Welcome to the Clark Co Nursery

Once again, a teacher is out. Once again, I am babysitting. The Principal is out sick as well. There are no substitutes available, so we shoulder the load. I know IT (Information Technologies) can't take them except 1st period (which he did.) HS (Health Services) is full most classes and not really able to take a rowdy Auto class. Carpentry is just unwilling. Welding is willing but full as well. That leaves me.

Yesterday, when I didn't blog, I had them all day. This was one of my 7:30 AM til 6 PM days. Every day this week is like that, except Friday (long, not filled with Auto students, I hope.) The morning two classes are the same students. That is the first two hours.

It went something like this:

I was in the office getting the roster for the class. When I arrived in my classroom, the tables had been moved to set up a table in the left corner to accommodate eight chairs. There were cards on the table and spoons. They intended to play a game called "Spoons". Spoons is a rowdy game where cards are passed around the table one at a time with each player trying to make 4 of a kind. The spoons are in the center of the table. There is one less spoon than there are players. When any of the players gets his 4 of a kind, he throws them down and grabs a spoon. The other players use this signal to begin grabbing a spoon. One player will be spoonless. He is eliminated. One spoon is removed and the game resumes.

It is a fun game. However, it is not the game for a classroom. It was played once before with the Welding students in my class. There was diving across the table and much noise.

I told them that we were not playing spoons. They opted for playing cards. Shortly, I looked up and there was money on the table. This was not going to work either. I could just see this situation unfolding. "J" comes home hungry. Mom asks why he is so hungry. "I didn't eat lunch." "Why?" "I lost my lunch money gambling in Mr. S's Electricity class." "What ???" The sound of a phone dialing. Yeah, not gonna work.

I told them to put the cards up. They could do homework, read a book, read a magazine, look at pictures in magazines, sleep, whatever, but they were not gonna play cards.

Several minutes later, after the cards were put up, I noticed three of the students kinda hunkered down a little. They were playing cards. I said something to them about being able to see them playing cards. They decided that they didn't have to put the cards away. No problem. I wrote them up for refusing to follow the directions given by a teacher. They became someone else's problem. One of the three went into the Principals office cussing. Not a good plan.

Anyway, the rest of the day was okay.

Then, this morning, Auto students were back. The cards came out. I told them to put them up. They did, but for the next 10 to 15 minutes, they would make comments like, "I have three kings," or "I'll take two cards," and such. Just trying to antagonize. This class makes me appreciate my mischievous class. My class is rowdy at times. They are mouthy at times. They are never, to my knowledge, malicious like this class. This class tried to cause troubles. They have a great future ahead of them at some penal facility.

Then there was the "N" word situation today ... More on that later

The real issues.

I can’t remember now where I heard the question, or where the idea originated in my head, but something sparked this query. I heard, or thought I heard something about defining events in a person’s life. I began thinking about my life and the things that define it. I thought about the things that brought me to this point, the things which make me who I am, and the things that I want people to think about when they think of me.

I would call these the real issues.

I thought about being the guy that finally accomplishes world peace. This is not to be my legacy. I will do well to accomplish peace in my own life. I will consider myself an extreme success if I can reconcile all the facets of my life and get them to co-exist in peace.

I thought about having millions of dollars. I know it is the dream of many to be financially independent. I just don’t see this as a real possibility and therefore it cannot be a defining event in my life. Also, one has to only look at the number of suicides committed by those considered to have it all. I know poor, lower class, hard working folks commit suicide as well, but if the absence or presence of money is not a differentiating factor, it cannot be a life defining event. These are just surface events in this equation.

I am convinced that in this country, there are more people concerned about supper than there are concerned about their investments. More time is spent in a day, trying to decide what to fix of dinner than is spent trying to decide what mutual fund might be the better investment. More people, every day, are concerned with getting the kids to their games, or practice, or their friends houses, than are concerned with making it to the airport in time to make that international flight. More people are listening to 10 year olds asking questions far advanced of their years than are listening to job counselors.

Elections and special sporting events may corner the nation’s attention from time to time, but they are merely the distractions that take our minds away from the real issues of each day. All my discussion of my political views does not change the direction of our country. It does not shape world policy. The real difference I make in this world is when I take time to spend one on one time with a kid, whether it be one of my students or one of my kids.

The real defining moments in my life are not centered around some election. They are not tied to any world event. They are the quiet and not so quiet moments in an ordinary life. Being in the delivery room three times to watch the wonderful miracle of birth made a great impact on my life. Watching a child fall, and rise, and fall, and rise, and finally walk, did more for me than every time I cast my ballot. Don’t be confused, I still believe in the power of the vote. I still cast my ballot every opportunity I get. However, the feel of a tiny hand, letting go of yours, to take their first halting steps alone, far outweighs the results of our mayoral race.

Talking about the latest major sporting event can never compare to talking to the kids about the events of their day. These are the defining moments in a real life. They are the quiet times we spend with someone we love. They are the moments that change us forever. They are the real moments. I will always be affected by the decisions of the President and the work of the Senate and House of Representatives, but they will never move me like the members of my inner circle. I read a paper once that told how to measure a man. It involved taking a pail of water and sticking your hand in it. Then you were to remove your hand, and the hole that was left was the measure. I can’t make much difference in a pail of water. I can make a difference in someone’s life. I can make a difference in a real way. I can make a difference in the real issues.

Now, what is for supper, again?

Rose

Ok, I bought a car on eBay.

I bid on, and won, a '95 Camaro. Tammy wanted it. We had already decided that we were in the market for a car for her. Her van is killing her wrist to drive it. We were looking for something smaller and easier to handle. This car fit that description. It was 100 miles away in Ohio. We planned on getting it over the weekend, but hit a snag in the paperwork, which required me to take off half a day on Friday to take care of it personally. We drove to where the car sat. It was a good trip, slow and enjoyable.

Then we hit the big snag. The car would not start. Turn the key and nothing. I checked the electrical. The battery was fine. I think the starter was shot. The guy with the car told us he had just driven it 5 minutes before we arrived. It was odd then, that the engine wasn't warm. Regardless, he told us that he would take it to a shop on Monday and if we were still interested, he would give us a call when he found out what the trouble was. We drove home, enjoying the slow drive. The route there and back was devoid of major highways. It was mostly two lane roads the curved and winded around Kentucky and Ohio.

when we got back home, Tammy was depressed about the car situation. We didn't have to have a car that day. Her van was running, but she had her heart set on the Camaro. I jumped online and did some searching. I found several cars in surrounding communities. One of them was a '97 Lumina. You have to understand, Tammy doesn't do new cars. Now, she wouldn't turn down a new Lincoln Navigator, but would not drive it as much because of gas prices (which shot up recently.) She prefers older cars. They are cheaper and easier to maintain.

We drove out to look at the Lumina on Saturday. She drove it. It drove well. It does need tires. It might need a front end alignment. Other than that, it appeared to be mechanically sound. We bought it. It was within the price we had set. It was within the year she had set. It met all our other criteria. Best of all, Tammy loves it.

The rest of the weekend was good. We ran errands, disciplined kids, grocery shopped, and did the usual family things.

Tammy named her car, Rose.

The best last minute stand in sub ....

Once again, my class is inhabited with other non-electrical students. Our Health Sciences teacher is ill and the availability of subs is scarce. The High School has 4 unfilled spots as well. So, our principal has called on the 'go to' guy. (That would be me.) I have the students (23) here in my class. It is better than usual. Usually, my class goes to their class. This sucks as it takes my kids out of their element and puts me where I can't work on important stuff (like this) because of limited computer access.

I will report later (in an update) to let you know how the babysitting goes and what world events stir my indignation.

OKAY ... Back ... Took advantage of the break in teaching to work on my teaching philosophy statement for my portfolio. It follows. See what you think.

Philosophy Statement

My philosophy as an electrical instructor is to be a leader, first and foremost. I want to be someone the students respect for my expansive knowledge of the electrical field, based on my education and experience, both on the job and in my personal life.

One of my main goals is to reach and teach each student, to the best of my ability, the skills that I have been taught and acquired through experience so that each of them increases their employability in this field, regardless of their gender, race, creed, or color. I must strive to keep up with changes and advances in the industry to give my students the greatest edge in this highly competitive field. This will require me to keep up with technology and the needs of local industries. To do this, I must keep in close contact with both industry and students. I must become the conduit through which this information passes.

By having the latest information, textbooks, and materials, I will outfit my students to be advanced electricians. Hands-on applied learning will insure that the field is no stranger to my students. The experience gained will follow them throughout their careers, whether in this field of another. Everyone can learn something they will use in their lives in my class.

