This poem appeared on one of my Twitter feeds this morning. I wish we had more writers who were both political and literary. St. Andrew’s Day, 1935 Sharply the menacing wind sweeps over The bending poplars, newly bare, And the dark ribbons of the chimneys Veer downward; flicked by whips of air, Torn posters flutter; coldly sound The boom of trams and the rattle of hooves, And the clerks who hurry to the station Look, shuddering, over the eastern roves, Thinking, each one, ‘Here comes the winter! Please God I keep my job this year!’ And bleakly, as the cold strikes through Their entrails like an icy spear, They think of rent, rates, season tickets, Insurance, coal, the skivvy’s wages, Boots, school-bills, and the next instalment Upon the two twin beds from Drage’s. For if in careless summer days In groves of Ashtaroth we whored, Repentant now, when winds blow cold, We kneel before our rightful lord; The lord of all, the money-god, Who rules us blood a...
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It seems bribery is sometimes a positive incentive when it comes to adolescents in an after school reading program. The group has been challenging to quite challenging this year. Of course this is understandable when one takes struggling readers and asks them to spend an extra hour after school reading. Last week we actually gave them a break on Wednesday because of Thanksgiving. This week, at our school, the schedule is similar to last week since the students don't have school on Thursday (workshop) and Friday (comp day for conferences). Unlike last week, they are not letting them take Wednesday off although this perplexes them since we gave them a break last Wednesday. As the groans and behavior escalated, we bribed them. Good behavior tonight equals Takis and soda tomorrow night. Score! It seems they will be doing a reader's theater from a chapter in their Hunger Games book while eating Takis and drinking soda, and I'm OK with...
THE VICTOR by C.W. Longenecker If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t If you like to win but think you can’t, It’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost. For out in the world we find Success begins with a fellow’s will. It’s all in the state of mind. If you think you are outclassed, you are. You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before You can ever win the prize. Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins Is the man who thinks he can. Today the seventh graders read The Victor . It's the end of the trimester, and they need a bit of self reflection. My other option was to start class saying, "Hey, when you sit in class and do jack (Is Jack capitalized in this situation?), your grade sucks. When you think you're an idiot, you are." I think I made the right decision to ha...
Today I went horseback riding for the first time. Initially I was scared to ride the horse. Then my fear became more specific. How do I get on the horse? We were able to stand on a little platform, so it was easy. Our instructions were simple. Keep the horses on the trail and out of the grass. I was able to do this most of the time. When he really wanted the grass, I was instructed to use my legs. Ahh, this made it all easy and possible. The ride was beautiful and relaxing (as relaxed as I truly become) until a new fear emerged. How do I get off the horse? With my hip pain it may have been a less than graceful exit from the horse, but I did so without falling. Riding a horse was certainly more scary than jumping out of a plane. I'm glad I accomplished the task. Thanks Living Social! P. S. Check out the natural halo around me.
Today I participated in Small Business Saturday. I'll be honest; I rocked Small Business Saturday. When I was growing up, my parents owned a small business, so I know the importance of buying local. Although I only have ten people on my list, some need multiple gifts. One of my first stops was Cooks of Crocus Hill on Grand. Since I didn't know what I wanted, I appreciated that they were excellent sources of information. In fact the best idea they shared was something they didn't have in their store, so they gave me ideas where to buy it locally. Everyone I encountered today was helpful, polite, and gracious. My experience was positive to quite positive. Not only is my shopping completely finished, all but two gifts were bought at local stores (Target and Amazon unfortunately each supplied one gift... At least the Amazon order is a local artist).
Thanks by W. S. Merwin Listen with the night falling we are saying thank you we are stopping on the bridges to bow from the railings we are running out of the glass rooms with our mouths full of food to look at the sky and say thank you we are standing by the water thanking it smiling by the windows looking out in our directions back from a series of hospitals back from a mugging after funerals we are saying thank you after the news of the dead whether or not we knew them we are saying thank you over telephones we are saying thank you in doorways and in the backs of cars and in elevators remembering wars and the police at the door and the beatings on stairs we are saying thank you in the banks we are saying th...
Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi It's all the same Only the names will change Everyday It seems we're wastin' away Another place Where the faces are so cold I drive all night Just to get back home I'm a cowboy On a steel horse I ride I'm wanted Dead or alive Wanted Dead or alive This evening I decided to clean the house, so I could decorate for Christmas tomorrow after I get lost (It's true; I always get lost when I go to St. Paul) and eat Thanksgiving dinner in St. Paul. One task was to dispose of a plant that I tried to repot two weeks ago hoping it wasn't actually dead. This week I had to admit that the plant (from my grandfather's funeral, several years ago) was not going to revive. I kept it even after its demise because it came from my grandfather's funeral and because the cat has been eating it. My fear is now he'll start eating the other plant (also from grandfather's funeral). Anyway, I removed the plant and made room fo...
