Yearbook Photos

So today is makeup Picture Day at Balboa, which has me thinking about yearbooks and photos and how such awesome and dreadful moments in our lives are immortalized in yearbooks.  I gotta say, I'm so glad that the yearbook is an old tradition that's stuck around in this electro-age we're living in.

It's so awkward to sit and pose for a camera.  Especially on a strangely short stool with a fake backdrop behind you.

All this thinking about picture-taking, coupled with my chronic procrastination, has made me google yearbook photos.  It's freakin' amazing what's out there, y'all.  Here are some of my favorites:

from

Jeffree Star Best Hair yearbook photo 2003

from

Sadly, I couldn't find the high school yearbook photo for Taylor Kitsch (aka Tim Riggins).  He must have his bases WELL covered.

And here are my high school senior pics:

Ha!  Funny, huh?

Somebody get me some flats

cause it looks like I might be standing in the unemployment line come July. I've been teaching ROOTS, a class for kids who've been severely impacted by the prison system (they've been incarcerated and/or have incarcerated parents) for the past four years. I LOVE MY JOB SO MUCH. I teach two classes of ROOTS per day (plus a Study Hall), and the rest of the day have time to do things like develop an engaging curriculum, meet with students who are in trouble, intervention/a little counseling, things like that. It's tough, but it's pretty much a dream for me, as it combines everything I'm passionate about (underserved kids, the prison system, art, education, creative writing, social justice).

But as many of you know, California's in the midst of a budget crisis, and guess what gets cut first? Teachers, social programs, services for marginalized youth. WTF?! Last night I stood with some amazing allies & my die-hard boss & one rockstar student at San Francisco City Hall for five hours, pleading with the Board of Supervisors to reinstate funding for ROOTS at Balboa High School. My students are the most vulnerable, struggling kids in the school . . . and they need us! Cross your fingers that the Mayor's office musters up some empathy and solidarity and gives us the money that we need to make this happen for the kiddos! Otherwise I might be doing one of these two things:

fries

prossy

Ugh. But to change the subject to something much more awesome, check out my piece about preteen crushes on author Nina LaCour's amazing online "journal," Chelsea I Want My Flannel Back. It's called Edward I Want My Dignity Back, and it's an homage to my 7th grade crush . . . Edward Cauthorn. :) If you like Mortified and mix tapes and references to the 90's, Chelsea I Want My Flannel back will be right up your alley. :) Here's a preview:

Prom Pics

Prom night was decidedly just as much of a blast for the teacher "chaperones" as it was for the kiddos. But before I get into the night's shenanigans, check out this little gem I found:

me & my high school boyfriend at junior prom 1998!

Amazing, right? Oh, the simple days. Of being 16 and having a boyfriend who lived in a week-by-week motel and had a baby with his ex-girlfriend, who turned out to be a professional escort. (All of that is true).

Fast-forward 12 years to last night's prom at San Francisco City Hall. Gorgeous! My peeps and I gathered at Monica and Mike's for pre-prom pizza and cocktails before cabbing it down to City Hall to join the festivities. Here are some pics--please excuse the dark grainy-ness of the iphone photos:

the venue

my favorite prom shot!

me with my sweet, handsome student JD

the M twinnies looking lovely

my 5th period student LG and his lady B

me with G & D--I love these two!

Gaela with her little bff, SM

I couldn't have been happier to see JH and JD come to prom together!

at a bar after prom--note the dollar bill in Cheryl's dress

We had so much fun (maybe a little too much fun), and I am sure as hell paying for it today. I've spent most of this gorgeous, sunny Sunday fighting my massive hangover in bed and/or on my couch (with a small break to get veggie Chinese and ice cream with Meagan). So much for my plans to go to the farmers' market and hike! Sometimes you just gotta surrender to the slumber.

In other news: the biggest thank you I can shout to Erika at Cafe Fashionista for hosting the most amazing giveaway ever! Guess what I won? A freaking awesome new flat iron. I couldn't be more psyched. Go check out Erika's fantastic blog for all kinds of fashion and humor and girly goodness. I love it!