I must also be an example of good work ethics for them to follow. I will do this by being a good employee in their sight. In doing so, I will better equip them to meet the needs of employers, locally and beyond.

I will seek to be an example of good manners, honesty, responsibility, and respect.

I will instruct my students that my ‘job’ is to teach them to be electricians, problem solvers, rational thinkers, and quality employees. It is not my job to flunk them. I will not give out any unearned grade, but will assist any student in earning whatever grade they desire. Students will learn from classroom lecture, using videos, powerpoint presentations, and open discussion. Then, we will reinforce said instruction with hands-on projects that challenge and reward the students. Hands-on projects will include more instruction and the opportunity for personal attention.

It is my goal, realistic or otherwise, to help each student in some fashion. I fully realize that every student will not become an electrician, but that every student can benefit from the math, science, and problem solving skills that will be taught as a regular part of my curriculum on a daily basis.

I will lead, first by example, then by knowledge and instruction. I will lead my students into their futures. I will seek to give them the tools necessary to open every door of opportunity with which they are presented. I will have succeeded when I have given them the confidence to ask questions, and seek more knowledge.

There ya have it ...

The sacred and the profane ...

Isaac Hayes says he is leaving his role as the voice of the 'Chef' on the satirical cartoon "South Park," citing its "inappropriate ridicule of religion."

"There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs ... begins," Hayes said in a statement.

It was okay as long as they were making fun of the Baptist or fundamentalists beliefs.

That is what kills me about all these folks that get filled with righteous indignation, but only as soon as it hits close to home.

Ethnic jokes are ok as long as they don't hit my ethnicity. Gay bashing is fine as long as I am not gay.

I don't watch South Park as a rule. I have caught a few episodes and found it to be rather humorless. It was more malicious satire than it was a comedy. It bashed any and every belief and or race/gender issue. No one was exempt. It was just a matter of time until Isaacs particular beliefs were cast into the limelight. Then, suddenly, their intolerant ridicule was over the line.

I have a Ron-ism about truth. Truth is truth. It doesn't rely on circumstances or situations. Truth is truth. It is the truth if it hits me. It is the truth if it hits you. It is the truth if it hits my mother.

There are conditional truths. These are truths that rely on the situation.

The fact that intolerance of racial or religious differences is wrong is a truth. It is not conditional. It is not ok to make light humor of the Baptists unless it is also ok to make light humor of the Methodists. You can't have it both ways.

It was wrong to to be irreverent of any of the beliefs, just as it was wrong to be irreverent of Scientology. I am not a scientologist, but I don't cotton to being irreverent to them. Light humor is one thing. South Park has never been accused of being lightly humorous. I don't like the show for that reason. It is an open game show. Nothing is sacred, and I believe that there are sacred things.

In the temple plan that God set down for his house, there were broom closets (of sorts.) There were places that the sacred items used in worship and sacrifice were kept. There were places in the temple that other items were stored. There was a command that the profane things were not to be kept in the place of the sacred things. There are sacred things today.

I am glad that Isaac has 'seen' the light, but saddened that it took an 'attack' on his beliefs for him to see it.

Easing my way into the week

It was a nondescript weekend.

Friday was a competition day for the SkillsUSA students. We took 10 students to Lexington to compete in the south regionals.

One carpentry student took the silver medal.
One student took the bronze in cabinet making.
One student took the bronze in Related Technical Math.

It was an all day affair. We left the school at 7:30 am and left the competition around 4:30 pm.

The weekend was one of those rainy dreary rather stay in bed all day weekends. We didn't stay in bed but we did mostly hang close to the house. The kids father was in town from Florida, so we were kidless on Friday night and part of the day Saturday. We managed to get out to the Red Lobster for lunch. That was a good time.

The kids got home shortly after we did and we spent a good portion of the rest of the weekend fixing the damage. It seems there was a fight at the house where R stayed with the kids. There was a poker game that got excited and potentially violent. Chella was scared and wanted to come home. She called, but for some reason Tammy's cell phone never rang. We didn't see a missed call until after the kids were home.

Kyle is on a diet and has done well. We aren't starving him, but we do watch his intake and he drinks primarily diet drinks. He gets the full flavored variety every now and then as a treat. While he was with his dad. He asked for a diet dew and was told to drink regular cola. It was R's way of hitting back at Tammy. The only thing is that Tammy isn't the one he is directly hurting. It is his son. Kyle has lost 9 pounds in the last couple months. He is growing upward and losing a little weight. Both of those are good things. While he was with his dad last summer for 3 weeks, he gained 9 pounds. R thinks he is punishing Tammy by allowing the kids to do whatever they want regardless of the rules imposed at home.

He thinks he is doing two things. He is doing neither. He thinks he is striking back at Tammy for leaving him 4 years ago. Puh-lease, time to grow up, man. He isn't striking back at her, he is hurting his kids.

The other - he thinks he is buying his kids love by being more lenient with them. You don't buy a kids love by giving them free reign. You earn a kids love by setting rules and teaching them responsibility. It is the harder path of parenting. It is the most rewarding path.

R fusses about not being able to see the kids as often as he would like, but he moved to Florida while he had a place in Danville, just 45 minutes away. He moved form 45 minutes away to 12 hours away, and then fusses because he cant see the kids. Again - grow up. He made a choice and now whines about the consequences. And, if he thinks the kids are fooled by his whining about it, he is sadly mistaken. The kids know it was his choice to move, just as they know it is his choice not to pay his child support in a timely fashion.

I have never put myself in the place to take his place. I have never once tried to be anything more than their moms hubby and their step dad. I am not trying to replace R. However, I am doing the job he refused to do. I am involved in their lives every day. I am supporting them every day. I am there when they have a problem. I am there when they have good news. I am there when they need advice. It is not my fault that he is not there. I refuse to do less than I know to do, just to make him not look bad.

I am a dad. It is one of the things I do. That part of me is in my teaching. It is in everything I do with the kids at home. It is what I still do with my kids, married and on their own. I will be a dad as long as I live.

Scarier even ...

An attorney for Cloyd, Tommy Spina, declined comment on the charges, but added: "This is not a hate crime. This is not a religious crime."

This was a statement made by the attorney of one of the three college students arrested for the church burnings in Alabama.

This is scarier than if it had been a group of religious zealots. This is scarier if it had been a hate crime. While both of those are terrible, the acts of violence would have a pusher. This - no reason - is scarier.

It gives way to the speculation of what we are growing in our society. What are we producing when a few college students, as a prank, set fire to churches and destroy them?

What does this say about us as a society? Have we so glorified the violent and senseless that now those are the only things that our young understand or desire?

I see teenagers every day. I see the ones that worry me. I see the ones that are just teenagers. There are many on the line, wavering, could go either way, looking for someone to say the right thing- do the right thing. I try to be that someone.

Unfortunately, there is not always someone there.

That is scarier.

Open

Open

I noticed it in a passing glance

By chance to find me there
It wasn’t my intended aim
But once my eyes were drawn
I was like the moth and it – the flame

It had to be a mistake
For surly this could never be
Yet – there – in sight plain as day
My heart – open and free

This is impossible
I know there had to be wounds by far
It had to be torn and tattered
Or at least covered with many a hardened scar

Where could the wall have gone
I toiled so tediously to build
Not even a brick strewn about
Gave evidence of how I thought it sealed

A curious thing
This sight to behold
A thriving beating heart
Where once I felt the cold

It wasn’t by malicious choice
I locked this heart away
Each stone stacked neatly
Blocking a hurt where it lay

I thought it was safe
Far from harms advance
Resting in security
Should I need it, perchance

Now I find it tender
And willing to trust the dance
Willing to believe in love
And hurt in the balance

I can’t explain the days
Or the myriads of parts
Your love has gently opened
The petals of this heart

I know there should be fear
And probably there be
But hope sings the louder
And fills the whole of me

So, heart open
And eyes in tune
I walk in sunshine
And dream about the moon

Today will have come
And soon today will have passed
And I will live in it
In joy, for the role is cast

Meet me, my love
In the open

Ron
March 8, 2006

Lost a day

OK ...

I lost today.

I have been belaboring under the assumption that today was Thursday. Maybe I am ready for the week to be over. Maybe I am in a hurry to get older. Maybe I was this SkillsUSA competition to get here and get done with. Maybe I am ready for the weekend early. Who knows?

Whatever the reason, I was ready for tomorrow to be Friday.

