One Door Closed...

It's taken me a long time to be anywhere near OK to even accept the desire to write this post. I'm going to be cliche for a second; I had a dream--it was a simple dream really--I just wanted to be an English teacher.

It happened really quickly, and I was loaded down with little more than a ten pound American literature book and a roster full of students. I read through all their names and tried to imagine with excitement what each student might be like when I met them on my first day. I spent exhausting, yet exciting hours, flipping through the pages of great literature planning the book knowledge and life lessons I would impart to my students. I wanted this job more than anything. It was what I had worked so hard for in college.

Maybe I was a bit idealistic when I entered the job. I guess like every new teacher I thought I could quietly shut my door and share my love for literature and life with my students. Of course I knew about the bureaucracy in education before I signed up--I wanted to teach the worst of the worst; I wanted the inner-city school because I had a heart for those kids--they were the ones I wanted to save--they were the ones I wanted to reach--they were the ones I thought needed the loving teacher--and I had all the love in the world to give them. This year my door stayed open everyday.

My principal told me I was in the wrong profession--maybe she's right. It's taken me two months to recognize that maybe I did indeed pick the wrong field--or maybe the field no longer fits me. I guess I knew all along that I didn't really agree with the educational hoops--but what teacher does? We enter the profession because we love kids and we want to help them. We never sign away our lives to 12 hour work days and unimaginalbe bureaucratic stress because of the pay or the great benefits--we do it for the kids. But since when has education been about the kids? Furthermore, since when has education really been about educating students?

I've tried to rationalize what, at the end of the day, I actually taught my students. Like any teacher trying to swim against the current of unsupportive  administrators and school systems, I resorted to the dreaded worksheet and audio reading in order to barely survive my classes. I had become the teacher I never wanted to be and it broke my heart. But it made me think--is there room in our educational system for that kind of teacher? Just what do we teach our students? Do we care more about whether or not students can memorize Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" or that these students learn that they have a voice and a responsibility in their own society? Do I care if they know what a noun is, or do I care that they can write a complete sentence? Furthermore, how does a standardized test help ensure that my babies are ready to enter the big world that awaits them? Do we care more as an educational system that these students walk across a stage in four years with nothing more in their arsenal of knowledge than the information they memorized in order to pass a multiple choice test? Did my kids realize they could think for themselves? Not at all. They wanted to rely on the system that they have relied on for 17 years. It broke my heart.

It's been two months since my last day of teaching and I can honestly say that I have lost hope in the educational system of America. Teachers are hard workers, and we give away our lives to foster young minds and inspire future generations. I don't want pity, nor does any other teacher--what we want is support. Support our own education by giving us the authority to teach our students--support our discipline practices in the classroom--support our desire to teach the students who show up everyday with a pencil in their hand ready to learn--but mostly, support us professionals who have accepted the calling to be a teacher. For now, Ms. Lightner is signing off as high school English teacher.

My Steak-Sized Beef with Tim Tebow

Let me just start by saying that I DO NOT in any way dislike the person-hood of Tim Tebow. With that being said, I should point out that my argument here is more against the treatment of Tim Tebow by the Christian community. Awesome for Tim Tebow that he uses his position to witness for our savior--love it, it's awesome, and all that. Here's my issue: it appears that Tebow has become somewhat of an idol in the eyes of football crazed Christians and has in many ways become an idol for what we as all Christian's should be doing daily. I've seen it in action--people sit around praising Tebow for his prayerful kneeling on the football field but then enter the workforce on Monday morning like they haven't been to church on Sunday.

Now, let me just be clear--I know this is not ALL Christians, but let's be real--how many of you reading this (myself included as author) have received significant persecution and/or credibility for praising Jesus in the work place? Probably not many. All I am trying to argue with my complaint on the Tebow cult is that 1. Tebow is a human being--he has faults like all of us. I admire his boldness for Christ like I would any other Christian doing the same thing--I don't idolize him for his ability to do it in the NFL. 2. Setting up Tebow as an idol forces us to recognize his failure at some point--he will fail--he is human--at this point he will let many down because he is Christian right? Isn't he supposed to be perfect and awesome? 3. If we all spent as much time praising the work of Christ in our own lives as we do talking about and praising Tebow for praising Jesus then maybe we would see significant changes in our surrounding communities and world. What Tebow on the football field is nothing beyond what we have all been commanded to do by going and making "disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son  and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:18-20).

Now, with all that off my chest, let me just be clear that just because we like Tebow and what he does, it should in no way allow us to use his likability and Christiandom to judge the rest of the NFL cast, or any human being for that matter. As I mentioned earlier, at the end of this day we are all human beings, even Tebow. We can't assume that we know the hearts of everyone and only Christ has been given authority to judge. Again I say--the problem resides in idolizing an imperfect being.

