dreary sunday thoughts...

Up at school sorting through paperwork, organizing, throwing things out and arranging my drawers. I'm going to create a list for myself of all the stuff I have stored in this room and where it is. I forget where things are and it'd also be nice in case someone subbing in Room 346 wants to find something also. Nice idea, we'll see if I follow through.

Those underachieving Lions have caused folks in some part of this US of A to rejoice, yet again. I think that's why God lets them keep playing. They distribute so much joy all over this great nation of ours when so many people are seeking a reason to be happy. To-day, they blessed the East Coast (MD, and all other Raven States) with their unparalleled goodness. Thank you, King of kings, for the Lions. Thank you for the joy they bring to so many.

1-2 inches of snow expected in the next 24 hours...don't see where it's gonna come from though; not a system within a couple of states to the west.

Continuing our saga:

PROF. PIERSON
At any time, Mr. Phillips.
CARL PHILLIPS
Professor, would you please tell our radio audience exactly what you see as you observe the planet Mars through your telescope?
PROF. PIERSON
Nothing unusual at the moment, Mr. Phillips. A red disk swimming in a blue sea. Transverse stripes across the disk. Quite distinct now because Mars happens to be the point nearest the earth... in opposition, as we call it.
CARL PHILLIPS
In your opinion, what do these transverse stripes signify, Professor Pierson?
PROF. PIERSON
Not canals, I can assure you, Mr. Phillips —
CARL PHILLIPS
(OFF-MIC) I see.
PROF. PIERSON
— although that's the popular conjecture of those who imagine Mars to be inhabited. From a scientific viewpoint the stripes are merely the result of atmospheric conditions peculiar to the planet.
CARL PHILLIPS
Then you're quite convinced as a scientist that living intelligence as we know it does not exist on Mars?
PROF. PIERSON
I'd say the chances against it are a thousand to one.
CARL PHILLIPS
And yet, how do you account for these gas eruptions occurring on the surface of the planet at regular intervals?
PROF. PIERSON
Mr. Phillips, I cannot account for it.
CARL PHILLIPS
By the way, Professor, for the benefit of our listeners, how far is Mars from the earth?
PROF. PIERSON
Approximately forty million miles.
CARL PHILLIPS
Well, that seems a safe enough distance.
PROF. PIERSON
(OFF-MIC) Thank you.

Good day, sunshine!

Oooooh yeah and another snow-day bites the dust...profound changes in the Detroit Tigers lineup for 2010 have me confused yet excited. I think all the high-priced failures of late have showed DD that they need another plan, perhaps a plan to raise up stars of their own as they did in the late 70s/early 80s...The MSU football thing is a topic of concern; President O'Bama's lack of user satisfaction is another.
Who was it that said 'Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results'?
Who was it that said 'Those who can't think fight'? I think that it was me. Nice to have met you, Major.

CBS Survivor in less than an hour and i'm drooling in anticipation. Venison goulash for dinner. Not enough Captain Morgan in the eintire State of Michigan ("If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.")  to help me get through 30 freshman algebra papers.
All time CHRISTmas song I can listen to over and over but don't really like at all: Alvin?... Alvin?! ... ALLLLVINNNNNNNNN?!?!?!?
Best Michael Jackson look alike ever: The one ape in 2001's Planet of the Apes.
Favourite line in a text from my brother: suckass
Favourite radio broadcast I heard in 5th grade:

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is Carl Phillips, speaking to you from the observatory of Princeton. I am standing in a large semi-circular room, pitch black except for an oblong split in the ceiling. Through this opening I can see a sprinkling of stars that cast a kind of frosty glow over the intricate mechanism of the huge telescope. The ticking sound you hear is the vibration of the clockwork.



Professor Pierson stands directly above me on a small platform, peering through the giant lens. I ask you to be patient, ladies and gentlemen, during any delay that may arise during our interview. Besides his ceaseless watch of the heavens, Professor Pierson may be interrupted by telephone or other communications. During this period he is in constant touch with the astronomical centers of the world...


Professor, may I begin our questions?

100th Post! ...

...and for alot of people that's no big deal but for me to start something and stick with it for almost a year and a half is pretty impressive.

The snow still falls. But the Sirius Christmas Pops, the warmth of a nice hot fire, and the smell of some cabbage stew in the pot does me just right on this Wednesday afternoon.

More from the saga:

And now a tune that never loses favor, the ever-popular "Stardust." Ramón Raquello and his orchestra...

Ladies and gentlemen, following on the news given in our bulletin a moment ago, the Government Meteorological Bureau has requested the large observatories of the country to keep an astronomical watch on any further disturbances occurring on the planet Mars.



Due to the unusual nature of this occurrence, we have arranged an interview with a noted astronomer, Professor Pierson, who will give us his views on this event. In a few moments we will take you to the Princeton Observatory at Princeton, New Jersey.


We return you until then to the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra.

Snow day thoughts...

Up early; at about 4:15 am only 7 listings of closures in our area, now the list is over 200 long...lots to do to-day...

Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our program of dance music to bring you a special bulletin from the Intercontinental Radio News.



At twenty minutes before eight, central time, Professor Farrell of the Mount Jennings Observatory, Chicago, Illinois, reports observing several explosions of incandescent gas, occurring at regular intervals on the planet Mars. The spectroscope indicates the gas to be hydrogen and moving towards the earth with enormous velocity.


Professor Pierson of the Observatory at Princeton confirms Farrell's observation, and describes the phenomenon as, quote, "like a jet of blue flame shot from a gun," unquote.


We now return you to the music of Ramón Raquello, playing for you in the Meridian Room of the Park Plaza Hotel, situated in downtown New York.

pre-storm check-in...

(FADE IN) ... for the next twenty-four hours not much change in temperature. A slight atmospheric disturbance of undetermined origin is reported over Nova Scotia, causing a low pressure area to move down rather rapidly over the northeastern states, bringing a forecast of rain, accompanied by winds of light gale force. Maximum temperature 66; minimum 48.


This weather report comes to you from the Government Weather Bureau.


We take you now to the Meridian Room in the Hotel Park Plaza in downtown New York, where you'll be entertained by the music of Ramón Raquello and his orchestra.

in the first hour was the word, and the word was 'shamwow!'

Gotta absolutely have-to love 18 middle schoolers at a time...there's no other way to look at it.

The LORD has blessed me with the task of teaching algebra to one such group between the hours of 8 and 8:51 every weekday. Sometimes half asleep, sometimes wired on Red Bull, these young people keep me sharp, reprove me when i spell commutative wrong, and remind me not to use a rubber band to keep my hair together in back. We did re-cip-ro-cals, multiplicative zero properties, multiplicative identity properties, finding the distance between two points in the Cartesian system, area, and volume to-day...all in brief, keep-their-attention segments. When we got the answer to-day, instead of "Hey Presto!", we bellowed "Shamwow!"

Peace, love, math

And can it be...

19 days before CHRISTmas...melancholy thoughts to-day...Another weekend has come and gone; watched alot of college football and basketball, stacked a facecord of wood, made some potroast, got an oilchange, shopped a bit (a wee bit)...Watched some of the 2005 War of the Worlds...in 1953, things looked so fake; this version of H.G.Wells' novel seemed so real, graphic, intense... didn't sleep well after... shoulda watched Bing and Danny singing in White Christmas instead...

Oh, the play of those Lions I find inconceivable!

God bless us every one.

What's this ... ... a ... another run on the bank?

He never got his picture on bubblegum cards, did he? Have you ever seen his picture on a bubblegum card? Hmmm? How can you say someone is great who's never had his picture on bubblegum cards?

Random thoughts (and even more random quotes) on a snowy monday evening...

I corrected about a zillion math papers already tonight...
Looking forward to singing Christmas carols this month...
Ventured out into the Black Friday Black Hole and came up empty... God bless the people who, in the name of a bargain, do 'that' sort of thing; I will continue to buy not a whole lot of anything other than Goodwill clothes, alarm clocks, and ashtrays...
Next tatoo: "peace, love, math". a peace sign, a heart, and pi. (pi is approximately equal to 3.1415...and is the ratio in any circle of the circumference to the diameter).
MSU hoops tomorrow against North Carolina. Not much at stake...the 'rematch' is all espn hype...state will lose big but it doesn't matter one iota...in the whole configuration of things i'd say it's nothing more than a scurvy little spider. and that goes for you, too. and it goes for you, too!
I play the Microsoft Hearts Network enough, ... do you know that sometimes, you just cant win? I think there's a cycle of hands that are dealt and re-dealt and when it's your time to get spanked, all the craftiness and strategy in the world isn't gonna help. imho, of course

"Toss me a cigarette, i think there's one in my raincoat..."
"We smoked the last one an hour ago"
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine,
And the moon rose over an open field

Congrats to Detroit CC, Lowell, East GR, Marshall, Jackson Lumen Christi, Montague, TC St. Francis (the Glads), and Beal City. They all won the last football game of the season at Ford Field in Detroit. Boombayeh to them!

i think i really like Green Day

Best Ever

Album: Ghoti Hook's Sumo Surprise, 1996. Listen at slacker.com.
Absolutely great punk1-2 beat, harmonies, lyrics. Spiritual gold.

Hey presto!

