I am from...

We had a wonderful staff development session in late November. The topics ranged from literacy to cultural competency, but the best activity was led by students from our school. They asked us to write and discuss "I am from..." poems. It was a powerful and memorable event. Looking at "...places, ...products, ...food, ...smells, ... common things, ...poeple, ... food, ...ouches, ... pictures" and some other topics, the finished productrs turn out to be succint and yet complex poetic masterpieces, no matter who writes them!

Here is mine.


I am from a proud father
I am from a loving boyfriend
I am from a small town
I am from a poor and sometimes hard upbringing
I am from a broken home - 5 times over
I am from rice pudding, weak coffee and sugar cookies
I am from hand-me-downs
I am from diet coke
I am from a twin
I am from country music
I am from screaming, hollering and abuse
I am from bad habits and poor choices
I am from slip and slides and sleep overs at my cousins
I am from tator tot hotdish
I am from dirt drive ways and matchbox cars
I am from a five year old ring bearer who cried all the way up the aisle
I am from playing 500 at holidays
I am from someone who tries to be himself, and thinks he fails all the time
I am from being compassionate
I am from great friends, who would do anything for me
I am from "The Rose"
I am from someone who wants to both belong and stand out, and ultimately make a difference

Annie's Cabin Weekend

Once again - we had TOO much fun in Chetek on Potato Lake - at the cabin and at the Narrows.

Such a fun loving crew!

10 Years

Marylin June Kothman, November 18, 1997

Think about you a lot mom!

Jenny's Visit

Went out with Jenny Kettering (and Melissa, Candy & Annie) last night for her birthday! We had most of our drinks and fun at Melissa's house but did manage to get to McGovern's and make Jorge show us his six-pack abs for us... twice.

Happy Birthday Jenny! 33... we're getting old.

Omaha in October

We visited Ted and Amy and Abbie over the long weekend! We drove down, enjoyed a barbeque evening, went to the zoo and ate at a really cool steakhouse with servers who started in the 1970's!









Okay - there was something a little gross and scary about the amount of fish just swimming on top of one another. For a quarter, you could buy a handful of pebble sized fish food and fee them.
Abbie, with Uncle Tim and dad having a beer!
I am

New Car

It's been a LONG time since I've written - how full have my days been? Quite. I need to climb back into the routine of writing about my ideas, events and life in general.

I'll start with my latest purchase. For better or worse, a bought a brand new car today. Internet research, discussion, a phone call or two, visit the dealer, bury the debt of my current car into the new one, and viola, a 2008 Toyota Yaris. May my increases car payment provide me the cheaper gas bills and piece of mind that I've been yearning for.

Henry & Ann

I picked up Henry and Ann from the Airport on Wednesday night. It was wonderful to have them on this side of the ocean. After stopping at the house to drop off their bags - we scooted off to Minneapolis for a meal. Chino Latino was packed, so we went to Filigios for a very nice meal. Sitting at Dixie's on Grand Avenue afterwards felt surreal - Henry and Ann were actually sitting in our neighborhood and seeing where we live.

Thursday morning, we had breakfast at the Neighborhood Cafe. It is Tim and my favorite breakfast place. I am so sad that he's STILL in Scotland!!! Gu. He'll be home soon. The waitress spotted it right away too - "So, you all must be going to the State Fair." I think our overly touristy attire (well, theirs more than mine, perhaps) gave us away. We did go to the Fair and walked around the farm equipment, amusement park rides, animal barns, craft sales, radio stations and 'everything' on stick food stands. It began to rain, so we made our way back to the house.

They checked out the Mall of America on Friday. They enjoyed it and marvelled at its size and offerings. They were able to do some xmas shopping but tired of it quickly - don't we all?

What can I say? They were with me for 2 days in the Twin Cities - I had to give them the quintessential culture and largest attraction.

I brought them to Pepin, WI where we met John and Mary for a meal at the Harbor View Cafe. I hope they enjoy their trip - their visit will be a fond memory of mine.

