Life list update

Update:  Thanks to my fabulous friend Janet, #31 was crossed off.  On the last day of school, the staff at my kids' school danced in a flash mob in front of the buses to We Got the Beat.  You rock, Janet!

1. Learn to play chess

2. Write a children's book

3. Publish a children's book

4. Ride Alpengeist

5. Visit Cedar Point

6. Visit New York

7. Live on the east coast

8. Walk or run a charity event

9. Volunteer for the homeless

10. Do something unexpected

11. Forgive someone when I think I can't

12. Go Parasailing

13. Lie topless on a beach in Greece

14. Visit Alaska

15. Ride in a helicopter

16. Make a difference

17. Be in two places at the same time

18. See Greenday live

19. Kiss passionately in the rain

20. Leave a $100 tip in a restaurant

21. Zip line

22. Become a bone marrow donor

23. Walk through central park

24. See the northern lights

25. Help someone complete a life list item

26. Get my masters

27. Teach college

28. Go to Vegas

29. Get another tattoo

30. Go skinny dipping

31. Be part of a flash mob

Poetic license

I recently subbed in a fifth grade excel class.  Fun class full of active learning and kids that actually want a challenge.  They had the perfect, quirky teacher for that.  On each of their desks was a small paper adhered to the corner.  Each had a photo of the child, and the words written beside it "poetic license."

I need one of these. 

Blogs are an interesting form of communication.  They are an edited diary, to almost be read aloud.  Herein lies the difficulty.  Do I follow the rules of speech or writing?

I am fully aware that it's frowned upon to start a sentence with a conjunction.  But, sometimes it's just needed.  Would I write a paper like this?  Of course not.  Would I include an incomplete sentence like 'of course not'?  Of course not.

Sentences shouldn't end with a preposition.  Really and very are truly not interchangeable.  Ginormous isn't a word.  

But then, misuse of grammar damages my credibility as a writer.  Well, for some of you.  Those of you that text me incoherent sentences that look like a license plate, you're probably safe.

So I need to use some forms of grammar correctly?  Capitals, subject predicate, parallel construction?  Me and I.  Well and good.

Then I notice the glazed over look you have when I start going all APA and MLA on ya.

I let my ear decide.  My blog, when read in my head, sounds like someone on open mic night.  It sounds like a storyteller reliving the experience before you.  It sounds like a sarcastic person revealing a punchline.

Sure, that's just in my head.  But, if a conjunction, fragment, and misused adjective make it sound like that to you, then I've done my job.

Thank you, I'll be here all week.

It's official

Officiate:  To act as referee, umpire, etc. in a sports game or contest. 

I have consistently complained about the CCYF referees this season.  I admire the league's insistence of good sportsmanship.  If at any time, a parent, player, or coach gets out of line, they are *rewarded* with an automatic next game suspension.  For all of them.  The player, the parent, and your team's head coach.  Good deterrent.  

Here's the glitch.  The refs are horrible.  I've already noted that they should have known to have overtime.  I've already noted the missed holding calls on touchdowns that force a tie. 

This week's game was dirty and rough, with so many unfair and missed calls I lost track.  One player shoved my boy in the back, knocking him sprawling on the ground, nowhere near the action, AFTER the whistle. Um, illegal block in the back?  Unsportsmanlike conduct?  No flag??

One player was taken off the field with an injury after he was hit in a helmet to helmet tackle.  Hey refs, please look into this!  Oh, and while you're at it, brush up on false start, horse collar, and illegal celebration.

By far, the best injustice was when Mr. Mean Ref, that's what we will call him, went up to my son's team and told them to watch their holding.  Hello-- you're in the wrong huddle.

Again, I support the league's enforcement of accountability and good sportsmanlike conduct.

Only problem, if referees wield this power, shouldn't they possess the ability and knowledge to match it?

Here's another word:
Dictator:  a ruler with absolute power and authority, esp. one who exercises it tyrannically.  a person who orders others about domineeringly, or one whose pronouncements on some subject are meant to be taken as the final word.

I think a strongly worded letter is in order.

My Life list

1.  Learn to play chess
2.  Write a children's book
3.  Publish a children's book
4.  Ride Alpengeist
5.  Visit Cedar Point
6.  Visit New York
7.  Live on the east coast
8.  Walk or run a charity event
9.  Volunteer for the homeless
10.  Do something unexpected
11.  Forgive someone when I think I can't
12.  Go Parasailing
13.  Lie topless on a beach in Greece
14.  Visit Alaska
15.  Ride in a helicopter
16.  Make a difference
17.  Be in two places at the same time
18.  See Greenday live
19.  Kiss passionately in the rain
20.  Leave a $100 tip in a restaurant
21.  Zip line
22.  Become a bone marrow donor
23.  Walk through central park
24.  See the northern lights
25.  Help someone complete a life list item
26.  Get my masters
27.  Teach college
28.  Go to Vegas
29.  Get another tattoo
30.  Go skinny dipping
31.  Be part of a flash mob

Serendipity

One of my favorite movies was on cable the other day and I couldn't seem to drag myself away from it.  It wasn't a blockbuster.  In fact, I'm sure few people even remember it.  Serendipity.  John Cusack.  Enough said.
I often use the word serendipity with my children and students.  Serendipity is simply an accidental, fortunate discovery.  We make mistakes daily, and some of our greatest adventures form out of these mistakes.  I try to remind children this very fact.  Didn't turn out how you thought?  What can you do with that?

The mere mention of John Cusack takes me back to an all time favorite:  Say Anything.  Serendipity might just be the sequel, with the character all grown up. 

I enjoy a good cry, a good laugh.  But... the movies that get me the most are the ones with these serendipitous tones.  Real life.  Real mistakes.  Those illustrious roads in life that may leave you wandering for awhile.  Random, chance occurrences that shape our entire existence and make you question fate.  Simple.  Wonderful. 

As John Keats wrote, "...Beauty is truth, truth beauty---that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY7dzQqxADI&feature=related

I think Keats and Cusack got it right.