Sunday Salon

Outside my window... Cool, windy and dark. Spring has taken us from 90 degree days to cool, rainy and windy. Arizona Spring!! So...we pulled out the hoodies again and headed out for a busy day.

I am listening to .... the ticking of the clock, the hum of the dishwasher and the thrill of quiet.

Favorite things from this week .... Meeting more blogger-heroes. Wow! They were funny and sparkly. Loved it. Book group. The lovely mammographer at the Mobile Mammogram clinic- Truly. Hairstylin' with my favorite friend, Nikki. Date night. We took in the play The Odd Couple and stumbled upon a tiny little restaurant for date night. Fantastic. Today we helped out our nephew by working on his Eagle Project. We gleaned fruit for the Food Bank. It felt good to give. Best reward - - taking little Jase with us AND the donuts!!

I am thinking ... about bed and about the book that waits for me on the nightstand.

I am grateful for ... how fast the hard and busy week went. I fell this week - hard. A royal wipe-out. I was being silly and it caught up with me. I am grateful that only my pride was hurt and that my bruise is really cool looking.

I am reading ... Wings by Aprilynne Pike for my other book group and a few more. The pile by my bed is growing exponentially!

I am listing ... Foods to practice cooking over campfires and in dutch ovens for our summer extravaganza. Doesn't cornmeal mush sound appetizing?!?!?! I am also working on Fablehaven lesson plans and writing ideas.

I am creating ... nothing. I think I just want to watch other people be creative. I must be a slug.

Plans for the week ... AIMS testing!!! Ack. Wake me when it's over......

Despite the fact that I sound like a negative-Nelly, life is super-de-duper. I think I am just tired. Either that or I am in a food coma! Could be both. I'll say night-night whole I still have two brain cells to rub together.

When Bloggers Unite

(One sassy group of bloggers!!)

Yep, we're locked OUT of the bookstore!! Can you hear us chanting, "Open, Open, Open!" ????
So, what's a blogger to do?
Well, talk and laugh and eat, of course. I mean, can you say, duh???
Now this is one group of cool people. They let me crash their dinner, they made me laugh, they entertained me and welcomed me. Gosh, you think we'd been buds forever.
I love that.
Thanks friends. It was one sweet night.
Even if the bookstore was closed.

(Melissa, Susan, Suey, and moi)

Here's to more reunions in the future.
Let's see, I feel the need for a road trip coming on....

Dystopian Time

(Washington Post Peeps Diorama Contest 2012)

Impressive, huh??

I have managed to read just a little during this testing review time.
(I think it's my stress relief and my escape!)

Still working on all of these Library Request books that are tumbling in.... Next up - YA Dystopian Drama. (Is there any other kind??)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

The interesting thing about Library requests is that they arrive whether you're in the dystopian mood or not. They arrive whether you are up-to-your-eyeballs-busy or not. They arrive, quite often, when others are on to the next good story - or not. When you have two book group books to read and loads of work awaiting. Nonetheless; I am grateful for libraries and the exposure to literature that just makes me turn the page faster and faster. Such was the case when Divergent arrived. I have read scraps and pieces of reviews about this book for sometime so I plugged it into my que (I just wanted to say that! Since I am NOT a Netflix girl I have never had the chance to pony up to that particular phrase. sigh!) Who knew it would take this long to be my turn?? Who knew it would arrive when I had actually forgotten why I had reserved it in the first place?? Who knew it would arrive in time for April Break reading?? (Insert a "good timing" shout here.) So, without further ado, why I haven't read blogs or posted over this April break...

Here is the premise( for those of you as behind as I am in reading) : Picture a broken down and apocalyptic Chicago where society has been broken up into five "factions." Each faction is known by the dominant traits of its' members - honesty, intelligence, peacefulness, courage, and selflessness. Regardless to which faction a child is born into, when they turn 16, they are given an aptitude test to determine which faction they are best suited for. Usually, whether through nature or nurture, these teens stay with their own factions, however; it is their choice. It is up to them to choose to leave their families and everything they know to go to another faction to which they are more suited. Sometimes, in a rare case, there is a 16 year old that has traits in more than one faction - these people are considered DIVERGENT - and dangerous.

