Waiting

Waiting for information is tough. Whether it be waiting for news from a college or waiting to get results back from a test, waiting can drive a person crazy.

Patience and trusting that everything will work out the way it is supposed to is key.

But until then, I still have anxiety.

Book Survey

1. What book are you reading now?  
Hemingway's Girl by Erika Robuck and Curriculum 21 by H.H. Jacobs
I'm currently listening to The Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon

2. What are your favourite books?
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, Harry Potter series

3. How did you learn to read?  
In first grade from Mrs. Gibboney. It was awesome and fun.

4. What foreign languages do you read? 
I wish!

5. What’s the funniest book you ever read? 
Bossypants by Tina Fey

6. What books have changed the way you look at the world or the way you live your life? 
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
AK because it was the first really long book that I tackled, and I also remember the change I felt toward the protagonist (I LOVED her in the beginning and HATED her by the end!). This made me realize that you can change the way you feel about people in the world. In regards to The Hunger Games, a much more recent read, it just made me think about how whacky and crazy the world we live in is...could our world turn to the world of Panem?

7. What books have affirmed what you believe about life or the way you look at things? 
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, for sure. Anne Shirley is optimistic and kind to all (except Gilbert when he was being mean to her in school). She's an incredibly optimistic character!

8. What are some of the scariest books you ever read?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. SO SUSPENSEFUL! It starts out kind of slow, but then turns kind of terrifying. Also, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Erik Larsson. Very suspenseful.

9. About how many books do you think you have read in your life? 
A couple hundred? Maybe two hundred? I've never really thought about this...do poetry and plays count? I read a LOT of those in college.

10. How much would you say you’ve paid in library fines in your life? 
None! 

11. How many books per month do you usually borrow from the library? 
None; with audio and ebooks, I'm pretty separate from the Library.

12. Do you read in bed?
Every night. My husband and I purposefully do NOT have a TV in our bedroom for this reason.

13. Do you ever read while walking or driving? 
No, that's dangerous. But I do listen to books while I do those things.

14. OK, let’s get real. Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever read a book? 
Huh. I have no idea! Probably some place on campus at Salisbury.

15. Do you listen to audio books? 
Yes! I subscribe to Audible.com - great site!

16. Has anyone ever read aloud to you or you to them? 
Growing up, my dad ALWAYS read to me - I'm talking from the age of newborn to about freshman year in high school.

17. What was the most difficult book to read? 
I hate to say it, but probably a few that I've assigned for freshman summer reading over the years. I have since taken those books OFF the summer reading list...

18. What books do you intend to read but keep putting off? 
A lot by local authors. I also have two from one of my formerly favorite authors, Tracy Chevalier, but her newer books are more tedious than her earlier ones.

19. Do you buy new or used books, paperbacks or hardcovers, leather or collector’s? 
I love the feel of a new book, especially hardcover, but at this point, I mainly read ebooks.

20. How do you feel about writing in books? 
I don't mind it.

21. Do you lend books?
I'm an English teacher - of COURSE!

22. What were your favourite books as a child? 
The entire Little House series by Laura Engles Wilder and Greek Mythology.

23. Do you ever read the ending first? 
Never. Mainly because I will not finish the book if I do.

Ice Cream Sandwiches

I love ice cream sandwiches. They are the best desserts.

The sheer genius of combining the simple ingredients that include a chocolate chip cookie (must be soft, JUST baked, and still a little doughy) and vanilla ice cream. These two simple, unassuming ingredients make the most glorious blend of flavors good enough for any gastronomical guru, radical restauranteur, or everyday eater.

In a pinch, those Good Humor ice cream sandwiches will do, but they do not always hit the spot. Chipwiches are better. But the best? This is a recently new discovery: Cold Stone Creamery.

I regularly avoid the Cold Stone experience, mainly because they are too expensive, but for these I.C.S., I am willing to splurge.

First, the cookie. Hardly baked and more like a flat disc of dough, it is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and bitter chocolate. The ice cream is equally as delicious: smooth, creamy, and sweet, it can make anyone's blues blow away.

The ice cream sandwich: a great go-to dessert.

Seester.

Best friend.
Workout partner.
With beautiful brown hair.
Stress-hugger.
Confidant.
Advice-giver.
Always a baby, always my baby--to me.
Protector.
Supporter.
One who can vent (and be vented to).
Sharer of all things frozen and cream-based (preferably at the same time).
Always ready to split of can of coke.
My rock.

Proud and Excited

Dan got in to flight school. His excitement is infectious. So is his relief.

