Poet laureate recruiting for her successor

In only a few short months, it will be time to welcome another Lake County Poet Laureate. Whomever is selected will have to fill the shoes of giants. Five pairs of them, in fact.

Listing helps manage Twitter feed

Responding to some Twitter accounts’ demonstrated interest in tracking Calistoga Junior/Senior High School alumni, I prepared an overview of Twitter for the alumni newsletter.

Meetup.com helps people meet face-to-face

My "Meetup" calendar arrives each week in my e-mail in-box, alerting me to activities by people who have grouped around a common interest.

Church donates to bullying prevention program

Carol Cole-Lewis, Cynthia M. Parkhill and June Wilson

LAKE COUNTY — The Unitarian Universalist Community of Lake County (UUCLC) has taken a special collection that raised $144 toward bringing “Challenge Day” to Clear Lake High School (CLHS).

MakeBeliefs Comix: Trust Walk

Created with MakeBeliefs Comix

Does anyone else remember the terrible moral dilemma of “trust walks” from religious education? Speaking from her position of unquestionable authority, the teacher demands behavior that counters the child’s instinct for self-preservation.

Originally posted to Facebook

Businesses need to be open when customers are free to shop

At least once a week on my way to work, I like to veer off of Highway 29 into downtown Kelseyville to pick up a loaf of fresh bread. Main Street Bakery is open early so I make my customary selection, a hearty multi-grain boule, get back into my car and continue on my way to work.

Sasha: Spirit transcended her fragile envelope

Our sweet, beloved Sasha died Nov. 17, 2009.

Challenge Day addresses bullying head-on

A group of high school students from around the lake are raising money to finance Challenge Day at Clear Lake High School in Lakeport. Having heard first-hand from community volunteers who participated in Lower Lake and Middletown, I think this would be a worthwhile program at any and all of our schools because it deals with bullying head-on.

Book cart debuts in UUCLC Lending Library

Photo circa June 2010

The mission of the UUCLC Lending Library is to serve as a resource for deeper understanding of the Unitarian Universalist faith and to present our congregation with reading material from a variety of spiritual traditions.

A double-sided, wheeled book cart debuted last week, which enables us to bring the lending library into the main hall each Sunday as part of set-up for services. Members of our congregation can sit and browse the books. As our library continues to grow, the cart will feature a rotating selection.

Any books checked out this Sunday, Nov. 15, have a requested return date of Sunday, Dec. 13. (The due date is always four weeks after the checkout date, although you are certainly welcome to bring books back before that time has lapsed.)

There's never enough money for libraries

I spent some time placing requests this week via the online library catalog that connects Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma County branches. A few days later, I received a phone alert from the Sonoma County Library, letting me know that my books were ready at the Lakeport library.

UUCLC Lending Library book cart

Imagine a portable double-sided book shelf, parked next to the most comfortable chairs in the Kelseyville Senior Center’s main hall, where members of our congregation can sit to browse books in the UUCLC Lending Library. Your librarian ordered a book truck, which arrived this week. Look for it to make its debut with a rotating selection of books.

Autism prevalence rates are sign of improved detection

The highly-politicized responses to revised autism prevalence rates underscore the importance for me to articulate my own viewpoints and experiences as a person on the autism continuum.

Animals enrich our lives

Left to right: Elizabeth and Sasha

The rain has been a welcome respite to everyone but Elizabeth, the ruling queen of our household. While Sasha remained content to warmly bask indoors, Elizabeth became restless and desperate to be let outside. She views the rain as a personal betrayal of infathomable magnitude.

Emotional Intelligence

I recently finished reading a book called Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. Written in 1995, what I thought intriguing about the book was that it described individual traits that today are recognized among tendencies attributed to Asperger’s syndrome.

Alexithymia, for instance, from the Greek: a- for “lack,” lexis for “word” and thymos for “emotion.” People with this tendency have difficulty expressing their emotions.

Psychologists also applied the term dyssemia, from the Greek: dys for “difficulty" and semes for “signal.” The condition is a learning disability in the realm of nonverbal language.