Okay. I was invested. It reminded me of The Giver.
There was action, societal questions and talk of free will and agency. Black, white, grey....
I empathized with the main character, Tris, as I made decisions at 16/17 that separated my from my family. I felt her internal struggle and continual questions. I still do, many years later. I also felt the pain and anguish of parents as their child would choose to leave one faction and seek another. I felt their struggle and still do. Isn't fiction amazing?!?!

Divergent caught me up and carried me along on a thrill ride. Although the book seemed a tad long in parts (I wanted a little tighter editing in the middle) I was invested in the story. The ending was a real roller coaster ride, however. It kept me riveted right up to the last page. I realize that all dystopians must opt for a trilogy nowadays but I was happy with stopping there. It didn't tie things up in happy wrapping paper and bows, but I was happy looking to possibilities without the author spelling them out for me. That's the kind of ending I like. I can write my own. But.... I know there are more adventures ahead for Tris. I may want to check in on her again, when the book arrives in my Library que!!!

Sunday Salon - Easter

Outside my window... A bright and sunny Easter. An Easter egg morning...oh yeah, throw in the chocolate bunny ears too!

I am listening to .... My grandson humming and singing. Delightful.

Favorite things from this week ... April Break!!!!! It was a short week, but a hectic one and things look to be even more so this week, nonetheless; having Good Friday off was worth it!! I slept in a bit and read in bed which feels like heaven on earth to me. We also celebrated a 5 year old's birthday, went on a date to the park and rode bikes around the lake, finished our taxes and played games with J&K. Last night we hunted Easter eggs at a church party, jumped in the jumping castle and went out to dinner with J&K. Yep, this has been a great weekend.

I am thinking ... about Science stations for review, math stations and test prep. (The AIMS is next week...say your prayers for my students, please!!) Literacy Night at school and meeting Suey, Susan from Bloggin' 'bout Books, and Melissa from One Librarians' Book Reviews this week!!!! (Can we have a yahoo, please?!?!) There is also Book Group this week and a much needed appointment with my hair-wizard and the dreaded mammogram. Yikes. I could easily feel a bit overwhelmed today - good thing I have some chocolate Easter bunny stuff to help with that!

I am grateful for ... ideas, communication, Easter, relationships, hearing "Daddy!!", bike riding, "plenty", friends - " Friendship is born at the moment that one person says to another, "What, you too? I thought I was the only one!" C.S. Lewis. I am also grateful for Easter baskets that I still get to fill (but without the pressure of years ago....) Oh, and of course I am grateful for chocolate bunny ears and Robin eggs.

I am reading ... The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Macklin, The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas (a re-read for Book Group), Annoying; The Science of What Bugs Us, Readacide, and many more!!!!!!

I am listing ... Lesson plans, Review plans for my students for science, weekly agendas, and I'm creating SmartBoard games and stations. Good thing I have more of today.

I am creating ... I wish I could say a sense of calm, but that would be lying. I think I am creating that little thumping in your throat when you know you are a little apprehensive. Too many work worries. Drats. Time to go to my happy place.

Plans for the week ... Enjoy the ride!!! Meeting Book blogging buddies is right up there with meeting Davy Jones and the Monkees!!

Enjoy a wonderful Easter!!

The Sunday Edition

Outside my window... Rain! Glorious Rain! I rarely get to say that. My office window looks down onto a neighborhood of rustling trees and big, puffy, grey rain-filled clouds. Wow! Wish I could throw some mountain scenes into the mix, but I'll take what I can get and today it is so pretty. Thunderclouds, pouring rain....yum!

I am listening to .... Kenneth Cope station on my Pandora. Talent. Mmmmmm.

Favorite things from this week ... The Tucson Festival of Books, family time, reading time, SPRING BREAK, March Madness basketball, reading, time with Rich, gelato, California Pizza Kitchen and Yogurtland with the people I love, raindrops, patios, reading time, no schedule, service to others, bookstores, libraries, reading time, the sound of a fountain, reading in bed, peace and plenty, rain pattering, Book Group, connections. Wow! I am so blessed. I LOVE SPRING BREAK.

I am thinking ... I will be glad to get back to work for one reason only----to get myself back in healthy eating habits!! Working like your hair's on fire has it's advantages! Spring Break was a break from my healthy routines --- so, come tomorrow it's back on the bandwagon for me! Yeah! I miss my apples.

