It has been a long time since I have blogged (or written for that matter), so I am just going to play a little weblog hotbox and throw the ball back and forth at all the loverly reading that you swell folks have been sending me everyday. The backdrop: Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement is gently bouncing and chang-ging from my computer’s speakers and the most beautiful woman in the world is napping in the room behind me. I am just exploring the merits of beer number two, and Friday is what A.A. Milne would describe as a Good Thing, and he’d be right. So Phil is here and that makes me happy while reminding me of my shortcomings. Phil is what A.A. Milne might describe as a Good Man. I love him dearly, and curse myself at this very moment that we have not spent as much time in recent months knocking back the cold drinks as we should be. I saw him last week for The Simpsons and it was refreshing. I am glad to now have a vehicle to pick yer brain from afar, you cantankerous grump. Potato Man was cool and great, but I am not a subscriber. To anything. I loved living with Skep coz he subscribed to lotso things and I got to read ‘em while sitting on the can at Shangri-La. At least Jennifer will talk to me while I am crapping. Bob Knight was cool, Phil, even if I don’t always support him like you did. A curious man like me wants to know whether you have acquired any fab Texas Tech gear. I would be willing to put Summerhill School up for consideration for the book club. Heather is a practitioner of Wicca, and so is one of my students, whom I adore, and with whom I engaged in the following banter in the computer lab:
Me (to all): All right, you guys can just relax for the rest of the period, but I don’t want you doing anything wicked or evil.
Aforementioned Student (having misheard Me, raises hand. Me goes to see what is the matter): Mr. Robinson, you shouldn’t criticize my religion.
Me: What?!?
Aforementioned Student: I am a Wiccan. You said we were evil.
Me: No I didn’t.
Aforementioned Student: Yes, you did.
Me: No. I said don’t do anything wicked or evil.
Aforementioned Student: Oh. I didn’t hear you.
Me: Don’t mention it.
So now the music is Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks and Hrothgar has gotten into a nasty fight and has a huge chunk taken out of his forehead. I have been putting neo-sporin on it. Is this a dumb idea? The wound looks like it’s getting smaller. John Shannon and Phil talk about Bill Hicks, and he makes me laugh too. I mean laugh. His rant about Rush Limbaugh, Barbara Bush and Jesse Helms in a bathtub on the White House lawn is priceless. And if John’s fantasy about Brian Wilson ever comes true, please write about it and publish a book about it and sell it for $65 dollars coz it’s worth that much and I would buy it and tell others to do the same. Heidi sez that consumerism is complicated and I agree. I feel like I am becoming freer, but it can be hard. Jim and Dani (happy birthday again, you old fart) and Jennifer and I were talking about conscious consumption the other night, and how sometimes getting in bed with the corporate devil can save money which is true and then I think about how saving money is cool, because we wanna save enough to go buy a house in the country so we can be more self-sufficient. I try to be careful judging people’s consumption, as, most often, people have varying degrees to which they resist, which makes me think of the old Communist slogan, “To each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities.” And sometimes, people just don’t really know. I don’t think my mom and Becky know how their food comes to them, and they simply haven’t thought about it. Do they suck? Fuck no. These next thoughts are based not on others’ blogs, but I want to talk about them anyway. The movie Memento rocked. I love a film that asks more questions than it answers. 2 weeks ago, Scott, Shane, and a coupla Scott’s Harmony colleagues and I went on the Monroe County Bird-a-Thon. We spotted 76 species (low by our standards), including a Sora, a Prairie Warbler, and a Prothonotary Warbler. I am glad summer means that I don’t hafta werk. I am looking forward to spending ridiculous amounts of time with the Most Illustrious Miss Sherfield.
There’s been regionalism in the news again. As one who was at the end of the springboard which would have catapulted me to Portland, I gotta sing the praises of Indiana. It’s pretty, it’s fun, and it’s home. But Portland sure is groovy….So I want to start publishing some poetry, but I don’t know how to make that link werk up there, so until then here is a little sample:
“Salt”
Somewhere in these fourteen inches between you and me
Is the place where our eyes actually meet.
Mere seconds elapse; we have crossed glances before
With little result or intimation.
I want the intimation so badly I can taste it. I so much want to feel it
In my mouth
That I reach into the empty space between us
and (while I am imagining that I am brushing the hair from your eyes)
Grasp that one place
Where our eyes meet.
No surprise that it’s slightly warm to the touch,
Or that it rolls gently in my palm.
It seems you have looked away
And that I should move on.
I take just a brief kiss
And lick my lips.
Potential and intimation
Are not sweet,
Sour,
Or bitter.
They are salty.
They make me want to keep eating.
