The Lens: I am a teacher in a Catholic elementary school and recently attended an in-service. Because of the size of the in-service, the venue had to accommodate a couple hundred teachers. Not that many schools in our diocese can…
I am Somebody (or am I?)
The Lens: As I have mentioned (probably ad nauseam, by now), I am a direct descendant of Jose Francisco Ortega*. I have also mentioned delving into my family history to see how many of us descendants of JFO there are.…
The Gift of Time
The Lens: My, how time flies when you are running crazy. Each summer, I make a list of things I want to get done. Most summers, I make abysmal progress on the list. One of the things on my list…
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em
The Lens: My husband was complaining . . . again. Seems the sailboat he, my son, and my son’s friend own needs engine repair. We are the epitome of DIYers – a by-product of spending too many years worrying about…
Top-Down, Bottom-UP
The Lens: This is an extension of my “Degrees of Separation” post. So, if you haven’t read it yet, take a few quick minutes to read it before continuing on. Done?? Ok, here we go . . . Connectedness. Years…
The Art of Falling
The Lens: I took a header the other day. Carelessness, pure and simple. I was crossing the street on the way to work. A co-worker had pulled up and was parking her car. As I was crossing, I turned and…
New Year’s Resolutions
The Lens: When you think about it, New Year’s Day is just another day. So it is the first day of a new year. So what? There is nothing different about that day than any other day. Or maybe there…
Degrees of Separation
The Lens: In my last post (over a month ago – how time flies when you are running your behind off), I talked about the PBS show “Finding Your Roots,” in which the host, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., delves into…
One Person’s Sorrow
The Lens: A couple of years ago, my sons gave me a gift subscription to Ancestry.com. I wasn’t sure how much I would like it, but it was certainly an interesting gift. Once I got rolling on Ancestry, though, I…
Little Leagues and Big Leagues
The Lens: I am a huge San Francisco Giants fan. Growing up, it wasn’t Dad who was into sports. I don’t recall him ever showing any interest in professional sports. It was my mom who was the crazed sports fanatic.…