As the year comes to a close and we're just a few hours away from 2008, I thought I'd take a little while to reflect on the past year. Overall, I can say that it's been a much better year than 2006, in spite of a few troubles here and there.
The year started off as Michael and I had just arrived back in Seattle after my first trip to Alaska, and I spent a quiet New Year's Eve at home, getting ready for the start of winter quarter at school. Michael was at the Vogue for the last time before they closed their doors for good.
We jumped into a winter quarter that was a bit less hectic than the fall of 2006 had been (thank goodness!), and we've spent the year strengthening our relationship as well as working on ourselves as individuals. Michael has excelled in his studies and is about to graduate with his first college degree this spring (I'm so proud of him).
I spent much of the past year trying to decide what direction I want to take my career, and during many days of this search, I was frustrated and a little bit depressed. The biggest blow of the past year was being passed over for the directorship of the Loft, and it took all of my courage to continue in the job search after that slap to my confidence. However, I have the most amazing and supportive boyfriend in the world, and he told me that something better would come along. His faith in me kept me going when I wanted to crawl into my comfortable little hole at North and give up. And he was right--something much better did come along.
Some of the highlights of the past year:
March: We took a spring break trip to Long Beach, and I got to show Michael the fun little beach town where my dad spent all his summers while he was growing up, and where I spent many of my school vacations.
April: I taught huge load of classes for Career Link, including an art class and an English class in which I convinced my little gangstas and punks to not only read but also to enjoy Shakespeare.
June: Sixty-five of my Career Link kids earned GEDs and walked in the college graduation ceremony. I got the privilege of going on stage to introduce them.
Berta, Emily, and I met in Denver for the first ever Women Who Love Hanscom Men vacation.
August: Kevin and Emily announced Emily's second pregnancy, and we began eagerly awaiting the newest Hanscom.
Hope and Peter got married on the Big Island in Hawaii.
September: We were forced to move to a new apartment so they could do emergency repairs on our old apartment.
Berta and John visited Michael and I and got to see our cute (new) little apartment for the first time. They were our first visitors.
October: I went to Vancouver for Mom's birthday and spent a wonderful weekend with Mom, Kima, and Hope.
November: Mom visited us for my birthday, and Hope, Mom, and Michael made it into the best birthday I can remember in recent years.
Dad visited us for Thanksgiving.
December: One of my favorite Career Link kids finally earned his GED and thanked me for pushing him and encouraging him to work so hard. He's enrolled in the auto mechanics program at Shoreline Community College for winter quarter, and I have all sorts of confidence that he's beginning an excellent career. (He's just one of the several examples of student success stories from the past fall.)
I was hired by CWU to be the Des Moines campus writing consultant.
It was a full year, and for the most part an enjoyable year. There were a million little moments that didn't make my list of highlights, picnics and theater date-nights and movie nights and cuddles on the couch while watching snowflakes. We're building a lovely life for ourselves, and even with the struggles, I'm the happiest I think I've ever been in my life.
So, what will the new year hold for us? A new job for me, a new college degree for Michael, and a summer road trip for the two of us so that we can explore some more national parks, for sure. Beyond that, it's a blank slate right now. It's an adventure, one that I'm looking forward to with great anticipation.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Cell Phones
My new boss, Teresa, the director of the CWU main campus writing center, asked if I have a cell phone number, and I had to confess the embarrassing truth. The following is part of the email I just sent to her:
"Theoretically, I do have a cell phone, but I don't even know the number. I have resisted the cell phone craze as much as possible, and only last winter finally bought a very simple phone that lets me pay $10 a month for 30 minutes that I've never used, but which make my boyfriend feel safer on the rare occasions I travel somewhere without him. Let me see if I can figure out how to make it give me the number...
Ha! I found it! (Okay, I asked Michael, and he gave me a weird look, but he did tell me the number.)
(number omitted)
You're welcome to give it a try, but I warn you that I rarely turn it on, and it spent most of the month of October lost in the bottom of a school bag that had become too small for all the stuff teachers seem to gather in order to properly do our jobs and had therefore been regulated to the bottom of the coat closet. I think I know how to check the voicemail. (Honestly, I think email might be the best bet until my office phone is set up.)"
I just have never been able to see the need that anyone might have to get a hold of me 24/7. If I'm not home and I don't answer the phone, leave me a message and I'll call back later. Cell phones all too frequently offer (in my opinion) an excuse to be rude in public and to drive unsafely. I refuse to buy into the theory that I need to be in constant contact with everyone. I have a home phone, an office phone, and three computers with Internet access. That's enough! (And for the few times I do actually need a cell phone, I'll admit, it's nice to have the little emergency phone. It's there for me when I need it, but it's not built into my ear.)
A story about cell phones and earpieces: On campus one day last quarter at North, I walk approaching the library. Outside the doors, a woman who I know very slightly was standing, apparently lost in thought. I prepared to smile and nod as I passed her, when to my surprise she said in a very friendly manner, "How you been doin' girlfriend? I haven't seen you in forever!"
I was surprised, because I thought we had a smile and nod relationship. I started to respond, "I'm... um... okay..."
She looked at me like I was nuts, then continued the phone conversation she'd been having on the tiny little phone that was shoved in her ear (and hidden under her hair). I should also note that she was wearing dark sunglasses, so there was no way to see whether she was talking to me or not. I felt like a complete moron, and I've avoided eye contact every time I've seen her since then.
"Theoretically, I do have a cell phone, but I don't even know the number. I have resisted the cell phone craze as much as possible, and only last winter finally bought a very simple phone that lets me pay $10 a month for 30 minutes that I've never used, but which make my boyfriend feel safer on the rare occasions I travel somewhere without him. Let me see if I can figure out how to make it give me the number...
Ha! I found it! (Okay, I asked Michael, and he gave me a weird look, but he did tell me the number.)
(number omitted)
You're welcome to give it a try, but I warn you that I rarely turn it on, and it spent most of the month of October lost in the bottom of a school bag that had become too small for all the stuff teachers seem to gather in order to properly do our jobs and had therefore been regulated to the bottom of the coat closet. I think I know how to check the voicemail. (Honestly, I think email might be the best bet until my office phone is set up.)"
I just have never been able to see the need that anyone might have to get a hold of me 24/7. If I'm not home and I don't answer the phone, leave me a message and I'll call back later. Cell phones all too frequently offer (in my opinion) an excuse to be rude in public and to drive unsafely. I refuse to buy into the theory that I need to be in constant contact with everyone. I have a home phone, an office phone, and three computers with Internet access. That's enough! (And for the few times I do actually need a cell phone, I'll admit, it's nice to have the little emergency phone. It's there for me when I need it, but it's not built into my ear.)
A story about cell phones and earpieces: On campus one day last quarter at North, I walk approaching the library. Outside the doors, a woman who I know very slightly was standing, apparently lost in thought. I prepared to smile and nod as I passed her, when to my surprise she said in a very friendly manner, "How you been doin' girlfriend? I haven't seen you in forever!"
I was surprised, because I thought we had a smile and nod relationship. I started to respond, "I'm... um... okay..."
She looked at me like I was nuts, then continued the phone conversation she'd been having on the tiny little phone that was shoved in her ear (and hidden under her hair). I should also note that she was wearing dark sunglasses, so there was no way to see whether she was talking to me or not. I felt like a complete moron, and I've avoided eye contact every time I've seen her since then.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Coming to an End
The holidays are slowly coming to a close, and it's been such an absolutely perfect holiday season that I'm a bit reluctant to let it end. Michael had the past three days off, and we've spent every minute of those three days celebrating. We slept in until 10 every morning, and took afternoon naps two of the three days.
Over the course of the vacation, we've seen four movies, which is unusual for us these days. We hadn't been to a movie in the theater since last summer. It's been a complete luxury to have the time to go to movies!
We highly recommend Elizabeth: The Golden Age as a great sequel to the first Elizabeth movie: the acting is superb, the costumes and sets are exquisite, and the script continues to closely follow the book I Elizabeth (and theoretically, history as well).
We both enjoyed The Golden Compass for its visual effects, although Michael, having read the book before we went, was a bit disappointed with their handling of the story. I, not having previously read the book, didn't know how much had been omitted or changed for the purposed of the film portrayal, and I was able to get caught up in the story. I'd recommend seeing the movie before reading the book, as I found it enhanced my enjoyment of the book when I got around to reading it last weekend. Doing it the other way around was slightly irritating for Michael and my sister Hope.
We have very mixed feelings about Sweeney Todd. On one hand, Tim Burton's vision of the story is incredible to watch: it's the perfect musical for him to choose to direct. The costumes and sets are incredible and the acting is very good. However, the singing (especially on the past of the major characters) is weak. As much as I love Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, they're not trained singers, and as a result a lot of the show's songs had to be cut down to compromise for their voices. The only really good singer in the show is the young actor playing Toby. The actress playing Joanna appears to have been cast for her looks. I wish Burton had cast a few more really talented singers in some of the smaller parts to compensate for the stars' lack of singing ability. Additionally, while we both knew the show was going to be violent, the violence seemed a bit more gratuitous that it needed to be, and the element of dark comedy that pervades the stage version was entirely absent. Depp's Todd is brooding to the point he's frighteningly malevolent, which detracted some from our enjoyment of the show.
We ended our holiday movie-fest on a very high note with National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which we encourage everyone to go and see. It's worth it (if for nothing else) for the Disney short film that begins the picture. How long has it been since you saw a movie that began with a short? And this is a good short: Goofy learning to set up a home entertainment center. The movie itself is an action-packed roller coaster that glides from one impossible situation to the next, with witty banter and lots of laughs in addition to the action. It's not the brainiest movie out there, but it's well written, and we both agree it's the most fun of the movies we've seen this holiday season.
I don't head back to work until next week, but I did spend most of the day today making notes on my Career Link students and writing a letter to the teacher who will replace me there, so that whomever he or she is, he or she will not be entirely overwhelmed at first. I have some initial planning to do for my new job too, of course, and I will be spending much of the weekend working on that.
Michael should be home soon from his first day back to work, and we're expecting our friend Rick to visit for dinner this evening, so the holidays aren't entirely at a close yet. We still have some Christmas money from Grandpa Don (my dad's father) to spend, whenever we feel like braving the mall for a bit of shopping. Still, it's a bit sad for the vacation to be ending.
Over the course of the vacation, we've seen four movies, which is unusual for us these days. We hadn't been to a movie in the theater since last summer. It's been a complete luxury to have the time to go to movies!
We highly recommend Elizabeth: The Golden Age as a great sequel to the first Elizabeth movie: the acting is superb, the costumes and sets are exquisite, and the script continues to closely follow the book I Elizabeth (and theoretically, history as well).
We both enjoyed The Golden Compass for its visual effects, although Michael, having read the book before we went, was a bit disappointed with their handling of the story. I, not having previously read the book, didn't know how much had been omitted or changed for the purposed of the film portrayal, and I was able to get caught up in the story. I'd recommend seeing the movie before reading the book, as I found it enhanced my enjoyment of the book when I got around to reading it last weekend. Doing it the other way around was slightly irritating for Michael and my sister Hope.
We have very mixed feelings about Sweeney Todd. On one hand, Tim Burton's vision of the story is incredible to watch: it's the perfect musical for him to choose to direct. The costumes and sets are incredible and the acting is very good. However, the singing (especially on the past of the major characters) is weak. As much as I love Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, they're not trained singers, and as a result a lot of the show's songs had to be cut down to compromise for their voices. The only really good singer in the show is the young actor playing Toby. The actress playing Joanna appears to have been cast for her looks. I wish Burton had cast a few more really talented singers in some of the smaller parts to compensate for the stars' lack of singing ability. Additionally, while we both knew the show was going to be violent, the violence seemed a bit more gratuitous that it needed to be, and the element of dark comedy that pervades the stage version was entirely absent. Depp's Todd is brooding to the point he's frighteningly malevolent, which detracted some from our enjoyment of the show.
We ended our holiday movie-fest on a very high note with National Treasure: Book of Secrets, which we encourage everyone to go and see. It's worth it (if for nothing else) for the Disney short film that begins the picture. How long has it been since you saw a movie that began with a short? And this is a good short: Goofy learning to set up a home entertainment center. The movie itself is an action-packed roller coaster that glides from one impossible situation to the next, with witty banter and lots of laughs in addition to the action. It's not the brainiest movie out there, but it's well written, and we both agree it's the most fun of the movies we've seen this holiday season.
I don't head back to work until next week, but I did spend most of the day today making notes on my Career Link students and writing a letter to the teacher who will replace me there, so that whomever he or she is, he or she will not be entirely overwhelmed at first. I have some initial planning to do for my new job too, of course, and I will be spending much of the weekend working on that.
Michael should be home soon from his first day back to work, and we're expecting our friend Rick to visit for dinner this evening, so the holidays aren't entirely at a close yet. We still have some Christmas money from Grandpa Don (my dad's father) to spend, whenever we feel like braving the mall for a bit of shopping. Still, it's a bit sad for the vacation to be ending.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Christmas Puzzle
A Family Scene
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
One of my family's Christmas traditions has always been that Santa brings a puzzle, and during the holiday vacation, everyone chips in and we all work to put the puzzle together before the end of the break. Traditionally, this meant that since most of the people in my family have education related professions, we had around a week at least to fit the puzzle together.
This year, however, as in many recent years, we found ourselves, due to grown up children's busy schedules, with only one weekend in which to do the puzzle. Additionally, Santa had chosen a very challenging puzzle: a hundred brilliantly colored butterflies, broken into a thousand tiny little pieces.
Fortunately for all of us, my sister Kima is a puzzle expert. She sat right down to the task and inspired the rest of us to dig in as well. In 48 hours, the puzzle was complete.
It was my job this year to document the task, as I've never been terribly good at putting puzzles together (some visual-spatial gap in learning, I suppose). There are more photos up on my Flickr page, both of the puzzle party and of my holiday weekend with my family in Vancouver.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Afternoon
Michael and I didn't get up until around 10:00 this morning. Then, while the cinnamon rolls baked in the oven, filling the house with their delicious scent, we opened the gifts "Santa" had left in our stockings (lots of cute socks and stilly stuffed animals in mine, plus huge amounts of my favorite Christmas candies). After munching the warm cinnamon rolls, we decided it was too early to be up, and went back to bed for a couple hours of nap time.
