Fun day - sort of. Had to take pictures of my students' projects, then load them into a computer and rename them all. They gave us until May 11, but knowing our students the projects will be in tatters by then. We were also supposed to put in the juror scores, but of course the website for this is not up, or not recognized, or was typo'd on the paperwork we got. Plus nobody gave us logins....anyhow.
My honors (horrors) class was funny today. They decided to passively aggress...so when we reviewed the boardwork, nobody spoke up. When one of my better, and more supportive students gave an answer, they kind of moaned/booed him. I was perfectly happy to play the game, as they were quiet. And then the other "fun" game of pretending to not understand, ask for a repeat explanation, ignore it, then ask again...ad infinitum. Never lost my cool, just kept re-explaining, making it simpler every time.
Went to the gym today. Weather has forecast thunderstorms all week, but we seem to have missed them, although it is raining now. Knees have been bothering me since the race, just kind of tight, so I am working on stretching them. They felt OK after my 25 minute workout, so a good sign.
Luckily I am not teaching this Saturday - the final session (aside from the week in July, maybe) is a week from Saturday. Which means I can attend "Free Comic Book Day" which is always fun, and my eldest even asked when it was, so she will come and enjoy freebies.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Random and paranoid
It is that time again. Principal made a comment today in staff meeting, where we were discussing (or being told about) the school developing an optional program, and becoming part of the International Bacchelaureate (yeah, I can't spell that) program. Comment was basically - teachers will have to step things up to get the students interested. No more just teaching, we have to entertain and engage them. There are some honor classes that have behavior problems because there isn't enough being done to engage them.
This struck home, as I have been having trouble with the honors class, as has the whole team. I think there is a kernel of truth to the statement, but at the same time we have a load of "spoiled" children whose parents do not encourage behavior, and actively support rebelious students. Many of my honors students actively resist becoming engaged, and would rather feign ignorance to have something repeated 3-4 times to eat up the class time. I could be Bill F-ing Cosby and I couldn't get them involved. But there is no consequence for this behavior, and there is nothing in place to prevent it from continuing.
Then I stumbled over to the 2nd enrollment period, where the district posts jobs that are vacant for the fall. Surprise - only 21 are posted, and the majority are at what we used to call "reform schools." In other words, the places where they send the kids that can't behave in an expected manner, or who were expelled (usually violence, weapons or drugs) and are now re-entering the system. I know a few teachers got letters informing them where they would be placed next year, and now my little paranoid organ is sending me signals that maybe I would rather have had a letter like that.
Yes, I know I am a good teacher. Yes, I know I am creative, and entertaining, and I teach a subject that is sometimes hard to make entertaining. Plus my Australia experience will make me a more valuable commodity in the fall, as well as my 5 years of teaching experience. On the other hand, I am still being worn down by unsupportive parents and administrators, and am hamstrung as to what I can do or say, being white in a 95% black school. The attitude is, don't listen to him, he is white. I usually have to call over another teacher, and they will make the same request, or phrase it more harshly and the kid will do it with no backtalk. I don't see it getting a whole lot better, but at least I am dealing with it better than ever before. I saddens me, but it is on my radar of expectation now, so it doesn't shock or surprise me. But often I find myself questioning whether I am too sensitive, or too harsh, or have too high expectations (which is supposed to be impossible - it is wrong and even politically incorrect to lower my expectations because of the social or racial makeup of my students. Yet my administration and colleagues do it, and recommend that I do it.
Life has its strangeness and changes. By the fall so many things could happen that I might not be teaching. Which brings me to an odd coincidence. There was another teacher at the school who applied for the Australia gig. Since I got it I haven't really talked with her a whole lot, not being close to her and not knowing if I might make things awkward. In passing, though, I noticed she wasn't in terribly good shape. Today at the faculty meeting, I overheard her discussing morning sickness with a few teacher/mothers. Yes, she is at least 5 months along. Which means if she had been accepted over me, I would probably have been tapped anyhow, just a few months further into the process.
So, who knows. Maybe I will be offered a teacher/researcher position to write lesson plans and travel the country teaching teachers how to teach the material we develop. That would be a dream job, dealing with adults and professionals, and inspiring them to inspire their students.
This struck home, as I have been having trouble with the honors class, as has the whole team. I think there is a kernel of truth to the statement, but at the same time we have a load of "spoiled" children whose parents do not encourage behavior, and actively support rebelious students. Many of my honors students actively resist becoming engaged, and would rather feign ignorance to have something repeated 3-4 times to eat up the class time. I could be Bill F-ing Cosby and I couldn't get them involved. But there is no consequence for this behavior, and there is nothing in place to prevent it from continuing.
Then I stumbled over to the 2nd enrollment period, where the district posts jobs that are vacant for the fall. Surprise - only 21 are posted, and the majority are at what we used to call "reform schools." In other words, the places where they send the kids that can't behave in an expected manner, or who were expelled (usually violence, weapons or drugs) and are now re-entering the system. I know a few teachers got letters informing them where they would be placed next year, and now my little paranoid organ is sending me signals that maybe I would rather have had a letter like that.
