I can't complain about my job. My second job. The first being mom. I'm talking about teaching writing at colleges. I like writing, I like reading other people's writing. I like working on a flexible schedule and not having to leave my children, physically, at least. There are lots of ups.
Today I've been grading the writing portfolios of 75 of my students. As part of their portfolio they have to include a profile.
Some people choose inspirational figures: a wheelchair basketball star, Michael Phelps, and the like. Many others choose people with dramatic stories. We all have dramatic stories, by the way. Different kinds of drama. Today I read profiles on drug addicts, rape victims, teenage unwed mothers, individuals going through suicide attempts, broken families, single and struggling moms, abuse, transgender issues, etc. I really feel for each person in each profile I read and I know these issues are really important and worthy of serious thought.
There comes a certain point, however, when I have been grading for hours straight that these sorts of profiles in sequence can get to me. Some people, thankfully, write about their moms, but most of the moms have had crazy difficult lives as well. Life. I guess I shouldn't complain about reading about real life, even though I feel like a zombie when I'm through, because some people like Claire actually counsel people in the middle of their issues day after day, hour after hour, sometimes with no signs of helping or improvement. I actually held a celebration at the computer when I got a profile full of Michael Phelps and other less weighty matters.
I guess I should write a disclaimer on my syllabus like "if I get too depressed or weirded out while reading your paper you will get an F on this paper." But I wouldn't really mean it of course and I have trouble giving F's anyway, most of the time. Other times I just LIVE to give F's. Kidding.
In other work related news, the other day Miranda asked me what "fired" meant. I didn't tell her the meaning referring to pottery, but I did tell her it meant having to stop doing your job.
The next day, she came up to me while I was typing away on the computer. She said, firmly, "Mom, you're fired."
"Why am I fired?"
"So you can stop doing your job."
You can't get the truth that you are working too much and playing with your kids not enough any straighter than that. But here's to a way to pay the bills until Fernando is done with school. And I actually like reading people's writing and really believe in writing as a value, even if it means reading continually about conflict and sadness and real-life pain and adversity...but I would also be more than okay with be reading a profile on Snuffalufagus or The Statue of Liberty or Marjorie Hinckley once in a while.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Halloween, of course!
Please allow me to ease my conscience by reminding you that I only said I would TRY blogging every day...it wasn't a signed commitment. Even so, I'm sorry I missed a few days. The first missed day I fell asleep in the kids room and didn't wake up until 2:45 am. The next day was Halloween. Which brings us to the subject for TODAY: costumes+candy+toddlers=INSANITY, but FUN!!!
Though I tried to discourage the choosing of "princess" as this year's costume, ultimately I knew I would give in to my child's dreams, which only came true via the mad sewing skills of Grandma Cynthia. Miranda's mental vision of herself when she chose to be a princess for Halloween was Anastasia from Cinderella. She has told me several times that she thinks Anastasia is prettier than Cinderella, and she wanted the "puffy bum" Anastasia's dress has. We trained her to say "bustle" instead and she's done beautifully. Thank you D.I. for providing me with crunchy slips that made the perfect bustle.
So the theme was the "frog prince". Fernando made the eyes with ping-pong balls.
Hesitant to kiss the froggy and turn him into a prince. I agree princes are way more complicated than frogs, and sometimes have the same breath.
Better...you can tell Sam's ready for a big smacker.
Didn't work, I guess. I love this picture because it totally captures the kids' personalities.
Flapper Katie and Miranda...Katie handed down the "justified fury" gene. Thanks a lot, Katie.
Lucy and Ricky Ricardo...I mean...Sharon and Fernando.
Back in time thanks to Fernando's photoshop abilities.
The night was crazy and he later said something about how we stayed in character the whole night because I kept making everything insane and he kept having to fix and calm everything. Nice. But he made this, so what can you do.
It was a happy Halloween. We saw lots of neighbors (by the way, Sammy didn't even want the candy he just basically ran inside every house as soon as the people opened the door). I keep telling myself he'll make a good missionary. Miranda was so nice to always make sure the people would give a piece of candy to "my baby brother" but sometimes she was so concerned about it that her "thank you" wasn't as well-timed or buoyant as we would have liked. Very few people knew what Fernando and I were supposed to be...thank you to those few who did...and so we decided that we are outdated OR way too classy for our own good.