And my immediate motivation for doing that was reading Regan’s work, which is altogether lovely and well-crafted. More! Licia is coming and I sent her an email, so I hope she got it and is still coming! Becky sez Dave is stinky, and I agree. It was fun to hear that our boss was razzing you in Clint’s interview. Sonya is looking for Illituratty, but it looks like she found it. Yay. Huffman makes me kick myself for not consuming some gas so that I woulda gone ta see GBV the other night. I saw them about a year ago at the Bird with Ned, but you can’t git too much. And, Chris, where are those canoe tips you promised? Shari is my pal. One of Jennifer’s students, who has severe disabilities and is confined to a wheelchair, loves heromachine.com and for that I say thanks to Liz. I don’t usually click on things to which you guys link while at school, lest a huge set of breasts goes bouncing across my monitor and I get nabbed by the watchers. Nothing changed when I saw Bill’s link for menwholooklikekennyrogers.com. Still, the link itself caused me to chuckle all day long. Some students asked why I was laughing (seemingly) without provocation. I tried to explain it, but it didn’t translate. JimA posts about Black-out day; Heidi emailed it to me as well, and I think it’s a grand idea. We can spend tens of billions on missile defenses that “might” work, but we can’t figure out how to preserve the American way of life without drilling holes in Mom Nature’s Ass? I thought one of America’s good qualities was its sense of ingenuity and creativity. Damn. Lights out June 21st. Skep’s main squeeze got on me a while back for my language, but then he goes and posts in Latin, for chissakes!
(pause for transition to serious tone and to put in some Billie Holiday)
Amy—It sucks about your job. However, few in this world are as qualified (in my humble eyes) to chart a new course on unknown waters—and MAKE IT WORK—as you. I was part of a fleet from which you disembarked some years ago. It was hard for me to see how that change could make sense back then, but I also know it was difficult and scary for you, as well. Nonetheless, you continued to make things work, and finally put yourself in a place where you could be happy, at least in part. This time, it looks like the choices are being made for you, but I have every confidence that you will chart these hazards with aplomb and skill. And if you do need any help along the way, you know that I will always and forever be your friend. You one of the best humans I have ever known. Really. Amy Reese comes to do two things: Kick ass and chew bubble gum. And she’s all outta gum…..
(Billie wants to keep Georgia on her mind, and I am inclined to agree with her)
My quick contribution to the discussion on gays as a threat that Amos brings up is that at South, I am on a personal crusade to stop allowing the word “gay” to be used as a synonym for “bad,” “stupid,” etc. Along with “retard,” it is a phrase which nobody, including some teachers, think twice about using. Clint, as indicated above, interviewed at South yesterday. Goddam, I hope he gets it! He would be great for the school, and how cool would it be for Clint and me to team-teach an inclusion English class! We would KICK SOME ASS!!!. Of course, today, everybody was leaning out of there doors to call me “Jimmy,” as Clint used that nomenclature in the interview. Most people at South know me as “James.” And it’s not some pretentious thing, either. I just never have evinced a preference. SO it was kindo’ fun today. Pat, yer grand, and so is the Northwest, but I can’t go there this year. Maybe next time. Carrie—tell yer hubby that my favorite part of my bbq 2 weeks back (other than getting spanked by you and Shari) was John werking on my car. He is a Good Man, and has some War of the Ring in his future. Lastly, Summitt still smells.
Wow. Ok. I set out to touch on everybody’s blog. I think I did, three cds and 100 minutes later. Feeling pretty good. Gonna go wake up the woman, eat dinner, and go play with the kids on South Madison.
Me (to all): All right, you guys can just relax for the rest of the period, but I don’t want you doing anything wicked or evil.
Aforementioned Student (having misheard Me, raises hand. Me goes to see what is the matter): Mr. Robinson, you shouldn’t criticize my religion.
Me: What?!?
Aforementioned Student: I am a Wiccan. You said we were evil.
Me: No I didn’t.
Aforementioned Student: Yes, you did.
Me: No. I said don’t do anything wicked or evil.
Aforementioned Student: Oh. I didn’t hear you.
Me: Don’t mention it.
So now the music is Singles Going Steady by the Buzzcocks and Hrothgar has gotten into a nasty fight and has a huge chunk taken out of his forehead. I have been putting neo-sporin on it. Is this a dumb idea? The wound looks like it’s getting smaller. John Shannon and Phil talk about Bill Hicks, and he makes me laugh too. I mean laugh. His rant about Rush Limbaugh, Barbara Bush and Jesse Helms in a bathtub on the White House lawn is priceless. And if John’s fantasy about Brian Wilson ever comes true, please write about it and publish a book about it and sell it for $65 dollars coz it’s worth that much and I would buy it and tell others to do the same. Heidi sez that consumerism is complicated and I agree. I feel like I am becoming freer, but it can be hard. Jim and Dani (happy birthday again, you old fart) and Jennifer and I were talking about conscious consumption the other night, and how sometimes getting in bed with the corporate devil can save money which is true and then I think about how saving money is cool, because we wanna save enough to go buy a house in the country so we can be more self-sufficient. I try to be careful judging people’s consumption, as, most often, people have varying degrees to which they resist, which makes me think of the old Communist slogan, “To each according to his needs, from each according to his abilities.” And sometimes, people just don’t really know. I don’t think my mom and Becky know how their food comes to them, and they simply haven’t thought about it. Do they suck? Fuck no. These next thoughts are based not on others’ blogs, but I want to talk about them anyway. The movie Memento rocked. I love a film that asks more questions than it answers. 2 weeks ago, Scott, Shane, and a coupla Scott’s Harmony colleagues and I went on the Monroe County Bird-a-Thon. We spotted 76 species (low by our standards), including a Sora, a Prairie Warbler, and a Prothonotary Warbler. I am glad summer means that I don’t hafta werk. I am looking forward to spending ridiculous amounts of time with the Most Illustrious Miss Sherfield.