When we woke up, we came out to the living room to find it snowing, the first real "white Christmas" I can remember having in Western Washington. We opened the "big" presents while watching the snow come down. My favorite presents include a great waffle iron (with reversible grilling plates, so it functions as a griddle as well), a hot pot for my new office so I will have hot tea at school all winter, and a collection of Bram Stoker's novels (all of which, except for Daracula, have been out of print for forever and are really hard to find). Michael also found me Season Two of the Muppet Show, and a copy of Stardust, which for those of you who missed it in the theaters, is now out on DVD (and everyone needs to see it because it's the best fantasy movie in years).
After present time, we put together a lunch of some of our favorite snack food treats (little sausages in barbecue sauce, mini bagels, and vegetables with ranch dip) and settled down to watch an episode of Lost, which we've been getting from Netflix. When we finished lunch, Michael decided he needed yet another nap, so he's currently snoozing. I cleaned the kitchen, and now I'm watching dusk close in on the snow covered day. I'll let Michael sleep a little while longer, before I wake him up to help me make the traditional Christmas lasagna.
When we woke up, we came out to the living room to find it snowing, the first real "white Christmas" I can remember having in Western Washington. We opened the "big" presents while watching the snow come down. My favorite presents include a great waffle iron (with reversible grilling plates, so it functions as a griddle as well), a hot pot for my new office so I will have hot tea at school all winter, and a collection of Bram Stoker's novels (all of which, except for Daracula, have been out of print for forever and are really hard to find). Michael also found me Season Two of the Muppet Show, and a copy of Stardust, which for those of you who missed it in the theaters, is now out on DVD (and everyone needs to see it because it's the best fantasy movie in years).
After present time, we put together a lunch of some of our favorite snack food treats (little sausages in barbecue sauce, mini bagels, and vegetables with ranch dip) and settled down to watch an episode of Lost, which we've been getting from Netflix. When we finished lunch, Michael decided he needed yet another nap, so he's currently snoozing. I cleaned the kitchen, and now I'm watching dusk close in on the snow covered day. I'll let Michael sleep a little while longer, before I wake him up to help me make the traditional Christmas lasagna.
White Christmas!
For the first time in the 31 years of my life, it's snowing on Christmas in Western Washington! And it's actually coming down hard enough to stick! It's amazingly beautiful, and a completely wonderful Christmas surprise. Michael just went out to snap a few pictures to prove it's really snowing, and I'm in the midst of making a Christmas lunch. More later, I'm sure, but now it's time for me to get on with this lovely holiday.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Bittersweet Moments
As with every time I've started a new phase in life, I'm finding myself a little bit sad to be leaving the old one. It's scary to think about leaving a job that I've done for the past two years for a new one that is as of yet completely undefined. (Don't get me wrong--I totally want the new one, and I worked hard to get myself to a point I could have a job like it.) It's just that there are many parts of the old job that I'm really going to miss. I should clarify: I will miss the security of having a job I am already comfortable doing, and I will miss the people who have been so helpful and such great friends to me.
Yesterday I put out an email over the Loft list-serve to tell all the other tutors I won't be coming back for winter quarter. Within half an hour of sending the email, I already had emails back from a couple people, congratulating me and wishing me well. Today, the emails keep coming in, and I'm reminded of how many wonderful friends I've made in the Loft. There's such a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching writing and reading there, and I'm hoping that I've learned enough from them to carry it with me to my new job. I know they're all happy to see me moving on to something that will advance my career, but I'm going to miss them greatly.
I will really miss my Loft students as well. They have shown me so much more of the world than I'd ever imagined I'd get to see. From the life stories of a single mother from Peru, an exchange student from Japan, a refuge from Ethiopia, an immigrant from Russia, a 55 year old American-born man returning to school for the first time since high school, a young Iranian wife and mother learning English to fit into her new country, and countless others who have so kindly shared their stories with me, I've gained insight into more cultures than I can even count.
Today I spent the afternoon in my little office at Career Link, going through my files and lesson plans, and putting together my classes for the next quarter, classes I won't be teaching. I couldn't leave the amazing people who'd employed me for the past two years struggling to figure out what to do with the kids, and I couldn't let the kids' education suffer because I'd had to quit before a new teacher could be hired. I still have to look at my grade book and put together notes on all the kids to send to Nancy (who will be teaching my classes until they can hire a new English teacher). As I looked around, sitting at my nearly empty desk, and I realized that it was the last time I'd be there as a Career Link faculty member, I'll admit, I cried a little bit. Career Link has given me so much, and helped me to grow as a teacher and a human being.
From the great administrators, Nancy and Belinda, from Sara, the amazing office assistant, and from Deanna, the incredible math teacher, I've always felt the warmth of being included in something larger than a faculty. This loving group of women has created a family at Career Link, and in many ways I feel like a child leaving home as I move on to advance my career. I will never be able to thank them enough for their support and guidance, as well as their acceptance into their group.
My students at Career Link have helped me to grow as much as I've helped them. My little "gangstas" and "punks" at Career Link showed me the incredible importance of educating each and every young person. I never thought I'd want to work with teenagers, but they showed me how much fun it can be to let go and play while I'm teaching. They taught me patience and self control (often giving me lessons on a daily basis). They also taught me about helping people (with much bigger problems in their lives) to learn when sometimes they really don't want to. They taught me that people have incredible amounts of strength, and they can survive just about anything and still be really great people. They taught me that the kids who are being left behind don't deserve to be left behind.
As the euphoria (and last night's champagne) wear off, I'm still as excited and thrilled as ever to have my new job. It's going to be great fun figuring out how to make this next phase work, and I know I'll be meeting wonderful new people along the way. However, I'm still going to be a little bit sad to be leaving the old phase behind me. How could I not: the people there are awesome.
Yesterday I put out an email over the Loft list-serve to tell all the other tutors I won't be coming back for winter quarter. Within half an hour of sending the email, I already had emails back from a couple people, congratulating me and wishing me well. Today, the emails keep coming in, and I'm reminded of how many wonderful friends I've made in the Loft. There's such a wealth of knowledge and experience in teaching writing and reading there, and I'm hoping that I've learned enough from them to carry it with me to my new job. I know they're all happy to see me moving on to something that will advance my career, but I'm going to miss them greatly.
I will really miss my Loft students as well. They have shown me so much more of the world than I'd ever imagined I'd get to see. From the life stories of a single mother from Peru, an exchange student from Japan, a refuge from Ethiopia, an immigrant from Russia, a 55 year old American-born man returning to school for the first time since high school, a young Iranian wife and mother learning English to fit into her new country, and countless others who have so kindly shared their stories with me, I've gained insight into more cultures than I can even count.
Today I spent the afternoon in my little office at Career Link, going through my files and lesson plans, and putting together my classes for the next quarter, classes I won't be teaching. I couldn't leave the amazing people who'd employed me for the past two years struggling to figure out what to do with the kids, and I couldn't let the kids' education suffer because I'd had to quit before a new teacher could be hired. I still have to look at my grade book and put together notes on all the kids to send to Nancy (who will be teaching my classes until they can hire a new English teacher). As I looked around, sitting at my nearly empty desk, and I realized that it was the last time I'd be there as a Career Link faculty member, I'll admit, I cried a little bit. Career Link has given me so much, and helped me to grow as a teacher and a human being.
From the great administrators, Nancy and Belinda, from Sara, the amazing office assistant, and from Deanna, the incredible math teacher, I've always felt the warmth of being included in something larger than a faculty. This loving group of women has created a family at Career Link, and in many ways I feel like a child leaving home as I move on to advance my career. I will never be able to thank them enough for their support and guidance, as well as their acceptance into their group.
My students at Career Link have helped me to grow as much as I've helped them. My little "gangstas" and "punks" at Career Link showed me the incredible importance of educating each and every young person. I never thought I'd want to work with teenagers, but they showed me how much fun it can be to let go and play while I'm teaching. They taught me patience and self control (often giving me lessons on a daily basis). They also taught me about helping people (with much bigger problems in their lives) to learn when sometimes they really don't want to. They taught me that people have incredible amounts of strength, and they can survive just about anything and still be really great people. They taught me that the kids who are being left behind don't deserve to be left behind.
As the euphoria (and last night's champagne) wear off, I'm still as excited and thrilled as ever to have my new job. It's going to be great fun figuring out how to make this next phase work, and I know I'll be meeting wonderful new people along the way. However, I'm still going to be a little bit sad to be leaving the old phase behind me. How could I not: the people there are awesome.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Early Christmas
For the past few days, I'd been feeling a little glum, because I hadn't heard back from CWU after what I'd thought had been a pretty awesome interview. Then, yesterday afternoon, when I'd nearly given up all hope, the phone rang. It was Teresa (the director of the CWU main campus writing center), telling me that they'd narrowed the field to two candidates, and I was one of the finalists! We talked for about 45 minutes, sort of a mini follow-up interview, clarifying a few final questions. She hinted during this phone call that I was her first choice, and she said she'd call back as soon as the committee had made its decision.
This afternoon at about 12:00, the phone rang. Michael and I nearly jumped out of our seats, as we'd been sitting for the past half hour or so staring at the phone and willing it to ring (apparently that really does work). Teresa offered me the job, and as of about 12:15 this afternoon, I'm the new CWU Des Moines writing consultant. I'm THE person to go to with writing questions on that little campus. It's my job to get this new writing center off the ground and flying. I'll be the entire writing center for the first few quarters, but as the center grows I'll be training new tutors to help me. I can't even begin to try to explain how ecstatic and excited I am (or how close to being in complete shock). Teresa had all sorts of complementary things to say about how well my interview had gone and expressed enthusiasm for my tutoring abilities. She sounded genuinely thrilled that I'd accepted the job, and I'm honestly thrilled to be working with her as a director. She's done amazing things for the CWU writing center, and I hope that with her mentorship I'll be able to help grow the CWU Des Moines writing center into something great as well.
I am heading to Ellensburg shortly after the new year for a new faculty orientation (and to get my new laptop--one of the perks of the job). While I officially start January 3, I'll likely be spending some time on campus before then, figuring out where my new office is and setting up everything so that I'm ready to jump right in to tutoring.
I'll be a little bit sad to leave Career Link and my kids, of course. The hardest part of today was going to North to tell people I wouldn't be returning for winter quarter. They're all so great and supportive, and they made it easier on me that I thought it might be, but it is still pretty sad to think that I won't be working with them anymore. I am going to stay in touch with the program though. Nancy said I could become a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, and I told her to definitely sign me up, so I'll still be going to meetings and staying a part of the program in a volunteer capacity. I'll go back for a morning during the first week of classes to say goodbye to the kids, and I'll spend a few days in my old office there before I start at CWU, organizing and setting things up for the new teacher, so there will be files on each of my students' programs and the kids won't be set back in meeting their goals.
Mostly, right now I'm in a sort of happy daze. I got the job! A real, career building, life-changing, challenging, amazing job! I can hardly wait to get started, even while I can't quite believe it's happening. The little dream I'd been building in the back of my head is becoming a reality: when Michael graduates in June, we'll be able to find some sort of perfect little place for us south of the city somewhere, and I'll start to build my career in earnest, as he finishes his education at the UW. It still seems very unreal, but I suppose very shortly it'll start to sink in: I got the job!
This afternoon at about 12:00, the phone rang. Michael and I nearly jumped out of our seats, as we'd been sitting for the past half hour or so staring at the phone and willing it to ring (apparently that really does work). Teresa offered me the job, and as of about 12:15 this afternoon, I'm the new CWU Des Moines writing consultant. I'm THE person to go to with writing questions on that little campus. It's my job to get this new writing center off the ground and flying. I'll be the entire writing center for the first few quarters, but as the center grows I'll be training new tutors to help me. I can't even begin to try to explain how ecstatic and excited I am (or how close to being in complete shock). Teresa had all sorts of complementary things to say about how well my interview had gone and expressed enthusiasm for my tutoring abilities. She sounded genuinely thrilled that I'd accepted the job, and I'm honestly thrilled to be working with her as a director. She's done amazing things for the CWU writing center, and I hope that with her mentorship I'll be able to help grow the CWU Des Moines writing center into something great as well.
I am heading to Ellensburg shortly after the new year for a new faculty orientation (and to get my new laptop--one of the perks of the job). While I officially start January 3, I'll likely be spending some time on campus before then, figuring out where my new office is and setting up everything so that I'm ready to jump right in to tutoring.
I'll be a little bit sad to leave Career Link and my kids, of course. The hardest part of today was going to North to tell people I wouldn't be returning for winter quarter. They're all so great and supportive, and they made it easier on me that I thought it might be, but it is still pretty sad to think that I won't be working with them anymore. I am going to stay in touch with the program though. Nancy said I could become a member of the Technical Advisory Committee, and I told her to definitely sign me up, so I'll still be going to meetings and staying a part of the program in a volunteer capacity. I'll go back for a morning during the first week of classes to say goodbye to the kids, and I'll spend a few days in my old office there before I start at CWU, organizing and setting things up for the new teacher, so there will be files on each of my students' programs and the kids won't be set back in meeting their goals.
Mostly, right now I'm in a sort of happy daze. I got the job! A real, career building, life-changing, challenging, amazing job! I can hardly wait to get started, even while I can't quite believe it's happening. The little dream I'd been building in the back of my head is becoming a reality: when Michael graduates in June, we'll be able to find some sort of perfect little place for us south of the city somewhere, and I'll start to build my career in earnest, as he finishes his education at the UW. It still seems very unreal, but I suppose very shortly it'll start to sink in: I got the job!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Through the Interview
My interview with CWU was yesterday morning, and I think it went pretty well (although it's always difficult to tell about these things). It was one of the most comfortable academic interviews I've been through yet, with a small (three-person) committee, reasonable questions, and really friendly people. It didn't have that "witch hunt" feeling many interviews have, where the candidates leave feeling like they've been released from a horrible, personal, kind of humiliating examination. I left feeling like I'd spent two hours having a nice conversation with interesting people.
