~ Jim Noir
Mary Oliver's poems just may save my sanity: beautiful, serene and poignant.
Recently, in the overwhelming profession I now am a part of, I get down...really down. They say teaching gives you the highest highs and lowest lows, but the highs are worth it. So far, I agree, but my perfectionism coupled with living in the suburbs away from friends and any semblance of social life has a tendency to make things look a little bleak. But, it's okay. I will keep calm and carry on, as the famous WWII poster from the UK says.
Wild Geese by Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
8.04.2010
i got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
Though I saw this last month, I thought I would share one of the funnier moments I've seen on TV in a while (truly, endearingly cute, not funny in the sad/pathetic manner, which has become endemic...but, darnit, I just had to watch the finale of the Bachelorette):
The setting: Kids Jeopardy (probably 10-13 years old)
The question: (I'm paraphrasing) "This extremely popular pop singer says 'If you like it,' then you should do this.
The answer from a young, african-american tweener (who went on to dominate and win): "What is put a ring on it, Alex?"
The setting: Kids Jeopardy (probably 10-13 years old)
The question: (I'm paraphrasing) "This extremely popular pop singer says 'If you like it,' then you should do this.
The answer from a young, african-american tweener (who went on to dominate and win): "What is put a ring on it, Alex?"
6.07.2010
If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some fiber optics in your hair
This weekend, I had the pleasure of traveling to the Bay area for the wedding of my cousin and her awesome husband! They are such a rad, unique couple, and their wedding weekend evinced that. Because the are loved by many throughout the country, I got to meet some really neat folks: a judge, an arialist, several scientists, a child abuse prosecuter, the Wyoming Superintendant of Public Education, and many more!
The weekend boasted hanging out at their new house on the roofdeck for an awesome BBQ, sunburns, plenty of sun for my gray Seattle-soul, getting wildly confused by driving around the Bay area, a drive to Stanford for family reminiscing time, and, most importantly, one of the most fun wedding evenings I have had the pleasure of taking part in.
One of my cousins made my cousin's dress - themed after some chick in Legend of the Seeker - and it was amazing. She also bought fiber optic hair clips, which added generously to the splendor. The best part was that the bride (being the brilliant physicist that she is), sewed LEDs into her dress with conducting thread (my nerdy-soul sings!) for that extra oomf. Unfortunately, right before the ceremony, one row of the lights shorted out, prompting a delayed ceremony and the mother of the bride (my aunt) getting my nod for quote of the night:
"She's got a short circuit. She has to be the only bride in history to be delayed by electronics!"
And thus began a great night. The groom told the story of how they met (10 years ago) and highlighted milestones from their relationship with stories and readings read by friends. Very nice touch. After vows and signing the marriage license, it was time to party.
And party we did. Cocktail hour, then a brilliant dinner with homemade wine made by my uncle, a little red velvet cake and then it was time for dancing. I absolutely love to dance (whether alcohol is involved or not), and I find weddings to be the best sketch-free opportunity to be silly and have fun with family and friends. At this point, people's inhibitions were pretty low, and we had a great time. My cousins who refuse to dance, my brother and sister-in-law and my PARENTS all made cameo appearances on the dance floor - amazing! A couple of my cousins were particularly intoxicated, which made the evening that much more entertaining and memorable.
All in all, a fantastic time of hilarity, family, celebration and love. From time to time, I find myself naysaying marriage and life-partnership, but on a day like yesterday, one can find no fault in it.
The weekend boasted hanging out at their new house on the roofdeck for an awesome BBQ, sunburns, plenty of sun for my gray Seattle-soul, getting wildly confused by driving around the Bay area, a drive to Stanford for family reminiscing time, and, most importantly, one of the most fun wedding evenings I have had the pleasure of taking part in.
One of my cousins made my cousin's dress - themed after some chick in Legend of the Seeker - and it was amazing. She also bought fiber optic hair clips, which added generously to the splendor. The best part was that the bride (being the brilliant physicist that she is), sewed LEDs into her dress with conducting thread (my nerdy-soul sings!) for that extra oomf. Unfortunately, right before the ceremony, one row of the lights shorted out, prompting a delayed ceremony and the mother of the bride (my aunt) getting my nod for quote of the night:
"She's got a short circuit. She has to be the only bride in history to be delayed by electronics!"
And thus began a great night. The groom told the story of how they met (10 years ago) and highlighted milestones from their relationship with stories and readings read by friends. Very nice touch. After vows and signing the marriage license, it was time to party.
And party we did. Cocktail hour, then a brilliant dinner with homemade wine made by my uncle, a little red velvet cake and then it was time for dancing. I absolutely love to dance (whether alcohol is involved or not), and I find weddings to be the best sketch-free opportunity to be silly and have fun with family and friends. At this point, people's inhibitions were pretty low, and we had a great time. My cousins who refuse to dance, my brother and sister-in-law and my PARENTS all made cameo appearances on the dance floor - amazing! A couple of my cousins were particularly intoxicated, which made the evening that much more entertaining and memorable.
