July 31 Overloaded with information

July 31

Practicing some interactive presentation sites.  A bit overwhelmed, but will try to impliment some or parts when school starts.  AT History would have been a great practice group - but alas, don't get them this year. 

Technology today - below is a practice of uploading an image and attaching tags of information. 
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/286862117577949185

This could be a multi media presentation..Voice Thread
http://voicethread.com/share/3277090/

This should now have a video clip added to a thinglink about the Massachusetts 54th
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/286886407891320833#tlsite

Here is an audio boo - for my family...
http://audioboo.fm/boos/904151-voice-recording-for-family

Here is a Google Forms I just created and could use perhaps in class... with modifications/additions..
http://tinyurl.com/bqvk55f



But, I am finding that they are not private - once you are in them you can change my settings. 
Please don't :-)

July 30 Small world for sure

July 30

The first day of what made this whole trip become a reality happened today - The workshop 'Teaching History with Technology' at Harvard University has started.  There are about 25 of us, from all around the globe...not really... but all around the country.  I heard someone say he was from San Diego and there are a few mid-westerners.  There also is another person from Traverse City!!! Our small corner has two students attending this very prestigious workshop!  (Smiles).  Go Traverse City!  This was a day filled with tools for immediate classroom use.  The instructors are amazing and so very tech savvy.  I am trying to keep up with the learning curve - I am glad I started a blog!  You may notice my blogs now have pictures and videos.  I'll be improving all earlier blogs soon.   I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!  Strolled around Harvard Square sipping my Starbucks after class.

Civil War Statue 

July 29 Big small city, Boston

Sam Adams Monument

Long Wharf and city view

July 29
Sunday morning driving into Boston would be considered relatively easy.  It's just that the roads/highways/turnpikes, and tunnels are all so confusing.  I parked at Long Wharf, deciding it would be the center of the 'tourists  hot spots'.  Made my city tour, being the only one on the on/off bus at 9:30 a.m., I got a great historical narrative.  A misty day for the 45 minute harbor tour, but well worth it.  The Freedom Trail was the next activity to bring me closer to Revolutionary history.  Boston Visitor's Guide

Paul Revere's House

 Monument at Bunker Hill 294 steps up

Walking many miles and feeling a bit overloaded with history, it was time to see my niece, Estee.
Had a lovely dinner at 'The Red House' in Cambridge.. I guess maybe in the Harvard Square area, not really sure yet :-)

The Red House

Me and Estee after our delicious dinner :-)

July 28 Nothing like family!

July 28

Slept great, the first time in a few days.  Carol and Rob's Natick home is beautiful.  Carol and I spent the day walking, talking, eating, walking and talking some more.  When the welcomed storm opened up, we watched two movies with no conclusive endings.  Feeling a bit frustrated, and not wanting to watch the Olympics, time for Sam Adams and to get psyched up for tomorrow's Boston adventure!!! 

July 27 Crossing the Delaware

July 27

Memorial to Washington crossing the Delaware

After no sleep and brief sunrise run to the river front in Philly, it was time to move on.  Last night, I was rained in, so after some mapping, I discovered how close Trenton, NJ is - and that reminded me of the great Christmas Day story when Washington's surprise attacked the Hessian mercenaries!  His timing was a bit delayed - and the fear of losing the surprise attack effect was doubtful - but his troops pulled it off!  It was definitely a needed morale boost - though this was before the horrific winter at Valley Forge we all know about. 

This journy is really chronologically messed up -
1860s, winter 1777, Spring 1776, May 1787, Christmas 1776..next stop in Boston will bring me to 1770's and ending this adventure with 1775. 

The national park is located in Taylorsville, settled after Washington's crossing.  It is absolutely lovely.  Charming, charming, charming!  Foot/narrow car bridge will get you across the Delaware to New Jersey.  Absolutely a lovely park, colonial bed and breakfast, and quaint shops.

Single Car/Foot Bridge crossing the Delaware River

I should have appreciated the serenity longer because the hours that followed were nothing but traffic enroute to Natick, Massachusetts!  My friend, Garmin, took me along I 95 North through NYC !!!!  Not sure if that was the best route.  Focusing on traffic and the Empire State Building was tricky.  She guided me into the Bronx, but she pulled me through.  Ours is a relationship built on trust.  Again, NYC is just a drive by....Someday...  Pennsylvania drivers have been the nicest, Connecticut's the most crazy, and Massachusett's Turn Pike, east of I 84, is absolutely gorgeous.  I arrived at Carol and Rob's a bit late, cracked open my first patriotic Sam Adams beer... ahhhh, time for some r & r with my family.

