We're Heading Back Up North!

Phil has officially accepted his offer and will be starting his Creative Writing MFA at the University of San Francisco. I have officially relayed that I will not be continuing with the school I am currently working for. Now to tie up the loose ends.

It will be nice to take a break from the whole ESL thing for a bit. I've been teaching way too much grammar as of late. The words in my sentences are starting to look like car parts that need to be properly placed.

What I should have learned in the SOE

This with a pinch of that.

I kid. I kid. Kinda

Rainy Day in LA

It's raining in LA, which means it will be beautiful tomorrow. It also means that today was, to say the least, unproductive. We had big plans to check out the flea market down the street, but alas, no such luck. We splurged and went out for breakfast at a little diner down the street. We have quite a few tasty breakfast places within walking distance round here. It's one of the joys of our little neighborhood.

Phil got some rejection letters from his MFA applications today - sad face externally - internally, secretly glad we won't be relocating to either Iowa or Michigan. Be sure to send happy thoughts for University of Oregon, San Francisco State, and University of CA, Irvine. (But not too many for Irvine, heh) It's been interesting balancing my wants and desires with the writing programs that Phil is in love with. I'm 100% supportive, and where ever he wants to study, we're going, but then there is the other part of me that really, really wants to get the hell out of South California. And there was that other part of me that really, really didn't want to move to Iowa. Other then that, 100% supportive...

Perhaps I should adjust my percentage a tad.

Sorting Through Applications

We have to hire a new teacher for the center, and though it is not my job, nor am I qualified to do so, interviewing has been shoved into my lap. I sometimes get the feeling that my boss feels like pushing her crap onto me is a reward.

You're doing a great job, and you know that program so well, so here, you take care all of this shit for me, because I'm so impressed with what you've done so far. I really trust you, so I'm willing to let you do all the interviewing by yourself. If I can, I'll listen in on the telephone.

Really, you like, me? I will do that thing.

And now to absorb responsibility in the situation, I acquiesce, because it needs to get done, and if I let my boss's schedule determine interviews I will run myself into the ground. As much as I love teaching, I do not enjoy working 10 hour days to be stupid far behind on the things I need to be doing. So there, all whining aside, it's my own damn fault.

So let the vetting games begin. I was openly mocking one candidate because the person shortened Craig's List to cl in their cover letter. Phil said I was a) harsh and judgemental b) a dinosaur. (Is there any other kind?) He told me no one calls it Craig's List - it's not even capitalized on the website. Today, I called said candidate for an interview. After saying he couldn't write the address down, he asked me to email him. OK. Part of my elitist self was like, seriously, someone is trying to situate you with gainful employment, and you can't write it down? But with my lovely, forgiving better-half rattling around in my brain HARSH! DINOSAUR!, I smiled and said sure. Of course, I said. So I sent out the email, and he replied with a thank you. Unfortunately, that email said, "Alli,". He shortened my name. A nickname that I do not associate with work or work things, but a name that is home, history, friends, family and nostalgia.

This was my conversation with my computer screen:

What the what?!? You don't know me, motherf(*%#%!

I know it is a bit ridiculous, but it irked me. It really irked me. While I know it is impossible to retract my interview invitation(not impossible; I really want to write back and say my name's not Alli - TO YOU - jk about the inter., but I won't, because I do have some sense of propriety), all I can say is this person better poop the cure for cancer.

I sorta lied

In the previous post, I said I like my job. That is just not true. I like teaching. That is an important distinction to make at the moment.

Where do you live? That is an excellent question

Phil has a man-date, er men-date with his friends this evening. A virtual one. They are playing Counter Strike via PS3. We've been living in LA for about 5 months, and I have genuinely made no effort to connect to the town or the history or the people here. This is also known as pissing away your precious youth late twenties. I've been aware of this in the non-chalant, I mention it to my friends, in my self-depreciating sad, sorry sack talks. I like to call it socal social hibernation.

The reality of how bad the social hibernation had gotten was when Phil was listing things that I could do while he was on his men-date. This list of things could better be described as one thing and a long furrowed-brow pause. His suggestion was, "You can catch up on some work, or..............................................................." I mean, I like my job, and planning for class is fun and interesting to geek out on, but that was all he could come up with. Holymotherofbob, it might be time to start living in LA.

creativity

Testing 1, 2, a 1, 2,3, 4

1. New Fancy Job: Academic Director of an International Study Center at shall remain nameless SoCal University. This job includes international students, a salary, business cards, health insurance, and some teaching. Score.

2. New not-so-fancy apartment: I'm moving to Hollywood in Sept. Hollyhock is in my backyard for all of you Bladerunner fans. Notice how I'm not mentioning what's in my front yard. Hahaha. You said front yard. It's a pool that has 11 LA county code violations. I found that out on the Internets today. Yipee! I keep singing the Weezer song, "Beverly Hills" although it really doesn't apply to my situation at all.

3. It's orientation week, so I am working stupid long hours. And finding out how much I really don't know about #1. Rock. Loving that steep learning curve.

Paint Smudges

Phone interviews are weird. I had one today, and it was just strange. I really have no idea how it went. It's for an academic director position up in Burbank. Or if I'm not deemed capable of managing teachers from my phone interview, it will be a full-time teaching position. Or possibly nothing if the phone interview went badly. Which is possible. Highly possible. I don't translate well as a detached voice.

I was all inspired to write about my painting class, but I've misplaced that inspiration. Hopefully, I'll find it soon and update you on all the joys of misplaced shadows and oddly colored objects.

Mama I'm coming home

I still have to call my parents to confirm, but I'm heading to Sonora for a couple of days before I have students instead of Grand Theft Auto 4 to suck the energy out of me. Yippee! I apologize for not giving anyone advance warning about any of this, but when you really have no schedule to adhere to then advance planning just seems really silly. If you're free between Wednesday and Friday, you should swing by the Andersons for some food and a beverage.

