Waylon goes Ape

I have yet to post a pet entry on the blog and hesitate to do so. It lessens the blog to a mere Facebook status and I try to find something of more value to post here. That being said, Waylon had the best time with his new orangutan friend that he got yesterday. I usually pick up random stuffed animals from thrift stores that have a short afterlife before he destroys them. But this one is a huge orange ape that he loves hurling around because of its floppy limbs and long rag fur. This was a shot I caught of the two of them last night as he was winding down. Pretty cute if I do say so...

Pride and/or Prejudice

 

On Sunday I spent a gorgeous MN afternoon with an old friend Linda, and we took in the Pride Parade and Festival in the park after. We have always been represented by a rainbow and that was certainly the case if anyone surveyed the crowds. Bikes, bunnies, balloons, bizarre, bubbles, bold... It is not the stereotypes that used to be associated with the event a decade back. Huge crowds of politicians, church denominations, families of every melting pot in logo-ed tee shirts of every color.

But I was left with some sort of consternation after the event and am still trying to sort out the Celebration at large, what it really means and how it is not the same as its very humble roots. I was a bit overwhelmed by the countless mobs of organizations that were constantly demanding my signature, my support and my money. Marriage Equality, Women's Reproductive Rights, Job Discrimination, Political Wars the list goes on at length. Not to get me wrong, each of them has much value. But at what cost does our emancipation and value as a community come? And that is where I am torn. Even trying to maneuver the food lines for tickets to get a corn dog becomes a lesson in corporate event financing. Maybe in this climate and economy, it does come with a price and we used to be merely naive.

I do think it is important that we are all represented and have SO much more to us than our sexuality. But maybe I was just too overwhelmed by the demands of so many needing to be heard. I especially think that in this crowd - each group is preaching to the converted. No one there would disagree with any of the causes at bat. Is it wrong to just put away the swords for 2 days of celebration and enjoy the battles we have won at this point? It does not have to be all drag shows and beer booths. But a popsicle, a park bench and some live music used to be enough. Apparently it is not anymore. I would love other thoughts on this as I am still mulling it over in my own head.

I Want His Job

A second post for the day. I stumbled onto this over my morning cereal and thought "How fun is that?" His name is Matt Harding and somehow he found the time and resources to travel the world and engage multitudes of cultures in a common language of dance. Some is him learning their customs, and others are him teaching basic choreography to them. As you watch it, the crowds get bigger and bigger. What a fun project to undertake and someone racked up a lot of frequent flier miles.

the Glee Project

Okay, I know not everyone is as taken with Glee as I am. The storylines can waver and some of the characters are a bit broad and bigger than life. But it is a musical and on television. It is going to be normal for instruments to appear and actors breaking out into song. THAT is what a musical is...

But the Glee Project on Oxygen is its sister show; a reality program where young hopefuls "compete" for possible recurring roles as new talent on the upcoming season. This is the second season and I was hooked in last year. It is surprisingly real and not contrived. It follows the premise that Glee cheers for the underdog and everyone comes with baggage as well as talent. The crop of 14 contenders each bring something very important to the table; a trans-gender boy, a "real" girl in a wheelchair, a Muslim girl..... The current week's episode centered on the theme of Vulnerability and was one of the best hours of television I have watched in a long time. Each episode constructs a music video and the week's was REM's Everybody Hurts. It is stellar, attached as a bootleg copy on YouTube, and I am hoping will not be taken down. I am sharing it with you. Follow full episodes on Hulu for free. (edit - the YouTube video is not able to copy and paste at this time, but I will be back to attach if/ when it does)

Glee Project on Hulu

Humbled by Humanity

For some reason I have been a bit pensive and reflective lately. Likely because I have more time on my hands and am contemplating where "life" leads me next. Soul searching.

But yesterday put a few people in my path that made me ponder. A handicapped guy at Menards that was somehow managing to maneuver and shop among the aisles in a wheelchair - able to make do on his own. A poor ancient woman at a corner in Uptown that barely had poles for legs and a cane trying to make it across the lanes while the light was red. Everyone waited, even if impatiently for her to make it to the opposite curb so they could continue on their course. Today it is a perennial figure in the neighborhood - Lawn Mower Man. A retarded older man that makes the best of his days by mowing lawns for hire wearing the same baseball cap day in and out. He plods on with purpose, never faltering or adjusting, eyes down to the pavement with his trusty mower passing me by on his way to his next yard.

I stumbled onto this link yesterday via Facebook. It seemed to fit the theme. It is a photo essay of 21 small events that made a huge difference in someone else's life. Rescuing a drowning animal, responding to a child's question, or a free meal for another in need. Gentle reminders - which we all need from time to time.

