Boy, that quiz was fun! My own mother got a 50%, and I’m wondering who the “certain neologist” is–Dan? Renee? Someone else?  Also, Steve Green, a student of mine, does not know me 90%.  He just knows how to cheat!

Yesterday after church, I chained myself to the computer desk and worked for almost seven hours.  I got my inbox cleaned out (no small feat), and all the remaining AP essays graded. So, I will not have to grade another “real” essay for over a year!  Of course, timed essays are different.  I’ve got snowdrifts of them.  I also fiddled with the style of my new php board for the literature discussion for the Literature Alive e-loop to which I belong.  A gazillion kudos, props, and “not worthys” to Josh Jackson for installing it for me, since I couldn’t figure it out on my own.  I still have to get rid of the little cheeses, but if you want to look at it, go HERE.

Another thing which just has me tickled to death is that the same Mr. Jackson has programmed the AP class board to eliminate letters just like in the book Ella Minnow Pea which we are reading for class.  In the story, letters begin to fall off a statue of Nevin Nollop, the man for whom the island country was named who was also the inventor of the sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”  The island rulers determine that the letter falling from the statue is a sign from Nollop that the letter should be stricken from the alphabet.  They pass a ruling stating that if anyone uses the letter in writing or speaking, they will first be warned, next offense flogged, and finally killed!  Then, more letters begin to fall off the statue… I’m expecting anarchy and riots. 

To answer Thile’s question, how do I find my books, I have friends who recommend them to me, I browse Amazon, homeschool catalogs, and book newsletters, I have a calendar which suggests a book a day, and I roam the library shelves. I don’t review everything I read, just the things I think people might be interested in hearing about. 

James and I had the misfortune to watch the new movie Elizabethtown with Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst.  It has to be one of the dullest, poorly-written films I’ve seen in a long time.  Now, if you are a Bloom fan and want to just stare at him for several hours, then I’d suggest the movie to you.  If you are anyone else, well, I’d suggest something else.

The movie begins with Bloom, a low-level, “I only have a cubicle” shoe designer being told that he personally lost the company $970 million dollars with his new shoe design.  Oh, please.   Just as he’s about to kill himself (in a slightly amusing manner), the phone rings. It’s his sister informing him that his father has died, and Bloom must go to Elizabethtown, KY, to retrieve the body and bring it back in “the blue suit.” On the flight, he meets Dunst, an overly-happy flight attendant. 

Now, what made this movie so inane was the way that things would be mentioned and not really tied in. Or, things mentioned wouldn’t be relevant.  He’s not to bring back his father. He’s supposed to cremate him!  What about that big job loss? How about that shady deal by Billy which bilked his father out of money?

The other things that made the movie so deplorable were the lame lines and scenes.  Oh, there are so many to pick from. How about Bloom looking at his father’s body and saying, “He looks whimsical.”  Or, perhaps the widow telling off-color stories on stage in front of all 300 people at the memorial service and then tap dancing to Moon River (and the whole audience thinking this is a great idea?).  Or, perhaps it is the hellion child Samson who is instantly cured of his horribleness by watching a two-minute video, “Rusty’s Guide to Communication–Part 8″ where he must promise to obey his parents before Rusty will blow up a house.  Oooh. But, I think I liked best the large paper mache bird which was let loose on a wire over the memorial service while the cousin’s band played Free Bird. Of course, this bird sets the hotel room on fire and gives Bloom and Dunst the opportunity to stare at each other meaningfully from across the room while they are drenched by the sprinklers.

How well do you know me?  Take this quiz (pilfered from KID’s site) to find out!  Even if you are a new friend, I’d enjoy seeing what you think the right answers are. (Also, you find out your answers right away, so if you want to leave a “fake” email, go ahead and do so.)

What a lovely day!  It was sunny and mild, so we took a nice, long walk.  It was so pleasant to be out in the sun, exercising and visiting with my dear friend, Linda (with all of our children along and one of KID‘s boyz!).  Then, after a handful of pretzels hastily munched for lunch, we swept out the door for our last Art and Music co-op of the Winter Quarter. I taught MC Escher, and it was a bust. Oh, well.  You can’t win them all, especially when demonstrating mobius strips and tiling to six year olds. 

