Inspiration right now is hard to come by. Tough times at school, with the kids, with my own personal fitness have left me drained of energy, thus I'm seeking out inspiration from many places right now.
I've been sent a youtube video called "Lost Generation" that's been a source of inspiration for me as of late: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42E2fAWM6rA&feature=related
Our principal, who's repeatedly dug herself good sized holes to get out of, tried the pollyanna approach yesterday with "oh what positives have we done this year...blah blah blah". While I'm not much into that kind of rah rah crap, she did use a web site that I've found some really good things to think about on.
http://www.simpletruths.com/movies.asp This is a bunch of free to use videos with really good messages and quotes to go along with them.
Here's to find your own inspiration from something around you....:-)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Graduation
This year's graduation was probably the hardest for me to stomach. While I won't openly admit it, this was one of my all time favorite classes I've ever worked with for many reasons. They had much potential leaving my little world of sixth grade, there was just a spark among many of them, and the girls of the class "forced" me back into coaching ("you coach us, Mr. J, or we'll make thing difficult").
As it was, the following two years, I had the chance to coach the same girls in jr. high, both 7th and 8th grade, so there was quite a connection made there by the time things were said and done. As years have gone past since 8th grade, I've lost touch with many of these students, heard some not so good things about their activities, and generally looked at is as another class moving on. I had entertained the notion of not going to the parties, just because it seemed like a waste.
However, I got out some old pictures of the jr. high teams, and looked at the pure joy they had playing the game, not for anyone but themselves and their team mates, and at that point decided to attend the parties, regardless of my personal feelings. And I'm glad that I did. I went to one party and almost got tackled by the graduate giving me a hug. Later on, her parents both commented about how she considered me her "favorite teacher of all time" and just the impact that I had made in her life. I was shocked to say the least! Another party I had a graduate almost in tears when I walked in, hugging me and comment how my "stories" helped her become the complete basketball player she was.
Yes, it's totally selfish, but it was a huge ego boost to hear those things, and realize that yes, I do make a difference. The last 5 years have been ones of great upheaval with my wife's parents both passing, moving, and the general chaos that is school, and I know I've not been the teacher I should be. With these graduations, I've felt better about my job as a whole and HOW I do my job. I get right down into the kids on their level: I tease them, poke fun at them, and get up into their faces when need be. That's who I am, and that's what I'll continue to do because it works for me.
As it was, the following two years, I had the chance to coach the same girls in jr. high, both 7th and 8th grade, so there was quite a connection made there by the time things were said and done. As years have gone past since 8th grade, I've lost touch with many of these students, heard some not so good things about their activities, and generally looked at is as another class moving on. I had entertained the notion of not going to the parties, just because it seemed like a waste.
However, I got out some old pictures of the jr. high teams, and looked at the pure joy they had playing the game, not for anyone but themselves and their team mates, and at that point decided to attend the parties, regardless of my personal feelings. And I'm glad that I did. I went to one party and almost got tackled by the graduate giving me a hug. Later on, her parents both commented about how she considered me her "favorite teacher of all time" and just the impact that I had made in her life. I was shocked to say the least! Another party I had a graduate almost in tears when I walked in, hugging me and comment how my "stories" helped her become the complete basketball player she was.
Yes, it's totally selfish, but it was a huge ego boost to hear those things, and realize that yes, I do make a difference. The last 5 years have been ones of great upheaval with my wife's parents both passing, moving, and the general chaos that is school, and I know I've not been the teacher I should be. With these graduations, I've felt better about my job as a whole and HOW I do my job. I get right down into the kids on their level: I tease them, poke fun at them, and get up into their faces when need be. That's who I am, and that's what I'll continue to do because it works for me.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Just being
The last two nights, I've been outside until almost dark getting our new raised beds fillled with "starter soil" (1/3 top soil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 peet moss), a job I've been pushing to get done for a while now.
As I've been out there, I've had the chance to watch the sun set over the hillside, and the explosion of reds and pinks that come with that, such incredible colors. The there are barred owls all around us, and they get started talking to each other about this time. Yesterday, we had 35+ mph winds all day, but by the time I got out there, the winds had died down considerable, so it was pleasant to be outside.
