I am very excited that over the next three days I will be at the AVID Summer Institute in Sacramento. While I’ve used AVID strategies and have been part of my school’s AVID team of educators, this is my first “official” AVID conference. I’ll be taking the strand for Cultural Relevance to Transform Teachers. The…
Decisions, Decisions: Canon G-16 or Panasonic DC-ZS70? A point-n-shoot dilemma.
Overnight, we traded the sounds of the ocean for the familiar sounds of early morning song birds. They sing the same 7 notes each morning, their own kind of Revelry. I know I’m home when I hear them at the break of day. I don’t know what these birds look like — only that they…
Living in my memories: If only I’d had my camera …
This waterfall is somewhere near the Lihui airport — along a tight, twisty road, found by the hoards of tourists. We had a few minutes before our flight home to take a look — my camera was slung over my shoulder. Sometimes, though, having your camera on you is impractical, even when you’re in the…
Kauai Skies and Good-byes
One last morning on the lanai waiting for the sky to light up over the ocean. My packed bags might be full, luggage tags in place determining my destination — but part of my heart will always stay on Kauai. Sunsets and day breaks are glorious on the islands. Here are some dusk and sunset…
Last Day on Kauai (Write Every Day 30)
Moonlight’s magic mist makes vacations disappear before our very eyes. Just one more day to enjoy Paradise . . . I’m going to sit here and breathe in the ocean for a while. I’ll be back.
Kayaking to the “someone let out the” Secret Falls: Uluwehi Falls, Kauai (Write Every Day 29)
Yesterday, we took a kayaking+hiking trip out to the Secret Falls, which is a misnomer since everyone and his brother seems to know where the falls are. We had done a similar trip out to the falls many years ago and had fond memories of a canoe ride and hike. The kids were little and…
Thoughts on the Fourth: Independence Day for All of Us (Write Every Day 29)
Just two days shy of my 30 consecutive writing day goal and I’ve managed to stay away from politics. Mostly. It’s not that I’m shy of tackling politics, but since this is my blog, I’ve wanted it to reflect a bit of the ideal — an ideal world where I can hang out without the…
Finally easing into summer (Write Every Day 28)
I have no words. None. This isn’t writer’s block. It’s something else. I thought finding something to write for a straight 30 days would be challenging, and it was, but up until this morning, I always found in the morning that I had something to say. This morning, my mind is blank. I have nothing…
“What’s this button do?” On Kauai, playing around with the settings on my Panasonic Point-n-Shoot (Write Every Day 27)
We stuck pretty close to the hotel today, driving only up to Kapaa and into Lihue to see if we could find a shoulder strap for my camera. There, we had lunch at Bubba’s Burgers. The rest of the day, I spent experimenting with my camera. I should mention that I don’t carry a tri-pod…
Back “home” in Kauai: Day 1 (Write Every Day, 26)
The wind is howling and the skies are stormy, but it’s Kauai and I’m sitting on the lanai, enjoying how the skies light up over the ocean. Yesterday was a long travel day, and we sat on the tarmac for 2 hours before take-off, but the flight was smooth. And worth it. We’ve come here…
Tender Negotiations: Thoughts on Aging and Grace, a Swimsuit-Season Reflection (Write Every Day, 26)
Swimsuit season is upon us and, thankfully, my old suits still fit. That doesn’t mean they look the same on my body as they did even last year, but they fit. That’s one less mean mall mirror I have to confront. (What is it with those mirrors? I swear they buy them on sale from…
The day before you leave is the longest journey (Write Every Day, 25)
We leave tomorrow for a week in Hawaii and I’ve been trying to prepare myself for the insanity of today, the day before, but there really is no way to prepare. Today is the longest journey. Of course there is the packing . . . but that isn’t all of it. There are the animals:…
Barbara Ganias Comstock 