If there’s one thing Southern gals know how to do, it’s gab. Silly or serious, all it takes is a glass of iced tea and time. Pull up a chair, kick off your shoes, and make yourself comfy…get ready to dish!
Gah! Air Travel!!
This morning, Ms. Without-Shopping and I woke up at o-dark thirty to catch a 6:30 flight to a conference. Flying anywhere for any professional reason almost never happens to teacher types (it involves money), so we’re excited–until we get to the airport. We park and hustle into the terminal. Turns out the e-ticket is one of those “operated by” tix, so we’re at the wrong airline. On the wrong side of the terminal, it turns out. While we’re crossing over, we see that the TSA screening line stretches from here...
read moreMeeting in the Middle
I had one of those European experiences this morning. There was no room to sit in the local bagel shop, where I’d come hoping to review some writing along with breakfast, so I ended up sharing a table with a total stranger. Turns out we had plenty in common, when we were discussing our kids, but somehow, we got onto politics. We were quite different. One would expect fireworks, and yet……we had an amazing discussion. It was easy to tell where she and I diverged, but there were plenty of areas where we agreed. We talked a...
read moreCircle, Circle, Dot, Dot, Dot
Need a break? Dial up the Nestlé Crunch hotline: 1-800-295-0051. Listen to the message, then wait about ten seconds after the “For English, Press 1; for Spanish…” option. It will then ask you if you want Piglatin. In Piglatin. Then it’ll give you some other options (I recommend Option 4). Once you get that deep into the menu, it’ll give you a plethora of choices; my favorite is number 7–which will also make the title of this blog clear!I love clever people who aren’t afraid to have fun at (and about)...
read moreThe Passing of a Legend
Yesterday brought the sad news that one of my all-time favorite authors, Dick Francis, passed away at the age of 89. I’ve blogged about my Francis Fangirl status at length–and seriously, if you love mystery and you haven’t read any of his books, you’re cheating yourself of a treat–but today is a wee celebration of his life and work.Francis, a former steeplechase jockey and rider for the Queen Mother, turned to writing after he could no longer ride. Thankfully for us, he applied that knowledge to a series of...
read moreShavasanaaaaah
They’ve finally opened a yoga studio in my lovely little hometown. That may seem like indulgence, but believe me, when trying for fitness means loading up the car and a fight across traffic (therefore rendering much of the stress-relieving properties of fitness moot), having a studio that I could get to on foot is a real boon. I attended their opening day festivities, liked the energy, and was elated to see that they offered a class on the day I reallyreally like to go to class, so boom! There I was, mat at the ready…all alone. No...
read moreRev. Robertson FAIL
I can’t even begin to describe the ridiculousness that is Rev. Pat Robertson’s comment on the Haiti earthquake, so I’m going to let this letter from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune say it for me:Dear Pat Robertson, I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I’m all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I’m...
read moreShe’s Tidied Up, and I Can’t Find Anything!!
I have to say DH totally won the Christmas present sweepstakes. For the past several major events (anniversary, birthday, etc.), he’s asked what I want. Jokingly (not really), I’ve been telling him I want a house elf. You know, my own personal Dobby who will keep things tidy and bring me a sammich when I’m having a snack attack at midnight. Amazingly, he found someone. Her name is Wendy.She doesn’t have pointy ears or magic, but she definitely knows how to tidy. She and her daughters arrived this morning, and when I...
read moreNewbery Update: 1970s
These books are my childhood! I started first grade in 1970, so these books were all published with me in mind (I started reading early). Wonder how many of them hold up better than bell bottoms and disco?Sounder by William H. Armstrong – xxxSummer of the Swans by Betsy Byars – xxxMrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien – xxxJulie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George – xxxThe Slave Dancer by Paula Fox – xxxM. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton – xxxThe Grey King by Susan Cooper...
read moreNewbery Update: 1980s
These are the transition books, the last ones of my childhood and the first of my teaching career.A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl’s Journal by Joan W. Blos – xxxJacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson – xxxA Visit to William Blake’s Inn by Nancy Willard – Interesting this was the Newbery choice the year I began college and studied (and fell in love with) William Blake for real.Dicey’s Song by Cynthia Voigt – xxxDear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary – I find it amazing, as someone who...
read moreNewbery Update: 1990s
These are the books I first reviewed with teacher eyes rather than reader eyes. Interestingly enough, you discover that good writing doesn’t really have an age limit.Number the Stars by Lois Lowry – xxxManiac Magee by Jerry Spinelli – xxxShiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – Frack fell in love with this book when her second grade teacher read it to the class, prompting a purchase of it and the next two books in what is now the Shiloh Trilogy.Missing May by Cynthia Rylant – xxxThe Giver by Lois Lowry – xxxWalk...
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