Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday Stealing! The 20 Question Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
Vanilla-almond Special K!
Read or take an ambien...or both!
5. Do you remember your dreams?
Oh, lord. Can I change my answer from #5 and pretend I don't remember??
8. Today you are wearing:
9. What's in your pockets?
10. Did you sing in the shower today?
11. What's the last song you heard?
12. Looking forward to the holidays?
13. Where do you want to be this instant?
14. What's for lunch?
15. What's something you would like to do soon?
16. Reading anything now? What is it?
17. What's for dinner?
18. A favorite part of the day is:
19. Are you happy?
20. Guess how many people will do Sunday Stealing this weekend?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
No one likes a cheater...but I'm pretty sure no one likes the tests, either!
(re-printed from It's Not All Flowers and Sausages)
This article was sent to me via email today. In a nutshell, it discusses an investigation of the Atlanta public schools in which it was discovered there was rampant cheating on standardized tests. They say at least 178 teachers and principals, most of whom have confessed, were involved in the cheating. Here's a quote from the article, "A culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation existed in the district, which led to a conspiracy of silence, he said in a prepared statement. “There will be consequences,” Mr. Deal said." (Mr. Deal is the governor of Atlanta.) Consequences like dismissals and maybe criminal charges. And, if I may be so bold as to make a bit of a prediction here, teacher bashing. I mean, it's open season on us teachers lately, no?
Granted, these people should not have been cheating. Cheating blows. I hate cheating. I hated dealing with cheating in my classroom. All the long discussions about losing gracefully and being a good sport and blah blah blah...which I totally know is beneficial but really I just wanted to say, "Cheating is a waste of time and energy and it always catches up to you, so just go sit over there and stop playing if you're going to ruin our fun." Whether it's little friends cheating at a math game to win, well, to win nothing, or adults cheating on standardized tests, I think we can all agree it's just wrong.
But just like I had to squelch my desire to simply stick cheaters off to the side and deal with the larger problem, so do these adults responsible for educating Atlanta's youth. We can't just bash the teachers and the principals. (Although clearly many are tempted to grab flaming torches and beat us when we're down.) We have to look at the larger problem. What about this culture of fear that has been created for adults working in schools? What about this obsession with quantitative data and test scores and seemingly nothing else? What about all the studies that negate the usefulness of this data when it is abused as we so love abusing it today? What about all that?
As I sit here typing this blog, I'm almost sick of myself for just engaging in this debate. I am so sick of test scores. I am so sick of the blame. Most of all, I'm so sick of bitching about all of it. (Okay, I secretly love bitching about many things, but even I have my limits.) Instead of continuing to talk and talk and talk about test scores and graphs and standardized tests, why don't we just change the conversation? Yes, I mean us, we, teachers, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON CHILDREN EACH AND EVERY DAY...let's just change it. Stop talking about the tests. Yes, they exist. Yes, they are being abused. Yes, they are out of control. So let's just move on and talk about something else like how we want our classrooms to be run, what we want our little friends to get out of their time with us, what we feel are the true purposes of school and how we can achieve those.
What do you think? Easier said than done? Has the pressure and fear consumed us all?
Granted, these people should not have been cheating. Cheating blows. I hate cheating. I hated dealing with cheating in my classroom. All the long discussions about losing gracefully and being a good sport and blah blah blah...which I totally know is beneficial but really I just wanted to say, "Cheating is a waste of time and energy and it always catches up to you, so just go sit over there and stop playing if you're going to ruin our fun." Whether it's little friends cheating at a math game to win, well, to win nothing, or adults cheating on standardized tests, I think we can all agree it's just wrong.
But just like I had to squelch my desire to simply stick cheaters off to the side and deal with the larger problem, so do these adults responsible for educating Atlanta's youth. We can't just bash the teachers and the principals. (Although clearly many are tempted to grab flaming torches and beat us when we're down.) We have to look at the larger problem. What about this culture of fear that has been created for adults working in schools? What about this obsession with quantitative data and test scores and seemingly nothing else? What about all the studies that negate the usefulness of this data when it is abused as we so love abusing it today? What about all that?
As I sit here typing this blog, I'm almost sick of myself for just engaging in this debate. I am so sick of test scores. I am so sick of the blame. Most of all, I'm so sick of bitching about all of it. (Okay, I secretly love bitching about many things, but even I have my limits.) Instead of continuing to talk and talk and talk about test scores and graphs and standardized tests, why don't we just change the conversation? Yes, I mean us, we, teachers, THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON CHILDREN EACH AND EVERY DAY...let's just change it. Stop talking about the tests. Yes, they exist. Yes, they are being abused. Yes, they are out of control. So let's just move on and talk about something else like how we want our classrooms to be run, what we want our little friends to get out of their time with us, what we feel are the true purposes of school and how we can achieve those.
What do you think? Easier said than done? Has the pressure and fear consumed us all?
Sunday Stealing: The Plaid Hat Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in, or get in then start the water?
Start the water, then get in.
2. Have you ever showered with someone of the opposite sex?
Awkward question...but yes.
3. Were you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings?
No!! I have an older brother, so I'm pretty sure that would have been inappropriate.
4. Have you ever dropped your soap on your foot?
Amongst other things...
5. How old do people say you look?
They are usually pretty accurate - 25.
6. How old do you act?
School-year-me is pretty old and boring.
Summer-me is much more fun...
7. What’s the last song you sang?
Rolling in the Deep by Adele. I rock that tune.
8. Have you recently become a member of anything?
Summer Book Club!
9. What are your plans for next weekend?
On Friday I am taking a good friend to the doctor in OKC. On Saturday, the hubs and I are taking the evil offspring to OKC for a long weekend. Movies, White Water, laser tag, horseback riding, etc.
10. Do you kiss with your eyes open or closed? Closed
11. Whats the sexiest thing about Sarah Palin?
Her absence.
12. Who’s the sexiest famous woman alive?
Other than the one answering this blog?? Probably no one.
13. Who’s the sexiest famous man alive?
Kevin Spacey, Mark Teixeira, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake...I could name several.
14. Does your family have a crazy uncle?
Not really in my family, but my husband's crew is full of nuts.
15. Have you ever smuggled something into another country?
Not anything illegal.
16. Do you live in a city with a good sports team?
Ha!! You're joking, right?? We have an awesome boys' basketball team, an incredible baseball team, and an undefeated 3rd/4th grade football team. Once you become an adult in Woodward, your athletic talents cease to exist.
17. What is the most unusual?
I do not understand this question. Are you stoned?
18. How do feel about the Goth people? They are goth-tastic. I wish I could wear that much eyeliner and not be called a trollop.
19. Can you fix or your significant other your own car?
Of course I can. I drive it to the shop and write them a check. Problem fixed.
20. Would you want to kill Casey Anthony yourself if you were guaranteed to get away with it?
No. I think the woman is guilty as hell, but I'd never kill someone.
1. When showering, do you start the water and then get in, or get in then start the water?
Start the water, then get in.
2. Have you ever showered with someone of the opposite sex?
Awkward question...but yes.
3. Were you ever been forced to shower with one of your siblings?
No!! I have an older brother, so I'm pretty sure that would have been inappropriate.
4. Have you ever dropped your soap on your foot?
Amongst other things...
5. How old do people say you look?
They are usually pretty accurate - 25.
6. How old do you act?
School-year-me is pretty old and boring.
Summer-me is much more fun...
7. What’s the last song you sang?
Rolling in the Deep by Adele. I rock that tune.
8. Have you recently become a member of anything?
Summer Book Club!
9. What are your plans for next weekend?
On Friday I am taking a good friend to the doctor in OKC. On Saturday, the hubs and I are taking the evil offspring to OKC for a long weekend. Movies, White Water, laser tag, horseback riding, etc.
10. Do you kiss with your eyes open or closed? Closed
11. Whats the sexiest thing about Sarah Palin?
Her absence.
12. Who’s the sexiest famous woman alive?
Other than the one answering this blog?? Probably no one.
13. Who’s the sexiest famous man alive?
Kevin Spacey, Mark Teixeira, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake...I could name several.
14. Does your family have a crazy uncle?
Not really in my family, but my husband's crew is full of nuts.
15. Have you ever smuggled something into another country?
Not anything illegal.
16. Do you live in a city with a good sports team?
Ha!! You're joking, right?? We have an awesome boys' basketball team, an incredible baseball team, and an undefeated 3rd/4th grade football team. Once you become an adult in Woodward, your athletic talents cease to exist.
17. What is the most unusual?
I do not understand this question. Are you stoned?
18. How do feel about the Goth people? They are goth-tastic. I wish I could wear that much eyeliner and not be called a trollop.
19. Can you fix or your significant other your own car?
Of course I can. I drive it to the shop and write them a check. Problem fixed.
20. Would you want to kill Casey Anthony yourself if you were guaranteed to get away with it?
No. I think the woman is guilty as hell, but I'd never kill someone.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
360 Degrees Longitude - One Family's Journey Around the World
After more than a decade of planning, John Higham and his wife September bid their high-tech jobs and suburban lives good-bye, packed up their home, and set out with their two children, ages eight and eleven, to travel around the world. In the course of the next 52 weeks, they crossed 24 time zones, visited 28 countries, and experienced a lifetime of adventures.
Making their way around the workd, the Highams discovered more than just different foods and cultures; they also learned such diverse things as a Chilean mall isn't the best place to get your ears pierced, and that elephants appreciate flowers just as much as the next person. But most importantly, they learned about each other, and just how much a family can weather if they do it together.
While this wasn't a book I would have selected myself (I'm not a memoir kind of gal), I am glad that I read it. I am a travel enthusiast, and I was instantly intrigued with the idea of taking a year away from "life" to explore the globe. I was also curious about how this would work traveling with such young children. When we travel, we can barely make it to Seiling, OK (35 miles) without stopping for bathroom breaks, snacks, drinks, etc. I would NEVER consider even a cross-neighborhood bicycle ride with my children, much less one that would take me across several continents. I have to give it to the Highams, they have some cojones!!
Unfortunately for me, this book doesn't hit the five-star mark. The most memorable aspect of the entire novel was the comedic tone and wit that emanates from the author's voice. Higham is remarkably humorous (who knew rocket scientists had a sense of humor?) and relates his tales with such hilarity that I frequently found myself laughing out loud. He weaves journals from his family members into his own narrative, providing the reader with a multi-dimensional view of the family's adventures. A true scientist, Higham utilizes Google Earth to provide the reader with an opportunity to share in his family's travels. By accessing Google Earth, the reader is able to locate each destination along the way, view photographs of every stop, and learn a little more about the world. While I thought this was an incredible concept, I was unable to get the application to work, and within 15 minutes of struggling with it, I lost interest and just wanted to read.
