tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8876823638672185172024-03-12T23:24:54.321-04:00The Traveling JewsRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.comBlogger436125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-51996756419715935482014-01-29T08:35:00.003-05:002014-01-29T08:35:44.109-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ohh, a warm bath would be nice this cold morning. What? You want me to lie down? I suppose.....Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-6204005320537664522014-01-29T07:34:00.002-05:002014-01-29T07:36:06.450-05:00Goodnight, Irene<br />
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This is the final song of our monthly Song Circle, or Hippie Hootenanny as our kids call it. Pete Seeger gave us so much, not just his music and his activism but also his grace in standing up to the House Un-American Activities Committee.<br />
Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-48026342108346609112013-12-05T17:34:00.001-05:002013-12-08T11:52:31.764-05:00December 2013 or What We're Doing NowSo what's happened since April 2012? A lot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y8Y-fJTdYSLgwuQGfmoN31om3JDa2bZSfuO3DTRTVwACPW6jn1R1l15WdVBmJO-LepUemMtDqC9XWInxhHUwYASI-eiLT3ckNqBQRWfT-ueyJ5L7PgjJiYzWhEoJAAEM1XR1wskGgKU/s1600/Jacob+at+the+podium.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Y8Y-fJTdYSLgwuQGfmoN31om3JDa2bZSfuO3DTRTVwACPW6jn1R1l15WdVBmJO-LepUemMtDqC9XWInxhHUwYASI-eiLT3ckNqBQRWfT-ueyJ5L7PgjJiYzWhEoJAAEM1XR1wskGgKU/s200/Jacob+at+the+podium.png" width="200" /></a>Yakov will graduate from UNC Chapel Hill in the spring. He will graduate with a degree in Peace, War and Defense. He interned the summer of 2012 for his congressman, David Price, and spent this past summer as an intern for J Street. He is the current national president of J Street U Student Board. At their conference in October, he had the honor of introducing Congressman John Lewis who was one of the keynote speakers. Yakov did a beautiful job and received a vigorous hug from Congressman Lewis. He recently had a article published on <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/26/what-pro-israel-college-organizations-really-need-campaigns-supporting-a-two-state-solution.html" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>.<br />
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Shoshie will graduate form UNC Asheville next December. She has studied International Studies, focusing on the Middle East and Northern Africa. She spent a month this past summer in Ghana. She is involved with lots of activities in Asheville, such as belly dancing and tutoring middle school kids. And so much more. It is much harder to describe the many things she is involved in than it is for Yakov. She has several jobs. She is doing independent research as well as helping a professor with his research. She's just always on the go. And soon she will visit Japan with a friend for 10 days.<br />
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Noach has made some major changes as well. Last December, JP and I decided he needed to go to school. The reasons are many. He was resistant to any change and had never been to school so we had to made a careful decision. In January he began mid10th grade at the local Quaker school. He loved it, made good grades and was very well liked. He has made good friends and was recently asked to be one of the school's ambassadors, the students who show prospective students and families around the school. He has really transformed the way many at the school look at homeschooled students. Like his brother Yakov, Noach has taken on some leadership roles with Young Judaea and perhaps will work at camp this summer.<br />
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Big E, my oldest, was with us in Tennessee for Thanksgiving. His wife and 2 girls were with him. They are all wonderful. And busy.<br />
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And I have retired again. From homeschooling this time. My post retirement activities include pottery, birdwatching and politics. I started pottery classes last year and I love it. My work is not that good but I'm working on it and each pot is better than the last. Often I go birdwatching on the weekend with a local group and I have introduced a friend to birdwatching as well. Until recently the two of us went one morning each week.<br />
