Short Attention Span

That is what I’ve had this month. I did not finish one book in November.

No, I started eight of them.

Four fiction,

four non-fiction.

I’ve included a list for those with itching curiosity:

Started in November

The Celebration of Discipline

Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible

Eat This Book

The Path of Prayer

Treasure Island

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Cheaper by the Dozen

A Wrinkle in Time

And there are a couple that I want ever so desperately to read, but have to do everything in my power to keep them on the top shelf in my closet. With these eight books, Christmas looming, and finals in only a week and a half, I have enough on my plate to fill me and I don’t need to scarf down thirty books at once. Delicacies are best enjoyed one at a time.

Just Don’t Let Me Loose Near A Book Sale!

$9 Dollars gone, 16 books gained.

I went to Olivet's Professional Development Day for teacher/to-be-teachers today. I went to three sessions(4, but the one speaker never showed…), and I moseyed around at the book sale. My finds include:

Historical Atlas of the World

Oxford Pocket School Thesaurus

Presidency of the United States by David Heath

He was President when… by Jerry Alen

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll*

The Secret of the Caves by Franklin W. Dixon

The Mystery of Cabin Island by Franklin W. Dixon

The Good Dog by Avi

The Lightning Theif by Rick Riordan+

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson+

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery+

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz+

Monday with Mad Genius by Mary Pope Osborne

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Spindle’s End by Robin McKinley

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix

+denotes a book I HAVE read

*denotes a book I resolved to read this year

When hardbacks are $1 and paperbacks 50 cents…

I just cant help myself.

 
Last weekend was Homecoming, so the campus library had a huge book sale hoping the Alumni would buy some things. They also advertised the sale to current students.

At first I was disappointed because it looked like it was all non-fiction and Christian non-fiction. Don't get me wrong- I love that kind of book (In fact, I bought two of them), but thats all I had been reading lately and I was craving some fiction.

and then
i
saw
Them.

 
They were hidden, on the last set of shelves behind a table of rock and shells and maps that were also for sale. I spent $13.50.

This picture is a little hard to see, but thats the quality of my laptop camera. Which I didn’t know I had until today. Anyway.

Top Left: The Saturdays; And Then There Were Five; The Five Story Mistake ; Return to Gone-Away; Teacher’s Treasury of Stories for Every Occasion (the large one); Four  of the thirteen Trixie Belden books I bought; The Hardy Boys – The Hidden Harbor Mystery; Roller Skates; Cheaper By The Dozen; The other nine Trixie Books. I also got a book called ‘The Path to Prayer’, and ‘Halley's Bible Handbook’, but neither are in this picture.

I got 23 books for $13.50. Thats the best deal I've ever gotten on books- and I have so many (pre-yellowed) treasures now!

 

What's the best deal you've ever gotten on books?

Anne of Avonlea by Lucy Montgomery

I can't believe I've waited this long to read this novel! I rad Anne of Green Gables two or so years ago, but never made it to the library to borrow the other books in the series. Anne was another story I listened to on my iPod (I've been doing that a lot, haven't I?), and this was another instance I wished I could make the reader read faster.

Anne of Avonlea is about Anne growing up more from where we left of in Anne of Green Gables. In this story, she meets new neighbors, become Avonlea's school ma'am, is the secretary of Avonlea's Improvement Society, befriends people others have almost forgotten about, helps raise a set of twins, whips a boy though she thought she never would, still has as avid an imagination as ever, and gets into plenty of scrapes. She sells a cow that does not belong to her, dyes her nose red, falls through a roof, and ever so much more! Read the book to meet Davy, Dora, Mr. Harrison, Paul Irving, Miss Lavender Lewis, Leonora ( more commonly known as Charlotta the fourth), and several other characters Anne meets throughout the story as we are along for the ride while Anne goes from 16 to an 18 year-old college bound young lady.

Personally, I was quite disappointed to find that the Listening Library does not carry Anne of the Island, the next book, nor does my campus library. Therefore, to find out what happens next, I must attempt to understand how this inter-library loan system works here... and I will, because although the loose ends are tied at the end, Montgomery succeeds in sparking the imagination about what will happen in the next book... Enjoy!

pictures make me want to travel, but fall here makes me want to stay...

(Above: Cancun Mexico. Beneath: a road in fall. I don't know where...)

Goodbye Ordinary

Goodbye Ordinary by MercyMe

Proverbs 4: 20-23

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.

²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them within your heart;

²² for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.

²³ Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Pencil

I ate a bag of crackerjacks the other day.

