So anyone who knows me pretty well is aware that I'm not very technologically advanced - - I mean I can type pretty fast, I can use PC and Mac operating systems -thanks to my job as Writing Center tutor in college- and I know my way around most computer programs - - but I own a military-grade flip-phone that can pretty much only text, using the number pad, and when my guitar students bring in their touch-screen iPods I probably seem like an ancient granny trying to work them. I sit in class with fellow English grad students who prop up their iPads and tablets while I fumble around with a stack full of printed articles and books. That being said, I'm very excited to announce that I bought a new Kindle Fire!!!! (yes, I realize the hypocrisy of a previous post...but we all grow and change, right?)
Now before some of you faint in your seats at the thought of me giving up hardcopy books (I have pledged to read the printed word or so says my blog) I did not purchase it for reading; I'll still be sitting in class with a pile of articles and books. Although it might be smart for my husband and me to go easy on purchasing hardcopy books -we've long run out of shelf room- I didn't purchase it with any plan to read on it (although that doesn't mean I'm going cold-turkey - I might decide to purchase a couple to have handy). Instead, it will be used in my guitar lessons for playing music videos and looking up chords on the spot! I'm very excited to take it in to my first lessons and let my girls rock out to the music videos of Taylor Swift or Christina Perry (a new favorite for the 10-17 female guitar-playing demographic).
So far I'm very pleased with my purchase (and I just know my husband can't wait to download Angry Birds and read ESPN blogs more conveniently). I first decided I wanted one when I saw the price - $199 compared to the iPad's $500+ range. And last week I took my laptop to work to look up a few songs for my students and let them play their guitar with the music videos; they loved it! But I don't want to have to lug my laptop around with me everywhere so this seemed a perfect compromise.
With all this excitement and hype about the tablets I have to say I've bought into it a little bit (begrudgingly so). I'm making myself feel better by telling myself (the truth) that I bought it for work purposes, even though it seems like such a great way to play!
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
.Chicago on my mind.
Yes, it's only the end of January but I turned in my master's independent paper proposal this week, I'm heading into my fifth week of winter quarter, and I'll be juggling classes, lessons, grading, and writing for another 4 1/2 months! - - I can't help but think of summer vacation! Since Scott showed me a rental in downtown Chicago the other day I've not been able to get it off my mind. Scott and I have never visited the windy city and there's absolutely nothing we enjoy more than losing ourselves in a new place, surrounded by museums, restaurants, parks, and quirky bookstores. Our first two summer vacations were spent near the beach, strolling the historic southern neighborhoods of Beaufort and Savannah, riding bikes to small cafes for lunch, and marking off bookstores in our travel guides. This year's summer plans haven't been made yet (other than 3 graduations and weddings on the calendar) so who knows what we'll be thinking by March or April? But for now I'll just continue to Google images of Chicago and share them with you...
Saturday, 21 January 2012
.Crazy, Stupid [Amazing] Love.
Okay, when I first saw the previews for Crazy, Stupid, Love I was a little disappointed; it starred Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone, all of whom I LOVE, but the movie seemed more stupid than crazy. Even on the posters and marketing for the movie you mostly feel like Gosling's character is going to be the womanizing lady's man, counseling newly-divorced Carell in the ways of objectifying women - which he does for some time in the film. During these 'Miyagi-esque' lessons, though, Gosling's character is absolutely hilarious, and you can't help but enjoy watching him dazzle the ladies and suavely lead them home (yes, my feminist buttons were being pushed, but it was entertaining, and if women are that stupid to be lead home by sleazy pick-up lines, I say more power to them).
But, the game changes when Gosling meets Stone's character (for the second time) and yes, we've all seen enough of the trailer to know she's the 'one who's different, the one who changes his ways.' And it's up to Carell to help him learn the romance side of relationships. I'm sure those of you who haven't seen it are thinking, "yes, yes, we know what happens next, happy ending, blah, blah, blah." But, I too was a cynic about the film and by the end I was not only proved wrong, I was wiping away tears (and I even spotted a few from my hubby as well). Yes, it has a happy ending - I'm not spoiling much there - but the film is such a sweet reminder that love can be crazy and stupid, but in the end it's so worth the crazy, stupid parts! To all of you, like myself, who didn't give this film a chance (I wouldn't have watched it if not for my husband) I suggest watching it - you won't be disappointed!
