25 Things.

I should be writing a post about David Copperfield, but I need to think a bit of it over before I begin. That post can wait for tomorrow. :)

Instead, I decided to do this-inspired by Christina's Sunday Salon post. In her post, she simple named off 25 things about herself that she thought we might or might not know about her. It was a lot of fun, so I am going to repeat that here. I'm sure that some of these things are better known than others, but I'm going to try to think outside the box to be a little more creative!

If you decide to create a list, please let me know so I can read it!

1. People tell me I have nice handwriting. I'm not sure if I believe that or not, but I will say that it is a heck of a lot neater than most people's. :)
2. I actually have two Bachelor's degrees: one in English and one in history. Originally history was going to be a minor, but I went to college with a lot of credits from taking AP classes, so it was easier to just add it on. I also have a minor in social studies and my teaching certificate (duh).
3. I'm a bit of an overachiever. I'm sure this comes across, but I like to be busy. If I'm not busy, I'm lazy. And that is never good.
4. I watch too much TV for my own good. Before getting married, I would only watch a little TV a day, if anything. I didn't follow shows and just watched whatever struck my fancy. Nowadays, I watch too much. And I blame Matt.
5. Speaking of TV, one of my biggest guilty pleasures is watching The Real Housewives. I got sucked into it one season...and I just. keep. watching. My favorite "city" is Orange County, but I also love New York, Atlanta, and Beverly Hills. I watched New Jersey for a season but it was a bit too much. (feel free to make fun).
6. We have 3 cats-Hemi, Sparty, and Lily. Hemi was Matt's cat before we got married. We adopted Sparty shortly after I moved in to keep Hemi company. And Lily was added to the bunch a few months later when we found her and her sister abandoned in the park. Lily is the only one with a literary connection. She's named after Lily Bart from The House of Mirth.
7. During the summer, I work for my city parks system. I started when I was in college, and I just keep returning. Nowadays I am one of the seasonal rangers. I love that job-very relaxed and the work is always diverse. Plus, I get to work with teenagers all summer (our employees), so I love it.
8. I was in a sorority in college. That always seems to throw people for a loop. :) I was also in a history honors fraternity. That one isn't as embarrassing. ;)
9. I rarely wear my hair down. When I'm teaching, my hair always starts down, but it eventually gets put up in a ponytail. When I'm working at the park, it is usually in the way if it's down (and I hate having my neck be all hot and sweaty-yuck). Most days when we're not up to much, my hair is up in a messy bun. The best part about wearing your hair up constantly is that when it IS down, you get lots of compliments. ;)
10. This July will mark TEN years that Matt and I have been together. We started dating before my senior year of high school (he was a junior), and have been together ever since.
11. I am exactly 4 months and 1 day older than Matt.
12. I'm pretty good at crafty things. I crochet on a semi-regular basis. I also scrapbook. I'm good at making things if I have an example to look at, and I really enjoy that kind of work.
13. I have blue eyes. In fact, everyone in my family has blue eyes. I always thought that was cool when I was a kid.
14. I absolutely HATE being hot. I whine like a little kid if it is at all warm outside. This makes perfect sense with me working at a park, right? No, really, I cannot stand being hot. I hardly ever wear a real coat in the winter because I don't like being warm (I usually rock a fleece) and I sleep with a fan pointing directly on me year round. And I live in Michigan. Yeah.
15. I'm kind of clumsy. I will randomly run into things and bruise myself. Last night I was washing dishes and sliced my thumb open on a thermometer. Don't ask how I did it.
16. I have only been pulled over once and it was when I was 16. I was running late to school and my mom asked me to take my sister to school. I was speeding in a school zone. Ugh. It was bad.
17. I HATE being late. And I hate it when other people are late. It drives me absolutely insane. What's worse is Matt is ALWAYS late and it makes me so mad!!
18. I am only organized in certain aspects of my life. Anything pertaining to work, my blog, my books, etc is always kept in perfect order, but our bedroom is chaos-clothes everywhere. I just pick my battles.
19. I'm obsessed with the color green. If something comes in green, I have to get it. Thankfully Matt tolerates the green obsession.
20. Anything Matt does that is overly romantic makes me giggle. Had Matt proposed in a super cheesy way, I would have giggled. I can't help it. Now, I love romance movies and such, so who knows what's wrong with me.
21. I get migraines. A lot. The first one I ever got was in college, and it was in the middle of a class. Thankfully I had a friend in class and he walked me back to my dorm and put me to bed. When I get a really nasty migraine, my vision usually disappears (some people get the "halo," where they can still see in their periphery, but mine goes completely).
22. My favorite number is 22. :)
23. I can be overly sarcastic and snarky if you get me going. Some people appreciate it and some don't, so I have to feel you out before unloading my snark. :)
24. I'm actually a bit of an introvert. I don't mind being with people, but I generally choose staying in over going out. Too many people stresses me out and makes me uncomfortable.
25. I bend over backwards for people because I have a fear of letting people down. This probably goes hand in hand with my overachiever tendencies, but I HATE feeling like I didn't do enough. A few people have taken advantage of this, so recently I've become a bit more careful about not doing too much for other people-know what I mean?

There you have it, 25 pieces of worthless information about me. :) I hope this was somewhat entertaining for you. Again, if you decide to join in on the fun, let me know!

Weekly Wrap-up for February 12, 2012: Lazy Days.

I'm feeling a little rundown today, so I'm not sure how long my little wrap-up post is going to be. Matt had a few of his guys friends over last night drinking and brewing beer (yes, brewing beer), so I hid in our bedroom most of the night and played on my Nook or read. Even with all of that, I stayed up too late and I'm feeling particularly cranky this morning.

Part of it is that every once in awhile my lungs act up. You might remember that I had two bouts of walking pneumonia last year (once in the Spring and once in the Fall). Ever since, my lungs will sometimes act up. I have a hard time breathing and my lungs feel tight-almost like I can't breathe out enough air. It is painful and uncomfortable and probably a side-effect from the illness. Anyway, they acted up last night so I spent a lot of the time in the bedroom concentrating on breathing.

And before anyone tells me to, I am calling my doctor tomorrow morning to see if I can get in. Perhaps there is something I can take to help, like an inhaler. I think that would be helpful, especially as I continue to work out (I've been having a hard time with cardio-my lungs start screaming at me after about 5 minutes on the elliptical-I've been sticking with low key workouts, mainly yoga).

In any case, since my lungs still feel a bit tender, I am putting off my cleaning job for today. I was going to tackle cleaning out and organizing our second bedroom, but I don't feel up to it and don't want to trigger another attack. Instead, I think I am going to catch up on some reading, since I really want to finish David Copperfield by Thursday, as well as some scrapbooking (working on my goals for the month). I also need to comment on all the Shakespeare Month posts, as well as pull a winner for the clothbound book. But, this should be a relaxing day.

This week I don't have any grand plans beyond finishing David Copperfield. Like I said above, I want to finish it by Thursday, then finish Roots, before moving on to Nicholas Nickleby for the rest of the month. I had intended on getting more read this month, but I read Dickens very slowly and since both of his books are chunky, they are going extra slow. We'll see what happens. :)

I hope you all have a good reading week. Let me know in the comments what you're reading and how things are going. I've been a little MIA from reading blogs and being on Twitter this week, so I feel like I've missed a lot. I hope to be a little more active this week!

Weekly Wrap-up for February 5, 2012: On Singing, Babies, Books, Shakespeare, and More.

I am tired this morning, but I did force myself out of bed to get some things accomplished this morning. I guess I have myself to blame.

Last night we went to a karaoke bar. Now, anyone who has been in a car with me, to a concert, or by me while I think I am alone knows that I cannot sing to save my life. My husband says I can't really call it "tone-deaf" since I can tune myself when I am playing my trumpet, but I cannot carry a tune (Yes, I play the trumpet. Matt and I play in a community band once a week. And yes, I am better than him. ;) Don't tell him that).

So last night was a little tortuous for me, since the friends we went with have not been graced by the beauty that is my singing voice. Needless to say, even with all their peer pressure tactics, I didn't get up on stage and sing. I stayed at our table and listened. Our friend Jay was a little scared of the stage as well, so we just pretended that we were way too awesome to let others hear our golden voices. ;)

It was a good time, and I am glad Matt forced me to go. I was ready to snuggle in bed with a book, as is befitting for a hermit like myself, but I had fun with everyone.

I also went to a baby shower yesterday for one of my oldest and best friends. I met Jenny in the first grade and we have been friends ever since (over 20 years?). She lives down in Knoxville now, but her parents live out in Ann Arbor (about an hour from me). It was great to see her and some other old friends. She doesn't know what she's having yet, so I am excited to see come April.

