My weekend was filled with homework. Here's what I competed this weekend:
EDA homework for chapter 4
DTRD reading outline
CL3 chapter 3 and 4 reading
CL3 chapter 3 and 4 quizzes
IMT reading report for chapter 4
IMT discussion forum for chapter 4
BD2 reading chapters 29-32
BD2 quiz 3
CMA chapter 6 assignment
CMA research and field assigment
IMT A2 Lesson Plan (I started and finished it within two hour!)
I also watched two movies, and now I'm spending time with two of the greatest people.
I love family.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Winter Reading
Here's what I read over my break:
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowery
Messenger by Lois Lowery
A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me about Love, Friendship, and The Things that Really Matter by William Deresiewicz
The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Lois Lowery left me wanting more of the story; she has such a talent for doing that. I recommend both of them especially if you enjoyed The Giver and desire to discover what happened to the boys on the sled. I liked the plug for looking at people's qualities instead of their outward demeanor.
I wanted to marry Deresiewicz by the end of the book because he understood Austen so perfectly, and he opened my eyes to parts of Austen which I had not fully comprehended. He bashed the movies for making all of her heroine's and hero's beautifully handsome which made me splendidly happy :). I loved how he wove the books through his life journey. Most times I find weaving books into your life cliche, but Deresiewicz (what a difficult name to keep typing and spelling correctly) accomplished it without being cliche. I adored A Jane Austen Education. I can't wait to have my own copy, so I can underline and write in the margins (I read the libraries copy).
Every time I read Potok I'm blown away. The way he tells a story; the way he writes; his characters; they all suck me in from the beginning. I rarely get completely lost in stories, but every Potok I've read catches me in a marvelous way. The Gift of Asher Lev is a sequel, well more of a continuing story of My Name is Asher Lev. My Name is Asher Lev gives a fascinating look into the Hasidic Jewish culture's beliefs and relationship to art. Potok deals with the age old question of art and religion. In The Gift of Asher Lev, the reader picks up Asher's story twenty years after the end of My Name is Asher Lev. Again, Potok deals with art and religion, but this time he includes worship through art. Potok shows Asher's struggle to explain his art to his children, to explain how he is still a Hasidic Jew and yet paints what he paints. Plus another interesting look into the religion and world of Hasidism. I could keep talking about this book, but I'll stop. However, I highly suggest Chaim Potok to anyone who loves reading. He is one of my favorite authors.
I wasn't overly impressed by Collins books. They were an interesting read, but I felt they were pretty fluffy. I agree with RuthAnn that the first person was an awful choice. I find Katniss annoying just like I find Harry annoying. Her struggles and angst were not at all enjoyable. I know you'll say when is angst ever enjoyable, but I enjoyed, somewhat, Mia's angst in The Princess Diaries. I found the books predictable. They didn't have anything new to say or any good characters (I did enjoy Katniss's designer) or story to make them more than just an easy read. Each book took me no more than three hours to read. I have Mockingjay on hold, and I'll read it. Hopefully the series will conclude in a decent way. Please no magical happy ending, but I guess they are young adult books, so that's what will happen. Don't get me wrong, I love my happy endings, but it would just be one more predictable thing for this series. I've heard Mockingjay is supposed to be the best of the three, so maybe I'll enjoy it more.
I may have read more, but those I'm not divulging with you or I can't remember them. You can decide which is true.
Tomorrow, I start my sixth semester of college, so I'll not be picking up another great book for at least seven weeks (spring break) or fifteen weeks (semester done). I will walk in and out of room and see all my books I want to read but don't have time for, and I'll bemoan my life for a while. I'll think about others who get to read, and how I soon will be able to read again. So read for me, and I promise I won't become jealous.
Well, maybe I'll be a tad jealous.
Gathering Blue by Lois Lowery
Messenger by Lois Lowery
A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me about Love, Friendship, and The Things that Really Matter by William Deresiewicz
The Gift of Asher Lev by Chaim Potok
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Lois Lowery left me wanting more of the story; she has such a talent for doing that. I recommend both of them especially if you enjoyed The Giver and desire to discover what happened to the boys on the sled. I liked the plug for looking at people's qualities instead of their outward demeanor.
I wanted to marry Deresiewicz by the end of the book because he understood Austen so perfectly, and he opened my eyes to parts of Austen which I had not fully comprehended. He bashed the movies for making all of her heroine's and hero's beautifully handsome which made me splendidly happy :). I loved how he wove the books through his life journey. Most times I find weaving books into your life cliche, but Deresiewicz (what a difficult name to keep typing and spelling correctly) accomplished it without being cliche. I adored A Jane Austen Education. I can't wait to have my own copy, so I can underline and write in the margins (I read the libraries copy).
