New Site!

A new, no not just a website, but .... ... drum roll paleeeeze... social networking site... janetlawless.info has been launched by myself and Webtekee. You can review the site by clicking on the link above. Primarily, the site is for students associated with Macomb Community College, Indus Center for Academic Excellence, and Lawless Language Arts. In general, also, enrolled members should be at mature, respectful, fun, creative, supportive, and... very original.

The network allows you to build a profile, add friends, post writing, blogs, videos, updates, pics, and any other creative work you'd like. Your friends can give you constructive feedback, and you can better stay in touch with your school buds. Free learning resources, teacher feedback, and related information will also be available for registered members.

All-in-all, the site is meant to be positive, not too too perky, but nice and healthy; informative and collaborative. We wanna see you shine !

Women & Football

I have a small, abiding sense of loss occurring lately. The summer winds down, and fall is next.

Fall, in this relationship, means a good deal of football. What is it about football? Baseball, basketball, I can relate to, but football - not so much. This pensiveness leads me to wonder why I have a slight aversion to football. Perhaps because it it uber-masculine. Although, in the Detroit area there is a women's football team (one of my students was on the team), I think women are clearly left on the sidelines with this sport. The players are big, burly, and look like they could easily wring your neck. The play is rough and crushing.

Another reason I feel outside the game on this one is that the sport itself seems a little slow. Baseball, yes, can be a bit slow, but it is suspenseful, I think. There is a certain anticipation in watching the pitcher get ready to throw, and in watching the hit on the pitch. With football, it's just a matter of watching guys lumber around and get back into position. Boring. And, those time-outs! Ugh.

Another reason is that football seems overly-complicated. I am not completely ignorant about the sport, but the rules seem very elaborate. Maybe it's because I am not a big fan. Maybe the Lions have made me that way. Even though we all crave a great team, the Lions are the Lions. Perennially at the bottom of the pile.

During the winter, spring, and summer, we have the Tigers and the Red Wings to enjoy. The Pistons are fun too. But in the fall, the Lions return once again to distract my man, and disappoint us all. Maybe if the Lions could, somehow, turn it around, I could be back on the couch, next to the Admin and a beer, enjoying a good game of football.

www.fantasycrowd.com

fantasycrowd.com

I've been using a fun site lately for sports social networking. You can be interested in any sport from fishing to Nascar, meet other sports lovers, make comments, add a blog, post discussions, that sort of thing. Also, if you are a fantasy football lover, this site is ideal. It was created and designed in the Detroit area by some local e-entrepreneurs. If you are a sports fan, and like to talk sports, join up. We'd love to see you there!

Becoming a Dinosaur

The other day as I walked across campus a startling thought occurred to me: what if the analysis of literature soon becomes archaic? I was contemplating the challenge of bookstores lately, thinking of the heavy promotion of Borders books in the movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic and Borders’s current struggle to survive. So, if books are no longer a viable product, how will the analysis of literature be viable or relevant? Well, of course, there are many reasons why the analysis of literature is relevant. It helps students develop critical thinking, and also exposes them to the canon of literature, works that form our culture. Eventually, though, studying literature might only include the study of ancient literature. It does indeed seem very likely.

Where then, I wonder, will that leave me, an English major and an English instructor? I guess we will be like Latin teachers that still teach a dead language that has limited relevance to the real word and limited connection to other studies? Do students learn Latin to help their English skills? Possibly. What will be the worth of studying literature? It already seems like I have to convince students of the value of reading and studying literature. In many ways, also, studying literature is like studying art; readers analyze how and why a writer constructed a story. Perhaps that’s how the study of literature will be used. Either way, I think literature becomes more obsolete by the minute.

For the Sake of Blogging

Taking a moment to do a bit of writing. I haven’t been doing as much lately. Why? I do not know. Possibly it’s because I have been spending less time on MySpace. It’s funny about writing and me. It’s a love –hate relationship. I think that I am fairly good at it, and once I start it, I enjoy it, but it’s just the getting to it that’s difficult. Sometimes I have to wonder if anyone really enjoys writing. It just seems like something that is important, that you should do. Like exercise. Like eating broccoli. I wonder if people like Stephen King, or Ernest Hemingway (an unlikely coupling) really enjoyed writing. Hmmm….. And, I used to write so much more often! I suppose my earlier output had much to do with the fact that I was in graduate school and doing so much more reading of literature and poetry.

Sometimes I think that I should try photography or increase my jewelry-making skills; work in some other artistic medium. Yes, perhaps.