It seems like a lot of people I know are pregnant or just had a baby! There is baby fever everywhere! I was at one of the schools I worked in on Thursday, subbing, and discovered that three of their English teachers are pregnant! They are all due near the end of July/early August. They were cracking jokes at lunch about something being in the water over there.

Today I don't have too many plans besides recuperating from a busy day yesterday and selling back some books to my local bookstore. They only buy back used books once every couple of months, and the last time I was there, their used section was a little on the empty side (their new sections were also a little bare, which confused me). I still have all those books I culled in November (I missed the weekend buy-back by a week), and since this is the first weekend to sell back since then, I am ready to get these books out of here. 140+ books take up a lot of space when they are just sitting there. Hopefully they'll take most of them. The rest I am going to donate to one of the schools in the area. And, hopefully, I'll get some store credit to buy a few things I've been eying.

In other good, bookish news, I was accepted to be a giver for World Book Night! I don't know which book of my 3 choices I'll be handing out, but I am really excited. I am going to go in and give half the books to some old students (as long at the two teachers I worked for are okay with it), and the rest I am passing out in the area. I am going to hit up one of our local malls. It should be a great experience and I am so excited that I get to do this.

In regards to the blog, Shakespeare Month is wrapping up on the 10th (I extended it) and to be honest, I'm kind of excited to get it finished. I feel a little drained with all the posting, reading, and writing about Shakespeare. Don't get me wrong, I love Shakespeare, but I am burned out. I read 11 plays, so I'm allowed. I still need to go read all the posts everyone wrote as participants, so that will be my main goal this week.

I am also planning a Victorian themed event for June and July. I have a lot of Victorian books to read on my list, so it is a good excuse. I've already started thinking about some prizes (you're going to love them), as well as 1 or 2 challenges to offer something different to the challenge. I'm planning on hammering out all the details in the next two months and announcing it in April. If you have some Victorians on your TBR, save them for June and July! :)

Well, that's all I have for this week. I am planning on catching up on some reading. I am in the middle of Roots by Alex Haley for the readalong, so I want to get to our goal for Wednesday before diving into something else. I'm having a hard time deciding if I should read David Copperfield, Nicholas Nickleby, or one of the two biographies on Dickens. I was thinking of saving the bios (one is the Bicentenary book I showed earlier this week, the other is the Tomalin) for later, but now I am second-guessing myself...Any suggestions?

Happy Reading!!

Goals for February 2012.

Since the month of January has pretty much gone by without any progress towards some of the goals I made in my 2012 Goals and Resolutions Post, I decided I need to intervene.

In case you haven't noticed, I am a very goal-oriented person. I like to make them, talk about them, and work steadily towards them. However, I also lack a great deal of motivation. And, let's be honest, since going back to daily subbing near the end of November, I haven't been working a great deal. I have been lazy, uninspired, and spend WAY TOO MUCH time watching TV instead of taking care of things that need to be taken care of around the apartment.

So, I am making monthly goals. These are things that I want to finish by the end of the month. Some are book-oriented, some are personal. But, no excuses, by the end of the month, I want to have them finished and completed. You'll see some of them say "continue" and such, and that is mainly to keep myself on track with things I am already doing. I also left some areas broad and some goals broad, since too much confinement will make me a bit batty. ;)

I'm not sure how much I am going to love this process, but I am all for self-improvement and sharing that process with you. If I fail miserably this month, I can always reevaluate and try again next month, right?

Here are my goals for February (some are smaller pieces of my larger 2012 goals, and some are just for the month):

Grad School:

• Revisit requirements for the three programs I am interested in. Create a timeline for due dates, etc.
• Write to old professors for letters of recommendation, etc.
• Draft personal statement

Writing:

• Continue working on my current piece
• Write 20,000 new words this month 
• Continue writing in my journal 3x per week 

Blog Related:

• Finish the two Dickens titles I have selected for the month (David Copperfield and Nicholas Nickleby) in celebration of his birthday
• Make progress in War and Peace (Hoping to get to 120 chapters)
• Start Les Miserables
• Read Roots for the readalong
• Read other books off my project list if time. :)

Crafts:

• Finish my senior scrapbook (from my senior year of high school. Seriously, I need to finish it)
• Finish crocheting my mom's scarf (been half done for a year now)
• Print some wedding pictures to put in our frames...we've been married for over two years. This needs to be done.

Domestic:

• Continue to try one new recipe a week (I might be combining this into my weekly update posts in my continued effort to make the blog more "me" than just books).
• Use my crock pot more (inspired a bit by Trish and this post)
• Clean out our second bedroom and organize (seriously, it is our dumping room)
• Continue my "ten-minute" clean-ups every night (basically I set the timer and clean up for ten minutes every night and stop when the timer goes off-very helpful in getting rid of daily clutter, etc.)

Health:

• Go to the gym 3x per week
• Work-out videos and Wii Fit 3x per week
• Carry water with me everywhere!
• Continue my diet!

There you have it, some detailed goals for the month of February.

How do you feel about making monthly goals? Anyone want to join in?

Weekly Wrap-up for January 15, 2012: In Florida and the Halfway Point.

Hey guys!

I am writing to you from the table in our hotel room in lovely Orlando, Florida. It is actually Saturday night, but I am going to schedule to post this in the morning. I'm a little tired from two days in the car, so I want to take advantage of the fact that I can sleep in tomorrow. :)

Our drive down was pretty uneventful. We left Michigan bright and early on Friday morning. We drove for about 12 hours and decided to call it a night. We grabbed a hotel just into the Georgia border and slept till about 7 this morning. After a yummy breakfast, it was time to hop BACK into the car for another 8 hour drive. Blegh. But, we made it safe and sound this afternoon.

Tomorrow we're going to hang out around the hotel, see a couple movies, and go grocery shopping for Torrie (my sister). She has to check-in and move-in on Monday morning, so I'm sure tomorrow will be low-key and relaxed. The only other set plans we have for the week is for Tuesday. We're going to head to Epcot and "drink around the world." :D It should be a good time! Expect some lovely tweets and pictures.


I'm glad to be out of Michigan for awhile. Truth be told, I was in a bit of a rut at home, so being out of the house is a good change. I think that having this kind of space from all the negativity in Michigan will be good for me and perhaps I'll get over some of that depression.

Enough of that...let's celebrate for a moment, shall we?

Earlier today, the final post went up for The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, book 125 off my list. This is a huge milestone...

I am halfway done with my reading project! On one hand, I think to myself that I should be nearing the end by now! But on the other...well, I am pretty proud of what I have accomplished so far.

When I set out to read all of these titles, I don't think I knew what I was getting myself into. I didn't know anything about the book blogging community. I thought the only people who would read my lowly little blog would be my family (mainly my mom-she still reads-Hi Mom!). I never thought I would be here. I never thought people would care enough about my reading process to check in on me and read my thoughts. I am amazed every time someone comments, someone sends me an e-mail, or recommends a book to me.

I'm also in awe of the fact that I have developed so many meaningful relationships with some of you. Like I said, I thought only my family would read my blog, so knowing that there are many of you who read and care? Amazing. Thank you all for all of your support!

I also didn't think that I would be still going. I've never stuck with something so long. I'm pretty proud of how far I've come.

And I know I have a long way to go...125ish (I've read a couple since then) books to go. I am sure that I will learn even more about myself and who I want to be. And while I'm not positive yet, I know that I am learning more and more about the person I need to be. Sometimes I wonder where I would be if I hadn't started this...who I would be. And I am grateful that I set this goal for myself and I am carrying through on what I planned. It shows my growth. It shows that I am learning.

Here's to another 125!

On Journal Writing.

I first started a journal when I was in elementary school. I wrote in it sporadically and when I found it years later, I had to laugh at what I found inside. My childish observations about what was important to me had me in stitches. :)

I also kept a journal through most of my middle school and high school years. The entries are more random, and I usually only wrote when something "big" happened.

My journal writing really picked up when I was in college. For the first time I was on my own, and I thought it was important to record everything I experienced as a college student. While I didn't write every day, I did write at least 3 times a week. I really like going back and reading those entries-there are a lot of great conversations and moments with Matt that are recorded there.

I was more strict with my journal writing when I was student teaching. We had to keep "focus binders," complete with typed daily lesson plans, any handouts we gave our students, feedback from our field instructors, and student work examples. I also kept a daily journal on what happened in school and put a new entry in every afternoon. I would come home from school and immediately write for 10-15 minutes about my experiences in the classroom. Not only did it help me understand my students, but it gave my field instructor and I a chance to discuss some deeper issues than he discussed with his other men-tees. I even turned my journal into a final project for my grad class that year-I combined my observations and insights with my students' entries. It was fabulous and I still have two bound copies here in storage.

