School Bullying

I Just finishing reading Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco. The ending, just like the ending to her talk at my school, is driving me nuts. After all those kids did to her, how can she forgive them without a second thought, and become best buds with them? I understand how she longed for their acceptance, but I just can't see how she lets go of years and years of anguish and hurt. Maybe she's a better person than I, but it just doesn't seem realistic to me.

Now, it's not like I was bullied as a kid, at least not like Blanco was. I was teased, my peers loved the fact that I cried easily and tried to make me all the time. I was called names as a high schooler that I still shudder to hear now as an adult. I was generally ignored by the "popular kids" throughout middle school, and into high school. On one occasion in middle school, a girl threatened to beat me up, and it terrified me for months. When I was in elementary school, I was sitting in a corner at recess, and a large girl named Mateeka actually sat on me. I was more "unseen" than bullied. So no, my life was not miserable. But I was definitely never one of the in crowd.

Which is why I can't imagine a high school reunion scene like the one Blanco describes at the end of her book, where she opens up to her tormentors, and tells them how glad she is that they like her now. Sometimes I see people that are so great at forgiveness, and their lives are probably better as a result. They say that to hold on to past hurts is like letting someone rent space in your head for free (Rob Bell, paraphrased), and that the only one it hurts is yourself. So forgiveness is a good thing. It's biblical. Jesus calls his followers to forgive a person who has wronged you "70 times 7 times." But I honestly find it hard to befriend someone who has hurt me that many times. That just seems stupid to me, because you're just opening yourself up and allowing them to hurt you all over.

This isn't a very developed post, I know. But I'd love to hear some of my reader(s) thoughts on the subject of forgiveness, the past, and/ or school bullying.

Also, please note - while I have a hard time accepting Jodee Blanco's unilateral forgiveness of those that ruined her childhood, I loved her book, and the action points that she provides for kids and adults involved in bullying. Hearing her speak and reading her book will change the way I counsel my students, and one day, my own children. I highly recommend the book to anyone who ever was a child, who has children, or who works with children. I would even recommend it to high school students who are mature enough to handle some strong language and violence.

Letters from Africa - Day 2

Hi guys!

Today I'm a little bit more rested than yesterday. We woke up really early to go on a safari, and saw pretty much every African animal there is to see. It was wonderful.

Then we went to a village market, in which I realized what a "Muzungo" I am. (Muzungo means White Girl).

In response to Dad's question: A mutatu is a type of bus here in Nairobi. It's a van that holds 14 passengers. One man drives, and one man keeps jumping out of the van to get people to ride. Even if you don't really want to go there, he tries to convince you that you do. They drive very fast, in heavy traffic and bad pollution, and play VERY very loud gangsta rap music. This is the primary mode of transportation for Kenyans. Not so much for white people. It's great.

The rest of our friends get here tomorrow morning, and we are going to Nairobi Chapel for church. Monday we fly to Yabus.

Love you all,

J

Letters from Africa - Day 1

We're here in Nairobi, all flights went without a problem. Very very tired. We rode in a mutatu today, ate some yummy food, and shopped at the Masai Market. Tomorrow we go on a safari.

World Adventure, Day 1

I leave today for Yabus, Sudan, via Nairobi, Kenya, via Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I won't really be able to post while I'm there, but expect photos when I return home.

NLDS

I don't win things. Rarely to never. Door prizes are offered to the person sitting next to me at meetings. I get Bingo a second after all of the prizes are claimed. My scratch off tickets have always been duds. I'm not saying I'm unlucky, just that I don't win things.

Until now.

A few weeks ago, I, along with several of my friends, entered my name in a drawing to buy tickets to the National League Division Series, should the Cubs clinch the division. Then I put it out of my mind, assuming that millions of people had also entered their names.

Well, this Tuesday, I got an email stating that I was lucky enough to win the opportunity to purchase up to two (2) tickets to a playoff game at Wrigley Field! So this Thursday, October 2, I will be heading to Wrigley to watch the Chicago Cubs play in a play off game, an experience that more devoted baseball fans than I have yet to have.

I won.

My Everywhere Person

Has anyone ever heard of this phenomenon? Back in college, there was this guy that I saw on the street all the time, in a ton of my classes (all unrelated ones), and just generally random places. he was a very distinctive looking guy, with a black pea coat and hooded sweatshirt underneath (very popular at the time of Dogma), and dark greasy hair. I never talked to my everywhere person, and it always sort of unnerved me when I found him in yet another place or situation that I was in.

