Monday, February 2, 2009
Not even college was this challenging
We are looking at high schools for my daughter and so many things have come into the selection process which we had no idea had relevance in our choice. The IB (International Baccalaurate) program was our first choice, with a secondary choice at a strong school with a recognized AP (Advanced Placement) program. Out final choice was/ is our home school which also has a strong AP program, but is small in size, and the social and athletic programs aren't as well received.
We visited each school, attended orientations, and Maddi visited each school herself. All schools had great environments and pushed their programs with enthusiasm. My daughter thought through each choice and made her personal selection based on her social life and the fun times she thought were soon to come. My ex-husband and I made our choices based on academia and the potential for her future collegiate success. Needless to say we did not choose the same school. My daughter chose school number 2, with the parental units choosing school number 1. With no votes for number 3, that was an easy vote off the island.
Each school has it's pros and cons outside of the academic environment(s) as well.
School number 1 is in an urban environment and their traditional academic program is marginal. The students in this Traditional program are not college bound and the program lends itself to stragglers trying to stay out of our court system as teens. TAP seems to be segregated from the IB program, which I still have not determined to be a good thing or not.
School number 2, I understand has a high rate of sexual indiscretions, pregnancy teen rate and sexual experimentation (with opposite and same sex). Like I don't have enough to worry about.
We have a month to decide and recently met with her current teachers to factor in their choices for each of the two finalists based on their recommendations and expertise of her potential for success as a student. They have led us to believe our choice for school number 1 is right on target, but agreed many students succeed in both environments, so we shouldn't discount school number 2 either.
Arrrgh!
...and this isn't even college.
We visited each school, attended orientations, and Maddi visited each school herself. All schools had great environments and pushed their programs with enthusiasm. My daughter thought through each choice and made her personal selection based on her social life and the fun times she thought were soon to come. My ex-husband and I made our choices based on academia and the potential for her future collegiate success. Needless to say we did not choose the same school. My daughter chose school number 2, with the parental units choosing school number 1. With no votes for number 3, that was an easy vote off the island.
Each school has it's pros and cons outside of the academic environment(s) as well.
School number 1 is in an urban environment and their traditional academic program is marginal. The students in this Traditional program are not college bound and the program lends itself to stragglers trying to stay out of our court system as teens. TAP seems to be segregated from the IB program, which I still have not determined to be a good thing or not.
School number 2, I understand has a high rate of sexual indiscretions, pregnancy teen rate and sexual experimentation (with opposite and same sex). Like I don't have enough to worry about.
We have a month to decide and recently met with her current teachers to factor in their choices for each of the two finalists based on their recommendations and expertise of her potential for success as a student. They have led us to believe our choice for school number 1 is right on target, but agreed many students succeed in both environments, so we shouldn't discount school number 2 either.
Arrrgh!
...and this isn't even college.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Kids and Technology
Yesterday my son and I were hanging at home basically waiting for a playdate to come through, and he decided that he wanted to make an avatar. He has seen them on yahoo via my daughter's email account, so we sat down and made an email account for him so he could play with the characters.
It also occurred to me that it was a great way for him to communicate with his dad and his grandparents. Sweet...two birds, one stone. So we deliberated over his email addie. His sister's is a cute version of "Rock Star Soccer Girl", so he understood the concept was to describe himself, and using his name was far too boring. His first couple choices were taken and he was starting to get frustrated, when we combined our city, his favorite activity and his age. Bingo. He was very pleased.
I showed him how to add an address to his "contacts". I showed him how to send an email. I showed him the cool backgrounds, and how to change the subject line. Within an hour I was receiving emails, with the subject line "freechat" that simply said, "I love you" in the body. Two hours later I heard him laughing and laughing in the office and shortly thereafter received an email with "monkey talk" in the subject line that had a beautiful sunset in the background, which read "Ooh oh Aahh ah, I am a monkey. Keep it a secret. Sshhh. "
My son has jokes.
Now I'll have to learn how to set the parental controls on my pc. It's only a matter of time :)
It also occurred to me that it was a great way for him to communicate with his dad and his grandparents. Sweet...two birds, one stone. So we deliberated over his email addie. His sister's is a cute version of "Rock Star Soccer Girl", so he understood the concept was to describe himself, and using his name was far too boring. His first couple choices were taken and he was starting to get frustrated, when we combined our city, his favorite activity and his age. Bingo. He was very pleased.
