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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

New 30 Day Blog Challenge

I may be insane to attempt this during one of the busiest months of the year, but here goes! I will begin tomorrow!


(http://www.thewriterchic.com/2011/05/30-day-blog-challenge.html)

Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday, Monday

You are my least favorite day of the week, especially after a 5-day weekend.  The best part of Monday is Zumba in the evening.  I am so ready to work off my holiday eating!  The weather is supposed to be warm this week so I hope we can get the dogs out for a few walks.  I need to get back on track with my weight.  I am getting an inner tube around my waist, and that just cannot happen.  I think I may need to re-join Sparkpeople.com as it really helped last time.  The holidays are not the time of year to watch what I eat, but I know that I am already heavier than I want to be, and the season is just beginning.  It is better to get it under control for 3-4 weeks, then Christmas won't seem too bad since I will have been "good" for a while. Ugh!

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Our Tree is Up!

I love decorating the house for Christmas. Dave likes it much less :-) We put the tree up yesterday and decorated it this morning.  I also fixed up the mantle with our stockings.  I get such a kick out of our fireplace (which has never been used by us), but it looks great at Christmas-time. I have some gifts wrapped and placed under the tree and the Nativity is set up in the bay window.  I look forward to a time when our child "helps" put up the tree.  Christmas is a magical time, and who couldn't use a little magic? ;-)


Thursday, November 24, 2011

100!

In 2009, I tried to get a list of 100 things that I was thankful for, and I could only come up with 60.  Well, this morning, I reached 100!

They are: Dave, Mattie, Fen, my parents, my grandparents, the JKs, Amanda, my in laws (all 12 of them), Beth, John and Jenn, Rebecca, Alicia, Julie, God, Trinity UMC, my growing faith, our home, heat, food, water, clothing, freedom, our work, sleep, friends, our marriage, our health, cable, phone, memories, coffee, writing, books, camera, Scrabble, camping, my team at work, Zumba, optimism, Modern Family, inky pens, G. Wilikers, FIA, hope, love, happiness, goodies, The Nest, blogging, the farmer's market, Etsy.com, Amazon, Moreau Lake, Congress Park, anticipation, my rings, the Christmas season, pumpkin flavor, my students, good quotes, rainbows, rain, the ocean, football, chili, wine, out Christmas tree, snow days, Pandora, snail mail, a happy childhood, cuddling, roses, all 5 senses, education, life, adoption, our future birth parents, my journal, fun, steak, calculators, candles, doggie fun, having all that we need, God's love and faithfulness, the nursery that is ever a work in progress, the Wear Sunscreen song, country music, all 4 seasons, Maine, NC, Boston, romance, trust, the love of Mattie and Fen, and spending my life with the perfect man for me! <3

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sisters

There are no words that can sum up the relationship I have with my two sisters.  They are my life, my best friends, and the source of many laugh till you cry moments.


Monday, November 21, 2011

Living on Love Songs

For Dave, a man that I am most grateful for.  Sometimes, a song just says it best.

"This could be one of those memories
We wanna hold on to, cling to, the one we can't forget
Baby this could be our last first kiss, the door to forever
What if this was that moment, that chance worth taking?
History in the making"
~Darius Rucker


"I got someone who loves me more than words can say
And I'm thankful for that each and every day
And if I count all my blessings, I get a smile on my face
Still it's hard to find faith
But if you can look in my eyes
And tell me we'll be alright
If you promise never to leave
You just might make me believe"

~Sugarland, one of our first concerts together


"I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps
Me satisfied. Someone exactly
Like you."

~Van Morrison, our wedding song


"You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.
You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.
And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything."
~Michael Buble, from the night we were engaged

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

25 in 2011

I thought it would be fun to rank the 25 books I have read so far this year. It is mid-November, and I am onto book #25. I have decided to finish my year with a Hunger Games Trilogy re-read. I am definitely going to increase my goal for next year since I finished 45 days early this year.

2011: A Year in Books

1. Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
2. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
3. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
If you had told me that this series would be my Top 3 of 2011, I would not have believed you.  I am so looking forward to re-reading this series and falling for Katniss all over again. 


