Staci Shuck

Hard to let go...

Much, much harder than I thought to "get away from & let go of" the story of the weekend.  The University and the town are very much a part of our daily lives.  Yes, we attend athletic events and functions on campus, including football games, but we also have surgery at Mt. Nittany Medical Center, go to Drs. appts, shop at Wegman's, eat at The Waffle Shop, make deliveries on and off campus, attend the Arts Festival, shop downtown, pick up out of town guests at the airport, visit lifelong friends and family and so on and so on.

Penn State (the University) IS State College (the town) and State College IS Penn State.  Some beg to differ and some try to change and there are some separations and differences but for the most part they are ONE!  Thousands share this same feeling.  One can't visit campus or town without feeling a touch of the Blue and White pride and seeing Joe Pa (in real life or photos) somewhere around town.  We've never taken that for granted and appreciate it even more now.

Today was to be a regular Monday for my Mom and Dad.  (They frequent State College more than we do...that is saying something too!)   A normal, Monday trip to Mt. Nittany, for check-ups with Drs. they've had for years, through many surgeries and health issues.  These Drs.  happen to be the same Drs. who cared for Joe.  (Kinda neat to know that you are no different than Joe and can have the same high level of care that he had at no extra charge!) Visits have been heartwrenching since Nov. when news of the scandal broke.  The staff showed concern in quiet conversation, all the while supporting Joe and his actions.  Today's visit, according to Mom and Dad, was far more than heartwrenching.  An entire hospital and staff, solemn, quiet, sad, grieving, mourning and sharing in disbelief, the loss of a person they have cared for, admired and loved for so long.  Definitely not something you would expect in a larger hospital that cares for thousands of patients daily in numerous ways.  I mentioned to mom and dad that they may want to plan an alternate route to the hospital just in case the normal route past Beaver Stadium and Joe's statue was blocked off.  They agreed, but I KNEW they would attempt the normal route anyway.  You just don't go to Mt. Nittany and NOT go past Beaver Stadium to check on Joe! (Change{of a 25 year habit}...is HARD!)  So, of course they went the normal route.... and OF COURSE, they stopped to pay respect to Joe and share in the widespread out pouring of love for him....and I am so glad they did!!!!!  My parents remind me alot of Joe and his family.  Strong morals and values, sound ethics, hard working, humble, sincere, honest, faithful, considerate, appreciative, quiet samaritans who do good because it's right & not to get attention, teachers, coaches, parents and leaders.  Thankful they are my mom and dad.
So many good family memories at this field and all over campus.  We've adapted to changes at the stadium and on campus over the years without much question.  This change makes things different though  and that word "change" keeps cropping up.  Although I am trying to "embrace" the change...this one is VERY difficult.  So glad my Mom and Dad introduced Penn State to our family at an early age and that we experienced the Joe Pa years on campus.  He has taught so much, to so many, in life and now even in death.  The IMPACT of his life will live forever...THAT is his LEGEND.  It will only be tarnished if we allow it to be.   HIS LEGEND is inspiring and THAT gives faith and hope to us.  He taught us even through his tragedy.  Presidents don't do that...or at least they haven't for a while! What a lesson of integrity, honor, humanity and loyalty. 

Our local paper caught Jeff early this morning while seeking public response to Joe's death.  I'll remind you this is LOCAL news, close to home and Joe.  His response is synomous with thousandsof others all over Pennsylvania.  The National Media has not published these responses though and we find that very sad.  To be "used" (as a person, university, town, community and state) by the media is a disgrace. To publish misleading, misguided, false information and accusations for the purpose of gaining readers and increasing cash flow at the expense of such an outstanding person and family is ridiculous and shameful.   But that is a political discussion that I won't get into in this post.

For now, we'll make our regular visits to State and campus and appreciate the fact that we have experienced and shared in something great.  Something that has molded us and made us better people.  Something that will hopefully help us work for the greater good and impact others lives.

I'll have more to share later and hope to move forward with a few of those video's and projects I had planned to share this past weekend.  Thank you for allowing me to post these thoughts.

Hugs to you all!

Staci

 

 

A Moment of Silence....

