There just isn't enough time in the day to do everything that I'd like to get done. There's school, laundry, dishes, fixing meals (I hesitate to call what I do "cooking"), exercise, reading & commenting on the ECN, keeping up with what's going on in the lives of friends & family through SMS, Facebook, Twitter, reading my library books and attempting to return them without TOO huge of a fine, watching TV shows or movies or playing WoW, blogging, updating and responding on Goodreads, church, game night, doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, paying bills, and oh yeah, let's not forget eating, showering, and sleeping!
It's no wonder that I haven't updated this site in months. *sigh*
I've started exercising again. There are Zumba classes in my parents' neighborhood, and I actually enjoy it, which is really nice, because on the whole I haaate exercising. It's unpleasant and uncomfortable and usually boring. Zumba at least isn't boring. It still feels like work, and it's quite challenging, and I feel very self-conscious about my coordination, but I like dancing and music so it's not too bad. Plus I'm kind of middle-of-the-pack in how good I am at learning & performing the choreographies, so I don't feel TOO clumsy, or like I'm showing off.
The down side is that I haven't lost ANY WEIGHT. And it doesn't seem like it's affected my size at all, either, which I know is not supposed to be as important, but hey, that's what I care about. Weight is just a number. I have noticed that I can do more before I wear out than I could when I started. But I'd really like to be able to wear my favorite outfits again and there's been ZERO progress in that area, and it's been almost a month. It's quite discouraging.
I've started bellydance classes again as well - I quit going for a few sessions because I was spending, like, ALL MY TIME trying to get the stupid yearbook finished. *glower* We're starting a new fanveils choreography that looks pretty darn awesome if I do say so myself.
Ok, gonna post this now cuz I has food & it's time to EET! :D
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, December 3, 2010
Children's Classics
Author Mitali Perkins has asked, "When it comes to race, ethnicity, gender, and class, what stands the test of time?"
I did not get to read the first book in the series, Emily of Deep Valley, until just this week. The library had a copy of the original printing from 1950 in storage. Kind of distressing, because I really enjoyed it. I hope they get a new copy, because I do think this is a timeless classic.
And this is coming from someone who has tried the Betsy-Tacy books and not particularly enjoyed them. I mean, they weren't throw-the-book-across-the-room bad or anything. I can appreciate them; I think they're well-crafted. But I started at least two or three of them and didn't finish any. I just lost interest.
So.
Race - Tangent: I actually spoke to one of my students about this today. I heard a group of them talking about a fight (don't they always?) and one of them referred to "that black kid." And I'm just like... no. Not cool. So I called that student over and quietly said, "David, I'd like to ask you not to refer to people by their race. It makes me very uncomfortable, and I don't like it." So of course he tries to explain to me why it's NOT racist, and how none of his black friends have complained about it. And I said, "I'm not talking about them - I'm talking about ME. I know that I would be unhappy if people always referred to me as 'that white teacher.' It makes ME uncomfortable, so I'm asking you to stop." And (hurray!) I have a good relationship with this student he was okay with that.
Now, I know this student wasn't being ugly in what he said. But I know that it's easy to confuse not-intentionally-racist with just-not-thinking. And that it's important to think before speaking. Anyway.
One thing I noticed was Deep Valley's lack of racial diversity, aside from the Syrians. I wondered - a little - if race as well as nationality made them targets; I don't think so. The sticking points seemed to be their non-standard English and accents, and their foreign names & customs. But at the same time, LOOKING so different kind of makes it that much more obvious.
Ethnicity - this, I felt, was more the issue. One thing I haven't seen anyone mention in the reviews Ms. Perkins linked was how smoothly and seamlessly Kalil becomes Charley. That caught me off guard.
Gender - I thought this book had a LOT to say about gender. There was the grandfather's complete obliviousness to the possibility of post-secondary education for women. I believe it's written particularly well, because it's understandable even though I think - I hope - it's completely foreign.
I really appreciated the exploration of different types of romantic love. I liked that while Emily had multiple love interests - first of all, she isn't demonized for it - and second, they're not presented to the reader as competing. I'm putting this badly, because in one way they were competing with each other; it's the "Team Edward/Team Jacob" thing I find tiresome.
