in temperature from day to day. Nearly 70 yesterday, then that massive cold front blew through, with massive high winds. Ice around this morning, and the weather-criers warning of the end of the world - - I mean freezing precipitation. Which means an inch or less of snow. If it is ice, though, stay indoors, away from walls. People actually drive FASTER to get home before it gets worse, and they will skid off the road right through buildings.
Crazy kids at school. One decided that he didn't want to wear his gym shorts under his pants, so at the end of the day while we were doing lockers, he took off his shoes, then his pants, doffed his shorts and put his pants back on. Didn't think anything of it. The day after his mother came in to talk to us (well, we wanted to talk to her) about his behavior, or lack thereof.
Nice dinner out for wife's birthday. Nothing too special, Bosco's (a sort of a brewery/restaurant), lots of restraint, so lots of leftovers in the fridge. Tomorrow night might be a 'reclaim territory' night for dinner.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Mondays
usually suck. This one was not quite so bad. Expected a real crap-storm at school, but just getting the silent treatment from my teammate. Worse things could happen, it isn't changing my daily life at all. On the other hand, having our 50 minute planning period eaten up daily by parent meetings (that are typically useless) creates stress in accomplishing the expected paperwork in other areas, like progress reports. We put those out the middle of each six week period, followed by report cards. Parents are supposed to get an update on their darlings every 3 weeks, and yet some claim to never know what is going on with their child's grades.
Scratchy throat from last night - impending cold. It will scratch and be sore, then progress into sneezing and drippy nose. Was hoping I could exercise it out of me, but so far, no dice. And tomorrow the older has an orthodontist appointment, so I have to leave school fast, get her, and probably won't hit the Y for a good aerobic sweatfest.
Scratchy throat from last night - impending cold. It will scratch and be sore, then progress into sneezing and drippy nose. Was hoping I could exercise it out of me, but so far, no dice. And tomorrow the older has an orthodontist appointment, so I have to leave school fast, get her, and probably won't hit the Y for a good aerobic sweatfest.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Random Thoughts
I don't know what made me think of it, but for the past few weeks I have been contemplating my thumbnails. They are thicker than my other nails, maybe because they are much wider *shrug*. On the other hand, or foot, my big toenails are extremely thick and dense, but not terribly wide even though my big toes are almost circular. Thoughts on my nails brought me back to something I remember reading about the western frontier, and how tough guys would allow their thumbnails to grow very long and practice gouging - basically popping an eye out. Seems pretty primitive compared to fisticuffs, and the loser had quite a bit to lose. Did they artificially strengthen their nails, like women do today? No Walgreens on the corner though. I imagine they had prosthetic devices to protect their nails, like little grapefruit spoons, with serated edges. I could Wiki all this junk, but somebody probably put in a made up article about it. Did they practice on livestock? Recently butchered meat animals - if they were humane (big laugh here). I can't imagine you could get good at something like this before you lost twice and were pretty much blind. Maybe they could pop the eye back in, but then what if the eye were injured/pierced by the thumbnail.
There is a story aching to be written here.
Just now at the grocery, I used my psychic mathematical skills to amaze a young woman. She was pondering the non-fat milk door of the dairy section. Finally she grabbed two gallon jugs and put them in her cart. I took a half-gallon and told her "this is the one you wanted." Then I explained that since the halves were 3/$5, that worked out to 3 gallons for $10. The gallons were priced at $3.63, or .30 more per gallon. Trust me, I am a math teacher. This kind of stuff never impresses anybody I try to teach though. Maybe I should have a TV show called Mental Math or something, explaining easy tricks for those who are scared of math. Yeah...but I bet you never thought there would be an entire TV network devoted to nothing but food either (or cheapass jewelry, but that is another topic).
There is a story aching to be written here.
Just now at the grocery, I used my psychic mathematical skills to amaze a young woman. She was pondering the non-fat milk door of the dairy section. Finally she grabbed two gallon jugs and put them in her cart. I took a half-gallon and told her "this is the one you wanted." Then I explained that since the halves were 3/$5, that worked out to 3 gallons for $10. The gallons were priced at $3.63, or .30 more per gallon. Trust me, I am a math teacher. This kind of stuff never impresses anybody I try to teach though. Maybe I should have a TV show called Mental Math or something, explaining easy tricks for those who are scared of math. Yeah...but I bet you never thought there would be an entire TV network devoted to nothing but food either (or cheapass jewelry, but that is another topic).
Friday, January 25, 2008
More crap at work
Well, the other day a couple of kids were "play" fighting in the bathroom, resulting in a double suspension, as it should be. Let's not dwell on another similar incident that was swept under the rug because one of the boys was the principal-in-training's nephew. Anyhow, the edict came down that from now on all four classes (110+ students) need to take their bathroom breaks simultaneously, and a male teacher needs to be in the boys' room, and a female teacher in the girls' room. Guess what - I am the only male teacher - so I get to spend 15 minutes twice a day, EVERY DAY telling kids to not goof around, get moving.
This sucks, but more so since today a young 'angel' decided it would be funny to play basketball with a wet paper towel, and threw it at my back. Hilarity did not ensue, and I got a little hot. Eventually I uttered the phrase "get back in line you disrespectful punk" which incited a teacher on my team. She proceeded to dress me down for getting childish, then proceeded to take the matter up in the hall with the principal. End result, I feel let down by my teammate's handling of this (a teammate, by the way, who can't be bothered to go downstairs to escort students from the cafeteria, something I do EVERY DAY, but she certainly can go downstairs to drive to get her lunch, and even sometimes get back before the students get to her room from their lunch), plus I got to spend a majority of my planning period sitting before all four administrators.
The reality of the situation is this: I am white and male. I can't discipline students in the same way as a black teacher, or even a female teacher, due to student and parent perceptions. This severely limits my ability to maintain order. What makes it worse is a lack of support from those around me, and the students' willingness to abuse this "privilege" by actively mocking my requests for proper behavior.
It is getting to the point where I just don't care, and will just stand by as chaos comes to a head. At which point people (meaning this teacher who bitched me out) will question why I didn't try to maintain order.
no win
This sucks, but more so since today a young 'angel' decided it would be funny to play basketball with a wet paper towel, and threw it at my back. Hilarity did not ensue, and I got a little hot. Eventually I uttered the phrase "get back in line you disrespectful punk" which incited a teacher on my team. She proceeded to dress me down for getting childish, then proceeded to take the matter up in the hall with the principal. End result, I feel let down by my teammate's handling of this (a teammate, by the way, who can't be bothered to go downstairs to escort students from the cafeteria, something I do EVERY DAY, but she certainly can go downstairs to drive to get her lunch, and even sometimes get back before the students get to her room from their lunch), plus I got to spend a majority of my planning period sitting before all four administrators.
The reality of the situation is this: I am white and male. I can't discipline students in the same way as a black teacher, or even a female teacher, due to student and parent perceptions. This severely limits my ability to maintain order. What makes it worse is a lack of support from those around me, and the students' willingness to abuse this "privilege" by actively mocking my requests for proper behavior.
It is getting to the point where I just don't care, and will just stand by as chaos comes to a head. At which point people (meaning this teacher who bitched me out) will question why I didn't try to maintain order.
no win
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thinking Ahead
I don't often take time off, or take vacations. Not sure if it is the 'cheap' gene in me, or the fact that I tend to be too responsible (actually, I hate working doubly hard the week before taking off, and then again the week after taking off to make the week off possible), but I have only taken a couple of true vacations. Last year during the school spring break (which coincided with the kids' break) we went to Hot Springs. Stayed in a hotel, all the vacation stuff.
