Drama in SC

math is not my thing...

2008-06-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

I am not as far in to my reading totals as I had hoped.. I am only at roughly 3,600 pages.. I thought I was closer to 5,000 already. Oh well, with trips to the beach and the mountains coming up, I should have no problems getting to 6,000 pages by the end of the summer... Fall is a tough time to read. Producing and directing a musical sucks the life out of me so reading for pleasure does not usually happen..

summer reading...

2008-06-23T18:04:00.001-07:00

Ok.. I haven't marked down my reading in awhile and I do still have my goal of 10,000 pages for the year.. I have read more in the last week that i have since before the spring play rehearsals started.. I'll work my way back with my books.

I just finished 2 books this weekend- The Hunt and The Prey by Allison Brennan. Both are murder mysteries with strong women in the protagonist role. While the books do not all have exactly the same characters, they have overlapping characters and are part of a trilogy of books Brennan ha written. I know I'll finish the last one before summer is over. The number of pages for each was about 380.

I also read 7th Heaven by Patterson.. the newest release from the Women's Murder Club mysteries... I really wasn't impressed because the good action that I have seen in the other books wasn't in this one.. This book had 375 pages in it. That means I have read almost 1200 pages in less than a week.

Last week I read Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulk (written as Ian Fleming). This was surprisingly good although there were some slow parts to it. I hadn't read any Bond novels in awhile, so I enjoyed this one. It had 304 pages.

Last month, Rick gave me the Maximum Ride:Final Warning as post-play reading material.. I read it as I went to Philadelphia for our anniversary.. I wasn't impressed with this Patterson novel either.. He left his usual formula for good action and opted to preach on global warming.. I am sure he was trying to teach a new generation about living greener, but it didn't seem to fit in this series.. This book had 272 pages..

My final book in my recent reading is R is for Ricochet. It is another of the Sue Grafton Murder mysteries. I enjoyed this one because Grafton kept to a workable formula for a good series. This book had 384 pages in it.

I think that 10,000 pages is going to be an easy goal. I am more than half way there now.. I may try to expand my genres for the rest of the year. I have 2 books on my shelf right now..

forever...

2008-06-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Forever...
the amount of time it has been since I have blogged....
how long I have been in love with rick !!!
how long it seems I have been trying to catch up on laundry...

i am thinking alot about my life with rick today.. in a few hours we will go to a wedding in the same church we were married in.. for a friend who was a child the age of my own children when we were married...
i remember i met him while doing cross word puzzles between classes.. i could match him in crosswords, but even then couldn't match him in word jumbles!!
i remember going to the amy grant concert in the middle of finals..
and spring break with Jenny and Jeff and Debbie and Janet and Stephen...
i remember trying to study while listening to him on the radio on sunday afternoons.. and having him proofread all my term papers..
i remember when I realized i was in love.. and even more so when i came home from japan and knew i wanted to spend my life with him...
i remember him getting down on one knee in my apartment and how the peanut butter pie never got eaten that night...
i remember our first argument in front of his mother... over our china pattern ("that's fine" was not the right answer)
i remember him singing to me at our rehearsal dinner and driving through the rain storm on our wedding night..
i remember having as much fun watching Braves baseball on the couch as adventuring out during our honeymoon..
i remember writing thank you notes.. and checking to make sure rick hadn't too much of a smart aleck on them.. (and no, "thanks for the crystal dish. our dog is enjoying eating out of it" is not an appropriate thank you)
i remember arguing of which peanut butter and ketchup to buy...
and i remember how much i love him and how it has grown each and every day.....

Play auditions start tomorrow

2008-02-24T14:16:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I start play auditions. I chose and easy fun show this year. I hope that the kids enjoy it. I consider it easy because the set design and costuming are extremely easy and inexpensive, and it's a show I have done a few times before so making decisions for blocking are much easier than with a show that I have never done before. I hope I can keep a journal of my thoughts for this show as I get closer to the performances.
My only concern right now is that I am a little low on the numbers for auditions, but that usually works itself out. I'll try to keep the notes together with this one.
So, my reading is doing well, and I thin k the goal of 10,000 pages for this year is going to be easily reached. I just finished Par for the Course by Ray Blackston. I like his light humor and take on life in his series, and I like that it is set in Charleston close to home.. The book totals 241 pages. I don't think I have marked that I finished James Patterson's 4th of July too. It is another of the Women's Murder Club mysteries. I am one of those people who will read an entire series if I find that I like the first ones.. This is shaping up to be true with these books. They are quick reads for me. This book had about 320 pages. I'll do math about how many pages I have so far this year.. I am doing well though!

