Foolish gibberish
Scene: Moni is doing housework and “Harlem Shake” comes up on Raf’s Spotify playlist.
Moni: I feel like I am being implanted with a secret message from the goverment when I hear this song.
Raf: I know. There is something very hypnotic about it.
Moni: It terrifies me when they say “El” over and over. Why? What is it about “El” that is so frightening?
Raf: That’s the command.
I got a roll of Paris film developed this week and, sigh. It made me relive my short trip this past September. The roll that was developed was taken on our last day there. We spent the day at both the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay and then we decided to walk the Champs-Élysées so we could we see the Arc de Triomphe. By the time we reached the place where this photo was taken we had been walking for hours and hours and were in so much pain. As we walked back to our hotel we rested here, in front of the Musee d’Orsay and watched a couple of guys skateboard. I think about this moment often, for some reason. I was so happy, the sun was setting, and I was sitting in front of this museum full of famous paintings that I saw earlier in the day. I drank it all in completely and totally. It was a bitter sweet moment because I knew I would be leaving the next day. And there, as we sat there, were these guys skateboarding. It all felt surreal.
This photo was made with my Pentax P30t and Tri-x film.
I love, love, love details in photography. I love taking my camera with me on a walk through the forest and capturing the tiniest, minutest details. I love how it makes me look more closely at things, underneath the surface.
Here is a photo I took of moss on a tree during a rainy day in March of 2011. This was a photo I took while out hiking at one of my favorite places, Wildwood Park in Welches, Oregon. I love looking at this picture. It makes me happy for reasons I don’t understand in my head.
Another thing about this photo that made me smile is from the Flickr photo page. The title of the photo is “You flicker and you’re beautiful. You glow inside my head.” I was editing this photo and that old song came up on my iTunes and I decided to name the photo using those very beautiful lyrics from that old Cure song. Perhaps this post should be accompanied by music.
First of all, DO NOT be afraid of them. They can detect fear like nobody’s business and if you are afraid then they will either be afraid also, or they will use that fear against you to manipulate you. Leave all fear at the door. Instead, think about what it was like to be a child. Didn’t you just not care at all about what others thought? Wasn’t it silly and fun? That is how you approach a roomful of preschool children.
Remember that, in the kid’s eyes, you are a rock star. This will boost your ego and, thus, help relieve some of the fear.
Don’t even dare think about the parents. Pretend they are not there.
OK. So now that we have the right frame of mind everything is cake. Now you can have fun. Fun is very important. If you are having fun they will have fun, too. Why is this element important? Because we are teaching kids literacy skills when we read to them. But if you tell them this the whole facade comes crumbling down. We are offering literacy skills dipped in chocolate with rainbow sprinkles. And we are offering them with song and dance. FUN. Always have fun.
It is important to come prepared. Always read the book beforehand. If not you will find yourself in the middle of a terrible, horrifying story and you will be embarrassed and parents will hate you and there goes the “fun” facade. Always be prepared.
Read stories that you enjoy. If you don’t like the story the kids won’t like the story.
Read the story in a way that is engaging. Get the kids involved in the story. Have them help you tell them the story. Use silly voices. Use sound effects.
The most important advice, though, is to be present. Don’t be off, in your mind, somewhere else. Be right there with the kids, having fun and enjoying the moment. They are the most important thing at that moment. Treat them like that. Treat them with all of the respect in the world.
I love this photo. It almost brings a tear to my eye. I don’t have very many photos of my mom and I together when I was a child (she was the one taking all of the photos). What a sweet moment between a mom and a daughter.
My cousin is the woman in the middle. This was taken on her wedding day. Her new husband is playing the guitar.
Blatherskite 