 "tri" means "3" and "angle" means ... "angle!". That was our friend from Math's Mansion, an educational video discussing right-angled, scalene, and obtuse triangles...
Here at the crib on the eve of the first of our two days off due to student illnesses...what to do with all the time off?...? ... Mild and damp tonight and no stars to be seen..the Orionid meteor shower is set to go and i don't know if we'll be able to catch it ... BUT, my beloved landlord just brought me a plate of spaghetti which we teamed up on to create last night....mooooozerella on top and lots of garlic and tomatos and peppers from the garden ... yumm yumm yumm! This guy doesn't just cook, he CREATES! That's great it starts with an earthquake...the only, and i mean only way this could be better would be if it had mushrooms in it...Dodgers, Phillies, Halos Yankees...who cares?!? Tigers should be there and could have done something this time (bitter? maybe...) in the post-season. dammitall mediocre leading this mediocre division all season and letting somebody beat them out at the end team...
k...
Survivor 19 is providing me with late-mid-week joy on thursdays...the arrogant cartoon character who thinks he's won it, the chunky older girl with the mullet who 'doesn't fit in' with her "90210" tribe-mates, the old guy with long hair who can make a fire when the 'leader' can't... i'm hooked though, and look forward to this week's episode.
Here's to-day's math's problem:
Give the domain over which 3x squared -12x + 5 is increasing.
Oh yeah.

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

our nation turns its lonely eyes to you...
Well, Homecoming week is over (lost to Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart) and I can breathe again. Meetings every day and helping with the class of 2011 float (voted best, yet once again) made last week a hectic one. I'm not complaining though, better to have things to do than to not, as my gaffer used to say.
Big Ten football thoughts...The University of Michigan may well be asking for trouble by scheduling schools with less than one tenth of their enrollment in these contests. Why? it may be asked. Rabid maize and blue fanatics will retort with Why not? I liken it to why I don't arm wrestle with my students. If i win, i'm supposed to win, i weigh 260 pounds for crying out loud. But if I lose, i lost to a kid. If Michigan beats Toledo or Appalachian State or even Deleware State, they're supposed to. They still can maul each other in the endzone, pound their chests as gorillas do, the announcers can get crazy like it's the Rose Bowl, etc. But, and that's a big but - albeit an appropriate one - if they lose, wtf? Don't get it.
Spartan Nation enjoyed another Big 10 victory as MSU chalked up 24 unanswered points in their victory over Northwestern. Iowa is still undefeated and four teams are in the AP Top 25. Nice seeing Ohio State lose, wasn't it?

Detroit Lion thoughts...

Tuesday the 29th

My sweetie and her little brother went down to the game last night; it was the '84 Reunion game complete with live performances from Chet Lemon, Alan Trammell, and Jack Morris and a replica away jersey giveaway. Well, the rain moved in and didn't go away so by 7:15 i think the game was called and rescheduled for noon to-day. We will watch it in the classroom while we prepare for our tests later this week. Checked the weather down there and it looks clear.
Well, we didn't watch; I listened to some and had to read about the ending. I'm sick and just want to sleep. Suckass stupid suckass. hit the #(@^#&%^&^ ball.

Marvelous Monday

Back to work on a rainy day; the morning drive was oh-so dark and the deep deep freeze did not approach as foretold by the meteorological seers. The second hour scholars are working on their bar graphs and I have already to-day dutifully entered all the math and science network meeting dates into my MS Outlook 2003 calendar, soon to be synced with my Palm V Connected Organizer (i'm a digital misfit).

The weekend was fun and eventful.

Wonderful Wednesday!!!

Oh you can see my Avatars on the page here; my 7th hour geometry scholars are creating their own right now and having a ball doing it. It's about 7 minutes till the bell rings for the end of the day and even if it's cloudy i'm ok with that. Thank you, LORD, for carrying me through this day; in spite of my sickness, YOU are strong.

Praise to the LORD, the Almighty, the King of creation

Thank you, LORD, for a new day; thank you for the restful weekend, thank you for helping me get through this time of bodily ache and dismay. You are King of kings and Lord of lords, forever to be praised!

With very few weekend responsibilities I got to sleep off this current 'cold'; I am very possibly quite ready for another Monday! Papers are all graded, birthday video is all lined up, great lesson plans are mapped out in my mind, and successful students are even now on their busses preparing for the mathematical fountains of wisdom they will be endowed with! Glorious rainy morning here in Manistee County; we haven't had rain up here for quite a spell. The photo i borrowed from the 'Web. :-)

Wonder Grace of Jesus...

Got out the old hymnal yestreday after school and played some of the favorites from my Baptist years. Nice tunes, great harmonies, faith-filled messages...

OOOOOOOHhhhhhhhhhhhh it's a great sports day, yes it is!!! Tigers on the national stage against the Twins(with our own HotRod Allen doing the color commentary); the mighty University of Michigan Wolverines have already tattooed their little sisters the Eastern Michigna Eagles; and MSU has a 1-point lead over Notre Dame going into halftime. AND it's sunny and warm AND I got alot of homework done already to-day AND i think it's time for pizza and beer.
Episode 1 of Survivor 19 was pretty cool. A couple of mean characters will ensure great ratings. The word is this will probably be the next to last season for that show.

God Bless Us, Every One

Thursday evening and it's been a crazy week. Class load keeps me busy, the workday seems to just fly by and the evening paperwork never ends. We had our first fire drill of the year to-day, got to go outside with 8th graders at 8:35. Cool air woke us all up!
Survivor Samoa starts tonight at 8:00...I will watch.

4:11 ante meridian

...am, in the morning, as in early. Coffee is tastin pretty good and my mind is beginning to function. Woke up with low blood sugar and ate like two bites of a banana. Bananas are great food, but they contain alot of sugar. So I waited about ten minutes and tested again and it was already 20 miligrams per decilitre of blood higher. Waited another 15 minutes and it hadn't gone up much anymore but now i know how much a banana can affect blood glucose levels.
This coffee is real good.
1st Hour: Pre-Algebra - Collect the written summaries from Friday. Do a few examples from a worksheet and assign the rest as homework.
2nd Hour: MS Fundamentals - Go over order of operations practice. A few logic exercises to-day would be most welcome.
3rd Hour: Stats - Pass back homework; average rate of change, stemplots and double stemplots.
4th Hour: PreCalc - dunno yet
Lunch - eat
5th Hour: Advanced Algebra - Collect the homework and talk more about functions.
6th Hour: Algebra - Correct the homework, let the darlings practice their graphing.
7th Hour: Geometry - Points and lines in Euclidean geometry...yes!
This coffee is great.

Survivor Samoa

This Thursday at 8pm Eastern will begin the 19th season of the only show I watch on television. And even now, cuz i don't have cable, i'll not be able to watch on television; i'll have to watch at cbs.com yeah.

Weekend attire

Just got back to Onekama after the four hour drive in my trusty Ram; gorgeous day, Tigers won, Lions...well...um... ... ... it's a gorgeous day! Had a great time with my sweetie: we hung out Friday night then shopped all morning Saturday then went to Brighton for the Smokin Barbecue and Blues fest which was indeed smokin. Lots of folks out on a nice day and the smells from all the bbq were tantalizing. Got back to the truck in time to hear that CMU had just beaten MSU in comeback fashion and got to watch some of the other big college in Michigan's game with Notre Dame. THAT was a good one; too bad the Irish couldn't hold on at the end.
Thank you, Father, for safe travels and for a great weekend.
Up at school to get some work done and myself ready for the week. I like wearing baggy cotton shorts, a ripped t-shirt, and my stinky slip-ons and i will as long as i can into the late months...winter will be here soon enough!

Remaining Algebra 2 HSCEs are PRE-MME

Does every trade have it's own secret code? Are there acronyms as numerous in other professions as we have in education? Golly gee wiz...the title above was from a document that came from the state which discussed a softening up of the expectations for our high-stakes test. Yessss!
But A3.6 (rational functions) is now pre-MME whereas it used to be post-MME.

Consistant licks

One of my seniors said something to-day deemed worth of writing on the board with quotes around it...in the context of the conversation it was quite funny; the two words together arent' normally associated and as the title above it carries no meaning whatsoever. I cant remember them now (we were talking about how many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop) but I told him i was gonna use them for the title of to-day's episode...

Warm again to-day and spent a little time on the deck in the sun. Seems the sun is going down quicker than it was say, a month ago... must be a northern lattitude thing. Big eye exam after work and even with the fashionable shades provided free of charge upon checkout, I couldn't see a thing...i got the drops almost four hours ago and everything's still blurry. No problems or change in prescription, praise God!

I've only been up here a couple days and i really miss my girlfriend. So, to occupy my time, I get to read little reports entitled "All About Me" that I have the middle school kids write on the first day of school. No editing whatsoever, here's an example:

This Sumer I went erase I got my 360 and a ipod tush. and I got a Jod To IT is good som wert. And I got bust in To. I loke To go Dirt Bike and cut would. And I like To Play foot Ball. Sener and gird.

Yep. Sener and gird.

Tuesday

Worked in my room Sunday and yestreday - both gorgoeous days - and got lots done. Threw out some and moved some, the back of the room has less clutter now. Thank the maintenance folks - they moved everything off the floor and gave me a low k at it? (-8 all shiney clean coated now...
Thank you, LORD, for this new day.

Labor Day work day...

OK, so the classroom isn't all that ready for 136 kids to come through, but i've got tomorrow morning, right? Organized some stuff, threw out some stuff, arranged some other stuff, cleaned the tables, made room for 35 kids in my biggest class, got a couple of worksheets photocopied, put in a purchase order for eight algebra books... ... ... the coffee will be hot and quite welcome in the morning i can tell you. Nice day out, i heard. 82 here when i got home at about 5:00. Did a little bit of paperwork on the deck and since then the temp has dropped ten degrees.