God knows better...

2008-02-11T18:11:00.000-08:00

Last week was a hard week for me. I struggled in my prayer life and I cried out to God that I did not understand...

A girl that I teach with, diane, has her office across the hall from my class and we always say hi. She just had her second child in October and I have enjoyed chatting about the various stages with children. Her girls are thre and newborn and mone are 10 and 12 now.

Over New Year's, Diane's husband was diagnosed with with a brain tumor.. bad location, growing fast, losing basic thinking and movement.. all in the space of weeks. A group of us teachers have been praying and Diane has been blogging about all of the experiences because it is an easy way to let everyone know what updates there are daily. About 2 weeks ago, Diane and Mike went to Duke to see if he could be a part of one of their Cancer trials. Just after arriving, Mike went downhill quickly, the tumor grew by 30% while they were in Durham and Mike ended up in ICU in a coma and the doctors said there was nothing they could d, that it was a matter of days.

I prayed diligently, but I found myself questioning God about this.. Why someone so young? why can't miracles happen? why should diane and the girls not have their husband and father? why can't these doctors so something more?

Diane decided to have Mike moved back to Columbia. There was nothing Duke could do, and she wanted to be home to deal with all of this. Finally, Diane got everything together to bring Mike home (insurance, ICU opening at Lexington, medical flight, etc..) I spent quite a while in prayer that night. And then I went to sleep. I woke up at 2:00 am. I knew something had happened, but did not know what. I felt a peace about Mike and Diane. All of this happened on Wednesday.

Starting on Thursday, Diane began to blog about small miracles. Mike regained consciesness before the flight. He woke up again in COlumbia. He started breathing on his own again. He recognized her and the girls, he spoke, he left ICU for a regular hospital room... the list keeps going on.

So basically, God waited until there was no hope... until Diane had been told that her husband would die in the next few days.. He let me be angry and frustrated, and when it was HIS time, he moved..

I do not know how this story will end. I pray for a complete miracle.. One that allows Mike to watch his girls grow up and always remember this mricale in their lives.. A miracle that all of us have been praying for and continue to pray for.

I turn 40 this year..

2008-01-27T20:23:00.000-08:00

Last night Rick and I went to a reunion concert of a band that is made up of some of Rick's old friends form high school. I was a very enjoyable evening but made me a bit contemplative. A bunch of us turn 40 this year. In fact, I am going to another 40th birthday party next weekend.

My friend LD decided last year that she wanted to train for a marathon which she ran 2 months after her 40th birthday, and George planned a reunion concert and now I am thinking.. what is something big I would like to do for my 40th birthday? We've talked about a big trip to Europe but I want to do something that will take some time and discipline to prepare to for this year. Something I have to stick with...

I know I need to lose weight, but I really want a goal for this weight loss. Right now, I am thinking a 5 or 10 k race by the end of the summer when my birthday is. I don't know. I don't want to copy what LD did, but I have always dreamed of running races, but the baby fat that stayed and multiplied after T and Cam has kind of made me lazy.

I would write a book, but that is more Rick's thing... Maybe audition for some local theater productions? Maybe write a script? I do not know what I want to do, but I want something big.. something to work for.. a bit of a quest..

Any suggestions out there? I know I have very few (if any readers) but if you have happened to stop by and have any thoughts.. please feel free to share!!

More Books...

2008-01-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

After having several days when I was not able to log onto my blog because of the parental controls on our pc, I am back and ready to write about several things going on in my life...

READING- I am continuing on with my quest to read 10,000 pages this year and to read a book every week or two. The last week I have read a couple of things...

The first is a play 30 reasons not to do a play that I was looking at for my spring production. I liked it but I did not like the fact that it is not a play in the sense of having a set design and plot line, but rather it is a group of people talking to the audience and acting in small vignettes. I am know down to either Backstage or Tales of the Arabian Nights for my show.. Both would be good, but I just need to flip a coin... My page total for this one is 50 pages.

I have been reading a really great book called Organic God by Margaret Feinberg. She is a great writer that makes reading about God and what I love most about Jesus really easy. Rick ad I spent some time talking the other night about how I can read a fiction novel of 300 pages in a period of hours and I have been reading Organic God for over a week and am nearly at 100 pages. I am still not finished. I was frustrated at the slowness of the reading but Rick suggested that reading something deep and meaningful takes me longer to read than the funky fun books I normally enjoy.