Since then, I haven't journaled-unless you count the blog. I really miss the process of writing, and I think I was a stronger writer when I journaled on a regular basis. It gave me a chance to explore different aspects of my personality, as well as giving me time to reflect on things that have happened.

Earlier today I was wandering in Barnes and Noble. I had some money left on a gift card I was given for Christmas, and I wasn't sure what I wanted to pick up. I found myself by the journals when the one at right stood out to me. What if one of my personal goals this year could be keeping a journal? I won't write everyday-I never have with the exception of my school journal-but I could make myself write often enough so I can look back years from now and see what I was doing and thinking.

I grabbed the journal and bought it with the remaining money on the card (Are you shocked I didn't pick up a book? Me too). The goal is a simple one-to write at least three times a week for 15 minutes about whatever strikes my fancy. I think it'll be a great compliment to everything else I am trying to accomplish this year-the weight loss, the progress on my reading project, and boosting my self-esteem.

So here are my questions for you, dear readers...

Do you write in a journal? If so, how often? Does journaling help you?

I will let you know in small updates how my process is going. I have a feeling it is going to help me more than I know!

Weekly Wrap-up for September 25, 2011: A Rough Spot.

I haven't had the best week. In fact, I have had a pretty crappy September so far. I mean, I am currently battling illness number 2 for the month (a cold; last week it was strep), and I am in a big reading slump...but more on that in a bit.

I was also hit with two pieces of sad news this week. Late last Sunday night, I found out that an old friend from high school passed away suddenly. We went back all the way to fourth grade, and while I hadn't seen him in awhile, we kept in touch on Facebook. It was a sudden and out of the blue death, and one that caught me totally by surprise.

Then I found out that a former student of mine committed suicide. I had this student way back in my very first job out of college. The school called me the day before school started and asked if I was interested in a long-term job. It was a great experience and this was a student I was very familiar with. I was really shocked to hear about it...and shaken.

So, this has not been a week filled with a lot of happiness, but I am soldiering through anyway. I can grieve, but I can't let it get in the way of living my own life.

Not that much has been going on...

Like I said, I am in a big slump. I feel lousy, and while I am really enjoying Moby-Dick, I have been reading it for nearly a month. And I made no progress this week (I literally didn't even open it). And on Wednesday, I have no more drafted posts waiting to be put up. I will be completely caught up, with nothing to write about because I have read nothing this month. I don't even feel that guilty about it....just annoyed because no new posts will go up.

Oh well.

I might shift gears over to something lighter this week-a fast, quick read to get me through the slump. I think that a good, condensed story might motivate me to finish Melville's epic and move on to the four big reading commitments I have coming up (the 2 group reads I am hosting, my Classics Circuit titles, and the group read for Hawthorne). I am sure something will fall by the wayside (Hawthorne most likely), but we'll see. You'll just see less posts from me in the next week or two, until I figure out a way to get myself out of this slump.

I suppose that's all for this week. I hope that next Sunday I am back with something a little more inspiring...wish me luck.

Happy Reading.

Weekly Wrap-up for September 18, 2011: Bits on School, Sicknesses, and the Book Buying Ban.

I am finding it hard to believe that I have been back at school for two weeks already! But I am kind of glad the first two weeks are over. It was stressful starting in a new place, with new kids, and a new routine, but things are settling firmly into place. We are finally moving into some heavier content this week in both of the English classes I am teaching, and we're moving into fun documents with the Government kids.

My sophomores are starting their "What is an American?" unit this week by reading the Declaration of Independence. I am hoping we are going to have good conversations about the ideals the U.S. was founded on, as well as their rights and privileges (it could be interesting). At the end of the week, they are writing me a "break-up" letter to show they understand it all...should be a fun assignment.

The seniors are in the midst of the memoir unit. Those of you around last winter might remember that I had to teach The Glass Castle. I am teaching it again and they were given their first big reading assignment due Wednesday (I have more kids who work at this school, so I decided giving them big reading assignments over the course of a few days would be better than reading every night-we'll see how it works). I also modified their memoir writing assignment. They are doing 4 short in-class vignettes before I assign them a longer (3-4 page) assignment. They're going to compile the whole thing into a blended genre/memoir paper. So far it is working out, but they are whining a bit about all the writing. It IS a composition class, so I guess they better get used to it. :)

I started to feel a bit off on Thursday night. It was a really long week, with a couple of before/after school meetings, curriculum night with the parents, and Homecoming activities gearing up-our game and dance is this week, so we have spirit days and shenanigans all week. Should be a riot.... Anyway, I woke up feeling like knives were stabbing my throat on Friday, toughed it out, and went to the doctor that afternoon. Turns out I have a case of strep. So, it has been a good weekend of sleeping, reading, and cuddling with my cats, who have been feeling rather neglected since I went back to school.

My father-in-law started his chemo treatment on Wednesday. It sounds like he had a rough couple of days after, but at least his treatment has started (I can't come in contact with anyone who will see him, so as not to pass on my germs). They finally staged his lymphoma at stage 2, which was good news (they thought it was more advanced than that to begin with). We're all hopeful the chemo knocks it out of his system.

The only other exciting news is that I bought books. Again.

Yeah yeah, I know. It all started when Matt came home on Wednesday and told me that our local Borders was officially closed. I was surprised to hear this because it was scheduled to close today. I was bummed, since he promised me one more book excursion before putting a ban in place. He decided to let me buy a few books on Amazon and be done with it.

So, I did order 3 books on Amazon and they'll be here sometime this week. I'll include them in next week's post.

But then, I got a coupon for Barnes and Noble, FOUND an old gift card that hadn't been quite used up, and discovered that all of their classics are on sale (buy 2 get 1 free). So I went (you all knew I would). I found some great things, even scouring their used department for some AMAZING deals (yes, our B & N has a used department, does yours?). So, I promise that the damage wasn't too bad-it just looks bad. Here is what I got:



From top to bottom:

1. Night and Day by Virginia Woolf
2. The Voyage Out by Virginia Woolf
3. The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
4. Henry V by William Shakespeare
5. Hamlet by William Shakespeare
6. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

All of these were part of the classics sale, so two of them were completely free! The Woolf titles make me especially happy, since the other publishers who have these titles charge an arm and a leg. I was also excited to finish my set of B and N Shakespeare (I really love these editions. They are WELL done). Now I have all the available B and N editions-the rest of my Shakespeare is Folger's...sometime I should take a picture of my Shakespeare collection...remind me. I really wanted these so I could have them for the readathon next month.

Also, ALL of these are list books. So that's super-duper.



From top to bottom:

1. Plays by George Bernard Shaw (contains "Mrs. Warren's Profession" which is on my list).
2. The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman
3. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
4. A Mercy by Toni Morrison
5. The Trial by Franz Kafka
6. A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
7. Nana by Emile Zola
8. The Ambassadors by Henry James
9. The Bostonians by Henry James

The top five books were all found in the used section of the store. I was kind of geeked out by The Oregon Trail since I loved the game as a kid. I was also happy to find the O'Brien, since I have been meaning to replace my copy ever since I lent it out in college and never got it back (LOVE that book). The copies of A Mercy and The Trial were amazing finds, since both of them are brand new, but were in the used section. They seriously look like no one has opened them (score). But the best part is that I got more classics at a really good deal. Of this pile, the Kafka, Forster, and Shaw are the only list books....but who really cares? The others were a great deal!

BUT, I am done. The book buying ban has been put into place. From now until January 1, I am not allowed to buy any more books. If I win a book in a giveaway, get a giftcard, download free ebooks, or receive books for Christmas, I am okay. But I am not allowed to purchase anything. I'm not even allowed in the bookstore. I am slightly sad, but I honestly don't need to buy any more books (obviously). I have more than enough reading material to last me a few years. So, we'll see how I do. I still get to look forward to my amazon package.

Anyway, this turned out to be much longer than I wanted it to be! I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Happy reading!!

What I have Learned from Park Patrons (Reflections on being a Ranger).

I began working for my local city's park system the summer after my freshman year of college (this would be in 2004). My brother was the one to tell me about the job. He had worked for the city as an engineering intern for a couple summers, and suggested that working at the park might be a fun time. I applied and was surprised to get an interview, then hired in.

