if you want an interesting read...

Here is a list of a few recent favorites:

1. Allow me to recommend an author I just discovered. Neil Gaiman's books, I think, are on their way to becoming modern children's classics. I heard of him awhile back, but only now have begun reading The Graveyard Book as part of a book club. I don't normally read childrens literature apart from things work related, but this book I am truly enjoying.

I have read that it is a re-telling of sorts of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, only set in a graveyard. He reminds me, though, of a cross between C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll. That might be elevating this book a bit too high, but do with that what you will. I thnk he is that good.

He also wrote Coraline, which is now a movie starring Dakota Fanning. The Graveyard Book is fantastically strange, featuring characters like the man Jack, Nobody Owens, Scarlett Perkins, the Sleer, and the Indigo man. Msk(s), I think you would enjoy this book. Trust me.

If you like listening to audiobooks, you can hear Neil himself read The Graveyard Book chapter by chapter here. Magical.

2. Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Another children's book, but, I think, appealing to adults as well. I really love it. Read short review below.

Mr. Tan imagines a quirky but special world that lies within our ordinary lives. Each tale is accompanied by Shaun's art that goes from the whimsical to the beautiful. Each tale evokes a different feeling and changes the way you see your everyday existence. It is a humourous, thoughtful, playful and poignant collection of little tales masquerading as a groovy art book.

3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

This book I could not put down. It grabs you immediately and doesn't turn loose until the last page, where you will be left likely needing an entire box of Kleenex. It raises some important ethical questions on a controversial medical issue - preimplantation genetic diagnosis (think petri dish babies) - it was just fantastic. I highly recommend it. Laura, I think even you would like it if you gave it a chance.

I haven't forgotten about the DC email; it is forthcoming. For security reasons, I will only work on it at home (vs. on a school computer) and since my computer is sick, I have limited time to finish writing it.

Wait for it...

Happy Daylight Savings!!!

firsts

Maybe I'll just make this a survey-only blog, since that seems to be all I want to put on here these days.

1. Who was your FIRST prom date? his name is Casey

2. Do you still talk to your FIRST love? I don't think that's really applicable

3. What was your 1st alcoholic drink? I can't remember - only that I hated it, whatever it was

4. What was your FIRST job? Msk(s) hooked me up with a gig at Giggleswick in high school.

5. What was your FIRST car? A 1989 Volvo.....Volvo for LIFE

6. Who was the FIRST person to text you today? Actually, no one has texted me today

7. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning? My roommate Abby. I was trying not to wake her up with Rick & Bubba blaring out of my radio.

8. Who was your FIRST grade teacher? Mrs. Sassafrass, of course. I credit her with my present brilliance.

9. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane? I think I was too young to remember. I'm pretty sure I was a newborn.

10. Who was your FIRST best friend & do you still talk? Murry, and yes, the severed wasps are still in flight.

11. Where was your FIRST sleep over? I have no idea - maybe Katie George's house? We probably made a lot of prank calls.

12. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today? um, I think my principal

13. Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time? I was the flower girl in my aunt and uncle's wedding, and the first time I was a bridesmaid it was for the wedding of one kelly flowers and michael butler.

14. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning? Let pippi out of the laundry room (I still can't get a good night's sleep with her in the bed) and got coffee.

15. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to? I actually think it was Carmen, as much as I hate to admit it. My first UNSUPERVISED concert was Dave Matthews, so we'll go with that one. Much cooler.

16. FIRST tattoo? n/a

17. First piercing? Ears. I went with Khadija when I was 12 or so. I know from the picture that I had on a T-shirt that had a furry man-thing on it and said "No brain, no pain."

18. First foreign country you've been to? England

19. FIRST movie you remember seeing? I'm just guessing it might have been Puff the Magic Dragon? Or Neverending Story? The Chronicles of Narnia? Or something Disney - I have no idea.

20. When was your FIRST detention? I don't know, but it probably happened in 4th grade. That was when I started being bad. I don't think I was bad after that - 4th grade was my rebellious year, I guess.

21. What was the first state you lived in? Mississippi/Louisiana - they are blurred together in my mind

22. Who was your FIRST roommate? Dear Fleming Friend. We had some good times.

23. If you had one wish what would it be? For allergies to disappear forever

24. What is something you would learn if you had the chance? To play the violin REALLY well

25. Who was your first kiss? My high school boyfriend. Eck.

my girl patty

I stole this from yaya's blog. I love it.

You Must pick one singer/artist and use only one song title to answer each question!!!

Pick a band/artist: Patty Griffin

1. Are you a male or female: Burgundy Shoes?

2. Describe yourself: I Don’t Ever Give Up

3. How do you feel about yourself: Standing

4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend: Let Him Fly

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation: No Bad News

6. Describe your current location: Blue Sky

7. Describe where you want to be: Seaside

8. Your best friend is: Dear Old Friend

9. Your favorite color is: Flaming Red

10. You know that: Love Throws a Line

11. What’s the weather like: Heavenly Day

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Stay on the Ride

13. What is life to you: One Big Love

14. What is the best advice you have to give: Time Will Do the Talkin

15. If you could change your name what would you change it to: Sweet Lorraine

musical morsels, etc.

