Welcome, Republicans!

I saw this yesterday along 494 by the airport.

Who knew the State Fair is a bastion of politically subversive farm-related plant art?

At the State Fair I counted about 7 pieces in the Crop Art category that specifically attacked Republicans. All these works were made out of various grains and seeds. Examples include:
Elephants shitting on the Constitution
Barack Obama cleaning up after elephant shit that was labeled with things like "Iraq War"
A Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who spin-off with anti-McCain, pro-Obama messages
A favorite was in the Scarecrow category - a GWB scarecrow with a pinocchio nose, a flight-suit labeled AWOL, a missile with the word Fear on it, and a puppet of Norm Coleman.
Strangely, no anti-Dem art. Another fairgoer reminded me that it's the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. Oh, yeah.
SO wish I'd had my camera with me.

P.S. If you're not ripping on Rep's, apparently your inspiration for crop art is Jesus, Ray Romano, or Bernie Mac.

The Reunion

Saturday was the much-anticipated 10-year reunion for T-G, and it was definitely not what I expected.
First of all, way more people actually remembered me than I thought would, and seeing faces I haven't seen in 10 years brought back lots of memories. A big group of us headed out together so we knew that we'd have people to talk when we arrived, but before long, we had all split up to talk to everyone. There were a few people I had lost track of over the years that I was looking forward to connecting with, and they were the first ones I saw when I walked in the room! Granted, much of the conversation was along the lines of "What have you been up to the last 10 years?" but it was still fun.
For those of you CSS folks, I saw Kyle R. (since I graduated with his wife), and it was fun to reminisce about college and hear about his teaching experiences in Duluth.
It generally feels like a big part of who I was 10 years ago has been reopened, perhaps to renewed friendships; however, there are some "chapters" that have perhaps been closed now. The term closure seems cliche, but there were some questions that were definitely answered last night, and some things I won't be wondering about any more. It's a bittersweet feeling -- comforting and sad at the same time. And I never thought a high school reunion could do all that for me.

Things I am Afraid Of

At this moment, these are my panic-inducing, up-at-night thoughts:
The Republicans are coming. They will clog our freeways and bars.
Teacher workshop is next week.
I think Norm Coleman might win.
I don't know when I will have time to go to the State Fair. And it might be filled with Republicans.
One of my AP classes is way too big.
My grandpa is not getting better.
I am giving up control of my classroom (student teacher).
I don't know what to wear to the reunion next weekend.
Doctor's appt. next week... don't know what they will do to me, but I'm pretty sure it will include a needle.
The Republicans again.

Cabin Weekend = Fun

Got back from the ever-swanky Crosslake, MN, yesterday afternoon, and I know now why this is a highlight of my summer every year. Benny's family has a cabin up there and one weekend a year we reserve it, rent a boat from Al's, drink beer, and lay out in the sun. We got the same excellent pontoon that we had last summer, complete with lots of cushy lounge seats and a "changing booth" that we use primarily for peeping on other boaters. Most of our boat-day is spent cruising around the lakes chain and hitting up the bars that have docks. Fortunately I was not the only female again this year, thanks to Nora. Listening to a bunch of guys talking nonstop about cougars and milfs can get a little old. Also fortunately, we did not get into trouble with the lake cops this year (last time it was illegal bottle rockets and bow-riding).
A few things I learned this year at the cabin:
1. I am really good at Racko. Really good.
2. Apparently, it is legal to enter a PT Cruiser in a "classic" car show.
3. Firefighters are good at roasting pigs.
4. There is some sort of fancy pontoon that looks to hold about 25 people and has a fricken' wet bar on it. I didn't even bother finding out how much it costs to rent.
5. My husband will probably never let me stop at Treasure City on the way to the cabin, no matter how much I plead.
6. Although setting up a badminton court in the middle of a sandbar sounds like a good idea, it might be a little more complicated than you'd expect.
7. Shuttlecocks float.

My Summer Soundtrack

Here's what I've been listening to all summer. No Lollapalooza for me this year, so I had to get my fix of new music via the iTunes.

#1 favorite of the summer: Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings, Too - with an album title like that, you know it's got to be good

British females: Where did they all come from? It's a good time to be a female solo artist in the UK right now, I think. Adele, Estelle, Duffy, etc. It's not bad. Especially love the Estelle track "American Boy." Think I might have to play that one really loud on the pontoon this weekend.


Weezer - Red - Can't ever get enough Rivers Cuomo. I don't think I've been in love with a musician this much since ca. 1988 when I had a huge thing for Jordan Knight.

She & Him - Volume 1 - Hollywood starlet who makes an album that doesn't suck-- a rare occasion, indeed (sorry, Scarlett).

Los Campesinos - Hold On Now, Youngster... - The hubby got me hooked on this one. Can you not love a song entitled "You! Me! Dancing!"?

Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons... - Love the hometown boys. Love this album. Almost makes me wish I was an ex-stripper living off food stamps. Okay, no, it doesn't.

Summer... almost... over?

Where did it go? My summer vacation feels like it just began. Usually around this time of year, I start remembering my favorite students and looking forward to seeing them (and my favorite coworkers) again. I have been working intensely on school stuff (graduate credits, AP curriculum, my grant for online curriculum development), and have been actually going to work to get it done, so I almost feel like I'm back to work already.

Plus, I've been waking up much earlier. My motivation: SBTB reruns on TBS at 7 and 7:30 every morning. Why do I like that show so much? It's supposed to just be a joke to love it (Oh no! Jessie is addicted to caffeine pills! What will the gang do?), but I feel disappointed if I miss an episode. I also feel disappointed that they show The College Years episodes on Friday. Yick.

But here's one more thing to look forward to: A Student Teacher. Yes, I have taken the plunge and accepted my first slave laborer. It's kind of interesting: the young man who will be working with me both graduated from my high school and my college. For some reason, he's chosen to finish up down here instead of in Duluth. My former principal is in charge of the Ed. program at the St. Paul campus, so he asked if I'd want to work with this student. How could I say no? It will be so nice not to have the massive paper load from my 2 writing-intensive courses that I'll be managing. A whole semester of freedom from essays? Heaven.