what if this is as good as it gets?

blogaversary!

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

postsecret

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:58:00 +0000

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week. This week two spoke to me.

struggle...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:47:00 +0000

Day 20, Monday: Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now.

To be honest, I'm so hyped up from the trip that I don't know what I'm struggling with now. I got to spend time with my family, the wedding and reception were a blast. I'm tired. And I don't want to go to school tomorrow.

here come the bride and groom...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:45:00 +0000

Just getting home from The Wedding, in Pennsylvania. It was a whirlwind weekend, starting with traveling after school on Thursday. Here are the bride and groom. They are gorgeous and the wedding was a blast! I am so glad (almost) the whole family was there. And fortunately, the drive was uneventful.

ravin' bout my faves...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Day 19, Sunday: Five of your favorite blogs and what you love about them

In no particular order:

1) Diana's Little Corner In The Nutmeg State. Diana is a trans-activist who continually teaches me to be empathetic and accepting.

2) Knitting At Large. Julie's teaching me how to knit. She doesn't know it.

3) TYWKIWDBI. You just never know what you'll learn here.

4) Alison's Book Marks. Almost every book she reviews becomes one of my Must Reads. We have similar taste.

5) 22 Words. Pure fun. Weird goodness.

childhood

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Day 18, Saturday: Tell a story from your childhood. Dig deep and try to be descriptive about what you remember and how you felt.

My sisters used to tease me terribly. They would take books away from me, read the ending, then tell me all about the ending--ruining the book. I remember how frustrated, powerless, and angry I was. Just thinking about how awfully they teased me gives me a knot in the pit of my stomach.

fave photo...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Day 17, Friday: A favorite photo of yourself and why

This is my current favorite photo because it is a moment in time that means a lot to me.

lot in life...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Day 16, Thursday: Something difficult about your "lot in life" and how you're working to overcome it

What I find difficult about my "lot in life" is that I have to make all the decisions about everything. I am totally responsible for every little thing that goes on. Sometimes it would be nice to have someone else make a choice or take care of something routine. On the other hand, I love having my independence and freedom. But no one warned me about the responsibility.

thursday bug

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

Being overly excited.

day in the life...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:02:00 +0000

Day 15, Wednesday: A Day in the life (include photos from throughout your typical day - this could be "a photo an hour" if you'd like)

Today I slept through my alarm until 6:30 (about an hour later than usual).
I stopped at Dunkin' Donuts to get an iced coffee.
Arrived at school at 7:40.
Chatted with homeroom students until 8:10.
Morning announcements until 8:20.
APUSH class: lectured about the Fugitive Slave Act, then an activity about the Dred Scott Supreme Court case.
Period 2: planning period. Scanned and photo copied handouts for the next week. Students came in to vent about prom drama.
American Studies I: period 3, students worked on triple-entry vocabulary journals. Everybody's quiet. Kind of weird.
American Studies I: period 4, students worked on triple-entry vocabulary journals.
Lunch with my friends/colleagues. No cookies today and I forgot to order a strawberry shortcake.
AP Psych: finished our discussion of Life Report Cards and began the movie With Honors
Sociology: discussion of the American Class System. We created the class system of the school.
Study Hall: computers were not available for student use, due to standardized testing, so they didn't know how to entertain themselves--we're watching Brain Games.
Immediately after school: hustle to my mani/pedi appointment!

And now I'm home, eating a home made (not by me) chicken pot pie! Thinking about packing and all I've got to do for tomorrow.

w.w.w. wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:30:00 +0000

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? I'm listening to Carol Burnett's This Time Together and the second in the Sugar Maple series, Laced With Magic by Barbara Bretton.

• What did you recently finish reading? I read Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple--I loved it! And I also read Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton

• What do you think you’ll read next? Next up is: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. Although I've been saying this for weeks and have yet to make progress... so many books, so little time!

ten things tuesday--challenge style

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:12:00 +0000

Today I am combining my Ten Things Tuesday with my Everyday Blog Challenge.

Day 14, Tuesday: Ten things that make you really happy

1) Being with my whole family makes me really happy.

2) Reading a good book makes me really happy.

3) The arrival of Reese's Eggs helps me get through the longest part of winter, and makes me really happy.

4) Laughing until I can't breathe makes me really happy.

5) Wearing a favorite outfit and comfortable shoes makes me really happy.

6) Living by myself and being independent makes me really happy.

7) Thoughtful friends and colleagues make me really happy.

8) Having an overwhelmingly long to-do list and ticking items off makes me really happy.

9) Visiting with my hair goddess makes me really happy.

10) Knitting with "good" yarn makes me really happy.

finished reading...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:38:00 +0000

From the publisher:

Sugar Maple looks like any Vermont town, but it's inhabited with warlocks, sprites, vampires, witches-and an ancient secret. And Chloe Hobbs, owner of Sticks & String, a popular knitting shop, has a big secret too. She's a sorcerer's daughter in search of Mr. Right-and she's found him in Luke MacKenzie, a cop investigating Sugar Maple's very first murder. Bad news is he's 100% human, which could spell disaster for a normal future with a paranormal woman like her.

Part knitting cozy mystery, part paranormal romance, with just enough humor tossed in to keep me entertained. Even though there were a couple of inconsistencies, I stuck with it for a fun read.

I loved the knitting and the knitting advice, I loved the setting. I liked the secondary characters.

sincerely

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:09:00 +0000

Day 13, Monday: Issue a public apology. This can be as funny or as serious or as creative as you want it to be.

