Pennies or Plastic?

AT&T wants their money. Today I received a bill from them for a whopping $0.04. Yes, you read that correctly- 4 cents. Apparently, they over-credited me way back in February and they want what is rightfully theirs. They are willing to spend $0.42 in postage plus ink and paper in order to get their $0.04 from me.

I'm debating between sending them four pennies in the mail or using my credit card (and making them eat the credit card fees all companies pay). Help me decide by voting in the poll below

It's a good week

It’s a big week for me and my family.

On Saturday, I found an apartment in San Jose. It’s a beautiful one-bedroom apartment and less than two miles from work, so I’m super stoked about it. Can you say walk-in closet?! It also has a washer/dryer inside, so for the first time in two years I won’t have to haul my laundry down the stairs to a Laundromat or my parents’ house. (Good thing, because my apartment is on the 3^rd floor and there are no elevators!).

Tuesday is a big day for my brother and Say No More. Their album, What You Thought You Knew, is making its in-store debut. That’s right- you can now walk into Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Sam Goody, FYE, Borders (I don't know why two of these stores says the album has explicit lyrics- it does not) and buy their album. If you want one you better go get one before I go buy them all. If you see me walking around Best Buy showing the album to everyone in the store (“That’s my brother!”), you’ll know why.

And finally, Wednesday is my parents’ 25^th wedding anniversary. That’s a big deal these says and worth mentioning.

Are We Part of the "Dumbest Generation?"

This morning, an article posted on School Library Journal.com caught my eye. The author, school library guru (and one of my professional heroines) Joyce Valenza , talks about a book reviewed in today’s New York Times. Like the Valenza, I have not read or even seen the book, but the title has made me think. The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don’t Trust Anyone Under 30), by Mark Bauerlein, apparently discusses how today’s young people are “dumbed-down” and superficial, largely due to all the technology in which they are fluent. While conceding that "social networking enforces some negative behaviors," Valenza counters Bauerlein's ideas in what I think is a spot-on analysis of technology and youth culture. I think anyone who works with youth (educators or otherwise) will appreciate what she has to say. Read her article at http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1340000334/post/890026489.html?nid=3714

Here comes the part where I will get on my school librarian soapbox. If you’re not a librarian, teacher, or someone who’s interested in teaching methods, you could probably stop reading now! Bauerlein’s claims only illustrate the need for professional, certified school librarians who teach information literacy (to both students and teachers). The technological tools themselves are not the problem ; rather, it is the way in which they are used. Students who spend hours upon hours randomly searching the internet do so because they have not been taught how to utilize tools that will search and deliver the content for them. Teens who only use MySpace and Facebook for social purposes do so because they haven’t been shown its other uses. This is why it’s such a tragedy that many of California’s school librarians recently received pinkslips. Like it or not, technology is now part of our culture now, and students need guides to help them make sense of it and use it in productive ways.

The good news is that there ARE young people out there who are becoming increasingly fluent in information literacy and are using technology for purposes other than mindless chatting. Since I’m under age 30 (and apparently can’t be trusted, according to the book’s title), I guess I am a part of this group. For example, I did not stumble across Valenza’s article this morning by going to the School Library Journal page. It was delivered to me via my RSS feed that I access in IGoogle. I have several feeds, all delivering me the content I want, without having to visit every individual blog site. Another example is the hundreds of students who get their homework assignments sent to them on their MySpace, Facebook or RSS feeds from their teachers. Or students who post book reviews on YouTube and their blogs, and more. I’d be interested if Bauerlein investigated the thousands of teachers and students who are using social networking technology in wonderful, educational ways before he wrote his book. I guess I should read it!

Two Best Moments

Two favorite work moments this month:

1. A few weeks ago a girl looked at what I was wearing and said, "Ms. Gonzalez, I wish I had your closet." Yes!

2. Today, one of the funniest students I have ever met brought me a printed-out list of her Christmas wish list. She made several dozen copies and hung them up all over campus. Her list included an Easy Bake Oven, an IPod, Candy Land, and $54,000 BMW. Apparently she did this last year and some people actually bought her some of the items. Too funny.

Currently watching : Hope Floats Release date: 14 January, 2003

4 Reasons Star Trek Rules

1. Where else can you be entertained by stories actually based on scientific theory? I understood the basic theory behind time travel by age 10.

2. Ultimate female empowerment- all the chicks on Star Trek are hot AND smart.

3. With all the TV series and movies, you can almost always find something Star Trek to watch on TV.

4. Two words: Captain Picard

I'm particularly enjoying reruns of Star Trek: Enterprise. I don't remember all the episodes like I do Next Generation. Please spare me all the emails & comments pointing out my nerdiness in this blog.

Another Shameless Commercial

Download my brother's band's new song, Long Drive Home. They just put a free single on their MySpace page. Just make sure you still buy the rest of the album when it comes out on Oct 30th. :)

Get the free single from the MySpace player at the Say No More MySpace page.

Currently reading : Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia By Elizabeth Gilbert

It's only September...

and my neighbors have their Christmas tree up. Am not kidding.

Currently reading : The Story of Ferdinand By Munro Leaf Release date: 01 January, 1936

Library Fashion, continued

I stole this from a blog called the.effing.librarian- an effing hilarious blog if I do say so myself. Apparently, a style expert offered to speak at a librarian conference in New Zealand about ways librarians could update their wardrobes. I guess a bunch of the NZ librarians got offended (librarians are always offended about something, according to the American Library Association). Here is a 6 minute video from the New Zealand news about it. Yep, 6 minutes devoted to library fashion (or lack of). Hilarious.

Currently listening : Reba Duets By Reba McEntire Release date: 18 September, 2007

Fred, Cuban pastries, and Tuesday night jazz

I'm pretty stoked about going to L.A. next week. I haven't been in about two years, which seems weird to me. After living there for three years, I was ready to get out. But I've been missing all the variety there lately. This may be my last trip for awhile, because who knows what kind of vacation time or schedule I will have at the new job.

Anyways, I'm excited because I'm finally going to see the infamous house where my brother lives. I'm also salivating at the thought of going to Porto's Bakery in Glendale for some guava & cheese Cuban pastries. Plus, this will be my longest road trip yet with my new car, Fred. Yes, I named it Fred. And of course, I'm stoked to finally visit the Tuesday night jazz restaurant my brother has been telling me about for the last two years.

Currently watching : Hot Fuzz (Widescreen Edition) Release date: 31 July, 2007

Library fashion

I thought it would be a good idea to buy a suit for my upcoming very-important interview. I had visions of buying a sexy, yet professional, perfectly-fitting suit that makes me look authoritative but still young. Apparently they don't stock those kind of suits at the Salinas Macy's. I bought a suit that fits well, but I think I'm going to return it. It ages me about 10 years and makes my shoulders look unnaturally wide. Plus, I can't stand the thought of matching head-to-toe.

Maybe I should just wear this to my interview.

Currently reading :
Listening to Love: Responding to the Startling Voice of God
By Jan Meyers

a new one

've heard all kinds of comments about my appearance in the years I've worked with students. Everything from "You don't look Mexican," (duh) to "You're pretty." Today, while subbing at a middle school, I heard one I've never heard before:

"Ms. G, you have small ears."

Currently watching : Star Trek - Nemesis (Full Screen Edition)

studio update from my bro

My bro's band is still in the studio finishing up their album. Here's a video update from them. My favorite part is when my brother falls off the toy horse at the end.



Currently watching :
The Queen

At least I'm not blogging about gout

I think I broke a toe today.

It's been a bad week for my feet. My podiatrist told me they look like they belong to a professional dancer- a nice way of saying they are really screwed up. (I'll admit that I kind of took that as a compliment seeing as how I used to be obsessed with ballet). I forked over $100 for shoes that supposedly are more supportive. They gave me horrible blisters today.

While I was limping down the cracker aisle in Safeway, trying to prevent my heel skin from touching the inside of $100-piece-of-crap shoes, I noticed my favorite crackers had been moved to the top shelf. Now, being short sometimes has it advantages. I never have to worry about wearing heels and being taller than the guy I'm dating (Actually, the real reason I don't have to worry about that is because I never seem to be dating anyone). I can buy kids' jeans and they are cheaper. But being short is NOT an advantage in the grocery store.

I really wanted this box of crackers. You know them- Vegetable Thins. They were my favorite when I was a kid. I haven't had them in years because I now read food labels and know they contain PHOs (partially hydrogenated oils)- heart attack in a box. But everyone once in a while, I will double check to see if maybe, just maybe, they've removed the PHOs.

I tried standing on my tippy-toes. Still too short. I tried standing on the bottom shelf. Nope. I decided to jump for it. Bad move. My $100 blisters made me hesitant when I came down to land and I ended up jamming my left second toe into the ground. Six hours later, I still can't bend it. And I never got the Vegetable Thins.

Currently Reading: Faith and the City

how to make a librarian smile

One of my 11th grade students said this to me today.

"Before you came here, we had really stupid books. No one wanted to read."

That was probably one of the best things a student has ever said to me. I've worked real hard to revamp our book collection. When I arrived the average date of our fiction books was 1978. Gross. I've pushed it up now to 1995 and what that student said to me was a huge validation for me.

it's enough to make any librarian proud

This is what one of my students said today after looking at some research I helped her find online:

"This is boring. All it has is words."

Funniest moment of the week

Little Hunter Plumb (who is at the beginning stages of being potty-trained) squatting in the middle of the church lobby and yelling, "I toot! I toot!"

That, my friends, is kid-humor at its finest.

Why I Said the F-Word Today

I ran my rental into my parking spot pole and tore off the front bumper.

Yep

Florida football

Yay, Gators overcame underdog status and controversy to become the National Champs! Very exciting. Not as exciting as if the Dolphins won the Superbowl, however. A girl can only dream...

If the Dolphins ever win the Superbowl, I will cry.

last shred of dignity gone

The other night I went bowling with the family, including my 76-year-old grandmother who had not bowled in 60 years. She beat me.

Why Aren't You Married? 10 Sarcastic Comebacks

Ah it's Christmastime again. Time to go to Florida to see relatives and family friends that I see about once a year. Lots of good times, good food, and presents. But inevitably, one question always gets asked me of. Especially since I graduated college: "Why aren't you married?" Or, if you're my Cuban step-grandmother, "Why you no have boyfriend? You need wear more perfume." This year I have prepared a list of sarcastic comebacks that I will most likely not have the guts to use, but I can always dream. Maybe some of you other singletons will be braver and actually use them on your relatives.

1. Because I just love hearing this question.
2. It gives my grandmother something to live for.
3. I'd have to forfeit my billion dollar trust fund.
4. I wouldn't want my parents to drop dead from sheer happiness.
5. Why aren't you thin?
6. I'm not done boozing and whore-ing.
7. My hope is that if I postpone it long enough I'll be deaf during the inevitable "Barney" phase of child-rearing.
8. I'm still hoping for a chance to become Miss America.
9. The government has asked me to stay single until I finish my assignment.
10. My many lovers would never understand.