happy day 31

8/31:
I tried something out of my comfort zone with my students and two of the three classes it was a major success!

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading All the Birds in the Sky.

From page 56:

"But I don't know how to do anything," Patricia said. "I mean, the only time I did anything magicky in years was when I ate too much spicy food. I've tried every kind of spice a hundred times since then."

happy day 30

8/30:
The temperature and dew point have dropped significantly. I might finally be able to sleep tonight!

three on thursday

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Three things I'm excited about:

I can't wait to get my hands on Anne Bogel's new book: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life! Anne blogs at Modern Mrs. Darcy and never steers me wrong with her book recommendations. Her book of essays about reading hits bookshelves next week.

My Pennsylvania sister is coming Sunday. I arranged for massages for her and her husband. I arranged a manicure for her. I'm super disappointed that I have school. But we'll still get some nice visits in.

I'm excited about the holiday weekend!

happy day 29

8/29:
I got a huge chunk of essay correcting done today. Specific feedback for everyone. A lot of people underestimate the amount of time I spend teaching writing skills to my students--but historiography and argument are critical in Advanced Placement so they need the skills. Fortunately, I have a strong background (double major) in English and I taught ELA years ago. Some of these kiddos need a lot of feedback.

wordless wednesday

happy day 28

8/28:
Even though it was 85+ degrees in my classroom today, I managed to not sweat to death. In reality, I kept my cool by not becoming grumpy and pissy because of the heat.

ten things tuesday

1. Brown--earth tones or jewel tones
2. Chocolate with peanut butter frosting
3. Putting people at ease
4. Healing
5. Today I'll choose SOS by Rihanna
6. Potatoes
7. Rant (at least my students do)
8. Take a lot of pictures
9. How to edit pictures
10. Read, knit, and play on the internet

happy day 27

8/27:
Finally feeling like I'm getting my act together at school. Even in this sweltering heat.

happy day 26

8/26:
Fields and fields of sunflowers. I took my mini-polaroid out.

currently

I am...

Reading: All the Birds in the Sky

Listening to: the fan

Loving: the fan and my recliner

Thinking: nothing specific, but processing the day

Feeling: sweaty--yuck

Celebrating: cold, refreshing water

Grateful for: a comfortable dress that didn't fall apart

Weather: it's 84+ degrees and humid--my classroom was unbearable (no, we don't have air conditioning and I'm on the west-facing side of the building)

Enjoying: my students

A quote I want to share:
A reminder to myself:

finished reading

Definitely a memoir about the power of education, family, and heritage. I was championing Tara to success throughtout. There are some harrowing accounts and some heartbreaking parts, but the spirit triumphs!

From the publisher:

Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her "head-for-the-hills bag". In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father's junkyard.

Her father forbade hospitals, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara's older brothers became violent.

Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important world events like the Holocaust and the civil rights movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge. Only then would she wonder if she'd traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty and of the grief that comes with severing the closest of ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one's life through new eyes and the will to change it.

sunday stealing

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Misc.Questions

1. How has your life most benefited from the Internet? Whether it’s meeting people, cutting business overhead, finding rare collectibles, or simply sharing funny cat pictures, share how the web has made life easier. meeting people and shopping, the books I find out about and the knitting community I've joined, plus I love blogging and my blog friends!

2. The getaway car is waiting outside – where is it taking you? away

3. Do you reply to comments on your blog? All of them? Or just the really interesting ones? Do you go back to check if the authors or the blogs you comment on reply to your comments? I don't usually reply to comments and I don't check back on other blogs to see if there is a reply to my comment

4. On average, how long does it take you to make an important decision? I'm a quick decision maker

5. Do you gather a lot of information prior to making the decision, or do you go with your gut in the heat of the moment? I gather information but don't stew over it

6. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned recently? my students' names

7. What’s your hidden talent? Are you double-jointed? Can you sneeze the alphabet? Share your unique skill. when I worked in retail I would be able to tell you how much change you had in your pocket when you jingled it, I've lost the skill though

8. Rate the level of intensity you have about wanting to know God – no desire, low priority, curious, great desire, high priority, desperate to learn more. Explain your answer. I'm curious because eventually I'll know more

9. What’s one of your nicknames? How did you get that nickname? my students called me Kwizgiver and I thought it was clever

10. What do you have to have with you when you travel? Why? clean underwear

11. What do you think about reading books on an electronic reading device? Do you have an electronic reading device? Do you love it? Why? If you don’t love it, why not? I have a Nook and I read 95% of my reading on it, I absolutely love it (actually, I have multiples)

12. Do you prefer writing on paper or a keyboard? Why? I prefer writing longhand but have become more adept at keyboarding

13. If the shoes make the man (or woman), what do your shoes say about you right now? (Assuming you’re wearing shoes. Although if you’re not, that certainly says something, too.) I don't wear shoes in the house, so I'm barefoot now--but I was wearing an adorable pair of brown sparkly ballet flats

14. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Brown glitter suede ballet flats, super comfy!

