Gotta love that New York Skyline....

Nothing special here, just some great footage of New York!  Amazing Stuff!



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NaNo WriMo Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!!

I thought that it would be a good idea to make a triumphant return to my blog by announcing that I am a NaNo WriMo Winner this year!!!WOOT WOOT! You might be wondering what the heck that is...Well, NaNo WriMo is a short acronym for "National Novel Writing Month" and is a bay area event that has been going strong for 10 years now.  My creative writing class did NaNo this year.  Several, several winners, even a few 50,000 word winners!  And from kids no less!  The goal was to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.  I can proudly say that I have accomplished this tremendous feat.  My novel is currently unnamed but is in a series of books that I will be writing, tentatively named The Arklight Compendium. So, if you know of anyone who completed NaNo this year, give them a big high five and offer to edit the rough copy! That's how you know people truly love you.  Here's to the first of many victories!
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Oakdale High Schools Writin' Wrimos!

Yes boys and girls, it is that lovely time of year when once again Mr. Perez and his band of over exuberant, over caffeinated, and way to pepped up to even consider sitting down, Creative Writing class under takes the mountain of writing that is...wait for it...wait forrr it...

NaNo WriMo

impressive...no?  What is NaNo WriMo exactly you say?  It's the equivalent to running the New York Marathon but doing it barefoot.  Nano is "National Novel Writing Month" where all of the participants attempt to write a 50,000 word book in one slim month.  Yeah,...I kind though you might say that.  Well, the event is not just limited to adults.  The Creative Writing class is a whole room full of nut-job writers who are all going to attempt the same thing, with a small condition that they do get to pick there word count based on their grade level.  At the Freshmen level, 9,000 words and the Senior level, 12,000 word minimum, but several of the students have set the bar super high at 25,000 and even more at 50,000 words.  This is my third year as a participant and I think that I have finally figured out my angle and how to crank out 1,677 words a day.  If you want to know, you have to join my class.  I have one of the strongest groups of writers that I have ever had and I fully expect them to blow the doors of off their word amounts within the alloted time of one month.  Check back in every few days or so to see which writer from class I will be profiling and sharing what amazing thing that they are writing about.  So with out any more fanfare (for today at least!), Let's light this candle.....Woo-Haa!

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Daily Log ala Mr. Perez...have a Double Rainbow Year!!!

The beginning of every year invariably brings with a good of anxiety, anxiety that we often wish we could alleviate and remove altogether.  For teachers, its no different.  I usually break out somewhere on my face, something that hasn't happened since high school.  Aside from the unsightly acne, there is always a good level of nervous energy.  We all want our classes to go well, to be as excited as we are about the coming year.  I told one of my classes that they need to take an active role in what goes on in class, that they were not just "empty containers to pour knowledge into".  The longer that I do this, the more I believe it.  Education is not for the weak willed, if you want to "know things" it is going to cost you something in return, be it your time, energy, and at the very least your ignorance.  I guess that at the very least I would hope to have things make more sense for you by the end of the school year than this guy..."what doessss it meeeeaaannn???"
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Welcome (back) to Oakdale High School!!!

Just a quick Hiya to those new and returning students.  You will find all of the information that we covered in class on the slide show presentation below, just point and click to make it larger or use the navigation buttons to flip through the presentation as is.  The 13 Things You Should Know About Me slide is in there as well!  See Ya...
P.
FRESHMEN



JUNIORS



CREATIVE WRITING

Pulled Tooth, the awesome update!

Weeelll, it's been 10 full days since the tooth was pulled and my mind is a bit more clear on all of the events that took place afterwards.  All I can say is, WOW coupled with YIKES and that sums it up.  Apparently, I was trying to convince my wife, who so graciously transported my carcass home after the surgery that I was, in fact the "King of doing a Cartwheel"!  Yes, it's really that emphatic, unfortunately.  I have a vague recollection of these events and of saying rather colorful things, all of the first words that you learn in the school yard playground...the ones that get your mouth smacked or worse, washed out with soap.  So, with healthy doses of Hydrocodone and Antibiotics (apparently the human mouth is a pretty gross place! Ugh!) I have been nursed back to good and proper health enough to reflect on how silly I was.  With this in mind, some very good friends of ours share a video with me that pretty much hit the target.  This same fellow brought a tiara for his wife and drove her around town when she had her wisdom teeth earlier this year.  He in turn had HIS MOTHER pick him up from the doctor and take him home when his teeth were pulled out some time later, fearing the inevitable reprisal...I'm sure she will get even...oh well! enjoy the video.
P

Summer Suuuuhhh-Mmmmahhh!

