Triangle Factory Fire - 100 Year Anniversary

Today marks the 100 year anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. This quarter my students and I have been reading historical pieces about what life was like 100 years ago. These pieces have covered information about immigration, tenement living, women's suffrage, unions, strikes, and the factory fire. Along with these historical pieces, we've been reading the historical fiction novel, Uprising by Margaret Haddix Peterson. The fire and the events leading up to it are truly tragic events from the history of the United States. My students and I have really enjoyed learning not only about the historical facts, but also about the life lessons taken from the struggle of those who lived (and died) 100 years ago. To learn more about the Triangle Factory Fire check out this Excellent Website, or watch PBS's American Experience.

Presenting . . .

Me with Short Hair!! I've been planning on cutting my hair off for awhile now. It really comes down to wanting an easy hair cut for summer, especially while I'm in Europe. Anyways, I finally did it and I'm loving it!! Although, not everyone seems to be a fan. Picture the cutest, slightly chubby, 7th grade Hispanic boy. Today he came up to me and asked, "Ms. George, why did you cut your hair? It looks more better when it is long. Don't worry, it will grow back." Thank you, Jose. Thank you, very much.

New Short Hair (Sorry, this lighting is awful).

Old Long Hair

Scripture Study

I've been in a bit of a slump with my scripture study so I decided to buy new scriptures, hoping to give me a fresh start. I've been taking one scripture mastery scripture each day, reading it and marking it in my new set of scriptures. I then have been reading the chapter it is found in, marking anything else of interest. Finally, I've been comparing the chapter's markings and notes in my new set of scriptures with the markings and notes I made in my old set of scriptures. So far, so good. Hopefully, I'm out of my slump for good.

Glee: Original Song

Season 2, Episode 16: Original Song (March 15, 2011)

Best Funny Moment:

I loved all the original songs that didn't make it into regionals. I loved Puck's "Big Ass Heart" and Mercedes "Hell to the No," but my favorite has to go to Santana's original song, "Trouty Mouth." I loved it so much. Over the past several episodes, I've loved all of Santana's hilarious jabs at Sam over his overly large mouth so this song was definitely my favorite funny moment of the episode. Watch it and Enjoy:

Best Serious Moment(s):

Everyone wins - Blaine and Kurt lose at regionals, but finally hook up. I loved Blaine's confession when he finally states, “Kurt, there’s a moment when you say to yourself, ‘Oh, there you are. I’ve been looking for you forever. You move me, Kurt. And this duet would just be an excuse to spend more time with you.” Loved the openness.

And finally, New Directions win regionals!! I've had the CD containing the original songs for the past week and liked them okay, but seeing them in the context of the episode, endeared them to me. They were a little Rachel-heavy, but there's no arguing, she's got talent.

Best Song:

As I mentioned, I loved all of the kids' original songs, but this week's best performance goes to Kurt's rendition of Blackbird. This has always been one of my favorite Beatles' songs and I loved hearing it as Kurt honored the Warblers' beloved bird, Pavarotti.

Favorite Quotes:

Quinn: Prom queens live, on average, 5 years longer than regular people.

Santana: You blew me off to be with Stubbles McCripple Pants.

Sue: If it isn't Dweedle-Dumb and Dweedle-Fake Boobs.

Santana: Mr. Shue, I wrote another verse of Trouty Mouth.

Sister Mary Constance: That Dalton Academy, is it a gay school or is it just a school that appears gay?

Favorite Dialogue:

Blaine: I think Pavarotti would roll over in his tiny, tiny grave.
Kurt: The placement of which has yet to be determined.

Sam: Wait, what's it called?
Mike: Trouty Mouth

Schue: What’s your favorite song of all time?
Brittany: My Headband.
Santana: Alanis Morissette's You've Ought to Know.
Puck: What's Going On - Marvin Gaye.
Lauren: Puckerman, you're on a roll.
Schue: Okay, and what are all those songs about?
Brittany: Headbands.

Glee Makes Me Gleeful

Each Tuesday night, I sit down with giddy anticipation to watch a new episode of Glee. It makes me laugh so much that I often miss half of the jokes because I'm laughing so hard I'm crying. Because of this, a lot of rewinding is required. Anyways, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite quotes from the past few episodes:

Season 2, Episode 11: The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle (February 6, 2011)

• Kurt: Blaine and I love football. Well, Blaine loves football. I love scarves.
• Brittany: I don't wanna die yet. At least not until One Tree Hill get canceled.

Season 2, Episode 12: Silly Love Songs (February 8, 2011)

• Rachel [to Santana]: The only job you are going to have is working on a pole!
• Tina [to Santana]: Five minutes ago, you said Mr. Schu belonged in a 12 step program.
  Will: Wait, what?
  Santana: You're addicted to vests.
• Brittany: That's my man and his legs don't work!

Season 2, Episode 13: Comeback (February 15, 2011)

• Sue's journal: I'm committing Sue-icide.
• Sue: I agree with SpongeHair SquareChin.
• Puck: I'm at the end of my Lauren Zizes rope. I need to get into those enormous pants.
• Santana [to Sam]: Despite the fact that your mouth to face ratio is way off, you still somehow manage to be cute.
• Santana [to Sam]: Every time you open your humongous mouth to do an impression or moisten an enormous stamp for a lazy giant, you get one step closer to everyone seeing you're actually a dork.
  
• Santana [to Sam]: I wants on them froggy lips, and I want on them NOW.
• Sue: I hate hospitals, William. That's why I kept voting for those death panels.
• Mike: We need a sugary sweet dose of the Biebs to get us some action again.
• Brittany: I wore a tank top today because I thought it was summer and no one taught me how to read a calendar.

Season 2, Episode 14: Blame it on the Alcohol (February 22, 2011)

• Santana: You know what, a reminder, I own that guppie mouth. Those aerosmith lips belong to me.
• Figgins: And now, performing the hit song Tik and also Tok, by rapper Ke and dollar sign ha, New Directions.
• Brittany: Ke$ha has been a culture icon for weeks.
• Burt: I watched that Brokeback Mountain. From what I gather, something went down in the tent.

Season 2, Episode 15: Sexy (March 8, 2011)

• Holly: Sex. It's just like hugging. Only wetter.
• Brittany: The key is to use your curling iron in the bathtub to keep you from being burnt.
• Puck: I like wooing you, Lauren. Next to dropping my afternoon deuce, it's my second favorite part of my day.
• Holly: My lips are sealed. Just like your legs.
• Lauren: Puckerman, it's your lucky day.
  Puck: You're finally gonna let me motorboat those twins?
• Holly: Just remember, when you have sex with someone, you're having sex with everyone they've had sex with. And everybody's got a random.
• Brittany: This relationship is really confusing for me.
  Santana: Breakfast is confusing for you.
  Brittany: Sometimes it's sweet and sometimes it's salty. Like, what if I have eggs for dinner? What is it?

On a more serious note, I loved the sex talk Burt had with his son, Kurt. That relationship is my absolutely favorite on the show. I loved when he said, "Don’t throw yourself around like you don’t matter. ‘Cause you matter, Kurt." So Good!! Here's a good article about it from EW. The article also contains the clip of "the talk." To read the article, click HERE.