Friday, April 29, 2005

FRIDAY STUFF
1. I'm going to see The Lion King tonight! ! YIPEE! !

2. I love comp.tickets!

3. I need a job!

4. There is a big long tirade coming soon about TEENAGERS! It's half written, not what you expect, and will probably be posted tomorrow -- consider yourself warned!

5. I went apartment shoping today, and bombed an interview

6. I really need a job

7. There is a job plea coming soon - consider yourself warned about that too!

Thursday, April 28, 2005

FROM THE MAILBOX
I just pulled the Happy Magical Surprise of Wonder out of my mailbox.

I did not open it

I did not open it because Steph told me not to . . .
And because there were graphic (and threatening) pictures on the outside of the envelope that showed me being poked with a stick for opening it too soon!

There were, however, no rules against holding it up to the light and trying to peak! (Alas, it is too thick to see anything through the envelope).
38 days
I'm excited!

JUST RELEASED!
The Dakota Valley Symphony announced (some of) its Summer Season!
The repertoire list is not out, but the dates are -- mark your calendars!

July 9 - Lakeville Pan-o-Prog Festival
July 10 - Caponi Art Park in Eagan
July 28 - Minnesota Zoo
August 7 - Hastings Courthouse
All concerts begin at 7:00 and are free to the public!

AND . . . because last year's collaboration with the Gospel Quartet was so incredibly well received, we're going to partner with them again on July 30. (For that particular concert tickets will be required). I was very uncertain about the gospel quartet thing, and seriously considered not playing that concert last year. BUT I was guilted into being there and it ended up being a FABULOUS concert. (The best concert of my whole entire short life!)

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

IT IS SNOWING HERE!
Isn't there a law against snowfall on April 27?
I think there is!

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

INTERESTING FACTOID
The Latin cogito, 'to think,'
comes from coagitare, 'to shake together.'

I really like the image of thinking as "shaking."
I really like the image of thinking as something that happens "together."

Monday, April 25, 2005

IN THE NEWS
Now we know why I'm getting stupid!

Workers distracted by email and phone calls suffer a fall in IQ more than twice that found in marijuana smokers, new research has claimed.

Read it and weep
Full Article

Sunday, April 24, 2005

I went to the ballet last night - it was cool!
(Seven million times better than the Nutcracker!)
They had Butch Thompson providing live music for their "Improvisation" piece!
So cool
I really wanna take ballet lessons.
Someday.

Saturday, April 23, 2005

PURPLE RESPONSE

A lot of teaching could be classed as Lying to Children. This is because you simply can't give students everything at once - there isn't time for them to resolve all issues. As a student is taught a subject in increasing detail, the ambiguities and unresolved issues get taught in more detail. When you are a professional . . . then you are equipped to engage in those areas of doubt and unclarity.

There is no other way to teach. In his marvellous book My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok has the old artist tell the young student to master the old techniques, because only then can you break the rules. Likewise, we teach students the existing rules, and let them "consider the controversies" only when they have mastered them


This really isn't a Purple Response - it's something completely different - but it could be an impressive response to yesterday's purple post. He makes a good point, and uses a good book to illustrate that point. Here's the full post in context

But, for the record Red+Blue does not necessarily equal purple!)

Friday, April 22, 2005

PURPLE

They say that red and blue make purple.
But it doesn't - - not really.
I know because I've tried.
Red tempra paint and some blue tempra paint makes a mess.
It's not purple.

"Blue and Red make Purple" is an over simplification.

Red and blue food coloring will turn out grey and yucky if it's mixed in a bowl of cookie dough.

But "THEY" tell you "Red and Blue Make Purple"
It's the rule that they learned (so it must be true!)

And sometimes, the rule WILL work (like, if you use one drop of red and one drop of blue in a tub of cool whip -it will turn to a lovely shade of light purple!)
But there are also times it won't work (coloring with a red crayon over blue crayon will never make purple).

But THEY don't think about the situations where the standard rules won't apply - - they only know the basic rule - and they cling to it, getting very upset when you tempra paint and challenge their little understanding of the world.
They accuse you of taking things out of context and not using the rule correctly.

But they never bother to clarify the rule.
They never say "Blue and red make purple when you use food coloring on whip cream, but it might not work with tempra paint or crayons (or cookie dough or markers) because crayons (tempra paint, cookie dough, and markers) are made differently."

They say "Red and blue make purple" (Even if it doesn't).
And they teach as Purple Truth (even if it's only part purple truth).
And then, they wonder why I don't trust them

[Purple is merely an analogy . . . more later!]