I gave my first and second periods the 50 question/100 point open book test I had scheduled for Thursday. So, now I have moved all classes up by one day. That isn't a big deal. I can always have them in the shop re-arranging equipment and setting up for our open house (Tuesday night, next week).

While the students scour the book (or at least 10 chapters of it) looking for the plain sight answers to the question, I am busy with this and portfolio stuff for my internship. Welcome to Teaching, or Writer's cramp 101.





It is just such a let down to be in a Thursday mindset and find out that it is only Wednesday.

I remember

I am like a child
chasing the flittering butterflies
when I try to find the words
to tell you how much I love you

I remember

Sitting in the floor in our bedroom,
I remember

I remember the first time I saw your smile
I remember the first time you spoke to me
It was the beginning of our, thus far,
nearly four year conversation
I remember our first kiss
I remember the day I wanted the world to know
I remember the song too which we danced
the first time, sang badly
by a drunk karaoke singer
I remember the way you felt in my arms
I remember every time you asked
I remember the day I asked
I remember the way I felt
When I saw you at the end of that aisle

I remember
Because ...

I can still see your smile
I can still hear your voice
I can still feel your lips
I still want the world to know
I will still ask
And I still see you
the way I saw you
at the end of that aisle

I will always remember

Ron S
March 3, 2006

How do ya follow ...

After my rant of Friday, how do I follow up on Monday?

I can tell you that my weekend was a mixed one.

Friday night, Tammy and I watched "Big Fish" at home in the waterbed. Tammy told me that she was tired and might not make it through the movie. I wasn't worried. I knew the movie would hook her and she wouldn't sleep. It did and she didn't. She did cry a lot, however.

We didn't make the grandsons birthday party because I talked Tammy into going to the DR Saturday afternoon and they confirmed that she didn't have strep, but did have the flu. We didn't think it was a good idea to take that to the 30 or so that were going to be at the party.

Sunday morning we went to my parents house (they weren't home to work on their computers. I fixed the one that Dad calls "mom's computer" and worked on fixing his laptop. I have to stop by there this week as early as I get a chance and reinstall his ISP.

We went the Chasity's to deliver birthday presents and pick up GS cookies that afternoon. We avoided the close contact that is normal.

Brother in law, Bobby came by later that evening to look over Tammy's van, which got over it's momentary fill of good will. It is broke again.

Today has been uneventful. Students have been working in the shop in efforts to bolster any sagging grades before the end of the nine weeks (this Friday).

I have a meeting this afternoon with my RTA (Resource Teacher Advisor) so I will be hanging out here for an extra 2 hours.

the busy of the weekend is spilling over into Monday. After working late, I have to go to Nicholasville to look at Audreys car and determine if it is worth fixing. Then, if it is worth fixing, how she is going to afford to fix it. I have ideas, but need to see the extent of the work to be done first.

On a good note ... The week didn't start out bad at all. I showed Tammy that getting up at 5:30 on a Monday morning isn't always a bad thing. (Sorry, Russ ... I know I ain't supposed to tell ya this stuff, but ...)

Far removed from the original idea

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

If we take that and the ideals set forth in the “Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,” then we can see how far we have meandered down the wrong path. The “Declaration” was written to show forth the cause to break away from the governmental control of England, far removed from the wants and needs of such a growing colony.

“When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—“

The founding fathers looked well beyond the scope of their years to see a time when even this government they were establishing might become the same as the government they sought to be free of.

It was a government out of touch with the needs of the people.

It was a government subsisting of it own self realization and whose chief concern was the furtherance of itself at the cost of the people it governed.

It was a government rife with examples of abuses of power and abdication of responsibility to its citizenry.

It was a government for the government.

Today (and for several years now) there are more people employed by the government of this nation than are employed by the manufacturers of its products. Car manufacturers produce cars. Clothing manufacturers produce clothes. Trucking companies produce transportation of goods. Governments produce nothing. They make no money. They only spend.

Spending money, in and of itself, is not an issue. I know it takes money to run the government. I know they provide for our common defense. I know that state and local government provide services to me, for which I cheerfully pay taxes. I have no problem paying for a steak dinner at a nice restaurant and tipping generously for good service. It is all part of buying what I want. I gladly purchase my part in the armed forces securing our borders and our way of life, even in far and away countries. I pay local and state taxes to provide police and fire protection.

Recent revelations about the tragedy called Katrina show a remarkable and complete lack of concern for the citizenry of this nation. It isn’t a lack of knowing, as the government kept telling. The White House didn’t even confirm that the levees had been breached until the day after.

Michael Brown, the former FEMA chief who resigned under fire for mishandling this disaster, said that rescue workers should have been sent to New Orleans earlier, regardless of whether reports about the breaches had been confirmed.

"In emergency management, you prepare for the worst," Brown said on CBS' "The Early Show." "So, whether there had been a breach or a topping of the levees, we still need to be getting rescue people in there immediately."There have been two disclosed videos showing briefings, one prior to the disaster. That video “makes it perfectly clear once again that this disaster was not out of the blue or unforeseeable," Sen. David Vitter, R-La., said Thursday. "It was not only predictable, it was actually predicted. That's what made the failures in response — at the local, state and federal level — all the more outrageous."

Now, Homeland Security, is refusing to release videos from 5 other days (which they first denied even existed).

This is not a Government for the people. This is a government that cares only for its own self preservation. The government has become self aware. Not the individuals within it, but the ‘government’ itself. It is now reproducing itself. It is creating its own reasons, justifications for being in existence. It does not now represent the interest of the people except where that interest is in its own preservation. The government does not serve us. We serve the government. It is in the interest of this entity to keep us fed and keep us working.

We have become the battery feeding the machine. The movie, “The Matrix” was not too far off in its idea, except it isn’t the machines with whom we are at war, it is the government. Even reminiscent are the “Terminator” movies. All these movies claim that we need to watch out for machines and computers becoming ‘self aware’. I am not worried about my computer or my toaster. I am worried about my government. I saw a bumper sticker once that read, “I love my country, but I fear my government.”

I have to say that I agree. I am not abdicating the overthrow of the government by force. I am not a militia-ist. I am not stockpiling weapons. This is my forum. This is my soapbox.

I don’t think one party has the solution over the other. I think both are pawns of the entity known as “The Government.”

For those die hard readers of mine, thanks for listening to my rant. Feel free to chime in your opinion. I ain’t scared of opposing opinions.

Yes, honey, you were right and other revelations

I know she would rather not hear that right about now. She will worry more when she reads this.

Tammy suggested that I probably needed to take another day away from work, but I am stubborn. I insisted on going to work today. So, here I am, in class, miserable. The funk is trying to keep me in it's grip. I do have moments of feeling good (I think that is just in reference to how bad I have felt in the last 48 hours). These moments are short lived. They are usually followed by me trying to do to much in class and then I have to sit down for a while.

I know, Honey, you told me to stay home. I should have listened. However, my students are so happy to see me. It seems that the sub just read to them from the chapter that I left as their assignment. Today, they are taking a 40 point open book quiz. That saves my voice (somewhat.)

There is a lots of memorization involved in working with electricity, but it comes with doing the work every day. It doesn't come from books for the most part. There is a good deal of book smarts necessary as well, but a good head for basic memory and problem solving is essential. We read it. We do it. It sticks in there then. I try to tie what we do in the class with something we do in the shop. It is just one more way to reinforce the knowledge. It shows the student how knowing something actually applies to earning a living.

I don't want to appear to be kicking the academia, but I do think that, sometimes, they forget that students don't crave knowledge for knowledge sake. I don't think we should be entertaining our students with a song and dance, but do feel we should be giving what we are teaching some relevance to their futures. Even my students that never plan to pursue electricity as a career, can benefit from my class. A basic knowledge of electricity is always a good thing to have.

I tend to score highly on IQ tests because I have spent the last 30 years solving problems. IQ tests are basically problem solving exercises. Problem solving is a mind set. Someone tells me, I have this and this, and I want it to do this. It is my job, daily, to put the pieces together and make something work. Electricity teaches basic problem solving skills. Next semester, my class will move into some trouble shooting exercises. They will be given circuits with something wrong with them. They will be graded on their ability to look at the circuit and access the trouble. Anyone can rip it all out and start over, and there are times that is the solution. However, it is easier sometimes to fix one wire, or one switch, or one outlet.

So, beside loving what I do, I love imparting that knowledge and skill to others, even tho I should have stayed home today.

See, Honey. That's why I do what I do.

Blink !

Blink and it's gone.

The last two days have been a bit of a blur.

