learnteach

I am grateful for Vytas and Claire exposing me to Cafe Grateful in SF (Mission), then finding it when we detoured (extended) the "Roomie takes Cranky Man Out of House" roadtrip to Whole Foods in Cupertino, where there is one. I splurged, had the spuds, the live soup (coconut curry, yum) and the luscious shake (meh). Posted on facebook and got a drunkdial from the three Graces of Fabulous Food, Joycie, Vittoria, and Ysabella. Why I don't hang out more near them escapes me.

FAAAAAAABULOUS!

So I have to drag them to Schmidt's for the schinken teller, which I believe is the German way of saying salumni plate. Yes!

THANK YOU WONDERFUL LADIES (Especially Adriane, braving cranky roomie.)

Should I get in motion?

1. First set of interviews finished. Perhaps an offer by the end of the week, perhaps not...

2. Mmmm. Bacon. Just need to smoke the first set. Found out someone who liked homemade bacon except that it was impossible to cut--know what he's getting for a gift! The only question is, savory or sweet?

3. Tonight I will go fight; tried to last Saturday, but pads and cup weren't there. We'll see how it goes, but any day with a sword is better than a day without.

4. Annwn wants Troll Bridge finished. Great Birthday idea! If I get some money, I'll throw it at that. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/snowgumfilms/terry-pratchetts-troll-bridge
The video is worth it just for the hero...
Hell with it, I'm backing it. FOR LIONHEARTSWEETIE!

aaaaaaaaaand Done.

5. My Birthday Beach Barbeque Bacon Bash: How does Saturday the 25th work for people? Or should I aim for Sunday afternoon June 19th?

Beltane was great. Page time, tadpoles, boo face, Kitka, Mile's knighting, friends, Saluminati, emu's on the skyline, Rat's lanterns glowing in the dark, camping next to a stream.

I have a job interview this week. I was told it would be this week. It keeps moving. There's a demo I'm trying to put together for a school With the lack of communications from the job, I sent them an email with my availability, noting that Friday mid afternoon was the only time I was not available (demo!)

So, what happens? "Are you available to meet Friday midafternoon?"

I am supremely unimpressed. There are other factors here, but I think this may actually nix the job.

Dammit.

1. Replace the yard with california natives and raised beds.

2. Paint the house before I do that.

3. Make a bottlehead troll, dwarf and goblin for size comparisons.

4. Hold an old style ninja war at an SCA event.

5. Hold a bardic circle. It's been too long.

1. Regular martial arts workouts with youth who kick my butt, and an instructor who understands.

2. The local students raising $700 for Japan in the runathon. In a school where over half the students can't afford the prom ($45 ticket, dress or nice clothes, ride...difficult) they raised $700 for Japan.

3. 11 days until Easter, and coffee again.

4. Speaking of which, I gave my coffee money for Lent to the Episcopal fund for Japan--$160 dollars.

5. Students are doing a play--Exonerated. Of course, they're using my room as the green room (welcome to the land of trash) but they do promise to clean it up.

6. Same running students are holding a flea market to raise money for the school.

Was that only 5? 6? Oh, wait, Chuck helped me fix my leg armor, so I have no more excuse to not be fighting...


Still not happy with the school, students very upset at being asked to actually study or learn anything, employing all the negative behaviour they can muster.

Dance? Other people didn't make it. Peter Gabriel TIckets? Took 4 hours to get. Plant Sale? Note other people, but also, hey, if you weren't there early much sold out. More plant sales coming. Food Trucks? 3000 people there at the opening, skip.

Nothing is going according to plan, but keep walking!

NO MENTION OF SCHOOL!

1. FOOD TRUCKZ! http://www.the88sj.com/blog/?p=2019

2. PLANTZ! http://www.mastergardeners.org/events/2011/17th-annual-spring-garden-market

3. MOVIEZ! Saw MOON and Ponyu last night, both EXCELLENT. Thank you TUG!

4. FITNEZ! Walked 40 minutes this morning, with some jogging.

5. SPRINGZ! Enuf said.

EDIT!

