Skipping church today. . .hoping the sun will come out, but mostly seizing a different way to feel the weekend. I also don't like the war/church interface. We tend not to do that well yet.
So: soon to write instructional grants, due on Tuesday, but spent some time messing around outside (it's still very dry so I watered). Found six lovely ripe strawberries in my front garden. . . yum! Am hoping the chill grey will fade as it seems to be doing and we'll have the sunny day we've been promised. If we can't have RAIN, I'd like SUN!
Gobbled down The Double Comfort Safari Club yesterday. . . fun. I will reread parts of it, but overall Mma Ramotswe does not fail to please.
AND found out we got our exchange student for next year--exciting!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28: FRIDAY of Memorial Day Weekend!
I copied THIS from Letters from a Hill Farm's blog. . . and SHE said, I saw this at Cornflower's blog this morning and here are her words about where it came from.
Here's a meme from Bookish NYC via Life must be filled up; do take it to your own blog or answer the questions in the comments on this post if you wish.
Do you snack while reading?
Sure, but not always. I'll come in from work and plop down with my snack and a drink (see below) but it doesn't have to be that way.
What is your favourite drink while reading?
Winter/Fall/Spring: hot tea; summer: iced tea of our family recipe.
Do you tend to mark your books while you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
If I'm reading for school, I mark a LOT. Otherwise, usually not, unless there are editing errors. THOSE I mark, even in library books. For shame, sloppy editors!
How do you keep your place? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book open flat?
I try to bookmark. I rarely dogear unless the book is TERRIBLE, and I don't usually smash them flat.
Fiction, non-fiction or both?
Mostly fiction but will read non-f. with pleasure too.
Do you tend to read to the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere?
Depends. I like to read to ends of chapters, but sometimes when I realize I am falling asleeeeeeep while trying to get to the end, I'll just stop.
Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
Nope, tho my best friend and I use that as hyperbole. I just stop and return or donate it. HA!
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Not usually. Honestly, I don't usually come across words I don't know. . . . as I think about it. Hmmm.
What are you currently reading?
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I like it a lot, though it's a weird, very specific topic and very different from her others (which makes me a little sad, as I liked those!)
What is the last book you bought?
Fiction: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. In hardcover. Totally worth it.
Knitting: Weekend Knitting, for less than my $10 gift cert. Ha!
Do you have a favourite time/place to read?
Anytime. I was shocked to realize how little I'd been reading for long stretches, as reading was my opium as a kid. But I like anywhere/anytime nowadays!
Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?
Both, unless the author gets annoyingly predictable or zanily tries to keep our attention.
Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
For people in bad places but with a sense of humor: Anne Lamott
For people who have patience: Ladies' No 1 Detective Agency
For teens and adults who are witty and funny: Terry Pratchett.
I could go on!
How do you organise your books?
No way at all. Not enough bookshelves in this house so it's usually a scramble. I do like a tempting pile, so often I pile the "to be read" books in my study and then tell myself, "No more new ones till this pile is gone!"--but it never works!
Barbara's additional question: background noise or silence?
Am a teacher of high school; come from a big family; now have a lively, active family. . . . I read however it comes! Often knit while I do if the book will stay open!
Here's a meme from Bookish NYC via Life must be filled up; do take it to your own blog or answer the questions in the comments on this post if you wish.
Do you snack while reading?
Sure, but not always. I'll come in from work and plop down with my snack and a drink (see below) but it doesn't have to be that way.
What is your favourite drink while reading?
Winter/Fall/Spring: hot tea; summer: iced tea of our family recipe.
Do you tend to mark your books while you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
If I'm reading for school, I mark a LOT. Otherwise, usually not, unless there are editing errors. THOSE I mark, even in library books. For shame, sloppy editors!
How do you keep your place? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book open flat?
I try to bookmark. I rarely dogear unless the book is TERRIBLE, and I don't usually smash them flat.
Fiction, non-fiction or both?
Mostly fiction but will read non-f. with pleasure too.
Do you tend to read to the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere?
Depends. I like to read to ends of chapters, but sometimes when I realize I am falling asleeeeeeep while trying to get to the end, I'll just stop.
Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?
Nope, tho my best friend and I use that as hyperbole. I just stop and return or donate it. HA!
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?
Not usually. Honestly, I don't usually come across words I don't know. . . . as I think about it. Hmmm.
What are you currently reading?
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver. I like it a lot, though it's a weird, very specific topic and very different from her others (which makes me a little sad, as I liked those!)
What is the last book you bought?
Fiction: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. In hardcover. Totally worth it.
Knitting: Weekend Knitting, for less than my $10 gift cert. Ha!
Do you have a favourite time/place to read?
Anytime. I was shocked to realize how little I'd been reading for long stretches, as reading was my opium as a kid. But I like anywhere/anytime nowadays!
Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?
