Rowena's Ramblings

July 2009: In Brief, Part 1

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:00:28 GMT

Highlights:

Writing Project Gets Attacked By Wagner-Loving Grass Pollen- Grass season was supposed to end in June. Then I was going to finish the fourth draft of my kid novel. Grass pollen-- my #1 allergen -- didn't get the memo. Instead it rose up in the air to the tune of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, flew straight in my direction at the library, and totally destroyed my allergy shot miracle. I was back to downing Benadryl, hiding inside my house, and getting little writing done. Curse that Wagner and his influence on pollen! (Okay, I admit there was no Wager playing, but if my life had a soundtrack -- uh, one other than what my music player had -- that Wagner piece would have been playing in the library each day.)

Before the onslaught I did get through 16 of 36 rough chapters. I'm told the shots will work even better after another year though. Yes please.

SCBWI Conference In Westminster- The MD/WV/DE conference in Westminster is my favorite. They have good speakers, the nicest group of volunteers, and a wonderful set-up at Mc Daniel College. (It's the last year for this location though. *Sniff*) The best part of conferences, for me, is getting to see all my writing friends and talk books and TV.

New Allergy Mystery- The first half of the July it was grass allergies that tormented me. In the second half I couldn't figure out what was bothering me. The grass pollen was gone and we don't have much weed pollen in Bethesda. I tried staying only inside, then only outside, and still, my allergies were unrelenting. What was I allergic to this time? Martin decided it was dust. So he and the daughterling took on the gigantic task of removing the ancient carpet from our room. They also replaced the mattress I bought from my parents back in the 80s. I loved the look of the clean wooden floor and the new mattress was quite comfortable, but my head was still swamped in mucus. Curses! The mystery continued....

Fiction Books Finished:
The Spellman Files (***), by Lisa Lutz- 28-year-old Izzie Spellman has decided that she's never going to have a normal life until she moves away from her family. That's going to be tricky since she rents an apartment in their house and works for their private detective agency. Her quest for independence is an enjoyable journey into both the world of a private investigators and the world of caring but eccentric families.

Ivy & Bean (***), by Annie Barrows- Seven-year-old Bean is looking for a friend. She rejects her mother's suggestion to introduce herself to that "nice girl" Ivy across the street. Active Bean is sure Ivy -- in pretty dresses with her hair neatly held back in a headband-- will be perfectly boring. Then Bean plays a joke on her older sister and is forced to flee over by Ivy's house to hide. It turns out girls in pretty dresses aren't always as "nice" or as boring as they look.

The story is simple, fun, and illustrated. It's broken up into short chapters that are just the right size for an advanced-beginning reader who wants to try her first chapter book. It's a popular series with the early first and second grade readers at my school. (For ages 6-10)

July 2009: In Brief, Part 2

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:30:12 GMT

Movies:
Charm School (***1/2 ) - A cute Mexican foreign film about an adventurous college student who is sent to charm school by her politician dad to help his chances of being endorsed by a key local businessman. Yes, the movie is cliched and a bit sexist -- despite supposedly being against sexism. Still, it's a fun girl-power, pop-culture kind of movie that made practicing Spanish enjoyable. As a bonus, it introduced me to several Mexican pop singers that were fairly easy to understand. (Saw this on Netflix Instant Viewing.)

TV:
Dr. Who (series 2,3) This show saved me from summer allergy boredom. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. It's very fun and something you can watch with everyone in the family.

The basics: In 2005, the BBC retooled its classic show with better sets and special effects. The Doctor, the last of the Time Lords of Gallifrey, seeks out new experiences across time, in any part of the universe he wants. To keep from getting lonely, he invites a human companion (occasionally a couple of them) to ride with him in his spaceship, the Tardis -- a big blue box that looks like a British 1950's police box. You don't need to have seen the older shows to understand it and don't really even have to watch it in order either. I watched the first 3 series (British seasons) on Netflix Instant Viewing.

Dr. Who in a Nutshell- Basically each episode goes something like this:
1) Wow! Look at this cool planet/point-in-time.
2) Hmmm... something is not right.
3) Let's try to figure out what's going on.
4) Oh no! We're in terrible trouble! Run!
5) Ack! We can't. Fight!
6) Oh my God! We're going to die in seconds if we don't do the thing that seems impossible to do.
7) Yay! We figured out a way to do the impossible.
8) Whew! That was close.
9) What a fantastic adventure. Where should we go next?
10) Lather, rinse, and repeat over 4 seasons with 2 different doctors, 3 different companions, and numerous different planets, periods in time, and interesting details.

Weirdly, my life often follows this pattern too-- just in a more mundane way. It's quite comforting to see someone else go through problem-solving steps in a way more fun and adventurous way.

Added Notes: A number of the stories play out over two or three episodes, especially near the end of each season. While the tone is often fun and adventurous, there are some thoughtful and sad episodes too.

