New York Magazine

Check out this interview on Hem.

to kill a mockingbird

While I've been out of the blogging world, that is, not had time to reflect on many things, or bring my reflections to the keyboard, I've been reading To Kill A Mockingbird with my students. I think this is perhaps my favorite book right now. It's my third time through it, and I still feel the language is so charming, the themes so poignant, the characters so endearing. I still find myself laughing aloud and nearly crying.

the book is full of amazing quotes: only tidbits of the humor and truth in this book.


"In Maycomb, if one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one's mind incapable of definite purpose."


"I sometimes think Atticus subjected every crisis of his life to tranquil evaluation behind The Mobile Register, The Birmingham News, The Montgomery Advertiser."


Atticus to Aunt Alexandria: "I'm in favor of southern womanhood as much as anybody, but not for preserving polite fiction at the expense of human life."


dear, dry Atticus, to dirty Dill: "And for goodness' sake, put some of the county back where it belongs, the soil erosion's bad enough as it is."
Scout interprets: "He's trying to be funny. He means take a bath."


from tonight's reading:

"You're mighty dressed up, Miss Jean Louise," she said. "Where are your britches today?"

"Under my dress."

blog on travels

I am settling in again after my late-winter traipsing 'cross country. My head is still reeling, though it was only 3 states in 3 weeks. (What will happen this summer?) The cabin in TN seems like a long time ago, but that was a special weekend. Then I headed up to Alaska, and after one cra--azy week took my 16 eighth graders to DC. We got back last night.

Alaska was Awesome. I loved it so much, I didn't want to come back. I got to go on a dogsled, and we went skating on a pond, which is so much fun. We didn't do any snowshoeing, or skiing because the snow was old and had frozen, but it snowed for us the last day, and was really pretty, and it was much fun to skate through the snow on ice. I really love the northwest. So, I don't know that I'd ever actually live in Alaska, but the trip made me come home asking the question someone up there asked me: "Why do you live in Atlanta?"

But if Alaska asked that question, DC answered it. I love my students! so much! I had such a good time with them in DC. The whole trip went so smoothly. It was such a blast. We flew up and spent 4 days sightseeing. We were blessed with good weather, health and smooth travels. And we also had an excellent tour guide. We got to see so much (more than last year's trip) and I enjoyed it and learned a lot too. Mostly it was just so much fun to be with my kids. They were eager to share things with me that they found interesting, and quick to listen to things I wanted to share, and to the stories the tour guide told us. They were flexible in riding the metro, and 1/2 of us staying at my sister's house (!) and they didn't complain too much for the cold. Mostly it was such a blessing to see them interested in learning, eager to share and take in, and kindspirited toward one another.

But the fact is, that for the last 5 days straight, and nearly the last week and a half, I have been operating completely inside the work/teacher box. It hasn't felt like work or being a 'teacher' because I was just having a blast with my kids, but I feel stuck in a work-bug, but I'm happy here. I had a pendulum swing 2 weeks ago - I did no work in Alaska, and then I returned to crazy hours (getting everything set up for the trip) and since then, I've just been riding on that steam. I supposed I need to come down off the ride, and answer my emails, and keep up with friends, and all that stuff.

but I have grading to do. nothing like grading to set me back on my feet again.

moving on

I left work with my windows rolled down on this beautiful sunny day (am I still missing alaska...only part of me) and headed to REI, the sight of the building always makes me excited about adventure and traveling.
I walked out of REI with a green Nalgene, splash guard and $4 - thanks to my REI dividend (that from my bike purchase).
As I left the parking lot I found an entirely new road heading west out of REI. I naturally turned down it, and had that sensation that I was making my way into a whole new land.
I emerged on Buford Highway.
That said, I did find an exciting new place. It is actually on Clairmont & Briarcliff, just near my 85ramp, but I guess in my adventuresome mood I felt like trying something new. I stopped at the European Market and Deli - to see what was there and if I could find myself some intersting dinner. It was wonderful! I found some wafer snacks like we'd eat in Slovakia. A whole box full of Prince Polo. And I tried these palicinky/crepe type things. Two beef for dinner, and a cheese for breakfast.

I asked the guy where he was from - most things were Russian and I heard him mention Russia. He said Odessa...I guess I could have deduced that from the name of the Cafe: New Odessa. He said 'Ukraine, well, former Soviet Union.' He's been here since then I gather. I told him Mary was in Kiev.

I think he got a new customer.
There is lots of salami here, Milan!