I was talking about my favorite teacher from high school last week, and was recently challenged to talk about my favorite subject from high school and three reasons why I liked it.
You would probably peg me for a theater person and would say that my favorite class had to do with theater. Of course, musical theater class was a blast and I even cried when the last performance we did had ended. I didn't like having small parts when I had taken voice lessons and theater classes for the past few years. I know I was capable of more than what I was given. It was still nice to be part of an ensemble though. I think I would have enjoyed it even more nowadays with all the amazing musicals to work with over the past 15 years (starting with "Rent," of course). I also enjoyed my directing class a lot, but going hand in hand with it was creative writing. I absolutely LOVED creative writing and looked forward to that class every day. (I'll explain the link to directing class soon.)
1. The teacher submitted some of my work to contests and competitions, as well as the school's literary magazine. She had no obligation to do so, but it felt really good when I found out that she did anyway.
2. I had a fun time coming up with stories and poems. I even felt comfortable enough to workshop them, as most of the people in the class were nice. I usually hung out with the brother of one of my close friends (she and I weren't close at the time) and he was always supportive of my work, as well. He even got me to laugh at myself sometimes.
3. The short play I wrote was not just the ONLY play published in the literary magazine that year, but also chosen by two different students in directing class. It was cool to see it performed in two different styles and I felt so honored. I got more praise for the play I had written than the one I had directed, and I didn't even mind.
I'm glad I got to take this challenge, as it brought back fun memories and also reinforced why I still love to write, even though it's mostly factual. I did try my hand at some short fiction pieces last year and got some positive feedback. I just need the motivation to write fiction again. I really do have a lot of ideas in my head and I'm so nervous about getting them out on paper. Like I won't like them that way. Especially after reading some amazing novels recently. I am not competitive but I also feel like the bar for superior writing has been set so high and I will settle for nothing but the best from myself.
If Ms. Heckel-Oliver is still out there, I want to thank her for giving me confidence in the creative writing department and for making her class something to always look forward to. I wish I had met her in the beginning of my high school years instead of just my senior year.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Funny Friday-8/26/11-MAD about humor!
When "Saturday Night Live" stopped being entertaining for me, thankfully "MAD TV" was around to make everything better. Like I did with SNL, I want to share lists of my favorite recurring characters, actors and sketches.
Sketches:
*Fake Asian Parents
*Tyra Banks pretending to be Jewish
*The Lillian Verner Game Show (recurring)
*Excuses machine
*Intervention to have a guy stop acting like a stereotypical Italian
*"Sesame Street" parodies (recurring)
Characters:
Ms. Swan
*Tyra Banks pretending to be Jewish
*The Lillian Verner Game Show (recurring)
*Excuses machine
*Intervention to have a guy stop acting like a stereotypical Italian
*"Sesame Street" parodies (recurring)
*Abercrombie and Fitch (recurring)
*"Grey's Anatomy" parodies (recurring)
Characters:
Ms. Swan
Lorraine
Stuart
Bae Sung
Depressed Persian Tow Truck Man
Simian Dyson
Mrs. Garrett (Paul Vogt plays her too well)
Luann Lockhart
Stuart
Bae Sung
Depressed Persian Tow Truck Man
Simian Dyson
Mrs. Garrett (Paul Vogt plays her too well)
Luann Lockhart
Leona Campbell
Sean, the floor leader
Actors:
*Michael McDonald (pictured)
*Ike Barinholtz (pictured)
*Stephnie Weir
*Frank Caliendo
*Nicole Randall Johnson (pictured)
*Crista Flanagan (pictured)
*Paul Vogt
*Bobby Lee (pictured)
*Michael McDonald (pictured)
*Ike Barinholtz (pictured)
*Stephnie Weir
*Frank Caliendo
*Nicole Randall Johnson (pictured)
*Crista Flanagan (pictured)
*Paul Vogt
*Bobby Lee (pictured)
Jordan Peele (pictured)
*Alex Borstein (who also does the voice of Lois on "Family Guy")
*Mo Collins
*Alex Borstein (who also does the voice of Lois on "Family Guy")
*Mo Collins
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Saturdays with Bill
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, I picked the topic: Who was your favorite teacher (any year of school) and why?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
When I was growing up, I had some good teachers every now and then. However, none of them did for me what Mr. Fritz, my freshman English teacher (who was a “freshman” himself), did.