I'm really looking forward to yet another lovely tour up the 99. This time I will be stopping in Bakersfield, which is all sorts of gorgeous. My God. I will be hanging a bit with Scarlett and J, and if anyone can pump some life into the Bakes it would be S&J.

This whole trip up north is really about Father's Day and my tradition of having no money, so as a gift I caddy for my dad for the Wednesday evening businessmen's league out at Phoenix Lake Golf Course. I'm probably getting a little too old for it, but it's 9 holes, dad loves it and he gets to remind all of his fellow businessmen just how much their own daughters do not love them, and I imbibe on a few Coronas and talk about what I've been doing "after softball". Everybody wins.

Working Boys and Girls

Life momentum has definitely been accumulating. Phil was officially hired at the school I was hired at. We’ve essentially skipped ahead a year in the future and transplanted our lives in SF down here in SoCal. He will be working as a housing coordinator and RA, which is cool because we get a swanky apartment in Long Beach for FREE. Free is about all we can swing for housing right now. It’s a studio apartment, so it’s not exactly ideal, but it is our own place temporarily. Both my position and the RA position are summer gigs, so we may have to move back in with the rents at some point, but vee shell si.

Regardless, there is movement. And the breeze feels oh-so-good.

Employed

*Officially!

I got the part of English Language teacher. I speak the English very good.


*part-time, starting July 7th, 2009.

Virtual Godzilla

Virtual Godzilla

Right, so I don’t have a job. I am super unemployed, so I’ve been trying to fill my time with educator-y things that will make me super-instructor. I’m taking an online course about using technology in the classroom effectively. As a teacher and a researcher, I’m curious about that stuff for language instruction.

This morning I got an invite to join the PBworks summer camp for educators. SWEET! PBworks was formerly PBwiki. Does that help? It's basically a souped-up wiki for teachers (and other people).

In their own words:

PBworks for Classrooms

PBworks hosts more classroom workspaces than anyone else in the world, and lets you create a simple, secure workspace in about 60 seconds. Workspaces drive engagement and collaboration. A workspace is a live, evolving document – but gives you user tracking and access controls to monitor your workspace at all times.

You can make your workspace public or private or anywhere in between. No matter what, PBworks keeps your students’ information safe.

It’s cool, it’s free, and I dig the vibe of the company, so of course I joined. And then promptly managed to DELETE THE FOLDER WITH THE ENTIRE COURSE CONTENT.

Which led to this twitter posts from the camp director, Kristine:






Then this:






Then this:






Then thank god, finally this:







The magician engineers were able to recover the folder. Praise Bob. Support at PBworks and Kristine were way cooler than they should have been. They didn’t threaten bodily harm once.

Holy shit, I am so embarrassed (very, very present tense). I really almost deleted camp.

Happy Birthday Mom and other happy news

It's not just a clever title. It's my mom's birthday today.

In other super good news, I have an interview with a language school on Thursday. Where they will ask me "questions about teaching" and "to explain a verb tense."

It's a wonder this profession isn't respected.

Regardless, wish me luck, cross your fingers, pray for broken legs and gingersnaps and puppy dog tails or something like that.

Boom Drink: How to Make Exploding Cocktails

http://www.geekologie.com/2009/06/boom_drink_how_to_make_explodi.php

Anyone up for drinks?

You just freeze a mint flavored Mento in an ice cube and then make a drink for a friend (read: enemy). Any artificially sweetened soda should work, but preferably something darker so the frozen Mento isn't so obvious. Then, a few minutes later when the Mento is exposed to the soda, BOOOSH! Alternatively, garnish your friend's glass with a live hand grenade.

Mmmmm, hookers

According to Grand Theft Auto 4, hookers and hotdogs have the same nutrition value.

Good to know next time I feel like having a hotdog at the ball park. MMMmmm. This is a hooker's worth of goodness.

Song of the Day: Delta Spirit's "People C'mon"

The song of the day, which also is a video. Hey look at me combining two great things. What can I say? I get my inspiration from these people.

Delta Spirit: People C'mon

Video of the Day: Baby Cakes

After my brother turned me on to Professor Brother, by Brad Neely, another friend, Kevin, directed me to Baby Cakes, also by Neely. They are like my children; I can't decide which one I love more.

Pizza Names

I love the local pizza parlor in Sonora, Mike's Pizza. Mike's makes a pizza called The Greek Goddess. This pizza is to die for. Creamy garlic sauce, pepperoni, peppercinis, artichoke hearts, green olives, and tomatoes. And it is always makes me chuckle when I order it to go, "Yes, I would like a small Greek Goddess for pick up."

My name is a bit complicated for people. Alliya. It's hard to say. It's hard to spell. So whenever I order anything I always use someone else's name for the order. The other day I went with two of my friends to order the Greek Goddess. The cashier asked my friend, Celeste, for an order name. Celeste did the exact same thing I always do, I look at who I'm with and use one of their names. Only today it was Celeste, Bissie, and Alliya. No repreive. They are all impossible names in the short order business. She looked momentarily flustered, and we all started to laugh. She turned back to the cashier and said, "Celeste."

"How do you spell that?"

A new post is overdue and I'm still at a loss at what to say. So let me conjure up the old thinking cap and drink my Manhattan with too much sweet vermouth.

Thanksgiving was the goodness that it usually is. It is one of my favorite holidays. I ate too much (original I know).

School is wrapping up. I found out today I actually have a bachealor of science. I can't tell you why or how, but ok. I'm going to speak to my academic advisor to find out why or/and how this came about. How did I not know about this? The drawbacks to being an athlete. humph.

It's looking promising on the whole graduation thing, keep your fingers crossed.