Squeeeeeeze!!!!!!!!!!

Squeeze has just announced that they will be playing Coachelle on April 14t and 21st. Technically, I could attend either show and, if I sold body parts, perhaps both. But, I have a problem.

This would be yet another trip I take by myself, just like London. My normal travel buddy can't go. I suppose it's okay, but after a while I start to feel like a loser just hanging out on my own and it sure would be nice to have a little company.

My second concern revolves around the possibility of other dates. I've been hanging on to my personal days (three of them) thinking that Glenn Tilbrook might swing through for a few dates in the spring. Of course, his website shows nothing about US dates. To be honest, every time I've ever left a question for management to answer, I heard nothing. Will Squeeze have more dates?

So, now I have to decide what I'm going to do. Should I book another solo flight for myself? How long should I wait for other dates to be posted? Maybe they'll perform closer to home.

Word of the Week

Late last week, I asked my FB friends to nominate cliche phrases that they'd like to see disappear. They offered up several useless, trite sayings such as: "just saying," "my bad," "it is what it is" and others. Lake Superior State University (in the UP) creates a list of words or phrases to be banished in the coming new year.

Vocabulary and word choice are two issues I address quite clearly with my students when we are reading. Why did the author use that word and not this one? Additionally, I try to challenge my students to step up their vocabulary and I never speak down to them. If I use a big fancy word, I write it down for them and give them a brief definition. I'm always a bit pleased with how many will write that word down some place and some will even take it out for a test drive in a discussion or a piece of writing.

I think I would be remiss if I passed up this teachable moment and not offer up some more precise and eloquent replacement words. I'll make this list alphabetical and I ask you to use the word (or a variation of it) in the comments.

This week's word is - admonish (verb) 1. to warn or express displeasure in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner or 2. to give friendly earnest advice or encouragement.

* All definitions are taken from an old-fashioned dictionary that sits on my book shelf: Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition, 1997

2012

With the world ending on December 21, I'll have to work extra hard in 2012 to have as much fun and be as decadent as possible. While in London, I bought a small book (that I've since loaned to a friend, so I can't remember the name)that offered up a bevy of possible after-life scenarios. Some were far-fetched, like the ones that mused that we humans are some sort of space alien experiment. I really hope that isn't the case, otherwise the Scientologists are correct on some level. I would really hate that. In any case, the story that I would like to actually be the case is the one that suggests that the after-life looks a lot like life right now, except it is only populated by people we know. The author didn't really venture what the level of "knowing" had to be obtained before we showed up in someone else's after life. I was quite keen on this scenario, because as a teacher, I meet a lot of people (if if some of them are assholes). Also, I've held a number of jobs and have done a fair amount of traveling and have had the extraordinary chance to meet many wonderful people. If the after-life is indeed peopled only by those we know AND if the Mayans are correct and the world will end on December 21 and all of us are going to the after-life at the same time, I better get busy on meeting as many folks as I can so I have an active social life in the the after-life.

Having said all of that, for the year 2012, I hereby resolve the following:

I resolve to visit at least two cities I have never visited before.
I resolve to try to catch a few movies at the Detroit Film Theatre, even if I have to go alone and to try and engage someone in conversation.
I resolve to do yoga once a week and to hit the gym once a week.
I resolve to attend the MOTH story slams once a month.
I resolve to compliment a stranger at least once a week.
I resolve to clean the toilet bowl once a week.
I resolve to have people over to my house once a month.
I resolve to try two new recipes a month.
I resolve to take Andrew on monthly field trips to cool places.
I resolve to dance a little bit every day, even in public.
I resolve to gently cut negative people of of my life. But to be empathetic to their plight.
I resolve to write and read more.
I resolve to find an agent for my book.
I resolve to walk whenever possible.
I resolve to buy fresh flowers once a week.
I resolve to meditate at least twice a week.

That looks like quite a bit. But I must say, I have been thinking about this list for a while and I truly feel like these are realistic. I even feel like they won't feel like chores to achieve.

I feel pretty good about the world not ending, but if I do much of this on my list, I'll feel okay if it does.

My End of the Year List

I know that all serious pundits and news outlets compile end of the year lists, and I take myself quite serious, so why shouldn't I put together a little list. I haven't spent much time thinking about these...nonetheless, I feel that my list is quite accurate and irrefutable. Can I get a drum roll, please?



Thank you. Here are my big moments for 2011...

Sad News of the Year

Of course, the loss of my father was the saddest event of the year.

