Oprah

If you asked, I would not classify myself as an Oprahrian. I certainly haven't devoted all my afternoons to her show. I've never read her magazine. I don't have her new cable channel. And I don't agree with everything she says. And yet, even I owe a giant thanks to her majesty, Oprah.

When I started watching The Oprah Winfrey show, I was in my twenties, and the last thing on my mind was reading a book. Oh I had better things to do!  It was 1996, and I hadn't read a book since high school - in almost 8 years. Somehow, I had forgotten the magic in reading. How did I take for granted such a precious gift?  

I'm glad that Oprah reminded me.  I started with The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard and then there was The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton. Many more followed, some on her list like She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb, Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi, Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts, The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve, Tara Road by Maeve Binchy, Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton, and many, many more on my own list. 

In my renewed passion for reading, I somehow found the courage to go back to school after so many years away, and after losing confidence in my academic abilities. And something magical happened. I found Shakespeare - and a professor who believed in me.  Dr. Loomis at UNO might have scoffed at my Oprah Book Club had she known that it got me in her class. But maybe not. After all, everyone knows Oprah.  Eventually, I got my Masters Degree in English from the University of Alabama. Could I have done that without Oprah? 

There are so many other things that I have to thank Oprah for: Gratitude Journals, Random Acts of Kindness, A-HA Moments, and my favorite quote from Oprah: "When someone tells you who they are, believe them." 

I've cried so many times watching her show - in grief and joy. I've remembered so many of her guests' stories - especially the ones that made me appreciate what I have or made me believe in what I am capable of.  And yet, I don't consider myself a regular viewer. That is the power of Oprah.

Oprah is a force for good in this world, not just because of the things she did, but because of what she inspired in other people. Even in people like me.

So, on this last day of the Oprah show, I plan to sit back on the sofa one last time, throw my feet up, grab a tissue, and celebrate Miss O!

A Formula for Making a Thesis Statement

Recently, a friend posted on Facebook her frustrations of students writing their thesis statements incorrectly. I have seen students struggle with this in every English Composition class I've taught. Eventually, with the help of a really great Internet post (that I am no longer able to find) I was able to come up with what I call a "Mathematical Formula" for composing a thesis statement.

The definitions and examples are from the Internet sample that I found years ago. Basically, I am not able to cite my source on this since I am unable to provide the link. (I suppose this is a great example of Plagiarism!)

Here is how I break down the lesson:

There are 3 elements of a thesis statement

1. Qualification

2. Why your thesis is valid

3. Your exact position

Steps:

1. Your Topic: What is the general category your essay is about. (For this example we will use School.)

2.  Your Position: What is the one thing about your topic that you believe to be TRUE? If you don't have a specific opinion yet, then map out your topic. (This example: Schools have too many people in them.)

3.  The Qualification: 

     A. Is what you say always true?

     B. Are there exceptions?

     C. Are there good reasons your position will have a downside?

     D. What reasons would your position have any problems and can you admit them up front?

     (Example: Although schools of over a thousand students have flourished in America......")

4.  The Reason: Why do you think your position is correct in spite of your qualification? What is the good to be gained by your position? (Example: Small school populations lend themselves to building a good community of learners.)

5.  Put them together:

     Use this order - Qualification + Reason + Position  

     3+4+2 = Thesis

     (Example - Although schools of over a thousand students have flourished in America, small school populations lend themselves to building a good community of learners, and therefore we should consider limiting school populations to a hundred.) 

I take my time with this assignment, using an entire class to explain it and work with examples from students.  I have students take turns at the board using ridiculous and funny examples. I hope this helps....and of course, if anyone finds the original link, I would love to give them the credit for this work!!!

Happy Joy Juice

Recently, a friend of mine weaned himself off some very dangerous depression medication. You've seen the commercials - the side effects always sound way worse than what the medication is treating:

• Dry mouth
• Urinary retention 
• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Sedation (can interfere with driving or operating machinery)
• Sleep disruption
• Weight gain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal disturbance/diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Inability to achieve an erection
• Inability to achieve an orgasm (men and women)
• Loss of libido
• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Thoughts of suicide

Although my friend has been feeling better, the stress from working on the road for a major tour was still causing anxiety and depression.  But he really wanted a more natural alternative to prescribed medication. I decided to try the tincture recipe from one of Shoshana's videos called:

Shoshanna's Kitchen - Episode 14 - Depression Tea and Tincture 

I'm calling my tincture Happy Joy Juice!

