feeling meme-ish

Actually, I'm shamelessly copying Purple Polka, but here's what my blog looks like on Wordle:



Kind of reminds me of the first time I heard my voice on tape: "Do I really sound like that?" Except now, it's like, "Do I really blog like that??" Looks like I like sound like my middle-school son, with like the big giant, "LIKE" and all. (Go ahead and click on it, because it looks so much better up close and in person on the Wordle.net website.)

I like heart Wordle, so, I'm going to declare this a meme. Cuz, I like, you know, have all of about 3 readers. But, if you're like feeling all memey, consider yourself, like, tagged.

cleanliness is next to godliness and early literacy skills

or so it seems. My kids must be outliers.

Read the SLJ article here.

[Found at Jen Robinson's Book Page.]

speaking of time sinks...

here's an awesome time sink if you like riddles, visual puzzles, scavenger hunts and the like: http://thisisnottom.com

i'm stuck on the mailman

feeling snarky

Title of an actual in-class discussion thread: "Collective Wisdon" (sic)

How reliable do I think information posted in that thread is going to be? Hmm...

what's the word?

Maybe it is all of the stress hormones affecting my brain, but lately I seem to have trouble coming up with the words I want and need. I can feel them flitting among my neurons--avoiding those that would transport them from mind to mouth or fingertips.

In any case, the word I am currently looking for would describe my sense of delight at discovering the convergence of one of my favorite books with one of my favorite bands in a movie I am trying to convince my kids to bring me to see:

Coraline-Other Father Song

somebody should do this for twilight...

I spent much too much time on Facebook last semester, and have vowed to cut back. However, these inspired retellings of Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice have me pondering hours and hours of additional Facebook time. Certainly, Bella's whining and inner turmoil are FB status/newsfeed worthy.

Library dragon

I so totally need to knit these for my school libraries! (I just read Carmen Agra Deedy's The Library Dragon to my 4th graders this week - idioms galore!)

I'm already mentally altering the pattern for a dog, a cat, a cow... All I need is time ... or a PTA mom who loves to knit. Any volunteers? ;-)

[Found at BookMoot.]

whoa, did he just say that?!

Big fan of comics. Check out today's Get Fuzzy. (Didn't find a permalink, so browse to 9/25/08 - unless, of course, it has already been taken down.) Did Bucky just say what I think he said? Wow.

Waiting for the fallout...

Monday morning rant

The moral of this story is: Take enough time away from your Blackberry to read a story to your kid instead of having them listen to one over the phone. Really.

I don't know which is more disappointing to me: The creep who hacked into the story line, or the quote from the parent who uses the service instead of reading to her kids. What's next? Dial-a-kiss for the kid's skinned knees? At least that one won't be such a stretch for the hacker.

[Found at Speak Quietly.]

Random question: end of spring semester soundtrack suggestions?

As I sit here and struggle with my final paper of the semester, I realize what's missing: a soundtrack. Years ago, studying for finals, I always had what we old-timers referred to as a mix tape playing in the background. The The (no, kiddies, that's not a typo, look them up), The Smiths and The Cult got me through junior year finals. Senior year it was 10,000 Maniacs, The Church and Jane's Addiction. Of course, there were no iPods, so music was blasting out of boom boxes all over campus. Do they still do that? I hope so. There is nothing like walking across campus on a spring day, following your favorite music to its source, and finding out who is blaring it out their window.

So, here I sit, 20 years later (yes, 20!), writing my final paper of the semester without a soundtrack. The new REM is very reminiscent of their 80s stuff. Maybe a little too much? (Dudes, you are making me feel OLD.) I need something new. I tried John Mayer, but that tabloid picture of him in a mankini keeps popping into my head. (Okay, EW!) Too distracting. Jason Mraz? Too-complicated lyrics - I can't concentrate. I recently started listening to David Ford. Love him, but um, I'm already depressed, thanks.

Any suggestions?

Parts of a book 101 and blog abandonment?

I was writing a post for my Materials for Children class and wanted to talk about an illustration on the inside cover of the book. I originally referred to it as the "flyleaf" but wasn't sure if this is correct. I found this great diagram (I must-see for inner and aspiring librarians) on what may be an abandoned blog.

Which brings me to my random question of the moment: At what point do you consider a blog abandoned? The one I found hasn't been updated since February. I have blogs that I haven't updated in ages, but I don't consider them abandoned (yet). I still think of them wistfully, and often think, "This would be a great post for my old blog xyz." I miss them. Do they miss me? Have I abandoned them? Should I? What's the concensus on MOPD (multiple online personality disorder)?

BTW, that illustration is on the endpapers or endsheets of the book.