Nature's Hogwarts: Petrified Wood

my favorite exhibit at the Maryland Science Center

love this rock

never realized what it is

finally read this on my latest--field trip chaperone--visit

Live for the Love of it,

Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)

Wishing Upon a Star

To be sung to the tune of “When You Wish Upon a Star…”

To all folks from near and far

Let us tell just what we are:

Students, teachers, H.S.A.–

We’re O.L.V.

Dreamers, learners we embrace,

We’re a truly special place,

Once you’re here, you’ll want to stay

At O.L.V.

Cyber friends,

The going has been tough,

Our funds are not enough–

Consider helping.

We don’t dwell in Fairyland,

No, we’re here, in Maryland.

We’re still here at O.L.V.–

"The place to be."

Cyber friends,

We humbly ask of you:

Please, send a check or two,

The sky’s the limit.

Be “a bolt out of the blue,”

Do “step in and see us through,”

And one day your dearest dream

Will too come true.

     I’m in charge of a fundraiser for my kids’ school.  A school rich in history, cultural diversity, and character.  A school in which former students eagerly enroll their own kids – that kind of school.

     Our Lady of Victory is open to everyone.  Its academic excellence and great atmosphere draws in students from various religious backgrounds as well as children from nonreligious families. 

     O.L.V. is, however, a Catholic school and, like most Catholic schools across the country, it experiences financial difficulties.    

     We–parents, students, teachers–remain positive and hope for the best, but the school could use all the help it can get.  And I could use all the ways of raising money I can come up with.

     Whether you are a Marylander or not, Catholic or not – please, consider supporting a very special school.  Help it stay afloat and get through tough times.  Spread the word.  Any contribution will be greatly appreciated.

Please, make your checks payable to Our Lady of Victory School,

write T.H.A. Fundraiser on the memo line,

and mail the checks to:

Our Lady of Victory School

4416 Wilkens Ave.

Baltimore, MD 21229

Thank you.


Image credit: Wikipedia 

Shared on dversepoets 

A little more respect, please

We were enjoying a beautiful day in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, walking by the water.  My daughter pointed out a brass marker inset in the sidewalk.  She was so happy to see something written in Russian. 

Baltimore’s got a heritage trail that connects historical sites and museums of the city.  Along the trail you find brass markers that read “Heritage Walk” in various languages.

Well, the Russian marker reads «Наследство Гуляют».  Believe me, this is not “Heritage Walk.”  First of all, «гуляют» is a verb, not a noun.  The word «наследство» means “inheritance, legacy, fortune, heirloom.”  True, it may be used in a word combination «культурное наследство» which translates as “cultural heritage”, but the word “cultural” is essential.  The Russian verb «гулять» apart from “to take a walk” and other meanings, may mean “carouse, have a spree.”  So, here's what the Russian brass marker suggests (still in poor Russian): “Wasting their Inheritance.” 

The translation should have read: «Историческая Прогулка».

Now, how something like this could have happened, I wonder?  Did someone just Google the translation and choose the first thing that popped up without bothering to check anything?  Did someone even think of consulting a translator?  Or was it the same translator who wrote “peregruzka” (overload) instead of “perezagruzka” (restart) on the infamous “red button”?

Live for the Love of it,

The Happy Amateur