The Grand Scheme of Things (II) July 15th
Listen to this blog! If you don’t feel like reading this blog, let me read it to you.
Last post I mentioned that being a contestant on Jeopardy! was “part of a grand scheme of getting my life together” and that I would talk about it at a later time. Well, now is that time.
Ideally, if I were to be a contestant on Jeopardy!, they would have me on in 2012, shortly after I finish my teaching degree in the 2011 fall semester. Then I would have to win at least one game, but the more I win, the better, of course. In my first appearance, Alex Trebek would ask me what I’m going to do with myself since I just finished my undergraduate career, and I would be doing nothing else in particular because it’s the middle of the school year, and there are no permanent positions available. That’s a given. I tell him I am seeking to be a high school chemistry teacher. Then a few employers will find me mildly interesting because I am a Jeopardy! champion, and that makes me cooler than practically all other applicants and any current teachers in their schools. Now if I didn’t have job security because no one wants to teach chemistry, I would because I make the district look good.
Then I have to win enough times that Alex asks me about my goal to get published. I don’t know where that ranks in the interesting things about me, but if I’m feeling unlucky, then I guess I better put it down for my second appearance (how ever it works). Maybe one agent or editor or publisher is watching and thinks I’m interesting. Maybe. If I win a lot, then I become a 15-minute celebrity, and that gets my foot in the door because anyone who does something slightly interesting and gets air time for it is allowed to get published. Otherwise, you have to go through a grueling process of waiting and rejection, and God knows I’d be one of those if I’m a nobody.
If all goes as planned, everything is great. My poetry and the only novel I will ever write will be published, and I’ll have a stable career as a chemistry teacher. The timing isn’t that important since I will probably get a teaching job with or without Jeopardy! However, if this crazy scheme doesn’t pan out (it is rather specific and would be quite difficult to pull off), at least I will be what I am working to become: a regular person with a regular job at a regular school where the Xerox machines don’t work when they don’t want to. I will simply strive for my students not to hate chemistry, although most of them probably won’t care about science no matter what I do. It’s okay. That is my primary dream anyway. This “grand scheme” is really just a side project.
By the way, I saw Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at midnight. I did not reread the book, so I was able to appreciate the movie for what it was: the movie. I thought it was well done and very enjoyable, but the ending was disappointing. It might actually be my favorite of the movies, even though it’s my least of the books. (I thought the writing was mediocre at best, and the excess of teenage relationship stuff was poorly executed. Oh, and Harry is so emo.) Anyway, I look forward to seeing it again with my dad, who also read the books. And there were enough Minerva McGonagall moments for me! She is my fictional teaching idol.
erin@killerjewels.com
There’s no way I could go on Jeopardy. I’d be the only one who wouldn’t answer anything at all, haha. My dad could probably make it pretty far; he always seems to know most of the answers to the questions they ask. :\
I want to see the HP movie, too. I just heard all the tickets in my area are sold out, though. That doesn’t bother me, though since I hate being around huge crowds…full of geeks…not that I’m not one, haha. I couldn’t ever really get into the books, mostly because I’m not a fantasy-lover and because they just seemed so…boring. I’ve watched all the movies, though and I like ‘em.
I’m not looking forward to all the lovey-dovey crap, though. XP
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Gah, I’m sorry I took so long to return your comment. I’ve been really distracted from the site lately and… yaeh.
About Hugh Laurie… it’s just the same with James Marsters in Buffy. Whenever I see an interview of him it’s so weird to hear his natural accent! Even if it is American. Because just as Hugh does a flawless American accent, James does a flawless English one. I think actors get trained in how to do different accents… I remember reading that somewhere.
Thanks.
I haven’t worked on them since that first night, but I plan to get back to the reviews soon!
Wow, you sure have some great goals in mind. You really do have it all planned out. I hope it all comes together just like that for you.
I also saw Harry Potter last night at an advanced screening event through my parents’ insurance company. I loved it.
That was the first time I hadn’t reread the book before watching the movie, and I’m definitely glad I didn’t reread it now. It’s like you said; I was much more able to appreciate it for the movie it is rather than for the book it is based off of. I didn’t get caught up in all the little details they left out and I was able to just enjoy the movie.
