An Accent is an Automatic 10 Point Bonus in Hotness

My husband has a very strict rule regarding what he calls "movies with accents." Basically, he refuses to watch them or be in the room when I'm watching them. What he really is against are movies with British accents that take on a Jane Austen-y theme (let's face it-most of them are just plain Jane Austen movies). I get it. Not everyone is cultured and sophisticated enough to appreciate the genius of Jane Austen and similar stories, and I love my husband so it does seem cruel of me to make him sit and listen to me squeal or whimper depending on various plot points.

Lately, I have been very drawn to these type of stories/films. It has everything to do with my last post. (Yes, I reread Austenland with the sole purpose of envisioning all the actors and actresses in the movie while reading.) I cannot seem to stop thinking about the many men with accents who allow me a little suspension of disbelief into a world of perfect romance through the big screen (and some are just plain hot regardless of the type of movie). Since lists seem to be a popular thing right now, I thought I'd create my own list of actors who bring out the absurd fangirl in me.

No particular order with the exception of the last one:

JJ Feild-Starting here just seemed logical since he's the one I'm "in love" with after seeing Austenland.

Tom Hiddleston-Love him as F. Scott Fitzgerald, but nothing tops the bad ass Loki.

Michael Fassbender-He's the reason I switched who I root for in the X-Men franchise.

James McAvoy-I'll take him with or without his accent (see Penelope).

Dan Stevens-Who didn't fall in love with Matthew Crawley?

Benedict Cumberbatch-I wonder what a high functioning sociopath like Sherlock Holmes would think of my list.

Simon Pegg-Hey, I find humor attractive. Besides, there is that one shot in Hot Fuzz where he's all kick ass with guns, and it's awesome.

Ioan Gruffudd-He is just as flawlessly gorgeous in real life. I've seen him. All I could do is stare from 20 feet away since I didn't pay $40 for his autograph, but trust me, he's HOT.

Henry Cavill-Okay, this one really isn't for me. My sister and dearest friend (that's two people although my sister and I are good friends as well) are in love with this one, but he is super gorgeous and will round my list off at 10 rather nicely.

Number one is and always will be:

Colin Firth-He IS Mr. Darcy and a role like that makes him irreplaceable in my heart.

Wow. After a list like that, I have a feeling I'll have very sweet dreams (and if I'm lucky they'll happen with an accent).

Happily Ever After

First and foremost: SPOILER ALERT! There is a chance that I will give something away regarding the plot of Austenland by Shannon Hale. Therefore, if you intend to see the movie or read the book, you might consider stopping right here and returning after you've done one or the other or both.

Okay, so I am in my early 30s and still melt completely at cutsie, sweet "fairy tales." When it comes to love stories, I am a firm believer in hand-holding, face-caressing, hair-sweeping-behind-the-earring, soft-kissing, fun flirting, sincere-complimenting, etc. Ending with a wedding is just icing on the cake (mmmm...wedding cake*-the best). In actuality, most rom-coms include a sex scene at some point. Honestly, I could do without that. If it must be included, then I want the Greek Drama version. You know, where they just close the bedroom door and cut to the next day with some sort of breakfast together or something. I'm a grown woman. I am well aware what is happening behind that closed door. There is no logical reason I need to SEE the sex happen. Plus, I really don't want to. Part of it is because I believe sex is something very intimate between two people who love each other on a soulful level. (Go ahead and judge, but before you make an ugly comment look at the name of my blog.) If I am watching the act, I feel like I have intruded on something and ruined the sincerity of the emotion.

All of that pertains to books as well. Which is probably why I flock to Jane Austen and avoid things that are 50 shades of bad writing. I get that there isn't a lot of physical contact in Austen's novels, but I know the characters really, REALLY want to. That's part of the romance as well- a male character loves someone so much that he has to wrestle with propriety and carefully verbalize sentiment (not always in the best way) when really he just wants to grab the girl around the waist, pull her to him, and kiss her into the next time period.

All that being said, I saw this a few months ago:



I've loved Keri Russell since her MMC days.

I love Bret McKenzie because he's half of a fantastic musical comedy duo: Flight of the Conchords.

I've loved JJ Feild since he looked like this in a favorite movie of mine called Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story. (Yes, even with that hairstyle and dubious nature, I still formed a crush on the original Jack Robinson.)

Obviously, I was meant to see Austenland which of course meant I needed to read the book first. The book was such a perfect summertime quick read! I simply couldn't put it down. Hale wrote the type of love story that causes me to squeal inside. The writing is incredibly entertaining. When one of the male contenders for Jane's affections asks why she is into the whole Pride and Prejudice thing, she answers: "'If you were a woman, all I'd have to say is 'Colin Firth in a wet shirt' and you'd say 'Ah.'”

The characters are also so captivating! I will admit I routed for Nobley the entire course of the novel even though Martin was more realistic. While the movie does a good job of making both characters likable, I think it cheats Mr. Nobley some of what made him so splendid in the book. For instance, Nobley discovers Jane's passion for painting and has supplies anonymously delivered to her room. I wish they had left that in the movie. Then there is a fantastic connection between something Jane's best friend tells her at the beginning of the story and Nobley's profession of love for Jane at the end. (That should have been in the movie too, but alas, I suppose there is only so much they can do in an hour and a half.)

The book is full of those tender moments that I believe to be part of true romance. The best part is that Jane has TWO men offering these moments, so she (and the reader) have to decide who means it and who is acting.  It is an appropriate homage to Austen because the main character, Jane, finally makes the realization that while we may sigh over a fantasy we would much prefer the reality. You know, that whole woman empowerment/independent type thing. (Of course, Jane still gets her "Mr. Darcy," but AFTER she chooses reality so it is win-win!)

I'm a sucker for a girlie love story. And I'm a sucker for this face:

What can I say? I pick winners!

*Apparently, bakeries are movie away from the traditional flavor of wedding cake because it dries out too quickly. WTH?! Although, my friend had a lemon flavored wedding cake because her color was yellow, and it was super delicious.

Everybody is Somebody's Baby

Those are probably some of the wisest words I've been taught while teaching. It is so easy to classify kids solely on their behavior in my classroom. However, I don't teach in a vacuum. Every one of my students has his/her own life outside the walls of our campus. A few years ago, one of my friends shared an idea with me where I ask the parents/guardians to essentially "brag" about their children. I hand it out on the first day of school emphasizing it is "homework" for their parents/guardians. The kids love that. I also give my students bonus points for returning it. The best part about it is that I learn so much about my students that they would probably never share on their own.

