Yay!

I know, I know. I haven't posted in forever...sorry.

I lucked out with a wonderful, fabulous snow day yesterday! I desperately wanted just one before winter break and was rather amazed that I got my wish. It was great...I slept till 11:30, watched a movie, read a bit, finished decorating the Christmas tree, ate Christmas cookies, had dinner with Jon and went to trivia at Conor's. Not a bad day at all:)

The other fun thing about yesterday was that my latest review and a bunch of my photos went up at Revolt. See them here.

I'm especially proud because this time Sherri used one of my photos for Revolt's mock cover and I even got my name on the cover too! Yay!

I've got at least one show confirmed coming up, the Streetlight Manifesto show at the Magic Stick. I've got two shows in the works too, The Audition (this Thursday) and The Hard Lessons (Dec 26 at The Blind Pig). I hope those work out!

I'm so glad there are only three more days of school...they honestly can't go fast enough, but I don't think this will be a terribly taxing week. I figure that Thursday and Friday the kids will be so nuts anyways that I'm not even going to try and teach. I'll let them watch "A Christmas Carol" instead (Dickens, so it's sort of literary...)

Yay, it's almost Christmas!

Lyrics

I haven't posted lyrics in a long time. I was at the Bayside show last night (still sorting all the photos) and this song caught my attention. For some reason, I really like the lyrics.


"Landing Feet First"

If our world falls down tomorrow
You be sure I'll be there with a net
To catch the pieces falling
And I was always there
And I was always there
I was always there but you just
never knew where

Ay oh, ay oh, I hope you weren't waiting long
I hope this night makes up for time lost
Ay oh, ay oh, feels like I met you years ago
And we're picking up right where we left off

I've considered what I'd be like
if the ocean poured in
From both of the coasts
And we set sail to find out
Just where our boat would go

But I don't think that I'd want to know
Cuz it would just make time
So I could see your smile
With our brand new life in tow

Ay oh, ay oh, I hope you weren't waiting long
I hope this night makes up for time lost
Ay oh, ay oh, feels like I met you years ago
And we're picking up right where we left off
Right where we left off

And if I'm on the road
For another thousand years or so
I hope you know a part of me is at home
And I traded brick for straw
in the house I built around my heart
So when you came it wouldn't be so tough
No "huff and puff" could dismantle us
No "huff and puff" could dismantle us

Ay oh, ay oh, I hope you weren't waiting long
I hope this night makes up for time lost
Ay oh, ay oh, feels like I met you years ago
And we're picking up right where we left off
Right where we left off

Weekend do-over?

Can I have a do-over please? This weekend was weird. It had some good bits, and some bad ones. Yet, here I am on Sunday night and have kinda of a bad (i cringe to write this) vibe about the weekend. I hope it is paranoia. I hope it is hormones. I hope it is the shitty weather. I just woke up this morning full of all sorts of anxiety and I'm not totally sure why. I've felt "off" since late Friday night (long story) but I haven't been able to fully shake it yet.

I'm not sure what's up. Bad, bad dreams last night. The kind where you wake up crying. Not fun.

So, for as relaxing as my long weekend was supposed to be, I find myself getting ready to go back to work more anxious than I was before break.

I want a do-over.

Currently listening :
The Walking Wounded
By Bayside

So tired

I really feel like I've been dragging all this school-year. I'm tired all the time, but I think it's because of all the bullshitty stress my administration has been making us put up with.

I'm so tired.

I'm SO looking forward to Thanksgiving break. I plan on sleeping through a good part of it.

Even more so, I'm looking forward to Christmas break. Weeks without school. It'll be brilliant.

It'll also be a year which is pretty exciting.

I should really go do some work, but I've been correcting so many drafts of research papers over the last week I could care less. I was at school for more than 20 hours in the last 48. That's scary.

I am pretty sure the next issue of the paper will get me hauled into the office. If this one doesn't, I can guarantee the one after that will. I don't care anymore. I don't plan on being there next year, so I'm going to speak my mind a bit now. I'm not going to let them frighten me into silence.

This isn't exactly how I thought some things would be at this point in my life. guess I shouldn't really complain. I've got at least a few really great things going on, but I don't like to dwell on them too much because I'm afraid I'll jinx things. Silly, I know.

That's me.

Listening to: Schoolyard Heroes, Abominations

Sooooooo glad tomorrow is Friday

Whew. What a week.
Let's see...here's a quick summary of the things that were out of the ordinary:

Friday: Was going to go to a fashion show out in Detroit but received an alternative invitation to Cameron's Steakhouse in Birmingham with Jon, Kelly Jean and Peter. We got dressed up and ran up a hefty tab but didn't have to pay a dime (long story). Excellent dinner and much fun.