Comfortable sleeping weather yes it is. Supposed to be nice into midweek. I love you, Petunia.

The sudoku bug has left me i think...they're not all that so much fun to do anymore...maybe cuz i end up with a 2 right next to a 2 so often and have to either check the answers in the back of the book (just like the algebra kids) or violently scratch it out and start another one. Watched King Kong on TCM to-day while i was working...more screams than dialogue...check it out and tell me i'm lyin...and the movie guy who wanted to bring Kong back to the states was like a caricature of 1930's voices in movies: talked fast (between doomed soul's screams) and used all the cliches of the era. Good picture. "it was Beauty that killed the Beast". remember it?

Labor Day Sunday

Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you.

Golly i just love that dialogue. That one's for Alban; me and him used to laugh at that line back in the day...

Back up at school, trying to find a couple more Algebra books for my 8th graders, doin seating charts, planning the first couple lessons in each of the six different math classes i'll be teaching, arranging and cleaning tables, actually mostly just trying to acclamate myself in Facebook (don't really understand it too well yet), rejoicing in Inge's 9th inning grand slam...poor Rays.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful...

Autumnal sights, sounds, smells on a fabulous Thursday morning. A cool, cool morning greeted me, the red dawn encroaching on my slumber; the truck windows were covered with dew, as was the grass. Just hints of color in the trees (green is beautiful, but 'color' is the highlight, the climax, if you will, of the year) and the late-season perennials are in bloom. Missing yet are the oblong wheeled yellow cheeses: those socially stimulating transportation devices so necessary of our compulsory education system. Soon they too will be out in their masses, and we will know, officially, that fall has fallen upon us.
Ahhhhhh.
Well, events...
Finally retrieved my Ram from New Buffalo. But it needed a battery, having sat all summer without starting. And it was probably going bad yep. So me and my sweetie rented a Focus, drove from Brighton to New Buffalo, paid the handsome remake-the-transmission fee, and followed each other briefly on I-94 until I took the turn northward near St. Joseph. But the guy at the shop said not to turn the vehicle off even when i have to gas up. Hmmmmm. It wanted to die every time I slowed down so I'd shift to neutral and rever up. Until i had to get gas; couldn't hardly pump the gas AND hold down the eggzelerator could I?!? But glory to God it started every time it died. Got to Ludville (about a half hour from my destination) and passed a NAPA and checked the price and it really didn't matter what the price was but thankfully i thought it reasonable (?). The nice guys there let me use their rachets and with a twist of the ignition key and a brief prayer OH did she purrrrrr!. So I'm good now, except for the broken sway bar up front and the shot shocks and the lack of muffler (this, it must be understood, is not really an exception to the 'good'ness, just makes it loud) and perhaps the alternator but i'm probably fine on that since i now have a brand new battrie.
Seven preps this year. [To teachers that sentence means something; for the rest of you, translate "i'm teaching seven different classes this year and for each one i am responsible for planning, purveying myriads of information to children with multiple learning styles and proclivities, coming up with creative assingments and the rubriks to assess these assignments, and returning these assignments in a timely manner, as well as communicating meaningfully to parents regarding the general lack of motivation, effort, or cognitive capacity of their product of love.] Had six last year. My cousing in a bigger district has like 2: Chem and AP Chem. It's all good, they're calling it 'Overload' and paying me extra. It's all good.
Back to work...

hot heat temperature humidity warm sun yeah

OK, it's the 15th of August, it's warm outside, and i'm in typing at the library. I thank almighty God for a great, eventful summer...for the time i've been able to spend with my sweetheart and for all the blessings of this time of year.

I planted things, really. Watered them, moved them around into better sunlight, fertilised them, ... it was good. I watched things grow. I fed the birds. I watched them eat, fly, sing, play, ...

I Sudoku, and often.

Saturday

Drove out to Heavenly Scents gardens in Fenton with my beautiful bride and got a banana plant and toffee twist grass. Put a new bird feeder on a post near the beach grass; we've been enjoying hte birds feeding near the house (suirrels and chipmonks abound - mama kitty we miss you!! :-( and Tigers games (when they win). JV got the complete game in the second of two last night over the White Sox. To-day on Big Fox at 4:00 and tomorrow on ESPN at 8:30 and we're going to that one. Been feeling shitty...
Sunny and breezy now, rained drizzly earlier. I'm still not hte sudoku king, but i need a new book.
I cooked Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday this week. Dave the main cook said I did good yestreday (no onions). Junior has become quite sociable and is growing out of his kid fears,. He still doesn't like Spartan cat food. Sierra is most lovable and a friend to all. Sluggish, not motivated, I feel like there's 300 pounds of lead duct taped to my middle...

Sunday

This past week I have neglected my writings so I will make up a bunch here...
Worked Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday night til close. I am getting more comfortable with the procedures and what goes where and with what on what kind of plate. Kiddie grilled cheese is just less fries. We've been working both our jobs with just one vehicle and although this is certainly a less convenient situation, it is by nomeans un-doable. Mary Ann is here sometimes and I enjoy the added company. We took Sierra for her summer groom which took tow and a half hours. She looks good, healthy, and well-kept.
I have been grabbing inexpensive office supplies with great joy in preparation for 09-10. End of month bills due soon.... what to do about the Ram... please LORD guide us.

Yestreday Kevin and the crew came out. Justen dragged a tree to the firepit and we had pizza. Everybody slept in (except sweetie, who had to work at 9, and has been calling here all day asking if I'd help her get through her work-day hangover); pass the coffee, please.

The week brought us the MLB All Star game from St. Louis on Tuesday. Granderson tripled, Inge struck out (what else?) and Jackson retired one innings worth of NL sluggers on four p;itches. Inge also hit Z?ERO homers in the home run derby for a sixth place finish.

I'm still reading Bryson and Mary Ann brought me a novel for a change of pace.

God bless us, every one.

Grillmaster D

The summer is officially rolling along here in midwest-northern-southeastern Michigan. There are plants to water and eggs to whip, weeds to whack and dogshit to clean up. Temps have been comfortable for the most part; we don't condition our air but we do move it around alot at night sometimes. I started a little summer gig a few hours a week at a greasy spoon where I am able to change my body aroma to that of slightly burnt oil. The Feed Bag in Fowlerville, MI.
( http://local.botw.org/Michigan/Fowlerville/The_Feed_Bag_Cafe/690112766.html )

Bought myself a new T-Fal 10 inch frying pan to practice at home. Did a phenominal omelette this morning ("Western", according to our menu) if i do say so myself. Tough part is getting the temperature just right.

All Star week in baseball; our Brandon Inge is in the homerun derby tonight so we will watch it as well as the game tomorrow with 4 Tigers there. Edwin Jackson (miniscule ERA), Justin Verlander (leads univers in K's), Inge (hit homers 19 and 20 last night), and Curtis Granderson who albeit hitting in the low 200s makes alot of good plays while being a fan favorite. my library halfhour is over and i gotta go

Sunday

Jon and Jen showed up yestreday and we hung out with Kevin and Justen and the kids. Taking toots to work right now...

Thursday

got the job yestreay and I start to-day 1 - close,. Mary Ann had court this morning. Cooked chicken last night and built a box for my herbs this morning. Tigers won, Frensch? got his first victory.

Tuesday

Got through the extravaganza on Saturday - nice to see everybody. I was grillmaster. Sunday sweetie worked all day and i recovered. Monday yestreday I slept in and painted some laun funiture and got the garbage out. Tuesday to-day up early to Brighton for drive shaft u-joints and then a new transmission pan. Watered the flowers and can't decide how to pimp out my new herb garden. Sweetie worked 408 and the Tigers won.
Mary Ann is hanging out here, Stan's on the lake with his new girlfriend and I'm going to read some. Talking to resturant folks in Fowlerville about cooking job tomorrow at 10:00 am. clock set for 7.

Wednesday

Yestreday cleaned out the garage and pitched much stuff. Summer stuff is ready to go and on the big shelf. Sweetie brought pizza home after work and I ate way too much. Fell asleep early but caught the replay from 4-6 am; got to see Rodney give up a two run shot in the 9th but hold the win for Gallaraga. Good for him.
What to do...

Tuesday

Yestreday Monday was the car chase on TV then I re-did the dock. That wood is soooo heavy. But it's out there and at least in a decent direction. Got it out and the beached raked before sweetie got home. Tigers looked bad and got beat by the lowly Athletics.
I stayed up late watching Cleopatra ('35) and The King of Kings ('27), both by C.B DeMille.
09:30 Almost 10 and the coffee is ready :-)

Sunday

Yestreday helped Doug stain his deck in Howell and then cut hill grass at home; Sweetie worked all day. Tigers beat the Astros on an Inge home in the 9th.

Saturday

The Tigers scored 4 in the frist two innings, JV went 5 but Joel walked in the winning run in the 8th. Sucka

Friday

This morning out for breakfast and ended up at Kappans Coney in Ann Arbor. Good sandwich! Construction there didn't dampen our spirits and we worked on the yard til almost dark. Put in 2 planter frames and trimmed a ton of growth from where the camper was near the road. Camper will be able to breathe when it returns: The Chateau!! :-)
Blood sugar was 106 and I took 20 units of lantus and 8 units of humalog. Cooking burgers for the game which will be broadcast to us from Houston.

