A few weeks ago, I unfortunately forgot to lock my car doors in my own driveway the very night a couple of punks decided to roam my lovely neighborhood looking for just such an opportunity. Needless to say, I lost a lot of my stuff: most notably, my digital camera, cell phone charger, and a book full of CDs. Being an old-fashioned gal, I don't yet have an iPod (gasp!), so my most favorite discs of all time were in there, since I listen to them in my frequent travels about the Midwest. Luckily, I have renter's insurance to cover catastrophes such as this, so today I went out to replace a portion of my music collection (although nothing will ever bring back those discs that I inherited from my old boyfriend and carried through Europe).
My choices today as absolutely necessary music to own:
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse
I did not previously own this album, but I will never forget the first time I heard "Rehab," riding with my brother home from up north during spring break, listening to the MSU station that plays more obscure music. I'm not a music snob- I'll listen to anything, but I appreciate good music when I hear it, and this is it. Her retro style went straight to my heart as a Motown fan, and while "Rehab" can now be heard regularly on pop stations, it was not until a couple of months after my first encounter. I cannot wait to sample the rest of the first of I'm sure will be many successful albums.
Back to Basics by Christina Aguilera
In the same vein as Amy Winehouse, I completely dig Christina's newest double-disc collection which samples a wide range of American music eras. This is my first Christina Aguilera purchase, however my cell phone ring and Myspace page both sport "Candyman." I simply cannot resist the marriage of Glenn Miller's standard "In the Mood" (one of my favorite songs of all-time) with Christina's and Linda Perry's catchy lyrics. Plus, the girl can sing.
And speaking of voices...
Call Me Irresponsible by Michael Bublé
One of my favorite artists since Frank himself. This is actually the third album of his I own, but I cannot get enough of his velvet voice on the classics. (Are you starting to see a pattern here? Some music is just timeless.) I am greatly looking forward to belting out Michael's newest spin on these standards, especially the bonus track "LOVE."
The Best of What's Around by Dave Matthews Band
This two-disc greatest hits set is replacing my lost Under the Table and Dreaming and Crash albums. While it's obviously not the same as the original two, I am excited about some of the newer music it includes like "American Baby" and live versions of "Ants Marching" and "Two Step." I can't live without a little Dave, but I knew every note and word on those other ones, anyway, so I went for this one as a happy replacement.
Greatest Hits by Queen
Some items just cannot duplicated, and this is one. My first copy was actually the first CD of the three-disc Platinum collection, which is not even sold in stores anymore and considered a collector's item. Since the second two CDs are still safely with my other less-listened to discs, I only replaced the first with the regular single-disc edition. So many great songs on one little piece of plastic- it amazes me still. No respectable music collection can be without it, in my opinion.
Those were my choices for today, but I don't think I'm finished yet. Other missing discs I don't think I can live without for much longer: Back in Black by AC/DC, S&M by Metallica, and Briefcase Full of Blues by the Blues Brothers. What albums would you have to replace? Maybe I'll add them to my list...
Monday, July 30, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Let's all go to the Elkhart County Fair!
Ok, sometimes I like to pretend that I’m not a child anymore and that I really am too cosmopolitan and mature to enjoy something as tacky and backwoods as a county fair. But it’s a lie. I love them still.
There’s just something so innocent and straight-out summer about wandering around a hot, dusty fairground, sipping an expensive lemonade, petting baby goats, feeling bad for the little monkey on a leash (but still giving it a quarter), and risking the loss of a still-digesting corndog on one of those spinning death machines. I love the flashing lights at night, the smell of horses and every imaginable fried food, people-watching, playing impossible carnival games, and feeling my stomach drop at the top of the ferris wheel. I can’t resist an elephant ear and a caramel apple, a game of skee-ball, rides with too-loud and bad quality heavy metal, or meandering through animal barns.
So I was secretly very excited to go to my new hometown’s 4-H fair, which is evidently the highlight of the year around here. I was also lucky to have the hook-up (our hot new neighbor friend is an agricultural educator, and his office is on the fairgrounds), so a group of my friends and I got to enter for free. And I was not disappointed. In addition to the normal attractions- dog show, caged bear, buffalo burgers, ice cream, rides, games- we also got to see a free Chicago concert. Since I actually like classic rock, and could name some Chicago songs off-hand, I think I was the only person genuinely interested, but since it was free we all went, and my friends tolerated the old, not-rap or pop music for quite a while.
I can honestly say the highlight of my summer might now be those moments right after I walked out of the grandstands, surrounded by my new friends and those colored lights, eating ice cream and listening to the strains of a live “25 or 6 to 4.” What I would have loved at age five and fifteen was just as sweet at twenty-five. I can imagine it will therefore be the same at fifty-five and seventy-five, as the fair, in all of its tacky, folksy, completely un-cosmopolitan glory, is timeless- an American classic.
There’s just something so innocent and straight-out summer about wandering around a hot, dusty fairground, sipping an expensive lemonade, petting baby goats, feeling bad for the little monkey on a leash (but still giving it a quarter), and risking the loss of a still-digesting corndog on one of those spinning death machines. I love the flashing lights at night, the smell of horses and every imaginable fried food, people-watching, playing impossible carnival games, and feeling my stomach drop at the top of the ferris wheel. I can’t resist an elephant ear and a caramel apple, a game of skee-ball, rides with too-loud and bad quality heavy metal, or meandering through animal barns.