Tuesday, my principal, came into my classroom and asked if I could sit with the health sciences class in the afternoon. Combining two classes as varied as health sciences and electricity precludes any actual teaching. It is impossible to teach one class and babysit the other. However, it was to be in the afternoon, which are my smallest classes.

Then, about 9 am, one hour into the day, the secretary calls me and asks if I can come down early. It seems the teacher that was watching the class got too busy to do it. So, there I am, babysitting the rest of the day.

One of my students, a senior and football player told me that he didn't want to be in Health Class. He wanted to go to carpentry. I told him that wasn't his decision. He decided to enlighten me. He told me, "Mr. S, you just don't understand. You have been here only a year. I have been here for 4 years. As a senior and a football player, I get to do whatever I want. When I get in trouble, it just disappears. You will catch on."

Needless to say, he did not go to carpentry.

I did manage to hack the computer of the health teacher, so I could work on my powerpoint presentation. After school, I had 2 hours with my Resource Teacher Advisor. I noticed that my throat was getting sore and my head was getting stuffy. Tammy picked me up and we came home. On the way, I called my DR and got advice. My grandson and step son both have strep, so, most likely I had strep. My DR advised that I not go to work the next day. I called my school secretary at home and told her the news. She got me a sub.

I came home and went to bed. It was the weirdest thing. All night long I had the same recurring dream and woke up every hour. Every time I woke, I looked at the clock and it was some hour:forty-five. I peed every hour. I chilled and then I sweated. It was a lousy night. The day was about the same. I am now on meds, so that is better. Add to that, the fact that Tammy is doting over me and taking very good care of me.

I hope to be back at work tomorrow. I wont be up to 100%, but I will be there.

Fat Tuesday approaches

Is it that time already ?

I was in New Orleans several years ago (my 22 yr old was in diapers.) It was 1984. I was in Nawlins to work. Nawlins is how natives say it. If you say it any other way, the natives will gather around to take your money.

It was an exciting time. The World's Fair was there. The Space Shuttle was flown in for that, piggy-backed on a BIG JET. I was working on a building on St Charles Street, a major parade route and 2 blocks from Bourbon St.

On the actual day of Mardi Gras, I left town. We (Family and I) were living there in Slidell, just across the short (5.1 miles) bridge over Lake Ponchertrain. The long bridge was over 28 miles. The days leading to the event were strange/exciting enough.

As I said, we were on the parade route. We had 5 bucks of scaffolding up at the building. I was doing stucco work. When we got off at night and went home, parade watchers would climb onto our scaffolding and watch the parade. We would return the following day to find our scaffold strewn with Mardi gras beads. Every other day we would chase a sleeping wino out of our port-a-let.

Following MG, we were still inundated with party'ers.

We had an agreement with a neighbor to use her water for the several weeks we would be there and we would pay her water bill for that month. I was at her house, using the hose to fill our drinking water jug. It was my turn. An attractive gal came by and asked if she could have a drink. I informed her that the cups were around the hedge at out water set-up. She decided to help me carry the jug. When we got it set, I gave her a cup, she drank her water, and gave me a kiss for my trouble.

She then asked if I had a cigarette. I told her that I didn't smoke and suggested that she ask the guys working on the scaffold already. Many of them smoked. She yelled up to them about getting a cigarette. They asked her what her shirt said. It said, "Show your tits at Mardi Gras."

They said, "Well?"

She did and the cigarettes came flying off the building.

Such is Mardi Gras.

I hope Katrina didn't kill the spirit of the celebration. I further hope that the revellers keep in mind the condition of the city. Mardi Gras is about letting of steam. Nawlins might be in need of some gentler steam venting this year.

Party. Party safe. Party on.

No particular reason

I was in the mood to write a couple mornings ago while students worked on a switched/hot/split receptacle circuit project. I was concerned about one of the students seeming inability to address some upcoming and ongoing issues. This is what popped out. You might want to know, I am slightly empathic. (If you aren't sure ... It means I can feel what others feel sometimes.) This is a combination of what I felt from the student and what was/is already inside of me. I hope you enjoy it, or if it relates to you, I hope it helps express what you might feel.


Hiding place

Long ago I stopped listening
For that Ollie Ollie in free
I knew that "it" would be
Forever seeking the hiding me

There are moments of bravery
Letting foolish bravado abound
And other days of silence
Hiding even from the slightest sound

I have enviously viewed
The adventuresome sort
Running headlong into the unknown
Laughing at fates retort

That life is not for you
My fearful heart cries
I'll disagree with all my rage
And other passionate lies

Still

I hide

Ron
February 22, 2006

And then a long day

It was a long day yesterday. I stayed over at work for 2 hours to work on my internship. The state requires me to complete a one year internship (which you have, no doubt, heard me whine .. er .. talk about in past posts) to continue teaching. I have no problem whatsoever with that. The problem is that they require me to spend 70 hours out of class with my resource teacher advisor. This 70 hours can be spent in many ways, but one of them cannot be while I am being paid for working. My RTA will be reimbursed when we finish the cycle. He will get a check for the nearly two weeks worth of hours he spends with me (as if my glittering personality isn't enough remuneration.)

I will get nothing. Well, I will get nothing, that is, except for the benefit of his years of experience as a teacher to help me along my journey. The problem with that is this: He rambles and rarely stays on task. It drives me insane. All I can hear are the beating of native drums in my head and a resounding chorus singing , "seventy hours" over and over again.

Still, it has to be done. So, tonight, after my day of work, I will spend another 2 hours with my RTA. Then, tomorrow night, after work, just before the weekend explodes all over me, I will spend yet another 2 hours with my RTA. In the mean time, I will practice looking enthralled. I will work on my 'oh, that's interesting' appearance. (Who says I am not cut out for state government work?)

It is time for me to go. Y'all have fun.

You are going to be doing what ?

Oh my, that's interesting ....

You are not the last to know

I think everyone has that reality show mentality now. They all want to keep you in suspense as long as possible. They lead up to what they are going to say while making you think it will go one way, then the other way, then they hit you with the whammy.

I got a letter in the mail yesterday from the Lexington Legends Professional Baseball Club.

It said:
Dear Ronald,
Thank you for auditioning to perform the National anthem at a Legends baseball game. (ut-oh) We appreciate your interest in our team and all the excitement surrounding our upcoming season (the big let down is coming). There has been tremendous enthusiasm and support ( yeah yeah, come on with it) in building what we believe to be one of the best organizations in all of Minor League Baseball. (I am sunk)

It is with great pleasure that we are looking forward to your performing of the National Anthem at Applebee's Park for the 2006 season. (WHAT !!!)

The letter went on to give info and request info for scheduling .. but it was all 'blah blah blah' to me. It took a few minutes to soak in so that I could read the rest.

Students here ... more to follow

Liked this 

Ripples

I grew up partially in the city and partially on the farm. Twice in my life, while growing up, we lived rurally. Once was in Winchester when I was in 4^th and 5^th grades. The second was in Woodford County, from the time I was a sophomore until I was married.

I remember throwing stones into the pond on one of the farms. The stone would impact the water and make an immediate splash. Then, if you were inclined to watch, you would see the ripples expanding outward in ever increasing circles. Depending on the size of the stone and the displacement of the water, the ripples could be small or large. They could extend a short way and dissipate or extend to the shore and even rebound.

Then there were the ripples created by the water from the splash hitting the water as well. These were always smaller and less intense than the ripples caused by the stone.

If you stayed and watched, you would see that the ripples expanded until they reached the edge of the body of water, and then they would rebound back and eventually converge on the very spot the stone entered the water. The stone was gone. It was no longer in sight. The ever expanding effect, however, was still evident.

Life is like that. The things we do are like a stone splashing in the water. There is an immediate effect like the splash. Then, the ripples begin to expand out from that splash.

Some thing we do create very few ripples. They affect only the immediate areas of our lives. I call these ‘low level personal’ decisions. They can include many different things from the simple to the complex, but generally only affect me. There are several different routes I can take to get to work. I can go old 60, or interstate 64, or Todds Road. Any of these will do almost the same thing. They will take me to my job. They don’t have lots of impact on my life. They could. If I have an accident on my way to work, would I have had an accident if I had taken one of the alternate routes?

Then, there are ‘moderate level decisions’. They affect me and those in my immediate family. They can include decisions regarding health and safety. They can include job decisions, housing decisions, and other stuff like that. They can affect us in moderate ways and sometimes major ways.