There’s been regionalism in the news again. As one who was at the end of the springboard which would have catapulted me to Portland, I gotta sing the praises of Indiana. It’s pretty, it’s fun, and it’s home. But Portland sure is groovy….So I want to start publishing some poetry, but I don’t know how to make that link werk up there, so until then here is a little sample:
“Salt”
Somewhere in these fourteen inches between you and me
Is the place where our eyes actually meet.
Mere seconds elapse; we have crossed glances before
With little result or intimation.
I want the intimation so badly I can taste it. I so much want to feel it
In my mouth
That I reach into the empty space between us
and (while I am imagining that I am brushing the hair from your eyes)
Grasp that one place
Where our eyes meet.
No surprise that it’s slightly warm to the touch,
Or that it rolls gently in my palm.
It seems you have looked away
And that I should move on.
I take just a brief kiss
And lick my lips.
Potential and intimation
Are not sweet,
Sour,
Or bitter.
They are salty.
They make me want to keep eating.
And my immediate motivation for doing that was reading Regan’s work, which is altogether lovely and well-crafted. More! Licia is coming and I sent her an email, so I hope she got it and is still coming! Becky sez Dave is stinky, and I agree. It was fun to hear that our boss was razzing you in Clint’s interview. Sonya is looking for Illituratty, but it looks like she found it. Yay. Huffman makes me kick myself for not consuming some gas so that I woulda gone ta see GBV the other night. I saw them about a year ago at the Bird with Ned, but you can’t git too much. And, Chris, where are those canoe tips you promised? Shari is my pal. One of Jennifer’s students, who has severe disabilities and is confined to a wheelchair, loves heromachine.com and for that I say thanks to Liz. I don’t usually click on things to which you guys link while at school, lest a huge set of breasts goes bouncing across my monitor and I get nabbed by the watchers. Nothing changed when I saw Bill’s link for menwholooklikekennyrogers.com. Still, the link itself caused me to chuckle all day long. Some students asked why I was laughing (seemingly) without provocation. I tried to explain it, but it didn’t translate. JimA posts about Black-out day; Heidi emailed it to me as well, and I think it’s a grand idea. We can spend tens of billions on missile defenses that “might” work, but we can’t figure out how to preserve the American way of life without drilling holes in Mom Nature’s Ass? I thought one of America’s good qualities was its sense of ingenuity and creativity. Damn. Lights out June 21st. Skep’s main squeeze got on me a while back for my language, but then he goes and posts in Latin, for chissakes!
(pause for transition to serious tone and to put in some Billie Holiday)
Amy—It sucks about your job. However, few in this world are as qualified (in my humble eyes) to chart a new course on unknown waters—and MAKE IT WORK—as you. I was part of a fleet from which you disembarked some years ago. It was hard for me to see how that change could make sense back then, but I also know it was difficult and scary for you, as well. Nonetheless, you continued to make things work, and finally put yourself in a place where you could be happy, at least in part. This time, it looks like the choices are being made for you, but I have every confidence that you will chart these hazards with aplomb and skill. And if you do need any help along the way, you know that I will always and forever be your friend. You one of the best humans I have ever known. Really. Amy Reese comes to do two things: Kick ass and chew bubble gum. And she’s all outta gum…..
(Billie wants to keep Georgia on her mind, and I am inclined to agree with her)
My quick contribution to the discussion on gays as a threat that Amos brings up is that at South, I am on a personal crusade to stop allowing the word “gay” to be used as a synonym for “bad,” “stupid,” etc. Along with “retard,” it is a phrase which nobody, including some teachers, think twice about using. Clint, as indicated above, interviewed at South yesterday. Goddam, I hope he gets it! He would be great for the school, and how cool would it be for Clint and me to team-teach an inclusion English class! We would KICK SOME ASS!!!. Of course, today, everybody was leaning out of there doors to call me “Jimmy,” as Clint used that nomenclature in the interview. Most people at South know me as “James.” And it’s not some pretentious thing, either. I just never have evinced a preference. SO it was kindo’ fun today. Pat, yer grand, and so is the Northwest, but I can’t go there this year. Maybe next time. Carrie—tell yer hubby that my favorite part of my bbq 2 weeks back (other than getting spanked by you and Shari) was John werking on my car. He is a Good Man, and has some War of the Ring in his future. Lastly, Summitt still smells.
Wow. Ok. I set out to touch on everybody’s blog. I think I did, three cds and 100 minutes later. Feeling pretty good. Gonna go wake up the woman, eat dinner, and go play with the kids on South Madison.
