The Best Job in The World

I have it. The best. I have begun unpacking all my "teaching" supplies, thinking (finally?) about school beginning again. Due to a new job, and a great schedule, I am looking forward to every part of this year.

Teaching music to young students. The excitement of a brand new instrument, opening that case for the first time... oooo. My year is filled with "firsts" - the first time they realize they can get a sound, the first "real song", first concert, all of that.

A veteran teacher once told me that no matter how stressful the year became, no matter how frustrated he was, he still awoke glad to go to work every day. I must say, I am almost there. I took the time last year to work at a job I loved, make good relationships with great kids, and took some "down time" for me too, which all helped.

I worked a job that I hated for a few years, before returning to school to be a teacher. I dreaded every day, they all ran together as one long path to ... retirement? death? who knows? Perhaps that is why I am so grateful for my job now. Summer vacation is ending. Despite "planning the wedding" stress, and moving, and all, I had a good summer. Time to get back to those kids, and see how their summers were.

Mascots

I have been watching snippets of the olympics, mostly individual events. I have yet to see these two live.

Phevos and Athena represent the values of Olympism: participation, brotherhood, equality, cooperation, fair play.

They're kinda wacky looking if you ask me. And those FEET - can you seriously do any sport with those? Well, perhaps they're all about the game, and not the winning. Actually, here they are in their favorite sports. It does appear that they are handling their giant foot issues well.

Gymnastics

What a scandal last night! This whole judging controversy needs to be fixed. The crowds not letting Hamm compete, Nemov's low score, all a wonder to me. I guess I might have a different opinion since as a musician I am subjected to standards and interpretation so often, In an audition, no matter how "fair" it is, it's still up to some judges. Their preferences, their preconceived notions, whatever. And aren't those important too? They are judging a sport in this case, but in an artistic way. Points for presentation, and all that. I'm sure they could try to be more impartial, but there'll always be some controversy.

Hearts and Minds

"It's worse than failing. Failing means you tried and didn't get better. But at this point, three years after September 11, you can say there wasn't even much of an attempt, and today Arab and Muslim attitudes toward the U.S. and the degree of distrust in the U.S. are far worse than they were three years ago. Bin Laden is winning by default," said Shibley Telhami, a member of a White House-appointed advisory group on public diplomacy and Brookings Institution scholar.

I often wonder about all this. Winning the "war on terror" seems to me to be for sure a heart/mind thing, if this democracy we choose to force down their throats has any hope of sticking.

"If the United States does not act aggressively to define itself in the Islamic world, the extremists will gladly do the job for us."

Who are we? What do we represent to "them'? I see America as freedom to hold your own individual ideas, promote your own values and system. Hard to promote to others, it's not an "ideal" in itself, rather an ability to choose thse ideals.

Kerry sucks less

The Top Ten Reasons Why John Kerry Sucks Less

All of them true in my mind. This site reminds us of our lack of choice - 2 candidates is apparently all we can handle as Americans. Too much to keep straight otherwise?

I need to get to cleaning. I knew once we got the computer back on the big-desk-with-comfy-chair, I would want to be here all day. My goal is to get it ALL away, TODAY.

Purple - the new red?

"Red has a negative connotation, and we want to promote self-confidence. I like purple. I use purple a lot."

According to today's Boston Globe, purple is the new "in" color of correction. Soothing yet able to still stand out on a paper. Non-threatening, yet still makes a statement. If only I had papers to correct in my job!

(note the color of this blog - trendy? timely? you heard it here first)

Staples also reports a shift in the preferred ink color for teachers to use when correcting papers - the "new red" is a friendlier, more supportive purple ink.

I need to go to Staples' today for bookshelves. I may splurge on a new trendy staples, and "slinky" post-it notes. Back to school! Get your supplies!

The national lawn sprinkler

When are we going to listen to this?

I swear, I was trying to find a nice human interest story to comment on.

Already, according to Randall and Schwartz, the planet is carrying a higher population than it can sustain. By 2020 'catastrophic' shortages of water and energy supply will become increasingly harder to overcome, plunging the planet into war.

Every time I hear of us going to "orange alert" or whatever I think of articles like this. We need a "blue alert" - as in "the water is running out please SHUT OFF your lawn sprinklers".

Upon contemplating my "new life" as a married woman and all that, I am thinking more every day about the future. Perhaps that's why I am so preoccupied by global environmental issues. I am enjoying my days immensely. I'd hate for that to change.

