Weekly Geek

This weeks challenge is right up my alley (see challenge post here). In a nutshell, organize your book challenges, reviews and posts. I am doing more book challenges this summer, so this will help me get them in order. It will also give me a chance to work on my blog in general.

I am currently signed up for the following book challenges:

The Herding Cats Challenge

The Themed Book Challenge

The YA Challenge 2008

Herding Cats Book Challenge

I found this book challenge listed by Bottle of Shine on LiveJournal
(see official challenge post here)

The gist of it is to list ten books you love, and then read three books from other peoples lists.

My “Herding Cats" List

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
2. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
4. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
6. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
7. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
8. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
9. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
10. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Other Noteworthy Books

1. The Last Lecture by Richard Pausch
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

Deadline

YA Book Challenge

Deadline is the story of a young man (17) who finds out he has one year to live. How will he live out his last days? He has a plan but as we all know, things never go quite as planned.

I finished this novel some time ago but never got around to posting a review. This was my first Chris Crutcher novel, and it had my attention from page one. Not only was the ending not what expected, at every turn this novel took my into corners and crevices of modern life which I normally cover my eyes as I pass. Crutcher just put the ugly side of life out there, showed how people deal with it, and moved on to the next obstacle. From what I hear Mr. Crutcher is good at this sort of thing. Admittedly, there were parts which required a suspension of belief, but what good entertainment doesn't. Not only would I recommend this book to others, I have already passed it on to several friends.

Rating: 10/10

The Year of Magical Thinking

Themed Book Challenge

In a sincere effort to complete the Themed Book Challenge this month, I read The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. This is nonfiction personal account losing her husband and her daughter. I had never read anything by this author and was amazed at the detailed manner in which she wrote about such a raw, personal experience.

In chapter ten, Didion introduces the "vortex effect" which made me glad I put this on my Getting Back in the Game themed reading list. The power of familiar places, objects, or phrases to take us back to "the way things were before" is common to all experiences that we must get through and from which we must move on.

In the final chapter, the author states:

"I know why we try to keep the dead alive; we try to keem them alive in order to keep them with us." (Didion, p. 225)

I feel this also applies to relationships gone sour. We want to hang on the what we feel were "the good times". Moving from "we" to "I" and being open to a new "we" takes you through a very similar process. Respectfully, they are not the same. With divorce or breakup there is still the possibility of positive interactions, no matter how unlikely. In death interaction is no longer possible.

"I could not count the time during the average day that something would come up that I needed to tell him. This impulse did not end with his death. What ended was the possibility of response." (Didion, p. 194)

The message learned from this novel is that as time moves on we gain chronological distance from experiences of loss. In our simple efforts to continue living and be productive, we build new memories, learn to manuveur the rises and falls of life, and gradually get back in the game.

Rating: 8/10
Heavy reading for some. Would not recommend it to anyone who might not appreciate Didion's detailed analytical style.

Boredom

I am clearly extremely bored. I missed the opportunity to enroll in summer school because I just couldn't function with my computer as it was. Today, I am going to begin working on some things for the coming school year, and I am going to work on the molding in the dining room (caulking). Hopefully, one of these things will fulfill my desperate need for a project. Tomorrow, it's off to Carlsbad for the day. My mother is actually on the brink of asking me to stop calling her (I think I'm up to three times a day.) Her parting words to me this morning were, "Okay, I'll talk to you next week." Normally I would consider a statement like that progress on her part, but now -- not so much. My dad has gone from talking very little on the phone to actually having a conversational word count on the negative side of the number line (Hello. Are you there?).

The Power of Heat

I never ceases to amaze me how one change or alteration to my sensitive life alter my animated, go-getter personality. Those three days without AC are, thus far, the sole entries on my "Lost Days of Summer" list. I was just to drained to do anything.

I have friends who say that this list should have as many entries as possible because in their humble, yet loud, opinion all the days of a break should be spent lounging and doing nothing in particular. I disagree. After the first day I become extremely bored. Must...have [gasp, gasp]...projects.

How do you think summer days should be spent?

Change in Plans

It's funny how life has a way of altering your priorities. When my vacation started I had a very clear idea of how my time and money would be spent this summer. Since that time my priorities have been changed.

