Random Rambling by Jaclyn

You (yes you) and Downton Abbey

2012-02-06T21:07:00.000-08:00

The question of the day is have you watched Downton Abbey? The correct answer should be "of course I have Jaclyn - how could I not watch it and still be your friend?" That said, I know some of you are busy with jobs, husbands (wives), kids, etc, etc. Those excuses, I promise, are not worth it. I didn't start Downton until December. I was sure it wouldn't matter if I put it off for a few months. After all, it was a new semester, I was in the middle of my Grey's obsession. How could I possibly start a new show? The real question though is how could I not?

Enough of the gushing rhetoric - here's the dish - I LOVE this show. I think about it on the way to work. I think about it when a kid is asking for the sixth time what we are going to do in class that day. I think about it when my therapist tells me not to think of anything (okay - not really...I'm not in therapy but if I were). I think about it when I am trying to tell myself to get a grip. It's just a TV SHOW....and then I talk to someone like Mel, Maria, my mom, Julie, Katie, Jennica, my coworkers, etc, etc and what little grip I had is gone.

If you still need some convincing or you think I really need therapy, feel free to call. I promise to at least mute the show while we're talking. Cheers!

ps. I know, I know - dramatic much? But let's be honest. We just made it through January without much ado thanks to the distraction of the upstairs and downstairs of Downton Abbey...and, of course, Mary & Matthew.....

The Lucky One

2012-02-04T16:25:00.000-08:00

I know I say this a lot, but I really mean it this time - Don't judge me. I needed fluff and a promise of sappy love, melodrama, and a promise of a movie with delectable man candy in it. This book was not brilliant, innovative, or anything that truly remarkable fiction should be...but it was exactly what needed - an escape. And let's be honest, I can't wait to see the movie in April....

Sympathy Pains for J-2

2012-01-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

My fabulous sister Jewels has been having some major pain her right hand. Clearly I wanted to do more than empathize for Jewels, so after school today I proceeded to hang up kids' projects on the wall in one of my classrooms. Sounds harmless, right? 1970s sheetrock is not as forgiving as you might think. Throw in that I'm not nearly as ambidexterous as I pretend to be. And so I pounded the stapler with the same part of my hand at least 460 times (not counting the many bum staples that had to be redone). Needless to say, my hand is bruised. It twinges with each right-handed key stroke. Can't tell you how excited I am for the 270+ staples I have to put into my other classroom tomorrow.

Cute Juliann, Brett, and an easily distracted Mae on Christmas Eve

And Jewels - I always am telling you I want to be more like you. I just didn't think I wanted to be like you in such a literal way. Hope your hand feel better soon!

Hello 2012!!!

2012-01-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

I had grand intentions of posting all sorts of witty and interesting things as the new year rolled around....and here we are, three weeks in, with no wit to be found. C'est le vie. Here are a few little snippets that have occurred or been on my mind since we switched our calendars from 2011 to 2012. I promise more substance to come later.....

A new year means a new paper chain - this beauty goes from now until July. Why July? Because oddly enough I like it go just past the end of the school year and because I don't know what I'll be counting down to in the summer yet.

I realized that I especially love days when I am dressed like Callie from Grey's (translated - like a college student...t-shirt over a patterned henley without buttons).

I also realized that Europe tastes like watermelon chapstick and Louisiana smells like Apple Blossom Citrus lotion. Summer trip flashbacks hit me every time I use either of these items.

I am so impressed by the acting in Rabbit Hole - it's utterly depressing, but Aaron Eckhart and Miles Teller are fantastic. (Side note - Miles Teller as Willard is the only redeeming part of the new Footloose.)

Usually I shower without contacts in, so on the random occasions that I shower with them in, it's like a whole new world...and I realized that I have way too many products. How many shampoos and delicious smelling soaps does one girl need?

I cannot figure out why I love the movie Enchanted so much, but I fell asleep to it on multiple nights this week. It was a much better line of thinking than which finals I still had to write and which papers I still needed to grade.

I heard a Diablo Cody interview where she said on the topic of facebook, "It's like we're recreating high school every day, and it's weird." For some reason that has stuck with me over the last couple weeks, and for that reason I have deleted all sorts of people on facebook. If I'm never going to talk to them again, why are we "friends"?

On that semi-negative note, I am off to go smell the rain (yes, you read right), sit closer to the fire, and get ready for Downton Abbey. If you haven't watched it, start.

ps. To let you know that I really will post real things soon, here are a few teasers of what's to come once the grading piles have disappeared and the sickness has abated.

The holidays and the end of 2011 deserve a little more attention than I gave them. So Christmas, Courtney's wedding with Hill, Brandon, and Patrick, etc. will be make a showing sometime soon.

decluttering and rambling

2011-12-26T22:39:00.001-08:00

I am in adecluttering mode – every unnecessary thing is being slipped into the properdrawer or chucked into the recycling bin. This also includes random scraps ofpaper or post-its on my desktop that comprise my random musings over the lastsix months. Here’s a hodge-podge of thoughts so I can free up that much morespace.

*I lovewatching clips of my favorite TV show and movie scenes. They never get old.

*I love theyoutube video of Anderson Cooper laughing. As a sidenote, I think AndersonCooper is a great reporter.

*I love allthe guest stars on Grey’s Anatomy (not to mention the fact that I LOVE Grey’sAnatomy). A few of the highlights in guest stars include two actors from the90s version of Little Women (Meg’s Mr. Brooks and grown-up Amy), Kostos fromSisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Mrs. Kim (sans Korean accent), Max Medina,Francie, and Grandma Lorelai all from Gilmore Girls, and Mandy Moore. I alsolove the episode that had Victorian romance scenes – Grey’s Jane Austen stylewas pure brilliance.

*I do notlove that I agreed to be interviewed for a newspaper article on recentgraduates who move home. I still believe that my decision to move home was a good one, but the article itself was humiliation in its purest form.

*I found avoodoo doll that I made years ago for a roommate of mine. She was hating lifeand one of her coaches, so my solution – voodoo doll. I know – I’m a strangesoul. Don’t judge.

*I kepttrack of random quotes from Grey’s – the obsession this summer was raging. PlusI was unemployed…so I had lots of time.
Isn’t it easier to be single inpairs? ~Callie

I’m not going anywhere withoutyou. ~Owen
Blondes are either badass or fun andyou’re…you’re a brunette. ~Mark

If you’re not scared, you’re notpaying attention. ~Miranda

I can’t breathe without you. ~Christina
The person that invented the phrase happilyever after should have their ass kicked…so hard. ~Meredith

*I decided (along with NPR)this summer that facebook killed the ten year reunion. I did not attend mine.Instead I went to Louisiana to hang out with Jewels and Mae. Best decisionever.

*Realization: my snark oftenequals my truth.

*Toni Morrison asked thefollowing question and made the following statement:

When a kid walks into a room, does your face light up?

When you know better, you do better.

When people show who they are, believe them.

*I don’t know where I got thenotation, “four boxes – you have the rest of your life ahead of you.” But Iremember thinking about the concept over and over again – if you packed up yourlife and moved on from where you are now, it wouldn’t be the end. It would justbe a new beginning.

tech funk

2011-12-26T18:03:00.000-08:00

I have not been in a techie mood in months. I avoid facebook whenever possible. I only check two blogs regularly. I certainly don't write on my blog with the exception of posting my book reviews that I do for goodreads. My online book club with Anna and Megan is going offline. All this is to say is I kinda wish it was 1995 when I still didn't have an email account or really know what the internet was.

Life, on the Line

2011-12-19T19:35:00.001-08:00

Life, on the Line: A Chef's Story of Chasing Greatness, Facing Death, and Redefining the Way We Eat by Grant Achatz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was heavy - like, literally heavy, and surprisingly, I loved it. I'm not saying I'm surprised that I liked a heavy book, but I'm surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed a book about one of the most creative and successful chefs in America today. Grant Achatz has wowed critics and diners alike since first joining the famed French Laundry at the young age of 22. Achatz is remarkable because he has a vision unlike any other. His food sounds like the stuff of dreams. Throw in a brilliant businessman (Achatz's partner in opening Alinea in Chicago), 24 course meals, and you have a book that makes you hungry. Achatz's struggle with cancer only makes his success more remarkable.

My only complaint about this book is how quickly it wraps up. It's almost as if Grant and Nick (the brilliant businessman) realized the book had to go to print and cut one hundred books down to forty. I'd still recommend it. It makes me want to eat more adventurously, live more passionately, and travel to Chicago for dinner. Happy reading and happy eating!!

Room

2011-12-19T19:23:00.001-08:00

Room by Emma Donoghue
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was so scary. I still feel queasy thinking about it. I don't want to give details because part of the brilliance of this book is its mystery, but this story is not for the faint of heart. I still can't decide if I'm glad I read it. I still can't decide if I'd recommend it. All that said, Donoghue is a masterful writer. The story is perspective-shattering. Read it. Don't read it. I can't decide.

You Have Seven Messages

2011-12-19T19:16:00.001-08:00

You Have Seven Messages by Stewart Lewis
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Dramatic teenage girls would love this book. And since I am no longer a teenager, I am not in love. There were clever ideas in this book, but I don't think Lewis creates a compelling narrator or a brilliant plot. Long story short, this is a book for my freshmen girls. The end.

The Future of Us

2011-11-28T21:10:00.001-08:00

The Future of Us by Jay Asher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up The Future of Us Sunday morning and finished it before I went to bed. While the overall exposition of the story didn’t stay as strong as it began, I loved the premise from beginning to end. I found myself lost in thought all day yesterday and today over what it would be like for my sixteen-year-old self to see my current Facebook profile. What would I have changed then so that I could change my now?

Asher’s ingenuity in young adult fiction is fantastic. I trust his judgment implicitly when he recommends other authors, and I trust his own creative work. Read it. The concept alone is worth your time.

November's Flying Days

2011-11-28T20:58:00.001-08:00

November’s days flew by, and I chose to fill my time withall sorts of things unrelated to blogging despite my promise to Jenessa (sorryJ3)….

I got back into reading again. I journaled more often than Inormally do. I pinned a few too many things on Pinterest. Family was in town. Iwent with some of my best friends to Tahoe. I graded, planned, and graded somemore. I curled up on friends’ couches and in restaurant booths and talked forhours. I went to Lorraine’s final wedding dress fitting with Courtney and satin awe at the chance to watch one of my oldest friends find the love of herlife. I wrote letters. I watched Greys. Ipracticed the piano. I played games. And now we’re two days from December.

I may not have blogged, but I had a chance to revel in themany blessings God has given me. I get to choose how I spend my time. I have a jobI love. I am blessed with great family and friends. Mine is truly a wonderful life.

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life

2011-11-26T09:30:00.000-08:00

Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I usually am anti- people in their 30s writing memoirs, but I cannot stop talking about this book. I’ve read portions to all my classes and to anyone I can get to listen. The format and construction of this book is brilliant. So while all passages may not resonate, the overall tone and style do.

I love that Rosenthal takes the profound and packages it next to the mundane. I love that she hones in on aspects of our lives where we could stand to aspire for more and pokes fun at her own idiosyncrasies. Is the book perfect? No. Did I care about every inclusion in her encyclopedia? Of course not. Am I still mildly obsessed? Yes, very much so.

