New and Improved?

Well folks, I am back. I guess that happens when I go to school and get really busy. But now it is summer, and with a few days of doing very little I find myself in need of starting fresh.



There have been some changes this year. My husband and I have bought a house and are learning the joys and the not-so-joys of home ownership. I have almost completed my Master's program, with just my Capstone project to finish and my Comprehensive Exams left to take. I stopped drinking any caffeine (which is not an easy thing to do for me) and I stopped eating meat. I of course am still reading and am delighted with the time I have to read what I want for a change.

This year at school has also been a difficult one. I enjoy my job, for the most part I really enjoy the students. I also have some great co-workers. This year I had a few very challenging students, and a very challenging educational advocate who was on my case for an entire semester. I always had my co-workers to get me through it. At the end of this year, many of the co-workers that I lean on, decided to leave the school. Making me wonder what the next year is going to hold for me. I am really nervous, but determined to continue to work as hard as I have been and do my job to the best of my abilities.



Once again, it is hot, and I am saving money for our new house and our new dog and other kitties and other interests. So even though I have a lot of work to do this summer, I am staying in, throwing tennis balls for my dog to catch as my cats sit on my lap, and reading. (I am quite talented) I have work to do around the house but it has gotten too hot to be out in the heat of the day. So to keep myself busy, there will be lots and lots of reading.

First up will be Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz. I found this book on Pinterest on a list of books to read before they become movies. So I decided to kick off my summer reading with it!

Young Lit for My Students (and me)

Lately I have thrown myself into some youth literature. I say that it is to pre-read for my students to see if I should buy a copy for my room, and it may have started out like that but it turned into something a lot more. A friend of mine was talking about these books she was reading at the beginning of the summer, I had the first book and I decided to give it a go. This was City of Bones I wrote about earlier. I was hooked. Cassandra Clare is in the process of writing two series dealing with the same basic concepts; Shadowhunters. I made the mistake of trying to explain this concept to a friend of mine and I failed.... miserably. So I am not going to try it here, I have learned my lesson. These stories are written for young adults, like the dreaded Twilight series. I have to admit that I liked the Twilight books when I first read them and then they were ruined by the movies. These two series make the teenage girl inside a happy girl.



The Mortal Instruments Series: City Of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls with the last being City of Heavenly Fire that is not yet published (ahhhhh) expected out in March 2014. They are making a movie but I am hesitant, I saw who is to play Jace and he is too pretty. Oh well, we will have to see.

What I like about these stories  is that they take the reader into another world. They are so easy to get lost in. The books are long but a fast read with some great character development. I enjoyed myself.

Family was the focus that I got from the first three in particular. Can you choose your family? How does your family affect you? How do they affect the person you will become? Can you really shake their influence if it wasn't very good? What is family? Last, how do you know if something is really evil?

These stories are filled with teen angst, but unlike Twilight, the main characters do something. They save the world and fight demons! Not a classic story but one that is enjoyable, very fun to read!

From what I understand, the first 3 books were meant to end the series but Clare decided to take it further with the last 3. She ran the risk of making it obvious that she meant to end the series and then wanted to make more money so she took it further, which usually means that the last three books are not as good. She didn't, the books do flow and the events do go together. New challenges and new reasons for the two main characters to not live a calm life. I love how the outer characters were developed in this last series, Isabelle in particular. She does a lot in the other books but later the story is told from her eyes for a while and it was great to get to know her and her take on what was happening.

The Infernal Devices Series: Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and the soon to be released Clockwork Princess in March 2013.

I started to read these because I was going through withdrawal from the first series. I actually think that I like these stories better. It is set in Victorian England with the Institute in London. Her main character is now a Downworlder (not Shadowhunter or human, vampies, warewolves, warlocks etc) with a power she doesn't understand who is taken in by the Institute to help her and for her to help them. There are two boys there. There, our female Downworlder has a choice between two very different but great men. There are curses, poisonings, addictions and marriage, plus a woman in charge of the Institute, love her! Once again, family is called into question and what makes a family. Ready for the next book.

My issue with these books for my students is how long they are. They will see how long it is and then not try to read it. I was thinking about trying to break the books apart for my students. I don't want to mess with copyright laws but I need to find a way to trick my students... :-)

Good, enjoyable books that are fun to read.



Next, I am going to give The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand another shot. I know that many people either love Ayn Rand or hate her. I read this book in high school and thought it was ok. I am going to give it another shot and see if there is something that I missed.

Something on the Lighter Side

Two posts in one day? Radical!!!

I just returned from a trip with my family to New Mexico which was wonderful. Driving from Wichita, Kansas to Taos, New Mexico takes about 11 hours, which gives one a decent time to read. My brother and I were in one car and he ended up driving most of the way while I was in charge of music and entertainment. I finished my book by then end of the weekend.



After the denseness (yep it is a  word, my computer didn't underline it!) of Love in the Time of Cholera, I needed something a little lighter so I found Ellen DeGeneres' new book Seriously... I am Kidding. This will be a short blog since the best thing that I can say is that the book is a feel-good-book and if you need to feel good and to laugh... read it. Done!