I am grateful for ... that report cards are all done, for rainy days, sportsmanship, passion, goals to set, enthusiasm, vacuum cleaners, texting, and cuddles

I am reading ... mysteries! It's March Mystery Madness for one of my book groups so I am enjoying a few as well as a biography of Agatha Christie. I've finished three books (A Little Bit Wicked, Julia's Chocolates and Cinder) this week and I'm getting ready to start a new book today....what shall it be?!?! The Dressmaker, Starcrossed by Elizabeth Bunce or The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. Decisions.

I am listing ... school plans, book plans, living room plans - my to-do list is actually on a piece of giant chart paper now. Yikes.

I am creating ... chaos ;)

Plans for the week ... March Mystery Madness at Book Group, Girl's Night with my coworkers, hiking with my honey, dinner with J&K and taxes on Saturday

Tucson Festival of Books - 2 days of bliss and awesomeness!

Where words become Imagination.....

Chilly and windy on Saturday morning but I am NOT to be deterred. We are there bright and early. I swear, they even saved us the same parking space as last year!! How nice! The crowds were ginormous on Saturday though - 80,000 people that day alone. Everyone was happy and it was a contagiously fun place to be.

• I heard Alice Hoffman read from her newest book about the Masada, The Dovekeepers. Amazing! I heart her now.
  
• I attended a Professional Development class on writing with students. Taught by Ralph Fletcher, only one of the biggest writing gurus in the education-world! I couldn't believe that the place wasn't packed to the gills. Somehow folks weren't aware that educators pay $$$$ for workshops with him. I tried not to squeal with glee, but I got more than a workshop...it was fantastic!
• Hot Crime, Hard Science; Forensic Nonfiction - 3 Historians who spoke on the CNN panel about famous nonfiction discoveries....circulation and transfusions, the development of early forensics in France, the Poisoner's Handbook and the study of the fascinating study of poisons and finally the new forensic science brought to America around the 1920's-30's. I learned a LOT! Stretched my brain.
• Queen Elizabeth and her World - Louis Bayard, Margaret George (yes, THE Margaret George, of the 800 page novels!!) and Jennifer Lee Carrell. Totally an historians afternoon. I was amazed at the amount of research and crafting of words and story that these authors do. Wow~!
• Last, but not least, for my Saturday schedule was Cozies Need Respect Too...so capably moderated by Lesa Holstine from Lesa's Book Critiques and the Glendale Library!! Kate Carlisle, Earlene Fowler, and Avery Aames were the panelists. Gosh - a bibliophile mystery series, quilting mysteries, and a cheese shop series. I was getting hungry by the end!! I've not read many 'cozies' as I guess I really didn't give them the respect that they deserve....I know, I hang my head in shame. After the discussion I really did decide to try a few of them and I've been pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed how these authors could speak to the definition of the genre and alluded to the 'cozy idea' as one for marketing - marketing to women. As a definition Avery Aames defined cozy as a book that would probably not have bad language, sex or gritty, bloody-CSI type crime on the page. The sleuth is an amateur and typically has a 'community' of friends or supporters around them. My definition would probably be - Could I give this book to my mom?? It was a fun end to a fantastic Saturday - - I did NOT want to leave except that I really was tired and hungry! There was no time to shop or eat as I ran from class to class. What was a book-nerd to do?!?!?

SHOP!!!

I returned to the festival the Sunday morning, this time without my intrepid book-cohort (who had to return home to the valley for other non-bookish obligations...sad, isn't it!) Now I was on my own and I can really power-shop!! I hit a few booths before the crowds arrived and then the day began ....

• Brad Meltzer was the star speaker for the event and spoke at the Star Pavillion. He was S.U.P.E.R.!! I discovered a new hero!! He was funny, thoughtful, intriguing, honest, forthright, and powerful. He spoke about his family, his beliefs, his books, his History Channel TV show - Decoded, and the legacy we leave behind of ourselves. It was truly the most powerful message I have heard in AGES!
• Wicked Women was a panel with Thomas Perry (love him - true gentleman) Robert Dugoni, Lisa Lutz, moderated by Barbara Peters. Well done and funny. I have got to get Thomas Perry's new book....note to self! I met the nicest lady from Green Valley - we could be friends, I know.
  
