bad mom

on love, beastie style

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:45:00 +0000

I bought Licensed to Ill on cassette as soon as I could in late 1986. I listened to it continuously my freshman year of college, which may have been the leading cause of my best friend suggesting we not room together anymore after first semester. (It was a smart move; we are still friends today). I chose my first, uh, experience based largely on the fact that he reminded me of Mike D. (I have no idea where that guy is today; this is alright). It is possible that I drank more than I should have at 18 due to my love of the Beastie Boys but I am at peace with this, too; it's important to have the right regrets.

The day I heard Adam Yauch had cancer three years ago, my heart skipped. It was impossible - he was young; he had a kid the same age as my boy; he was A BEASTIE. Shut up.

Then, my heart broke yesterday when I heard he had died. It feels weird to be so sad about a person I have never met, but it makes some sense. MCA and the Boys introduced me to my inner bad girl and, even though she got me put on academic probation for a year, she boosted my self-confidence and led me to discover who I really wanted to be. And, who I really wanted to be with: Adam Yauch was not the no-good sleazy fight-for-your-right-to-paaaaaarty loserish bad boy he played onstage; he was actually a smart, charming, groundbreaking & talented bad boy who turned out to also be a caring, giving, peace-loving and thoughtful [though still a little naughty] man. I married a guy just like that 19 years ago, and it was the best decision of my life.

I know Adam's family and the other Beasties must be inconsolable this weekend; I can only hope it helps their hearts knowing people like me are with them in sadness, and remembering the raucous joy he brought during his time here.

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:16:00 +0000

My girl Mrs. G (I'VE MET HER!) at Derfwad Manor has this fun thing for me to do and I really want to do it. You want to read it, I bet.

1) Who are an actor and actress you like so much you will watch anything they are in, even if it's crappy? Ryan Gosling and Kate Winslet, though I don't think they've been in anything crappy yet...But I'll watch when it happens.

2) Mary Tyler Moore or Rhoda? I'd really like to say Rhoda because she was EXTREMELY hip, but I'm totally MTM.

4) What is your favorite Beatles' song? If I Fell makes me swoon to pieces.

5) When you want to laugh, who or what do you turn to? Sometimes my husband, but mostly Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

6) What is something you have a hard time doing? Saying no.

7) What was the most pleasant thing that happened to you yesterday? Spontaneous private time with my man & John Mayer.

Extra Credit: What's a new blog you've discovered that you are enjoying? Sadly, I discover little during the school year because I am ~~hysterical~~ ~~overwhelmed~~ pretty busy. But I am so pleased to be rediscovering Mrs. G's fabulousness.

job description

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Today I wrapped up teaching One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to a few dozen high school seniors for the second time. And it occurs to me, with only a touch of guilt, that the most satisfying part of this unit is getting the majority of my students to hate the movie.

Here is what I tell them at the beginning of the book, and again each time I show a short clip [there are at least 3 periods during the quarter when mutiny is imminent because I only let them see 10-15 minutes of the movie at a time, to begin with]: "I am not saying the movie is bad. Standing alone, it is entertaining. Jack Nicholson is indeed a BRILLIANT ACTOR. But the movie should have been given a different title."

I read most of the novel aloud (please revisit it sometime to marvel at what kind of language I use in my classroom, then imagine the impact that has on teenage people; next, understand fully why I have at least one glass of wine every evening). After the first 20 pages or so, I show the opening of the film and, following a mini Jack Nicholson-lovefest, they do appreciate that the movie is going to be vastly different simply because it lacks Chief's narrative perspective. We continue reading, getting to know the characters and talking about why the story is an important one to hear. We talk about whether McMurphy is a troublemaker or a renegade [and what is the difference, anyway?]. Note: Our school mascot is a Renegade; we generate a lot of interesting discussion at this point about how some people in our tiny town tend to see us and - hey - are some of us like McMurphy? Weird.

By the time I've read through the beautiful, magical fishing trip in the book and then show that skimpy, brash, pointless scene, most of my students are disgusted with the change in focus & tone. They miss Chief's metaphorical hallucinations; they don't like that the movie McMurphy calls the men 'loonies' and 'nuts' and 'crazies;' they're offended by the absence of key characters & storylines; they aren't feeling terrified by Nurse Ratched, just annoyed.

We are all emotionally spent when we finish the novel - from following and worrying over Mack's transformation, from deciphering Chief's 'truths' even if they never happened, from growing unexpectedly closer to these damaged fictional people. Then we finish the movie. I listen to the gasps and groans from my students as they watch the film wrap up without addressing the points that our class decided were necessary for a story about courage and strength and redemption.

When the lights come up, it is silent for a beat. Then the comments & questions explode: "I can't believe they had McMurphy come back at night, and no one saw him." "Did they really skip the ENTIRE PART about the men checking out?" "It doesn't make any sense that Nurse Ratched could talk." "That. Was totally sh*tty." "Why did they make it a completely different story?"

Like they actually read, and paid attention, and learned stuff, and cared.

Brings a tear to my Renegade teacher eye.