Read it. I think you’ll love it.

have a little faith

2011-11-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

Have a Little Faith: The Story of a Last Request by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reading a Mitch Albom book is akin to the feeling you get curled up on a couch in front of a fire. You just feel better after you’re finished. His writing isn’t the most eloquent, but it’s relatable and engaging. Albom doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. He simply offers aphorisms that make me want to be better.

Having read all of Albom’s books now, I find that I like his non-fiction more than his fiction. The only real downside to this book was that it made me tear up in a public place. Otherwise, it was a good read. Were there half stars, this would be a 3.5. Because I’ve thought about it so much since I finished, I’m giving it the 4.

Of Mice and Men

2011-11-26T09:07:00.001-08:00

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Plain and simple, I love John Steinbeck. I love the way he gives voice to men and women who are flawed and who are honest. He should be read and read often. I’m glad for the opportunity to delve into his works each school year.

The Crucible (again)

2011-11-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I know it’s strange to review books I teach in school, but I get lost in these books for weeks at a time. During this read through, I gained a new appreciation for Reverend Hale. He is Javert from Les Miserables when he arrives in Salem. He believes he is on God’s errand and is there to eradicate any sign of witchcraft. But Rev. Hale turns out to be a better man than Javert. He is willing to believe a flawed man and willing to believe that man’s construction of religion is not the same as following God.

That may not make any sense, but the short version is that I love The Crucible. I think Arthur Miller is a masterful writer, which makes it much easier to return to the same play multiple times a year. (November 2011)

Paper Towns

2011-11-26T08:51:00.000-08:00

Paper Towns by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I finished Paper Towns six weeks ago which means, of course, that the specific thoughts I had formulated about this book have disappeared into thoughts about Christmas and the stack of papers I have yet to grade.

The long and short of it is that while I didn’t love the plot line of Paper Towns, I did love Green’s writing. There were parts that I wanted to read aloud to someone right as I was reading it. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of high schoolers I’ve read, which actually may be a deterrent for some readers for how inappropriate the content can be. The concepts in the book are powerful and led to great discussion.

The idea that keeps coming to me weeks after finishing comes from a character named Radar talking to the protagonist. He says, “You know your problem, Quentin? You keep expecting people not to be themselves.” I love how simply profound that is.

NOVEMBER?!?!?!?!?

2011-11-01T17:59:00.001-07:00

I am completely baffled as to how it is November already. Perhaps I've inhaled too many dry erase markers or spent too much time pretending to grade, but I have lost at least three weeks. Now the grading stacks are GINORMOUS (which by the way shows up as a word in my Mac dictionary even though it sounds totally made up), my red pens are almost dead, and I think my neck may actually stay permanently bent over like I'm looking at a desk or computer keyboard. Oh life--

Good news is that the end of the quarter is this Friday and grades are due by next Tuesday, so like it or not, my grading will be DONE by Monday night.

As for all the things that I have not blogged about - c'est le vie. Yes, I went to Alabama for my cousin Eric's wedding to the beautiful Whitney. Yes, I went to Apple Hill with Tracy, David, and Seth and had a marvelous time (and ate way too much). Yes, Ryan visited the Bay Area and was funnier than he's ever been. And yes, I discovered that my bad hair MONTHS have been almost entirely fixable - my part was in the wrong place. (You'd think I would have more seriously considered this possibility and messed around more but no. I kept thinking it was the Brazilian Blowout.) (I promise I'm not an idiot.) But you know what, I'm not going backwards - just forwards. So it's been a great (slightly insane) October. I'm ready for November, for turkey, for Jenessa to come home, for a girls' weekend in Tahoe, for crisp night air, for an extra hour of sleep courtesy of Daylight Savings, and for an excuse to talk about all the things I'm thankful for-- including you.

Dear J-3:

2011-10-18T20:11:00.002-07:00

Dear J-3:

I know book reviews are not what you meant when you chided me on having no new blog posts. However, my to do list is long and my snark level is at dangerous levels this week. When the list is shorter and the snark level has gone back to normal, I will post a more worthy entry.

Yours faithfully,
J-1

ps. To compensate for your disappointment, here are a couple quick anecdotes--
1) A student asked me to marry him today...as in "Will you marry me Miss Hutchins?" I smiled and called him a creeper.
2) A student submitted a research paper topic proposal about online communities dedicated to "My Little Ponies" - No, I'm not making that up. I wish with every fiber of my being that I was.

Ophelia

2011-10-18T20:11:00.001-07:00

Ophelia by Lisa M. Klein
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am usually wary of books that borrow from another story’s brilliance to drive their own plot. I finally gave in though to Lisa Klein’s Ophelia because, simply said, I love Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Perhaps it’s because I first encountered Ophelia when I was a melodramatic teenager, but I ‘ve always been intrigued by Ophelia in all her tragic beauty. The chance to read a well-researched book that gives Ophelia back her truncated life was worth my time and surprisingly engaging once I got past Klein’s attempts at Old English references. If you are a Shakespeare lover, read it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

ps. I don't think I've rated lately about lame it is that we can't give half stars. This is a 3.5 for all the research and care Klein had to have put into creating this plot....

Year of Wonders

2011-10-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I honestly had no desire to read about the plague, but just like I will watch a movie just because Matt Damon is in it, I read “Year of Wonders” because Geraldine Brooks wrote it. Brooks is a masterful writer and a brilliant storyteller. The story is devastating and an interesting discussion of faith and fear amidst deadly uncertainty.

I can’t say I’d recommend it to everyone since the topic matter is so sad, but it’s artfully written, so I guess the choice is entirely yours on this one. Either way, I am such a fan of Brooks. She is, without a doubt, one of my favorite writers.

all these things i've done

2011-10-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up this book purely because Gabrielle Zevin wrote it, and let’s be honest, because it’s a story set during a futuristic time with chocolate is contraband and caffeine is illegal. Throw in the mob, a decaying New York, illegal imprisonment, and forbidden love, and you’ve got quite the plot. The exposition and conclusion are a little unfulfilling, but I devoured the book just the same. It helped that I was in a “please remain seated until the captain has turned off the ‘Fasten Seatbelt’ sign” kind of place.

I’d recommend it, but I wouldn’t run out and buy it. It’s a library or borrow book for sure. Just the same happy reading and most definitely happy chocolate eating and caffeine drinking--

Star Island

2011-10-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Star Island is like that odd candy you see near the register at gas stations on road trips. At first glance, it sounds delicious and you think that maybe it will help break up the monotony. Fast forward to two hours later after you’ve eaten the whole bag that you only meant to have a handful of. That’s what Star Island feels like. In theory, it sounds scandalously delicious. In reality, it’s trashy and over-the-top. To be fair, there were some brilliant one-liners and deft plot twists. It just wasn’t worth the gut ache after I finished.

{Ps. Not sure if it was intentional but Hiaasen’s Cherry was uncannily familiar to Lindsay Lohan and her potential demise courtesy of drugs and loser parents.}

Alarmingly Late

2011-09-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

6:36am - Look at clock from every possible angle without glasses trying to ascertain the time.
6:38am - Shower, brush teeth, dwell on the general panic of the moment
6:48am - Start insane application of makeup without contacts
6:55am - Blow dry hair into a wild mangy mess
7:00am - Get dressed while listening to Chandra Wilson belt out "Wait" (an attempt to calm the jitters)
7:05am - Pin up the mangy mess acknowledging this is as good as it is going to get
7:11am - Pull out of driveway blaring LMFAO "Party Rock Anthem"
7:32am - Turn off car while chewing the last of my Breakfast-On-the-Go

That was my morning. Pure insanity. And yet marvelously, I made it to school. I may be a bit out of it today, but I made it. Thankfully my day was planned, and the kids are working independently most of the day. TGIF!

One Track Mind

2011-09-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

For the last month, I have had a one track mind.

I have been eating, breathing, sleeping Freshmen and Junior English.

(Okay - maybe two tracks because baseball rules all in the fall.)

And so now as I sit here zoning out to the new X Factor, I realize that September ends tomorrow, and I am bone tired.

That said, the past few weeks have been like rediscovering a part of me that has been clamoring for my attention since I left San Ramon two years ago.

Miss Hutchins is back.

October's quest is make sure the Jaclyn I spent grad school discovering doesn't disappear.

The great balancing act of life continues.

It's a good day to be a Bronco

2011-09-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Every time our principal talks, he ends his comments with "It's a good day to be a Bronco." It's entirely too reminiscent of my middle school VP who used to say, "Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours." Either way, it's now been a few weeks since I became a Bronco. Besides a few fun distractions, I have been completely immersed in all things Northgate. I can't complain though. My latest batch of kiddies is great. Sure my 5th period gets distracted by air, and my 2nd period could stand to be (a lot) more kind. But all in all, it's a really good bunch. My 3rd period is so darling, I've nearly cried twice in class (this may also mean that sleep deprivation is getting to me).

In short, I may seem MIA, but I'm just living the life of a teacher. And let's be honest, it really is good to be Bronco.
{ps. Yes, the Bronco on the mural is a bit scary. It's not just you.}

an teaching actual job!

2011-08-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

After what felt like forever, I got a job. I am teaching English 9 and 11 at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek. I'd write more, but I am way behind since I got hired so late. As exhausting and overwhelming as the last week has been, it's been great. So glad to be back in a classroom!

One Day

2011-08-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

One Day by David Nicholls
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

People have such different reactions to this book. Some think it’s completely over-hyped while others think it’s a love story for the ages. I fall somewhere in the middle. I decided to read the book because there was a movie coming out and also because I was intrigued by the idea. Twenty years broken down into chapters told about one day each year. We as readers have to fill in the blanks about what is not said or explained.

The premise alone is brilliant. Yes, the characters are occasionally oversimplified or the connections are too serendipitous, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book just the same. I did not have high expectations, and so over and over again, my expectations were exceeded. This is one of those books that I saw myself in. The characters are often lost trying to grapple with life decisions and missing that one person who helped them make sense of the chaos around them.

I think it’s a worthwhile read. It’s not a classic. It’s not a romance. It’s a beach read. It’s a curl up on a couch read, but not something you have justify. It just lands somewhere in between. And for reading it you will enjoy some great one-liners, a chance to use your imagination, and a chance to cheer for one of those couples you can’t help but root for.

The Paris Wife

2011-08-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I knew very little of the premise of Paula McLain’s The Paris Wife when I started reading it. I thought it was just about the writers and artists living in Paris in the 1920s. Not quite a “Midnight in Paris” storyline in book form, but I thought it was more of a nostalgia piece. Probably should have read the book jacket – and yet, would I have read on so voluntarily? Don’t get me wrong, stories of failed marriages and disappointed dreams make for great literature (can we say Gatsby?), but McLain’s novel is not a work of pure fiction.

The Paris Wife is based heavily on the lives Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley. So almost against my will I fell in love with their love and felt Hadley’s starry-eyed excitement over the tempestuous, young writer who was destined to become one of America’s most distinct voices. But I knew from the beginning that Ernie had fallen in love with a beautiful nurse during World War I, that she had broken his heart, and that as the boy had grown into a man, he turned to drinking in failed attempts to mend what had been broken. Hadley came next, and it was she who was there as Ernest went from being merely in the shadows of Gertrude Stein and Scott Fitzgerald and the other brilliant writers who made Paris their home in the 1920s to being a reputable and sought-after writer. Everyone in Hadley and Ernest’s circle drank too much, wanted too much, and in the end, had to run from the scene or be drowned in it.