Finally, I will close my beef with the Tebow cult by saying this: It's great to be his fan, and it's great to admire the man for what he does, but let us not forget the author of his, and our strength--our Lord and Savior--he is who we should be proclaiming and praising. We all have stories, and experiences to share and if we all infested our communities like Tebow does the football field then we would see a revival in our debauched world. In conclusion, I will reiterate, I do not hate, dislike, or feel that I have beat up on the Tebow ;)

Domestic Goddess: Danie in the Kitchen

It is indeed a rare day when I find myself cozying up in the kitchen. Today just happened to be one of those days. This morning I stepped out into a crispy coolness that wrapped around my body, and reminded me of my days in Cullowhee. I really want fall. I mean, I don't just want it, I am craving it. Fall here in Charleston just isn't the same as that colorful, orangy, red autumn that paints the mountains over. However, I find myself enjoying the creation of my own little mountain fall in my apartment. Therefore, I blame today's madness on that Mr. Tantalizing Autumn. I know he isn't going to stay around, so I had to make the most of his presence today.

I start off at Michael's...I never go to Michael's. I really wish I had my mom's mad crafting skills, but I don't. I can sew occasionally, and I can take enough pictures to drive even the most narcissistic individual into a seizure, but I can't make bows and I can't construct pretty arrangements out of nothing. For these things, I rely on my mother. Anyways, none of this really matters because I was going to make an attempt, and after all, that's all that really counts...right? To make a long story short, I spent two hours in Michael's trying to piece together a wreath, and figured that I would just put it all back and wait on mother to come do it for me :)  Disappointed that I wasn't going to be able to make a nice fallish wreath, I had to think of something else to illuminate my life with...hmmmmmmm...how about baking? That always completes a cool day. Well you know what that means...

Next stop, the most dreadful and horrible capitalism killer in America, Walmart. I hate Walmart, and all that it stands for, but sometimes you just find that, unfortunately, you have to go there. Alright, this is not a blog about Walmart, so let me get back on track here. I went to this place to get baking goods. What better way to spend a cool, "autumn" day than baking a delicious cake?! I'm not sure I know a better way. My bestest friend in the entire world, Rachel, made a most delicious cake for us way back in the day. I decided I wanted to try my hand at this cake. Queen Anne's Lace Cake--a chocolate lover's dream come true. This decadent lovely features three, thick layers of devil's food chocolate cake, filled with a cream cheese icing and then topped with shavings of milk chocolate. Mmmmmmm. I am salivating just describing it...aren't you? I would say that I would save you a piece, but I really shouldn't make promises I can't keep.

The creation of this cake was something like having a baby. You have an idea in mind, but your just not sure what the final product is going to be. I put a lot of love and passion into this cake, and I have to say that I'm just a little* proud of the results. Like a proud mommy, my beautiful cake stands high on it's luxurious, silver stand for all the world to see and I must confess that I am just a little sore over having to eventually cut it. Every half hour or so, I find myself lurking into the kitchen and opening the refrigerator door to make sure it's still there. Just in case you're wondering, it's still there and my domestic cravings have been fulfilled.

My baby, Queen Anne's Lace 

Starbucks in Suburbia

Starbucks, America's leading provider of high fructose, caffeinated drinks...this is where I started my day yesterday.Waiting in line for anything is never exciting. Waiting in line for caffeine? Painful. Purely so. Yesterday, I made the mistake of stopping at Starbucks on Coleman Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant to get one of my little guilty pleasures, a green tea lemonade. This Starbucks was NOT like my fun, friendly, little Starbucks downtown that is employed by friendly (and cute) workers who remember my drink and ask about my day. No. This Starbucks was filled with snotty, upper-class suburban mom's and their friends. Let me just digress for a moment and get on my soap-box about luxury/gourmet drinks and conveniences, such as Starbucks. I will admit that I give over some change to this crazy American indulgence, but I work. I need caffeine. I'm not just popping in to meet with my other rich, jobless, friends for a leisurely chat and a 100 calorie mini-doughnut. No. I go to Starbucks for a purpose. Such was the case yesterday morning. 

As soon as I walked through the door, I knew it was a mistake that I had stopped. Moving with swift speed, I pulled open the heavy glass door and was met with loud chatter and shrills from running children. I was quickly halted in an attempt not to hit the guy standing directly in front of me. I removed my sunglasses and attempted to assess the movement of the line. Ok, is the caffeine worth this line and the people in this store? I am pretty tired and a venti green tea lemonade would be nice to sip across the bridge to work. Ok, ok. I give in. I will be patient for once in my life and endure the line. That seemed to be a good choice, as the line seemed to be going pretty good until...she got up to the counter. 

