2014 Photo Recap

I finally made one of those year-in-review slideshows that most of my other friends have been posting. I noticed that there were a lot of people I haven't visited in a long while and several of whom I was glad to be reacquainted.

Thanks to everybody who is a part of my life.  My relationships with all of you give me purpose.

enjoy

EPIC DEREK RUN

Here are the posts all put together from my facebook status, so you can all read the flash fiction hashtag short story in all its glory in one seamless sitting -

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EPIC DEREK RUN

HOUR 1

#brokenwindow

#carswitch

#birthdaygifteightmonthslate

#FridayNightLights

#suicidalgrandmajaywalker

#wannabethugs

#effeminateK

#slurpeejizz

#doppelgängerLance

#doppelgangerDungo

#suctionrules

#informalteacherconference

#thatmightnotbeabadthing

#scarecrowKeith

#howlongdoesittaketofindasweater

#machocoughslikeDerek

#wehaventhitanystopsontherunyet

#parkingbrakefondling

#mallwillbeclosed

#stillindalycity

HOUR 2

#SNFchick
#Taglish
#Psychoversenewsletter
#Scenarios
#Potentials
#Triplefistbump
#Brokentastelessmeter
#Playaparkingbitch
#Flirtykeith
#Shesoffinanhour
#Stillsober
#Legoicecreamtruck
#comeonirene
#imnottanktoppingit
#idontdoskinny
#whatmadeyouthinkwewerentstartingwithalcohol
#puto

HOUR 3

#Keithschwing
#Formalenglish
#Speechclass
#Stickyourlegout
#Bangyourknee
#Airplaneaisles
#Hellalatethankyou
#Doesbitchoffendyou
#Shewantstoknowifyoucanbeatyourownrecord
#Jokebackfire
#Awkward
#Fullderektry
#Sirmix-a-lotthewatcher
#We'renottoomuchyou'renotenough
#Whosaiddessert
#Walmartrun?
#warmandmoist
#shortstorycontinues

HOUR 4

#Sometimesyouneedalittleroughageinsideyou
#Noyawningallowed
#Hidetheeggroll
#Didntevenwaittilshebounced
#Hecouldntevenwaitthreeseconds
#Imthinkingitisthebeer
#Youneedacigarettebro
#Heffer
#Pocketthe20
#Sowecancomeback,right
#Walmartisclosed
#32minutelanceepilogue
#Keithisbucky
#Maryannecanhearus
#Klauswilmsmeyer
#Liveintheavenues
#Wrestlemahn-ee-uh
#Nextdaughter-in-lawpinay-yes,please
#Boujiepunt
#jordanwiththewizards
#scenicroute
#Jizzcakefactory
#Backatcadaconference
#Lecturingsophomores
#Nooneslistening
#5minutesinfrontofcooler
#Sticktogreekyogurtandgyros
#Tesla
#Notproudofmycar
#Wherestowerrecordswhenyouneedit
#Unioncitywalmart-nothanks
#Lanceonspeaker
#Mightbepregnant
#Letstakethemorningafterpill
#C-sectiononly
#crownecolony
#derekrunsneverend

HOUR 5

#HellaChekwah
#Lancesleepatyourparentswithallen
#Tightthroat
#Cruising19thavenueatmidnight
#Kdcalledit
#Tarttotart
#Muffinwithpuddinginthemiddle
#Backinhighschool
#Machosayswhereiskarenyu
#Rachelcallback
#Kissfm
#Lastnightadjsavedmylife
#SittingoutsideonIrving
#Homelessguytriestosellusweed
#Vanillacreammuffin
#Millivanilli
#Thebestday(derekrun)ofourlives
#Thismaynotevenmakeithome
#Whydoeseveryonetrytosellkeithshit
#Parkinglottritipat3am
#Paranoidkeith-he boughttheorganicUSDAapprovedgrassfed
#Outlastedrachelagain
#Itsonly1amrachel-can'tsleepyet
#Lazyu-turn
#Fondlingneverstops
#Technoshitontheradio-clubmustbeclosingsoon
#Everybodysantungtonight
#Keithsings
#Theglamourouslife-sheilaE
#Eagleeyekeith
#Greathighway
#Aswangingoldengatepark
#Laplayasafeway
#Imcommittedno-itsahashtag
#Noparkingonthedancefloor
#Top gun-takemybreathaway
#49miledrive
#Offtopic
#20feetfromstardom
#Pleasureprinciple
#Kaisersoze
#Itallcomesfullcircle
#themuffinmadeithome
#welcomehomefrancisandvirginia
#hashtagshortstoryends
#shouldhavegonetonationsorinnout
#dropthemic

