| Doing my best |
[Apr. 8th, 2012|08:54 pm] |
I will not write a lot of poems this month. But I will try. And submit. And make poetry things happen. I will be surprised if I write more than 10 poems. I will be happy if two of them can leave the month with any integrity. Right now, I'm writing short little statements about the poets students will have to choose from this unit, including:
Swag by Mahogany Browne
These Are the Breaks by Idris Goodwin
Love in a Time of Robot Apocalypse by David Perez
Ceremony for the Choking Ghose by Karen Finneyfrock
Bring Down the Chandeliers by Tara Hardy
Yesterday Won’t Goodbye by Brian Ellis
The Bones Below by Sierra DeMulder
Miles of Hallelujah by Rob Sturma
Oh Terrible Youth by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz
Grits by Eboni Hogan
In the Event You are Caught Behind Enemy Lines by William Evans
Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith
Live for a Living by Buddy Wakefield
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| So here's the thing . . . |
[Mar. 17th, 2012|12:16 pm] |
St. Patrick's Dat is a pretty religious holiday. Like Easter and Christmas.
My family was not very religious growing up, and I believe all my siblings and I are now atheists.
I "celebrate" these holidays, completely absent of the religious side of things. Which leaves the commercialized side. The family tradition side. The positive feelings of these holidays side. The part where my mother stopped hiding easter eggs and just hid Reeses peanut butter eggs. The part where we got to open one gift on Christmas Eve. The part where I died eggs with my high school friends and delivered them to people's houses. The part where my Grandpa sent us St. Patrick's Day cards and my dad left us the same three St. Patrick's Day pins on the kitchen counter every year (because he left for work before we woke up).
My name is Megan Colleen, but my red hair comes from a bottle. I'm going to drink beer today (which, uh, is actually part of the holiday), wear my "Kiss Me I'm Irish" button, and drink a shamrock shake. Joyfully. |
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| Some things that are good |
[Mar. 17th, 2012|11:25 am] |
- "I like how Ms. Thoma teaches it . . ." and all the variations of that. I am exhausted, but I'm doing something right.
- TICKETS TO THE HUNGER GAMES=purchased. And we got sweet seats. IMAX bitches.
- K made me laugh today. About how the doctors aren't really diagnosing or treating him and he could apparently die at any point. Yesterday, the reality his mom shared was heartbreaking. Today, he made me laugh. The word "advocate" is bumpy and weighty and one of the most important words in my field.
- I had 15/16 conferences yesterday. And they were all positive--despite many work contracts for kids failing classes. I love the day after conferences. How they are all grateful for how well it went. For the way I am able to make it positive. For talking their parents into letting them try-out for softball or keep going to Young Voices. The reports that their parents said they were proud of them on the car ride home.
- When school buys us lunch. And there is enough left over for lunch the next day.
- Befriending and feeding all the neighborhood cats. (Well, the three best ones.) Too bad Ginny is such a bitch and won't let any of them come in the house.
- The coins he left me. The way the dirty stove makes me grateful. The fact that his banjo is resting up against the shelf next to the bed, and it twangs every time I take off my glasses or reach for my tea.
- Shanny's book.
- And that Tom bought the first one for me.
- And her note.
- And how good that book is.
- And the e-mails that we exchanged afterwards
- Making a list of ideas for poems
- Getting to have a Shamrock Shake today
- Tom coming home tomorrow
- Feeling rested
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| Goodness |
[Feb. 8th, 2012|11:24 pm] |
Today was a good day. Not because good things happened. (Like a quiet, romantic email to start my morning...or leaving Tom a gigantic love note on butcher paper outside the door for when he woke up...or finding a new, beautiful place in Rhode Island...or a wonderful day of Shakespeare pd that stretched my brain, made me laugh, and ignited my excitement for Macbeth...or meaningful meetings with students after school...or mini shopping spree at the craft and party store...or sticking to my calorie goal...or making four more books...or catching up on a few tv shows...or the whole, warm bed to myself...) It was a good day because I could feel all those things flutter and glow in my chest. Emerging from a bout of depression is a subtle and precious journey. Even gratitude can fizzle away, and to have it return, pure, when there is so much to be grateful for, is a sly smile worth of appropriate. Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
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| (no subject) |
[Feb. 7th, 2012|08:45 pm] |
Ugh . . . who decided it was a good idea to have us memorize ten lines of Shakespeare for tomorrow's PD?
Boooo!
(Although I am happy I have so many nerdy colleagues who this is a ridiculously easy task.) |
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| Fun-A-Day Project |
[Jan. 1st, 2012|11:01 am] |
So, there's this thing called Fun-A-Day. I don't know how big a movement it is, but the idea behind it is that everyone is an artist, everything we create is art, and for the month of January, you create one thing each day. The Providence division is pretty active, and they have a series of events, including meet and greets and a gallery show at the end.
I've always been really interested in artist books. In past summers, I've set the goal of making a book a week, but I never even made one. So, for my fun-a-day project, I'm making a small artist book every day. I thought they were going to be random, but I decided to use items from my book in November as the test and inspiration.
So, about my book. My book is titled What Happened When I Died. I saw a Laurie Anderson performance where she talked about how a person dies three times: the first when their heart stops beating, the second when their body is buried or burned, the third the last time someone says their name. My book starts with that idea and then spirals out, supposing that you actually die hundreds and thousands of times. The book is divided into three sections: the first, the second, and the third. Each portion is a mix of memories from the narrators life and all of these different deaths. The first section is fairly logical and coherent, but as the book continues, everything starts to unravel: the memories, her senses, her ability to make sense of anything.