On orientation day, Mr. Fritz (or Bill, as I refer to him these days) stood out from all the other teachers I met. He had long blond hair that flopped onto his face, and seemed very young and energetic. I only got to see him for ten minutes that day. He told some fascinating stories about his travels and adventures, including time spent in Africa. When I walked into his classroom the next day, there was a man standing at his desk with short blond hair, looking all clean cut and professional. I asked him if he was the substitute. He explained that he was still Mr. Fritz but had just gotten a haircut. I guess the long hair look wasn’t working for his teacher persona...
In the beginning of the year, we had to write a creative paper about “Tom Sawyer,” the required summer reading. I am not a fan of required reading and was also not a fan of “Tom Sawyer.” (Not because it’s not chick lit, just because it wasn’t my cup of tea…and this was a mild summer requirement. The rest were worse.) However, I decided to have fun with the assignment. I don’t even remember what I wrote, but apparently Mr. Fritz had a ball with it. He decided to give it to the head coach of the Forensics team and I received a letter a few days later, personally inviting me to join the team. I took them up on their invitation and Mr. Fritz happened to be one of the coaches. I decided to do original comedy, which was bold of me. I didn’t have much to work with, at first, but he helped me make my piece into something I would have fun with throughout the Forensics competition season (the meets were on Saturdays). He also laughed a lot, which gave me the confidence I needed to stick with it.
After winter break, I auditioned for a play. I hadn’t felt comfortable on stage in the past, as I would get all shy and giggly or would have a hard time projecting. However, thanks to Forensics and all the time Mr. Fritz spent coaching me, I felt good about my auditioning abilities and I then landed a part in the play! It was a small part, but there are really no small parts...only small actors. I felt like I could take on the world while being involved with that production. I still got to see Mr. Fritz, as I was in his class again the following semester and he was leading the crew for the play.
Over the next few years, I stayed on the Forensics team with Mr. Fritz as my coach. I ended up in his class again junior year. While it’s not his fault that most of the stuff we had to read didn’t interest me at all, he tried to keep things light and fun, even by showing “Star Wars” at one point. When it came time for term papers, I felt stuck with how to proceed. He was very patient in guiding me in the right direction and even allowing me to approach the process in a different way. I was grateful for his assistance and his flexibility in the matter.
While he was my favorite teacher, I also was hard on him at times. It was probably because I got too comfortable with him as a coach or because I was a highly stressed out teenager. I would get mad if he had to miss or reschedule Forensics practice, even if it was for something legitimate. He also tried defending me when someone in the class wasn’t nice to me (something I had been used to for a long time) and I would get mad at him for getting involved. Deep down, I appreciated the fact that he cared at all and I felt bad about getting mad at him. I don’t remember other teachers coming to my defense like that.
When I graduated high school, I was sad to leave him behind. However, I got to judge at speech tournaments during my winter breaks and also would stop by to visit him when school was in session. After I graduated college, I got to judge more often and saw him at quite a few tournaments. That winter, I gave him "Tuesdays with Morrie" as a gift and a note expressing how much I appreciated what he had done for me, even when it didn’t seem that way on the outside.
I hope Mr. Fritz knows the impact he has had on my life and that he is continuing to have that impact on the lives of other students. A real teacher doesn’t just write on the chalkboard. (Or are they just typing on a computer and magnifying it on a screen these days?) They get to know their students and find ways to bring out their strengths and make school memorable for them. Mr. Fritz exemplifies what a real teacher is to me.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Two strange things
Yesterday was the two year anniversary of my late paternal grandpa's passing. When I was a kid, he always gave me Andes Mints and I would call them "Oldsmobile candy" because he worked for an Oldsmobile dealer. Anyway, I was at work and one of my managers had asked me about something, which reminded me that I had to do something related to his question. So I printed out the paper I needed to bring upstairs and dropped it off with our HR assistant. She, like myself, always keeps candy at her desk. So I decided to see what she had. Lo and behold, there were some Andes Mints in the candy dish. I took one to eat in honor of my grandpa. I just found it interesting that I chose that day to get the paper to her and that was what I found. It was like a little present he left for me from beyond.
