tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38477929162158687082011-12-29T19:28:44.389-08:00Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.comBlogger2641100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-13022415287862299832011-11-20T11:00:00.000-08:002011-11-20T11:00:00.981-08:00

For: My WifeNovember 20, 2011My master: shackles never shown as softuntil this golden bond enslaved this wrist. Amid my brightest hours, the cuff embosseda whitened ridge where sun divorced my skin.What once was darkest, purest skin, now sendsa warning: all who pass this thrall, the Queencommands respect. The hearts of lonely men can find a peace, but sacrifice the free. Engraved upon my shackle

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-76222570275831650162010-12-23T23:34:00.000-08:002010-12-23T23:39:37.599-08:00

Although he was a member of our family for only a month, the loss of a new friend pulses as raw as the loss of an old one.My mom formally adopted Murphy just one month ago. In his new Sacramento home, he spent the first week cloistered under the bed in the guest room. I remember crouching on my hands and knees, head pressed against the carpet, coaxing Murphy out into the open. Over time though

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-10971457075590476262010-12-16T17:03:00.000-08:002010-12-16T18:17:06.441-08:00

Jason Derulo's "In My Head" is a typical pop song with predictable pitch-perfect auto tuning, bridges nestled in cookie-cutter verses, and anemic lyrics about unintentionally sexist intercourse. But despite all this, there is one aspect that makes the song more than a repetitive echo in the Top 40 charts: The "In My Head" music video, di­rect­ed by Kai Craw­ford, is a purposeful and elegant

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-11755976523239080782010-11-20T16:30:00.000-08:002010-11-21T22:01:19.837-08:00

I think of you and see your subtleties. Your laugh at "taco hugs," my dancing shows.Your often overlooked abilityTo listen to my shouted anecdotes. And from these small affections choices rose:To live in San Jose, to dream as one. To know our passing summer days unfoldIn winter's basket, each delight in turn. And every night, when sleep has caught your eye,I come inside and whisper sweetest

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-8202152385608187632010-09-21T23:35:00.000-07:002010-09-22T00:56:19.775-07:00

With hundreds of students bringing in six periods worth of other class materials, I feel somewhat isolated in the English building. I see enigmatic Chemistry books under their arms and esoteric History books peering out of unzipped backpacks. Earlier today, in a vain attempt to feel connected, I read the cover of a student's math book and said, “What's 'cal-KOO-luss'?” She was more confused

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-82084758187832622312010-09-14T21:13:00.000-07:002010-09-14T21:23:17.539-07:00

I just wanted to buy Halo Reach. That's all.All weekend, I planned on purchasing the new Xbox 360 game during my Tuesday lunch break. This would allow me to go home directly after work and avoid the brutal rush-hour traffic around my local Best Buy. I put my "Happy Birthday from Best Buy" gift card in the top drawer of my desk at work. With a $100 balance on the card, the only thing standing

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-52897627804173769852010-08-30T20:24:00.000-07:002010-08-30T21:07:11.071-07:00

I was spoiled by the whiteboards at the affluent private school last year. My chisel-tipped Expo pens glided across the boards like a sharpened knife through a peeled banana. Though there was some expense in buying those pens, they were consistent for me: the ink flowed abundant or it didn't. I found comfort in the efficiency of that binary. But the chalk boards on the East Side are a

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-10903715485230862522010-08-03T22:45:00.000-07:002010-08-04T01:43:09.588-07:00

Pop Tarts make me smile. For me, the toaster oven in my apartment exists only to warm my crispy, sweet pastries. I don't use a spatula to buffer my relationship to my Pop Tart; I coax it from the still-red toaster oven like a mother holding her newborn for the first time. I gently pass the rectangular treat from hand to hand so the darkened corners of the pastry don't burn my fingers.And then

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-3152063430334787012010-07-14T09:04:00.000-07:002010-07-14T09:04:00.104-07:00

The white borders encroached farther down like an invading army from the north: About half my nail was jolted loose from my big, left toe. I wear my Reef sandals lovingly. Even in the cold blasts of winter, I dedicate myself to my flip flops. They give accessible, sock-less comfort, and I give them four-season usage. And when summer breaks free, my sandals and I are inseparable. The tan lines,

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-26293255870481845552010-07-04T22:14:00.000-07:002010-07-05T00:35:20.039-07:00

I can tell it's the Fourth without looking at the calendar. The smell of bbq traipsing over summer green lawns. Plywood bunkers selling Roman Candles in a dusty field. And of course, hot dog buns on display in the Safeway parking lot.To be honest, I really like America's birthday. Sure, I'm not David McCullough, and I don't even like going on picnics. But, I celebrate the Fourth the only way

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-92018261146780109672010-06-30T19:12:00.000-07:002010-06-30T19:13:27.350-07:00

I haven't frequented the Ladies' room enough to draw any meaningful conclusions, but Men's bathroom floors are disgusting.There are pee drippings all around the urinals. I almost wish my shoes didn't have grooves in the bottoms as I imagine the pee seeping into the rubber crevices waiting to be absorbed onto my foyer carpet. But then again, without the grooves, I'd be more likely to slip in the

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-24417171160741292992010-06-23T21:32:00.000-07:002010-08-04T01:45:19.465-07:00

What is with the old people in class? You know who I'm talking about: the 55+ student in your undergrad or graduate classes that just won't stop talking. No matter what the subject area, the old guy pounces into action with some useless comment about their own life experiences. I have news for you geriatric, aspiring student: no one cares. I've recently gone back to school, and maybe my

