Friday, April 17, 2009

And other stuff

This post is going to be full of other stuff.

First of all: three days is all I can take of being M-less. I just couldn't do any more. Thank you, Uncle Zach, for bringing my girl home to me today. I thought they weren't going to arrive until 5:00, so I planned to run a few errands before they got here so I didn't have to come home to an empty house. I was STOKED when I got a phone call that said to meet them at H's office--they would be here around 4:00. Oh, it was SO good to see my sweet girl!!

Second of all: I'm itching for a good book. What are you guys, girls, kids, moms, grandmas, friends, out there reading these days? I bought two books tonight at the bookstore, but need to start visiting my local library. I'd love to start gathering some summer reading ideas. I like EVERYTHING.

Third of all: I'm freakin' exhausted! This week my school system adminsitered our state mandated testing. My kids did AWESOME on the reading, okay on the english portion, and tanked the math. Nothing is more frustrating than teaching your heart out, only to know that you still didn't push your kids enough, fill them enough, stretch them enough for a stinkin' test. Math has always been my weakest areas of teaching. This year, I dedicated myself to math. I took on planning for our team, took the "lower" kids, etc, to really push myself to do better. And I did. But it still wasn't enough. ARGH!! I just think they (whoever THEY are!) are expecting too much, too soon. Let's get back to some basic skills here, people. Come sit in my class, any time, any day, and tell me how I can do more.

Fourth: I'm really looking forward to this weekend. My brother is here all weekend. He and H have gone out for the evening. Tomorrow morning they are going off again, while M and I attend a b'day party. Then tomorrow afternoon, I'm doing a real photo shoot with someone I've never met before. I donated a photo shoot a local charity and I'm doing it tomorrow for a family of four at their home. I'm completely excited about it and can't wait to see how it works out!

Fifth: This year, in an effort to simplify, I'm only giving books as gifts for all the kid b'day parties we attend. Would you tell me some of your favorite children's lit? M's favorite book ever is Pinkalicious. (Um...I just learned something when I created that link: there is a pinkalicious musical!!!!) If you haven't read it, CHECK IT OUT. I'm into Purplicious right now. I'd love some other choices in my arsenal. As soon as people learn about these books, they are going to rush out to buy them, so I'll need something else to fall back on.

Sixth: Oh...I almost forgot this one. H and I went on a date last night. We ate dinner at a very fancy restaurant, then went to the movies to see Knowing. Before I continue, let me tell you how much I love Nicholas Cage. I have a thing for him. I mean it. It's a terrible problem, I assure you. So when H gave me his list for possible movie choices, I quickly honed in on Knowing, knowing Nicholas Cage was the main character (hahaha...funny, knowing). BIG MISTAKE. Poor H's hand will never be the same again. Twice during the movie, I told him if it got any scarier, I was leaving. And like a good book, I HATE leaving a movie unfinished. He told me that I didn't squeeze his hand that hard when I was in labor with M. If you're into scary, sci-fi-ish movies, go for it. If you're like me and want something with some good suspense, this is NOT the movie for you. Nicholas and I will probably never have the same relationship again.

I think that's about it. This is full of "and other stuff" tonight. I'll post my P365 pictures tomorrow.

Whew...why didn't y'all tell me that the other background was TOO MUCH??? I've looked at it for almost two weeks and finally couldn't take it any more!! I hope this doesn't cause you as much headache.

7 comments:

Kyla said...

I'm currently reading this and this. The first is REALLY interesting, even from a layman's perspective. Funny story, at the pediatrician's office last week KayTar made me read excerpts of it to her out loud. Only my kid wants to hear about that stuff, I think! I've read a lot lately, but most of it is of the nonfiction medical stuff.

Glad you got your girl back! I'm impressed you made it 3 days!

Arizaphale said...

The last brilliant thing I read was 'The Book Thief'. It's an unusual start but stick with it. The BA even loved it.

Kids books...anything by Dr Suess is still OK as far as I'm concerned. My personal fave is "Marvin K Mooney Will You Please Go Now". It's all in how you read it. My knowledge of kids books is 10 years out of date I'm afraid but looking back into the mists of time...all the 'Hairy McLairy from Donaldsons Dairy' books were good and of course, 'Guess How much I Love You'.
Heeheehee re: the background. The main thing though is that YOU like it!
Good luck with the shoot. Look forward to seeing the results.

Colleen @AMadisonMom said...

That is sooo funny about Pinkalicious. That's the book we give every girl as a birthday gift too. We get invited to a party... I pick up a Pinkalicious. We had to go to a twins party... we bought Pinkalicious AND Purplicious.

I'm glad I'm not alone!

Christina said...

pinkalicious is a favorite around here, too! I don't care much for Purplicious. Im thinking maybe I should put together a post of our favorite kids books.

For YOU books - do you know www.goodeads.com ? I'm on there, and it's a great way to keep track of books you have read, books you want to read, and network with other readers. Love it. I'm currently reading Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult.

Anonymous said...

Have you read "The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"? Great read! I'm also on GoodReads. You can see all my book recs there! ~LRE

Maggie said...

Jodi Picoult is hands down my favorite author. I think that I have read everything she has written at least three times each. You can't go wrong with anything she has done, although I will say that Tenth Circle was probably my least favorite of hers.

William Bernhardt is my favorite crime/mystery writer. I have read all of his work too, and I think it's really entertaining.

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain was good -- the sequal, Sweetheart, was okay, but not as good as the first book.

Most of the other things that I have read are medically based, even the fiction things. But if you like things like that, let me know - I've got a list of good ones!

Katie's test page blog said...

Okay, I'm a little late on responding, but my favorite author these days is Guy Gavriel Kay, kind of historical fiction/fantasy. The lightest read is A Song for Arbonne, the heaviest (and saddest) is Tigana. The Sarantine Mosaic is probably my favorite, although Lions of Al-Rassan is really awesome too. And, if you want to get in depth in that vein, George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series is really engaging (although still has at least 1 more book to write and no release date and it's REALLY irritating because the last book was a total cliff hanger).

As far as kids books, my two favorites may not be what you are looking for. Imagine a Night by Ron Gonsalves has the best illustrations, and they make the book. Another favorite is On the Day You Were Born by Debra Frasier.