Saturday, April 05, 2003
impressions:
New poem, default-inspired by Caillebotte. Suggestions welcome/solicited, especially with the title and last line.
The Window Song
The morning sang onto the old wood floor
from a triplet of cinder-block windows,
Sang down into the basement studio
where our only responsibility to gravity was muscle,
not what wine to share because all wines stain,
not where to bury our love for an hour,
just angling our backs to a task. Polishing a floor
is an ode sung to feet with light for tremello,
and whosever feet find dance on shine will teach in turn
that labor is the purest of perceptions.
New poem, default-inspired by Caillebotte. Suggestions welcome/solicited, especially with the title and last line.
The Window Song
The morning sang onto the old wood floor
from a triplet of cinder-block windows,
Sang down into the basement studio
where our only responsibility to gravity was muscle,
not what wine to share because all wines stain,
not where to bury our love for an hour,
just angling our backs to a task. Polishing a floor
is an ode sung to feet with light for tremello,
and whosever feet find dance on shine will teach in turn
that labor is the purest of perceptions.
Friday, April 04, 2003
One of my Futures:
What is Fate? baby don't determine me/ don't determine me/ no more
Actually, I'm in love with the powers of fate right now. As I just happened to be checking in on fantasy baseball-land earlier this week on one of The School library computers, I accidentally drop-box linked to the Brown University homepage. Being the easily-distracted surfer I am, I looked into the graduate programs for English/MFA, which seemed average and interesting. While meandering further within the site, however, I found THIS PAGE, the home of Brown's brand new Modern Culture and Media program, currently in its innaugural year (given the university's background in semiology, I'd have thought they would have created this major by now, anyway). Maybe because the air outside that day had crept about 50, or because classes had been thus far sparkling, but I grew tremendously excited beyond the capacity of all sufficiently-expressive adjectives. This could be something: film, literature, culture, post-modern theories, wrinkle-eyed smokey French intelligentsia, "hot" media...
There are fellowships/TAships available to help defray costs (including stipend), and Brown would be a rocktastic environment in which to live and create. I can only hope I have a shot at acceptance. This may put a hold on the MFA/poetry track, or maybe they'd let me do both? Futures seem to be warming and forming despite lingering Winter.
What is Fate? baby don't determine me/ don't determine me/ no more
Actually, I'm in love with the powers of fate right now. As I just happened to be checking in on fantasy baseball-land earlier this week on one of The School library computers, I accidentally drop-box linked to the Brown University homepage. Being the easily-distracted surfer I am, I looked into the graduate programs for English/MFA, which seemed average and interesting. While meandering further within the site, however, I found THIS PAGE, the home of Brown's brand new Modern Culture and Media program, currently in its innaugural year (given the university's background in semiology, I'd have thought they would have created this major by now, anyway). Maybe because the air outside that day had crept about 50, or because classes had been thus far sparkling, but I grew tremendously excited beyond the capacity of all sufficiently-expressive adjectives. This could be something: film, literature, culture, post-modern theories, wrinkle-eyed smokey French intelligentsia, "hot" media...
There are fellowships/TAships available to help defray costs (including stipend), and Brown would be a rocktastic environment in which to live and create. I can only hope I have a shot at acceptance. This may put a hold on the MFA/poetry track, or maybe they'd let me do both? Futures seem to be warming and forming despite lingering Winter.
Jeter's Future:
The shoulder injury isn't as serious as first thought (second opinion is pending), and he could be back within a month!
The shoulder injury isn't as serious as first thought (second opinion is pending), and he could be back within a month!
Eckhart's Future:
He was thinking about it right as Jack Napier shot him down from atop a ballistrade in Axis Chemicals.
He was thinking about it right as Jack Napier shot him down from atop a ballistrade in Axis Chemicals.
Thursday, April 03, 2003
This is a very aggressive animal and moves quickly. If you fell in the water next to it you would be in big trouble," said Bolstad
One squid larger.
One squid larger.
Man Switch:
From what I've just witnessed on Bravo, Vanessa Williams' real-life husband, L.A. Lakers coat-tail rider and usually nauseatingly unshaven Rick Fox, has supplanted the much-hipper, much more respectable Ving Rhames as her co-star in the Radio Shack ads. Perhaps the pressure from Radio Shack co-spokecouple Howie Long and Teri Hatcher forced Fox to hop in the ad-series. We all suffer.
From what I've just witnessed on Bravo, Vanessa Williams' real-life husband, L.A. Lakers coat-tail rider and usually nauseatingly unshaven Rick Fox, has supplanted the much-hipper, much more respectable Ving Rhames as her co-star in the Radio Shack ads. Perhaps the pressure from Radio Shack co-spokecouple Howie Long and Teri Hatcher forced Fox to hop in the ad-series. We all suffer.
