That's Anne with an E!

I recently read (for the first time) Anne of Green Gables. Sister one and brother-in-law sent me a Kindle for one of my more recent birthdays and they downloaded several books onto it for, including all the L.M. Montgomery books in the series. I decided it was high time I actually read the books for myself; after all, I've seen the films and was in my school's play back in seventh or eighth grade, so I know the general story line. Somehow I managed to see the film without reading the book first. I'm not sure how this happened (maybe it's the fact that I refused to read books as a child unless it was something like "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" because I didn't like to read), but it did. It was the same thing with Little Women. I only recently read the book in its entirety a couple years ago even though I'd seen multiple films and plays. And what is with these authors who write stories set in the 1800's about families who have some sort of heart-wrenching tragedy happen? How is that a happy children's book?!

Anyway, back to Anne. All in all, the book drove me crazy, but in my stubborn determination I made myself finish it. Anne Shirley was by far my least favorite character, what with her sweeping mood sings, obsessive behavior, incessant talking and over-active imagination. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all for imagination and creativity, but she was waaaaay too over the top and over dramatic for me. Marilla was my favorite character (yes, a practical, no-nonsense woman!) followed by Aunt Barry (a cantankerous old hoot!). Rachel Lynde, the self-righteous busy body, was a very close second.

While I have the rest of the series on the Kindle, I haven't been able to bring myself to read them yet. I don't know if I ever will either. But at least I can now say that I have read the first and give an educated opinion on it rather than one based on the film and play, even if I did read it this late in life.

Harry Potter

I have finally joined the ranks of thousands upon millions of people world wide and started reading the Harry Potter series. I've seen bits and pieces of the films here and there, but they never really interested me or kept my attention.

Now mind you, I've never been against the Harry Potter books or thought they were some form of evil. I've just never had the desire to read them. That is, until sister one sent me the first couple books in the mail. As a missionary who likes to read and no long has Half Price Books ten minutes down the road, when someone takes the time and money to send me a heavy, bulky book from the States, I tend to appreciate it greatly and try to savor it as long as is humanly possible. (It's like a good wine- the longer it ages, the better it tastes.)

I've been enjoying the books, but haven't decided where I stand with the series yet. I'm not so in love with them that I think they're the most fantastic things on the planet, but I'm not so disenchanted with them that I don't want to read them anymore. I've only read the first three books and I've been told they get better as they go along. (Again, like a good wine.)

My roommate has all the films, so I've been able to them as I've finished the books. (That's a leftover from my dear mother who firmly believed in the philosophy of book first, film second. Even after all these years, I still try to read the book before I see the film if at all possible.) The movies are so-so; nothing really spectacular and almost a let down after the descriptive narrative in the books. But I suppose they do a good job of following the books, for the most part.

One thing I've noticed as I've read and then watched, and HP connoisseurs please feel free to correct me about this if I'm wrong, is that Professor Snape seems a lot more condescending and mean in the books than the films (but again, I suppose a lot of that has to do with the power of words). But I love that Allen Rickman was cast as Snape. I think he portays the character fairly spot on, especially with his throaty drawl. Whoever was the casting crew for the Potter films did a pretty brilliant job in that area.

If I had to pick a favorite character, I'd have to say Ron, more so in the books than in the films. His character makes me laugh more than any of the others. There are a lot close contenders though- Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Filch (especially in the films because he's just so comically creepy), Neville Longbottom, the Weasley Twins, Nearly Headless Nick.

So for those of you who read and like the series, what's your favorite book and/or character, and why?

Books!

This year I was the recipient of these eight books:

They were all forms of Christmas gifts from various and sundry people, one of whom I've never met in my life only knows me by name. I cannot express how grateful I am for this "escape" from the reality of school, chores and ministry. While I don't be chucking my responsibilities out the window just so I can read the day away or anything, I am thankful I will have something new and fresh to read when I'm in the mood or when I just to think about something other than ESL.

Thank you kind gifters! You have no idea how much you've made my year!

