tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77863012598981653172024-03-05T21:04:05.579-05:00Life is Coming Up DaisiesHilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-8015857115233440022011-08-07T16:51:00.003-04:002011-08-07T22:20:25.875-04:00First Day(s) of School!So this past week has been quite the overwhelming week! I had three teacher workdays and two days of teaching this week. The workdays were fine and I was able to be productive, but I got very overwhelmed on Monday when they were going over all of the policies, procedures, special circumstances, etc and I thought to myself "How in the world am I going to remember all of this stuff?" Being a teacher is a COMPLICATED job! Tuesday I worked on things for my classes during the workday and then we had orientation. I was able to meet several of my students and their parents and it was really nice, but scary being the peson at the front of the room! Apparently, I was successful though because I had several students go back to the administrative assistant and tell her that they liked me- sweet. Wednesday I spent most of the day in my classroom moving things around and getting it situated. It technically isn't *my* classroom because it is on the community college's campus and it will be used for night classes, but I was able to set up a desk area and arrange the tables so that I could move around a little easier. There are still things that I would like to do to it, but that can come later.<br /><br />Thursday was a great day. It was a little complicated with the confusion of the first day of school and all, but I really got a good impression of my classes and I think it is going to be a great year. I have a wonderful group of students who are so dynamic and diverse and I can't wait to really get to know them. I hadn't planned quite enough stuff to do on the first day, and part of my plans were messed up because the students don't have their laptops yet (which I thought that they did), but I had planned for several days and just stole plans from Friday. Good lesson already learned! Fridays will be crazy days because they are half days every.single.friday. and the fact that my students come to me at a different time on Fridays then they do the rest of the week. I think I can make the craziness work by having independent work time on Fridays or student conferences or something- we'll see how it goes. <br /><br />To make this job even crazier, I had to make sub plans for three days (Mon-Wed of this week) because I have county meetings to go to. I had my plans all set, but they were messed up due to the students not having their laptops. Oh the joys of the inconsistencies of teaching!!!!Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-24917094356767749362011-08-07T09:24:00.002-04:002011-08-07T09:29:59.603-04:00Catch up!Ok so here were my goals to do before work and the current standing of these goals:<div><meta charset="utf-8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; "><div>* Catch up on my project 52.</div><div>--- fail. I am currently about 20 weeks behind on project 52. I really hope to catch up! Next year, I hope to actually do project 52 keeping in mind the true intention of the project. </div><div>* Get things together for my new apartment. </div><div>-- slowly but surely. I don't have everything together, but I have time to get that done. I also haven't started on my table project even though it has been sitting in my garage for about two weeks. I will get there. </div><div>* Do a deep clean and organize of my current room.</div><div>--- fail but may very well happen this afternoon as I am cleaning the rest of the house in anticipation of my grandparents' homecoming. </div><div>* Go to the beach</div><div>-- success! I did manage to go to the beach before school started. The water was way too rough for my liking and I could only manage to stay in for about 15 minutes, but the beach itself was wonderful. </div><div>* Do something fun and spontaneous. </div><div>-- success! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>So 2.5/5, such a disappointment. Come back later for an update on the job!</div></span></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-630950053866175112011-08-07T09:11:00.003-04:002011-08-07T09:23:56.211-04:00Ponderings on relationships.Wow, I fail at all of the goals I had set to do before school got back in session. Life just has a way of getting away from me and then I look back and think "where in the world has the time gone?!" In some senses, I also feel like time has a way of slowly ticking by and some things that realistically haven't been a part of your life for very long feel like they have been a part of you forever. Relationships have a way of falling into this later category; you start spending time with someone and feel like you know the person because you spend so much time together. Suddenly, everything starts to remind you of that person- the way someone else says something exactly the way that this person would, the the dance music at the club you are at, shows that you have watched together on tv, movies that you have seen or referenced, silly conversations that you have had, and so on. When you look back, you realize that in the realistic sense, you have not known this person for that long, but you have internalized everything that has come from your time together. It makes me think about the amazing impact that humans have on each other and what that impact means. What am I doing with the impact that I am having on those around me? Am I building them up and making something positive out of our interactions? What happens when something happens to damage that relationship?Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-79513167976990324612011-07-18T23:43:00.003-04:002011-07-18T23:49:02.140-04:00Overwhelmed and excitedI am both overwhelmed and excited at the same time. I am super excited about starting my new job in less than 2 weeks. I mean, technically, I have already started, but according to the school system my first day is July 29th. I am so glad that I have been able to meet with the staff, get some resources, and have a meeting about my curriculum over the past few days- but I am still overwhelmed. The more I get into it, the more work I realize needs to be done. I am such a perfectionist and am so thorough in everything that I do, especially those things that relate to work, that I am just bogged down with it all at the moment. There is so much to be done over the next week and a half, and I just dont feel like I have enough time to get it all done. <div><br /></div><div>What I really think my problem is is the fact that I need to just chunk this down into more manageable pieces. I am currently so swamped because I am thinking about the entire year and what this is going to look like, when in all honesty, I have no idea what this whole thing is going to look at it. A more realistic approach would be to look at it and take the first few weeks and attack those first. Once I have a realistic, working expectation of what is to come, then I can worry about the rest. </div><div><br /></div><div>Expect a lot of job update posts to come in the next few days/weeks, because that is all I will be thinking about. </div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-84307682389311906402011-07-13T18:54:00.002-04:002011-07-13T19:03:01.142-04:00New job, things to do...I am getting more and more excited about my new job :) Right now, the school is setting up a meeting between me and teachers at the "sister" school to go over curriculum for the classes that I will be teaching. I am so ready to get started, and I cannot believe that in about three weeks I will be TEACHING in my OWN classroom! I am going out to lunch with some of the faculty members on Friday, and I am so excited! <div><br /></div><div>Between now and when I start work, I have several things that I would like to accomplish!</div><div>* Catch up on my project 52. I am going to just take a morning and go and knock out the different pictures to get back on track with this project. </div><div>* Get things together for my new apartment. I am officially moving out sometime in October. I am either living with my sister or by myself, depending on her life and what she has going on. I am planning on things as if I am moving out by myself. I am slowly purchasing things for my new place (such as the new towels, cookware, glasses, and such that I bought today) and putting them away. Some work needs to be done to some of my furniture including my kitchen table. Currently, the table is this horrible shade of green that is peeling and revealing an ugly gold color underneath. I want to strip the table (and chairs), paint it a new, fresh color, and fix up the chairs. Fixing up the chairs would mean that I need to find some padding and fabric to reupholster the chairs with. Such an exciting project! Some work may also need to be done to my bed as well, I will have to check on the condition of it. </div><div>* Do a deep clean and organize of my current room. </div><div>* Go to the beach</div><div>* Do something fun and spontaneous. I need to enjoy myself a little before going to work full time because it will be next summer before I can have some leisure time again! I am sure I will love my new job, but I have to enjoy myself a little before taking the plunge into the adult working world! </div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-1172014247463300992011-07-11T19:22:00.001-04:002011-07-11T19:23:20.759-04:00Project 52 Catch up: Week 10: Morning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVj0Kb9OeqekYXj_aM7Nzi31OdCiFcA2NDhnpwiqim7sJI8QgqTVWpsGKbZcqAGxw-Ycrqx8S8Kv3qbceahSueZ5dWiVYTelHw9Paw0OBImf5pRgFxeIXjJknp7PsGyump4dN7GxOSNQ/s1600/Morning.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVj0Kb9OeqekYXj_aM7Nzi31OdCiFcA2NDhnpwiqim7sJI8QgqTVWpsGKbZcqAGxw-Ycrqx8S8Kv3qbceahSueZ5dWiVYTelHw9Paw0OBImf5pRgFxeIXjJknp7PsGyump4dN7GxOSNQ/s400/Morning.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628239350622205298" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-36366323681781651342011-07-11T18:01:00.003-04:002011-07-11T19:22:01.256-04:00Project 52 Catch up: Week 9: Patterns<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCo4zTNsTcqn99dhWyDghdz23M9QUWhwBwfgmlRhUEa36QACZrYR46KaNtMIitBtFnrsro9INQ1MOuM8QuPqC4Ha8GrNXOZl3nRLUIdB3ubpAxu87EHEIlwhvUaK3SFJPnKZTo9in_Tc/s1600/Pattern.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCo4zTNsTcqn99dhWyDghdz23M9QUWhwBwfgmlRhUEa36QACZrYR46KaNtMIitBtFnrsro9INQ1MOuM8QuPqC4Ha8GrNXOZl3nRLUIdB3ubpAxu87EHEIlwhvUaK3SFJPnKZTo9in_Tc/s400/Pattern.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628239007420124226" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-49891750814958417202011-07-11T18:00:00.000-04:002011-07-11T18:01:24.471-04:00Project 52 Catch up: Week 8: Pink<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxW_idOiMGBo1-V9mGFGNtJgJfV92aWA9g_S-7z-kRikD3vM5I3hM9MUSgtwfKSnTMeFo4a6zjEVVGiWBz_PNe4S6otb51ZOFbThonI6GJi4BsmHy9kBWdRmt9hRrftVsQ-FLtLvBfU0/s1600/Pink.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxW_idOiMGBo1-V9mGFGNtJgJfV92aWA9g_S-7z-kRikD3vM5I3hM9MUSgtwfKSnTMeFo4a6zjEVVGiWBz_PNe4S6otb51ZOFbThonI6GJi4BsmHy9kBWdRmt9hRrftVsQ-FLtLvBfU0/s400/Pink.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628218239122571042" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-12397686407119224932011-07-11T17:57:00.002-04:002011-07-11T18:00:51.820-04:00Project 52 Catch up: Week 7: Time<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrg4Xwj2Ah2NPjm1At_Yq2LP9eZClDNZaAPYn_x_pBuw__GZA56hwAi_0yPyLMlL82yq699Hj1BcuIuIY_7brW11XJl_b-oKKazGXv1L-1vG8wigFxWWOYi2JUkN0yik3FZrTAf60cLg/s1600/Time.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrg4Xwj2Ah2NPjm1At_Yq2LP9eZClDNZaAPYn_x_pBuw__GZA56hwAi_0yPyLMlL82yq699Hj1BcuIuIY_7brW11XJl_b-oKKazGXv1L-1vG8wigFxWWOYi2JUkN0yik3FZrTAf60cLg/s400/Time.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628218093087903186" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-33014420235641216212011-07-11T17:56:00.003-04:002011-07-11T19:30:14.092-04:00Project 52 Catch up: Week 6: Red<div>One of the other things that I would like to do during my remaining time over the summer is catch up on my project 52. I got sidetracked from my project 52 during my internship and have yet to go back to it. I am updating weeks 6-10 tonight and hopefully over the next few days/weeks I will catch up with 11-28. (Topics remaining: round, shine, envy, soft, perspective, love, start, free, texture, toys, downtown, summer, heat, fantasy, water, shadows, light, night)</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy the next few posts!