The first park I worked at was one of the busier parks. It had a 40 acre lake, playground, soccer field, boat rentals, concession stand, etc. On hot days in the summer, the beach would be PACKED. I really liked working there, but as a lowly park attendant, I didn't get paid the big bucks. After four years, I interviewed for a position as a Summer Assistant aka Seasonal Park Ranger, and landed the position at the park I currently work at (only a few miles north of the other).

The park I currently work at is a more traditional park-picnicking, hiking, mountain biking trails, etc. It was originally a Michigan State Park, but was bought by the city in the late 1980s. The park was constructed all the way back in 1924 and has a building built by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) from the Depression era.

Needless to say, the parks system I work for is great, and I love being able to work outside in the summer. Since I am ending my eighth summer season with the parks department (I have also worked MANY fall, winter, and spring seasons), I thought it would be fun to fill you in on some of the fun and random things I have learned about people while being a park employee. Enjoy! :)

• People Litter...A LOT: One of the things that constantly annoys me is the amount of litter. I don't understand it and never will. We have MANY trash cans in the park and sometimes when a group leaves, there is trash everywhere but IN the can. We have one sports group who will leave their water bottles on the ground just inches from the trash can. I don't get it. I am anal about picking up trash and I have been known to scoop up garbage when I'm not at the park. Seriously, find a trash can.
• Women are messier than men: Probably one of the most surprising things about cleaning up our shelters and bathrooms is the difference between men and women. You would think men would be messy. No, it is definitely the women. I cannot begin to tell you the amount of disgusting trash I have picked up in our women's bathrooms.
• People continually surprise me with their...quirks: After 8 years, 4 being a Ranger, I think I have seen it all. But I really haven't. People have some of the most ridiculous requests when it comes time to be in the park. I have another post in the works about this, but to give you a teaser, I once had to lecture a large group of men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s on how to share. Seriously.
• People think nature = garbage: Nothing is more irritating to me or my staff than going to change a trash can to find NATURE in the garbage. Please explain to me why you are throwing sticks and branches into trash cans? hello? You are in a PARK. You are OUTSIDE. Nature is not trash! Leave the sticks on the ground!
• People do not know how to flush toilets: Every night that I close the park, there are 27 toilets I have to clean (some nights only 20 as we don't always open one of the shelters). Every night we have to make sure the toilets are clean and pretty and every night I go in to find that someone has not flushed the toilet. I don't understand why this is so difficult. I understand you might not want to touch the handle. You can kick it with your foot (I do!). Just flush it, please.
• People have misconceptions about their tax money: The biggest complaint we have at our booth is why people must pay to come in to the park. Since we are a city park, how we operate might be different than larger park systems. Yes, we do get SOME tax money. But keeping a parks system operating is expensive. We have to pay for supplies, employees, maintenance fees, etc. We charge because otherwise, we would be a very big and expensive drain on the system. I don't think our daily fee is absurd, and it gets everyone all upset when a patron comes in and says, "well I pay taxes so I should get in for free." Sorry, doesn't work that way.
• People freak out when they see females driving big trucks and vehicles: We have a number of vehicles that we drive around the park, including two large white pick up trucks (and I mean LARGE. I have to hop to get in them), a gas powered cart (think golf cart on steroids-super powerful), and a tractor. I drive all of these things. It always makes me laugh when people look shocked to see a female driving huge vehicles. Yes, sometimes it offends me. There are instances where it makes me super uncomfortable (the other day an older man asked one of my male employees why "the woman" was driving him around), but I try and ignore that.
  
• People are wasteful: We have very busy weekends, with our shelters rented for reunions, parties, and celebrations of all kinds. And it never ceases to amaze me how much food is thrown away. It makes me sad that it isn't taken home. Instead, it inevitably finds its way into our dumpster.
• Wild animals are wild, not cute furry things for your child to pet: We have a lot of wildlife in the park, including deer, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, feral cats, birds, frogs, turtles, snakes, hawks, coyotes, woodchucks, gophers, etc. And our public seems to think that these animals are to be petted and fed. Sadly, we have way too many raccoons (people catch them by their homes then release them in the park, which has ruined our ecosystem), so our raccoons are pretty friendly. That doesn't mean that it is okay to allow your child to try and feed it. Never feed a wild animal.
• Smiles are better used when talking to someone who is upset: I have had my fair share of altercations with angry patrons in the park. And while I do get upset in return, I have learned that it is better to keep smiling and upbeat when dealing with someone who has lost their cool. Something about seeing a smile calms down even the angriest patrons and they do eventually apologize for calling me all sorts of nasty names. :) So smile. It helps.
  
• People are friendly and grateful for small kindnesses: We have a lot of regulars that come into the park. I know most of them by name and while the staff has nicknames for many of them, I do try and take the time to say hello to those I see on a regular basis. They are our support system and help keep the park open. On this past Easter Sunday, I was working and we had a rental. The woman who rented the shelter was sad I had to work, so she left the park to go buy me a present. Her small Easter basket filled with candy was her way of saying thank you. It truly touched me! People are grateful for kindness, so I try and smile even when I don't really want to. :)
• The park is a great place for family events: I have witnessed a lot of things in my eight years at the park. I have seen weddings for young and old, graduation parties, first birthdays, family reunions, and memorial services. What I try to remember each day is that it is significant for someone. I am glad that our park has served as a backdrop to these significant moments. And while I don't know about the parks in your area, we appreciate and love the fact that we are chosen to host these events.

Anyway, I know there are more things I have learned, but these are probably the most important. I work with different people every day, and each day at a park brings a new challenge. I have seen things and done things I never would have had I never gotten that job 8 summers ago. I keep joking that I want to be done working at the park, but secretly, I still kind of love it. It gives me great stories to tell, and I continue to be shocked by the constant insanity of the people around me. :)

Weekly Wrap-up for August 14, 2011: Whirlwind.

I have never been so glad to be done with a week before! Starting with my emotional outburst last Sunday, to getting the results of my FIL's biopsy, to a migraine that lasted three days, to no internet for two days, to stress at work, I am completely wiped out. And I am writing this at 6 in the morning because I have to be to work by 7. Yeah, this was a miserable week.

But you know, it is weeks like this that really put things into perspective. I was pretty down last weekend, and I sincerely appreciate every one of the comments I got on that post. I am normally a pretty happy person, but I have found myself slipping into anger and sadness a little too much recently. I think the face that school will be back in session shortly, as well as the ending of another hiring season, puts me into a grumpy mood.

I am feeling much better about everything. Again, THANK YOU for all of your support. In my heart, I know it isn't me-it is the craptastic economy and circumstances out of my control. But in the meantime, I can continue doing things to better myself and explore other options.


As for my FIL, the biopsy results came back. He was officially diagnosed with follicular lymphoma. They have some more tests to run to determine his stage, etc. No matter what, he will have to go through chemo, so we are bracing. My FIL is pretty young (47), so this is kind of a shock. (I should probably clarify-the man I call my FIL is actually Matt's step-dad. Matt has no relationship with his real dad, and I don't consider him my FIL. Don married Matt's mom when Matt was 8, so Don is really the only father figure Matt has had). We are all praying and hoping for the best.


In reading...

Like I said, I had a nasty migraine that lingered for nearly three full days (even now I can still feel knots in my neck). I haven't had one that bad in a long time! It really knocked me out and obviously, no reading was accomplished. I did manage to finish Jude the Obscure last night, so that's something! :)

I do have to say that I have loved both Hardy novels I've read so far. New favorite? Most likely.

This week I'll have reviews up for Peter Pan, Ceremony, and Sula. Again, they will be in one post format. They are from the few weeks where I was reading so fast, I didn't have time to do multiple drafts like I usually do. How do you guys like the one post formats? I don't mind them, but I miss spreading my thoughts out!

I'm not sure what I'll pick up next. I discarded Kim by Kipling after it didn't catch my attention in the first few pages. I'll get to it eventually. I still have A Lesson Before Dying in my purse. I am also in the mood for something fun, so I grabbed Treasure Island to start during my lunch break. You guys have any other suggestions?

I better cut this short-need to get to work and finish putting up some swings! (Oh, I have a few fun park-related posts in the works. Hopefully they make you laugh).

Happy Reading!

A Period of Frustration.

*sigh*

I'm not sure what my intentions are in writing this post. I don't know if I will have a point or a purpose, but I am hoping that I can come to some kind of conclusion for my own sanity.

I am approaching two years into this project. This seems incredibly significant in some way, but I am at a loss as to why. Last year, I was just plain excited to have gotten through a year without any breaks. I was proud of what my blog was and the friendships I was beginning to form. I felt like things were getting better for me professionally and that I was on my way to...something.

