50 Things You Might Not Know About Me...

1. I once spent the night on a working bison ranch in Wyoming. Did you know modern-day wranglers use all-terrain vehicles instead of horses?
2. I was so disturbed by the movie “Clockwork Orange” that I threw up afterwards.
3. During my first two years of college I frequented frat parties… but I only pretended to like the taste of beer. Now I actually enjoy drinking beer, but I rarely attend big parties or go to bars.
4. I’m a Scorpio and I was born in the Year of the Snake.
5. One of my favorite childhood memories is eating ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes straight from the bushes in our backyard with my best friend, Anna.
6. I always thought I was a cat person. I’ve owned (at least) twelve of them in my lifetime…
7. … but now I’ve got a German Shepherd-Blue Heeler mix named Abby and she’s the light of my life. She’s the best hiking companion a girl could ask for.
8. I was a girl scout off-and-on until eighth grade. I loved selling the cookies, but I was always jealous of Boy Scouts who learned to do cool things like building campfires and whittling.
9. Landmark Education has changed my life… for the better.
10. I declared myself a vegetarian at age twelve and I’ve stuck to it. The only things I miss are Gorton’s fish sticks and my mom’s chicken nuggets.
11. I could listen to Bob Marley or Bob Dylan for the rest of my life.
12. The greatest concert I ever attended was The Violent Femmes at The Boathouse in Norfolk, Virginia in 1996. But these days, any show by Tyrone Wells is a close runner-up.
13. The blast at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 was loud enough to awaken me in my apartment in Alexandria, VA, several miles away. It took me until 4:00 that afternoon to find out that my mother was alright, and I’ll never take her for granted again.
14. I’m the only person in my immediate family with blue eyes. Of course, it’s a pretty small family…
15. In separate incidents, I have accidentally cut off the tips of BOTH of my thumbs. No worries, though… they’ve both grown back in due time.
16. I have almost nine thousand songs saved on my computer. I make a pretty mean mix-CD.
17. My favorite comfort food is lasagna… extra gooey… lots of cheese, lots of sauce. But homemade macaroni and cheese comes in at a close second.
18. I use a tiny little television set for watching DVDs, but I haven’t watched actual TV in over ten years. I’ve heard about reality TV, but I don’t really get it… it sounds like a bunch of people making fools of themselves while the rest of America laughs at their expense, and that’s not my style.
19. I own at least five journals that I’ve started and abandoned over the years. Most of them only have two or three entries.
20. My partner and I won first place in the JV Division of the American Debate Association’s National Championship in 1996… that’s right – I’m a national champion, so don’t ever pick a verbal fight with me.
21. Some words that I love: Patagonia, proposition, fan-tabulous, and Catalina (that one’s for my old friend, Jen).
22. My parents tape-recorded me at age three and called the tape “Amy the Wunnerful.” At the end of the tape, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I loudly declared my dream of becoming “a mommy.”
23. The bottoms of my feet are very calloused.
24. Intentionally misspelled words – like Kwik Mart – really annoy me.
25. My favorite book is Hope for the Flowers by Trina Paulus. In fact, I like to give away copies of the book to friends and leave copies in random places for strangers to stumble upon. So keep your eyes open…
26. I once went over a month without speaking to anyone… intentionally. It was one of the most powerful experiences I’ve had in my lifetime.
27. I’ve seen every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer… multiple times. Joss Whedon is a genius.
28. I dance in the car, especially when strangers are watching.
29. I tried my own mini-Super Size Me experiment last month. I hadn’t eaten fast food in eight years, but I tried eating it once a day for two weeks. Let’s just say it didn’t turn out well… and I won’t be eating fast food again anytime soon.
30. As you may have noticed, I really like ellipses…
31. As a child, I spent three years on an island that was 18 miles long and 11 miles wide. Cows outnumbered people two to one, and I remember sticking my hands through wooden fences with fistfuls of sugar cubes for the cows and horses.
32. I say a silent prayer every time I see road kill.
33. I’ve developed a recent obsession with getting back in touch with people from waaaaay back in the day, like middle school. It’s amazing how much we still have in common. I guess the things that make a good friend at age 12 aren’t that different from the things that make a good friend at age 30.
34. I’m a teacher… right down to my bones. I was put on this planet to make a difference in the lives of children, and I’m really good at it.
35. I often find myself drawn to artists, musicians, and other creative people.
36. I spent almost two years living at a yoga center as part of their Spiritual Lifestyle Program. Every now and then, I wish I’d never left…
37. I love action movies and science fiction books.
38. My father was in the Air Force, so we moved quite a bit while I was growing up. I still find myself getting the itch to move on every few years, so I try to pacify it by traveling as often as I can.
39. I went to high school with Allen Iverson. I’m afraid it ruined basketball for me, since nothing else can ever compare to watching him run circles around the other high school players.
40. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and I like to be in control… but both of these tendencies seem to be mellowing with age.
41. I feel safest when I’m surrounded by mountains.
42. I am definitely not a morning person, though I no longer stay up until all hours of the night… at least, not on a regular basis.
43. I’m an only child. I’m sometimes jealous of my friends who had big families and who lived in the same hometown for most of their lives.
44. I read a lot, and I read quickly. I love anything written by Neil Gaiman, Guy Gavriel Kay, David Sedaris, Jacqueline Carey, Daniel Quinn, Orson Scott Card, Philip Pullman, Ian McEwan, Annie Lamott… the list goes on and on.
45. I’m a member of a local CSA farm, and I love it! Veggies taste so much better when you know the farmer who picked them.
46. My politics would best be described as very liberal. I’m an idealist to my core, I believe a society that doesn’t work for everyone isn’t worth much, and I’ve taught children who were born with the deck stacked against them. It’s not something I can turn away from… and neither should you.
47. I want to learn to ski or snowboard.
48. I love making art, especially collage and photo art.
49. It’s a constant struggle to keep my house and my car neat. I’m an organized person, but the sense of order is often hidden beneath a surface layer of “stuff.”
50. Last summer I took myself on a last-minute, ten-day trip to Sydney, Australia. I booked the trip less than a week before the flight left, and I didn’t even have a passport. Now I know that I can make anything happen when I put my mind to it…