Of course, there are those who do not have life too easy right now due to environmental crisis. I wonder when we will pay attention to this? Or is it the case that our leaders need to pay attention to what we already know?

Oh! the books...

I just spent a little too much (I fear)on some wonderful Grainger books. So many are out of print - and I found all the ones I didn't have here.

But to see them all displayed so nicely in the apartment! I am sitting here, listening to Billie Holiday, sipping French vanilla coffee. Sometimes I think we overlook the more perfect, quiet moments of life. This morning is certainly one of them.

I shall remember this morning tomorrow when we are moving yet again. The last day! I then have one more true week of vacation, to clean and organize and make this place ours for real. It has been a great experience to begin sifting through all of my belongings - pictures that had been stored, books I am eager to reread. We have been sure to have enough shelves and CD racks to keep all we love handy and close.

My friend M. and I visited Salem yesterday. What an intriguing town. I am planning on getting a library card today, and some books on the history of the town. M. pointed out how unusual it is that this place is a tourist attraction built on the tragedy of the hangings of innocent people. 24 died in all - 19 hangings, 1 pressing, and 4 died in prison awaiting trail.

We also walked to the famous House of Seven Gables. I was most interested in the tourists. They did not seem particularly happy. Not just the kids, some of whom had obviously been dragged to this "important" building on a family vacation, but the adults as well. Kinda bored, kinda subdued. I wonder why this was. I think just walking down the street as a thrill- it's easy to imagine how all these seaside homes looked back in Hawthorne's time.

Blowing the clog away

KLEERDRAIN

This is a truly amazing product. Not even the flowbee seems to have the same lasting power and marketability. Almost makes me want a clogged drain to test it out!

Dancers for Sale

"I had so much fun running up to John saying: `Guess what? I own you!' " Ms. Courts recalled. "He said, `What are you talking about?' I said: `I bought you at the auction. I'm your sponsor for the year.' We had a great time laughing and talking about that."

The Atlanta Ballet is selling sponsorships. A sign of the cultural times - they need to support themselves.

I hereby announce my availability for sponsorship. And, (like NASCAR) I am willing to be labeled for the right amount. Any takers?

Goodbye Milosz

GOOD NIGHT

No duties. I don't have to be profound.
I don't have to be artistically perfect.
Or sublime. Or edifying.
I just wander. I say: "You were running,
That's fine. It was the thing to do."And now
the music of the worlds transforms me.
My planet enters a different house.
Trees and lawns become more distinct.
Philosophies one after another go out.
Everything is lighter yet not less odd.
Sauces, wine vintages, dishes of meat.
We talk a little of district fairs,
Of travels in a covered wagon with a cloud of dust behind,
Of how rivers once were, what the scent of calamus is.
That's better than examining one's private dreams.
And meanwhile it has arrived. It's here, invisible.
Who can guess how it got here, everywhere.
Let others take care of it. Time for me to play hooky.
Buona notte. Ciao. Farewell.
(from Provinces, 1991)

Nobel laureate poet Milosz dies

The world will miss you.

Tax Holiday

The tax holiday appears simple: [Today], any item costing $2,500 or less is exempt from the state's 5 percent sales tax.

Not so sure about this one. They did this in New York, during the "back to school shopping" time of year. However, in NY clothing is taxed. So, everybody waited to save on kids' clothes. This appears to be a retailers nightmare, as far as swarms of uninformed crowds.

It was the "uninformed masses" factor that drove me out of retail. I liked the plan-o-grams, merchandising, even helping the nicer customers. The ones that INSIST they are entitled to a bargain are the harder ones to deal with.

We are moving (again!) today, so I may not have time for shopping. We shall see.

Fish have feelings

Dubya took a smaller fish from the end of his line and threw it on the deck of the boat for his rambunctious Scottie to flip-flop around with. "This is a Barney fish," Bush said at the time. "I always like to get a little one for Barney. He likes to play with them."

PETA is very angry. Apparently this is no way for a President to be acting. Fish abuse!

Paraskevidekatriaphobia

Paraskevidekatriaphobia

And I spent the day moving in Salem. Ooga Booga!

Wallace eats the meatloaf

Wallace called Militello after he was released from the precinct to let him know he was home "eating his meatloaf."

Well, at least he got dinner.

NUDE olympians!!!!

Oh, the scandal....... well, actually, it seems to be a pretty calm scandal.

Cope, 25, was not available for comment here yesterday, but acknowledged to Playboy that her friends call her the Olympic nudist.

