The fact that there as no tumor, means the chance of this being cancer is small. But they don't know what was causing her symptoms now...hopefully the biopsy will give a clue.

K-Bug just texted me to brag about drinking chocolate milk each day. She isn't normally a milk drinker, so this is new. But that she felt she had to brag about it cracks me up.

I'm still stuck on how cute he was....dang. I'm a bad daughter.

Not necessarily. My mom always tells me when one of her Docs is especially cute, like she's gonna try to fix us up (never any follow through, though, drat it!) You're just being proactive, saving your mom the trouble of piqueing (wow, does that look wrong) your interest.

~ma for Suzi's mom.

LAistas, a friend of mine has three days to find a new place to live (because her idiot of a new roommate didn't realize he was violating his lease by, you know, having a roommate). She's in Koreatown right now, but I think anything cheap in the L.A. area would suit her fancy. Do you know anyone looking for roommates?

I'm still stuck on how cute he was....dang. I'm a bad daughter.

One of my mom's brain surgeons was hot as all get out. And with a sexy Spanish accent to boot. My sister and I still gush over him.

I think part of it is the way they look you in the eye with that look of earnest concern as they give you the medical update. Get lost in those eyes....dang. Ok, and then I glance up to the HUGE portrait of Jesus again. I'm in such trouble...

Get lost in those eyes....dang. Ok, and then I glance up to the HUGE portrait of Jesus again.

I've been reliably informed that God = love. So I'd recommend that you get as godly as possible with Dr. Hottie. For your soul.

Sorry, P-C, can't help you. The only person I knew who was looking for a roommate already found one.

I've been reliably informed that God = love. So I'd recommend that you get as godly as possible with Dr. Hottie. For your soul.

So since you all helped me to pull this together, I thought you might like to see the final questions:

1. In 1-2 sentences, sum up the premise of each book, including its form (nonfiction essays, fictional novel, nonfiction narrative, etc.).

2. You have had many years of English at this point and have studied many books, which qualifies you to evaluate the teachability of a text. Of the two books you read this summer, which do you think would be most worthy of formal classroom study? Why? If you were teaching this book, which elements (characters, themes, plot points, motifs, historical relevance etc.) would you emphasize? What connections (literary, historical, or cultural) could you make for your students?

3. For the second book (the one you did not talk about in #2), select ONE of the following prompts to which to respond:

• Select the character that is most/least like you. Describe thoughtfully how you are similar/different.

• Choose a passage from the book that is essential to understanding the book’s plot, character, theme, or style and analyze the passage’s importance to the larger story.

• If this book were made into a movie, what would its soundtrack be? Identify a song you would use and explore how it captures the essence of a specific character, relationship, or story as a whole.

• Describe some aspect of this book that displays the author's craft and/or is stylistically unique. Cite an example from the book.

• Sometimes a book’s setting proves vitally important to the story being told; it almost becomes another character. Explore how this book’s setting affects the story being told and/or how it serves as a “silent character.”

Thank you again!!

His language teacher said they have nicknamed him 'walking dictionary' because he referred to one of the other teachers as draconian.

I totally appreciate that! Today I had my English 3 students tell me that they shouldn't have to learn vocabulary because they will never have to use words like embellish, connotation, affluent, banter, novice, brevity, imbibe, nostalgic, stipend or reiterate.

I try not to give any unnecessary assignments; however, most of the English 3 students don't do the minimal work there is and complain the whole time. I was checking grades yesterday and most of the kids are getting D's and F's because they don't turn work in plus their quiz grades are low. Plus, their skills are VERY low and none of these kids have passed the FCAT, yet.

Hey Pix, and any others interested, I have a pretty cool assignment based on a MySpace page (called 'My(Character)Space'). I got it from one of my friends at grad school and have had great luck with it. I can scan it and send to anyone.

ETA If anyone is interested in the info on the above, please e-mail me, profile addy is good.

Many of my students can't believe I 'went to school to go to school'. Somehow they don't totally understand that I grade all their work.

GG, I'd be happy to have a copy of the assignment, thanks!

Sheesh, how much do I wish I'd had Pix or GG as my teacher? Fabulous questions, Kristin!

I totally get the "show your work", though. Otherwise maybe you're just cheating. Or, more importantly, maybe you get the wrong answer because [not that this would EVER happen to me] you add the numbers just a little bit wrong but you TOTALLY have the right CONCEPT, and if you show your work you can get a lot of partial credit that if you just gave the answer the teacher would have to be like "2? The answer is 75! Where did you get 2? SO WRONG!! FAIL!!"

I'm with meara. 'Show your work' is annoying if you HAVE got a good strategy that's going to consistently help you, sure. For all those kids who are getting the wrong answer (or indeed ACCIDENTALLY getting the right answer despite making mistakes, or just because of copying), showing the method used gives the teacher some clue what the hell is going on in their heads, and whether they're in the ballpark (and can maybe get some credit and a quick pointer of where it went wonky) or have totally misunderstood it, and need help, stat.

signed, Wishes She Could See Into Kids' Heads. Sometimes.