Winter Gatsby Party

Awash in winter golden glam desperate
to rekindle the abandon of the roaring

twenties, an age I thought dismissed
only to return there decades later

seeking to quell my heart’s quest
venturing via makeshift speakeasy.

my hedonistic virgin entourage leads,
their pleasures promise a presence

that has long since promenaded past.
Enters the wild, frolicking Zelda who glides

frenetically into varied spheres of orbit
deeply succumbing to her spirited influence—

squinting to find the darting firefly,
I stand on the penumbra of Gatsby’s dream.

Bully Project

I am currently having my leadership students make videos relating to the Bully Project after having watched the documentary Bully.

Here is one of the videos.

Finally, I'm on vacation

Here I am at Cabo Azul Resort and Land's End. See ya back in California.

The Great Gatsby

I wish the film was already out in the theaters since I will be wrapping the novel with my English class next week.

United District Poetry Slam 2013

Congratulations to my 2013 poetry slam team for putting up another kick ass effort in this year's Bay Area High School Team Poetry Slam competition. The team finished in second place in their semi-final bout, which is a great show of improvement from last year's 4th place finish out of 4 teams.

I loved the team chemistry they displayed through all the rehearsals.  I look forward to all of you getting a chance to see them perform live when the school hosts our poetry slam night - probably in April.

Here's a video of our last team performance called "Brown People" with Jerome and Jesus.

Teacher Lip Sync Performance 2012 Part 2

CW exercise - write a rondeau

Today's poetry form is a French lyric form called a rondeau.

My students seem to be having fun with the repetition in order to emphasize their crazy thoughts. Here's what I wrote with them...

Walk away from all the pain

Before it lingers long enough to stain.

For the love you feel is just one-sided;

Don’t wait anymore, she’s undecided

Why watch her feign?

Her doubt causes your passion to wane

Yet you force yourself to remain

Though in her heart you won’t reside

Walk away

Step outside into the falling rain

To cleanse yourself of her reign;

You don’t deserve to be blindsided.

With every step, the hurt has subsided

you have but yourself to regain

Walk away…

Today's CW exercise - Triolet

I have not blogged in a long while and I need to make a more concerted effort to write more instead of working. I keep debating whether or not I should post my thoughts on surviving thyroid cancer and adjusting to all that that entails (my meds seem to affect me, or rather, when I forget to take them, my students notice a difference). I seem to start many entries and then I don't finish them because I dwell too much on life. So, here's to starting small... and anew...

Luckily, I have the opportunity to teach creative writing once again this year, for the first time in three years. It's been a bit of a struggle, since the students that were placed in the class didn't originally "elect" to take this elective. I appreciate all the students who have remained because they have found value in what I'm trying to teach them. I just need to continue to work with them to learn how to constructively critique each other.

Today's class exercise is to write a Triolet, a French form...
and as with most things I've been writing, one theme dominates my hand...

I

Cancer provided a huge wake up call

Reminding me I still have much to do.

The doctors try their best to stall

Cancer. Provided a huge wake up call,

By showing me the writing on the wall.

The sickness is gone, I must start anew

Cancer provided a huge wake up call

Reminding me I still have much to do.

II

Illness makes the world seem right

For your soul is purged of wrong.

The blood flows with new cells white

Illness makes the world seem right

Though your body frail and light

Your heart continues to beat strong

Illness makes the world seem right,

For your soul is purged of wrong.

III

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To remind us to steer clear of drugs

For they damage the strong and meek

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To spite the temptation many seek

And avoid the accidental wayward slugs

Schools celebrate red ribbon week

To remind us to steer clear of drugs.

Matt Damon is my new best friend

My newest supporter, so to speak...

Freshly bald, Damon speaks to a reporter about teachers.

Here he makes the headline speech at a rally.

Enjoy!

Giants Opening Day Weekend and Rock of Ages

The weekend I have been looking forward to since November 3, 2010.

Like many San Francisco Giants fans, many of us wondered when we would ever see a championship banner fly over AT&T Park. The Giants office knows how to organize a party and celebrate the team's achievements. Willie Mays brought out the flag, each player touched it while passing it down the line, and finally, Brian Wilson accepted the banner and ran it across the outfield, into the bleachers, so he could raise it up the flagpole. My next favorite moment was Matt Cain throwing out the first pitch. As the longest tenured Giant, he truly represents sportsmanship and excellence.