But now I am approaching year two and I am asking myself, what have I really accomplished? I go back to that night when I feverishly typed out my plans for what this space would become. I wanted to get over a period of depression that I was in and accomplish something that would matter. And while things have changed in these last almost two years, I still don't feel like I have done anything of value for myself or those around me.

Sure, I have read a great number of books by the great authors. I met and conquered some of my most intimidating writers: Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Dickens, Cooper, and more. I have visited old friends and remembered why I called them friends. I am learning more and more about the worlds these writers lived in, their lives, and what outside circumstances have altered their view of the world and shaped their novels. I think that I have improved both in my writing and my reading abilities. And I feel like I am still missing something, some key that connects all this together and makes meaning.

I wanted to start this to give me a chance to improve myself. When I wrote that first blog post two years ago, I was frustrated with my job search. At the time, I had been done with school for nearly two years. I thought that I would have had a job, that I would be in a classroom. And that didn't happen.

Here I am, nearly two years later, and how much farther have I really come? Not far. I still work at the parks during the summer. And it isn't that I want to work there, it is because I have to work there. I have bills to pay! I still don't have a permanent teaching position. It has been a long and rough road. I have traveled hours for interviews where I thought the job was mine, only to be sorely disappointed hours later. I have subbed and networked and worked my butt off to prove myself to the schools that I have been in.

But I am still in the same place. I have made no forward progress. I haven't gained anything.

I won't even talk to Matt about it anymore. When the conversation comes up about getting a permanent position, I just shut down. After so much rejection, it is hard to continue to hold your head up and say, "That just wasn't the right position for me. I just haven't found the right school." After a while, you just have to think, "What's wrong with me? Why will no one give me a chance?" It is hard, frustrating, and even typing this out brings me to tears.

More than anything, though, is how embarrassed I feel. I am ashamed of the fact that I am not where I want to be. I always told myself in college that I would be the one to get a job right away. I never thought that I would be where I am now. I'm 26 and don't have a permanent job. I make do with what I have.

How much longer can I continue to plug away, never making forward progress? When do I finally say, "enough is enough" and give up? Next year, will I find myself writing the same things?

I am at a loss. I thought, two years into such a project, two years further into my life, I would have some answers. I would know something of value. I would mean something. Instead, I just find myself growing more and more frustrated with what my life has turned into. I lay awake at night and think about the decisions I made when I planned this future. I'm not sure that I regret my choices, but perhaps I could have made better ones. Perhaps I would be happier working a brainless job in an office all day. I could type out reports and that nonsense easily.

But I so desperately want to be inspired, which is why I chose this path. But the longer I continue to go forward with no real direction, the more hopelessly lost I feel. Even attempts at branching out are unsuccessful.

I just feel...lost. I have felt this way for so long that it is starting to feel normal. Of course I discuss this with Matt, but I just need to get it out, acknowledge it in the open, and try to move forward. I don't want to feel this way. I don't want to get upset thinking about the fact my life has been at a standstill for so long. I want to more forward, but I am stuck.

Again, I don't know if I have a point, or even know why I am posting this here. Perhaps I will regret it later, but right now, this is what I need.

Home at Last and Some News.

Hi everyone!

I meant to post last night, but with unpacking, grocery shopping, and a trip out to belatedly celebrate my birthday, I just didn't have time. :)

But I wanted to pop on and let you know we got home safe and sound. We had a wonderful trip with my family. As soon as my mom gives me the pictures (well, posts them on FB), I will make sure to do a post dedicated to Harry Potter Land (it was AWESOME).

The Thursday before we left to go, I was contacted by a teacher in the same district I just finished long-term subbing in, but from MY old high school. She needed a long-term sub for the beginning of the year until just after Thanksgiving, and she asked if I would be interested. With the trip in the way, we had to wait until today to meet for an interview.

To avoid the suspense, I got the job and start during the last week of August. It isn't a full time job, but everything is one step closer to a permanent position. I'm going to be in the same district and will be teaching pretty much the same classes-sophomore and senior English, as well as one section of Government. I'm excited and happy to have something in the fall.


Anyway, I'll probably get back to a regular posting schedule tomorrow night or Wednesday. I have a lot of things to discuss, but I'm not too far behind. I only read two novels over my vacation. I spent more time talking with my family and relaxing, so I don't feel at all guilty about that. But now? We're down to business! :)

Summer Reading and Bookish Plans.

I am incredibly fond of organization when it comes to certain things. While I may leave my dirty laundry two feet away from the hamper, I am incredibly organized when it comes to things like school, writing, and blogging. Matt thinks it is hysterical that I make list after list, but my method works for me. I keep small notebooks filled with "to-do" lists all neatly written and checked off. That was how I managed to take 20 credits a semester in college and survive.

It was also how I managed working two jobs for three months.

Anyway, all of my lists, post-its, calendars, and planners keep me on track. I go insane without them from having too many options. That is why my book list has worked for so long and why I am still chugging along almost two full years into the project.

However, all my methods of organization are sometimes too much for me to keep up with, so I am making some goals of bookish things that need to get done over the course of this summer. I don't know what the fall will bring (a job? I hope?), so I am going to use August 31 as my cut-off date. Here are the things I am hoping to accomplish:

Reading:

At the moment of writing this, I am currently in the middle of books 93 and 94 off my list. I would love to hit book 120 by the end of the summer. Considering that would mean reading 25ish books in two month where I have only read 40 in six months seems like a tall order, but it is a perfectly doable goal if I stop slacking. :) I have plenty of free time now and I should be taking advantage of it! So, in more detail...

• Read 25 books from the Book list by August 31.
  
• 5 books must be from Adam's TBR Challenge (since I have only read ONE title. I STINK at challenges btw).
• 1 or 2 titles must be a Shakespeare play. I have neglected the bard.
• Make further progress in my Bible Reading Project (this has also been neglected recently due to my busy schedule)

Vacation Reading:

The only exception to the above guidelines are for the vacation I am taking on July 10 to the 17th. Since this is my first vacation since our honeymoon, I am going to take a long some "fun" reads for sitting poolside (and a classic or two). I am taking The Year of the Flood and Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood, as well as The Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (I have refused to watch the mini-series until I read the book).

Book Organization:

I shared with you my book database not too long ago, and I mentioned that I was struggling with it. I lost the most updated version of the file last year with a slew of computer problems, and I have been slowly trying to bring it up to date. The biggest issue with that is that most of my massive collection is boxed up, so hauling out boxes and checking them in is a pia. I kind of "gave up" back in April with the intensity of school, so this is a big project that needs to be fixed. More specifically, this is what I want to accomplish by August 31:

• Update book database by relogging in EVERY title I own
• Cull duplicates and books I no longer want. Either donate or ship to bloggers who want them
• Re-organize bookshelves in the living room. I have three-two big bookcases and one narrow case. Currently the narrow bookcase is home to some hardcover collections and newer YA titles. One big bookcase is full of classics, as well as two and a half shelves on the other. And, with recent acquisitions, some of the shelves are being double-stacked...that needs to be fixed.

Blog Issues:

For the most part, I am happy with how things were running. I know I need to get back into the groove, so I am working on that. There is really only one thing that I think I need, and that is a single list of all the reviews I have written since starting my blog. I'm not sure how to organize it given my reviewing style, but I really think I need to get this done at some point. This one is a massive undertaking, but I want to make progress on it so I can launch it at the end of August....but it may take longer.


I'm perfectly okay with the fact that I may come off as crazy to all of you, but it works for me. :) I need organization and structure, and I will do what I must to achieve that.

But I do have something I need your help with...

I have been in a bit of a reading slump in regards to getting into books off my list. I have picked up a few things in last two weeks where I have read a couple pages, set it down, and moved on. And while I do have a few things I know I want to get to (Daisy Miller and To Kill a Mockingbird), I am at a loss as to what to read next. So yes, I am looking for recommendations. Here is a link to my Book List, which has my 250 on it, as well as my Books Finished list. Please recommend something for me, even if YOU haven't read it, and I will try to get to it!

THANK YOU!!

When History Comes Alive.

I had phenomenal history teachers when I was in middle school and high school. All of them were dedicated, passionate people who truly made each moment of history come alive for their students. And while English was certainly my favorite subject, history was a very close second.

Once I was in college, I realized that it wouldn't be that much more work to turn my history minor into another major, so I did. It was one of the smartest decisions I ever made and I am glad that I have that degree as well. My history background has helped me understand literature better. It has helped me understand the world in a way that I hadn't before. Yes, it was a great decision.