McLain’s portrayal of Hemingway is uncanny. His voice that we have come to know in writing rings so clear that it adds an air of reality to what might have felt just like another overly-romanticized piece of historical fiction. And so while I knew from the beginning that Hadley was destined to be the first of four wives, I was drawn in to the carefully crafted details, to the authenticity of the characters, and to the hope that as Ernest said, “No one you ever love is truly lost.”

I can’t say you should read this book. While it’s well-written and gives fantastic insights into some of the greatest creative minds of the last century, it is a book without a happy ending. And it’s a book full of details that someone uninterested in English literature or history might find tiresome. I, as you well know, am a lover of both and am also so in love with Paris that I just couldn’t help but read on and try to find the fleeting truth that Hemingway was so desperate to find.

.....

2011-08-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

.....After posting an absurd amount of posts about Europe, I haven't posted anything. And actually if you noticed, I haven't done any real posting about anything else in a couple months. Lots of reasons why, and no, I don't feel like explaining them. The short of it is that I am either hanging out with my sisters, digging through thousands of family pictures, or watching Grey's Anatomy. I am in absolute denial about reality and am trying to keep it that way for as long as possible. If you need me, a homing pigeon will probably work best. The end.....

Summer at the Movies

2011-08-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Over four months ago, I started this post on all the movies I was watching while working on projects. Needless to say, I spent hours and hours organizing photos, compiling my Europe scrapbook, and trying to make sense of fifteen years of saved paper. I don't remember why I was keeping a list, but for the sake of having no unposted posts as we close out 2011, here is a partial (yes, partial) collection of my summer at the movies. December 26, 2011
The American President
Never Been Kissed
The Family Stone
Life As We Know It
Sabrina
The Illusionist
The Legend of Bagger Vance
Pleasantville
Sense & Sensibility (2008 BBC Version)
Coyote Ugly
The Phantom of the Opera
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
North & South
Wimbledon
Pirates of the Caribbean
Finding Neverland
Sense & Sensibility (Emma Thompson Version)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Hope Floats
The Namesake
Dan in Real Life
While You Were Sleeping
Eclipse
The Accidental Husband
In Love and War
Tangled
New Moon
We Are Marshall
The Adjustment Bureau
You've Got Mail
The Lakehouse
Kate & Leopold
The Mummy
Twilight
The Young Victoria
Sliding Doors
A Walk to Remember
The Wedding Planner
Ever After
Mona Lisa Smile
The Way We Were
The Devil Wears Prada
The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Two Weeks Notice
Eat Pray Love
Penelope
Emma (2010 BBC Version)
Little Women
Ella Enchanted
Definitely, Maybe
A League of Their Own
Stepmom
The Princess Diaries
The King's Speech

Derbyshire - Days 11 & 12

2011-07-31T21:02:00.001-07:00

The last hours of our trip - an afternoon, evening, and early morning - felt like stolen time as we walked the streets of this charming little town where every door and rain gutter has to be painted the same shade of blue. We ate a delicious dinner in the inn pub, played cards as the sun slipped down, and went to sleep dreaming that we would never have to leave.

Haddon Hall - Day 11, Part 3

2011-07-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

Haddon Hall is a 13th century castle situated a few miles from the Chatsworth Estate in the Derbyshire Dales.  The road leading to the castle was lined by hills with deep green grass and sheep roaming as far as we could see.  Walking up to the castle meant a small drawbridge and a walk up a hill.  While the rooms were old and the walls were crumbling, it was still an adventure to imagine who had lived here and what they had been protecting as they stood on the wall surrounding the home.

I always used to picture myself playing on harpsichords like this one when I practiced my baroque pieces.  I'm actually grateful I had a large piano to pound away on instead.  I fear I might have snapped the strings on something as delicate this instrument.

Naturally, the flowers growing along the walls and in the gardens were our favorite part of visiting Haddon Hall (which was used as part of a Jane Eyre film a few years ago). Don't ask - we're not really sure what the purpose of the stairs is or what our dad is doing.

Darcy's Pemberley (Chatsworth Estate Home) - Day 11, Part 2

2011-07-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

As we were walking through the rooms of the Chatsworth Estate, you couldn't help but wish Georgiana would be around the corner playing the piano with her brother standing close by. Despite Mr. Darcy not being there, it was an impressive home. The Duke and Duchess of Devonshire's art collection is unreal. The family still stays in a portion of the house. Can you imagine calling this home?

The veiled statue from the movie - my mom was mesmerized by it.

I was mesmerized by the books, the piano, the painting of the girl below, and all the rooms in the house where Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and others had been entertained by previous Dukes and Duchesses of Devonshire.

I teased Jenessa that this was her looking at her boyfriend Colten who was halfway across the world. She was not nearly as amused as I was by that joke.
The bust of Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy that was commissioned for the film can be seen in the gift shop. Ironically the gift shop is even beautiful. The walls are stone and the windows look out the greenhouse and a gorgeous hillside.

Darcy's Pemberley (Chatsworth Estate Grounds) - Day 11, Part 1

2011-07-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Chatsworth Estate is the location they used for Darcy's Pemberley in the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice. I know that version makes some cringe, but it is one of my very favorite movies. The grounds were beautiful. Like every moment we spent in the Derbyshire Dales, I felt like I was in a Jane Austen novel. It was a dream come true.

Jenessa made friends with a pheasant. His name is Freddie.

There are not enough adjectives in my vocabulary to tell you how much I enjoyed seeing the English countryside. I would love to live there someday even if it is only for a few months.

Arrival at the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley - Day 10, Part 2

2011-07-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

I fell in love while I was in England with Derbyshire and our bed and breakfast on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate. The pictures do not do justice to Jenessa and my bedroom or view, but know that if you ever can't find me, I have gone here. Someday, I'll hole up here for a season, write, sip lemonade overlooking green pastures, and walk cobblestone streets at dusk.

While we stayed here, we enjoyed the most delicious meals at the Inn pub made from ingredients grown on the Estate. We chatted with a few of locals and got a picture of life in a small town. Everyone knows everyone. Everyone seems to be interconnected. And more than anything, I want to get back there as soon as I can.

Oxford - Day 10, Part 1

2011-07-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

Visiting Oxford was like stepping into one of my personal dreams. In my lifetime, I hope to attend classes there. Beyond the historical and literary significance of the university and its thirty-eight colleges, the campus and town are stunningly beautiful. I loved walking the grounds and learning from our quirky tour guide about Oxford's past and present.

Christ's Church College

Can you say Harry Potter? Many scenes from the movies were shot or modeled after Oxford locations. This particular quad was part of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Anyone for quidditch? Or let's be honest - I'd really just love to walk around and study here.The hospital wing and more.
Without a doubt, we LOVED Oxford.

Trafalgar Square, Red Bus Tour &Pygmalion - Day 9, Part 3

2011-07-31T19:11:00.000-07:00

After eating our Pret A Manger sandwiches in Trafalgar Square, we rode one of those wonderfully cliched red bus tours around London. We rounded out our evening with a night at the theater seeing George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Besides the sunburns from being on the upper deck of the bus for so long, it was a perfectly lovely day.

Dad looks a bit tired, but he snuck off for a bit just after lunch and surprised us with the Pymalion tickets. Three cheers for him!

There are dozens of pictures from the bus tour, but for all our sakes, I narrowed it down to a great view of the Tower Bridge and T.S. Eliot's church. It was a fun adventure to see London from such a comprehensive view, and naturally it gave us great ideas for our return trip.

Notice who is playing Henry Higgins? The sensational Rubert Everett. Kara Tointon was wonderful as Miss Eliza Doolittle.

Breaking Arizona News Interruption

2011-07-28T10:47:00.001-07:00

In the midst of our European reporting, we have failed to inform you of a very important event coming out of Arizona. Cameron Hutchins, 20, of Alamo, California recently completed his time in the Arizona wilderness through the Anasazi Foundation. Cameron has just over a week left in Arizona to wrap up his biofeedback sessions, and then he'll be back in the Bay. We can't wait to have him (and our mom!) home!!

Mr. C definitely became a mountain man after six weeks of roughing it. No facilities, no stoves, very few tools - if he wanted a fire, he had to use sticks to get a spark going. Hence why the picture of Cameron eating his first meal out of camp was so exciting. Welcome back C - we missed you!!

Buckingham Palace - Day 9, Part 2

2011-07-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

The walk from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace was beautiful - clever looking row houses, cafes with Wimbledon playing on the TV, and chic office buildings. I really do love London.

The "Royal Kiss" location, not to mention dozens of other royal appearances. Looked pretty quiet that day....
Three cameras going at once probably was a bit much - having over 2100 pictures is what has made the blogging and our Europe albums so exhausting to do create and yet, how could we run the risk of not documenting a single moment?!

And who to our wondering eyes did appear?! THE QUEEN!!! I know you can barely see it in this picture, but the car is part of a small motorcade, and Queen Elizabeth is sitting with her husband in the backseat. She is on the right side of the car. Definitely one of the things that helped complete the United Kingdom experience.

Westminster Abbey - Day 9, Part 1

2011-07-27T22:28:00.000-07:00

Our hotel in the County Hall building was just across Westminster Bridge from Big Ben, the Parliament Building, and Westminster Abbey. On the ninth day of our trip, we started our day by walking the bridge and making our way over to what is conceivably the most famous church in England.

Pictures are not allowed inside the abbey, but the inside really is something spectacular. With over 3000 men and women buried there, you can't help but walk across the grave stones of some of the most famous names in British history. My favorite part of the church is Poet's Corner where great names like T.S. Eliot, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Shakespeare are memorialized. Let's be honest though - I also got a kick out of walking where William and Kate were married just months ago. Our tour guide, a verger who works in the abbey, had all sorts of interesting anecdotes about the royal wedding and, more importantly, the abbey and the men and women who have worshiped there during the past eight hundred years.

[ps. Our tour guide was the verger featured cartwheeling down the aisle in a youtube video that went viral mostly in the UK after the royal wedding. If you're having a rough day, it is an especially entertaining 30 seconds.]

Much Ado About Nothing - Day 8, Part 4

2011-07-27T22:12:00.000-07:00

The pictures aren't the cutest, but the show was perfectly enchanting. We laughed, giggled, and ooed and awed at the magnificent actors, their timing, and their delivery. Shakespeare's much-loved comedy came off beautifully even with the rain that was pouring down on the groundlings (as the people who are standing in the pit are called) and the actors whenever they were on the front part of the stage.

Pictures during the show were strictly verbotten (we saw a couple people get asked to leave for ignoring that request), but the cast is definitely worth of your online perusal. Eve Best of "The King's Speech" and Charles Edwards of "Mansfield Park" were fantastic as Beatrice and Benedick, respectively. Joseph Marcell, who used to play the butler on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, played Leonato and was surprisingly well cast. All in all, a great way to spend the evening. If you're in London any time soon, this is a must-see.

Tower of London - Day 8, Part 3

2011-07-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Morbid I know, but we can't help it. Plus we had to do this pose since Jewels and I took this same picture more than ten years ago.