Every time I read Potok I'm blown away. The way he tells a story; the way he writes; his characters; they all suck me in from the beginning. I rarely get completely lost in stories, but every Potok I've read catches me in a marvelous way. The Gift of Asher Lev is a sequel, well more of a continuing story of My Name is Asher Lev. My Name is Asher Lev gives a fascinating look into the Hasidic Jewish culture's beliefs and relationship to art. Potok deals with the age old question of art and religion. In The Gift of Asher Lev, the reader picks up Asher's story twenty years after the end of My Name is Asher Lev. Again, Potok deals with art and religion, but this time he includes worship through art. Potok shows Asher's struggle to explain his art to his children, to explain how he is still a Hasidic Jew and yet paints what he paints. Plus another interesting look into the religion and world of Hasidism. I could keep talking about this book, but I'll stop. However, I highly suggest Chaim Potok to anyone who loves reading. He is one of my favorite authors.
I wasn't overly impressed by Collins books. They were an interesting read, but I felt they were pretty fluffy. I agree with RuthAnn that the first person was an awful choice. I find Katniss annoying just like I find Harry annoying. Her struggles and angst were not at all enjoyable. I know you'll say when is angst ever enjoyable, but I enjoyed, somewhat, Mia's angst in The Princess Diaries. I found the books predictable. They didn't have anything new to say or any good characters (I did enjoy Katniss's designer) or story to make them more than just an easy read. Each book took me no more than three hours to read. I have Mockingjay on hold, and I'll read it. Hopefully the series will conclude in a decent way. Please no magical happy ending, but I guess they are young adult books, so that's what will happen. Don't get me wrong, I love my happy endings, but it would just be one more predictable thing for this series. I've heard Mockingjay is supposed to be the best of the three, so maybe I'll enjoy it more.
I may have read more, but those I'm not divulging with you or I can't remember them. You can decide which is true.
Tomorrow, I start my sixth semester of college, so I'll not be picking up another great book for at least seven weeks (spring break) or fifteen weeks (semester done). I will walk in and out of room and see all my books I want to read but don't have time for, and I'll bemoan my life for a while. I'll think about others who get to read, and how I soon will be able to read again. So read for me, and I promise I won't become jealous.
Well, maybe I'll be a tad jealous.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
One Week
I wrote this in November, and now I have time to post it. At the end of a week at school, I was pondering what that one week gone meant. It meant:
One week closer to seeing RuthAnn
One week closer to Christmas
One week closer to seeing all my siblings
One week closer to the next big step in life (whatever that may be)
One week closer to winter break
One week closer to me reading books again
One week closer to me watching movies and shows again
One week closer to me talking with my family without being pressured by school
One week closer to losing my job
One week less in the semester
One week less in college
One week less in my hometown
One week less with Mrs. Behm
One week less with college friends
One week less with Cindy
and
One week less of my life on earth
I guess one week gone means a lot.
One week closer to seeing RuthAnn
One week closer to Christmas
One week closer to seeing all my siblings
One week closer to the next big step in life (whatever that may be)
One week closer to winter break
One week closer to me reading books again
One week closer to me watching movies and shows again
One week closer to me talking with my family without being pressured by school
One week closer to losing my job
One week less in the semester
One week less in college
One week less in my hometown
One week less with Mrs. Behm
One week less with college friends
One week less with Cindy
and
One week less of my life on earth
I guess one week gone means a lot.
Day 30: Favorite Spell
Accio. Summon objects, and they come right to you. Pretty cool. However, there are tons of spells to pick from which are also great, but I can't remember those off the top of my head.
Three months and some days later, I've finished the 30 day Harry Potter Challenge. When I watched the last movie with the parents, I was filling them in with parts from the book, and I was amazed at how much I remembered and knew. Yes, I love these books, and I plan on reading them regularly.
Day 29: Favorite Hogwart's Portrait
My favorite paintings are those of the previous Headmasters. I love that you can talk to the paintings and they can move from painting to painting. Other worlds are so interesting.
Day 27: Favorite Magical Ability
Apparating. I've always wanted to travel fast. As a child, I would walk to the library and wish I had a magic carpet, so I could get there faster and then be home faster. Apparating would allow me to go anywhere in the world without all the travel hassels.
Day 26: Favorite Wand
Day 25: Favorite Dursley
Dudley. You have to enjoy the rivalry and the pettiness between him and Harry.
Day 22: Aspired Quidditch Position
Beater. I loved the Quidditch side of the stories. I loved the announcing, the drama, the games. Oh, now I want to go read the books again for the Quidditch parts.
Day 21: Most Emotional Moment
Probably the most beloved character is dead. Harry breaks it off with Ginny because of his mission. Hogwarts is devastated. Voldemort struck a deep blow. Snape is no longer trusted by the Order. The beginning of the end has begun.