June 2009: In Brief, Part 2

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:24:48 GMT

Non-Fiction Books Finished:
The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, (***1/2) - Gladwell's books are like chatting with some entertaining professor in a bar. They're quick reads, each on a different fascinating topic. This time the topic is what makes someone an outlier (a stand-out) in their field. The answer contains both expected and surprising elements.

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A,B,C Order)
Buffy: seasons 2,3 (*****) - I watched in French and Spanish without subtitles this time. Plenty of action and playful dialog makes rewatching Buffy in French and Spanish interesting. Sometimes the dialog is translated literally, sometimes figuratively, and sometimes they just rewrite it to something bland but more straightforward.

Dr. Who: series 1 (***) - Review coming in my July Inbrief

Firefly (*****) - I watched in Spanish without subtitles. Like Buffy, Firefly has plenty of action and clever dialog that makes it fun for rewatching in Spanish (or French).

Pushing Daisies (***1/2) - I'm glad they aired the last 3 episodes and wrapped up the plot in a satisfying way.

Slings & Arrows: season 1,2,3 (****) - If you love theater, check out this Canadian comedy on DVD starring Paul Gross (formerly in Due South and currently in Eastwick). After their artistic director dies, the New Brubbage Theater asks Geoffrey Tennant (Paul Gross) to come back and help the theater recover. Geoffrey left six years ago when he had a nervous breakdown in the middle of Hamlet and isn't sure he can keep his sanity working there again. This show is funny, inspiring, and chock full of quirky actors, Shakespearean scenes, and wonderful behind the scenes theater moments. Each 6-episode season focuses on one main play: one season it's Hamlet, of course, season two is MacBeth, and season three they do King Lear.

June 2009: In Brief, Part 1

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:27:21 GMT

Highlights:
Sub Job - My last sub job for the school year was on field day as the computer teacher. In the morning, I herded a first grade class around the field day activities. In the afternoon, I taught two computer lessons, then spent the rest of the afternoon reading shelves in the media center. What's reading a shelf? Apparently, it means looking at each and every non-fiction book on a shelf and making sure they're in the correct Dewy Decimal order. I love sub jobs with so much variety: a little running around, a little teaching, a little quiet work. It makes the time fly by.

Vacation- We took 7 kids (2 of them ours) camping at Assateague Island and had a great time as usual.

Fiction Books Finished:

(The) London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd (****) - An excellent middle grade mystery about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome trying to figure out how his cousin simply disappeared on the London Eye (that big ferris wheel on the Thames.) I liked that the mystery was both a tense situation that held my attention, but also a case that older children could realistically solve in real life. (For ages 9 and up)

Sloppy Firsts, by Megan McCafferty (**** 1/2) - This is one of the best young adult chick-lit type books I've read. Jessica Darling's best friend Hope moved away and now Jessica is forced to endure high school without the one person in the world who understands her. Instead she's left with the friendship of "the clueless crew", a set of girls she's out grown but can't seem to part with either. Jessica's wit and sensitivity make this story of high school truthful, funny, and especially insightful. (For ages 14 and up)
[Parent note: There is cursing, sexual innuendo, and drinking -- though with consequences. Also, parents should know this is the first book in a series of five. I've only read this first book, but I hear the last three books take place after high school and are more mature in nature.]

Three to Get Deadly and Four to Score, both by Janet Evanovich (***) - The Stephanie Plum bounty hunter series is like a bag of potato chips for me. Sure, it's not the best ever, but it satisfies my craving for something fun, and I can't seem to stop at just one, or three, or...

May 2009: In Brief

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:22:04 GMT

Dialog of the Month:
From the show Dollhouse, when FBI Agent Ballard and an environmental consultant are breaking into the Dollhouse.

Consultant: They told me this was going to be the new Eden.
Agent Ballard: Eden wasn't a prison.
Consultant: Are you kidding me? Even the apples were monitored!

Highlights:
Allergy Miracles- Most Mays, my head feels like it's being ripped apart by hellhounds, my joints are achy, and I feel poisoned. Most Mays, I have searing ear pain and can barely manage to read a book, let alone write anything.

This May... I was healthy!!!! Whoo-hoo! It was wonderful. I'm still taking tons of allergy meds and doing saltwater rinsings, but the allergy shots finally tipped me over into the healthy side. Yay!

Fiction Books Finished:
The Graveyard Book, (***), by Neil Gaiman- An appealing middle grade book about a boy raised in a graveyard.
Two for the Dough, (***), by Janet Evanovich- The second book in the fun Stephanie Plum series about a Jersey gal who takes on bounty hunting.

Non-Fiction Books Finished:
The Tipping Point (***), by Malcolm Gladwell

Movies:
Star Trek (***) - Kirk and Spock are a lot sexier, Uhura actually gets to do things, and the action scenes have the same fun cheesy music as the show. It's still more sexist than a lot of current sci-fi and the silly all-or-nothing logic-versus-emotion debate still rages on between the characters. But the movie manages to balance the old with the new, so there's more fun without undoing anything sacred for older fans.