Irony

My coworker Debbie called me up and asked if I wanted to help out the tennis team and be the 2nd assistant coach. Since I played in high school and actually watch the sport on TV with some enthusiasm (the only one) and and I thought it would be a great way to stay active and even possibly lose some weight, I said yes. Practice started on August 13th and I have been having a great time with the team. The girls who go out for tennis are wonderful, polite young women. I will say, however, that I don't know WHEN I'll prep for classes. Because I had so much free time, I said yes? I mean, really, I spend evenings and far too many weekends at school the way it is! What was I thinking. On the other hand, I see this forcing me to excercise, number one, and second, organize my time better. Perhaps I won't stay until the wee hours working and re-working lessons that were perfectly fine in the first place. Most of all, it will give me some much needed perspective on what it is like and takes to be a coach AND teach. I really am terribly hard on them (at least in my head!) and what happens - or doesn't happen - in their classrooms.

"A Third Thought Thing"

So - from the moment I woke up I was wondering why the KS95 morning crew was sounding so different - even though I don't listen to the station very much, I had to google it. Well, Cheryl Kaye has left apparently, not much news on why, and the KS95 link brought me to this histerical video of Alanis Morisette doing Fergie's "My Humps" which you can find on YouTube. ... which brought me to this other video, "Thank U", which put me in a reflective mood this Monday morning.

ALANIS MORISSETTE
"Thank U"

how bout getting off these antibiotics
how bout stopping eating when I'm full up
how bout them transparent dangling carrots
how bout that ever elusive kudo

thank you india
thank you terror
thank you disillusionment
thank you frailty
thank you consequence
thank you thank you silence

how bout me not blaming you for everything
how bout me enjoying the moment for once
how bout how good it feels to finally forgive you
how bout grieving it all one at a time

thank you india
thank you terror
thank you disillusionment
thank you frailty
thank you consequence
thank you thank you silence

the moment I let go of it was the moment
I got more than I could handle
the moment I jumped off of it
was the moment I touched down

how bout no longer being masochistic
how bout remembering your divinity
how bout unabashedly bawling your eyes out
how bout not equating death with stopping

thank you india
thank you providence
thank you disillusionment
thank you nothingness
thank you clarity
thank you thank you silence

Visible Vote 08

What a unique and refreshing forum! Not a debate, per se, but a chance for questions to be asked and answered fully. The panel was interesting, however. Perhaps the people asking questions should have been a little less subjective in their questioning. It gave off an appearance that was slighty unprofessional, though arguably, more personable.

I believe Hillary did the best job. Strong, articulate and capable. No matter how much I try to look to one of the other candidates for leadership and to give my vote, she keeps coming out on top.

Check out all the candidates in nice succint clips!

How Cute are We?

This was Molly and I (last summer) at Ann's cabin. Tomorrow we leave for Ann's once again - I'm looking forward to fun and games!

Autobots vs. Decepticons

Yeah - I saw it - Transformers! It was a childhood dream come true to see Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots do battle against Megatron and the Decepticons. Best part about the film - although the special effects and action were phenomenal - was the use of the real voice of Optimus Prime from the cartoon series!

Visit the Website for all the cool pics and sound effects!

Bridge Tragedy

It is still very early in the aftermath of the collapse of the I-35 bridge, but the number of deaths and injuries is lower than many had expected. Let's hope for the best that that number stays low as they search the river today for cars.

New York Times SLIDESHOW.

Coming out on the Field

I came across a wonderful article on gay high school and college students coming out to their teammates and having more success and acceptance than one would have had in the past. I love reading these kinds of articles because they remind me that kindness and benevolence will allow for tolerance, everywhere, eventually, despite the fact that the issue is tossed around political campaigns and church sermons like it is a hot potato and not about real people and real lives.

Healthy Kids!

As I sit here in my hotel room in Chicago - taking a break from the HOURS and HOURS of work that I have done on my AP and regular Economics syllabi for the upcoming year, I came across an article that highlights Minnesota's number status for our kids' well-being. Pretty good news, although the article does mention that Minnesota is not without it's flaws and disturbing trends. But, hopefully legislators, teachers and parents take heed, pat themselves on the backs, and work to continue the programs and funding and leadership that contributes to the overall well being of our state's young people.

