I Have a New Boyfriend

Ah! Vacations. I took yesterday and today off so that I could spend time with my mom while she's here. While I have 160 essay-type assignments to grade over the break, I'm relaxed and happy! So, why have I not posted lately??? (Okay, so I doubt that matters much...but I'll share anyway!) Well, I got myself a new love, toy, pet...whatever you want to call him. Yes, I got a KINDLE, and I love him dearly. He is my new boyfriend...one that I think will be loyal and true forever...

I've been spending my hours searching through Kindle accessories, books, magazines, and blogs--not to mention the hours I've spent READING from its celestial screen. Do I recommend it? What do you think? :)

Other than my new love affair with Kindle, I've also had a chance to do some "book" reading and a little movie watching. Not a lot, but enough to refuel the battery. Shopping, eating, and sleeping have filled the remaining hours, so what else could one want?!? So yes, I went to see Twilight last weekend, and I really liked it.


I've heard a lot of criticisms about it, but I don't really care--I liked it and won't apologize for it! Can I also say that I also think Robert Pattinson is a great Edward. Minus a few weird, unwashed hair moments that I've seen of him on TV, I think this Cedric Diggory Brit (how could you not like the Harry Potter/Brit tie in here?!?) is pretty hot and makes for a good choice.


While it was cheesy, so were the books, so how could you not insert that into the films? Who doesn't like cheese??? As I've learned in teaching, you can't please everyone, so oh well if this blockbuster film didn't strike a chord with all its viewers. This viewer thoroughly enjoyed the escape that it provided.

Okay, so last but not least, I read a novel that I had to end my post with because it BORED me to tears! Let me acknowledge something clearly and up front. I HATE long drawn out mysteries. There have been a few "action" sorts that I've made exceptions for (i.e. Da Vinci Code), but in general, putting clues together over pages and pages of a novel bore me to tears. Listen, I've tried, but I just don't like them...along with SciFi. Yes, I've said it out loud. I don't like certain types of books. Line me out and shoot me by first light, but I had to get that off my chest. So, after getting about 100 pages into Playing James by Sarah Mason, I wanted to shoot MYSELF by first light! I thought it would be a catchy, chick read (as recommended by Amazon's "recommendations for you"), but it veered off into some mystery that I ended up skimming for another 200 pages. I got through the book, because I'm just masochistic enough to usually have to finish a book, but have to say that my own personal dislike for mysteries (crime and medical ones in particular) made it pretty hard to muddle through.


Let me say that it's not a horrid book, but please be a mystery lover if you dive into this faux-romantic drama. If not, avoid and move on to the next in the pile--or mountainous load of undending "to-be-read" books that yawn before you as I have. Anyway, either way, enjoy whatever you're reading! Share what you're into right now if you get a chance. I'm always curious!

Much love, Happy Thanksgiving, and happy reading! Until next time.

"Fret" Myself

Oh, and by the way. I mentioned to my AP class today that I fret myself...and I meant to say something to the effect of worry, or anxiety. I simply meant that I really want them to succeed, and so I "fret" at night. Well, it came out sounding like I said I "wet" myself. :) I guess I might do that as well if I'm not careful.

Masquerade

I finally finished book two in the Blue Blood series late last night. It wasn't stellar, but does continue the story of Schuyler Van Allen, a mixed blood vampire living among the upper echelons of New York society. It picks up with Schuyler looking for help to figure out who or what is attacking and killing vampires (who are supposed to be immortal). This installment seemed to incorporate what felt like magic, which was strange in some ways, but interesting to consider. I'm not always good with suspension of belief, so I've had my moments of puzzlement. I still think the premise of a private school filled with "blue blood" vampires is pretty interesting, and while I'm more interested in what happens in the next book, it was still a good read.

Well, my mom flies in tomorrow morning. I can't wait! :) Until I can get back on here, or until I get another book read, Adios! One more week until my long Thanksgiving week off!!!

7 Days to Thanksgiving Break!

Only Child Fantasy

Pretty soon, you're going to see a meltdown out of me! I'm not able to get through a book because I'm so freaking tired from grading around the clock. Can I whine for just a second?!? As soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning, I'm in demand. All day at school, it's non-stop. For a good week I worked through my miniscule lunch hour, just to eek out an extra 30 minutes of work (or forehead down on desk in "OM"-like status). Students who have been absent need to come in and get make up work, students in distress need tracking down to "remediate," lessons need planning, copies need copying, labs need reserving, curriculum needs planning, but it's the human demand that keeps me from really getting anything done. Honestly, I just can't get grading done until after 3 pm or by taking it all home. That's been pretty wearing lately, and for some reason I daydream about an only-child fantasy...complete ALONE TIME with no human contact. So weird of me, I know, but oh so true. Maybe I can go back here...



Well, I'm off today, but not really. I volunteered to go to the State Office today to help with textbook adoption. I have a little tredipation over what the day will entail, but I'm hoping it will include some free teaching SWAG! :)



Okay, I better go start getting ready. I'm crossing my fingers that I can get home at a decent hour so that I can...yes...you guessed it...GRADE. My mom flies in on Saturday morning, so I don't know how much reading or grading I'll be cramming in, but I have a major "overdue" fine on the second book in the Blue Blood series and need to get it finished!!! Wish me luck. Until then...Aloha!

Still Single??? No Worries!

So, according to this article, marrying older is still a good idea. I was silently cheering on this article until I hit the whole "baby" advice, which basically says that "no later than 30" to start rule. Oh well! It's an interesting article though, so I thought I'd put the link here.

Article on the best age to marry.

