The Rules of Debate (-:
You may not stick fingers in your mouth pretending to vomit while your opponent speaks. Do not use the terms girlie-man, frog, or bozo. Elevator shoes are strictly forbidden . . . Candidates shall make reasonable use of underarm deodorant and other antiperspirant measures, subject to review by Secret Service, before the debates . . . [more]
Via Arts&Letters Daily

War is wide like the light-starved jungle. Peace begins in a single chair.
- Pablo Neruda

The Noble Symphony, written to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel prize, has a movement in honor of each of the prizes . . . Literature, chemistry, economics, physics, medicine, and peace. If you do nothing else tonight, listen to the peace movement and watch the media display that accompanies it.

It will only be online for a week, so don't delay (The entire Noble symphony is online, so you can listen to the entire thing if 'ya like - - I'll warn you, the opening trumpet section is incredible!)

Some graham crackers, an apple, and a hunk of cheddar cheese could quite possibly be the most perfect afternoon snack.
Just thought you might like to know!

The moon is absolutely georgeous tonight. It's cold and clear - the perfect kind of night to set up the telescope and stare into space!

I think I'm tired of school. Once upon a time I was really ready to go back (and even dreamed of getting a few more degrees just for the fun!) But now, (with a paper due in less than a week) I'm really ready to just be done.

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
-Scott Adams

All Quiet
Please excuse the sudden silence. I've been thinking. And even if I could articulate the thoughts (I can't), most aren't appropriate for this space.
But tomorrow . . . tomorrow I'll have a really good quote for you. (I'd give it to you now, but I left it at the office!)

You may remember that my job with YA came about as a result of my internship with them. Out of the blue the executive director offered me a dinky little job as her assistant (the job has morphed with several organizational transitions, but my title and assistant-type work has not changed).

You may also remember that I spent 6-7 months applying for jobs this year (in an attempt to get out of The Little Academy) and kept getting rejection letters

What you don't know, is that last week, the education director at VocalEssence pulled me aside and asked me to stay on past my internship in a paid position which would basically be a continuation of my internship work.


This has put me into a bit of a tizzy.

Obviously it's nice to be liked enough (after only 2 weeks) for them to want to keep me.
And the extra paycheck would be nice.
But I really don't want the job.

I don't mind entry level work (or even intern scut work). But at some point I'd like to move up to do something that involves a little more brainwork.

Lottsa questions have popped into my head.
Why won't people want to hire me based on my resume? Why do people want to hire me after they've worked with me? Why do they want me in assistant-type jobs? Am I applying for positions for which I'm grossly underqualified? Has my forray into graduate school enabled me to be a secretary? Do I need to market myself better? Am I just doing the generation X whinney thing?

If I were to take this job, what does it mean for my future? Will a potential futre employer look at my resume and think I'm an "assistant" for life? Or will they see someone who has put in time at the low end of the totem pole and is ready to move up?

The other thing is the proposed VocalEssence job is only half time, so between YA, thesis writing, and VocalEssence - I'd be working way too many hours. (Actually, it's exactly the same number of hours I'm working now. But I can do it NOW because I know it is only going to last until December 13). Doing it until [question mark] is a recipie for burn out.

I'm sure the extra paycheck would be nice.
And it'd be good to keep my VocalEssence connection warm (and reference ready) for when the full time dream job comes along . . .

I donno.
It seems awfully premature for them to offer me a job so soon into the internship. (I mean, I'm going to be around (working for free) until early December - you think they'd want a little more "settle in" time before offering me a job that didn't officially start until January).

I've been in the office for exactly 54 minutes - - it's a bad bad day.

So if you're looking for a way to waste time, check out The Lego Album
This guy reproduces CD covers using legos!
via We Make Money Not Art

If there's nothing of substance in the world, if the ground we walk on is just a mirage, if reality itself really isn't, what are we left with, what do we hang our hat on? Magic: the stuff not ruled by rational law. Now that might not seem too comforting, but stay with me here. What's the height of the irrational, the zip code of the mysterious? Exactly.

