I remember my middle school history teacher, Mr. Christler playing Whoomp There It Is every Friday after every class.
This dude had two large speakers mounted in his classroom and you could hear that music from across the yard. As I sit here in Starbucks, doing homework dreaming of life as a teacher, I have decided to carry on the tradition. I think my Friday theme song will be Suavemente by Elvis Crespo.
This is a random post about my baby girl who this summer became a tween.
My mild-mannered, easy going, super chill Selah Bear has become emotionally unstable. Never mind the fact that we spent the summer saying goodbye to our friends, awesome neighborhood, packing and moving to a new city in the suburbs of Chicago. Now my daughter says things like…
“I feel like you’re my sister, not my mom.”
“I like this boy at school.”
“I need alone time.”
Usually, when I’d raise my voice she’d stand there stone-faced, now her eyes well up with tears and I find myself apologizing instead! She runs away from confrontation, rolls her eyes and pretends she doesn’t hear me.
Where did my baby go? But for all the changes, we are closer now than ever. And yes, she is like a little sister. I speak frankly with her, swivel my neck and talk to her like one of my homegirls. I see her smile and her eyes sparkle when I’m my silly self, and she says things like…
“Mommy you’re so beautiful.”
“You look like a teenager, not my mom.”
“You should be a chef and open your own restaurant.”
This blesses my heart and makes me want to cry. But I hold it together and squeeze her tight, grateful for these tween years.
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Look, I was in L-O-V-E with this book, to the point that I neglected my family to keep reading. Then something happened. I fell out of love, and I had to make myself finish this book. Rin went from this rationally irrational teenage go-getter to irrational foolish and full of rage. For the simple fact that I hated that digression, I give Kuang props for creating such a flawed character and being able to disappoint me so well. The writing is excellent , and I’m digging the historical fiction-ness (China/Japan) of this book, that’s mixed with a magical pantheon.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book gives me Falling Kingdoms (by Morgan Rhodes) vibes. I enjoyed Legrand’s writing style however, it wasn’t until the end of the book that I realized that the two main characters were from two different time periods! LOL not exactly sure how I missed that. I think it’s because there was a bit too much jumping around and too many characters to remember. So now that I know what’s going on, perhaps it will make reading the second book easier.
everybody has love but I have nothing
i am weak, drained of every ounce of love.
my life’s blood the greatest thing I offer
pours out of me, overflowing every coffer.
yet when I grasp for a love of my own,
slip.
from my grip.
i am now numb.
a plant hardly watered,
is a plant undone.
teachquelle 