Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

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1. This past week has been quite a busy one (hence the lack of posts). Sawyer and I went to visit my family in Modesto for three nights and we're finally back in the swing of things here. We actually had a lot more fun than I anticipated; the 6.5 hour drive up Friday went really well and after we checked into our hotel we headed downtown for the annual American Graffiti Parade. There were over 1200 classic cars, one of which belonged to my mom's boyfriend, so Sawyer had a blast. Saturday we drove to Sacramento to visit the California Train Museum, which I had initially decided on primarily because of Sawyer's current obsession, but we all enjoyed it. The next day we went to a car show that had the cars from the parade and just hung out. I made my family go to all the old places I loved to eat at and enjoyed watching Sawyer ham it up for his doting audience. The ride back wasn't near as stellar, but my friend Val was a godsend, between her patience and willingness to play with an emotional toddler. 

2. A week or so ago I watched the Macbeth movie that came out last Christmas and was fairly underwhelmed. It was visually very appealing, and the score was fitting, but there were some liberties taken with the story that I didn't love.

3. A few months ago I optimistically bought three pairs of shorts from Loft that were a teeny tiny bit too snug- I'm happy to say they now fit juuust right and I just bought several more. Victory is mine.

4. Actually, considering the lunch that I just had they may not fit anymore... My husband is home today and we dropped Sawyer off at daycare for a little while so we could go out to lunch alone and I feel like an Oompa Loompa. It was nice to sneak away, though, since it's really rare that we're able to do that in the middle of the day during the week.

5. I know it's summer and I live in a warm place, but the upcoming weather is horrible. I am ever-so-thankful for a working AC, solar panels, and a pool. 

6. Brie's book club over on her blog voted to read The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan for their next selection. Given that I have a million books to read right now, and that this really isn't necessarily something I'd choose to read, I thought about waiting until next month. But then I had a genius idea- I'd listen to it. This was the perfect solution- while it's not exactly high-brow lit, it's entertaining, perfect for summer, and the narrator is decent. 

7. I made this Mascarpone, strawberry, mint and honey tart that I found over on The How Sweet It Is blog last night. It was really easy and perfect for summer.

8. The generous gift card my seniors got me for Barnes and Noble was burning a hole in my pocket, so I went book shopping yesterday. Man, I miss those kids, and not just because they fueled my addiction.

9. Someone tried really, really hard to bait me today on Facebook this morning by saying that feminism and racism are non-issues and that people are just "sheep," giving into mainstream media by caring about gender and racial equality. Whoa, let's back that 1950's misogynistic, bigoted train up, shall we? I briefly gave my two cents but eventually closed it out by saying that I refused to argue with people I don't know (it was someone on my brother's post). I felt pretty mature, since I could have gone to town on the young man (and really, really wanted to).

10. I'm headed to an actual yoga class in a studio tomorrow for the first time in a looooong time. Pray for me.  

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

Link up, link back, say hi.

1. This little person handled his shots like a champ today. No tears! Plus he was nice to the doctor, so that was a welcome change.

2. I CANNOT stop listening to this song. I don't care who thinks it's stupid, it's on repeat constantly. 

3. To help me regain some credibility, it's actually alternating between this song, which makes me wonder why I don't listen to more Beck. Nonetheless, I'm psyched for the album that this will be on:

4. I have the novel Lila by Marilyn Robinson but learned that her books Gilead and Home are actually set in the same city prior to the one I have, so I just ordered the other two. I enjoyed Housekeeping and hope I like these three as much, since I'll have basically committed to the series that's not a series.

5. It's a three-day weekend! Yes! It's actually made this week feel ten times slower, but it'll be worth it. I'm supposed to meet up with a friend or two but other than that nothing too serious. We might head out to a local fair in the town over, since I'm pretty sure it will be a lot more "fair-like" than the OC one (this one is Norco, for local folks. I suspect there will be some legit cowboy boots). I'm also planning to get in some serious pool time, since I'm thinking (probably naively, since it's only September) that my weekends of warmth are limited. 

6. I have had my arm twisted into buying one of Pampered Chef's Deep Covered Baking dishes, under the assumption that it is "magical" and can basically make an awesome dinner for me. It's pretty pricey, so it better be all that and more.

7. The adulting just won't end. In the last three or four months I've done life insurance, college fund set-up, refinancing, solar panels, an HOA and loan application for the panels, and now I have to provide all of these documents that I don't technically have on hand for a health insurance audit at work AND we're buying a new fridge that has to extensively be researched (of course). I know I'm lucky to have access to all of these things, but my god, it's just so boring sometimes.