I showed him how to add an address to his "contacts". I showed him how to send an email. I showed him the cool backgrounds, and how to change the subject line. Within an hour I was receiving emails, with the subject line "freechat" that simply said, "I love you" in the body. Two hours later I heard him laughing and laughing in the office and shortly thereafter received an email with "monkey talk" in the subject line that had a beautiful sunset in the background, which read "Ooh oh Aahh ah, I am a monkey. Keep it a secret. Sshhh. "
My son has jokes.
Now I'll have to learn how to set the parental controls on my pc. It's only a matter of time :)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
drowning?
Many people I know were writing 25 things about themselves today on facebook, currently the hot internet social site. 25 interesting things? 25 weird things? Just 25 things...simple as that.
So, as I thought about 25 things I would share with possibly the entire world, I thought about the funny things about my past, the quirky things about my personality, the awful things that would shock people but helped shape who I am as a woman today. I thought about all the heartfelt things that I feel make me a good person. Finally, I tried to come up with a compilation of all these items.
This list was a solid slice of who I am. The fact that I am a runner and I love the beach. When I'm not at the beach, I'm hitting the clubs in Vegas. I love hot, tall boys and even more than the desert, I love my sister who I have only gotten to share my life with recently. I love being a parent even though my parents weren't the most loving and sharing models for me. There were many things I came up with to describe the numerous facets of my person.
The exercise reminded me of some incidents in my past which I rarely think about.
I almost drowned when I was about 10. Literally pulled from the pool by my hair during a swim lesson (if you can believe it).
Then when I was 25, I was in a boating mishap with some friends and fell off the boat during a storm. We had all been drinking, and because I had the initial trauma at age 10 I never fully accepted the challenge of learning to swim. I knew if I went under water, in that lake, with my friends struggling to hang on to the boat themselves, during the course of this storm, I wouldn't survive. I knew it in my heart. The sailboat bucked back and forth in the harsh waves of the tumultuous lake, as it attempted to throw me from it's back like an angry horse. I struggled to hang on as I slipped across the slick surface of the tiny boat. Everyone struggled to hang on as our captain of this tiny vessel wrestled with the sail trying to get us back to shore.
It was the end of summer. The temperatures had been hot before the storm. Even if we had not been drinking alcohol all afternoon, a struggle like this would have drained anyone. The heat and the liquor combined were a deadly prescription for this water ride. But, I had the looming thought hanging over my head, reminding me that I would drown. Who would pull me out of the lake by my hair? Would I still be breathing?
As I looked at my friends, and heard them screaming, "Hang on", I slowly watched each find a nook, a rope, something to grasp. I slid to the end of the boat, which was actually the front of the boat, but it had been tossed down, so it was now sloped,heading directly into the water, and I was no longer aboard. My arm was the only remaining part of my body still on the boat and I desperately reached for anything, anyone, and as my hope turned to fear as the cold water enveloped my body, I felt a hand touch my arm. One of my friends had found a way to slide down the boat towards the water and extend a hand to me. He held on long enough for the boat to regain it's posture and pull me up. I could no longer hang on. I was so tired. My arms hurt. I was cold. I was prepared to go under. But I didn't.
So, as I thought about 25 things I would share with possibly the entire world, I thought about the funny things about my past, the quirky things about my personality, the awful things that would shock people but helped shape who I am as a woman today. I thought about all the heartfelt things that I feel make me a good person. Finally, I tried to come up with a compilation of all these items.
This list was a solid slice of who I am. The fact that I am a runner and I love the beach. When I'm not at the beach, I'm hitting the clubs in Vegas. I love hot, tall boys and even more than the desert, I love my sister who I have only gotten to share my life with recently. I love being a parent even though my parents weren't the most loving and sharing models for me. There were many things I came up with to describe the numerous facets of my person.
The exercise reminded me of some incidents in my past which I rarely think about.
I almost drowned when I was about 10. Literally pulled from the pool by my hair during a swim lesson (if you can believe it).