6. OMG PETER GABRIEL FOR MY BIRTHDAY!

Boy, total fanboi today. If you want plants, I'll be there early to pick up a Red Manzano for Chaz; if you want to meet me while I much MOGO, I'll be at the food trucks saturday.

Mr. R wants to talk about learning and fear
when grading is done.
I'll collaborate on what to teach the 9th year
when grading is done.
Student confidence in knowledge needs to be built
when grading is done.
My cirriculum lack fills me with guilt
but grading's not done.

I'll incorporate the news of the world
when grading is done
Into new intellectual worlds be hurled
when grading is done
Each day sees a launch, a ticket, some work
that needs to be graded
Each week a report and a quiz
my purpose is faded

A new discipline strategy I'll rehearse--yes, reseat!
when grading is done
And workout and lose weight when I'm not so beat
'cause grading's not done
The students are whining and begging and pleading
Their parents will kill them, special help they are needing!
Their behaviour? Still shitty, they've given up hope
(Except XX and XX* who got medical dope)
and I want to do experiments but I don't think I can cope
with a cold in the nose and an answer of "Nope!"
"Can't help you, forget it, too late for you plea;
if you wanted something now why're you mean to me?
and the end of the road is something I can see..."

and grades will be done.

DONE.

Made pickles this weekend. New recipe. I need to make a pickle icon, I love them so much. Craving them right now after the workout.

I've been following the disaster in Japan fairly closely; it's interesting especially to compare media sources and the stories they report or re-report. However, my favorite quote on the whole thing comes from Charles Stross' weblog, where a contributor from Australia writes:

Here in Australia (another part of the anglosphere) we're getting the same sort of "eeeek, it's the N-word" idiocy from our press, along with dragging in experts from the Australian nuclear industry (which consists of approximately two mines and one small reactor in Sydney) to do the Monday's Expert thing live on national television etc. There's a lot of long-faced jaw waggling from the Greens, who are busy pointing and saying "see, this is why Australia shouldn't be looking at nuclear power" and similar.

Which, frankly, is bullshit. Australia is one of the most sesmically stable countries in the world. We're stable enough that other countries want to use our country as a nuclear waste DUMP, fergawdsakes. The fear of earthquake is not the reason Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule. The reason why Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule is because a nuclear power plant requires a large amount of fresh water as a cooling system, and despite what the northern Queenslanders are saying through their snorkels, Australia is the driest continent in the world. We don't even have enough water for our present population (which is why we're on constant water restrictions), much less the extra demand required to keep nuclear reactors running safely. Given there are already signs of climate change here in Australia, and they're fairly firmly pointing in the direction of the country getting drier, rather than wetter, nuclear power isn't really a sane option.

***

Wow. That's funny, far thinking, and well written! Even notes the recent flooding in a very humorous way.

I've given up coffee for Lent; I'll donate the money I saved either to the Red Cross or some Episcopal charity for Japan. And I think I'll go give the Red Cross a pint on Thursday--I'm sure it will be useful somewhere.

Also note, locals, that the meadery (Rabbit's Foot) is serving as a donation point. And I'll buy you a growler if you go donate a pint this week. Late notice, perhaps, but there's the offer.

In the class on population dynamics, relating the personal to the abstract:

Student one: "Why the hell do you ask us these questions? What the fuck has this got to do with anything?"
Me: "Please watch your language, and it's a class on population dynamics."
Student: "What the hell is wrong with my language and why do you hate me so?"

that's a sure win

Student two: "The homework was coloring? You never taught us to color!"
Student three (sick of the discipline): "YOu ever go to kindergarten or anything like that?"

Student four: "This poster is tagged, may I take it?" Teacher: "YEs, please." Student in back of room "Don't take that!" (tagged with HIGHLY inappropriate writing, calling another student a loose woman in more graphic language.) Good give away, yah?

This is amazingly exhausting.