What are adult things these days?

While driving past a store that sells "all things Adult" on the highway, Matt posed an interesting question.

"Do they sell adult diapers?"

Good question, I thought. It got me thinking and so I asked in response,

"Maybe they sell responsibilities. Those are adult things."

Matt pondered on that. "If they sell those then they must sell mortgages too."

With that, we both decided that the "all things Adult" store didn't sound like any fun at all.

Meet Ignatius....

"I dust a bit," Ignatius told the policeman. "In addition, I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip."
~ John Kennedy Toole in "A Confederacy of Dunces" (p. 7)

How is this not required high school reading? I ask you.

It's not easy being Cate (sometimes)

If you have yourself a bad week. A week where you get a bit beat up by the "benign indifference of the world" (merci Camus) - may I suggest listening Mr. Andrew Bird croon this number?



I recommend inserting your name where he says green or "vert". It may just help you get back on your feet.

For full effect do this exercise while running until your lungs get a cathartic burning sensation.

You may be surprised at how much better this makes you feel.

Austin events anyone?

It's been an eventful weekend here in Austin. Yesterday, I hosted the Bluebonnet Elementary bookfair at Barnes and Noble. We did stories, face painting and a Mothers' Day poetry reading but the real attraction was our bulldog mascot named Peaches. She is a great inspiration for books and reading as she herself is a literate dog. Deaf from birth, Peaches learned to read commands from her persistent owner who happens to be our principal at Bluebonnet. The school had bulldog pride way before Peaches or Mrs. McVey, the principal, came four years ago. It was providence it seems that Peaches would inspire this Title 1 school to stretch their reading skills. Many ESL kindergartners have found great inspiration in routines such as these that we saw at B&N yesterday. Click here to read more about Peaches. I tried super hard to upload a video of Peaches doing her tricks but it just wouldn't work. So sad.

In other news, Matt and I hopped on the trendy punk rocker band wagon by attending the Austin Roller Derby last night. Guilty as charged, we only became aware of this underground phenomenon after watching Drew Barrymore's sensationalized "Whip It" flick. It was great fun though; and we became much more absorbed by the game, tactics and rules than expected. It was the Holy Rollers v. the Hellcats. If the sport was based on costumes/jersey's alone then the Hellcats would have had the Holy Rollers beat with their greasy Steve Buscemiesque coach and their skanky short pink smocks with leopard underware and fishnet tights. The Holy Rollers had a less flashy get-up with mini pleated plaid skirts and white shirts. They did have a curvy black pleathered Mother Superior shouting out plays - which was pretty impressive. So maybe this costume and coach competition ended in a tie...



The game had some impressive athletic manuvering and made for a compelling show. It was so rough and tumble that when a ref called a penalty on one of the players, it was unclear which of the thrown elbows and body slams was not "legal". Still, penalties called for a spin of the Penalty Wheel that determined whether or not the penalized player would have to arm wrestle, pillow fight on skates, long jump or simply wrestle (what all the other penalties ended up becoming in the end) the other girl. It may seem like WWF staging but it is for real. These roller derby teams are mainly comprised of underpaid working class gals that make their living off of waiting tables and such. In fact, lots of them are uninsured and when they get an injury from the sport the audience usually passes around a can to help pay for the medical bills. That's how it goes in Austin at least.

At any rate, these girls are the real deal - trying to get the lead out maybe. So they demand respect and they put on a great show. I would recommend partaking in the culture if you ever get the chance.

Get an MLS to learn MBWA

One of the best things about being in a graduate school, that is more like trade school than anything academic, is that you get assigned to such riveting texts as:



Yep. In this book you will find text that is as as uninspiring as an instruction manual on typing (not the Mavis Beacon sort either). You will also find explanations on endless theories of how to motivate employees (turns out that better pay is one of the best incentives along with compliments) and why "synergy" and "vision" from a leader is key for a happy workplace. Well, maybe I could have assumed as much, but I never expected to learn about MWBA or "Managing By Walking Around".

Want to learn more?

Managing By Walking Around
"Another good way for managers to supplement information received from formal channels of communication is for the managers to get out of their offices, walk around the organization, and spend some time with employees. This means of ensuring informal communication is usually referred to as managing by walking around, or MWBA. Just as managers should be aware of what is being circulated on the grapevine, they also should be aware of what is going on in parts of the organization away from their offices" (p. 376-377).

This is revolutionary. Really. Not only that but it explains why my mom has looked over to her classroom door window recently to find the school principal's face pressed up against it, looking in. It is simple what he was doing. Clearly he read Stueart and Moran's text and learned the ol' MBWA technique. Every manager is doing it nowadays....