Code Orange Weekend

Georgetown University tried to keep Syracuse Fans out of the Verizon Center Saturday afternoon. But try as they might, the Orange spirit squeezed strong in Washington DC as our boys reined victorious on the court.

Chinatown was insane. The streets were flooded with crazy 'Cuse fans, decked in orange, causing traffic jams and screaming at the top of their lungs. Grumpy Hoyas milled around, trying to avoid the huge alumni base that descended upon the city for the game and took over every bar within walking distance of the Verizon Center. It was a rush, and just like last year, I was so happy to be an Orange. Even though college seems in the distant past, that beautiful title of "alumna" stays with you forever, and the benefits never run out!

At least 16 of my friends from school came to town for the game. A handful of us graduated together, but most of the visitors were still undergrads. I felt old as dirt! It was great to see everyone, especially kids from my fraternity, but there's no denying the huge difference that two years in the real world makes. They say nostalgia is bitter sweet, and I felt that way this weekend. I had a blast with my college friends, but also felt that haunting "You can't go back" feeling. Props to Brian Spendley for throwing a fantastic party and planning the weekend so wonderfully for everybody...

It's on to another busy week- parent teacher conferences, grad school, appointments. Lots of late nights!

Peace and Love.

9:30 Club

Yay DC Bucket List! This week, I finally made it to a concert at DC's famed hipster haven, "The 9:30 Club."

For my western Mass readers, the 9:30 club brought memories rushing back of nights at Northampton's Pearl St. It's a small venue that caters to local, under the radar, or college-station performers. It's located in DC's U street neighborhood, which means it is way "cooler" and "off the beaten path" than many hot spots in the city. From the outside, the building looks unmentionable, almost abandoned. Only a few neon spray-painted parking signs tell you you're at the right place.

The venue isn't large at all. The capacity is for a little more than 1000 people, and there is no seating- just an open floor in front of a small wooden stage. The room felt like a large dance studio, dimly lit except for the purple glow of the stage lights. Fog machines add to the mystic effect of the space. In fact, it is so intimate that microphones aren't entirely necessary, and at times the musicians walked towards the front of stage and sang directly to the crowd. Each side of the wooden floor had a bar, and the back of the venue had a small cafe.

I don't ever pretend to be hip when it comes to music, and I never know about new artists or sweet local bands. But I surround myself with people cooler than me, so they always introduce me to new music. We saw Josh Radin play. He had a gorgeous voice and definitely fit in with my John Mayer "white guy with a guitar" preferences. Apparently, Ellen DeGeneres used one of his songs at her wedding, so you know he's good. Here's a video of him below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyHQQWY5FAU&feature=fvst

I love my city and how much there is to do and see here. There are millions of other music venues to try- we had a great time and resolved to get out and see a concert more often!

Peace and Love.

Reeling, Reflecting, Re-evaluating: The TFA 20th anniversary Summit

I'm not really ready to write this blog post. My brain is still spinning too much, my heart is still beating too fast. This weekend, I attended the Teach For America 20th Anniversary Summit here in DC. I'm never at a loss for words, but I'm struggling to illustrate the emotional magnitude of a weekend that was so extreme and condense an event that was so enormous.

The event, in many ways, paralleled the Teach For America experience itself. 11,000 of the nation's brightest and most passionate leaders descended upon the Convention Center. The number of alumni nation-wide and the work they do, coupled with the extreme displays of heart, innovation and persistence was utterly inspiring. But the hard facts of the crisis in our country leave your soul feeling beaten to a pulp. It's what we struggle with every day in the classroom and in this movement: "This is a solvable problem and I can make a difference," vs. "The problem and the layers behind the problem are so stunningly huge, who am I to do anything?" In 20 years, we've done so much. But in 20 years, we've done nothing at all- the achievement gap has actually grown.

Optimists speaking at the convention repeated a common theme: The difference between now and 20 years ago is that we know what works. 20 years ago there was not one example of turning around a failed school or school district, there were no successful charter models and a good teacher was a rare, natural phenomenon. Now, thanks in great part to the work of TFA'ers nation wide, we have expansive charter school networks defying the odds and obliterating the achievement gap, research about teacher training, and models for successful administration and funding. We have hard data to back up our claims. There was the rallying cry for a revolution at the conference. The theory is that now we know what works, we have to move whoever or whatever is in the way of implementing reforms and saving our kids.