Love in the Time of Don't Bother-a

Well I told you that I was not trying to make a snap judgment on the this book but it came true. I am not a fan of Love in the Time of Cholera. The premise of the story sounded really interesting. Two young people meet and fall in "love" (in my head it was lust, they were both really pretty) but then as time goes on she falls out of love and marries a man for his money and good name. He spends 59 years yearning after her, which should be romantic but I found myself thinking, "dude, she said no. No, what could she mean by no? I don't know she is being so unclear." He does not marry, he has numerous affairs, one with a 15 year old when he was in his 60's but this was supposed to be "saving himself for her." If a guy told me that he had saved himself for me but had numerous affairs and one night stands with random women, I would.... well let me just start with the idea of the story then I will get into my thoughts about it.

So the story. Two young people meet in a country that is being torn apart by civil war and cholera is threatening the general population. They fall in love even though neither had "good" names, she was higher than he was. Her father was not a fan and took her away for a few years in order to make her forget. Before she leaves, she agrees to marry him but by the time she returns, she realizes that she really doesn't love him and breaks it off. Then he gets sad, writes a lot of poetry, and sleeps with many women. She gets married to a rich doctor and does well, she is a "good wife" a little outspoken, but a good wife. They have kids and he gets popular and the family is well known around the town. Meanwhile (back in the cave of darkness) the lost lover sleeps with women older, younger, crazy (no really she escaped from an asylum), he even gets a woman killed by her husband by writing on her with a marker (genius). Then when Fermina's husband dies (falling off a ladder while trying to catch his parrot) the lost lover makes another attempt. After her husband's funeral, he still tells her that he is in love. I will make you read the rest.

First of all. He tries to get with Fermina one day after her husband has died, saying that I still love you even if I haven't spoken to you in 59 years. You have no idea who she is. Being a stalker and following her through her life does not mean that you know her. Plus, really? At her husband's funeral? Classy.

The story starts from the viewpoint of Fermina's husband, which I really liked. Yes, something that I liked. It would be really easy to hate the husband and root for the lost lover. However the tale of his death was almost the most moving part of the novel. As he is dying, he looks up to his wife and says, "you have no idea how much I have loved you." The two of them spent a lifetime together, through thick and thin. She did what she wanted and he cheated but they stayed, fighting. They lived a lifetime together, taking care of each other.

Last, every event in the story is told and retold by both the main characters so the reader got the entire story from each of their points of view. However... there was no warning when the point of view would change so there were times when so much was going on that your eyes crossed and the book was put down.

Bah! Happy that the book is finished. Had some interesting parts and the writing was interesting, I just didn't really like the story... or at all.

Next, I need a break. Ellen DeGeneres... Seriously...I am Kidding

Where to go from here?

So I figured out how to delete my blog and I almost did it. I have discovered as I read that I have little to say that anyone else wants to read. I am a teacher, reading books and talking about it. Not exactly going to get me my own TV show. So there I was. I had my mouse on the button and I couldn't push it. So no matter how many times I post or how many people post back, I am keeping my blog. Why? I really don't know but I got my answer when I suddenly didn't want to delete it.


I have gone off the list, gasp! sigh! I know. I just discovered other books that I wanted to read. Since summer has begun and it is REALLY HOT here in Kansas, I have been staying in my cool, clean house, not spending money and reading. So far since Lord of the Rings, I have read, A Remarkable Woman- The Biography of Katherine Hepburn. Wicked and City of Bones. I have a few things to say about each and then a short rant about our Public Library.

Actually, the rant first. My husband and I are trying to save for a down payment on a house. This means not spending any more money then we have to in order to live. That means for a girl with some free time, staying home and reading. Netflix is only entertaining for so long! This also means that I shouldn't be buying new books for my Nook, so I went to our library. There are several here in Wichita and I went to my childhood library, I don't live right next to it anymore but my work is out there and my parents still live close so I can always give books to my mom to return for me. Since there are so many branches, they trade books back and forth so you can ask for at particular book, the library will find it for you and get it so you can check it out from them! Great! Well I went to get the second book after City of Bones and they didn't have it. So I got Love in the Time of Cholera and went to request the other and then check out. The lady behind the counter was not to happy when I asked to reserve a book. She gestured over to the computers and said, "Don't you know how to work our system? You can do it yourself you know." I was completely taken back and told her that was fine, took my book and left. I get on the website only to discover that if you already have a library card, you can't get on their new fancy system, you have to get another. Doesn't that seem like a waste? Ok, so now that I have typed all this out, it doesn't seem like a big deal. However, I just want my book and I don't want to pay for it. Is that so much to ask?



A Remarkable Woman- Biography of Katherine Hepburn. I found this book on the bookshelf of my parents' house and started to flip through it. I took it home with me after lunch and I really enjoyed this book. She was a very strong woman, a little crazy and an inspiration to me. She did what she wanted, no matter what the audience, her peers or the House Un-American Activities thought of her. I want to be half as strong as she was. A good, inspiring read!



This was a book that I started reading in high school and really didn't like it. So it sat on my shelf for a while until I was ready to give it another shot. The second time was the charm, I found myself drawn into this book. It is a heavy read, lots of political and moral undertones. Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness given to them? My students love to say, "haters gonna hate" but when do those haters get to define who you are? That is the question that this book poses. Good read that makes you think.



