Den of the Beastly Bear
"The best-laid plans of mice and men, oft times go awry."
-Robert Burns-
Hi Folks!
After those last few we'll lighten up a little...
I'd like to start the day by wishing a very Happy Birthday to my friend and blogging mentor MiMi Smith, and my sister-in-law Kim Boesel!!!
Kim is a new reader who sat down last weekend and read every-single-blog I've written since the first of the year! It took her over three hours...Now that's dedication! Thank you, Kimmie!
The above quote inspired the title of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and certainly has applied to my life! As I think I adequately demonstrated in my "Consequences" trinity.
But it reminds me so much of Sophomore English, and my teacher Mr. Hal Farah!
Now Mr. Farah could have just assigned us the reading of Steinbeck's short story...but instead, he read it aloud in class and had us follow along. Then to mix it up he'd have students read a paragraph or two!
I can still see him hopped up on his desk, legs swinging as he read...doing voices for the different characters. A trick I picked up for reading to my daughter, it got us and her more involved in the story!
He did the same for Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" and Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliette". He got us engaged in the stories like I'd never experienced before!
-Robert Burns-
Hi Folks!
After those last few we'll lighten up a little...
I'd like to start the day by wishing a very Happy Birthday to my friend and blogging mentor MiMi Smith, and my sister-in-law Kim Boesel!!!
Kim is a new reader who sat down last weekend and read every-single-blog I've written since the first of the year! It took her over three hours...Now that's dedication! Thank you, Kimmie!
The above quote inspired the title of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and certainly has applied to my life! As I think I adequately demonstrated in my "Consequences" trinity.
But it reminds me so much of Sophomore English, and my teacher Mr. Hal Farah!
Now Mr. Farah could have just assigned us the reading of Steinbeck's short story...but instead, he read it aloud in class and had us follow along. Then to mix it up he'd have students read a paragraph or two!
I can still see him hopped up on his desk, legs swinging as he read...doing voices for the different characters. A trick I picked up for reading to my daughter, it got us and her more involved in the story!
He did the same for Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby" and Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliette". He got us engaged in the stories like I'd never experienced before!
I don't know how many of you here are " The Walking Dead" fans, but the episode of 3/16/14 "The Grove" was certainly an homage to Steinbeck.
When Carol took Lizzie to the grove and told her to "look at the flowers Lizzie.."
I turned to my wife and said: "Of Mice and Men"!
She said "Huh?"
She didn't have a "Mr. Farah"!
So thank you, Mr. Farah!
Thank you for instilling in me a love of classic American literature, and literature in general by your love of teaching and sharing your knowledge with us!
You opened the world to me!
I thought of an April Fools blog today but decided against it.
Also, today starts the blogger April A-Z Challenge...I've been encouraged to join in, but have decided to opt out.
It feels too "contrived" and WAY too much like Homework...and I HATE homework!!! Lol.
Even Mr. Farah wasn't able to cure that!
Be Well!!!
Beastly Bear
