I met Bernadette Mayer yesterday. This changed my life...more on this later.

In the meanwhile, things my family has said of late:

Jen: I hate Thanksgiving. I don't like a holiday based on killing a bird. Don't I tell you that every year?

Jim: You tell me that every five minutes!

Jen to Jeff: Sit up, this is the subway, not Air France.

Mom: I know my grandson...he probably tricked the teacher.

Nancy: Wow! I haven't had a drink in Manhattan in five years (a mother from Brooklyn). 

Haiku

Today, I taught my United Cerebral Palsy students the Haiku. I wrote a few myself on the way to work. (Note: Ours do not follow the 5-7-5 pattern).

These crippled bones

on the subway

won't someone give me a seat?

Give me candy 

to sweeten 

my bitter son.

Birds drift in light

outside

cathedral windows.

Dear Library,

I lost the books.

Go ahead, charge me.

Obama?

Unlike those around me, I can't conjure up much excitement for Obama's election. I am more excited that we did not elect McCain, a man who, in my eyes has proven to be unethical in every aspect of his existence. It is undebatable that having an African-American President is one of the best things that has ever happened to this country. But, I don't have much faith that Obama will directly affect me or those around me. I am not trying to be negative. I guess I am attempting to say that when I hear the word 'change' this means to me something that goes beyond barely comprehensible laws in the neitherworld. It has to be palpable. 

I know City Government is vastly different than National, yet when I look around New York City I can see all of the good, bad, and neutral things Bloomberg has done. Merely by leaving my house, I am affected by my city's decisions: to make bike lanes, to ban smoking, to improve parks, to lower or raise taxes, to lower or raise the pay of city workers, so on and so forth.

I'm not the most savvy political person. Jim says the president can't just 'do stuff.' You have the Congress and all that, but a person who runs on 'change' surely must have some kind of plan.

Here's a few changes I would like to see.

Dear Obama,

Be Brave.

Negotiate with Iran. Be tough on Israel. Don't start anymore wars. Get us out of the one we are in.

Get rid of the barbaric death penalty.

Appoint a Supreme Court that will respect the ADA.

Start affirmative action for people with disabilities.

Make the entire country substanible.

Provide health care for all children under the age of 18 despite their parents income

Triple the NEA awards.

And, my goodness, PLEASE do not make another narrative poet Poet Lauerete: I have some recommendations; Brenda Hillman, Nathaniel Tarn, Charles Bernstein, Bernadette Mayer, or Barrett Watten.

That should get you started!

   

NEA

I was turned down for the NEA. I was really disappointed at first. I've recovered.

Poetry Class for PWD

Last class, John returned. I have really started to connect with some of the assistants. I think that some people are doing their best. We still have a lack of scribes and this makes class slow and laborious, but also intimate and intense. I feel like my students are being challenged and respected in new ways - we all are really. For example, last class we spent most of the class discussing the election. All of my students, except for one, were registered to vote and planned too. They were all fans of Obama (and are a largely, but not exclusively African-American group). I wasn't sure whether they would be voting or not. I suspected they would, but wasn't sure.  

Things said by my family in the past two weeks

Jeff, we need to go vote tomorrow.

Mom, I'm voting for Obama. Who are you voting for?

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Cheese doesn't go bad; you just have to cut off the mold. (Jim)

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I'm glad I didn't get into New American Writing AND Conjunctions. I'd pass out. (Jen to Dad).

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Shut the door. (Jim)

Why are you two going to have SEX? (Jeff).

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Why can't people just be for stuff, not against stuff. (JH on Proposition 8)

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Jeffrey and Lucy sitting in a tree kissing, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage. Hey, that's not all, the baby is drinking alcohol. (Jeff as per learned at 'school).

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We're not Nazi parents. Just show up on time and don't let him burn the house down. (Jen to babysitter)

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If you are channeling Robert Duncan, you better tell him to speak a little louder. (Dad)

Sunday

As promised, S.'s note from class. It says:

I can't talk did you get my email about the last class I sent you the 1 1/2 pages...(Later) I come in and the first thing I here is dropping acid?

Dear S,

Wit won't get you an 'A,' but it will get you extra credit!