Where Have I Been...

And What I Have Been Doing...

I didn't mean to leave you like that. I didn't. Really. I promise. It's just, work has been a little busy. Who knew that I would be that busy working in a school and constantly grading papers? But I love it. I really do. It's been a wonderful experience this far...blah, blah, blah.

I'll write more, since I get this week off, but I wanted to leave everyone with this great youtube video that was sent me and clearly I am one of the last people to find out about this show. It's called [title of show] and seems fun and once I get five more dollars on my iTunes, I'm buying it (so if anyone is interested in sending me five iTunes dollars...)

But this is the video that was made: 9PFT.

And here is a list of everyone that appears in it in order with the picture: Supertossers...and yes, that is Sylar, Sarah Silverman, Ugly Betty, Doogie Hoosier...etc, etc, etc...

Enjoy! More to follow!

Where I've Been

And What I've Been Doing

Now, I know that you all missed me terribly. I've been lacking in posts and comments on other people's blogs. I generally read them all, however it is through Google Reader, so you might not know. So, I actually have a legitimate reason for not blogging in the past, oh, who knows how many months. Some of you already know this, but for others, you probably know nothing about it.

Last September (yes, it goes that far back), I began prepping for a big test. Now, bear in mind that this test was a week after I started prepping for it. It is the Praxis Two. And for those of you who a) know what the Praxis is and b) will have to take the Praxis Two at some point in your life, the Praxis Two English Content Test SUCKS! (just an FYI). For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, let me explain. The Praxis series (since there are at least three that you have to pass) are tests designed to know how well you will be as a teacher. Although, in truth, it really is just how much you know about your content area. So one week before I was set to take this test, I was enjoying the sights of NYC with Ike, Kimmmmm, Geoff, Jarrett and Terrance. I think we were actually there for the Brazilian festival. So anyways, Ike, Kimmmmm and I were on the way to Coney Island and I was getting tested literary devices and movements...for the entire hour train ride. What's important to understand is that I had only created 20 flashcards at this point, so it was really the same 20 questions over and over again. The following week I took the test. I left wanting to cry. It was, in all seriousness, one of the hardest tests I have EVER taken in my life. The following month I called ETS, who puts the test on, to get my results. I got a 193 out of 200. This put my in the top 15 percentile of test takers giving me a little certificate in the mail (which, disappointedly, did not include money).

By the end of the week (because I'm a procrastinator) I turned in my application for school. A month later I had my interview for the school. Five hours later that day, I got a phone call from the school telling my that I was accepted (YAY). Classes started in January, concluding in March, with student teaching the month of April. So I was going to work, then heading straight to school and not getting home until 9:30 or so. Needless to say, it was pretty intense. July saw me job hunting and interviewing at any school that called me. Finally, at the end of the month, I got a job...thankfully.

The past two weeks I've been in new teacher training and prep at the school. Now I have one business day before the kids arrive. It's exciting and scary. Let's hope things work out. I'll keep you posted. So, technically, I am no longer a cube dancer...as I no longer sit in a cube...but the name will stay the same, because I kinda like it....

And that's where I've been and what I've been doing...you?

My Body Guides The Direction I Go In

So pretty much everyone knows that I love Alanis Morisette. Naturally when I found out Flavors of Entanglement would be coming out, I got excited. It's been three years since her last album "dropped" (though I have a friend that says Alanis doesn't drop, she just kinda puts it out there). I had heard from Howard that Rolling Stones gave the album a good review. I had all intentions of coming late into work on Tuesday the 10th to purchase the album. Fortunately I received a little email from iTunes saying that I could preorder it, and get six bonus songs (YAY!) AND preorder tickets for her upcoming tour. Naturally that was the selection I made.

To be honest, it isn't my favorite album by her. I like it, but it's not my favorite (which, I think, still stands at Under Rug Swept). It has a nice mix of songs that are destined for club remixes and calmer, more emotional songs. Now, if you are a fan of Alanis, you'll probably enjoy it. It's as emotional and raw (yes, even the "dance" songs) as her previous ones (which, I think is partly why I like her...she always seems to write from herself). Now, if you're not necessarily a huge fan of hers, but like her music, here are some songs that I would recommend downloading:

Underneath
Not As We
In Praise of the Vulnerable Man
Moratorium
Torch
Incomplete
and if you can download it, It's A Bitch To Grow Up

Below are the lyrics for one of my favorites, Incomplete.