July 25-26 Wait, which time frame?

July 25 I had to remind myself I was back to 1776, no longer 1860's !!! Confusing. Valley Forge is a gorgeous National Park just off the highway. Forgetting my plans to run the 5-mile loop, running once more in Gettysburg, I opted for a bike ride at Valley Forge. (bike rentals right there!) This hilly terrain was loaded with exercise enthusiasts, day campers, and moms with strollers! Disappointed to learn everything was replicated!!!! Washington's headquarters may have been authentic - by the time I got there (off the main loop) I admired it from afar- really no biggy. What I DID find interesting was that his headquarters, while at Valley Forge, is at the base of a pretty steep hill - this surprised me, as he told his men to build their barracks on high ground as sanitation was a concern back then. So were all the soldiers waste streaming down to Washington's headquarters?? Eww. Actually the troops buildings were a distance from his. Took a picture of Baron Von Stueben, the Prussian drill sergeant (discharged from his own military) because my students find his story clever. Back on the road 3 hours or so later, it was rush hour in the Philadelphia metro area! Got quickly accustomed to one ways - William Penn's parallel road design helped!!! I left the baby Jeep in a parking garage. (Tomorrow, I'll see if she is still there.) First impression of Philly is 'smelly'. A combination of sweat, urine, and fried cheese steak. As I have explored the city for a day and a half now..... it's still smelly. The history is like non other - beats DC for sure. There are neighborhoods, a China town, gallery area, foodie area, museums, zoo, bridges..... all the same stuff as any big city...AND Rocky's legacy here lives on!!! So, all in all... This is a pretty cool place. The fact that our Founding Fathers were walking, talking, debating, and compromising here is THE BEST - I'd love to visit this stinky town again!! July 26 - After a long hot day touring, I showered off the sweat (not sure why) for round two... an early evening stroll down Chestnut. Once outdoors, I was greeted by swirling, black clouds, wind, dust, and dirt!!!!!! Back inside for the night :-) Finally, a needed storm to give this place the bath it needs :-)

July 24 Monuments galore

July 24 After a very heated run/walk up to Culp's Hill Observatory, it was time to get to the 'Visitors Center' !! Should always start with the visitor's center, but oh we'll. Viewed a IMAX-type Gettysburg film and cyclorama, walked the museum, and began my auto tour with CD tour guide. 4 - 1/2 hours later and sunburned I was almost done! But, the fun news is that what I had run/walked this a.m. was the rest of the tour - so, I'm done!!! It's an auto tour (reminded me of Stocking Scenic Drive- one way mostly, but with Civil War stops rather than Lake Michigan stops!) Monuments, tributes, plaques, statues, cannons, fences, fields, rocks..farms.. SO much to see !!! Late lunch was at the Dobbin House Tavern. This has Revolutionary (establshed in 1776) and Civil War history - first underground railroad stop north of the Mason-Dixon Line and served as a field hospital (like most all buildings in this town). The tavern is downstairs and lit by candles. I had a Corn Beef on rye :-) Found Robert E. Lee's headquarters :-) and where Lincoln scratched out revisions to his Gettysburg Cemetery dedication - The Wills House. Wonder what it would be like to live in such an historical place? AND have decided everyone needs to memorize the Gettysburg Address. 'Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged In a great civil war...'

July 23 West Virginia?

July 23 Surprised to see the 'welcome to West Virginia' sign on route to Gettysburg, PA. I didn't study the maps closely enough, I suppose :-/ It was a brief pass through - so I stopped for lunch :-). Exit 30 Lincoln's Way is seriously spectacular - it winds, twists, climbs and descends ... 2 lane road for about 50 miles into Gettysburg. At least I'm in an air conditioned car :-) not crossing the hills with Civil War trench feet. As I approached a summit point ~ my cell rang!! :-) A very important call from my friend, Karen, wondering if Jackie still has her stationary business!!!! Crack me up!!! Perfectly the worst timing EVER !!! :-) Made it into Gettysburg, found the Inn. No big deal, a little sticky. Ventured out for first emotional hike around battlefields - standing in the middle of Pickett's Charge or the High Water Mark sent chills and emotions. Such sadness for the lives lost - The Revolutionary War...I get. The Civil War... ???? Any other way to resolve the taunting disagreements over slavery and states' rights? Was it enevitable? Maybe after this trip I'll understand more clearly. Actually probably to visit the south before I get it. Next summer.... Vicksburg? Fredericksburg??? Antietam???? Welcomed a tavern for an ice cold beer after hiking in 90degree heat!!! Pictures are on facebook.