Thursday

Up early and read the paper and did my puzzles until the Tigers at 1:00. Took a nap and then Kev came over to get the camper. Helped him hook it up and followed him home with it. Praise God for His goodness!!
Stopped at a party store in Canton for goodies and got home before dark and watched the Tiger replay on FSD.

Wednesday

Picked up Mary Ann from Henry Ford and then downtown to see the Tigers beat the Chicago Cubs. Lost of pitchers used and the game went long....long enough to let out right when the fireworks got over.
Stuck in traffic right there for a while....got home at 1:00 and slept well

Thrusday

Sprayed off the camper and lawn chairs in the hot sun yestreday ... agood job for a muggy day. Watched the Cain Mutiny, ate alot and fell asleep early. I need my humalog pens and 50 cc syringes.
If I only had a brain.
humalog pens
1/2 cc syringes
19:45 got insulin, cut lake grass, fed Sierra, watched Anatomy of a Murder; Sweetie works til 8. Paid some bills, scoring the Tigers game
22:20 Rayburn walkoff homer to beat the Cubbies! We're going down tomorrow!

Monday

After two solid weeks. Yestreday Sunday toots worked early and I went to see Mary Ann for a quick visit. Then to mom and dads after walmart for lemonade and the Johhn Cash card. We hung out on the deck under the new pergola. Had some fish and talked perennials then to the lake to enjoy Fathers Day with pizza from bean beggues?>???? and Carolyn. Tigers finished the Brewerw sweep. It was muggy. Watched some of Stripes, Ghost Busters, then Ghost Busters II with the original Raimis, Murray, and Akroyd. Talked to brother G a bit - he had all three kids over and was loving it!
The lake water continued to rise yestreday after the heavy rains Friday night. dock is floating.
To-day begins the third week of break and the first day of summer.
Blessed be God forever!

Saturday

Yestreday Friday to produce mart in Howell and then dinner with Mary Ann at Maple Grove. She had gained a little weight and seemed upbeat. We sat in on a talk given by Hope which was very good. Watched the Tigers while it poured like 4 inches overnight with not too many storms. Humid might and i didn't sleep well and then up early to air up Mary Ann's tire and put some gas so Moni could take the Bull to work at 9. I took Dakota and ladders to Robinson to clean gutters. Never saw so much biomass in an eaves trough. Makeshift extendo from ACO so my fatass wouldn't have to go on the awning as the roof was too steep to attempt from that side. Got it done and bought some Nattys for the afternoon.
the rain gouges a trough down the driveway and it looks like also through the beach - i will explore in a minute here...Muggy and sunny now, birds are singing and the new citronella Off candle is awwaulting my olfactory senses. Small rain lake in the lawn but large lakes in the neighbours lawns. Huge system coming up from Texas...gonna pull some weeds out of the lake.

thursday

Yestreday Wednesday got up early and made us a great meal. Did my puzzles and toots was ready for a ride so we went to Lansing to look for a grill cover. Lowes and Menards didn't have one so we finally found one as well as a truck wash and gas for 2.64 a gallon. Leisurely trip home via Grand River and we were in love.
Moni got up before me to-day (Tigs lost in St Louis 4-3) and got me a Mews so I tried the ? Sudoku. Yes - conquered it. Pulled staples from windows and screen door and cut grass by house. Started lawn but cable unhooked from front tires and now i actually have to push the damn thing...i'll do it tomorrow. Toots went to her mom and dads and I raked some weeds out of the water... tons this year it seems. Beautiful evening tonight. I'm reading Bryson again and laughing often. Tigers at 8 and I'm thinking about hot dogs on the grill. My wife is still mysterious and i htink i need to embrace that fact...otherwise I'm too frustrated. I love her, though, more than i love doing Sudoku and eating pizza. Doing some laundry and playing piano....

Tuesday

My blood sugar was 133, lowest it's been in the morning since like forever. Thank You, LORD!
Slept in yestreday. Went through bills and other stuff yestreday. Sweetie has bills from U-M emergency she's going to dispute. $160 recertification fee and a couple of co=pays; irs due end of the month as well as insurance. It is raining. Toots worked 4-8 and I ran out of cigarettes at 5:30 so I found a choke chain for Sierra and we took a hike. Hopped on the trail west off Kress and had to cut through backyards to get to M-36. Si was draggin' at the end (but not me!!) which means she needs more of those!
Toots brought me beer and marlboro 100s but the Tigers didn't care. JV only went 4 innings after like 8 super starts in a row. Pitching had been carrying us but now we're losing 9-2, shitty no hitting...WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?
Eggs, sausage, and taters this morning! :-) Love you toots.

summertime...and the livin is easy

Away from a computer for a couple months but i will sneak away to type. Warmer this week finally and the dryer belt has busted. Tigers are three games up in the AL Central and we're optimistic.

Monday

Sweetie worked all day yestreday and then we nabbed Mary Ann. She left this morning. I fixed dryer (belt) and carried a heavy load of shit from the firepit up to the top. Sweetie worked 4-8 and I got tabls for the Dakota.
1989 Duke-UM basketball: Hurley, Laetner, Abdulnaby, Amader, Robinson, Milles, Higgins; Vitale and Jackson called the great game. I ate way too much to-day. Love you, sweetie.

Sunday

Tigers lost yeatreday sucka; we took a nice ride to Dexter and Chelsea and we will do more of that...Denzel is a good actor. Love you, sweetie!!

Saturday

Wings lost game 7 last night.
Put docks in and cut grass yestreday. Sweetie is working to-day; i'm eating and smoking on the porch. TV sucks. I like movies. Junior is stalking. I love my sexy wife.

Wednesday

Yestreday slept in a little with my sweetie but ahd a 9:00 apt. in W. Bloomfield. After to walmart in Milford (nice) for charcoal and topsoil. Put plants in the triangle by the water and messed with the dock a bit. Moni worked 4-8 and I summed a bit and grilled dogs and burgers. Wings and Tigers both at 8 but Championship game for Wings so I devoted time to them. Outplayed, sloppy; Pens looked good and won 2-1. Tigers won in 10 7-6 on a Miggy homer but he's limping.
Comfortable morning, grabbed a paper and I made french toast. Listening to the wealth of motor city radio opinion.
Thank You, Father, for a new day.
 

Monday

Spent the morning my my sweetie and we talked about real things...good! Need to get the tabs for the Dakota, some garbage out, chicken cooked for dinner,. I will limit my intake of sodium this summer. tigers won last night as did the Lakers (2-0), much to the shagrin of my magic-loving brother. Possible jobs at Lakelans Mobil and Zukey Lake Tavern. Hate the brocess...but need to.

To-day:
-read Bible and Digest
-cook: stuffed chicken with bread/onion/mushrooms, baked potatoes
-garbage out
-call Meggie and Dean
-praise the LORD!

Muggy but breezy here. Vacuumed up and down, sugar is low, had half an apple. I'm blessed to be with my gilrfriend. Dark and cloudy out.
Jehovah Jireh, our Provider!

Sunday

Tigers won 2-1; Jackson went 9 and gave up 4 hits, had a great May. Wings scored 4 in the 2nd period and won 5-0; another shut out for Ozzie. Moni at work all day. Got the van washed and vacuumed clean good to go.

Saturday

Got in last night and watched Tigers lose first of 3 to An Halos. Bad morning after taking my beloved to work. After work, cut the gras and blew. Got some brats going. Took Dakota for an oil change. Need a head light and tranny is slipping I think.
Father, we're in Your hands, in Your care, in Your love, in Your perfect peace.
Brought all my shit in from the Caravan; we'll have to give that up tomorrow. Love you baby.

to everything there is a season

Got just a little sentimental this morning, looking around at the familiar environments that I will be leaving for three months...just kinda walked around the house i lived in and enjoyed seeing everything one last time for a while. I don't like saying goodbye, i avoid these at most costs; i'd rather just slip away and then phone a day or two later with an encouraging word or something...
Classroom is clean (?), grades are in, rental room is clean (;-), van is loaded and i have three hours to kill before a dermatology appointment in town...
Thank you, Father, for a new season. Be glorified by my thoughts, words, and actions.

Last day, final day, say seee ya

Most of my grades are in, the kids have finished their tests, and so now we have a half hour to kill before lunch. My sophomores i allowed to play x-box ufc on the big screen with the lights out. Hmmmmm...hey guys, turn it down, huh?
Classroom inventory, ordering supplies and books for next year, planning for summer meetings, cleaning, storing, neatening...
LORD, thank you for a good year. And thank you for the time off. May I always honor You with the time You give me.

One More Day, Young Fredegar!

