If I Could Have Dinner With Any Five People In The World They Would Be... (Prompt #8)

...a mix of all sorts of different people who probably wouldn't want to have dinner together. I'm assuming by my wording of this question that they must be alive (which unfortunately takes out grandparents I miss and super far back relatives I never got to meet). I guess that takes out common ones like Jesus too since, even though I don't think I'm directly related, I do know he's not alive right now (or planning a comeback anytime soon). My dinner is going to be a BYOB potluck and it will be held around a bonfire, so just keep that in mind with my choices (which are in no particular order).

1. Steve Earle - such a terrific storyteller and such a talented guy. I love almost every song he's ever written, I like his politics, I just think he would be really entertaining.

2. Bill Clinton - Ever since high school I wanted to spend a few hours with this guy. It's not that I think anything about his politics, I just know that he's an awfully charismatic guy and I feel that he would really bring a lot to the bonfire.

3. Wes Welker - Yup, I wanna play some catch and talk about being an underdog and what better guy to talk to. Plus, you know that Steve and Bill aren't in good enough shape to play catch.

4. Deepak Chopra - I think that it would be really interesting to just pick his brain about his beliefs.

5. Rolf Gates - He's one of the most thoughtful human beings alive, and definitely the most thoughtful human being I've ever met. It would just be great to have an opportunity to see him interact with the rest of those folks.

Now, after doing this I realize that this would be an entertaining time and all but there's one I'd rather do. I'd rather do the more obscure, unrealistic one (since that one is so realistic...) This is who I would invite if the regular rules of life didn't apply.

1. My grandma - I miss her.

2. My brother at age 16 - I would really have loved to get to know him better at that age, maybe I'd have a better idea of who he is now if I had.

3. Darwin - Come on now, he was a genius and clearly made a whole lot of folks unhappy with his logic. What a courageous guy though, just believing what he believed. I dig it.

4. Mark at age 14 - He always was such a sweet guy and he was at his peak right as high school began.

5. My parents when they were 18 - How interesting would that be!

Now that'd be an absurd dinner.

Give me twenty minutes though and most of those answers would probably change. I think I'll have to plan more than one dinner...Want to share yours? Send them on over!

If I Could Be Any Animal I Would Be... (Prompt #7)

...a whole bunch put together without all the potential negative side effects of cross-breeding. I mean how sweet would it be to be a bird? Pretty sweet. You could fly everywhere you wanted to go. Then again, how cool would it be to be a fish? A shark or a whale, or better yet a dolphin. You could go to all sorts of crazy places under the sea that you'd never otherwise be able to hang out in. Or how about a monkey? Flying through the trees, being all monkey like and having a fine old time! How about a lion or tiger or bear? Oh my would what be cool. You would be all sorts of feared by other predatory animals. Then again, a butterfly would be rad because everyone would love the beauty that you possess. Oh wait, a pterodactyl would be pretty sweet. And now you're thinking, 'That's not even an animal that exists any more!' Yeah well I'm not actually going to turn into an animal so that's probably alright. If I ever get that chance though you won't be able to miss me, the folphkeylitibeflydactyl.

You'd Never Have Guessed It But This Past School Year I... (Prompt #6)

...changed as much as I did between my 21st and 22nd year and my 14th and 15th year. Those were the two other largest periods of change in my life and this one was just as big albeit not nearly as noticeable. From fourteen to fifteen I changed from quiet and reserved to loud and rowdy. I was not longer afraid of being accepted, I was angry about not being accepted as I wanted to be. From twenty-one to twenty-two I went from a mess of a college graduate to on the road to health and happiness thanks to Rolf, yoga, a few other folks, and myself.

This past year though I changed in myriad ways but there is one that really sticks out in my mind. Prior to this year I tended to talk a big game about how you should dedicate yourself to something because God knows it is easier to tell someone else to do something than do it yourself. To quote the Bard, 'All can master a grief except he that has it.' This year I actually put that into practice. I can be even more specific though. I didn't really being to put all of myself into my work until about February. Sure, I did nice things prior to that and I was invested in the success of my students. There was a point though where they were no longer just 'my students', they were the students I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to work with. And then it wasn't about getting to 'work' with them, it was being able to help them down a path of their own choosing.

