Thanks for NOT Helping!

Today for lunch, my family and I went to the Subway sandwich shop about a mile from our house. When we exited our car to walk across the parking lot toward the restaurant, I noticed a woman sitting in a red Jeep in the aisle next to us. The hood of her car was raised and jumper cables were draped over the front bumper. I asked my husband if we should inquire as to any need for assistance. He answered, “Sure.”

While I walked to the Jeep, I became aware that at least four strong, able-bodied men (all younger than my husband) had walked directly past the disabled automobile and into Subway to order their lunch, without so much as a glance toward this needy woman. When I spoke to her, she informed me that she had been waiting for assistance long enough that she finally phoned her husband to ask him for help, even though it meant he would need to leave work. Apparently, she lacked AAA road service. My husband came to the rescue and, using her jumper cables, started the car.

After the Jeep owner was on her way, I commented to my daughter about the assistance that was not offered by all those men who walked past that disabled car. Katherine the Great answered along these lines, “Maybe they were in a hurry on their lunch hour.” To which I responded, “Your dad was on his lunch hour and he found time to help, and it took all of about five minutes.” Call me old-fashioned, but I find it inexcusable and rude that so many people (especially men) ignored that woman. It is certainly indicative of the abject narcissism that seems to have invaded almost every corner of American culture. And if it isn’t narcissism, then I can only conclude it is the offerings we all make at the altar of busyness. Maybe those other people were pressed for time, but does that release them from the obligation of assisting their fellowman (or woman)? Even more disturbing: some of the automobiles near that Jeep had “Christian fish” on their chassis.

Recommendation: next time you see someone in need, sacrifice five minutes of your day and lend a helping hand.

Harry Potter Sneak Peek

SPOILER ALERT: Even though the title of this post contains the words "sneak peek," which I feel is sufficient warning to visitors who have neither read nor seen Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I have been encouraged by some of my friends to add this more obvious notice that plot information is contained within. If you do not want to know anything about the film (or the book), DO NOT CONTINUE READING. Thank you.
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One of the benefits of being the wife of a retired military man is that I get to see films at the base theater for cheaper than the movie theaters in town. Occasionally, I am treated to an even better benefit --- a free movie. A few times a year, that free movie is a sneak peek showing of an upcoming film. Last night was such a time and the movie was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. All I had to do was stand in line for about twenty minutes yesterday afternoon in the 90º heat to get a "ticket," which was really an entrance survey card. Let me tell you, it was worth it.

My daughter and I have been reading the Harry Potter books since 1998 when Katherine the Great was only 8 years old. Wow, time has certainly flown! My daughter is now seventeen and we are anxiously awaiting delivery of the last book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, due to arrive next Saturday by UPS. I can hardly believe the end is so near. I just hope J.K. Rowling doesn’t kill one of my favorite characters, but I digress…

The film looked much like the last two in the Potter series: darker lighting, a gloomier Hogwarts school, and the demise/threatened demise of a major character. The addition of Imelda Staunton as Professor Umbridge only added to the darker nature of the presentation, what with her underhanded, (albeit) temporary, takeover of the school itself and her disturbing methods of discipline for the students. The Department of Mysteries appeared quite sinister as well, especially the room where the children ended up after fighting some Death Eaters for possession of a prophecy ball. The Noble House of Black, home of Harry’s Uncle Sirius, contributed to the “creepy factor,” too, with its dreary walls and shadowy hallways.

An amusing juxtaposition to this menacing atmosphere was the superficial treatment of Professor Umbridge. Rather than dressing her in long, flowing black robes (like Professors Snape and McGonagal), she arrives on the scene in some of the most hideously pink Chanel-type suits and pillbox hats than I have seen in awhile. Add to that her sickeningly sweet, high-pitched voice and squeaky laugh, and you have a recipe for a character that you truly cannot trust, let alone like. She is the epitome of meanness and deceit, cloaked in a sugary glaze (to everyone but Harry, that is).

As for whether the film followed the book: not perfectly, but close enough for my tastes. I began rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix a few days ago so I could do a full-blown comparison of the movie and the text. Great plan, poor execution. Having stopped around chapter five in my rereading effort, I can say that the beginning of the film did not deviate substantially from the book; whether the rest of the film was accurate, I couldn’t say. It was enjoyable and I would highly recommend it to any Potter fan.

Tour de France Stage 4

Route: Villers-Cotterêts - Joigny
Riders remaining: 186
Distance: 193 km
Climbs:
- Côte de Veuilly-la-Poterie 1.0 km; 5.2%; 4 category
- Côte de Doucy 1.9; 4.9%; 4 category
- Côte de Galbaux 2.4 km; 3.8%; 4 category
- Côte de Bel-Air 1.3km; 5.4%; 4 category

Day four and all is well on the roads of France, at least for most of the riders. Today’s finish was fast and exciting, but no one hit the deck (praise the Lord!). After a number of crashes over the first few days of the Tour, three competitors have been forced to abandon: Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez (Spain) of Team Agritubel, Tomas Vaitkus (Lithuania) of Team Discovery Channel, and Xabier Zandio (Spain) of Team Caisse d’Epargne. Several other notable riders are also nursing injuries, among them Robbie McEwen (Australia) of Team Predictor-Lotto, Fred Rodriguez (USA) of Team CSC, and Francisco Ventoso (Spain) of Team Saunier Duval.

Each day, as I watch the race on live television (if I get that chance), I also keep tabs on the race newsflashes as they come into the official Tour de France website. Over the past several days, some interesting information has been posted:

- The opening day of the race was the 37th birthday of sprinter Erik Zabel.
- The Tour de France began with a prologue for the first time in 1967.
- Vladimir Gusev turned 25 years old three days before the start of racing.
- Thirty-two riders are eligible for the white “youth” jersey.
- Team Saunier-Duval participates in an initiative to donate one tree for every kilometer that a member of their squad spends in an escape during the 2007 Tour de France.