If any of my teaching friends ever need a good idea, use this one! I will be happy to send you the form I use.

Here are some things I've learned about my students after knowing them for a couple of days:

• One young man is so proud of his heritage, he will study ON HIS OWN and share what he learns with his mom. Way cool.
• One student has many siblings and lost one to swine flu. Can you imagine having to deal with that as a teenager?
• A single parent was bed ridden after severe surgery and her son stepped up to take care of her and the rest of the family (all younger siblings). HE IS 16!
• I have a young lady who not only loves One Direction but also wants to be a marine biologist.
• Many parents describe their students as respectful and kind and helpful and sweet. I kind of like going into the school year with that idea in my head instead of the cynical notion that teenagers are the pits.

I wish I could type in the exact words each parent/guardian used because I actually teared up with some of these. There is genuine pride pouring forth from every one of the papers. (I just promise to keep this as confidential as possible, so I can only give generalities.) It is amazing the different way a teacher views her students after learning so much about them right from the start.

Part of the "bragging" is also anything the parents/guardians would like me to work on with their student. They are pretty honest. I see a lot of "he just needs to be pushed" or "her writing could be stronger." And almost all of them assure me they are ready to support my efforts and will include their phone number. 

It boils down to setting the right tone for the school year. I realize these kids aren't perfect and will find ways to drive me up the wall. Yet, I can always come back to these "essays" and remember the positive and potential within each of them. I can find a way to make it back to the students described by their parents/guardians, and that is pretty awesome.

A Mother By Any Other Name...

would still work her ass off! Being a mom is tough, and I don't care where she spends a majority of her time-inside or outside the home. Mother = WORK. And one of these days I'll opine about the differences of mothers who work inside the home versus mothers who work outside the home. For now, I'll briefly explain what I call being a half 'n half mom.

See, I work outside the home. However, I teach therefore I have all holidays and summers off to work inside the home. I wrapped up Summer 2013 this past weekend. We all survived, and as always, my older son's behavior fell apart the last week because he, too, was ready to return to daycare and his regularly scheduled life. Apparently, 8 weeks home with mom is enough because he ran from me today to play with his friends. The 1-year-old gladly clung to the arms of his caretaker in the infant room without a second thought of where I was or when I'd be back. Not that we didn't have a blast together, but we the three of us are social creatures who need to be around lots of other people. Ha ha!

So I offer an album of the many adventures that were had over our 8 weeks at home. I'm sure there are some things I could still add, but 100ish pics seemed like more than enough.

If We Could Talk to the Animals-Grunt and Squeak and Squawk With the Animals

While I am staying home with my boys this summer (one of the many perks of being a teacher), I decided to take them somewhere "big" each Friday. Last Friday we went to the zoo. Now, I had my reservations because most of my memories of the Dallas Zoo involved hot, empty concrete cells. Even last summer before my second child was born, I took my son all the way out to the Ft. Worth Zoo because I wanted him to have good memories and not the depressing images I always conjured up. However, having to pack up and load two children into a car and then getting everyone out and situated in strollers with backpacks, etc. was exhausting enough. I didn't want to make a trip an hour longer (for there and back) than it needed to be. Since I heard that the Dallas Zoo had really come around, I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

The Dallas Zoo superseded all of my expectations.

It is no longer the zoo of my youth. It is clean. It is cheerful. It is well organized. It is full of friendly employees. It serves a delicious variety of foods in the main eatery. The imprisonment of animals is long gone. All the habitats are clean and clearly well cared for. The animals were even out to say hello to all the visitors. Had we been able to stay longer, we could have seen many shows where keepers come out to either showcase an animal or talk about one. And get this-THERE'S A DALLAS ZOO APP! It puts all the information I need right in my hand. My favorite part is that the GPS can place me anywhere on the zoo map. We never got lost! I was able to set a plan for which animals we absolutely had to see first. Trust me, that is incredibly important when making sure lunch is on time and trying to beat nap time before both children turn into cranky monsters.

By far the Wilds of Africa: Giants of the Savanna far surpassed everything else in my opinion. It was beautiful! They had elephants and giraffes and gazelle and zebras all in an open area modeled after...well...the African Savanna. Right smack dab in the center (sort of-it is outside the habitat but in the middle-just go and see for yourself) is a rest area with shade and misters. We were able to sit and relax a bit once it started to get pretty hot and just watch the animals behave naturally. It was beyond awesome!

Because I am a big believer that pictures can often speak louder than words, here are some photos of our visit:

It's just a sign. I came to see animals.

Children's Zoo was a fun place to play around for a bit.

Get back in that nest! I'm not ready to let you fly off yet.

If I stay perfectly still, you won't be able to see me.

Such a big boy riding Solomon the Camel all by himself.

I said 'no' to riding the real crocodile, so this had to do.

Giving Where's Waldo a run for his money.

Absolutely beautiful!

My son excitedly took this photo. He loved being so close to the giraffes. They are, after all, reticulated.

A quick mommy/children shot before leaving. Everyone having fun.

I know it was a successful day when this is what was in the back seat of my car upon returning home:

Don't let the shade fool you. Both boys were O-U-T.

I loved it! I am trying to find a way to squeeze in one more visit before it gets too hot for humans let alone animals. Ha ha.

Best Way to End the School Year

As the day ends for many of my teacher friends, I want to share this to remind everyone that regardless of irritating, state-mandated testing, we (teachers) have worth and matter to someone:

It is no secret that 3A was my most challenging class this year. If a kid could be labeled delinquent at something, s/he was probably in this class. That happens every blue moon. All the trouble kids land in the same class period in order to test one's sanity as a teacher. (In fairness, it may be the Cosmos balancing out the fact that six-ish years ago I had the BEST 3A class EVER. Those students know EXACTLY who they are and how much that class rocked.)

I tried with this class. There was positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and maybe even some pleading. Except for a select few, most of the class couldn't have cared less about the effort they put in or what their final averages were. The entire class was never whole because there was always 3-4 kids in alternative placement. I couldn't even celebrate the fact that 3A would be smaller on exam day since exempt students don't have to come to class because 16 of the 21 students WEREN'T EXEMPT! All this to say, I was not thrilled that my absolute last class of the 2012-2013 school year would be 3A.

Then Zak turned in his final exam essay.

