It's your fault my kid's a cheater!

[Melxb]

I was uber-student in high school so I just sucked it up and read everything. I was a pretty fast reader too, and that helped a lot.

When I got to college though....hoo-boy....I used Cliff's Notes at least once every quarter. I was a double major in History and English Lit. If I didn't understand the language then, yes, I got the Cliff's Notes. I had to read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in the original middle English. I switched to a more modern translation, but halfway through I knew I'd already lost the "flow" and sucked it up and bought the Cliff's Notes. Best.decision.ever. It saved my butt in that class.

I think Cliff's Notes can be a good study aid and I'm not against them. I just people (students and non-students alike) should at least try to read the original version. Literature is best enjoyed in it's natural state.

[protege]

I graduated college 10 years ago, so shut up.

Hehe I got out of college in '98

[Jack7957]

Hehe I got out of college in '98

1991 here.

[Becks]

I graduated college 10 years ago, so shut up.

Ha. I want to see you come up to North Jersey and make me.

Nah, I'll try to try to behave.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Ohhh, man, you all make me feel like such a dork.

I loved the Sound and the Fury, Moby Dick, Beowulf (I wanted to learn old English just so I could translate it) and wrote a major college paper on Canterbury Tales because I loved it so much. I spent time in college learning Homeric and Koine Greek, and translated large sections of The Iliad and parts of the New Testament---that was awesome.

In fact I have a lot of trouble reading newer stuff---I hate anything beatnik (Kerouac, Ginsberg, etc) and stuff like Catch-22 or The Handmaid's Tale. Ick.

Then again, I absolutely love James Joyce. Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake? Awesome literature! So cryptic I could study it for 20 years and never completely get all of it.

I'd rather read Shakespeare---I loooooove to read Shakespeare aloud in the bathtub in a faux British voice---I'm so weird!

[Becks]

I'm so weird!

But that's why we like you.

I read some interesting stuff, and I LOVE reading, but some things I just can't get into, for whatever reason.

[MystyGlyttyr]

Man, am I glad I went to crappy schools. The only "classic" book I had to read was The Scarlet Letter, and I polished that off during lunch break.

*dances around*

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Aw, Becky, thanks. Sometimes I feel like no one on here ever notices me.

That's probably because I'm used to being stared at wherever I go, and since y'all can't see me here, you don't see how weird I look.

I'm wearing a pink and chocolate brown crushed velvet dress today. 1950's style, the kind Donna Reed would wear when welcoming her husband home from work---except I've got fishnet stockings underneath it and faux 1930's t-strap heels with big pink bows on them, and matching big pink bows in my buns (the hair, people, the hair!) I walked into Fred Meyer to buy some kitty litter and two soccer Moms nearly broke their necks craning around to gape at me.

[BlakeMP]

Speaking as a 9th-grade English teacher, I am not worried about any of my students using Cliff Notes.

First you'd have to know where to find a bookstore.

[Becks]

TPG, of course we notice you. Well, I do, anyway.

Your outfit sounds awesome. I'd love to see it. And bows??? :squeals like the girl she is:

[Seshat]

That's probably because I'm used to being stared at wherever I go, and since y'all can't see me here, you don't see how weird I look.

I'm wearing a pink and chocolate brown crushed velvet dress today. 1950's style, the kind Donna Reed would wear when welcoming her husband home from work---except I've got fishnet stockings underneath it and faux 1930's t-strap heels with big pink bows on them, and matching big pink bows in my buns (the hair, people, the hair!)

Sounds lovely to me.

I'm working on drafting the Perfect Princess Line Pattern for my figure, and will be making 1940s and 50s silhouette clothing for myself once I have it.

Right at the moment, my hair's in a chignon, and I'm wearing a handkerchief-hem skirt (underlayer satin, overlayer beaded organza), mary-janes and calf stockings, and a drapey sort of top with a brooch detail and a cami underneath.

If I stared at you, it'd probably be to figure out details of cut and fit. Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, y'know.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Oooooo, Seshat! Another seamstress? *squeal!*

I make most of my own clothes, and I have a huge collection of vintage patterns from the Edwardian period thru the seventies. I like to make vintage era clothes out of funky modern fabrics---hence my crushed velvet Donna Reed dress.

Have you seen these shoes? I'm saving up money to buy myself a pair of these in screaming red:

http://remixvintageshoes.com/htanklestrap.html

[Crow The Robot]

Good Gord. Take some responsibility lady! I'm sure if the clerk didn't help her precious daughter find CLiff's Notes, she'd scream about bad service. BTW: I love Faulkner and Beowulf.

[Bella_Vixen]

Becks, you should have brought it along so I could give it a try.

[Seshat]

Screamingly

Oooooo, Seshat! Another seamstress? *squeal!*

I'm a G cup, with a narrow, dropped and slanted waist, broad and square shoulders, wide hips, and muscular thighs and arms. NOTHING fits right unless I make or modify it myself, or its a knit with enough give.

I make most of my own clothes, and I have a huge collection of vintage patterns from the Edwardian period thru the seventies. I like to make vintage era clothes out of funky modern fabrics---hence my crushed velvet Donna Reed dress.

I tend to take basic patterns and modify them myself. I have to make enough mods anyway just to get the fit truly right, that it never feels worthwhile to me to buy a pattern just for a shawl-collar variation or whatever.

I'm changing shape again, though - going through a health kick.

Have you seen these shoes? I'm saving up money to buy myself a pair of these in screaming red:

Very nice. I love the toolwork. Far too high a heel for my own tastes, but very nice shoes.