Artwork

I mentioned at some point in time that my nieces and nephews sent me some artwork they of theirs. I features nephew one's artwork some time ago because I happen to really the Halloween scene he depicted. But to avoid showing favoritism (which wasn't my intent at all), I am going to take this time to show off my other nieces and nephew's artwork.

Niece one drew this intricate black and white piece. I am not sure what exactly it's suppose to be, but whenever I look at it, which is daily, it reminds me of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory meets Candy Land. I love to stare at this and try to figure out where one thing starts and another ends. My most favorite things is to try to unravel the mystery the of the face- is it a person? A dalmatian? A guard in a tower? Or is it one the people from the Wizard of Oz's castle? (Niece one, please feel free to shed any light on this for me!) But despite what it sounds like, I really do love this picture. It's very detailed and very happy in it's own special right.

Niece two drew frogs. And she did a fantastic job! (I can't draw to save my life, so I'm always impressed by people who can draw!) I love the lilly pad, reeds and butterfly in the back ground. And the huge eyes. Such lovely, big eyes. They remind me of my nieces beautiful eyes.

Nephew two drew me a picture of a train. Okay, it's really a cut-and-paste job, but it's brilliant. I especially love the ladder sticking out of the front of the train and how he wrote his name backwards. Oh, four year olds! You gotta love 'em!

The other picture he made for me, and this was more recent, was a Christmas tree. He made it and had Sister one send it to me because he didn't know if I had one and he wanted to make sure I did. How cute is that?!?! Well, I think it's adorable. And because Christmas is my favorite holiday, I love the fact that I have a Christmas I can put up every year that doesn't shed, have any glittery ornaments or require maintenance. (You might have picked this up about me, but I don't really like things that are really needy and high maintenance.) So thank you, nephew two, for the fantastic gift of a tree!

And thank you to all my nieces and nephews who have given my room a more "cheery, homey" look now that I have pictures to show off!

Blustery Day

Friday was a rather blustery day. It was really windy and snowy (it didn't stop all day, and continued all weekend). To a Slovak, it was a normal winter day: nothing but a snowstorm that comes and goes with strength; one minute it's just snowing, the next it feels like the wind is blowing directly in your path, and through your every layer, and ice is mercilessly pelting your face. Life goes on as normally planned, people still wander outside to go to the Post Office, walk their dogs, go shopping, go to the pub, etc.

To a Texas this kind of weather would be the equivalent of a violent blizzard. Everything would shut down immediately and people would start fretting about pipes freezing, their food supplies running out (because everything is shut down and closed) and not having enough warm clothes around. I think if any true Texan (or southerner for that matter) were to have arrived in Bystrica over the weekend, they would have turned right around and gone back home. It would have been too cold, too snowy and too icey for their warm-blooded tastes. (Where's the heat? The humidity? The Sun?!)

However, for this Texan (which lets face it, I'm not that much of a Texan anymore) it's like a dream come true. Snow? REAL snow?! Cold weather that actually requires snow coat, gloves and boots?! Why yes, please! While I do admit snow gets old after a while (especially sludgy, dirty snow) I still love it. I know I've said this before, but I love living in a place where I experience real seasons- the brilliant colors of fall, the short, cold days of winter, the green budding life of spring, and the long warm days of summer. It's a wonderful and welcome change from the two seasons we have in Texas, namely summer and August.

While while most of my fellow Texas friends and family wouldn't last but 5 seconds in my beloved Bystrica, I am enjoying the cold, blustery surroundings immensely.

Colleagues

One of the things I love about teaching at Narnia is the people with whom I work. I swear, we have some of the kindest teachers who handle each child with love and patience even when said child is acting less than desirable in the behavioral department. I consider myself blessed to have such wonderful colleagues who continually remind me that love is an action and something we must do rather than feel. Every child at Narnia, no matter their background or family life circumstances, deserves to be shown unconditional grace, love and kindness daily. And when I fail to remember that (which is all the time, I admit), the teachers in my wake do remember that and put it into practice with hardly any effort at all. Thank you, colleagues, for continually being an example for me of how we are to treat those around us no matter how good or bad the situation/student.