I'm currently working on creating a new poetry unit, and I'm going to do "A Poem A Day" with my kids. I'm finding some poems that I really enjoy, so I'm going to share them with you for the next month or so.
My first favorite poem is Sonnet 27 by Shakespeare. Many of my favorite poems will be one of his sonnets, so be prepared for that!
Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed,
The dear repose for limbs with travel tired,
But then begins a journey in my head
To work my mind, when body's work's expired;
For then my thoughts (from far where I abide)
Intend a zealous pilgrimage to thee,
And keep my drooping eyelids open wide,
Looking on darkness which the blind do see;
Save that my soul's imaginary sight
Presents thy shadow to my sightless view,
Which like a jewel hung in the ghastly night,
Makes black night beauteous, and her old face new.
Lo thus by day my limbs, by night my mind,
For thee, and for myself, no quiet find.
I'm a hopeless romantic, and I love this poem because the speaker is dreaming of going to his love, and describing it as a pilgrimage, which shows the importance of that journey, if in nothing at least in his dream, and that the dream of his love makes night better, and beautiful.
This sonnet is the one I created an illumination project while I was at the Folger this summer. It's hard to say if this is my favorite sonnet, but it is one of them. I'm looking at my Riverside Shakespeare right now, and I'm finding many of them that I can relate to, so I'm sure I'm going to put more up later.
Does anyone have favorite poems they'd like to recommend?
Cheers!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Break!
I am on my break, but it is a break only in the sense that I am not in my classroom. I am leaving shortly for San Antonio for a teacher conference, and then I will be grading district exams, and then I am off to Baton Rouge/Lafayette for Thanksgiving. And then back home for more grading.
How much longer until Christmas break? :)
But the weather is cold and Christmas music will start playing soon, so life is good. And I'm still teaching A Tale of Two Cities, so I really can't complain.
Cheers!
How much longer until Christmas break? :)
But the weather is cold and Christmas music will start playing soon, so life is good. And I'm still teaching A Tale of Two Cities, so I really can't complain.
Cheers!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Hair Tip
Beacuse my hair fell flat early last night during the show, I decided to use velcro curlers instead of just using a round brush when drying my hair, which up until then had been working just fine.
While putting my hair in said rollers, I realized that I had no bobby pins with which to hold the curlers in my hair. I then stumbled upon a box of jumbo paperclips, and thought, "why not?" And ladies, I learned that paperclips work well for bobby pins. The curlers are staying put.
:)
Cheers!
While putting my hair in said rollers, I realized that I had no bobby pins with which to hold the curlers in my hair. I then stumbled upon a box of jumbo paperclips, and thought, "why not?" And ladies, I learned that paperclips work well for bobby pins. The curlers are staying put.
:)
Cheers!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Hit-And-Run Shakespeare
My Shakespeare Society is small, but has great kids in it. We ge together weekly and read. Right now we're reading "Much Ado About Nothing," which they enjoy.
Until today. Today was even more fun.
A couple of days ago I was catching up with New York Mike and he was telling me that he also started a Shakespeare club (go figure... we met at Shakespeare Summer Camp) and they're doing something called "Spontaneous Shakespeare," in which his kids rehearse exciting scenes, run into the middle of lunch, randomly perform and run away. I loved that idea, so I told my kids about it and they started jumping up and down. A new tradition at my high school has started.
So today we started rehearsing our first Spontaneous Shakespeare - Act I, scene I of "Romeo and Juliet." I'll stand on the balcony overlooking the commons and, with a mircophone, spout out the prologue, and the kids are going to run in and perform the scene, complete with heavily coreographed wooden-sword fights. And then they'll run away when done. Next semester we'll do a scene from "Julius Caesar" and then after that we'll do "MacBeth" and maybe "Hamlet." The goal is to get other students confused and then curious and then welcoming. Just like we have a teacher who randomly puts on a banana costume and runs in and out of classrooms, we're going to have random Shakespeare performances when no one expects them. We will be a tradition.
And my kids are so pumped and excited. And I get to direct. It's all good everywhere!
Time to do my nails before the show. We close this weekend, which is bittersweet. But we'll act our asses off before we close!
Cheers!
Until today. Today was even more fun.
A couple of days ago I was catching up with New York Mike and he was telling me that he also started a Shakespeare club (go figure... we met at Shakespeare Summer Camp) and they're doing something called "Spontaneous Shakespeare," in which his kids rehearse exciting scenes, run into the middle of lunch, randomly perform and run away. I loved that idea, so I told my kids about it and they started jumping up and down. A new tradition at my high school has started.