Now 3 years out of college, I have a new everywhere person. I've often seen this man at Pick n Save when I do my late night shopping, and tonight he was wandering up 124th street. He's an interesting man. I'm going to name him Richard. I think he has a friend, and occasionally they make mad dashes through the store picking out produce and things to grill.

I would like to learn more about Richard.

I would also like to find more information on the Everywhere Person Phenomenon.

Make a Decision, Already!

The awkward, repetitive, tedium makes this video fantastic. Don't worry, around minute 4:25, you're rewarded with a girl in a bikini.



Sort of reminds me of the process my bathroom is going through the past 6 months.

Customer Service Doesn't Have to Be Awful

This makes me happy, especially knowing that I have to deal with Sprint one of these days and tell them they messed up my phone bill. Again.

The Reason for the Season?

For the past 3 years or so, I've started feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the extraordinary amounts of gifts exchanged in my family, and with my friends and loved ones. Don't get me wrong, I love getting presents. I love unwrapping things, and I love watching little kids unwrap presents and play with their toys. I also generally enjoy watching friends and family open gifts that I've thoughtfully chosen for them. But it just started to be so much, and when everyone just ends up with a pile at the end of the night, and there's pressure to find the perfect gift, because someone else is getting me a gift, I say Enough.

I'm not complaining here, and I'm not saying that my method will be for everyone. But this year, I'm not buying presents. No Amazon.com, no stores, no stress. There are a couple of people on my list for whom I've thought of specific gifts, which I will give. Several others will receive homemade gifts. For most of my family and friends, however, Christmas will be about time spent together. Time just seems so much more valuable to me than things that you can buy, and so much more personal.

Follow my lead, and maybe together we can beat the consumerism of Christmakwanzakuah. Unless you really enjoy giving gifts, in which case, carry on. 7 days left to order for free shipping from amazon.

My First Snow Day of the 2007-2008 School Year

I'm beginning to doubt global warming. Over the past two years, I've seen more snow days than I ever saw as a child growing up in public schools. My district has canceled school for bitter cold, blizzards, and now an ice storm. Every time I think I hate winter in Wisconsin, I ask myself, "Do schools in Florida or California ever get a random day off in the middle of the week, without some major tragedy befalling their region?" I think not.

Snow days are great, for several reasons.

For starters, the announcement always co mes as a surprise to me. My blinds are closed, so i can't see the snow, and I missed the phone chain call since I was in the shower. In this case, it was one of my roomates that pointed out that many many schools are closed today. Yippee!

Secondly, because the news came late, i was already out of bed, showered, with my hair dried. This means that I won't be wasting my day lazing around in bed. I'll be wasting it lazing around on the computer, with the hopes of doing some very productive things, like rearranging my bedroom, going to the gym, and making homemade Christmas gifts. More on that later.

The final reason this day is so wonderful is the fact that I have many teacher friends, who have off when I have off. So when we get bored, perhaps we'll go sledding!

The Sunrise This Morning Is Stunning

As much as I'm beginning to hate winter, with its short days, cold cold weather, and roads too icy to run on, there's just something about watching the sun rise above the now covered roof tops while I sit inside eating my hot oatmeal with Craisins. I feel like I've been given a gift, every time.

Mere Marriage

A long time ago, I got into a long discussion with Eric about marriage and how it should be recognized, by the state or by the church, and who should be allowed to marry, etc. He proposed the idea that the church should recognize (or not) the marriage of whomever it wants, and the state recognize civil unions of anyone.

I don't know who else has proposed this idea, or if it was original, but I was surprised tonight when working through my Book Club reading, to find that that it was endorsed by C.S. Lewis over 50 years ago in (essentially) his catechism of the Christian faith, Mere Christianity.

P 102
"My own view is that the Churches should frankly recognise that the majority of British people are not Christians and, therefore, cannot be expected to live Christian lives. There ought to be two distinct kinds of marriage: one governed by the State with rules enforced on all citizens, the other governed by the Church with rules enforced by her on her own members. The distinction ought to be quite sharp, so that a man knows which couples are married in a Christian sense and which are not.

