Ask and ye shall receive? Maybe...

Well the past week and a half I have been
so busy with work and looking for
sponsors for MICA 2010! Www.micarunway.com
This will be my 3rd time volunteering for
MICA and I am loving every minute of it!
I may have even gotten one of my
favorite reality stars to attend too!
I can't say who but either you'll
love or hate this person.

Life with Jack is good. We seem to have
settle into a nice routine of work, school
and living together. Its awesome we are
working as a team now!

I must say being back in NYC still thrills
me to no end. Despite the cost of living
and the ever increasing MTA fare hikes!
And the overcrowding. This city still
#1 in my book.

Recently Jack & I watched Spartacus:
Blood & Sand by Encore. Wow,
this movie is all sex, violence and
phrases like "Jupiter's cock!" which
is like their version of swearing.
The blood baths are amazing! I
watched the special features which
lucky was subtitled! The writer was
glad to have a lot of freedom to write
an R rated series and boy oh boy did they!
A guilty pleasure for anyone who
enjoys Gladiator related stories!
If you don't mind a lot of death and
sex, do que it in your netflix!

Freeway Fliers

In todays Metro newspapers there was
a short article called "An assault on our
education." Basically it talks about
how many colleges & universities have
developed a corporate mentality when
it comes to administration. Yeah, no
kidding! The tutition rate has almost
tripled in the past decade alone! It also
mentions a new term being used
"Freeway fliers" where part-time *ding ding
ding that's me* instructors are commuting
from 1 institution to another. And because we
have enormous teaching loads, the
quality of education can suffer. There is also
additional pressure to give good grades also
because student evaluations have become
more important. So if you're an unpopular
part time teacher, watch out, popularity
rules and you better be cool.

The other day one of my former students
told me how many students hate signing
in front of the whole class. I was a little
surprised but I feel this is necessary. It
keeps them on their toes. But I have
decided to do less of that and more of
informally observing the students while
I roam the room. At the same time I
won't completely rid my policy of
signing in front of the class.

In other news I have been mulling over
whether or not I should go for a 2nd
MA? Part of me dreads the idea of going
back to school! I feel schooled out
still! If I take a class, I want it to be fun,
something I will enjoy. I am grateful for
my jobs but I yearn to earn more. And I
really don't want to take on more debts
when my student loans already exceed
50K. I think I may look to online classes
as a possibility. That way I could do it
at my own pace and not have to worry
so much about getting ASL terps etc., etc..
It already feels like I will be paying of
my student loans for the rest of my life!

Enough already! I am stressing myself out
over this. I gotta just focus on working
and living right now. I truly have a hard
time relaxing these days. I miss my
carefree summer days!

I also had a bad dream about my Bastard
Kitty, Tom. How I was visiting him and he
looked funny to me and I couldn't figure out
why at 1st. Then it dawned on me his cute
little pink nose with a spot was gone! It
was like another cat had ripped off he poor
little nose and cheek/whisker areas. I was
mortified and asked the woman (unknown to
me) if her other cat had done this to my boy?
She said no. Made me wonder if my cat is
ok? I know he's very happy at Mom's but I
can't help missing him.

Why my Mom rules

Today is Mom's birthday and I thought I
take a few minutes to share why my Mom
Is #1!
My Mom has always been my biggest
cheerleader. She stands behind me and
always says "you can do it!"
My Mom taught me how to be a good
friend. To accept people, flaws and all.
My Mom is a terrific cook and has
taught me how to be as well.
My Mom is a card shark, where do you
think I picked up my skills?!
My Mom is intelligent, always reading
and knows all the answers on Jeopardy
and trivia pursuit.
My Mom knows how to stretch a dollar
and make her money last. As well
as ways to save money. Where to
shop to get the best bargains.
My Mom has a real knack for interior
decorating and has numerous times
over the years, helped me organized
my infamous clutter piles.
My Mom has always picked me up
when I've been down or felt defeated.
She's always been there for me.
So Mom, thank you for being my Mom
and again Happy Birthday!

Before & After Photos

All in the name of Allah

In the past 2 days there's been a lot
of coverage by the media about Koran
burning. Apparently there's a church in
Florida that has plans to do a good old
fashion book burning on Sept 11th! They
want to burn copies of the Koran to send a
message to Islamic extremists. This idea
personally for me doesn't sit right. I have
always believed religions in general are
laced with moral values, its the fanatics
in any religion that destroys the
messages.

