Wordle Wednesday #4

The last time I paid under $2 was December 2, 2005.

The last time I paid under $1.85 (to account for the fact that I now live in the, more expensive, state of California) was February 15, 2005.

Longing For Newport

iTunes just made available some tracks from a live show that Brandi Carlile did in Boston.  Among these is a great cover of "Folsom Prison Blues."  This take is just as good as what she did in Newport this summer.  That same energy is there.

Now if only Gillian would put out a record of all the great new songs she played (and the cover of "Jackson") and my Newport playlist would be recreated to my liking.

I'm over the election phase I guess.  Filling the void: men, women, and their guitars.  This morning, while wailing along to "You've Got Growin Up To Do" in my car, I thought I should learn to play the guitar.  Then I tried to figure out when I'd have time to do that.  I didn't get too far...so I'm content to just sing along, at the top of my lungs, for now.

Brandi, Joshua, Lucinda, Bobby...when are you coming to SF?  And not the Fillmore...I hear that people smoke in there.

This Old Courdoroy Coat...

Ahhh....I just love Joshua Radin.  I found this live concert from "Mountain Stage," a public radio bit of awesomeness that is new to me.  And then I watched him on Conan.  Joshua Radin is just the kind of artist who makes me happy.  Of course, I admit that I have a big crush on him, but his music is just my style.  All I need is a guitar and two-part harmony.  I also really like that he bought himself out of his Sony contract because they wanted a "Top 40 Hit" on his new record.  He basically told them, "Ummm...why did you sign me?  You know I write slow, sad songs.  Not exactly the Top 40 type."  So, I'll probably be buying some more of his records just to support him.

And that coat...

...it's not keeping me dry.

Today was some kind of crazy day at school.  I can't really even begin to process it, but now that I'm finally home, it's already time for bed.  It's amazing the amount of work that needs to get done in the next month.  Revisions, assessments, and rec letters.  Oh my!  I am trying to get back to my normal bedtimes and normal running routine.  My foot still hurts, in an odd way.  I can't figure it out.  You'd think that four weeks mostly off would have helped, but I guess it's just being stubborn.  

I only made one kid cry today.  They all almost made me cry three times because they just don't like to listen.  They like to talk to each other.  So, I'm trying to spend more of my class time with them talking about math...and less time fighting for their attention, which they don't like to give me.  But during mentor time, there was a random radio in our room.  Someone turned it on.  I was about to get aggravated with them and ask them to turn it off so I could make announcements (my last two periods just put me right on the edge).  Then I got a glimpse of them having fun, and I just started grooving with them...making announcements to the beat.  Then, one of my kids asked if we could listen to NPR.  (What?)  Then another said, "Oh yeah, see if you can find Car Talk?  Is that on right now?"  This same kid was celebrating his birthday today.  He found me during break and opened a bakery box.  "I saved the last donut for you Ms. Dudley."  Oh man...I almost lost it.  Do my kids really know I exist?  This is from a kid who, last year, was nearly oblivious of all the people trying to help him out and I'm not even sure if he could have identified one positive thing about having me as a mentor.  Not in a mean way, just in a self-involved teenage way.  All year, I have been seeing breakthroughs from this kid.  To start, his first appreciation of the year was a departure from his usual, "I appreciate that today is Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday, which is almost the weekend."  The first appreciation of the year, this young man said, "I have so many things to appreciate."  Again...losing it.

This old courdoroy coat ain't so bad I guess.  At least it fits me.

Sign of the Apocolypse

Because just running isn't enough...

Perhaps you heard about the SpeedFit on "Wait, Wait..."  I'm not really sure who the target audience is for this product, but watching this video depresses me a bit.

Again...

I am thankful this year and today for people who make me laugh.

Yes, all the ones who get paid for it, but also my friend Elaine.  We had this email dialogue today, the night before we attend a potluck and town meeting of 400 (?!?!) rabid Obama supporters and I'm still laughing:

Me:

I just looked at the insane list of food.  Three things: 1) For me, Obama people means Red Vines and I don't see any of those 2) Someone is bringing potato chips as a dessert, which made me laugh for a while and 3) There are more desserts coming than main dishes.  I don't think there will be any lack of sugar. 

Elaine:

If someone is bringing potato chips for dessert, I bet I could pass off red vines as a salad!

There's a Hole

There's a great Bob Dylan song called "Heartland" that Willie Nelson sings wonderfully.  The song is at once both beautiful and melancholy.  And, as most Bob Dylan songs, it is oh so true.

This picture that I took in Boston this summer reminds me of "Heartland."  A few lines: 

There's a big achin' hole in my chest now where my heart was

And a hole in the sky where God used to be

"Heartland" is an apt song for me right now, as is "Learning How To Live," from Lucinda Williams's great "West" album.  These are both how-to-deal-with-real-life kind of songs.  I'm trying to move past these and "One of Those Days" from Joshua Radin to channel his "Brand New Day" and stay very clear of "I'd Rather Be With You."  Trying...

What Can I Do To Make Up For This?

Pun intended.

JD and I went to the Maker Faire way back in May.  Here's what I said on May 9:

I went to the Maker Faire in San Mateo last week with my friend JD. Literally, it was just lots and lots of people who make stuff--robots, sewing projects, a life-size mousetrap, things out of bikes, and power tool drag racing vehicles. It was amazing. At one point, I hit JD and said, "Look, there are people driving cupcakes around!" I will post pictures of that soon.

More than six months later...you have pictures.  There is some bizarro stuff there.

Today, my student teacher asked if "we could say bizarro more often."  I had no idea what he was talking about, so I inquired.  Apparently he thinks it's funny when I say "bizarro," which I said in each of my four classes one day and I say it frequently.  I often say, "We're seeing some bizarro answers on some of your papers today.  Let's go over this."  I can only blame Seinfeld here.

Two random things that weird me out: Sunrise in AK is now 9:51am.  That would be weird.  And there are real pirates.  I don't like that idea and am definitely not going on a cruise anytime soon.

'Tis The Season!

Last night, I was so cold, I was curled up like a dog in my bed.  So, today I got out the down comforter!!  Given how warm it's been around here, I thought I would make it to Thanksgiving without the need of feathers (it's only in the 40s at night, but somehow my house is colder than the outside).  I've layered up, but that didn't cut it last night.  I can't tell you how excited I was about the comforter coming out...I'm already in bed, because it's just so cozy.

Back-Handed Compliment

"Look, the record has obviously been unbelievable," Howard Dean said in an interview with the Huffington Post at the DNC's headquarters. "It wasn't all me obviously...I had a big assist from George Bush..."

Oh man...

Happy 24th!

My little sis...living the dream at the Wawona in Yosemite last March.