Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

October 5, 2007

Publishers Favourite Sites:

Rosanne Catalano

http://www.rosannecatalano.net/

Michael Smith

http://subs.zinester.com/86758/

Barbara Weymouth

penwormprayerwarriors-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Helen Dowd

www.occupytillicome.com

Dean Perchick

http://symzonia.blogspot.com

I'd like to tell you about a new website that I discovered and now love where all of your favorite authors can be heard on video from your own computer!

The website is Bookvideos.tv and is coming to you from Simon & Schuster publishing. Check it out at: http://www.bookvideos.tv! You won't be sorry you did.

Today’s Announcement

the news this morning was she has turned for the worse. X-rays was taken, and more tests.  The thinking now is that 100 dollar word. pancreatitus.I went by to see her.  she is down and sleeping some what. Will maybe know more later today.

Bill

Little Girl going to spend another night in the hospital.  She had 2 seizures today. mild ones.  still on IV and she hasn't eat any thing yet.   

Bill

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Today’s Stories

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 ~**~**~
 ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

HOW’S YOUR “TECHNICAL” TRACK RECORD?

Not too long ago my friend – we’ll call her Geri – finished taking her final college exams. She’s earned her degree one or two classes at a time. Her grandchildren are very proud.

That’s right – grandchildren. Geri is 61.

“I may be the only graduate who has to use a cane to walk across the stage to get my diploma,” said Geri, who, if the truth is told, is probably further away from using a cane than I am. “But I am going to get it. Finally.”

And if you think that sounds as though Geri just scarped by in her college studies, think again. Her college transcript looks like a “Sesame Street” lesson on the letter “A.” That’s why she was so surprised when her instructor told her how she had done on her last final exam.

“Twenty out of 75.”

Geri was stunned. She couldn’t remember ever missing 10 questions on a test, much less 20. “I can’t believe I missed 20 questions,” she said.

“You didn’t miss 20 questions,” the teacher said. “You got 20 out of 75 correct.”

Geri was speechless. She had never performed that poorly on a test, and she knew that she was well-prepared for this one. She looked at her professor, numb and dazed.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I think I know what happened.”

He pulled out her test paper, which was one of those computer-scanning, fill-in-the-little-circle-with-a-number-two-pencil jobs – you know, the kind where it takes longer to log in your name than it does to fill out the entire test.

“You see,” the professor continued, “you got the first 20 question right, and then right over here . . .” He pointed to a place on the test form “. . . it looks like you skipped a row. From what I can tell, it looks like you got the right answers, you just put them in the wrong places.”

“So what does that mean?” Geri asked as thoughts of one more semester to re-take a failed class flashed in her mind.

“It means that, technically, you failed the test,” the professor said. “But I’ve been looking at your previous work, which has been excellent. There is no reason to believe that you would be any less prepared for your final than you’ve been for every other test and assignment, so as far as I’m concerned . .” He took out a red pen and wrote a big “A” on the page.

So Geri graduated because her track record made it possible for her teacher to give her the benefit of the doubt. But what if she hadn’t had that kind of track record? What if her college career – especially her experience with that teacher – had been riddled with mediocre effort and a litany of excuses? My guess is her final test score would have reflected that history, regardless of how accidental her final mistake may have been.

And that makes me wonder how I’m doing, track record-wise. I mean, stuff like that happens. We give our best effort to Something Very Important – a project, an assignment or maybe even a relationship – only to find that a simple mistake or misunderstanding somewhere along the way has undermined our success and made our best effort look bad. We get on the wrong line, we take a wrong turn, we mark the wrong box, we push the wrong button and all of a sudden we’re feeling like Geri: stunned, speechless and confused.

Technically, like a failure.

But it seems to me that if we’ve established a personal history of integrity, honesty, hard work and fair play people will tend to give us the benefit of the doubt when we occasionally fall humanly short of perfection. We may not always end up with an “A” as Geri did, but at least we won’t feel so much like a failure.

Technically or otherwise.

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ALMOST HEAVEN

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

     There is a reason why the beautiful state I live in is called "Almost Heaven" West Virginia.  John Denver’s song had it right. It often feels like Heaven here. Right now outside my window the Autumn leaves are beginning to change colors. The radiant reds are glowing in the sun. The peaceful yellows are rustling in the breeze. The brilliant burgundy’s and outrageous oranges are making entire trees as bright as flowers. Even the fallen leaves are turning the paths into multicolored, crunchy carpets that are a delight to walk on. I can hear children laughing and see adults smiling as they stroll through these leaves and enjoy the wonderful scent of them in the air. Everywhere I look I can see God’s colors painting the trees and mountains with beauty. If it isn’t Heaven here then it certainly is close.

