Wednesday, January 31, 2007
This made my day
I don't know how to use YouTube, and I don't particularly want to find out, but this video clip is beautiful. It is brought to you through Brianna's blog.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
News
So now that I have said that I post on Mondays, and I didn't. But I have a really good excuse. I was in a rehearsal, or walk-through, or teachers' meeting, or two and a half hours of teacher humor. Anyway, we were getting ready for the teachers' gift program, which is when all the teachers get together to perform a supposedly humorous collection of skits. Last year was a flop, meaning that it wasn't very funny, but this year we are much more prepared, but we all still hope for a cancellation on Friday, so the program will be postponed just a little bit more.
When we finished the meeting, my dear husband was waiting for me, so I didn't have time to post. I became rather grumpy later. Too much hilarity for me. I couldn't take happiness anymore. After a nap I was happy again.
The news of the day is that I am running behind. I have a list of things to do for play, for Kindergarten, for the teachers' gift program, and for home. Here is a sampling: Re-read play, decide on setting, talk to crew, plan next rehearsal, work out a rehearsal schedule; prepare for the 100th day of school, organize my files, work on lesson plans; write a script; laundry, laundry, laundry, shopping list, laundry, cleaning, laundry.
So what I am I going to do tonight? Try to persuade my husband to watch figure skating or a movie with me. (hehehehe)
When we finished the meeting, my dear husband was waiting for me, so I didn't have time to post. I became rather grumpy later. Too much hilarity for me. I couldn't take happiness anymore. After a nap I was happy again.
The news of the day is that I am running behind. I have a list of things to do for play, for Kindergarten, for the teachers' gift program, and for home. Here is a sampling: Re-read play, decide on setting, talk to crew, plan next rehearsal, work out a rehearsal schedule; prepare for the 100th day of school, organize my files, work on lesson plans; write a script; laundry, laundry, laundry, shopping list, laundry, cleaning, laundry.
So what I am I going to do tonight? Try to persuade my husband to watch figure skating or a movie with me. (hehehehe)
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Sliding
I have learned the joys and sorrows of sliding. Not metaphorically sliding, but the pure thrill of running down waxed wood hallways in stocking feet, then sliding. It is very good exercise, running from one end of the hall to the other, then laughing while watching others slide one their feet, knees, backsides, etc. It is also really fun. I always felt like yelling "shazam!" or some other "here I am!" phrase as I slid. We had compititions, where we measured how far we could slide from a certain point, as well as a trial to see how quickly we could stop. For those I was the score keeper because I had begun to see the downsides of such a sport.
The muscles used in sliding are not the muscles that get strengthened in every day life. However, they are the muscles that get used in climbing steps, coughing, sitting criss-cross, going on tip-toe, and bending. Since those do happen to be things I do every day, I was in great pain. Even today, three days later, I feel the results of sliding.
This is the first time I realized that I am not as young as I once was. All the high school girls I was with were sore the next day, but they stretched and went on with life. Every movement made me feel like an old lady. When I told my students that I felt old, one little girl said, "You're not old! My mom thinks she is old, but I tell her she's not old either." (Italics to convey the drawn out emphasis of Kindergarten talk.)
Maybe the pain is payment for being a bad example to students... We were running past a sign that said "Walking Zone"...
The muscles used in sliding are not the muscles that get strengthened in every day life. However, they are the muscles that get used in climbing steps, coughing, sitting criss-cross, going on tip-toe, and bending. Since those do happen to be things I do every day, I was in great pain. Even today, three days later, I feel the results of sliding.
This is the first time I realized that I am not as young as I once was. All the high school girls I was with were sore the next day, but they stretched and went on with life. Every movement made me feel like an old lady. When I told my students that I felt old, one little girl said, "You're not old! My mom thinks she is old, but I tell her she's not old either." (Italics to convey the drawn out emphasis of Kindergarten talk.)
Maybe the pain is payment for being a bad example to students... We were running past a sign that said "Walking Zone"...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Weekend
Over the weekend we watched the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. The setting was half the enjoyment. We had several friends over Friday and Saturday night so we didn't have to sit through the whole thing at one time. Saturday night was one of the friend's birthday, so we had an added celebration. Monday was no-school, so I spent the day at my parents sewing skirts with my sister.
Now what did I think of Pride and Prejudice? I liked it. I noticed the length and certain conversations that were a little drawn out, but I was looking for things that might make it boring. The dancing, though others will disagree, was beautiful. I really like the dance at Netherfield that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dance together. It is a beautifully simple dance and very easy to follow. The choreographer mentioned that scene contrasting the unity in dance and the antagonism of the conversation. The costuming on the girls is terrible, but it is accurate for the time period. I liked the depth seen in all the characters, rather than brushing over certain ones, like Wickham, Kitty, and pretty much everybody besides Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as the new version does.
