Amanda Palmer

Here are some of the pictures I took at Amanda Palmer's closing show at the Spiegletent.
It was absolutely amazing.
Both times.
Covers of "Material Girl" "Umbrella" and "Hallelujah" (as made famous by Rufus Wainwright).
I've seen a lot of brilliant work here at the Festival.
Trying to cram as much as I can in before I leave.
Only 4 more days!
(and one for travel)

Puzzled

For as long as I can remember, I have viewed life as a puzzle. (Not a puzzle as in a mystery, although that is also part of it.) Life is a puzzle because it's a delicate fitting together of pieces--people, events, places. All of us have different ways to solve a puzzle or piece it together. Some start from the middle and work out. Others, such as myself, begin with the border and hope the rest falls into place.

Perhaps now more than ever, I am hoping that the pieces falls into place.

Cheers from Scotland!

So this is what happens when a lamp rated at 240V isn't seated properly.
Ate. Up.
Fringe is the good.
I really should devote more time and energy to a post about the city, shows I've seen and other things, so that'll come later.
This post is just for the picture.

Trade-offs and Trade-Ins

So my life the past couple of weeks has relied upon Pros/Cons lists. Why stop now?

The new important decision is whether to teach Pre-K or Middle School. Here's the breakdown:

Pre-K
Pros:

• I would love my job, no doubt about it
  
• I have more experience with Pre-K
• No $ would be taken out of my paycheck for emergency certification
• Less grading, more free time
• I will probably get a job in Pre-K sooner than a job in middle school
• I won't have to take more Praxis exams
• I can send my kids to kindergarten as readers!
  
• Pre-K is a policy area that I am passionate about!!!
  

Cons:

• No degree from Penn (they do not have a Masters/certification for early childhood ed)
• Less rigorous?
  
• While I have more experience with Pre-K, I have never lead a pre-K classroom by myself.

Middle School
Pros:

• Closer to 5th grade (what I taught this summer)
• Degree from Penn
• I'm going to add this one because there has to be at least one more positive thing about me teaching middle school...

Cons:

• More grading, less free time
• $50.00 taken out of every paycheck for emergency certification
• More Praxis exams to take and pass (blegh)
• Not comfortable with content areas (I would only be teaching math or science)
• No guarantee that I would get science instead of math
• No idea when I'll get a job.
  

So clearly I am leaning toward Pre-K...the question becomes, how important is a degree from Penn? What are your thoughts?