...Another and Another...:
Yesterday was long, as well. This dual-coaching takes more energy than I realized, but at least it's baseball. In the late afternoon, I ferried four of the Korean boys on my team to Sports Authority so they could buy their own gloves (practice is pretty much bunk w/out gloves). Baseball gloves are really fucking expensive now (some were more than $150). These are some of the same boys I "dorm-parent," and there's some sort of special giddiness that comes over me whenever I drive them somewhere in my own car. They're so goofy, and I'm sure to them it's something like escape. They tried to get me to take them out for Chinese food, but only jokingly and not annoyingly.
THen, another tortuous faculty meeting (5-6:35), followed by dinner and then Dorm duty 'til 10.
For the second night in a row, I passed out somewhat early (10:30) and woke up during the night for a while (2:30ish): a fracturing of my sleep cycle that usually only occurs when I'm not working, during the summer. It's like some bubble of wakefulness becomes trapped between sleeps like air in a carpenter's level.
The biggest challenge of today is to decide whether or not one of the creative writing student's advertisements should be allowed to be used/posted on campus: we're starting a "SUBMIT!" campaign to gather material for our literary 'zine, The Scribblers, and our best artist depicted, rather accurately, a cartoonish Shakespeare squatting on a toilet, cracking up while reading a copy of The Scribblers. Great concept, and it looks fine, but hmmmm. Will I be reprimanded/will controversy be stirred? I always hate having to be " Captain Censorship," and I make this clear to them, but still....What do YOU think?
Yesterday was long, as well. This dual-coaching takes more energy than I realized, but at least it's baseball. In the late afternoon, I ferried four of the Korean boys on my team to Sports Authority so they could buy their own gloves (practice is pretty much bunk w/out gloves). Baseball gloves are really fucking expensive now (some were more than $150). These are some of the same boys I "dorm-parent," and there's some sort of special giddiness that comes over me whenever I drive them somewhere in my own car. They're so goofy, and I'm sure to them it's something like escape. They tried to get me to take them out for Chinese food, but only jokingly and not annoyingly.
THen, another tortuous faculty meeting (5-6:35), followed by dinner and then Dorm duty 'til 10.
For the second night in a row, I passed out somewhat early (10:30) and woke up during the night for a while (2:30ish): a fracturing of my sleep cycle that usually only occurs when I'm not working, during the summer. It's like some bubble of wakefulness becomes trapped between sleeps like air in a carpenter's level.
The biggest challenge of today is to decide whether or not one of the creative writing student's advertisements should be allowed to be used/posted on campus: we're starting a "SUBMIT!" campaign to gather material for our literary 'zine, The Scribblers, and our best artist depicted, rather accurately, a cartoonish Shakespeare squatting on a toilet, cracking up while reading a copy of The Scribblers. Great concept, and it looks fine, but hmmmm. Will I be reprimanded/will controversy be stirred? I always hate having to be " Captain Censorship," and I make this clear to them, but still....What do YOU think?
Tuesday, April 01, 2003
Rest:
It's been the most draining day in some time. I was M.O.D. (master of the day), which entails assorted specialized duties regarding meals, waiter-overseership, and whatnot. It requires getting up an hour earlier than usual. All my classes went well, due to one of the most solidly prepared lectures in my short career, but the students seem mostly bored at learning the foundations of Romantic poetic thought, the spontaneous overflow of emotions (go figure), while teaching it was a blast. During lunchtime, I had to attend another meeting of the ABC (Affirmative Behavior/Consequence) Committee as we struggle through developing a more organic but effective system for correcting slight and major errors in student behavior that empowers the teachers but also makes them responsible, creative cowherds who do not merely slough-off the work of punishment/point-making on another body (some teachers just don't get this part of it, yet).
Today was also the first day of coaching the middle school baseball team....in the fucking snow. Among the 10 memebers of the team, 3 have played baseball before and 4 had gloves. It could have been more, but also less, productive; a trip to Sports Authority for equipment is in effect for tomorrow. After that, my second coaching responsibility set in, Varsity Girls' Softball....in the fat snow. Both practices were enjoyable, albeit frigid and muddy.
On to dinner, where I ran the meal and directed the waiters. I picked from the salad bar, where the selection was "chef salad" esque including ham cubes, cheese chunks, diced egg, bacon bits, and carrots (and potato salad).
By 7:30PM, after a 12-hour+ day of continuous work, I was barely human: a weary bulk with a primeval lust for sleep. I threw a colored load (yes, Micah, a colored load) in the washer and passed out to the commentary of the Georgetown—Minnesota NIT semi-final game.