Monday: I got a call from my VP during the last 10 minutes of my second prep period. He said he and my principal wanted to speak with me regarding the school newspaper. He didn't tell me what it was about but we don't have "official" meetings at my school unless you're in trouble for something. So, seeing as I had no more free time that day, I got to be anxiously sick about what I was in trouble for for the entire rest of the day. Kinda lackluster night at trivia too, which was a bummer since we got 1st last week.

Oh yeah, the kids got a half day, we didn't. We got to work on curriculum mapping even though 1st quarter grades were due the next day (at 8 am) and that would have been a MUCH more productive use of everyone's time.

Tuesday: Meeting about the newspaper at 7:30am. My department head came along (thank God). It seemed to me like my VP wanted to tell me to stop publishing articles that are so critical of the school, but since he couldn't really do that, he nitpicked stupid stuff. A big waste of time. He didn't even mention the article about Adderall use at the school. I was rather surprised.

Wednesday: I made the mistake of letting my kids have food in class. They brought in loads of junk and just watching them eat all day made me feel ill. Then we wasted more time with a pointless all-school assembly which ended in a sort-of brawl. Good times. The best part of the day was throwing together a sort-of arrabiata sauce and watching Buffy with Jon. That and knowing I didn't have to go to school today.

Today: I slept in a bit (lovely), met Jon, Sarah and Phil for lunch, went to mass (required, arrgh), graded some papers, wasted time on Facebook and went to guitar (which went quite well). I should have gotten more done today. Oh well. Fuck it.

And the rest of the week? Tomorrow we have mass (this will be the third time this week) and I'm just glad it's Friday. Tomorrow night will be the usual outing to Corner and Saturday is the school benefit auction (swanky affair though it's a cash bar this year which isn't as fun as last year's open bar).

My mom really wants to believe that me teaching at this school was "meant to be." I'm feeling more and more like it was a mistake (for the most part, there have been a few really, really good things that have come from it, so I can't complain totally). This year is dragging though and it's harder to go in to work every morning knowing that I will either get a complaint about something (books, the newspaper, grades) from the administration, a student or a parent. I'm finding it harder and harder to see why this is worth it and looking more frequently for other jobs.

I do not want to be there next year. My mantra now is "it's only till June, it's only till June." Kinda sad, eh?

Wake Up Cat!

I love this. I laugh every single time I watch it.

LOLCat Bible Translation Project

Rather than grade the pile of essays waiting for me, I discovered LOLCat bible translations. This might have just made my day (and I love the fact that most of the parents at my school would HATE these perhaps even more than the verses themselves)
Enjoy!

To translate your very own verses, go here.


Genesis 18
From LOLCat Bible Translation Project
Jump to: navigation, search

1 Noaw Abraham waz chillin and TEH D00D waz liek "Oh Hai"

2 But wen Abraham waz 2 liek "Oh hai" ther waz 3 doodz and he waz leik "WTF" n he pwned hisself

3 He sed "D00d, Srsly, hang out

4 You can has water and rest

5 And you can haz cheezburgr." And 3 doodz sed "thas coo"

6 K so Abraham went to Sarah and waz liek "Maek som cookies!"

7 And he went to hiz cows and made teh best one teh ded 4 to eat

8 And he sed to 3 doodz "here, you can has"

9 N tehy wer liek "Wher ur woman?" And Abraham sed "ovar ther"

10 N sed "Srsly, when we com bak she gonna be teh preggers" Adn Sarah herd this

11 BTW: Abraham n Sarah wer teh OLD, Srsly, and Sarah waz to old 4 teh babyz

12 And Sarah LOLed and waz liek "WTF!? NO WAI! WE R TEH OLD!!11 LOL"

13 And TEH D00D sed 2 Abraham "WTF, Y she LOLed?

14 Nothin iz inposbell 4 TEH D00D, srsly, she gon be teh preggers!"

15 And Sarah waz liek "I no LOLed" Ann he waz liek "yea u did"

The little things

Wife's latest blog post in connection with something that happened yesterday at school really made me stop and think. This has been a rough school year for a lot of people in a lot of ways. Wife has to parents who freak out when their kids don't get A's in AP English and co-workers who make her life difficult. KJPM has kids who threaten her, throw chairs and spit at teachers. Shannon has kids who try to burn the building down and "act like animals." I have great kids but a weak, spineless principal and a "lynch-squad" of parents who are out to villainize the English department. Most recently we were told that from now on when we want to adopt a new book, it has to be approved by a board of parents and priests (one in particular who called our curriculum drivel and said numerous other highly insulting things.)

