The Cardamom Pod

Julieta Venegas’s album Otra Cosa

I know I’m behind on the times and whiter than wonder bread, but Wow. wow wow WOW. This album is probably one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. And it’s the kind of album you have to listen to on a friday when all you want to do is dance. You can’t be in one of your “what does it all mean, Rob Gordon?” moods. This also might mean it’s not one for the fellas….it’s pretty hardcore girly, I’m not going to lie.

Often throughout the album, you’re reminded of Regina Specter’s knack for beats and catchy lyrics, but then Venegas infuses those beats instead with melodies gushing with happy. Regina who? Venegas’s choice of instruments, too, from the rhythmic shakers to accordions never let up on the Spanish vibe, making me want to just get on a plane right now. And for those who are just looking for a good time, try the album’s remix of “Bien o Mal”. Nothing really compares to her Nancy Sinatra sexiness..it’s intoxicating. Other favorites? “Un Lugar”, “Debajo De Mi Lengua” and “Original” all make the weekend start a bit earlier. Siesta anyone?

The only downfall to listening is that I don’t know Spanish…Yet another reason I wish I took Spanish instead of French through my early years. Well, there’s always Rosetta Stone…or I could just let Julieta Venegas teach me. Enjoy!

Listen to it for free on grooveshark and then buy it!

It’s making me increasingly angry…those who call teachers glorified babysitters have no idea what it’s like.

First off, let’s just dispel the argument that the job is “cushy” because of its short hours and paid vacations. Have you ever had to grade 70+ 5-page essays on the Great Gatsby while also working on lesson plans for the upcoming week? Oh, and that summer vacation? I never got one. Your “summer vacation” is spent (if you’re a teacher who really cares) developing your repertoire, being your own judge on what worked the past year and what didn’t and then going back to the drawing board to create a huge outline for the upcoming year…all the while knowing in the back of your brain that you NEVER know what to expect every single day, not to mention what the upcoming class has in store for you. Vacation? please.

Short hours? I wasn’t married then, but all Ryan and I had time for was a conversation on the phone at night. Otherwise I was writing lesson plans or grading. Then having nightmares about certain insecurities or impairment only adds to the restlessness of the profession. But you somehow LOVE it still – counteracting those negative energies, saying, “…if I can just reach one, please, God, just one…”

And Unions? It’s the union that’s going to help you out when you have a parent threatening you at a parent-teacher conference for teaching her son about “useless women’s studies” and not letting him play on the court that night. It’s the union that’s going to try to help you when the superintendent is threatening you with your job if you don’t make some adjustments  his way. Otherwise, without the union, usually, you’re on your own.

Why did I leave? It wasn’t because of the students – I LOVED them. Even the ones who liked to bust my butt…I loved them even more for challenging me. I never gave up on them the whole year, even when they felt like they couldn’t go on hearing about the same old junk. It wasn’t because of the other teachers, no, they were my support group.

I left because of the “powers that be”. Unfortunately, usually the higher you go in the pyramid, the less people care about education. And that’s where all the money and power comes from, isn’t it? And isn’t it harder to do your job when the majority of the public no longer respects how hard you’re working for everyone else around you? Think on it.

I’m working now in a position that will leave no mark whatsoever on the world. I would have made a greater, more important difference if I’d continued to teach. But honestly, if I am so easily pushed out because of a little pressure, what does that say about everyone who sticks with it? They’re my heroes.

To be a teacher is to struggle…don’t you dare add to that weight on their shoulders.

None of you could be where you are today without your teachers.

Greetings readers…what few of you still exist.
My 26th birthday is approaching.
I just did some calculations and found that I will be 35 when all of my loans are paid off.
That is, if all goes according to plan.
Though, lots of things could make this end come closer. One of those things could be that we move out of state and pay next to nothing for a house. We could both get amazing jobs with amazing benefits. We could win the lottery.
But I’m banking on the end of the world before any of that happens.

Yay. Happy getting older.

Dexter
Developer: James Manos, Jr.
Starring: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter

First review on a television series – thank you live streaming Netflix via X-Box!

Is it just me, or do you get freaked when Dexter eats human food? I think it’s the whole opening sequence – the steak looks too much like human flesh. Or maybe that’s my vegetarian instincts acting up. Yes, you’re eating flesh. But I think more than my initial freaked-out feeling lies in Dexter’s character. He is like a vampire, or cannibal. And I wonder if that is Hall’s motive as an actor in this part. Whatever is his motive, he’s seriously good at it.

