Miscellaneous Missives

Yesterday our staff development day was held at the fire station.  It's great to be off campus for administration and teachers.  The administration doesn't want teachers thinking about their rooms and sneaking out to get one more thing done (my guess... not necessarily fact).  As a teacher the fire department was super cool.  During one bathroom break, a colleague and I found some firemen and asked if we could go out with the trucks.  It's unfortunate I didn't get the fireman's name, but he came out with us and chatted with us as we walked around, climbed on, and sat in the trucks.  He was super nice and even asked about our workshop.  I also snuck out to take a selfie with the concrete Dalmatian dog.  It appears I need to work on my selfie skills. It's a good thing someone was with me to photograph me inside the truck.

Recently I was hanging out with a dear friend from RAGBRAI (Team Wimpy).  We were talking about our love for Venmo.  During the conversation, I asked him about a recent money transfer to another friend on the team.  "Is 'school supplies' code for something?" I asked.  He looked a bit sheepish and told me it wasn't. ('m certain to quite certain he's already changed his privacy settings).  Of course I continued to question and got the story of the transfer.  A couple of days later this letter came with two $25 gift cards.  I love this.  It also shouldn't be surprising that I pushed for individual names to thank.  Without a doubt, five of the six were my favorite guys on the team.  Love these guys!

Today is the last Friday before I go back to work full time.  It's been an amazing summer, and it's OK that it's over.  This last week I've done the last minute summer things making sure I hung out with folks I hadn't seen much this summer.  Of course, it included biking, golf, dinners, and happy hours.  I even spent one day at school. Recently, I saw this wallpaper and realized it's a crazy, artistic world around us.  It's my goal to remember this as I move back into my classroom and meet my new students.  I'm ready.

This is not the best picture, but I voted It's only the primaries, and I'm done with the ads and phone calls.  One candidate has not let up on the text,s phone calls, and emails.  I have told the candidate's people that they have my vote, so they should quit contacting me and focus on people who are "on the fence."  This morning I walked to my polling place In order to get there, I walk around part of Lake Bde Maka Ska.  Walking around the lake on the way to vote felt good, the right (or left) thing to do. 

Sitting by myself manning the tent watching riders and talking to my neighbor. Another year of Powderhorn 24 is complete.  As advertised, PH24 is a community ride and not a race.  Most of the fun if this 24 hour (7pm Friday night to 7pm Saturday night) is indeed the community.  My team adds some additional fun by wearing tutus.  In the large group ride at the beginning, several people were excited the tutu group was back. The ride is on city streets through the Powderhorn neighborhood, and people from the neighborhood come out to cheer, refresh with water, hand out free donuts... Although route is 4.8 miles (basically a rectangle), we are often advised to go off route into the community for bonus stops.  Bonus stops are a variety of activities, and one never knows what to expect.  This year at one stop I merely had to list my gender pronouns (she, her, hers) which was interesting and somewhat educational (A younger teen rider didn't know what was expe...

Recently, I've been paying a lot of attention to Lebron James donation to the Akron Public Schools.  I really appreciate his mission and ideas.  Plus, of course, I love the idea of giving bikes to students.  On the last day of RAGBRAI, as we sat in a circle waiting for everyone to bike to the end location, we talked when people thought they would get on their bike again.  I was confident that I would within the week, and I did.  Others were more hesitant.  One cyclist said there are years when he doesn't get on his bike again after RAGBRAI until the next year.  This seems absurd to me.  Earlier in the week, after working for hours on adding Beers and Probst's BHH (book, head, heart) to reading instruction and signposts to my first three weeks of school instruction.  I was feeling comfortable about my work and a bit excited for the new year.  After completing some plans and new documents, I sent a text to a colleague bragging about...

Since I'm back from RAGBRAI, I decided to try to give blood this morning.  It typically takes more than 48 hours for me to get back to exercise after giving, so this was the perfect time since I haven't been on bike since Saturday.  My iron level is always my main concern when giving blood.  I was actually surprised when my iron levels were good, not merely a point or whatever over what it needed to be.  Although it's not a big deal, I felt strong and powerful after giving blood this morning.  RAGBRAI didn't kick my ass after all.