Booooo!

Happy Halloween everyone! :D

Delicious Discovery

Today while I was at Walgreens picking up some groceries, I noticed a basket full of "Holiday" cadbury cream eggs. Who knew? While I think it's a bit lame to now have a very traditional easter EGG candy out at Christmas, I can' really complain because it's my favorite candy of all time! :P This just means I get to have them for a longer period during the year. :D

I bought a new flavor of tea today (in addition to Vanilla Honey Chamomile and Chai which are my faves,) called Rich Chocolate Caramel- mmmm! (By Celestial Seasonings, of course!)

Yesterday I finally conquered some of my fear of playing PS2's Resident Evil 4 game. I got much, much farther than I had ever gotten with only a few panick attacks! Erika would be proud. :P

I bought 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' the other day because I simply could not wait very long to read it seeing how I just finished Half Blood Prince. I'm almost half way through it- yay I'm finally catching up! :D

And arrrrgh, I can feel the bloatedness of that certain monthly something starting to come on ...

I Look Like Who?

Today at work three different customers at different times told me that I looked like Swiss Miss, some German blonde girl who is apparently a mascot for some type of beer, and Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook.' Deeeefinitely don't see the Rachel McAdams resemblance but hey, I took it as a compliment.

Also while working, a woman at my table just barfed on her plate. It ... was ... disgusting. :/

A Sad End

After reading the Harry Potter books 1-5 I got stuck. Well actually, I got stuck on book #5 at about page 100. That lasted about a year. Well FINALLY I finished it and read Half-Blood Prince this week, (in 3 days.) Great book. Terrible end. It made me very sad. I was very distressed at half passed midnight last night when I finished it and went to bed. :( Now of course, I will have to get Deathly Hallows SOON so I can see what the bloody hell is going to happen now! Phew. I'm finally catching up.

Pointless Ramblings

I've decided to fulfill my urge to throw a Halloween party by throwing a small Halloween bash for Chris and I. Who said you can't have a party with just two people? :P Today I bought some stuff for it as well as a cute costume, woowoo! :D I'm stupidly excited because I haven't worn an actual "costume" on Halloween for at least a couple years. And I have tons of cute ideas for the food. Mmmmmm!

Right now Chris and I are playing Resident Evil 4 (or shall I say, "Chris" is playing, lol!) I played for about the first 5-10 minutes and then handed the control to Chris ... ummmm yeah anyone who has seen me play that game at Erika's house knows how much I tend to freak out while playing. :P

I have this Sunday off from work, yay. Funny, I have tonight off too! :P I almost neeever get any part of the weekend off. Normally I work Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday!

I'm debating on when I should come home for Christmas. Getting off work on and around Christmas is extremely hard, especially if you want more then 2-3 days off. (Because EVERYONE wants off during that time.) Sooo ... would it be better to come home for probably a short time during Christmas, or wait until January (like last year,) where I can probably come home for much longer, (not to mention for much cheaper.) I mean ... I'd really like to be home for Christmas this year especially since I wasn't last year but ... but ... I'd also like to be home for more than 5 days! Hmmmm ...

Immigration

Disclaimer: Allison asked me to write about this some six weeks ago, so this painfully long post is all her fault :P

I've just watched three hours of news (CNN, FOX, and network television), and interviews with Mexico's ex-president, Vicente Fox, on Bill Mahr and on Hannity's America. The issue in each case was immigration.

In today's highly charged environment, it seems you can't discuss immigration without being labeled a racist - that is, unless you're of Hispanic descent. For the record, this is the result of the violence to which Mexicans, who are Native-Americans colonized by the Spanish, have been subjected to since the U.S. appropriated Northern Mexico, or what is now known as the Southwest. The Texas-Rangers hunted, hung, tortured, and shot Mexicans. Legal immigrants were, at random, rounded up by police, thrown onto train cars and sent to Mexico and further south. U.S. sailors beat, killed, and raped Mexicans without facing repercussions. And, like African-Americans, Mexican-Americans, particularly in the Southwest, were forbidden from entering white schools, public areas, shops, and restaurants.

Fortunately, as someone of Hispanic origin, I can speak out against unchecked immigration without being labeled a racist. As far as I can tell, it's destroying California.

What we have in California are two distinct classes of Mexicans - legal and illegal immigrants. But, while this seems, on the face of it, purely a legal distinction, it points to vast cultural and economic differences. Those who immigrate legally tend to come from the country's middle and upper classes. They bring with them a respect for education, authority and proper language, proficiency in at least two languages, an appreciation for classical music and great literature, and traditional family values. However, an overwhelming number of immigrants, those who come here illegally, are the impoverished and uneducated. They hail from small mountain villages, border towns, or the jungle. They come with antiquated ideas about the importance of physical labor, education, medicine, child-rearing, a woman's role, drinking, and manliness. Moreover, many have limited literacy in even Spanish. It's best to think of this group as the hillbillies of Mexico.