I am reminded again today of how glad I am that I can teach history. After the events of last night, I knew that today I would be able to have an important conversation with my history students. On Friday, one of my students asked me, "Why do we study history?"

I gave him my normal answer-that history teaches us where we have been. Knowing where we came from, and the events that have brought us to this moment, explains why things are the way they are. We learn history to know our past, our mistakes, and the things that have shaped the world around us. It teaches us to think critically and question decisions our leaders make. Most importantly, it teaches us to be grateful for what we have and who we are as people.

He didn't like that answer. He said, "I like you and your class, but history doesn't matter."

The events of the last 24 hours have proven him wrong. And I made sure that I got through to him.

Both of my history classes watched Obama's speech from last night. Many of them hadn't seen it, so they were enthralled. When it was over, we talked about Obama's phrasing, the way he broke the news to the nation. We talked about the fact that he said, "One nation, under God" and what that meant.

But mostly we talked about this moment in U.S. History. I showed them the images of the people cheering and gathering outside the White House and Ground Zero. We talked about what the death of Osama bin Laden truly meant to our nation as whole, and why people were cheering that a man had died, instead of remembering the people we lost on September 11.

They asked if I remembered where I was on September 11, as most of my students were only 5 or 6. They couldn't remember seeing footage of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center, of the anxiety of the nation. I told them I was a junior in high school at the time, and my computer teacher had turned on CNN to check his stocks. CNN was showing footage of the first tower, with smoke billowing from its top. We all stopped and listened as the anchors explained that a plane had somehow crashed into the tower when a second plane came from nowhere and hit the second tower.

I told them that there are moments in everyone's lifetime that you remember vividly. For me, one of those moments include September 11. That day is forever etched in my mind. That is why yesterday is so significant, why it changed history. While hate and anger may not be over, this is a step in the right direction. It is the end of an era. It is the end of questioning where that man is hiding, and when are we going to find him.

I wanted them all to know that we should be grateful for what we have and where our history has brought us. While many across the globe hate us for our freedom and diplomacy, we are who we are for a reason. The decisions that our government has made in the past brought us to this moment. We should not be cheering that a man is dead, but that our beliefs have held true. We should be cheering in remembrance of the people we lost that date, and knowing that as Obama said last night, "Justice has been done."

Yes, I am glad I made that decision in college, and I'm glad I was able to share my love of history with my students today.

History is very much alive, whether we want to see it or not.

College English Classes: Post 2-Literature from 1660-1800.

Last week, I started a new, short series of posts focusing on the reading lists for my college English classes at Michigan State. This whole idea began with a conversation I had with Eva on Twitter. In my first post, I talked about the first English class I took as an English major when I was in my second semester at school.

Going into my sophomore year, I had to take a few prerequisites as well as a few other "fun" English classes to get to my credit limit. One of the basic requirements was taking 3 of the 5 offered "310" classes. Each one of the 5 classes focused on a certain time limit and would cover a broad span of literature. The first one, 310A, was focused on all literature before 1660. Since my Intro to English class covered a lot of Ancient Greek pieces, I decided that 310A was not for me, and enrolled in 310B.

For some reason when I enrolled, there was only one section. There were multiple sections for the other class options, but one, lowly little time period for this class. But, I thought the time period sounded interesting and since I had to take three of the classes anyway, I figured this was the one for me!

Ha.

It turns out that like my professor for my Intro class, the professor for this class also had a nasty reputation. He was the second lowest in the ratings on the MSU teacher ranking site...second only to my Intro teacher. I had awesome luck, didn't I? His name was also scary-Professor Arch.

That first day of class, I was absolutely petrified. He was a tall skinny man with a hook-shaped nose. He stalked up and down the classroom while he talked and stared at everyone so intently. I was flipping out. When we went over the book list, he kept listing books he kept off the list since he had read them with his last class. I can remember those titles (they're written on my syllabus).

• Clarissa by Samuel Richardson
• Paradise Lost by Milton
• Tom Jones by Fielding

And I remember him saying, "Not to worry!" since we were going to read "fun" things too.

Buying books for his class also freaked me out. Many were big and heavy. And scary. And while I was an English major and had read a few classics, I hadn't even heard of most of the people we were reading. And at the time, I had no interest in reading them either.

We started off the semester reading Benjamin Franklin's 1726 Journal (focused on his trip to America), followed closely by his autobiography. Professor Arch was in love with Benjamin Franklin and taught both pieces every semester to this class without fail.

He even brought in his Benjamin Franklin action figure and acted out scenes with it.

I am not kidding.

After Franklin, we read through Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal. Both were my first exposure to satire, but I rather liked them.

We moved on to Alexander Pope's "Essay on Man." I honestly don't remember much about it, but I did find the paper I had to write on it. It is awful. No, I won't share any of it.

The longest part of the semester was focused on Samuel Johnson. The book we had of his work was the Oxford edition (still have mine) and contained all of his major works. We read some of his poetry, but focused on the periodicals he wrote, "The Rambler" and "The Idler." We also read Rasselas, his novel.

The only person Professor Arch loved more than Ben Franklin was Samuel Johnson, let me tell you.

After Johnson came Edmund Burke's A Philosophical Enquiry. It was the hardest thing I ever read and I still don't think I understand it.

We also read Immanuel Kant's "An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?" That is another piece that I can hardly remember! Perhaps it is time for a reread!

The last author we read was Eliza Haywood, and she was probably my favorite. We read Fantomina and Love Letters on All Occasions. She was a saucy writer for her day and I absolutely adored the material we read. She is definitely an author I want to return to.

The last couple weeks of class were spent discussing and presenting topics of interest in the time period to the class. My group's topic was archeology and we rocked our presentation (I found my power point on my computer-so glad I have better power point skills now).

At the time I took the class, I thought that Professor Arch was too hard and difficult. I struggled through his class and the readings. He gave pop quizzes and asked what I thought to be stupid and unimportant questions. I remember how the class reacted when the first question on the first quiz was, "What year was this published?" We all sat there thinking, "Can this guy be serious?" I know better now.

Quite honestly, I didn't have any interest in the material we were talking about in that class. I thought it was too much, but I plunged onward and kept trying. Looking back, I can remember some of the things very fondly. I still regard Swift as a favorite, and the things I learned about him this class helped me teach my seniors satire the last month. I also remember loving Eliza Haywood to the point where I read a few of her other pieces in the book we had that were not assigned.

I also remember rather liking Professor Arch through his scary exterior. He was simply a man who was very passionate about what he taught and the material. At times, he was even funny. He liked to pick on himself for being a nerd and always encouraged us to show our true nerdy selves.

But most of all, I owe Professor Arch for teaching me that learning about literature is not just dissecting the piece in front of you. It is about understanding the historical and culture context of each piece of writing. Knowing those things can help you dissect it. And, as you move forward in time, you can understand and appreciate the gains made based on what came before. I wish I would have realized the importance of this back then. I think my experience in that class would have been far better had I known how important that was. It took me a long time on my own to figure that out-and now this time period and some pieces from it are on my own project list, waiting to be loved. I wish I could take his class again, now, and see how much I gain this time. I bet you it is still a lot!

I'll leave you with some wisdom he said in one of our class periods (this is written at the top of one of my pages of notes and starred);

"Benjamin Franklin had high hopes for humanity. Remember, at all times, to make dear Benny proud."

College English Classes: Post 1-Intro to English.

I was talking with Eva the other night on Twitter (I believe it was Tuesday) when we got on the subject of the classes I took in college for my English degree and what books I read. It got me all excited, remembering when I discovered some of my favorite authors and the wonderful books I got to read.

Since I was double majoring, I did a lot of reading in college, for two reading intensive degrees (English and history). Both majors required TONS of reading, which I was all too happy to comply with. Granted, some things were more interesting than others. And since I was going into teaching, I also got to take some specialized classes in both majors that were a blast (like my young adult lit class).

So, I started thinking back to these old classes, the books I read, and the wonders I learned about. I felt it would make for interesting reflections now (7 years away from that freshman year in college). Perhaps you will get some suggestions from my old reading lists, or can give me more titles and writers to investigate in the future.


The first class I wanted to talk about in this first post was the Introduction to English course that every English major at Michigan State had to take. There was one course that was a prerequisite before this English class (it was a writing intensive class), but I tested out of it. So, the sole English course I took as a freshman in college was Intro to English.

I can remember buying the books before the semester started. We only had two texts, whereas all the other sections of this class had at least 6 or 7. A very big part of me was sad that I wasn't going to read more, and I was stuck with a measly two books. It was a sad beginning for an English major who loved to read.

