L'aventure américaine

I wanted to read about Ted Kennedy's funeral this morning when I noted this headline on the nytimes.com webpage. "Students Get New Assignment: Pick Books You Like." This article, which I do think harbors a great idea, is spouting this new idea that is making the rounds in reading workshops. Instead of forcing students to read books like Moby Dick or any Henry James, students can choose anything they want. (Having read both Moby Dick and Henry James, I don't have a desire to read either of them ever ever again) However, I don't think that these authors realize how behind the times they are. My Aunt Jeanne did this with her students more than fifty years ago. It was always the example that my dad and I used when talking about her dedication as a teacher. Who would want to read thirty books chosen by their students? As Aunt Jeanne noted, "It got them read, but they read horrible stuff." I wish that she could have read this article. I can just ima...

Did you know that you can make an exploding cocktail? Add a mentos to a Diet Coke and rum (hold the rum if you just want an exploding drink). And watch your party go from kind-of fun to super-duper fun (and quite sticky)!

I have to wonder if it's worth it make a study calendar. I'm tempted to make another poll to see if people think that it is worth it to make a study calendar. I'm wondering if I have a procrastination problem. I take the NCLEX exam on September 10th. If I pass this exam, I will become a registered nurse. If I don't pass the exam, I will become a sad, homeless bag lady who makes her dog perform an erratic "Roll-over!" for food. Because I am telling you all this date, I am considered a "Sharer." A "Non-sharer," is a nursing grad who is so afraid that he or she might fail, they they refuse to tell anyone when their test date is. I think that I have to state the date just so my friends and family can hold me accountable for studying. Which brings me back to the study calendar. If I make a calendar in which I can cross off all of the days until I take the exam and check the days when I study for a half-hour, will that make me more produ...

If you go into my kitchen, you'll see my dishes are mounting. The number of job rejections isn't even worth counting. I'm sweating in this chair and the heat won't go away because the AC in my car and home went out on the same day. But, alternator belts and crank shafts are being replaced (even while my savings is being erased). And job offers will come and I'll have cool places to go And "Flight of the Conchords" ensures that my feelings aren't low. So I'm bucked up and am happy to say, that I'm in a good mood! (at least for today)

I saw "Julie and Julia" on Friday night and it was wonderful. I recommend this movie to: 1) Women in their 20s who are flailing and feeling a little lost in life. 2) People who love food. or 3) People who are fun. If you do not fall into any of these categories, then don't go see it, and you're probably not my friend anyway. So, go see it.

The nice thing about being unemployed is my daily walk with the dog, Odie. We've gone on nice long rambles to the river and the IMA and he's done an amazing job. We've been training him with a shock collar, and while this is somewhat controversial, after the first day, I've barely had to use it and he's so stinkin' well-behaved now! This morning, I decide to spice it up and go on a morning bike ride around Rocky Ripple. Odie knows the "Wheel" command that Nate taught him, so he pretty much stays right by my back wheel on the right side. Even when a giant white dog starts chasing us down the street... Odie totally ignores him. Hurrah! However, Cpt. Grumpy Neighbor further down on the street asks where Odie lives... and I told him... and then he informs me that Odie gets out and comes over into his yard. I told him that Odie was an indoor dog and only came out with us, but he told me I was wrong and he was there quite often. Harumph. Later, I ...

I told Dad that I would use real names after I'd known someone for a year. So, introducing Art Boy and I in our first film together.