After learning more about the job, I'm even more convinced that it would be something I'd like to do. The person who is hired will be responsible for further establishing the writing center at a CWU branch campus. The center that's there right now is only open two days a week. It will be the job of the new writing consultant to increase the hours of operation, and to do the marketing necessary to encourage the center to grow. It is a great opportunity for someone to get introductory administrative experience while continuing to meet with students, and I think it would be a really great job for me (not that I wouldn't be really sad to leave my students at Career Link).
I should (hopefully) hear back from the committee sometime in the near future. They want to hire someone before they leave for the holiday break. Send me good vibes, everyone!
After learning more about the job, I'm even more convinced that it would be something I'd like to do. The person who is hired will be responsible for further establishing the writing center at a CWU branch campus. The center that's there right now is only open two days a week. It will be the job of the new writing consultant to increase the hours of operation, and to do the marketing necessary to encourage the center to grow. It is a great opportunity for someone to get introductory administrative experience while continuing to meet with students, and I think it would be a really great job for me (not that I wouldn't be really sad to leave my students at Career Link).
I should (hopefully) hear back from the committee sometime in the near future. They want to hire someone before they leave for the holiday break. Send me good vibes, everyone!
Monday, December 3, 2007
Intestinal Rebellion
I seem to be having a problem staying healthy this fall/winter. The latest in the string of aliments is what I will call "intestinal disgustingness" (I'll spare you the gory details). I'm surviving on saltine crackers, toast, and ginger ale at the moment. Thank goodness all my students skipped today because of the storm, and Nancy sent me home early. Hopefully whatever this grossness is, it will be gone by tomorrow.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Rain Again
It's warmed up to a whopping 47 degrees, and the snow has turned back into Seattle's usual rain. The inch or so of snow we got this morning has been melted away by the steady drizzle that's been coming down out there all afternoon. It actually looks like there's a bit of a storm blowing in for the evening. The clouds are rolling along very quickly, and the sky is an eerie sort of grayish-yellow. I hope Michael gets home before it really starts to blow! It looks like it's shaping up to be the perfect evening to light some candles and curl up in bed with hot chocolate and books and listen to the storm. Yes, I'm one of those weird people who enjoys a good winter storm (as long as the power isn't knocked out for too long!). It always feels so cozy to be secure in a comfortable, warm place, listening to the weather outside.
Oooh! A big puff of wind just rattled the windows and shook the tree outside!
Oooh! A big puff of wind just rattled the windows and shook the tree outside!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Snow in Seattle!
Michael and I just spent the afternoon decorating our apartment for the holidays (putting Christmas lights in the windows, decorating the kitchen table, etc.). As Michael took the first string of lights out of the box, the first few flakes of snow started to fall from the sky. We popped in our newest holiday CD (Christmas Swing), and started putting the lights in the windows. It's a regular winter wonderland outside right now, and it really feels like the holiday season has begun. I think I'm going to go eat a candy cane...
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Boy with Handful of Pie
Boy with Hand Full of Pie
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
On Thanksgiving, Michael had a few problems eating his lemon tart. It crumbled halfway to his mouth, and though he made an admirable grab for it, he ended up with a handful of whipped cream as the wayward tart (topped with whipped cream itself) tumbled into the topping on his pumpkin pie. As he fished the tart back from the top of his pumpkin pie, I snapped this picture. He did eventually manage to get the tart into his mouth.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dad and Michael are still napping, so I'm stealing a few minutes to write a little note wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. I have a lot to be thankful for this year: a wonderful boyfriend, a great family, students I enjoy, friends and coworkers who support me, an adorable apartment, and a job interview that could lead my career to new heights, to name a few of the things I'm grateful for.
It's been a lovely day so far. We slept in this morning, then Dad and Hope came over for breakfast, and then Dad and Michael worked on our car, fixing up a few little things, while Hope and I learned how to make lemon tarts (they turned out perfectly). The pumpkin pies are made, the turkey is cooking, the rolls are rising, and it's about time for me to start peeling potatoes.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you're having as good a day as we are.
It's been a lovely day so far. We slept in this morning, then Dad and Hope came over for breakfast, and then Dad and Michael worked on our car, fixing up a few little things, while Hope and I learned how to make lemon tarts (they turned out perfectly). The pumpkin pies are made, the turkey is cooking, the rolls are rising, and it's about time for me to start peeling potatoes.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you're having as good a day as we are.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thanksgiving Eve
Thanksgiving Eve is a truly bizarre time to be at the grocery store. The parking lot was completely packed full. Every cart in the store was in use (thank goodness I only needed one small box of jello). People were jammed into every aisle, zombie-like as they scanned the picked-over shelves looking for the perfect ingredients for their holiday traditions. One man was standing in front of a huge case that used to be full of frozen turkeys, looking bewildered at the three semi-frosted turkeys left in the ice at the bottom of the case. A woman on a cell phone shrilled, "I can't believe they're out of pumpkin pie filling!"
I grinned as I grabbed the last box of lime jello on the shelf and scampered to the check stand. The clerk snapped out of her holiday-rush glaze to give me a strange look as I got in line behind people with carts piled high, with my one small box of lime jello. I paid my 85 cents and practically ran back to my car. The grocery store is scary the night before Thanksgiving!
I grinned as I grabbed the last box of lime jello on the shelf and scampered to the check stand. The clerk snapped out of her holiday-rush glaze to give me a strange look as I got in line behind people with carts piled high, with my one small box of lime jello. I paid my 85 cents and practically ran back to my car. The grocery store is scary the night before Thanksgiving!
Pre-Thanksgiving
I just got home from a lovely pre-Thanksgiving dinner at Hope and Peter's house. Peter played chef tonight and made a wonderful Chinese chicken meal that was thoroughly appreciated by everyone.
Now I'm looking at tomorrow's arrangements and realizing that I'm going to need to make yet another trip to the store. I distinctly remember putting lime jello on my shopping list. I remember putting the jello into the cart. I remember seeing the jello at the checkout stand. I do not, however, remember where I put the jello once I got it home. In the cupboard, there dwells every other flavor of jello in the book, but no lime jello. Well, there was a very old package of some generic store brand stuff. I did take it out and mix it up, but it's been three hours since then, and it's not even slightly firm. In order for it to be Thanksgiving, there must be lime jello salad. I cannot have Thanksgiving without it. Therefore, I must make a brave and adventurous run to the store for lime jello. The things I'm willing to do for holidays...
Now I'm looking at tomorrow's arrangements and realizing that I'm going to need to make yet another trip to the store. I distinctly remember putting lime jello on my shopping list. I remember putting the jello into the cart. I remember seeing the jello at the checkout stand. I do not, however, remember where I put the jello once I got it home. In the cupboard, there dwells every other flavor of jello in the book, but no lime jello. Well, there was a very old package of some generic store brand stuff. I did take it out and mix it up, but it's been three hours since then, and it's not even slightly firm. In order for it to be Thanksgiving, there must be lime jello salad. I cannot have Thanksgiving without it. Therefore, I must make a brave and adventurous run to the store for lime jello. The things I'm willing to do for holidays...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Interview!
Last week, I applied for a job at one of the Central Washington University branch campuses here in Seattle. It's a full time faculty position in the writing center, and it sounds like a really great job. Today, they called to offer me an interview! Cross your fingers hard everyone--I'd really like this job!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Brief Update
When I talked to my mom a few days ago, she said that her visit with my grandparents went as well as it possibly could. Grandma was awake and alert enough to have thoroughly enjoyed the CD of pictures from Hope's wedding that Michael had made for her and Grandpa. Although she continues to struggle to breathe, she remains in fairly high spirits and enjoys visitors (although Mom says that anyone who is even thinking about getting a cold is forbidden to visit). She and Grandpa appreciate all the prayers and well-wishes from everyone. Mom is planning to visit again around Christmas.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Sniffling But Hopeful
I've spent the entire long weekend pretty much in bed with a bad head cold. I'm sniffling and oozing and fairly disgusting at the moment (thank goodness Michael knows what I look like when I'm not sick!), but Michael has been his usual wonderful self through all of the grossness, bringing me tea (he learned to boil water all by himself!) and orange juice, and encouraging me to take lots of naps. Now that the weekend is drawing to a close, I'm naturally feeling much better, just in time to go back to work tomorrow. Sniffle!
On the up side, my one accomplishment for the weekend (aside from changing the table decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving) has been to apply for a new job. I had emails from three people in the past couple weeks, pointing out that Central Washington University's branch campus in the South Seattle area is hiring a "writing consultant" for their writing center. This is essentially the same job I did when I worked for CWU in Ellensburg, tutoring students and designing writing workshops. It is a full time faculty position with a yearly contract (instead of quarter to quarter like my job at NSCC), and even though it would be a commute until Michael finishes school and we could move, housing prices are a bit more reasonable in South Seattle. Thus, the final piece of my application is ready to mail in the morning, and I'm hopeful that I'll at least get an interview. Cross your fingers for me and send some positive vibes out into the universe!
On the up side, my one accomplishment for the weekend (aside from changing the table decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving) has been to apply for a new job. I had emails from three people in the past couple weeks, pointing out that Central Washington University's branch campus in the South Seattle area is hiring a "writing consultant" for their writing center. This is essentially the same job I did when I worked for CWU in Ellensburg, tutoring students and designing writing workshops. It is a full time faculty position with a yearly contract (instead of quarter to quarter like my job at NSCC), and even though it would be a commute until Michael finishes school and we could move, housing prices are a bit more reasonable in South Seattle. Thus, the final piece of my application is ready to mail in the morning, and I'm hopeful that I'll at least get an interview. Cross your fingers for me and send some positive vibes out into the universe!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Report Cards
My students this quarter are, quite simply, great. Three of my students passed the writing GED last week (and one passed social studies). One of my students from last year, due to her success in her college classes, was just hired as a tutor in the Loft, and I know once she's done at North, she'll be off to great things (she wants to be a journalist). I'm so proud of them!
This morning, we all need to be sending good vibes out into the universe for a couple more of my students. One of them is taking her first of the five GED tests, and she's really nervous, although I know she's well prepared. Another is taking his last two tests, and by Monday he could have his GED (I'm crossing my fingers really hard for him).
This morning, we all need to be sending good vibes out into the universe for a couple more of my students. One of them is taking her first of the five GED tests, and she's really nervous, although I know she's well prepared. Another is taking his last two tests, and by Monday he could have his GED (I'm crossing my fingers really hard for him).
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Prayer Request
Shortly after we woke up this morning, my grandfather called from California to say that my grandmother's condition is deteriorating. Her lungs were already bad before the fires, and breathing the soot from the fires has been horrible for her. For those of you who don't know the whole story, my grandmother has been under hospice care for a year now, as her lung condition grows slowly worse. My grandfather called this morning to let us know that she's been coughing up blood, probably a result of the exposure to the ash, and she wanted her family to know she's worried but is not in pain, so Grandpa stayed home from church (and choir practice--something he never misses) this morning to make the phone calls.
Mom is headed to California next weekend to be with Grandma. It's been a really rough year for my mom and her family as Grandma gradually gets sicker. When you have a minute, please say a little prayer for strength for Grandpa, and my mom and her siblings (and the rest of the family) as they (we) prepare for the loss of my grandmother, and continue to pray that Grandma not be in pain.
Mom is headed to California next weekend to be with Grandma. It's been a really rough year for my mom and her family as Grandma gradually gets sicker. When you have a minute, please say a little prayer for strength for Grandpa, and my mom and her siblings (and the rest of the family) as they (we) prepare for the loss of my grandmother, and continue to pray that Grandma not be in pain.
A Successful Birthday
I Blow out the Candles
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
I'm now officially a thirty-something. I've moved into my thirties. Of course, I must still look pretty young, because I still got "carded" when I bought the pink champagne for the birthday celebration.
I had an absolutely lovely birthday. We started off yesterday with a birthday brunch when Mom got here bearing a big bouquet of flowers and some darling new shoes (Danskos!) in just my size, along with a card and a fun book of poetry by one of her favorite contemporary poets. Hope came with a singing card that played "The Bear Necessities" when I opened it. After we ate, Michael and Mom and Hope took me birthday shopping to find a collection of perfect birthday presents.
Hope concentrated on keeping me warm this winter, and got me new flannel sheets for the bed (blue, with fat little penguins waddling all over them) and adorable new gloves to keep my fingers from freezing (they match my everyday winter coat).
Dad (who sent birthday money my way) got me beautiful earrings with little stones that sort of pick up the color of whatever I'm wearing and shimmer with that color. They have all the colors of the rainbow in them. Dad also got some salt and pepper shakers from Williams Sanoma, a store that I love to browse, but in which I can rarely afford to buy anything. Did you know there is such a thing as pink peppercorns? My new pepper mill is full of naturally bright pink peppercorns!
Mom got me a new watch, a sort of birthday tradition. I've worn the last watch she got me since my 16th birthday, and it was starting to look a bit shabby, so we decided it was time for a new one. It's absolutely the most lovely watch I've ever owned, silver with gold accents, and a dark blue face that is reminiscent of the night sky. It has only a 12 and 6, with tiny star-like dots representing the rest of the numbers.
Michael concentrated on things I wanted for the kitchen, most importantly a new teapot. I've been complaining for a while that our teapot wasn't big enough for two people who like warm drinks on cold mornings, and Michael found me the perfect replacement for the one I'd had for years (perfect for one, not big enough for two). The new pot is silver and has a pretty, antique shape that I really like. Michael also found some wooden salad tongs (similar to the ones my mom has that I've wanted since she found hers) and some pretty new serving spoons in sizes we didn't have yet.
Kima is planning to come up to Seattle later this fall for a sister shopping trip, so she just sent her love with Mom. My grandparents send a card and a birthday check that next week will be turned into another pair of birthday earrings (I had trouble deciding in the store, and now I can have both pairs).
After shopping, we stopped back home with the loot then headed out to the Chinese restaurant Michael and I discovered in Shoreline a few months ago. It's a very typical American sort of Chinese restaurant, with place mats with the Chinese zodiac printed on them, where they serve a multi-course pseudo-Chinese dinner that is always yummy and fun to eat.
We came home from dinner for birthday cake and a movie (As You Like It--the newest Shakespeare movie from Kenneth Branagh). The cake, while slightly lopsided, was really delicious, and the movie was thoroughly enjoyable (I'd highly recommend it).