Emily has a LOT of agency. I really appreciated that. She has her own problems, she faces them, and she DOES something about them. I liked that a whole bunch.
Of course, she also does a lot of waiting-around-for-the-boy. There's still some of that around - goodness knows I see it with my students - but I don't think it's so pervasive.
And finally - I did not see class as a significant theme in this book. I would love to hear others' thoughts on the matter.
I did enjoy the specific details - the "new-fangled" fountain pen, for example - but I wondered how much of that was because the book was published in 1950. I don't remember quite the same level of detail in books by Montgomery or Alcott.
I did not get to read the first book in the series, Emily of Deep Valley, until just this week. The library had a copy of the original printing from 1950 in storage. Kind of distressing, because I really enjoyed it. I hope they get a new copy, because I do think this is a timeless classic.
And this is coming from someone who has tried the Betsy-Tacy books and not particularly enjoyed them. I mean, they weren't throw-the-book-across-the-room bad or anything. I can appreciate them; I think they're well-crafted. But I started at least two or three of them and didn't finish any. I just lost interest.
So.
Race - Tangent: I actually spoke to one of my students about this today. I heard a group of them talking about a fight (don't they always?) and one of them referred to "that black kid." And I'm just like... no. Not cool. So I called that student over and quietly said, "David, I'd like to ask you not to refer to people by their race. It makes me very uncomfortable, and I don't like it." So of course he tries to explain to me why it's NOT racist, and how none of his black friends have complained about it. And I said, "I'm not talking about them - I'm talking about ME. I know that I would be unhappy if people always referred to me as 'that white teacher.' It makes ME uncomfortable, so I'm asking you to stop." And (hurray!) I have a good relationship with this student he was okay with that.
Now, I know this student wasn't being ugly in what he said. But I know that it's easy to confuse not-intentionally-racist with just-not-thinking. And that it's important to think before speaking. Anyway.
One thing I noticed was Deep Valley's lack of racial diversity, aside from the Syrians. I wondered - a little - if race as well as nationality made them targets; I don't think so. The sticking points seemed to be their non-standard English and accents, and their foreign names & customs. But at the same time, LOOKING so different kind of makes it that much more obvious.
Ethnicity - this, I felt, was more the issue. One thing I haven't seen anyone mention in the reviews Ms. Perkins linked was how smoothly and seamlessly Kalil becomes Charley. That caught me off guard.
Gender - I thought this book had a LOT to say about gender. There was the grandfather's complete obliviousness to the possibility of post-secondary education for women. I believe it's written particularly well, because it's understandable even though I think - I hope - it's completely foreign.
I really appreciated the exploration of different types of romantic love. I liked that while Emily had multiple love interests - first of all, she isn't demonized for it - and second, they're not presented to the reader as competing. I'm putting this badly, because in one way they were competing with each other; it's the "Team Edward/Team Jacob" thing I find tiresome.
Emily has a LOT of agency. I really appreciated that. She has her own problems, she faces them, and she DOES something about them. I liked that a whole bunch.
Of course, she also does a lot of waiting-around-for-the-boy. There's still some of that around - goodness knows I see it with my students - but I don't think it's so pervasive.
And finally - I did not see class as a significant theme in this book. I would love to hear others' thoughts on the matter.
I did enjoy the specific details - the "new-fangled" fountain pen, for example - but I wondered how much of that was because the book was published in 1950. I don't remember quite the same level of detail in books by Montgomery or Alcott.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Like today!
So I woke up at 5:15 and I tried to get back to sleep but I just couldn't. Stuffy nose, cramped calves... yeah. Not workin'. So around 5:40 I got up. Figured I'd get some WoW in before it was time to get ready for work. Not much - just a little - because on Tuesdays they do maintenance from 6 AM to about 1 or 2 in the afternoon.
And don't you know I had to download a patch. Not a big one - just wee - but just enough that it wrapped up at 5:58, which gave me just enough time to log in and open ONE of the auction sales in my mailbox before I got booted off the server.
AND THERE IS MORE MONEY WAITING FOR ME ON THERE! WAAAAH!