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-24994432296572545342010-06-14T21:19:00.001-07:002010-06-14T21:48:56.415-07:00

As long as one is not getting fired or laid off, the last day of work is supposed to be empowering because few things give the all-around satisfaction of quitting a job and moving on to bigger and better things. I remember quitting my first in corporate America. I walked into my boss's office knowing, for once, I held the trump card. "I'd like to give my 2 weeks notice." It felt like unlocking

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-43263210346692264672010-06-06T21:34:00.000-07:002010-06-06T21:39:26.091-07:00

Oreo Cakester? If I'm looking for a subtle chocolate flavor flanked by wonderfully fluffy cream, I'm going to buy an Oreo. Perhaps I should be more specific: I'm going to buy a REAL Oreo. Listen here. I'm from the street, and I eat my Oreos the right way, with milk and NOT in cake form. I might dig on some Oreo ice cream or maybe even an Oreo mini, but why would I bastardize my sweet, sweet

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-61293567297406171562010-05-30T12:53:00.000-07:002010-05-30T21:32:33.889-07:00

I hadn't see him in four years. And even in 2006, our meeting was nothing more than a brief 2-hour lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. So when he texted me "ima be up in norcal this wknd...Are u free to meet up?" I wasn't sure how I felt about it. The four years and amiable silence have pushed us further than "we have nothing in common anymore" to the nebulous "I don't even know you." After so many years

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-69476085334317987512010-05-27T23:22:00.000-07:002010-05-28T00:22:33.897-07:00

Daylight Savings Time and I have a love/hate relationship. She's prissy and flaky, always changing the time of sunrise and sunset; I'm grouchy and inflexible, always wanting my daylight consistent. In theory, though, I love Daylight Savings. I can play basketball with my friends later, and studies generally agree that there is less crime and fewer traffic accidents. Plus, DST means that the

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-53056096387897760652010-05-05T22:56:00.000-07:002010-05-05T22:57:35.086-07:00

At first, I just assumed the outline on the display was misprinted. But then I found tyranno after tyranno with the weird proportions and confusing appendages.Is that his jaw? His arm? And what about the larger protuberance near his other leg? I am so confused. And of course, the Sur La Table sales person thought I was being a jerk when I asked, "Can you describe this cookie cutter to me?"

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-64676316863529054292010-05-02T22:19:00.000-07:002010-05-02T22:21:48.834-07:00

While at the airport, I saw this well-to-do gentleman with his sign. He cradled it in one arm and patiently presented himself towards the escalators leading from the terminal.I watched him for a moment or two. He never shuffled his feet or fidgeted his hands, and the only time he checked his watch was to make sure his client wasn't going to miss their appointment. Stoic and classy to the end.I

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-68206619823439254882010-04-26T23:31:00.000-07:002010-04-26T23:33:39.269-07:00

I'm not exactly sure why, but there is a box of dead frogs in my classroom. In my storage cabinet, on the shelf just below the American-Literature anthologies rests a cardboard coffin holding 10 plastic-wrapped frogs."We think the students will be too excited and eager to see the frogs, so we thought it best to hide the frogs until Friday, the day of the dissection." Of course. That sounds

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-16683461660631138822010-04-19T23:56:00.000-07:002010-04-20T12:29:48.897-07:00

I'm not a math fellow, but I think even math teachers will agree with me that protractors are ridiculous. They are useless!Now before all you SOHCAHTOA lovers write me hate mail, let me clarify that I know protractors are immensely useful in real world situations like architecture and astronomy...but in middle school?Protractors are just weirdly shaped. They don't really fit in pencil boxes and

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-1417669675025232202010-04-15T23:56:00.000-07:002010-04-16T00:31:46.707-07:00

I was a zombie most of yesterday. Two days ago, I went to sleep at 4 am only to wake at 6 am. I was planning on going back into my deep sleep, but a minor emergency (my video game order from Amazon.com got messed up) and anger and frustration jolted me out of the sleepy phase. So there I was, awake on Wednesday with only 2 hours of sleep. Of course, at about 7 pm, I crashed and took a two hour

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-38754651631451618812010-04-12T15:32:00.000-07:002010-04-12T15:32:00.351-07:00

I love Spring Break. Even though it's technically the weekend, I'm feeling the unfettered freedom from adult responsibility. It's the kind of day where I watched a rerun of "Family Matters" and didn't feel guilty that I was wasting my time. I ate crackers for lunch and drank milk from the carton. It's the kind of day when I consider a box of fruit snacks to be a single serving.But wouldn't

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-86486421002997001802010-04-09T23:11:00.000-07:002010-04-09T23:11:00.548-07:00

I really enjoy being a teacher: I get to tell little kids what to do and what to think. And best of all, I get paid for it.But even with teaching catering to my wonderfully bloated sense of superciliousness, Spring Break is a fabulous perk. What other job gets a scheduled week off right when the flowers are waking from their hibernation? when the sunshine and the air smell crisp? when

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-86798577482326278462010-04-03T23:58:00.000-07:002010-04-04T10:47:03.145-07:00

I've never been to a Catholic-church service before. So when I got an invite to a baptism, I didn't really know what to expect.As I was waiting, I noticed a hinge on the pew in front of me. It looked like a tiny pew, folded into the back of the bench in front of me. With a curious heel, I yanked the hinged appendage out. But unaware of its total length, the mini pew collapsed onto the feet of

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-73342343432147587232010-04-01T23:44:00.000-07:002010-04-01T23:52:28.792-07:00

