LONGSHORING...PART 2

My reasons for my earlier rant should be explained. My husband and I went into a bar here in town, we were having a great time chit chatting with the fellow next to us and listening to the music on the jukebox, when all of a sudden......THIS GUY! Yeah, this guy comes up to us and wants to talk, needs help with the jukebox and basically needs someone on this universe to validate his existence!

The guy claimed to be a PMA down at the "docks", in other words he was a pretty respectable dude down there. My guess is that he was just one of the laborers, but whatever, who is really going to know right? He starts in with how his life is troubled right now and he has not slept for three days, he has a child who has cerelbrapalsy and well he needs some understanding! The guy makes a million a year to spend 3 days in a bar harrassing tax paying individuals...yeah I want that job...yep I do! Now he did say he could, and actually "promised" my husband a card, when they come around again...A FRIGGEN CARD? Are you serious? I just need a CARD? Where do I sign up? This guy obviously had a drug problem combined with a drinking problem, the worst kind if you ask me...and HE was going to get my husband a JOB!

Oy Vey (And I am not even jewish!)

LONGSHORE...and Others

Well I wanted to talk about this for a long time and although I think most will take offnse, think I'm just jealous (I AM!) or think I am jealous...again??? I am!

Here is where my problem sits quietlty, MOST longshoring jobs here on our wonderful docks in the wonderful Port Town of San Pedro, are not real jobs at all. I find it hard to agree with people when they tell me they are "working" yet, they check in once or twice a week to maybe do 2 hours worth of work. I understand some jobs are easier than others, some jobs pay more than others and some jobs you are just damn lucky to have...have it? Keep it!

Most of my friends that have these jobs, are thankful that they do. Please do not get me wrong either...I wish I was them...or do I? If you are a woman and working these jobs, watch out, it will be tough for you and I think you have earned the right to make $100,000.00 a year for 20 hours a week. If you are a guy...is it really manually labor for you? The only thing I think that is difficult, is getting past the "bullies" on the job...the ones' that have been there forever and made it through hell week.

These workers scream more pay, better job security and I don't know....better restrooms in their breakroom. Why? Why do we as tax payers want to pay them more to stay at home and play guitar hero for 8 hours a day or at least 3 days a week? We have nurses who are wiping the butts of handicapped, elderly or the guy strung out on dope from his binge he recently had on his time off from the docks! Don't they deserve to scream a bit? YES they do! What about the guy who runs a "mom & pop" storefront, but has to worry about the next robbery...that may kill him! Things in our world are backwards, and can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Like I said, I know many Longshoremen, respect them and wish I was them, but it is the very sad truth of the matter. Remember th saying, "Where were those teachers when I was a young boy?" well I can say something similar, "Where were these jobs when I was looking?"

HOMESCHOOLING

Today marks the 1st Month Anniversary of my "Homeschooling Journey". Let me start by saying that it has definitely been a journey for sure! When I first decided to do this I was a little unsure, lost and afraid, mostly because i was afraid of what others would say or think...Can you believe it? Me afraid of others opinions? WOW! Anyway, I was. I soon realized that it does not matter what other people think, what matters is my son.

Now before you all start running around whispering that there is some new age woman breast feeding a 9 year old boy, let me explain the reasons. I have a daughter who is in her third year at a Cal State College, another daughter in her Senior year at San Pedro High School, and a son who attends the richest Catholic Junior High School around here so I am not on a new age kick. I simply want my youngest son to excel in school and have found a sadly diminishing school system in San Pedro. Ever heard of that saying, "Don't believe everything you read"? Well that holds true with the scores placed in local newspapers.

Something has went terribly wrong in our public school system, if you have not noticed. I find it horribly disturbing when a Teachers' idea of punishing a student for talking in class is to sit him up in front of the class with a whiteboard in front of his face for all to see. Maybe your idea of terrible is when children have to share textbooks in class but then getting a low grade on their report card because a homework assignment was not done (with what book?) At any rate our Public school system has failed us miserably and i decided to take a stand for myself, for my son.

