Weekly Rewind
The new books on my shelves and my week in a nutshell.
My Life and Blog
Life: Well, I made it to FL in one piece. I drove straight from PA--which was brutal--but I didn't want to stop anywhere by myself with all my stuff in the car, so I just powered through. Things are going ok. My parents left on Wednesday, so I have their house to myself for the next couple of months. I will decide after they return what I am going to do. The commute to my school is a monster (about an hour each way), plus, again, I just don't know if I can handle living-living with them. On the other hand, it would pretty much eat my entire salary to pay for an apartment here while still paying for half of our house in PA. We'll see how it goes.
So the school. Everyone has been so nice and helpful to me. There really is some serious Southern hospitality here. I was so distressed on my first day, though. They had put in a module (a mobile home type unit) that was covered in this hideous dark wood paneling and smelled horribly. Thankfully, a woman in my department took another position at the last minute, and the principal was nice enough to offer me her old room. I adore my new room and spent all day today putting it together--organizing the desks, putting up posters, etc. Monday is open house and Tuesday is the first day of school. This week was crazy and exhausting, so I really just plan on taking a bath and relaxing tonight, but this weekend I definitely plan on buckling down and getting a handle on the curriculum.
I miss my husband horribly already, of course. Talking on the phone is just obviously not the same as being able to kiss his face, but, again, everyone has just been so welcoming and wonderful that it does make it a bit easier. I plan on going back for a friend's wedding in September and then Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it--you know it's true.
Blog: Obviously with the move and starting a new job, I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and do anything with this blog. I do have at least one review I would like to pound out, maybe this weekend, but I've really decided that for now my beloved blog will have to be placed on the back burner. Again, I will try to post at least my Weekly Rewind every week, so I can keep in touch with my blogging buddies and let you all know what is going on in my life as I live this new adventure.
New Books: I just have a couple of books to show you today. Luckily, my mom's library has a self check-out option, so she gave me her card before she left. This is awesome because there are a few books coming out this fall that I'm dying to get my hands on, plus I want to stock up on some audio books for that killer commute. Because I don't have an actual address here or a FL DL, there is no way I'd be able to use the library without her help. So, yay! Anyway, I've yammered on enough. I hope you are all having fantastic weekends. Mwah!
Review Books
Famous Last Words by Katie Alender
I've been excited for this one for quite awhile, so I was thrilled when I got the approval this week. I have soooo many books I should read before this one (seriously my September pile is INSANE), but it got bumped up immediately. I've only read the first couple of chapters, but it's pretty cool so far.
Looking for Jack Kerouac by Barbara Shoup
After reading On the Road, a 60s teen drives to FL in search of Jack Kerouac. I love that cover. Those old cars are so awesome.
The 100 by Kass Morgan
I've been meaning to read this forever. It got some middling reviews, but the premise is interesting.
Day 21 by Kass Morgan
I hope I like the first book because I went ahead and snagged the sequel, too, as I am wont to do.
What I snagged from the library
Just Life the Movies by Kelly Fiore
I've heard that this YA romance is pretty cute and full of movie references. As you may gather from my name, I'm quite the film buff, so I'm excited to read this one.
Something Real by Heather Demetrios
I was over half-way through this in PA, but I was slumping so badly before I left, that I just didn't finish it. I honestly started this months ago, so I plan to start over. I was really enjoying it, so it doesn't make any sense that I didn't finish it. Oh, well. Life. I was happy to snag it again.
Heist Society by Ally Carter
I've literally read this book half a dozen times, but I just wanted to snag something easy to listen to for my commute, and saw this. I love this series so much. Does anyone know when the fourth book is coming out?
Well that's it for me this week. Feel free to leave a link to whatever weekend post you do (Stacking the Shelves, In My Mailbox, etc). I love to see what books people have recently snagged and especially enjoy hearing about my fellow bloggers' weeks. I hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!
I'm glad you made it to FL ok. That must have been one crazy drive without stopping. Good luck with the new curriculum…I know how hard it is to get a grasp on everything, but you'll be fine! What grade are you teaching again? Good luck with it all!
ReplyDeleteThe curriculum is one thing I am pretty worried about. I just know it's going to be a lot of work planning every day from scratch. 8th grade. Thanks, Chris!
DeleteWow, that does not sound like a fun drive, but glad you made it there safely. And yay, how fun having your own classroom. Good luck on the first day!!!
ReplyDeleteThe 100…I actually really liked it, although the characters could have been more developed. I got the second one too and I'm excited. I like the TV show too and if I'm remembering correctly (it's been awhile since I read the first book), it's really different from the book.
Have a great week! ~Pam
Audiobooks will be good for your commute! I used to make a commute like that, so I know how draining it can be! Hope you can work something out with the living situation. And I'm glad you got a room instead of having to be in a module!
ReplyDeleteI love the tape - it's super cute and made me grin when I first saw it.
ReplyDelete(Then again, your blog always makes me grin!)
Glad you made the trip ok! I'm glad you'll have some time to figure things out, and I commend you for taking a tough new step!!
Don't worry about the blog - we'll all be here! :) Enjoy your new books too. I think you'll like Just Like The Movies - it has a pretty great feminist message, which surprised me a little.
My StS
Glad to hear you made it FL safe and sound and that you love your new classroom! I can't wait to read Famous Last Words. I love Katie Alender's books!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that your new school seems like a nice place to work. I hope that you are really going to enjoy your new job, Natalie! I really like the Gallagher Girls series, so I am excited for Heist Society as well! Especially the crossover seems really cool :). Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteNow we get to cuddle around you and hug you and comfort you! How is the weather treating you I am happy to hear that the people are nice. The South has its faults, but, dammit, we're nice people!
ReplyDeleteAw, sweetie, I'm sorry this has been such a difficult transition for you. Hopefully, you'll be so busy with all your teaching duties that the time will just fly by for you. I know you really want to appreciate your first year of teaching, too, but you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't started the Heist Society books yet, but I've heard they're fabulous on audio. Of course, my library doesn't have them on MP3 so I still can't get them that way. :( I really loved Something Real, even though there were a couple of characters I could have strangled. Hope you have time to finish it. ;0)
And I hope your first week of school is going well. Katie doesn't start back until the 25th, but I'm still not ready. I don't think I'll ever REALLY be ready, though...