Thanks everyone for making it such a great birthday!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Birthday Preparations
Since I had the afternoon off, and because my mom is visiting for my birthday, I've spent much of the day in the kitchen making treats for a birthday brunch tomorrow. I just took a banana bread out of the oven and popped in a lemon cake. I also just finished a spiced citrus salad. The whole apartment smells like cake, banana bread, oranges and grapefruits, and cinnamon and cloves. Absolutely heavenly! I think it's going to be a wonderful birthday!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Happy Halloween!
A Finished Cookie
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
Today should be an enjoyable day at North. We've encouraged the kids to wear costumes, and we're taking them to North's costume party and Halloween dance. I hope everyone else is doing something fun (and spooky) today!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Spamalot
Last night was the night we'd been waiting for all fall: the night we had tickets to Spamalot. We'd bought our tickets as soon as they went on sale last summer, and we'd splurged on really good seats because we'd been waiting for Spamalot to tour since they'd announced they were turning Monty Python into a Broadway show. We've been singing the songs for a couple years now, and we could hardly wait to see how the show would be staged.
After the show, we're left with mixed feelings. We both enjoyed the sets, from the Vegas-like Camelot to the Andrew Lloyd Webber-esque lake from which the Lady of the Lake emerges. We agree that it was a lot of fun to hear the songs sung live, and to see the dancing that is supposed to go along with them. Several of the performances were outstanding. My personal favorites were Patsy, The Lady of the Lake, and Sir Robin. Lancelot's performance was also notable. We also thought it was great fun how much of the original dialogue from the "Grail" they'd incorporated into the show. We were able to mouth the words for much of the show just because we've both seen the movie so many times. The French knights and their taunting were very silly, and we were impressed that they managed to get the cow gag in. Another plus to the show is the way they managed to add in things I wasn't sure they'd be able to do, such as the dismemberment of the Black Knight. The bit I think I laughed the hardest at would have to be the killer bunny. Again, I didn't know if they'd be able to get it in, but they did, and in such an imaginative manner that it's still making me giggle to think about it now.
On the more negative side of things, I think the biggest disappointment was that the actor playing Arthur was a real dud. He was lackluster from the beginning, and seemed to be wandering around the stage without any enthusiasm, just waiting for his next line, then delivering the line with little emphasis. Then, in the first number of the second act, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," he botched a very important line, and if you didn't know what the line was supposed to be, the rest of the song wouldn't have made any sense. Yup--he forgot a line! It screwed up the background dancers/singers so much that one of them fell over.
Another problem with the show was that the sound system seemed to be screwed up. The sound was tinny through the whole show, sounding more like a recording than a live performance. We've heard much better sound in that theater, so we're wondering if maybe paying for expensive seats isn't really worth it. Perhaps the theater is built so that the better sounds go to the higher regions. Or maybe the guy running the sound wasn't doing a good job last night. Hard to tell.
Finally, let me say a few words about theater etiquette: there ought to be some sort of class people are required to take before they attend live theater. Live theater is not like a movie, where you only paid $9.00 for your ticket, and there's squished popcorn and spilled soda underfoot, and you can wear what you feel like wearing. It is a formal occasion, and people should dress accordingly. It is not okay to wear jeans, flannel, short shorts (or any kind of shorts), or grubby tennis shoes. When I pay $80 for my seat, I find it offensive to be seated next to some flannel and jeans wearing oaf who would look more at home at a Saturday afternoon barbeque. And for the record, it is definitely not okay to take out a cell phone before the show and take pictures of the stage. How tacky!
Next etiquette point: even if you've seen the Grail a thousand times, it is NOT okay to spend the entire show whispering the lines to the person next to you and explaining the jokes. I don't care if the person next to you is a complete moron, someone who can't possibly understand the jokes without your help. Keep your mouth shut, because some of us would rather hear the professional actors perform the lines than some random person who thinks he's smart. That is just as annoying as the person who goes to a musical and sings along. The guy sitting next to me last night talked through all the speaking bits, but apparently he hadn't heard the songs, so at least he didn't sing along. Still, I wanted to gag him by intermission.
Point three: Remember that you are not the only person in the theater. Find a comfortable position and hold it for as long as you can. The woman in front of me wiggled so much that at times I really couldn't see the stage because I couldn't figure out which direction to dodge. The oaf sitting next to me elbowed me in the side a number of times. The woman sitting behind me managed to catch my hair as she wildly applauded (goodness knows how far her hands had to be in front of her for her to manage that).
Final point: a standing ovation is supposed to be for a stellar performance. Last night's performance was certainly not a stellar performance. It was good. It was enjoyable. It didn't deserve an ovation. The lead actor forgot his lines, for goodness sake! Applaud, sure, but don't stand unless it's actually an outstanding show. I always end up standing out of self defense--it's the only way to see the actors take their bows. People seem to think it's polite to give a standing ovation, but in reality not every show deserves one. What will we do for a show that's actually worthy of an ovation? Stand on our chairs? Ridiculous!
And I think I'm done with my rant now. I actually did enjoy the show very much, and I'd recommend that anyone who likes Monty Python go to see it when it's in your city.
After the show, we're left with mixed feelings. We both enjoyed the sets, from the Vegas-like Camelot to the Andrew Lloyd Webber-esque lake from which the Lady of the Lake emerges. We agree that it was a lot of fun to hear the songs sung live, and to see the dancing that is supposed to go along with them. Several of the performances were outstanding. My personal favorites were Patsy, The Lady of the Lake, and Sir Robin. Lancelot's performance was also notable. We also thought it was great fun how much of the original dialogue from the "Grail" they'd incorporated into the show. We were able to mouth the words for much of the show just because we've both seen the movie so many times. The French knights and their taunting were very silly, and we were impressed that they managed to get the cow gag in. Another plus to the show is the way they managed to add in things I wasn't sure they'd be able to do, such as the dismemberment of the Black Knight. The bit I think I laughed the hardest at would have to be the killer bunny. Again, I didn't know if they'd be able to get it in, but they did, and in such an imaginative manner that it's still making me giggle to think about it now.
On the more negative side of things, I think the biggest disappointment was that the actor playing Arthur was a real dud. He was lackluster from the beginning, and seemed to be wandering around the stage without any enthusiasm, just waiting for his next line, then delivering the line with little emphasis. Then, in the first number of the second act, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," he botched a very important line, and if you didn't know what the line was supposed to be, the rest of the song wouldn't have made any sense. Yup--he forgot a line! It screwed up the background dancers/singers so much that one of them fell over.
Another problem with the show was that the sound system seemed to be screwed up. The sound was tinny through the whole show, sounding more like a recording than a live performance. We've heard much better sound in that theater, so we're wondering if maybe paying for expensive seats isn't really worth it. Perhaps the theater is built so that the better sounds go to the higher regions. Or maybe the guy running the sound wasn't doing a good job last night. Hard to tell.
Finally, let me say a few words about theater etiquette: there ought to be some sort of class people are required to take before they attend live theater. Live theater is not like a movie, where you only paid $9.00 for your ticket, and there's squished popcorn and spilled soda underfoot, and you can wear what you feel like wearing. It is a formal occasion, and people should dress accordingly. It is not okay to wear jeans, flannel, short shorts (or any kind of shorts), or grubby tennis shoes. When I pay $80 for my seat, I find it offensive to be seated next to some flannel and jeans wearing oaf who would look more at home at a Saturday afternoon barbeque. And for the record, it is definitely not okay to take out a cell phone before the show and take pictures of the stage. How tacky!
Next etiquette point: even if you've seen the Grail a thousand times, it is NOT okay to spend the entire show whispering the lines to the person next to you and explaining the jokes. I don't care if the person next to you is a complete moron, someone who can't possibly understand the jokes without your help. Keep your mouth shut, because some of us would rather hear the professional actors perform the lines than some random person who thinks he's smart. That is just as annoying as the person who goes to a musical and sings along. The guy sitting next to me last night talked through all the speaking bits, but apparently he hadn't heard the songs, so at least he didn't sing along. Still, I wanted to gag him by intermission.
Point three: Remember that you are not the only person in the theater. Find a comfortable position and hold it for as long as you can. The woman in front of me wiggled so much that at times I really couldn't see the stage because I couldn't figure out which direction to dodge. The oaf sitting next to me elbowed me in the side a number of times. The woman sitting behind me managed to catch my hair as she wildly applauded (goodness knows how far her hands had to be in front of her for her to manage that).
Final point: a standing ovation is supposed to be for a stellar performance. Last night's performance was certainly not a stellar performance. It was good. It was enjoyable. It didn't deserve an ovation. The lead actor forgot his lines, for goodness sake! Applaud, sure, but don't stand unless it's actually an outstanding show. I always end up standing out of self defense--it's the only way to see the actors take their bows. People seem to think it's polite to give a standing ovation, but in reality not every show deserves one. What will we do for a show that's actually worthy of an ovation? Stand on our chairs? Ridiculous!
And I think I'm done with my rant now. I actually did enjoy the show very much, and I'd recommend that anyone who likes Monty Python go to see it when it's in your city.
Plague!
Michael has been complaining since last week that he has a very sore throat, a really bad headache, and a hacking cough. These symptoms hadn't seemed to get any better, no matter how much juice and cold medicine I force fed him, and we all know he's not the sort of person to slow down and rest (although I did convince him to stay home last Thursday). This morning, he woke up with the same symptoms and said, "Cough! Cough! Groan! When will this end? My sinuses really hurt!"
I finally convinced him that it was time to consult a doctor, and we found a local drop-in clinic that opens at 8:00, so we were able to drop in and Michael was their first patient of the morning. This meant we didn't have a very leisurely morning, but we were able to consult a doctor before we had to be on campus, and it turns out that poor Michael has been suffering for the past week from a sinus infection. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, and hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.
I'm still planning to make sure he takes his vitamins and drinks lots of juice for the next few days...
I finally convinced him that it was time to consult a doctor, and we found a local drop-in clinic that opens at 8:00, so we were able to drop in and Michael was their first patient of the morning. This meant we didn't have a very leisurely morning, but we were able to consult a doctor before we had to be on campus, and it turns out that poor Michael has been suffering for the past week from a sinus infection. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, and hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.
I'm still planning to make sure he takes his vitamins and drinks lots of juice for the next few days...
Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Halloween Cookies
The Halloween Cookies
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
Hope came over today for a sister visit, and we decided that the time was right to make a batch of Halloween sugar cookies (Michael and Peter's favorite). We're pretty proud of how they turned out (yeah, we sampled quite a few during the making).
I think the oak leaves and the gargoyle are my favorite shapes (upper right corner), but the ghost and pumpkins and little acorns are pretty cute too.
When Michael comes home for work, we'll frost a few of them (I'll try to remember to get pictures of the decorated ones).
The whole apartment smells like cookies right now. Yummy!
Through the Fire
I'm happy to report that all my Southern California relatives made it safely through the fires. Grandma and Grandpa, even though their house wasn't in the direct path of any of the fires, evacuated because Grandma was having trouble breathing with all the smoke (they were in the direct path of a lot of the smoke).
They first went to Sonja and Art's (my aunt and uncle, for those of you not familiar with my family) house, because it's up on a hill, but then Sonja and Art's whole neighborhood was told to evacuate. The family headed for Palm Springs, where they spent the past few days in a hotel before getting the okay to go home. Carl and Carolina's (another uncle and aunt) family stayed in Carlsbad, and they report that there's a lot of ash to wash away, but everyone is safe and settling back in at home this morning.
Everybody say a prayer for Grandma though, because the smoke was not good at all for her lungs. Send her some good vibes, if you have a minute to do so.
They first went to Sonja and Art's (my aunt and uncle, for those of you not familiar with my family) house, because it's up on a hill, but then Sonja and Art's whole neighborhood was told to evacuate. The family headed for Palm Springs, where they spent the past few days in a hotel before getting the okay to go home. Carl and Carolina's (another uncle and aunt) family stayed in Carlsbad, and they report that there's a lot of ash to wash away, but everyone is safe and settling back in at home this morning.
Everybody say a prayer for Grandma though, because the smoke was not good at all for her lungs. Send her some good vibes, if you have a minute to do so.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Raspberry M&Ms
This morning, I had to go to in to campus even though I don't usually work on Fridays because there was a faculty meeting at Career Link. Since the meeting (of course) was scheduled right in the middle of Michael's class schedule, this meant I had to go onto campus an hour before the meeting and stay around for an hour after the meeting if we wanted to carpool. I don't mind spending a little extra time in my office, so I headed in with Michael. Of course, after about ten minutes of paper grading, I was completely bored, so I wandered down to the bookstore to look at the new arrivals, snoop to see what books everyone else is teaching this quarter, and generally kill a bit of time.
On my way out of the store, carrying the newest edition of The Best American Short Stories--2007 (the one edited by Stephen King--gotta keep our King collection up to date), I saw a bright pink M&M display, which I at first figured was advertising the pink breast cancer awareness promotional. Upon a closer inspection, it turned out to be a display for the new "limited edition" raspberry (Razzberry) M&Ms. Intrigued, I bought a small bag of them, and Michael and I shared them after lunch this afternoon. We both agree that they're yummy, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who likes flavored chocolate (although chocolate purists might turn up their noses). The raspberry flavoring is subtle and doesn't overwhelm the chocolate, but it's a nice compliment to the usual M&M smooth milk chocolate. Worth a try, in my opinion.
On my way out of the store, carrying the newest edition of The Best American Short Stories--2007 (the one edited by Stephen King--gotta keep our King collection up to date), I saw a bright pink M&M display, which I at first figured was advertising the pink breast cancer awareness promotional. Upon a closer inspection, it turned out to be a display for the new "limited edition" raspberry (Razzberry) M&Ms. Intrigued, I bought a small bag of them, and Michael and I shared them after lunch this afternoon. We both agree that they're yummy, and I would highly recommend them to anyone who likes flavored chocolate (although chocolate purists might turn up their noses). The raspberry flavoring is subtle and doesn't overwhelm the chocolate, but it's a nice compliment to the usual M&M smooth milk chocolate. Worth a try, in my opinion.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Mom's Birthday
Hope, Mom, and Kima
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
I just got home from a weekend in Vancouver, helping my mom to celebrate her birthday. It was a fun-filled weekend with both of my sisters and my mom, which is something that we rarely get in these busy days.