After the heaviness of Wicked I was ready for a bit of a lighter read. Connected to Facebook is a website called Goodbooks, on it one of my friends was raving about this book. So I decided to give it a try. It was pretty good. It took a bit to get going but after many twists and turns you arrived safely, only to be left hanging since the series goes on for at least 4 more books and she is currently writing another. I will read the series, I enjoyed this book, but I am not going to rush out and throw elbows to get it.

Next is Love in the Time of Cholera, which is on my list. (yay!)

"Love in the Time of Cholera? More like Love in the Time of don't bother-a."
Robin Scherbasky How I Met Your Mother 

(I am not forming an opinion yet, I just really like this line.)

Gross things

I recently went camping at a camp near Ark City Kansas. This particular camp is located next to the river, surrounded by trees and on a hill. There are some amazing bike rides and hikes and camping to be had. There are also a lot of bugs and poison ivy. I am usually pretty careful but I seemed to have dropped the ball with this trip. I wore bug spray, I had socks and shoes on but I still got poison ivy and some nasty bug bites. I am talking rashes and bug bites that prevent me from putting shoes on. Lucky for me, it is summer and I did not have to go to school. I have spent a few days in the house with the AC on and a fan pointed directly at my feet. I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and my fridge is now housing some great things. I cleaned out the fridge and did some much needed dishes. These past few weeks have been so crazy that I am sad to say that I neglected the house for a bit. Well no more!!

We got some great knives for our wedding a while back and today I was cleaning one of those knives (since I have been told that the washing machine will make your knives dull in a hurry.) I managed to run the blade of the knife next to my finger and it left its mark. Now before you freak out and think that I sliced off my finger, I didn't. It is really a small cut, and a really great knife. The point of all this is the top of the band aid box that I used to bandage my poor, poor finger. The top of this box said, "You are going to be just fine!" Now I know that the box is not a doctor and they really don't know if you are going to be fine but I still felt pretty good reading that.

Since I have had all these rashes I have been on the internet a lot trying to figure out the best way to tackle it. Many medical websites will make you feel that you are on death's door because of a bug bite. Not the band-aid box, it was re-assuring! It said, "You cut your finger, you be smart and take care of it, you will be fine."

P.S. My finger is doing a lot better, as are all of my assorted rashes and bites. I am on steroids now!

The Lord of the Rings!!

     

 Truth is that this year at school, this semester has sort of sucked. When you become a teacher they give you this little schematic that shows how you should feel as a first year teacher. First, in the fall, you are excited and idealistic then as the year progresses, you become a little disillusioned and wonder if you made the right choice in careers. Then you begin to learn and to climb out of the negativity. By the end of your first year, you are a happy camper and a more experienced teacher. Let me just tell you that no one ever tells you about your second year of teaching. As a first year teacher you are simply trying to keep your head above water and keep your kids learning. Now, in your second year, you realize the mistakes that you made your first year and want to fix them. Let me tell you, that is a lot more work. I spent a lot of time being very,very angry at the world. I really struggled. I had some challenging behaviors this year that I didn't have last year. My I-Pod was stolen and I had my first student arrested on drug charges. But now I am three days away from a summer break that I really need, and I am a stronger teacher for it.


Correction, I am now officially on Summer break and looking forward to reading some amazing books and just being me. Not the teacher me, not Mrs. P, just me. The husband and I have camping trips, regular trips planned and in a few short weeks we will be riding across Kansas (blogs on that are promised, that is something I don't ever want to forget). So now I am back and reading to post on what little reading I was able to do this crazy, crazy year! 



I started The Lord of the Rings trilogy a while ago, after I had finished The Hobbit and now I am almost 100 pages from the end of The Return of the King. The truth is that I have started tons of different blog posts on this topic but there are just no words for it. I love these books. I am so tired when I get home and finally get to go to bed that it is wonderful to fall asleep reading this book. 


So in conclusion, I am not going to say much about this book at all. In truth I don't want to. I am worried that whatever I have to say, will not do this book justice. So I am just going to read and enjoy. This is a book about a time and a place with men and elves and hobbits and wizards strive to destroy the most pure form of evil. These men are gallant, swearing their lives to good and to a good cause. People are not like that anymore. There are no Aragorns, no Frodos and certainly no Sams. We can all be like these characters and we can all be like Sauron. It is up to your attitude. it is all up to you. 



I don't know what book will be next. It will be a surprise!! 

Thoughts on a Bike Ride

Today was an interesting day. We have had a difficult couple of weeks at my school. State testing, family problems with students and students in general just wanting it to be Spring Break. On the upside it has been a lot warmer these past couple of days so I can go outside. Yesterday I went running and today I fought the 40 mph winds and went for a bike ride. On this bike ride, I had some interesting thoughts.

