newspaper during the weekend...weekdays, I gobble up the sports section in the summer time BASEBALL!, and normally, all the front section and everyday with the funnies...some of them STILL make me laugh out loud!
So, my weekend begins and I'm reading the front section and lo and behold I read about a high school in Glouster, MA and this could be any high school really. There is a disturbing amount of pregnancies this year...hmmm, usually there is an average of 4 (which is four too many, duh!) but this year...17. Yes, that is a one and a seven.
Why? Ok, let's think about this one...weather bad? Everyone has to say indoors? Lack of sex education? Did the School Board vote down that subject again? Hormones in the water? Condoms gone bad?
Guess again.
Seems a group of girls decided to make a pact to "get pregnant and raise their kids together"...Where, oh where, is anyone that cares for these terribly misguided girls? Can we get these parents together and well, I'm just too sad to think about what I would like to do with these parents...Education begins at home and how about throwing in some unconditional love and support..and whoops...I'm off my soapbox..
Nothing "techy" today folks..this story grabbed my heart...by the way, the majority of them succeeded...sigh...

Two down, too many to go!

Whether you blog, podcast or use a wiki, its all about communicating! Recently two of my administrators expressed interest in starting to blog. (I was DELIGHTED!)
Of course, my choice of setting up an easy to use blog was right here, so you can now see my administrators @
sandsofsappington or signin2Sandfort
Well, I have several more administrators to encourage, but I think by looking at these as models, it will be even easier for them to jump into Web 2.0. I have gotten comments that blogging is easy, and I have to agree, it is very easy to keep a log of your thoughts, trials, tribulations. I have the best job in the world.
Speaking of best job in the world, I'm on my way to spend time at the Googleplex this week. I am already in awe, I can only imagine the collaboration and high level thinking that will be done during my time together with 49 other people from around the world....Thank you Cheryl for the great pic I "borrowed" from our GTA wiki...I look forward to meeting you f2f~soon!

ISTE Advisor

So who was this advisor that suggested to ISTE that everyone get permission slips to record?...well, the secret is out.............

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!

I feel like Christmas is almost here...7 days until I am in the Googleplex with 49 other teachers from around the world...some I've already met face to face (Hey, David in FL) and I've met many already online through our wiki..

I understand that I will be immersed in learning and comprehending all that is Google, but I'm also getting ready to have a brand new network...how cool to meet them all face to face and then collaborate for the rest of our natural lives online...wish I could meet all of my virtual friends face to face! SEVEN DAYS.....

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, Joe!

Yep, the best father I know is on this page...My husband has been a father for almost 25 years...hmmm, should I get him a gold watch? Looks like he'll never be able to retire though..He (and I) are too busy watching and laughing and enjoying our great kids..although, I must say, it was rather strange playing canasta last weekend and each of us had a beer...

Balance

As I ponder technology, life, summer --it's all about balance. Sometimes that is very difficult to do, and I question my zest for diving into activities without attempting to keep balanced at times. I'm finding that it's a good thing to be so focused that time actually flies by, but at what cost? What did I "drop" by consuming all that time? Sigh, I don't mind the speed of life, just want to be MORE balanced!

My New Tattoo!

So, I'm getting ready to teach Google Earth at an all day class, and my friend says "STOP! I have to take a picture of your new tattoo"...

Sooo, I'm thinkin...hmmmm...

Google Goosebumps

This is an open apology to my family and friends:

For the next 30 days, my life is consumed by anything Google. When I speak, it will be Google related, when I think, well, yeah...

Don't feel sorry for me, my smile can't get any brighter...and I've noticed my outlook on life has become brighter...

LIFE

IS

GOOD! and my family ROCKS!!!

Here is my google earth girl video..

GOOGLE EARTH GIRL

...is going to the show!! I've been selected to become a GOOGLE CERTIFIED TEACHER and I am absolutely excited and happy about this awesome opportunity!

CLOUDS are pretty!

http://www.tweetclouds.com/user_pages/clane.html

I like my cloud, I like what my most used words say, looks cool and I appear to be so too!

Busy making my cape!

and keeping my fingers crossed that I'm selected to become a GOOGLE CERTIFIED TEACHER!!! I am in the WILLY WONKA movie...waiting for my Golden Ticket!

Google Teacher Academy Application Time!

I just received the BEST news from my friend, Rushton...Google Teacher Academy is open for business...gotta scoot...my video has my full attention!!

MAKE MY DAY!

Everyday I go to work with a smile on my face..ok, scratch that..MOST every day I go to work with a smile on my face and today, although this Teacher doesn't know it, she made my day! I was helping her upload her presentation to the wiki and she said, "Thank you for helping me learn things I was afraid of"...w o w...I am just so lucky to have such a great group of teachers to work with!!

OOOoohhhh! Have you seen ooVoo??

First up, I want to apologize to my boss...it is NOT the best picture of him, but then again I'm not going for beauty queen either...but I can tell you I crown ooVoo the best...Skype won't work in our district but ooVoo will and up to SIX people can video at once!! I think its a winner!
On to learn about Flashmeeting...one of our cool high school teacher used it with a school on the east coast...so much to do, but with a smile on my face, except for the picture here!!

I love Fred!

Watching the Cardinals win in Busch Stadium is about the most fun you can have...except putting your arms around Fredbird, but seriously, he better start doing situps...or quit enjoying all those AB products!

The EYES have it!

Yep, this soon to be famous drawing was made by a very talented BFA student at Missouri State University. I'm sorry, it's not available for purchase, (but you can gaze at it if you wish.)
I use this as a model today, to show how we are looking every which way with the 1:1 initiative being two weeks old! Yes, there are growing pains, but all in all -AMAZING results!
By the way, the great (and amazing) BFA student is my darlin daughter, Lauren!

Tommy, Can you hear me???

Every day I wake up and jump out of bed ready to learn something new..TODAY..there is a ringtone that only youngins can hear...we proved it today in our office...my ears are officially old and my comrades aren't...try it yourself!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13274669/