A L A I Y O's M U S I N G S

THINKING with "A Girl You Should Date"

2012-01-09T22:44:00.000-08:00

Remember the time...
- when we made mixed tapes?
- when having our own landline (then pager, then cellphone) made us feel so cool?
- when we used to swap pocketbooks with classmates and friends?
- when we listened to the radio to catch our favorite song so we could jot down its lyrics?
- when we had to research and physically go to the library and actually thumb through card catalogues, books and magazines?
- when we had a library card in hard paper listing all the books we have borrowed (and hopefully read)?
- when we actually had to go and see a friend to find out how they're doing and really spend time with them?
- when facebook, youtube, google, did not yet exist?
- when life was much simpler?

A good friend and I talked about this today after I gave her a peek into my day as a literacy teacher. We wondered why many students seem to be even more abandoned with the No Child Left Behind Act. We chatted about teaching and learning, about how it was "back in the day", and yes, about how old we must be getting since lately we allude more and more to "back in our days, it was such and such...". This then led to us wondering about where our fast-paced lives, all these advancements in technology and changes in education, government-society are taking us. It is all quite amazing and yet scary at the same time. I feel like something is lost in the process of our inevitably moving forward. I wonder what is to happen ( is already happening OR perhaps even what has already happened) to our moral fiber, sense of purpose, substance, empathy, critical thinking, IQ, EQ...

Then tonight, I stumbled upon the following blog post. It does not seem to be directly related to my above concerns, yet it comforted me and deeply resonated with me. It challenges me as an educator to make sure I really do my very best to make sure that my students really read, write, question, challenge and assert themselves.

A GIRL YOU SHOULD DATE
by Rosemarie Urquico

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero.

That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

http://nonamerah.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/869/?refid=12

Baring My Soul: Father’s Day

2011-06-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

I cannot sleep and still am very much wide awake at 5:15 am on Father’s Day...

Ah Father’s Day …

One specific topic that strikes me to my very core is my father (or his absence in my life).

Discussing it always turns me - a supposedly strong, confident and accomplished woman, into a young vulnerable girl once again who constantly wonders about, and yearns for her father.

I hardly know Papa, yet I miss him a lot. How I ache for him, especially during the past few days, as I prepare for one of the most, if not THE most, important occasions of my life.

As the sun rises today, on father's day, I found myself writing the following poem...

How I Wish Papa Were There

How I wish Papa were there

to read me a story

and tuck me in bed when I was a kid.

How I wish Papa were there

to hold my hand on my first day of school

or teach me how to ride my first bike.

How I wish Papa were there

to share his interests with me

and laugh and be amazed

at how very much alike or different we were

yet still insist that I do take after him

How I wish Papa were there

to cheer for me on graduation day

and beam with pride for my accolades

and say, “Yep, that’s my baby girl up there”.

How I wish Papa were there

to jokingly threaten my boy friends

to help me nurse a broken heart

or my bruised pride

and give me advice on love and life.

How I wish Papa were there

on birthdays and graduations

when I landed my first job

and share all those other moments

that have brought me joy and otherwise

But most of all

Oh how I long

for Papa to be there

On my wedding day

To walk me down the aisle

To give me away to my beloved

And kiss me on the forehead

As we do our father-daughter dance

How I wish Papa were there

To see his grandchildren grow up

And shed some truth to what people say

About grandparents loving their grandchildren

Much more than their own children

Nonetheless, I know deep down

That Papa has always been with me

Smiling from up above

or perhaps even right next to me

Each and every minute of my life.

So Papa, I thank you

For being a source of strength

and inspiration.

Who and where I am today

is partly and perhaps, even wholly

because of you

I appreciate and cherish

the fleeting,

yet special moments

we spent together.

I hope you are

proud of your little girl.

I love you dearly and unstintingly.

Below is one of my favorite father and daughter song, "Butterfly Kisses".

I dedicate this song to Papa and all the other fathers, parents and children out there.

Please treasue every moment you have with your loved ones.