Chicago - by the way - is hot and humid. The AP Seminar at Northwestern University has been a great experience. I am both excited and nervous to teach AP Economics this year. It's great to be around other passionate educators who are trying to better themselves.

From a former Catholic...

I've often said that religion does many good things for people, communities, the poor, etc., but there is SO much room for corruption and criminal activity when you involve secrecy, power, money into it. Yuck! The Catholic church (and I'm sure many more) is in trouble again! Anything to poke foke at the hypocrisy...

07.07.07

I was doing some reading online and came across a promising article on tolerance and acceptance for gay and lesbian people in the U.S.

It is encouraging, and I think there is a lot of truth to the young/old divide, as well as the split that occurs in many American homes between husbands and wives - such as the one typified by John and Elizabeth Edwards.

There is hope yet!

Queen Invites a New Prime Minister

It has finally happened. The country has been waiting anxiously for the once very popular Tony Blair to step down. On Wednesday, he did just that. The new Prime Minister is now picking his cabinet and promising to lead and bring the necessary change Britain needs. A historic event and only time will tell how the Scot, the first in 70 years to lead Britain will do.

Elections

Just posting a site that describes the current candidates running for president for anyone looking to research. CQ Politics is a non-partisan website that publishes the daily goings-on of Congress.

News Coverage of RHS Graduation

An article from the Star News, entitled "Historic class of 2007 graduates from Rogers" details the events of the big night for Rogers High School graduates.

Too Soon To Start Looking at the US Presidential Elections?

Okay, it is really early to seriously land on one political candidate. Early on, I like Hillary but Obama is hypnotic in his presentation and style; he's very politically attractive. I think I'm most inclined, at this point, to vote for a bit of a dark horse candidate in Bill Richardson.

It's easy to see how Democrats differ from Republicans, and easy to see the similarities in their policies or views on Iraq, the economy or healthcare. But if one looks at an issue like immigration - one that cross cuts conservative and liberal ideological leanings, it might be easier to decide who YOU like.

A sampling of the three:

Clinton

Hillary does not address immigration specifically on her website. But, from what I read and now from her previous votes, she tends to push the security/build a wall approach over freedom/identify-reasons-people-immigrate approach, which is a waste of time and money, in my approach. The Washington Times put's her position just right of Bush's, even.

Obama

From the Campaing Website:

Creating Secure Borders

Barack Obama wants to preserve the integrity of our borders to reduce illegal immigration. He supports additional personnel, infrastructure, and technology on the border and at our ports of entry. Obama believes we need additional Customs and Border Protection agents equipped with better technology and real-time intelligence. However, enforcing our borders is only one step of comprehensive immigration reform. Despite tripling the size of the U.S. Border Patrol along the southern border between 1990-2005, the undocumented population doubled in size, the death rate of border crossings tripled, and the per-apprehension cost increased from $300 in 1992 to $1700 in 2002, according to the Center for American Progress.

Removing Incentives to Enter Illegally

To remove incentives to enter the country illegally, we need to crack down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. Barack Obama has championed a proposal with Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Max Baucus (D-MT) to create a new employment eligibility verification system so employers could verify that their employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S., making it fair to legal workers and tougher on employers.

Improving Legal Immigration

The overwhelming majority of immigrants, both legal and undocumented, come into this country with the hope that hard work and sacrifice will secure a better life for their children. Every year, an estimated 500,000-800,000 people enter the country illegally or illegally overstay their visa. Another million enter legally. Barack Obama believes we must address illegal immigration by stronger border measures and fixing the dysfunctional bureaucracy to balance the needs of American workers and the U.S. economy.

That includes creating legal avenues for people to work here. Barack Obama believes immigrant workers should have legal protections to avoid abuse and downward pressure on American wages and working conditions.