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A,B,C Order)
The Big Band Theory finale- Bazinga! If you haven't seen this show, I'd recommend it for fun summer viewing. It consistently makes me laugh.

The Castle finale

The Dollhouse finale

The Fringe finale- was my favorite finale of the spring season. The reveals gave me new insight into the characters and the whole first season. Now I can't wait to see what they do with season two.

The Supernatural finale- had the biggest cliffhanger of the spring season. The last couple episodes dragged for me, and honestly, a lot of the action in the finale consisted of furious cell phone dialing. Still, the last few scenes between Dean and Castiel and then Dean and Sam were what I've been waiting for. Now I'm eager to see what they're going to do in season five.

Sub Jobs:
1/2 day - media center teacher
1/2 day - media center teacher
1/2 day - media center teacher
1/2 day- 2nd grade teacher at another school
1 day - 2nd grade in Ms. S's class
1 day- 2nd grade in Ms. D's class
4 days - media center teacher: Lots of roaming the halls, collecting books on my cart, checking them in, and shelving them. I also taught lessons on fables, how magazines are different than books, and how to use the computer dictionary. My favorite part was getting to wear my t-shirt that said, "So Many Books, So Little Time."

April 2009: Inbrief

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:04:07 GMT

Highlights:
Allergy Update-Tada! My formula for spring health:
Weekly Allergy Shot + Daily Zytec + Nasal Spray Twice A Day + 3 Daily Saltwater Rinsings + The Occasional Dose of Benadryl (on really bad days) = An Awesomely Healthy Spring
It's so cool not feeling poinsoned in April!!

Amadeus Amadeus- Saw Amadeus performed by a community theater my friend works with. It was one of the best community theaters shows I've seen.

A Very Un-Rowena Spring Break- I took a break from writing, reading, and subbing and did unRowena-like things such as hosting family gatherings and shopping for dishes. The dishes are square, black, and very cool.

Rowena Finally Dives In the Shark Pool- In other words, I sent a short story to Cricket Magazine for publication consideration. I won't hear back for a minimum of 3-6 months and bad news comes earlier than good news. But I've finally finished and sent something out.

Fiction Books Finished:

One for the Money (***), by Janet Evanovich- In this first fun Stephanie Plum book a broke New Jersey gal takes up bounty hunting.

Love Is Hell (***), by Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, and Laurie Faria Stolarz- five short stories with some combination of romance and fantasy or sci-fi. I loved three of the stories and liked the other two.

Non-Fiction Pooks Finished:
Uncommon Sense For Parents With Teenagers (****), by Michael Riera, Ph.D.- an excellent source of information for parents of teens.

Movies:
Viva Cuba (***)
The Terminator (****)- After 25 years, I still liked it.

Top TV 5 Favorites of the Month (In A,B,C Order)

Big Bang Theory (The)

Castle- A new murder mystery show starring Nathan Fillion as a famous murder mystery novelist. It's light and fun. The famous novelist stuff adds a fun twist.

Dollhouse- Somewhere midseason Dollhouse went from being a bad show I liked watching anyway, to a good show I couldn't wait to see.

Fringe- is getting better and better and has become another show I can't wait to watch.

Supernatural- I love a show that has an episode with dozens of meta jokes to its fans and then has that concept actually tie into the plot in way that makes sense and has serious consequences!

Sub Jobs:
1/2 day- 2nd grade at a different school
1/2 day - 2nd grade at a regular school w/ Ms. S's class
1 day- 2nd grade w/ Ms. K's class
1/2 day- 2nd grade w/ Ms. S's class

March 2009: In Brief

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:00:59 GMT

Highlights:
The Allergy Shots Are Working! Yay! Yay! Yay! The real test comes this April. Still, it was fantastic having a clear head and plenty of energy in March.

2 Family Dinners- The good thing about staying in my family's "home town" is that the more adventurous family members come back frequently. So I can be a homebody and still have fun family dinners with my dad and sibs.

SCBWI Westminster Conference- There was the usual helpful/inspiring information, a chance to hang with fun people, and even a presentation on the Library of Congress's cool website, plus, conference cookies.

Driving Glasses- I read so many books and blogs I've changed my distance vision. So far, my plan to only wear my glasses for driving is working. Life is eerily clear when I drive and happily misty-and-water-colored when I don't. Luckily I don't drive very often.

Fiction Books:
Mudville, by Kurtis Scaletta (***)
Wake, by Lisa McCann (*** 1/2)

Non-Fiction Books:
Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time, by Susan Scott (****)

Movies:
Bella (***)
Dead Like Me (**)- Unlike Serenity, this movie was not worthy of the TV series it continues.