This year, not so much. My spring break is the week prior to Easter, meaning no going places. Topped off with the fact that the kids have the following week off, so there is little overlap. Still, a week without school means I could just laze around and get caught up on all my TV on DVD. Farscape, Dresden Files, Carnivale, Lost (fun to rewatch), even a movie or two here and there that I own but never watched on DVD (probably watched in a theater, though).
Nothing on the horizon reading-wise, though. I see Stephen King has a new one out, if I see it in the library I might give it a try. Other authors, aside from George RR Martin (waiting on Dance of Dragons) aren't moving me right now. I think I need a new series or direction, assuming I can fit the time in with all the extra curricular stuff I am doing. And since I saw Cloverfield, my anticipated movies are pretty slim, too. Dark Knight is the next biggie, even more so now that Heath Ledger's performance has been linked to depression and possibly implicated in his death. Who the hell knows. He was a fine actor, and from what I have seen (first 5 minutes bootlegged from a convention on YouTube for half a day) he is pretty awesome. Only other of his films I have seen was Knight's Tale. Still, his death is way creepy.
This year, not so much. My spring break is the week prior to Easter, meaning no going places. Topped off with the fact that the kids have the following week off, so there is little overlap. Still, a week without school means I could just laze around and get caught up on all my TV on DVD. Farscape, Dresden Files, Carnivale, Lost (fun to rewatch), even a movie or two here and there that I own but never watched on DVD (probably watched in a theater, though).
Nothing on the horizon reading-wise, though. I see Stephen King has a new one out, if I see it in the library I might give it a try. Other authors, aside from George RR Martin (waiting on Dance of Dragons) aren't moving me right now. I think I need a new series or direction, assuming I can fit the time in with all the extra curricular stuff I am doing. And since I saw Cloverfield, my anticipated movies are pretty slim, too. Dark Knight is the next biggie, even more so now that Heath Ledger's performance has been linked to depression and possibly implicated in his death. Who the hell knows. He was a fine actor, and from what I have seen (first 5 minutes bootlegged from a convention on YouTube for half a day) he is pretty awesome. Only other of his films I have seen was Knight's Tale. Still, his death is way creepy.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Guitar Heroics
The game is addictive, to say the least, but also hella fun. We have all the versions, and right now I am playing through the original on Medium. In fact, just beat it. Didn't think I could get through Bark at the Moon, but I did. Still haven't managed Crossroads - just too many fret changes too darn fast.
One side effect is the strangeness of both daughters in the car humming Iron Man - neither had ever heard it but the oldest loves to play it on GH.
Still tired from yesterday's field trip to the hockey game. Minor league team, but fun. Kids yelled at everything nonstop for the whole game. At least I briefed them all on different things so they could appreciate the grace of line changes, etc. The home team lost, but the kids still yelled, sang along with the musical offerings, banged their inflatable cheer sticks together. Just the pressure of herding 100+ sixth graders, even with three other adults, nearly broke me.
Looking like both daughters are having sleepovers this Friday. Youngest with the two girls we took to the pool over the weekend (one her oldest bestest friend, the other a new best friend to both) and oldest with her good friend. Which makes for some fancy logistics of transportation - since the wife is working until 6pm, and school lets out for both at 3pm. One school is near the house, the other is 20 minutes away. And the car won't hold all the girls at once. It will all work out, though.
One side effect is the strangeness of both daughters in the car humming Iron Man - neither had ever heard it but the oldest loves to play it on GH.
Still tired from yesterday's field trip to the hockey game. Minor league team, but fun. Kids yelled at everything nonstop for the whole game. At least I briefed them all on different things so they could appreciate the grace of line changes, etc. The home team lost, but the kids still yelled, sang along with the musical offerings, banged their inflatable cheer sticks together. Just the pressure of herding 100+ sixth graders, even with three other adults, nearly broke me.
Looking like both daughters are having sleepovers this Friday. Youngest with the two girls we took to the pool over the weekend (one her oldest bestest friend, the other a new best friend to both) and oldest with her good friend. Which makes for some fancy logistics of transportation - since the wife is working until 6pm, and school lets out for both at 3pm. One school is near the house, the other is 20 minutes away. And the car won't hold all the girls at once. It will all work out, though.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Long Weekends
They are nice, but I wind up thinking I will do more than I actually do. Graded papers - check! But of course, not all of the ones I planned. Visit the Y - check (actually more than I planned). Beyond that, nope. Just lazying around.
Over the past couple of weeks, my mother-in-law has been in constant pain. She has some pretty severe scoliosis, worsened by age and osteoporosis. It has come to the point where she needs surgery, but at her age it is risky. So you have the choice of constant pain, not mitigated by pills (that by the way Medicare won't fund, aside from 10 a month) which eventually will wear down her health and quality of life. On the other hand you have surgery that she may not survive, then a month to six weeks of physical rehabilitation, with hopefully no pain at the end, and increased mobility. Again, the pain and recuperation could put her closer to the edge. Mortality and the choices we make to extend our span or improve our quality of life. This is my wife's last parent, while I still have both, and she is just up the street, making her a constant presence in our lives. No good choices, only choices that seem better than others.
On a lighter note (you will laugh in a minute), I hate our scale. Today it gave me an obviously low reading, and then added 3 pounds each of the next two times I stepped on. See what I mean about the lighter note. Going to ignore it for the time being (I can use the balance scale at the Y) since my belt feels looser on a tighter setting. Aside from the bloated feeling from muscles pushing against my subcutaneous fat, I am feeling better. Bored yet with the dull recap of the same old fitness song?
Over the past couple of weeks, my mother-in-law has been in constant pain. She has some pretty severe scoliosis, worsened by age and osteoporosis. It has come to the point where she needs surgery, but at her age it is risky. So you have the choice of constant pain, not mitigated by pills (that by the way Medicare won't fund, aside from 10 a month) which eventually will wear down her health and quality of life. On the other hand you have surgery that she may not survive, then a month to six weeks of physical rehabilitation, with hopefully no pain at the end, and increased mobility. Again, the pain and recuperation could put her closer to the edge. Mortality and the choices we make to extend our span or improve our quality of life. This is my wife's last parent, while I still have both, and she is just up the street, making her a constant presence in our lives. No good choices, only choices that seem better than others.
On a lighter note (you will laugh in a minute), I hate our scale. Today it gave me an obviously low reading, and then added 3 pounds each of the next two times I stepped on. See what I mean about the lighter note. Going to ignore it for the time being (I can use the balance scale at the Y) since my belt feels looser on a tighter setting. Aside from the bloated feeling from muscles pushing against my subcutaneous fat, I am feeling better. Bored yet with the dull recap of the same old fitness song?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Back
Obviously I did something to it. Tight in the lower back, with the old sciatica down the right leg. Hard to bend, stiff to walk. But a nice walking and easy lifting workout at the Y seems to have firmed it up, relieving most of the pain. Maybe some swimming tomorrow. Place was packed today, as was Pei Wei tonight (where they didn't put in our phone order until we arrived, but they rushed it and gave me a $10 gift card and all the soda I could drink while I waited, so I wasn't stressed much) - holiday weekends make people crazy. Plus the cold weather. 37 degrees for a high - the newspaper advised people to stay indoors. Go figure!
Speaking of exercise, I am at the nice stage where I feel stronger, my muscles support me when walking, so I stand straighter and have more control. On the down side, my muscles have bulked up, but my layer of marshmallow still has not melted away, so clothes are tighter, for now. Nice chafing from Wednesday - today I wore my long spandex pants *gasp* instead of shorts.
