Donner Party of 1.... Donner Party of 1

I had another really strange dream the other night involving the Donner Party incident along the Oregon Trail. Have you people heard of the Donner Party? If so, you know it's gruesome. These people end up resorting to cannibalism to try and survive a winter in the Sierra Nevada mountains.... only 1 survives out of 14 who were stuck in this area. And he does so only after he has eaten all the rest of his relatives and friends who died before him or became so sick he had to kill them and then eat them to stay alive.

Lovely, huh?! Kind of scary too... a true cannibalist story here in the USA!!! People do really, really desperate things during really, really desperate times. The story seriously gives me the heebie-jeebies and creeps me out..

Anywho, how this relates to my dream you ask? Well, I have been teaching about significant events in US History for the past week at work, trying to get my kiddos to remember even a little bit for next year. We have been doing very obvious events, like Revolution, Vally Forge, Ratification of Constitution, Marbury V Madison etc., and other not so obvious events (which I had to research btw) such as Alien and Sedition Acts, Midnight Judges, true nature of the Founding Fathers, such as Adams and Jefferson, early slavery laws etc. I also included Manifest Destiny and the push West along the Oregon and California Trails. As a guide and aide, our US teachers recommended I watch the series AMERICA: STORY OF US. They made a MANKIND: STORY OF US ALL for World History and it was just phenomenal!!! My kiddos watched every episode and just loved it, so I figured the US series would be just as good. It was good, not great, but then again, I am a little biased towards World History. :)

Dylan and I watched the first disk, which included the episode about the Donner Party. They had this image of one lone guy sitting there amidst the bones, skin and entrails of other human beings all buried in the snow. In one scene, I think the lone survivor was gnawing on a human bone... Something truly, truly gross and disgusting like that. Needless to say, the episode had an impact on me. That night, Dylan and I did not turn the A/C up when we went to bed, so the rooms became super cold. Now, both of us like sleeping in the cold, but with adequate covers. Since it has been so unbelievably humid in SA for the past month, we have been sleeping with super light sheets and 1 blanket. Clearly, it was not enough.

I began to dream that Dylan, Goobz and I were climbing one of our mountains. Climbing mountains, normal. Bringing the dog along with us, NOT. In the dream, it started snowing and we got stuck up there. We ran out of food... had been many days... you get the picture. I went away from camp to do something and came back to find Dylan cooking Goober and attempting to eat him!!! I panicked! Hard core panicked in my dream state! I woke up at like 3 am freaking out, thinking it was real and that Dylan was eating my baby. I went looking for Goobz, freaking out even more when I could not find him. He usually sleeps beside me, either nestled in my arm and should area or down at my feet. He was not at either position. I jumped out of bed, trying to use my phone light to find him, and it took me forever. At this point I think I was having a mini anxiety/heart attack!!! I was just about to wake Dylan up when I found Goobz buried under the covers on the floor and Dylan's dirty clothes. He was cold and had made himself a little makeshift, warm bed out of our stuff. WHEW!

I was so worked up I had to go into the kitchen and calm myself down. I drank glass of water, turned on lights and just sat on floor to collect myself. Goobz came out to sit in my lap and give me smoochies, and we stayed that way for a good while. When I was okay again, I turned off A/C, pulled all covers up over th bed and brought Goobz up to sleep next to me. We slept the rest of the night in relative peace, thank goodness. I know it was just a dream, but it seriously bothered me. I told Dylan, and he just laughed at me, calling me crazy. Typical. Needless to say, I feel very sorry for the Donner Party and cannot fathom how people to get that state of mind and being. I am so grateful that is not something I have to worry about.

So here's to the Donner Party: may all of us who enjoy the outdoors be mindful that Mother Nature is a beast and always wins. She is not to be messed or trifled with. And here's to hoping I have more peaceful dreams.

Life is like a box of chocolates....

You never know what you're gonna get....