The two texts we had for class were Homer's The Odyssey (translation by Robert Fagles) and the Norton Guide to Classical Literature. I still own both books and they are sitting on my shelves right this minute. :) My professor also gave us packets with other pieces and translations I'll mention in a minute.

The professor had the lowest ratings of any professor on MSU's teacher rating site. I was not impressed. He had this habit of clenching his teeth together at the end of every sentence and sucking in air through the corners of his mouth to make this loud "swishing-swooshing" sound as the air hit the spit in his mouth. It drove me absolutely insane.

But this professor knew his material. We started the semester discussing The Odyssey. We spent two class periods (4 hours), just talking about the opening stanza. We read at least five other translations before reading the one from our edition (Fagles);

“Sing to me man, Muse, the man of twists and turns
driven time and again off course, once he had plundered
the hallowed heights of Troy.
Many cities of men he saw and learned their minds,
many pains he suffered, heartsick on the open sea,
fighting to save his life and bring his comrades home.
But he could not save them from disaster, hard as he strove—
the recklessness of their own ways destroyed them all,
the blind fools, they devoured the cattle of the Sun
and the Sungod wiped from sight the day of their return.
Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
start from where you will-Sing for our time too.”

I fell a little bit in love with Homer after reading that intro-a love affair which has yet to stop. As we progressed forward through The Odyssey, we would spend so much time diving into the details of Homer's work-the imagery, the message, and the power of what he wrote. Never in any of my English classes had I felt that kind of passion and respect for a piece of writing. I loved it.

When we finally finished The Odyssey, we spent the rest of the semester reading other Greek pieces. From Norton, we read Antigone, Oedipus Rex, and bits of Sappho's poetry. I was so enthralled by Sappho that I purchased an edition of her poems and devoured it on my own time. He brought us other translations of these works to compare, as well as other bits and pieces from Greek tragedies. We also spent a "fun" class period discussing Greek myths and legends, which my professor waved off as "rubbish."

I should also note there was one class period that we read a bunch of Emily Dickinson poems. You see, my professor was related to her (he told us nearly every class period that he was), so this was a necessity. It had nothing to do with the rest of the class focus.

Where the other classes were reading about the beginnings of the novel, we were discussing the history of the oral tradition and where we had once been. It was an eye-opening class. At the time, I don't think I fully understood what he was trying to do. More than anything else, he was showing us the beginning, and where many things stemmed form. Those nights spent huddled over my copy of The Odyssey (which is battered and highlighted as a result of those nights) were to teach me how our stories were originally remembered. We didn't always write them down, but passed them along by word of mouth.

It was a powerful class and one I am glad to remember. Besides The Odyssey, the only other work I have revisited since then is that of Sappho. Both Oedipus Rex and Antigone are on my project list, but I haven't gotten to them yet. Soon!

You can also probably tell that The Odyssey is what inspired my own journey here. The name for this was inspired by one of my favorite books. I find so much inspiration in Homer's words,

"Launch out on his story, Muse, daughter of Zeus,
start from where you will-Sing for our time too."

When I started this whole thing, I was launching on my own odyssey with inspiration from the muses around me. In fact, that quote is on a paper I keep by my desk. In the moments when I feel like quitting (at anything), reading those words brings me back to my purpose here. And to think, I owe it all to the English professor who had the lowest ratings of his entire department! I wonder what he would say now if he knew?

So here are some questions for you, dear readers. If you were to teach an Intro to English course, which titles would you require your class to read and why? And if you have taken a course like this, what titles did you read? Dig deep and tell me! :)

If you all like this post, I have many other classes and reading lists to talk about (including a young adult lit class where we read 30 titles in a semester). Perhaps I can post one every other week until I run out? Let me know!

Weekly Wrap-up for January 16, 2011: School, Game On! Diet, Blog Changes, and Readalongs.

I am SO GLAD I don't have school tomorrow and get to enjoy another day off. Since I felt like last weekend went by so quickly, I am really trying to enjoy all the time I have this weekend to accomplish some things that need to get done (like taking down our Christmas decorations-we're a little behind).

This week will be a busy one in regards to work, even with it being a four day week. My seniors are writing satire narratives (how exciting will those be to grade? I am expecting awesomeness and I told them I wouldn't accept anything but). My U.S. History class is finishing discussions on the New Deal policies and taking a test on Friday. World Religions will be spending the week presenting their final projects. It will be a busy week in regards to grading, and prepping for next week, when they'll be taking their finals.

In the past few weeks, I have really picked up my goal to become a healthier, thinner person. I have been watching what I eat and working out at the gym with a personal trainer. It is going well so far and I have lost some weight. But it is a continuing battle and one that I feel like I am always going to struggle with. I hate being a "bigger" girl, and I didn't always used to be this way. I was a SKINNY little thing when I graduated high school, but bad habits in college and onward have caused me to gain quite a bit of extra jiggle in all the wrong places.

So when I was asked to join in on the "Game on! Diet" program with seven other bloggers, I immediately said yes. In two teams of four, we will be competing weekly in a battle of weight loss, getting rid of bad habits and starting new ones, and starting a new, healthier lifestyle. At the end of four weeks, the winning team members will each win giftcards to buy books with! It should be a blast and a great way to gain some motivation to start some new, healthy habits, while losing weight.

My team (also known as the winning team) is called Team Metamorphosis. The members are:

1. Me aka Allie :)
2. Amanda from The Zen Leaf
3. Christina from Reading Thru Nite
4. Trisha from Eclectic Eccentric
   

The other (losing) team is called Team Hunger Artists and has the following members:

1. Amy from My Friend Amy
2. Jason from Moored at Sea
   
3. Lu from Regular Rumination
   
4. Jenn from Picky Girl

Cheer us on as we struggle to get rid of some nasty habits and become healthier people. I am going to try and give up my Diet Coke, so if I am cranky, you know why.

I also wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who commented on my post about stress and balancing life. You all gave some great tips and were super supportive. I think that as I continue to get into a new schedule things will all work themselves back out. I just need to be better about my time management. After all, I am a much happier person when I am busy, and while pressed for time, I always seem to get more done.

In blogging news...

You may have noticed a few small changes on the blog. I know that am peaceful when things are the way I want and need them, and that includes the blog. The major change is that I changed the color scheme. I had originally changed it to the "world map" theme last year around this time and really loved the image (it goes with the name of my blog so well), but I wasn't always crazy about the brown. And since the template was from Blogger-I'm not tech savvy enough to make my own, but have an idea for when I eventually figure that out-I learned out to tweak the color scheme. The greens are much more soothing and fitting to who I am as a person. Perhaps that is insane, but I like it.

The other big change is that I am, for the time being, not writing any more "Thursday Treats" posts. When I began the feature, it was a way for me to talk about books that weren't classics, since I felt that was lacking. And while I still love all those non-classic books that is not the focus of my blog. I find that when I write those posts I have to drag the love for them out of me. Sometimes they are easy to write, but most of the time I have a hard time writing them. I really want to be able to focus on my project and what I am doing, so the "Thursday Treats" are gone for now.

In Readalong news...

You should have noticed a grand total of FOUR posts going up about readalongs this week. From this point forward, I have decided that never again will I host three at once. Two is more than enough. So please, no more ties when you are voting! ;) Here are the links to the posts if you missed them (or need to still give me the link to your thoughts on one of the books). REMEMBER, if you participate in a readalong and complete it, I have something to send you in the mail! Yes! Extrinsic motivation to join in!

1. War and Peace Post 1 on Volume 1
2. Rebecca Post 1 on Chapters 1-15
3. The Woman in White Post 1 on the First Half (300 pages or so)
4. Oliver Twist Readalong Sign-ups and GIVEAWAY (only a few more hours to enter!)

So go read some of the awesome discussions we're having about these amazing books!

And because I saw it last night and really wanted to join in, I am going to be participating in Whitney's Jane Eyre readalong starting in March (I seem to have an obsession with readalongs-can you tell?). If you are interested in joining, go sign up!

And in reading news...

My reading has been primarily focused on the readalongs I have scheduled. But now with Rebecca done, The Woman in White nearly completion, and War and Peace having a post scheduled two weeks from now, I feel like I can finally dive into a book from one of my challenges. I am eying both Ceremony by Leslie Marmom Silko for Adam's TBR Challenge, or a Shakespeare play for my Shakespeare challenge (I also got that pile of plays for Christmas, so they are calling to me). We'll see how it goes, since I want to finish Collins before starting anything else.

I also need to read Lysistrata for my Greek Classics Circuit post coming up on the 4th, so that might get priority.

Expect to see posts this week on Emma and The Awakening. Both are excellent novels if you haven't read them.