Pinpointing exactly why I didn't care for the book is somewhat difficult. Obviously, it is a memoir, so there is no true conflict or climax, but I really found the book to drag on in places and to be a bit too repetitive. Travel, tour, pack, repeat. After a while, I found myself merely skimming the pages...blah, blah, blah. It just wasn't very exciting.
I also found myself questioning the believability of the book. The children never seemed to bicker, the adults never required "alone time," and everything between Higham and his wife was just too.... perfect? At one point in the book, Higham becomes lost in a strange country, only to find that his wife has left signs posted all about town, giving him directions back to their hotel. Really? This was just a little too hard for me to swallow.
What I did like about this book was that it validated my reasons for leading student travel groups. Higham clearly understands that reading about an event in a book or watching a Hollywood re-enactment simply does not compare to having your feet planted firmly on the ground where the event took place.
"We had been reading about the 1944 invasion as part of the kids' homework, but there was a difference between holding a book in your hand and walking in and through the bunkers, foxholes, and decrepit equipment. Even though more than six decades had passed, somehow there was an echo of the thundering bombs and a whiff of gunpowder that was palpable in the otherwise serene landscape."
All criticism aside, I applaud John and September (his wife) for their adventurous spirit. I cannot imagine walking away from my life for 365 days to circumnavigate the globe with my children. Given the opportunity to take on such a quest, I would have selected Paris, Rome, Berlin, Shanghai, Sydney, and Dublin. Sleeping in a tent and slumming it in third-world countries would not have happened, and I never would have left my children alone in aiports or sent them to the top of the Eiffel Tower alone! Obviously the Higham family has a hippie mentality that I have yet to embrace, but that is just fine with me!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Kindle me this, Kindle me that...
My name is Amy, and I am a book-aholic. Reading is my drug of choice. Simply entering a book store causes my heart to race, my palms to sweat, my mouth to water, and my ability to make rational decisions to completely fly out the door. My husband frequently jokes that if we lived in a larger city, he wouldn't have to worry about me staying out late at the clubs. He knows if I was out late he'd likely find me hidden-away in the corner of the neighborhood bookstore, latest novel in hand, eyes glazed-over and spittle forming at the corners of my mouth. Bookstore clerks would be my new BFF's, and new bookshelves would have to be erected in our home to store "my precious." He refers to my novels as my "boyfriends," and jokes that if we're ever hit by a tornado, they'll be able to find our house by the remaining pile of books. That's why I was shocked two years ago at Christmas when he bought me the latest e-reader, the Amazon Kindle.
To be perfectly honest, I was skeptical about the Kindle. I'm a real "book-lover." It's not just the stories that I desire - it's the actual book. I love the smell of book glue, the crisp feel of the pages between my fingers, and the weight of the book in my hands. I relish the excitement of coming home, new book in hand, admiring the cover, and the anticipation of where the story will take me. I take pride in my vast personal library - a collection of books started when I was only fourteen! Could I really give all that up to read books electronically??....
Absolutely. I love my Kindle!! I honestly think it's the best gift my husband has ever given me, and I am constantly telling people how great it is. Personally, I think Amazon should put me on their payroll or give me a percentage of the sales, because I'm pretty sure I've convinced several doubtful people to purchase the Kindle in the past year or two!
One of the main reasons the Kindle is so fabulous is because Kindle books are actually cheaper than the hard copies. For example, my book club is preparing to read the novel Room by Emma Donoghue. The Kindle version of the novel is priced at $9.99 (no shipping/handling necessary). As a new release, the hard copy ran $24.99 on Amazon.com, and that is before shipping and handling!! On this one book alone, a reader can save over $15!! Of course, you have to consider the purchase price of the device ($139.00). At this rate, the Kindle pays for itself after the purchase of about ten newly released novels, and then actual savings on the novels begins.
For me, the best thing about the Kindle is that I have access to novels INSTANTLY!! I am a true night owl and something of an insomniac, so it's not unusual to find me up at two in the morning finishing my newest book. If this particular book happens to be part of a series, I want the sequel now! I live in a small town in northwest Oklahoma, so unless Wal-Mart happens to have it (and they usually don't), I'd have to order the book online and then wait on the USPS (aka the slowest delivery service known to mankind). With the Kindle, I simply access the Amazon store, select the book, and BOOM - there it is!! No postage, no waiting, no wasted gasoline, and I can buy the books without ever changing out of my pajamas or brushing my teeth!! Could anything be more perfect???
The Kindle also gives me the advantage of having a new release the minute it drops. Last year, I pre-ordered Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I anxiously waited up the night of it's release and at midnight - SHAZAM!! There it was on my Kindle, ready to be devoured!! I had read the entire book by 5am, while my non-Kindle owning friends sadly waited nearly a week for their hard copies to be delivered (and they paid more than I did!) With the Kindle, gone are the days of hovering around the front of Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, waiting for the newest Harry Potter book, shoving-away small children, and visciously fighting the crowds just to get a copy!
For Kindle owners, there are no lines, no snotty bookstore clerks telling you the book you want is old and out-of-stock, no waiting for packages that take an eternity to arrive, and no need to drive two hours to the closest bookstore!
Of course, there are still those who argue that traditional books are better, and that is fine with me. Let them continue to enjoy their old-fashioned, hard copy books and their eight-track players.
To be perfectly honest, I was skeptical about the Kindle. I'm a real "book-lover." It's not just the stories that I desire - it's the actual book. I love the smell of book glue, the crisp feel of the pages between my fingers, and the weight of the book in my hands. I relish the excitement of coming home, new book in hand, admiring the cover, and the anticipation of where the story will take me. I take pride in my vast personal library - a collection of books started when I was only fourteen! Could I really give all that up to read books electronically??....
Absolutely. I love my Kindle!! I honestly think it's the best gift my husband has ever given me, and I am constantly telling people how great it is. Personally, I think Amazon should put me on their payroll or give me a percentage of the sales, because I'm pretty sure I've convinced several doubtful people to purchase the Kindle in the past year or two!
One of the main reasons the Kindle is so fabulous is because Kindle books are actually cheaper than the hard copies. For example, my book club is preparing to read the novel Room by Emma Donoghue. The Kindle version of the novel is priced at $9.99 (no shipping/handling necessary). As a new release, the hard copy ran $24.99 on Amazon.com, and that is before shipping and handling!! On this one book alone, a reader can save over $15!! Of course, you have to consider the purchase price of the device ($139.00). At this rate, the Kindle pays for itself after the purchase of about ten newly released novels, and then actual savings on the novels begins.
For me, the best thing about the Kindle is that I have access to novels INSTANTLY!! I am a true night owl and something of an insomniac, so it's not unusual to find me up at two in the morning finishing my newest book. If this particular book happens to be part of a series, I want the sequel now! I live in a small town in northwest Oklahoma, so unless Wal-Mart happens to have it (and they usually don't), I'd have to order the book online and then wait on the USPS (aka the slowest delivery service known to mankind). With the Kindle, I simply access the Amazon store, select the book, and BOOM - there it is!! No postage, no waiting, no wasted gasoline, and I can buy the books without ever changing out of my pajamas or brushing my teeth!! Could anything be more perfect???
The Kindle also gives me the advantage of having a new release the minute it drops. Last year, I pre-ordered Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I anxiously waited up the night of it's release and at midnight - SHAZAM!! There it was on my Kindle, ready to be devoured!! I had read the entire book by 5am, while my non-Kindle owning friends sadly waited nearly a week for their hard copies to be delivered (and they paid more than I did!) With the Kindle, gone are the days of hovering around the front of Wal-Mart in the middle of the night, waiting for the newest Harry Potter book, shoving-away small children, and visciously fighting the crowds just to get a copy!
For Kindle owners, there are no lines, no snotty bookstore clerks telling you the book you want is old and out-of-stock, no waiting for packages that take an eternity to arrive, and no need to drive two hours to the closest bookstore!
Of course, there are still those who argue that traditional books are better, and that is fine with me. Let them continue to enjoy their old-fashioned, hard copy books and their eight-track players.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Book Review: The Peach Keeper
At 30, Willa Jackson returns to her small Southern hometown, Walls of Water, N.C., in the wake of a failed marriage to her college sweetheart. She's determined now to lead the quiet life she believes her father wants her to have, but is soon derailed by the wealthy and powerful Osgoods, the family that shaped her high school experience. The Jacksons were also wealthy once, until the logging industry failed, and Willa's teenage grandmother went to work as a maid for the Osgoods. Paxton Osgood, Willa's counterpart, has everything Willa envies—wealth, beauty and a sense of belonging—but Paxton hides a deep loneliness and discontent. To further complicate Willa's unrest, Paxton's brother, Colin, fled town years before but has returned and become an irresistible force in Willa's life. When a skeleton that holds the secret to both the Osgood and Jackson family fortunes is discovered at the Jackson family's old estate, long-held beliefs are likely to be overturned.
I chose The Peach Keeper for our first book club selection based primarily on customer reviews from the Amazon.com website.This was, of course, poor decision-making on my part. I didn't completely dislike the book, but I felt it was nothing more than southern chic-lit with a touch of magical realism thrown-in. Despite the incredible first paragraph, I didn't find it to be very compelling or memorable.
"The day Paxton Osgood took the box of heavy-stock, foil-lined envelopes to the post office, the ones she'd had a professional calligrapher address, it began to rain so hard the air turned as white as bleached cotton. By nightfall, rivers had crested at a flood stage and, for the first time since 1936, the mail couldn't be delivered. When things began to dry out, when basements were pumped free of water and branches were cleared from yards and streets, the invitations were finally delivered, but to all the wrong houses. Neighbors laughed over fences, handing the misdelivered pieces of mail to their rightful owners with comments about the crazy weather and their careless postman.....If anyone had been paying attention to the signs, they would have realized that air turns white when things are about to change, that paper cuts mean there's more to what's written on the age than meets the eye, and that birds are always out to protect you from things you don't see."
The Peach Keeper is an unlikely combination of The Breakfast Club and Fried Green Tomatoes. Paxton Osgood is your stereotypical former prom queen who is smothered by her mother's relentless expectations and her own attempts at perfection. In contrast, Willa Jackson is a former high-school prankster who runs her own business and does her best to lead a quiet, uneventful life. Friendship seems unlikely for this duo until a bizarre and supernatural chain of events draws them together in a tale of abandoned frienship, romance, loyalty, and murder.