 

 

 

For the past 5 years now, I have been showing the movie FORREST GUMP at the end of each school year.... for many reasons. (Don't worry! Parents sign a permission form and I fastforward through the few unnecessary parts... I am a teacher after all.)

 

 

1. I absolutely love Sally Field's determination as Forrest's "Momma" to not let him get behind in anything he does in life. We should all be so lucky to have a momma who fights for us every step of the way like she does. We should all be so lucky to have a momma who thinks we are absolutely wonderful, 24/7. As women, we should all hope to be like her as a momma one day!

 

2.The style of music and dancing has changed so much, most of my students do not understand why Elvis, his music and dancing were so inappropriate back in the 50s and 60s. I always have to explain that one...

 

3. I love that Forrest remembers only Jenny from his childhood. He forgets the horrible things the other boys and girls do to him and remembers only the good. A lesson for us all, no matter our age.

 

4. I love, love, love Tom Hanks!!! He is phenomenal in whatever he does! Did I mention I love Tom Hanks?! Well, I do! He is cute/hunky in his own quirky way, and I just kind of want to marry him in this movie! Oh, and in YOU'VE GOT MAIL too. :)

 

5. I love Gump's unassuming attitude about everything! He may not understand, but he accepts everyone around him and everything for face value and for who they are. We should all be like that... giving everyone a chance to prove themselves, seeing only the good in each person we meet every day.

 

6. After Bubba talks about shrimp for 6 class periods a day, I always want shrimp that night for dinner! hehe! "There's uh shrimp pineapple, lemon shrimp, barbecue shrimp, shrimp kebobs, shrimp creole, shrimp bourbon, shrimp sandwich.... and I think that's it."

 

7. "Now Momma always said there's only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off." AMEN to that Momma!!!

 

8. This line makes me laugh every time, and sadly, most of my kids don't get it. Forrest: I only caught 5.

Boatman: Couple more and you could have yourself a cocktail... hehe!

 

9. Dylan and I bonded over this movie in college. One of our first "date night" movies.

 

10. I walked down the aisle to the "Feather Theme" played at the beginning of the movie. I always feel all warm, fuzzy and beautiful inside every time I hear the movie start. :)

 

11. THE MUSIC IS SERIOUSLY LEGIT..... PERIOD. And! I understand all the lyrics now as an adult!! hehe!!! I grew up listening to all of these songs... just never really knew what I was singing until I got older. The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Elvis, Land of 1000 Dances, CCR, Mammas and Pappas, Buffalo Springfield, Simon and Garfunkel, Byrds, 3 Dog Night, Supremes, Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Tommy Jones and Shondells, KC and Sunshine Band.... just to name a few!!

 

12. I have watched the movie 6 times a day for 5 years in a row. It never gets old. I know every line, every scene, each piece of music etc. I can even almost tell you what the actors wear in each scene, but it still never gets old. The longer I teach, I find a larger percentage of students each year have never seen GUMP. I so enjoy watching and listening to their reactions from the movie.

 

13. I cry at the end of the movie when Forrest talks to Jenny.... every time. I will cry 6 class periods that day, no matter how many times I see it. Hanks' whole monologue is just beautiful... "I miss you Jenny. If you need anything at all, I'll be right here." *wipe tear from eye* And the symbolism with the birds at the end.... ah! Just beautiful!

 

14. Lt. Dan.... talk about a character who truly changes and grows throughout the movie. I love Gary Sinse as Lt. Dan. "Socks... cushion sole, green." "Get down! Shut up!" "They gave you the congressional medal of honor.." "Well Gilligan, I told you if you was ever a shrimpin' boat captain, I would be your first mate. But don't think I'll be callin you sir!" "Custom made... titanium alloy"

 

15. I always have a love-hate relationship with Jenny. I feel so sorry for her because of her past and the abuses she suffered, but she is just so mean to Forrest. Sometimes I just want to reach through the screen and smack her!! I had a student this year almost fall out of his chair when she leaves him and gives back his medal. This kiddo groaned out loud and just said "His soul could not take it" He was dead serious.... :)

 

16. The movie is a great way to tie World History and US History together. The kids have an assignment where they have to identify all major events, ideas and people Forrest encounters along the way. Some they know; others, like US events, we have to go over which is a great segue for AP US History next year.

