Here I am, a month later, having NOT updated since early March. What happened to me? I am almost finished with The Handmaid's Tale (yeah yeah, I know, it's been months) but I feel like I'm relying too much on my 'summer vacation' to get through my overwhelming list of books to read. I also weighed myself yesterday and I've put about 6 pounds on over the last few weeks of not going to the gym. I'm really feeling down on myself right now for slacking and not getting through this, but it's so hard to find the motivation after working all day... I just want to bum around and skype/chat with people, watch tv, and not think about literature, but I know that reading is actually one of my favorite things to do and I miss it.
Now I've got myself thinking about my list of books. I really wish I hadn't made a set list, because there are so many books that have been recommended to me recently, and books that have come out, but I feel the need to finish my list before I can get to anything else. I might consider switching out a few books, but we'll cross that bridge when I finally finish The Handmaid's Tale.
Other than that, the weather is getting so nice, so I might be able to start reading on the back deck soon...
April 21, 2011
March 11, 2011
The Tipping Point and Droids
This is my first attempt at updating my blog from my cell phone... amazing how typing an entire post on a phone is no longer awkward or a burden, but instead is convenient and more relevant to my life. I find I spend less time on my actual computer and more time using my phone for the things my laptop was for. Facebook, games, twitter, IMing... all of it is possible on my phone. Is it any surprise the younger generations, my own included, don't find books engaging or exciting? Too much effort for not enough return?
I finished The Tipping Point last night. Like I said previously, I prefer his other books, but I realized one important thing from the lessons intended more for business minded people: if I want my classes to be relevant and important, I need to keep up with the current trends for this teenage generation, and I need to spot those students who are the trendsetters and engage them. If they start to think English classes (and the study of literature, writing, and speaking) is significant and important, eventually other students will, also. The goal is to make learning not fun or meaningful, but to make knowledge and curiosity desirable. How we do that, I don't really know.
I finished The Tipping Point last night. Like I said previously, I prefer his other books, but I realized one important thing from the lessons intended more for business minded people: if I want my classes to be relevant and important, I need to keep up with the current trends for this teenage generation, and I need to spot those students who are the trendsetters and engage them. If they start to think English classes (and the study of literature, writing, and speaking) is significant and important, eventually other students will, also. The goal is to make learning not fun or meaningful, but to make knowledge and curiosity desirable. How we do that, I don't really know.
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7
March 9, 2011
Oops...
Last Post: December 4th. How long ago was that? Oh, yeah, 3 months ago. And I haven't been keeping up with my reading. Why oh why did I let it go this long? Life got in the way.
Part of my reasoning for starting this blog was to force myself to start and finish a project. Now, I'm not one to start things and leave them to rust often, but I am guilty of setting myself up for something big and then just letting it fall by the wayside for a short while. I'm not going to let that happen with this project. I had my reasons for starting, and I'm going to see them through.
Tonight before bed (yeah, it's already 9 and I have more school stuff to do.. oops) I'm going to read more of The Tipping Point. I'm almost finished with it. I hate to say, it's been a really difficult read. I don't find it nearly as engaging as Outliers, but The Tipping Point is more business oriented, where I saw Outliers as something I could really use in my job and my life. I'm not trying to start a trend or market anything, I'm just trying to live my life and teach some kiddies.
I'm also almost finished with The Handmaid's Tale. PLUS a student of mine lent me one of his books, so I'm thinking I either need to add a 53rd book (oh, yeah, great plan ms. can't-keep-up-with-anything) or replace one of the books on the list with his book.
So here is my new goal: I will update my blog at the very least once a week. And I will start reading more often, and go to the gym. Going to the gym isn't just my random plug for physical activity (I'm getting fat again!) but I also bring my Kindle to the gym and I read on the bike. I can't read when I run, that's strictly music time, but on the bike I love to use my Kindle. Apparently electronic books are good for something!
Point is, I'm back, bitches. Did you miss me?