After Art and Music, a family took all the boys to their house, leaving me with two female shopping buddies.  We then met the good doctor for supper at the Deli. I was famished, and I even got chocolate chip cheesecake for dessert!

Evening prayer service at church was a blessing, as I got to pray with Becky B. (another good friend) and Sharon. Afterward, everyone seemed to be in such a social mood, and we all hung around until about 9:00!

I guess I needed a good day since yesterday saw me crying in the closet.  Ah, the see-saw of life!  James had a nice talk with the kids about appreciating their mother (me, of course), and I think it might have stuck, at least with a few of them. We shall see how it bears out tomorrow in the crucible of homeschooling. 

Yes, I actually have a book idea which I’ve been kicking around for a while. It’s a children’s book. I think I could sign my own name to it without shame, so I guess I won’t have a nom de plume. 

This novel is a reprint of an 1859 book which was published by Lamplighter Publishing. It’s beautifully bound, if you go for books which are lovely to look at.

The novel begins with Colonel Warfield, “Old Hurricane,” being called from his cozy bed into a raging storm to hear the deathbed confession of an old, black slave.  It seems that the evil Gabriel Le Noir had killed his brother and taken his pregnant sister-in-law into hiding.  This old slave attended the birth of the twins–one stillborn boy, one living girl–and hid the girl and raised her by herself.  This girl, Capitola, was now living in New York City and was 13 years old.  Old Hurricane fetches the girl and has her live with him as his ward.

Meanwhile, the story of Marah Rocke and her 18 year old son Traverse begins.  She’s a wholesome, suffering single mother.  Traverse is noble and hard-working.   They are befriended by Doctor Day (who is referred to as “The Good Doctor” a number of times in the novel) and his lovely daughter Clara.  Traverse and Clara fall in love, but first, Traverse must establish himself as a doctor and so on.  Evil tidings befall, and their love is thwarted.  Will it ever work out?

Meanwhile, back at Hurricane Hall, Capitola grows up and is quite a pistol.  She’s spunky, disobedient, and thoroughly enjoyable to read about. She captures a notorious criminal and escapes from a few of them as well. 

But, how do these stories tie together? Who is Col. Warfield’s nephew? His estranged wife? How do the evil Le Noirs fit into this story? Will Traverse be shot in the army? Will Clara be force to marry Craven Le Noir?  All these tantalizing questions are answered in a clean, entertaining story which leaves you with a happy ending.

If you enjoy adventure with a somewhat predictable outcome, morals entwined in your stories, and don’t mind young men who would die for their mothers, then I recommend this book to you. It’s not overtly heavy on the morality and sentimentality as some Lamplighter reprints are.  If you’re a cynical old jade who doesn’t want to spend 400+ pages reading about these folk, then go watch some TV.

Oh, I’m enjoying these suggestions of what I should do next year. Keep them coming!  I’ve finished the first draft of the play. I am sure there are plenty of changes left to be made, but at least for now, I’ve got something to hand the kids on Thursday night.  The Loeschers have gone, much to our sadness. Poor baby Kendall had a fever. 

I thought I should explain about my AP decision for those of you who didn’t know before my one-liner.  I’ve taught AP Language and Composition online for four years.  It’s been wonderful, and I’ve enjoyed the students and their parents immensely.  I’ve got many new friends due to the class, and lots of great memories. But, it does take up a lot of time. When I’m not grading, I’m thinking about the work I should be doing. When I’m caught up, I’m thinking of the work to come or the discussion question set I didn’t read over or some other ball I’ve dropped.  Even in the summer, my time to relax and catch up on all the undone things which have been waiting isn’t free of AP-thoughts.  “Got to revise that syllabus. Can I take 22 students, or is 21 really my maximum?  Got to read the new books I’ve chosen for the class…” 

So, I thought it was time for a sabbatical.  I’m not saying I’m finished for good, but I’m taking a year off. After that, we’ll see if the two people lined up for AP next year want to teach another year or more or if one of them wants a break or what not. Just like King Arthur, when I’m needed, I’ll return to Camelot!    But, I know I’ll miss those students! I’ve already “turned away” four students, and they seemed like good ones.  Oh, well. We can’t have it all, nor should we even want it.