Oh, and I can’t forget the story behind the race abandonment of Eduardo Gonzalo Ramirez from Team Agritubel:

The Spaniard who made his Tour debut last year…suffered a shocking fate in the opening road stage; while returning to the peloton after collecting drinks for his team-mates, a car in front of him slammed on its brakes and the 23-year-old had no where to go…he smashed the rear window of the Caisse d’Epargne team car and only just avoided being struck by the car that was following. “It’s a terrible thing to lose a good rider like him on the first day, but when I see the shock I realize that it could have been a lot worse. The car that was behind him missed hitting him by just 20 cm.

And people think cycling is dull. Hmm.

Team Discovery Channel status
The guys stayed out of the fray today, probably in an attempt to remain safe and let the sprinters vie for top honors. George Hincapie dropped to fifth place overall due to the spectacular finish by Thor Hushovd (Netherlands) of Team Credit Agricole, which propelled him into second. Vladimir Gusev still owns the white jersey and, to my surprise, lies in 8th place overall. He has actually spent the last several days within the top ten of the General Classification, an impressive feat for a “beginner.” Excellent results, gentlemen; keep it up.

Tour de France Stage 3

Route: Waregem - Compiègne
Riders remaining: 187
Distance: 236.5 km
Climbs:
- Cote de Blérancourt 1 km; 4.6%; 4 Category

With a high percentage of stiff riders, sore from the crash on Stage 2, the race continued today on the roads of Belgium and France. A relatively flat profile of 236.5 kilometers with overcast weather, it was a day for either the sprinters or a breakaway. The latter prevailed, but at the slowest speed in almost ten years (according to the official Tour de France newsflashes), the day ran quite late. Four escapees, Stéphane Auge, Frederik Willems, Nicolas Vogondy, and Matthieu Ladagnous, managed to stay ahead of the peloton for over 140 miles; yet, in the end, they were caught in the closing meters, passed by none other than the man in the yellow jersey, Fabian Cancellara. Praise the Lord, no one crashed in the finish. With cobblestone roads in the final two kilometers, combined with the speed of racing, the situation was (as usual) somewhat dicey.

Speaking of dicey, study of the big crash on Stage 2 by race officials showed that Erik Zabel, an extremely experienced rider from Team Milram, touched the wheel of sprinter Tom Boonen of Team QuickStep. In compensating for that mistake, Zabel collided with Manuel Quinziato of Team Liquigas. The rest was just a domino effect. Even so, the strong men of the Tour de France are back for more. Listen to this comment by a rider from Team Saunier Duval, found on the Tour de France website:

“I just couldn’t avoid the crash,” said one of the riders caught up on the crash of stage two, Francisco Ventoso of the Saunier Duval team. “I tried to brake, but there was nowhere to go…even if I’d managed to stay on my bike, I would’ve been caught by those coming behind. “I was feeling good and confident, well=placed, but this is what you expect of this kind of finish. I fell on my bike, and I think most of my injuries came from hitting it. I’ve injured my knee and my elbow, and my hand hurts badly. But I’m really worried about my hip. I hope it’s nothing serious, but I can tell I’m having a hard time walking.”

Of course, this same gentleman boarded his bike this morning to ride 200+ kilometers at an average speed of 20-30 mph. When I have trouble walking, I usually visit the doctor rather than heading out on a torturous bike ride.

Team Discovery Channel status
George Hincapie came in 16th on the stage today and remains in fourth place overall. Levi Leipheimer was 126th. The white jersey, denoting the best young rider in the race, still lies on the back of Vladimir Gusev, where it has been since Day 1. Way to go gentlemen!

Tour de France Stage 2

Route: Dunkerque - Gand
Riders remaining: 188
Distance: 168.5 km
Climbs: None

The first week of the Tour de France is always a tense time. The riders are nervous; the excitement of the starting days is at a fever pitch; and it seems that everyone is waiting for that first big crash. Well, today they got it. Within three kilometers of the finish line, at ~38 mph, a Team Milram competitor swerved, causing a Team Liquigas rider to go down on the right side of the road. With nowhere to go and no time to stop, the approaching riders crashed into the Liquigas competitor, causing a pile up. In a rushed attempt to avoid the crash, other riders headed to the left side of the road. There, another rider went down, causing a second pile up that eventually blocked the entire street. It looked horrendous from the aerial cameras, much like the Stage 1 crash in 2003 that resulted in a fractured pelvis, damaged leg muscles, and dashed Tour hopes for the current Team Discovery Channel leader Levi Leipheimer. For video of today’s incident, check out this link on the Versus channel. Once there, click on "Daily Video" first and then "Huge Fall."

Team Discovery Channel status
Despite being involved in the big crash, George Hincapie remains in fourth place overall. Velonews had this to say about his wounds:

Hincapie rolled through with a gash to his right knee, visibly shaken. “I couldn’t move my knee at first, but when I pedaled to the finish I think it got better,” he said. “It felt a lot worse when I first hit. There wasn’t anything I could do anyway.”

Hincapie’s injuries were described as “minor,” including a slight contusion and scrapes. He will be back in the peloton on Tuesday…

Tomas Vaitkus, suffering more severe injuries, is out of the competition. Also from Velonews

According to Discovery spokesman P.J. Rabice, Vaitkus was diagnosed with “five unstable fractures of the right thumb, which will require surgery, including a plate. Vaitkus is expected to have surgery this evening and will not start (Tuesday’s) third stage.”

So the team is down to eight members now. It could be worse. George Hincapie or Levi Leipheimer could have been seriously injured. Hopefully, tomorrow will be calm and uneventful.