So today we started rehearsing our first Spontaneous Shakespeare - Act I, scene I of "Romeo and Juliet." I'll stand on the balcony overlooking the commons and, with a mircophone, spout out the prologue, and the kids are going to run in and perform the scene, complete with heavily coreographed wooden-sword fights. And then they'll run away when done. Next semester we'll do a scene from "Julius Caesar" and then after that we'll do "MacBeth" and maybe "Hamlet." The goal is to get other students confused and then curious and then welcoming. Just like we have a teacher who randomly puts on a banana costume and runs in and out of classrooms, we're going to have random Shakespeare performances when no one expects them. We will be a tradition.
And my kids are so pumped and excited. And I get to direct. It's all good everywhere!
Time to do my nails before the show. We close this weekend, which is bittersweet. But we'll act our asses off before we close!
Cheers!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Storm Pictures
Finally, I have Hurricane Ike pictures. I'm still working on my slow, old computer so I'm hesitant to upload (since it takes forever), but I'm currently looking for excuses to stall my evening grading. 60 Jane Eyre essays left.
This is my apartment before. Notice the chimney on the left. Notice that it's attached to the roof.
During the storm, as I laid on my couch, I heard a crash! Thinking it was a tree that went through my neighbor's apartment, I snuck a quick peek outside. Nothing to the left. Nothing to the right. Then I looked down. Damn. That's my chimney.
After the storm, I surveyed the damage. Yep, that's my chimney, floating in flood water. And there is now a hole in my roof. And water spots. And mold (killed later by bleach).
I can be, however, quite optimistic. I knew that I wanted a souvenir from this storm (the storm in which I was of the small percentage that stayed despite a mandatory evacuation order), and what better souvenir than a piece of my chimney? I originally wanted the metal tubes, but was talked into keeping the better pieces of pine. So the Neighbor and I loaded the wood up and took it to his shop, where we made...
this table. I learned how to use power tools and make a patio table! The table still isn't finished - I'm currently punching tiny holes in the table top because it's going to be a large cribbage board. But I've got a nice-sized patio table and it's going to go with me forever as a souvenir of Hurricane Ike 2008.
This is my apartment before. Notice the chimney on the left. Notice that it's attached to the roof.
During the storm, as I laid on my couch, I heard a crash! Thinking it was a tree that went through my neighbor's apartment, I snuck a quick peek outside. Nothing to the left. Nothing to the right. Then I looked down. Damn. That's my chimney.
After the storm, I surveyed the damage. Yep, that's my chimney, floating in flood water. And there is now a hole in my roof. And water spots. And mold (killed later by bleach).
I can be, however, quite optimistic. I knew that I wanted a souvenir from this storm (the storm in which I was of the small percentage that stayed despite a mandatory evacuation order), and what better souvenir than a piece of my chimney? I originally wanted the metal tubes, but was talked into keeping the better pieces of pine. So the Neighbor and I loaded the wood up and took it to his shop, where we made...
this table. I learned how to use power tools and make a patio table! The table still isn't finished - I'm currently punching tiny holes in the table top because it's going to be a large cribbage board. But I've got a nice-sized patio table and it's going to go with me forever as a souvenir of Hurricane Ike 2008.Cheers!
Monday, November 10, 2008
More Broadway Ramblings
So, despite the fact that I said my broken heart was healed, I'm still saddened by "A Tale of Two Cities" closing before I could go see it. One of the actors in the show, James Barbour, has a blog and I discovered it Saturday and have been reading it daily for news. He said that the producers are working on a touring company (yay!), but that a CD might not happen (boo). I love the concept CD I have, but I want to hear the Broadway cast because they changed quite a bit of the songs, or so I've heard.
So "Tale" is gone. Upon reading Mr. Barbour's blog today, he mentioned that he's in rehearsals for a new show already - "The Count of Monte Cristo."
My devoted readers know that "The Count of Monte Cristo" is my favorite book of all times. In fact, I spent at least one blog entry two years ago about it, and it sits on my coffee table because I'm reading it for a third time.
So how do I feel about a "Count of Monte Cristo" musical? I have mixed emotions. I'm excited because it's such a great book and also that a great deal of the "Tales" cast is in the workshop for this show as well - James Barbour as Dantes, the girl who played Lucie will be Mercedes, and Natalie Toro will be a pirate queen (but that is not a character original to the book...hmmm...). I'm also excited because the man behind "Jeckyll and Hyde", another great musical, is behind this one as well. But I love this book so much, that I'm worried I'll be disappointed. "Monte Cristo" is 1300+ pages. That's a lot of info for a 2-3 hour musical.
So I'm now going to see how I can purchase the "Monte Cristo" cd that was released in Europe for the European opening, since it won't open in America for a while.