21 Pictures the will restore your Faith in Humanity

Happy Summer Solstice

Yesterday was the heart and the heat of a Minnesota Summer's day. Burned off a lot of sweat working in the yard and got a bit of sting from too much sun. Lake Calhoun provided a refreshing burst of energy in the late afternoon with a splash in the water. Made some blueberry muffins by firing up the oven before it got too warm inside. Fans whirring in every room. Coconut and pineapple popsicles dripping in the heat, sharing them with Jeff & Waylon. Happy summer to all.

Who Says Musicals are Dead???

I caught a weekend matinee of Rock of Ages this last weekend. It was not the greatest but...it was fun and a kick. Tom Cruise & Catherine Zeta-Jones tore it up. But... anyone who says they don't make musicals anymore is wrong. They keep churning them out and they are all over the boards in terms of the audience they will find. I will be one of the first in line to buy tickets for them.

Les Miserables - the Movie

Sparkle - the Movie

Pitch Perfect - the Movie

And that is not counting possibilities in the wings. The Clint Eastwood/ Beyonce adaptation of A Star Is Born that may or may not ever happen. A new reboot of Annie with a score by none other than JayZ and a black orphan Annie. Frank or Francis - a musical brainchild of writer Charlie Kaufman starring Steve Carrell & Nicholas Cage that I can't even begin to fathom. How about Can A Song Save Your Life? with Adam Levine, Mark Ruffalo & Keira Knightley from the writer of Once. A bio pic of Jimi Hendrix with the outrageous Andre 2000 called All Is By My Side. Rocker musicals of American Idiot (if it ever makes casting and the transition from stage), Flawless with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling about the independent band scene at Austin SXSW Fest, or CBGB (Country/ BlueGrass/ Blues) about a famed nightclub in NYC that played host to young stars in their bar band days. Yippee!

Luminous Yoga

One of my favorite rewards of the summer, in addition to all the free movies and music outside, is the sunset Yoga on Tuesday eves on the south side of lake Calhoun. I started last year and go when I can. A gorgeous evening, the water and the skyline. Emily is the teacher and opens it to all levels, gives us great focus in the outdoor crowd and even brings bug spray. It is a freewill offering. If anyone ever wants to join, company would be great and we can grab a sorbet or gelato after.

                                       Luminous Yoga link

Northern Spark

Here are a few pics of my outing with Jeff this last weekend. Northern Spark is an all-night fest of illumination, technology and performance art at venues around town. We spent most of our time down on the River among thousands of bikers and were out way past normal bedtime.

Wall projections on the A Mill

virtual dinner with Apt in Mpls

spinning Egg art shanty

Carnival Cruise lines vs Actors Equity

Venting a bit of union politics here after watching last night's TONY Awards: you didn't need to be there or watching.

But - Carnival Cruise lines was a "network" sponsor of the telecast. And because they must have ponied up a bunch of bucks for the airing; their non-union cast of Hairspray was allowed to do 2 live numbers during the show. Not only that - it was in a prime spot at the end of the program before the major awards were handed out. As I have spouted before - I have nothing against a non-union actor getting work and making an honest living. But the TONY Awards are in a league of their own and celebrating the Broadway community, which is a UNION theater population. Every show, actor and technician is a participant in a trade union that nurtures not only their careers, but the well being of the art form itself. This Hairspray cast had nothing to do with the Broadway season. The show has not been running for years and this had no connection to the original production. If any corporation can buy their way onto the show, what's to say that JC Penney can't have air time for a fashion show or GM Motors could feature a car race. Buy an ad, not a mujsical number. Far fetched or not????

What incensed me even more were two oversights that didn't make the cut because of the purchased performance. Bernadette Peters - icon of the New York theater world - was preempted to a snippet on accepting her lifetime Humanitarian Achievement award. And Actors Equity got a mere mention for the celebration of our 100th Anniversary - not even a presentation or a round of applause!!! I was very curious how the audience there felt about the whole mess and why none of them made any sort of vocal protest or acknowledgement of the fact.

Does anyone out there have an opinion on this? Enquiring minds would like to know here.

Foxtail Lily

This is the plant that seems to be getting a lot of attention in the garden this last week. It is called a foxtail lily and was ordered thru a magazine about 10 years back. It is an odd duck on that it comes up green each year, but only blooms sporadically. The last time it flowered was two years ago and only a single stem. I had written it off as gone, but here it is this year and everyone is stopping to ask me about it and take a pic. So I am sharing with everyone on line.

Kind Words for the Day

This was seen on my morning walk with Waylon. She was working on it last night and I thought it was sweet enough to share. I love where I live.