I'll post a little picture of us with our pumpkins tomorrow even though you might not want me to. I still have a bunch of candy that we didn't get to pass out to trick or treaters, so if anyone missed the opportunity to trick or treat, we've still got a stash. This invitation is extended to people even living in, say, California, China...come on over.
Though I tried to discourage the choosing of "princess" as this year's costume, ultimately I knew I would give in to my child's dreams, which only came true via the mad sewing skills of Grandma Cynthia. Miranda's mental vision of herself when she chose to be a princess for Halloween was Anastasia from Cinderella. She has told me several times that she thinks Anastasia is prettier than Cinderella, and she wanted the "puffy bum" Anastasia's dress has. We trained her to say "bustle" instead and she's done beautifully. Thank you D.I. for providing me with crunchy slips that made the perfect bustle.
So the theme was the "frog prince". Fernando made the eyes with ping-pong balls.
Hesitant to kiss the froggy and turn him into a prince. I agree princes are way more complicated than frogs, and sometimes have the same breath.
Better...you can tell Sam's ready for a big smacker.
Didn't work, I guess. I love this picture because it totally captures the kids' personalities.
Flapper Katie and Miranda...Katie handed down the "justified fury" gene. Thanks a lot, Katie.
Lucy and Ricky Ricardo...I mean...Sharon and Fernando.
Back in time thanks to Fernando's photoshop abilities.
The night was crazy and he later said something about how we stayed in character the whole night because I kept making everything insane and he kept having to fix and calm everything. Nice. But he made this, so what can you do.
It was a happy Halloween. We saw lots of neighbors (by the way, Sammy didn't even want the candy he just basically ran inside every house as soon as the people opened the door). I keep telling myself he'll make a good missionary. Miranda was so nice to always make sure the people would give a piece of candy to "my baby brother" but sometimes she was so concerned about it that her "thank you" wasn't as well-timed or buoyant as we would have liked. Very few people knew what Fernando and I were supposed to be...thank you to those few who did...and so we decided that we are outdated OR way too classy for our own good.
I'll post a little picture of us with our pumpkins tomorrow even though you might not want me to. I still have a bunch of candy that we didn't get to pass out to trick or treaters, so if anyone missed the opportunity to trick or treat, we've still got a stash. This invitation is extended to people even living in, say, California, China...come on over.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
definitions
Today my daughter asked me what "vice" means.
Later she asked me what "possessed" means.
She finally asked me what "encouragement" means.
Phew. I was beginning to worry.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
a disclaimer
I just wanted to say that sometimes I post things on here with grandmas in mind, and I want the rest of you to know I recognize that some of my material is more interesting for grandmas than for everybody else. Thank you for sticking with us through all types of posts.
Monday, October 27, 2008
ABCs with finesse
Ever since we had a Family Home Evening with Fernando's friends the Bairs, Miranda refers to the most beautiful singing as like the "Danny Girls." These are the Bair sisters (and sisters to Fernando's best friend growing up, Danny). They also sang at our wedding dinner and they sound just like angels when they sing together. They sang "I am a Child of God" for us that night and Miranda loves to sing like the Danny Girls now. Her impression has filtered down even to the most basic of songs. ABCs will never be the same.
old people
The other night Fernando had to go to the Homecoming dance at the high school where he works and supervise and the like: kick people out, give looks to those dancing too close, you know.
And it just made me think...when did we go from the people attending dances to dance and have fun
to the people going to dances to prevent other people from having fun??
I just almost remembered something else that we said the other day that made us realize we're getting old, and so I just turned to Fernando and asked him what it was...
He can't remember either.
Which only proves the point.
And it just made me think...when did we go from the people attending dances to dance and have fun
to the people going to dances to prevent other people from having fun??
I just almost remembered something else that we said the other day that made us realize we're getting old, and so I just turned to Fernando and asked him what it was...
He can't remember either.
Which only proves the point.
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