"People aren't comfortable with themselves," she is quoted as saying in comments that accompany her two photographs. "I'm a freak. I vote Republican, I worship Martha Stewart and I don't mind being naked."

I must admit I care little about the nudity. Voting Republican scares me to death, however.

Pain of parishoners

"I worry about the younger generation -- first, they see them raping the children, and then they see them stealing our churches -- why would you want to stay?" said Rose Yesu, a parishioner at St. Brendan in Newton, where church property has been rezoned in an effort to make it less attractive for the archdiocese to sell.

How horrible this all is. I was raised in the catholic church (attending one, at times, that is now closing) and although I left for personal reasons, I always respected the good people of the church. They are getting hurt again.

"I get the impression there's an assumption on the part of the church that people will move to the adjoining places on the map. I don't think that's going to happen. I think a lot of people that were there won't go back to the church and isn't that a shame."

So often it is not the acts themselves, but the process of refusing to listen, refusing to be heard that causes the worst problems. Parishoners keep saying how they have not been listened to by the church, yet again. This is the lack of consideration that I think may force the church to change as an institution. A sad situation.

Mike Wallace heads to the slammer

"60 Minutes'' correspondent Mike Wallace, arrested in a dispute with city parking enforcement inspectors, says he wonders why anyone thought that he, at 86, was a threat.

Heard Mr. Wallace interviewed this morning on the "Imus in the Morning" show. Apparently he was picking up a take-out meatloaf and was double parked. No word on the fate of the meatloaf.

Family and Friends

Our wedding shower was simply wonderful. So many people took the time to wish us well. Reminded me that weddings are really about everybody, not just the bride and groom. The opportunity to share with so many has been great for us. Good food and good company - and terrific gifts for our new apartment to boot!

Moving in earnest begins this week. My stuff is all in our new place, but we need to start arraigning it. We won't be done for a few weeks, until David moves his furniture in. It's so nice to have this time to move.

I need to have some meetings re: my new job as well. What a time of change for me - exciting and good.

MOCA.

corpus is a new work commissioned from one of the world’s great installation artists for MASS MoCA’s most dramatic space – the massive Building 5 gallery. Rather than fill the football field-sized space with objects—as Robert Rauschenberg, Tim Hawkinson, and Robert Wilson did in previous installations—Hamilton has animated the volume of the space with sound, light, and millions of sheets of paper that will fall from the ceiling over the course of the ten-month installation.

This is amazing. We spent much time yesterday admist the floating papers, gently blanketing the concrete floor. Peaceful and serene.

This is one of my favorite places. It is as interesting to watch the reactions of others to the art, as it is to watch the art itself. I am finding as of late that I need to challenge myself in some way every day. A little art, a little politics, something. This museum fits the bill!

Stability for Families

George W. Bush:

I believe society is better off by a clear definition of traditional marriage. And the reason I do -- (applause) -- the reason I do is because, one, traditional marriage between man and a woman has served society and civilization well. Secondly, there is a firm commitment required in a marriage between a man and a woman that must not be undermined by redefinition. That commitment, in itself, provides stable, loving environments for families. (Thursday, Aug 5)

Are society and civilization really all that great right now? Is it because of marriage between one man and one woman? Does redefining a commitment (or anything) actually change it? Or just the perception of it, for those who are perhaps questioning their definition in the first place?

It's all about definitions. How I choose to define a situation or event, how you choose to see it. The truth's somewhere in the middle. Or perhaps it's between two individals.

A Home at The End of The World

Family can be whatever you want it to be. Saw this yesterday. I left being a bit confused as to some plot aspects (motivations, really) and wondering what would happen next in the characters' lives. We all need a place to be, someone to love, someone to be loved by. The rest is just details.

I especially likes the "kid" sections of this film - they were real characters, not just "the flashback guys". I felt like I had seen a part of the history of the film, experienced the previous lives of the two boys, rather than merely heard about it through a quick reference.

Can family really be whatever you want it to be? Not in some places. That saddens me, this zealous quest to make everything in this world more "normal". And yet normal gets weirder every day.

Running Against Obama?

Looks like they may have found someone to run against Obama. Is this an example of messy politics? Keyes has never lived in Illinois. This is not a requirement? Will people vote for that? Will people stand for that?

Bushism of the day

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." Bush says

Yep. Always thinkin, that's us.

McCain on the nasty politics

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

Swiftboat Veterans for Truth

And so the attacks begin. This appears to be a still developing story, but see the ad, you'll get the idea.