Thursday, April 21, 2005

TIDBITS FROM SATURDAY'S FESTIVITIES

Notes from Emily's Presentation
"Non-profit" is a tax status, not a business policy or procedure (McLaughin)

Notes from Laurie's Presentation
Interesting book - Out of Our Minds - Ken Robinson

Notes from Kate's Presentation
Change vs. Transition
Change is event, Transition is everything before/after - including psychological implications

Notes from Danielle's Presentation
Museum = Built to honor the Muses" - hence the name.

Notes from Jusin's Presentation
Brining in community (similar to "authentic voice")

Notes from Maria's Presentation
Most common types of interpersonal conflict -
Pseudo conflict,
Fact conflict,
Value conflict,
Policy conflict,
Ego conflict.

Notes from Louise's Presentation
Volunteering is a luxury.
Organizations generally experience cyclical stress

Notes from Vicki's Presentation
1. Arts entertainment - teach how to be a patron. No participation
2. Arts exposure - students have some prior experience with form
3. Arts Enrichment -

Notes from Kristin's Presentation
10% of nouns in a 2 year old's vocabulary are Brand Names (!!!)


Still exhausted. Hoping to snap out of it today (So I can play all weekend!!)

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

QUOTE
You must know that there is nothing higher and stronger and more wholesome for life in the future than some good memory, especially a memory of childhood, of home. People talk to you a great deal about education. But some good, sacred memory preserved from childhood – that is perhaps the best education. For if a man has only one good memory left in his heart, even that may keep him from evil…And if he carries many such memories with him into life, he is safe for the end of his days.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers KaramazoV

Monday, April 18, 2005

QUOTE
Fear less- hope more;
Whine less- breathe more;
Talk less- say more;
Hate less- love more;
And all good things are yours.

Anonymous

Sunday, April 17, 2005

PUBLIC THANK YOUS

Don & Chris, and Diane, who proved that one could live with family while getting a Masters -- and then modeled graceful ways to do it! Thank You!

Mr.S - one of the first WDM parents to find out about my plans, and the first one that didn't laugh at the idea or try to talk me out of it. Thank you!

Steph has been an encouraging little voice of approval and cool-ness since 1998. Thank you!

Ryan, who made a beautiful autography book for me - and got half the world to sign it. I keep the book in my "Pep Talk Box" for all those BLAH-sort of days. Thank you!

Laurie my SMU buddy! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

My classmates - for being incredibly awesome! I love having conversations with you all (where else can I laugh while violently disagreeing!) You are the best discussion people - Thank you!

Faith who gave me a chance at the last possible minute, made some terriffic introductions, and then resigned so I could play Education Director. Thank you!

Jon - for handeling emergency tech support issues when my compuer started flamiing hours before one of my many papers were due. Thank you!

Thomas & Kim gave encouraging blog comments over the last few months - Thank you!

The VW Family allowed me to take over their basement for three years. And let me use their computer for two years. And allowed me to take completely over run their kitchen table durring those two tortorous weeks in Feb. - Thank You!

Blog People That I've Never Met and kept me entertained, and provided a distraction when I couldn't possibly do any more work. Thank You!

Jo - for being completely awesome and taking me on as an intern. Thank you!

Jamie N. - for telling me, "You're not stupid, Financial Management is HARD!" Thank you!

Phil - for not getting too annoyed with me when I took over his room and trashed the place this semester. Thank you!

The makers of Tetris - for countless hours of distractions! Thank you!

Kristie - for understanding. Thank you!

Elizabeth & Laryy - for everything (and the gift certificate!) Thank you!

Lisa - for being a completely engaging and awesome teacher! Thank you!

Barbara - for brining real world appilications into the program. Thank you!

Doug - for being interesting, engaging and excellent. Marketing is cool. Thank you!

Paul - for being cool with my less-than-normal schedule. Thank you!

YA for being a super personal learning lab! Thank you!

VE for being a super learning lab after I outgrew YA! Thank you!

Jacky/Kitty - for snuggling and loving me even when I was a complete stressed out mess, for forgiving me on the days I forgot to feed you or neglected the kitty litter, And going for walks with me when I had to get away! Thank you!

Dear 'ole Dad and Mother Dear - for everything! THANK YOU!

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Exhausted
Alive,
and DONE!

Please note the new title of this blog

Tomorrow, I'll do public thank yous to a whole lotta people
But now, it is time for some sleep.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Hey kids,
The countdown stands at less than 46 hours
(gulp)
It is too early to be nervous -
But I'm nervous anyway!
Currently questioning my entire topic.
And frantically searching for my self confidence
(maybe it's buried in the sock drawer?!)

