What is a MOOC?

We're still floundering a bit, trying to find our feet again after this summer's Big Life Changes. We're sure we'll get back on track soon enough. In the meantime, we soldier on.

On Sunday, we were fortunate to hear an hour-long piece on Sunday Edition (CBC Radio) about MOOCs. That acronym (gotta love acronyms) stands for Massive Online Open Course. There's an attempt to democratize (great word!) learning by making available FOR FREE courses and lectures from some of the best learning institutions around the world. We've signed up for a 10 week course in Modern and Contemporary American Poetry from the University of Pennsylvania. It's been 40 years since we sat in a university lecture hall, but we are finding this method of study very enjoyable. The course just started so if anyone else is interested, please join us. There are 30,000 other students there already. We're starting with Emily Dickinson. How can you go wrong starting with her?

Copyright © Cheryl Coville 2011

I dwell in Possibility –
A fairer House than Prose –
More numerous of Windows –
Superior – for Doors –

Of Chambers as the Cedars –
Impregnable of eye –
And for an everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky –

Of Visitors – the fairest –
For Occupation – This –
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise –

(Emily Dickinson 1830-1886)

The Monsters Under My Bed

“There’s no monster

Under your bed.

There’s no such thing,”

My father said.

“Here, I’ll show you.”

Down on the floor,

Lifting the quilt …

An ominous roar!

Piercing red eyes,

Slobbering snout.

Razor sharp claws

Came flashing out.

They grabbed my dad,

Slashing his head

And pulled him down

Under my bed.

Crunch, crunch of bones.

Smack, smack of lips.

Slow ooze of gore

As life’s blood slips.

“Help,” pleaded Dad.

“Yum!” in reply.

Dad should have known.

I never lie.

 On this, the very last day of September, it occurs to us that we have forgotten to mention that we had this poem and illustration published in this month's issue of Underneath the Juniper Tree.

We've been enjoying delving into our "dark side" which is what that magazine celebrates. Underneath the Juniper Tree is intended for kids 7 and up. It reminds us of the delicious thrill of scaring ourselves silly the way we once did with ghost stories around the campfire.

The funny thing is that the older we get, the less we want to be scared. We've discovered we can't watch some of those intense serial killer/police drama/everyone getting blown up or beaten to a pulp TV shows or else we'll have nightmares....at our age! Heck, some nights even Peter Mansbridge on The National can set us off.

Grandma Coco's never been accused of having an excessively sunny personality. However, as fun as it is to stretch and reach creatively, this poem and drawing are probably as dark as she can (or wants to) go.

Check out Underneath the Juniper Tree. Tomorrow they'll post the October issue online (it's free!) and October means "Hallowe'en" so it's probably going to be a good one.

Summer games Part 1

Waiting for the phone to ring

Yesterday, Mr. Coco answered the telephone and, after a couple of minutes of silence, we heard him politely say he didn't think he was interested. He hung up. We, who have been waiting impatiently for an unsuspecting telephone solicitor, were horrified when he reported that the fellow had said he was calling from Microsoft. Huh??? Just the call we were waiting for. Too bad. Mr. Coco is now afraid to answer the phone.

Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long. The phone rang this morning and a woman who identified herself as "Jennifer" (yeah, right!) started her spiel about how she wanted to notify us about the corrupted files that were getting onto our computer.

Well, yes sir. Pull up a chair, we thought. We have lift off!!!

First of all, we asked to have the company name confirmed since this woman was not calling from Microsoft and we really did need to have her repeat the name twice. So, OK, the other 2 repetitions were just for the annoyance value, but hey, that's part  of the game, right?

She mentioned the corrupted files. "That sounds serious!" we gasped in our best imitation of a concerned citizen. She concurred.

Then before she could tell us what she recommended, we asked where she was calling from. "The office," was her reply. Ah, a worthy opponent, we thought. Yes, of course, but where is that? What city? Dead air. And then, finally a busy signal.

Shoot. Less than 2 minutes. AND we didn't even get to say "Butterscotch!" :)


Socks!

From our plentiful stash of sock yarn we have chosen this little beauty...

Lang Jawoll Magic superwash. 75% wool/25% nylon. A lovely blend of mossy green, yellowy green and dark (almost black) green.  400 metres. Very soft.
From Wool-tyme in Kingston ON. This skein is destined to become a pair of manly socks.

And finally...

Don't forget to head on over to Underneath the Juniper Tree to have a look at the August issue of the magazine. They have a new format which works much better than the old one. You'll find our poem Beware Sleeping Kittens on page 44.

Grandma Coco: Poet Laureate of the Kingdom of Coco!

Today’s a big day here in the Kingdom of Coco. Our quilt, Supermarket Showdown, is being featured on The Wednesday Quilt Show over on Jenifer’s blog, Forty-two Quilts. (Such a good idea BTW to have a virtual quilt show….especially since the Kingdom of Coco is a little remote….not to mention snow-bound today.)

Copyright © Cheryl Coville 2006

Supermarket Showdown was juried into the Grand National Quilt show at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery in 2006. The quilt is hand appliquéd, hand embroidered and hand quilted. It measures 25” x 30” and hangs in our kitchen right now. The theme for the show was Wild Life. Get it? You can’t get much wilder than little kids.  :)

From the catalogue:

“I’m always amazed by those mothers I see grocery shopping with their youngsters. They remind me of lion tamers at the circus – only braver still since they wrangle those wild wee beasties with only bare hands and their wits.”

In her first official offering as the (self-proclaimed) Poet Laureate of the Kingdom of Coco, Grandma Coco says if you’re a young mother (or father!) who shops with little kids, this one’s for you!

Supermarket Showdown

When I go with Mom to the grocery store

There’s always so much that I want to explore.

Shiny jars and slippery cans,

Weird green zucchinis and yucky old yams.

Candies, cookies, frozen treats.

Oh, Mom! Can I? Can I? Can I, please?

When I go with Mom to the grocery store

We’re hardly inside when she starts to roar,

“Put that down! Don’t touch that! Quit hitting your sister!

You’re really in trouble. I’m warning you, mister.”

Who took my mommy? Where did she go?

This woman’s a meany. It’s all “No, no and NO!”

When I go with Mom to the grocery store

I’m in the cart. It’s not fun anymore.

Cooped up behind bars while my sister runs free.

“Aw, please, Mom,” I wheedle, “I’ll be good. You’ll see.

It’s cramped in this buggy. There isn’t much room.

There’s no one to play with and nothing to do.”

When I go with Mom to the grocery store

I sit in this cart. It’s a terrible bore.

I try to be good. I honestly do.

I check with the baby. He’s stuck in here, too!

Oh, look! Here’s a bag that’s all shiny and bright.

It’s crinkly and tinkly … oops! I’m in trouble alright!

Copyright © Cheryl Coville 2006