Yes, I know I am a good teacher. Yes, I know I am creative, and entertaining, and I teach a subject that is sometimes hard to make entertaining. Plus my Australia experience will make me a more valuable commodity in the fall, as well as my 5 years of teaching experience. On the other hand, I am still being worn down by unsupportive parents and administrators, and am hamstrung as to what I can do or say, being white in a 95% black school. The attitude is, don't listen to him, he is white. I usually have to call over another teacher, and they will make the same request, or phrase it more harshly and the kid will do it with no backtalk. I don't see it getting a whole lot better, but at least I am dealing with it better than ever before. I saddens me, but it is on my radar of expectation now, so it doesn't shock or surprise me. But often I find myself questioning whether I am too sensitive, or too harsh, or have too high expectations (which is supposed to be impossible - it is wrong and even politically incorrect to lower my expectations because of the social or racial makeup of my students. Yet my administration and colleagues do it, and recommend that I do it.
Life has its strangeness and changes. By the fall so many things could happen that I might not be teaching. Which brings me to an odd coincidence. There was another teacher at the school who applied for the Australia gig. Since I got it I haven't really talked with her a whole lot, not being close to her and not knowing if I might make things awkward. In passing, though, I noticed she wasn't in terribly good shape. Today at the faculty meeting, I overheard her discussing morning sickness with a few teacher/mothers. Yes, she is at least 5 months along. Which means if she had been accepted over me, I would probably have been tapped anyhow, just a few months further into the process.
So, who knows. Maybe I will be offered a teacher/researcher position to write lesson plans and travel the country teaching teachers how to teach the material we develop. That would be a dream job, dealing with adults and professionals, and inspiring them to inspire their students.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Exhibition Day
Yes, we got it all up - some sort of people (dunno who they got) came in and "judged" them. You would think this is over, right? Nope.
More time wasting for teachers. We have to rate an entire homeroom from another grade, then photograph each project, upload them, and possibly even type in the descriptions. Could they make this more time consuming? Maybe next year.
Dog is back from the vets. Stitches out, protective cone stays for another couple of days, until antibiotics run out. So, by the weekend she will be back to what will now pass for normal.
Swine flu sounds like fun. Actually it sounds like a lot of potential panic. Not sure this is any worse than any other type of flu that has gone around, or that goes around. And since it is a virus, there are very few options aside from vaccines, since there really is no anti-viral medication.
More time wasting for teachers. We have to rate an entire homeroom from another grade, then photograph each project, upload them, and possibly even type in the descriptions. Could they make this more time consuming? Maybe next year.
Dog is back from the vets. Stitches out, protective cone stays for another couple of days, until antibiotics run out. So, by the weekend she will be back to what will now pass for normal.
Swine flu sounds like fun. Actually it sounds like a lot of potential panic. Not sure this is any worse than any other type of flu that has gone around, or that goes around. And since it is a virus, there are very few options aside from vaccines, since there really is no anti-viral medication.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday monday
The day was mostly a waste...preparing displays for tomorrow's *yawn* Spring Exhibition. Supposed to be quality work, but it is mostly make-work crap. Teachers did more work to get this ready than the kids put in, including hand writing names, homerooms etc. on two different forms for each student, typing in, printing out and then affixing a picture of the student to each "narrative" (hey kids, tell us what you did, if you can string a coherent sentence together), then putting them in the display area.
Wife is home, which is nice. Everybody is good and tired, and we finished Season 3 of Supernatural (a really fun and good show). Little one-eye dog goes back to vet tomorrow, hopefully to have stitches out, and maybe remove the cone-collar. We will see. I know she is healing because she tries to rub that side of her face on things.
Legs were minimally sore today, which is a good thing. I feel stronger, but wouldn't want to do that too often. Maybe some short treadmill work at the Y on rainy days.
Still no word on Australia flights, or paperwork that was alleged at. Hopefully this swine flu scare/pre-panic won't mess things up.
Wife is home, which is nice. Everybody is good and tired, and we finished Season 3 of Supernatural (a really fun and good show). Little one-eye dog goes back to vet tomorrow, hopefully to have stitches out, and maybe remove the cone-collar. We will see. I know she is healing because she tries to rub that side of her face on things.
Legs were minimally sore today, which is a good thing. I feel stronger, but wouldn't want to do that too often. Maybe some short treadmill work at the Y on rainy days.
Still no word on Australia flights, or paperwork that was alleged at. Hopefully this swine flu scare/pre-panic won't mess things up.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday Insanity
The youngest signed up for the school's 5k race (she intended to walk it, maybe a little running, with a friend), and since I had done it for the past 2 years, I pre-paid, intending to walk with the two girls. Well, they kind of brushed me off, and the competitive spirit kicked in, and I ran/walked it. Made the first mile without stopping to walk...finished it in a relatively respectable time. The amazing thing is - I don't feel crippled. I must be in some sort of shape to manage that. Nice day for it, too...mid 80s, sunny, good breeze.