When I finally realized how much all of this meant to me I finally realized what it means to give wholly of yourself. Now I must work on what I expect in return. I expect more than is reasonable sometimes and I know that hurt feelings and caused problems that would have otherwise not been there. Wow though, I have changed a lot this past year.

In Ten Years I Will... (Writing Prompt #5)

...be in charge of a school. Not just in charge but completely in control of a school. I have so many ideas that I really truly believe are valuable in education and I haven't figured out exactly how I want to share that with a small group of folks at a school that I run, I just know that I want to do it. I had considered the idea of becoming a principal and the more interaction I have with principles the more I see that they have so little to do with children on a daily basis one-on-one. I mean, I remember Mr. Benincasa teaching a little bit here and there at Alcott Elementary School and he is the exception for how involved he is.

I intend to have a small school, no bigger than I feel I am capable to looking after on a day to day basis and fit into a fifteen person van. I want to be able to just up and take students on impromptu field trips. I want to teach them through real experiential learning. A classroom is great for some things, such as preparation for a real life experience, yet it can not simulate many real life experiences that folks are more than happy to share. The problem with schools is that they don't have the money to get a $600 bus and don't have the volunteer base willing to help every time they want to go on a field trip. I digress...field trips are a mere fraction of the reasons why I want this.

In ten years I will be healthier than I am now. I will be a kinder person and I will treat others more justly and fairly than I currently do. I will have a better idea of my role in life and I will make a more concerted effort to better the world around me. I'm psyched about the future, but first, I just need to take care of today.

A Weekend Trip A Bit North? Why, I Don't Mind If I Do.

Spontaneous road trips are enjoyable yet no joy is taken away if you spend just a couple hours planning prior to leaving. This past Saturday, after a couple hours of some tentative planning on Friday evening, we headed off on a two day, one night road trip. So why not give you the skinny in case you get the same urge.

Umbagog Lake State Park, Cambridge, NH 603.482.7795

This eleven mile lake was advertised to me on the phone by the extremely polite woman at the park to be a canoers heaven (as there would likely be no motor boats in the lake because it is a 'long, thin' lake). Upon arrival, it seemed like a standard ugly NH campground run by the State and it pretty much seemed that way until we got far enough away from the masses to enjoy it ourselves. Clearly a beautiful lake and as such lots of folks want to be on it. We opted to take a five or six mile loop route around an island and swim on the way there. The swim was nice (although some folks, clearly from a boat, had decided to leave a whole bunch of clam shells where we happened to stop for fishing - not particularly decorative) and we got back in the boat refreshed. As with all NH State Parks, the staff wasn't particularly competent or helpful (which is unfortunate as it is probably the easier and one of the most coveted jobs out there). Still, the staff, the sizable number of motor boats, and the hordes of people in the early 20's who don't even know what real camping is couldn't change the fact that it was a beautiful lake and, if you got far enough away from the people, it was quite nice.

At this point, we threw away all other plans and improvised and it went well.

The Granary Brew Pub - Farmington, Maine 207.779.0710

On our way from canoeing to rafting we happened through Farmington and a little sign on the side of the road told us to turn left at a McDonald's for a local Brew Pub. We figured this would be a good call and it most certainly was. Adorable design and delightful food made for a really delicious meal stop after a long canoe ride. We started off with the sweet potato fries with their 'regionally famous' curry dipping sauce. Thank god they were honest, as it clearly isn't world famous; it should be though, it was delicious. For the main course cheese quesadilla and a caprese pizza. Both of these dishes were good, although the fresh mozzarella really made the pizza and the green peppers added a less than desirable bite to the quesadilla. The service was good, the deck beautiful, an all around great experience.

Here's The Scoop / Riverside Inn - Bingham, Maine 207.672.3215

Instead of opting for the Bingham Motor Inn immediately after passing it I recommended ice cream at Here's the Scoop; the local Richardson's Ice Cream peddler. While ordering we noticed that the house directly next to it was a bed and breakfast style inn. I went in and looked around and lo and behold, the woman who had just served us ice cream came over, asked if I needed help, and then set us up with a very affordable room for the night (only $60). The shared bathroom took nothing away from the beautiful and convenient location (next to ice cream and on the river!), the comfortable bed, and Vicki, probably the most personable and normal B & B owner I have ever met. Away from the drunken crowds at campgrounds for not much more money? I'm sold.