While the rest of the world worries about death and taxes, I'm worry about thesis presentations. We begin tomorrow night, continue Saturday morning, and finish late Saturday afternoon. (As if presenting my own topic was torture enough, I have to sit through 11 other presentations!!) My t-time is set for 11:00 on Saturday with the grilling begining at 11:45. NAZI WOMAN will be my faculty responder and high inquisitor. (ugh!)

It could be worse, Mr. Writing Teacher will be attacking two of my classmates (long time readers might recall that Mr. Writing Teacher is neither a teacher or a writer, and, I have long wished for him to accidentally get hit by a bus).

If I survive - you'll hear from me on Sunday.
And I will never ever whine about this thesis stuff ever again!

If I don't survive - I promise to haunt you all for the rest of your lives, whispering and whining about thesis stuff forever!!

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

COUNTDOWN
I don't have time to do a propper java script kind of countdown -o- meter.
So you'll just have to suffer through with a low-tech, old fashioned countdown:


T MINUS 71 HOURS

Monday, April 11, 2005

REVERSE RECOMENDATION
I have been away from my television for so long, that I'm not even sure I know how to operate it. (Well, part of that is because my dear brother got me a PVR system which is spiferific - but requires some serious orientation to operate).

Anyway, I'm looking to become aquainted with my television again - maybe just one or two shows a week (that's more than enough).

So dear readers, what's the best thing on television now a days? What should I be watching? Please, use the comments to suggest some essential viewing!

Sunday, April 10, 2005

THEY'RE BACK!
My ducks are back! They waddled over to where the bird feeder was last summer, and looked for dropped seeds (alas, the birdfeeder is still put away for the winter - maybe it's time to dig it out of the garage!)

PEOPLE'S CHOICE CONCERT
The Minnesota Orchestra wil be presenting a People's Choice concert this summer - and you can vote for the pieces you'd like to have on the concert.

Obviously a summer marketing scam - complete with ticket discounts - But it's a moderately clever marketing tactic, and I have a little scam of my own - - Gold stars to everyone that goes to the mnorch website and votes for the Sibelus volin concerto!

(Bonus points to anyone that does a write in vote for Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody!)

Friday, April 08, 2005

STREAM OF CONSCIOUS
"They" say it's a little uncomfortable.
Normally, I'm tough, but quite honestly, it hurts
Not just a little bit, not merely uncomfortable - it causes all out pain

(Maybe I'm not as tough as I thought)

When I mention the pain, "they" tell me to relax
But the thing about hurt - is it causes more tension, not less
Which makes things hurt more
A vicious circle

I can't blame them
I do the same thing with my students
"Relax your wrist, but keep it straight, and curve your fingers"
"And make sure this c natural is a low 2"
"And your vibrato is too tight - Relax"
"But squish that second finger"
"And stay relaxed"


It's amazing anyone survives!

I have two students now
One is a wonderful retired woman
And one is a six year old boy
They are delightful
It makes working on sunny Saturdays bearable!


Anyway, this time, I had someone new
She was a million times younger that the last fella
With a gentler demenor.
But I was still anxious
And it still hurt
Which made me more tense
And, of course, cause more pain
But
Unlike last time
She didn't yell at me to relax
And I didn't cry!

I hate crying
I try not to do it infront of people
And when I do, I get upset, because it means I've lost control
Control is very important
If you know me, you know I like to be in control

Right now, my life is in control
Except I have no idea what I want to do next
But I'm ok with that
Surprisingly ok
I've applied for a few jobs
Options are open
But I'm not exactly sure of my next step
If you have a great career idea for me
Please drop me a line
Sugestions are welcome

I have a lot of things in my brain right now
Profound thoughts come to me when I'm bicycling
And, now that it's nice out, I've been bicycling a lot

There's this hill by my place
We call it "hill of death" or sometimes just "the hill"
Everyone knows what you mean
There is no shame in getting off your bicycle and walking up the hill
It took me all last summer to build up the strength to make it up the hill
And happily, I made it all the way up yesterday
Even though the wind helped, I was still quite pleased with myself!
(It really is a monstrous hill!)

One of my semi-profound bicycle realizations is that I don't do well with monotany. Teaching is a lovely profession, but I the thought of gong back to the conveyor belt of pedagogy is not appealing. I need to have some challenge and variation in my days/weeks.

Other thoughts are playing around in my head too

Right now, I'm trying to think of a clever way to end this post
But I got nothing
A million other tangents I could follow
But I've babbled enough
Good night dear readers!

