Miscellaneous Missives

Yesterday I spent my entire afternoon and evening grading poetry books.  Our kids actually do well with poetry.  It wasn't horrible, but it did consume most of my day.  I need to remind myself to be more thankful for the good that surrounds me and focus on the positives. I'll also remember to keep my fingers out of my nose if someone is filming me.  Oh, I know the video had so much more to offer...

Are you ready for some football?  Tonight is the first night of the 2012 NFL draft.  I'm glad I have something to watch as I relax after a long day. Today was Poem in Your Pocket day.  It was crazy and fun.  I work with brilliant language arts teachers, BRILLIANT.  Our staff is fairly amazing too.  This morning I actually gave a student a bag of candy to take around to teachers.  Her assignment was to ask them to read a line from their poem and give them a piece of candy.  I may have given a bag of candy to a student, but I really think she asked them.  Not only do I think she asked them, I think they had a poem in their pocket.  After school I sat in on interviews to replace my fellow seventh grade language arts teacher.  Without saying anything about the process or the questions, it reminded me of our brilliance.  We are sooooo far beyond any of the teachers we interviewed today. 

Today is a beautiful day.  As I was out on my deck, I took pictures of the buds on the tree.  A neighbor walked by with her dog, Senator.  We discussed how we will see each other more often now that it is nice outside.  It's unfortunate I was at home on the deck instead of on the golf course, but for some reason my hip wasn't cooperating.

 Each year I try to incorporate this video into my teaching.  This year I used it to teach setting (time, place, and mood).  First I showed a clip from Mary Poppins and asked them to write the time, place, and mood.  Next I showed this clip and asked them to do the same thing.  We were concentrating on mood.  I love this clip.  In the past I think I've used it for a variety of things, but since there is only 32 (?) days left of school, I wanted to make sure the clip was used.

Today I gave out my books .   I think I did a good job choosing my twenty students .  Since I really wanted a copy for myself, I even suggested they could give it back if they didn't want it.  They seemed excited to have their own book.  We sat on the floor in the middle of the hall, and I explained World Book Night.  Even after I explained it a couple students still wanted to make sure they could actually keep the book.  I can't wait until next year!

When I entered worship this morning, I was given a cup of dirt.  This commercial was on television as I was growing up.  It has always stayed with me.  I think it's amazing.  Watch it even if you've seen it and/or I've shared it before. Happy Earth Day!! and for further political statement... http://www.sonofthesouth.net/american-indians/cheyenne-indian-pictures.htm

I think dinosaur is a difficult word to spell.  Thursday, while playing Drawing Something, I knew the picture was a dinosaur, but I didn't know how to spell it.  I kept trying different locations for the a and o.  Today I watched a ten year old guess my picture of dinosaur in draw something.  My picture was horrible to quite horrible.  Perhaps it's because I'm drawing on my iPhone and don't yet have an iPad, but I really don't think a larger screen will help.  At least  I was smart enough to write Barney at the top in purple.  She also had a difficult time trying to figure out the spelling although she knew the word. Last night I arrived in Okoboji and spent the evening talking to a dear friend.  Today was set aside for my hair appointment and school work.  It is noon, and feel I've accomplished some things but nothing related to school.  After working out at the Y and doing my PT exercises, I picked up my books for World B...

A Minnesota State Representative called Earth Day a pagan holiday.  I'm going to guess that she's a Republican... good guess, huh?!  According to Kare 11 , "'It absolutely infuriates me, celebration of a Pagan holiday, worship of Nature and not God's nature,' Alexandria Representative Franson tweeted on Earth Day."  I believe that Earth Day is next week, but the statement is ridiculous.  According to my Bible, which seems to be different than most right winged crazies,  " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.   And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."  Isn't Earth Day celebrating God's creation?  She is also the one who, " In a video posted on YouTube in March, Franson compared animals to food stamp recipients ."  Wow! 