Richardson
From the Campaing Website:

"Building a fence will not increase security, just as attempting to deport 12 million illegal immigrants is not feasible or reasonable. I believe a realistic immigration reform plan must address the problem from all sides -- securing the border, penalizing employers for knowingly hiring illegal workers, offering a tough but reasonable path to legalization, engaging Mexico in the reform process, and improving our current immigration quota system."

The quick and dirty, it appears, is that the first two are pandering to the middle America fears of a 'browning of America' and tout a tough 'wall and troops' approach, which, I disagree with. Building a wall will not stop people, ideas and influence of either from going in and out of this country or any other. It just gives something to 'snap' down the road, when the real reasons for massive immigration keep pushing on.

On a completely unrelated part of the campaign, I had to chuckle when I read that Hillary's campaign picked THEIR song. I don't think it is a good sign of things to come for her campaign, but we'll see.

Cute Puzzle

What does this Rebus represent?


Cockroach
Ant
Worms

Rabbit










Bugs Bunny

I named it Baby

I am back in Scotland. It is like I never left and yet, it is foreign again because so much has changed in people's lives to make catching up with them necessary. It is a good feeling though.

The palace is still cold - damn it - I did not bring enough jumpers.

The park is beautiful - green and lush and wet. I went on my first walk yesterday.

Henry is still funny. He and Ann will be out Monday for a visit.

There is a new pub in Dalkeith - The Blacksmith's Forge. It's too faux-posh for Dalkeith, which I think is obvious by its name.

Living in the Director's flat is weird. I think I'd kind of prefer our old flat. Our routines and rituals of living in this house are upset by the new flat.

The summer faculty are nice. Ingrid, Rhoda and Rose. We had them over for wine and cheese.

We won the Sam's Quiz Pub already! Rose, Tim and Jim and I played and after a close first 2 rounds, handily won.

One of the questions was, what is the soft spot on a newborn called? We had no idea, but were talking about having kids. I joked that I had adopted one while Tim was over here. He asked, "oh yeah? What's it's name?" I had nothing. I just said, "I named it Baby". Now we have an imaginery baby named Baby.

RHS Commencement Speech

My speech for commencement went fantastically! With a racing heart and approached the podium, asked the graduates if this 'honor' was due to the fact that my class was so hard - and began reading: "Chapter 1". Of course I was kidding, but I needed them to laugh so that I could relax at the podium and begin.

After the evening was over, many came up for hugs and pictures - which is fun, but the gesture really brings it home that they are leaving. Goodbyes are hard. I wish them all the best.

Here's the speech. If I'm able, I'll post the video as well.

Rogers High School Graduation, 2007

Commencement Speech

Graduates! It is with great pride and appreciation that I speak to you all tonight. Yours is the FIRST class to start and complete your entire high school career at RHS!!! And for that I congratulate you. As you know, I was fortunate to teach most of you as freshman and again as seniors. Few teachers are afforded the opportunity to spend that much time with their students. It has to be said, your class is one of compassion, sophistication and tolerance. You made teaching fun – you gave me the will and a reason to try my hardest to educate, impress and to be myself. Your charm, your wit and your sense of humor made it an absolute pleasure to be in the classroom! Thank you!

Graduation is the perfect opportunity to take pause, look back, make sense of life, and frame the future. In doing so, we quickly realize that lessons in life exist everywhere. This thought is wonderfully encapsulated in a poem I came across recently. Last year, while living in Scotland, a good friend passed away. Majorie was an educator too. At her funeral, she asked that a brilliant and beautiful poem, entitled “Ithaca” be read. “Ithaca”, is about a journey to an island, or metaphorically, any destination. It is about the enjoyment of the journey over the destination AND that maturity of the soul is all one can ask for.

The following is an excerpt:

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca,

pray that the road is long,

full of adventure, full of knowledge.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind.

To arrive there is your ultimate goal.

But do not hurry the voyage at all.

It is better to let it last for many years;

and to anchor at the island when you are old,

rich with all you have gained on the way,

not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage.

Without her you would have never set out on the road.

She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you.

Wise as you have become, with so much experience,

you must already have understood what Ithacas mean.

