August 29, 2011
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The Daily News
1 It's almost impossible to holla, "It's Monday!" and sound genuine. I always have this horrific fear and overcompensate for it. But awakening on a Monday and giving out a "holla" rarely happens.
2 The nice thing about this year is that I actually feel that way when Monday arrives.
3 I have a GREAT bunch of students this year, and that of itself builds speed as the week churns forward.
4 Anyway, not too many complaints, let me tellya.
5 I spent much of yesterday preparing lessons for two different preps that I haven't done in years.
6 That's the tough part.
7 The fun part is that I'm re-reading the history of the world, and all its amazing literature.
8 The fun part is that I'm being introduced to things that are also new to me, even though they may be old to the world. I know both English 2A as well as World Literature. It's just that the anthologies I used a few years back are no longer being used, and there is a LOT of awesome stuff that I'm steadily updating and learning.
9 As a younger teacher, I would have freaked out by now. As a more "seasoned" teacher, I retain a lot of things I learned in college, as well as things I read on my own, and I actually enjoy learning new "old" things.
10 So even though I'm a little shaky on some of the material, I am also really excited to learn so much more, and to bring that knowledge to the classroom.
11 I really can't wait each week to see where we are headed. I have a pretty solid plan, but catching up and reading stuff that is new to me can still be a bit daunting. But it's a journey.
12 Every time I give up on the world, I read something brilliant. It might be from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., or it might be a breeze of Shakespeare; it might be the entire amazement I always hold for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Or it might just be a wisecrack from a new student.
13 No matter what it is, I can't get enough of the sudden surge of thought and knowledge that has been thrust upon me.
14 All that's good is looking REALLY good these days!
15 So I'm going to give a great big shout out for Monday for once in my life.
16 Hope you all are ready for a fun week.
17 Moving on, Part the First: I've been playing this really fun style of blues on guitar lately. It requires different tuning, and is really fun!
18 I won't bore you with details, but one of my summer reads is Keith Richards' autobio called quite simply, Life.
19 Great book, really telling, but genuine and honest. It's almost like reading a autobio about Poe, only without the issues.
20 It is a garden of insanity, psychosis, lilies, deep South blues heroes, heartbreakers, soulful guitar tunings, and recipes for Shepherd pies.
21 AnywayZ, the goodly Keif (his handle) taught me how to tune my guitars in this amazing key that releases you to play open chords, and sounds you've never heard except on Muddy Waters' or Howlin' Wolf stuff.
22 For you guitarists or even non-guitarists out there, the tuning is five-string G. Play around on Google 'til you find some guy who will show you. Saves me time for hunting down links, and you'll have fun discovering it slowly like I did. How I avoided this my entire life is beyond me.
23 I clearly was pretty slow-developing on this stuff. But the sounds are everything from dirty rough enough, scratch and claw plunking, to lyrical stuff reminiscent of the luscious, lyrical sounds of an Autumn night with crickets and moonlight miles.
24 The stuff is from Chicago, Harlem, New Orleans, Memphis, and I could go on and on, but it is sweet, soulful sounds.
25 Anyway, I have two guitars sounding wonderful to me now. To others who are listening, they probably sound like sand-blocks and triangles going through a food compacter. But I'm playing around with a world of sounds and producing melodies I've never come close to.
26 Not much else on that one, just some sweet sounds on a Sunday. I must needs get a corncob pipe, a harmonica, and an old hound dog named Blue. The sounds still play even when I slumber.
27 Maybe they'll seep through on Monday and stay sweet throughout the week.
28 Moving on, Part the Second: Thanks Keif, for the sounds. He was also kind enough to include a recipe for Bangers and Mash. Here it is, from the great Keif Richards:
My Recipe for Bangers and Mash
byKeith Richards
1 First off, find a butcher who makes his sausages fresh.
2. Fix up a mixture of onions and bacon and seasoning.
3. Get the buds on the boil with a dash of vinegar, some chopped onions and salt (seasoning to taste). Now we're talking.
4. Now, you have a choice of grilling your bangers or frying. Throw them on low heat with the simmering bacon and onions (or in the cold pan, as the TV lady said, and add the onions and bacon in a bit) and let the f#$%ers rock gently, turning every few minutes.
5. Mash yer spuds and whatever.
6. Bangers are now fat free (as possible!).
7. Gravy if desired.
8. HP sauce, every man to his own.
29 And that's it! Sounds healthy, right?
30 Free recipe, courtesy of Keith Richards' amazing autobio called Life.
31 I just thought it was a fine thing to add.
32 Maybe not a breakfast thing, but something to think about sometime this week.
33 Heck, I do her up at breakfast, but that's just me. And that's just on Sundays.
34 Moving on, Part 3: I managed to sidestep the very tacky VMA's for around the hundredth time last night.
35 I also skipped 95% of the Giants' game knowing going in that they've run out of fuel, to paraphrase Andy Baggerly in this morning's Merc.
36 I ducked and covered during the entire 49er game, and remained on my knees when the Raiders played. And it looks like the A's had a rainy nightcap. I'm guessing so did their fans.
37 While I was down on my knees, I gave some prayers and thoughts to families who were devastated by Hurricane Irene over the weekend. Somehow we don't think it's a big deal if thousands aren't killed, but anyone going through the rougher parts of that that must be going through a nightmare.
38 Back here in Cali, looking at disappointing sports' teams doesn't look so bad. Not looking at them makes things even better, sometimes. I was able to read and plan some fun things for the week, grab some little different sounds on guitar, read a little, enjoy a phone call from Caitlin saying that she and Josh got a new car, and enjoy a few anecdotes from Nicole about her school week. Talked a little Niners with my Dad, laughed with my sister, and had some laughs with Helene. Even got an episode or two of Jersey Shore in there, just for sake of honest tackiness. Tattoo you.
34 So there you go, nice weekend, nice morning, nice vibes, good studying, a nice recipe for the future and I'm good! We'll keep it short today, sound bueno? So yeah, I'm good.
35 Hope you are too!
36 Have a grandiose Monday everybody. Fly low.
37 Peace.
~H~
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