He's Still My God

OK,
I think I've come to the realization that I have an absurd fixation on all things Eric Clapton.

Can't wait to read the new autobiography.

Here's a short video clip from Amazon.com.

Young Adult Literature - Retro

Who says YA Lit doesn't have lasting power?

I know for a fact that high school students today still connect with S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders -- even forty years after its original release. Hmmm, I wonder which titles written in the last 10 years will be talked about in 2047. Any ideas?

Think Piece

Sometimes you just have to sit back and think about it. Then you have to get off your ass and take action.

This op-ed piece from the New York Times made me do just that with a few tears added in. It reminded me of the power of the pen -- a power more lasting than the sword. So here's the challenge..... We must constantly hone the inky weapon and exercise its power often, beit a letter, a blog, a peer-reviewed article, a book, a zine, etc. Just write it!

The op-ed also reminded me of how essential it is to stand up for what one believes -- even if the consequences are dire. Even if it blasts us far from our comfort zone. When the way of the world runs against our personal ethical view, we must not sit back quietly. We must step up. We must shout out. We must take action. Otherwise, we are part of the problem. Sitting around complaining about it doesn't help anything.

We have not come very far from those days in 1957. We, as a nation, have not learned well from our mistakes. Yes, we have progressed a little, but not enough to hold our heads high in this world. So, I'm going to go write about it -- then do something else about it. That's my goal. I hope it is yours too. Be positive change!

Celebration of Freedom

Happy U.S. Constitution Day!

Celebrate the rights and freedoms outlined in this foundational element of your nation. While doing so, remember that you have the responsibility to stand by those elements. You must DEMAND that your government upholds them, as well. If your legislators are not doing what you want or what is ethical, speak out – NOW! Write letters, send emails, make phone calls, knock on doors.

And, celebrate your freedom to read and indulge in intellectual pursuits.

Banned Books Week is just a little more than a week away.

(For more resources on First Amendment rights, check out FirstAmendmentLove.)

Another Loss to Literary Scholarship

Literary scholars have lost another friend. I bow to your ghost, Ms. Stern. Your research brought delicious chills and gothic thrills back into literature for me.

Dog Love

Ok, so we (the girls and I) don't usually promote the canines of others. The girls get a little jealous. But, I just couldn't resist this mug. Congratulations, Craig & Steve! Archie will make a fine addition to your family.

And, if you really love bulldogs or just dogs in general, check out the new children's picture book The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder by Peter Brown. It made me laugh out loud, over and over again. Gotta love the drool!

Film Recommendation

I just finished watching a fairly entertaining documentary entitled The Education of Shelby Knox (premiered on PBS-POV in 2005). This film focuses on the struggles of a high school student in Lubbock, TX as she attempts to work with her school board and urban government to revamp the sex-education offered to teens. For those who have biases in their minds about teen slackerdom, this documentary offers a refreshing portrayal of how some kids are stepping up and trying to change their world. If Shelby Knox stays focused and on her political path, she will certainly make a difference. (BTW, she is now a PoliSci/pre-Law major at U-TX-Austin.) You go girl!

Jury Duty

After 22 years of adulthood, I finally was called for jury duty. The county clerk wanted me to serve back in January at the end of the academic semester. That would have caused significant difficulties for my school district, so I asked for, and was granted, a rescheduling / postponement to this week. Although I wasn’t thrilled about having to be away from my new job (in my second week), it worked out to be a good time to be away. My library/office is closed to the public this week for administrative catch up and preparations for the upcoming academic year.

So, the morning started off in the brand new courthouse building – snazzy interior. As always, I arrived way early. I had a great book to read and settled into the waiting room to get through a few chapters before the process began. Of course, there was an older gentleman talking, talking, talking with another juror as if it were his first opportunity to be with people in years. Perhaps it was. I just couldn’t concentrate on my book. His loud conversation on his colonoscopy was just the last straw. I got up and moved into the larger juror waiting/presentation room. Finally a bit of quiet or at least softer conversations between people. Once it was time for the basic information delivery of the process, people from the smaller waiting room and halls joined us in the larger room. In a room able to accommodate at least 200 people, with 1/3 of the chairs empty, guess who sat down next to me? Yeah, colon-talking-guy, and he smelled a little funny, too. I just focused on the directions and presentation (a cheesy talking head video).

