Gettin' Old

I made a sobering discovery last week: there are actually gray hairs growing out of the top of my head. My first thought was, "Why have none of my tall friends told me about this?" Stiff, wiry little suckers, they are not very long, which leads me to believe they are pretty recent acquisitions. At first, I thought maybe it was the way the bathroom light was reflecting, so I yanked one out and took an up-close look. Sigh....These hairs are not gray, they are pure white.

Ten Guilty Pleasures

Yes, it's confession time. Here are ten of my guilty pleasures. What are yours??

1. Marshmallow Peeps

2. Degrassi, all incarnations

3. Cosmopolitan magazine

4. Redeeming coupons and rebates

5. Jean Auel books

6. McDonald's french fries

7. Step aerobics

8. The kid who plays Jacob in the Twilight movies

9. The Container Store

10. Britney Spears

Polar Bears

Last week, one of my students asked me what is my favorite animal. Today, she proudly read aloud the poem she had created, "Polar Bears - 4 Ms. Howard." I think it's lovely.

Polar Bears - 4 Ms. Howard
by A.

Their fur like snowstorms
Their eyes like ice.
Two great polar bears
Give me a scare.

As they tiptoed quietly behind me
As quiet as mice.
They tapped on my shoulder
With paws like ice.

I jumped into the air,
As high as a kite.
I screamed and yelled.
They gave me a fright!

They said, "We didn't mean to frighten you,
We are really cool!
We were just asking...
Could you just fill our pool?"

Simple Pleasures

The winter quarter was a busy one, but now that it's over, I have a couple of weeks with time to breathe! I've been contemplating simple pleasures lately...

• My ancient washing machine making it through an entire cycle without my having to readjust the load.

• Hot chocolate in the teacher's lounge.

• Coming home to a clean floor because Brandy did not notice that I forgot to put the trash out of her reach.

• Green lights.

• Getting an upbeat text message right when I need one.

• Dark chocolate and red wine.

• The tough kid in my class being absent.

• Being able to print in dark blue when I run out of black ink at a critical moment.

• A weekend with no rain.

2009 Songs

After I posted my favorite movies of the year, I began contemplating my top songs of 2009. I take full responsibility for my shallow bubble-gum musical tastes (at least Katrina will be on board with me!) So here, in no particular order, are the 10 songs from last year that make me crank up the volume and sing along with every word:

Paparrazzi - Lady Gaga

Already Gone - Kelly Clarkson

I Gotta Feeling - The Black Eyed Peas

Waking Up in Vegas - Katy Perry

21 Guns - Green Day

Human - The Killers

Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event

Love Story - Taylor Swift

Chances - Five for Fighting

Don't Stop Believing - The cast of Glee

You Are a Wise Person

I received this email yesterday from one of my students.

Hi Ms.Howard!! I hope you had a great winter vacation! And a happy new year!
On the New Year's day,I am going to go to K's sleepover birthday party!
Well actually what I was going to really tell you was I've been getting online
put-downs(several of emails that hurted my feelings) from J. I told my parents,
and they called her a stuck-up,(I thought it was too harsh)
and said to break the friendship between us. You are a wise person besides my parents,
so please tell me what to do... Thank you! (Sorry if I'm bothering you...)
--
-C

The future blackberry owner (April 2010)

If you've ever wondered when girl drama starts, the answer is early. Helping young ladies with "hurted feelings" is part of my job, and I remember that hurt all too well from my own elementary school days. I am honored that C thinks I am a wise person. I have faith that these girls will be buddies again soon - I may not even have to say a word as it's likely they'll have it all figured out by the time class starts up again on Monday. However, there is no way for me to fully prepare my girls for the angst-ridden, teary, hormonal, "mean girls," 'tween years ahead of them. It's definitely not easy being a girl!

I have the laziest roommates!

2009 Movies

I read two different movie critics' top 10 lists today, which got me thinking about my favorite movies of the year. Since I am unfortunately not a paid professional movie watcher, I've not yet seen Precious, The Hurt Locker, 500 Days of Summer, Moon, or Up in the Air - and I have heard that all 5 of these are terrific. So, from the movies I have been able to watch in 2009, these, in no particular order, are my top 10:

Gran Torino: Clint Eastwood can do no wrong. Only he could pull off this role as a bigoted old crank with a heart of gold.

Watchmen: I was intrigued by the idea of flawed superheroes. Even though it was set in an alternate history version of the 1980's, the themes were just as relevant to today's world. And that smokin' hot love scene in the airship - hallelujah!

