Middlesex

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): The sweeping epic of one girl who grows up to be a man, starting in a tiny Turkish village and taking us through three generations of the Stephanides family as they travel to America, settle in Detroit, and make a life for themselves there.

First thoughts: Middlesex is the longest book I've read in a while, and thanks to school, took me a lot longer to finish than most books do. Still, I never wanted to abandon it. It truly is epic.

Lingering questions: Why is Chapter 11 (Cal's brother) so called? If it's in the book, I missed that part.

Changes I would make: I wanted to hear more about the present and Cal's current life, less about her ancestors.

Favorite quotes:
"I've never had the right words to describe my life, and now that I've entered my story, I need them more than ever." -p217

"If this story is written only for myself, then so be it. But it doesn't feel that way. I feel you out there, reader." -p319

"But in the end it wasn't up to me. The big things never are. Birth, I mean, and death. And love. And what love bequeaths to us before we're born." -p388

"We're all made up of many parts, other halves. Not just me." -p440

Final thoughts: Middlesex sheds light on important issues of gender identity, nature v nurture, how we raise our kids based on gender, transitions, and the love we find in our own families. I was surprised to find that it was published in 2003, as so much of it felt contemporary.


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Scary Movies 2015

How is tomorrow Halloween already? October flew by in a whirlwind of spooky activities, lesson planning, and weekend guests. Here's this year's round up of scary movies and TV shows - just enough spook to get us to next October.

Sleepy Hollow

After going to a live re-enactment of the Sleepy Hollow story, Jesus and I decided to watch Tim Burton's retelling. The movie follows the original short story to a point, then it rides off on its own crazy tale. Still fun to watch!


Corpse Bride

Staying with the Tim Burton theme, and because it was featured on Netflix, we watched Corpse Bride. In this animated musical, Victor and Victoria are one night away from their wedding when Victor finds himself in the land of the dead, being wooed by the late Emily. He must find a way back to his living bride before it's too late.


Insidious Chapter 3
Due to the scare factor and intrigue of the first two installments of the Insidious series, we couldn't not watch Insidious Chapter 3. While this one keeps up with the jump scares, the story isn't as compelling as that of the first two movies. A solid Spooky Month watch, but not a "good" movie in itself.

Paranormal Activity 1-5
We started marathoning the Paranormal Activity series a bit before October, as a pre-spook to get ready for the month (and because I had never seen any of the movies). To anyone who wants to watch, but hasn't yet I recommend doing it all in one go. That way you remember more of what just happened. The continuity of the films is surprisingly good, even in cases where the story isn't about the first main characters.


The X-Files, Season 4
Finally, we're continuing our way through The X-Files (and excited for the new continuation!). This fall we got through most of Season 4, learning more about Cancer Man's past, Scully's future, and Mulder's weird neuroses.

Pumpkins in the Park 2015

Because I like forging and maintaining tradition, here is a brief survey of my weekend, the highlight of which was my parents coming to visit.

Smelling: apple cinnamon candles and tea.
Eating: fish and chips, pizza, cookies, and beefs.
Visiting: Jesus at work.
Drinking: lots of water.
Running: 3.1 miles in my Honey Lemon costume.
Walking: only while drinking some mid-race Gatorade.
Cheering: for the Blues Brothers, who later won the Group Costume Contest along with the rest of their SNL-themed family.
Getting: pizza with my parents and most of Jesus's family.
Saying: Yes to being Jesus's niece's bridesmaid!
Watching: a documentary on SNL, another documentary on The Shining and The Martian.
Missing: my parents already...these weekends go by too fast. (Always true.)
Reading: The Wife by Meg Wolitzer.
Writing: lesson plans.
Wanting: to continue this late October tradition.
Needing: to train for the race next time.

Things My Students Say

When you're a teacher, you get to know a lot about your students. Middle schoolers may not always be forthcoming with details about their day to their own parents, but in the classroom they love talking about themselves. Whether it's in snippets of conversations in the hallway, things shared during a lesson, or what they write in their homework, I've heard and seen a lot of gems so far this year. A few of my favorites:

"If I want to be a doctor that means going to school until I'm like 26, and then I only have *maybe* three years before I'm old and gross and broken down." -a 12 year old, on turning 30 

"Can I throw this?" -a student, attempting to toss a Sharpie across the room 

"So, how's your boyfriend?" -the most obvious fishing I've heard (I've shared little to no details about my personal life with my students) 

"If I become an engineer, how many flat screen TVs do you think I could buy?" -a student with priorities for his career options 

"I can do the splits!" -in answer to the question "What do you like to do outside of school?"

