Dear Lesson Learned

Dear Lesson Learned,

This is going to be a quick one, but it has to be said: You. You about what? Well, let me tell the story.

Our 8th graders graduated today. We had a big celebration. Yippee. I come home from that (late at night, for me) to do some haircutting.

Why? Because I told the kids that I would do a mohawk again (for the last day of school). But this year, I also added a contest for kids to make a design on graph paper for me to put on the side of my head (yes, by shaving it into my hair). It had to be simple, but the staff would take the ideas and vote - and whatever they chose, I would go with.

So the staff chose my personal favourite (that's for glotto): a series of mathematical symbols. Multiplication. Pi. Division. Etc.

This is the point where anybody with a brain is thinking - but who would be shaving those designs into the CVT's head? Certainly not the students. And no barber shop is open late at night . . . Oh, God NO!!!!

That's right - I thought I could do it myself. I'm a pretty confident guy, right? I feel like I'm pretty handy with hairclippers - what's a couple simple-ass symbols on the side of my head (not the back or anything)? Right? Right.

Now we can all guess what the you was: Don't try to cut designs into the side of my own head. Just don't do it. Because it's going to end in tears.

And so I have two bald blob-patches (vaguely reminiscent of addition and multiplication symbols) in the side of my head. For the next two weeks - the CVT is going to look pretty damn ridiculous.

Oh, well. Makes me glad I got a University of Hawaii visor during my trip . . .

Next year, I'm sticking to versions of a mohawk. You.

CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
How long do you all think it will take for this to grow out (the rest of my hair was shaved down to 1/4 inch)?

Creative Process

I'm not going to post all of my kids songs and poems here (some are more personal than others), but there were 6 of them all told (personally-written songs, that is).

But here's our final piece, an ode to the school year (and staff, etc.) for our graduation slideshow:

http://download.yousendit.com/44022F81062C8019

Yeah - we're tight like that. PEACE!!!

CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
Don't you all wish you had a class like this when you were kids? Yeah - you do.

Kids Rock

So I'm wrapping up my "Creative Process" class in which I've been having the kids write and record songs/poetry to be recorded. I got some money for some lower-end recording equipment at school, and this is the result. Not bad, considering.

http://download.yousendit.com/D0059E6111044CAA

There are many more kid recordings forthcoming (background music is me, of course).

For more information on "Invader Zim," go to the official Nickolodeon website at: http://www.nick.com/all_nick/tv_supersites/zim/

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
Does this kid rock, or what?

Bored

Here's a special treat for my remaining lone reader (that's you, Petunia). This kind of sums up how this blog died (if I'm bored with my life, it only stands to reason that my readers would be so, as well).

http://download.yousendit.com/EFCD64105A14121C

Thanks for the suggestion.

CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
When do you think was the last time somebody else checked this?

Teacher Appreciation

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. And on Tuesday of last week, we had one last training for the school year. This is what I did with it . . .

http://download.yousendit.com/BBBA75070194DEDB

*This is an updated version (a little bit of tweaking)*

Check out my symphonic song down below, too.

CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
Why do people like to feed cops and teachers (two groups of people who you'd want to be alert and chipper) instant-crash foods like donuts all the time?

Not Done Yet

So this blog isn't finished yet. It's going to be a lot less frequent, but I'm not done with it. Something about the director of "Planet B-Boy" posting a comment on this blog makes it feel like I shouldn't complete close up shop yet.

Just got some new symphonic software and have been playing with it. Just wait until I figure out what I'm doing (I've got a full orchestra on my computer now - and then some).

http://download.yousendit.com/01F0C00331D330EA

CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
How cool would a hip-hop symphony be?

Dear Planet B-Boy

Dear Planet B-Boy,

I know I said that I was going to stop writing this blog. And I probably will quite soon. But, for at least one more post, fate has intervened. And fate went by the name of you, Planet B-Boy.

I don't even know where to begin on this one. So much power and importance lies within you, that I don't know how to adequately portray your majesty. I suppose I shall begin by telling my readers what you are, Planet B-Boy. Hopefully, their lives have been blessed in such a way as to be fully aware of you, but I cannot rely on that. No - I shall spread gospel through my own blessed vessel.

Planet B-Boy is the best movie ever made. That's the easy part. The rest is more difficult to explain. For you is a documentary about the world b-boy championships (the "Battle of the Year") held in Germany every year. Now, I am sad to note that not everybody is aware of what a "b-boy" even is. It's break-dancing, to simplify things. A b-boy is a member of a "break-dancing" crew. Of course - that is not how any true b-boy would accurately describe it, but for the layperson who has been cursed with the ill-luck of not being aware of the phenomenon, it should suffice.

So you is a documentary. An incredibly well-made documentary. One that would be worth a viewing no matter its subject-matter. But that, of course, does not make you the best movie ever. Oh, no. You is the best movie ever because it is a well-made documentary about the best b-boy crews in the world - and it contains plenty of ridiculous footage to prove it.

I can't even begin to describe it - so I won't. All I can say is imagine the most bad-ass, unreal physical feats - then speed them up and put them to a beat. THAT is wherein lies the magic of you, Planet B-Boy. You showcases the raw talent and athleticism necessary to be one of the best b-boys in the world, but you also portrays the poetry and creative artistic expression inherent in the dance, as well. THAT is the beauty.

I keep running into a wall in my attempts to do the movie justice. Let's put it this way: there was an elderly lady (gray-haired, old white lady that works at the library, I believe) watching the movie by herself. Every time a dance clip was shown, she couldn't help but yell out, or clap, or otherwise make known her excitement. And when the movie touched on the difficult back-story of individuals from the international crews, she wept. I kid you not. And I faulted her not at all for doing so.

Because I could not refrain from yelling out throughout the movie. I couldn't help but elbow my viewing partner (Petunia) and say, "See that!?" as if she possibly could have missed it. I felt deeply for every crew competing. I marveled at their skills and dedication. And, ultimately, I found myself with one wish on this planet: to be a b-boy, myself.

That's right - the movie made me want to be a b-boy. Wish I had started as a child, so I could be amazing at this point in my life. It had me lamenting the wasted years and the fact that I was exposed to this film so late in my life - post physical peak.

And - days after said viewing - this feeling sits in me just as strong as when I watched the film. It is not like any passing fancy of inspiration I have felt before. It has me SERIOUSLY considering learning to become a b-boy. THAT is how amazing you was, Planet B-Boy. You turned a (relatively) grown man into a five year-old with an impulsive desire to do what he just watched on-screen.

And the worst thing? Thursday night (when I saw you) was the last showing here in Portland. You have moved on. I would pay $10 every day for the next 10 days to keep going back to see you in the theaters - yet you are gone.

And so I urge my readers - nay, BEG - to go see this film. Otherwise, my readers lives will be bored through with a gaping hole and emptiness that nothing else can fill. On Thursday morning, I was alive and happy - I thought. Today, I AM LIFE.

I don't even want to sully your name by simply thanking you, Planet B-Boy. Simple words such as those just wouldn't be enough. I shall simply say: I owe you. And if I follow this new path to glory that you have presented me (a big if), then MAYBE I can repay that debt . . .

About to do a Head-Stand,
CVT

Somewhat Relevant Question of the Post:
If you haven't seen the movie, what are you waiting for!???