I didn't forget it was April Fools Day. I woke up cautiously, checking the floor before I stepped out of bed. I smelled each of my shower liquids before lathering them on my body. I read all of my emails carefully before responding. But even with my prank alert on high, nothing could prepare me for the most dangerous pranksters of all: the kids. It started innocently enough with one of my

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-7091454921635433002010-03-27T23:25:00.000-07:002010-03-27T23:57:20.679-07:00

Why does the supermarket have to be so mean to the transients? Legal action against the hobos? This is essentially Safeway stealing the bums' identities; most of the time I wouldn't know they were homeless except for the shopping carts lined with garbage bags and packed with cans.I'm not sure if this is a real theory, but for me, the shopping cart demarcates between the truly homeless and the

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-10270911186873327112010-03-24T23:59:00.000-07:002010-03-25T09:34:13.912-07:00

is a bad time to woo a woman. I'm one of those guys that sample cups are not an option at self-serve yogurt joints: they are a requirement. I yank on those silver handles like the conductor of a locomotive yanks on the whistle. Sure, I'm abusing the system a tad. By the time I'm finished, my three sample cups are dripping with my own spit and tracks of Honeydew Tart and White Chocolate

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-27125448559152976822010-03-21T23:29:00.000-07:002010-03-21T23:29:00.343-07:00

It was just wood and nails. 2" x 6" boards hammered together with some metal pipes for railings. The deck in my grandma's backyard wasn't an architectural masterpiece, just two large rectangular boxes with two benches dug into the ground.Grandpa didn't use pressure-treated wood and didn't seal the surfaces. But, when he was alive, he took care of it and made it safe. I remember running on

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-64892921755678292322010-03-17T23:31:00.000-07:002010-03-17T23:31:00.449-07:00

I feel bad for my students because they have school uniforms. Especially on days like today: St. Patrick's day.The students and their uniforms looked more drab and lifeless than ever. Their navy pants were faded and un-festive from repeat washings. The white polos were tinged gray around the collars from sweat. School policy censored the shamrock shirts and emerald earrings. But when I tried

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-32301111715325869882010-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:002010-03-14T23:32:00.233-07:00

I saw this kid riding a flatbed shopping cart, and I actually felt jealous. Gone are the days where someone would push the cart with me riding along. Sure, I can coerce my brother to push me for a little while, but self-consciousness rears its head after a minute or so. And if I'm lucky enough for a push, the weight of my adult body causes the cart to fishtail inelegantly out of control.Going

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-6613515525846448372010-03-10T23:45:00.000-08:002010-03-11T14:38:59.390-08:00

I thought I would build up to this moment. But instead, the feelings, the all-too familiar feelings, have come rushing back. I couldn't wait any longer than simply say after years apart, I still love the "last honest pizza." I ended things four years ago. I admit it. The price point was simply too high. $30 for an XL pizza was too much for the meek college student. I abandoned dignity for

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-1718921081674094082010-03-07T23:29:00.000-08:002010-03-08T01:24:22.829-08:00

I'm glad I'm a low-key dude, so I can buy my 6 for $6 Fruit of the Looms that come in sealed packages.Sexy underwear is nice but not when it could have the disclaimer, "Other people may have had their junk all up in the fabric of this fine undergarment; buy with caution."Maybe if I were high-class I could afford special sanitizers to get rid of strangers' skid marks and underwear glue.

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-67544258345246211592010-03-05T23:59:00.000-08:002010-03-07T21:46:27.350-08:00

I don't understand claw vending machines anymore. We used to be good friends, claw machines and me. My father would take my brother and me to Circus Circus in Reno, and I'd drop my allotted $10 in quarters to grab the neon-bright bears beneath the three-pronged grabber.But now, the plastic controls of the crane seem antiquated. The amity between us, gone.New prize-oriented games have adapted

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-32703883209566744722010-03-01T23:46:00.000-08:002010-03-02T11:57:27.806-08:00

I was in the Women's department at Nordstrom's the other day, shopping with an old friend from college.  I decided to accompany her largely because she is pretty, and being around a pretty girl, even if she is just a friend, is still better than sitting at home watching rerun Olympic Curling.  Plus I had a coupon for a free Auntie Anne's Pretzel. While I was licking buttery cinnamon sugar from my

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-17557617699722830022010-02-27T23:03:00.000-08:002010-02-28T00:06:47.624-08:00

The spaghetti hot dog sandwich at Clover Cafe is one of the most loving foods I've ever eaten. The first time I purchased one, I was expecting something exotic. But the experience of the sandwich resulted in the rare occasion where my imagination matched my physical experience. The bun is a simple homemade hot dog bun. It's nothing fancy. Just unseasoned white bread, spongy and compressible

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-37588851375170914262010-02-25T22:43:00.001-08:002010-02-26T01:22:35.723-08:00

How Do You Know?Baby, I gotta go watch Lebron do a triple double.Boy, I don't even know what you just said. Dial Down Your Dramawww.bom411.comThis advertisement in the mall is just weird. Take a good look at it before proceeding, reader. It's such a strange and hilarious ad. Such a nonsensical billboard must have had a higher purpose. So I visited www.bom411.com. It's actually a pretty

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-59435970098893773292010-02-23T23:21:00.000-08:002010-02-23T23:21:00.289-08:00

Being in both the public and private school settings, I've learned one unwavering fact: kids of all ages make me laugh.Things I heard while teaching at a private school:You know what movie scared me recently? I am Legend. That was the first scary movie I've seen since Titanic.—Jason, 9th grade, on whether or not movies have the capacity to evoke emotions in their viewers. Who's Brad Pitt?—Jenny