Adventure Bound - Caratunk, Maine 207.672.4300

Having run a summer camp that went rafting in Maine I know a little bit about most of the outfitters up there and I know what I like and dislike. I dislike large groups of rowdy drunk folks, I'm not so into that scene. I like folks with good attitudes. Oh, and I like saving some money. The most affordable and only youth/family friendly place I've found is Adventure Bound. It's cheaper than everywhere else (usually by about $30) and it's got more (an indoor rock wall, a pool table, volleyball courts). Whether a rafting trip is enjoyable or not has more to do with who you are rafting with than the weather or your mood or the guide or anything else. Today we had a chance to raft with a family and some of their nieces and nephews. Just another example of how much better young people are than adults!

Thompson's Restaurant - Bingham, Maine 207.672.3330

I've been to Thompson's before and for someone who really loves fancy food on occasion such as myself this is a nice reminder that it doesn't need to be fancy to be awfully good. Mozzarella sticks, grilled cheese, pizza bagels, onion rings, fries and a chocolate milk. So delicious after rafting. The waitress was also absolutely adorable and personable, and that certainly can not hurt. Inexpensive, slightly higher than diner-quality food. I got cookies to go, which I do every time I've gone there and I've never been disappointed. I didn't eat them right away though.

Oh, then we went back for more ice cream at Here's The Scoop...

The trip was a success and proof that the right attitude trumps rain or lack of planning. If you are thinking about making the trip I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

If I Were A Cartoon Character I Would Be... (Prompt #4)

...I'm not sure right away. It's been so long since I really watched cartoons. When I start thinking about it though there are all sorts of characters that I used to love from Mask, Voltron Z, Thundercats, Transformers, and Underdog. For some reason though I used to have this one weird semi-obsession with one character from GI Joe. The white ninja (which until looking it up a second ago I had completely forgotten was named Storm Shadow) was so amazing. I used to have his action figure and for some reason I would have him fighting against these huge groups of people and he would always school them. No questions. He could be going against the guy from the Hulk with the rotating head, Cobra Commander, the whole crew of M.A.S.K and Panthro and Cheetara for good measure and it would be a proverbial blood bath of ninja stealth-ness and sly moves.

Now for some reason I still feel like he's the coolest cartoon character. I mean, look at the other stuff that was coming out near that time. The Gummi Bears? Who in the world thought that was a good idea. Scooby Doo? Worst cartoon ever; don't even get me started on the movies.

So to summarize, Storm Shadow is better than all other cartoon characters combined, no doubt about it. I don't even care that he was a bad guy in the show, he was the hero of my action figure filled childhood.

The Greatest Song Ever Is ______, Because... (Prompt #3)

Well I already wrote about searching for the greatest song ever and how much of an unsuccessful endeavor it was. If I was looking at my own life though and choosing a song that I felt was the greatest song of all time I would have a terrifically hard time because there are so many magnificent songs. There are a few songs which come to mind immediately though.

"Oxygen" by Willy Mason. Lyrically this song is almost flawless ('I wanna be cool than TV, to all the children who don't know what they're going to be'). The music is pleasant if not enthralling. Oh, and he was around 18 when he wrote a song more intelligent than most musicians entire catalogs.

"Sonora's Death Row" by Robert Earl Keen. The single best story ever told in song form (unfortunately he didn't write it). The original though is feeble in comparison. This song made me love, love, love country music and also made me realize you can tell an entire story in just three minutes (and it can be better than many books).

Unfortunately, these songs have been my staple answer for this question for years. I don't really throw them into the CD player anymore though so it's hard to really stand strong by these two. There is one new song though that I'd have to say I can listen to over and over again and it doesn't tire me out at all;

"Water" by Aesop Rock. I love the lyrics, and ever since it was pointed out to me that it was the first song that got me into Aesop, I have been listening to it over and over and just adoring the classical background, the genius lyrics, and the overall insanity of the fact that this guy even exists.

If I Could Work Anywhere Right Now, I Would Work... (Prompt #2)

...exactly where I work. Yes, the cheesy answer is actually the real answer. I never would have imagined that I would find a job that I truly loved and it finally happened. The funny thing is that it is because of the students and the students only. I guess I could have ended up at any school and would have been find if I had the opportunity to work with the students that I worked with this year. I loved waking up for work every day and even days where I ended up in a poor mood there were still so many things that I absolutely adored about the day. Now that the students are gone though and it is just us adults in the building it's another story...so, what job would I pick for the summer?

