The Home Stretch

I can see it. I can see the end of the 2007-2008 school year coming to a close.

I could talk about all the wonderful students I had. How the time flew by. All the laughs and wonderful teaching moments that occurred. Maybe next week, after I get to sleep for 12 hours straight, I'll be able to do that.

Right now I am just plain exhausted and need to concentrate, so that I can cross the finish line.

That is all I have to say about that.

Memorial Day 2008

No matter what your personal feelings are on the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, you have to respect the men and women who have signed up to fight in America's name. I am home right now (after just having left a gathering with friends) and my mind turns to those who will no longer be able gather with friends. They shouldn't be forgotten.

LCPL Patrick R. Adle Bel Air
LCPL Norman W. Anderson III Parkton
PV2 Michael V. Bailey Waldorf
SPC Thomas J. Barbieri II Gaithersburg
CPL Samuel M. Boswell Elkridge
SFC Collin J. Bowen Millersville
LCPL David M. Branning Cockeysville
SPC Ari D. Brown-Weeks Glen Burnie
CPL Dale A. Burger Bel Air
SPC Armer N. Burkart Rockville
SGT Jonathan D. Cadavero Takoma Park
CPL Eric T. Caldwell Salisbury
SSG Damion G. Campbell Baltimore
FN Jakia S. Cannon Baltimore
SGT Alessandro Carbonaro Bethesda
CPL Bernard L. Ceo Baltimore
SSGT Walter F. Cohee III Mardela Springs
SGT Brian R. Conner Baltimore
CPL Brandon M. Craig Earleville
SSG Heathe N. Craig Severn
PV1 Brandon L. Davis Cumberland
SGT David J. Davis Mount Airy
PFC Justin R. Davis Gaithersburg
CPT John R. Dennison Ijamsville
SPC Thomas K. Doerflinger Silver Spring
SSG Jeremy W. Doyle Chestertown
PFC Amy A. Duerksen Aberdeen
SPC Raymond J. Faulstich Jr. Leonardtown
SSG Marion Flint Jr. Baltimore
SPC Jason C. Ford Bowie
SGT Maurice K. Fortune Forestville
SGT Kendell K. Frederick Randallstown
CW3 Thomas J. Gibbons Edgewater
SGM Cornell W. Gilmore I Baltimore
SPC Toccara R. Green Rosedale
PFC Robert A. Guy Willards
CSM Roger W. Haller Davidsonville
PFC Jonathan V. Hamm Baltimore
SSG Marlon B. Harper Baltimore
SPC Erik W. Hayes Cascade
SGT Edelman L. Hernandez Hyattsville
SSG Robert Hernandez Silver Spring
LCPL Eric W. Herzberg Severna Park
LCPL James W. Higgins Jr. Thurmont
PFC Eric M. Kavanagh Glen Burnie
PO2 Edward A. Koth Lutherville
SGT Thomas L. Latham Delmar
SSG Jay E. Martin Baltimore
SPC Micheal B. Matlock Jr. Glen Burnie
SSG Michael J. McMullen Salisbury
CPL Jason D. Mileo Pasadena
SPC George A. Mitchell Jr. Rawlings
CPT Adam G. Mooney Cambridge
SSG Christopher O. Moudry Baltimore
SGT Casey W. Nash Essex
1LT Gwilym J. Newman Waldorf
CPL Jennifer M. Parcell Bel Air
SSG James L. Pettaway Jr. Baltimore
SPC Michael J. Potocki Baltimore
CW3 Bruce E. Price Chevy Chase
SFC Neil A. Prince Baltimore
PO2 David S. Roddy Aberdeen
PO3 Manuel A. Ruiz Federalsburg
SGT Princess C. Samuels Mitchellville
CPL Joshua D. Snyder Hampstead
LCPL Matthew A. Snyder Finksburg
PFC Bryan N. Spry Chestertown
LCPL Michael L. Starr Jr. Baltimore
SFC James J. Stoddard Jr. Constantinople
SSG Christopher W. Swanson Rose Haven
SSG Jeffery C. Walker Havre de Grace
CPL Matthew P. Wallace Lexington Park
SSGT Kendall D. Waters-Bey Baltimore
CPL Justin J. Watts Crownsville
SSGT Dwayne E. Williams Baltimore
Maj. Douglas A. Zembiec Annapolis
CPL Nicholas L. Ziolkowski Towson

I'm In Love with Chris Matthews

Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a news junkie. I'm a junkie not because I am interested in the "fine, fair and balanced reporting" that I am probably not getting. I am a junkie because I love the drama, the tag lines, the attention getters and one liners that these reporters use to get the ratings. I love the showmanship. "Hillary lashes out against Obama, Hanna Montana speaks out about the drama of the photos. Star vs. Barbara. " Oh and let's not forget that the coverage is....LIVE (from one place or another).

Chris Matthews is different. He tells it like it is. He says what other folks won't say and he says it to the very people I have absolutely no trust or love for: Politricktians.

Today on the Chris Matthews Show, Chris basically broke it down for the audience (and his panel). He let us know what any politician running for President has to do in order to get elected. Here it is in a nutshell:

1. Tell Teachers that you will pay them more and cut out performance testing.
2. Tell Factory/Blue Collar workers that you will give them jobs and not send them over seas.
3. Tell Jews that you support Israel.
4. Tell women that you support Choice

5. Tell Blacks that you understand Slavery and that you support Civil Rights and equality.

Chris went on to say, "Every person running for political office knows this, how come this seems to be escaping Obama?"

God, I love Chris Matthews.