The expressionless bobbies who guard the Tower and the fantastically large crown jewels (which we are not allowed to take pictures of).
People often refer to this as London Bridge - actually London Bridge is over a couple. This is

St. Paul's Cathedral - Day 8, Part 2

2011-07-27T21:20:00.001-07:00

St. Paul's is one of the most famous parts of London's beautiful skyline. We were exhausted on our visit to this majestic church, and so I confess we didn't make the climb to the dome. Still, we had a perfectly lovely visit and then slipped into a Pizza Express for Diet Cokes and dough balls.

Shout out to Mary Poppins - tuppins a bag, anyone?

Globe Theater, Etc. - Day 8, Part 1

2011-07-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Standing in the Globe Theater is like going to the mothership. Though it's not the original Globe, it is still like stepping on hallowed ground - the ground where great writers and actors created art that has lasted hundreds of years. Sounds over-dramatic, but I can't help but get excited as I see pieces of original manuscripts and hear our tour guide tell stories of things that happened on that very ground (okay, a few hundred yards away - the new Globe was built a small distance away from Shakespeare's Globe).
The Globe puts on numerous productions during their summer theater season. The night before the Globe had been set for Othello. While we were on our tour, the crew was setting up for Much Ado About Nothing.
Guess what we're seeing in just a matter of hours?
The old-meets-new pathway that lines the Globe Theater and leads to the Millennium Bridge. I love this sign and the way the algae(?) has grown where the Thames has risen and lapped against the wall.
The Millennium Bridge (aka the Harry Potter bridge from the sixth movie) leading towards St. Paul's Cathedral
We're back at Daniel Radcliffe's school. Notice St. Paul's on the far right of the picture. Guess where we are going next?!

London Eye - Day 7, Part 3

2011-07-22T21:46:00.000-07:00

The London Eye sits on the banks of Thames River right near Westminster Bridge. Our hotel as part of the old County Hall building was just a few dozen yards away.The 32-passenger capsules that sit on giant wheel rotate ever so slightly as the wheel makes its rotation. From the top of the rotation - an unreal 443 feet high - you can see the entire city.

Our parents called it an early night while Ness and I rode the Eye. We decided we need a treat, and who doesn't want a vending machine version of Ben & Jerry's. Some funny Irish people on the elevator thought we were hilarious for coming all the way to England to eat American ice cream. We just laughed and said we were in it for some wooden spoons.

Wandering Through Town - Day 7, Part 2

2011-07-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

Ironically the city tried to take out these iconic red phone booths, and people threw a fit. Not surprising since the tourists can't help but take pictures with them every time we visit town.

The British Library is home to six million volumes and over 180 miles of shelving. My little heart gets so excited just being near so many amazing books. Nessa and a very naked Isaac Newton
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, anybody? This is the outside of St. Pancras, the resort, the station, etc, etc. Wouldn't mind staying here someday - after all, the library is just around the corner.
Look at those smiles? My mom gets giddy around Kensington Palace - maybe it's because it was once home to Princess Diana and my mom like most women who got married in the early 80's and had kids when Diana had her kids, feels a soul sister kinship. Maybe it's because one of my parents' first European adventures was to London years ago. Who knows? But she is one happy camper and those gardens really are that exquisite.

This is the closest we can get to the Palace right now while it's under construction in preparation for the Olympics. Once Prince William is finished with his Royal Air Force duties, he and Kate are planning to move into this beautiful place.

Seriously - she's so happy. You should see the one's that didn't make the cut.

Harrods is always a great idea - the store is thousands of square feet of luxury goods. You can get everything from a Burberry trench coat to a new set of stationary to a rotisserie chicken. While we were wandering through the food and wine department, we passed Bobby Flay and his wife Stephanie March.
Jenessa was given a miniature version of one of these bears when we visited London in 2000. Look at them all grown up.

Harry Potter Tour - Day 7, Part 1

2011-07-22T20:09:00.000-07:00

Let's be honest, our Harry Potter tour was a bit of a letdown. Not only were not on those fantastically red double-decker buses, but we made our way through many of the parts of London that tourists don't really care to see. That said, we are Harry Potter nerds through and through, so standing in places where the movie was filmed was more entertaining than it should have been.

Millenium Bridge - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

St. Paul's Cathedral towers - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the City of London school where both Daniel Radcliffe and Skander Keynes (Edmund from Chronicles of Narnia) went to school

Leaky Cauldron entrance - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Leadenhall Market: Picture Hagrid and Harry walking before they enter Diagon Alley - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

The night bus pulls up here and Harry stays upstairs this facade of the Leaky Cauldron - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The outside of the Ministry of Magic as part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows stills

Train Stations & Les Miserables - Day 6

2011-07-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Say au revoir to Paris because in a blink of an eye we boarded a train at Gare du Nord to make our way to the insanity and splendor of London.

The Eurostar line is fantastic - less than 90 minutes on a train and we end up in St. Pancras station.
Shout out to the London Olympics - Summer 2012....hence why everything in England seemed to be under some sort of construction....including the adjoining stations of St. Pancras and Kings Cross.
Despite the London rain that soaked our skirts and snuck under our umbrellas, we had a great night eating in a second floor restaurant overlooking London's West End and watching my favorite musical.

In the 25 years that Les Miserables has been playing, I have seen it eight times. Could not love it more.

Do you hear the people sing?

Arc de Triomphe - Day 5, Part 3

2011-07-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

After a a day of wandering in and out of the rain and hours in the car, we were a little worse for the wear. But we unloaded in a nice hotel just off the Champs Elysees and slowly made our way to magnificent Arc de Triomphe.

We were exhausted but made the climb anyway. Views from the top of the Arc are too great to miss.

Paris is most amazing when it glows at night. The pictures do not to justice the way it feels to see the lights turn on when walking down the Champs or watch the Eiffel Tower or Sacre Couer gleam in the distance. It seemed seemed fitting to say good-bye to Paris from such an amazing vantage point.

Normandy - Day 5, Part 2

2011-07-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

For the second time in my life I had the privilege of standing on the shore of the English Channel on the beaches where the Allied forces fought on D-Day all those years ago. Those gray churning waters and rolling thunderheads added an air of the theatric and the tragic.

Normandy Beach looking towards the cliffs around which Utah Beach lies.
This memorial was built in honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day and stands almost as bits of exploded shrapnel.
The American Cemetery at Normandy possesses a quiet grace and humbling sentimentality. Standing among those rows of fallen soldiers, you wonder how those men managed to go into battle at all. More than the overwhelming sadness, there is an overwhelming gratitude to live in such comfort.

I walked this quiet path alone and felt a melancholy settle in that accompanies losses so great there are not words to define them.

Mont St. Michel Abbey - Day 5, Part 1

2011-07-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Waking up in a place like Mont St. Michel is almost like waking up in a dream. On this particular morning, we ventured to the abbey to catch a glimpse of how life was centuries ago.
This was the view from our barracks style hotel room. If you notice, the previous evening (and actually just minutes before this picture) the sand bar was covered by high tide.

The church that sits atop the abbey.

Biggest fireplace I have ever seen - can't imagine how hot a fire of that size must have been.

While we dragged our overly large suitcases down the cobbled streets in the rain, these adorable children were on their way to the abbey for a field trip.

Mont St. Michel - Day 4, Part 3

2011-07-16T19:25:00.001-07:00

Mont St. Michel (said like Michele) is an abbey on the French coast an hour or so away from Normandy. Before the technology existed, at high tide, the Mont St. Michel would become an island reachable only by boat. Even now, driving is restricted near the island at high tide and cars are not permitted at any time. I love places like this - where time seems to stop. Yes, there are too many souvenir shops, but in most spots on the island you can get lost in the stonework, the sun shining on the sea, and the traces of the men and women who made this small fortress their home all those many moons ago.
Mont St. Michel from the road - impressive as loomed in the distance.

Giverny - Day 4, Part 2

2011-07-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

Monet's gardens are everything you would imagine them to be. The colors, the design, the variety - every detail was originally crafted by Monet himself. His garden is a masterpiece, and a perfectly delightful place to spend an afternoon.

Friday Night In

2011-07-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

Fresh fruit for dinner, a Pretty Woman style bath with oodles of sweet smelling bubbles, a couple episodes of Grey's Anatomy, and I'm feeling perfectly relaxed and ready to call it a night. Peace out Girl Scouts.

Versailles - Day 4, Part 1

2011-07-15T15:46:00.001-07:00

Versailles is one of those places where history comes to life and all the images you have of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI become real in a way that's only possible when you stand where they stood.

These pictures do not begin to show the size of Versailles and its grounds. When we visited in 2000, they had just had a storm where 20,000(!) trees had been knocked down. You could not tell then, and you most definitely cannot tell now. I cannot comprehend how many gardeners it would take to maintain the grounds not to mention how many security staff, etc, etc.

Pantheon & Louvre - Day 3, Part 2

2011-07-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Pantheon - a church turned burial places for French government official. It seems like I find myself saying "the building is remarkable" over and over again, but all the buildings really are.

For some reason, I fell in love with this depiction of the angel of death. I like how she is staring down all those who look upon her with such a straightforward, unflinching look....
Say hello to one of the great heroes of literature - Victor Hugo who wrote none else than Les Miserables.

Running alone one side of the Pantheon is the Universite de Paris and the Sorbonne. Naturally we had to wander around and take those in.

The fact that the Louvre wasn't grand enough for King Louis XIV is mind boggling when the building cannot be photographed in one frame.
It's amazing that there is so much art housed in the Louvre that they can have whole areas that are crated and tossed aside for the time being.Without a doubt, Winged Victory is my favorite work of art in the Louvre. I love everything about her.
The coronation of Josephine is my second favorite. It is a painting that covers an entire wall with exquisite reds and golds. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to have married Napoleon, let alone to have become an empress.
Whew - day three is complete. Be excited for day four - car rentals, Parisian roads, and my dad driving, oh my!

Catcacombs & Luxembourg Gardens - Day 3, Part 1

2011-07-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the two most different places in Paris. In one, the bones of nearly six million people and the other, a perfectly serene collection of fountains, statues, and flowers set next to the Luxembourg Palace. Both were great fun though you can see by my mom's expression, that she wasn't all that excited to be surrounded by stacks of bones as tall as we were.

And just above is a taste of Day 3, Part 2. Stay tuned.

Je t'aime Paris - Day Two

2011-07-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Our first full day in Paris was marvelous - the Musee d'Orsay (famous for its Rodins, Monets, and Van Goghs), the Opera House (hello Phantom of the Opera), Sacre Couer (a beautiful white church that sits above the city), and St. Chapelle (a church famous for once holding the tunic of Mary and for its stained glass windows that tell the stories of the Bible).
One minute in a voltage adapter and my beloved Chi straightener met its end. Buying a French straightener later that day proved to be a bit of an adventure, but at least we didn't attempt to burn down another hotel room.
Executions during the revolution took place here - lovely, I know.

Shout out to Harry Potter and the Weasley's family car as we made our way along the Seine towards the Orsay.

We ventured into the museum restaurant and ate a fancy meal surrounded by spectacular art and ornate decor.

The Opera House was more magnificent than I could have imagined. Such grandeur - and to think some of the greatest musicians in the world have performed there. I may or may not have been able to refrain from singing Phantom while walking through the decadent hallways.

There was something profoundly awe-inspiring about this church. I sat in the pews and had an opportunity to take in the glowing stained glass, the intricate mosaics portraying Christ, and the craftsmanship of men and women that have gone before. It is another place where photography is not allowed - somehow I love it more for that.