My group was called up right away and sent up to a main courtroom. I was called for the original 23 jurors from which the court members (defense/prosecutor) would choose the final 12. The case was a criminal case & involved domestic violence, so while questions were addressed to potential jurors, I had to mention my study and classroom work in this area, especially my classes focusing on social justice (gender issues). I also had to note that I was involved in women’s group activities (i.e., Take Back the Night planning). I did emphasize that I believed I could be impartial, but the concern was raised. Big surprise—I was not selected to serve on the final jury.

Those of us not selected were sent back to the reception area. We were done for service. Although I am honestly thankful that I did not need to serve on a jury for this particular criminal case, I wish that I had been able to see the process all the way through. It was interesting – slow going with all the directions – but interesting.

If you are called to serve. Be on time! Dress in layers. Take good reading materials or spend some time journaling. Make sure you know how to turn off your cell phone. Take along all of your patience. Oh, and brush your teeth – the person sitting next to you will appreciate it.

Importance of the Vote

In hopes that democracy will prevail.....

Americans should take heed of the importance of the democratic process and the luxury of the vote (NY Times article re: Sierra Leone). There should be no more excuses of why we couldn't get to our polls. And, perhaps we should discuss more about making Election Day a national holiday where business shuts down to accommodate that democratic process, where children are given better educational opportunities to learn about elections, and where neighbors have time to actually talk about and understand politics.

Rise up and speak to create the peace you desire!

A No Brainer

This study by University of Washington researchers shows what teachers, librarians, and others-in-the-know have been saying all along: turn off the television/videos and interact with your child, play with your child, READ TO YOUR CHILD.

...duh!

Personality ??

I'm not quite sure if I agree with the full results of this "personality" test. It did, however, make me say "really?..." It's the "judging" part with which I'm a little uncomfortable. Perhaps that is the teacher component in me. But hey, with my new job and new life starting, that may change considerably.



According to the test survey, INTJs are "introspective, analytical, determined persons with natural leadership ability. Being reserved, they prefer to stay in the background while leading. Strategic, knowledgeable and adaptable, INTJs are talented in bringing ideas from conception to reality. They expect perfection from themselves as well as others and are comfortable with the leadership of another so long as they are competent. INTJs can also be described as decisive, open-minded, self-confident, attentive, theoretical and pragmatic....by nature, INTJs are independent individualists." Thomas Jefferson, Jane Austen, and Susan B. Anthony were INTJs, as were the fictional Hannibal Lecter, Fitzwilliam Darcy, and Gandalf. Acceptable.

Creepy Reading !

Jack Gantos is way over the top in the “creepy” category with his book The Love Curse of the Rumbaughs. Part Ed Gein-revisited, part Hitler-esque eugenics, part overly-zealous familial bonding, this book gave me nightmares, and I don’t scare that easily. It was the casual style of narration and characterization about the darkest sides of the nature vs. nurture debate that freaked me out. But then, that is what made the book so good and unique. It pushed my boundaries and challenged me in my thinking. I wouldn’t hand it over to anyone younger than high school frosh or sophomores.

Explaining Copyright

This video is simply fabulous. Enjoy!

They're Your Children, Too!

This Op-Ed piece in the NY Times broke my heart. How is it that our society, culture, government, neighborhoods, schools--all of us--can turn our backs on this domestic war on our children? We are happy with our fancy cars, dvd players, cell phones, computers, manicures, dinners out, etc. How do we sleep at night? I am as complicit as the next as I take the time to write this rather than working with a child. I do work my butt off in the classroom and in the library to help children develop the skills needed for life-saving opportunities that may come their way, but the opportunities must come their way. And, they must literally survive their childhood (physically and mentally) to reach those open doors. Where is the business world in all of this? They are the ones with the money. Are they truly sans ethics? Where is the government? (We know they are usually sans ethics.) Where is the little guy organization making it possible? Hmmm, watching the body count from Iraq? I have no answers about this today. I only have sadness. Those lost children will be missed. Consider the poetry, the laughter, the scientific breakthroughs, the financial theories, . . . , the love they will never be able to offer the rest of us. Yes, just sadness.

Prime Vacation Cabin

If only I had about 135 million to spare.....

Of course, one would have to clean all of those rooms, maintain the gardens, and keep the demons in check, not to mention be nice to all the tourists. Yet, something lingers in the appeal of this get-away-villa . . . .

Sicker than the Dog

OK,
A full year of going non-stop, day and night, as a teacher of some of our district's most challenging teenagers. Then, three hard, back-breaking days of cleaning out a decade of teaching materials in my 90 degree classroom. Now, full time teaching in two different summer school programs. One is NOT organized AT ALL. And, this blasted heat. All of it has brought on a summer cold that is making me exhausted, crabby, and ready to scream at any little thing some general idiot does on the street. I need a vacation and a really strong margarita.