Thank goodness for personal necessity days so I could make my twelfth consecutive Opening Day. However, the festivities did not end with the extra innings back-to-back Aaron Rowand walk-off hits for the second straight year. I rocked all night long at the Curran Theater to revisit 80's hair metal in Rock of Ages. And yes, the show felt like the 80's complete with women decked at in high hair, long t-shirts, bandannas, and fishnet stockings. The show entertained the hell out of me, especially the one-liners, "Phil Collins can rock." Although a couple of the songs felt a little forced into the loose plot, I enjoyed hearing the different takes in which they were infused for the most part. Constantine looked ridiculous in his boy band outfit, while the women made me miss 80's fashion. Luckily, I was able to share this with Lance, Mary Anne, and the newlyweds, Macho & Gina, my 80's queen.

Saturday night - Opening Night
I truly loved the ring ceremony. The ceremony moved all 40,000+ of us. Though I was disappointed I didn't get my ring keychain giveaway (I had no idea people were going to line up at noon as if this were a Lincecum bobblehead day), I was able to witness the moment I longed to see. The Giants wearing championshiop rings. However, I didn't think I was going to last the whole night to see Miguel Tejada hit a walk-off double to win the game, because my coughing worsened in was one of the coldest nights I have experienced at the ballpark. I love cold weather, but my four layers and heaviest jacket could do nothing to protect me from a hellish wind chill. I suffered in the cold, but I watched another dramatic win and knew there would be no way I would be able to attend Sunday's Posey rookie of the year ceremony.

So the weekend concludes and I look forward to state testing week at work... I hope our school continues to improve...

Enjoy the two newest plaques on the portwalk commemorating Lincecum's 14 K's and the world championship win and parade.

Gina & Macho Wedding

Congratulations! Thanks for letting me walk you down the aisle and give you away!

El Camino's 50th Anniversary Party

Tickets are now being sold for the dinner/dance celebrating the 50th Anniversary of El Camino High School. Many former teachers will be there and we'll be celebrating the probable retirement of Mr. Steve Simondi. Click here to register for the event, half of the tickets are nearly sold out already. Thanks to Eric DeSantis ('91) for designing to logo below.

Another Reason Teachers Are Needed

Last Friday, I offered my students extra credit if they were to buy their own copies of the next novel we would be reading in class: The Great Gatsby and 1984, for my juniors and seniors respectively.

Today in class, a number of students told me that they went to Barnes & Noble and had a difficult time trying to find the book. They knew it was located in the fiction section, but when they looked up the title the book wasn't there. They were searching for the book by TITLE. My students assumed the store shelved books alphabetically by "title."

Immediately, I realized that they don't go to the library for books. Heck, our school even moved out many of our books to a storage portable classroom. When we teach research skills, almost all the research is done electronically now. There is no logical mindset for our students, no rhyme or reason for how information is stored, particularly in the form of books.

I asked my students why they searched for it by title. Response: "Because that's what you do when you google search. You input what information you need to know." And this makes a whole lot of sense from their point-of-view. They are accustomed to instant access. Put in the key word in the search box and suddenly a list of responses spews forth. The thought that the non-digital world works the same way makes perfect sense.

so what does this mean and why am I bothered?

Students rarely ever read, much less go to a bookstore to buy a book. If they enter one, it's probably to go to the cafe and grab a coffee and red velvet cupcake. Just about any day of the year, a U.S. resident can pick up a newspaper and read that American scores are falling and we're lagging sorely behind the rest of the world. America's best students may still be able to compete with the world elite, but the student majority seem to lack motivation.

I often wonder why is it that I felt compelled to learn when I was a student, why was I willing to do what many of my students are not, what changed in the world/society in the past 20 years since I graduated from high school. Maybe, the Cold War and the Nuclear Arms Race pushed my generation into making math & science a priority. I did grow up next to an army base and the military was an omnipresent entity during my formative years. I feel like my generation grew up with a bit of fear in our hearts. As kids, we saw watched "The Day After" on TV and began to consider the flight time and paths of ICBM's in Siberia. We were pushed to learn, for if we didn't, we may not survive. War, natural disaster, famine... many generations seems to have been marked by some kind of moment, whether it was Vietnam, the Cuban Missle Crisis, World Wars, the Great Depression, Industrial Revolution (and that's just the 20th century). I wonder if today's teenagers have anything to truly fear.

