Big Surprise

My guilty pleasure, a subscription to People magazine, just arrived today.  The cover story is about Madonna's marriage to Guy Richie is over.  Now, who is surprised?  The story -- the story that I refuse to actually read -- claims to give us some insight as to what caused the marriage to fizzle.  Here's a thought:  Poor Guy woke up one morning and realized he was married to the ugliest albeit rich woman in the world.  He finally realized, Hey, I can do better.

Madonna grosses me out (though I do listen to some of her music - I imagine prettier things).  She is all muscle and bully.  Ugly teeth and too much money do not make a character whom I want to emulate.  Remember her hit "Material Girl"?  I think Madonna is a living example of what is wrong with the entertainment industry.  What, exactly, has Madonna done that warrants our undivided attention?  Is her music really so great?

When will we cease to be enamored with the money mighty and begin to be more captivated by the normal folk who work hard and cough up additional time and effort to care for the less fortunate?  I don't mean the Brad Pitt's who work in front of a camera either.  I mean the ordinary Joe who volunteers at the ambulance hall or the woman who gives of herself freely at PTA events?

So, I suppose the biggest surprise is that I will not be renewing my subscription to People.

The Interview

I had a job interview today for a position lasting only two months.  I apply to jobs because I want one, and this one I figured, how bad can it be?  Two months of hell isn't really that bad especially when I can extend the length of time I get unemployment.

So, I arrived at the school at the correct time (actually I had 4 minutes to spare).  The drive had me concerned because it took about an hour to get there.  They made me wait for 20 minutes.  This was especially problematic as I had to use the restroom.  Anyway, when I went in to the interview, I was faced with the usual questions.  Tell us about yourself.  What is the best lesson you've ever taught (like I have only one!!!!).  What do you know about the New York State English Language Arts test (isn't that a loaded question?  What do they want me to say?  That I've studied the exam and even took it?).  Really, I wonder what they want.  This is, for all intents and purposes, a substitute job.  Frankly, I gave a lackluster performance.

As I was leaving, I made a pit stop and almost locked myself in the bathroom.  Is that a bad sign or what?

Personal Economy

It's easy to blame big-wigs for the financial mess we're currently in.  Back in the day, Rod and I needed 20 percent of the cost of a house for a bank to loan us money.  Now, people get themselves into serious debt with no money down.  If they put nothing down, they have nothing to lose so they can simply walk away from their debt.  Yet it's just a tip of the iceberg that has been quietly hammering the hull of our ship, so to speak.

Look through any fashion magazine and you'll see handbags advertised for upwards of 1500 dollars.  Women want them.  As a result, they feel as though buying a bag for only 300 dollars is a deal.  True for shoes too.  THere is no end to the money spending that goes on.  And, it happens to people who can not afford to make these purchases.  

I think that the economy is shit because we all wanted a piece of the pie and banks let us do so by offering ungodly sums of credit with little care for what that does to the soul of a person.  Students are well into debt because of student loans.  People easily get themselves in debt because their credit limit is so high.  Those with little discipline just spend, spend, spend.  Sure, on paper the economy looked like it was growing, but it was only getting itself in debt.

I've had my share of spending issues, but I realize that I have always been scared of poverty so I've listened to the little angel on my shoulder saying, don't give in.  Credit card debt at this house is zero and has been for a while.  But I don't think the economy can grow the way it was...it was a false growth.  Inflated house prices were great to those who were selling, but they needed to buy something bigger so they bought inflated big houses.  What has that done?  If people listened to the inner voice from the beginning, we wouldn't be in this mess now.  Perhaps we need to get back to the scrimp and save mode our grandparents were teaching us all those years ago.

See what happens when you don't learn from history?

Buzz Books

It bothers me to invest time reading a book only to get to the end and not like it.  I just finished reading The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski and enjoyed the story quite a bit.  His writing is fluid and intelligent.  He is a master scene setter and the topic was so readable.  However, I feel as though the end left me hanging and I just don't like when that happens.  To give you and idea, and not to give anything away, review the name of the book.  The last chapter is entitled "The Sawtelle Dogs"  PS  Edgar is not a dog.

I chose this book because it was recommended by many most notably by the indie list compiled by independent book sellers.  When Oprah announced that it was her choice, I quickly got my copy so I wouldn't find out about the book before I read it.  I should have known.  Oprah likes stories with mystical events -- stories that verge on the unbelievable.  I can't always buy it.  I felt that way about Toni Morrison's Beloved which Oprah loved (as did many others).  I never warmed up to the story.

I also recently read The Thirteenth Tale because my sister-in-law recommends it through her blog.  To be honest, I never wanted to read the book because the cover looks like a kids book (The Tale of Despereaux to be exact).  But it was a good read.  And worth the buzz.

I suppose the biggest problem with buzz books is that their hype gets me overly primed for a good read.  If, in any way, I don't like the story, the let down is that much greater.  Still, I read them and push them on others.  I came home from the library with The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick for Tyler and he loved it.  So, I will continue to read buzz books, but I set my standards higher for them.

Skeletons

I think it's natural to have skeletons in the closet.  What seems unnatural is how they find their way out.  Imagine running for political office and reading the headlines one morning about some error in judgement you'd made earlier in life.  How did that get divulged?  Did a "friend" say something that should have been kept quiet?  

I am interested in the life of a tale because they are not solitary.  Sure, there may be things we've done that we're not proud of, but when we commit a foul in front of others it's not just our story to tell even if it is our shame to bear.  The story could be kept secret for years only to leak out in passing conversation.

I am thinking about Sarah Palin who married because she was pregnant.  A fact I care little about.  However, I know people who made up their anniversary date because they don't want their children to know they married because of a pregnancy.  That's their skeleton.  Were the Palin's children aware of the circumstances surrounding their wedding before the rest of America learned of it?  I sure hope so.

I just bought Meredith Hall's memoir Without a Map about her early pregnancy (at the age of 16) and the resulting shunning by her family, church, school. and community.  What could be a skeleton for Hall has now been thrown into the open.  What if she hadn't been forthcoming about this background?  It's a huge story when hidden; less so when open.

So, I think about my own skeletons and wonder if they should be let free.  Then I consider that what may be cathartic for me could be quite damaging to those around me.  Whose tale is it to tell?

Curiosity

While I was out on Saturday, visiting my father in Connecticut, I received a phone call from an assistant principal with whom I interviewed earlier in the week.  She left a message; I called back and left a message.  No word.  The bottom line is I did not get yet another job.

What does it take for a school to hire me?  How can I break the barrier between the public and private school?  Is there really such a big difference between the two?  When I ask what I could have done to improve my chances to get hired, I've been told that I am a very strong candidate but did not possess the background to teach for the standardized tests.  However, I do much reading and the bottom line should be:  hire those who motivate.

So, here I am again wondering why I have no job.  More important, I am wondering if I will ever get a job teaching again.  This stinks feeling so low knowing there are some real bad teachers out there who don't really care (I've worked with some, I know) and one at home who works hard.  Hmmmmm.....