Music:
Afro Celt Sound System, Gossip, Kelly Clarkson, The Puppini Sisters, and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

TV:Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A,B,C Order)
Battlestar Galactica- Not the best series finale ever, but it had its moments.
Dollhouse- Episodes six and seven did pique my interest.
Flight of the Conchords
Supernatural
The Big Bang Theory

Sub Jobs:
1 day- Reading Teacher
1 day- Media Specialist
1/2 day- Computer Teacher
1 day- 2nd grade in Ms. K's class
1/2 day- Media Specialist
1 day- 2nd grade in Ms. K's class

The Hunger Games

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:12:01 GMT

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 384

For Ages: 12 and up

Rating: ****

Panem – a post-apocalyptic North America ruled by oligarchy – hosts a yearly TV reality show death match between 24 teenagers called “The Hunger Games” as a way to keep its’ citizens in line. To spare her beloved younger sister, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen volunteers for the Hunger Games. The hunting skills she learned to keep her sister and mother alive after her father died in a coal mining accident should give her a chance at being the sole survivor. What Katniss isn’t counting on is an opponent like Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son, whose kindness once saved her and her sister from starvation. Suddenly the Hunger Games are more than a simple death match Katniss must survive.

I was riveted by this story even though the actual games don’t start until over a 100 pages into the book. Collins’ Panem is a living, breathing post-apocalyptic dictatorship where the leaders use reality TV as effectively as the Romans used the Gladiators. Tough minded, skillful Katniss is a likable protagonist for boys, girls, women, and men to root for, and the story is an appealing mix of survival, dystopia, action, and a bit of romance.

Parent Note: While it really is a fight to the death between 24 teenagers, there is much less graphic violence then I thought there would be. Collins’ focuses on the emotional and psychological toll of this war more than gory details.

February 2009: Inbrief

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:04:35 GMT

Quote:

“No, this is how it works

You peer inside yourself

You take the things you like and try to love the things you took

And then you take that love you made

And stick it into some…

Someone else’s heart, pumping someone else’s blood

And walking arm in arm

You hope it don’t get harmed

But even if it does

You just do it all again…”

From the song, “On the Radio,” by Regina Spektor

Highlights:

It was a weird month worthy of the Friday the thirteenth it possessed. I had an anaphylactic reaction to my allergy shot, there was a small fire at work, my computer got a nasty virus, and my kids suddenly started doing the normal teenagery stuff they’d never done before. Each and every weird event actually made the situation better in the long run, but the short run was a little more surreal than I like my life to be. At least things aren’t boring.

Fiction Books Finished:

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins (****)

Tattoo, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (***)

Non-Fiction Books Finished:

None, I’m in the middle of three books.

Movies:

None

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

The Big Bang Theory
The Daily Show
Flight of the Conchords- exactly the type of humor my family loves: silly deadpan.
Fringe
Leverage

Sub Jobs:

1 day- media specialist

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. W’s class

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. D’s class

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. W’s class

½ day- 2^nd grade, Ms. S’s class

January 2009: Inbrief

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:38:14 GMT

Quote: “Often when I am reading a good book I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to until she got an unlisted number.” ~ Author Unknown

Highlights:

Inaugural- After two months of waiting we can finally call him President Obama!

Snow Days- Our first snow of the season came right after mid-term exams giving the kids a five-day weekend with no homework to do. Very nice.

Fiction Books Finished:

Graceling, by Kristen Cashore (****)

Things Not Seen, by Andrew Clements (***)

Non-Fiction Books Finished:

Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men, by Lundy Bancroft (*** 1/2) - I have a couple of friends with husbands like this and had no idea how to help them out. This reference is a good start towards understanding why some men are emotionally or physically abusive and what society can do to change things.

How to Write a Damn Good Mystery, by James N. Frey (***)

Movies:

Slumdog Millionaire (****)- A teen Mumbai tea server flashes back to his days growing up as a street child while answering questions on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. A riveting intense movie directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) and Loveleen Tandan, teeming with colorful fast-moving visuals and a great Bollywood-esque soundtrack.

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

Battlestar Galactica- It’s back! I love that I can watch online.

Daily Show- The Bush goodbye stuff was mighty funny.

Friday Night Lights- The satisfying third season ended on Direct TV. It’s replaying on NBC now and is also available online.

Leverage- Fun new show, on Tuesdays at TNT, about a gang of reformed ex-cons who use their talents to help victims of scams recoup their losses. The cast includes: Timothy Hutton, Gina Bellman (Jane from UK’s Coupling), Christian Kane (Lindsey from Angel) and Aldis Hodge (“Voodoo” from Friday Night Lights and Jake from Supernatural). It’s also available online.

Rachel Maddow- This is the first news show I actually watch occasionally. It’s smart and funny, everyone acts professional instead of doing that nasty ranting stuff, and I can watch it online in easy to view 10-minute segments.