The tree-lined streets leading up to Sacre Couer are romantic and inspire images of old movies and simpler times.
If you made it through this post, you have finished a marathon. It's definitely not a sprint. I'm to in love with my trip to leave much out....

Say Hello to Paris!

2011-07-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

Over 2000 pictures in twelve days time means that what I few I include here will not do justice to the wonder that was our trip to France and England. Nonetheless, here's the beginning. On day one, despite intense jetlag and some pretty nappy hair, we visited Notre Dame, cruised the Seine River, rode to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was a perfect way to begin our Parisian adventure.

July Book: The Paris Wife

2011-07-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

The obsession of the summer is Paris so we thought it would be apropos to read The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. It's the 1920s in the City of Lights which means our characters will be hanging out with the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and all the other American ex-patriots that are responsible for creating some of the greatest pieces of music, art, and literature that the world as ever known. Hope you'll join us at pickwickreaders.blogspot.com. We promise to have more discussion on this book so that it feels more like an actual book club. Happy reading and happy summer!

Sisterhood Everlasting

2011-07-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I fell in love with the Sisterhood from the moment I saw the preview for the first movie. I was older than I should have been when I bought the books, but I devoured them just the same. When I heard there was going to be a fifth book, all I wanted was for things to turn out differently for Lena….Reading this book was surreal because ten years has passed for Bee, Lena, Tibby, and Carmen. They’re all twenty-nine and dealing with serious issues and devastating losses. While I’m not quite twenty-nine, I feel a strange kinship to how disoriented these women feel as they try to find their respective life paths.

Is the book amazingly written? Of course not, but I thoroughly enjoyed it just the same. Would someone who hadn’t read the other four books like it? Probably not just because the flaws of the writing and the overly simplified wrap-up of the plot would be too apparent without the love the original readers have for the characters. Thus it is primarily out of sentimentality that I rate this book so high. If you liked the other books, you will like this one. I picked it up and gladly didn’t put it down. It was a perfect summer read.

still waiting

2011-07-10T22:41:00.000-07:00

i know you're still waiting for pictures and stories about this and all i've given you are an endless series of book reviews. thing is, the reviews were higher on the list than the blog, so i promise they're coming.

hope you're having a wonderful summer.

Possession

2011-07-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

Possession by Elana Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am feeling a bit conflicted about this book. On one hand I sat and devoured it in one sitting before I left for Europe. On the other hand I felt like much of the plot was a blending of other teenage dystopian fiction with a few sparks of originality and a strong ending. I think I feel most of my conflict over the fact that Meg’s friend wrote this book. I am in awe that she did that – that she came up with a story and managed to sell it to a publisher. I just wish I loved it more. I would definitely recommend it to young people who loved Uglies or The Hunger Games. My problem is that I would recommend those other books first. All those contradictory things said, it was still an entertaining read. Kudos to Meg’s friend for achieving her goal of getting published and on a national level. So exciting!

On a totally trivial note, I love Johnson’s choice of character names. Vi, Zenn, Jag, Gavin – they roll off the tongue well, and they are completely fitting for the type of story.

American Wife

2011-07-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“I chose over relationship over my political convictions.” That in a nut shell is what Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest novel American Wife is about. The book is about an assuming librarian from a small town who marries a wealthy son of a politician who eventually becomes the president of the United States. The story is well told and filled with the intricate details I like. However, I didn’t love it. Maybe it’s because I knew it was loosely based on Laura Bush, and so I spent half the book wondering what was true and what was fiction. Maybe it’s because I have been quiet about my political and personal convictions both in relationships and social settings causing myself sleepless nights wondering if I am being true to what I really believe. That said, the book was a very interesting read that gave me more respect for the women (and sometimes men) who stand beside the political forces that are their spouses. I don’t know how they do it.

ps. I may or may not have bought this book because of its cover with the justification that the blurbs on the cover were from reputable sources. Don't judge me please.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2011-07-10T17:44:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am one of the millions who loves Harry Potter. As odd as it sounds, I think of Harry, Hermione, or one of the many aspects of the world J.K. Rowling created enters my consciousness every day. Naturally, in preparation for the final movie, I had to reread this book. I loved just as much as I did the first few times. As always, it’s sad to see the series wind down, and yet amazing to look back at what Rowling and her magnificent characters have done.

If you are one of the few hold outs who has refused to read one of the books, get over yourself and pick them up. They are too fantastic not to.

Ps. On a theatrical note, I cannot wait for the Bellatrix – Mrs. Weasley fight scene. “Not my daughter you b****!” LOVE it. Thursday night kids—it’s almost here!!

Two Kisses for Maddy

2011-07-10T17:32:00.000-07:00

Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss & Love by Matthew Logelin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know that memoir is the current “it” genre, and like most of you, I am getting tired of thirty-year-olds writing their life stories. Really your life has barely gotten going, so please save the trees and wait for a few more decades. Hilary Duff, can you hear me? Tina Fey, ignore this please. You’re at least in your forties, and you’re so funny that I don’t care how young you are.

Anyway, Two Kisses for Maddy is not the usual memoir. It is not a life story. It is just a love story that didn’t go the way Matt and Liz Logelin planned. You learn if you follow Matt’s blog (also called Two Kisses for Maddy) or from the book jacket that the book, written by Matt, is about loving and losing Liz and now raising their daughter Maddy alone. The book is heart-wrenching, hilarious, a bit profane, and wonderfully real. This is not a morality tale or a how-to on parenting or how to deal with grief. It is merely one man’s experience with falling in love, both with his wife and his new baby girl. He writes that way you would talk to a friend.

Like Jewels, I missed his slam poetry style that is so pervasive in his blog writing. He includes a little of that style at the beginning of every chapter, and it is raw, succinct, and powerful. This book is one that you can barely stand to put down. Liz and Matt’s love story is captivating and again, very real and accessible. But, this book does not give you warm fuzzies. It’s awful to read about Liz dying the day after Maddy was born without ever having the chance to hold her baby girl. And if you are sensitive to language, this is not the book for you as Matt never holds back. He likes the f-word as much as I like the word random. All that said, I really liked this book and am now one of the many people sending kisses to Maddy. After reading this, how could you not?

The Book Thief

2011-07-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am in LOVE with this book. Overdramatic much? Hardly. I could rhapsodize about this book for pages, but since this is a reread, I’ll keep it brief. Simply, this story is magnificently told and beautifully written. I love Zusak’s uncommon usage and avant-garde style of story telling. This is one of my five favorite books. If you haven’t read it, come over. You can borrow my copy.

The Book of General Ignorance

2011-07-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Book of General Ignorance by John Lloyd
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

As most of you know, I am a huge fan of random information and factoids. Hence my love of Trivial Pursuit. That said, I did not like this book. The writers are condescending (which is something I cannot stand) and British (which explains the occasional passive-aggressive comment towards the United States). This book is also detailed. I don’t want to know a three-page history of something. Ironically I don’t read these type of books to learn much. I just like the random one-liners and trivial bits of information that I can throw out at cocktail parties. Can’t help myself on that one. But you can help yourself by not reading this. The end.

ps. Did you know that more people are killed by their jobs than alcohol, drugs, and war? Or that America’s favorite pastime (BASEBALL!!) was invented in England? I do know – that is why I read books like this. Seriously – love those little details, just not this book. I really am done now.

Unaccustomed Earth

2011-07-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of eight short stories with plots and characters that span all walks of life and all hemispheres of the globe. And yet as global of a description as that is, Lahiri’s stories are just about life – its beauty, its complexity, its anguish and the hand-me-down coat no one wants to wear. Lahiri provides her readers with an unflinching glimpse into the lives of her characters giving such specific details that readers feel a parent’s mounting panic as they come home to find their baby has been left alone in the bathtub for hours. The reader experiences the haunting nostalgia as another character stands in the rooms of his boarding school remembering the hopes, the crushes, and the unrealized dreams. The reader also can glimpse the little things like the gold bangle on Hema’s wrist and the smell of naan baking in the kitchen.

Each story resonates with such depth and such reality that reading at times is almost uncomfortable. Somehow Lahiri manages in only thirty to sixt pages to expose the thoughts and anxieties we often are hesitant to share with those closest to us. Simply said, Jhumpa Lahiri has a gift and is one of the greatest writers of her generation. And while her stories are not the ones that I want to read over and over again, they are without question the ones that stay with me and cause me to question the life I am leading.

That said, Lahiri’s books are not everyone. Her stories are beautiful, but they are not fairytales. Things rarely “work out in the end” because as we know life rarely goes the way we plan. Hearts are broken. People fail. Of course, there is success and love is found, but the stories do not follow the traditional roads of boy meets girl, hard work earns the promotion, etc, etc. Reading Lahiri takes some effort, but it is rewarding and the type of book that leaves the reader wanting more.

The Year of Magical Thinking

2011-07-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was pressed into my hands by a friend at a used bookstore. “You have to read this,” she said, not caring that I already had three other books in my arms. So the book sat on my shelf for a couple years until I found myself overwhelmed the immediacy of death and wondering how people who have lost someone deal with the quiet and the questions that fall on ears that can no longer hear.

I confess that I started the book and initially only got through a couple of chapters. It was too depressing, too familiar to people I know who had lost their spouses or their child. And then finally I was ready to follow Joan Didion into her mourning and complete disbelief that the man she had shared more than forty-five years of her life with was gone.

Didion’s narrative probably should have been edited down to a shorter piece of writing. Maybe more of a novella length or an extended editorial, but because Didion and her late husband are well-respected writers, the length and uneven telling of the story are forgiven. After all, what about the year (or years) after losing a spouse is even and perfectly crafted. Didion’s book is replete with staggering candor and lines that chilled my heart even though I was reading the book on a summer day on the lake. She mentions the vulnerability, the nakedness, and the openness that are apparent on the faces whose lives have changed in a way they never wanted it to. As Didion says, “You sit down to dinner and life as you know it ends.” And now like Didion, I am left wishing for a yesterday that wasn’t even mine.

2100

2011-07-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

3 cameras hanging from the three Hutchins women's wrists = 2100 pictures

Throw in 1 week in Louisiana + a few more pictures

Now I'm in Tahoe sorting through all the pictures....which is a round about way of telling you that someday soon I hope to post about Europe....no promises though about the soon. Tahoe is too pretty for keeping schedules.

Happy Fourth of July weekend!

Cheers from the UK!

2011-06-22T14:28:00.000-07:00

I can't bear to spend more than a few minutes on a computer while I'm traveling in England, but can I just tell you how amazing this place is? Tonight we pulled up to our perfectly quaint Bed & Breakfast - the Devonshire Arms at Pilsley (we're mere minutes from the Chatsworth House that was portrayed as Pemberley in the most recent Pride & Prejudice). After my dinner of roaster chicken and garden vegetables from the pub, I walked through cobblestone streets lit only by the remaining daylight in a dusky blue sky. The air smelled of flowers and rain. Plain and simple - I am in love.

Restart Button for the Book Club

2011-06-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time three girls who had batted the idea of an online book club around decided to finally start one. Hence the Pickwick Society Book Club was born. And we read a few books, wrote a few reviews, answered a few questions, and talked on the phone about how we needed to pick up the pace of our respective reading. Now it's June 9th, and things have gotten more than a little behind and our posting has been sporadic at best.