What are your reading plans for this week? Let me know!

Happy Reading!

A Balancing Act.

Since returning to school full time last week, I have been managing a balancing act with all of my responsibilities and hobbies. A large part of me is grumpy, since I now have less free time to get all of those little things done that I so want to do.

I know that things will begin to settle down into a routine. I am making sure that I am being as productive as possible while I am at school, so I don't have to bring work home with me. In my last long-term sub job, I lived at school. Since I had an hour and fifteen minute drive each way, I was up by 4:45 and out the door an hour later to be at school by 7. Many, many days I was at school until at least 5 before beginning the long drive home. And at least once a week I was at school even longer (I think the latest I ever stayed was 7:30). I was always working. I brought things home with me every night and would marathon prep and grade on weekends. I will say that there were some other....circumstances surrounding the job that made me into such a workaholic.

It wasn't good for me in many ways. There were many school nights where Matt would come over to see me and I would beg him to help me. And of course, I would pass out as soon as we settled down to watch TV.

I am taking all kinds of precautions to make sure this doesn't happen again. I know that running myself ragged did not make me a better teacher, or a better person. I was stressed, exhausted, and insane.

So far, I have managed a good balance. It helps that hardly any of the teachers stay more than 15 minutes past the last bell. That encourages me to come home (which is a 5 minute drive away). And I have been much better about getting as much done at school as possible.

I feel like I am handling those responsibilities well. I'm not freaking out. In fact, I feel confident that I am doing a good job and maintaining that balance.

The problem begins once I get home from school. Perhaps it is just my body adjusting, but I am exhausted by the time I get home. I don't want to do anything, and I especially don't want to take care of the many things I need to around the apartment. I have been making a conscious effort to do "fifteen-minute" clean ups around the apartment, where I set the timer and go crazy for 15 minutes so rooms get picked up and maintained.

However, I still lack motivation to read and blog. Again, this might be my body adjusting to being on a "normal" schedule, but I don't always feel like reading when I come home from a long day of hammering knowledge into my students' heads.

So here are my questions for my fellow bloggers. How do you find a balance between your real-life responsibilities and the things you want to do? Do you have any other tricks or tips for me? I would appreciate any advice you have, from cleaning, to blogging, to cooking, to writing entries, and to keeping yourself sane in a busy world!

Thank you all!

Weekly Wrap-up for December 27, 2010: Holidays, Anniversary, and BOOK LOOT!

I love the holiday season. I love seeing my extended family members. While most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins live in the metro-Detroit area, we usually only get together once or twice a year. Christmas is always one of those times. Both of my parents are one of six kids, so I have a lot of aunts, uncles, and cousins to visit with. :)

Christmas Eve was spent with my dad's side of the family. We all pick names and purchase a gift for the name we drew. My aunt had my name and bought me two more sets of our dishes since they are being discontinued! I was really excited and they are already washed and in the cupboard.

Its always a fun time and there were a lot of laughs this year. Last year, my aunt and uncle (who were hosting this year) adopted twin boys from Russia. They had no idea what was going on last year, so it was fun to see them all excited this year. The highlight was when they opened Star Wars themed guns and were chasing each other around with their storm trooper helmets on. Quite funny, let me tell you.

Christmas morning was spent with my immediate family, where Matt and I got SPOILED. Everyone else did too. My parents are always extremely generous and since all of us kids exchange gifts as well, there were large piles of beautifully wrapped packages waiting for all of us. Besides the books which I'll talk about in a minute, I got Seasons 1-10 of Friends, a Le Crueset Canister set for our kitchen, a Le Crueset crock for all of those bulky kitchen utensils, new salt and pepper shakers, a tart dish, some jewelry, a second set of sheets for our bed (yay for new sheets!), and a bunch of wonderful little items that have already been put away. After gifts we ate a big breakfast and talked before Matt and I headed over to his parents for lunch and more gifts.

At Matt's house we arrived just in time for the big gift giving extravaganza. We only exchange with his parents, but I don't think our 6 nieces and nephews minded. They were opening gifts left and right from their grandma and grandpa! I got to hold the baby (she's about 9 months or so), so that was wonderfully fun. :) Matt's parents got me a subscription to Paula Deen's magazine (I LOVE Paula. I would adopt her if I could) as well as a beautiful necklace. Then we ate, again, and stayed to chat for a few hours before heading home to check on the kitties and empty our full Jeep.

We headed back to my parents for gifts with my mom's side, where we do a one gift exchange as well. My uncle got me an IKEA gift card, which is perfect as I need a new desk. We sold Matt's HUGE one when we moved and he took mine, which was big. I'm getting a smaller one, but the gift card will be wonderful. We're also going to get some wall shelves for around the apartment, so yay for IKEA. We ate again (I was about to burst by this point), before pigging out on my delish apple pie and banana splits and cookies. I was good and only had a scoop of frozen yogurt, since I have been watching what I am eating, but it was wonderful.

After that, we headed home and I unpacked a few things before calling it a night and passing out for 12 hours.

Sunday was spent cleaning and unpacking while Matt was at work. When he got home we got cleaned up and went out for an AMAZING dinner to celebrate our anniversary. We had the most delicious calimari and I had a shrimp dish (YUM). It was low key and wonderful, just like what I wanted. It is hard to believe that we've been married for a whole year already, but I am excited to be moving forward together in 2011. If you feel like reading some sappiness, I wrote a post yesterday for Matt. It is cheesy. :)

Now on to the good stuff, BOOK LOOT!

I made out like a bandit this year and got a good deal of books, much to my brothers' disgust. They told me, after moving us in here, that they never want to move my books again. :) Well, now I have a big chunk of new titles to shelve and figure out where to put. My classics shelf is bursting, so I might need to clear some space on my other shelves.

I should point out ahead of time that I had to take this on my phone, since the cord for our camera is packed in one of Matt's boxes and I don't feel like digging around for it.

From top to bottom:
Kim by Rudyard Kipling
Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
NOT PICTURED:
Pegasus by Robin McKinley
Halt's Peril by John Flanagan

This stack is actually of some recent acquisitions. I figured I would throw it in here for kicks. :) I picked up The Painted Veil by Maugham after a conversation with Amanda at The Zen Leaf about his work. I had to replace a title on my list and figured a novel by Maugham would be a great fit (the work I replaced was "The Dead" by James Joyce, since it is included in The Dubliners which I also have to read. No sense in reading it twice). I already read it (I was excited about it), and it was EXCELLENT. I have also read Pegasus already and my post went up sometime last week. The book by Flanagan is another book Matt picked up for me recently and is the ninth book in the Ranger's Apprentice series. I love that series and needed this one in hardcover to match. :)

Kim, Moby Dick and Nicholas Nickleby are all on my list and since I was given a gift card, I picked them up on a trip to the bookstore. Moby Dick failed to win in a readalong poll, but I am still planning on reading it this year and soon.

From left to right and top to bottom:
Big coffee/tea mug
bookmark
Vanilla Caramel Tea
Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Eygyptian Mint Green Tea

This is all of the loot I received from the Book Blogger Holiday Swap! My package came a while ago and I opened it then, but because of the camera situation, I am just now getting a picture up. I was so incredibly excited for all of these goodies and my Santa was super thoughtful and generous! And I have to say that the vanilla caramel tea is delicious. Thank you!

From top to bottom and left to right:
"Richard III" by William Shakespeare
"As You Like It" by William Shakespeare
"Antony and Cleopatra" by William Shakespeare
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare
"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare
The Iliad by Homer (Robert Fagles Translation)
The Inferno by Dante
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
A Christmas Carol and other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Sonnets and A Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare
NOT PICTURED:
a renewal of my subscription to Bookmarks magazine!

All of these lovelies I opened on Christmas morning! My sister was responsible for the pile of Shakespeare wonderfulness and the Homer. I was really excited for the Shakespeare since I am planning on reading a good chunk of his plays this year to get them out of the way. :) I love both sets of these editions, and this is a great pile to choose from. So many wonderful plays!

The pile on the right was from my parents, and yes, those are the beautiful Penguin cloth bound editions that I am in love with. I just love these editions and I know that I talk about them often, but look at how pretty! I am excited to get these on the shelf next to their brothers and sisters. Now I have all of the released titles and just have to wait till April for the next four to come out (Middlemarch, Dracula, A Tale of Two Cities, and Gulliver's Travels). I have a book problem, did you know that?

My parents also resubscribed me to Bookmarks magazine, which I have been getting for the past year. I am so excited for the next edition to come into my hands. :)

Well, that was my book loot from Christmas. I hope you got some books as well!

Happy Reading everyone!