The weather really brought the rose tree to life. It started 7 years ago as a Mother's Day gift (note to self, 2 weeks to that), and it hasn't been severely pruned back. It has a tendency to send off long stems with multiple heads. Right now the main trunk is about 5 inches in diameter, and the tallest blooms are about 8 feet high. There are about 100 roses in bloom right now. Nice fragrance.
Meanwhile I am wracking my brain for four or five self contained lessons to get me through this week. The kids are superiorly unmotivated, but leaning towards cartesian graphing (sort of connect the dots, but with (x,y)), tessellation (tiling, if I can get the various graph papers to print out), restaurant ordering (adding/multiplying decimals, then calculating percents for tax and tip).
Each day will have to have some sort of hand-in so I can give them a grade. Not something that can translate to a quiz, or at least not one that I can grade easily or quickly, and that is the name of the game right now.
The weather really brought the rose tree to life. It started 7 years ago as a Mother's Day gift (note to self, 2 weeks to that), and it hasn't been severely pruned back. It has a tendency to send off long stems with multiple heads. Right now the main trunk is about 5 inches in diameter, and the tallest blooms are about 8 feet high. There are about 100 roses in bloom right now. Nice fragrance.
Meanwhile I am wracking my brain for four or five self contained lessons to get me through this week. The kids are superiorly unmotivated, but leaning towards cartesian graphing (sort of connect the dots, but with (x,y)), tessellation (tiling, if I can get the various graph papers to print out), restaurant ordering (adding/multiplying decimals, then calculating percents for tax and tip).
Each day will have to have some sort of hand-in so I can give them a grade. Not something that can translate to a quiz, or at least not one that I can grade easily or quickly, and that is the name of the game right now.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Small Milestones
That was the week that was. TCAP testing ended, officially. I am sure the kids are relieved, I know the teachers are. Very few things are more boring than having to walk the room constantly for the 2 hours every day, not being able to speak or leave the room, pick up a book, etc. Results won't be known for several months, either. Most of the time we teachers never get to see the scores of our students, since by the time they come back the students are in a different grade, and their results are sorted by those teachers, not the ones with whom they took the test.
Also ended - the ridiculous 45 minute "extra" period. Yes, we used it to urge the students to do their Spring Exhibition projects (more on this later), but you would think the kids would be anxious to leave after all that time. Still, there are close to 100 students still in front of the school at 3:30. And part of my "duty" is to be out there herding them like geese. And they don't like to be asked to move away from the building. Favorite excuse: I am already black, and if I get in the sun, I will get blacker.
The Spring projects are another waste of time. Not just the timing, which coincided with the most important test of the year, but the excessive paperwork. Each teacher has to, by hand, fill out two different forms for each student, so their work can be "judged." Naturally we got about 5 more forms than we have students, so no margin for error on these 3-ply forms. After this process, each project must be photographed and uploaded (over 1000 students in the school). I have at least one student that, despite days of instruction (on a project that has been done once already - we are doing it over for this since the first go-round sucked miserably), demonstration, and a graphic organizer (think worksheet) with step-by-step directions and fill in the blanks, turned in a trimmed down printout from the internet, and rather than calculate the information for "his" project, just copied an example off the board. Most of the rest are good enough, though.
Some other teachers also got called to the principal's office and got official letters about their re-hiring next year and their assignments, usually to the "inclusion" team for the 8th grade. I think this is an effort to send a message, since is the start of the second voluntary transfer period. By giving these teachers a written assignment that is less than desirable, the principal is nudging them toward looking elsewhere for a more suitable position. If they do choose to stay, well, some of the staffing is taken care of. I did not get a summons to the office, which I will take as a good thing. Two of my teammates did, though, so it looks like next year will be a new group dynamic.
Also ended - the ridiculous 45 minute "extra" period. Yes, we used it to urge the students to do their Spring Exhibition projects (more on this later), but you would think the kids would be anxious to leave after all that time. Still, there are close to 100 students still in front of the school at 3:30. And part of my "duty" is to be out there herding them like geese. And they don't like to be asked to move away from the building. Favorite excuse: I am already black, and if I get in the sun, I will get blacker.
The Spring projects are another waste of time. Not just the timing, which coincided with the most important test of the year, but the excessive paperwork. Each teacher has to, by hand, fill out two different forms for each student, so their work can be "judged." Naturally we got about 5 more forms than we have students, so no margin for error on these 3-ply forms. After this process, each project must be photographed and uploaded (over 1000 students in the school). I have at least one student that, despite days of instruction (on a project that has been done once already - we are doing it over for this since the first go-round sucked miserably), demonstration, and a graphic organizer (think worksheet) with step-by-step directions and fill in the blanks, turned in a trimmed down printout from the internet, and rather than calculate the information for "his" project, just copied an example off the board. Most of the rest are good enough, though.
Some other teachers also got called to the principal's office and got official letters about their re-hiring next year and their assignments, usually to the "inclusion" team for the 8th grade. I think this is an effort to send a message, since is the start of the second voluntary transfer period. By giving these teachers a written assignment that is less than desirable, the principal is nudging them toward looking elsewhere for a more suitable position. If they do choose to stay, well, some of the staffing is taken care of. I did not get a summons to the office, which I will take as a good thing. Two of my teammates did, though, so it looks like next year will be a new group dynamic.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bleh
Day 2 of testing. Each day seems to push the end farther away. Today I had a girl bubble all her answers in the wrong subject - even though I instructed them to be careful and not do it. And of course, it is MY fault because I didn't catch her doing it (I did walk around and check each student - either I missed her or she had part of her book covered so I didn't notice).