One day I’ll find relief
I’ll be arrived and I’ll be a friend to my friends who know how to be friends

One day I’ll be at peace
I’ll be enlightened and I’ll be married with children and maybe adopt

One day I will be healed
I will gather my wounds forge the end of tragic comedy

I have been running so sweaty my whole life
Urgent for a finish line
And I have been missing the rapture this whole time
Of being forever incomplete

One day, my mind will retreat, and I’ll know god and I’ll be constantly one with her night dusk and day
One day I’ll be secure, like the women I see on their 30th anniversaries

I have been running so sweaty my whole life
Urgent for a finish line
And I have been missing the rapture this whole time
Of being forever incomplete

Ever unfolding
Ever expanding
Ever adventurous and torturous
But never done

One day, I will speak freely
I’ll be less afraid
And measured outside of my poems and lyrics and art
One day I will be faith-filled
I’ll be trusting and spacious authentic and grounded and whole

I have been running so sweaty my whole life
Urgent for a finish line
And I have been missing the rapture this whole time
Of being forever incomplete

All in all, I've enjoyed it thus far.

How To Survive A Power Outage

In 41 Easy Steps

1) Leave work later than usual because you know traffic is going to suck - pee before you leave
2) Take longer to get home because people are stupid and can't drive
3) Wait for the policemen to allow you through the light since the lights aren't even flashing and without order, people slip into caveman-like behavior
4) Realize that power is out in your entire city - note tonight is probably not the best night to go to Michael's to get that matting board you've been meaning to buy
5) Get home - make sure no trees fell through your house
6) Let the dog out - feel bad for her as it starts pouring down rain again
7) Search the house for a flashlight
8) Realize that you put it somewhere but have no idea where
9) Grab the tea light from your home fragrance oil burner
10) Continue looking for the flashlight in hopes that you stumble upon it
11) Take the circle light that was in the closet and runs on batteries, out of the closet and beginning walking around the house with it
12) Let the now soaking dog back in the house
13) Dry her off
14) Lay down for a little nap
15) Wake up an hour and a half later...hungry
16) Walk downstairs - let the dog out again
17) Turn the push button light on again - search the kitchen
18) Let dog back in - repeat drying exercise
19) Realize that you have no food that you can eat that doesn't require cooking
20) Curse yourself - loudly - for not going to the grocery store on Tuesday when you meant to
21) Think to where you could get food - remember that the power is out everywhere
22) Curse again - loudly - this time Mother Nature for being emo and knocking power out everywhere
23) Remember you could grill the pork chops you were thawing for dinner
24) Remind yourself that you don't know how to use the grill in the backyard and are afraid of blowing up the house
25) Notice a can of tuna fish
26) Eat said can of tuna fish
27) Remain hungry
28) Give dog medicine with peanut butter so she'll eat it
29) Grab a spoon and eat directly from jar of peanut butter
30) Come to the realization that the Rocky Road ice cream in the freezer will melt if it's not eaten
31) Open freezer and, with the spoon used for peanut butter, begin eating ice cream in the dark
32) Realize that this sort of behavior is probably why you feel uncomfortable with your body
33) Don't care and continue eating
34) Let the dog out one more time
35) Repeat Step 18
36) Carry dog upstairs
37) Go to bathroom in the dark
38) Go to sleep
39) Wake up at midnight when the power turns back on and the alarm clock is blaring
40) Curse yourself for not remembering to turn the alarm off before going to sleep
41) Go back to sleep

Note To Self...

Add this to my calendar...

Wii Training will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center, 1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring. This is an introductory and practice session of a new video game.

I might have to skip work for it...

Over A Month

I can't believe it has been over a month since I've written anything on here. I have a really good reason, I do...one I can't share at this time, but I promise you, it's a damn good reason.

I had this really great post about these people who did this stuff at this place with these other people, but I can't remember it at this time...doesn't that just suck? Well, it's kind of lost its appeal to me as well, which is also a major factor.

I know this is vague, and uninteresting, but I wanted to write something quickly while I have a free minute. I'll have more time in May and will hopefully dive back into writing a blog post or two...who knows.

