Well, as it turns out, students who are enrolled in fewer than 3 units a term (as I am, while on adjunct enrollment status) are not allowed to work for the University. Apparently, the fact that I worked for the University while adjunctly enrolled last semester was some sort of miraculous fluke. So now I have no job in the English Department (those poor Freshmen will have to learn how to write a sentence in high school now or something) and my boss in the Agriculture Department is trying to convince the Dept. to hire me as an independant contractor so that he doesn't have to replace me. One good thing from this: as an English Masters Candidate, it warms my heart to be treated as someone who is indespensible by the Ag. Dept. such that they'll try to loophole the system in hopes of not losing me. It's too bad my own departmental peers lack that level of confidence and loyalty.
Meanwhile, I dodged the Boy Scouts bullet with Lash again this past week. Quite evilly of me, I denied his Scouting request as partial punishment for his fighting at school and explained to him that Scouting would be something he has to prove himself responsible enough to be a part of and he'll have to show good behaviour from now until next recruitment drive before I'll consider it again.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
May Day
My friend Drew's blog today reminded me that a couple weeks back I mentioned I would have some things to say about Bowling for Columbine and Elephant.
Of course, I don't really have as coherent a grip on what I wanted to say now as I did then. I remember one level of emotion--a small sense of peevedness over how America started to blow up over the evils of school shootings after Columbine, that it was a spark to light the flame of gun control debate for the coming decade or longer, as well it should be.
I graduated from high school in June of 1992, in a small California town named Marysville. Our sister and rival school was one called Lindhurst High. All but one of my closest friends in high school were Lindhurst High School graduates (including ex-rommates the Chrises).
On May 1st, 1992 Lindhurst High was taken hostage by a former student, who killed three students and one teacher and wounded many others. The female contingent of the Chrises was one of the hostages and to this day can't even sit through a film like Bowling for Columbine or Elephant. People I knew and loved were killed there, wounded physically or emotionally, or both.
I remember running the two miles from school to home when the news broke so I could try and reach my friends, to find them still alive and safe. We all cut school so frequently it was a good, though losing, bet that they wouldn't have even been there. That day was misery, and I wasn't even physically there. It profoundly changed me, changed my friends.
This was one of the many tragedies of my life, one of the sadder turning points for me ideologically. I'm glad the NRA never came here with Charleton Heston and held a rally after this happened, and I wouldn't have wanted the media in my face or my friends' faces, but sometimes it makes me feel like Americans didn't care about the tragedy of school shootings before Columbine, like the lives of my friends were somehow less, as were the lives of school shooting victims before Lindhurst and since pre-Columbine.
I don't understand how any rational mind could actually be against more strict gun control laws.
Of course, I don't really have as coherent a grip on what I wanted to say now as I did then. I remember one level of emotion--a small sense of peevedness over how America started to blow up over the evils of school shootings after Columbine, that it was a spark to light the flame of gun control debate for the coming decade or longer, as well it should be.
I graduated from high school in June of 1992, in a small California town named Marysville. Our sister and rival school was one called Lindhurst High. All but one of my closest friends in high school were Lindhurst High School graduates (including ex-rommates the Chrises).
On May 1st, 1992 Lindhurst High was taken hostage by a former student, who killed three students and one teacher and wounded many others. The female contingent of the Chrises was one of the hostages and to this day can't even sit through a film like Bowling for Columbine or Elephant. People I knew and loved were killed there, wounded physically or emotionally, or both.
I remember running the two miles from school to home when the news broke so I could try and reach my friends, to find them still alive and safe. We all cut school so frequently it was a good, though losing, bet that they wouldn't have even been there. That day was misery, and I wasn't even physically there. It profoundly changed me, changed my friends.
This was one of the many tragedies of my life, one of the sadder turning points for me ideologically. I'm glad the NRA never came here with Charleton Heston and held a rally after this happened, and I wouldn't have wanted the media in my face or my friends' faces, but sometimes it makes me feel like Americans didn't care about the tragedy of school shootings before Columbine, like the lives of my friends were somehow less, as were the lives of school shooting victims before Lindhurst and since pre-Columbine.
