Week #10

Week 12/5 through 12/11/2011

Friday (12/9)        9:10-11:25am       Still Life with Woodpecker

This week was a seriously busy week.  I spent Tuesday teaching in fulfilling the requirements for my Teaching Methods course.  Thursday, I went back to assist in a rattlesnake dissection.  In completing these activities, I was responsible to make up my tutoring hours at the community college.  When I arrived at work on Friday (normally, a day reserved for studying), I was greeted with a media room closure which resulted in me being restricted from my normal desktop computer.  I seized this as an opportunity to ignore schoolwork and engage in my pleasure reading requirement.  I continued my reading of Tom Robbins Still Life with Woodpecker.

I am thoroughly enjoying this reading.  The plot just keeps on making me laugh and there are so many witty phrases I wouldn’t know where I would begin in providing an example.  If I owned this book, I might be highlighting text which would be a first for me in a work of fiction.

I learned several things about my reading habits through the PRABE exercise.  The first is that I don’t commit to larger texts because I feel that they require more directed attention.  When I am in the trenches fighting my every day battles, I am disinclined to assume the challenge of reading anything that spans more than a few pages.  I began the PRABE reading shorter passages which I could complete beginning to finish.  I used everyday information-seeking readings.  I soon realized that I was spending more time finding material which I could complete, rather than committing to something and just reading.  Soon after, I picked a book off my shelf which has been scheduled for years as a reread.  The Forrest Carter book was a much easier and quick read than I imagined.  I did struggle finding time to read in large chunks of time, but realized that I read more than I thought.  Really, my informative reading was so diverse and occurred over short periods of time that it would have been difficult to record and keep track of for the PRABE. 

A couple of weeks ago, I was under a crunch to get recorded time in for the assignment and turned to short stories.  This really rekindled a former love for reading.  There is something about short stories with simple plots which allow you to complete the reading and reflect on the author’s intentions.  Sometimes the themes of these can be deep, at other times perplexing.  Either way, they tend to make me think.  Taking on the larger book towards the end made me realize that I don’t need to wait for a specific scheduled time to dive in to something meatier.  It is not difficult to put a book down and come back to the story without losing sight or interest.  In the past, I’ve always committed to reading straight through, but had little else going on responsibility-wise in my life (except for shorter novels like Jack Kerouac).  Reading for pleasure is simply not something that need be different than a relaxing walk, a cup of coffee, or an alternative to a less than desirable television show.  My ten year old son reads for an hour every week night (without encouragement); he’s a more committed reader than I am.  So if anything, the PRABE has made me realize that I need to reorient my priorities and add more text to my life.  

Week #9

Week 11/28 through 12/04/2011

Thursday (12/1)  2:20 – 3:55pm Still Life with Woodpecker

Total minutes=95

On Thursday, I had come to a point my day where the gelatinous fluid functioning in my mind began to set.  After working through coursework and tutoring a student of Genetics from the University of Kansas on and off throughout the entire day from 8:30am (and technically outside of my jurisdiction), I decided to push aside my responsibilities and escape into the world of pleasure reading (although this itself was a responsibility).  It wasn’t difficult considering how much I’m enjoying this book.  My only concern is recognizing how precious every minute of my time is; but I do realize that I waste more minutes doing non-productive things compared to reading.    

I usually utilize my time at work when I’m not with students to be as productive as possible, without the distractions of children at home.  The only exception is the textbook reading component of my classes. Recently, I’ve come to the understanding that I’m not as productive as I once was.  It’s much easier to do anything other than study.  So, I knocked out an easy ninety-five minute read instead of blankly staring at a discussion board question wondering what I should write.

Week #8

Week 11/20 through 11/27/2011

Thursday (11/25)           (11:50 – 12:30pm) Still Life with Woodpecker

Sunday (11/27)              (11:40 – 2:15pm) Still Life with Woodpecker

Total minutes=195

An easy continuance of reading Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins: The family went on a road trip for Thanksgiving.  For the first time in my fourteen years of marriage, I let my wife drive.  It’s not so much an issue of being a stereotypical male (if one exists), as it is a matter of anxiety.  I simply do not enjoy being a passenger and out of control of something moving so fast.  In fact, it doesn’t have to be something moving fast.  I am extremely uncomfortable riding horses – They have a brain and I can’t predict what it’s thinking, or might do.

So, off on the road trip, I intended to read for coursework only (at least on the destination trip).  I had a book critique and needed to finish John Dewey’s School and Society.  After finishing this halfway through the trip I decided to log some pleasure reading minutes.  This was a difficult decision considering I needed to read two chapters in the text for my Action Research class, but with less than an hour I figured it wouldn’t hurt.