Butterfly Kisses

by Bob Carlisle

There's two things I know for sure

She was sent here from heaven

And she's daddy's little girl

As I drop to my knees by her bed at night

She talks to Jesus and I close my eyes

And I thank God for all of the joy in my life

Oh but most of all

For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer

Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

Walk beside the pony daddy it's my first ride

I know the cake looks funny daddy but I sure tried

Oh with all that I've done wrong

I must have done something right

To deserve a hug every mornin'

And butterfly kisses at night

Sweet 16 today

She's lookin' like her mama a little more every day

One part woman the other part girl

To perfume and make up from ribbons and curls

Trying her wings out in a great big world

But I remember

Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer

Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

You know how much I love you daddy

But if you don't mind

I'm only gonna kiss you on the check this time

Oh with all that I've done wrong

I must have done something right

To deserve her love every mornin'

And butterfly kisses at night

All the precious time

Like the wind the years go by

Precious butterfly

Spread your wings and fly

She'll change her name today

She'll make a promise and I'll give her aways

Standing in the bride room just staring at her

She asked me what I'm thinkin'

And I said I'm not sure

I just feel like I'm loosin' my baby girl

And she leaned over

Gave me butterfly kisses with her mama there

Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair

Walk me down the isle daddy

It's just about time

Does my wedding gown look pretty daddy?

Daddy's don't cry

Oh with all that I've done wrong

I must have done something right

To deserve her love every mornin'

And butterfly kisses

I couldn't ask God for more than this is what love is

I know I've got to let her go but I'll always remember

Every hug in the mornin' and butterfly kisses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heouDje_di0

CHASING PAVEMENTS

2011-01-27T13:41:00.000-08:00

Spent the snow day (no school/work) doing what I love - read poetry, listen to music, play the guitar, sing...

I'm tryin to play CHASING PAVEMENTS by Adele. I love the artist, the music and the video.

Disclaimer: The song in no way reflects on my current relationship.
Songs, poetry, many forms of art (I bawled as I thought of Papa while watching "Everybody's Fine" last night) just really strike to my very core. I guess I am a hopeless empath...

Interesting trivia I learned about the song:
The song was inspired by an incident Adele had with a former boyfriend of six months. At 6:00 AM one morning, after learning he had cheated on her, she went to the bar he was at and punched him in the face. After being thrown out, Adele ran down the street alone and thought to herself, "What is it you're chasing? You're chasing an empty pavement." She sang it into her cellphone and arranged three chords when she got home.

I've made up my mind, don't need to think it over
If I'm wrong I am right, don't need to look no further
This ain't lust, I know this is love

But if I tell the world, I'll never say enough
'Cause it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do if I'd end up with you

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?
Or would it be a waste even if I knew my place
Should I leave it there?
Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?

I build myself up and fly around in circles
Wait then as my heart drops and my back begins to tingle
Finally could this be it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08DjMT-qR9g

Linger on the Joyful Mysteries of Life

2010-09-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

As we... have leisure to indulge our memories,
we should choose with care the memories we indulge...
They shape our moods.

If we are seduced into ...
sore memories, resentments and grievances,
then people will avoid us.

The world is hard enough
without doses of other people’s gloom to darken it.

But we can lift our own and others’ moods
if we linger on the joyful mysteries of our life,
on the people we love
and the experiences that we feel as blessings.

We don’t want to bore our friends
with complacency or boastfulness.

Gratitude for God’s gifts is different.
It is one of the basic themes
of any mature spirituality,
and it makes us easy to live with.

* http://sacredspace.ie/

Cityscape: Surveying the Urban Biotope

2010-05-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

85-degree Sunday was a good day to pack my bag with a blanket, books, badminton & boyfriend :-) and head out to the park.

The day got even better when we found out that it was the opening day of "Cityscape: Surveying the Urban Biotope" The park was filled with art works exploring the presence of nature in the fabric of urban life.

Other than the art pieces, it was a gorgeous day to be in the park, bump into friends, and observe the:
- dogs, children and adults walking, playing and running around the park
- amazing concentration of the man doing tai chi
- ice cream truck luring everybody to get cold and yummy frozen goodies
- neso sound asleep oblivious of the dog licking his leg

I LOVE NEW YORK!

May 2, 2010; Socrates Sculpture Park, LIC, NYC

New York People & Places

2010-04-22T20:31:00.001-07:00

Every year, I give a mini-talk to my former grad school professor's class at Long Island University. After the second session yesterday, he introduced me to Rachel, an undergrad student of his from the Philippines.

We hit it off right away and spent the rest of the evening checking out the beautiful neighborhood of Clinton Hill and ended up having dinner at Umi Nom (Filipino-Thai Resto)

It's really amazing how we make connections with people. Discovering the lovely Clinton Hill neighborhood was also amazing. More things to love NYC - its places and people =).

