Carpal tunnel...

Hi again...
I just wanted to show you all a couple pictures that I looked up on Google.
For those of you who haven't seen me, this is what I look like basically:

I have to wear a Corflex wrist brace. Underneath I wear a glove and bandage under that. This is what it looks like with stitches, basically:

Alicia thinks this is wider than mine actually is. Gross, eh!? Lol.... This is what it should look like after it is fully healed, basically:

Amazing what they can do with modern medicine, isn't it? In two weeks I go and get the stitches out of my left hand, while also starting physical therapy on my right. I will be sure to keep you updated about what's going on.

Hannah

Saturday Market

Hi everyone!
Saturday Market is the title of one of my Mexico books. I am still waiting on it from Borders. I went yesterday and asked about it, since it's been about a month since it was ordered. They told me that since I ordered it, it has become backordered. This is not necessarily good, given the timing. I'm just hoping it comes in sooner than later!

I'm doing pretty well. Tomorrow will be my first day at school since having the second surgery. I'm a little nervous : /

Talk to you all again soon!
Hannah

Surgery

Hey all!
I'm just updating you to let you know that I am done my surgeries(for now). I am very sore, but finally on the road of recovery : )
Talk to you all again soon,
Hannah

Mrs. Haynes reviewed the books...

I got the books back from Mrs. Haynes today with her comments. I plan on deciding on book titles this weekend and then getting them ordered ASAP. As soon as I have ordered/picked the books I will update the blog.

Come and check back for the grand unveiling! Lol!
Hannah

I'm here to wish you all a....

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!!

I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by my classes. They seem much more exciting to me after hearing the teachers talk about them more specifically.

Hope everyone had a great day!
Hannah

P.S. Tomorrow is the surgery on my left wrist. I probably won't be updating the blog for at least the weekend...probably longer.

Right now....

In the next few minutes I am headed to school to bring Mrs. Haynes some of the books that she hasn't read yet. I have had a few people read the books so far including Mrs. Haynes, Mom, Alicia(my sister), and myself. I feel like I get a good range of comments this way.

I have been working on the project a lot lately! Not only because it is right around the corner(ahh!), but also because I am going to be very limited in what I can do coming up. This Thursday, I am having the second of my carpal tunnel surgeries. My right hand is doing pretty well. It's healing, but the process is very slow. I have restrictions for 4 weeks right now that have to do with writing, typing, how much weight I can lift...things like that. The start of school is going to be difficult, I think! Today, I am meeting with my guidance counselor and the school nurse to make my accomadations for the first full month of school at least.

More updates to come...stay tuned!
Hannah

More books!!!

Hello again!
So, I am currently waiting for 2 books to come in! That is so exciting and such a relief to me. I will post a list of the books that I have for you now. Here they are:

Ireland:
The Night Before St. Patrick's Day by Natasha Wing
A Fine St. Patrick's Day by Susan Wojciechowski
Fiona's Luck by Teresa Bateman
Patrick Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola
Shawn O'Hisser the Last Snake in Ireland by Peter J. Welling
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Samantha and Lola by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy
Too Many Leprechauns by Stephen Krensky
Lucky O'Leprechaun by Jana Dillon
The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolan*

Mexico:
Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston
The Little Red Ant and the Great Big Crumb: A Mexican Fable by Shirley Climo
Josefina by Jeanette Winter
Adelita: a Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie dePaola
Saturday Market by Patricia Grossman*

* = waiting for it still

I got a whole stack of these books yesterday from Encore, so I will read through them and let you know what I think! The about 8(I think) books that I've already read, I've really enjoyed.
Talk to everyone soon!
Hannah

Books!!!!

Hi!
I got my stitches out today...ughhhh! It hurts to have stitches taken out! Take my advice, don't get stitches. As expected, I have a lot of restrictions. We'll see how it goes....