I picked up James Patterson's next book in the Women's Murder Club. Third Degree was a quick read and Patterson is still able to have some twists I do not expect. I like that in a mystery. This one was 390 pages.

Not sure what I want to do next. I think it is time for some literature.. Something I have enjoyed before and want to read again. Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird or something like that. I also want to finish Organic God.

Reading is good

2008-01-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

I like that I am just writing to make notes about what I am reading. In that way, this is just for me and not for others to read. I think that when I was blogging before that I wished I had more friends blogging and reading my blog. I also wished I had the writing abilities of my sweetheart. But, alas, I don't.

However, I love to read.. I am aiming for a book a week this year. That is one of the few resolutions I made. I would like to lose weight, but every time I start on that, I have some major life crisis happen. It has truly happened 4 times now. I am just trying to eat better, not diet...

This week's book has been another murder mystery. Second Chance by James Patterson is the next one in the Women's Murder Club series. I like the twists that don't allow me to have it figured out before the last 30 pages. After reading mysteries all of my life, I like authors that are able to surprise me and Patterson is able to do that. This book was 390 pages and puts me closer to my goal of 10,000 pages for the year....

My next book is going to be non-fiction.. I'll get Rick to help with suggestions..

Carry On, Jeeves

2008-01-10T19:45:00.000-08:00

Carry On, Jeeves by P.D. Woderhouse is my second book of the new year. I wanted something a bit more literary than the mysteries I usually like to read. This book is a bit less than my last one at 245 pages, but as I quest to read a book a week and have at least 2 genres a month, I am doing well.
Tomorrow is my last day with this set of classes. I am sad to lose my advanced students because they are the ones who remind me of why I teach. They call me mom and call my cell phone just to tell me that my car tire looked like it is low on air. They eat lunch in my classroom, raid my own children's stash of snacks, but buy me doughnuts and chocolate just because they think it will make me smile. My first year students on the other hand have been a challenge this semester. I have never had a group that as a whole did not care so much. It has been frustrating.
I love teaching, but this is a semester that I feel like I have not done very well with reaching some or maybe most of the kids...

new year.. new try

2008-01-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

I am going to have another try at blogging this year. for me, life gets to busy to blog. I also think I try to make my blog entries look too much like rick's. I spend too much time doing laundry, grading papers, blocking stage movement, and organizing our kids' school and social lives to be as deep thinking as my sweetheart.
This year, I want to have some fun writing at least once a week. i want to focus on my goals of exercising more, reading more, and just enjoying life.
Rick mentioned the other day about making notes about how much reading he does this year. I would like to do this also. i do not read much during play season, usually just on breaks and in the summer. I read my first book of 2008. Rick bought me James Patterson's First to Die a couple of months ago and I started reading it last night. I am a fast reader and finished it about lunch time today. Since I like to round my numbers, I'll say I read 450 pages. I think officially it was something like 462. My next read is going to be something classic. I am thinking some Wila Cather, maybe Harper Lee... I do not know. We have reading time at school each day, but I usually focus on magazines or newspapers.. This semester, I want to read a few books in this time frame.
Thanks and goodnight.

2 weeks down..

2007-09-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

I am 2 weeks into the school year and slowly getting back into the groove. This week had me giving my first set of tests and working with all of my classes with script writing and performance basics..
My advanced group did fairly well on their review test that focued on performance basics, audience etiquette, and theatre terminology that my students should know. The main area they had trouble with was theater lighting, but overal the tests were good. This week they are rehearsing their first scenes. The topic is historical characters or events.. they must remain historically accurate but can focus on scenes that could have happened. It was hard for them to get started, but they have struggled through and are now focusing on their staging and lighting. On Tuesday, we will discuss props and costuming.

My intro. class had horrible first tests. I was actually surprised at how bad they were, but I think the usual problem of having heard that my class was easy is being tested. My class isn't hard, but you have to pay attention and look over noted in order to pass my tests and quizzes. They had their first performances were due Friday, but in one class, every group was missing someone and in the other class, they just were not prepared.

We rehearsed some more and I dealt with my first group arguing because some were prepared and others weren't. One group came to me and said "we quit." I asked "so you want to take a zero on a major project?" "Yes" was their response... I shocked them when I said "sorry.. you canot NOT do your performance." They seemed a bit shocked that they couldn't just quit. I gave them rehearsal space and told them to practice... they did and while theirs will not be a wonderful performance, they will learn that quitting is not an option in my class.