Tonight, I would like to share with you three lessons I picked up on the way to Ithaca. Hopefully, they demonstrate that our journeys are much richer than they may first appear.

During my time at the University of St. Thomas, professors and classmates taught me that life, like politics, which was my major – is filled with conflicts but that we have the tools to solve them and that we have more in common than we might think. Having a sense of humanity is essential, strong relationships are paramount and scholarship is your guide. These notions were exemplified by my life in the dorms with my roommate Brian, the consummate Republican. He and I, the idealistic Democrat, would argue for hours over just about everything; eventually the arguments became discussions, and as our friendship, trust and minds grew, we found ourselves in agreement. On the surface, I earned a bachelor’s degree at UST. At a deeper level, I learned that differences give us an opportunity to come together, not stay apart.

Several years later, I found myself working along side an extremely diverse group of educators – older, younger, all races, gay, straight, parents and non-parents, introverts and extroverts. And though we shared many laughs and celebrations, we had heated discussions about students, work ethic, philosophy of education and teaching. This heterogeneous group of people was in charge of evaluating my progress and I theirs. Essentially, my St. Mary’s University cohort reasserted the notion of how much we have in common as well as the difficulty but importance of recognizing diversity – of perspective as well as race or creed or gender. I left the program somewhat less idealistic, but not any less hopeful about the world. I earned a master’s degree in teaching and learning. Moreover, I learned how to successfully work with a disparate community of people, and transferred that knowledge to my classroom.

Two years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to take a leave of absence from teaching high school, join my partner in Scotland, and teach for a university study abroad program. It was a leap of faith. I left a job I was comfortable in and a life I loved and stepped into an 18^th century palace to live with 60-some coeds, professors and staff. For four semesters, I facilitated a cultural colloquium. To witness the daily epiphanies the student’s were realizing because of their travels and experiences abroad was phenomenal to say the least. In addition to teaching, I too continued my formal education at the University of Edinburgh. I studied international relations theories, social movements, foreign policy and human rights along side some of the brightest students from all over the world. My peers – though they possessed different ideas than mine on the nature of power, the concept of human and legal rights or globalization – weren’t “right” or “wrong” any more than I was. Accentuating the values we shared and all that we had in common was what was important. I realized that the world is full of many extraordinary, open-minded and socially aware people that, on any given day, if you listen – are working to better humanity. First and foremost, I earned a master’s degree in International and European Politics. In turn, I learned that answers to problems lay within each of us, in every home, classroom and country, and in order to access them, we need to listen.

In your 18 years, the world has presented you various people, situations and opportunities. Time and reflection cast valuable light on just what was important and why. To end this evening, I’d like to take a quick trip through memory lane to demonstrate this notion:

Kindergarten brought you to a new world; both scary and exciting.

1. Coloring was your favorite part of the day.

---

2. Teachers were great – sometimes better than your parents.

---

3. You were not sure WHY they had you do the things you did, but you WERE sure that you loved doing it MOST when it involved glue, scissors and smelly markers.

---

As Third Graders, the world brought you rules; having to follow them made school a little less fun, but you still gave it an enthusiastic chance.

1. Science was your favorite part of the day.

---

2. Teachers were helpful and friendly people.

---

3. You were NOT sure why you had to stand in straight lines all the time, but you WERE sure that chocolate milk was the bomb, and standing in line was worth it.

As Fifth Graders, the world brought you decisions to be made; you developed interests in your favorite subjects and hobbies.

1. Recess was your favorite part of the day.

---

2. Teachers were sort of helpful, but increasingly LESS friendly

---

3. You were SURE about your best friend and sleepovers, but NOT so sure about the opposite gender, and why you couldn’t hit or tease them.

As Seventh Graders, the world brought you some autonomy – traversing from class to class. Receiving your first ‘tardy slip’ reminded you how fleeting that feeling was, however.

1. Your favorite part of the day was passing time and, although you resented rules and traditions set by those before you, you obeyed them religiously as to not stand out too much.