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBpM8pWPJFjTmyO1_aLIXjEbMiQCc6iup18rYVOqC1xS5gqTP3qSlwZv1Oey96Am8vijvcDpbfmzxR-8BBFkGzJCogcH1ZKFEuOE2bXoJSUDJggJgI5IN3HPJTngyryz4L1aOdMKv_UM/s1600/Red.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 332px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBpM8pWPJFjTmyO1_aLIXjEbMiQCc6iup18rYVOqC1xS5gqTP3qSlwZv1Oey96Am8vijvcDpbfmzxR-8BBFkGzJCogcH1ZKFEuOE2bXoJSUDJggJgI5IN3HPJTngyryz4L1aOdMKv_UM/s400/Red.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628217235957066850" /></a>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-82111471897387143592011-07-11T12:35:00.002-04:002011-07-11T12:49:38.991-04:00Summer Goals<meta charset="utf-8"><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">A check in with the summer goals!</div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">
<br /></div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">* Run at least 4 x a week for the remainder of the summer (if not more)</div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- FAIL. Every time I wake up early to run, I find out that there is too much smoke outside from the brush fires in Pender County. I dont want to run outside when the air is so hazy :( I have gone to the gym some more, but I really want to run outside. I am going to try again tonight, we'll see how that goes. </div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">
<br /></div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">* Create something- I haven't crafted in so long and I miss it!</div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- CHECK. See post below for my awesome new jewelry organizer. I want to make another for my boss (since she supplied me with all of the corks) and one more thats a little larger so I can house all my jewelry. I also want to do at least one more crafty thing, but I dont know what that is yet. I'll keep you updated. </div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">
<br /></div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">* Read at least 5 new books off of my list</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">- IN PROGRESS. I have read "Turn of the Screw" by Henry James and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. I was actually not all that impressed with either of these books, which is surprising considering how popular and iconic On the Road really is. I got through the first half of the book just fine, but the second half just seemed overly redundant and unnecessary. I kind of ruined the whole no buying books thing with a trip to Books a Million the other day. I got a book on John F Kennedy, a book called The Irregulars, One Day by John Nichols, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. A friend also lent me The Zombie Survival Guide, so I have plenty to choose from. I am thinking of reading The Zombie Survival Guide alongside another book? I think I am going to tackle The Scarlett Letter next off the list, time is ticking for 3 more reads OFF the list (plus whatever else I want to read not on the list)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">* Find a job</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; white-space: pre; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">- CHECK. I can't get into any details yet, but I am fairly certain that I have a job for the fall. I am recommended to the board of education for the position, but I guess I need to go in and sign paperwork and be accepted by the BOE?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; ">* Pay off hospital bills from surgery</div><div style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33); font-family: 'GFS Neohellenic'; line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Slowly but surely. I have knocked down the amounts on my two remaining bills, but I don't think these will be completely paid off by summer's end. At least I will have made a good dent in them?</div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-46552864871797531182011-07-11T11:18:00.004-04:002011-07-11T11:24:51.367-04:00What I did todayOne of the things that I have been able to cross off my summer goals list is the one about creating something. I have been wanting to do this project for awhile, but I didn't have enough time or corks to do it with. Since I have been working at an Italian restaurant all summer (where we sell a LOT of wine), I was finally able to get the corks needed for this project :) I also had to find a cute frame to make this project complete. *Drum roll please*.....<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">My newest jewelry holder!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ8LY9KKe4xlb60axVLRAqMxl0fe1Y39yQZGqyL66zMiVmijxolgnrGktrGWQIktma8pKVYkcqjoVWpyz2XmSZSaXemPEoSdLg2lbXT24hU-30I4yHiiN0RDfI5bhIxlTP684VvZseqo/s1600/CIMG0300.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ8LY9KKe4xlb60axVLRAqMxl0fe1Y39yQZGqyL66zMiVmijxolgnrGktrGWQIktma8pKVYkcqjoVWpyz2XmSZSaXemPEoSdLg2lbXT24hU-30I4yHiiN0RDfI5bhIxlTP684VvZseqo/s400/CIMG0300.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628114686944352898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhEtEVre26ydSWyH6UNwiMmrk4mFKaCollWgj_PMKrdbUqGpMvZsNBcvzrRihZkDMig9EtI5OpM6OkEfg8VRuzLaIS6R7PGXMild4Fw1zX03AWchLQzMqCIglTmc9h3xNiOykzQTqifU/s1600/CIMG0301.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhEtEVre26ydSWyH6UNwiMmrk4mFKaCollWgj_PMKrdbUqGpMvZsNBcvzrRihZkDMig9EtI5OpM6OkEfg8VRuzLaIS6R7PGXMild4Fw1zX03AWchLQzMqCIglTmc9h3xNiOykzQTqifU/s400/CIMG0301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628114685668959826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2lEGpaahhjn_OjFTQ_orrKr3-wUgCdM_qGe_zWUcbjIgqugD_DQzPPRw_1UxzIeloqCFyT3v7lSYwjHtVmPbKS-0y263he9mdezsT_oMv3gwfdAAaXOAr_BHj1kxImIfUl_grQRpUhU/s1600/CIMG0302.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2lEGpaahhjn_OjFTQ_orrKr3-wUgCdM_qGe_zWUcbjIgqugD_DQzPPRw_1UxzIeloqCFyT3v7lSYwjHtVmPbKS-0y263he9mdezsT_oMv3gwfdAAaXOAr_BHj1kxImIfUl_grQRpUhU/s400/CIMG0302.