 

There are so many other reasons, but I will stop there and leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the movie:

 

"You make your own destiny... You have to do the best with what God gave you..."

Graduation

Today was graduation for the dental students of 2013. We have quite a number of friends who became official Doctors of Dental Surgery today!! We attended the ceremony and the reception afterwards, and I could not help but look back on our own graduation experience 2 years ago today. I found myself smiling and getting all teary-eyed as our friends walked across the stage, finally seeing the culmination of 4 years worth of hard work. The students say it is surreal, and I tend to agree. Their president today talked about how it is so very hard to explain to someone exactly what dental school is like and how much work, both mentally and physically, is required for the task of becoming a dentist, and she is right. Even for us spouses.. we do not fully understand what they go through either. But! Every little frustrating moment is worth it in the end when they cross that stage!!

 

So here is a look back at Dylan's graduation. I give a huge shout out to everyone in the Carey clan who came to support Dylan, and to my own family who came as well. Neither Dylan nor I will ever be able to say 'thank you" enough for all of the love and support you guys gave to us those 4 years of school and on graduation day! Thanks for helping to make it happen and for sharing with us!! 

 

3 generations of Carey men...

 

Lots of love from the Careys, Millers and Days!!!

 



It's happening!!!! Dental student to Doctor in one minute!!

 



 Beyond,  beyond proud of my husband that day!!!

 

Thanks to Kate and Chris for sharing in the ceremony and reception!!! Glad you guys live in Texas now!!!

 



Nana Carey was a super proud G-ma today, let me tell ya!! :) 

"And we came forth to contemplate the stars...."

INFERNO by Dan Brown was an absolute gem to read! I highly reccomend this to anyone's summer reading list! If you are a fan of his other novels, I think this one runs a very, very close second to ANGELS AND DEMONS, my favorite of his books. I am still waffling back and forth to decide if I think one is better than the other... :) If you were bummed about his LOST SYMBOL, like I was- trust me. This book more than makes up for that one.  

1. Brown went back to Europe, thank goodness!! Now, I live in the great ole US of A and think we have some pretty interesting history, but! Let's be real. The Eastern Hemisphere is where you want to go for real intrigue, drama and true history. If I could find a job that let me travel endlessly over in the Eastern Hemisphere, I would do so in a heartbeat. So once again, thank goodness he went back to Europe for this one. And, he choose beautiful cities for his plot line.

Ah! Florence or Firenze as the locals call it is a city not to be missed when you visit Italy. Dylan and I went there 2 summers ago when we took our first group of high school students to Europe,  and we all just fell in love with the place!!! Brown does a superb job with his imagery and sensory words; he truly makes you feel as if you are there, wandering the streets and taking tours of the various museums, gardens and palaces. After having been, I truly enjoyed taking a walk down memory lane as his words helped my mind conjure up snapshots of our trip. :) Truly incredible! He also mentioned places we did not have time to tour, and now I want to go back and view those places. EX: Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens of the Medici

 I would go back to Florence in a heartbeat! The sights, smells, food, people and of course- THE ART. Holy moly.... THE ART! And trust me, the art is impressive, whether you really like art history or not. Dylan was so inspired by the sculptures we saw that during our free time, he sat in the open courtyard in front of the Medici palace and started to free hand some of the sculptures in the area. Examples...

 Hercules and Caucus

 



 Michelangelo's DAVID

 

Perseus with Medusa in the foreground. Background left is Rape of the Sabine Women

 

One of the main entrances to the Medici Palace, which is now a museum.

