Twitter Updates
- PhD. Comics
- HomeStarRunner
- Snow Monkey Plum Tea
- JK Rowling's Site
- The Leaky Cauldron
- AustenBlog
- Nerdfighteria
- Family
- Cole's Pictorials
- Daily Capriccio
- Sister By Your Side
- High School Friends
- Creature Bug
- The Amazing Tater D
- It's the Pitts
- Jen's Page
- Little Rider Baby
- College Friends
- Not For the Life of Me
- A Kindled Mind
- Mutterings and Musings
- African Heart
- The Wandering Palate
- Wonder Woman's Rainbow Brite
- Students
- Simply Danae
- Sassy's World
- Blonde's Brilliant Brain
- Lips of Minty Roses
- My Ever-Changing Destiny
- The Epic Journey
- Dreamt-Of Reality
- Your Complete Guide To...
- Other People I Like
- Owlhaven
- Do Thy Research
- PenBitten
- Brooklyn Arden
- 02/01/2004 - 03/01/2004
- 03/01/2004 - 04/01/2004
- 04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
- 05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
- 06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
- 07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
- 08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
- 09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
- 10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
- 11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
- 12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
- 01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
- 02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
- 03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
- 04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
- 05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
- 06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
- 07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
- 08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
- 09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
- 10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
- 11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
- 12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
- 01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
- 02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
- 03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
- 04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
- 05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
- 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
- 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
- 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
- 09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
- 10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
- 11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
- 12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
- 01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
- 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
- 03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007
- 04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007
- 05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007
- 06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007
- 07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007
- 08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
- 09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007
- 10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
- 11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
- 12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008
- 01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008
- 02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008
- 03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008
- 04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008
- 05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008
- 06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008
- 07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008
- 08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
- 09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
- 10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008
- 11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008
- 12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009
- 01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009
- 02/01/2009 - 03/01/2009
- 03/01/2009 - 04/01/2009
- 04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009
- 05/01/2009 - 06/01/2009
- 06/01/2009 - 07/01/2009
- 07/01/2009 - 08/01/2009
- 08/01/2009 - 09/01/2009
- 09/01/2009 - 10/01/2009
- 10/01/2009 - 11/01/2009
- 11/01/2009 - 12/01/2009
- 12/01/2009 - 01/01/2010
- Acting
- Ambitions
- Anedotes
- Battlestar Galactica
- Beach
- Books
- Buffy
- Car Trouble
- Christian sub-culture
- Christmas
- Church
- Coffee
- College Life
- Controversy
- Cooking
- Dentists
- Doctors
- Dogs
- Dreams
- Eugene
- Exercise
- Fiction
- Garden
- Grad School
- Grammar
- His Dark Materials
- Harry Potter
- Lent
- Literature
- Memes
- About Blogging
- Miss Kitty Fantastico
- Movies
- Moving
- Nampa
- Neighbors
- NNU
- Oregon
- Pictures
- My Poems
- Poetry
- Quizzes
- Rants
- Scrabble
- Shakespeare
- Siblings
- Spiders
- Sports
- Summer
- Tea
- Teaching
- Thanksgiving
- TV
- Used Bookstores
- Vermin
- Video
- Violin
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Writing Lab
Thursday, December 27, 2007
So I was sitting on my papasan chair this afternoon, crocheting, with my cat in my lap and teapot on the table next to me, and I suddenly looked around and thought, oh my gosh. I'm 80.
So, in the spirit of being an 80-year-old English teacher, here is a very nerdy comic about grammar:
toothpastefordinner.com
So, in the spirit of being an 80-year-old English teacher, here is a very nerdy comic about grammar:
toothpastefordinner.com
Labels: pictures
1 commentsWednesday, December 26, 2007
Hope you all had a lovely Christmas this year with your families. I got up yesterday morning, drove over to my parents' in my pajamas, and spent the day watching movies, eating, taking naps, and sitting in the hot tub. I think this may be the first Christmas where I wasn't required to go outside and work on Christmas day! However, we didn't really "celebrate" insofar as opening presents and reading the Christmas story and having a big dinner is celebrating because Cole and Ashley won't be here until around New Year's, so all that is still to come. Still, it was one of the more enjoyable Christmases I've spent.
Also, if you want to give yourself one more big Christmas present, go over to Pottercast, and listen to the two-part episode where the Pottercast trio interviews J.K. Rowling. It's sooo much fun, especially if you are curious about such things as, what happened to Florean Fortescue, why Harry's scar hurts when Voldy is nearby, how much Alan Rickman knew about Snape's backstory, and how plans are coming for that big Harry Potter theme park. I personally love it because it's one of the few times when Rowling is interviewed by people who know what they're talking about, not just random journalists who were sent to cover another press release.