In previous blog challenges, I had difficulties posting to Word Savvy and Pronto Pup. I would type the comment in, and it would disappear. It was aggravating since I could post comments on other blogs. Finally I realized I could post comments using Safari instead of my beloved Firefox. Lately, I've been able to post comments using Firefox and have found this to be quicker and less painful. It seems the posting problem has now reversed itself. For those having difficulties posting to my blog, I would like to thank you for being persistent. I would also suggest copying it before posting, so you don't have to come up with the wording again (a little trick I used). Maybe I should revert to my old style blog. I, however, kind of like this format and appreciate that people are still trying to post comments even when said comments disappear like Houdini (if he disappeared... he did, right?!). Keep commenting. It...
Today my school mailbox had two birthday items. The first was a super funny birthday card (picture above) that read, "Wait 'til you're sober before updating your Facebook page." The next was a "I ♥ the Hoff Super Fantastic Activity Fun Book ." I'm not really sure who put this in, but I remember having a conversation with someone about this a couple of weeks ago. If you left the activity book, you should reveal yourself. I think he's gross which is probably why it's sooooo funny. People are certainly more creative than I pretend to be.
My plan was to go to one session this morning, but it was more of a thorn than a rose, so I left. I did, however, enjoy a lovely walk back to the hotel (rose). After last night's festivities I was fine not sitting through the entire session, so I'm glad it wasn't so great. Last night I persuaded (with much whining) my group to stop at Harry Caray's Tavern . I didn't think it appropriate to walk by without stopping inside for an adult beverage. Our next stop, Howl at the Moon , was entertaining although I'm certain my night included too many adult beverages. My next step is to attempt to pack my luggage (my guess a complete thorn, but...).
Day three of NCTE proved to be entertaining to quite entertaining. In my first session "Hey, I'm powerful", we were given Play-doh! My artwork shows the line I use in my "I'm from..." poem. I'm from a place where everyone knows my name. At lunch I shared stories, in person instead of via the interweb, with LH. It was awesome to sit across from her, "in real life". As I've mentioned before, I feel as though I knew her before we met today. After sharing lunch, I now know she's the caring and intelligent person I thought her to be. Why didn't I think to take a picture with her? At least I have a new picture with Sharon Flake; my old picture is absolutely hideous. Plus I was able to get a picture with Clifford, the big red dog.
On Turning Ten by Billy Collins The whole idea of it makes me feel like I’m coming down with something, something worse than any stomach ache or the headaches I get from reading in bad light– a kind of measles of the spirit, a mumps of the psyche, a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul. You tell me it is too early to be looking back, but that is because you have forgotten the perfect simplicity of being one and the beautiful complexity introduced by two. But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit. At four I was an Arabian wizard. I could make myself invisible by drinking a glass of milk a certain way. At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince. But now I am mostly at the window watching the late afternoon light. Back then it never fell so solemnly against the side of my tree house, and my bicycle never leaned against the garag...
Pronto Pup has a new blogging challenge, and I think this is positive. He mentions combining LH's "Calm til Christmas" with Obama's "Roses and Thorns". I'll admit this challenge may be difficult for me if I have to share about my day without saying anything bad. Since the challenge doesn't officially start until Saturday, I'll try posting today. Those who choose to comment should let me know if it will work in the challenge, or if the negativity is too strong. Today was the first day of the NCTE Convention celebrating 100 Years of NCTE. I'll be honest; I'm already tired of hearing 100 years of NCTE, and I've only been to two sessions. One of the presenters came to join my colleague and I at an activity in the first session. I didn't do the quick writes we were asked to do and share since I was overwhelmed by the lack of internet (I know I can't post about this because it is still too painful and negative. I ...
One of the RSS feeds I subscribe to is Free Technology for Teachers . Today it talked about an app that made flashcards for students to use for study. Soon I will be teaching sentences in my classroom and teaching the students the needed vocabulary is a drag. This app may be the answer. I started a file with words and definitions. If you subscribe to the free app, I think you can view my sentence flashcards (entitled VVM Sentences). Please, please download the app and search to see if you can view my flashcards and let me know. This could be exciting to quite exciting.