 

 The river is the Arno and the bridge is called the Ponte Vecchio. It was the only bridge not destroyed by Hitler and his Nazis army when they occupied parts of Italy because of the special walkway you see on top of the bridge. The windows up there line a huge walkway that covered most of the city, either above or below ground. The Medici Family, who ruled Florence for centuries but are famous for their rule during the Renaissance (late 1300s through 1550s), did not want to walk on the ground with the commoners from their various palaces and buildings in the city. So, they had a great walkway/tunnel built between all of the sites so they could walk above the people, looking down on them and never come into contact with the vernacular, or every day life of Florence. Today, the bridge is home to most of the expensive jewlery shops of Florence and you can take a tour of the walkway.

 

 The Church of Santa Maria della Fiore or The Duomo. Exquisite, beautiful and awe-inspiring.

 

 The Baptistry is connected to the church, right across the roadway but is famous for it's bronze doors called Gates of Paradise done by the artist Ghilberti. We covered these doors extensively in Art History my senior year of high school, and I fell in love with them. It was a true experience to be able to see them in person. (If you did not know, 95% of the time works of art outside are copies due to time, weather, and people's hands. The real pieces are inside, usually behind ropes or glass in order to preserve them.)

 

 

 

Now, the other 2 cities featured heavily in this book (I have not been here yet) are Istanbul, Turkey, featuring the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkepi Palace:

 

 

 

And Venice, Italy, specifically the area of St. Mark's Square and Basilica.

 

 

 

2. Dante and his DIVINE COMEDY. "Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, for the straightforward pathway had been lost..."

 

 

 

Talk about a poem/book that changed history. Written during the mid-1300s, at a time when still over half the population of Europe could not read nor write, it is just mind-boggling what Dante does. I mean, the printing press was not invented until the 1500s, so books were still copied by hand and education was only given to the very wealthy!! The Divine Comedy is not funny, so if you have never heard of it before or never read it, please don't think you are going to be amused. You're not. I mean, there is plenty of sarcasm, but nothing actually funny. It is about personal introspection; you are made to look at your life and the actions you have committed. It is one man's journey through Hell and back out again into Paradise. Hence, the 3 sections: Inferno/Hell, Purgatory and Paradise. We read Inferno in college World Lit, and I just fell in love with the story. It is dark, twisted and very macabre, but there is a happy ending. Dante writes about the 7 Deadly Sins, and the punishment he sees in Hell for each of these. There are levels of Hell, going from bad to worse, according to the sin you commit. For example, betrayal is the last sin and last level.. level 9. People like Judas Iscariot and Brutus reside there, frozen in ice up to their necks, because of their treachery and betrayal against those they loved. The protagonist, Dante, travels through Hell guided by Virgil (famous Roman) and his love Beatrice (she died very early in life but Dante loved her regardless). They guide him through the levels as he meets famous people of that time or the past who are stuck in their punishments. As he travels, the protagonist tries to understand the base need for people to commit sins in society. Dante is upset about the world he sees around him in Florence, and this translates into his story. The political world during his time period was nasty and brutish, with the Medici taking control and leaving no prisoners behind. He wrote many unflattering things about prominent political and religious figures of the time. Much of Dante's images of Hell translated into church teachings and helped give people visuals for what would happen to them if they were not saved. They are still widely used today. Now, who is to say whether any of it is correct or not, but the punishments given for each sin and their imagery is something to greatly think about and should give anyone pause before they indulge in any of those actions.

 

"Consider your origin. You were not formed to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge."

