With summer not so far off...I have been thinking of what I would like to do this summer :) So, I figured first I would write up my Classics READING LISTS for this summer!
Classics I will read this summer with my 8th grade, gonna be 9th grade girls (I have read them all except P & P)
Gone with the Wind
Pride and Prejudice
Fahrenheit 451
Catcher in the Rye
Classics to read this summer (that I haven’t read yet):
Johnny Tremaine – Esther Forbes
The Scarlett Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carrol
Fallen Angels – Walter Dean Meyers
The Hound of the Baskervilles- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Slaughterhouse-Five – Kurt Vonnegut
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
The Sound and the Fury – William Faulkner
Things to do this summer:
Learn to French braid – use the Bratz doll, you tube and hairdresser
Read 10 classics
Read 10 books for fun (some young adult and some for me)
Visit two friends I haven’t seen in awhile – Abigail in Portland, Laura on west side
Camp in our trailer
Camp while on a motorcycle trip
Go to the Combine Derby in Lind
Travel – Vegas! And, maybe Yellowstone
Hike at least 5 times – Mt. Rainier
Write - I would like to write for my blog, for a couple of magazines, and maybe work on my novel!
Concerts - Go to at least two :) Already have tickets for two shows, but they are surprises, so I can't post them yet!
2011/04/29
Buckle UP!
Just because you can’t keep up…that’s not my problem! I am of the mind that I grab life by it’s monkey bars and swing through it,enjoying every second I can.
And, believe it or not, some of my moments are actually mellow! I do schedule downtime, whether that’s my bi-weekly massages or our vacays. I love it when we have a PJ day or just veg out.
By design I choose to fill some of my free time with activities that I love to do, whether that be sports, or my horse, or motorbike or whatever. I like to be active, which if you check out BUSY it usually refers to someone who is active!
I know that the DASH between my years on this planet will be FULL of activities and incredible life experiences. I know that my evergrowing bucket list will be conquered!! So, does that make me busy, sure.
But, I would rather be busy than be a lump who misses out on everything, who learns nothing new, who doesn’t live.
Ultimately, of course, it’s about balance. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND that I am out of whack sometimes. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance.
In the end, it all levels out, and makes for an exhilirating ride, one well worth it!
Some perfect quotes for the occasion:
“We come into this world head first and go out feet first; in between, it is all a matter of balance.” Paul Boesel
“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.”
Kin Hubbard
“To acquire balance means to achieve that happy medium between the minimum and the maximum that represents your optimum. The minimum is the least you can get by with. The maximum is the most you're capable of. The optimum is the amount or degree of anything that is most favorable toward the ends you desire.” Nibo Qubein
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Stephen King
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." Albert Einstein
“They can because they think they can.” Virgil
“I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” Barbara de Angelis
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” William Arthur Ward
And, believe it or not, some of my moments are actually mellow! I do schedule downtime, whether that’s my bi-weekly massages or our vacays. I love it when we have a PJ day or just veg out.
By design I choose to fill some of my free time with activities that I love to do, whether that be sports, or my horse, or motorbike or whatever. I like to be active, which if you check out BUSY it usually refers to someone who is active!
I know that the DASH between my years on this planet will be FULL of activities and incredible life experiences. I know that my evergrowing bucket list will be conquered!! So, does that make me busy, sure.
But, I would rather be busy than be a lump who misses out on everything, who learns nothing new, who doesn’t live.
Ultimately, of course, it’s about balance. I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND that I am out of whack sometimes. Sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance.
In the end, it all levels out, and makes for an exhilirating ride, one well worth it!
Some perfect quotes for the occasion:
“We come into this world head first and go out feet first; in between, it is all a matter of balance.” Paul Boesel
“A bee is never as busy as it seems; it's just that it can't buzz any slower.”
Kin Hubbard
“To acquire balance means to achieve that happy medium between the minimum and the maximum that represents your optimum. The minimum is the least you can get by with. The maximum is the most you're capable of. The optimum is the amount or degree of anything that is most favorable toward the ends you desire.” Nibo Qubein
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
Stephen King
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." Albert Einstein
“They can because they think they can.” Virgil
“I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.”
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” Barbara de Angelis
“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” William Arthur Ward
Dr. Carol Downey
Tomorrow is Carol's memorial...
This is what I am printing out to include in her memory book there.