     It isn’t just the mountains that make it Heavenly here either. I can see bits of Heaven in so many of the people too. There is a kindness in their smiles. There is a gentleness in their voices. There is a goodness in their actions. There is a patience in their manner. There is a peace in their souls. There is a love in their hearts. And there is a joy in their lives. Everyday they grow a little more in oneness with God. Everyday they bring a little more Heaven into this world. I feel truly blessed to live in such a beautiful state with such good people.

     West Virginia, however, isn’t the only place that can be Almost Heaven. Anyplace on Earth can be Almost Heaven if we take our Heaven with us. How much Heaven is within you? No matter how much you said take heart in knowing that it can always be more. God gives us that choice every single day. Everyday we can choose to love more, give more, care more, and help more. Everyday we can choose to bring the joy of Heaven into our hearts and souls and then share it with the world. Everyday we can live in Almost Heaven while still here on Earth.

Joe Mazzella  

joecool@wirefire.com

Poetry Corner

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October's Different Faces
Cynthia Groopman

October shows many a different face,
And each brings a certain fascination to an event that takes place.
October's face is shaped like a sailing ship during the days of old,
And in its pondering expression, it reflects the deeds of Columbus who was so brave and bold.
October's face is as colorful as the changing leaves bright rainbow,
And in its sparkling loveliness, it expresses a golden sunshine glow.
October's face as funny as old Jack O'lantern scaring us on Halloween night,
As we are mystified by awe and fright.
October's glaring face resembles that of a clock,
That we will have to turn back one hour,
And is overwhelmed with time's immense and infinite power.
October's face is like the blanket of leaves that fall to the ground,
And it grimaces as we hear a rustling sound.
October's face is sullen and gray,
As it is unhappy in every way.
October's face is shaped like a bird that is flapping its wing in hurried flight,
As it prepares to fly south during a cool autumn night,
For October, your changing face enchants and entertains me,
And that is why I begin to laugh merrily.


Cynthia Groopman

Copyright ©2004 Cynthia L. Groopman   

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

~**~**~

October's Hustle and Bustle

Cynthia Groopman

October is full of so much hustle and bustle,

As soft breezes cause the leaves to dance and rustle.

People dash to and fro doing their activity tasks,

In the warm glow of the autumn sunshine, smiles reign and majestically bask.

Birds merrilly flap their wings and away they fly,

Chirping a sad goodbye.

Children shout trick or treat,

As they desire and crave for something chocolate or sweet.

Raindrops dash all around,

Bouncing onto my windowpane, making a thashing sound.

Thus, October is full of so many different things going on,

Embraced are we by her elegant charms.

Cynthia Groopman

Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

 ~**~**~

Moments
Cynthia Groopman

Moments race quickly into hours,
just as buds become sweet blooming beautiful flowers.
Moments pave our highway of life,
with changing emotions such as joy, gladness and strife.
Moments can be golden as the golden sunshine,
giving us a wonderful gem of a time.
We can dance and sing,
And moments can be like a melodic bell,
greeting us with a mirthful ring.
Moments can be full of complaining and wrath,
that place obstacles in life's smooth path.
Moments never last forever, as you can see,
that is why we must grasp each pleasant moment
and treasure it lovingly.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

~**~**~

The Sound Of Silence
Cynthia Groopman

Silence has a really strange sound,
although there is no voice and noise around.
Thoughts that are profound,
make up silence's sound.
A thought that is full of energy,
makes a sound that is really full of laughter and makes us happy.
A thought that is sentimental and full of desire,
makes a sound that will forever inspire.
A thought sad and gloomy, which will make us teary,
creates a sound that is not cheery.
For the sound of silence can always be heard,
even though there is no spoken word.


Cynthia Groopman
Cynthia.Groopman@verizon.net

Copyright ©2004 Cynthia Groopman

Readers Feedback

Could you please tell Bill I hope his dog feels much better soon?  I couldn't find an e-mail address to send my comments to for him.  I can only imagine how upsetting this is for him.  Just want him to know others are pulling and praying for his dog to recover real soon.

Thank you,

Bev 

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings

The news about Jacqueline Bethune shocking and very sad.  Convey to her family my condolences.

Hugs Vona

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