From the KBHR Meditations of Chris Stevnes.
I loved Northern Exposure - until it got stupid.
And Chris was my favorite Cicley person. (Hint to anyone Christmas shoping for me - Seasons 1 & 2 are out on DVD!)

"How do you think I lost the button in the first place?"
Ellie over at Prose and Cons has a beautiful story about her new roommate. You really should read it

What's the opposite of "predecessor"? Postdecessor?
I talked with the lovely Ms. R. last night and got the latest gossip from The Little Academy. Apparently the new music teacher (my "postdecessor") has resigned and TLA is music teacher-less.

If you've kept up with The Little Academy Saga, you know she isn't the first teacher to quit - - We had a Spanish teacher that lasted 3 months, a second Spanish teacher that lasted for less than 3 hours, and a second grade teacher that lasted for 3 1/2 months. I can't blame them for quitting - if the right job had appeared, I would have left mid-year as well.
I'm seriously contemplating rearranging my schedule to help out 1-2 afternoons a week. It would mean working weekends at my other jobs and adding even more to an already full plate. It would be miserable. (Maybe I just like being miserable).

dear Lord
i feel so weak (i am weak)

i miss you
i haven't done anything bad lately--
but i know i've done much worse
i'm Pretending again

making it look like i'm strong
when all the while i've been floudering . . .

i am disgusted with myself
for holding on . . . to you.
from Peachy Keen

THE RHINOSAURUS

Once in a jungle a rhinoceros
Was disturbed
While reading his thesaurus.
Thus perturbed
He did loudly roar-at-us.
A bit of a sore-arse-ce-ros
I guess.
No doubt was-rude-of-us.
But ill mannered of him I think
When we found him in the pink
Having thought him nearly extinct.
As we tried to apologize
He disappeared before our eyes.
Leaving us to theorize:
Why a fully grown rhinoceros
Would have need of his own-thesaurus?
And to wonder please are there other
Rhinoceroses reading their
Own-thesauruses?
Or is it Rhinocersi
and their thesaursi?

Blanantly Stolen from Leo because it made me smile!

PLANET JULIE'S STAGES TO EVERYTHING
Stage 1: "How exciting! This is going to be great!"
Stage 2: "This is so cool!"
Stage 3: "OK, this is harder than I thought, but not impossible"
Stage 4: "What was I thinking?"
Stage 5: "I can't do this" (contemplate quitting)
Stage 6: "Hey, I did something right!"
Stage 7: "This is too hard" (seriously contemplate quitting)
Stage 8: "I HATE THIS"
Stage 9: "This isn't SO bad - but I don't like it"
Stage 10: "This is fun!"
Stage 11: "I LOVE THIS!"
Stage 12: "I'm bored . . . "
Stage 13: "I'm *REALLY* bored" (contemplate quitting)
Stage 14: "I need to do something else"
Stage 15: "I respectfully submit my resignation"

YA is in a solid Stage 11
Orchestra is currently in Stage 8
The internship is at Stage 4 (transitioning to stage 5).
Such is life.

What would it be like to not be afraid?
I know fear can be good. (Fear keeps me out dark alleys at night, fear keeps us all from jumping in front of a semi-truck, fear ensures that I'm well prepared for presentations and solos). But what would it be like to NEVER be afraid? I know it'd be bad. Folks would start dissing gang bangers and just being dumb) but sometimes I think it'd be nice to live in a world where I never got nervous or scared. Constant Confidence.

BECOME, BELONG, BELIEVE, AND BUILD
Girl Scouts of America have launched a new program called Studio 2B. It's aimed at 11-17 year olds and has a different feel from traditional girl scouts. Instead of the "troop mother" that leads silly craft activities, Studio 2B lets girls find stuff that interests them. Adults help *them* to plan/coordinate activities (or just hang out and talk!)

I like it.
At least on paper, I like it.

And I miss teaching. I desperately miss my kids. And I miss being a part of "something."

I've looked into several volunteer opportunities that could use my teacher skills, but none of them fit. (The comittment was too much, the location was a pain, or it just didn't excite me). But Girl Scouts . . . espically a Girl Scout program that encourages teenagers to DO things (and to hang out!) . . . I could do that!