As wiki describes Clinton Hill:
Clinton Hill is a neighborhood in the north-central portion of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. It is bordered on the east by Bedford-Stuyvesant, on the west by Fort Greene, on the north by Wallabout Bay and on the south by Prospect Heights. The neighborhood is served by the NYPD's 88th Precinct.[1]

By the 1840s, Clinton Hill had become a fashionable neighborhood for the wealthy of Brooklyn, who could commute to Manhattan by way of stagecoach to the Fulton Ferry in nearby Brooklyn Heights. By the 1880s and '90s, Clinton Avenue was lined with mansions of millionaires, many of which have survived to the present day. The most prominent of these are linked to Charles Pratt, who built a mansion for himself and one each as wedding presents for three of his four sons (pictured, right). These four mansions can be seen on Clinton Avenue between DeKalb and Willoughby. The Pratt Institute of Art, founded by Charles Pratt in 1887, is located a few blocks from his former home. Due in part to the presence of Pratt Institute the neighborhood boasts an increasing arts community, and many bohemians are flocking towards the yet-to-be gentrified industrial areas adjacent to the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Counting

2010-04-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Life is good. Count your blessings.

This is one of the things that I always tell myself. This weekend, has given me many things to be thankful for. I tried to capture these through snapshots that I compiled in my online album.

- reconnected with an old student/theater colleague. Last time I saw him was 9 years ago.
- finally tasted the food at “Taverna Kyclade”s, acclaimed as the best Greek Restaurant in NYC
- had a fun date night with the extremely entertaining “Kick Ass” movie and enjoyed the rain on the way home
- had a get-together with friends and video shoot for our $10 Initiative non-profit organization (www.tendollarinitiative.org)
- checked out Astoria neighborhood on Greek Independence Day
- enjoyed spring weather, flowers in bloom and beautiful scenery

And I continue counting...

Conduct your blooming in the noise and discipline of the whirlwind

2010-04-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

As much as using the New York City subway system is a pain, I must give props to the many art work in the different stations.

Today, on my way home, I was early enough to miss the crazy (and sometimes brutal) New York City rush hour. I took my time and enjoyed going up the steps without battling with the usual sea of humanity. It was eerily quiet and almost empty. I enjoyed the silence, the space and yes, THE MOSAIC ART!

The 59th Street and Lexington Avenue station was decorated with a colorful large-scale mosaic mural entitled Blooming, by Elizabeth Murray. The words "Conduct your blooming in the noise and discipline of the whirlwind" float from the coffee cups immortalizing Gwendolyn Brooks’s words. As Murray says in an interview about her art, "I had this vision of people getting up really early, half in a dream state, putting on their clothes, drinking a cup of coffee and getting on the subway to go to work".

It’s interesting to know that a lot of this ceramic work began when the subway system originally opened on October 27, 1904.

Things like this are reasons why I love New York.

BRUNCH

2010-04-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

"It is a true saying that a man must eat … with his friend before he knows him."

-- Miguel de Cervantes, 'Don Quixote

A friend of mine organized a brunch at our neighborhood yesterday. I went to the brunch knowing only three people, and left the restaurant knowing five more. Food really brings people together. The brunch was at DiWine, a Euro wine bar that also had a variety of good brunch menu to offer a classic restaurant experience. We enjoyed unlimited drinks (the bellini was my favorite) while enjoying the food, conversation and company.

On our way home, we stopped by the pet shop and ogled at adorable huskies, then continued to enjoy the nice spring weather as we walked home.

Changing of the Seasons

2010-04-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

As I headed home today, I noticed how quickly the leaves and blossoms have came out.
The changing of seasons is really so amazing. (",)

RETREAT

2010-04-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

Two good friends and I went on our yearly Holy Week Retreat.
It was very rejuvenating to our mind, body and spirit.

HOMOPHOBIA

2010-03-10T20:46:00.001-08:00

Today, I attended a workshop on CONFRONTING HOMOPHOBIA in our SCHOOLS & CURRICULUM sponsored by Facing History and Ourselves.

I was tremendously Challenged... Inspired ... Enlightened ... Refreshed to engage in relevant, powerful and empowering conversations and initiatives.

We need to change this world where heterosexuality is THE ONLY NORM.

W O M A N

2010-03-08T19:58:00.001-08:00

International Women's Day

2010-03-08T19:27:00.000-08:00

Happy International Women's Day to all my fabulous and beautiful HERMANA (",)

Below are two of my favorite songs about the wonderful being that is W O M A N.