We spent much of the weekend helping my mom with home improvement projects (painting the guest bathroom and cleaning out the rain gutters), walking Hope's dogs (Max and Loodie came along for the trip, since Mom hadn't seen the "grand-pups" in a while), and chatting like crazy to catch up on everything. It is really nice to get a weekend with my family!
Pictures of the weekend can be seen on my flickr page.
Now, I'm glad to be home... On to the next work week!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Proud Teacher Moment
Last week, my first student this year earned her GED. She'd started the program last spring, and had one test left to go. Last Thursday, she passed that last test with flying colors. I should also mention that ALL of the students who I sent to test last week passed the tests they were taking, so quite a few of them now have only four more tests to go. The year is off to a great start!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
A Visit
Last night, Michael and I went on a little adventure. My friend Sarena, who I met when we were both living in Ellensburg, who now lives in the Bellingham area, was in the Seattle area catching up with friends. We'd agreed to meet her (and her two kids, Amanda and Dillon) at the Everett Olive Garden for dinner. She's one of the best friends I've made as an adult (I just don't seem to pick up real friends--plenty of acquaintances, but real friends are few and far between), and it's always a joy to see her and the kids, even just for a short dinner party.
And before people start to roll their eyes about the Olive Garden, let's clarify the choice. Firstly, none of us knows our way around Everett, making it impossible to suggest a four-star restaurant for this meeting. Secondly, with a five year old and a ten year old (both well behaved but still active little kids), a large, family-friendly chain restaurant is always a good choice. They greeted the kids with crayons and coloring books (not just place mats, but actual little coloring books). Finally, Michael had never eaten at an Olive Garden before, and it seemed a good chance to let him have the experience, since there isn't one in Seattle anywhere near us anymore.
The kids greeted us when we got there with a small wicker pumpkin filled with fresh flowers, and were thrilled when we handed them the goody bags full of cute school supplies we'd gotten them as a back-to-school present (light-up Tigger pens and such). Since it's the only Olive Garden in the area, we had to wait for over half an hour for a table, which is a trial even for really well behaved children. When we finally got to the table, Sarena asked that the breadsticks be brought out immediately, so the kids could snack. After two breadsticks (and half the croutons from the top of the salad bowl), Dillon was getting tired of snacking and really wanted his chicken strips and French fries. Sarena suggested that he have another breadstick, to which he responded, sounding like a tiny adult instead of a five-year-old boy, "I want my FOOD!"
When the food did finally make it to the table, Dillon was happily distracted by the large dish of ketchup in the middle of his plate, promptly turning his French fried into a doomed army: "Die, French fry, die!"
Sarena and I used to get together once a week at a little restaurant in Ellensburg, for lunch and gossip. One of our traditions has always been that we order a dessert to share (we used to try a different one every week). Last night, deciding (with Amanda's avid encouragement) that we should continue the tradition, we tried a couple different kinds of cheesecake, one chocolate and one pumpkin. The chocolate one was soon claimed by Amanda, but the adults at the table were more impressed with the pumpkin one, which is something that I'm now going to need to learn to make for Thanksgiving (Michael is completely hooked).
It was a really fun evening. I wish they lived closer!
And before people start to roll their eyes about the Olive Garden, let's clarify the choice. Firstly, none of us knows our way around Everett, making it impossible to suggest a four-star restaurant for this meeting. Secondly, with a five year old and a ten year old (both well behaved but still active little kids), a large, family-friendly chain restaurant is always a good choice. They greeted the kids with crayons and coloring books (not just place mats, but actual little coloring books). Finally, Michael had never eaten at an Olive Garden before, and it seemed a good chance to let him have the experience, since there isn't one in Seattle anywhere near us anymore.
The kids greeted us when we got there with a small wicker pumpkin filled with fresh flowers, and were thrilled when we handed them the goody bags full of cute school supplies we'd gotten them as a back-to-school present (light-up Tigger pens and such). Since it's the only Olive Garden in the area, we had to wait for over half an hour for a table, which is a trial even for really well behaved children. When we finally got to the table, Sarena asked that the breadsticks be brought out immediately, so the kids could snack. After two breadsticks (and half the croutons from the top of the salad bowl), Dillon was getting tired of snacking and really wanted his chicken strips and French fries. Sarena suggested that he have another breadstick, to which he responded, sounding like a tiny adult instead of a five-year-old boy, "I want my FOOD!"
When the food did finally make it to the table, Dillon was happily distracted by the large dish of ketchup in the middle of his plate, promptly turning his French fried into a doomed army: "Die, French fry, die!"
Sarena and I used to get together once a week at a little restaurant in Ellensburg, for lunch and gossip. One of our traditions has always been that we order a dessert to share (we used to try a different one every week). Last night, deciding (with Amanda's avid encouragement) that we should continue the tradition, we tried a couple different kinds of cheesecake, one chocolate and one pumpkin. The chocolate one was soon claimed by Amanda, but the adults at the table were more impressed with the pumpkin one, which is something that I'm now going to need to learn to make for Thanksgiving (Michael is completely hooked).
It was a really fun evening. I wish they lived closer!
Friday, October 12, 2007
About Whining
Some people say that whining is a foolish thing to do. They say that people should go through life without ever complaining about anything. Just "tough it up" and go on, no matter what happens, and never stop to analyze anything that's happening to you. Why whine--it's not going to change anything. (Ever notice that these are the people who tend to be the biggest whiners, who can't stand for even a second to have the attention taken off of them and put onto someone else? The sort of people who will make up a problem in order to one-up your own real problem.)
Psychologically though, whining fulfills an important function. What those uneducated people term whining is actually the process of venting, whether it's done in private in a journal or with a trusted friend, or publicly on a blog like this one. It's a way to work through emotions that will do a person more damage if they're kept inside than if they're released in some form. Therefore, when I'm stressed out about something, when I'm feeling gloomy and a bit sorry for myself, expect to see a few "whines" here on my blog. It helps me to focus on my problems and to work my way through them. I've chosen to make these entries public because I appreciate the support and helpful comments I get from my friends and family. To those of you who have suggested that I (and others like me) stop whining, here's my advice to you: Stop reading my blog!
Psychologically though, whining fulfills an important function. What those uneducated people term whining is actually the process of venting, whether it's done in private in a journal or with a trusted friend, or publicly on a blog like this one. It's a way to work through emotions that will do a person more damage if they're kept inside than if they're released in some form. Therefore, when I'm stressed out about something, when I'm feeling gloomy and a bit sorry for myself, expect to see a few "whines" here on my blog. It helps me to focus on my problems and to work my way through them. I've chosen to make these entries public because I appreciate the support and helpful comments I get from my friends and family. To those of you who have suggested that I (and others like me) stop whining, here's my advice to you: Stop reading my blog!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Looking Southward
Okay, so my career seems to have stalled here in Seattle. I've known this for over a year, but I've been hopeful that something would miraculously change. It doesn't seem that I'm going to get my miracle. I'm unhappy about this, but I can't let myself mope about it indefinitely. I need to move on with my life. Michael and I have spent the past couple evenings brainstorming about a positive new direction that might give my career the jump start it needs while at the same time being good for his academic goals.
We've decided that after he graduates this spring, I'll expand my job search. For the past two years, I've been looking (and applying) for jobs only in the Seattle area, easily commutable from North Seattle. As they come up this year, I'm going to start applying for jobs in other places in the state (anywhere that also has a decent sized city and a university as well as a community college). I'm also going to check opportunities in Oregon and California.
We went online a couple nights ago to check out housing prices in the Portland/Vancouver area (our first choice if we have to leave Seattle), and we were really pleased to discover that housing in that area would actually be in our price range as soon as we're both into career-type jobs. Within the next couple of years, we'd be able to buy a house that we'd never be able to afford in Seattle. That alone makes moving to a different city worth thinking about. We don't want to live in an apartment forever!
Vancouver has WSU Vancouver (with a great education program) for Michael, and right across the river is Portland, with Portland State, Reed, University of Portland, and Lewis and Clark. He'd have his pick of really good schools, and we wouldn't be giving up the city lifestyle we enjoy. We'd just be gaining the opportunity to explore a new city together.
Besides, I grew up in that area, and it's always going to feel just a little bit more like home than Seattle does. I'm familiar with the people and the politics, and I understand how schools work there. Seattle has been a baffling nightmare for me with regard to my career, and I think it's time to see what I can do in a more familiar setting.
So, cross your fingers that there are some opportunities in the Portland/Vancouver area this spring! I know mine are crossed tightly. If I keep telling myself I only have to spend one more year here, it seems a lot more bearable. Not that I don't like my job at Career Link--I'm going to miss my friends, colleagues, and students here a lot. It's time for a change though.
We've decided that after he graduates this spring, I'll expand my job search. For the past two years, I've been looking (and applying) for jobs only in the Seattle area, easily commutable from North Seattle. As they come up this year, I'm going to start applying for jobs in other places in the state (anywhere that also has a decent sized city and a university as well as a community college). I'm also going to check opportunities in Oregon and California.
We went online a couple nights ago to check out housing prices in the Portland/Vancouver area (our first choice if we have to leave Seattle), and we were really pleased to discover that housing in that area would actually be in our price range as soon as we're both into career-type jobs. Within the next couple of years, we'd be able to buy a house that we'd never be able to afford in Seattle. That alone makes moving to a different city worth thinking about. We don't want to live in an apartment forever!
Vancouver has WSU Vancouver (with a great education program) for Michael, and right across the river is Portland, with Portland State, Reed, University of Portland, and Lewis and Clark. He'd have his pick of really good schools, and we wouldn't be giving up the city lifestyle we enjoy. We'd just be gaining the opportunity to explore a new city together.
Besides, I grew up in that area, and it's always going to feel just a little bit more like home than Seattle does. I'm familiar with the people and the politics, and I understand how schools work there. Seattle has been a baffling nightmare for me with regard to my career, and I think it's time to see what I can do in a more familiar setting.
So, cross your fingers that there are some opportunities in the Portland/Vancouver area this spring! I know mine are crossed tightly. If I keep telling myself I only have to spend one more year here, it seems a lot more bearable. Not that I don't like my job at Career Link--I'm going to miss my friends, colleagues, and students here a lot. It's time for a change though.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Work Woes
While I've been doing my best to move on with my life after not getting the Loft directorship, I'll admit that I've been pretty down in the dumps so far this fall. It's seemed that everyone on the hiring committee is doing their best not to cross my path, and I've been trying to walk lightly so as to not upset anyone. Those committee members who I've seen have been cordial, but I've still been feeling sort of invisible. Until today, no one even acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation (not hiring someone with whom they'd been working for two years, then having to continue to work with that person). I had considered not going back to the Loft at all this fall considering the discomfort it would cause a lot of people, but in the end my concern for my students won out, and I decided to swallow some pride and return to the Loft. I don't regret that decision, because I think I'm still helping people by staying. However, my confidence has been severely shaken by the experience, however, and I've been trying to think of some way to ask some of the committee members exactly what went wrong. Am I simply not cut out for education? Am I a horrible teacher? Am I giving students bad advice when they come to me for help? Have I chosen the wrong career? Or was the person they hired simply superior? What went wrong? I've been plagued with doubts and uncertainties for the past couple of months, and over the past couple week or so, the spiral of self-doubt has been leading steadily downward as everyone continued to refuse to acknowledge the situation. I don't know how to approach the people who rejected me and ask them why--but it's driving me nuts not to know.
This afternoon, much to my initial relief, one of my Loft colleagues who was on the committee finally approached me and said, "Let's acknowledge the elephant in the room, shall we?" I can't tell you how good it felt to hear someone on the committee admit that it's been weird this fall. Unfortunately, her explanation for why I wasn't chosen fell a bit flat: they didn't like the font my CV is in because it's hard to read. THAT'S a reason to not hire someone? She couldn't remember any of the other things they'd said about me. But at least someone is admitting that everything isn't peachy, and I really appreciate her willingness to initiate a conversation that I know was difficult for her to have with me. However, her explanation shakes my confidence a lot more: the font of my CV was so bad that it overshadowed my qualifications? How bad of a font is it?! There MUST be a deeper reason than that. I suppose I'm going to have to go searching for someone who will be willing to share a bit more. I'm not sure who to go to though, since everyone else is still pretending I never applied for the job.
I feel completely stuck, as if my career has stalled and I can't get it started again. I've hit a brick wall at North, and I'm not sure how to find a door through to any sort of advancement. Even if I stay at Career Link for this school year, where will I be at the end of the year? Exactly where I was three years ago! Looking for a teaching job at a Seattle-area community college that pays me enough to pay my bills every month. After seven years of teaching, I'll still be working from quarter to quarter (if I'm lucky) without knowing if I'll have a job the following quarter. I'll have absolutely no job security, no guarantee that I'll be working three months after the quarter starts. Is this really how I want to live my life? Did I work so hard to earn an advanced degree that is essentially useless in the real world? What the hell else am I going to do with an M.A. in American literature? I still love teaching, but maybe I suck at it, and this is North's not-so-subtle way of letting me know. Anyone know how to grow back one's self confidence once it's been trampled?
This afternoon, much to my initial relief, one of my Loft colleagues who was on the committee finally approached me and said, "Let's acknowledge the elephant in the room, shall we?" I can't tell you how good it felt to hear someone on the committee admit that it's been weird this fall. Unfortunately, her explanation for why I wasn't chosen fell a bit flat: they didn't like the font my CV is in because it's hard to read. THAT'S a reason to not hire someone? She couldn't remember any of the other things they'd said about me. But at least someone is admitting that everything isn't peachy, and I really appreciate her willingness to initiate a conversation that I know was difficult for her to have with me. However, her explanation shakes my confidence a lot more: the font of my CV was so bad that it overshadowed my qualifications? How bad of a font is it?! There MUST be a deeper reason than that. I suppose I'm going to have to go searching for someone who will be willing to share a bit more. I'm not sure who to go to though, since everyone else is still pretending I never applied for the job.