Well, it's finally here and not a moment too soon!  Some how we all made it through Finals week and with one week under our belt I find myself being a bit worn down.  I did get some rest and  a bit of relief from having my wisdom tooth pulled (today!).  All that I will say is that I HATE going to the dentist and I left there with everybody as my best friend...minus a tooth...and remained that way for at least 2 more hours.  So, as I sit here in bed, watching Spider-Man with my two youngest daughters I have decided that this summer will be a (cue trumpets) SUMMER OF THE ARTS!  Yes boys and girls, Mr. P will be doing all of the following this summer:  Writing 2 books (one book and one kids book), Illustrating one of those books, playing in a mandolin and guitar in a band, and maybe even auditioning for a play!  Now, normally I would have been tormenting kids in summer school but alas, it is not to be.  So I will opt for the next best thing, tomenting my poor wife and children.  It's really not that bad, but I figure this stuff will keep me out of trouble and will help me work towards my goal of completing one of the two books that I wanted to write this year.  Oh, and check the book club blog site if you want to know what I have been reading this summer.  Time for me to sign off, I have to go drink my dinner!
P.

Free Comic Day...May 1st...Excelsior!

Free comics day is in fact a real thing.  I am not advocating that you go rip off your local comic shop and it is not subversive way to get you into trouble...

Comic Store Owner: "Whadya Mean FREE comic day kid!  That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard for stealin!"
You:  "But my English teacher said it was free!!!...='''(

In order to avoid the above situation and tremendous embarrassment, let me share with the the beauty that is "Free Comic Day".  Every May 1st participating comic book stores will give out single copies of various best selling titles.  These often are special prints done just for this day so you can get some unique books that have single run or "0" run stories in them.  If you are interested in being a part of Free Comic Day, just cruise by your local comic shop and ask on May 1st.  Odds are they will have the books out at a display and you can pick the one you want.  Consider it a special "pre-screening" of the next Hollywood blockbuster (lota films in the last 5 years have come exclusively from the comic community!).  Either way, it is a lot of fun and a cheap way to pick up a good new habit.  I have gone for several years now and take my kids at home.  There is a good mix of titles for older readers with several "kid friendly" titles like Sonic the Hedgehog, Owly, and Archie Comics.  If you are planning on stopping by, here are some Google directions to my two favorite shops, both in Modesto!
Bonanza Books and Comics

Krier's Cards & Comics

Here is my good friend Hugh Jackman to tell you more about it!



See ya there!
P.

Guerrilla Poetry...not Gorilla Poetry...Jeezsh!

Spring always brings with it the sensation of new things just on the horizon.  I have been gearing up for the Guerrilla poetry event that will be coming to the school after the break.  I found this wonderful poet, Kate Tempest.  Her stuff is really moving and amazing.  For the longest time I have believed that poetry, real poetry was about the best possible words at the best possible time.  Hearing poets like Richard Roberts, Kate Tempest, or Peter Neverland remind me that this is still very true.  There are some moments and ideas that are best expressed and shared through the spoken word, to do any less with them belittles the idea's that go into them and surround them.  Richard Robert's The Word is a great example of how we as creative people struggle and wrangle the right word from the experience and it still is not the actual moment of parallel, it falls short.  The underlying goal of the Guerrilla Poetry Project is to bring poetry back to it's roots, not in some stuffy classroom, but in the hands of people, everyday people.  Kate Tempest poem Teen Speech is a great example of the "shared experience", one of being a teenager and the perception of what it means.
enjoy,
P.



Adding to this is Peter Nevland's "No One Told Me".  This guy is so awesomely dynamic and not what you would expect.


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The future of publishing...

I always count it a blessing when people share with me fun or amazing things...this is one such blessing.



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Budget Crisis!!!

I think I know how this guy feels....



Gigantic Turkey Sub and Arcade Fire seal the deal for me,...more or less...
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The Oakdale High School Book Club...LIVES...AGAIN!!!

Ok, Ok, I know that it is super pretentious, but I can't help it! It's like the scene from Night at the Museum 2, an otherwise riddiculous film EXCEPT for the introduction of it's main villan, the real life comedian Hank Azaria (the voice of Moe from the Simpsons...)who, when monologuing, states that he has ,"COOME BACK TOOOO LIIIFFEE!". Very funny,stuff!

Anyhow, the bookclub is back in session and anyone interested in joining should come and check out what we are going to read this next month.

Cheers!
P.

Makin bee-utiful music!

