Courtney really is

My Job

2009-05-16T20:00:00.002-07:00

I teach high school on a Native American Indian Reservation.

After graduating college, I knew that I wanted to teach high school and then apply to law schools a few years later. In the great state of Arizona, to teach at a charter school a teacher does not have to be a certified teacher. So in Arizona I was going to stay. Finding a teaching job is not easy. I went on two interviews before I interviewed for the job I have now. There were two interviews for this job. After the second interview the principal called me within the hour to tell me that the students that were present during the interview loved me and that I got the job.

This was my dream job. I was going be teaching U.S. Government, U.S. History, and World History (I could do without teaching the latter). Either way I was going to be teaching at the high school level. It is funny on the first interview they asked why I wanted to teach high school. My response: "Because they are people....They are old to talk to like people not like children. Does that make sense? Was that not the right answer?" Principal: "That is exactly what I think because they are people. Little kids aren't really people....you can't talk to them like people." My thoughts exactly.

Our semester is ending pretty soon. With that end there is going to be a lot of changes. Basically I am heading the history department in the district. I will get to write the curriculum and whatnot. All exciting things that I will be doing this summer in addition to studying for the LSAT.

Over the course of the school year different things have happened. I have had students call me racist, stupid, f**king b*tch...the list goes on. Two weeks ago or so was Teacher Appreciation Day and my eyes were wide open. The all of the students contributed to poems that they wrote all for the teachers. One of the students gave me the poem that the principal put in a frame. Then that same student unloaded all sorts of problems that she was having to me. I realized that she was not the first student to trust me like that.

Yesterday, the school put on our youth conference where the students present to community members and lots of people. Two students and I were in charge of the sign in table and various behind the scence activities. One of the girls asked if the conference went this smooth last year and I told her that I had no clue because I was graduating from UA. She couldn't believe that this was my first year teaching and told me that I was a really good teacher. She asked if I liked teaching at the school. I told the girls that I loved them and that I would do anything for them. They laughed and didn't believe me. Then I told them that I was serious and gave them examples. And they said "you do love us."

Fast forward to today... We had our district graduation breakfast (small school district) with all of the graduating seniors. The two boys that I sat with were just so much fun. I kept thinking that this was job to hang out and teach some of the coolest people I know.

Most teachers write letters of recommendation for college. I haven't. Instead, I have helped a student write a letter to a judge regarding her mom being in jail. I have listened when students come to me and tell me about their latest trouble with the law and looking up different laws for them. My policy is simle. I will help them and do everything I can for them as long as they are completely honest with me and tell me the entire truth. They have. They tell me more truth than I could have ever thought possible. A student came to me on Thursday and asked if I could write a letter to a judge on her behalf.

I am glad to know the students do trust and depend on me.

Rafiki goes to therapy

2009-04-05T17:54:00.002-07:00

Rafiki began his new training class today. The class is designed to help dogs that are reactive, excitable, fearful, and have other issues. The class teaches the dog to think rather than having the owner/handler telling the dog what to do.

In one of the activities, Grant, Rafiki, and I went into the "box." The idea is that the dog will wander around the box then without us telling Rafiki to look at us he will figure it out. Rafiki ran around the box and was extremely stressed. So stressed in fact that he took a pee in the box. Poor Fiki.

After he peed, he figured it out. Then, Grant and Rafiki walked around the box together and Rafiki was the best at it.

When we go to there though, the trainers who have known Rafiki since he was 7 weeks old could not believe how big he is now. I feel for the little guy though. One of the trainers said that due to the fact that Rafiki was so young when we found each other and where he was found that a big reason why he has the issues that he has is because of his genetics so he is far behind. Genetics meaning not his breeds but genetics as in a bunch of stray dogs getting together and making little Rafiki dogs. Most of the little Rafiki dogs die. But our Rafiki found me.

Rafiki may be far behind in terms of his behavior but he is learning. And even though he peed in the box, he is still such a good little puppy. (By the way, he is 9 months old and the youngest dog in the class.) He has a long way to go.

Little Rafiki and his jar

2009-04-03T18:27:00.004-07:00

Gary pretty much rocks. Here is proof. The latest Rafiki creation.
I swear this dog knew that the box sitting outside was for him. He was excited to see it, unlike the box that was delivered yesterday.