The book had great potential, but I was disappointed in Allen's ability to develop the story, amplify the characters, and consume the reader. I was totally unconvinced with "Sebastian," the charming, handsome metrosexual love interest of Paxton, and the ludicrous explanation for his teenage homosexuality. For me, the most intriguing layer of the novel was the story of Paxton and Willa's grandmothers and their depression-era southern bell lives. Unfortunately, Georgie is virtually a non-existant character, and their tale is sloppily and abruptly explained at the end of the book. The "mystery" of their friendship isn't very mysterious, and the story was disappointingly predictable - the kiss of death, IMO!
The Peach Keeper is a quick, light, easy summer read- not a horrible book, but not one that I'll be pulling out to re-explore anytime soon.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Sam I Am (Not)
Although it's been over two years since he won the coveted Heisman Trophy, Sam Bradford's statue in Heisman Park was finally unveiled a couple of weeks ago. Bradford, who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams, is by far one of the greatest players in OU football history, and is the fifth Sooner to claim the prestigious title after greats Jason White, Billy Sims, Steve Owens, and Billy Vessels.
I am a HUGE OU fan/alumni, and I will probably lose my "sooner-card" for saying this...but I have to be honest.
The statue is ridiculous!
I am so disappointed. I realize the statue was sculpted to re-create one of Bradford's most incrdible plays (against OSU, nonetheless), but something here has gone horribly awry. They've turned a monumental moment in football history into a recreation of cartwheel day on the elementary school playground! Come on, people!! Didn't anyone really look over the sample before committing it to stone??
I am a HUGE OU fan/alumni, and I will probably lose my "sooner-card" for saying this...but I have to be honest.
The statue is ridiculous!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
The Splendor Falls
The Splendor Falls is the story of Sylvie Davis, an up and coming prima ballerina who suffers a career-ending injury at the age of 17. Unable to cope with the loss of her ability to dance, her mother's new marriage, and her father's recent death, Sylvie begins to fall apart. Her therapy? Spending the summer in Alabama with her father's cousin on plantation that would make Scarlett O'Hara salivate!
Arriving in the deep south armed with her lap dog, Gigi, and an arsenal of attitude, Sylvie quickly realizes that things at the family estate aren't what they appear to be - mysterious family gardens, cryptic journals from ancestors long-passed, apparitions in the mist, and terrifying wailing sounds emanating from the woods in the back. Add to this mix not one, but two ominously charming young men vying for her attention (one very Heathcliff, the other a little more Prince Charming), and you have a great summer read!
This is the first book I've read by this particular author, and I must say I was quite impressed. Her lavish descriptions of the plantation home and the south in general are remarkable, and she is a master at giving her characters voice, charisma, and believablitly.
"I was the opposite, a cut flower with no roots, no longer attached to the nourishing soil. Melodramatic, yes. But that's how I felt not being able to dance."
I've complained a lot lately about the overwhelming push of supernatural tales in YA fiction, but I found myself consumed with the ghostly visions and magical atmosphere of BlueStone Hill and Sylvie's quest to discover her families secrets. After I read the book, I went back and read Tennyson's poem by the same name, and although the author doesn't specify any connection between the two, I don't think it's just coincidence that Rhys constantly refers to Sylvie as "princess." There were other links as well, but I'll leave you to decide for yourself!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
RIP Jeff Conaway
Rest in peace, Kenickie.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Dinner and a Movie (minus the movie)
Originally, this blog was supposed to be a review of a new movie and a new local restaurant. However, we haven't had a functional theatre since before Valentine's Day, and I didn't think anyone would want to read about the latest Redbox rental (Salt on blu-ray that ended-up costing us $40 b/c the hubby forgot to return it!).
The family and I decided to try-out Woodward's newest hot spot this evening, Endzone Grill. Located next to White Dental Clinic in the old Budigley's building, EG is a traditional sports grill with loads of atmosphere and a promising future. It is run by former Mazzio's manager, Dustin Iliff, who is a friendly, charismatic fellow who really seems to enjoy the restaurant business and has a warm, welcoming personality. Iliff is quick to produce a refill, change a channel, clean a table, take an order, or -most importantly- sit and chat with his customers. Making the diners feel important is a huge factor in a restaurant's success, and it is a talent that Iliff demonstrates with ease.
Despite the overflowing parking area, we were quickly seated in a cozy booth in "KD's Corner" (Kevin Durant for you non-Thunder lovers). Within just a few moments, our drinks appeared, and a friendly waitress was available to take our order. I ordered the club sandwich w/fries, Clint requested the cheeseburger w/fries, and the boys selected the chicken tenders dinner with sides of fries and mac & cheese. I was surprised to not see a children's menu, but the boys are always happy to share an adult meal, if I can get them to agree on the entree!
We waited slightly longer than what I'd consider "usual" for our food, but that is typical with a new restaurant, and refills were offered frequently. It also gave us a chance to have some family time and conversation with the kids, which was nice - when Dylan wasn't too busy texting his girlfriend. When it did arrive, the food was pretty good, and for the most part, we were very happy. The mac & cheese we ordered for our ten year-old was served with small chunks of peppers, which would be fabulous for an adult, but not great for a picky pre-teen. To his credit, Dylan did try a few bites of the unusual dish, but eventually turned-up his nose and opted to nibble on our fries instead. Had I known it was not "traditional" mac & cheese, I never would have ordered it for him, but would have chosen fries or fried okra instead. Incidentally, I tried the spicy m&c, and thought it was divine! :)
Overall, we were fairly impressed and so very glad to be somewhere new! There were a few "new restaurant" mistakes, but nothing that would keep me from going back. Iliff employs a new, fairly inexperienced wait staff, but they are bright young ladies (I should know - they use to be my students!), who will catch-on quickly and improve their service tremendously in just the next couple of weeks. I found out once we got home that they DO have a children's menu, but it was never offered to us...freshman mistake, ladies!
The menu is not vast, but EG offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a handful of entrees. I can't report what is included on the children's menu or the beer menu, because neither were presented to us. I was a little shocked that our bill added-up to $40 for three dinners (only one of which was an entree), three drinks, and two domestic beers. Forty dollars at other nearby restaurants would have purchased a couple of steak dinners with appetizers or salad/salad bar, and a couple of kids' meals, but Woodward is starving for new, refreshing, non-ethnic food options, and that is exactly what you'll get at Endzone Grill!
I fully expect Iliff's operation to be extremely successful. With his experience in the restaurant industry, Dustin will work out the kinks quickly and earn a multitude of loyal customers. I can already imagine the place jam-packed the next couple of weeks during Thunder games, and I am going to predict a plethora of football watch parties! Monday Night Football (if the NFL can get their butt in gear!) will keep Endzone Grill very busy, and I can definitely picture myself cozied-up to the big screen, dining on cheese fries and watching my beloved Yankees winning the next World Series!
Stop by the Endzone Grill and let me know what you think!
The family and I decided to try-out Woodward's newest hot spot this evening, Endzone Grill. Located next to White Dental Clinic in the old Budigley's building, EG is a traditional sports grill with loads of atmosphere and a promising future. It is run by former Mazzio's manager, Dustin Iliff, who is a friendly, charismatic fellow who really seems to enjoy the restaurant business and has a warm, welcoming personality. Iliff is quick to produce a refill, change a channel, clean a table, take an order, or -most importantly- sit and chat with his customers. Making the diners feel important is a huge factor in a restaurant's success, and it is a talent that Iliff demonstrates with ease.
Despite the overflowing parking area, we were quickly seated in a cozy booth in "KD's Corner" (Kevin Durant for you non-Thunder lovers). Within just a few moments, our drinks appeared, and a friendly waitress was available to take our order. I ordered the club sandwich w/fries, Clint requested the cheeseburger w/fries, and the boys selected the chicken tenders dinner with sides of fries and mac & cheese. I was surprised to not see a children's menu, but the boys are always happy to share an adult meal, if I can get them to agree on the entree!
We waited slightly longer than what I'd consider "usual" for our food, but that is typical with a new restaurant, and refills were offered frequently. It also gave us a chance to have some family time and conversation with the kids, which was nice - when Dylan wasn't too busy texting his girlfriend. When it did arrive, the food was pretty good, and for the most part, we were very happy. The mac & cheese we ordered for our ten year-old was served with small chunks of peppers, which would be fabulous for an adult, but not great for a picky pre-teen. To his credit, Dylan did try a few bites of the unusual dish, but eventually turned-up his nose and opted to nibble on our fries instead. Had I known it was not "traditional" mac & cheese, I never would have ordered it for him, but would have chosen fries or fried okra instead. Incidentally, I tried the spicy m&c, and thought it was divine! :)
Overall, we were fairly impressed and so very glad to be somewhere new! There were a few "new restaurant" mistakes, but nothing that would keep me from going back. Iliff employs a new, fairly inexperienced wait staff, but they are bright young ladies (I should know - they use to be my students!), who will catch-on quickly and improve their service tremendously in just the next couple of weeks. I found out once we got home that they DO have a children's menu, but it was never offered to us...freshman mistake, ladies!
The menu is not vast, but EG offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and a handful of entrees. I can't report what is included on the children's menu or the beer menu, because neither were presented to us. I was a little shocked that our bill added-up to $40 for three dinners (only one of which was an entree), three drinks, and two domestic beers. Forty dollars at other nearby restaurants would have purchased a couple of steak dinners with appetizers or salad/salad bar, and a couple of kids' meals, but Woodward is starving for new, refreshing, non-ethnic food options, and that is exactly what you'll get at Endzone Grill!
I fully expect Iliff's operation to be extremely successful. With his experience in the restaurant industry, Dustin will work out the kinks quickly and earn a multitude of loyal customers. I can already imagine the place jam-packed the next couple of weeks during Thunder games, and I am going to predict a plethora of football watch parties! Monday Night Football (if the NFL can get their butt in gear!) will keep Endzone Grill very busy, and I can definitely picture myself cozied-up to the big screen, dining on cheese fries and watching my beloved Yankees winning the next World Series!
Stop by the Endzone Grill and let me know what you think!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday Stealing: The 65 Question Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Tell us who the last person that you took a shower with.
I'm going to decline this one...
2. Tell us about your favorite tee-shirt. Extra points if you show a pic. (We know. What can you do with freakin' extra points?)
Yankees t-shirt purchased in Times Square!
3. Has anyone ever hit on you even though they knew you were taken?
Yep
4. Do you plan what to wear the next day?
Not really
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Why?
Hungry...Clint hasn't cooked dinner yet.
6. What's the closest thing to you that's black?
The television set?
7. Tell me about an interesting dream you remember having.
I had this very strange dream a few weeks ago about Blake Griffith asking me to prom...
