Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Geeks

I am a geek.

Let's let that sit there for a moment and sink in. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I freely admit to being a geek. Let me explain.

In order to examine the weight of that declaration, we have to go back to middle school, or as it was called in the 60s, Intermediate School. Back then, it was death to be labeled a "geek." You were an outcast; a pariah. Unclean. Kids, particularly girls, would go to almost any length to avoid that label. It assured you of lonely Saturday nights, merciless teasing in the school yard, and hellish bus rides to and from school. No, geek was, by no means, anything one would voluntarily own up to. Someone tried to call me a geek once. Once. Not in those terms, exactly, but she told me I looked ridiculous in the sailor hat I'd recently taken to wearing. Hey, they were wearing them in Teen Magazine; I was merely being fashionable. But the real issue was that a cute boy had also taken to wearing a sailor hat. MY sailor hat, to be precise, but he'd borrow it on the bus and then respectfully give it back when we got to school. And did I mention he was cute?? Cause he totally was. Anyway, when the aforementioned bullyette mocked my hat-wearing tendencies, I simply told her she was just jealous because I was getting attention from a really cute boy, and besides, I wasn't as ridiculous as someone who dives into a shallow pond and winds up in a coma-which she had in her youth. End my geek label in seventh grade.

High school geeks took on a totally different cast. Horn-rimmed glasses and pocket protectors. And I had a crush on one of them. Lord help me, he was a geek, but he was a "cool" geek. He listened to folk rock, used big words, and could carry on megaintelligent conversations. I was smitten. I took to reading the dictionary every night just to be able to keep up with him. The crush didn't last long, and truth be told, my tastes did also include boys of all groups: jocks, hippies, geeks...they were all fair game, until I got involved in theater. Then the boys had to be talented and smart, which I now realize is a very special form of geek. And that's when I began to become comfortable with my geekiness.

For what is a geek, but someone with hobbies? Someone who is intensely involved with a particular interest set. I came to realize that being a geek really means you are knowledgeable in a particular area. I am a horror and film geek. I know a lot about these things, because I like them and I find out stuff all the time. I like finding stuff out, and I constantly learn more about the things I care about. There are geeks in every walk of life: film, comics, horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. But there are also Math geeks, Science geeks, and language geeks. If there is something in which people have an interest, there are geeks to be found.

As a geek, I joined a horror message board to talk to other geeks. Guess what I found there? My husband, who is, of course, also a geek. We have other geek friends with whom we watch and discuss movies, horror and other areas of geekitude. We enjoy our geekiness, and have a wonderful relationship.

So let me repeat: I am a geek.

And I'll bet you are too.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Three Day Weekends

The beauty of the three day weekend lies in Sunday night.

Ever since childhood, Sunday nights have been fraught with stress and dread. I was a nervous child, and knowing that school loomed on the horizon cast a shadow on Sundays. I spent Sunday afternoons clutching onto every second of daylight because I knew that once the sun went down, I was horrifyingly close to MONDAY morning! My nervous stomach would kick in around 8 pm, and move into high gear once the alarm went off the next morning. No matter what was on tv on Sunday night, it couldn't completely hold my attention.

Once I was out of school, Sunday nights meant thinking about the next day at work, which was usually at an unfulfilling, mundane job that was mind-numbingly boring. I had several of those jobs before I finally made my move into education. Now, I at least am NEVER bored with my job, but Sunday nights usually mean preparation for another hectic week filled with planning, grading, meetings, dealing with approximately 30 different personalities for 45 sustained minutes five times a day, and other "to do" items that must be accomplished before I can leave. I'm not nervous anymore, and at least I love my job, so that's a plus, but it's still unbelieveably busy and draining. Most Monday nights, I collapse by 7:30 pm, some items still undone.

But then there's a three day weekend.

Sundays of a three day weekend are always glorious, mostly because at several points in the day I stop and remind myself that no matter how fast the day is flying by, I still have one more day off! Sunday nights are usually when I have to fight my body clock and try to get to bed at a reasonable hour so that I can once again spend a week dragging myself out of bed at 5 am, but on a three day weekend, I can stay up with the big kids and watch all the late night shows I usually have to pass up or DVR. I can relax and feel like a human being without an impossibly busy calendar looming ahead.

So, it's 9:18 pm on a Sunday of a three day weekend. I'm rested, looking forward to getting together with a high school friend tomorrow, and for one Sunday night, enjoying the evening. Hope everyone is feeling the same! Happy President's Day!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

It's 2011-where does the time go?

Hello followers!

Well, it's been a while, I admit. Life has a nasty way of interfering, and this past year life has been most intrusive, I'm afraid.

I've been wondering what is happening to the world around me. Apparently people have begun to go insane, and I'm really trying to piece together exactly when that started. Apparently it's not enough to disagree with people, we now have to resort to name calling, character attacks, and calls for violence. Violence? Because we disagree? It just makes me sad.

Another thing that makes me sad is the economy and how the politicians in charge are trying to fix it. Our economy tanked because of greed, namely the greed of the people who control most of the wealth in the country. Now those are the people who are trying to blame public employees and union members for the problems and steal, once again, from those they stole from in the first place. Does no one see the hypocrasy? Really, people, unions aren't the problem, the greedy fat cats are the problem, and if you let them win, conditions for all workers are going to deteriorate so drastically that we will be in danger of becoming a third world country. The middle class is being assaulted from all sides and I'm fearful of the implications.

But let's not dwell on the negatives; there are some good things to think about as well. I have some remarkable students this year; kids I really like and who seem to care about actually learning something. It makes it easier to go to work when there is something good happening there. Oh sure, there are those who are disengaged and really difficult to motivate, but even some of them have begun to come around, and that really made this week a lot better. I actually had two students ask for extra help before HSPAs. In the beginning of the year they were disinterested and unmotivated. They're showing improvement now, and asking for help. I think that pretty much made my week.

My husband makes my week too. No matter what else is going on in the world, when we're home together it's like everything else fades away. Having a strong relationship when everything around you is falling apart goes a long way towards keeping it all together. I heartily endorse finding someone who can share in your interests, keep you laughing, and suport you no matter what you are doing. So glad I found him.

I'm not going to promise regular updates here, but I will be back, and hopefully with more upbeat posts. Lord, I need a vacation!!