The Hollywood Librarian Trailer

Librarians Rule!

The times they are a changin'

Well, I took the plunge. I will not be teaching at my high school next year. My dream job came along. I applied and got it!

Imagine the happy dance!

More later.....

Weather

It's just too damn hot. Don't think for a minute that I'm going to do anything more than guard this doorway. I'm not walkin'. I'm not going to chase a tennis ball. I'm not even going to bark at the mailman. Nope. Just going to chill right here.

It's been hot hot hot in Wisconsin. The weather people promise a cooler day tomorrow. I'm going to chew up something if it's even close to 80 degrees tomorrow.

Dracula Lives

The pictures posted here are part of a school project about which I recently posted. Students used their historical and folkloric background readings to inform their understanding of Bram Stoker's Dracula. They completed tasks in groups (character portrayals, vocabulary discovery, key passage selections, theme exploration) and individually (chapter artifacts representing themes and characters, as well as creative final projects). I have been very pleased with their commitment to the class and to their own learning success.

Many of the students' artifacts and collaborative contributions are posted on the wall outside of our classroom.



The wall is fairly expansive.



Vlad Tepes background.



Notes from Dracula -- the novel's only authentic, primary documents in the Count's voice. Dracula is ever the honorable and generous host (until Harker violates guest etiquette).


An image of The Demeter (Dracula's transport ship to England). A bottle with the ship's log inserted provides the ship captain's final words. (Hint: heavy duty velcro is a reliable display resource.)



The skeleton keys to Dracula's new properties in London--representative of the new economic order of property, class, and legal guidelines in Stoker's "fin de siecle" world.



Shorthand from Mina....translations, misinterpretations, encoding. Back-in-the-day instant messaging?



The last lost box of native soil.



OK, I have to explain ... this is NOT real blood. That would just be wrong. I think the student used dyed water. (No animals nor students were injured to create this artifact.)



The final journey in hunt of the vampire. Mapping out the journeys in Stoker's novel was not easy for the students--even with maps dated from the 1890s.



Are we well protected? How do we negotiate our contemporary struggles of science and faith and trust?



An interesting interpretive approach. (See earlier posts for more on soundtracks and creative response projects.)

All in all -- another teaching success.

More Vampire Stuff

I am so proud of my students. They've completed a closer reading of Stoker's Dracula than I ever expected. They were enthusiastic about it. They did their best to complete the work and reading on schedule (which for my students is a miracle). And, their final creative projects were absolutely beautiful. Projects included:

*soundtracks for the book--each holding student personality in the choices
*a "treatment plan" to integrate Dracula into our contemporary society
*a quirky therapy session transcript in which Dracula shares his lonely perspective
*a poster of the different major media representations of Dracula
*letters Stoker would have written to his publisher and his mother explaining his text and his intentions
*a card game focusing on character quotes that illustrate the personality and tone of those personas
*a board game of text trivia (events, character details, quotes, etc), complete with modeling foam game characters and dice

We've had great fun with presentations and final text discussions. The games were especially hard and showed how close their reading has been.

I did my own project this year -- a soundtrack -- track list is as follows:

Bram Stoker’s Dracula

1. People Are Strange – The Doors – Greatest Hits – 2:12
This piece fits nicely with Jonathan Harker’s view of the Eastern European “primitive” people as he travels to Dracula’s home in the Carpathians. Harker’s biases (and perhaps Stoker’s) posit Western ways of science and understanding over older traditional views relying on faith and superstition. It also represents Harker’s inability to understand and respect Dracula.

2. Bloodletting – Concrete Blonde – Bloodletting – 6:06
Three female vampire brides and Jonathan Harker in Dracula’s ancient castle. This song has a heavy, dark, driving beat that expresses a bit of the sexuality presented in this section of the text. It may also give a fleeting glimpse into the minds of those women. It foreshadows the effect that Dracula will have on other female characters in the text. It is also the quintessential vampire song.

3. Bat Out of Hell – Meatloaf -- Bat Out of Hell – 9:52
A seemingly endless song (fitting for the slow pace of Stoker’s novel), it represents the movement of Dracula to England. The higher-pitched preface, intense piano, and complementary lyrics portray a wild, forceful, angry, and almost-desperate journey.

