coincidences and what not...

So, I'm reading The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan, as per suggested by my senior year English teacher, who remains one of my all time favorite teachers. She challenged us, inspired us, and, in all honesty, respected us, too. We just had a great time, while learning a WHOLE lot, too.

The book is really interesting. It's basically a very touching description of the relationships between mothers and daughters. The translational gap between the Chinese-native mothers, and their American born daughters, highlights the differneces that are inherently present between generations. Online, there was a question as to why there are so many "stories" used to make a point in this book. The obvious answer is that stories pave the way for expression when out-right declarations will fail, due to the implicit short-comings of human language. Stories paint pictures that a lecture won't. The truths in this story that--at first glance--might seem specific to the characters and relationships in this book, are actually a universal revelation on the way parents and children view each other, and communicate with each other. This book reminds me a great deal of the lessons I learned in reading "One True Thing", by Anna Quindlen. The entire book led up to the, rather profound notion that the way we view our parents is faulty. We see our parents, I see my parents in capture moments, like photographs, from my childhood. While these pictures are often times true, they are in no way the entire truth. My parents are whole beings, who led lives long before me, and who have experiences that I know nothing of. I'm given an almost completely inaccurate image of my parents because of the experiences I see as the whole.

Ok, so I don't know if this makes ANY sense at all, or if this is news to anyone else, but it really puts things into perspective for me to be reminded that there are so many sides to people, and that respecting, acknowleging, and trying to see those sides that might not be readily visable, are really important tasks.

Ok, that's all.

Oh, no wait...back to the title of this post...

I was reading the USA Today over some guys shoulder the other day, and I saw an article about Harriet Miers entitled, "Miers nomination suffered death by, 'a thousand cuts". It was notable because I had just read about the "death of a thousand cuts" in The Joy Luck Club. I love stuff like that.

Ok, thanks for reading...

Tommy

end of the line

So, I just finished Little Women last night. All I can say is, wow. Man alive. In all honesty, I've never read a book with such beautiful prose, such elegant story telling, and such a memorable finale.

It was interesting; I went through a change during the reading of this book. I made some many connections between the story and my life--the importance of making my home...scratch that, Bibi and my home a comfortable and welcoming place, a "home" instead of merely a house. Seeing Mr. March as a father, made me long for when I can be a father and take care of my own kids. Oh, and this was kind of funny; when people would see me reading this book, I would make up excuses for why I was reading it, I would explain that I was challenged to read it, that it was for my classroom. Tuesday night, I was reading it and someone chuckled and made somewhat of a snide comment about it (he was just being funny) and I started to explain why I was reading it. I stopped and looked at him. Then I simply said, "Hey...it's really good," and continued reading.

Man. Just amazing.

Anyway, I'm reading The Joy Luck Club now. I'm only about 40 pages into it, but it's great so far. My favorite teacher in high school challenged all the guys in the class to read it, and now...only ten years later, I'm finally doing it. (c; Better REALLY late than never, right? Anyway, more later!

If anyone reading this doesn't already know about www.bookcrossing.com you should definitely go check it out. Good times will be had by all! (c;

Later, and...thanks for reading...

Tommy

beautiful

Just read this paragraph...how beautiful!

"The June roses over the porch were awake bright and early on that morning, rejoicing with all their hearts in the cloudless sunshine, like friendly little neighbors, as they were. Quite flushed with excitement were their ruddy faces, as they swung in the wind, whispering to one another what they had seen; for some peeped in at the dining-room windows, where the feast was spread, some climed up to nod and smile at the sisters as they dressed the bride, others waved a welcome to those who came and went on various errands in garden, porch and hall, and all, from the rosiest full-blown flower to the palest baby-bud, offered their tribute of beauty and fragrance to the gentle mistress who had loved and tended them so long."

What a beatiful description of the morning of Meg's wedding. Hmm. Very nice, indeed.

Little Women

Hello all!

I am back today, and it's going swimmingly. Today is probably one of the longest days of my school year, but the fruits of the day will be splendid. We have conferences until 8:00 this evening, and then my old friend and roommate Tim will be in town for a few days of debauchery and good old fashioned fun. Good times will be had by all, to be sure.

I went to a conference yesterday that was amazing. Absolutely amazing. Learned a lot, and I"m REALLY looking forward to putting into practice what I learned.

So, on with the topic at hand...