That was my second week. I need to look to see what I want to focus on with my classes this coming week... It is time to start analyzing characters and focus on blocking and movement.

Almost TGIF

2007-08-23T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well, my week has been improving. By the end of yesterday, I had air-conditioning and access to a PC. I am finally getting my classes settled and guidance has stopped putting a bunch of new people in my classes.
One of my favorite students had to drop my advanced drama class. She has physical therapy for her ankle over the next three months and my class is the best one for her to drop (seems to be a problem with her dropping AP English or Calculus) so she can go to her sessions. I am sad. She is a great actress and an incredibly sweet young lady.
In her place, guidance has given me a student who has not had Drama II. He had Drama I his freshman year and now as a senior, he convinced his counselor to place him in my advanced class. I am not going to pitch a fit because I would rather wait and see if there is someone worse in one of my spring classes that I would rather ask to be pulled out of my class. Besides, his ego needs to be readjusted and the wonderful actors in this class will hopefully cut his cocky attitude a bit.
My Drama I classes are a unique mix of ghetto, country, and prep. This is a norm at my school and those with a bit of an open mind will enjoy working with someone with completely different thoughts than them. By the time they are in Drama III, they are great friends no matter their social groups. That is one of the things I appreciate most about my classes.
Now, for some sleep.. I am exhausted. First week of school kicks my tail every time!!

2 days down and 178 to go...

2007-08-21T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well, I have completed 2 days of the school year and the start was not as smooth as I would have liked. Things are slowly improving, but this was one of the most rocky starts I have ever had. I actually emailed Rick early Monday morning and said that I would not return to my school next year. This is the only school I have taught at, and I feel like I am a team player, but no one told me another group was using the auditorium on the first day, so I wrote my lesson plans for that space. I found out during homeroom that another groups was using it and I had to rewrite lesson plans during the first hour of school. The day improved as it went along, but it was a tough start.
I love my advanced class, but because they know me so well, they are going to be tough to handle. They think they can get away with more stuff and I have to make sure they are occupied at all times or the are loud and hard to calm down. My drama 1 classes are interesting and have a diverse mix of kids in them. I enjoy the mix and I think it is interesting how the dynamics of personalities will change as we progress through the year.
My computer is finally working, but the air conditioner in my classroom is still not working... not good in 100 degree heat. Fortunately, I have been able to move to other classes to get the kids out of the heat!
I need to read some of the kids' first writings tonight to gauge their thoughts and their ability levels. This is going to be an interesting ride.

Less than 12 hours...

2007-08-19T18:43:00.000-07:00

Less than 12 hours from now, I will begin the new school year. This weekend has flown by. I went to school yesterday and tried to do some more work. I think I am about ready... OK. I really am not ready, but I am not sure that I ever REALLY am though.
Rick and the kids took me out to dinner Saturday night and as I pulled in to the restaurant I saw a bunch of booths sitting next to a dumpster behind the building. My first thought was "I want one for my classroom" and my second one was "I wonder which one of my former students is working her so I can ask." Well the host was one of my former drama students and he checked with the manager who said I could have whatever was back there. They had just taken them out Friday night to do their remodeling. My very sweet husband Rick and my brother-in-law Jeff went back with me today with my father-in-law's truck and I got three booths for my class and for the stage!!! I am really excited. Jeff made two more trips over there and took a bunch of booths to the youth room at his church (Jeff is a youth minister). He said if I need them for a play this year I can borrow them. COOOOOOL!!!
We spent the evening packing the kids' backpacks for school tomorrow. I will take T to middle school and Rick will take C to the elementary school. I am going to miss them being at the same school. Life has been so easy with them together the last few years, but it will still not be that bad. T will walk over to the high school from the middle school. It is next door and C will ride the bus over to me. I even remembered to pack snacks for them to have after school when they get to me...
Honestly I am more nervous about my kids having good days than I am about my school day. Middle school is tough for this mom.. more tough than buying my "baby" men's size 10 1/2 tennis shoes yesterday. If his feet are this big going into sixth grade, what are they going to be in high school??
Good night and pray often for me tomorrow....

Day 4: I can't think tonight...

2007-08-16T18:22:00.001-07:00

After spending 4 days at school, I will list what I have accomplished and what I still need to do. I really want to make some deeply important point about God, life, and ministering to teenagers but all I have right now is the lists of things to do. I love teaching but right now things are too chaotic...

