A Picture Tells Half the Story...

Yesterday I walked through the senior hallway on my way to my Project Adventure class when a senior asked me if I was coming to tonight's basketball game.  I am not a big fan of Friday activity, as I am usually largely vegetable matter by that time, but I thought that I should go.

As fate would have it, Karyl was at school shooting swimming pictures as so I was able to borrow the school camera for the basketball game.  This was a great help, as my old Nikon D1x isn't up to the job on indoor basketball pictures.  So for three and a half quarters I took pictures.

We were playing Edison High School from the Minneapolis School District.  With all my twisted racial ideas, I assumed that an inner city team of African American boys would absolutely bound our team.  It turns out that we won 64-36, and it was never that close.  Shame on me for my assumptions.  And while we are in the "Shame on" department, I would like to nominate the head coach of Edison.  He came to the game dressed in blue jeans and a sweater.  Really?  Is that the message you want to send to your players - it was either go out for pizza or come to the game.  I don't know what I am writing about, but I don't get the feeling that the coach had very high expectations of his players.  I was very disappointed.

In fairness to Edison, our team also has some work to do.  Our senior guards don't think very much of our sophomore forwards and they don't share the ball very well.  Come on seniors, time to step up and lead and not go "every man for himself".  We can do better than that.

********

I am reading a Donald Graves book on writing for a class I am about to begin on the teaching of writing.  Mr. Graves writes on page 40 that, "Writing is one of the best ways to remember something."  I think this is true for those of us who feel the pull of the written word, but I am not so sure that everyone feels the same tug to try and figure out what the heck is going on by racing to his/her blog or journal and having at it.  I don't know.  This is worthy of conversation and exploration with my students.

I will say that I was greatly embarrassed by one of the exercises in this book (A Fresh Look at Writing).  On a piece of paper I was to list all the kids in my class, and then next to their names write something I know about each student.  First, can I list all the students in my class or who are the quiet kids that are just off my radar?  Secondly, I hardly know anything about any of them.  That is terrible, and that is about to change.

More later...

What is Up With That? Why the Food?

Our custom, here at school, is for a different person to bring treats every Friday.  Because of the expense involved, we often sign up with one or two other people.

This morning the spread was put on by someone from another division.  It is thoughtful of her to contribute, many people stop by, but not all chip in.  This person must of had a busy schedule this morning because she dropped off her bag of goodies and the asked the administrative assistant in the office if they would unpack her treats for the group.

Once again this gets my dander up.  Couldn't the woman get here five minutes earlier and do her own unpacking?  Doesn't she realize that the administrative assistant is the busiest person in the school in the morning?

The larger question is, why do I so often get wrangled or upset by Friday "treats"?  Earlier this year when two men barely brought in anything, I railed against their lack of effort and the shadow that cast on my gender as being lousy at providing for others.  It seems to me that I often get upset by what other do or don't do on Friday's.

I don't really get it.  I seem to have a standard and I am quick to judge others who fail to meet that standard.  Doesn't really seem like a very "Christian" attitude to be so critical, and it doesn't seem like I am spreading the kind of joy/attitude around which I would like to work...

Doctor, heal thyself.....

Don't know.

Stuck the Landing...

Rode the bike to school this morning and I set a new personal best (as the temp kept dropping during my trip).  The old hands got a little cold and it took me 72 minutes, but it was great fun.  I started with a new full moon setting in the west and lighting my way, and I ended with the sky in the east turning robin's egg blue.  One of the power plants west of downtown was putting out billowing clouds, which then drifted over downtown, covering the middle of several skyscrapers.  Very scenic.  Where was the camera...

Tuesday - Updates

1. Fred is still in the hospital with pneumonia.   He is having trouble walking, which he needs to be able to do in order to be released.  Moral: Get to work on the physical activity Byron.

2. June is better (had the flu).

3. Michael had a 24 hour flu, but now seems to be better.

4. Karyl is the latest victim of the flu.

5. I was all set to ride to work this morning, but I get so distracted and keyed up that I can't sleep.  When I decided to let go of the bike-to-work plan, then I fall asleep.  The main issue was today's falling temperatures.  I tunaed out and drove this morning.

6. I finished I am Messenger yesterday while we were driving June around.  I am still trying to sort through my response.

7. Time to do some planning....

8. Go Packers!

Empty on Monday

A list of random observations:

• Good for coach Bill Belichick for benching Wes Welker for mocking Jets coach, Rex Ryan.
• Nuts, that the Patriots lost.  Now it is Jets and Pittsburgh.  I won't be rooting for either team.
• When I rode to the coffee shop, I stayed pretty warm, but on the way back I got cold.  Could be wind, or my face was covered when I was going to the shop.  I will need to experiment more with that.
• Karyl's dad is hospitalized with pneumonia.
• Time to walk the dog...

Packers vs. Falcons at Atlanta

Most of the tv commentators have picked the Packers.  Let's hope so.  Go Pack Go.

Wow, What a Week....

A week ago today, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was meeting with her constituents at a Safeway supermarket when a young man came up and shot her in the head. The young man then proceeded to shoot 18 other people, killing six, including a 30 year old man who did community outreach for the congresswoman, a federal judge, and a nine-year old girl (who had been born on 9/11).

Unbelievably the congresswoman Giffords has survived and she seems to be making remarkable progress.  Certainly our fingers are crossed for her continued recovery.

During the week there has been a great deal said about what contributed to this event.  Sarah Palin was brought into the fray because she had a website that had but gun crosshairs over congresswoman Giffords district.  Palin denied that her actions, rhetoric, or any rhetoric were to be considered responsible for the acts of a looney gunman.  Some have pointed out that Palin has missed an opportunity to seem like less of a nut job, and more of a leader.  Here is the link.  Not that I want to see Palin acting like a positive leader...

I thought the president's speech was outstanding.  I loved that it was non-political and that it spoke of healing.  I found it very moving.











At school, the week ended with a day of faculty workshops about how best to teach boys.  Useful stuff.  The end of the day was a bit of a jolt.  It was announced that the man who had been hired to replace Katie on her maternity leave was "not a good fit" and would not be coming back.  He was here for two weeks, and I don't know what happened, but it seems clear that he didn't make good decisions within the walls of room eight.  Too bad for all involved.

Finally, I think I have found a solution to my desire to continue biking.  After following the craigslist postings for several weeks, I found a bike that should be great for winter biking.  I look forward to getting the studded tires on it today and giving it a try later today.  We shall see.  I hope it works as well as I dreamed it would.

More later....