Busyness

My 7th grader's last spelling list contained the word "business." On Friday, I gave them the test, and as I was dictating the words, I realized that I didn't know whether I should pronounce it as in the state of being busy or as in the corporation. I also couldn't remember how I had been saying it all week. Upon talking to my brother, I happened to find out that there was a difference in the spelling and was quite tickled by the fact that I, an English teacher, did not know the difference when my brother, a Chemistry major, did. We all need a little humbling experience, right? :)

Right now I would have to say that "busyness" best describes me. I have an intensive paper due in Multi-Ethnic American Literature; one which I should be much farther on than I am. Hopefully God will be graceful to me, and help me to quickly find an outstanding these to write about. The book I'm writing on is My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. It's quite good! I've always really enjoyed reading Jewish books and learning about Jewish history. The book is actually about an "extremist" group of Jews that are a part of the Hassidic movement. They would even consider themselves apart from Judaism as they dress and lives strictly to the Jewish laws. They abstain from most everything secular and can be found in large numbers in the New York/Brooklyn, etc., area. The novel is about an art prodigy named Asher Lev who struggles his whole life between dabbling in secular art and aestheticism and following the strictly aesthetic, abstinent Hassidic lifestyle. I really like the book because of its conversation on art and religion. I highly recommend it!

While I am reading all of these multi-ethnic novels for the class, and am at the same time reading Dracula. Do not ask me why I started that book except that I learned of the original story behind Count Dracula from my Romanian friend from school (Asheritah, I love you :) and was quite intrigued by it. The story is rather sensational (something for which its received some criticism), and as a result, I can hardly put the book down. Ann Marie had to take it from me and keep it in her room until I would get my work done. That was the day after I read several chapters of it in the local graveyard and was too scared to sleep that night. :)

Some other time I will explain my fascination with grave yards.