Gotta run. I've got 68 more "Jane Eyre" essays to grade.
Cheers!
So "Tale" is gone. Upon reading Mr. Barbour's blog today, he mentioned that he's in rehearsals for a new show already - "The Count of Monte Cristo."
My devoted readers know that "The Count of Monte Cristo" is my favorite book of all times. In fact, I spent at least one blog entry two years ago about it, and it sits on my coffee table because I'm reading it for a third time.
So how do I feel about a "Count of Monte Cristo" musical? I have mixed emotions. I'm excited because it's such a great book and also that a great deal of the "Tales" cast is in the workshop for this show as well - James Barbour as Dantes, the girl who played Lucie will be Mercedes, and Natalie Toro will be a pirate queen (but that is not a character original to the book...hmmm...). I'm also excited because the man behind "Jeckyll and Hyde", another great musical, is behind this one as well. But I love this book so much, that I'm worried I'll be disappointed. "Monte Cristo" is 1300+ pages. That's a lot of info for a 2-3 hour musical.
So I'm now going to see how I can purchase the "Monte Cristo" cd that was released in Europe for the European opening, since it won't open in America for a while.
Gotta run. I've got 68 more "Jane Eyre" essays to grade.
Cheers!
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Sunday
Sundays are going to be my new favorite day of the week. Long ago, when I was a manager for Starbucks, Fridays used to be my favorite day - one I'd take off and get errands run and see movies because most people were at work and crowds were minimal.
But I'm going to have Sundays be my "me" days. Unfortunately, work takes up so much of my time that sometimes I forget about being me. Being in this play was a great way to remember me, but it's ending next weekend. So I'm going to not work on Sundays anymore. I'm not going to write lesson plans, grade, etc. I'll readjust my time, work on time management and learn to not stress if papers are not graded quickly in order to not do school work on Sunday. Well, I'll probably still read the books I'm teaching, but I enjoy that. Sundays will be my "me" days - church, shopping, maybe leisurely brunches with friends, the gym, movies. I have a stack of papers to grade, but I'm going to work on them during the week. I'd like to have them graded by Friday, but there are 150 of them. I'm actually looking forward to grading them. My pre-AP students had to write about"Jane Eyre" - they were to choose to write about it as a Gothic novel, or as a Romantic novel, or to write about Rochester as a Byronic hero. I've looked at a few of them and they're quite good. My enriched class had to write personal narratives - and those will be fun as well, although not as well-written as my nerdy kids' essays (I say this with affection - and I tell them all the time they're nerds, to which I tell them I'm a proud nerd myself).
But my point is, I have grading. I might work on some of them before the show starts (while I'm sitting around in makeup and an evening gown) or during intermission, but I'm not going to freak if they're not done. My boss told me to not be married to my work, but it's hard not to when a social life isn't exciting. Plus I love my job. I love teaching, I love my kids, I love what I teach.
Sometimes I wonder if I put all my energy into my work because I don't have a social life, or if I put all my energy into my work so that I won't have a social life. Last night, after the play, I stopped by school to help chaperone the homecoming dance. The only other teacher there was the Neighbor, who is in charge of lights and sounds. The others were the assistant principals, and they were working in shifts. After the dance ended, my boss teased me about having a hot date, or going out country dancing after the dance. I told him that my hair and make-up looked the way it did because I was too lazy to wash it off after the play. :) And that I don't like clubs and bars and don't date much. He seemed surprised - telling me he was sure I was a partier. I told him that I'm a good faker - I'm an introverted actress. Strange combination, I know.
Anyway, there's my nonsensical ramblings for the day. Sometimes my brain holds a maze of thoughts.
Time to work out before the play.
Cheers!
But I'm going to have Sundays be my "me" days. Unfortunately, work takes up so much of my time that sometimes I forget about being me. Being in this play was a great way to remember me, but it's ending next weekend. So I'm going to not work on Sundays anymore. I'm not going to write lesson plans, grade, etc. I'll readjust my time, work on time management and learn to not stress if papers are not graded quickly in order to not do school work on Sunday. Well, I'll probably still read the books I'm teaching, but I enjoy that. Sundays will be my "me" days - church, shopping, maybe leisurely brunches with friends, the gym, movies. I have a stack of papers to grade, but I'm going to work on them during the week. I'd like to have them graded by Friday, but there are 150 of them. I'm actually looking forward to grading them. My pre-AP students had to write about"Jane Eyre" - they were to choose to write about it as a Gothic novel, or as a Romantic novel, or to write about Rochester as a Byronic hero. I've looked at a few of them and they're quite good. My enriched class had to write personal narratives - and those will be fun as well, although not as well-written as my nerdy kids' essays (I say this with affection - and I tell them all the time they're nerds, to which I tell them I'm a proud nerd myself).