Of course this accompanies a new book to be released next week: UNFIT FOR COMMAND. Already #1 on Amazon's hit parade. According to Drudge: a book the Kerry camapign believes is the"the dirtiest of all dirty tricks ever played on a candidate for the presidency."

Is anyone concerned about, let's say, what going to happen in the future? The economy, education, terrorists? Just an observation......

Chattin' with Dr. Phil

Howard Fineman of Newsweek reports:

Last week the president and Mrs. Bush quietly taped a long interview with Dr. Phil, the psychologist made famous by Oprah Winfrey. By tradition, the Bushes are notoriously wary of "couch stuff," as Bush 41 put it. But with Dr. Phil, the topic will be limited to parenting and, as one of White House adviser says, he generates "very high numbers," especially among women. The interview will air in September. In this war, it's territory Kerry will want to invade, too. But Bush is getting there first.

Despite the controversy sometimes surrounding him, I am partial to good ol' Dr. Phil. "Especially among" WHAT "women"? I wonder how they will determine the strategically placed moment to air this little gem.

DONE!

Okay, music for the wedding is basically done and printing now. That became a HUGE job, but it was very important to me. It is still hard for me to tell what it'll really sound like, but luckily we have rehearsal tonight.

Saw our new apartment yesterday. What a great place! I am eager to start moving in. New carpet throughout, and it seems like it will be very large compared to what we've been used to.

Poem for Today

An Afternoon in The Stacks

Closing the book, I find I have left my head
inside. It is dark in here, but the chapters open
their beautiful spaces and give a rustling sound,
words adjusting themselves to their meaning.
Long passages open at successive pages. An echo,
continuous from the title onward, hums
behind me. From in here, the world looms,
a jungle redeemed by these linked sentences
carved out when an author traveled and a reader
kept the way open. When this book ends
I will pull it inside-out like a sock
and throw it back in the library. But the rumor
of it will haunt all that follows in my life.
A candleflame in Tibet leans when I move.

Mary Oliver

There is nothing like a cool, quiet library in summer. Quiet travel for all!

WAY "below the fold" news

From the ALA (American Library Association):

Last week, the American Library Association learned that the Department of Justice asked the Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents to instruct depository libraries to destroy five publications the Department has deemed not "appropriate for external use." The Department of Justice has called for these five public documents, two of which are texts of federal statutes, to be removed from depository libraries and destroyed, making their content available only to those with access to a law office or law library.

Hmmm. The full story...

Election Issues

As the election grows closer, I am often perplexed by the positions of the candidates. Here's a good website with the basics explained in easy to compare format. Well, easier anyways!

Off to Boston this morning, to meet a friend for lunch. I have not spent as much time in the city this summer as I would have liked. I think the last week of the summer I will try to make up for that!

Stop-over?

This museum might be the perfect place to stop on my way back from the hair appointment.

Thought for Today

by William Stafford:

You Reading This, Be Ready

Starting here, what do you want to remember
How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?
What scent of old wood hovers, what softened
sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world
than the breathing respect that you carry
wherever you go right now? Are you waiting
for time to show you some better thoughts?

When you turn around, starting here, lift this
new glimpse that you found; carry into evening
all that you want from this day. This interval you spent
reading or hearing this, keep it for life -

What can anyone give you greater than now,
starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

It is the start of a very busy week - I awoke early, with my "to do list" already running in my head. I must remember to enjoy this day. I am on vacation still, and have plenty of time to take breaks and relax through this all.

Today - BRIDAL HAIR DAY. eek! new adventure....

Nomar

Oh my goodness, he is gone.... well, not being a huge fan, I am not as dismayed as some in this town. I cannot begin to choose whether to read recent terror alert warnings, or news of Nomar's hasty exit.

Tonight's goal: learn to link to this blog (I am starting easy). This morning's goal: pack up all my dishes for this week's move!

Returning from Maine

Nice showers. Perhaps an understatement, but that's what they were, very nice. I was surprised at how much I was okay with being the center of attention. I was NOT surprised at how thrilled I was to recieve such nice gifts. I cannot wait until they find their new home, in Salem.

I am excited about this blog as an opportunity to learn more about how programming works, perhaps also learning how to apply all this to the field of education. I suspect these first few weeks will be experiementation for me, both in the areas of how this all works, and on finding further subjects of interest and use for this medium.

Other news? Busy week - dress fittings, Brenda Band Rehearsal, lots of moving to do!