My predictions are doing terribly

but none of it matters because I just saw the autotuned Ron Weasley song "Little Ball of Light." That deserves to win an Oscar in itself, in a new category. "Best Autotuned Fake Song" perhaps or maybe "Best Performance by a Ginger" or even "Most Gleeful Part of the Oscars." Seriously, that made me giddy. Thanks, Academy.

Oscar Night!

Faithful readers:

I have decided to reveal unto you mine own prediction sheet, hereafter known as "ballot," for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. My ballot is the result of plentiful research and stalking of the Divine Blogs of Those Who Know Best mixed with complete guesses. As you'll see if you study the holy document, I have shown a slight bias to the film "The King's Speech" pursuant to the talk on the Divine Blogs. Recently it has come to my attention that the mighty "King's Speech" will fall to a film with less critical acclaim, but it is my ever-humble opinion that anyone wishing to make a safe bet will stick with this film tonight.

Of all the films nominated tonight in every category, I regret that I have seen but three. Therefore, few to none of my opinions count at all and are merely a reflection of what I have read in the Divine Blogs. Please note that I selected films based on what I thought would win, not what I hoped would win.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight, faithful readers.

Memories and the story of how I might be losing my mind

Today I had a very nice phone conversation with my dad about books we've read, are reading, and want to read. He recommended a book to me by a guy named Peter S. Beagle. He then told me he had given me a book of stories written by Beagle when I was younger and that I had read the first one and been disturbed. Apparently he had never intended for me to read that one (a likely story) and he had really been more interested in my reaction to stories later in the book. What I don't understand is why I have absolutely no recollection of this. I don't remember Peter S. Beagle. I don't remember my pop not only recommending a book (which he does fairly regularly) but also providing me with said book (which he does less often). I even looked up the story which had supposedly turned me off of the book entirely and I didn't even spell the title correctly. Is this real? From the timeline we were discussing, this would have happened while I was in high school. I should definitely remember something like this; it happened less than ten years ago. I'm angry at my own mind for not filing this away in some safe place for me to come back to later. Why don't I remember?!?

Why Avril Lavigne is Awesome

1. She writes her own music (most of it, anyway) and it's good. Avril's music is super-catchy and makes you want to get up and dance (which Ally and I did the other day at Panera Bread while listening to her newest single "What the Hell"). And another thing, it's not about stalking her ex-boyfriends either (I'm lookin' at you, T. Swift).

2. She's the perfect combination of girly-girl and tomboy. Although she used to be all about being "one of the guys" (see album "Let Go") Avril has since embraced her inner skirt-wearing fashionista (see album "The Best Damn Thing"). Now, she tends to hang right in the middle. Perfect.

3. Have you seen her latest video? I mean for real. In just three minutes and forty-six seconds, Avril locks her boyfriend in a closet, steals a taxi, CRASHES the taxi, joins a basketball game with a bunch of men who can only be described as giants, and ends it all with a stage dive. All while shamelessly promoting her own products as well as those of Sony. (Although the viewers and fans did feel shame during these parts.) Okay, so she didn't shoot fireworks out of her stomach. That's impossible anyway.

Avril's new CD comes out March 8. Yay! I, for one, will be there, in line, uhhh...sometime in March. But rest assured I will definitely own it by April!

P.S. Sorry, Kristin, for totally stealing your "list blog" idea. In my defense I've been planning this post for awhile, and the layout you used fit my idea as well. *sheepish grin*

A message to Amazon

This is what Amazon would have to do to get me to consider buying a Kindle:

1. Scroll the text continuously. I know this makes me sound incredibly lazy, but hear me out. I like to read while I’m at the gym. I currently use my iPod touch for this because I have an app called the iFlow reader which so generously scrolls the text for me so I don’t have to worry about hitting the pesky touch screen to turn the virtual pages (I feel idiotic just typing that, please don’t judge me). The scroll speed can be adjusted so I can set it at a comfortable reading pace. I actually find it a very pleasant reading experience and I’ve read a couple of books like this. So, if you think about it, a scrolling feature would encourage me to be less lazy because I would use it at the gym.

2. Offer a more extensive free library. I never buy books, with the very huge exception of books I purchase for my future classroom. What I mean to say is that I never buy books that I know I will read only once; I am a very loyal patron of my local library. If I could “rent” virtual Kindle books (for free) for two to three weeks and then have them disappear from my device, that would be cool. I like the idea that with a Kindle I could have access to a book I want at a moment’s notice. I don’t like the idea that I would be paying full price for something I would most likely not purchase and something that I cannot even pass along to someone else when I am finished.

3. Convince me that owning a Kindle is different than owning an iPad. I could be wrong about this, but I believe there is a Kindle app for the iPad and that the app could perform most, if not all, of the functions of an actual Kindle. To me, that sounds like a Kindle imbedded in a much more useful device. Until someone can prove to me that it is better to have the actual separate Kindle, I think I’ll save my money for an iPad.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book, though I can't say I loved it. It took me a while to get into it and I eventually had to put it on hold. When I finally got around to picking it up again, which was months later, I found it much more likable than I had originally thought. It was easy reading and it was pretty interesting I guess.



View all my reviews

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Maniac Magee is a brilliant book. I wish this book had been required reading when I was in sixth grade; I'd love to know what my sixth grade self thought of it. There are plenty of teaching points here, but it is also just a plain good read, which is why this is a classroom classic. I was a bit wary of Jerry Spinelli after I read Fourth Grade Rats with my student teaching class last year. They loved it, but I did not. This book made me a believer again. Read this book!



View all my reviews

Red Kayak Review

Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love everything about this book. The characters were authentic, the action was gripping, and the setting was vivid. In my mind's eye, I can see Brady's crab cages all stacked up, four deep. I would recommend this book to anyone, but people who grew up on the waterfront will particularly connect with it. There were plenty of "human condition" themes to tap into which makes this a good book to teach to a mature seventh or eighth grade class. I will read this book again someday.



View all my reviews

Thanks for the recommendation, Ally!

Detecting: A Tribute to Hercule Poirot

No need for

Walking

Driving

Looking

Around.

Talking. Always the talking.

The more words people say, the more likely it is

They’ll say what you want.

Ask questions (be sneaky).

Everyone lies. Or nobody does.

Think.

The little grey cells:

Use them.

They are clever.

You have what you need.

Think, think.

Armchair.

Pace if you must.

No need for

Walking

Driving

Looking

Around.

Talking. Always the talking

And the little grey cells.

The Other Game

The Superbowl is on. Go Packers!

The Game

The IND/Mercy game is tonight! Go IND!