Thursday night, my AC went out. Considering the fact that we are in the midst of a heat wave, that sucks.

For the past few months my laptop has been cutting off every 40 minutes or so. Now it is at every 8-10 minutes. That makes it difficult to get anything done, however, I may have discovered the cause of this problem. This morning I took it off the desk and positioned it in my lap in such a way that more air was able to circulate under the computer (no, it was not a very "ladylike" sitting position). It stayed on the entire time I was working. I believe it has been overheating (I just did some research and found out that this is a common problem with Toshiba laptops). It apparently needs some cleaning and one of the fans is not working.

Between these two situations is one very bored middle school teacher with a new to do list for the summer.

1. Get AC repaired (the repairman will be here this afternoon).
2. Buy desktop computer to use at home while laptop is being repaired and cleaned. I need my internet fix and unlike ms_teacher I am not Blackberry ready.
Depending on the cost of these two items that may be the extent of my summer spending. The remainder of my summer adventure will be determined by the kindness of strangers and friends, coupons, and my own resourcefulness. This could turn out to be quite an adventure after all.

Things I've Learned About Men

Once you allow the heart to heal and meet a genuinely good man, it opens your eyes to things about the opposite sex.

1. They say what they mean.
"I liked your hair the way it was", means just that and not that he does not like your new hairstyle.

2. They are intrigued by women who know what they want.

3. They genuinely enjoy our company, even during the _____ game (basketball, football, baseball, soccer....you fill in the blank.)

4. They have talkative moments, not many, but they have them. They usually happen during a day that you spend doing something he enjoys and thought you would not. As a matter of fact, at times like these, you can shut them up and don't want to. They are actually amusing.

5. They really do love us.

6. They have flaws.

7. They get scared too.

8. They are capable of great things.

9. They have baggage too. They just don't unpack, sort, and analyze every piece. Living out of the suitcase is fine with them.

10. They never "need" help, but they can always "use" a hand, a hug, or directions.

I Made It

Hooray! Its finely here! The first day of summer break.. We go back a week earlier next year so this break will be slightly shorter, but I am not complaining. I have several goals for this summer. They include:

Finish the Themed Book Challenge

Get up at the same time I do when I go to work. Having waking and retiring times is good for the body…so I hear.

Write, write, write!

Plan for 1st semester of the coming school year

Caulk and paint the molding in the dining room

Gardening

Start a compost bin

Eat healthier. I have already started this (along with a detox and acupuncture) in my effort to deal with my fibroids and for better overall health. Just using Evening Primrose Oil and increasing my Omega- 3 intake has eliminated my anemia and given me pain free periods for the past year and a half. Now it is the bulk (size) that I am dealing with. I know nothing will make them go away completely, but I don’t want any more growth, and a reduction in size would be nice. I know of cases where it has happened. I also know that every case is different.

Start saving more. Considering the price of gas, food, and everything else, this will be a challenge.

Broaden the borders of my life. In other words, I am open to more socializing, romance, and kayaking ;)

Oh yes, and give the house a thorough cleaning.

I guess you could say I have plans for the summer but being the procrastinator that I am, it will be interesting to see what I accomplish. the work to be done is a given. Having a good time is a choice. I plan to have a great summer!

Themed Book Challenge

Further changes to my list:
My Themed Book Challenge List:

1. How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
2. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert (this one will be a second reading)
3. Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach
4. An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

Recent Reads (Within the Last Two Months)

Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
Harcourt Books 2006

This was book sent to me by a former co-worker (I just love book swapping!), and I must say it was a very good read. I’m not a horse person (Sorry), but that did not stop me from enjoying this book. What drew me was the story of getting back into the dating game after a divorce. It takes different things to draw a person back in and teach them to trust again, even animals. I could definitely relate to the main characters journey back into dating.

Sometimes novels with this theme sometimes remind me of a jerky ride with someone who is just learning to drive a manual transmission car; however, this was a very smooth read.