Wife is off to Atlanta, which means more pressure at home to get girls off to school - doubly hard since I leave at about 6:15 when I am biking. Coming home on the bike was very windy today, too, so extra tired. But it promises to be warmer each day, maybe 80 by the end of the week.
Which should be the ultimate hell. Kids have been promised a no-uniform day. So, on top of the pent up misbehavior, there is the lifting of the need to behave because TCAP is over, and the added incentive of not behaving well because they connect no uniform with no rules. Fun!
Wife is off to Atlanta, which means more pressure at home to get girls off to school - doubly hard since I leave at about 6:15 when I am biking. Coming home on the bike was very windy today, too, so extra tired. But it promises to be warmer each day, maybe 80 by the end of the week.
Which should be the ultimate hell. Kids have been promised a no-uniform day. So, on top of the pent up misbehavior, there is the lifting of the need to behave because TCAP is over, and the added incentive of not behaving well because they connect no uniform with no rules. Fun!
Monday, April 20, 2009
State Mandated Testing
Yes, I take it seriously. So I am there on time, I sign out my materials, I read what I am supposed to read, verbatim. I make sure I adhere to the schedules. Some others don't, so we had a faculty meeting after the late end of school. Four more days of that crap...basically by next Tuesday everything should be over and it will be time to coast to the finish line.
Our Jack Russell is pretty resilient. Our vet saw her today, and she seems pretty "normal" to me, aside from the missing eye and the big plastic collar. She has already adapted to the collar, and doesn't bang it on things so much. She has her energy, and really doesn't mind her pills, wrapped in some nice cheese singles.
Is it wrong of me to feel superior because I drive a manual transmission? Growing up, it was the accepted norm. Now days, it is a lost art. Still, when I climb the gears, or drop down, without a hitch, I get a little smug tug of satisfaction in doing it all so smoothly that the sheep driving around me probably don't realize I am doing it all myself.
Our Jack Russell is pretty resilient. Our vet saw her today, and she seems pretty "normal" to me, aside from the missing eye and the big plastic collar. She has already adapted to the collar, and doesn't bang it on things so much. She has her energy, and really doesn't mind her pills, wrapped in some nice cheese singles.
Is it wrong of me to feel superior because I drive a manual transmission? Growing up, it was the accepted norm. Now days, it is a lost art. Still, when I climb the gears, or drop down, without a hitch, I get a little smug tug of satisfaction in doing it all so smoothly that the sheep driving around me probably don't realize I am doing it all myself.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Not the best day
A couple of days ago my niece made a cryptic note on FaceBook about praying for her Daddy. We weren't sure if she meant her biological father or her step-father. Turns out the latter. He had been having headaches and vomiting, and the hospital in Jackson wasn't equipped for the brainscans needed. Yesterday they did the tests and discovered that he had some bleeding on the brain. More tests showed an aneurysm, and today they went in to try to fix things. He had a narrow blood vessel that had split, and they did their best. Now the waiting is. A week or more in ICU.
And here I was feeling accomplished because I did a butt load of work before 9am. Rebates back to AT&T, financial aid forms, transferred all my numbers on the phone, sharpened 100 pencils for TCAP.
The afternoon is another story. As my wife came home with her sister (not the one married to the patient), the dogs got excited. And is the custom, the Border Collie tries to tell the Jack Russel to not bark so much. And the Jack, well, she doesn't take discipline so well, and they fight. Today the fight was too rough. Blood everywhere, and a trip to the emergency vet.
Meredith, our Jack Russell has lost her right eye. More traumatic for my wife, having been at the hospital all day, but a general not-fun type of thing. Surgery is over now, we will bring her home tomorrow. Then off to get her a skull and crossbones doggie sweater.
And here I was feeling accomplished because I did a butt load of work before 9am. Rebates back to AT&T, financial aid forms, transferred all my numbers on the phone, sharpened 100 pencils for TCAP.
The afternoon is another story. As my wife came home with her sister (not the one married to the patient), the dogs got excited. And is the custom, the Border Collie tries to tell the Jack Russel to not bark so much. And the Jack, well, she doesn't take discipline so well, and they fight. Today the fight was too rough. Blood everywhere, and a trip to the emergency vet.
Meredith, our Jack Russell has lost her right eye. More traumatic for my wife, having been at the hospital all day, but a general not-fun type of thing. Surgery is over now, we will bring her home tomorrow. Then off to get her a skull and crossbones doggie sweater.
Friday, April 17, 2009
One Down, Five to go!
Four days of 45 minutes of bonus torture time, five to go. Also five weeks to go for the end to come. Can't come soon enough.
Weather has been nice past two days, so biking. Pleasant to ride in the near daylight, but I really wish I had a button to burn out the engine of idiots who don't put on their headlights. Law says 30 minutes after dawn, 30 minutes prior to sunset. These cars are hard to see without lights, but I am still extremely careful.