It's so easy to get caught up in all that crap. I've been dreading going to school and half afraid to open my email for fear of what emails might wait for me. I've been thinking more and more that I have to get out of this profession. I've applied to two full-time writing jobs, one located in NJ, one located LA. I don't even know what I'd do if one of them bites.

So, with all this shit going on, it's easy to forget about the kids in some ways. The kids that I really like. The kids that maybe I HAVE made a bit of a difference for.

I was sitting in my classroom during last period yesterday while my English II class was watching a movie. I had my back to the class and was working on the computer when some one comes up and hugs me. I turned to find that it was a student I'd had last year who was kicked out of the school over the summer. I liked this kid a lot last year and was really sorry that he'd been expelled (or "asked not to come back" if you want to use the euphemism). He was in my journalism class and was the kid that a lot of other teachers didn't like and had written off as a screw-up. He's in a band, really into hardcore music and I've run into him at shows on multiple times. I didn't see him as a screw-up and tried to help him see that he doesn't have to "live down" to the expectations and views other teachers have of him. I guess in some way I must have done a little bit right because he seemed genuinely happy to see me, we chatted for a good 10-15 minutes about music, books and the like.

He seems to be happier at his new school which is good. It sounds like he's doing well in English and he likes his teacher, which is also good. I hope he goes to college, I think he's very capable of it.

Anyways, that little visit made a lot of difference in my day. I'm still not convinced that staying in teaching for the long term is in my future, but it was a good reminder of what I should try and focus on for the moment. Unfortunately, all the other shit makes it so hard to do that...

Old News, but I'm Slow

So, I was going through the backlog of music magazines that has been building up and discovered some interesting news. Gerard Way got married a few weeks ago. I was a little stunned, and, I'll admit, that teeny, mcr loving girl in me was a little sad. Silly, I know:)

He married the bass player from Mindless Self Indulgence. Good for him. Chicks that play the bass are cool.
Guess I'm a little behind on my reading;)
Read MTV's info on the nuptuals here.

Must find a music job that pays. This teaching bullshit is killing me :(

I feel a headache coming on...

Ugh. I hate parents. I hate stupid people. Do I even need to say it? The book saga continues.

My AP parent emailed again a week ago wanting to know if we decided anything about the objectionable content in "The Natural." I wanted to email them back and say, "yes, there weren't NEARLY enough nipples in it, that's the problem." Of course I didn't email that back. I stayed very diplomatic and non-committal even if I wanted to just call the parent an ignorant idiot who is not helping their kid in the long run.

I am SO going to get fired.

Anyways, another parent has been waging a complaint about the novel The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (again, citing sexual content). My principal has refused to give the English department an overall "objectionable content policy" to use and prefers to deal with these things on a case-by-case basis. Well, that's all fine and good, but after a lengthy email from me last week detailing (and forwarding) the emails I received about The Natural, my principal still hasn't responded. We've got curriculum night next week and my department head and I feel like the English department will be facing the firing squad. Gee, I can't wait. I think I'll fill my Nalgene bottle with vodka...

To make matters worse, my dept. head got an email from a parent suggesting that there be a board to determine what books are suitable to have in the English curriculum. I am HIGHLY offended by such an idea. So, you're telling me that with my three degrees in English (BA, MA in English and Education and MA in English Lit) that I don't have enough sense to decide what books my students are capable of reading critically? Bullshit! Honestly, if it comes to that, I think my principal will have to prepare to hire an entirely new English department. See, here's the other piece of this. A number of years ago (between when I graduated from the school and when I was hired there) some parents objected to the novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany" because they felt it was sacreligious. The school developed a board consisting of at least one priest and my current department head as well as others who read the book and decided it was ok for the students to read. Despite the board accepting the novel, one individual, a priest at a local and very conservative Catholic parish, badgered the acting principal into rejecting the book. So, despite the board's informed decision, the book was still dropped from the curriculum because of a single individual's decision. I can see this happening all over again and I will NOT be part of that bullshit should it come to that. I don't think I'm alone either. Maybe I'm am, but I can tell you, I won't put up with that. I might not quit on the spot, but he can be sure I won't be back next year.

