Well, it was quite the week. I went to school a total of 3 days! Thanks, presidents and slushy-ness. March is going to be a wild month, we've got four 5-day weeks in a row. I'm not sure if I am mentally or physically prepared for what's to come.
Me: What can I help you with? How are you doing on this problem?
Student: I found the Loch Ness Monster
Me: You found Nessy?! Where?
Student: My backyard
Student: Ms. Ebberts, you're lookin' African today in your little patterned get-up
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
this is why high schoolers are awesome
student: Ms. Ebberts, how old are you?
me: Why? Who wants to know?
student: 'Cause you got old people feet
me: WHAT?! How do I have old people feet? What does that even mean?!
student: Yeah, I saw 'em when you came over to me today in class. They were all wrinkly and old.
me: Well, thank you for this information. I'm sorry to say there's nothing I can do about my premature foot aging.
student: You could get some foot cream or something. I'm just telling it like it is.
me: Why? Who wants to know?
student: 'Cause you got old people feet
me: WHAT?! How do I have old people feet? What does that even mean?!
student: Yeah, I saw 'em when you came over to me today in class. They were all wrinkly and old.
me: Well, thank you for this information. I'm sorry to say there's nothing I can do about my premature foot aging.
student: You could get some foot cream or something. I'm just telling it like it is.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day!
Words from my students in regards to my future:
"If you're not married or engaged by the time we graduate, you're going to be a crazy cat lady!"
"If you're not married or engaged by the time we graduate, you're going to be a crazy cat lady!"
Sunday, February 13, 2011
the clue in the old stagecoach
What a good story! This reminded me of Nancy's very first mystery, The Secret of the Old Clock.
So Nancy, Bess, and George are at Camp Merriwhether vacationing for the summer. There is a lady, Mrs. Strook, who needs there help. You see, Francisville is in desperate need of help. The town has run out of money (since the town just issued bonds for water and sewage systems) and cannot afford to put any money towards educational programs, especially a new school building.
Recently, Mrs. Strook found a letter from her (dead) great uncle leaving hints about finding a clue that will be of 'great value' to the town of Francisville in his old stagecoach. Here's the kicker: No one knows where the stagecoach is because Great Uncle Abner left town in 1852.
So it is up to Nancy and her friends to figure out how to use clues to discover the missing stagecoach and uncover the truth about Abner's fortunes.
I really enjoyed this story because I felt it got back to the roots of mystery solving--using clues and intuition to lead you to a discovery. This story was no loaded with all sorts of villians or outlandish crime activity, which I really liked. Yes, I will say it is somewhat far fetched for Nancy to be unearthing letters from the 1850s, but whatev. This book showed Nancy's true talent, so it get's my stamp of approval.
A couple of things:
Hannah was not in this book at all. She is visiting relatives.
Nancy is dating some dude named Rick while Ned is out of the picture...what's up with that, Nancy? I thought for sure she'd be a one man kind of gal, but I guess I was mistaken.
So Nancy, Bess, and George are at Camp Merriwhether vacationing for the summer. There is a lady, Mrs. Strook, who needs there help. You see, Francisville is in desperate need of help. The town has run out of money (since the town just issued bonds for water and sewage systems) and cannot afford to put any money towards educational programs, especially a new school building.
Recently, Mrs. Strook found a letter from her (dead) great uncle leaving hints about finding a clue that will be of 'great value' to the town of Francisville in his old stagecoach. Here's the kicker: No one knows where the stagecoach is because Great Uncle Abner left town in 1852.
So it is up to Nancy and her friends to figure out how to use clues to discover the missing stagecoach and uncover the truth about Abner's fortunes.
I really enjoyed this story because I felt it got back to the roots of mystery solving--using clues and intuition to lead you to a discovery. This story was no loaded with all sorts of villians or outlandish crime activity, which I really liked. Yes, I will say it is somewhat far fetched for Nancy to be unearthing letters from the 1850s, but whatev. This book showed Nancy's true talent, so it get's my stamp of approval.
A couple of things:
Hannah was not in this book at all. She is visiting relatives.
Nancy is dating some dude named Rick while Ned is out of the picture...what's up with that, Nancy? I thought for sure she'd be a one man kind of gal, but I guess I was mistaken.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Secret of the Golden Pavilion
she's baaaaaack.
So, during the snow days I started going through Nancy withdrawals. So, my friend Melissa and I went to library on campus and checked out the remaining 20 I have to read in the series to be finished. I.AM.SO.EXCITED.
So here's the premise of the story:
Nancy and friends travel to Hawaii! They are commissioned by Mr. Drew's Polynesian friend to figure out the mystery as his family's estate. You see, his grandfather passed away, in his will, he left the estate to all living grandchildren. Then suddenly, two people, the Chatleys (bro and sis) claim to be long lost grandchildren. It is up to Nancy and friends to figure out the secret to grandfather's clues and solve the mystery behind a ghost hula dancer that appears on the Golden Pavilion.