Speaking of exercise, I am at the nice stage where I feel stronger, my muscles support me when walking, so I stand straighter and have more control. On the down side, my muscles have bulked up, but my layer of marshmallow still has not melted away, so clothes are tighter, for now. Nice chafing from Wednesday - today I wore my long spandex pants *gasp* instead of shorts.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Annoyance
Yeah, a few kids got very much on my nerves today, and they are the kind that always piss me off. Ignore requests to behave, then sass or mumble at you. Claim they are not going to be in school (this school anyhow) much longer, so they don't believe they need to pay dues. They know either by experience or implication that their parents will intervene on their behalf, no matter what they have done. And further, they bring the lower end of the class behavior onto their side. Grr...
Maybe some will eventually get a consequence that matters, but the only ones we can dish out, like suspension, they actively welcome. They want for nothing, since their parents also feel like they can buy loyalty or replace love with materials (I assume, but you can't assume motivation). One of these today was bragging about his $110 shoes. And how he hates school and would rather do something worthwhile, like stay at home and play games. Did I mention his mother was glad his older brother got out of jail recently, to give him a male role model?
Sore interior of my hip, mainly due to the nasty beatdown I gave the heavy bag with my right foot (along with all the other punishment to my elderly muscles).
Hey, 3-day weekend coming up!
Maybe some will eventually get a consequence that matters, but the only ones we can dish out, like suspension, they actively welcome. They want for nothing, since their parents also feel like they can buy loyalty or replace love with materials (I assume, but you can't assume motivation). One of these today was bragging about his $110 shoes. And how he hates school and would rather do something worthwhile, like stay at home and play games. Did I mention his mother was glad his older brother got out of jail recently, to give him a male role model?
Sore interior of my hip, mainly due to the nasty beatdown I gave the heavy bag with my right foot (along with all the other punishment to my elderly muscles).
Hey, 3-day weekend coming up!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Fitter than before
Taking a day off from exercise actually made me feel all toned and such. Tight in the chest and shoulders. Still a nice layer of marshmallow, but not letting it concern me. My first weight goal is actually mid-February, so I am not discouraged. But I feel strong. Eliptical today, plus upper body weights, then a mile on the treadmill. All this following some nice cathartic kicking, kneeing and elbowing the heavy bag. I don't think the Y had me in mind when they anchored that thing. Nice way to work off some frustration from a day of 6th graders, plus a pep rally.
Again with the snow panic, as the temperatures get into the 30s and there is precipitation. The weather readers just want to stir people up, claiming the "snow" is coming from up to a week out. But it isn't really snow. Not real snow. Then again, last year there was an actually baby snowstorm. 2 inches of wet snow during the day. Panic in the streets, traffic going 10mph. *yawn*
Lately I find myself living in the past, thinking over decisions, missed opportunities, etc. with the wisdom of the aged. Living in the present is just not real exciting at the moment. Precious little to look forward to, aside from the little day-to-day joys, and surprise moments. No vacations planned, no visits to or from friends, no major events. Maybe I will have to create some.
Again with the snow panic, as the temperatures get into the 30s and there is precipitation. The weather readers just want to stir people up, claiming the "snow" is coming from up to a week out. But it isn't really snow. Not real snow. Then again, last year there was an actually baby snowstorm. 2 inches of wet snow during the day. Panic in the streets, traffic going 10mph. *yawn*
Lately I find myself living in the past, thinking over decisions, missed opportunities, etc. with the wisdom of the aged. Living in the present is just not real exciting at the moment. Precious little to look forward to, aside from the little day-to-day joys, and surprise moments. No vacations planned, no visits to or from friends, no major events. Maybe I will have to create some.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Yay Pei Wei
Asian Bistro opened tonight. Surprisingly not crowded, I don't think the opening was made with much fanfare, although by dinner time, after 6, it was filling up some. Good food, fast and hot.
Three days of swimming and then a muscle machine workout today. ouchies. Going to be sore tomorrow.
And on that topic, screw you Mr. Digital Scale. Last week you told me 191. Today you told me 198. Obviously one was wrong, and it was not today, since the balance scale at the Y said 202 with clothes on. Wife told me I shouldn't weigh myself AFTER a workout, you will weigh more since all the blood is in the muscles. Um.....
Three days of swimming and then a muscle machine workout today. ouchies. Going to be sore tomorrow.
And on that topic, screw you Mr. Digital Scale. Last week you told me 191. Today you told me 198. Obviously one was wrong, and it was not today, since the balance scale at the Y said 202 with clothes on. Wife told me I shouldn't weigh myself AFTER a workout, you will weigh more since all the blood is in the muscles. Um.....
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Bargains and Bites
Lately have been scoring some bargains that I can't help crowing about. Last week the grocery (Kroger, just in case I refer to it again) put a bunch of spiral sliced hams on discount for 99 cents a pound. I guess they overbought for the holidays and they were about to meet their date. We have been eating, well, off that ham for quite a few days. Except the oldest, who we joke about being Jewish. Then again, a lot of southern blacks also avoid the flesh of pigs...it isn't religious, but perhaps they are emulating somebody Muslim and they don't realize it.
Anyhow, the other day back at Kroger (see, there I did it) and they had one left, so I grabbed it. 10 pounds, $10. Except at the register it rung up at $4.01. Deep discount! And today at Target I grabbed up 750ml of Bertoli Olive Oil for $2.06. No clue why it was so cheap. And 24 oz of honey for 96 cents. And some jars of olives for that same price. Although I ate an olive when I got home...whoa! They are stuffed with what the label calls Bari Bari peppers. The whole thing is imported from Greece. Well, the peppers are tiny, bright red and whole, not sliced like the pimentos most people are used to. And they are HOT. I didn't even eat the pepper, just the olive. Coming from me, this warning is serious, since I usually don't wince at such things. Maybe I was just not prepared. Can't wait to eat more of them.
Swam again for the third day in a row. Into the rhythm now, breath, stroke stroke stroke, breath. Although today it got to be every third instead of every fourth. Then I also realized I was just flutter kicking, so I put my legs into it, and wow, what a difference. Course, I also had to roll the windows down on the way home, I was so hot and nauseated from the strenuous exercise. Can't wait for morning to weigh in and see what progress, if any, has been made. I know I am building muscle and that probably offsets the weight loss, but I am now comfortable at the 2nd belt notch, when before that would have been a stretch.
Now for bites...Purl the big dog (Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix) is younger than our Meredith (Jack Russell) by a few years, but her temperment makes her bossy. Meredith is more vocal and she will start things, but can't back them up due to size. Purl has been extending her pecking order to things like walks in the morning, and exiting the doors to the deck. Lately Meredith has been hiding under the bed until Purl settles before leaving the room in the morning, and sometimes they get in snarling/barking matches, which Purl wins due to size intimidation. A few times she has been bloodied by a tooth or claw. Today they really got into it loud on the deck and I had to break it up. Meredith has a shallow scratch under her jaw/neck that is a couple of inches long. What is worse, though, is she has really been skittish and shy since then, hiding in a packing box, slinking around. I know cats will work out dominance issues, but I am not sure Meredith will buckle under, having been top dog before we brought Purl home.