The book was written in 1995, immediately prior to Asperger’s syndrome becoming a recognized diagnosis in the DSM IV.

I’ve now begun reading Social Intelligence, which is by the same author but was published 11 years later. What a difference those 11 years make! Asperger’s syndrome is referenced by name in Goleman’s later book.

Transcribed from a personal journal

Toastmasters club meets in new location

FINLEY — Toastmasters Club No. 8731, the Tenacious Talkers, meets at 6:15 p.m. each Thursday at its new location, 2150 Argonaut Road in Finley.

From Highway 29, turn onto Thomas Drive (at Steele Wines and Rainbow Ag) and right onto Argonaut Road. Take the first driveway on the left-hand side across from the Steele Wines crush facility.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization that provides its members with training in public speaking and leadership. For information, visit www.toastmasters.org.

For more information about Tenacious Talkers, call 263-5350 or visit http://tenacioustalkers.freetoasthost.net/.

Cynthia Parkhill

Vice president of PR

Tenacious Talkers

Advanced Leader Bronze in Toastmasters International

Next Thursday, Oct. 1, I’ll be giving a presentation in Toastmasters International’s Successful Club Series: “Evaluate to Motivate.” The presentation will complete my final requirement toward earning Advanced Leader Bronze.

‘Shop local’ includes local media

"Don’t want a newspaper? Buy one anyway," urges a video produced by Slate V, reposted in Utne Magazine's online media blog (archived under July 2009 at www.utne.com/blogs/blog.aspx?blogid=34). "For less than the price of a cup of coffee per day, you can feed and clothe a newspaper professional."

The video is modeled on those television commercials that urge support for a child overseas at a cost of mere pennies a day and while it's heavy on irony, it delivers an essential truth: Journalists are full-time professionals who live and work in their local communities.

UUCLC Lending Library wish list

Please consider purchasing a book on behalf of our lending library. I have posted a wish list of books produced by the UUA imprints, Beacon Press and Skinner House, on the bulletin board in the main hall. There is space for you to sign off on sponsoring each book I have requested.Your donation will be noted on the inside front cover of the book, in much the same way that the UUCLC acknowledges donation of hymnals.

Distributed via email newsletter

Print media ‘campaign killer’: Ignoring deadlines

At iMedia, Tom Hespos declares that “There’s no fun quite like the period immediately after a new communications medium rises to prominence.” He’s talking about social media, and identifies for companies, social media “campaign killers” that need to be avoided at all cost.

As an advocate for continued outreach through traditional print media, I would like to point out a “campaign killer” that is particularly burdensome to people who work in print journalism.

Shelving cart for UUCLC Lending Library

Schoolhouse Outfitters, LLC

As we begin to accumulate more books for the UUCLC lending library, I envision a sturdy wheeled shelving cart that can transport books from the annex into the main sanctuary during social time after the services.

Tenacious Talkers earns Toastmasters ‘Distinguished Club’

LAKEPORT — Toastmasters club No. 8731, Tenacious Talkers, has earned “Distinguished Club” status for the year 2008-2009.

Internet is no substitute for library

The online library catalog is the first place I look when a new book catches my eye. Lake County is fortunate to have a public library system that is tied to library systems in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Our shared library system equates to thousands of books that are readily available.

Toastmasters ‘Competent Leader’

Aug. 13, 2009: Toastmasters Club No. 8731,
Tenacious Talkers, hosts a debate.

I completed my “Competent Leadership” manual, applying moderation of last night’s debate to my remaining requirement. The resolution of the debate was that marijuana should be legal but regulated.

Sasha the cat could be the Doctor’s companion

A multi-colored scarf, suitable for Quidditch or for travels with the fourth doctor, is modeled by sweet little Sasha!

Originally posted to Facebook

‘Fiber yoga’: Crafting as meditation

“You need to stay present when you knit, even if you are just doing a garter stitch and don’t have to pay super-close attention. Touching the yarn and needles gives us a feeling of being connected to ourselves and our world. This kind of connection is what yoga is all about.”

