All good things must come to an end, I suppose, but it is going to be damn hard to go back to work tomorrow. Oh well, I gave it a good run, didn't I? I think the best description I've ever heard of this feeling one gets right before going back is from Alex's brother. He describes it as "the long dark weekend of the soul." Truer words have never been spoken. I know my mom can relate to this since I saw her go through it every year when I was growing up.
Recently, Jeremy told me that his mom is going through the same thing and that he is happy to have a 12- month a year job so he doesn't have to go through it. I should be refreshed and ready to go, but I'm not. It seems much harder to go back to school now than it did when I was a kid. There was always that excitement of what a new school year would bring when I was a kid, but now I know what lies ahead. Maybe I should move up a grade every year like I used to do all the way up to 12th grade before restarting myself in first grade. Hmmmm.... I'm just kvetching. I'm looking forward to my new class. But it is sad to say goodbye to my partners in leisure- Leisure Time Larry and 3 Days a Week Flood. I'm now part of the unwashed masses yet again.
Speaking of the unwashed masses, why didn't I go out and protest yesterday? I used the excuses that I had Mets tickets, that I was afraid of a terrorist attack, and that I get claustrophobic in such large groups of people. But is that? I would like to do more, yet I don't. I feel like this sums up most of my friends as well. I know only one person who went yesterday. Congratulations on being true to your word Jim. Would we all have gone if we were younger? I doubt it. I don't know anyone (or maybe I'm just forgetting) who went to any of the Clinton era rallies back in the day except for Patty Connor who went to one because R.E.M. performed Why are we/I so complacent? Are we that willing to sit back and just watch it on the news? I'm not pointing the finger at anyone; I'm guiltier than anyone. What the hell do I do? I teach kids at a private school when I should be out there teaching in a pubic school. I haven't even volunteered to help tutor kids yet at that McSweeney's Superhero store. Why the hell not? Oh well, at least I am registered to vote.
In other news, I had a not so fun experience last week. I've had this small growth on my lower eyelid for over a year now. After going back to the eye doctor last week, he told me that it had to come off because it was three times as big as it was six months ago. It wasn't that bad, but a big needle filled with Novocain coming right at your eyeball is not fun. Still, in a summer that saw the Pixies play all over the world, my experience is somehow appropriate.
Also, I'm a big idiot. I finished my master's degree over three years ago. Not only have I not picked up my diploma yet, but I just found out that I have to take another standardized test to get certified. Since I've been teaching at a private school and didn't need to get certified, I haven't felt compelled to do the paperwork. A few days ago, I finally decided to get my ass in gear. Unfortunately, for me the state changed their guidelines in February hence I've got to take another dumb test. I deserve to be punished for my stupidity in waiting so long so I will take whatever the state has to dole out to me as penance for my sins.
In more exciting news, Jeremy P. is on the radio. Check him out every Sunday on Radio Free Brattleboro from 9-11 pm on the Internet and ask him why he decided to become DJ Audible. Make sure to request plenty of the Silver Jews. He can't get enough Dave Berman. Hey Chris, whatever happened to WCAL?
Everyone's favorite Marylander turned New Yorker turned Californian Dave Nelson was recently on CNN talking about what it is like to be on a national watch list of suspected terrorists. Thank you to Chris for DVRing it and Mitch for recording it the old-fashioned way. Anyone who wants to borrow the tape, let me know.
And lastly, little sis Amy will turn 21 on Friday! She's going to come visit later in September so Bart can legally serve her a drink. In the meantime, check our her new fotolog. You'll be glad you did.
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14 comments:
Hey, LTL is also gearing up for a busy fall, student teaching, more work on masters degree, more Stooz grief....oh well all good things must end..
Check out my new blog (chrislarry.blogspot.com) about doing some protesting on Tuesday....its not too late!!!!!
LTL
you know, when i was younger, i went to a lot of marches and protests. then i went to nyu and it ruined everything for me. - shr
i went to a rally in DC last year against the Iraq war. it was kind of nice to be around so many people with a common goal, but ultimately it left me feeling sort of empty. and frustrated. because to me it's not enough to just march and shout some slogans - there's just not enough direct control involved for me. i'd rather be the one setting the agenda, but i don't have the wherewithal or the inclination to organize something that large. i usually feel better when i send e-mail letters to my congresspeople and senators through the National Resource Defense Council (www.nrdc.org), which i do a couple times a month.
I am reading Bowling Alone now. It is about the rapid decline of community involvement and the aqquision of socail capital plaqueing society. Its dense but amazing. Written by some harvard dude. I suggest it.
i went to a rally in d.c. back in 1992. wow, 12 years ago. fugazi performed and i experienced my first mosh pit. that was the denouement of my political career which petered out at age 18. - shr
Hey, thanks for mentioning my 21st on Friday, and my fotolog (and for actually providing a link, unlike the actual photographer.)Yes, I am excited for Bart to serve me a legal beer, considering the last beer he served me was not so legal (I was 14.)
-Amy
Bowling Alone is great.. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. On the protest side, I think a lot of people went to rallies in college and post-college, but apparently, dan was only paying attention to Patty. --amy w.
jamie wrote- because to me it's not enough to just march and shout some slogans - there's just not enough direct control involved for me. i'd rather be the one setting the agenda, but i don't have the wherewithal or the inclination to organize something that large. i usually feel better when i send e-mail letters to my congresspeople and senators through the National Resource Defense Council (www.nrdc.org), which i do a couple times a month.
jamie, i agree. i kind of wanted to go protest fox today with chris, matt, and bart but other than the fact i was at work, what good would that do? to make me feel better? i just get so frustrated at the stupidity of people. yes, large groups of people need to fight for what they believe in. but it just feels like our system is so skewed to make slow cosmetic changes that nothing really ever changes. argh, i just don't know.
on a sidenote, i'm impressed that you wrote letters to congress. i did not know that. also, i don't recall you going to that protest last year but again, bravo.
amy, i think it was spike who served you alcohol, not bart. bart is a tough cookie.
just to clarify, the i was referring to the people who believe the shit they hear on fox news, not the people protesting it.
amy w, sadly i think you are right.
Oh MY!! Stop putting yourself down so much!!!! The end of the summer throws EVERY teacher into a mind boggling slump!!! Just ask Chris what it is like when we leave the beach - he calls our last week there "a week of mourning", and hey, he remembers what the last few weeks of August are like in this house. You can almost hear the whole house scream - NOOOOOOOOO! You are NOT alone and totally, totally normal in that regard.
As to your not taking care of your certification - well, you aren't alone there either. Do you know how many times over the course of 30 year's of teaching that Chris' dad has hustled butt to get into some course at the last minute because he forgot about doing it and needed it for his recertification. Hell, this year his principal let him slide a bit and she is among my least favorite people in this world. Again, you are NOT alone!
As to protesting, again, cut yourself some slack!!! Does it really matter why you didn't go? Many of us have those stirrings inside and many of us don't do anything about them. Probably a lot of it stems from fear - fear of what might happen in a crowd situation like that. Well, that is OK. We all make our stands somehow and somewhere - sometimes quietly, sometimes vocally, but we all must follow our inner selves. And, being a teacher, well, you are making a stand every day. Trite, but true, we shape tomorrow's leaders and that is a pretty big stand!!!
Have a great school year Dan and remember, summer comes again and that what you do DOES make a difference even if you can't always see it!
Chris' Mom
Dor,
Thank you so much for posting that great comment. You read my blog more than my mom does!
she's gotta be the early favorite for "Mom of the Year"
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