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-1548324007743732872010-02-19T22:38:00.000-08:002010-02-20T11:23:31.068-08:00

Usually Pizza Friday isn't a problem, but today, apparently, all the grease, all the cheese, all the wonderfully melded tastes disagreed with one of my students.During a lecture on Past Perfect Tense, the students had numerous questions. Hands shot up left and right regarding time, grammar, and usage. But out of the haphazard shotgun of hands, Beth raised her hand slowly.“Yes, Beth? Your

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-62997225770568298862010-02-16T21:49:00.000-08:002010-02-16T22:02:07.789-08:00

Apparently it is customary to eat pancakes today as part of Fat Tuesday. This Pancake Tuesday is the last day for butter, eggs, and sugar usually restricted during Lent, which starts tomorrow.For me though, today made me think of my dog, Pancake. He was pretty confused when an evening news report on Fat Tuesday prompted me to start screaming, "It's Pancake Day!" and giving him crushing hugs and

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-43073210249607633992010-02-14T20:22:00.000-08:002010-02-14T20:30:58.553-08:00

I haven't worn a tie for you in four years, and $49.99 buys a week's groceries, not a dozen roses. The stub from our third date downtownwent through the wash. And the only sounds from our bedroomare my eyelashes scraping the pillowas I fall asleep beside you. Though the hanger has ruined your red dress, though I watch TV as you say goodnight, I'll kiss you from post-its that read:I wish every

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-36582098087335508992010-02-12T23:32:00.000-08:002010-02-12T23:32:00.320-08:00

is a bad time to woo a woman. We rested peacefully together until the sharp, compressing pains grabbed my entire lower body. It was the pain of 100 crunches while holding in a bowel movement. I slide out from her pink duvet and made my way to the bathroom with only pinches of streetlight to guide me. Have you ever tried to navigate someone else's apartment at night while there was a #2

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-60737411237200173862010-02-10T23:58:00.000-08:002010-02-11T00:06:47.519-08:00

Sadies exists in a very specific year of my life: 7th grade. All the years before and after, this dance meant nothing. But in 7th grade, I lived only to be asked to Sadies. I had never been to a school dance before, and I had never heard of Sadies. So when I discovered the nature of Sadies, I was filled with adolescent excitement as I foolishly thought it would be my savior. All the pressure

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-75734827739818642022010-02-07T23:09:00.000-08:002010-02-08T00:29:57.458-08:00

I don't think this has ever happened to me. Usually, I forget to buy apples, and then when I run out, I spend a few apple-less days regretting my forgetfulness. Thus, having two generations of apples overlap is very rare for me; I guess I had above average foresight this weekend. But with two apples, one old and one new, I realize they are very different. Look how much bigger the right one is!

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-24557694312621520302010-02-05T23:57:00.000-08:002010-02-06T02:19:28.245-08:00

The first time I was asked to get a Live Scan was for a job in Sacramento. Live Scan sounded so official with its procedures and regulations. I felt like I was joining the elites of employment. Even the futuristic name "Live Scan" sounded like something from Minority Report.Boy, was my intrigue crushed.I went to the Davis PD, and a balding obese man was my technician. He mouth breathed all over

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-28359469305890820412010-02-03T23:34:00.000-08:002010-02-04T00:43:56.152-08:00

I created this blog one year ago today. It's been fun. My gratitude to all my readers. I'm not sure how many of you there are, but I appreciate the comments online and in person. Thank you.

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-38980791214893764232010-02-01T23:29:00.000-08:002010-02-01T23:29:44.084-08:00

What's up with these Halloween things in February? I'm not sure why, but I was both spookily afraid and pleasantly surprised today. It must be a sign that the Halloween gods are pissed that October is so far away. I'll give them a big "mwa ha ha ha ha" to appease them.MWA HA HA HA HA!(yeah, it's a real thing)

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-89317445904528979292010-01-31T23:51:00.000-08:002010-01-31T23:51:00.205-08:00

I arrived early for my eye exam yesterday. I have terrible patience for waiting rooms, so I brought a thick novel with me to stave off boredom. Just as I was sitting down, a woman two seats away got called in for her appointment. She rose from her seat slowly, her husband's hand gently assisting in the arch of her back. As she was walking down the hall to the exam room, her husband, as if

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-10180137836081623112010-01-28T23:02:00.000-08:002010-01-28T23:03:32.975-08:00

I didn't notice them all morning. I washed my face, ate my breakfast, buttoned my collared shirt, all unaware that my neck bore mysterious scratches. It took one my impolite students to ask, "Dude, what's up with your neck and face?"And like all minor injuries, becoming aware of my scratches made them all the more painful and irritating. Worse still, the scratches laced my neck skin.

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-22980244157801020862010-01-26T23:55:00.000-08:002010-01-27T01:58:48.119-08:00

The rainy season has brought more than grayness to my life; it has brought youth.Forced inside the cafeteria by the misty January afternoons, teachers and students from all grades have no choice but to shed the hierarchy and eat in close quarters. Some teachers grumble, but I don't mind the occasional student screaming.This new seating arrangement has reminded me of a very important part of

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-11196512528477775182010-01-25T23:57:00.000-08:002010-01-26T01:39:23.186-08:00

I saw this in the store, and I was confused. Who would buy underwear that had an opened package? This wasn't even the last box of that particular item or color. At least 10 identical, non-opened boxes surrounded this.If I worked at the Returns Counter for the store, I would have just given the customer their money back and told them to keep the undies. My store looks cheap and dirty having