All of this has lead to a relative calm settling in on me. Between work, my daughters being awful lately, my wife's work being difficult, I know it's been working on me that have shown up as over eating, sleeplessness, etc. Yesterday and today, that calm of "just being" has been a welcome relief to all that other stuff. Today, if I get home in time, I'll be planting a bunch of seeds and plants that have taken up residence in our kitchen. I hope to be outside until late again as I've really enjoyed that time outside and taking in the beauty that is where we live.
Next, the blueberry bushes, four of them....one variety says you can pick almost 10 lbs off of one bush, to which I say HA (that would be a LOT of blueberries...).
Life is good....take the time to say that to yourself.....:-)
As I've been out there, I've had the chance to watch the sun set over the hillside, and the explosion of reds and pinks that come with that, such incredible colors. The there are barred owls all around us, and they get started talking to each other about this time. Yesterday, we had 35+ mph winds all day, but by the time I got out there, the winds had died down considerable, so it was pleasant to be outside.
All of this has lead to a relative calm settling in on me. Between work, my daughters being awful lately, my wife's work being difficult, I know it's been working on me that have shown up as over eating, sleeplessness, etc. Yesterday and today, that calm of "just being" has been a welcome relief to all that other stuff. Today, if I get home in time, I'll be planting a bunch of seeds and plants that have taken up residence in our kitchen. I hope to be outside until late again as I've really enjoyed that time outside and taking in the beauty that is where we live.
Next, the blueberry bushes, four of them....one variety says you can pick almost 10 lbs off of one bush, to which I say HA (that would be a LOT of blueberries...).
Life is good....take the time to say that to yourself.....:-)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Yeah, lame post I know, but it's been on my mind lately.
I left high school 20 year ago without a look backward. I think I can count on one hand the classmates that I've seen in that time. Spending time in Alaska, Missouri, and finally here in Iowa, I've developed my own style (as goofy as it may be) and have shed that stupidity that was a high school complex. I was the painfully quiet person who found his outlet in the musical arts. While I enjoyed my time as a band geek (I did love playing the tuba though, an instrument with attitude), my true passion was singing, and I was good at it as well. However, being a music geek left me out of many an activity, which quite honestly looking back was not a bad thing.
Anyway, within the last six months, I started a Facebook page at the request of the woman I teach with. I had a few former students on it, but was not at all prepared for the dozen classmates who suddenly popped up in my life again. True enough, they are now names on a screen, but it brought back a lot of memories I'd buried for dead: good bad and otherwise.
It's also allowed me to connect a little more personally with some people from a running board that I frequent. It allows me to see them for more then just words on a page, but pictures, families, dreams, and disappointments. They are now those people who matter to me, and I'm thankful that they've allowed me a small peek into who they are.
Now, I've often toyed with the idea of cancelling my Facebook page because of those classmates. But as I've worked through the resurfacing of that geek from 1989, it's really made me realize that's no who I am at all. In 20 years, I've lived in places I could have never dreamed about back then, met the most incredible people, married the love of my life, and had two beautiful children. The guy of '89 (while he has a smoking hot six pack) is pretty much a memory now, and the guy of '09 (a lot larger with a lot less hair) is who I am now.
Thankfully. :-)
I left high school 20 year ago without a look backward. I think I can count on one hand the classmates that I've seen in that time. Spending time in Alaska, Missouri, and finally here in Iowa, I've developed my own style (as goofy as it may be) and have shed that stupidity that was a high school complex. I was the painfully quiet person who found his outlet in the musical arts. While I enjoyed my time as a band geek (I did love playing the tuba though, an instrument with attitude), my true passion was singing, and I was good at it as well. However, being a music geek left me out of many an activity, which quite honestly looking back was not a bad thing.
Anyway, within the last six months, I started a Facebook page at the request of the woman I teach with. I had a few former students on it, but was not at all prepared for the dozen classmates who suddenly popped up in my life again. True enough, they are now names on a screen, but it brought back a lot of memories I'd buried for dead: good bad and otherwise.
It's also allowed me to connect a little more personally with some people from a running board that I frequent. It allows me to see them for more then just words on a page, but pictures, families, dreams, and disappointments. They are now those people who matter to me, and I'm thankful that they've allowed me a small peek into who they are.
