Slackadaisical

I have been slacking at blogging lately, but I have been reading. I have taken a little vacation from writing papers and have been reading, running, lifting and doing stuff I want to do. I have really enjoyed it. But, paper time is going to come today!

So, as far as Game Change, I have moved from the Obama/Hillary section and have ended up in Edwards Land. It has been really interesting. I have learned that he used to be really down to earth. Apparently, he is from North Carolina; this would be the obvious reason he was ever down to earth, anyway!!! Around the same time Edwards decided to run, Elizabeth, his wife, found out she was developing cancer. This complication probably came about, as some doctors thought, because she had their youngest daughter at the age of 49 and their son at 50. (WOW). Instead of being humble and happy to be alive, she was always angry and mean to Edwards. She called him a hick in front of people and referred to his parents as rednecks. She considered herself educated and him a mere mongrel. She was not a nice lady. He was once asked what he was reading and she intervened and said "I do all of the reading." She was ugly to his staff, ugly to the campaign, ugly to donors, ugly to him and just mean to everyone. The woman was not joyful and it showed to everyone.

As time progressed, John became a little egotistical...well actually, very egotistical. The book says he became obsessed with money and started becoming rude to donors and his campaign staff. He also became a little whiny. How nice. He began requesting to do things that cost a lot of money. He would pick his flights based on what in-flight movies were playing and would only fly first class. He wanted to do everything that cost. Champagne taste with a champagne pocketbook, though. He could afford it. Elizabeth's family was worth millions.

During one trip to the Regency Hotel in New York City, a girl named Rachel Hunter approached he and one of his staff in a hotel bar. She couldn't believe it was him and commented on how much better he looked in person. His staff member drove her away from him. But, they ended up running into each other again. The staff thought it was pre-arranged and that he had met her before and had arranged for this (another political affair). Eventually, they became really good "friends." He always requested Hunter to be around and would never go anywhere without her. She tagged herself as a sort of medium that could help out with the election. She would talk New Age crap all the time and openly flirt. She was an embarrassment to the staff, but John loved having her around. Of course, as we all know, this developed into something...there is a book about it. Now Edwards can join the ranks of Bill Clinton and Mark Sanford. Last night, I was in Dominick's and saw a tabloid with a picture of Obama and a woman that was not Michelle. They are trying to make it look like he came out of a hotel with her. Amazing. And they say Oprah is a lesbian.

The book is moving away from Hillaryland and Obama for the moment. When it closed out of their chapter, the authors expressed Obama's new found confidence in the campaign and the election. He was sure he was going to win!

Time, or some derivative, used Hillary Clinton as their cover girl this month. Underneath her stern look is a caption that says Obama's Bad Cop. I think it is classic. If she were our president, she would be our bad cop. I think she is going to take care a lot of our little underlying issues with foreign policy, wars, etc, to help build our relations with others. Hopefully, the gesture will be a little more than sweeping our issues under the rug.
After seeing this picture, I sometimes wonder what the relationship is between Hillary and Obama. I wonder if they get along, if they are snarky to each other or if they are friendly only because they have to be...well I guess they really don't have to be. She is the reason he is our president. If it were not for her initial support, we probably would not have Obama...but at the same time, she lost her spot because of him. I think if he were not in the picture, she would have been president.

Lately has been pretty busy. Like I said, I have been making some time for myself and have been enjoying such beautiful days. We did have some thunderstorms last night, but today turned out to be a beautiful overcast day. I had lunch on the lake with Tim and Bridget. Bridget is now in my apartment. We actually have cooking utensils and the apartment feels as though it it is lived in. She is also getting acclimated to the Subway next door. I think they are really going to like her. She has already started learning names. They recognized her as being my new roommate when I walked in with her.

Barnes and Noble has been a little tense lately. All of us know something is up, but we are not sure what. The customer base has been pretty quiet amazingly. Last night, a group of girls walked in as soon as close came. They were probably 13-15. They bolted down the stairs. I immediately told them to leave because we were closed. But we have to pee. I said: Well that's not my problem, pee outside. They protested but I told them that I didn't care and that it was raining, so no one would know. Oh teenagers.

Tonight, I close the store. I am sure it is going to be a quiet night...knock on wood. The weather is overcast, as I said. Yesterday, even on a sunny day before the storms, there were no customers. I was able to get some stuff done and I was able to talk about books with interesting customers. I like it when I can actually take time to engage in conversations with customers...who are interesting; I learn a lot about books that I might want to read at some point in time.

Well, for today, this is it. I think I am a couple of steps closer to being able to quit Gap and start a new job...or at least transfer to a more positive Gap that is not filled with such assanine people.