Tour de France Stage 1

Route: London - Canterbury
Riders remaining: 188
Distance: 203 km
Climbs:
- Cote de Southborough 2.3 km; 4.1%; 4 category
- Cote de Goudhurst 1.6 km; 5.3%; 4 category
- Cote de Farthing Common 1.1 km; 6.1%; 4 category

Well, the real action began today on the road from London to Canterbury. Yes, that’s right, the Tour de France was raced in England today. Not exactly what those unfamiliar with the race would expect but, nonetheless, the competition hit the roads of the United Kingdom, and not without unexpected results. The winner: Australian Robbie McEwen, a cheeky little sprinter from Brisbane.

McEwen’s triumph was truly remarkable. Having crashed within twenty-five kilometers (15 miles) of the finish line, he rejoined the peleton, made his way through over 150 riders to reach the front of the group, and sprinted ahead to win the day. He was virtually invisible to viewers and commentators alike until the last few meters. It was the 12th Tour de France stage victory of McEwen’s career.

For me, watching the finishing sprint of each stage of the Tour de France is the most nerve-wracking part of each daily race. With two dozen riders (or more) in extremely close formation riding as fast as they can to win, it is truly a miracle that more crashes don’t occur in those final meters. I thought for sure today would be a crash day. Thankfully, it wasn’t.

Team Discovery Channel status
Five of the nine riders are in the top 30. George Hincapie is currently fourth overall. Vladimir Gusev is wearing the white jersey for "best young rider." Not bad for Day 2. Keep up the great work, guys!

Tour de France Rider Commitment

Last year, on opening day of the 2006 Tour de France, it became known that several of the “big name” cyclists competing in the race were suspected in a large-scale doping scheme involving two Spanish physicians. As a result of what has come to be known as the “Puerto affair,” many of those cyclists were suspended from competition or have retired from the sport. Litigation and investigation into the matter continue, and in an effort to make certain that the 2007 Tour de France is not affected by any fallout from the scandal, Tour organizers asked each competitor to sign this “Riders Commitment.” No signature, no participation.

I do solemnly declare, to my team, my colleagues, the UCI*, the cycling movement and the public that I am not involved in the Puerto affair nor in any other doping case and that I will not commit any infringement to the UCI anti-doping rules. As proof of my commitment, I accept, if it should happen that I violate the rules and am granted a standard sanction of a two-year suspension or more, in the Puerto affair or in any other anti-doping proceedings, to pay the UCI, in addition to the standard sanctions, an amount equal to my annual salary for 2007 as a contribution to the fight against doping.

At the same time, I declare to the Spanish law, that my DNA is at its disposal, so that it can be compared with the blood samples seized in the Puerto affair. I appeal to the Spanish law to organize this test as soon as possible or allow the UCI to organize it.

Finally, I accept the UCI’s wish to make my statement public.

I find it interesting (and admirable) that a sport accused of being so dirty because of its past history of drug use and abuse now has such a stiff penalty for even the slightest infraction. Would an NFL, NBA, or MLB player be willing to pledge his entire annual salary as a penalty if he was caught (and, mind you, not necessarily convicted) for using drugs in competition? I doubt it. Kudos to the cycling community for a step in the right direction.

*UCI is an acronym for the Union Cicliste Internationale, or International Cycling Union. As their name implies, they serve as a regulatory body for international cycling competition.

Excerpt/quote from Riders Commitment obtained from the Versus channel website.

Tour de France Prologue

Route: London - London
Riders remaining: 189
Distance: 7.9 km
Climbs: None

July is here…and so is the premier summer pastime in my home: watching the Tour de France. The first day (at least for as long as I have been watching the bike race) is an individual time trial, where each rider tests himself against the clock. The winner this year: Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland riding for Team CSC. He completed 7.9 kilometers (~5 miles) in just 8 minutes and 50 seconds. Very impressive.

Yet for all the fanfare of opening day, the 2007 Tour is actually being ridden without a 2006 winner in its ranks. Why? Because the 2006 Tour de France podium result has yet to be finalized, due to a doping scandal involving the winner: Floyd Landis. I won’t get into the particulars of this controversy; that could most certainly fill pages and pages of blog entries. Suffice it to say, the jury has yet to return a verdict in the case --- literally. The result was supposed to be announced yesterday (July 6, 2007) but, so far, no word has reached the cycling newswire.

This lack of a decision prompted the Tour de France organizers to begin numbering riders at “11” rather than “1” this year. Usually the team of the defending champion begins the numbering, with the previous winner carrying the numeral “1.” The teammates of the champion then use numerals “2” through “10.” The team of the second place winner from the previous year uses numerals “11” through “20,” and so on, until all 189 riders have been accounted for. With no 2006 winner and, consequently, no winning team, the numerals “1” through “9” are eliminated, and the numbering begins with the second place team.

Confusing, I know. Just remember: if you plan to watch, don’t look for numerals “1” through “9” on the back of any rider. For 2007, those numerals don’t exist. If you are looking for the Team Discovery Channel (USA), watch for numerals “111” through “119.” They represent the following riders:

111 Levi Leipheimer (USA)
112 Alberto Contador (Spain)
113 Vladimir Gusev (Russia)
114 George Hincapie (USA)
115 Egoi Martinez (Spain)
116 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spain)
117 Sergio Paulinho (Portugal)
118 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine)
119 Tomas Vaitkus (Lithuania)

For daily coverage of the Tour de France, tune to the Versus channel early each morning. You won’t be sorry that you did.

Handbell Festival DAY 4

Ah, the last day of handbell festival has finally arrived. No more 4:00 AM risings; no more lunches in a college cafeteria (despite the numerous upgrades since I was an undergraduate); no more sore feet from traversing a college campus for meals and classes; no more ringing in my ears. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed supporting my daughter’s first handbell conference; I just saw a few areas for improvement (being an organizer myself), but that is the subject for another blog entry.