Lewis's discussion of the institution of marriage happens to be in the context of divorce, and whether laws banning it should be enforced on all citizens. As I recall, the discussion in question from long ago centered around the issue of homosexual marriage, during the heated amendment process.

Stay tuned for continuing thoughts on Lewis, and Why More of the Religious Right Really Ought to be Logical, Rational and not Crazy, Thus Giving More Credibility to Christians As a Whole.

Two Pleasant Dealings with a Wireless Company

What I'm about to say here may seem a bit strange, so brace yourself. This week, I found it necessary to enter into the Sprint retail store not once, but TWO times and request assistance. Both times, I was given courtesy above and beyond what I expected, even beyond that which is common. I would even go so far as to say that the Sprint representatives were - gasp, choke - kind.

Trip One: My flip phone broke in two pieces when I dropped it for the kabillionth time. I'm lucky my computer is too big to carry around much, or I wouldn't have that for very long, either, the way I drop things. So I went in to inquire about getting a new plan before my contract was up. Not going to happen, but only because my parents are still on my family plan, which ends on October 19. In the meantime, my new friend Miguel found me a hands free set that I could plug into my somehow-still-functioning phone, so that I could make calls, until I found a better option.

Trip Two: I acquired a temporary replacement phone, and went back to the store to activate it, which is supposed to cost $36. Service with a smile to activate new phone, and transfer numbers - free. I left happy.

Probably still sticking with Sprint, especially knowing that my service issues were likely due to my crummy old phone. Try talking to me on my replacement phone. I trust that you'll actually be able to hear me now! All it takes is a few good customer service experiences, and you're a changed person.

Newsflash!

Caffeine's not bad for running?

Quote of the Day That Made Me Laugh

"He probably has a bumpy tongue." - CM.

This is why I love playground duty.

Get Fuzzy In My Inbox

This made me laugh. Granted, so do my first graders, all day long, but this made me laugh in a sort of grown - up sort of way. Enjoy.

Remember My Chains

I generally don't quote or discuss scripture or heavy spiritual matters here on this blog, for the sake of my narrow audience. I think my range may be broadening a bit these days and besides, this is necessary today for the sake of some perspective.

In reading Colossians today, I was struck by the phrase at the end of Paul's letter, "Remember my chains." (As a bit of background, Paul was a very important and persecuted follower of Jesus, who after Jesus' death, traveled the world teaching and spreading the Gospel to others. landed in jail for his work, ended up martyred). He refers to his chains multiple other times in his letters, perhaps for the purpose of reminding the early Christians that life was not all easy cheesy. They could die for their belief. They could be put in jail. Their leaders could be taken from them. "Remember my chains."

Then I sit here and I worry about the things on my plate today, and I think about the topics my friends have been discussing lately. how much money will I make next year? Will I find a cute enough outfit to wear for my birthday? Will I get to take a nap today? Will a cute boy be at the party tonight? Will he talk to me? Will I get married in the next 6 months, or will it take a year? Will my hands get cold running to my car? Will anyone help me set up or clean up for the party that I'm throwing? Is the ministry being run as best as it can, and could I run it better?

I know it's impossible to constantly maintain a global perspective. But RIGHT NOW, someone is being arrested or even killed for their beliefs. Someone is in chains for what they believe, and their ministry, their life, is FINISHED. They're worrying about who is going to feed their family now that they're in chains. Who is going to lead their people now that they're in chains.

To quote my least favorite line from my favorite pastor, "I don't know where you're at," but as for me, as I go through my day today, and my activities this week, I'm going to focus on keeping a perspective that remembers the chains of those who truly do the work of God.

"Remember my chains."

I Was Right!

A discussion arose last night about how to determine when Leap Year was. It was pointed out that whenever it is an election year, February also has 29 days. This is generally true, I pointed out, except in several rare cases, when every fourth year is NOT actually a leap year. People scoffed, said "Silly Jessie, doesn't know what she's talking about..."

Well, turns out I did know what I was talking about. According to Wikipedia, "The Gregorian calendar, the current standard calendar in most of the world, adds a 29th day to February in all years evenly divisible by 4, except for centennial years (those ending in -00), which receive the extra day only if they are evenly divisible by 400. Thus 1600, 2000 and 2400 are leap years but 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2100 are not." [Emphasis mine].

It's not often, but it happens.