Until then, well, to be honest I probably won't be posting. It's nothing personal, really. It's not you, it's me...

Home

My mom relayed that she frequently gets questioned whether or not my brother will ever "return home". My mom is from the Toledo area, grew up there, and has recently returned there. I was moved to the DC area when I was five months old and my brother when he was 3 (almost 3).

I bring this up because I recently received a Myspace message from my cousin asking if I was coming home for Easter. What's interesting is that while my mom, aunts, uncles and cousins almost all live in Toledo (and ALL of them live in Ohio), Ohio isn't home. I enjoy visiting Ohio...for short spurts of time. But it isn't home. It never was...except for when I was at Marietta, but that was the opposite side of the state.

My mother understands this and when people ask her, she tells them that Ohio isn't really our home. It's hers, yes, but not ours. I think it's interesting, because on one side, yes, it could be viewed as home, as that's where my family is (and as Robert Frost said "Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they let you in"). But on the other side, it is very much not my home. I have a very different attitude on people who live out there (not just my family, but many people that live in that area) and I've only really known DC as my home.

No great insight into what it all means. Just thought it was interesting...

Constant Movement

So I'm busy. This is why I haven't posted a real post in like FOREVER (I'm spending way too much time around high school students to talk like that)! Unfortunately, at this point in time, I can't really talk about it...I will in a couple of weeks. Promise...

In unrelated news, HAPPY LEAP YEAR DAY!!!! For those you born on this day, happy birthday (since you only hear it once every four years...)

Logistic Question

Would it be inappropriate or unprofessional to want to take my coworker's head and repeatedly smash into their keyboard?

Is that a bad thought to have?

Amaerican Gladiators

I'm watching the American Gladiators finale from last night. And something dawned on me. There was an episode where Siren was doing the joust and she twice fell to her knees. Apparently if the Gladiator falls to his or her knees (both) they automatically lose. However, in the finale, Shannay (I don't think I spelled that right) immediately fell to her knees. She basically spent the entire thirty seconds sitting on her knees or on her butt as Crush (my favorite) pummeled her. But it was too hard for Crush since Shannay was too low. It was the only time that Crush didn't knock her opponent off. How far is it that the Gladiator can't fall on their knees but the contender can sit on the platform?

I don't like it. You shoulda won, Crush!

You Oughta Know

As many know from a previous post, I got the chance to see Alanis on Friday night. And we all know that I love Alanis. She sang two new songs, at least one from the new album that was originally due in February, but now won't be coming out until later...which is a bummer since now it won't be out until after my birthday.

She sang a lot of Jagged Little Pill (All I Really Want, You Oughta Know, Hand In Pocket, Ironic), Uninvited, Thank U, Eight Easy Steps...I feel like she sang more but I can't think of anymore. Oh, she sang a verse of My Humps. Which was great. It was kinda sad that she didn't sing any from Under Rug Swept (as that's my favorite album). She didn't even sing Hands Clean. She stuck with most of her commercial hits, since it was a Matchbox Twenty concert and she was kinda tagging along...which, fyi, Matchbox Twenty puts on a pretty good show, not that I stayed that long for it.

One of the things that I love the most about Alanis is that she sounds like her album. She's a good singer who actually sounds like she does when she records. I'd really like to see her with people who actually know most of her songs so that she can sing more "obscure" songs.

Oh well, another concert.

Thank You, Thank You India

I'm so excited because on Friday I get to see Alanis!!!! Given, I have to see stupid Matchbox Twenty and some stupid band I've never heard of (Munch Mouth or something like that). But ALANIS!!!!!! I believe the nerd term is "w00t"!

Why? How Could You Do This To Me?

Dear Mr. Edwards,

How could you drop out of the race? You were my last hope for a semi-decent president. Not to hurt your feelings or anything, but I was originally going to vote for Dennis Kucinich, we share many of the same views, but I looked at your platform and I kinda liked a lot of what you were saying. I'm sad that I'm now going to have to choose between one of two people that I don't really think would be good presidents, because I'm certainly not voting for any of the Republican candidates (especially with RuG dropping out as well). Ralph Nader once said "If you vote for the lesser of two evils, you're still voting for evil" or thereabouts. That's how I feel right now. You were my "not evil" vote...mostly because of your pretty hair, but also because you seemed nice, down to earth and not in the election because your husband was the former President or Oprah decided that you were a good candidate. And you have a nice head of hair, which, as someone with thinning hair that is destined for the "horseshoe" bald look, I can appreciate.

