Perhaps one becomes more reflective in the winter time. We are locked into a very cold one here in the frozen north of British Columbia. We enjoyed the festivities of the holiday season by travelling to Saskatoon and visiting with family and friends there. Highlights included an arts day on the last day of the year at the home of friends, one of whom is a stellar potter. I read and wrote, and discovered poets whom I hadn't read before and whom I will now read with attention. One is the recent Pulitzer Winner, Robert Hass. Brilliant. Another is Robin Blaser of SFU. Yet another is a woman from near Saskatoon who has written beautifully of the geography around the Cypress Hills, Barbara Klar. Discover them if you haven't already. I wanted also to give a shout out to www.leafpress.ca for their continued dedication to poetry.

We're well, for the most part. Seasonal colds...you know the drill. My husband and I had thought we would be going through a year of "empty nest syndrome" with our children all established in other places, but we are residing with extended family and this means that we are usually surrounded by people (we love them) and bustle (renovations) and sound (television, music, YouTube). One of my favourite sites has become www.TED.com, for pithy and interesting talks; another interesting spot is on YouTube when you go to the many interviews done by veteran American journalist Charlie Rose. I can use some of these in my classes.

I think a lot about the culture of high school, and how it has changed with the YouTube and cell phone generation. Distractions? There is so much change: I recommend the YouTube lecture by Professor Mike Wesch on the subject. Schools have become so much more than places of learning, or less, depending on your perception. I am certainly having to adapt my teaching style, and may make some notes on this to add a paragraph or two to my forthcoming book on education (Baha'i Publishing, fall this year or next spring).

Anyway, for those who read me from time to time, I didn't want you to think I'd fallen off the face of the map. I just got busy. I'll download some pictures soon to share, but thought I'd catch up a little with the worldwide web of those of us who blog.

Feliz Nuevo Año.