June 29, 2009
I really want to own a print by children’s book illustrator Brett Helquist. He did the Series of Unfortunate Events books (which I’m currently reading).
I really want to own a print by children’s book illustrator Brett Helquist. He did the Series of Unfortunate Events books (which I’m currently reading).
Yay! I just got my scores back from a state teaching test I took and I scored really high, and to think, I was worried about not passing! I scored the highest score possible on the writing which makes me really happy. This was kind of a big deal for me because one of my fears in recovery is not being “as smart as I thought I was when I was on drugs.” In college I used A LOT (all day, everyday) of speed to write every paper and take every test so I have this irrational fear that I am not smart enough to do any kind of academic work without drugs. I realize this is insane because speed probably kept me down a lot academically but I got really good grades in college so I thought the two went hand in hand. This is my first “proof” that I don’t need that shit. I’m okay on my own. 
June 28, 2009

Who in L.A. is not working this week?

Let’s take advantage of this fellow hiatus/unemployed friends. Anyone for the beach tomorrow?
June 23, 2009
The Upper Peninsula consists of one third of Michigan’s land but only 3% of its population.
The Upper Peninsula consists of one third of Michigan’s land but only 3% of its population.
June 22, 2009
‘In January 1837, the U.S. Congress admitted Michigan as a state of the Union. At the time, Michigan was considered the losing party in the compromise. The land in the Upper Peninsula was described in a federal report as a “sterile region on the shores of Lake Superior destined by soil and climate to remain forever a wilderness.”’
‘In January 1837, the U.S. Congress admitted Michigan as a state of the Union. At the time, Michigan was considered the losing party in the compromise. The land in the Upper Peninsula was described in a federal report as a “sterile region on the shores of Lake Superior destined by soil and climate to remain forever a wilderness.”’
I can’t believe it. For who knows how long I’ve been searching for the Ann Arbor of the South. I think I finally found it today in Asheville, NC. All I want in life is to live in them blue mountains.

I can’t believe it. For who knows how long I’ve been searching for the Ann Arbor of the South. I think I finally found it today in Asheville, NC.

All I want in life is to live in them blue mountains.

June 21, 2009

Just received the list of most frequently banned books in American schools that one could get fired for using. Oops. Taught #26 and #17 this year.

  1. Impressions Edited by Jack Booth et al.
  2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  4. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
  5. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
  6. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
  7. Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
  8. More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
  9. The Witches by Roald Dahl
  10. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
  11. Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen
  12. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  13. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
  14. Blubber by Judy Blume
  15. Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
  16. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
  17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
  18. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
  19. Christine by Stephen King
  20. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
  21. Fallen Angels by Walter Myers
  22. The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
  23. Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
  24. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder
  25. Night Chills by Dean Koontz
  26. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  27. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
  28. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
  29. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  30. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
  31. The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
  32. The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder
  33. My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
  34. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  35. Cujo by Stephen King
  36. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
  37. The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs
  38. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
  39. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
  40. Grendel by John Champlin Gardner
  41. I Have to Go by Robert Munsch
  42. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
  43. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
  44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
  45. My House by Nikki Giovanni
  46. Then Again, Maybe I Won’t by Judy Blume
  47. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  48. Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth
  49. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
  50. Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
June 20, 2009
screaming crying elvis mess.
screaming crying elvis mess.

Diana - Paul Anka


I can’t even begin to explain how awesome this song is. I mean, seriously folks, oldies are where it’s at - songs from this era are so damn good. They’re so nice and simple. Joy just overcomes me whenever I listen to oldies. I lose myself in it and belt out every word and sing like I mean it. Only oldies can do this to me. Too bad they’re all dead or broken up. I can only imagine myself at some of these concerts back in the day. Screaming crying mess. 

June 19, 2009
iamafungirl: kickin’ back on my new porch. hanging out with old men who played for merle haggard and were in elvis movies. patsy cline tribute nights. family on friday nights. ice cream from the grocery store. a slower pace is hard to handle at times, but in the long run it’s better for my heart. Erica, this is all I want. But sadly I can’t have Family Fridays. I can’t deal with my home place for 3/4 of the year (sorry Mom, it’s too cold).

iamafungirl:

kickin’ back on my new porch. hanging out with old men who played for merle haggard and were in elvis movies. patsy cline tribute nights. family on friday nights. ice cream from the grocery store. a slower pace is hard to handle at times, but in the long run it’s better for my heart.

Erica, this is all I want. But sadly I can’t have Family Fridays. I can’t deal with my home place for 3/4 of the year (sorry Mom, it’s too cold).