I do have good news though! 6 books came in today. Unfortunately 2 of them were the India ones. If you have been following my blog, you know that I have switched from the culture of India to Ireland. If you didn't know...now you do : ) Luckily, I only ordered 2 out of 4 India books. 1 book was a Mexican one. The other 3 were Ireland ones. They all look quite promising, I would say. There are 5 more from Encore coming on Friday and another sometime next week(they forgot to order it). I had 1 from Borders today and 1 more is supposed to be coming. I will let you know when they all come in and/or when I make some decision! : )

Talk to you soon!
Hannah

It's been so long!

Hi everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't been on in so long! After my surgery it was a bit difficult to get used to typing one handed. So, to be honest, I put it off : ) However, I'm not putting it off any longer.

The concert went great! It was a beautiful concert. Shelsey is an amazing cellist and I told Mimi exactly that! It was so great to be able to see her and everyone else perform.

Due to all the trouble India has caused me, I am switching to Ireland. I know that it is late to be switching, but I feel that I need to. I am in the middle of ordering the Ireland books to "proof" them of sorts. I need to figure out which books I would like to use. I will be sure to get an updated list on here very soon of the books I am looking at or which ones I decide to use.

Very, very soon school will be starting. So, I will begin to collaborate with the first grade teachers. I need to sit down and figure a few things out from them : )

I think that's it for now...I'm keeping as usual, but I know that you all are too.
More soon to come!
Hannah

Updated Titles List

Here's the updated titles list that I promised:

Adelita : a Mexican Cinderella story by Tomie DePaola (M)
Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston (M)
Engines, engines : an Indian counting rhyme by Lisa Bruce (I)
Excuse me, is this India? by Anushka Ravishankar (I)
Josefina by Jeanette Winter (M)
Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore (I)
The little red ant and the great big crumb : a Mexican fable by Shirley Climo (M)
My mother's sari by Sandhya Rao (I)
Saturday market by Patricia Grossman (M)

Obviously, if there is an (M) by it, it is a Mexico title. (I) is India. Hope everyone is having a good summer. Enjoying the rain this afternoon? : )
Tomorrow is my carpal tunnel surgery on my right wrist. I'll try to let you all know how it went, but typing might be an issue!
Talk to you soon!
Hannah

Just to let you know....

I added a couple of the libraries to my links. I also added the Vermont public libraries website. It's pretty informative and you can get to any websites from that page.
Check it out!
Hannah

Update of August 4th, 2009

Hello again!
Today I've been working hard on the program. This morning I met with Mrs. Haynes to seriously discuss which books I will use. I am glad to say that I have it narrowed down to 9 books combining both cultures.
Two of the books Mrs. Haynes has in the library, so she checked them out for me to look at. So tonight, mom and I spent some time looking for the other 7 books. I really hope to find them in store(or library), so that I do not have to order them. We checked at Borders first. They did not have any. Then, we went to Encore. They had had one of the books in store....4 years ago! So they did not have any either. The man there was very helpful though. He suggested that we look at the Howe Library. I was also given the opportunity to introduce my program to him and ask about any discount they could give me if I ordered through them. Since the WRS has an account with them, I will be able to order through that. Thus, recieving 20% off of the order.
So, we went to the Howe Library. The woman at the desk was very nice. She looked up all 7 books and they had 2 of them. I was glad to be able to see these two, since they were two I really wanted to see. I also found 2 more books that I wanted to take more time to look through. So, we asked about checking out. However, for an out-of-town resident to get a card it is $50 for 3 months or $120 for a year. Mom and I decided that we wouldn't get enough use out of the card. So, I got the titles and authors to look for the books elsewhere.
It was a bit discouraging, but I feel like we did make some progress.
I will try to get an updated list of books that I am looking further into tonight.
Thanks!
Hannah

News!

Hi everyone!
I have some really exciting news to share! The Weinstein family, through "the Brie Fund" has supported my program.Every year their daughter, Shelsey Weinstein, performs a concert in honor of her sister, Brieanna (Brie), who died of leukemia at the age of twelve.
This year, they invited me to the concert. She had me write up a short blurb to put in the program. She will also be introducing me onstage as someone that they've helped this year. It is such an honor to be a part of this. She actually sent me a list of the program this year. Here it is:

Fairy Tale Nikolai Medtner
Gregg Pauley, piano
Piano quartet in g minor, Mvmt II Johannes Brahms
Emily Smith, violin, Lindsay Selin, viola, Shelsey Weinstein, cello,
Gregg Pauley, piano

Blackbird John Lennon, arr. for guitar & cello by Han Kim
Han Kim, guitar & vocal, Shelsey Weinstein, cello
Love is Here to stay George Gershwin, arr. for guitar,
violin & cello by Han Kim
Han Kim, guitar & vocal, Emily Smith, violin, Shelsey Weinstein,
cello
Julie-O Mark Summer
Shelsey Weinstein, cello
Blue Laurie MacGregor
Mark Gebhardt, clarinet, Greg Pauley, piano, Shelsey Weinstein, cello
That's what friends are for Burt Bacharach
Larissa Pyer, voice, Greg Pauley, piano, Han Kim guitar & arranging,
Shelsey Weinstein, cello
Song of the Birds Pablo Casals
Greg Pauley, piano, Shelsey Weinstein, cello

I think it sounds really great! I think it is amazing that this family has time to put this all together every year.
Now, I will extend the invitation to any of you who would like to come and support the Brie Foundation. This is the information:

10th Annual Brie Fund PROGRAM
Friday, August 14th @ 7 p.m., Bernice A. Ray School, Hanover, NH

If you want to let me know that you are interested in coming, that would be great. Otherwise, it would still be great to see you there!
Thanks so much!
Thank you Mimi!
Talk to you all again really soon!
Hannah

My lists from Follett...

Okay so I promised you the titles from my Follett lists. First up is India's possible titles:

Amazing Mallika by Jami Parkison
Chachaji's cup by Uma Krishnaswami
Engines, engines : an Indian counting rhyme by Lisa Bruce
Excuse me, is this India? by Anushka Ravishankar
Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore
My mother's sari by Sandhya Rao

Mexico's possible titles:

Day of the Dead by Tony Johnston
Going home by Eve Bunting
Hanukkah moon by Deborah da Costa
Josefina by Jeanette Winter
Saturday market by Patricia Grossman

These are the posibilities right now. Like I said before, I will be meeting with Mrs. Haynes on Tuesday to discuss which titles out of these possibilities we feel should be used. Feel free to search these titles to find out more about them. You can use the Google Book Search further down on the page(found under my followers and above my links), of you want to make the search a bit easier.
Once the actual books are chosen, I will provide a link to the book on Borders or Amazon. So, you may not feel like researching the titles. It is up to you!

I will update you later!
Hannah

Take a minute and feed the fish!

Okay, I know that the fish on the right are completely random. However, they are really cool! I was playing around with the gadgets again(which is always dangerous because I find things to add!) and stumbled upon the fish. I think eventually I will remove them when they become tiresome, but until then they will stay for pure enjoyment.

How to feed the fish:
It is very simple. All you do is put your cursor in the blue box(a.k.a. the water). The fish will swim to your cursor. Then, you just click. You will see little orange granules of fish food.

Let me know what you think of the fish!! : )
Hannah

Upcoming events....

Hello everyone!
Summer is flying by, as I have pointed before! I am now moving toward making some more progress on the program.

Due to my carpal tunnel surgery on Thursday, August 6, I will be meeting with Mrs. Haynes on Tuesday morning to discuss book titles. The surgery will make it very difficult for me to work on the project, so I am hoping to get some things done early in the week.

Mrs. Haynes recommended a book today in an email. It is:
The little red ant and the great big crumb : a Mexican fable by Shirley Climo
I am going to look into it more. Also, the possible book titles are soon to come too.

More to come later,
Hannah

Quick change

Hi!
You might have noticed that the links are gone from my post before. Unfortunately, the links did not work. I will try to add the book titles as soon as possible. Mrs. Haynes pointed out that the links didn't work.

Thank you Mrs. Haynes!