Strange that two of you should have said I should write a book.  I’ve been kicking around an idea for a year or so, which has merit. TGDJ has been suggesting that I write one for years.  Maybe now I’ll make the time to do it.  (Maybe not!)

As to sleep, I actually dozed off today for a brief nap. Thankfully, I was lying on the bed and not driving the van.  Thanks for praying for Rip Van Winkle’s antithesis and for the play writing and for any other prayers you might offer for me.

For those of you who might be interested, PBS will begin airing a six-part series highlighting favorite Monty Python skits.  I believe the first episode airs on Wednesday. Just wanted you to expect the Spanish Inquisition.

One other thing–I’m in a Yahoo group called Literature Alive!  (It has the “!”  I’m not showing undue excitement.)  We will be starting a book discussion on Gene Stratton Porter’s novel Keeper of the Bees. If you are keen to discuss this novel with a bunch of literature-loving, mostly-homeschool and Christian moms, then go HERE to sign up on the message board.  I ordered the book from Amazon, and it’s not here yet.  So, I don’t expect the discussion will start for another week or so.

I think we need a picture–a summer picture!  Here’s David and Rachel at Del Grosso’s park two years ago (or so).

First of all, thank you for the wonderful suggestions on getting to sleep. I take a calcium and magnesium supplement every evening, but I’ll have to check to see what the levels are.  I think maybe I just have more on my mind than I’d like to admit.  We’ll just have to see how well I sleep once the extra parts to the play are written. I’m almost done, but there will be revisions and additions, I’m sure. 

Mamaglop has kindly inquired about The Good Doctor J, so I will elucidate. James, also known as my dear husband, has a PhD in math.  He recently got a Xanga account so that my entries could be emailed to him instead of his having to check the website. When we went to set up the account, lo and behold, “The Good Doctor” was already taken!  Since his secretaries call him “Dr. J,” TheGoodDoctorJ became his new Xanga identity.  It’s a mite long, so if I refer to him as TGDJ, you’ll have to forgive me.

Having the Loeschers here for a visit has been wonderful. This afternoon, they, Jen H., KID and The Godfather, and the respective children were here all afternoon. What did we do besides eat, watch NASCAR, play games, and listen to PSU wrestling? We sat around and talked about Jess  and El_Mano.  You two are missed.

I’ve been thinking about what I should do next year with all my free time since I won’t be teaching the AP class. Any suggestions?

It’s Saturday! I’m still not sleeping well, but I figure God knows all about it. So, I’m not going to fret. Maybe next week I’ll sleep better. Thanks for all your prayers, kind comments, and encouragement (especially about laying off those chocolate chips!). I was feeling low last week, probably from not enough sleep, so it meant a lot to me. But, hopefully, I’ll be back to my usual, cheerful self soon.  You could pray about that and also that God will finish the play script for me. It’s gone really well so far!

We are having/have had a great time visiting with the Loeschers.  Little Kendall, 11 months, just grins and eats and grins.  Kayla is a lot of fun to play with at age three, and my kids are all willing slaves to both of them.  It’s Kristen’s birthday, although she didn’t want anyone to know. So, go wish her a happy day, if you are so inclined!

I worked hard this morning on AP stuff and tidying up many details of my life and inbox. Still not done with everything (like mailing you those videos, Cassandra!), but I feel that I’ve done a lot. I’m in the middle of grading a set of timed essays for the AP class, but I thought I’d take a break and type an entry.  This afternoon, I had to go into town to buy some things for the Loescher lunch party tomorrow, so I called up a friend (Linda W.) to come with me and have lunch. It was a lot of fun and an encouragement.  She’s turned into a coupon queen, and I hope to follow in her footsteps in about nine weeks when my class is over and I have a bit more time.

I’ll review Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends  by Sarah, Stephen, and Grace Mally in case you were interested in reading it.

I was loaned this book by a mother of eleven, so I thought it might be worth reading.  The book is written by three homeschooling siblings: girl age 22, boy age 16, and girl age 12.  They take turns writing on the same topic.  The book is filled with humorous family stories which help to illustrate the points they are making. Their father illustrated the book, so there are plenty of homespun pictures to keep your interest.

