2012, 2012, 2012…

there, i’ve written it like four times today (including church) all before writing the instinctive “2011” – i’m so prod of myself – i’m ready to quit now while i’m ahead and go back to writing the double 1s…

“don quixote” by cervantes – wow, didn’t see this one coming – 1,118 pages of pure fun – at least, i told myself christmas eve that i would read it for a while – sort of a challenge book for the year –  then, somewhere, that challenge became “must finish book before school starts” and then that turned into “must finish book before everything else in life” – so needless to say, i was glad to finish on friday – and then, sort of sad…

the book is definitely worth the reading time of an aspiring AP English kid trying to get an impressive book under the belt for the summer – the book is considered the first novel in the west – it’s the first book with a developed fictional character – and it’s certainly lighthearted enough (my favorite part being the imagery of tennis in hell – and terrible books being used as the balls)

yes, they don’t make ’em like they used to…

regardless, i’m sure the page length deters almost everyone – it deterred me until i got it on the nook and didn’t have to tote it – anyway, that’s my impressive feat for the year and i’m done

“the accidental athlete” by john bingham – the title is a misnomer b/c bingham really was an athlete – he just didn’t know it – so no accident that he got competitive later – good read about running as an adult – in a world that believes you should only do what you’re incredible at – the rest of us must spectate, this book begs to differ (i do too)

“once a runner” – maybe third or fourth time to read the book – by john l parker – i guess the last time i read the book, i was really fast – now that i’m not as fast, i guess what i appreciated was cass’s commitment to the training – to the ups and downs of it all – also, to the ending of his two buddy’s running days – it came too quick for them

okay, now time for some dvd viewing – a “boy meets world” marathon followed by “how i met your mother” – from season one to the current… yea!!!

maf

so i’m sitting in service last night, and lo and behold, i get the ladies that are on their third church – and third service – in three years – always on christmas eve – apparently, they weren’t impressed with my church either (or at least, they loved it and just complained the whole time – which sounds doubtful:)

as for what i read last week…

“over time” by frank deford – i read the article this book was based on – good book on writing – on how sports and sports writing has changed over time – probably not for the better but it’s not like it’s going back to the old days – good things for the classroom though – things about trying to tell the story no one else is telling

“one year uncommon life daily challenge” – by tony dungy – year through the Bible devotional book – sort of as a discussion point for small groups – based on the former Colt’s coach’s life experiences – good material for a year discussion – would be great for a group of middle school guys to read through

“something like the gods” by amidon – review of how society has viewed athletics through the years – pretty good – particularly the early part (i knew more of the 20th century things) – the best part of the book was learning what a knight-errand was – all along, i’d thought ichabod crane was a knight errand b/c he made mistakes – but nooooooo, he was “errand” b/c he was pledged to one woman – i can know return to sleepy hollow next year and teach the story right

and speaking of knight errands and sleepy hollow, barnes and noble put “don quixote” up for free on its site – and so i’m reading on it – on it is the operative phrase – 1,118 pages worth – anyway, it’s been really surprisingly good for a 16th century spanish novel – the book burning bash was the best part so far:)

well, happy new year – but less than that… MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

maf

some people go caroling, some people spend time with family, some people run 17 miles and then run in a race in meadowbrook…

and then some people read a ton of books…

“the grace effect” by taunton – the author is a samford professor – he wrote about how his view of the whole question of the existence of God was transformed by the adoption of his daughter from the ukraine – great book for ya’ll on how government works (or doesn’t) in other places – and how the West is somewhat (very) different than the rest – or at least, used to be – would love for it to be a BOB next year

“wonderstruck” by selznik – good – a great follow up to “hugo” – the pictures and the story complement each other so well – and the afterward where he told how he came to write it was wonderful too

“the juju rules” by hart seely – the title is a misnomer – less a book about how to influence your team’s play and more about how the author came to his relationship with the yankees – ye alabama football fans can identify with his complex of ID-ing with a winner – and how to relate to the rest of the world – i think most of the guys would enjoy it for this reason – i did – and the older part of me loved how seely worked to get where he was a writer

“jennifer lawerence” by kohn – by far, the favorite this week by the students – i guess me too b/c it was read within 30 minutes – and will help me if i go see “hunger games” know who katniss is – i liked the part where it talked about where she came from – and how she worked to get where she was – the part about the dresses she wore to awards shows was lost on me

running is flying by richardson- combo poetry and pictures – well, wise-ism and pictures – great pick-me-up for runners about the truth of the sport – and the benefit of persevering – great christmas gift for your teacher next year if the state ever decides we can accept gifts again:)

well, off to next week’s reading – happy Merry Christmas

maf

first things first – no sixth grade, you don’t have to blog this week – and if you do, i will take your points and put them in the salvation army pot… 🙂

as for my week, productive – way, way too productive in reading – i think i’m retiring from books – anyway…

“we’ve got a job to do” – by levinson – wonderful book – recommending it for BOB next year – story of the ’63 children’s march downtown (b’ham – not columbiana) – captures the drama and tension in the city – great adaptation to YA – well-researched too (interviews with those that marched)