We're still reading Papa Married a Mormon, but I've only managed to get through the first chapter so far. It's Doc's birthday today, so I want to wish her a HUGE Happy Birthday chica!!! You're looking hot, and I'm so proud of you for going back to med school to reach for your dreams.

Anyway, that's all for now. I haven't gotten through anything other than a stack of AP essays...so I guess I'll update later! Aloha!

November Book Club Choice

Before I post, let there be a moment of silence for Bachelorette couple Deanna and Jesse... Yea, I actually got really into the show again with these guys, so I got suckered into thinking they might actually pull through. Hmm...guess I shouldn't be so optimistic (although I thought I was pretty much a pessimist as it was). I'm just a little sad. :( Make fun of me if you will, but I hoped she'd put aside her diva ways to keep this nice guy!

So, on to our book choice for this month. We're going to be reading a book by an author that Doc really loves. It's called Papa Married a Mormon by John Dennis Fitzgerald.


I guess Fitzgerald is the author of the Great Brain series, which Doc owns multiple copies of (so that her future children can enjoy), but she picked our current pick as a good overview of Fitzgerald's style. If anyone chooses to join us, let us know and post a comment if you have anything to add! Thanks, and let's hope poor Jesse (hey, that's my dad's name...so I have to feel for the guy!) finds a great, down to earth girl!


Oh, and don't forget to VOTE tomorrow! :) I stood in line last Thursday for an hour and a half to place my vote (with a book in my hands, since it's pretty hard to write all over essays when you're standing), but I did it and saved my sticker to wear on the 4th. Until then, all my best!!!

One HECK of a Week

Sigh...so glad it's "Fall Back" time so that I get an extra hour. This last week our grades were due, so honestly, I ran this grading marathon to wrap things up on Wednesday. In fact, I went right home and climbed into bed at 6:30 pm. Ah! :) You would think that would have gotten me by, but no such thing. Keeping up with all the students I've had who have been out with mono, surgeries, and other illnesses kept me busy even after grades were due. So, Thursday night I repeated Wednesday night! Friday, I didn't get a chance to go to bed that early, as Doc, Cool Breeze, and I met at Melting Pot to discuss Dracula, which none of us had technically finished. Doc had read it before though, and so we moved on to discussing what we'll be reading this month. I'll post another "small" post to let you know what it is!

Now off to what I've either picked away at over the last week, or tore through today out of a desperate need to do what I wanted. Well, first off I have to say how completely enamored I am again with Friends!


They saved my sanity these past couple of weeks, as I have kept them running in the background as I've graded papers, and as an escape from stress at night. I love them!


Last week I finally got my hands on a new BBC set of mini-stories based on four of Shakespeare's famous plays, Shakespeare Retold. I watched the Much Ado About Nothing modernization last weekend, but didn't get a chance to watch the three others until Saturday morning (because I had to take it back to the library). Admittedly, I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan (before you freak out...I DO know he's a genius of language), and since I was in a hurry to return this to the library, I sort of fast forwarded through the remaining tales on the discs. My favorite one though was Taming of the Shrew, which starred that one girl ghost in the Harry Potter films as the Shrew. It was actually pretty good!

I also woke early (6am!) this morning, so I grabbed a nice bowl of Fiber One Cereal (YUCK), and watched BBC's adaptation of Elizabeth Glaskell's novel Wives and Daughters.


Okay, so it was good...but...I HATED THE ENDING!!! Sigh. Why watch four hours of a movie if the ending can't match the tension created in the first 99% of the film!?! Yes, it made me a bit crazy. I won't say I didn't like it, but would it kill these uptight characters to lock lips for even the minutest, most congenial kiss!!!

So, the last thing on my list then is a quick review of a book I've been TRYING to pull myself through for over six weeks (I've renewed it three times, and it's due tomorrow!), The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen.
A student had recommended it to me last school year, and I had meant to read it over the summer, but selfishly read mass amounts of my favorite MEG CABOT. :) Well, as several people can tell you, when pushed repeatedly to read a book, I sometimes get stubborn as a mule and decide I don't want to read it. Now it's all subconscious...I promise, but I just balk and feel like I'm somehow not choosing the book. This book happened to fall into the category of, "I'm forcing you to read this and will pull my student-who-wants-your-feedback card if I have to!" I've seen a million girls (yes, I exaggerate) packing around Sarah Dessen novels, and maybe it's the pastel colors and sweet titles that made me vomit slightly into my mouth, but I'd made a promise, and I was bound by my oath as an English teacher that makes too many promises to read the thing. Guess what? It was pretty good. I'm not big on the "my dad died and now I have to get over it" plots (as too close to home and make me roll my eyes at the emotional manipulation), but once I sat down today (sorry...lounged in a nice bubble bath) to finish the last half of the book that I'd been picking at for weeks, it wasn't half bad. The story is engaging, and while not surprising, it still made me care about her. She packs her nerdy, genius boyfriend off to "Brain Camp" for the summer, to work his boring job at the library. He basically dumps her, and she picks up the pieces by kind of finding herself. Yes, there are other love interests who pop up, but that's all I'll say.

While a little sweetsy at times, I had to smile and think about how much I would have loved this story if it were the 16 year old version of myself. I would have probably started packing around every pastel-colored copy of a Sarah Dessen book on the planet. They are relatively clean, have characters who value their insides over their outsides, and have connections to their families. Overall, I'm happy to say I can go back to my student and tell her I read it, and actually kind of liked it.

Well, back to grading essays! From one book-sex-love-entertainment-free time-time off starved single gal to another...Mahalo, and I'll be back baby. :)