There is a domineering heat register in my small adjoining bedroom that dessicates me. Opening wide the window helps some, but whenever I wake up (as I did at 10:30 tonight), there is this fuzzy thirst that only OJ can cure. So I stumble to the mini-fridge, unscrew the cap, and guzzle. And I have only a fuzzier vision of lessons for tomorrow (something about colon/semi-colon review, new vocabulary take-down, and Wordsworth's Preface to the Lyrical Ballads), but all I can do is record this day's labor and be satisfied.
Most days are not this frectic (new word); Thursday night promises relief in the form of more LI adventures w/ Ginaballz.
In other news, a certain other-young-teacher has spearheaded a successful one-day campaign to contract the cable company to come on Thursday and upgrade certain faculty member's subscription to include access to the YES Network, allowing us access to Yankee games ALL FUCKING SEASON, biotch. Few things will be as chill as this July when I'll be relaxing after a day of campers swimming with my futon, my beloved beer, and the Yanks (now, if I can just find someone somewhat special with which to share this lazy fantasy...)
It's been the most draining day in some time. I was M.O.D. (master of the day), which entails assorted specialized duties regarding meals, waiter-overseership, and whatnot. It requires getting up an hour earlier than usual. All my classes went well, due to one of the most solidly prepared lectures in my short career, but the students seem mostly bored at learning the foundations of Romantic poetic thought, the spontaneous overflow of emotions (go figure), while teaching it was a blast. During lunchtime, I had to attend another meeting of the ABC (Affirmative Behavior/Consequence) Committee as we struggle through developing a more organic but effective system for correcting slight and major errors in student behavior that empowers the teachers but also makes them responsible, creative cowherds who do not merely slough-off the work of punishment/point-making on another body (some teachers just don't get this part of it, yet).
Today was also the first day of coaching the middle school baseball team....in the fucking snow. Among the 10 memebers of the team, 3 have played baseball before and 4 had gloves. It could have been more, but also less, productive; a trip to Sports Authority for equipment is in effect for tomorrow. After that, my second coaching responsibility set in, Varsity Girls' Softball....in the fat snow. Both practices were enjoyable, albeit frigid and muddy.
On to dinner, where I ran the meal and directed the waiters. I picked from the salad bar, where the selection was "chef salad" esque including ham cubes, cheese chunks, diced egg, bacon bits, and carrots (and potato salad).
By 7:30PM, after a 12-hour+ day of continuous work, I was barely human: a weary bulk with a primeval lust for sleep. I threw a colored load (yes, Micah, a colored load) in the washer and passed out to the commentary of the Georgetown—Minnesota NIT semi-final game.
There is a domineering heat register in my small adjoining bedroom that dessicates me. Opening wide the window helps some, but whenever I wake up (as I did at 10:30 tonight), there is this fuzzy thirst that only OJ can cure. So I stumble to the mini-fridge, unscrew the cap, and guzzle. And I have only a fuzzier vision of lessons for tomorrow (something about colon/semi-colon review, new vocabulary take-down, and Wordsworth's Preface to the Lyrical Ballads), but all I can do is record this day's labor and be satisfied.
Most days are not this frectic (new word); Thursday night promises relief in the form of more LI adventures w/ Ginaballz.
In other news, a certain other-young-teacher has spearheaded a successful one-day campaign to contract the cable company to come on Thursday and upgrade certain faculty member's subscription to include access to the YES Network, allowing us access to Yankee games ALL FUCKING SEASON, biotch. Few things will be as chill as this July when I'll be relaxing after a day of campers swimming with my futon, my beloved beer, and the Yanks (now, if I can just find someone somewhat special with which to share this lazy fantasy...)
Monday, March 31, 2003
What the Sylli, Yo?:
English IV: Defining the genesis of the Romantic movement in poetry by contrasting Blake with the neo-classical England of Pope and the like. I'd be a failed teacher without the internet, which tonight provided me with excellently sized and pixellated reproductions of Blake's mad paintings, including this unflattering depiction of Sir Isaac Newton. Then we'll dive into some of the Songs of Innocence and Experience. It's rare that a lesson plan congeals so tightly. I predict at least a full period of discussion, if not some actual learning ('tho I predict Wednesday will be a flop).
English I: This is my toughest class for which to prepare, plus two new students were just added for the Spring Term (of the four exchange students we are hosting from a British school, as The School has done for a dozen or so years) bringing the total to a wopping-for-The-School nine students. You hardcore, saintly teachers who have classes of 30+ are probably hating me now, but know that you awe me. Tomorrow we'll be going over, once and for all, the uses and abuses of the semicolon et sa frere the colon. Practice excercises to follow, and for homework, they must compose an original buisness letter (asking for info about a university or requesting some arcane product). I'm stalling until we can obtain two more copies of the Hemingway text.