“essayists on the essay” by klaus and stuckey-french – collection of writers about essays – which, believe it or not, some people think are the best things since twilight (in their defense, these writers don’t have to write five-paragraph essays) – i booked a few pages to read to ya’ll – from 400 years back to present, lots of good insight to why essays are special – and what makes them memorable

“making democracy work” by breyer -supreme court justice – great book after the first 100 pages – the court cases i knew but when breyer got into how the court fits in a democracy, the book got really good – he closes with an appeal to justices to work on educating the public – and i agree, such is needed

“idea man” by paul allen – co-founder of microsoft – and a billion other things (including an education site coming in 2015 that i’m most anxious to see) – the computer terms were beyond me, but his enthusiasm and drive for innovation wasn’t – he even mentioned the father of one of my former professors – but he ripped her dad so i figured i wouldn’t e-mail that professor with the news:)

happy final-ing – i’m going to work on my christmas cards

sincerely,

maf

kboss and online behavior online behavior – check it out – and then clean it up – all from the good folks at CMS… sincerely, mayfield

yes, one week until your gifted final (oh, yes, the final is gifted…) – so last set of journals this week – try not to cry as you type…

“Lincoln, Inc.” – book about how Honest Abe has been marketed, used, through the years – fits nicely with a poll i saw this week that has Lincoln ahead of Christ as “most favorable opinion” in wisconsin – people do love lincoln – at least, what they make of him – the book was mysteriously labeled under YA so i thought i might get it on the BOB list – but it’s a bit too dry for you guys…

“Graceling” – finished while i was stuck for 2 hours on the road to atl in traffic – decent read – not fired up to read “Fire” or the one that will follow – pretty obvious that the author wanted a strong female lead and cast for the story – which is fine – not sure how believable or entertaining the whole thing was – nice image of a king with a knife in his throat at the end – of course, he’s supposed to abuse kids so it’s okay…

“inside out and back again” – definitely should be a BOB next year in my opinion – saw that it won an award and picked it up this week from the public library – free verse read so it’s like “out of the dust” – good story about fitting into a different culture – moreover, about how to find your place in your family – and at a school – the tie-in to alabama made it extra cool

okay, time to post and get ready to help photographers for the championship game…

mafeld

so it was thanksgiving this weekend – i think – and i did a bit of reading…

“talk of the tide” by john forney – got the book when i was a sophomore in high school – read it then – so a reread after a bazillion years – enjoyed it – lots of sports talk that seems new really isn’t (for instance: the talk about bama playing for a national title while not having a crack at the SEC title isn’t new historically) – enjoyed seeing signatures of guys i met years back – good oral history

“drama” by john lithgow – barney’s dad on “how i met your mother” – the leader in “3rd rock” – movie/theater guy for years – harvard grad – very creative – very down-to-earth account of his life – good gifted tidbits about persevering – about dealing with success – about pursuing dreams

“the running doc’s guide to running” – something like that – anyway, the race medical lead doctor of the rock ‘n roll marathon series and one time doc for the ING marathon (new york) outlined basic ways to be healthy and run – and how to troubleshoot problems – when to see the doctor – great, great read – after reading books about injuries and running for years, this one actually had some useful info – and was helpful – refreshing read about a subject i know a bit about

finished romans and 1 corinthians this week – also finished my magazines – found an article in “the economist” about roundabouts instead of stoplights interesting – b/c there are roundabouts in my subdivision – nobody knows how to use them, but at least they don’t die in crashes b/c of them (like head on things at lights)

hope your blogging/finishing nanowrimo is great

mafeld

copyright – from Tuesday’s show – Happy Thanksgiving!!! Roll Tide, War Eagle, and shop ’til ya drop…

oh, it was a week to be a reader…

“mockingbird” – the last (yeah!) BOB for me in the high school series – sad – not sure what it’s doing in a competition – as i’ve been with most of the books – the author sort of ficitionalizes a tale from her life experiences – i sort of go back to my philosophy which is that being young doesn’t give you a blank check or immunity from tragedies – or from having things happen to you when you drink – or hang out with people who drink – or hang out with people who don’t really care about you (personally, it was the boyfriend of the girl’s roommate that bothered me – if you see someone leave with a guy and she’s drunk, oh, i dunno, WHY DON’T YOU ACT??? grr…)

“unsinkable” – better book – easier read – than the first – a biography about a 16-year-old who tries to go around the world unassisted – in a boat – story of faith – story of courage – story of young people doing awesome things – attempting great things – instead of just being in school (so yes, the lesson here is grab a boat and get out of my class:)

“behind the dream” by clarence jones – a MLK buddy – probably the last living one – jones was Dr. King’s lawyer – helped him on speeches – and he talked about the background behind “i have a dream” – great read – absorbing – will try to use parts of it when we look at the speech – whenever that is and with whatever grade that speech is found (it’s in one of the lit books)

up to romans 10 in the new testament – read about US foreign policy that i might use with 8th grade in the third nine weeks short response – read the history channel’s magazine and found a story of how the South didn’t have food – and so it lost the civil war – may your thanksgiving be happier:)

(and no, sixth grade, if you’ve read this far: you don’t have to blog this week… 🙂

mafeld

internet safety from Friday’s show