I have recovered from a disastrous end of the school day on Friday.  I enjoyed my night out last night.  I get such trepidation about heading out, but when I get there, people are nice, happy to see me, and sometimes I see a face from many years ago.  I didn't dance as much as I had hoped, but that was only due to socializing.  I did sweat a little, but my bones don't ache.  A good night.

Then today was Brooklyn with the parents.  I wimped out and let hubby drive us.  Sometimes I get a feeling in my gut that luck is not going to be with me (as if it ever really is).  The drive to Brooklyn was one of those times.  However, we had a fabulous time.  We had brunch a couple of blocks from the gallery.  Mom and dad loved the food and the restaurant is not chi-chi and expensive at all.  Then, a short walk to the gallery to see my photo.  Amazingly, my mother loved the image.  I was stunned.  It is from my summer project with the dead bird and string.  I cannot get over how positively she responded to it.  I was floored.

Now on to thoughts for tomorrow.  And period 5.  Another thing the students are irked about is the fact that I set the groups up.  They want to pick their own.  I tried to explain the pedagogical reasons (in laymen's terms, of course) but no one wants to hear it.  I considered the groupings very closely when putting them together.  Last year, in my evaluation, how I group students was discussed.  I took that into account when doing the zine assignment this year.  But the students do not get it.  All they know is that they want to be with their friends.  And if they aren't with their friends, well, they aren't working.  But I know the kind of job that would get done if they were with their friends.  I would not be happy with it, and I doubt they would be proud of it in the end.  I put kids together based on personalities and strengths.  Who would respond well to being nudged on by this person or that person?  But how can a teenager get that?  They don't.  And they rebel against my cruelty.

They are probably also bugged that they cannot pick any random topic.  I make this assignment deal with contemporary societal issues that affect them and their peers for specific reasons.  I believe the coddled kids I have are too apathetic.  They have no idea what goes on outside their safety bubble.  Those who have a harder life, do not speak of it.  This can jump start some awareness of issues that exist right in their neighbourhoods but they are too ignorant to see.  I also want them to understand how they can impart change in society.  They have to come up with a way to solve the problems they are addressing in the zine.  It is about awareness, research, reflection, and action.  I do not want to have my kids graduate to be complacent and ignorant.  I don't look for them to have the same political ideals as me, but at least have some ideals.  And so the fight will continue tomorrow.

At least I will end the weekend on a high note.  I plugged the bass into the practice amp and did a full practice session plugged in, not acoustic.  For only playing for a month, I was proud of myself.  I sound better plugged in.  Fingering the frets is really helping the arthritis in my right fingers.  They are still swollen and stiff, but it is improved.  I like how some of the techniques I was practicing sounded.  I am still struggling with some faster songs (Don't let anyone delude you into thinking that you can be a bad musician and play punk music.  Some of my favourite bands are so challenging) but I am ok with mid-tempo stuff.  Now, off to brew up some coffee and settle in with my new mug and some British television.