I want to tell my AP parent, "look, I'm making him think critically. We're talking about Aristotle's classical piece, Rhetoric, the kids are using ethos, pathos and logos easily in their class discussion, they can't now watch an advertisement without critically analyzing the images and considering who the audience for a certain piece is, they're noticing these things without me even asking them to and (even better) then bringing the things they notice back to class for discussion. Doesn't that count for anything??! No, they just worry that nipples are mentioned in one of the novels we'll read later in the year. It doesn't matter that right now we're using Aristotle's theories on writing and language, it doesn't matter that these kids are studying (and understanding!) things most kids don't get to until they're in college. Sigh. It's so distressing. It really is.

I suppose some if it might be a moot point if Jon and I take off for places unknown next year...he's encouraging me to pursue writing and while that's really scary, it's also really exciting to have someone be supportive of this...After a day like this, I'm SO ready to take off.

Not to mention, I'm sort of being headhunted by the principal at Wife's school. Even though I told him three times now that I won't leave my school in the middle of the year (he was even discussing salary, and a salary that is a good $10,000 more than I make right now), he's still trying to get me to switch jobs. Thing is, as much as the parents make me batty, I like most of the kids. Dilemmas, dilemmas.

My Student Teacher has her moments of insight and making me want to cringe. I know it's a learning process, but I'm really wondering if she has the right personality for high school students. At least she isn't mentally ill. Shannon has a student teacher this semester who she says is the strangest person she's ever met (and having met some of the same people, this guy must be REALLY strange). Mine is a bit weird at times, but I don't think she's mental. I wonder if she can handle all the nuances of having your own classroom though. Oh well, it's really early. Maybe she'll get better.

In good news, I scored free tickets for the Rilo Kiley show at ROMT on Monday for a live review (and possibly a photo pass). I'm not their biggest fan, but it's a good career move since they're pretty big in the indie world (kinda like scoring a pass for the Bright Eyes show and Spin magazine LOVES them) and I was just offered (and accepted) the chance to interview Schoolyard Heroes. Again, a good career move because Sarah Lewitinn (Ultragrrrl) is the one that signed them and a) I love her bands, b) she's made sure quotes of my reviews end up on her bands' websites, c) I want bits of her life, she's so damn cool (juvenile to say, I know, but it's true).

I've got to get this writing career off the ground. I'm not sure I'm going to make it long at my school without some parent demanding I be fired (I gave the go-ahead on an article about ADHD drug abuse at the school provided the student who wanted to write it did her research and wrote a good, solid article. I told her I'd back her. Scarily, there will be some parents that, if the student completes her end of the bargain and writes a strong, well-researched piece, will want my skin). I am so dead.

Sigh.

Listening to: "Battlestar Anorexia" by Schoolyard Heroes

PS-The Hard Lessons show last Saturday ROCKED. I got The Anvil and Augie to sign my CD and even chatted for a bit with them. It was so cool. I fucking love them. Pictures to post when I'm not so pissy.

Utterly Exhausted

I survived the first week of school. I'm halfway through my second and I am so tired I could drop. Things are going well, I'm just ready for a vacation already. In summation:

• AP is going well. I like the kids and I'm having fun getting to teach them about things like rhetoric (yeah, I'm a nerd) and how to use/recognize persuasive speech/text, critically read images (now part of the AP Lang & Comp test) and such. A lot of work, but I like the class.
• English II and Honors English II are ok. I'm not a huge fan of All Quiet on the Western Front, but my Honors class is really sharp. I think I'm going to like them. The jury is still out on regular English II.
• I've got some good kids in Journalism this year. However, my student teacher (ST from now on) has been teaching the class for the last three days and I've had to observe. This is hard because a)I'm a bit of a control freak as I'm learning, b) it's hard watching other people make mistakes that seem obvious to me and c) I'm selfish and want to get these kids going on things myself (back to my first point, control freak).
  
• Having a student teacher is making back to school even more exhausting. She has some good qualities but I also now have a shadow. I can't even pop into my office to check my email between classes without her coming to see if I need her to enter the attendance. Er, not yet, the kids haven't even arrived...it can be frustrating. I know she's just trying to help, but I need a little space at times

I'm ready for it to be the weekend, but I've got two days to go and Thursdays usually suck because they're such crazy days-weird mass schedule, review due, guitar lesson etc. At least there should be some fun this weekend. Friday Jon, Brandon and I are heading to Tower like we used to do last year on Fridays. I'm REALLY looking forward to this. A nice Tower mug and good conversation. Excellent.

Saturday we're heading out to dinner with my parents, Wife and Husband to (belatedly) celebrate Jon's birthday. My parents were rather worried that he thought they were blowing him off after their initial invite to dinner, but finding a night that fit into our busy social calendar wasn't so easy. After that we'll probably go to the Hard Lessons show at The Blind Pig. Guess I should fit some lesson planning and grading in there somewhere too (ugh).