8. Did you or might you meet anybody new today?
I doubt it.
9. If you could be doing anything right now (or perhaps after you finish this ridiculous meme) what would it be?
I'd really like to be laying by the pool, reading the newest Sookie Stackhouse novel
10. Can you think of a meme question that's never been asked?
Lots
11. What comes to mind when I say China?
Jackie Chan
12. Are you overly emotional?
Definitely not
13. If you could listen to just one rock album (CD, vinyl or mp3) which one would you pick?
U2- The Joshua Tree
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Mostly lick
15. Do you like your car?
My truck? yes
16. Do you like yourself?
This is dumb. I adore myself, as does everyone else I meet
17. Would you go out to eat with Charlie Sheen?
Heck, yes!! But only if he's paying.
18. What was the last song that you listened to?
To Make You Feel My Love - the Adele cover of it
19. Are (or were) your parents strict?
Somewhat
20. Have you ever wondered what attending a wild orgy (if only to watch or...) would be like?
Not so much
21. I say cottage cheese. You say:
Yes, please!
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes!! Several, actually. They seek me out...
23. What was the last movie that you watched at home?
Love and Other Drugs
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Just my personality!
25. What countries have you visited?
Mexico, Canada, France, England, Italy
26. Have you ever made a phone call while you were drunk that you've regretted? If yes, do tell.
Do we really need to go there??
27. Where were you going the last time that you were on a train?
Sleeping!!! It was an overnight train from Florence, Italy to Paris, France
28. Bacon or sausage?
BACON!!
29. How long have you had a cell-phone?
Since 1997
30. What other memes do you do regularly?
I'm a one-meme kind of girl
31. Who is the craziest meme host?
?
32. Who invented chop sticks?
Someone with much better balance than myself
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
The family
34. Are you too forgiving?
No
35. When was the last time that you were in love?
I fell hard for an adorable pair of shoes just yesterday!
37. What was the stupidest thing you learned in high school?
Anything that was in Gulliver's Travels!
38. What was the last thing that you cried about?
Missing my grandmother's funeral
39. What was the last question you asked?
Does she think that looks good?
40. Favorite thing to do this time of the year?
Golf!
41. If you had to get a (or another) tattoo, what would it be?
I don't think I'd go for that again.
42. How would your best friend describe you?
A walking holiday.
43. Have you ever seen all three Twilight films?
Shamefully, yes.
44. Ever walked into a glass door?
Yes...and I've smushed my face against the glass on the aquarium at the zoo. Not fun
45. Favorite color on that person that you are attracted to?
Blue
46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Ha - yes!! And he deserved it!
47. What hair style (for you) would you like to see return?
Kentucky Waterfalls?
48. What was the last CD you bought?
Holy cow!! Do they still make those?? I have no idea, but I did download the Songs for Japan album last night
49. Do looks matter to you?
Somewhat
50. Could you ever forgive a liar?
Yes.
51. What's the hardest bill to pay every month?
The student loan payment for the degree that my husband is still 15 hours from completing.
52. Do you like your life right now?
Absolutely!
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
No - it must be off!
54. Can you handle the truth?
yes...more dumb questions
55. Do you have good vision?
I had Lasik two years ago, so I'm seeing better than 20/20 baby!
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
No...well, maybe.
57. How often do you talk on the phone?
A couple of times per week. Texting is much more time efficient.
58. What celeb would you like to come home to?
Chris Pine...but he would be coming home to ME
59. What are you wearing?
Boomer hoody and black Adidas warm-up pants. It's laundry day!
60. What is your favorite wild animal?
My 9 year-old
61. Where was your facebook picture taken?
Notre Dame!
62. Can you waltz?
No, I'm horrible at it!!
63. Do you have a job?
No, I have a destiny!
64. What was the most recent thing you stole?
Someone's heart, I'm sure.
65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Hasn't everyone?
1. Tell us who the last person that you took a shower with.
I'm going to decline this one...
2. Tell us about your favorite tee-shirt. Extra points if you show a pic. (We know. What can you do with freakin' extra points?)
Yankees t-shirt purchased in Times Square!
3. Has anyone ever hit on you even though they knew you were taken?
Yep
4. Do you plan what to wear the next day?
Not really
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Why?
Hungry...Clint hasn't cooked dinner yet.
6. What's the closest thing to you that's black?
The television set?
7. Tell me about an interesting dream you remember having.
I had this very strange dream a few weeks ago about Blake Griffith asking me to prom...
8. Did you or might you meet anybody new today?
I doubt it.
9. If you could be doing anything right now (or perhaps after you finish this ridiculous meme) what would it be?
I'd really like to be laying by the pool, reading the newest Sookie Stackhouse novel
10. Can you think of a meme question that's never been asked?
Lots
11. What comes to mind when I say China?
Jackie Chan
12. Are you overly emotional?
Definitely not
13. If you could listen to just one rock album (CD, vinyl or mp3) which one would you pick?
U2- The Joshua Tree
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
Mostly lick
15. Do you like your car?
My truck? yes
16. Do you like yourself?
This is dumb. I adore myself, as does everyone else I meet
17. Would you go out to eat with Charlie Sheen?
Heck, yes!! But only if he's paying.
18. What was the last song that you listened to?
To Make You Feel My Love - the Adele cover of it
19. Are (or were) your parents strict?
Somewhat
20. Have you ever wondered what attending a wild orgy (if only to watch or...) would be like?
Not so much
21. I say cottage cheese. You say:
Yes, please!
22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes!! Several, actually. They seek me out...
23. What was the last movie that you watched at home?
Love and Other Drugs
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Just my personality!
25. What countries have you visited?
Mexico, Canada, France, England, Italy
26. Have you ever made a phone call while you were drunk that you've regretted? If yes, do tell.
Do we really need to go there??
27. Where were you going the last time that you were on a train?
Sleeping!!! It was an overnight train from Florence, Italy to Paris, France
28. Bacon or sausage?
BACON!!
29. How long have you had a cell-phone?
Since 1997
30. What other memes do you do regularly?
I'm a one-meme kind of girl
31. Who is the craziest meme host?
?
32. Who invented chop sticks?
Someone with much better balance than myself
33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
The family
34. Are you too forgiving?
No
35. When was the last time that you were in love?
I fell hard for an adorable pair of shoes just yesterday!
37. What was the stupidest thing you learned in high school?
Anything that was in Gulliver's Travels!
38. What was the last thing that you cried about?
Missing my grandmother's funeral
39. What was the last question you asked?
Does she think that looks good?
40. Favorite thing to do this time of the year?
Golf!
41. If you had to get a (or another) tattoo, what would it be?
I don't think I'd go for that again.
42. How would your best friend describe you?
A walking holiday.
43. Have you ever seen all three Twilight films?
Shamefully, yes.
44. Ever walked into a glass door?
Yes...and I've smushed my face against the glass on the aquarium at the zoo. Not fun
45. Favorite color on that person that you are attracted to?
Blue
46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Ha - yes!! And he deserved it!
47. What hair style (for you) would you like to see return?
Kentucky Waterfalls?
48. What was the last CD you bought?
Holy cow!! Do they still make those?? I have no idea, but I did download the Songs for Japan album last night
49. Do looks matter to you?
Somewhat
50. Could you ever forgive a liar?
Yes.
51. What's the hardest bill to pay every month?
The student loan payment for the degree that my husband is still 15 hours from completing.
52. Do you like your life right now?
Absolutely!
53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
No - it must be off!
54. Can you handle the truth?
yes...more dumb questions
55. Do you have good vision?
I had Lasik two years ago, so I'm seeing better than 20/20 baby!
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
No...well, maybe.
57. How often do you talk on the phone?
A couple of times per week. Texting is much more time efficient.
58. What celeb would you like to come home to?
Chris Pine...but he would be coming home to ME
59. What are you wearing?
Boomer hoody and black Adidas warm-up pants. It's laundry day!
60. What is your favorite wild animal?
My 9 year-old
61. Where was your facebook picture taken?
Notre Dame!
62. Can you waltz?
No, I'm horrible at it!!
63. Do you have a job?
No, I have a destiny!
64. What was the most recent thing you stole?
Someone's heart, I'm sure.
65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Hasn't everyone?
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Cutting for Stone
“Call me unwanted, call my birth a disaster, call me the bastard child of a disgraced nun and a disappeared father, call me a cold-blooded killer who lies to the brother of the man I killed, but that loamy soil that nurtured Matron’s roses was in my flesh."It's taken me a few weeks to finish reading, but I devoured the last couple of pages of Cutting for Stone (560 pages) this afternoon. From the publisher:
Let me begin by saying that I haven't had a love/hate relationship like I did with this book since the last time I put on a pair of Spanx (and no - I will not tell you when that was!). Vergheses jumps straight to the point with the novel, opening with the doomed Sister Praise, bloody and dying, in the middle of labor with her quickly-arriving twin boys. I was both amazed and frustrated at his ability to thrust me into the bedlam and chaos of the operating theater, forcing me to feel the confusion and panic that the characters were enduring. I hated how he jumped from character to character and from setting to setting, and I foud myself angst-ridden, grinding my teeth and mentally pleading with him to go back to the hospital and deliver those damn babies! Only an extremely clever writer is able to make the reader feel the madness, the anticipation, and the confusion that the characters are experiencing - without even knowing it! This is Vergheses' talent... and he is indeed a master.Lauded for his sensitive memoir (My Own Country) about his time as a doctor in eastern Tennessee at the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s, Verghese turns his formidable talents to fiction, mining his own life and experiences in a magnificent, sweeping novel that moves from India to Ethiopia to an inner-city hospital in New York City over decades and generations. Sister Mary Joseph Praise, a devout young nun, leaves the south Indian state of Kerala in 1947 for a missionary post in Yemen. During the arduous sea voyage, she saves the life of an English doctor bound for Ethiopia, Thomas Stone, who becomes a key player in her destiny when they meet up again at Missing Hospital in Addis Ababa. Seven years later, Sister Praise dies birthing twin boys: Shiva and Marion, the latter narrating his own and his brothers long, dramatic, biblical story set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Ethiopia, the life of the hospital compound in which they grow up and the love story of their adopted parents, both doctors at Missing. The boys become doctors as well and Vergheses weaving of the practice of medicine into the narrative is fascinating even as the story bobs and weaves with the power and coincidences of the best 19th-century novel.
