April 26, 2009
two words
roald. dahl.
Thank you. Have you ever caught a glimpse of the spine of a book quietly, discreetly, yet purposefully peeking from amongst the millions on the shelf, like a slight poke from the quiet child in the group, the sight of an elderly couple holding hands, witnessing the innocence of a new born baby calf and its freedom of life as it chases your car tail high flapping back and forth as the five year mothers look on chewing their cud. Okay, a little bit much on the last one. But its those things that make us STOP.REMEMBER.THINK.or rather on the contrary, to stop thinking. Today as I helped what I thought to be an out of control rambunctious group of third graders, discover the joy, and sense of self accomplishment in using good old Encyclopedias as they overcame the downfall of not having enough computers for everyone to use on finding information about their current research projects. Watching them reach for books in the dusty reference corner, and flip through the pages, eyes lighting up at new words and places they had never heard of or seen before was incredible. As they discovered a new species of the animal kingdom and changed their topic from jackrabbit to the exotic and viscious Jackal, those “lucky” students who were picking away at search engines were stuck reading cheap advertisements trying to find out what the name is of a baby monkey. Something to be said here. There. Gosh, seeing them shuffle through the pages, puling the books off the shelves, minds being exposed to new (just because its in an old book doesn’t make the information worthless) things was AWESOME! At the time I thought nothing of it, until, when the bell rang, and I was walking back across the library, I spotted it.
Is it just me, or did any of you get wrapped up in fictional words compliments of talented individuals who provided an escape, a world of wonder, of joy and laughter where you fought evil and not with swords but with acts of kindness and bold perseverance? Sometimes with the help of a handy sidekick mouse or cricket? Where kindness worked wonders and people acted purely out of love and selflessness. I remember reading Roald Dahl and drinking up every word, every chapter! Where did I forget that? To love the strange works? To love to read? To love to write? When did I let my brain convince my soul that English is boring and too hard, nobody likes the subject, its not a cool thing to enjoy, and there is no glory in consuming your life with play on words, exploration of others works, and the deciphering of what has been? To let your mind imagine to create, to explore, to wander and dream, and be what it wants to be, enjoying all that it finds appealing without second guessing the purpose behind it or the second opinions of the millions of people in this world? Being able to express feeling, complicated emotion, indescribable thoughts in a matter of only a few words is an art and task in and of itself! So much can be said in only two words yet we spend most our lives talking and talking, and texting and emailing or searching for what it is we cannot find, beating about the bush, wastefully using twenty when ten will do. Or even still, a lengthy explanation when a hug is all that’s needed. There is a reason when you attend a play or listen to a song, or read the Bible that the font arranged in that pattern on the paper strikes a nerve, encourages a tear, or unleashes laughter. What a beautiful thing!
Thank you. Have you ever caught a glimpse of the spine of a book quietly, discreetly, yet purposefully peeking from amongst the millions on the shelf, like a slight poke from the quiet child in the group, the sight of an elderly couple holding hands, witnessing the innocence of a new born baby calf and its freedom of life as it chases your car tail high flapping back and forth as the five year mothers look on chewing their cud. Okay, a little bit much on the last one. But its those things that make us STOP.REMEMBER.THINK.or rather on the contrary, to stop thinking. Today as I helped what I thought to be an out of control rambunctious group of third graders, discover the joy, and sense of self accomplishment in using good old Encyclopedias as they overcame the downfall of not having enough computers for everyone to use on finding information about their current research projects. Watching them reach for books in the dusty reference corner, and flip through the pages, eyes lighting up at new words and places they had never heard of or seen before was incredible. As they discovered a new species of the animal kingdom and changed their topic from jackrabbit to the exotic and viscious Jackal, those “lucky” students who were picking away at search engines were stuck reading cheap advertisements trying to find out what the name is of a baby monkey. Something to be said here. There. Gosh, seeing them shuffle through the pages, puling the books off the shelves, minds being exposed to new (just because its in an old book doesn’t make the information worthless) things was AWESOME! At the time I thought nothing of it, until, when the bell rang, and I was walking back across the library, I spotted it.
Is it just me, or did any of you get wrapped up in fictional words compliments of talented individuals who provided an escape, a world of wonder, of joy and laughter where you fought evil and not with swords but with acts of kindness and bold perseverance? Sometimes with the help of a handy sidekick mouse or cricket? Where kindness worked wonders and people acted purely out of love and selflessness. I remember reading Roald Dahl and drinking up every word, every chapter! Where did I forget that? To love the strange works? To love to read? To love to write? When did I let my brain convince my soul that English is boring and too hard, nobody likes the subject, its not a cool thing to enjoy, and there is no glory in consuming your life with play on words, exploration of others works, and the deciphering of what has been? To let your mind imagine to create, to explore, to wander and dream, and be what it wants to be, enjoying all that it finds appealing without second guessing the purpose behind it or the second opinions of the millions of people in this world? Being able to express feeling, complicated emotion, indescribable thoughts in a matter of only a few words is an art and task in and of itself! So much can be said in only two words yet we spend most our lives talking and talking, and texting and emailing or searching for what it is we cannot find, beating about the bush, wastefully using twenty when ten will do. Or even still, a lengthy explanation when a hug is all that’s needed. There is a reason when you attend a play or listen to a song, or read the Bible that the font arranged in that pattern on the paper strikes a nerve, encourages a tear, or unleashes laughter. What a beautiful thing!