First of all. We are working at school on noticing our positive to negative interactions with the students. How much to they hear of us saying negative things to them? How can we get the same results but be positive instead of negative? I thought what if that applied to yourself as well. I have been told time and time again that I am my own worst critic. I always took that as a point of pride, but it really isn't. If you cannot be positive about yourself then who else can? My husband and I are doing Bike Across Kansas this summer and I am sad to say that on some days when we go riding I find myself in the back of the line, cussing at the others in my head. Did I mention that I am ultra-competitive? What if instead of getting mad, I decided to take the advice that we are getting at school and focus on what I am doing well. I started counting sign posts that I passed. I also made a point of looking back and see how far I have gone.

Ok, this is the part where I get a little religious, or spiritual, whichever you prefer. If you don't want to read about my musings over a higher deity then stop here. Remember that movie, V for Vendetta? They say that God is in the rain. Well, I am going to change that a bit. I think that God is in the wind. Here in Kansas there is a lot of wind, today was no exception. I chose this day to ride out for 10 miles in 40 mph winds. So I found myself fighting 40 mph winds and at times getting pushed by 40 mph winds. If we extend our metaphor, that means that I spent part of the evening fighting God and being pushed by God. In both cases, I really like to be pushed more! However, it isn't until you push that you figure out the real power. When you are getting pushed by the wind, you don't really notice that it is there, or the real power of it. However, when you turn, and face it, wow... it is there. The crazy thing is that even when you are facing into the wind, there is still something back there, pushing. Wind whips around, I believe that the wind that is pushing, is God. Not the wind that you are facing.  Isn't that like life? Sometimes you have to face the wind, face the trails that are out there for you, knowing that God will be there pushing. So through all the stuff that is going on right now at school and the death of someone I really looked up to, I know that God is back there pushing. I found myself smiling, even when facing the wind. I am sore, tired and wanting a shower, but I am still smiling.

There and Back Again... A Hobbit's Tale

My earliest memory of The Hobbit is my father reading it to me when I was young. I remember cuddling with pillows as my dad read the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. He loved that book and really wanted me to like it too. I did. When we finished the book, he went on to read The Fellowship of the Ring. At least he started it, I think I finished it on my own. The elves were always my favorite. I for one really like when an author takes a legend like goblins, elves, dwarfs, wizards and the like, and takes it and makes it their own. I will forever think of elves as the elves in this book, no matter what other story comes along and defines them as something else. J.R.R. Tolkien has ruined me for other elves! :-)


I love the way that Tolkien writes. No one writes like Tolkien, no one has and I don't think that anyone will. I feel the same way about Jane Austen. You can always tell if she has written it, because it has a lilt to it. Tolkien is the same way. His writing is unique and many will try to copy it but I don't think that anyone really ever will. For your reading pleasure: "His heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of dwarves; and he gazed motionless, almost forgetting the frightful guardian, at the gold beyond price and count." (pg 169) Now, Tolkien could have just said that Bilbo was enchanted with the gold in front of him, but he doesn't. Instead he uses this flowing and descriptive language that really gives the reader a sense of how Bilbo was feeling.


I am going to mention one thing before I move on to more quotes that I love. Tolkien's characters are flawed. There is no character that is perfect. All have faults and all make mistakes. I love that about him. I struggle to embrace my faults and I love that even the heroes in these stories make mistakes and have to deal with them. Tolkien could be considered a Christian writer, he wrote many a speech and essay on the subject. I think that this is the reason his characters are flawed, because humans are flawed. The real judge of a good person, is what they do when they make a mistake, not if they make a mistake at all.


"Above him the sleeping dragon lay, a dire menace even in his sleep. He grasped a great two-handled cup, as heavy as he could carry, and cast one fearful eye upwards. Smaug stirred a wing, opened one claw, the rumble of his snoring changed its note." (pg 168-169) I highlighted this passage for the same reason that I highlighted the other one. Tolkien could have just said that he grabbed the cup and ran. Instead he allows the reader to become a part of the story. The reader feels what Bilbo felt. Hears what he would have heard. Beautiful writing.

"It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live hear him." These are words of advice. Leave out the dragon as a literal object, it is a metaphor. I see it as, if you are threatened by someone who is a part of your life, it does no good to not pay attention to him. I like how it doesn't say that the dragon is all you should think about, just don't leave it out of your calculations. I have a student coming back into my class that got expelled last year, now he is back. It has really been worrying me. If I follow this quote's advice, then I cannot leave him out of my calculations, however I should not lay awake thinking about how terrible it might end up being. 


"His rage passes description--the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before wanted or used." (pg 170) Social commentary anyone? I am blessed, I do have all that I need. Bilbo took a cup from a huge pile of gold, large enough for a dragon to sleep on. The dragon never took notice of it before, not until it was taken from him. Ever notice that? You never miss something until it is gone. 


"Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!" (pg 178) Ok, I used to frequent a bar here in town. (I am a teacher, sometimes I just need a beer!) This quote was written on a bathroom stall in one particular bar. I am not sure this is what Tolkien had in mind when he wrote this book. It took me a while to remember where I had read that quote before. But it is true, never laugh at live dragons, it is really not a good idea. 

Last but not least, we have to mention the ring. The one Ring... The ring that caused all the events in The Lord of the Rings, I love how the story flows, there are no holes, the ring is the same ring in both books. Gollum is the same Gollum in both stories, he is still driven by want of the ring. The ring still has power over him. 

