Good Stuff

This week I have been focused on building the vacation week programming and getting the word out while engaging in conversations that run the gamut from TV shows about guys who refurbish cars and sell them to the climate of Germany; from the price of copper to keeping an open mind about different thoughts and ideas. Yes, we talk a lot.

The boys spent most of Monday tearing apart a very old monitor and some old phones and ipods. We now have a few boxes of computer parts for an awesome art project and a bucket of copper wire that we plan on bringing to a recycling place and selling. Nathan came up with that idea.

On Tuesday Andrew came back to help Elwood put Linux on Ian's old Mini Dell. They spent over an hour researching the model and figuring out what the little computer could handle. Elwood was a bit resistant to getting the Mini computer up and running after finding out it only has a 7 gb hard drive. I reminded him that Ian used that computer to write a 50,000 word novel and do everything else he needed to complete as a independently learning high school student. That computer was on non-stop for at least 10 hours a day including commute time. But, for Elwood it is all about the gigs. Insert the previously mentioned open mind conversation here.

He is fascinated by the fact that you can put a Linux operating system on a thumb drive, plug it into a USB on any computer and run Linux. He had the idea to download it on a bunch of USB drives and sell them. The kid is always thinking...

Nate will be shadowing his cousin at his shop. Because of weather and other circumstances he wasn't able to go this week. The plan is to go and pick up his snow mobile, bring it to the shop and work on it to get it running. He was also very excited about a 1951 Studebaker that he saw on his way to the Center on Tuesday, but the guy wanted too much for it and he wouldn't be able to sell it for much. They may get an old Chevelle to fix up, though.

Miguel came on Tuesday afternoon with two amps and his old electric guitar to teach Elwood how to play. Elwood learned the name of the strings and 'G' and 'E' chords. Miguel is coming back today for another lesson. He is keeping his amps and guitar here so anyone can play anytime. We just have to keep the volume low until the folks at the insurance agency below us leave for the day!

Today Elwood and I brought some of the parts of the monitor that we didn't want to the electronic recycling boxes at the Canton Town Barn. We had already decided to do some dumpster diving if we saw anything that caught our eyes. We came away with speakers (that work!) and old flat screen monitor (that doesn't) and a really old mouse with the wheel and round plug thing. He thinks that will work with the old Mac computer he scored earlier this week. It was a treasure trove! We left behind an old desk top tower, it had enough dust and cobwebs to make us think twice about carting it up all the stairs to the Center. But, we decided this is definitely a resource that we will be checking on periodically.

We are still in search of a German tutor. We brought posters to the SLU student center and the Modern language department. We thought there was someone who was interested but she hasn't contacted us. If you know of anyone who can speak German and would be interested in spending an hour or so a week with an awesome 10 year old, let us know

All we need is the DRC Band to go with the instruments.

Mid Winter Break Program

We have several amazing volunteers lined up to offer workshops and classes. It is very important that we get the word out. I sent an article to NCTW but it wasn't printed this week. I wrote to ask about it and got the response “it is in the que.” We can only hope that means next week.

Please share this opportunity with everyone you know who has school age children and teens. We plan on having tons of fun.