Creative Bumbling: I have the other two British students in this class now, too, and they're terriff. Our goal this trimester is to create the content for, edit, produce, publish, and distribute the School's Literary Mag, The Scribblers. This is my first time editing and organizing a 'zine, but I have the best minds and personalities ahver from which to draw and share ideas and art.
English IV: Defining the genesis of the Romantic movement in poetry by contrasting Blake with the neo-classical England of Pope and the like. I'd be a failed teacher without the internet, which tonight provided me with excellently sized and pixellated reproductions of Blake's mad paintings, including this unflattering depiction of Sir Isaac Newton. Then we'll dive into some of the Songs of Innocence and Experience. It's rare that a lesson plan congeals so tightly. I predict at least a full period of discussion, if not some actual learning ('tho I predict Wednesday will be a flop).
English I: This is my toughest class for which to prepare, plus two new students were just added for the Spring Term (of the four exchange students we are hosting from a British school, as The School has done for a dozen or so years) bringing the total to a wopping-for-The-School nine students. You hardcore, saintly teachers who have classes of 30+ are probably hating me now, but know that you awe me. Tomorrow we'll be going over, once and for all, the uses and abuses of the semicolon et sa frere the colon. Practice excercises to follow, and for homework, they must compose an original buisness letter (asking for info about a university or requesting some arcane product). I'm stalling until we can obtain two more copies of the Hemingway text.
Creative Bumbling: I have the other two British students in this class now, too, and they're terriff. Our goal this trimester is to create the content for, edit, produce, publish, and distribute the School's Literary Mag, The Scribblers. This is my first time editing and organizing a 'zine, but I have the best minds and personalities ahver from which to draw and share ideas and art.
Sunday, March 30, 2003
NORTON:
Accomplishments of a Sunday:
•Cleaned my appartment: sorted clothing, stacked things on top of other things, became proud of garbage consolidation from the bin into a large paper sac and took it out to the dumpster, rid the room of memos regarding Winter term, hung new Bowie poster, ordered compact discs, sundry other tidyings.
•Sketched the week in lesson plans: vocabulary lists were compiled after skimming the material for the coming week and a half (this is a slow process, because I get sidetracked in the poems and introductions found in my collegiate copy of The Norton Anthology of British Literature Part II that lead to memories of Professor Hudson's class and Colgate in general), decided to ask Carlo TeeHop about using the Norton for my class next year. For English IV, the Romantics loom (Blake and Wordsworth this week); for English I, The Old Man and the Sea (which I predict will be a huge challenge for the students and myself).
•Downloaded the songs that will become the Spring soundtrack: Snoop Dogg "It Ain't No Fun" (via Adriano Beerose), Duran Duran "Notorious" (via Flyna via Donnie Darko), The Police "Walking on the Moon" (via Flynn and from my affinity for playing it on jukeboxes: now it's free and I'll never get ripped off!) (I'm still getting fresh buzz from the old Travis songs I downloaded right before break, "Happy" "U-16 Girls" and "More Than Us" - highly recommended).
•Watched/listened to Syracuse beat Oklahoma to gain access to the NCAA FINAL FOUR!! (clinched victory in the school's bracket pool)
Accomplishments of a Sunday:
•Cleaned my appartment: sorted clothing, stacked things on top of other things, became proud of garbage consolidation from the bin into a large paper sac and took it out to the dumpster, rid the room of memos regarding Winter term, hung new Bowie poster, ordered compact discs, sundry other tidyings.
•Sketched the week in lesson plans: vocabulary lists were compiled after skimming the material for the coming week and a half (this is a slow process, because I get sidetracked in the poems and introductions found in my collegiate copy of The Norton Anthology of British Literature Part II that lead to memories of Professor Hudson's class and Colgate in general), decided to ask Carlo TeeHop about using the Norton for my class next year. For English IV, the Romantics loom (Blake and Wordsworth this week); for English I, The Old Man and the Sea (which I predict will be a huge challenge for the students and myself).
•Downloaded the songs that will become the Spring soundtrack: Snoop Dogg "It Ain't No Fun" (via Adriano Beerose), Duran Duran "Notorious" (via Flyna via Donnie Darko), The Police "Walking on the Moon" (via Flynn and from my affinity for playing it on jukeboxes: now it's free and I'll never get ripped off!) (I'm still getting fresh buzz from the old Travis songs I downloaded right before break, "Happy" "U-16 Girls" and "More Than Us" - highly recommended).
•Watched/listened to Syracuse beat Oklahoma to gain access to the NCAA FINAL FOUR!! (clinched victory in the school's bracket pool)