While complaining about illegal immigrants based purely on cultural factors would smack of racism, there's more to it than just that. Although most work terribly hard for the little money they make, their rural background ill-equips them to raise children in the urban setting of California. The lack of emphasis they place on attaining a quality education, especially in regards to their daughters, produces children who not only resent school, but also have unrealistic expectations about the quality of life they will enjoy. At some point, reality comes crashing down on these children and they realize they have but two options: commit to a life of backbreaking, low-paying jobs, or enter into a life of crime. Often, the choice is crime.

Having said that, I'd like to suggest that the problem with illegal immigration is two-fold: the spread of violence and the loss of a unified American identity. Some would suggest that it's about the drain on social services and national security, but that's really more of a rallying call for racists than actual reality. Economists not only trumpet forth the positive influence of immigrants on the economy, they suggest that more immigration would be preferable. Others have shown that the savings immigrants provide corporations and consumers far outweigh what they take back in social services. As for national security, more terrorists have been caught trying to enter the country through our unprotected border with Canada than at Mexico's. But, by far the most common complaint against illegal immigrants is that they're taking away jobs from hard-working Americans. I have two thoughts on this: 1) How many Americans are willing to pick hundreds of strawberries a day, and 2) If Americans can't take advantage of their educational opportunities to the extent that they can't compete against immigrants from the jungle, it's their own fault.

Anyone who doubts that violence stems from the vicious cycle of poverty, a lack of education, and poverty again, which coincidentally is the cycle many immigrants' children perpetuate, need only visit several of the communities in which I have lived. We can, for example, look at Pomona, the nice middle and upper class community in which I lived while growing up. This city, referenced in an old Disney cartoon, and once famous for its orange groves, theatre houses, and stellar school system, is now primarily a Hispanic community plagued by poverty and violence. Its upscale areas refuse to refer to themselves as part of the city and have adopted nicknames: Phillip's Ranch and the Ganesha Hills. And, the school system has fallen in such disrepair that some of the schools have been taken over by the state.

We need to do our best to preserve what little sense of national identity we still have left. Although the children and grandchildren of immigrants eventually assimilate in the mainstream American culture, right now we have so many people immigrating to this country that they are able to establish cultural enclaves, where there is heavy pressure against assimilation. And, if what has happened in the former Soviet Union, Rome, Spain, Iraq, and other countries is any indication, losing a sense of national pride and unity leads to sectarianism, mistrust, violence, and even the potential division of a country. Personally, I'm offended when I attend events or watch rallies where the flag of another country is waved rather than ours. Unless, you moved here recently, and have affection for your homeland, there's no excuse for this. And yet, many second generation immigrants engage in this. Besides, I would hope that people be grateful to be here and proud of this country which has given them so many opportunities. And, although my father has endured vicious racism, especially when he first came here decades ago, he's proud enough of this country that he's attended Air Shows, worn a motorcycle helmet with the American flag, and wanted to serve in Vietnam.

Beyond the issues of violence and a unified national identity, I oppose illegal immigration simply on the grounds that it's diminishing the quality of education in this country and strengthening insulting stereotypes of Mexicans. With so many students who either have limited literacy in English or resent schooling altogether, it has become difficult to serve those students who both want to learn and have the literacy to do so. In the past, those students with limited literacy in English were tracked into special courses, but, as an unintended result of a racist bill passed a decade ago, those students are now in mainstream college-preparatory courses where everyone now suffers. The best students are forced to learn at a slower pace, while the weaker students struggle just to hang on and earn a D. And, as for the stereotypes, I'd rather not be portrayed as an uneducated hillbilly with antiquated ideas about how the world operates. People often tell me I'm different from other Mexicans they know, but that's just because Mexicans like me tend to live south of the border.

As for the question of how to put an end to illegal immigration, I have to agree with the often outrageous Ann Coulter. We need to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to come here, and easier for qualified immigrants to come through the proper channels. (As companies, such as California Edison will tell you, we are experiencing a shortage of qualified workers in the technology industry, and it costs a significant deal of money to locate, train, and import workers from outside the country.) There are several things that can be done to eliminate the rampant immigration.

First, employers of illegal immigrants should be fined and threatened with jail time - this includes farmers, corporations, and people who just want someone to mow their lawns.

Second, deny access to social services such as hospital care. But, keep access to education open as a lack of education begets poverty, which in turn begets violence.

