March 2009 Blog Posts (8)

SPRING FEVER

At this time of year, I always find myself bogged down with work, feeling restless and yearning for…I’m not quite sure what. Great news of some sort? Travel? New shoes? Pie? I don’t know, exactly. But lately, any break in the daily routine seems more welcome than usual.

Is it just me? Or do you, too, have a case of the doldrums or spring fever or whatever it is that’s ailing me?

Here are some things that have given me a lift the past few weeks, and not in any particular… Continue

Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 30, 2009 at 5:00am — 4 Comments

Writers for Purple Day

Founded in 2008, by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada, Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26, people from around the globe are asked to wear purple and spread the word about epilepsy.

Why? Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide. That's more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease… Continue

Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 26, 2009 at 7:57am — 2 Comments

History of the "book nerd"

When I was in 4th grade I became what some call a "book nerd." I was with my family on a weekend day getaway and we visited a place called Smithville. It's a little historic town with a variety of shops: ice cream, home made sweets, antique's, xmas, and my favorite-the book shop. It wasn't really big and exotic like Borders or Barnes and Nobles, but it was perfect for me.

The first book I picked up is the one my mom bought for me that day. I finished it before we got home - of course… Continue

Added by Bell on March 25, 2009 at 9:42pm — 4 Comments

WELCOME...ER, SPRING??

This is the view out the window above my desk this morning--the first day of Spring. Here in New York, March blew in like a lion with a major snowstorm on the first. I was hoping it would go out like a lamb, but it's hard to imagine we're due for balmy weather here anytime in the near future! But as a native western New Yorker raised on the shores of Lake Erie's Blizzard Belt--where I experienced snowy First Communion…

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Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 20, 2009 at 9:37am — 3 Comments

The More Things Change...

My own memories of eighth grade are so vivid that I’m pretty sure—until I glance into a mirror and see the telltale wrinkles around my eyes and the absence of orthodontic hardware—that it all happened a few days ago, at most.

By eighth grade, I was blessed to have a solid group of friends with whom, I didn’t realize then, I would remain close to this day. Many are members of this site (and I love you guys for all the support over the years).

Eighth grade was our last year… Continue

Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 17, 2009 at 7:30am — 4 Comments

OUT OF CHARACTER

Every March, our elementary school—like many—observes PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) month. It’s filled with literary activities: a book drive, Starry Story Night (the kids go to school in pajamas at night and teachers read to them), Do the Write Thing workshops (I’m always happy to participate as an instructor), and of course, Character Day, when you come to school dressed as a character from your favorite book.

When my boys were little, Character Day was met with… Continue

Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 14, 2009 at 11:30am — 3 Comments

"Suit up and get in the game"

Cliff died Thursday morning. He was working from home and when Mary got back from taking flowers over to my mother, she found him face down on the keyboard. He didn't make it to the hospital.

Cliff was part of "the lake crowd", the bunch of teenagers who thought we were so cool in our small lake community. He was the one to run up to Cropsey's, the local farm stand, to buy a watermelon which we would slather with Vaseline and use to play keep-away in the lake until it cracked or the… Continue

Added by Monroe on March 10, 2009 at 10:00am — 4 Comments

Another winner!

Sorry for the delay, folks, I've been away all week. I'm glad to announce that the randomly chosen winner of my February contest is Amy in Grand Rapids, who also happens to be one of our newest members. Amy, touch base with me and I'll send you your prize--a bottle of wine from a Long Island vineyard and a box of chocolates! Remember, everyone who entered this month will be eligible to win the Grand Prize at the end of the year. Enter my March contest this month (details below) and increase… Continue

Added by Wendy Corsi Staub on March 8, 2009 at 3:13pm — No Comments