Avatar: Seriously. Why haven't you seen it yet?

Star Trek: I was never a fan of the original series, but have always enjoyed the Star Trek movies. This one was a very exciting prequel that stayed true to the original characters. I especially liked Zachary Quinto as Spock.

Inglourious Basterds: Classic Tarantino: over-the-top violence, loud music, suspense, and dark humor. Plus, the best villain since No Country for Old Men.

Where the Wild Things Are: I was expecting something really different. This was not at all a movie for kids. The exploration of raw emotion through the wild monsters was very powerful and moving.

District 9: A new twist on an old story: learning empathy for the oppressed by being forced to join them in adversity. Very well acted and directed.

The Hangover: I laughed like crazy. Enough said.

Up: My favorite of the Pixar films so far. Up was very sweet and clever, and the talking dogs were just hysterical.

Zombieland: I like scary movies served up with a large helping of campiness. Zombieland got it just right.

Man on Wire

I watched a lovely little documentary tonight: Man on Wire. It's about tightrope walker Philippe Petit, who traveled between the roofs of the twin towers just a few months before I was born in 1974.

Man on Wire is a movie about risk and reward, about chasing a passion, and about achieving the impossible. I heartily recommend it. Petit knew he could very well die in pursuit of his dream and if he survived, there was no doubt he'd be arrested. Furthermore, he had no idea how in the world he would orchestrate such a stunt. But it did not matter, Petit went forward with the mindset that success was guaranteed. No hesitation.

Fortunately, few of us need the adrenaline rush of standing on a cable a quarter-mile above the ground. My default nature is to play it fairly safe - to look for the predictable. For me, choosing a new piece of furniture is an exhilarating accomplishment! So, I guess risk is in the eye of the beholder. Regardless, I understand the desire to push oneself beyond comfortable boundaries. It is really the only way to feel alive. Top-notch support team, no safety net, and as Petit admonishes, "live your life on a tightrope."

Thankful

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I cannot, I repeat, cannot wrap my mind around the fact that it's nearly 2010. I've been indulging in one of my favorite habits this week while I've been off work: reflecting. I realized this was the first Thanksgiving in a very long time that I have not shared with a significant other. It's been at least 15 years since I've been 100% single for this holiday - maybe longer! I've spent Christmases solo, been a sad sack on Valentine's Day, have made it through Independence Day without a mate...but for some reason I've always spent the last Thursday of November with a boyfriend (or, for a long time, a husband).

Of course, I did not wither away alone yesterday. I was asked to spend the day with 5 different sets of friends and, there's always a standing invitation to go home for Thanksgiving. And this is why I feel thankful: to have such a caring and devoted network of people who remind me over and over that they love me. I had a fantastic time hanging out with the Preeces yesterday: Karla's delicious cooking, the girls giggling over everything, and Todd looking so happy and proud of his family.

Being single is lonely sometimes. All of the friends, experiences, and blessings in the world can not replace the intimacy of a healthy, committed love relationship. But this year, I am thankful for my single-ness. It is during times of solitude that I am able to discover the most profound truths about myself. This is a time for me to learn and grow on my own. To paraphrase my wise friend Tricia (who is married to an amazing guy), "I'm so thankful for all of the ups and downs, because they led me to where I am today."

My Two Cents

There's no such thing as bad publicity, right Adam Lambert? This is a story as old as rock 'n' roll: Elvis's swiveling hips, Jim Morrison's inflammatory lyrics...Remember the controversy generated by Madonna gyrating on a wedding cake while singing Like a Virgin? When was that - 1984?

Push buttons, push the envelope, push your backup dancers' faces into your crotch...and if you can get on the radar of the more vocal family values organizations, you're sure to generate oodles of interest in your latest project.

Adam very nearly won the most recent round of American Idol based on the strength of his vocal performances. But so many AI winners have quickly slipped from the limelight soon after the finale has aired. This week, with a naughty bit of choreography, I think Adam may have discovered how to recapture the nation's interest.

Have You Ever...

Just a little fun to end 2009. Thanks Georgeanne!

Have you ever...

