Miscellaneous Missives

Although I'm a bit embarrassed by it, I'm watching The Voice again this season.  In fact, today I told my honors class that they needed to have their final copy done tomorrow, so I could grade it during Tuesday's show.  Tonight I'm working on our field trip to Seedfolks next week.  A colleague put together amazing resources for our field trip last week, so I'm trying to come up with something knowing that I'll never be able to duplicate.  At least I have the time to pull it together.  Thanks The Voice!  As for Team Adam... I'm really anyone but Team Blake.

Maybe it's ok that the weather is changing because I can't possibly get everything done that I need to inside and enjoy the weather outside.  Something has to give, and it's I'm not going to give on spending time outdoors.  No one wants to miss the autumn colors and summer weather.  Well, at least I don't.

Today was I completed the University of Okoboji Bike Ride.  It was a 25 mile ride, and most of the ride was into a 15 mph wind.  I've never ridden this ride before, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  As we were ready to start the event coordinator said it was the best weather in 23 years.  It seems it also was the largest attendance with almost 500 riders.  The highlight was the beautiful weather and a stop at Terrace Park for West O Brew's beer tent.  They were releasing their Oktoberfest beer at today's event.  Since I left at 10:00, the ride's start, and didn't leave early as probably 100 riders did, the Oktoberfest was gone when I arrived.  The new keg was on its way, but I decided to drink the CocO Stout and be satisfied.  I liked that it was at Terrace Park.  Terrace Park was the party beach when I was growing up.  I spent many summer days and evenings drinking on that beach.  Now there's a sign that says no alcohol on...

Tonight I joined my bike club for the Wednesday ride.  Although I thought about doing the medium paced ride, I decided it would be best to do the slow ride after having aggressive PT on my knee.  The ride consisted of me and five guys.  I'm sure to quite sure the youngest of these gentlemen was at least 60.  Our mission was to make sure the route for Saturday was set.  It meant a new path up to Target Field and several circles around Target field (below and at street level).  It was a "comedy of errors."  I laughed throughout most of the ride.  Typically, I would have been irritated at the slowness of the ride and the two stops in a twenty mile ride for bathroom breaks, but these guys were so sweet.  At one stop I was bit by a mosquito.  When I mentioned that the stop caused me to be bitten, one of the men said he would cry crocodile tears, and another man apologize.  Honestly, it was hilarious.  At one point I was leading t...

About a month ago, I joined a bike club.  Today I rode my second ride with the club.  It was a slow ride named "Minneapolis Vistas", and we were promised four Ooooo stops.  One of our stops was at Milwaukee Avenue , but there is no street.  The tour leader stopped and explained the story.  Other stops were along the river.  We took one trail that is down next to the river, and it was beautiful.  We also stopped at Izzy's Icecream which negated the calories I burned while riding, but I guess that's the major reason I ride.    Although it was at times painfully slow, it was an enjoyable ride on an absolutely beautiful day!  After all, fall starts tomorrow evening.

I've ridden the same twelve mile route four times this week.  With each ride I've achieved a personal record.  Although there wasn't a marked improvement, I improved each ride.  I like this!  Of course, the weather has been beautiful (not too hot, not too cold, not too humid, not too windy) making this possible.  Another reason may be that I only rode twelve miles each day, but it's still been kinda fun.

Recently, I mentioned to a couple colleagues that I was turning into the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.  I looked up the picture on my phone to show them my meaning.  My waist keeps growing and is resembling Stay Puff.  Since the start of school, I haven't been able to bike the miles that I was prior to the start of school although I have biked short distances three nights this week.  My aggravation only grew this morning as I was getting dressed for school.  After trying on three different outfits that didn't fit, I ended up with khaki shorts and a sweatshirt.  Plus, this musical chairs of outfitting made me late for school.  Dang!  Why can't I merely eat anything I want and maintain my weight?

Recently, two different friends sent me e-mails about MPR's Pedal Hub podcast.  Last night I listened to my first episode (actually the second episode, my first).  It discussed why people bike among other items.  Today as I was biking, I actually thought about some things they said on the show and wanted to be able to add my input to their podcast.  I think I could add a new aspect to their show.  As I'm posting and geeking on the internet, I am listening to episode 6.  For some reason, I can't seem to figure out how to get it on my iPhone.  When I solve this problem, I will certainly listen to this while I'm in my car.  Yay biking!  Yay biking podcasts!  Yay friends that share fun stuff!