She's Always A Woman (Billy Joel)
She can kill with a smile
She can wound with her eyes
She can ruin your faith with her casual lies
And she only reveals what she wants you to see
She hides like a child,
But she's always a woman to me

She can lead you to love
She can take you or leave you
She can ask for the truth
But she'll never believe you
And she'll take what you give her, as long as it's free
Yeah, she steals like a thief
But she's always a woman to me

Oh--she takes care of herself
She can wait if she wants
She's ahead of her time
Oh--and she never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

And she'll promise you more
Than the Garden of Eden
Then she'll carelessly cut you
And laugh while you're bleedin'
But she'll bring out the best
And the worst you can be
Blame it all on yourself
Cause she's always a woman to me

She is frequently kind
And she's suddenly cruel
She can do as she pleases
She's nobody's fool
And she can't be convicted
She's earned her degree
And the most she will do
Is throw shadows at you
But she's always a woman to me

"Everything" (Michael Buble)
You're a falling star, you're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy but it's kinda cute.
When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend that you don't know it's true.
'cause you can see it when I look at you.

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, you make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.

I CELEBRATE BEING A WOMAN (",)

“There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire..." (Washington Irving)

MY FIRST TIME IN TEXAS

2010-02-21T20:34:00.000-08:00

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Mardi-Gras in New Orleans

2010-02-18T21:15:00.000-08:00

"Mardi-Gras is of course a relic of the French and Spanish occupation; but I judge that the religious feature has been pretty well knocked out of it now. Sir Walter has got the advantage of the gentlemen of the cowl and rosary, and he will stay. His medieval business, supplemented by the monsters and the oddities, and the pleasant creatures from fairy-land, is finer to look at than the poor fantastic inventions and performances of the reveling rabble of the priest's day, and serves quite as well, perhaps, to emphasize the day and admonish men that the grace-line between the worldly season and the holy one is reached."

- Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi

Kung Hei Fat Choi

2010-02-13T22:58:00.001-08:00

It's already February 14 in Asia. Kung Hei Fat Choi... Gong Xi Fa Cai… Greetings to everyone who celebrates Chinese New Year.

In the five years when I was a teacher at Xavier School, I celebrated Chinese New Year. Now living in NYC, I intensely miss the people, festivities, souvenirs and FOOD associated with the Chinese New Year celebration in XS.

I have XS to thank for immersing me in the Chinese -Filipino culture. Xavier is a Filipino Chinese Jesuit school in the Philippines where I absolutely fell in love with teaching. (Sigh…I miss Xavier. Xavier will be a totally separate blog entry since it IS such a big part of my life… )

On to Chinese New Year lest I digress some more…

Chinese New Year 4708, or 2010 in the Western calendar, is the Year of the Metal Tiger. Like the houses of the zodiac in the Western astrology, animals of Chinese astrology are thought by many to dictate personality traits or, in the wider scope of things, even impact world events.

I was born in the Year of the Snake. Let's see if the descriptions are true for me.

Snake personality traits
Like a deep river, Snake people are usually placid on the surface, but their thoughts and emotions run very deep.

Quiet and unassuming, they prefer to work by themselves and are more often in the spotlight for their real and lasting accomplishments than for outward attempts at garnering attention.

Snakes hate to fail, and are very lucky when it comes to making money. With reputations for being hoarders, they are very frugal and careful about lending money to friends for frivolous reasons. However, they often show extraordinary sympathy when presented with an opportunity to help those who are truly in need.

Essentially loners, Snake people commonly keep their own counsel and rely on themselves to get ahead in life, mistrusting others' thoughts and opinions on matters of the utmost importance. Facts, too, get in the way of decision making for most Snakes, who prefer to use their own deeply held feelings and intuition in negotiating life's crossroads.

In matters of the heart, Snakes can be deeply amorous, jealous in nature, and do not handle rejection well at all.
And woe to those who betray the trust and affection of the passionate snake!

In business dealings, Snake people command respect for their accomplishments and can enjoy great success as teachers (:> yey!), writers or philosphers.

Snakes are most compatible with : Ox, Rooster
Famous people born in the Year of the Snake: Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Kanye West, Dick Cheney, Bob Dylan, John F. Kennedy, James Joyce, Pablo Picasso

** Hmm… can I own up to these personality traits? (",)**
Source: http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/chinese-new-year-snake.htm

Fréond*

2010-02-12T23:21:00.001-08:00

"I count myselt in nothing else so happy
As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends." - William Shakespeare

"I love having those friends where years could pass, and it's as if you saw them just the day before. "

AMZ posted this on facebook after our impromptu dinner date.

Everyday, we get so caught up with the motions and demands of our own lives that if we do not make an effort, it would be so difficult to stay connected with friends, especially those whom we are not in contact with on a daily basis. Days, weeks, months and years can go by without us being connected with these people. Yet, despite time, distance and different circumstances, there are friends who you rarely see, but when you do, it feels like you were just together the day before.