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Well I hope you get to be on Jeopardy and become a high school chemistry teacher! You might still have to tutor me next year! haha (:
I just saw Harry Potter too! I didn’t finish the book either so I didn’t really know what they took out or anything. I think they did a good job! It’s hard to direct movies that are from books. I can’t wait to see the next one!
And I’m volunteering at this place, I’m not actually sure. It’s for my school and there’s a lot of different volunteering events. We might help clean up or help with office stuff. I’ll find out more and tell you tomorrow! I know what it’s called but I don’t feel that comfortable saying it here.
Yeah, They had a different director in HP6, if that means anything. But I thought it was really good!
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Whoa. Jeopardy?! Awesome.
Wow, you really set high goals for yourself! Let’s just hope everything works out pretty much, if not exactly, the way you planned it. Though you can never know what will happen!
I’ve never read any of the Harry Potter books, nor have I ever seen any of the movies. xD I was actually at the library today, debating whether or not I should, since so many people seen to like it. I was thinking of reading it to see if it’s as good as everyone says it is. Do you like it, and would it be a book that you’d recommend?
Haha, I know. Boys supposedly like “gross” things, but apparently my stepbrother doesn’t like worms!
I’ve never actually tried fishing either. I don’t think I want to. Doesn’t it hurt the fish, even if they toss them back into the water? After all, they’re getting a hook stuck in their mouth! And the shock of being out of the water for at least 5 minutes! :/
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I think that’s an amazing master plan that you have there. =] I grew up watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and I bet you’d get more than just one or two questions right! I mean, you’re such a smartie. A science and humanities whiz…you have no idea how much I idolize people like you!! I think being a chemistry teacher in high school would be very interesting, no say the least. =P If it makes you feel better, I absolutely LOOOVE chemistry. My high school teachers were the ones who made me realize that. ^^ I’m just sad I’m not smart enough to handle the calculus and physics required to actually major in hardcore chemistry. =[
AH, I might watch the movie tonight. I’m not sure though…but I’m happy to hear that there are more McGonagall moments though! I mean, the 5th movie was just a disappointment in every department for me. =/ I’m just hoping its not complete fail.
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You’re a creative genius, Erin, you are. I loved hearing your voice reading your blog; this was convenient especially since I was reading and doing some math problems I found at the bottom of a stack of papers nobody seemed to recognize…
Maybe it’s just me, but if I’ve always thought that if you want to do something, you’ll end up doing said thing. Crossed fingers that this is true for your wishes to be on “Jeopardy!” and a talented high school chemistry teacher. I’d give my right foot (well, I’d also give my gory books, rusty pencil sharpeners, and a hundred thousand dollars, but who’d want that? *silence for this bad joke to sink in*) to be taught by you. The teachers around here don’t seem qualified…
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That is a most hilarious scheme. Well, in my opinion. It’s definitely a well crafted one. But with your intelligence I’m sure you’ll not need Jeopardy to help you at all.
Bah, if I had been taught by you, that would be cool. Sadly I dropped chemistry because I simply didn’t understand it, therefore didn’t enjoy it, therefore didn’t see a use for the subject and pursued general science instead. Shame on me. I think I needed a better teacher! ;D
But you are definitely an inspiration, so dedicated to your work and everything.
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wow. You have everything planned out! :O Good for you! ;D And good luck! I hope everything goes as planned and works out. (:
I saw Harry Potter at midnight too! Though I probably didn’t like it as much as you. There wasn’t that much action for me. Though I didn’t really read the books, so I guess I was just expecting more because I guess I based it off of the other movies..? : p And yes, the ending also disappointed me. I can’t believe Snape did that! (I don’t really want to spoil it for whoever reads my comment xD) I can’t wait for the movies for the Deathly Hollows to come out. I’m really excited noww. And they’re making two movies for it… and I was thinking what they were going to name it. xD Though it’s probably going to be just Part 1 and Part 2.. :O
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Yeah it really was like a fairytale.
