Saturday, September 17, 2011

Finishing a Friend



Do you ever pick up a book and discover a friend? Something you thought would be merely entertaining, turns out to share some of your same thoughts and secret desires? Austenland was like reading a friend, or better yet, looking into a fantasy mirror. Jane being me in having this perfect image of what a romance and a gentleman look like and act like. I often yearn to escape back into a time like that. Austenland would be a theme park I would like to attend. I would love to experience the Regency era first hand, though I wouldn't like actors pretending to court me or fall for me (I would be too naive to fall for them!), but just to keep me company, like a tour guide, except less explicit as one. I am like Jane in being hopelessly hopeful in any budding romance, having practical and fanciful fights within myself. Though I loved reading it, it was sad to be done with it. Like saying goodbye to a good friend. I was happy for Jane and her happy ending, but sad I had to move on with my romanceless life. Though I read Austenland awhile ago, I still remember the reader's remorse sigh that escaped my lips as I finished my friend. So glad I read it, but sad I can never read it again for the first time... But don't you worry, I went and bought my friend, to forever keep company with my other literature friends. Now I will wait patiently for the movie to squeeze its way into my media collection as well. So goodbye Austenland, for now at least...






Sunday, September 4, 2011

Sunday Salon

Outside my window: The sun is streaming in along with the light breeze. Together the are making the shadow leaves on the wall dance. I can hear kids playing somewhere nearby. All put together makes for a great Sunday afternoon.

I am listening to: This morning it was "The Sound of Music" as I got ready for church. Right now I am listening to my "Super Soundtracks" playlist on my itunes... Have I mentioned that I love soundtracks? Well I do. Love them! Kinda obsessed with them...

I am watching: 24. Oh, yes! Let the TV series addiction bug please take over! No matter how bad my life is, at least it is not Jack Bower's. And I get to sleep at night, unlike everyone in that show. Poor fictional characters... no wonder everyone is so cranky in that show, they never sleep!

I am thinking: I should really be writing my talk for church instead of a blog...

I am grateful for: Insoles for my shoes, because the first three days of school have been torture on my poor little feet!

I am reading: The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, Matched, and need to start The Help for my newly founded book club! WOO HOO!!!

I am photographing: nothing...

I am listing: All the things I need to do. Go back to school clothes shopping. Make lesson plans. Write talk. Correct Tests. Fill in my gradebook. Format my clickers in my classroom. Choreograph a bollywood dance. Plan for my advisory class. Become a better teacher. Change students' lives. Save the world... nothing big

I am creating: Lesson Plans and a church talk on Prayer. Any thoughts or suggestions?

I am hoping and praying for: a good memory. Come Tuesday, I hope I remember my students names.

Around the house: Are some house guests. Old friends have come to visit for the long weekend. Fun times.

From the Kitchen: I made a Symphony pie. Graham cracker crust, melted Symphony bar mixed with whipped cream... mmmm......

One of my favorite things: After a summer break, and then three days of almost non-stop talking, my throat hurts, so I am loving Halls lemon honey throat drops! Oh and sleep. Sleep is also my favorite!

Plans for the week: Survive.

Friday, August 19, 2011

I Complete You?



“You complete me?” What does that even mean? Was part of you missing? Or what part you of you am I?

I know, I know. This is a "very romantic" scene from Jerry Maguire, and most girls would gush if a guy were to say that to her. And of course it seems romantic after listening to a group of women complaining about their men and love life. And having Tom Cruise come in, well anything he would say after that would sound romantic! But really? I complete you? I am not so sure I want a man that isn’t whole himself…


And I have heard the expression “my other half”. Again, I have issues with this saying. I am a whole person. I would hope to date a whole person. Two incomplete people in a relationship just sounds like a recipe for disaster. I understand the sentiment that these phrases are trying to convey, I guess I just don’t find it romantic the way it comes out. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being someone else’s other half; I would like to be my own person, thank you. And I would like to define and complete a relationship, instead having my relationship defining me or making me feel like a complete person.

Is there another way to relate the sentiments these men are trying to express….? How the heck am I supposed to know… I am single! Your thoughts?

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

A Lil' About Me

As a teacher, I am used to a captive audience. And by captive I really mean captive; dozens of adolescents zoned out as they are forced to sit and listen to me talk about algorithms, functions, and permutations. Even now I can hear some of your eyes rolling back and your brains going into a comatose state. No worries, that is not what I am going to use the blog to talk about. So the fact that you are of your own free will and choice even considering giving me your attention is flattering. (Yes, I flatter easily. It’s a shock I am still single.)

A little about me:

I am a walking paradox. I am happy and optimistic, but bitter and cynical. I enjoy a good cry as well as a good laugh. I am extremely shy, but outgoing and bubbly. I love food, but am a picky eater. I hate bugs, but am the bug killer in the house. I thrive on consistency, but love spontaneity. I like working out, but despise sweating. I am quite patient, but have an Irish temper. I am real and irrational at the same time. (A little math humor for you. Hehe) I crave sanity, but am a middle school math teacher. I am a saver, but love impulse shopping. I admire athletes, but hate sports. I love to fly, but am terrified of flying objects (especially when they are hurtling towards my face and I have to rely on my appalling hand eye coordination). I am submissive, yet stubborn. I am graceful, but uncoordinated. I LOVE music, but can’t listen to my ipod in public for fear of breaking out into song and dance without realizing it.