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-76089789594250201612010-01-21T22:24:00.000-08:002010-01-22T02:11:34.493-08:00

So, you want to help but don’t have a way to get one of our shirts or make a monetary donation? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with the easiest possible way to be a hero – playing Halo!We are rallying our fan community to show their support by playing Halo 3 or ODST online Wednesday or Thursday while wearing a special emblem signifying your commitment to the cause. For every thousand heroes

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-84939745326474220862010-01-20T23:34:00.000-08:002010-01-21T02:17:12.542-08:00

Everyday he takes off his shoes in my class. I'll glance up from my pile of vocab tests to see shoes strewn about. During the warmer months, he'd take off his shoes because the socks "itched" his toes. And now, with daily deluges, he complains of wet socks that wrinkle his feet.With my teacher's intuition, I think that maybe he's exaggerating, but measuring sock wetness sounds unhygienic and

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-35872425292086480802010-01-18T22:48:00.000-08:002010-01-18T22:49:42.292-08:00

I don't know his real name, so I shall call him "Lucky" because he is the luckiest dog I know. Today was the second time I've found Lucky running loose on the street. He was un-collared. He was un-leashed. And, despite Bob Barker's cries, he was un-fixed. Even with all the odds against him, Lucky was still alive.One time, about a year ago, I found Lucky running loose, crossing the streets in

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-45265059391479567462010-01-15T23:45:00.000-08:002010-01-16T03:54:05.112-08:00

I've never seen a green parking cone. What a sight. And suddenly I feel like eating some Skittles. What a great start to the weekend. I'm so happy.

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-73384829914626494732010-01-12T23:57:00.000-08:002010-01-13T02:09:04.864-08:00

With the mildewy winter making my classroom smell like feet, I decided to open my classroom's back door inviting in some crisp sunshine. But my open invitation was accepted by a party crasher: a swallow.Now, I've seen wild birds indoors before. Costco often has a pigeons eating hotdog scraps, and I've even seen a duck in a Walmart. But reader, I was unprepared for a fast-flying, panicked

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-31362879782923840382010-01-11T22:39:00.000-08:002010-01-11T22:40:59.650-08:00

It's too late. The expiration date on the bottom is 2/2009. Canned fruits have expiration dates years in advance. Like batteries. Or condoms.I've stored this 6-pound can for three years, never piercing the lid with the circular edge of a can opener simply because the idea of a fruit parade, waiting just for me, in a light syrup is too appetizing.The grapes are my least favorite; they are too

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-79702094803425365552010-01-09T23:30:00.000-08:002010-01-09T23:36:54.150-08:00

It's my sweetheart's birthday today, and I decided to get her a balloon. A big one. There's something about balloons that encapsulate the joy of a celebration. Balloons may deflate, but there is something charming about a half-floating balloon, dancing in the apartment air currents and corners.Safeway just wouldn't do; Safeway balloons are for your cousin's baby shower. No, sweetheart balloons

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-68904067604660118992010-01-08T21:43:00.000-08:002010-01-08T21:45:40.296-08:00

My school has started their annual ad campaign to attract new parents. Part of this plan includes dressing up the school so when tours pass through, our mission statement, statistics, and philosophies are posted on well-placed plaques.And by well-placed plaques, I mean 8.5"x11" paper on a stucco wall near a door that opens outwardly.I don't need a super chic, snazzy ad campaign, but black and

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-86522888894463614152010-01-05T23:27:00.000-08:002010-01-06T01:09:26.817-08:00

Sometimes I wish I was a middle-school girl. Not because transforming into a girl would be some groundbreaking gender study. Not because becoming young again would mean more years to live. No, I want to be a girl so I can wear Disney paraphernalia.Now, in my defense, I would be happy to stay an adult man if Disney made decent men's clothing (boys clothing doesn't count). But they don't, so

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-41167264813330833442010-01-02T22:47:00.000-08:002010-01-02T22:50:23.720-08:00

Three Christmases ago, I bought Grandma a betta fish. I remembering looking for the male betta that had the biggest fins. Like the Adonis peacock trapped in a petting zoo, I found Hoshi, blue and purple ribbons trailing off from his torpedo body, trapped in a plastic Petsmart cup.But just before this Christmas, Hoshi died. Crotchety till the end, his body hid under one of his plants making it

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-60458215960040318272009-12-31T23:23:00.000-08:002009-12-31T23:24:04.877-08:00

Are you fully aware right now? What do you mean? Meaning, do you think you'll remember this in, say, ten years? This moment. Like, this conversation with you? Yeah. Of course. I'll remember this. Why wouldn't I? I'm not sure. How old are you? Thirteen. Yeah. I remember being thirteen, but I don't remember a single, particular moment. I have feelings, maybe echoes of thirteen, but I don't remember

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-22436041426961286022009-12-29T11:47:00.000-08:002009-12-30T00:55:37.287-08:00

It feels like a break-up. It really does. Every year, with tender emotions in December, our relationship is effortless. I gently place wrapped gifts at her feet, and she, in turn, stands tall and soft, like a goddess I've known my entire life. She is a paradox of intimate familiarity and passionate unfamiliarity. She may have the same unmistakable shape, but the way she dresses, the way she

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-89352400131458384382009-12-26T23:52:00.000-08:002009-12-27T03:03:03.759-08:00

I remember clothes shopping with Mom was a chore. Through my childhood (and embarrassingly my adulthood), if my mom wanted to buy me clothing, she bought five sizes and colors of the item and returned four of them after I'd tried them on at home. I raised such a brat-like stink in the store that, well, it was easier for her to make two trips. But like a textbook mother, she constantly prodded