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But recently I have been absorbed with helping people get information on the Affordable Care Act. Over the summer I joined the League of Women Voters and through that group I became involved with Enroll America. Now I am the captain of the team for my city. I have a group of 12 or so people who attend or host events where we discuss basic ACA info. Soon we will be helping them to make navigator appointments also. I am relieved that the website is working much better now.<br />
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JP continues to practice medicine at the VA. I know he would like to retire soon but it's hard to retire when we have two in college and one yet to go. Next summer we will celebrate 25 years of marriage. We're looking for a fun trip to go on to celebrate rather than a party.<br />
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So that's it. We keep muddling through, doing our best. Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-77994706984764715352012-04-02T16:50:00.000-04:002012-04-02T16:50:24.433-04:00March reading1.<i> In the Garden of the Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler's Berlin</i> by Erik Larson. I could not put this book down and read it over a weekend. A great story well written.<br />
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2. <i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak. I chose this one to discuss with one of my book clubs. It was better the second reading.<br />
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3. <i>Middlesex</i> by Jeffery Eugenides. The choice of my other book club. Wonderful writing. Themes include immigrants, gender, assimilation, so much more.<br />
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4. <i>Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music</i> by Judy Collins. Lots of sex, alcohol and more sex.<br />
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5. <i>America and Vietnam: The Elephant and the Tiger</i> by Albert Marrin. I retrieved this one from the bookshelf for Noach to read but I read it first. Good review. I was not so familiar with the early history of Vietnam, especially its colonial history. The French were brutal colonial masters. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-90557504419710266742012-04-02T05:15:00.000-04:002012-04-02T05:15:00.534-04:00Yakov on Daily Forward front page<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrSNVtx9BoV9gnwpj7dPBMjIq-sMHb6a6QnrKEBTdk33VPIOKeKG7dMCElQmc94QVWthlmG3sUhy1KSrWOXtPrfDgUYi1x-AAmwEnGeCO2vfQ4CSIBlPGi4KBbLEHJtGKwh_zfdMMi4/s1600/Forward+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYrSNVtx9BoV9gnwpj7dPBMjIq-sMHb6a6QnrKEBTdk33VPIOKeKG7dMCElQmc94QVWthlmG3sUhy1KSrWOXtPrfDgUYi1x-AAmwEnGeCO2vfQ4CSIBlPGi4KBbLEHJtGKwh_zfdMMi4/s320/Forward+pic.png" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMlDXGo9C4MRVh1YAKpNJNgMhwlbYIMh72JIvEvOdCBMmdyod4OvGm7YqzlZ3DUS_-Pfsd0UlOqCNg6UUHuO3go1IzLpzXK0Q8nurfpte97Qkr0BLhVF_d5Or5SWza8386VVVhyefWeI/s1600/Forward+pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMlDXGo9C4MRVh1YAKpNJNgMhwlbYIMh72JIvEvOdCBMmdyod4OvGm7YqzlZ3DUS_-Pfsd0UlOqCNg6UUHuO3go1IzLpzXK0Q8nurfpte97Qkr0BLhVF_d5Or5SWza8386VVVhyefWeI/s320/Forward+pic+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
From last weekend at the JStreet conference. Here is a screenshot with Yakov and here a bigger picture. Handsome boy if I do say so myself. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-71352706143348198172012-03-24T13:40:00.000-04:002012-03-24T13:40:04.417-04:00Shoshie on HuffPostShe has been active in Hillel at UNCA. Last weekend they had a dinner with the Muslim Student Association and this picture was taken, seen at the Huffington Post. That's my baby on the end.<br />
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/faith-inspires-muslim-student-association-unc-asheville_n_1373768.html?ref=religion&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008<br />
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PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-30389772918789161702012-02-29T19:25:00.000-05:002012-03-03T17:28:49.158-05:00February reading1. <i>Billy Bathgate</i> by E.L. Doctorow. JP and I stumbled onto the movie a few months ago and I began looking for a copy of the book to read. Much better than the movie. Beautiful writing.<br />
