Book Club 2011, vol. 1

This year I have set the goal of reading 35 books. This also includes audiobooks-- which I love to listen to while driving to and from school, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc. And I got a Kindle for Christmas-- which I LOVE! (Thanks Hubby!)

Here is my list so far:

1. Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen-- this is a fun, easy mystery set in London in the 1920's.
2. You Can't Drink All Day if You Don't Start in the Morning by Celia Rivenbark-- a collection of funny essays mainly pertaining to Southern women. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would, but it was OK.
3. The English American by Allison Larkin (audiobook)-- I really enjoyed this one! Between her ties to both Britain and America, and the fact she is adopted, I found I had a lot in common with the main character.
4. Murder of a Chocolate Covered Cherry by Denise Swenson (audiobook)-- also a fun, easy mystery. I enjoy these mysteries that also incorporate baking. Seems there are several series of them now.

Currently Reading:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
I swear, I will finish this one soon! I love it!

Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin
Reading this one to the kids at school. We missed so many days for snow I feel like we will never finish it. This one relates to the Civil War.

Currently Listening:

Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Ia m really enjoying this one. It is different and kind of strange. Again, it takes place in London (one of my favorite places, can you tell?) This is by the author that wrote The Time Traveller's Wife, which I never read. But several reviews of HFS have made complaints because it is not like TTTW-- well, who would want the same book all over again?

Up Next:

Unberable Lightness by Portia De Rossi
This is one my friend and fellow book club blogger Justy Mac chose for our reading selection. I hear great things about it. I did a lot of research on eating disorders in several of my psychology classes in college, so I look forward to her perspective on it.

Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath
Saw this one on sale on audible.com. Looks fun!

My friend Justy Mac and I have started a book club blog this year-- please feel free to read with us, or comment on what we are reading or should read next!

Two Pelicans Book Club

This makes me laugh...

TOTALLY gonna make the kids watch this when we do geometry at school!

This is My Life...

One of our spelling words this week is "insects"

One answer on today's practice test-- "incests"


(sigh)

---
Background: I have been grading last week's reading quiz. We read a story called The Silent Lobby about a group of black people that went to DC to lobby b/c their votes had not been counted in the recent election. This takes place during the Civil Rights Movement, so of course, they had to do various things in order to even be allowed to vote. In this case, the people had to pass a literacy test, pay a poll tax, and interpret the state constitution.



Question #3: What 3 things did the narrator's dad have to do in order to vote?

Answer: He had to write, read, and poot the constintushin in his own words.

Calling All Bookworms!

Join me & my friend Justy Mac on our book club blog--

The Two Pelicans Book Club

Currently we are reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett... well, I am STILL reading, Justy Mac has already finished. Have you read it? Join us! Tell us what you think-- just don't talk about the ending YET, please!  :)

Next up is Unbearable Lightness by Portia De Rossi-- come read with us!

Have recommendations? We like those too!

Winter Blues

So yesterday or today (I've heard differing reports) is supposed to be the saddest day of the year. This is due to BLAH weather, short daylight hours, and credit card bills rolling in from Christmas. While I don't feel particularly depressed, certainly not more so than usual, it did make me think about things that cheer me up or keep me sane on a daily basis.

First of all, this face:

I have also enjoyed reading more lately-- something I have made a priority. Currently I am reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. More on that over at Two Pelicans Book Club.

Today on the way home from school I heard two songs that made me smile. One was new, or at least new to me. It's called Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. If you haven't heard this song-- I suggest you try to find it somewhere and give it a listen.

**I found it for you :)




Second,  heard Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake. I haven't heard this in ages! It always makes me want to DANCE! (Plus I always laugh at the background vocal "YEAH!" that occurs throughout the song b/c my friend's husband pointed out it sounds like a parrot).

One of the main things that made me happy today is that it was not a total circus at school. As we have been off for 6 days due to snow, there was every chance it would be. The kids actually worked harder and behaved better than usual. Then I found out there is a full moon. Aha!

Oh yeah, and the bag of peanut M&Ms that my TA brought me didn't hurt either!

So what about you guys? What makes you happy during these bleak days of winter?

Thank You Martin Luther King, Jr.

This gives me chills EVERY time I hear it-- esp around the 2 min mark. I show this to my students every year, explaining that less than 24 hrs later MLK Jr was assinated.

A great man.

A great cause.

A true Hero.

I Pity The Fool

Maddie rocks her Mr. T onesie, skinny jeans, and new Chucks...



Two Pelicans Walk Into a Bar...

