Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, WRATCH!

Thank you for daily choosing me to be your partner.

I love you, Baby!

(p.s. Casey loves you too. He is currently purring against the keyboard, making it difficult to type. I'll take that as affection for you on your birthday. Down cat!)

Cupcakes!

I can't blog right now. I'm making cupcakes. Why? Because Rich's birthday is tomorrow!!! I do have a HUGE decision to make, though. I have two cake mixes: white and chocolate. And I have two icings: chocolate and butter cream. (Gotta love a sale on cake mixes!)Which combo do I choose?!! And duh. Of course there are sprinkles involved!

Thinking of You

I got two 'thinking of you' messages today for no other reason than it is today and I was on two someones' minds. 'Thinking of yous' can be sort of generic in a Hallmark-y way sometimes, and they are usually given in response to sad news. BUT receiving a genuine, personal 'thinking of you' like the ones I received today is AMAZING and is of great value and significance. Allow me to explain:

It is important to validate each other, to acknowledge that friendships are extremely essential and wonderful. Odds are we are who we are because of each other, and our personalities may very well be comprised of, not only genetics and chromosomes, but also of a little part of each of our friends. I mean, that's why we're friends - because I admire and love many qualities in you and I hope that some of you rubs off on me, in a non-dirty, non-stalker-y way. And of course there are other reasons as well, but perhaps they are less important. (?) Does that make sense?

That being said, I don't give as many 'thinking of yous' as I ought to. If I actually did send 'thinking of yous' to all of the people I think about on a daily basis, my full time job would be sending 'thinking of yous'. If I could live on 'thinking of yous' then, I would certainly consider a career change.

I'm thankful for today's 'thinking of yous'. And seriously, I AM thinking of you, too.

The Controversial N Word

Last Friday the head of the English department at my school handed out a controversial article that was published in our local newspaper. The article is called 'Huckleberry Finn lesson plan prompts an uproar' and can be read here. The gist of it is that in an English class, as an introduction to Huckleberry Finn (a novel that already stirs the hornet's nest because of the n-word), the teacher, who was following a prescribed lesson plan that was put together by a district committee and 'consultant', wrote the n word on the board among other words in an effort to discuss the changing connotations of words. I will assume that good intentions were at play here, though I do not know the teacher personally. A student took offense to the n word (on the board) and though he asked the teacher to remove the word, she refused. The outcome is that the teacher is now in the midst of a storm of controversy. Though she has apologized to the boy and his family (as has the school district) the offended and his family have asked that she submit a written apology letter, do community service in an African American/Muslim neighborhood, and that the district ban the book from its curriculum.

OK. First of all, I taught Huck Finn when I taught junior literature because it is part of the required curriculum in our district so I know what it's like to feel completely torn about how to address the sensitive subject that is the n-word. I remember really fretting about it because I have also been the accused teacher (for a different and bogus reason) and I understand the power that one student who hates you can wield over your career. I chose to say the word while reading the book. I spoke with my students beforehand and told them that if they were uncomfortable saying it out loud that they didn't have to. I wanted to say it because: #1 I think censorship in literature is bullshit and #2 I knew that after the initial shock of hearing the word, it would eventually loose its power which is a really good thing. I made it though two years of teaching Huck Finn without any complication.

Secondly, if the district is going to put a teacher in a situation where they HAVE to teach something controversial, then they need to back that teacher 100%, no questions asked. We deserve this as professionals and as human beings. Because districts continue to hang us out to dry in an effort to appease parents, we have NO respect and NO authority in our classrooms or in our communities. If you don't think we have kids' best interests at heart, then either fire us and hire someone you do trust, or don't hire us in the first place. I'm sick of the equivocating.

Lastly, Huck Finn, though sensitive in print, is a classic, wonderful novel. It is a glimpse into history and yes, it contains racism, as did our society at that time. Just because it doesn't sit well with folks, doesn't mean it should be banned. In fact it is an uncomfortable read which, in my opinion, means that we ought to read it. It gives clarity to our own personal distaste of racism, and for some may hold up a huge mirror to their souls, perhaps allowing them to see an ugly blemish that needs to be addressed. Literature often holds up this sort of mirror - on purpose- and we are asked to experience a world that is challenging to our comfort zones.

Maybe Huck Finn is not a good match for reactionary high school students. And if this is true, then what can they read? Not Shakespeare - he's far too bawdy. Not Chaucer for the same reason. Not Orwell - he goes against the government and sometimes talks about sex. Not Milton or Dante - they actually address heaven, hell, and (gasp) God! In Steinbeck you might have to talk about a mentally challenged person who gets shot in the head, and in Dickens, the supernatural. Where do we draw the line?

If the student had actually read the book, he would know that in the end there is redemption for the slave, Jim, in that he is freed. In fact there are lots of instances in the book where Jim is more cunning than Huck and acts as the voice of reason. This is only one of the MANY aspects of the novel that should be addressed in the classroom.

Was the teacher wrong for introducing the lesson in this way? I don't know. I wasn't there, but I do know she was doing what the district wanted her to do. Is the community wrong for asking for the book to be banned? YES. Absolutely! In fact, I challenge that community to go and do something that is productive, not destructive. Maybe they should go read a book.

