More Complaints about CPS Teachers

It's days like today that I thank God I am not a Chicago Public School (CPS) teacher. The Chicago Sun-times ran a story yesterday about a personality test required before one is hired as a CPS teacher. Of course, the teachers claim the testing is unfair and that it has eliminated some very qualified applicants. One of those eliminated applicants was a woman who completed her graduate studies in special education at Michigan State University. The Sun-times described her as a "dream applicant," who was all but hired except for this entrance personality test.

I really don't see the problem here. When I completed my teaching degree in 2005 I lost count of the different tests we were required to take (and pass) in order to become full-time CPS teachers. If the CPS wants a prayer at competing with the rest of the nation for the top teachers, they're going to have to man-up and tackle any and all standards required by the Board of Education and district administrators. And if that means a prospective teacher must complete a paper and pencil assessment on the correct teaching methods, so be it. Second best is first loser!

I'm a Stigmatic

I hold many secrets. Some, I will never repeat. Others, it will take some time. But this one I'm ready to reveal.

While I didn't make the connection until later in life, I've always been the subject of stigmata. According to the modern dictionaries used by theology students, Stigmata can be described as follows:

In mysticism, marks on the body which are reputed to be re-productions of Christ's wounds. They involve varying degrees of intensity from faint red marks on the skin to actual bleeding wounds. The first well-known case is that of Francis of Assisi in 1224. (reference unknown)

I can describe stigmata a little better by relating some of my own experiences with the supernatural phenomenon. Recently, after moving back to the suburbs to live with my parents, I formed a crush on this girl. It's hard to describe what happened, but we always found ourselves in these random encounters. I don't even know her name, but I do know that she lives on my block and is ever so beautiful.

At this point in my life I was recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and I was forced to do a lot of walking around my neighborhood, which wasn't easy. I mean, the intense pain in my Achilles...I can deal with; but all my hateful "neighbors," I can just say I didn't want to encounter them just as they didn't want to encounter me. That's where this girl (who I'll call Juliet) comes in. I gave her props; so much respect that she acknowledged me. We see each other randomly, we'd make eye contact and smile and say hello. Immature, boy meets girl stuff if you'd ask me.

After some weeks went by we were both stuck. "Juliette" has those parents who'd rather subject themselves to painful torture before letting us have a one-on-one conversation. That's when I crossed the line and disappointed God. I prayed to Him to give me the chance to see this girl under non-random circumstances, which was a mistake.

So I was out early on a Saturday morning, getting my exercise. I looked up at the sky and said: "Please let me see her now; please tell me which way." I continued to walk. I then saw my (and Juliette's) street. Just before I turned...Ouch!!! I stepped on something like a rock. The pain shot through the middle of my foot and just as I was about to take off me shoe to inspect the wound, Juliette comes driving down the street. Even though I was in pain, I waved and she waved back.

After a few days of reflection, I figured it out: my punishment for this sin was the rock I stepped on. This was one of a few stigmatic occurrences I've had this year. But the main lesson to me was: don't temp fate--God's plan--as He exists and is always watching.

Crystal Method...Bringing the Old-School

It was Saturday, I had a good amount of money in my pocket, and my favorite club had Crystal Method booked for a Saturday night set (i.e., show). While I can't say that I love Crystal Method as much as some of the other bigger electronic names, they always seem to rock the house, just as they were in the early nineties.

What can I say? It was an awesome performance. I got in for free. I met up with two of my close friends by chance inside the venue and they just happened to have one of my favorite flavors of candy. I was on cloud nine and I had no intention of climbing down.

The two friends I met up with were as ecstatic as I was. Of course their reasons for being their were part business, but that didn't matter. I got to chill with this girl who was so beautiful, so cute watching Crystal Method bag it up walking all over the club, attempting to get closer to Crystal Method. And even though it was loud, we talked, got to know each other. And when it was too loud to talk, I broke out my glow sticks and ran through a few of my own performances.

After the show, as you can imagine, their was mayhem outside: kids looking for their friends; drunk clubbers looking for cabs. While we were standing there outside, a young, married couple from LA approached and asked if we had any candy left. My friend with the candy said yes, but a familiar wave of paranoia shot through my veins. So I asked the buyer if he was 5-0. "NO. My name is Seth and we're from LA, just looking to party."

I believed him and the girl broke off two pieces of candy. So, you see, the great night was also contagious. That's what I absolutely love: when my awesome experiences spread to other people that I don't even know. People, that's why I still do what I do: I love seeing other people in their own, personal state of ecstasy.

It was daylight by now and my group of friends wanted to attend an after party. I was still wide awake and had a lot of party mojo in me, so I said: "for sure; who's driving?" The kid driving was a mutual friend from Michigan, who almost got into a street fight with some of the local gangbangers on the way to the after-party. We opted to stay peaceful and drove a different direction because we all agreed that a night in jail would cancel out all of the amazingness of the way we spent our night.

We finally got to the warehouse, the site of the after-party. The venue was old-school, rave style; their was a bar a few couches, and a bunch of party people mixed in from other clubs earlier that night. The only complaint I had about this warehouse venue was that it was 90 degrees with 1 high-powered fan. Much too hot.

At about 8:00 am we decided to end the night and the Michigan kid drove me to the train. I can't even put into words how awesome Crystal Method was and how great we all connected with 99% good, EDM (electric dance music) vibes!