The reason I liked this version the best though, is that it doesn't deny anybodies' faults. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were both proud and prejudiced, they recognized their faults and still loved each other. Mrs. Bennet was not just a loving mother, but an overbearing and embarrassing mother. Mr. Bennet was not a doting father; he was one who didn't want to be bothered. Wickham was a complete blackguard, living for his own desires and impulses. Mary was oblivious and morally arrogant. Kitty was left out of everything because she followed silly Lydia. All these character flaws were identified both in the book and in the movie and made for a deeper connection and appreciation or loathing for the characters.
So now that I have critiqued both recent movies, using only my memory of the book, I think I will read it... after the play.
Now what did I think of Pride and Prejudice? I liked it. I noticed the length and certain conversations that were a little drawn out, but I was looking for things that might make it boring. The dancing, though others will disagree, was beautiful. I really like the dance at Netherfield that Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy dance together. It is a beautifully simple dance and very easy to follow. The choreographer mentioned that scene contrasting the unity in dance and the antagonism of the conversation. The costuming on the girls is terrible, but it is accurate for the time period. I liked the depth seen in all the characters, rather than brushing over certain ones, like Wickham, Kitty, and pretty much everybody besides Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, as the new version does.
The reason I liked this version the best though, is that it doesn't deny anybodies' faults. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were both proud and prejudiced, they recognized their faults and still loved each other. Mrs. Bennet was not just a loving mother, but an overbearing and embarrassing mother. Mr. Bennet was not a doting father; he was one who didn't want to be bothered. Wickham was a complete blackguard, living for his own desires and impulses. Mary was oblivious and morally arrogant. Kitty was left out of everything because she followed silly Lydia. All these character flaws were identified both in the book and in the movie and made for a deeper connection and appreciation or loathing for the characters.
So now that I have critiqued both recent movies, using only my memory of the book, I think I will read it... after the play.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Home again...
...but part of my heart has been left in Georgia.
We have been down to visit the family in Georgia several times now, but this time it seemed that I actually was part of the family. I love them. Mom is one of my role models and my sisters-in-law are just great people, even when they do all talk at the same time. I didn't want to leave. The sight of Anna standing in the driveway beginning to cry as we were getting in the car made leaving all the harder.
I could summarize what we did, but that wouldn't really capture what happened. And I don't know how to summarize that. We had Christmas with extended family, Christmas together, a lot of car time together, talked, listened to music, cooked, ate really good food, and watched a movie. It was good.
Now we are home and all the relaxation we got over the break is gone. Christmas celebrations with my family, New Year's celebrations, meeting Kara, casting a play, besides having to deal with a broken down car has made the past four days crazy. But the car is fixed, the play is cast, and we are on a semi-normal schedule. I am not nearly as tired today as I was yesterday.
By the way, I have a really great husband. He Netflixed a movie that he knew I would like, and he probably wouldn't, and watched it with me. Not only that, the day the car was broke, he cleaned and mopped and did laundry and set up a clothes line and sealed off most the places where nasty bugs were coming in. Now how cool is that! He is the bestest man!(pardon the Kindergardenism)
Anyway, now that the play is cast, I have to copy scripts and set up rehearsal schedules. Then comes meeting with the crew and set and costume stuff. I love theater, and this year directing I feel that I actually have a better feel of what I am supposed to be doing. Besides, I am not writing the play, nor am I sick, and things are on their way and it is only January. Hoorah!
We have been down to visit the family in Georgia several times now, but this time it seemed that I actually was part of the family. I love them. Mom is one of my role models and my sisters-in-law are just great people, even when they do all talk at the same time. I didn't want to leave. The sight of Anna standing in the driveway beginning to cry as we were getting in the car made leaving all the harder.
I could summarize what we did, but that wouldn't really capture what happened. And I don't know how to summarize that. We had Christmas with extended family, Christmas together, a lot of car time together, talked, listened to music, cooked, ate really good food, and watched a movie. It was good.
Now we are home and all the relaxation we got over the break is gone. Christmas celebrations with my family, New Year's celebrations, meeting Kara, casting a play, besides having to deal with a broken down car has made the past four days crazy. But the car is fixed, the play is cast, and we are on a semi-normal schedule. I am not nearly as tired today as I was yesterday.
By the way, I have a really great husband. He Netflixed a movie that he knew I would like, and he probably wouldn't, and watched it with me. Not only that, the day the car was broke, he cleaned and mopped and did laundry and set up a clothes line and sealed off most the places where nasty bugs were coming in. Now how cool is that! He is the bestest man!(pardon the Kindergardenism)
Anyway, now that the play is cast, I have to copy scripts and set up rehearsal schedules. Then comes meeting with the crew and set and costume stuff. I love theater, and this year directing I feel that I actually have a better feel of what I am supposed to be doing. Besides, I am not writing the play, nor am I sick, and things are on their way and it is only January. Hoorah!
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