day 20

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

How important you think education is.

Well, since I'm a professional educator, I'd have to say I think education is very important.

finished reading

This is a great summer read. It's got all the elements of a beach book: fashion, cocktails, a touch of mystery, summer romance, and a glamorous beach setting. I got right into the story but there were a couple of slow points. I enjoyed the book and characters enough to keep reading and I'm glad I did. This would be a very fun summer book group selection. There is a literary quality to it--the Gatsby and Fitzgerald references as well as other artists and works.

From the publisher:

Half-sisters Cassie and Peck could not be more different. Cassie is a journalist with her feet firmly planted on the ground; Peck is an actress with her head in the clouds. In fact, the only thing they seem to have in common is their inheritance. Fool's House is a broken-down home in the Hamptons left to Cassie and Peck by their Aunt Lydia, a house that she decreed they must share. But Cassie and Peck can't afford the place, and they can't agree on what to do with it. Plus, along with the house, they've inherited an artist-in-residence and self-proclaimed genius named Biggsy who seems to bring suspiciously bad luck wherever he goes. Cassie and Peck try to figure out their Aunt Lydia's puzzling instructions to "seek the thing of utmost value" in the house, but as summer comes to a close, they seem no closer to coming to a decision.

I enjoyed it.

the watch

I know I'm a geeky nerd because I'm on Royal Baby Watch! I just can't wait until this bundle of joy joins the world. I am more excited about this baby than my friends' babies. I know that's "wrong." But I can't help it.

w.w.w. wednesday

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? I'm listening to Carol Burnett's This Time Together.

• What did you recently finish reading? I read The Summer We Read Gatsby by Danielle Ganek.


• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm going to read The Violets of March by Sarah Jio.

day 19

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

Disrespecting your parents.

I can remember only one time I got angry with my father. It was about having green bean casserole for a holiday meal. I didn't like it so I didn't make it. And we had a major blowout over it. I remember being so mad! Other than that, I always defer to him.

ten things tuesday

Ten things:

1) School was weird today. The last day, an abbreviated schedule, few students. It felt like one major time suck, I was just waiting for the bell.

2) There are a lot of people I will miss. Among them some students. I had a really good year.

3) I'm really enjoying my iPod touch. It's handy and fun. I love the calendar. And camera.

4) Knitting class got rescheduled this week, from Monday to Tuesday. I originally had a schedule conflict but that conflict got rescheduled so I can go to knitting class. Which is good because I want to work on my sweater!!

5) The friend I'm going to see Sting with is way more anxious about it than I am. She's got every little detail planned--and if she hasn't said it out loud yet, she's got it planned in her mind.

6) I want the weather to cooperate. It is just 61 degrees and cloudy. I'd like it just a scooch warmer and maybe not cloudy.

7) Here is a stack of movies I have to watch (all from my dad's video library): Argo, Moonrise Kingdom, Wag The Dog, Life of Pi, Anna Karenina, Catherine the Great, Hyde Park on Hudson, and Lincoln. I think I've got some viewing to start doing!

8) I just had a mani/pedi:  OPI The Spy Who Loved Me (I wanted something flashy for summer)

9) I don't feel like having supper. But I'm hungry. I need a chef.

10) I can stay up late tonight. Late being a relative term. What I especially mean is that I can stay up later than 9 o'clock. My Virginia laughs at me because when we're BookFace chatting I always sign off then.

day 18

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

Your beliefs.

Hmmm... beliefs? I believe this school year is done! And I believe it's going to be a kick-ass summer!

can't wait

Getty images: Dimitrios Kambouris.
In what is being billed as a greatest hits tour, Sting will be joined by his longtime five-piece band, which consists of keyboardist David Sancious, Dominic Miller on guitar, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, Peter Tickell on electric fiddle and Jo Lawry on background vocals.

THURSDAY!!!

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

Musing Mondays asks you to muse about one of the following each week…

• Describe one of your reading habits.
• Tell us what book(s) you recently bought for yourself or someone else, and why you chose that/those book(s).
• Tell us what you’re reading right now — what you think of it, so far; why you chose it; what you are (or, aren’t) enjoying about it.
• What book are you currently desperate to get your hands on? Tell us about it!
• Do you have a bookish rant? Something about books or reading (or the industry) that gets your ire up? Share it with us!
• Instead of the above questions, maybe you just want to ramble on about something else pertaining to books — let’s hear it, then!

I'm rather excited about the book group choices for this summer. We've got one classic: Islands In The Stream by Hemingway, then Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, and then Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. And the first two gatherings are at funky and fun local restaurants. One of the most fun parts of belonging to a reading group is selections of books I probably would not have picked up on my own. I read out of my typical genre. Like the Hemingway--I NEVER would have picked that up.

day 17

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

Your highs and lows of the past year.

I'm kind of drawing a blank on the lows of the past year--other than the run of the mill anxieties that are a constant companion.

