The I's have it!

Reading through the my posts and the posts of my friends and something caught my attention: the use of the pronoun 'I' is a very prominent feature. Ok.. so one would be tempted to ask, "Errr... and your point is..??" To which my response would be the following:

Always, I've had an overwhelming concern about whether the use of the word 'I' in our daily conversations was a reflection of how self absorbed we were. ! Consequently, one day I decided to check my use of 'I'. The results of my little 'I' project left me somewhat stumped as it was hardly as easy as I first thought it would be. And to think, this fixation with the omnipresent 'I' didn't just start when you hit puberty! There is therefor great temptation to conclude that there is some degree of selfishness related to the excessive use of the word 'I'.

Would it be fair though to make such an assessment? Honestly? Think about it for a little while. That you could, in a 10 minutes of conversation use the word 'I' 20 times? What could it possibly say about ones ability to be considerate about 'others'? The premise here would be that your feelings, wants and opinions need to be given a voice, while those of others need not be heard at that time.

What if we all, for one day, made a greater effort to be more considerate? Maybe try to use the word 'I' less. I guarantee you, having tried, that it sounds far easier than it actually is. The next time you converse with someone, take note of how many times the word 'I' sneaks in.

Online I found this little dialogue between John and his Coach during a basket ball game:

Coach: There is no I in the word TEAM John

John: No Coach, just M and E!

LOL.. good luck. It will be interesting to see how successful you are.

The attack of the "Things To Do List"

... I NEED SLEEP!! My friend was making fun of the fact that I am easily busied with all manner of "trivial" tasks. In some ways I believe his is right, but I find myself in a common fix since i see very few tasks as being trivial.

My exhaustion is due to the fact that I stayed up till the wee hours of the morning readying myself for the classes i were to teach. I can be quite anal about being unprepared. I could never sleep knowing that I hadn't prepared a lesson. Does any one have a word to describe that?

I've got an immense list of things I need to do within the next 4 hours, 5 of which include:

1. Laundry
2. Call Lois
3. Wash hair
4. Prep next week's lessons
5. Type out and edit OM letter invite

So far so good huh?.. as soon as I'm done with this blog, I'll start my hair thing. Normally, I'd just leave the lesson prep till Saturday, or maybe even Sunday, but this weekend is setting up to be quite the trip. I will not chance it!

That letter needed to be typed quite some time ago. I'll get it done soon though. I don't know, I guess it just isn't a priority item on my "Things To Do List". Oops... sorry!

Following the meeting last night, I have yet more information to gather for the community web site that we're planning to launch in August. Things appear to be rolling on smoothly, but we are all very much aware of the work that remains to be done. So far, most villagers are quite intrigued by the idea, and are ever willing to volunteer information on the general history of the community.

Since being involved in this, I have found out some pretty impressive facts about our little Western Cove. I didn't know that there was, in the olden days, a gas station right in the center of the village, church located on an empty lot near my house, or that the old jetty on the bay side was used as a dock for banana boats. Seems like we have a very rich history that many villagers aren't even aware of! This web site will be a welcome source of information for all members of the community both here and abroad. Again.. wish us luck!

The hordes are calling, and I must oblige! May not be able to blog again till Monday, so... TTFN! :)

... Hibiscus "tea"?!?!

That was Simon's exclamation when i pulled out my home brewed 'universal indicator'. And yup.. it worked like a charm. We had to test the pH of 7 various solutions. Of course, holding true to tradition, my dear student Nathan forgot to bring the lime... so much for citric acid! We ended up having only one thing testing positive for the presence of acid! Still, the boys enjoyed themselves. Boys will be boys, so, needless to say, after we were done with the testing, the syringes we had used became the latest invention of amusement!! Arrgggg.. Thank God for patience!!

Moving on. My Boss and I have been having some pretty enlightening discussions lately. I like my Boss! Yes.. you heard right. (Actually, i guess i should say you 'read' right?) He's such a cool guy. Very logical and intellectual, but he also has an amazing ability to be just like an uncle or friend. Because of that, he's incredibly difficult to label. I think he prides himself on that. You should meet him sometime. Find his number in the directory under Self Assured Truth Finder. If not there, then check Disturbingly Honest, Shrewd, or maybe Quick Witted! Lemme know if you find it.

Today, he handed me a paper he wrote on liturgy in his church. He writes these papers off and on. Last week, i got one on the churches role in gay marriages. He's got a pretty understandable stance on the matter. The shocker comes in the logic that motivates his stance. Again- completely logical and devoid of all emotion and 'religiosity'! He turns over the idea that marriages are conducted in church to honour the 'love' shared by a couple. Historically, that is not the case! Who would've thought to factor that in! Brilliant if you ask me!

It's still early, 3:16pm on point! The day is young and there is much to be done. We've got a meeting tonight. I'm handing in the articles i was assigned to type out for the web site that we want to launch in early August. I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully all things glide along smoothly! Cross you fingers!

Heres a poem i was given a few months ago.. i really liked it. Thought i should share...


DESIDERATA - by max ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career,
however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann c.1920

Is it procrastination.. or ambition?