Zak has a lot going on for a 16-year-old. Actually, two of my co-workers were a major support system for him and worked with me to help keep him focused. There was even a day when he asked me to read a letter his step-father sent Zak from jail because Zak didn't know how to read cursive handwriting. Due to various issues, there are days Zak comes in with a little more attitude than he probably should. Today was one of those days. He didn't bring anything to write with and didn't want to borrow a pencil for a shoe (hey, it's the only way I get my supplies back). When I asked him if he really wanted the zero for the exam because he didn't want to give me a shoe as collateral, he just shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "whatever." I was very disappointed in him because I felt he had come a long way this year. Finally, he managed to secure a pencil from a classmate and wrote this:

Prompt: Reflect on everything we've read, discussed, written about, and/or argued this year. Choose one thing and write about how it has impacted your heroic journey.

Yes, I cried. I still do when I reread this. I don't even care if people want to judge the poor conventions of his essay because 1) it was in a timed situation and 2) this young man wouldn't even string together a proper sentence at the beginning of the year let alone multiple paragraphs.

I also distinctly remember the Emmitt Smith incident because Zak was having a REALLY bad day which meant chaos for my class since he expressed his anger/frustration by disrupting everyone else. I got a note card out and wrote his name in a really cool font on one side and this on the other: "For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream." Honestly, Zak was in such a bad funk that day, I figured he threw it away and wrote me off as a stupid teacher. I was wrong.

I honestly had given up the notion that ANYTHING I did mattered to my 3A. This, fortunately, reminded me that sometimes all I need to reach is one person.

Happy summer to all my teacher friends! I promise you all had a Zak this year even if you never knew it!

I'm Not Nick Carraway...

...and therefore am not "inclined to reserve all judgements."

My hetero-life mate, kham, and I went to see The Great Gatsby (FINALLY). We both had incredibly high hopes for the film. For starters, I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE Baz Luhrmann's movies. No one will ever be able to convince me his vision of Romeo and Juliet is wrong. He showed people why Shakespeare will always be the master wordsmith by keeping the art in the language and brilliantly updating the backdrop so teenagers (like me-I was 16 when it was released) would have a reason to appreciate a balcony scene. Not to mention the discovery of two great talents: Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (side note: Paul Rudd played Paris-just sayin'). Plus, I am incredibly easily stimulated by color and movement. I am a visual learner and believe that often an image will speak more loudly than words. Moulin Rouge is like crack for my eyes. I never get tired of it. So my disappointment in The Great Gatsby was not premeditated because of some distaste for Luhrmann's movies. Actually, I hoped he would properly visualize what I see when I read the book. Think about it. It takes place during the Roaring 20s. The music and parties in the novel always conjure up bright colors and fast paced images every time I read it. This may be a main reason why Gatsby is one of my favorite novels.

So what went wrong? It took me a while to figure it out, but I knew something was not quite right when I wanted to leave about 30 minutes into the film. The great question I pondered was whether Luhrmann was actually SO genius in his interpretation that I was missing something clever or if he just completely missed the essence of Fitzgerald's work. In the end, I feel the movie got so caught up in the style that the message is lost The Great Gatsby exposes the shallowness of The American Dream. Yes, in this great country of ours we are supposed to be able to roll up our sleeves and work hard (or make the right connections) to achieve greatness. Unfortunately, that greatness is measured in material wealth. Even in contemporary society fame and fortune seem to be the indicators that someone has "made it" rather than finding true happiness.

In the novel, none of the characters are meant to arouse sympathy from the reader. The Buchanans are after all, "careless people, Tom and Daisy — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. . . ." In this movie, they (well at least Daisy) are almost seen as victims of their circumstance when in fact they are just rotten people. Even when Daisy is being forced to make a decision, the viewer almost wants to feel sorry for her. Yet, every time I read the novel I hate her more and more simply because she chooses to embrace the emptiness of her life as long as it means she gets to have nice things. And what is with Tom crying over Myrtle's body? He's an ass! There is ONE person he gives a crap about, and that is himself.

Honestly, I wasn't excited about Toby McGuire as Nick because I am not a fan of Toby McGuire. No other real reason. I definitely don't think making Nick a headcase was pertinent to the telling of the story. Actually, Nick isn't really important enough, to me, to receive feeling. He just happenes to stumble into this story...this world and has to report back on it. The film made it seem as if he actually had been friends with Gatsby and cared about him. The feeling I always get from the novel is that Nick feels it is his duty to handle up on Gatsby because no one else would and he is living on Gatsby's grounds.

How can anyone feel for Gatsby himself? Maybe pity? This guy can't let go of his past and that's pretty pathetic. How could I cheer for a "hero" like that? And I don't believe I am supposed to. I will say this: Leonardo DiCaprio had me at his first smile as Gatsby. I had my doubts, but even Luhrmann admits that regardless of what people think about the movie, no one can argue with the exquisite performance DiCaprio makes as Jay Gatsby.

 

The part that had me the most confused was how much caricature Luhrmann seemed to employ when Nick would tell the story. This is why I thought that maybe he was being a genius. Everyone remembers the past with rose colored glasses, and there is a feeling of living life over the top when people think about the Roaring 20s. The novel itself goes into great detail at the overabundance at all the parties, so it would make sense to have all those scenes become almost a lampoon against the aristocracy since Gatsby could appear to live their lives better than they did and all on the buck of a criminal. But I don't think Luhrmann had that in mind. I think he simply wanted to visualize the artificial glamor of it all. And he did.

He provided my eyes with their regular dose of crack. The costumes were remarkable. The color was beyond vibrant. The scenery and music defined all that is Baz Luhrmann. I cannot fault him for that. I knew going in that it was a Baz Luhrmann film. However, when I have to audibly (very quietly though since I didn't want anyone to think I was crazy) keep telling myself "Remember this is Baz Luhrmann" because stuff doesn't make sense, then there is a problem. It was also very reminiscent of Moulin Rouge. I even expected Ewan McGregor at one point to pop out and give us a musical number.

People are welcome to disagree with me. I do have a degree in English, and I do teach this novel to my students. That might bother some if they feel my interpretation of the novel and comparison to the film are off (or if they aren't the forgiving type and tear up my grammar/conventions without taking into account this is a personal blog and being written at 11:26 at night). I simply mention these things to establish some credibility because someone somewhere will take all of this personally when it is certainly not meant to be a personal attack. In truth, I will probably own it because it IS Baz Luhrmann. He DID make a visually stunning film (remember that whole eye crack thing). Leonardo DiCaprio IS fantastic as Gatsby. So yeah, I'll own it and watch it again and again. But that doesn't change the fact that I was very disappointed and will tell my students that if they choose to see this version, they need to take great caution since it lacks the depth of the novel.

There he is... MR. America?