I feel completely stuck, as if my career has stalled and I can't get it started again. I've hit a brick wall at North, and I'm not sure how to find a door through to any sort of advancement. Even if I stay at Career Link for this school year, where will I be at the end of the year? Exactly where I was three years ago! Looking for a teaching job at a Seattle-area community college that pays me enough to pay my bills every month. After seven years of teaching, I'll still be working from quarter to quarter (if I'm lucky) without knowing if I'll have a job the following quarter. I'll have absolutely no job security, no guarantee that I'll be working three months after the quarter starts. Is this really how I want to live my life? Did I work so hard to earn an advanced degree that is essentially useless in the real world? What the hell else am I going to do with an M.A. in American literature? I still love teaching, but maybe I suck at it, and this is North's not-so-subtle way of letting me know. Anyone know how to grow back one's self confidence once it's been trampled?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sick Me
I was hoping to avoid Michael's cold, but last night when I lay down in bed, my nose started running. Yesterday morning I woke up a little bit stuffy. This morning I woke up with a full-blown cold. Stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, the works! Yuck. And it's only Wednesday. The weekend is a long way away. Colds are just so annoying. I'm not sick enough to stay home from work, but I'm sick enough that I'll be uncomfortable all day. Whimper!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
A Really Great Day
Today has been (as the title suggests) a really great day. I haven't done anything that is amazingly exciting or anything, but today has been probably the least stressful day in the whole month of September. (Yes, I know there were a lot of days I enjoyed in September, but with the lingering stresses of the move and going back to work, even those good days had complications.)
Today started with a phone call to my sister Hope (after I woke up at 8:45--yay sleeping in!), who suggested that we meet for breakfast at Panera before we headed for the book sale half price day. Over yummy bagels (I highly recommend the French toast bagel with honey-walnut cream cheese) and orange juice, we exchanged gossip and caught up on each others' lives. Then we went to Target to get scrapbook supplies so that she can make a scrapbook of her honeymoon pictures. From there, we found our way to Magnuson and hit the book sale, finding another stack of fun-sounding books. We stopped back by Michael's and my place to drop off the books, and Michael had finally managed to get out of bed. By then, we were hungry again, so we had a bowl of homemade chicken soup with him while we showed him our loot from the book sale. Next, Hope and I headed to the mall to print the honeymoon pictures. Hope dropped me off back here around 2:00, and Michael and I took a nap. Yes, an actual nap. In the middle of the afternoon! When we got up, we popped some leftover pizza in the microwave and settled down to watch not just one but two silly movies. Michael is now taking a soothing bedtime shower, and I'm about to curl up with a book until he gets out, then we're going to bed early. Talk about a luxurious day! Now, I just need about a week of days like this one...
Today started with a phone call to my sister Hope (after I woke up at 8:45--yay sleeping in!), who suggested that we meet for breakfast at Panera before we headed for the book sale half price day. Over yummy bagels (I highly recommend the French toast bagel with honey-walnut cream cheese) and orange juice, we exchanged gossip and caught up on each others' lives. Then we went to Target to get scrapbook supplies so that she can make a scrapbook of her honeymoon pictures. From there, we found our way to Magnuson and hit the book sale, finding another stack of fun-sounding books. We stopped back by Michael's and my place to drop off the books, and Michael had finally managed to get out of bed. By then, we were hungry again, so we had a bowl of homemade chicken soup with him while we showed him our loot from the book sale. Next, Hope and I headed to the mall to print the honeymoon pictures. Hope dropped me off back here around 2:00, and Michael and I took a nap. Yes, an actual nap. In the middle of the afternoon! When we got up, we popped some leftover pizza in the microwave and settled down to watch not just one but two silly movies. Michael is now taking a soothing bedtime shower, and I'm about to curl up with a book until he gets out, then we're going to bed early. Talk about a luxurious day! Now, I just need about a week of days like this one...
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Library Book Sale
Last summer, by random chance, Michael and I discovered that the Seattle Public Library holds a book sale twice a year. They fill one of the old warehouses in Magnuson Park almost entirely to the brim with books, and then sell the books for the most reasonable prices out there: 50 cents for paperbacks (75 cents for oversized paperbacks) and $1.00 for hardbacks. And those are the first day prices--the second day of the sale, everything is half price! Michael and I wandered around on the first day of the summer sale and were impressed by the selection, and ended up stocking our shelves for summer reading that weekend. We were both impressed by the turnout at this event. Seattle's record of being the best educated city in the country really shows at things like book sales. Seattle is the only place (other than a Harry Potter book release) that I've seen people line up around a block to get books.
This weekend, the library is having its fall book sale. I discovered last summer that it's best to be there when the doors open, so that I can be the first person in the line in front of the tables. I get less jostled that way. I was a bit bruised during the first-day rush last summer. The line this morning was once again around the block, but when I got inside the huge building, I managed to head straight for the mystery tables and stock up once again on silly mystery books (my fun reading). I spent $14, and walked out with 24 books, including two Stephen Kings that weren't in our collection (amazingly--we've been pretty thorough). Tomorrow, I'm planning to go to half-price day with Hope and Michael, to see if there's anything else we need. I have a hunch I'll manage to find another bag of interesting-looking books, and I'm sure Michael will find an armful. I didn't even scan the science fiction tables this morning.
And yes--I remember that a month ago I was whining about how many books we have. Now that we're not trying to move them, it hardly seems we have enough. There's nothing like curling up on a cold winter day with a mug of hot chocolate and a mystery book!
This weekend, the library is having its fall book sale. I discovered last summer that it's best to be there when the doors open, so that I can be the first person in the line in front of the tables. I get less jostled that way. I was a bit bruised during the first-day rush last summer. The line this morning was once again around the block, but when I got inside the huge building, I managed to head straight for the mystery tables and stock up once again on silly mystery books (my fun reading). I spent $14, and walked out with 24 books, including two Stephen Kings that weren't in our collection (amazingly--we've been pretty thorough). Tomorrow, I'm planning to go to half-price day with Hope and Michael, to see if there's anything else we need. I have a hunch I'll manage to find another bag of interesting-looking books, and I'm sure Michael will find an armful. I didn't even scan the science fiction tables this morning.
And yes--I remember that a month ago I was whining about how many books we have. Now that we're not trying to move them, it hardly seems we have enough. There's nothing like curling up on a cold winter day with a mug of hot chocolate and a mystery book!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sick Boyfriend
Poor Michael came home from work last night violently sneezing. This morning, he woke up aching all over, with a sore throat and a very stuffy nose. He's come down with the first fall cold to turn up in our house. He's in the shower right now with something called a "shower soother," which is supposed to help with the stuffiness. I hope it works, because he looks pretty wiped out. Don't worry though--I'm making chicken soup, feeding him orange juice like crazy, and doing everything I can think of to make sure he rests.
Now, if only I can think of a way to avoid getting the bug myself...
Now, if only I can think of a way to avoid getting the bug myself...
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
CASAS Testing
So, since Career Link is now part of the ABE (Adult Basic Education) program at NSCC, making us an "official" GED program this year, we're required to give our students the state-mandated CASAS test. This probably works fine for older students, but try explaining to a room full of 17 year olds that in addition to the five tests that make up the GED, they're also going to have to take an additional five tests every quarter for no apparent reason other than the state demanding that they do. I gave my students the first test today, I'll give another on Monday, and a third at the end of the quarter.
Already today, they were demanding to know what the point was, and I couldn't give them a really good answer. They have to take both the math and the reading tests, without taking into account that many of them have already passed the GED tests in one or both of those subjects. I ended up telling them that today's math and reading tests were just for placement purposes, to help Deanna and I figure out which reading and math groups they should be in. Still, there were many bitter complaints about how many tests they have to take. I agree with them that if they've already passed the GED tests, there really isn't any point in making them take more tests in those subjects.
We really need to reform the testing system (the whole education system) in this country, to do away with a lot of the useless crap and really educate our population!
Already today, they were demanding to know what the point was, and I couldn't give them a really good answer. They have to take both the math and the reading tests, without taking into account that many of them have already passed the GED tests in one or both of those subjects. I ended up telling them that today's math and reading tests were just for placement purposes, to help Deanna and I figure out which reading and math groups they should be in. Still, there were many bitter complaints about how many tests they have to take. I agree with them that if they've already passed the GED tests, there really isn't any point in making them take more tests in those subjects.
We really need to reform the testing system (the whole education system) in this country, to do away with a lot of the useless crap and really educate our population!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Back to School
While Monday was the first official day of fall quarter at NSCC, Career Link didn't start until today, because yesterday was taken up with faculty meetings and last-minute student registrations. Thus, today was my first day back in the classroom this fall. Even given all the budget cuts and financial woes going on (thanks again President Bush), it felt really great to be back at Career Link. We have a fresh crop of around 40 kids, which is smaller than last year's bunch, and means I won't have 50 kids in each class I teach (whew). With 20 kids in each class, all of them are going to get a lot more individual attention, from which I think most of them will benefit a great deal. The new crew seems like a really bright group of young people. Both classes asked good questions, and since they all know this may be the last year of Career Link, they're all very motivated to pass their GED tests before the program shuts down. After talking to them today, I don't think we have a single student who I think won't be able to earn a GED. I'm anticipating a very pleasant school year.
Speaking of back to school, I don't think Michael has bragged about this anywhere yet, so I'll do it for him. When he registered for classes for fall, he finally checked his grades from spring quarter, and guess what? He got a perfect 4.0 and made the dean's list again! I knew that he'd thrive in college once he convinced himself that it was time to go back! My boy is awesome! He's taking another full load of classes this fall: anthropology, logic, and Spanish. I have full confidence that he'll get through this quarter with flying colors.
We're starting to get back into the school-year routine. Tonight was probably our last night for a while to have time to sit down together at the dining room table for a real dinner, as we're back on the schedule where Michael works until 10:00 most nights, and I don't get home until 7:00. I have to remind myself that this arrangement is only until Michael is through with school. Besides that, it makes me appreciate the little moments we get together all the more. (And I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving break!) Michael is in the office now, diligently working on his homework, and I've just finished cleaning the kitchen. I'll call Michael back to the table when I finish this post, so that we can have some dessert, and then it will be about bedtime, because tomorrow is a school day.
Speaking of back to school, I don't think Michael has bragged about this anywhere yet, so I'll do it for him. When he registered for classes for fall, he finally checked his grades from spring quarter, and guess what? He got a perfect 4.0 and made the dean's list again! I knew that he'd thrive in college once he convinced himself that it was time to go back! My boy is awesome! He's taking another full load of classes this fall: anthropology, logic, and Spanish. I have full confidence that he'll get through this quarter with flying colors.
We're starting to get back into the school-year routine. Tonight was probably our last night for a while to have time to sit down together at the dining room table for a real dinner, as we're back on the schedule where Michael works until 10:00 most nights, and I don't get home until 7:00. I have to remind myself that this arrangement is only until Michael is through with school. Besides that, it makes me appreciate the little moments we get together all the more. (And I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving break!) Michael is in the office now, diligently working on his homework, and I've just finished cleaning the kitchen. I'll call Michael back to the table when I finish this post, so that we can have some dessert, and then it will be about bedtime, because tomorrow is a school day.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A Family Portrait
A Family Portrait
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
Michael's parents were able to visit us shortly after the move was complete. We had an enjoyable couple of days visiting with them before they were off in the Turtle (their new RV), driving back to Alaska in their new toy.
Boy Relaxing in the Park
Boy Relaxing in the Park
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
During the moving process, we did steal one gorgeous afternoon and head for Magnuson to pick some blackberries and enjoy the tail end of summer.
Moving Pictures
How Much Stuff Do We Have?
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
For anyone who would like to see pictures of what our apartment looked like before it was organized and beautiful, I took a few during the moving process. Michael will post the "after" pictures on his page. Trust me, it looks a million times better now! I'm so glad to be done with moving!
Welcome Back, World!
The month of September has been a really frustrating month so far, and with classes starting tomorrow, there doesn't seem much possibility that things are going to become less stressful. Coming home from a tropical island vacation to an unplanned move is not how I'd recommend anyone spend the last few weeks of summer vacation. In fact, these were going to be my only vacation time this summer that was unplanned by anyone else (not that I don't thank those of you who planned vacations for us). I was looking forward to sitting by the pool with a book, which I didn't get to do once before they closed the pool for the fall!
Yesterday we finally got the apartment up and running entirely. I think one of the hardest parts of the whole move was the incompetence of out Internet provider, who stalled and stalled on installing our service. It shouldn't have taken nearly three weeks for us to move from one building to another. Our address barely changed, for goodness sake! It felt like we were having a bad conversation on repeat.
Us (On Sept. 4th): Is there any way to speed up the process? This move was unplanned, and we couldn't call you before now to set things up.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?
Us: Would it be possible to have anyone out here sooner than that? You see, the move was unplanned.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?
Us: Yes, but could you make it sooner? We'll be without phone and Internet for a month by then.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out on the 21st. How would that be?
At which point we just gave up and agreed that the 21st would be lovely, and spent the next three weeks checking our email at the school when we had time (sorry to anyone whose email I didn't respond to). On the morning of the 21st, the conversation changed.
Them: Good morning. How are you today?
Me (suspiciously): Fine. Why are you calling? Why aren't you here?
Them: Well, one of our technicians called in sick this morning, and we were wondering if it would be possible to reschedule your installation.
Me: It would be impossible. I took the day off from work to stay home today in order for the installation to happen today. It has to happen today. There isn't any other option.
Them: Oh. Well, let us see what we can do. we'll call you back in a few minutes.
(Half an hour later...)
Them: We think we can give you an appointment sometime between 4:00 and 7:00 this afternoon. (Our original appointment was between 8:00 and noon, and it was now about 10:30.)
Me: That will be fine, as long as it happens today.
Them: We'll call you back once we confirm your appointment.
(45 minutes later...)
Them: It's all set. We'll have a technician there between 4:00 and 7:00.
Me: Great!
(At around 5:00...)
Technician: I'll be there in about ten minutes.
(45 minutes later...)
Technician: Hi, I'm here to install your modem.
Me: Don't we already have a modem?
Technician: Oh, yeah, it looks like you do. Well, just let me fiddle with a few wires.
Me: Okay.
(Fifteen minutes later...)
Technician: That's all I can do. It looks like you have a short in your phone wiring somewhere near the street. The phone company will be out sometime in the next couple of days to fix it. Goodbye.