The Hobbit is a wonderful story and a great lead-in to the more in depth Lord of the Rings to follow. My perfect pairing for this book is anywhere. It doesn't matter where you are, the story and setting will suck you in. It doesn't matter if you are in a doctor's office, in bed before you fall asleep or in a coffee shop, you will not care. You will be in a world of dwarfs, elves and hobbits. 

I am really excited for the Peter Jackson adaptation of this story. He did the Lord of the Rings justice and if anyone can make The Hobbit come alive, I think he has a good shot. Here's hoping! 


Next up, I may as well keep the trend going, Lord of the Rings it is! Fellowship of the Ring is up first! 

Gone with the Wind

The first thought that pops up when anyone mentions Gone with the Wind I immediately think of the movie with Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable. In fact, while reading this novel, those are the faces that I pictured while I read. The next thought that comes up is the Carol Burnett skit about Gone with the Wind. Carol takes down the curtains so that she has a dress to wear to go woo Rhett Butler out of his money. It is probably the funniest thing I have ever seen. When I was reading the part in the novel where Scarlett does take down the curtains, I was laughing the entire time! Sadly, the last thing that I think of when I hear Gone with the Wind is the novel with 1030 pages. That is where the credit lies. When I saw this book on the list, I was a little skeptical. I am not a high-drama person and this movie was drama to the brim. I chose to read it, regardless of the drama and hype. I was a little excited to see what all the fuss is about.

Truth is, I really loved this book. It did have a lot of drama but it was interesting because of the time period it was set it. I found it cool to tell a story about the Civil War from the South. History always tells of the victors, but there is another side, the losing side. The South was made to look like a villain during history class at times. This was a new and different perspective.

It seems that ever since, I have gotten married I have been drawn to novels that focus on what happens after marriage and after the love story has taken place. Let me just say that if what these novels tell is true, then NEVER GET MARRIED!! I am making broad generalizations here but what I think these novels are really trying to show is that marriage is difficult; especially if you are Scarlett O'Hara, I mean Scarlett Hamilton, I mean Scarlett Kennedy or finally Scarlett Butler. Of course it does make it difficult when you married the person just to get their money, make someone else mad, or to get their money, or to get their money. There is a theme here. Even when Scarlett does marry a person who loves her for who she is, the marriage falls apart. The reader can actually watch it crumble. It is a little heartbreaking, really. She made some decisions that set her up for this, but she felt that she did what she had to do. Marriage is tough and even though Scarlett faced and conquered many challenges in her life, marriage is one that defeated her. I think this happened because to be married is to really open up to someone or (especially in her time) just put up with everything, it also means letting every other man go. These are two things that Scarlett just could not do.

Scarlett makes some decisions that cause a lot of people to either stick with her or to abandon her completely. These decisions you may not like and you may not agree with but given some of the situations she was put in she was doing what she thought was best. Her first marriage to Charles was just unfair. She married him because Ashley was going to marry Melanie and she needed to prove that she didn't care. Charles was infatuated with her, and she used that for her own gain. Not ok. Her second marriage was really just as bad but I think that she did it because she was trying to save Tara and the life that she knew. On the other hand, she did steal her sister's fiance because he had an enough money to pay for the taxes and business ideas she could steal and make money with. Scarlett really had her challenges set out for her. After the war, her mother died, her father had gone senile, her sisters were sick and little help, Melanie had just had a baby and was not up to full strength, taxes were really high on the plantation and she had little money or cotton. She had her work cut out for her. However, her marriage to Frank was really unfair to him because he really cared about her sister, but he was told that she was going to marry another man which was not true at all. So Scarlett got Frank and promised herself that she would be good to him, but the marriage fell apart, Frank died and Scarlett was left as the outsider in all of Atlanta. She went out on her own to run a business when most women or even men did not venture out without protection. Melanie tried to hire someone to protect her, but she managed to make him so angry with her that he refused to drive her around anymore. She placed herself in serious danger. She didn't even take ordinary precautions in order to make herself safe. This was a dangerous time and she knew it, I am not one who thinks that you should run around frightened but I do lock my doors, I do wear my seat-belt, you should take basic steps in order to make sure that you are safe.

I have been talking a lot about Scarlett but I have a theory that Melanie is the real heroine of this story. Everyone loves Melanie and in return she is strong and steady when her friends need her. Many people would think that Melanie would not have survived had it not been for Scarlett. It is true that in the Siege of Atlanta when Melanie was having her baby, she probably wouldn't have survived without Scarlett. However, after the war and even during the Siege and the months at Tara, Scarlett would have gone as senile as her father if it wasn't for Melanie. When Scarlett was shouldering the responsibility at Tara, she didn't notice that the sick Melanie was right there beside her, helping her with her load. When Scarlett shot the Yankee soldier, Melanie was right there, sward in hand, ready to help bury him. When the entire town of Atlanta wanted nothing to do with Scarlett, Melanie and Melanie alone, not Rhett, not Ashley, just Melanie stood beside her, ready to take on the world if need be. Even when Scarlett and Ashley were caught in questionable circumstances, Melanie refused to believe it and turned her cousin out. (which I think Melainie did because she didn't want to believe it) Melanie took her hardships and did everything she could for the ones she loves; heroism. Scarlett is a strong woman who lacks a heart for others. Melanie is a strong woman who loves (at times blindly) the people she loves and protects the people that she loves. Take your pick, but they couldn't have survived without each other.