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<i>2. Packing for Mars</i> by Mary Roach. This was the choice for my old book club. The first 80 pages were quite fascinating, a history of space travel, picking astronauts for their program in Japan (origami)and other topics. Have you ever heard of Roger Babson, who held a grudge against gravity after his sister drowned as a child? He established the Gravity Research Foundation to study ways to implement gravitational shielding. The last 3/4 of the book detailed body functions in space. This could have been interesting for about 50 pages maybe but not for the 250 pages alloted.<br />
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3.<i> Swamplandia</i> by Karen Russell<br />
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4. <i>Tinkers</i> by Paul Harding<br />
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5. <i>Under the Greenwood Tree</i> by Thomas Hardy. This was my first Ebook. I am withholding judgement for now. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-23422204164238032602012-02-29T19:02:00.000-05:002012-02-29T19:06:20.190-05:00I saw him on Broadway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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in the summer of 1964. RIP Davy Jones. PRM (Yeah, I'm that old.)Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-56880783596989123042012-02-01T14:46:00.001-05:002012-02-01T15:06:07.652-05:00January reading1. <i>Middlemarch</i> by George Eliot. Loved it and can't wait to read more Eliot.<br />
2. <i>The Tiger's Wife</i> by Tea Obrecht. TWB Challenge, Balkans. This was the choice of one of my book clubs. Very rich, perhaps too rich. <br />
3. <i>The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey</i> by Walter Mosley. This was my choice for my old book club.<br />
4. <i>A Bitter Truth: A Bess Crawford Mystery</i> by Charles Todd. WTG Challenge, WWI. <br />
5. <i>The Berlin Boxing Club</i> by Robert Sharenow. This was a pre-read for Noach. I hope he enjoys it as much as I did.<br />
6. <i>No Promises in the Wind</i> by Irene Hunt. Another pre-read for Noach.<br />
PRM<br />
<b>Traveling the World with Books</b><br />
<img height="300" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=map:fixed=-70,-180,80,180&chs=450x300&chf=bg,s,336699&chco=d0d0d0,cc0000&chd=s:9999&chld=HR|RS|MK|BA" width="450" /><br />visited 4 states (1.77%)<br /><a href="http://douweosinga.com/projects/visited?region=world">Create your own visited map of The World</a> or <a href="http://www.blogger.com/projects/archean">Like this? try: Archean</a>Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-46480220564619737752012-01-01T07:44:00.000-05:002012-01-01T07:44:40.150-05:00Reading ChallengesIn 2008, I participated in a reading challenge, Triple 8, reading 8 books in each of 8 categories in the year 2008. I didn't quite meet the challenge. Having skipped 3 years, I am ready to take on a new challenge, perhaps several challenges, but I expect some overlap. Some of the books can be used for book club readings, also.<br />
<a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhVhNGzjSHcPeBXw8zrom0nZP9PrZJJZ0iM3aObZNckOEQxrE4RdAkBOfgIlWcVGkmqP9BXXTh7BYutvgod58n_6R50yrMLLJ3nAa6naC1zWd04PQj5RBfHurl2UghF69GeblEr68gOY/s1600/Badge-HF-challenge-2012_sma.png" /></a><br />
<a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/">First, </a><a href="http://historicaltapestry.blogspot.com/2011/12/historical-fiction-challenge-2012.html" target="_blank">Historical Fiction Challenge 2012</a> at the Struggling the Addiction level, 10 books. This is a category I often delve into and it will overlap with the second challenge.<br />
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<a href="http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com/2012-challenge-info-and-sign-up/" target="_blank">War Through the Generations, WWI</a> is my next choice. I plan to do this one at the Wade level, 4 to 10 books. And I personally want to focus on YA literature and books for younger readers that I missed in my previous reading. There are many classics on the suggestion page that I have never read. Now is the time.<br />
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And finally, a challenge of my own creation, Traveling the World in Books 2012. I haven't created an image or button for myself yet. The goal is one book per month and each from a different part of the world. <br />
