2011: A Look Back

I’m starting off 2012 with a look back at 2011:

January:

Having just returned from Hawaii, where I performed at the Honolulu Aquarium & the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, I kicked off 2011 with a weekend of professional development at the Asilomar Reading Conference in Monterey County.  A new year of storytimes for toddlers, preschoolers & family groups begins at the Livermore Public Library; I marked my first performance of 2011 at Children’s Fairyland; and I did some classroom storytelling in San Francisco.

February-March:

More storytime fun in Livermore, including a few Baby Storytimes, which are always a sweet change of pace.  I had the pleasure of sharing more stories on the Emerald City Stage at Children’s Fairyland, and I also got to perform at a couple of my favorite events—Family Reading Nights—at elementary schools in Brentwood & Fremont.

April-May:

I began a series of performances at branches of the San José Public Library, and I also got to perform twice for the Sunnyvale Library: once on my own, and once as a part of its annual storytelling festival.  More library fun: I got to do my thing in San Leandro, and of course there were the ongoing storytimes in Livermore.  There were also storytelling sessions at preschools in Milpitas, Palo Alto & Santa Clara; another trip to Children’s Fairyland; and I visited Livermore elementary schools to tell students about the library’s summer reading programs.

June-August:

Summer is always my favorite time of the year—and not just because I thrive on the warm weather & long days—it’s Summer Reading season!  At the Livermore Public Library, I get to shake up my regular routine by presenting School-Age Storytimes (as well as the evening Family Storytimes I love), AND I book & present a season of very special family programs.  This year, I also made time for a nice variety of storytelling appearances: preschools & school-age groups in Alameda, Danville, & Lafayette; a gym daycare; a Girl Scout Day Camp in the East Bay hills; another San José Library; and my first storytelling trip to Palo Alto’s famous Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital!  And yes, I was even able to fit in a weekend at my beloved Children’s Fairyland.

September:

The end of the Summer Reading Program is always a huge letdown for me, but this year I had something big to look forward to: a trip to Asia to attend the Singapore International Storytelling Festival & Asian Congress of Storytellers! Professional & personal development time, as I was exposed to hundreds of teachers, storytellers & other early childhood professionals & volunteers from throughout the region & also far-flung locations including Australia, Spain & the U.S.  The seminars were very much like teachers’ conferences I’ve attended over the years right here at home, as were many of the concerns & questions brought up by the attendees.  The festival portion of the event included one of the most amazing storytelling performances I’ve ever seen: the epic Indian tale of the Ramayana, told by six very different tellers.  So glad I finally made it to this big event; hope to be finding myself back!  I also took a lot of time to explore as much of Singapore as I could, and took advantage of a Hong Kong layover on the way home to explore that island for a couple of days—and even briefly took in the local Disneyland.  This was a fitting end to a trip that in fact did reinforce that people are so much the same—it’s a small world, after all.   Within a couple of days of my return, I was back to storytimes in Livermore!

October:

Another first-time event for me: storytelling at a mall! I also conducted a course in classroom storytelling for preschool & elementary school teachers, and shared stories for families at an Oakland preschool’s Halloween party.  Of course, I also did my thing at Children’s Fairyland & the Livermore Library!

November-December:

Winding down the year with classroom storytelling in Pleasanton & San Jose, a final pair of events for Children’s Fairyland (the second a special performance for the park’s annual “Fairy Winterland” celebration), and the last storytimes of 2011 at the Livermore Public Library!

So what’s ahead for 2012?  January kicks off with another round of professional development in Asilomar, another visit to Children’s Fairyland, and a new year of library storytimes in Livermore.  Beyond that?  Stay with me & find out!

Happy New Year!  Wishing you much health & happiness in 2012.

Read Up: Jojo Eats Dim Sum

 

 

Jojo is so lucky! She gets to have her favorite breakfast every Saturday.  It’s not pancakes she wants; she doesn’t care for cinnamon rolls or sugary cereals, either.  What Jojo loves to eat is dim sum!  I love dim sum, too, and I love the new book Jojo Eats Dim Sum, by James Kye.

The book is oversized: not wide, but extra-tall so it can accommodate large orders of dim sum and tall appetites. The super-sized pages let the reader’s eyes move hungrily around the page, taking in the food and the action--not to mention the delicious art.  Whimsically-drawn cartoon people interact with perfectly-photographed food, sharing space on pages where words grow and shrink as characters in their own right.  Together, author/illustrar Kye and designers Janet & Edwin McKelpin have created a work that’s exciting to look at, whether or not one can read the words on the page.