We are picking a new book for June and will be reporting its title to you very soon. Even if you're working extra hours, have little people hanging off you constantly, or are traipsing to various locations for summer travel, we'd love to have you read the book and then tell us what you think.

As always, happy reading!

May Obsessions

2011-06-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

My May obsessions are a bit all over the place and involve too much TV watching, but I'm not working at the moment...so somehow I've decided it's okay.

So in love with Mad Men and missing it already after having caught up on Netflix. Why Matt Weiner had to delay season five until 2012, I just don't know. ps. I am most in love with Christina Hendricks (the red head who plays Joan Harris) and her style. I really wish sometimes that I were a ginger.
With Mad Men finished, I turned to The Good Wife for distraction. It's strangely remniscent of watching Nurse Carol Hathaway (from ER) all grown up and fighting crime and political corruption (some of which is in her own house). I can't say it's love yet, but I'm not finished with the first season yet, so we'll see. ps. Knox Overstreet from Dead Poets Society is her boss. When did the boys from that movie become middle aged?!

Emerald Nuts' Breakfast On-the-Go is delicious - The Smore version is Jenessa and my favorite. We have purchased multiple boxes to take on our European adventure (you never know when you'll be hungry - yes, French food is better, but if you're in the middle of a train ride or at a museum...)
Glee. I shouldn't even have to expound, but between the concert, the new iTunes tracks, and the finale, I am a very happy woman.

ps. Did I mention how much I adore Blaine, Kurt, and Rachel? Their voices in person are jaw-droppingly good. Mercedes really is too.

Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen's new movie) is a love letter to Paris and the ex-pats who made Paris their home in the 1920s. I loved the shoutouts to the great writers, artists, and musicians that made us all long for the City of Lights. I hope I too walk into a dream where I get to hang out with the Fitzgeralds and listen to Cole Porter play.... ps. I feel like I should add the disclaimer that I'm not a huge Owen Wilson fan, and yet I adored this movie. How could you not with Marion Cotillard, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Adrian Brody, etc.?

Tracy recently supplied me with a whole new array of chapstick flavors including the perfectly delectable watermelon. So, so good.
Last, but not least, Ted Kennedy Watson of my beloved Kennedy Watson store fame in Seattle started blogging daily. Between that and Pinterest, I now have way too many pictures and plans saved for a house that I don't have yet. It is definitely fun to dream though.
Happy June!!

ps. I hope you know that I, of course, though of writing Mae Obsession for my title, but I didn't see her during the month of May. I am counting the days until I get to see her, Jewels, and Brett. Cannot wait!

The Crucible

2011-06-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

The Crucible by Arthur Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You can tell it's love when you pick up a book or play just because you have missed the characters. I have missed the Proctors and Arthur Miller's snarky commentary on society, and so last Sunday night, I curled up and poured through the Salem witch trials yet again. I won't bore you with my recitations of my favorite lines or scenes - just know that if you haven't read it, you are missing out. (June 2011)

I love this play with everything that's in me. I recently wrapped up "The Crucible with my juniors - it's my third year teaching it, and by far, my best experience with my students (they gasped at Elizabeth's lie in the courtroom! fantastic teacher moment!). I am in so awe of John and Elizabeth Proctor - their conversation in Act IV breaks my heart. "I counted myself so plain, poorly made that no love...[etc, etc]." It is a play that transcends its pages and the stage and teaches lessons so applicable to life. If you haven't read it recently, read it - one of my all time favorite works of fiction. (Fall 2008)

Oh The Places I'm Going

2011-06-04T23:54:00.000-07:00

In one week I will be in...
In two weeks I will be in...
In three weeks I will be visiting... (seeing the Munsons takes precedent over where I'm visiting though I am excited to add Louisiana to my "states visited" list)

And in four weeks I will be in...
Too many possibilities for words - can't wait for the traveling to begin!

Ya-Yas in Bloom

2011-05-29T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ya Yas in Bloom by Rebecca Wells<
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If I had read this ten years ago, I probably would have given it five stars. After all, in high school, I was obsessed with all things Ya-Ya. Seriously - I read Little Altars Everywhere and Divine Secrets multiple times. I loved Sidda and her artistic take on the world. I loved the idea of friends being best friends since childhood. I loved the Southern phrases and the references to entertainers through the decades. And, of course, I loved the drama of it all.

Now, while I enjoy the books, I see more of Wells' formula, more of her pattern. Don't get me wrong - I can't help but love the Walkers and the rest of the Ya-Ya gang. I'm just not as willing to follow them anywhere they want to go. So, all that said, if you loved the earlier books, feel free to give this a whirl. If you haven't read the others, don't start here. And remember, as the Ya-Yas would say, life is always better with a drink in your hand.

The Book of Useless Information

2011-05-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

The Book of Useless Information by Noel Botham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book, but let's be honest, I love all things random. Fill 300 pages with useless information, and you have one very happy reader. The reason this book is not five stars is that Botham spent too long on the animal kingdom. I much rather would learn that Tommy Lee Jones and Al Gore were freshman roommates at Harvard or Louisa May Alcott hated children. She only wrote Little Women because her publisher asked her to. On that note, I better go get out Trivial Pursuit because at least one of the useless facts I just put in my brain has to be an answer to a question... Happy reading!

Hello SRV Class of 2011!

2011-05-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you read the post written before, you know that I am sending off my student's letters to themselves that they wrote two years ago. Here is my letter to them as they embark on their new adventure.... (crazy that mine began TEN years ago)

Hello Class of 2011-

I cannot believe it has been two years already since we wrapped up your sophomore year. I have slipped on and off campus every couple of months since then to say hi to old friends, to watch some of your games, to hear some of you hit impossible notes, and to just catch up on where life is taking you. You have been doing incredible things, and the more I hear about your plans for the fall, the more excited I get for all the great things you will continue to do.

As you take a minute to read your letter that you wrote to yourself two years ago, I’m sure some of you will be pleasantly surprised that you actually accomplished all that you set out to do. Some of you will be reminded that things have not gone as planned. Others of you won’t care about what you said and will just be ready to move forward. Hopefully you’re still talking to all those people you listed as “besties” or you finally got the girl/boy you had been crushing on for way too long. No matter what your reaction is to your letter and no matter what goals you reached this past year and what goals slipped from your grasp, I hope you will see that every day is a new opportunity to make your life what you want it to be. High school may be ending, but it is never to late to be who you want to be.

I have spent your junior and senior year completing a graduate degree. I would have much rather spent it with you reading a few more books and writing a few more papers, but it has been a good experience just the same. It has been great to be a student again – there’s nothing like spending your days learning new things. Whether you’re off to Cal Poly or DVC or going straight into the workforce, never stop learning. There is so much out there to know and to experience.

I know you have been reminded recently of how hard life can be. I have talked to many of you about all the things you have had to overcome in the last twelve months alone, and my one thought for all of you is don’t give up. There are always people who can help you along your way. If that is not enough, remember that as Gandhi said, you can always be the change you wish to see in the world. If a butterfly can change the current of the North Atlantic, what little things can you accomplish in order to reach your goals?

I am so excited for you as you start this new chapter of your lives. I will be in the stands on June 10th cheering you on. You are exceptional people, and your future, as someone wise once said, is so bright it hurts my eyes. Remember that I am one of those people who always here to help you along your way. Let me know if I can ever do anything for you.

Congratulations on graduating!

Love,
Miss Hutchins

Signing off as Miss Hutchins - 2009

2011-05-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

I am mailing out my last batch of student letters this weekend. These are the letters that kids wrote to their graduating senior selves (more on the content of these letters later). I also wrote a letter in the summer of 2009 just as school was wrapping up. It's fun to revisit what I wrote then, and what I'm writing to them now. As always, the things that matter most and that are the most true don't change much....

July 3, 2009

“Happy Thursday. Welcome to class.” I can’t think of how to start anything to you without breaking into my normal introduction to any one of our 180 English classes. As we finished out the year, I was a little nostalgic. Leaving somewhere you love will do that to you. So bear with me, while I take you on a journey down part of the road that led me to the Home of Champions….

I became a teacher for very simple reasons. I had a teacher who changed my life. She was my 7th and 8th grade Spanish teacher (shocking, I know, since you guys complained more about foreign language teachers than any other subject matter) at Pine Hollow Middle School in Concord. To be honest, I don’t remember loving the exercises we did, but I loved her. I loved how I felt when she talked to me. I loved all the potential she said that I had. I decided that I owed it to “the universe” to give back what I had been given. I needed to teach – to make someone feel as important as Miss Monteverdi made me feel. I don’t think it is overdramatic to say that she changed the course of my life. I was headed down a less-than-ideal path then, and the friends that continued down that path have struggled immensely in their adult lives. I, on the other hand, have spent my first few years as an adult teaching people like you. My life, so far, has been great.

How did I become a high school English teacher if my favorite teacher was my Spanish teacher? I knew when I entered college that I loved liberal arts – music, literature, history, art, etc – but I was best at English related things, so I started as an English major. Then throw in that I have always loved teenagers, and suddenly being a high school English teacher seemed the perfect fit. With English, I could tie in everything - the history, the music, the movies (where would our classes have been without the movies?!), and, of course, the books. With high school students, I could say, “sit down” and people would do it. I could say, “that’s what she said” and not only would you understand, you’d laugh, but not get me fired for it. I could talk to you about the real world. Maybe, somewhere along the way, we could learn how to write better introductions and figure out how to escape the Combine and the beast within.

I spent two years of my English teaching career laughing and learning with you at San Ramon Valley High School. We read some great and some not-so-great books. We learned some of the essentials of writing. More importantly, we learned about each other, and we learned about ourselves. I hope you learned that there is nothing you cannot do, and that you owe it to yourself and to those around you to not settle for doing less than your best. That does not mean that you have to be stressed and serious all the time. It simply means that you need to work hard at the things you love, and that you need to value people and value ideas – whether you agree with the people and their ideas or not. And, of course, you need to laugh while you work, while you play, while you do whatever-- life is hard enough without being pessimistic along the way.

It’s only been three weeks since we ended the 2008-2009 school year, but it feels like much longer. I have packed more than a dozen boxes and locked the door to E4 for the last time. I have already started studying (something that should be a crime in July) for my upcoming courses in the fall. I think about you all often. It’s amazing how much I enjoyed being with you. There’s that cliché idea, that if you find a job that you love, that you won’t “work” a day in your life. It’s true. Spending my mornings and afternoons with you did not feel like work.

I am so excited for what the upcoming year holds for you. For my juniors – this year is it – the parting shot to San Ramon. For my sophomores, the best is yet to come. Junior year is fantastic. I cannot wait to hear all about it. See you soon—

reminders of goodness

2011-05-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

While the world still seems a bit dark, I am grateful for reminders of goodness, of hope, and of love. I appreciate so much the people in my life who care to call, to write, or just appear at the exact moment I need them. Those reminders of goodness help me believe that things will be okay - no matter what is going on at present. Love you all!

dear world

2011-05-26T19:35:00.001-07:00

dear world-

we need some good news. people are being mean. joplin is devastated. alliy is dead. posey is out for the season. a little girl has stage iv cancer. i'm not asking for anything crazy, but please something besides divorce, death, unemployment, and the plague that would be sarah palin running for president in the headlines.

we all would really appreciate it.

love,
me

the topic which must not be named

2011-05-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

we are so afraid to talk about certain things whether it be a facet of religion, politics, morality, or death. suicide is one such topic. and today suicide is all i can think about. not to worry, i am not suicidal. but a sophomore at san ramon took her life on tuesday. i did not know her, but that doesn't change how sad i am for her family and her friends. i am also so sad that the students and staff of san ramon are dealing with another tragedy. i hate that people so young have to think about the cruel realities of life. and while i think we need to talk more candidly about these types of topics, i want to talk about them in a way in which these kids believe that there is hope.

alliy bayliss was only fifteen. she was not alone, and yet she believed she was.

cue the cheesy music if you like or embrace the deafening sound of silence - either way - know that you are not alone. there is always reason to hope even in our darkest hour. and if you ever need anything - day or night, someone will be there. you just need to call.