On the return trip, I knew I had to read for my Action Research class, but I couldn’t put myself up to it.  I was actually enjoying not having to drive.  This is one of those drives that a person does so regularly that two and a half hours might as well be eight, it seems like it anyway.  So, I went back to my pleasure reading.  This is book is so hilarious it’s hard to break it up into disconnected sessions, like watching a movie ten minutes at a time.  The thing that I find interesting is its unpredictability.  I simply cannot forecast what might occur, the plot is outright absurd-and I love it.  Sure, the author is crude, but let my engagement speak for itself.  I feel like I’m reading at novel pace (faster than a Kerouac novel and almost half way through the book in only a handful of sessions).  Perhaps I need more pop fiction in my life…

Weeks #6 & #7

Weeks 10/8 through 10/20/2011

Tuesday (10/16)              6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins

                                        12:50 – 1:10pm “The Door in the Wall” H.G. Wells

Wednesday (10/17)         6:25 – 6:50am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins

                                        12:40 – 1:10pm “A Rose for Emily” William Faulkner

Thursday (10/18)             6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins

                                        2:10 – 2:35pm Prairie Wings Audubon of Kansas

Friday (10/19)                 6:15 – 6:45am Still life with Woodpecker Tom Robbins

Total minutes=185

          This week brought about a lot of change in my reading time having to make up missed minutes from the previous week.  Instead of finding time to read, I had to make time to read.  This was an easier adjustment then I first perceived.  I began waking earlier with my wife and found an easily accessible half hour in the morning prior to the time that both my sons are awakened.  The other adjustment I made was during my lunch break.  Usually, I rush through eating, taking very few minutes, and returning to work even though I’m entitled to more time.  I found it easy to locate a short story on the internet, print it out and sit calmly and read.  http://www.readbookonline.net has a lifetime supply of short stories.  I haven’t even looked at the texts and essays.  It may harken many back to the earlier education, but I’ve always had a love for them.  Because of the limited plot development, some can even be difficult to analyze; most are still enjoyable to read and you can get through meaningful literature without the larger commitment of an entire text.

          It’s sad to say, but I always see Drew Barrymore in the movie Fifty First Dates reading the book with a cover that looks like a pack of Camel cigarettes.  This is kind of a poor reason to search out a book, but fruitful none the less.  I discovered that the book is Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins author of the more well-known Even Cow Girls Get the Blues (popular in the nineties).  I will say I wasn’t prepared for the level of vulgarity, but never do I remember laughing out loud so much when reading a book.  Besides its comedic unfolding plot, Robbins is masterful at using words and creating thought-provoking phrases.

          The two short stories read during my lunches were such a nice break to my normal routine.  H.G. Wells “The Door in the Wall” was written as a conversation between two men about one’s childhood experience of blissful wonder behind a green door and his search to find the door.  I’m sure I’m missing some of the potential theme, but the imagery of returning to childhood wonders and longer for opportunity to revisit such experiences.  The second short story, A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner was a mystery in many ways about a wealthy spinster who lived a secret life aside from society in her town.   The narrator builds up sympathy for her treatment by others, only to conclude with a strange and deceptive twist.

          At lunch on Thursday I read through the latest edition of the Audubon Society of Kansas publication (printed in Manhattan, KS).  For an environmental cooperative, they sure print on some high grade paper.  There was an article on Greater Prairie Chickens linked back to back with an article on autumn grasses in the Flint Hills.  I read two other pieces on threats to the Prairie.  One covered the changing landscape caused by wind farming.  This included some convincing photos.  Another piece discussed the emergence and spread of the invasive species Sericia lespedeza.  interestingly there is still research being conducted to determine the best course of action.  There are other invasive plant species in the conservation lands of the prairie, but cattl egrazing and trampling have kept them from expanding their ranges.  Sericia is not palatable to cattle and too resilient to trampled down.  K-State Ag research is still working on potential solutions, but trying to avoid chemicals as much as possible.  

week #5

Week 10/31 through 11/6/2011

Saturday (11/5)              9:25 – 11:00pm   Audubon Magazine (Nov.-Dec. 2011)

Total=95 minutes

This week I put in my ninety minutes in a sustained uninterrupted manner, reading to the quiet sweet Latin sounds of Pancho Sanchez.  I usually don’t read more than a few articles, at best, from the Audubon periodical, a bit hypocritical for an environmentalist.  This single reading session let me move through most of it.  As usual, there are interesting pieces on birds.  These are good reading as I work with one ornithologist and an avid amateur bird-watcher.  This usually provides good information for stimulating conversations.   FYI-during the winter months, most seed mixes suffice for feeding birds.  I’ve noticed that it’s about the only time that birds get desperate enough to eat milo, despite other information to the contrary.  During the summer months, I work as a conservation volunteer in Minnesota placing and monitoring floating nest sites for recruitment of the common loon.  There was an article on the wildlife in the arctic which showed the presence of a sub-species of this bird (the yellow-billed) among a variety of other organisms.  I had no idea there were loons extending that far north.  Even when you think you know a lot about something, there’s always room for improvement.