Thursday, April 07, 2005

LOOK, IT'S JUST A MUSIC PLAYER, OK?
It's not the cure for cancer.

LET ME take a moment to address the many people I know - friends, family members, colleagues - who have joined the Cult of the iPod and now will not shut up about how cool, life-affirming, soul-fulfilling, etc. these things are.

Naturally, I am happy for all of you.

But you may be surprised to know that not all of us want to live every moment of our lives in a cocoon of blaring music.


Amen!
Full Article via ArtsJournal

YaGooHooGle - spiffy

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

BHAGs (aka Big, Hairy, Audacious, Goals)

Find a violin teacher
Learn the Vitali Chacone
Play Black Brown and Beige with a jazz band
Horeback riding lessons
Ballet lessons
Karate classes
Study philosophy
Study theology
Study fairy tales
Study astronomy
Get Brain gym certification
Get Andover certification
Update 1st aid cert.
Read for fun
Catch up on all the movies I haven't seen
Catch up on all the television I haven't seen
Find a place where I can truly fit in
Take an Outward Bound Trip (backpacking or sailing!)
Find a job that pays a living wage
Organize my stuff (perhaps the biggest BHAG!)
Publish something
Stretch


The Emma Goldman Clinic is asking for support against picketers who use tactics such as verbal harassment, misinformation, and graphically misleading photographs to intimidate clients and staff. In response, the clinic has started the Pledge-A-Picketer campaign to turn the picketer’s negative energy into positive community support. Money collected from the Pledge-A-Picketer campaign will be used to subsidize abortions for low-income women—making the picketers’ presence work towards increasing women’s access to reproductive choice, rather than limiting it.

My charitable contributions go elsewhere - but as a fundraising (and pest control) strategy, this is absolutely brilliant!

Via Bitch Ph.D.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

WHAT WILL I EAT?
Those of you who know me well, know that my bread machine is an extension of whom I am.
My bread machine has served me (fed me) well in the past six years

But my bread machine is dying.
And I am sad.
)-:

Sunday, April 03, 2005

THE TRUTH ABOUT DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
Well, here we are again, Daylight Savings Time, and for what? For whom? Nobody knows, it would seem, and those who think they do are almost invariably wrong. Daylight Savings is there to help farmers? Nope. They hate it. Foisted on the nation by a meddling, monolithic federal government? Not true, either. "The custom rests on an illusion: that we are doing something to time -- yielding an hour in the spring, recovering it in the fall. Of course, it's not so." And as with so many wacky ideas firmly entrenched in the American mind, this one can be traced back to that king of deep thoughts and strange utterances, Benjamin Franklin.
[Full Article]
Via ArtsJournal

Saturday, April 02, 2005

STEPH QUESTIONS - part two
Steph asked, "If you were on the show "Trading Spaces" what is the best and worst thing someone could do to your living space?"
Worse thing - take away the bookcases.
Best thing - add a skylight and or a window seat
(kitty would like window seat too!)

Steph asked, "Why do mothers constantly insist that you must clean your room when you can function perfectly in the organized chaos of your junk?"
Because she thinks you have nothing better to do. (For a while, I tried to convince my mother that a superclean room was Bad Feminism - but she didn't fall for it).

Steph asked, "What smell do you associate with each color of the rainbow?"
(that's a pretty boring question - can't you come up with something better?)
Red - cherry koolaid
Orange - Orange sherbert
Yellow - Frozen lemonade concentrate
Green - Freshly cut grass
Blue - Paint
Purple - Grape koolaid


Anyother readers feel like speaking up and asking questions?
Anyone?

Original Post and questions
Answer to Part One

PAGE RANK and TEA
My google page rank is 3 - this means that Adagio Tea will send me a cute little 4 oz/ tin of tea, just for linking to them! (Pretty spiffy eh?)

Normally, I wouldn't sell out by linking for advertising for my own personal gain - but I like their website, and I think their tins are cute!

Via Lynn

Friday, April 01, 2005

PRINTED AND BOUND IN TRIPLICATE!
So if you'd like to be biblical about it,
John 19:30

IT IS FINISHED!



Update: I just spoke with my advisor who STILL doesn't know who my faculty reader will be. gggggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

WISE WORDS

Orchestra 101...If the cellos suck, the whole orchestra sucks...you could have the best violins, violas, basses...but if your cello section is out of tune and crappy, the whole orchestra is out of tune and crappy.
Via the un-locked blog of Ms. Steph