So, there you go. I have written.

The Fever has Finally Taken

Just a note because I am so pumped about the new Presidency!!! Who doesn't like this man? Who doesn't want to see this country confident, stabilized, and reinvented?! I think this could mean so much to this nation, and the world. We don't have to be the cowboy hero anymore; the world doesn't need that. We need cooperation, compromise, and connection.

A most hopeful day. From here, it seems, you can see a better forever.

Launched Lawless Language Arts Website!

Hey Sports Fans!

My significant other just launched a new website for me; it can be found at lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com. The site is pretty nifty,and has wiki, blog, forum, image and other functionalities that are an extension of my English and language arts coaching and copywriting biz. There are few members already registered, and I encourage visits and feedback.

The wiki is especially intriguing, as we have used some funny words during my concommitant class at ICAE and classes at Wayne State and Macomb. I will be adding more as time progesses.

It will be a challenge, I think to get pics and vids on the site, as I will have to supplement my existing contract to include a provision for image copyrighting and/or usage. People always get nervous signing the "agreement" as it is, so the new clause might cause further hestitation. The photos or videos will only be used for contest development or the website as it is with no additional commercial applications. A few vids, pics, and maybe some scanned in drawings and such should not be a big deal.

It's fun, exciting, and fulfilling to add this new face.


Check out the site and let me know what you think!

www.lawlesslanguagearts.adeshub.com

Things * NOT* to Say on a Second Date - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

My friend Carrie had another fix-up date(s) over the last few weeks. She went out with the guy two or three times. A close friend fixed her up with this fellow teacher guy that she had worked with at an elementary school. Why do people still try to fix up their friends? Dangerous, doomed territory, it seems. But, we try to be helpful and encouraging, and wouldn't it be nice if it actually worked?! I suppose it does work sometimes; that's why we keep trying.

Well, the first date was okay, as first dates go, but she wasn't super attracted to him. He showed up in a wrinkled shirt, and talked a lot about his intestinal problems. Not too appealing, yes. He invited her for a second date to see Eddie Money at the DTE. She wasn't too keen on the whole thing, but she thought she would give it a try. In between dates, he had emailed her, according to Carrie, about 30 times. Big "red flag" according to her. The night of the date, he picked her up, again wearing a very wrinkled shirt, and very casual shorts, and they chatted on their way. When they pulled in to park the car, she offered to pay for the 8 bucks for parking, and he readily took her money. She didn't like that either.

Later, after the concert, they stopped to get something to eat before heading home from Clarkston. They were sitting at a table in TGI Friday's and talked. She said something to the effect of, "Well, what about you... I should find out more about you," to which he wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "Yeah, I have been listening, and believe me, it's hard to get a word in edgewise!" She just nodded her head.

Needing to find conversation starters, and actually curious, she asked him what had happened in this marriage. She is divorced too, and was prepared to answer the same question. "She thought that my penis was too small," was his reply in the midst of a more explanation. Carrie, never at a loss for words, didn't have too much to say to that either.

They drove home and he dropped her off. Both of them got out of his car, and he followed her to her van. She promptly put the keys in the door and turned briefly to say goodnight, and he kissed her. She really didn't like that, and was actually trying to avoid anything that resembled physical contact.

The emails kept coming after that night, and he bugged her to tell him what was wrong. She told him that she wasn't interested.

Sounds Seem Insufficient

These are the sounds of my day
I try to recreate in letters
the sounds waves curling into
shapes of each character

the character of the sound
attempted to be mimicked

walking across the snow
keeek keeek

the wind blows across the sloping hill
catching dried leaves and whisps of snow
sssheeeewww….

my lips and tongue perform gymnastics
trying out the different combinations
the sound of sh and chu together
a k and kckkk in quick succession
my tongue rolls together and clicks at the roof
of my mouth to make
the sounds of these everyday things
dry leaves
red boots on new snow
cool wind
brown paper bags crunching in your grasp

the sounds are translatable
but what of visions
so lovely
they want more
expression than apprehension
from the eyes
and the beauty of their looks

twinkling golden tiny white lights
that frame your simple porch and iron work
make my heart hurt
glimmering in a snowy cold night
tiny lights burst to be released from the
silence of my rib cage

what sound do they make?
silent appreciation and a wordless gaze
are not sufficient
a soft gentle sweet hmmmm
perhaps
mmmmm….
held as long as the memory
lasts

Pumpkin Head - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

He seemed like a nice guy at work, so she said yes when he asked her out for a dinner and a trip to a local haunted house. Looking forward to the date that Saturday night, she deliberated carefully over a cute, but casual outfit, comparing a couple of clothing combinations on hangers before her extended arms.