The death sections are pretty much surreal dreams. For my artist book, I'm choosing 31 and making a book for each one.
Books will be showcased on my pinterest page.
Very, very excited.
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| 10 Things I Loved About 2011 |
[Dec. 30th, 2011|01:31 pm] |
- Tom. We started dating in January and have had the most lovely year together. We traveled a bunch (Montreal, Philly, New York, Chicago . . .), went on millions of perfect dates, and moved in together in September. I have had a rough couple of years on the love front, and I am so incredibly grateful for the journey we've shared together this year and for all the goodness that is gonna come our way in the coming years.
- Hosting the National Poetry Slam AND going to finals stage. I will never do anything like it again, but it was one hell of a ride. I am proud of my team, the invention we brought throughout the entire competition, and of my performances throughout the week. I was honored to be on staff and to help make the event so successful. I had a blast organizing street shows, being the card girl at the Decathlon, and just getting shit done. My socialness at this NPS was extremely limited, but I was very grateful for the small things: Shanny doing my makeup in the lobby, dinner with Cristin and Whoopeecat, breakfast with Cristin and Sarah, every time I saw Adeline, a croissant in a parking lot, Rachel's FLASHCUNT synopsis during the fire, and the small joys of our community.
- Our new house. I lived by myself in a basement apartment for three years. It was wonderful for so many reasons, but horrible for entertaining and having people over. Our new house is a three bedroom with this amazing attic/loft space. We have two bathrooms, a much bigger kitchen, and just general awesomeness. We have a lot more work to do, but it is for sure becoming our home, and we have been able to share it with many poets and musicians already. Oh, and our animals get along, which is a gift in itself.
- Shows and tours. I went on a west coast tour/road trip this year with my sister. Hit up Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Jose, and Berkeley. I competed at WoWps and NPS. I featured at the Poet's Asylum, in White Plains, and at Urbana Slam at the Bowery Poetry Club. I was crowned Ms. Dirty Gerund 2011, which came with a feature with Tom, and I did a bunch of high school gigs too. For a "taking it easy" year, it was pretty full of awesome opportunities.
- Oh Christmas. We have a beautiful tree full of ornaments from so many friends and family members. I got everyone in my family really awesome gifts. (Muppet for the win.) I received some fantastic presents--including shiny gold Toms and a new TV. It was so wonderful to have Tom in Chicago with my family. Just a total, total gift.
- My job at Paul Cuffee. Leaving Hope was a trying ordeal, but I was so fortunate to get scooped up by the Cuffee family. Middle school was a total blast, and although this year has been kicking my ass, I am very fortunate to have this job. I am doing the work that I love in an environment that can truly make a difference. I have a lot of autonomy and amazing colleagues, and this job is going to become something really, really amazing.
- On that note: anti-depressants and counseling. 2010 was a really hard year for me. I eventually put a name to my depression but didn't do anything about it. It did eventually fade near the end of the year. When the depression showed it's ugly head this fall, I did something about it. I am on antidepressants, seeing a psychologist, and am generally taking active steps to remedy and prevent in the future. It has been rough--especially adjusting to the medications--but it is also empowering and positive.
- NaNoWriMo. 1) I did it with the whole 10th grade. They wrote over a million words and were totally awesome the entire time. 2) I finished my book. For the first time ever. Over 50,000 words. Super, super awesome.
- I got to write a nice piece for Radius and had a few haiku appear in Write Bloody's Aim for the Head zombie anthology.
- Friends. Upkeeping friendships is not one of my strengths, so I am incredibly grateful for people who operate on my wavelength: I may have not seen you for two years, but I know you in a very true and real way, and I love all your strengths and flaws. I have had a few friendships solidify this year, mostly with really kick-ass women who inspire me and push my heart forward in really fantastic ways.
2011 was good to me. Looking forward to 2012, to new artistic endeavors, better money management, new experiences with Tom, more traveling, getting a grip on my job, and really enjoying the last year of my twenties. |
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| Today's Happiness |
[Nov. 14th, 2011|09:14 pm] |
1) All my kids were in advisory, relatively on time, and uniform appropriate. We had a pretty nice advisory too where they came up with a lot of persuasive ideas on both sides for why (or why we shouldn't) put up the tree at my house. 2) I got a lot of work done in a short amount of time this morning. Small victory. 3) I bought Just Dance 3 for my Xbox this weekend. I've played it multiple times so far. Never for too long and with only minor injury to Tom (who was watching), but it's nice to feel like I'm "working out" even if it's to the lamest degree possible. 4) All my meetings were incredibly efficient today! 5) We got this big grant! Which means I get books! And maybe e-readers! Wahoo! Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
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| Happiness |
[Nov. 9th, 2011|06:26 am] |
1) The kids have been angels during NaNoWriMo. It's shocking and wonderful. Starting to think already how I'm going to keep this momentum and behavior going after November.
2) Tom got a new iphone. It makes it hard to see his eyes, but sometimes I can trick him into getting apps that require him to look at me through a lens or on the screen. (But for reals: he's really happy, and it's really cute. The novelty will wear off. And in the meantime, I'm learning about new apps too!)