8. I listed to Lianne Moriarty's Big Little Lies on audiobook over the course of a couple of weeks and it was the perfect listen; it was fun, didn't require my full attention, the lady reading it was absolutely perfect, and it kept me interested. It's not the type of book I'd read, but it was perfect for commuting home. And seriously- I just saw a "blond bob" hustle her kids into a mini-van on my walk around the neighborhood a bit ago.

9. My students are all in a slight tizzy about the new Macbeth movie, which I'm happy doesn't come out until after we're done studying it (we're on Act 2 right now and it isn't released until December). It looks creepy, but good.

10. I've asked before, but I'll try again: does anyone know a legit way to scrub your twitter feed? I'd like to unlock it, but I ultimately know that students will find it and I don't want anything I mentioned years ago public. Not that there's anything bad, I just don't want the past lurking around.

Books on Your Back: The Shit Writes Itself

Can I wear this to school?

[$24 Headline Shirts]

Top Ten Tuesday- Halloween

I'm definitely not a Halloween person- in fact I find it a smidge annoying.

[genius! source]

I'm sure next year when I have a tiny human to dress up it might be more fun, but for now I'll just maintain the Halloween equivalent to a "bah humbug" attitude. I did sew my dogs superhero capes, though, so there is a bright spot. Oh, and my pumpkin is pretty cool (we'll see if it rots before Thursday, though). 

Anyway, the Broke and the Bookish are hosting a Halloween top ten this week, and while I don't really read much in terms of scary stories (I don't really get scared by books), I thought I'd weigh in:

1. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson- There's nothing scarier than split personalities.

2. Carrie by Stephen King- Don't kill my Rory, but this is one of the very few (maybe only-?) King books I've ever read. 

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley- Did you know it's not just about a crazy green monster? Sheesh.

4. The Telltale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe- Typical, but one of the few I remember off the top of my head.

5. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka- He turns into a giant bug (or does he?), for Christ's sake!

6. Fear Street by RL Stine- Just kiddingl

7. Macbeth by William Shakespeare- There's three witches, therefore it must work with the Halloween theme. Plus people dress up as trees. Well, sort of.

8. Stacey and the Halloween Masquerade by Ann M. Martin- I was always down for a seasonal BSC book back in the third grade.

9. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- There's nothing scarier than facing your past, present, and future in one night. 

10. Turn of the Screw by Henry James- Creepy ghosts and kids.

Meme lovers! Check back early Thursday and join in my Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts! 

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

1. Kings of Leon's new album came out Tuesday- love.

2. I made this: 

[so many burnt fingertips....]

3. I have to confess- I'm a (temporary) Coursera drop out. Life has been way too crazy lately for me to take on extra work. Right now my priorities are handling everything for work, getting enough sleep and exercise (or at least intending to), spending time with my husband and dogs, seeing friends, and reading for fun. When I take the Coursera classes I feel pressure to finish and stay current, something I just don't need right now.

4. First period prep (for those who aren't familiar with high school scheduling this means the free period I get every day to prepare for my classes and grade) is going to kill me this year. It's the third year I've had it and it just keeps getting harder and harder to be productive. I arrive at seven no matter what, it's a just a matter of whether or not I'm going to do more than sit at my desk and stare at the mounds of things to do or actually work on them. Morning person I am not.

[source]

5. Apparently Jennifer Lawrence is going to be in the East of Eden movie, which I have not read. I pretty much love her, so I may have to pick up a copy before the movie comes out (which will be in a long time).

6. Tomorrow is our last day on Macbeth and I couldn't be happier. It's a great play, but six weeks on any one text with a group of teenagers is enough. 

7. I'm not even going to lie: I'm pretty excited that Grey's Anatomy is back tonight. It's total shit, but I'm a sucker for medical dramas. Unfortunately, since we're ditching cable in a few days I'm going to have to watch it on my computer (or maybe Hulu on the xBox? I don't know how that whole thing works yet).

8. Speaking of cutting the cord on satellite, we've waited because of this Sunday- the very end of Breaking Bad. If Jesse dies I'm going to be so pissed. That poor guys has been through so much... last episode alone! Walt, though? I hope he buuuuuuuurns (and not from the cancer).

9. Last weekend we waited for 80 minutes to go to a restaurant called Slaters 50/50 (know for their 1/2 bacon, 1/2 beef burgers, which I did not get) and it was definitely worth it. I practically had to be rolled out of the restaurant Oompa-Loompa style since I ate so much, though. I loved the fact that they work with an app that lets you check your wait time and how many parties are ahead of you as much as the food. If you don't accept reservations it's the least you can do.