Schedules aligned and I had enough energy to take my three-year-old to the Mr. True Blue Pageant where I work. Our student council started this event last year because they thought it would be nice to recognize the young men at our school since we have a Homecoming Queen but no King. (I'm sure using it as a fundraiser is also a bonus.)

Here's why I thoroughly enjoyed tonight: great kids still exist. Even though at the core a teenager has always been and will always be a teenager, there are so many things kids face today that never once crossed my mind when I was younger. I see the change more vividly perhaps since  I teach where I also attended and graduated high school. I also watch television and know that these kids have companies pandering to them in ways that wouldn't have even been allowed when I was growing up. (I just recently read that Victoria's Secret is going to have a new "department" for teen girls? I'm already concocting a blog about why I am glad I have two boys.)

Since the focus of this evening was on the young men, it was refreshing to see that regardless of what society tells these boys they are supposed to be, they manage to be well spoken, well mannered, well groomed, and well brought up. All of them had the support of family and friends. All the cheering was appropriate and fun. Not once did I have to put on my "teacher hat" to correct a negative situation. It was a great feeling!

I took a little pride in knowing that seven of the 18 contestants sat in my classroom at one point in their academic careers. It was wonderful being able to whisper in my son's ear, "That's one of Mommy's students." All of the young men were excellent examples for my son to be watching, and I was tickled when he got excited during the talent portion.

The talents ranged from cooking to singing to dancing to instrument playing. And my little boy loved it all. I loved the fact that my son could see all the possibilities before him of what he could do when he is older. 

The whole evening was a feel good kind of night. Teachers deserve nights like this and should cherish them. We are doing something right and this was a great reminder. Good job KHam! Be proud of your crew! I certainly am.

"You are the light of the world..."

"...your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Matthew 5: 14, 16 (NAB)

Without causing an online debate about theologies,  I simply wish to explain why I chose to believe in the goodness of others and happy endings.

The bombings at the Boston Marathon was a horrid reminder that evil deeds can often appear successful especially after hours of mending wounds, healing hearts, and searching for the cowardly culprit(s) behind such a vicious crime. All day my news feed regurgitated headlines emphasizing the blood and loss of limbs and ominous feeling of the "who-done-it."

I fought the urge to leave work, pick up my boys from daycare, go home, and lock us all away never to go out into such a terrible world again! It took all of my effort to fight back the numerous thoughts of all the terrible things that happen in this word and all the terrible ways they could happen to those I love. It quickly lead to questioning why I bother to bring two innocent children into a world that could so callously take them out. I started thinking how every morning when I kiss my children good-bye it could be for the last time.

The option of cynicism and anger and hatred becomes so tempting. Why be kind to a stranger especially if he is the sicko with potential to cause so much damage? Why use kind words to people who probably don't appreciate them? Why not become an island so no one affects me and I affect no one? Or better yet, why not just always put myself first? Why find what makes me genuinely happy when Twitter and Facebook show us how much more entertaining cutting commentary that strips people down to their faults and then pokes fun at them seems to be, and how we are encouraged to use those methods to lift ourselves up? (I know I've been guilty of it. It is easy to do.) Why not focus on the material so I can attain what society deems success? Why not dwell on what I don't have but deserve?

Then I stopped.

I started to notice tweets and posts that included:

And then a friend tweeted this article about actor Patton Oswalt's take on the whole situation.

It all reminded me that I exhaust myself being "light" in the darkness. My unceasing optimism and idealism is what makes me such a great educator (and a loveable annoyance to some of my friends I'm sure). But you know what? That exhaustion is worth it if it means I can band together with other beams and outshine whatever malefactors threaten humanity.

Good will always win. Perhaps it may not be immediately, and in the instant gratification society "now" is when people want results, but good will triumph ultimately. I firmly believe that. Just as I firmly believe my simple "thank you" and "have a good day" can alter a person's perspective if even for a moment. I believe in the goodness in children (even my teenage students), and if it is cultivated correctly doesn't have to become evil. I believe that my happiness lies in love: the love of my family, the love of my friends, the fundamental love of life. When I project my light, my love can become contagious, and if enough of us project such a love then hate/ignorance/frustration/anger will have no one to cling to.

I realize many people will scoff or roll their eyes or label me delusional. How can I ignore the harsh realities of life? I can't. But I can do as Marcus Aurelius advises:

"Say to yourself first thing in the morning: today I shall meet people who are meddling, ungrateful, aggressive, treacherous, malicious, unsocial. All this has afflicted them through their ignorance of true good and evil. But I have seen the nature of good and what is right, and the nature of evil and what is wrong; and I have reflected that the nature of the offender himself is akin to my own...the same fragment of divinity. Therefore, I cannot be harmed by any of them, as none will infect me with their wrong."

Yes there is badness in the world and the feeling of helplessness to stop it can be overwhelming, but how I choose to continue to live my life facing evil head on is what matters. I am not alone in this as evident by the continuous support that avails itself after a tragedy. There are a bunch of us out there and it is vital that we always remember that.

As wise Master Yoda states: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering" and, "Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter."

STAAR Wars (I never get tired of calling it that)

STAAR English exams are underway this week, and anyone in public education around here will unabashedly tell you how s/he feels about this. Many of the gripes will include: nightmares about testing gone awry, stress induced headache/reflux, tears, anger, tears, tension knots in the shoulders, tears...The bottom line is that testing benefits no one except those pocketing the dough from it (I'm looking at you Pearson)*.

For me, as a high school English teacher, the truth behind the test stress lies in this:

Great teachers can only be born. That doesn't mean that they all teach in a classroom, but those that do understand that teaching isn't something that can be shut off at the end of the day. It is intertwined with the marrow of one's bones. At all times my brain is alert to anything that may spark a lesson or deepen a class discussion. Ideas originate from the news, movies, books, activities my 3-year-old son does at school. I can look at someone's lesson and begin to morph it into my own. Teaching is who I am, and I must admit I believe myself to be pretty good. All true teachers feel this way.

In the past, I simply scoffed at the standardized tests because my classroom was a place where learning transcended such piddly notions. I was confident that my students were ready for life and the test would just take care of itself. For many years this has worked. Perhaps it was a bit arrogant of me to see myself in such a great light since my scores always came back satisfactorily and I was left to run my classroom as I saw fit. I know I've gotten away with more than many of my peers simply because my students do perform so well. The fact is-I love my profession. And if I can be recognized repeatedly at something I truly love, then I will take pride in that.

The STAAR exams are essentially mini-AP exams for on-level students. I am a firm believer that students will rise to the expectations set for them. Therefore, it is not impossible to teach on-level students skill necessary to pass an AP-esque exam. However, the gap from TAKS to STAAR is so great that it isn't going to happen overnight and policymakers expect results now.