Anyhow, the other day back at Kroger (see, there I did it) and they had one left, so I grabbed it. 10 pounds, $10. Except at the register it rung up at $4.01. Deep discount! And today at Target I grabbed up 750ml of Bertoli Olive Oil for $2.06. No clue why it was so cheap. And 24 oz of honey for 96 cents. And some jars of olives for that same price. Although I ate an olive when I got home...whoa! They are stuffed with what the label calls Bari Bari peppers. The whole thing is imported from Greece. Well, the peppers are tiny, bright red and whole, not sliced like the pimentos most people are used to. And they are HOT. I didn't even eat the pepper, just the olive. Coming from me, this warning is serious, since I usually don't wince at such things. Maybe I was just not prepared. Can't wait to eat more of them.
Swam again for the third day in a row. Into the rhythm now, breath, stroke stroke stroke, breath. Although today it got to be every third instead of every fourth. Then I also realized I was just flutter kicking, so I put my legs into it, and wow, what a difference. Course, I also had to roll the windows down on the way home, I was so hot and nauseated from the strenuous exercise. Can't wait for morning to weigh in and see what progress, if any, has been made. I know I am building muscle and that probably offsets the weight loss, but I am now comfortable at the 2nd belt notch, when before that would have been a stretch.
Now for bites...Purl the big dog (Australian Shepherd/Border Collie mix) is younger than our Meredith (Jack Russell) by a few years, but her temperment makes her bossy. Meredith is more vocal and she will start things, but can't back them up due to size. Purl has been extending her pecking order to things like walks in the morning, and exiting the doors to the deck. Lately Meredith has been hiding under the bed until Purl settles before leaving the room in the morning, and sometimes they get in snarling/barking matches, which Purl wins due to size intimidation. A few times she has been bloodied by a tooth or claw. Today they really got into it loud on the deck and I had to break it up. Meredith has a shallow scratch under her jaw/neck that is a couple of inches long. What is worse, though, is she has really been skittish and shy since then, hiding in a packing box, slinking around. I know cats will work out dominance issues, but I am not sure Meredith will buckle under, having been top dog before we brought Purl home.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Laps
No, not the kind you have sitting but not standing. In the pool. Youngest wanted to go yesterday, today I was a little stiff, but willing to go again. My goal was 5 times across and back and I couldn't manage it yesterday. Two of the laps - and is a lap once across or across and back? - I did striding in chest deep water. In my case, I will call across and back a lap. Got it?
Today though I got into a pattern, and I guess I finally got some strength going or something. Breathe on the left, stroke, stroke, stroke (all the while exhaling) then breathing again on the left. It made the last lap easier...you know the last one - it is the one where your stomach is all jellified because it isn't toned up yet.
I know a couple of readers (maybe my only readers) are avid swimmers and have always been, while I struggle. I recall the mile-swim in Boy Scouts where I lasted maybe 1/4 of the distance, even allowing for backstroking etc. If I assume the pool is 25 meters wide, today I did 250 meters, or about 1/8 of a mile. Soon, though, I will be more in shape and it will be a matter of boredom. I might even graduate myself to the deep end of the pool.
Today though I got into a pattern, and I guess I finally got some strength going or something. Breathe on the left, stroke, stroke, stroke (all the while exhaling) then breathing again on the left. It made the last lap easier...you know the last one - it is the one where your stomach is all jellified because it isn't toned up yet.
I know a couple of readers (maybe my only readers) are avid swimmers and have always been, while I struggle. I recall the mile-swim in Boy Scouts where I lasted maybe 1/4 of the distance, even allowing for backstroking etc. If I assume the pool is 25 meters wide, today I did 250 meters, or about 1/8 of a mile. Soon, though, I will be more in shape and it will be a matter of boredom. I might even graduate myself to the deep end of the pool.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Educational Frustration
Some days it isn't worth trying. Today was like that. We have four teachers on our team. We are required to escort students to and from classes, but for the most part the transitions go from one classroom to another across the hall. The exception is lunchtime. I am always there early, and I guide the kids out, and hopefully another teacher is in the hall to take the front of the line. There are two teachers who NEVER come downstairs, which leaves two people to wrangle 100+ sixth graders. It doesn't often go well, and it is the least favorite part of my day.
Today as we progressed down the hall, and the dregs of my line were behind me (meaning the trouble makers who either aren't paying attention to the dismissal call, or hang back to goof and talk) a chunk of crayon skittered past my shoe. I figured it was thrown, but optimistically said to myself "maybe somebody kicked it." The next chunk of crayon hit me in the side of the head. Several of the boys laughed, but my back was turned. No win situations, but I called for an administrator and took all 12 boys to a conference room. Then I went back to my duties, knowing full well that nobody saw anything, and there would be no resolution. Which was correct - it is like dealing with witnesses to the Mafia - memories short out, nobody will admit they saw anything.
The victims here are the students who are good and responsible. Eventually this lack of respect from a segment of the students will drive good teachers away in frustration. Disruptions from children who haven't learned how to behave, or worse yet have had role models who have taught through example to lie, be selfish, cheat, steal and act offended when caught. The culture and society here in Memphis is one of entitlement.
Our school has over 85% of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches. But I have a significant number of students who brag of their $200 sneakers, and take extreme care of them, while casually tearing pages out of their textbooks. These students are not wealthy, but priorities are so skewed that materialism is replacing parental involvement. A parent might work 2 jobs, and be absent for most of the child's waking day in order to provide the expensive goods that the child asks for as a replacement for normal parental contact. These are the students who do not value "normal" social mores like honesty, hard work, respect (for adults or authority).
The cherry on top of all this is that I am white. Reverse racism is not only prevalent but exploited to the maximum. Complaints fly if I so much as raise my voice to some students, and I envision parents instructing their kids, verbally or by example, that they don't have to listen to me because I am "the man" and should be resisted and thwarted at every opportunity. Makes for a hostile work environment, not even taking into account vandalism to my car, verbal and physical assaults, and having my performance examined under a microscope as part of the federal educational initiative (No Child Left Behind) which is more about accountability than actually increasing student achievement.
I wish the bureaucrats could understand a bell curve and realize that you can't get 90% of the population to perform at 80% or better, especially without some massive influx of dollars and a new paradigm of teaching. I venture it could be done, but it won't be, because it is all about accountability. In other words, it is the teachers fault, and our elected officials will make sure those teachers don't screw up the educational process any more than they already have.
Some days I wonder why I took this career path.
Today as we progressed down the hall, and the dregs of my line were behind me (meaning the trouble makers who either aren't paying attention to the dismissal call, or hang back to goof and talk) a chunk of crayon skittered past my shoe. I figured it was thrown, but optimistically said to myself "maybe somebody kicked it." The next chunk of crayon hit me in the side of the head. Several of the boys laughed, but my back was turned. No win situations, but I called for an administrator and took all 12 boys to a conference room. Then I went back to my duties, knowing full well that nobody saw anything, and there would be no resolution. Which was correct - it is like dealing with witnesses to the Mafia - memories short out, nobody will admit they saw anything.
The victims here are the students who are good and responsible. Eventually this lack of respect from a segment of the students will drive good teachers away in frustration. Disruptions from children who haven't learned how to behave, or worse yet have had role models who have taught through example to lie, be selfish, cheat, steal and act offended when caught. The culture and society here in Memphis is one of entitlement.
Our school has over 85% of students who qualify for free or reduced lunches. But I have a significant number of students who brag of their $200 sneakers, and take extreme care of them, while casually tearing pages out of their textbooks. These students are not wealthy, but priorities are so skewed that materialism is replacing parental involvement. A parent might work 2 jobs, and be absent for most of the child's waking day in order to provide the expensive goods that the child asks for as a replacement for normal parental contact. These are the students who do not value "normal" social mores like honesty, hard work, respect (for adults or authority).