9/10

My Themed Book Challenge List:

1. How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan Chosen by a Horse by Susan Richards
2. Eat, Love, Pray by Elizabeth Gilbert (this one will be a second reading)
3. Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman by Alice Steinbach
4. An Italian Affair by Laura Fraser

Just an Update

It's been awhile since I last posted. Life has been hectic, but the school year is almost over. Here are a few bulleted updates. I will do more extensive posting at a later date.

• Went to San Francisco for the Memorial Day weekend
• Finished several books
• Hooked on audiobooks
• Dealing with fibroids

Are We Testing or Am I Just A Little Testy

Whew! State testing is over, and I really believe that the majority of my students did their best. Summer vacation is just around the corner and I can't wait!

My body has a way of letting me know when the stress is too much to be ignored. Let's see, my skin has broken out, and I have lost hair. Ignoring these things only caused the symptoms to escalate. On Monday, I started having muscle spasms in my neck and left shoulder. I made an appointment for a massage on Monday, during the staff meeting. The massage therapist found out I was under a great deal of stress and decided I would be a good person to experiment on. (I have yet to see the logic behind her decision.) She had me hold warm rocks in my hands and rub them, as she worked on me. That's when the control freak in me tried to take over the relaxation process. "The rocks are my problems and they easily fit in the palm of my hand", I thought. "Gee, I have hard problems, and they're heavy too", I contemplated. Okay, okay...Let's try this. "I am the rocks. I am tough and able to crush the stress." Better. "Gee, I'm so hard, and I'm not as warm as I was when I started. No wonder people don't get too close to me." That was clearly not the right approach either. As the therapist plunged her elbow deep into my shoulder, I considered that throwing the rocks might be the best thing to do.

Never a Dull or Unoccupied Moment

This has been the most stressful week I have had all year. I have been dreading it, and the mere thought of it approaching has sent my head spinning several times. Well not only did it come, I am glad to say it went okay. My mom had hip surgery on Tuesday (same thing I had a little over a year ago)and is fine, I had a sub in my room for three days and the room is still standing, and Open House was Thursday night (I was out that day but got the room in order thirty minutes before the big event). On Friday (after work), I took a couple of hours to catch my breath and a nap before driving to up to Mom's to make sure the transition from hospital to home went well. Having tolerated the annoyances provided by my stepfather and aunt (I never play well with others!), I would love to spend the entire weekend relaxing, but I have one week before state testing begins, papers to grade, and D/F notices to send out.

The waiting room gave me time to think about two things that need attention in my life, a relationship that needs to be defined and books.I've finished several books. Thanks to the wonder of audio books and the CD player in my car, I actually got through two of them this week. I am currently working on another one and have a paperback in progress. I'll post my book reviews a little later. Regarding the man, I'll save that for a later post too ;)

Back to Reality

I am pretty much over the rainbows and butterflies of Spring Break. Nothing like an angry parent, an anal co-worker with email access, parent conferences, and a botched lesson plan or two to snap me back to reality. I got through the week by promising myself I could test two new recipes this weekend.

Okay, okay...by Wednesday, I had to spice up the deal by adding a nightly glass of Maurice Car'rie 2006 Muscat Canelli. A friend of mine had me try it. It's sweet, but not overly so.

This weekend I got some rest and exercise. I also reviewed my stress busting plan (comprised of a decent bedtime, some exercise, and better eating habits). This week should go a lot better but, just in case, I am not ruling out that glass of wine.

A Day in the Sun

Okay, let me begin by confessing that the photo is one I took off the internet and not one I shot. Having said that, I can't believe that I spent time "kayaking" yesterday. It was my first time, and I really enjoyed it. My friends went easy on me since I was a newbie, but I have been assured that from now on I get no special treatment. We spent the afternoon kayaking in Oceanside Harbor, followed by food and drinks. It was a great way to spend the day. I regret not taking my camera, but I'll be ready next time. Yes, there will be a next time.

Dinner Party Success

The dinner party I have been nervously planning was a hit!The guest list included a hodge-podge of personalities and everyone got along fabulously!

The menu was a follows:

Appetizers: small crab cakes, ham and cheese baskets, and phyllo triangle with spinach and feta cheese.