Third, police should run background checks of each person they arrest. If the person committing the crime happens to be here illegally, deport them. This is being done in Texas right now, much to the chagrin of the Mexican community there. Unfortunately for them, I don't want criminals from other countries living here, and I don't think anyone else does either.

Apartment complexes and housing developments that admit illegal immigrants should also be fined heavily and threatened with the possibility of a jail term for obstruction of justice.

Finally, for those who want to take extreme measures, we can either outlaw or limit the use of other languages in professional settings, on business placards, and in the media (television, radio, and advertisements). Under such conditions, immigrants who don't already know English would be forced to acquire it. To sum it up, if you want immigration under control, you have to be willing to take away the incentives for it.

Content

Today it was actually a bit nippy outside, cloudy, drizzly, and some what gloomy. It was fabulous. I got all cuddled in my nice warm cat blanket, made a cup of tea, and watched '28 Weeks Later' with Chris. Simply delightful.

I want an espresso machine. BADLY. Then I can have caramel macchiatos, lattes, and chai tea any time. It would be SO very happy making. :::sigh:::

On Education

As a teacher, specifically one from Southern California - the epicenter of the immigration debate, I'm often asked about my thoughts on both the subject of education and immigration. The following are some, but not nearly all of those thoughts, since I could and have written major essays on them in the past.

- Why can't schools in low-income neighborhoods, which tend to serve minority populations, provide a quality of education equal to that of schools in largely white, middle-class communities? Unfortunately, this is a rather complicated problem, and people tend to gravitate towards the simplest answer. The following are a few of the reasons why there is an achievement gap.

- The Environment
1) The violence prevalent in so many of our poorest communities drives away many of the most qualified teachers. Would you want to work in a school or community where you'd be afraid of being shot, stabbed, mugged, or jumped?

2) Too many of the teachers in these schools are what I refer to as mental midgets, meaning they have failed a teacher certification exam anywhere from three to eight times, despite the fact that those tests are at the eighth grade level.

3) Although low-income schools (taxes play a role here), are eligible for additional funds from the state and federal coffers, mismanagement of said money guarantees that teachers at these schools have few resources available to students and teachers. Ex: I still don't have a pencil sharpener for my classroom.

4) The violence in the surrounding areas prevents many students from collaborating on after-school projects, visiting libraries, or staying out at night to take place in extra-curricular activities. In Los Angeles, a student was shot through the wall of her bedroom while reading The Last of the Mohicans.

5) Starvation is a direct result of poverty; and, in communities where 96% of the children don't have enough to eat, it's not unreasonable to expect that kids have more important things on their mind than Algebra.

- Immigrant Issues
1) Those emigrating to the United States are overwhelmingly the poor and dispossessed of their respective countries, not the engineers, doctors, or Nobel Laureates. That said, many of these immigrants not only have no knowledge of English, they also have a limited knowledge of their own native language.

2) Without access to educational opportunities or stable work, many immigrants do not have the time or the support to gain proficiency in English. This should not be surprising when so many native-born Americans have an appalling degree of proficiency in English. It has been found that only 30% of all college grads can properly analyze a text.

3) Many of the dispossessed immigrants come from areas where the lack of access to an education has taught them that the only way to acquire economic prosperity is through backbreaking manual labor.

4) Thus, the children of these immigrants grow up without any foundations in English, and are brainwashed into thinking that manual labor, and not education, will be their means of escape from the ghetto. It's not a lack of work ethic; it's a lack of understanding how to go about reaching their goals.

- Social Pressures
1) There's a great degree of pressure from those within immigrant communities for children to retain their culture, language, and values for fear of having them become "too" American.

2) A lack of support at home makes it difficult for children to become immersed in the American school system, its language, and its values.

3) Lack of support oftentimes leads to isolation and alienation not only from family but also from any possible friends. (i.e. Doing too well in school is often seen as becoming white-washed). Would you have had the courage to become an outsider (at school and at home) as a small child?

4) The lack of positive role models and the negative stereotypes on TV work to define how these students view themselves - as low-achieving, impoverished, thugs. As numerous studies have shown, students rise or fall to meet the expectations we have of them.

Now that I've spent a good deal of time talking about the struggles many students face, I'd like to make it clear that I believe making excuses and allowances for students is a huge disservice, one that promotes and encourages future failure. Struggles should define where we've come from, not where we're going.

Lonesome

I'm aching to plan a Halloween party! I have so many great ideas for decorations, food, drinks, and activites. Or a cocktail party. Or a game night. Or ...

Unfortunetly it would probably be a party for 2 because I haven't really made any real friends out here in California. :( Come to think of it, I've lived in 3 different areas since I moved here 2 years ago, which is part of the problem. I'm not the type of person who surrounds herself with tons of "friends," I'm more of the person who has a few "close" friends. And close friends are hard to make. During my 4 years at college, I consider myself to have made about 5 close friends.