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Obviously there is a lot of overlap in these but I still think I can use them to make a fascinating year of reading. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-40853682590445993702011-12-23T11:09:00.005-05:002011-12-23T11:58:56.010-05:00Four month follow-up<span style="font-size:100%;">Four months since the last post and so much has happened but nothing really dramatic, just living our lives kind of stuff.<br /><br />Shoshie has finished her first semester in college. She loves her school and Asheville. She is home for much of the winter break and I love having her here. We play a lot of Rummikub and watch movies.<br /><br />Yakov has completed another semester at Chapel Hill and has become very active with J Street and Hillel. He was home for the weekend and has now gone to NYC to visit his Year Course friends.<br /><br />Noach is doing high school work at home. He thought he might try public school next year but he has changed his mind again. However in preparation for a possible change and because he needed instruction from someone other than me, he started taking several online classes this fall. <a href="http://www.derekowens.com/index.php">Derek Owens</a> has provided Physical Science and Algebra 1 with online teaching and then Noach emails his homework for Mr. Owens to check. This has gone really well. We have not required a lot of personal attention but I feel it would be there if we did need it. I highly recommend these courses to anyone seeking this kind of instruction. Noach is also taking a yearlong class with <a href="http://www.writeathome.com/">Write at Home</a> and I can see improvement in his work. The best effect has been in the improvement in our relationship; I am no longer the taskmaster for the subjects he likes least.<br /><br />On Wednesday afternoons, he volunteers at the local hospital where he spends time with adults other homeschooled teens. We have continued studying Modern World History with a weekly movie, joined by a friend and her mother. And he forges ahead in Boy Scouts, enjoying monthly camping. Maybe he will be planning his Eagle project next year.<br /><br />I am still trying to find my way with the changes the last few years have brought. Most Thursdays I meet a friend for a movie. I joined another book club so now I have at least 2 books to complete each month. I started <span style="font-style: italic;">Middlemarch</span> 2 weeks ago, just reading it on my own and loving it.<br /><br />That's a quick update. Have a Happy Chanukah or Merry Christmas if that's your tradition or Happy, Healthy winter if you prefer. Ruth in NC</span>Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-73957106156544053742011-08-22T11:54:00.000-04:002011-08-22T11:55:59.795-04:00Just saying<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4-991iBmw-Sifj4pW-L10XvRZXO_dIe3blSe4LOQedHso8z-IQm9RDB0ylzf6cMwWF5gOcxtHt66424emQQjUf9X1axvKpxEFwxxtNlpyOkQsEKXzvmaUWPzCDuhiTojOuIAj7XIURM/s1600/lovelution.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4-991iBmw-Sifj4pW-L10XvRZXO_dIe3blSe4LOQedHso8z-IQm9RDB0ylzf6cMwWF5gOcxtHt66424emQQjUf9X1axvKpxEFwxxtNlpyOkQsEKXzvmaUWPzCDuhiTojOuIAj7XIURM/s400/lovelution.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643709457335522450" border="0" /></a>PRM
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<br />Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-44866323760877477762011-08-19T11:25:00.005-04:002011-08-19T11:38:09.504-04:00What we are/were doing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHleemePRq1IclryPRnMT5tJvJTqgZ53ZPXPcDXKeU4NUu1T9kRSfHL8gMz5uCjp8w97JbpnZuWUETex8GTOx0K4JcV8v5rrV9MKuX-jomfsVcutxAwZEJ8m92Plp9DeWCYWB4CvHg0U/s1600/Jacob.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHleemePRq1IclryPRnMT5tJvJTqgZ53ZPXPcDXKeU4NUu1T9kRSfHL8gMz5uCjp8w97JbpnZuWUETex8GTOx0K4JcV8v5rrV9MKuX-jomfsVcutxAwZEJ8m92Plp9DeWCYWB4CvHg0U/s400/Jacob.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642589237629464738" border="0" /></a>Here is Yakov this week in Colorado.
<br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mwVVVoma50g?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" width="420"></iframe>
<br />At the 1 minute mark, Noach assumes the role of Finn. He needs some singing lessons but he looks so comfortable in front of an audience of a hundred or more campers. PRM
