No Internet

Yes, Verizon did it again... I have no internet again. So if you are or were hoping for any communication with me... call Verizon and ask them why anytime Morris County - or 973 - gets a smidgen of rain and a breeze the internet and/or phone go out....

And I can't even get online during office hours to research switching providers.....grrrrrr......

The Weekend...

So I have probably moaned and groaned about this before, but here goes...

So many students going down to the shore for the holiday. Fine. But they are not necessarily there to go to the beach. The houses are scummy and rented by unscrupulous people. And there is a large amount of alcohol and probably drugs. Of course no one says that in such a clear way in front of me so that I cannot report it - and boy would I. But you always hear about it way after the fact. There also seems to be some fascination with those who do drugs and there was a recent party bust with students in participation.

I may look young and it may be assumed I took part in that when I was in high school. However, I did not. I let the students know this. I don't think they all believe me. Those who do, some appreciate the fact that I validate their clean living. Others think I am a loser for it.

So my opinion of these activities... Alcohol has a long history as a beverage to be enjoyed. I am half-Italian and understand the craft of making wine as a few relatives make their own. You cannot enjoy the beverage if you are drunk out of your mind - and most of what they drink is not enjoyable. Drugs are illegal, plain and simple. And I do believe that the majority of people in this area do take part. So for those kids who think they are breaking the rules and being daring, unique, different... well, you are not. Those of us who do not and never have are the unique ones theses days kiddies... Another reason I do not like drugs are the incarceration statistics. I care too much about equality to ignore this. There are more minorities in prison for drug offenses but are they really outnumbering the drug users that much? No they are not.

http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_stateratesofincbyraceandethnicity.pdf


There's also such a connection to such horrible gang wars in countries where drugs are big business. If you have read anything about the murders and rapes and kidnappings in Mexico, you couldn't, in good consciousness, take part in that business, regardless of how far down the chain you are. But that does not dawn on or bother any of the "cool" people who partake...

And my last reason... I like to be in control of what I feel and what happens to me. There are so many variables we cannot control. But I like to be conscious of what is going on at all times. Why put myself at risk when I don't need to be?

Every year the same old story: rent the house, get someone to buy the alcohol, leave earlier in the week than Senior Cut Day, get drunk or drugged up out of your mind, maybe get raided by the cops and brag like you are a rebel. But rebels do their own thing and the students the go DTS for MDW and drink and do drugs are not...

I just wish I could get through to all of you...

...

So no phone and intermittent internet until at least Monday. Get to use the computer at the parents' house but that means limited time and I don't think dad wants me looking at the political sites I peruse... sigh...

And with the increase in gardening, I am putting the cortisone shot to the test. It is failing. Trying to hold a magazine to read last night.... pain, utter pain.

But at least I get to go back the the M-K house to weed and prep the property for the town house tour. Woo hoo! And a friend on the Historic Society asked me if my house was on the tour! Ha! I think he was joking... now if the started the garden tours again, that would be another story.

So kids, here is your warning: for the next few weeks, Mufasa will most likely be covered in bug bites and allergic reactions to random plants... you have been warned. But if anything oozes, I will cover it up. Promise...

Verizon, how I hate you...

So I have to take the day off to make sure Verizon shows up to my house and actually fixes what is broken, i.e. every service I pay them dearly for...

So I just watch the light on the cordless phone blink incessantly.... even though the line is not in use (???) ... and I watch the lights on the modem blink as a constant threat that I am losing internet ... thought I have so much work to do online...

So I will go outside and battle the mosquitoes and garden, then go in the attic and do the grandma shoot I have to do - yes, I have to do this because I can't say certain things I want to say - and now it looks like I am losing connection again...

Grrrrrr......

Commercials

So I have been wondering why the students have no desire or ability to pay attention to anything for very long. I despise having to dumb things down and simplify my projects for all levels and wish I could go back to the days in Rockaway Borough when I had kids do more writing and I could do more lecturing about things and the attention spans were greater.

Then I watched the Celtics-Heat game on channel 7 Saturday night. And it all became crystal clear.

After one round of commercials I wanted to do any or all of the following: kick in the TV, sue the advertisers for brain damage, find a permanent way to protect my eyes and ears from the assault. I felt like I had been subjected to torture. Everything was so loud, bright, rapid fire and bam bam bam bam.... Nothing can be said in full sentences, there are no cohesive thoughts presented and the pace was lightning speed. It truly was an assault on the senses. And the kids - or the general public for that matter - does not seem to be bothered at all. They have acclimated to it and adjusted themselves to suit the commercials. And the commercials for the movies? Oh god! Awful... Cars flipping, explosions, people yelling and holy cow! I mean, I used to love watching "Chips" when I was little and that had all that stuff, but there was something in between all that action too...

