Nobel Peace & Other Wild Things

Congrats to our fabulous President for winning and accepting the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize! Congrats to Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers for writing and releasing the film from Maurice Sendak's infamous Caldecott-winning children's book "Where the Wild Things Are." (You better remember that book from FP!) I suppose it makes little sense to merge these two diverging pieces of news together, but for President Obama's daughter Malia, that may not be so unusual.

On the day of the award ceremony, Malia, age 10, congratulates her father then proceeds to remind him it's Bo's birthday and that it's going to be a 3-day weekend. (Named after the singer/performer Bo Diddly, Bo is the Obama family dog.) Never mind that her father is the fourth president to ever win this prestigious and honorable prize. Never mind he's the third sitting president to win, or that he's the very first to receive the award as a freshman in office. In winning, President Barack Obama joins the elite group of others such as Mikhail Gorbechav (in helping end Cold War) and Nelson Mandela (in his great efforts to end apartheid.) But to his daughters at home in the White House, President Obama is just a good ole' humble and fun loving dad. Aw, shucks...

As a 48-year-old first year president, Obama has more pressure and expectations to take on now. Many believe he was undeserving of such prestige. Some believe it wasn't enough to be selected for simply his efforts and inspiration. But the President was chosen for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples" and he accepted the award as "a call to action." He continues his efforts for change and charity by donating his $1.4 million to charity.

President Obama hasn't yet decided where the money will go...who should he donate this money to? (Sorry, video games, trendy footwear, new sports equipment and junk food fails to fall under the category of charity!)

Three loud cheers for our great and Noble President! King of the Wild Things!

Let the Wild Rumpus Start!

Choices

Happy Sunday, Kids...(or are you now teens? Pre-teens? Yikes.)

What will you do today? Some of you will make warm sticky buns for your family, stay indoors to master that last pre-algebra problem, tinker keys on the piano to warm up those stiff fingers, tackle a few chapters in that (required) book by choice, or decide that today will be the day to build a rocket ship, finish writing your fancy research paper on AEROSPACE ENGINEERING or learn Arabic. Keep IT up, geniuses (and don't forget my bank account number when you make the millions!)

While the rest of you...will sleep in, scarf down a bowl of lucky Captain Crunch or crunchy Lucky Charms in front of cartoon reruns with sleep still tangled in your eyelashes and then spend the rest of your lazy Sunday playing video games in comfy pajamas. But unfortunately, most of you have strict parents that would never allow for sugar cereals, but instead give you a bitter lecture about your lack of work ethic while forcing plain soggy oatmeal, fried eggs with oozy yolks, spinach pancakes and more nagging down your throat. Prizes don't come with those healthy foods and if it did, your little brother or sister would probably have beaten you to it anyway. And if so, you are one of those students who are then dragged to church with ungroomed hair only to get another lecture in the car when you've forgotten your bibles - yet again! You will then try to keep awake during Sunday school, putting more effort in disguising those uncontrollable yawns, only to wish you were still under warm covers and slumber.

Life as a pre-teen can sure s-u-c-k.

Which kind is your Sunday? And how would it be different if you didn't have unreasonable parents and annoying brother and sisters and strict teachers and God down your back and under your skin?

Jai Ho and Jia Yo!

Miss Lou

6-7th Grade: Above & Beyond!

Hello 401,

Thanks for keeping me updated on the dis/likes of your lives and filling me in on the wonders, curiosities, emotional mysteries of your great adventure at Middle/Junior High School (M/JHS). It gets more competitive and harder as the years add on, but once you get used to the different subject and periods, varying personality of teachers, mastering the transition minutes between classes and hours of endless assignments and projects and readings and calculating and dissecting, it's not so so bad, right? (Phew, I'm tired just thinking back on my experiences...zzz.)

In no time, M/JHS will all be over. Some of us love school: the smell of newly sharpened pencils, the hopeful feel of blank white paper and the sour smell of student lockers (ew). Some choose to continue onto more school voluntarily while others loathe at the mere thought of heeding to annoying bells, getting pushed and shoved through crowded hallways, and cringe at the sight and smell of lab goggles and used textbooks.

Advice? Well, you'll just have to continue feeling all these wondrous sensations, giving into each teachers' expectations and trying your absolute best in discovering what you enjoy and do best. (Really, the key is to find out what the teacher wants and begin first by abiding, then adding your own personal and brilliant flare.)

Once you find * IT * - school life will turn into something you look forward to, rather than despise. The IT factor is something that you can't wait to keep on doing. IT instills passion and interest. Once you find IT, time will no longer exist. Great artists feel IT when they draw, paint, play music or write. Biologists and doctors feel IT when they look inside a microscope, splitting cells or holding a scalpel against flesh. Athletes feel IT when they pass through the finish line and break their Performance Record. Musicians feel IT when they write a new song or feel the high energy of their fans on stage. Origami enthusiasts feel IT when they discover a whole new fold, or complete an impossible structure with paper. Animal activists feel IT when they save a whale from endangerment, or cast a broken bone on a naughty puppy. Chefs feel IT when they "wow!" their customers with new recipes and wake the taste buds with great sensations.

Teachers and professors feel IT when their students discover their very own IT. Eaters feel IT when they eat. Sleepers feel IT when they sleep. Veda Bee feels IT when she passes out after eating too many stolen treats. Well, you get the picture...

When do you feel IT? Not happening? Give it time. Explore more. Take more risks. Work hard. Play hard and don't forget to take time for a(n) (un)healthy snack and a long nap as reward.

Keep writing!

Miss Lou