4. Moon Over Bourbon Street – Sting – The Dream of the Blue Turtles – 4:00
Sting’s song provides a sympathetic look into the lonely mind of Dracula. Stoker provides only two minute glimpses into Dracula’s mind through written primary artifacts. All other perspectives of “the monster” are filtered through the lenses and voices of the other characters. As Mina holds empathy for Count Dracula later in the text, so too may the reader.

5. Watch Out for Lucy – Eric Clapton – Backless – 3:20
Clapton’s fun romp of a tune reminds the audience of Lucy’s ability to influence the men in her life--through her youthful sexuality and new-found way of being as “nosferatu.”

6. Tombstone – Suzanne Vega – Nine Objects of Desire – 3:09
Vega’s song takes the listener into the cemetery with the Seward and Van Helsing in search of information about Lucy. It has a consistent light comical tone, yet the content of the lyrics remind us of the heaviness and darkness of the events facing the men and the UnDead Lucy.

7. Cruel to Be Kind – Nick Lowe – Basher, Best of Nick Lowe – 3:28
The men must save Lucy’s soul. To do so, they must “kill” UnDead Lucy properly by staking the body and cutting off the corpse’s head. While gruesome, it is necessary to prevent further destruction by the vampire. As the rightful husband and best man, Arthur Holmwood must be the one to “stake” his beloved.

8. You’re Beautiful – James Blunt – Back to Bedlam – 3:32
Another possible glimpse into the lonely mind of “the other” / Count Dracula as he sets his sights and intentions on claiming Mina Harker.

9. Intercourse with the Vampire – Inkubus Sukkubus – Thee Vampire Guild – 4:44
This song parallels the increasing pace of the novel, as well as the growing knowledge of the vampire hunters as they piece together the pieces of Dracula’s plan. The intensity of the music represents the timing mistakes of the male hunters who unwisely leave Mina alone, uninformed, and vulnerable to Dracula’s power. The lyrics of this song “invite” Mina to enter Dracula’s world, psychologically, sexually, physically.

10. Fallen – Sarah McLachlan – Afterglow – 3:47
Mina has “fallen” into the arms and world of the vampire. She has exchanged blood with Count Dracula and has started on her journey as his bride. She will struggle with the spiritual and cultural meaning of that passage. This song fully represents the significant difficulties fin de siecle women faced in negotiating cultural views on The New Woman.

11. When You’re Evil – Voltaire – Devil’s Bris – 3:47
This tune begins with a mournful and serious tone, but turns light and comical. At the point in the novel where the vampire hunters corner Count Dracula in one of his properties, Stoker shifts his tone toward the vampire to a comical, one-sided character who no longer holds mystery. With this shift, the vampire then loses narrative power. The reader’s sympathies are fully allied with the men whose interpretations of the events are represented in the text artifacts.

12. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel – Greatest Hits – 4:52
This song represents the vampire hunters’ pledge to Mina to do everything in their power to save her soul from eternal damnation as a member of Dracula’s harem. Its sentimental tone parallels the narrative tone of their promises. The song also brings to mind the passing water limitations Dracula faces on his homeward flight.

13. Vampire Hunters – Antoni Wit, Cracow Philharmonic – Kilar – 3:04
This song was borrowed from the film Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Its driving intensity represents the chase of the vampire toward his home. Timing is everything.

14. The End – The Doors – Greatest Hits – 11:44
The journey ends. We believe the vampire is destroyed. This song, however, represents the darker side of the story. It raises questions about cultural perspective and societal “progress.” Has Mina truly been saved? Has humanity? Does “the other” live on? Note the line “The West is the best. Get here, and we’ll do the rest.” No other song could represent the darkness of the vampire.

15. For Eternity – Vlad Janecek – Thee Vampire Guild – 3:04
A fitting closure to make the audience consider the “living on” of the vampire and all he represents. Dark, consistent, sorrowful, yet with light piano notes to illustrate the possibility of Count Dracula’s survival among the living.

What have I learned from returning to this curriculum after several years sabbatical? I love vampire literature. I enjoy teaching difficult literature. Students will never cease to surprise me.

A New Obsession

To take my mind off of life as a grown up, I have become obsessed with all things vampiric. Well, it IS also work-related (and thus part of being a grown up) since I AM teaching The Vampire Image in Fiction and Film in my high school. We just finished Stoker's novel--talking about narrative structure, the influences of the writing and reading contexts on interpretation/ misinterpretation, narrative reliability, etc.