The Automatic Millionaire

2011-05-21T11:16:00.001-07:00

The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The concepts in Bach's book are not rocket science, but they are solid and realistic. I don't agree with the concept of getting rid of a budget, but I am completely agree with the idea of "paying yourself first" (aka working at least an hour a day for yourself). This is was a worthwhile read as I gear up for my life post-grad school. Now if only I had a salary to put these principles into practice with.

Cinderella Goes to the Ball

2011-05-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

Our beautiful Jenessa went to Senior Ball last night, and I am proud to say that as the primary photographer at the pre-party, I took over a hundred pictures. I know I chose the large photo size, and no, I don't know how to tile these better (I should have listened to Hill and Jewels more). However, Jewels needs to see these pictures in an up close and personal way because we miss our J2 on nights like this.

A few essential details-
Jenessa's date and boyfriend: Colten Brown
Jenessa's shoes: sparkly Toms
Why Toms?: Colten is Jenessa's height
Dance location: Giants stadium in San Francisco (yes, I almost cried and almost volunteered to chaperon - almost being the key word)
Jenessa's dress: an amazing find at Alysse's Bridal in Provo
Starry, starry night: Sure it was a bit rainy, but Colten capped the evening off by giving Jenessa a star - He had one named for her, matched her perfectly, and was an all-around charming date.

Post-It Jumble

2011-05-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, the stickies on my mac desktop are one of my most frequently used applications. I have a stickie that I literally created last July that held ideas for things to blog or write about, and now it's May and the list is unmanageable. When I thought this week that my hard drive was potentially lost, the only shred of relief I felt was that this list was gone and I no longer had to account for my previously unexpressed thoughts.

Obviously and thankfully, my hard drive was not lost and so the list remains. However, I do not like to feel obligated to things, especially a to do of my own creation...and so here is the list. It's garbled and incoherent, but it makes sense (at least a little) to me. And I am free of this obligation and am off to conquer another one.

if you want an interesting relationship, stay in one - julia's friend

identifying others' excellences make YOU better at what you do

Each day we are persuaded and persuade others.

"We're not the best person. We're not the worst. Graduate students are the worst." Jack & Liz

Colin Firth BAFTA acceptance speech
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12432378

life happens right now
transformation happens right now

we spend more than when we feel less than

just relax - let it happen >> sis. hinckley

CJ's "why i'm a business major"

Last Gatsby quote - 8 hour performance Gatz

http://emiliadelmar.blogspot.com/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/09/fashion/09Modern.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477302/

look up and live. when you are discouraged...

Sunday:
2:15pm - Home
5:30pm - Dinner w/ Lauren

Monday:
9am - Walk w/ Emily
10:30am - Massage
12:45 - Lunch w/ Rachel & Tracy
Late afternoon - Katie Fin
Evening - "Eat, Pray, Love" w/ Mom

Tuesday:
Movie day with Mom & Ness

Wednesday:
8am - Breakfast w/ Chuck
10:00am - Massage
12pm - Lunch w/ Lorraine
2:30pm - WC shopping
5:30pm - Skips w/ the fam

Thursday:
San Francisco day (shop for dress)

Friday:
Home, pack, relax

First day school
early morning - good hair
poptarts - near wipeout on the ice
classes - strategy (what am i taking again?), ethics with the macc students
lounge chatting
nails
errands
pizza
voice lessons
derma tech
sundance - perfect snowy wonderland
dinner w/ kar and gilmore girls
applying for jobs - nets/nordstrom
chatting with marianne
kirsten's party
eat, pray, love

family stone, while you were sleeping, hp1, eat pray love, blind side, dan in real life

Loving the snow capped mountains and all the great holiday gatherings to look forward to. Life really is amazing.
...a comforting sort of terror

ws photo

LIZ OTT's blog : when i die

blog allison sweeney's hair - bl 10.5

giants - best baseball team in july, rich aurilia (giants wall of fame)

3000 ads a day - don't even realize we're being exposed

zac on red carpet outside work - didn't know of course but crazy to consider

30 things before 30 blog

*blog la, trip with jewels, life out here, stardom (just people)
red checked table cloth and sunglasses w/ a book, friends gag reel, juri's wedding

*Blog maria, semi-freedom of expression vs. faithful following

reread hunger games on blog

white dress, white parasol - not a month goes by that i don't think about her...

the human condition

movie stars are people we watched growing up. our age or younger, they're just people

*we crave the drama, the obstacles - the product (apple, youtube, columbus) isn't enough

i wish song - beg. of disney, musicals - telling us what they want and where things will go

i like books, movies - fiction etc - because the pain isn't real

"All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy." -C.S. Lewis

"three hats we wear -- who I think I am, who others think I am, and who I really am," has caused me some discomfort. Since then, I've analyzed my personality by asking myself, "Do I say or do this because that's what I think I am supposed to do? Or is it because that's what others think I am? Or is that who I really am?" Also, when I answer the questionnaires I ask, "Which one of me is responding to these questions? I've been told my whole life that I'm outgoing. Am I really? Or is that what other people think I am so I act on it? Or is that who I think I am?" (1st year)

http://everydayreading.blogspot.com/2009/06/life-goals.html

goals/love list
jim collins - goals, stop doing list
GEEK UNIVERSE _ resolutions!!
your wishcake post

charity sees the need, not the cause

Did you ever think you're not meant to fly under the radar - Ash O.

Whiners are Wieners

(Wow - you scanned all the way to the end of this. That's amazing.)

Mini Book Reviews

2011-05-14T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I don't know if I was too nostalgic after having graduated or for just having returned home, but this book surprised me and exceeded my expectations...and so I loved every minute of it. This book follows a completely storyline than Schmidt's "The Wednesday Wars" but does involve one of Wednesday War's small side characters (e.g., one of Holling's friends). If you are a fan of young adult fiction, I would highly recommend this book.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Can you tell I'm reading all of Juliann's books from her children's literature class? I read this because I feel like everyone read this book years ago. I liked it, but I didn't love it. There wasn't enough resolution for me. There were some quality descriptions included throughout the narrative, but I feel like Spinelli spent enough time in the denouement portion and too much in the introductory portion.... Still, I'm glad I read it.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Forman's first novel "If I Stay" had me from the very beginning, and her second was much the same. Forman writing style is engaging and her storyline intriguing (albeit a bit salacious). I didn't love how Forman forced the ending to tie into the first book's storyline, but I did enjoy how she wrote the main characters' interactions and how she included their passions in their movements, their dialogue, their thoughts. Though it can't live up to "If I Stay", this book is worth reading.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I don't know how it has taken me this long to read this book, but I'm glad I finally did. This really is a great book for boys, whether they are younger and reading with a parents or a little bit older and struggling readers.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Again, I'm lost in the middle of Jewels' books and of course, had to read this book. I first read it in fifth grade and haven't picked it up since then. Hard to believe that was almost twenty years ago now, but I am so impressed by how well this book communicates profound ideas through simple, accessible language. Paterson crafted a beautiful story all those years ago, and I am not surprised at all that it is still one of the greatest books in children's literature.

Wilson!

2011-05-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

Despite all my to do lists and my “of course everything will work out” attitude that I use to answer all the many questions that everyone (including the voices in my head) keep asking, there are some moments when I feel like I’m Tom Hanks in Cast Away, floating adrift of anything stable and without Wilson to keep me company. Those moments are, shall we say, not my favorite.

What a day!

2011-05-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

Today is my parent's 30th wedding anniversary. They are spending it away from home, so I tracked down their old journals and scanned them their respective thoughts from just after May 9, 1981. Today is also the 36th anniversary of my parents first holding hands at Dance Festival. Too cute for words- (My parents and Ryan in June 2008 - can you believe these people are old enough to be my parents?!?!)

Today, my cousin Megan also had her baby! William James Linton was born this morning in Sandy, Utah and was 17.5 inches long and 6.2 pounds.

Yesterday was my brother Ryan's 21st birthday. Seriously - my little rambunctious Lego building brother now looks like a MAN and is off to Europe on a Marriott School study abroad for six weeks.

Yesterday was also Mother's Day. My mom, as previously mentioned, is out of town, so Jenessa and I spent it alone going to church, laughing (a little of this may have been during church), feeling odd in such a quiet house, and playing board games (which may or may not have included Chutes & Ladders and Candyland - no, there were no children here to join us).

Tomorrow, I am going to plant flowers in the front and backyard of my parents' house. Spring is in full swing, and I am on a quest to add a little more color to the glorious shades of green that are already gracing their yard.
Tomorrow, I am also going to hang out with Katie Finegan. That really needs no other explanation because that simple fact is wonderful on its own.

crystal balls and palm readings

2011-04-25T20:13:00.001-07:00

people keep asking what i am doing now that school is over.

if i had a "big picture" answer, i promise i would have shared all those lovely details.

for now i am...

chilling with jewels until i go on a road trip home with heather
doing projects at home and hanging with the fam

planning out the hour-to-hour movements of our trip to paris & london
catching up with friends

making up for lost time on my 52 books in 52 weeks challenge

reading random blogs
soaking up all available sunshine

figuring out which crystal ball will actually give me an answer to people's "what are you doing now that you're done with school" question

We Did It!!

2011-04-25T19:37:00.000-07:00

Someday soon, I hope to write down a few anecdotes about the end of graduate school, but for now, here are the highlights of graduation. Those perma-grins are not posed - Jewels and I could not stop smiling. After all, we're done with homework, 2am study sessions, and pinching ourselves to stay awake in boring classes. I can't pretend I'm not going to miss being a student, but for now, I'm still basking in that recently graduated glow.

Rinse, Wash, Repeat

2011-04-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago this June I walked up and down the aisles of the Concord Pavilion as one of Clayton Valley High School's graduating seniors. Five years ago this month I walked into the Marriott Center as one of the optimistic English Education graduates of BYU's School of Humanities. And tomorrow I will cross those walkways over North Campus Drive again, this time with a blue, black, and white hood to accessorize my cap and gown and with my sister at my side. Five years ago I looked down from the my place in the sea of undergraduates and focused on my friend who was sitting on the "floor" of the Marriott Center and was graduating with her Masters in Public Administration. Never in a million years would have I guessed that I would follow in her footsteps...it's funny how life plays out....