The Leash--Part 2

2009-03-28T18:15:00.002-07:00

We can't find Rafiki's Minnesota leash. So we have been using his puppy leash (the one that we used when he was really tiny). He chewed through that leash when he was small. We tied a knot and the knot was effective when he was 5-10 lbs. Rafiki is somewhere between 42-45 lbs. The knot is ineffective.

We are trying to find a 6' chain leash so he can't chew through it.

The Leash

2009-03-11T21:05:00.002-07:00

Our neighbor around the corner from us has a puppy. This puppy could be Rafiki. I have only seen this Rafiki-like puppy when it was peaking over the wall. Grant, however, has seen this Rafiki-like puppy. Grant told me that he talked to the owner and pet the Rafiki-like puppy. Grant told the Rafiki-likepuppy owner that we had a puppy that looked identical to his puppy. The Rafiki-like puppy was with her owner and walked over to Grant to be petted. The Rafiki-like puppy owner told Grant that a woman saw his puppy and asked him if it was his dog, he told the woman that it was and she said that she asked because her neighbor has a puppy that looks just like his dog and just wanted to make sure that her neighbors' dog did not get out. The whole time the Rafiki-like puppy was not on a leash. Then Grant parted ways with the Rafiki-like puppy and the owner. The owner called the puppy and the puppy came and did not wander off.

After Grant told me this we laughed about how Rafiki would have wandered off somewhere if he wasn't on a leash.

The next day I put the harness on Rafiki. Then I had his leash in my hand and I thought about the concept of the leash. I literally have to attach a leash to Rafiki so I don't lose him. In all truthiness, I don't know how much he would wander off. But he would see another person and get really excited about the possibility of somone else giving him attention then he would wander off. I mean, we attach bassically a rope to him so we don't lose him. I just think that is strange.

Rafiki doesn't like it when he gets tied to a chair at a restuarant though. He chewed through one of his leashes when he was tied to a chair. But other than that Rafiki doesn't really mind the leash. Maybe one day we can take out the trash and have him come with us without being on the leash.

<---Yes this really his leash.

Rafiki thinks he is a human...

2009-02-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is true I tell you. Here is the proof...

He will hop up onto the couch and sit in the corner of the couch. Then as he is sitting he leans back. Grant says that he is lounging and he right. Rafiki lounges on the couch like me!

If Rafiki is in the bathroom while one of us in the shower, he jumps in. He will let you wash him in the shower.

One of our neighbors has a Mastiff-mix that Rafiki loves. He has learned to jump up and knock on their door and then whine. They come to the door and Rafiki is sitting on their doorstep and Inca the Mastiff is excited because she knows that she will get to play with him now.

Then there is this morning. Grant is running in a relay race this weekend and he got up this morning at 5. He put Rafiki in bed with me. Grant left and Rafiki and I went back to sleep. I woke up several hours later. Rafiki, my little puppy, was on his side with his body under the covers and had is little front legs around me, his head out of the covers and snuggled in between my chin and neck, then he looked at me with his brown eyes and kissed my face.

What we did over winter break...

2009-02-01T20:07:00.001-07:00

<---Rafiki and I shared an apple. Now when I eat one he sits and waits until I give him the core. (He spits out the seeds.)

Rafiki got a new friend for Christmas --->

<--Rafiki went on a post-Christmas walk to look at lights. Thanks Mom for the scarf!

<---We went to Grants--with Grant.

<--- We went to Petrified Forest. I thought that we were really going to a Forest. Grant laughed at me. Rafiki broke the law and jumped up on the petrified wood.

Rafiki played in the snow---->

<----We went to White Sands. Rafiki had the time of his life

There was snow at White Sands. Rafiki love the combination of snow and white sand. ------>

Prop 8 and Prop 102

2008-12-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

California had Prop 8. Arizona had Prop 102.

In Arizona, the slogan for taking away marriage rights for gays was, "Yes to Marriage!" This offends me. First, by voting "yes" you are actually saying that, No, gay people cannot get married. Secondly, what are you saying then? Are you saying that the only people that can get "married" are straight people? Why should straight people be allowed to get married and gay people not? Is there a difference? I personally do not understand an amendment to take away people's civil rights could just be voted on like that and taken away at the drop of the hat.