— Cyndi Lee, knitter and director of OM Yoga

The latest issue of Yoga Journal (September 2007) has a good article about knitting, a.k.a. “the new yoga.” I have long thought that handicrafts like knitting and crochet had meditative validity and it is nice to have my belief corroborated. A particular book that might be interesting might be interesting to read is Knitting Sutra: Craft As a Spiritual Practice by Susan Gordon Lydon.

In the words of Tara Jon Manning, author of Mindful Knitting and Compassionate Knitting, “Each [yoga and knitting, or in my case crochet and loom-work] allows the practitioner to leave thoughts and distractions behind and focus on a specific object or action.” To me, this meditative practice can be described as “fiber yoga.”

Advice ‘for’ and not ‘about’ us

“Adam,” a romantic comedy, opens to limited release July 29 in the United States. Its tagline sums up the film as “A story about two strangers. One a little stranger than the other...”

Sasha: A cat so glad to be loved

In July 2009, we brought home a little cat who had been hanging out in our neighborhood. She was so skinny, her fur was so matted; it was clear she'd been on her own for some time but she is so glad to be loved!

Originally posted to Facebook

UUCLC Lending Library brochure

An informational brochure about the UUCLC Lending Library debuted last Sunday at the welcome table inside the front entrance of the Kelseyville Senior Center. You can read about the lending library as well as other informational brochures about our congregation and the UUA. The UUCLC Lending Library can be found in the senior center annex.

Distributed via email newsletter

Tenacious Talkers installs 2009-2010 officers

LAKEPORT — Toastmasters club No. 8731, the Tenacious Talkers, installed its officers for the new fiscal year during a potluck celebration held Sunday.

UUCLC Lending Library serves first customer

The UUCLC Lending Library recently served its first customer. OK; so I checked a book out to myself, it was so inviting to see the books that members of our congregation have donated. You can read about a couple of those books in the discussion forums on the UUCLC’s Ning site. June and July books of the month have been posted there. A new title will be featured each month.

Hand-crocheted Hogwarts cardigan

My Hogwarts school cardigan is crocheted in Lion Brand "Wool-Ease" worsted-weight yarn. No. 152: Oxford Grey, No. 138: Cranberry and No. 171: Gold. To it, I added a Hogwarts crest and pewter buttons.

The pattern comes from Crochet with Style by Melissa Leapman; however, I adopted her pattern for an oversized nubby cardigan to create it in the colors of House Gryffindor.

Originally posted to Facebook

Fingerless gloves in colors of House Gryffindor

This is the Lion Brand pattern for fingerless gloves, created with Wool-Ease yarn left over from my Hogwarts school cardigan.

Like the cardigan, the gloves were created in the colors of House Gryffindor (No. 152: Oxford Grey, No. 138: Cranberry and No. 171: Gold), perfect for keeping hands warm when mastering the use of one’s wand.

Originally posted to Facebook

‘Alternative’ festival needs to practice what it promotes

The rutted dirt driveway seemed to go on forever and we shifted uncomfortably on our hay-bale seats as a man on a tractor pulled the makeshift shuttle up the road. Uncomfortably jostled by ruts in the roadway, I was relieved to disembark at journey's end.

Lending library getting organized

I made excellent progress on the UUCLC Lending Library this morning, while the board of directors held its monthly meeting. I filled out binder sheets for more of the books and put borrowers' card envelopes in each of them. The library is getting organized.

Custom avatar: ‘Oops, Wrong Planet’

Here’s a custom avatar wearing a pale blue spaghetti-strap cami with the “Oops, Wrong Planet” Asperger Syndrome awareness logo by Autist Art (on a garment purchased through Cafe Press).

I downloaded the original, wearing a white cami top, from Yahoo! Avatars. I used Adobe Illustrator to superimpose the logo onto her cami top. I also changed the cami’s color from white to pale blue.

‘Hattitude’: Piecework hat from favorite fabrics

The best hats are the ones that I make myself. Here is a piecework cap assembled out of blue and green brocade and velvet fabrics, reversible to lining of red and orange sunflower-printed cotton.