But, the game changes when Gosling meets Stone's character (for the second time) and yes, we've all seen enough of the trailer to know she's the 'one who's different, the one who changes his ways.' And it's up to Carell to help him learn the romance side of relationships. I'm sure those of you who haven't seen it are thinking, "yes, yes, we know what happens next, happy ending, blah, blah, blah." But, I too was a cynic about the film and by the end I was not only proved wrong, I was wiping away tears (and I even spotted a few from my hubby as well). Yes, it has a happy ending - I'm not spoiling much there - but the film is such a sweet reminder that love can be crazy and stupid, but in the end it's so worth the crazy, stupid parts! To all of you, like myself, who didn't give this film a chance (I wouldn't have watched it if not for my husband) I suggest watching it - you won't be disappointed!
Thursday, 19 January 2012
.work that's not so much like work.
I read this in my devotional the other day and I just love it - - "Work...it should be looked upon -- not as a necessary drudgery...but as a way of life in which the nature of [wo]man should find its proper exercise and delight and so fulfill itself to the glory of God." - - Dorothy Sayers
The old saying, "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life," is one that I live by and recite to my freshmen English students on a regular basis. They sit in class, juggling jobs and school and life, desperately trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, and I know it can be scary. Luckily for me, I didn't have to search too hard to find my dream job - teaching. I started when I was fourteen teaching swimming lessons, then moved on to guitar lessons, and now I teach the correct ways to cite sources in MLA and APA format. Though it might sound "blah" to some, it is a fabulously perfect fit for me.
But one of the things I'm most thankful for is that I still get to give guitar lessons, teaching young girls to sing and play Taylor Swift and Michelle Branch (etc.) to their hearts' content. Before Christmas, 11 of my students performed in a recital for their parents and the residents of Bethany Village Nursing Facility. I have to say I felt a bit like a giddy parent, watching them perform. Though last quarter was a challenging experience as a freshmen teacher, I realized that I went through it for a reason - to appreciate the other times (like the girls' performance and my students/class this quarter) when I know I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.
The old saying, "love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life," is one that I live by and recite to my freshmen English students on a regular basis. They sit in class, juggling jobs and school and life, desperately trying to figure out what they want to do for the rest of their lives, and I know it can be scary. Luckily for me, I didn't have to search too hard to find my dream job - teaching. I started when I was fourteen teaching swimming lessons, then moved on to guitar lessons, and now I teach the correct ways to cite sources in MLA and APA format. Though it might sound "blah" to some, it is a fabulously perfect fit for me.
But one of the things I'm most thankful for is that I still get to give guitar lessons, teaching young girls to sing and play Taylor Swift and Michelle Branch (etc.) to their hearts' content. Before Christmas, 11 of my students performed in a recital for their parents and the residents of Bethany Village Nursing Facility. I have to say I felt a bit like a giddy parent, watching them perform. Though last quarter was a challenging experience as a freshmen teacher, I realized that I went through it for a reason - to appreciate the other times (like the girls' performance and my students/class this quarter) when I know I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.
Monday, 16 January 2012
.It's the new year already?.
I can't quite believe how long it's been since I've written on here. The last post tells me it was mid-September, reminding me just how fast the last few months have gone. And I have a feeling the next few will be zipping by just as fast.
If I was on a semester schedule at school I could say this is my last semester, but since we're on quarters I'll still have one more to go after the one at present - which I'll be going in to week 3 of 10 this week (see, flying by already). I'll be graduating in June with an M.A. in English Literature and a Certificate in Women's Studies, searching for an adjunct teaching position at a community college close by - I hope! I've decided I'm just going to take my time in finding a job instead of scrambling around panicking. I've got a growing number of guitar lessons to see me through the summer if need be anyway. And Scott, too, is coming up on a new and exciting stage in his Ph.D program. He's finished with coursework and will begin studying and taking Comps this semester, on top of teaching two general option religion courses. He'll then begin working on his dissertation with two years paid to complete it.
On January 2nd we celebrated not only two years of wonderful marriage, but two years of successful studies in programs we're both blessed to be a part of. Graduating this June will be bittersweet for me because I'm both ready to leave and sad to be finished (although my proposal for my independent paper is due next week so about mid-March I might really be ready to get out of all this mess). But my real reason for being sad is the people - the TAs and professors who have been supportive and helpful every step of the way. I've met some great people through my program and I'll be sad not to be able to share all the joys and frustrations of being a grad student teaching freshman composition. I hope and pray I'll end up in a supportive and encouraging environment as a new teacher next year, whether at a private high school or community college.