Last weekend was a lot of fun. Jon and I headed down to Cincinnati for his nieces' birthdays (they turned 1 and 2). Though Friday night and Saturday during the day were a lot of family stuff, it was entertaining to see his two nieces get loads of presents and hang out with his family. Saturday night Jon, his sister, brother in law and I went out to the Hofbrauhaus and then the Claddagh Irish Pub for good food, shots of Jaeger, and beer. I had a blast and really like his family. They've been extremely welcoming which is very, VERY nice. Sunday I went to my first Lutheran service and didn't get struck by lightning upon setting foot in the church. Go me.

Monday we threw and impromptu BBQ where I was very surprised to find that a friend of a friend brought his new girlfriend who happened to be a former student of mine from LHS. Heh, THAT wasn't awkward at all... We made crabcakes, brats, black and bleu burgers, had lots of beer and a good time just hanging out.

Whew. Yeah, so that was the last week or so. It makes me tired just writing about all the activity!

I think a little nap is in order...

I hate stupid people

So, I thought I survived my first day of school unscathed. The kids were well behaved (for the most part), a lot of my AP kids were really excited that they had me again and things with my student teacher are better now that I have stuff for her to do.

The day was going well. I looked cute for my first day of school (new outfit) and I was feeling good.

The good vibes continued into trivia. We got third place last night. Sweet.

I got home to find an email from a parent of one of my AP kids. I should have left it till this morning but I didn't. Let me again take just a moment and remind you that yesterday was our very first day of class for the year. The parent stated that they were concerned about what they felt was inappropriate sexual content in Bernard Malamud's novel The Natural. The parent cited specific paragraphs and asked if we might discuss this, stated they felt it was inappropriate for a 16 year old (Catholic) boy to read, and wanted me to offer an alternative novel for him to read.

I wanted to cry, scream, rage and whip off an email telling this parent that I thought he's a complete idiot with his head in the sand and, having taught his child last year, while his kid is nice, funny and smart, he isn't exactly a saint. He knows about nipples. He knows about (gasp!) sex. He knows girls exist and flirts with them in his own 16-year-old-boy way.

It's so disheartening. I mean, I expected this when we get to Catcher in the Rye or Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. I didn't expect it on the first day of school. Why are people so ridiculous about books? Why do they think that if their kid reads the word "breast" that they'll immediately become some slobbering, sexually obsessed nut-job who will run out, have sex with hundreds of people and either become pregnant or contract some horrible disease or both?

Sigh.

It's so depressing. Really. Would these same parents take their car to the shop and tell the mechanic how to fix it? Would they go to a doctor when they feel sick and tell the doctor what the problem is? Would they go to their priest or rabbi or whomever and tell him or her the tenants of their religion?

Wait. You're right. In this day and age, these people probably would do such things. That's why they feel it's ok to tell their kids' teachers how to do their jobs.

Seriously though. If we get rid of all the books that have even the slightest suggestions of sex, violence, magic, alternative religions, alternative sexual orientations, alternative anything, what's left? At that rate, even the Bible is out, there's loads of violence, sex and crime in it.

Another parent already objected to The Invisible Man and said they think the theology department at our school should choose the books that are read in English classes.

Fuck that. Seriously. If it comes to that, I'm quitting. I'm not putting up with that bullshit. Now the English department has to meet with the administration since this is likely to blow up into gigantic proportions.

That was my first day of school. My rage over the email kept me tossing all night and I'm exhausted and disgusted now.

Worst of all? I like the kid. I feel sorry he's got such a moron for a father because the kid is really quite decent. I wonder if he knows his Dad emailed me?

Is it summer yet?

Back to school, back to school...

...to prove to dad that I'm not a fool (name the movie).

Last week was the teachers' week back. It pretty much consisted of me trying to convince my student teacher that I didn't really have anything for her to do yet (just wait...), trying to do curriculum mapping (sucks, hate it), staff picnic, getting my room set up, making copies, finishing my syllabi, going shopping with Wife, going to shows and living my usual double life. Tomorrow the kids come back. I'm sort of excited and sort of dreading it. I'm excited about seeing my AP kids since I had all of them last year. I have them first and third hour so I kind of get eased into the first day. I don't immediately have to learn a bunch of new names and faces which is kind of nice. I know it'll help alleviate some of my nerves which is a good thing.