15. If you could wake up tomorrow having gained one ability or quality, what would it be? photographic memory

BONUS: When they "cool sculpt" your body, where does the fat go? the sculptor chisels it off

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.

happy day 25

8/25:
It's Balloon Festival weekend!

Photo edited with the app Waterlogue

saturday 9

Think
In fond remembrance of The Queen of Soul (1942-2018).

1) As befits one of America's premiere artists, Aretha Franklin sang at three Presidential inaugurations. The first was Jimmy Carter's in 1977, when she sang "God Bless America." What's your favorite patriotic song? "America the Beautiful"

2) The daughter of a Baptist minister, Aretha grew up with church music. She told Rolling Stone one of her favorite songs was the hymn, "Victory Is Mine." What's your favorite religious song? "The Prayer of St. Francis"

3) She welled up a bit when President George H. W. Bush presented her with the nation's highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. When is the last time you shed a tear? I cried last week--I was overtired and overwhelmed, my feelings were hurt over a slight that in the light of day I shrugged off

4) In 1980, the Queen of Soul sang for the Queen of England in a Command Performance at The Royal Albert Hall. Have you ever been to London? I was in London in 1987 and would LOVE to go back, it was so much fun!

5) Since Aretha had many honorary degrees, it would have been appropriate to refer to her as Dr. Franklin. Who is the last person you referred to by his or her title (Officer, Father, Sgt., Dr., etc.)? one of my colleagues has a doctorate and I wrote her name down including Dr.

6) In this week's song, Aretha tells her lover that it doesn't take a high IQ to understand what's going on in their relationship. Do you know your IQ? I do, I am eligible to join Mensa

7) A sculpture of Aretha is on display at Madame Tussaud's in New York. Do you think wax museums are cool, or creepy? they are creepycool

8) Aretha and Motown legend Smokey Robinson were literally lifelong friends, since they were playground buddies in Detroit. Smokey is one of the only people who can claim to have seen The Queen of Soul with a bucket in a sandbox. If we went to the playground today, would you head for the swings, the slide or the jungle gym? Or, like Aretha, would you play in the sand? I would head for the swings only because it would take a crane to hoist me out of the sandbox

9) Random question: Do you like pumpkin seeds? toasted seeds are so good!

happy day 24

8/24:
Booked a bus ticket and hotel reservation for a September trip to New York to see my friend's play The Band's Visit.

(my friend is in the yellow shirt--standing, in the back)

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading Educated: A Memoir.

From page 56:

I should have known that one day Tyler would leave. Tony and Shawn had gone, and they'd belonged on the mountain in a way that Tyler never did. Tyler had always loved what Dad called "book learning," which was something the rest of us, with the exception of Richard, were perfectly indifferent to.

happy day 23

8/23:
My AP Psychology class is getting in to their research project--it's fun to watch them!

three on thursday

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Three things I'm digging right now:

1) Shopping at Loft.com The blouse I'm wearing right now will span the seasons nicely.

2) La Croix Lime water.

3) Hint of Lime Tostitos. Yes.

happy day 22

8/22:
Today former students came to hang out with me. We spent almost 2½ hours catching up. Much laughter.

wordless wednesday

happy day 21

8/21:

I used my time wisely and was super productive today--I got a lot of lesson planning completed!

ten things tuesday

1) I'm looking forward to the hot air balloon festival this weekend--I hope the weather is nice, I want to go to the evening balloon glow.

2) My goal is to get my lesson plans written up to Harvest Break.

3) I'm anxious about Dad's health.  I want him to get back to his regular routines.

4)

5) I'm inspired by people who walk the talk.  Like Jimmy Carter.

6) My joyful memory is when I made a friend laugh so hard she peed her pants when we were at recess.  I think we were in first or second grade.

7) Dear Self,

       Try not to feel too overwhelmed at this beginning of the school year.  You've got this!  And the correcting will eventually be done.  So far the kiddos are responding well.  You've got this!!

8) 

"A happy soul is the best shield for a cruel world." ~Atticus

"She's strong but she's exhausted." ~RH Sin

9) I love the bands: U2, The Beatles, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, Sting, John Mayer, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Billy Joel, Pink, Madonna--I guess that's it for now.

10) 

• woke up at 5:15
• got coffee on my way to school
• had a room full of people yakking at me at once
• classes
• lunch
• classes
• went to the mailing center to ship a package
• home relaxing
• dinner
• and probably an early bedtime, I'm pooped!

happy day 20

8/20:

Looking at the colorful, unique name tents my students made makes me happy. This was our Getting to Know You activity and they were fully engaged. Now it's fun to see them checking the bulletin board and white board out.

I forgot to crop this photo--so ignore the Amazon box!

currently

I am...

Reading: Educated: A Memoir

Listening to: "Love Is Still The Answer" by Jason Mraz

Loving: getting back into the swing of school--I'm having a blast

Thinking: about what to have for dinner

Feeling: slightly tired

Celebrating: I hooked my students today--they were absolutely fascinated by our discussion about Christopher Columbus (does he deserve a holiday?) from multiple perspectives

Grateful for: a profession that lets me be creative

Weather: it's 74+ degrees and only slightly humid, a beautiful sunny day

Enjoying: my knitting project--it's easy to memorize so I can watch TV and knit but I love the yarn and can't wait to finish and wear it

A quote I want to share:

happy day 19

8/19:
Spent the day reading, relaxing, and knitting. It was a lovely day outside, too.

just finished reading

I don't know much about K9 search and rescue and this was a great introduction to it. The characters were flawed and real people. I didn't suspect the resolution to the mystery.

From the publisher:

It's been months since the crash. K-9 search-and-rescue worker Bree Nicholls knows the chances of finding her husband and son in the vast wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula grow more remote by the day. But her heart and her faithful dog, Samson, demand she keep searching.

Deep in the woods a young boy wakes in a tiny cabin. He's being nursed back to health by a reclusive woman, but he can't figure out why she calls him by a name he doesn't recognize. Or why she's calling herself his mother. He wants to leave, but as winter sets in, his very life depends on her care.

Meanwhile, Bree's relentless determination to find her family has uncovered a violent crime. With the help of Park Ranger Kade Matthews, she discovers the violence may be linked to the plane crash that took her family. Could solving the crime bring her peace with her own loss? Or, more incredibly, reunite her family?

Set in the untamed beauty of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the Rock Harbor novels draw readers into the life and adventures of a canine search-and-rescue team as it unravels the secrets of an enchanting wilderness.

sunday stealing

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ID Questions

1: 3 Fears the dentist, being incapacitated, crutches

2: 3 things I love reading, knitting, music

3: 4 turns on smell good, great hugs, compassionate, intelligent

4: 4 turns off smell bad, limp handshakes, ignorance, intolerance

5: My best friend Val and my sisters

6: My favorite book I don't know that I have one--but my top book this year has been The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne

7: My best first date a breakfast picnic

8: How tall am I 5' 4"

9: What do I miss this is really weird but it just popped into my head--I miss when I enjoyed talking on the phone

10: What time was I born 11:22 am

11: Favorite color brown

12: Do I have a crush George Clooney and Chief Inspector Armand Gamache

13: Favorite quote "Just say no!" (it's that time of year when I'm being asked to be on every committee going)

14: Favorite place right here

15: Favorite food bread, potatoes, pizza, salad

16: Do I use sarcasm I would never use sarcasm 😇

17: What am I listening to right now a Jason Mraz station courtesy of Alexa on my new Dot

18: First thing I notice in new person presence--how they fill the space they inhabit

19: Eye color dark green hazel

20: Hair color faded strawberry blonde

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.

just finished reading

It's a literary thriller set in the art world. The dynamics and politics of the life in an art gallery is really interesting. The characters slightly irritated me, however.


From the publisher:

A young editor at a Los Angeles art museum finds herself pulled into the disturbing and dangerous world of a famous artist who goes missing on the opening night of her exhibition.

Kim Lord is an avant garde figure, feminist icon, and agent provocateur in the L.A. art scene. Her groundbreaking new exhibition Still Lives is comprised of self-portraits depicting herself as famous, murdered women—the Black Dahlia, Chandra Levy, Nicole Brown Simpson, among many others—and the works are as compelling as they are disturbing, implicating a culture that is too accustomed to violence against women.

