READING: American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham. I had an array of books from which to choose when I started this book last week, and I picked this one as I had just finished reading several books about Lincoln, the Civil War, etc., and figured that really this would be the way to go, backwards, but the way to go. In Lincoln's First Inaugural Address he refers to AJ and the seeds of abolition, etc., and it started me thinking about those years when America was changing so very much, i.e. not only the presidency going from the first six presidents who were all wealthy educated men to the seventh, who was decidedly not, but the changes that this president brought about for the democracy at the time: the changes rapidly occurring with expansion, the beginnings of moving away from the agrarian-centered culture to one of expanding industrialization, the railroads, the steamships, the canal system, the growth, the beginnings of accelerated immigration, the removal of the Indians, territorial acquisitions, etc. etc. So, it was that my hand was wavering over three final choices of reading material and upon thoughts of all the things I have listed and more, my hand dove for the AJ book and I have not looked back since...it is one fine read and I am already overwhelmed with the directions I want to go when I turn the last page of this book. Life is just great, isn't it? I know, I know...I lost every single one of you when you read the title of the book and saw it followed by some sort of paragraph of my musings on historical fare. I am prepared to walk alone, accompanied by my library cards, of course. Fortunately, I am married to a history geek lover, who is big on aiding and abetting, so it is not as lonely as you might think.
LISTENING TO: Queen
FAV NEW FIND: Cindy and I took a photography class last week designed to teach us more about using the settings on our cameras...I learned a lot! I have been practicing all week. Stop laughing. Right now.
FAV THING TODAY: Subbing at GCHS...it's always nice to be amongst all the people and students there. Closely followed by a nice quiet evening at home tonight as we have a busy weekend ahead.
GOING TO: Sectional swimming finals; unfortunately going on at the same time as the Hoo/Boilermaker game; Hawks play Sunday at 5 in IC taking on the Wolverines; various choir, church, visiting, etc. gigs in the works...a busy and fun weekend.
PRAYING FOR: The students at Guerin who will be taking trimester finals this week, please join me, or pray for the students you know.
COOKING THROUGH: Le Cordon Bleu at Home (Le Cordon Bleu School of Cooking), this week's assignment is Pintadeaux au Chou (Guinea Hen with Cabbage) pages 44-45; Baking: From My Home to Yours (Dorie Greenspan), this week's recipe is Caramel Crunch Bars, page 112-113. You can cook/bake along, too!