I have a feeling this will be a recurring series...

A Night in Sleepy Hollow 2015

After last year's success with the interactive Alice performance, Jesus and I wanted another night out that would include more than sitting on the sidelines (or in theater chairs, more likely). We found it in the industrious little village of Bourbonnais and their yearly reenactment of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Told in a series of campfire stories capped off by the infamous barn dance and horse chase, A Night in Sleepy Hollow is the gem of Bourbonnais Township Park District's Sleepy Hollow Village. Jesus and I lined up early and heard the first rumors of the village as we walked towards Prudence and Annie's fire. There, they introduced us to Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod Crane, and Brom Bones. At the next fire we heard about the men's growing jealousies over the hand of Katrina. After some cider and more village stories, we entered the barn, where Baltus Van Tassel's harvest party was just beginning.

There we saw Brom and Ichabod vie for Katrina's attention, and Brom try to play a few tricks on the partygoers. Several guests told ghost stories and we were sent off on a hay ride, following Ichabod as he nursed his sore pride after Katrina's rejection.

And then, the horse chase. As Ichabod rode ahead of us, the Headless Horseman came riding up behind. He chased Ichabod across the field, where we saw the White Lady in the mist and the ghost of Major Andre, the British spy, hanging from a tree. We lost them as they crossed the bridge, both horseman and Ichabod never to be seen again.

Spookiness Managed.

We also had pizza.

Midnight Circus 2015

Is two consecutive years too quick to declare an event a tradition? Because after our second time at Midnight Circus in the Parks, I'm ready to say Jesus and I are looking forward to keeping up this summer-to-fall ritual for a while.

It helps that this year we live close enough to walk to one of the parks that Midnight Circus travels to, so attending the circus was as simple as lacing up our boots and going for a post-dinner Sunday stroll.

Plus, proceeds from all performances go towards improving our city's many wonderful parks.

And then there's the whole watching daring and graceful feats of artistry in an almost intimate setting (as intimate as a circus tent can be).

Yeah, that about launches Midnight Circus right into tradition territory.

Fall Eats

Goodbye watermelon and freeze-pops, hello butternut squash and all things apple. While the weather might warm up again before we're truly on our way to winter, it seems like we went from t-shirts to layers of fleece in just a few days.

In the kitchen, I'm finally hitting a baking/cooking rhythm and trying out a few new things mixed in with old favorites:

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

One of the easiest, cheapest, and longest-lasting meals I've made - all you need is several pounds of pork shoulder/butt (I used about 9 pounds) and a marinade (easily googled). Let it cook low and slow for 8-10 hours, shred it, and you're done. You can put sauce on it or leave it as is, and you've got lunch and dinner for a week (or freeze it and have pulled pork all winter)!

BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza

At a loss for what to do with all the pork? Throw it on a pizza! Once you have your dough rolled out, use your favorite bbq sauce as a base, then add the pork plus cheese, pineapples, and sliced peppers and onions. Bake at 450 until golden brown and top with cilantro before serving.

Squash and Barley Risotto

I found this recipe while I was deciding what to do with the squash we just bought. Coincidentally, I had also just started making barley to have as a grain for lunch. I quickly chopped up the squash and added it in to the barley and broth, along with some caramelized onions, more vegetable broth, and some milk. It was surprisingly easy and, above all, tasty.

Apple Crisp Muffins

After all these savory foods, I need something sweet. In October, that means baking apples into everything. I used this recipe (omitting the applesauce since I didn't have any) and satiated my sweet tooth. Other options include: Apple Crisp, Apple Cake, Apple Pie or Baked Apples.

My appetite is ready for colder weather - bring it on, fall!

Unfair

Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice by Adam Benforado
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Adam Benforado uses psychology and neuroscience to examine each part of our criminal justice system - investigation, adjudication, and punishment - from the vantage point of all the major players (victim, suspect, detective, lawyer, jury, eyewitness, expert, judge, public, and prisoner). He shows us the challenges we face in creating a more just system and also presents a few new ways of thinking.

First thoughts: While nothing in Benforado's text was inherently shocking to me (I have way too many friends in social work to not be aware of most of our country's shortcomings when it comes to "criminal" justice and rehabilitation), I still had to shake my head at a lot of it. We've got issues. And it was at times difficult to read knowing how much has to change. I slowed my pace in the middle section, but I was happy that Benforado does present solutions, reforms that some states are already putting in place to ensure that we achieve our true goals: less crime, less people hurt, and a safer world.

