City Dweller Suburban Drone

Something interesting

2010-04-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

I made this for my mom from all the cool things we heard from people after my Dad passes away. If you click on the wordle it will bring you to a larger version. It's pretty cool.

Shout out to William Carlos Williams

2010-03-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

This is just to say...

I have exhausted

my patience

with the poetry

project

and again

the students

ask the same

questions

Help me

it seemed so clear

so defined

and so possible

Back from the dead

2010-03-15T18:24:00.000-07:00

I found this and felt it greatly embodies two of my passions. One new, one old. Tattoos and Sylvia Plath.

For more of my tattooed literate brethren check this out:

http://www.contrariwise.org

Guess which of these I want next.

Defender of the Q-tips

2009-05-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is what I found in my bathroom 2 days ago.

I never realized that my Q-tips needed protection, but I was wrong. So, so wrong.

So the next day this is what I found. Obviously there was some pretty intense action during the night. Thank God the Q-tips are safe.

As you can well imagine, this morning there was a new development. The encroachment of an evil so insidious. Watch out Q-tip Defender!

More details to follow I am sure.

Disclaimer: I do pick up my bathroom but I thought it was worth leaving these in place until the drama has played out.

The Root of All My Early Fears

2009-04-16T18:13:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon this and all the fears returned. I remembered every sinister minute of the opening of the show. I was only 2 years old when this show ran. I guess this would be my first memory.

I didn't realize the damage Sid and Marty Krofft could do. They did however redeem themselves with Land of the Lost. The most awesome show of all.

I hope you enjoyed the state of the art 1974 effects.

What has the World come to?

2009-04-15T19:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, I try to be a patient person. That's a great way to start a post, right? You know it will be a very positive message I deliver today with such a beginning. Anyway, the Minnesota Legislature is thinking about making it possible for people who have a bachelor's degree in something to take a 5 week course and become a teacher. It really is a simple job. Any person off the street really can do it. All we do is babysit and teach to a test. I am tired of the whole world thinking they know what it means to be a teacher because they once sat in a small desk.

Minnesota used to pride itself on having such highly qualified teachers and innovative schools. Now we lay off excellent teachers by the 100's and find our government thinking they can be replaced with anyone who has a BA and 5 spare weeks. Incidentally, I wonder where these "teachers" are planning on getting jobs? Real teachers are having problems. My fear is that these "teachers" are part of Pawlenty's plan. He says he wants to give more money to education through incentive pay, and I wonder if part of the incentive is to hire these partial teachers. I am really angry! Don't belittle my profession by insinuating that anyone with a degree can do what I do. I have worked hard, gone through years of education, studied the adolescent mind, and had to pass 3 really awful tests to do what I do. I have found joy in the crazy ramblings of 7th grade poetry. I have watched kids' eyes open wide to the mysteries of life, listened through their tears when some boy or girl broke their hearts, and cared about them even when they made it so hard to care. I teach children not just a subject.

I love what I do. I am proud of what I do. I wish the general population and our elected leaders were too.

The Reasons

2009-03-20T19:15:00.000-07:00

I have spent much of 2009 wishing it would end but then I stopped and thought about all the things I have.

1. Fantastic Friends who love me no matter what.
2. A husband that makes me laugh and would walk through fire for me.
3. Co-workers that are supportive, hilarious, and ribald.
4. My mom
5. Kids that give me story fodder for days.
6. Books - all books - maybe not Twilight
7. Julie and the San Diego dream
8. Reading your blogs
9. Great little moments that make me laugh and/or smile. (for example: finding out what Chad does for a living)
10. Josh Brolin

Thank you to all of you.
Fin.

Spring Break '09

2009-03-07T18:11:00.001-08:00

I wanted to share a few pics from my super spring break. Here I am feeding the birds in my folks' backyard. Yes I am on a ladder in the snow.

These are a few of my new "deer" friends. We really partied hardy on my break. I am the shadowy figure off to the left. These guys are almost in my mom's garage.

Here I am catching some rays. Oh spring break!!!

Hope you all had a great break and I will see you bright and early on Monday. Nooooooooooo!

FB!!!!!!