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-33074095091497924382009-12-24T23:58:00.000-08:002009-12-25T00:48:19.042-08:00

I never had a traumatizing, "Santa-isn't real" experience. I never found the fluffy red suit under my father's bed. I never saw my mom placing the presents under the tree.There were clues and inklings that, over time, compiled into a general disbelief in Santa. My step-father's swooping letters looked eerily like Santa's festive signature. I once received a Santa gift that was left off the letter

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-8711011039061156832009-12-21T22:32:00.000-08:002009-12-22T01:52:29.604-08:00

I only go to the post office when I need to send a flat-rate box. Most of the time, I find myself half crouching, half sitting on the four box flaps trying to tape it shut. The confused Vietnamese postal worker behind the counter usually stares with dead eyes at a scene that should result in a humor-induced smile. But instead, she's always stone faced at the man emulating a chicken hatching an

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-71198455287378843492009-12-18T23:57:00.000-08:002009-12-19T00:32:11.846-08:00

is a bad time to woo a woman. It was one of those unfortunate days where my poor dog was cooped up in the apartment for 9 hours straight. When I unlocked the front door, he immediately ran to the foyer, ignoring me completely, and stared at his leash hanging on his "Hug a Pug" hook. Being a stubbornly territorial dog, I knew he had to poo urgently when he only marked one bush before arching his

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-41305439852045282792009-12-16T23:45:00.000-08:002009-12-17T00:44:46.953-08:00

Living adjacent to a city park, I've grown accustomed to the usual sights. The discarded Taco Bell bags stuffed with damp, bean-stained burrito wrappers. The squirrel who carries nest-making leaves in his mouth. And sometimes, a size 1 baby shoe in the sand, kicked off without the mother seeing.But two nights ago, I stopped. I saw something unusual. Under the streetlight's amber glow, this

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-90459216325508198752009-12-13T23:39:00.000-08:002009-12-14T00:31:46.501-08:00

This weekend and last, 3 University of California campuses held ceremonies which conferred honorary degrees to people of Japanese decent whose collegiate education was derailed by the Japanese Internment during World War II. Today, I was lucky enough to attend the ceremony at UC Berkeley. http://honorary.universityofcalifornia.edu/ Take some time to watch the videos; they are worth the few

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-75219189408191234462009-12-12T23:55:00.000-08:002009-12-13T01:38:49.002-08:00

I'll give one chance, my dear, to pluck a rose.And when you catch me, place its stem betweenmy grasp: The emerald thorns of envy risein reddened, passioned promises of "meand you." My dear, come follow close behind.My Fafner should not scare you. Golden boundalong round paths, he guards his princess, blindto knights like you, who seek to earn my crown.Mount your whitened stallion—but sheath your

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-78651815729347185382009-12-09T23:43:00.000-08:002009-12-13T21:47:00.914-08:00

It's been several years since I've conceded that Peeps just don't taste that good. Don't get me wrong: I love Peeps. Their crystalline sugar coating, their spongy innards, their whipped white stickiness. I'm one of those fellows that buys three packs of Peeps at Easter time because they're cute and eats only about four chicks or bunnies before the teeth and stomach groan from the sugar

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-77847892654085583462009-12-06T23:56:00.000-08:002009-12-06T23:56:00.392-08:00

The holiday season is trimmed with indecision. Sale prices, store inventory, and frantic mobs paralyze me into procrastinated holiday shopping. Happiness only narrowly outweighs the holiday debacle that is shopping.These sentiments were epitomized by my recent grocery shopping trip where I was frozen by two Pepperidge Farm cookie options: one, the year-round Ginger Man or two, the seasonal

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-76807492657450185462009-12-05T23:41:00.000-08:002009-12-05T23:50:16.623-08:00

Today was the Humane Society, Silicon Valley's Animal Arts Craft Faire. Vendors sold adorable animal-related arts and crafts. There were home-made dog treats, hand-made chew toys, and decadent cat trees. There was live music, a food court, and activities for children.And in case the humans wanted to shop unencumbered, there was a "Dog Valet" who would walk your dog while you shopped. That's

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-6998327516911169972009-12-02T23:56:00.000-08:002009-12-02T23:56:00.803-08:00

Opening the refrigerator isn't supposed to be this disheartening. The breeze shrinks my skin onto my bones, and the cold air is chilling as I peer into the graveyard of my Thanksgiving leftovers. And this happens every year in early December. Fresh from four days of splendid food, wonderful sales, and priceless family time, we are hungover, slogging through early December, out of earshot of

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-50795146756888403022009-12-01T23:47:00.000-08:002009-12-01T23:47:00.380-08:00

BEGIN CALL 19:23:54Superstar: Good morning. Thank you for calling Superstar Plumbing. How can I be of service?Caller: (Frantic) I need to have a plumber come to my house right away.Superstar: Of course, ma'am. May I ask the nature of the service required?Caller: Can you send someone now? The water's getting everywhere.Superstar: Okay, ma'am. Everything is going to be alright. Can you try to

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-90891713010043911592009-11-27T23:55:00.000-08:002009-11-28T00:39:58.042-08:00

The greatest shopping day of the year isn't great because of the deals; it's great because of the stories. I don't really need a Samsung MP3 player when I have an elite iPod. I don't really need a free Xbox game in exchange for sitting in the cold air for 3 hours. Sure, there are people who truly need the deals in order to make their holiday budget work, but I often spend my Black Fridays in

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-20430888123261230612009-11-26T21:04:00.000-08:002009-11-26T21:05:48.890-08:00

