This is the picture I'm currently using for my facebook profile. You don't know how many people swear this is me. They are convinced I should've been a baby model cuz I was so cute. What bothers me is that their subtext reads "Wow! You were so cute! What happened?" Boy, do I have them fooled. This is my nephew, Tyler, and although he is cute, he's not as cute as I was. ;-)

Keith Urban, my hair style idol

I want to be a hot Aussie

Okay, a few things. First of all, going back to the political question, I think defense is really important because it has repercussions (I had a hard time spelling that word) in so many other areas. In order to have a strong defense, you have to establish good relations with the rest of the world. A strong defense means a large military, but also global respect. It requires foreign policy that doesn't alienate and create more enemies than allies. It also requires a strong economy where money is not spent all willy-nilly and a huge deficit is acrued. If this happens, you will not be able to properly equip and financially support a war. A strong defense requires accountability and honesty between those in charge and the rest of the world. So, a number of fundamental changes would be needed for the US to establish a strong defense.

Now, I wanted to mention two other things. One is that on Wednesday night I went to a local cafe where Ronnie had a gig with a band he plays with. Although supposedly his band features piano-led alternative rock, the performance was heavily drum-led as the drums overpowered everything else in this small space they were playing in. As we were leaving I stopped to tell some of the members of the band who played before Ronnie's what I thought about their set. Some of the members of the band so happened to be Latinos and, as I caught up with the group, I overheard Ronnie's girlfriend comment that "the Mexicans are bonding." I wanted to include it cuz I thought it was funny and it related to the whole racial identity entry earlier and I told her I would. I tease her a lot anyways, so I had it coming.

Anyways, I got a haircut today and I now have a vision of what my hair style will be. My stylist and I decided that, in honor of Nashville being the country music capital, I would style my hair after the hot Aussie country singer Keith Urban. If you don't know who he is, you need to look him up. I like him for his songs, of course. It's getting there. I actually walked in considering just cutting it all off, but she convinced me not to, so I press on with the long hair. Also tonight I went to a 21st birthday dinner for a friend of mine and was introduced to the ritual of the sake bomb. I have no idea what is in store for my birthday.

Oh, and in honor of Keith, the QoD: Who is the hottest singer/musician? and/or Who is the hottest Aussie? and/or Who is the hottest cowboy/girl? Take your pick.

Una relación simbiótica

I had begun to feel disillusioned with our country after the presidential elections. I thought more than half the country no longer had contact with reality nor believed in the basic tenants of democracy upon which this country stands. I was actually scared. Until last night...

Last night I attended a presentation by Howard Dean here on campus and left confident, reinvigorated, and proud of this country again. As his points wove with my own political philosophies, my personal opinions took shape into a concrete, positive platform for improvement. He convinced me that the world hasn't gone insane and that not everyone is ignorant of the problems persisting with our system today. He convinced me that the country is not really divided into blue states and red states, although politics and the media have painted it that way. One of my greatest fears would be to have a country pointedly divided beyond recognition; we are a single country after all and we must work together, right? His position was that the country is really50 purple states, with some variation in hue, but that for the most part shares a common set of beliefs, needs, and values---and that those beliefs, needs, and values coincide with a democratic platform. Democrats have had a problem in communicating what they really stand for and have allowed republicans to speak for them and, in turn, demonize them. Believe it or not, the democratic party has morals.

He explained issues of the economy, defense, and "moral issues" in a way I hadn't heard before that connected with my own personal values so deeply. Listening to him in a room of supporters, I only wished that more republicans (or those who aren't sure) could have been in the room to hear some of his perspectives and I'm sure that even if it doesn't change their position entirely, at least they would better understand, respect, and learn something from these ideas that weren't very clearly communicated during the election because the issues failed to reach below the service of the real problems facing America. He even made me seriously want to be involved in the process and run for a position on the school board or some other local government agency. After he stressed the importance that people do more than just vote, but become part of the system for change he remarked, "I know there are some of you out there thinking they could never be a politician. But, honestly, who out there doesn't think they could run this country better than George W. Bush?" Maybe I was glad there weren't many republicans present for that remark. And Mom, get Grams to stop watching Fox News all day long. Thus, a politically charged QoD, open for opinion from anyone because no matter what political ideology you subscribe, there are always ways to improve a nation.