Sub Jobs:

2 days - 2^nd Grade

1 day- Media Specialist

1 day - Computer Teacher

2 days- Media Specialist

Graceling

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:24:52 GMT

Author: Kristen Cashore

Publisher: Harcourt Books

Pages: 480

For Ages: 13 and up

Rating: ****

With one blue eye and one green eye, Katsa is “graced” with super strength and fighting skills. She’s worked as King Randa’s hired killer since she was eight years old but hates that the king shows her off as his lethal girl-toy. Katsa’s afraid she’s nothing more an angry killer until her secret council work launches her on a journey that will not only change her life, but also helps her understand the true nature of her “grace”.

The story started off kind of slow for the first 80 pages, but once the action started, I was completely sucked in and read the last 400 pages in just two days. Graceling has a little bit of everything: romance, action, intrigue, and self-discovery, plus a strong, realistic, and likeable heroine.

Parent Note: There is some sex but it’s vaguely described and not graphically detailed. The characters think things through carefully before deciding to have sex, use birth control, and are very caring of each other.

December 2008: Inbrief

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:19:36 GMT

Highlights: 1. Saw Little Shop of Horrors at our neighborhood high school with the daughterling and friends.
2. Went to Winter Music Concerts for both kids.
3. Had a relaxing low-key holiday with few gifts and little fanfare—just the way I like my holidays!

Fiction Books Finished:

*** ½ Impossible, by Nancy Werlin

Non-Fiction Books Finished:

**** Taking on the System, by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga

Movies:

*** Dan in Real Life (on Netflix Instant)

**** Milk (at the movie theater)

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

Most of my regular shows had repeats so I caught up on Tivoed shows:

1. Gavin and Stacey (Finished the US Season 1 from my Tivo)

2. Pushing Daisies

3. Skins

4. The Big Bang Theory

5. True Blood (Finished season1 from my Tivo)

Sub Jobs:

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. S’s class

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. K’s class

1 day - 2^nd grade, Ms. D’s class

1 day- Kindergarten

½ day- 2^nd grade, Ms. S’s class

2008 Inbrief (Mostly in A,B,C Order)

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 01:27:22 GMT

Yearly Highlights:

Allergies- They’ve been getting worse and worse each year. This year they were so bad I was pretty sure I wouldn’t survive the next year if I didn’t do something. So now I’m getting allergy shots. Everyone cross your fingers that they make this spring livable.

Camping at Assateague- Great time camping at the beach with the kids and their friends

Family Reunion in Southern Illinois – Another wonderful vacation with my family

Following the Election- It was the most exciting election I’ve followed.

SCBWI Conferences (Arlington & Westminster)- Good information, fun people, and much needed inspiration

Favorite Fiction Books Read:

Dreams Underfoot, by Charles de Lint

Homeless Bird, by Gloria Whelan

Impossible, by Nancy Werlin

Rebel Angels, by Libba Bray

Size 14 Is Not Fat Either, by Meg Cabot

Favorite Non-Fiction Books Read:

(The) Creative Habit, by Twyla Tharp

Plot & Structure, by James Scott Bell

Staying Connected to Your Teen, by Michael Riera

Taking on the System, by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga

Favorite Movies or DVDs:

Children of Heaven (on DVD)

Once (on DVD)

Dr. Horrible (an online musical)

Milk (actually saw this in an theater)

Favorite Music Groups:

Flight of the Concords

Missy Elliot

Pink

Taylor Swift

Yael Naim

Favorite Routines:

Computer Time: reading blogs, emailing, family websites, writer’s groups, etc.

Dance Class

Grocery Store Walks with my Backpack (I’ve been doing most of my grocery shopping by foot for over a year now!)

Hanging with the kids in the living room

Lunches w/ Martin

Writing Time (Book Reading too)

Favorite TV Shows:

Friday Night Lights (Season 2 and 3)

Mad Men (Seasons 1 and 2)

Skins (US Season 1)

Supernatural (Seasons 1-4)

The Big Bang Theory (Seasons 1 and part of 2)

The Office-US (Seasons 1-4)

December Question

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:28:37 GMT

I could use some more new music. Recently I’ve enjoyed songs by Taylor Swift, Pink, and Missy Elliot. (I tend to like a wide range of music from pop to rock to hip-hop to classical.)

Any recommendations? What are your current favorite songs or artists?

November 2008: Inbrief

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:40:44 GMT

Quote of the Month:

“What did you think you were saying in your head? Because that ain’t what came out of your mouth?” Emerson Cod on Pushing Daisies

Highlights of My Odd, Short, Unproductive Month:

Week 1- the kids had two days off for Election Day. Thank goodness I voted before my allergy shot and that Benedryl is so effective because I had all sorts of fun side effects with my shot this time: hives, sweats & chills, nausea, and a horrible headache.

Weeks 2 & 3- subbed two days each week, stayed up until almost midnight most nights while my son did boatloads of homework, had some weird lingering coughing sinus-cold, and got little writing, reading, or cleaning done. At least my allergy shots were uneventful.

