Mom finally loses her head.

IMG_2417, originally uploaded by lisacillessen.

This picture has gotten many the question. Here is the simple answer: It was just random. Don't read too much into it. I don't really share my love of the gothic much (Hello, O'Connor and Faulkner are two of my fave writers), but I love the juxtaposition of creepy with the normal. I don't like it all to be puppies and soft carpets and softer light. Sometimes I like it to be edgy. And weird.

My parents re-landscaped their yards last year. On the fringes of the front yards, they built these mulchy hills called 'berms.' The nice Arizona-rejects (ha!) who put in the berms also planted all sorts of grasses and trees and crazy, almost too-bright tulips. So, when I arrived at dinner club (that's a whole other blog) it happened to be the magical hour of light. I grabbed camera, patio table and set up some shots. I stood in the mulch. I just showed toes. I sat and extended legs from left edge of photo in. Upon review of that last pose, it looked like there was a body on the berm. I reset the shot and placed my legs as though I were an extra on CSI: Suburbia. Presto. I had gone dark in the magical hour of light. So, I went with the full body shot.

I did not purposely obscure my head. That was a lucky angle. And I'm sorry, folks, but that is a kick-ass picture. It's morbid and dark and all that...but the lighting, the color and--dare I say--the model are all well composed in the photograph.

I promise not to channel too much more of my inner-Poe, but it will happen again. I'm committed (pun intended) to Flickr's 365 days project--a self-portrait every day for a year. I'm working to become better at taking pictures. And if that means I have to be crime scene model here and there, I am sorry if I upset...the reaction is unintentionally garnered, even if the shot is not.

Click-and-C

Did you just Tudor?

IMG_1485, originally uploaded by lisacillessen.

As part of my mission to be as well-read and knowledgeable as possible for my trip to London this July, I picked up the daunting The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. I wasn't actually convinced I could make it through the novel, but I did. Many of my planned destinations now surround the people, places and events in this novel. I'm moving on to Weir's The Lady Elizabeth next.

It dawned on me the other day that I will see Shakespeare's Henry VIII on The Globe stage. He wrote this during Elizabeth I's reign (Henry VIII, remember, is Elizabeth's father). It was a silly moment, but it dawned on me how truly contemporary the Bard really was. (And brave...) As a queen, Elizabeth was a formidable woman who wielded power better than many a male royal; as a daughter, Elizabeth appears to have desperately sought the affection of a father who never really took to her (may have something to do with the fact THAT HE HAD HER MOTHER BEHEADED). I guess Elizabeth gets the last laugh, however: Her father thought woman had no business ruling a kingdon. Ha.

As I was doing some follow up research, I came across this nugget on YouTube. Enjoy.

A cool part of my job…
When a former student returns from her first semester at NYU bearing A’s and B’s on her transcript AND an autographed copy of Jonathan Safran Foer’s newest book made out to me.

A frustrating part of my job…
Having 30 copies of a book when I need 40.

A cool part of my job…
When my mentor teacher (by random coincidence) has one of my students babysit and upon asking said student if she knows me, the student replies, ‘OhmyGawd, Mrs. C was my FAVORITE teacher EVER.” Best part? I thought the kid didn’t like me or my class at all!

A frustrating part of my job…
Feeling overwhelmed all the time. Feeling like I’m always operating at half-assed. Feeling like I could save more kids than I do.

A cool part of my job…
Working with people who inspire me. Working with people who do things for a students that the child’s own parents do not. Working with people who shell our money for books, clothing, bus fares, lunch money and so much more when a kid cannot. Working with people who are smart, outrageous, and so very funny. Working with teachers.

Long day at the OffiCe

More-of/Less-of

Today, I posted my week’s menu planning as a status update on Facebook. A friend commented back, mentioning that she also does her menu planning on Sunday nights and to check out this blog: http://menumommy.blogspot.com/. I figured it was a blog where moms met and talked about meal planning, and shared recipes. Lo and behold, however, this was my friend’s own blog complete with months’ worth of writing about meal planning, links to recipes, and comments from many people. I was amazed. And annoyed.

I looked to the top of the page, and saw that Blogger had signed me in under my old blog. I had not posted a new blog in months and months (nine to be exact). I always feel it is a slippery slope to put myself out there into cyberspace; I teach in a public school and am therefore not a private citizen. Still. My annoyance came from the fact that as I read my previous posts, I knew I could write more. Write better. Write now. With that in mind, I began to read my old posts.

