Bad Dreams

Some people have nightmares where they are in a large public space with people milling about-- the school hallway, a mall, the office. All of a sudden, they realize they are stark naked among all these people!

So...I wasn't reliving a nightmare this morning, but one can feel pretty naked if today is professional dress day at work, and...

I woke up an hour late this morning, so I ran to the shower, threw on some clothes (I couldn't find anything fun to wear but made do with my khakis and green pullover), and rushed out the door. It usually takes 30 minutes to drive to school from home, and I was pretty engrossed in public radio as I was driving. I was stopped at the red light off the feeder. The yellow Goodman bus was idling next to me; in the rearview mirror, I could see my co-worker tossing her hair.

The instant I looked at her, the light turned green for me to go. I passed the bus, but as I took one last glance at my coworker, I realized that today was professional dress day.

Oops.

I rolled into the parking lot as quietly as I could and tried to slide into the College Corner without catching as much attention as possible. This is as close as I'll get to have a bad dream coming true. (I hope!)

Spontaneously Yours...

Tonight I felt the need...

...the need for speed.

On a whim, my downstairs housemate and I decided that we wanted to take a short jaunt outside the city limits, to a sandy beach with lapping waters...to Galveston, Texas. We borrowed a friend's car, and in a jiffy, we were along the seawall.

Now, we did agree to say that what happens in Galveston, stays in Galveston. However, the night was too wonderful not to share. Who wouldn't enjoy watching random strangers catch their first fish of the evening off the pier? Who wouldn't delight in zipping along Seawall Blvd with the windows down, the sunroof open, and Shakira blasting out the speakers? Who wouldn't wolf down a tasty IHOP late-night meal?

We most definitely did...

I've Learned...

My students are pretty insightful. They have an intensity that I wish I could regain as I grow older.

Currently we're preparing to write a personal essay modeled off National Public Radio's This I Believe segment, where both young and old write and voice essays about their life beliefs and insights. We haven't written much yet (except to freewrite thoughts), but today we did write and share statements in class about something each of us has learned in life. Here is a sampling:

I’ve learned that life should be valued more and not get thrown away by doing drugs or drinking alcohol.

I’ve learned that how much you put into something it gives back to you in some way.

I’ve learned that life is hard…

I’ve learned that day by day nothing changes but when you look back everything is different.

I’ve learned that you don’t miss anyone until they are gone.

I’ve learned that when you have a chance to do something that you should go for it.

I’ve learned not to take people for granted, because you never know when they will be gone.

I’ve learned that life will always be hard but you can always enjoy its small gifts.

I’ve learned that a little kindness goes a long way.

I’ve learned that at times your best friends could be your worst enemies.

I’ve learned that when life puts you down, you have to turn it around.

I’ve learned that the key to happiness starts within yourself.

I’ve learned that if you lie to others, not only are you fooling them, you are fooling yourself.

I’ve learned that a small comment can affect someone’s perspective about you.

I’ve learned that it takes a strong man to cry, but an even stronger one to hold it in.

I’ve learned that I won’t fail myself if I don’t give up, and nothing can defeat me.

I’ve learned that freedom of religion does have restrictions.

I’ve learned that we shouldn’t wait until tomorrow to accomplish something because tomorrow might never come.

I’ve learned that smiling makes others happier than you think.

I’ve learned that it’s never too late to do something you believe is right.

I’ve learned to always smile.

What have you learned in life? Feel free to share comments and stories here.

Ultimate Frisbee and Taxes

Have you ever caught a Frisbee with your mouth?

I can't say that I have done so successfully, and I don't think I will try, as my encounter with a Frisbee this morning has left me with a swollen lip.

Gross.

In other news, I don't necessarily procrastinate on things that other people rely on (lesson planning, lifegroup discussion, etc), but I will drag my own stuff out until the very last minute.

Stuff, say, like my taxes. I haven't filed my income tax return yet, and this might be the longest time I have waited to file, as April 15 is rapidly approaching. I'm irritated with myself, but I still don't do anything about it. I'll be sure to hop on it before too long...

April Fools Day

Sometimes I don't stop to think about what day it is.

Today wasn't really any different. As I was setting up for class this morning, I told the kids to come on in and to wait for the morning announcements. I had another moral dilemma on the overhead today since they enjoyed them yesterday (we got into a heated debate about lying), and I was having them journal about what they would do in this particular situation. I was walking around, watching them journal, so I knew that they had some interesting things to say.

Silence greeted me when I posed the first question to the class. I looked from face to face, searching for answers and waiting for responses. Nothing. I prodded a little bit more since I knew that some of the kids were shy, rephrased my initial question, tried to go at it from a different angle. Still, nothing.

Then I thought that maybe a blind poll would be more comfortable for them since the issue was a little touchy, so I I had them shut their eyes and do a thumbs up, thumbs down, or thumbs sideways to the question I asked. I told them the results, and asked them another question. Do you know how it feels to be greeted by silence, especially when you've been asking question upon question? My ears were ringing.

So I started calling individual kids out, across rows, up and down. My jaw was dropping in complete surprise. They all shrugged their shoulders or shook their heads. I wasn't really flustered, but I was getting really anxious about why they wouldn't answer (what was I doing wrong? how could I make this better?)

Finally, panicking on the inside, I went to my last resort-- the two most opinionated in the class-- J and M. When M shrugged his shoulders, I said to them, "Now, if M doesn't know what to do in this situation, then something's got to be wrong. This has got to be some sort of trick or something."

Then I realized it was April Fools Day, and as the last few words tumbled out of my mouth, M couldn't hold it in and started giggling, and the class burst out with him.

The class got a huge kick out of my forgetting that it was April Fools Day.

Spanish

Yo comi pastel de fresa y tome agua.

Gotta start somewhere, right? I made a commitment to learn Spanish when I started working in the classroom with Hispanic students. I've been at YES for nearly three years, and I am now just beginning to speak in complete sentences. Sadness, no?

So I start now. I am making a commitment to learn oral and written Spanish on my own (and to try to speak in complete sentences when I am talking to others).

Cold Front

After dinner, I stood out in the parking lot with my co-worker Jesi, her sister, and another friend, talking about the cold front to come tonight. As we were speaking, the gusts of warm wind suddenly changed to frigid blasts.

Holy guacamole.

Too bad I was in my cargo shorts and Tevas.