2ndclepunkbuddha

There is a boy in my life now.  He's much younger than me, shorter than me, and very needy.  This is a 7th grade boy, age 12, who I will call Bob.  Bob was a pest when I met him.  He refused to cooperate with anyone or anything, was always faining injury or excuses as to why he couldn't do something, and was always running down to the office for some foolish reason or another.  At first he made me angry, what a bad attitude, I thought.  But once I learned a few things about him, I saw him in a new light. Over the summer, Bob's father murdered his mother then killed himself.  He was sent to live with Granny, Granny died of a heart attack a few weeks later.  Then he was sent to live with an older brother, and the older brother died of a drug overdose in August.  Now he's living with a sister, most likely being shuffled from foster home to foster home.  He was sleeping in class the other day, because he was out until 2 in the morning on a...

It has roughly been a month since the assignment began with the 7th grade in Practicum.  If you have not read the Facebook updates, needless to say, it's been dramatic.  Not as dramatic as the city school is, but it is considered to be an urban experience.  And I would have to agree.  Kids in this age group are notorious for mood swings, temper tantrums, and excessive tears.  But that's not news.  In fact, it's not much unlike working in an office where one has to put up with the screaming, fighting, and temper tantrums.  The only difference is that when one was actually in the 7th grade, you could somehow make yourself disappear or meld into the woodwork.  In an office you are being ripped and torn apart and told what an idiot you are.  Fortunately for me, I have had those experiences first and experienced the horror story of it, and learned to keep my mouth shut and learn the fine art of conversation.  When one is chatting with a cowor...

I reached a decision today, one that may affect another.  However, I have taken a new stance in life now and have since decided for the better.  Mental health concerns are for the best, and yes it is rather self centered, but when is it that we are completely altruistic?  It gets you in trouble no matter what you may think.  Women in general are taught to give and give, not think of themselves and do no matter what to make others happy.  At some point, we realize that's a load of bullshit.  We are not weak and we are not going to let others chip away at one's self esteem.  This decision is probably the most asshole decision one can make in the world today (and in order to do so we somehow end up sharing it on the Internet somehow), that is to unfriend someone on Facebook.  That is what I have done.  I had a past with this person, he broke it off about 7 months ago, and I saw him a few more times after that.  A few times it was to retur...

I was given my assignment for Practicum, a middle school in Northeast Ohio (whose name and location I will not reveal because I AIN'T CRAZY!).  A language arts class with 7th graders.  It's been rather stressful, but I did not expect this to be easy.  One cannot expect 7th graders to be easy, as their hormones are raging and their brains are still developing and their synaptic pruning processes are still going on (or whatever they told us in adolescent psych).  But still, when I was asked as to why it is that I wanted to be with this age group, I think it was because I am concerned about their emotional growth as well as their academic.  This is where we begin as adults, because it was where I began as an adult.  Challenging?  Of course it is.  But, if you don't want to accept certain challenges in life, then you may as well just give up completely.  I cannot help but think of a very depressing conversation I had with someone years ago who wa...

Today I returned to CSU for their Practicum orientation.  My name did not appear on the registration forms.  Every time I tried calling the Office of Field Services, I got a snarky response from the receptionist or was forwarded to a voice mail message that no one returned.  But I wrote my name by hand on the attendance forms.  I was going to be informed of the assignment via email, but I never got that in my regular email.  When I checked my CSU email (that I get general information, like about parking and the opening of the new coffee shops on campus), I had not received a new one since 2010.  Even in the future nothing works.  Ha ha ha ... The purpose of today was two fold: to get the assignment (wherever that may be), and to go through some safety lectures.  My assignment was given to me (but I will not reveal the location publicly here, I will simply refer to it as Middle School A) and the grades I will be with (6th, 7th and 8th graders, bo...

In continuation with the previous blog posts on a new outlook and attitude, they are many adjustments that need to be made.  There seem to be two types of people in the world : those who are allowed to do and say whatever they want and expect others to bow down before them, and those who are not allowed to do said things.  Which category am I in?  The first, not the second.  The reason that I am in the first is that when I talk to people (either face to face or on the phone), I am perceived as having an above average intelligence.  Is that the only factor?  Yes, it is.  Once another senses that they are talking to an intelligent being, they believe that you are not allowed to do and say what you want.  They even like to abuse you because they think that they can get away with abusing a person who has intelligence, verbally or physically.  Hence if you fall into the second category, the one who is allowed to do and say anything they want, you ...

As many of you who I am personally acquainted with on any level, I have spent the last few years once again in academia.  After the last insult in the old career, I have decided to make a drastic change, acquire a new degree and certification, and begin a new career in the education world.  That is, I am becoming a teacher.  What kind will remain to be seen, as I will not get into that now.  However, from this moment forward, there are going to be some major changes with Facebook as well as a few outlooks on life.  One may also read this as a How To guide as to having more success in the world.  I thank my dear friend M for lending me a book that I now consider The Bible.  This book is Office Politics : The Woman's Guide to Beat the System and Gain Financial Success by R. Don Steel.  I did not believe it once, but the older I get the more I see this rings true.  I would also like to thank Larry King, author of How to Talk to Anyone, Anywhere ...