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628114677997445554" /></a><br /></div><div>I also have been able to read two of the books off my list: Turn of the Screw and On the Road. More about that later!</div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-85640070870679027912011-06-16T10:13:00.002-04:002011-06-16T10:21:46.805-04:00Life as of lateGrad school- just a few days until it is done! I have been very proud of myself because I kept up with ALL of my work, have not procrastinated, and actually got a lot of work done well ahead of time! Unfortunately, I should have procrastinated this time because one of my professors actually decided to get rid of a major assignment because too many people looked "tired" and "overwhelmed." Guess who actually had already finished hers? That's right- this girl right here. TIme management people- it goes a long way. <br /><br />Job Interview- it went really well yesterday! It was very low key and more like a conversation with several of the faculty members, but I think I liked this method better than the traditional type of interview. I have some things that I have to think about, but I should hear in a few days whether I got the job or not. <br /><br />Running- I met my goal last week of four days. I will have to run today, tomorrow, Saturday, and Sunday to meet it this week, but I think that it is do-able!<br /><br />Weekend- This weekend I am going to my grandparent's 50th anniversary celebration and I am so excited about it! We are traveling to Greensboro. Friday my sisters and I are going shopping, Saturday is the vow renewal and celebration, and we will come home on Sunday. It will be a short trip but I am looking forward to the time away! The only down side to this is that I have to leave my precious Meredith for the weekend but I am leaving her with a family who will take very good care of her and who have a few dogs to keep her occupied!Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-34685590375663027162011-06-11T12:24:00.003-04:002011-06-11T12:34:31.250-04:00Hot Hot Hot!So I have gotten on a semi-regular running pattern again and it's about time! I decided that during these hot summer months I would probably do short runs, a mile or so in length, and work on speed more than anything. I of course will have some longer runs, but in general I am thinking this is a good way to go. When the fall months get here, that is when I will focus more on distance to get to the 10k on October 15th. The other day I posted about how abysmal my running time was for the mile, and now that I am hyper aware of that abysmal time, I was able to cut off three minutes so it is in the not quite as embarrassing range. Yes, that is how bad it was that I can cut off three minutes and still not really want to own my number right now....<br /><br />Today's run was HOT and HUMID and WINDY! It is supposed to rain later today so the air was very heavy and I had to work a lot harder to get my run in. Even though I dont feel like I am any smaller since starting to run again, I do feel like things are starting to tighten up and that is always a good thing in my book :)<br /><br />A week and a half until grad school is over! I am down to mostly big projects to do. I will have a final in each class and I have a research paper/presentation and a case study for one class, and a presentation for the other! I can't believe grad school is almost over. On one hand, this has felt like the longest year of my life and it felt like it would never end. On the other hand, looking back, it doesn't seem like it has been that long at all. <br /><br />I am in the process of looking for a place of my own for the fall. I think it is time for me to move on, be more independent, and just live my life! <br /><br />I got a job interview! I am super stoked! It is Wednesday so I will keep you updated!Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-23561398627547786742011-06-08T13:04:00.005-04:002011-06-08T13:13:17.912-04:00Oh Life...Summer school has taken over my life. Only two weeks left until complete freedom! Those two weeks, however, are going to be killer. I made myself a nice (long) list of all of the stuff I had to do between now and the END of grad school and it's not looking pretty folks. (and by stuff I mean reading, reflections, papers, quizzes, projects, tests, etc etc etc). I can do anything for two weeks right?! <div>
<br /></div><div>The last few days I have been running a mile with out stopping. I should have never quit running after my 5k in October but I couldnt stand the thought of running in the cold- I wasn't that hardcore yet but I can't stop again this winter! So I am slowly building my stamina back up and I am hoping for a 10k in October (the same race as last year, just longer). My mile time is pretty abismal though, so abismal that I won't admit it right now. Maybe when I get to my ideal time (I think 8 min/mile is a pretty decent goal for a girl who has never been a runner?!) I will shamelessly admit what I am at now (don't worry, I won't forget this number). </div><div>
<br /></div><div>I am contemplating joining WW. My sister joined about a month ago and has been seeing some fabulous results. I am hoping that I could get some similar results and have an accountability partner at the same time?!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I got a summer job at this restaurant, and I like it. I am liking the money coming in after almost a year of not having a job. Hallelujah income! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>In honor of summer, I have a few goals:</div><div>* Run at least 4 x a week for the remainder of the summer (if not more)</div><div>* Create something- I haven't crafted in so long and I miss it!</div><div>* Read at least 5 new books off of my list</div><div>* Find a job</div><div>* Pay off hospital bills from surgery</div><div>and most importantly....</div><div>