As the New Year is still newborn, I looked to last year’s post on resolutions (republished below). So how did I do? I didn’t make the mark on 1, 3, 6, or 19. I tried 2, but ended up realizing I could get 21 without the ‘buy’ part. I don’t remember the Urban Bourbon Trail or why in God’s name I would do 13. I wish I could afford 14. And then there is 17.

I don’t like the idea of a Resolution. The kids I work with on our school debate team always have to debate resolutions. True—everything has a pro and con side, including my lists below. But maybe instead of saying I am ‘resolved’ to do something, I could just create a list against which I could measure my progress with more realistic shifts in behavior and attitude: there are things I would like to do more of, and things I would like to do less of. So, with that said, I introduce the first ever, 2010 edition of the ‘More-of/Less-of List.’

Less-of:
1. Cursing when it is not warranted (When someone nearly side-swipes you: Yes. When you can’t find a match to a sock: No.)
2. Procrastinating on the following: grading (I give myself a D for that nonsense) and starting big projects (our room).
3. Accepting mediocrity from myself or others around me (“The height of mediocrity is still low.” Vanna Bonta)


More-of:
1. Taking walks around the lake. (The ducks miss us.)
2. Making delicious, healthy meals (already off to a good start on this one).
3. Writing. (Like this.)

C-Me More

Last year’s Resolutions…
1. Walk my dogs on a regular basis.
2. Sell my house.
3. Curse less.
4. Eat more chocolate.
5. Drink less scotch.
6. Quit bullshitting so much.
7. Try harder not to break #3.
8. Avoid passive aggressive commentary in blogs.
9. Avoid yuppies.
10. There went #8.
11. Stop being so hard on self.
12. Tour the "Urban Bourbon Trail."
13. Throw a fun Kentucky Derby party.
14. Look for good deals to travel to California wine country.
15. Re-think #5.
16. Floss more regularly.
17. Be more timely with tasks (i.e. making New Year's resolutions on the 22nd of
January).
18. Judge less. Do more to be judged by.
19. Wii fit the hell out of my nasty-ass muffin tops.
20. Never, ever put #3 on list again.
21. Buy a nicer house.
22. Nevermind #21. That'll make me break #9.

A Rocky Goodbye

It's their fault. The reporting was weak; the front page showed Denver's unseasonably warm temperatures over the passage of the first bailout.

It's Craig's fault. If only he hadn't started that list.

It's my fault. I read the news online.

I grew up in a literate household—meaning more, of course, than just our ability to decode words. Papers were always on the kitchen table, the nightstands, the couch. I remember rushing home after the Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine, and 9-11 to read the Rocky. I planned many a weekend based off the Spotlight section. I growled about how the book-like format of the Rocky was so much better than the tablecloth-size of an opened Post. I devoured the comics. All past tense, including this: I haven't held a subscription in years. The Sunday Post-News lands on my driveway, but even many of these end up in the recycling bin, unopened.

The laptop, however, is opened daily. Indeed, I confess: I read about the paper's death online.

When listening to the English teachers lament the death of the Rocky, a history teacher commented: When's the last time you received a telegram? Of course communication devices evolve as a direct result of a community's communication needs. We know this. But in the great land that is America, the almighty buck communicates with the greatest volume. If good writers working in an industry with tested, proved ethical standards and practices are no longer being paid…well…

Like any good English teacher, I must quote Faber from Fahrenheit 451: "First the newspapers went, dying like great giant moths." I worry about the far-reaching consequences of the extinction of our more traditional literary formats. Many in the news industry are arguing for pay-to-read information; I highly doubt those reading their news online with go with this retroactive scheme.

So, RIP RMN. My best wishes to those who are now unemployed, including a balanced news city.

Funniest Child Alive

Dinner with my Family...

C (my son): Mom. Do you know what an afro is?

Me: (almost shoots water out of nose) Yes, son.

C: Well, today, Eli brought one to school. And on recess we chased him around saying, 'Ahhhh....Can we have an autograph Michael Jackson?'

Lisa 'my DNA makes funny' C

New Web Fun

I have two new favorite places to visit between the usual Facebook, et al...

Check out ning.com: You can set up your own social network. I am trying to integrate this into my classroom. Should be interesting...

Also, visit blip.fm: Build your own 'radio station' of music without ever uploading a song. Make a profile and then just search for music you love...and voila! You have your own playlist you can access anywhere. Might help keep you from having your iPod stolen.

That's it for today...

LC