Grr, I say!
I am SUCH a miser, too. Not RL - though I am stingy, it's more from a sense of being choosy about what I want to spend money on - but man, in WoW? When there's not a whole lot you can buy that really matters? I love having gold. Getting gold. Seeing the numbers by the little gold indicator in my bag increase... yay!
I feel like Prince John in Disney's Robin Hood:
Gold, gold, GOLD!
And don't you know I had to download a patch. Not a big one - just wee - but just enough that it wrapped up at 5:58, which gave me just enough time to log in and open ONE of the auction sales in my mailbox before I got booted off the server.
AND THERE IS MORE MONEY WAITING FOR ME ON THERE! WAAAAH!
Grr, I say!
I am SUCH a miser, too. Not RL - though I am stingy, it's more from a sense of being choosy about what I want to spend money on - but man, in WoW? When there's not a whole lot you can buy that really matters? I love having gold. Getting gold. Seeing the numbers by the little gold indicator in my bag increase... yay!
I feel like Prince John in Disney's Robin Hood:
Gold, gold, GOLD!
Monday, November 29, 2010
So, Yeah.
I hope that having cancer hasn't turned me into a spoiled brat.
Lemme 'splain.
When people hear that I have cancer, they offer support and encouragement. [Side note: I think I am probably cancer-free at this point, but as I'm still going through treatment, I'm not going to split too many hairs. Anyway.] And they buy me things. And they listen. My God, do they listen.
And it's soooo easy to get - well - taken in. It's like I have this free pass that says, "I Have Cancer: Give Me What I Want!"
Lemme 'splain.
When people hear that I have cancer, they offer support and encouragement. [Side note: I think I am probably cancer-free at this point, but as I'm still going through treatment, I'm not going to split too many hairs. Anyway.] And they buy me things. And they listen. My God, do they listen.
And it's soooo easy to get - well - taken in. It's like I have this free pass that says, "I Have Cancer: Give Me What I Want!"
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Good Habits - November 13
So yeah. The reason my fingers and feet feel so weird is also because of the chemo. *sigh* It's called "peripheral neuropathy." I am SO GLAD next session is my last. I'm going to get another bottle of my daily multivitamin (cuz there is only one lonely ill gummy left!) and Imonna pick up some B6 and B12 too because they may help.
The creepy thing about this is that based on what I'm reading, it may not go away. :( Some people wind up with permanent nerve damage. EFF. I'm pretty hopeful, though, because I don't have any of the other risk factors. Also, it kind of comes and goes. Right now my index and middle fingers are worst, and my pinky fingers are almost fine. Also it's just the tips.
Plan for today is to play WoW this morning, maybe nap later since I woke up sooo early, go to the Indian restaurant for lunch, pick up any groceries we need (we're also out of salad fixins but I don't know if I want more since we'll be leaving Wednesday for NCTE) and then visit friends and play games this afternoon/evening. I think I want to bring Taboo. My favorite part is holding the buzzer. Except I kind of wore it out. I do have this nifty little desk-bell, though. It is REALLY LOUD... >;) hahahaha...
Fun times... ^.^
The creepy thing about this is that based on what I'm reading, it may not go away. :( Some people wind up with permanent nerve damage. EFF. I'm pretty hopeful, though, because I don't have any of the other risk factors. Also, it kind of comes and goes. Right now my index and middle fingers are worst, and my pinky fingers are almost fine. Also it's just the tips.
Plan for today is to play WoW this morning, maybe nap later since I woke up sooo early, go to the Indian restaurant for lunch, pick up any groceries we need (we're also out of salad fixins but I don't know if I want more since we'll be leaving Wednesday for NCTE) and then visit friends and play games this afternoon/evening. I think I want to bring Taboo. My favorite part is holding the buzzer. Except I kind of wore it out. I do have this nifty little desk-bell, though. It is REALLY LOUD... >;) hahahaha...
Fun times... ^.^
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Good Habits - November 10
McD's again today. After Papa John's last night and Arby's for lunch. *sigh* But it tastes SO GOOD. Oh well.
Today's prompt is: Discuss an important personal relationship you have had and explain how it has changed your life.
