Good morning, my lovelies! We all float down here. Wait. Scratch that. I think I need a break from the IT-along as I’m beginning to hear scary clown voices before I fall to sleep. Mr. King certainly knows how to craft a scary and entirely engrossing novel!
The kids made it through their first week of school and first week of various activities. Eighth grade in a new school was definitely intimidating for Connor. He was sick to his stomach the morning of the first day of school and would come home trying to figure out the social structure and where he might best fit. The first two day of classes were big “getting to know you” days for the entire school, which was a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allowed him to become more familiar with his fellow classmates. On the other hand, he still doesn’t have a good feel for his classes or the school because he only spent one real day following his regular schedule. Holly fared much better, as we knew she would. She came home after the first day excited because a fellow classmate who sits right next to her has the same birthday as she does. By the end of the week, she was talking about new friends and chatting away about who she was sitting next to at lunch, who she played with at recess, and the like – you know, the important things. Her desire to do well in school this year is palpable, and she was incredibly focused on doing all of her work and making a good impression with her teacher. I hope it lasts.
Connor is officially participating in marching band this year as well as band. The fact that the boy feels the need to play the biggest instrument available still baffles me. It will be interesting to see how his skinny frame will handle marching for miles while carrying the sousaphone.
Holly’s cheerleading squad is certainly interesting this year. It is the first year for this program, so the number of girls per squad is very low. Holly only has three other girls on her squad, and she was asked/forced to cheer for the second graders again, even though she is a year older than the other girls. At her first game yesterday, only two girls from the squad showed up to cheer, Holly being one of them. The coach, bless her, has no clue what she is doing, and she opted to spread out the few cheers they have over the entire game rather than repeat them several times throughout the course of the game. Not only that but she had the girls cheer facing the teams rather than the parents. I just had to laugh. I’m hoping Holly feels more comfortable with her coach and the other girls to teach them a few pointers, otherwise it is going to be a long peewee football season.
Three years ago, if someone would have asked me to read nothing but horror books or other spooky reads for two months, I would have laughed in their face and said that I don’t do horror or spooky reads. Now, if someone asks me to do that, I say “Bring it on!” Stephen King’s IT, Shirley Jackson’s THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, Psycho USA, DRACULA, Sarah Waters’ THE LITTLE STRANGER, AMERICAN PSYCHO, and whatever else I can fit in until the end of October. And I’m enjoying every single minute of it. God bless blogging and the opening up the horizons.
Reviewed this week:
- The Selection by Kiera Cass
- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (audio)
- Psycho USA by Harold Schechter
It does. And the way Steven Weber says it on the audio version? Absolutely spine-tingling. It gives me the shivers just thinking about it!
I know! He's 80 pounds soaking wet. Weightlifting is definitely in order!
We all float down here has got to be the creepiest line in the whole book. And it keeps re-appearing!
And the sousaphone, huh? Maybe he should take up weightlifting, too. 😉
My recent post My Crazy Clown Posse
I was talking with several people on Twitter the other night about how bad my balance is this year. Michelle from my books. my life is doing a read your own books thing for the last quarter of the year. I was really hoping to join her for at least one month of that. I'm not certain. I read what I want to read, and right now I really want to read some of the review copies I just got in!
Oh dear, the trumpet. My niece played the Coronet. I don't know how my sister stood it.
Yes, she should say something. Coaches should take input from their cheerleaders.
I'm going to host a review book read-a-thon in November. I am completely swamped with review books and I need to set aside a week (or so) to concentrate solely on them. I'm planning to be very meticulous, but you know what happens when you plan. 😉
I'm actually pretty lucky as the tuba and sousaphone since they are too big to bring home to practice. It was worse when he was playing the trumpet and I had to listen to him blasting away on that thing.
I want Holly to say something to the coach, as she has done this for two years now. Her old coaches may have been morons but at least they knew in what direction they should cheer. Unfortunately, none of the squads are big. There just aren't enough girls yet. Hopefully, the program will grow next year allowing them to make more acceptable squad sizes.
I'll have to check out your challenge. I'm not certain if I can. As much as I am enjoying myself, I keep looking longingly at certain review copies I've received. I'll see!
HaHa…we all float down here. That clown is one scary mother and that would be true even if I didn't have severe clown phobia.
The sousaphone? Holy! Thank goodness Gabe is playing the violin. I'm not big on any kind of horn so I lucked out on that one. Let's just hope Reece follows suit!