Favorite quotes & how they made me feel:

"...when confronted with an example of a seemingly "good" person...suffering a terrible outcome, we experience a strong dissonance. And we eliminate that discomfort - and maintain our perception of justice - by finding fault with the victim." p17 (I think we're ALL guilty of this. It helps us keep the illusion that bad things won't happen to us, because we lock our doors/never go out after dark/never drive distracted/always remember to floss/etc/etc.)

"...having a gun at your fingertips can make the world seem a far more threatening place..." p 61 (The conclusion from a telling study - people holding guns think other people are also holding guns at a much higher rate than people holding, say, a ball or a toy of some sort. Guns don't make you feel safer, at least when you have them in your hand. They make everyone else seem more threatening. Interesting when you think of the people we regularly arm, the people whose job it is to...wait for it...make us feel safe.)

"If those convicted of crimes will walk among us again, we must begin preparing them today." p277 (Why do we cut people off from the exact ties that keep them/us/all of humanity from committing crime - in the name of justice?)

"Research shows that the more humane approach of problem-solving courts - based not on hurting offenders in proportion to their wrongdoing, but on helping them according to their needs - is more effective than highly punitive alternatives." p281 (It's good to know that reforms have started in a few progressive states. This also made me think of the punitive punishments some schools give, and how as a teacher I could instead focus on making sure student rule-breakers are getting what they need.)

Recommended for: sociologists, key players in our criminal justice system, lawmakers, teachers, politicians, voters, and concerned citizens.

Final thoughts: This is an important book, and in the hands of the right people, our injustices might bend towards justice. Benforado tells a gripping story, one that's true and happening in our country daily. His research backs up his timely points. We've made extreme changes before (we don't charge animals with crimes anymore, for example), and we can make them again.

Editor's Note: I received a copy of Unfair from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.


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As the Baltimoreans Do

I spent this past weekend on a (super quick) trip to Baltimore and coastal Maryland to celebrate a friend's wedding. I was also able to spend some time with friends in Baltimore itself, eating crab at every meal and learning as much about the city's history and culture as I could in several hours.

For example, did you know that the Baltimore Ravens are named after the Edgar Allen Poe poem of the same name? How literary! I'm almost convinced I should become a fan (at least for October, you know, spooky month). There was a Book Festival in Baltimore this weekend, which only served to solidify my high opinion of the city (which is also sometimes known as The City That Reads).

Weekend Recommendations:

Miss Shirley's (Annapolis) - the perfect boozy brunch to start the weekend off. Get the grits!

Blue Moon Cafe (Baltimore) - serves breakfast 24 hours a day! This cute little cafe in the Fells Point neighborhood was a hit all around. Sweet or savory, they know breakfast.

A few pics from the weekend:

The view from our hotel!

Baltimore: the City that Reads

That funky building is Baltimore's Aquarium.

Words with Strangers!

Al Bumbry and Baltimore Bill, the weather-predicting crab

U.S.S. Constellation - the last ship built with only sails (no mechanical engine)

Fells Point

An Abundance of Victories

If the beginning of this week was about searching for little victories to keep my spirits up, the end is about storing up multiple victories to recount later when I need a boost.

Waking up at 6:30 this morning so that I could be at school for homeroom this morning (knowing that I would be staying until about 6 tonight) wasn't awesome, but coffee from my Campus Director helped my mood a lot.

Hearing my students cheer and pump their fists after they got their Thursday Apprenticeship assignments basically made my morning, but having several students remember how to pronounce my name and ask thoughtful questions during class sealed the deal.

In the afternoon, I taught several kids how percentages work and had them teach back to me. Then I supported my own Thursday Apprenticeship, the Teen Dream Zine. Our kids are writing articles and stories and drawing pictures for a self-published zine that they'll share with their families and friends (and their school library) at the end of the semester.

Maybe it's the subject matter, or because I had five volunteer teachers co-leading the class, or maybe it's this certain group of kids, but I can say that today is officially the day I enjoyed teaching, felt comfortable doing it, and understood why people make this their full-time career.

It's amazing what a difference a few days can make.

Little Victories

This week is already challenging me. Lesson plans, short attention spans, and a flu bug (which I refuse to catch) are giving me a run for my money. What's a teaching fellow to do but be grateful for something she's doing right (ie keeping her plant alive)?