2009-02-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

I appreciate FaceBook for helping me to reconnect with people I used to know. I also like that I can control who these people are. That's right Tammy Motsick I know you want to be my friend, but that's never gonna happen. (Insert evil laugh) But and this is a big BUT, everytime I go on I have one million notifications (example of hyperbole). I feel such pressure. If I don't go on it the notifications will just pile up. I don't want people to think I am rude or blowing them off but I really just want to know such interesting tidbits as:
1. Which bitchy girls in high school got fat? (Answer: all except Tracey but she still fake tans)
2. How Eric Tjossem got to Australia and who is the beautiful woman next to him?
3. If Jon Bell still remembers me. (He's too cool for a fb page)
4. Anything Canto, Sonnek, Bortot or Gwen has to say. (Because they are awe-some)
5. Being bitchy with Julie Maria even though she is in Italy. (We had it down to a science in high school and can just pick up where we left off.)
6. Keeping up with my brother and Melinda. (It might be the only way I know when he gets married. I'm not kidding.)

I also love flair! I can't help it I have always been a sucker for buttons with quirky sayings.

I am losing my mind. I don't know how to be a vampire or fight the mafia. What do these things mean? I just want to talk to a few old friends. Am I crazy? I had no idea FB could be so time consuming.

To my loyal readers who are facebook users (Sorry Ann), know that I love and appreciate each and everyone of you. Tell me how you deal with all the notifications and if it tends to die down once people have been on facebook for awhile?

2009-02-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this to me today. Her father passed away a couple of years ago. I wanted to share these wise words from Mr. Samuel Beckett.

"I know your sorrow and I know that for the likes of us there is no ease to be had from words or reason and that with the very assurance of sorrow's fading there is more sorrow. So I offer you only my deeply affectionate and compassionate thoughts and wish for you only that the strange thing may never fail you, whatever it is, that gives us strength to live on and on with our wounds."

There is nothing more to say.

Some Teachers Suck

2009-02-10T18:32:00.000-08:00

This may seem like an unlikely title for a teacher, but I am only being honest when I say some people in my profession are suckwads! There seems to be a suckish coven of vile teachers at NEMS where my child attends. They have been nothing but awful to my kid. Now as most of you know, my boy is trying but until this year he was never considered a discipline problem. He had 7th grade teachers that believed in him, and he thrived (for the most part). This year is a different story. I have become the parent that needs to make waves, and I am not comfortable with this role.

I am actually going to write a letter to the principal of the school explaining my dissatisfaction with the 8th grade team as a whole. I will, however, be praising two of his teachers who actually seem to care or at least can put on a good show. Why do people become teachers if they don't want to work with kids. I think of all the time I spend making sure my students get their work turned in, learning about their lives, checking in when bad things happen to them and loving almost every minute of it. This tells me I have made the right choice of career. I pity those that stay in teaching when it is obvious they are marking time. Most of the coven I spoke of earlier are rather young so it shouldn't be waiting for retirement coasting yet.

Also I want to discuss my son's science teacher. I don't know if my child is making more out of this than is necessary but it bothers him so I will write about it here. His science teacher keeps a Bible visable on his desk and often refers to Jesus Christ in class. I think he is probably a born-again Christian by the way my kid talks about him. That really is my least favorite kind of Christian. I have always appreciated the "Born right the first time" bumper stickers as I assume they are referring to those who need to be born again. Let us not forget that George W. Bush was a born again Christian.

Don't get me wrong I think Jesus rocks and God and I have a working relationship. Right now I am not happy with the all-powerful entity but we will be cool. He knows I always thank him first for anything good and blame him first when things go wrong. I think however that my personal relationship with God and Jesus is just that, PERSONAL. Also I thought we had a little thing called separation of church and state which carries over to school. Our country was created so all people could have religious freedom which means nobody can cram their faith down my thought or my kids'. I can't talk to my students about Buddhism or the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. I don't force them to celebrate a Solstice with me or worship a tree together. If I don't do these things, he needs to knock off telling my kid what to think about religion and read his Bible on his own time. Those of you who know me well know how strongly I believe in the separation of religion and education.