We are looking at houses now. One reason is that we are cramped where we live now. One of my rants is about the amassing of ‘stuff’. That is another blog on another day. Another reason we are looking is to be closer to work. Then, there is the ‘tadpole’ factor. (Tammy heard me call someone an ‘asshole’ on the cell phone one day as I was driving home [yes, I was using my Bluetooth handsfree] and thought I called them a ‘tadpole’ … so now, bad drivers and general jerks are called ‘tadpoles’)

Our TADPOLE is named John. You have noticed from other blog entries of mine and Tammy’s blog (www.troubleshandful.blogspot.com) the stories about John.

He was involved in an altercation with Chris on Halloween night, which involves a chokehold and a knife. John had Chris in a chokehold and Chris, fearing for his life, pulled his knife out and got free. The ripples from that have been expanding. Chris will have to deal with the consequences of his actions, as will John, eventually. John had some unexplainable stab wounds that would require Chris to be a contortionist to accomplish. Add to that, the harassment that John has perpetrated since the event, and he will have many converging ripples to contend with later.

I am not addressing the guilt or innocence of Chris. He was guilty of bad judgment. He is nineteen. Good judgment comes from experiences. Experiences come from bad judgments. Was this incident Chris’s fault? I don’t believe so.

We are living in the ripples of this act, however.

So, we are looking to move with this in mind. We were looking to move before this incident. We have intensified the search since it happened. Part of the problem is that the street upon which we live is a major thoroughfare between two main streets in Lexington. There is always traffic, both vehicular and foot traffic, going up and down out street. The kids love to hang out on the porch. There, they are exposed to all manner of people, both good and bad. I am ready to be somewhere we can hang out on the porch and not be interrupted by bums seeking cigarettes or drunks looking for the bank, of idiots on steroids looking to cause trouble (our tadpole.) I know that wherever we go, we face the possibility of crime. It is everywhere. I am just tired of it walking around on our porch.

We don’t really live in a bad area. Our neighbors are, for the most part, good people. There are several business owners on the sides of us and across the street. Behind us, however is a low rent area. Further down the road is the same situation. That is not to say that anyone that can’t afford high rent or house payments is inherently bad. There are criminals in the good neighborhoods as well. They just steal in classier places.

The decision on where to live is a vital one now. I do not want to move out of one hot spot and into another. We are investigating one particular house in a small town. We have talked to the neighbors and the mailman (well, the stand in mailman) and are confident that it is actually the quiet neighborhood we were led to believe it is. There are still factors to be determined. The chief indicators are that we are almost ready to make an offer, pending the collection of some data. (That sounds like a definite maybe.)

Anyway, that is the way my mind works when it comes to decisions. Where will the ripples go and what will happen when they converge back on me?

It is a simple complex process.

Another fun filled weekend

Actually, it has been a fun filled weekend. There was much 'want to do' stuff and not much 'have to do' stuff.

Friday after work, I went to my Principal's new house to look at some electric that was supposedly repaired. She was concerned. I alleviated her concerns and assured her the repair work was good. From there it was home to my honey.

We went out Friday night to karaoke. We were there long enough to sing one song. There was a party of 4 sitting at a table behind us (we chose to sit at the bar) that was way obnoxious. It was enough for us to decide to come home early. We were home by 10:30 (Yep, party animals that we are.) Chella wasn't real happy with the way the evening was working so she was happy to see us home. Pete (upstairs neighbor) wanted Chella to babysit for his 2 year old son. He wanted her to babysit overnight. Tammy and I discussed this and certain conditions had to be met before we would say yes. One of those conditions was that Tommy (his brother in law and Tammy's cousin) not be there. Tommy is 28 and mentally retarded. He is mostly functional. He just has the mind of a teenager. Well .. The answer to question one was that Tommy would be there overnight. BUZZZZZZ wrong answer.

Justin, Chella's BF agreed to babysit. That presented a few complications. Chelsea could not be at Pete's while they were gone and Justin was babysitting. Justin couldn't be here because he was watching Billy. That effectively ruined her chances to see him that night. THEN, Justin's mom called. It seems that Justin missed the second half of the school day and one of our long standing rules is that if you are too sick for school, you are too sick for BF or GF visits. Further, he was to visit to walk Chella home from school and then return home. His mom asked that we bring him home the following day (after she was informed of the babysitting snafu) and that he would be grounded from visiting or calling the rest of the weekend.

So, Chella was bored and parental company is better than no company.

Saturday, I scared the kids. I was nice. I try not to do it very often. It is hard to keep your mean parent ogre status if you keep doing these random acts of kindness. I took the kids to Joseph-Beth book store and told them to go forth and buy books. Tammy and I went to the coffee shop. Tammy had a Double Expresso Macchiato. Now ... Tammy is hyper active, and caffeine has a reverse effect on her. It calms her down. That is, it calms her down until she hits an overload. That Double Expresso Macchiato was enough to met and exceed her tolerances. She was a wall bouncer after that.

From there we went out to eat at Corky's BBQ. The food was good and the company was better. We had fun (which, as I said, scared the kids rightly.) Then we went to the Family dollar. Chella has been begging for a certain pair of black pants for over a week. I would have given them to her the first day but it is too much fun to watch her beg and try to be nice. When she got there, the pants were gone. She found some other black pants that suited her though. She is now priming her begging for a shirt to match.

Then it was on the homestead.

Sunday was a slow day, which I like a lot. We made a pt store run to buy some supplies for Ava the python. That turned out empty handed. We went to Friends and Co to eat some lunch and meet Gary (old Friend/best man at our wedding) whom we hadn't seen for a while. Kyle was with us. Gary loves Kyle and Kyle loves him right back. It was good to see Gary.
Then back home.

I had a Board meeting this evening in Versailles. We kept it short. It started at 7 and ended real close to 9. So, now I am home, have blogged, and am ready for some warm waterbed snuggling.

See y'all later ...

Sneaky Jail & John Michael

The article says:

Attorneys for country music singer John Michael Montgomery entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf yesterday in Fayette District Court after he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of a controlled drug and concealing two loaded handguns.

Montgomery, 41, was alone and headed to his rural Jessamine County home after leaving the Austin City Saloon, a Lexington bar where he regularly performed before becoming a star, when he was stopped by police, his attorneys said yesterday.

He also was charged with having a prescription drug not in its proper container, disregarding a traffic control device and improper turning.

The article went on to say a few other things, but the one thing that got me was the way the article went on about JMM leaving the jail through a side door. It elaborated that there was a large crowd of the media waiting to question him. It alluded to the fact that the jailers might have done something improper by allowing JMM to leave from the side and avoid the media. It pointed out that the jail had released prisoners from the side previously, but only for security purposes and not because of celebrity status.

Puh-Lease !!

He was drunk, carrying pills in the wrong bottle, and carrying two hand guns without proper paperwork (which his attorney assures that he has and most assuredly will by the time court comes around). He didn't murder anyone. He didn't assault anyone (the police said he was very polite). However, having a gaggle of reporters gathered at the front door of the jail is a security issue. They were there to impede on the privacy of a citizen.

I don't cotton to drinking and driving, EVER ! It happens everyday in Lexington. People are arrested every day for it. People go in and out of the Fayette County Jail for it on a regular basis. Yes, they exit from the front door. It is rarely to a group of story hungry journalists.

This guy (the reporter) glazes over the majority of the charges and jumps all over the jail for allowing JMM to leave discretely.

With an opportunity to say something about drunk driving, or handguns, or even misuse of prescription drugs, waving, no, jumping up and down in front of him, he sidesteps and attacks the jail for not giving him the opportunity to confront an embarrassed celebrity.

The nerve of the jail ...

Intimate peek

Here is your peek into my Valentine's gift to my honey ...

Words fail

Mere words could never adequately describe what I see in your smile. For all the powers housed in the delicate composition of words, languish in failure when they try to tell what this simplest of gestures implies.

It is as if the tip of the summation of your love breaks into view for the entire world to see. They see it with eyes of distance. They see it with eyes of ignorance. They see it with eyes full of doubt. However, in my eyes, it is the plainest utterance of your heart. That plainness, that simplicity, that effortless expression carries the volumes of love written on the tables of the heart. Your smile assails my senses. I melt in its fervent heat. I am blinded by its radiance. I am filled of head and heart. I am overwhelmed. I fear that I will drown, but that fear is a strange comfort. It shakes me to my being. It stirs the seat of me. I am touched in every fiber of my mortality. All of me is left dripping, saturated in the declaration of this undemanding gesture.

I am left wondering how I will stand, but being carried aloft. My strength is gone, save the strength to love you. The facade is torn asunder. The mask of my bravado is wilted away. I am left defenseless. My heart is naked and exposed, yet I am without fear. My heart has found the wellspring it has sought.