Tonight I played golf (kind of) for the first time since my surgery.  I was told to "let pain be my guide"  and was given specific instructions to only take a partial swing.  It would be OK as long as I only played my "short game".  My PT also warned me that I could walk and carry my clubs, but I needed to  realize I would be sore after the round.  Yep, she's correct.  After playing nine holes (only the short game), I'm sore.  Maybe next week will be easier.  Also, I forgot my money at home, so one of the guys had to pay for my game.  Oops.  Sooooo.... tonight did not go well.

It seems I haven't been posting as frequently as people expect.  The truth is I have nothing to say.  My life is filled with work, working out, and dumb games on my phone. Today is MCA testing.  As I monitored the test for the first 50 minutes, I was productive grading papers, corresponding with my language arts colleague, and spending my allocated language arts budget.  Then I "hit the wall".  I feel like crawling out of my skin.  These students are doing a phenomenal job sitting still and remaining quiet while my leg is bouncing enough that I may not need to go to the gym after physical therapy (well almost).  Testing Sucks!  Yell it with me, "TESTING SUCKS!" Do you know what else sucks?   Jordis Unga was eliminated from The Voice last night.  I rooted for her during her previous run on Rock Star:  INXS.  Yep, I watched it and loved it as I do The Voice although The Voice is too long to sit and watch.  Both are so...

Yesterday was Day of Pink as I posted.  According to dayofpink.org , it was to be a day for people to "unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic & all forms of bullying."  Our school explained the beginning of the celebration (which dealt with a gay teen being bullied), but took it a step further (as the website suggests) to celebrate all differences.  Our GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) sponsored the day.  Teachers and students came together to wear pink.  But I mentioned all of this yesterday and last year... This year's day was a bit difference.  One "Christian" teacher wore a black t-shirt with JESUS! across the front in protest.  I can't even begin to know what goes through someone's mind that thinks this is OK.  Isn't protesting an anti-bullying day the same as bullying?  When I found out this morning, I was almost speechless... almost.  As the day progressed, I tried to make light of...

businessinsider.com It seems I'm a sucker for iPhone games.  The latest app added to my phone is called Draw Something by OMGPOP.  I have no artistic ability and am often shocked when people can guess what I've drawn.  At the same time, I feel horrible when it takes me forever to figure out what someone else has drawn.  Since I've felt horrible all week, my extent of productivity is to use my iPhone to read (Stephen King 11/22/63... liking!) and play games (Draw Something, Scramble, and Scrabble).  Today my physical therapist completely understood my lack of riding the bike and doing my exercises, but I still feel like a slug.  My goal for tomorrow is to ride the bike and do exercises instead of merely lying on the couch playing with my iPhone.  BTW- I think I would do better with Draw Something if I had an iPad.  If you feel the need to make a private donation to the Miscellaneous Missives iPad fund, please let me know!

Tomorrow is Day of Pink , and our school is participating.  I still have my t-shirt from last year which is a good thing because I really don't need another school (ugly) t-shirt.  In honor of the event, I also painted my nails pink.  Perhaps I went a bit too far... Tomorrow is also my PT appointment.  My last appointment was on Friday.  Because I have been sick I have done nothing (not even ride the bike) since Saturday.  My guess is that my PT will not be super impressed.  Maybe I'll have a coughing fit (as I did during my first hour class), and she'll understand.

http://hennepinchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/6a00e54f006252883400e550e4da5c8833-800wi.jpg "Beyond Easter. we go sining. Having been grabbed by resurrections we are full of tears and laughter. The way ahead is unknown. It will always be like that. But having danced in the light we will look for glory everywhere. ~Ruth Burgess I went to our sunrise Easter service this morning and was in awe of the musicians.  The service was absolutely wonderful.  It started with lovely images and the song Morning has Broken .    I will admit that I really love to participate in Lent.  This year's Lenten theme was brokeness and breaking.  The culminating Easter service was incredible. Enough about Easter... Now let's talk about me.  I'm sick.  When I'm sick, I like to eat junk food.  Last night I went to Target for Puffs and malted milk Easter eggs.  There were no malted milk Easter eggs.  Is it really too much to ask for o...