At first I thought my landlord said 'he got away again' so i armed myself with the necessary tool for aiding his re-capture: a big stick. He wasn't in his cage to be sure, but as I perused the front room looking for the silouette of a small parakeet, my landlord laughed. 'He DIDN'T get away'; he was just sittin at the bottom of the cage shredding paper with his beak and being decievingly quiet. Ha ha, i laughed, and replaced the stick near the front door where it is stored. So as i went to my room to get out of the stuffy, hot, casual dress (80's era) clothes i wore to work, he reminded me with a hint of joy 'One more day, young Fredegar.'
Yes, one day more with children, one day more of final exams and sitting in quiet rows with sharpened pencils, one day more before the long summer break and sun and peace and no kids.
I am usually a bit sentimental at these times. I eagerly enjoy not having to get up and get dressed if I don't want to. But over the course of a year you get to know folks pretty well and you see kids grow and change and some even tell you you're the coolest teacher ever and who on God's good earth in the real world will ever tell you that? (Dog's don't count. They repeat variations of that every day just by their looks and by their tail wagging...still doesn't count.)
I will miss even the handful of kids who never tried a math problem in ten months but tried often to sleep in my class. I'll miss the kids who get done early and come up and ask if there's anything they can do to help, Mr. B? How cool is that?!? (Of course, an organized teacher would say 'Why yes, Gabriella, please take these extra chairs to the custodian; he wants to borrow them for graduation'. My response typically after looking strangely around the room with that "thinking hard" face would be 'yeah, take these empties out to my truck, thanks'.
But you gotta love that go-getter attitude. We used to be able to give high school credit for 'classroom' or 'office' aids. Not no more, because we wouldn't want a child left behind. So I don't really plan to have any help at all; when it's offered, i'm always like duh...think of something quick, don't waste the opportunity...
I'll miss the loud 8th graders I had first hour - one of whom has a propensity to include Lebron James in every sentence he speaks ('Ooh, Lebron didnt do so good on his quiz, did he?', 'Mr. B., that's not how Lebron throws paper at the wastebasket.', ...) Collectively, they're a pretty ...(have to watch it here) ... academically-challenged group. (You come up with adjectives.)
I'll miss my two seniors who made it almost all the way through a huge Pre-Calculus and Discreet Mathematics textbook, one of which has chosen Harvard over Stanford as her universtiy next year.
I'll miss my sophomores (i'm the class advisor you know) and their quick wit, their hard-working attitudes, and the fun we've had building floats or arranging flowers for graduation.
I'll miss the freshmen algebra class (wait...'miss' is a bit strong here); where the sophomores eluded a strong work ethic and needed little prodding, the freshmen boycotted all manner of homework, period. The average grades for those two groups reflected this, but you still gotta love em!
Yeppers, one more day! Life is good.

A New Hope..

Tigers lost last night, Wings lost last night. Students are taking their final exams and finding ways to kill time while waiting to take their final exams. I gave project assignments for most of my classes so some of my miscreants are busy finishing up their brochures describing a particular Michigan Content Expectation for Advanced Algebra or Geometry and detailing why every child should know this benchmark.

Wings up 2-nuttin

Another 3-1 victory for our beloved Red Wings putting them up 2-0 in the best of 7 Stanley Cup Final.

Pomp and Circumference

Graduation for our seniors is to-day in about a half hour. The band was playing music when I got here and i probably should be going. Our baseball team lost in the district playoffs yestreday by one run in extra innings. Our stud pitcher only allowed three hits and walked none, but 8 errors by our infielders cost us the game...what a way to go out. Frustrating, man.

Memorial Day Memories

Already thursday wowsers and i just got back into town last night...what a weekend...longest of my life ever. Ever...

Friday drove down to see my girlfriend. We hung out Friday night, she worked on Saturday and I cut the grass, then I left Sunday to meet my brother in Chicago. Great 4 hour ride there, gorgeous day, got there a little early and went and saw the Big Lake (the one I get to see most days from the other side), and perused the hotel. Brother and I hung out (you walk everywhere there, your vehicle is valet-parked for fifty smackeroos a night) and watched the Red Wings demolish the 'Hawks on Sunday, then some basketball, sauna, whirlpool, and pool.
Slept great, had a cupajoe in the morning, bid my brother a fondieu, and got on the road. Funny thing was, the rpm's were going hi to low and i wasn't gettin the right amount of power for the revvin up that engine was doin. Finally pulled over to check fluids just across the Michigan state line (felt safer, maybe, getting into the Great Lakes State) and there was no transmission fluid in the pan, lots under it. Drove into town (New Buffalow, MI) praying and looking for someone with the tools and skills who could help me. Got a number from some of the locals and called Roger. He had a flatbed to get me to his garage but couldn't look at it until Tuesday am.
He dropped me off at the Best Western and I shook his hand. Next day he told me it'd be like 25oo and i said wowsers (actually, i swore something aweful) and i tried to find a ride home.

No luck, no dice, just mom and dad offering cash in my account so i could rent a car. That didn't work so they volunteered to drop me off one of their vehicles for a bit. They're nice.

So now i have mom's dodge minivan but i left my keys in the truck in new buffalo. oh well, life is good.

Direct O Lord God my way in thy sight.

Got my 'new' Palm V all sync-ed up to-day and i'm pretty excited. I like having one calendar for everything (helps with organization you know) and the Palm is the perfect device. Don't want fancy phones, don't want video games and internet...just gimme a Devo-sounding 'SPOINK' a couple hours before important stuff like anniversaries and meetings with the boss and i'm good to go.

{Good to go? Good to go where? What does this mean, where does it come from ?}

And this one sits in a cradle to charge; my 'old' Palm IIIx ran on AAA cells and was unforgiving regarding data when power ran out...gone, gone, gone like a Miguel Cabrera dinger.

Dirige Domine Deus meus in conspectu tuo viam meam.

on hair

I'm letting my hair grow. It is currently longer than I've ever had it. I can put a rubber band around it and get most of it in a pony tail.

I'm letting my hair grey. It is currently greyer than I've ever had it. I can put a rubber band around it and the grey is still there.

THIS IS the day the LORD has made!

Watched the Tigers a bit last night but couldn't find the Wings (no Versus on Dish Network?!? are you kidding?!?!); no problem (the Detroit Red Wings don't need me to watch you know): another overtime playoff victory, this time against the over-achieving 'Hawks.
Talked with an old buddy for about an hour last night and laughed, laughed, laughed, ... it's so good for the mind, body, and spirit. Actually felt healthier than I have in a long time this morning...except for the big gash on my calf from climbing trees yestreday evening (another post altogether).

Memorial Day weekend coming up and what will we do with all the time... ... ...

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here, below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

Portagers Take Two

We rolled into Brethren last night riding a four-game winning streak and demolished the Bobcats with a mighty thundering of hits ("'hits and runs' on 3 ... one-two-three 'HITS AND RUNS!'") and runs. The boys pounded the ball enough to bat around in the first and second innings and gave our freshman thrower enough for the mercy in game 1. In the nightcap (sounds professional, eh?), the boys scored enough in the first inning to get the win for our junior ace who gave up five hits in four innings. Gorgeous setting with a dirt infield and pine trees everywhere. Pit toilets (?) nearby and hotdogs grilled between games.

Life is good.

Luther

Had to memorize this prayer in grade school, I love it now and am thankful; my Lutheran ties are still strong.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

God is good. He is in love with me and you. 'Inconceivable'? I donot think that word means what you think it means.

Believe.

Flower Day!!!

My girlfriend and I both had a wonderful weekend down at Eastern Market together peddling perennials, ... in fact we were powerful perennial peddlers...pondering pizza and plans for prosperity :-)

It was Flower Weekend and, in particular, Flower Day on Sunday, attracting over 130 billion people to downtown Detroit. It was more fun than I deserve to have in a lifetime let alone a weekend but i just soaked it in and appreciated the sleep at the end of the day. We left home at 3 am and got down there to set up at 4 and honestly there are people walkin around looking for bargains not long after that. Fun fun fun and what a learning experience for me. I was the brawn and she, the brains AND the customer service ~ great with customers and potential customers, she knew (or knew how to find out) the answers to many questions. Dialogue with me, however, was much more calculated:

How much would these be?
Five each
Do they like shade?
Where do you live?
We live in the country with lots of trees.
These love the shade.

Ah...life is good.

oooh la la

there's only two things you have to do: pay taxes and die

New and Wonderful

OH MY Goodness...i just found a web (http://classicalwebcast.com/onepage.htm) which plays classical music...i'm currently (i mean like right now, as i type) listening to Iceberg Radio - Baroque Masterpieces.

Terrific Tuesday, the which delights me

Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and had a cup, and looking up, I noticed I was late.

Found my coat, grabbed my hat, made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke, and somebody spoke and I went into a dream. Ahhh.



Won a couple games from the big city high school j.v. team last night, the which made our boys quite happy. We go down to Baldwin for a big conference match-up on Thursday.

Woke up (the which started me on the above track) at about 1:30 with low blood sugar and ate too many girl scout cookies. This made me tired causing me to fall back asleep but by wake up time i was still tired and not in wake-up mode. Ah coffee, my slackard juice, nectar for the sluggard, covering a multitude of sloth...

I'm having so much fun typing I may just give second hour a big independent assingment for the hour, heh, heh, heh (ganondorf style laugh there) and continue...make some more coffee first :-)

note to self...

anniversary next sunday the 17th

Glory to God!!!

Blessed Monday Morning to all!!!
In the absence of a good memory, I turned to my Google search engine for assistance and wahlah!!! found the words I had only partially remembered.

Thank you for giving me this morning.
Thank you for ev’ry day that’s new.
Thank you that I can know my worries
can be cast on you.

Thank you for all my friends and brothers.
Thank you for all the men that live.
Thank you for even greatest enemies
I can forgive.

Thank you, I have my occupation.
Thank you for ev'ry pleasure small.
Thank you for music, light and gladness.
Thank you for them all.

Thank you for many little sorrows.
Thank you for ev'ry kindly word.
Thank you for ev'rywhere your guidance
reaches ev'ry land.

Thank you, I see your Word has meaning.
Thank you, I know your Spirit here.
Thank you because you love all people,
those both far and near.