<br />Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-59345686075066858332011-06-21T10:59:00.002-04:002011-06-21T11:05:36.516-04:00Sending a little note<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>HE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> 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Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align:center" align="center"></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="text-align: center;">June 21, 2011</p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"> </p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Chief Justice John G. Roberts</p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">The Supreme Court of the United States</p> <p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">1 First Street, NE</p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">Washington, DC 20543</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Dear Mr. Chief Justice,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The integrity of the Supreme Court must be maintained. We, the American people, deserve to feel that opinions rendered by the Court are reached without prejudice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Justice Clarence Thomas has repeatedly caused concern for those of us who care about the Court. Why did he not report his wife’s income? Why did he accept gifts from organizations that have business before the Court?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Please, Mr. Chief Justice, address this issue in order to reassure us that the Court is fair to all Americans. When I teach my children about the US Supreme Court, I want to do so with pride.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,</p><p class="MsoNormal">A homeschooling Mom</p><p class="MsoNormal">***</p><p class="MsoNormal">My family knows me as a frequent emailer to my Senators and Representative. This is a genetic trait, I think. My father did it as well. He once received a reply from Walter Cronkite.</p><p class="MsoNormal">However, you can't email the Supreme Court so I am using snail mail. PRM<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-70308201750077678092011-05-31T14:53:00.002-04:002011-05-31T14:55:16.391-04:00Her girl is back.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuGqZYl7xxdYBHzVVvec8p0RatVoHDxdumEMyTb7W1teFt-wMLr1UmngycWUB2-dUgs6npORdNXqSBAMQHV6sqGPRl7FMf-c4lRR_14A9HyrcgUyih4QD3YyD1Sr8WrV3P3MfAYGnimQ/s1600/DSC06825resize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcuGqZYl7xxdYBHzVVvec8p0RatVoHDxdumEMyTb7W1teFt-wMLr1UmngycWUB2-dUgs6npORdNXqSBAMQHV6sqGPRl7FMf-c4lRR_14A9HyrcgUyih4QD3YyD1Sr8WrV3P3MfAYGnimQ/s400/DSC06825resize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612955672634192402" border="0" /></a>Mine, too. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-74163074723712758242011-05-30T13:40:00.005-04:002011-05-30T14:41:42.944-04:00ReunionBetween my second and third years of medical school, I had a long break in which to prepare for and take my first national medical licensing exam. In the time between the exam and beginning clinical rotations, I went to England for 2 weeks with a friend. We spent a week in London and then traveled through southern England for another week. We rented a camper van much like this one,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5lS79dEfxoktXkhqDiHQEc1Bi3NIc-ci43t8SHFnf8qMWmQQDiQH-fRrHSRGRQ901JwcmV7MBINDl9QYlH_jm3BdpRS9HA7ngrztqqoyxnr45bR-J1-kAHQr6sRTNSx2qwSYis8Lruw/s1600/1980_Vanagon_Westfalia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5lS79dEfxoktXkhqDiHQEc1Bi3NIc-ci43t8SHFnf8qMWmQQDiQH-fRrHSRGRQ901JwcmV7MBINDl9QYlH_jm3BdpRS9HA7ngrztqqoyxnr45bR-J1-kAHQr6sRTNSx2qwSYis8Lruw/s400/1980_Vanagon_Westfalia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612580757698507186" border="0" /></a>and I drove. That was a nail biting adventure, driving a van on the left side of the road. I brushed against a parked car only once, smacking the mirror. And it was my first experience with roundabouts instead of traffic lights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkn9_aRV-s2kWjM1bOZEffzIyMRMkmyv5zgwCVHuaGoVDEGG-YtyVzk365L-FMopY14gtu8P7tPQD5GBcXCE9cWyp-PUMGRtvJr9k2EYrjTyQLzOZ1cSFisXnrLj48opJBpsloNuVMHg/s1600/Much+Ado.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkn9_aRV-s2kWjM1bOZEffzIyMRMkmyv5zgwCVHuaGoVDEGG-YtyVzk365L-FMopY14gtu8P7tPQD5GBcXCE9cWyp-PUMGRtvJr9k2EYrjTyQLzOZ1cSFisXnrLj48opJBpsloNuVMHg/s400/Much+Ado.