Now to be honest, I hate it when opponents of gay marriage say that "they should just get a civil union, it is the same thing." My response, if it was the same thing then straight and gay people would get civil unions and no one would be getting married. They are not the same thing. Some straight couples do elect to have a civil union, not a marriage. But they choose that, they are not being forced into it.

Grant and I were talking about this a few days ago, when a girl that I knew posted a note on facebook about this subject. Actually it started off as why do people think they are entitled to rights, like Women's rights. (Seriously.) Then it turned into gay rights and gay marriage. I expressed to Grant that I was really upset about this. He listened, as he normal does, Rafiki licked my face to comfort me. Then Grant spoke. He said that whenever people say that gays should just get a civil union, that he responds by saying, 'so you want a separate but equal marriage institution.' A light went on in my head. EXACTLY!!! That is it. Thank you Brown v. Board of Education. Separate is not equal.

A civil union is a separate marriage-type of institution. Offering a separatel type of marriage institution is not equal it can never be equal.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

This Thanksgiving, I stayed in Tucson with Grant, Rafiki and a few post-docs in Grant's lab. First, before I begin, I would like to say that ALL school districts should have at least the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off. But, if the school districts really loved and appreciated their teachers that work so hard for such great pay then they would give teachers and students the Tuesday and Wednesday off before Thanksgiving so that way teachers could go to their parent's house for the holiday.

Off my soapbox now.

We made a whole Thanksgiving feast. It was so good. Actually, I think that "so good" might be an understatement. Grant brined our free-range organic turkey. I made delicious gravy. I made mashed potatoes from red potatoes and I kept the skin on. I highly recommend leaving the skin on. The potatoes were light and fluffy. We made collard greens with bacon. I made a green bean casserole. I absolutely love green bean casserole. Grant made some roasted butternut squash dish. Then there was the pie. Grant stayed up until 2:30 in the morning making this pie. I think it was worth it. It was the best pie that I have ever had. In fact, I think we will be making it again.

Overall, Thanksgiving was a huge success. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. Off to go eat leftovers.

Gas...

2008-11-23T21:56:00.000-07:00

I paid $1.89 for gas a few days ago.

YES!!!!

That is all.

Yoda

2008-11-03T12:50:00.000-07:00

Yoda says, “Good relations with the Wookiees, I have.”

A Dog's Purpose

2008-10-31T20:42:00.001-07:00

As I was stumbling upon websites, I found this one. http://www.ataboy.ca/a_dogs_purpose.htm

I can admit it, I completely love Rafiki. In fact, he is next to me on the couch asleep while I type. Grant and I got him neutered yesterday and I feel bad for the little guy. I am glad that we did it do not get me wrong, after all he is the result of someone not neutering their animal. (Rafiki was a stray and he and I found each other and it was love at first sight.) I have always known that Rafiki loves me unconditionally and trusts me more than I could ever trust anyone. And even though the little guy is in so much pain, it is obvious how much he trusts us and loves us. He wanders around the house looking for us so that we can comfort him. With that, I leave you with what I read on the website previously mentioned.

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year old)
Author Unknown

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolf hound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, 'I know why.'

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, 'People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?' The Six-year-old continued, 'Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy..
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

More Rafiki Pictures.

2008-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

I may or may not love our puppy. I love him.

Rafiki pictures!

2008-09-12T20:11:00.001-07:00

I may or may not have misplace my camera. Sigh. Grant just said, "You actually type 'sigh'?" Yes. Yes, I do.

Here are some pictures of our love.

Rafiki in my arms.

He figured out how to get into to the laundry basket

Rafiki got to sleep in our bed!!! First time ever.

We have a Rafiki!!!

2008-09-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

About two weeks ago I was at work and there was this tiny little puppy outside. I work on an Indian Reservation and there are a lot of stray dogs there. Sadly, I have become used to seeing pitiful dogs wander the streets in the blazing hot sun. But this was different.

He was panting and panting. So I went inside and got him some water. He drank that all up and was still panting. I got him some more. He was the friendliest dog I had ever seen. I am not joking. I picked him up and his tail waged. One of my students said that I should take him home. I said that Grant would probably not be okay with it. The longer I held him the more I knew that he had to come home with me.