The call came at 6:00 p.m. His truck had broken down and he wondered if she would mind picking him up and driving. It seemed rather odd, and she was a little disappointed, but she finally, said, “Okay, I’ll be there at 7:30,” thinking that things like this happen sometimes.

She picked him up at about 7:35, and they proceeded to the Michelle’s restaurant, a local diner, for dinner. Just as he was in the car, he was unusually quiet during dinner. She asked him questions about school, about the gym, about his family, but none of the questions spurred more than one sentence replies. She picked at her salad with the fork.
The bill came and he reached for his wallet, and stared twice inside it. He finally looked up at her and said, “Ummmm, would you mind going dutch this time? All I have is a five.” She stared at him angrily, but silently, and turned aside sharply for her wallet in her bag on the bench seat next to her.

The drive to the haunted house was quiet, too, and the wait in the rather long line could have been much more fun, considering the boisterous, and funny frightening atmosphere. It was cool outside, the air was damp, and it would have been nice to hold hands, or have an arm around her. Instead, they made stilted small talk and looked in opposite directions at the people stumbling out of the house and the crowd around them. Once they were inside, at the first big scare from a bellowing monster in green rubber mask and black cape, he grabbed a hold of her like a spooked child. He clutched to her several times like this during the trip through. He even tripped once and almost pushed her off the path.

She dropped him off just after the house, after a nearly silent trip home. There was a brief pause as she parked on the curb outside his house, and he turned to her and sincerely told her that he had a really nice time. When she got home there was email from him waiting for her in her inbox, again, gushing that he had a wonderful time, and looked forward to seeing her again sometime very soon. She didn’t reply.

When she saw him at work next, she didn’t talk to him anymore.

Kid's Advice on Love - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

Tips on Love
(by kids, 5-10 years of age)

WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE TO GET MARRIED?

"Eighty-four, because at that age you don't have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other in your bedroom."(Judy, 8)

"Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife."(Tom, 5)

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

"On the first date they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go on a second date." (Mike 10)

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

"You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, because she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Jim, 10)

"Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But if nobody sees youo, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." (Kally, 9)

THE GREAT DEBATE: IS IT BETTER TO BE MARRIED OR SINGLE?

"It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them." (Lynette, 9)

"It gives me aheadache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." (Kenny, 7)

WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE

No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has to do something with how you smell. That's why perfume and deoderant are so popular." (Jan, 9)

"I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." (Harlen, 8).

WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE

"It's like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9)

"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it." It takes too long." (Leo, 7)

THE ROLE OF GOOD LOOKS IN LOVE

"If you want to be loved by someone who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." (Diane, 9)

"It isn't always just how you look. Look at me - handsome like anything and I haven't got anyone to marry me yet." (Gary, 7)

Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." (Christine, 9)

WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS

"They want to make sure their rings don't fall off because they paid good money for them."(Dave, 8)

CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE

"I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when 'Sesame Street' is on television."(Anita,6)

"Love will find you even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been hiding from it since I was 5, but the girls keep finding me."

(Bobby, 8)

"I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." (Regina, 10)

QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER

One of you should know how to write a check because there's going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, 8)

SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

"Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6)

"Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." (Alonzo, 9)

"One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me."(Bart, 9)

HOW YOU TELL IF 2 ADULTS EATING DINNER IN A RESTAURANT ARE IN LOVE

"Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love."(John, 9)

"Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food."(Dave 8)

"It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like how their hearts are... on fire." (Christine, 9)

WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY 'I LOVE YOU

'"The person is thinking, 'Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9)

WHEN A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS

"You learn it right on the spot when the gooshy feelings get the best of you."(Doug, 7)

"It might help to watch soap operas all day." (Carin, 9)

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

"It's never OK to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That's why I stopped doing it."(Jean, 10)

WHAT MAKES LOVE ENDURE

"Don't forget your wife's name. That will mess up the love." (Roger, 8)

"Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tom, 7)

"Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash."(Randy, 8)

Al Gore Awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize!

Al Gore awarded the Nobel Peace Prize! Amazing! Stupendous! Much Deserved!
The man most definitely deserves this tremendous recognition. Who, in our world society, has more contributed to the shift in consciousness, and real world change backed with facts and examples than this man?!!

