thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Not being in to what I'm doing today.

w.w.w. wednesday

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

• What are you currently reading? My honors students are reading Crime & Punishment in their English class so I said I would read along with them. And I started Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

• What did you recently finish reading? I finished Sex, Murder and A Double Latte by Kyra Davis. And I also read To The Moon And Back by Jill Mansell. Two really good books!

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm going to listen to Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson but I'm not sure what I'll read.

therapy

It's been since Thanksgiving since my last therapy appointment. 8 weeks is too long, we went with 6 weeks for next time. My epiphany came when I realized decluttering my apartment = decluttering my mind. That I've got a few things I'm holding on to because I don't know how to get rid of them. So, we're going to start working on "the stuff." Especially the stuff that needs to be cleaned out. It was a great session and I'm processing.

ten things tuesday

Ten things in no particular order:

1) My students are busily working away on an assignment. One of them gave me a gift card to a local restaurant because I mentioned that I was craving one of their no-bake cookies. How sweet is that?? I am having such a good school year that I forget to mention how much fun I'm having. Even though I'm stressed about the new preps and classes I'm teaching, I'm still having a lot of fun!

2) The weather is warming up significantly. Last week it was -40 and this week it's supposed to get up to the 40s. And the sun's out.

3) The painters have finally finished in my apartment!!! The ceiling looks great, as do the walls where they painted fresh paint, however, the paint is obviously new and looks like a different shade. I'll have to nag my landlord about that.

4) A new-ish policy at school is asking all of us to wear our identification badges. I got a lanyard that looks like a silver necklace.

5) Since I had such fun with the Capturing December photo challenge, I'm considering a February challenge. I donno.

6) I finished reading a really good book last night and today I'm having trouble choosing what to read next. I will randomly select something.

7) According to Goodreads, I'm three books ahead of my pace to meet the goal of reading 50 books this year!

8) Chewing gum feels weird since I had my wisdom teeth out.

9) Last night, I was so tired I almost ditched knitting class. I'm glad I went. I learned a couple of new things, taught a couple of things to everyone else, and had a lot of fun.

10) The senior class is having a class meeting during my class time. It's weird to sit here waiting for them.

finished reading

Jill Mansell creates characters and stories that are fun. I realize going in that this genre is all about happy endings but Mansell makes it an interesting journey to get there.

From the publisher:

The hardest part of love is moving on...

It's been a year since Ellie Kendall's husband, Jamie, was killed in an accident, but she's still haunted by his memory. In fact, she finds herself talking to him regularly. At the urging of Jamie's successful actor father Tony, Ellie moves to London's glamorous Primrose Hill, where nobody knows her past...

But even in her new home-and with her hardworking new boss, Zack McLaren; and Jamie's best friend Todd to distract her-Ellie can't seem to leave Jamie behind. Will Ellie stay stuck in the past? Or will she realize the man of her dreams is flesh and blood-and right in front of her eyes...

I enjoy Mansell's writing. I liked this book. Full of hope and redemption, love and friendship. And a fun dog named Elmo.

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.

I'm currently reading To The Moon And Back by Jill Mansell. It's British Chick Lit and she is one of my favorite authors. All of her books are complex with interesting characters, primary and secondary. I don't find them too stereotypical for the genre. Even though I know it's going to have a happy ending, there are twisty turns to get there.

current obsession

I am currently enthralled and obsessed with Downton Abbey. This is some great television.

knittery

Finished another Planet Head Day hat! It's kind of blurry but it's a basket weave.

postsecret

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.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The Meme from Suburbia

1. What were you doing 10 years ago? I was intense about school, working at it all the time

2. By this time next year, I ... will be decluttered, hopefully.

3. Do you think the United States will elect a female President in your lifetime? Do you think this would be a good thing? Yes, I do. And it depends on the woman.

4. Which fictional, TV show character you would shag anytime? Dr. Doug Ross

5. Who is your greatest enemy? me

6. Tell me about your most recent trip of more than 100 miles? it was to a social studies conference in Augusta and I drove in a torrential storm of rain/freezing rain/sleet, it was one of the scariest trips I've ever made

7. Which do you use more often, the dictionary or the thesaurus? dictionary

8. Do you have a nickname? What is it? Kwizgiver

9. What are you dreading at the moment? going to the laundromat

10. Do you worry that others will judge you from reading some of your answers? I've never thought about it

11. If you find an outfit you love, but the size on the label is larger than you want, do you buy the outfit? Why or why not? of course!