3) We made good Indian food last night. I feel like a whole new area of food has opened up to me, and I'm excited.
4) No school Friday. |
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| Happiness |
[Nov. 2nd, 2011|07:24 pm] |
1) I had a decent conversation with a challenging student today. In the big scheme of things, it was a victory.
2) "Glitter" was the new skill in theatre make-up today.
3) Three periods of almost total silence in class, totally unprompted by me. They were just that into their books.
4) Nice conversation with a colleague I don't see much. (Granted, it was a lot of griping, but it was nice nonetheless.)
5) I did a lot of dishes.
6) THE HEAT IS WORKING! (At school and in our house!)
7) Tom offered to make dinner so that I could work on my novel. |
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| Happiness |
[Nov. 1st, 2011|07:17 pm] |
1) During the all school morning meeting, one of my students acknowledged all the hard work I've been putting into prepping them for NaNoWriMo. It was very heart felt and very sweet. I also liked that during my announcement about NaNo starting today, all of the 10th graders started to cheer. It warmed my heart.
2) While I was writing, Tom asked me to come over and stand by him. He brought me over to the window, and we watched the sunset from the 4th floor. He said, "It's a good one today."
3) My car cup holder has room for a coffee mug handle. |
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| Happiness |
[Oct. 31st, 2011|09:59 pm] |
1) Walking out the door, begrudgely carrying a mini Kit Kat (aka: breakfast) to find another bag of baked goods from our neighbor as a Halloween gift. I had a big piece of baguette instead. Win.
2) I went to the middle school to get my flu shot so that I wouldn't miss classes. This coincided with 7th grade flu shots, so I got to see my kids from last year. Hugs all around. So, so, so many hugs.
3) I teach a theatre make-up club once a week. After school today, three of my strongest students stayed after to volunteer and do make-up for people for Halloween. We had 10-15 kids come through, and it was a whole lot of fun. Super awesome to see them put all their skills to use too.
4) We live on the 3rd floor, so I bought a giant irrigation tube to drop candy down. Tom's response initiially floated between annoyed and irritated, but he eventually warmed to the idea, and we had a lot of fun. We don't live on a busy street, and our street isn't considered the "rich" part of the east side, but we had a nice time sitting out and dropping candy down. I put luminaries on our driveway too, and it was pretty. |
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| Creation weekends |
[Oct. 23rd, 2011|12:10 am] |
I think I want to set a goal that I must start and finish one piece of art or creative project every weekend. It may be as simple as a drawing or carving a pumpkin or a poem, but it could also be an artist book, a short animated film, or a performance piece. Where should I post the results? My poet website? Here? Facebook? Pinterest? Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
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| Dreams |
[Oct. 21st, 2011|07:24 am] |
In my dream last night, there was a girl who was mad at me. She was some sort of witch, so when she got mad, her eyes glowed and turned everyone to different types of liquid and gel. Also, I got a birthday card from Regie Cabico, who I don't know super well in real life. There was writing on both sides, including a recipe for brownies. Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
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| Three things that made me happy (bringing it back folks!) |
[Sep. 24th, 2011|08:13 pm] |
1) We had a band stay with us Thursday and Friday. I cooked delicious food. They drank all our beer. It was nice to have a full house, to fill bellies, to offer a home to the road wear.
2) New Parks! New Office! Yay planking! Yay beards and buttons and penises and Tammys and awesome.
3) Also, new Grey's. I was giddy, and Tom was lying next to me. When the couple fell into the sinkhole, Tom could not stop laughing. It increased and elevated until he was shaking and sliding off the bed . . . mocking the scene in the show. He then pulled me down with him, and we laughed and laughed and laughed. And then I said, "Ooo, it's back on," and hopped back into bed. |
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| Dream |
[Jun. 23rd, 2011|06:56 am] |
We were running the second run of a field trip. It was around Christmas. It was taking forever to get home. Ultimately we figured out it was because of a parade. Just my field trip luck. When the bus stopped not at school, I was confused, but Josie said we were stopping to get hot chocolate and ice cream. The kids I think had to have hot chocate, the adults got to choose, but I wanted both. There were so many flavors and they were poorly labeled and I wanted to try them all.
Long story short: I kept us there till 12:42 at night. I chose peanut butter hamburger. They forgot my hot chocolate. |
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| 3am |
[May. 27th, 2011|03:25 am] |
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As soon as I conquered the excited, caffieness slumber preventer, we got woken up by a very loud car accident on a side street and women screaming at each other. By the time I found my glasses, my Phone, and something to cover myself, things were eerily quiet. Tom rolled his jetlagged body into the middle of the bed. There were no signs of an accident on the main road. I headed back to the bedroom to hear someone squeal tires and try to drive away on the side street. It was a swarm of Rhode Island accents, and I was still trying figure out if things were okay. A fire truck pulled up, so I crawled back in bed. Tom asked if it was time to get up. The hum of the firetruck hummed the soundtrack of the adrenaline ricocheting around my body. When the fire truck left, I calmed until I heard a man swearing and a woman begging Ronnie to come back. Then the sound of a cop door and radio. The couch in the bedroom by the window has no view, but the best sound. I'm glad the dog is at Tom's mom's. There are birds chirping. I can hear tires roll over glass gravel. I hear the dull scratch of metal being moved. |
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| 18/30 |
[Apr. 18th, 2011|02:23 pm] |
My new project for 30/30 this week is to write wikihow articles.