As a consequence, the outcome of these tests will define (for administration, parents, and politicians) my competency in the classroom. It IS stupid that so much rests on one day because I cannot control what a student will do when s/he enters a room on testing day. Did s/he have to work a double shift last night to help pay bills? Did mom/dad come home drunk? Does mom/dad even care about education? Is s/he in charge of all younger siblings and not given time to take care of him/herself? Did his/her electricity get shut off last night? Did s/he eat breakfast? Is s/he mad at a run-in with an administrator this morning? Will s/he just be a punk and purposefully screw up to spite the test?

In the end, and aside from the things I cannot control, my ultimate fear is: What if I am not the kind of teacher I always believed myself to be? What if my passion for teaching and the lessons I create aren't as awe inspiring as I've convinced myself they are? I will have failed my students. According to the State, I will have failed them based on skills others deem necessary. According to my own standards, I will have failed them by not being the teacher they truly need. All of the prescribed curriculum that I'm required to use I know in the teaching-marrow of my bones is insufficient and only teaches to a test. And yet, if the results aren't what is expected, that same sub par curriculum will prove itself superior to the lessons I painstakingly create to build skills students will actually need in society.

And that fear is why I finally broke down and cried this morning causing the eye make-up I attempted to apply to roll down my face.

I just have to make it to Friday.

 *Check out my friend The Crib Keeper's site about one kids answer to standardized testing.

The Great and Powerful...

well...not James Franco.

Tonight my husband and I saw The Great and Powerful Oz because it has been a while since we've gone to movies and both really wanted to see this. WARNING: This might contain spoilers for anyone who didn't already put a lot of the pieces together just by watching the previews.

I make an effort to never read movie reviews. This practice allows me to enjoy or despise films on my terms. Unfortunately, I scrolled across this review by Chris Vognar in my Twitter feed the other day and had to read on.

I really wish I hadn't read his review mostly because I usually agree with his opinions. And yet, the disappointment in myself for having read this didn't stem from the fact I was hoping he was wrong or dreading he'd be right. Everything he said was ingrained in my system and would be there as I watched the film. My curiosity prejudiced my own opinion before the opening credits.

First and foremost: if you are going to see this movie, cough up the extra dough to see it in 3D. The fact that films feel obligated to provide a 3D version sickens me. Literally. 3D triggers my migraines for some reason, and I am ill for hours after the movie is over. Besides, I believe charging for a pair of glasses that I can't even keep (and are no longer that cool one lens blue/one lens red combo) is more ludicrous than the $11 the theaters get away with charging me for a regular-D ticket. However, there are many images and scenes in this film that were only put in because they would look cool in 3D. I hate that. I prefer 3D to be organic. If the twister had been in 3D? Cool. The witches flying around? Sure. But so many superfluous parts only existed to make me think, "Wow. I bet that's cool in 3D. Too bad 3D gives me a headache."

Second: don't have unreasonable expectations. No part of me thought this would be a groundbreaking film. I had two objectives-figure out how Oz and the witches all fit together PD (that's Pre-Dorothy) and to see pretty colors and scenery. As long as those are the only two things a person has in mind when going to see this film, s/he will not be disappointed.

Third: James Franco will always be James Franco. Good news is he's kind of pretty. (Side note: his little bro Dave is FAR cuter.)

Fourth: Raimi does a descent job incorporating both the original novel and iconic film. So purists will appreciate that.

Fifth: the pacing is sort of awkward. The timeline didn't really seem to jive with me. Really Theodora? You're going to fall for Oz's insincere charm the minute you meet him and then get angry when it turns out he isn't really in love with you? Oh, is it already time for the wicked witch to become the wicked witch of the west? And it's that "easy?" Um okay. I just didn't feel like the characters interacted enough with each other on intimate enough levels to spark such hate/anger/jealousy. By the way IT IS SO OBVIOUS what is going to spur the transformation of the wicked witch of the west. I called it the minute Theodora got excited about being the queen to Oz's king while he just sort of looked at her like, "I just wanted a little somethin' somethin' not an eternal lifetime bond." Sigh.

Sixth: the little nods to the original characters are pretty cool and some not as obvious as others. Annie, Oz's one true love, visits him while he's still in Kansas to let him know she's been asked by John Gale to marry him. Anyone remember Dorothy's last name? Anyone? Anyone? And of course sweet Annie is wearing a Gingham dress. AND Michelle Williams plays both Annie and Glinda (guess who Oz actually falls in love with while in Oz). Viewers also learn why the cowardly lion is cowardly, how the scarecrow probably came about, and why Oz has to pretend to be some monstrosity. Now, I don't recall the Tin Man being tied into this film. I think I might have missed it, but my husband doesn't recall it either.

Seventh: Danny Elfman wrote the musical score. I'm always down with that.

Overall, my husband and I gave the film a "meh." Finley the friendly flying monkey was great (but then again when is Zach Braff NOT great), but other than that I really didn't feel attached to any characters or invested in their heroic journeys. And there were some things still left unanswered that I suppose we are just meant to figure out on our own. No mention of any type of special shoes was included (I know that there is a copyright on the ruby slippers but the novel still had magic shoes).

In the end, I wouldn't say I was disappointed but probably won't see it again until it is on cable and only if nothing else is on to watch.

I DO Believe in Hockey. I DO Believe in Hockey.

I am the girl who fell in love with hockey. A sport that really has no business anywhere where the temperatures go over 50 degrees in the winter. A sport that has been (professionally) in Dallas, Texas for 20 years. My devotion to the Dallas Stars has not wavered over the past two decades. And when my graduating class had to break tradition and hold our ceremony somewhere other than Reunion Arena in 1999 because the Stars were fighting for The Stanley Cup, it was quite all right by me. I even knew I would marry my husband because he had Stars season tickets and treated me to a steak dinner before a game on our first date.

Now, my fanaticism doesn't mean I could spew stats about every player on the team or put together lines based on those stats. However, I believe being able to say "high stick" in french (bâton élevé), explain an off-side call, and sing "O Canada" does lend me at least a little credibility when it comes to discussing the sport. And being a Dallas girl (born and bred) establishes me as a perfect candidate for discussing my team.

