Due to a death in the family, pleasure reading is on hold for this weekend.
Thank you to those who have reached out to me. My family has experienced much loss over the past three years, and of members way too young to die.
I appreciate all your love and support.
XOXO <3
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Geek and Nerd Pride Day!
Yes, it's really a thing.
If you aren't familiar with the physical WHHS LMC: we have a "today is" board on which we draw attention to some of the rather obscure holidays (we also do a word of the day). Today is Memorial Day, and we honor those who have given their lives so that I can do things like write this blog freely. But, it's also Geek and Nerd Pride Day! In THAT honor...
I just finished Einstien's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics by Paul Halpern. Wait, what?
Yes, it sounds like some seriously heavy reading full of theoretical physics. Yes, there are some references that I needed to Google to understand, BUT it was more about the relationship between the two men. We all know Albert Einstein. But who is this Schrodinger guy? If you are a "The Big Bang Theory" fan, you are well aware of this most famous experiment (which, I learned, never really happened, it was just a THEORY) now known as Schrodinger's Cat, exposing a cat to radiation and leaving said cat in a box (is the cat dead or alive?). Sheldon, Penny, and Leonard of TBBT do a good job breaking that one down into colloquial terms, so I won't do it here.
Back to the book. Einstein and Schrodinger were friends and collaborators working to define, well, everything. The so-called God theory. The theory of all that was, is, and will be. At first they worked together, but rumors and gossip in the press ruined their friendship and pitted them against each other. The public seemed to love Einstein, perhaps simply because he was more well known to start with, while distrusting of Schrodinger. Schrodinger had a wife and live-in mistress (and perhaps there was more to that I won't get into here). He switched political and religious affiliations and allegiances when it suited him and his career. And he did that horrible experiment on a CAT! (Though not really.)
This one was recommended to me on Amazon based on prior searches. I have no idea what I searched for that led to this one. Unless it was the BAZINGA (Sheldon) shirt for my son? Either way, I really liked this book. If you are a science geek, definitely check this one out!
Tweet what you're reading at #whhssummerread
If you aren't familiar with the physical WHHS LMC: we have a "today is" board on which we draw attention to some of the rather obscure holidays (we also do a word of the day). Today is Memorial Day, and we honor those who have given their lives so that I can do things like write this blog freely. But, it's also Geek and Nerd Pride Day! In THAT honor...
I just finished Einstien's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat: How Two Great Minds Battled Quantum Randomness to Create a Unified Theory of Physics by Paul Halpern. Wait, what?
Yes, it sounds like some seriously heavy reading full of theoretical physics. Yes, there are some references that I needed to Google to understand, BUT it was more about the relationship between the two men. We all know Albert Einstein. But who is this Schrodinger guy? If you are a "The Big Bang Theory" fan, you are well aware of this most famous experiment (which, I learned, never really happened, it was just a THEORY) now known as Schrodinger's Cat, exposing a cat to radiation and leaving said cat in a box (is the cat dead or alive?). Sheldon, Penny, and Leonard of TBBT do a good job breaking that one down into colloquial terms, so I won't do it here.
Back to the book. Einstein and Schrodinger were friends and collaborators working to define, well, everything. The so-called God theory. The theory of all that was, is, and will be. At first they worked together, but rumors and gossip in the press ruined their friendship and pitted them against each other. The public seemed to love Einstein, perhaps simply because he was more well known to start with, while distrusting of Schrodinger. Schrodinger had a wife and live-in mistress (and perhaps there was more to that I won't get into here). He switched political and religious affiliations and allegiances when it suited him and his career. And he did that horrible experiment on a CAT! (Though not really.)
This one was recommended to me on Amazon based on prior searches. I have no idea what I searched for that led to this one. Unless it was the BAZINGA (Sheldon) shirt for my son? Either way, I really liked this book. If you are a science geek, definitely check this one out!
Tweet what you're reading at #whhssummerread
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Sometimes You Just Have to Put It Down...
As a former English teacher and now Library Media Specialist, saying this isn't easy. But...sometimes you just have to say this book isn't for me. It might be for you, but it isn't working for me and reading it is no longer enjoyable. That happened to me with the latest book I picked up on a whim at WHPL. I absolutely LOVED The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd. It tells the story of the Grimke sisters and their slaves. They are reluctant slave owners, born to be something they don't want to be! Later they would become abolitionists and women's rights activists. I also loved Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy, about four women during the Civil War. I thought Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule by Jennifer Chiaverini would be along the same lines. I am a huge Civil War buff and have visited Gettysburg and Manassas. This book is a fictionalized account of the relationship between the future wife of General Grant and the slave she was given as a child. I really wanted to like it! It was just too slow for me! The courtship of Ulysses Grant and Julia takes FOREVER. I do love Miss Jule's "family" (she is of course no longer with her birth family as a slave). I also liked Julia's father's character. I just could not get over the forced feeling of the conversation between the young couple and between the slave and mistress. Nope, sorry, just had to put this one down!