    Taken From Does God Have A Big To e  by Marc Gellman and Oscar de Mejo Before there was anything, there was God, a few angels, and a huge swirling glob of rocks and water with no place to go.  The angels asked God, “Why don’t you clean up this mess?” So God collected rocks from the huge swirling glob and put them together in clumps and said, “Some of these clumps of rocks will be planets, and some will be stars, and some of these rocks will be…just rocks.”   Then God collected water from the huge swirling glob and put it together in pools of water and said, “Some of these pools of water will be oceans, and some will become clouds, and some of this water will be…just water.”   Then the angels said, “Well God, it’s neater now, but is it finished?”  And God answered…   “NOPE!”   On some of the rocks God placed growing things, and creeping things, and things that only God knows what they are, and when god had done ...

Acceptance by Langston Hughes God in His infinite wisdom Did not make me very wise- So when my actions are stupid They hardly take God by surprise Yesterday on my way to the airport, the taxi was sieged by about ten college-aged looking kids at a stoplight.  They were all yelling, pounding on the windows, looking in the taxi, carrying signs, and handing out some sort of paper to the driver.  I think he was concerned that I would freak out, so he explained that they were campaigning (I can't remember what words he used) for the presidential election.  This prompted a series of questions from me in the back seat. M-Will you vote in the election? T-  Yes. M- Is this the guy you're going to vote for? T- Yes. Yes, him. M- Do you need to show ID to vote? T- No. No, we have FREE election. Let me say the taxi driver smiled through most of this interchange.  When I asked him about identification, his smile was wide to quite wide.  His prid...

hormiga.org Go Cubs Go By Chicago folk legend Steve Goodman. —– Baseball season’s underway Well you better get ready for a brand new day Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today. They’re singing … Go, Cubs, go Go, Cubs, go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today Go, Cubs, go Go, Cubs, go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today. They got the power, they got the speed To be the best in the National League Well this is the year and the Cubs are real So come on down to Wrigley Field. We’re singing now … Go, Cubs, go Go, Cubs, go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today Go, Cubs, go Go, Cubs, go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today. Baseball time is here again You can catch it all on WGN So stamp your feet and clap your hands Chicago Cubs got the greatest fans. You’re singing now … Go, Cubs, go Go, Cubs, go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Rays The Sun Have you ever seen anything in your life more wonderful   than the way the sun, every evening, relaxed and easy, floats toward the horizon   and into the clouds or the hills, or the rumpled sea, and is gone-- and how it slides again   out of the blackness, every morning, on the other side of the world, like a red flower   streaming upward on its heavenly oils, say, on a morning in early summer, at its perfect imperial distance-- and have you ever felt for anything such wild love-- do you think there is anywhere, in any language, a word billowing enough for the pleasure   that fills you, as the sun reaches out, as it warms you   as you stand there, empty-handed-- or have you too turned from this world--   or have you too gone crazy for power, for things?   ~ Mary Oliver ~   I'm fairly certain they used to be called the Devil Rays, but it...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pittsburgh_Pirates_MLB_Logo.svg Pirate Story by Robert Louis Stevenson Three of us afloat in the meadow by the swing,       Three of us abroad in the basket on the lea. Winds are in the air, they are blowing in the spring,       And waves are on the meadow like the waves there are at sea. Where shall we adventure, to-day that we’re afloat,       Wary of the weather and steering by a star? Shall it be to Africa, a-steering of the boat,       To Providence, or Babylon or off to Malabar? Hi!  but here’s a squadron a-rowing on the sea—       Cattle on the meadow a-charging with a roar! Quick, and we’ll escape them, they’re as mad as they can be,       The wicket is the harbour and the garden is the shore. First, I would like to mention that this is my 30th baseball p...

http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim About Angels and About Trees by Mary Oliver Where do angels         fly in the firmament, and how many can dance         on the head of a pin? Well, I don't care         about that pin dance, what I know is that         they rest, sometimes, in the tops of the trees   and you can see them,         or almost see them, or, anyway, think: what a         wonderful idea. I have lost as you and         others have possibly lost a beloved one,         and wonder, where are they now? The trees, anyway, are         miraculous, full of angels ...