Thank you, O Lord, you spoke unto us.
Thank you that for our words you care.
Thank you, O Lord, you came among us,
bread and wine to share.

Thank you, O Lord, your love is boundless.
Thank you that I am full of you.
Thank you, you made me feel so glad and
thankful as I do.


We sang that song in 3rd grade at THE Greenfield Peace Lutheran School on Outer Drive and Greenfield while Mr. Schultz played it on the piano. He would change keys every other verse or so (modulating up a half step each time - LOVED that part!); I've been singing it my whole life...most recently while walking through the potato fields of Montcalm County.

Got to see Mom and Mom over the weekend as well as various and sundry other relations ("I don't know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve." ... Bilbo Baggins, at his 111th birthday party) and spent a great weekend with my girlfriend, who is healing well.

Debbie gone from Tocantis and who will go next? Ever-faithful and true Coach? Ever-prissy Erin? Ever-loved and frequently-exiled Taj? Ever-red and mostly-necked J.T.? Ever-urban and often-bespeckalled Stephan? Haven't been able to watch the Ponderosa clips on CBS' web...I think I would like it there...

Friday, friday, friday, friday, ...

2nd hour and the miscreants are playing Team Dots. Haley wins and so does team #1 for the grand championship!!! Ah spring! "Hold onto the packets til next week, we'll lookem over then..." "What was that, Mr. Bolger?" Um, "Just keep playing chess, Joey."
"Can I go to the bathroom Mr. B?" "Yep. Be careful."

thursday afternoon

Well, the workweek is winding down, the Tigers play tonight in Chicago, ... life is good. We go to Manistee to play Catholic Central this evening for a double header. I'm optimistic about our chances tonight: boys been working hard, still undefeated in conference, and i got to peek at CC last week in a semi-scouting capacity.

Thinking about an Ocarina of Time-type tatoo or my girlfriend's name, or something religious...hard to decide.

I remember this song from grade school

Thank You for giving me the morning
Thank You for every day that's new
Thank You that I can know my worries
can be cast on You

Thank You, I have my occupation
Thank You for every pleasure, small
Thank You for music, light, and gladness
Thank You for them all.

Thank You, I know Your Word has meaning
Thank You, because I know You care.
Thank You, oh LORD You came among us
Bread and Wine to share.


...cant remember the first two lines here...
Thank You for even greatest enemies
I can forgive.

One Day More...

...tomorrow we'll discover what Tribe Forza has in store!


...one more challenge.


...one more council.


one day more!



until Survivor, that is ... ... yes, tomorrow, a mere 29 hours away...oh life is good!!!!

Went down to Pentwater for a doubleheader on Monday and took both games from the underachieving Falcons. Our pitchers were stellar and we hit the ball well. Fun bus ride home when you win...
Tomorrow we away to Manistee to live another day.

daduduntdadah...i'm lovin it

Her tribe-mates said she was annoying and whining, she was called a bitch by the southern gentleman, but she went out with a bang on day 27 of season 18. Sierra gave a bit of what-now to ever-truthful and ever-courageous Ben Wade right before her final tribal council. She seemed to be a fierce competitor during the challenges and didn't back down from any confrontation; this possibly made her a threat to the other six.
What she did win, though, was popularity.
When asked “Who would you like to least see win the game?”, “Who’s most likely to stab you in the back?” and “Who would squander the million-dollar prize the quickest?”, the contestant consensus each time was Sierra.

Two more days til Survivor

I have the best job in the world.

azillion reasons...but just one now:

I am wearing brown Goodwill shoes, white gymsox, these grey-blue Levis polyester Goodwill pants with the little flair at the bottom, a white dress shirt with probably nine or ten years of ringaroundthecollar, the navy double breasted blazer I got married in 13 years ago (a bit snug now), and a skinny rainbow trout tie that i've had forever. And kids are telling me I look sharp...I am 'the dude' (mr. dude to you!)...

Rained out again...

Well, the weekend went well enough until it was time for me to leave...neither of us likes that time. We seeded some bare spots in the lawn and pushed some pills down Charger the Kitty's throat.We went shopping and ate well...i made chicken parmagian and some good brats and burgers to die for and now i'm getting hungry just thankin about it...
Games got cancelled to-day cuz there was tons of water on the fields after a long weekend of rain. But the sun is shining now and it's warm and i cant wait to crack open a diet mountain dew and correct some papers on the deck...i'm out.

Portagers Take 2 From Mason County Eastern

OK, so the coolest thing about our games yestreday wasn't the rain or even me getting to coach first base: our boys didn't commit an error and we didn't give up a run. I did not keep the book for this twin bill so I don't know how many hits we had (see first sentence) but 'it was like batting practice'. Our senior center fielder had two dingers, our starter in the first game had the flu and we were hoping for three innings out of him...he went the full six for the shutout win. Our leadoff hitter got on base like twenty times (I was coaching first, I should know), and he pitched the second game shutout. Our catcher made a perfect throw on their only steal attempt to kill a rally and I don't think we got thrown out once.

We are at an impasse

My "study" with the JW's tonight was bittersweet; I will miss the Bible discussions but I'll not miss their absolute disdain for any and all members of Christendom. We pagans are not pleasing JehovahGod by partaking in religious rituals, celebrations, and worship not found in the Bible. And the only reason preachers go to places to preach is for the money. (That made me sad and I told them so.)
I teach kids and kids are impressionable. They don't have to believe everything I say or even like it but, often, they are open-minded. The people I enjoy conversing with are ones who will explore new opportunities or ideas, entertain new thoughts. Nothing like these folks. There's a street named after them: ONE WAY. They actually believe that every person who is not in 'their' organization is not pleasing JehovahGod and, thus, a pagan.
So, I can add this experience to my life's database of lifetime happenings, learn from it, and move ahead...in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Give thanks with a greatful heart...

Tuesday early am and we're just awaitin for the caffien to kick in [interjection: nice thing about typing in the compose box is that if i spell cafiene wrong, the wavy red line doesn't immediately attach itself under my collection of phonetically-arranged letters. my ignorance is ignored...ahhhh] and then off to another great day at school. Our Juniors are going to Detroit for a tour of some auto plants and then a visit to the Henry Ford which will fill them with knowlege, history, and maybe even some real expensive chocolate covered cherries. All in one big day.

35 degrees (Fahrenheit) and snowing right now as I type. I love Michigan for many reasons but her predictable unpredictability tops the list. 3 days ago we had temps in the 70's so the ground won't hold that snow for long but golly gee it's beginning to look a bit like Christmas...

All hail the power of Jesus' name

Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.


Doubleheader cancelled to-day due to weather and coach says no practice...what to do with all my time. We will write, preciousssss, yesssss we will...

Movie I tried to watch last night but way too violent and graphic: 28 Weeks Later.

Movie I watched last weekend and made me cry: The Sound of Music.

Movie I can watch over and over and our kids are doing as a play this weekend: The Wizard of Oz.

Movie I did watch last night and makes me laugh: Terminator 3.

Movies to see before you die (according to Yahoo!): http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/100-movies-to-see-before-you-die.html



Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

So we sing at the table...

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Thank you, LORD, for this day. Thank You for loving us so much, for Jesus our Redeemer.

Another week in the books, another fine sunny Saturday winding down, another double-header loss - this time at home. Great day for baseball you know...we made errors and gave them many bases. In game 1 we had 3 hits and struck out 11 times (6 innings...18 outs...11 k's) and got 5 good innings out of our starter. One of the cool things about coaching (I'm the 'bench' coach...i keep the book!) is that I get to talk to the local reporter after the games and give him the stats for tomorrow's paper. He's a nice guy and he knows all our kids (small town, remember?) and he takes great notes and great pictures. His camera has this ginormous lens for zooming and things like that...
The boys were funny to-day: after wearing parkas and gloves for the first six games because of the cold temps, we got a taste of real baseball weather finally...and they complained about the 'heat'.
Whatrya gonna do.

:-)


It's late, and time for bed.

...in sickness and in health, ...

At the hospital and found a little room for consultations with a computer so i'm able to type this...waiting for my girlfriend to get ready to go into surgery.
I, of course, handle these types of things better than she does. I'm not running around the house before we leave wondering whether the dog already ate and where the heck did i leave 128 hair ties. I'm not complaining about taking a less direct route to the freeway even though there are fewer stops and fewer bumps. BUT, then again, I'm not the one getting anesthetized and cut open, either...
Heavenly Father, God Almighty, Eternal Word, Prince of Peace, instill your peace and hope into my sweetie, and bring her through this with a greater love for You. Heal her body, mind and spirit LORD, and be glorified through this. Amen.

Good Friday

What's so good about this day? For one thing, it's Friday. And then there's a 'good' in front of it...it's like 'good' squared right there! (That was a student reacting to my opening question)

Jesus suffered and died, for this we are thankful.

It's a good day.

Every day is a good day... because of Him.

Onekama Takes Two from Panthers

Baseball is just good. Even if the temps are in the low 40s, if the sun is shining and the ball is white, the grass doesn't even have to be green. Thick pasty white lines and a thick huge round moon as we turned the scoreboard off and finished dragging the infield...just good.

Thank you for the day, Father. I love You, too.