12. Even the biggest slackers are anal-retentive about something? What are you anal-retentive about? being organized at school

13. Out of all the books you read as a child, which one had the biggest influence on how you are today? I had a set of pop up books that were fairy tales

14. Which Golden Girl would you want to spend a night on the town with? well, the characters were so diverse--probably Blanche to have a wild time, or Dorothy to have an interesting time

15. What is the one product you would never buy in its generic form even if the generic is half the price? toilet paper

16. How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa? 6

17. What is the one smell that turns your stomach without fail? deer urine

18. If someone holds out a carton of milk to you and asks you to sniff it to see if its spoiled, do you? no one ever has done that

19. You have a completely free day and $2000.00, What are you doing? enjoying the day

20. What is the most used item in your home? toilet

saturday 9

Stormy Weather

1) Do noisy storms scare you? sometimes, it depends on the time of day

2) Mother Winters tells us Lena Horne was considered one of the great beauties of the 1940s. Whom do you consider one of today's most beautiful women? Catherine Zeta-Jones came to mind: I could not take my eyes off her in the film Chicago

3) Crazy Sam admits it -- there's a big bag of recycling she really should take out to the bin. Yet she's composing this meme. What should you be doing, instead of answering her questions? I have two full trash bags that need to be taken out. And I should really be doing my laundry.

4) Sam may be crazy, but she's not stupid and will never waste her money on Cialis, no matter how many unsolicited emails she receives! What's the most recent addition to your spam folder? I keep getting spammed by LinkedIn

5) What was the last thing you cooked? I baked a pot pie last night for supper but I didn't make it

6) Do you remember the lyrics to your either your high school or college fight song? If so, please share a bit. "To thee Presque Isle, Our school worthwhile, Glory and honor Ere be thine, Everyone stand, Give it a hand, Our school will always shine!" that's all I remember...

7) "Samantha" is the feminine of "Samuel" and means "Listener." What's the derivation of your first name? my name means "Noble" in both its Gaelic and German derivations

8) Are you following the NBA or NHL this year? If so, which team are you rooting for? definitely not the NBA, but I'd like to see the Bruins have success

9) Gloves, umbrellas, sunglasses, keys -- which of these do you misplace most often? uhm, umbrella by default

knittery

Just finished knitting this cowl/snood for my stepmother because she was "whining" that she didn't get a scarf for Christmas or after--like Dad did.

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. Wow, this cold snap is brutal.

2. My mind is filled with random bits of trivia.

3. Finally, I'm caught up on exam correcting.

4. Soup for lunch is all right with me.

5. Sweet or savory: add bacon.

6. The excuses I've heard from students for not studying are new.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing and maybe finishing knitting up a cowl, tomorrow my plans include a manicure and lunch out with a friend and Sunday, I want to get my laundry done!

(design by "thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/)"

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Painters in my apartment, it's been a week already.

finished reading

This is the first book in the Sophie Katz series. Sophie is a mystery writer whose life imitates her fiction. She has a crazy group of friends who keep the action moving and the dialog snapping! There were some chuckle moments and twisty-turns and I didn't solve it before the ending. Always a good sign. I will definitely read more of this series.

From the publisher:

When a mystery writer cries bloody murder, everyone blames her overactive imagination…

Thriller scribe Sophie Katz is as hard-boiled as a woman who drinks Grande Caramel Brownie Frappuccinos can be. So Sophie knows it's not paranoia or post-divorce, living-alone-again jitters, when she becomes convinced that a crazed reader is sneaking into her apartment to reenact scenes from her books. The police, however, can't tell a good plot from an unmarked grave.

When a filmmaker friend is brutally murdered in the manner of a death scene in one of his movies, Sophie becomes convinced that a copycat killer is on the loose —and that she's the next target. If she doesn't solve the mystery, her own bestseller will spell out her doom. Cursing her grisly imagination (why, oh, why did she have to pick the ax?), Sophie engages in some real-life gumshoe tactics. The man who swoops in to save her in dark alleys is mysterious new love interest Anatoly Darinsky. Of course, if this were fiction, Anatoly would be her prime suspect.…

brrrrrrrr

• Wind Chill Warning remains in effect until 1 pm EST Thursday.

• A Wind Chill Warning remains in effect until 1 pm EST Thursday.