Teachers...

I've been thinking about this poem I love by Taylor Mali, an amazing school teacher and poet... it perfectly describes the magic of teaching, in an eff-you-for-ever-undervaluing-teachers-in-the-first-place kind of way. And yes... it contains a few naughty words.

Taylor Mali is an incredible spoken-word poet who has left his mark on poetry slams across the nation. Truly, this poem is best when it's heard aloud... so as you read, try to imagine it being recited aloud with a note of bitterness and a heavy dose of inspiration. Better yet, check out Taylor reciting the poem here.

What Teachers Make

He says the problem with teachers is,
"What's a kid going to learn from someone
who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his
and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor," he says. "Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest) because, you see,
I have a policy about honesty and ass-kicking:
if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
"How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best!"

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.
"No, you may not work in groups."
"No, you may not ask a question."
"Why won't I let you get a drink of water? Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why."

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
"I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today."
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder, I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.
And hide it on their final drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you got this (brains) then you follow this (heart)
and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a goddamn difference! What about you?

Feed the Animals

I am now officially a fan of Girl Talk, aka Gregg Gillis. He's a guy who samples hundreds of tiny bits and pieces from other songs to make magic! His mixes are fantastic... they flow together so smoothly, and I love trying to pick out the pieces of other songs that I recognize.

In just one track from his new album, he samples Roy Orbison, Ludacris, Rage Against the Machine, Aaliyah, Sinead O'Connor, and twenty other pop artists... it's unbelievable.

His new album is called "Feed the Animals" and it's available as a pay-what-you'd-like download at http://www.illegalart.net/... just click on the album cover and follow the directions. I'd recommend paying at least $5.00 to get the seamless mp3 file - I think that's the best way to enjoy the music, since it allows each song to flow directly into the next.

Check it out... at the very least, it's different from most of the stuff being played on the radio these days.

And if you want a little more information, go to the website for NPR's Day to Day and listen to Friday's show... he was interviewed for the program, and that's how I first heard about him.

Hello... Love... Are You Out There???

What happened to the days when people married their high school sweethearts?

What happened to the days when people stayed together for decades without wondering if they were missing out on something better or playing the field to size up the competition?

What happened to the days when people couldn't wait to get married because of all the things they weren't allowing themselves to do until AFTER that sacred ceremony (ahem... I think you know what I'm talking about here...)?

Don't get me wrong... I know those days haven't disappeared completely. And I also know that I've phrased these questions to present a highly romanticized version of old-fashioned love.

But I'm starting to feel like there's an epidemic of independence among my generation. We were so eager to do things differently than our parents that we walked away from some traditions that weren't so bad to start with.

So now I find myself in a bit of a predicament at age 30. I'm single... and at times I'm lonely.

I'm not lonely in a day-to-day, sitting-alone-in-my-room-being-depressed kind of way. I have lots of amazing friends and a fairly active social life. I attend events that interest me and I've got plenty of people to call when I need to chat.

But I'm lonely in a deep, abiding, who-will-I-share-the-rest-of-my-life-with kind of way.

I want someone that loves me just the way I am... someone that I can love completely, too. I want the security of knowing I don't have to be playing mind games and staying one step ahead of my partner. I want someone to share my secrets with. And I want to be a mother, with an amazing father by my side.

I'm not the only thirty-something person I know in this situation... in fact more of my friends are single than married. And while the single life has plenty of benefits, many of us are beginning to feel an urge to settle down.

But where do you go when you're ready to settle down? Where do you find true love?

I never realized how easy it was to date in high school and college until I started to seriously consider the idea of dating as an adult a few years back.

Back then, we were surrounded by people in our age group who shared lots of things in common... if nothing else, we were in the same classes so we always had something to talk about. And our "world" was small enough back then that it wasn't too difficult to figure out who was single and who was already in a relationship.