I don't understand how any rational mind could actually be against more strict gun control laws.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Detention
Today, Lash received detention for pushing another boy at his school (Rosedale Elementary). In no way do I condone Lash doing this, but this kid he pushed has been bullyinh him for more than a year, so I can understand where the frustration that caused it would come from. I am so effing tired of how frequently I see kids, victims of bullies, get in trouble when they finally lose their cool and retaliate, but I never see the bullies receiving the same treatment.
I've decided to write a letter to his school over this, though I expect there to be nothing good to come from it.
8-23-04
To Whom It May Concern:
In no way do I condone my son Lash pushing his classmate Marcos, nor do I condone any misconduct on his part and feel that the detention he is receiving is quite fair.
I do, however, wonder where the teachers, or playground attendants, were when Marcos provoked the pushing he received by shoving my son to the ground, and hope he is facing similar discipline. I wonder where the supervision is, where the safety of my child is, when, with increasing frequency, I pick Lash up from school sporting new bruises from the same two children who kick, punch and shove him on a nearly daily basis; or on the occasions I pick Lash up from school in clothes that have been torn by other children inappropriately laying their hands on him.
Late last Spring, I witnessed a girl choking my son on the playground before school. The playground attendant was less than ten feet away and wasn’t paying enough attention to notice or break it up. I made no fuss because she had told Lash it was a game and he believed her. Last week, one of his classmates punched him on the nose during recess. By his report, he told the playground attendant and nothing was done. I made no fuss because she told Lash it was an accident and he forgave her.
I applaud you in ensuring this other boy has a safe environment to learn in, and I’m disappointed in my son for resorting to a physical answer to the behaviour he receives from this other boy. I only wish someone would put the same amount of care into my own son’s safety for once, as I haven’t seen that occurring to date.
I've decided to write a letter to his school over this, though I expect there to be nothing good to come from it.
8-23-04
To Whom It May Concern:
In no way do I condone my son Lash pushing his classmate Marcos, nor do I condone any misconduct on his part and feel that the detention he is receiving is quite fair.
I do, however, wonder where the teachers, or playground attendants, were when Marcos provoked the pushing he received by shoving my son to the ground, and hope he is facing similar discipline. I wonder where the supervision is, where the safety of my child is, when, with increasing frequency, I pick Lash up from school sporting new bruises from the same two children who kick, punch and shove him on a nearly daily basis; or on the occasions I pick Lash up from school in clothes that have been torn by other children inappropriately laying their hands on him.
Late last Spring, I witnessed a girl choking my son on the playground before school. The playground attendant was less than ten feet away and wasn’t paying enough attention to notice or break it up. I made no fuss because she had told Lash it was a game and he believed her. Last week, one of his classmates punched him on the nose during recess. By his report, he told the playground attendant and nothing was done. I made no fuss because she told Lash it was an accident and he forgave her.
I applaud you in ensuring this other boy has a safe environment to learn in, and I’m disappointed in my son for resorting to a physical answer to the behaviour he receives from this other boy. I only wish someone would put the same amount of care into my own son’s safety for once, as I haven’t seen that occurring to date.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Jobs
My ex-roomate has this tumor in her foot that's been horrible to her for some months now. As she is a veteran of the good old US Army, she has health insurance through them (she has other insurance but it isn't as comprehensive AND if she uses it at all, the VA will cut all her benefits... gotta love their loyalty to their soldiers). It's taken them approx. 4-5 months to finally get her set up with a Dr.'s appointment about this TUMOR. And being as efficient as they are, rather than have her see an oncologist in town (or in 90-minute away Sacramento or Redding), they give her an appointment in Martinez (4 hours by car). Given the pain driving causes her, this distance is impossible for her, so her husband has to take off work to drive her. This leaves her needing someone to watch her two young children, pick them up from school, etc. Enter me.
I've nothing better going on Thursday (yesterday), so when she asks the favor on Tuesday, I happily agree to help out, especially given how ridiculous the US government is being about treating one of its veterans.
Fast forward to Wednesday. I've been waiting all summer for news of whether I'd have a teaching job again this year. I was approached about it in May, and have heard nothing since--to the point I've resigned myself to just continuing the TA job in the agriculture department (where the pay is actually better and the job is more stable). So Wednesday, just before the closing of business hours, I get ab E-MAIL from the head of my section of the English Dept. to officially offer me the job, and let me know I would need to be at a special meeting the following morning (Thursday) from nine to noon.
How preposterous is that? I've worked for the guy for two years before losing my job to budget cuts last year. He knows I can't just drop everything with zero notice, and has my home number. Why I had to get an e-mail when it was too late to even reply that day is beyond me.
So, as should be obvious, I had to reply that I wouldn't be at the meeting, as I would be busy caring for the young children of my ex-roomate on her ridiculously distant trip to the doctor. And so, I didn't go to the meeting. And so, I don't expect I'll actually have the job.
But wait, there's more. So now it's Thursday. The doctors know she's coming from Chico and they know how far Chico is. So they wait until a half hour before her appointment to call her cellphone and tell her they need to cancel her appointment because they only scheduled her for fifteen minutes and would actually need a half hour. Excuse me, but how fucked is that? They didn't check their logs early enough to save her from wsting eight hours on the road? They couldn't have squeezed her in (what's fifteen minutes more at a doctor visit)? So now she has to go through the whole ordeal all over again.
In other news, I hate spaghetti. Today on 30 Minute Meals Rachael Ray had a spaghetti with meatballs recipe that actually made me eager to try it out. That'll be sometime next week. Tonight is MY family-famous enchiladas.
I've nothing better going on Thursday (yesterday), so when she asks the favor on Tuesday, I happily agree to help out, especially given how ridiculous the US government is being about treating one of its veterans.
Fast forward to Wednesday. I've been waiting all summer for news of whether I'd have a teaching job again this year. I was approached about it in May, and have heard nothing since--to the point I've resigned myself to just continuing the TA job in the agriculture department (where the pay is actually better and the job is more stable). So Wednesday, just before the closing of business hours, I get ab E-MAIL from the head of my section of the English Dept. to officially offer me the job, and let me know I would need to be at a special meeting the following morning (Thursday) from nine to noon.
How preposterous is that? I've worked for the guy for two years before losing my job to budget cuts last year. He knows I can't just drop everything with zero notice, and has my home number. Why I had to get an e-mail when it was too late to even reply that day is beyond me.
So, as should be obvious, I had to reply that I wouldn't be at the meeting, as I would be busy caring for the young children of my ex-roomate on her ridiculously distant trip to the doctor. And so, I didn't go to the meeting. And so, I don't expect I'll actually have the job.
But wait, there's more. So now it's Thursday. The doctors know she's coming from Chico and they know how far Chico is. So they wait until a half hour before her appointment to call her cellphone and tell her they need to cancel her appointment because they only scheduled her for fifteen minutes and would actually need a half hour. Excuse me, but how fucked is that? They didn't check their logs early enough to save her from wsting eight hours on the road? They couldn't have squeezed her in (what's fifteen minutes more at a doctor visit)? So now she has to go through the whole ordeal all over again.
In other news, I hate spaghetti. Today on 30 Minute Meals Rachael Ray had a spaghetti with meatballs recipe that actually made me eager to try it out. That'll be sometime next week. Tonight is MY family-famous enchiladas.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Food Good
Like some people, I love watching Food TV. It's equal parts entertainment with equal parts fun in trying to replicate. Right now I'm really digging "Good Eats" and "30 Minute Meals." Not that big a fan of the FOOD on Good Eats yet, actually, but what makes it really watchable and cool for me is that the host explains the little details about things like the equipment that I never knew before. Rather than say I need to use a doible boiler, he says I need to use a double boiler, what a double boiler does, HOW to use a double boiler and why. It's really good for people like me who, being somewhat of an idiot savant of cooking before this, is really retarded as to the function of my cooking materials.
A ceramic mortar and pestle are best for grinding your own spices, by the way. Marble is too smoothe and too difficult to get good traction on the spice. Iron is great for texture, but too corrosive.
The best steak I've had:
The thickness you choose will determine the redness/wellness of the meat, so if you like a well done steak, go for something thinner (but not sandwich thin). If you like it bloody like I do, go for something at least a half inch thick. Experiment with the cut until you get the right one for you.
Start by putting some cooking oil on a plate (they suggest Canola. For something healthier, and nicer tasting, I go with extra virgin olive oil, or whatever olive oil is handy).