All that said, this last semester (er...next to last quarter) has started exceedingly well (much better than the growing pains I experienced last quarter). My class of freshmen are engaged and quite talkative actually, in a good way! And the courses I'm taking, while I felt a bit out of my comfort zone at first, are going really well - "Feminist Theory: Writing the Body" and my first Comp/Rhet class "Teaching Argument: ENG 102." I'm very excited to be creating another themed class as part of the Teaching 102 course, this time working a theme into the argumentation freshman comp class. I've decided on Place & Heritage, specifically focusing on the Appalachian culture. My students will explore the issues, stereotypes, and heritage connected to the place of Appalachia, reflecting on their own cultures and heritage through interviews and readings. I'm excited to be working on this project, though it seems a bit overwhelming right now, because I have such a connection to Appalachia and I think it'll be great to explore it in the classroom. My independent paper topic also deals with Appalachia: the cinematic narrative creating a national identity in Muriel Rukeyser's The Book of the Dead, an epic poem depicting the Gauley Bridge Mining Tragedy in West Virginia.
Well I can't end a post without reading suggestions so here's what's been on my bedside table lately (thanks mostly to my husband for giving them to me as Christmas presents):
Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren Winner - As a convert from Judaism to Christianity, Winner finds small ways we, as Christians, can connect to our Jewish heritage.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in Women's Prison by Piper Kerman - I'm not sure why but I'm always fascinated by narratives about life in prison, whether it be on TV or in books. Kerman attended a women's college, came from a good background, but did time for helping transport drugs.
Take This Bread by Sara Miles - Miles grew up in an atheist household, despite her grandparents' involvement in mission work and social activism in the name of God. Her memoir tells of her conversion to Christianity after a serendipitous communion experience. Read an excerpt here.
I also just finished the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and I can't wait to watch the movie coming out in March! Until next time...
If I was on a semester schedule at school I could say this is my last semester, but since we're on quarters I'll still have one more to go after the one at present - which I'll be going in to week 3 of 10 this week (see, flying by already). I'll be graduating in June with an M.A. in English Literature and a Certificate in Women's Studies, searching for an adjunct teaching position at a community college close by - I hope! I've decided I'm just going to take my time in finding a job instead of scrambling around panicking. I've got a growing number of guitar lessons to see me through the summer if need be anyway. And Scott, too, is coming up on a new and exciting stage in his Ph.D program. He's finished with coursework and will begin studying and taking Comps this semester, on top of teaching two general option religion courses. He'll then begin working on his dissertation with two years paid to complete it.
On January 2nd we celebrated not only two years of wonderful marriage, but two years of successful studies in programs we're both blessed to be a part of. Graduating this June will be bittersweet for me because I'm both ready to leave and sad to be finished (although my proposal for my independent paper is due next week so about mid-March I might really be ready to get out of all this mess). But my real reason for being sad is the people - the TAs and professors who have been supportive and helpful every step of the way. I've met some great people through my program and I'll be sad not to be able to share all the joys and frustrations of being a grad student teaching freshman composition. I hope and pray I'll end up in a supportive and encouraging environment as a new teacher next year, whether at a private high school or community college.
All that said, this last semester (er...next to last quarter) has started exceedingly well (much better than the growing pains I experienced last quarter). My class of freshmen are engaged and quite talkative actually, in a good way! And the courses I'm taking, while I felt a bit out of my comfort zone at first, are going really well - "Feminist Theory: Writing the Body" and my first Comp/Rhet class "Teaching Argument: ENG 102." I'm very excited to be creating another themed class as part of the Teaching 102 course, this time working a theme into the argumentation freshman comp class. I've decided on Place & Heritage, specifically focusing on the Appalachian culture. My students will explore the issues, stereotypes, and heritage connected to the place of Appalachia, reflecting on their own cultures and heritage through interviews and readings. I'm excited to be working on this project, though it seems a bit overwhelming right now, because I have such a connection to Appalachia and I think it'll be great to explore it in the classroom. My independent paper topic also deals with Appalachia: the cinematic narrative creating a national identity in Muriel Rukeyser's The Book of the Dead, an epic poem depicting the Gauley Bridge Mining Tragedy in West Virginia.
Well I can't end a post without reading suggestions so here's what's been on my bedside table lately (thanks mostly to my husband for giving them to me as Christmas presents):
Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to Life of Spiritual Discipline by Lauren Winner - As a convert from Judaism to Christianity, Winner finds small ways we, as Christians, can connect to our Jewish heritage.
Orange is the New Black: My Year in Women's Prison by Piper Kerman - I'm not sure why but I'm always fascinated by narratives about life in prison, whether it be on TV or in books. Kerman attended a women's college, came from a good background, but did time for helping transport drugs.
Take This Bread by Sara Miles - Miles grew up in an atheist household, despite her grandparents' involvement in mission work and social activism in the name of God. Her memoir tells of her conversion to Christianity after a serendipitous communion experience. Read an excerpt here.
I also just finished the first book of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and I can't wait to watch the movie coming out in March! Until next time...
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