Books on Tape

I've tried listening to more books on tape this fall, and I must say it's created tons of positive reinforcement for all the driving I do.  I get to listen to a bit more of the story anytime I get in the car.  It's especially helpful when I don't want to stress out to or from school.  I can wake up or unwind very easily.


Currently I'm listening to Native Son by Richard Wright.  The narrator is riveting, creating quirks and personality for the characters with his many voices.  I remember listening to The Cuckoo's Child by Suzanne Freeman multiple times when I was young.  I loved the young narrator who read the story and could picture the setting and characters easily as she spun them.  Reading outloud was (and still, embarrassingly, is) a way for me to get into stories.  I think I am probably more auditory than I think, perhaps needing to get started in a novel by hearing the character's names and the story's places.


A running total this fall:

Wicked- please don't read OR listen to this...horrible.

The Lacuna

The Bean Trees- both by the masterful Barbara Kingsolver.  They are musts.

Where the Red Fern Grows- yep, cried in the car on the way to school one morning as it was finishing up.

The Glass Castle- unbelievable memoir.

Native Son

The Chaska Public Library has not had the greatest selection for books on tape, but I grab the things I recognize even I'm not in the mood for them at the time.  Each book is between 10 and 20 hours, and it's interesting how much of a part-time job driving is when you consider how fast those hours in the car add up!

Research: Where to live.

Trying to find a place to live has been slow-going and puzzling.  It's brought me to craigslist, rent.com, and facebook, so I can plead on an individualized basis with friends I know to be looking.  My principals are looking out for me and have put emails out to the staff on my behalf.  I have even gone so far as to sign up for a roommate profile online.  There are normals out there, right?  These are my possible future homes.


Chaska- Home to the Jonathan community.  Driving north on 41 back to Plymouth was really a lovely drive, passing through Deephaven and then Minnetonka.  The places I've been looking at are townhomes near Lake Grace with walking/biking trails and an association that seems to care about the community.  Near the University's Arboretum, good school district, and a pretty area with trees and windy roads.
commute: 10 miles

Shakopee- there have been several offers from fellow teachers to live in townhomes in Shakopee, home to Canterbury and Valleyfair.
commute: 11 miles

Chanhassen- home to...the dinner theater?
commute: 17 miles

Eden Prairie- close to whatever- 494, 212
commute: 20 miles

Jordan- perhaps I've been there done that with the small town thing.  Have Decorah and Princeton been enough?

KG??

moving...

I've recently accepted an elementary school position in Jordan, MN. Which means, well, lots of things.


-leaving my stellar one-in-a-million roommate, Ariane.
-leaving the high school teaching learning curve for another one.
-the chance to feel like a permanent employee with colleagues, students, and parents. And not really competing with the loyalty of the previous (ahem) one.
-many many more options for evening activities. Walk around the lake or arboretum? Trip to the Y? Dinner at Istanbul? Sure.
-Being closer to Paul, a perk that rides atop my list.


Life is a-changin' this month and next. I will be starting new adventures on August 1st and ready to move in to a new place (garage, hardwood floors, 2 BR, roommate, dishwasher, and close to trails and the Cities, please?). Hmmm...


This means that I've begun the cumbersome and somewhat awkward search for an apartment in the Chaska, Chanhassen, Eden Prairie area. I quickly banished Jordan from my list, based on the terrible experience I had with craigslist and rent.com properties (read: mouse poop, slanted floors and ceilings, and exorbitant prices). It was kind of a cute outing, both my parents and sister tagged along, the new Garmin in hand, punching in 3 digit small-town addresses.


Ariane and I have been in denial that we're moving, but it's happening.


I am in need of a summer hobby, and I thought that blogging could be it. We'll see where things go!