72/365 "really"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 05:55:00 +0000

In My Room

I got this fabulous poster from my favorite snarksters/societal vanguards at Regretsy. Please read the stories about the trials of Atlanta artist Tori LaConsay that led to her getting not only recognition and an apology from retail giant H & M but also a donation to animal rescue organizations in her city. Because her plight was publicized & promoted and eventually resolved largely through Regretsy reader support, Ms. LaConsay offered to send signed posters to those who donated to the assistance fund for her sweet rescued dog-friend Fred who needed surgery. [Fred is recovering well and enjoying celebrity on Facebook; Ms. LaConsay is no longer sending posters and I cannot for the life of me find any place online to get hold of her lovely works right now. Bummer]

So. To make a short story a tad long, I gave a bit and got a lot. When meeting with the architects of our school, we teachers specifically requested these cozy corners in each classroom where a student can go when he/she needs a quiet place not-too-far from the madding crowd, or where a small group can spread out a project, or where I can offer easily-distracted individuals a calm reprieve from my otherwise visually overstimulating classroom; in any case, I want whomever lands there to know: You look nice today.

It's something we all like to hear, no? Well, you do.

71/365 "recreation"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:18:00 +0000

August trip-planning
Big Apple with bff
Getting obsessive

70/365 "reminisce"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 01:45:00 +0000

Cupcakes for Girl Scouts
Celebrating one hundred
years of good service

69/365 "reflection"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:58:00 +0000

At our school's office
Boards await end of classes
Proper Renegades

68/365 "refreshment"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:33:00 +0000

She knows it's Thursday,
But wine is in order now.
The queen has spoken.

67/365 "rejoice"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 17:03:00 +0000

Rise, foreign object
After cold and rain and snow
Just what I needed

66/365 "rebloom"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:48:00 +0000

Let us try this again.
As my girl Emily Dickinson said, 'Forever is composed of Nows.'

reboot

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:49:00 +0000

Once upon a time, I went to BlogHer.

It was a great trip though not exactly what I was looking for (I don't think I really knew what I was looking for). Now that I am ~~older~~ ~~wiser~~ over 40 and have been offered a BlogHership to attend the NYC conference as a volunteer this year, I have a feeling things will be different.

I could talk about all the ways I have changed as a person and a writer, how my expectations are different & my hopes aren't set high in the Popular Blogger sky, that I'm looking forward to the workshops on Technology in order to gain some knowledge I can use in teaching. But really? Free registration, a cheap flight with credit card points, a hotel room I can split at least 3 ways, and an August weekend in the heart of New effing York City.

Blissed out.

So, look for me to post more frequently so people might know who the hell I am this summer.

24/365 "resolve"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:24:00 +0000

End of the quarter
Only a few days away
Everyone starts fresh

23/365 "resolve"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:11:00 +0000

Most people who know me for more than ten minutes are aware that I prefer not to workout; that word alone has always made me shudder. My friend found a magnet for me that explains it all: "Whenever I say the word 'exercise' I wash my mouth out with chocolate." Of course I realize there is merit to exercise (hello, Hershey!) but I am so busy, and I can't find an activity that I enjoy, plus I've been lucky enough to stay reasonably healthy without it for decades. Okay, really I'm disgustingly lazy.

But recently something came over me. Maybe it was the whirlwind series of doctor appointments, trying to figure out the source of my increasing fatigue, wherein I had to repeatedly check the "Sedentary" box on health history forms. That is simply embarrassing. So I decided to join my man at the gym - this time not just so I could buy some cute new yoga clothes but also so I could get my heart pumping, while having 45 minutes of uninterrupted reading time and John Mayer playlist. Multiple win.

And strangely, I kind of like it. My man & I actually talk to and from the gym, and sometimes we compete for distance on the elliptical machine. I don't lift weights with him (how could I read like that?) and I cannot bring myself to coordinate visits with actual fitness classes, but I still think good things might be happening. At the very least, I occasionally break a bead of sweat trying to average 3 minute miles on the stationary bike (see photo!); it depends on how involving that night's chapter is, or if I get sucked into Facebooking instead of reading or riding.

Just don't say I'm exercising, please. You'll owe me some chocolate.

22/365 "resolve"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:21:00 +0000

To do: Life.

21/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Cocktails on date night
Celebrating the weekend
Unleashing the week

20/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:54:00 +0000

bright
bangle
beads
best friend
bought
beloved

19/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:41:00 +0000

If you say so, cookie.

18/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:54:00 +0000

Grandma's recipe
With some chocolate chips thrown in
Still tastes just like love

17/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:53:00 +0000

To condole the beasts young & old(er) who will likely be denied a snow day.

15/365 "joy"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:35:00 +0000

Store banners at night
Waving in winter weather
Customers or no

14/365 "bright"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:52:00 +0000

Bright lights, big city
Portlandia calls to me
90s are alive!

13/365 "bright"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Game night at my school
Kids versus grown-ups for fun
Hope there's no trouble...

12/365 "bright"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:40:00 +0000

11/365 "bright"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Mornings try my soul,
Mind tricks and bright lights don't work;
I'm too smart [lazy].

brilliance

10/365 "bright"

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie (bad mom)) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:18:00 +0000

A touch of yellow
Does a body (and brain) good
Bring on the bouquets