Then when I was 25, I was in a boating mishap with some friends and fell off the boat during a storm. We had all been drinking, and because I had the initial trauma at age 10 I never fully accepted the challenge of learning to swim. I knew if I went under water, in that lake, with my friends struggling to hang on to the boat themselves, during the course of this storm, I wouldn't survive. I knew it in my heart. The sailboat bucked back and forth in the harsh waves of the tumultuous lake, as it attempted to throw me from it's back like an angry horse. I struggled to hang on as I slipped across the slick surface of the tiny boat. Everyone struggled to hang on as our captain of this tiny vessel wrestled with the sail trying to get us back to shore.
It was the end of summer. The temperatures had been hot before the storm. Even if we had not been drinking alcohol all afternoon, a struggle like this would have drained anyone. The heat and the liquor combined were a deadly prescription for this water ride. But, I had the looming thought hanging over my head, reminding me that I would drown. Who would pull me out of the lake by my hair? Would I still be breathing?
As I looked at my friends, and heard them screaming, "Hang on", I slowly watched each find a nook, a rope, something to grasp. I slid to the end of the boat, which was actually the front of the boat, but it had been tossed down, so it was now sloped,heading directly into the water, and I was no longer aboard. My arm was the only remaining part of my body still on the boat and I desperately reached for anything, anyone, and as my hope turned to fear as the cold water enveloped my body, I felt a hand touch my arm. One of my friends had found a way to slide down the boat towards the water and extend a hand to me. He held on long enough for the boat to regain it's posture and pull me up. I could no longer hang on. I was so tired. My arms hurt. I was cold. I was prepared to go under. But I didn't.
Monday, January 26, 2009
"I pledge..."
Today I woke up thinking about my script and foster kids.
Most days I wake up thinking about my script and how much money I will make when I finally sell one. I used to visualize my film on the big screen. I used to visualize myself giving a heartfelt speech when I accept my "best original screenplay" award all gushy and eager - like when Ben and Matt accepted their statue for Good Will Hunting. I used to actually think my concept would look exactly on the screen like it did in my head when I put the words on paper.
Now I know better...and I have kids to feed (and put through University), so I think about the money and how many I can crank out before I die.
But before I had kids of my own I thought about all the kids out there who didn't have dreams, or their dreams consisted of food and shelter. I thought about Josephine Baker, who was also from St Louis, who moved to France, bought a castle, and scooped up as many kids as she could, bankrupting herself in the process, but for good cause. I didn't idolize many people - my Nana, and now I realize, Josephine Baker. There are very few gifts you can give back to the world. I believe many celebrities believe their gift is their talent. A small contribution to the happiness of the world. Then there are celebrities like Angelina Jolie who give and give and give - not just in dollars, but in heart. So, what do the common people feel they can pledge when we have far less in physical wealth?
I have put many of my dreams on hold for life. I have put many of my community commitments on hold for the good of my household. One of the dreams I have consistently gone back to and revisisted was my pledge to foster children. This past week, our country saw a new President introduced to the world as he accepted his responsibility proudly and with vigor. He pledged to make our world a better place and asked in return, "what do you pledge"? A slew of celebrity supporters also fell into line with their public pledges, encouraging the general masses to do the same.
I remembered the pledges I have made repeatedly and then did not follow in course of action, for whatever reason, and realized in that moment. It is time. It is time for everyone to step up and do something. My pledge is not for the future it is for now. If the smallest thing I feel I can contribute is being a great parent, and encouraging one small child (besides my own) to find a glimmer of hope and believe their dreams can come true - who am I to put that off for another day - even another minute?
Most days I wake up thinking about my script and how much money I will make when I finally sell one. I used to visualize my film on the big screen. I used to visualize myself giving a heartfelt speech when I accept my "best original screenplay" award all gushy and eager - like when Ben and Matt accepted their statue for Good Will Hunting. I used to actually think my concept would look exactly on the screen like it did in my head when I put the words on paper.
Now I know better...and I have kids to feed (and put through University), so I think about the money and how many I can crank out before I die.
But before I had kids of my own I thought about all the kids out there who didn't have dreams, or their dreams consisted of food and shelter. I thought about Josephine Baker, who was also from St Louis, who moved to France, bought a castle, and scooped up as many kids as she could, bankrupting herself in the process, but for good cause. I didn't idolize many people - my Nana, and now I realize, Josephine Baker. There are very few gifts you can give back to the world. I believe many celebrities believe their gift is their talent. A small contribution to the happiness of the world. Then there are celebrities like Angelina Jolie who give and give and give - not just in dollars, but in heart. So, what do the common people feel they can pledge when we have far less in physical wealth?