The highs are plentiful--one of the biggest is my "graduation" from therapy. April was when my therapist said she didn't think she could offer any more to me, that I had met all my goals. My niece's wedding in Pennsylvania and the whirlwind trip that went with it was a high. Creating the three new classes and having five different preps all year was a high, kind of a low too with all the stress, but a high.

And I'm going to the Sting concert in a couple of days. And the Whoopie Pie Festival a couple of days after that.

the class of 2013

How exciting for the kids to start the next part of their lives. Graduation was a simple ceremony--no outside speakers, just the students, the principal and the superintendent. The entire celebration took an hour. And I didn't blubber like a baby, although my hugs made a couple of students cry. I am going to miss this class. They were my first Advanced Placement US History kids when they were sophomores and my first Advanced Placement Psychology when they were seniors. We got to share the academic adventures together! And now I release them to their higher education. I will miss them. I got to know them all so well. But we can keep touch through various social media networks. And they promise to come back and visit.

day 16

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

Your views on mainstream music.

Auto-tune is annoying. It's sad that artists today aren't celebrated for sounding like real singers. They are expected to put on a show--dancing and prancing around, instead of SINGING.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: Weird Question Meme, part two

What is your ring size? depends on the finger

How often do you wear jewelry? every day, almost

When was the last time you consumed alcohol? Friday night, I had a glass of wine

Any big plans for the summer? I am officially taking the summer off from school-related things. My plans include going to little festivals around the state (like the Whoopie Pie Festival, the Moxie Festival...)

What is your favorite comfort food? mashed potatoes, plain potato chips, mac and cheese

Do you prefer broccoli or asparagus? usually asparagus

What color are your bedroom walls? off-white

With whom do you live? me, myself and I

Which Star Wars movie is your favorite? the originals

How about Harry Potter? Deathly Hallows part 1 and 2

What was the last movie you saw in theaters? Les Miserables, I think

Did you get the popcorn or candy? no, I got a bottle of water

What is the most romantic text in your inbox? "Add minutes of air time"

Have you ever played miniature golf on a date? yes, it was a lot of fun

What’s a phrase you overuse? lately it's been "lemme see"

Do you always use good grammar? I try to

Do you have an accent or a speech impediment? I don't think I have an accent and I don't have a speech impediment

What did you eat today? a granola bar and a handful of Reese's miniatures

What do you do at work? inspire a delight in all things social studies related

Do you know the rules to any sports? I know the rules to several sports

Do you prefer to watch or play sports? watch

What is your favorite kind of hat to wear? a hand knit hat

Do you pray? not so much

To whom do you pray? the powers that be

What is the closest mountain to your house? Quoggy Jo Mountain at the local State Park

What size engine is in your vehicle? V6

What do you need to do tomorrow? finish clearing out my classroom

postsecret

This week is all about Fathers. PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

summer reads

My book group selected the following for our summer reads:

• July: Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway on the 11th.

• August: The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling on the 1st.

The first two will be held at local eateries for lunch fun.  And we'll be back in school for the September meeting.  Blah.

• September: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight on the 13th.

day 15

Join the June Challenge--this is today's prompt:

Your favorite Tumblrs.

Well, I don't really Tumblr, but my favorite blogs are in my sidebar.

saturday 9

Daddy's Back

If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) Crazy Sam's dad often traveled for business, and always remembered to bring her the little complimentary soaps or body lotions he got from the hotel. When you travel, do you bring back souvenirs? Send post cards? I like to buy myself a little something (scarf, necklace, earrings) to remember the journey

2) When you fly, do you prefer window or aisle? Or doesn't it matter? as long as I'm not in the middle, I don't mind

3) According to Askmen.com, Jim Anderson (Robert Young) of Father Knows Best is the best TV dad ever. Who is your favorite TV (or movie) dad? my favorite TV dad is Steven Douglass from My Three Sons

4) Sam's father was the family disciplinarian. What about you? Do you consider yourself a rule maker, a rule follower, or a rule breaker? depending on where I am, I am all three

5) Sam's father was the one who gave her driving lessons. Think back to your first few times behind the wheel. Were you a naturally good driver? not when I was younger, I was very very nervous--that's why I waited until I was an adult to get my license

6) This week's featured artist, Kenny Loggins, was born in Washington state. Have you ever lived in, or traveled to, any of our northern border states? (For those of you not as well versed in geography as Crazy Sam, that's AK, WA, MT, ND, MN, WI, MI PA, NY, VT, and ME.) I live in the Great State of Maine, aka The Great White North, along the Canadian border

7) As part of the duo Loggins and Messina, Loggins performed the song "House at Pooh Corner." Do you have a favorite character from the Winnie the Pooh books/movies? Pooh, but I am terribly fond of Piglet

8) The mercury is going to start rising. How hot is too hot for you? 85º? 95º? Or are you one of those "the hotter the better" people? I hate the heat... anything over 80 is toooooo hot!

9) To celebrate Father's Day, Sam is giving away her father's favorite candy: LifeSavers. Would you prefer a roll of Wild Cherry, or Butter Rum, or Winter Green or Peppermint? hmmm... I like them all!