The book begins with a general overview of WHY it is important to want to have your brother or sister as your best friend. When I began reading it myself, I thought, “Dull. Why doesn’t this book move faster?” But, as I have been reading it aloud to my kids, I see that it moves just fast enough to convict, but not so fast to overwhelm. 

The book continues with talking about how doing big things for God requires us to begin by doing “little things” for our siblings, how different people view the world differently, and covers the topics of forgiveness, humility, birth order, praising one another, and truly building friendships. It’s a logical progression with more and more practical ideas as the book goes on. 

The book is geared for a Christian audience, although not necessarily a homeschool one.  It makes a great read aloud as you can read a whole chapter (long) or one of the three sections (shorter) or even part of the shorter sections each day.  There are plenty of useful lists which you can read aloud to your children to help them to remember what it is that a servant would do, etc. 

Once I finished reading my borrowed copy, I got online and ordered my own!  I have seen changes in my children since we started the book, but it’s not been a magic wand.  Sigh. I wish I could get one of those from Amazon…

TGDJ is at a meeting at church (ALC for CBF or XYZ for PDQ or something like that…)  I stopped and got the playpen, so Kendall will have a place to lay her weary baby head.  The kids are JUST so excited!  I spent an hour fixing the piano bench.  I think I did it right this time, so it shouldn’t collapse on anyone for at least another year or so. I also recovered the desk chair seat which had worn out.  Little Miss Handywoman!  I like to use the drill, manly screwdriver thing that it is.

I baked chocolate chip cookies today (and ate a whole bunch of them). I’m drowning my sorrows because reading aloud Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends doesn’t seem to be working at all.  I’m beginning to see the merits of boarding school and a six-bedroom house. Do I sound a little down? I guess I am. 

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of putting my hit counter on my site. It read 1612 hits, which means I’ve had about 53 hits a day, which is pretty spiffy.  Granted, a number of them are my own hits to see what everyone had to say or to post, but I don’t think I account for more than five of them a day (at the most).  I also discovered I am just a few days shy of being a Xangan for a whole year!  Woo.  (Or should I say w00t!)

This morning, I presented The Good Doctor J with a dozen long-stemmed roses, a bag of peanut butter M-n-Ms, and a handmade card (made by my hands).  I think I surprised him quite a bit!  He usually gets me the flowers, not the other way around.  He’s such a great guy that he should get bragging rights at work that he is a beloved husband.  (I packed the roses up for him to take to work.)  He’s taking me out to dinner tonight, so I get a sweet treat as well.

For those who were wondering, the play I’m directing is a 70 minute comedy called Shouting Valley. It’s published by Bob Jones University Press. It’s about a “loveable but eccentric family” who are being forced off their home because the valley is going to be flooded.  Add a sheriff, ecologist, archeologists, and an undertaker from  the original script plus a mostly-deaf aunt, a mostly-blind aunt, a wealthy sister and her lisping, spoiled daughter, the news reporter’s boss, the National Guard, and a Transylvanian mute added by me, and you have about 95 minutes of fun and chaos!  I still have not written the new parts, but I’m still praying that God will write them and all I have to do is type them up.   Would you pray for me and with me?  Thanks!  Also, the girl who is to play the mute hasn’t expressed much either way in regards to pleasure or pain. I think she will really enjoy the part. She’s very funny and expressive in gestures and facial expressions but rather quiet and hard to understand from onstage.

We are all quite excited as the Loeschers are coming to visit this weekend!  It will be Kristen’s birthday, and I’m just chuckling to myself at Loeschdogg’s staying here. Two days at the Sellers? He wouldn’t even come over for holiday dinners!  Chortle, chortle, make much noise…

Nathan and Libby are both out this afternoon; Libby at her mother’s helper job and Nathan at the same home helping to finish the basement. I’m thrilled for Nathan to have the opportunity to learn skills like cutting trim, laying floors, finishing drywall, etc.  It’s not something that TGDJ and I do, so for him to be able to learn how is great!  It’s also good for them to get out into the homes of other Christian, homeschooling families and be friends and be helpful to both the parents and the little folk. 

I have started reading one of the Lamplighter Rare Book reprints, The Hidden Hand, graciously sent to me by Katie.  So far, it’s somewhat predictable, but a lot of fun. Maybe my predictions will be wrong!