I just realized that playing the calming Classical or fun Jazz music in the room and trying to run the pace and keep everyone's attention the way I am doing it is a losing battle. Perhaps I need to introduce more art films and get them used to another pace...

Not sure, but I have to think of something...

Contest...

Here is a link to a student writing contest. I know this is Photography class, but I believe I have a few students who would qualify for this...

http://www.thenation.com/blog/160571/nation-student-writing-contest

If you need to know anything about the publication, talk to me...

In the mean time, I have gotten my butt outside as soon as I get home this week to garden. Cut the dead branches off the butterfly bush/tree that my Grandma Berry gave me. I pulled weeds in the grass by hand - we do not fertilize, use weed killer, or apply any chemicals (cheaper and more effective). I also moved the rocks that border the veggie garden area. I expanded that area by 1/3 and hope to be able to fit a lot more this year. The herbs I planted and keep on the porch are doing nicely despite the cold nights. And perhaps the best of all, I was able to make a salad yesterday using fresh herbs! First of the season. Yum yum...

Stoness

So that was the security word for today...

Ironic since I had a needle stuck in me today and I have such a distaste for drugs... my health issues (so many aches and pains, asthma, arthritis, etc.) have caused me to become quite the expensive person to insure and medicate... But, I did get my first cortisone shot today. I drove all the way home from Wayne with a numb and tingly right hand. Good thing I drive automatic. Made sure I got that Morrissey cd in before I lost all sensation! So is looks like it is a milder, occasional carpal tunnel syndrome that will not turn up on neurological tests unless it is done right after I do activity... I went right to gardening when I got home. But I have to say, the arm feels funny from the elbow on down and I also have to wear a brace when I sleep... grrr.....

Getting excited for my return to the airwaves. I have a two hour slot on WMSC on Friday night from 7 -9. I can't believe the station gave me such a super spot. Now I just have to finalize the music. I was going to play vinyl, but I never got around to buying a needle... Hopefully next year.

The Foundations class is making album covers. Yes, 12" ones. The real music medium. I was so happy with how excited they were when I brought some of my favourite covers from home. They were so inspired.

Need to stop typing now... right fingers are slowing down...

The Weekend...

So I volunteered for our town wide clean up yesterday. This was the best one so far because other town groups were involved, not just Main Street. I did the alleys between the buildings. I wasn't in the mood for chit chat and wanted to work solo. Breathed in tons of dust and allergies were a b*tch the rest of the day. But I felt so good, especially because I was able to squeeze into this tiny spot and clean that out too. Then our leader told me to go to this empty property on Main Street and pick out the garbage there. It is an immensely sloped property and I worked the bottom while someone worked the top. I found so real goodies: lots of glass (vintage and new), a large bone, a vintage pull tab can of soda, a handy scale for weighing fish (our river is stocked with trout), a drug baggie, a pill blister square, and... an open switchblade. I am assuming the last one was tossed down from Main Street after an "event." Some have questioned why I do this kind of volunteering while I do not take part in cancer walks and such. The fact of the matter is, when someone goes around asking for money for this walk or that run, it seems a bit like "look at what I am doing!" And the majority of those cancer organizations do not allocate the money raised in a way that I feel is fair and as beneficial as is could be. So I do this... I donate money privately with no fanfare to those organizations with the best allocation of money and that's that...

Then I went to the parents' house to help dad trim two juniper trees. He dropped a huge branch on me, I learned I can't operate a reciprocating saw, I have scratches all over me including my face, and I am massively allergic to juniper and got so many hives, but is was so much fun. I will finish the job later in the week after work one day.

So, my body is extremely sore today and my sister need me to do some outside work at her house. But some good news. A local gallery I have been trying to make contact with for two years regarding a teacher/student show is finally looking to be a possibility. He is holding his first teacher student show and still has space for teaching artists, and may have space for some student work. Already know who to include....

And my order from Freestyle came in. So I am going to test out the EcoPro film developer this week. I also ordered an E-6 developing kit. I read that some had success processing Kodachrome with that. Since we have a few rolls at PV and my sister gave me a few rolls, I will try processing my rolls and see what happens.

And finally, our tech guy let us know last week that students can remotely access Photoshop and the version is either CS5 or CS4. So I think that now means that I can teach RAW to the Photo III students. I have made excuses for not teaching it because I feel real bad when kids b*tch about the school tech guy when things are not his fault at all. But now that this is in place, I think I can finally do it. Woo hoo!!!! Better late than never....