At the moment I’m in the middle of the Lila saga during season 2 (no spoilers, don’t worry) and I’m only growing more engrossed. These characters are amazing! But apart from the actors, the writing is phenomenal. The character development, the puzzle pieces – all of it.  I wish I could write as well as they do.

Outside of this series, I’ve always had a curiosity toward psychological subject matter. I have been told that my stories are psychological in manner, but I’ve never understood where my readers get that impression from. Now, after watching Dexter, after reading a bit of my new book Hannibal, and viewing some documentaries on serial killers, I’m realizing I like the chasing, the mystery, the confused reasoning and dramatic climaxes. Dexter makes this guilty interest sane for me because it’s fictional. How strange is it when your main character and viewer both have guilty consciences? I guess it’s just a part of the beauty of this show.

Watch it – if it’s you’re type of thing…

My first Siren Fest was in 2004. The headliner was Modest Mouse of all bands. The festival also opened my eyes to Radio 4, Northern State, The Kills and OK, maybe I danced a little to Hot Hot Heat when no one was looking. Needless to say, it was an eye-opener for me…mostly because this entire show was FREE! The year after we were even more blessed with acts from AYWKUBTTrail of Dead, Blonde Redhead (gasp and love!), TV on the Radio, Fiery Furnaces, Electric six and the Thermals. But DEATH CAB?! I think I shed my last emo tear when I heard Ben sing “She is beautiful, but she don’t mean a thing to me…” and heard Jason’s last snare flam ring out over the crowd at Coney Island. I thought Siren couldn’t get any better.

The following year I was proven wrong. Saul Williams drilled a hole in my heart for spoken word and VHS or BETA took me back to those childhood days of dancing to Depeche Mode while watching MTV. There was Q and not U, Ambulance LTD and headlined by Spoon. Mates of State was there, but I didn’t care for them. Still, those that love their kitschy sounds went wild at the Stillwell stage. Everyone was happy.

BUT WAIT! Hold the phone. The next year was still just as amazing. Man Man brought their heavy polka, Tapes N’ Tapes, Stars and The Stills brought some good indie rock, The Cribs and Art Brut made us dance and the Scissor Sisters made us want to run down that yellow brick road stark naked by the end of the night. Wow…that comment about men who have mustaches still makes me feel dirty…in a good way.

Then the bomb was dropped – someone somewhere said “2007 is going to be the last Siren Fest!!! Everyone HAS to go!!”

Silly us, we bought into it, thinking our tradition of sweating together til we passed out would come to an end. Nevertheless we were STILL not disappointed with the likes of Matt and Kim, MIA, Cursive and The New York Dolls. Okay, maybe I was a little disappointed with Cursive. I realized that at that Siren Fest, my friends and I did a lot more walking around on the beach and a lot less listening to the music. Was it because it was getting a little repetitive and – dare I say it – boring?

Sorry to say, but that ‘b’ word is in the back of my brain today as I make my PB&J sandwiches before departing for Coney Island. It haunts me…because boring is scarier than anything for an audience and more embarrassing for the performers. What’s going to happen?

I did go to Siren Fest 2008 just to see BSS and Islands. I did want to see Parts and Labor, but my heart just wasn’t in it. Again, my cronies and I just sat out on the boardwalk and talked the entire day until Islands went on. There it is again – BORING. I mean, do I have to start snorting to get that same high I used to get in 2004? Plus, I was still so angry at whoever conned me into going the year before that, when BSS got some chick from the audience up there to sing “7/4 Shoreline” I picked up my things and just bolted so I could get to bed early.

So who’s fault is it? I still have faith in the Village Voice and I’m not willing to place the blame on them. Is it a financial issue? Seriously, if you want us all to just donate some money for the cause, you know we’d do it! Part of me is afraid that, maybe, I’m just too old (25? is that really too old to be going to Siren?) or maybe I am just the more responsible type who has a job, husband and needs her sleep? I’m not sure. Today will tell all as I embark once again to Siren with my sisters. I’ll be sure to take some notes and maybe a photo or two. We’ll see whether or not we stay entertained.

Ok – maybe not MASTERED, but take a look at this! How crazy awesome am I at this color palette? I also fiddled with font, sizing, padding, etc. CSS is so much easier than HTML, but don’t expect me to be building websites anytime soon.

…unless you want to pay me lots of money. I’ll become a pro for money.