Ben Harper - Better Way

I personally love it when he screams these lines.  It is not only how I feel at the current moment (and yes, I would LOVE to go out into a dark field somewhere and scream) but I also love the message of this song.

Reality is sharp
It cuts at me like a knife
Everyone I know
Is in the fight of their life

Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don't be denied

I believe in a better way 

Minus One Magnanimous Monday...

The previous week, there was a silence from 'the hammock'.  I will explain in a picture and words, the reason.  Last weekend I had spent 19+ hours over the course of three days, Friday to Sunday, at school working.  This was not by choice but by need for survival.  By Sunday, after a dinner out with some friends and a venti coffee, I worked until the better part of 2 a.m. Awaking by 6:00 ( I am NOT sleeping well these days at all...) I was actually up and at 'em and headed out the door early.  I had put all my plethora of bags, stacks, binders, etc. in the car the night before so I was set.

Slam the door and turn the key.  Nothing.  Silver was not up for Monday.  Dashboard lights lit up like Times Square, but no engine roaring to life.  The Hemi had a serious cold.

This was the beginning of two days of what I can only describe as a life's 'supercell'.  Muttering and clamoring back out of the car, I schlep all my stuff into Greg's truck and head on to work.  A rather normal day ensued, and I even left school at a decent hour to catch a 'sign-up' deal for an exercise class with a friend.  Remember, I was going on about four hours of steam after a LOOOONG weekend.

Fast forward to Tuesday morning.  Silver bullet is still a 'dud' in my garage so I plan to head out in Greg's truck again.  The plan was to check the Durango's battery and take it in that day, if need be.  I am, once again, piling books, binders and lunch into the backseat, balancing it on top of a golf bag already taking up the whole space.  I managed to drop about eight things in the process and bump my head reaching across the pile to get something.  I was tired.  I was worn out from a week only two days old.  I had intended to get to school early again to prepare for a sub that would be coming while I attended a 'professional development' session (two weeks into school?!?!).  My mind was reeling with all I needed to do, both for work and personally.

I was driving along talking to God (eyes open, of course...), as I often do on my short ten - minute commute.  My emotions were right on the surface of my skin as I asked to hear Him again, to gain direction.  I just wanted for Him to speak to me.  It had been too long, and I so needed to hear His voice.  WHAM!

Out of the blue, uttered prayer still lingering in the hollow of the car, the car in front of me stops without warning - no turn signal and very dim brake lights.  I register what is happening in slow motion and begin to veer to the right to avoid the aged Camry.  It wasn't enough and I slammed into him with the left side of the front of the Sportrac, sending the Camry sliding into the oncoming lane (no one was coming) and me into the ditch on the side of the road.

Thankfully, I wasn't going very fast.  Thankfully, neither one of us was hurt, other than shaken and sore. Thankfully, cars can be fixed.  Thankfully, my principal came to the scene to check on me, and seeing me visibly out of sorts, sent me home for the day.

Was that His answer to me?  He speaks in many and mysterious ways.  I did realize that as I've been seeking Him for a few specific issues of 'life stuff', it was not lost on me that for two days in a row, my attempts at spending ALL my waking hours at a job and trying to get there early were all but halted, one way or another.  I am still wondering at the reasoning for that.

Here is what came home with me this weekend:

Binders and stacks of standards, units, curriculum, lessons and blank lesson plans.  It sat in this chair since Saturday.  The title of this photograph is 'overwhelmed'.  The photo speaks for itself.

Magnanimous Mondays

O.K.  The eve of this Monday finds me sighing so loud my neighbors must wonder what north wind doth blow.  I am working this 'Trust-Positive-Attitude-Take-One-Day-At-A-Time' angle for all its worth.  I have managed it so far, four days into this new school year.  Until now.  

Before I get too far into this post that is titled to infuse courage or denote generosity, I will stop with the above bemoaning and focus on the 'little things'  - those things that make you happy and can take you, momentarily away from what drags you down.  Here is a little corner of my world:

My bedside table makes me happy.  The lofty mountains of evidence of severe bibliomania just make me feel at home.  I love the shells and wine glass (can't see it behind the far right tower of books) full of aqua and turquoise treasures from the sea.  The dangly lamp and the little sign (I have words all over the house) that says:

REFUSE TO SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN BUTTERFLIES

If I could, I truly would just rather read and write all the time.  I've always said I could be a full-time student but if that's not possible, just build a treehouse out of planks of literature and slide plates of fruit under the door.  It's all I really want to do.

Finally, a song to take you into the new week.  To all who yearn, whose hearts stretch with yearning so much sometimes it hurts, this song, 'Morning Yearning' by Ben Harper, is for you.

Magnanimous Mondays

I want to do this regularly.  I will give it my best try.  I would love for it to be varied, but for the lack of time I have another song to bring you into a new work week.  This is a 'make me happy' song that I just adore.  I think as I work to bring about change in my own little world and mind, I will strive to shift the Sunday doldrums for having to head into another week of work, and instead be glad for another week, that thankfully ALWAYS has a new weekend attached to it!!  

In this song, it is particularly fun to play it loud in the car, and when she says "All together now" clap along!!!

Book Recommendation:

I know this is a book that is 'popular' at the moment, as well as just mere days away from debuting in the theaters, but I would love to recommend a thorough read of it prior to seeing the movie.  I am a big fan of reading the book before the movie as I often find that I fall head-over-heels for the written version of the story far more than the cinema version, but I am biased.  I am a monomaniac.

I am also a fan of books that make you think, and this one had its impact on me.  I believe books hit us all at moments when a particular 'itch' is just waiting to be scratched by a similar idea found within the pages of a story.  This book was 'it' in this category for me this summer.  

The overarching 'itch' for me that found relief in 'eat pray love' was the profound move towards a complete change in one's life.  A deliberate and definitive step in a new direction.  The idea that this person in the story ( I believe it is the author herself) removed herself from the life she had been living that had accumulated years of build-up of resignation and disappointment, and dug deep to find out who she was, is so liberating in so many ways.  

I won't go into detail because, after all, I am strongly encouraging you to read the book, but she takes a rather drastic and painful course of action in order to accomplish this 'coming home' within herself that leads her on a most colorful and illuminating journey.  The title itself, simple in construction, lays the foundation for the three phases that she goes through to get to 'a place' beyond where she was when she started out.  I could not call it 'the end' because you get the very real sense that it is just a beginning for her, and as I always say, endings are really just the start of a new beginning.

Check it out!  Then go treat yourself to the theater version!  You won't regret that you did.

Magnanimous Mondays

I may or may not be consistent with this little whim, but I thought that I would begin a series of sorts entitled 'Magnanimous Mondays'.  Not only do I love that word (magnanimous - try saying it several times out loud and feel how your mouth just adores it) for it's lovely sounding quality, it is one of the myriad of nicknames for my bizarre dog, Maggie as well as has a great definition:  1) lofty or courageous spirit 2) generosity of mind.  I'm feeling generous to offer something that will make you think, smile, wonder, laugh or get up and shake it on the day of the week most dread.  You never know what will turn up here!

So here's today's inaugural installment:

Love this song!  Especially love the line,  "They can take away my job, but not my friends, you see".  This song makes me happy!

Also, I may occasionally include an interesting, new, funny word for your enjoyment and learning.  I recently purchased this great little book called "The Book of Hard Words" and read it in one sitting.  A word that was included is just...funny.  It may be immature and silly, but see if you don't crack up trying to use this several times and acquire it into your vocabulary.

callipygian [adj] ka-luh-PEE-juhn / def.  possessing a fine pair of buttocks.

I couldn't resist.