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....

update

Hey to both of my avid readers....

Sorry I've been so lax in my updates, but Robinson Crusoe is taking a little longer than I thought it would to finish. Things have been crazy. School is going well, but we had midquarters last week, so I needed to spend some more time on that. Bibi and I have been trying to work out who our photographer is going to be, and we're driving to Columbia MO to meet with one this Saturday. It's been hard...it's a lot of money, and while we both REALLY want pictures, but MAN! It's a lot of money, that's all I'm saying. (c;

The play, Of Mice and Men, is also rather time-consuming. It's been awesome, and it's going to be a GREAT show, but it's really taken over my life after school is out.

Anyway, I will update more later, and I"ll be seeing you!

Thanks for reading...
Tommy

robinson crusoe

I'm in the midst of Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe. I have to say, it's been a unexpected treat thus far. I went into the book knowing nothing except that it was about a guy that was shipwrecked. However, the deeper, underlying themes are so strong and interesting, that it really makes the idea of being isolated and alone--literally--something that anyone can relate to.

Crusoe's struggles, superficially, are with how to survive, as a basically middle-class guy stuck in a confounding situation. He is struggling moreso, mentally with the knowledge that he disobeyed his father's advice, which predicted--with uncanny specificity--Crusoe's present dilmena. Our hero's father proclaimed that the greatest joy in life--indeed, the only true path to contentment--lay in always choosing the middle ground, the simple life. And, if Crusoe insisted on living life adventureously, it would lead only to strife, conflict, torment and being isolated from everyone around him, so that there would be no one to help him.

Crusoe is also struggling with the existence, and nature, of God. He is English, and as the English do in the early 1700's, he calls on God quite frequently. However, it is more of an exclamation, not an earnest and sincere statement. And, these phrases, ("Dear Lord, help me in my dire circumstances...etc") are only when Crusoe feels that his problems are too great for his own abilities. He is quite frank and honest in his lack of consistancy...he acknowledges that as soon as the present troubles are gone, so is his desire to rely on God.

It is only when he starts to realize his true isolation--and, coincidently, when he starts to read his Bible--that Crusoe recognizes that his "prayers" have been nothing more than curses and empty words. Crusoe goes through a slow yet constant change to realizing his need for God's intervention.

To close, I wanted to mention one of the most powerful passages in this book so far. Defoe has Crusoe proclaiming, "that whenever they come to a true sense of things, they will find deliverance from sin a much greater blessing than deliverance from affliction." In other words, Crusoe is coming to the conclusion that he need not even pray for deliverance from his private "holy land" because God has done so much for him already." However, shortly after this passage, in what is a surprisingly honest confession, Defoe allows Crusoe to admit that it would be completely rediculous to not continue wanting that release. That, even though forgiveness of sins is an unparalled blessing, so would be getting off the island!

All right, more later!

Thanks for reading...
Tommy

Robinson Crusoe

Started Robinson Crusoe a couple of days ago...it's a good one so far, and it's way different than I thought it would be. (But, since I really didn't know anything about it to begin with--other than it has something to do with a guy who gets shipwrecked on an island--that's not surprising.)

Ok, well, more later!

thanks for reading...
Tommy

done and done...and I mean done!

All right all you crazy book lovers...I'm finally done with Wuthering Heights. And, I just have to say...hey! It was pretty good!

I've been struggling this morning with whether or not my posts will give away the ending to books in my review. Well, I haven't decided yet, but for this one I'm going to. (So, if you don't want to know the ending of a book that was written like 900 years ago, STOP READING!!!!)

All right, so, all along I was upset at the use of the term romance in connection to this book. It seemed to me that the negativity and cruelty exhibited throughout the book by quite a few characters, and the lack of a real emotional connection between characters that are supposedly in "love", just didn't warrant the use of such a label. Heathcliff was obsessed,to be sure, but was Catherine really the focus of his obsession? Or, was that intense desire more closely directed at what Catherine stood for? Wealth, family, class and a life full of possibility? The obsession was, it seemed to me, more about Catherine having been born into a family that kept her, as opposed to Heathcliff, who was born...well, who knows anything about H's family?

Catherine did not seem to be worthy of Heathcliff's affections, regardless of where those affections were focused. Catherine was a very inconstant person. She stood for nothing throughout the entire book. She's basically the poster child for adultery. She gave of herself to two men, and then when both men confront each other (as would most likely happen) she feels as if they are being unreasonable. C'mon!!! For crying outloud, she's married to one guy, and stringing Heathcliff along and she gets all weepy-eyed and hysterical when they want her to be a bit more decisive.

However, moving through time, (almost twenty-some years) we see that all of Heathcliff's attempts to spoil and sully everyone that stood between he and Catherine, are for naught. Ha! Catherine's daughter and Haverston fall in LOVE!!!! Yeah!!!!!

All right, 'nuf about that. I start Robinson Crusoe today. I'm looking forward to it!

Later, and thanks for reading...
Tommy

...

