Some experiences take some work. Sort of like relationships. It took a lot of effort to stay engaged in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind after a very slow, disjointed first half hour.

By the end of the movie, I realized how uncannily appropriate that feeling was; how the work you put into following the plot lines and cuts was rewarded by the fantastic ending, just like in a relationship.
Make sure you stick it out through the first little bit. Don't fight it-- the story melts into you eventually, intuitively. It's incredibly well-done.

I was buying a birthday card for a friend today, when I saw a new category: Gay Wedding.

One card had two guys at the altar, with the Justice of the Peace saying, "You may now exchange recipes." Another had two guys in tuxes holding hands, carrying huge happy face lollipops.

It would be interesting to see how greeting cards have changed over the years to reflect society. I'm sure somebody way smarter than me, with more time on their hands, is already putting together a doctorate on exactly this topic.

It's great to see that gay wedding cards are hitting the mainstream.
My only complaint? Most gay people are way funnier than these cards.

It's all about the little things. And what I've learned is that these little things have always been happening, but I've gotten better at seeing them, and appreciating them.

A class full of kids, different learning styles, different computer-savviness, all riveted at being able to get the computer to print out "Yer Mom" on the screen.

A punk with a mohawk and a Muslim girl in a hijab, laughing and skipping arm in arm down the hallway.

Meeting with a concerned parent and his son's teachers. The parent would like us to shame his son by announcing the boy's low mark to the entire class. Shame will motivate. He may be right, but I explain it's not an option. FOIP. Professional standards. Self-esteem. The father gives me a look that says, "Fuck your FOIP. Make my boy learn."

The track team is training in the hallway because there is snow on the ground in April. One athlete, winded, complaining to another: "Yeah, but I run the 400. You run the 3000. That's like... 4 times longer!" And then after a moment, "At least four times."

Later, as I leave, I see that student and his teammates and coach stretching. I ask him about his math. He has since concluded that 7 is a better estimate than 4. Which leads to a fun conversation about why math is important. Everything from being able to do your taxes to telling how much time is left in class.

Tomorrow will be different.