Summer Drink of Choice

This was a new find from a small gathering a week back; perfect for summer unwinding.

It's called an Aviation cocktail and is from the turn of the century when flight was in it's origin. It is a beautiful lilac color. The key ingredient is Creme de Violette, a violet flavoured liquer which has been a rare find in the US until recently. I stumbled onto it over the holidays and bought a bottle (Pricey stuff) that I had not uncorked until now.

2 parts gin - which I am a sucker for. If you are not a fan ...

1 part creme de violet - that softens the strong pine taste of the gin

1 part maraschino juice - not too much that it makes it sweet!

a dash of lemon juice to cut the sugar

Something I Ate

I'm not sure what happened last night, but a rough one with tossing and turning. I kept feeling that if I didn't finish my current dream, it would bring my demise. So it became this ongoing stream of consciousness with me tossing, turning and paying constant attention to the clock. Maybe it was the heat? Possibly the bizarre late dinner concoction of shrimp, paprika and pasta that did not taste nearly as good as it sounded.

Real Minnesotans voting NO

I have not been a big one on the upcoming marriage campaign; watching on the sidelines and supporting those in the trenches. But this one was especially heartwarming and merits sharing.

Lessons I’ve learned from four decades at the head of a class

By MICHAEL KENNEDY

   After 38 years of teaching in Vermont and Minnesota in a variety of schools and programs, I’ve decided to step away and retire from classroom teaching. I’ve cleaned out my classroom, graded all the papers and returned my library books. Now I need to clean out my head. Here is my bucket list of 10 items that are useless and should be removed from schools, followed by 10 items that should be the center of every school system. 

   

ITEMS TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY   

1. School systems larger than 5,000 students: I’ve worked for a huge, clumsy dinosaur. School systems need to be smaller, accessible, and in the trenches. Break up the massive systems and create smaller groups of educators. Why do you think people move to the suburbs? They want to be part of something and not on an anonymous mailing list.   

2. Curriculum specialists: I was once a curriculum specialist. I taught half a day in a middle school and spent the afternoons in meetings. I call it my two years on the Dark Side. I went into that job thinking I was there to help teachers with what they needed. Instead, I was there to help promote the ideas of the administration. Lots of ego and little substance.   

3. Experts: A Ph.D. degree doesn’t make a person some sort of guru. If they’re not working directly with the kids, they are the opposite of being an expert. They are all efficient, organized and completely out of the loop. Education is messy. Listen to the teachers. Listen to the people in the trenches.   

4. Meetings longer than 10 minutes: Let’s not waste time. Say it and let us get back to our jobs. Oh, and ban all Power Point presentations. Nobody is paying attention anyway.   

5. Blocking the Internet, YouTube, and so forth: This boils down to a trust issue. Plus, the kids all know how to get around it anyway. Where are we? China?   

6. Classes larger than 25 students: This is a no-brainer. Class size does make a huge difference. Tell the “experts” what they can do with their “research.”   

7. Cellphones in the schools: Nobody should have one of these in the buildings. They are toys and distractions. 8. Grades: You know it or you don’t, and a letter from the alphabet is not going to prove anything. Plus, these are such an obsession that they completely take away the real reason for education.   

9. Standards: More nonsense from the experts. This is America. We’re all different. Let’s celebrate that difference rather than homogenize everyone. 

10. Tests: Focus on the people, not the statistics.   

ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE THE CENTER OF EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM   

1. Passion: Everyone should feel passionate about what they are doing in the schools. Nothing else matters if the passion isn’t there. 

2. Imagination: This one scares people, but it’s absolutely essential. Get messy, take risks and go out on a limb.

3. Music, dance, drama and art in every school: This is like breathing. Without it you have nothing. 

4. Everybody reads and reads and reads and reads: Turn off the television, pull the earplugs out and get a good book. 

5. Write a lot: Not one paper a year or a semester, but dozens.

6. Debate with one another: Get kids arguing, learning how to defend a position and how to respect an opponent. Do the same for the adults, too. 

7. Have some manners: If adults and kids can’t be kind and caring to each other, they should leave, and I don’t mean for a day. Get out until you know how to say “please” and “thank you.” 

8. Don’t show up if you’re not prepared to work: Be present beyond simply occupying a desk. This goes for the adults as well. 

9. When you do show up, show up on time: This goes along with item No. 8. If you can’t be there and be on time, don’t come. 

10. Don’t fear failure: Get a thicker skin. We all learn best by messing it all up.   

Michael Kennedy is the author of “Teacher to Teacher: An Off-The-Record Handbook for Teaching High School English by Mister Kennedy