As the city’s richest art patrons pour into the Rocque Museum’s opening night, all of the staff, including editor Maggie Richter, hope the event will be enough to save the historic institution’s flailing finances.

Except Kim Lord never shows up to her own gala

Fear mounts as the hours and days drag on and Lord remains missing. Suspicion falls upon the up-and-coming gallerist Greg Shaw Ferguson, who happens to be Maggie’s ex. A rogue’s gallery of eccentric art world figures could also have motive for the act, and as Maggie gets drawn into her own investigation of Lord’s disappearance, she’ll come to suspect all of those closest to her.

Set against a culture that too often fetishizes violence against women, Still Lives is a page-turning exodus into the art world’s hall of mirrors, and one woman’s journey into the belly of an industry flooded with money and secrets.

happy day 18

8/18:
Did my marketing and laundry so that tomorrow I don't have to do anything at all! That's my happy! I had a busy day!

saturday 9

It's a Jungle Out There (Theme from Monk)

1) This week's song is the theme from the detective show that ran from 2002-2009. Were you a fan? I loved the episodes I saw but didn't have cable when it was on, so I didn't see it often

2) The song warns us about the air we breathe and the water we drink. Does your home have an air or water filter? I have neither, although I do have a Brita water pitcher

3) The lyrics say, "People say I'm crazy to worry all the time." Are you a worrier? Or do you just take things as they come? I worry until I talk myself through it, then I take release my worries and take it as it comes

4) TV's Adrian Monk is known for his outstanding deductive powers, an homage to Sherlock Holmes. Have you read any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books featuring Sherlock Holmes? I am a Sherlock fan!

5) Monk was also known for fastidiousness and precision, an homage to Hercule Poirot. Have you read any of Agatha Christie's books featuring Poirot? I am a Poirot fan!

6) This song was written and performed by Grammy and Emmy winner Randy Newman. Do you have any trophies or plaques? I have two at home and two at school

7) Before winning an Oscar in 2001, Mr. Newman had the distinction of having the most nominations (15) without a win. Do you consider yourself a graceful loser? I believe I am

8) In 2003, when this song was introduced, Lance Armstrong won his fifth Tour de France. Later, he was disgraced in a doping scandal. Can you think of a time when a hero disappointed you? no, I can't

9) Random question -- We're catering lunch. Should we put you down for a burger or a taco? probably a burger--tacos are too messy to eat while dressed for work

happy day 17

8/17:
I am happy.

First week of school is done and I'm not feeling exhausted--I'm tired but not exhausted. That's huge. Usually I'm dragging and definitely asleep by now (it's 8:52pm). I had a great first week, I feel comfortable that I am learning names quickly. The students responded well to the activities I had planned for this week and were actively engaged.

I'm getting some positive action on the dress situation--I contacted customer service about the seam disintegrating and they are going to "make it right" since I'm a loyal customer who's been buying from them for years.

Dad is feeling a little more energetic. Maggie is feeling a little better, too--she had some itch situation going on and a visit to the vet helped.

My big bruise is better. And my sore thumb is better.

And I had dinner with my bestie at the new Mexican place and sat for almost three hours gabbing.

the friday 56

The Friday 56

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
*Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
*Post it.

I'm reading Still Lives.

From page 112, since I'm still reading it (and I'm almost done):

My morning is a blur of sick and head split. A series of decisions followed by stunned immobility. Pulling on jeans. Lurching to the toilet. Back to bed. Glass of water. Kim Lord's flash drive tumbling from my night table. Retrieved. Its flat bullet shape in my hand. Why did Greg have it? More sleep, troubled by nausea and worry.

happy day 16

8/16:
My bestie and I always have chat messages while we watch Big Brother. It's a snarkfest from our fingertips.

three on thursday

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Three things that have gone wonky this week:

1) My gel manicure is chipping. I so rarely chip that it's freaking me out. Glad to get them done Saturday.

2) Tripped and fell and have a huge bruise on my inner thigh.

3) I stapled my thumb.

happy day 15

8/15:
This first day of school with students was successful. Almost all of my students had completed all of their summer assignments. Those who didn't had reasonable reasons for not having it completed.

After school was a fantastic massage. Just a delight.

The only wrinkle in the day was finding out that my dress ripped down the back seam. I have no idea when it occurred. I can only hope it was after school. Egads. I mean, I have to laugh about it...

unraveled wednesday

Join Kat @ AsKatKnits for some fun!

Knitting a shawl for myself Close To You. And I'm listening to Still Lives.

happy day 14

8/14: