Michelle's Journal

5:36PM - I feel like such a groupie!

All day I have been avoiding writing this research paper which could very well be the last one of my graduate school career or the impetus that convinces academia my placement in a doctoral program. Either way, I'm not feeling it today. So...I've spent the day emailing, eating Starburst candies, listening to KEXP, watching videos, updating my profile, and searching for friends on Facebook. Of course, my grad program deems that I read hundreds of pages of research and theory which at times is fascinating in a geeky sort of way. As it is, I've come to adore several researchers and if they had their own fan club...I would wear a t-shirt proudly that states "Rosenblatt you can transactional theorize me any day." Or "Csikszentimihalyi- I've got your flow."

So, when I friend-searched James Paul Gee (research professor from University of Wisconsin) in Facebook, I was delighted to see his face staring back at me. Just a note, James (and I can call him that now that we are friends) is highly regarded in social cultural learning theory and in fact is peer reviewed up the kazoo with regard to syntatic and semantic theory. His theory basically states that in order for us to understand how learning occurs we must first examine the social cultural stance in which the learning is situated. He wrote a progressive book describing how video games are a situated learning practice that empowers the video gamer. He actually teaches a class on video games at his university. How cool is that!

Anyway, I send him a little note, sorta like "I heart your theory and can my future research marry your situated theory someday?" Pretty silly but you know what?!! He befriended me!

It's like Christmas for me, James Paul Gee wants to be my friend. It feels so middle school but I wrote a note to another grad friend who geeked out on the prospect of friendship with this demi-god. Oh, and he is friends with Csik so I've just upped my anti in degrees of separation from my fan club. Now if only I could get Neil Gaiman to respond back.

3:34PM - The Body Electric

2:02PM - La Raza, La Unidad, y La Enchilada

Just to show you how lame San Antonio is...
There has been much to do about the immigration reform debate around the country. Washington is in a heated debate over what do with the immigrants. On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved measures that would allow undocumented immigrants to get work and earn legal status after penalties. The House proposes a stricter law that calls for fencing in the US/Mexico border and harsher penalities for illegal immigrants which includes penalizing churches and sheltars for housing illegal immigants. This was the headline in today's local paper- "San Antonio a Quiet City: Immigration reform debate largely is taking place elsewhere in the country." The article goes on to discuss why San Antonio, a predominately Latino community, is not out protesting with the rest of country.

But it gets more ridiculous...
At F.T (the school I teach at), students were discussing a proposal to walk out of classes to protest the immigration proposals. However, when asked few knew the reason(s) for the protest, and even fewer wanted to skip lunch. Yes, Lunch! The walk out was scheduled for 12:30 during 2nd lunch. Wednesday is enchilada day. It's really the only day when the entire student population lines up to eat greasy cheesy enchiladas. Any other day, the students skip lunch and eat junk out of the machines. When I asked students, why they weren't going to the protest, one young hungry soul said, "Miss, c'mon, it's enchiladas, and free enchiladas." That says everything about San Antonio. Enchiladas are more important than standing up for your community. That's cheezy rich!

Current mood: distressed

10:33AM - Kate Moss luvs to touch herself

This is what appeared today in the New York Post. You gotta luv a girl who has a gold vibrator.



March 14, 2006 -- PERHAPS Kate Moss is swearing off unruly boyfriends, given all that bad press her junkie ex-lover Pete Doherty caused her. Our theory springs from a recent sighting of the supermodel making a very personal purchase at La Petite Coquette on University Place. Moss bought a limited-edition, Jimmyjane "Little Something" vibrator in 24K gold for $350. The buzz-worthy bauble comes inscribed with choice of endearment ("Sugar," "Be Mine," "Sweetie" or "Flirt") and is guaranteed not to get you in trouble with the law.

I think a parody is in order of that rap lyrics - "I'm gonna go to the jeweler to make me a vibrator" I've learned a lot about Kate and her limited edidition Jimmyjane. I'm going about it all wrong- I named my special something "Richard". No wonder he doesn't always respond to me. I need more foreplay.

Current mood: flirty

Current music: pixies- "Here COMES your Man

8:53PM - I'm feeling like wonder woman

I found this for all the wonder woman fans out there. Noah says wonder woman is sexy. I told him yes and she can kick butt too. He is impressed.
http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/83-wonder-woman/738/#intro

10:13AM - Anybody Got Chili?

You know that old cheer... I got spirit..How about you..Well, I got spirit, chili bowl spirit. Chili Bowl is this huge homecoming event at my school. When I mean huge, I mean like super bowl huge, no like soccer world cup huge minus the Irish belting the Italians with iron sticks. The entire school (which is broken down in subsets of 4 schools) decorates with a theme in mind. There is much thinking and planning that goes on with this event. We call in engineers, consult with graphic artists, make graphs and charts, the whole "corporate" thing. As it is, this is the second day of this mayhem- otherwise known as "kid day" (dress like you remember yourself as a kid). That in itself is another journal entry that begs for more space on another day. Ahem, back to my narrative, today I began the day with a short mini lesson on sweat shops. Class, how many of you have ever worked in a sweat shop? Silence. Finally, the sleepy kid in the back row asks- What is a sweat shop? Glad you asked- today you will be introduced to the fast pace of child labor, so roll up your sleeves, wipe that smirk off your face and please, whatever you do- don't get sweat all over my chilies. So, I walk around the room with my ruler in tote as my workers, ah students, colored, clipped, strung ribbon and hung chilies outside in the hallway. My favorite part of the day was when I banged the ruler on a desk of some poor unsuspecting but compliant child and screamed "faster, faster." You better believe that I have the best sweat shop this west of Tokyo. I ended the day by reminding everyone of their homework. Homework, they all groaned. Yes, get plenty of rest 'cause tomorra we backey to workey!

6:29PM - If I was a rich man

A teacher at school who is either on the verge of retiring or actually going insane asked me what I would do if I was her. What a question! If I finally had it and wanted to tell people to take this job and shove it... I would do it poetically. I would come to work wearing my pajamas, prop up my feet on the desk, have a cigar in one hand and a cocktail (preferably a mexican martini) and teach my sixteen year-old students LOLITA. I'd read everything like I was an actress off one of those phone sex commercials.

True story: an administrator stopped me in the hall and said, "You know, all we want from you is to try your best!" I told him, "Sir, what do you think I'm doing...my worst!"
I am one step away from reading Lolita...