Jojo Eats Dim Sum packs a lot not just visually (and in the dim sum carts); there’s a lot going on in the story, too.  There’s the trip to the dim sum restaurant, with its particular atmosphere and foods; within that, we get subtle lessons on the Cantonese language, being willing to try new foods, and learning new cultures.  Something not put into words--but made clear to me in the illustrations--is that Jojo’s mother seems to think Father’s habit of reading the newspaper at the restaurant table is very rude.  I agree!

A newspaper, in case you are too young to remember, is what people utilized to ignore one another at meals before the smart phone was invented.

But I digress.

The way the book ends, and the way the its title is presented, lead me to believe that there may be more culinary adventures with Jojo to come.  That’s fine, but this single serving is satisfying all by itself, and I recommend it highly.

 

I want every single thing this lady has in her cart, and I want it right now, mm goi!

 

Wonderful words

"You are a joy to watch and do a tremendous job with the children.  Livermore Library is lucky to have you and so are we!  Have a wonderful holiday!  Thanks for being you."

     Some days, it's really worth the effort to come to work.  Actually, I'm lucky enough to love my job almost every day, but to be the recipient of the wonderful words on the card given to me last night by one of my regular storytime families-- my heart feels full.

Read Up: Back to Bed, Ed!

     Sure, Santa Claus made an appearance at my Family Storytime last night, but I think the REAL star of the show was Sebastien Braun's book, Back to Bed, Ed! 

     The book's subject matter is a situation with which I think most families can relate: a young child having a hard time transitioning to sleeping in his own bed.  Every time I read it, I flash back to the nights when I would be so tired from the struggle I'd somehow fall asleep down the hall next to the little bed--and to the mornings when I'd wake up with an extra little someone in my own bed!  The yelling at the door, the feet in the face--the events in Back to Bed, Ed may not measure up to the high drama you might've experienced in your own household, but I think they will ring true & take you right on back!

     For families going through "the change" right now, I think this is a great book to read & maybe even keep around.  There are no bad guys in the story; it just seems like Ed is facing a challenge, and that he may need time & a little help.  As I share this book at storytime, I ask the children, "will Ed stay in bed this time?"  We talk about whether those things Ed sees under his bed are real, and I point out how tired poor Daddy & Mommy look.  The discussion as we make our way through the story helps build empathy for all three parties, & I think by the end, everyone is rooting for Ed to stay in bed!  Will he?  Ever?!?

Braun's illustrations are simple & effective.  Just look at Ed, with a foot in one parent's ear, and an arm pushing the other parent off the bed!  And with a baby in a crib at the foot of the bed, you know those grownups might not be getting a decent night's sleep for QUITE some time...

A Book on Every Bed

     Lucky me: I grew up with a father who read to me, living in a home where the books always threatened to crowd out the people (pound-for-pound, we were always outnumbered).  This situation, of course, predisposed me toward having a houseful of books as an adult, and toward reading to my child regularly (as well as accompanying him to library & bookstore storytime events whenever possible).

  Lucky me.

   Other children are not so lucky: at least half of this country's children don't get read to regularly, and many don't even have books of their own at home.  This was pointed out by nationally-syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson in her December 8, 2011 column.  The facts she was highlighting are bleak, but her point was to offer a solution: A Book on Every Bed.  Here's Dickinson:

Introducing books and reading very early in life will write indelibly on a child's future. Here's how it works:

Take a book.

Wrap it.

Place it on a child's bed so it's the first thing the child sees on Christmas morning (or whatever holiday you celebrate).

That's it.

Well, I think it's brilliant, don't you?  It starts at home, and it starts with one book at a time--brilliant and simple!  "A Book on Every Bed" is an initiative of the New York-based Family Reading Partnership, a community nonprofit promoting early literacy.  Although the organization does accept donations to provide books, Dickinson makes it clear that is not the point of her column:

This is not a fundraising appeal. This is not about selling or buying books (the book you give can be passed down). "A Book on Every Bed" is an appeal to spread the love of reading from parents to children. We also want to encourage families to share books by reading aloud.

    Whether that gift of a book is going on a bed or under a tree, on December 25 or (insert random date here), it is a very powerful, important gift. The book may have been free to you, but that additional gift of reading it aloud with a child is absolutely priceless.

     I think this can be a very fun new tradition.  And I think it can be even more fun: let's put the every in "every bed!"  Sure, every child should get a new book--but so should every adult!  Whether the books are coming from a local bookseller, your favorite online new or used bookstore, or the local Friends of the Library Sale, keep the adults in mind as well as the kids--and don't forget yourself!  Even if it means wrapping a book for yourself and "sneaking" it onto your bed before you turn in for the night, do it!