---

2. Teachers were necessary, but they didn’t actually seem to like you very much.

---

3. You were NOT so sure about your body and all that was happening to it, but you WERE sure you didn’t like it.

As Ninth Graders, the world brought you choices but sometimes forgot to include the maturity to make them wisely. On one hand, you missed things like recess and being a kid, and on the other hand, you wished your parents would treat you like the adults you THOUGHT you were.

1. LUNCH was your favorite part of the day.

---

2. As for teachers, you started respecting them again, but that’s only because you had a new enemy – upperclassmen.

---

3. You were SURE you were too cool for school but NOT so sure on how to exhibit that without standing out TOO much and drawing criticism; what to wear, who to talk to and what parties to attend weighed heavily on your mind.

As seniors, the world brought you wisdom and closure, like the ending to a great movie.

1. Lunch was STILL your favorite part of the day, and your favorite class was the one you could either sleep in or be late to without getting in trouble.

---

2. As for teachers – well, you’re respect for them waned again, but that’s because by now, you are smarter than them; a sense of entitlement kicked in, and you start thinking to yourselves, ‘how dare they put us in a seating chart and talk at us about supply curves or poetry or logarithms… are we ever going to use this?” And JUST WHO DOES this Economics teacher think he is saying things like “here’s the quick and dirty” or on Fridays, announcing T.G.I.F. “Thank God I’m Fabulous”.

---

3. Finally, you were not always sure HOW to create the rules and traditions that you resented in junior high – but you were DARN SURE you were going set them because A) you knew what was best for the underclassmen, and the rest of the school for that matter, and, B) it was your year to celebrate and leave your mark.

And here you are tonight; ready to take the next step of your lives. From 1000’s of people and experiences, you will draw on valuable lessons for many years to come; thus, my central message this evening: as you walk in this world, as you live, worship, love, cry, lead, follow, confront and succumb, at each step of the way, I want you to reflect on the situations that befall you and the people you meet and always ask yourself: What is the world bringing to me? Is there something beyond the façade? Is there an underlying message?

The important ‘informal’ lessons I described to you today – on the way to my Ithaca – that disagreements are not barriers but opportunities, that we need to be willing to at least entertain if not accept a multitude of perspectives, and that listening is more important than speaking – I picked up on my journey. For this, I am eternally grateful.

Do not seek solely the destinations of achieving a high-paying job, or owning a new car or buying the “perfect” house. You see, with each destination, from start to finish, lay a myriad of lessons that should not be underestimated or undervalued. Ask yourself, as you meet people on your journey, what are they trying to teach me? You will be richer for it.

Congratulations graduates, the class of 2007!!

I wish you the all the very best!

My Last Day with the Seniors

Being the overly emotional man that I am... I put together a letter I wrote to the seniors with three videos and lyrics to provide some time for reflection and closure to the seniors. Due to workshops and some interviews, my last day with the seniors (formally, in class) was last Monday! What a GREAT CLASS! I will miss and remember them!

Below, the letter and the songs they watched/listened to as they read it, reflected, and filled out a course evaluation.

As our time together ends, I wanted to share with you a few reflections on life through music and allow you to convey your sentiments to me. Music puts me in a reflective mood. Please listen, watch, and enjoy, and perhaps it will allow you to reflect as well. If you would like, fill out the evaluation too. Anonymity is fine - please be honest and constructive!

All the songs, by the Dixie Chicks, center on the themes of being yourself, choices and realizing how powerful they are.

The first song’s message, in my opinion, is about being your self. It may sounds a bit cliché, but it easier said than done.

Like the first, the second song carries a message too. I haven't always made the best choices and I think I've learned from the mistakes I've made. We all can learn from our mistakes. Your words and actions are powerful and can last a long time - generations even. Choose them wisely!

And the third song is one that I thoroughly enjoy as sort of a personal anthem. It made sense to me from the moment I heard it forst.

In regards to the first stanza… okay, NONE of my friends did this... but I like to think we ALL are taking the long way...which is probably why we all still get along so well.