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612578910597375474" border="0" /></a>We saw Derek Jacobi in Much Ado at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Twice. My friend had a bit of a crush on Derek Jacobi and we sent him a gift backstage. In response he wrote a nice thank you note.<br /><br />Shortly after we got home, my friend moved to Chicago and I went back to school. We were not good long distance friends, last seeing each other when I visited her right before my graduation in 1984. And we rarely spoke by phone, the last time over 20 years ago.<br /><br />In February, I heard Derek Jacobi interviewed on the radio about his coming to New York to do King Lear. I googled my friend's name, found her email address and sent her a message. Did she want to see Derek Jacobi again?<br /><br />And that is just what we did last week. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8VOacvueco-_CZNzzdEup1pIJefvVpRLQ2cUkEsmUANqlP_rdKkhxzidr-Kp4RqrP8b9W_9K2nxkZPasa6gQhncw94IfVXJFQb5Z00g8XxqwCsFiZd4VEhTAVh9ednEt791JNesrrQs/s1600/Lear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8VOacvueco-_CZNzzdEup1pIJefvVpRLQ2cUkEsmUANqlP_rdKkhxzidr-Kp4RqrP8b9W_9K2nxkZPasa6gQhncw94IfVXJFQb5Z00g8XxqwCsFiZd4VEhTAVh9ednEt791JNesrrQs/s400/Lear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612580756044669442" border="0" /></a>We met in NY, went to the play and spent two days walking around Manhattan catching up on nearly 27 years of history, children, divorce, marriage, work, travel. It was so much fun. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-2257235796380881372011-05-20T10:02:00.003-04:002011-05-20T10:17:43.871-04:00Finally the CDC addresses a REAL problemCheck out the new CDC bulletin, <a href="http://emergency.cdc.gov/socialmedia/zombies_blog.asp">Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse</a>.<br /><br />Noach says the material lacks a critical step, identifying the type of zombie you are facing. So I'll give you his recommendations.<br /><br />Fast zombies, now the most common, require that you are in a group, have munitions and food and a hand-to-hand weapon.<br /><br />Slow zombies are less of a problems. The main suggestion, don't get cornered. They can be killed in the normal zombie-way.<br /><br />The best place to face zombies is a prison. There are guns, food and you can get in a cell and they can't get to you.<br /><br />Finally, if faced with 28 Day Later zombies, or "infected" zombies, you need to plan carefully. You must avoid the projectile vomit; it is immediately infectious. But they are vulnerable to being shot anywhere on their bodies. A head shot is not essential.<br /><br />Be careful out there. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-30491445048235126752011-05-20T08:54:00.002-04:002011-05-20T09:06:50.723-04:00Questions about the end of the world tomorrowIf you're easily offended, keep moving.<br /><br />1. Is it a "rolling rapture"? And if so, where does it start? The international date line? Jerusalem? We, the no doubt damned, are wondering if it rolls east to west, could our daughter in Israel call us if she starts seeing people disappear and we could suddenly be saved? As my husband said last night, if you start seeing people disappear like that, your sudden embrace of Jesus would probably be quite sincere. But too late, perhaps. And certainly so for Shoshie.<br /><br />2. Or is it a sudden event that happens at the same instant across the world? If so, we are SOL. I'll take the chance.<br /><br />3. Do we know anyone likely to be raptured? Perhaps not locally. I guess that means we won't be very successful at the Post Rapture Looting event.<br /><br />Just wondering. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-47764730224696428722011-03-23T09:59:00.004-04:002011-03-23T10:05:01.602-04:00Bus bombing in Jerusalem<span style="font-size:100%;">Shoshie's last few months in Israel may have just taken a dramatic turn. Safety is a big issue for groups like hers and this may lead to restrictions on her freedom to travel.<br /><br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12836224<br /><br />She has already called to reassure me and I have contacted relatives to spread the reassurance. Pray for victims if you are of a mind. And pray that all can find a way to peace. PRM<br /></span>Ruth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-84771145036532799272011-03-22T11:29:00.005-04:002011-03-22T11:39:12.342-04:00Periodic Table of Videos visits Japan<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="360" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-bcrLiATLq0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />From our favorite chemists in Nottingham comes an explanation of the nuclear reactor and the difficulties in Japan. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-68230137269910391602011-03-18T14:42:00.001-04:002011-03-18T14:44:47.905-04:00What he said<h1 style="font-weight: normal;" class="entry-title"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/alexknapp/2011/03/04/a-quick-thought-on-education/">A Quick Thought on Education (Revised)</a><a href="http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/alexknapp/2011/03/04/a-quick-thought-on-education/"> by <span class="author vcard fn">Alex Knapp</span></a></span></h1>PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-32483029959412970752011-03-18T11:03:00.008-04:002011-03-18T15:06:44.150-04:00Charlie ChanIn the Introduction to <span style="font-style: italic;">Shakespeare Wrote for Money</span> by Nick Hornby, Sarah Vowell wrote of reading<span style="font-style: italic;"> The House Without a Key</span>, the first book in the 6 book series by Earl Derr Biggers that features Chinese detective Charlie Chan. She writes, "It turned out to be both charming and suspenseful and by the way partially about racism, in that the citizens of prewar Oahu are forced to deal with a kindly, Sherlock-level genius who happens to be Chinese." My interest was piqued when I read this last summer. Two months ago, JP and I were invited to join another couple for a week in Hawaii later this spring. Oh yes, I remembered, I never did read that Charlie Chan book.<br /><br />Now I have. So evocative of prewar Hawaii. And wistful for an even earlier Hawaii. Except for being incapable of speaking English well, Charlie Chan is skilled and effectual and is respected for that. Sometimes, however, the idiomatic English hits just the right note.<blockquote> Chan shook his head. "Impossible in Rear Bay at Boston," he said, "but here at moonly crossroads of Pacific, not so much so. Twenty-five years of my life consumed in Hawaii, and I have many times been witness when the impossible roused itself and occurred."</blockquote>Moonly crossroads, roused impossibilities.<br /><br />The main character, John Quincy Winterslip of Boston, of course, is a bit of a prig when he first arrives in Hawaii. He examines a clue, a torn out guest book inscription, that reads, <blockquote>"In Hawaii all things are perfect, none more so than the hospitality I have enjoyed in this house.- Joseph E. Gleason, 124 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria"<br /><br />John Quincy turned away, shocked. No wonder that page had been ripped out! Evidently Mr. Gleason had not enjoyed the privilege of studying A. S. Hill's book on the principles of rhetoric. </blockquote>John Quincy mellows during his visit. Hawaii is a little too much perhaps but he gives up the "Rear Bay" for a life in San Francisco.<br /><br />Also native Hawaiians are insulted numerous times in the book when mainlanders fail to recognize them as fellow US citizens, Hawaii being a territory at the time this book was written. <a href="http://www.americablog.com/2008/08/abcs-cokie-roberts-hawaii-is-some-sort.html">Some people</a> still suffer from ignorance.<br /><br />This book was a hoot. I am looking forward to a few days at the moonly crossroads of the Pacific myself soon. Maybe I'll read another Charlie Chan book on the plane. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-58746291285211043212011-03-08T08:57:00.004-05:002011-03-08T09:24:39.714-05:00Old West and the NewThanks to <a href="http://www.odonnellweb.com/?p=9158">Chris</a> for pointing out these photos of Western life in the 1890s. They cover much of the area we visited in October.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g6KMFuQPHPI28JcjAKWXz_osI6etSYYJNrv79BqTmvTUC8XayVby7kj2cJDJBV1jn-n7Hs3BKgMbaCFh9ghVImdHtSsR6L5yneis5DFYyN6NhkIcd898S7Xqv3wmZVWTPpT_RPw6m0w/s1600/Hot+Springs+SD+1891.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5g6KMFuQPHPI28JcjAKWXz_osI6etSYYJNrv79BqTmvTUC8XayVby7kj2cJDJBV1jn-n7Hs3BKgMbaCFh9ghVImdHtSsR6L5yneis5DFYyN6NhkIcd898S7Xqv3wmZVWTPpT_RPw6m0w/s400/Hot+Springs+SD+1891.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581712078926504354" border="0" /></a>We had a picnic right by the river in Hot Springs, SD.