I don't know it there's anything more punk rock out there these days than documentary filmmakers. These guys are the new version of the investigative reporters that I looked up to years ago. Now the old regime is mostly gone, except for Matt Taibi and his few likes,/… Read full post »

Act II

What started with a life saver couldn't end with an e-mail

but instead, a small ring in the shape of a mouse

an obscure reference to a Russian novel

that is shining the light on their

future

In a room fraught with history of who they are… Read full post »

When Miss Darling received the warning Pink Slip on March 31, she was alarmed to say the least. It felt like a fist had punched her in the stomach, her eyes teared, but she refused to cry. No! No! No! and well, if it's Yes, maybe it's a sign… Read full post »

To quote Elizabeth Taylor in "Who's Afraid of Virginnia Wolf?"............."well baby aren't you something?" Who would believe, not Miss Darling, that actual students--living, breathing, forced into school by law, American students would somehow gather up enough actual physical and mental and emotion… Read full post »

Growing up a misplaced girl in Texas I always knew I'd move. I never felt comfortable in the spread-out broiling landscape of Houston....... an avid reader and fan of Woody Allen and Al Pacino  since Juinor High (or maybe before) , I knew my rightful homeland was New York .... or… Read full post »

Okay. I can admit it. I have issue with Lady GaGa. I finally finally sorted it out. I had this ephiany last night while watching Katy Perry on American Idol. Do not misunderstand me..... I like GaGa. A lot. Her music is totally hot and fun. "Bad… Read full post »

Today is practically a holiday in the self-proclaimed Great State of Texas.

Today is the day that TAKS scores are in, recorded, evaluated, “dug deep into” and results given to the students. The TAKS, for those of you foreigners, is the Texas Assessment of Knowledge State Test… Read full post »

Today Miss Darling has a special treat for her readers! She is sharing  an article written by a Guest Speaker--a fellow teacher. Miss Darling has been wanting to address this issue for some time. As of now, there are 15 Mommies-To-Be in Miss Darling's 9th Grade School. Out of roughly 850… Read full post »

It was actually a lovely morning, for morning. Not quite summer and not quite break of day, the sun wasn’t yet in full bloom so dark glasses were not yet necessary to shade Miss Darling’s squinting eyes from a heavy light. Thus, eyes wide open even against the pain in… Read full post »

What is normal, appropriate sexual behavior for a High School Freshman?

I ask this as a teacher, parent, aunt. On the news, on Oprah, in the headlines are stories about how kids no longer even consider oral sex, well sex. We are not teaching safe sex, but abstinence and every… Read full post »

It is hard to think that you are a cadaver

Laying on a table

Feet grey, curled, dead without hesitation.

It is hard to think that you will not write

More words of poetic injustice

Intelligencia loopholes

The savior of Angels in America

The quietly dying

Like you.

I can… Read full post »

This morning Miss Darling would like to share  actual excerpts from her students' work. Miss Darling teaches 9th grade English, or rather English I. This particular assignment was to write a characterization essay (describe the character traits and motivation) of one of the two main characters i… Read full post »

Leaving Mr. Pretty’s office, Miss Darling made a quick stop by her mailbox. Inside she found 3 forms. The first was a tiny slip of pink paper again reminding Miss Darling that she had “failed to attend” morning duty and further, that her presence in the hallway in front of the&… Read full post »

This is Part I of the true and horrible tales of the Texas public school system or the real reason why teaching is the worst career in the world.

 Today is an ordinary day in Stepford High School. The trek to work takes longer than usual, or just about the same… Read full post »

I believe that, far from being luxury items, arts and culture are a necessity in our lives, as individuals and as nations. Culture is the strongest ambassador of the human condition we exchange around the world. Countries may go to war but it is culture that unites us. The arts… Read full post »

Today is a sad fucking day and that's the only way I can describe it. I made the decision to do what's right for my family, my family being my two daughters, 3 cats, and 5 month old Lab puppy. 

I brought Lucas (named after Lucas Scott in One Tree… Read full post »

Last Sunday was the 32nd Anniversary Party for the Natives at Dan Electro's in Houston. I took my daughter, Elaine, with me along with my friend Danny. Danny and I shared a great deal of our misspent youths hanging out at a plethora of gin joints laughing, drinking, dancing our way… Read full post »

Next year my baby is going off to college. She reminds me of this daily, lest I forget for a moment and sink into the luxury of denial. This past weekend we watched Marley and Me, which was apropos given that we adopted a chocolate lab puppy just 2 weeks ago. I must… Read full post »

Here it is, the eve of Mother's Day and I am one breath and a couple hundred dollars away from a shaved head and a pink lipstick kiss tattoo. I got my Britney-Crazy on. You think I'm crazy? I got your crazy.

In one month I will… Read full post »

The Night Flight From Houston

I love to fly. By that I mean, the act of flying itself--not simply traveling, but the take off and landing and turbulence. It is magic that never dulls, never tarnishes. It is the closest I will ever become to an… Read full post »

Paris, dreaming

I dream of Paris

and punk boys 

and sleeping without an alarm

and things I cannot have

and wonder why

my mind races

always taking notes for next time

truly somehow believing that this

life is in fact

a dress rehearsal

just like how someday I will… Read full post »

There is honor in obedience

The Bible, at least the teachers-preachers-leaders, tells you so.

The defense is always, what if 

The Bible is right?

Maybe The Great Gatsby is right?

Jay Gatsby

died

for somebody’s sins

maybe 

Mine. 

Maybe the clean cool 

Blu… Read full post »

1. When I was 19 I was sitting outside a music venue in Houston called the Agora Ballroom  and this couple stopped. She was named Snow White. He asked me to pose for Hustler and gave me his card. I didn't. A year later I ran into them again, they recognized… Read full post »

Swagger Part I.

There is perfection in swagger

the sure surety of knowing your enemy

knowing your demons

and standing on the side of the line

in the sand

that is right without question

and to take that swagger

and live it from the tips of your fingers

to… Read full post »

Annie Hall. Annie Hall--these are  my two favorite words in cinema. My second favorite two are Pulp Fiction, but that's for another time. This is not a list.

I have been in love with Annie Hall since I saw it on the big screen at Houston's (and the world's) first… Read full post »