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!
Newbery Update: 1930s
Finally finished reading the second decade’s worth of Newbery titles. Note to self: ambitious reading projects are probably not best to embark upon during a become-an-IB-school year. Alas. However, I blazed through the last few quickly now that summer is upon us, so I’m hoping the next few months will be far more productive, reading-wise.On to the titles:Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field – Hitty is a doll, carved from “mountain ash wood” for the daughter of a Maine sea captain. When we meet her, she...
read moreThe Boys of Summer
It’s a been a while, but I figure it’s time for a reboot. For your summer viewing pleasure, it’s the return of The Bed List/The Dinner List. (Pause for squealing fangirl noises) Each Friday, I’ll choose one man for his manly charms (The Bed List), and another for his winning ways (The Dinner List). Check out the archives for previous choices and send me your suggestions for men I’ve overlooked. The first boys of summer debut this Friday!
read moreTen Favorite Things to Do During "Me" Time
Browse a bookstore.Read.Infosnack.Write.Stay in my pajamas all day.Watch girly movies and cry.Listen to college music and reminisce.Daydream.Talk to friends I haven’t seen in a while.Fix something yummy that’s on the naughty side.
read moreMy Spicy Sweet Chili Self
Dream Agent, bless her heart. After a few rounds of email tag (how did I manage this before BlackBerry?), we finally manage a business call. And it’s a doozy.She looooooooooves the high concept hook of my proposal she has in house. The execution, not so much. As in, not crazy about the inciting incident, not completely wowed by some other story elements, not really feeling the narrative/dialogue balance. Just not. But looooooooooooooves the high concept hook. What can I come up with to re-vamp the story and make it fly?You ask so...
read moreLast Day!!
Today is the last day of school…and am I ready!! One more exam to give, then it’s grade grade grade, then clean clean clean, then pack pack pack stuff to work on over the summer because, contrary to popular belief, teachers do not get three months off. Let me repeat that:TEACHERS DO NOT GET THREE MONTHS OFF.The “three months off” canard is one commonly tossed at folks like moi, who happily toil amongst other people’s children in the public schools, from people who like to snipe at the “failing” public...
read moreGraduation After Retirement
Congrats to the Class of 2009! Just sat through graduation at my favorite high school, my first after handing my senior class sponsor sash and tiara over to another teacher. Two things today’s experience taught me:Life does go on without me.I am waaaaaaaay critical.Nothing skidded to a halt without me. Everyone got in the O-rena and found a seat. Programs were printed. Speeches were made (good ones, too–funny and touching). Names were called. Tassels were moved from right to left and mortarboards tossed. But…and this is a...
read moreTen Celebrities You’re Tired Of
Sarah PalinJennifer AnistonThe Octo-MomJon & KateParis HiltonTom & KatieMischa BartonL’il WayneBeyoncéAnyone from one of those vapid shows I don’t watch but practically know everything about because they’re freakin’ EVERYWHERE, like Gossip Girl or The Hills or that Kardashians nonsense.
read moreWho is Kate, and Why Should We Care?
Apparently, tonight is the season premiere for Jon and Kate Plus 8, yet another reality series I’ve managed to avoid. If you’ve been under a rock lately, you haven’t seen Jon and Kate Gosselin’s mugs (and her ridiculous attacked-by-a-string-trimmer-from-behind hairdo) splashed across every possible tabloid/celebrity mag at the checkout. From what I gather, they were a semi-normal family until the fertility drugs took with a vengeance and they had sextuplets. Then the camera crew arrived, and all hell is continuing to...
read moreI Love Geeky Scotsmen!!
And this is one reason why. Check out Craig Ferguson, bustin’ the moves:
read moreLife Imitating Art?
Okay, this is freaky. The other day, I was cleaning out my storage room at school, and one of the charms on my bracelet (the bagpipe) got caught in the large spiral binding of a book. Pull, pop, the bagpipe goes flying, and my bracelet ends up in two pieces. After some choice vocabulary words that will not be on my students’ next test, I scooped it all into an envelope and took it to my jeweler for repair. Fine. Dandy.Today, I pick up the bracelet, and it has issues. One part’s been soldered on in reverse, so now the typewriter is...
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