Still futzing around with the new phone. Going to have to go the old-fashioned route and put the SIM card back in the old phone, copy all the numbers by hand, then enter them into the new phone. Then the fun of assigning pictures (if I choose) to numbers, and ringtones, and groups (such as family, school, etc.). Then figuring out how to text (not that I want to do it, mind you). I suppose at one stage of my life this would have been fun, now it just seems like a chore.
Today I got my storm gear from England. The pants are great, two ply Goretex with lots of velcro, plus zips from calf to ankle, drawstring waist...dark blue color (Royal Navy issue). The jacket is the real prize. High neck, full velcro front over zipper, velcro wrist cinch. All done up, I am covered from chin to knees...and there is a zip-out liner so I can adjust for temperature. This might be the only coat I will ever need.
Hmmm....do I want to go to our school's TCAP Pep Rally tomorrow from 10am to noon? Probably not.
Weather has been nice past two days, so biking. Pleasant to ride in the near daylight, but I really wish I had a button to burn out the engine of idiots who don't put on their headlights. Law says 30 minutes after dawn, 30 minutes prior to sunset. These cars are hard to see without lights, but I am still extremely careful.
Still futzing around with the new phone. Going to have to go the old-fashioned route and put the SIM card back in the old phone, copy all the numbers by hand, then enter them into the new phone. Then the fun of assigning pictures (if I choose) to numbers, and ringtones, and groups (such as family, school, etc.). Then figuring out how to text (not that I want to do it, mind you). I suppose at one stage of my life this would have been fun, now it just seems like a chore.
Today I got my storm gear from England. The pants are great, two ply Goretex with lots of velcro, plus zips from calf to ankle, drawstring waist...dark blue color (Royal Navy issue). The jacket is the real prize. High neck, full velcro front over zipper, velcro wrist cinch. All done up, I am covered from chin to knees...and there is a zip-out liner so I can adjust for temperature. This might be the only coat I will ever need.
Hmmm....do I want to go to our school's TCAP Pep Rally tomorrow from 10am to noon? Probably not.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Overtime
These 45 minute add-on periods are killer. The kids are used to being gone, so they are off the wall. The only saving grace is it takes like 10 minutes to get them back in the room and take attendance, and buses get called 10 minutes before 3, so it is only like 25 minutes of actual class time.
Yesterday I helped some PhD candidate try out her instructions for imbedding hyperlinks in PowerPoint presentations. Even though she was late, I was still done before 4pm, and scored $20 in gift cards for Olive Garden. Not too shabby.
Tonight on a quest for light bulbs we stopped into the AT&T store, since AT&T sent us a message indicating that we were entitled to a phone upgrade for our 2 years of contract. They implied it was free - heh. Anyhow, we got a couple of new phones that I have to read up on, so I can do all the phone things...I hardly ever use my phone anyhow.
Yesterday I helped some PhD candidate try out her instructions for imbedding hyperlinks in PowerPoint presentations. Even though she was late, I was still done before 4pm, and scored $20 in gift cards for Olive Garden. Not too shabby.
Tonight on a quest for light bulbs we stopped into the AT&T store, since AT&T sent us a message indicating that we were entitled to a phone upgrade for our 2 years of contract. They implied it was free - heh. Anyhow, we got a couple of new phones that I have to read up on, so I can do all the phone things...I hardly ever use my phone anyhow.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Random musings
I always liked the Whoppers eggs, with the malted centers. This year, though, they are especially good. No more waxy coating and really thick pseudo-chocolate. Crisp centers, thin chocolate, and sort of matte finish shells (more like the Cadbury milk eggs, not those hideous ones with the faux yolk center).
Researched the many (and there are MANY) classes of service from US to Australia. Flight time is not the 31 hours I had been led to expect - it seems most computers tack on the extra time for crossing the date line. Actual flight might be 12 hours from LA to Sydney. Then I have another trans-con flight on that end, but still, much better that I thought. But economy coach will be no picnic.
The extra 45 minutes tacked onto our day will be TCAP review this week, then "Spring Exhibition" project work next week. After that, it is all over bar the shouting.
Researched the many (and there are MANY) classes of service from US to Australia. Flight time is not the 31 hours I had been led to expect - it seems most computers tack on the extra time for crossing the date line. Actual flight might be 12 hours from LA to Sydney. Then I have another trans-con flight on that end, but still, much better that I thought. But economy coach will be no picnic.
The extra 45 minutes tacked onto our day will be TCAP review this week, then "Spring Exhibition" project work next week. After that, it is all over bar the shouting.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Holy Weekend
This means a day off for me, and multiple days off for the girls. Yay for Catholic school. Today was a total layabout day. I did venture forth (through the potentially hazardous weather, of which I don't think I saw two raindrops) to get my monthly haircut.
Wetsuit came yesterday. I immediately tried it on, and it fits quite well. I can even get into it myself, but will need an assist with the back zipper. Not real flattering, but I didn't expect it to be. Better than I hoped for, though, whatever that means.