CTS is a story with strong characters whose lives are affected by the events of revolution, and it does a tremendous job of portraying Ethiopia. Unfortunately for me, I am completely ignorant of African history, so I spent quite a bit of my time merely skimming the chapters detailing the revolution and the politics of the era. If I had a complaint about the novel, this would be it. I lost interest several times, and nearly stopped reading the book completely. But I'm not a quitter (when it comes to books, at least!), so I dug in my heels and vowed to finish, and boy, am I glad I did! What the middle section of the book lacked, it more than made-up for toward the close. Perhaps it was because I had nearly given-up and thought the book was a lost cause, but the last several chapters completely trapped me, and I found myself fighting-off droopy-eyes and Ambien late on several nights, just to read a few pages more.
Cutting for Stone is a sweeping novel, broad in scope and with deep characters. Marion (one of the twins) recounts his life story, and the stories of his parents. There are a ton of side stories and what initially appear to be meandering reflections, but Verghese ties everything together. And not in a neat, organized manner. If he includes the most random detail, you can be assured it’s for a darned good reason. This book left me teary-eyed and week at the knees, despite my early disinterst. It was a heck of a ride, and I’m bummed that it had to end. If you're not a patient reader, stay away from this one. But, if you're looking for something to challenge your grey matter and tear at your soul, here it is, my friend!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The 5000 Question Meme Part II
Cheers to all us thieves!
26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
Dylan thanked me for the tater tots?
27. Do you have a lot to learn?
No. I know it all.
28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?
To play the guitar, fly an airplane, waltz
29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
What they do.
30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
Trust, humor, and money!
31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?
Have a scandalous romance with Jimmy Fallon. Three times?
32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
Trying on bathing suits...isn't that enough?
33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Education and literacy
34. What does each decade make you think of:
You ended this sentence in a preposition, so I am refusing to answer.
35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
Definitely the 90's...it's the one I remember the least, but the one in which I'm sure I had the most fun!
36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
American Pie
37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
USA - Obamason!
If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
Give me a raise.
38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
E! I can't get enough of Carrie Bradshaw and her friends
39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
Tinkerbell on a bad hair day.
40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
I was a brownie scout when I was younger.
41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
FLY!
42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
I put in a request for paisley and pink, but the universe denied me
43. What does your name mean?
I'm pretty sure it should mean Princess of the World.
44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
Neither...I'm more of an explore 5th Avenue kind of girl.
45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: head
Meat: brisket
Different: Amanda
Pink: yes, please!
Deserve: dessert
White: vanilla
Elvis: bedazzled jump suit
Magic: fake
Heart: replacement valves
Clash: Titans
Pulp: Fiction
46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
I hate these questions...
47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
City Correspondent, Stefon!
48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?
Several... The Breakfast Club is at the top of the list. Pretty much anything by John Hughes
49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
My kindle - I would need to read
50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
I once performed the Heimlich maneuver on a friend who was choking on Teddy Graham's...does that count?
26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
Dylan thanked me for the tater tots?
27. Do you have a lot to learn?
No. I know it all.
28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?
To play the guitar, fly an airplane, waltz
29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
What they do.
30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
Trust, humor, and money!
31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?
Have a scandalous romance with Jimmy Fallon. Three times?
32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
Trying on bathing suits...isn't that enough?
33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Education and literacy
34. What does each decade make you think of:
You ended this sentence in a preposition, so I am refusing to answer.
35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
Definitely the 90's...it's the one I remember the least, but the one in which I'm sure I had the most fun!
36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
American Pie
37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
USA - Obamason!
If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
Give me a raise.
38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
E! I can't get enough of Carrie Bradshaw and her friends
39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
Tinkerbell on a bad hair day.
40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
I was a brownie scout when I was younger.
41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
FLY!
42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
I put in a request for paisley and pink, but the universe denied me
43. What does your name mean?
I'm pretty sure it should mean Princess of the World.
44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
Neither...I'm more of an explore 5th Avenue kind of girl.
45. Word association
What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:
Air: head
Meat: brisket
Different: Amanda
Pink: yes, please!
Deserve: dessert
White: vanilla
Elvis: bedazzled jump suit
Magic: fake
Heart: replacement valves
Clash: Titans
Pulp: Fiction
46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
I hate these questions...
47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
City Correspondent, Stefon!
48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?
Several... The Breakfast Club is at the top of the list. Pretty much anything by John Hughes
49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
My kindle - I would need to read
50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
I once performed the Heimlich maneuver on a friend who was choking on Teddy Graham's...does that count?
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Rock and a Hard Place
The month of March is flying by far more quickly than I had expected. I've lost interest in the NCAA Tournament bracket and have started looking forward (with much excitement) to opening day for the Yankees and for my kiddos' soccer season to start.
I've also noted that there are only 40 days of school left...38 if you count the two I'm taking-off to go see Lady Gaga in Tulsa, but who's counting??
I cannot wait for summer.
I adore summer not only because it's a much-needed break from the insanity they call middle school, but also because I get a chance to catch-up on my reading, lie by the pool, spend quality time with my boys, attend countless baseball games, travel with the family,go camping and jet-skiing, and keep-up with the multiple summer camps that the kiddos attend.
Wait, I thought this was supposed to be summer "vacation"?
Until these next 40 days come to an end, I will be spending the last few weeks with my middle school kids, enjoying them before they take that giant leap into high school and the teenage angst that accompanies such leap. We are a little behind schedule right now - we'll start reading The Outsiders on Monday. State testing will take place in April, and we'll finish-off the year with our Holocaust cross-curriculum unit.
I probably forgot to mention it before, but a few weeks ago I took my g/t class to see a presentation by Aaron Ralston. If you've managed to miss his story, you should really rent the movie 127 Hours to learn a little about him. I will say this - hearing his story first hand was much, much more interesting and gut-wrenching than watching the film. Although his accident happened in 2003, Ralston still speaks of it with extreme emotion and intensity that Hollywood simply wasn't able to capture.
His presentation was held in Weatherford, and since we live in the armpit of Oklahoma, we had to drive over an hour to see him. For most people, this wouldn't be a problem, but for a girl who can barely see at night and has no idea how to get to Weatherford, it was slightly tricky. (FYI-I only got lost once, and we got out of that by doing a little clever cross-country driving through rocks and mud. No big deal.) Keep in mind, this was with a vehicle full of middle school students...
After the presentation, Ralston took time to visit with the audience and to sign books. He was kind enough to sign our books, visit with us briefly, and take a few snapshots with the group. I was very impressed with his emmaculate handwriting (with his remaining left hand), and his friendly nature.
I've also noted that there are only 40 days of school left...38 if you count the two I'm taking-off to go see Lady Gaga in Tulsa, but who's counting??
I cannot wait for summer.
I adore summer not only because it's a much-needed break from the insanity they call middle school, but also because I get a chance to catch-up on my reading, lie by the pool, spend quality time with my boys, attend countless baseball games, travel with the family,go camping and jet-skiing, and keep-up with the multiple summer camps that the kiddos attend.
Wait, I thought this was supposed to be summer "vacation"?
Until these next 40 days come to an end, I will be spending the last few weeks with my middle school kids, enjoying them before they take that giant leap into high school and the teenage angst that accompanies such leap. We are a little behind schedule right now - we'll start reading The Outsiders on Monday. State testing will take place in April, and we'll finish-off the year with our Holocaust cross-curriculum unit.
I probably forgot to mention it before, but a few weeks ago I took my g/t class to see a presentation by Aaron Ralston. If you've managed to miss his story, you should really rent the movie 127 Hours to learn a little about him. I will say this - hearing his story first hand was much, much more interesting and gut-wrenching than watching the film. Although his accident happened in 2003, Ralston still speaks of it with extreme emotion and intensity that Hollywood simply wasn't able to capture.
His presentation was held in Weatherford, and since we live in the armpit of Oklahoma, we had to drive over an hour to see him. For most people, this wouldn't be a problem, but for a girl who can barely see at night and has no idea how to get to Weatherford, it was slightly tricky. (FYI-I only got lost once, and we got out of that by doing a little clever cross-country driving through rocks and mud. No big deal.) Keep in mind, this was with a vehicle full of middle school students...
After the presentation, Ralston took time to visit with the audience and to sign books. He was kind enough to sign our books, visit with us briefly, and take a few snapshots with the group. I was very impressed with his emmaculate handwriting (with his remaining left hand), and his friendly nature.
This was definitely a highlight of my school year, and I know the kids will remember it for a long time. Driving home, we talked a lot about Aaron's experience, and discussed points in our lives when we'd been in difficult situations. It's times like these when I am reminded why I became a teacher, and why I specifically chose middle school. The kids are amazing. In their early teen years, they still have an endearing innocence that seems to vanish in the next few years. They are highly curious, moldable, and have a positive outlook on life. They are much more experienced in tragedy and turmoil than I was at their age, but they look forward to each day with an eagerness that captures my heart. They drive me crazy, but I can't imagine my life without them.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March Mayhem!!
Other than October, when the leaves are changing, and the fall air is crisp and fresh, March is absolutely my favorite month of the year.
Yes, my birthday is in March (I turned 28 again this year), so that's a big part of it, but there are so many exciting activities that happen in March, that I am already growing morose at the thought of the month coming to an end... :(
So, a quick recap of March...
March 8th- Mardi Gras
While I didn't do much this year to celebrate Mardi Gras, I remember with incredible fondness the Mardi Gras celebrations of my younger years. While in college, and for several years after, I made it a point to celebrate Mardi Gras - food, beads, beer, and amazing music. What's not to like?? I have always wanted to actually be in New Orleans for the celebration, but timing has never been a talent of mine...
March 9th- My birthday, yeah!!! I didn't do much this year for my birthday, mainly because it was in the middle of the week and my students had to take the state writing test the following day. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the purgatory of state testing, let me just say that for a teacher, this is a stressful time. It's worse for English teachers because we have TWO tests to deal with - reading and writing. Of course, they can't be scheduled in a normal manner - the writing test is usually at the end of February, with the reading test at the end April. Because of the snow days, the writing test was postponed a bit this year, thus all but ruining my birthday.
March 17th- St. Patrick's Day (pretty much a ditto on the above entry about Mardi Gras, but with a focus on Ireland and a desire to be in Dublin instead of N.O.)
SPRING BREAK!!! For a teacher, spring break is actually better than Christmas. Not only do we get an entire week off from school, but spring break also means we are only 8 short weeks away from the end of the school year. Many teacher families go skiing over spring break, but not the Whitewater clan (I despise snow skiing - but that's for another blog, another day). We typically save our vacation for the summer, and this year we plan on taking the boys to Dallas and/or San Antonio for a holiday. I'm sure they are bursting with excitement to visit the grassy knoll and the Alamo....