Spin

Spin by Robert Charles Wilson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two): Spin narrates the aftermath of the "Big Blackout" - the night the stars disappeared - following the lives of three friends, Tyler Dupree and siblings Jason and Diane Lawton.

First Thoughts: Spin gripped me right away, then loosened its hold just over halfway thought, but it grabbed me again at the end. I liked being sucked into a book and its world, and having it be a treat instead of a chore. This was also a rare treat in that I don't read many sci-fi thrillers (but I always seem to enjoy them on some level).

Favorite quotes:

"Everybody falls, and we all land somewhere." -p1

"The world is full of surprises. We're all born strangers to ourselves and each other, and we're seldom formally introduced." -Carol Lawton, p438

Favorite characters: the great mother team of Carol Lawton and Belinda Dupree - I love them separately and together. Jason Lawton was an interestingly flawed character, and I think anyone who reads Spin would love Ina Ibu.

Where it lost me: the discussion of the replicators. By that time I just wanted to see the two timelines of the book meet, so that middle part with the technical language stretched a little long.

Final Thoughts: Once the action picked back up, I was right back into the story. The ending was solid and worth sticking it out.

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What I Learned About Launch Week

In Citizen Schools (and probably a lot of other classes and after school programs), we sometimes use a graphic organizer called a KWL chart. It looks something like this:

These are useful for getting kids to recall information they already know, brainstorm questions about a new topic, and reflect on what they learn in a class. They are also useful for us adults (and without knowing about these charts, I've already started a collection of posts about What I Know).

Before Launch Week (the official start of Citizen Schools programming), I knew that a) program would start, b) I'd have wayyy more interaction with the students, and c) the months of training I received would finally be put to use. I wanted to know a) What was actually going to happen once I was standing at the front of a classroom, b) How I would remember all the parts of each day's lesson, and c) Was I really qualified to be doing this? Here's What I Learned:

1. Holding the attention of 20 students for 90 minutes is not easy, but it's not complicated either. The tricky part is getting them all to pay attention at the same time.
2. Economy of Language has multiple benefits. Using as few words as possible to get your point across is not only an effective way to keep things straightforward for your students, it also ensures that you won't lose your voice on the first day of program.
3. Kids love rewards. You guys: I raffled off leftover oranges and carrots in my class this week and the kids went bonkers.
4. The show must go on. Much like any "performance," class has to keep rolling even when you forget your agenda and materials in your office, which is three stories down.
5. Keep an air of mystery. Related to # 4, when you forget materials, your train of thought, or a crucial handout from the day before, no one has to know but you - pretend like everything's cool, and kids will go with it.
6. Teaching begets learning. I'm not talking about students learning here - I mean me, the teacher. I've learned something new (or relearned something again) every. single. day. And I can only guess and hope that that trend continues.

Sunday Night Survey: Launch Week Edition

We're one week into the school year, football season has kicked off, and tomorrow marks the official start of Citizen Schools programming at my school. I'm excited and nervous, mostly because this whole teacher thing is feeling more real than ever tonight.

Getting: used to being called Miss K.

Feeling: a little slaphappy at the end of the day Friday.

Sweeping: our floors again and again...what we get for living in the shadow of the Kennedy Expressway.

Hanging: out with Quinn!

Laughing: out loud at The Shicago Show.

Visiting: Jesus's parents/family.

Eating: beefs!

Making: "stuffed" grilled cheese.

Watching: the Packers beat the Bears in the latest installment of the NFL's Oldest Rivalry.

Finding: another local bar with some great specials.

Decorating: my "office" space.

Closing: our windows at night; reopening them during the day (welcome to fall!).

Sleeping: in, which probably won't help me wake up tomorrow. Oops!

Strolling the Mag Mile

When you live in a huge/beautiful/accessible city, sometimes all you need for an adventure is a train card. Last weekend, Jesus and I used ours to people watch along the river and Michigan Ave. It's fun pretending to be a tourist among other tourists (or other pretenders) - you get to see your home from an outsider's eyes while also not worrying about getting lost/knowing where the nearest food joint or bathroom is.

Our route took us near shops and art galleries, through empty terraces, and across crowded bridges. My favorite stop? Dylan's Candy Bar.

La Escuela

I survived the first day of school! I can't remember any students' names or what I "taught" them, but my coworkers said they would see me tomorrow, so I can only assume that means I'm still a Teaching Fellow. Once I have a chance to process these first few days I'm sure I'll have plenty to share, but for now I'm eating leftovers, picking out my outfit for tomorrow, and getting my beauty rest.