I realize that the 90s began with the Bay Area recovering from the Loma Prieta Quake of '89. As the area tried to heal, our school's rival football game, the Bell Game, experienced a bomb blowing up the scoreboard just before half time. A couple months later, my classmates and I were fixated to the images on CNN when the U.S. went into Iraq for the first time. The decade continued, and as the Bay Area recovered, prosperity came with an economic boom largely due to Silicon Valley. Yet, teenagers at our school soon learned about tragedy when the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado arrived at the end of the decade.

The world transformed as the internet became accessible to the masses. Emails and chatrooms allowed long distance instant communication. Pagers allowed people to get in touch and develop a pager language which is now supplanted by texting. And with cell phones, the tethers to being a grounded person were broken and freedom of access to the world created new visions. Students were born into a new technological world, and instant gratification of food, text, youtube, social networking created new invisible tethers in which a perfect world continues as long as an electric pulse courses through our digital veins.

I wonder if today's teenagers feel any sense of purpose, drive. Terrorism once was a mark for my students to instill some of that fear, but even that didn't seem to take a firm hold with the enemy being elusive and without a constant face or symbol to rally against. Anything that may have been something to fear now only appears to as a surreal image that belonged in a film. I remember the most common comment from all my students after 9/11 was that it felt like they were watching a movie.

Our world seems detached from itself. No matter how closely we may be connected through a wireless network populated with hundreds of psuedofriends on Facebook, students do not really know how to communicate. Students don't even talk to teach other. They don't have those nights I grew up having when I would sneak on the phone in the kitchen and stretch out the cord to the next room so I could stealthily have a conversation with my newest infatuation. They text each other and say LOL without experiencing any real laughter. Why say LOL when you could just laugh?

Almost every vision they have now seems to be provided by some director (the media, the film, the internet). The ability to imagine a story is nearly impossible for many teenagers. They want to be force fed and told how to view something rather than paint an image for themselves. Every time I have a student ask for the movie of a certain story or book, I ask why? So they can "see" the story. I remind them that they are only being shown one person's, one media source's perspective. Isn't this true of an author writing a book as well? But the students need to construct and build their own walls instead of trapping themselves within artificial ones.

One of the biggest points I try to make in class about reading is this. Why would so many conquerors destroy a defeated enemy's books, take them out to the town square and burn them? Why would leaders and governments censor the news or try to control it? Why are they throwing away a right for which so many gave their lives? A right they learn about personally form Frederick Douglass' Autobiography. Why are they allowing themselves to be subjugated to the whims of whoever controls the information?

I can only hope that reading 1984 will help open their own eyes.

Orange October/November

Many of you know that I'm a Giants season ticket holder, which means this past month has been
heaven for all of long-suffering Giants fans. Here are some of the scenes I was able to witness.

Giants clinch NL West




World Series Game 1







World Series Game 2





Giants Parade

October 2010

My cute niece



Grandfather's Memorial - the family picture


My family at the Memorial

Happy Bastille Day 2010

I celebrated this Bastille Day helping some stones break free from their dark dank prison known as my ureter. Thankfully, the stones were freed sans guillotine.

Today's Lithotripsy has gone well so far. The 8mm kidney stone is now pulverized and I've been having no problems thus far with passing a mini sand storm through my urethra. I look at these pebbles of calcium and the thought of them once joined together in a huge meteorite configuration reminded me of the threat that beheld the Earth in Armageddon. People, who have had this procedure, told me the days after can be a mini vacation to hell. Luckily, no vomiting, only a bit of nausea, no huge pieces as of yet to pass. I am collecting them in a specimen container so that the hospital can analyze why I've now had to undergo these pains for the third time in my life.

Although much of my summer vacation has passed as I await the completion of the stones' journey, I hope to have a few remaining days of nice weather and relaxation before I start planning to teach senior English for the first time in my life. I've taught seniors CAHSEE class, basic remediation class, and now I will show them senior exit project. May they graduate...

Fun with the new Camera

Here are my early attempts in learning how to use my SLR camera. I still have trouble getting action shots that are not blurry. Lance has returned to pitching for the first time since his surgery. Boujie, my sister's dog, has been my test guinea pig for the most part.