So after a painful lockout that knocked away half of the season (I am starting to expect one of these every few years), I decided the Stars organization has gone about the wrong way in marketing the team. Here's what they did and what I would have done:

Everyone knows how pretentious the city of Dallas is. I am okay with that. I like that we have pride in our appearance even if it means we breed $30-thousandairs like rabbits. This also means we are a front runner town. If you don't believe me, think about how many baseball fans suddenly existed when the Rangers made it to the World Series or basketball enthusiasts were cheering on the Mavericks for the Championship. It surprised me how many peopled donned the gear and probably couldn't even tell me the difference between Hamilton and Nowitski. Even now, only the die-hards are still on the Cowboys' bandwagon. Therefore, in this city the Dallas Stars need to be winners.

The organization tried to solve this by paying lots o' dough for a couple of older, more experienced players. Sorry fellas, nothing personal, but ALL sports have a shelf-life and I was immediately leery of a couple of 40-year-olds joining the team. The real mistake was placing so much emphasis on Jaromir Jagr. Is he famous? Of course. Does he seem like a really nice guy? You betcha. However, I am not okay with the Stars' billboard that has an image of Jagr and states "A Legend Becomes a Star." Seriously? We haven't been able to "grow" our own superstar since Modano left? We have to buy one from somewhere else? Immediately, you have injured my Dallas pride. On top of that, he has performed for ONE game. Just one. AND I read today that there could be the possibility he would return to Philadelphia if things don't change. Do we at least get our deposit back?

Some would argue that without a player like Jagr the Stars can't win. Well, see, the funny thing about that is WITH a player like Jagr the Stars still can't win. Perhaps the organization needs to just let go of that pipe dream and call this what it should be: a rebuilding year. By doing so, all pressure to preform well is removed. But of course, that brings me back to the problem of Dallas being a front runner town. If we know the Stars don't plan to win a whole lot, how do you fill the seats?

That's simple: make the team look good. Literally. Dallas likes things to be pretty. The Stars would need to start focusing on handsome-ing up its players and allow those that tend to be more aesthetically pleasing to grace all marketing. Like this guy:

Don't get me wrong. I'm not calling the team a bunch of dogs. After all, the only thing I find more attractive than a man on blades is one who can write computer code; however, the face of an organization is just as important as the performance of that organization (Modano was quite the looker after all AND could get the job done). Once the city is pleased with the look of the Stars, it is time to give Dallas some ownership in the Stars.

Basically, the Stars Organization should let the city enjoy having young players and up-and-comers. Revel in the fact that one day we'll have another Modano or Nieuwendyk or Hull that we "grew" ourselves. Let fans get to know the new boys regularly at casual/accessible events. Make the team a bunch of guys you could sit and have a beer with. Let us enjoy how approachable they are because they are not superstars...yet. This way we might not go to the games necessarily to see a victory but to watch our pals take the ice.

By creating a stronger sense of Stars community, we'll work together to bolster team morale even if the loss column continues to grow. Sure, the Stars might not have a superstar on a rebuilding team, but if the fans believe the organization is trying to work on its "common" touch instead of running with nobility it might expand the fan base by tapping into the hipster movement that tries to avoid the mainstream. That's what should happen! The Stars should focus on not being mainstream. They can be the grass roots of the NHL. They can remind everyone what the love of hockey should be about. It can become a game of personalities on the ice instead of pucks in the net. At that point winning just becomes the icing on the cake.

In the end, I don't promise that my plan is foolproof. I have no background in PR, sports, business, or marketing. Simply put: I am just the girl who fell in love with hockey and the Dallas Stars.

Realigning my North Star

It's fair to say that most of this school year I have questioned my effectiveness in the classroom. Many days I pull into my parking spot and wonder if it is time for me to move on to other districts or even other types of jobs. What makes it really difficult is that teaching is the only thing I've wanted to do my entire life. I've had notions to write novels or set up by own business on Etsy with my sewing. At one point (long before Pixar), I even wanted to be one of the people who colored in the cells for Disney animated films. In the end, I remind myself how teaching just comes so naturally and that for at least one student a year I do make a difference. Yet, the system has a way of beating me so far down I find it almost impossible to recover. And then something happens to help me refocus. This time it was a fortuitous encounter with Peter Reynolds.

Quick background on how this came about: I am a member of the USA Film Festival and receive invitations to numerous events. It was through this organization I was able to meet Dave Goelz (The Great Gonzo), saw a preview of The Help that included a Q & A with Tate Taylor and Octavia Spencer, and am able to screen films before their nationwide release. Every year they hold a Kids Festival that focuses on...well...children. This past weekend one of their events included a collection of films based on Peter Reynolds' books and a book signing following with the man himself. Of course I called immediately to reserve seats for my husband and son (I had other plans and couldn't go but refused to allow my 3-year-old to miss such an opportunity). Moments after I hung up the phone; the lovely, young lady working the festival called me back. She remembered I was a teacher and wondered if I would like to join the other ladies running the festival for dinner with Mr. Reynolds. What fool would say "no thank you?"

Saturday arrived and my son and husband had a blast at the event. William even received his first autographed book!

(Naturally, I am infinitely more excited about this than my son is for now. He was thrilled about his book and put it in the bedtime story rotation, but I have a feeling it will take on more meaning for him as he gets older.)

Dinner quickly approached and I had to remind myself NOT to turn into a 13-year-old fangirl when I finally met Peter Reynolds. Besides, I tried to convince myself, he would be sitting with all the board members who were joining us. I probably would introduce myself, get a picture, and that would be it. My nerves weren't buyin' it, so I ordered a Maracas margarita when we arrived at the restaurant (a decision I'm pretty sure I'm STILL recovering from). Then the craziest thing happened: the film festival ladies allowed me to sit DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM PETER REYNOLDS. I had no choice BUT to speak with him all evening! Talk about pressure. I would have to be clever while slightly intoxicated. (Fortunately, my loving husband is great under that kind of pressure and helped a lot with the conversation.)

Taking pride in my loquacity (a real word-I promise) makes it difficult for me to admit that I cannot properly explain how meeting Peter Reynolds impacted my outlook on the rest of this school year and my career. Everyone needs to get a hold of his books. The three that tend to trend together are: The Dot, Ish, and The North Star. Peter Reynolds is the very person you expect to be the author of these true treasures. He reminded me that I don't teach for kids to pass a test nor do I have to listen to those whose minds are too narrow to appreciate the potential in my students. Did I already know these things? Sure. Have I let them slip away a bit? Yes. Something about the encouragement from someone not tied up in the political gunk of education helped shake off the dust of apathy that can really skew my optimism. It also reminded me that my students aren't the only ones who depend on me. So many adults had teachers who refused to let a broken system dictate success, and I must remain one of those teachers. And as crazy as it sounds, Peter Reynolds' absolute faith that I do right by my students simply based on how I presented myself at dinner caused me to realize if I quit doing what I know is best for my students, and if I lowered my standards to appease the politicians, then I would lose my true self and the passion for what I do.