Part of my reasoning for starting this blog was to force myself to start and finish a project. Now, I'm not one to start things and leave them to rust often, but I am guilty of setting myself up for something big and then just letting it fall by the wayside for a short while. I'm not going to let that happen with this project. I had my reasons for starting, and I'm going to see them through.
Tonight before bed (yeah, it's already 9 and I have more school stuff to do.. oops) I'm going to read more of The Tipping Point. I'm almost finished with it. I hate to say, it's been a really difficult read. I don't find it nearly as engaging as Outliers, but The Tipping Point is more business oriented, where I saw Outliers as something I could really use in my job and my life. I'm not trying to start a trend or market anything, I'm just trying to live my life and teach some kiddies.
I'm also almost finished with The Handmaid's Tale. PLUS a student of mine lent me one of his books, so I'm thinking I either need to add a 53rd book (oh, yeah, great plan ms. can't-keep-up-with-anything) or replace one of the books on the list with his book.
So here is my new goal: I will update my blog at the very least once a week. And I will start reading more often, and go to the gym. Going to the gym isn't just my random plug for physical activity (I'm getting fat again!) but I also bring my Kindle to the gym and I read on the bike. I can't read when I run, that's strictly music time, but on the bike I love to use my Kindle. Apparently electronic books are good for something!
Point is, I'm back, bitches. Did you miss me?
December 4, 2010
Spending a morning at the DMV...
Dear Saturday morning,
You came much to soon, and brought with you the unhappy errand of going to the DMV (pardon me, Maryland, the MVA as you call it) to get a Maryland license. There is a long back story as to why I'm getting one that I'm not going to go into here, but I am not pleased. For one, Maryland licenses are ugly as anything. There's a crab on them. Now, I understand you all really enjoy crabs (insert STD joke here) but why do you need to deface a drivers license with a crab? And you want me to list my weight? Does Maryland hate all women? I put my real weight on it, too, because I feel like lying to make myself look thinner would depress me on a fat day when I open my wallet to buy a gallon of ice cream or some cookie dough and see some ridiculous weight I will never be listed on the license. Also I hate Maryland.
This is a blog about reading, so I promise there will be some literature connection, but for now, I get my 5 minutes of bitching. Mom, if you're reading, please skip the next line.
Fuck you, MVA.
Firstly, I've tried before to get my license switched and they've told me I didn't have 'proof of residency.' NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE IN MARYLAND, JUST LET ME IN ALREADY. So when I went today, I thought I had all my bases covered. Wrong. Dead freaking wrong. Apparently my pay stub didn't count as my social security option, so I checked with the counter man that I had everything else, and went home to look for my W2. I found it, went back, waited in line ALL OVER AGAIN, got to the counter, he approved everything and I got a number. I waited FOREVER again, finally got called up, and the woman tells me I DON'T HAVE PROOF OF RESIDENCY. Are you out of your goddamn mind, lady??? I told her in my most polite but powerful voice that I had specifically asked and had been told all of my documents were fine. Long story short, I finally got everything approved but it took forever. The MVA likes to make your life as miserable as possible.
I did bring my kindle with me to continue reading The Handmaid's Tale while I waited. This is a good plan, yes? Waiting forever, have something to read, it's travel friendly... until it FROZE as soon as I got in line the first time. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my reading froze. Again, mom, don't read the next line. Fuck you, ebooks. This is why I like paper copies.
I brought back The Tipping Point for my 2nd trip to the DM-- excuse me, MVA, so I did get about 60 pages of reading in. That will be an update for another post. I just wanted to write hate mail to Saturday morning and the DMV. MVA. What-the-eff-ever.
So thanks, Saturday morning. Thank you, state of Maryland. I hate you both.
Love,
Leah
ps - I'm seeing A Charlie Brown Christmas later today, then having dinner with Shank and Ryan, then going up to Jimmy's to see his new house, then going out, then having a sleepover with Colin, so you don't completely fail. But before noon? We are not friends anymore.