Biggest Adjustment of the Year

Living without Andrew on a daily basis. I want to be able to hear his laugh and squeeze him whenever I want.

Best Decision of the Year

The decision to co-parent was a no brainer. I think that these first few months of the divorce have been easier on Andrew because his father and I actively choose to cooperate and to work as a team for Andrew.

Purchase of the Year

The Mini, as if there could be another.

Concert of the Year

I know that many of you might think that the Rochester Castle show will be my choice, but it's not! I choose, instead, the June 11 Squeeze warm-up gig at the Pelton Arms. Small venue, big smile from my singer as I walk in, and the guys blow the roof off the house. That perfomance cannot be topped.

Night of the Year

Monday, April 4 - Evanston, Illinois.

Student Quote of the Year

About an assignment for which students had to find two obituaries, someone said, "So both of them have to be about dead people?"

Road Trip of the Year

London! London! London!

Drink of the Year

Bailey's

Deadly Sin of the Year

This was a close race, but sloth beats out lust, though just barely.


Accomplishment of the Year

Publishing my first short story.

Discovery of the Year

I am stronger and more capable than I had ever believed.

Memo to self

I've just finished watching The Joy Luck Club with my English 12 class. I had forgotten what a good movie it was, but how vastly different it is from the book. I don't wish to quibble with those changes (though my students did NOT appreciate the changes at all). Instead, for the past two days, a line from the movie has been echoing in my head. Rose's mother tells her that she must remember what she is worth. I am pretty guilty of not remembering my worth. All too often in our society, we value monetary worth far over any other kind. I know, however, that I am worth far more than my paycheck quantifies. Perhaps I am overwrought with work-related stress, but I feel a need to remind myself of my worth.

1. I am worthy of respect and dignity.
2. I am worthy of time to just plain relax.
3. I am worthy of friends who will support me.
4. I am worthy of friends who will visit me in my home.
5. I am worth of a clean house.
6. I am worthy of a few pages of fun reading every night.
7. I am worthy of the effort to drop a few pounds.
8. I am worthy of being told I am beautiful.
9. I am worthy of being shown that I am desirable.
10. I am worthy of a few road trips.
11. I am worthy of forgiving myself for my daily boo-boos.
12. I am worthy of my dream.
13. I am worthy of my son's smiles and hugs.
14. I am worthy of the opportunity to play my music loudly.
15. I am worthy of peace and quiet.

Well, that's more like it. I even feel a little light just having written that.

Serious questions

Every year, I suffer the same Christmas conundrums and usually bail on finding an acceptable answer by doing nothing. Now that I'm starting fresh, I want to put these questions out for the general public to chew on and see what comes out of the process.

I should start off by stating that I'm pretty much an atheist and so don't buy the whole virgin birth story. For me, the Christmas holiday is...odd. I've mentioned a number of times that I don't really see my family and when we were kids the adults had a falling out and we all never really recovered from that. Therefore, while I enjoy my cousins (the non-racist ones) we never see each other. Since I've moved to Canada, I have one friend who will regularly visit me. I'll try to fix that this year, but everybody always has some bullshit excuse, so I'm a little cynical. I love to cook, so I use the holiday to indulge in that little hobby.

My first conundrum involves cards. I like the concept of cards. I love the idea of getting something in the mail that doesn't involve marketing and or bill paying. However, I haven't sent cards in a few years. I know, I'm a bad person. I am going to send cards this year, so here's the question: do people really want to receive a picture of other people's kids? I know that my son is absolutely the most perfect and handsome boy in the world, but do people really want his picture in the Christmas card? If yes, should it be a school picture or a more fun and spontaneous shot?

Second question involves that ages old problem, when are gifts exchanged in a new relationship? I'm not even sure I'm in a relationship, but I am occasionally sharing someone's bed. Does that mean I should get him a small gift? Am I off the hook if he's flat broke? If I even ask him, is that tacky? Too much pressure?

Final Christmas conundrum, the Santa issue. I never really cared if Andrew ever believed in Santa, but he does believe. I hate lying to him and I just wonder if I let it runs its course? Eventually, he will stop believing on his own, he is in second grade. How do I explain to my the-world-is-black-and-white son that the whole Santa thing is fake, or can I punt the whole issue to his dad, who was a little more pro-Santa than me?

Thanks for listening. If you've got any ideas, let me know.

