The Kite Runner graphic novel

I just finished reading The Kite Runner a Graphic Novel by Khaled Hosseini this afternoon. Most of my students think anything longer than a few pages is WAY too much to read. So to tempt students to read, the librarians at my school recently bought many new graphic novels. As the Kite Runner is one of my favorite novels, I decided to give the graphic novel a try. I heard that Hosseini actually approved all pages included in the book. To be honest, I appreciate the effort to interest teenagers in reading, however, I did not like the graphic novel version at all. It was like when you read a book and have images in your mind of how everyone should look and act. And then you see the movie and it's nothing like that. You lose so much emotion and detail when you move to the graphic novel version of stories. I highly suggest reading actual books, especially Kite Runner, rather than graphic novels. 

my life, according to photos

Yes, most of my time lately has been spent in my classroom grading papers, administering tests, writing lesson plans and such. I do have spring break coming up in a week though and boy am I looking forward to sleeping in past 5a.m. I'm sure I'll spend 90 percent of the break writing plans and doing other certification work, but it'll be nice to do it at home or a coffee shop anyway. 

Mr. Mad Men

In elementary school, the PTA held monthly book fairs and as a class we would walk to the gym dollars in hand and pick a new book or two. It was always my favorite day. When I was really young, I used to race to the Mr. Men books. {My favorite was Mr. Tall.} Imagine my surprise and glee when I found out The Poke had the idea of combing Mr. Men books and Mad Men... two of my favorite things. I love how they were able to capture the characters' personalities in such simple drawings. How cute.

Don Draper is back

The day is finally here. Mad Men is back from a 17-month hiatus. I'm completely thrilled. The last season left me with so many questions {especially concerning Don's possible marriage and Peggy's promiscuous ways} that have remained unanswered for far too long. I admit I'm not much of a TV viewer, Mad Men is my one exception.  The characters are all so well-developed and interesting and the show constantly surprises. If I didn't have to teach tomorrow, I would mix an old fashioned tonight in honor of Don Draper's return. {Guide to the cocktails of Mad Men.} I will still be watching, on the edge of my sit, I anticipate. I can't wait to see what this season will bring. 

{image via, read for great insight into the women on the show}

little notes

dear midwest,
thank you for the beautiful weather we've been having lately. i love listening to spring training baseball on the radio while driving with my windows down. please stay this way.


dear amc,
i'm so excited that mad men is coming back in less than a week. i've been waiting so long for my favorite show. please don't keep me waiting as long for next season. pretty please.


dear clemente,
i'm so sorry you've been sick lately. who ever heard of a cat developing allergies. at least we can cuddle in bed and be miserable together.


dear allergies,
i know we've gotten really close over the past month or so, but you're too controlling. i could really use a break.

Date night

My Mom and I enjoyed a date together tonight. We stopped for a relaxing dinner of chicken florentine and fettuccine alfredo. Then, we caught a showing of Casablanca at the local theater. Yes, Casablanca. I was ecstatic when I heard that my favorite movie of all time was going to be shown on the big screen 70 years after its initial release. I must have seen the movie a hundred times, but let me tell you, it was a hundred times better watching it on a floor to ceiling screen. Humphrey Bogart was even more dreamy. I wish we had a theater that would show old classic movies on a regular basis. I would love to see Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Paul Newman or William Powell also on the big screen. 

"8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality

I thought this was fantastic so I had to share. "8" is a play {directed by Rob Reiner} about the case filed by the American Federation for Equal rights to overturn Proposition 8 in California. It is an incredibly moving, intimate look at the issue of same-sex marriage and the California amendment that aimed to ban it. The play features such famous actors as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis and more. Originally, this play was performed and streamed live. But you can watch it online.

Book club

It's known that I love books. My friend Jessi does also. We used to sit at coffee shops for hours discussing our latest reads and those still on the list. Well, she lives in Washing D.C. now so we don't get to sip coffee and talk like we used to, however, we can still talk books. After years of searching for a good book club with no luck, Jessi and I have decided to create our own. Which, I suppose, isn't so much a "book club" as it is two people chatting about some book they read, but I LOVE the idea nonetheless. 

We're going to start with First They Killed My Father by Loung Ung and we already have a long list of others waiting. Can you imagine why we haven't found book clubs to interest us? Couldn't be due to our somewhat depressing taste in literature, huh? I'm really excited anyway. 

Switcheroo

These photos crack me up. I just had to share them. The men, especially, are such great sports to jump in women's clothes for a photograph. I doubt I would be able to convince any of my male friends to don their girlfriend's or wife's clothes for fun. Hilarious. To see more, visit the blog.

little notes

dear readers,
sorry i've been m.i.a. for a bit...school has become a bit overwhelming. too much lesson planning and rearranging stuff last minute. i'm going to try very hard not to disappear as often.


dear umpqua oats,
thank you for being a delicious alternative to my typical saturday morning breakfast of cinnamon roll and coffee.  you make eating healthy so much more appealing and easy.


dear students,
i am encouraged by your amazing participation and excitement during class lately. i hope to find pleasing ways to keep you excited about learning.


dear jessi,
your lengthy emails put a smile on my face. i love that though we cannot sit in coffee shops for hours upon hours discussing books and life, we are able to carry on that same long conversation through email. miss you, girl.


dear neighbor,
it is too cold for your dog outside. you know how i know that? he's been barking for the last two hours. please bring that poor pup inside.

{image via}

Happy Bridal Shower, Lauren!

Rules of a gentleman

If I ever have a son, I hope he would grow up to be a gentleman. It's something that I would try to teach him from the start. Who wouldn't want to marry a gentleman?? 


As a teacher, I notice that children nowadays are not as polite or compassionate as, I feel, they used to be. Makes you wonder a bit about the future. 

I love this site's rules of a gentleman, clever and so true.