Here I may die. Here I may live. Whatever I may do from here, I will do so carrying your love and the branding of your smile.

Where words have failed, your smile has abounded.

Your Poet

Say it aint so

Oh my gosh.

Big boobed animal rights activist Pamela Anderson is boycotting the Kentucky Derby. Yum Brands is sponsoring the Derby. Yum brands owns Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and a couple other fast food places.

Apparently, the thought of the cruelty to the horses and the cruelty to the chickens is just more than she can take. She says that she may never come back to Kentucky at all. Anderson asked KY governor Fletcher to remove a bust of Colonel Sanders from the Capitol last month. He refused said request.

I am thinking we should just closed the doors to the state and all move out. Can you smell the sarcasm?

I am all for the ethical treatment of animals, but I also know the first recorded animal kill by some being other than another animal took place in the beginning in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit and hid their nakedness with fig leaves, God slew an animal and gave them the skins for clothing.

From the beginning, animals were intended for the food and needs of mankind. They were created to serve mankind. Before internal combustion engines and Massey Ferguson farm tractors with CD players and air conditioning, farmers plowed their fields with oxen. We have created other methods for farming, but we have never created anything to replace eating.

I recall an incident that happened to Tammy when she went to the pet store to get a feeder mouse for our python. The clerk was all aghast about the idea of feeding one animal to another. tammy told her she needed to rethink that hamburger she had for lunch and the leather shoes she was wearing.

Ms. Anderson and her PETA friends can stay home on Derby day, and they can avoid the eleven herbs and spices, and other meats. As for me, I will go if I can get in. I will eat KFC or Lee's famous recipe. I will enjoy my tacos and pizza. I will do so with a clear conscience.

Run, horses, run

What a weekend !

OK ... It has been a weekend.

Without going into details, Chris is out of jail and Tammy can sleep better. I am sure she will fill in the blanks when she feels up to blogging. I will include some details of the 'feeling better' part.

Friday, we went to court and the judge released Chris ROR as long as he stays in Nicholasville. If john shows up there (the Victim's Advocacy has to tell him that Chris is in Nicholasville,) then it is plainly harassment.

Friday night, I took the kids to Mom and Dad's house for a bit while Tammy and I went out to eat. I know the kids can stay at home on their own. Chella is 15 and Kyle is 10, so it isn't an issue, but Tammy wanted a 'no worry' night. If the kids are at home, there is always the chance they will be outside and the 'victim' down the road might begin his harassment. This way, there was no chance of that.

Tammy and I went to Friend's & Co. For a nice sit down supper. We had a great time. We visited with some old friends. We ran into some distant family. We ate slow and talked. From there we went to Todd's Karaoke. We parked in front and never made it out of the truck. It was still early for karaoke, so there was no need to rush in there, and before we decided to go in, we decided to leave. We picked up the kids and came home. It was a good night.

Saturday, started good. Our real estate agent called to see if she could push our morning appt back to 11. That was fine. The kids were going with us. I went outside to start the truck and warm it up. As I opened my door, snow fell into the truck. I brushed it out and realized this was great packing snow. So, while the truck warmed and everyone got ready, I made a few snowballs and stockpiled them in the truck. When Tammy and the kids came out, the snowballs started flying. They thought I had lost my mind.

We went to Mt Sterling to take some measurements of the house. We met and talked with the neighbors. It seems the neighborhood is relatively quiet. Mostly older folks, she said. Quiet we can deal with. Tammy has chosen the house as the one, but knows it might not work out, so she is optimistically cautious.

From there we made it back, through the snow, to Lexington, where we made preparations for the class and party that evening. We (being mostly Tammy) make the party trays and bring the drinks and utensils. Tammy made her spinach dip (which was delicious.)

The class was good and the party was as well. Our mortgage broker was there. We had a chance to talk to him. He is awaiting some papers from us and he is ready to write the letter to the RE agent saying we are already approved.

We left early and got home around 11:30pm.

I think we drifted off to sleep around 2am. Tammy fell asleep on my chest.

Sunday was good as well. We just puttered around the early part. Then at 2pm, we started heading to Fayette Mall for the 'audition'. I was auditioning to sing the 'Star Spangled Banner' for one of the Lexington Legends Baseball games. I was plenty nervous.

I finally, (after an hour of hearing the song sang) got to the stage to do my version. I could hear the wavering in my voice. Tammy said she didn't notice it. After I finished, the girl running the sound board complimented me on it, the guy doing the intros complimented me, and several around the stage.

In front of the stage about 100 feet away was a coffee kiosk. Tammy wanted coffee (surprise). As we made our was past the crowd that was there to watch, several people stopped me to compliment me on the singing. Even at the coffee shop, people we talking to me about it. I think that is a good sign. We will see. The Legend's told me they would call or write me.

Then it was off to Nicholasville to see Chris and take him some supplies.

From there, it was back to Lexington. Tammy was asking what I might want for supper, since she forgot to lay anything out. I decided to celebrate the audition and took everyone out to eat. We ate at Cheddar's, one of our favorite restaurants. The food was great. The atmosphere was relaxed. A great experience.

Then to the house, and settle in.

The rest of the evening was mostly without incident.

Oh yeah, Tammy's not feeling well thing ... She started running a fever again this weekend. She isn't feeling great. Still yet, it was a wonderful "just before Valentine's Day" weekend.

ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

News

I wont steal Tammy's thunder, but the news is good !

The second ends ... The third begins

I have finished two of three cycles in my internship.

All involved in assessing my progress are happy to report that I am progressing. There is still much work to be done. There is still much time (unpaid) to spend. There are still beads to be sweated. However, this is the time for a breath between cycles.

I am calling Tammy right now to see if anyone in the family has been arrested today. I don't know if she has been keeping you informed, but every day is a new adventure.

Nope ... None of the kids got arrested today.

This is a good day.

Tonight is the Wednesday Gathering of our group. It will be good to socialize with folks that have more to talk about than kids and school. We are looking forward to it.

Deadly Cartoon

I was reading the world news today and caught the growing story about a cartoon published in a Danish publication. It was a caricature of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed. It seems that the Muslim community is in an uproar about this depiction. They have been protesting and rioting.

It is just a cartoon.

One of the pictures carried by one of the news agencies (AFP) showed a young Iranian woman holding a sign proclaiming, "No-one is allowed to insult Islam". Following pictures are of different groups of protestors burning and tearing apart the national flag of Denmark. Isn't that an insult ?

It is ok to insult a country by burning their flag in protest but they cant depict your religious leader in an insulting fashion. I haven't seen the cartoon. I don't know how insulting it might be, but, just yesterday security forces opened fire on protestors, killing at least 4. Four people killed over a cartoon ? There is too much going on in life to die for a cartoon. I believe in God, but He is big enough to defend himself if there comes a time he is insulted by a cartoon depiction of himself (and there have been many).

Can't we all just get along ?

Whewwwwww !!

Observation # 2 in Cycle #2 is completed.

My Principal sat in on my last class. We talked about conduit bodies and junction boxes and how to figure the fill capacity for each and how to determine the necessary size. (No ... I have not forgotten my promise when I started this job just over a year ago ... I will not go into the details of the lesson on here.) She was late coming for the observation. There was a smoking incident that occurred just prior to the beginning of the class. She was, however, able to do one hour of observation. I can breath now ... Until next Tuesday, when Dr Davis will be here from EKU to observe me.

This week is almost over. It has been and continues to be hectic. Those of you that know the family and the ongoing situation know where that comes from. (ending a sentence with a preposition .. I know .. Just aint in the mood to fix it.) you may refer to www.troubleshandful.blogspot.com for more details, if you choose.

This will be a working type weekend for me. I, also, will be going out Saturday morning to look at houses in Winchester. We were to look at several last night. The first had mold issues and with two in the house allergic to mold, it was a quick 'no'. The second and third had contracts that were just written on them in the two days since I checked last. That was a bummer. Ricka (RE Agent and friend) came to the house and we looked up more houses online. We found 9 that fit our parameters. She met Malcolm, Lacy, Dude, and Ava. She shocked herself by actually touching Ava (3 feet ball python).

I, also, have to work on my portfolio for my internship this weekend. Fun, fun.

Anyway ... Tonight might be Karaoke ... Tomorrow night is definite karaoke.

Warming up my pipes here. La la la la la la la la ... Can you hear me running the scale? Or is that ruining the scale?

Shallow

Splashing in the shallow waters of the psyche was safe enough.

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain," I heard the voices say.