Here's a tip: Never wear skinny jeans to Thanksgiving dinner. I wore my new dark-wash jeans in hopes that I would look more fit in the Thanksgiving family pictures. It was all for naught: the dining-room table hid my pants in the family portraits, and I had to unbutton my pants to sit on the couch, far from the "fit" image I wanted to project.So here I am, thankful for the beginning of the

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-67809721615981162672009-11-20T23:58:00.000-08:002009-11-21T00:01:23.718-08:00

Even though it was Friday, I decided to stay late at school and help the short-handed tutoring program. My tutee was a tiny girl with hair straight like a filly's mane and soft like a freshly baked gingersnap. Her smile was dear, and while it was over-burdened with her adult teeth pushing through, I could tell she would one day smile her way out of speeding tickets. Her name was Chaitali.My

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-63015660514791480332009-11-18T23:54:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:20:01.345-08:00

I had a craving for some salad and a steak sandwich, so I went to Pluto's. I owe a debt of gratitude to the Wednesday-night lull as the typically hectic and haphazard ordering line at Pluto's was replaced with a wonderfully empty ordering counter. In fact, I only saw three other people: two boys and their mother."You want to watch?" She coaxed the two boys over to the glass window overlooking

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-60893809663266248102009-11-17T23:34:00.000-08:002009-11-17T23:34:00.118-08:00

I knew it was going to be a great day; I ate candy for breakfast. Halloween candy in November is fabulous when you're a child: the lingering elation of the holiday sustaining you just long enough to reach Thanksgiving. But when you're an adult, Halloween candy is dangerous. Those small, "Fun Size" portions call to you like a seductive whisper on a cold night.Hey. Come eat me. I won't make

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-77625579492056003622009-11-16T23:55:00.000-08:002009-11-16T23:55:00.637-08:00

I didn't see it happen. I didn't see the spectacle. I only saw the curtain of rose petals, the half-empty champagne bottle, and the banner reading Marry Me, Pansy—the chocolate-sweet echoes of a marriage proposal.I stood, with several spectators, gently waiting to feel the aftershocks of their happiness. Over the vermilion pond rubbing the puckering ovals with my shoe tips, I waited in hopes

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-32597356520352103732009-11-12T23:45:00.000-08:002009-11-13T09:34:14.649-08:00

I was watching TV today, and I saw an add for (what I assuming is a new version of) Milton Bradley's Guess Who? This new Guess Who? Extra has changeable line-up cards, and electronic timers, and trap doors. This is surely the Cadillac of Guess Who?I remember the original 1987 version of Guess Who where there were 5 women and 19 men. If you were unlucky enough to pick Jan out of the pile, you

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-55137925464303831772009-11-10T23:56:00.000-08:002009-11-11T09:18:33.758-08:00

I have a multi-lingual student in sixth period. He has only been in the States for about four months, and he is struggling to keep up with the language. The private school for which I work is his only education, meaning he is not getting any outside help with learning to speak English.My private school is pretty fabulous except that it doesn't have multi-lingual program. That means that this

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-66291618650208367442009-11-08T01:45:00.000-08:002009-11-08T02:10:59.979-08:00

I don't know my neighbors at all. Because I've never formally been introduced, I've resorted to naming my fellow residents by their defining traits. Guy in 1C is Sweater Vest. Girl in 1D is Orange Cascades. Man above me is Stompy. I'm sure there are some apartment buildings that birth wonderful friendships like Joey and Monica, Jerry and Kramer, but, for the most part, apartments breed

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-80006701196719824812009-11-04T23:26:00.000-08:002009-11-05T01:25:39.678-08:00

Literaure? Beouwulf? Spell check? It would be one thing if this student was at his intellectual limit. If he truly gave his best efforts, I could look upon his works as sweat-soaked proof of his genuine mental exertion. Even if these imperfect works were riddled with errors, I could still bask in the warmth that both he and I were at our outer boundaries.But this is not the case.This student

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-71450668523060292072009-11-03T08:55:00.000-08:002009-11-03T09:23:29.823-08:00

One thousand dreams woven togetheralong their seams of reality and faith.The loops of joy and punctured fleshsustained the sloping cotton hillsof pastel memories. And streams of stitchingmarinated doubts in sweet strawberry jam.This balanced cloth, honeycombedof warming past and cooling present,was sewn in twilight, between secretsand truths...and for that, I gave my sightfor its intricate

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-87720518765822084192009-10-31T23:20:00.000-07:002009-11-17T22:33:11.919-08:00

The air is crisp like the fallen, anthocyanin leaves. The sharp air frostbites the lining of the lungs, and when exhaled, the warm soul escapes in curls of white breath. The smirking pumpkins take up their sentry positions guarding each home from would-be trespassers. Tonight, children take the streets with masked dreams dripping in melted sugar.Of the final yearly celebrated holidays in

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-42456438966870490172009-10-28T23:56:00.000-07:002009-10-29T01:01:29.984-07:00

Two weeks ago, the principal approached me and asked if the Extended Care Program (ECP) could use my classroom twice a week after school. Of course, this is her subtle way of telling me that she'd already made the decision, and it was now my job to deal with it and vacate twice a week at the tolling of 3:30.And of course, I get one of those ECP teachers who lets the kids eat chips and sit at my

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-2616190109368180142009-10-27T23:45:00.000-07:002009-10-28T09:15:06.254-07:00