Day 20: Funniest Moment
Fred and George leaving Hogwarts. The movie did a poor, poor job of visually creating this part. However, the original in the books is hilarious. Every time I read this part, I'm rolling on the floor. I'm always blown over by their absolute amazingness. I love that Flitwich leaves a part of their swamp in place because it was great magic! Them leaving Hogwarts is one of the reason I enjoy Order of the Phoenix so much.
Day 19: Favorite Horcrux
Tom Riddle's diary. I thought this was the most inventive of all the Horcruxes. When you first learn about it, you have no clue what it is. I love how Rowling started parts of the story in book 2 to be completed in 6 and 7.
Day 18: Favorite Unforgivable Curse
How's one supposed to pick one of these? None of them are good.
The Cruciatus Curse. Probably, the best way to stop someone without killing them (the killing curse) or making them zombies (imperius curse). But still picking an unforgivable curse seems cruel.
The Cruciatus Curse. Probably, the best way to stop someone without killing them (the killing curse) or making them zombies (imperius curse). But still picking an unforgivable curse seems cruel.
Day 17: Favorite Animagus
Rita Skeeters beetle. I never understood why you would choose something large to change into. If you're small you can hide easier and visit without being noticed.
Day 15: Favorite Tri-Wizard Tournament Challenge
The dragon challenge. The 2nd one has Harry being so good, and the 3rd is just too big. This is the beginning of them, and it sets the tone for the others to come.
Day 13: Most Missed Dead Character
Though I have some issues with him, I did miss him a lot once he died.
Day 12: Most Beautiful Character
Hermione Granger. Smart, wise, discerning, compassionate, hard-working, and beautiful.
Day 11: Most Handsome Character
He's the most handsome because of his amazing character and personality. I love Lupin.
Day 10: Favorite Shop in Diagon Alley
Um, how could ANYONE pick another shop.
1. The shop is run and owned by Fred and George.
2. Their inventions are bloody awesome.
3. It's a practical joke shop using magic.
4. Fred and George.
Day 9: Least Favorite Subject
Divination. Very boring class, and Harry can't ever keep his mouth shut. Well, that goes for all the books and classes.
Day 8: Favorite Subject
Potions. I enjoy Defense against the Dark Arts with Lupin, but overall it's Potions.
Day 6: Favorite Professor
I love Snape. I saw the first two or three movies before I read the books, and I loved Snape right away. My deep love may have originally stemmed from my love for Alan Rickman and all things British, but reading through the books, reading and crying when you finally discover the lengths Snape went to to protect Lily. He is one of the best men.
"Saturday at the 70's"
When I started working at Mimi's and specifically working every Saturday of my life, I was introduced to "Saturday at the 70's" on Madison's Magic 98.1. At that time, I knew no 70's songs, and honestly listening to them EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY annoyed me. Sometime, however, over my almost five years at Mimi's, I fell in love with "Saturday at the 70's." Now, I miss my 70's music if I don't hear it regularly (like EVERY SINGLE SATURDAY. Yes, it sucks knowing I've worked almost every Saturday of the year for the past five. One summer, I counted my Saturday's--I worked 10 of the 12, and the 2 I didn't work I was in Florida on a missions trip).
I now know all the 70's songs, and I hum and sing along with them. The 70's one hit wonder juke box, yup, I sing along with them, and those 70's soundtrack rewind which usually are one the Saturday Night Fever songs. Yeah, BeeGees! I haven't a clue who sings the songs and the names of the songs though since Magic 98.1 doesn't normally announce the singer, but hey, at least I know the songs. Christmas is always hard because I'm deprived of my 70's music. But the Christmas season leaves, and I get to listen to it again.
Now, I've lost my job, and I can already hear that my new job (at a grocery store) doesn't play the local pop station, and they have no 70's music. I've, only worked at the grocery store one day, and I'm already in withdrawal.
Mimi's
On December 23, I worked my last day at Mimi's. In February, I would have worked there for five years. Sadly, Mimi's is closing because, well, here's a list:
1. The economy is horrible.
2. We sell nothing that is essential to life.
3. The money people do have they need to spend on food, gas, mortgage, schooling, etc. Not bears, ornaments, figurines, cards, chocolate, picture frames, and other non-essentials to life.
4. All of our merchandise is expensive and overpriced.
5. Corporate has no interest in independent stores anymore.
6. Corporate makes Mimi's pay for many revisions, and they pocket the extra money.
7. The town people think we're in a bad location.
The employee's had the hardest time listening to the bad location argument.
8. Corporate sells product to other big corporate stores.
9. Corporate discounts the product for big corporate stores which makes the small independent stores look like we overcharge.
We told customers we were closing because of the economy. I was amazed at how many were shocked that it was the economy. When I said the economy, they would look so surprised, and then the realization would come into their eyes. I also loved they could walk in the door, walk around the store, and then during check out realize we're closing.