Week 4- had another hive-i-lious shot, caught up on my reading, and cleaned some. We had Thanksgiving at the in-laws this year. Then I spent the rest of my weekend feeling all healthy again and read fun stuff on the web.

Fiction Books Finished:

None (I read writer’s group pieces instead.)

Non-Fiction Books Finished:

None! (I’m half way through four different books, then started a fifth book--cause that should help things.)

Movies:

*** Twilight
(The seventh graders I went with hated it. They wanted a longer drawn-out beginning, like in the book, and they didn’t like any changes in the details, such as Edward’s couch being white, not black. I thought it was cheesy good fun and spent the rest of the month reading Cleolinda’s insightful and hilarious summaries on the books and the movie.)

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

1. Friday Night Lights- I get all teary-eyed when I watch this show.

2. Pushing Daisies- I was expecting it to be cancelled, but I’m still a little sad.

3. Skins

4. Supernatural

5. The Big Bang Theory- The past few episodes have been especially funny.

Sub Jobs:

1 day- 2^nd grade, Ms. K’s class

1 day- Kindergarten

1 day- 1^st grade at a school I’d never been to before, just for something different

½ day- Music Teacher

One More Thing

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:33:00 GMT

Now I don't have to review the movie because this says it all:
Twilight in 15 Minutes.

(It took me more than 15 minutes because of all the laughing, and then trying to breathe and not die while I kept laughing.)

November Break

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:50:41 GMT

I'm taking a blogging break this last week in November to catch up on-- hopefully-- some of the writing, reading, critiquing, and cleaning I let go while I was sick. I'm way healthier than I was last year, which means I now expect a lot more from myself. Interesting how that works. I'll post again on December 2. Happy Thanksgiving!

November Question

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:05:07 GMT

1. What are your favorite new TV shows this season?

2. What returning shows are you enjoying the most this season?

My Answers:

1. My favorite new show is Skins. (It’s a British Teen Primetime Soap Opera that’s new to the US, though not new to Britain.)

2. There are several returning shows I enjoy watching the most this season: Friday Night Lights, Supernatural, The Big Bang Theory, and Pushing Daisies.

And you? What are your current favorites?

(PS: It's possible I've been subbing in second grade too much lately. Notice how I answered all my questions in complete sentences.)

Staying Connected To Your Teenager

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:26:35 GMT

Author: Michael Riera, PH.D.

Publisher: Da Capo Press Books, 2003

Pages: 275

Rating: ****

Subject: Parenting, Teens

Staying Connected to Your Teenager is a unique parenting book because it doesn’t deal directly with discipline or with a teenager’s changing body; instead it focuses on a parent’s relationship with their teenager and how to strengthen that bond. Riera, a former guidance counselor, educates parents on how to use the changes in a teenager’s life to stay connected. He explains why teenagers stay up later at night, why they are more narcissistic, and why lectures and advice aren’t as effective with teens.

Building on that knowledge, Riera shows parents how they can use late night hours and car travel to build a closer relationship with their teen. He also explains how to use indirect communication and joint adventures to strengthen the parent-teen connection, and teaches parents how to ease heated conflicts by having the parent be more honest about their own concerns with their child, and then putting the burden of proof and decision-making on the teen.

I thought this book had excellent insight into the parent-teen experience and gave solid, fresh advice to parents on guiding their child into adulthood while maintaining a healthy relationship.

Two caveats: 1) The chapter on how the sexes are different, while less stereotypical than many books, still stereotypes females and males.

2) Two examples Riera uses from real life anecdotes describe parents lying to or misleading their teen. While Riera doesn’t approve or disapprove of this behavior, I feel like adults model to their teens acceptable behavior and was horrified that a parent would consider lying to or misleading acceptable. But this otherwise excellent book has only maybe 2 questionable examples out of dozens of real life parenting anecdotes.

October 2008: In Brief

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:00:45 GMT

Quote of the month:
“This is our moment. This is our time.” Barack Obama

Highlights:

1. SCBWI Conference in Arlington, VA- Another useful conference with fun writer friends. The magazine panel was my favorite as I’m excited about writing short stories these days.

2. Halloween- What could be better than a holiday where you dress up in costumes and eat candy? I didn’t dress up this year—too busy reading about the election—but I enjoyed passing out candy and looking at everyone else’s costumes.

3. The Election- Politics is my favorite sport. I love watching the big picture historical trends and the small details of human nature play out before my eyes. Elections are my Superbowl and this was the best Superbowl of my life. The brilliant son and grandson of regular folks beat the mediocre son and grandson of Admirals. Merit won out over nepotism this time! That’s a story I enjoyed watching.