So, I'm still reading Wuthering Heights, and it's actually turning out to be quite good. Still, I have no idea why it's categorized as a great romance, but it's a great book, none the less. It's interesting to consider the lengths one will go to in order to receive recompense for wrongs one feels have been committed. Admittedly, Heathcliff has suffered a great deal, from being an unwanted "gypsy-child" to being tormented by Catherine's brother almost his entire life. This book is a very poignant example of the Biblical concept of reaping the payment for the father's sins onto the child. Yikes! I'm about fifty pages from the end, so I'll be able to conclude my thoughts on this book shortly.

a new tack...

So, I've been struggling with the whole idea of what I can possibly write about in my blog, because work is out for legal reasons, and well, I just don't lead that exciting of a life outside of work. However!!! I do have a bit of a nasty habit of reading every single thing that I can get my hands on....SO, I think this blog will become something of a venue for me to expound on all of the books that I read. cool! I'm happy, and if that doesn't suit you, (my two readers) than too bad.

About a week ago, I read Prozac Nation. It was interesting. I wouldn't say that I liked it, but it definitely kept me involved. (Angrily muttering to myself is involved, isnt' it?) Honestly, it was very frustrating because I couldn't relate to the main character. All she saw was pain and personal attacks, and all I saw was her friends and loved ones reaching out and trying to help, and then just reaching their breaking point. But then, I think that that's kind of the point...because, after all, I'm not depressed...therefore, I can't possibly relate to someone who's entire outlook is colored by a disease as debilitating as depression. It also made me think about my objections to Tom "crazy as a loon" Cruise. I REALLY don't agree with his psychotic rantings. Mental illnesses ARE real. However, I'm kind of riding the fence between Cruise and the conclusion of Prozac Nation. You see, I think (and I know I'm going WAY out on a limb here) that we, as a nation, are grossly over-medicated. For people who really and trully have a mental illness, I say go for it. However, I think that there needs to be a substantial difference between feeling blue and feeling like the entire world is one giant tidal wave of pain that is coming in from all sides like a mental "perfect storm."

Ok. 'Nuff about that book.

Right now I'm reading "Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, as per recommendation by Matt. Now, admittedly, I'm only about half way through it, but I don't get why it's one of the world's great love stories....Catherine and Heathcliff are not characters to be imitated. For crying out loud!!! He's a raving, vengeful lunatic man, and she's a spoilled, self-centered, selfish witch!!! The passages that are often quoted as being indicative of the depth of emotion between H. and C. and rarely given a context. H. is usually making those broad, beautiful declarations in FRONT OF HIS WIFE, who, incidentely ISN"T Catherine!!!!

However, again, it's provoking an emotional response, which, i guess is the point, and it does keep me reading. All right, more later. Oh, if there are any recommendations that people have, I almost always read what my friends/complete strangers suggest. (c;

More later!

the weekend

Well, this weekend was the big meet'n'greet between bibi's family and mine. And, well, for those of you who know about my particular feelings as regards to family--it should come as a major shock to know that it went SO well!!!! It was awesome! We had a great time, and it was very relaxed and a lot of fun. (c; Great time was had by all. So, there we go.

price of rice...

Hey ya'll. (Ya'll bein' Tim, cuz evidently--he's the only one who reads this.) What can I say...a fellow teacher made the comment yesterday--in seeing the devastation in the south--that there can be some interesting--albeit horrific conclusions made about our culture. In Southeast Asia, after the tsunami hit, there wasn't this kind of lawless depravity occurring. What does is say about us as a people, when instead of pulling together, we fight, bicker, rape, steal, and cheat? We argue, spout, proclaim, and blame. Mother Theresea, who was a Catholic very much connected to a people from an entirely different background (Hindi) once said of the American people...that ours was a much worse illness--that of being unwanted. Interesting I think.

School

Hey ya'll! I'm back...say, does anyone read this at all? Send me an e-mail or make a comment to let me know...ok? I have to decide whether or not to continue posting (once in a blue moon.)

semi-annual update

Hey...um, so if anyone does read this...I got engaged on July 4th. (c; Drop me a line if you happen to stumble on this page. (c;

Had a Ball

Hey ya'll. (Unfortunate rhyme.)

This weekend was great. The girl that I am seeing came with me to the "Hospice Gala", which was a formal event in town. (I know, I know...I didn't think that there were formal events in town, either, but I learned otherwise.)

Saturday night a bunch of people went out, and that was fun. A friend, who is usually very rough and not mindfull of social norms and accepted levels of behavior become--in his inebriated state--quite open about his feelings towards those around him. He basically just opened up about how important our friendship was, and other miscilaneous (sp?) things. Fun times.

Last night the girl bought me dinner, (which was AWESOME!) and then she came over to my house and we watched Love Actually (GREAT movie) and just relaxed together. She studied, I read, it was a good time.

All right...we're counting down to spring break now...just four and a half more days! (c;

Whoo hoo!!!!!!!

tommy