Wind Chill readings, as low as 35 to 48 below.
Winds: west 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 20 to 30 mph this evening and late Thursday morning.

w.w.w. wednesday

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

• What are you currently reading? My honors students are reading Crime & Punishment in their English class so I said I would read along with them. And I'm almost finished with Sex, Murder and A Double Latte by Kyra Davis--I'll finish it tonight.

• What did you recently finish reading? I finishedMemoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks. I liked it!

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm going to listen to Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson but I'm not sure what I'll read.

ten things tuesday

Ten random things:

1) I just ate a Dove chocolate and the wrapper message says: The best things in life are chocolate.

2) It's mid-year exam week. Today is the first day. Funny how the kids chitty-chatted away their study period and then got nervous when I was passing it out. They'll be fine.

3) I kind of wasted my knitting class last night. Instead of working on a project that I need help with, I worked on a hat. But I wanted an easy knit. And this roll-brim chemo hat fit the bill.

4) Right now the painters are in my apartment. I wish I had words to describe how uncomfortable it makes me. They are very nice. But that's not the issue.

5) I'm going to whine about the weather. It's twenty below. As in twenty below zero. Minus twenty degrees. It's going to be colder tomorrow, they're calling for forty below. Why do I live in Maine?

6) I just realized I did not photocopy the exam I'm giving this afternoon. There goes lunch.

7) I feel like my love of Downton Abbey puts me in a selective club or something. Those of us who are fans are fanatical fans. I re-watched Season One on NetFlix and then downloaded Season Two on iTunes. And I'm recording Season Three. So much goodness.

8) This is frivolous but I'm actually enjoying my purple manicure. The color is way outside of my comfort zone but I'm getting used to it. I'm getting a manicure Saturday and am looking forward to choosing another color--going to try staying out of my comfort zone.

9) Yesterday while the painters were working on the entry way, I went out to get one of my headlights replaced--thankfully VIP could fit me in, then I went to the new coffee shop to hang out and read for about an hour. It was comfortable. But I wished I had had my knitting with me. I did finish a hat.

10) I should explain that I am on a hat kick because my knitting group was asked to make hats for Planet Head Day, which is a fund raiser for a local cancer charity group where people pledge to shave their heads for donations. After the head is shaved, artists paint it as a planet. Or, if you want to make a donation without shaving your head, you can get a skull cap painted like a planet. I'm excited to whip up some hats.

lovely

The following poem was delivered by inauguration poet Richard Blanco during ceremonies for President Obama's second inaugural Monday.

"One Today"

One sun rose on us today, kindled over our shores,
peeking over the Smokies, greeting the faces
of the Great Lakes, spreading a simple truth
across the Great Plains, then charging across the Rockies.
One light, waking up rooftops, under each one, a story
told by our silent gestures moving behind windows.

My face, your face, millions of faces in morning’s mirrors,
each one yawning to life, crescendoing into our day:
pencil-yellow school buses, the rhythm of traffic lights,
fruit stands: apples, limes, and oranges arrayed like rainbows
begging our praise. Silver trucks heavy with oil or paper -- bricks or milk, teeming over highways alongside us,
on our way to clean tables, read ledgers, or save lives -- to teach geometry, or ring up groceries as my mother did
for twenty years, so I could write this poem.

All of us as vital as the one light we move through,
the same light on blackboards with lessons for the day:
equations to solve, history to question, or atoms imagined,
the “I have a dream” we keep dreaming,
or the impossible vocabulary of sorrow that won’t explain
the empty desks of twenty children marked absent
today, and forever. Many prayers, but one light
breathing color into stained glass windows,
life into the faces of bronze statues, warmth
onto the steps of our museums and park benches
as mothers watch children slide into the day.

One ground. Our ground, rooting us to every stalk
of corn, every head of wheat sown by sweat
and hands, hands gleaning coal or planting windmills
in deserts and hilltops that keep us warm, hands
digging trenches, routing pipes and cables, hands
as worn as my father’s cutting sugarcane
so my brother and I could have books and shoes.

The dust of farms and deserts, cities and plains
mingled by one wind -- our breath. Breathe. Hear it
through the day’s gorgeous din of honking cabs,
buses launching down avenues, the symphony
of footsteps, guitars, and screeching subways,
the unexpected song bird on your clothes line.

Hear: squeaky playground swings, trains whistling,
or whispers across cafe tables, Hear: the doors we open
for each other all day, saying: hello, shalom,
buon giorno, howdy, namaste, or buenos días
in the language my mother taught me -- in every language
spoken into one wind carrying our lives
without prejudice, as these words break from my lips.