Well, the obvious choice is my husband. I've written about the Hunk before. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that he renewed my faith in humanity - or at least in the other half! He is incredibly patient and ... easygoing? It's not "cheerful" so much as almost always content. It is good to be around him because he's almost always in a good mood.
He is a one-on-one parapro, and this year his student is a freshman, so he's now at the same school I am. I love getting to ride to school with him. If I'm having a rough day I can go and get a hug during lunch. It's pretty awesome.
It is hard to know the full extent of his influence on my life, because I really can't imagine my life (as it is now) without him. I probably wouldn't live in this part of the country. I might not even be a teacher.
Doctor's appointment today. Need to fill out my professional leave form for Friday's field trip. Parent calls after school tomorrow. Doctor's appointment Monday. I don't know WHEN I can get my blood work done... *sigh* maybe I can put it off until Tuesday, especially since I'm pushing my last chemo treatment back a few days too.
Today's prompt is: Discuss an important personal relationship you have had and explain how it has changed your life.
Well, the obvious choice is my husband. I've written about the Hunk before. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that he renewed my faith in humanity - or at least in the other half! He is incredibly patient and ... easygoing? It's not "cheerful" so much as almost always content. It is good to be around him because he's almost always in a good mood.
He is a one-on-one parapro, and this year his student is a freshman, so he's now at the same school I am. I love getting to ride to school with him. If I'm having a rough day I can go and get a hug during lunch. It's pretty awesome.
It is hard to know the full extent of his influence on my life, because I really can't imagine my life (as it is now) without him. I probably wouldn't live in this part of the country. I might not even be a teacher.
Doctor's appointment today. Need to fill out my professional leave form for Friday's field trip. Parent calls after school tomorrow. Doctor's appointment Monday. I don't know WHEN I can get my blood work done... *sigh* maybe I can put it off until Tuesday, especially since I'm pushing my last chemo treatment back a few days too.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Good Habits - November 8
Today's prompt is: What is your favorite word, and why?
Since we're freewriting, I'm going to say that right now I can't think of a favorite word. One that came to mind was antediluvian. I like it because it's much more common to have "anti-" as a prefix, and it's "ante-".
I spent a lot of time over the weekend playing WoW. I got to talk to a GM about not being able to use primary professions and the GM I talked to was able to fix the problem - yay! so I leveled tailoring almost a hundred points yesterday. But more significantly (not that THAT'S saying much) I spent some time thinking about the interplay between story and mechanics in MMOs.
Like death. In WoW, death is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience. If your character is killed, you have to spend time moving its spirit back to its body before it can interact with the game world again. But that's not reflected in the story within the game: characters apparently die only once. And that is different from the mechanics with NPCs: NPCs, whether they are alive or dead, tend to stay that way. Sick characters can be revived, but it's only temporary, as the game is static.
The Hunk mentioned a game that was in development that was planning to incorporate permadeath. As in, each character has a certain amount of "lives," but once those are used up, the player can't revive that character ever again.
My fingers are tired and I'm sure I've met my word count. Neener!
Since we're freewriting, I'm going to say that right now I can't think of a favorite word. One that came to mind was antediluvian. I like it because it's much more common to have "anti-" as a prefix, and it's "ante-".
I spent a lot of time over the weekend playing WoW. I got to talk to a GM about not being able to use primary professions and the GM I talked to was able to fix the problem - yay! so I leveled tailoring almost a hundred points yesterday. But more significantly (not that THAT'S saying much) I spent some time thinking about the interplay between story and mechanics in MMOs.
Like death. In WoW, death is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience. If your character is killed, you have to spend time moving its spirit back to its body before it can interact with the game world again. But that's not reflected in the story within the game: characters apparently die only once. And that is different from the mechanics with NPCs: NPCs, whether they are alive or dead, tend to stay that way. Sick characters can be revived, but it's only temporary, as the game is static.
The Hunk mentioned a game that was in development that was planning to incorporate permadeath. As in, each character has a certain amount of "lives," but once those are used up, the player can't revive that character ever again.
My fingers are tired and I'm sure I've met my word count. Neener!
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