saturday 9

Money

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This lyrics mention "the birds and bees." Who told you about the facts of life? my sister and her best friend

 

2) Barrett Strong sings that love won't pay the bills. How do you handle bill paying? Do you set aside one day a month to take care of all your bills, or do you pay each one as it comes in? What's your system? mostly online bill paying once a month

 

3) He refers to dollar bills as "lean greens." Can you think of any other euphemisms for money?  dough, "The Benjamins" and "make it rain"

4) April is tax time, so money is top-of-mind for us all. Do you do your own taxes or do you seek the help of a professional?  for the past few years I have used H&R Block online

5) On this week's song, Barrett does a solid job on the vocals and he handles the keyboards well. In addition to performing, he was a talented songwriter. One of his most popular compositions was "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," a song about a lover who listened to gossip and got some useful information. Have you ever been the subject of gossip? If yes, was there any truth to the rumor? yes and yes (most recently it was because of the Great Purge of my classroom and the reasons for it)

 

6) He worked with Motown and its sister label, Tamla, for years, but when they moved their offices from Detroit to LA, he quit. Have you ever relocated for your career? my first teaching job was in Western Maine

7) In 1959, when "Money" was popular, Huckleberry Hound was a hit with young TV viewers in 1959. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?  Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang

8) While children were enjoying daytime cartoons, their parents were discovering The Twilight Zone, which also premiered in 1959. Decades later, it's still being rerun on cable and streaming services. Are you a fan? my sisters and I LOVED that show

 

9) Random question: Right now, would you prefer to grab a snack or take a nap? nap

finished reading

This suspenseful mystery is a thrill ride! Everyone is a suspect. Everyone has a reason to dislike Amanda Pierce—she's young, beautiful, and glamorous, living in the suburbs with her handsome husband. The neighborhood is almost claustrophobic because gossip travels fast, and everybody knows their neighbor's business.  Secrets, lies, and keeping up appearances are the heart of this tale.

From the publisher:

Maybe you don't know your neighbors as well as you thought you did . . .

"This is a very difficult letter to write. I hope you will not hate us too much. . . My son broke into your home recently while you were out."

In a quiet, leafy suburb in upstate New York, a teenager has been sneaking into houses--and into the owners' computers as well--learning their secrets, and maybe sharing some of them, too.

Who is he, and what might he have uncovered? After two anonymous letters are received, whispers start to circulate, and suspicion mounts. And when a woman down the street is found murdered, the tension reaches the breaking point. Who killed her? Who knows more than they're telling? And how far will all these very nice people go to protect their own secrets?

In this neighborhood, it's not just the husbands and wives who play games. Here, everyone in the family has something to hide . . .

You never really know what people are capable of.

three on thursday on friday

 

Thing one:  today was eye treatment day.  My ophthalmologist is very pleased with my progress and has high hopes for continued improvement and stability.  It is not happening fast enough or dramatically enough for me.  

Thing two:  I think I'm in a reading slump.  The past couple of books I've read didn't do it for me.

Thing three:  therapy was really positive this week.  It's hard work!  I'm glad we could focus on good work and positive happenings.  I was explaining that I've had a LOT of anxiety associated with decluttering my classroom but that it feels like "good" anxiety because the results are so satisfying.

finished reading

The Booklover's Library was a sweet enough read. The whole wartime England setting and the focus on a lending library were definitely charming, and I enjoyed following Emma's journey as she navigated life during the Blitz and her new job. There were some really heartwarming moments, especially with the library regulars, and the book definitely celebrates the power of stories, which is always a plus for me. However, I felt like the plot was a bit predictable at times, and while the characters were likable, they didn't always feel super deep. Overall, it was a pleasant way to spend a few hours, but it wasn't the most memorable book I've read recently.

From the publisher:

A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of the books that bring them together.

In Nottingham, England, widow Emma Taylor finds herself in desperate need of a job to provide for herself and her beloved daughter, Olivia. But with the legal restrictions prohibiting widows with children from most employment opportunities, she’s left with only one option: persuading the manageress at Boots’ Booklover’s Library to take a chance on her.

