Because our small Christian school has a basketball homecoming instead of a football one, today is the big day! This is the first year that I have two females to chivvy around. This is K's senior year, and S's freshman year, so there is a big difference in preparedness. We've gotten the dresses, the shoes, done the nails, done the hair... whew... almost there. Every year, I have made custom jewelry for K to match her dress. This year I splurged on Swarovski crystals. Her dress is baby blue and black, with rhinestones, so I used blue crystals set in silver stars, black matte seed beads, clear glass silver-lined beads, and sterling silver beads. Quite lovely, really. S didn't want me to make her any jewelry, so she got a silver heart on a chain. I had to resew S's straps to make her dress modest enough, which is pretty normal around here.
I haven't read as much lately, what with everything, but I did read Robin McKinley's Sunshine.
She has revamped several fairy tales into modern retellings, and K has read many of them and likes them. This one is your typical monster-with-the-heart-of-gold tale, except centered around a dark, silent, brooding vamp. The story is okay, but, I must confess, the Grammarnazi in me was having a hissy. I noticed problems much more in the beginning of the book -- whether the writing got better or I stopped noticing issues I don't know. But in the beginning, I struggled through quite a few monster sentences with parentheses and dashes aplenty, so much so that I had to go back to the beginning to unravel what was going on. That's pretty bad when I'm used to straightening out the snarled thoughts of junior high students. But I'm always asking D if I can correct people's signage -- APOSTROPHES DO NOT MAKE THINGS PLURAL!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry...my personal pet peeve.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Christmas Adam
One book I forgot to blog about is A Family Christmas, an anthology by Caroline Kennedy. This is an excellent collection (complete with a satin ribbon to keep your place) with all kinds of entries, from a letter from Groucho Marx to a sermon by Cotton Mather. I usually shy away from Christmas story collections, much as I love Christmas, as they usually are the most sickly sweet stuff, on the level of the Chicken Soup books. This, however, is historical and informative -- I bought one for my mother-in-law, and would have bought one for my mom if she could still see enough to read.
I devoured this Christmas Adam evening (December 23) when our family opened our gifts. Because my family had always opened gifts on Christmas Eve (being that my b-day is Christmas Day), when I married D, it worked out fine because his family had always opened gifts on Christmas Day. And we are blessed, because both of our families live within 10 minutes of our house! How great is that?! However, once our kids started getting older, we wanted to have our own day to celebrate. So we open our gifts on Christmas Adam. Why Adam, you ask? Because Adam was created before Eve. Get it? Adam...then Eve....Christmas Eve........... And that look on your face was the same one our kids' teachers had when they went to school and shared our little holiday with the world.
I devoured this Christmas Adam evening (December 23) when our family opened our gifts. Because my family had always opened gifts on Christmas Eve (being that my b-day is Christmas Day), when I married D, it worked out fine because his family had always opened gifts on Christmas Day. And we are blessed, because both of our families live within 10 minutes of our house! How great is that?! However, once our kids started getting older, we wanted to have our own day to celebrate. So we open our gifts on Christmas Adam. Why Adam, you ask? Because Adam was created before Eve. Get it? Adam...then Eve....Christmas Eve........... And that look on your face was the same one our kids' teachers had when they went to school and shared our little holiday with the world.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Turtledove Love
As I mentioned before, this summer I finished Harry Turtledove's massive 11-volume The Great War series. He is the king of alternate history, and this series postulates that the South won the Civil War (or the War between the States, as my redneck relatives call it) with the help of France and England, who actually were considering weighing in on the South's side in real time. Leading out from that is a very interesting set of novels that question what political alliances/technology advances/governments would naturally procede from that new situation. The United States (the North) becomes allies with Germany, which when World War I comes around, creates a battlefront across the entire North American continent in two places, as the US is attacked by the Confederate States and Canada. Turtledove even creates a Hitleresque figure in the South that hates blacks as much as his real time figure hated Jews. With the help of a few embittered compatriots, he even devises "concentration camps" for them, and nearly wipes out the black population of the South.
All of that to say that I am re-reading another of his series, The Worldwar Saga. This begins in the middle of WWII, and asks the question, if the nations of earth at that point were faced with an outside enemy, would they be able to lay aside their differences and put fighting for the survival of the human race above their political ideals?
These books are not for the casual reader -- they will be lost in a sea of characters and details. But if you could keep track of where Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Aragon were in The Two Towers, dig in with relish. Real people and circumstances are sprinkled throughout these series like happy surprises. I have finished Worldwar: In the Balance, Worldwar: Tilting the Balance, and am halfway through Worldwar: Upsetting the Balance. And on a cheer for the home team, Decatur, IL is mentioned again and again as one character had been a minor league player for the Decatur Commodores! Yay for the midwest!
