Student

A couple years ago, in my second semester of teaching, I had a student write a paper about being molested as a child. It was a very difficult paper to read, and it was obvious that he was just beginning to come to terms with what had happened to him (I think he was 27 at the time). I always meet with my students one on one after the first essay and so I had to talk to this student about his essay. I really wasn't sure what to say, to be honest, but I had a couple of counseling center phone numbers to give to him. Well, he used those numbers and got the help he needed. I had him in my poetry class again last year, and he was doing wonderfully. Today he sent me a link to a podcast interview that he did about what happened to him as a child and how far he has come since he started going to therapy in the middle of his first semester of college. I don't think I have ever been so proud of a student. I'm not posting the links here, mostly because they reveal location, but I will certainly pass them on to anyone who is interested.

Mountain Biking, Take Two

I did really well this time (this was last night, by the way). WW and I rode for about three hours. We wore her dog out completely, almost to the point where we had to carry her back to the car (two bikes and a big dog, hmmm). Her dog joins us on most of our outings. I love her dog, and I have to admit, I am not a dog person. I went running with her (WW) this evening. I hadn't been running in quite a while. I did okay, though, I must say. I may even join her again next week. We're going (we hope) star gazing tomorrow night at a big observatory not too far from here. We went just over a month ago and camped at this place (which was totally awesome), but it was too cloudy to see the stars. It looks right now like it should be clear tomorrow night. We hope so anyway. We're planning some big camping trips for this fall. I am so incredibly excited about them. I am trying to plan one as we speak.

School started this week, as well. I am absolutely exhausted, which may be evidenced by the lack of coherence of this post, I don't know. I have four classes and 89 students, which, let me tell you, is a lot of grading. It's going fine so far, though.

Movie Recommendation

I just got done seeing Lady in the Water for the second time, and I cannot recommend it more highly. It's one of the best movies I have ever seen. It's advertised as being very scary, but it's not at all. I have a lot of issues with how it was advertised, in fact. But anyway, it's a very gentle story, like a bedtime story. It's kind of hard to explain because it is such a unique movie. I have never seen anything even remotely like it to compare it to. It's great, though. Go see it!

Survey

1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING?
Yes

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP?
just over two years

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED?
movie ticket

4. Ever drop your cell phone?
Yep

5. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT?
I hauled lumber on Tues. Does that count? Other than that, it's been a slow week. WW's yard exploded (long story), and we haven't been out at all.

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON?
bicycle helmet (it wasn't an expensive one, but it was for me)

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE?
french fries

8. FIRST THING(s) YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
um, no

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG?
hmm, currently Teen Lament by Michelle Malone

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
northwest

11. HIGH SCHOOL YOU ATTENDED:
Cakeweed

12. CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER:
verizon

13. FAVORITE MALL STORE:
Goody's

14. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD:
teaching where I am now. it's going on four years.

15. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?:
I own five die. They're all in my Yahtzee game.

16. DO YOU PRANK CALL PEOPLE?:
no

17. LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED:
I honestly have no idea. I'm invited to one in September, though. One of my college friends is getting married.

18. FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY:
my sister

19. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND:
last summer :( I'm going to see him next week, though :) :) :) My best girl friend I haven't seen in a couple years. Are you still planning to come visit me????

20. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT:
Wendy's

21. FAVORITE ANIMAL:
cats, particularly my own fuzzy girl, who is currently stretched out on the floor cuddling her fluffy pink pig

23. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS?
an Italian place that I like or a bar downtown with good food

24. CAN YOU COOK?
yes

25. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?:
Ford

28. MOST DISLIKED FOODS:
brussel sprouts, can't get past the texture, which is very unlike me. I can eat anything.

29. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF:
how laid back I am

30. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF:
currently my stomach. it hurts.

31. LONGEST WORK SHIFT:
no idea. probably every time I grade research essays, though. That's always an all-night affair.

33. FAVORITE MOVIE?
um, I like a bunch of movies. I just saw Lady in the Water, though. I liked it.

34. CAN YOU SING?
I try

35. LAST CONCERT ATTENDED?
Michelle Malone

37. LAST MOVIE RENTED:
Silkwood. haven't watched it yet. Tweflth Night just came in at the library, as well. I'm way excited, but I won't be able to pick it up until Mon.

38.ONE THING YOU DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
house keys

39. FAVORITE VACATION SPOT:
Venice

43. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?:
I want a laptop.

44. FAVORITE COMEDIAN?:
Ellen Degeneres (does that scream dyke or what?)

45. DO YOU SMOKE?
no

46. SLEEP WITH OR WITHOUT CLOTHES?
whatever

47. WHO SLEEPS WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT?:
my cat

48. DO LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS WORK?:
yes, they can

49. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE?
um, twice?

50. PANCAKES OR FRENCH TOAST?
french toast

51. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE?:
sometimes, with lots of milk

52 HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?
in egg salad

54. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?:
WW

55. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST?:
WW

58. NUMBER OF PILLOWS?:
two when i'm reading, one when i'm sleeping

59. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?:
jeans and a collared shirt

60. PICK A LYRIC, ANY LYRIC:
I wish I were a nomad, an Indian, or a saint.

61. WHAT KIND OF JELLY DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR PB & J?:
grape

62. CAN YOU PLAY POOL?:
I try

63. CAN YOU SWIM?
yes

64. FAVORITE ICE CREAM?:
chocolate peanutbutter

65. DO YOU LIKE MAPS?
yes

66. TELL ME A RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOURSELF:
I have a statue of St. Gertrude, the patron saint of cats, gardeners, and pilgrims.

68. EVER ATTEND A THEME PARTY?:
yes, my favorite was a Harry Potter surprise party my friends threw me my senior year of college. They rock.

69. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON:
summer

70. LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED AT SOMETHING STUPID?
all the time, although K calling church the House of Happy last night really struck me as funny

71. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING ?
7 something, thanks to the fuzzy girl

72. BEST THINGS ABOUT WINTER?
Christmas and snow

73. LAST TIME A COP GAVE YOU A TICKET:
never

75. NAME OF YOUR FIRST PET?:
Buttercup (I had just seen Princess Bride and was slightly in love with Robin Wright. I was five).

76. DO YOU THINK PIRATES ARE COOL OR OVERRATED?:
um

77. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND??
working

78. BIRTHDATE:
Feb 20

79. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE:
published poet, tenured professor, world traveler, mom

85. ARE YOU ON A LAPTOP?:
no

87. ARE YOU SMILING?
yes

89. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?
all the time

90. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
back to Italy

92. ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL?:
no

93. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?:
always

94. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAME?
Laurelyn

96. DOES YOUR SCHOOL START IN AUGUST?:
yep, yay! My classes are all planned (for the entire semester if you can believe that, I can't. i got on a roll this week). I just have to make the copies now.

97. DID YOU GO ON VACATION LAST MONTH?:
i went camping.

98. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CRUISE?:
no

99. DO YOU HAVE A SISTER?
yes

100. ARE YOU UPSTAIRS?:
no

102. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL?
yes, but not as a patient

103. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?
yep

104. WHAT JEWELRY ARE YOU WEARING?
none