A rare morbid post . . .

The following is a little twisted, but it shows how imperfect media websites can be.

Behind a cut so my friends will yell at me less.

( Cut )

On a rainy Thursday afternoon . . .

Music?
Dropkicks, Live on St. Patrick's Day.

Gotta warm up.

1. Let's see . . . How about a teaching moment? So I am teaching the Holocaust and Hitler's version of a racially pure Aryan state. Suddenly, I remember that five or so kids in the class have seen "300," so I ask them about racial purity and state indoctrination. All of a sudden, the little lightbulbs go on over their heads.

2. Also in class, a different one, I think, the kids were talking about an English teacher who is really hard:

Student: "And Mr. Toscano, he doesn't care whether we do the homework."

Me: "What do you mean he doesn't care?"

Student: "He just gives us a zero."

Me: "I give you zeroes."

Student: "Yeah, but if we miss two or three homeworks, you tell us you're disappointed, and we better start doing them. You care."

3. From the things I didn't do department: I could be getting ready to put on a sumo suit and fighting in a tournament at a really cool fund-raiser, but I finally realized I do not have to do everything. I made my donation and moved on.

4. This one is mostly for shadesong: Flogging Molly merchandise!.

5. Mostly for evilnicola: So we're doing a parent meeting today, and the student -- let's call him Emo-Boy, is weating a "Happy Bunny" t-shirt. I do not remember which one.

6. Same meeting: Issues comes up about the student's behavior with a sub (he's usually very polite). He mutters something, then his mom says, "Why don't you tell us what happened -- without the bullshit." I almost kissed her. :)

7. Damned Boston College. I lost the first game of my bracket.

More various matters, including last call for Henry V . . .

1. It's funny, but I have seen a real uptick in first-period tardies this week. I wonder if the time change has anything to do with it?

2. Last call for Friday night: Dinner at Mary Chang's at 6 p.m., Henry V at 8 p.m. Let me know if you have not already let me know. I will make a go/no-go decision based on weather by 4 p.m. aerynne? If you see this and you get a cancellation announcenment, please post it here?

3. If you are going to Goddesses, I will have cookie information, and you can give me a chekc if you would like.

4. We are going to see the Dropkick's Saturday afternoon. Afterwards, we may go to my new favorite beer bar -- Deep Ellum, on Cambridge Street in Allston. If you are gonna be out and about, give me a call at maybe 6:30 p.m. or so. Phone number available by e-maling me at the address on my profile. Or call evilnicola, theresat or alathea_eastrid if you have their numbers.

5. Ejaculate like a porn star? Yeah, that's a spam header all right.

Apropos of a lot of things . . .

I want to share a story and post some Dropkick Murphys’ lyrics.

Marine Sgt. Andrew Farrar of Weymouth, Mass., died Jan. 28, 2005, in Al Anbar Province. He was assigned to Headquarters and Service Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. People who knew him said he was a great Marine and a great guy.

I did not know him, but like me and evilnicola, he was a Dropkicks’ fan.

The story goes that Andrew told his dad that should he not make it back to his wife and child, he wanted the Dropkicks’ version of “Fields of Athenry” played at his funeral.

After he died, his brother, a middle school history teacher, posted on a Dropkicks’ message board, seeking permission to use the song. Instead, the band showed up, played the song and made CDs for the family.

Later, the band released a two-song CD that included “Fields” and “Last Letter Home,” which included words from letters Andrew had written. All the proceeds went to Andrew’s family.

So here I am, listening to the Dropkicks in preparation for Thursday’s concert, and “Green Fields of France.” comes on. That got me thinking about Andrew and sharing the story with you folks.

This also made me think about the fact that I am very happy that sappersgt, one of the folks I know only through LJ, is back home with his wife, soldiergrrrl. samuraipunch, I know you have been back for a while, but I glad you're back, too. Thank you all for what you have done for us.

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