Immaculata University: Sarah McClean

Finally, a snow day this year! Unfortunately, it fell on a Friday, when I don't have any classes anyway, but it's the thought that counts! It's so frustrating when it's cold without snowing-- what's the point?

Went to see Spiderwick Chronicles this weekend-- I actually really enjoyed it. My boyfriend was gleeful that it was based on a book I HAVEN'T read, contrary to the norm, so I didn't know what happens either.

Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian comes out in May. I am PSYCHED! I wish they would have made "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," "The Silver Chair," or "The Last Battle," but those come later in the series, so I guess they have to proceed chronologically. I love the fact that the Lord of the Rings Trilogy made fantasy films legit.

I'm doing a paper right now on the creative process as applied to poetry, in the forms of free and formal verse. Is one better than the other? Are they poetry? I have to present this paper and another one I wrote at the beginning of the semester at the SEPCHE conference in March.

Posted by Sarah McClean at 7:09 PM | Permalink

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today was a momentous occasion: I got my braces off! My teeth feel very weird and smooth... But to eat Swedish fish again (without guilt-- I didn't always adhere to the doctor's orders!) will be marvelous... at least, that is, once Lent is over. My family has never eaten sweets or treats during Lent, which I sort of don't think is fair, because other people are like, "I gave up chocolate," but I always have to think of something better because it's a given that I'm not going to eat sweets.

Come to think of it, I guess this is better, because although abstinence can strengthen spiritual discipline, a motion in a positive direction (such as promising oneself to say prayers each night and each morning) might be a better use of the period of Lent. I believe the value of Lenten disciplines has been muddied, with everyone "giving something up," as some kind of second-wind New Year's resolutions. I guess I shouldn't be talking, because I still haven't decided what I'm going to do for Lent, but it still irritates me...

Random thought from my Linguistics class: Are our brains pre-programmed for language? Think about how children who have never learned the so-called "rules of grammar" create constructions like "I goed to the store." Do we learn language or merely develop what's there?

Posted by Sarah McClean at 5:59 PM | Permalink

I drove home to New Jersey after my 1:00 to 3:40 class yesterday to vote in the primaries. It was so nice to see my family again: they were all really sick these past two weeks with a terrible virus and so I stayed away to avoid being infected with this plague. Unfortunately, however, I had so much reading to do for school that I had to cut my visit short and just stay in my room and read and read and read into the late night. Then I woke up early this morning (ughhhh) and drove back this morning to babysit and then survive a slew of classes with play practice coming up right after... I'm a little irritated that I've been in class all day and so couldn't go to any of the Masses or prayer services to get ashes for Ash Wednesday.
I'm excited for my field experience at Villa tomorrow... it's so great that I love my cooperating teacher and the entire school environment. Tomorrow we're going to do a peer-review writing session: I'm going to work with half the class and she'll take the rest. And then my week is over and I can go back home for a longer visit =)!

My boyfriend's taking me skiing this weekend!

Posted by Sarah McClean at 4:37 PM | Permalink