QoD: What is the most important aspect of current policy, ideology, or system that requires attention and reform?

I'd have to say the issue of defense, but I'll explain more next time. Right now, I'd like to finish with a statement from one of my professors that really stuck with me and made sense to me regarding my mom's illness. She said, in Spanish, that right now we have a symbiotic relationship. She keeps fighting in order to see me graduate and I keep working hard in order to graduate so my mom can be there. In this way we are depending and feeding off each other. She said it was really special and unique. I agree. I love you, Mom.

Proud to Be O'Ryan

Another week down and exactly 5 weeks left before I'm done!!! I'm a little excited about that especially cuz the weeks always fly by. See, keeping busy is good for something. Maybe I should add back on my third major...
Anyways, the weather today finally managed to climb its way back up to decency. It was actually pretty nice this afternoon: around 60 and sunny with a slight northeasternly wind and a few clouds for good measure. Of course, by 5 o'clock I was looking for my coat and by 9 I was bundled with a coat, gloves, and scarf. That inspires what might be a new tradition adding to the interactuality of the blog format. It's the-----

QoD....Question of the Day: What weather makes you happiest?

Mine definitely involves a sunny green spot with a nice breeze and a blue sky up above with a few clouds that resemble rabbits or ferrets or some fluffy animal. Today was pretty close, but not quite warm enough. And feel free to suggest a question or to respond to an entirely different question never stated in this blog.

Anyways, I hope you all remembered to wear green yesterday and didn't let any sketchy leprechaun trick you into drinking some random green liquid. If you have a hang-over at the moment from belated St. Patrick's Day partying, I apoligize for making you strain your eyes to read this.

As promised, the gossip: Yesterday I had a meeting that more or less decided my academic destiny. One of the professors was wearing the tackiest green power-suit ever! The 80s were so last year.....Anywayz, over break I found out that it would be virtually impossible to get my credentials in California without going to school for at least another year and retaking all my education classes. Not an option. So, I've got to get my credentials from Tennessee. I went to the school of education at UC Davis and the dept. chair suggested that the best option might be for her to find me a supervisor to do my student teaching in California, but under the Vanderbilt program. "Brilliant idea! Why didn't I think of that???" is all that runs through my head. I've already tried to convince Peabody's administration that this is a viable option, but, unfortunately, my luck didn't change on Thursday. Despite the fact that both UC Davis & Sac State offered to accomodate me with a "courtesy placement," that could videotape & email correspondence to Vanderbilt for observation, and that various professors & grad students have offered to FLY OUT TO SACRAMENTO just to observe me as needed, not to mention the specialness of the circumstances I'm under, the administrations stubbornly stuck by their position that no exceptions could be made to the policy. Bureaucracy. Some people are still encouraging me to push the issue with "higher-ups," but I think I'm just going to accept what I've got and make the best out of it.

I think I'm going to try and live in this one dorm where you have special meetings, parties, sports, and dinners that pertain to the foreign language you speak. I have different friends who've lived there and thought it was awesome. So, there's one thing to look forward to, eh?
Anyways, I'm gonna go to sleep and pray to some god that I can be productive tomorrow on the research paper that I'll be tempted to put off until Sunday night.