All in all, a fantastic time of hilarity, family, celebration and love. From time to time, I find myself naysaying marriage and life-partnership, but on a day like yesterday, one can find no fault in it.
6.02.2010
say my name, say my name
Klugosaur
Klugotron
Freddy Klugger
Ms. Awesome
Ms. K
Mrs. KLLOOOOOOOG (one student yells this in a high pitch whenever he sees me...today, he followed this up with a handshake)
My students have all sorts of fun names for me. Of course, being called "Mrs." is annoying, but other than that, I love what they've come up with. Oh, the creativity.
I'm going to miss these kids so much.
Klugotron
Freddy Klugger
Ms. Awesome
Ms. K
Mrs. KLLOOOOOOOG (one student yells this in a high pitch whenever he sees me...today, he followed this up with a handshake)
My students have all sorts of fun names for me. Of course, being called "Mrs." is annoying, but other than that, I love what they've come up with. Oh, the creativity.
I'm going to miss these kids so much.
5.29.2010
are you not the same as you used to be?
I'm currently in the final sprint of my student teaching experience and, thus, I have been very absent from this blog (I have four others, you see), but will make a triumphant return and update the blogosphere about the hardest experience of my life to date quite soon!
In the meantime, while juggling my internship, I've had some interesting experiences relationship-wise (or lack thereof, as it were), and this, one of my favorites by Beach House, has been rattling around in my mind. Enjoy, and perhaps I'll be less cryptic next time.
Used to Be
Beach House
"You are coming home, are you still alone, are you not the same as you used to be?
As the sun grows high and you serve your time, does each day just feel like another lie?
Now you know, is it just for show, just a foolish game that you hide behind?
Don't forget the nights when it all felt right, are you not the same as you used to be?
Used to be
In an endless night, could you feel the fright of an age that was and could never be?
So we hold it close when we feel the most like a love that we could not leave behind
Turn the wheel to each way we feel til I'm lost and I cannot find you there
Don't forget the nights when it all felt right, are you not the same as you used to be?
Used to be
Coming home any day now"
See them perform it live on La Blogotheque, my source for all things new music:
In the meantime, while juggling my internship, I've had some interesting experiences relationship-wise (or lack thereof, as it were), and this, one of my favorites by Beach House, has been rattling around in my mind. Enjoy, and perhaps I'll be less cryptic next time.
Used to Be
Beach House
"You are coming home, are you still alone, are you not the same as you used to be?
As the sun grows high and you serve your time, does each day just feel like another lie?
Now you know, is it just for show, just a foolish game that you hide behind?
Don't forget the nights when it all felt right, are you not the same as you used to be?
Used to be
In an endless night, could you feel the fright of an age that was and could never be?
So we hold it close when we feel the most like a love that we could not leave behind
Turn the wheel to each way we feel til I'm lost and I cannot find you there
Don't forget the nights when it all felt right, are you not the same as you used to be?
Used to be
Coming home any day now"
See them perform it live on La Blogotheque, my source for all things new music:
4.24.2010
When you kill it is justice
You set yourself above
That all forgiving god
You claim that you believe in
Your kind is gonna fall
Your ship is sinking fast
And all your able men are leaving
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
I talk before I think
You shoot before you know
Who's in your line of fire
So somehow we're the same
We're causing people pain
But I stand and take the blame
You scramble to the night
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
Explain me one more time
When they kill it's a crime
When you kill it is justice
~Kings of Convenience (Rule My World)
That all forgiving god
You claim that you believe in
Your kind is gonna fall
Your ship is sinking fast
And all your able men are leaving
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
I talk before I think
You shoot before you know
Who's in your line of fire
So somehow we're the same
We're causing people pain
But I stand and take the blame
You scramble to the night
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
Only someone
Who's morally
Superior can possibly
And honestly deserve
To rule my world
Explain me one more time
When they kill it's a crime
When you kill it is justice
~Kings of Convenience (Rule My World)
3.15.2010
It takes a lot of nerve to destroy this wondrous earth
~Bowerbirds (In Our Talons)
In class today (oh yeah, by the way, I started student teaching 2 weeks ago! I'm keeping an anonymous blog detailing my experiences, so give me a shout if you'd like the url...), my mentor teacher tried to make acid/base equilibrium more tangible by relating it to acid rain and smog. Possibly something that should have been happening while teaching concepts the students were constantly wondering why they needed to learn, but interesting nonetheless.
While we were talking about the significant impact of the pH lowering of the ocean from 8.1 to 8.2 (a big deal, by the way) because of acid rain, the topic of crustacean shell dissolution arose. If you're not a chemist, you may not know that sea shells (crab, mussel, etc) are made of calcium carbonate (just like Tums), so act as a "base" to neutralize the acid rain that falls in the ocean...current end result = thinner shells, future end result = no tasty shrimps. So, just like everything in environmental chemistry, it's a HUGE ISSUE and steps must be taken to SLOW the damage (you cannot reverse it), but because it isn't life-threatening to us, we get complacent...especially the politicians who have to think about money too.