Dr. Carol Downey –
I can hardly believe she is gone. I cherish her as one of my friends. She was such an amazing lady. She was our vet, too. Her compassion when our first horse died demonstrated her huge heart. Rick was overwhelmed and yet, she stood by his side through the entire process. And, when the bill came, it didn’t include her time, though we would have gladly paid it, as we felt it was PRICELESS.
I was lucky enough to know Carol outside of the vet world, though her job allowed us to spend time together, too. We had some of the best conversations that I have ever had. What an intelligent woman, Carol was! I will remember our deep musings about love, relationships, parenting, and even brain theory! She answered and helped me with any question I had about riding and my new horse. And, when he was sick and I was so scared, she was willing to think outside the box, and she saved him because of that!
We shared fellowship through meals. I loved our lunch and dinner dates. We always had good food and incredibly lively chatting. We shared a love for her daughters. I love them both, and am especially close to Nadine because of our time together when she was the editor for the yearbook. I consider those girls my adopted daughters, and I knew that I would love Carol because I loved her babies!
My only regret…we had always talked about going for a trail ride. Carol so missed riding, and she had no one to go with her. We just never got around to it, and that makes me sad. Last week I went for my first trail ride of the year, and I was thinking of her often, wishing she was riding along next to me, but realizing she was with me in my heart.
I would love to organize a memorial trail ride in her honor…maybe that’s something I could do this summer.
I miss you, Carol. Thank you for teaching me life lessons about finding your passion, and remembering to keep life balanced.
LOVE YOU,
Trisha Bradley and Rick Roach
This is what I am printing out to include in her memory book there.
Dr. Carol Downey –
I can hardly believe she is gone. I cherish her as one of my friends. She was such an amazing lady. She was our vet, too. Her compassion when our first horse died demonstrated her huge heart. Rick was overwhelmed and yet, she stood by his side through the entire process. And, when the bill came, it didn’t include her time, though we would have gladly paid it, as we felt it was PRICELESS.
I was lucky enough to know Carol outside of the vet world, though her job allowed us to spend time together, too. We had some of the best conversations that I have ever had. What an intelligent woman, Carol was! I will remember our deep musings about love, relationships, parenting, and even brain theory! She answered and helped me with any question I had about riding and my new horse. And, when he was sick and I was so scared, she was willing to think outside the box, and she saved him because of that!
We shared fellowship through meals. I loved our lunch and dinner dates. We always had good food and incredibly lively chatting. We shared a love for her daughters. I love them both, and am especially close to Nadine because of our time together when she was the editor for the yearbook. I consider those girls my adopted daughters, and I knew that I would love Carol because I loved her babies!
My only regret…we had always talked about going for a trail ride. Carol so missed riding, and she had no one to go with her. We just never got around to it, and that makes me sad. Last week I went for my first trail ride of the year, and I was thinking of her often, wishing she was riding along next to me, but realizing she was with me in my heart.
I would love to organize a memorial trail ride in her honor…maybe that’s something I could do this summer.
I miss you, Carol. Thank you for teaching me life lessons about finding your passion, and remembering to keep life balanced.
LOVE YOU,
Trisha Bradley and Rick Roach
2011/04/28
Bibliophilia
Sounds nasty, but it just simply means someone who loves books, and that would be me! So, whatcha been reading? That's a question I am asked often, which I love to tell people, of course!
Books, books, books. I love reading.
So, what have I been reading lately? Well, I started a Classics Book Club for my 8th grade students. We meet once a week at lunch, and we even had a sleepover where we watched all the movies that matched the books we read!! Our list so far: Lord of the Flies, The Time Machine, Romeo and Juliet, Outsiders. I had already read all the books except The Time Machine (which surprisingly, I really enjoyed, seeing as how I am not much of a science fiction fan). Now we are reading Jane Eyre. OH MY…I hate to admit as an English teacher that I skipped that book, but I did. I think I thought it was too girlie back in the day. It’s so good!!!!! Next up, another book I have yet to read, Pride and Prejudice. (I did start the Zombie version of it once.). Then we are going to read Gone with the Wind (one of my all-time favorite books EVER). I am looking forward to reading it again!! It’s been awhile. We have other books planned for our summer, too, so I will keep you updated.
Because of this book group, I have decided to challenge myself and read at least 10 classics this summer that I have never read before! I am excited to do this. Now to just decide which 10... Stay tuned for that list :)
Other books I have read lately
Like Water for Elephants – Great read! And, now, of course, it’s a movie starring the Twilight boy and Reese Witherspoon.