The cherry on top of all this is that I am white. Reverse racism is not only prevalent but exploited to the maximum. Complaints fly if I so much as raise my voice to some students, and I envision parents instructing their kids, verbally or by example, that they don't have to listen to me because I am "the man" and should be resisted and thwarted at every opportunity. Makes for a hostile work environment, not even taking into account vandalism to my car, verbal and physical assaults, and having my performance examined under a microscope as part of the federal educational initiative (No Child Left Behind) which is more about accountability than actually increasing student achievement.
I wish the bureaucrats could understand a bell curve and realize that you can't get 90% of the population to perform at 80% or better, especially without some massive influx of dollars and a new paradigm of teaching. I venture it could be done, but it won't be, because it is all about accountability. In other words, it is the teachers fault, and our elected officials will make sure those teachers don't screw up the educational process any more than they already have.
Some days I wonder why I took this career path.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Weather, or not
It is one thing to get used to 70s in January, it is another thing to have it go from 70 to 40 and back up over three days. Today we had the tornado panic as a wave of weather swept through. Emails from the principal to make sure you are up on the disaster procedures, etc. And of course, nothing but some thunderstorms (and a great teach-able moment about the ratio of seconds between the flash and the boom and the distance, since we are studying ratios).
I despair that this blog is going to become nothing more than mundane crap about my days, which are going to be depressingly similar. School, exercise, diet. Not that I do much. I have a little 5-year diary from my middle teens, not enough space on a given day to write much of anything. There is the temperature and what I did. Sometimes movies, sometimes cryptic messages that I can't recall or decipher at all. Pretty boring, although there are some gems in there, like going to see Star Wars, things like that.
One exciting note, on a food angle. At our nearby grocery shopping center/strip mall there had been an empty bay on the corner for a long time. Then the floor was dug up, and suddenly it was announced a Pei Wei was going in. Google it, but it is a sort of upscale takeout or sit in. You order at the register, get a number token, sit down, get your own drinks and food is brought to you fast and hot. There are a number of stools at the 'bar' overlooking the food prep area, which is nice. Asian, not limited to Chinese (which so much of Memphis is, and it is horribly Americanized, too. Then again, the Dragon Seed and its Scorpion Bowls were not authentic either), so you can get Japanese noodles, Thai, Vietnamese. Well, we have been waiting and watching, since they originally said opening January of 08. Now the little sign says "Training Staff (opening Monday)." Hooray! We know where we will be for dinner.
I despair that this blog is going to become nothing more than mundane crap about my days, which are going to be depressingly similar. School, exercise, diet. Not that I do much. I have a little 5-year diary from my middle teens, not enough space on a given day to write much of anything. There is the temperature and what I did. Sometimes movies, sometimes cryptic messages that I can't recall or decipher at all. Pretty boring, although there are some gems in there, like going to see Star Wars, things like that.
One exciting note, on a food angle. At our nearby grocery shopping center/strip mall there had been an empty bay on the corner for a long time. Then the floor was dug up, and suddenly it was announced a Pei Wei was going in. Google it, but it is a sort of upscale takeout or sit in. You order at the register, get a number token, sit down, get your own drinks and food is brought to you fast and hot. There are a number of stools at the 'bar' overlooking the food prep area, which is nice. Asian, not limited to Chinese (which so much of Memphis is, and it is horribly Americanized, too. Then again, the Dragon Seed and its Scorpion Bowls were not authentic either), so you can get Japanese noodles, Thai, Vietnamese. Well, we have been waiting and watching, since they originally said opening January of 08. Now the little sign says "Training Staff (opening Monday)." Hooray! We know where we will be for dinner.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Smoothing out
Today was a much smoother day, all the way around. Kids finally started to mellow out at school, and some actual learning took place. Well, I think it did - the quiz on Friday will bear me out, hopefully. Of course, every year I think I am not teaching well (which is not the same as the kids not learning well, but that is a cultural thing, which in this town is a code word for black thing. No work ethic to speak of, hell, no ethics to speak of. Parents doing their kids homework, encouraging them to lie about things like where they live, for example) but then TCAP (annual standardized tests) come out and my students average well above the performance of other schools.
Faculty meeting - another nice surprise. The agenda said an hour, we were out in 20 minutes. Off to the Y for a treadmill warmup and then intense upper body conditioning. My left forearm is a little sore when I straighten it. Tomorrow should be fun, and no Y for me, as the oldest has an orthodontist appointment in the middle of the afternoon. Maybe every other day is good to start out. Most machines I did 20 reps at 50-60 pounds. And I am stretching in ways I never did before, too. Health, here I come!
Faculty meeting - another nice surprise. The agenda said an hour, we were out in 20 minutes. Off to the Y for a treadmill warmup and then intense upper body conditioning. My left forearm is a little sore when I straighten it. Tomorrow should be fun, and no Y for me, as the oldest has an orthodontist appointment in the middle of the afternoon. Maybe every other day is good to start out. Most machines I did 20 reps at 50-60 pounds. And I am stretching in ways I never did before, too. Health, here I come!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Games
Since Christmas, I have been into more games at one time than ever before. Guitar Hero (rock!) for the PS2, Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii (as well as a fun fishing game), and The Phantom Hourglass on the DS. This is in addition to the games on the computer. Oldest keeps pestering me to finish Knights of the Old Republic so I can move on to the second one.
And there is the big difference in my old age. When I was younger, I was all about completion. Got to get all the side-quests, the best stuff, etc. Wouldn't quit until I had it all. Now it is all about having fun. I still try to get the stuff, but now I will let a game slide for a week or more before I come back to it. Maybe I am more comfortable about myself, and don't need to prove anything by perfecting a game, or maybe I am losing concentration and therefore more willing to abandon a game mid-way, or lose interest.
Nice and tight/sore today from yesterday at the Y. Nice feeling to have the ache of a good workout, but then we had some massive storms (up north this would have been a thaw, with 70 degree days in January) as a cold front pushed through. Now it is back to seasonable temperatures, and a few places had hail and tornadoes. Not looking forward to seeing one of those, especially since this is not like you see on StormChasers, with a single cell spawning a picturesque funnel, but it would be a huge mess of clouds and rain and you wouldn't know there was a tornado until you were meeting your maker.
And there is the big difference in my old age. When I was younger, I was all about completion. Got to get all the side-quests, the best stuff, etc. Wouldn't quit until I had it all. Now it is all about having fun. I still try to get the stuff, but now I will let a game slide for a week or more before I come back to it. Maybe I am more comfortable about myself, and don't need to prove anything by perfecting a game, or maybe I am losing concentration and therefore more willing to abandon a game mid-way, or lose interest.
Nice and tight/sore today from yesterday at the Y. Nice feeling to have the ache of a good workout, but then we had some massive storms (up north this would have been a thaw, with 70 degree days in January) as a cold front pushed through. Now it is back to seasonable temperatures, and a few places had hail and tornadoes. Not looking forward to seeing one of those, especially since this is not like you see on StormChasers, with a single cell spawning a picturesque funnel, but it would be a huge mess of clouds and rain and you wouldn't know there was a tornado until you were meeting your maker.
Monday, January 7, 2008
The Beginning of it all
School is back in session. I had hoped the kids would be a little off balance from being back, but it was not to be. The crazy ones got crazier, and the misbehaving ones picked up where they left off.
