Blog Neglect: We Have Arrived

YES. It has been two months and nerry a peep from me.

That ends now. With this nonsense:

I saw Zombieland.

I spent most of it cringing, jumping, and stifling screams. I believe early on in the movie I actually let a scream escape aloud in the theater. But aside from that, I laughed my ass off. It was brilliant. And disgusting. I don't think I can say enough good things about it. The rules placed at random intervals... so clever!

Tonight I watched Seven Pounds. I won't give any spoilers, but I will say this: I have never seen Will Smith look so miserable in all my years of watching Will Smith movies. It's a redemption movie. And his character was utterly broken... but at least he was bent of making something of his life, to make things right again. There's something about being broken for the sake of brokenness. And I think, for a while, it's okay just to hang with that kind of defeat. But there's something so much more respectable about being broken and letting that be the motivation, no, the FIRE that forces you to DO something to get right again, you know? I dunno if that makes any sense.

It's just a movie that's fresh in my mind.

I have a new doggie. Her name is Willow and she's a retired racing greyhound. She is learning. She's not 2 yet. And she was on the track/in a cage 3 weeks ago. She likes to lay around, sleep, eat jake's legos, and lately has taken to mistaking the floor for the great outdoors. We're trying to be patient. She's also got a great case of gas. Worse than Westley, who has Crohn's Disease.

Pray for us. ;)

Where have I been? Freaking out about school. I loaded my plate a little full early on, and I'm trying to figure out how to balance it all. It's getting easier. So I guess in a sense it's kind of like having a new baby. Every day gets a little easier. Same with teaching new classes that have no official state standards and no curriculum except for what I can throw together. Joy to the world. But other people have done it, so why the hell can't I? Bring it on, I say. As I slowly lose my mind.

I did something kind of rebellious-- I showed my students part of a music video (not the controversial end part). And a parent called to ask me what the hell I was thinking. I handled it well, I thought. I didn't cry. I didn't get angry. She got off the phone knowing what they saw, why they saw it, and she sure wasn't ticked anymore.

But can someone please explain to me how I'm supposed to listen to this song now? Instead of loving it and remembering my silly high school days, I feel nothing but shame and embarrassment. Mental training, perhaps? Force myself to listen to it and remember the good times, not the bad? Grrr. I hate it when crap like this happens. Many a good song have been ruined because of something sucky that happens. Pear Jam's Black, for instance.

There are your random thoughts for tonight. I need to get some sleep. Life is kinda busy these days. Especially with state standardized tests coming up. Glory!