Outdoor Wisconsin

Connor woke up early today and got ready to go with his dad to work. It's not everyday that he gets to go to work with Dad. A few times a year, yes. But today is not just one of those stay-at-the-TV-station-all-day kind of day. He gets to go out with the Electronic Field Production (EFP) crew (which includes Dad) to shoot a segment for the local TV show, Outdoor Wisconsin. Not only does he get to go with the crew, he's going to be in the show!
The Milwaukee Public Television's show, Outdoor Wisconsin airs on Channel 10.1 HD on Thursdays at 8 p.m. with repeats on Saturdays at 9 a.m. It's a half-hour show covering different outdoor activities in Wisconsin like fishing, hunting, etc...
Today's segment shoot is about bike trails in Wisconsin. Connor will get to ride his bike on one of the trails. He was so excited about it. He and Tom loaded his bike and protective gear in the car and off they went just a little after six this morning. I can't wait for them to come home and for Connor to tell me all about the experience.
For more information about Outdoor Wisconsin and other Milwaukee Public Television programs, visit www.mptv.org.

Twelve Foot Falls

Just northwest of the town of Crivitz in Marinette County lies the picturesque Twelve-Foot Falls along with other waterfalls nestled within a two-mile area. It is located inside the Twelve Foot Falls County Park where you pay a $3 fee to get in for the day. The day pass is good for all the parks in Marinette County in Northern WI.
We had planned to visit this park while on our way home from our place in Long Lake this time around but as of yesterday, decided not to do it for we just wanted to get back home. We thought we'd need at least a day to explore the park--which is very true.
We have not come upon this park by accident. I started noticing a sign for Twelve Foot Falls County Park every time we drove along the alternate route that we sometimes took going up North. I had always been curious about it. The sign is there on Hwy 8 and along Hwy 141. So I looked it up on the map one day and found that there are other waterfalls in the area. Since then, I've bugged Tom to take us there and check out the falls.
We started driving home this morning and as we came upon the sign, Tom decided at the last minute to check out where the falls is. Along winding dirt roads we drove, following the signs for the falls. It would be better if they tell you how many miles there are to go but anyway, we drove a long ways until we found the first sign for the Eighteen Foot Falls. We stopped. The sign told us that the falls is 300 yards (I think it was yards--anyway, we decided it was too far to walk along dense brush and steep hills and I was not even wearing the proper shoes for a hike!). So we kept on driving and followed the signs to Twelve Foot Falls. We finally found it and walked around a little. We decided to come back and go hiking (with the proper shoes!) next time. At least, we know where it is now and how far we had to go out of the main highways.

On our way back to Hwy 141, I spotted a good size turtle along the side of the road. I made Tom back the car up to go back to where the turtle was so I could take a picture. I told him we should pick it up and bring it to a water someplace but he said it probably knew where it was going. Besides, it looked like a snapping turtle and it did look like it was ready to snap at me for snapping a picture of it!
There is another park called Daves Falls located not very far from this cluster of waterfalls. We're going to check that one out next time. The park ranger said it's pretty there too.
I'm excited to go back and spend the entire day hiking, having a picnic and just enjoying the beauty of nature (with the proper attire and equipment)!

Father's Day Weekend

Tom had the best Father's Day weekend this year with doing what he loves to do best: going to car shows with his family! Not only did we get to do it Saturday, we did it Sunday as well!
On Saturday, we went to Linden Grove's Carnival and Car Show in Mukwonago where we met up with some friends and we got to take Auntie Evelyn with us who had a blast playing bingo with Connor and Colin. There was good food, music, games and show cars for Tom and the boys to feast their eyes on.

On Sunday, Connor got to be a part of the Father's Day Parade in Mukwonago where his football team, the Braves, had a float. They were handing out candies for the spectators (that would be the rest of the Bruce family with some family and friends) lining up the sidewalks. Tom's mom and my dad were there to watch the parade. After the parade, we all went to the car show where we stayed until it ended. The boys had a blast, so did their dad. And me? ...Exhausted! :o)

The Heart of Halsey

5x8 Paperback; 148 pages; Fiction

Published by iUniverse

Also available as an eBook

In the midst of the tranquility and beauty of the sleepy small town of Halsey is a heart that beats wildly with love, passion and heartache. All Addison Hoffman ever wanted was to get away from it all only to find out that no matter how far away you run, you will always come back to where you left your heart. From the author of A String of Pearls and Portrait of a Young Woman, comes The Heart of Halsey –a story of friendship, love, tragedy and faith that will touch every corner of your being.