Tar Heel dominates Sparty

I don't know really what happened last night. Suton hit a shot, sloppy turnovers and fouls abounded, Lucas hit a shot, and all of a sudden MSU was down by 21 in the first half. Every loose ball, every needed shot, every call that had gone Green for the past three NCAA Tournament games was missing (or, had gone baby blue). The 'home' crowd, which was reported to be 60, 000 strong for MSU, was being out-shouted, out-chanted, and out-you, you, youed by people from other places of the country. The young men wearing green kept playing hard and fast and determined but nothing seemed to click for them. 21 turnovers, 738 missed shots and 739 makes for the Tar Heels also hurt the Spartans' chances for their second championship this decade.

I was saddest because I told my mom and dad State would win by 6. They're not fans, and they trusted me...

End of 3rd Quarter Shout Outs

Boombaye!!!>>>

>>>to all the kids who got lots of work turned in right before the end of the marking period

>>>to Tom Izzo and the Spartans

>>>to my mom and dad who took me camping when I was very young

>>>to my best friend in the world, my sweet bride, my girlfriend, my soulmate

Life in the Big City

Traveling south for spring break is usually associated with fun, sun, and beer (in my mind). So far this week, I have experienced all three...but I'm not as far south as many. From my job in northern lower Michigan to see my girlfriend just northwest of Detroit is a 250 mile drive but at least I missed the 10 inches of snow that fell up there last Saturday. Instead, I took my shirt off and put the gloves on while pulling up and burning poison ivy. But gloves don't cover the forearms, stomach or face; wiping sweat off the face with the gloves is indicative of idiocy... thank God for prednisone.
So, for fun since then I've done some painting at the house, watched some Piston basketball (and after watching disciplined, coachable college kids play the game for the last couple weeks, NBA is logically equivalent to WWE IMHO), and enjoyed cheezy 50's sci fi on TCM. Life is good.
Go Green!

Timbira does win immunity!!!

Oh i'm just a Survivor junkie i guess...i dig the show, and i watch it at work (during my free time of course); if i had high speed connectivity at home,... well, there you have it...

Thank you, LORD, for a new day and for the end of another week and for my sweet girlfriend.

Fear not, I will never leave you or forsake you...

Someone gets laid off tomorrow where I work...I know it's going on all over the place, we read the news, we hear the statistics...but when it's someone you know (or worse) it's hard...one day more...

A New Hope

LORD God, King of the Universe, Lord of Life, Abba Father, thank You for this new day, and all the opportunities that will come with it. Guide me so that my thoughts, words, and actions are pleasing to You this day. Be glorified through my life to-day, You are my strength.
Praise God Almighty forever!

on finances and such...

I really have never managed money well. But the most recent fiasco has dropped our checking account into the rational numbers below zero with three days to go before payday. Our bank charges almost forty bucks a pop for debits when the balance is negative and they add up quick. I don't know what happened (really) this time. My girlfriend and I share this account and that makes it tough but golly geeeee willakers how could I be so far off in my accounting?!? Another chunk we're giving to the bank instead of it going to pay bills...sometimes I get sad.

Thank you, Father, for entrusting me with little money. Thank you for loving me so much, and for helping me learn. Forgive me when I fall and teach me Your ways.

...new episode of Survivor tomorrow night...life is good!

Ah yes, another weekend in the books...

Here we are on another fine Sunday night ready for bed, contemplating recent events and hoping my long spring's nap won't keep me up all night...Spent thursday and friday at a conference at Cobo Hall in Detroit and learned much about the digital world. Spent saturday and sunday with my girlfriend and learned much about our relationship. Greektown and wikis, burning leaves and muddy boots...Life is good!
Michigan dances no more but MSU lives to dance another day. To all the people in my life: I love you.

Click on Roy to read Larson's wit.

"...the worst part is bunting"

Baseball practice started last week; our varsity basketball players having had the week off means officially yestreday was the first practice of the 2009 campaign. We ran stations with bunting, fielding, and batting drills for about a half hour each...One of our star sophomores was overheard after school lamenting the difficulty of hitting cute golf-ball size rubber baseballs shot from a humming machine 20 feet away...
More on the team as the spring progresses.

my tie is green to-day

Praise and glory to our Father the almighty King of kings and Lord of lords!

Thank you, Father, for your love, which I don't understand. Thank you for your Son, the Christ; blessed be Christ forever.

Be glorified in my life to-day, be pleased with my thoughts, words, and deeds. I go as Your ambassador, your representative to the world. Give me wisdom that I should serve You well to-day. I go in Your hope, in Your joy, in Your peace. Amen let it be so

How can I eat? That silly Elf Song is driving me crazy!

Another winter storm made its way across the state this evening dumping 3-4 inches of new snow on top of frozen rain from earlier in the day. Sustained winds of 18-23 miles per hour are contributing to near-blizzard conditions and are making roadways hazardous. If you must be on the roads, please use care.

But overall the weekend was a great one. Friday night our girls varsity basketball team finished the season with a loss in the district playoffs. It was the last game for three seniors and there were lots of hugs and tears as time expired in the fourth quarter. But we move on...and track/golf/softball/baseball practices will begin tomorrow as the boys basketball finishes with their district contests.

Saturday was not as warm as Friday and the skies were cloudy but still a gorgeous day to watch college basketball and celebrate the Mass. (and drink beer, watch George Carlin, and laugh alot).

Sunday began with the winter weather advisory for most of northern Michigan as provided us by northern michigagn's news leader (http://9and10news.com/weather/). I got some laundry done and some lesson plans done for the week.

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.

Some days the quittin bell cant ring fast enough

I've noticed that my day goes by quite slowy when i have things that i really look forward to in the evening.
Like, for instance, driving to see my girlfriend on a Friday, or Michigan State basketball during the week, things like that. Take tonight as another example. CBS is airing the fourth episode of the 18th season of Survivor at 8:00 in the pm and i cannot wait. I'm kind of in giddy mode here at the end of my work day with the anticipation.

strictly f.y.i. here: this weblog will not be turnt into a 'survivor' discussion board for all you people with no lives and alot of time on your hands!...this will not happen!... but did you see the look on Candace's face every time Jeff read her name at tribal council? She was like 'omg watever' every time...absolutely loved it!!!! Also like the whole
ny jew/alabama bumpkin / nfl wife / redneck busdriver contrast being set up so far...

Thumpin' Thursday

So i'm on my way home from work and stop at the local gas station for the necessary necessities of the afternoon. As i'm pumping my gas, a smartly dressed woman approaches me and begins our conversation with "Excuse me, sir..." She DID NOT have documents in her hand of a literaturative nature so my fears of having to continue my Wednesday evenings with more Jehovah's Witnesses were not long-lived. She wanted my opinion about a proposed state increase on fuel tax and she wanted it on camera. I politely agreed to both and we began our brief interview. When we were done, the camera guy Josh asked if i would pump some more gas so he could film me doing that. Well, he did, and most of my kids have greeted me this morning with variations on "saw ya pumpin gas on the news last night" .
Gotta love the small town thing. My superintendent even critiqued my aired responses (which, by the way, totalled about 12 words out of the entire 20 minute conversation) and the maintenance guy wanted my autograph. Ah, fame.

Monday Morning Thanksgiving

Thank you, Almighty Father for this day. Thank you for waking me up and for the food I have to eat, for the water i have to drink. Thank you for my sweet bride - the love of my life - and for family, for friends, and for Sierra and Frodo Junior. Thank you for income and vehicles and roofs over our heads and shoes on our feet. Thank you for Jesus the Christ. Thank you for the sacrifice, for the blood shed and for the ransom paid. You make me great.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

songs: where to start...

Five Iron Frenzy's Blue Comb

The Clash Pressure Drop

Insyderz This I Know

Indigo Girls Kid Fears and Closer to Fine

Run DMC Crown Royal, Raising Hell, King of Rock

Les Mis At the End of the Day, One Day More

The Three Stooges Alphabet Song (possibly, just possibly, the song goes by another name, but it's the one that starts with B - A Bay, B - E Bee, ... and continues with a neat harmonic 'Curley's a dope!')

Sir Mixalot Iron Man

movies: where to start...Ben Hur, Lost in Space, It's a Wonderful Life, Old Yeller, Man on Fire, Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, Krush Groove, Amazon Women on the Moon, Mission: Impossible iii, The 10 Commandments, Rio Bravo, Sound of Music, A Christmas Story, The Three Amigos, The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, Kill Bill

Supertones, c. 1995

Who am I that You would take the time to find me?
Who am I that You'd reach out you're hand?
Lord what am I but just a sinful sinking man?
I didn't even know who God was, Until He told me He's my Dad

And it's just because he loved me And He'd rather die than live without me
He love me and He'd rather go through hell Than to go to heaven without me
And I love Him and I'll stay with him until the end of time One thing I know God gave His life for mine
He will always be, He will always be, He will always be there

Who am I that You'd know my name?
Who am I that You'd help me win this losing game?
Who am I that You'd stay all day by my side?
God I fail but at least You know I tried i didn't even know who He was then God told me I'm His son

I count on God, I love him best He helps me through my trials and tests
He will always be there when I call Always catch me when I fall

He will always be there.

Follow up on the plague

Well, a trip to the urgent care on saturday revealed an infected sinus so I got some antibiotics and that, apparently, was the ticket. My wife is in pain, we are broke, we live 250 miles apart, my truck is in the shop, ... but Jesus loves me this i know.

Third Day, once again...

How many times have I turned away
The number is the same as the sand on the shore
But every time You've taken me back
And now I pray You do it once more.

Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
to give it away to You Jesus

How many times have I turned away
The number is the same as the stars in the sky
But every time You've taken me back
And now I pray You do it tonight

Please take from me my life
When I don't have the strength
to give it away to You Jesus

I love you, LORD

Day 2 of the Plague

I think this is more than a cold, there's other stuff going on...my chest hurts and my throat is raw and the cough woke me at odd hours of the night like ghosts of christmases of long, long ago. My whole face hurts dammitall. I could lay down on a hard table right now and sleep quite well...lotta work to have a sub...plans and everything...hate doing it...plus the office ladies are doing other stuff they don't need one more thing to do...just wanna sleep...phewey...dammitall...i, i, i, i, i, ... see? don't care

Lost in Space

I don't like being sick. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. Like the real sore throat/achy/sleepy type where you'd just like to take six thousand miligrams of ibuprofen and stay in bed reading the paper or playing Zelda. So I sleep in a bit but know I gotta get to work (and soon). I snag my hostess donuts (THE cure for evrything that ails ya) and my diet pepsi, and drive.
Cockapoo! the agent is in my room setting up this time for the seniors to take this huge test so my 8th graders and me head off to the wonderfully all-catching Media Center (we used to call them libraries back in the day) to do nothing. I log into my blog and tell the little darlings it's 'reading day' and tell them to read anything they want. I follow this plan second hour and then again third hour. The agents are out of my room but i'm having fun writing this so i tell 4th hour to come into the Media Center also. They're a little more high-maintenance but most are working. At this point i don't care. I didn't even care that i didn't capitalize the first person singular personal pronoun several times thus far...
So it's almost lunch and every question i'm asked is a stupid question and every kid asking is an idiot and i just want to lay down. I hate being sick. Looking back at the opening paragraph, i see that nothing really wonderful has come of this story. I just like the line, Dickens wrote it a while ago.

My Song, or one of them...

If I raise my hands just to lift the shade
Will I reveal a sky heavy and gray?
Will last night be a memory sweetly fading?
How I hate a morning starting out this way
On these lonely, raging mornings I would whip You if I could
But You're on the mighty side of strong And the perfect side of good

If I raise my hands will You grab my by the wrists
And will You try to pull me from the fray?
And even if my fingers join together into fists
Will You hold me firmly anyway?
Because I would try to escape You but for everyday I'm sure
That You're on the huge side of big And the holy side of pure

Okay
Hear what I say
As I raise my hands in surrender today
Okay
Here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way

If I raise my hands so weak and thin and frail
Will You reveal the light of mercy in Your eyes?
If I cry to You faintly will my feeble whisper fail?
Or will it find its way to a reply?
Because, now that I'm exhausted I think I'm ready to admit
That I have spent all my resistance on someone I can't resist

Okay
Hear what I say
As I raise my hands in surrender today
Okay
Here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way

Light from my window sill, make my way to the door
I hang my head and still, I know you're wanting more
Over the threshold now, I move across the yard
All that my will allows, my every step is hard
Now in the garden I carve out six feet of space
There make my will comply, lie down upon my face
Been toe to toe too long, I'm tired of fighting You
I see You were too strong 'cause I am black and blue
But now I understand a loser's due to win
How every dying man is sure to rise again
So I raise my left hand one, I raise my right hand two
Under the morning sun, my spirit cries to You

Okay
Hear what I say
As I raise my hands in surrender today
Right here
Under the sun
Hands in the air, saying Thy will be done

I'm here
Under the sun
Hands in the air, singing Thy will be done
Okay
Here I will stay
Hands in the air, singing have Thine own way

Have Thine own way


Brad and Todd Olsen, of The Waiting from 1997

Inner and Oustside Warmth

I am not prone to bragging. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. But Sister-son Carlos Luis Razo was an extra in Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s made-for-tv TNT movie (Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1295085/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt) this past weekend and I am just tickled. I missed the original airing and then the first seven or eight re-airs (re-airings?) but caught it last night at about midnight. My work week starts bright and early on Monday but I was determined to see this movie while there was still weekend to be had.


I was thrilled with the picture and got a big warm fuzzy seeing the second-eldest nephew on my side of the family playing his cello with other like-minded folk on the big (er...27 inches really) screen. And more warm fuzzies because of a mother who believed in her two kids and encouraged them regularly while expecting much out of them. The picture was filmed in and around Detroit which added to the majesty of everything. And the February temperatures were close to 50 degrees Fahrenheit with the sun shining most of the weekend......Michigan State won again, Nate Roberson and Dontrel Willis are battling for the 5th starting spot in the Tigers' rotation, The Wings won.......life is good.

Writing Across the Curriculum

My 10th grade geometry students now have a web log that they may use as a forum for communication and written assignments. they have been summarizing lessons as a comment post which I believe is of benefit in two ways. First, they get the opportunity to process a lesson or section and describe succinctly what they remember. Thirdly, they get to see exactly what their peers remembered through their processing, which may trigger a forgotten definition or property. This is good. I like it.


A complaint (adolescents complain?!?) is a percieved lack of time/resources to engage in this type of activity. I observe no lack of time for Free Rider (http://www.kongregate.com/games/onemorelevel/free-rider-2) so I'm not buyin it.

Algebra and Adolescents

I am prone to think about things in the light of events in my own life (as we probably all are) but I also try to listen to other people as well as the voice of almighty God for guidance.
One question that has become a 'good' question for me (as in '...that's a good question!') is this: In this country, why do we force an abstract study like ALGEBRA on people with big clumsy adult bodies but who are going through THE most trying time of life sorting out issues like peer influence, the opposite sex, career decisions, after school activities, etc?

You should have to be like 30 at least to try Algebra.

There should be a test you have to pass to vote, also.

For that matter, there should be a test you have to pass to procreate.

ONE,

Updated and quite nice collection of local information...

http://www.onekama.info

Wednesday Night Meetings

My wife and I were approached by a man passing out Watchtower literature in the summer of 08 and I invited him to the house for discussion. We met several times throughout that summer, sitting on the porch drinking coffee and enjoying God's creation. He told me about unbiblical ideas like the trinity and "hellfire" and, enjoying the company as much as the discourse, I listened. He said he was part of a wonderful organization of people that didn't go to war and looked forward to spending eternity inhabiting a new earth he likened to Paradise.

When I moved up north in September, I had the pleasure of meeting like-minded folks who were nice, dressed well, and also provided me with Watchtower literature. So much to read!! I read about happy people (with pictures of people smiling while eating noodle salad at picnics) and I read about sad people (the pictures here were of people engaging in all manner of heinous activities: wearing bandanas around their heads holding knives, wearing a dress while sitting at a bar, showing up to work late, ...) and how you could choose to be one or the other. See, the happy people were 'true followers' of Jehovahgod, they were making choices that were pleasing to Jehovahgod and reaping the benefits of those choices. The sad folk were making choices that were not pleasing to Jehovahgod. They used the word pagan several times when referring to folks who weren't true followers of Jehovahgod. I now know that Augustine, Benedict, Cyril of Alexandria, David, Eucherius, Felicity, Gregory (the Great), Hedwig, Ignatius, John Chrysostam, Kateri Tekakwith, Linus, and all of humanity outside of their organization are pagans. Me too, although not labeled thusly directly as such called.
Well, now I know. And we continue to get together on Wednesday evenings in good faith, each hoping and praying that the other will come to know the truth...

Love Song

I've heard it said that a man would climb a mountain
Just to be with the one he loves
How many times has he broken that promise
It has never been done

I've never climbed the highest mountain
But I walked the hill of Calvary
Just to be with you I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you I'd give anything
I would give my life away

I've heard it said that a man would swim the ocean
Just to be with the one he loves
But all those dreams are an empty emotion
It can never be done

I never swam the deepest ocean
But I walked upon the raging sea
Just to be with you I'd do anything
There's no price I would not pay
Just to be with you I'd give anything
I would give my life away

I know that you don't understand the fullness of my love
How I died upon the cross for your sins
And I know that you don't realize how much I gave you
But I promise I would do it all again

Just to be with you I've done everything
There's no price I did not pay
Just to be with you I gave everything
Yes I gave my life away

not mine; this song is sung by Mac Powell of Third Day, a rocknroll band from Georgia

What's happening here?

To: Fredegar Bolger

From: Witch-king of Angmar

RE: The Old Forest v. staying at Crickhollow

Date: T. A. 3018

Dude, you shoulda gone with'm...

I think this photo is no longer available; i forget where I got it...

Tuesday

After being developed professionallyto the fullest both on Friday last and Monday (yestreday), I have decided to incorporate writing into my studies more here in room 346. I am in the process of creating a weblog for my students to be used both as a forum for discussion and also as an opportunity for closure and for processing classroom lessons. May our LORD and Saviour Christ Jesus help me in this endeavour; my our Heavenly Father be blessed by my work with these kids.

Les Mis Link of the Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxZoUARPsFc&feature=related

6 months removed

26 January, 2009, and i've um...been away from my... um...er...desk for a while, yeah, that's it. The snow has been piling up since November here in northern lower Michigan and the temps aren't encouraging anything else.

Bundling up, snuggling with my girlfriend (as opportunity allows), lighting and stoking fires, Jehovah Witness meetings, Portagers beating the undefeated Baldwin, the Ram bouncing all over highway 115, enough professional development to keep me developed professionally for years to come, shitty 8th grade final exam scores, gaining winter weight (really need those long walks on the beach), new glasses (biFUNKINfocals, thank you very much), and new Goodwill shoes.