Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Look What Alexander the Great Made Me Do!

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life sponsored by 
Two Writing Teachers.
I've been in search of a slice most of the day.  Perhaps it's the end of the year doldrums or maybe the ennui of a week of SBAC tests, but I couldn't settle on a slice.  And then after school, I succumbed to the call of the siren.  I meant to make a quick stop on the way home, drop off some important items, pick-up another item, and dash back to the car for the quick drive down the hill for home, dinner, laundry, and more papers to grade.
I stopped to drop off the important items . . . and chatted with a friend.  She showed me the oral history site she's working on with high schoolers . . .  and we talked about books.  
I stopped at the holds shelf to pick up a DVD for Greece . . . and tried to march myself straight to the self-checkout and out the door.  
But the call was too strong to resist . . . so I made a quick circle around the Choice Reads Display and picked up three titles.  I tried again to stride straight for the self-checkout . . . but I was so close to the middle grades display, and they always have something fun for my classroom.  
At that point I mustered my meager reserves of self-control . . . and made a beeline for the self-checkout counter.  When I arrived home, I added today's titles to my stack.

The Forbidden Library by Django Wexler
(the middle grade title)
 Tapestry of Fortunes by Elizabeth Berg
 (summer escape reading-female friendships)
My Wish List by Gregoire Delacourt 
(set to follow the success of The Elegance of the Hedgehog)
The Wisdom of the Myths by Luc Ferry
(How Greek Mythology Can Change Your life)


And that's how my stack grows.  No, I'm not a fast reader, but my book eyes are always bigger than my available time for reading.  I'm fond of telling friends,  "I checked that book out once, caressed it, and longed to read it."  
Our end of school is still four weeks away (five for me since I'll be packing up my classroom), but I'm ready now for reading time on the deck!  

12 comments:

  1. Wow-4 more weeks, like Tara! I'm so ready, too. We are done the week after next. I can't go to the library to pick up my holds without browsing too, Ramona. So funny to read this. And sometimes I check them out, then don't read. I hope I have more time when school ends! Your list looks good!

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  2. I too will have a STACK of books awaiting the end of school Just thinking of it makes me DROOL!

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  3. I'm making a list--of what I've bought for my Kindle, and drooling at the thought of TIME TO READ!!

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  4. I love how you are able to pack so much into your life after school. You seem to have to two very rich lives. I am always exhausted when you get back into your car and deal with life outside of school. AND especially your Siren Call!!!! BRAVO!

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  5. What a perfect slice of your life to share! Your diet of books looks delicious, now the only ingredient missing is time. I hope you can carve out a little piece to begin tasting each of these titles.

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  6. Those are some great choices. Thanks for sharing them with us. I love the way you describe your library detour as "the siren's call." It's fun to see reading as a guilty pleasure rather than an obligation. Like Odysseus and his men, you can't resist the pull of the beautiful words that are on display. Neither can I! Enjoy your summer reading!

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  7. Fascinating! I am intrigued to know how Greek Mythology Can Change [my] Life. Won't we get more reading done in summer? Hope, hope!
    The piles won't go away without some serious time to dig in...
    Thanks for your post.

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  8. I love "my book eyes are always bigger than my available time." So true! I ams sitting out on my back porch watching the sun set on my first "official" summer day (husband has to be at work to be official!) But you will have to rub this in when I am heading back the first week in August and you are still reading on your deck! Hang in there and enjoy your last weeks.

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  9. Ramona,
    I love your slice. Personally, I require myself to read and write every day. Slicing has helped with the writing as well as my "organization kick" which I hope has a side benefit of "more time to read." Why require to read? I ask students to read every day. I ask teachers to share their reading life with me. Of course, I MUST model it myself! (self-justification!)

    Nice slice about the siren's call!

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  10. Ramona,
    I love your slice. Personally, I require myself to read and write every day. Slicing has helped with the writing as well as my "organization kick" which I hope has a side benefit of "more time to read." Why require to read? I ask students to read every day. I ask teachers to share their reading life with me. Of course, I MUST model it myself! (self-justification!)

    Nice slice about the siren's call!

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  11. Ramona,
    I love your slice. Personally, I require myself to read and write every day. Slicing has helped with the writing as well as my "organization kick" which I hope has a side benefit of "more time to read." Why require to read? I ask students to read every day. I ask teachers to share their reading life with me. Of course, I MUST model it myself! (self-justification!)

    Nice slice about the siren's call!

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