One sky: since the Appalachians and Sierras claimed
their majesty, and the Mississippi and Colorado worked
their way to the sea. Thank the work of our hands:
weaving steel into bridges, finishing one more report
for the boss on time, stitching another wound
or uniform, the first brush stroke on a portrait,
or the last floor on the Freedom Tower
jutting into a sky that yields to our resilience.

One sky, toward which we sometimes lift our eyes
tired from work: some days guessing at the weather
of our lives, some days giving thanks for a love
that loves you back, sometimes praising a mother
who knew how to give, or forgiving a father
who couldn’t give what you wanted.

We head home: through the gloss of rain or weight
of snow, or the plum blush of dusk, but always -- home,
always under one sky, our sky. And always one moon
like a silent drum tapping on every rooftop
and every window, of one country -- all of us --
facing the stars
hope -- a new constellation
waiting for us to map it,
waiting for us to name it -- together

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 it.

I'm reading a fun mystery called Sex, Murder, and a Double Latte by Kyra Davis. It's the first of the Sophie Katz series. I will definitely pick up more. So much fun--snappy dialog, secondary characters that are relatable, and an outrageous mystery. I chose it because I had seen it while looking at other players' blogs.

knittery

I popped in to my LYS (local yarn store) yesterday to wind some yarn and pick up a decorative button and heard a funny story: at breakfast yesterday a couple of women I have a nodding acquaintance with kept glancing at my table. After they finished breakfast they apparently went to LYS in pursuit of yarn and a pattern. They mentioned me and my cowl to the shop clerk who happened to know what they described and was able to sell them the goods they need to make their own. How fun is that?

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: The Back Fifteen Meme

15) How do you vent out your anger? usually expressing it

16) Favorite toy as a child? my teddy

17) Favorite season? autumn

18) Do you ever get letters delivered by the post office? daily

19) When was the last time you laughed hard? Saturday, at breakfast with friends

20) What is on the floor of your closet? boxes of art supplies, travel tote bags

21) Are you any good at drawing? yes, if you need bent stick people

22) What did you do last night? knit a on charity hat and watched Downton Abbey again

23) What are you most afraid of? my phobias

24) Plain,cheese or spicy hamburger? cheese

25) Favorite dog breed? lately a French bulldog

26) Favorite day of the week? any

27) How many states / provinces / countries have you lived in? 1 state, 1 country

28) Diamond or pearl? meh

29) What is your wish for this new year? less stress

30) New year resolutions gratitude journaling at school

postsecret

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.

saturday 9

Bette Davis Eyes

1) Has anyone ever told you that you resemble a celebrity? no

2) Is there an actress or actor whose movies you make it a point to see? Meryl Streep and George Clooney

3) We're stopping for refreshments before we go in to see the movie. What's your refreshment stand order? Junior Mints

4) When did you last consume an alcoholic beverage? What was it? hmmm, I think it was in September and it was a Daily's Frozen Cocktail--probably peach daiquiri

5) Are you jumpy? Do you startle easily? not only do I startle easily, I squeal or make some other noise as I'm jumping

6) Do you wear a watch? no

7) When was the last time you tried a new restaurant? two weeks ago I went to a new local place, The Whole Potato for a jazz brunch. It was a little bit loud, but we had a marvelous brunch and experience.

8) What color is your wallet? brown pleather

9) How much does it have in coins right now? probably around six dollars in coins, I haven't cleaned out my quarters for laundry in a couple weeks

knittery

So, I got myself a new wool coat

and needed a scarf to go with it. I whipped up this "Instant Gratification" scarf tonight! I learned a twisted drop stitch, it was fun to knit!

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. I love the feeling of coffeein the morning.

2. Seeing my APUSH classalways brightens my day.

3. Challenging classes, like the AP Psych Institute,is what I will remember the most from 2012.

4. My favorite family recipe is "Cuppa, cuppa, cuppa".

5. When I want to spoil myself I have a blast.

6. Top Chefis my favorite TV show.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hanging around somewhere warm, tomorrow my plans include the Breakfast Club and Sunday, I want to catching up with Downton Alley!

(design by "thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/)"

model citizen

My students convinced me that I needed to take a picture of me wearing my Gap-Tastic cowl since it was such a trial to complete. So, here's the scarf with me in it!

finished reading...