I could go on and on and on. Such important stuff.
Anyhow, the back-row crew in 3rd period (some of my favorite students...the witty, silly boys that are really capable but just need a little direction and a little less socializing) started discussing vegetarians on the topic of losing our pals in the oceans:
J: "No MEAT?! I love meat. I don't understand how ANYONE could be a vegetarian." (at which point I started paying attention for fun)
K: "Yeah, seriously."
J: "I mean, really. C'mon. I couldn't live!"
Me: (catching J's eye and pointing to myself and mouthing "I am")
J: "YOU ARE?! ... Guys, Ms Klug's a vegetarian!"
A: "No WAY! Klugster?! That surprises me."
Klugster. I love my students. Of course, I was outed as a pescatarian (while I was teaching the final period of the day so my mentor teacher could get some stuff done) when I said, "no shrimp would be so sad...they're so tasty."
I've noticed a few things already (that I sort of already knew, but I'm being reminded of more now that I'm in this weird limbo between grad school and actually having my own classroom): 1) I get along with/teach/relate to the boys way better than the girls and that's not a good thing, 2) I can't shove my ethics of environmental stewardship (or any other thing I'm passionate about) down these kids' throats. I mean, I can try to be a positive influence in this area, but ultimately these kids have to be convicted themselves, be that in my class or afterwards. I have to remember that I was a crazy conservative in high school and kids need time to think through what they "believe" as they grow up and mature.
I was even more convinced that my lack of land-animal eating is the right move when I researched today and found that each cow in the world releases roughly the same amount of greenhouse gases (through belching and farting) daily as the average car! Did you know methane is about 23% times more harmful of a greenhouse gas than CO2 (a main gas given off from our cars)?! Also, a funny but interesting fact: in 2003, New Zealand tried to implement a "flatulence tax," but it didn't go through. I love it.
Enough about gas...
In class today (oh yeah, by the way, I started student teaching 2 weeks ago! I'm keeping an anonymous blog detailing my experiences, so give me a shout if you'd like the url...), my mentor teacher tried to make acid/base equilibrium more tangible by relating it to acid rain and smog. Possibly something that should have been happening while teaching concepts the students were constantly wondering why they needed to learn, but interesting nonetheless.
While we were talking about the significant impact of the pH lowering of the ocean from 8.1 to 8.2 (a big deal, by the way) because of acid rain, the topic of crustacean shell dissolution arose. If you're not a chemist, you may not know that sea shells (crab, mussel, etc) are made of calcium carbonate (just like Tums), so act as a "base" to neutralize the acid rain that falls in the ocean...current end result = thinner shells, future end result = no tasty shrimps. So, just like everything in environmental chemistry, it's a HUGE ISSUE and steps must be taken to SLOW the damage (you cannot reverse it), but because it isn't life-threatening to us, we get complacent...especially the politicians who have to think about money too.
I could go on and on and on. Such important stuff.
Anyhow, the back-row crew in 3rd period (some of my favorite students...the witty, silly boys that are really capable but just need a little direction and a little less socializing) started discussing vegetarians on the topic of losing our pals in the oceans:
J: "No MEAT?! I love meat. I don't understand how ANYONE could be a vegetarian." (at which point I started paying attention for fun)
K: "Yeah, seriously."
J: "I mean, really. C'mon. I couldn't live!"
Me: (catching J's eye and pointing to myself and mouthing "I am")
J: "YOU ARE?! ... Guys, Ms Klug's a vegetarian!"
A: "No WAY! Klugster?! That surprises me."
Klugster. I love my students. Of course, I was outed as a pescatarian (while I was teaching the final period of the day so my mentor teacher could get some stuff done) when I said, "no shrimp would be so sad...they're so tasty."
I've noticed a few things already (that I sort of already knew, but I'm being reminded of more now that I'm in this weird limbo between grad school and actually having my own classroom): 1) I get along with/teach/relate to the boys way better than the girls and that's not a good thing, 2) I can't shove my ethics of environmental stewardship (or any other thing I'm passionate about) down these kids' throats. I mean, I can try to be a positive influence in this area, but ultimately these kids have to be convicted themselves, be that in my class or afterwards. I have to remember that I was a crazy conservative in high school and kids need time to think through what they "believe" as they grow up and mature.
I was even more convinced that my lack of land-animal eating is the right move when I researched today and found that each cow in the world releases roughly the same amount of greenhouse gases (through belching and farting) daily as the average car! Did you know methane is about 23% times more harmful of a greenhouse gas than CO2 (a main gas given off from our cars)?! Also, a funny but interesting fact: in 2003, New Zealand tried to implement a "flatulence tax," but it didn't go through. I love it.
Enough about gas...
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