Miss Elizabeth my sewing helper

Elizabeth likes to involve herself in her human's sewing projects. She would consider it "helping."

Originally posted to Facebook

‘Hattitude’: Sunflower hat

The sunflower hat is hand-made out of fabric featuring my favorite flower. The sunflower's face constantly turns toward the sun. Jonathan is much the same way in his ongoing quest for truth.

Originally posted to “Hattitude” photo album on Facebook

‘Hattitude’: Black cap with decorative pins

One of my co-workers gave me this hat, which is great for wearing decorative pins. In this picture, it features a button displaying two sour-faced critics who ask, “But is it art?”, my Toastmasters International lapel pin and a cloissone Autism Awareness pin.

Braid donated to Locks of Love

On May 23, 2009, I had my braid of more than 10 years cut off to donate to Locks of Love. Kerry G. at A Beautiful You in Middletown did the shearing. Locks of Love makes hairpieces for children who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. For more information, visit www.locksoflove.org/donate.html.

Dealing with media requires its own fluency

Since July 2008, I’ve been in charge of publicity for the Tenacious Talkers, local club 8731 of Toastmasters International. I’ve submitted several press releases about our club’s activities.

‘Hattitude’: Reversible paisley-and-striped hat

I made this hat out of fleecy fabric. The shell is paisley and the lining is stripes. But it’s reversible so I could wear it the other way if I wanted to. As a bonus, I’m holding a kitten!

‘Hattitude’: Hand-made Tudor flat cap

The best hats are the ones that I make myself. Here is a Tudor flat cap, pieced together out of favorite fabrics in shades of green and brown.

Originally posted to “Hattitude” photo album on Facebook

Repeat broadcast of Temple Grandin interview

The interview with Temple Grandin on Chloe Karl's Earth Wise repeats at 8 p.m. tonight on KPFZ 88.1 FM.

— Cynthia Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) May 4, 2009

What have we learned from Susan Boyle?

One of my co-workers pulled up a video on YouTube last week, of a woman named Susan Boyle, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY. She wins over her audience singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.

UUCLC Lending Library

I am getting involved with the local Unitarian Universalist congregation's lending library. I hope to have it up and running soon.

Temple Grandin on Lake County radio KPFZ 88.1 FM

will be on a radio show with Dr. Temple Grandin and host Chloe Karl, talking about ASDs, 5 p.m. Friday, May 1, on KPFZ 88.1 FM

— Cynthia Parkhill (@CynthiaParkhill) April 22, 2009

School play promotes discussion of uncomfortable reality

A dramatic performance of “Bang, Bang, You’re Dead” by the Calistoga Junior/Senior High School drama department offers much-needed encouragement to talk about violence and bullying in our schools.

Calistoga schools finally discuss bullying

I would like to thank the Calistoga Junior/Senior High School drama class for being willing to address the controversial issue of school bullying. I am a 1986 graduate who was subjected to bullying and ostracism throughout nearly all of my K-12 career in the Calistoga schools.

MakeBeliefs Comix: Classic hallmarks of bullying

While claiming that bullying never happened at my high school and that I just didn’t make an effort, my accuser exhibits classic hallmarks of bullying: verbal put-downs and threats of social exclusion with victim-blaming thrown in. Created via MakeBeliefs Comix, this comic strip utilizes text from an email sent by someone who graduated from Calistoga Junior/Senior High School 20 years before I did, and objected to one of my newspaper columns about being bullied in school.

Addiction has her in stitches

Some people’s addictions are of the chemical variety; my addiction is yarn. My latest project is a cardigan in my “school colors,” House Gryffindor, that is. Once completed, I’ll embellish it with the official Hogwarts crest.

Get it in writing!

Your local Toastmaster’s club relies upon publicity to help its numbers to grow. There are many opportunities for a publicity campaign in the pages of your local newspaper.

MakeBeliefs Comix: When teachers bully

This MakeBeliefs Comix strip depicts a way that teachers bully, or give approval to classmates bullying. Chances are, if it happened today, the teacher would be slapped with a lawsuit or at least some sort of discipline.