July 22 New Running App Doesn't Lie!

July 22 "It's 4 miles exactly" ... But, it was 4.28!!! I know for a fact, as I have a new free app 'runkeeper'. Plus it was hot, humid, and I'm not light as a feather, like my friend!! Still a great a.m. run around the 'hood' - then splashing in the pool - avoiding a shower altogether :-). You can take the Great Lakes' fresh water away from the girls... But you can't take away the desire to rinse any other way than a shower!!! Today we ventured to 'North Market' - super cool, indoor warehouse-style market. Asian, Italien and Indian cuisine, artisan bakeries, coffees, flowers, and 'high-end kitchen shit (Donna's words)filled the space. Much like the Burroughs Market Melissa and I ventured into in London, this market rocked. Meandered out of there to 'Short North'. A boutique, gallery, totally eclectic area in downtown Columbus. Enjoyed our Sunday early afternoon with fab Bloody Mary's! Just $3 each!!! Crazy and yummy at the Union ...something... Totally gay, so, great gender watching!!! Poolside again in the afternoon - met a parapalegic who is the ultimate story of why one should never dive into known or unknown water!!!! He is the 3rd and ultimate consequence I've known in the past month!!! 1. Ryan - neck strain diving in shallow water 2. Sean - broken neck diving in unknown waters- will have full recovery... 3. Today, Brian, dove in familiar water years ago- now in a wheel chair forever!!! DON'T do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great dinner at 'Bone Fish' and endearing conversations. xo.

July 21 Ohio, really???

July 21 Seriously Ohio is underrated - at least from a Michigander's standpoint. Cedar Point- Cincinatti - what else is there, right??? I was really impressed with the Columbus area the moment I arrived. Charming shopping - reminds me of sister Cindy's Granite Bay, CA area- new, fresh outdoor shopping village, great restaurants.. Maybe it was more like a shopping area in Sacramento - doesn't matter, really impressed. Donna found some gems.. I am refraining..as I have a long two weeks with lots of history ($$) stops on the way! Donna's apartment is super cute ~ got the grand tour of this award winning complex right away! Movie theater, Starbucks...two of many amenities...I'd hate that. After shopping at the Easton Market we drove to Dublin, Ohio- sweet small town nearby. Met Donna's friend and tasted some of the BEST ice cream ever!! 'Jeni's'. The flavors are described as if wine tasting.. "The burst of flavor...."....."followed by the after buds..."Some favor sensations--- Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Queen City Cayenne, and Reisling Poached Pear.... This palet pleasing idea would do well in TC - watch out Moomers!!! New England quaint town that has crazy crosswalk indicators due to a bad pedestrian accident awhile back - birds chirp, lights flash!! Compassionate place :) Glad I got to see one of her 'homes' away with her new life, as she is moving again in August. Promotion..means new location. I hope Huntington Bank continues to recognize and appreciate her brilliance!!! On a lighter note, her apartment faces the poolside courtyard and I have to say the after midnight sounds were reminiscent of my court side hotel window in Paris, France back in summer 2010. I smiled to myself.

July 20 Just one more thing before I go

Hard to actually back out of the garage. Seems like there was too much that needed to be done ! Would this be the last time the flowers were watered? Just go! Rest Stops. Interesting. Arrived at my Holy Name/Seaholm friend's home in Ann Arbor just I time for cocktail hour. One night, stories, laughs and Debby's dog, Charlie. 30 years seem like no time has passed. Walked around the closed art fair, admired U of M's eclectic architecture - gothic to very contemporary! Vibrant town at night :-). If we had to live 'downstate' Ann Arbor would be okay. :-)

July 19 Prologue

July 19 Gotta pack - wash car - A trip in my mind for a long time is just about here. Red Hot Chili Peppers 'Road Trippin' comes to mind. I use to sing the song, thinking my kids would join me.. Road trippin' with my two favorite allies. Fully loaded we've got snacks and supplies. It's time to leave this town. It's time to steal away. Let's go get lost anywhere in the U.S.A..... Adults now and working this summer, the song 'Cats in the Craddle' comes to mind :-( So, I'm on my own with this first adventure, an excited 50 year old history teacher embarking on her first (yes, FIRST) road trip. About 26 years ago I ventured into Washington DC with my boyfriend and could care less about America's past. Feeling a bit naughty (traveling against my parents wishes) and in lust, my 'monumental' thoughts were about the next B&B, not about Lincoln or Jefferson.