Learning

Slowly I learn more and more about Phtoshop. The potential of what you can accomplish is spectacualr. The amount I understand and can employ reliably is minimal.

On Stage

A few weeks ago, I was driving home from work and heard a radio announce for a singer/songwriter to perform in my town. This particular artist is a fav of HH and we have listened to her soulful tunes many a car ride. I quickly hurried home and snapped up tickets and then proceeded to work desperately at keeping this a secret from HH. I made it, Those who know me well will be shocked at this since i generally cannot keep a secret this well and if pressed will immediately spill the beans. THere are reasons I am not an international spy.

We arrived at the venue last night, in our weeknight finest, and she says "OH i know what we're doing". Now, I am a little sad but of course how long can you keep the secret? Till the artist walks on stage? probably not. We go in, get our 'real' tickets and stand around killing time until they open the doors. HH picks up a brochure on upcoming shows at the venue and lets out a squeal quickly followed by a frustrated " oh we missed it". I say...what? " Ayo is playing here..." and i say, "No Shit" since that is who we are there to see and she told me she had it figured out.

Yes, she hadn't figured it out and was thrilled to discover that we were in fact seeing Ayo together that very night.

and it was spectacular. What a talent and a true pleasure to watch perform. Such a fun personality and a real charm and wit.

Overall.... just a lovely concert.

sweaty toes

Some days are made for laying about and talking about silly things and walking on the ceiling, usually these days are a sunday. I think perhaps, those Sundays are the days to live for. The days that wash away the other days, the days that are long and lazy and lovely.

and so...

I am employed!
Just like that. I will be starting at a new elementary in the fall.


How do you like that?

Portraiture in the Grass

The heat has finally broken and so we spent a delicious mornign in the grass working on self portraits.

Laurens work pre teaching:


and post teaching:




As we can see a much more proportional image!!

she rules.

In personal news....not a lot really since I've been working since 6:30 Monday morning. When both my husbands go on travel my life just shrivels down into a singleparenthood mime. I did get a lovely night in with HH and that offset the isolation of motherhood for a few hours.

I am still waiting on schools to ring back, the good/bad news is that according to the several teachers I have consulted this is normal and it may even be another week or so before i might hear. I am going to another placement fair this weekend so we will see.

to eat or not to eat

So,

my health is not good, and has not been good in a long time. This is largely due to my diet as a vegetarian. I know this, we all know this and yet i mantain my status for no particular reason. Perhaps, I am thinking, it is time to give up the ghost and move into a different chapter of my life. A meat eating chapter.

i gave up meat 7 years ago on my return from Italy. I remember the last piece of meat I ate. I can still almost taste it. I love the flavor of meat and have been drooling over others meals for years. I have no moral misgivings about meat consumption, there is a food chain, and we are part of it and as far as the meat industry goes, I have no intention of eating meat that comes out of it.

I'm looking at CSA's.

I might just eat some chicken next week.

More of the Same

After being asked again yesterday if I had noticed that I was white, I came home in a bit of a funk, to say the least. The woman who asked was very polite about it but nonetheless informed me that I would have trouble in the classroom and was I afraid of african american children?

I am irritated.
I am saddened.
I am frustrated.
I am questioning myself.

This is not what I want out of a teaching experience, I don't want to be questioned not on my abilities as a teacher or as an artist but on my skin color. This is ridiculous.

I've spent my entire work history and training working with urban, diverse populations. I've read a bazillion books on the subject, lectured on the subject and am all around well informed. A principal I interviewed with yesterday was african american. This was her first year in an urban school. I can garuntee you she did not sit through this kind of questioning. I have more urban experience than she does.

Part of me is angry and proud and saying, F this. Part of me is worried for our future and saying, I'll show you.

I don't know which part is winning right now. I think the worried part because that's the part that always wins.



I just don't know.
My optimism is faltering.