Southwest US Vacation 2010

This is an image of my husband, Brent, and me in front of the Far View Visitor Center at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. This was the last trip we wanted to take before we started a family, and it was absolutely awesome! We flew into Flagstaff, AZ and made a well-over 1,000 mile loop through Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. The country out there is absolutely beautiful!
Another favorite destination of mine was Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. While walking around the park, visitors can see ruins of ancient American civilizations and their former cliff dwellings.

Pertaining to writing, a drive through the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forrest in Arizona lends itself to a visit of Newspaper Rock, one of the earliest known graffiti/message rocks known to the Southwest. One can only imagine what messages have been left for future generations like us to decipher:













If you ever plan to take a trip out to the Southwest, feel free to speak to me about my trip. I will be more than happy to offer suggestions and help you plan a beautiful, historical trip into a world unto its own!

"Go, 'Diigo,' Go!"

Yes, that is a reference to a children's program, and yes, I was trying to amuse myself.

Anywho, of all of the nifty online do-dads we have thus far explored, this is the first one that has really gotten me excited. The Google Reader app comes in at a close second, but I actually want to play around with this one.

I linked the DCS group to a couple of articles about the common core because it has been heavily weighing on my mind. I must admit I am nervous--as I tend to have an aversion to huge changes that I do not, myself, initiate--but I foresee Diigo and similar tools proving beneficial when collaborating cross-curriculum.

Also, I do not use my mimeo as often as I should--mostly because the darned stick will not adhere properly to my board, and even if it did, my rowdy kids tend to knock it down--but I still think that I could incorporate Diigo's work into my lessons. I'm thinking that this summer I will use Diigo to help me prepare for the 2012-2013 school year. I don't want to use the "It takes too long" excuse, but right now it would. Once I familiarize myself with all of its capabilities, however, I can see how Diigo could actually save me prep time--not to mention hundreds of copies--in the future.

Twitter Account

My first official Tweet:
@mccandlj I could tweet info to parents, reminders of assignments, etc. Also, it could be used as an informal book review or summary tool.

My Username is ValerieHFree.

I do wonder, though, if I now should be considered a "Twitter-er," a "Tweeter," or just a "Twit"...


I will honestly say, though, that I doubt I will be using Twitter other than for this assignment in the near future. I use technology as much as possible at school, but at home, I really don't right now.