He stayed over at my house last night, only because my parents weren’t home, otherwise it would have obviously never happened lmao.
I enjoy spending time with him, and never really realized how much I missed him.
We’re not officially back together. I just don’t want to rush into anything and repeat the mistakes that we both made last time.
OMG that would be so awesome if I saw you as a contestant on the showin 2012. I would probably be screaming OMG I KNOW HER I KNOW HER. Lmao. (:
Even though I don’t actually know you.. but I’ve talked to you. xD
I hope you do win a lot if you get on the show, that would be so amazing.
Even if it means just 15 minutes of fame, it’s worth it.
How I wish I was smart enough to be on that show, but I doubt it will EVER happen lmao.
I absolutely, positively 100 PERCENT agree with your opinion on the Harry Potter movie. I thought it was awesome, (I saw it with Brian) but the ending just kind of left me really unsatisfied? xD I thought it would have been much ore dramatic and such, but ah well.
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That would be cool if you could get on jeopardy, I signed up my boyfriend to go on wheel of fortune actually. We’re too dumb for jeopardy!
I hope life goes in the direction you’d like it to go, it might not be detail for detail with what you mentioned above but I hope you accomplish what you’d like to.
Also I can’t wait to see Harry Potter, I usually reread them as well before the movie but I don’t think I will this time either. –Because when I reread sometimes I get disappointed like – “oh this wasn’t in it, that wasn’t in it,” etc! lol.
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LOL at the thought of Harry Potter being emo!
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Haha, great post:)
I also saw HP this weekend:) Loved it:) And yeah, Harry Potter is indeed very emo:P
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Hey, Erin!
That is so cool, if you ever put this plan into action and show up on Jeopardy! and I’ll be in front of the TV with a foam finger on my hand, cheering you on.
I really want to watch HBP so badly, but my parents don’t want to, because when we watched Goblet of Fire, my mom fell asleep. :/
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Jeopardy sounds like one of those things where, when you do it, you’re totally set for life (if you do it right, of course). I love planning out things like that. But the great thing is that I think you could definitely do it (you’re brilliant).
I want to write a novel. Just one, even, like you. I want it to really mean something to me. I want to write it like the author Alistair Macleod wrote his (first?) novel. He spent 10 years labouring over ever last detail, every single sentence. Imagine the accomplishment you’d feel at the end.
I haven’t re-read HBP in a long time, so, like you, I went to see it with just what was in my memory. And I loved it, I really did. My friend, who had just re-read it, loved it maybe even more than I did. So it’s good to know that both those who haven’t read it in a while and those that have read it recently can enjoy it.
I didn’t find HBP too emo, really. In my opinion, the most emo Harry was in Order of the Phoenix. But HBP was definitely not my favourite. (I don’t think I found it quite as annoying as you did, though.)
Now I will commence with my mini-review: Things I loved: There was a good amount of comedy. I’ve heard some people say there was too much, but I always thought the books had a great sense of humour and I was glad they displayed it in the film. I loved Tom Felton as Draco, I felt that he did a great job showing his “trials and tribulations”. And everything else I loved, really…except: No funeral, a little bummed about that (but they had that wand-raising tribute, which was great), no battle at the end (sadness), and Bonnie Wright…I don’t think she’s a very good actress (she seems sort of awkward in her scenes, and the Harry/Ginny scenes were all cringe worthy).
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LMAO. I thought worms in apples was something from cartoons as well. I feel bad for the poor girl who took that apple.
Ugh, I know. It’s so annoying how they add letters and use numbers in words and whatnot. How does that make you “cooler” in any way?!
Yeah, I think I’ll be reading the Harry Potter books over the summer vacation.
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Usually i re-read all the books before I go see a Harry Potter movie, but I’ve heard so many missing things and added things.. that I think I’ll just go see it.. then re read the books, so I can enjoy the movie and not be thinking the whole time.. no.. thats wrong.. wrong wrong wrong… because I tend to do that ;p
Thats a freaking awesome scheme. i’m totally going to be watching the t.v. when your on there ;p
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