We will assuredly hear more cries that he enter the Democratic race for the presidency, and his supposed loss to George W. Bush will be all the more lamentable. Clearly, this does not shine any light on the performance of our current Pres, in fact, it makes it looks like we are all denied a truly visionary, brilliant, world-conscious, moral, man as a leader, and duped into a second term of serfdom and national loss as result of Bush’s highly questionable sphere of misguided monetary power and influence.

A well-deserved, incredible, amazing honor for a hero! A beautiful event to witness.

Miss Spellings - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

Miss Spellings


One of my girlfriends, whom I have actually referenced before in my blogs, recently went out a couple of times with a fellow that she met on Match.com. They conversed via email a few times before they dated. After their third date, a night at his house watching a movie on his big screen TV, he didn’t kiss her goodnight. He gave her a hug.

They were emailing after this date, and he said, in his email, that she should use spell-check on her emails, as there were several spellings errors. He also added that she typed like a maniac. When she told me this, she laughed, saying she should send him back a derogatory email, with all misspelled, but easily identifiable insults. Granted, the woman does misspell a few words, and sometimes her words are jammed together in her messages. She’s my friend though, and as friends do, I overlook these things because I like the woman. She’s my pal.

He broke it off with her fairly soon after all this, via email. I tell my students this story as a cautionary tale. Misspellings, can, evidently, thwart your love life.

boxingmatch.com - Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

By gorlox5 at 2007-08-12

Just this morning my gfriend called me to tell me about a big falling out that she had had with a close member of her group of friends. Both women have been scoping out the guys on Match.com. My friend S____ has recently noted on her profile that she soon she will be leaving match.com, and thus, it is everybody’s last chance to get in on some dating action with her. This strategy, though, seems to work because she has had a deluge of fellows sending their email addresses and phone numbers. Kinda like a going out of business sale, eh? Hmmm… maybe I should keep this approach in mind if ever needed.

Anyway, due to this deluge of interest, she was contacted by this guy named D____ whom she later met for coffee. Before the coffee, she informed several of the girl squad that she would be there with the new prospect, and they, indeed, showed up to check out the new guy. Her friend M____ was one of the girl squad stationed in the café, sizing up the new person.

Well, my friend S____ kinda likes this guy, and they have been talking and are planning on going out again. I think they even kissed goodbye on one of their recent casual meet-ups. She likes him, and is interested in getting to know him more. Her friend M____ knows all of this.

This weekend on Saturday, the new guy prospect mentioned to my friend that M___ had contacted him online, and in her email to him, she said that he seemed like a nice guy, and seemed eager to strike up a conversation with him. The new guy is also an elementary or middle school principal, and M____ is a teacher, looking for a job. Her email, however, seemed just flirty, and eager to talk to him more. So, understandably, my pal S___ was quite upset that her friend had contacted this guy, having been in the coffee shop when S_____ and D_____ met, and knowing that’s S______ was interested in the guy.

Not a very smooth move, eh? My friend, understandably, feels a bit betrayed, and embarrassed that her friend is trying to make some time with this guy, and also, trying to use him to land a job. Not very prudent moves on either front. I have more than one friend on match.com (I am, fortunately, not in this ring), so they have to carefully stake out their territories and be careful not to date the same guys. They have even met up on occasion to be sure that they were treading on each other’s supposed turf. However, this latest transgression on M____’s part was not an accident.

Quite the mess, eh? ding ding! The match continues.

Is There a Haberdasher in the House?!

Last Monday morning as I strode into the hive, I was walking a couple of yards behind this young fellow who I happened to notice was wearing a pretty slick suit. He was tall guy, clean cut, and I was sorta surveying the suit as I walked behind him into the halls of the hive. As I watched him walk in, wondering what job he had such that he was dressing so sharp, I noticed that his back right pant leg was stuck inside his black shoe. Otherwise, he was looking good - Monday morning into the office. But, that bit of cuff in the pant leg – arrrggh!

Then, as I buzzed myself in with the hive card, I was walking behind a woman, and because I was still in that "oh, God its Monday morning and I'm dressed and walking, but not really awake yet" mode, I was also staring at her get-up. She looked fine, but the collar of her white dress shirt was turned out. My very slight obsessive-compulsive impulses must be magnified by the Monday malaise, because I really wanted to straighten her collar for her!

You are probably wondering, "Who promoted you to officer on the fashion police squad, or, did you look over your looks before you left home, lady? " Well, who the heck knows, maybe my pants were unzipped or something. But, that day, and I swear, as I left the elevator, I was walking behind another woman, whose shirt, on the left lower side of her back, was untucked, puckering out of her pants above her belt. We all need personal attendants, don't we? Especially for Monday morning in the hive.

