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Students should talk, don't dim a kid's light, and Sanditon

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Finally, I got up at the time I should, and I have a few minutes of grace to collect myself before catapulting out of the house. Getting back into the school-time routine takes a bit, especially now-- I'm not young and full of zip. I'm older, and really wishing I could just hang out and drink coffee and watch the birds. It's unfortunate that those who can afford to do jack-squat with their adult lives are plotting to raise the retirement age again. I wish them dysentery.  Anyhow. We move along with Grendel and Chaucer and so on with the Brit Lit kids. A few talked yesterday, so I'll count that as a win. AP Lang is a lot more fun; those kids are fun to be with, they get stuff pretty quickly, and they talk.  Yes, I want students to talk. I am not in the biz to pontificate. I want to know, first hand, what they see, what they question, what they are confused by. Sitting like a group of avocadoes in the rows is no help to anyone.  And you'd think I'd welcome some qu...
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Movie recommendation and a sad note--

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 We went to see Coyote vs. Acme last night. I expected to laugh, but I didn't expect--and truly appreciated-- the more serious points that the movie made. Yes, there was the usual zany Looney Tunes stuff, but the why behind all of the physical damage to the cartoon characters is what underpins the film. The movie makes a stronger point about how the "little guy" (average citizen) is just training ground for large corporations, that the damages are part of the process, to secure safer/better things for those with more power and influence.  Wow. Social commentary. Go see it.  And on another, sadder note, the poet Wendell Berry has died. His poem "The Peace of Wild Things" has been an anchor poem for me for a good many years. A kind, gentle, environmentalist-farmer-poet who saw the world around us as a gift to be treasured, to be comforted by-- he will be missed immensely.  Have a good day, friends. I'm behind my time yet again. Ever have one of those days wh...
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quick note-- off I go!

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It was a fabulous end to the summer reading series last night-- talented poets, musicians, and good company. I'm tired, but it was all worth it. Now I'll have Sundays for football and grading papers.  This week, G is on vacation, as is Meg. I am not, obviously, but the days will not be quite so busy. G and I are going to the movies tonight, or at least that's the current plan. And we have theatre tix for Friday evening, too.  I'm not sure what else he has planned for his time off, but I hope it involves putting away the pool and mowing. Other than that, who knows? I hope he gets some good rest time.  Hi ho, it's off to work I go... Have a good day. I'll have a longer post another time. I slept in, so I'm pressed for time today! C
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Busy days, but lots of good stuff... come to hear the last poetry event, too, if you can!

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Yesterday's trip to Tilton was successful, and Holly was pretty good, considering she's four, gets bored watching adult women hem and haw about clothing, and in general, gets tired of not being the center of the shopping attention. That said, Meg got her quite a haul of nice, practical, and pretty cool clothes. And she won the backpack discussion: she got the clear plastic Hello Kitty one with the matching lunchbox. It won't last, I'm sure, but for now, she was pleased. She actually remembered them from when G and I took her with us to Old Navy weeks ago. For her, that was the whole purpose of the shopping trip. Who cares about clothes? Just wait... in a few years, I'm sure she'll be all about the clothes, and the battle will be over hemlines or some such stuff.  I managed to get two super-soft, fine-wale corduroy shirts, which were a true find. I like to have an over-shirt for warmth and to balance an outfit-- and these are lovely. So that was good. And I foun...
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Time is slipping...

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Downright chilly start to the day. I think we'll be unplugging and draining the pool on Sunday, to pick it up and bid farewell to the summer season. There's little chance it'll warm up enough for one more swim. I'm sad about it.  The apples and pears are approaching ripeness; soon, I'll be sorting, peeling, and simmering them into sauce to freeze for the winter months. And I will be making herbed butter quite soon, too. How did this all sneak up on me? I haven't even begun to relax into summer mode, really, and here we are.  Today, Meg, Holly, and I will head down to Tilton to do a little stock-up at BJs and school shopping for Holly. I already got her quite a bit of fun new stuff, but she needs basics. I can't imagine how she got so big so fast. She's an awesome little person. I'm glad she lives next door. I can't imagine missing one minute. Yes, I'm feeling nostalgic, not just for the season that slipped by me, but for a lot of things latel...
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Things are going along pretty well... Hwaet!!

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 Friday!  In class, we've started along the usual paths, with APLang starting to pop the hood on narratives (exigence! claim-evidence-rationale! diction!), and the sophomores are plowing ahead into Beowulf. All's well. Today is also my first payday since June. Again, all's well! The Sox didn't play last night, the Patriots might as well have not played (ugly, I went to bed just after the half), and Holly did get into the pool again for what might be the last time of the season.  Autumn is waiting in the wings.  I didn't get to see any of the celestial excitement last night due to rain. At least it wasn't a huge t-storm, just rain, which is pleasant enough. Maybe it'll help remove some of the ragweed pollen.  In short, things are going along as they do.  I hope your day is awesome--  C
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I can't teach a kid a standing back flip, but the rest I can manage...

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Thursday, and it's supposed to be 80 degrees with possible t-storms later on. If it doesn't storm, then maybe, just maybe, I can get Holly in the pool one more time before we drain it. It's a sad occasion, the draining of the pool. I didn't get in it as much as I'd have liked-- the water was always a bit too cold for me, since we had cool night temperatures and we had to keep refilling it due to the slow (and now, not so slow) leak.  We can't keep summer in our hands, can we?  That said, day one of the new school year went relatively well, with few hiccups (not mine, for once), and the kids were pretty decent. As always, the new ones (to me) have all heard I give a lot of work and I grade hard, that the class is hard... I don't know who tells this tale, but gee whiz. We started the day with a general chat, then moved to a fun activity-- tell me about yourself, but you have to use three paint color names in the description (I had paint chips that G brought ho...
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