As usual, I plan to go to the Easter Vigil tomorrow night. Truly the "new year's eve" of the church year, with blessings of fire, water and oils, lots of majestic prayers, and welcoming new members, just as I was 17 years ago. Which means the oldest is about to turn that magical age. Yikes.
And in school news, one week until TCAP, and six weeks to go until the end of the year. Surprise surprise from the school board, though. To make up for our one inclement weather day, instead of making it up per the calendar, they sent word yesterday that school will be extended 45 minutes for the next 2 weeks to offset it. I can see the reasoning - most kids won't remember to come back after the Memorial Day weekend, it eliminates a day of bus transportation, breakfasts and lunches for students. And in the long run, most parents will pick the kids up at the normal time anyhow. Not sure how this is going to play out for us teachers, though...it is like an 8th period during the day. Well, we will get all of Monday to figure it out.
Wetsuit came yesterday. I immediately tried it on, and it fits quite well. I can even get into it myself, but will need an assist with the back zipper. Not real flattering, but I didn't expect it to be. Better than I hoped for, though, whatever that means.
As usual, I plan to go to the Easter Vigil tomorrow night. Truly the "new year's eve" of the church year, with blessings of fire, water and oils, lots of majestic prayers, and welcoming new members, just as I was 17 years ago. Which means the oldest is about to turn that magical age. Yikes.
And in school news, one week until TCAP, and six weeks to go until the end of the year. Surprise surprise from the school board, though. To make up for our one inclement weather day, instead of making it up per the calendar, they sent word yesterday that school will be extended 45 minutes for the next 2 weeks to offset it. I can see the reasoning - most kids won't remember to come back after the Memorial Day weekend, it eliminates a day of bus transportation, breakfasts and lunches for students. And in the long run, most parents will pick the kids up at the normal time anyhow. Not sure how this is going to play out for us teachers, though...it is like an 8th period during the day. Well, we will get all of Monday to figure it out.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Crash and burn
Yesterday my computer froze up. Usually not a problem, just turn it off and reboot.
This was a problem. Got the "blue-screen-of-death" saying the computer was shut down to prevent irreparable damage to the computer, etc. etc. So, I try to reboot in safe mode. Nope. Reboot to last workable configuration. Nope. Reboot from installation disk. Nope.
So had it taken to the local computer repair place. I trust them, they run a tight ship and are nice geeks, like me. We have good conversations. Anyhow, my hard drive was fried. No reason, they sometimes burn out. Luckily they were able to transfer all the files to the new drive, that they installed. yay!
In the meantime - well, last night - I took stock of how much I do on the computer, and how much I could do without. In the past few months, via NetFlix, we have been spending about a night or two a week watching DVDs, which is fun. Without the computer, I would do more of that, although I do time-shift some programs that I miss. Of course, I miss them because I am playing on the computer.
If the hard drive had not been able to be saved, I would have started over with a pristine, unformatted drive. And as a result, I probably would have cut out a lot of things that are currently on my drive, and found new things to be doing with my time.
This was a problem. Got the "blue-screen-of-death" saying the computer was shut down to prevent irreparable damage to the computer, etc. etc. So, I try to reboot in safe mode. Nope. Reboot to last workable configuration. Nope. Reboot from installation disk. Nope.
So had it taken to the local computer repair place. I trust them, they run a tight ship and are nice geeks, like me. We have good conversations. Anyhow, my hard drive was fried. No reason, they sometimes burn out. Luckily they were able to transfer all the files to the new drive, that they installed. yay!
In the meantime - well, last night - I took stock of how much I do on the computer, and how much I could do without. In the past few months, via NetFlix, we have been spending about a night or two a week watching DVDs, which is fun. Without the computer, I would do more of that, although I do time-shift some programs that I miss. Of course, I miss them because I am playing on the computer.
If the hard drive had not been able to be saved, I would have started over with a pristine, unformatted drive. And as a result, I probably would have cut out a lot of things that are currently on my drive, and found new things to be doing with my time.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Getting older
The gym still treats me right, and I have increased my routine by a few minutes each time. However, the pesky scale tells me nothing has changed. Not that I care - I feel better, and am more flexible, and have a lot more energy. Spring is like that, too, but over the winter I forgot to stay in shape - or really just got lazy.
As far as the age thing, I broke down and bought a pair of 1.5 magnifying eyeglasses for reading and the computer. Helps me to not squinch my eyes all the time. And I can slide them down my nose, the same way I do with my sunglasses when I am inside, to keep them out of my "normal" vision.
Still, going to fight this age thing as best I can. Fitness is a first step, but for the most part people never guess my age within a decade when they first meet me. I guess that childlike sense of adventure. yeah, right.
As far as the age thing, I broke down and bought a pair of 1.5 magnifying eyeglasses for reading and the computer. Helps me to not squinch my eyes all the time. And I can slide them down my nose, the same way I do with my sunglasses when I am inside, to keep them out of my "normal" vision.
