Obamanator April 7, 2009

I’m going to start this out by saying that I have spent damn near zero time keeping up with the politics game lately.  That being said, I switched on to talk radio today and, SURPRISE, I found some really dumb things being said.

1:  Apparently Obama recently made an address where he talked about how Muslims have enriched America and about how he has Muslim family and grew up in a Muslim-majority country.  I wasn’t really surprised because I kinda already knew that from his campaign.  Anyway, the show host busts in and basically asks “why now?”  Maybe Obama has something to prove.  Maybe he’s sponsoring Muslim extremists!  OH NO!
Okay, really.  He didn’t put it in every single one of his campaign speeches because, as a group, AMERICAN VOTERS ARE STUPID AND REACTIONARY!  Look at how uptight everyone was when Obama’s preacher said all those controversial things (anyone ever watch TBN?  MILD!).  And that guy is a god-fearing christian!  Can you imagine what the reaction would be if Obama played up his diverse religious background?  I mean, realistically, would the voters have handled that well?  Are they handling it well NOW?  Who in their right mind would expect Obama to shoot himself in the foot while running for President?  Are we really and honestly shocked to hear that politicians play up their good points and play down their controversial points?  Lets.  Get.  Fucking.  Real.

2.  So, the idea of the government basically owning and running major corporations as part of a “bailout” really really really makes me nervous.  I don’t like the government having that kind of power.  Period.  That said, talk radio guys are all up in arms about this move being socialist, communist, insertscarybuzzwordhere.  They’re pissy because good ol’ Prez is saying that we need to see past ourselves and our “want want want” habits to see the bigger picture.  He thinks that maybe we should show some responsibility for our country as a whole above our own greed in this situation.  Call me crazy, but that doesn’t seem like the worst idea.  Seems like the same people who were talking about unity and getting together to help our fellow American after 9/11 are the ones who are bitching about having to sacrifice and consider the neighbors in this awful economic situation.  In the same breath, they tout “real” capitalism being the only way we can possibly come out of this.  People need to buy buy buy and not worry so much about the “big picture.”  Being responsible to our group as a whole in our daily lives is FUCKING SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM!  Capitalism rules!  Everyone for themselves!
Attitudes like this are what is causing ridiculous resource shortages all over the world.  That kind of mentality is why we have millions of acres of dying crops right next door to deep green, manicured lawns.   America is a gross offender on that note.  I don’t know about you guys, but without the rest of the US thriving, I’m fucked.  Without the rest of the world thriving, America is fucked.  I don’t like giving the government more power, but what are they expected to do when we’ve shown that we’re NOT CAPABLE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE under this type of economic model?
I truly don’t get it.  There is so much contradiction going around that it’s difficult even to put my own opinion into words (hence the rambling).  America’s going to sputter out and then wonder exactly how that happened.  Rome did the same thing, but we don’t bother to learn from their mistakes.

I’m so frustrated to be living here right now.  Anyone want to go off the grid with me?

SCIENCE! February 26, 2009

Today I was completely inspired by science I didn’t give a holy damn about before I walked into the lecture hall.  There are some COOL things happening out there, folks.  It’s fascinating!  Nanotechnology makes my brain hurt, but in the best way!

Useless February 25, 2009

I’m not a negative person.  Not usually, anyway.  But lately I have been extremely negative when it comes to this job.  I mean, realistically, I know I can’t walk into this job and be 100% competent within a couple of months.  But to feel so stupid and ineffective every day gets to really wear on my nerves.  Tonight I’ve been crying since I blew up when Paul was complaining about some bad teachers that we know.  I don’t go to bed or wake up in the morning without feeling sick-anxious about the coming day.  Now, I’m somewhat of a perfectionist (a messy one, if you can believe that) and a big-time overachiever (Paul says that I act just like some of his GATE kids), but mental exhaustion just isn’t my bag.

Sorry to have such a down post.  I guess I’m just procrastinating a little bit.  Apparently I don’t want to plan for tomorrow either.

In admiration. February 23, 2009

I am so proud of my friends.  Some are raising kind-hearted, loving children.  Some are pushing their bodies to limits they’ve never even been close to.  Some are kicking ass and taking names at their jobs or in their classes.  Some are juggling terrible family situations and managing to put together what I know will be a beautiful wedding.  Either way, they are all doing fantastic things, whether they know it or not.

I am so proud to know you all.  Thank you for having me in your lives.

Yep yep February 22, 2009

So I’ve been really trying to blog about the big piles of nothing going on in my life.  Lucky for you guys, I haven’t gotten around to it! 

So anyway, I’ve been thinking about this teaching thing.  I don’t particularly like it.  Things got really high stress when I had my evaluation by the AP during a day when I was B*O*M*B*I*N*G.  Ever had those days?  Yeah, me too.  But anyway, I met with the AP and he was SUPER supportive and helpful, so that made me feel a little better.  We talked about the possibility of my coming back next year.  The whole idea of that kind of freaks me out.  Partially because I can’t IMAGINE going through what I have gone through this year over again.  Partially because I could end up teaching a subject that I haven’t taken a class in since like 2004 (that’d be Chemistry, folks).  If I got Earth Science again, I would probably consider it.  If I and the other new teacher this year got Earth Science together, I’d probably say yes.  Working with her has helped me out a lot.  It’s been a lot of blind leading the blind, but it has done well for both of us to see what bombs and what works.  Ugh.  Anyway, I’m kind of divided on this one.  I’d like to give it a shot, considering that EVERYONE has told me that the first year is AWFUL and subsequent years get better very quickly.  On the same note, I’ve been feeling really out of place this year.  Not necessarily at the school or with my co-workers, but with the kids.  Sort of important, right?
On that same note (sorta), I’m now counting landmarks until school is out.  Landmark 1:  going to Vegas March 13-15.  Landmark 2: Brianne’s wedding March 21.  Landmark 3:  spring break and visiting long lost friends, April 6-10.  Landmark 4:  schools out for the motherfucking summer!
I’ll make it.  I have to.

So anyway, tonight I’m hanging out, drinking beer, relaxing.  Today Paul and I did some serious house work.  I tackled the back yard, which has been begging to be cleaned for about 4 months now.  Got a weed whacker and a push lawn mower at Lowe’s and went to work.  Next thing I need to learn is how to prune me some citrus!  Sheesh!  Paul has begun the slow and awkward process of removing a big ass sink from the laundry room.  The sink is gone, but there’s a big hole in the drywall and the drain pipe is capped.  That literally took hours.  But it’s okay.  We’re supposed to be slow when we’re learning how to not burn our house down by doing our own repairs and renovations.  It was nice to be productive.  I haven’t felt really productive in a long effing time.

I’m looking forward to summer so I can actually read a book I want to read.  Maybe read some geology journal articles or help out with research at the college.  I don’t want to forget that I LOVE being a nerd that way.  I miss my nerdery.  Like LOTS.

It’s about time. February 18, 2009

Hey all.  I grabbed one of these bad boys because I know lots of people have been neglecting myspace.  That’s okay.  Maybe with a change of scenery I’ll actually use this thing anyway.

So, yeah, that’s it for tonight.  I have to be up SUPER early tomorrow because I have NO idea what I’m going to do for 1st and 2nd periods.  Whoops.

LOVE!