The first: How to Scratch Your Boyfriend's Beard is up now!
***AH! UPDATE!!!*****
So, I was very interested in this wiki idea, how a piece could change and grow with other authors. But the first "edit" I got took out TONS OF SHIT under the guise of, "(Quick edit while patrolling - making a bit less of a joke.)" . . . uh . . .
So, yeah, this might not work.
Luckily, I can go back and see what it is I wrote, but still! This is infuriating! It is a joke!
Ugh, and now I have to go and self-publish them on my webpage! Ugh! Work!
****AH! Another update! *****
The original version can be found here. |
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| April 11 |
[Apr. 12th, 2011|12:49 am] |
Plimoth Plantation April 11, 2011 We have reiterated over and over again:
the colonists are role-players--the Wampanoag are not.
When asked if women made mashoons, the man tells us no--that all people are created equal, that dolls have no faces, but that there were gender roles. Women give life. Men take it. He says it soft but reverent. Their eyes wandering to unvisited wetus, I worry my students may not have heard him. The woman at the fire is cooking turkey stew in one pot, squash in the other. She is wearing a jacket made of dozens of fox pelts, sewn together. They ask her if they are real. They ask her if it is warm. They ask her if it is soft.
They ask if they can touch it.
And she says yes, shows them how to pet it, down,
from root to tip. Like a dog. Or a cat. And two sixth-graders touch her coat. Then five. Then a dozen swarm her, groping the fiery orange fur. An infestation of tiny, curious hands, aching for their own moment of luxury. I am on the outside, a fire between us, too far to say something, but close enough to see the moment of anxiety flash in her eyes as her offer is swallowed by a swarm of take take take take take. We have reiterated over and over again: This is how we take life. With the gentle palms of our hands. Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone. |
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| 30/30 |
[Apr. 1st, 2011|05:35 pm] |
In recognition of the fact that I believe writing is but a small fraction of what it means to be a poet, I've created a pretty complicated set of goals for April's 30/30 this year. In recognition of some study or article or something I read some time that said verbalizing your goals online or to friends can actually decrease the chance you will succeed at your goals (and because "community" or "peer pressure" is not something that motivates me), I am going to keep my goals a secret.
That said, I am noting my accomplishments each day, and I will post them all on May 1st.
Also, writing this post makes me feel like a narcissistic dick. |
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| Articles for You to Write |
[Mar. 27th, 2011|10:33 am] |
Here is a list of suggested articles that have not yet been written. You can help by researching and writing one of these articles. To get started writing one of these articles, click on the red link of a title below.
How to Buy Bike Shorts
How to Exercise While Breastfeeding
How to Treat Adult Diarrhea in the Wilderness
How to Treat Children's Diarrhea in the Wilderness
How to Splint a Fractured Kneecap in the Wilderness |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 17th, 2011|06:35 am] |
I do have data for WoWps this year.
And I do want to do a write-up of my experience as a whole.
But it's also grades and conference week. Once that passes, I'll have time to eat and breathe and shit. Oh, and write lj entries. |
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| Strategy |
[Mar. 11th, 2011|12:09 pm] |
As a funny poet, I struggle constantly with the timing of my poems--it is incredibly hard to account for audience response. And fuck you to everyone who says to just truck through the laughter. Last year at WoWps, I think I clocked 20-30 seconds over time because the person sitting behind me on stage fell out of his chair. (Also: I'm funny, but not that funny--people just crave it hard at WoWps.) Your sad poem about your mother dying--when's the last time you had to stop the poem because people were collecting their asses off the floor?
All of that said:
my two funniest poems of my 4 prelim poems I had planned are my 2 and 3 minute, meaning they will both be tonight. The beautiful thing about being ranked 60th? I get to let people laugh without rushing or stifling them or cutting lines to leave room for response. It is the most freeing thing in the world to know I can do the poems how I want to do them and service the show as a whole by bringing great, necessary work to the table.
And now I'm going to take a nap. |
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| Top Ten Poetry Moments of 2010 |
[Feb. 2nd, 2011|12:24 am] |
In rough chronological order . . ."
Poetry Kick in the Ass: Encyclopedia Show
I’ve always been a writer. But I’ve also dedicated a huge part of my life to theater, dance, visual art, music, and performance art in general. While I’m so grateful for my immersion into the poetry community, it doesn’t always fulfill all my creative impulses. Enter Encyclopedia Show. The ability to challenge the slam community, bring together art communities, do experimental work, create a space for humor and genuine human moments . . . I’m very grateful to be in this family and be a part of this movement.
When I Grow Up: Mindy Nettifee's Cantab Premiere
I had heard good things about Mindy. I made sure to get my ass to her Cantab premiere. It was one of the best nights of poetry I’ve ever seen—in a month of really, really good poetry. Mindy’s metaphors are smart, original, and incredibly accurate. She never takes anything too seriously. And there is such warmth in her words and performance. She did some great stuff with music too. There are so many women I respect in this field. Mindy is right up there at the top.
