Shel Silverstein Favorites

A project that has been in my mind for a few years now, is to frame poems by Shel Silverstein.
Here's a few poems that I would choose for my project:

INVITATION

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hop-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...
If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!


THE VOICE

There is a voice inside of you
That whispers all day long,
"I feel ghat this is right for me,
I know that this is wrong."
No teacher, preacher, parent, friend
Or wise man can decide
What's right for you--just listen to
The voice that speaks inside.


LOVE

Ricky was "L" but he's home with the flu.
Lizzie, our "O," had some homework to do,
Mitchell, "E" prob'ly got lost on the way.
So I'm all of love that could make it today.


HUG O' WAR

I will not play at tug o' war.
I'd rather play at hug o' war.
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.


LAZY JANE

Lazy
lazy
lazy
lazy
lazy
lazy
Jane,
she
wants
a
drink
of
water
so
she
waits
and
waits
and
waits
and
waits
and
waits
for
it
to
rain.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY

So what if nobody came?
I'll have all the ice cream and tea,
And I'll laugh with myself,
And I'll dance with myself,
And I'll sing, "Happy Birthday to me!"


Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
Listen to the DON'TS
Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON'TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me--
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.


SMART

My dad gave me one dollar bill
'Cause I'm his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
'Cause two is more than one!

And hen I took the quarters
And traded them to Lou
For three dimes--I guess he don't know
That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old bling Bates
And just 'cause he can't see
He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,
And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs
Down at the seed-feed store,
And the fool gave me five pennies for them,
And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed by dad,
And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head--
Too proud of me to speak!


DON'T TELL ME

Please don't tell me I should hug,
Don't tell me I should care.
Don't tell me just how grand I'd feel
If I just learned to share.
Don't say, "It's all right to cry,"
"Be kind," "Be fair," "Be true."
Just let me see YOU do it,
Then I just might do it too.


HOW MANY, HOW MUCH

How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends on how much you give 'em.

Graduate School?

I've wanted to go for my Masters Degree for the past 6 years.  Finances and geographic location have hindered this dream of mine.  I miss being in a campus setting, and all the benefits of living in academia.  

If I do go back to school, I want my degree to be in something interesting,  not just something that will make me more money.  Which brings us to the debate of Urban Design vs Public Administration.  With Public Administration, I could become a City Manager and make a salary that ranges from $90,000-$200,000 per year, depending on location.  Urban Design would be a lot more creative, however, I would have to find a consulting firm, and work my way up through the ranks.  BUT I WOULD ENJOY IT MORE (potentially).

I have always been artistic, and creative.  Urban design and architecture have always been very interesting to me.  Am I "good" at being creative?  Would someone want to buy my creative services or ideas?  Is this what I really want?

Many of the graduate programs I have researched advertise that their programs prep you for the AICP exam, and ____%  of their students pass the AICP exam on the first try... well, I already did that in 2012... I am a certified professional land use planner, which is great for me!  And some would argue that I don't "need" a Masters Degree.  I don't think going to get my masters degree is about fulfilling a financial/career/promotional need.  Continuing education is a passion of mine, always has been.  Getting my Masters would fulfill the need to better myself, help me find purpose, as well as, feel important, and successful.  I would be proud of myself if I obtained a masters degree!!  Even more proud than I was for myself, for achieving AICP at 27 years old.  

Knowing that I want to challenge myself and pursue this goal, is half the battle.  And now, to find out the Where, and How.  The 10 schools I would consider attending which offer a masters program in Urban Planning:  

• Eastern Washington University, Spokane, Masters in Urban and Regional Planning

• Portland State University, Masters of Urban and Regional Planning

• University of Oregon, Masters of Community and Regional Planning

• University of Washington, Seattle, Masters of Urban Planning

• Cleveland State University, Masters of Urban Planning, Design, and Development (sister lives in Cleveland)

• California State University at Northridge, Los Angeles, Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis on Urban Planning

• Michigan State University, Masters of Urban and Regional Planning (Have an undergraduate from MSU in Urban and Regional Planning)

• University of Michigan, Masters of Urban Planning

• Wayne State University, Detroit, Masters of Urban Planning

• University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Masters of Art in Planning

Public Administration graduate programs are more widely offered by Universities.   My only concern is that I will HATE some of the aspects of PA, like the financial part of municipalities.  I am not an accountant, I have no interest in learning tax laws, etc.   However, I know it's an important aspect of how cities function.   Many schools offer online degrees in Public Administration as well.

Decisions, decisions.  Why do I always have to take the hard route in life?  hahaha because I am constantly looking for ways to better my life and find my "purpose"?.... but the "what's your purpose" discussion is for another day, and another blog post!