Ahoy Mateys

2009-02-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about this a lot lately and decided it was blog worthy. What has happened to pirates?

When did they lose their Jack Sparrow romanticism? Oh I know when real icky people started attacking ships. I know that real old timey pirates were awful blood thirsty scalawags, but they have been relegated to passionate stories of daring do. I so prefer to think of the devil may care pirate with the heart of gold. These new pirates are too real. Look at this guy on the right. There is absolutely nothing romantic about him. I do not see the daring-do and where's his sword. Oh I see, he doesn't need one because he is carrying a small cannon. It seems wrong that my biggest beef with these new pirates is that they are destroying my love of Long John Silver, Red Beard, anyone from Treasure Island instead of the fact that they are robbing, kidnapping and killing people. I am selfish, however, and think only of what they are doing to me. I heard on the radio last night that a Chinese crew fought off some of these so-called pirates by throwing bottles at them. Even Captain Hook could have taken that on. But I say, "You go Chinese sailors." They are also running a class on how to deal with piracy. The maritime folk haven't needed one of those for years. Their biggest suggestion is to not let the pirate ship get close enough to your ship for the pirates to climb aboard. Doesn't that seem obvious? But I guess if you have enough Evian (real Evian in the glass bottles) it doesn't matter how close you get.

Back and Better than Before

2009-02-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

I have been spending all my blogging energy on my dad's Caringbridge site for the last month. Now it is time to get back to business. Thank you Chad.02 for giving me a cyber kick in the butt (not as painful as a real kick in the butt but I am really speaking metaphorically.)

So, one of the all time most fantastic men I have had the privilege to know has left the building. And no I am not talking about Elvis. We never met. I am afraid that my mind will probably be filled with thoughts of him for quite some time, but there are other things to discuss. For example, my ex-sister in law totally budged me in line as we were being seated at my dad's funeral and my own kids ended up sitting in the second row while that harpy sat in front. Really nice huh? Well, I guess I can't expect much more from her given her "fabulous" manners while she and Sam were married. But really! At a funeral?

I also now have a new found respect for the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Minneapolis. At least the MICU (place where the really sick vet's go) gave the best care I have seen in a hospital. There cafeteria could use a little work but you can't have everything. I also had a little crush on my dad's critical care doc. He looks like a cuter, younger Tony Danza. I have always been a sucker for the Danza. He cried when Dad died. I didn't know docs did that in front of families. It just shows we are all human. He also really thought Dad was going to make it, but Dad had other plans. He always ran on his own schedule.

Well I said I had other things to talk about, but I guess I really only had one.

I miss my dad.

Can't we just stand up like big girls?

2009-01-09T18:01:00.000-08:00

I was inspired by the "blog formerly known as Holicrazed" to check out GOOP. As I was perusing all things Gwenyth, it struck me that almost all the pictures of G show her with her feet pointed together and her knees turned in. Please see G at left to illustrate.

What's with the shy little girl crap. I have noticed this in other magazines and find it repulsive. I'm sure there is an aesthetic reason, but the stance portrays women as vulnerable and weak. This picture has the added bonus of the hand stuck in the sleeve covering her mouth. I'm shy, I don't have a voice, I have fuschia tights, what I don't have is a brain.

Example number 2 to the right. Even more turned in toes and the looking away from the camera, seductive piece of hair falling in her face. It feels as if she is turning in upon herself. Why can't she stand up like a big girl? Maybe because of the castor oil addiction she needs to keep her knees in this position to prevent an unsightly accident. If it was just G, I would think that was possible but much of the fashion industry has its models stand this way.

Maybe to some of you I am making a big deal out of this, but I am tired of the media making women look like little girls that need to use the potty. In this era of Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, we have wonderful role models. Strong, successful women who stand up straight and don't turn in their toes.

My new boyfriend

2009-01-05T16:45:00.000-08:00

I love Josh Brolin! I need the world to know. I am sorry Diane Lane Brolin but I love your husband. I just watched his interview on Inside the Actor's Studio and through the stench of failed actor that permeates off of James Lipton, shone the brillance of Mr. Brolin. I have loved you since Goonies.