As if aiding in the realization of one of my New Year's resolutions (#3 I believe) wasn't enough, Peter Reynolds began following me on Twitter AND wants to keep in touch! He will return in March for Arts and Letters Live at the DMA, and I will be there.

Every Prom Needs a Little Duk Dong

There is an adorable teen film called Prom. It has most of what you expect: sort of nerds, cool kids, a bad boy, a superstar academic, love triangles, opposite attractions, etc. And every time it comes on cable I MUST watch it. My husband simply rolls his eyes and shakes his head at my inability to turn away from such a ridiculous film. It took me a while to figure out why it was the bug zapping light to my hopeless flying insect of a psyche. Then one day it hit me...

IT'S ALMOST A PERFECT JOHN HUGHES MOVIE!

Note that I said "almost." It teases by dipping its toe in that genre of cinematic gold. Take a peek at this cute promo that came out during the apparent countdown they had before the film's release.

Potential right? All the necessary characters are there and had I seen this before I saw the actual film a lot of plot holes would be non-existent.  The problem is that even though this film does its best to fulfill all necessary archetypes for a teen flick, it doesn't offer any realistic commentary of teenagers today. Nor does it offend me in a comical way while still managing to comment on some societal mindset.

The reason I have ALWAYS loved teen films of the 80s is because that is exactly what they did. Teenagers were teenagers. Partying. Bullying. Studying. Dating. Loving. Hating. Judging. And they managed to do all of this and still get in a few laughs. I mean, where would Sixteen Candles be without this guy:





How hilarious are these? I guess teenage boys are looking to score regardless of country of origin. Plus, the grandparents are proudly (and maybe cluelessly) exploiting Dong's academic trip to America. I love it! Prom really does try. There are so many nods to some of Hughes' greats such as a running scene through the high school, rendezvous in a parking lot, a lecherous/unfaithful boyfriend with the insecure girlfriend who needs to become her own person, even the bad boy falling for the good girl:

 

Unfortunately, nothing in the film measures up to this:



I so desperately want Prom to be Sixteen Candles or The Breakfast Club! The real problem is that Disney has its name all over the film so it has to stay clean and too sugary sweet to meet its true destiny of becoming a memorable movie that defines a generation. Perhaps that is why I watch Prom every time it comes on. Surely just once it will reach Hughes Greatness! Just once instead of this:
I'll get this:

11 pipers piping...

That's right, it is the 11th day of Christmas, and for the first time EVER I broke my own rule of taking down the tree and decorations before the Epiphany. I feel a little guilty because taking everything down Sunday would have taken the same amount of time as taking them down today, but I wanted to get it done quickly without the interruption of either of my children. Poor excuse for breaking tradition and something I truly believe in, but it is done so no more lamenting about it.

The reason I always wait until the Epiphany is because that is when the Christmas season actually ends. Even if someone is just celebrating the secular concept of Christmas, CHRISTmas came from a religious background so why not celebrate the entire season accordingly? Besides, everyone keeps whining about how depressing the day after Christmas is and how s/he doesn't want to take down decorations quite yet. If people just acknowledged Christmastide/Twelvetide, we could gradually say good-bye to the Christmas season until next year. Every day could just slightly take us out of Christmas into New Years and finally back on schedule.Then ending all the buildup wouldn't feel so jolting when the day actually comes and goes.

Think about how much cooler the season would be if we had 12 actual gifts to give on each day of Christmas? Or better yet, if we dedicated the 12 Days of Christmas to giving back in some way. The bottom line is I'm sick and tired of the complaining about Christmas having no meaning or being too commercial or ending too quickly. It really shouldn't stop on the 26th of December but rather continue on into the 6th of January. It might just matter more if we did it right.

Resolutions are for the birds...

but I'll make a few anyway.

Fortunately, I've been going to the gym since my doctor released me after having my baby last summer. My routine is established and desired weight is being lost/maintained. Therefore, I don't have to join a gym for $1 only to quit going by the middle of February (or sooner). Of course, my gym time will be irritatingly altered by all the folks who are adding gym time to their schedule for the next few weeks just until their dedication wanes and they cancel their memberships until January 2014. So no resolution to get into shape or exercise more.

Eating more healthily...um...I can only make this a resolution if having a bowl of Peanut Butter Crunch before going to bed is considered healthy eating.

As for money matters: I like to spend it and not save it. Yep that about sums it up.

Okay, so what does that leave me?

Well, I have decided to keep my house what I call "guest ready." This simply means that regardless of day or hour if someone were to stop by for any reason I would not be embarrassed by the state of my home. This will really be tested once I return to work because some evenings those few dishes in the sink seem insurmountable when compared to my exhaustion after working all day. However, I plan to make sure the beds are made everyday, keep the sink empty of dishes, and have my son put all his toys away before going to bed. Doing these three things will keep my house tidy enough between Merry Maid cleanings.

I desperately need to get back to my writing. It doesn't matter to me if people read it. Writing just makes me feel productive. My fingers assertively patting the keys while my brain filters through all my vocabulary and useless knowledge trying to find a way to organize my thoughts about, well, everything. My goal will be at least one post a week. On days I'm feeling particularly creative I might even write a couple of posts and schedule them ahead of time. There's also the matter of my book. Yes, I would LOVE to publish a book and yes, I've had numerous ideas and starts that never went anywhere. This is my year! I just need to decided how I want to pace myself to get it all done.

Finally, at work I really sort have been in a funk. I still believe that teaching is the only thing I ever want to do. Unfortunately, I teach public school in a state with a crap system that keeps becoming crappier. The minute my negativity begins to bleed into my work my students will know. I need to focus on at least three positives a day even if it requires me going through my Smile File to remember why I go in every day. I actually reread something from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations that I plan to really focus on:

"When, in the early morning, you are reluctant to get up, have this thought in mind: 'I rise to do a man's work. Am I still resentful as I go to do the task for which I was born and for the sake of which I was brought into the world? Was I made to warm myself under the blankets?' 'But this is more pleasant.' Were you born for pleasure, to feel things, and not do them?...You do not love yourself. If you did, you would certainly love your own nature and its purpose."

I know I'm meant to teach. I will just pray that I either find happiness again in my current position or find a job that allows me to use my skills to teach in some other capacity.

That should do it for 2013. 

Riddikulus!

If you instinctively assumed I must be battling a wicked Boggart, we are meant to be friends. I wish it was a Boggart that had me casting such a spell.

