Plum Lovin

Janet Evanovich never fails to entertain! In Plum Lovin' she once again caused me to laugh uncontrollably while driving alone. I'm sure passers-by were wondering..."Break down?" In this installment of the Between the Numbers volumes of the Stephanie Plum series, Stephanie helps Diesel solve one of his "unmentionable" cases in exchange for one of Jersey’s most wanted. For her part, she acts as a relationship expert to make sure five challenging cases have a happy Valentines Day, while Diesel has to diffuse another unmentionable’s powers.
This one was too funny, and Diesel gets sexier by the minute!

The Other Queen

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is story of Mary Queen of Scots and her ultimate execution under Queen Elizabeth. As usual, the characters are well-researched and well-written. I understood their motivations even if I disagreed with them. Because I love Gregory's work and find this time period interesting I enjoyed this book. I take a long break between each book because the treachery and beheadings can get old. I don't how the Tudors dealth with the constant distrust and stress.

I finished this audiobook, but it was difficult getting through it. It was well-written, I simply could not enjoy the ride.

Use Your Words Not Your Hands

Ms. E., an older woman whose opinion I usually respect, recently made a comment about domestic violence that has troubled me all week. I can't recall exactly what celebrity she was talking about, but she made a comment that this person had "only been slapped" )by a male in her life), and no one would have thought a thing about it if it weren't for her fame. She went on to emphasize that it was just a slap which, in her opinion, was no big deal. I was struck dumb by this woman's comments. I should have spoken up in defense of women everywhere, but I was just so shocked that any woman could honestly believe such a thing. Ms. E has been married and divorced twice. It saddens me to think that my dear friend may have been a victim of this type of violence.

Time Outside

A respite from the torrential rain.

Click here for more Six Word Saturday.

Week 2

Max had a great day on Thursday! Excercise seems to be the key life ingredient that he is not getting enough of. Just as I figure this out, a week long stretch of rain is about to begin. REALLY? REALLY!?

In the classroom

As the teacher, I spent the first week after break tightening the reigns on students behavior. As a group,We spent the first week, reviewing rules, procedures, and routines. It was a great week. Next week will be interrupted by an assembly, two days of district testing, and a holiday. REALLY!!?

Audobook Challenge

Audio Book Challenge

For the past two years I have started several book challenges at the beginning of the year and only complete one by years end. Last year I didn't post reviews for each book, but I did listen to the number of books required to complet this challenge. With this being a year of love and acceptance for me, I am accepting the fact that one book challenge is enough for me. I will, however, make sure I post reviews this year and write a wrap-up post.

Challenge Guidelines:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Include your information in the comment section.
2. There are four levels:

• Curious – Listen to 3 Audio Books.
• Fascinated – Listen to 6 Audio Books.
• Addicted – Listen to 12 Audio Books.
• Obsessed – Listen to 20 Audio Books

3. Audio books only.
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

I am participating at the "Obsessed" level. It  will be no problem because I listened to about that many audiobooks last year. (I stopped putting them in the sidebar when I reached 12.)

My Audio Book List will appear in the sidebar (under the Audio Book Challenge button) and be update as I complete and begin new books.

Six Word Saturday

Work on Monday, students on Tuesday!

Frustration

This week during puppy training class, Max tried to bite the trainer! He has become a very strong-willed dog. This CANNOT continue. If you follow the Cesar Milan at all (it seems like everyone does) , then you know that the root of the problem is me. I personally admit that I'm doing quite a few things wrong:

• Inconsistency during training
• giving him too much freedom
• not being a calm-assertive leader

The last item is the most important and the one I am having the hardest time correcting. Currently, I know I am not sending out a calm-assertive energy; I'm sending out an energy that screams frustration. I am frustrated with my job, my neighborhood, and Max. Saying I have to rise above these things and be the leader I used to be, can be, and am meant to be is easier said than done right now. Regardless, I am not giving up. I'm addressing each of the issues listed above and tightening the reigns on Max. I have also signed up for some one-on-one training sessions for Max and I.

(I am sure that the bulleted items are showing up in my classroom too, and I will be addressing them there too.)

Resolutions

I am exhausted, but determined to post something today. Max is a 22 week old bundle of energy and, if you haven't figured it out, I am a low energy person.

He is still nipping. It feels alot like biting if you're nipped :( I'm trying the "withold attention" approach when he nips, but it is slow going. Everyone tells me to work him hard to burn off as much of that energy as possible during the day. Let's just say our 4 1/2 mile walk wore me out, but he was still jumping around and ready for action. When he is not running, jumping, and nipping, he is humping everyone or thing in sight. He was neutered two weeks ago, but the humping remains an issue.

Back to the point of this post...My resolutions this year are pretty general yet necessary.

1. Socialize more
2. Use my camera more
3. When I exit a room in my house or get out of my car, do one thing to leave it in a better state than it was when I entered. (It could anything from doing dishes to throwing away mail left on the counter.) It would be nice if I could do this with every situation or person I encounter, but I figure I'll start small and work my way up. Truthfully,this is a sneaky of admitting that I failed (once again) to keep my house cleaner last year, so I'm still working on that ;)

Gotta go. Tomorrow we try the long walk with Max wearing a weighted doggie back pack (per vet and trainer advice). I figure he can also carry my water, B12 and pain pills ;p