April 7, 2009
April 6, 2009
sexy can you? yes, yes you can.
To the patron sitting on the other side of the bookshelf from me, GO GET YOURSELF A DRINK OF WATER WOMAN! How many times do you have to clear your throat, give a cough, and make that wheezing sound before EUREAKA!, there’s the drinking fountain! Yes, there you go! Keep walking, you are headed in the right direction.
Here’s a thought for you – underwear in your purse. Shoot, underwear in any carrying tote that you happen to be sporting that day. Why is it, how is it, that we’ve all been there? Laugh out loud ladies, but if not yet; at some point in your life, you’re going to have underwear in your purse. I pray you’ll have underwear in your purse! If you haven’t yet, you haven’t lived. Don't judge.
For those I now pray for, having underwear in your purse is like the date you brought to the dinner party when you didn’t really want to. Sure, from the outside it all looks fine, but if they only knew. The “underwear” is inescapable. You try going making dashing off to the bathroom, to the buffet for tardy seconds, never staying in one place for fear someone will pick up on your uneasiness; but even after an hour walking down memory lane retelling countless inside jokes, you cant get your mind off it - he’s still there, and you’re going home with it. Might as well accept it. THE CURSE OF THE UNDIES IN THE PURSIES. My suggestion to you virgin of the dreaded dinner date – confess in a friend – ASAP. While not only will it ease your mind, you’re going to make someone’s day. I know the last time I received a text confessing her underwear were in her purse, at least until she reached the restaurant, I brought new meaning to random outburst of laughter. Thank you for that Anna Fleming. And let me express my deepest apologies to the Carroll student sitting nearest to me in the library… if they only knew….
Here’s a thought for you – underwear in your purse. Shoot, underwear in any carrying tote that you happen to be sporting that day. Why is it, how is it, that we’ve all been there? Laugh out loud ladies, but if not yet; at some point in your life, you’re going to have underwear in your purse. I pray you’ll have underwear in your purse! If you haven’t yet, you haven’t lived. Don't judge.
For those I now pray for, having underwear in your purse is like the date you brought to the dinner party when you didn’t really want to. Sure, from the outside it all looks fine, but if they only knew. The “underwear” is inescapable. You try going making dashing off to the bathroom, to the buffet for tardy seconds, never staying in one place for fear someone will pick up on your uneasiness; but even after an hour walking down memory lane retelling countless inside jokes, you cant get your mind off it - he’s still there, and you’re going home with it. Might as well accept it. THE CURSE OF THE UNDIES IN THE PURSIES. My suggestion to you virgin of the dreaded dinner date – confess in a friend – ASAP. While not only will it ease your mind, you’re going to make someone’s day. I know the last time I received a text confessing her underwear were in her purse, at least until she reached the restaurant, I brought new meaning to random outburst of laughter. Thank you for that Anna Fleming. And let me express my deepest apologies to the Carroll student sitting nearest to me in the library… if they only knew….
April 2, 2009
embrace and immerse
MMMMMMM mmmmmm! Don't you just wanna believe!
Believe in something so special, to live in it, to trust it. To ignore the distractions, the constant critical comments opposing what it is you yearn to explore.
Torn but not in pain.
Invisibly confused.
Sadly distracted?
Freakishly perfect in time, place, and person.
Leaving me terrified and hopeful in what it is to come.
Brimming admiration of fellow queen-like strengths.
Independent yet connected, continual incessant love.
Hesitantly toying with...
Realistic fantasy?
Invisibly confused.
Sadly distracted?
Freakishly perfect in time, place, and person.
Leaving me terrified and hopeful in what it is to come.
Brimming admiration of fellow queen-like strengths.
Independent yet connected, continual incessant love.
Hesitantly toying with...
Realistic fantasy?
Needless to say my return from New Zealand has left me pretty confused. Coincidentally it also left me with, A: a sweet sweet hand bag, B: a series of bruises and horribly knotted muscles, C: a half eaten pack of Tim Tams (BEST chocolate biscuits - ladies, I really did mean them to go to you), and last but not least, a taste for adventure I doubt will ever be satisfied!
A good thing? A bad thing? We're working on that.
God bless Hugh's neighbors, shame on me for spacing their names at the moment, and their lovely drugs from their last motorcycle accident. I'm telling you, sitting on a plane for 13 hours immediately after that tumble? No amount of alcohol could make a difference. Thank you lovely ladies who didn't want their first class champagne! AND, you guys, don't go wasting five bucks (or $1 if you love the Red Box as much as me!) on My Best Friends Girlfriend. Awful movie. Dane Cook? Stick to stand up.
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