Sunday, October 28, 2007

Into the Belly of the Beast

“How interested are you in feminism?” Dan asked, while I was putting some dishes away.

“Very,” I said, noncommittally.

“I’m happy to hear you say that,” he said, “because I have a movie on Tivo that explores the very roots of feminism.”

I flashed him my look. The one that says, “Look, Buddy, I’m not to be fooled or cajoled.”

“What is it?” I asked dryly.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” he revealed, grinning.

Luckily, I had work to do, so I was only mildly aware of the sights and sounds of the Angelina Jolie classic. However, I did notice that when Lara hit the shower in the nude, Dan commented, “Now here is where the real feminism begins.”

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Sharing the Laughter and Love

Today I went to a pretty-good staff development workshop where I learned several strategies. Some, like Dancing Definitions, I will surely try; and others, like Who, What, When, Where & How, I almost certainly will not.

WWWW&H requires some group chanting and clapping and pseudo-rapping that would absolutely make me look like a total idiot in front of the sophs.

In fact, I can imagine them brandishing their cell phones to take videos of me making an ass of myself that they would then upload to YouTube under the tags, “teacher” and “psychotic.”

I did, however, try the rhythm and clapping strategy with Shef and Dan. They seemed to enjoy it. I mean, first they had to get over the initial shock of what a total idiot I look like while digging the funky beat, but then, they started to harness the WWWW&H power.

I pseudo-rapped about NASCAR drivers and Shrek. Dan paid tribute to Belle and other NASCAR drivers.

Shef also liked to do the chanting. His most successful verses were about Cinderella. And her butt.

So, I’m sure I’ll have a few questions to answer tomorrow at preschool.

Monday, October 22, 2007

What Happened to Just Doing a Nice Job With the Kids? Now We Have to Boil?

Dan’s in Charlotte. North Carolina.

You know where that is, right?

Deep in the heart of NASCAR country.

Because we’ve all gone down Redneck Lane, we’re really hoping that he’ll locate a red #8 helmet to go with the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. jumpsuit Shef will be wearing for Halloween.

You know what? I’m not proud, but I’m not hiding it either.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

That's the Situation

A disgruntled David Sedaris fan overheard me telling my friend Jordan that I’d be seeing the famed humorist at the State Theater last night.

“Oh, I saw him last year,” he said, knowingly.

“Oh, great!” I smiled. “Was he good?”

“Well,” he sighed. “I always have a problem when people charge you fifty bucks just to hear them read from their book. I mean, Ira Glass did the same thing.”

He was really bitter about the practice, I could tell.

“I mean,” he continued, “I even wrote a letter afterwards. That’s one thing. If you write Sedaris a letter, he’ll write you back. A handwritten letter.”

“Really!” I said, semi-supportively.

I was thinking that perhaps this fan didn't fully appreciate how funny Sedaris's voice is just in itself.

And also, maybe he hadn't nearly peed his pants the time he heard Sedaris singing on "This American Life."

The fact is, Sedaris is definitely at least fifty bucks of funny. And the stories he told last night were not actually in his currently published books.

So. Overall, I was deeply satisfied by his performance.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Vegetarians are the Enemy of Everything Good and Decent in the Human Spirit

My friend and dissertation-finisher, Lee, told me that Kitchen Confidential by sometime-Top Chef judge and vegetarian-hater Anthony Bourdain would be a good choice for reading.

She's right. It's wicked fun. And I'm learning valuable lessons, like don't order mussels ever and also no fish on Mondays. Furthermore, Tuesdays are really the best night to eat out.

And speaking of reality television, only 30-some days until Project Runway Season 4. There will be a challenge for sure.