E books in the Classroom

Use of EBooks in Classrooms Predicted to Increase in 2010
It is interesting to watch how educators are embracing new technology to enhance the classroom experience for their students. An article published this week in THE Journal: Technological Horizons in Education caught my attention: 5 K-12 Technology Trends for 2010 by Bridget McCrea. In this piece, she highlights 5 classroom technological advances that will see the most growth in 2010 according to technology experts. One trend we are most pleased to see doing well is that the increased use of eBooks. There are many advantages to using eBooks and I agree with the experts in this article that this is something we will be seeing more and more of in the future.

1. eBooks Will Continue to Proliferate
eBook readers aren’t going to replace traditional math and English textbooks anytime soon, but J. Gerry Purdy, chief analyst, mobile and wireless, for business research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan in Atlanta, said the devices will gain traction in the K-12 arena this year.

“The eBook phenomenon is gaining ground in the consumer space, where people are using them to read both fiction and non-fiction,” said Purdy. “The way the stars are aligned, it won’t be long before someone adapts eBooks out of the consumer space and makes textbooks available on these portable devices.”

While eBooks would literally lessen the load that students have to carry around with them in backpacks all day, Purdy said, the devices aren’t “quite there yet” when it comes to color, graphics, and symbols. “The eBook readers are mostly black-and-white right now,” he added, “but when the technology advances to the point where color and animation can be integrated, it will become much more viable for the textbook market.”

Memorial Day Weekend

I decided to close the store on Sunday and Monday in honor of our Veterans. There was a time when businesses were always closed on Sundays and holidays. People went to church as a way to settle down and reflect on the activies of the pervious week. Families spent quality time together visiting relatives, having a family dinner, no fast food meals from a drive thru, In the evening, maybe watching Ed Sullivan or Playhouse 90. No TV with sex, drugs, violence, etc. Just shows that depicted family values and encouraged spending time together in front of the same television. Or heaven forbid, reading outloud together from the newspaper or Readers Digest or a book. Now there are Kindles instead of books, internet instead of conversation.
I miss those gentler times. I brought one of my grandsons home with me after a family party on Sunday. Nathan and i spent alot of Monday watching the storms roll in. We danced outside with umbrellas and measured the rainfall in tupperware. Then we made chocolate chip cookies and chili in anticipation of the family comimg over for a quick meal before the Hawks game. When the rain finally stopped we went for a bike ride to see how many puddles we could bike through. I'm glad that I took the time off to create some memories.

I could write a book about what has transpired in the past 23 years as a retail store owner.

The biggest overall problem with store ownership is getting good RELIABLE help. I have found that over the years the mature, often retired adults are the best. I usually have 2 teenagers supplementing the adult staff, and it never ceases to amaze me the multitude of excuses I get from these young people. They all want to work, are desperate to save ...make...need money, and list their schedules and available times etc. Then they get hired and the missing work excuses come in like a 747 flying into Ohare airport.

They are sick..

They are going to the hospital...

They are in the hospital.

Their mother,father,aunt,uncle, brother,sister,dog,cat,neighbor,boyfirend,the guy,down the street is in the hospital

Their cousin, neighbor, dog, cat, turtle, someome from school, their friend' s uncle's cousin has died

Their car broke down, ran out of gas, had a flat, was in an accident, was stolen, was borrowed by a friend, mysteriously disappeared.

They are helping a friend through a personal crisis

They have a personal crisis.

They missed the bus.

They missed their ride.

They forgot that they decided that they should go to church on Sunday and it runs from 11:30-4: (our Sunday hours)_

They are helping a friend move out

They are helping a friend move to college

They have their prom, a friends prom, a siblings prom, a boyfriends prom, their parents reunion prom ( substitute dance,sporting event, shopping trip, theatre,concert, kiros,field trip,college visit for prom and the excuse is the same.

If they show up, these excuses also apply to why they are late or have to leave early.

I had one parent ask me why her daughter wasn't working one week and I told her that she wrote on the schedule that she was going on a family vacation. The teenagers bitch that the store doesn't give them enough hours, when in fact they just don't want to work. Please don't say that this isn't true. I have 3 sons and they pulled the same bullshit on employers when they had jobs. It must be something programed into teenage brains.

tis the season

I really enjoy Christmas music. I am constantly singing along with the satellite music. I know all the words so I pretend that I am on stage. I am really a frustrated singer/restauranteur. I originally wanted to open a restaurant and create my own menus and sing on a piano in the lounge area. I would only make comfort food that I loved. No fusion for me. And Iwould sing the classical songs from the 40's and 50's. That seemed like a gentler and more civilized era. I think about this most during the holidays as I do alot of cooking during this time. Hope that everyone has a happy holiday with family and friends. love, Debi and Max

Taking One For the Team

My American Eskimo dog,Max, has come to work with me every day for the past 6 years that he has been the family pet. He has been a blessing in so many ways. I drive 36 miles each way on congested expressways, and reaching out to pet him in the car has saved many a driver from being run down due to my increasing ROAD RAGE. Over the past 23 years the traffic has tripled and the construction has doubled.

Each and every work day, Max barks at Stuart the Mailman, Vito the neighborhood police officer, and Jason the UPS delivery person. It is the uniform, not the person that excites Max. These fine men never take offense, and get concerned when they don't receive their vocal greeting.

Recently, Officer Vito retired and has been replaced by Officer Leboy, who was similiarly greeted by Max. We got into a discussion about an attemped robbery that had transpired earlier in the day.

"That, Officer Leboy, is why I bring Max to the store everyday. There are many evenings I am leaving late, and I always let Max into the parking lot first. If I would hear him bark, I would immediately slam the door and call 911. I love Max unconditionally, but someday he might have to take one for the team."

Survival is a very strong instinct, don't you think?

Love, Debi and Max the Depot Dog

Kinds of stuff I sell in my store.

Photobucket Album

The Walls are Falling

When I first opened my store I was excited about the prospect of getting out of my drool spattered, oatmeal smeared motherhood outfits, and back into dresses and heels. Armed with shopping bags stuffed with great frocks from Marshall Fields, and a few new pairs of 4" heels, I was ready to dazzle the hords of customers that would flock through my Western Avenue store.
On one such adventures day I was dressed in an adorable black and red shirt waist dress, slightly above the knees with matching black pumps. A customer decided they wanted to see an out of season item that was perched on a ledge near the ceiling. I dragged out the ladder and daintily climbed up to fetch the product. In old Chicago buildings, the ceilings are 10-12 feet high so this was not an easy nor safe task. The customer did not buy....duhhhh
So I climb back up the ladder to put the item away, and the pegboard paneling falls forward. I am on the sixth rung of the ladder holding the fucking wall up . If I let go it will push me and the ladder over onto the display case. After about 10 minutes, sweat pouring out of every orifice, Harry the UPS delivery guy comes in the front door yelling,"Delivery Debi" I tell him I am holding up the wall and to get some help. He replies, "Delivery, Debi, sign here.": I now yell at Harry that I am holding up the goddamn wall and go get help. He gazes at me with this perplexed look and say "Does this mean you can't sign for the delivery? After screaming numerous expletives, Harry finally goes for help and the wall and I are rescued.
As you may guess, I do not wear dresses or heels to work any more.