Extended Visit: Karen Finneyfrock
Karen and I met at NPS 2009, but we didn’t hang out proper until IWPS. In April, Karen came out to New England to hit all the big venues. She stayed with me most of the time, and it was one of the best poetry/soul enriching visits ever. I was a little nervous before her visit—Karen is hot shit right now, and even though I considered her a friend, we hadn’t spent much time together. As soon as she got in my car to go to Providence, the confirmation of our friend-chemistry was instant. It was a whirlwind week, and I was constantly impressed with Karen in so many different settings. She really is one of the best. Highlights included playing erotic photo hunt, her stellar show at Hope, the photo shoot at Kitchen Sessions, her patience and guidance in weathering tough ideas and topics, and her promising to get a tattoo of me with giant boobs if I ever get incarcerated.
Local Show: Kitchen Sessions
Oh Kitchen Sessions: the best house show in New England. The emphasis on new work, the extended work from out-of-towners, and the love and adoration that fills Mike, Kate, and Melinda’s home. We’re still doing them sometimes, but the real magic came from Mike McGee.
Spontaneous Performance: Manchester Show
Manchester is a very, very loving audience, and I was excited that I could bring them really weird stuff. I was planning on closing my set with “Fine, Fine, Our Love is an Ocean” because I knew there was at least one person in the audience who had come specifically for that poem. When the café had to close, and I had to shorten my set, this woman was outraged. The solution? At 11:00 on a Friday night in downtown Manchester, I stood on a newspaper box and performed the poem for an audience that had spilled out onto the streets and every drunk that passed. Not gonna lie: it was a little bit of magic.
As an Organizer: Providence Decathlon Slam
In my ideal night of poetry, there is room for crafted pieces, spontaneous moments, reverence, humor, and everything in between. I love decathlons because they don’t take themselves too seriously. I was particularly proud of: the AMAZING trophies Sarah and I created; having Derrick Brown as our host; having five teams from five states; leaving room for great pieces of writing; and Providence winning because of their strength in improv, writing, artistry, creativity, professionalism, etc. It was a really fun night. (Oh and prizes! Prizes!)
Best Slam: Cantab's first bout at NPS
So, when you are around poetry as much as many of us in the community are, things start to get monotonous. You pick up on the trends, you see the same poem done over and over, you get attuned to people’s performance styles. It can get old. You can get judgmental and bored and head-full-of-eye-rolly. And then you go to a Cantab bout at NPS. I’m from New England—these poets are my friends, and they were performing poems I had heard many times before. But fuckin’ A. They were absolutely MASTERFUL. I was crying and cheering and laughing and pumping fists and beaming and screaming and gasping. It was physically exhausting to watch. And it made me feel so lucky to know these writers and performers and to have an opportunity to learn and grow from them.
Group Show: Revival
I love me some Revival Show. I didn’t see the 2009 show, so I headed up to both Boston gigs. The MIT show was pretty empty, and the show was pretty somber at points, but it matched my emotional state and was exactly what I needed. The changes in my life between 2008 and 2010 were very present, and I was very grateful for them. Also: Cristin dedicated a poem to me. Also: the first miner came out of the mine. Also: I took Charlotte to the BU show and bought her her first burrito and ate it noisily in the balcony. Also: grateful.
Local Poet: Brian Ellis at the Whitehaus
Brian Ellis tours a lot. When he came home from his most recent tour, he did a show at his home, the Whitehaus. It was in the basement, adorned with Christmas lights, and he stood on an amp most of the night, no mic. It was nothing short of magical. (Brian and I have become good friends this year, and I am very, very grateful to have him in my life.) For all the time I spend bitching about dumb shit, let me say this: sometimes, things are heart fuzz perfect. This was one of those nights.
Comeback: Montserrat
The second half of the year was tough for me. I wasn’t excited about poetry, and I was super burnt out after nationals. I wasn’t writing much. Wasn’t performing. My new job kept me in most nights. In November and December, I started to come out of it. Besides our team feature in September, I didn’t do a feature between June and December. In December, Jared and I went up to Montserrat to co-feature. It was an absolutely lovely night, and I was so warmly received by the students there. It made me excited about performing, and I was really grateful for the opportunity.
Poet Idol: Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Okay, okay. So I have eleven things on this list. That’s because I needed eleven. That’s because the awesomeness that is Cristin cannot be contained in such a silly top ten list. I got to spend a lot of funny lady time with Cristin at WoWPS and NPS this year, but the highlight was her visit to New England in November followed by a car ride and visit to Philly. There were so many wonderful things about that visit: the excessive use of the phrase “boning to the extreme”, the visit to the King of Prussia Mall, the pumple cake, the random petting zoo, the staring dreamily into Ben Franklin’s eyes, the pumpkin pancakes . . . but mostly just getting to spend time with Cristin and Shap. There are few people in this community who have as much talent, heart, and perseverance as Cristin. The success that has come her way this year is way overdue and so ridiculously deserved. I’m so lucky to have her as a friend and a role model. After a rough year, she got me excited about writing and fired up about going out there and fighting the good fight. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. No better way to end this list.
I'm excited about 2011 and all the goodness it will contain. We've already had two OUTSTANDING Providence Slams, have a great Encyclo Show planned for February 10th, and my west coast tour is falling together nicely. And my heart is in a good place these days. I'm looking forward to all of it. |
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| From Christmas break |
[Jan. 14th, 2011|04:50 pm] |
"Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry is playing on the radio.
Me: You know, I have a soft spot for pop music, but this really is an awful song . . .
Mom: It's my ringtone for you guys. (implying my sibilings and me)
Me: It's about having sex and questionably about losing one's virginity and sleeping with a teenager . . .
