On a cold February Friday, American Literature students in Mrs. Johansen’s class had the opportunity to express themselves in a creative manner in response to reading, “How To Build A Fire” by Jack London. The class had spent the week putting research skills into play by checking out background information on Jack London, Realism, and The Klondike Gold Rush. Students voted for a “story-time” with Mrs. J. (that’s me) and actually listened intently to the tale that London told as they annotated their own copies of the story. Aside from learning a great deal about how setting can drive the plot of a story, students were reminded that collaboration on projects and processes are important. Lack of cooperation can, quite literally, get you “burned”.
The response-to-literature project culminated with a “how-to” assignment. Among the topics for student-driven “how-to” guides were important things such as: making a sandwich, brushing your teeth, brushing your toddler sibling’s teeth (they can bite!), making crepes, changing oil (in English and Spanish), and how to apply henna.
Pictured is a group who chose to “report” on the Henna How-to with a digital medium, photos, and verbal play-by-play. Uses for and applications of henna were explored and with four separate cultures represented in the group, each student described the inspiration behind their chosen design. Little did they realize – until they did – that they had been presenting the elements of “setting” to their peers.
Comets – Rams – Eagles – US Navy – and now, Longhorns!
It was a beautiful and sunny southern autumnal day in Buford, GA for the 2024 GA Marching Band Classic – Buford Edition. You could say we had seen this movie before. The marching band, the hot sun, high school, my parents sitting in the stands for at least the thousandth time. First, they watched my brother and me as we marched with the MIghty Comets of South Gwinnett back in the 1980’s. Then, it was the two eldest grandsons who began their marching band careers at Grayson High School in the mid-twentyteens – just a few miles from mom’s alma mater. The eldest moved on to GA Southern and competed internationally with drum corps. The second eldest marched into the Navy and played his own Pass-in-Review (graduation). One has to wonder what is in store for their cousin who is marching with the Lanier Longhorns Bands, but that will have to wait. In standing with family tradition, the freshman has scored another role – basketball. And for the grandparents from Indiana, basketball is among the OG family traditions – this proud aunt is gonna need some new swag so she can be mad lit and not skibidi Ohio!
The first fella pictured wearing an AWESOME DINOS ROCK shirt, clutching a BIG TRUCKS book, and dreaming of rock stardom is the 2024 recipient of a magic toy drum. The middle photo is my son at about the same age with the look of absolute joy on his face with the same drum a “few” years ago. The last photo is of that same son, Drew, as a professional drummer in a variety of projects. One of his bands, @florencecardigan hails from The University of Georgia in Athens, GA. They have played throughout the southeast and will be featured at AthFest 2024! Another one of Drew’s other projects is The While – also out of Athens – as much outstanding music is… And, it all started with a toy drum. There is much more to come from my drummer son – including some solo creativity and multi-genre collaborations. With that kind of magic packed into one toy drum, one has to wonder what is in store for the little fella wearing yellow. I hope he finds a love of learning music and with that love and a magic toy drum – the beat goes on. To hear more from Florence Cardigan, check them out on Spotify!
One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is to hand-write letters to the senior class. I mostly stick to the students I have known personally but make sure to add to the pile of generic letters meant for kids who didn’t get a letter. That happens a lot at our school. Language barriers are the biggest issue. Lots of parents don’t always think to send a letter to the school for a student to open. They mostly opt for cards at a home celebration. But, all that aside, I love to write these letters. It is a reminder that what we do is important even if some parts of society want to blame teachers for all of the ills that plague our education system. Writing notes of praise, of caring, of joy, and of celebration provides the kind soul-lifting that is sorely needed at the end of any school year. When the seniors return to school for one last time – for breakfast, fellowship, and to practice lining up – they will receive their letters. It is fun to watch them laugh and cry over the memories and feelings conveyed. Soon, Senior Season will pass and the Juniors will take their places starting a whole new year of school. In the meantime – summertime and the living’ is easy!
Sometimes you just can’t get away to the coast. You know it will heal what is ailin’ you, but there just isn’t enough time.
The answer? Plug in the “Sailing”, “Margaritaville Radio”, or “Yachty Music” playlists and grab a frothy-fruity beverage, close your eyes and sail away on sound. But, if you really want to sail away while still on southern ground, find the next stop southeastern tour of The Yacht Club show!
Based in Charleston, SC, The Yacht Club has assembled an ensemble of some very talented folks. Not unlike many of the really great tribute or cover bands, The Yacht Club has gathered experienced talent that only has to glance at one another to make the music flow like the sounds we used to hear on the radio. It’s a cool thing to experience in action. It’s the kind of thing I look for when reviewing and promoting. It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t happen in all bands. It’s the kind of thing that makes The Yacht Club sail smoothly into the night.
The Yacht Club’s nightly Master of Ceremonies is the highly entertaining and energetic lead singer, Lane Doss. Watching Lane work his magic on the stage is the key to letting things go. How can you take yourself seriously when the band is playing Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” or Toto’s “Rosanna”? You just have to get lost on the soundwaves.
Oh! And you really MUST come to the show in your very best yacht togs and buy a captain’s hat so that when the crowd is collectively bobbing their heads to Eddie Money’s “Two Tickets to Paradise”, you won’t feel like you were left on the docks.
When it’s time to settle into a smokey groove, concert-goers will find the vocals of Tammy “Tunes” Rice Rentz. She can convince you to harden your heart, believe in magic, or in a lotta love. Fans fall in love with her every night. And this girl has the moves that turns the show completely ON!