When the threat of war becomes a reality, Olivia must be evacuated to the countryside. In her daughter’s absence, Emma seeks solace in the unlikely friendships she forms with her neighbors and coworkers, as well as the recommendations she provides to the library’s quirky regulars. But the job doesn’t come without its difficulties. Books are mysteriously misshelved and disappearing, and her work forces her to confront the memories of her late father and the bookstore they once owned together before a terrible accident.

As the Blitz intensifies in Nottingham and Emma fights to reunite with her daughter, she must learn to depend on her community and the power of literature more than ever to find hope in the darkest of times.

wordless wednesday

 

currently

I am...

Reading:  The Self-Care Prescription: Powerful Solutions to Manage Stress, Reduce Anxiety & Increase Wellbeing by Robyn Gobin, assigned to me by my therapist 

Listening to:  nothing 

Loving:  my classroom's decluttering project is complete!

Thinking:  about therapy homework, the Self-Care Prescription is practical and doable--beyond manicures and massages

Feeling:  sleepy: I should probably head back to bed as it's 12:22 am

Celebrating:  the student who decluttered my room does not want any recognition for all the hard work we've done--but I'm going to surprise her during vacation

Grateful for: students who get me

Enjoying:  I'm in a very good mood

Weather: currently 27° and cloudy

A quote I want to share:  winter needs to be over...

Description

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM NOON TUESDAY TO 4 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 8 inches. WHERE...Portions of Central Highlands, Far Eastern, Far Northern, and North Woods Maine WHEN...From noon Tuesday to 4 AM EDT Wednesday. IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday evening commute.

finished reading

The opening line hooked me: "Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her."  Isn't that intriguing?  Unfortunately, that was the most intriguing part of the book.  I didn't connect with any of the characters and couldn't understand why they would cultivate the relationships they did.  It is categorized as a mystery or thriller, but it was neither.  I kept with it, waiting for the plot to pick up the pace.  It didn't.

From the publisher:

Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you’d never know it by looking at her.

Raised outside of Boston, Ivy’s immigrant grandmother relies on Ivy’s mild appearance for cover as she teaches her granddaughter how to pilfer items from yard sales and second-hand shops. Thieving allows Ivy to accumulate the trappings of a suburban teen—and, most importantly, to attract the attention of Gideon Speyer, the golden boy of a wealthy political family. But when Ivy’s mother discovers her trespasses, punishment is swift and Ivy is sent to China, and her dream instantly evaporates.

Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet restless young woman, haunted by her conflicting feelings about her upbringing and her family. Back in Boston, when Ivy bumps into Sylvia Speyer, Gideon’s sister, a reconnection with Gideon seems not only inevitable—it feels like fate.

Slowly, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and the entire Speyer clan by attending fancy dinners, and weekend getaways to the cape. But just as Ivy is about to have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening the nearly perfect life she’s worked so hard to build.

Filled with surprising twists and offering sharp insights into the immigrant experience, White Ivy is both a love triangle and a coming-of-age story, as well as a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for success at any cost.

sunday stealing

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Stealing from Manic Monday

Manic Monday. Stolen from a blog that alas, is no more.

1) What's the longest you've gone without sleep? 36 hours when I was traveling

2) What was the highlight of your last week? my senior AP Psychology class made amazing six word memoirs for our Personality unit.  We watched the TEDtalk and then I handed out templates and they designed and colored.  They were the best collection I've received, and I've been doing this assignment for at least seven years.

3) You have to give a 10-minute speech to a group of high school students. What's your topic?  how to be human in today's world

4) What is the single best decision you've ever made in your life? walking away

5) If you could ask a coworker, friend or family member a question and be guaranteed an honest answer, who would you choose and what would you ask? I would ask my colleague across the hall, "Are you willing to change your approach to teaching?"

