February 5, 2015

LORD!  How is this life so intense and busy???? GAWD.

Christmas was about as miserable as it could be.  I only thank GOD or GODDESS or MARGE or THE GREAT UNKNOWN... (whatever) that I have friends who actually live near me and are in similar life situations. If not, surely, this holiday would've undone all that has ever been and to never see again.  Next year, my pledge is to NOT do holidays.  After my birthday in November, I (if it is even possible) will go somewhere and be with the earth.  Travel to some-where, where the fragrance of nature inspires and revitalizes.  All the over the top non spiritual bloated religious materialistic spew of xmas is so repugnant to me, that it's driven even a deeper wedge between me and ALL organized religion.  I'm with the Umbrians, Italy... NO tax on salt!  Go build your church, cathedral, seminaries, etc... but DON'T TAX SALT!   That is one thing GOD or GODDESS or MARGE or THE GREAT UNKNOWN gave us because we live here on this place that is a shared planet.  You, Mr. Church, cannot tax us on using salt.  jeeez.

Whew. Feel a little better.

Nice work with the kids in the Cochella Valley.  I love going to the schools, seeing their faces, giving them inspiration, opening their minds!  But, I SUCK, apparently, at AE. Kajsa, the director of education, has panic attacks when she sees me teach.  Literally.... I think she hates me.  Not what I do,  how I communicate with the children and teachers, what joy is brought into the class.... but, she just can't stand me and my teaching method.  In faculty meetings, she never looks at me in conversation and when I'm speaking refuses to acknowledge anything I have to offer.  Her comments are tampered with elitism and disregard.  When she does acknowledge my efforts it's with her foresight that begins the reason.  The circular, perpetual stream of curriculum PDFs are beyond my tolerance.  Now, is this the time I look and ask GOD or GODDESS or MARGE or THE GREAT UNKNOWN? Or, is it time for Steph to just get a fucking grip??? Stop letting people bully you? Stop not believing in YOURSELF?

Hummm. Good question.

Evan came to visit.  We did have a great and relaxed time. Only once, Mommy, went sad, which is a miracle!  However, Ev didn't appreciate it and I totally understand. But, I get sad and wish I could just cry with someone who might understand and not go coo coo. So,  perhaps, it's best to continue to hold it in, unless it's in a l'l blog!

The schools have kept the fire alive. :)

Las Palmitas, Mecca, Ca.  Each card has a word from lyrics of Rhythmic Circus's performance. The challenge was to create different rhythms using punctuation.

Full class of 6th graders putting the lyric rhythm onto their feet via tap dancing!

This could be my favorite moment with a student, not able to contain herself, with crutches, got up and DANCED!

Charting out and creating pathways in dance for 4 people.  Their pathways, their decisions.

Strategies with crayons and boys.

Hard to read, but one of MANY 'love' letters written by students and implemented by teachers... this one was relating to one of my stories (BAD me!!!!!! Not a Kajsa AE component!).  I brought in my personal Broadway tap shoes and Evan's from when he was 8 years old..  His was from 2nd grade when he wanted to dance to (I think to challenge Hailley... another story). But, I told the kids he wanted to be a soccer player and I put him in tap class to weight and unweight evenly (which I demonstrated) as well as have both feet play equally, so there would be no 'heavy' foot.  These kids, who were mostly hispanic, LOVED the thought of all the story!  To dance? Play soccer? And, they were hooked. :)  This note and drawing is in reflection of that moment.  Love.

So fabulous.

All seems stabilized.