The Odd Thing about Today

I was in the grocery store this morning trying to decide which Mrs. Butterworth Pancake Syrup I was going to get, when a man said, "Excuse me Baby, can I get by you? Happy Mother's Day to you." OK, so this gentleman may have assumed (innocently) that I was a mom, so I said thank you and continued weighing my syrup options.

I ended up picking up a bottle of Karo Syrup instead and headed to the cashier. It was my turn to pay. The cashier greeted me, "Happy Mother's Day. You shouldn't be in here buying this today." He smiled and gave me my total. I payed. At the end of the transaction, the cashier handed me back my change and then said, "Now you go home and put your feet up. Enjoy the rest of your Mother's Day."

On my way to the car, I began to wonder, what does a "mother" look like? I don't "look" like one. Surely it isn't a coincidence that two men in a row assumed that I was a mom. Or maybe they were just playing it safe and wishing every female they saw a happy day?

The answer I settled on is that these men sensed the aura of all the mothers in my family surrounding me. I carry them with me. These mothers are beautiful, strong, graceful, headstrong, ambitious, and damned funny (no seriously, they keep me in stiches).

So to Novia, Vee, Paulette, Odelia, Oletha, Lisa (Pebbles), and Debbyanne ... I hope that you've enjoyed your day.

Cinco de Mayo

In celebration of the Mexicans beating the French in the 1862, I was given a treat- dinner (mainly atmosphere) at Oyamel Cocina Mexican, which is located in the 400 block of 7th Street NW in DC.

I will recommend the Sopa Tarasca estilo pátzcuaro (black bean soup with cheese and avocado) and handmade guacamole with warm tortillas. For dessert, I had a spoon (seriously) of Pastel de tres leches con piña (cake soaked in rum with pineapples and caramel ice cream). Yummo!

The food is definitely a welcomed change from the usual Mexican chain restaurant fare. Check them out if you get a chance.

Always Strive to Be Like the Moon

Is a line from Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone. Upon asking his grandmother why an old man in the village often repeated this saying, Beah learned that people often complain that the sun is too hot. Conversely no one complains about the moon, even though there are times that the clouds try to cover it.

I am grateful that I remembered this saying today, while I was sitting in the doctors office. Our life isn't as bad as we think it is. Someone always has it worse.

There is a Strange Beauty in a Rainstorm

I was asked today if I had a muse. Honestly, at first I was like, "I dunno", even though the title of this blog says otherwise. But then I read the following line on one of my students' papers: "There is a strange beauty in a rainstorm." I got to thinking:
1. sunrise
2. the women in my family
3. the cycle of life
4. that song "All Things Come to an End" by Nelly Furtado
5. my lover's ears
6. knowing that my strength is greater than even I can imagine
7. my butterfly bush when it is full bloom.
8. the blue birds that I see in my back yard
9. sleeping in spoon position in my lover's arms
10. a good book (which happens to be Half the Yellow Sun right now)
11. 2 pm rain showers in San San (Portland) Jamaica
12. the view of the clouds (from a window seat) at 36,000

So yes, I do have my muses. What are yours?

They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky

Is a must read! Talk about the resiliency of the human spirit. This book is about 3 Dinka boys from Sudan, who at the age of 7 lost their home (and their way of life) to the ravages of war. These 3 boys tell their heartbreaking story of traveling over a 1000 miles, and doing so throughout the most unbearable hunger, thirst, and disease.

What amazes me the most about these boys is that no matter what they faced, no matter how insurmountable the obstacle seemed...they were always grateful. They always remained kind. They kept their humanity.

It is amazing that Benson, Benjamin, and Alephon lived through their experiences in Sudan. I am just grateful that they did. It is because of them that I now know the stories of all the others that they mentioned in the book. The lost boys that never made it.

Elvis has Left the Building

Pope Benedict XVI has left Washington, DC. Traffic has returned to normal (if there is such a thing in DC) and Metro isn't crowded in the middle of the day.

I'm not Catholic and I've never been one to be impressed with celebrity or famous people, but I have been following the media coverage of the Christian faith's equivalent of the Dali Lama. I just want to know why this mortal's visit to America is such a big deal. I've tried to get my Catholic (and non-Catholic) counterparts to explain it to me, but sigh...no such luck...I haven't gotten an answer that rests comfortably in my logic.

And then it hit me. Their explanations aren't supposed to sit well with me logically. The explanations should rest well with me emotionally. I am just supposed to be excited that they are excited. I am supposed to be happy that they have someone that they look up to. I am supposed to be happy that he came to be near them and to make them feel a little closer to God. I guess I can't be that annoyed by someone who is able to spread joy just by being. I wonder what this world would be like if we could all do that?

When You're Best Isn't Good Enough

For the last 3 days I have given my shoulder to a good friend of mine, so that she could cry on it. Like me she is driven. Like me she is hard working. Like me she dedicated. Like me she is principled. She comes in early and she stays late. She works on the weekends. She is a team player. 3 days ago she was told that she wasn't good enough. As could be expected, she was devastated. She was (and still is bewildered) hurt.

The explanation that she was given was the usual, "it's nothing personal, it's just business."

My question is this: is business an acceptable explanation for stomping on someones insides? Is business supposed to crush their world? My friend's situation got me to examine my own reactions when it comes to being told that I am not good enough. It made me see that my reactions run the gamut. I go from anger to disappointment. I experience sadness and self doubt. I feel rage and sometimes...relief. I have to hang on to The Good Book's saying that everything has a purpose and a season.

So Jessica (if you're reading this), just remember that the person who told you that "it was only business" has their season coming. Just hold on a little while.