Today, we had an earthquake! Apparently, the magnitude I felt at work was nothing compared to what was felt closer to the source in Richmond, VA. It definitely rocked the DC area and most of the east coast, people feeling it as far as NYC. I've never felt an earthquake before and it was the strangest and freakiest thing ever. My whole desk started shaking and I could feel it in my body. My legs were still trembling afterward. They evacuated our office building for a short amount of time and then we were allowed back in. It took a while, but I was able to reach my husband and my kids' caretakers, as well as a friend on our street. There's been talk of aftershocks, but I hope that doesn't happen. I feel like something could happen again and any time and I don't know what to expect. It's so unsettling! I'm just going to pray to Hashem to thank him for keeping us out of harm, even with what happened, and to not let this happen again. I kept thinking of the earthquake episode of "Full House" where they can't find Danny and then Stephanie is all clingy to him after that. I felt that way when I couldn't reach anyone by phone. You'd think that an earthquake couldn't happen in the east coast, but it has before and now I've experienced it for the first time. I don't even know what to think about all this. I'm just glad everyone is okay, Baruch Hashem! I hope this isn't some other type of sign from another source. It's a pretty big sign and it impacted a lot of people today!
Today, we had an earthquake! Apparently, the magnitude I felt at work was nothing compared to what was felt closer to the source in Richmond, VA. It definitely rocked the DC area and most of the east coast, people feeling it as far as NYC. I've never felt an earthquake before and it was the strangest and freakiest thing ever. My whole desk started shaking and I could feel it in my body. My legs were still trembling afterward. They evacuated our office building for a short amount of time and then we were allowed back in. It took a while, but I was able to reach my husband and my kids' caretakers, as well as a friend on our street. There's been talk of aftershocks, but I hope that doesn't happen. I feel like something could happen again and any time and I don't know what to expect. It's so unsettling! I'm just going to pray to Hashem to thank him for keeping us out of harm, even with what happened, and to not let this happen again. I kept thinking of the earthquake episode of "Full House" where they can't find Danny and then Stephanie is all clingy to him after that. I felt that way when I couldn't reach anyone by phone. You'd think that an earthquake couldn't happen in the east coast, but it has before and now I've experienced it for the first time. I don't even know what to think about all this. I'm just glad everyone is okay, Baruch Hashem! I hope this isn't some other type of sign from another source. It's a pretty big sign and it impacted a lot of people today!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Funny Friday-8/19/11-Live from New York
When I was younger, I really enjoyed staying up late on Saturday nights to watch "Saturday Night Live." Back in the day, it was fresh and funny and there were some terrific recurring characters. I can't even watch it nowadays, as it hasn't been funny any time I even did catch an episode. There were only two I enjoyed recently....the episodes with Betty White and Jane Lynch.
I wanted to share my favorite funny recurring characters and sketches (regular or one time) from the past. I'm sure they'll bring back fun memories for you if you were ever an SNL fan.
Characters:
1. Pat (I can do a pretty good impression of this gender bender!)
2. Linda Richman (I do a good impression of her too. "I'm all verklempt!")
3. Toonces, the driving cat. (I still have the stuffed animal version in one of my kids' rooms.)
4. Wayne and Garth (They just go together!)
5. Mary Katherine Gallagher ("Superstar!!!")
6. Nick Burns (He's totally me...I can't sit idly by when someone doesn't know what they're doing on their computer. "Moooove!!!")
7. Opera Man (especially when he's trying to be Pearl Jam)
8. The Church Lady ("Well, isn't that special!")
9. Matt Foley (Because he lives in a VAN down by the RIVER!)
10. Spartan cheerleaders ("Call me!")
Bonus: Gap "girls" ("Belt it and cinch it!")
Sketches:
1. Jingleheimer Junction (Sometime around 1999 with Cameron Diaz. They keep trying to spell the F word but get thwarted by the "conductor.")
