sohobeads’ Neighborhood

B2/B3/B4 - Students were assigned seats at the beginning of class.  Letters of Introduction were DUE for Bonus points today (See previous posts.)   Brief introductions were given to new students.  We cleaned out the red binders and replaced several of the materials inside with new ones.  I asked students to hold onto notes over literary terms and concepts and all of their writing assignments.  Everything else may be saved or purged at their own discretion.  I gave students a new syllabus with a sign-off sheet.  The new syllabus includes the expectations for Honors English students (used to be the Honors Contract...).  Everyone needs to have the sign-off sheet signed by a parent for Wednesday.  B3 and B4 students received textbooks and signed the textbook sign-up sheet.  (Make sure you touch base with me about getting a book if you were absent in B3 or B4.)  I explained the Letter of Introduction assignment and encouraged all of my students from first semester to use the letter I gave them and the comments I gave them on their old letters to form the new one.  I would like new information, though... don't tell me the same thing you did before.  Write about what you did over Christmas Break, what you got for Christmas if you want to, what is new in your life, how your grades turned out, what your goals are for this semester, etc.    Fill the page!  Assignments:  1.  Letter of Introduction - typed - use format given to you in previous letters.  2.  Bring a pleasure reading book to read after the Benchmark Writing Assessment on Wednesday.  3.  Bring a spiral-bound journal you can leave in my room for the entire semester.  Use the same one you used last semester if you want to, but don't take anything out of it!  4. Have your parents sign the parent/student sign-off sheet that goes with the Honors Expectations and Syllabus.  5.  NEW STUDENTS ONLY:  Have your parents complete and sign the parent contact information form.  

This big spoon came from the set of the movie,The Shipping News  that starred Kevin Spacey. At the end of a production sometimes there is an auction of props and things. A  friend of mine who worked as the food stylist on that show picked  up some spoons. I had helped her create a "squid" burger for one of the scenes. lol. We tried to make it look great with bits of dulse hanging out and deep fried breaded fried tentacles but Kevin refused to even try it. The rest of the crew and director did and pronounced them delicious! His was eventually made with chicken. All this for a ten second shot:)

I uploaded this shot to Shutterstock on the weekend. It was was accepted and already has a download:) I have not been very consistent at all with my microstock stuff and plan to try to get a few uploaded each week. It is another way to make some extra dollars and fun too. With a bit of work, you could do quite well! I wrote about  microstock a while ago. There was some controversy recently about microstock taking  money from professional photographers but the shot in question that triggered the discussion was just a jar of coins used by Time magazine for their cover. Personally, I think why spend "big" money on a shot of a jar,  a classic "stock" picture.  Spend the"big"money on shots that require imagination and presence.

If you take a look around some of the microstock companies, there are AMAZING images to be found now. The advent of digital cameras has made photography accessible to so many more people and they are really pushing the boundaries of what can be done.

Mom gave me some money for Christmas and I used some of it to get a Simplex fast-boil kettle I have been thinking about for some time, unable to commit.  I boil a lot of water - mainly for coffee and tea - and am looking forward to the shorter boiling times.  The photo really doesn't do it justice. The finish is much smoother and shinier.

Fast-Boil

So far today, G1 Response to Lit. essays are all graded and scores are now posted and finalized for this class.  I have one more class to go (G3)... see you all tomorrow!!!

REMINDER:  Do NOT forget that you already have a bonus opportunity in Honors English 9!!  See previous postings for more information!!

This is the "before" picture. Practically ALL my shelves look like this! Ah, January...the month that triggers resolutions, good intentions and lots of great plans. Can you guess what I am starting? That is if I can get off this computer and not get distracted by something else. I find that when I tidy up anything with words, I start reading.... :) oh yeah, where was I? Takes forever!

Our storm is over! What an event that was.  I don't think I've ever seen such change in so short  time. Raining, then snowing hard, then ice pellets and back to snow, now it is mild and everything is melting. Wonder what is in store for next week? Crazy weather everywhere!

Gretchen Rubin is someone we can all learn something from. She just published a book called The Happiness Project.  I 'd like to read it. Last year she test drove lots of theories about happiness and this book outlines what she discovered. One of the things I thought was interesting is that "random acts of kindness" don't work. People invariably end up suspicious and nervous. Better to help out a friend in need or help out as opportunities present themselves. Random scares people. Hmmm. Good stuff to ponder.

Fun quick read. 

11 single mothers in Broken Heart, OK have been turned after a disease effects a local vampire.
Now the humans have been shipped out and Broken Heart has become a draw for all supernatural creatures.

Patsy is a hairdresser who was one of the infected, but her clients are now werewolves and the occasional witch.

Her life is saved by a mysterious man who becomes a beautiful white wolf.   Per her were friends, he is not a were.

hmmm....

Now the ancients are beginning to turn against each other and Patsy finds herself in the middle of some prophesy.

chaos ensues...

Because Your Vampire Said So (Broken Heart, Oklahoma, Book 3)

Michele Bardsley

If you find yourself enveloped in True Blood, I suggest your read the books the show is based on.

In this installment, Sookie finds herself harboring an Eric who is suffering from an amnesia spell and can  not remember who he is or what he does, besides being a vampire.

Very hot!  Danger, intrigue, awesome read.

Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4) (Mass Market Paperback)

Charlaine Harris

• 14:19 The bottom of my kitchen shelves is apparently forged from adamantium. Am now resigning self to a stand-up paper towel holder. #
• 14:26 Triumph! All it took was the enthusiastic application of a hot glue gun. twitpic.com/wetl1 #

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Well, B4 Response to Lit. essays are completed and grades are finalized.  Two more classes to go!  Will I make it?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  See you Monday!!!