 10. I'm so mad at Banana Republic. While virtual window shopping I found a jacket that I wanted for $250 (that I loved), but wasn't sure about, since it's a little outside of my winter jacket price range. And then today I get an email promotion that offers 40% off purchases of more than $200. It's a good deal, right? Plus, it's a ton less than the Burberry one I really want... I know. When your biggest problem is whether or not to spend too much money at BR you need to shut the fuck up.

[source]

Afternoon Delight

It's my goal for the school year to try to leave as many Sunday afternoons and evenings as I can as free as possible. Today I spent the afternoon by the pool with a stack of reading material.

What I learned:

Glamour- I'm too old for this magazine (despite 44-year-old Jennifer Aniston being on the cover). I picked it up on a whim last week and have decided that I will probably never gain anything from this magazine. I've already nabbed a guy, I'm aware of how the professional world works in my industry, and I'm never going to mix my patterns, no matter how cool it is.

In Style- This is just the opposite- I may not be old enough for this magazine. Or maybe it's just not rich enough... I'm crossing my fingers that their prediction that cozy, comfy, slightly-dressy sweatshirts will be in this fall.

Student Personal Statements- I had my students write rough drafts of their personal statements for their college applications and have been grading them. Many of my kids have had really, really rough lives- my heart has been broken more times that I can count.

Macbeth- Starting Act 1 (again), I realized I prefer teaching Shakespeare to reading it; unfortunately they're quite connected.

Italian Ways- I'm still plugging along at this nonfiction text about the trains in Italy. It's slow but fascinating. It's taking me back to my trip there and making me want to return.

Catch-22- I'm reading this slowly since our English department is still trying to figure out when we're going to meet. Hilarious as always.

"On Compassion"- I read this short essay by Barabar Lazear Ascher that I assigned my AP students to read in order to start instructing on effective use of pathos in writing.

Four hours by the pool reading and eating Trader Joes Apple Straws? I'll take it.

Read anything great this weekend?

Document This- Skid Row, Cycling, and Shakespeare

Despite my supposed love for documentaries, I haven't watched nearly as many as I thought I would this summer. The three that I have seen have been all really interesting (all available to stream on Netflix):

Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home

2010

75 minutes

While at lunch with some friends last week this was brought up and I was instantly intrigued, since a few of my past driving mistakes have led me accidentally through this area of Los Angeles. I went to add it to my queue and realized it was already there- oops! Anyway, Skid Row is an area of 50 blocks

near downtown Los Angeles comprised of thousands of people in both homeless encampments and low-income housing. Many of the inhabitants are those with mental health issues, addictions, or are hiding from demons that haunt them back home. The documentary highlights several long-time residents, including a previous Olympic athlete (has since left), a woman who is obsessed with cats and collects trash, and a transgendered father who has been diagnosed with a multitude of mental illnesses. The documentary also interviews local missions and shelters, which often operate without help from the city. Without getting into the politics, downtown LA is the ultimate example of gentrification- people with higher incomes are coming into poorer areas and buying up the real estate and kicking out those that previously lived there. Interestingly, it costs taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars less to help people of low socioeconomic status find housing than it does to support them as prisoners (which so many homeless and poor people become, given the fact that it's basically impossible to survive on the street without breaking laws).

Should You Watch It? So many of us are content to live in a bubble- myself included. We feel badly for those who are struggling but we don't do much to educate ourselves or do anything about it. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose. If anything, I think watching this will help increase compassion- as the documentary points out, no one sits in their third-grade classroom and declares they want to be a homeless addict when they grow up. This isn't to say people shouldn't take responsibility for themselves, they should; some people need a little (or big) push in the right direction. Digression over.

Ride the Divide

2010

80 minutes

I've recently started riding my bike more and was interested to see how endurance riders handle races. Ride the Divide is an underground race that starts in Canada and ends at the US/Mexico border in New Mexico. Riders must endure snowy passes, grueling climbs, camping wherever they can, and fueling properly. This isn't The Tour- these cyclists don't have crews in vans next to them handing them Cliff Bars or directing them to good places to sleep. These riders are on their own, occasionally riding with their fellow competitors for company. The documentary focuses on a few riders in particular, recording their moments of triumph, pain (the swollen legs are no joke), and defeat when some are forced to back out. The scenery is beautiful and I found myself becoming more and more invested in each of the riders.

Should You Watch It? If you are interested in endurance sports, absolutely. Cycling enthusiasts and those that appreciate stories of struggle (in nature) will also probably enjoy it.