Sometimes I forget that I have a real audience in the blogosphere and am surprised when someone mentions something they read in my blog. Other times I feel like I know a person when I read their blog even though I've never met them. Weird huh?! It's like my sweater picture; it doesn't seem quite real. This afternoon I met with a friend and a handsome young man with a fabulous smile. He was captivating to quite captivating. Anyway, I digress. We were talking about a fellow blogger whom we both read. While I have never met LH, but read her blog daily, JDoc not only reads her blog but actually knows her. Where I am I going with this? I would like to meet LH at NCTE. My post today is more of an invitation. LH- Would you like to get together sometime in the craziness of the convention? We should figure out a way to make it happen. If you want to, you should.
Today I spent most of my time sitting working on school stuff (and perusing the NCTE conference schedule). Mid-afternoon I decided to take a short walk. My walk took me past the sitting tree and my initial (kind of... if you don't look too closely). It also took me to the grocery store where a man stopped me and asked me about my University of Northern Iowa sweatshirt. "Where did you get that sweatshirt?" he asked. Before I could speak, he continued, "Are you from Iowa? If you are, you've heard my voice." Then he sang for me, "Where there's a helpful smile in every aisle." It's the HyVee (a grocery store in Iowa) jingle. It seems it is this man's "claim to fame" which I found out unsolicited. My walk continued to its final destination, HomeMade Pizza Co. When I went to pay with my credit card, I was delighted to hear that today was my free pizza! ...
I left this morning a little after eight and returned home this evening a little after eight. Instead of taking the quicker route home, through Mankato, from Okoboji, I took I90 to I35 and stopped at the Medford Outlet Mall. Plus, I also made a quick stop at Kohls. My goal was to purchase a skirt, a pair of jeans, and a sweater for $100. My purchases: two skirts, a fleece, a pair of jeans, and a sweater for $100.71. Yep, I'd say that was a success. My failure could have been the color choices; there's a lot of grey, blue, and black in that pile.
11.11.11 happening on a Friday is awesome. Of course 11.11.11 is a palindrome, but the only palindrome I can think of is race car. Maybe I should end with race car. Plus let's admit it. Palindrome, the word, would be its own awesome if it was actually a palindrome itself. The video I'm starting class with today is also awesome. Actually it would be more awesome if they had correctly capitalized Grandpa. Remember, if you can substitute someone's name for the word grandpa then it's capitalized. I can only hope that my meeting with the PT is also awesome. BTW- I did set the date and time, so I could publish at 11:11 on 11.11.11. Perhaps it is a bit lame, but I am fully embracing the day of eleven.
Today was a day of informative meetings. At the first meeting I learned that Christopher's middle name is Robin, Christopher Robin. Actually this is not true, but I added it to the minutes I send to my colleagues as if it was a fact. During the next meeting I learned new interesting technology tricks. It was, after all, a technology meeting. My new knowledge, however, came from a friend at my table and not from the instructor. If one types "do a barrel roll" into Google, it is super cool. I love roller coasters, and I love barrel rolls. Why are you watching the Youtube video? Try it on your computer. My friend also shared this link with other cool "Google surprises" such as "What is the loneliest number?".
"Walking Blessing" by Jan L. Richardson That each step may be a shedding. That you will let yourself become lost. That when it looks like you're going backwards you may be making progress. That progress is not the goal anyway, but presence to the feel of the path on your skin, to the way it reshapes you in each place it makes contact, to the way you cannot see it until the moment you have stepped out. © Jan L. Richardson In Wisdom's Path: Discovering the Sacred in Every Season This evening was the second week of An Altar in the World book study. One of our activities was to use a "finger labyrinth". We we were to pray our prayer, navigate the labyrinth to the middle, leave the prayer with God, and navigate our way back to the start following our finger through the labyrinth. The labyrinth we used was a replica of the Chartres Labyrinth in France. I said my prayer, quickly entered the center, left my prayer with God, and became los...
I'm not sure how to figure the rate per minute, but my guess is this is close. The actual MRI took 80 minutes. There was time in between the scans when I was still in the tube and of course prep time. To be fair, I'm going to say it took 120 minutes. If my calculations are correct, I was billed $43.70 per minute (or at least my insurance company was billed that amount). At least I have insurance because that allowed me $11,056 discount. What? This means if I didn't have insurance, I would have paid $5244.00 for the MRI yet since I have insurance the amount is only $1630. Why is this confusing to me? Needless to say I have met my deductible for the year. Woot Woot?!
Fact 1 As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock has 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. Lesson People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going faster and more easily, because they are traveling on each other’s effort and momentum. Fact 2 When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others. Fact 3 When the lead bird tires, it rotates back into the formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. Lesson It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As...
Today I took an eleven question quiz. I am happy with my score of 10/11. I'm OK scoring lower than 2% of the public... just saying. How will you do? BTW- I missed the energy question.