Well, well, well, if it hasn't been two years already!

It just so happens that we have had this blog fo' a looong time!  We really wrote a lot back in the day.

Today school was actually pretty fun.  We are doing a mythology unit and surprisingly--the kids like it.  At least some of them do, which is saying something. The kids are doing a project next week where they are assigned a god and then they have to speak for 3-5 minutes as that god, complete with costume.  I think it's gonna be great!  Can't wait to see what they come up with.  I hope I am surprised.  In a good way.  If I could choose a god to be I would be Hephaestus.  He's all full of intrigue and he's the only ugly god.  I think I could pull that off.

Just for the record, I wanna give a shout out to my friend David.  He is being deployed in not too long.  And he will be missed.  Take care, my friend, and be safe.  If you have internet access and a cd player, I will send you a CD.  It will be inspirational!  Megan will give me your info.  

In other news, it is nice out.  That is all.

Dav.Dame.

East of Eden Intrigue

I am truly enjoying this East of Eden business.  Tonight I read a bunch of it while I was on a walk.  V. good.  

I am really loving the library in Auburn.  It's really nice--they have a good selection of books.  Not that I would know, though.  I actually don't get books there.  I get either magazines or movies.  So much for being an English teacher!  

This weekend I watched the movie The Reader

HIghly interesting.  Kate Winslet was really good in it.  I also really liked the young version of the main character.  The movie was very emotional and dealt more with the Holocaust than I assumed.  I was really drawn in by it, though.

For a bit of a summary, the movie is about a young boy who gets ill on the street on the way home from school.  As he is throwing up on the street, a woman (Winslet) helps him out and takes him home.  After this incident, they become lovers and spend every afternoon together.  Each day the boy reads his school books aloud to her which she enjoys.  Eventually the two split.  Later on, we find the boy in law school.  His class is visiting the courtroom during the Holocaust trials.  As it turns out, his former lover has been accused of crimes related to the Holocaust.  

He knows some hidden truths that might help her case, but fails to report them.  As the story goes on, we see how she lives in prison, and how the boy stays involved with her.  

Although this movie was interesting, it left me questioning the boy.  Why didn't he tell?  Perhaps he was ashamed to have associated so closely with someone who committed such crimes.  Perhaps he cared about her so much that he wanted to protect her secrets for her.  In any case it was an interesting, thoughtful, and emotional movie.  Check it out.

I like movies.

DD

Seedy read-y

So, not because Meg did it (I have been planning this for weeks now, WEEKS!) I am going to try to come up with a reading list for myself. I will actually have a bit of time this summer to read, so hopefully I'll get something done. I have so many books that I own that I haven't read--and now it's time. I've got to knock out my own library before I can branch out even further into the libraries and bookstores of the world. So here goes:

1. East of Eden, John Steinbeck 

2.  The Madonnas of Leningrad, Debra Dean

3.  The Female Brain, by Louanne Brezandine

4.  The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck

And because it is obvious that I don't know how to insert pictures, I'm just going to continue writing in text from here on out:

5.  The Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

6.  Translation Nation, Hector Trobar

7.  Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie (I can't believe I've never read this...)

8.  The Book Thief, Marcus Zusak (I read his _I Am the Messenger_ ,which was totally awesome, to my seventh graders.  Well, I read ahead.  I don't think I'll ever finish it with them.  Only three weeks left, you know!)

9.  Mansfield Park, Jane Austen

10.  Persuasion, Jane Austen (these are the only two Austen books I haven't read.  It's about time, don't you think?)

The list could go on and on, but I don't want to waste any more of your precious reading time.  Best go,

Regards,

The Dame

Oh I just can't wait!

Hey girlfriend!

How is your life going? How is your mawwiage? I just can't wait for the summertime! There's nothing like a couple months off to rest, relax, and hopefully prep for the next school year. I hope I can get myself to do a bit more planning this year--maybe I do know a bit more than I did last summer. I don't know for sure what (or where) I'm teaching next year, so I'm just kind of waiting it out--very nervously!

I want to hear all about your (almost) moved into house. It's so exciting! Are you going to paint? Are you going to have a nice big kitchen? Should be an AWESOME experience. I should be around Lincoln several times this summer, so let me know if you want any help doing anything (or if you just wanna haaang!)

Love ya,

Davenport Dame

Woe is the Easter Bunny!

Hi. Writing again, whether or not Heather Lea is writing. I know she has a busy blog to keep up with, anyway!

I am home right now for Easter, and believe you me, it is feeling great. I'm sitting in my multi-colored rainbow robe with my mom's multicolored rainbow slippers, just relaxing away. I thought I could potentially get a lot of work done this weekend, but I really haven't. I've only gotten done the most minimal amount of planning. Next week's plans are all I've got done. Why am I do dern lazy? I can't plan when I'm not on vacation, let alone on a relaxing trip home. I need Megan to come here and feng shui my life like she did when we were in college.

Speaking of college, it's weird how quickly I have forgotten how college "works." I already feel out of touch with the undergrad scene. Weird. I mean, I don't remember how much time I spent on homework, how late I stayed up, or even what I ate in the dorms. I am hardly the person to ask for advice about college but I just love giving it! So ask me! Ask me! I spent hours talking to my speech kids about college questions. And I want more!

Well, best go. I promise my writing will improve.

Davenport Dame

FOREIGNER, not the band.

Sometimes I wish I was a foreigner. But it suffices to have a foreign boyfriend, I guess. I am BACK!! And I am PROUD of you for getting a job! I totally knew you would. If anyone did, it would be you. When do you have to start going to "meetings" or what have you? What school are you at? Are you thrilled?!?!?!?!?!

I'm really glad. I am moving on Sunday. This Sunday. That means that (after today) I only have 2 more days of work. That. Is. Just. Wild. I have to start going to school on August 6th. Rather early if you ask me. Oh well. It'll give me lots of time to prepare. I'm so SCARED, though!! I'm sure you can relate.

I miss you and will call you soon.

Love,
The Dame

co-lum-bi-a

Co LOm Bia. Are you there? I haven't been able to call you. that one time you called, or texted or something, i forgot to save your number. So i haven't had it. I can't call. You have to call me. And you haven't- I think you're out of the country....and I hope you're having a BLAST!!!

I've always wanted to go to Columbia. My uncle travels there a lot for work. Like, maybe 4 times a year. Sometime I should sneak into his suitcase.

I'm working at the scoots for a few more weeks. I think when you guys are back, we might just have to plan a dinner date so i can finally meet your man. I'm sure I will enjoy him.....but we all know it's been far too long and I've never even met the guy!!!

I love you. Please call when you're in the country. We need to catch up.