T minus 26

In May, it will be 26 years since this girl and her family moved in next door to my family on 44th Avenue. I remember the day they moved in. My mom told me that the new neighbors had a little girl who looked to be my age.

My mom was mostly correct. Ericka (aka Ree and road-trip name of Remi) is 4 1/2 months older than I.

This means that today, my dear road-tripping, hell-raising, beer-guzzling, karaoke-"These-Boots-Are-Made-For-Walking" singing, constantly-laughing, fellow muppet-loving best friend is 30. And I am not there yet. I'd feel like I could give her a hard time about it but I'm not far behind.

Happy Birthday Remi! The best is yet to come.

Roxy

I Resolve

Are resolutions ever resolute?

Last year, I resolved to date single people regularly, to live a healthier lifestyle and to travel more often.

That whole marriage thing killed my dating life. I joined a bad gym for a few months and then lost my drive. The only one that really worked out was the travel thing. I have some killer stories from those giggly, girly weekends...

I feel like I should make responsible resolutions this year. It may be because I'm turning 30 in May, but I think it is really because I secretly fear that Mother Nature is going to slap me up-side the head and properly domesticate me. Should I resolve to be a good housewife? Yeah, right. I'd resolve to stop shaving my legs and resolve to yell at my husband to pick up his underwear, but I already do those things so it wouldn't be much of a stretch.

Perhaps I should build my resolutions off of my experiences from last year. 2004 was a whirlwind and it tested and tried my patience with the world. I lost a lot of individuality but gained a new perspective on the true meaning of love. I saw old friends, gained new ones and lost someone very important to me.

So, for 2005 I resolve to me more appreciative of the people in my life. I will be nice to my husband. I will make time for my girlfriends. I'll write to my family. I won't kill my in-laws. I won't neglect my promises to myself. I'll graduate with my Masters. I will write more. And most importantly, I will not lose myself even though I am now half of a two.

And I thought I had problems

Eccentric British rock musician Genesis P-Orridge and his wife and partner, Lady Jaye Breyer, are gradually transforming themselves surgically into gender-neutral human beings ("pandrogynous") resembling each other, so that eventually they will be indistinguishable, to demonstrate how overrated gender is as a point of reference. (For example, he wore a lace dress at their wedding, and she dressed as a biker guy, with moustache, and for Valentine's Day 2003, each got breast implants.) P-Orridge told SF Weekly in October that their goal is to jointly become a third person, distinct from either of them.

All you need is love

The BIG DAY is over. The months of planning were realized, the weather was perfect - the I Do's emotional and tear-jerking. The guests were charming (even those who went skivvy-dipping in the middle of the night). The resort was impeccable. The mini-honeymoon was too short. The pictures are being developed. Everything is so very perfect!

Now- reality. The marriage part is great - the aftermess atrocious.

Our apartment looks as if it has been hit by a wedding tornado. Scraps of paper, bits of sheer ribbon, gifts, thank-you's, cards, bags and throw-away cameras christen every corner and spare bit of floor space. The delicate ivory silk is crammed in a white plastic garmet bag on the floor of my guest room. That beautiful bouquet chosen oh-so-carefully by my sweet and wonderful husband is currently rotting on the counter of the guest bathroom. I have no idea where the guest book ended up and we haven't even started to send our love and gratitude to those who made the day so special.

No, I have no idea how we are going to get through all we have to do and move into our house at the end of the month. But, as the song goes, all you need is love. I can safely say we have plenty of that...

Rage against the dying of our rights

This is not the United States
From my friend Amy. I just can't write anything myself at this point.

Hi Mich,

I don't understand. I really, truly don't. How can the American public be so stupid as to buy into this culture of fear that Bush has been selling?

Not to mention those lovely ultraconservative senators who were elected (sample positions - no abortions under any circumstances, single mothers shouldn't be teaching our children).

Roe v. Wade is dead.