Still, going to fight this age thing as best I can. Fitness is a first step, but for the most part people never guess my age within a decade when they first meet me. I guess that childlike sense of adventure. yeah, right.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Spring...fever
Never had hayfever growing up. Maybe I was tougher, maybe the pollen wasn't so thick as to layer your car with a green/yellow coat.
Doing the lawns yesterday was not fun. Tiring, but the worst was the sweat dripping into my already weeping eyes. This morning my eyes were like creme brulee. Not fun.
Better now, and I have been wearing glasses more for routine things, since I need magnifying glasses to read most things now (with these new test contacts...)
Doing the lawns yesterday was not fun. Tiring, but the worst was the sweat dripping into my already weeping eyes. This morning my eyes were like creme brulee. Not fun.
Better now, and I have been wearing glasses more for routine things, since I need magnifying glasses to read most things now (with these new test contacts...)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Working weekend
Today was quite a physical strain. Up early for teaching my monthly math morning. But before I left, got a nice email from Australia. Looks like the dates will be June 2 - 29, paperwork to follow. A nice semi-sunny bike ride to the school, and prep for class.
In the four months my class has shrunk from 20 to 11 to 9 to 7 today. 20 was actually a manageable group, since I am used to closer to 30. Having 7 was kind of strange, but other classrooms are similarly bare, and our Asst. Principal confirmed that we had about 1/3 of the registered attendance from our school. Stuck around for an extra 1/2 hour to make sure I was at the computer for the closing of the auction for my RAF jacket. Yay! Pretty well outfitted now.
Bike ride home, I felt a lot stronger than usual. I think some is the non-bike leg training at the gym. I get to work muscles that cooperate with my riding muscles, but give the main ones a rest.
Once home, mowing the front, then the back yards. Got to sit down finally at about 3pm. Wife and girls also did some yard work, edging the front sidewalks and curb, and sweeping up, so we are a tired bunch right now.
And just got ANOTHER email from Australia asking if it is possible for me to fly out of Nashville. This is not uncommon, as the 3 hour drive can cut quite a bit off fares, due to more competition in the market. Just might be a situation of taking a 3 hour drive to take a 26 hour series of flights, then a 10 hour bus ride (there might not be a flight from Perth to Monkey Mia on the day I arrive, so a bus would get me there sooner - but going home I probably get to fly, and even have a small layover).
In the four months my class has shrunk from 20 to 11 to 9 to 7 today. 20 was actually a manageable group, since I am used to closer to 30. Having 7 was kind of strange, but other classrooms are similarly bare, and our Asst. Principal confirmed that we had about 1/3 of the registered attendance from our school. Stuck around for an extra 1/2 hour to make sure I was at the computer for the closing of the auction for my RAF jacket. Yay! Pretty well outfitted now.
Bike ride home, I felt a lot stronger than usual. I think some is the non-bike leg training at the gym. I get to work muscles that cooperate with my riding muscles, but give the main ones a rest.
Once home, mowing the front, then the back yards. Got to sit down finally at about 3pm. Wife and girls also did some yard work, edging the front sidewalks and curb, and sweeping up, so we are a tired bunch right now.
And just got ANOTHER email from Australia asking if it is possible for me to fly out of Nashville. This is not uncommon, as the 3 hour drive can cut quite a bit off fares, due to more competition in the market. Just might be a situation of taking a 3 hour drive to take a 26 hour series of flights, then a 10 hour bus ride (there might not be a flight from Perth to Monkey Mia on the day I arrive, so a bus would get me there sooner - but going home I probably get to fly, and even have a small layover).
Friday, April 3, 2009
Weird end to the week
School could have been a nightmare today, but as recommended by the principal, I "shook things up" with my most troublesome class. Yesterday they gave me fits, asking redundant questions to try to press my buttons. Today, I turned the tables. Had them all stand up, then moved them around so the "learners" were in the front and could hear and pay attention, and the disruptions were in the back. The ratio is about 10 good:16 not so good. There was grumbling and two of my most vocal shit-stirrers' hands shot up. I let them stay up, and they started to complain that I wasn't calling on them. I let them know I wasn't obligated to call on anyone, or interrupt my teaching, but if their question was important, they could write it down, then raise their hand and I would take the note, read it and answer when the chance came. That really stopped them in their tracks.
All my grading is done for this week, just have to put it online, which I hate because parents think this will be a final grade. I admit, I have been lax lately, so I am a couple of weeks behind. Grades close next week for the penultimate report card (the final one gets mailed). It won't take long, I hope, to input the information, then start the process of tweaking it so the 60% of my kids who didn't do a simple project given a week to do it won't fail due to a zero for 20% of their grade.
On a disturbing note, I seem to have lost a good friend. Not dead, but certainly a strange reaction. On Tuesday I got to play chauffeur (wow, I can still spell that first try) for my oldest and her friend to see a concert in mid-town. My good friend, the art teacher at my school, lives near there. Sometimes we get together for a movie or she vents about life and I listen. Well, I phoned from a couple of blocks away and got her voicemail. I left a message saying I was sitting in front of her house "stalking her"...if you know anything about me (which I thought she did) you would know that was a joke. When I actually got there, I saw her light was on, and thought I saw her in the window, so I honked once. I figured she might check her phone and call back. I went up and knocked on the door and she kind of went ballistic - this is HER time and how dare I stop by and never joke about stalking and now GO AWAY. Haven't spoken to her since then, and she seems to be avoiding even coming down my hall on the way in in the mornings. Just noticed she dropped me from FaceBook friends....
