Where Are You Christmas?
It seemed like a really short Christmas season. I'm not really sure why. Perhaps it is not having small children to anticpate Santa. It was busy, but it seemed to pass by so fast. We didn't have a chance to do many of the traditional things we used to always do: looking at lights, going to the capitol, watching Christmas movies or spending hours out shopping. I especially missed not buying toys. Hunter did get three big Lego/Mega Block sets; one was the ship from Pirates of the Caribbean. He has already built two of them, so they will just set up somewhere and probably not be touched again. Last year, Noah asked for a RoboSapien, but we could not find one. I never dreamed an about to be engaged 23 year old would still want one, but he indicated he did, so I did rush out and find one. I figure it will definitely be the last "toy" I ever get to buy him.
I guess I am now officially an adult. I was really hard pressed to give Terry any ideas for what to get me. There was just not anything I could think of that I really wanted or needed. I got a portable sewing machine (for scrapbooking, not making clothes), a new coat, a bunch of scrapbooking supplies, a new robe, 2 watches, a cool George Foreman (with 5 cooking options) and a promise from husband to build these because he thinks he can build them for much less:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=catalogProducts.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=65/85054&prodCatId=377489&mode=Browsing&erec=5&Ne=90000&sp=true&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=377489&tabId=Crafts&sd=ALL+IN+ONE+STORE+IN+STYLE+UNIThttp://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=catalogProducts.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=65/85121&prodCatId=377489&mode=Browsing&erec=6&Ne=90000&sp=true&Ntk=all&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=377489&tabId=Crafts&sd=CROP+IN+STYLE+DESK+KITThat means I might have them by next Christmas; we'll see.
It was nice to have all 4 kids home. I think it was the first time in 26 years of marriage that we actually spent Christmas eve at home instead of my parent's house. They came to our house instead, along with Terry's dad. We also had a nice visit with my brothers George and Larry and their families before Christmas and Scott and his family after Christmas.
That's it for tonight. I want to read a bit from the book I got at our book club Christmas party: The Christmas Box Collection by Richard Paul Evans. I am on The Christmas Box. I have not read anything by him before but am enjoying what I have read so far.
Christmas Movies
Terry and I were discussing Christmas movies last night, so I thought I would make a list of my 10 favorite Christmas movies. The trouble is that I really can't think of 10 movies I would consider favorites. To be a favorite, I felt it should be a movie that I would willingly watch every Christmas. As a result, I only ended up with 6!
6. A Christmas Carol - (The 1951 version)
5. The Bishop's Wife - (The original, not the remake)
4. Christmas Vacation
3. Miracle on 34th Street - (Again, the original)
2. Home Alone
1. A Christmas Story
Others I considered were Scrooged, Gremlins and Die Hard (it IS set at Christmas).
Notably missing is It's a Wonderful Life; sorry, it's not my cup of tea!
I need a break....
from essay grading. The semester is over, and I am grading final essays. However, I needed to get away from them for a few minutes so thought I would post a little something. I have been reading essays for the past couple of hours that discuss things like the "lesions" learned by a student her first year in college; how to apply for "finical" aid; and how the mountain "humanity" changes rather quickly. I am sure most of you were unaware that, "Even tough a mountain is quiet where there no animals, which it possible that you can relax ands chill. As a result, woods who would be the perfect place." Huh? How do I even begin to point out the problems with this? This is where I usually end up just underlining and inserting a big question mark out to the side.
I am also blown away by the email I just received containing the final essay for an English Composition I student. The minimum word count was 750 words; this student's "essay" consisted of one paragraph - why bother?
I
definitely - or as my students would say "
defiantly" - am in need of the upcoming 6 week break. I need to get away from teaching correct
grammar and mechanics for a while since 1/2 of the population refuses to use it. I had decided to take a break last Friday and read a book. Unfortunately, I was unable to get away from instructor mode and was frustrated the entire book because some editor did not catch all the incorrect commas used with subordinating conjunctions. Things like that drive me crazy.
Well, time to go post some grades and let some students know they will be taking these courses again. Some are already aware of it, but others will be shocked. They will not understand how failing to complete an assignment that accounts for 35% of the grade for the course left them not passing. Yes, their math skills are pretty much in line with their writng skills.
For the Hog Fan Who Has Everything
You might consider bidding on this offering from Hogwired.com:
This is a game used football from the Arkansas-LSU football game on November 24, 2006. The ball is signed in silver ink by running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. Under McFadden's name is the notation 182 yards vs. LSU....School record 1485 yards. Under Jones' name is the notation 137 yards vs. LSU. The ball comes wth a certificate of authenticity.
Current high bid: $795
Although the Heisman is already a done deal, it is nice that McFadden is one of the finalists. Hopefully, he can bring it home next year.