I have put many of my dreams on hold for life. I have put many of my community commitments on hold for the good of my household. One of the dreams I have consistently gone back to and revisisted was my pledge to foster children. This past week, our country saw a new President introduced to the world as he accepted his responsibility proudly and with vigor. He pledged to make our world a better place and asked in return, "what do you pledge"? A slew of celebrity supporters also fell into line with their public pledges, encouraging the general masses to do the same.
I remembered the pledges I have made repeatedly and then did not follow in course of action, for whatever reason, and realized in that moment. It is time. It is time for everyone to step up and do something. My pledge is not for the future it is for now. If the smallest thing I feel I can contribute is being a great parent, and encouraging one small child (besides my own) to find a glimmer of hope and believe their dreams can come true - who am I to put that off for another day - even another minute?
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Eric Jerome Dickey... meet Anais Nin
I have been waiting a month for Eric Jerome Dickey's new novel "Pleasure". I have read every single book ever written by this man, and I'm sure I'm in intellectual love. His talent rides the short end of the stick all the way to his infinite wisdom (and sociological prowess) on the long end.
Each of his novels inspires me to write and continue to read every single day. I get sucked into his stories and savor each, next word voraciously. His women are sensual, uncommon beings. Unique and beautiful, his descriptions of them bring you right into their life as if you were their sisters or best friends.
I looked forward to this book with as much anticipation as the last dozen. I couldn't find it at the bookstore(s). The library didn't have a copy on hand and I finally ordered one and received it over the weekend. As I opened the first page I read, "Be careful Anais, abnormal pleasures kill the taste for normal ones". This is a quote from the film Henry & June, which told the love story of Anais Nin and Henry Miller and the demise of her purity as she was enveloped into the sordid relationships and lifestyle of Henry Miller. Note, the sultry June (Henry's other lover) was played by Uma Thurman, and it is one of her best performances ever - reminiscent of Betty Davis back in the day.
After I watched this film, I was drawn to Anais Nin and her life. Her writings and her motivation. She is a quiet soul with a dark spirit. Her writings are intense and at times difficult to understand due to the depth of her intent.
So, to be re-introduced to one of my favorite writers via an urban vehicle by my favorite contemporary writer was almost too much to bear. How could these two souls have anything in common? As different at New Orleans and Belgium, or are they really different at all? It has taken me 3 days to pick up the book again, because I am terrified that everything I admire about one of these writers will be unveiled as false. Or everything I believe in life will be revealed as truth.
We are all connected.
What I believe as the lifesource for all beings and visualize through writing and art and music is also seen by another being on this planet. Someone who thinks like me.
And the topic...this terrifies me as well.
To be continued...
Each of his novels inspires me to write and continue to read every single day. I get sucked into his stories and savor each, next word voraciously. His women are sensual, uncommon beings. Unique and beautiful, his descriptions of them bring you right into their life as if you were their sisters or best friends.
I looked forward to this book with as much anticipation as the last dozen. I couldn't find it at the bookstore(s). The library didn't have a copy on hand and I finally ordered one and received it over the weekend. As I opened the first page I read, "Be careful Anais, abnormal pleasures kill the taste for normal ones". This is a quote from the film Henry & June, which told the love story of Anais Nin and Henry Miller and the demise of her purity as she was enveloped into the sordid relationships and lifestyle of Henry Miller. Note, the sultry June (Henry's other lover) was played by Uma Thurman, and it is one of her best performances ever - reminiscent of Betty Davis back in the day.
After I watched this film, I was drawn to Anais Nin and her life. Her writings and her motivation. She is a quiet soul with a dark spirit. Her writings are intense and at times difficult to understand due to the depth of her intent.
So, to be re-introduced to one of my favorite writers via an urban vehicle by my favorite contemporary writer was almost too much to bear. How could these two souls have anything in common? As different at New Orleans and Belgium, or are they really different at all? It has taken me 3 days to pick up the book again, because I am terrified that everything I admire about one of these writers will be unveiled as false. Or everything I believe in life will be revealed as truth.
We are all connected.
What I believe as the lifesource for all beings and visualize through writing and art and music is also seen by another being on this planet. Someone who thinks like me.
And the topic...this terrifies me as well.
To be continued...
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