I ran out of answers to, "I'm so sorry you guys are closing" or "Where am I going to shop when you're gone" or "This just sucks." Our regular customers were wonderful, sweet, and sad. But, we had tons of customers who had never visited and only came in because of the sale. People who wanted to buy fixtures were the worst. They wanted to wheel and deal; they wanted you to help them take everything a part, and then move it out.
My wonderful work place turned into a place of tension, stress, and nerves. I had to start thinking about the good times because the end was making me not want to come to work again.
One of my favorite customer memory happened two or three Christmases ago. Blue Christmas came on the radio, and I started to hum along (I hum along to ALL the Christmas songs; it helps me stay calm when everything gets busy). Then Sandi started to sing, and then the customers joined in. It was funny and great; one of those moments which could only happen in a small store in a small town.
I also love the memory when a customer told Sandy and I all about her daughter's wedding, honeymoon, and their ski accident which occurred on the honeymoon.
I loved selling Snoopy to Pat; she couldn't resist any of it. Yet when she would pay, it was always this big trial, but if she missed any of it, she would be devastated.
I loved the Saturday when Dianne told me how she met her husband, married him, and her beginning jobs before children. I also loved finding out about her children, and their lives. I loved discussing religion with her.
I loved working with Sandy and talking about teaching, books, her husband, the Bible, God, and her grandchildren. She let me pour my thoughts out about school schedules and life and always gave good advice.
I loved working with all the ladies and the regular customers. I loved serving the chocolate. (When I started at Mimi's, I didn't like chocolate in the least bit. Mimi's sold Quality Candy, and let me tell you, it is fabulous chocolate. I love chocolate now; however, I'm picky.) I loved learning how to wrap presents, and then wrapping for customers. I loved so many things about this job.
I have many good memories from my first job. I'm so thankful I was able to build relationships which turned into friendships with my coworkers. I'm going to miss it, but I'm ready to move on. On December 26, I started my other job. Not much time without a job or to think about being gone; maybe it's for the best.
Some pictures for memory sake:
1. The economy is horrible.
2. We sell nothing that is essential to life.
3. The money people do have they need to spend on food, gas, mortgage, schooling, etc. Not bears, ornaments, figurines, cards, chocolate, picture frames, and other non-essentials to life.
4. All of our merchandise is expensive and overpriced.
5. Corporate has no interest in independent stores anymore.
6. Corporate makes Mimi's pay for many revisions, and they pocket the extra money.
7. The town people think we're in a bad location.
The employee's had the hardest time listening to the bad location argument.
8. Corporate sells product to other big corporate stores.
9. Corporate discounts the product for big corporate stores which makes the small independent stores look like we overcharge.
We told customers we were closing because of the economy. I was amazed at how many were shocked that it was the economy. When I said the economy, they would look so surprised, and then the realization would come into their eyes. I also loved they could walk in the door, walk around the store, and then during check out realize we're closing.
I ran out of answers to, "I'm so sorry you guys are closing" or "Where am I going to shop when you're gone" or "This just sucks." Our regular customers were wonderful, sweet, and sad. But, we had tons of customers who had never visited and only came in because of the sale. People who wanted to buy fixtures were the worst. They wanted to wheel and deal; they wanted you to help them take everything a part, and then move it out.
My wonderful work place turned into a place of tension, stress, and nerves. I had to start thinking about the good times because the end was making me not want to come to work again.
One of my favorite customer memory happened two or three Christmases ago. Blue Christmas came on the radio, and I started to hum along (I hum along to ALL the Christmas songs; it helps me stay calm when everything gets busy). Then Sandi started to sing, and then the customers joined in. It was funny and great; one of those moments which could only happen in a small store in a small town.
I also love the memory when a customer told Sandy and I all about her daughter's wedding, honeymoon, and their ski accident which occurred on the honeymoon.
I loved selling Snoopy to Pat; she couldn't resist any of it. Yet when she would pay, it was always this big trial, but if she missed any of it, she would be devastated.
I loved the Saturday when Dianne told me how she met her husband, married him, and her beginning jobs before children. I also loved finding out about her children, and their lives. I loved discussing religion with her.
I loved working with Sandy and talking about teaching, books, her husband, the Bible, God, and her grandchildren. She let me pour my thoughts out about school schedules and life and always gave good advice.
I loved working with all the ladies and the regular customers. I loved serving the chocolate. (When I started at Mimi's, I didn't like chocolate in the least bit. Mimi's sold Quality Candy, and let me tell you, it is fabulous chocolate. I love chocolate now; however, I'm picky.) I loved learning how to wrap presents, and then wrapping for customers. I loved so many things about this job.
I have many good memories from my first job. I'm so thankful I was able to build relationships which turned into friendships with my coworkers. I'm going to miss it, but I'm ready to move on. On December 26, I started my other job. Not much time without a job or to think about being gone; maybe it's for the best.
Some pictures for memory sake:
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