Miscellaneous Missives

                                Today I ended each of my classes with, "Be safe, have fun and DON'T steal little kids candy."  I really shouldn't have to say this should I?  Why do middle school boys (and probably girls) think this is OK?  It probably goes for many grownups with children reading this blog too.  Don't steal candy from children!  Happy Halloween!

                                     I'm teaching an ALC (area learning center?) class after school.  When I came up with the idea for this eighth grade program (reading and writing using Blogger and Feedly), I was proud of my idea.  Actually, I'm sure I blogged about it.  This week is the second week of the program, and I think it's going to be successful.  Unfortunately, it's not perfect.  First, I've never taught eighth grade (7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th... never 8th).  Second, the girls have not been registering for the program although the boys have (I only have one girl).  Finally, I didn't expect eighth grade boys to need at least ten minutes with snacks and conversation before they were ready to concentrate.  It makes sense, but I wasn't prepared.  At least I know what we're doing is interesting.  They've started their Blogger pages and ...

        I like being in the back and in the corner ( at church, in meetings, at the gym, in class...).  Last night at RIPPED class I was talking two a couple of people I've met at the gym.  We all have our own places in the gym during BodyPump.  Of course I'm in the back corner.  A is always in front of me while B is always to the right of me.  Since I haven't been to Tuesday night pump for a couple of weeks, I was joking around asking if they'd been saving my place.  Before class tonight I spent a but if time on the treadmill, so I entered the gym a wee bit later than I normal.  When I entered, two people we in MY spot.  Actually, they were also in B's spot too.  B came in a bit after me, and we exchanged the look that said, 'WTH, why are they in our spots?"  A had his spot, so I told I recommended that next week he saved our spots.  At least I refrained from telling the interlopers to leave.  Next week may...

                                  I'm falling in love with technology in my class.  Actually I'm in love, but I wanted to use the word fall.  Next year every student will have a Chrome Book, so I can virtually go paperless.  Virtual, get it?  I'm glad we're not getting iPads because I seem to write less when I'm using an iPad, like now.   Actually, I'm going to post tomorrow about technology in my after school program.  I just wanted to post something about fall, so I could post this picture.

   Today in church a member shared her pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.  I talked to her briefly after church.  She walked an average of twenty miles a day and was gone a month.  When I returned from church, I watched the movie The Way and tried to research the Camino de Santiago.  A big part of me really, really, really wants to make the pilgrimage.  I'm going to continue research in and asking questions.  If you know anything about the pilgrimage, I'd love to hear.  Instead of taking a bike ride, I walked around Lake of the Isles, my favorite Minneapolis lake.  From my front door, the round trip I a little over four hours and took a little over an hour.  When one is training for the pilgrimage they walk at least five hours a day.  Maybe I'll need to quit my job to train. BTW- I also took fall pictures for LH.                                ...

                           As I was standing in the hall after school waiting for the eighth graders to enter for the after school program, a student walked by and stated/asked, "Long day?" "Does it show?" I asked. "Yes," the answer came a bit too quick! Sooooo.... Instead of working out, I came home and grabbed three Advil  two cookies and one bowl of popcorn.  I'm calling it the 3,2,1 plan!

                                My new furnace is installed and working!  This makes me oh so happy and comfortable.  Tonight I will sleep in my flannel pjs without the insulated tights.  I will also take the top two blankets off the comforter.  Heck, maybe I won't even need to wear socks.  Outside the temperature was in the 30s today.  Typically this time of year brings 50s.  Perhaps my new furnace will bring warmer temps!