Cristina Continued's blog

Here is a link that links to more info on the CPSIA and how it would impact resale items for children, including books. 

http://www.astratoy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234&Itemid=438 

In this case it's the best-laid plans of one woman and her Sony Handycam. I thought I had my technology figured out, but it seems I don't or didn't. I do now, but I didn't have it figured out like I would have liked to for the inauguration bash at the Tecumseh Center for the Arts.

Yes, I have a wonderful video. I added professional commentary. It all looks great. The problem now is I can't get it off of my video camera. I know what I did wrong, and I've tried almost every way I can think of to rectify the problem, even getting my wonderfully technological wizard of a husband involved in the effort. So far, nothing has worked. I am going to take it to a video professional and see if he can help, so all may not be lost, but until then, my apologies to people like Jo Walker, Harvey Schmidt, Pat Sturk and Denise Dwyer who offered wonderful moments on my video. I can watch it, but I can't figure out how to share it. Hopefully, I'll figure it out. If not, I've learned a hard lesson and hope to have everything in working order for future events.

With that, I add that the Herald is moving into the 21st Century as we explore various aspects of "new media." Those seem to be the buzz words in our industry and we certainly want to keep up with the times and offer all kinds of things to our readers. So, that means I will be out at events with my Handycam in the future. By then I hope to have all the bugs worked out, but as we all know "the best-laid plans..."

Cristina Trapani-Scott 

For me, thumbing through the racks of used clothing at any one of the local thrift shops is not only practical, but it's become a way of life, a way to temporarily escape, to not spend too much money and, yet, be entertained and well dressed all the same. Going to thrift stores and garage sales is like being on a treasure hunt. One man's trash is another man's treasure. Isn't that what they say? Even if it wasn't fun, if it was a complete bore, I would go because it just makes economical sense, especially in times like these, not to spend $20-$30 on a brand new pair of jeans my son is apt to put holes in the day after purchase.

Honestly, these stores in good times have been helpful and in leaner times have been godsends. Take when I was a single mother and my daughter insisted only on wearing dresses. Where on earth was I going to find a closet full of dresses for a preschooler without skipping a month's rent? At the thrift store, that's where. Garage sales, that's where.  

I'm also a sucker for handmade things—purses, bags, even stuffed toys that I've given away as gifts. I love walking the aisles of arts and craft fairs, seeing the ingenuity of folks who figure they can take something that might have ended up in a landfill and make it useful or pretty or both. My most favorite of fall newspaper assignments is to head up to the Clinton Fall Festival in September and take photographs of people working on items they've made with their hands. I enjoy talking to the artists and crafters about their processes and their ideas and how they came to be doing this festival thing. I know I'm not the only one who enjoys rituals like this, otherwise the Clinton Fall Festival would never have celebrated its 35th year as one of Lenawee County's main attractions.

Well, I tried to embed a video in this here blog, but it didn't work. I'm still trying to figure this whole cyber reporting thing out. Maybe, that will be my New Year's resolution, to be more cyber-mind. Either way. Be safe and have a Happy New Year! I'll blog at you next year.

The Christmas holiday is fast approaching, and I didn't escape the season without attending the annual elementary holiday program in Britton. The reason I mention it and mean to reflect on it now is that from this point on I will no longer be obligated to attend one, not in its entirety anyway. I may have to snap a photo for the newspaper at one next year, but I won't have to sit through the whole thing. I've reached a milestone. I've watched my youngest in her final elementary holiday music program.

Just as my son was the star of the Nutcracker production last year, my daughter had a part as an elf in this year's production of Elfis, a cute little play about an elf that resembles The King—and even sings like him, only an octave or so higher. 

My daughter made a cute, if not sassy, little elf. She's no stranger to the stage. She was the baby kangaroo in Seussical the Musical a few years back and drew on that experience to put a lot of emotion into her lines. It's true. I have it on video tape.

One nice thing about this year's performance—the last I'll have to be at ever if I didn't mention it before—is that it was surprisingly short. Not that I couldn't watch my kids on stage for hours, it's just that by evening time I'm spent. Add the hustle and bustle of prep for performance and you might as well just throw me under a table. 

I didn't get this information firsthand. I read it in another publication, but I figured I'd share that information with anyone who came across this blog. According to the report, the surgery had been scheduled for a long time, and Walberg was one of 26 other House members who didn't vote on the package.

The Herald staff sends best wishes to Mr. Walberg for a speedy recovery.