Wife and I made our usual back-to-school shopping run which was a lot of fun. We hit H & M and hit it hard (or, hit our wallets hard) but walked away with lots of cute clothes. It's a good thing we don't teach at the same school or we'd be very matchy-matchy. I'm excited about the things I got even if most of them I can't really wear until it gets cooler (argyle, I LOVE argyle...) We also went to Express and got one or two things, but after H & M, Express seems so expensive. A little shoe shopping at Macy's (Wife got a great pair of brown heels and I got polka-dot Steve Madden pumps that I adore) and then Wife got her ears double-pierced which was fun. Enough damage was done at that point that we decided to head home, but I had a great time and new back-to-school clothes are so fun:)

We ended up then heading to Dominick's with Husband and Jon. Much (probably too much) sangria was had and hilarity ensued. The only bummer was as I, in my gracefulness, slipped in a HUGE puddle outside the Grad Library, ended up in the splits and soaked to the skin. It didn't hurt too much (though I have a beautiful bruise on my knee now) but my pride was rather injured. It was pretty funny though even if it was quite uncomfortable...A fun night all around though and an excellent way to say adieu to the summer.

So, let me backtrack for a moment to my double life. Tuesday Jon and I went to the Magic Stick in lieu of joining my co-workers at a Tiger's game so we could see Ganon play. I think they played a really good set and I was a little disappointed I didn't bring my camera since the light was a lot better than when we saw them at the Blind Pig. Friday we went to see Rufus Wainwright at the Michigan Theater which was a hoot. Total 180 from the show at the Magic Stick, but a lot of fun. I love Rufus. He's an amazing musician but totally camp at the same time. Great show.

However, my double life didn't end there. After "sneaking" out of school early on Friday I headed over to Name Brand Tattoo for my annual (so far) back to school ink. Yeah, so most people just get new books, paper, pens and clothes for back to school, but I feel this is my own little "fuck you, I might have to be professional and respectable on the outside but you don't get all of me" to the administration and whole profession. I met Jon there at 1pm, showed Mike (the same guy that did my other two tattoos) the design I wanted and he played with that for a little bit. I was SO nervous, as usual. I wasn't ever about to chicken out, but I was scared enough to feel like I had a flock of pterodactyls in my stomach. He started the outlining and it hurt like hell in spots but Jon kept telling me stories which helped a lot to take my mind somewhat off the pain. After over an hour of that Mike got to the shading which didn't hurt nearly as much (at first) and before I knew it, he was finished. I expected it to take closer to three hours but it only took around two, so that was good. I love how it came out even if it still has that scrape-y feeling (remember how it felt when you were a kid and skinned your knee or your elbow or something like that? Now imagine that feeling all up and down your back...) In fact, he had to change my design a little bit to make it "flow" better and I like it even more than the original. It might be my back, but it isn't a tramp stamp. I really love it. I can't quite believe this is my third, and I'm sure I'll get others as time goes on (I already have ideas). So weird. I have three tattoos. Crazy.

Yeah, so, that's been this week. What a time, eh? I haven't been doing a whole lot of cooking although I did make my dad the coconut chicken curry tonight and it came out really great. Jon and I go to Cincinnati next weekend which should be fun. I'm looking forward to a little last vacation before school really begins in earnest.

Geeze. The summer really went way too fast...

Listening to: Rufus Wainwright, Release the Stars

Six days left

I'm getting very anxious about going back to school. I somehow don't think that I'm supposed to be filled with dread at the prospect of heading back, am I? I wish I knew exactly WHY I'm so worked up about the whole thing. I like my students (for the most part) and I don't mind teaching, but there is a good part of me that REALLY doesn't want to go back to school.

I think I feel kind of trapped.

I'll be honest, I don't see myself teaching for the rest of my life and I certainly don't see myself staying at this school for the rest of my life. In fact, the thought of that makes me feel almost claustrophobic. Is that wrong? I feel like teachers are supposed to have this grand ideal of helping the youth and being totally dedicated to that goal. So, what does it say about me when I am almost 100% positive that I don't want to do this forever?

But then I get to the question of, what else could I possibly do? Sure, I can write, but: 1)I'm in a contract for the next year, so it isn't like I could take anything even if the perfect writing job fell in my lap right now; 2)I don't have remotely the kind of experience anyone seems to be looking for; 3)It seems idiotic to even be thinking about something else when it took so long to get this job in the first place.

I don't know. Maybe it's just end of the summer mourning. Who knows. I just don't really want to go back and then feel guilty for not wanting to go back and anxious about all the work I feel like I should have been doing this summer.

I think I need professional help. Am I the only teacher that feels this way??

