I compulsively reread Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird. Mel Sumner, my college creative writing teacher, suggested it and I consumed it in like three days the first time I read it. The advice seemed poignant and funny, and really, what is one without the other. I remembered a lot of what the book had to offer and it made me feel a lot saner about writing and life in general.
I traded for the book on Paperback Swap a while ago. Since then, I've probably read it over a dozen times, reading the chapters out of order, blazing through territory that is comfortable and familiar. I bring it up because one of the chapters brings up the subject of index cards. She says that she never travels without an index card on her at all times so that she has something small that she can instantly write on if something notable comes up in her mind or in the world.
I've tried to start doing this since carrying a journal at school is nearly impossible. So, I'm taking notes about the crackheads I see before 8 AM and all the little things my kids say to me. One of my third-graders told me that I would make a great dad this week. I liked that. Anyways, I might start posting them up here just to keep a stream of content going on days when I really can't bear to sit down and bang anything out.
Our after school program numbers have been really low lately, but at the same time, the kids that are showing up all want to be there and are actively engaged and there are no behavior issues. So, I'm okay with it. It makes my life a whole lot saner.
It's been a week since my last post. In that time, I have spearheaded a talent show, held some hardcore Spring Break Camps meetings, volunteered at a mentoring day in Boyle Heights, and had the single best day of work since I got back from Christmas.
Today, all of the bad kids were gone from our after school program. The girl with the attitude and an excuse for everything. The boy with anger issues and the permanently sour expression. The people they egg on. The boy that has some learning disabilities that makes it hard to get him to focus. All of our kids who aren't fully invested in Starfish Corps and what it is and what it does...they all didn't show up. They had choir or drill team or cheerleading or class prep for a performance. Regardless, today was beautiful. And, after seeing how beautiful it can be, I am not going to put up with the bullshit anymore.
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In other news, I'm cooking ribs tomorrow and watching a movie with Val. This movie promises to be fantastic for rewatching movies. On the docket are Pink Flamingos, Wild Tigers I Have Known, and Mean Girls. This should be epic in its camp fantasticness.
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Currently Pondering: When it comes to education reform, it seems like a huge number of external organizations (Teach for America, City Year, 826, etc.) enter schools as unique external organizations to provide services. However, because schools don't provide their own services, they are at the mercy of external groups to meet all the needs of their students. Thus, do external organizations engender a system of codependency that doesn't actually remedy the education system?
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I wish that I could go to the New York Film Festival in LA (a nomenclature clusterfuck if ever there was one), a debate at the Hammer Museum, and Patton Oswalt's concert in the next week. However, I don't think I'm going to be able to do any of it. Gah.
Today, all of the bad kids were gone from our after school program. The girl with the attitude and an excuse for everything. The boy with anger issues and the permanently sour expression. The people they egg on. The boy that has some learning disabilities that makes it hard to get him to focus. All of our kids who aren't fully invested in Starfish Corps and what it is and what it does...they all didn't show up. They had choir or drill team or cheerleading or class prep for a performance. Regardless, today was beautiful. And, after seeing how beautiful it can be, I am not going to put up with the bullshit anymore.
---
In other news, I'm cooking ribs tomorrow and watching a movie with Val. This movie promises to be fantastic for rewatching movies. On the docket are Pink Flamingos, Wild Tigers I Have Known, and Mean Girls. This should be epic in its camp fantasticness.
---
Currently Pondering: When it comes to education reform, it seems like a huge number of external organizations (Teach for America, City Year, 826, etc.) enter schools as unique external organizations to provide services. However, because schools don't provide their own services, they are at the mercy of external groups to meet all the needs of their students. Thus, do external organizations engender a system of codependency that doesn't actually remedy the education system?
---
I wish that I could go to the New York Film Festival in LA (a nomenclature clusterfuck if ever there was one), a debate at the Hammer Museum, and Patton Oswalt's concert in the next week. However, I don't think I'm going to be able to do any of it. Gah.
