Tuesday...sigh, why can't it be Friday?

This morning started out with a guy who was six inches shorter than me and tried to flirt with me in the Starbucks line. Cute, and a firefighter...maybe I need to let go of this whole heighth thing? Then, the massive copier in the basement became entangled and jammed with sheets of paper while I was copying on it this morning at 7:40am. Yes, 13 minutes before I had to complete my morning jog up to Room 804. I love my life. I finally became so frustrated I ran out of the copy room, leaving the mangled copier behing and murmuring an apology to the line of teachers backed-up behind me. Something about, "Sorry I broke the copier". I'm sure that made us all feel so much better!

Mythology Quiz- Period 1

Hello period 1. Here is your quiz on the 2nd half of chapter 1 and chapter 2 of mythology. Post your answers as a comment to this blogpost by clicking on the pencil. 1. Why is Eros often represented as blindfolded? 2. According to the book, who is Triton? 3. What is Cerberus and what does he guard? 4. What is the significance of Lethe? 5. Who was Janus and what month was named after him? 6. Summarize the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. What human emotion does this myth show the Gods could also feel? 7. How are the different characteristics of the God Dionysus (Bacchus) contrasted?

Thoughts on the author- Tim O'Brien

"Forty-three years old, and the war occurred half a lifetime ago, and yet the remembering makes it now. And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That's what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can't remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story." ~Tim O'Brien What do you think about this? How is this expressed in the first chapter of the book, The Things They Carried? Write about this for 15 minutes, and post your results as a comment. If that doesn't work, then print out your response and turn it in by the end of the period.

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

I ate too much...the stomachache on Saturday communicated to me how truly over-indulgent this holiday becomes. Other than that, 3 crazy days and nights filled with family- fun! It was nice to come back and enjoy my solitude, while examining and agonizing over the family foibles. Now, it's back to getting up early (at least for three weeks) and enjoying what my students have to share about their T-giving breaks!

Expo Comp Essay test on Jonathan Swift

Okay, here's the test. We have read and discussed "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift. I would like you to answer the following questions: 1) What satirical techniques does Swift use to create his "proposal"? Please name at least two, use quotes to support your ideas, and describe the effect of these techniques. How do they help us to know that he is not seriously proposing that we eat babies? 2) There was some fallout after Swift wrote "A Modest Proposal." Using the internet as your research tool, describe how Swift was viewed by his countrymen after this essay was published. 3) In your opinion, using supporting examples based on your own experience and research, is satire an effective writing tool to change the world? Does it constitute subversive writing? Make sure you expand and support your answer. Think of it as a persuasive piece- you are trying to persuade me to agree with you.

Indie Reading- Characters' songs

Hey, Period 2 and 3! Lemme know what 5-7 songs would play on an Ipod that belonged to one of your characters. You can choose any character from a book you've read recently. Also, please include a short explanation with your selections.