Yesterday was the 37th Annual Harkin Steak Fry .   Senator Tom Harkin always likes to remind us that there has never been a fried steak; they're grilled.  As I was driving to the Warren County Fairgrounds to meet my Democratic friends, I received a phone call.  They were at the fairgrounds, but no one else was there.  It's always been held there (at least the years I've attended), so I didn't think to look at my ticket.  This year the event was moved to the National Balloon Classic Field .  Instead of arriving on time, I ended up in an extremely long line of cars filled with fellow Democrats.  Although  Hillary Clinton (Former Secretary of State) did not say she was running for President, everyone received a free t-shirt with Ready! (meaning ready for Hillary).  Former President Bill Clinton spoke last.  Harkin said he saved the best for last, but I think Harkin was the best.   Senator Tom Harkin  (Harkin's full speech)...

Today was the Cy-Hawk football game .  It was a great game with a great outcome (Cyclones Win).  As I watched the game, I graded the first writing assignment which I'm using for my baseline data.  Although the end of the game was very exciting, and I could only watch the game.  The 'Clones won't do super well in football this year, but it's always a great day when we beat Iowa (#beatiowa). Tomorrow I will drive to God's Country for the Harkin Steak Fry .  It is the last Harkin Steak Fry since Tom Harkin is not running for US Senate (retiring).  The steak fry has always been the showcase for up and coming Democrats .  Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton will be guest speakers at tomorrow's event.  Although I wish it was Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, I super excited about being in attendance.  I am not, however, excited about the four hour drive to Indianola (near Des Moines) or the four hour drive back to Minneapolis....

My friend and hair stylist quit doing hair at the end of July.  She's been my stylist since I was in high school.  Many found it strange that I would drive 3.5 hours to Iowa once a month instead of finding a stylist in Minneapolis.  It wasn't only that I don't really trust anyone else with my hair; I love S and love spending time with her.  S, however, has become a realtor, and I had to move on.  I found a new stylist in Minneapolis.  She colored my hair and was very nice.  Yesterday, I went to see her again for a color and a cut.  As she was cutting my hair, I explained that I totally freak out when my hair is being cut even by my friend S.  When I looked in the mirror later in the evening, I noticed that my hair was uneven.  I thought maybe it was the way it dried.  This morning I came out of the shower and realized it was truly uneven.  I called to see if she could get me in tomorrow morning since I had HH after school fo...

It was cold in my room today probably because it was cold outside.  I wore my Tevas with a skort.  By lunch I was freezing.  All I wanted was socks.  A wonderful colleague (J), who always takes care of me, went to the nurse and returned with white socks with polkadots.  I taught my last two classes with the socks and without the shoes.  My rule following colleague said I was a bad example.  She should come in my room during announcements.  I'm a super bad example.  Unfortunately, I'm not a rule follower and am a fairly poor role model.  Anyway, when it was time to go home, I left the socks and added my Tevas.  Since I didn't need to stop anywhere on the way home, I felt safe. When I returned home, the inside temperature was 67º and the wind was 19 mph.  I decided to turn on the furnace, layer up, and go for a bike ride while the inside temperature rose to 73º.  I use MapMyRide to map my miles and check my mph.  M...

As I drove to school this morning, this was my view.  I'm always amazed at the beauty that surrounds me if I merely take time to look.  Of course, this morning I wasn't taking time to look because I was in a rush to get to school for the 1:1 Chromebook roll-out.  Thanks to some early morning prep work and a calm/organized media director,  it launched without any major problems.  One colleague was complaining about not getting computers until this morning and other difficulties.  We gently reminded that we were asked to pick them up on Friday and explained how we worked through the other complaint shared.  My guess is this colleague will continue to complain throughout the year even though this same colleague lacks the intuition and fortitude to make life simpler.  When I am faced with this negativity, I will try to remember this morning's sunrise.

The first week of class with kids is finished, and the school year has started.  After four days, I'm happy with the group.  Today I realized I have one student who is quite intelligent.  He may be one of the most intelligent students in my teaching career.  It will be interesting finding new ways to challenge this young man. My dad's stay was a bit longer than planned.  Today his truck was fixed, and he headed home.  While he was here, we had beer and/or ice cream every night.  Also, while he was here, I did not get on my bike or do any real form of exercise.  I think my body will thank me for returning to a bit of a routine. Time to relax and enjoy the weekend.  Although I have some school work, it's researching the Native American Indians during the Revolutionary War, so it should be interesting.

Yesterday when I was in the laundry room, I noticed water on the floor.  Since it was near the furnace, I figured it had to do with the AC although I hadn't run the AC all day.  It had been running the day before when it was super humid.  When my dad came today (retired plumbing and heating guy), I asked him to look at it.  He looked at it, but he couldn't find anything to cause the water.  At some point I looked down and noticed a smashed gallon jug of water. It seems the water was coming from the gallon jug and not the AC. As I post these pictures, however, I'm not sure.  It doesn't seem as though that's possible either.  I guess I'll wait and see.  Let's hope it's merely the smashed jug which is not in the utility sink.