Now we have.... Internet dating... and speed dating... and bars... and Craigslist... yeeecccchh.

Don't worry, I haven't given up on love. But I am asking for help:

1. Do you know any fantastic (and single) guys who are equally frustrated with the challenges of meeting great women who are looking for committed relationships? Send 'em to this blog or give 'em my phone number...

2. Do you know of other ways to meet people... ways that actually allow you to get to know one another and share common interests, rather than just getting drunk and trying to look cool? Share 'em in the comments section or give me a call and let me know...

3. Do you have any other words of inspiration or advice? Lemme know, please...

Until then, I'll leave you with this quote from Leo Buscaglia:

"Perfect love is rare indeed - for to be a lover will require that you continually have the subtlety of the very wise, the flexibility of the child, the sensitivity of the artist, the understanding of the philosopher, the acceptance of the saint, the tolerance of the scholar and the fortitude of the certain."

Deadlines and Sewing Machines and Cheapskates, Oh My...

Don't you hate when you have a last-minute project with an upcoming deadline and everything's rolling along fine until... your sewing machine breaks... the night before... at 9:00 pm...

So my co-teachers and I are going to have to get creative with the Dream Flags that the parents in our classroom are supposed to be decorating for their babies at tomorrow evening's Back-to-School Night celebration.

That'll teach me for buying an ultra-cheap-o sewing machine last year. I may not sew very much... but when I do sew, I need the darn thing to work!

And of course, there's absolutely NO chance this is operator error... wink, wink.

Brunch = Brilliant

I hope whoever thought up the idea of brunch got an award for it...

And I hope Casa Naranja - a relatively new restaurant on Mississippi Ave - becomes as brilliantly popular as it deserves to be.

I had brunch there today because a friend of mine is dating the sous-chef, and it was delightful. Excellent food, great art on the walls, good ambience, and fantastic service (knowing a chef doesn't hurt, of course...).

I remembered that I really love mimosas with Sunday brunch, and I discovered the concept of a "torta" - sort of like quiche, only way yummier. Mine had layers of egg, potatoes, sage, tomatoes, and onions, all drizzled with a spicy honey sauce. Mmmmmm....

As if that's not enough, my friend Kennedy brought some of her friends that I'd never met before and we had some great conversations. So it really IS easy to make new friends, after all. One thing leads to another... and another... and eventually it all comes full circle.

So check it out... http://www.casanaranjapdx.com/. I heard it just got chosen as a Willamette Weekly pick-of-the-week, so get in now before all those tables are full!

Art Party!

I'm having an Art Party this weekend!

I've been binding books and making homemade journals like crazy... everyone will get to pick one to decorate. We'll be making photo albums, journals, memorial books, sketchbooks... whatever people are inspired to create.

And I'm amazed by how many people are coming! Lots of friends, both new and old. It seems I'm not the only one who likes to get crafty...

I'm in the window of time when I usually get a bit panicky... people coming over tomorrow, big event to get ready for, need the house to be clean and the supplies to be organized, and it feels like there's too much to do. But this time I'm going to take it easy and enjoy it. After all, this is supposed to be fun! I'm not going to ruin it by stressing out. That's a big lesson I've learned over the past few years, and this Art Party is my chance to put it into practice.

Here's another lesson I've learned: it's not so hard to make new friends, after all. You just look for people you enjoy being around, strike up a conversation, and invite them to get together sometime. It really is that simple... :) I can't wait to get to know all the new friends that are coming over this weekend, and I can't wait to see all that creativity unleashed on the world. We're going to create beautiful things!

Life is good... life is very, very good.

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old...

This weekend I had dinner with two friends that I haven't seen in eighteen years!

My father was in the Air Force, so we moved quite a bit when I was young. Of all the moves, the toughest one for me was leaving Alexandria, Louisiana in 1990, the summer between 7th and 8th grades.

You see, for the first time in my life I had real friends. Not the kind of friends that liked the same My Little Pony toys as me or showed up to play dates arranged by my mom, but real friends. I had a group of friends that I loved hanging out with... friends I had chosen for myself... friends I could tell secrets to. And we were finally old enough to walk to each other's houses after school or stay up late at slumber parties.

And then I moved... boy did it suck leaving all that behind to be the "new girl" in eighth grade.

My Louisiana friends and I promised to keep in touch, but that's a tough promise for a twelve-year-old to keep, so it wasn't long before we lost contact altogether... until Facebook intervened and we reconnected a few months ago.

And it turns out one of them lives in Portland, and another is seriously considering moving to Portland sometime soon.

So Becky and Linda and I met up for dinner downtown this weekend and it was a blast!

Of course we were nervous that we wouldn't have anything in common. A lot changes between seventh grade and adulthood, and we had no way of knowing in what direction each of our lives had gone during the past eighteen years.

But after a few hours of laughing, reminiscing, and catching up on each other's lives, here's what we decided: some things never change, and the things that make you choose your friends when you're twelve are the SAME things you look for in a friend when you're thirty.

It just reaffirms my belief that we start out as wise as we'll ever get, and that children really do have all the answers.