Thankfully, our morning began MUCH later today --- 5:30 AM, 6:30 AM, and 8:00 AM respectively for myself, Katherine the Great, and King Richard. After showers, cat feedings, and some e-mail pickup, the entire family headed to McDonalds for a quick breakfast, quite the mistake for me as my meal did not sit well, but I digress…

10:15 AM. Under orders from her director, my daughter and I purchased two new pairs of handbell gloves, one white and one black from Handbell Services, Inc. Katherine the Great had been using borrowed handwear for rehearsals, one of which had holes in the thumb. Definitely unacceptable for a festival concert; hence, the morning acquisition. At a whopping $5.00, it didn’t break the budget too badly. :-)

10:30 AM. Miss Ringer and I sat through a rehearsal of the mid-level bell choirs, the Coppers. These ringers play music that is usually at Level 3 and below. My daughter’s book partner in Shoreline Ringers suggested she attend a practice so she could see and hear the bells and the director from “the other side of the table,” so to speak. I don’t know how useful it was as an exercise; Katherine the Great spent half the practice observing the ringing floor from the rafters of the arena while her dad took photographs. Oh, well. She worked extremely hard for almost four days. Thirty minutes of “goof off” time wasn’t unreasonable.

11:30 AM. The final Bronze rehearsal. All went extremely well, especially when they added the additional percussion on Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson. These advanced ringers are definitely ready to “strut their stuff,” if that is possible with a handbell. The afternoon concert audience is in for a real treat.

12:30 PM. Lunch…and fast. The Bronze choirs had only sixty minutes to walk to the Hope Commons dining hall, stand in line for their lunches, eat their meals, walk back to the arena, change into their concert dress clothes (polo shirts and khaki pants this time around), and be on the ringing floor for the final massed rehearsal. Thank goodness King Richard brought the car halfway to the cafeteria so that, for the sake of time, we could ride back to the Ryan Center with him. Miss Ringer made it with only a few minutes to spare.

1:30 PM. The final massed rehearsal with Mr. Mathis. In reality, this was more like a dress rehearsal for the entire concert. Mr. Helman, the other director, was there as well to queue his pieces in their concert order. Having heard the various groups work on their respective pieces for the past few days, I must admit they have all improved greatly, most especially the Tins. They exhibit much more confidence while ringing now. Even though they expressed frustration with Mr. Mathis at the outset, he really has helped them and they have (for the most part) exhibited a teachable spirit under his baton.

3:00 PM. Festival Concert. This was, without a doubt, one of the most remarkable sights I have ever seen. To see (and hear) 780 handbell ringers perform simultaneously was nothing short of amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to attend such an event, I highly recommend the experience. Concert program:

Fanfare Celebration by Michael Mazzatenta
Fantasy on St. Anne by William Croft
Danza by J.W. Kerr
Crosswind by Sondra K. Tucker
Psalm 9 by Carl Wiltse
Tuya Es la Gloria by Susan T. Nelson Sylvester
Morning Dance by Cathy Moklebust
Overture to Cantata 142 by J.S. Bach
Girl With the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy
Carol of the Bells by Arnold Sherman
Exuberant Joy by Arnold Sherman
Bwana Asifiwe by Cathy Moklebust
Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
March Triumphale by Michael Helman*

The performance (and the festival) ended with the traditional ringing of the “closing bell.”

4:15 PM. Breakdown and loading of handbells and related equipment. King Richard filmed the Shoreline Ringers in action during this part of the day. It only took the group 15 minutes from the last concert ring to the last bell loaded in the vans. Pretty impressive! They are truly a well-oiled musical machine.

The day ended with a few of us unloading everything at Ledyard Congregational Church back in Connecticut, the current home of Shoreline Ringers. Once that task was finished, it was off to dinner at Friendly’s, a much-welcomed ending to a very rewarding experience. I, for one, cannot wait until the next festival --- in June 2009. Maybe I will see you there.

*This last piece reminded me of music from The Ten Commandments, when the Israelites left Egypt.

Handbell Festival DAY 3

Two days down and two to go. The morning wake-up routine did not go as smoothly today. I guess the up-early/up-late schedule is beginning to wear on us. Oh, well. I managed to hit the shower by 4:05 AM; Katherine the Great was in and out by 5:00 AM; King Richard, on the other hand, slept in too long. He wasn’t ready to go until almost 6:00 AM. Of course, in his defense, he did perform some troubleshooting on my digital camera so I could get some festival photos today. Thank you very much, honey.

7:00 AM. Breakfast was a bit calmer than yesterday, although the line was a longer wait for us due to our late start. On the plus side: Starbucks had no line, so tea acquisition was effortless. Additional coffee stations were also added near the cafeteria door, much to the joy of the caffeine crowd. Hurrah! Of course, the “no food or drink outside the cafeteria” policy was still in place, barring travel coffee; hence, the reason for Starbucks. Menu this morning: eggs, sausage, French toast (which I declined), fruit, cottage cheese, and muffins (I selected the corn variety).

8:00 AM. The morning mini-concert was exclusively Christmas music, some of which I had heard before. A quartet from the Merrimack Valley Ringers of Connecticut performed the "Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel. They were pretty good but not as impressive as the Back Bay Ringers ensemble from yesterday. Overall, though, it was an enjoyable thirty minutes.

8:45 AM. Another massed rehearsal. Unfortunately, half of Shoreline Ringers had class conflicts with this time slot, making the choir look rather thin on the ringing floor. Once again, Mr. Mathis was fascinating to observe, although I did see a touch of the “curtness” that was assigned to him by a few ringers on Thursday. A lone ringer of the almost 600 who were at the rehearsal was brave enough to ask for a measure reference, which he abruptly declined to give. Apparently, he does demand attention at all times. What can I say? He is a director. In his defense, his primary task at this conference is polishing a piece of music that these choirs have been practicing (or should have been practicing) for almost eight months. He is very much the performance director, not necessarily the rehearsal director. One additional note, Miss Ringer had a wonderful time covering her bells and those of her book partner who was at class. It was a good thing she took that Intermediate Weaving class yesterday!