Also, I mentioned last time that I'll be (and have been) doing some big-time reading this week and next, and I thought you might like the chance to vote on what books I should prioritize. (The teaching assistant does this every year, so I'm stealing the idea from her.) All the books listed are either brand-new reads or books I've started sometime this year and never finished. And if you like more than one, you can vote a couple of times.
1 comments
Also, if you want to give yourself one more big Christmas present, go over to Pottercast, and listen to the two-part episode where the Pottercast trio interviews J.K. Rowling. It's sooo much fun, especially if you are curious about such things as, what happened to Florean Fortescue, why Harry's scar hurts when Voldy is nearby, how much Alan Rickman knew about Snape's backstory, and how plans are coming for that big Harry Potter theme park. I personally love it because it's one of the few times when Rowling is interviewed by people who know what they're talking about, not just random journalists who were sent to cover another press release.
Also, I mentioned last time that I'll be (and have been) doing some big-time reading this week and next, and I thought you might like the chance to vote on what books I should prioritize. (The teaching assistant does this every year, so I'm stealing the idea from her.) All the books listed are either brand-new reads or books I've started sometime this year and never finished. And if you like more than one, you can vote a couple of times.
1 comments
Friday, December 21, 2007
Every morning this week, I've woken up, rubbed my eyes, and said to myself, "What day is it? How many days until Christmas break?" And this morning I got to wake up and think, It's Friday! Only one more day until my glorious two weeks of freedom. Other people may cry about the busyness and stress of the Christmas season. Personally, I plan to spend many, many hours lying around, reading books, drinking tea, watching movies, and playing my piano. My Christmas shopping is all done. I have no big parties to throw or dinners to cook. My roommate bought and decorated our Christmas tree, and Miss Kitty Fantastico is happy if Santa just brings her some wet cat food. So I'm all set.
Do you hate me yet? 1 comments
Do you hate me yet? 1 comments
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I've started a post about four times in the past couple of weeks, but I always get interrupted or run out of time before I manage to finish it. So, this time I'm going to hit the post button, whether or not my train of thought is completed.
First of all, my big news this week is that I have a piano! Apparently, my dad picked up a couple of pianos cheap at some fire sale or auction or something, and they've been waiting at school for one of us kids to decide we want one in our home, and since the spare room in my house was emptied this week, I rounded up a couple of big burly students and had them haul it over. (The sad thing was that we couldn't get it around the corner to the spare room, so it ended up in the living room, where it could have been all this time... oh well). Anyway, the point is that I have picked up my piano studies again, starting with the Level Four books that I finished somewhere around my eighth-grade or freshman year. Clearly, I've lost a lot of ground. I'm having fun, though. I want to hurry home after school every day to play on my piano. (If only I'd had this attitude in high school-- maybe I wouldn't be on Level 4!)
Last week was our school's big fundraising dinner, which was held this year in the new gym--the first event to be held in the building that has been under construction since MY sophomore year of high school. It's exciting to see a gym floor with our own mascot painted on and our own name printed on a scoreboard. I had to attend the dinner, of course, to schmooze with all the parents and host a table and all that, but what I wasn't expecting was to see tons of people from my own high school days: old teachers, friends I hadn't seen for years, students that floated in and out of my acquaintance and had been long forgotten. It was a little mind-blowing.
And lastly (for now), I saw the Golden Compass movie about a week ago, right after it came out. It was quite good, I thought, and it followed the book quite closely, in my opinion (except at the very end). Anyway, Cheryl at Brooklyn Arden has a different opinion in her review, in case you're interested.
First of all, my big news this week is that I have a piano! Apparently, my dad picked up a couple of pianos cheap at some fire sale or auction or something, and they've been waiting at school for one of us kids to decide we want one in our home, and since the spare room in my house was emptied this week, I rounded up a couple of big burly students and had them haul it over. (The sad thing was that we couldn't get it around the corner to the spare room, so it ended up in the living room, where it could have been all this time... oh well). Anyway, the point is that I have picked up my piano studies again, starting with the Level Four books that I finished somewhere around my eighth-grade or freshman year. Clearly, I've lost a lot of ground. I'm having fun, though. I want to hurry home after school every day to play on my piano. (If only I'd had this attitude in high school-- maybe I wouldn't be on Level 4!)