You came much to soon, and brought with you the unhappy errand of going to the DMV (pardon me, Maryland, the MVA as you call it) to get a Maryland license. There is a long back story as to why I'm getting one that I'm not going to go into here, but I am not pleased. For one, Maryland licenses are ugly as anything. There's a crab on them. Now, I understand you all really enjoy crabs (insert STD joke here) but why do you need to deface a drivers license with a crab? And you want me to list my weight? Does Maryland hate all women? I put my real weight on it, too, because I feel like lying to make myself look thinner would depress me on a fat day when I open my wallet to buy a gallon of ice cream or some cookie dough and see some ridiculous weight I will never be listed on the license. Also I hate Maryland.
This is a blog about reading, so I promise there will be some literature connection, but for now, I get my 5 minutes of bitching. Mom, if you're reading, please skip the next line.
Fuck you, MVA.
Firstly, I've tried before to get my license switched and they've told me I didn't have 'proof of residency.' NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE IN MARYLAND, JUST LET ME IN ALREADY. So when I went today, I thought I had all my bases covered. Wrong. Dead freaking wrong. Apparently my pay stub didn't count as my social security option, so I checked with the counter man that I had everything else, and went home to look for my W2. I found it, went back, waited in line ALL OVER AGAIN, got to the counter, he approved everything and I got a number. I waited FOREVER again, finally got called up, and the woman tells me I DON'T HAVE PROOF OF RESIDENCY. Are you out of your goddamn mind, lady??? I told her in my most polite but powerful voice that I had specifically asked and had been told all of my documents were fine. Long story short, I finally got everything approved but it took forever. The MVA likes to make your life as miserable as possible.
I did bring my kindle with me to continue reading The Handmaid's Tale while I waited. This is a good plan, yes? Waiting forever, have something to read, it's travel friendly... until it FROZE as soon as I got in line the first time. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my reading froze. Again, mom, don't read the next line. Fuck you, ebooks. This is why I like paper copies.
I brought back The Tipping Point for my 2nd trip to the DM-- excuse me, MVA, so I did get about 60 pages of reading in. That will be an update for another post. I just wanted to write hate mail to Saturday morning and the DMV. MVA. What-the-eff-ever.
So thanks, Saturday morning. Thank you, state of Maryland. I hate you both.
Love,
Leah
ps - I'm seeing A Charlie Brown Christmas later today, then having dinner with Shank and Ryan, then going up to Jimmy's to see his new house, then going out, then having a sleepover with Colin, so you don't completely fail. But before noon? We are not friends anymore.
December 2, 2010
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!
I was going to get in bed and read before going to sleep, but we do in fact get the Eagles game, so I'm going to watch football until I pass out instead. Priorities, people.
My professor emailed me back this afternoon about my memoir draft, and she had this to say:
I'm sharing it with you, wonderful blog readers, because I don't have my one person to tell these things to anymore. I'm okay with that. I have my outlet here, and although today was rough, I'm still truckin'. In other news, I have done many adult things in the past 24 hours, life decision-wise. And I'm feeling pretty good about all of it. Life goes on, and I'm going to be there for the ride. I'm pretty proud of myself, at the moment.
And remember, ladies and gentlemen, you are never alone when you have literature.
My professor emailed me back this afternoon about my memoir draft, and she had this to say:
I will send you specific feedback in the next few days, but for now I want to register these impressions: This work is at turns funny and heartbreaking, and it is always brave, both personally and artistically. It represents a substantial achievement, and I hope you recognize it as such. I'm honored to have been part of the process.
I'm sharing it with you, wonderful blog readers, because I don't have my one person to tell these things to anymore. I'm okay with that. I have my outlet here, and although today was rough, I'm still truckin'. In other news, I have done many adult things in the past 24 hours, life decision-wise. And I'm feeling pretty good about all of it. Life goes on, and I'm going to be there for the ride. I'm pretty proud of myself, at the moment.
And remember, ladies and gentlemen, you are never alone when you have literature.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)