Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing...

We're Twitterfied! As an English teacher and a lover of words, I absolutely despise hashtags, and so I thought that I would swear off Twitter on principle. Forever.

Turns out, social media is like the Death Star's tractor beam. And so, this afternoon, I stepped off my soapbox (or, keeping with the simile, I was pulled off my soapbox). You can now follow me @JoMyGosh and join in the conversation!

(Don't forget: if you haven't yet, you can like us on Facebook, too!)

Now, it's time to get my social mediaed-out butt to the gym. I've got just 16 days to hit this months' goal-- running 2.5 miles by my birthday! 

#96: Junot Diaz!

And another one bites the dust! This week, I got to check off #96 from my list-- I attended a book talk given by Junot Diaz (author of Drown, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and This is How You Lose Her) at UMBC. I should double-check this off the list because it was so full of awesomeness. 

My department head, friend, and fellow AP teacher, Tonya, had (because she's a superstar teacher) organized the trip for both of our AP classes two weeks ago, just as the eye of Hurricane Sandy was making it's way towards the Eastern Seaboard. It goes without saying that the event was cancelled, even though I had students emailing me, hoping it was still on, even after school closed for Monday on the Sunday before at noon.

Thankfully, Diaz was rescheduled (on the day that the nor'easter hit the East Coast... can a sister get a break?), and Tonya, Shannon, and I carted 9 very dedicated students out to the UMBC campus.

I love taking students places. I love seeing them transform from teens into young adults the moment they leave the building. I love seeing their faces light up when they experience new things. And, while I really dislike living and working in a city, I really love that we have so many opportunities to introduce our kids to. 

We arrived at UMBC a little early, so we took the kids on a quick walking tour of the campus, ending up at the student union building where every child wanted to order at the Starbucks. 

I never, ever drink coffee. John does, though, and last year he got me to try a Pumpkin Spice Latte and a Caramel Something Or Other. But, I was not to be left out, so I ended up ordering a PSL (I'm so cool using Starbucks' slang!) and (believe it or not) drinking the whole thing. Not before, of course, snapping a few pictures to prove it to John, much to the amusement of my students ("Ms. G, what are you doing?")

Diaz ended up getting there a little late-- complications from the snowstorm-- but when he finally did begin speaking, he was excellent. He was different from what my students had imagined, I think. He's curses, uses slang and humor, and is not at all what you'd expect of an MIT professor and Pulitzer Prize winner. While he talked about political economy, sexism, racism, and the hegemony of language, the kids stayed right with him because he made it so darn palatable.  (Even though, I wish he would have cut back on the, "Profanity is the language of the masses, so don't let anyone shackle your tongue" speech. I could feel every one of my students turn towards me and think simultaneously, "That's the last time you tell me to stop swearing in class, Ms. G." )

Best thing? Our principal bought the attending students copies of Oscar Wao, and yesterday, during some down time in class, I saw one of my boys cracking it open and soaking it up. That's what it's all about.

So. Much. Happiness!

Happy Election Day! In the past few days, I've heard so many disparaging remarks on TV, from Facebook, from friends and acquaintances about politics... but I love elections and politics. In fact, for quite a while in college, I thought I would get a political science minor with a major in history. That's how much I love all of this stuff. I'll spare you the flag-waving and the rah-rah-red-white-and-blue, but it is absolutely amazing to me how a nation of millions of people with divergent beliefs and backgrounds are able to consistently vote, peacefully, and watch power transfer between parties and people for scores of years. 

Last night, Rachel and I drove to PA to join in the festivities and cast our ballots at home, in our beautiful, wonderful state. Too much happened between then and now, so here're the top three awesome things that happened in the past 24 hours:

1. Becky finally received a mini-care package from me! (Waiting for the post office to deliver is so tough sometimes!) I sent her a book of Lisa Frank stickers and wrapped it in the most Lisa Franky scrapbook paper paper I could find. I think sending her a throwback to the 90's made me happier than her receiving it!

2. I voted! And here was what was awesome about that: I voted in the same township building where my parents used to take us and let us flip the levers when we were little. The poll volunteers were people from my church and my sixth grade teacher who told Rachel and I that she was proud of us for voting. (And who doesn't want a compliment like that from their sixth-grade teacher?!)We stood behind a man with the most manicured, waxed and curled mustache-- it was truly epic. After we voted, we went to McDonald's to meet Grandpa for lunch... and Rachel wore her own mustache to surprise him.

2. I met with my pastor, a florist, baker, and picked up STDs! I talked to Pastor Rob and we started figuring out the logistics of the service. I had a chance to think about flowers and start planning the cake. And (probably what you're wondering most about), the Save the Dates showed up in my mailbox today! All of the pieces are starting to slowly fall together and fit into place-- and a good thing, too! We've got just over eight months to go!

Now, all I have to do is put on some pjs, do a little lesson planning, cross my fingers, and wait for the results from the polls to start rolling in. Oh yeah, and cross stitch. I might have to uncross my fingers for a bit...