Other beginnings - I used to weigh in on Mondays. Once a week to gauge how I am doing. I have been dreading it, which is why I gave myself a week of exercise and better eating habits. I was ready for a shock but was pleasantly surprised I clocked in at the first prime above 182. And you thought I would just tell you the weight. Gonna have to work for it, monkey-boy.
Wife and I went off to the Y for a tour, for her, and workout for me. She got introduced to the weight machines, so I followed her, after a quick eliptical workout. It was fun, not too strenuous, but I sure know I did something. Nice part is, it works all sorts of different muscle groups and the machines make it so you can't avoid doing the exercise right. I am really impressed with the different equipment - boredom is not going to be an option in avoiding working out.
Sleep is coming easier, the machine doesn't bother me any more and I can put on the mask and adjust it in total darkness. Dinners have also been a little more nutritious and fun. Use the crock pot (which seem to be making a comeback lately) to make a nice pot roast that was falling apart tender. Then got a nice spiral sliced ham for 99 cents a pound clearance and baked it up last night with sweet potatoes. Been eating clementines like they are going out of style, too. Healthy boy, that's me. Lunch, as usual, is a protein bar at school...no avoiding the lack of health in anything that comes out of the cafeteria.
Other beginnings - I used to weigh in on Mondays. Once a week to gauge how I am doing. I have been dreading it, which is why I gave myself a week of exercise and better eating habits. I was ready for a shock but was pleasantly surprised I clocked in at the first prime above 182. And you thought I would just tell you the weight. Gonna have to work for it, monkey-boy.
Wife and I went off to the Y for a tour, for her, and workout for me. She got introduced to the weight machines, so I followed her, after a quick eliptical workout. It was fun, not too strenuous, but I sure know I did something. Nice part is, it works all sorts of different muscle groups and the machines make it so you can't avoid doing the exercise right. I am really impressed with the different equipment - boredom is not going to be an option in avoiding working out.
Sleep is coming easier, the machine doesn't bother me any more and I can put on the mask and adjust it in total darkness. Dinners have also been a little more nutritious and fun. Use the crock pot (which seem to be making a comeback lately) to make a nice pot roast that was falling apart tender. Then got a nice spiral sliced ham for 99 cents a pound clearance and baked it up last night with sweet potatoes. Been eating clementines like they are going out of style, too. Healthy boy, that's me. Lunch, as usual, is a protein bar at school...no avoiding the lack of health in anything that comes out of the cafeteria.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Antici pation
Tomorrow is back to school for everybody. Yay. not really. My week's lessons are planned. Students should be complacent, due to the early hour of waking compared to vacation. It works that way in my house, too. More interesting than the students will be the teachers. We had one long-term teacher leave at the end of the calendar year to move to Boston where her husband is studying. To replace her, the financial secretary will move spot. Many people don't like her, so fireworks may ensue.
As part of the New Year's 'festivities' here in Memphis, the mayor makes his appointments to replace people who moved up into cushier jobs that pay better. Political favors are the theme, with a completely unqualified person running the public library system. At least by comparison to Mississippi, our literacy rates are OK.
Another interesting day with a 15-year old hormone case. One day at a time, and eventually she will become human. Taunting and teasing her sister, refusing dinner because it is 1) nothing she likes or 2) she is not hungry (but those shortbread cookies...microwaved). Then the willful disobedience (with laughter like a cherry on top). But tomorrow she may be sweetness and light, so there is always hope. The worst part is she often reminds me of how I acted (both remembered and imagined) when I was that age. I am surprised I survived.
And up north, all the fuss about my home state. I don't recall too much about primaries - can't even remember if I ever voted in one. At this point it is all about the ones who drop out, not the ones going all the way. No opinions yet, but as usual it will probably be the one who sickens me the least, not the one that impresses me the most.
As part of the New Year's 'festivities' here in Memphis, the mayor makes his appointments to replace people who moved up into cushier jobs that pay better. Political favors are the theme, with a completely unqualified person running the public library system. At least by comparison to Mississippi, our literacy rates are OK.
Another interesting day with a 15-year old hormone case. One day at a time, and eventually she will become human. Taunting and teasing her sister, refusing dinner because it is 1) nothing she likes or 2) she is not hungry (but those shortbread cookies...microwaved). Then the willful disobedience (with laughter like a cherry on top). But tomorrow she may be sweetness and light, so there is always hope. The worst part is she often reminds me of how I acted (both remembered and imagined) when I was that age. I am surprised I survived.
And up north, all the fuss about my home state. I don't recall too much about primaries - can't even remember if I ever voted in one. At this point it is all about the ones who drop out, not the ones going all the way. No opinions yet, but as usual it will probably be the one who sickens me the least, not the one that impresses me the most.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Sleep or not
They warn you when you get the machine that you might have trouble getting to sleep. Probably not because you have a thing stuck to the front of your head like in Alien. No, that couldn't be it. More likely because you are getting better sleep and need less. I woke up at 5am this morning, took off the mask, laid back down and didn't get up until 7. Now, whether I was getting 'good' sleep is debatable, but it wasn't bad. I find myself up to 11 or later now, though. Soon, back to 530 wakeups and school.
I should be more tired too from a second day of swimming. I went back and forth until I could barely lift my arms, and my abs know it, too. Muscle tired, but not sleepy.
I should be more tired too from a second day of swimming. I went back and forth until I could barely lift my arms, and my abs know it, too. Muscle tired, but not sleepy.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Promises
Hard to deny your kids. Youngest asked yesterday if I would take her to the Y today to swim. She remembered today and reminded me, so I had to live up to it. She can sort of swim, dogpaddling and diving down, but can sometimes be urged into a two stroke crawl. Even though I am not, in my opinion, ready to swim, we went.
It was fun. The bubble seems warm when you enter, but a few minutes in the pool reminds you they keep it cool because swimming is heavy exercise. My muscles reminded me, too. Calves have been mooing at me all day from the excessive toe-raises yesterday. Not too many, but enough to know I did them. Tomorrow I expect to be hearing from my shoulders, abs and other regions.
My niece, who I first met back nearly 20 years ago when she was still in diapers, is engaged. July 12 of this year. Lots of time flying. Possibility of both girls being junior bride's maids or somesuch excuse to wear a fancy dress.
And the day ends with my mother-in-law's birthday dinner. Then I ran home to grab up my unused pain meds (from my hernia, both pre- and post-op) for her, to get her through to her diagnostic on Tuesday. I am sure my wife is happy to have those meds out of the house, too. Not that I have had thoughts that way lately, but having 30+ tabs of Vicodin and equivalents lying around could do for me if I had a mind.
Finally, the breathing machine update. I am used to it, sleeping much better. The past couple of days I have lay down on the bed in the afternoon, and while I thought about a nap, I didn't sleep. I had a choice, and control, over my falling asleep, when in the past I would have crashed and burned without knowing it was about to happen. Nice, that.
It was fun. The bubble seems warm when you enter, but a few minutes in the pool reminds you they keep it cool because swimming is heavy exercise. My muscles reminded me, too. Calves have been mooing at me all day from the excessive toe-raises yesterday. Not too many, but enough to know I did them. Tomorrow I expect to be hearing from my shoulders, abs and other regions.
My niece, who I first met back nearly 20 years ago when she was still in diapers, is engaged. July 12 of this year. Lots of time flying. Possibility of both girls being junior bride's maids or somesuch excuse to wear a fancy dress.
And the day ends with my mother-in-law's birthday dinner. Then I ran home to grab up my unused pain meds (from my hernia, both pre- and post-op) for her, to get her through to her diagnostic on Tuesday. I am sure my wife is happy to have those meds out of the house, too. Not that I have had thoughts that way lately, but having 30+ tabs of Vicodin and equivalents lying around could do for me if I had a mind.