Mom: I just hear the word "teenage" and you guys are teenagers.
Me: Mom, we can all legally drink.
Mom: "Your Love is My Drug" is my tone for your dad . . . |
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| This needs some more editing, but I don't have time, and I wanted to share . . . |
[Jan. 6th, 2011|02:12 pm] |
10 Things I Loved This Year
Author: Colum McCann
I got Let the Great World Spin around Christmas last year and fell in love with it very quickly. I liked the multiple narrators, the way the stories overlapped but it wasn't the same story over and over again. I appreciated the varied style of all of the sections. It was just such an amazing, amazing book. I read THAT BOOK BALLERINA after that. I liked the first better, but both were really amazing. I've read some good books since then, but none have matched the craftsmanship of his books.
Theatre: Fuerza Bruta
I saw De Le Guarda in 2002, and it was a huge influence on my art for years to come--and more widely on my ideas and personal philosophy about art and entertainment. I'd been trying to see the new show for awhile, and I managed to make it happen in April. Again: life shaking. I can't talk about it without getting cliche and overly sentimental. But yeah: it was good.
Singer: Florence & The Machine
This year, I've become very invested in tools. Not so much power drills and rotating saws, but the idea that most of our material possessions are simply tools. And while we want good tools that help us do our work efficently, and we want things that are esteically interesting and pleacing because we are human, I think one of the easiest ways to keep ones priorities in line is to remember that your things are tools. Your clothes, your car, your camera: all tools.
Art is a tool. Music is a tool. It is a tool to bring joy, to help us connect to one another. With that in mind, I'm trying to let my little hipster heart love whatever type of music or art it wants--to embrace anything that brings it joy, no matter how silly or cliche.
Now, that logic doesn't really apply to this album, which is smart, original, and fun with songs crafted in a way that continually has me groping aorund and finding newness. It's good dancing music. Real good dancing music. And the music videos are fantastic as well.
Song: "Tightrope" by Janelle Monea
This whole CD is great, but this song specifically led to some criminally good dancing in my apartment.
Band: Dark Dark Dark
Oh man, the new cd is so good. I bought three copies--one for myself and two to give as gifts. I ended up with a copy on my computer, one in my bedroom, one in my car, and one in my bathroom. Oops.
Album: The Black Keys "Brothers"
I am generally a pretty considerate person. Except when it comes to the volume in which I play things in my car.
Movie: Scott Pilgrim Vs. The Evil Exes
I saw Inception. It was good. I saw this a few weeks later. And again, going back to joy: Inception makes ya think, but SP made me laugh and cheer and fist pump and giggle. I was bouncing with giddiness.
Comedian: Amy Sedaris
I saw her do an interview on Bravo. She was so incredibly funny. It was MASTERFUL and so, so, so humbling.
Basic Cable: Parks & Recreation
I tried to watch this show when it first came out, but it was hard for me to get into. But I once felt the same way about the Office, so I started watching it more this summer/fall in that awkward spot before the new seasons started. I have fallen head over heels for it. The characters are unique, endearing, and likable. It's smart. It's funny, and bonus: it has a female lead. I'm anxiously waiting its return this January.
Premium Channels: The Big C
I watched the first episode this summer and the rest of the first season this week. I feel like this list is getting repetitive, but it's funny, smart, and is filled with characters that I'm interested and invested in.
And stay tuned for me Top 10 Poetry Moments of 2010! |
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| 3 Good Things |
[Nov. 29th, 2010|11:04 pm] |
1) C melted down the other day when she got her grades. Head down, heart crying. I snuck up on her while everyone else was working, and we had a really quiet heart-to-heart. Every day since then, she has come into my class in the morning to say good morning and give me a hug. 6th grade has been a challenge for me, but this part--this part is nice.
2) I forgot to return tests to one class. So I did that, which was great because the tests were AWESOME. But, of course, I was debriefing the projects after that, which SUCKED. My transition? "Everyone put your arms in the air like this and cheer because the tests were so awesome!" Class obliges (because they're still kids!). "Now go like this . . ." I fold my arms and harumf. "Because your projects were not . . ."
Note: I followed up with activity to help discover the challenges in the project and consider how they could improve them . . . I'm not a total jackass.
3) Uh, I might have let the sow bugs die. Which is cruel and a bad example. I know. That said, they were taken off the shelf today and placed on top of a sheet of notebook paper that had "RIP SOW BUGS" scrawled across in block letters. The whole scene was too cute to dispose of. At least not until I take a picture. |
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| According to this morning's dream . . . |
[Oct. 26th, 2010|07:29 am] |
I have the ability to time-travel and warn the man I love where to stand in order to survive the severe earthquake--"The Big One"--that is going to strike New England.*
This is probably one of my most attractive qualities and reasons to date me. Just sayin.
*I will also warn Ani Difranco, who will let me do a poem before her show on the same evening. I think Katherine Heigle is my friend too. |
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| Dirty Gerund |
[Oct. 5th, 2010|08:13 pm] |
1) Mindy says sweetly, "I'm going to do a love poem . . ."
The guy at the bar watching the Pats game screams, "NOOOOO! NOOOO!"
2) During Iron Poet challenge, when asked to score the use of the secret ingredient (which was corn, which he hadn't heard in the poem), "Use of the secret ingredient? Must have missed it. Seven."