There and Back Again...An Espi Tale

Well, I've made it there and then I've made it back, hence the title.
My perilous journey began with nearly getting arrested for being a terrorist. You may be thinking, "Oh boy. Here we go again with the Mexicanisms and racial profiling nonsense." No, I brought this profiling upon myself. I made the age-old mistake of leaving my laptop unattended, at a prime bombing area, the front of the airport. Suffice to say, by the time I realized what I had done and returned to the scene of the crime to find a group of officers huddled around my bag, I began to think of whether it might be easier to just buy a new laptop instead of being arrested and tortured at some base in Cuba. Luckily, the officers were fairly understanding and I showed them my Vanderbilt student ID and spoke to them in the slowest possible manner (so the officers from Nashville).
The journey continued without incident until the engine started to smoke upon landing in Dallas/Ft. Worth (don't ask me which one I actually landed in) and people began to panic. Luckily we were landing and got off that godforsaken plane as soon as possible...only to get on the next godforsaken plane where a computer system failure caused a delay as attendants had to take a roll call, head count, and our tickets to make up for the passenger data that was lost. All of our confidence would soon be restored as the captain slyly remarks over the speakers, "Well, folks, in case you're wondering, we do know how to fly this hunk of metal." Boy, thanks captain, my captain. This plane attempted to make up for the detriment to my flying experience by giving me a couple of open seats beside me, a really good onboard movie, Finding Neverland (made me cry afterward, but it kind of hit home a little and I was ready for a good cry), and some music for my radio-listening pleasure.
Finally home, I was blown away by the perfect whether. So happy and blue and sunny and in the upper 70s with a nice breeze. O.M.G. Why am I putting up with the ridiculous winter of Nashville? I got to see a bunch of family and some friends and spend some good time with my mom. It can be hard to see her suffer, luckily she isn't (or at least wasn't at the time) too bad. She took me shopping at the Gap and I picked up some good "teacher" clothes for the spring. We also absconded with my grandma to take a trip to Tahoe. They haven't been to Tahoe in a long time, and even when they went it was always just to gamble in Nevada. The mountains and the snow and the trees and the water were so amazingly serene and beautiful that I felt ashamed that I don't go there more often. I mean, what else does Sacramento have going for it other than being a two hour drive or less to Tahoe or to the ocean.
I was productive in my movie watching (I Heart Huckabees, Donnie Darko, The Village, Eulogy, and Sky Captain...), but less productive in the academic aspects. This was evidenced by the practically all-nighter I pulled the Sunday night I got back to school. I did manage to secure a position as English dept. head at Sac Summerbridge for the summer. And I found out some info involving my student teaching/schooling decision. I'll write more about this later though cuz I've got another big meeting tomorrow about the whole situation. All the gossip to come.
Although the break could've been longer, the semester is nearly over and I'll be back home before you or I know it. Right now, I'm finding it hard to believe that it was snowing today and just last Friday I was enjoying 80+ degrees of wonderfulness. Still, the week has been cool. Hopefully, such a trend will continue. I just checked my email and found out that the research paper I had due on Friday is now due Monday. I call that a Procrastinators Delight.
Here's to a delightful rest of the week!
with Heart

When it snows, it pours

Well,
It is snowing. I think it is an appropriate sign that "Spring" break is next week. Oh, if it's not warm in California I might go stir-crazy. That's right, stir-crazy!! And you know what happens to people who go stir-crazy...they eat a lot of chocolate and then shoot people on a sugar high. So, let's all hope for sunshine and warmth. And since the air-conditioner continuously spews cold air for no logical reason, I especially could use some warmth. Another consequence of the snow is that all the schools are closed. Now, is there really enough snow out there to be unsafe or impede traffic? No! Of course not! But, seeing as we haven't had any snow days all year long, they had to jump on the chance to claim this one- everyone needed a break! Especially the kids. Can you believe that most of the elementary schools in this district don't have recess. They hardly ever touch the playground.
Anyways, because all the schools are closed I'm not teaching today or doing my research project. Which basically means that I'm done for the day and don't know what I'm gonna do with myself. I think I'm gonna go to bed early tonight for sure. I pulled my first all-nighter last Thursday/Friday which was exciting. I ended up getting a 91 on the project, so it wasn't all together unsuccessful. And I just finished my second of two midterm exams today and they both went well. I just have a project for my Problems in Literacy Learning class and I guess I'll need to make-up my lesson on Thursday if it decides to stop snowing. So, basically I'm looking forward to flying home on Friday. I need a break, I need to be home, and I need some sunshine. This semester has passed by really quickly though (already more than halfway over) and that's a great thing. And I've only cut 3 classes so far!!! Oh, and a quick sidenote, I got the green light for Vandy's 1st Annual 24hr Theatre Experience!! It'll be on April 22-23. Yay!!
Anyways, I've got an appt at 1:30 with a counselor, so wish me luck. Then, who knows, maybe actually go to work and make money or something.
Filled with love and well-wishes...
~Mat~