The ingredients are: Vodka, Ginseng, Ginkgo, and St. John's Wort. They have soaked (or cooked) in a mason jar for over a month now....in total darkness. I shook the jar every day to mix the ingredients. Then, I waited.

I made enough for my friend to have a couple of month's worth. I also made extra for me and my friends. I can't sell this tincture because it is Vodka based. And of course, it isn't safe for everyone. Kids and people who shouldn't drink shouldn't take it.

If you think this kind of tincture might help you, let me know. I can talk you through making your own. Shoshana's video is really all you need to make it for yourself. 

My Favorite Overnight Tea

I remember that my mom and grandmother always had a giant pitcher of sweet tea in the fridge. It was so great to come in from the hot sun and have a big glass of cold iced tea!  I'm off the sweet tea now (I can't believe we used to consume that much sugar in a day), but I still love tea. My new favorite is mint green tea. And I always have it in a large pitcher in the fridge - just like mom and granny. Here's how I make it:

I add to a quart size Mason jar two or three bags of organic green tea, a cutting from one of my mint plants, and sometimes (as you can see in the picture), some fresh ginger. I pour some hot water over it (you can also do cold) and let it sit in my window overnight. In the morning I pour it over ice in my favorite pitcher.

But I don't throw out that jar yet.......I pour new water over the same tea bags and mint and set the jar right back in the window. By the time the original (and stronger) tea is gone, I have an almost de-caf version ready to go for dinner and the evening. (I also like having the mason jar of tea in my window.)

I start the process all over before bedtime. It's a great way to always have tea in the fridge. You could try it with any flavor and even add lemon. (And growing your own mint is so easy -you can even get it in the Wal-mart garden section.) This is especially good if you are trying to get off sweet-tea.

Make Your Own Clothes Detergent - I Did!

Recently I replaced my toxic dryer sheets with a Mr. Steamy ball.  I love how it works – no static cling and my clothes are soft and not heavily scented.  Since then I thought it would be REALLY nice to never have to buy clothes detergent as well. I found a great recipe online that’s simple and SO cheap!

Here it is:

1 part Borax

1 part Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

1 bar of grated Ivory Soap

I took a new 5-Gallon bucket (with lid) and mixed my ingredients.  I bought enough ingredients for 12 cups of each for the first batch – which comes to little less than half the bucket.  The total cost for everything was about $17. 

But here’s the best part: it takes only a TABLESPOON to wash a load. Do you know how many tablespoons are in half a 5 Gallon bucket? I looked it up and the answer is – about 640!  So, for $17 I get 640 loads .  That’s .03 per load. (I rounded up.)  Yes! 3 cents per load!!!!

Kiss my butt, Tide!

JT Pottery - Just beautiful stuff!

Today I spent some time at the Nashville Centennial Park for the TACA Arts and Crafts Fair. One of my favorite vendors was JT Pottery.

Here is their bio:   Our pottery shop is located down in the Southern Middle Tennessee Hills near the small town of Pulaski, that is where you will find the home of JT Pottery.  It is there that our hand crafted pottery is created. JTPottery is made in the USA.

    JT Pottery is glad to bring you pottery that is microwave, dishwasher, and oven safe in addition to being lead free and food safe.

    Maggie and Jeff work together to bring you Pottery items of superlative quality, Artistic, and functional Items made from clay and fired in our kiln at a temperature of around 2195 degrees Fahrenheit. 

If you are looking for some local, hand-made pottery, please check them out!!!

Bull Thistle is Edible!

Walking down 8th Avenue the other day, I saw a bull thistle growing in front of a business. I'm sure it will be (or already had been) sprayed with some horribly toxic pesticide (that will eventually be in the water table). But did you know that many weeds, like bull thistle, are edible? Of course, the ones that have been sprayed with poison should be avoided.

Here's some info on the very edible bull thistle: