what if this is as good as it gets?: May 2016

5.31.2016

challenge time!

No rules, no linkies, just prompts!

To play along, click here

What famous or fictional person/character did you admire as a child?
Plan your last day on Earth.
If you could wish for only 3 things to come true, what would you wish for?
What does love mean to you?
What has been your greatest challenge in life so far?
Where is the place you dread the most?
Pick a T.V. sitcom to represent your life.
What song would you pick to represent you?
What do you like the most about yourself?
What are your bad habits?
What do you think is something worth dying for?
What would you say is your biggest fear in general?
If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change and why?
What do you see while casually observing people?
What’s something you wish you could say to Michael Jackson?
If you could go into an alternate universe, where would you go & what would it look like?
What can you guarantee will always be there?
What’s your passion?
Write a letter to yourself in 30 years.
Talk about the first time learning about sex.
Who do you consider your best friend right now in life?
Talk about your obsessions.
Put your iPod on shuffle and talk about the first 10 songs that pop up.
Pick one food item and beverage to live on forever.
What are the 10 most significant events in your life?
What’s your favorite store to browse in?
If you could turn into any animal for a day, which one would you pick?
What did you want to be when you were a kid, teenager, now?
What bit of advice would you give to your 8 year old self?
What do consider the best thing about starting a blog?

As seen at Verba Mea Vita

up for the challenge?

I've got to decide if I'm up for the 2016 Reading Bingo. I have a few titles in mind...

ten things tuesday

Linking up with Ten On Tuesday this week.

This week's topic is: 10 Things You Did This Weekend.

1) Had a manicure appointment.

2) Had lunch with a friend at my favorite place.

3) Did grocery shopping and other marketing.

4) Hit the Rib Truck.

5) Watched Outlander.

6) Knit more of the Sunny Baby Blanket for the birth of my great-nephew Jefferson.

7) Watched The Intern.

8) Finished reading The Raven King, the last of the Raven Cycle series.

9) Breakfast with The Breakfast Club on Monday.

10) Hung out with my parents.

5.30.2016

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

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

• I’m currently reading…
• Up next I think I’ll read…
• I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
• I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
• I can’t wait to get a copy of…
• I wish I could read ___, but…
• I blogged about ____ this past week…

This week’s random question: Name a book that disappointed you.

I was disappointed in Jonathan Franzen's Purity. Although it was wonderfully written, there were editorial choices I didn't agree with, that detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. I still can't decide if I liked the book.

5.29.2016

sunday stealing

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Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter Meme

When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?

I wrote a thank-you letter in February

Can you change the oil on a car?

no

Ever gotten a speeding ticket?

no

Run out of gas?

almost

Favorite kind of sandwich?

turkey

Best thing to eat for breakfast?

scrambled eggs

What is your usual bedtime?

9

Are you lazy?

I prefer to think of it as energy saver mode

When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?

all kinds of imaginative things

Do you have any magazine subscriptions?

O, the Oprah magazine

Which are better, legos or lincoln logs?

legos

Are you stubborn?

yes

Who is better…Leno or Letterman?

I saw Leno's stand up act and enjoyed it

Ever watch soap operas?

oh yes! I loved Guiding Light and Days of Our Lives

Afraid of heights?

not really

Sing in the car?

yes!

Dance in the shower?

no

Dance in the car?

yes!

Ever used a gun?

a glue gun

Do you think musicals are cheesy?

that's part of their charm

Is Christmas stressful?

no

Ever eat a pierogi?

yum!

Major annoyance right now?

the weather

Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?

I didn't really have one

Do you believe in ghosts?

no

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.

ultimate sacrifice

5.28.2016

just finished

The fourth and final installment of the Raven Cycle.

Series recap:

If you're unfamiliar with the series, here's a quick rundown of the plot: The Raven Cycle follows four teenage boys from the prestigious Aglionby Academy in Virginia: Richard Gansey III, Ronan Lynch, Adam Parrish, and Noah Czerny. After being killed in a bee attack (and brought back to life) as a child, Gansey has been on an unstoppable mission to uncover the truth behind Virginia's mysterious "ley lines" and the secret of the ancient Welsh king, Glendower, whom he believes is buried somewhere on the ley lines. His search for Glendower accelerates when he meets Blue, a townie from a family of psychics. Since birth, Blue's fate has been written in the stars: if she ever kisses her one true love, he will die. Thus, she avoids boys — especially Aglionby boys. But when she meets Gansey and his friends, she gets sucked into their search — and she finds herself falling a little bit in love with them all. Despite her growing love for the Raven Boys, she cannot forget one simple truth: her psychic family predicts that Gansey will die before the next St. Mark's Eve.

h/t: Bustle

I suppose part of my love of this series has been listening to the audio version with the incredible performance by Will Patton. He is a gifted narrator. I will miss this magical, fantasy world and this cast of characters. After four books, I feel as though they are my friends, almost. It's the same fond feeling I get with some of my students--I wish our relationship would last outside the parameters of the classroom (and in this case outside their fictional world).

One thing I didn't like is how some characters are developed for the sake of developing characters. They don't serve to move the plot along and make random appearances throughout the series.

Other than that, I will definitely read more by this author.

saturday 9

What Hurts the Most

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? (We are grateful and want to hear about it.) Both of my brothers in law are military men. I have several students who are active military.

2) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? chips

3) Let's celebrate the Memorial Day holiday with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup? I like a sugar cone with something chocolate

4) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you rode a bike? it has been about ten years

5) Or went hiking? it has been two weeks

6) Or rode a horse? it has been about 43 years

7) Or toasted a marshmallow? it has been a year

8) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on? no, but the windows are open

9) Crazy Sam needs your help: What song or a performer would you like to see featured in a Saturday 9 this summer? You'll begin seeing your suggestions as Saturday 9 themes in mid-June. Thanks! Taylor Swift has a lot of songs with quotable lyrics, Billy Joel, The Fixx, Hall & Oates, Enya, Duncan Shiek, and Del Amitri

5.27.2016

friday 5

Good and Bad

What’s good and what’s bad about the weather lately?

What’s something that’s so bad it’s good?

The Real Housewives

What’s something that used to be bad but now is good?

What are some of your pet words for very bad and very good?

What’s your favorite song by Bad Company (or Good Charlotte, if BadCo isn’t your style)?*

*or Bad Brains? or Benny Goodman? or Badfinger? or the Be Good Tanyas?

green

I was driving to school this morning, admiring all the shades of green from the variety of blooming and blossoming trees, fields, and plants. Shades of green as far as the eye can see. I wanted to take a photo, but I couldn't capture the subtle differences and all the hues. I forget that not everyone sees what I see every day.

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

~Thank you, Robert Frost!

5.25.2016

yarn along

Join in every Wednesday to share a single photo of what you are knitting and reading too!

Slowly knitting the Sunny Baby Blanket and listening to The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

w.w.w. wednesday

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived here on Taking on a World of Words.

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading Moriarty Returns a Letter by Michael Robertson and The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

• What did you recently finish reading? Be Frank With Me by Julia Clairborne Johnson, I really liked it.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure what's next.

5.24.2016

ten things tuesday

Linking up with Ten On Tuesday this week.

This week's topic is: 10 Favorite Desserts.

1) Chocolate ice cream. Plain ol' chocolate ice cream. Especially Giffords.

2) Chocolate cake with the good kind of frosting.

3) Pie. There aren't many I don't like.

4) Elaborate ice creams, like Ben & Jerry's flavors.

5) Strawberry shortcake when the berries are in season.

6) Creme Brulee.

7) Red velvet cake.

8) Cheesecake.

9) Chocolate lava cake.

10) Soft chocolate chip cookies.

5.23.2016

done!

We ratified the contract today!!

musing mondays

Click here to play along.

In all honesty, I didn't think I would like Harry Potter. But I'm addicted!

5.22.2016

sunday stealing

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Ask Questions Meme

1. What type of criminal would you be? white collar
2. What are you listening to right now? I'm watching Watch What Happens Live dvrd shows
3. If you had to choose a stripper name, what would it be? Chuckles
4. If your phone started ringing, who would you hope is calling? my sister
5. Do you drink alcohol? occasionally
6. Do you smoke? no
7. What is the first thing you notice in someone? their presence
8. Do you get attached easily? no
9. Do you like your eye color? yes
10. Have any stupid human tricks? I used to be able to tell the amount of change what was jingled in a pocket
11. Humor me. What physical ideal do you imagine in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? I like tall
12. Any other essential quirks/interests/other you look for in a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner? they have to make me laugh
13. Have you ever stolen anything? yes
14. Any romantic gestures you really like? attention
15. What’s your favorite color and why? I like brown/beige
16. What were you like when you were a kid? a little adult
17. What would your dream house be like? a condo
18. What last made you laugh? being with my niece
19. Do you have a place you like to go to collect your thoughts? in my recliner
20. What is your favorite word? laugh
21. What is your least favorite word? ointment
22. Would you go bungee jumping/sky diving if given the chance? yes
23. Do you have any siblings? 3 sisters
24. Do you like to dance? not really
25. What is your definition of cheating? depends on the situation

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.

5.21.2016

important holiday

saturday 9

What Hurts the Most

1) What hurts Sam the most is her sole, since she just found that earring she thought was lost by stepping on it with her bare foot. How about you? Any aches and pains to report? my body is still achy from hiking all over Quebec City. Good aches, but aches.

2) What's the last thing you misplaced? Did you find it? a paper that a student passed in, yes, I eventually found it

3) Lead singer Gary LeVox sings that he's not afraid to cry. When is the last time you shed a tear? it's been awhile since I shed a tear, but I have been deeply moved

4) Gary auditioned for another country group, Little Big Town, but didn't get in. Considering how successful Rascal Flatts has been, he's probably not sorry. Tell us about something you thought you wanted, but later weren't so sure. I always thought I wanted to teach in my hometown but now I'm glad I'm in the neighboring town

5) The country group has their roots in Columbus, Ohio. What else is Ohio known for? Ohio is the birthplace of 7 presidents! (I knew that without looking it up)

6) Lead guitarist Joe Don Rooney married model and former Miss Georgia, Tiffany Fallon. Many major pageants give prizes in the talent, congeniality and swimsuit competitions. Would you prefer to have exceptional skills, a great personality, or a terrific body? exceptional skills

7) 2006, the year this song was popular, was a very good one for tennis pro Roger Federer. He reached the finals in all four Grand Slam tournaments, and won three. What's the last game you won? (Yes, Words with Friends counts.) I won a scavenger hunt on the Quebec trip

8) Actor Tony Shalhoub won an Emmy in 2006 for his portrayal of detective Adrian Monk on Monk. Who's your favorite TV detective? Jim Rockford

9) Random question ... You've just won an all-expenses-paid trip but now you have to choose: Carnivale in Brazil, the Bordeaux Wine Festival in France, or the Running of the Bulls in Spain? I was at Carnivale in Barcelona and it was wild, I don't think I could take it in Brazil, so I'll go with the Wine Festival!

blogoversary

5.19.2016

finished reading

A quirky, quirky novel.

From the publisher:

Reclusive literary legend M. M. “Mimi” Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years. But after falling prey to a Bernie Madoff-style ponzi scheme, she’s flat broke. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in decades, and to ensure the timely delivery of her manuscript, her New York publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress. The prickly Mimi reluctantly complies—with a few stipulations: No Ivy-Leaguers or English majors. Must drive, cook, tidy. Computer whiz. Good with kids. Quiet, discreet, sane.

When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she’s put to work right away—as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer’s eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noel Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth-graders.

As she slowly gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who Frank’s father is, how his gorgeous “piano teacher and itinerant male role model” Xander fits into the Banning family equation—and whether Mimi will ever finish that book.

booking through thursday

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How often (if ever) do you weed out your library?

Sometimes I go through my Nook and "archive" books that I have read and probably won't read again. But when I got my new Nook, I unarchived everything so I could make sure all of my books are downloaded onto the device. It's insanity that I have around 600 books on the device. More than a third have been read.

With my physical books, I've already culled and weeded the shelves. I gave away everything I've already read. I kept all my self help and inspirational books.

5.18.2016

yarn along

Join in every Wednesday to share a single photo of what you are knitting and reading too!

Knitting the Sunny Baby Blanket and listening to The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

w.w.w. wednesday

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived here on Taking on a World of Words.

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading Be Frank With Me by Julia Clairborne Johnson and The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

• What did you recently finish reading? Something Missing by Matthew Dicks, I really liked it.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure what's next.

5.17.2016

finished reading

This book is a fun escape--a heist story, and I love those!
From the publisher:

A career criminal with OCD tendencies and a savant-like genius for bringing order to his crime scenes, Martin considers himself one of the best in the biz. After all, he’s been able to steal from the same people for years on end—virtually undetected. Of course, this could also be attributed to his unique business model—he takes only items that will go unnoticed by the homeowner. After all, who in their right mind would miss a roll of toilet paper here, a half-used bottle of maple syrup there, or even a rarely used piece of china buried deep within a dusty cabinet?

Even though he's never met these homeowners, he's spent hours in their houses, looking through their photo albums and reading their journals. In essence, Martin has developed a friendship of sorts with them and as such, he decides to interfere more in their lives—playing the part of a rather odd guardian angel—even though it means breaking many of his twitchy neurotic rules.

Along the way Martin not only improves the lives of others, but he also discovers love and finds that his own life is much better lived on the edge (at least some of the time) in this hilarious, suspenseful and often profound novel about a man used to planning every second of his life, suddenly forced to confront chaos and spontaneity.

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.

round is a shape

Nothing reminds me that I am out of shape more than this trip has. The first day we walked 7 miles around the city, up hills and stairs. Actually, I took a taxi back to the hotel because I knew I would be way behind the group. So I probably only hiked around 5 miles. But going from no miles to many miles is a shock to the system. My legs and feet cramped something fierce, but the second day I managed to keep up with the group. Today it was hard to get my shoes on, not only the bending, but the swollen feet. I'm so glad I've been wearing my walking sneakers all trip.

We have some free time and I opted to hang out in the lobby.

It's been an amazing trip. Weather aside, we've had incredible food and an amazing tour guide! That's made the trip educational and fun.

I had forgotten how much there is to do here. It's been about twenty years or so since I was here last. The charm and elegance hasn't changed.

5.15.2016

travel break

Heading off on an adventure to Québec City with the foreign languages club from school. I hope to have some great pictures and stories.

sunday stealing

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Doodley-Do Meme

Do you keep notes, drawings or letters that people give you? from my students, yes

How many true best friends are present in your life? my sisters and maybe one or two others

Do you currently have a significant other? no

Would you be able to stand being in the same room as someone you hate? of course--but I don't actually hate anyone

Do you depend on people at all, in any way? for moral support, yes

Have you ever lost a close friend? yes

Has anybody ever held a grudge against you for a dumb reason? yes, a total misunderstanding

Have you ever stayed up late talking to someone you like on the phone or online? I have

Have you ever felt backstabbed by a close friend? yes, but it wasn't serious, it was about a boy

Have you ever regretted ignoring anybody? not that I can recall

Has a friend of yours ever confessed their love to you? yes, it was awkward

Have you written or drawn anything for somebody else? I've written stuff

Do you tend to hide your emotions from certain people? How do you hide them? I play it very cool at school

Do your friends know how to make you smile in tough times? yes

Could you picture yourself on a reality TV show? something like Top Chef or Worst Cook in America

Are you better at drawing or coloring? coloring

Do you prefer meat or seafood? meat

Have you ever read the Bill of Rights / Declaration of Independence? I have read both, many times because I teach them

Would you rather become a police officer or a firefighter? I would be a police officer--because I could be a dispatcher

5.14.2016

saturday 9

These Boots Were Made for Walkin'

1) In this song/video, Ms. Sinatra's boots make a serious fashion statement. Do you choose footwear for comfort or fashion? oh, comfort alllll the way!

2) This is by far the biggest hit of Nancy Sinatra's career, which includes 6 top ten hits. Can you name another? I cannot

3) Nancy recorded it on Reprise Records, which was founded by her father, Frank. Did your parents give you a leg up in your chosen career? although I followed in my father's footsteps, they did not give me a leg up

4) Professionally Nancy has been involved in espionage, singing the theme to a James Bond movie and appearing in an episode of The Man from UNCLE. Do you enjoy spy/secret agent stories? yes, I do!

5) Nancy maintains the official Sinatra family website, which includes a link to the site of Mia Farrow. Ms. Farrow was, briefly, Nancy's stepmother, and obviously they are still on good terms. Do you have a big, extended family? not a big extended family but a close-knit family

6) Nancy's music -- and posters -- were very popular with the troops during the Vietnam War. Nancy continues to return their loyalty and affection with her efforts on behalf of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Here's your chance to promote a cause that's near and dear to your heart. What charity gets your support? a local cancer support charity: Caring Area Neighbors for Cancer Education and Recovery. I knit hats for them

7) Nancy hosts a Sirius radio show devoted to her father's music. Do you have a subscription to a satellite radio or podcast network? does Spotify count?

8) Nancy has said that she and her sister Tina had a more comfortable relationship with their famous father than their late brother, Frank, Jr., did. Do you think it's easier for mothers to get along with their sons, while fathers have an easier time with their daughters? oh, I have no clue--although I do have a fantastic relationship with my dad

9) Random question: Tonight's dinner is on us. Would you prefer to eat at a casual restaurant with exceptional food, or an exclusive restaurant with so-so food but a celebrity clientele? I would rather have casual and exceptional food

5.13.2016

friday 5

How Did You Learn That?

How did you learn to throw a ball?

How did you learn to drive?

How did you learn to swim?

What is the most recent thing you learned how to do from an online tutorial?

How did you learn most of your social etiquette?

5.12.2016

booking through thursday

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What do you do with books you weed out of your library? If you’re like me, you find this VERY hard to do, but you want your old books to have a good, happy life somewhere … so where do you send them? What do you do with them?

I got to the point that I would pass print books on to friends or students and ask them to pass them along to others as well. Now that I have a Nook, I don't really worry about it. Occasionally, I will go through my Nook and "archive" books I've already read.

5.11.2016

yippee

Tonight finished contract negotiations. I can't believe I got everything I wanted in language PLUS got incremental raises for the next 3 years. It was a relatively smooth process, which is the exact opposite of my last experience negotiating. I am so excited! The ratification should go smoothly. Everybody gains.

finished reading

I'm not really sure what I think about this book. I mean, Franzen is a truly great writer. I didn't connect to the characters and kind of didn't care for much of what happened to them. The wonderful writing kept me turning pages, though. A couple of the characters were so over-the-top in their character that it was too too. Yaknow? I didn't love it but I also didn't hate it.

From the publisher:

Young Pip Tyler doesn't know who she is. She knows that her real name is Purity, that she's saddled with $130,000 in student debt, that she's squatting with anarchists in Oakland, and that her relationship with her mother--her only family--is hazardous. But she doesn't have a clue who her father is, why her mother chose to live as a recluse with an invented name, or how she'll ever have a normal life.

Enter the Germans. A glancing encounter with a German peace activist leads Pip to an internship in South America with The Sunlight Project, an organization that traffics in all the secrets of the world--including, Pip hopes, the secret of her origins. TSP is the brainchild of Andreas Wolf, a charismatic provocateur who rose to fame in the chaos following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now on the lam in Bolivia, Andreas is drawn to Pip for reasons she doesn't understand, and the intensity of her response to him upends her conventional ideas of right and wrong.

w.w.w. wednesday

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived here on Taking on a World of Words.

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading Something Missing by Matthew Dicks and The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

• What did you recently finish reading? Purity by Jonathan Franzen. I haven't quite decided if I liked it or not.

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure what's next.

5.10.2016

ten things tuesday

Ten things rattling around my brain today:

1) I have not killed the shamrock yet.

2) Contract negotiations are going well and it looks like we will finish up tomorrow night, then begins the ratification process. I'm pleased.

3) I'm heading off to a workshop tomorrow and getting ready for a substitute is way more work than being here myself.

4) Yesterday we awoke to snow. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the upper 70s.

5) I'm just about to finish the Franzen book Purity. I haven't decided if I like the story, although I appreciate how beautifully written the book is. I haven't connected with any of the characters but I'm compelled to read what's happening.

6) I'm going to try listening to podcasts. Any suggestions?

7) We still don't have a finalized schedule for final exams and they're less than a month away. I hate not knowing how to plan for the end of the semester/year.