So today I started the process of becoming a Studio 2B volunteer - it seems like a good fit between what I am, and what they need. (Even the location is a good fit!) We'll see what happens, but tonight I'm excited about the possibilities!

I AM WEARING RED UNDERWEAR
I share this only because the entire city of Saint Paul already knows.
Step outside and there's wind.
Wind.
Wind.
Wind.
The wind blows . . . The skirt goes up . . . and the rest is proveribial histoy.

Except there's more . . .

You see, the YA office is located in an historic building. And, as there often is, there were people taking pictures of our beautiful old building this afternoon . . . I don't know if they clicked at the percise moment I steped out into the wind trap, but it's quite possible that someone has a Kodak moment. (It is a large building, so if they did catch it on film, I'm just a red dot by the door - I doubt such a photograph would hurt my political future or anything!!)

At least it's cute red underwear - in the "boy brief" style - but that's probably too much information eh??

The path that can be told
is not the true path.
-Lao Tsu


(according to maddog Lao Tsu "TOTALLY would have been a Jedi, given the chance").

COMMENT MEMORY (part 2)
Desiree' was the thrid member of my Chemestry Team, and one of the friendliest people at Polaris High School. My best "Desiree-Moment" happened in Geometry. I had gotten a less than perfect grade (significantly less than perfect) and Mr.GeometryTeacher wanted to meet with me about it.
Without any warning, Desiree' decided to save my grade. In a classic After-School-Special type intervention she invited herself to the conference and told Mr.GeometryTeacher that Julie "just hasn't been herself lately." She laid it on thick and really played up the posibility that something was truly wrong in my life.
It was obvious she was acting and I was trying very hard not to laugh at her, while assuring Mr.GeometryTeacher that I was OK. Unfortunately, holding back the laughter made my eyes water. Some combination of crummy grades, Desiree's story, the watery tears, and my adamant denial convinced Mr.Geometry teacher that something really was wrong -- and his whole mood changed.

Mr. GeometryTeacher offered a re-test, and graded VERY GENEROUSLY for the rest of the year. I could have killed Desiree' -- she wanted me to go back and play it up a bit more; And she had ideas - my brother could be in a comma, or my parents might be getting divorced. I had nothing to do with her scam - but she pulled it off. Mr.Geomentry Teacher was very nice to me (and to Desiree') for the rest of the year.
That girl was brilliant!

COMMENT MEMORIES
I liked High School Chemistry.
Mr. Vandercarr was my very awesome teacher - very strict and incredibly tough - but I loved him. Rhona Bennet (currently of En Vogue fame) was my Chem. partner for a while, but then she moved to Florida to be on the Mickey Mouse Club - which of course launched her career and made her famous.
So then I paired up with Dave and Desiree' for Chemistry labs. Dave was my friend in Algebra II, Physics, PE, and probably several other classes too. (I would have been very lonley without him). Dave and I touch base every once in a while - last I heard he was going through a rough time with a layoff and stuff. Methinks it's time to touch base with him again and see what's up.
Tomorrow I'll write about Desiree'! Thanks to Miss Ryan for the memory!

Keeping a diary is a hazardous to your health!

(Researchers) found that regular diarists were more likely than non-diarists to suffer from headaches, sleeplessness, digestive problems and social awkwardness. Their finding challenges assumptions that people find it easier to get over a traumatic event if they write about it.

“We expected diary keepers to have some benefit, or be the same, but they were the worst off,” says Elaine Duncan of the Glasgow Caledonian University. “In fact, you’re probably much better off if you don’t write anything at all,” she adds. [more]


Kinda makes 'ya wonder about blogging eh?
Via Anti Pixel

It's Those Damn Trumpet Players . . .
An often-cited study by Canadian audiologist Marshall Chasin measured hearing loss among rock musicians and found that about 30 percent were afflicted in some way. Among their classical music counterparts, the figure was 43 percent

According to several studies, musicians may also experience an accelerated heart rate, increased blood pressure, muscle contractions, tension, irritability and anger.
ArtsJournal [more]

COMMENT MEMORY
When I was in 4th/5th/6th grade, Dear Old Dad had some pretty serious health issues. He was in a lotta pain, and off work. Money was tight. Lots of things were uncertain.