At the same time, honorable Ashley may not have been so honorable after all. He married Melanie and I really think that he loved Melanie but he was infatuated with Scarlett. For me, this was the difference between love and lust. He loved Melanie but lusted after Scarlett and he really wanted to choose Melanie but Scarlett was so gosh-darn pretty. Fiddle-de-de!

All in all, this is a novel about human folly, and how humans deal with difficult situations. The Civil War ended life as the Southern elite knew it. When something like that happens, every one is going to deal with it a little bit differently. Scarlett took matters into her own hands and come hell or high water, she was going to take care of things in her own way. Melanie did what she could for others, no matter how poor she was, Rhett made money from exploiting and then tried to change his ways, Ashley was left with nothing to do because even though he knew that the South might not win the war, he had no idea what that really meant. This story tells how four different people dealt with some very difficult times. It took me about a month to read but I enjoyed it all. Hear that? Gone with the Wind actually has literary credit and is worth reading, even if it is 1030 pages.

                                                                    (funniest skit ever!)

My perfect pairing for this book is a window seat in the sun with a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Put on your southern airs and enjoy a well written book that will take you back to another time and place. Good read.

Next up, in honor of the new Peter Jackson movie, the book that began it all; The Hobbit

Christmas and Other Thoughts

You thought you could get away... But I am back!!!!

If I have to come right out and say it, I am disappointed in my blog. I imagined this grand site like on the Julie and Julia Project. I mean think about it, the premise is the same!! Needless to say, it isn't turning out quite like I imagined. But now I see that my imagination was flawed. Really, I expected a lot. Too much. My mom would say that is just like me. I expect a lot from myself and the people around me. When I do something I want it to be on a grand scale but that simply isn't going to happen. Honestly, after dealing with high schoolers all day, it is exhausting to come home and be witty on the internet. So I have slacked on the blog, but I realized that the thing that I enjoy most is the reading. I am really enjoying the books I have read so far and the blogging is just something I am doing to keep track. I have just finished Gone with the Wind, but more on that later because with an epic book, it deserves and epic blog post. Let me just say, this book was epic!

I need to cover some things. First of all, I am letting go of how many followers I have or how many comments I get. I will do my part and put it out there better then I have been and I would really like for people to comment back. It makes me feel loved. No pressure, I know that I am loved, I also know that my blog topic is not one that people get too excited about, just nerds like me. So fellow nerds, POST! Those non-nerds, feel free to read and laugh at my ridiculousness... just go for it!

Second, I have joined the modern, electronic age. That is right folks, I am now reading my books on a super-cool Barnes and Noble Nook Color. My husband decided to take a trip to Colorado when he and a friend of his had a week off, which left me at home in one of the most stressful parts of the semester. I had a 20 page paper due for my masters class and I was wrapping up the semester with a group of students that just REALLY wanted to be done. (yes, yes, I know Dr. Gibson, cakes and cookies are done, people are finished... but... deal with it!) I think that he felt bad for me so he did something that he knew would make me happy, he bought me a Nook. Isn't he wonderful?! Truth is, it was terrible at first. Here I was with this HUGE paper to finish and all I wanted to do was open that Nook and read... Terrible problem, right? Long story short, I finally finished that boring paper and the first night of Winter Break found me at home with my Nook and hot chocolate. I am not going to join in the debate about which is better: I-pad, Kindle Fire or the Nook, simply because I don't care! Get what works best for you and shut up and read! :-)

Last, New Years Resolutions. I was reading a friends update on Facebook and she was talking about New Year's Resolutions and I groaned. I always have such high hopes for myself. (shocking, I know) I set these lofty goals and then get sad when they don't turn out like I imagined. So I am making a New Year's Resolution about my New Year's Resolutions: this year I am going to keep it simple. I am going to set goals that I can reach, and by golly, I am going to (try) and stick to them!!!
1: My husband and I bought a trainer for our bikes, I am going to use it at least 3 times a week and be ready for Bike Across Kansas.
2: I am going to cut down on how much sugar I eat. (I could say that I will no longer eat sugar but that is one of those goals that will be broken, I like sugar. However, I can cut it down! I don't need cookies and candy every day!)
3: (Ok this one is a big one) I am going to learn to let things go. There are things that I cannot control and that is something I need to give up. I can't do everything. I will give 100% of me, if that isn't good enough for them... well... they can go eat a cookie. (yes kids, "cookie" in this sense means something else entirely.)



So there you have it. My return to the blog-o-sphere.

Memoirs of a Geisha

This is a book that you do not want to bring with you to work if you have actual work to do, because you won't want to do your work, you will want to read. Let's just say that my grading fell a little behind before I learned that I needed to just leave the book at home! Yet, I still didn't, that book went with me wherever I went, because if I found myself with even a few moments to spare, my nose was stuck in it.

