When Romeo Met Juliet.

In fair Verona where we lay our scene...

I have to be totally honest: I loved every second of the cheesy, total tourist entrapment that is

Juliet Capulet's house.

I can't even tell you which element of the Romeo and Juliet exhibits I liked the best.

I mean, maybe it was the walls blanketed with graffiti love notes as you enter the supposed Capuletti house.

Or the engraved locks decorating the city and reminding us that love is real {or maybe just reminding us that it's become quite commercialized.}

Or the idea that some lovers like to inscribe their names into chewing gum and then stick it, like a sticker, to the walls. {Because AP + BT does seem way more romantic when engraved in gum!}

Or that so many people believe the story claiming that rubbing the right breast of Juliet's statue, will ensure the rubber a new lover. So many people have hoped and polished that her right breast is buffed to a shine.

Or that women come from around the world to bring love letters to Juliet to be left in her courtyard. And the romantic hopefuls' letters are answered by Juliet's secretaries in The Juliet Club. Casa di Giuletta has even set up an email system in one of its rooms, so if you happen to go to Verona without a love note, no need to fret.

Or maybe, it was Juliet's nurse who stood in ALL of the pictures I attempted to take with my own Romeo on the famous balcony.

{I mean what is she doing there?}

Getting swept away by love stories and tearing up over tales of long-lost lovers isn't really my thing. But, here, in the setting of the greatest love story of all time, even I couldn't help but become lost in the romance.

{I think it was the gum.}

For the ultimate Capulet and Montague follower, I recommend checking out Romeo and Juliet tours and museums and graves for a guided tour.

Literature Meets ASK.

Student connection to White Fang by Jack London.

I can connect White Fang to Notorious B.I.G. He went through a lot of harsh things and torture to become a famous rapper. And this dog will go through a lot to become a KILLER.

Student response to The Miracle Worker (The true story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan) by William Gibson

This is the best book ever! I mean, I thought that The Outsiders was good, but this is really great! Thanks for letting us read about the deaf girl; she's great!

Helen Keller 1, Ponyboy 0

Well Hello, Lover, and by Lover, I Do Mean Mark Twain.

When you're an English major and literacy teacher, and you happen to drive through Hannibal, Missouri, home to Mark Twain, you kinda want to spend hours there. Just sayin'.

We began with Mark Twain's (aka Samuel Clemen's) (aka Tom FREAKIN' Sawyer's) childhood home.

And from Hood Rat to Hoodlum, we headed to Huck Finn's house (He's my favorite!) for some quick remembrance of how best-friends-ever will do anything for you -- including forgiving you for lying about how tough you and your gang are and still being your best-friend-ever when you get home from a really long river trip.

And then yes! Yes, I did take a picture of the famous fence that Tom Sawyer tricked his "friends" into whitewashing. It seemed so much longer in the book, right?!

And for the record, being a lit geek is kinda a family affair. Like father, like daughter, right?!

And then, when you leave the historic houses, you get to walk through the 100% Mark Twain themed town.

From store names to souvenirs, this town screams Sammie C from one end to the other; as a tourist, you have no choice but to grab your camera and dive into it.

After walking through town, you'll quickly end up at the Museum Gallery (price included with Mark Twain's Boyhood Home and Museum Properties).

It's like a quick little bookie heaven.

A little interactive whitewashin' situation.

A little "Injun' Joe may be chasing me through a cave" situation.

A little REALLY BIG copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn situation.

All in all, Hannibal, Missouri is a little midwest treat for any lit lover.