Remember to tweet what you're reading at #whhssummerread
Remember to tweet what you're reading at #whhssummerread
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Summer Reading Lists
Here's two summer reading lists you might find interesting:
Bill Gates' http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bill-gates-reveals-summer-reading-list/story?id=31178175
Stephen King's http://www.ew.com/article/2011/05/27/stephen-king-my-summer-reading-list
Tweet what you read #whhssummerread
Bill Gates' http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/bill-gates-reveals-summer-reading-list/story?id=31178175
Stephen King's http://www.ew.com/article/2011/05/27/stephen-king-my-summer-reading-list
Tweet what you read #whhssummerread
Monday, May 18, 2015
The Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn
UGH!!! I was really ready to write a fabulous review of this book!! I thought it was AMAZING...until the last 4 pages or so!! Maybe someone out there would be OK with being left hanging in such a way, but in my opinion either the author didn't know which way to end it (and there are really 4 possible choices) or is paving the way for a sequel. It could also be going for a "The Lady or the Tiger" type personality test (what ending you think happens tells what kind of person you really are), but I can't be sure.
I picked this up on a whim while I was at WHPL. My son had some of the Weird/Weirder/Weirdest School books on hold. Since he's a big kid now, I wait downstairs while he goes up. Breaks my heart in truth...
Anyway, I LOVE books like The DaVinci Code and its pre/sequels, The Hooked X, and The Lost Gospel. I'm a sucker for anything about ancient history and yes, "Ancient Aliens" is one of my favorite shows. I was intrigued by the description of stolen antiquities and where faith meets history.
The story is primarily set on a Greek island with a rich history in Roman, early Christian, and Muslim artifacts. Without giving too much away, old "friends" Carey and Nick are thrown together with local fisherman/tourist boat driver Dimitri to uncover who is behind recent thefts of artifacts and perhaps is plotting to steal relics of John (of Biblical fame).
I am in total love with Dimitri's grandmother and Carey's grandmother. They are phenomenal, well-developed characters and foil each other well.
Now, about the ending. If you had to chose between love, history, or faith....which would you chose?
Remember to tweet what you are reading! #whhssummerread
I picked this up on a whim while I was at WHPL. My son had some of the Weird/Weirder/Weirdest School books on hold. Since he's a big kid now, I wait downstairs while he goes up. Breaks my heart in truth...
Anyway, I LOVE books like The DaVinci Code and its pre/sequels, The Hooked X, and The Lost Gospel. I'm a sucker for anything about ancient history and yes, "Ancient Aliens" is one of my favorite shows. I was intrigued by the description of stolen antiquities and where faith meets history.
The story is primarily set on a Greek island with a rich history in Roman, early Christian, and Muslim artifacts. Without giving too much away, old "friends" Carey and Nick are thrown together with local fisherman/tourist boat driver Dimitri to uncover who is behind recent thefts of artifacts and perhaps is plotting to steal relics of John (of Biblical fame).
I am in total love with Dimitri's grandmother and Carey's grandmother. They are phenomenal, well-developed characters and foil each other well.
Now, about the ending. If you had to chose between love, history, or faith....which would you chose?
Remember to tweet what you are reading! #whhssummerread
Friday, May 15, 2015
Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick
Just finished another new book from WHPL (remember if you put books on hold, when the order comes in, WH residents get it first): Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick. I'm not a huge Romance genre fan, although I'll always pick up the latest Nora Roberts book, but I was intrigued by the description I read on Amazon of this one.
What would you do if your best friend, also one of your employees, died mysteriously? The police say it was likely a heart attack, perhaps induced by a drug overdose. Maybe an intentional overdose, a suicide? You don't believe it one bit. Would you try to get justice for your friend?
Ursula is a secretary in Victorian London. She runs a secretarial firm, one of the few careers open to women. When one of her employees dies, she begins to investigate, refusing to believe the police report. The path leads her to an eccentric former archeologist, a man who was believed dead in a volcanic eruption, taken in by monkish weirdos, and converted to veganism.
Together, the unlikely partners set out to find the murderer, discovering American entanglements, drug production, and many more secrets on the way.
Definite surprise twist at the end.
Note brief sexual content.
Tweet what you're reading #whhssummerread
What would you do if your best friend, also one of your employees, died mysteriously? The police say it was likely a heart attack, perhaps induced by a drug overdose. Maybe an intentional overdose, a suicide? You don't believe it one bit. Would you try to get justice for your friend?