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2GTacn1JM6agc4Ul7dIQQWhRFzKkKEvp4nFchtR9YhahsUomE0w7VwyARYa_1dxM021VdO8taMn1XOu5fMtfTNYiEOe7Fvo0sG0rMZTgo4ZcsQqQLCO9BwN0WVnt8-LXfJndgjGWvq0/s1600/Sturgis+SD.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2GTacn1JM6agc4Ul7dIQQWhRFzKkKEvp4nFchtR9YhahsUomE0w7VwyARYa_1dxM021VdO8taMn1XOu5fMtfTNYiEOe7Fvo0sG0rMZTgo4ZcsQqQLCO9BwN0WVnt8-LXfJndgjGWvq0/s400/Sturgis+SD.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581712086797703202" border="0" /></a>JP enjoyed Sturgis. The main street looks a bit different now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ-690lB1L8cKD-sE2mmiyo8uOZH0yljFpZdi9NLJFBmtQvyPnpvDKVR9VhDkFtuP6R6TL_UkdW6A1orx4N424C3x3GnpJ-ipMQVhyphenhyphenbdDSkoPsUT-ud3y1x0l4Sp3hk1yPqykEdW8IhA/s1600/Devils+tower+ild.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZ-690lB1L8cKD-sE2mmiyo8uOZH0yljFpZdi9NLJFBmtQvyPnpvDKVR9VhDkFtuP6R6TL_UkdW6A1orx4N424C3x3GnpJ-ipMQVhyphenhyphenbdDSkoPsUT-ud3y1x0l4Sp3hk1yPqykEdW8IhA/s400/Devils+tower+ild.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581712089527041474" border="0" /></a>However Devil's Tower hasn't changed much.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii70ZMXBbquHF_5SAuGHyOY10WUfu2ids7yo2JDC-N0NntzpI6ZO2xkZ4593QJk4CfH1Y3hCa92RFT1GLTSwoTsEu4m9kOPAV2GTJNrZJkpCrn53YDP3Dyshhc7e8qN7uBVNDymlGyYLc/s1600/Devils+Tower+now.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii70ZMXBbquHF_5SAuGHyOY10WUfu2ids7yo2JDC-N0NntzpI6ZO2xkZ4593QJk4CfH1Y3hCa92RFT1GLTSwoTsEu4m9kOPAV2GTJNrZJkpCrn53YDP3Dyshhc7e8qN7uBVNDymlGyYLc/s400/Devils+Tower+now.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581712095500498930" border="0" /></a>Great trip. And these old photos are cool. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-87484522165848066332011-03-07T10:52:00.002-05:002011-03-07T10:55:16.847-05:00Just like old times<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9qVdBO3n5ppD0xY8LKJh1PFOsjUxQnZaWDZXb41cOxLgtYcoUMGBDK39bqHvmDiCmCCIAchrkHhyphenhyphenn76urjP6LY-oZLp4ck8nmPbFHC1yuRU6CusGeMyPkqCJgR3Sh3LZtneGeeHxX0I/s1600/Old+Times.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9qVdBO3n5ppD0xY8LKJh1PFOsjUxQnZaWDZXb41cOxLgtYcoUMGBDK39bqHvmDiCmCCIAchrkHhyphenhyphenn76urjP6LY-oZLp4ck8nmPbFHC1yuRU6CusGeMyPkqCJgR3Sh3LZtneGeeHxX0I/s400/Old+Times.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581367013865742114" border="0" /></a>Similar to old times, anyway. No Shoshie. Yakov is home for a few days of spring break. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-887682363867218517.post-61352432330925945502011-02-11T08:10:00.003-05:002011-02-11T08:23:18.738-05:00Sad dayShoshie was quite a reader but she tended to read the same books over and over again. Harry Potter books were favorites but the Redwall series by Brian Jacques was also. And there were more Redwall books. And new ones came out more often.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUWnpeOmPPo4Uhiy9uiyt4fsqDhxUVCQlxa-Iu9BCQZVgAGaFYUdjum53hUTpPI9KY_EyoF2kiUdpq9njqJLf58ZA6jokhlBg-fvIbnfMvozXl1qwxvVxyv2eDe97vmxS7YOTvXZUYzg/s1600/Jacques.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeUWnpeOmPPo4Uhiy9uiyt4fsqDhxUVCQlxa-Iu9BCQZVgAGaFYUdjum53hUTpPI9KY_EyoF2kiUdpq9njqJLf58ZA6jokhlBg-fvIbnfMvozXl1qwxvVxyv2eDe97vmxS7YOTvXZUYzg/s400/Jacques.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572421858939764962" border="0" /></a>Sadly <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/arts/09jacques.html?_r=2&ref=obituaries">Brian Jacques has died</a>.<br /><p> </p><blockquote><p>Invited in for a nice cup of tea one day, he volunteered to read to the students. Over time, he grew dissatisfied with the books available — too much adolescent angst, he later said — and vowed to write his own. </p><p> He wrote what he called “a proper story,” brimming with battle and gallantry. Titled “Redwall” and published in 1986, it became the first installment in what is now a best-selling 21-volume children’s fantasy series. </p></blockquote><p></p>Last year a family in our local homeschool group lost everything in a house fire. The mom mentioned that one of the children lost his collection of Redwall books. Shoshie packed up her much loved, much read books, wrote a note about how she was sorry they were so tattered but knew that spoke to the value they held for her and probably to him and sent them to this boy. I hope he enjoyed them. PRMRuth in NChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09526764423847426223noreply@blogger.com2