Summer, regrettably hibernating for the next nine months, has passed its crown to the necrosis of Fall. Autumn winds rush into the vacuum Summer left behind. The coup of the cunning Fall has succeeded. And that is why we detest the surreptitious Fall. That sunlight through our bedroom window tempts us to leave our coats behind, and with Summer's warmth still radiating from within, we forge

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-32021071585204769672009-10-23T23:12:00.000-07:002009-10-24T03:19:13.549-07:00

I'd sit on the dock and let my feet dangle two inches above water, kissed by the surface only when a gust of wind crested a wave beneath me. The water is more green than blue, but emeralds shine as tempting as sapphires. My hometown house sits on the artificial shore of a man-made lake, and even though my lake was carved into earth by a mortal, I feel nature's sublimity.I'd eat wheat toast in

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-64624484620703030832009-10-21T23:44:00.000-07:002009-11-21T00:05:18.560-08:00

At the end of every period, while the students are zipping their bags and rustling their papers, I ask them, "What's my philosophy?""Leave the room cleaner than we found it," they all reply in mantra-like dirge. They may sound apathetic, but truly, they understand this principle.The "It" girl, the soccer star, the class clown—they all crouch down, equalized by the custodial task at hand. The

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-15499473502283541252009-10-19T23:45:00.000-07:002009-10-20T00:45:09.709-07:00

I am not an avid baseball fan, but I try to stay up-to-date on the happenings. And while I have no logical reason to do so, I find myself rooting for the Los Angeles Angels this post season. Nick Adenhart, a young up-and-coming pitcher for the Angels, was killed by an allegedly drunk driver on April 9, 2009. The days after the event, ESPN showed numerous interviews with the Angels, who all

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-79263555864438993562009-10-18T23:34:00.000-07:002009-11-17T22:27:11.550-08:00

I don't go Trick-or-Treating anymore, so the shiny plastics and sequin cloths of the costume aisles don't interest me in the same way. I walked the lanes of Target gently perusing the costumes sealed airtight in thick plastic bags. I try to imagine myself looking spooky or festive in the costumes, but all I can see is frivolity and expense.I know some people really devote themselves to this

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-74552084924093999932009-10-15T23:55:00.000-07:002009-10-16T09:16:51.363-07:00

Apes are large animals that are related to...elephants? I think I'm developing a teaching-induced phobia of paper. There are just so many assignments to grade. I'm organized, to be sure. I have colored coded paper clips (thank you Office Max) and all the papers are in discrete piles per grade. But even the most organized mounds still cause chills.So when a second-grade teacher sat down next

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-50349649178226444692009-10-13T23:23:00.000-07:002009-10-13T23:55:25.204-07:00

Today was the first big rain of the season, and the world seemed to kowtow to its power. The drive to work was interminable. Traffic splashed along at 35 mph down the 880, and hydroplaning cars geysered leaves and twigs onto my windshield.My classroom, constructed in the 1950s, provided little shelter from the storm. The roof leaks about 2 feet from my desk, which is just far enough that the

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-65132113943834210142009-10-11T22:09:00.000-07:002009-11-19T01:22:24.093-08:00

October 9th, two days ago, would have been my grandpa's 91st birthday. All through the September of 2003, he kept saying how he wanted to make it to his birthday. He overshot by two days, just to be on the safe side. But that's how he was: stubborn, loud, and true to his word.The first few months after his death, the pain felt so visceral, so palpable. But after six years, the throbbing has

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-73399111021971081372009-10-08T23:55:00.000-07:002009-10-13T16:11:15.447-07:00

Like all things that start wars, it was beautiful. This was no ordinary soccer ball. The tessellation of metallic silver and luxurious purple hexagons begged to be corner kicked. And every day, during the mid-morning and lunch breaks, students play with this wondrous ball on the soccer field adjacent to my classroom. Now, by soccer field, I mean a 20' x 20' patch of grass that flanks the side

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-31146959960551851082009-10-06T23:44:00.000-07:002009-10-06T23:44:00.237-07:00

Solid flesh can never live up to the bright shadow cast by its absence. Time and distance blur the edges; then suddenly the beloved has arrived, and it's noon with its merciless light, and every spot and pore and wrinkle and bristle stands clear.from The Blind AssassinDear Jen,Time moves slower than I thought it would, and time moves even slower since I don't know when you'll come next. You

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-54386778678971224612009-10-04T23:32:00.000-07:002009-12-05T23:33:26.127-08:00

I haven't been back to my hometown since January but not much has changed. My mom's house is still cavernous in size yet recognizably cozy. My cat Neko still throws himself at my feet. And my old video-game systems are still willing to boot up with nostalgia despite a thin layer of dust over the disc drives.Everything is comfortably the way it should be.As part of my weekend in Sacramento, I

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-54771185773178992992009-09-30T23:44:00.000-07:002009-10-01T00:34:15.383-07:00

Down familiar curves of the museum,extinct footsteps echo from two galleries away.Some days, our travertine floorsings only for my wingtip shoesas we waltz around your pedestal.Your gypsum face won't smile,but your lips touch softly as flesh.The white folds of your dress, carvedonto your skin, may not changewith the seasons, but your beautyis as rare as the day I met you.You are my alabaster

Judo Rhapsodehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14825626168905539456noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3847792916215868708.post-49161040453077813762009-09-29T23:57:00.000-07:002009-10-13T16:12:33.542-07:00

As a Tuesday surprise, I took my morning class a bag of Chips Ahoy Cookies. I thought the students could use a sugar rush before lunch to help them power through the grind of grammar. The students sauntered into the room, and I greeted them with: "I have a surprise for you today. It's very special." They brightened with the unexpected news. The anticipation caused the students to take their

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