I went inside and called Grant. I told him about this puppy and I told him what kind of condition it was in. I said that we would take it to the Humane Society over the weekend but that it wasn't going to survive much longer without us. At this point I started to cry. Truth be told, I have always wanted a puppy. Ask Grant, everyday for the past 2 years and 7 months (as long as we have been together) all he has heard from me is "I want a puppy. Can we get a puppy?" He said that I could bring the little guy home. One of the students called him Rafiki. I thought it was cute but if we weren't going to keep him then I didn't want to name him.

I brought him home. Grant fell in love with him. I went and bought him some food, shampoo, and treats. The puppy ate. And ate. Then I gave him a bath. It truly saddened me to see how dirty he was.

The next day, which was a Friday, he spent a few hours home alone. Then I came home to find Grant and puppy together. My heart melted. The puppy doesn't have all of its teeth yet because he is still really young so he likes to chew. Rafiki, at this point we gave him a name, was gnawing on Grant's hand when Rafiki bite down just a little bit too hard. He broke skin and Grant was now convinced that he was going to get rabies from Rafiki. It was 5 p.m. on a Friday. Grant refused to acknowledge Rafiki and was trying to look up symptoms of rabies online as I was calling every vet office in the city trying to see if someone could look at the poor guy tonight.

Success!!! We found a vet that could take him right away. The little guy weighed 5.2 lbs. Basically he is really tiny. The vet said that he is too young to have rabies. He got his first puppy shots. The vet said that he was probably 8 weeks old. I asked Grant if we could keep him and he said yes. In case you were wondering, I did cry when he said yes.

I completely love this dog. He loves me and Grant. Rafiki follows me everywhere I go. He loves to be with both of us and hates when he isn't with both of us.

...Dreaming.

2008-06-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

Courtney really is resting her knee. Why? Driving my brand new 2008 Jetta on the crazy streets of Tucson, we got rear ended. How? Funny story. The light was red. I was stopped. Light turned green and the cars in front of me began to move so I began to move then they stopped. So I stopped. I looked out of my rear view mirror (I had this awful feeling) and sure enough a silver car was coming at me and there was absolutely nothing that I could do. I put my food hard on the brake so I didn't hit the car in front of me and just waited. What felt like forever but Grant tells me it was only three seconds. My knee hurts.

So with all of this time on my hands I have been thinking. A while ago my mom put a post on her blog about who she would invite to dinner party if she could invite anyone. I feel inspired and well maybe a little bored because Grant is watching Arizona in the Super Regional right now.

My party will have ten guests.

1. Ellen DeGeneres. Why? I pretty much love her. On her show, she always dances. I love the American Express commercials that she does. They always make me smile. But at my party she would have to say, "I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall my Squishy."

2. Maya Angelou. She has the best speaking voice. And I do know why the caged bird sings.

3. Hillary Clinton. I love her. I am still holding out for the "Dream Ticket" for November.

4. Barack Obama. The primaries this year have caused a house divided here in Tucson. I love Hillary and Grant likes Obama. I have my reasons and he has his reasons. But since this is my dinner party I will invite Obama because I think that he would actually to what I have to say about the budget, universal health care, global warming, alternative energy, Iraq, dependence on foreign oil, EDUCATION (soon to be teacher so that is important).

5. James Madison. I can't have a pretend dinner party and not invite Mr. Madison. I love America. (There I said it!) And I love our Constitution. I have so many questions about the framing of the Constitution and what the framers really meant with certain passages of the document. Also, the Bill of Rights. So many questions and I am excited about the possibility of a pretend dinner with James Madison.

6. John F. Kennedy. Since JFK, there has yet to be a president that inspires the nation. Seriously, when was the last time a president said, "For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future."

7. Mario Batali. There has to be chef at the dinner.

8. Prince William. Royalty is invited.

9. Shaq. I have been a fan of Shaq since I can remember. But when he left the Lakers I was heartbroken. Now he is playing for the Phoenix Suns and I am conflicted when the Suns and Lakers play. (I do cheer for the Lakers--still.)

10. Judy Garland. The Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite movies. When I was a tiny kid I would rearrange the furniture in our living to create to proper scene to sing along with to the movie.

Courtney really is...dreaming.