I saw some real spitfires speak at this conference. Among my favorites were classic rebel rousers Joel Klein, Geoffrey Canada, and Michelle Rhee. My new favorite guy was John Deasy. He was the former Superintendent of PG County Public schools and will take over in Los Angeles this year. He was so bold and direct and passionate. I loved him.

It wasn't all dark and serious, though. Personally entertaining moments abounded. Malcolm Gladwell delighted everyone with a taste of nerd humor, but I thought he was upstaged by panelist Gloria Steinem's low cut shirt that flaunted her saggy, braless, 70-year-old feminist boobs. Newly-elected DC Mayor Vince Gray might be the most awkward public speaker I have ever seen. His speech reminded me of the old SNL Will Ferrell sketch about voice immodulation. And of course, no one complained about John Legend live in concert. He.. is.. so.. beautiful.

My friend, Spain roommate, and Mississippi corps member Shana stayed with me for the weekend, but she wasn't the only long lost friend in town. Syracuse friends, Massachusetts friends, institute friends, people I have not seen for years- all under the same roof. It's so funny how my paths have diverged and reconnected with people under the TFA umbrella. It was impossible to see everyone I wanted between sessions, job fairs, dinners, and speakers.

I am exhausted and this post is already too long. Another busy week is ahead. Happy Singles' Awareness day to everyone tomorrow!

Peace and Love.

Gecko Drama

I preface this entry by saying: I understand that geckos are not capable of love. I know that Geeky doesn't know me and will never wag his tail or bark for my attention. I know that he is not capable of higher level thought and that he's just a stupid lizard. But I've had him since my freshman year of college- and he's listened to a lot of boy problems and witnessed a lot of drama. He's been a source of entertainment for family and friends, he's been a muse for artists, and he's my special little dino. So when he got sick this month, I wasn't going to let him suffer. I had to take him to the vet and make my little friend well!

Geeky stopped eating a few weeks ago, and I knew that was a bad sign. He's done this before- a few years ago, he got hook worm and needed parasitic treatment. It was dramatic to treat him then too. Do you know how many vets laugh at you when you ask if they'll see a gecko? Parasites were my first suspicion, but then I noticed that his left eye seemed cloudy. I called my dad, who said it sounded like it could be a bacterial infection of some sort and that I should get him to the vet right away. Honestly, how long can a gecko withstand systemic bacterial infection?

After many calls, I finally found Dr. Stahl in Fairfax, VA and headed out Thursday night through rush hour traffic to Fairfax . Dr. Stahl was the answer to my prayers to St. Francis. As soon as I walked into the practice, I knew I was in good hands. There were gorgeous framed National Geographic-style photos of lizards on the walls. There were statues of birds, reptiles, and turtles adorning arboretum in the middle of the office. And best of all, the walls were tiled to look like reptile skin!

Dr. Stahl was so caring and compassionate to my little friend. He is a famous reptile doctor, so he had interns from all over the country studying with him and checking out little Geeky! I asked him to teach me anything he could and he was very generous with his time. He drew me diagrams, showed me different parts of Geeky's anatomy, and explained to me every in and out of Geeky's illness.

As it turns out, Geeky is a girl. And Geeky wanted to lay some eggs! Her belly was swollen with two pea-sized, half grown eggs that were responsible for depleting levels of Vitamin A in her system. The brand of reptile vitamins I use didn't have sufficient Vitamin A to replace it, and so her immune system began to fail and she fell prey to natural bacteria in her own system. Her little mouth was swollen and infected, her eye was infected, and she also had skin problems. All needed mini-surgery, so the doctor drained the infection in her mouth, cleaned out her eye, and removed the dead skin from her face and feet.

My poor little Geek was exhausted by the end of the night, and so was I. I loved learning about reptile medicine, but am embarrassed to report that watching my friend bleed left me a little faint and nauseous. At one point the doctor joked, "Are you ok, mom?" I'm sure I was pale and clammy! I don't know how I'm ever going to have children. Geek (whom I will now refer to as "she") is on a system of antibiotics, vitamins and creams and we are hoping for a full recovery. She is shedding her skin today so I gave her a warm bath and have been doting on her incessantly.

My dad wanted to know how many new geckos I could have bought with the bill from the vet. I told him that is NOT the point! Thanks to everyone who's had a smile and a thought for me and Geek this week. A pet is a pet and you don't become a pet owner to let them suffer or give up on them when they're sick. Peace and Love- I will update you all about her progress soon!