10:00 AM. Katherine the Great attended a class on “musicality.” I walked to the building with her, intending to study in the lounge. Nope, not permitted. A handbell class was using the space. Instead, I walked back to the Ryan Center, serving as an escort for an older ringer with a bad knee. I have discovered that many of the musicians attending this conference are older, making the extensive walking between classroom buildings, the ringing arena, the dorms, and the dining hall somewhat problematic. Some ringers from New Hampshire even shared with me that they missed a class because their knees refused to make it up the hill by one of the instructional buildings. Not good. Perhaps future conferences should be held in a more compact location, if possible.

I managed to squeeze in some shopping at this point in the day: a polo shirt for Katherine the Great, handbell cookie cutters for me, and a handbell stamp for letterboxing (the handbell Christmas ornament that I had my eye on was sold out). Having met my daughter’s director in the vendor area, I discussed some possible music selections for a beginning bell choir with her as well. All in all, a very productive hour.

Another activity that I fit into this time period: fulfilling my daughter’s request to acquire a “Fun With Boomwackers” class on Sunday morning. No such luck. All the class cards were gone. A more experienced ringer acquaintance from our former church suggested attending the class without a card. “Everyone is doing it,” she stated. As tempting as that philosophy might be at this point, I recommended the following to Miss Ringer:

Option 1: Ask the instructor for permission to attend.
Option 2: Arrive for class & inquire if space is available for ringers.

Neat occurrence during this hour: I saw a deer running around the eastern lawn of the athletic center. He was apparently a bit lost and disoriented, but not frightened. He eventually disappeared into the woods. I just love those periodic reminders that God provides here in New England that His creation is alive and active, despite our 21st century efforts at urbanization and development.

11:15 AM. Bronze rehearsal with Michael Helman. Nothing remarkable here. The songs are coming along nicely, especially “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson. Mr. Helman is much more mild-mannered that Mr. Mathis, much less intense. Curiously, my daughter prefers the latter. Why is that? I certainly hope it isn’t because I am that intense. Yikes! My task during the hour: work on this blog entry.

12:30 PM. Lunch! I gave in to my craving for fried food today, eating both onion rings and potato chips with my healthy tabouleh chicken wrap. I didn’t even bother with a salad or dessert. I grabbed another tea at Starbucks and left to shop for music. Fifty dollars later, I possessed Christmas selections for a beginning handbell choir should our church decide to move in that direction between July and December. Miss Ringer even found a great piece to use with kids: “The Little Boy and His Lunch” by Tammy Waldrop.

3:00 PM. Another mini-concert. This one had some fun pieces, and the projects that were completed by the Advanced Ringing Track class attendees. With only two or three hours of rehearsal time, these ringers played some Level 5-6 compositions/arrangements. For non-handbell types, imagine some of the most difficult music available; then imagine that music played on handbells. I think the instructor was conducting some kind of learning curve experiment with the advanced ringers as guinea pigs. If so, the results were impressive. Overall, another enjoyable thirty minutes.

4:15 PM. Yet another massed rehearsal. I sat this one out, having discovered a set of tables and chairs in the East Concourse of the Ryan Center. Hurrah! Finally, some productive study time. I continued to work on lecture notes for American Government.

5:30 PM. Dinner. Thankfully, the festival organizers granted “head of the line” privileges to the Bronze choirs owing to the fact that they had another rehearsal at 7:00 PM. Menu: lasagna, broccoli, brownies (both fudge and blonde varieties), salad bar and tea. My daughter and I sat by ourselves in order to discuss a handbell composition that she plans to work on in the near future.

7:00 PM. Bronze rehearsal (fifteen minutes earlier than originally scheduled). I do believe that Katherine the Great is going to have a very personal understanding of the term “intensive rehearsal” by the time this conference is over. This was her second bronze-level practice of the day. Counting the sessions from yesterday, I think she is at four overall. She admitted to me at lunch that her biceps were a little sore this morning, as well as her legs (either from all that standing and weaving, or from all the walking on campus). In the dinner queue, she confessed that her shoulders were beginning to ache a bit too. An ice pack or two when we get home might be a wise strategy.

9:00 PM. Home again, home again, jiggety, jig, jig!

Handbell Festival DAY 2

Early this morning (4:00 AM), my household was up and moving toward the second day of handbell festival. We rose early in an effort to get showers taken and chores completed before taking my husband to work, and before meeting some fellow ringers for the commute to Rhode Island.

7:00 AM. Breakfast in the Hope Commons dining hall. As is true on every college campus, the meal was crowded (again!). Only six coffee pots had been prepared for hundreds of groggy ringers, a definite oversight on the part of the food service personnel. Fortunately, a Starbucks coffeehouse is located next door to the cafeteria. I endured a short line there as well, at the end of which was a wonderful cup of hot green tea. My sinuses and ears had been stuffy since sometime yesterday, so the steam from that cup was a real lifesaver.

8:00 AM. My daughter and I headed to the Ryan Center for a mini-concert featuring several groups, including a quartet of performers from the Back Bay Ringers of Massachusetts. This group of intrepid musicians played the theme from Beverly Hills Cop. I don’t ever recall seeing such an impressive exhibition of weaving skills by a group of ringers. Awesome showmanship!

8:45 AM. The second mass rehearsal of the conference with the same director as yesterday, a genial (yet professional) gentleman named Bill Mathis. I like him. Of course, the fact that he is from Minnesota has nothing to do with that, I’m sure. I did meet a ringer at breakfast that isn’t very fond of Mr. Mathis. She described him as “too curt.” I disagree. He is an extremely effective director. He needs to be firm, what with hundreds of ringers under his baton. While Katherine the Great rang at this practice, I started this blog entry and read more pages in Basic American Government for a course I am teaching next year in our homeschool co-op.