Now, I've often toyed with the idea of cancelling my Facebook page because of those classmates. But as I've worked through the resurfacing of that geek from 1989, it's really made me realize that's no who I am at all. In 20 years, I've lived in places I could have never dreamed about back then, met the most incredible people, married the love of my life, and had two beautiful children. The guy of '89 (while he has a smoking hot six pack) is pretty much a memory now, and the guy of '09 (a lot larger with a lot less hair) is who I am now.
Thankfully. :-)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Craigslist
You hear all this stupid stuff about how Craig's List is in trouble. So be it, there are stupid people out there who do stupid things. My experiences with Craig's List have been nothing but good!
Example#1: Last fall, I was able to get 35 decent wooden fence posts plus a bunch of barbed wire for free from a nice couple who simply were not going to be using the materials and wanted them gone.
Example#2: A couple of weeks ago, we got 35 good steel fence posts for $50, with the likely-hood of another 25-30 posts for free when we take down a fence.
Example#3: I may take a little trip to pick up a load of free cement blocks to build a composting bin with.
You just need to keep your eyes open in the free section section of Craig's List and it's surprising what you can find there. So, while buyer beware is always a good thought, just being smart and paying attention to what is out there can pay huge dividends down the road too! :-)
Example#1: Last fall, I was able to get 35 decent wooden fence posts plus a bunch of barbed wire for free from a nice couple who simply were not going to be using the materials and wanted them gone.
Example#2: A couple of weeks ago, we got 35 good steel fence posts for $50, with the likely-hood of another 25-30 posts for free when we take down a fence.
Example#3: I may take a little trip to pick up a load of free cement blocks to build a composting bin with.
You just need to keep your eyes open in the free section section of Craig's List and it's surprising what you can find there. So, while buyer beware is always a good thought, just being smart and paying attention to what is out there can pay huge dividends down the road too! :-)
Monday, May 4, 2009
More progress
This could also be titled "damn, I've bitten off way too much"! :)
This weekend was another good weekend of work for us. It's the first weekend we've been home and it's been nice in some time so there was a lot of work to get finished.
Saturday, my wife mowed a bunch of the lawn (we may be a little early) as I got some plants out and ready to harden up a little bit for transplant. I know I'll need be purchasing some peppers and eggplants, but the tomatoes actually are looking like, well, tomatoes! They haven't wilted in the sun at all so far, so we'll see how this all works out.
We also mapped out our garden areas too, kind of making a plant as to what plants will be going where. We don't have as much garden space this year, but are attempting to garden with less space (a combination of square foot gardening and intensive gardening). I'll have potatoes planted by the end of the week, with onions in all ready. We'll also have at least two raised beds built by the end of this week, more if I have my way, in which we'll have a lot of our greens put into.
Sunday, uggh. I spent four hours up on top of the roof tuck-pointing the chimney. There were many bricks that were loose, both because of weather and because of a colony of bats who'd used the chimney as home base for many many years. I ended up using about 30 lbs of mortar on the chimney, and I think that much of what needed to be done was finished. We'll see how it holds up for my first attempt.
Someday, I'll try to get some pictures posted here too!
This weekend was another good weekend of work for us. It's the first weekend we've been home and it's been nice in some time so there was a lot of work to get finished.
Saturday, my wife mowed a bunch of the lawn (we may be a little early) as I got some plants out and ready to harden up a little bit for transplant. I know I'll need be purchasing some peppers and eggplants, but the tomatoes actually are looking like, well, tomatoes! They haven't wilted in the sun at all so far, so we'll see how this all works out.
We also mapped out our garden areas too, kind of making a plant as to what plants will be going where. We don't have as much garden space this year, but are attempting to garden with less space (a combination of square foot gardening and intensive gardening). I'll have potatoes planted by the end of the week, with onions in all ready. We'll also have at least two raised beds built by the end of this week, more if I have my way, in which we'll have a lot of our greens put into.
Sunday, uggh. I spent four hours up on top of the roof tuck-pointing the chimney. There were many bricks that were loose, both because of weather and because of a colony of bats who'd used the chimney as home base for many many years. I ended up using about 30 lbs of mortar on the chimney, and I think that much of what needed to be done was finished. We'll see how it holds up for my first attempt.
Someday, I'll try to get some pictures posted here too!
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