To indulge my current obsession, I'm gathering better resources for the next time I teach the course. I had a very strong guest speaker from the UW come in to talk with the students about his own new class (similar to the one that I've taught for years, but at a much higher and philosophical level). Bestill my research-starved heart.


I'm also starting to gather online resources for a possible technology-oriented extension of the course for next year. Why not parallel the fledgling technologies in the novel with our contemporary experiments of today? Why not use the podcasts, blogs, and Web technologies to illustrate our classroom journey toward truth in Stoker's text (and the genre)?


As I traveled into the world of these new resources, I came across a Web site (All Things Dracula) with a Christie's auction listing for the April, 2002 sale of Stoker's original manuscript. I had to wipe away the drool. The auction listing noted missing pages and the reassembling by Stoker of the pages in the collection. What a phenomenal parallel between the writing process and the narrative structure/devices of the text! The novel draws clear attention to the problems of archiving and organization of notes. It focuses on fractures in truth as a result of lost artifacts, multiple translations, and misinterpretations. Drool again. Oh to be able to get my hands on such artifacts of research--to reach into the past and touch the King Vampire of the textual writing moment. While the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia houses much of Stoker's plot notes, research on Vlad Tepes ,

and novel outlines, one wonders what has been lost along the way. Like the elusory Dracula image of the vampire in Stoker's novel, such tools and artifacts of literary history currently escape my curious grasp. I ache to delve into those archives of classic literary folklore and the psychological process of the long-dead writer. I want to know what was going on in Stoker's head. What was his full intention? Like Seward, it is not enough for me to just trust in the artifacts. I need to know the beliefs and truths. I need to commune with the literary dead. I desire to travel the research path to uncover my own vampires of the text. But alas, I do not have the means of Lord Godalming, nor the protective support system of Mina. I fear I would end up like Lucy, the walking UnDead, until someone cuts off my head (or my funding).

If you've read Stoker's novel, and you are still wondering what a leiter-wagon looks like, check out this link.

I ramble. I really just wanted to say that I've a new obsession. Bah! I'll go read a few chapters of The Historian now.

Tales from the Remodel

Yes, it has been quite a while since I last posted. The girls and I have been a little busy -- moving into my new office space, cleaning up drywall dust, painting, and then trying to figure out what to do with my life now that I'm a grown up. I'll leave the latter story for another day. It involves applying for another job -- my dream job, actually. Best to stick with the concrete--uhh, drywall dust.

Here's all of the post-new-drywall but pre-installation
of new vanity, mirror, light, and wall cabinet

This is a post-installation but pre-paint picture. I painted today. Damn, my back hurts.

Here's the final color scheme. "Quaking Aspen" is the name of the green. It actually looks better in person than in this picture. Think a little more sagey than minty.



And, here's my absolute favorite part of it all --the new faucet fixture. I've always wanted one of these hot/cold porcelain fixtures. And, now that I'm a grown up, I can have one! Ha!

Maybe I'll go take a bath now.

Or, maybe Tillie has a better idea.

The Potty Saga Continues

Since my last post regarding the remodeling work in my house, I’ve had to make a few more decisions. For anyone who thinks they can do a bathroom remodel in pieces, think again! One thing leads to another. If you can live with an “eclectic” piecemeal look, great—try it. If you like things to match, consider doing it all at once. That is, if you can afford to do it all at once. I had originally just wanted to replace my shower surround because it had rotting spots. Well, in order to do a good job that would truly raise the value of my home (and not drive me nuts every time I looked at the color scheme), I had to also move to fix the drywall, beadboard, and trim; add new tile floor (which had to be done because of water damage over the years); replace the vanity and marble top; and add new fixtures, lighting, and medicine cabinet. The only thing I’m not changing is the toilet (yet) and the fan/overhead lighting. I feel incredibly fortunate to have budgeted in enough of a fiscal cushion to allow for the additional changes. I better be sure to take lots of long luxurious baths in this new space because I’m not going to be able to afford to do anything else luxurious for quite some time. I’ll need to work summer school from now until I retire.

Also, I never realized how difficult it is to get the timing right for a remodel job in a one-bathroom house. There have been many jokes about peeing in the shower and using a 5 gallon pail. It is a significant problem to be without a functional shower or sink for any long period of time, but I can make do in a pinch. I can certainly live without the mirror and full lighting. I can live without electric. I CAN’T live without a working toilet for 24 hours (which is going to have to happen with installation of a new tile floor). I’ve had points in my life when I’ve used outhouses and the good old woods, but I’m just way too old and citified for that now. I am most grateful to my friends and neighbors who have offered their bathrooms for my use. Ah, the simple joys of civilized existence. I’m also certain my dad will roll his eyes if he reads this.