In regards to the second stanza… well, I don't need anything like a pink RV with stars...I'm flamboyant enough. But this idea sounds like fun and is something I would like to do some day.

As for the third stanza, I did actually get about to be about 5 feet from Queen Elizabeth & the Irish and Hippies I met were very fun people... I miss them!

To the fourth stanza, I came across this song after my two years in Scotland came to an end... It had been 2 long years after I left the country and where my world 'crashed' but boy was it worth it! Life abroad was probably the best time of my life. I’m back on the road and better for it.

As for the underlined lyric… this is my FAVORITE line in any song. How true it is - remember it always. It will come in handy.

All the best to you as you start down your long journeys. Don't be afraid to take the long way around - there is a lot to be seen and done out there!

Mr. Johnson

Everybody Knows
Top of the World
Taking the Long Way

Why We Work

So, I'm pretty sure that there is a reason that we work 5 days a week and only have 2 off.... it's Memorial Day -no school or work for me and much of the rest of the country... and it's 1200pm. The only thing that I've done besides eat breakfast and have 2 cups of coffee was watch the Rosie/Joy/Elizabeth fight from 'The View' on YouTube and about 12 other clips from the show... It's disgusting. I can't believe I got sucked in to YouTube for that long! The clip was good though - for the very fact that the problems aren't that believe are yelling - it is that no one listens.

My commencement speech - which is ALMOST done now - will touch upon that idea.

Puerto Vallarta

Our spring break to Puerto Vallarta!

All inclusive means fat and lazy. 7 days and 7 nights may have almost been too much, but we'd go back to Mexico!

Some of the pool action and views from the beach.

What are they trying to teach me?

Thtat is the title of the my speech. The secretary caught me the other day as I was walking through the office and said she needed a title! And, that is was occurred to me. I actually have a good chunk of the speech written, so, I think the title is appropriate for what I am trying to say to them. I am still quite nervous - the day is approaching quickly.

Commencement Speech Title: Any thoughts?

Played tennis today with some of the guys on the Rogers team. I miss tennis! It was fun. And they gave an old man a run for his money. I am out of shape.

Seniors are just about as checked out as they could be. If I could do magic tricks while standing on my head and paying them to watch me... I may be able to hold their attention. We are going to 'coast' for the remaining 16 days. Some personal budget stuff, taxes, renting an apartment and creating a resume - along with a few films scattered in there for good measure. Yeah - I'm out of ideas.

I still need to write my commencement speech. I've started it. I'd like it to be funny and meaningful of course. We'll see how that goes. The head secretary called today to ask me for a title. A TITLE??? Good lord, that would mean I have something to give a title. If I had to suggest something at this point, I guess it would have to be something like

A Perspective on Life or

Life 101. It meets everyday, attendance is required, participation is optional. Please be punctual. I suppose that is a dig at the very tardy and absent-prone classes that I'm trying to teach presently. Wow it is tough to teach seniors in May! or, perhaps this one:

Everything you learned in high school applies to the rest of your life - You just have less control, don't get paid as much you as thought you would, and no one can tell you what to do - which is something you will miss many days.

I'm waiting for my epiphany on a title. In the meantime, I'll draw my inspiration from the kids. What are they trying to teach me?

If You Were A Bluebird

I just picked up the album Bluebird, by Emmylou Harris (1989) because it was featured in the 5th season of the Sopranos and I am so glad that I did!! The very first song, "Heaven Only Knows" is the reason I bought it, and it is an instant classic; the last song, however, is so beautiful lyrically (which is what I really love) and musically, that I recommend anyone slightly sympathetic to country or folk music should buy this album!

