Halloween at work, Good Times! Good Times!

This year I am in New Castle for the Annual Halloween Celebration at work. We dress in costume for 1/2 day, order pizza, guess the amount in the candy jar, and then play Bocci Ball (with Osage Oranges - big green fruit that looks like brains already fallen to the ground this time of year). It was a brilliant bright fall day (50F) with a steady breeze coming from the Delaware River. Everyone had a great time! I won the candy count. My guess was 350 pcs. out of 357. I've never won a count of anything. Boy, will Matthew be happy! Candy corn, mini-snickers and Kit Kat's, Yum! After lunch we change out of the NOW hot costumes and head outdoors for some recreation.

Cubs go to DNREC

Last Wednesday evening, I had the opportunity to introduce the boys and their parents to my Environmental Response and Enforcement co-workers. Protection Officer Sgt. David Moyer and Responder Jamie Bethard opened the command central building and invited our cubscouts to see what their offices looked like, how they used their equipment on their vehicles, and the cool stuff they use in environmental emergency situations.

I arrived at the building with Matt about 6:40 to see if I could help setup for the outreach session. I knew that if an emergency happened these men would lock up, jump in their vehicles, and we'd call it off for the evening. Luckily, no overturned gas trucks, oil spill, hazardous railroad car issues this evening. At 7pm in the evening it was windy and cold (low 50s). As soon as Jamie arrived (after attending an all day conference in Baltimore, MD) he started up the big trucks and ran their lights! Sgt. Moyers (being sick as a dog and loosing his voice) began pulling out some equipment inside. I was getting excited and really felt so proud to give our cubs an opportunity to see these guys in action! I love helping them with their computers, because I get to climb in their vehicles and talk shop with them about what emergencies have occurred!

The Environmental Protection Officer (EPO) is a sworn trained policeman that enforces our environmental regulations. He can also give you a speeding ticket and is armed! The Enviromental Responder has an amazing knowledge of hazardous materials/substances and can react quickly to get the public out of harms way. Jamie is also a fireman when not working! I love and respect this specific team. There are 12 EPOs and 3 ERs for the entire state of Delaware.

After the talk inside, we were chomping at the bit to see the vehicles. We looked in side all the drawers, side panels, and behind the wheel! Better yet, we got a ride around the parking lot and in and out of the ditches in the all terrain vehicle. I felt like a cubscout by then end of the night!

A More Upbeat Hymn Discovered from 140 Years Ago

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

Deseret NewsPublished: Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008PROVO, Utah

-- New research has recovered the more upbeat tune John Taylor used when he sang "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" to Joseph Smith just before the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was murdered on June 27, 1844.

The tune had been lost to history. For 140 years, church members have sung the song to a different tune, one commissioned by Taylor himself.

Read the interesting story, download a copy of the original music with all seven (7) verses, AND hear it!

http://mormontimes.com/studies_doctrine/church_history/?id=4102

Compare it to the present version in our hymnals - Plug in Hymn #29

http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,4996-1,00.html

Time Out for Women, Philadelphia Oct.12, 2008

Deseret Book's sponsored this day that was filled with messages of inspiration from respected authors Douglas E. Brinley, Jane Clayson Johnson, Chris Stewart, Emily Watts, and Carolyn Rasmus,as well as music artist Hilary Weeks. As I "huddled" with my sisters we cried and felt so spiritually lifted. Ever need a day to catch your breath, recover, relax, enjoy, and renew? I did it this weekend with the wonderful close and fun sisters/girlfriends from church at the Philadelphia Convention Center. We gathered at 6:20 am and spent the day together roughly until 7:30 pm.

As lunch broke we headed across the street to the Reading Terminal Market which is known for its mouth-watering aromas. Produce fresh from the field. Amish specialties. Fresh meats, seafood, and poultry. Unique, hand-made pottery, jewelry and crafts from around the world. Maria and I found pulled pork sandwiches and grabbed a seat in the center of the building. An elderly man played the piano as our group were finding a delicacy of their own.

During our speaker and lunch breaks we perused the various books, music, food storage, memory albums, posters, etc. You name it, they had it. Perhaps more than 1000 women both LDS members and non-members from around the country in one place. I could feel the spirit there pouring into my body as I met the light in the eyes and love surrounding each and everyone I met.

As we made our way home, we stopped to find the new location of the Philadelphia Temple which will be erected in Center City Philadelphia on the northeast corner of Broad Street and Noble Street across from the Philadelphia School District headquarters. How exciting!

Homecoming &125th graduating class of SHS!!

Matt and I had a great time this past Friday, October 3rd at 2008 Homecoming game Smyrna Eagles vs. Polytech Panthers. We won, but I can't remember the score because I was to engrossed in the band. Matt & I sat right next to them, midway up the bleachers.

Jessica Ganska (HS Band Director), Me in the middle, and Jamie DeLoach
(HS Drama/Bandfront Coordinator) on right.

I felt like a high school girl again, jumping around from the front of the bleachers to catch up with the band/bandfront directors, back up with Matt watching the game, and giggling with the flag twirlers, percussion section, and other alumni and their families. I love that the school has not lost its spirit and the students are very proud of their school.

The Regiment of Red has brand new uniforms. It starts with a pullover jacket with flaired shoulders and the SHS stitched logo, red color in front and black back. The legs are a ski pant overall style and black helmet with a white plume! The floats were colorful and inventive - nothing like our floats from 25 years ago. They had moving parts and everything! The marching band has worked hard the summer. They are well organized and the music is from the 80s. Some of the songs played: Total Eclipse of the Heart, Take on Me, 99 Red balloons, and Open Arms.

Check out the video:

Food for Thought

Food for Thought: illustrations connecting food and land

There are days when you are inspired by others and their talent. Martha Pileggi is one of many 800 talented people I get to rub elbows with at work. By day she an Administrative Assistant; after 5pm she is an Ar-tist! In the last 6 months she painted over 50 amazing pieces for a show using oils, watercolors and etchings.

She works on up to 6 paintings at a time. It was so exciting to have her stop by almost every week and update me on what she was working on and how it made her feel. She talked about her own perspective on how she was painting her subjects: eggs, cows, eggplant, grapevines, and the country landscapes.

One particular day, she told me she was driving past a farm in a snowstorm and it was so gorgeous she had to get a picture so she could paint it later. So while driving 60 mph, not wanting to slow in the snow, she kept one hand on the steering wheel and one on her digital camera, shooting through the window. Passion!

I love her because of her passion, her talent, and the world's view through her eyes. Last night I went to her opening and slowly studied the paintings she had talked about. It certainly made me appreciate the lovely paintings ever so more!!