After two-plus years of Purgatory, finally - a step in the right direction!

It is hard to watch someone you love feel as though they have nothing to contribute to society, especially after a great deal of disappointment (and a little bit of heartache). And ESPECIALLY since he has so much to offer to the world (even if that involves loud farts every now and then).

But today, the winds changed, the energy shifted, and the stars aligned. This just goes to show that everything is meant to happen for a reason.

I am honored to be able to observe and support him on this next adventure.

Procrastination: Part 2

Welp, it's that time of the marking period: Interims.

Every quarter of the school year, I find that I cannot meet the Tuesday-at-5-pm deadline. I almost ALWAYS work into the night on the day interims are due, hastily giving last-minute points to already-late assignments and grading the assignments from today (55+ of them) in the hopes that those few, precious points will actually help the grades of my students. Sometimes they do, sometimes they do not.

Have I turned into the last-minute person in every aspect of my life?

I'm better at getting to school on time in the mornings - perhaps because I drive someone else to work, so that makes me accountable.

I am not better, however, at getting anywhere else on time. Meetings, dinner dates, appointments (some...) - I always seem to be running five minutes late.

Am I a professional procrastinator or is this just how I cope with the insanity that is life?

Every other Wednesday off.

I think we should have every other Wednesday off. Here's why:

1) It gives me a chance to get things done at places that are otherwise closed on the weekend.
2) I can assign a "longer" project/HW assignment to my students to work on over two (or three, depending on the schedule) days.
3) If we have a Monday or Friday off, let's be honest: it's an extended weekend and thus, it is VERY unlikely that I shall do anything productive.
4) Simply, having Wednesday off removes the stress of the middle of the week.
5) This would only need to be every other week. I don't feel like I'm asking for too much with this.

Thoughts?

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it."

"Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it." 
-Miss Stacey, Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I love this quote. It is optimistic, bright, and kind. It is also very good medicine for anyone with a case of the Mondays.

I think the reason that I love this quote, however, is that I can actually hear these words said by the actress who played Miss Stacey in the TV mini-series Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea (from the mid-80s). She was such an inspiring and kindred spirit of Anne's - a teacher, mentor teacher, and friend. 

Miss Stacey was, as written by L.M.M., one of those teachers who inspired all of her pupils in every way. She encouraged them to strive and thrive in their studies and was firm with them when they needed it. In short, Miss Stacey was really the perfect teacher.

I want to be like her when I grow up.

Dem O's, hon.

Truth: I cannot focus my attention on a baseball game (there must be food and libation, as well as good company and conversation). However, I could not be more thrilled for my "hometown" baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles.

I literally grew up when the Orioles were good, and I mean good. These were the years of my knowing the name, number, and position of every player on the team. These were the years of Cal Ripkin, Jr. (#8, shortstop), Brady Anderson (#9, left field), Chris Hoiles (#23, catcher) - the years of sold out games at Camden Yards. The beginning of Boog's barbecue and riding on the then-new Light Rail to games. It was really a magical time to be a kid and be a fan in the 90s.

I've never stopped being a fan of my team; by that I mean I have never and will never be a fan of any other professional baseball team. Even though I may not follow each individual game or know the stats, I still love the Orioles.

Here's to post-season play. Let's Go O's!

Wow, high school seniors are people, too.

I just got through reading sixteen blogs written by my sixteen Creative Writing students. The assignment is to blog four times a week for the remainder of the semester.

I forget how intelligent, smart, insightful, and wise these humans are.

Heading to sleep in a bit, but content with the fact that these wonderful pre-adults, who are BURSTING to be out "on their own" in a few months, are going to be just fine.

Procrastination is not the mother of invention...

Why is it that I preach the "do-not-procrastinate" advice to my students, but cannot take that good advice myself? Friday afternoons finds me leaving school and ready to conquer the weekend!

And then it is Sunday night...and I have yet to do anything.

So why is this? Why can't I just come home on Fridays and take care of my business?

Because I have to go to the gym. I have to make dinner. I have to take a nap. I have to get caught up on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. I have to catch up on emails, and Facebook, and paying bills.

Why do I let this get in the way?

Why can't I grow up?

When it gets down to it, I'm still just like my students.

To think, to write....perchance to dream...

The truth is, as a high school English teacher, I cannot teach writing.

I can teach editing. I can discuss (sometimes ad nauseum). I can pose brilliant (or not-so-brilliant) questions in the style of the Socratic Method. I can beg. I can bribe. But to actually learn how to write means one must write...

And that, my friends, is up to the students.