Simpsonize Me

Yeah, I'm working REALLY hard today.

This was kinda fun, I'm not sure how much it looks like me, but I was amused.Give it a try here.

Is the summer really almost over?

I looked at the calendar today and it really sunk in that I only have two more weeks before school starts again. It made me want to cry a little. Sure, I'll be fine once I get back, but I feel like the summer flew by so fast I hardly HAD one. Jon pointed out that it went fast, but to consider how much I/we'd done...so here's what I did on my summer vacation.

• Went to Dominick's a few times
• Saw "Daywatch"
• Combined dinner for my mom's birthday, Father's day and husband and wife's anniversary
• Went and cooked dinner with Jon for his family on Father's Day
• Went to Trivia at Conor's on Monday nights
• Roger's birthday party
• Ben and Jessica's wedding
• Cooked a big dinner for my mom and dad with Jon
• Greg's birthday party
• Saw Wolfmother and the Hard Lessons at The State Theater
• Went to Italy for two weeks
• Went to the Art Fair
• Hung out with Elana
• Went to the Detroit Zoo
• Went to Warped Tour
• Zagelj's birthday party
• Written lots of reviews and did a number of interviews (including one with Sum 41)
• Went to a four-day AP class at Oakland U
• Kelly and Martin's going away party
• The Forecast/Hard Lessons/Motion City Soundtrack show at St. Andrew's
• Helped throw Jon and Wife a big birthday bash
• Recovered from said birthday bash (yes, it gets a bullet point all its own)

And still to come in the next three weeks?

• Kelly Jean's play tonight in Ferndale
• Jon's official birthday dinner
• Watching Fina this weekend
• Possibly going to visit Jon's grandmother
• Reviews/features
• Trying to get my shit together for the start of school
• Reading as much as possible so I don't look like a fool in the reading contest (Harry Potter is the way to go...easy fun reads and lotsa pages)
• The teachers first week back at school (meetings, meetings and more meetings)
• Projekt Revolution tour
• Silverstein/Comeback Kid show at the State
• Rufus Wainwright at The Michigan
• More Dominick's with Kelly, Peter and Jon

You know, looking at it in print helps me realize how much I did this summer. Guess that's why it went so fast! I still wish it wasn't practically over though...

More on the luau, but not till tomorrow:)

Exhaustion

I now remember why I hate having to drive to Oakland U so much. It's about 65 miles from A2 and it's an especially fun 65 miles during rush hour. Yesterday it took me over an hour and half to get home. Best part? I only have to do this for two more days. Worst part? I have to do this for two more days.

The saving grace of this whole thing is that the class is really helpful and my instructor is very good. I walked out the first day with a huge pile of books (for free) including the newest edition of "A Writer's Reference" and a brand new copy of the AP textbook I'll be using this year, which I didn't already have (yeah, I'm a nerd for getting excited about free textbooks!) The days are long and draining, but I think this will be well worth the time once school starts.

Speaking of school, I got our opening week's calendar in the mail today. It kind of makes me want to cry...I don't want summer to be over. I feel like it's flown by. Usually by the beginning of August I'm getting stir-crazy and ready for school to start but this summer I feel like I didn't fit in all the goofing off that I had planned, so knowing that school starts on the 20th is rather depressing.

And, as if this week wasn't nuts enough as it was with driving to Oakland U, I also am covering the Motion City Soundtrack/The Forecast/Hard Lessons show tomorrow night at St. Andrews (sold out, but I'm "on the list" and have a photo pass courtesy of Victory Records). Then Friday night is Kelly and Martin's party and another Hard Lessons show at The Elbow Room. Saturday is the big b-day bash for Wife and Jon. Whew...exhausting.

Backtracking for a moment though, Jon and I went to Warped on Friday and, even though I had a photo pass which was very cool, the lineup this year sucked. There are a few good bands on the lineup, but (of course) they weren't playing the Detroit date. After waking up to pouring rain that morning, the day became ungodly hot and humid and the trip to Comerica took 2 hours. I did see and shoot Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Hawthorne Heights and Mustardplug but I just could not get excited about most of the other acts and those I did have a desire to see, I've seen at least twice before. With the heat, lackluster lineup and crowds, we decided to take off early. It was honestly a very disappointing Warped, last year's was much better. Here's hoping next year's will be a vast improvement. I did at least get some cool photos, so it wasn't a total wash.

Time for bed.

Reviews

Not much new here other than a few new reviews up at Revolt and Static.
Read about the album that isn't made up of punk bands even though it's called Punk Goes Acoustic 2 here.
My review of the new Fall Out Boy album should be up in a day or two. More on that later.