So my friend JustyMac and I have decided to start a book club. As she lives 3 hrs away from me, meeting to discuss our thoughts is not always an option. So we have created a Book Club Blog where we can list our throughts and feelings about the chosen literary works.

The Two Pelicans Book Club

(intrigued by the name? Make sure to read the ABOUT US page!)

Our first selection was recommended to me by Mary-- heck, she even loaned it to me-- and it has sat on my nightstand ever since. But no longer! Justy and I will begin The Help this week!

Curious about our thoughts, opinions, snide remarks? The follow along-- or heck, even read along with us! We can always make room for more pelicans at our bar!

(seriously, read the ABOUT US section!)

He Talk Pretty EVERYDAY

A FANTASTIC interview with one of my FAVORITE writers-- David Sedaris.

In case you can't watch the video, here is a LINK to the interview...

Bravo, CBS! And thanks to my good buddy Ran(dom)Man for the post... :)

Snow Days Give Me Time to Post...

6 months old

Face of Horror

MMMmmmm....

Olive Oil scalp treatment for cradle cap

1/10/11
5 inches

Oh, Hi Carl!

Have you seen all this snow??

We meet again!

One day... I will PULL that tail!

I Resolve...

Every year I try to come up with a theme for my new year. Within this theme lie my resolutions. A couple of years ago my theme was to be FEARLESS! That was the year I got married... and pregnant... SUCCESS!

This year I have deemed the YEAR OF GETTING MYSELF TOGETHER! This is a more multifaceted theme than most. Not only do I want to get my physical self in better shape, but also my emotional self. Last year WAS a roller coaster afterall! Of course, I firmly believe that by getting my physical self shaped up, that will in turn help a lot of my emotional stress.

Yes, I admit, I am resolving to lose weight. This, I feel, is possibly THE most unoriginal resolution. But alas! It must happen. I have decided to stagger my goals as far as this is concerned.

GOAL #1: Lose 10 lbs by Spring Break! This gives me approximately 9 wks. I'd like to be a bit more fit before VEGAS!

GOAL #2: Run another 1/2 marathon! (I swear I must be CRAZY!) I ran one a couple of years ago-- the YEAR OF BEING FEARLESS, actually-- and I did it! Of course, every step of the 13.1 miles I reminded myself that I hate running. However, truthfully, it wasn't as bad as I had envisioned. Plus I figure the training for this will help with Goal #1. And there is certainly a mental/ emotional component to pushing your body 13.1 miles. (Did I mention it was 13.1 miles?!)

GOAL #3: Be more positive at school! This is one of my major emotional issues. I am burnt out! TOAST! I really feel I need a change, and I have discussed this with my princi, but of course there is not much I can do before next school year. In the meantime, I need to suck it up and stop complaining about THIS year.

GOAL #4: Purge the house! I have done this several times in the last couple of years, but somehow I still have a TON of stuff! And now that I have hubby here-- and he HATES the clutter!-- PLUS a bunch of baby stuff-- I really need to SERIOUSLY cut the clutter! And I need to ORGANIZE what I have. Oy! Luckily my school is planning a rummage sale this spring-- I could provide enough stuff on my own! I really am looking forward to getting this goal accomplished!

GOAL #5: Become more financially saavy! Hubby has helped with this a LOT... as has refinancing the mortgage. I still suck at bills and balancing budgets-- but I vow to at least try harder!

So there it is! Now that it's out there, I hope I will feel more pressure to get these accomplished! Feel free to bug me from time to time on how I am doing.

Monkey Business

I admit, I was NOT looking forward to today. Not. At. All.

Today is the first day back at school with the kids here. I'm seriously ready to retire. (sigh)

A fellow teacher and good friend of mine stopped me in the hall this morning, and what she had to say TOTALLY turned my day around. This friend of mine is a kindergarten teacher-- something I could NEVER do. This year she has a blind student in her classroom-- talk about adding an EXTRA challenge to an already tough job! (UTMOST respect I have for her!)

Another student in her class came in today with a Build-A-Bear box. Inside was an ADORABLE monkey that he had made at the Build-A-Bear store over the break. But unlike the typical 5 yr old kid, this boy had made the monkey for his friend, the blind student. When squeezed, the monkey plays the message, "Hello _________. I really hope you like this monkey from your best friend _________."

I admit, tough old, cranky me MELTED! I was SO impressed with this kid's generosity and caring! I even wrote him a card telling him what an awesome kid I think he is.

I get so bogged down day to day with the irritating shenanigans of the kids, that I often forget about the sweethearts that we DO have.

I sincerely hope my daughter grows up to be like this kid!