But my point is, I have grading. I might work on some of them before the show starts (while I'm sitting around in makeup and an evening gown) or during intermission, but I'm not going to freak if they're not done. My boss told me to not be married to my work, but it's hard not to when a social life isn't exciting. Plus I love my job. I love teaching, I love my kids, I love what I teach.
Sometimes I wonder if I put all my energy into my work because I don't have a social life, or if I put all my energy into my work so that I won't have a social life. Last night, after the play, I stopped by school to help chaperone the homecoming dance. The only other teacher there was the Neighbor, who is in charge of lights and sounds. The others were the assistant principals, and they were working in shifts. After the dance ended, my boss teased me about having a hot date, or going out country dancing after the dance. I told him that my hair and make-up looked the way it did because I was too lazy to wash it off after the play. :) And that I don't like clubs and bars and don't date much. He seemed surprised - telling me he was sure I was a partier. I told him that I'm a good faker - I'm an introverted actress. Strange combination, I know.
Anyway, there's my nonsensical ramblings for the day. Sometimes my brain holds a maze of thoughts.
Time to work out before the play.
Cheers!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Apologies
Wow. I haven't posted in a really long time. I'm deeply sorry, and my excuse is the play that I'm in.
School has been back in session and we suffered no major damage from Ike. I'm happy to be back because my boredom was never-ending! We finished "Jane Eyre" - the girls loved it, the boys not so much and now we're beginning "A Tale of Two Cities" - my 2nd favorite book. My first time teaching "Jane Eyre" wasn't too bad - and the fact that I enjoyed reading it last spring probably helped. Luckily I teach books that I truly enjoy.
Speaking of "Tale" and "Jane Eyre".... Jeff, the guy who plays my husband in "Rumors" broke my heart yesterday when he told me that "Tale" is closing - and closing before I could get back up to NY. But I was cheered back up when Amazon.com sent me the cast recording to "Jane Eyre" - it's fantastic. This year I'm already planning on incorporating songs from "Tale" into the chapter discussions and next year I'll be able to incorporate "Jane Eyre" songs into the lessons. My musical brainwashing schemes are being set into motion! Bwa-hahaha. :)
The play is going well. In fact, I have to leave soon - I'm to be at the theatre for 7 to get ready. We're at the Clear Creek Community Theatre and we're running until next weekend. "Rumors" is definitely the funniest play I've been in and my part is great. My favorite line is a deadpan delivery of "I feel sorry for her because one day she'll grow old and die."
I don't know if I'll do another show soon. I'm thinking about auditioning for "Baby", but it's a musical that I'm unfamiliar with. Plus it runs at the same time as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I'm in the Show Choir again, singing the National Anthem nightly, and it'll cut into that time.
Plus I'm exhausted. Teaching AND being in a play is very tiring. I went to bed at 6pm Tuesday night. I'm glad rehearsals are over and the show began.
Must run. I promise I'll write more!
Cheers!
School has been back in session and we suffered no major damage from Ike. I'm happy to be back because my boredom was never-ending! We finished "Jane Eyre" - the girls loved it, the boys not so much and now we're beginning "A Tale of Two Cities" - my 2nd favorite book. My first time teaching "Jane Eyre" wasn't too bad - and the fact that I enjoyed reading it last spring probably helped. Luckily I teach books that I truly enjoy.
Speaking of "Tale" and "Jane Eyre".... Jeff, the guy who plays my husband in "Rumors" broke my heart yesterday when he told me that "Tale" is closing - and closing before I could get back up to NY. But I was cheered back up when Amazon.com sent me the cast recording to "Jane Eyre" - it's fantastic. This year I'm already planning on incorporating songs from "Tale" into the chapter discussions and next year I'll be able to incorporate "Jane Eyre" songs into the lessons. My musical brainwashing schemes are being set into motion! Bwa-hahaha. :)
The play is going well. In fact, I have to leave soon - I'm to be at the theatre for 7 to get ready. We're at the Clear Creek Community Theatre and we're running until next weekend. "Rumors" is definitely the funniest play I've been in and my part is great. My favorite line is a deadpan delivery of "I feel sorry for her because one day she'll grow old and die."
I don't know if I'll do another show soon. I'm thinking about auditioning for "Baby", but it's a musical that I'm unfamiliar with. Plus it runs at the same time as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and I'm in the Show Choir again, singing the National Anthem nightly, and it'll cut into that time.
Plus I'm exhausted. Teaching AND being in a play is very tiring. I went to bed at 6pm Tuesday night. I'm glad rehearsals are over and the show began.
Must run. I promise I'll write more!
Cheers!
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