Finally, the breathing machine update. I am used to it, sleeping much better. The past couple of days I have lay down on the bed in the afternoon, and while I thought about a nap, I didn't sleep. I had a choice, and control, over my falling asleep, when in the past I would have crashed and burned without knowing it was about to happen. Nice, that.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Feel the Burn
25 minutes on a recumbent bike doesn't sound too bad. But I made the mistake of putting it on a 'hill' program. The third terrace from the top burned my ass, literally. Now my arms are weak and tired from hoisting myself up so my bulk did not crush the muscles (yes, there are alleged to be some under there) I was sitting on. Pushing yourself is a good thing, and I don't think I strained anything.
Tiny DVD player is back in the bedroom so now we can watch grown up programs on collections. The family room has a shiny new DVD/VCR combo, which looks nice. Also, wife's dress form came today - a nice addition to her office/workspace to put projects on. Nice wood finial and base. Maybe I can scare up a picture later.
Sleep is deeper, weird dreams (something about Dartmouth being converted to a giant film set, with buildings re-done in an egyptian theme), and continued irritation from the breathing mask. Some of it is the facial hair (yes, I know I didn't mention it - back in the cold northern days it was protection in the winter. Down here I just like changing my look once in a while. The cold still doesn't bother me - I ran around all day today in a t-shirt, with highs in the low 40s). Don't want to risk petroleum jelly - it might degrade the latex, if the mask is made of latex, which is unlikely due to people with allergies, but I need something there to keep the friction and resulting rash from happening.
The mayor here, who is a thinly disguised thug (who also has a doctorate and once was school superintendent, which tells you a lot about the political ladder here), gave his annual New Year's speech, which is always interesting. One year he stated that god made him mayor. This year he wants consolidation of the city and county governments. For those of you who think about it, this is ridiculous to begin with, having a government for a county, then duplicating the government for a city that is completely within the borders of said county. Then again, this way you can double the graft and corruption, and since the poverty stays within the city (discounting the upscale poverty of people losing houses because they don't understand how mortgages work), the county can provide more services for those who can afford to escape. The mayor addressed this a couple of years ago, basically saying if you don't like the city, there is the door. In order to consolidate the governments, both the city and county voters would have to ratify the move. Twice it has been voted on in the last 40 years, both times the county rejected it, since they moved farther away so as not to subsidize a lot of welfare cases. Now the mayor wants to amend the state constitution to eliminate county voters ratifying a merger. And the chances of that?
Tiny DVD player is back in the bedroom so now we can watch grown up programs on collections. The family room has a shiny new DVD/VCR combo, which looks nice. Also, wife's dress form came today - a nice addition to her office/workspace to put projects on. Nice wood finial and base. Maybe I can scare up a picture later.
Sleep is deeper, weird dreams (something about Dartmouth being converted to a giant film set, with buildings re-done in an egyptian theme), and continued irritation from the breathing mask. Some of it is the facial hair (yes, I know I didn't mention it - back in the cold northern days it was protection in the winter. Down here I just like changing my look once in a while. The cold still doesn't bother me - I ran around all day today in a t-shirt, with highs in the low 40s). Don't want to risk petroleum jelly - it might degrade the latex, if the mask is made of latex, which is unlikely due to people with allergies, but I need something there to keep the friction and resulting rash from happening.
The mayor here, who is a thinly disguised thug (who also has a doctorate and once was school superintendent, which tells you a lot about the political ladder here), gave his annual New Year's speech, which is always interesting. One year he stated that god made him mayor. This year he wants consolidation of the city and county governments. For those of you who think about it, this is ridiculous to begin with, having a government for a county, then duplicating the government for a city that is completely within the borders of said county. Then again, this way you can double the graft and corruption, and since the poverty stays within the city (discounting the upscale poverty of people losing houses because they don't understand how mortgages work), the county can provide more services for those who can afford to escape. The mayor addressed this a couple of years ago, basically saying if you don't like the city, there is the door. In order to consolidate the governments, both the city and county voters would have to ratify the move. Twice it has been voted on in the last 40 years, both times the county rejected it, since they moved farther away so as not to subsidize a lot of welfare cases. Now the mayor wants to amend the state constitution to eliminate county voters ratifying a merger. And the chances of that?
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Southern Way
I lived above the "frost line" for most of my life. In almost 20 years of winters in New Hampshire, I can never (NEVER) recall doing anything to protect the outside water spigots from freezing, despite sub-zero temperatures for weeks at a time. Yet my wife feels the need to put a styrofoam insulator cover over our hose-tap when it might get below freezing.
The plumber came, snaked, billed. Nothing major, just old pipes building up debris and rust that dropped and blocked the pipe. Now I can shower again without fear of anything I don't usually fear in the shower.
The family went, en masse, to get our family membership at the YMCA. Photo IDs all around. Girls are excited by the prospect of swimming, and maybe some classes. Tuesdays are beginning Karate (something I have done, as a beginner, at least 3 times before) which I recall as being excellent stretching and exercise, plus bruises. But the machinery is all good, the pool is nice, once I get in enough shape to use it. 15 minutes of treadmill and 15 of recumbent bike today, plus stretching. Starting to feel like I am toning up, although due to water all over the bathroom (plus the added weight of not being able to use the bathroom) I didn't do a Jan 1 weigh in, for benchmarking purposes. Pretty sure I am over 200, though. Which means my 6 week goal is about 20 pounds.
So far, I have resisted the temptation of donuts and cinnamon rolls (discounted!), and today had oatmeal for breakfast, and some nice celery with peanut butter with my lunch. Vegetables are not in as much variety or quality as New York, which makes it harder, but I will just have to adjust my habits and swing by Easy Way (the local vegetable store, which is pretty nice and reasonably priced) every day or two.
Super Mario Galaxy is a lot of fun, especially with an encouraging daughter on one arm. And we continue to spread the Guitar Hero virus to anybody willing to strap on a guitar controller and go through the tutorial.
The plumber came, snaked, billed. Nothing major, just old pipes building up debris and rust that dropped and blocked the pipe. Now I can shower again without fear of anything I don't usually fear in the shower.
The family went, en masse, to get our family membership at the YMCA. Photo IDs all around. Girls are excited by the prospect of swimming, and maybe some classes. Tuesdays are beginning Karate (something I have done, as a beginner, at least 3 times before) which I recall as being excellent stretching and exercise, plus bruises. But the machinery is all good, the pool is nice, once I get in enough shape to use it. 15 minutes of treadmill and 15 of recumbent bike today, plus stretching. Starting to feel like I am toning up, although due to water all over the bathroom (plus the added weight of not being able to use the bathroom) I didn't do a Jan 1 weigh in, for benchmarking purposes. Pretty sure I am over 200, though. Which means my 6 week goal is about 20 pounds.
So far, I have resisted the temptation of donuts and cinnamon rolls (discounted!), and today had oatmeal for breakfast, and some nice celery with peanut butter with my lunch. Vegetables are not in as much variety or quality as New York, which makes it harder, but I will just have to adjust my habits and swing by Easy Way (the local vegetable store, which is pretty nice and reasonably priced) every day or two.
Super Mario Galaxy is a lot of fun, especially with an encouraging daughter on one arm. And we continue to spread the Guitar Hero virus to anybody willing to strap on a guitar controller and go through the tutorial.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New Year's Day
I am hearing U2. All is quiet...