So I was secretly very excited to go to my new hometown’s 4-H fair, which is evidently the highlight of the year around here. I was also lucky to have the hook-up (our hot new neighbor friend is an agricultural educator, and his office is on the fairgrounds), so a group of my friends and I got to enter for free. And I was not disappointed. In addition to the normal attractions- dog show, caged bear, buffalo burgers, ice cream, rides, games- we also got to see a free Chicago concert. Since I actually like classic rock, and could name some Chicago songs off-hand, I think I was the only person genuinely interested, but since it was free we all went, and my friends tolerated the old, not-rap or pop music for quite a while.
I can honestly say the highlight of my summer might now be those moments right after I walked out of the grandstands, surrounded by my new friends and those colored lights, eating ice cream and listening to the strains of a live “25 or 6 to 4.” What I would have loved at age five and fifteen was just as sweet at twenty-five. I can imagine it will therefore be the same at fifty-five and seventy-five, as the fair, in all of its tacky, folksy, completely un-cosmopolitan glory, is timeless- an American classic.
And I spoke too soon...
So yesterday I was all ready to run out and buy my money order for the state of Indiana, my application for my teacher’s license in hand, when I received this e-mail:
"Dear Reciprocal license/permit holder,
According to our records you were evaluated for Indiana licensure between 2004 and 2007. This evaluation determined that you were eligible for one of the following: a Reciprocal license under Rules 46/47 or Reciprocal permit under Rules 2002. If you have completed your deficiencies and are ready to apply for your next level of licensure (either a Standard license under Rules 46/47 or one of the Practitioner licenses under Rules 2002), please be aware of a new CPR/Heimlich Maneuver requirement passed by the last session of the General Assembly and signed by Governor Daniels. Effective July 1, 2007, per IC 20-28-5-3(c), applicants who receive an “initial” teacher’s license must have successfully completed training in:
cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes a test demonstration on a mannequin,
removing a foreign body causing an obstruction in an airway, and the Heimlich Maneuver; and,
hold a valid certification in each of these procedures from either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.
When applying for your Standard or Practitioner license, please include a photocopy (front and back) of your CPR certification."
As my CPR certification (that I had to have for my Michigan license) is now expired, you can imagine the wide range of expletives that echoed throughout my house when I received this little nugget of information AFTER the July 1st change of policy.
I was finished, finally having completed all of the necessary requirements, just to have this added in at the final hour. I’ll admit it, I cried a little. It’s not that CPR training is difficult or anything- I’ve done it twice before- or that I don’t think it’s a good idea- I do- but I’ve been through this all now TWICE. It’s like completing one marathon, then being told that your first one didn’t count and you have to run it all over. Except, when you’re two steps from the finish line, they add another mile.
Luckily, I have found a slight shortcut. One of my friends happens to be a CPR instructor and is giving a class for the coaches where I work in two weeks that I can take for free. So, while the story seems to be ending happily, I will not be celebrating until I can actually hold that piece of paper guaranteeing licensure in my hands. Then I’ll start on the requirements for keeping it: portfolio work, masters classes, etc. The red tape never ends.
Just call me Indy: generally fabulous girl, phenomenal teacher, and hoop-jumper extraordinaire.
"Dear Reciprocal license/permit holder,
According to our records you were evaluated for Indiana licensure between 2004 and 2007. This evaluation determined that you were eligible for one of the following: a Reciprocal license under Rules 46/47 or Reciprocal permit under Rules 2002. If you have completed your deficiencies and are ready to apply for your next level of licensure (either a Standard license under Rules 46/47 or one of the Practitioner licenses under Rules 2002), please be aware of a new CPR/Heimlich Maneuver requirement passed by the last session of the General Assembly and signed by Governor Daniels. Effective July 1, 2007, per IC 20-28-5-3(c), applicants who receive an “initial” teacher’s license must have successfully completed training in:
cardiopulmonary resuscitation that includes a test demonstration on a mannequin,
removing a foreign body causing an obstruction in an airway, and the Heimlich Maneuver; and,
hold a valid certification in each of these procedures from either the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association.
When applying for your Standard or Practitioner license, please include a photocopy (front and back) of your CPR certification."
As my CPR certification (that I had to have for my Michigan license) is now expired, you can imagine the wide range of expletives that echoed throughout my house when I received this little nugget of information AFTER the July 1st change of policy.
I was finished, finally having completed all of the necessary requirements, just to have this added in at the final hour. I’ll admit it, I cried a little. It’s not that CPR training is difficult or anything- I’ve done it twice before- or that I don’t think it’s a good idea- I do- but I’ve been through this all now TWICE. It’s like completing one marathon, then being told that your first one didn’t count and you have to run it all over. Except, when you’re two steps from the finish line, they add another mile.
Luckily, I have found a slight shortcut. One of my friends happens to be a CPR instructor and is giving a class for the coaches where I work in two weeks that I can take for free. So, while the story seems to be ending happily, I will not be celebrating until I can actually hold that piece of paper guaranteeing licensure in my hands. Then I’ll start on the requirements for keeping it: portfolio work, masters classes, etc. The red tape never ends.
Just call me Indy: generally fabulous girl, phenomenal teacher, and hoop-jumper extraordinaire.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Take That, ETS...
I realize I am woefully overdue for a blog entry. Funny thing is, I write one in my head nearly every day, but they somehow rarely get translated from my brain to my laptop. I'll work on that, and hopefully you'll more frequently enjoy the ramblings I hear all of the time. Until that happens though, here's a quick update on those standardized tests I ranted about...
In a word: kickass.
I passed both subject area tests, and actually smashed the English one into bloody bits. So fortunately I will be holding onto both my license and job, at least for now.
In a word: kickass.
I passed both subject area tests, and actually smashed the English one into bloody bits. So fortunately I will be holding onto both my license and job, at least for now.
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