4. Winter Garden, Kristen Hannah
I loved this book because, for some reason, I connected it with Nan.  Many of the events in the story really reminded me of how I think her life was growing up.  I loved the Russian aspect as well as the conflict the narrator was constantly engaged in.

5. Last Summer of You and Me, Ann Brashares
This book was given to me by a co-worker, and I did not expect to connect so deeply with the characters. The two sisters in the story were quite different from my sisters and I, but I understood the relationship so well.  There were some unexpected twists that kept this from being just another piece of chick lit.

6. The Apothecary's Daughter, Julie Klassen
This was another book that I did not expect to fall in love with, but I did.  I was quickly swept into the old world of 19th century England where Lillian lives two lives--one as an apothecary's daughter and one as a lady in waiting in London.  While the books was VERY long, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

7. Sh*t My Dad Says, Justin Halpern
This was hands down the funniest book I've ever read.  I actually cried from laughter several times.  While it is low on literary value, it is 110% enjoyable.

8. Best Friends Forever, Jennifer Weiner
This is a story that I have read before (Summer Sisters/Firefly Lane), but still really liked.  I love stories of friendships that span the lives of the characters and all of the challenges that come with growing up.

9. Goodbye Janette, Harold Robbins
This book was bizarre.  I loved the fashion aspect of the book, but the sex was really taboo.  The characters were ones that you loved to hate, and that definitely added to the book.  I selected this one as part of a book challenge where the task was to read a best seller from the year of my birth.  I did not realize upon selecting it that it was classified as erotic fiction. Oops.

10. Driving with Dead People, Monica Halloway
This book wins the award for the darkest book I read this year.  It is a memoir, which makes it more horrifying. Monica is still very much on my mind and I suspect that she will be for some time.  It deals with sexual abuse, suicide, and a mortuary, and yet she still manages to tell a good story.  The book is not all depressing, but the bright moments are surely overshadowed with the author's lifetime of abuse and tragedy.

11. As the Twig is Bent, Joe Perrone, Jr.
I read this mystery book in one day.  It had mystery and intrigue; it was a perfect book to read during the hurricane we experienced this summer.  It was just scary enough and the culprit was not obvious.   

12. Clara and Mr. Tiffany, Susan Vreeland
This book was a bit of a letdown.  I love all things Tiffany, but this book was just too long.  There were times when the plot really seemed to be going nowhere, and it was dull.  I loved learning about the history of Tiffany and Co. when they were about art and lamps.  There were issues raised about women's rights during the early 20th century, and I found that to really add to the plot.

13. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, James Ford
This book straddled two time periods--modern day and WWII.  The story of a Chinese boy who falls in love with a Japanese girl during WWII, and whose life is never the same.  I was startled at the racism between the Chinese and the Japanese, but overall I enjoyed the book.  

14. 12-Gauge Guardian, BJ Daniels
B.J. Daniels is one of my guilty pleasure authors.  There is just a certain something about mysteries that happen at a ranch with cowboys.  Enough said. 

15. Wishin and Hopin, Wally Lamb
Wally Lamb is one of my favorite authors.  This book was pretty different from his others in that it was funny and cute.  It was 100% light-hearted.  It was not one of his best books, but I liked it.

16. Stampeded, B.J. Daniels
See above :-)

17. An Abundance of Katherines, John Green
I selected this book based on the title.  It was cute, for a young adult book.  At times, I wanted it to be over because it was filled with teen angst.  It was pretty cliche and filled with math...not my cup of tea.

18. Closed for the Season, Mary Downing Hahn
This is another YA book.  I like Mary Downing Hahn's other book Wait Till Helen Comes as it was pretty scary.  This one wasn't as scary, but I had to read it because one of my students loaned me the book.  It was a quick read.

19. You Better Not Cry, Augusten Burroughs
Augusten Burroughs is my favorite author.  I would seriously LOVE to meet him someday.  This book was not one of my favorites.  I love all of his work, but this one and Sellivision just really fell short.  He is such a talented writer, and this book of short vignettes just lacked the usual Augusten pizzazz.  