<br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8">* Enjoy myself- it will be the first time that school is not in my immediate future and I feel like I need to take chances, enjoy my life a little, do something outside of my comfort zone!</div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-4605471609494400442011-05-17T12:57:00.002-04:002011-05-17T13:00:16.940-04:00My sweet baby girl...<div>Here are a few pics of my sweet baby girl! </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Meredith just LOVES to cuddle! </div><div style="text-align: center;">There are some nights that she just isnt content unless she is right next to me...</div><div style="text-align: center;">How sweet!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYogrAtlBPSHBfXJOzG3nc3xwmokrjF0CPrm6NjLTym71V8YB1WfenkLR2VcI7a5EgYn4tq-4Y0lsMfkpyflsk_YnB4tAIwnCTweCT3lEOcV9i6d9gwFP6beLR2tS7rPLqpL-0eFzq_0/s1600/Sweet+mere.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYogrAtlBPSHBfXJOzG3nc3xwmokrjF0CPrm6NjLTym71V8YB1WfenkLR2VcI7a5EgYn4tq-4Y0lsMfkpyflsk_YnB4tAIwnCTweCT3lEOcV9i6d9gwFP6beLR2tS7rPLqpL-0eFzq_0/s400/Sweet+mere.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607730508162366226" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...and she got settled down and started to drift off</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInfCCKo5XIKy8nXUZ-dz4kkR-_PbOxnlPeBb8X602PthUx8TNV7FHvqM2CFjd-P7givU7OrjN7rzgCqEF15tQOMmVOkPwjyffSwgOWePflajuy_ESkEYxTamh3TiC8rhYT2FALfHb1as/s1600/sleepy+mere" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInfCCKo5XIKy8nXUZ-dz4kkR-_PbOxnlPeBb8X602PthUx8TNV7FHvqM2CFjd-P7givU7OrjN7rzgCqEF15tQOMmVOkPwjyffSwgOWePflajuy_ESkEYxTamh3TiC8rhYT2FALfHb1as/s400/sleepy+mere" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607730501576068514" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">... and she's out!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLAnxHSLNhMTYXKsJrTF7FXbhE1KmkeVz8mofOCoP9NTBo0qAN9lrEx88WhAPRGZn8CKeBYY27PvUWKpDZeGCuyeZyztDopFjPDTGIedIWQp7IB9kRXBZq2uji4Uhn5uolemqxjuZR1M/s1600/sleeping+mere" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLAnxHSLNhMTYXKsJrTF7FXbhE1KmkeVz8mofOCoP9NTBo0qAN9lrEx88WhAPRGZn8CKeBYY27PvUWKpDZeGCuyeZyztDopFjPDTGIedIWQp7IB9kRXBZq2uji4Uhn5uolemqxjuZR1M/s400/sleeping+mere" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607730498465296546" /></a><br /></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-90625422916797520482011-05-16T14:23:00.003-04:002011-05-16T14:29:24.684-04:00Oh Joy...<meta charset="utf-8">Summer session starts tomorrow. Kill me now. I went on Blackboard last night and read over my syllabus for one of my two classes and it is already looking like it is going to be a killer month. I can do it though, its only one month right?! 5 weeks. I can do five weeks. The horrible part of this summer session is the fact that I have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Two days a week doesnt sound so bad right?! Wrong- because my classes go from 8:30-12:15 and from 1-4:45. Yes, that is correct. I have two 3 hour and 45 minute classes back to back. I am sure its going to be a great time. Tonight I am going to get a head start on the reading because there is a ton of that for this one class already- yay.<div>
<br /></div><div>In other news, I found a job. Go me. I trained on Saturday and I work again on Wednesday. It's just a waitressing job, but I will take just about anything at this point. I am searching for a teaching job for the fall and I have my eye on one job in particular- we will see how that goes.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I started running again- go me. I have myself on a schedule to run a 10k in October (the Bridge Run that I did the 5k of last year).</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And... that's about it. Here's a picture of me in my cap and gown just for kicks and giggles....</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM7zNRhhnEzFB3Kch3sX-FEBo7o67AyGnaEm7I2VETDJziVZn14yu4AMT_Mzc3itfDTyAo2ibV1UHfzxLg_jYeHQbdVoWSxwY_lH2wUmXvsRXuEVUCW2_GE1n4DkJSQEZTysVJZK9MI0/s1600/me.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivM7zNRhhnEzFB3Kch3sX-FEBo7o67AyGnaEm7I2VETDJziVZn14yu4AMT_Mzc3itfDTyAo2ibV1UHfzxLg_jYeHQbdVoWSxwY_lH2wUmXvsRXuEVUCW2_GE1n4DkJSQEZTysVJZK9MI0/s400/me.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607382752050474354" /></a>
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<br /></div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-39801275813942431762011-05-11T13:14:00.002-04:002011-05-11T13:24:25.529-04:00Book Review: Feed<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://myworldofbooks.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/feed-ii1.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Feed-M-T-Anderson/dp/0763622591/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1305134115&sr=8-1">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So before I delve into my massive booklist that I outlined last night, I decided to go ahead and read this book Feed by MT Anderson. This book is required by one of my summer classes, so I decided to go ahead and knock it out.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A brief overview:</div><div style="text-align: left;">This book takes place in a future where computer chips have taken over the basic brain functions in humans. The world is deteriorating and humans live in the mass consumer market where their "feed" is tailored to their personality and advertises to them constantly. This "feed" takes over the basic functions of the human brain: the emotions, movement, thought, etc. People no longer have to know anything, they can look it up in their feed. Titus, the main character, and his friends take Spring Break on the moon where he meets this unusual girl named Violet. Violet is so unusual because she decides to start fighting the feed and brings Titus along.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My opinion:</div><div style="text-align: left;">I am going to admit that I was very confused the first part of the book. It was not until you got into the book a little bit that the idea of the feed was explained to you at all. I felt lost and had no clue what the narrator was talking about until about 30 pages in. When it was explained, I understood a little better and started to enjoy the novel a little bit more. This novel is classified as YA, but I think even that classification is stretching it a little bit. Yes, the book would probably appeal to YA readers, but there was quite a bit of language in the book that I just felt was completely unnecessary. I think that Anderson makes a very valid point about people being too driven by the consumer market, too easily swayed by the advertisements all around them. Overall, I think I would give this book a 3/5.