For the role Joe Paterno and his family have played in the lives of thousands of students, players, families, the State College, PA community and the Penn State Family.  He has impacted our lives in ways that only great people can.  I feel so fortunate to have experienced Penn State, the State College community and Penn State Athletics, while Joe Paterno and his family were part of the University.  The loss is immense.  My heart breaks for his wife Sue and their 5 children and families.  In 2 months, they have endured more than anyone should have to endure in a lifetime.  It is a tragedy that their lives were put in turmoil by false and quick judgements that were unnecessary, unethical and unprofessional.  They have paid the ultimate price. 

Early this morning, when news began to circulate, a good friend stated this so eloquently:

"As the situation with JoePa grows grave, say a prayer for he and his family. No one deserves the treatment he has been given by the mass media and should he leave this earth, please remember all the good he has done for young players, students, faculty and a community. He is paying the price for the transgressions of another and should be honored for the lives he has touched. God bless the Paterno family." 

 Thank you Sandy K. for sharing this. 

Those not living in the Central PA area or not affiliated with the Penn State Family will have a difficult time believing that anyone could support him.  The National Press has created an evil person and Non-Penn State fans are taking the opportunity to slay Joe, his family and what they really stand for.  I only wish all could have experienced the kind actions, thoughtfulness and compassion of he and his family.  Please keep the Paterno family, Penn State family and State College Community in your thoughts and prayers  Although it is the end of Joe's life, it is the beginning of a long series of events to expose truths that will hopefully bring forth the real culprits so they can be held accountable.  

"Believe deep down in your heart that you are destined to do great things- JVP" 

 

“They asked me what I’d like written about me when I’m gone, I hope they write I made Penn State a better place not just that I was a good football coach”
-Joseph Vincent Paterno
Dec. 21, 1926 – Jan. 22, 2012

Forever appreciated and Penn State Proud...thank you for making Penn State and the State College Community a better place...we will miss you Joe Paterno.

 

Quick, Brisk and 8 degrees=Monday Madness!

This weekend was a QUICK one that began with a trip north! for a "mother/daughter" visit with friends, who are more like family, and the chance to witness our favorite Living History Village in a different season...enter Old Sturbridge Village in January! Even though the sky was blue, the village was gray, calm, quiet and still.  Visitors were indoors to avoid the "Briskness" in the air!  Wonderful to see the different activities taking place in the village at this season!  Village interpreters were dawning their winter costumes  (okay, a little eerie too)...but we don't see these on our Spring/Summer visits!  Doc and Blue, the village oxen, were in their full winter coats and the "flock of white" (the village gobblers) and the Village rooster were gobbling and clucking to each other like I have never heard before!  They were not minding the frigid 8 degree's!
It was a "Monday Madness"of a different kind!  One that started with frigid temps, a 7 hour trip, a napping navigator and time to appreciate all we experienced in such a short time!  Thankful to be home safely to a slightly warmer climate but looking forward to our next trip! 

Back in the groove...

Things are coming together.  Suddenly all those "changes" (there's that 2011 word with lots of ups and downs) are starting to make sense and come together.  Perhaps i am "embracing" them, their ideas, purposes and direction and focusing on the goals(thanks again to SLJ2012).  Just perhaps!  Embracing... all that wonderful wool, felted and unfelted and creating some goodness.  From "things to come".... shared yesterday and otherwise known as a....stack of wool...came this....wonderfully fun, creative warm, knittable, swarny, swelty, (swoozie - dh's word) goodness..... Stay tuned as I embrace the possibilities of creating with this wonderful stuff!  Tutorials, tips, tricks and fun stuff on the horizon.

Happy Wednesday!

Staci

Monday Madness...file folders continued!

I am really enjoying file folders.  I know, enough already, but can you really ever have enough of a good thing?  Wait, don't answer that...I know the answer already.    For now though, I will continue with my attraction to file folders.  Fortunately, I have easy access to them at Grove's!  Just in case you'd like to order them....CLICK HERE to go to the Grove's online store. 

Without further ado...another technique using those awesome little manilla masterpieces... Just another way to score, fold and insert into your projects.   Using these in my Scrapbook Life Journal with Stephanie Ackerman class.  Head on over to check it out!  She's extended registration til the end of January!

Enough plugs...now another tease of things to come....
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes too, I am on the mend after a wonderful bout of hives turned to stomach flu.  Hope to create a bit tonight and share some things later this week!

Happy File Folding!