But I really really enjoyed having Dear Old Dad at home durring the day.

I loved when he occassionally drove me to school. (Once rehab began, he started walking me to the bus stop instead).
I loved watching TV with him after school.
I loved the little notes/drawings he sometimes made for my lunchbox.
I loved our time alone in the morning before the other kids had to get up.

Don't misunderstand - It was a crummy, horrible, rotten time. (Holidays in the hospital, bouncing around to relatives, etc.) but having Dear Old Dad around was nice.
These previously forgotten memories are brought to you today through the inpiration of Pomegranates and Paper. A daughter (who just happens to be named Julia!) also enjoyed having Dad off work for a while. Thanks for reminding me of "The Silver Lining"

12 hour work days, waking up before the sun, lunch in the car, rush hour traffic - Ugh! Summer must be over.

I began interning with VocalEssence yesterday. First days are supposed to be awkward (so are second and third days). Maybe next week will be better. . . But I met my artists (hee hee *MY* Artists!) who are so very passionate about their work and this project. Phil Brunell has a fair amount of passion himself. I got to hear him play a little on his multi-million dollar organ -- WOW! WOW!WOW!WOW!

Things that were good . . . and not
As the days move very slowly by, just waiting, I decided that one of the things I should work on for my own closure and therapeutic healing is a list. The list would be a comparison: "Things That Were Good" about Iraq and being deployed with the Marines as one of the providers in a surgical company, and "Things That Were Not Good." Read the Rest
via Grunt Doc

Recomendations
The First in a "Recomendation" Series. Today we look at MUSIC!

1. Joseph Arthur I’m not exactly sure how I *first* heard of him – Brother Phil made me clean my stuff off his computer before he left, and I came across “In the Sun” in the files. (I do not remember downloading that - - maybe someone else did and put it in my file, or maybe it's amnesia). I listened and got hooked.

2. Christine Lavin has one of the purest sweetest voices you'll ever hear. (And her songs are gosh darn funny!)

3. Eddie from Ohio was recomended on Sam Bergman's now defunt blog. This stuff is funky, folksy, and awfully funny.

Next Month's Recomendations - BOOKS!

This is kinda cool! The newly established Google Foundation is giving out AdWords Grants to Non-Profits that share the "philosophy of community service, and with a strong mission to help the world in areas such as science and technology, education, global public health, the environment, youth advocacy, and the arts." [more]

Three thoughts
1. YA will be applying tomorrow morning.
2. The only way I could ever see myself working in the corporate world, would be through the corporate foundation. (Think about it - a corporate paycheck, but still living in the np world!)
3. The Google Foundation would be a very cool place to work.

Whenever you find that you
are on the side of the majority,
it is time to reform.
--Mark Twain

Random Train-of-Thought Tidbits
1. Ponchos are going to be "IN" this fall
2. Pink is the color that has been "IN" since spring
3. How did *I* get so abreast of fashion trends? (scarey!)
4. Back in 4th grade, our student council had a "60's & 70's" day.
5. My mom let me borrow her flowerpower necklace, and her old plaid poncho that day; It was a really big for a 10 year old!
6. Over the weekend I asked mother-dear about her old poncho - she said I could borrow it.
7. Feeling like a child of privilage, and inspired by Lynn's Aunt, I then proceeded to show my very talented mother this page and asked if she would be able to make ME my VERY OWN poncho. She said yes!
8. I picked out PINK yarn so I could be super styling (It's not putrid pink - but the much more tolerable pink of Bryers raspberry yogurt)
9. I never buy Breyers Raspberry yogurt. Homemade yogurt is much better for the environment (no little plastic containers in landfills) and better for you (less icky chemicals - - although there's still the hormone laden milk - but soy milk tastes funny).
10. Yogurt made with chocolate milk is quite tasty!
11. Symphony rehearsal starts in 21 minutes - I'm outta here!

We don't need no education
We dont need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers leave them kids alone
Hey! Teacher! Leave them kids alone!

Happy First Day of School Minnesota!
Not second guessing the resignation decision, but I miss my kids from The Little Academy.