2. Coffee Talk (recurring sketch with Linda Richman)
3. The one where these guys are trying to be "The Golden Girls" but one of them lands in a coma and MSNBC does a whole special about it. I was laughing so hard I was crying! (2001)
4. The Frank Sinatra Group ("Bells and whistles...clicks and pops." From sometime in the early 90's, as Sinead O'Connor was involved.)
5. The one where these people are at a school assembly and are teaching about what not to do and singing cheesy songs. ("Locked up for life...") It was in 1996 with David Alan Grier.
6. Celebrity Jeopardy (recurring)...especially when Jimmy Fallon plays Adam Sandler!
7. The Hedley and Wyche toothpaste commercial. ("It tastes great on a cracker!")
8. Some of the Robert Smigel cartoons, especially "The Ambiguously Gay Duo."
9. Wake Up Wakefield (with Maya Rudolph playing a 12 year old...from 2001 or around then.)
10. Delta Delta Delta! ("Oh mah gah!" From the early 90's)
Bonus: When they keep showing George H. Bush throwing up and then reversing it. Gross but totally hilarious!
Favorite actors:
1. Mike Myers
2. Adam Sandler
3. Chris Farley
4. Gilda Radner
5. Ana Gasteyer
6. Tina Fey
7. David Spade
8. Chris Kattan
9. Jimmy Fallon
10. Molly Shannon
Bonus: Amy Poehler
I have so many more to list in each category, but then I'd be here all day! Share your favorite SNL memories from way back when till now!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Punky Power!
Remember the blog project I did last year with three other women? Well, Froggie decided to resurrect it with me and we each got to invite another friend to join us. She invited a mutual friend (someone I met through her) and I invited a friend whose blog I really enjoy reading. So now it's Froggie, Mom of Many, Moma Rock and Merrylandgirl. Hope you enjoy the topics that we'll be exploring!
This week, Moma Rock picked the topic: Would you consider plastic surgery? If so, what type? Why would you, or why wouldn't you?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
When I was a kid, I loved watching "Punky Brewster." She was so fun and entertaining and I felt I could relate to her a lot. Later, when Soliel Moon Frye (the actress who was best known for her role as Punky) announced that she was having her "twins" taken in (as opposed to expanded) because they were hurting her back, I felt I could relate to her, as well. It was only years later that I followed in her footsteps.
In junior high, it was deemed cool to wear a bra. However, I had nothing to put into a bra, yet still wore one for show. I felt all sophisticated when I started doing so. Who knew that it would lead me to a double D cup as I got older? By the time I got to college, I was pretty much "stacked." I would get looks from guys when I wore certain outfits that showed off my "twins." Some even held doors open for me. I never met a guy who didn't like them and I'd receive a lot of compliments.
Around the time I got engaged, these "twins" had become a burden. My back and shoulders hurt and all bras felt uncomfortable. I didn't even like to look at myself without a shirt on. Around the same time, I was going to a doctor for my backaches and he kept having me come back on a weekly basis. He kept a file of all my visits and used this to help me get insurance coverage for when I finally got my "twins" taken in. I started going to a plastic surgeon who worked a few minutes away from where my BFF grew up (I had lots of good memories of that neighborhood). He was very nice and professional and told it like it was. He took pictures of the "twins" for medical records and insurance purposes. I somehow got a copy of that picture later on, but didn't like seeing it at all. They looked so huge and overbearing! I couldn't believe I was carrying them around that whole time!
I felt confident about the upcoming surgery, even though I was somewhat private about it in certain circles. (I told my work that I was having back surgery. This did help my back, so it wasn't really a lie.) My friends who knew I was doing this were very supportive and understanding. I was more nervous about going under anesthesia than I was about the actual surgery. The night before the surgery, I finally summoned up the courage to call another girl who did the same thing. She helped me feel better about the whole procedure.