3) After examining our photo booth shots, I annoyingly pointed out to Mindy, "Your 'robot horse' looks a lot like your 'angry parent'." |
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| (no subject) |
[Oct. 4th, 2010|06:11 pm] |
A coworker used the word "recalcitrant" in an e-mail today. As in, "Both have achieved only to the degree
that they are the personification of recalcitrant."
Of all the variables in my life, I am constantly grateful for the company I keep. |
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| 2 Things From Today and Yesterday |
[Sep. 3rd, 2010|09:24 pm] |
1) Student takes a handful of M&Ms. The class chastises her for taking more than her share. "What? I love chocolate. i would eat chocolate poop if I could."
2) Yesterday we played a game called "Commonalities" where groups of four had to figure out what they had in common. Things like: we all like pizza, we all have playstations, our parents were born in another country, etc. Best one? "We all hate nazis." |
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| In the dream . . . |
[Aug. 31st, 2010|09:18 pm] |
So, I was watching this "Behind the Scenes" episode of Real World that was exposing all its secrets. (And by watching, I mean, I was sorta there watching, in a weird dream way.) And there were three half/whole-naked co-eds in a shower.
They were preparing for the scene, and the director pointed to a poster board and said, "Here is a list of funny and unusual idioms that you can discuss, and then the water will start."
And boy, were the kids on the Real World not buying it. The tan blonde guy even rolled his eyes at how dumb that was, and then on a teleprompter, a message popped up explaining that this is how they always did it, ever since Real World first went on the air, and that all of this idiom shower stuff was Rob Sturma's idea and doing. At least that was the feeling of the message. I'm pretty sure the actual text was something like, "Real World think tank Rob Sturma has been making showers awkward for over a decade."
Then a tea candle, which was in the shower for some reason, lit the curtain on fire, and then they had to turn on the water to put it out. It was very exciting. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 31st, 2010|08:02 am] |
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I had a dream about watching a "behind Real World". It involved naked people and Rob Sturma. It's not what you think. I'm going to write more about it later today. This is just a reminder. |
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| To-Do List for next week |
[Aug. 21st, 2010|05:56 pm] |
1) Make a list of important artistic moments and experiences in my life.
2) Buy a vacuum.
3) Use this vacuum to make my apartment less disgusting.
4) Set up my classroom, meet my new colleagues, get a good understanding of my first unit on biomes.
5) Try to put into words what is missing/possible avenues towards happiness.
6) Work my ass off on Prov Slam and Encyclopedia Show.
7) Create a concrete plan for my social/poetry life this fall. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 20th, 2010|03:17 am] |
I've been watching a lot of True Blood since I've been home in Illinois. I've been watching season three and don't know much about the rest of the seasons, so I was reading up on some of the plot stuff on Wikipedia. There was a bit about the opening credits--and how the fonts were designed by Camm Rowland. That name sounded so familiar . . . and sure enough, I did a search or two and figured it all out. I totally went to college with him. He was an art major but played guitar too--I just heard a song of his on an old mix a month ago, and he used to do this great "Hit Me Baby One More Time" accoustic cover that was super haunting. He has a beard now. He used to have a long shaggy mushroom cut with bangs in his eyes. I remember him wearing a hoodie a lot. |
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| Mmmm . . . |
[Jul. 5th, 2010|02:51 am] |
I just watched Up! for the first time. I cried a large part of the movie.
I've always marveled at Pixar's ability to walk the line between the kid's world and the adult world in content, themes, and jokes . . . but I was left wondering after this one if they fell too far on the side of the grown-up.
I'm going to think about and expand on this more tomorrow . . .
*************************************
The expansion, part 1: Monday night
"Adult themes" are not new to Pixar. Marital struggles and the complexities of a relationship in The Incredibles. (Not to mention some really interesting stuff on "good" and "evil".) Energy crisis in Monsters Inc. Racism and tolerance in Ratatouille. Post apocalypse/environmental destruction in Wall-E. To name a few. I don't think those should be removed or cleaned up in any way--I generally agree that a lot of those themes are important to kids' lives too and didn't mean to suggest that we should try to shield the poor wittle innocent minds.
BUT understanding death and understanding the loss of one's soul mate are two different things. I will pick a fight with anyone who devalues the emotional capability or lives lived by kids and teenagers. ("You'll understand when you're older.") But I do think there is such a thing as emotional intelligence that grows throughout life as a result of your life experiences. The first 20 minutes of the movie are intense. The lack of dialogue in the sequence of his life requires advanced literacy skills that tap into life experiences that most kids don't have. That sequence also creates the motivation for the protagonist for the first part of the movie . . . so my question is: if so much of the beginning of the movie and the motivation is hard for kids to access, does it cease to be an effective family movie?
Note: I think there are moments in the movie that do walk the line well. The moment where he hits the construction worker with the mailbox. As an adult, I found that scene absolutely heartbreaking--but I also understood the complexity of that character in that moment and the ramifications of that decision. (Before they cut to the jail or court scene.) That said, I don't think that scene is inaccessible to kids because at the heart of it: he did something he knew he shouldn't have done. And he hurt someone. That feeling of regret after a wrong . . . I think that's more universal. Granted, a whole lot of living is going to make that even richer and more meaningful, but I think that scene spans the age range better.
(This train of thought is still rolling and rumbling . . .)