What I especially loved was his answers to the "Bernard Pivot by way of Proust" questions. His favorite swear word was "fucking shit." Not highly original but an example of his down-to-earth hottiness.
I don't remember all of his answers, but I will add my own and his if I remember them.

What is your favorite word?
me - anus
What is your least favorite word?
JB- Stinky (That is so adorable. I say stinky too.)

me - no
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, emotionally?
JB - Diane Lane

me - oddly enough I agree with Josh
What turns you off?

me - being ignored
What sound do you love?

JB - candles being lit

me - rain
What sound do you hate?

me - cats fighting
What is your favorite curse word?

JB - fucking shit

me - ass bastard
What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

me-FBI agent

What profession would you not like to do?
JB - Own an ice cream store where no kids like ice cream.

me - grief counselor
If heaven exists,what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates?
JB- Okay, let's do it again.

me - That will do, Laura. That will do.

Proust answered these questions several time during his life. If you are interested in his answers check out Wikipedia. This is of course assuming that you are as big a Proust geek as I am.

You're not? Really?

Warhammer!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-30T21:54:00.000-08:00

My son has become obsessed with this game Warhammer. He and his friend spent six hours today at a shop painting their warhammer miniatures. He spent $120.00 on these tiny warhammer guys, and he still had to put them together and paint them. I guess this is part of the fun.

At first I was concerned that my son had become a full fledged gamer nerd. Then I realized what's wrong with that? He could be doing drugs or stealing. This is also a game that requires the players to be sitting in the same room and interacting. This is so much better than the hours he has spent on his XBox 360 Live. I figure a warhammer nerd is a pretty okay thing to be. Especially when your best buds are even bigger Warhammer geeks.

Hopefully this obsession won't lead to the most frightening of all gaming addictions. The meth of the gaming world, World of Warcraft! I had 2 hours of my life stolen from me on Christmas Eve listening to people in my husband's family talk solely about this game. I hope Warhammer isn't a gateway game.

New Year, New Look

2008-12-29T22:55:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling stuck in a rut for awhile, so I decided to switch the look of my blog. I have also added a little something special from Mr. Stephen Colbert at the bottom. Enjoy.

Advice from T.V's Fonzie

2008-12-20T17:51:00.000-08:00

“It’s really, really important,” he says, “not to define yourself by the way your child succeeds — or doesn’t. If you look closely at them and listen carefully, [you’ll find] there’s lots to celebrate about them besides [their] geometry [grades].” -Henry Winkler

Who would have thought I would get the perfect advice for this time in my life from T.V.'s Fonzie. After my son was diagnosed with ADD and dyslexia, I had a hard time dealing with it. I was always a very good student and have always prided myself on my intellect and wit. I saw all of that changing until this quote spoke directly to what I was feeling. I still, however, feel jealous of all the people I see around me with children who love to read and are in advanced classes. At first I was embarrassed because I thought it reflected on my intelligence. Now I realize that was simply selfish. Conor is still Conor and I am the same as I was before he got his diagnosis. I worry that his academic life is going to be so difficult, and I want to make it easy for him even though he is the only one that can do that.

I am going to embrace the beautiful things about Conor and do everything that I can to help him along the way as I can.

My right leg

2008-12-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

Well I finally have an answer to the annoying, stabbing, mind-numbing pain in my right calf. I have a Baker's Cyst that exploded and flooded my leg with icky stuff that shouldn't be in there. Bad news it just has to go away and will do it again. Good news I got a Cortisone shot so I will be feeling great for the next month. If you have never had a cortisone shot I wouldn't reccommend one just for fun, but if you need one it is a miracle. The needle hurts like hell going into your knee, and that is just the beginning of the fun. However, I am on the good side of the shot now and will feel great soon. My doc said to keep the cane as I will need it again but hopefully not for a few months. How fun is this. Another chronic problem to deal with. I can't complain really. I have a super normal life for a person as screwed up as I am. I do have to say that I would prefer no more illnesses. Maybe that's my Christmas wish.