10:00 AM. After the massed ring, my daughter had some time to kill before her first “official” class of the festival (Handbells and Computers), so we visited the vendor hall for a peek at some sheet music should the effort to start a handbell choir at our church get off the ground before fall. Katherine the Great found some suitable selections of sheet music that she seemed to enjoy. I, on the other hand, shopped for Christmas gift ideas/items. I did find some, but I found more goodies for myself: handbell cookie cutters, some interesting handbell jewelry, and a handbell ornament.

11:15 AM. Computer class in the “Flagg” building. What an adventure to locate, and only 0.25 miles from the Ryan Center. Thanks to the assistance of a URI student, we were on time. The class was ok. I got fidgety after about thirty minutes; contrarily, my daughter found it fascinating and reported to me that she got a lot of good ideas to use when she finally gets Finale (hint!), a music notation program for the computer. Apparently, the time is rapidly approaching when my budding composer will need such an asset (or so I have been told).

12:30 PM. The first “bronze” rehearsal of the conference, “bronze” being the designation for all the advanced ringers and their choirs. Again, Katherine the Great rang and I worked on preparing a lecture for my American Government class. It was a quick hour, followed by another quick hour of massed rehearsal with director Mathis. He is getting an amazing amount of work out of these ringers. Their pieces already sound better after only two sessions. Amazing!

3:00 PM. With almost two hours to kill after massed rehearsal, my daughter and I attended our second mini-concert of the day. Sadly, this one was not as good as the morning event, but the chance to hear some unfamiliar musical selections was certainly worth the time we invested. I don’t know about Katherine the Great, but I have decided that I really don’t like “calypso style” handbells. Call me stuffy, but steel drums and a guitar just don’t seem to fit with “proper” English bells, but I digress…

4:30 PM. Dinner…finally! Miss Ringer and I totally missed lunch because of classes and rehearsals, but the wait was definitely worth it. Evening menu: maple mustard pork roast, sweet potatoes, stuffing, snowflake rolls with butter, carrots, build-your-own salad, a brownie, and a cup of tea. Another part of dinner that was definitely worth it --- the company; my daughter and I were privileged to dine with three sister ringers from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Gales Ferry, CT. Their handbell choir is called Hosanna Ringers and is directed by one of the Shoreline Ringers, Larry Berdensy. We all enjoyed sharing ringing stories, although I must admit their stories were funnier. Larry must have quite the time with these ladies in his choir. I haven’t encountered a more good-humored, spirited group of women in a long time. Needless to say, dinner was quite pleasant.

6:45 PM. Katherine the Great took off for her last class of the day: Intermediate Weaving. For those who may be unfamiliar with handbells, weaving is a skill that is used by ringers who need to play bells that are (oftentimes) chromatically related, like going up or down the scale in whole, or half, steps. I have only ever tried this with three bells. My daughter was set to tackle more than five bells in her class this evening, a task that didn’t really thrill her. However, she realized the usefulness of her impending torture: to become a better ringer (and handbell composer). Unfortunately, I was unable to witness this growth process, as the room was much too small. Instead, I sat in on a Tin rehearsal (the beginning ringers and their choirs). Considering their lack of experience and the challenging nature of the music, they really weren’t faring too badly.

8:00 PM. We caught our ride back to Connecticut. My husband met us at Union Baptist Church so our commuter friends didn’t have to go out of their way to drop us at home. Everyone was on native turf by 9:00 PM. Some light chores and a quick gander at the incoming cyber mail for the day, and it was off to bed. Thank goodness because I was exhausted.

See you tomorrow!

Handbell Festival DAY 1

As the title of this post suggests, today is the first day of my daughter’s first handbell festival --- the AGEHR Area I Festival Conference 2007. Held on the campus of the University of Rhode Island, “festival” is a time to meet other ringers, learn new skills, and play in a much-heralded “mass ring.” For those unfamiliar with handbells, the latter is when ALL the attendee ringers at a festival play the same piece of music simultaneously. Imagine if you will, 780 individuals wielding handbells, all playing "March Triumphale" by Michael Helman at the same time. It is truly an amazing phenomenon to witness, both with the ears and with the eyes.

The thrust of festival activities this afternoon focused on preparations and paperwork: setting up the tables and bells on the floor of the Ryan Center, receiving registration information, determining schedules, that sort of thing. Once those tasks were completed, however, it was off to the vendor concourse for a quick look at music and supplies, followed by a walk to the Hope Commons dining hall (by all appearances, a brand new facility) for a quick dinner.

6:30 PM. The ringers were back on the arena floor, each at their bell stations, ready for the initial massed rehearsal of the conference. First item on the agenda: the “official” opening of the festival, accomplished by the ringing a large bass bell. After that, one of the conference instructors led the ringers in warm-up exercises before the evening’s featured conductor ran through some basic instructions in playing together. You would think that experienced handbell ringers who all belong to bell choirs would have mastered that “ringing together” thing by now, but as a choir of 780, that phrase takes on an entirely new meaning. Counting and coordination have much different dimensions and proportions in a group that large.

8:00 PM. Ringers, chaperones, and drivers alike were treated to a concert by the New England Ringers, a concert (I regret to say) my daughter and I opted not to attend. Pressing household chores like laundry and the feeding of three resident felines beckoned loudly, as did our desire to avoid the non-air-conditioned building that served as the concert venue. Our part of New England has been pretty toasty the past few days and, with no air-conditioning in our car at the moment, the thought of pre-heating ourselves before driving home in a warm automobile was just not that appealing. Fortunately, thunderstorms and a cold front were supposed to move in, bringing some much needed relief from the blazing temperatures.