For spring break this year, we followed our beloved Woodward Boomer baksetball team to OKC for the state playoff games. This is two years in a row that Corey Miller and our boys have made it to the state playoffs, and the second year that we've had to face Goliath (aka Douglass) in the first round. Douglass is an incredible team - they haven't been beaten in Oklahoma in two years and have won the state title the past two. I had hoped to avoid playing them until the championship game, but it wasn't to be. I will say this - our boys SHOULD have won that game. It was a complete nail-biter from start to finish, with a last-second three point shot that would have won the game for us. Unfortunately, Douglass won 58-56, but our boys played like gods, and I couldn't be more proud!
After the games, we stayed a couple of days in OKC to visit some family, shop, dine, and catch a movie. I wanted to go see Gnomeo and Juliet, but the boys picked Rango. It was a cute film, and we all enjoyed it, but I still want to see the other...
I finally made it to a girls' night last night, and now I know why I only attend these things 2-3 times per year. Seven or eight women in one room with alcohol and food is almost like an episode of Wild Kingdom. The cackling in the room was so loud that I was choking down Tylenol by 9:30, and I was incessantly tormented and teased about my adorable Hello Kitty koozie (fun haters). However, it was all in good fun and I really had a great time. We are all so busy these days, that it's hard to find time when we can all stop and catch-up. At last night's gathering, I met a couple of new friends, and reconnected with a few who I hadn't seen in quite some time. I also ate entirely too much quesidilla cheesecake and nearly ruined my favorite Beatles shirt (not that!). From last night's fiesta, I learned a few things...1) Some people should not be allowed near a dolphin tank during vacations 2.) Everyone loves Colonel Angus and 3.) There is nothing "easy" about washing Easy Cheese out of your hair. Good times.
Last but probably the most important thing about March - you know...March Madness!!!
I am not a huge basketball fan. As a matter of fact, I may catch 2-3 college ball games during the regular season and zero professional games, but I LOVE March Madness (particularly if WVA advances and I can sing John Denver songs!). I know nothing about the rankings, but I love to fill out my bracket and watch the games with the hubby who typically pouts b/c my bracket destroys his! Ha!! Last year Kansas broke my bracket when they lost to Butler before even making it to the elite eight, but I've picked them to go all the way this year. We'll see if they can redeem themselves.
In other news...I'm reading a new book called Cutting for Stone, but it just hasn't hooked me yet. I'm trying to be patient. Tomorrow we'll start reading The Outsiders in my English class. This is by far one of my favorite units to teach, and I'm really excited to get it going. We'll do a group activity over social groups and stereotypes tomorrow, an Internet scavenger hunt about the 60's on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then start reading on Thursday. I can't wait...hopefully this year I won't cry when we hit chapter 12...
Yes, my birthday is in March (I turned 28 again this year), so that's a big part of it, but there are so many exciting activities that happen in March, that I am already growing morose at the thought of the month coming to an end... :(
So, a quick recap of March...
March 8th- Mardi Gras
While I didn't do much this year to celebrate Mardi Gras, I remember with incredible fondness the Mardi Gras celebrations of my younger years. While in college, and for several years after, I made it a point to celebrate Mardi Gras - food, beads, beer, and amazing music. What's not to like?? I have always wanted to actually be in New Orleans for the celebration, but timing has never been a talent of mine...
March 9th- My birthday, yeah!!! I didn't do much this year for my birthday, mainly because it was in the middle of the week and my students had to take the state writing test the following day. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the purgatory of state testing, let me just say that for a teacher, this is a stressful time. It's worse for English teachers because we have TWO tests to deal with - reading and writing. Of course, they can't be scheduled in a normal manner - the writing test is usually at the end of February, with the reading test at the end April. Because of the snow days, the writing test was postponed a bit this year, thus all but ruining my birthday.
March 17th- St. Patrick's Day (pretty much a ditto on the above entry about Mardi Gras, but with a focus on Ireland and a desire to be in Dublin instead of N.O.)
SPRING BREAK!!! For a teacher, spring break is actually better than Christmas. Not only do we get an entire week off from school, but spring break also means we are only 8 short weeks away from the end of the school year. Many teacher families go skiing over spring break, but not the Whitewater clan (I despise snow skiing - but that's for another blog, another day). We typically save our vacation for the summer, and this year we plan on taking the boys to Dallas and/or San Antonio for a holiday. I'm sure they are bursting with excitement to visit the grassy knoll and the Alamo....
For spring break this year, we followed our beloved Woodward Boomer baksetball team to OKC for the state playoff games. This is two years in a row that Corey Miller and our boys have made it to the state playoffs, and the second year that we've had to face Goliath (aka Douglass) in the first round. Douglass is an incredible team - they haven't been beaten in Oklahoma in two years and have won the state title the past two. I had hoped to avoid playing them until the championship game, but it wasn't to be. I will say this - our boys SHOULD have won that game. It was a complete nail-biter from start to finish, with a last-second three point shot that would have won the game for us. Unfortunately, Douglass won 58-56, but our boys played like gods, and I couldn't be more proud!
After the games, we stayed a couple of days in OKC to visit some family, shop, dine, and catch a movie. I wanted to go see Gnomeo and Juliet, but the boys picked Rango. It was a cute film, and we all enjoyed it, but I still want to see the other...
I finally made it to a girls' night last night, and now I know why I only attend these things 2-3 times per year. Seven or eight women in one room with alcohol and food is almost like an episode of Wild Kingdom. The cackling in the room was so loud that I was choking down Tylenol by 9:30, and I was incessantly tormented and teased about my adorable Hello Kitty koozie (fun haters). However, it was all in good fun and I really had a great time. We are all so busy these days, that it's hard to find time when we can all stop and catch-up. At last night's gathering, I met a couple of new friends, and reconnected with a few who I hadn't seen in quite some time. I also ate entirely too much quesidilla cheesecake and nearly ruined my favorite Beatles shirt (not that!). From last night's fiesta, I learned a few things...1) Some people should not be allowed near a dolphin tank during vacations 2.) Everyone loves Colonel Angus and 3.) There is nothing "easy" about washing Easy Cheese out of your hair. Good times.
Last but probably the most important thing about March - you know...March Madness!!!
I am not a huge basketball fan. As a matter of fact, I may catch 2-3 college ball games during the regular season and zero professional games, but I LOVE March Madness (particularly if WVA advances and I can sing John Denver songs!). I know nothing about the rankings, but I love to fill out my bracket and watch the games with the hubby who typically pouts b/c my bracket destroys his! Ha!! Last year Kansas broke my bracket when they lost to Butler before even making it to the elite eight, but I've picked them to go all the way this year. We'll see if they can redeem themselves.
In other news...I'm reading a new book called Cutting for Stone, but it just hasn't hooked me yet. I'm trying to be patient. Tomorrow we'll start reading The Outsiders in my English class. This is by far one of my favorite units to teach, and I'm really excited to get it going. We'll do a group activity over social groups and stereotypes tomorrow, an Internet scavenger hunt about the 60's on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then start reading on Thursday. I can't wait...hopefully this year I won't cry when we hit chapter 12...
Sunday Stealing
Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part One Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Who are you?
Didn't Dickinson struggle with this question?? I am no one - who are you?
2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?
I should have been a professional golfer
Chocolate will open all doors
I am a sucker for blue eyes and dimples
3. When you aren't memes like this one what are you doing?
Curing blindness in llamas.
4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time).
Humanities
English/Literature
History
Math/science - this is a tie
5. What is your biggest goal for this year?
Find a bigger house for my family!
6. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Really?? Why do I feel like I'm in high school?
7. What stage of life are you in right now?
The fun one?
8. Are you more child-like or childish?
Childish
9. What is the last thing you said out loud?
Waffles!
10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?
I was just listening to Simple Minds, so the only song that I can think of right now is "Don't You Forget About Me"
11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?
I use to do kick-boxing
12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same?
It just keeps getting better!
13. Does time really heal all wounds?
Most of them - but apologies help.
14. How do you handle a rainy day?
Reading or sleeping
15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?
Losing your luggage. I don't mess with tangled lights - this is why I have a husband.
16. How is (or was) your relationship with your parents?
Pretty good
17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?
Most of the time, but I am also pretty naive about a lot of things. These things get past me.
18. What is the truest thing that you know?
What comes around goes around.
19. What did you want to be when you grew up?
orthodontist, lawyer, professional chef, travel agent, writer, reporter, or public relations/promotions specialist for a professional sporting team
20. Have you ever been given a second chance?
most definitely
21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
Giver
22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?
Right about now, I'm deciding that this meme is pretty lame.
23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
labor - is there any other option for a woman?
24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Must we really go there?? Probably the three days in which: 1 - I got divorced, 2- I had a miscarriage, 3- my grandfather died. That was a rough week...
25. Who have you hugged today?
No one - but after thinking about #24, I may need a hug!!
1. Who are you?
Didn't Dickinson struggle with this question?? I am no one - who are you?
2. What are the 3 most important things everyone should know about you?
I should have been a professional golfer
Chocolate will open all doors
I am a sucker for blue eyes and dimples
3. When you aren't memes like this one what are you doing?
Curing blindness in llamas.
4. List your classes in school from the ones you like the most to the ones you like the least (or if you are out of school, think of the classes you did like and didn't like at the time).
Humanities
English/Literature
History
Math/science - this is a tie
5. What is your biggest goal for this year?
Find a bigger house for my family!
6. Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Really?? Why do I feel like I'm in high school?
7. What stage of life are you in right now?
The fun one?
8. Are you more child-like or childish?
Childish
9. What is the last thing you said out loud?
Waffles!
10. What song comes closest to how you feel about your life right now?
I was just listening to Simple Minds, so the only song that I can think of right now is "Don't You Forget About Me"
11. Have you ever taken martial arts classes?
I use to do kick-boxing
12. Does your life tend to get better or worse or does it just stay the same?
It just keeps getting better!
13. Does time really heal all wounds?
Most of them - but apologies help.
14. How do you handle a rainy day?
Reading or sleeping
15. Which is worse...losing your luggage or having to sort out tangled holiday lights?
Losing your luggage. I don't mess with tangled lights - this is why I have a husband.
16. How is (or was) your relationship with your parents?
Pretty good
17. Do you tend to be aware of what is going on around you?
Most of the time, but I am also pretty naive about a lot of things. These things get past me.
18. What is the truest thing that you know?
What comes around goes around.
19. What did you want to be when you grew up?
orthodontist, lawyer, professional chef, travel agent, writer, reporter, or public relations/promotions specialist for a professional sporting team
20. Have you ever been given a second chance?
most definitely
21. Are you more of a giver or a taker?
Giver
22. Do you make your decisions with an open heart/mind?
Right about now, I'm deciding that this meme is pretty lame.
