L'aventure américaine

The New Yorker, 2009.

My cousin and I have recently relocated to the hills of Greene County. Different opinions may project this fact in different lights such as: unemployed graduates return to live with their parents 'cause they can't get a job. Or perhaps, two successful students return to help their parents with the chores of daily life after studying very hard for years in order to get a bit of respite and bring joy to their families. I prefer the latter. If you put us together, we have three bachelor degrees and one masters degree, another one on the way. We have gained an extraordinary amount of knowledge in our combined fifty-seven years and we are prepared to save the world through architecture and sustainability and nursing. So, it is with great pride, I unveil our most recent creation: "Maple Town Returns." Pretty awesome, isn't it? All that education wasn't for nothin'.

Let's discuss the merits of film. First of all, I know that the book on which a movie is based is always best. Blah, blah, blah... Except for "The Devil Wears Prada," that mantra has held true since film was invented. But, you might find this rather shocking, I think that the "Pride and Prejudice" film that is less true to the novel is better than the one that does. I know that I can compare the two because for the last two nights I have watched them. On Sunday, my parents and I watched the entire BBC version of "Pride and Prejudice" (or P&P as my cousin calls it). Then on Monday, for comparison's sake, my mom and I watched the 2005 Focus Features version of "Pride and Prejudice " (my dad's manhood just couldn't swing another night). I appreciate the BBC for its attention to detail, loyalty to the book, and the casting of the two main characters as well as Mr. Bennett. But, point #1 addressing the recent film's su...

Don't worry! It's just raining on my face. (Check out the link above.)

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...