20. The Long Run, Mishka Shubaly
Technically, I should not review this book yet as I am only halfway finished with it. I can say that the plot is interesting, but the writing style is very basic.  

21. Impetuous, Lori Foster
This book is in the same category as the B.J. Daniels books.  It was a light read with a forbidden romance, but not much plot to speak of.  

22. Queen of Babble, Meg Cabot
I really disliked this book.  I found the narrator to be annoying as heck.  She was whiny and needy. WARNING: Don't waste your time on this one.

23. Shine, Lauren Myracle
This book was a freebie from Amazon, and it was just so-so.  The story line was really interesting, but the writing really lacked that certain something.  My goal was not to abandon any books this year, but I wanted to with this one.

24. Room, Emma Donaghue
I pre-ordered this book, and I anxiously awaited its arrival.  What a let down.  This book has VERY little action, but is heavy with emotional description.  The author successfully narrates the story from the perspective of 5-year old Jack, but the story was not that riveting.  

25. Go Ask Alice, Anonymous
This book was awful.  The ending was abrupt, and the story felt very unrealistic.  The English teacher I replaced used to teach this book so I decided to give it a try.  Not only would I never teach this book, I would never recommend it to anyone.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Teach the children well


altruism (ˈæltruːˌɪzəm) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
n
1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for the welfare ofothers
2. the philosophical doctrine that right action is that whichproduces the greatest benefit to others

One of the best parts about teaching is getting the kids involved in activities that foster a sense of responsibility for our fellow humans.  Being that they are in junior high and developmentally deep in the ego phase, I think it is vital to expose them to some "do-gooding."  It can be so easy to get caught up in our own lives that we can neglect others who may be in need.  Two years ago, we collected money for the Make A Wish Foundation.  Those 7th graders are now in 9th grade, and are hopefully going to help me sell Angels for the same cause.  I plan to get the 7th grade to spear-head this along with the Junior Honor Society.  The Angels only cost $1, and I think it is a great way to spread some holiday cheer to children who so desperately need it.  In these times of self-absorbtion, it is good to give back.  I want to make someone's wish come true, and I want my students to have a hand in that.  There is no greater love than showing concern for one another.  

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Truth is stranger than fiction

If you could live the life of any character in fiction, whom would you choose & why?

This may sound insane, but I choose Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.  She is a character who was faced with countless impossible decisions, and yet she came out on top. I admire her strength, her insight, and her ability to stay 100% true to herself.  She is brave and kind albeit in a quirky way.  She knows what needs to be done and will do whatever it takes.  While she has suffered tremendous losses, she is stronger for those losses.  She found true love in spite of the odds being stacked against her.  She is cunning and clever in ways I could never be.  She is a survivor. 

In doing a bit of research on her character, she has been dubbed the modern-day Theseus.  For all you non-mythological people, Theseus battled the Minotaur along with 13 others and was the victor.  The slaying of the Minotaur put to rest the terror of many, as did Katniss' saving her people from the Capitol.  

One of the most gut-wrenching parts of the series was watching Katniss and Peeta.  He has loved her for years, and she is unaware and not interested.  Well, at least not at first.  She does come around by then end, and a sweeter ending I've never read.

See:

Monday, November 7, 2011

Clean Slate

If your life was a clean slate, and you could do anything you wanted, go anywhere you wanted, have any career you wanted, what would you do differently, if anything, and why?


Hmmm, this is a tough one since I believe that our lives happen as they should.  Barring that, what would I do differently?


I love teaching, but part of me would like to be a lady of leisure and have the money and freedom to pursue my hobbies.  I would like to spend my days in coffee shops reading and writing. I would take classes at a local college just because I am interested in the topic. I would become fluent in Spanish as it is a language I love and often wish I knew more of.  I would read at story time at the local library.  I think whatever I would do instead of teaching would have to involve kids and books. So I guess I am a teacher at my core.  


I would want to live by the beach in a small and unassuming cottage.  Maybe I would split my time between the cottage and an apartment in Boston or Paris.  I would like to not own a house with a lot of land and square footage.  I would like just enough space for Dave and I with the dogs.  We would take walks on the beach every day and drink wine by the fire.  I love a simple life.