Embracing the Nerdy

As a self-respecting English teacher, I would be remiss if I let Shakespeare's birthday pass unheralded. So, in tribute to the Bard, on this anniversary of his birth [and his death as well, but that's neither here nor there (a phrase coined by our dear Will himself)], I offer you a list, from A to Z, of words first recorded by Shakespeare.

Advertising
Bandit
Critic
Dickens
Epileptic
Film
Gossip
Hush
Investment
Jig
Kissing
Luggage
Manager
Numb
Obscene
Puke
Quarrelsome
Rant
Shooting Star
Torture
Undress
Varied
Wild-Goose Chase
Xantippe
Yelping
Zany

And, as an added bonus, I offer you a list of some of my favorite Shakespearean insults. These are infinitely more creative (and more cutting) than the base vocabulary we have today.

"Let's meet as little as we can."
"More of your conversation would infect my brain."
"Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat."
"Away, you three-inch fool."
"Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!"
"Thou hast no more brain than I have in mine elbows."

And now I bid you adieu. "Fair thoughts and happy hours attend on you."

Tough Lesson

I've discovered that one of the worst things about being a teacher (and I may be biased, but I think it's worse when you teach older kids) is watching students you've come to know and love make bad decisions and knowing that, no matter how hard you try, you can't do anything to stop them.

It's a good thing I believe in the power of prayer.

Shopping Extravaganza

A dear friend invited me to go outlet shopping with her on Friday "for a couple of hours." Little did I know that "a couple of hours" would more than double by the time we were through. To those of you well-versed in the way of the outlet mall, this probably seems like no big deal, but I am not a shopper. I'm cheap, I don't like crowds, and I especially don't like fitting rooms. However, this might have been the most enjoyable shopping experience I've had in a long time.

2 purses, 1 pair of jeans, 1 skirt, 1 pair of capris, 1 scarf, 3 tops, 1 pair of earrings, and a newfound fashion sense later, I feel like a new woman! And I got some quality time with a pretty fabulous friend, so that was just icing on the cake.

And now, because confession is good for the soul...

After I had done all the damage I felt I should be allowed yesterday, I did let a couple of other awesome ladies "force" me into a little shoe-shopping action this morning. I have 3 pairs of new shoes (and hopefully I won't be chastised too severely for the third pair--I haven't confessed them to LL yet), but I promise I will give some other shoes away to compensate.

My Life in Pictures

I came across this idea while Facebook-stalking a friend. Here are the directions:

Create a mosaic of your life with 12 photos.

DIRECTIONS:
- Go to Google image search.
- Type in your answer to each question.
- Choose/click a picture from the first 3 images.
- Click "See full image"
- Copy the URL of the photo
- Use this website (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php) to make your collage.
- Paste the copied photo into each line.
- Save the image for use in this note.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your hometown?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. What is your favorite movie?
6. What is your favorite drink?
7. What is your dream vacation?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. What is one word to describe yourself?
10. How are you feeling right now?
11. What do you love most in the world?
12. What do you want to be when you grow up?

(I did cheat a little to find the pictures I wanted--and because there are apparently a lot of girls with, um, questionable morals who share my name--but it's my blog, darn it!)


(Click on the mosaic to get a better look.)