“The Heart of Halsey is exceptional writing. Margie Tayone Bruce is an exquisite storyteller beyond compare…She has the ‘magic’ of being able to bring the characters alive in your heart as you feel and experience their interaction in this book! A must read…”---Vicki Fischer, Commercial Voice Talent, National Makeup Artist, Beauty Examiner for Examiner.com, Blogger at itsaglamthing.com and Author of Blue Yonder Tales for the Young at Heart.

“The Heart of Halsey is on blooming young love. I saw myself in Addison. I fell in love all over again, and the memory hurt even more deeply. This time, I cried.”---P. Emraida Kiram, nationally-elected Trustee, Filipino-American National Historical Society (FANHS) and Founder and past President of FANHS—Midwest Chapter.

Greater Milwaukee Auto Show

(Photo: The boys, entranced by this Indy race car as it swiveled on the platform at the Greater Milwaukee Auto Show)

We made it to the Auto Show this year at the Frontier Airlines Center. Thanks to Equitable Bank, our donor for the free tickets. March 6th, the last day of the show also happened to be free admission day for children! So off we went: saw old show cars, sat in brand new ones and left with lots of literature that the boys have collected, much to mom's dismay ;o) If you know my boys, then you won't be surprised to see them wide-eyed and going crazy over so many cars. One would think that with all the car shows we go to each year, they'd have enough of cars. Well, not really, especially being able to go inside the newest models was a blast for them.

We stayed there for three hours and covered all three floors of the exhibit. Then we went to Red Lobster for lunch/dinner (Connor called it lunch-er). Before heading home, we stopped by to visit Auntie Evelyn in Hales Corners. Then we finished off the evening gathered around the fireplace and watching the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. Too many cars in one day. I have a headache just thinking about it! :o)

Lea Salonga in "Les Miserables"

Last Saturday, my husband worked overtime doing the pledge breaks during Milwaukee Public Television's Pledge Drive. Before he left the house, he told me that the feature show was going to be "Les Miserables" with my favorite Filipina performer, Lea Salonga. I tuned in expecting to see Lea as the character, Eponine, but much to my surprise, this was the 25th Anniversary performance of "Les Miserables" at the O2 arena in London, not the 10th anniversary. And Lea was not Eponine anymore, but Fantine--Cosett's unfortunate mother. She took on a more mature role since she performed the younger role of Eponine 15 years ago. But her voice was still strong, her performance riveting! The song, "I Dreamed a Dream" was hair-raising. It amazed me how she sounded and almost looked the same all those years gone by.
This performance included the beloved old cast and promising new ones including Samantha Barks (Eponine), Nick Jonas (Marius) of the Jonas Brothers and Katie Hall (Cosette).
After seeing the 25th Anniversary performance, I'm going to look for my 10th Anniversary copy and watch that one. Then I'm on a quest to find the book by Victor Hugo and maybe listen to my copy of "Miss Saigon" which also features no other than Lea Salonga herself. Both "Le Miz" and "Miss Saigon" are produced by non other than British producer, Cameron Mackintosh.
Thanks to my hubby for the heads up. Lea Salonga mode: ON.

A Special Moment in CFM Class

Last night, while the kids were lining up by the door waiting for the dismissal bell to ring, one of my students ran up to me and gave me a very tight hug. I was surprised, at the very least. She held me so tight as if she was not going to let me go. She held me for about ten seconds and I hugged her back. Then she let go with a big smile on her face. Suddenly, it dawned on me. “My Lord, I’m going to have an impact on this child’s life!”

There were times I thought that I’m just teaching kids who really don’t want to be there. I’m just another teacher-type adult in their lives and the only reason they are in my class is to fulfill a requirement in order for them to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion. Granted, there are a few children who stood out and are very enthusiastic about learning, sometimes I see boredom in those little faces, often asking how much time is left or if CFM is over yet. Most of the times they are wide-eyed with anticipation, with wonder and they look up at you as if you hold a very special secret that you are about to reveal. During those times, it makes all the driving out at night in the snow or cold, worth it.

Maybe I can be one of those teachers that children remember forever like I will never forget my first grade teacher. I can still vividly see her with a stick on her hand (maybe that’s why I can’t forget her especially that I have felt that stick hitting the palm of my hand). But no, I have fond memories of her. These children don’t see me as often as they do their regular first grade teacher but hopefully, some of them will remember me someday.

I never dreamed of becoming a teacher. Being a teacher was never in the list of things I wanted to be when I grow up. I wanted to be a policewoman, a nurse, a writer, a politician but never a teacher. Maybe because my mom was a teacher—I don’t know. But here I am, teaching a group of first graders who, more often than not, at the end of the day, makes me feel fulfilled, like I had done something worthwhile and special. That little girl giving me a hug out of nowhere just made me feel ten times that.