Preheat cast iron skillet on high (if you don't have a cast iron skillet, use any old skillet that will survive a trip inside your oven), and preheat your oven on 500 degrees farenheit.
Coat both sides of the steak with the oil from the plate. Coat sides of steak with salt and pepper to your taste (actually, I also replace this with steak seasoning. Most grocery stores have a few varieties, all usually sporting some combo of garlic, onion, pepper, salt, red pepper, sometimes cumin...again, try different kinds out and find the one that works best for you. I find it MUCH tastier than just salt and pepper, though just salt and pepper makes a really tasty steak here too).
Now that you have a wet and spicy steak, fry it in your skillet for 30 seconds, flip it for 30 more seconds, flip it and place the skillet inside the oven and cook for two mintues. Then flip the steak and cook it inside the oven for two minutes again. Then you're done.
This meal has a tendency to get very smoky, it's a result you should expect so ventilate well.
Garnish with whatever else you like. Sauteed mushrooms are good. Lately I've really been digging sauteed zucchini with almonds.
A ceramic mortar and pestle are best for grinding your own spices, by the way. Marble is too smoothe and too difficult to get good traction on the spice. Iron is great for texture, but too corrosive.
The best steak I've had:
The thickness you choose will determine the redness/wellness of the meat, so if you like a well done steak, go for something thinner (but not sandwich thin). If you like it bloody like I do, go for something at least a half inch thick. Experiment with the cut until you get the right one for you.
Start by putting some cooking oil on a plate (they suggest Canola. For something healthier, and nicer tasting, I go with extra virgin olive oil, or whatever olive oil is handy).
Preheat cast iron skillet on high (if you don't have a cast iron skillet, use any old skillet that will survive a trip inside your oven), and preheat your oven on 500 degrees farenheit.
Coat both sides of the steak with the oil from the plate. Coat sides of steak with salt and pepper to your taste (actually, I also replace this with steak seasoning. Most grocery stores have a few varieties, all usually sporting some combo of garlic, onion, pepper, salt, red pepper, sometimes cumin...again, try different kinds out and find the one that works best for you. I find it MUCH tastier than just salt and pepper, though just salt and pepper makes a really tasty steak here too).
Now that you have a wet and spicy steak, fry it in your skillet for 30 seconds, flip it for 30 more seconds, flip it and place the skillet inside the oven and cook for two mintues. Then flip the steak and cook it inside the oven for two minutes again. Then you're done.
This meal has a tendency to get very smoky, it's a result you should expect so ventilate well.
Garnish with whatever else you like. Sauteed mushrooms are good. Lately I've really been digging sauteed zucchini with almonds.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Go West
Last week, we took in a new foster kid, #B2. He's fairly nice and easier to deal with.
So I finally borrowed a friend's copy of West Wing seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and have been watching them (and hence not posting here). I avoided the show for quite some time, as the premise seemed very very uninteresting to me. Then, on one of my Fridays at the Chrises, I saw the episode where Ainsley first meets the President while dancing in her bathrobe... which, coincidentally enough, is now how far I've gotten in sequential viewing after borrowing the aforementioned disks. It's proven to be a much more enjoyable show than I'd ever thought it would be. Between it, Justice League Unlimited, Teen Titans and the Food Network (have I got a great steak recipe for you) I've finally decided to bite the bullet and return to being a television subscriber. Hoping to get on to Dish Network, where I can record my shows Tivo-like to watch at my leisure.
So I finally borrowed a friend's copy of West Wing seasons 1 and 2 on DVD and have been watching them (and hence not posting here). I avoided the show for quite some time, as the premise seemed very very uninteresting to me. Then, on one of my Fridays at the Chrises, I saw the episode where Ainsley first meets the President while dancing in her bathrobe... which, coincidentally enough, is now how far I've gotten in sequential viewing after borrowing the aforementioned disks. It's proven to be a much more enjoyable show than I'd ever thought it would be. Between it, Justice League Unlimited, Teen Titans and the Food Network (have I got a great steak recipe for you) I've finally decided to bite the bullet and return to being a television subscriber. Hoping to get on to Dish Network, where I can record my shows Tivo-like to watch at my leisure.
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