Have a wonderful afternoon!

Today I finally finished my Letter of Intent

Today, I finished my letter of intent for yet another teaching set of positions in general music. These positions are from AUSL, another branch of Chicago Turnarounds. They wanted this fancy letter of intent. I think I can give it to them. Since I only wrote today and did not read anything formally, I will post my intent:

As a music teacher, I understand the importance of delivering a well-rounded musical curriculum to all students. With this well rounded curriculum comes the need to design and implement lessons that cater to the diverse needs of each child versus one learning style. A holistic approach which harnesses the intellectual and emotional facets of each child must be utilized to maximize learning. For all of this to occur, students must gain trust from teachers. The teacher has to communicate a passion for their trait and for each child.

Music encompasses every sense of the mind and heart. Positive instruction enables children to perform to their highest potential. Since music is so personal, as it is something created (unlike being able to produce the answer to a math problem), children must not be held back. When a child senses any form of negativity, resistance to showing creativity and musical expression occur. Eventually, the student will shy away from creating music and may never again choose to partake. My teaching style is one that harnesses the strengths of every child and one which allows for a weakness to become a teachable moment, not a regret on the student’s part.

Within this caring environment, I utilize a holistic approach to instruction. This allows for emotion to become part of musical understanding, comprehension and composition. I ask students to think beyond their normal skill levels and analyze music at a deeper level. Half of the appreciation of music comes from the abilities to be able to interpret it and make it one’s own; a composer writes music for our enjoyment. Teachers who allow students to make their own judgments about music in turn help them make their own story whilst listening or composing. A good teacher invites creativity and does not push past original thinking.

Encouraging a child’s creativity comes from the teacher’s fearless ability to cross the curriculum to teach; music teachers have the advantage of being able to fit any subject within their criteria. Every lesson I have ever taught involves cross-curricula planning. Math, science, history, English, foreign languages and art are just touching the surface of how I a manage this. I also like to address cultural studies. Various holidays, traditions and cultures are the best way to teach about music across the globe. Teaching in this style reaches all of the multiple intelligences within one classroom; this is also a way to encourage students of special needs and English language learners. When a teacher crosses the curriculum to bring something new and exciting to the music classroom, it is important to collaborate with other teachers. Having an open relationship with other faculty is important for students to see, as well. If they know faculty communicates openly, they feel more comfortable. A well established system of communication with faculty also brings more resources forward. Faculty peers are sometimes the greatest source of information a teacher can have within a school.

Each day, a successful music teacher must set learning goals. This can be managed by displaying them in a prominent place in the classroom. A focus question is also a good way to connect lessons to goals, as well. This ensures instructional time is maximized and there is a purpose set to what is being sung, played or explained. These goals and learning objectives and content objectives also specify how class time will be delegated thus maintaining focus and fluency. Without goals, students cannot be so sure as to what they are trying to accomplish or retain for a particular day.

To tie all of this instruction in music together, students must have an opportunity to perform. I have worked on many performances in my teaching career. I directed middle school choir in quarterly performances and a Spring Arts Festival; my children also had to sing for the State Superintendant of Education. At the high school level, my students sang for special events, concerts and many competitions. My elementary students performed in a county-wide competition held at my university. Allowing so many outlets of performance encouraged excitement in music and built steel nerves. All of these performances once again break down to collaboration. The teacher must work with the school to reserve facilities, maintain working relations with the custodial staff and keep parents informed (parents are sometimes the backbone of a good music program if communication is clear). Finally, organizational skills are necessary to make all of this possible.

A caring, respectable, talented teacher can ensure all of the above is possible. Music teachers are becoming few and far between. It is important to preserve such a delicate subject in schools with only the most compassionate educators. Teachers willing to get their hands and feet dirty and work with the kids are sure to create a successful music education curriculum and classroom environment.

Earlier today, I went to Garfield Park Conservatory, again, with one of my friends. We also went to the Cultural Center. He had never been to either of these places. We then went to visit my friend Chuck at JP Morgan in the Chase Tower which was nice. I had a great workout and I cleaned most of the apartment. Tomorrow, Bridget will begin moving some stuff in. I am really excited she is coming in. I think it will be a good thing. Today, I did read a little bit on the elliptical, but it was something I could hold in my hand (Game Change is pretty big); I read Butcher’s Storm Front. It is from a series of books that are about a wizard who lives and works in Chicago with the CPD.

Tomorrow, I will post pics from Garfield Park on there. They turned out really nicely. It was such a beautiful day. I am so excited I have off from work, as well. Oh...and I will get to see Avenue Q next Wednesday night!!! I am very excited.

Night. :)