I also read the Hunger Games series. HOLY guacamole…I did NOT want it to end. Also in production right now to hit our big screens next year.
I just this past month finished reading a trilogy (The Face on the Milk Carton, Whatever Happened to Janie, and The Voice on the Radio) by Caroline B. Cooney. INTENSE! It snuck up on me, as the first book was kinda slow until about mid-way through. The books are less than 200 pages each, so quick reads alone.
What a storyline! The books are about a teenage girl, Janie, who sees herself on a milk carton as a missing child. The story then progresses through what she finds out about her kidnapping. And, it’s not what you think. It’s not the kidnap scenario I had in mind, and boy does her life become complicated. The books just push you along, wondering WHAT IF this were to ever happen to me or someone I know. WOW.
The Uglies series – 4 books total (Scott Westerfield) – Fantastic! Page turners, for sure. I don’t normally like anything remotely science fiction, and really these aren’t so science fiction as they are more realistic future sort of books. Like I could totally see this happening someday. It really made me think about all sorts of things in life. Great characters!! I love that the main character is a girl, Talley, and I could definitely see this as a movie!!!
I am starting up with an adult book group again. I am happy about this because from my first experience I most definitely tried new books that I would have NEVER picked up on my own, and I absolutely loved them.
Eat, Pray, and Love was one, Wicked another (which by the way…who is going to see Wicked the musical in May in Spokane??? That’s right! ME!), Three Cups of Tea (one of my fav books of all time), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (fascinating and inspiring book).
This is going to be a mellow group, as we are going to read a book a season. Not too stressful on the commitment. We are going to meet once every three months at probably the Breadline. I will keep you updated! I can’t wait to start reading books others want to read and opening up my horizons!
Bring on the books. I admit it...I'm a BOOK LOVER!!!
Books, books, books. I love reading.
So, what have I been reading lately? Well, I started a Classics Book Club for my 8th grade students. We meet once a week at lunch, and we even had a sleepover where we watched all the movies that matched the books we read!! Our list so far: Lord of the Flies, The Time Machine, Romeo and Juliet, Outsiders. I had already read all the books except The Time Machine (which surprisingly, I really enjoyed, seeing as how I am not much of a science fiction fan). Now we are reading Jane Eyre. OH MY…I hate to admit as an English teacher that I skipped that book, but I did. I think I thought it was too girlie back in the day. It’s so good!!!!! Next up, another book I have yet to read, Pride and Prejudice. (I did start the Zombie version of it once.). Then we are going to read Gone with the Wind (one of my all-time favorite books EVER). I am looking forward to reading it again!! It’s been awhile. We have other books planned for our summer, too, so I will keep you updated.
Because of this book group, I have decided to challenge myself and read at least 10 classics this summer that I have never read before! I am excited to do this. Now to just decide which 10... Stay tuned for that list :)
Other books I have read lately
Like Water for Elephants – Great read! And, now, of course, it’s a movie starring the Twilight boy and Reese Witherspoon.
I also read the Hunger Games series. HOLY guacamole…I did NOT want it to end. Also in production right now to hit our big screens next year.
I just this past month finished reading a trilogy (The Face on the Milk Carton, Whatever Happened to Janie, and The Voice on the Radio) by Caroline B. Cooney. INTENSE! It snuck up on me, as the first book was kinda slow until about mid-way through. The books are less than 200 pages each, so quick reads alone.
What a storyline! The books are about a teenage girl, Janie, who sees herself on a milk carton as a missing child. The story then progresses through what she finds out about her kidnapping. And, it’s not what you think. It’s not the kidnap scenario I had in mind, and boy does her life become complicated. The books just push you along, wondering WHAT IF this were to ever happen to me or someone I know. WOW.
The Uglies series – 4 books total (Scott Westerfield) – Fantastic! Page turners, for sure. I don’t normally like anything remotely science fiction, and really these aren’t so science fiction as they are more realistic future sort of books. Like I could totally see this happening someday. It really made me think about all sorts of things in life. Great characters!! I love that the main character is a girl, Talley, and I could definitely see this as a movie!!!
I am starting up with an adult book group again. I am happy about this because from my first experience I most definitely tried new books that I would have NEVER picked up on my own, and I absolutely loved them.
Eat, Pray, and Love was one, Wicked another (which by the way…who is going to see Wicked the musical in May in Spokane??? That’s right! ME!), Three Cups of Tea (one of my fav books of all time), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (fascinating and inspiring book).
This is going to be a mellow group, as we are going to read a book a season. Not too stressful on the commitment. We are going to meet once every three months at probably the Breadline. I will keep you updated! I can’t wait to start reading books others want to read and opening up my horizons!
Bring on the books. I admit it...I'm a BOOK LOVER!!!
Holy SASSAFRAS!
Another day, another blog. Could it be? I am on a roll?!
So excited!!! One of my good friends is heading up the super cool Vintage Faire this Saturday!!! Be sure to check out their website! I can’t wait to go, and though Saturday is going to be a nutso busy day, and a bit of an emotional roller coaster, I think it will be INSPIRING. I even have a handful of friends who are vendors. YEAH, for something like this coming to our community! GOOD JOB ladies!!
This week I feel good that I have kept everything together, and I haven’t forgotten anything. Those that know me, of course, can confirm that I am a busy lady, usually by choice! That’s right, if I was a doctor, you better bet that I would be TRAUMA ER all the way! Somehow this week became extraordinarily booked up. Every day had at least TWO extra things happening, and sometimes even more than that!
Zippity, zip. I am really looking forward to Sunday because life will resume to our normal pace, which is more of a marathon than a sprint, I’d say. Maybe we will go for a horse ride or else a motorcycle ride, and I plan on simply relaxing, boy howdy, do I need that!!
Feels so good to be back writing! So, I can’t decide about having two blogs or just combining them and bringing them together as one. I am working out and eating healthy and losing weight, AGAIN. I feel like that should be in my other blog, but then I think it’s sorta silly to have two blogs. I also don’t want to delete the Trisha Weighs In blog because that was my start in this whole blogging business, yep, my blog baby. I guess for now, I will keep them both, but I can’t say with what regularity I will blog both. I could certainly give this blog up to the other one, and keep it the same name, as it’s all about weighing in. Hmmmmm.
My 40th birthday is now 43 days away! I am so excited for my Vegas trip :) I can’t wait!!!! My parents live down there, as does my little sister, so I have plenty of FREE places to stay. My son and his wife (the best DIL on the planet) are going to come up to Vegas (and, truth be told, will be moving there soon) when I am there, too. And, SP’s (my DIL) birthday is only two days after mine (all the more reason I love her, fellow Gemini). We are going to PARTY like country folk stars, LOL. Seriously, I plan on seeing Bruno Mars on my trip! He’s playing in an intimately quaint little place (less than 2500 people). YAHOO!
Even though my little sis has a place of her own, she decided to book us a SWANKY place. It happens to be one of her part-time jobs, so she gets a KILLER deal! They have an amazing pool with a LAZY river, too! PERFECT!!!
I know how to kick my summer off right! I can’t wait!
So excited!!! One of my good friends is heading up the super cool Vintage Faire this Saturday!!! Be sure to check out their website! I can’t wait to go, and though Saturday is going to be a nutso busy day, and a bit of an emotional roller coaster, I think it will be INSPIRING. I even have a handful of friends who are vendors. YEAH, for something like this coming to our community! GOOD JOB ladies!!
This week I feel good that I have kept everything together, and I haven’t forgotten anything. Those that know me, of course, can confirm that I am a busy lady, usually by choice! That’s right, if I was a doctor, you better bet that I would be TRAUMA ER all the way! Somehow this week became extraordinarily booked up. Every day had at least TWO extra things happening, and sometimes even more than that!
Zippity, zip. I am really looking forward to Sunday because life will resume to our normal pace, which is more of a marathon than a sprint, I’d say. Maybe we will go for a horse ride or else a motorcycle ride, and I plan on simply relaxing, boy howdy, do I need that!!
Feels so good to be back writing! So, I can’t decide about having two blogs or just combining them and bringing them together as one. I am working out and eating healthy and losing weight, AGAIN. I feel like that should be in my other blog, but then I think it’s sorta silly to have two blogs. I also don’t want to delete the Trisha Weighs In blog because that was my start in this whole blogging business, yep, my blog baby. I guess for now, I will keep them both, but I can’t say with what regularity I will blog both. I could certainly give this blog up to the other one, and keep it the same name, as it’s all about weighing in. Hmmmmm.
My 40th birthday is now 43 days away! I am so excited for my Vegas trip :) I can’t wait!!!! My parents live down there, as does my little sister, so I have plenty of FREE places to stay. My son and his wife (the best DIL on the planet) are going to come up to Vegas (and, truth be told, will be moving there soon) when I am there, too. And, SP’s (my DIL) birthday is only two days after mine (all the more reason I love her, fellow Gemini). We are going to PARTY like country folk stars, LOL. Seriously, I plan on seeing Bruno Mars on my trip! He’s playing in an intimately quaint little place (less than 2500 people). YAHOO!
Even though my little sis has a place of her own, she decided to book us a SWANKY place. It happens to be one of her part-time jobs, so she gets a KILLER deal! They have an amazing pool with a LAZY river, too! PERFECT!!!
I know how to kick my summer off right! I can’t wait!
2011/04/27
Cue: Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again"
It has been soooooooooooooooo long. Life has been busy. Busy, but good. Filled to the brim, but not splashing over, thank goodness. This Spring has been especially busy, since we have fiddle lessons, Brownies (of which I am a leader), softball, cheer, and that’s just the extra stuff above and beyond al of our normal responsibilities! And, to think last year, I was following TWO kids around and only a handful of years ago, it was THREE!!! Sometimes I wonder how we do just one now. Ahhhh, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We did have a wonderful family vacation to California over the Spring Break. We did the touristy things like Disney Land, and the Walk of Fame, along with Balboa Park (OHMYGAWSH—one of my most favorite places in this world to be!). We did girlie things like pedis and manis, and family time of eating out, barbequing and watching movies, plus ocean time! I so love being with Cody and his wife SP!! We even met her family and had YUMMY authentic Mexican food.
I can’t believe there are only FIVE more school Mondays until SUMMER!! I am very excited for summer, as we have lots of fun things in store, as usual :) I HEART SUMMER!
I have been thinking a lot about life lately. Maybe because the big 40 is only forty something days away. Maybe because I am reading a fabulous book right now : The Teen’s Guide to World Domination and Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp.
Don’t let the title mislead you. Though the target audience is a teen one, I feel that it is totally applicable to any adult. I decided to read it because several of my students were, and they were loving it. I had to see what it was all about. I am so glad I did. WOW, can I identify!!! It’s very inspiring, and it makes me feel are warm and reflective inside. A definite read…
I recently received an email from a friend. She is someone that I have known FOR a long time, over 20 years. We have that sort of friendship where we can go for a year, or even more, without seeing or talking to each other, and the minute we are together, it’s like we were never a part.
Anyhow, we were talking about some of my goals in life, and I have one that I had hoped to do by 40, but it looks like it might have to wait a few years. She said to me, "I believe that you will achieve your dream one day my dear, of all the people I know you are the one to accomplish the things you set your mind to."
It felt good to have that validation, and you know what? It’s true. I look at the things I have accomplished in my life, and I should be proud. I do have some goals that I have not reached yet, but they are still goals so long as I am working towards them and still breathing.
We did have a wonderful family vacation to California over the Spring Break. We did the touristy things like Disney Land, and the Walk of Fame, along with Balboa Park (OHMYGAWSH—one of my most favorite places in this world to be!). We did girlie things like pedis and manis, and family time of eating out, barbequing and watching movies, plus ocean time! I so love being with Cody and his wife SP!! We even met her family and had YUMMY authentic Mexican food.
I can’t believe there are only FIVE more school Mondays until SUMMER!! I am very excited for summer, as we have lots of fun things in store, as usual :) I HEART SUMMER!
I have been thinking a lot about life lately. Maybe because the big 40 is only forty something days away. Maybe because I am reading a fabulous book right now : The Teen’s Guide to World Domination and Advice on Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Awesomeness by Josh Shipp.
Don’t let the title mislead you. Though the target audience is a teen one, I feel that it is totally applicable to any adult. I decided to read it because several of my students were, and they were loving it. I had to see what it was all about. I am so glad I did. WOW, can I identify!!! It’s very inspiring, and it makes me feel are warm and reflective inside. A definite read…
I recently received an email from a friend. She is someone that I have known FOR a long time, over 20 years. We have that sort of friendship where we can go for a year, or even more, without seeing or talking to each other, and the minute we are together, it’s like we were never a part.
Anyhow, we were talking about some of my goals in life, and I have one that I had hoped to do by 40, but it looks like it might have to wait a few years. She said to me, "I believe that you will achieve your dream one day my dear, of all the people I know you are the one to accomplish the things you set your mind to."
It felt good to have that validation, and you know what? It’s true. I look at the things I have accomplished in my life, and I should be proud. I do have some goals that I have not reached yet, but they are still goals so long as I am working towards them and still breathing.