Its been a loooonnngggggg time since I've had crackerjacks. A Long Time.

But my little surprise thingy was interesting.

It has a pencil topper with red ants crawling on it. Its cute :)

But it also has some random knowledge about pencils in it, and I thought I would share. It says:
"a typical pencil can write 45,000 words or draw a line 35 miles long!"

Bettcha didn't know THAT! Hahahaha. Do you have any random knowledge you would like to share?

One Word

Using only one word, answer each of the following questions. If this sounds like fun to you, tag yourself! Have fun!

Where is your cell phone?
pocket

Your dream last night?
forgotten

Favorite drink?
juice

What room are you in?
dorm

Your hobby?
writing

Your fear?
yawning

Where were you last night?
tutoring

Something that you aren't?
illiterate ;)

Muffins?
banana!

Wish list item?
books

Last thing you did?
talked

What are you wearing?
watch

TV?
yup

Your pets?
rock ;)


Your car?
bicycle

Something you're not wearing?
gloves

Your favorite color?
blue

When is the last time you cried?
Friday

Last book you read from?
Hardys

Next fictional book on your list?
Dozen

Plans for tomorrow?
family

(found on facebook, and edited)

Breaking Habits

One of my worst habits right now is Facebook. Especially Farmville. So, I decided to do something about it. I mean, intention is nothing if it is not accompanied by action, so rather than 'meaning' to spend less time on facebook and more time on more important things amounts to nothing no matter how hard I think about it until I actually take a step and DO something.

So what did I do? I forbid myself to spend any time on facebook for a week. Harsh? Nah.

I was a little surprised at how easy it was... stunned that such a strong habit wasn't harder to break... but it was quite simple, and I'm glad.

The only problem: I keep finding more to distract myself from these 'important things' even when I do not have facebook to aid in the diversion.

But I have succeeded in accomplishing quite a bit... I've written a few book reviews out, I've read almost an entire book, I've memorized more of Psalm 139, I've mannaged to keep a LITTLE more organized, I've edited a little more of my story, I've found a lot of pictures to put as my iTunes covers, I've drawn a couple pictures based of real ones... the list goes on a little more even.

My fear is that once I allow myself on facebook again, I'll go right back to indulging in it. But I think I'll be okay, I've learned my lesson. Hopefully, anyway.

From History to Philosophy

I am excited that my History and Philosophy class has moved on from History of education to Philosophies of education. Not that I'm much of a philosophical person, I'm just not a history person. So today, I thought I would share four of the eight philosophies we have looked at so far.

*** Perennialism: this is a teacher centered philosophy created by Robert Hutchins. Perennialism is based on concepts, has little flexibility, and is based on Great Books. Not text book is used, only the books and all the lessons learned in the schools the students learn from the Great Books.

*** Progressivism: this is a student centered philosophy created by Dewy. Students in a progressive environment will learn through books as well as doing. It focuses on natural and social sciences. The students are grouped by interest and ability.

*** Pragmatism: this is also a student centered philosophy created by Dewy, it is very similar to progressivism. This philosophy focuses on developing and applying practical knowledge and skills for life, and on career/job preparation. The knowledge and skills taught here are applicable in day to day life. It involves 'hands-on' activities, and group work.

***Social reconstructivism: this is a student centered philosophy that claims the physical world is the basis of reality. It has students learn from meaningful social experiences, and focuses on social, political, and economic needs in their area and how to fix or improve them. It believes that society can and should be reconstructed through the students when they 'grow up', and that we need to instill theses problem solving skills in them now.

The next four should be coming next week... but what do you think of these four?

The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene

Carolyn Keene's second Nancy Drew book "The Hidden Staircase" was another audio file I borrowed from my home library and listened to on my iPod. When I was younger I was more of a Trixi Beldon fan than of Nancy Drew, but I must say I enjoyed the book. I admit I figured out most things before Nancy and her friends did, however the book is aimed at a younger audience, I think.

Nancy is asked by her friend to come and solve the mystery of her relative's 'haunted house', but she decides not to because she is warned that her father is in great danger. After a close call with her father, he assures Nancy he will be alright and urges her to take the other case. Nancy is having trouble solving either case, when the hauntings get worse and her father dissappears. Will Nancy be able to figure everything out in time to save her father?

What Nancy Drew books have you read, and did you enjoy them?

Marsh at Sandwich Cape Cod

Marsh at Sandwich Cape Cod by Karen Arthur

Grace Tells Another Story

Grace Tells Another Story~ MercyMe

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me' your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You annoint my head wit oil; my cup overflows
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.