On a sunny day in late June, 2003, my mom and husband (fiancé at the time) accompanied me to the hospital to have my "twins" taken in. The worst part was getting an IV. It was my first time and was so painful and uncomfortable. By the time I was ready to go into surgery, I just wanted to be put out so I could wake up as a new, and more comfortable, woman. When I did wake up, I was definitely disoriented and my mom and sister like to tease me that I said some pretty silly things. They won't tell me what I actually said though. (I don't even want to know at this point.) My husband was great with playing "nurse" by helping me up from the couch and doing something else that I don't want to mention on this blog (but was necessary post-surgery). He also cooked for me and we spent a few evenings sleeping head to head on the (L-shaped) couch so I could stay in one position. We watched a lot of television together and started getting into "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as a result.
The day after the surgery, I was okay getting up and about. I had to go back to the doctor for a follow up visit and to do something pretty painful that had to do with the thing I don't want to mention from the day before. I had to keep the "twins" bandaged up for a few days, as well. I got to stay home from work for a week and it was like a mini-vacation. My friends came over and they took me out for lunch or we watched movies together. The 4th of July was also later that week and my (future) mother-in-law came to town for a visit.
It's been over eight years since that surgery and I don't regret a thing about it. However, if you plan to do the same surgery and also plan to have babies later on, be aware that nursing is not really an option. I learned this the hard way the first time around. I sometimes wondered if I had been selfish to my kids because of this surgery. However, the boys seemed to like formula and the baby practically inhales it. Another "perk" was that I dried up quickly (only I wish I had known about cabbage leaves the first two times). The best thing was that the "twins" stayed the same size through all three pregnancies. They didn't get bigger. I could only imagine being pregnant when they were the old size. It would have been even worse on my back. (Considering how rough my last pregnancy was on my back, I definitely have no regrets about this surgery.)
This week, Moma Rock picked the topic: Would you consider plastic surgery? If so, what type? Why would you, or why wouldn't you?
Before reading ahead, first see what everyone else had to say on this topic:
Froggie
Mom of Many
Moma Rock
When I was a kid, I loved watching "Punky Brewster." She was so fun and entertaining and I felt I could relate to her a lot. Later, when Soliel Moon Frye (the actress who was best known for her role as Punky) announced that she was having her "twins" taken in (as opposed to expanded) because they were hurting her back, I felt I could relate to her, as well. It was only years later that I followed in her footsteps.
In junior high, it was deemed cool to wear a bra. However, I had nothing to put into a bra, yet still wore one for show. I felt all sophisticated when I started doing so. Who knew that it would lead me to a double D cup as I got older? By the time I got to college, I was pretty much "stacked." I would get looks from guys when I wore certain outfits that showed off my "twins." Some even held doors open for me. I never met a guy who didn't like them and I'd receive a lot of compliments.
Around the time I got engaged, these "twins" had become a burden. My back and shoulders hurt and all bras felt uncomfortable. I didn't even like to look at myself without a shirt on. Around the same time, I was going to a doctor for my backaches and he kept having me come back on a weekly basis. He kept a file of all my visits and used this to help me get insurance coverage for when I finally got my "twins" taken in. I started going to a plastic surgeon who worked a few minutes away from where my BFF grew up (I had lots of good memories of that neighborhood). He was very nice and professional and told it like it was. He took pictures of the "twins" for medical records and insurance purposes. I somehow got a copy of that picture later on, but didn't like seeing it at all. They looked so huge and overbearing! I couldn't believe I was carrying them around that whole time!
I felt confident about the upcoming surgery, even though I was somewhat private about it in certain circles. (I told my work that I was having back surgery. This did help my back, so it wasn't really a lie.) My friends who knew I was doing this were very supportive and understanding. I was more nervous about going under anesthesia than I was about the actual surgery. The night before the surgery, I finally summoned up the courage to call another girl who did the same thing. She helped me feel better about the whole procedure.