23. What is the most physically painful thing that has ever happened to you?
labor - is there any other option for a woman?
24. What is the most emotionally painful thing that has ever happened to you?
Must we really go there?? Probably the three days in which: 1 - I got divorced, 2- I had a miscarriage, 3- my grandfather died. That was a rough week...
25. Who have you hugged today?
No one - but after thinking about #24, I may need a hug!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday Stealing- The Burnt Toast Meme Part 2
Sunday Stealing: The Burnt Toast Meme, Part Two
Cheers to all of us thieves!
17. Who would you like to show up at your door to say they love you?
Johnny Depp is here right now proclaiming his love, so I'd have to wait for him to leave first...
18. Last furry thing you touched?
My kitty cat, Gatsby.
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
I'm a pretty clean gal - all I've taken is Ambien to help me sleep on Friday night.
20. Do you miss film or does digital work for you?
That's like asking if I miss having chicken pox.
21. Favorite age you have been so far?
Without a doubt, 23 (in-between husbands is the BEST time of a girl's life!)
22. Your worst enemy?
cellulite
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Dylan and Dawson after Dylan was named MVP of his football team
24. What was the last thing you said that was funny?
I called Damon's current girlfriend "Number Four,"....was that out of line?
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
My momma didn't raise no dummies - a million bucks will fly you a long way!!
26. Who can't you say “no” to?
Dawson when he smiles with his big blue eyes and adorable dimples.
27. The last song you bought or downloaded?
Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons
28. What time of day were you born?
Morning
29. What’s your favorite number? Why?
Nine - not sure why.
30. Where did you live in 1987?
The big Woo!!
31. Are you jealous of anyone?
No, people are jealous of me.
32. Is anyone jealous of you?
See question #31
33. It's been almost a decade. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
I was at home getting dressed for work and watching the Today Show. Where were you???
Cheers to all of us thieves!
17. Who would you like to show up at your door to say they love you?
Johnny Depp is here right now proclaiming his love, so I'd have to wait for him to leave first...
18. Last furry thing you touched?
My kitty cat, Gatsby.
19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
I'm a pretty clean gal - all I've taken is Ambien to help me sleep on Friday night.
20. Do you miss film or does digital work for you?
That's like asking if I miss having chicken pox.
21. Favorite age you have been so far?
Without a doubt, 23 (in-between husbands is the BEST time of a girl's life!)
22. Your worst enemy?
cellulite
23. What is your current desktop picture?
Dylan and Dawson after Dylan was named MVP of his football team
24. What was the last thing you said that was funny?
I called Damon's current girlfriend "Number Four,"....was that out of line?
25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
My momma didn't raise no dummies - a million bucks will fly you a long way!!
26. Who can't you say “no” to?
Dawson when he smiles with his big blue eyes and adorable dimples.
27. The last song you bought or downloaded?
Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons
28. What time of day were you born?
Morning
29. What’s your favorite number? Why?
Nine - not sure why.
30. Where did you live in 1987?
The big Woo!!
31. Are you jealous of anyone?
No, people are jealous of me.
32. Is anyone jealous of you?
See question #31
33. It's been almost a decade. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
I was at home getting dressed for work and watching the Today Show. Where were you???
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sunday Stealing - The Burnt Toast Meme
Sunday Stealing: The Burnt Toast Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Damn, Mr. Whitewater is one lucky fella!
2. How much cash do you have on you?
$7.28 - but don't tell my kids
3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
adore
4. Favorite planet?
I've only visited one, and I hate to be prejudice...
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
It's actually a blocked call - strange!
6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
Fat Bottom Girls!! It reminds me of Brendy!
7. What shirt are you wearing?
University of Oklahoma t-shirt!
8. Do you label yourself?
Other than princess and diva? Not really.
9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
Nike Impax
10. Bright or Dark Room?
Dark for living room and bedroom; light for kitchen and bath
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
Do I know the person who took this survey before me?
12. What does your watch look like?
I don't wear watches because they do not work on me. I am known as the Black Widow of the Rolex (and the Fossil, and the Swatch - you get the picture)
13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Being massaged and romanced by my latin lover, Fernando...oh, wait - that was a dream! I guess I was sleeping!
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
No
15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
You're joking, right?
16. What's a word that you say a lot?
Seriously?
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Damn, Mr. Whitewater is one lucky fella!
2. How much cash do you have on you?
$7.28 - but don't tell my kids
3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR?
adore
4. Favorite planet?
I've only visited one, and I hate to be prejudice...
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
It's actually a blocked call - strange!
6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
Fat Bottom Girls!! It reminds me of Brendy!
7. What shirt are you wearing?
University of Oklahoma t-shirt!
8. Do you label yourself?
Other than princess and diva? Not really.
9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing?
Nike Impax
10. Bright or Dark Room?
Dark for living room and bedroom; light for kitchen and bath
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
Do I know the person who took this survey before me?
12. What does your watch look like?
I don't wear watches because they do not work on me. I am known as the Black Widow of the Rolex (and the Fossil, and the Swatch - you get the picture)
13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Being massaged and romanced by my latin lover, Fernando...oh, wait - that was a dream! I guess I was sleeping!
14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
No
15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
You're joking, right?
16. What's a word that you say a lot?
Seriously?
The Jewel of St. Petersburg
I finally finished reading Kate Furnivall's latest novel last night. Notes from the cover:
In this prequel to her debut novel, The Russian Concubine (2007), about White Russian Lydia Ivanova, Furnivall focuses on Lydia’s mother, Valentina, during the years leading up to and including the Russian Revolution of 1917. When Bolsheviks bomb her family’s country estate in 1910, crippling her younger sister, Katya, 17-year-old title character Valentina is left with guilt and resolve. With a slim frame but steely character, she defies both convention and her father, who is the czar’s minister of finance, first by training and working as a nurse and then by refusing to marry for money (in order to solve the family’s financial problems). Instead, she chooses the man she loves passionately, Dane Jens Friis, the czar’s engineer. Through the years, her hatred grows for Viktor Arkin, a Bolshevik leader once in the Ivanovas’ employ who develops an emotionally complicated relationship with the family. Furnivall portrays a country in dreadful conflict, with the grinding poverty of the masses fueling rebellion against the privileged classes. A must for readers of The Russian Concubine and Furnivall’s The Red Scarf (2008).I became interested in Furnivall's novels two summers ago when I read The Russian Concubine and the sequel, The Girl from Junchow. A historical fiction zealot, I was instantly captivated by the tales of Lydia Ivanova and the beldam of post WWI Russia/China. While I am highly educated in both US and European history, I know very little of the events that transpired between the Romanovs and the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution and even less about early 20th century China (no wonder I had such a hard time grasping the events in Dr. Zhivago!). Becuase of my ignorance, I found the need to seek out historical texts to help me understand the period and the life of Lydia and her family, and let me say - I was HOOKED.
The Jewel of St. Petersburg is a prequel to the other novels, and was nearly as fabulous as the other two books. I became absolutely captivated with the Danish hero, Jens Friis, and enthralled with the story's antagonist, Viktor Arkin. In Arkin, Furnivall has created a character whose outward actions are remarkably heinous and despicable, while his inner emotions are tormenting and tragic. I actually found Arkin's character far more intriguing than that of the "leading lady," Valentina. Arkin longs for a revolutionized Russia, void of the controlling Tsar Nicholas and his disgustingly rich comrades, but to achieve this goal, he must spill blood, ruin lives, and destroy much of St. Petersburg. His tragic connection to the Ivanova family provides the principal conflict of the story, and makes for page-turning tale. Several nights I sat up reading, only to discover that I had long passed my desired bedtime...and I paid for it the next mornings!
If you are a fan of Kate Furnivall's other novels, you will enjoy this one as well. Before you fire-up the Kindle, however, consider looking into the story's primary character - St. Petersburg. Familiarity with the city's history will no doubt be beneficial when trying to digest the events connected to the revolution and to Valentina's tale.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Little Black Rain Cloud
It's been nearly a week since I've added anything to my blog, mainly because I've been a little cranky. I don't like to be negative, and that is certainly not the side of me that I want my dedicated readers (BOTH of them!) to become too familiar with! I don't want to be identified as a complainer, so it's best that I stay away when my evil alter-ego occasionally rises up to the surface.
I'm also becoming more and more aware that there are many topics that I simply cannot address on a public blog without ruffling too many feathers. Humph.
So, until my black rain cloud passes, I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite videos! This one is called "Parent-Teacher Conference," and its accuracy is hilariously alarming. Even if you're not a teacher (or a parent), you'll enjoy this video. I'd bet a year's wages that you'll get a giggle from this one... :D
I'm also becoming more and more aware that there are many topics that I simply cannot address on a public blog without ruffling too many feathers. Humph.
So, until my black rain cloud passes, I thought I'd share one of my all-time favorite videos! This one is called "Parent-Teacher Conference," and its accuracy is hilariously alarming. Even if you're not a teacher (or a parent), you'll enjoy this video. I'd bet a year's wages that you'll get a giggle from this one... :D
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Cheers, Speedo Guy!
As a general rule, I do not consider myself a sports enthusiast, although I am a HUGE fan of the Yankees, I follow college football, and I love to play golf. However, there is something about March Madness that makes me act like a complete and total nutcase. Last year, I nearly drove my husband insane when I downloaded and repeatedly played John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Road" during a trip to OKC. (Ok, maybe it wasn't that I played the song so much - maybe it was because I couldn't resist singing along with my incredibly amazing voice). Had West Virginia not been playing in the Final Four, I never would have become such a zealot for John Denver tunes! Just think of the joys I may have missed!!
Another example of true "March Madness"...I spent my spring break standing in a ridiculous snowstorm outside the Ford Center to purchase tickets to watch the Kansas Jayhawks play ball. What the heck?? I'm a Sooner girl!! Not a Jayhawker!
Insanity, I tell you!
With the big dance quickly approaching, I can feel my vocal cords warming up for a round of folk-song karaoke, and my toes are itching to dig out the snowboots. But, you won't catch me lingering around the Ford Center this year (or whatever it's called), though. No sir!! The BOK Center, well maybe... ;)
In honor of March Madness, it's time to say kudos to the legendary "Speedo Guy" of Duke University. The perfect example of a "true blue" fan!!
Another example of true "March Madness"...I spent my spring break standing in a ridiculous snowstorm outside the Ford Center to purchase tickets to watch the Kansas Jayhawks play ball. What the heck?? I'm a Sooner girl!! Not a Jayhawker!
Insanity, I tell you!