Me: (Jaw dropped silence.)
At that point, Michael got on the phone and negotiated by telling them that we wanted to cancel our account, at which point they did some negotiating of their own and the problem was fixed by 10:30 yesterday morning, and now we're back online. I have to say, during our next move, we're very likely to switch Internet providers! At least everything is working now. Whew! I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen.
Yesterday we finally got the apartment up and running entirely. I think one of the hardest parts of the whole move was the incompetence of out Internet provider, who stalled and stalled on installing our service. It shouldn't have taken nearly three weeks for us to move from one building to another. Our address barely changed, for goodness sake! It felt like we were having a bad conversation on repeat.
Us (On Sept. 4th): Is there any way to speed up the process? This move was unplanned, and we couldn't call you before now to set things up.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?
Us: Would it be possible to have anyone out here sooner than that? You see, the move was unplanned.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?
Us: Yes, but could you make it sooner? We'll be without phone and Internet for a month by then.
Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out on the 21st. How would that be?
At which point we just gave up and agreed that the 21st would be lovely, and spent the next three weeks checking our email at the school when we had time (sorry to anyone whose email I didn't respond to). On the morning of the 21st, the conversation changed.
Them: Good morning. How are you today?
Me (suspiciously): Fine. Why are you calling? Why aren't you here?
Them: Well, one of our technicians called in sick this morning, and we were wondering if it would be possible to reschedule your installation.
Me: It would be impossible. I took the day off from work to stay home today in order for the installation to happen today. It has to happen today. There isn't any other option.
Them: Oh. Well, let us see what we can do. we'll call you back in a few minutes.
(Half an hour later...)
Them: We think we can give you an appointment sometime between 4:00 and 7:00 this afternoon. (Our original appointment was between 8:00 and noon, and it was now about 10:30.)
Me: That will be fine, as long as it happens today.
Them: We'll call you back once we confirm your appointment.
(45 minutes later...)
Them: It's all set. We'll have a technician there between 4:00 and 7:00.
Me: Great!
(At around 5:00...)
Technician: I'll be there in about ten minutes.
(45 minutes later...)
Technician: Hi, I'm here to install your modem.
Me: Don't we already have a modem?
Technician: Oh, yeah, it looks like you do. Well, just let me fiddle with a few wires.
Me: Okay.
(Fifteen minutes later...)
Technician: That's all I can do. It looks like you have a short in your phone wiring somewhere near the street. The phone company will be out sometime in the next couple of days to fix it. Goodbye.
Me: (Jaw dropped silence.)
At that point, Michael got on the phone and negotiated by telling them that we wanted to cancel our account, at which point they did some negotiating of their own and the problem was fixed by 10:30 yesterday morning, and now we're back online. I have to say, during our next move, we're very likely to switch Internet providers! At least everything is working now. Whew! I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Getting There
We spent yet another full day packing things, moving things, and unpacking things. I'd say we're mostly moved. There's a little bit of stuff left in Michael's office, and my clothes still need to be moved over, but overall, things are mostly in the new place. NOw we just have to find places for all of them. Michael worked most today, so the crew of Dad and Hope and Peter and I were the movers. We hauled boxes until around noon, when we ran out of empty boxes to put more stuff into. Then Dad and the newlyweds headed for Hope's place for lunch, and I started the tedious chore of unpacking all of the things I'd spent the morning putting into boxes. I really hate moving! And I wish we'd been given more notice that we were going to have to move. Moving requires a certain mind-frame, I think, and it takes longer than a day or two for me to get used to the idea of uprooting everything and causing complete upheaval and chaos. I've been pretty miserable for the past few days, although I freely admit that I like the new apartment, and once everything is settled it's going to be wonderful.
This is likely the last post I'll make for a while, because our Internet service won't be transfered to the new place for a week or two, and we're planning to move my computer over tonight.
This is likely the last post I'll make for a while, because our Internet service won't be transfered to the new place for a week or two, and we're planning to move my computer over tonight.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
It's a Start
After spending the last few days packing boxes and planning out the move, Michael and I finally have the keys to our new apartment (yay). We moved over a few things this morning, but then Michael had to leave for work. Fortunately, my sister Hope was able to come over and help me this afternoon, and we got most of the kitchen and bathroom stuff moved. I'm planning to spend the rest of this evening (Michael is at work until 10:00) packing over as much of the rest of the kitchen stuff as I can, then unpacking it all and seeing if I can have a working kitchen by the time Michael gets home. My dad is coming tomorrow to help us with the big furniture, and Hope and Peter will be back to help. Still, it's going to be an exhausting couple of days, and I'm already tired! I'll be glad when we're settled again!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Next Step
Some of you have asked about what I will do now that the Loft directorship is no longer on the table. The simple answer is this: I'll look for another job. I don't really have any idea what that new job will be, nor do I have a lot of time to think about it right now as I'm getting us ready to move. Fortunately for me, my current work situation is such that I have a whole year to research and find the perfect next job for me.
I'll remain in my current teaching position at Career Link for the school year, and I did accept a full tutoring schedule at the Loft (although I'm still waiting to see if I like the new director). Even without the Loft hours, my teaching job will pay enough for me to be comfortable while I look for something else.
Why not just stay at Career Link indefinitely? I might, if I knew it would be guaranteed employment. Sadly (mostly sad for the kids this is going to hurt--shame on you President Bush and No Child Left Behind!), the funding for the program has been cut. This is a direct result of No Child Left Behind, which stipulates that a GED is not an acceptable outcome--only a high school diploma will satisfy the requirements. Career Link has enough budget surplus from the past few years to operate for one more year. What will the kids do when Career Link closes? According to the president and his cronies, they'll go back to high school and finish their diplomas like they should.
Forget that there are a lot of kids out there for whom high school is such a toxic experience that there's no way they're going to attend often enough to satisfy the requirements of a high school diploma. They don't have the right clothes. They don't have the right body type. They don't listen to the right music, watch the right movies, say the right things. They don't have the money popularity requires. They're picked on, bullied, and tormented to the point that they're afraid to go to school.
Forget that there are kids who come from single parent homes where no one has EVER tucked them in at night and read them stories. Their parent(s) are too busy trying to survive that they don't have time to provide a so-called normal childhood for their children. About three-quarters my class last spring didn't know the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid, and when I asked them what their favorite bedtime stories were when they were kids, most of them replied that no one had read to them. No one is there when they get home from school, with milk and cookies and help with homework. No one makes sure they eat breakfast before they leave for school in the morning. No one takes them on family vacations every summer. No one takes them to the zoo or other enriching places on weekends. No one makes a big dinner on Thanksgiving or plays Santa on Christmas. The adults in my students' lives hardly have time to remember they have children most of the time.
Forget that many of them come from houses where the so-called responsible adults in their lives are entirely drugged out of their minds. I have students who come to school hungry because their mothers have used all the food money to buy crack. I have students who come to school and complain that their fathers smoked all their cigarettes, and they need a nicotine fix or they won't be able to pay attention in class.
Forget that many of them have drug problems of their own to contend with. I have students who come to school so high they fall asleep in the back row of my classroom, and when I wake them they are so stupefied they don't remember where they are, and their glazed over expression and the scent of pot tells me all I need to know about the problem. I have students who are in and out of rehab on a regular basis, never quite managing to get completely clean before their beds are given to more severe cases.
Forget that a lot of them are too scared to go home, because home is where they're physically, sexually, mentally, or otherwise abused. They live on the streets or with friends who have slightly better circumstances than their own, sleeping on floors, in cardboard boxes, and under bridges. These kids fall asleep in my classroom because it's the first safe, warm place they've been after a weekend on the streets. Quite frankly, I let them sleep because they're too scared and exhausted to stay awake.
Forget that many of them are teenage parents, both fathers and mothers, trying to finish a GED after they've been forced to drop out of high school to support babies. High school is a full time job for a teenager, and my students don't have time to pretend high school is important while they're learning to be parents and working real full time jobs to support their children. They're hoping to get a GED, which will allow them to get slightly better jobs than flipping burgers at Mac Donald's, so that maybe their babies might have a better childhood than they did.
Forget that many of them have learning disabilities that, because of lack of money and health insurance in their homes and insufficient social services and overworked school employees, have never been diagnosed or have been misdiagnosed. They suffer in high school classrooms, falling quietly behind their peers or acting the part of class clowns to cover for their insufficiencies. No one ever notices that they're struggling until they give up and drop out, at which point they're so credit deficit and behind in their studies that they could work until they're 35 and still not get that high school diploma.
For my students, a high school diploma is as far out of reach as an all-expense paid trip to the moon. Life has dealt them a really crappy hand, and while they're doing all they can to cope with all their other problems, it isn't realistic to expect them to succeed in the candy-coated world of cheerleaders and football players, popularity and proms. That they're willing to attend classes and try to get a GED is enough of a miracle. I wish the pristine, black business suited politicians, who send their own children to the best private schools in the country, would be forced for just one month to live the lives my students have led since birth, and then say to my students that they should attend a regular high school and graduate with a high school diploma. It's disgusting that No Child Left Behind is leaving behind so many young people. What will these kids do when GED programs are gone? Tell me they won't be left behind. It's not like any of them are going to suddenly decide to return to high school and get high school diplomas. No Child Left Behind is further contributing to the poverty and lack of education that is bringing the United States further and further down the world scale, both socially and economically. It is an act that purposely leaves behind a whole lot of children: the poor, the abused, the drug addicted, the less academically gifted, those who don't fit in at a high school. President Bush and his friends would rather pretend that these "undesirable" children do not exist, that every child in the United States is as lucky as their own children. I don't know how people of such privilege can ignore the suffering of so many children, but it seems that they can.
What will I do next, when Career Link closes its doors next June? I'm hoping I'll find a job as a youth advocate (or education advocate) in some way. Someone has to keep fighting for people who are too downtrodden to use their own voices! I'll look for another GED program, an adult education program, a youth center, another teaching position that will allow me to continue to help those who are being left behind every day, from the minute they're born. I definitely want to continue to work with marginalized populations in some capacity. This summer's ESL classes and my work in the Loft have shown me another route that is open to me, which would be helping the immigrant population, much of which lives in situations as atrocious as my Career Link students'. I think there are a lot of options out there for people who want to help other people. While these jobs might not pay a lot, I don't require a mansion and a beach house and a fancy car with a driver. Helping other people pays enough to keep healthy food on the table, a sound roof over my head, and so many of life's little luxuries that I seem really rich when I compare myself to most of the rest of the world.
I might have whined about not getting the Loft directorship, but in the end, I still have a great job, an amazing education that no one can ever take from me, a wonderful and stable family, an incredible boyfriend who supports me unconditionally and loves me even when I'm stressed out, and a comfortable home. I'm luckier than most people. I think I have a responsibility to share some of that with people less fortunate than myself.
I'll remain in my current teaching position at Career Link for the school year, and I did accept a full tutoring schedule at the Loft (although I'm still waiting to see if I like the new director). Even without the Loft hours, my teaching job will pay enough for me to be comfortable while I look for something else.
Why not just stay at Career Link indefinitely? I might, if I knew it would be guaranteed employment. Sadly (mostly sad for the kids this is going to hurt--shame on you President Bush and No Child Left Behind!), the funding for the program has been cut. This is a direct result of No Child Left Behind, which stipulates that a GED is not an acceptable outcome--only a high school diploma will satisfy the requirements. Career Link has enough budget surplus from the past few years to operate for one more year. What will the kids do when Career Link closes? According to the president and his cronies, they'll go back to high school and finish their diplomas like they should.
Forget that there are a lot of kids out there for whom high school is such a toxic experience that there's no way they're going to attend often enough to satisfy the requirements of a high school diploma. They don't have the right clothes. They don't have the right body type. They don't listen to the right music, watch the right movies, say the right things. They don't have the money popularity requires. They're picked on, bullied, and tormented to the point that they're afraid to go to school.
Forget that there are kids who come from single parent homes where no one has EVER tucked them in at night and read them stories. Their parent(s) are too busy trying to survive that they don't have time to provide a so-called normal childhood for their children. About three-quarters my class last spring didn't know the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid, and when I asked them what their favorite bedtime stories were when they were kids, most of them replied that no one had read to them. No one is there when they get home from school, with milk and cookies and help with homework. No one makes sure they eat breakfast before they leave for school in the morning. No one takes them on family vacations every summer. No one takes them to the zoo or other enriching places on weekends. No one makes a big dinner on Thanksgiving or plays Santa on Christmas. The adults in my students' lives hardly have time to remember they have children most of the time.
Forget that many of them come from houses where the so-called responsible adults in their lives are entirely drugged out of their minds. I have students who come to school hungry because their mothers have used all the food money to buy crack. I have students who come to school and complain that their fathers smoked all their cigarettes, and they need a nicotine fix or they won't be able to pay attention in class.
Forget that many of them have drug problems of their own to contend with. I have students who come to school so high they fall asleep in the back row of my classroom, and when I wake them they are so stupefied they don't remember where they are, and their glazed over expression and the scent of pot tells me all I need to know about the problem. I have students who are in and out of rehab on a regular basis, never quite managing to get completely clean before their beds are given to more severe cases.
Forget that a lot of them are too scared to go home, because home is where they're physically, sexually, mentally, or otherwise abused. They live on the streets or with friends who have slightly better circumstances than their own, sleeping on floors, in cardboard boxes, and under bridges. These kids fall asleep in my classroom because it's the first safe, warm place they've been after a weekend on the streets. Quite frankly, I let them sleep because they're too scared and exhausted to stay awake.
Forget that many of them are teenage parents, both fathers and mothers, trying to finish a GED after they've been forced to drop out of high school to support babies. High school is a full time job for a teenager, and my students don't have time to pretend high school is important while they're learning to be parents and working real full time jobs to support their children. They're hoping to get a GED, which will allow them to get slightly better jobs than flipping burgers at Mac Donald's, so that maybe their babies might have a better childhood than they did.
Forget that many of them have learning disabilities that, because of lack of money and health insurance in their homes and insufficient social services and overworked school employees, have never been diagnosed or have been misdiagnosed. They suffer in high school classrooms, falling quietly behind their peers or acting the part of class clowns to cover for their insufficiencies. No one ever notices that they're struggling until they give up and drop out, at which point they're so credit deficit and behind in their studies that they could work until they're 35 and still not get that high school diploma.