Both, unless the author gets annoyingly predictable or zanily tries to keep our attention.
Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?
For people in bad places but with a sense of humor: Anne Lamott
For people who have patience: Ladies' No 1 Detective Agency
For teens and adults who are witty and funny: Terry Pratchett.
I could go on!
How do you organise your books?
No way at all. Not enough bookshelves in this house so it's usually a scramble. I do like a tempting pile, so often I pile the "to be read" books in my study and then tell myself, "No more new ones till this pile is gone!"--but it never works!
Barbara's additional question: background noise or silence?
Am a teacher of high school; come from a big family; now have a lively, active family. . . . I read however it comes! Often knit while I do if the book will stay open!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 18, 2010: WOW!
Much time has gone by, but much good/fun/challenging/rewarding stuff has happened. Or unfolded. Or been accomplished. Right now there are several things I feel like sharing:
•went to a great tech workshop after school, geared for English teachers. It was great fun, time shot by, and we all (three of us!) got great ideas. AND there was pizza!
•thanks to a student, I have put "omnidazzle" on my cursor so I sprinkle golden pixie dust as I move around and do my work. I love it inordinately and geekily.
•have been knitting quite a bit on the sweater that I want to make and that will fit BH, Elder, or me, so that's good, but it's taking TIME so am
•planning the next pair of socks. It's been a while!
In the meantime, May is jetting by. It's been a lovely month, and many lovely things have happened in it. This weekend, Elder goes to an art enrichment weekend in Deer Isle, and Younger, BH and I go to Grandaddy's 80th and then Younger's confirmation. Yay!
For now................ I'm beat! G'night, maybe, even!
•went to a great tech workshop after school, geared for English teachers. It was great fun, time shot by, and we all (three of us!) got great ideas. AND there was pizza!
•thanks to a student, I have put "omnidazzle" on my cursor so I sprinkle golden pixie dust as I move around and do my work. I love it inordinately and geekily.
•have been knitting quite a bit on the sweater that I want to make and that will fit BH, Elder, or me, so that's good, but it's taking TIME so am
•planning the next pair of socks. It's been a while!
In the meantime, May is jetting by. It's been a lovely month, and many lovely things have happened in it. This weekend, Elder goes to an art enrichment weekend in Deer Isle, and Younger, BH and I go to Grandaddy's 80th and then Younger's confirmation. Yay!
For now................ I'm beat! G'night, maybe, even!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 8: Mini-Triathlon #2!
I am wearing a fleece, long sleeved tee, wool socks, and jeans, and curled in my comfy chair, complete with mohair throw. Outside, it is cold (45) and raining steadily. I have had a hot shower, a nap, and a lovely lunch at the Riverside, complete with a chocolate milkshake. All these details crown the fact that I have completed the Downeast Family YMCA's "Dare to Try" Mini-triathlon for the second time, and I am so pleased with myself that I could just sing (more active signs will have to wait till Sunday or even Monday)!
It was not a lovely day, and what to wear if it was going to pour steadily was a big question, but many things turned out fine. I wore my running tights and my windbreaker after the swim, then shed the 'breaker for the run, and apart from a slight tendency for the tights to slide down during the run, all was well. My feet got VERY cold--wool peds next year--but otherwise I felt a lot better than I did last year. I have little idea of what my time was because I forgot to check, and I don't. even. really. care: I am just delighted that I did it, that I finished, that I felt so good. The only bummer was that I was moved to the third heat due to a very slow swimmer in my assigned lane. It made total sense to move me, but I battled the feeling of being THE LAST ONE. I ended up not being, and, of course, timewise I was far from the last, but still. Maturity lesson, I guess!
Well. That is a huge hurdle at the end of two weeks of lots of hurdles, including a budget meeting for the library which went very poorly AND the massive scoring of honors work which we do every year and which I'm in charge of as dept. head this year. I just feel happy and relieved--yay!
It was not a lovely day, and what to wear if it was going to pour steadily was a big question, but many things turned out fine. I wore my running tights and my windbreaker after the swim, then shed the 'breaker for the run, and apart from a slight tendency for the tights to slide down during the run, all was well. My feet got VERY cold--wool peds next year--but otherwise I felt a lot better than I did last year. I have little idea of what my time was because I forgot to check, and I don't. even. really. care: I am just delighted that I did it, that I finished, that I felt so good. The only bummer was that I was moved to the third heat due to a very slow swimmer in my assigned lane. It made total sense to move me, but I battled the feeling of being THE LAST ONE. I ended up not being, and, of course, timewise I was far from the last, but still. Maturity lesson, I guess!
Well. That is a huge hurdle at the end of two weeks of lots of hurdles, including a budget meeting for the library which went very poorly AND the massive scoring of honors work which we do every year and which I'm in charge of as dept. head this year. I just feel happy and relieved--yay!
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