So, tomorrow will have cooler temperatures, plus a much earlier start. Festival breakfast begins at 7:00 AM; opening devotions are at 7:45 AM; and an opening mini-concert begins at 8:00 AM. After that, it is off and running with another massed rehearsal. Nothing like keeping busy. You know what they say about idle ringers: they lose their a-peal.

The Teaching Company

When I first began homeschooling in 1995/1996, I received a catalog in the mail from a relatively new business called The Teaching Company. It offered video and audio courses in a variety of subject areas, some of which looked rather intriguing but all of which were much too advanced for my daughter, a Kindergartener at the time. I filed the catalog in my school box and didn’t think much more about it. Over the years, I received many more catalogs but, having no immediate use for them, I threw them away.

Recently, however, I decided to examine one of The Teaching Company catalogs more closely. With Katherine the Great approaching the last few years of high school, I thought one or two of the courses might be interesting for her, especially if they dealt with music. What a gold mine! Not only is the course selection vast, the sale prices can’t be beat. I recently purchased Luther: Gospel, Law, and Reformation for only $69.95. Normally priced at $254.95, this course includes four DVD’s and two sixty-page course guidebooks. Seeing as an award-winning professor from Eastern University (Dr. Phillip Cary) teaches the course, I think that is a pretty good deal. I would certainly pay more than $69.95 in tuition and fees to take the same course on campus.

Other course acquisitions of late, all at sale price
- American Ideals: Founding of “Republic of Virtue”
- Understanding the Fundamentals of Music
- How to Listen to and Understand Opera
- The History of the English Language
- How to Read and Understand Poetry
- American Religious History

Interested? Intrigued? Check out the course listings for yourself at www.teach12.com. You’ll be glad you did.

Note: If any homeschoolers use NARHS (North Atlantic Regional High School), a number of The Teaching Company courses count for credit.

Just in the Nick of Time

Praise the Lord! My husband installed our window air conditioner last night, just before the first day of temperatures that are forecast to reach into the 80’s and/or 90’s. Being born in October, I am NOT a fan of summer. I love summer food but, as a fair-skinned individual of Irish/Scottish descent on my mother’s side, the sun and I do not get along at all. I burn at the drop of a hat, even with buckets of sunscreen; my eyes are quite sun-sensitive; plus, I am just not into a lot of summer activities like going to the beach, swimming, etc. I am more the egghead museum type, I guess.

So, since the temperature is already in the upper 60’s and the humidity is 96% at 6:45 AM, I will be in my house today, enjoying the air-conditioned space. I hope you enjoy your day as well. God’s peace.

By Grace I’m Saved

This was our closing hymn in church today. According to the hymnal, the song was originally published in 1742. The author is Korneluis Heinrich Dretzel and tune is “O Dass Ich Tausend Zungen Hatte.” Since I don’t speak German, I have no idea what that phrase says or means. Maybe Smart Mom can translate for me. Many blessings on your day.

By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless;
My soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No; then this word must true remain;
By grace you too will life obtain.

By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,
Came down to earth to bear our sin.
Was it because of your own merit
That Jesus died you soul to win?
No, it was grace, and grace alone,
That brought him from his heavenly throne.

By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
As long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
What in his word our God commands,
Our faith in what our God has done
Depends on grace --- grace through his Son.

By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
In tribulation’s furnace tried,
By grace, in spite of fear and trouble,
The Father’s heart is open wide.
Where could I help and strength secure
If grace were not my anchor sure?

By grace! On this I’ll rest my dying
In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition,
I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone.

The NOI, HSLDA, & NHELD

For a while now, a debate has taken place amongst homeschoolers in my state about whether a one-page document known as a “notice of intent” should be filed with the public school system. To me, filing this form is not problematic; however, it is voluntary and therein lies the debate: since filing the notice of intent is voluntary (as is participating in a portfolio review at the end of the academic year as part of that filing), why should I comply? Well, one reason is because the attorneys at HSLDA, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, recommend it. Yet, the attorneys for NHELD, or National Home Education Legal Defense, do not recommend that homeschoolers file a notice of intent. Why the difference?

This question was posted on a homeschool loop yesterday and I responded to the individual who inquired. I thought I would share a portion of that response on Gooseberry Lane:

You probably already understand that the current CT law (10-184) has two components: compulsory education and compulsory attendance. The former component has been around since the 1600's, the latter is more recent. Under the compulsory attendance portion of the law, public school is the default/assumed mode of instruction UNLESS one of two conditions is present:

- the child is a high school graduate OR
- the parent (or person in charge of the child) is able to show that the child is receiving equivalent instruction to what is taught in the public school

Please note that the statute says "able to show," not "required to show" equivalent instruction. Practically speaking, this means that the school authorities should not promulgate a regulation making it mandatory for homeschoolers to demonstrate equivalent instruction; however, it does mean that homeschoolers should be able to demonstrate equivalent instruction if asked.

It is my understanding that sometime in the early 1990's, the regulation of homeschoolers and/or the definition of equivalent instruction became an issue. I am not sure why, but it did. At that time, based on discussions between various state homeschool organizations, the state Department of Education, and HSLDA , "equivalent instruction" was agreed to be ASSUMED if a notice of intent was filed with the school district and the follow-on portfolio review was also performed. Because this procedure could not be a requirement, the entire NOI/portfolio review system was written as a guideline and the organizations involved in this agreement promised to encourage their members to comply with the suggested procedure. Any "refusal" by HSLDA to help homeschoolers who do not "comply" with the "suggested" procedure is, most likely, based on the fact that (as Christian attorneys) they gave their word to uphold that original agreement. Also, HSLDA does not necessarily believe that the filing of a notice of intent is setting a negative precedent or giving ground to the government. They do, however, encourage parents to be very careful about setting precedent in their portfolio reviews. Parents should take only one sample of work from each subject listed on the notice of intent. They should not try to show educational progress or try to "wow" the school with Creative Memories albums of fields trips and the like because that is not required or ASSUMED under the law. Engaging in such behavior at a portfolio review may indeed set a precedent that all homeschoolers should arrive with the same items for their end-of-year reviews.