Staci

7658 Photos!

 

My worst nightmare came true late Friday night while demonstrating to fellow croppers how wonderful Scrapbook Pictures is for online photo developing.  I had logged on earlier in the evening to show a few croppers and about an hour later logged in to show others and I found a different greeting on the homepage. I quickly glanced the paragraphs and then it hit and I gasped!!!  CLOSING after 62 years!  What..that can't be...final orders taken til Jan. 3rd!!!  I gasped again...shared the news and sat silent in disbelief for a few minutes.  A close friend and SP fan did the same.

I know, it's just an online photo developing service but...I have been spoiled by Scrapbook Pictures.  They are the only service I have used for last 10 years.  Soooo....since early Saturday morning, amidst making preparations for New Year's Day dinner, cleaning, laundry and settling in for Class with Stephanie, I began the process of sorting photo's, uploading new photo's and cropping, selecting color and finishes and adding narratives.  The final total of pictures sorted...7658!  The bad news...that's not all of them!  The rest will have to wait though.  I know...I take way to many pictures.  In addition to that though, one of my favorite things to do is scan vintage family photos and upload, resize and order prints.  Thanks to SP...I have been able to create a few of these for family gifts...
I am sure there are other online photo developers that would enable me to do the same thing, however, I have been so satisfied with SP that I have never looked elsewhere.   I loved knowing that if I needed a 12 x 12 photo in sepia with a metallic finish...I could get it and have it in my hands in 3 or 4 days.  Spoiled, Spoiled, Spoiled I have been!

With my final orders submitted and project ideas and layout sketches recorded, I begin my search for a new provider.  I'm pretty sure it will take me a while to get through the photo's I've ordered, and I'm hopeful that a worthy NEW owner will be found for SP that will provide the same upstanding product, quality and service, but in the meantime...I begin my search.  Any suggestions and feedback on your experiences would be appreciated. 

In good faith, I am trying to "embrace" the "change" and move on!  It's scarey to use my one word from last year in the same sentence with my word for 2012! 

Staci

Monday Madness....File Folders!

Happy Monday Madness!  This week we're using some office products...those lovely file folders that come in a variety of sizes, colors and shapes!!!  I LOVE them...and I'm using them in my Scrapbook Life Journal Class with Stephanie Ackerman so it's perfect timing for today.  Here's a little tutorial for the mini accordian file folder 

And...a few samples of finished projects I've created with 6 x 9 folders and letter size folders.  I'm very lucky to have Grove's nearby so I can get these folders whenever I need them!!!!!
I do love these...there are so many uses...gift card holders, add them to a scrapbook layout to hold extra photos or memorabilia, special greeting cards, invitations...the list is endless!  I am loving using them in my journal...but I'll save that for a later post.

Enjoy this first day of 2012, may it be a creative start to a creative year!

Staci

Happy New Year!

Good Morning 2012!
This is the view from the kitchen this morning...no "official" sun at this point, just a pink sky on the horizon and it's the first sunrise of 2012...at least in Central Pennsylvania!!!  Great way to start off the year!  I should have ventured outside for a better photo but instead shot this right through the screen on the kitchen window.  Tradition brings us together today as a family for our "good luck" pork and sauerkraut dinner.  It's a favorite get together in the family and a wonderful way to start off the year.  Special preparations mean getting up at the crack of dawn (or before in this case) to put the kraut and the pork in a slow cook roaster like this... OFFICIAL RED NESCO 18 QT roaster oven.....it's big, beautiful and holds enough for the entire family to feast this afternoon....and the sauerkraut smells wonderful already! I was glad to be working at the window filling this new roaster and get a glimpse on the start of the new year with this sunrise...finally the red sky turned into a bright sun, again through the window...this time the living room window...dirty window at that...but it commemorates the moment...first sunrise of 2012!

Lots of reflection in these few minutes..."changes"(the one little word from 2011) that have taken place in 2011 (and those still to come in 2012), thankfulness for all around me and appreciation.  It amazes me how much can go through your mind as you work and take time to think, relax, enjoy, live and "embrace" the moment!  Suddenly I realized...my word for 2012, which hadn't come to me yet...there it was..."embrace" - the moment, the changes, life, inspiration, family, the adventure and 2012!  May it be a blessed, creative, healthy 2012 for everyone!  Embrace every minute of it!  Happy New Year!