For now, I can be sure that the end is in sight. Soon I’ll only have the aesthetic painting to worry about. I think of how fortunate I am to own my home. I don’t have to ask a landlord for any changes or updates. I don’t share my bathroom with 6 other people. I don’t live in a shelter where using the bathroom is a public event. I am a very blessed person.

Not so Dirty Anymore!

The remodeling project is still moving along. The drywall is up. The shower surround is in. The horrendous smell of the epoxy threw me back to a memory from my childhood. Back when I was probably 8 or 9, My dad had constructed a large wall of book shelving in our living room. The base of the shelving consisted of cupboards with a formica-like top surface. The epoxy he used made me so ill, I'll always remember it. Well, it all came back to me this weekend with the installation of the shower surround marble. I just hope the smell has not done any damage to me or the dogs. This may sound stupid, but I was even afraid to run my gas oven with all the fumes in the house. It hasn't been warm enough to open the windows this weekend, but perhaps a few warm days next week will allow me to air it all out. The plumber is coming back on Monday to finish the shower fixtures and re-install my shower head. I can't wait to have a shower again!!! I've been able to take a bath every day, but there is something to be said for a hot, hot, shower.

Here are a few more pictures of the progress. Almost done!

Shellie says there is NO WAY she's going into that mess.

Pre-Surround Drywall



The shims are helping the epoxy set and the tub surround marble cure in its place.



The shims are off. Now just waiting for the last fixtures.

Great Broccoli Casserole Recipe

Are you tired of the traditional green bean salad or the california blend veggies at holiday dinners? Try this recipe next time.

Yummy Broccoli Casserole
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (don't dilute)
1 med. onion, chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/2 cup real mayonnaise
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 16oz. pkg. broccoli florets, thawed
1 10 oz. pkg. chopped broccoli, thawed
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1-2 tablespoons parmesan cheese

In a large bowl, mix eggs, soup, onion, cheese, mayo, and butter. Fold in broccoli. Spoon into a greased casserole dish. Mix parmesan cheese with bread crumbs. Sprinkle on top. Cover and bake at 400 degrees for about 35-40 minutes. Be sure casserole is heated all the way through.

Makes about 8 servings.

I'm Just Going to Stay Dirty

Yikes!!

Here are more pictures of the remodeling work. Today is bathroom tearout day. The damage behind the paneling wasn't as bad as anticipated. It looks like it will all still be done in a week. I can still use the tub (once the pile of junk is out of it). Good thing I have wonderful neighbors who will let me use their shower if I can't stand myself. I can always use the locker room at school, too.

This is the "before" picture in the shower/tub.
The dark parts are gross spots of peeling surround that I've been living with for years.

I KNEW there was a window behind that wall!
(It was well-insulated and covered in the previous owner's remodeling work.)




Maybe I will just stay dirty.

By the way, the girls have been sleeping through all the banging and mess -- like it's an average activity. I think I'm just going to leave the house for the rest of the day.

Read a Poem Today and Every Day

April is National Poetry Month!

Sad that we need to designate a "month" to appreciate the beauty of poetic language. But, so it is. Keep a poem in your pocket. Find an anthology to enjoy. My favorites are The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry and Poetry for the Earth. Write your own haiku or free verse. Try an Elizabethan sonnet if you are up for the challenge. Go to a poetry reading if there is such a thing in your area. Stand outside on the sidewalk or in the middle of the woods and read angry poems aloud. Consider each and every moment of your day solid fodder for poetic writing. Just enjoy it!

Also, check out the Poetry 180 program from the Library of Congress (and remember that next week is National Library Week).

Spring?

What happened to spring? Mother Nature certainly has a bad sense of humor these days. It has been unseasonably, and unreasonably, cold here in the Midwest. No snow in my area, but lots of wind and bitter temps. We had a warm spell for about 4 days a few weeks ago that made my classroom (and students) unbearable. Now that it is spring break time, the temps have dipped below freezing. I hope that the plants peeking out will be hardy enough this year to withstand the cold snap. We could all use splashes of color and happiness in our yards rather than piles of dead leaves, salt deposits, and garbage that the squirrels stole away throughout the winter. On a brighter note, the cardinals are back in strong song.

