Lights Out!

Our Glenwood Manor studio was dark tonight as lights went out all over the globe in solidarity for the 6th annual "Earth Hour."  The goal was to show the world that the smallest measures to conserve energy are a big step in the right direction for our planet.  In order to raise awareness regarding climate change, Internet giants Google and You Tube joined with the likes of Sydney's Opera House, the Colosseum and our own Lumiere Place Casino and NHL Blues in St. Louis.  Here's hoping that 2012's hour of inspiration will demonstrate its positive impact through an amazing increase in community involvement next year on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

Wearin' O the Green

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my readers!  Hope everyone is wearing his or her "finest green" today.  I have a lengthy Irish branch in my family tree so I'll be eating green eggs for breakfast and step dancing to an Irish jig before the sun goes down.  In Catholic school we used to wear little jingle bells on our shoes for St. Patrick's Day but I cannot remember why.  Does anybody else remember that?  Chime in with a comment if you do.

Book Launch

Lindsey and I attended a book launch this evening at the Blum House in Collinsville, IL.  Young adult fiction writer, Cole Gibsen, was there to sign her recently released book, Katana.  The ground floor rooms of the Victorian-era Queen Anne were bustling with excited book-lovers eager to get the author's signature inside the cover of her debut novel.  Because Katana references Japanese culture, two Geisha were present in authentic attire and make-up.  They gave an informative talk.  It was a grand evening and, hopefully, we will be able to convince the author to agree to an interview here on our blog.  Cross your fingers and keep checking back!

So you've got a digital camera, now what?

Are your images too dark, too light, too blurry?  Help is here!  Mike is teaching Photography Essentials as part of the Community Learning classes at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (Tuesday) and at Lewis and Clark Community College - N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville (Wednesday).  Mike can demystify the aspects of your digital camera.  Come explore how your camera can give you the images you've always wanted.  (Classes are 6:30-8:30 p.m., March 14 - 28).

Happy Birthday to Dr. Seuss

Theodore Geisel, we LOVE you!  Sincere thanks go to the man who has delighted children with his stories for generations and will continue to do so for generations to come!  He was born in 1904 so we're celebrating his 108th birthday.  As is fitting, March 2nd has been designated "Read Across America Day."  So, if you're an adult, pick up a Dr. Seuss book and read it to a child today -- a daughter, a son, a niece, a nephew, or a grandchild.  Why not kick it up a notch?  Volunteer to read to a school class or an after-school care group!  Green Eggs and Ham is a personal favorite!  That story offers an amazing opportunity for comic expression when read aloud.  I've never known a kid who didn't enjoy laughing at a grown-up!  Interesting factoids: 1) Twenty-seven different publishers rejected his first book.  2) He is said to have coined the word "nerd."  The first recorded instance of the word "nerd" is in Seuss' 1950 book, If I Ran the Zoo.

March is Women's History Month

Ladies, it's time to celebrate!  Political campaigns are in full swing this year.  Moms, make sure you talk with your daughters about the suffragettes who paved the way for our right to vote.  Those of you with grown daughters may succeed in igniting an interest in them for politics or, at the very least, you may get them to happily research today's Presidential hopefuls.  Perhaps you would like to select a heroine each week in March and share her story with a young girl in your family, a Brownie or Girl Scout troop.  Let's give these outstanding women the recognition they deserve!