I stumbled across this great children's choir, PS222 out of NY. If you haven't heard them or haven't seen them, check the link and enjoy! Guarenteed that you will find something that you like.
P.

http://www.ps22chorus.blogspot.com/

Whoah, We're Half Way There...(you know the rest)

Hey! Don't ask me why I choose to Title this blog post with a Bon Jovi rock ballad bar none. It just seemed funny and appropriate at the same time. I think that is a rule that I subconsciously live by, funny and appropriate, though funny often gives appropriate a monster wedgie in it's quest to be the center of attention. Appropriate rarely gets to be the center of attention and is usually so only due to funny's inability to remain appropriate....Now for something painfully appropriate.

Tis the beginning of the second semester and the learning machine is being cranked back up to 11 with the possibility of new expanding territory. I will remain hopeful, as always, that both the students and I are coming back with our deals "worked out" and ready to take on the challenge that is 2nd Semester.

For Freshmen that means getting your Greek armour on and traveling to battle for King Menelaus and the return of his bride Helen of Troy. Your return voyage will be with King Odysseus, Master Mariner, the Cunning Warrior. Expect delays up to 20 years.

For Juniors that means Jazz music and spending it like you got it attitude. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is modern staple of what made the 1920's so roaring in the first place.

For Creative Writing that means looking at non-fiction writing, but through a "creative" lens. Thus Creative Nonfiction is born. Don't freak out on me, the same rules apply to nonfiction writing that apply to fiction writing. Lots of other interesting stops along the way to the end of the year.

Now for funny. Our very good friends, Let's call them, The Pac-Man's because that's how I roll. Well the Pac-Man's had a scavenger hunt in the Modesto Mall for their son's 6th and daughters 10th birthday party. I was very skeptical at first, being that most of the kids parties I have been to involved being outside so the cupcakes don't get ground into the carpet (which coincidentally is why we put in hard wood floors) so this almost qualifies in that you can make a mess and have the hired help clean up, as long as you don't mind sharing your birthday atmosphere with the rest of Post Holiday Modesto. I was pleasantly surprised. We had 1 hour to find over 50 items, and could only "buy" up to $3.00 worth of anything. We took pictures with strangers, rode small automated cars, "liberated" french fries, stole straws and napkins, and generally committed several other silly acts in the name of a good time. Here is the highlight photo from our day out. The rule was that you had to do the silliest family photo that you could do (your family gift was the photo). We though it would be great to take the picture facing the wrong direction. I love this photo!

See you in 1 week kids!
P.

NaNo NaNo and other Nonsense...

Hello true believers!
October is laying it's tender russet and golden orange head to rest soon giving way to November, the second to the last and almost the best. November is always a juglling act for primarily due to one event, NaNo WriMo, the National Novel Writing Month. During this time, my Creative Writing students and I will undertake the gargantuan task of writing a novel in one month! Yeah, I said it...one novel (50,000 words) in one month. While I cannot claim the luxery of reaching my 50,000 word goal, several of my students last year did and achieved something that a relatively small portion of the population has done; become novelists. Prior to NaNo, November was always about Turkey and my birthday. Now it has become about late night and weekend writing. The level of frustration is, quite frankly, off of the charts but the payoff is equally satisfying. This year I am knocking down 50,000 words, no apologee's and no prisoners taken!

End of the First Quarter looms...

Hey all,
Just a note about the end of the first quarter. I would first like to congratulate all of you for surviving thus far. The first quarter is always the toughest in my opinnion. If things are panning out the way you planned, Great! Keep at it and don't let up until the Christmas break. If things are not going your way, Great! Now it's time to figure out what is "broken" and fix it! Don't blame your folks and don't blame yours truely. Man up. Most situations demand more time and attention than students sometimes want to give. If it doesn't come easy for you, don't feel badly, it doesn't come easy for most people. Here is my sure fire way to improve your grades, this isn't for everyone, only for those people who really do want to see a change...
1. Keep track of when all of your assignments are due in one notebook.
2. Have your parents hold you accountable for when your work is due.
3. Work smarter! Do you homework as soon as you get it.
4. Meet with your instructors once a week to chart your progress.
5. Do all of your work to the best of your ability. If you lack ability,check into the free tutor programs that our school offers.
6. Feed your body and mind healthier food. Fruits and Veggies for snacks!
7. Go to bed by 10:00. You won't miss anything...trust me on this one.
8. Make some friends who could help you study for quizzes and tests. It's a give and take on that one; you have to be open to the idea or it won't work.
9. If you have to do homework, block out time to work and time to space out. Doing it in intervals can really help. 3o min's on, 1o min's off.
10. If you can do it in advance,do it!

Once again, it's not an easy list but whoever said doing great things was easy? Make today the first day of doing it differently and in a way that is going to put you where you want to be. You determine your future, don't let others determine it for you. Let's Rock!
P.