Dear Seniors:

I am sorry that we still have twenty days of school. I'm sorry that I plan to work those days. Summer vacation has not started yet. Graduation hasn't come yet. We still have things to work on. Yes, I know, you've been accepted at college and the work we're doing now is inconsequential in terms of affecting your grades for the future. I know. I know. I know.

postsecret

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:33:00 +0000

*on the back: I want to tell you this but I'm afraid it was just a slip*

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard. I like to post one that speaks to me each week.

sunday stealing

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sun, 12 May 2013 14:16:00 +0000

(click the icon to play along)

Sunday Stealing: Currently

Thinking about: going to the laundromat

Feeling: lazy

Reading: Casting Spells

Listening to: the clock tick and a bird outside my window

Wondering: where my motivation went

Looking forward to: my eldest niece's wedding in a week

Missing: my sisters

Watching: the cursor blink

Eating: chocolate frosted mini wheat

Making me happy: expectation of the next week

all night long...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sun, 12 May 2013 12:30:00 +0000

Day 12, Sunday: What do you miss? (a person, a thing, a place, a time of your life...)

I miss being able to stay up all night. It used to be so much fun to stay up all night doing whatever or reading and listening to music.

hitting the road...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:46:00 +0000

One week from today I will be in Pennsylvania, at my niece's wedding. I'm so excited! I still am not sure exactly what I'm wearing, but I have options. I need to pack and get organized, mostly get organized. I did get my car serviced today (which was just $50!!) and I've got a hair appointment Tuesday, a mani-pedi Wednesday, and arrangements to leave school on Thursday during 8th period, so I can leave at 2, instead of 3.

I think what I am most excited about is that my sisters and I will get to be together. I wish all the nieces and nephews could be together, too, but we'll have a big festive group. And we'll celebrate Dad's birthday.

for sale?

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:08:00 +0000

Day 11, Saturday: Sell yourself in 10 words or less

Loyal, efficient, quirky, well-dressed, intelligent, independent, loving, gutsy, creative, extroverted-introvert.

saturday 9

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:55:00 +0000

Mama Told Me (Not To Come)

1) This song is about a lad who didn't take his mother's advice and attended the wild party anyway (hear it here). When you were young, did your parents approve of your friends? If you're a parent yourself, how have you handled it when your kids start hanging around with friends you're not crazy about? my dad approved of my friends--they were all drama club kids and he was the drama adviser

2) A 2010 poll named Marge Simpson of The Simpsons the most popular TV mom of all time. Who is your favorite TV (or movie) mother? I'm going with a movie mom: Mrs. Weasley!

3) Crazy Sam's mother is a big fan of The National Enquirer. As she likes to say, "They were right about John Edwards!" Do you read the tabloids? Cast a guilty glance at them when you're in line at the store? Or ignore them altogether? I totally scan them when I'm in line at the checkout!

4) Mother Winters always gave Sam peppermint tea to calm her stomach. Do you have any tried-and-true home remedies to share? I like to lie on my stomach if it's feeling hinky

5) Thinking of guts ... When making decisions, do you tend to consider all the options carefully or do you "go with your gut"? I tend to go with my gut after thinking about it carefully

6) Spring is here! Do you have a green thumb? I have the black thumb of death

7) Have you put away your winter clothes yet? yes!

8) After you lather and rinse, do you repeat? I don't think I ever have

9) To celebrate Mother's Day, Sam is giving away Hershey bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or milk chocolate with almonds? well, I think today I will go for the nutty bar

i'll be your fool...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:27:00 +0000

Day 10, Friday: Most embarrassing moment (s). Spill.

I embarrass myself all the time, I teach high school. Every day I do something to keep their attention that would embarrass me in the real world. Yesterday I spilled glitter all over the floor, making a huge mess. Something so simple became so complicated--have you tried to get glitter picked up from every surface?

thursday bug

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:08:00 +0000

Sometimes it helps to share with others what bugs your mind.

They may have a solution, a kind word, or a smile of encouragement.

This week my thursday bug is:

A simple task becoming monumental--I made a complete mess out of something simple.

finished reading...

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:52:00 +0000

From the publisher:

Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she's a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she's a disgrace; to design mavens, she's a revolutionary architect, and to 15-year-old Bee, she is a best friend and, simply, Mom.

Then Bernadette disappears. It began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette's intensifying allergy to Seattle—and people in general—has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic.

To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, secret correspondence—creating a compulsively readable and touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter's role in an absurd world.

I wasn't really sure what to think of this book based on the overview from the publisher. But what a treat! This book is laugh out loud funny in several places. Even though you have to suspend belief, it's worth it to follow the improbable tale of Bee piecing together what happened to her mother, Bernadette. It's an epistolary-style book but it incorporates all types of messages: letters, texts, journals, billboards, emails, and other sources. The secondary characters start out as stereotypes but the arc of the story is surprising.

I really loved this book. I wanted to start reading it again just as I finished it.

moment in time

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Thu, 09 May 2013 11:53:00 +0000

Day 9, Thursday: A moment in your day (this can be just a photo or both a photo and words)

It's 7:45 and my homeroom kids are playing chess and talking about video games and basketball. They are enthusiastic about their chess and conversations. I'm gathering my thoughts. They are scattered.

advice

noreply@blogger.com (Kwizgiver) — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:53:00 +0000

Day 8, Wednesday: A piece of advice you have for others. Anything at all.

The best piece of advice I have ever received is one I happily share with any and everyone: "Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom." My grandmother told that to me when I was traveling frequently. They have turned out to be words to live by.