Zippy Applehead Books

I am pleased to announce http://zippyappleheadbooks.com is now live. Please take a moment to view the site. Very shortly I will post other information on my books and will be blogging from this site also — mainly for kids.

Librarians, authors, adults, teens, and children from all over the globe will celebrate the power of words and stories during the annual World Read Aloud Day on Wednesday, March 9.

Remember 10daybookclub.com from 3/1-3/21 to sign up and review Giggly Gracie & Jammin’ Jane. It is free. The story of Giggly Gracie & Jammin’ Jane  is written in rhyme and verse with an 1800 word count and appeals to the 1st – 3rd grade age range. I would love for parents, teachers and children to all take an opportunity to read this story. Maybe even a classroom assignment for older students? Just a thought — they could sign up, read the book and give feedback. I would love to hear from the students. Thanks to all and don’t forget:

It’s a great day in the Wonderful World of Zippy AppleHead!

Remember:

Live Life to the Fullest and Follow Your Dreams — no matter what age!!!!!

“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”

— Emilie Buchwald

California Dreamin’…Jack Coolery…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UcQDUR-fU

Now and then someone comes into your life that leaves an ever lasting impression. Whether it be through songs, or words, or actions, they leave you with those fond memories that can never be taken away.

Two years ago I had the privilege of gaining employment at our local high school. At almost sixty it can be quite intimidating to start a new job with a new boss in a new place. But I did just that. The opportunity brought me home to our county so I did not have to commute any longer. It also allowed for my husband and I to car pool, save money on gas while enjoying each other’s company on our daily drive to work.

It wasn’t long into my employment as the principal’s financial secretary that I knew I was in the right place. In two short years I have learned so much from a person who has been in the educational field for the past forty-one years.

Mr. Jack Cooley is a man of many talents. He is a top-notch disciplinarian and can head off any nonsense before it takes place. He knows of the pending doom with the kids before the kids know. He can smell a fight while it is brewing in the minds of the culprits and erase the issues before coming to fruition.

He knows every species of butterflies, every word to every song ever written, is a great drummer, loves physical education and biology, can carry a tune and whistle a song to completion without missing a note or beat. He has a great sense of humor, a genuine passion for education and an honest-to-goodness old fashion love for his family. He is a true renaissance man!

It was a perfect fit as his secretary. He told his jokes and I laughed. (and yes they were mostly all funny) We sang together; however he can carry a tune much better. We could finish each other’s sentences when discussing issues at hand. And it wasn’t long into my employment that I knew I had nothing to be intimated by.

Godspeed to you Mr. Cooley. As you end your forty-one year educational career through the Rappahannock High School commencement services on June 19th may you take your “Rite of Passage” with you into your much deserved retirement years!

Live Life to the Fullest and Follow your Dreams

see you soon…

Adding “just kidding” doesn’t make it okay to insult the Principal.
Nancy Cartwright

…wake “UP” AmErIcA…

The Rise and Fall

Recently my husband and I inquired with our mortgage company about our home and land values.  Fortunate to find a 2 acre piece of property with two outbuildings plus the home a few years ago for a major steal was beyond our belief.  Although market prices were fairly reasonable when we relocated from Tampa to Virginia the price we paid was still way below market value. With water view scenery of the Rappahannock River in the middle of the country with corn fields and vast farmland surrounding us we are close enough to city life but far enough out to enjoy the peace, quiet and pristine beauty of the Northern Neck.

Our property had escalated quite nicely over the last ten years and we were pleasantly surprised four years ago when advised our land had increased 2.5 times in value, a significant increase. But as we sat before our financial guru this bleak day a few weeks ago we soon learned just the opposite had taken place over the course of the last couple of years.

Due to the “let’s not really call it a recession even though it is” our property had declined quite nicely. In fact, we now sit directly at the break even point which is certainly better than you have no equity at all. Now our broker put it in really nice terms for us. In fact it was quite commendable when he advised we could not borrow any money whatsoever to make any type of home upgrades. That’s OK he said.  If the housing market ever increases again so will your property. Hello, I need improvements now!

My daughter lives is nice middle class community in St. Petersburg. She purchased her home about 8 years ago for a mere 100K. For those of us considered “lower to middle class”  this kind of money is not easy to come by. Unfortunately with the fall of the housing market the vicinity she resides in has been heavily hit by the decline in home values. Four years ago a home for sale in her neighborhood would yield a value anywhere between $150-$200K. A nice increase to say the least.

There are several homes now on the market in the very same neighborhood. The homes are selling for between $49,000 and $69,000. A large-scale abatement in an economy where the financial leadership of our country refuses to admit we are in an undeniable recession. H-E-L-L-O!

Take a closer look. Working for the public school system has brought us soon entering a fourth year school term with no pay increase yet the cost of fuel and groceries continue rise faster than I can change a toilet paper roll at home. And health care…….let’s not even get into that discussion in this post.

Times are tough and the state of the American economy stinks. It’s time America for this chicken feed fed to us be stopped. We need positional and powerful change in our country with leadership who actually care about you and me. We need it now. So as Earl Pitts would say…………………….

WAKE UP AMERICA!

Live Life to its Fullest and Follow Your Dreams

see you soon…