SCORE! Cool! Of course, I'm usually too verbose to blog by texting. But it will come in handy sometimes.

Let's see if this works. I attempting to blog via texting. Here goes....

Librarian 2.0 Step 11: The Wide World of Podcasting

My thoughts:
I have some experience with podcasts. My roommate subscribes to several podcasts on I-tunes, and I have listened to the ones for the tv show "Lost." Some of them have been podcasts and some of them have been vidcasts. Also I recently listened to Resiliency Radio, a podcast developed by Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe, on BlogTalkRadio www.blogtalkradio.com.

Since I am more engaged by video than audio, I prefer vidcasts. But I like podcasts too. I don't know if I would ever make one, since I think no one should be subjected to my voice for long periods of time. :) But it might be fun to do it at least once, to show myself that I could learn how. Maybe eventually I'll embed a pod or vidcast in my blog. You never know. :)

librarianintx

Thicker Than Water

I have quoted a few times already from the book Thicker Than Water: Essays by Adult Siblings of People with Disabilities. I am finding many of the essays very compelling. The one I'm quoting here sounds so much like me:

The author is writing an imaginary conversation between G-d, a guardian angel, and St. Michael:
[Yes, I'm Jewish and there are no saints in Judaism, but work with me here] :)

"G-d: Well, I have sent [name] just about as many signs as I could send - without showing up in person - to let her know that she needs to...

Guardian Angel: I've tried my best to whisper words of encouragement. And I have even whispered advice into her friends' ears so she could hear it from them. But she answers EVERY piece of advice with another fear, another 'what if..' She's wearing me out.

St. Michael: It is looking pretty hopeless, G-d. I can't even begin to penetrate the wall of fear she's built around herself to give her a shot of faith and courage. She has no idea I am even around!

G-d: We tried the easy way by laying the whole path out in front of her, and by bringing people into her life who could help her and lead the way. But she's not getting it! There's only one way to help her now. I am going to have to resort to...

G-d, St. Michael, and Guardian Angel in unison: The HARD WAY!"

And later in the essay:

"And during the year that was my chasm, I faced a thousand tiny fears I had saved up since I was three...
Fears about having enough money...
Fears about not being to care for...
[in the essay it was her brother. In my case it would be myself.]
Fears I had no family. I found that families are made from the heart, not from blood.
Fears that my fear would kill me. I am still here"

From the essay, "The Chasm," by Antoinette Errante

librarianintx

Librarian 2.0 Step 10: This Wiki World

Wikis are cool, but problematic for me. A wiki is like a pathfinder, and I really enjoy creating pathfinders. I like the fact that you can find a wiki on just about any topic these days. It makes finding information very easy. What I don't like is how easily people can make changes to a wiki. Incorrect or subjective information can find its way into a wiki. If I created a wiki, I wouldn't necessarily want people I don't know adding to it or changing it. So I would want some control over that. However, I really like the fact that you don't have to know HTML or have any kind of technical webpage knowledge to be able to create or maintain a wiki. At work, I don't have the ability or the authority to update our agency web page; the office manager is in charge of that. I think it would be so much easier to have a wiki for the reference center that I could create and manage myself.

PB Works looks pretty cool; I want to learn more about it. I had some trouble at first adding to the LD wiki, but then I got the hang of it. I even created a new section, although I don't think anyone else has added to it yet. Its a section on favorite tv shows. Surprising, right? :)

librarianintx

quote

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh” - A.A. Milne

Essay Excerpt

"Todd's disability was never a tragedy in my eyes. Todd was always just Todd...I consider it a tragedy that most of Todd's classmates and teachers over the years missed out on the privilege of getting to know him as we do. Spending time with him is my favorite thing to do in the world. He has so much to offer - he is outgoing and smart and funny. He is playful and sarcastic and interesting. He is unique. And yet, very few people know this."

From the essay "Don't Apologize for Being a Brother," by Zachary Rossetti, from the anthology Thicker Than Water: Essays by Adult Siblings of People With Disabilities

Notes from first Resiliency Radio Show

I'm such a librarian. :)

Here are notes I took while listening to Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe's first BlogTalk Radio show:

Resiliency Radio
Episode One

Make a choice to use your life experience to inspire.
Resiliency is a choice you have to make every day.
We all need a spark of inspiration.

“ability to weather life’s storms”
“endure, adapt, overcome”

Question: Resiliency for kids aged 6 - 10
Ideas: rhythm, breathing, visualization, and working together as a group

Question: Will Raven Drum release a drum circle on dvd?
Releasing an audio (drum rhythms) this year and video next year hopefully.

Drum rhythms can change, affect heart and brain rhythms.

Whole foods and nutritional supplements can assist resiliency.

Show #3 will be about chronic pain.

Question: How does financial comfort affect resliliency?
Creating resiliency is an inside job. Its your mindset, your perspective that makes the difference. Some people are born with a positive attitude; for others its more of an effort.

21 Ways to Build Resliency on the Raven Drum web site
www.ravendrumfoundation.org

Question: Can Raven Drum help with addiction?
Yes. The circles support everyone. Playing together makes you feel supported, you begin to identify with each other, no matter what your problem or situation is.

Sense of belonging and acceptance – drum circles
Drumming with intent

You can create your own drum circles, create your own rhythms. Families can do this as well as organizations, groups, etc.

Community feeling, bringing old and young people together.

Know and understand your path, what you’re meant to do in life, connect with your purpose, ask for guidance if you don’t know yet what your purpose is.

Question: Any advice for young musicians?
Play from your heart, listen to the greats, those that have inspired others, make the music your own

We’re all unique. Embrace your uniqueness.

21 Ways to Build Resiliency

Copied from the Raven Drum Foundation
www.ravendrumfoundation.org

Nourish positive relationships

Avoid isolation

Share your feelings

Be mindful

Don't believe everything you think

Accept the things you cannot change

Focus on forgiveness and gratitude

Have faith in something other than yourself

Make healthy choices

Be open to learning

Create your own sacred space

Be of service

Avoid trying to understand why

Be a part of community

Breathe and meditate

Listen to nature

Create calming rituals in your home

Avoid thinking of challenges as impossible to bear

Laugh deeply

Connect to your purpose in life every day

Be patient