The Nerd Within

Today is the beginning of Comic-Con--which I am not going to. Every year I talk about it, but never go. It's the only place where if you don't wear a costume you're considered a dork, an outcast, a loser. Vindication for nerds! I once went to, what I endearingly call, a "nerd convention," but it was more for academics. I wrote a research paper, it was selected, and I read it in front of an audience. But I digress. I wish I could go. I wish I had thought of buying tickets last July. Here's to procrastination, and not being a genuine nerd, just a nerd wannabe.

Comic-Con is huge! Hollywood stars even go. I was hoping to run into Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), and Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.), but I looked at the guest list and they weren't on it. But the cast of Breaking Dawn Part 2 is--when did that become cool! Seriously, that is the worst of the Twilight series and they could have taken out like 2 hours of part 1 to make it all one movie. Yeah that's cool, trying to hold on to your 15 minites by copying Harry Potter (and Harry Potter was effectively made into 2 movies because there was a story).  Despite no Thor, Psych will make an appearance. I love that show!

I was never into comic books--which are now called graphic novels--because I thought it was a boy thing, and I thought I had grown up and moved on from "illustrated" stories, but I read the Sunday comics  "Calvin and Hobbes," (I love that tiger), "Peanuts," "The Far Side," (Sometimes I would stare at that for hours to figure it out), and the occasional "Prince Valiant." I like watching the movies, even though they aren't true to the graphic novel, and that's where I get my knowledge of comics. I come to realize that graphic novels do have a strong place in literature. They have well-developed characters and a plot, that is sometimes better than most novels. But at the core there are some good lessons to be learned. I really like the message in X-Men. It's not just good v. evil, but good v. a little evil v. really evil; and who is a little evil and really evil; and the"search for hope" (imagine Magneto, played by Ian McKellan, saying it).

The last reason for me really wanting to go to Comic-Con this year is that on this day there is a forum on using comics in the classroom. Anything to make learning fun is ok by me (and whatever helps make my life easier)! It sounds really awesome, so maybe I should drive the 3 hours (another benefit to living in Yuma, being closer to San Diego) break into the venue, take notes and get handouts (I love handouts), and drive back without being caught (that is the important part).

Yes, I have nerd tendencies that I hide really well. But when Comic-Con starts up that nerd inside takes over, and I have no control over her. And someday she will be appeased once I make my pilgramage to the "mecca" of nerdom--Comic-Con!

It's Back-to-School Shopping Time

It's only July 11th and the back-to-school sales have already started. I went into Wal*Mart and there was a cardboard display for school supplies listed by grade. The funny thing is that retailers and marketers can assume what students need, but it's best to just wait until the first  day to find out what your teachers really require. Yeah go ahead and buy a backpack with a matching lunchpail, and some paper, but don't waste too much time or money.

After I graduated, I felt empty not being able to buy school supplies. Pens. Binders. Notebooks. Filler Paper. I love shopping for school supplies. For two years I missed out. It's nice to be a teacher because I can shop in the back-to-school section again. That is such a nerd thing to do. . . want to shop for school supplies. School supplies are so fun.