I have found that although my free time is now limited, my elementary school memories quickly flooding back and visiting with friends during the day have completely went away, I LOVE IT! My son who was going to be held back has actually been moved forward, my son who they thought qualified for and IEP has actually tested high...2 grades higher! My son is very musical and very artistic and it seems that our schools today do not understand children who learn in this way. I remember back in the old school ways, we had such shows as School House Rock and others to phonetically remember math and spelling. Where have those days gone? I can tell you...HOME!

A normal day consists of waking up and getting the others off to traditional school, coming home and setting out the days curriculum and then walking down to The Corner Store for a quick bite to eat and a great cup of java (best in town by the way!). On our walk we spot ideas that can be used in Science, Home Economics or History and we put them to work when we get back. Banking, grocery shopping, blogging and bicycle rides are all part of our homemade curriculum and when put together with that of CAVA (California Virtual Academy) the world is a wonderful and interesting place.

I get the normal looks, snickers or questions and I even get what i call the "Teacher Challenge" but at the end of the day, my son has learned more about life than he ever would have in his neighborhood school. The most common debate I have been in was with a friend of mine who stated that homeschooling teaches them that they can have their way in life or that they are not being taught to conform to society. Tell me why we have to conform to society again? Because society says so? Doesn't work for me. My son knows he has to get up, get dressed, have breakfast, brush his teeth and come to his "desk with a view" looking presentable, just as he would at school or work. He has a set task for the day, again just like he would at school or work and if he does not finish that task there are consequences, not sitting in front of people with your face covered for them to laugh at though.

I truly believe he is getting the highest education learning at home, I have seen it in just one month. His grades, personality and behavior have been the proving factor and i welcome any and all questions or comments, I feel ready to answer them all! As stated earlier in this blog I do have other children attending traditional schools, so this just proves my beliefs on homeschooling, people are individuals, they learn, work and play differently as every species does.

"Pedro Thing"

Well I know if you are from San Pedro you have heard the expression, "It's a Pedro thing!" I know probably most cities have their own "thing" too but San Pedro has to take the crown for favoritism! I was born and raised here and have seen this place build up, tear down and sit stagnant at times. One thing that will never change in this place is the small town drama and politics though.

I have been reading blogs on this site, MySpace and a few other blogger sites for awhile now. I am also a dedicated "closet" Random Lengths reader and have worked or frequented the local pubs around these parts. And I have to say I have not seen anyone brave enough yet to touch on all the drama that happens here such as the Private schools in our area extorting money (if you will) from their applicants because they know they can, who wants to send their kid to Dana? What about the music issues in this town? It is worse than trying to become an actress in Hollywood! If you want the decent gig in town, you either must know someone really well, pay through the nose (I call it a bribe), or be a personal friend of the City Council or one step further...The Mayor. What about all the fake people around here? I mean it is better than an episode of Doctor 90210 and Desperate Housewives combined!

I could go on and on with drama in this little piece of heaven we call San Pedro but I am afraid I would lose you after the second paragraph, so today i will just talk music. I have a website that houses quite a few very talented musicians and bands, some you have never heard of because San Pedro keeps booking the same bands year after year at our local sought after venues. MUSIC BY THE SEA, TASTE OF SAN PEDRO, WARNER GRAND THEATER, LOBSTER FESTIVAL (my favorite) these are all sought after gigs, and it is predictable year after year as to who will be playing them. We are a culturaly diverse town so why can we not be a musically diverse town?

I sure hope people realize that love all the San Pedro bands that play these gigs, book these venues and get hired for all the schools around here...I know all of them, but rather understand the importance and definition of, " Promoting Indie Music". A very quick way for a great band to lose our interest is to be played out not play out. People want variety it is the way of life whether you admit it or not. We need to break away from the fear of bringing someone new into our little world by the sea and open our ears to sounds beyond the 110 south. I am going to safely assume that I am not making any new friends here now, but I have enough friends (quoted by my dear husband) so I would rather bring several issues up that I am hoping will spark a few sleeping creative brain cells in the people of my home town. Next week I may even talk on the juicy gossip! Until then...

Adios, Grazie, arrivederci, Slán libh, mo leanaí , Goodbye for now

The Muzicmistress