     Check out the video of Amy Dickinson celebrating "A Book on Every Bed" with her granddaughter, and please let me know: do you have any traditions (holiday or otherwise) surrounding books?

Same, Same but Different

     Do children still have pen pals?  Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw's Same, Same but Different makes a wonderful case for restarting the trend!

     Elliot lives in the U.S., and he starts trading notes & drawings with Kailash, who lives in India.  We get to see both of their worlds--how different they are, and how very much the same.  Kostecki-Shaw's art--a combination of drawing, painting & collage--draws us beautifully into each child's world.  You may end up wanting a pen pal of your very own!

Just found this in the files

From the May 3, 2009 edition of the Tri-Valley Herald: this little feature on the Día de los Libros event at Livermore's beautiful Rincon Branch Library shows of more of my silly mugging.  

Upcoming Events

Public events!  My storytelling appearances are in red, and my storytimes at the Livemore Public Library are in brown.

Friday, October 21

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Oct 21 p.m.: Private event: Conducting storytelling education seminar for preschool teachers

Monday, October 24

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "It's Magic!"

Friday, October 28

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Monday, October 31

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "Storytime in Disguise"

 

Friday, November 4

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Monday, November 7

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "It's a Jungle in Here!"

Saturday, November 12

Sunday, November 13

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Monday, November 14

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "It's a Library in Here!"

Friday, November 18

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Monday, November 21

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "Eat Up!"

 

Friday, November 25

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Monday, November 28

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "I Can Dig It!"

 

Friday, December 2

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Monday, December 5

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "Gators & Crocs"

Friday, December 9

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Monday, December 12

Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Theme: "Quiet as a Mouse"

Friday, December 16

Livermore Public Library, Rincon Branch

10:30 Baby/Toddler Storytime

11am Preschool Storytime

Saturday, December 17

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 2:30pm as a part of the park's Fairy Winterland holiday events

2012

Saturday, January 7

Sunday, January 8

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

  

January 13-15, 2012: Attending Asilomar Reading Conference (Santa Clara County Reading Council)

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Sunnyvale Public Library

Storytelling at 3pm

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Quarry Lane School, Tudorka Tots & Discovery Charter School. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Trip Report: Singapore International Storytelling Festival & Asian Congress of Storytellers

I am back from Asia, and my time attending the 2011 Singapore International Storytelling Festival & Asian Congress of Storytellers.  I spent four days inside the National Museum of Singapore-- actually, four nights taking in a variety of performances, and two full days of workshops, keynotes, and even more performance!  Top that off with my determined city exploration before, after, and in & between every nook & cranny of open space, and you can bet I was a tired guy!  The entire trip was such an amazing experience.

First off, there were the performances.  The first three nights featured an array of tellers from Australia, France, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, and even as far away as the United States, showing the true diversity of storytelling.  I don’t usually get exposed to such marathons of storytelling, and it was a pleasure to experience the variety: pathos, tragedy, comedy, ballads, rhyme, freneticism & absolute calm.  There were bits of style that I recognized as somewhat similar to my own, and certainly many other styles that were quite divergent.  To take them all in & consider them, I feel, was a growing experience. 

The fourth evening of performance was a departure from the first three; it was a storytelling performance of The Ramayana, the Indian epic tale.  One story, two hours, six storytellers—it was truly epic!  A high point of the entire SISF for me, it showed how a variety of people with very different styles can collaborate on a single project & make it a huge, unified success.  Some of the tellers were more of the “narrator” variety; others leaned toward big movements and character voices.  The tale was customized & cast in such a way that the whole thing really came together—and I wish that I could sit through it again!  Very inspiring.

The day sessions—the Asian Congress of Storytellers—cleaved quite close to what is familiar to me from attending conferences here in the U.S. pertaining to reading and early childhood education.  The mornings started off with keynote events, after which we as attendees could choose from a menu of topics for the two remaining sessions each day.  I attended seminars on the following: helping struggling readers; storytelling for babies & toddlers; improvised stories; and character education through storytelling.  As with most professional development events, I found much of the value across the board to be in refreshing previously-held knowledge, benefitting from outsiders’ perspectives on common practice, and gleaning a few bits of fresh research.  There were many interactive exercises throughout the sessions, and I was interested & amused to observe that this group of teachers, storytellers, parents & volunteers—primarily from Singapore & Malaysia—was throwing themselves into the experience much more than attendees of similar gatherings I’ve attended back home!  