All of that to say that I am re-reading another of his series, The Worldwar Saga. This begins in the middle of WWII, and asks the question, if the nations of earth at that point were faced with an outside enemy, would they be able to lay aside their differences and put fighting for the survival of the human race above their political ideals?
These books are not for the casual reader -- they will be lost in a sea of characters and details. But if you could keep track of where Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Aragon were in The Two Towers, dig in with relish. Real people and circumstances are sprinkled throughout these series like happy surprises. I have finished Worldwar: In the Balance, Worldwar: Tilting the Balance, and am halfway through Worldwar: Upsetting the Balance. And on a cheer for the home team, Decatur, IL is mentioned again and again as one character had been a minor league player for the Decatur Commodores! Yay for the midwest!
Monday, January 7, 2008
How many will this be?
Next on the agenda is Joe Abercrombie's The Blade Itself, which is subtitled The First Law: Book One. Ever since I tried to slog through Terry Goodkind's endless ramblings, I wince at "first" books and wonder how many more are in the series. This one is off to a good start, though -- a really interesting merc, Ninefingers, and a lot of other characters are drawn together by the end of this volume under the guidance of Bayaz, a seemingly ageless Magi, to save the world, of course. Most of his team don't like each other or trust the Magi, so we're in for a long trip. To the Edge of the World, to be precise. I will be on the lookout for the next in the series.
Today was the first day back in regular classes, and as usual, everyone seems to have forgotten whatever we were studying back in December. Sixth grade is supposedly studying atoms and elements, so I told them a joke. Two atoms are walking down the street when one suddenly says, "I just lost an electron!"
The other one says, "Are you sure?"
The first one replies, "I'm positive!"
If you don't get this, ask your local science teacher.
Today was the first day back in regular classes, and as usual, everyone seems to have forgotten whatever we were studying back in December. Sixth grade is supposedly studying atoms and elements, so I told them a joke. Two atoms are walking down the street when one suddenly says, "I just lost an electron!"
The other one says, "Are you sure?"
The first one replies, "I'm positive!"
If you don't get this, ask your local science teacher.
More Books....
To continue with the book deliciousness, I received Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. This is a very unusual book, detailing the story of Jacob Jankowski's life. It is told in flashbacks between his present (he's 90 or 93, he doesn't remember which) and his past (college age). I usually don't like "flashback" books because it tends to break you out of the flow of the story, but this was done very well. After the death of his parents in a car wreck, he wanders away from vet college, and ends up on a circus train, first helping to clean out animals, then when his vet knowledge is discovered, caring for the animals. There is one or two scenes that were not necessary in my opinion as far as sexuality goes, but he discovers the loves of his life: circus and Marlena. He struggles against against a psychopathic manager who beats his wife and any animal who crosses him. I won't tell you the ending, but it was a very satisfying twist.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
New Year!!
Well, one of my new year's resolutions is to blog much more frequently! I'm also reading the Bible through in one year, along with my husband. And thank you, Elise, I'm going to drink my water!!
I received a totally clean report from my PET scan -- I am "clinically in remission", praise God! I want to get my body back in shape, and my house back in shape, warp up my loom and weave again,get my jewelry business back to where it was before the cancer/my entire inventory was stolen.
The best Christmas presents are books, and I hit the motherlode. I promise to blog all the books I read this year. First of all I read Terry Pratchett's Nanny Ogg's Cookbook. If you've read any of his work, especially Wyrd Sisters, you need this book. I have been married 20 years, and I don't know I've survived without recipes for Spicy Spotted Dick and Strawberry Wobbler. It's an absolute hoot!
On the other end of the spectrum is Death's Acre by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bass was the creator of the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee, where they leave donated bodies out to decompose in order to study the changes in the bodies, and they pioneered forensic entomology, the study of the time frame of flies and beetles coming to bodies/laying eggs, etc. Fascinating work, although I caught my husband looking at my strangely as I was probing my neck, feeling my hyoid bone, or placing a pencil straight down under my nose to determine whether my teeth protrude farther than my chin. It was only 287 pages, and I would have gladly devoured 600 more.
I received a totally clean report from my PET scan -- I am "clinically in remission", praise God! I want to get my body back in shape, and my house back in shape, warp up my loom and weave again,get my jewelry business back to where it was before the cancer/my entire inventory was stolen.
The best Christmas presents are books, and I hit the motherlode. I promise to blog all the books I read this year. First of all I read Terry Pratchett's Nanny Ogg's Cookbook. If you've read any of his work, especially Wyrd Sisters, you need this book. I have been married 20 years, and I don't know I've survived without recipes for Spicy Spotted Dick and Strawberry Wobbler. It's an absolute hoot!