Shear Happiness

2008-12-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

I went to one of my favorite places in the world today, Salon D'Pugh. It is like an oasis for me, and I got a great cut as always. Thanks Andi! I would normally not announce to you that I have gotten a hai,rcut but my friend Barb happened to have an appointment after me, and she was cutting off her beautiful, white-blond, down to the middle of her back hair to donate. I had never seen her hair short and she looks so beautiful! I'm so glad I could be there for this huge transformation. I'm proud of her, and as a person with a friend who now rocks the wig because of cancer, I can truly see the importance of generous people cutting off their hair. If you have super long hair and can spare at least 8 inches, think about it.

Happy Birthday Woody!!!!!

2008-12-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

Today is Woody Allen's birthday, and I for one think it is cause for celebration! These are a few of the reasons I love Mr. Woody Allen.

He is tiny and wears glasses.
He has more mental issues than I do.
He plays the clarinet.
He never attends the Oscars. (He has a standing gig with his band.)
He is sarcastic.
He has a fabulous vocal pattern. (2nd only to Christopher Walken)
He's Jewish!
He looks like someone who would have dated me.
He is a brilliant writer and director.
He dumped Mia Farrow. (She is creepy to me.)
He was the subject of my sociology project in college, and I got an A!!!!

So, Mr. Woody Allen (also a loyal follower of my blog) thanks for being born and giving meaning to December 1st.

I knew I would forget someone

2008-11-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

A very dear friend reminded me that I forgot a very important person with a name that is truly fun to say.

Barack Obama

I wonder why I forgot about our soon (but not soon enough) president. It wasn't intentional, but I have always been partial to the "bad boy," and Barack Obama is definitely not a "bad boy." Many of my choices are or were. Maybe dictators just have more fun names. Of course, Barack Obama is a name that can be sung or chanted actually.

Barack Obama, Ba-rack Obama, Barack Obama, Ba-rack Obama
Maybe I will come up with a list of names I like to sing.

My sincerest apologies to President Elect Barack Obama. (I am sure he follows my blog.) I am very excited that soon we will have a leader of whom we can be proud, and a first lady who totally rocks.

Names I like to say

2008-11-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

I want to preface this by saying that I do not agree with the politics of all these people. I just enjoy the way their names sound when I say them.

Jascha Heifetz
Menachem Begin
Mahmūd Ahmadinejād (It took me three weeks listening to MPR to get this one down.)
Yasser Arafat
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Maya Angelou
Indira Gandhi
Benazir Bhutto
Muhammad Anwar al Sadat
Sandra Cisneros
Norzin Wangpo
Aubrey Beardsley

The list could go on forever.

The Play is Done

2008-11-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

Well the cast pulled the show totally out of their butts but it was really good. Up til 10 minutes before the show I really had my doubts. I think my favorite moment was when I was trying to stage the curtain call with 10 minutes to the house opening and all the cast decide to have a prayer. If you know me this isn't exactly my scene. However, maybe there was divine intervention. I am so proud of these kids. This is by far the best show I have done at NMS. I will do this one again in 5 years or so.

It is so interesting to me to see these kids especially girls that are so devote. Then I remember how when I was their age I went to church every Sunday and youth group on Wednesdays, but I was never as into it as they appear to be. It's not that I don't believe in God. You can't look at nature or Johnny Depp and not believe in some higher power. I just can't get behind the whole organized religion thing. God and I are cool.

Anyway back to the play. Now that it is really done I can start to think about auditioning for a play with my bud Holly. I think that will be fun. I need to find the right show for us. I think it will be good for me. The one thing I have never doubted is my acting ability. I wonder if I am a good mother, daughter, teacher, friend, wife all the time, but I know I can kick ass on stage. It has been a long time, and I know I need to do a show.

Here We Go

2008-11-17T18:05:00.000-08:00

I never thought I would have a blog, but here I am. Everyone with whom I work seems to have one and I felt left out. Probably not the best reason to inflict my thoughts and feelings on others.

I am a bit freaked out because I have a play opening tomorrow. Let me make this clearer, I have a middle school play opening tomorrow. This, of course, means we aren't ready, I am pulling out my hair, and really want to cry. I know it will be fine as these things always seem to work out in the end.