I suppose if she is a good friend she will settle down. If not, it wasn't friendship and it will pass. Or maybe there is some factor I don't have a clue about, and I shouldn't try to understand.
All my grading is done for this week, just have to put it online, which I hate because parents think this will be a final grade. I admit, I have been lax lately, so I am a couple of weeks behind. Grades close next week for the penultimate report card (the final one gets mailed). It won't take long, I hope, to input the information, then start the process of tweaking it so the 60% of my kids who didn't do a simple project given a week to do it won't fail due to a zero for 20% of their grade.
On a disturbing note, I seem to have lost a good friend. Not dead, but certainly a strange reaction. On Tuesday I got to play chauffeur (wow, I can still spell that first try) for my oldest and her friend to see a concert in mid-town. My good friend, the art teacher at my school, lives near there. Sometimes we get together for a movie or she vents about life and I listen. Well, I phoned from a couple of blocks away and got her voicemail. I left a message saying I was sitting in front of her house "stalking her"...if you know anything about me (which I thought she did) you would know that was a joke. When I actually got there, I saw her light was on, and thought I saw her in the window, so I honked once. I figured she might check her phone and call back. I went up and knocked on the door and she kind of went ballistic - this is HER time and how dare I stop by and never joke about stalking and now GO AWAY. Haven't spoken to her since then, and she seems to be avoiding even coming down my hall on the way in in the mornings. Just noticed she dropped me from FaceBook friends....
I suppose if she is a good friend she will settle down. If not, it wasn't friendship and it will pass. Or maybe there is some factor I don't have a clue about, and I shouldn't try to understand.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Mid-Week
Crazy times, for sure. In the 40s pre-dawn, and the 70s for the ride home. Yesterday rainy, tomorrow stormy. Just beautiful right now, except if you happen to be stuck at a railroad crossing waiting for one of the myriad rush-hour trains to clear. Sometimes the precious little bastards stop for a few minutes, to let us know who the boss is. Had to laugh at the graffiti on one chemical tanker car (please don't derail)...a figure labeled Homeland Security with X'd out eyes. Yeah, I don't think rail lines are too secure.
So just sitting here killing time, wearing a pair of cast-off magnifying glasses, since my contacts suck ass at seeing near. My right eye is a lot weaker than the left, so it has a stronger lens, but the images are smaller, to me anyhow. This is no big deal for distance stuff...crystal clear. But it is always just a little off indoors, and for reading I have to struggle. Right now, since the glasses are missing one bow, I look like Sawyer from season one of Lost, with his cobbled together glasses.
Today is also day 5 or 6 of not taking Prilosec. I have horrible reflux, and have been taking the OTC stuff for months and months. Ran out sometime last week, and have been risking it. Reflux is there, but not constant, and not unmanageable...or maybe the neck pain radiating down my right arm is making it pale by comparison.
Weekend will be busy...Saturday I have another of my math teaching gigs. Next to last one for the regular year (there will be a week long one in July, by all probability). As the weather gets nicer, the kids kind of forget they are supposed to come. Last time I had 9 students. This time??? The good thing, though, is I get paid. And pretty well...7 hours for teaching 9 - noon, since they pay for planning time too. $25 an hour is nothing to sneeze at, but I hear the checks come significantly after the program is over, which means I won't have disposable cash for any trip needs.
Ebay finally smiled on me, and I grabbed up a wetsuit on the cheap last night. Now all that remains is my storm gear and a tent, and maybe an underwater digital camera.
So just sitting here killing time, wearing a pair of cast-off magnifying glasses, since my contacts suck ass at seeing near. My right eye is a lot weaker than the left, so it has a stronger lens, but the images are smaller, to me anyhow. This is no big deal for distance stuff...crystal clear. But it is always just a little off indoors, and for reading I have to struggle. Right now, since the glasses are missing one bow, I look like Sawyer from season one of Lost, with his cobbled together glasses.
Today is also day 5 or 6 of not taking Prilosec. I have horrible reflux, and have been taking the OTC stuff for months and months. Ran out sometime last week, and have been risking it. Reflux is there, but not constant, and not unmanageable...or maybe the neck pain radiating down my right arm is making it pale by comparison.
Weekend will be busy...Saturday I have another of my math teaching gigs. Next to last one for the regular year (there will be a week long one in July, by all probability). As the weather gets nicer, the kids kind of forget they are supposed to come. Last time I had 9 students. This time??? The good thing, though, is I get paid. And pretty well...7 hours for teaching 9 - noon, since they pay for planning time too. $25 an hour is nothing to sneeze at, but I hear the checks come significantly after the program is over, which means I won't have disposable cash for any trip needs.
Ebay finally smiled on me, and I grabbed up a wetsuit on the cheap last night. Now all that remains is my storm gear and a tent, and maybe an underwater digital camera.
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