On a sunny day in late June, 2003, my mom and husband (fiancé at the time) accompanied me to the hospital to have my "twins" taken in. The worst part was getting an IV. It was my first time and was so painful and uncomfortable. By the time I was ready to go into surgery, I just wanted to be put out so I could wake up as a new, and more comfortable, woman. When I did wake up, I was definitely disoriented and my mom and sister like to tease me that I said some pretty silly things. They won't tell me what I actually said though. (I don't even want to know at this point.) My husband was great with playing "nurse" by helping me up from the couch and doing something else that I don't want to mention on this blog (but was necessary post-surgery). He also cooked for me and we spent a few evenings sleeping head to head on the (L-shaped) couch so I could stay in one position. We watched a lot of television together and started getting into "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as a result.
The day after the surgery, I was okay getting up and about. I had to go back to the doctor for a follow up visit and to do something pretty painful that had to do with the thing I don't want to mention from the day before. I had to keep the "twins" bandaged up for a few days, as well. I got to stay home from work for a week and it was like a mini-vacation. My friends came over and they took me out for lunch or we watched movies together. The 4th of July was also later that week and my (future) mother-in-law came to town for a visit.
It's been over eight years since that surgery and I don't regret a thing about it. However, if you plan to do the same surgery and also plan to have babies later on, be aware that nursing is not really an option. I learned this the hard way the first time around. I sometimes wondered if I had been selfish to my kids because of this surgery. However, the boys seemed to like formula and the baby practically inhales it. Another "perk" was that I dried up quickly (only I wish I had known about cabbage leaves the first two times). The best thing was that the "twins" stayed the same size through all three pregnancies. They didn't get bigger. I could only imagine being pregnant when they were the old size. It would have been even worse on my back. (Considering how rough my last pregnancy was on my back, I definitely have no regrets about this surgery.)
Oddly enough, I still don't find bras comfortable. The under-wires bother my scars. I usually wear camisoles under my shirts. I'm able to fit much better in shirts than I used to be. I looked at a picture of myself in 2001 and it was so obvious how big the "twins" were and how horrible they looked, even under a shirt. I didn't go into the surgery for looks though, it was purely for comfort.
In terms of looks, I had once considered getting a nose job but then changed my mind. Everyone was telling me that there was nothing wrong with my nose and that it added character to my face. Yes, it's a little red on top because of the theater incident, but nothing a little makeup can't hide. I saw what a nose job did for Jennifer Grey's whole face and I'm proud to say that I look more like her when she had her old nose. (Better than how Princess Vespa's old nose looked in "Spaceballs.") The only other surgery I had to enhance my life was LASIK in 1999. It was more because my vision was awful. I wore contacts so it wasn't like I was trying to replace glasses with the surgery. However, the contacts were uncomfortable and I went through dozens at a time because they'd irritate my eye or rip a lot. The glasses weren't helping me that much, as they'd break all the time or my vision would still be blurry. So LASIK wasn't really cosmetic. It was still a nerve-wracking surgery and my eyes hurt for quite a few days. However, it was well worth it because I still see 20/20 eleven years later.
I don't think I'd do anything else to my body that involved going under knives. I may weigh more than I'd ideally like to, but I'm not planning on tummy tucks or liposuction. I don't like the idea of face lifts or Botox either. I don't want to see the inside of a hospital or surgical center again other than for cochlear implant surgeries for my kids.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Funny Friday-8/12/11-How can a car fix spelling?
I've seen Damn You, Auto Correct! a bunch of times, but never spent all that much time with it. I recently sat down and read quite a few pages of embarrassing auto correct mistakes from people's iphones. Some were absolutely hilarious. Most of them are very adult themed, but I want to share some of the "clean" ones that are still funny.
Why parents shouldn't text
Let's get some exorcise!
Another reason why parents shouldn't text
If he gets arrested, we'll know why!
They call it mellow yellow...
A hearse is a hearse...
Why parents shouldn't text
Let's get some exorcise!
Another reason why parents shouldn't text
If he gets arrested, we'll know why!
They call it mellow yellow...
A hearse is a hearse...
I hope nobody was pissed off... (or on, in this case)
Seeing that I keep Kosher, I would do this if I somehow consumed pork on accident (not that I even liked it to begin with)
Regarding the "naughty" ones....read at your own risk, but do not eat or drink anything at that time, as I don't want you to choke (or spray liquid all over your computer). Consider that a fair warning. Be prepared to laugh so hard that you'll cry!
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