6) Do you cook for yourself when you're home alone? I'm always home alone--and yes

7) Do you most often access the internet from your computer, your phone, or your smart watch? a toss-up between my computer and phone

8) Do you have more email addresses or phone numbers? email 

9) What's the biggest source of anger in your life right now?  entitled politicians 

10) Mondays make me feel _________________. like retirement can't get here soon enough

postsecret

 

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.

saturday 9

Heart Like a Truck

 Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this week's song, Lainey Wilson longs to hit the open road. What do you yearn for this morning?  I was hoping for "warm" weather

2) She says her heart runs on dreams and gasoline. What fuels you? iced coffee and making it to retirement

3) Lainey sings that her heart has been "drug through the mud." The correct past tense of "drag" is "dragged," but in parts of our country, "drug" is sometimes used. Can you think of any other grammatically incorrect song lyrics?  it would be an all-day marathon... suffice it to say I can think of many but let's start with "I can't get no satisfaction"

4) She tells us her truck could benefit from being dusted off and shined up. Could your vehicle use a little TLC? yes, it needs a wash and a detailing

5) Before making it big in country music, Lainey supported herself by doing odd jobs, including appearing as a Hannah Montana impersonator for kids' parties. What's the most unusual job you've held? a gas station attendant
 
6) In addition to singing, Lainey has acted, appearing in 5 episodes of the series Yellowstone. Are you a fan of the show? I watched the first few seasons
 
7) She loves Southern comfort food like mac and cheese and biscuits and gravy. What's on the menu at your place this weekend? probably pizza
 
8) In 2022, when this song was on the charts, Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Have you ever been to Scotland? no, I haven't
 
9) Random question – Let's pretend you're back in Kindergarten. Which of these would young you prefer: a toy kitchen set, kid-sized gardening tools, or a mini trampoline? probably the toy kitchen set

finished reading

I struggled a bit with the beginning of this book; it took longer than usual for me to connect with the characters and the situations.  I'm so glad I kept reading because I thoroughly enjoyed it!  

The book is all about Lila Kennedy, a recently divorced mom of two daughters: sixteen-year-old Celie and eight-year-old Violet. Life’s already a bit of a mess for Lila, with her house falling apart and her career in trouble after her marriage to Dan ended, especially since she’d just published a bestselling book on how to save a marriage. To make things even more complicated, Lila’s kind but grieving stepdad, Bill, has moved in after her mom passed away. And just when she thinks things can’t get any crazier, her biological dad, Gene – a Hollywood actor she hasn’t seen in 35 years – shows up out of the blue, needing a place to crash.

As Lila tries to balance single motherhood, money problems, and writer’s block, her unconventional household pushes her to face her past and rethink what family really means. The story follows her as she manages her rebellious daughters, her well-meaning but sometimes too involved stepfather, and her flashy father. Along the way, she meets Jensen, the charming gardener Bill hires, who turns into a supportive friend, and she navigates the ups and downs of her ex-husband Dan’s new life. With a mix of humor and heartfelt moments, Lila learns about forgiveness, the surprising connections within her family, and how to find love and happiness in the messiness of life.

From the publisher:

Lila Kennedy has a lot on her plate. A broken marriage, two wayward daughters, a house that is falling apart, and an elderly stepfather who seems to have quietly moved in. Her career is in freefall and her love life is . . . complicated. So when her real dad—a man she has barely seen since he ran off to Hollywood thirty-five years ago—suddenly appears on her doorstep, it feels like the final straw. But it turns out even the family you thought you could never forgive might have something to teach about love, and what it actually means to be family.

three on thursday

 

Thing one:  school was let out at 11:30 due to a wicked storm with mixed precipitation. The roads were icy-slushy, and there was dense fog.

Thing two:  a student complained to the administration about her grade in my class.  On the third quarter report card, the grade is 99.22 because she had a missing assignment.  The LMS was not syncing properly and she wasn't able to "see" the missing assignment so she assumed I had made an error.  When confronted about it by the admin, I may have sent a snotty email sign-off.

Thing three:  I gotta think of something so snap me out of this foul mood brought on by both the weather and the situation from thing two.  😠