This was the case for AMZ and me today. Though we live in the same city, we had not seen each other for two years. Yes, we send instant messages here and there, but nothing can still compare to the quality and experience of the face-to-face conversation we had tonight over dinner. There's nothing like good conversation over good food with good company. (Flo Lounge Restarant was a great choice, A :>)

Today, I've had the chance to reconnect with a few more of my friends.

There's LD with whom I shared a spirited phone conversation tonight. It was nice to reminisce about the past, talk about how we learn from them and how we gain 'wisdom' and more character over time, and sure, throw out some 'what-ifs' too...

Then there's always TN who I consider my kindred spirit. I continue to admire her and be inspired by her.

And of course, there's ever loyal and strong-hearted AO who has been my best friend since high school.

There are so many more special people who I will write about later. You know who you are.

Here's to the special people in my life who remind me of the kind of friendship that transcends time and space. Thank you for the gift of your wonderful friendship.

*FRIENDSHIP - of Germanic origin, and related to the Old English fréond with the same meaning, and the Old Teutonic frijôjan, to love.

POESIA

2010-02-11T21:37:00.001-08:00

"A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today was not the usual hectic day at work – several students were absent, perhaps due to the aftermath of the snow storm. It gave me the chance to sit with my students and spend a little more quality and personal time with them. In particular, I spent some time talking about poetry with 'A' who is very quiet and shy. I learned that other than graffiti art, she was also into poetry. She shared with me the different types of poems she learned in middle school. It is impressive that she still remembers the many different types and how easily she composed poem after poem as I sat next to her. I loved how her eyes twinkled and her face beamed as she read her newly-written poems to me.

In Humanities class, after watching a few clips from "When the Levees Broke", we had quite a powerful discussion about race, responsibility and identity. Our students shared pretty profound observations and insights. It is amazing how they can take one topic/task at a higher level. When asked to freewrite about a place they long for, 'R' later shared an evocative poem about longing to be back in his mother's arms. It's safe to say that the class was blown away by his personal poem.

During lunch, one of my advisees presented her autobiography. It was another opportunity to see a student outside her 'student' persona. Our school's autobiography goal is to help students understand that by reflecting on their personal history, they will better understand how the people, places and events of their past have shaped who they are today and deepen their sense of self. 'N' has surely exhibited that. She also showed me how much strength she has. At such a young age, our students have gone through and are going through so many challenging times, yet, they continue to show up filled with energy and smile to school everyday. I draw strength from them (as much as I say they take so much energy from me after a draining day). Their strength, insight and wisdom are truly remarkable.

Tonight, another student emailed me his written autobiography piece which he will be presenting tomorrow. After reading it, I emailed him back saying that it was one of the best ones I have ever read. It was very descriptive, well-written and genuine. I can't wait for his visual and oral presentation tomorrow. I feel very honored that he asked me to sit in his autobiography committee.

I am grateful for opportunities to get to know my students at a deeper level. I vow to continue to get to know my students at a more personal level. Before "students", "sons", "sisters", and other titles assigned to them, they are "persons" first above anything else – with their own interests, attributes, strengths and quirks. It is truly a great honor to get to know these wonderful people, and indeed, I find it a great pleasure to know each of them.

Yes. Today was quite a good and 'poetic' day indeed.

CLASSROOM SNIPPETS

2010-02-10T13:42:00.001-08:00

I love what I do.

There's never a dull day in the classroom - no moment is ever the same; no class is ever alike.

Here are snippets of how my day was yesterday:

BLOCK 1:

I was modeling to my students how to fill out a writing bank ('my writing territories' sheet).

Teacher Jo-Ann: "Help me fill out my writing bank. What is one thing that I love the most?" (I was thinking of music.)

Students: "Teaching"

… And my heart just melted.

BLOCK 2:

Tough-looking student: "Do you have a writing utensil I can borrow? Thank you…"

Wow! That's something I rarely hear anymore these days? Usually it's more like Yo! I need a pen".

Hmm… there is still hope in the human race …

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth

2010-02-10T12:57:00.001-08:00

FINALLY – after a hiatus, I have decided to write again. This year, I vow to continue pursuing my passions and interests. Writing is at the top of the list next to music, reading, poetry, art, photography, volunteering and traveling.

Everyday, I'd tell myself, "Okay, just scribble some words and begin." Yet, I get sidetracked and find seemingly more pressing matters to do.

Yet today, it seems like I was sent a message not to wait any longer but to start writing now. Work has been called off due to the winter storm –blowing snow and blizzard warning. Hmm… this would make for a nice day of writing.

So here I am …

Where should I begin? And I was brought to entries of blog's past (http://dimbermort.blog.friendster.com/)