Main Entree: Lasagna, Paella, salad, garlic bread, rosemary bread

Dessert: Tunnel of Fudge cake, pound cake, lemon cream pie, Razzleberry pie, and

Beverages included: a homemade blush sangria (complete with apple brandy), several wine choices, coke, Kona coffee, and water.

Yes, there were glitches, but they just added to the fun.

Twilight Part II

My recent post regarding Twilight, by Stephenie Meyers, crossed my mind today. Specifically, I was thinking about the ways in which Edward Cullen has all the qualities the perfect boyfriend would posses. It then occured to me that he has some pretty serious, in fact dangerous, flaws. I fully understand that it is easy to overlook the flaws of a fictional character, but I'm suprised that I am not as troubled as I should be that Bella is keeping Edward's vampire secret and placing herself in harms way.(This is not a good model for the young ladies who think having a man is more important that having a good one.) I get it...she's in love.

Thinking back on some of the men I have dated in the past, I can see that seemingly minor flaws can be a big deal if there is not chemistry between two people. I guess it's true..."Love covers a multitude of sins."

Twilight

It’s official, I am like every other female who has read Twilight; I'm in love with Edward Cullen! This, first in a series, novel by Stephenie Meyers strongly appealed to my need for escapism. I was captivated on the first page and finished the novel in about four days. Darn those intrusive social and familial obligations! Twilight is a very well told modern day vampire story. It took me back to the first time I read Interview with a Vampire, by Ann Rice. Rice's themes and plot were far more mature, but it was the first time I had heard or seen a vampire story that did not come across as campy. This novel can truthfully make the same claim.

Bella is your run of the mill teenager (with the exception of the vampire boyfriend), who doesn't fit in. Then she meets Edward. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that everyone fits in somewhere. You just have to find the place where the person you are happens to be (no pun intended) the flavor of the month or enough of a novelty to garner attention. In Forks, Bella has found a home. There, even her clumsiness is endearing and unfortunately, more life threatening. All the boys love her, but Edward, with his hypnotic voice and looks to literally "die for", captures her heart.

The suspense sequence is just okay. Am I wrong to look for a Dan Brown level of suspense in a book for young adults?

The sensual scenes, on the other hand, are very well written. They titillate without sending the reader or the characters over the edge. Bravo! They remind me of the novels I secretly read in junior high. Unlike the literature of today, foreshadowing and imagery were the primary sensual story telling devices. Today, they tell entirely too much and take things way too far. I have noticed that this series has an HS logo (for high school or mature content) in the Scholastic flyers. The warning is appropriate, but by comparison this is a tame one.

Rating: 4.4/5

Day of Tears

I recently finished reading Day of Tears, by Julius Lester, as part of the Young Adult Book Challenge. It is a historical fiction novel set during the largest slave auction in U.S. history, "The Weeping Time". The story is told in dialogue format which allows you to hear several perspectives. In addition, you get the characters take on the events as they unfold and as they reflect on them many years later. Lester uses the main character, Emma, and the events of the auction to tie the dialogues together in the least confusing way. Emma demonstrates the emotional and psychological pain which slaves endured and triumphed over. Through this character and others this novel did an excellent job of laying bare the fact that many felt slaves were not human beings and giving voice to the actual depth of their humanity.

True to the historical setting, the "N-Word" appears when many of the white characters refer to or address the characters of African descent. While discussing the use of this term with students, I appreciated the balance of characters represented in the novel. Those sympathetic to the plight of the slaves tempered the cruelty of slave owners and other pro-slavery characters.

Initially, it was easy to put this book aside and not come back to it for days on end. When I finally made a conscious decision to give myself over to the characters, I was able to get through it but still did not feel fully engaged. My use of reading as an escape from the harsher aspects of life is probably to blame there.

I read it with a group of sixth students at my school site and during our biweekly discussion meetings it was clear that this book captured and kept their attention from the beginning. Before passing out novels, I sent home permission slips which gave parents a warning that the text would evoke more emotions than past reads. During SSR in her math class, one young lady began to cry and a classmate, who was also reading the novel, helped her explain to the teacher what brought on her tears. The math teacher was impressed that young people were that engaged in reading, and I was thankful I had been proactive in warning the parents and students.

Rating: 3.5/5