Cheerleading. Someone needs to speak to that coach. She's definitely doing it all wrong. I cheered throughout high school and was an assistant coach my sophomore year and a full blown coach of the Freshman cheerleaders the year after I graduated. First of all, small squads do not work. You need loud voices and volume to get the crowd revved up which revs up the team. And facing the team? Only when they're going for a big play. Wish I was there. I'd set her straight. 🙂
I'm glad you're enjoying the scary reading. It's great, isn't it? If you're up for it, I'm hosting a witchy mini-reading "challenge" at my horror blog during October. I placed the link in the comment luv thingy so you can find the post. Would love for you to join me.
My recent post Season of the Witch…coming this October
Connor was SO unhappy at his old school, and it was one of those scenarios that was never going to get better because they had all been to school together since kindergarten. We knew this move would be good for him, if only because it would give him a very necessary fresh start. I think he is finally able to see that, and he has been a lot happier than he ever was last year.
Get thee to thy stacks 'o books, woman, and select thy RIP books ASAP!! 😉 Not that I'm pressuring you or anything. 😀
I can relate to Connor's feelings … I started a new high school in a new state where I didn't know anyone and it was a challenge but it ended up working out OK in the long run. It just takes a little time. Sounds like your daughter is doing wonderfully. YAY! I need to go pick out my RIP books!
My recent post Romeo Meets His Juliet
That's great to hear that both your freshman and your 8th grader had good weeks! Both grades are extremely intimidating, IMO. Hopefully, the rest of the year for all of our kids will be just as good!
I'm the one true football fanatic around the house. The kids tend to run to their rooms when I start getting upset – I have been known to scream a little too loudly at the TV, but I love the sport! I'll forgive you the lack of Packer love because you are football lovers too! 😉
My daughter is the social butterfly, and even though she complained and cried about the move, we knew she would have no problems making new friends. I agree with both Carrie and you. You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to junior high!
Football is a large part of why I love fall too, although this weather we are having certainly gives it a run for its money!
Have a great Sunday!
Junior high is a tough age, and having to start a new school? I guess it is better than starting high school and a new district completely.
I have so many books that I feel like I should finish this fall, but I just cannot pass up RIP. I might have to ease off of it for a bit in October though and get to some of those books.
I was talking to you about my mixed feelings on The Technologists. I have to say I'm not surprised you DNF'd it. It's too bad since I do still feel like there was potential there.
I realized that when I was typing it. Granted, the boy is gone for most of the day with marching band, so it is just the girl and me until around 4:30. So at least most of the afternoon is peaceful!
So much to comment on here. Our first week went very well for freshman son (he loves it and has all male teachers but one this year). Our 8th grader actually liked his week too. 8th grade is a hard year in my opinion. Here's to smooth sailin' all around!
I totally love your comment about blogging opening up so many reading possibilities. I'm such a different reader than I was before I started blogging. It is a privilege to have the book blogger world at my fingertips.
Enjoy your Sunday – Football – everyone's excited at this house too. Although we aren't all about those Packers.
Middle school. :: :Shudder::: It can be a crazy time for those kids. I'm with Carrie, I wouldn't go back <span class="idc-smiley"><span style="background-position: -36px 0pt;"><span>;)</span></span></span> My son started high school, ack. He loves it, but I knew he would. He's a social kid. My youngest daughter is in 7th grade this year. I homeschool her though, man does she love her teacher, ha ha.
I'm glad to hear you're enjoying It. Ooh that book is scary/amazing.
Happy Sunday Michelle, yay for football! It's my favorite thing about this time of year
My recent post Midwestern Book Bloggers…are totally the coolest
Sounds like a busy week! I feel for Connor – junior high is such a tough age. I wouldn't go back for a million dollars!
I thought about doing RIP, but had already mapped out some books I couldn't wait to get to for fall, so maybe next year.
Were you the one who told me you had mixed feelings about The Technologists? It was a DNF for me this week.
Enjoy your afternoon!
My recent post The Sunday Salon – September 9, 2012
"…as long as the kids behave…" You do know now that you've completely jinxed yourself and your relaxing weekend, don't you? 😛
Um, yeah, good luck with your weekend.
As for horror books, I'm really not much into them, except for King when I was younger.
My recent post Rereading A Prayer for Owen Meany