The payoff comes and it's not monetary

But it's still pretty fuckin' good.

(the following is completely immodest, but I have to share it with you. It's so cool I can't believe it happened)

Last night I worked my class until about 8:53. I take about ten minutes with each student, I let them read their monologue and then work with them a few minutes to give them tips on what to do for next week. Some of them act all over the place, which is to be expected of young actors without any training, and there are things I can do to help them stop that. I like to make what I call the computer analogy. I ask,"Do you have a computer?" (so far everyone has) then I ask then if they've ever heard of the phrase that a program is "running in the background?" and they also have always answered yes. Then I tell them that I can stand there and discuss acting theory with them for months without ever exhausting the topic cause so much has been written on the subject. But what's important is that no one ever comes to the theater to watch them act. That all that stuff we discuss, and all those tips I give them should be running in the background. They seem to get this and it's fun to get them to laugh at the notion that they've got a pgm running in the background but it works.

So I stopped and sent them home, they'd worked enough and been very patient when it wasn't their turn.

I closed the room and headed for the car, but as I turned the corner into the lobby of the theatre I heard someone behind me. "Professor?" Still not used to that title I kept moving and when I heard it again I realized that I was the likely target owing largely to the dearth of people in the lobby of the theatre on a Monday night. I turned around to see one of my students approaching. "I wanted to talk to you before but when class ended you were surrounded by students so I decide to wait, But I have to tell you what a privilege it is to be in your class. This is not my area, and I know nothing about it, and I didn't get up there at all this evening, but it's so interesting to watch you work with everybody and you keep it moving so well, that I can't believe 3 hrs has passed when it's over. So thank you."

My tarot cards keep saying that I'm a person who does what they love because they love it, not because of the financial gain. This morning I've discovered that the University doesn't plan to pay me today, so it's gonna be a bitch to make the car payment this week. But the payoff I got last night...well...speaks for itself doesn't it?

(update: I have to interject a little rant here. I just found out that the University doesn't plan to pay me this month at all. That the type of position I hold only gets paid twice a semester. So I won't get a paycheck until NEXT month on the 15th, and then not again until the end of the semester. This is problematic, as you can well imagine. Not only that but they've communicated very poorly, which I find ironic since my boss is the Dean of Communications. Not only do I find this ludicrous I find it insulting. I didn't spend almost a decade in college only to be treated with such callous disregard. AND today I asked if it were possible to add to the Purchase order I finally got yesterday and I was told no. Since I forgot to add fasteners and glue etc to the order. They offered to reimburse me if I were to purchase it, as though this were my problem. I've always wanted a University faculty appointment and I thought initially I was happy I got one. Right now it's taking every single ounce of my self-control not to get dressed and drive out there to give them their faculty ID and keys. Had I intended to draw money out of savings to make the car payments, I would never have taken on the hassle that has been this job. I'd have stayed home and relaxed. Un-fucking-believable.)

I other news, we lost Patrick Swayze. Not that we didn't know it was coming, but he was still too young. I'm glad he's done with the battle though. It's tacky but when I see some of the pictures of him around today I'm reminded of a line I heard when JFK Jr. died. Some queen says "They kept showing pictures of him with his shirt off...I didn't know whether to cry or beat off." I don't think Patrick would mind the joke.

We have a young guy at the grocery who missed a day last week for medical tests he didn't have planned, and now he won't talk about it with anyone. I don't think he knows exactly what is going on yet, but I hope it's not serious. He's a pretty good little guy. If it's is serious I hope it's one of those things that is highly curable in young men. He's only 23.

Kanye West turned on the waterworks on Leno last night I'm told. Not only was I teaching and couldn't watch, but that set of tools wouldn't catch me watching either of them let alone both. Apologize to this Kanye.

And this made me smile:

"The Iraqi man who threw his shoes at then-U.S. President George W. Bush last year was unapologetic for his act of protest after his release Tuesday.

Muntadhar al-Zaidi speaks to reporters shortly after his release from an Iraqi jail.
"I got my chance and I didn't miss it," said Muntadhar al-Zaidi, speaking to reporters shortly after he was freed from jail.
"I am not a hero and I admit that," he said. "I am a person with a stance. I saw my country burning."
Al-Zaidi, who was serving a one-year sentence after the jail-throwing incident on December 14, was given a "conditional discharge."
Under Iraqi law, a "conditional discharge" allows for the release of a prisoner after he serves three-quarters of his sentence, on good behavior.
Soon afterward, the 30-year-old journalist was led into the studios of his employer, Al-Baghdadia TV, where he spoke to reporters wearing a sash in the colors of the Iraqi national flag around his shoulders.
Al-Zaidi said he was compelled to act after witnessing what the U.S. invasion had wrought on his country: orphans, widows, refugees. Watch more about Al-Zaidi's release »
He said that he promised those affected by the war that should he get the opportunity, he would avenge their loss.
That chance came at a December 14 news conference when al-Zaidi threw both his shoes at Bush and called him a "dog" -- two of the worst insults in the Middle East. Bush ducked the shoes and was not hurt.
During his remarks, al-Zaidi offered one apology: to fellow journalists who perceived his act as unprofessionalism. Was a jail sentence too harsh a punishment?
"Professionalism does not preclude nationalism," he said.
Al-Zaidi was sentenced to jail for "assaulting a foreign head of state on an official visit to Iraq."
His original three-year sentence was reduced to a single year by an appellate court in April.
The journalist's family and supporters had waited for two days outside the Baghdad jail where he was held, initially hoping he would be freed on Monday, but procedural delays kept that from happening.
Last week, al-Zaidi's family prepared for his release, plastering the walls of their modest Baghdad home with his posters.
"We are happy, like any detainee's family would be happy for the release of its son after the bitter time he spent in jail," brother Dhirgham al-Zaidi said.
He said the family had received many phone calls from supporters across the country who planned to travel to Baghdad and welcome al-Zaidi after his release.

Though many Iraqis hold Bush in low esteem, opinions were mixed in Iraq following the incident. Some viewed al-Zaidi as a hero, with thousands taking to the streets, calling for his release; others said his act went against Arab traditions of honoring guests.
Al-Zaidi's brothers said they had been offered many gifts and financial rewards, though they had rejected them. -(cnn)

Gods bless his shoe-throwin' little heart. Thank God he missed they'd probably have had to shoot him and we all know George would have let them.

Speaking of dogs, did I mention that Steve the dog has found not only health care, but a happy home? There is a no-kill shelter about half a mile from my apartment so yesterday i went there looking for help. They told me that if I relinquished ownership they'd have their vet treat him for the heartworms and that they had a guy who was looking for a pointer pup to raise. I met him a few minutes later when he showed up and met Steve. Talk about a happy ending all-round!

And so it goes:

Love