Loving Day

Loving Day by Mat Johnson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sum it up in a sentence (or two or five): Warren Duffy is black. And white. And, after the passing of his father, the owner of a decrepit mansion. When he comes back to Philadelphia to claim it, he also learns he can also call himself a father. Loving Day is Warren Duffy's exploration of the self, and extended metaphor for racial identity in America, in the 21st century.

First Thoughts: Absolutely loved this story. I loved the pacing, the dialogue, the characters. I'm slowly getting on board with the ghosts and what they are and/or represent in Loving Day.

Favorite Quotes:
"I see Caucasians in the room, looking over our way, puzzled and annoyed by the segregation. They stand in a pack of their own race, but their own race is invisible to them." -p24

"...she loves it and she loves everyone else here enough that she is willing to let them see all of who she is in this moment." -p95

Future Plans: I would love to see this in graphic novel form. There are plenty of visuals, heroes and villains, and a lot to play with in that medium. A movie would be welcome too. (Apparently Showtime is adapting it into a comedy series.)

Other Future Plans: As someone who plans on having biracial children someday (because my boyfriend is Hispanic and I am White), Loving Day felt real. My kids could very well look like their father but identify with their mother, or vice versa, or some combination of the two - something I never had to deal with growing up. Loving Day continues and furthers the conversation of identity, a conversation I personally never tire of having or learning about.

Final Thoughts: I highly recommend this book to readers, thinkers, people with families, people living in the present, and fans of comic books, Philadelphia, or racial discourse.


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Friday Night Links 24

Remember when it was still the middle of summer? With only three warm holiday weekend days left of mine, I'm getting in the right frame of mind for school. It'll be my first First Day in six years, and my first First Day at my new school. Here's what's rattling around my brain:

Something that fits in everyday life, but seems totally accurate for my next two years in the Fellowship. (Yep, I know I linked this in my last FNL post, but it's so perfect.)

I'm jealous of this classroom.

The first day school is important - for overall attendance, for a student's mindset of learning, and for a school's budget ("school funding follows the child"). To that end, CPS is using/taking advantage of a number of strategies to get kids to school on Tuesday. (Chicago parents: make sure your kids get to school on Day One!)

You know, because we don't have any other issues to handle or deal with in this country...

And finally, a shameless plug for Citizen Schools...we're #crushingit on social media.

As the Teaching Fellows Do

School hasn't officially started yet, but I think I can share a little more about what a Teaching Fellow does.

Everything.

After almost two months on the job, I've realized that my "job description" is ever evolving and changes with the week/day. Much like House Management, a Teaching Fellowship is all about flexibility and adaptability. A few more (specific) similarities? In these seven weeks I've already painted, gardened, gotten price quotes, organized, and baked at or for work. Luckily, I've also gotten to speak to a few parents (in English and Spanglish and, let's be honest, very broken Spanish), meet a few students, joke and bond with my team, and reflect in a one-on-one meeting with my Campus Director, so I'm feeling appropriately challenged, celebrated, and invested in.

Next week I'll meet my students, attend meetings with teachers, and get my Apprenticeship assignments (part of the after school portion of Citizen Schools, which pairs volunteer experts and professionals - Citizen Teachers - with middle schoolers for a 10-week course culminating in an exhibition we call a Wow!), but for now I'm preparing agendas, planning lessons, and lending a hand where it's needed. Basically, I'm getting things done for America.

Beer Bread Muffins

I made these muffins a little prematurely (it's nearly 80 degrees outside, which is not a temperature at which I want to turn my oven on), but we have more beer in our fridge than either Jesus or I care to drink and I really wanted to try them out. Despite sweating long into the evening, I'm glad I did. They're super easy and tasty.

Beer Bread Muffins (adapted from this recipe by My Wild Kitchen)

3 c flour (she uses self-rising; I made my own by adding baking powder and salt, below)
1 1/2 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp sugar
1 12-oz bottle of beer (I used Corona)
2 tbsp butter (I used coconut/palm oil spread)

Preheat oven to 375.
Grease muffin tin.
In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients.
Pour beer over and stir until combined.
Spoon mixture evenly into muffin cups.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
While the muffins are baking, melt butter in a dish.
When muffins just start to turn golden brown, brush butter on top of them.
Bake for another 5-7 minutes.
Enjoy warm!

According to this recipe, the muffins aren't as good the next day, but I'll be putting that to the test tomorrow.