Sooo.... its been more than a year since I've posted anything on here. (I have no idea why).. Maybe you can tell me. It seems like its a combination of having too little unfocused time.. and no thinking that i my thoughts can be put to words.

Sitting here.. i was really trying to figure out two things . One...what i was thinking when i started this blog... i now realise that i may just have been overly ambitious; and two.. why does my blog, that just happens to be a year old only have two posts prior to this one? .. procrastination maybe? I would hate to think that that's the reason. I prefer to think of myself as a very proficient individual.

Since my last post... a lot has happened. I've taught at a high school for a month- during that time, i remembered why i left the profession!.. LOL. Teaching these days can be mucho stressful! The odd part is that i really do like teaching.. almost as much as i like learning. It was a real challenge. I had to make a concerted effort to walk into every class with my game face on! Students have this innate ability to psycho-analyse a teacher within the few moments that they encounter her. I was intent on being read as a no nonsense disciplinarian. Of course.. after the first week or so, that act practically fell through the floor! Suffice to say i had to dip into my bag of tricks to find other ways of ensuring proper student conduct! Trick # 2: The most ill mannered pupil in the class shall be given responsibilities.. and PRESTO!!.. worked like a charm!

Now.. i do private one-on-one tutoring with one student, we shall call him Simon. He's a bright young lad.. who has unfortunately been side-lined by our very efficient education system- (please note my sarcasm!!). I don't think i could have worked this out better if i tried. To see the improvement in his learning math and reading skills is payment enough! Maybe somebody somewhere will see how well this works and then make provisions for other students in similar situations.

Today was good fun. I now have two students, Simon is now accompanied by his friend whom we shall call Nathan. While we were doing geometry.. this very unfortunate pigeon flew through the door.. and into one of the big glass windows, and crashes WHAM!!! Young Simon nearly fell out of his chair. It was quite funny to see his reaction! That the poor thing must have broken its wing became evident, since it failed to fly off when Simon took it outside, and tried to get it to fly in his own gentle way - by throwing it off the balcony! Hey... i did say in HIS OWN gentle way!

Tomorrow.. we do a acid/ base indicator test! Since we don't have our at home laboratory does not have litmus or universal indicator.. our indicator shall be a "hibiscus tea"! That should be fun!

My mistake and yours!

This is an excerpt of a short story i like...

She sat in the corner of the class room. Nobody paid any attention to her... she seemed a bit shy, and unsure of those around her, and who could blame her. She just didn't fit in. Reminds me of who i used to be, and longed to be. I had to help. After all, I knew what being like that was like.

So everyday after that first one, I'd go over just to say hello. Slowly, she began to crawl out of her shell, ever so reluctantly. But whatever, that was good enough for me. I felt like i had to bring her into the times. Our times.

Soon, all my male friends were talking about her. she was smart and funny. her elusiveness left them longing to understand her inner mechanics. Forgive the pun. I really didn't get it. As far as i was concerned, people should just stick to what they know.

I leaned in and nodded in Dante's direction. Her eyes widened in shock and a sort of restrained curiosity. "What can a guy like that possibly want with a girl like me?", she seemed to say with her questioning gaze. I smiled encouragingly.

"It's alright. he's a boy, you're a girl. I guess he just wants to talk." I had said. Yeah right! 'Talk'.

She manages a smile in his direction. So he slithers across the dance floor and smoothly commands her hands unto his shoulders as his rests in the small of her back. I lean back on my bar stool, elbows on the counter. The corners of my mouth turn upward, as I absorb the scene. They move as one to the beats of the DJ. I still don't get why they call them DJ's anymore. None of them sport discs these days. They just poke knowing fingers at buttons and knobs. That art has long been lost.

I nod, and in my satisfaction, there's an involuntary squint in my eye. They've left the room. I twist around and take a long slow sip from my shot glass. observing the morphed image of the bar tender through it's thickened bottom. I ignore his look of distaste in my direction. He doesn't understand me.

I leave, walking the dark path home. There's a slight but steady drizzle. I have feelings too. Truth be told, Shannon was me... before i was foolish enough to sleep my life away with the first guy who said I was cute. And every one of them there after who would made me feel 'special'.

How I was upset with her. How is she able to keep herself so well? What does she have that i didn't back then. I went to church too, so that couldn't be what it was. Irritated, I shake myself out of the daze. Whatever it was, would soon be gone. We'd all be the same by morning, maybe even earlier. No guy seemed able to resist her innocence.

Rounding the corner to the house, I see that she's sitting on my front step. I brace myself and adopt a less pathetic strut. For heaven sake- in my mind, heaven went along with other 'myths' like Santa, unicorns and leprechauns- she couldn't see me like this. As I approach, her head lifts, her swollen eyes and wet cheeks tell me all i needed to know.

My trek to the front porch was brisk, and in finding my keys, I had handed her some Kleenex. "Baby, it's alright. you're a woman now." The door shuts behind me, and in the shower, I know that there's nothing special about her anymore.

There, we were the same. I guess my mistake wasn't so foolish after all.