With the big dance quickly approaching, I can feel my vocal cords warming up for a round of folk-song karaoke, and my toes are itching to dig out the snowboots. But, you won't catch me lingering around the Ford Center this year (or whatever it's called), though. No sir!! The BOK Center, well maybe... ;)
In honor of March Madness, it's time to say kudos to the legendary "Speedo Guy" of Duke University. The perfect example of a "true blue" fan!!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday Stealing
At the suggestion of my "old friend" Dave, I have decided to participate in Sunday Stealing!!
Sunday Stealing: The Very Late Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
My dog, Shanti who is snoring on the rug.
A basket of laundry that needs to be folded and put away
My husband doing dishes (if I wait long enough, maybe he'll fold said laundry!)
The television -tuned to Sirius music
Oh my god shoes!
2. How do you style your hair?
Ugh...really? Typically I straighten it and pull it up. Hair around my neck drives me nuts.
3. What are you wearing now?
OU shirt, "peace" pajama bottoms and non-matching slippers (don't ask)
4. What's your occupation?
teacher - 8th grade English and gifted/talented
5. What do you hear right now?
water running/dog snoring/music
6. Who was the last person you hugged?
The Dawsonator- I'm sure he wanted money
7. What is/was for dinner?
We should probably ask whoever is cooking...
8. What did you do today?
My Sunday routine- sleep in, breakfast, laundry, and procrastinating. I need to go up to the school and get things ready for this week, but I haven't yet.
9. Dog person or cat person?
Sea monkey person
10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Probably something that ended with Trump, Rockefeller, Winfrey, or Gates, but only if I get the perks that go along with it
11. What was the last thing that you bought?
sparkly black Tom's shoes!!
12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace sunny and warm with a white, sandy beach and unlimited rum
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This chair is pretty comfy
14. Where's your birthmark?
Right lower leg
15. What are you doing this weekend?
Mostly answering texts from my nutty friends in OKC :D
16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
A Tale of Two Cities
17. The last movie you've seen?
The Town w/Ben Affleck - yummy
18. What are you doing tomorrow?
Tomorrow I get to spend the day in professional development with my teacher peeps
Sunday Stealing: The Very Late Meme
Cheers to all of us thieves!
1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up:
My dog, Shanti who is snoring on the rug.
A basket of laundry that needs to be folded and put away
My husband doing dishes (if I wait long enough, maybe he'll fold said laundry!)
The television -tuned to Sirius music
Oh my god shoes!
2. How do you style your hair?
Ugh...really? Typically I straighten it and pull it up. Hair around my neck drives me nuts.
3. What are you wearing now?
OU shirt, "peace" pajama bottoms and non-matching slippers (don't ask)
4. What's your occupation?
teacher - 8th grade English and gifted/talented
5. What do you hear right now?
water running/dog snoring/music
6. Who was the last person you hugged?
The Dawsonator- I'm sure he wanted money
7. What is/was for dinner?
We should probably ask whoever is cooking...
8. What did you do today?
My Sunday routine- sleep in, breakfast, laundry, and procrastinating. I need to go up to the school and get things ready for this week, but I haven't yet.
9. Dog person or cat person?
Sea monkey person
10. If you had to change your name, what would you change it to?
Probably something that ended with Trump, Rockefeller, Winfrey, or Gates, but only if I get the perks that go along with it
11. What was the last thing that you bought?
sparkly black Tom's shoes!!
12. If you could afford to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Someplace sunny and warm with a white, sandy beach and unlimited rum
13. Where do you see yourself in five years?
This chair is pretty comfy
14. Where's your birthmark?
Right lower leg
15. What are you doing this weekend?
Mostly answering texts from my nutty friends in OKC :D
16. Which book are you reading at the moment?
A Tale of Two Cities
17. The last movie you've seen?
The Town w/Ben Affleck - yummy
18. What are you doing tomorrow?
Tomorrow I get to spend the day in professional development with my teacher peeps
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fluffy the Chicken
Today marks the end of my reign as Woodward's Teacher of the Year.
I've had a mixture of emotions about handing-down my tiara, and it was quite the bittersweet afternoon. Bitter because - well, because who wants to give up the glamour, fame, and perks associated with being queen bee of a small, northwest Oklahoma town? Sweet because I no longer have to avoid the pesky paparazzi who stalk me at every turn begging for my photo and hankering to know which designer I'm wearing. (Ok, not really!)...Sweet because I finally had the chance to express to the community just how much I've relished being their "TOY," and because I was given the pleasure of passing the torch to another much-deserving educator who has worked diligently to provide the children of our community with a warm, loving classroom and exceptional educational experiences.
It was also great to see some of my friends and colleagues who I never get to see when I am tending the birdies up in the nest (aka my classroom!).
So, for those of you who missed it, or for those of you who just want a chance to make fun of me one more time - heaven knows I present you with plenty of opportunities for this - here is my "farewell" speech. Feel free to post the mocking comments, but please - leave the pics of Fluffy out of this.
I've had a mixture of emotions about handing-down my tiara, and it was quite the bittersweet afternoon. Bitter because - well, because who wants to give up the glamour, fame, and perks associated with being queen bee of a small, northwest Oklahoma town? Sweet because I no longer have to avoid the pesky paparazzi who stalk me at every turn begging for my photo and hankering to know which designer I'm wearing. (Ok, not really!)...Sweet because I finally had the chance to express to the community just how much I've relished being their "TOY," and because I was given the pleasure of passing the torch to another much-deserving educator who has worked diligently to provide the children of our community with a warm, loving classroom and exceptional educational experiences.
It was also great to see some of my friends and colleagues who I never get to see when I am tending the birdies up in the nest (aka my classroom!).
So, for those of you who missed it, or for those of you who just want a chance to make fun of me one more time - heaven knows I present you with plenty of opportunities for this - here is my "farewell" speech. Feel free to post the mocking comments, but please - leave the pics of Fluffy out of this.
When I was five years old, my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jane Goetzinger cast me as Fluffy the Chicken in our class play. As Fluffy, I got to wear a gorgeous yellow feathered costume complete with a big orange beak, and I literally got the chance to “strut my tailfeathers” around on stage. Every since that day, Woodward schools have been like home to me.
It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to represent my hometown and my school district as teacher of the year. When I stood in front of all of you last year, I told you that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher, and that is true. I nibbled at many careers before deciding to become a teacher, but the classroom is truly my glass slipper, and this past year, you have made me feel like Cinderella.
It has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me to represent my hometown and my school district as teacher of the year. When I stood in front of all of you last year, I told you that I didn’t always know I wanted to be a teacher, and that is true. I nibbled at many careers before deciding to become a teacher, but the classroom is truly my glass slipper, and this past year, you have made me feel like Cinderella.
I want to thank CJ Montgomery, the Chamber of Commerce, the Woodward News, and all the vendors who have contributed to this reception. The gifts and the opportunities that I received as TOY were truly incredible, and I will never forget your generosity.
But as with Cinderella, it is time for my ball to end.
Congratulations to each of our six finalists. You truly are the best of the best!
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor and pleasure to present to you Woodward Public School’s 2011 Teacher of the Year…..Mrs. Nancy Shore!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
To blog or not to blog...
For the past few months, I've been considering starting a blog. I have several friends who are quite successful bloggers, and I thoroughly enjoy reading through their posts from time to time. I sometimes find myself secretly "blogging in my head," narrating my life and experiences much like Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City (although my day-to-day experiences aren't nearly as glamorous as those of a single, uber-successful Manhattan columnist and her pack of wealthy gal pals). Why not actually put the words down in print for all to enjoy, right??..
This is exactly the question I am asking myself right now as I struggle to type out the first few lines of my newest "thing." What exactly is a blog? Should I be limited to one specific topic in blog? Is there any topic I am passionate enough about to write about it on a weekly basis, and is there anyone in the world who would even care to read it?
As previously noted, I do read the blogs of several friends, and I really enjoy them. However, I have found that most of these blogs really aren't about one specific topic or idea, but rather are more of an online journal of their lives. They write about their families, books, movies, politics, vacations, and the things that happen in their own little worlds.
Is that really what a blog is supposed to be, and if it is, how can my life possibly be interesting enough for another human being to want to know about it? I also find myself wondering if I really want people to know about my life. Can I really put myself out there in print, completely unexposed and uncensored? Is that "ok"?
Lets face it, as a public school teacher, I am constantly in the public eye. Everything I write, say, and suggest is scrutinized, criticized, discussed, and twisted to the point of being unrecognizable. I've recently discovered that even innocuous postings on Facebook about school closings can turn into a six e-mail scolding by my building principal. There are those who would suggest that I write strictly about "safe" topics - those that can in no way be misinterpreted or misunderstood, those that are shiny and pretty with bubbles and unicorns and Mary Poppins flying around with her adorable umbrella and her fruit-covered hats (pardon me while I puke up a furball). But, if I am not going to write about topics that mean something, and if I'm not going to address real issues and give my naked, honest opinion, why should I even bother to write??
So, I am back to Hamlet's age-old question (slightly altered for the 21st century). To blog or not to blog...
This is my question, but what is the answer?
This is exactly the question I am asking myself right now as I struggle to type out the first few lines of my newest "thing." What exactly is a blog? Should I be limited to one specific topic in blog? Is there any topic I am passionate enough about to write about it on a weekly basis, and is there anyone in the world who would even care to read it?
As previously noted, I do read the blogs of several friends, and I really enjoy them. However, I have found that most of these blogs really aren't about one specific topic or idea, but rather are more of an online journal of their lives. They write about their families, books, movies, politics, vacations, and the things that happen in their own little worlds.
Is that really what a blog is supposed to be, and if it is, how can my life possibly be interesting enough for another human being to want to know about it? I also find myself wondering if I really want people to know about my life. Can I really put myself out there in print, completely unexposed and uncensored? Is that "ok"?
Lets face it, as a public school teacher, I am constantly in the public eye. Everything I write, say, and suggest is scrutinized, criticized, discussed, and twisted to the point of being unrecognizable. I've recently discovered that even innocuous postings on Facebook about school closings can turn into a six e-mail scolding by my building principal. There are those who would suggest that I write strictly about "safe" topics - those that can in no way be misinterpreted or misunderstood, those that are shiny and pretty with bubbles and unicorns and Mary Poppins flying around with her adorable umbrella and her fruit-covered hats (pardon me while I puke up a furball). But, if I am not going to write about topics that mean something, and if I'm not going to address real issues and give my naked, honest opinion, why should I even bother to write??
So, I am back to Hamlet's age-old question (slightly altered for the 21st century). To blog or not to blog...
This is my question, but what is the answer?
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