I'm bad at lunch

I am. Really. I mean I'm not so great at eating in general. I'm not talking about making healthy choices because I actually like healthy food; I'm talking about the fact that lunch is difficult. For example, today as I was running out of the house, late (as usual), I thought "Oh shit. What am I going to eat today?!" I ran to the pantry, found an old package of Cheez-its, some jello with peaches in it, and an apple. Bonus! Sometimes I only find saltines. Every day it's this sort of scavenging.

In my head, I hear my mom saying, "Ginger, if you would just pack a lunch the night before, right after you lay out your clothes for the next day, you wouldn't run late AND you'd have a lunch prepared!" OR "Ginger, if you plan better before you go to the grocery store, you might have some snacky type things to throw in your lunch sack." And I get it. I do. But here's the thing - I know all of this and have known for quite a while, yet my living habits have not changed. There is always something more important to do. Um. Like grade or study... or blog. I can't seem to make her advice a habit. I might, on occasion, remember her words and actually follow them for a week or two, but the habit doesn't stick no matter how good my intentions are.

Add the bad habits to the fact that I hate almost all leftovers, save pizza and spaghetti, and I HATE lunch meat which means that most sandwiches are out. I don't have a way to keep food cold at work and heating something is difficult since the microwave is down the hall and its cleanly-condition is usually pretty sketchy at best. I forget to bring dishes home. I'll let you imagine what that means. The school cafeteria is a mile away, and the lines are long and are filled with loud students during the only time I have my classroom to myself.

If I even allow myself the time to eat, the situation is sort of hopeless. Sometimes I'll walk over to the farmer's market across the street and grab an apple and some pretzels. If I'm extra lucky, I'll find trail mix!

But mostly, I dread lunch since I know I need to eat and I'm lucky that I get to.

Any suggestions?

Feist - 1 2 3 4

This video makes me smile. I want my world to be as simple and colorful as this one is. Plus, I'm better at this dance than at the Solja Boy one. :)

How to tell that God is a wild and crazy guy

I lifted this from P-ta's blog because I was laughing so hard I was crying. It's not ok, but enjoy anyway.

A Paradox

While studying Hemingway short stories, one of my brilliant International Baccalaureate students said this:

" War. Is it worth it? Can we ever say that it it necessary?
To some, the greater good is enough reason for sacrifice. But to others, the loss of even one human life makes [war] worthless. To be believers in the greater good, you must dehumanize the victims. To be the humanist, you must forget that any good could ever come out of war."

I thought this very interesting, and to an extent I think she is absolutely right. But I also think that, as usual, the gray areas of the adult world completely blur the black and white of the adolescent one - and the adolescent world tends to be very black and white (remember?). That being said, I think that I lean more toward the humanist side of things, especially when we are involved in an illegal, pointless war like the one we're stuck in now..

Creative Carving

My family enthusiastically celebrates holidays. We always have. Growing up I remember how fun holidays were, whether it be Christmas morning or the 4th of July, a family birthday or Columbus day. Mostly holidays involved some sort of holiday treat, streamers, some marching and twirling, and OF COURSE sparklers. When I grew up (growing up being a relative idea), I realized how hard my family worked at making the holidays special - as in all the magic was Mom-made. As soon as I figured that out, I decided that I wanted to continue making a big deal of these sorts of celebrations since these are what add color to the world and create that wonder that makes people smile and want to be together.

Halloween is no exception. Usually we go all out. I decorate the house, we costume shop, I make greeting cards, and buy candy corn. We go to pick our pumpkins at pumpkin patches and loose ourselves in corn mazes, caramel apples in hand. But this year my being sick really put a damper on the festivities. I did buy pumpkins for carving at our local farmer's market(because that is a must) and some funny carving patterns, so I tried my best to at least keep some of the tradition alive. I stayed on the couch for most of Halloween evening, watching all of the Halloween specials I could find on the tele while Rich answered the doorbell for trick-or-treat-ers, but we did manage to carve our pumpkins and set them out before it got dark. Here are the results of our endeavor:

Make your own slide shows and scrapbooks

And it begins..

Today is the first day of NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month), which means that I've challenged myself to write a blog entry every day this month. I feel sort of cheap by making my first entry about the challenge, but I think it's all I can do today with all the stuff going on.

I can give you some updates, though:
1. My sinus infection is not gone. Antibiotics have helped a little bit and last night I actually slept through the night in my own bed for the first time in 5 days. I had been spending the nights either propped up on the couch or walking in endless circles in tears, frustrated and hurting. (Ask Rich - we've both felt sort of helpless lately.) I tried a saline rinse today thanks to Chelle's excellent advice, and I'm hoping that that will ease some of the pain too. In the mean time, it's Tylenol for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Let's hope my liver can stand it.

2. I'm getting some excellent responses to this month's salon topics. Please continue to send them. Every idea is helpful and thought provoking. I so appreciate your contributions!

3. Since this is NaBloPoMo, maybe, if you're not a part of the contest.. or even if you are, you would consider participating in NaCoPoMo (National Comment Posting Month) so as to keep us motivated to keep writing. I know that Jen, Lisa, and Chelle are all with me on this and we need all the encouragement we can get!!

So, that's it for now. Research papers and Macbeth are calling me out.. Assholes.
j/k. I love you Macbeth!