Well, for the first time in recorded memory I slept late. I had to give it up when I had kids, then when we got dogs, but today I took off the breathing mask and just lay there, enjoying the warmth. A bit later, I looked at the clock and it was 8:50. whoa!
On the other hand, there had been a funny bubble sound. My sleepy mind attributed it to our youngest in the bathtub. Then Purl (the bigger dog) wandered into the bathroom, and she was acting funny, or as funny as I could tell without glasses or contacts. She was in a curious pose, then she kind of backed out, slowly, looking around. My wife came in and asked how her towel had been moved, and I told her about the dog. Then we noticed the water. LOTS of water, all over the floor.
Turns out the bubbling happened in both bathrooms, and backwashed both bathtubs. Neither toilet is draining, and the water on the floor was from the toilet backwash. Turned off water, established that the kitchen and half bath both are OK. The plunger we had is sort of suffering rubber fatigue, so we borrowed one from the other house (which is what we refer to my sister-in-law's house, four houses up the street). Both tubs finally drained some, but they also coughed up a lot of junky stuff. So, rather than bother a rooter man on New Year's Day, we poured some drain cleaner stuff down both bathroom drains. Note: when I say "we", I mean me. Wife is at work. Knitting never sleeps.
Now the drain cleaner is to be used only by scientists and mathematicians. It is a big opaque white bottle. Not looking at it right now but maybe close to a gallon. The instructions tell you not to let it touch fixtures (including drains) and to use a funnel. Also that the stuff will go through water. Try to pour into a funnel that is submerged and not get anything on the metal of the drain! Nice trick. It also tells you to use one-eighth of the bottle. Ah, but no fair measuring. Just guess....because you can't see how much is IN the bottle, or have any clue how much has come out. Or was even left from the last time you tried this.
So, fifteen minutes ago, more or less, both tubs drained, and I flushed them for 5 minutes each with hot water. Fine and full drainage. Master bath toilet also drains fine. Girl's bathroom toilet flush....and the problem reinstates itself. Both tubs with an inch or so of water, now possibly with extra-corrosiveness! yay!
At least I know it is the one toilet. And I have a suspicion about a culprit, although until she wakes up, probably this afternoon, I won't be able to confirm it. If I get a straight answer, which is also unlikely. But we are talking about a teenager who has been known to leave underwear on her floor, sometimes with sanitary devices still attached. (it cost me quite a bit to type that last...years off my life). But, being a trooper, I poured another 1/8 of a bottle of the thick acid into the toilet. Of course, it won't go down the pipe because it does that vertical "S" thing. So, in with a plunger (avert your eyes in case of acid splashing) and hope for the best.
Worst case, we wait until tomorrow when plumbers won't be on holiday rates.
The toilet episode reminds me of an incident way back in Brooklyn when I was newly arrived, and rooming in a one-bedroom apartment with two co-workers. One got the bedroom, the other got the dining room with french doors and a window. I got the day bed in the living room. Lots of nightmare stories about this setup, but one day I got a call from them at work. At this point I had graduated to a M-F office job, while they were going into their jobs on Saturday to show how hard they could stumble around trying to sell life insurance. The one roommate told me the toilet wasn't working. Great news for me, since they had access to a toilet at the office. He further opined (I like that word) that it was the fault of my girlfriend, probably flushing something she shouldn't have. But on the good side he had called the landlord.
Two days later, the plumber comes. He has to remove the toilet, then snake down the hole in the floor. He finds the blockage and removes it. It was the roommate's toothbrush - he had dropped it in one morning by accident, and instead of fishing it out like a normal human (did I mention he was from Arkansas?), he decided to flush it, and conveniently blame it on my girlfriend even though he knew the real truth.
I hope there is no toothbrush in my toilet, and whatever it is can be dissolved by this stuff that will eat your fixtures if you aren't careful.
Well, for the first time in recorded memory I slept late. I had to give it up when I had kids, then when we got dogs, but today I took off the breathing mask and just lay there, enjoying the warmth. A bit later, I looked at the clock and it was 8:50. whoa!
On the other hand, there had been a funny bubble sound. My sleepy mind attributed it to our youngest in the bathtub. Then Purl (the bigger dog) wandered into the bathroom, and she was acting funny, or as funny as I could tell without glasses or contacts. She was in a curious pose, then she kind of backed out, slowly, looking around. My wife came in and asked how her towel had been moved, and I told her about the dog. Then we noticed the water. LOTS of water, all over the floor.
Turns out the bubbling happened in both bathrooms, and backwashed both bathtubs. Neither toilet is draining, and the water on the floor was from the toilet backwash. Turned off water, established that the kitchen and half bath both are OK. The plunger we had is sort of suffering rubber fatigue, so we borrowed one from the other house (which is what we refer to my sister-in-law's house, four houses up the street). Both tubs finally drained some, but they also coughed up a lot of junky stuff. So, rather than bother a rooter man on New Year's Day, we poured some drain cleaner stuff down both bathroom drains. Note: when I say "we", I mean me. Wife is at work. Knitting never sleeps.
Now the drain cleaner is to be used only by scientists and mathematicians. It is a big opaque white bottle. Not looking at it right now but maybe close to a gallon. The instructions tell you not to let it touch fixtures (including drains) and to use a funnel. Also that the stuff will go through water. Try to pour into a funnel that is submerged and not get anything on the metal of the drain! Nice trick. It also tells you to use one-eighth of the bottle. Ah, but no fair measuring. Just guess....because you can't see how much is IN the bottle, or have any clue how much has come out. Or was even left from the last time you tried this.
So, fifteen minutes ago, more or less, both tubs drained, and I flushed them for 5 minutes each with hot water. Fine and full drainage. Master bath toilet also drains fine. Girl's bathroom toilet flush....and the problem reinstates itself. Both tubs with an inch or so of water, now possibly with extra-corrosiveness! yay!
At least I know it is the one toilet. And I have a suspicion about a culprit, although until she wakes up, probably this afternoon, I won't be able to confirm it. If I get a straight answer, which is also unlikely. But we are talking about a teenager who has been known to leave underwear on her floor, sometimes with sanitary devices still attached. (it cost me quite a bit to type that last...years off my life). But, being a trooper, I poured another 1/8 of a bottle of the thick acid into the toilet. Of course, it won't go down the pipe because it does that vertical "S" thing. So, in with a plunger (avert your eyes in case of acid splashing) and hope for the best.
Worst case, we wait until tomorrow when plumbers won't be on holiday rates.
The toilet episode reminds me of an incident way back in Brooklyn when I was newly arrived, and rooming in a one-bedroom apartment with two co-workers. One got the bedroom, the other got the dining room with french doors and a window. I got the day bed in the living room. Lots of nightmare stories about this setup, but one day I got a call from them at work. At this point I had graduated to a M-F office job, while they were going into their jobs on Saturday to show how hard they could stumble around trying to sell life insurance. The one roommate told me the toilet wasn't working. Great news for me, since they had access to a toilet at the office. He further opined (I like that word) that it was the fault of my girlfriend, probably flushing something she shouldn't have. But on the good side he had called the landlord.
Two days later, the plumber comes. He has to remove the toilet, then snake down the hole in the floor. He finds the blockage and removes it. It was the roommate's toothbrush - he had dropped it in one morning by accident, and instead of fishing it out like a normal human (did I mention he was from Arkansas?), he decided to flush it, and conveniently blame it on my girlfriend even though he knew the real truth.
I hope there is no toothbrush in my toilet, and whatever it is can be dissolved by this stuff that will eat your fixtures if you aren't careful.
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