The environment and ourc ountry's fiscal future is dying.

I told Paul last night I don't want to live in this country anymore, and actually suggested we go toFinland, or maybe Canada. Want to join us?

Love, Amu

Also - check out this site: http://www.andrewsullivan.com/

I voted for the lesser of two evils

It is done.

45 minutes in the cold Arizona morning to exercise my rights as a citizen of this fine country. Of course, since Proposition 200 was on the ballot, I was probably voting with non-citizens as well.

Go Kerry!

(In 2008, I'll probably be back to being Republican)

Counting the hours

It is almost Halloween, it's rainy outside and for the first time since February, I am wearing a sweater. The only thing that would make this day better is if time would magically fast forward to noon.

Today at noon, happiness begins. The students have a half-day today as they are taking their AIMS* (Arizona Instrument to Measure Success) tests, and teachers have the afternoon to make up work and prepare for next week.

However, I will choose to not prepare for next week. I'm not making up work either. I'm going to put my rain clog clad feet up on my desk, make some Starbucks in the school's crappy coffee maker and read Edgar Allen Poe.

*side note - at some point I will have to comment on what I think AIMS really stands for...

Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. She is an amazing woman. She is 2000 miles away, but she is here with me every day.

I'm spending a few minutes in each of my classes to talk to my students about family and love today - and about that wonderful woman who made me care so much about this world. She is the reason I teach. She gave me so much, I want to give something back to her.

This is also the reason why I have "Happy Birthday Mom" written in green ink on my white board today. My students in first hour said that they want to meet her someday.

Love you Mom. Thank you for making a difference.

Fahrenheit 9/11

My students are watching Michael Moore's persuasive masterpiece in all of my classes. I've now seen the movie 5 times in the past three days.

My students are appalled that Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia are not the same country! They were tricked! Those sneaky, evil media giants. What were those journalists thinking?

Speaking of journalists...

Today I sing Michael Moore's praises. Don't necessarily like him or approve of all his actions, but I must admit I appreciate his "documentary." My students actually engaged in intelligent discussions about politics! It is amazing that they now know more than what mainstream media feeds their parents.

And, for those of you who are wondering, I did defend Bush and bash Kerry a little as well. Then I pointed to the "Bart Simpson for President"slogan displayed on my gang-tagged, crooked white board and said, for all to hear, "I love my country."

I learned it by teaching them, alright?

Remember the commercial in the 80's where the father busts into the son's room accusing him of doing drugs? The father is yelling and screaming at his child and asks that oh-so-important question, "Who taught you to do this?! Who taught you to use drugs?!" That boy, hate in his eyes, spits back "You, alright? I learned it by watching you!"

I suppose this proves that the best way to teach is to model behaviour and learn about what is in your environment. If teachers were to learn from their students the same way, I'd have to say I've been privy to an interesting and varied ghetto-cation.

I now know the following:

* It is worse to be a liar than it is to be a murderer.

* You don't get arrested if you walk into a high school carrying two blunts.

* Everyone should have a switchblade that is at least 5" long.

* Coming to class "blazed" isn't an offense at all.

* Teachers are "money-hungry."

* Pink is just the sweetest new color to be adopted by gangs.

* Apathy is the religion of fools.

* Sex causes pregnancy.

* Restraining orders don't keep you from getting knocked up by your ex.

* English isn't a required language to live in the United States.

* You can qualify for foodstamps and still have a phone to text message your friends, a low-rider with a phat sound system and spinning rims, and enough money to sport a 24-karat gold chain with a mini-assault rifle pendant.

* You shouldn't call a student's Probation Officer if she is violating her parole and is in possession of drugs. That's "cold" and makes you a "bitch."

* I won't be a teacher in five years unless I make a hell of a lot more money and put up with a hell of a lot less crap.

Here is my commercial:
Go home. Hug your children. Be glad they don't come to my school.

This has been a public service announcement sponsored by the Bitter Teachers of America.