Spanx

May 31st, 2014 → 6:50 am

“The glass of fashion and the mould of form.” – Hamlet

I went to my annual summer opera with my girlfriend Karen last night.  We saw The Magic Flute and it was wonderful, but I couldn’t wait to get home and out of my dress.  You know, all through my twenties and even my thirties I wore nice dresses and tight clothes without the aid of any so-called “equipment,” but when I hit forty I decided to buy some Spanx.  Oh my god.  Is that what corsets felt like??

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life

Maya Angelou

May 29th, 2014 → 6:17 am

    “As imagination bodies forth
    The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
    Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
    A local habitation and a name.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Rest in peace, Maya Angelou.  A fine poet that turned airy imaginings into striking realities and memorable personalities.

Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art

India’s Election

May 27th, 2014 → 3:48 am

“There is a tide in the affairs of men.” – Julius Caesar

It didn’t get much coverage in the U.S. - at least not relative to the truly historic nature of the event - but India has elected a new prime minister from a new party with a new background and a new agenda.  The world shifts.

Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians

Road Trip

May 21st, 2014 → 8:08 am

“Then westward ho!” – Twelfth Night

First road trip of the summer begins this Memorial Day weekend.  Can’t wait!

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life

9/11 Museum Dedication

May 18th, 2014 → 7:33 am

    “The ground that gave them first has them again:
    Their pleasures here are past, so is their pain.” – Cymbeline

I watched a little bit of the dedication ceremony to the new 9/11 museum as I got ready for work the other day.  The little bit I saw made me tear up.  God bless everyone, and god bless their memory.

Filed under: Blog & Other

Rudeness, Prejudice, Ignorance, and Rage!

May 15th, 2014 → 6:41 am

    “O, what men dare do! 
    What men may do! 
    What men daily do, not knowing what they do!” – Much Ado About Nothing

I tried to take my son to the dentist for the first time on Tuesday.  We woke up early, got dressed and had breakfast, played Spiderman and Thor in the car on the drive over, and then giggled riding the elevator down to the doctor’s office.  Our joy ended when we walked into reception and after taking one look at us, the secretary refused to check us in.  She said that we couldn’t see the doctor until I (a white woman) could prove that I was actually my (African American) son’s mother.  I was flabbergasted.  She actually insisted on seeing court papers before she would check us in.  Needless to say, a few heated moments later my son and I were out of the building with no teeth cleaned, rage in my heart, and my baby repeatedly asking me why that woman didn’t think I was his mommy.  I knew adopting interracially would bring some memorable experiences, but c’mon!  The insolence!  The ignorance!  The prejudice, insensitivity, and rudeness!  How does such a thing still happen in this world?

Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life & Stupid/Evil People

Final Exam Week

May 13th, 2014 → 6:05 am

“Our revels now are ended.” – The Tempest

The semester is coming to a close this week, and while I look forward to summer, I always feel a bit wistful this time of year.  I get attached to my students and I kind of miss them when I stop seeing them every week!

Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life

Mother & Son

May 11th, 2014 → 6:33 am

Stage Direction:  “He holds her by the hand, silent.” – Coriolanus

I’ve read that Coriolanus’ mother, Volumnia (what a name!), can be considered the most notable mother in all of Shakespeare’s plays.  In part that is because so many other mothers are, literally, absent.  This stage direction describes an important moment between mother and son in Coriolanus.  And I have to say, that I just treasure it when my son decides to silently hold my hand as we walk together to school, the park, or wherever.  The grip of his thin, delicate fingers in my own is just precious.  Happy Mother’s Day everyone.

Filed under: Blog & Other & Self/My Life

Boko Haram

May 8th, 2014 → 7:56 am

“Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.” – King Lear

It’s been making me crazy these last couple of weeks that the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram could kidnap hundreds of girls and just make them disappear.  I think daily about the horrors these girls must be living through right now.  At least Nicholas Kristof today wrote about things we can do now to, in some larger aggregate sense, counter the evil.  I really do wish I could do more, however.

Filed under: Blog & Stupid/Evil People

You Are Not Special

May 6th, 2014 → 7:57 am

    “Let none presume
    To wear an undeserved dignity:
    O that estates, degrees, and offices,
    Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honour
    Were purchased by the merit of the wearer!” – Merchant of Venice

I heard about this commencement speech recently, where the speaker told the graduating students that they were not special.  I understand what he was trying to do, and I do think a lot of kids feel entitled nowadays, but in the end I disagree with this approach.  You should teach people with carrots, not sticks.  Make them feel good, but make them feel good about others as well.  Making people feel bad or unimportant is not the best pedagogical approach, in my opinion.

Filed under: Blog & Other