Yesterday was my Grandpa Houck’s 70th birthday!I think he had a good time, he’s so funny!I love to see how happy he and my Grandma are, they have been together for so long!They have been married for 52 years!When I think about my own marriage coming up, I think of their long lasting marriage and love and hope Chase and I can have the same.
It saddens me to see divorce rates up.Every couple has their problems, there is no perfect couple!Those who last and thrive are based in love and forgiveness.A long, happy, loving marriage or relationship can last...I have seen it!
Grandma and Grandpa at 50th Anniversary Party
I love this pic! Don't let it fool you!
Well the spring semester has come to an end, which was highly longed for! Chase did well in his classes and now no more staying up till 12:30 doing calculus! I received an A in my first graduate class! I also received high marks on my research paper over Tudor rhetoric, and will be publishing it! I start my second grad. class in July, Kung Fu Film and Literature...it's going to be fun!
I had a job interview on Tuesday, but it's hard to say how it went. I am waiting to hear back from the principal, I was told that they were in the middle of their interviews. This was my first high school interview. I met with the principal and a panel of English teachers, which was nice, most of their questions were based around English topics. I'll I can tell myself is to just wait and see if there is where I'm suppose to be, is this the path I'm suppose to follow!
Saturday, May 9th was Chase and mine's wedding shower. A really good friend of ours, Carolyn Bell (one of Chase's groomsmen, Colin's mother) offered to give us a shower which was held at her house. We are so thankful to have such great friends and family. The shower was beautiful and so much fun! We played several games, ate good food, and had a good time conversing. My mom and my siblings, Rachel, Mason, Ashley, and Nathan came from Indiana to attend, I was so happy!
After the shower the big day seems so much closer, I can't believe it! All the planning is coming to an end, there are just a few minor things to attend to. We just ordered Chase's ring which we should have Wednesday! I'm so thrilled!!! The cake is taken care of and so are the flowers...Chase picked out the ring pillows and flower girl basket, we got the guest book and pen, and bells for the bride and groom departure! Oh My...It is three weeks away!
I went to a teacher job fair Saturday and I'd have to say I wasn't really pleased...okay, prehaps that is because hardly anybody was looking for an English teacer. Chase and I talked about the educaton market. How often do we hear that there is a shortage for teachers? Quite a bit! But there were so many teachers there! The fair was from 9-1 and that was last names starting with a-n! There were about 200 cars at 9:00! And this is a come and go event, so I'd like to see the numbers of how many attended.
So where is this shortage? Granted, I know the economic times are not up to par, but...?
Today I would like to introduce you to a series that I have really enjoyed, The Maeve Chronicles.It is a tale about Mary Magdalene, but she is not what you would think!Elizabeth Cunningham, the author, has spent years researching Mary Magdalene and the Celtic culture, that’s right, the Celtic culture!!!
The first book in the series is called, The Passion of Mary Magdalene or this was the first edition, but this is rare (and I own!!)The second book is Magdalene Rising or Daughter of the Shining Isles this was the first edition, but this is rare (and I own!!)and the newest is Bright Dark Madonna.Below is an email from the author.I encourage you to check out the series!!!
Below is an email from the author.I encourage you to check out the series!!!
HAPPY APRIL MAEVE'S DAY, dear friends of Maeve. Help me celebrate!
TELL: In Biblical times there was a saying: word spreads on the birds' wings. A foreseeing of TWITTER, perhaps. If you are on Twitter, MySpace or FaceBook, or if you are old-fashioned like me and just have an address book, please let people know about Bright Dark Madonna. No need to have read the other books to enjoy this one. Maeve's story is like Celtic knotwork that way. You can begin anywhere.
ASK: People often tell me, I looked for your book, but I couldn't find it on the shelf. In these times, inventory is down in all bookstores, especially independents. So if you don't find it, do ask. Booksellers are happy to order books. Ask at your local library, too.
SEE & HEAR: The tour starts Friday, April 3rd at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, Merritt Books in Millbrook 10:30 Saturday. Local folks: I'll be on WAMC Thurs, April 2 at 9:35. My interview with WVKR will soon be archived here: http://uucckingston.org/speaking.php . Events on the West Coast and Sedona and Santa Fe April 14-26. Check out the whole schedule: http://passionofmarymagdalen.com/pages/BDM%20tour%20sched%202009.html I will be belting out some blues and bluegrass as well as reading and telling stories.
THANK YOU, all of you who have written me and kept in touch over the years. A reader is a writer's best friend. You are the ones who bring the stories to life with your imaginations. I write for you. I love hearing from people, but please do forgive me if I can't write back this time. The next few weeks will be pretty packed. Know that I appreciate hearing from you. Thank you again.
As always, if you are on this list in error or wish to be removed, just let me know.
I would like to share what I have been recently reading. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes"! Now don’t laugh, these stories are actually very good and not difficult to understand. “Sherlock” is considered classic and I know many are weary of the classics, but please, give Mr. Holmes a chance! Start of with his numerous short stories and then go with a novel. I assure you, these stories are great!
Where we come from has always been a question we ask ourselves and our families. I find it a very interesting subject and have been asking questions to my elders the stories of their lives and the lives of their parents, grandparents and other family members.
Last night my grandma called me and told me she found out we have Scottish origins. A family member has done extensive research and traced the Smith side (my Grandma’s maiden name) to the Scottish family, Steadman (Stedman). I was very excited to hear this! I have always wondered if we have a connection with our ancestors, such as, am I like a great grandmother back in Scotland? Is this part of the reason I am the way I am? I also know a great, great grandmother (I believe on my Grandpa’s side) was from Wales or England. Is this part of the reason why ever since I can remember I have had a fascination with England?
My fiancé's Granddad, (his mother’s side), who name is Montoya, has traced their origins back to when they first sailed over from Spain to Mexico I believe in the 14th Century. His great grandmother (on his dad’s side) also wrote a book about her life and her family; it is so interesting to read! I’m so happy we got a copy!
This is such a fascinating topic! I can’t wait to learn more!
I didn’t know the complexities of rhetoric and the past few months I have learned so much! For this blog I want to focus on the three traditional branches of speeches as stated by Aristotle in his Rhetoric.
Forensic speech is typical of the courtroom and examines past actions.
Deliberative speech is that of governing bodies (political) and considers future actions.
Epideictic speech or ceremonial, attempts to establish the moral qualities of someone or something at present (Bizzell 172). Topoi or topics/places are then dispersed within each branch to create an argument.
We can hear forensic speech in movies or tv shows dealing with the courtroom. An obvious example would be Law & Order. Another example would be the movie,
A Few Good Men, if you haven’t seen it, check it out! There are many famous cases we can read the transcripts of trials, like the trial of Joan of Arc.
Epideictic speech can be either praise or blame. One of the most famous speeches is Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream.” This speech is a great example off strengthening shared belief of equal rights. The strengthening of beliefs is anther characteristic of this type of speech. We hear this one often and we probably didn’t even realize it! A speech at a funeral or wedding is considered epideictic.
These types of public speech are not only for oral speech but also include all types of discourse, form letters to conversation that is persuasive in intent (Bizzell 3).
Next time you hear someone speaking whether it be on TV/movies, in a classroom, or even the Academy Awards (Dustin Black’s acceptance speech), see if you can recognize the branches of speech being used!
*Many of these branches can be seen within each other.
I have included hyperlinks of the speeches mentioned.
Source: Bizzell and Herzberg. "The Rhetorical Tradition." Bedford/St. Martin. Second Edition, 2001.
Grandpa at 70th b-day party