From the publisher:

Imaginary friend Budo narrates this heartwarming story of love, loyalty, and the power of the imagination—the perfect read for anyone who has ever had a friend . . . real or otherwise

Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.

Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, but most just say he’s “on the spectrum.” None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can’t protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.

When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable and kidnaps Max, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save him—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max’s happiness or Budo's very existence.

Narrated by Budo, a character with a unique ability to have a foot in many worlds—imaginary, real, child, and adult— Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion.

It was interesting to enter the world of imaginary friends. I didn't have one when I was growing up. Now I kind of wish I had. Sometimes Budo gets repetitive when he's reminding the reader that imaginary friends are a different kind of real. And some of the descriptions were a bit drawn out, especially when the action is fast-paced, I felt bogged down with unnecessary description. But I liked this book. I especially enjoyed the scenes at school, they felt authentic to me as a teacher.

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Crowded calling hours.

desserts spelled backward...

I'm really on stress overload. One of my best friends lost a sibling due to a car accident and it's really shocking, sudden, and sad. I feel so awkward because I don't know what to do or say other than calling her every day to let her talk and letting her know I'm here for whatever she needs--and I know she'll need some distraction.

I'm also stressed because I'm trying to get mid-term exams and final exams ready for my classes. I think I have exams finished, and answer sheets. But no study guides! Oy heavens. I'm so wound up about it. And I had my observation today--completely unscheduled and I felt unprepared, even though it was a fine evaluation.

I'm also stressed because another friend of mine called me to ask me some questions about a situation at the neighboring school. A student has become "friends" with a teacher and the teacher and her boyfriend went on a weekend trip with the student. As in, they all stayed in a hotel. I don't know, this just doesn't sit well with me. It's icky and wrong. So, I'm going to look into what steps my friend can take to let the school know.

I'm stressed because I have a major busy day tomorrow and I'm going to have to rush around from school to meetings to knit night. I hate days like that.

And, lastly, I'm feeling really stressed because my landlord called me this evening to say that painters are coming in tomorrow to work on my ceiling--where it had been water damaged by the roof leak. Have I mentioned I'm a clutterer? Have I mentioned I hate having people in my home? Yet, I'm composing a blog post instead of shuffling the shit around.

I am feeling frazzled.

w.w.w. wednesday

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

• What are you currently reading? My honors students are reading Crime & Punishment in their English class so I said I would read along with them. And I'm almost finished with Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.

• What did you recently finish reading? Santa Responds, it was snarky good fun!

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm going to listen to Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson but I'm not sure what I'll read.

'nite

ten things tuesday

I've been toying with the idea of joining in on Teresa's 2013 Audio Book Challenge. I think I'm going to join because my goal is to listen to more books as I knit, instead of watching television.

Here are the particulars as Teresa explains:

Welcome to the Original Audio Book Challenge. This challenge is for Audio Book lovers as well as those who are brand new to them.

There are five levels to the challenge

• Flirting-Listen to 6 Audio Books
• Going Steady- Listen to 12 Audio Books
• Lover- Listen to 25 Audio Books
• Married-Listen to more than 25 Audio Books
• You Define the Relationship- Create your own challenge (choose your own name and level starting as low or going as high as you’d like)

This is a fairly laid back challenge and I want it to be as enjoyable as possible.

• Audio Books can be any genre
• You can cross challenges
• You don’t have to be a blogger to participate. You can tell us about what you are listening to in the comments of the monthly link up.

So, I dedicate my Ten Things Tuesday to ten audio books I would like to listen to this year:

1) I'm starting out the year with Crime and Punishment. It's a read-along with my APUSH class--most of whom are in Honors English and they are reading it in that class and I promised I would join.

2) My Extraordinary Life by Sissy Spacek.

3) Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. I actually started this already but stopped to listen to Dostoevsky.

4) Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand. It came highly recommended as a read and I picked it up on sale as audio.

5) This Time Together by Carol Burnett. She shaped my childhood. It's the first show I remember making an effort to watch. I love her.

6) Mindy Kaling's: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

7) My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business: A Memoir by Dick Van Dyke

8) Something by Carrie Fisher, I bet she'd be fun.

9) Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, a recommendation from a friend--she said listening was awesome.

10) Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son by Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez

I find I especially enjoy memoirs because they seem conversational when read by the author. And, hopefully I'll listen to more!

finished...

Yay! Finished my Gap-Tastic Cowl! Started it Saturday but had a real struggle with it Sunday. Thanks to my knitting guru, I finished it tonight in class.