My students have begun to pick up on the fact that I love to read. They love to make fun of me because let's face it... reading is just "not cool." Oh well, I haven't been "cool" my entire life and look at me, I am a good member of society. More importantly, I am happy. Oh well, back to books I go. I mention this because I had a student tell me yesterday that because I had forced him, he was actually beginning to enjoy reading. I told him that I could die happy now. It really meant a lot to me, I think that reading is really important and it is something that will help him in his college career or even if VoTech school which is where he is planning to go. It just goes to show you that good modeling is important. I am not saying that if you don't read then you are stupid and won't amount to anything. I am saying that it can help!

Back to the original point to this blog post... Memoirs of a Geisha. I was pretty excited to read this book. It was first published when I was in high school and became a movie a short time later. I never saw it and I never read the book. I had actually forgotten about it for a while until I saw it on the BBC list and I was excited to give it a try. I tell you, this book didn't disappoint. There were a couple of places where it was really awkward (I mean she is a geisha and sometimes they are expected to do.... certain things) but it was a very enjoyable story. It was interesting to experience WW2 from Japan. We have spent so much time in school talking about the home front here in the States so it was great to read about it from Japan's home front. Especially after the war and the occupation by American soldiers and how the geisha reacted to them.

What I really loved about this story was the detail it went into describing what a geisha is and how young girls became geisha and the process that it takes to become one. It is not easy, you have to be chosen, you have to be charming, you have to be able to make a lot of money! You usually do not get to act on your feelings, you have to do what is expected. Our main character tried to do what she wanted, and almost ruined her chances of becoming a geisha and being a maid for her entire life. Then she "played by the rules" long enough for her to become famous, make a lot of money, defeat her nemesis, and be adopted. Then she promptly did what she wanted again. She made some friends and many enemies. But she did what she felt that she needed to do in order to make herself happy. No matter what. Isn't that kind of like real life, where you make some friends and you make some enemies, but you try to do what you can to survive?

Poor Pumpkin. If you have read the book, you know what I am talking about. She was another young girl that the okiya (or geisha home) obtained at the same time as Sayuri (our main character with the startling eyes) They became friends when they were younger, then as they were assigned to older sisters, Pumpkin to Hatsumomo (Sayuri's nemesis) and Sayuri to Mameha (another nemesis of Hatsumomo). Pumpkin helps Sayuri and while Sayuri defeats Hatsumomo, she also crushes Pumpkin. Pumpkin tries to get her revenge but she is clearly defeated. Pumpkin was just trying to create a life for herself and Sayuri (maybe unwillingly) crushed her dreams and lowered her status. Pumpkin is  the nice girl who got caught up in other circumstances and never really recovers. Sayuri endured some hardships, but she ended up inflicting some on Pumpkin.

Love or duty? A geisha's life is full of duty. She has a duty to her okiya, to her tea house, to so many others except for herself. Our geisha, however, took time for herself and did what she had to do in order to get the man of her dreams, The Chairman. She crushes the hopes and the heart of one man who had a huge part to play in her rise to fame, he was then burned by her but came back when she needed help the most and gave her a place to stay through the most difficult part of the war. Low and behold she finds a way to burn him again to get her man. I was a little sad at that. He did so much for her and she was willing to sleep with a man who was really disgusting in order to get away from him. He was a gruff but a kind man at heart. I have to admit I felt a little bad for him.

It feels like you should be reading this book with a nice cup of green tea in a sunny room, but to be truthful, after a few minutes of reading, you won't care where you are and that tea will become cold. You will be transported to another time and another world. A great book, and a great read!

Next up, I move from Japan to the South for Gone with the Wind. 

"Rhett, oh Rhett!!!" 

November is for Birthdays and Thanksgiving

Repeat after me America, "It is not Christmas." good, and again, "IT IS NOT CHRISTMAS!!" Ok now, can we get the Christmas music to stop playing in the mall, the decorations back in their boxes for another couple of weeks. Let's give Thanksgiving its due month. Now don't get me wrong, I like Christmas. In fact, I LOVE Christmas. Christmas has it's own smell, it's own excitement and it's own meaning. But I really like Thanksgiving and I like taking the time to be thankful for the things that are around us.



One of my old professors from college, who I want to be when I grow up, started on November 1, posting everyday one thing that she has been thankful for. So I decided to follow suit. I have a lot of blessings in my life, and I want to make sure that I acknowledge every one of them. That is what this month is for. That and gorging yourself on food, and celebrating birthday's and other special events.

November is the month of birthday's, my father's, my best friend's and several other close friends have their birthday's in this wonderful month. Not to mention my own birthday. So add cake to all the other things that make this month great. :-)

November also brings my wedding anniversary. One year ago, my husband and I were officially married. We both agree that it didn't bring about the difference that we thought it would, mostly because we really had been married for several years before. We already made our life together and while it was fun to have a day where I get to wear a great dress and marry my best friend (I know that is cliche, but true) our marriage began a few years before. That doesn't make me any less grateful for today. I get to wake up next to the best man I could ever wish for, I get to come home to his hugs, I get to talk with him when things get rough, and I get to laugh with him when things get funny (and they do!) He is one of the few people in this world who actually knows me, and still loves me. I love him more than I can express and I love knowing that he is by my side and I am by his. Happy One Year Anniversary! I love you!