Things done:
1. typed my student info. sheet
2. typed the syllabus for Drama I
3. sent an email to district office about our meeting yesterday
4. read "Once Upon a mattress" and realized it is not the right show for us
5. turned in the work order for the broken air conditioner on the stage and in my classroom

Things to be done:
1. type my drama III/IV syllabus
2. print all of paperwork for first day
3. write my first week lesson plans
4. get the graduation robes out of my classroom
5. hope that the computer system finally acknowledges my existence and allows me to get my rolls, set up my gradebook, etc.
6. put chairs at all of the tables in my room
7. set out all of the papers I need for homeroom on Monday
8. Hope that I do not have lunch duty on Monday.. first day of school
9. make signs directing students to my classroom
10. pull props I need for drama III/IV to do their scenes on the first day of school.

My mind hurts... and I am worried about my school being ready to open on Monday. There are still teachers who do not have all of the files, pcs, and stuff... it is still being unloaded out of the storage units out in the yard.

Good night.

I have been teaching tooooo long!

2007-08-15T16:17:00.001-07:00

Linda and I were trying to move the old upright piano in her classroom today. The thing only has 2 wheels and in just a few moments we were laughing because there was no way we were going to get it where we needed it. I told her that I was going to see if there were any ROTC students in the hall that could move it for us. When I went in the hall, there was one of the football coaches coming down the hall with two of his players (one of whom I teach) so this is the conversation that followed...

Me "Coach, could I borrow your player for just a moment to move a piano in the chorus room?"

Coach "Sure.. No problem. Come on guys."

Me "Thanks. (to one of the players) Keith, I see your on my roll for second period this fall."

Keith "Yes ma'am."

Coach "Keith, you're in Mrs. Stilwell's class again? She said that you remind her of me when she taught me.."

Keith "Yes Sir.. She said that she can't read anything that either one of us writes...."

I HAVE BEEN TEACHING TOO LONG WHEN I HAVE TAUGHT THE FOOTBALL COACHES!

Day 3.. now I do not exist

2007-08-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Day 3 and I seem to be moving backwards with computer issues instead of forward...
Last night, I went to check school email here at home to see if I missed any news after leaving school and I could not log in. Apparently, the email password I have had for the last several years in no longer correct. What???
So when I got to school this morning, I tried to log on to email on my "sort of works pc" at school and my email password there is also invalid. I also cannot log onto anyone else's pc to find out class rosters or email or use my files from the server... so basically I do not exist on the computer anymore.
When I explained my problem to my principal he said (with a completely serious face) " Just email our computer tech about it." I just stood there staring.... then he started laughing at what he had said. This poor man has way too many issues this week.. or I completely missed his sense of humor on this one. Usually I am making the "smartie pants" comments at school.
This afternoon I spent in district level fine arts meetings. I was asked about being the lead teacher for drama. I am not sure if that is a cool statement about my teaching and coordination skills or some kind of punishment...
By the way... My school has the teachers march in at graduation each year. We are in full academic regalia and it looks pretty cool. My mom is thrilled that I actually use what she refers to as my "40,000.00 robe" on a regular basis. But the problem is, that for some reason, I have about 50 teacher graduation robes sitting all over the tables in my classroom right now. so if anyone needs a black academic robe???

Day 2... or where are my drama books???

2007-08-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

Well the first 2 days have come and gone and I am still not feeling my excitement about school starting yet. I love teaching and by this time of the school year, I am happily anticipating my students and writing lesson plans for the first several weeks of school, but our school is in such flux this year that my happiness has not arrived yet.

Our school is undergoin massive renovations and while I am not directly affected by the changes, the trickle down effect is causing me some minor anxiety. Many teachers are still waiting for their desks, files, computers, etc to be unloaded from the monster storage units in the parking lot, and others of us have our rooms completely ready, but cannot log onto our pcs because of some computer glitch from the summer and others are completely set.. I am in the minor computer glitch category. I can't really complain about the computer problems when there are people at school who haven't seen their files or computers yet.

My other issue is that new drama books have been ordered but either they have not arrived yet or the state department sent nursing books instead. Drama students do not need anatomy books.. those could cause problems!!! :)

My fall schedule gives me first period planning, drama II/IV second period and drama I in third and fourth periods. That should be a fun.

Returning to the blogging world

2007-08-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

I used to keep a blog but life got too busy and I stopped. I didn't actually want to go back to the same blog, so I started a completely new place...a clean sheet.. a new day.. etc. Today is the last day before school starts back. I want to use this blog to chart my work for school and other personal notes. I want to keep this as something personal, but having others reply is fun too...