• Deadlier than the Male was a panel with JA Jance, Betty Webb, and Elizabeth Gunn and was not my first choice but it was great. I had headed to a Women in History class but the lines were painfully long and I was just not in that sort of mood - soooooo....I headed to the center of the festival and took in these three grand dames of mysteries set in Tucson/Arizona. It was a terrific panel.
  
• About the Brain. This is where true serendipity plays a part! CNN hosted panels all weekend long and this one really appealed to me. As I wandered into the theater I found a seat and asked if it was taken, as I climbed over the young woman sitting down I looked closely and it was Alyce from At Home with Books!!!!!! Yeah!! She's all the way from the northwest, folks!! That's a lot of wing flappin' and now we find each other amongst 100,000 bookies?!?!? I can't even find the bathroom. Well we had fun time catching up and then the brain-busting began. The topic was fascinating. Moonwalking with Einstein; The Art and Science of remembering Everything, Annoying; The Science of What Bugs You, and Save Your Brain - three books to be added for my reading pleasure and edutainment!! Wow!
• Lastly - oh say it ain't so....Doing Your Research or Doctor vs Lawyer; the Final Contest with Steve Berry (lawyer) and Michael Palmer (doctor) moderated by Josh Bazell (doctor!) Totally cool. Their research tips and ideas were fantastic and fun. I loved this class.
  

Here, I'll show you my wares!! I hit up a second hand bookstore tent and found a couple of these beauties for $1!!! I shopped the UA bookstore, the tents and even found the Kettle Corn booth (before the long lines!) I loved running into authors just wandering around (like me) looking for the perfect book to read. It was a slice of heaven. A reading weekend.

The other slice of heaven was staying at Casa de Mellor... aka my mom's house. Rich and I took my mom and stepdad to the airport Saturday morning so they could leave on a cruise. I was handed the keys to the casa and told to have fun, feed the birds and water the plants. No problemo!! They live in the foothills in a canyon with little cell coverage, plenty of views, sunshine and wild critters. I was in heaven. I would be there still if a cute guy hadn't returned to pick me up come late Monday afternoon. I guess I will have to give up my life of sitting on the patio and reading ALL day. Here at home on Spring Break I have interspersed the patio sitting with library trips and QT runs....

Ahhhh. I feel my blood pressure returning to normal. Yep, this Spring Break is awesome.

Sprin Break Readin'

Spring Break Readin'....
a little sunshine, a patio chair and plenty of QT soda...

I started with -

I really didn't want to read Wicked by Gregory Maguire after the musical so when I was in the Bookstore I was pleasantly surprised to see Galinda's autobiography on a table in front of me. It just seemed like a fun way to continue in my Musical 'glow'.
Not really a tell-all biography, not really a memoir either, but just a sit-down chat that's fast and funny. Kristin Chenoweth shares a bit of her "life beyond the bubble," her philosophy on life, her faith and how her 'hoo-hoo' can predict the weather!! For reals! I giggled, smiled and laughed. My favorite quote was when she was nominated for an Emmy a 2nd time. " Obviously, I had zero chance of actually winning - being an expired marshmallow PEEP next to four fresh tomatoes - but it was a thrill to be nominated." I don't know why, but I have always wanted to use those words in a sentence! Together. It was light and refreshing and a fun way to continue in my Wicked afterglow. (On a serious note, I really did love her philosophy on adoption - it was extremely touching.)

I love Book Group nights.
This book read fast, brought interesting conversation and we celebrated the total female absurdity!! In all we truly enjoyed it. Well, except one....

Cinderella - retell on steroids.
I'm reminded of anime, Anakin Skywalker (when he was a little kid and worked as a droid mechanic) and Minority Report. This is so very different. So very readable. I forget that I am reading and ended up with a lovely sunburn....
at least it wasn't letumosis!!!

Oh I have SO many more books to read!!!
Who says Spring Break has to end?!?!?!?!

Now, lest you think I have done nothing of value:
1. I went to the library.
2. I cleaned out my closet - and found the floor!
3. I went back to the library.
4. I did laundry, floors, swept the porch, vacuumed, shredded papers, completed report cards, and graded Social Studies projects all while watching March Madness basketball games.
5. I went to the library yet again.
6. Oh, and I read!

Gotta love Spring Break!