You see, Mr. Edwards (coulda been Mr. President), you actually seem like you could do the job (and not to be mean, but if Bush can do the job with some level of competency, albeit a low level of competency, anyone can do it). But more than just doing the job, you seem like you could do the job relatively well, which would be a serious improvement from your predecessor.

May I be honest for a second, Mr. Edwards? I don't like the other two candidates. Sure, I like Hillary and think she is a total bad ass. And I like Obama because he seems to have some morals to some extent...but it's different than my liking towards you. You see, and I know that this is terrible to say, but it seems to me like Obama and Hillary are only there because of their race and gender, respectively. Yes, there have been previous African Americans who have run for president, and yes, there have been women who have run for president, but neither of them really had a good chance of winning. Now we have these two candidates who seem like one of them could win (if they would stop bickering with each other like little school girls [or boys]), but it's almost as if they are only there because of their race/gender. So many people have latched on to Hill-Hill and BOb (as I like to call him and will henceforth call him), but I don't think that they have necessarily done it because of their platform or stance on the issues. They want one of them to win simply for the precedent behind it. Does anyone really know where they stand? It's hard to tell (which has always been a problem with the Democrats because they're so focused on being different than Republicans that they don't really stand for anything on their own). I mean really, people were hopping on the Hill-Hill BOb bandwagon before they even said they were running and long before their platform was ever posted. Let's take a quick look at a couple of aspects of their platform that tend to be a little confusing. On June 15th, 2007 BOb stated that he wanted to "give every family the chance" to be successful. This is great! Nobel. I love the idea. However throughout his entire website the one mention of GLBT is not in mention to their families but to their service in the military, which, don't get me wrong, definitely needs addressing. But GLBT people have families. They have rights...well, some rights. They're denied 1001 or 1100 or some insane number of rights. Not once is this issue addressed...at least not once that I could find. Even in the civil rights section of his site there was only mention of the people in the 50's and 60's who marched. Not once did I see sexual orientation mentioned on his website. Not once...how can you give every family a chance if you ignore 10% of them? Hill-Hill, on the other hand at least mentions them. She includes them in her hate crime bills. But that's about it. And while she has this strong agenda for women (which is great), what if they are lesbians?

And this is just one issue. Why did I focus on this? I'll tell you, Mr. Edwards, because while both of these candidates have some great platform ideas, they are both minorities. That is to say, a woman and an African American man. Why is this significant? It's not because I think that this limits their ability to accomplish goals. Quite the opposite, really. My concern is that of the three forerunners (you being the third) it was the non-minority, white, heterosexual male with pretty hair who was the only one who stood up for ALL minorities. Even a woman and an African American man (who in theory, both have faced discrimination throughout their lives) have become so tunnel visioned that they are unable to really be welcoming and accepting of 10% of our population. 10% of the population is a pretty substantial amount (and actually Kingsley said that it was closer to 1 in 8). I think that many people think that because they are minorities, Hill-Hill and BOb will stand up for everyone...it doesn't seem that way.

Needless to say (although I will) you were my last hope. You seemed to stand for something and have good hair care. I'll miss you, Mr. Edwards. And I'll wait until 2012 to vote for you again...it makes me a little sad that I never got to vote for you since our elections haven't occurred yet (which is stupid, but that's a different letter). Stay strong, John, I'm looking forward to 2012 when I can vote for you.

Yours Truly,
Ph

Did You Know...?

Did you know that the naked mole rat is immune to acid and chili peppers? How fascinating is that?

The Article

The naked mole rat is also cold-blooded, the only known mammal to be cold-blooded.

Do you know how they figured out that it was immune to acid? They tried to poison it. With acid, of course. The naked mole rat just licked it off. It should be a new super hero "Naked Mole Rat" immune to spices and acid...hmmmmm.

Would It Be Bad...

If I haven't taken down my Christmas tree yet? In my defense, I don't light it anymore. And at least I won't have a fake tree sitting by my garage until June like last year...