The feature piece was on the Florida everglades; this was good.  Patomology, the study of rivers, is my main interest in the ecological sciences.  Interestingly, the glades are at an all-time wetted condition.  This is good news considering human efforts to channelize and control its extent. Although it is sometimes described as a swamp or wetland, it flows and is therefore a river in every aspect.  Among others, a photo piece showcases a variety of beautiful plankton (love it!).  I’ve never been to the glades, but have adequate experience in airboats.  I can only imagine how awesome it would be for a naturalist like me, or anyone for that matter.

My short session of reading Harry Potter with my son last week was effective.  He continues to read for forty minutes every evening on his own.

Week #4

Week 10/24 through 10/30/2011

Tuesday (10/25)             8:05-8:15pm  The Mystery of the Missing Peanuts

Wednesday (10/26)        8:15-8:25pm   The Bike Lesson

                                      10:05 -10:45pm The Education of Little Tree

Friday (10/28)                8:00 – 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Total = 90 minutes

This week’s pleasure reading took a turn towards childhood.  With a hectic schedule, my two sons were put in my charge outside of our regular routine.  My oldest son (10) reads from 8:00 to 8:30mevery night.  I read to my youngest son on two nights this week.  He has a craft in choosing the lengthier books in our collection.  It was enjoyable because I seldom seize the opportunity to do the nightly reading.  I used to have to ask whether I should do the “voices” or not.  It’s become expected.  In the Mystery of the Missing Peanuts, Donald Duck is hired as a private investigator to determine why peanuts are going missing from the zoo’s shed.  Those innocent chipmunks, Chip and Dale, end up being discovered after the many failed attempts by Donald.

I was requested for reading the following night for The Bike Lesson by Stan and Jan Berenstein.  The voices are much easier as this story occurs between the father and the son, great story of a father attempting to provide lessons while unintentionally providing examples of what not to do.  It’s amazing how this echoes what often happens in real life.  The experience was extremely gratifying and a realization of how little I read to my children.  I’m thinking my wife (a first grade [reading] teacher) too often hogs the experience. 

I finished The Education of Little Tree on Wednesday night putting aside schoolwork.  It was mostly cruising through the anticlimax (not the best when you want more from the story).  Little Tree was pulled out of formal education through recognition that it wasn’t supportive of his spirit.  Sadly, grandpa dies and grandma commits suicide.  I really like Forrest Carter’s other book (even more), Watch for me on the Mountain.  Unfortunately, Carter has been recognized as somewhat of a fraud in his credibility as having Native American ties and historical knowledge.  Both books are quality works in my opinion.

On Friday night, I joined my son during his reading time and began the first Harry Potter book.  He is in fourth grade and is beginning the fifth book.  I’ve been impressed to watch him read so diligently.  Recently, he has seemed to have lost motivation for the larger books and took a hiatus to less challenging readings, so we agreed that I would join in and see what it’s all about.

Week #3

Week 10/17 through 10/23/11

Tuesday (10/18)   10:10 – 10:45pm The Education of Little Tree

Sunday   (10/23)   7:05 – 7:30am      The Education of Little Tree

                            9:30 – 10:05pm    The Education of Little Tree

Total minutes=95 minutes

This week was hectic (to put it lightly) in terms of finding time to read for pleasure.  I thought that I had got off to a good start early in the week.  After classroom observations all day Monday and an overnight trip to Wichita for student teacher interviews, I had little time to read outside of completing class requirements.  In fact, I was pleasently surprised that I had actually finished all my work with extra time to complete my pleasure reading.  It was a nice alternative to decompressing in front of the television, which is the normal venue.

It’s interesting that I chose to continue with the reading of The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter.  The independent reading level taxes the brain much less than my normal informative reading.  I always think of myself as a slow reader, but find I can cruise through text when I commit specific time dedicated to non-required reading.

I absolutely love the imagery of the Kentucky wilderness presented in the book.  The relationship between the grandfather and Little Tree is something I often reflect on.  I hold the same respect for my grandfather as some sort of sage in regard to knowledge about the outdoors and human behavior.  Although my time with my grandfather has been much more limited, these shorter periods of leave lasting memories.  It makes me want to pursue a more simple life, even within the general population.   In many regards, I suppose I do.

My wish for my two sons is to offer them experiences that seem insignificant at the time of occurrence, but are extremely educational in retrospect.  You realize the sage grandfather understands teaching opportunities.  It is interesting how the author presents such natural everyday occurrences in the text, but in the mind of Little Tree they form his entire interpretation of life, insightful!