I shouldn't really be surprised

Yesterday's elections gave rationale and progressive people a few victories last night. In Michigan, we saw the recall of Paul Scott, who gave us the bill that basically through tenure out the window. He was also the chair for the Education committee for the House of Representatives in Lansing. As chair, he would have been presiding over the public comments hearing about a bill that would have lifted the numerical cap of charter schools in the state of Michigan. In Michigan, the majority of charter schools are operated by for-profit companies. Needless to say, both of the teachers' unions and most public school districts are adamantly against this bill. My union president asked me if I would like to go to Lansing and testify before the committee. I was thrilled and I have to admit that speaking before form of a legislative body is a bucket list item.

This morning, with testimony (and 30 copies) in hand, I drove to our state capitol. Sadly, my drive was in vain, as it turns out that the committee chair is busy licking his wounds and cancelled the hearing. That's really too bad, because I had somethings to tell them.

November 9, 2011
Good morning and thank you for allowing me to speak before you today on a topic of great importance: the lifting of the charter school cap, a notion I believe to be a very bad idea.
I have taught at Hamtramck High School (go Cosmos!) since 1997. In those 14 years, Hamtramck’s 2.2 square miles has become home to five charter schools, in addition to the seven schools operated by Hamtramck Public Schools. Twelve schools in 2.2 square miles is an astonishing number. It seems there has been no cap in Hamtramck, so I believe that I am uniquely qualified to tell the committee and the public what we can expect if the charter school cap is lifted.
We can expect to see an increase in de facto re-segregation of the American school system. This has already been the case in Hamtramck. The Greater Detroit Community Development Group met earlier this year with the superintendent of Hamtramck schools to discuss the possibility of Hamtramck Public Schools authorizing their proposed charter. It was explained in the meeting (I have attached a copy of the minutes along with a newspaper article) that the organization would target Bengali families specifically to enrol at the new school. How is that even possible? It is as if Brown v. Board never happened and taxpayer money will be spent on schools that look to cater to one ethnic group. Who is holding these organizations accountable?
We can expect to see a widening of the practice of not teaching what is not measured by AYP. A few years ago, I met a fourth grade teacher from a charter school in Hamtramck. After she asked me if there were any jobs in the schools, I asked her about a rumor about her school. We had heard that her school did not teach social studies (history) and frankly, report cards from students transferring to the public schools showed no social studies mark. She confirmed it and said that seeing as AYP was only measuring reading and math, social studies was dropped. Who is holding these schools accountable?
We can expect to see more schools that don’t provide even the most rudimentary basics, as a student of mine vividly details in a sheet I’ve also attached. She asked to remain anonymous, but I will tell you that she and her sister (who graduated last year) are two of the brightest young ladies I have ever taught. She quite plainly states that for two years, she didn’t even have a locker. In two years, she never used a textbook that was remotely close to new. But, that particular school offers Arabic, so I guess I can guess who their target audience is. Who is holding these schools accountable?
We can expect to see more schools that demand that their teachers use a script, as was the case of a former student of mine. Last year, she taught at a charter school that gave its teachers scripts and teachers were routinely reprimanded and written up if they were not at the appointed spot on the script at the appointed time. That school had a heavy ESL population and no ESL program. Who is holding these schools accountable?
We can expect to see more parents, especially those not born and raised in the United States, confused about the actual standing of charter schools. I have seen banners on a number of charter schools that proclaim them to offer “free tuition.” This subtly deceptive practice is bound to confuse a parent who comes from a poverty-stricken third world country where an education was the privilege of the wealthy, not a right for all citizens. Even my student who wrote of her charter school experience calls it a private charter school, underscoring the confusion that exists. Who is holding these schools accountable?

We can expect more parents to be told that there is no room in the school and that their child will be placed on a waiting list (after count day). My school doesn’t have a waiting list. Who is holding these schools accountable?
We can expect more special needs students to be told that there isn’t a program to help them, as has been the case of so many of our special education students. Who is holding these schools accountable?
No one is holding these charter schools accountable. For the most part, for-profit management corporations operate them. No democratically elected school boards. No open meetings. No books that can be accessed by any taxpayer who has the gumption.
Is it this legislative body’s intention to give taxpayers’ money to entities that are unaccountable to taxpayers? Is that the mission you have be given by taxpayers? Are schools that are unaccountable to taxpayers and ordinary citizens really what’s best for children? A lack of special services, “waiting lists,” deceptive marketing practices, scripts, a lack of basic supplies, no social studies, and de facto re-segregation? I don’t think so. Keep the cap and hold these schools accountable.

The woman from my union's office listened to me and she told me that my story needed to be told and that she'd let me know when the hearing would be re-scheduled. I plan on showing up and telling this tale.