Wow! Turned on the computer last Thursday to "Google" and imagine the world's surprise! It said "Topeka" instead of Google!! Yeah, it was April 1st, so it was a great April Fool's joke. But, hey, we were definitely noticed! What fun! Around the world, people were questioning, Topeka?? (often pronounced Toe-Pee-Ka' by out-of-state folks!)
Click here for the story on Google's blog. I hope with all my heart that we are selected for Google to be a test site. But if not, we sure had fun in the process. And you know, isn't that what puts the juice in our personal tanks? Our lives get so serious with deadlines and expectations, worry and stress, relationships and money. Take a moment and look outside, gosh, the trees are budding, crocus and daffodils are dotting the ground with color, and the grass is green! Been a long winter. So go do something just for fun. With 70 deg. weather out there go for a walk, plant something, meet with a friend you haven't seen for a while and buy them lunch. Whatever it is that puts juice in your tank, take some time and just go do it!
Creativity in the Curriculum Summer Workshop
Taking Christmas ornaments out of the storage bin every year to decorate the tree is an emotional experience. Some of the ornaments were gifts, some handmade by my now adult children, and many are over 30 years old. It's a bitter sweet trip down memory lane. 
Last Friday, my Graphic Design 3 class went a little field trip. After being stopped by road construction several times, we finally made it out off town to visit one of my favorite business people, Gary Piland. Gary is a self made man who has built his graphics business from the ground up. He is now working out of his gorgeous new home (the house to the right is not his house, but it is pretty, too!) and exclusively uses Macs. My class was quite impressed with his house, his computers (especially the new iPad!!), and how knowledgeable he is of his profession. He was very informative as well as inspirational. He encouraged the students to be bold, do what they love, and don't settle for less. He was not only talking to them, he was talking to me, also! There have been so many times that I have given up on my ideas or adventures because someone criticized it, or I wasn't confident enough. I will always remember as we were leaving, he was standing outside his beautiful new home reminding us to "Be Bold!" I will Gary!! I will!! Thanks so much!