( ) Shot a gun
(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Alaska
( ) Been to Cuba
(X) Been to Europe
(X) Been to Las Vegas
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been on a cruise ship
(X) Served on a jury
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
( ) Played cops and robbers
(X) Played cowboys/girls and Indians
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(X) Made prank phone calls
( ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone snow skiing
(X) Camped out under the stars
(X) Seen something so beautiful that it took your breath away
(X) Are or have been married
( ) Children
(X) Have a pet
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
( ) Been fishing
(X) Been boating
( ) Been water skiing
(X) Been hiking
( ) Been camping in a trailer/RV & tent
( ) Flown in a small 4-seater airplane
( ) Flown in a glider
( ) Been flying in a hot air balloon
( ) Been bungee-jumping
(X) Gone to a drive-in movie
( ) Done something that should have killed you
( ) Done something that you will probably regret for the rest of your life

The Tudors

I'm currently working my way through season 2 of the Showtime series The Tudors. I began renting this show after reading The Other Boelyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. I'm not a huge fan of historical fiction in general, but I found the drama surrounding Henry VIII's 16th century reign intriguing.

My favorite part of The Tudors is observing the role of women in the court. Used as pawns and playthings, cast aside when no longer useful, these women certainly did not have it easy. The television series is surely an overdramatization of the events of the time. But the inferior status of women is historically accurate. How lucky I am that I may own a home, make my own living, and will never be forced into an arranged marriage. While watching, I am simultaneously grateful that I enjoy so much more freedom than these women and in awe of the amount of courage and fortitude that they must've had.

Life in this century can be challenging at times, but I feel fortunate that my heart, mind, and choices are my own.

The Happiest Place...

I know a lot of people have issues with Disneyland: the crowds, the syrupy sweetness, the corporate greed. But for a kid who grew up with summertime road trips to Anaheim, walking into Disneyland brings me right back to the excitement and pure happiness of childhood. When you enter the park, the plaque above the archway reads, "Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy." That just about sums it up perfectly.
All I wanted this year for my birthday was a day at Disneyland. Thanks to my wonderful friends for making my wish came true.

Beware of Dog

Sweet Brandy was passed out on the couch today when I got home. She heard me come in but didn't recognize me in the dark, so she slinked toward me slowly and very quietly, teeth bared. As I watched her, I thought maybe she was sick because of the weird way she was moving (Old Yeller, anyone?). But as soon as she recognized me, Miss B fell to pieces, every part of her little doggie self expressing relief and joy. She wagged, she licked, she rolled over to have her belly scratched. Beware intruders in my house. My pooch will get ya!

Math Test

Today, as I passed back graded math tests, Margaret came up and hugged me. "Thank you, Ms. Howard!" she exclaimed. "For what?" She showed me her test, pointing to the perfect score at the top. "Don't thank me for your score, you earned it yourself," I told her with a smile. "Yes," she relied, "But thank you for teaching me the math!" And then she skipped back to her seat.

And that's why I'm a teacher :-)

HOA Letter

With permission of the author, here is the letter I sent to my Homeowner's Association board of directors. I'm not the greatest at standing up for myself so I have oodles of gratitude for Jared's help in crafting a missive with some backbone. He listened carefully to my retelling of the event and my feelings about the whole thing and then put together a marvelous couple of paragraphs that get my main points across very strongly. The sharpest jabs are somehow delivered in a very polite but straightforward way. I think Miss Manners would be proud. I feel well taken care of :-)

Greetings Board Members,

     I had the misfortune of meeting one of your representatives on Saturday, September 12th, and I would like to express my extreme displeasure with that encounter. While resting in my home that afternoon, I was treated to a barrage of door-pounding and bell-ringing that would make a SWAT team blush, although I was a bit dismayed to see that instead of uniformed officers serving me a search warrant, I was greeted by a member of your yard police. The gentleman’s name escapes me, although his unflattering demeanor and browbeating was quite memorable. I am new to this neighborhood, and while I had hoped that my first encounter with the HOA would have been a welcoming one, I was instead treated to threats of an official rebuke and made aware that my neighbors had been complaining about the overall appearance of my front yard. Board members, whose residency in this neighborhood precedes my own, know full well that the previous occupant had littered this yard with foliage, and as such, the cost of upgrading it is substantial.

     The shrubs, ivy and tree limbs have since been cut back to meet the standards set forth in the CC&R's, which should satisfy my disgruntled neighbors, as well as the man whose name is too inconsequential to remember. Given the tenor of my first encounter with your authority, I am requesting that ANY future contact with me be limited to mail correspondence, as I have no further desire to be disturbed in my home. That said, let me take this opportunity to introduce myself to those of you who thought it unnecessary to welcome me to the neighborhood: I’m Jennifer Howard, and thanks in advance for your adherence to my above request.