I'm really lucky that I get to live with my significant other, (who is also one of my best friends,) but ... he's pretty much my "only" real friend out here. I consider my former roommates friends, but not close friends. I mean we haven't even really kept in contact since I moved almost 2 months ago.

:::sigh::: I just want some friends so I can plan a damn party. :P But how? Most of the people at work are nice ... but ... not really the type I'd spend alot of time with. Most of them are more into the "let's go clubbing" scene. I miss my friends from home. I hate living so far away some times. :(

Ouchy.

So much for starting my week "refreshed." Instead I ended up in the hospital getting 8 stitches on the side of my left leg/calf. Grrrr. I had a bit of an accident at work involving a shattered glass and my leg. Oh well. And it sucked because I didn't have time to make any money. AND I can't work-out tomorrow. The good news is that I didn't have to pay for anything since it happened at work. It was my first experience getting stitches and getting the stitches didn't hurt as much as the several shots I had to get in my leg to numb the area. Unfortunetly, the numbing effect is starting to wear off and I can feel my lower leg beginning to throb. Booo hooo. :(

I'm trying to play one of the Resident Evil playstion games (Chris bought a pack of all three Resident Evil games the other day,) so who knows, it'll probably result in another injury, lol. Everytime I play those games at Erika's house I always end up panicking and thrashing around- resulting in injury. :P

Okay well I'm off to fight the war against zombies, hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow!

Sniffle

Today was the laziest day I've had in a loooooong time. On Wednesday night I started to get a cold, and by Friday/Saturday it had gotten pretty nasty. But despite the fact that my nose was clogged, my head hurt, and my throat hurt, I was still able to go to work Friday night/Saturday morning/ and again Saturday night. But for some reason today, the cold just kicked my butt!!! I mean, I literally laid on the couch ALL DAY and watched a '7th Heaven' marathon on tv. I just had no energy whatsoever, I felt drugged ... (well technically I was because I got so desperate that I went to the Walgreens pharmacy and bought the over-the-counter Sudafed ... however you spell it.)

But even though the only productive things I did today was to go buy more toilet paper and bake cookies, it felt soooooo good just to relax all day long. Those days are few and far in between. Even on my days off from work I still keep busy by working-out, running errands, cleaning, etc etc.

Hopefully tomorrow I will wake up refreshed, reenergized, and ready to start my week!

Pumpkins and Things

I got some fall/Halloween decorations for the apartment today- yay! This is a picture of what I put on top of our refridgerator, isn't it cute? I love, love, love to decorate for seasons and holidays! I also found a bunch of super cute Halloween treat ideas to make for Halloween, and I got some really cute Halloween cupcake holder thingys ... can't remember what they're called .... lol. :P

Pretty soon I have to go to work -BLAH- I just had to spread the decorating excitment! :P

Tea Party

Mmmmm I just drank not one but TWO cups of hot Celestial Seasonings honey vanilla chamomile tea. YUMMM-o. You all should try that flavor. Splendid really.

On Sunday Chris and I went to the LA County Fair, which was loads of fun. The food theme this year was, "Fried food on a stick." Interesting, no? Well let's just say that they had "deep fried oreos" and I tried them. Yuck. YUCK. Hahaha they made me so queezy! On the less queezy (for me at least,) I had cotton candy too. Yummmmy!

I feel a bit ill today. My head has been banging since last night and I'm sweaty and clammy and my throat hurts and my nose is a bit runny. Hmmmm. Sounds like a cold. Perhaps.

Was SO excited to have 'House' start again the other week. YAY!!!

Hmmm ... that is all.

Back Online.

You never realize how dependant you become on the internet for certain things until you are forced to go without. I was forced to go without it just for the past 4 days and I was already going insane! You just get into the habit of doing certain things and checking certain things online everyday that when you don't have access to it all of a sudden, it's like, "what do I do?" :P I mean, everyday I check my e-mail, my two myspace accounts, my blog, other people's blogs, eonline, foodnetwork, etc etc. And when I need to know a certain piece of information I just look it up on the internet! Monday, I needed to pay my cell phone bill but couldn't because I didn't have access to the internet. Ahhhhh but the internet is back and I can now resume my usual routine. :P

Fall. I love it. (Even though it's not nearly as good out here in California ... ) But I'm excited about it just the same. I love wearing cute long sleeve sweaters and getting all cozey inside with a book or a movie on, with pumpkin pie scented candles, fall decorations, and a nice warm latte. :::sighhh:::: ahhhh yes. I think I need to go get some fall decor tomorrow ...

Cramps. They hurt. Bloated. Gahhh.