My editor at Static finally put up my review of the Bright Eyes show and one of my photos. Check it out here.

Friday Jon and I are playing hooky from work to go to Warped. At least it isn't supposed to be as hot as it was last year, but it might rain...we'll see. There aren't too many bands I'm over the moon to check out, but at least I won't be at plastics! I *should* also have a photo/media pass for the day which would be cool. It's funny to think that last year's Warped was the very first live review I did and I was taking photos with my point and shoot. It's been quite a year.

Also, for anyone who is interested, The Hard Lessons are playing a show on August 3 at Ypsilanti's Elbow Room. I believe they go on at 10pm. Check them out, they're great!

Not much else in this neck of the woods.

Listening to: Lily Allen, Alright Still

The Detroit Zoo

On Saturday, Jon, Kelly Jean, Katie, Katie's boyfriend and I took a trip to the Detroit zoo. I don't remember the last time I was there and even if it isn't the best zoo I've ever been to, we had a good time. After the zoo we headed over to KJ's where we made fajitas, homemade tortillas and all sorts of other goodies. Once again, I wanted to take Telly (the pom) home with me but I restrained myself:)

A few photos from the day:


















Listening to: Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High

Coming Home

After barely making our connecting flight in Frankfurt, Wife and I made it back home. Looking back on the trip there's that odd feeling of seeming like I was away MUCH longer than 2 weeks and feeling like the time flew by. Quick summary and a few photos:

Husband, Wife and I flew from Detroit to Frankfurt where we spent 6 hours in the airport before our connecting flight. Husband and I were pleased to find we remembered more German than we initially thought-at least enough to order food and read the paper (and yes, there are naked women on the front page of German tabloids. Husband read a "real" newspaper and I got the trash.) After repeated desperate attempts to sleep on the uncomfortable seats, our flight to Milan finally happened and after waiting in Milan for the rest of our group and a long-ass bus ride, we made it to our hotel outside Venice.

Venice=Amazing. I wish we'd had more than one day there. We went to the Doge's Palace, a glass-blowing demonstration, took a vaparetto ride (gondolas are insanely expensive) and had an excellent lunch before it started to pour. We dodged the rain by ducking into a cafe outside of San Marco.

After Venice we took a brief stop in Pisa (tourist trap but at least I can say I've seen the tower) and headed to Florence. This is definitely another place I want to go back to and I think I liked it more than Rome. Our hotel was a bit weird though with the doors to the rooms having carpet on them and I didn't appreciate the group of screaming Greek girls that insisted on hanging out in the hall till all hours, but Florence itself was amazing.

On the way to Rome we stopped for a wine and food tasting and left with a dent in the wallet and some tasty treats. From there we stopped in Assisi which was beautiful. Finally we made it to Rome and after a nighttime tour where we ran into an Argintinian transvestite, we got to see famous sights such as the Coloseum, place where Julius Caesar was killed, the Forum, St. Peter's, and the Sistine Chapel to name a few.

Wife and I got to stay a few extra days in Rome and after (sort of) seeing the rest of the group off for their 6am flight, we hauled our luggage to our hotel near the Spanish Steps. It was great to have some time to relax after the breakneck pace of first part of the trip and we took in the Borghese Gardens and Gallery (amazing Bernini's), the cat sanctuary, a Valentino exhibit and such. Excellent dinners were had, money spent and much wine consumed.

However, as great as the trip was, I'm also really happy to be home. It was also nice (I'd be lying if I said it wasn't) to have a bunch of people so happy that I WAS home:)

Two other newsbites. While in Italy I got two frantic calls and an email from my department head. Rather than incur a horrendous international cell bill I borrowed a calling card and finally got through to her. It turns out that one of the other teachers in our department quit and my dept head needed to know if I'd be willing or interested in teaching AP language and comp or American Lit. Well, I hate American Lit, but loved my rhetoric classes so it looks like I'm teaching AP next year. I'm nervous, but honored that she feels I can do it.

I also *might* have an email interview with Linkin Park and My Chem in connection with their Projekt Revolution tour which would be AMAZING. Fingers crossed...Sure, an email interview isn't as cool as a live one, but I'll take it!

Wow the summer is going fast...

Venice







Pisa

This is no joke! We came across the "Dictators on Wine Bottles" series on the way to Florence. Scary....





Florence











Assisi

Merengues the size of your head.




Rome








We came across the ultimate in box wine. Juice-box wine! It wasn't as bad as you might expect...part of our lunch under the portico of the Pantheon.