Secret Speakers: Read & Rate It discussion

Alright then...so what was your best, worst and weirdest of 2008?

I'll start our 2008 summary of best, worst, weirdests.

Best: Being close to the ones I love, and that includes my goodreads friends! Spending Thanksgiving with my kids in Boston. Going to Scotland for the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh. Staying in the hotel where J.K. Rowling wrote the Deathly Hallows--what a surprise! I have a picture of me standing in front of what is now called the "J.K. Rowling Suite," complete with an owl door knocker.

Worst: Recovering from three surgeries!

Weirdest/Funniest: Having a freckle show up on my cheekbone that is in the shape of an Egyptian princess with a water pot on her head. My, my. Or maybe she's Nubian? Or Indian? And we're not talking a little freckle. We're talking noteworthy.

Best: Going to Disney world in Florida and meeting the Princesses, Mickey, and a bunch of other people.

Worst: Finally singing in public. (It was actually realllly fun!) Btw I sung Beat It by Michael Jackson.

Weirdest/Funniest: Finding out that I am actually more clutzy than I thought I was, and having it proved while one day in gym I tripped at least fifteen times.

Best: Getting settled into a good job that I absolutely love. I get to teach all levels of high school math at a treatment center for teenage girls. The math is easy, it's watching their lives change that makes it wonderful. It amazes me that I get paid to do what I do.

Worst: Seeing the gas pump go over $75 to fill up the tank in our minivan a couple of times.

Weirdest: Trying desperately to learn how to do Yoga and looking like a total goof. Some poses just don't work when you're 6'5" to begin with and your ceiling is only seven and a half feet high. Stand on your toes and reach way up? I don't think so.

Very cool that you got to go to Disney World, Alexa! Also, I wish I'd been there to hear you sing Beat It!

Hilarious bit about the Yoga effort, Weldon. As for teaching math at a treatment center for teenage girls, you're doing a wonderful thing. I used to work at a drug and alcohol recovery center in rural Vermont, then later as a secretary in the homeless office at Welfare Square. There's a quality of living that can't be matched when you're in the trenches on the firing line of life, serving those who are struggling. May I come speak at your school? Even if it's in the English classes?

Oddly enough just before the break we were talking about looking for people to come in and speak to classes. I'll bring it up in our next meeting.

Thanks, Weldon.

Oh my gosh our school is this really cool college-prep school, and I'm sure people would love if another author came. Twice we had Naomi Shiab Aye come. (I'm not sure if that's the proper spelling.)
Another time my 8th grade book club met this cool author, Michael Scott. I got both of his books autographed. It was SO cool!

I used to teach French full-time at a private school. Your school sounds a lot like where I used to work! (Just think School of Rock, and Madame Taylor (my maiden name) doing the moon walk in front of the class whenever called upon, swearing the students to secrecy.)

I'm learning french. It's difficult, but fun. (Our school is so much like School Of Rock, but just think all-girl.)

C’est bien, ça! Je suis fière de toi.

I am proud of you? I'm guessing.

Exactement :)

Yay! Tres bien! (Very good I think.)
I sung a song in french one day in class while bored. It was pretty fun because no one understood.