Ursula is a secretary in Victorian London. She runs a secretarial firm, one of the few careers open to women. When one of her employees dies, she begins to investigate, refusing to believe the police report. The path leads her to an eccentric former archeologist, a man who was believed dead in a volcanic eruption, taken in by monkish weirdos, and converted to veganism.
Together, the unlikely partners set out to find the murderer, discovering American entanglements, drug production, and many more secrets on the way.
Definite surprise twist at the end.
Note brief sexual content.
Tweet what you're reading #whhssummerread
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
It's A Long Story, My Life by Willie Nelson
If one is sweating in shorts and a tank top, it's summer in my opinion!
So, I'm going to be blogging about the books I'm reading from now 'til the end of the summer. If things go well, I might continue through next school year. Everything I read is available through the Public Library.
Anyway....
Just finished the latest autobiography of Willie Nelson. It's A Long Story, My Life was listed as a book of the month on Amazon and I was lucky enough to snag it the day the WHPL cataloged it.
Now, I fully expected to read a lot of preaching about Jesus and God in a work by Nelson, along with his pro-legalization stance and anti-IRS/taxes history, but I actually really enjoyed reading this. Music has always been a very important part of my life, from growing up with my Dad blasting Skynyrd to marching with the WHHS Band to doing something that resembles Latin dance at Zumba.
Accepting Nelson's influences is necessary to understanding where his music comes from. Self-awareness of his flaws (and perhaps disregard for the law) shapes the lyrics that many of us, even if we don't label ourselves as country or western or folk music fans, know well.
Nelson is 82 now, passing milestones denied to many of his generation.
Note there is profanity and infidelity in context.
Remember to tweet what you're reading #whhssummerread
So, I'm going to be blogging about the books I'm reading from now 'til the end of the summer. If things go well, I might continue through next school year. Everything I read is available through the Public Library.
Anyway....
Just finished the latest autobiography of Willie Nelson. It's A Long Story, My Life was listed as a book of the month on Amazon and I was lucky enough to snag it the day the WHPL cataloged it.
Now, I fully expected to read a lot of preaching about Jesus and God in a work by Nelson, along with his pro-legalization stance and anti-IRS/taxes history, but I actually really enjoyed reading this. Music has always been a very important part of my life, from growing up with my Dad blasting Skynyrd to marching with the WHHS Band to doing something that resembles Latin dance at Zumba.
Accepting Nelson's influences is necessary to understanding where his music comes from. Self-awareness of his flaws (and perhaps disregard for the law) shapes the lyrics that many of us, even if we don't label ourselves as country or western or folk music fans, know well.
Nelson is 82 now, passing milestones denied to many of his generation.
Note there is profanity and infidelity in context.
Remember to tweet what you're reading #whhssummerread
Monday, May 11, 2015
Here we go!
Alrighty! The booklet is prepped and printed and proofed. Talked to Karina over at the Copy Center to get it printed! Excited!
Now, about making your own reading lists. Here's what I like to do. I look at the Bestseller lists on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and the New York Times. If I see something I like, I look it up on Amazon to read the reviews, background info, author bio, etc. Then I log in to my account at the public library to reserve it. If it's not in, I get put on the waiting list. Easy as pie.
Wait, what's that? Don't have a library card? You're in luck. Miss Sam from the Public Library will be at WHHS over the next two weeks to sign students up! If you miss her, just head over to your nearest branch with your school ID!
We are REALLY hoping to get an online catalog at WHHS so you'll be able to see what we have in our collection and allow students to reserve materials. Hopefully soon!
Remember to follow me on Twitter (RamblingsLMS)! Use the # whhssummerread (two H, two S, two M, two R!)
Now, about making your own reading lists. Here's what I like to do. I look at the Bestseller lists on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and the New York Times. If I see something I like, I look it up on Amazon to read the reviews, background info, author bio, etc. Then I log in to my account at the public library to reserve it. If it's not in, I get put on the waiting list. Easy as pie.
Wait, what's that? Don't have a library card? You're in luck. Miss Sam from the Public Library will be at WHHS over the next two weeks to sign students up! If you miss her, just head over to your nearest branch with your school ID!
We are REALLY hoping to get an online catalog at WHHS so you'll be able to see what we have in our collection and allow students to reserve materials. Hopefully soon!
Remember to follow me on Twitter (RamblingsLMS)! Use the # whhssummerread (two H, two S, two M, two R!)
SUMMER READING 2015
The Governor's office has released the Summer Reading materials for 2015! Soon you'll be getting information in your English classes related to our Summer Reading. We are excited to pair up our program with the Public Library this year. Remember, these are just suggestions. You are free to read whatever you wish. New this year, follow my own summer reading here on this blog. Tweet about your summer reading using #whhssummerread. Share out suggestions for your classmates!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)