From the breakout sessions mentioned above, and from the Festival & Congress as a whole, I gleaned so much, from information I can practice right away in my own storytelling & storytimes, to little bits over which I can slowly ponder as how I might incorporate them in my own fashion.  A huge lesson I got, from exposure to these people from around the world, is that our situations are so much more alike than anyone might have us believe.  The values of reading, and the oral tradition of storytelling, are recognized by researchers & professionals for their unique & substantial individual benefits, but getting that information out to the world is & has been a constant challenge.  The encouraging news is that there is a large & growing global community of storytellers at every level, each sharing their passion in their own way.  I feel very lucky to have been able to make this trip, and get a peek at this global view.  I certainly hope to continue on this path!

Upcoming Events

Through August 12: School-age & Family Storytimes at the Livermore Public Library
Mondays: 10:30am School-age Storytime outside under the tree;  
7pm Family Storytime, Civic Center
Fridays: 10:30am School-age Storytime outside under the trees, Rincon

Saturday, August 13

Sunday, August 14

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

September 1-6: Attending Singapore International Storytelling Festival

September 16-December 16: Toddler, Preschool & Family Storytimes at the Livermore Public Library
Mondays: 7pm Family Storytime, Civic Center
Fridays: 10:30am Baby/Toddler Storytime, Rincon
11am Preschool Storytime, Rincon

Saturday, October 8

Sunday, October 9

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Wednesday, October 5

Wednesday, November 9

Wednesday, December 7

WESTFIELD OAKRIDGE MALL

San Jose

Storytelling for Westfield Family Fun Days

3pm

Saturday, November 12

Sunday, November 13

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Sunnyvale Public Library
Storytelling at 3pm

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling for Club Sport Pleasanton, and Girl Scouts/Coyote Hills Service Unit. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John: This Really Happened!

Thanks!

I had a lot of fun this weekend storytelling for the children & their families at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto!  I just got this e-mail from the staffer who made it all happen:



"I was so pleased with how well it went!  The kids and parents and staff all enjoyed our time with you very much.  I got your name from a Palo Alto librarian, and I will be sure to thank her for her great recommendation.  A couple of parents even took flyers AFTER your visit so that they would remember who you were :) We hope to have you visit here again!"

Reading Together: A Family Tradition!

Listen to this story from NPR's Weekend Edition about the father & daughter who decided to read together for 100 nights in a row. Did they read for 100 nights? NO: they read for 3,218! This is fantastic. Many parents wonder about how to "find the time" to read to their kids, but this family shows how just by making a commitment to start, reading together can become a cherished tradition. This parent & child got so much more out of the experience than simply the words on the pages.

Check out the link: there's the audio of Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon interviewing Jim Brozina & Alice Ozma (the parent & child readers); a text version of the story; an excerpt from Ozma's book, The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared; and from that book, a list of suggestions for families looking to start a reading streak of their own!

The Littlest Storyteller

Are you ready for a story about a boy named Jack?  Two-year-old Dalton will tell you all about "Jack & the Beanstalk," and he'll do it with tons of enthusiasm!  I think my favorite part is about the food laid out by the giant's wife, a feast that includes potstickers & pizza!
 

Libraries: Recession-busters since FOREVER!

Did you know that all of the live entertainment at libraries this summer is FREE?  I see full schedules of storytellers, puppetry, music, crafts, clowning, wildlife, magic, authors--and in Kaneohe, Hawaii, STORMTROOPERS!  And ALL of it is presented in real-life 3-D that won't strain your eyes or your pocketbook!

Reading with Character(s)

Reading with Character(s), a photo by Storyteller John Weaver on Flickr.

Just unearthed this photo from 2008: Storytime with Strawberry Shortcake & Curious George at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, California.

Upcoming Events

Summer Reading Game season is here!  Check with your library for information on the games & prizes, storytimes, special performances and fun for all age groups (yes, there are summer reading programs for adults, too--a fun chance to set a good example).

School-age & Family Storytimes
Livermore Public Library
Join John for the fun each week (June 13 - August 12):
Mondays: 10:30am School-age Storytime outside under the tree;  
7pm Family Storytime, Civic Center
Fridays: 10:30am School-age Storytime outside under the trees, Rincon


Storytelling Appearances:

Saturday, June 18

Sunday, June 19

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Wednesday, June 29

San José Public Library, Rose Garden Branch

Storytelling at 2pm

Saturday, August 13

Sunday, August 14

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland

Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, Bright Horizons/Garner Preschool Learning Center in Alameda, The Child Day School in Lafayette, Husky House, Children's Academy of Danville, Club Sport Pleasanton, and Girl Scouts/Coyote Hills Service Unit.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

SUMMER READING GAMES are Here!