Remodeling Update

Here's the latest picture of the remodel progress. I chose to accent the color of the shelving wall with a sagey green color called "quaking aspen." Bricks and board shelves will be the same color to blend into the wall. I haven't gotten to that painting yet. The suspended ceiling and track lighting is done, though you can't see it that well in this picture. I hope to have the shelving in the closets done today, so I can get re-organized this weekend. I only have a few more days until I'm back in school. It's a good thing my curriculum is well planned out for the remaining academic quarter. All I really need to do is revise, reread, and implement. This new office space will certainly help.

That Lovely Four-Letter Word

I just watched the recent documentary by Steve Anderson on the modern cultural history of the word "fuck." Touted by NYTimes critic A.O.Scott as a "rowdy and contentious" exploration of a linguistic icon (what else can one call such a powerful swear word?) , the film both informs and entertains. I'd love to use parts of this one in the high school classroom to allow students to better understand how their overuse of the term (and all its wonderful forms) has weakened its rhetorical power. However, I strongly hesitate to use any material that so obviously needs a permission slip and also presents such a heavy-handed political bias. Warning: effective editing skews the narrative and key footage of our most powerful leaders using the term may push the film over the left edge. (That in itself might be classroom-worthy to teach persuasion and rhetorical style.) There is also a bit of gratuitous sexual footage from an environmental rally that I would NEVER show in the classroom. Short clips from the historical exploration parts would be useful though. I bet I would have to document the exact sections I was planning to use, even with that permission slip. BTW, the NYTimes wouldn't even print an "edited" form of the movie title, choosing instead to use four stars to represent the film.

If you are interested in the history of the term or in free expression issues, check this film out . Doubtful that standard video stores or your public library will carry this indy pic. Go Netflix!

Construction Update

The remodeling work is progressing nicely. Here are a few pictures to illustrate.

Did you know that drywall comes in mint-green? Not the best color for a basement room. It has been really cool watching the process of this remodeling work. Details are incredibly important. One also needs to be able to do solid math calculations. Ahhhh, another way to encourage my students to enroll in more math classes.

This picture is post-taping, post-priming, and post-closet construction.

Boxing off the "uglies."
It doesn't look like a basement anymore. :)

Yesterday, my guys painted the room "muslin" color -- think creamy butter. But, not yellow; I hate yellow. I think today's agenda holds work on the suspended ceiling and baseboards. Electricians are coming back on Friday to put in the heating units and a few other electric issues throughout my house. It will be sooooo nice to have heat in my basement. Perhaps I can work in my office without mittens this spring. I'll also have electric on my porch -- my favorite space in the entire house. No more extension cords running through windows.

That's all for now....off to vote!

Bunnies Don't Stand a Chance in this House

Perhaps they watched too many episodes of Looney Tunes
and have assumed the mission of Elmer Fudd,
but my girls are not very fond of bunnies.
But then, Elmer never did have the heart to harm Bugs too badly.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Spring Break has FINALLY arrived!

Although I know I will work through the whole week, at least I can put aside, for a wee bit, the constant dialogue about the quagmire produced by public education funding formulas.


As you can see, Tillie has been waiting patiently for a park romp. Note the change in her attitude upon being told of the outing.


And away we go . . . .

I Prefer the Term Nerd

Just a silly spot of fun discovered on another blogspot:

Your Geek Profile:

Academic Geekiness: High Movie Geekiness: High Geekiness in Love: Moderate Internet Geekiness: Moderate Fashion Geekiness: Low Music Geekiness: Low SciFi Geekiness: Low Gamer Geekiness: None General Geekiness: None

How Geeky Are You?

Watching the Courts

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today in the Morse v. Frederick case. Why should we care? The case may prove to be as significant as the Tinker v. Des Moines BOE decision in further defining the speech rights of students in the public school setting. (The offending speech act: “Bong Hits for Jesus” presented on a publicly displayed banner.)

As information becomes available, consider the following issues in your own deliberations on the case:

• What defines a school-sanctioned event? Who controls and is therefore responsible for that space?
• What is political speech?
• Does a school have a responsibility to control illegal-drug-sanctioned speech and thus inculcate a value system? (Consider outcome of the Bethel v. Fraser case.)
• Does a religious viewpoint play a part in this case?
• Should a school official be held financially responsible for a disciplinary action against a student (if the action is not deemed negligent or abusive)?

Could this case set precedent for public school officials having control over non-school spaces and public forums? (Can a school discipline a student or teacher for writings on a personal Web site?)