8) In that vein, I still don't have any idea what my schedule for next year will look like. I've been asked to have a student teacher, but depending on how many Advanced Placement classes I have (a minimum of two), it depends, because student teachers aren't allowed to teach Advanced Placement courses.

9) I think spring fever has hit my classes. The kids are overly restless and wound up.

10) I started knitting a blanket for my next great nephew. Due in the end of June.

5.09.2016

musing mondays

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The 5 out of 5 star books I read last year: Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling)--a very dark installment of the series. Dumplin by Julie Murphy--a YA that's not just for YA--body image, friendship, and growing pains; with a side dose of Dolly Parton.

crazy

Snow: Monday, May 9

5.08.2016

sunday stealing

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Monsters in the Closet Meme

Do you usually sleep with your closet door open or closed?

Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotels?

Have you ever ‘done it’ in a hotel room?

Where is your next vacation?

Have you ever stolen a street sign before?

Who do you think reads these?

Do you have a calendar in your room?

Where are you?

What’s your plan for the day?

Are you reading any books right now?

Purity

Do you ever count your steps when you walk?

Have you ever peed in the woods?

Do you ever dance even if there’s no music playing?

Do you chew your pens and pencils?

What is your “Song of the Week”?

Is it okay for guys to wear pink?

Do you still watch cartoons?

Whats your favorite love movie?

City of Angels

What do you drink with dinner?

What do you dip Chicken Nuggets in?

What is your favorite food/cuisine?

What movies could you watch over and over and still love?

Under the Tuscan Sun

Last person you hugged/kissed?

Were you ever a boy/girl scout?

Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?

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.

5.07.2016

saturday 9

Mama

1) Gamal Lewis got the nickname "LunchMoney" in 10th grade because of his round cheeks and because lunch was his favorite part of the school day. What do you recall about lunchtime in the school cafeteria? when I got to high school, we had open campus and my friends and I would eat lunch in my father's classroom because the cafeteria was so annoying

2) His father and uncle were members of the band Inner Circle. Their song, "Bad Boys" was the theme to the reality show Cops. What reality show have you seen recently? I watched The Real Housewives of New York

3) In this song, Mr. Lewis sings that his mama taught him how to put on pajamas. What did you wear to bed last night? my purple nightgown

4) He claims he can't ever lie to his mama because she'll hear it in his voice. Are you a convincing liar? yes

5) LunchMoney sings that his mama made him chicken soup when he was sick. Do you eat soup all year around, only during winter months, or just when you're battling a cold? when I want soup, I really want soup--year round

6) The lyrics tell us that when her son was hungry, Mama reliably whipped something up. What's the last food you prepared? I baked some chicken last night

7) He also sings that his mama always made sure he had a few dollars in his pocket. Let's talk about you and money. Did you more recently lend or borrow it? I lent a student lunch money

8) Mother's Day is for grandmothers, too. Sam grew up calling her grandmother "Grandgran." Did you have a nickname for your grandmother? Grammy

9) To celebrate Mother's Day, Sam is giving away her own mother's favorite candy: Hershey Bars. Would you prefer milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or milk chocolate with almonds? today I would like almonds

5.06.2016

friday 5

Dexterity

How skilled are you with a chef’s knife?

How skilled are you with chopsticks?

How skilled are you with a hammer?

How skilled are you with a corkscrew?

How skilled are you with a needle and thread?

5.05.2016

booking through thursday

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What’s the most unique thing you’ve ever used a book for? (Emergency door stop? Insulation? Building blocks?)

I've made shelves out of books, towers of books with a plank between the towers.

5.04.2016

want to win!

ATTN Teachers: I've got 2 tix to Hamilton & I'm giving them away here: https://t.co/HyZ749gumG #sschat #Hamilton pic.twitter.com/J3UmhNMgzc
— Students of History (@StudentsHistory) May 4, 2016

appreciated

One of my students gave this to me this morning--it's an eraser me! Complete with curly, asymmetrical hair and glasses.

w.w.w. wednesday

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at Should be Reading and revived here on Taking on a World of Words.

• What are you currently reading? I'm reading Purity by Jonathan Franzen and The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater.

• What did you recently finish reading? The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. Such an enjoyable book!

• What do you think you’ll read next? I'm not sure what's next.