When things go wrong
Sometimes things are out of your control. Like the forces of nature. Like the patterns of rush-hour traffic. Like the line at the coffee shop when you’re in a hurry. Like the crazy born-again lady at the Starbucks who corners some college students and talks to them about what God tells her to do (sleep in an ATM vestibule, discriminate against Mexicans because they hate all white Americans, etc.). Like my entire 3rd hour world history class.
My supervisor was out to see my third hour today. It went badly. I wouldn’t use the term “train-wreck,” but I wouldn’t move away from vehicular crashing metaphors, either.
I don’t really have control of them. They don’t really believe that I’ll follow through on what I threaten/promise. My lesson wasn’t strong. I wasn’t able to control the classroom the way that I know I can.
When I was done talking to my supervisor in the library and she had gone over the litany of things that I did wrong, I trudged back up the stairs to the classroom. I bit my lip when I entered the room, because I didn’t want to cry. I will not cry in front of students. I will not be THAT student teacher.
I’m so tired. I just want to sleep, but I have three more hours left.
On Nature
The other day I was driving in the car with The Boy and I spotted a black squirrel.
“Black squirrel!” I cried out in my breathy-I’m-pretending-to-be-enthusiastic-but-actually-kind-of-am voice.
“You’ve never seen a black squirrel before?” The Boy asked me as we passed the tree the squirrel was perched on.
“Not that I recall,” I said, embarrassed that I got so excited about a squirrel.
Later that day, I was on a run and saw two albino squirrels just hanging out. I was so surprised that I stopped mid-run to stare at the two of them.
I like to think that they were a happy little albino couple, gathering nuts for the winter.
Probably not, though.
Reading Meme
What was the last book you bought?
I bought Strangers in Paradise (book 1) the other day. I also picked up a copy of Inkheart. Half Price Books is my crack-cocaine.
Name a book you have read MORE than once
I’ve read Summer Sisters by Judy Blume at least 3 times. I’ve also read Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty at least 4 times each, easy. There are a lot of books that I’ve read more than once, actually. I tend to find comfort in my favorite books. Oooh! Bridget Jones’s Diary. Princess Furball. Etc. etc.
Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?
I don’t think I have an answer for this. Jenny Downham’s Before I Die was incredibly powerful and moving, but did it alter the way I see life? I don’t know. Probably not.
How do you choose a book? eg. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews
It tends to be a combination of all those things. It used to be that I’d select books based on cover design, but these days, it tends to be summary, recommendations, and reviews. I read a lot of book blogs, and I do a lot of reading about books, so my list of to-be-read is astronomical. I’ll never get to all of them. I realize this. But the list keeps growing.
Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
I generally prefer fiction. But I do have favorite topics of non-fiction. I like things having to do with body image and eating disorders, I like media studies, I like books about books, and I love, love, love memoirs.
What’s more important in a novel – beautiful writing or a gripping plot?
I can ignore mediocre writing if the plot is good enough. But I have to feel a connection to the characters, so if the plot is fast-paced but everything else about the book sucks, I won’t stay invested.
Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Marcus Flutie from the Jessica Darling series. I still believe that he’s my future husband.
Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
Silver by Norma Fox Mazer, Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore
What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
It’s been a while since I’ve finished a book, to be honest. It’s kind of embarrassing, actually. I keep starting things and getting distracted. I’ll finish Silver in a few days. Does that count?
Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
All. The. Time.
Rambings in the basement of a house in Southwest Minneapolis
I saw Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist this afternoon. Going in with very low expectations allowed me to enjoy it more than I thought it would. I’ve started reading the book to see how it compares. I’m not very far into it, but I can see that the book is much edgier, sharper, and more real than the movie. But I love me some Michael Cera, and Kat Dennings is my new girl crush.
Speaking of books-to-movies, I’m eagerly awaiting the adaptation of The Time-Traveler’s Wife. By eagerly, of course, I mean that I’m wringing my hands in nervous anticipation. I so loved the book (and am so embarrassed by this fact) and I so want to love the movie that it’s causing me a great deal of stress. Every few days, I check to see if a trailer has been posted online, so that I might get a glimpse into the wonder that might be. It hasn’t happened yet, but I read a brief article the other day that’s gotten me a bit nervous about it. In it, Rachel McAdams (my girl!) says that people have to approach the book and the movie in different ways, because they’ve taken a 500-plus page book and condensed it into a 90-minute movie. That seems like a really nice way of saying that we’re going to be served shit come this winter. Oh, I think I’m getting an ulcer.
Currently, I’m babysitting for a 3-year-old named Walt (one of my favorite things to do is yell, “WALT! THEY TOOK MY SON!” Oh, second season of LOST, how I miss you). His parents should be home any minute, and I’d like that minute to be now, because I’m heading over to The Boy’s apartment for a little late-night hanging out. I’d like at least a good 45 minutes before he passes out and I’m left wide awake with nothing to do (no cable, no internet means that I’m pretty bored). He promised to cook me something delicious, but I know that he was going to meet some friends for a drink tonight so I figure I’ll be lucky if he’s home when I get there. Oh, ye of little faith.
This upcoming week will be the halfway point for student teaching. I’m actually surviving it, and that doesn’t suck at all. I’m tired of writing lesson plans, and I’m tired of saying things like, “I will wait for you to be quiet.”
Ugh.