***UPDATE***If you want the email, make sure to leave your email address! I do not have updated email addresses for many of you.

Good morning, friends! I'm writing again from work - computer is still sick. I have just a few things.

1. Every so often, I come across what I refer to as a musical morsel of goodness. Contrary to its term, such a morsel is not necessarily good music; rather there is something about it that manages to transcend time and space in a manner that little else can.

One of the things that I can't stand is when an artist mixes talking with singing in a song. I think it's just tacky, and usually a mark of the untalented (do you hear me, kenny chesney?) But yesterday I came across, for the first time in years, Boyz II Men's (is it boys with a z? I can't remember -- also a mark of the untalented, though I think these fellas are quite talented if I do say so myself) The End of the Road.

Folks, if you haven't heard this one in awhile, I implore you - go give it a listen. The intermittent talking just can't be beat. I had to pull over in the Target parking lot I was laughing so hard. This, readers, is what I mean by a musical morsel of goodness. And if you can't find your old CD, then yes, it is worth a 99 cent download from iTunes. Please trust me.

2. This one is for LT. I got a text from her last night letting me know that Sugarland, the worst country group ever, won a grammy. She says that this proves how talented they are. I just want to throw out there, regarding your previous blog poll, that Vince Gill has won several grammys. Not to start a public debate or anything. I'm just sayin.

3. Several of you have asked me to post about the DC trip, and while I had every intention of doing that as soon as my computer gets healed, I've had time to rethink the risks involved. For obvious reasons, a blog post on the trip would have to be highly censored. And trust me, you want the uncensored version.

So, I've decided to compose one email to recap the joy, wonder, madness, and glory of the voyage and send it to any readers who want the details. This way, I can include pictures as well. If you would like to read about it, just leave a comment on this post and include your email address. I'll send it to you as soon as I finish writing.

Happy Monday!

blogging delay and two very big announcements!

Normally if I ever have a week like last week, I would have blogged about it long before now. But my computer at home seems to have caught a nasty virus, so until I can find a way to get that fixed, I'm limited to school computer use.

So this post is just to say that yes, I did return from DC unscathed with many a tale to tell. All I can say now is that it was ONE FOR THE BOOKS. On MANY levels. Three words will have to do for now: Sequined Obama handpuppets.

There are just a couple of things right now that cannot wait for the virus to be cured, so I am blogging from school.

Two BIG congratulations -

1. Dear friends Hunter and Emily Jones had their baby boy, William Woodrow, IV, on January 20. He is an absolute doll, as you can see. I think he looks like Hunter, but that may be because I think I've seen Hunter make that face. Head on over to their blog to see more pictures and offer your congrats!

2. Also dear friends Stik Dixon and Katie Fanning tied the knot this past weekend! Their wedding was beautiful and all the festivities a great time. I don't have pictures on hand to share, but check out Stik's blog for future updates and photos. They're on their honeymoon right now in the Dominican Republic. Congratulations Dixons! I'll post pictures as soon as I can.

That's all I have time for right now, sadly. Still so much more to share. Hope you're all well. The weekend's almost here! I'm looking forward to it more than cowtails on a hot summer day.

welcome, mr. president

My absence from the blog has been so long, I feel like I need to re-introduce myself.

Blog readers, this Tuesday, January 20, 2009, yours truly will be among the 1 million + people surrounding the US Capitol building for Barack Obama's inauguration.

Pray for me.

I just hope I live through it. We're taking 40 8th graders on a field trip to D.C. for the event. While I am really excited to be there for the ceremony, I don't like crowds very much, and I don't think there's any way to mentally prepare myself for a crowd of this magnitude.

Then there is the issue of temperature (hello, thermal underwear), and the hours and hours of walking and standing in this weather. I'm not going to lie, I'm concerned.

We are leaving tomorrow at 7 p.m. to drive through the night on a charter bus. Again, with 40 8th graders. Not sure I am mentally equipped for this either. But bring it on! I'll make sure to bring a detailed report back for you when I return.

No other updates, really, except that I picked up another little side job (for those of you who may not know, I quit the Anthropologie side job awhile back, and haven't regretted it a bit.) Ladies and gentlemen, I'm teaching an ACT prep course. Just the English, reading, and writing portions, that is. This is incredibly ironic - me and the ACT NEVER got along very well. I would go as far as to say that the ACT was my worst enemy, in fact. I thought a few of you might get a good laugh out of that.

I'm off - here's to hoping I live to tell of this historic adventure.

Ya'll have a good week.

confession.

I have, in fact, fallen prey to Twilight. I can't believe I am reading vampire books this Christmas. I'm almost finished with the third book. It's all in the name of being a better teacher, right? Being familiar with adolescent literature?

Can't lie - that's just my cover. I really think they're good. I can't put them down. I'm 27 and into vampires. Go on and laugh.