I don't know this woman at all. This make-up-less woman wearing a diamond  the size of a golf ball, and hauling a huge baby carrier holding a small infant, stepped up to the counter. Fine, I get it. The woman obviously has a lot of money, wait correction, her husband has a lot of money and she is here getting a morning Starbucks, whatever. Fine. But does she have to think about it? Hasn't she been standing in line for ten minutes like the rest of us? Sigh. and more people are coming into the store--wait, this one's cute. Tall? Check. Dark hair? Check. oooooo Chef's jacket, added bonus. Wait, wait...dang he has a ring on. Then a woman's high pitched voice disrupts my thoughts, "hey honey, is it the grande pike's place with half and half?" The guy in the chef's jacket turns around to answer big diamond....ugh. He's married to HER?! Ok. I want my drink let's hurry it up woman. This back and forth conversation goes on for I swear five minutes with her husband before she ever completes her order. By that time, I am highly regretting my decision to stop at Starbucks. 

Finally, big diamond and her chef move out of the way and the line moves swiftly. Now one thing you need to understand about Starbucks is that they don't fix the drinks according to difficulty. They make them in the order they were ordered. That's understandable. However, my green tea lemonade takes half the time to make than the trente mocha caramel frappacino with extra whip cream that this ten year old boy in front of me just ordered. Children drinking insane amounts of sugar and caffeine--another story for another time. Anyways, I move up to the wait counter and stand next to diamond and listen to her conversation with another young woman with a child. "Oh, Anna Grace is soooo cute. OMG, look at her! She is already doing Yoga positions. Can you believe it?" Me: No, I can't believe that I am hearing this conversation. I want my green tea lemonade! Very good, this lady is going to help out this poor girl trying to make twenty frappucino's and make the tea orders. ahhhhh, here comes my drink. Wait, why is she sitting it on the counter, it's done, just hand it over and no-one gets hurt.

Well, I guess Starbucks woman was enamored with diamond and yoga baby too because next thing I know she has left the work area and has gone to goo and gaaa over yoga baby. "Venti green tea lemonade?" "Yes, that is mine, thank you." I take my drink and quickly navigate through all the madness and push open the heavy door to the warm outside air and serenity. I get in my car and start heading towards Ravenel as I take a big sip of my green tea, only to realize that they did not put sugar in my drink. Lovely. Not only did I have to undergo suburban tourture to get my caffeine, now I am being tortured by the bitter taste. 

I finally made it to work, in one piece, and surprisingly, I felt awake. I worked through the morning until about mid-afternoon when my office--and when I say office, I pretty much mean all five of us, decided we needed our afternoon Starbucks. I volunteered to make the run since I was needing an excuse to get out. I walked out into the courtyard and into the sunshine and slowly made my way towards Calhoun street. I approached the street, and admiringly gazed at my little downtown Starbucks. I crossed the street, and pulled the big wooden door towards me and walked into a sane, quite, coffee shop, and was greeted with smiles and hellos. I immediately approached the counter, "Hey, you're here for the Venti green-tea lemonade right?" Smiling, I hand over my Starbucks card to Tall, dark-haired, and un-ringed Starbucks guy. "That's right, you remembered." We engage in some light conversations while he whips up my drink and in seconds I am holding my cool drink walking across the wide street in the hot sun. I walk across the courtyard towards Randolph Hall and take a sip of my tea, and guess what? It was sweet. 

Happy Yappy Hour

It has been way too long since I have taken the time to sit down and update my blog! Today I am a proud Momma of my sweet little puppy, Jasper. Ok, so some people will make fun of the fact that I consider my dog like a child. But let's face it people, dogs love unconditionally, are always there for you, are never betraying, AND you can leave them at home by themselves all day.

 It's no lie to anyone who knows me that Jasper holds a special little place in my heart and he is my bestest pal. Sometimes I feel bad, especially during the school year, that he sometimes gets neglected attention because I am so busy with school work. With the onset of summer, I have had a lot more free time to do cool stuff with Jasper like go to dog shows, go to the free-run dog park, and even go to the beach. Tonight was one of those specials nights where I had decided to take Jasper on a little outing--no big deal really, it was just a little event at my apartment complex, called Yappy Hour. I was off today, and thought that Jasper might enjoy getting some socialization with some other dogs (trust me, he needs this. Jasper is a big momma's boy).