Note: Before the dawn of up-to-the-moment social media, I kept folks up to date on my doings through an e-mail newsletter list.   Now that most people have access to online resources such as Facebook & Blogger, I decided it's time to phase out the labor-intensive, old-school newsletter.  Here's the final one:

June is here, and lots of summer reading fun & prizes for all ages lay ahead!  In this e-mail, I'll talk about what's up at local libraries, where I'll be performing (and where I've been lately), and share a few resources.  Finally, I'll be signing off from these e-mail newsletters, giving you new options to keep track of the family & literacy-related bits that I share.

1.      Join your local library for the Summer Reading Game!

2.      Where I've Been, & Where Else I’ll Be

3.      A Few Great Books

4.      GOODBYE... to this newsletter (but let's stay connected)

1. Summer Reading Games: One World, Many Stories @ Your Library!

            When school is out, reading is in, with library calendars that are packed with FREE shows, storytimes, crafts and prizes!  Each library is a little different, but look and you will find games for pre-readers, school-aged kids, teens, and even adults.  Stop by your local library & ask how to sign up & get in on the fun!  There are some not-to-be missed shows taking place: animal programs, magic, puppets, music & dance—check out the calendars of your libraries with a simple web search, or start with one click here! 

            As for the library system where I present storytimes & book special events—the Livermore Public Library—here’s just part of what you can find going on there this month (a printable calendar of ALL of the summer's performances, storytimes & crafts is available at this link):

Every Monday (beginning 6/13):

10:30am: Preschool Storytimes with Kelly; School-age Storytimes with John

7pm: Family Storytimes with John

Every Friday (beginning 6/17):

10:30am: Preschool Storytimes & Music with Clara Yen; School-age Storytimes with John

FREE Special Family Performances!

June 15, 2:30: Folk music, stories, & dance of Mexico & the Caribbean with Dúo Cascada de Flores

June 22, 2:30: Chinese-style juggling, balancing & contortion with Red Panda Acrobats

June 28, 6pm: An interactive "Adventure in Space" with Kenn Adams' Adventure Theater

June 29, 10:30: Hilarious & exciting Cowgirl Tricks with Karen Quest

--and that's just for starters!  In July & August, the Livermore Libraries will welcome guest storytellers, a gamelan orchestra presenting the music of Bali, silly clown magic, a juggler who will leave you in stitches, puppetry-- and a REAL-LIVE MOUNTAIN LION.  If the times & locations do not work for you, explore the other library links above, as many of these presenters will be appearing at other libraries in the region this summer.

2. What I've been up to-- & what I'll be getting up to!

     I've not been sending out these newsletters much; I've found I keep in touch much more quickly through my page on Facebook and on my blog.  I'm still sharing stories all over, though!  I started 2011 in Hawaii, with storytelling visits to the Waikiki Aquarium and the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center-- you can see several photos of my performances at that Facebook link.  Back in California, I attended the annual Asilomar Reading Conference, and was soon back at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, a perfect place for fertilizing budding imaginations with lively stories!  In the spring, I took part in the annual Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival, and also have been storytelling at libraries in San Jose & San Leandro, as well as at elementary schools & preschools throughout the Bay Area. 

THIS MONTH (in addition to my Livermore Library duties), I'll be doing my storytelling at the following public locations:

June 18 & 19th at 1:30 & 2:30: Children's Fairyland, Oakland

June 29 at 2pm: San Jose Public Library, Rose Garden Branch

Hope to see you somewhere along the way!

3. Looking for some good reads?

From time to time on the "Read Up" section of my blog, I'll share some great picture books, both old & new. Take a look--I think it's a good place to get started on some fun family summer reading!  I'd also love to hear of any favorite books you have.  Ready to get started? READ UP!

4. Goodbye-- but not really, I hope.

I started communicating by e-mail "newsletter" long before the days of Facebook.  I used to do this about once a month--and it takes a LONG time!  Through my Facebook page and my blog, though, I can add bits of news and longer entries alike on a more timely basis, and you don't have to wade through (or delete) a long email (which may be landing in your spam folder in the first place)!  PLEASE-- do get reaquainted with me over on the social network, and/or subscribe to the blog; I try to share useful information, funny bits, and hopefully something you'll occasionally find worthy of passing along to your own friends & contacts.  Please do connect & say hello.

Here’s to a beautiful summer with your family, & thanks for supporting storytelling,

--John