</div><meta charset="utf-8">Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-6807237966332752722011-05-10T21:36:00.002-04:002011-05-10T21:48:11.358-04:00Life Update!So I've been a pretty busy bee lately. I finished up my internship (so sad!), I organized EOC tutoring for the high school I interned at, I graduated, and now I am back at school tutoring and currently seeking employment in several different forms. <div><br /></div><div>The end of my internship was so bittersweet. I was ready to be done with school, but I was in no way prepared to leave my students. My last day at the internship, my clinical teacher threw me little parties in each of my classes and I was able to spend some time with my students. She asked each class to discuss memorable lessons or moments in class. Of course, several students mentioned times when I disciplined them, but they all were surprisingly mature about it. I was able to hold it together on my last day, but I think the only real reason that this happened was because I knew I would be coming back for three weeks to tutor for the EOC. </div><div><br /></div><div>The last few days of my internship I spent organizing the EOC tutoring. It was a LOT of work, and a LOT of frustration, but I was really glad that I did it. Even though a lot of my work ended up being in vain because of unforeseeable factors, I took it in stride and all is well! Now I am tutoring students who need a little extra help to pass the EOC and have actually really enjoyed it and gotten some pretty positive feedback from the students who are in my tutoring groups.</div><div><br /></div><div>I graduated on Friday!!! Even though I still have two summer classes to take, it still felt like a pretty significant milestone for my Master's Degree. I was actually very disappointed in the actual ceremony, despite my exhilaration in being DONE for the semester and at the GRADUATION point. I was miserable throughout the ceremony. First, they crammed the graduates (about 500 of them) in this teeny tiny hallway to line up. Then, the ceremony was in the basketball arena and all of the family was up in the second tier with no way to get close and take any good pictures. Third, I couldnt hear practically ANYTHING that was said during the ceremony. And finally, the ceremony was so impersonal. They herded us across the stage like a bunch of cattle so we didnt really get our moment on the stage. It was so impersonal and I was not a fan. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, I am searching for employment in all forms. I am tutoring for the school right now, which is paying nicely, but I also need a summer AND a big girl job. I may have landed a waitstaff position at a little Italian restaurant in New Bern, but I havent started so I dont want to count it official. However, I still have the looming question of where will I be employed next fall that still needs to be answered. </div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, life is busy, but it is also oh so good. Until next time! </div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-57913826500295455272011-05-10T21:24:00.003-04:002011-05-10T21:35:41.938-04:00Summer Reading?!I have decided that this summer, I am going to tackle (part) of my bookshelf. I have a LOT of books. (This is no understatement people) and I realized the other day that I have a ton of classic books just sitting on my shelf that I have never read. Some of them, I am rather embarrassed that I have never read (having a BA in English and all). So this summer, I will attempt to rectify that situation, or part of it at least.<br /><br />I think what started this whole thing is the fact that I have had quite a bit of time to read lately, and reading for pleasure is not something that I have had time to do in a loooong time. As evidenced by my recent book reviews, I have been tearing through books lately. Since my last post, I have read both The Wind in the Willows and Little Women, classics that have for some reason escaped me over the years. I remember starting Little Women when I was younger, but I never finished it for reasons unknown. The version of Little Women that I have is only the "Little Women" part and not the "Good Wives" part, so Beth did not die, Jo has not scorned Laurie, Laurie and Amy have not gotten marries, etc etc. I like it this way. I finished the book last night and then I was going to read the second part (Good Wives), but when I heard of all of the things that happen in that second part, I decided to leave well enough alone. Right now I can pretend that none of that other stuff happens and life can go on merrily. If Beth dies, I dont think that I can do that. The Wind in the Willows was such an enjoyable read. I tore through that book in a matter of a few days, reading the first half in one sitting. <br /><br />So anyways, back to the point... I have compiled a list of all of the books on four of my shelves that I have never read. (The four shelves being Brit Lit, American Lit, World Lit, and YA Lit- yes, I know that I am a bit obsessive) Below is that list:<br /><br /><br />1. Emma- Jane Austen<br />2. Shirley- Charlotte Bronte<br />3. Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte*<br />4. Canterbury Tales- Geoffrey Chaucer*<br />5. A Tale of Two Cities- Charles Dickens<br />6. David Copperfield- Charles Dickens<br />7. Great Expectations- Charles Dickens<br />8. Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens<br />9. Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- Robert Louis Stevenson<br />10. Invisible Man- Ralph Ellison*<br />11. The Beautiful and the Damned- F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />12. This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald*<br />13. The Scarlett Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne*<br />14. Their Eyes Were Watching God- Zora Neale Hurston<br />15. The Turn of the Screw- Henry James<br />16. On the Road- Jack Kerouac*<br />17. The Bluest Eyes- Toni Morrison<br />18. The Jungle- Upton Sinclair<br />19. The Winter of Our Discontent- John Steinback<br />20. Uncle Tom’s Cabin- Harriet Beecher Stowe<br />21. Out of Africa- Karen von Blixen-Finecke*<br />22. The Good Earth- Pearl S. Buck<br />23. Medea- Euripides<br />24. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest- Ken Kesey<br />25. Lolita- Vladimir Nabokov<br />26. The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand<br />27. The Chocolate War- Robert Cormier<br /><br />the asterisks denote books that I have started but never finished for one reason or another.<br /><br />Now I am not saying that I will tackle this ENTIRE list this summer, because let's face it: some of these books are beasts, but I am saying that I will start to tackle them and see how far I get. I think its silly for me to spend money on books when I have shelves full of books that I have never read before and should read at some point in my life. So- onto the task! I will keep you updated as I trundle through!Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-63805773491902672152011-04-30T07:33:00.002-04:002011-04-30T07:42:28.793-04:00Book Review: Something Borrowed<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://evokedcblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/SomethingBorrowed.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Something-Borrowed-Emily-Giffin/dp/0312321198/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304163230&sr=1-1">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After all of my "serious" reading (The Secret Life of Bees, The Help, The Other Hand), I decided that I wanted to read some good old fashioned chick-lit. When I went to see Water For Elephants (awesome movie by the way, and fairly close to the book as I remember it), I saw the trailer for this movie and decided to read the book first. The movie looked pretty cute, so the book should be too, right?!</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Brief summary:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Rachel met this amazing guy, Dex, in law school and was practically in love with him, until he met her best friend Darcy. Dex and Darcy started dating and now, years later, they are engaged. On the night of Rachel's 30th birthday, Darcy goes home early because she is pretty wasted, and Dex and Rachel end up spending the night together. The result is a fairly complicated situation in which Dex is still engaged to Darcy but seeing Rachel on the side. Who will Dex end up choosing in the end?!</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My opinion:</div><div style="text-align: left;">I was looking for chick lit, and that is exactly what I got. Don't hold expectations that are too high for this book and then you won't be disappointed. No, it isn't a life changing novel or anything, but it is a pretty good read. Its a modern day romance novel with complicated love situations that you are just dying to know how they end. I did read it fairly quickly (let's face it, the writing is very straightforward and the plot is not complicated), but I enjoyed the book a lot. I am considering reading Something Blue later this summer, which is the follow up novel, told from the perspective of Darcy, a totally unsympathetic character. Should be interesting. </div><meta charset="utf-8">Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-10049783368302250872011-04-30T07:03:00.003-04:002011-04-30T07:32:31.851-04:00Book Review: The Other Hand aka Little Bee<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://alphabetgames.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/theotherhand.jpg" /></div><meta charset="utf-8"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="http://fictionwritersreview.com/wp-content/uploads/littlebee.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Bee-Novel-Chris-Cleave/dp/1416589643/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304161462&sr=8-1">here</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div>I bought this book back in the Summer of 2009 when I was in England. The bookstore was having a buy one get one half off sale and I really wanted to read "My Sister's Keeper," so I sprang for both. The back of the book intrigued me. I got "The Other Hand," which apparently is the UK title for the book. I picked it up, but never ended up finishing it. Then I hear all this buzz about a book called "Little Bee" and I think to myself, "That sounds familiar." Lo and behold, it's the same book! So I pick it up again, start reading it, and put it down without finishing it. Finally, last week after finishing "The Help," I decided that I just needed to finish the darn thing already. I started the book again from the beginning and I finally did it, I finished it. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Brief plot summary: </div><div>A Nigerian girl meets a wealthy British couple who are on a "holiday" in Nigeria one day. A traumatic event occurs and the British couple flee back home. Five years pass, and they hear from the Nigerian girl again. More traumatic events happen. The girl and the wife spend some time together. The novel ends with another traumatic event.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>My opinion:</div><div>The back of the book told me that this story was unique, compelling, and one of a kind. I am assuming they put this on the back of the cover to get people to read it. Well played marketing department, well played. I enjoyed the first part of the book and felt that it was compelling. There is one part of the book that I found particularly insightful, when Little Bee is talking about scars and how they are beautiful because they meant that the person bearing them survived. It was pretty deep stuff. However, I felt supremely let down by the ending of the book. I felt like the book just sort of fizzled out and then I was left thinking "Was that it? The end of the book?!" Maybe I had too high of an expectation of the book because the back of the book was so intriguing: "<i>We don't want to tell you what happens in this book. It is truly a special story and we don't want to spoil it[...] Once you have read it, you'll want to tell your friends about it. When you do, please don't tell them what happens either. The magic is in how it unfolds</i>." Who wouldn't be intrigued by that?! My overall rating of the book is a 3/5 because the book did hold me until the last few chapters! </div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-74481382615304144642011-04-23T11:17:00.002-04:002011-04-23T11:33:46.440-04:00The Help: Book review<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.5minutesforbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/thehelp.