Here are some things I noticed:
Hannah Gruen (the housekeeper) came on the trip and played a more prominent role in this book!! Typically, Hannah is left at home to worry about Nancy, but she actually came.
The villians were described as "hoodlums"--this is new.
Also, I've always kind of thought there was a lot of sketchy things that happened in River Heights, but it reached a new level in this book. Another gang, River Heights, really? The Double Scorps (short for scorpion).
Nancy was also described as feeling "very upset" when her little terrier, Togo, was found missing. The series has not really described Nancy as displaying much emotion at all.
Having read this book, I want to go to Hawaii. What's interesting is when this book was originally published, 1959, this was the same year that Hawaii became a state. So, it was somewhat of a major trip for Nancy and friends.
So, during the snow days I started going through Nancy withdrawals. So, my friend Melissa and I went to library on campus and checked out the remaining 20 I have to read in the series to be finished. I.AM.SO.EXCITED.
So here's the premise of the story:
Nancy and friends travel to Hawaii! They are commissioned by Mr. Drew's Polynesian friend to figure out the mystery as his family's estate. You see, his grandfather passed away, in his will, he left the estate to all living grandchildren. Then suddenly, two people, the Chatleys (bro and sis) claim to be long lost grandchildren. It is up to Nancy and friends to figure out the secret to grandfather's clues and solve the mystery behind a ghost hula dancer that appears on the Golden Pavilion.
Here are some things I noticed:
Hannah Gruen (the housekeeper) came on the trip and played a more prominent role in this book!! Typically, Hannah is left at home to worry about Nancy, but she actually came.
The villians were described as "hoodlums"--this is new.
Also, I've always kind of thought there was a lot of sketchy things that happened in River Heights, but it reached a new level in this book. Another gang, River Heights, really? The Double Scorps (short for scorpion).
Nancy was also described as feeling "very upset" when her little terrier, Togo, was found missing. The series has not really described Nancy as displaying much emotion at all.
Having read this book, I want to go to Hawaii. What's interesting is when this book was originally published, 1959, this was the same year that Hawaii became a state. So, it was somewhat of a major trip for Nancy and friends.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
a million miles in a thousand years
A couple of friends were talking about this book by Donald Miller 2 weekends ago, so I figured I'd check it out. The only other book I've read of his was Blue Like Jazz and that was several years ago.
The basic premise of the book: He starts to examine his life and the meaningfulness (is this a word) of it when there are directors who are interested in making a movie out of one of the previous books he's written. So, he talks a lot about the type of stories we are writing for ourselves
Here is what I thought of the book:
I would not say this book is life altering and I think he thoughts/ramblings went in a lot of different directions, like satisfaction, where trust is being put, dealing with conflict/pain. But after reading the book, here are the things that I am left thinking about:
1) How our thoughts,ambitions,etc. translate into our actions
2) Seeking fulfillment/meaning in anything besides God is not going to cut it.
So I leave you with this excerpt:
Do I still think there will be a day when all wrongs are made right, when our souls find the completion they are looking for? I do. But when all things are made right, it won't be because of some preacher or snake-oil salesmen or politician or writer making promises in his book. I think instead, this will be done by Jesus. And it will be at a wedding. And there will be a feast. p. 206
The basic premise of the book: He starts to examine his life and the meaningfulness (is this a word) of it when there are directors who are interested in making a movie out of one of the previous books he's written. So, he talks a lot about the type of stories we are writing for ourselves
Here is what I thought of the book:
I would not say this book is life altering and I think he thoughts/ramblings went in a lot of different directions, like satisfaction, where trust is being put, dealing with conflict/pain. But after reading the book, here are the things that I am left thinking about:
1) How our thoughts,ambitions,etc. translate into our actions
2) Seeking fulfillment/meaning in anything besides God is not going to cut it.
So I leave you with this excerpt:
Do I still think there will be a day when all wrongs are made right, when our souls find the completion they are looking for? I do. But when all things are made right, it won't be because of some preacher or snake-oil salesmen or politician or writer making promises in his book. I think instead, this will be done by Jesus. And it will be at a wedding. And there will be a feast. p. 206
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
with the storm of the century upon us, i thought it fitting to let the world know why snow days are great: i have the opportunity to stay in my pjs all day and not shower!
here are some other things I'm thinking about:
1) jesus coming back
2) what sort of story am i telling with the way i live my life
3) the psalms
4) do i make cookies today or should i wait for tomorrow's snow day?
5) should i eat a fried egg with cheese now or wait until after i finish watching 'greek?'
here are some other things I'm thinking about:
1) jesus coming back
2) what sort of story am i telling with the way i live my life
3) the psalms
4) do i make cookies today or should i wait for tomorrow's snow day?
5) should i eat a fried egg with cheese now or wait until after i finish watching 'greek?'
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