Emmylou Harris IF YOU WERE A BLUEBIRD

If you were a bluebird you'd be a sad one
I'd give you a true word
But you've already had one
If you were a bluebird,
you'd be crying
You'd be flying home
If you were a raindrop,
You'd shine like a rainbow
And if you were a train stop,
The conductor would sing low
If you were a raindrop,
You'd be falling
You'd be calling home

[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
If you were a hotel
Honey, you'd be a grand one
But, if you hit a slow spell,
Do you think you could stand one
If you were a hotel,
Well I'd lean on your doorbell
I'd call you my home
If I was a highway,
I'd stretch alongside you
I'd help you pass by ways
That had dissatisfied you
If I was a highway,
Well I'd be stretchin'
I'd be fetchin' you home

A Laundry List of Life in March

• Attended St. Patty's Day at McGoverns
  
  
• Time to start looking for a house
  
  
• Was asked to be the commencement speaker for this year's senior class
  
  
• Saw a recovered Autumn happy and back and work at Maynards
  
  
• Regret not going to the gym more this month
  
  
• Discovered a new bar to hang out at since all the good gay St. Paul's shut!
  
  
• Booked my spring break trip to Puerto Vallarta
  
  
• Still doing pretty good about maintaining a balance of home and work
  
  
• Talked to my sister about family, the explosion in Paynesville and getting together with dad
  
  
• Bought the Emilylou Harris album, Bluebird, and LOVE it
  
  
• Got a letter from my Aunt Marlys
  
  
• Baked cookies for the hell of it
  
  
• Still love my boy more than ever
  
  
• Looking forward to spring break!
  
  
• I should read more books that don't have history or economics in the title
  

SNOW DAY!!!!

One of the few redeeming qualities of getting 6-18 inches of snow less than 24 hours...

Two Hour Late Start

These days are never very productive. RHS had a late start today to offfer up professional development to staff - the topic du jour was Advisor/Advisee programs. I've officially been in education too long because after hearing both presentations, I thought to myself, good god, we did this years ago! Why are we recreating the wheel. Some conversations with my colleagues did remind that not everyone is on the same page however, and change comes slow with large, heterogenous organizations.

The kids are always a little more rambunctious on days like today too. Thank goodness that Tuesdays are designated 'work days' in History and the seniors are working on the Economics Problems projects in the library.

Highlight of the day: Seeing a cartoon cow with a caption that read: "My agenda - get up, eat, go the beach, drink" taped to my computer. Susan, who is presently in Mexico, must have paid a student well to break into my room to send me such sentiments from afar. I'll get her back.

For Your Information

I've added some great websites for reading current events and finding out more information on political issues and candidates! Stay informed people - education is the only thing that will lead to progress!

A post for the 'new' year

It's been a while since I've blogged... and I've sworn off using the phrase "I've been too busy" to anyone or any situation. The fact is, we make choices with our time, and I have obviously chosen to either work long hours, spend my evenings with friends or in front of network non-cable television or online chatting with friends on facebook or emailing. But I haven't blogged. I am now.

Time is flying - quicker everyday. January will be over soon and the hoopla that surrounds an old year passing and a new year arriving will have faded into the same memory of other New Year celebrations.

Life is good, despite it's hectic pace. Tim is presently in Scotland for 10 days for work. I wish I was with him - either over there or here for that matter. We email back and forth and IM occassionly, but it's not the same as being together. I sound needy, but oh well. I am happy for him and his new job and opportunities. He's excited and nervous and anxious all at the same time. He wants to implement big and progressive changes and make the best of what he has - my ambitious puppy.

Work is going pretty well. The school morale seems to be hovering above water, but barely. Big class sizes and a few difficult unexpected tragedies have added to the usual malaise that hits an overworked and under-appreciated profession. I still have no off switch. Second semester has arrived and we are in day 4. I continually try to redo and revamp and upgrade and reframe how and what I teach to reach more and different students everyday. I sometimes wonder if I miss the forest for the trees some days. I do obsess a bit. I need to work on that and appreciate the systems and ideas I have in place and enjoy the learning and discussions and the beautiful, challenging and unique human beings that come into my classroom everyday. Even if there are 175 of them.

I miss the pace of Scotland sometimes. I miss the freedom I had. I resent that I took that freedom for granted most days. I'll deal. I get my vacations and I'll travel back to that place - mentally and physically - soon enough and I'll revel in the knowledge that perspective has given me and use my good sense to appreciate even more next time.