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 it.

Right now I'm reading Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend. It's an interesting tale from the point of view of an imaginary friend of an autistic boy named Max. I am about half-way through the book and the point where I want to read more, instead of having to put it down. I didn't have an imaginary friend so this is a whole new experience for me. Very imaginative.

postsecret

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.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: 40 of The Most Random Questions Meme, Part Two

21) What’s something you’ve always wanted? my own puppy

22) Do you have hairy legs? not hairy but maybe stubbly

23) What does “Semper Fidelis” stand for? Forever Faithful or something like that

24) Would you rather swim in the ocean or a lake? I'm a toe dipper, so if the lake isn't too rocky or gross I might do both

25) Do you wear a lot of black? no

26) Describe your hair: very thin and fine, strawberry blonde, curly

27) Do you have Entomophobia? not phobia level but I eschew bugs

28) Are you an adult? in age, yes

29) Do you own or rent? rent

30) Do you have a tan? it's January and I'm in Northern Maine... no

31) Are you addicted to TV? not so much

32) Do you enjoy spending time with your In-laws? I have no in-laws

33) Are you a sugar freak? I wouldn't say freak...

34) What happened to Larry King? does anyone really care?

35) What sign are you? Scorpio

36) What do you wish on your birthday? for health and happiness

37) Who did you copy this from? Mr. Lance

38) Do you eat breakfast? it's the most important meal of the day

39) What would you name the royal baby? Elizabeth Diana or something like that

40) Do you buy a newspaper? no

shout out...

Went to an Ellis Paul concert tonight. He's a hometown guy who's made it as a folk musician. I really enjoy his music. He was giving his thanks to people who shaped him into the artist he is today and he mentioned my dad, then he went on to say Dad's been having some health issues. You could hear the sympathy and concern in the audience. I was startled! He is? Not. What the heck is that about? There's nothing wrong with Dad. So, I emailed Dad and let him know what to expect in the next few days. Other than that, the concert was great fun!

saturday 9

We Owned The Night

1) Can you recall a time when you danced and romanced like you "owned the night?" oh, yes! When I was in college! And I remember another vivid night that my friends and I were in our first Irish disco, that night was epic!

2) Samantha Winters admits she earned the name "Crazy Sam" during her party girl days in the 1980s. But now she's in bed by 11:00 PM. Do you have a regular bedtime? I try to turn the light out by 10:00, that means getting into bed between 9-9:30 so I can read for awhile.

3) Lady Antebellum is one of the most popular acts in country music. Do you often listen to country music? I don't know if I listen often but I don't avoid country music and do enjoy the pop-country (like Keith Urban)

4) Are you responding to this meme on a desktop or laptop or phone or tablet? laptop

5) How often do you check your horoscope? funny you should ask, I Tweeted just the other day that I deleted my horrorscope without reading it and wondered if that would ruin the day... but generally, daily

6) Congratulations! You just won a trip to Switzerland! Is your passport up to date? yes!

7) Do you know how to snow ski? no, I mean, I get the concept but it's been many years since I tried

8) What's the first beverage you drink in the morning? either water or orange juice

9) Are you a good speller? I frequently am asked to spell random words when my students are working on a writing assignment--I can spell those words well, however, when I am writing on the board I am usually hurrying and make simple mistakes

friday fill-ins

Join the fun here!

1. Wake up and have some coffee.

2. I still remember all the fun we had.

3. Every picture tells a story.

4. Sometimes I can be a little too quiet.

5. Stay with me, though, I'll get to blathering.

6. Eyes express in a thousand ways.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to chilling out in my pajamas--and knitting, tomorrow my plans include a manicure and later on dinner with my bestie before a concert and Sunday, I want to feel prepared for the week at school!

(design by "thetruebookaddict.blogspot.com/)"

charity knit project

There's going to be a silent auction at school for a fund raiser. I knit this scarf. I also knit another gossamer infinity scarf. And another iPad case. I forgot to take photos of those, though.

finished reading...

Such snarky goodness! Santa replies to letters he receives from all kinds of kids from all over the world. And Santa lets loose. So amusing!

thursday bug

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Feeling disorganized at school: so much to do, so little time!

fire...

So, Monday night when the temperature was well below-zero, there was a fire in the apartment house next door. I didn't realize until it was rather late and then I had a tough decision whether to stay up and watch the happenings or go to sleep. After about twenty minutes, and watching the firemen roll up one hose, I decided to go to sleep. Things were under control. No one needed my help. Although, I did have blankets at the ready if they were needed.