Besides ALL religions are open to
interpretations. Unfortunately in this
its the Arab world, the ones in power
(Men) who choose to abuse the
messages from the Koran. I don't think
God, Allah whatever name(s) you give
to the life force you pray to has any
view on violence, neither for or against.
Unfortunately in the Koran there are
109 verses that call Muslims to war
with non-believers. And a lot of
conflicting messages found in the
Koran such as violence to only be used
as self-defense but also slaughter any
non-believer in graphic details. What is
ironic is that some critics (both Muslims and
a few selected Christians) argue that the
Old Testament has many parallel
verses/ideas of violence as well.
But these views are very misguided
according to this link;
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/Bible-Quran-Violence.htm

[Update] I did some more reading at this
link and I hadn't realized the history
behind Islamic faith.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/023-violence.htm
The brutality Islam has caused over
centuries. What's really sad is the
earlier parts of the Koran does have
a more neutral/positive approach but
the later parts promote destructions to
all non-believers.

So back to violence,
Violence among humans is a conscious
choice. Any religious figure/fraction
that hides behind spiritual intended
documents to promote violence are
cowards. Basically someone who can't
think for themselves. To use their
religion to justify criminal/destructive
behavior is inexcusable.

The Army General David Petraeus warns
that the book burning of the Korans
would endanger U.S. troops. That's pretty
stupid if you ask me. I mean first of all
why are we even there? Our mere presence
incenses things already. Does he honestly
think one small group of narrow minded
folks down south is going to turn the tides
any worst than they already are? Its not
like our soldiers are being welcomed in
these Arab countries with arms wide open
and suddenly burning the Koran would
change the already standing propaganda
of hate towards Americans.

And what about the mosque being built
near Ground Zero and all the controversy
its caused. Am I for or against. Its hard to
say. If I am for it, many families who lost
members to the 9/11 attacks feel its a
slap in the face. That the ultra liberals
are living in la la land. But if I am against
the building of the mosque, then am I
promoting racism? Do I let a few rotten
apples ruin the barrel? I know or have
worked with a few Muslims and they're
the nicest people you ever want to
meet. I don't forsee them or most
others having a "jihad" kind of day.
I think Muslims born over here have
been westernized compared to the ones
over there where they are the majority.
Their religious upbringing is quite
different and in a sense a lot less
literal in terms of the Koran. Although
I am sure that is not always the case.
As there are plenty of examples of
backwards thinking among non-Muslims
as well. But the fact that our country is
built upon religious freedom makes it hard
for me to decide what the right answer is.

Do I worry about the future in this country
and possible further attacks made by
cell terrorist, sure I do. Why it was only
last May that there was a man who
planned to set off a car bomb at Time Square
which I pass through there several
times a week. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal_Shahzad. Quite scary
to even contemplate what
these extremist will do. And for those of
you who while watched the horror of 9/11
and acknowledge the travesty, but the
effects have worn off. Or perhaps still
don't fully comprehend the lengths
these "Muslim Soldiers" will go all in the
name of Allah. I recommend watching a
really good movie called "The Siege"
with Denzel Washington made pre 9/11
about this very topic. And while the
movies didn't do well in theaters largely
due to Muslim based groups protesting it,
it was rented by many on DVDs. Which
I think says a lot. We want to appear to
be politically correct outside, but in the
privacy of our homes we can be true to
ourselves.

The power of clothes

I must say I enjoy dressing nicely when I
work. Dress pants and a nice top really
makes me feel good and confident too.
Funny thing happened today when I was
setting up technical equipment for one
teacher who happened to be wearing
blue jeans and a tee shirt versus me
wearing grey pants with blue pin strips
and fuchsia top. One of the students
began telling me she didn't know whether
or not she was enrolled in my class and
I realized she thought I was her professor
and her professor was one of her peers!
Her professor immediately interjected
and clarified who she was. I couldn't
help but smirk inside.
The funny thing is I am a professor and
tonight I am teaching my 1st class in
the Bronx so I am dressed just right
for the part :}

Sometimes

We do things that have to be done but it
brings enormous unhappiness. Otherwise
if we don't we will never be happy.

Right now I feel like Humpty Dumpty,
my inside shattered. And I am not sure
they can be put back together again or
if I want to be the same as I was?