Slavery-Lite
So, I was sitting in the office tonight, quickly catching up on e-mail, trying desperately to get out before my 12 hour day somehow turned into a 13 hour monstrosity. Behind me, I heard my friends Jake and Celina talking about get together for next Saturday night. Something about selling people. Something about what people should wear. I turned to Jake and he handed me the invite that had apparently just been made.
Two things about this invite:
1. It is a remake of the famous Grant Wood painting "American Gothic." I fucking love making homages to "American Gothic."
2. It is this Saturday night at a familiar locale in Koreatown.
When I asked what was going on, Celina said that there was going to be a date auction, but that I already knew that. Which was news to me. Because I hadn't heard anything. But she continued, "Yeah, it's going to be Joe, Amanda, Will, and you, so far. Richard said he talked to you." We both turned to look at Richard, who was sitting across the room, staring at a computer. He didn't say anything, and Celina just looked away and rolled her eyes.
"This is the first you're hearing about it."
"Yeah. That's about the size of it."
"We're having a date auction to support the arts. Don't you like the arts?"
What sort of question is that? Loaded, for sure. "So, will you do it?" Only in my time in LA have I been asked to be an item at an auction after it was already announced on Facebook that I'd be there. I have such a weird life and such crazy inventive friends.
"Sure, why not?"
The thing is, date auctions always make me a little sad when they're taken too seriously, so I hope this one is light-hearted (I plan to show up dressed like my thug life roommate, so there you go). Plus, I've done date auctions before Improv, and even though I hated them (and always could find a reason to push it further back in the calendar), it isn't the end of the world. It just all boils down to my very human fear that no one will pick me or that I will be picked last. Which is dumb and probably won't happen and even if it does, who gives a fuck? It's for charity, and it didn't cost me a damn thing. And I'm doing a friend of favor.
God, there better be free booze there.
Two things about this invite:
1. It is a remake of the famous Grant Wood painting "American Gothic." I fucking love making homages to "American Gothic."
2. It is this Saturday night at a familiar locale in Koreatown.
When I asked what was going on, Celina said that there was going to be a date auction, but that I already knew that. Which was news to me. Because I hadn't heard anything. But she continued, "Yeah, it's going to be Joe, Amanda, Will, and you, so far. Richard said he talked to you." We both turned to look at Richard, who was sitting across the room, staring at a computer. He didn't say anything, and Celina just looked away and rolled her eyes.
"This is the first you're hearing about it."
"Yeah. That's about the size of it."
"We're having a date auction to support the arts. Don't you like the arts?"
What sort of question is that? Loaded, for sure. "So, will you do it?" Only in my time in LA have I been asked to be an item at an auction after it was already announced on Facebook that I'd be there. I have such a weird life and such crazy inventive friends.
"Sure, why not?"
The thing is, date auctions always make me a little sad when they're taken too seriously, so I hope this one is light-hearted (I plan to show up dressed like my thug life roommate, so there you go). Plus, I've done date auctions before Improv, and even though I hated them (and always could find a reason to push it further back in the calendar), it isn't the end of the world. It just all boils down to my very human fear that no one will pick me or that I will be picked last. Which is dumb and probably won't happen and even if it does, who gives a fuck? It's for charity, and it didn't cost me a damn thing. And I'm doing a friend of favor.
God, there better be free booze there.
Week in Review
Things that happened this week:
-Spelling Bee was done to great success.
-I got an intervention group in my third grade class that means I'm going to rock literacy for the coming months.
-Participated in an IJ group for the first time ever.
-Almost fell asleep at work on Friday because the crafts I was researching were dumb. What do you do with kids from these neighborhoods who aren't easily impressed or impressible?
-Made an ass of myself Saturday night.
-Started writing again tonight.
-Spelling Bee was done to great success.
-I got an intervention group in my third grade class that means I'm going to rock literacy for the coming months.
-Participated in an IJ group for the first time ever.
-Almost fell asleep at work on Friday because the crafts I was researching were dumb. What do you do with kids from these neighborhoods who aren't easily impressed or impressible?
-Made an ass of myself Saturday night.
-Started writing again tonight.
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