If you are interested in doing more research on this topic, check out my other blogspot on First Amendment Love = http://firstamendmentlove.blogspot.com/

Stranger Than Fiction

Here’s another film I highly recommend. It is a thinking movie that fiction lover’s will appreciate, yet it will also keep the average viewer entertained and enthusiastic. The published reviews have commented favorably on its low-key nature, the GUI special effects, and the casting choices (though Queen Latifah just doesn’t do it for me in her role). Beyond the thoughtful storyline, what works most for me is a cast of characters that includes a blocked writer (Emma Thompson), a tax auditor (Will Ferrell), and a literature professor (Dustin Hoffman) who thinks he knows everything. Oh, and of course there is also the econo-anarchistic baker who only pays the income taxes that go to the initiatives of which she approves (Maggie Gyllenhaal). By the way, her character also dropped out of Harvard Law because she was too busy keeping up the morale of her study group by baking cookies. You have to appreciate the social message there. If you view the film, note the math names and the absurd locker room shower scene.

And a final comment....it was nice to see a portrayal of a tax man with a heart. That certainly doesn't happen every day.

Women's History LibraryThing BookPile

In an earlier post, I noted that I love LibraryThing. Now I'm hooked on the bookpile contests. Here's my latest photo entry for the Women's History pile. This one was a bit frustrating to do because I only had room to use a fraction of my books. I would have to take a photo of my whole library to get all of the women's stuff in. I wish I had better photography skills.

Here's the Title Key:

Dear Sisters: Dispatches from the Women’s Liberation Movement

A History of Women: From Ancient Goddesses to Christian Saints

A History of Women: Silences of the Middle Ages

A History of Women: Renaissance and Enlightenment Paradoxes

A History of Women: Emerging Feminism from Revolution to World War

A History of Women: Toward a Cultural Identity in the Twentieth Century

Born for Liberty: A History of Women in America

The Women’s History of the World

Everyone Was Brave: A History of Feminism in America

Herstory: Women Who Changed the World

Feminist Theorists: Three Centuries of Key Women Theorists

The Female Experience: An American Documentary

A Century of Struggle: The Women’s Rights Movement in the United States

A Heritage of Her Own: Toward a New Social History of American Women

The Feminist Memoir Project: Voices from Women’s Liberation

Root of Bitterness: Documents of the Social History of American Women

Judith, Sexual Warrior: Women and Power in Western Culture

The Feminist Papers

Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism, and the Future

Our Bodies, Ourselves

America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines

Suffragettes to She-Devils

100 Women Writers and Journalists

Uppity women of the Renaissance

Uppity Women of Ancient Times

Uppity Women of the New World

100 Women Artists

100 Women Healers and Scientists

Norton Anthology of Literature by Women

Another Slacker Tool

Midterms, major papers, little papers . . . teachers beware! The plagiarism goblins are out and about in full force. Students are masters at cut and paste these days. Now a days, I also find they are superheroes of formatting tricks. This video clip was sent to me by a friend as a "laugher," but it's also good information for an educator to know. Yeah, it's pretty much common sense, but it never ceases to amaze me to what short cuts students will go in their learning process. Are there still the overachiever kids out there who think learning is fun?

And, why do we even consider those students "overachievers"? Shouldn't best quality be the norm? Hmmmm, just a few thoughts before I dive into grading papers today (on my non-contracted, non-paid time).

Pop Culture Politics in Film

I couldn't sleep a wink last night, so I just got up and watched a video. Yeah, NetFlix! The title I've been trying to find time to finish is The U.S. vs John Lennon. Although the major reviews have been fairly lukewarm at best, it was an entertaining historical walk in the middle of the night. For anyone interested in the counterculture and political activism of the 60s and early 70s, this film will refresh your memory of events and a bit of the music of the era. But, you might want to use those rememories as a place to check your facts and the full picture once again. USvJL doesn't proclaim to be unbiased, nor does it vow to be thorough. It's just a short doc film. What can a director do in less than 2 hours? It presents a plethora of talking heads, well-placed snippets of Lennon's musical genius, and eerily strong parallels between the Vietnam War era of government infringement upon civil liberties and our current administration. In fact, there's a line near the end of the film that's a clear FU to the current Bush. Although I would agree in political view, it was unnecessary in this film (and may have eroded the authoritative tone).


Anyway, check it out. Enjoy. Then go to iTunes and download all of those Lennon songs you lost from your collection over the years.