So you think weddings are expensive? Try being single.

Which Costs More? Single v. Married

An interesting article. I often ponder why it is in our country that we continue to reward and celebrate when people get married and have babies. We are expected to give and give to them. Single people are not celebrated in this same way and yet, these are the people paying more money in taxes, housing, food, social costs, etc.

I think there needs to be a big sea change in society. Not that I expect this will happen in my lifetime. Trust me, I love love and babies. But I also think we need to learn to celebrate and appreciate those Americans out there who are working hard and making it on there own. The ones who aren't getting the Honeymoon, the KitchenAid, the new sheets and towels, or the matching dishes. Here's to them.

The Glass is Half...

I don't want to be naive and I don't want to be pessimistic and think the worst of every situation. So when I randomly found out I might be teaching Kindergarten through 8th grade next year I thought, "Huh, I'm a glass half full person so i can see the benefits of the situation".

On one hand it means:
I have a job
I will get to see more kids at the school
They will continue to need me in future years
I can influence and inspire more kids

On the other hand it means:
I have to get to know the behaviors of every kid in the entire school
More discipline issues
A huge age range
A lot more planning
A LOT more grading

So I start to wonder, what is this "glass half full" attitude I've adopted anyways. Now I worry, is it screwing me over? Are the benefits going to be worth it? I don't want this job to kill me or make me despise teaching. I'm so thankful to have a full-time job teaching drama. That is truly incredible. I guess in life, from my standpoint, you've always got two choices: Make the best of the situation you are in OR if you cannot do the first option, get out of the situation.

Stress and the After Effects

Sometimes I don't think you realize how stressed you are until it's gone.

Because when I was told good news that I had been waiting to hear today, my immediate reaction was to cry.

Rediscovering My Own Poetry

So, lately I've become inspired by many artistic friends to start writing poems again. It used to be something I did often and enjoyed but have since pushed aside. Here's an old poem I found (with the help of my poetry professor, Hans Ostrom) that I wrote back in 2007, about Caryl Churchill's play, A Number. This play (and poem) tackles the topic of cloning and its effects. 

I like this one because I had a conversation with my housemate last night about how most all songs have to do with love, heartbreak, or a place. This one diverts from that path. Although, I think a lot of poems that I write have to do with wondering what my purpose and place in this world is. 

A Number

by Meredith Ott

Me
well what do you mean by Me?
Am I myself because if there is another
I think I should know I think I should because because
I have a right to know because
if there are two three four or more
if there are eight me’s running around
shouldn’t I do I want to know
do I should I care and would they could they be like me
am I like me who am I like tell me, tell Me
I must be like someone
don’t we all come from somewhere some genetic make-up
some test tube of the mind of the body I don’t know
who I am is Me determined by someone else?

Could you tell me would you please
if you had the chance
or would you hide it from me?
if I commit a crime against myself do I commit it against others
who are me or are they me and do they feel it--
my suicide?
or are they satisfied
with life
life that has been chosen for them life that isn’t theirs for the choosing
or do they even notice
or know or care or stop to think or fear that maybe what they have isn’t theirs?
mine
could be
you made me. You made me…
they make me, made Me make them
can’t you stop it if you
don’t you want to have one
One perfect
what is it that you’re looking for?
have you found your one
have you found it in me in them
is it in me or from me
or is it
me
?
you
became the womb
you gave birth you gave me gave them gave you
you selfish
it was all for you I was
they were it was you
playing with god and science and where is my mother
the mother of all
I need to be nurtured to grow to develop
outside of a person sterile pure yet eternally contaminated
by the lack of self, family, being, purpose

raise me love me choose me
choose to choose me
aren’t I original only simple individual complicated complex
enough?
aren’t I enough Me?

Copyright 2007 by Meredith Ott

My Summer Playlist... so far

Check out this video by the Cave Singers performing live at KEXP in Seattle. Love it.

Meredith's Summer 2013 Playlist:

1. Mungo Jerry - In the Summertime
2. Rural Alberta Advantage - In the Summertime
3. Regina Spektor - Summer in the City
4. Vetiver - The Swimming Song
5. Great Lake Swimmers - Put There by the Land
6. Sam Cooke - Summertime
7. Love - Always See Your Face
8. Jens Lekman - A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill
9. Wilco - California Stars
10. The Cave Singers - Summer Light

Make Good Art

Neil Gaiman is a fantastic author and great mind of our time. When something difficult happens this is a good reminder of how to cope with it. (University of the Arts Class of 2012 Commencement Speech)

A Clip from Neil Gaimon's Commencement Speech

At least, from my perspective. Thanks, Neil.