Fiction Books Finished:

*** ½ Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb, by Kirsten Miller

Non-Fiction Books Finished:

**** Staying Connected to Your Teenager, by Michael Riera, PH.D.

Movies:
** Golden Compass- on DVD

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

1. Friday Night Lights- Wow! The best drama about mentoring teens I’ve seen.

2. Mad Men- The Cuban Crisis finale was excellent. And now the wait begins. *Sigh*

3. Pushing Daisies- Still the most original show currently on TV.

4. Skins- A bus accident has never done better things for a character or a show.

5. Supernatural- I enjoyed the monster movie ep and the silly, Dean’s-got-fraidy-cat fever ep.

Sub Jobs:

2 days- 2^nd grade class for Ms. W.

2 days- 2^nd grade class for Ms. K.

½ day- 2^nd grade class for Ms. K

½ day- Reading Initiative Teacher

Movie Review for The Golden Compass

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:36:44 GMT

Movie: The Golden Compass

Seen: On DVD

Rating: **

The visual effects are breathtakingly beautiful and the story is pretty faithful to the book, but the movie is also completely detached and distant with none of the emotional heart of the book. Disappointing.

An Introvert’s Guide to Language Learning- How to Learn a Language While Watching TV

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:55:40 GMT

I love learning foreign languages. For a couple years I tried learning on both Spanish and French but my time was so divided I didn’t really learn much of either. Now I just focus on Spanish.

When I’m proficient enough to read books and watch shows in Spanish – without subtitles or intensive vocabulary study – I’ll start back on French. I maintain my French by watching a TV show a week dubbed in French with English subtitles.

I love using TV to build my foreign language listening comprehension. It’s fun, so I watch often. I also learn a lot of slang and practice understanding at normal conservational speed.

I find I won’t watch as much if I don’t have English subtitles. Since the more I watch, the more I learn, English subtitles are a must for me. I tried using Spanish dubbing with Spanish subtitles but the translations often weren’t the same. Often, in the dubbed version an idiomatic phrase would be translated for meaning, but in the subtitled version, it would be translated word for word. Strange, but true.

(Note: Be sure to check the DVD or Netflix’s language info to make sure the edition you’re buying or renting has the dubbing and subtitle features. Not all editions have them.)

The following DVDs offer English subtitles and dubbing in Spanish and/ or French in at least some editions:

*Angel* Seasons 1-4: French and Spanish	*Monk* Season 1: French and Spanish
*Buffy the Vampire Slayer* Seasons 1-2: French Seasons 3-6: French and Spanish	*Sex and the City* Seasons 4-6: Spanish
*Curb Your Enthusiasm* Seasons 1-4: French and Spanish Season 5: French	*Six Feet Under* Seasons 2-4: French and Spanish Season 5: French
*Dark Angel* Seasons 1 & 2: French and Spanish	*The Simpsons* Season 2: French Seasons 3-11: French and Spanish
*Deadwood* Seasons 1-3: French and Spanish	*Smallville* Season 1: French
*Entourage* (Good for learning slang and curse words) Seasons 1- 4 French and Spanish	Ugly Betty Season 1: Spanish
*Firefly* Season 1: French and Spanish	X-Files Seasons 1-6: French Seasons 7-9: French and Spanish

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:43:47 GMT

Author: Kirsten Miller

Publisher: Bloomsbury, 2007

Pages: 369

For Ages: 9 - 14

Rating: *** ½

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb is a worthy sequel to Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City, with just as much adventure, mystery, and fun girl power as the original. As an added bonus, there are even a couple male characters this time.

The Irregulars are back with even more worries. Someone has been freeing animals in pet shops and zoos and leaving giant squirrel murals that credit their acts to Kiki Strike. While Kiki denies the acts, she’s late and distracted at meetings. Annaka’s parents, worried about her academic underachieving, threaten to send her to boarding school if she doesn’t shape up. Oona seems grouchier than usual and has important news she keeps forgetting to tell the group. Betty might have a secret admirer, Luz’s mother still won’t let her out of her sight, and Dee Dee and Iris think they may have discovered a perfume that will help the girls with the long list of enemies they’ve made.

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb is another fun read for upper elementary and middle school girls.

Interesting Reads from October 2008

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:38:21 GMT

I stopped feeling guilty about my blog reading addiction and decided instead to put it to use posting a list of monthly links I like.

Here’s my list of October posts worth checking out:

1. Genre-Bending- Laurie Halse Anderson (who wrote Speak and other YA and MG books) explains how she’s able to write and sell books in more than one genre.

2. Cold Hard Facts About the Writing Life- Anderson links to this excellent post she wrote this summer that answers the question all writers want to know: Can I live off my writing?

3. Late Bloomers- A reassuring article from the New Yorker on artists who were late bloomers. I read about it on the Verla Kay discussion boards.

4. Has the Newbery Lost Its Way? - Anita Silver’s Newbery question started a flurry of online discussion. My favorite responses are Liz B’s, The Newbery Means What?, and Fairrosa’s, The Recent Newbery Debate.

5. Cybils- Liz B. also has a question-answer post on the two-year old Cybil Awards—a cyber children’s book award that packs in more fun than the Newbery.