     Regards,

     Jennifer Howard

The Wisdom of Drew

I've loved Drew Barrymore since E.T. It kinda feels like she and I grew up together, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her new roller-derby movie, Whip It. The following quote is from Drew's interview, published in Parade magazine today. It resonated with me pretty deeply:

I’ve stopped believing in happy endings. I’ve started believing in good days. At the end of my movie, there’s honesty. There’s truth. There’s peace. What tomorrow will bring is still in question. There is a joy that’s earned by failure or triumph. All those things add up to teach us, if we are open to it.

A Tribute

I'm sure you've heard the stories in recent weeks about Annie Le, the Yale grad student who was murdered just a few days before her wedding. The following was written by a teacher friend of mine. Thank you so much Kim, for allowing me to share your beautiful words:

Annie was my student in Math Analysis in the Spring of 2001. Union Mine was a young school, starting with only freshmen and sophomores. Annie’s class was the first four year class to graduate at UMHS. As a group of students, they were a close bunch. I too, was a young teacher. When Union Mine opened in 1999, I was recruited by Carl Fickle our Principal to join the staff. I was honored and thrilled to be part of this new and innovative school and quickly joined the instructional team as co-math department chair. The teachers at Union Mine advanced with their students as we added new classes each year to accommodate the needs of eleventh and twelfth grade students. As a teacher, I also advanced teaching higher level classes each year.

We did not have books for Math Analysis when the year started and we decided not to purchase them because we were in an adoption year and the current book was already seven years old. Other teachers in the district did not particularly like the book and encouraged me to look for other options to “get by” for the year. Looking forward to the challenge, I created the entire curriculum for that course by researching interesting activities and creating project-based units. In my quest for finding really challenging and interesting material, I would at times, find myself struggling to solve complicated problems with my students. I recall getting stumped, staring at the board and working up a sweat. And this is where Annie comes into the story as she would inevitably come to my rescue, seeing my errors or having the ability to visualize the solution. With tremendous respect, Annie helped me and in turn, helped the class. And, then there was Mike Couper. With the two of them, we were all in good hands! It was a great semester, one that I will never forget especially since I learned as much, if not more than my students.

In 2002, Annie was awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Math award at Union Mine. I had the honor of speaking about Annie’s exceptional performances in math and in handing her the award. I treasure the picture taken this night and keep it with my family photos. Union Mine was family – the students, the staff, and the administration.

It is hard for me to accept that such brilliance, compassion and empathy was taken from this world. I read people in media blogs ask, “Why has Annie Le had so much press? She never contributed anything.” And I want to scream at their ignorance because from my perspective, Annie contributed more than they could ever know – more than she even knew. Annie Le contributed to my growth as a teacher and she contributed to the success of not only that class in 2001, but to each and every student I have taught since then and who I will teach in the future. Annie taught me to appreciate having a student who was smarter than me. She taught me how to be humble when I did not know every answer. She taught me to be more resourceful so that I can push students at all levels to perform at their highest potential. She taught me how to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out,” without embarrassment. Students every year benefit from what I learned that year teaching Annie. I have never forgotten her. I have never stopped appreciating her. I will forever miss her. Annie, I thank you for your contribution to my growth in the teaching profession and for my continued love for the students who I teach.

Teacher Story

Today, my little fourth grade class made me so proud. They elected the "quirky" kid in my class as class representative based on the strength of his speech. I snagged the text and am sharing it with you. Just imagine this being recited with all the conviction and passion a nine year-old can muster:

I want to say that a good Class Representative should be someone with certain qualifications. What qualifications do you ask? This is where I fit in...

Some of you are great at soccer, some at baseball, gymnastics. I am great at planning school activities like the Haunted Hallway and Spirit Week. This sounds like my chance to finally do something I know I'm qualified for. My strengths aren't on the football field but I DO have strengths in the academic world.

Please allow me to explain...

If I'm given this opportunity, I know that I'm the right choice. I'm dependable, honest, smart, and let's face it, I have a great imagination! And a great Class Representative requires someone who can come up with creative ideas.

And by listening to your thoughts and ideas, I will be your voice at the meetings. Therefore, your ideas can be heard too.

I feel I am the right choice because I want to be able to give something back to my school...something I can look back one day and be proud of...

Yeah, I think this particular kiddo is really proud tonight. I'm sure proud of him :-)