I would love to be some sort of personal chef to a excessively well-to-do family that is sailing around the Greek Islands. They would give me unlimited money to buy the best food to prepare them every night and the rest of my time would be free. It's crazy that jobs like that actually exist...and that I haven't found one yet for the summer. Otherwise, just as one of my students answered, I would love to work at an ice cream stand. Sure, I'd be on the old side of the usual worker there but I'd get free ice cream all the time and I'd be making so many people's day in the process.

There are so many other jobs that I've considered going after in my life and if I didn't love teaching so much I probably would still consider being a journalist full time, or working for Outward Bound. Give it a while though and I might just go ahead and answer this exactly how I want to; If I could work anywhere right now, I would work at the small school that I created and that I run.

This Summer I'm Going To... (Prompt #1)

...try my hardest to not think too much about how much I miss all of the amazing young ladies and gentleman I had the pleasure of working with this year. I also have a lot more planned. First, I am not on break yet, I still have a few more days of work. Once that ends I will be taking some sort canoe/hiking trip with a friend. Possibly in Maine, possibly in Vermont or New York, I don't know yet. I am taking two summer courses at the University of New Hampshire. They are both two credit courses and they are only a week long each. I also just started looking into various other ideas today because I know in early August I must go to Idaho for a bachelor party. I might just go on an Outward Bound rafting trip in Utah and then meander up to Idaho for my good friend's celebration (which is primarily going to involve rafting as well). That still leaves me an entire month of time to work with. What to do?

Well, I might go somewhere in Europe, that all depends on so many things (first and foremost would be actually looking into it). I might just go somewhere in the US (Colorado possibly, don't know yet). I will be writing these prompts daily and my aim is to do at least ten interviews for this site over the next two months (five a month or about one a week seems reasonable to me).

There are so many other things I'm considering adding to the plate but the ones here are coming to mind right now (and before I write down my writing goals I want to figure them out a little bit better so I make them realistic).

Any good ideas? Let me know!

Thank You So Much Class of 2013.

The school year is officially over (well the part of the school year that makes me love being a teacher). It's summer vacation for the students and in a few days it will be summer vacation for me as well. I'm terribly sad about the end of the year. I guess when you really put 100% of yourself into an endeavor it really makes a difference for how you feel about it. I absolutely adore the young men and women who just finished 8th grade and it would not be possible for me to be any prouder of them as people or happier that I had an opportunity to be part of their lives.

I offered them a list of writing prompts that are similar to the ones that I would normally be having them do at the beginning of class and told them if they wanted to be in touch that I would love to read them. I gave them a prompt a day for the seventy four days they have summer vacation - today was the first day. I already received four prompts from students and I'm not going to share theirs, I'm going to write mine here. Yup, I'm going to do all of their prompts on here. If you like any of them I encourage you to send me yours and if your alright with having it posted just let me know.

Thank you to all my students who made this year the greatest year of my life.

'Up' Movie Review

Pixar is to movies what Aesop Rock lyrics are to rap - there's no such thing as hit or miss, even the things that aren't that impressive still blow the work of everyone else out of the water. 'Up' is certainly no exception.

With their unique ability to not even advertise the story line of a movie (in this case just showing an old man's house on balloons and a frightened child on the porch in the advertisements), Pixar is at the pinnacle of their success with their target audience. Although it is expected to go to a Pixar movie and leave with a smile on your face, it is just as expected to be pleasantly surprised with how human they are willing to make their movies.

'Up' starts in the childhood of one for real adventurer and one boy who really wants to be more adventurous. Their chance meeting changes their lives and the movie chronicles the reality of life moving awfully fast and their dreams making way for other dreams and life realities. The heartbreaking reality to all this actually made me tear up and although it was likely that not all little children might know exactly what was happening during this part, it certainly quieted the audience.

That being said 'Up' is a comedy and a drama and a feelgood family movie wrapped into one (as only Pixar seems to be able to do). I laughed a good amount, teared up a few times, and I left feeling good about the world. Not too shabby after watching a cartoon about a guy who travels to South America by putting balloons on top of his house.