NHELD differs with HSLDA in that the precedent concern is placed at the NOI level, not the portfolio review level. NHELD also believes that if the suggested procedure is voluntary, it is and should be just that --- voluntary. No one should even suggest that homeschoolers need to "comply" with it, nor should homeschoolers be denied specialized legal assistance based on the fact that they did not "comply" with a "suggested" procedure.

My personal position is this: as a Christian, I am supposed to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's. If I file a notice of intent, I am giving the authorities what is ASSUMED to be equivalent instruction under the law (because remember, I am supposed to be able to demonstrate equivalent instruction when asked and, remember, it is the agreement that was made). I am giving the school district a piece of paper; I am not giving them my child. I have intermittently filed notices of intent over the years and have NEVER had so much as a request from them for additional information. I have never even had a portfolio review.

To this I add: …because the school district did not feel it was necessary. Just as it is voluntary for me to comply by filing a notice of intent, it is also voluntary for them to comply by holding a portfolio review.

It has also been my experience, after almost a dozen years of homeschooling, that parents who file a notice of intent have no problems with the school.

Goodbye, Mr. Wizard

It was announced on my local news this morning that Don Herbert, better known to adults and children everywhere as “Mr. Wizard,” passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89, the victim of bone cancer (multiple myloma).

From 1951-1965, Mr. Herbert, with the help of a child assistant, demonstrated basic scientific principles through simple, fun, and “mysterious” experiments every Saturday morning on his half-hour television show, “Watch Mr. Wizard.” Later, in the 1980’s, he returned on “Mr. Wizard’s World,” a program undoubtedly familiar with fans of the Nickelodeon network. His strategy for each show: hook the kids with the experiment before explaining the science.

New facts for me about Mr. Herbert: he was born in Waconia, Minnesota and grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He was also a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters. So, this morning, the world not only mourns a television personality but yet another member of the Greatest Generation.

Thank you, Mr. Wizard, for all you contributed to the world. I, for one, appreciate it.

For those of you who rarely, if ever, caught an episode of Mr. Wizard (like me), the original program is available on DVD from Mr. Wizard Studios.

Homeschool Press Conference

This past Wednesday, a press conference was held in Hartford, CT to address recent abuses by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) per several homeschooling families. According to NHELD Attorney Deborah Stevenson, an attendee at the event, over the past three months her office has received 25 parental contacts reporting difficulties with school districts and/or the DCF when these individuals either withdrew, or attempted to withdraw, their children from public school for the purpose of homeschooling. Because of these conflicts, NHELD and Representative Arthur O’Neill have introduced legislation to strengthen the right of parents to withdraw their children from school. Unfortunately, the bill has never been given a public hearing in the Education Committee and, hence, has never been voted on by the Connecticut General Assembly, leaving homeschool families at the mercy of DCF.

I must admit, I wasn’t concerned about these conflicts in years past because the number of cases was small and limited to families who failed/refused to file a Notice of Intent, the accepted (albeit suggested) document under the C-14 Guidelines that parents can give to the school district when withdrawing their children from public school. These new cases, on the other hand, concern me greatly because, in each case, the families have duly-filed Notices of Intent and, still, DCF persists in their investigations of neglect.

To hear the press conference for yourself, click here.

Those Pesky Squirrels

In September 2006, concern arose over the desecration of veterans’ graves in the Forest Hills Cemetery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Groundskeepers believed unruly children were stealing the small American flags that adorned the final resting places of our war dead. Well, those same groundskeepers eventually discovered that it wasn’t unruly kids but unruly squirrels who were committing the crime. Apparently, under cover of night, the creative critters took the flags up a nearby tree, tore them into pieces, and used them as foundation fodder for a giant nest.

Now, the Oak Hills Cemetery in Neenah, Wisconsin has the same problem. Caretakers there noticed the disappearance of about 25 flags from veterans’ graves around Memorial Day. Much like their kindred culprits, the Oak Hills squirrels have never been spotted stealing Old Glory. The only wildlife seen with an American flag: blackbirds. It seems they also prefer flag scraps for nesting material. So does this mean our fauna are anti-American?

Read the story at:
- Science Daily
- ABC News

Athanasian Creed

In the Lutheran Church, today is Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday after Pentecost. On this day, we celebrate the doctrine of the Trinity, the three persons of God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. As part of our service this morning, my pastor spent some time deconstructing the Athanasian Creed, a statement of Christian doctrine supposedly written by St. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria, sometime in the 4th-6th century. Considered one of the three “ecumenical” creeds of the church, it is Latin in origin and was used in churches on a regular basis during the Middle Ages, even though it was never recognized as an “official” creed of the church. Today, it is rarely recited (except in the Lutheran church on Trinity Sunday). Martin Luther considered it an authoritative doctrinal confession of the church; hence, its inclusion in the liturgy on Trinity Sunday. For those who may not know the Athanasian Creed, here it is for your perusal:

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without a doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons, nor dividing the substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit. But the godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three eternals, but one Eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one Uncreated, and one Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord. And yet not three lords, but one Lord. For as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge each Person by Himself to be both God and Lord so we are also forbidden by the catholic religion to say that there are three gods or three lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three fathers; one Son, not three sons; one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits.

And in the Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another, but all three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of the substance of his mother, born in the world; perfect God and perfect man, of a rational soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching His godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching His manhood; who, although He is God and man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; one, not by conversion of the godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God; one altogether; not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person. For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ; who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, He sits at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the quick and the dead. At His coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.