Shakespeare High 

2011

81 minutes

I watched this movie several months ago and actually ended up buying a copy to have on hand at school, since my yearbook students were watching documentaries and my incoming seniors will be reading a play. This film goes behind the scenes of several Southern California schools preparing for a Shakespeare Festival that many celebrities, including Kevin Spacey, performed at while teenagers. Students must take scenes from plays and reinterpret them, without costumes. It's fascinating to see the spin put on classic scenes from

Macbeth and Midsummer's Night Dream- some groups are purists, focusing just on traditional acting, while some go over-the-top with raps and comedy sketches. The rivalry between school is intense, and the groups focused on are from a variety of different areas. There's one that is semi-local to where I live, from the high-desert town of Hesperia. These kids are lower middle class, many of them choosing to do drama because they're either bored or hope to use it as a vehicle to escape their town. There's an inner-city LA charter school that prides itself in helping kids from gangs and the street turn their lives around. There's also a few private schools that have kids who maybe feel a bit entitled but are still very talented. The documentary follows them from their planning and practicing until the end of the competition.

Should You Watch It? I thought it was very well-done and love that these kids are so invested in Shakespeare. The plays aren't the main focus, so even if you're not a fan of The Bard, you'll still appreciate the effort these teens put in.

Seen these? Any other good ones for me to add to my queue? 

 

Bookish (and not so Bookish) Thoughts

1. While on a walk the other day with my two dogs I stopped at a house to inquire about what type of dog the lady had. We got to chatting and her two-year-old came up to see Chomsky, my big-ass lab. The little girl had no fear and the mom asked if she could pet him, so I bent down to make sure he didn't try to jump on her. I got back to chatting with the mom, and all the sudden I looked down and realize that the little girl was playing with my panting dog's tongue. And he loved it! And her! It was gross, but also a little adorable. 

[next time I might eat you, little girl]

2. I just bought new copies of Hamlet and Macbeth to read. I need to teach one of them and decided a rereading was necessary. Thoughts? I think there's something to be said about a graduating high school senior being able to say that they've read, and understood, Hamlet, but perhaps I'm just putting it on a pedestal. There's this constant conflict that I feel as a teacher: do I make things easy and accessible so that most of the kids will understand (not that Macbeth is super easy) or do I up the ante and try to kill them just a little bit? Generally I try to land somewhere in the middle, but I want to work them hard next year so they're read for college. Hamlet vs. Macbeth Smackdown: who will win?

3. Tomorrow night is prom at the high school where I teach. The kids keep asking me about my experiences, which has been sort of fun (when it's not annoying the shit out of me that they won't talk about anything else). Junior year I went with a dear friend and had a great time. Senior year I went with my boyfriend and fought most of the night (it was how we rolled for the three years that followed, too). 

[so bad they're good. back before prom went hoochie]

4. I have made a bit of a dent in my TBR pile- we're down to 56 books, thanks to the fact that I've read like eight this month. Just over a month and I can start buying them again...

5. I used to follow a lot of daily health and fitness blogs until they all started popping out kids and yammering on and on about them. It's made me think, though, lately, what the impact of social media will be on this current young generation. Parents are plastering their kids' pictures all over blogs, Facebook and Instagram- is that healthy? And is there a difference between "my baby is super cute" and "should I circumcise my baby/what do you think about his spit up/do you want to see a picture of him nekkid?" I think there is- I think kids deserve a certain level of privacy. Cute pictures for the win, but what happens when little Billy grows up and realizes that his mom described his poo on the Internet? As as a teacher I'm sensitive about this issue- unless a student is eighteen and consents, I won't put a picture giving away his/her identity on any form of social media without blurring the faces because they have right to anonymity. People get sued for that shit! Unfortunately, little Billy probably won't be able to file a suit against his Mom for talking about eating the placenta he was attached to...

6. This has been the longest week ever. 

7. Gary Shteyngart is coming out with a memoir. I'm not sure exactly when it will hit, but I've read all of his book and have seen him read through ALOUD once. I'm sure it will be great.

8. My students just reread Athol Fugard's "Master Harold"... and the boys and I assigned them the task of writing a five-minute scene about a current controversial issue that endangers a friendship. I'm really, really excited to see what they come up with- there have been talks of costumes, projected settings, and Ke$ha soundtracks.

9. I am absolutely obsessed with a Milly + Banana Republic dress that I saw in In Style (that I of course can't find a picture of anywhere). I begrudgingly signed up for their emails just so I can make sure I know when the line is released. Have we talked about how I get fixated on things and won't give up until I get what I want? 

10. Speaking of my rampant materialism, I really, really want an old-school ice cream maker. We had one growing up and it's the only homemade ice cream that I can remember actually turning out, texture wise. I bought a Cuisinart one a few years ago and is sucked balls- if I wanted soup I'd get ice cream and stir it up with my spoon (did anyone else do that as a kid?). Bring on the rock salt. Oh, and there's this person, I'm not sure if he reads, but anyway, this person owes me one as a house-warming present. Just an FYI...

[Note to self: wait until after the cruise...]