It be Talk like a Pirate Day on Saturday! ARGHHH!...

Some several years ago I had the distinct good fortune to stumble a little known "holiday", Talk like a Pirate Day. A local radio program was sponsering the days give aways with Piratey Talkin's. Callers would call in and do their best Pirate talk in order to win prizes. It was hillarious! I assumed that it was also a bogus holiday, much like Ground Hog Day or Valentine's Day. You know the type of holiday that I am refering to, one that essentially is only marked on Hallmark calenders. I got to work, fliped on my computer to get the days events laid out, and Shiver me Timbers, if Talk like a Pirate Day wasn't in the news! Apparently two louts made the day some several years before after a raquetball accident where one of the whelps cried "Arrrr" upon being unkindly struck by an errant rubber ball. It caught on and has taken on a whole life of its own. Humor coulmunist and author Dave Barry has even picked up the lads quest to bring Pirate Talk to the world on Sept. 19th every year! This year, Talk like a Pirate Day falls on a Saturday so we won't be able to experience it as a class, though, true to Piratey form, we will break the Sept. 19th rules and carry out Talk like a Pirate Day on Sept 18th. You might be wondering..."what does this have to do with English Mr. Perez?", to that I say that ye may consider yerself a Privateer in the Queens Royal Navy if it do help ye sleep better at night...So, without further Aideu, ...AVAST THERE ME HEARTY'S! THIS FLOATING BUCKET HAS BUT ONE CAPN, RED CISCO DOUBLOON, AND IF YE RIDE WITH ME, WE FLY UNDER THE SKULL AND BONES AND KEEP TO THE CODE! NOW HOIST THE MAIN LINES AND PREPARE YERSELVES FOR DEEP WATER! YARGHHHHH!
Red Cisco (Mr. P!)

Upright and Mobile....

Computers are a love hate relationship. If you are anything like me, you have grown to appreciate the convience with which most business is done; online. Everything from paying bills to (you guessed it!) updating a blog with important information can be done with a few simple key strokes. This being said, you can only imagine the level of dysutopian horror that I experienced about a week ago when my modem died on me. Funny how that term that was once exclusively used to describe human expiration is now lovingly applied to computers, cars, anything that plugs in or runs on batteries. Well, long story short, I managed to get a new modem for dirt cheap (Yea Me!)so you should be hearing from me more frequently now that all of my gear works. Thanks for being patient!
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Week 1: Gettin to know ya...

The insanity of the first week of school never ceases to amaze me. Honestly, it was really pretty low key, but I felt horribly inadequate at moments. The classes were fantastic, but I was really scrambling in spite of knowing the material inside and out. Reflecting on it now has really helped me see that I need to give myself a few days to warm-up to the idea of coming back to school. This is where the, "it's like riding a bike!" simile really fits. The kids helped put me at ease in my own classroom by just being o.k. with being at school. Starting on a Tuesday and throwing in a minimum day in on Thursday didn't hurt to much either. With the first week under my belt it is time to set sights on other challenges, like keeping up with the online calendar! That is going to have to be a weekly update so that I can keep the thing accurate. I guess that in closing for this first short update for the new school year I just want to say thanks to my classes for being patient and helping me out the first week of school. Here's to a new year!
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Guerilla Poetry Project: Oakdale High School

The Guerrilla Poetry Project was something that I fortunately stumbled upon a few years back. I was looking for a dynamic way to integrate poetry into what my Creative Writing classes were doing. If you know me, then you know my dilemma. Poetry, while wonderful, must be made with a careful hand and be full of intent. I see it as the best words for the best possible moment. That is a tough spot to be in when what most of what the world hands you is the cliche, not the original. There is no greater slap in the face to poetry than the stuff of greeting cards in my estimation.
The Guerrilla Poetry Project is a call to all concerned writers, artists, and like-minded individuals to take the word back to the people. It is inspired through a very public and overt outreach program of insidiously leaving poetry everywhere possible. I liked the idea, the movement of how what inspires us, be it the famous well known or the unknown, can be lain out for the public eye, not seeking its approval or requiring its acceptance, but existing in its own space and hopefully inspiring others.
The Chalking(verb!) is what most of the students like to do. Somehow it feels a bit like graffiti, but with a safety net of sorts. You get to play with all of these lovely chalk colors and create/share a brief space of hopeful wisdom with whatever passers-by happens along. Who you are doesn't matter, what you say/write does! The kids know this and certainly the readers do as well.
If you liked what you read today or found one of our inserts, please come and drop us a line about what you think. Include the poem number so we will know whose work you found. Thanks so much!