Quote of the Month:
“I’m sorry I missed you; I had a secret meeting in the basement of my brain.”
Line from the song “Secret Meeting” by The National
Hightlights:
Oct. 25th– The guinea pig died. R.I.P.
Goal Vacation Week– took a weeklong break from writing, exercising, and subbing to reflect on what I’d accomplished during the past nine weeks. I looked at what goals I met and what goals I didn’t quite meet. I also looked at what routines worked well, what ones didn’t, and why. Then I made myself goals for the next nine weeks and tweaked my schedule so I can meet the goals I didn’t reach this time.
I met my health and cleaning goals and came close with my Spanish, writing, and reading goals. I realized I need more time to write and made more quiet writing time in my schedule. I also realized that breaks and goal vacations are necessary for me. I get more done when I’m realistic about what I can actually do in the free time I have and allow myself enough time to eat, sleep, relax, and reflect too.
Fiction Books Finished:
*** Prom Nights From Hell. Paranormal Prom Stories from, Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe, Stephenie Myer, & Lauren Myracle;
*** ½ Tithe, by Holly Black
Non Fiction Books Finished:
***** Teach Like Your Hair’s On Fire, by Rafe Esquith
Music I Listened To:
*** ½ Alligator, by The National
*** ½ Boxer, by The National
Sub Jobs:
1 day- Ms. W’s second grade
1 day- Ms. D’s second grade
½ day- Music teacher
1 day- Music teacher
1 day- Ms. S’s second grade
1 day- Ms. D’s second grade
TV Enjoyed:
**** Pushing Daisies- My new favorite show. It’s funny, darkly sweet, and totally different from anything else on TV.
*** Dark Angel- I’ve been watching this show on DVD with French and Spanish dubbing and English subtitles. I don’t know if I’d enjoy this show solely for entertainment but it’s got just enough interesting sci-fi elements, pretty people, and action that it’s kind of perfect for learning French and Spanish.
Rowena Eureka 
Yes, i’ve been recommending Pushing Daisies to everyone i’ve seen. Its so quirky and cute and smacks of a Amilie feel. The editing, writing, wit and humor. I cannot voice my hopes for this show. Let’s hope the network dont get a chance to ruin it.
So i second the Pushing Daisies comment and hope more ppl start watching it. I do believe ABC.com still have the old episodes online. Though they might only keep the latest 4-5 ep. Good thing is there’s only 5 so far… i think.
The good news is that it’s been picked up for a full season. Yay!
Looks like they keep 4 episodes of each show up on ABC.com. So the “pie-lette” is gone but all the other episodes are still up.
I agree with giving yourself time to relax and reflect. I’ve found that I need at least twelve hours, preferably twenty-four with some sleep somewhere in between, of not-Reading in order to get any real writing done. It’s like my own voice sinks below the surface, to dwell in the fancy underwater caverns of my mind — I like to think of them lined with fluffy seaweek pillows, with handsome mer-men bringing me sweets while I think of evil things — and it just takes a certain amount of time to swim back to the surface. Rise too fast, and I get the bends.
Re: Tithe – glad you like it! We’ve been pushing it at The Mystery Bookstore.
Re: Dark Angel — ah, Jensen in motorcycle leathers, with the cool shades. Good times.
I haven’t seen Pushing Daisies, yet. will, tho.
Oh yeah, pretty pretty Jensen is definitely a highlight of season 2 Dark Angel. I missed his voice so much though I actually had to watch a couple scenes in English. That’s when I heard Jessica Alba’s real voice and rushed straight back to the French and Spanish versions. She’s a lot more kick-ass in French and Spanish.
I like your idea about staying away from reading before writing to hear your own voice. That makes sense.
Tithe was interesting, it was part teen delinquent story mixed in with a kind of modern violent Alice in Wonderland like story.
I’ll be interested to hear about you think of Pushing Daisies when you check it out.