The Office

A year and a half ago, or so, my office at the college where I teach was moved. The department's secretary provided me with boxes for my books and files and a key.

I haven't spent much time there. My name isn't even on the door. I took most of my books home, especially my book of poetry signed by Father Cardenal.

On the door there is a cork board. There's a piece of lined yellow paper with the words "Keith Amarind's Office" written in pencil tacked on the board. There's also a silver crucifix hanging from a pin.

On the desk there's a lamp. It's usually left on when I come in to teach at night and the rest of the offices are dark. I wonder who leaves it lit.

There's a framed picture of George Donohue on the top shelf of the book case.

I remember him fondly. He had a heart attack and passed away on the first day of the semester in that same office. Keith found him there.

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We Love Lucy

Over break I took three teens to Jamestown, N.Y. to the Lucy Desi Museum.

We visited The Center, The Playhouse, and Lucille Ball's grave site.

Perhaps because I'm a Spanish teacher and a student of African drumming, I'm equally intrigued by Desi's life story as I am Lucy's.

I desperately hoped to see one if his hand drums on display. Instead, there were riding crops and a leisure suit.

We've been watching all the "I Love Lucy" episodes we can get our hands on, and I was thrilled to find a Desi Arnaz channel on Pandora Radio.

Babalu!

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New Year's Resolution

My goal for 2012 is to laugh and play more.

I realized, toward the end of 2011, that I'd practically forgotten how to relax and simply have fun.

No Grandparents Here

I need to confess that I had a Christmas meltdown last night during the little boys' Christmas concert.

It wasn't because every picture I took included this gentleman's bald head.

It wasn't tears brought on by Mr. Clark's charming rendition of "Legacy of Love," although it was beautiful.

I cried in the pew because I wished that my children had grandparents there to watch them like the other kids. The church was filled with big families with aunts and uncles and cousins.

And me and another boy.

J still smiled at us and waved from the stage. It was a precious moment.

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Cinderella v. The House Elf

Thanks to the blue-ray DVD release of the last Harry Potter film, our "Middle B" son has become very interested in the series.

At the same time, we are hosting a house guest from Japan who enjoys pretending to be "Cinderella." She irons our clothes, cooks, and washes dishes while we snap photos for her scrapbook.

She clamours for more tasks.

If she's "Cinderella" then I guess that makes me "The Evil Step-Mother," a role I don't feel suits me.

I'd rather have a House Elf like "Dobby." Then I'd be a wizard with magi al powers and a magical helper.

I suppose the end of the story is better for Cinderella. I wish that my Japanese friend would one day find her Prince.

She arranged our doll house before she left. At least that house remains tidy in her absence.

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Leadership 101 or Intro to Leadership

I'm taking a graduate course entitled, "Leading Continuous Digital Learning." In this class and the last two, we've explored the characteristics of leadership, management styles, how to overcome resistance, etc. It seems to me that there are as many opinions about leadership as there are leaders. I find that I am having trouble drawing any single conclusion from the myriad readings.

Leaders aren't necessarily fearless. They, however, hide their fear from their team.
Leaders ask for help.
Leaders will be bleeders.

Another teen in our community committed suicide this week after, they say, she was bullied. Parents are rushing to talk to their kids about homosexuality and acceptance in an attempt to avoid further tragedies.

I believe we are missing the mark here. School and church leaders are afraid to truly lead...they are afraid to appear politically incorrect. Recent events out of Penn State and Syracuse University suggest the same to me.

This child didn't know her worth as a child of God.

Help me Lord to be a better leader for my peers, my students, and my children.