Also: I think it was a really great movie. I think every pixar movie made is a really great movie. They are true artists.
****************************************** |
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| Quick thought |
[May. 9th, 2010|09:03 pm] |
In the k-12 academic world, often subjects are lumped together. For example, math is usually paired with science. English with history.
I've been thinking lately . . . I don't think that's the most natural pairing. To me at least.
My suggestion?
English and Science
To me, there are so many parallels between the two. The goal of both is to better understand the world around us. To experiment. To think. To create a thesis/hypothesis and try to prove it. It is both an act of creation and a testament to all that is already around us.
Math and History
Math and Science are about numbers; History and English about words. There seems to be such a failure of understanding what we do with those things. Math is about the analyzation. About solving something. Given a set of circumstances, what we should expect. History is the same. It is about looking at patterns. Figuring out cause and effect. Understanding how constants and variables are related
Obviously, I'm just playing around with these ideas--they're only in stage one of any sort of actual theory, and I'd garner this is totally not an original idea. (I just haven't had any time to do any research yet.) Thoughts? Does anyone know of any research on this? |
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| 8/30: for Loser Slam |
[Apr. 10th, 2010|12:07 pm] |
I try to do something unique and special at every show I do. (I'm still new enough at this and don't do that many shows that that is still possible.) My day 8 was a series of haikus for loser slam using photos taken of me at the decathlon slam (most by a slammer from LS). It's totally self-indulgent and narcissistic. Occasionally entertaining. It went over well, which is always nice.
You can see them here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2057459&id=41601340&l=283a7f9b32
I cannot properly express how much these photos made me laugh. I get a little smiley thinking about the whole race conversation, and how people who didn't know me might have gone to facebook to figure out who I was and if they had seen me before . . . only to find the most ridiculous series of photos ever. Seriously, if I ever go back to internet dating, I'm replacing all head shots with these. |
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| hey, remember when I was funny (4/30) |
[Apr. 5th, 2010|11:26 pm] |
Dear Neko,
I saw you.
Standing on the other side of the river, your hands
in your pockets, fingering the stones. Flipping them,
making a beat with the dull crack.
The river is so pretty, the way it trips
over itself. The way it throws the sun
onto your hair. The stones
in my pocket are cool in my palm.
And this was never about drowning. More
about how some things don’t
vibrate the way stretched skin does. The way strings
do. The way vocal chords shiver
across a homeless night. I am so tired.
Other girls let the cuffs of their jeans
get damp while we are soaked up to our knees.
And the stones are solid. I try
to match your beat, but catch a heart
thump delay. I like watching them thud
into the surface, play ripples on river skin.
La ti da, di da, di da. |
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| I won't post them all, but I will post this one 2/30 |
[Apr. 2nd, 2010|01:56 pm] |
for sarah morgan
(who should help me come up with a better title)
I often wonder how the two of us
became friends: if it was as simple as walking
towards the promised warmth of a fire.
Or more like a plastic lighter and a doll
with a ballpoint mustache: bound to happen, to result in fumes
and plastic finger blisters. Truth is:
you have been struck by lightening
so many times, the backs of your arms
are charred black, flake coals
when people rub them with encouragement.
The end of your hair smolders orange and fizzles,
shriveling sudden into itself. You smell
a little like death, which is charming
to men and a lesson to children. You’ve mastered
electrical tape and mascara, but I can still catch glimpses
of your torso split savagely in two, your body
a chasm of vicious splinters, the V reaching all the way
to the dirt. I have never cracked violent
like that. I’m all water damage.
The slow seep of a rising river. All ankle swell.
The repetition of soak and shrivel
has left me so knotted and warped
I wobble when men try
to use me for the most ordinary
of things. But when laughter billows
from our awkward guts, I remember:
we are both trees, grand in our reach
and awesome beauty. Our leaves grow back
glossy every time. We eat them when we’re bored.
You say they taste leafy. I say they taste green. |
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| Yesterday |
[Mar. 29th, 2010|07:19 am] |
I took a bath and ate a pop tart and watched 30 Rock all at the same time.
I also thought seriously about whether I want a "WWLLD" bracelet or a "WWTFD" bracelet. |
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| More Thoughts After Being in School Today |
[Mar. 22nd, 2010|05:25 pm] |
I think what makes all of this so hard--the intricacies of listening vs. understanding vs. internalizing . . .
Is that when I was being accused of being racist, of making racist remarks, of reeking of white privilege, I wanted to listen and understand. I also wanted to fight. And I don't think, for me anyways, it was necessarily "I don't want to be seen as a villain" but that I felt that those claims devalued my relationships with my friends of color and my students--and, in turn, reflecting on my ability as a teacher. (Which I am damn good at.) That the love I have for them, which is thick and hot and real, was being called into question.
And then the situation transforms into coping with the complexities of modern racism vs. the love that swells in my chest.
It's hard.
(I used past tense here, but this discussion and this process is far from over.) |
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| For what it's worth |
[Mar. 22nd, 2010|01:53 am] |
The more we talk about all this, the more I accept my comments are made from a perspective of privilege.
I'm white. But you all knew that going into this.
I do my best to educate myself. I do my best to understand. I can listen. I seek out diversity in all aspects of my life. I care very, very deeply about my students, my community, and the work that I do. I am invested in this discussion.
I never acted from a place of hate.
I still feel entitled to my opinions and my hope. |
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