I should explain that my apartment house is on a corner and my apartment faces one block but the fire was on the other block. But still, I didn't sense any activity nor did I hear sirens! I didn't fret about it all night. I didn't stay awake waiting for my apartment to burst into flames. Big improvement in the OCD area. Typically I would be on guard all night just waiting for it to happen to my house.

Here's a link to the local news broadcast.

w.w.w. wednesday

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

• What are you currently reading? My honors students are reading Crime & Punishment in their English class so I said I would read along with them. And I started Santa Responds, so far it's snarky good fun!

• What did you recently finish reading? I started the January reading club selection, a memoir: The Orchard: A Memoir by Theresa Weir.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure what I'll read next, so many good suggestions!!!

ten things tuesday...

Ten things that begin with Q:

1) Quizzes. I am the Kwizgiver, after all.

2) Questions. I like to ask a lot of questions. It makes the other person talk. A lot.

3) Quarters. I loved playing the drinking game when I was in college. But now, I love my laundry quarters.

4) Quiet. I spend a lot of time by myself. I love my peace and quiet.

5) Quilts. I have a gorgeous quilt on my bed that was made by a student, I paid for the fabric and gave her a bit more for her time and effort.

6) Quest. Every day I feel as thought school is a quest--can I keep my students interested? Can I lead them to knowledge?

7) Quiche. I adore quiche. I frequently order it when I go to Cafe Sorpreso.

8) Quesadilla. YUM! I used to make them all the time, but it's been awhile since I've whipped one up.

9) Queen. I am the queen of my classroom! I could get used to students referring to me as Your Majesty.

10) QVC. Sometimes I put it on as background noise when I'm reading for school. It's usually quite amusing. I've ordered from them twice. Good experiences both times.

finished reading

This is January's reading group selection. And I can't say I liked it, although I appreciated how well-written it is. Mostly, though, I didn't connect with the author and I was rather indifferent to her story. I wanted to (but didn't) skip the sections where the author revisits her childhood. It's bleak. And I wanted something to happen.

From the publisher:

THE ORCHARD is the story of a street-smart city girl who must adapt to a new life on an apple farm after she falls in love with Adrian Curtis, the golden boy of a prominent local family whose lives and orchards seem to be cursed. Married after only three months, young Theresa finds life with Adrian on the farm far more difficult and dangerous than she expected. Rejected by her husband's family as an outsider, she slowly learns for herself about the isolated world of farming, pesticides, environmental destruction, and death, even as she falls more deeply in love with her husband, a man she at first hardly knew and the land that has been in his family for generations. She becomes a reluctant player in their attempt to keep the codling moth from destroying the orchard, but she and Adrian eventually come to know that their efforts will not only fail but will ultimately take an irreparable toll.

So... final verdict, I didn't care for this book. I don't have a clue what we'll discuss.

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 it.

I recently bought a couple of books for friends because the first week of January is Buy A Friend A Book Week!

And I bought myself a couple of books that were recommended on three different Best of 2012 lists: The Twelve Tribes of Hattie and The Light of Amsterdam. But it will be awhile until I finish reading my current reads before I get to them.

postsecret

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.

sunday stealing

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: 40 of The Most Random Questions Meme, Part One

1) What side of the heart do you draw first? usually the right


2) Can you dive without plugging your nose? yes

3) What color is your razor? pink

4) What is your blood-type? B+

5) Who would you want to be tied to for 24 hours? George

6) What is a rumor someone has spread about you? uhm... I donno

7) How do you feel about carrots? they're yummy

8) How many chairs at the dining room table? three

9) Which is the best Spice Girl? Posh

10) Do you know what time it is? 11 o'clock

11) Do you know all the words to the Fresh Prince Theme Song? of course!

12) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator? wait

13) What’s your favorite kind of gum? minty

14) All’s fair in love and war? yes

15) Do you have a crush on anyone? George

16) Do you know how to use some words correctly, but not know the meaning? I generally don't use words I don't know

17) Do you like to sleep? very much

18) Do you know which US states don’t use Daylight Savings time? isn't it Hawaii?

19) Do you know the words to the song Total Eclipse of the Heart? not off the top of my head but I bet I could sing along

20) Do you want a bright yellow ‘06 mustang? not in this lifetime