Need Some Help To Send Cameron Off

2011-04-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone- If you haven't heard already, Cameron has been called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix Mission, English speaking! He reports to the MTC on May 25th. His "farewell" will be on Mother's Day (May 8th), and we are trying to track down the sheet music for Dustin Gledhill's "One Voice" to sing that Sunday. It was part of the 2004 EFY "Stand in the Light" songbook. That songbook is currently out of print, and there are none available through things like Ebay or the Amazon Marketplace. Now comes the favor for all you past EFY attenders or counselors- if you have a minute, please check all that piano music you have lying around your house to see if you have it. The Hutchins singers will be eternally grateful if you can track it down, copy it, and mail it to us. Thank you for your help and congratulations Mr. C!! (Master Cameron is one of Mae's favorite playmates when she comes to California as evidenced by all the random pictures we have from her visit in January - Love them both!)

Hate List

2011-04-06T08:56:00.001-07:00

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Like I seem to say too often, I should have reviewed this book when I first finished it, when my reaction was more visceral and less removed. If half stars were allowed, this book would be a 3.5, but I rounded instead of down because of how honest Brown's portrayal of teenagers is.

"Hate List" if you ask the author is not a story of school shooting. It is a story about a girl named Valerie who happens to have a boyfriend who brings a gun to her high school and changes everything in a matter of minutes. That said, it is hard to feel like the story is about anything, but a school shooting, or rather the aftermath of a school shooting. The book follows Val through her senior year while flashing back for part of each chapter to what happened the day of the shooting or the months preceding it.

I don't know why I voluntarily subject myself to books like this. "Hate List" is disturbing and sad, and yet, I can't seem to resist stories that seem to be about overcoming exceptional loss. I'd recommend it, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart or those who have nightmares about news stories. This story touches too close to home for many who teach, who watched in horror as the events at Columbine unfolded, or who already have a hard time sending their previous children to school. That said, I've already handed it off to my sister, so take my contradictory recommendation with more than a grain of salt. And as always, happy reading.

Grapefruit Fandango and Eden

2011-03-28T21:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but there is a social stigma associated with talking about babies once you get to be a certain age. When you're twelve and doodling in your diary, it's totally fine to imagine what your "grown-up" life, kids included, will entail. Even when you're first in college, talking about adult life and the plans you have, kids included, is totally normal conversation. Once you're actually an adult though and not married and not getting any closer to those babies you once talked about, the topic of children falls into that socially unacceptable category that you only broach with your closest friends. Of course, it's okay to talk about other people's plans. After all, they're married and in the position to actually have kids. But you, a single woman in her late twenties - well, that's kinda awkward.

Tonight though, social acceptance be damned, because I have been thinking about the name Eden for a little girl. There is not some profound connection I feel to the creation story or Adam and Eve that inspired the thought. I just have seen the name over the past year and have added it to the list. Yes, the list - the one that every girl has written down somewhere even if it is only in the recesses of her mind.

My list is in a notebook that Hillary gave to me on my twenty-second birthday. There are two lists under Hill's page title of "names i love" - one is the list I added to from twenty-two until about twenty-five. My second list was started only about a year ago, but the chances of naming a baby one of these names is much more likely. I don't know why I think that, but I guess I trust my older self more to pick a name I won't be tired of after a few months.

Naturally there are more names on my list than the number of children I want to have, but that's a whole other topic that I probably should save for a discussion with my future husband. Just hope he knows how much I like the number three.

Anyway - I do not know where that whole spiel came from. Maybe it's the nostalgia of making plans as I prepare to graduate or the perfectly intoxicating smell of Grapefruit Fandango permeating my room. I just can't help myself.

a few more notes

2011-03-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

Still thinking about “Seven Pounds” – that movie really is powerful. Have you seen it? Seen it lately? I thought it was much better this time because I was not so shocked by the overall story....

Anyway – here’s a few more things that have been on my mind.

*I cannot help but love March Madness. I know the Cougars and the infamous Jimmer Fredette are out, but it’s still been a great tournament. My fingers are crossed for either Butler or UConn to win it all. *Lore Segal’s “Reverse Bug” – Such a hard short story to describe but it essential tries to answer the question, can we compare and quantify human pain? Ultimately, I think Segal shows that we cannot, and yet her attempt to have her characters deal with that question is humorous and sickeningly sad at the same time. Read it, listen to it on the New Yorker: Fiction podcast – doesn’t matter.

*I need to go to school more often. I love learning, but I don’t like wasting my time. Some of my classes have felt like a waste of my time. Funny thing is I’ll miss this whole experience, but right now I am so excited to be done with people telling me what to do.

*Have you ever considered why we stand the way we do on an elevator? Try facing the opposite direction from everyone else or even standing against a sidewall facing the sides of the other people. Always entertaining to try and break social norms.

*Mark Zuckerberg came to BYU and did a Q&A with Senator Hatch. So interesting that one man was able to change the way we interact with each other. I was impressed by how articulate he was and love that he came in a hoodie and jeans. Plus Ryan met me at the Marriott Center – still can’t believe how grown up he is. *I actually checked all the blogs on my blog list this past week. It has been forever. Glad so many good things are happening in your lives.

*Just over a week ago I was in Los Angeles for my last round of Clippers meetings. Those were great. Staying with Maria was, of course, the highlight. We even snuck in a day at Disneyland. It was the first time I had been to the Magic Kingdom with a friend since middle school. I really could get used to living down there. *Last but not least, Jewels is just days away from finishing her independent study classes which qualifies her for graduation with me in April. So happy for her and her imminent freedom. Happy Monday everyone!

Note to Self

2011-03-27T01:16:00.000-07:00

Note to self: watching “Seven Pounds” before you try to go to bed is not a good idea. Great movie, but completely unsettling. Despite how disturbing it is, I do love how we see the character through Will Smith’s character’s eyes. Ezra, Emily….they’re completely relatable which makes the story all the more beautiful and all the more tragic. Note to self: reflecting on disturbing movies only makes falling asleep harder. And now since I can’t sleep, here are a few other things that have been ticking through my brain over the past couple weeks….

*The closely guarded secret formula of Coca-Cola has coriander (herb similar to parsley) and citrus flavors in it. Thank you “This American Life” podcast. You learn something new every day.

*The stories coming out of Japan just seem to get sadder. I stopped watching the news because I couldn’t take any more interviews with people whose whole families were missing. *A famous Chicago chef named Grant Achatz beat tongue cancer and recovered his sense of taste. He is considered one of the most creative and innovative chefs in the world. I hope to one day eat dinner at his restaurants – Alinea and Next. *I heard a “This American Life” segment about people who cry on airplanes. I thought it was just me. I cry on planes all the time. Sometimes the salty mess all over my face makes sense – it’s related to comings and goings, other times, I just start and cannot stop. Thank you again “This American Life” for putting another undefined part of my life into words. *I am an independent voter. This means I do not have set opinions on many political issues, so don’t be surprised next time you ask me a question if I present both sides of the issue and don’t actually answer your question. I don’t do it to be annoying. I just keep talking in hopes that I’ll stumble across a truth that makes sense to me.

*I took Mae to “Tangled” yesterday and then to the Disney store to buy the “Tangled” doll. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of my week. That adorable (and stubborn) two-year-old calls me “Jackin” and was more fun to watch than the movie. She clapped and cheered with all the lanterns were floating around Rider and Rapunzel. Too cute for words. (There were photo attempts of Mae with her little hand plunged into her little bag of popcorn or with the girl paid by the movie theater to be dressed up (long blond wig and all) to be Rapunzel, but Miss Mae would not have it. Maybe next time.)

And now it’s after two, and the sun will find me sooner than I want it to. Better try to sleep. Good night. Sleep tight.

Ps. I found the source of the mysterious ticking noise….

If I Stay

2011-03-22T20:36:00.001-07:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There's that cliched concept of not being able to put a book down that people use all the time, but in reality, they put the book down at least for a few hours to sleep. I did not put this book down. I bought it at Barnes & Noble, came home, and started reading. I did not stop until I reached the finals words on the final page. Even then I was so enraptured, that despite it being the wee hours of the morning on a school night, I read the author interview and the "behind the music" sections.

This book is tragically beautiful. I cried all the way through it. Couldn't help myself. I'm behind on schoolwork, so I am resisting the urge to write an expanded review right now. However, if you haven't already, read this book. Just be warned, you'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll fall in love with all the characters. There won't be much choice in the matter.

Happy reading.

ps. On an unrelated note, editing has not been my strong suit lately in my reviews. Someday soon, I'll finish grad school and regain my critical eye that notices blatantly misspelled words and missing punctuation. For now, don't judge me too much. I'll rejoin the grammatically correct world eventually.

Committed

2011-03-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let's be honest - I think I bought this book because I was so in love with Javier Bardem's portrayal of Elizabeth Gilbert's now-husband in the movie "Eat Pray Love" - I can't think of another reason why because I struggled to get through the book, Eat Pray Love, for two years. That's saying something for a woman who burns through books she loves in two days.

Anyway - I don't know what to say about this book. I really liked some bits of it, and others I thought that Liz was taking some pretty serious liberties with not enough research to back her opinions. If you look at it as a novel-length editorial on marriage, then I think you might have a clearer expectation of what you're getting into.

So while I don't buy all that Liz did have to say about love, sex, and marriage, I did love reading about the women in her life and their experiences falling in love and falling out of it, making things work, and simply doing their best with what life has dealt them. Vague I know, but that's all I have to say about it for now.

Oh, and I still love Felipe. The end.

Sing You Home

2011-03-12T14:40:00.000-08:00

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

When I first discovered Jodi Picoult a few years ago, I could not get enough of her and to this day, I still count "19 Minutes" and "My Sister's Keeper" as two of the most riveting books I have ever read. "Sing You Home" is written in classic Picoult style - the story is told from multiple perspectives, it's about a controversial topic that has been in recent headlines, it involves a court case, and of course, a quick twist at the end. Picoult's style is actually why I stopped reading Picoult books. I started anticipating her twist before she got there, and her desire to push the proverbial envelope got annoying.

I confess though I started to miss how engrossing her books can be. Plus I am a sucker for books written from multiple perspectives. So, when I saw that her new book had come out, and that it was about a music therapist and a school counselor, I decided to give it a go. I should have read the book review a bit more closely because I did not have a complete picture of Picoult's controversy flavor of the year.

"Sing You Home" is the story of a married couple whose marriage falls apart amidst multiple failed pregnancies and IVF treatments. Max finds solace from his broken marriage and his alcoholism in a fundamentalist Christian church. Zoe finds her solace in her work (again as a music therapist) and in a woman named Vanessa who is a counselor at a local high school. After Zoe and Vanessa cross state lines to get married, they decide to have a baby using frozen embryos from Zoe's previous fertility treatments. Of course, Zoe and Vanessa need Max's approval, and a lawsuit spearheaded by Max's church in Max's name ensues.

I am not in love with this book, though in true Picoult style, I could not put it down. After writing devastatingly beautiful passages about losing a baby and the changes that take place in both Max's and Zoe's life, I felt like Picoult rushed the last third of the book. She established new interests and plot elements without actually developing them, and suddenly, the story was simply over. The book gets three stars when it probably only deserves two and a half for the fact that I was so into the book that I finished it in a three days.

Long story short - if you're not a Picoult reader, don't start with this one. If you are a Picoult reader, just don't expect fireworks. This isn't her best though the topic is interesting and deserves our attention. Kudos to Picoult though for adding a musical component to this book by including a CD of original songs to accompany each chapter. Picoult wrote the lyrics and Ellen Wilbur wrote the music and sang the songs. It definitely added to the overall reading experience.