Excerpts from the Dating Chronicles

Rapping with my gfriend the other day and, as we often do, we were talking about dating and men. She's in the midst of a troubling "friends with benefits" relationship with a guy that takes her up north to his cabin for a week, and then cancels dinner dates the next week. So, she is "keeping her eye out" for other prospects, or trying to. She is also a big workout person, and runs too. She was recently in 5k in Northville, and ran into this runner guy, who, I think, goes to her church in Livonia. A good, marathon running, god-fearing man. After the race, he was talking to her, and asked her for her email address, and asked her if she would like to get together sometime. She gave him her email address, and he did contact her.

They were rapping back and forth later the next week, and he asked her to get together for ice cream on a Tuesday night – the same night that they had been talking online. Later that afternoon, however, she got an email from his address with the message, " I like the yellow dress on you better, and you definitely should wear the bikini in the next picture." My pal and this guy had not been talking about their preferred attires at that point. She was surprised, as you would expect, and wrote the guy back, asking what was up?! He just responded that he had sent that message to the wrong woman, and he apologized, saying that he was really sorry and embarrassed. I don't think that they got ice cream that night. Perfect! Just what the woman needs.

* Hey! Do you have any worthwhile/funny dating stories? Send the story to me so that I can write them in my blog and get all the attention!

Back in the Hive

Aye Carumba! My first day of office work in two years. I had nearly forgotten what it’s
like, and then, because I need to make the green stuff, I am back in the cells of the worker bees. I am working at a certain very big bank headquarters in Troy. As I drove up toward the building this morning, my first thought, was gosh, “how on earth did I miss this thing?” as I approached the huge steel and glass colossus. I parked my small car in the lot, fairly easily, and joined the clip of women’s high heel shoes in the small trickle of women marching into the many layers of ominous concrete and all-seeing glass. It seemed like people kinda had that work hump, ya’ know, that kind bent head gait that people get as head toward work? I looked at the building that I will likely be spending most of the summer in every day and I felt, yes, like a worker bee resignedly returning to my cell in the hive.

For the past two years, I have taught college, and have enjoyed a rather unconventional work schedule, and a college environment. I can have classes in the am, or evenings, and, beyond that, my schedule is mine to set. I do not have to work from 8 or 9 to 5pm, although I do have prep to do constantly. I get to work with people, and use creativity and humor, intellectualism, discussion, and build relationships with students. Many of my classrooms have been stark and drag, but my work is on a campus with flyers for writing, gay pride, and animae clubs. I am often approached by those trying to ensure that I am registered to vote, and if I know about the Libertarian Party. I spend a sizable chunk of every day in the library, grading papers, or reviewing current literature or literary criticism.

Glancing at the marble floors in this palatial building, I was thinking about how, when I was young, I was so readily impressed with this sort of place. It seemed so glamorous. Now it all seems so vacuous to me. I don’t mean to knock anyone ‘s livelihood or career, but I know now, that this 9 to 5, sit-at-your –desk-all-day-and-enter -numbers life is definitely not for me. No matter how lavish the surroundings. Is it for anyone? Apparently so. What keeps me going is, yes, the greenbacks, and the promise of teaching again in the fall. Until then, I suppose I will try to remember that I do work in a nice place, and it’s just for now.

Just Published in the detroiter

Just published in the detroiter! Wow, I feel more like a real writer! Check out the link, and see what you think. I haven't reposted the poem here, because it has been posted earlier. You'll have to click the link to read it. : )

Btw, the detroiter is a great source for publication and news about arts events in the D.

http://www.thedetroiter.com/b_lit/

A beautiful quote

knowing love,
I will allow all things to come and go
to be as supple as the wind
for life is right in any case and
my heart is as open as the sky

In the Wake of the Virginia Tech Shootings

Does Blogging About This Really Help?

my response to my pal's (seriousprofessor's) recent myspace blog that just briefly mentioned the big news story lately (more on this later) :

nice to see a discussion of the shooting at Virginia Tech... sorta.. it's definitely important to deal with outside events in these writings... but can one, or more, decide to push such events intentionally out of our consciousness(es)? My psyche doesn't wanna know about such things... how can this news be helpful? ... such coverage only seems to inspire more awful bloodshed... maybe the news can be helpful to show us all how important it is to readily treat individuals that need real psychiatric help. But, unfortunately, it seems for the news, that's not what it's about. It's about the drama. Sigh. What a terrible shame. There's much good in this world if you can see it. Really.