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0425232204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303571891&sr=8-1">here</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I just finished this book last night and all I have to say is: wow! This book is over 500 pages long and I flew through it in less than 3 days. I started in when I was babysitting on Wednesday night and read almost half of it in less than 3 hours. I didnt have a whole lot of reading time on Thursday, but yesterday I babysat for most of the day and I devoured the rest of the book. I have heard of other people having similar experiences too!</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Basic plot:</div><div style="text-align: left;">This book is told from the perspective of three different people: two African American maids (or "help") and one Caucasian woman. The book is set in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, during the Civil Rights era. The premise of the book is that the white woman, Miss Skeeter, aspires to be a writer. At the onset of the novel she is part of the socialite group of white women who have help in their homes. Miss Skeeter begins to see the injustices of the "help" system. She decides she wants to write a book from the perspective of the help to share the stories of what it is really like to work in a white family's home. There is only one problem: she has no idea what is it like to work as the hired help. The book details her struggles to get the African American community to open up to her and share their stories, the good and the bad, of being the hired help.</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My opinion:</div><div style="text-align: left;">I absolutely LOVED this book! Like I said, I just devoured it in a matter of days and now I wish I had taken more time with it! I thought the writing was phenomenal and the story was very unique. When the story is told from these different perspectives, Stockett takes on different dialects and you can distinctly hear each character's own voice. You laugh and cry along with the characters as you re-live the humorous and not so humorous tales of being the hired help. There was only one episode in the book that left me confused as to why it was even in there. It sort of felt like this episode was thrown in at random. You will recognize the scene when you see it! I feel like I know these three women after reading the book. Phenomenal read, go read it and tell me what you think!</div><meta charset="utf-8">Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-57028858615327535892011-04-23T11:02:00.002-04:002011-04-23T11:17:02.065-04:00Secret Life of Bees<div style="text-align: center;"><meta charset="utf-8"><img src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168915404l/37435.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SECRET-LIFE-BEES-MONK-KIDD/dp/B0018OTSV4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303571769&sr=8-2">here</a></div>I started to read this book back at the very beginning of the semester (I am a teacher, so yes, my life still is divided into semesters!), but I never was able to finish it! I must say that the first chapter or so of this book is less than compelling, but don't let that stop you from reading it! I started to read it at the beginning of the semester to see if it was something that I wanted my 9th graders to read. I stopped reading it because things got crazy and I wasn't drawn in by the first few pages. I picked it up again because I was stuck for ideas on my next novel. I devoured it after that! <div>
<br /></div><div>A VERY basic plot summary:</div><div>Lily, a young white teenage girl, lives in South Carolina in the 60s. She ends up running away from home and taking her maid with her to escape their old life. Lily is in search of answers regarding her mother who died when Lily was very young. Her search brings her to a small town in South Carolina where she finds much more than the answers she was searching for.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Ok, so I dont want to give anything away, but its a great novel. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>My opinion:</div><div>After the first chapter, I was drawn into the book. The characters are very realistic and lovable, the plot is compelling enough to make you want to read on to find out what happens next. My ninth graders are all absorbed in the book and love it. The only thing that I would say about this book is it is very much a feminine book. I offered my students two choices: Lord of the Flies (a very "boy" book) and Secret Life of Bees, and the class was divided into boys and girls with a few exceptions. I love how this book speaks to the power of female bonds. In that regard, I think it is a novel that every girl should read. I have yet to see the movie so I dont know how it compares, but I usually find the books far better than the movies! </div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7786301259898165317.post-57166440834626157992011-04-09T16:44:00.004-04:002011-04-23T11:02:12.893-04:00My first "big girl" job applicationToday I have been working on many different things, but most important of which is my first big girl job application. I submitted my application to 17 different school districts today and I have about 20 more that I would like to submit my application to. Hopefully one of these applications will bear some fruit!<div><br /></div><div>In an ideal situation, I would find a job locally and I would be able to stay with family for the first year or so in order to start knocking down some of those pesky student loans; however, at this point I am willing to take a job anywhere just to have one!</div><div><br /></div><div>More updates to come!</div>Hilaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09724204927831098077noreply@blogger.com0