The flapping of the curtain was drawing my attention. I could see a hint of the wonders that lay behind it. The colors seemed so much more brilliant than those around me. The sparkle was so alluring. Behind the curtain, yawned the mouth of the cavern to my soul. The colors flashing deep inside were hypnotic. Like a moth to the flame, I made my way to the lights.

I walked through the mouth of the cave, in spite of the warnings. The waters grew deeper as I moved forward. Deeper and darker they became, the more I traveled toward the glowing lights. As the lights became brighter, the water became darker. In the shallow of the clearing, the water was light and the colors dim. Here, the contrast was stark. The lows were lower. The highs were higher. My steps were heavier, but the air was lighter. I forced my eyes to open as wide as possible to capture the brilliance of the light.

Looking over my shoulder at the mundaneness of the shallow, I wondered why anyone would want to stay there.

Another crunch time

Tomorrow is another observation day for me. My resource teacher is coming in the morning to observe and grade my teaching. It is the least stressful of the nine required observations. My resource teacher has to observe me three times. My principal has to observe me three times. A college professor in education has to observe me three times.

The first three are already past. They were all stressful, as I had no clue what to expect. The Principal observations are always a little stressful. She is my immediate boss. She will still be here after my resource teacher and the college professor are gone. The college professor observations are tough because he has such high expectations.

The final three observations will be tough because they will be the tale. They will tell if I am learning this craft or not. So, this one is the lowest of the stressful deeds. That doesn't mean it is without stress. TJ tells me I am a perfectionist. I was here last night working on my portfolio until after 5. I hated that. I have my little flash memory, so I can take stuff home to work on.

That is only slightly better.

It is still work, but TJ can slide a hug and kiss in from time to time.

The day has been an okay day. I have been preparing the students for the observation. You know, the no sleeping, no cussing, speech.

This afternoon I was a sub for the Health Sciences class. I worked with the carpentry and welding students at the same time with SkillsUSA memberships and competitions. So, it has been a full day. There is still much to do.

The work day is growing and trying to consume my whole day. I have the whip and chair, trying to push it back. I believe I have stopped it's forward progress, but it is gnawing on the leg of the chair and, if I am not mistaken, it seems to like the whip.

It looks like no slowing in sight.

I was outside for a bit today when the photographer from the newspaper came to take our pics. It was snowing. Milkmaid (blogger from Texas) was commenting on the weather. It seems that winter has retreated in Texas. I commented that I loved winter and was looking forward to more snow. Well, while outside looking for suitable shot locations, it was snowing. Ain't that great? It can come a foot and I will still love it.


I hope to be back later.

Maybe, we will catch you up on the growth of the python ... Or the cat ... Or the other dog (a shitting little mini-dachshund that is annoying ... But loved by TJ) ... Or the kids ...

Until then, y'all have fun.

Malcolm

Malcolm

Malcolm and Tammy (sexy redhead)

Push day

This is one of those push days. It is a day when you push past how you really feel and do your job anyway. I feel like crap (yeah yeah, I know honey ... I feel all brown and lumpy?). I didn't sleep well last night.

My acid reflux was in a bad mood. Around 1 am, I woke up to my nostrils being flooded with stomach acid. Now, that was a pleasant way to wake up ... NOT !

I took Rantadine, which is the 'over the counter' equivalent of Zantac. It helps, but takes about 30 minutes to begin it's work. So, I was sitting up in the bed, afraid to lay back down, and trying not to puke while breathing that acid through my nose. My eyes were watering. My chest was hurting (from earlier sneezing). Sleep was a distant reality.

I vaguely recall, once I did lie back down, fighting Tammy for controlling interest of the covers. There was a hostile take over attempt, which (to the best of my recollection) I won.

I remember being up several times later. I remember that alarm going off and somewhere in the back of my brain a voice screaming, "NOOOOOOOOO !"

In spite of all that, here I am at work, teaching classes all about anchors and fasteners, and the exciting world of electrical grounding.

WeeeeeeHawwwwwww !!

The week begins

The alarm clock ought to have a screeching tires sound just for Monday mornings, as the weekend comes to a screeching halt with that waking alert.

The weekend was kinda full for part of it and slow for part of it.

Friday, I left the school at lunch and went to a SkillsUSA event in Lexington. There were classes and competitions. I met other Skills Advisors and many students involved in the program. It was a great event, with didn't end until late Friday evening, with a little karaoke and a dance. (Little karaoke and very little dance.) We were back there Saturday morning for the competitions, and awards ceremonies. Tammy went with me, in spite of her day. Her day can be read about at www.troubleshandful.blogspot.com .

Her son was arrested for a violation of his bond issue. We worked all weekend to find out what the violation was. No one was able to tell us. Pre-trial had no idea. The judge that issued the warrant wasn't available.

I went to visit him in jail on Sunday. A person can visit for approximately 20 minutes twice a week. Tammy, Sierra, and Becca went with me. (I actually went with them, but since I was driving ... You know?)

Today, Tammy found out what the violation was. Chris was seen at a certain address. That address was ours. The bond states that he is allowed to be at work or at home. They revoked his bond and arrested him for being where he was supposed to be. Chris got in trouble for doing exactly what he was supposed to do. Tammy (madder than a wet hen) is on a mission today to right this wrong. God help anyone that gets in her way.

Hopefully, he will be home and back to work tonight.

We will keep ya informed.

Clawing my way thru the week

It is been a busy odd week.

Monday: No school (MLKing day)

Tuesday: Regular classes for the most part. Students worked independently on handouts.
Wednesday: No Students (Snow) We went to Carrollton for awards presentations. We had lots of snow. There were 1 to 3 inches depending on where you were located.
Thursday: interrupted day. The HS had AA, which throws off the schedule of the rest of the morning. Students worked on handouts. The late afternoon had a tour coming through.
Friday: Will be a half day in school for me. Then I will be in Lexington for a SkillsUSA conference.

It has been a week without regular parameters. That is difficult on me and even moreso on students.

Next week will be a 'whip it back into shape' Week.

I am heading home. y'all have fun.

Something I finished

Time Trader

Suppose the time trader came to say,
You have a day, for which I am willing to pay,
Money is no object in this trade we make,
The only question is, which day I choose to take;
A tempting offer it seems at first glance,
To lose a day of misery, a wonderful chance,
To forget a hurting deed, or word wrongfully spoken,
To lose a heartache, or misplace a promise broken;
So many days I could really do without,
Glad they were finally gone, no doubt,
Finally, I thought of the chance I would be taking,
For the choice was his in this deal we were making;

Which sunrise would I cast into the abyss?
Which sunset, barely made, would I miss;
Which day, good or bad, that made me,
Would I be willing to lose in life’s vast sea?

Every day on both sides of this crooked fence
Makes me who I am, past, present, and future tense,

The mountains make me appreciate the hills,
A plethora of won’t makes me value the wills,
Rain clouds help me treasure days of sunshine,
Blankets of snow feed the flowers of springtime,

I could leave behind the pain of losing a friend,
However, the lessons garnered would fly on the same wind,
To know the merit of expressing the heart rhyme,
To show love’s true colors while there is still time,

How many dark clouds would I cheerfully lose
Without knowing the far reaching wake,
How many ripples would be lost,
By the simplest stone not tossed into life’s lake?

So, time trader, I regret to tell you
I cannot even consider the cost of your deal
For the sake of grievous wounds and well earned scars
This is all of my life, with no days available to steal

I am the more than summation of my years
More than the entirety of my routine
I am the full product of every one of my days
And thousand more yet to glean

Ronald Simpson, Jr.
January 16, 2006

Commercials

I was watching an Allstate Insurance commercial this weekend. I had seen it several times before, but this time I must have been listening closer. The ad was about their 'no accident' reward program. For every year you go without an accident, they will reduce your insurance bill by $100.

The spokesman, who played President Palmer on 24, says that it might reduce accidents. It sounds like they are saying, we are out here having accidents on purpose, and if they up the offer, we will stop needlessly ramming other drivers out of our way.

One of the problems I had with Safety People when I was working in the construction field, was their delivery of the message. They approached us, the working class, as if we were out there looking for ways to hurt ourselves. I realize there are scam artists that will inflict injuries upon themselves in the hopes of a large settlement. However, the most of the work force are not out there trying to screw that insurance companies. I want to go home with the 10 fingers, 10 toes, 2 eyes and 2 ears, that I had when I arrived at work.

I am not driving to work looking for someone to hit with my truck while planning how I am gonna lose a finger or eye, so I can sit home and collect checks. I would just as soon work the rest of my life than get injured for a settlement.