6. Promotion Gold in Them Thar Links- Laura Purdie Salas and Fiona Bayrock post a helpful list of book promotion idea links on their new micro site, Bubble Stampede!

7. A Nice Gal’s Guide to Online News and Politics- I started this blog in September to make my addiction to reading progressive political blogs useful too. This is my favorite post, so far: 5 Progressive Sites for Busy People.

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:06:58 GMT

Author: Twyla Tharp, with Mark Reiter

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2003

Pages: 243

Rating: *** ½

Famous dance choreographer Twyla Tharp says there is a “perennial debate, born in the Romantic era, between the beliefs that all creative acts are born of (a) some transcendent, inexplicable Dionysian act of inspiration, a kiss from God on your brow that allows you to give the world The Magic Flute, or (b) hard work.”

Tharp comes “down on the side of hard work” and thinks “creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is a result of good work habits.”

According to Tharp, the film Amadeus “dramatizes and romanticizes the divine origins of creative genius. Antonio Salieri, representing the talented hack, is cursed to live in the time of Mozart, the gifted and undisciplined genius who writes as though touched by the hand of God.”

“Of course, this is hogwash,” Tharp says, “There are no ‘natural’ geniuses.” Mozart’s “first good fortune was to have a father who was a composer and a virtuoso on the violin, who could approach keyboard instruments with skill,” and then Tharp tells the reader that “nobody worked hard than Mozart. By the time he was twenty-eight years old, his hands were deformed because of all the hours he had spent practicing, performing, and gripping a quill pen to compose. That’s the missing element in the popular portrait of Mozart.”

Building on this reassuring theme, Tharp leads the reader through the trials of every artist, discussing such topics as:

Rituals of Preparation

Before You Can Think out of the Box, You Have to Start with a Box

Scratching

Accidents Will Happen

Ruts and Grooves

An “A” in Failure

The Long Run

Reading about Twyla Tharp’s work habits, successes, and failures was reassuring and inspiring for me. If creating is difficult for even the most successful artists, then suddenly hard work seems meaningful and do-able.

Rowena's Ramblings

July 2009: In Brief, Part 1

July 2009: In Brief, Part 2

June 2009: In Brief, Part 2

June 2009: In Brief, Part 1

May 2009: In Brief

April 2009: Inbrief

March 2009: In Brief

The Hunger Games

February 2009: Inbrief

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

The Big Bang Theory The Daily Show Flight of the Conchords- exactly the type of humor my family loves: silly deadpan. Fringe Leverage

January 2009: Inbrief

Graceling

December 2008: Inbrief

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

2008 Inbrief (Mostly in A,B,C Order)

December Question

November 2008: Inbrief

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

One More Thing

November Break

November Question

Staying Connected To Your Teenager

October 2008: In Brief

TV- Top 5 Favorites of the Month (In A, B, C Order)

Movie Review for The Golden Compass

An Introvert’s Guide to Language Learning- How to Learn a Language While Watching TV

AngelSeasons 1-4: French and Spanish

MonkSeason 1: French and Spanish

Buffy the Vampire SlayerSeasons 1-2: French Seasons 3-6: French and Spanish

Sex and the CitySeasons 4-6: Spanish

Curb Your EnthusiasmSeasons 1-4: French and SpanishSeason 5: French

Six Feet UnderSeasons 2-4: French and SpanishSeason 5: French

Dark AngelSeasons 1 & 2: French and Spanish

The SimpsonsSeason 2: FrenchSeasons 3-11: French and Spanish

DeadwoodSeasons 1-3: French and Spanish

SmallvilleSeason 1: French

Entourage (Good for learning slang and curse words)Seasons 1- 4 French and Spanish

Ugly Betty

Firefly Season 1: French and Spanish

X-FilesSeasons 1-6: FrenchSeasons 7-9: French and Spanish

Kiki Strike: The Empress’s Tomb

Interesting Reads from October 2008

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It For Life

The Big Bang Theory
The Daily Show
Flight of the Conchords- exactly the type of humor my family loves: silly deadpan.
Fringe
Leverage

Angel
Seasons 1-4: French and Spanish

Monk
Season 1: French and Spanish

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Seasons 1-2: French
Seasons 3-6: French and Spanish

Sex and the City
Seasons 4-6: Spanish

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Seasons 1-4: French and Spanish
Season 5: French

Six Feet Under
Seasons 2-4: French and Spanish
Season 5: French

Dark Angel
Seasons 1 & 2: French and Spanish

The Simpsons
Season 2: French
Seasons 3-11: French and Spanish

Deadwood
Seasons 1-3: French and Spanish

Smallville
Season 1: French

Entourage
(Good for learning
slang and curse words)
Seasons 1- 4 French and Spanish

Firefly
Season 1: French and Spanish

X-Files
Seasons 1-6: French
Seasons 7-9: French and Spanish