For my students, a high school diploma is as far out of reach as an all-expense paid trip to the moon. Life has dealt them a really crappy hand, and while they're doing all they can to cope with all their other problems, it isn't realistic to expect them to succeed in the candy-coated world of cheerleaders and football players, popularity and proms. That they're willing to attend classes and try to get a GED is enough of a miracle. I wish the pristine, black business suited politicians, who send their own children to the best private schools in the country, would be forced for just one month to live the lives my students have led since birth, and then say to my students that they should attend a regular high school and graduate with a high school diploma. It's disgusting that No Child Left Behind is leaving behind so many young people. What will these kids do when GED programs are gone? Tell me they won't be left behind. It's not like any of them are going to suddenly decide to return to high school and get high school diplomas. No Child Left Behind is further contributing to the poverty and lack of education that is bringing the United States further and further down the world scale, both socially and economically. It is an act that purposely leaves behind a whole lot of children: the poor, the abused, the drug addicted, the less academically gifted, those who don't fit in at a high school. President Bush and his friends would rather pretend that these "undesirable" children do not exist, that every child in the United States is as lucky as their own children. I don't know how people of such privilege can ignore the suffering of so many children, but it seems that they can.
What will I do next, when Career Link closes its doors next June? I'm hoping I'll find a job as a youth advocate (or education advocate) in some way. Someone has to keep fighting for people who are too downtrodden to use their own voices! I'll look for another GED program, an adult education program, a youth center, another teaching position that will allow me to continue to help those who are being left behind every day, from the minute they're born. I definitely want to continue to work with marginalized populations in some capacity. This summer's ESL classes and my work in the Loft have shown me another route that is open to me, which would be helping the immigrant population, much of which lives in situations as atrocious as my Career Link students'. I think there are a lot of options out there for people who want to help other people. While these jobs might not pay a lot, I don't require a mansion and a beach house and a fancy car with a driver. Helping other people pays enough to keep healthy food on the table, a sound roof over my head, and so many of life's little luxuries that I seem really rich when I compare myself to most of the rest of the world.
I might have whined about not getting the Loft directorship, but in the end, I still have a great job, an amazing education that no one can ever take from me, a wonderful and stable family, an incredible boyfriend who supports me unconditionally and loves me even when I'm stressed out, and a comfortable home. I'm luckier than most people. I think I have a responsibility to share some of that with people less fortunate than myself.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Books!
I've spent the past few days packing our books, and I'm still not through them all. I keep running out of boxes. I knew we had a lot of books, but wow--I didn't know there were quite this many! And I still have several shelves to go. But I'm out of boxes again. Fortunately, Michael will be around tomorrow and the next day to help with the effort. Our living room looks really sad like this, with depleted shelves. I'll be really glad when we're all moved in to the new place and everything is organized again. It' impossible to walk through the living room at the moment, because there are stacks of boxes everywhere. I despise moving, although I know I'm going to like the new apartment. This part is a pain though!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Disappointment (?)
Okay, so I (finally) got an email from the Loft hiring committee, and as I suspected, I didn't get the job. While I was pretty sure this was going to be the news I got, it's still a disappointment. I know all the people in the Loft really wanted me to get it, and I feel like in some way I'm letting them down, even though I know I tried my hardest. I'm not used to trying as hard as I can to get something, then not getting it. Maybe I've been spoiled. But I know that I've been good at every job I've ever had, even those I didn't like very much, and I would have been an awesome director for the Loft. Whoever they hired had better be spectacular, or I have a hunch the Loft might lose a bunch of tutors.
Now I have to decide if I want to go back this fall as a tutor. Part of me does. I mean, I do love tutoring. And my students like being able to come to the Loft and work with me. On the other hand, it might be wisest to cut my losses and move on with my life. I'm 30 years old. That's a little bit too old to be fiddling around with a dead-end career, in my opinion, and there doesn't seem to be much of a chance I'll be upwardly mobile at North. It's frustrating. Maybe I'm being impatient. Maybe if I stick it out a little longer, something great will open up. Maybe I'm not management material--maybe I'm a teacher, and I should stay with what I know I do well. I don't know. I seem to be having a low confidence evening. I can tell myself as many times as I want that I'm good at my job, but when something like this happens, I always question my abilities and wonder if I've chosen the right career, even though my chosen career has been teaching and not administration.
Of course, the money and the title would have been nice with the director job. But would I have really wanted to do the job? I'm not sure. Sometimes I think that I would be really good at it, and other times I think it would be a waste of my creativity and teaching talent to go into administration. The part of education I like best is getting my students to believe that learning can be fun, and administrators have very little contact with actual students, as I learned from watching Pappi. I don't think I'm the sort of person who would be happy managing employees and balancing budgets. I'd rather come up with new lesson plans. Maybe not getting this job is the right thing for me. Maybe I was just enticed by the title, and I didn't give enough consideration to whether I really wanted the job or not, and the hiring committee noticed this. (Please let it be that, and not that they think I'm incompetent. Ack! Insecurity!)
I'll be returning to my teaching position this fall, at least. Back to good old Career Link. It will feel good to work with the kids, and I always feel very successful as they start to get their GEDs and feel better about themselves. They're fun to teach, and I enjoy the challenge. It would have been sad not to have a classroom in the fall, I suppose. I know I'll like it when I get there. All I have to decide now is whether I'll continue to tutor. Probably. I did promise my ESL students I'd see them in the Loft this fall.
Now I have to decide if I want to go back this fall as a tutor. Part of me does. I mean, I do love tutoring. And my students like being able to come to the Loft and work with me. On the other hand, it might be wisest to cut my losses and move on with my life. I'm 30 years old. That's a little bit too old to be fiddling around with a dead-end career, in my opinion, and there doesn't seem to be much of a chance I'll be upwardly mobile at North. It's frustrating. Maybe I'm being impatient. Maybe if I stick it out a little longer, something great will open up. Maybe I'm not management material--maybe I'm a teacher, and I should stay with what I know I do well. I don't know. I seem to be having a low confidence evening. I can tell myself as many times as I want that I'm good at my job, but when something like this happens, I always question my abilities and wonder if I've chosen the right career, even though my chosen career has been teaching and not administration.
Of course, the money and the title would have been nice with the director job. But would I have really wanted to do the job? I'm not sure. Sometimes I think that I would be really good at it, and other times I think it would be a waste of my creativity and teaching talent to go into administration. The part of education I like best is getting my students to believe that learning can be fun, and administrators have very little contact with actual students, as I learned from watching Pappi. I don't think I'm the sort of person who would be happy managing employees and balancing budgets. I'd rather come up with new lesson plans. Maybe not getting this job is the right thing for me. Maybe I was just enticed by the title, and I didn't give enough consideration to whether I really wanted the job or not, and the hiring committee noticed this. (Please let it be that, and not that they think I'm incompetent. Ack! Insecurity!)
I'll be returning to my teaching position this fall, at least. Back to good old Career Link. It will feel good to work with the kids, and I always feel very successful as they start to get their GEDs and feel better about themselves. They're fun to teach, and I enjoy the challenge. It would have been sad not to have a classroom in the fall, I suppose. I know I'll like it when I get there. All I have to decide now is whether I'll continue to tutor. Probably. I did promise my ESL students I'd see them in the Loft this fall.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
My Wedding Dinner Toast
While they didn't ask everyone to do this, I had two stories that I wanted to tell at Hope's wedding, so in addition to the blessing, I also wrote a toast to give at the wedding feast. I chose not to give it to the whole table (there were simply too many people to hear me), but I did read it to the bride and groom (and a few others who were close enough to hear). Here's the text:
In our family, Hope is the youngest. This means that for her whole childhood, she worked as hard as she could to keep up with me and Kima. If we got roller skates, she wanted roller skates too--and never mind that she'd hardly learned to walk yet!
When she was about five years old, one of the things she desperately wanted was to be able to ride her little red bicycle without training wheels. Long after Kima and I had gone inside, tired of our bikes and on to our Strawberry Shortcake dolls and Care Bears, she'd be outside practicing so that she'd be ready for the training wheels to come off.
At the house where we lived at the time, there was a path along one side that led nowhere but a rather steep and rocky drop to the river that flowed in front o four house. One day, little Hope was out practicing on her bicycle. Bicycles were meant to go fast, in her opinion. She roared down the path... And forgot to use the brakes.
Of course, she fell off the bike before it went into the river. My mom found her sitting on the bank, crying.
Was she hurt? No, not really.
Was she scared? Sort of.
Why was she crying?
She was ticked off that her bike was in the river and she had to stop practicing!
After dinner, Dad fished her bike out of the river, and she hopped right back on like nothing had happened.
A few weeks later, the training wheels came off the bicycle. Unlike Kima and I, who both rode straight across the road and crashed into the bushes, Hope hopped right on that two-wheeled bike and rode perfectly.
Hope and Peter, I think your relationship has been similar to this little analogy. You fell off the bike once or twice while you were learning to ride, but you knew you had something great, so you kept working on it. You have always approached your relationship with the same determination and dedication as little Hope showed when she learned to ride a bike.
Today, the training wheels came off of your relationship, and I'm confident that you're going to be able to ride smoothly. So, here's my toast: "To riding without training wheels!"
P.S. Michael is working on the wedding pictures. They'll be up on his site as soon as possible, for those of you who are curious about the wedding ceremony. I was too distracted by the beauty of the ceremony (and my gorgeous little sister) to take any pictures of my own.
In our family, Hope is the youngest. This means that for her whole childhood, she worked as hard as she could to keep up with me and Kima. If we got roller skates, she wanted roller skates too--and never mind that she'd hardly learned to walk yet!
When she was about five years old, one of the things she desperately wanted was to be able to ride her little red bicycle without training wheels. Long after Kima and I had gone inside, tired of our bikes and on to our Strawberry Shortcake dolls and Care Bears, she'd be outside practicing so that she'd be ready for the training wheels to come off.
At the house where we lived at the time, there was a path along one side that led nowhere but a rather steep and rocky drop to the river that flowed in front o four house. One day, little Hope was out practicing on her bicycle. Bicycles were meant to go fast, in her opinion. She roared down the path... And forgot to use the brakes.
Of course, she fell off the bike before it went into the river. My mom found her sitting on the bank, crying.
Was she hurt? No, not really.
Was she scared? Sort of.
Why was she crying?
She was ticked off that her bike was in the river and she had to stop practicing!
After dinner, Dad fished her bike out of the river, and she hopped right back on like nothing had happened.
A few weeks later, the training wheels came off the bicycle. Unlike Kima and I, who both rode straight across the road and crashed into the bushes, Hope hopped right on that two-wheeled bike and rode perfectly.
Hope and Peter, I think your relationship has been similar to this little analogy. You fell off the bike once or twice while you were learning to ride, but you knew you had something great, so you kept working on it. You have always approached your relationship with the same determination and dedication as little Hope showed when she learned to ride a bike.
Today, the training wheels came off of your relationship, and I'm confident that you're going to be able to ride smoothly. So, here's my toast: "To riding without training wheels!"
P.S. Michael is working on the wedding pictures. They'll be up on his site as soon as possible, for those of you who are curious about the wedding ceremony. I was too distracted by the beauty of the ceremony (and my gorgeous little sister) to take any pictures of my own.
My Blessing for Hope's Wedding
Hope and Peter requested that each guest at their wedding prepare a short blessing or bit of advice for the couple. As the photographer, Michael was let off the hook. I, however, wracked my brains for a few weeks preparing my blessing for them. I thought the blessings from their friends and family were one of the best parts of the ceremony. While I can't recreate them all here for you, I can at least give you the text of my blessing:
When Hope was a very little girl, she and Kima and I shared a bedroom. Hope was scared of the dark. Well, to tell the truth, so were Kima and I, but we were far too grown up to protest. Hope, on the other hand, protested loudly enough that a night light was produced.
That small night light, christened "Mickey Glower" because of it's Mickey Mouse shape, comforted us through many scary nights with its soft orange glow.
Now, we're all grown up, and my little sister Hope is getting married today. My wish for Hope and Peter is that their relationship will be blessed with bright and happy days and comfortable and safe nights as they bask in the glow of their love for each other.
When Hope was a very little girl, she and Kima and I shared a bedroom. Hope was scared of the dark. Well, to tell the truth, so were Kima and I, but we were far too grown up to protest. Hope, on the other hand, protested loudly enough that a night light was produced.
That small night light, christened "Mickey Glower" because of it's Mickey Mouse shape, comforted us through many scary nights with its soft orange glow.
Now, we're all grown up, and my little sister Hope is getting married today. My wish for Hope and Peter is that their relationship will be blessed with bright and happy days and comfortable and safe nights as they bask in the glow of their love for each other.
Housing Update
Michael and I just toured the other apartment in our complex that's up for grabs, and we're going to take it. It's actually better arranged than our current apartment (and we thought this one was great). It's on the ground floor, so no stairs to fight with. It's close to both of the doors into the building, close to two parking lots, and on the same floor as the laundry facility and the storage lockers. It has better in-apartment storage areas, more closets, and newer appliances, not to mention that as I type this they're painting the walls and installing new carpet! The linoleum in the kitchen is even a better color and will match more of our stuff. The windows don't have a view of a cherry tree, but they do face a big maple tree and a gorgeous evergreen tree, and we won't be facing the front parking lot anymore, so people won't be constantly peeking in our front windows. We'll also be much closer to the new pool (it'll be right outside the front door--just walk down the hallway and jump in the pool, basically). In spite of the pain of moving (and I don't think this will be all that painful a move), I think we're really going to like the new apartment.
Hawaiian Sunset at Kona Airport
Hawaiian Sunset at Kona Airport
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
Hawaii gave us one last treat, right before we got on the plane to head home: the most beautiful sunset of the entire trip. Goodbye Hawaii! We had a great time!
Boy at Kona Airport
Boy at Kona Airport
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown
We had a couple hours to kill at the airport after we returned our rental car, so we picked up informative coloring books with pictures of Hawaiian animals and plants and fish, and spent the time learning about all the things we'd seen on our trip (and coloring in a few pictures).
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