I ran into the same attitude at times when I would be off work for short or long periods (depending on the time of the year and my desire to travel or not) and would sign up for unemployment compensation. The contractor for whom I was working, would pay into a fund, that would pay my compensation. None of the money came out of the pocket of the claims taker. I can understand how John Q Public might not be up to date on the governmental workings of unemployment compensation, but the workers at the UI office should be familiar with how it works. Still, every now and then, one of those spirited public employees would act as if they were going to have to take out their checkbook and write me a check every other week.

I am just a working stiff. I want to go to work. I want to do my job. I want to pay my bills. I want to keep just a little bit of my earnings.

What we have to deal with are insurance companies that treat us like we are trying to screw them, Government employees that treat us like we are robbing them, contractors that treat us like we are out to subvert their efforts, and general public employees that look at us with suspicion and mistrust. Everyone is not out to take you. everyone is not out to rip you off.

I have a theory (like this is a new thing) about how people treat others. The liar thinks everyone is lying to them. The thief thinks everyone is out to steal from him. The cheater thinks everyone is out to cheat him. We tend to see people through our own glasses. Our glasses alter our vision to see people as we see ourselves.

Tammy says I trust everyone. I see myself as trustworthy, for the most part. Therefore, I see people in a kindly light. This is not an advertisement for me. It is just who I am. I am not a saint. I am not an angel (though Tammy swears there are wings hidden somewhere).

Just treat me like you want to be treated. If you want respect, offer it. If you want trust, offer it. If you want kindness, offer it.

The Bible says, if we cast our bread on the water, it will return to us on ever wave, not many days hence, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. Kindness begets kindness. Gentleness begets gentleness. Anger begets anger. I know, the law of averages tells me, even if I give only kindness, I will reap some malice in some crop (law of wheat and tares), but, for the most part my life will be filled with kindness.

What you want, you have to give.

What do you want today?

Sleepy time

I am dragging my hiney today. I didn't get much sleep last night. I wake up a couple times a night. That is natural for me. That doesn't bother me. That doesn't wear me out.

Last night, I got up around 1 am to go to the bathroom. After relieving my bladder, I went to the kitchen to get a drink of water from the fridge. As I passed through the living room, I noticed the slightest of a cool breeze around my feet. This is usually a signal that a door is opened somewhere. I went to the front door and checked it. It was unlocked. Then I went into the shared foyer, and the door to the outside was standing wide open. Chris was not in bed, or anywhere inside. I locked both doors and went back to bed, assuming that Chris was upstairs.

I couldn't sleep. I got back out of bed and went to the computer, checked mail, and played Spider Solitaire. Shortly after 2 am, I heard them coming down the stairs. By them, I mean: Chris, Sierra, & Tommy. They were on the front porch, yelling back and forth, with Tommy hollering about whether he was being too loud or not. MORON !

Chris and/or Sierra tried the front door. No luck. Chris gave Sierra his key to the back door and she came in , got her pills, and left. Chris came in, returned Tammy's phone, and said he was going to sleep upstairs.

Finally, about 2:30 am, I got back to bed. I was wide awake. I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned and generally aggravated Tammy until I dozed off.

This morning at 5:15, the alarm goes off. I hit the snooze button every time it went off for the next 45 minutes.

I was running late on my morning drive, didn't stop and get breakfast, ate my lunch for breakfast, figuring I would get Steve to get me something when he goes out for lunch every day. I got to work, and there was no Steve. Lunch was crackers and peanut butter.

Still, all in all, it had it's good moments. All my students passed and most aced the safety test. It is almost the end of the week before a long weekend. I do not have to be anywhere tonight that I don't want to be. Best of all, I get to see that beautiful smile on the face of that sexy red head that puts up with me, good days or bad.

Even on a sleepy, semi bad day, life is good.

Breathing is great.

I think I will endeavor to do it as long as I can.

Blowing a 'day is almost over' sigh

It has been a long day.

I had people from the state in here this morning and most of the day. We are trying to clear out some old, no longer used, equipment. The State Guy (what a prestigious title ! ... "I am THE STATE GUY.") was here to look at what we had and meet the manufacturers rep to determine how usable the equipment is. My class (to give me free time to work with these guys) was in the Automotive shop with some work from me.

Well, there was a conversation that lead to glaring, which lead to words, which lead to one of my students punch/shoving a kid over two tables and a desk. OUCH ! My prize football player/student is in PASS for the rest of the day. I brought the rest of the class back to class with me to move some of the equipment and study for the test that is to be given tomorrow.

Then, my 3rd block was in Automotive while I worked with the Man. Rep. Fortunately, there were no more incidents.

Still, it has been a busy day. It is past time for me to be at home and I am still here waiting for info to download that I may be able to use to teach with some of the hi-tech equipment that will remain. My students want to experiment with it. I told them we weren't experimenting with equipment that cost more than I make in a year until I was trained on it. (Insert look of disappointment on their faces.)

The Rep (Herb) was able to give me some great ideas about where to find training and how to go about getting so practical hands-on experience with this stuff. Thanks, Herb.

I am ready to bolt for the door before anything else happens.

I am taking work home with me. I have to write a test for these guys.

Fun, fun, fun.

We will leave my iceberg tip of yesterday resting in the water for this afternoon. We will revisit it later.

Violence

The news is overbearing these days. Some days, the ostrich ‘head in the sand’ idea seems like a good one. I can remember (and I am not that old … only 48) when the story of violence was the odd story on the news. I was born in the late 50’s. It was a completely different time. I know I was a different person then as well. I was not as knowing, not as watchful, not as interested in the world. (If it didn’t happen in the house, yard, or church dad pastured, it didn’t involve me.

Still, I can remember the reaction of my parents to bad or violent news. It was from the newspaper or radio. We didn’t get a TV until I was around 9 yrs old. Even then, I can recall my parent’s reaction to the growing news of violence.

I paid some attention in High School to my history. I remember Gandhi and his passive resistance. I can remember how effective it was, even though he was met with violence. I know the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. I know the great men that have stood for what is right in the right way. I know of the works of Flavius Josephus.

I know there are times for ‘right by might’ when a tyrant must be stopped with the very violence that is his/her tool. I readily agree that war is a necessary evil at times. This, however, goes far beyond the dictates of war.

The murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. ignited a wave of violence in our country. White Supremacists used violence as did slave owners of our past to keep their power base intact. It was the undercurrent. It was the hidden, behind the curtain, in the dark, work of such groups.

Today, it is splashed across the news nightly. Is that because of the abundance of our media? Is it because we are in more places with our ‘prying’ eyes? I say yes, but it is also because there are a growing number of people, seared to the effects of their violence. We are growing a generation, numb to the effects of violence. The sound of the gun and the spray of blood are little more than the detailed effects of some video game driving into their brains.

Are the games the problem, or just another symptom? They are both. They are part of the problem and a blazing symptom. They desensitize our youth, and point to our fascination with gory death.

This is not about the games. This is about the violence. When we, as parents, turn our heads to what is displayed on our TV’s and Gameboys, we are silently nodding in agreement. When we allow evil to prosper in silence, we abet it. We must, if nothing less, oppose in our homes. We must oppose violence where ever we can. We must learn from our past or we are destined to repeat it.

Violence begets violence. We will never cure the rage of our society until we learn to control it in ourselves and stop it’s influence in our lives.

Just the tip of the iceberg ...

Climbing out of the toilet

I looked better when I got home yesterday. Tammy told me I did.

She was concerned last night, though. She was lying beside me (a delicious feeling, by the way,) when she announced that I was 'hot'. I told her thanks. She was ready to smack me, even though she didn't. My fever was back up. I still felt better and declined any medical assistance.

I felt better this morning. My co-workers agreed. I looked much better. I have 'color' today. Apparently, ghost white pale is not a good look for me. (Remind me never to come back as a ghost and haunt ya.)

The day is progressing. The students have been manageable. They haven't taken much advantage of the fact that I am not at 100% yet.

The news is slow today. I did notice (from another blog I read) that the porn awards were handed out last night. I will have to check that out when I get home this evening. Tammy and I don't watch any porn, but that isn't to condemn anyone that does. Whatever floats your boat, I say.

Students are coming in, so it is time to roll out of here.

Catch ya later.

For better or worse ...

I am here at work.

Nauseated.

Feverish.

Let's see how long it lasts.

I am eating some crackers, trying to calm the stomach. The tylenol has been taken to fight the fever. Fortunately, we will be in the lab today, involved in some minor clean up and removal of some old projects. I won't have to be on feet as much and I won't have to talk as much. That should help. Maybe.

I hope your Monday is better than mine.