Nancy Frieko Rocks

I'd like to share a video from an old friend who made her way (north) west a few times over. Nancy Frieko grew up in Central Arkansas and now makes her home in Seattle, WA. When she's not rockin' she's mom to two awesome boys. Congratulations Nancy on your album, Dangerous Songs from the 12th Perspective! My favorite Frieko song is My Vagina! Learn more about Nancy at her website.

Happy Birthday to Orion!

Happy 11th Birthday Orion Teague Leslie! I can't wait for you to come home from camp so we can celebrate your day! These pictures were taken in June of 2002 for Orion's 5th Birthday. We had his party at Uncle Michael and Aunt Robin's House in Fayetteville. This year we have a super-secret-surprise party for Little Bear planned on the 30th!

Camp Pictures...

Pictures from Sunday and Monday have been posted! Check out the Camp Subi site, scroll down to Session 2, and click on Sunday and Monday for a slide show! There are several awesome pictures of Orion (being dorky, of course!). It looks like everyone is having a blast!

Camp Subiaco

(Orion and his Raven buddies, June 2007)

We drove Orion to Arkansas on Saturday! It was a quick trip down and back. Aunt Robin took him the rest of the way... along with cousin Dominic and Grandpa Doug. This is Orion's third year at Camp Subiaco. For the next week Orion will be in the wilds of Arkansas whooping it up with a bunch of other little boys. I think his favorite activities are the go-carts, archery, and the rifles. He always has such a good time! We are so lucky that Grandpa Doug, Aunt Robin, and Uncle Michael sponsor him each year so that he can have this great experience! You'll notice that the pictures I have provided are from last year's camp. I have been eagerly checking the website for pictures, but I bet it will be Wednesday or Thursday before they have time to post. Until then, we'll have to make due with last years photos!

(Orion at the Lake, Camp Subi, June 2007)

Summer Solstice

Happy first day of summer. Tomorrow our days will begin to shorten in length. This photo is from one of my all time favorite sites: Astronomy Picture of the Day! Learn about the cosmos one picture at a time!

Peter Coyote

Peter Coyote has been one of my all time favorite actors! I first remember him in the Legend of Billie Jean (An '80 Joan of Arc) with Helen Slater and Christian Slater (not related) from 1985. For years now I have enjoyed him in various TV shows (4400, Brothers & Sisters, and the occasional Law & Order) and movies (The Hebrew Hammer (a very funny movie), Cross Creek, and Patch Adams).

Peter Coyote is not just a pretty face (I think he's a hottie!) he's an activist, a poet, a musician, a writer, and a survivor of the '60s. Did I mention he went to London with Ken Kesey and The Dead to check out the Beatles? "We thought the Beatles were brilliant musicians and wanted to see what their lives were about. It turned out that they weren't very interesting..." (Coyote, Philadelphia Inquirer)

Did I mention that we was born Rachmil Pinchus Ben Mosha Cohon on October 10, 1941? I wonder how he chose the name Peter Coyote? (Notice I didn't say I wonder why...)

Four Years

It has been approximately four years since this photo of me and Orion was taken at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. It's one of my favorites.

(Katherine & Orion, Missouri Botanical Garden, 2004)

(Katherine & Orion, Omaha Zoo, June 2008)

The above picture was taken just a few days ago at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. He's such a big guy now! He's still my favorite!

Broken Heroes

I have a thing; it seems, for broken heroes. Perfectly imperfect men doing extraordinary things. My favorites include Monk, House, and Dexter.

With Monk, it was love at first sight. I've always loved Tony Shalhoub and his terrified, valiant, brilliant character Monk reminds us that all of us, despite our various stages of brokenness, are capable and worthy of great things.

House (played by Hugh Laurie) on the other hand calls to something darker. He's the guy your mother warned you about. Is it is pill popping, dark humor that tempts me? The medicine? Perhaps, but more than likely, I think that it is his surly countenance. He seems to be lacking social filters and tells people exactly what he thinks. There are so many zingers I'd wished I'd delivered at one time or another. House lets them rip without batting an eye.


My latest hero pulls at my heart for an entirely different reason. Dexter is played by Michael C. Hall. Is he the monster he claims to be? A serial killer with a code of honor? Or the little boy who witnessed his mother's horrifying death and was forever changed? Is it my "do-good-ing-school-teacher" persona that hopes he can find peace? Or my own twisted sense of right and wrong that hopes he doesn't get caught so he can continue "catching bad guys?"

W is for Warrensburg

Warrensburg is small. It’s farming. Warrensburg is the University of Central Missouri. It is safe, constant, and comfortable. Warrensburg is veterans. There’s plenty of snow and an abundance of wind. Warrensburg is 1956, a window into history. Warrensburg is home.

(The President's House, UCM)

(Warrensburg Train Station, Amtrak)

(Howard School, Warrensburg)

(Old Drum, Warrensburg Courthouse)

(Veterans' Memorial, Warrensburg Courthouse)

Awards Ceremony

(Katherine Leslie & Nicole Gadt, April 2008)

In April I shared that I received Teacher of the Year from Kappa Delta Pi and an Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Society for Leadership and Success. There were no cameras present during the KDP ceremony. But I did manage to have some pictures taken at the second ceremony. Above I am pictured with one of my former students and the gal who nominated me for the award, Nicole Gadt! Below I am accepting my award. My mom as been not-so-patiently waiting for me to post these. I think she wanted to make sure I dressed professionally! Enjoy!

(Seth Eggleston and Katherine Leslie, April 2008)