Little Women is still amazing...it's been such an interesting journey of a book. The prose and style have drawn me into a time that I am very much unaccustomed to. To be able to experience the joys, the triumphs, the pains and trials of the March girls has been somewhat of a priviledge. I've taken true delight in traveling through the story with the girls as they resolve to be more loving, more kind, more sisterly, and more appreciative of all the blessings they are given. And, actually, it's been an interesting correlation with "Of Mice and Men". Lennie and George simply want a small piece of land to call their own, to be independent and free. Joy, Meg, Beth and Amy want little more, albeit varyingly through the story. Both stories have impressed upon me the undeniable fact that I am a truly blessed individual. I have SO much to be thankful for, and often times I lose sight of those things; it is, indeed, a blessing unto itself to have the realization brought to my attention.

The most interesting point for me thus far in the adventure, has been experiencing Jo's earnest desire to foil Meg's engagement to Mr. Brookes. Her intentions, her motivations behind this are truly unique to her time period, and they are utterly foreign to me. Meg is 17 years old, and she is far too young to be thinking about boys, according to Jo. However, it doesn't immediately occur to me that Brookes will not simply be asking Meg out for pizza--the engagement (a THREE YEAR ENGAGEMENT!!!!??!?!?) is quite abrupt.

The joy in this book is seeing how the tale unfolds in such elegant and beautiful prose. The sisters are so dear and loving, and yet, genuine in the picturesque qualities. (Wow, so I never thought that those would all go together, but Alcott has done an amazing job.) Ok, so I'm going to stop gushing, and I'm going to get back to the story...

Thanks for reading...

Tommy

lucky

Due to the public nature of this blog, I can't be more specific with this post, but something really cool just happened. I have a student who wasn't able to have treats for his or her birthday recently, and I went out and got treats for this particular student to share with the class. The look on this student's face when they s/he saw the treats was absolutely amazing. I feel SO unbelievably lucky that I get to make a difference in someone's life. I've got, right now, what an old friend used to call a "spiritual grin" on my face. I'm not smiling on the outside, (because I didn't want him/her to know that I got the treats) but I'm definitely glowing with humility and thankfulness. (c;

Thanks for reading...

Tommy

evaluation

ok, quick note...I just got evaluated by my principal (It's a requirement for the first 5 years) and as she left she pulled me aside and told me "every year I'm more impressed." Whoo hoo!!!!! Happy me.

Ok, thanks. (c;

Tommy

and on we go...

You all everybody...

Welcome back! Here we are in another week. I finished Robinson Crusoe last week...unfortunately, it just took too long. I don't have much to say about it, as it was too long for me to spend on one book. Finished a Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle last week as well. It was good. It wasn't great...it seemed to me she was trying a little too hard to copy the beauty and meaning behind C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. It seemed forced and a little unnatural. Having said that, it still was a decent story.

I'm reading "Little Women" now, as per requested. (As I said earlier, I will read books recommended by you all!) I have to say, after a brief period of discomfort at reading such a blatant "chick read", I've been REALLY impressed. It's absolutely beautifully written. It's a little like reading poetry in prose form. Without trying to sound too cliche' it's really quite mind-catching.

A couple of other notes...my mom called yesterday and we chatted for a bit. (Hi mom!) Backstory first: My senior year in high school a friend of mine was in horrible accident. He and his brother and a mutual friend of theirs had just gotten off work at the local hy-vee. The friend was driving his car, and the two brothers were sitting on the back of the car, being driven--very carefully--to their car. Both of the brothers fell off. My friend died. His younger brother lived. It was a horribly sensless accident, and it was a very painful experience for everyone who knew all involved.

Well, my mom told me yesterday that the younger brother died in a motorcyle accident this weekend. Almost nine years exactly after his brother died. So...to the Henson brothers. You will both be missed.

Thanks for reading.
Tommy

testing

I can't seem to get my blog to come up...so, I'm testing this to see if it works...

da da da

I'm sick today. ughs. I feel like poo. And, frustratingly enough, I STILL haven't finished Robinson Crusoe. Ughs X 2. I might take tomorrow as a sick day. (Cough, cough...groan.) I hate to do that though, cuz it's SO much work. Ah, I don't know.

On the plus side, Bibi and I did find a photographer this weekend. Yeah! we're looking at honeymoon spots now. more later....