One of the biggest bummers in my life is that I was born a Muggle (which I don't find too terrible if that's my biggest bummer). If only Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizardry was real and I had been born in the lovely British Isles, I believe I would have had a good chance of the magic quill jotting my name in the big book of baby wizards when I was born. (Random fact: Harry Potter was born in 1980, so we're the same age.) All of this is simply to convey my adoration for the entire book series. I read the entire set of books at least once a year and always discover something new or that I had forgotten.

Even though I find the books 100 times greater than the films, the movies also captivate my attention. They are a great way to keep the story fresh in my mind between readings. Besides, I really enjoy casting characters and creating scenes that aren't in the film versions that I believe should be.

Another reason I enjoy the films is for all the extra stuff like deleted scenes. Actually, that's one of my quirks. I get a kick out of bonus material. Seriously. I like hearing the director's thoughts and learning about costuming and set design, etc. So after the final installment of the Harry Potter films showed in theaters, I vowed to own all eight films on Blu-Ray with as much bonus footage as possible. I knew it would be costly but didn't care. The real problem was waiting for such a thing to exist.

Two weeks ago it happened.

While looking through my inbox I spotted one of the usual promotional e-mails from Warner Brothers. They were going to pre-sale the Harry Potter Wizard's Collection (what I will call a Wizard's Box)! It would contain all eight films in Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital formats! Not to mention 40+ hours of BONUS MATERIAL including the series Creating the World of Harry Potter which I have been trying to purchase for about a year. There was also mentioned something about HP memorabilia, but I didn't pay too much attention because I was finally going to get the movies with all the extras I had so long anticipated. Even better was the fact that they were offering this $500 treasure for a measly $350 because I am special.

It was ordered.

Oddly enough once it shipped, the UPS information said the package weighed 26.50 pounds. I figured this had to be a mistake. Eight discs and a couple of HP trinkets probably weighed 2-3 pounds and UPS had screwed up. See, I had envisioned this Wizard's Box being relative small. It would nicely and neatly hold the 8 or so discs in one small block like my Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Star Wars. I even removed my DVD copies of each individual movie to leave a block of space for this average sized box. It was going to slide in comfortably next to my John Hughes boxed set.

Three days ago the package arrived. I came downstairs to find a rather large box in the living room. My response was simply, "I didn't order an actual wizard!" Well, I opened the first box to find a slightly smaller (but not much) box. I opened that box to find the Harry Potter Wizard's Collection packaging not much smaller than the previous two boxes. It was at this point I realized I probably should have paid closer attention to the description on the Warner Brother's site.

When all was said and done, this is what I had purchased:

Not only is the box actually about a foot and a half cubed, but the "trinkets" I expected are certified maps, sketches, photos, and even jewelry inspired by the films. These things are even hidden in various compartments of the box. Obviously, this Wizard's Box was more an Engorgio spell gone horribly wrong. There's no way it will fit on my movie shelves, and although it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, I now feel like that person. The one who names her kids after the characters or refers to Rowling as Jo. (I'm NOT that person. I just feel like it.)

I suppose as "riddikulus" as my Wizard's Box is, I should take solace in the fact that I'm still a far cry from this guy:

Takin' Care of Business

Tomorrow morning will be the first day of teacher in-service that I have not attended in eight years. Without fail, the end of August heralds in another academic year for me, and I readily anticipate it with my own new school supplies and ideas for my students. However, I have a newborn who is not yet a month old. Therefore, I will be sitting out the entire first six weeks of the school year. And as I think about all that I'd like to do in my classroom and with my lessons, my emotions are getting the better of me. 

It's tough because I wouldn't want people to think I don't love my own children. I have two beautiful boys:

Being able to hang out with my 3-year-old this summer before the baby was born made for great memories. Since the baby arrived, I have equally enjoyed the cuddling and loving that a baby requires to be happy. There is no doubt that I love being a mom especially since my children totally rock.

It's just very few people are blessed with jobs that they love. I AM TEACHING. Everything about it fits my personality. It is also a great feeling that in a small way I am changing the future. There are so many minds to open and enlighten. Not to mention how much I learn from the students who walk into my class. In the past eight years I have influenced and been influenced by roughly 1200 students. That's only counting the ones I have directly taught.

So tomorrow morning when my alarm doesn't go off but I wake up at 6 o'clock anyway to feed my baby, I will probably fight back tears because I know that the academic world will continue to spin without me.

Mad About Hatters

Oddly enough I am not a fan of the actual stories Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I have tried to enjoy it every time I force myself to read them. I just can't do it. The writing feels flat and gets incredibly boring incredibly quickly. What I do LOVE are all the interpretations of Alice's adventures. In actuality, most people are interpreting the animated Disney version which is far more entertaining than reading the stories. A couple of my favorites are Tim Burton's version from 2010 and the Frank Beddor Looking Glass Wars book series.

In all honesty, there was a 100% chance I was going to like Burton's Alice because Tim Burton is pure genius especially when he teams up with Johnny Depp and Danny Elfman. I was right. The idea that Burton brings Alice back to Wonderland to fulfill a prophesy based off of Carroll's poem "Jaberwocky" is a unique way to pay homage to both the stories and Disney's animated version of them.

With Beddor's book series he explores the possibility that not only are Alice's adventures real, but she is our salvation from her evil aunt who goes between Wonderland and our world meddling with dark and dangerous things. It it young adult fiction, so it didn't take me long to read the books which I greatly appreciate since I'm a working mom with a newborn.

The other day I was channel surfing and caught the last 30 minutes of a show on the Syfy channel, and within that half hour I realized it was another version of the Alice story. I immediately looked into it, and thanks to instant streaming on Netflix was able to watch the two part mini-series Alice. (Actually, I've watched it multiple times because I like it so much. I'm sure my husband is sick of seeing it on the television.) The version Syfy created was actually quite clever. It also had some big names like Kathy Bates, Tim Curry, and Colm Meaney. But the best part was that I met him...

Okay, that's a goofy wallpaper that I will probably put on my laptop. Here is a better shot of the British actor Andrew-Lee Potts...

What can I say? His version of Hatter is great and I had to know what else he had starred in. So I did what anyone with too much time on her hands during summer break would do: I searched for info on him instead of working on lesson plans for next year.

Do I now follow him on Twitter? Why yes I do. Did I watch interviews of him on YouTube? Why yes I did. Did I then begin watching the show Primeval on Netflix because he is a main character? Of course. And that has caused a whole other problem/blog post.

For now I will continue to follow Mr. Potts' career like a good little fanatic.