The entire crew of The Yacht Club is uniquely talented and multifaceted! The “Doc of Rock”, Dr. Bernie Miller is licensed to prescribe a giant dose of your favorite tunes as a cure for your landlubber blues. Plus, he can adjust your spine for dance-floor action!
Kevin O’Quinn, “KevO”, also hails from Charleston and played during his high school days with Doc. Strumming for his church, KevO put out some feelers for music ministry support. Captain Lane, who is also a middle school music teacher, answered the call. KevO introduced Doc to Lane and The Yacht Club was formed.
Andy Lyons, ​”The Speaker of the Yacht” offers up all the fabulous keys sounds that draw a strong performance together. A former journalist, Andy really is the “Speaker of the Yacht”. Andy’s talents are echoed by John “JR” RHODES who supports the band with his melodic bass lines meant to keep the dancers sailing right along. Pulling the entire smooth sailing sound together is “Rhythm Master”, Jim “Ratt” Ratcliffe. Hailing from Oahu, Jim sailed and played his way through a variety of waters while in the US Navy. He even played a gig with KevO way back in 1979! In the music business, you just never know why you meet certain people, but the outcome is often a winner!
In the case of Charleston’s The Yacht Club, it is the audience who wins! Whether they are playing in their hometown of Charleston, or across the southeast, The Yacht Club brings the best of smooth-sailing rock to the stage. Check them out on social media and don’t miss the next show. Smooth-sailing is the cure for what’s ailling!
It’s fair to wonder about the name. Google it and you get, well…photos of my mom. Like many grandparents, Ditdo received her moniker via the eldest grandchild. When kids start naming people and things in their universe, they can be very insistent. My grandmother became “Grape Grandma” and my great aunt became, “GG”, my dad became, “Dado”, and my mom became “Ditdo”. While the first three made some sense to adults ears, Ditdo remains a mystery to this day. It may well have been an early indicator of Drew’s creative nature as he is, to this day, a worker of words, a lyricist, a musician.
With her unique name firmly ensconced in the lexicon of the eldest and youngest lad, Ditdo soon had a fan club outside of the house. Living in the South comes with a level of familiar courtesy such as, “Ms. Beth” or “Mr. Eric”, but that level of address was not for my mom. She is Ditdo. And my dad is Dado. The kids in the neighborhood, preschool, soccer team, swim team, hockey team, classroom, bandroom…well, you can see where this is going. Over the years, I reckon somewhere upwards of 500 kids have probably called my Parents “Ditdo” and “Dado”.
She and Dado both celebrate birthdays this week and, if the social media indicators are to be believed, they have been well-loved! The kids and their parents who know my parents all call them Ditdo and Dado. There is not a”Mr.” or “Ms.” among the acknowledgements. No, for these octogenarians, Ditdo and Dado suit them just fine!
Seven hours of drive time from the Metro ATL gave me plenty of time to belt out some tunes without anyone having to be subjected to my off-key, but enthusiastic songbirding. My journey took me from the concrete of Gwinnett County to the rolling hills of the river country of North Carolina. So many rivers wind in and out of the area as they seek the Atlantic that it has kept the swell of population at bay since well before the War of Northern Aggression.
In fact, historian, Edward Barnes Ellis, Jr. explains some of the reasoning for the lack of a population explosion in his book, “New Bern History 101”. It seems that the “long curving coastline” coupled with a good many shoals that extended far out into the ocean kept much of the shipping traffic at bay. Travelers opted for more accessible ports which resulted in a less populated, but highly desirable and rich farming operations (pines and turpentine). That is to say, the folks who did settle the area were fairly successful which led to the building of the town of New Bern. To find out more about the bears seen all around town, stop in at Next Chapter Books and Art to get a copy of Ellis’ book.
Now, on to were the barracks takes on importance. Just down the road from New Bern is MCAS Cherry Point. And somewhere in those buildings is my favorite sailor. My second-born. We are proud of him as he serves the Marines as a Navy Corpsman.
We enjoyed a long holiday weekend together at a great Airbnb settled nicely on the Neuse River. Here, we were greeted by some emu and their Great Pyrenees, some ducks, chickens, pond frogs, and a few very bouncy goats. Oh, and a super friendly white cat with one green eye and one blue eye named Gizmo.
From the shore of the river we were able to relax in giant Adirondack chairs during the sunshine hours as well as the moonlight. There were kayaks and paddle boards for our river touring and a lovely little beach for sitting and watching the sailboats glide by. The night sky glittered and glowed with the stars as it was far enough from big city lights.
And food. I am a foodie. New Bern did not disappoint. Our favorite restaurant turned out to be MJ’s where we dined on rich crab cakes and perfectly grilled shrimp. Beaufort yielded wonderful seaside outdoor dining at City Kitchen on the edge of the marina.
However, we both agreed that the Oceana Pier Restaurant– just steps from the beach – was by far the freshest fish we encountered. It was nearly still swimming. From our beachside seating, we could watch the surfers bob around in the water waiting for the perfect wave.
A trip with either of my lads would not be complete without some history. We completed our lessons by visiting Fort Macon State Park -worth a couple of hours for certain. The beach there is beautiful and not too crowded.
As far as long weekends go, it was perfect. I managed a quick pit-stop at the famed Buc-ee’s and rolled past the old South of the Border on 95. People were nice, the weather was beautiful, and while I managed to spot both barracks and beaches, aside from the artistic renderings, I never actually spotted a bear.
