Every writer has their pet peeve and mine is how to use the verbs lie and lay correctly. The quick trick is to say "to lay is to place" and to lie is "to recline." So it should be "I want to lie down to take a nap" and "I want to lay this napkin on the table." But here's a link to the latest "Writers Digest" discussion.
It should clear everything up. And ANYWAY there is no such word as "anyways."  Ok that's it. Here's the link.

So we live in New England which means pretty soon, throngs of those longing for the Norman Rockwell image of an idyllic autumn will pour onto our roadways heading for the White Mountains and Mount Monandnock. But what about us - the bona fide residents of the region? What about those of us who pay our dues slogging through the long frigid months of endless gray winters? Trying to come up with a failprooth method of cleaning mud off floors without making more mud in the spring? And enjoying summer for precisely one hour before mosquitoes and black flies swarm or porches and backyards in the summer? We are the Norman Rockwell painting and we don't even get to see the blinkin' leaves change without having to fight every out-of-towner crawling up Route 101 at 10 mph with pumpkin spice Dunkin Donuts coffee in their cup holder and their Instagram apps working over time.

But we all have a secret. There's that one tree, somewhere that we look to in order to mark the autumnal equinox. In my case it's  a skinny but pretty magnificent maple that grows in our backyard and visible from almost every window in our house. When our son was a baby, he'd lie in bed with us and stare up at the tree through the sklylight watching the light spackle through it's dance-party colored leaves. Now when he practices his bass or tries his hand at the piano, it serves as an illuninated backdrop and a reminder just how tall and magnificent he's grown.

So here's the question. As certified New Englanders, what is the tree or bush which you look to in your own backyard or town square every year to mark the fall? It could be the yellowing oak in Greeley Park or the shocking pink sumac along Route 3A. The American Dream Girl wants to know. And if you can send a photo - even cooler.

So check it out. More of our blogging class blogs. Great job. Stay tuned to this post as the list grows.

Kady's blog

Lorraine's Blog

Ellen's Blog

Many teachers dream of students who are truly engaged in their classes. That's one of the reasons ADG prefers teaching in alternative schools where students are not obliged to go to school, but rather opt to be there. Our Blogging/Column Writing Class at the Nackey Loeb School is a great example of this. Our students are creating amazing blogs, and we couldn't be happier. Thanks for your participation. And everyone - here are the links to some of these great blogs. Looking forward to another great class today and if you haven't sent me the links to your blogs yet, please do and I'll add them here..

Linda's blog

Moriah's blog

Connie's blog

Ellen's blog

Diane's blog


Ray's blog

Reporter's hat on tonight. Waiting for primary totals at Hudson poll. There Is absolutely nothing glamorous about this.

Welcome NLS class. If you're already a blogger, we hope this class will spark your creativity and perhaps tweak your writing skills. If you never blogged before. It's really as easy as sending a text. We'll prove it.

Write On

Stacy and Tom

On the eve of Freshmen First Night: This is the happiest day of my life. All of a sudden I realized that everything I went through before - all the pain, chemo, fear, three bouts of cancer - was to see this day - get Sam through to being a teenager and getting into high school. Every year when all the other moms would cry to see their kids go off to school the first day, I'd rejoice because my son was that much older, needed me that much less. And it hit me just now, that I'm here. I made it. He is the reason I'm here against all odds. You're a man and you don't need me any more but don't worry, I'm not going any where soon. I'm sure to embarrass you at some point tonight and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity. Here's the the next four years.

Okay so this is my new iPhone and I am actually not writing this I'm talking this into the blog through Siri I don't get it it's all mysterious to me anyway I will catch up with you in class bye-bye

Sam and his friend, Rob, star in a video. Watch.
http://vimeo.com/42957823

Postin' on the iPhone.

OK. I plan to get a uke from my sister tomorrow.

OK I've done nothing but read the method book and ask my sister to let me use her ukulele. I guess that's something Right?

OK. This is my test to see if my blog is cross posting.

OK. I've decided to try to learn to play the ukulele after my son's friend suggested I learn to play an instrument. My goal is simple. Learn four sings with which I can sing. Could have gone to the Uke Club at Studio 99 last night, but was too intimidated. I can't even read music. So instead I bought Hal Leonard's Ukulele Method Book 1. We'll see. Have to borrow my sister's uke. Wish me luck.

For those who liked the movie, here's the article.

So two days ago I played the Easter Bunny at my friend's daycare center as a favor. But being Jewish and all, I needed some coaching to get in character. I asked my husband, once an altar boy, if the Easter Bunny was male or female, adult or child. His answer: "Let's see Stacy. You're talking about a life-sized rabbit that lays chicken eggs. Do you really think it matters?"