                                   -Dante-

 

I also like the poem because it does have a happy ending. Plus, it is about perserverence. Dante's protagonist never gives up hope that he will eventually find Paradise. He knows he will eventually make it to Heaven and be reunited with his loved ones he lost and find peace. What a beautiful message for us today! The protagonist views things of unspeakable horror and has to look back on the awful things he has done in his life thus far and could possibly do in his future, but he manages to overcome the trials and tribulations. He comes out alive. He emerges into Paradise with a clean soul; a new being. Once again, what a beautiful message! Hopefully, I will get to say this one day! Hopefully all of us will get to emerge in Heaven, in Paradise with new, clean souls at the end of our days!!! :)

 

"Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift."  -Dante-

 

3. Last but not least, Brown tackles the rough issue of over-population in our world today. He does not necessarily provide answers for this problem, but he brings to light the issue of over-population and what that means for us, the enviorment and the children we continue to bring into this world. I will not go into further detail, because I do not want to spoil the book for those of you who have not read and are going to. Suffice it to say, we have seen many instances in world history where nature/God/science.... whatever you want to call it or whatever makes you feel better, takes matters into it's own hands and brings down the population of the world through various means. Are we at another of those "crossroads" time in humanity... who knows? Can we fix these problems ourselves without outside interference... who knows? I can honestly say I don't have any answers, but I am glad writers, journalists etc. have the guts to talk about and bring to light issues that are problems for our world. The older I get, the more frustrated I become with people who choose to live in "ignorance as bliss." NO! Get your head out of the sand and do something! I don't care what it is, but do something! You see problems each day in your daily life; we must try to do something about them. Goodness knows I try at work to combat the evil I see/hear human beings do to each other every day. The bad days do seem to outweigh the good days by a ton, but, you never give up. We as a whole, cannot give up. Dante says "The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality."

 

Now, that is a forceful statement. Do I agree with all of it? No. But, I do see the point. If we... if you... don't fight to change what you see, don't fight to make the lives of others around you better, don't fight to keep what is good, right and pure in this world alive, well, we are no better off than the "lukewarm" people in the New Testament. Jesus, Dante, Muhammad... even Buddha, call us to pick a side, to fight and believe in what is right.

 

In conclusion, read the book! It has much more to offer than I could ever hope to write about or blog on. And maybe, you don't see what I see. That is okay. Maybe you see something different than me- great! Share if you do! That is the beauty of the written word! Just don't be afraid to feel and believe in what you do find....

 

"In that book which is my memory, on the first page of chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words: Here begins new light....

 

Remember tonight, for it's the beginning of forever..."     -Dante

 









Carry on, Carry on....

A plethora of reasons why I have not posted in well... forever:

 

I have graded close to 4000 essays for my AP students this year. I finished my last DBQ today.

 

I have been lecturing or facilitating group work for over a month, 6 times a day.

 

I have been standing or walking around in high heels for 50 minute periods, 6 times a day for over a month.

 

I have been having dreams about my students not showing up for their AP exam. Dreams about students not writing anything down on the essay portion of the test. Dreams of students making faces as they bubble in the answer choices.

 

I have had dreams about students writing about other subjects besides World History. I have had dreams that I will forget the information I need to be reviewing- hence, I let them down.

 

I have had dreams that I did not teach the information long enough. I did not teach in enough detail. I did not cover everything- DUH! But, what I did not cover will be on the exam tomorrow and again, I will let them down.

 

I have been so frustrated at the students in class as I realize they are not studying enough, but I don't yell, because this is not their only class and not the only thing that matters in life.

 

I am beyond disgusted with the hypocritical nature of our school district and other more narrow areas of my job that give a different answer and a different goal every other day. We are teaching students... 15 year olds... minors.. children... flawed human beings... YOU CANNOT HAVE IT ALL.

 

I am just one person... who is not perfect... who is flawed... I CANNOT DO IT ALL. Yet, I get told every day to do all of those things and am reminded of the consequences of failure every day. Like it is a threat... well BOO YA! You come down and complete my job for a few days. I bet we have a very different conversation about stuff then.

 

My competitive nature is huge this year, and I'm not exactly for sure why. But the beast inside me has been struggling and strangling to get out lately. I have had to work very hard at taming her. This is my biggest group of AP kiddos yet. Believe it or not, they are my smartest group yet too. I see so much potential and great things for them, and I just want it so bad!!!

 

So... yeah. Tomorrow, the 16th, is THE DAY. Wish us luck....

