I was wrong...

Wrong is a word with many synonyms. Incorrect, inaccurate, false, untrue work as well as any. All those words help to define something by what it is not. In my case, it seems that I am often "wrong" because I am not ready. COUNTLESS TIMES this has happened.

List of things I was slippin' on:

1) The Cold War Kids' first album Robbers & Cowards. I downloaded "Hang Me Up to Dry" and was indifferent. Then I decided to go ahead with the album purchase. I moderately enjoyed a few songs. But then. Later I got back into the album to realize it's complete badassery. I have seen them THREE times - Local 506 (1st album tour), later that year at Lollapalooza, and last year at Cat's Cradle.

2) The impetus for this blog. I watched Mystic River today and was nearly blown away. I watched this in NY a few years ago in theaters. I was with my buddy Scott Werner and some of his NY pals. Our reaction (I think) was all middle-of-the-road. I'm not sure what has happened to me that would change my reaction that much.

3) Reading. From 4th til some point in high school I cooled on my reading. Since then I feel I am a much less absorbing reading and am no longer able to read prolific amounts in a short time. I set a goal last year (and again this year) to read 30 books. Counting the ones I taught, I hit 27, just missing one I finished in January.

4) Teaching is something I didn't really consider because I saw how burned out my parents seemed at the end of their careers. I'll just say this, when all goes (mostly) according to plan, this job is FUN.

5) Just all the music I secretly believed Philip, my college roommate, was crap. Come to find out, he had a really good ear. What I remember specifically being "wrong" about: The Who, Robert Johnson, The Beatles (I underrated them), and, MOST OF ALL, Otis Redding. I own almost all of Otis' studio albums and a few live ones to boot.

6) Women. In high school I liked girls for the wrong reasons. I got a little better in college. Post college has been up-and-down, still improving. I've met a lot of awesome women; but, for various reasons, it hasn't worked out. Sometimes it's my fault. Sometimes it's not. Just gotta keep trying and remember what you're looking for.

7) PBR and Dr. Pepper. PBR has become my drink of choice at 506. I wouldn't say I've "wasted" the countless hundreds (or thousands) I've spent on Newcastle. Now I'm saving some bucks and buying American too. But Dr. Pepper? Hot damn, I was drinking three of those a day over Christmas break. I got turned on to it about 7-8 months ago and con only temporarily stop myself from drinking it.

8) Preppy style. I've gone more for comfort lately and want to change back.

9) Shakespeare and the Greeks. When I first started teaching, I avoided those like the girl at the party with the cold sore. Now I realize my mistake. Sophocles' Oedipodean Trilogy (Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone) and Othello have been two of my favorite experiences. Kinda leads in to....

10) Teaching a fourth period. Last semester, it ended up being (just about) my favorite class. This semester my 4th seems great too.

11) The "pressure" of teaching an EOC test. Sure, the kids have to have it to graduate. Sure, we get a bonus if our school does well enough. And yes, it's terribly difficult to get all the kiddos to pass. (It's difficult to get them all at school, really.) Sure, not all of them will pass it; however, I really like it. The curriculum is better defined, AND you get to hold a test over their heads ALLLL year.

Other stuff:"Ethnic" food, hamburgers, other soda, malls, indie music, buying locally, and liberal politics are some of the things I've changed my mind about.