Last week was our school's big fundraising dinner, which was held this year in the new gym--the first event to be held in the building that has been under construction since MY sophomore year of high school. It's exciting to see a gym floor with our own mascot painted on and our own name printed on a scoreboard. I had to attend the dinner, of course, to schmooze with all the parents and host a table and all that, but what I wasn't expecting was to see tons of people from my own high school days: old teachers, friends I hadn't seen for years, students that floated in and out of my acquaintance and had been long forgotten. It was a little mind-blowing.
And lastly (for now), I saw the Golden Compass movie about a week ago, right after it came out. It was quite good, I thought, and it followed the book quite closely, in my opinion (except at the very end). Anyway, Cheryl at Brooklyn Arden has a different opinion in her review, in case you're interested.
Labels: movies, piano, teaching
2 commentsTuesday, December 04, 2007
First coming
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of World made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
--Madeleine L'Engle 2 comments
till men and nations were at peace.
He came when the Heavens were unsteady,
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He dined with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
he came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of World made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
--Madeleine L'Engle 2 comments
Monday, December 03, 2007
I've been browsing Amazon.com to set up my wishlist for Christmas. (I keep waiting for the I'm-an-adult-and-therefore-too-old-to-care-about-presents thing to kick in, but it hasn't yet. Hmm... maybe when I have kids?) Anyway, I came across these. Ew. Who wants that hanging from your ears. Bleh. I do like all the Celtic designs I've seen around, though.
Oregon is currently experiencing the mother of all December rainstorms, and we've had power outtages several times--once in the middle of our evening church servece (that was interesting). Anyway, today there is a two-hour delay at school because a giant tree fell down in the storm and is currently lying across the driveway up to the Victory campus. Are we sad to have to postpone our essay exam and triangle congruency review? You decide.
In other news, I finished reading Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. It's so so lovely. It's Pride and Prejudice lovely. A couple months ago, I believe I mentioned having bought the BBC miniseries North and South, upon the recommendation of the teaching assistant. Anyway, I adored it, watched it a bunch of times in a row, and then went on what ended up being a nine-bookstore hunt for a copy of the novel. I finally found it at the Barnes and Noble in Bend, to my immense delight. (Why didn't I get in on Amazon? Well, because hunting through multiple bookstores is much more fun!) Anyway, it was so good, I almost want to turn around and start reading it again from the beginning.
Also, I recently found an interesting book of poems by Madeleine L'Engle. Now lest you think she's just one of those evil, fantasy-writing female authors--of the same ilk as Ms. Rowling--allow me to enlighten you: she wrote a book of poems that takes you through all the Bible stories, from Genesis through the New Testament. It's so cool. Want to know what the ram in the story of Abraham and Isaac might have been thinking? There's a poem about it in this book. And these aren't your Sunday School, rhyme on the 2nd and 4th line, happy Christian poems. (Remember what happens to that ram?) They're very thoughtful and interesting and bold. I'm sad to say I never really understood the charm of A Wrinkle in Time--maybe because I read it as an adult--so I've never gotten around to reading any more of her books. But maybe after I finish this book, I'll try her fantasy series again. 1 comments
Oregon is currently experiencing the mother of all December rainstorms, and we've had power outtages several times--once in the middle of our evening church servece (that was interesting). Anyway, today there is a two-hour delay at school because a giant tree fell down in the storm and is currently lying across the driveway up to the Victory campus. Are we sad to have to postpone our essay exam and triangle congruency review? You decide.
In other news, I finished reading Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. It's so so lovely. It's Pride and Prejudice lovely. A couple months ago, I believe I mentioned having bought the BBC miniseries North and South, upon the recommendation of the teaching assistant. Anyway, I adored it, watched it a bunch of times in a row, and then went on what ended up being a nine-bookstore hunt for a copy of the novel. I finally found it at the Barnes and Noble in Bend, to my immense delight. (Why didn't I get in on Amazon? Well, because hunting through multiple bookstores is much more fun!) Anyway, it was so good, I almost want to turn around and start reading it again from the beginning.
Also, I recently found an interesting book of poems by Madeleine L'Engle. Now lest you think she's just one of those evil, fantasy-writing female authors--of the same ilk as Ms. Rowling--allow me to enlighten you: she wrote a book of poems that takes you through all the Bible stories, from Genesis through the New Testament. It's so cool. Want to know what the ram in the story of Abraham and Isaac might have been thinking? There's a poem about it in this book. And these aren't your Sunday School, rhyme on the 2nd and 4th line, happy Christian poems. (Remember what happens to that ram?) They're very thoughtful and interesting and bold. I'm sad to say I never really understood the charm of A Wrinkle in Time--maybe because I read it as an adult--so I've never gotten around to reading any more of her books. But maybe after I finish this book, I'll try her fantasy series again. 1 comments
