Good Quote-Quality Chus

So those of you who read "Blog du Wren" or "The Week" for that matter, are familiar with publications drawing attention to interesting/disturbing/inspiring quotes. In that vain I would like to share a little gem from Baltimore politics. Those of you who are familiar with the dysfunctional group of nepotistic men and women that make up the city government are aware that Sheila Dixon, the mayor, is under investigation for all sorts of inappropriate shenanigans involving people giving her money and stuff and her doing stuff for them. Well during the investigation it was revealed that she was treated to tens of thousands of dollars in shopping sprees by her at-the-time boyfriend, who in return had the wheels of gov't greased for him in regards to development projects he was involved in. When asked about the shopping sprees where she got furs, several hundred dollar Jimmy Chu shoes, etc., her response was, "I don't shop often, but when I do I buy quality." She is quite the woman of the people. She is also accused of taking donated gift cars intended for poor families and using them for herself. Of course everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but in Baltimore the real shocking thing is that anybody bothered to care enough to say, "Hey, a city council president/mayor shouldn't be taking huge gifts in return for favors." (Full disclosure: I supported her...Hey, democracy ain't perfect.)

Moving is the worst thing in the world

I know being "curbed" is probably slightly worse, but moving is a close second. I have been laboring for what feels like years to move out of our house. How many SUV's of stuff could we possibly own? If I cannot finish getting rid of it all by tomorrow I may "curb" myself. On the same topic I guess I have to report that I will no longer be officially residing in Baltimore. Do I need to change the name of the blog? Since I consider DC a suburb of Baltimore, I think I'm all good.

Teaching Nicknames

I've been teaching the last couple weeks and have therefor not had much time to blog. This summer I am teaching 7th grade language arts to one class of boys and one class of girls. Since I have been in grad school the last year it's been interesting to be back in the classroom. One thing I have thought about as I start teaching again is the number of nicknames I have been dubbed over the years of teaching, some of which reoccur over and over, from year to year, which I guess means they are particularly apt. So here are a few of the names students have called me over the years in no particular order:
-Hunchback/Quasimodo (this is by far the most popular)
-Mr. Noodle (a reference to my broken arm)
-Nezercanezer (this was around the time the Matrix came out)
-Mr. Nezby
-various names that are inappropriate to mention here, many of which involve substituting inappropriate words for the second syllable of my last name.

Drinking

Since I have been blogging about drinking lately, I thought I would ad my favorite wine. There is a little Italian grocery store in a bad neighborhood in Baltimore that sells really cheap wine (and amazing bread, pasta, etc.). We found this wine on sale one day and have been buying it ever since. I am no wine conasuer (sp?), but at $8-9 a bottle I think this is a great deal. It's a Cabernet Sauvignon & Sangiovese (whatever that means?). But it is really good. I haven't seen it at any other store, but if you come across it I highly recommend it, whenever it is in stock we stock up on it.

I love youtube.

My favorite music video ever. Link to youtube since I don't know how to get it here.

Dark and Stormy Update

After a little scientific research I have determined that yes, Gosling's Black Seal Rum is in fact the right rum to use. It makes a big difference. Also I find it separates and gives the nice two tone look to the drink. Check your local bar. (I don't know why I bother consider my three loyal readers don't even drink, but just in case any of you want to take up the drink, this is a good place to start.)

Things I don't understand department.

So in the things I don't understand department are these commercials for the Cypher Stent. (You know those tubes they stick in your arteries so you don't die.) First of all I don't understand how it is beneficial for a stent company to advertise on regular t.v., as opposed to lobbying doctors to use them. I mean do people actually go in and say, "No I don't want that bootleg stent, I want the Cadillac of stents, the Cypher Stent!" Perhaps they do, but it seems kind of silly. I am going to trust my doctor to choose my stent, not some commercial with old dudes running up stairs and riding horses. I feel the same way about prescription medication commercials. They always say, "Ask your doctor about xyz..." I can just imagine all these people going to their doctors, having no idea what the medication is for, and asking their doc, "Say Doc, shouldn't I be on Cealus (SP?)." and the doctor going, "Well Jane, I don't think it will help with your osteoporosis." And why are those old people in the Cealus commercial sitting in side by side tubs outside? Who has tubs in their front yard? Weird.