The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B...

What a title...What a book! This is actually the first book in a trilogy on Josephine Bonaparte. It is written in a diary form and incredibly well researched. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is that genre at its best. The author does a great job of capturing her voice and her place in history. What is interesting to me is how one discovers a different personality from the one that has traditionally been portrayed regarding Josephine. In the first book, the reader is taken on Josephine's (actually, her name is Rose) journey from the Carribean to France where she is caught up in the French Revolution and later jailed. Against the backdrop of disorder and chaos, Rose meets Napoleon, a man she detests- at first...

The other two books continue to chronicle the rise and fall of her relationship with Napoleon. They also delve into her children's lives and all the political intrigue of the day. I was sad to say goodbye when the trilogy ended, so I have read them three times. Gulland's writing is excellent and her research is solid. The reader gets the feeling that they are getting an accurate, exciting glimpse into the period.

Three Day Weekend

One of the perks of being a teacher: three day weekends...Don't get me started on the whole "teachers are lucky- they get the whole summer off" thing. Truth be told, on my day off, I will be grading three or four different assignments, writing curriculum for science (on Dolphins, no less) and putting together the class' science fair project board. You don't even want to know the amount of school work I do during the summer in order to prepare- I know- BLAH-BLAH-BLAH...

Hopefully, I will be posting new pictures of C. this week, too. I'll try to get some here and some on FLICKR. She is sitting up, when you put her there and her tummy troubles seem better. Still, we are up at 2 am most every night.

Joe is off making a video on the Bill of Rights and the concept of double jeopardy- something involving fake blood!

I logged 6 miles this week- so that is a big plus for me! 3rd grade is doing a 5k (Karen and I) and a half-marathon (everyone else), so we are in training. You have to admit, working with people you have fun with is just about the best thing in the world!

One of the best things I have been able to do lately is listen to my friend Marcy on KGO AM radio. She has been doing fill in spots on Sunday mornings and she has just been fantastic. I love Marcy and I love talk radio, so two of my favorites are in one place! The station comes from SF - huge market- and I can listen on line...I'll keep you updated here on when she fills in... here is a link to the station : www.kgoam810.com

Lisey's Story- Stephen King

Ummm...I have been collecting my thoughts on this read for a week or two. Still not sure what I think of it. First, I am reluctant to recommend it, as it is so unusual. Still, that makes me want to recommend it! I have never read Stephan King before and picked this one up because it is supposed to be a more personal work and marriage was the basis of the story. That said, I loved the main characters' relationship- it was honest and powerful and life saving. There are times, in the real world, where one wonders what might have become of oneself if your spouse had not come along. That is certainly the case with these two... This book is terribly graphic, with disturbing scenes of violence and mutilation. This would usually be a deal breaker for me. However, what redeems it, is that at the core, Lisey is a true heroine and is bent on saving her husband, her sister and ultimately herself. In a kind of modern day fairy tale, Lisey must enter a dark and dangerous world in order to prevent herself from being consumed in this world. Kind of an interesting juxtaposition and I was mesmerized by King's ability to turn a phrase and to capture the short hand language of two people who had been together for a very long time.

Catching Up

Sick in bed today with strep! Carolyn is being a real trooper and John is on the mend, so he is helping, too.

Cousin Jen's blog asked for six weird things about you- hmmmm, let me see...

1. ever since I was pregnant with C., the thought of eating at Pat & Oscars makes me gag.
2. my real hair color is totally gray
3. I love "Wife Swap" and American Choppers
4. I hope to meet Paul Sr. someday
5. I love dumb jokes
6. my husband calls me bubba- no idea why...

Okay- tell me about your wierdness!

Diddle, diddle dumpling...

You might not be able to tell, but she does have one sock on! Fresh from the shower and ready for play- we are so lucky!

I start at university again tonight- I get so nervous before I start teaching a course...I am nervous about taking this on again, so it is one term at a time...

C. is learning to put herself to sleep again- so that makes a happy day! I did 25 situps today- another plus! I'm enjoying The Red Tent old, I know, but it has been on my list for some time...

What is doing it for you these days?? For me, it is reading other people's blogs, playing yahtzee with the kids, that first cup of coffee in the am, and getting COMMENTS on this blog. Many of you tell me things when you see me, and I appreciate it- don't be shy, post a comment! I know blogger sometimes takes some time...thanks for your patience and responses!

Musings

Getting some things done...we are caught up on our grading, until the end of the week! My Chapman syllabus is complete and ready for next week...C. still is getting up at 2am- after weeks of sleeping all night...laundry load number 7 is about to go in...I need to learn some games for math field day...we will spray paint a volcano tonight...we will write the rough draft of a biography on Gen. Patton...book club tomorrow- can't wait!

Kathleen



Kath is another one of my world rockers- here's why:

she is a true-blue friend
she is positive to the "n-th" degree
"right on!" is her motto
she tries new things- she is never staid
hip, cute, loves life
she is a super sounding board
she knows how to build consensus
intelligent, loving, heart of gold!

President Ford


As someone who teaches at a school that bears this man's name, may I say that President Ford has always struck me as a decent and forthright person. He has been a good example to my students of patriotism, civic responsibility and what it means to give back to your community. I am thankful that he lent his name to our school (he had to give permission to the district) and even more thankful for the good example he set.