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I am looking for Freedom.."

"Felt like the world was on my shoulders. Should I break or retreat or return... Facing the fear that the truth that I discover... no telling how all these things will work out! But I've come too far to go back now...

 

I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, cost me everything I have. Well I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, may take everything I have.

 

I know all too well, it don't come easy. The chains of the world, they seem, to move in tight. I try to walk around if I'm stumbling so... trying to get up but the doubt is so strong. There's gotta be a winning in my bones.

 

I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, cost me everything I have. Well I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, may take everything I have.

 

Life hasn't been very kind to me lately. But I suppose it's a push for moving on. In time the sun's gonna shine on me nicely. Sudden tells me! Things are coming! And I ain't gonna not believe!

 

Well I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, cost me everything I have. I am looking for Freedom, looking for Freedom. And to find it, may take everything I have."

 

   -Anthony Hamilton and Elayna Boynton, DJANGO UNCHAINED-

Have you seen the movie DJANGO UNCHAINED? If you say no, I understand. It is a Quentin Tarantino film, which means unnecessary and quite often, unspeakable violence. I just close my eyeballs when all the blood, shooting and stabbing goes down. And this film is pretty bloody... ranks right up there with PULP FICTION, maybe even a little worse. Along with the violence is the language, which is always bad in a Tarantino film; however, this is another period film. A deep South, pre-Civil War, slave film- get the picture? Oh! The racism is just awful; I mean, if you are taking the film as accurate for that time period and geographical location, then it does a very good job. But listening to that kind of vocabulary for 2 hours is rough! I almost started crying multiple times during the film because I could not believe people, either white or black, spoke to each other in that manner.

Yet, the realness and accuracy of the film is also why I enjoyed the movie so much. I give the man credit; he does not back away from the ugly truth about moments in history. (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS was the same way, and I absolutely love that movie.) I also enjoyed the movie for the actors; some of my favorite actors did phenomenal jobs in their roles. Christopher Waltz- ah! The man can do no wrong in my book, and yes, I realize he plays the same kind of role and person for the most part in all of his movies, but he is just sooo dang good at it! :) Pumped he won an Academy Award for his performance; plus, he pretended to be a dentist so he gets props in our household! hehe!

Anywho, the movie continues to impact me, and it has been many weeks since we saw the film. The soundtrack and the score are pretty stellar. The above song is one of my favorites. And Django's journey and problem in the movie has been very helpful and somewhat relatable of late. Django has one aim and goal: to find and hold onto the best thing he ever had in his life, his wife, BroomHilde. He will move heaven and hell to get her back. His faith is unshakeable, regardless of the obstacles that comes his way. (He has oooh so many too!) He has a friend and helper, but ultimately, Django has to complete the task. Translating into my life: work has been awful, and the next 2 weeks will continue to be that way until all of the testing is over with. Drama and issues with close friends/family have weighed my heart down lately as well. And to top it off, I feel the Devil is closer to me than he should be, and I just can't seem to shake him. The lyrics of the above song speak to me right now, especially the chorus.

"Looking for Freedom... to find it may take everything I have." I know it is going to take everything I have because Jesus provides me the ultimate freedom, but He expects everything I have in return. At times, that seems easy to do. Right now though, those "chains" seem to be closing in around me, and the challenge God has for me seems very hard to complete indeed. I envy the character Django because he never shakes; he never falters. And I am can't seem to stop shaking right now. To have that kind of resolve, all the time, 24/7- ah! It would be great! However, I am human and have flaws. So..... I'm going to continue to get up every morning, say my prayers and put one foot in front of the other. I have a strong, unwavering Saviour and a stalwart husband who walk beside me every day, giving me untold strength when I need it the most. So here's to Django, his BroomHilde and their Freedom!! May I find mine soon.......

 

"When there are clouds in the sky, and they are grey. You may be sad but remember... after the showers, is the sun. It will be shining...."

-Django Theme, Luis Bacalov-