About this Blog

My Hopes: I hope this is place where I can put my opinions out there and enjoy discussions with others that have similar interests. I hope to embrace this world wide community, and expand my perceptions of the world around me. I hope that in small way I entertain you, made you smile or laugh, or just make you ponder about something you normally wouldn’t have. I don’t have a real master plan for this blog at this moment, so we will discover it together. But I will probably talk about movies, music, food, and other random things that catch my interest.


My Fears: I fear that having a blog of my own may carry along the assumption that I believe I am the authority of whatever I am talking about. This blog is just my thoughts in a somewhat organized and amusing way. I also fear the actual grammar part of writing. I am a math teacher for a reason; we all should just be happy I can write coherent thoughts.



So thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think! I love comments!
Megs

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Books I Want to Read

1. The Book Thief- I am currently reading it, but I forgot it at my parents’ house three and half hours away, and I WANT to finish reading it… blast that darn repacking forgetfulness!

2. Supernaturally- Just bought it last night… Oh please, yes!

3. The Help- One of those books I want to read before I go see the movie. Thankfully the movie looks interesting, so that is encouraging.

4. Divergent- My roommate read the entire book in one day, and highly recommends it. Ergo, I must read it to confirm its delightfulness.

5. Jane Eyre (again)- This was the first book I read where I felt that internal compelling feeling to find out what is going to happen. That invested feeling in the characters which makes you laugh, cry and get angry and want to throw book across the room (but immediately run to retrieve it to see what happens next). Yep, I want to relive that.

6. Matched- Was recommended by my niece, how can I refuse that?

7. The Fairy Thorn- A novel by my first favorite author from my teenage years that I have not yet read, therefore it is a must.

8. The Outsiders- A friend informed me that to maintain our friendship, I would have to read The Outsiders since it is her favorite book. Also my students read it this year, might as well join in the fun.

9. To Kill a Mockingbird- For some reason this book has been neglected in my life. While most people have read it somewhere in there high school career, my teachers decided to torture me with books like The Heart of Darkness, Grapes of Wrath, and As I Lay Dying. “Classics” that I really have no palate for. (Sorry to those who die in rapture for those books, I mean no offense. But I do feel sorry for you.)

10. The Secret Life of Bees- Again one of those movies that I wanted to read the book first, but it just hasn’t happened yet. Unfortunate, I know.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Josh Groban Renders Me Croaky… and Bruised



There I was, about to embrace the reality that I was actually going to see Josh Groban in concert, and as I exclaimed my excitement to my sister, BAM!!! What in the world am I doing on the ground? Why am I in the splits? Wow, my knee really hurts! Yep, that’s right; I fell in the entrance to the Josh Groban Concert. (Proof I am willing to forsake my well-being to see Josh.) Graceful Megs, Graceful. If this was any indication of the rest of the night, it didn’t bode well. But no worries, the rest of the night was FANTASTIC! After an awkward clambering to my feet and an embarrassed inspection of my knee, my sister and I found our seats on the floor, wandered around, purchased my souvenir T-shirt, and anxiously anticipated the beginning of the show.

Have you ever noticed that anticipation has this ability to slow down time? (If scientists want to harness time travel, they should really study anticipation, I swear it’s the secret.) The half hour in between ELEW’s performance and Josh’s entrance was excruciatingly and tediously slow. Why is that half hour even necessary, Josh? It’s painful.

Finally, there he was, on the center stage behind us, and angels were singing… No wait, that was Josh singing! That pure melodic male voice! It does dangerous things to a woman’s knees, and mine were already weakened by the fall. I could try to describe Josh Groban’s concert to you, but there really are no words that do it justice. Incredible. Fantastic. Amazing. Wonderful. Remarkable. Marvelous. Mediocre words to describe that man’s astounding talents. He can sing, play the piano, play the drums, and is charismatic. He has this spontaneous wit as he interacts with the audience that has me laughing in my annoying giddy little girl giggle. If I wasn’t standing, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, tapping my toe, swaying to the music, and maybe drooling a little.

One thing I love about Josh is the dude can really sing. Nowadays, famous singers don’t really have to be able to sing, electronic mixing does it for them. There are so many who when you hear them live, you start twitching and cringing because they are pitchy and off key. Not Josh. He was spot on like always. Even with his running up and down the stage, aisles, and “gaps”, he is never breathy, but strong in his air support and energy. This concert wasn’t about gimmicks or special effects, but about Josh singing. I am in awe of this man’s gifts and talents.

My sister qualified my coming with her in that I had to be a true fan with her by screaming, clapping, and in exuberance. She had no need to worry about my exuberant screaming! Josh’s energy and skill had me being the scream-leader in the arena. She was surprised by how loud I truly could scream. I just wanted Josh to know I was having an unbelievable time ;). Especially loud screams erupted from me when he sang one of my favorites, Machine. AMAZING! By the end, Josh had rendered me a little croaky.

I only had a few regrets from the evening. 1) He didn’t fall madly in love with me by the end of the night. Really Josh, I would make a great girlfriend! I have done long distance relationships before and since I am a teacher I could tour with you in the summer. Plus, I am apparently very fun to tease, which you are good at. 2) He didn’t play Hidden Away. What’s up with that? I love that song and would have loved to hear it live, but oh well, I love you still Josh. 3) The night had to end. I wish I could go with him to every concert he does, because I don’t think I would ever get tired of listening to him sing. I wonder how I get the job of being his wardrobe mistress. I would rock that job! (plus that makes the whole girlfriend thing easier ;)

Star struck, thoroughly entertained, slightly drooling, groupie, Grobanite sighing off! Josh, you are not a hero, you are not an angel, but in my eyes you are!