So, I came home from the beach, took a shower, and leashed up Jasper. Jasper was just beside himself--normally in the house, Jasper doesn't wear his collar, so when I put it on him, he knows that he is getting to go somewhere. Jasper couldn't have been more excited; he was running around crying and yipping in anticipation of where we were about to go. Jasper even got to wear his special blue bow-tie for the event, and if I must say so myself he looked incredibly handsome :)

We arrived at Yappy Hour and enjoyed some treats (people treats too) while Jasper tried to make friends with the other dogs. Poor, sweet, little Jasper, he is such a shy little guy. He wanted to make friends, but he wasn't too keen on the other dogs getting up in his face--to be fair, I wouldn't like others getting in my face either. At any rate, Jasper finally made friends with a cute little girl Pomeranian named Riley. It was quite cute really. Riley was the only dog there that Jasper would interact with nicely. After Riley left, Jasper started getting a little upset at another larger girl dog named Dixie. Jasper was having trouble keeping his cool, so I decided that was our cue to leave. We took some time to fill out the raffle tickets and get our freebies before making our exit.

Jasper started enjoying the walk home, so I took the long route to give him some extra outside time. We finally made it home, and both of us were so glad to be in out of the heat.  I was just getting ready to have supper when my phone rang. Now it's fair to say that I don't normally answer my phone, but for some reason I did tonight and I am glad I did! Jasper had won the biggest raffle! I was so excited! I leashed up Jasper again, and trotted on back to the clubhouse to claim our booty. It was like doggy Christmas! Jasper and I arrived back at home and I, the proud momma, took some snapshots of Jasper with his cool winnings.

All of the cool prizes Jasper won! Needless to say, Jasper and I have some awesome park trips in our future! 

Here is Jasper with his winnings.

Scrub it Sugary Sweet

Well, well, well...it has most definitely been ages since my last blog, for which, I graciously apologize! Much has occurred in the time between my last blog and this one; however, I am not going to go in to all the updates right now.  Tonight I want to tell you about my fun little adventure down procrastination lane.

Last week I was eating at Hyman's with my wonderful parents and I had to go the bathroom--this of course could not be avoided due to the copious amounts of Diet Coke I had consumed during the evening--If you know me, you know that I suffer from a sad Diet Coke addiction and that my bladder is not big enough to hold all of the wonderful, and yummy, aspartame goodness of Diet Coke.  Anyways, bathroom. I had to go, so I made my way through the carpeted mazes of Hyman's and into their nautically cool bathroom.   My favorite thing about the bathroom in Hyman's is that they always have a yummy sugar scrub for your hands.  I just love this stuff! It leaves your hands feeling all soft and delicate and they smell good for hours.

Of course they don't just put something so wonderful in the bathroom and not advertise for it.  Each time I fall for it too.  After my traditional scampi Swordfish, Mussels, and Lump Crab Cake meal, I find my self wandering into the gift shop contemplating buying the sugar scrub.  Then I turn the pretty little jar over and notice the $24.99 price tag.  Oh wait..."there's a sale sign...yes, yes, it is on sale.  Oh...only $5 off." Ok.  So this leaves me pondering how I can have my own piece of sugary skin goodness.  My solution?

My homemade sugar scrub Left and homemade essential oil Right

Make your own! Yes of course.  This is all of my favorite things rolled into one! I can recycle. Check.  I can do crafts. Check. I can use wholesome organic products. Check. So where do I start?! It's quite easy.  First you will need an easy recipe.  Got it.  Here is the recipe as follows:

1 Cup Sugar (just the regular white kind)
1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
A few drops of your favorite essential oil--of which I also made!

Then you are going to need something ultra cool and hip to store this in.  My solution? That empty ball jar that used to house my Granny's fabulous canned tomatoes.  These are great, but proceed with caution.  If your Granny is like mine she will want those ball jars back pronto so that she can refill them with more vegetable yumminess for the next year.  I'm not telling, and to ere on the side of safety you can always return the ball jars filled with your new sugar creation. Just saying :)

Now.  You have all the ingredients so all that is left is to mix it up and have fun! I also made a homemade essential lavender oil to put in my sugar scrub and it turned out wonderfully yummy! Have fun with this recipe; you can switch it up and vary it depending on what you've got in the kitchen. You don't even have to use olive oil.  You can use any kind of unscented oil.  Although I will say, if you use the olive make sure to put some scent in it because it will smell like the olive oil otherwise.  Have fun and enjoy your homemade spa!

Peace/Love

Danielle

Walking The Beach at Sunset

Tonight is Mom's last night in Chuck, so we decided to take an evening beach walk with Jasper.  Here are a few of the better pictures I captured.  They have been slightly* edited--meaning, I brightened, saturated, and added some color.  Otherwise, the shot is all natural. Enjoy! Cool sunsets in Chuck are the best!

Pier against the sunset

Jasper and I walking the beach--Mom actually took this one.

Pier

Pier with an orange sunset glow