On the other end of the spectrum is Death's Acre by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bass was the creator of the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee, where they leave donated bodies out to decompose in order to study the changes in the bodies, and they pioneered forensic entomology, the study of the time frame of flies and beetles coming to bodies/laying eggs, etc. Fascinating work, although I caught my husband looking at my strangely as I was probing my neck, feeling my hyoid bone, or placing a pencil straight down under my nose to determine whether my teeth protrude farther than my chin. It was only 287 pages, and I would have gladly devoured 600 more.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Post-Thanksgiving Post
1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.
Justin, my dd K's boyfriend
2.What were you doing at 0800?
Rolling out of bed to take K to work and go shopping
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Starting supper -- chicken
4. What happened to you in 2007?
Lots -- had my first craft show, got robbed of all my stock, got cancer, had chemo, am in remission, getting HAIR!!!!!
5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
“I've seen it a million times" to my husband, who was sniggering over a commercial.
6. How many beverages did you have today?
One chocolate milk and one cranberry juice
7. What color is your hairbrush?
My hair is half an inch long. I have no hairbrush.
8. What was the last thing you paid for?
Groceries at Wal-mart
9. Where were you last night?
Home. Putting up the Christmas stuff.
10 What color is your front door?
Wood color
11. Where do you keep your change?
In my purse. The kids usually steal it for lunch money.
12.What’s the weather like today?
Sunny,windy,but cold
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Anything chocolate -- but no nuts
14. What excites you?
New books!!!!!!!!!
15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Are you kidding?????????
16. Are you over the age of 25?
25? That was a lifetime ago.
17. Do you talk a lot?
Yes -- at school. Not so much at home.
19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
Yes. He is a wild driver.
20. Do you make up your own words?
Yes -- and I'm an English teacher, which is scary.
21. Are you a jealous person?
No.
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter “A.”
Amy -- we teach together, and people used to say we looked alike, before my hair fell out and my face got round from the prednisone.
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter “K.”
Kay -- my sister-in-law, very funny and laid back
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
Tiffany W. -- my son's best friend's mom
25. What does the last text message you received say?
No idea...probably K saying she needed a ride home from work
26. Do you chew on your straw?
No...ick
27. Do you have curly hair?
I don't want to talk about it.
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Church tomorrow morning
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
I can't think of anyone I associate with whom I would classify as 'rude'.
30. What was the last thing you ate?
stuffed baked potatoes
31. Will you get married in the future?
I've already done that.
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
Live Free, Die Hard
33. Is there anyone you like right now?
Pretty much everybody
36. Did you cry today?
No
37. Why did you answer and post this?
Because I have a sick fascination with this random meme things. I need help.
38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey.
Feel free to feel tagged!
Justin, my dd K's boyfriend
2.What were you doing at 0800?
Rolling out of bed to take K to work and go shopping
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Starting supper -- chicken
4. What happened to you in 2007?
Lots -- had my first craft show, got robbed of all my stock, got cancer, had chemo, am in remission, getting HAIR!!!!!
5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
“I've seen it a million times" to my husband, who was sniggering over a commercial.
6. How many beverages did you have today?
One chocolate milk and one cranberry juice
7. What color is your hairbrush?
My hair is half an inch long. I have no hairbrush.
8. What was the last thing you paid for?
Groceries at Wal-mart
9. Where were you last night?
Home. Putting up the Christmas stuff.
10 What color is your front door?
Wood color
11. Where do you keep your change?
In my purse. The kids usually steal it for lunch money.
12.What’s the weather like today?
Sunny,windy,but cold
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Anything chocolate -- but no nuts
14. What excites you?
New books!!!!!!!!!
15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Are you kidding?????????
16. Are you over the age of 25?
25? That was a lifetime ago.
17. Do you talk a lot?
Yes -- at school. Not so much at home.
19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
Yes. He is a wild driver.
20. Do you make up your own words?
Yes -- and I'm an English teacher, which is scary.
21. Are you a jealous person?
No.
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter “A.”
Amy -- we teach together, and people used to say we looked alike, before my hair fell out and my face got round from the prednisone.
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter “K.”
Kay -- my sister-in-law, very funny and laid back
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
Tiffany W. -- my son's best friend's mom
25. What does the last text message you received say?
No idea...probably K saying she needed a ride home from work
26. Do you chew on your straw?
No...ick
27. Do you have curly hair?
I don't want to talk about it.
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Church tomorrow morning
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
I can't think of anyone I associate with whom I would classify as 'rude'.
30. What was the last thing you ate?
stuffed baked potatoes
31. Will you get married in the future?
I've already done that.
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
Live Free, Die Hard
33. Is there anyone you like right now?
Pretty much everybody
36. Did you cry today?
No
37. Why did you answer and post this?
Because I have a sick fascination with this random meme things. I need help.
38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey.
Feel free to feel tagged!
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