I like to see lists, so in order to bring this to a close, I am going to add to my list everyday. Here are the things that I am thankful for this month:
Day 1: I missed this day (way to begin, eh?)
Day 2: I am thankful for big, encouraging hugs when my day doesn't go as planned.
Day 3: I am thankful for High 5's!
Day 4: I am thankful for caring co-workers.
Day 5: I am thankful for awesome clocks that sit on my mantle and dutifully chime every 15 minutes!
Day 6: I am thankful for my husband. (That one was easy! Happy Anniversary!)
Day 7: I am thankful for rain, thunder and lightening.. Even if it makes the students crazy!!
Day 8: I am thankful for my car. She starts at the push of a button and has never let me down! I have had her for 6 1/2 years and am hoping for a lot more!
Day 9: I am thankful for my big brother! He is always there when I need him!
Day 10: I am thankful for my home. I love my little place!!! It is a great place to come home to when it is clean and comfortable!!
Day 11: It's a two-for!! I am thankful for all the men and women in our armed forces. I am also thankful for a break!

Ask Alice, when she's 10 feet tall

Psst. If you want to bulk up your belief in yourself and your reading, read a children's book! I flew through this book in no time flat because I could take out a huge chunk at one time! Look at me GO!

The truth is that I am really far behind in my blogging but that is ok, no one is reading it anyway. It may sound like I am whining but do not let that confuse you. I really could care less. I am reading these books and blogging to make ME happy. I got sent home from work yesterday. No really. My head of department took one look at me, asked me what was wrong and after I completely exploded all of my crazy all over her, she told me that my health was paramount and that I have seven minutes to exit the building, go home, make some tea, go to bed and sleep. I was so grateful that of course I started crying all over again. But I did, I went home and went to sleep. I tried to get some reading of Gone with the Wind finished but my headache wouldnt' let me. I had my cats, I had some tea and I slept. I realized something. I cannot take care of everyone and I need to take some time for myself. Remember those summer resolutions that I did, well I am doing ok on those. I am going to do better and I am adding one more. I am going to take at least and hour every day for me. Go to the gym and read on the treadmill, ride my bike, ANYTHING!! Or I am  going to go crazier then I already am.

Speaking of crazy, let's talk a bit about Alice. I really didn't like the movie when I was growing up. The cat really gave me the creeps. and I refused to watch it. In fact I am still surprised that this book was written to be a children's book. Some of the things that happen are a little strange. Reading now, as a "mature" reader was kind of interesting, I knew what was going to happen and it wasn't very exciting but it was relaxing! Plus, it had pretty pictures which made the time fly!

I teach this book at the beginning of the year when I am always waiting on supplies for the program that I teach. They have readers for it that take the reading level down and make it easier for them to understand. Many of them still didn't get it. They could not imagine what it would be like to fall down and not land for a while. They cannot imagine talking to a dormouse. In order to help them with this, I have them do a lot of assignments where they must draw what they think it looks like, This helped them a lot.

I really don't have much to say about Alice, I am sure there is a deeper meaning planted in the story but I didn't get it. honestly I didn't try. I wanted it read and crossed off my list. There, my confession is now complete. I have never really enjoyed this story, I am glad that I read it, but my life is not enriched by a story that a man dreamed up while on some drug induced stupor. It never grabbed my attention.

So, sorry Alice, but I was more than excited to move on to my next adventure, Memoirs of a Geisha.


( I know, no pictures with this one, I really am not trying hard! lol)  

The Secret Garden

So here is my confession. I was supposed to read this in my British Literature class in college but (oh the shame) I never did. I tried to read it when I was younger but abandoned it for more exciting pursuits. I found this particular attempt to be really relaxing actually. The meaning of the story is laid out for you and there really is not guess work, you can lay back and enjoy a good story.


With this author, you don't have to think about the deeper meaning or what she is trying to say, she just lays it on out there for you. Children should be children and all things can be cured with nature, especially if there is a robin thrown in. Isn't it nice to know that all you need to do to heal a child that is sick is to take them outside and let them garden? I will have to rewrite my lesson plans. 'but sir, I read a book that told me that you can cure both a child's mind and any bodily issues by letting them play outside! That is why we haven't read anything in two months!"

All cynicism aside, there is a good point being made here. So many children do not play outside. They have their video games and they have their tv's. Not to sound like a complaining older person, but I played outside all the time when I was growing up. I may not have had my own garden but I was outside a lot. That is something that many kids cannot or choose not to do. Sad.



My perfect pairing for this story is up a tree on a warm spring day. However, if you have to enjoy it in bed before you crash out for the day on a cool fall evening, that is ok too.

 

This is a lovely story that can get a little preachy but is enjoyable none-the-less. There isn't much to say about it without giving it all away. I had some fond memories of my childhood while reading because of how often she talks about the benefit of being outside. I rode bikes, wore sheets that I pretended were long flowing dresses and got into all manner of mischief. I have scars on my knees and elbows from when I fell, and I know how to climb a tree. And I survived. Oh look at that, now I am getting a little preachy.



The message that this book leaves you is a resounding, GO OUTSIDE!!!

Next, Alice's Adventure in Wonderland