Originally posted to Facebook

MakeBeliefs Comix: Are you messing with me?

MakeBeliefs Comix is a Web site that allows the user to create his or her own comics using an interactive control board. It provides everything you need: several characters, each with a range of facial expressions, story prompts, speaking and thought balloons. This cartoon illustrates my confusing encounter with a woman who got angry when I honestly answered her question.

Written assessment for Asperger's syndrome

I got my written assessment in the mail from Marjorie Solomon, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor with the U.C. Davis MIND Institute. I completed the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-G) -- Module 4, a semi-structured play session that is used to diagnose autism spectrum disorders. My score was 10, which is above the autism spectrum cut-off score of 7.

Asperger's syndrome assessment at U.C. Davis MIND Institute

Wednesday afternoon I participated in a study I'd volunteered for at the U.C. Davis MIND Institute, about the learning and decision-making abilities of adults with Asperger syndrome. Part of the study included a formal assessment; the researcher told me I definitely have AS. The determining factor for her was that I had no friends in school and that I absolutely don't know why this was so. She's going to send me a written documentation in the event that it's ever necessary as a prerequisite for treatment or services.

Crocheted ‘Peek-a-Boo Pullover’

The pattern for this crocheted blouse (“Lilac Peek-a-Boo Pullover”) was modified from the original depiction in Melissa Leapman’s book, Crochet with Style. I selected a pale green yarn and shortened the sleeves of the pullover. The yarn (Silk City Fibers Perle 5/2 Cotton) was purchased from The Web-sters in Ashland, Oregon.

Evolving communication technology

Wading through in-boxes for some of my e-mail accounts, some of the mass-distribution lists to which I am a subscriber remind me of clubs’ print newsletters grafted to a new technology.

Stars of Lake County: ‘Creative Expressions’ nomination

In an emailed message to the Lake Couty Chamber of Commerce, I nominated “Creative Expressions” in the Stars of Lake County’s “Best Idea” category. “Creative Expressions” debuted in February 2008. It appears twice monthly — on second and fourth Saturdays — in the Lake County Record-Bee.

“Creative Expressions” is due to the effort of Lake County Poet Laureate Mary McMillan and writers Sandra Wade, Richard Schmidt and Lourdes Thuesen. They solicit contributions and make the selections that appear in each edition. Through their continuing efforts, local writers have one more venue for their poetry and creative prose.

‘People’s Movements, People’s Press’ by Bob Ostertag

People’s Movements, People’s Press: The Journalism of Social Justice Movements by Bob Ostertag (Beacon Press, 2006) offers an invaluable look at the history of social movements and their media.

These early newspapers and magazines were the principle means of transmission in isolated communities and served to mobilize people around movements for civil rights.

This book also charts the history of communication technology, which placed the power of publishing into the hands of more and more people.

Desktop publishing software puts the same tools at my disposal — whether producing club newsletters, a lending library brochure or doing layouts for a daily newspaper. The only difference from a layout perspective is in the publication’s scale — broadsheet and tabloid instead of letter-size paper.

It really helps me in my daily profession as a newspaper editor, to be on the distribution list of locally-produced newsletters. They help me be informed and, in turn, inform the paper’s readers by reprinting a newsletter item with noted attribution.

Four cats and one radiator

Left to right: Elizabeth, Lily, Gizmo and Lucifer

Elizabeth shares the radiator with the kittens, Lily and Gizmo ... but Lucifer has arrived to mobilize the forces and lobby the humans for food.

Originally posted to Facebook

Poetry Out Loud returns to Lake County

Michele Krueger, the Lake County coordinator for California Poets in the Schools; and Sandra Wade, a former Lake County Poet Laureate; are facilitating school contests for the Poetry Out Loud national recitation contest. Students at Lower Lake High School, Middletown High School, and Clear Lake High School are participating.

Whose values will win if school districts consolidate?

If all of our school districts are consolidated into one, I want to know whose values and priorities the “streamlined” model will adopt to deal with student bullying.