“If I had your time…” That’s what I hear from people who don’t want to get things done. “If I had YOUR time…” Always that dark tone, sitting halfway between dismissal and envy…as if it’s somehow my fault time’s cheated them… that I’m some space-time villain who steals their time for my own productivity. I used to…
To All the Foods I’ve Loved Before
“Ramen comes in seventeen different flavors.” I’m really not sure. I needed a fact, and like a standard TV broadcaster or government official, I made it up. I tell my students how much ramen they’ll eat in life. “You’ll eat it while you work your way up the ladder. You’ll eat it during college. If you go to college…
If the Music Won’t Die, Neither Will I
Haven’t run in a while–it seemed like a great day to get back. 80 degrees in Rhode Island. Sun. When I got home from work, the world was happy and everyone doing his thing–the perfect time for sneaking off for a pre-grilling workout. But…the iPod was on red. Deep red. Would ten a minute charge be enough?…
Heroes
The boy slept on the desk. I woke him again. I wasn’t that boring. Maybe I was–am I qualified to make that determination? That was a minute of his life he would never get back. I asked him after class. “Was I that boring?” “No, Miss, I had to work.” He worked in his family business–a restaurant–until…
Separating Out the Geniuses
I was having a conversation with someone I respect. He’s a member of MENSA. MENSA is a society for geniuses. This made my conversation important–I can say, “I was talking to a genius.” Wait! I am a genius. There is a test score in a box somewhere from when I was little that says so. People might…
Carrying People Through The Sand
There is a story that runs over and over again in many different forms called “Footprints.” It’s about a person walking in the sand with God. You see the footprints. Two sets of footprints, and then, at times, just one. The person laments to God, “God…these are the times in my life when things were most difficult….
Getting an Early Start on Common Cores Using The Economist
I am reading my son’s school newsletter. It does an excellent job discussing the Common Cores. I know this because I use Common Cores all day myself. The school is calling for a 50/50 balance of literary and informational text. I support this because I am a serious professional nerd. Literacy’s important. I’m tired of people who…
Ripping Chicken Carcasses for Luck
It was lying on the counter. A wishbone. A small, dried wishbone from the roasted chicken my mother sent over a couple of days before. My husband saved it and left it on the counter. There it sat–dried. Waiting for a wish. There was a list of things to wish. I could wish for the usual “health, wealth,…
No, I Do Not Want To Play Zombies-I’m Trying to Do Yoga
It’s time for some yoga. I’m stressed. I’m new to yoga, but I’ve learned enough for a routine. I want to do better in my yoga practice. My friend is puts daily “yoga tips” on her LinkedIn and Facebook Pages. I appreciate the gentle reminder, but for me she ought to say, “Are you going to do your…
Hoodies will get you extra points
I think that computers and start ups are the only fields where looking like crap scores you points. Actually, it seems to be a badge of honor. No one wears a suit jacket. The guy with the suit jacket sticks out. Everyone wears a hoodie. I brought my one hoodie–my Grockit hoodie sent all the way from…