Howdy from Texas, where we had a high of 86 today. We've had highs in the low 90's this month still. A week ago, we had a high of 64. Bi-polar much? LOL. Texans aren't the only ones, but we like to complain about our crazy weather. So let's start with some funnies... that are TRUTH!
Hahahaha! But it's true, y'all!
Yesterday was National Cat Day. Here's our princess! (Her name is Lacy.)
Halloween is tomorrow. I have a like/dislike relationship with Halloween. It's not strong enough for love/hate. I enjoy seeing the little kids dressed up in their costumes, and I like giving out candy. I don't like that my sixth and seventh grade students think Halloween should be a national holiday. I always ask them, "What holy day do you celebrate on October 31?" I also don't like all the scary stuff. Some of the homes around here look like haunted houses. I don't like to be scared on purpose! That's why I don't want horror movies. Driving to work is like watching trailers for a dozen horror movies!
Halloween was a lot of fun when my kids were younger. We would have block parties, not just for the kids, but for us as well. They are so cute when they dress up, but I don't really understand the purpose. Someone on the news said that there is a suggestion to make Halloween the last Saturday of October instead of the 31st. I'm all for that! You try teaching kids who are hyped up on extra sugar! Dislike!
Wow! Incredibly good book! If you are a fan of Gone Girl, you'll love The Good Girl. It's not the same storyline, of course, but you will be surprised. This one is so unique, you won't be able to figure it out until the end, if then. There is a great plot twist!
Mia Dennett is the daughter of a prominent Judge who lives in Chicago. Instead of following in her father's and sister's footsteps, she becomes an art teacher at an inner city school. Colin Thatcher is hired to kidnap Mia. The plan takes a dramatic turn when Colin decides not to follow the plan. He doesn't turn her over to the person who hired him. A unique relationship ensues. The author creates a suspenseful page turner with realistic characters, and you will not see the ending coming. You will have a difficult time putting this one down!
This time of year is hard for me. My father passed away suddenly, no warning, on October 10, 14 years ago. In some ways, maybe it gets easier, but in some ways, the grief remains. Maybe I never completely processed my grief. Whatever the case, it's a difficult time of year. I've collected 13 images that I identify with in relation to my loss.
I'm linking up with Stacy for some random nonsense!
Have you ever left work in a bad mood? Most of us have. Last Thursday I left work feeling completely inadequate and unmotivated. No, not UNmotivated. DEmotivated. As though someone took my motivation away from me, not from a bad attitude.
I had an observation from our literacy coach. It was required, not my choice, because I'm department head. They want all the department leaders to have open classrooms, so they asked us to work with our coaches and have them come in and give feedback on a specific area of our lesson. The point was so that we would be able to experience the "coaching cycle" so other teachers would be able to see the benefit of it.
Well... it backfired. She didn't come in and observe a specific part of the lesson. She scripted everything I said and everything my students did and didn't do. And did I mention she observed while I was sick? I left school directly after this "observation" due to a stomach virus. And maybe I should also mention she is not my boss. In fact, our positions are horizontal to each other.
Anyway... I've worked with our previous literacy coach in the same capacity, and I have never left a talk with her feeling the way I did Thursday. I'm over it now. Maybe. Not really. I just don't know what to do with my frustration.
Moving on.
Last night my daughter was asking me about the male and female symbols, and I told her I couldn't remember which was which, either. So I looked it up. I didn't know they had names! The "boy" symbol is called Mars because it's supposed to represent a shield and spear. The "girl symbol is called Venus (Doesn't it make sense now?). It's supposed to look like a bronze mirror with a handle. Who knew?
A long long time ago I can still remember how That music used to make me smile And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while...
You probably recognize the lyrics above: American Pie (1971) by Don McLean. I love this song! There has always been some disagreement over what the lyrics mean, and Don McLean wasn't too keen to clear up the mysteries, but in 2015, his original manuscript was up for auction at Christie's, so he gave a little information in an interview to promote the auction. The manuscript sold for $1,205,000!
The Manuscript
The song also made a 26 year old McLean famous quickly.
But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step 1. McLean was actually a paper boy who was on the job the
day the music died.
I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride Something touched me deep inside The day the music died
2. This, obviously refers to the deaths of Buddy
Holly (age 22), Richie Valens (age 17), and the Big Bopper (JP Richardson) in a
plane crash on February 3, 1959. Waylon Jennings, a member of Holly's band, had given up his
seat to Richardson who was ill at the time.
3. McLean believed the music industry started heading
in the wrong direction after this. "There is no poetry and very
little romance in anything anymore," he said.
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock 'n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin' in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.
I started singin',
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone,
But that's not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,
4. The line "moss grows fat on a
rolling stone" likely refers to the tight outfit Mick Jagger wore at a
show that
displayed
a roll of belly fat.
Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon (lenin?) read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
5. The King refers to
Elvis Presley.
6. The Quartet likely refers to the
Beatles.
The dirges in the
dark refers to the 1960's peace marches.
We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
7. Helter Skelter refers to the Charles
Manson murders.
Eight
miles high and falling fast refers to the Byrds' popular song "Eight Miles
High."
8. The jester here is
Bob Dylan.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
9. While sergeants
played a marching tune likely refers to the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band."
10.. From "We all
got up to dance" to "the marching band refused to yield" refers
to the huge numbers of young people that went to Chicago in 1968 for the
Democratic National Convention thinking they would be able to take part, but
the Chicago police did not allow them to.
We started singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil's only friend.
11. Jack Flash refers
to the Rolling Stones.
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.
And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
12. McLean was a
practicing Catholic, thus, the trinity that he admires, but it may also be
another reference to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.
And they were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
13. And here is a missing verse that McLean decided not to include in the song: And there I stood alone and afraid I dropped to my knees and there I prayed And I promised him everything I could give If only he would make the music live And he promised it would live once more But this time one would equal four And in five years four had come to mourn and the music was reborn.
The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts named "American Pie" the “Song of the Century." At 8 minutes 32 seconds, this is the longest song in length to hit #1 on the Hot 100. References: People Magazine Los Angeles Times The Telegraph Songfacts Join in the fun at Thursday Thirteen!
Last night was a rare treat for me. No papers to grade! That will all change soon enough! Have I mentioned that I'm giving up my conference period this year to teach an extra class? It means that I teach non-stop all day. The things I would normally do during my conference period have to be done in the morning or after school, so I am there late every day. It's okay, though. While I'm tired, I am getting paid for it, so...
Have you ever thought about having your DNA tested? I wonder what they can tell besides ancestry and heritage. Can they tell if you are predisposed to a certain hereditary illness? What about other things besides health matters? I've always been a little scared to send my DNA off to a company who will keep a record of everything my DNA tells them. That probably sounds unusual, but I really don't want anybody knowing anything about me that isn't necessary.
Our temperatures dropped in the Gulf Coast of Texas today. They've been in the 90's. Last night we were in the upper 50's, and we'll have a high in the mid-60's for a few days. We'll be back in the 70's by the end of the week, and probably higher than that the following week. This is just a short respite from the heat.
Are you making any Halloween plans? We used to attend a martini party at our friend's house, but she stopped having them a couple of years ago. I'm actually thankful. It's too difficult trying to find a costume that isn't too funny-looking, and the last time I went to one of her parties, let's just say I didn't feel well the next day, and it wasn't a result of the food! No Halloween plans for me this year except giving out candy to cute kids who happen to ring my doorbell. Which brings me to today's first funny...
And this one is soooooo me!
And last, but not least, meet Maru, the cutest cat in the world. He is a Scottish fold who lives in Japan. He's 11 years old. His videos on YouTube have over 200 million hits!
