The weather is taking a turn for the worse. We have hit our high already and it is going to get cold and we are supposed to get a couple of inches of snow. We are already 10 inches over our normal snow fall for the year so everything we get from here on out will only add to that total.
Did I mention that I hate snow? Well I do! Give me the warm California sun any day over this wet, cold, slick, crap. I just have to keep telling myself that it will only be a matter of months before I am splashing around in the Pacific ocean underneath that warm California sun.
My class went ok last night. The students were distracted and playing on the computer while I was talking. That ended last night. I gave them a lecture about responsibility and if they aren't able to sit and listen to the material during class, I would have to assign additional homework to insure they knew the material. Either listen now, or learn on your own later! I plan to meet with each of them individually next week to discuss their grade. I have a concern about a couple of them.
Drew has a game today in Jefferson at 4:00. I think the weather will hold up so they will have it. There is a concern with the wind and having a "ground blizzard" but I can't imagine with just a couple inches of snow it will be that big of a deal. Jess has a volleyball practice in Ankeny tonight. This is the first Tuesday she has been able to attend. Usually she has a game but tonight is open so she gets to go to practice. I am sure she is thrilled.
Insomnia has been a bit of an issue the last couple of nights. Last night wasn't as bad as Sunday night but I still didn't sleep well. I have been getting sharp pains in my chest and it woke me up last night. I don't think it is really anything to worry about. I get these pains from time to time but nothing down my left arm so I am pretty sure I am fine. Beside, who has heart problems at 39?
Tomorrow I teach another class in Des Moines. I am glad that the classes are Monday and Wednesday so I can get them out of the way early in the week. I would hate teaching a Friday class.
Off to start my snowy day.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
50's are a good thing!
It is a mixed bag today. Yes - it is Monday and the worst day of the week but the weather is going to be good. I think the high is going to be in the upper 40's and a chance to get to 50! I might be able to finally see my driveway by the end of the day.
I have an early morning meeting with the Superintendent today. I have a meeting with him every other week about nothing in paticular. It is just a chance to get together and talk about issues I have, update progress on projects and if he has anything for me, which he usually does, talk with me about that.
I teach class tonight. At this point in the morning I am not able to get too jazzed about it. I had a bit of insomnia last night and then when I did sleep, it was terrible. I had the stranges dreams and they were terrible so I kept waking up, which would start the cycle over again. Awake and not able to sleep, finally get to sleep, terrible dream, wake up......repeat.
Today was also the day I was going to start hitting the treadmill. My plan was to get up at 4:40 and make coffee, let Molly out, use the bathroom, stretch and then treadmill for 30 minutes. Well, it didn't quite work out today. I woke up as scheduled but my back was killing me. I had a hard time putting on my shorts. I think this is from playing volleyball last night and now I am having a hard time moving around. In my mind I also have about 30 other reason NOT to get on the treadmill, I am going to have to get past that to get back in shape.
The week ahead looks like this: Today I teach class, tomorrow Drew has a game, Wednesday I teach class, Thursday nothing, Friday Jess has a game.
The basketball team is still struggling. Satuday the coach yelled at Jess pretty good. I think he has too high of standard for her this year. He doesn't really yell at anyone else when they make a mistake but if Jess does, he really gets on her. He told her he thinks she can be an "All State" player but she won't be one if she doesn't want to go out. The season is almost over and I think everyone is very happy about it.
Drew went to a dance Saturday night. He said he didn't dance with a girl but I am not sure if I believe him. He said he had a good time and that is what matters.
If the weather wasn't going to be so good today I would really be grumpy. I am tired and the coffee isn't helping much today and it is Monday. The weather is what I am hanging on to.
I hope things are going well for everyone.
I have an early morning meeting with the Superintendent today. I have a meeting with him every other week about nothing in paticular. It is just a chance to get together and talk about issues I have, update progress on projects and if he has anything for me, which he usually does, talk with me about that.
I teach class tonight. At this point in the morning I am not able to get too jazzed about it. I had a bit of insomnia last night and then when I did sleep, it was terrible. I had the stranges dreams and they were terrible so I kept waking up, which would start the cycle over again. Awake and not able to sleep, finally get to sleep, terrible dream, wake up......repeat.
Today was also the day I was going to start hitting the treadmill. My plan was to get up at 4:40 and make coffee, let Molly out, use the bathroom, stretch and then treadmill for 30 minutes. Well, it didn't quite work out today. I woke up as scheduled but my back was killing me. I had a hard time putting on my shorts. I think this is from playing volleyball last night and now I am having a hard time moving around. In my mind I also have about 30 other reason NOT to get on the treadmill, I am going to have to get past that to get back in shape.
The week ahead looks like this: Today I teach class, tomorrow Drew has a game, Wednesday I teach class, Thursday nothing, Friday Jess has a game.
The basketball team is still struggling. Satuday the coach yelled at Jess pretty good. I think he has too high of standard for her this year. He doesn't really yell at anyone else when they make a mistake but if Jess does, he really gets on her. He told her he thinks she can be an "All State" player but she won't be one if she doesn't want to go out. The season is almost over and I think everyone is very happy about it.
Drew went to a dance Saturday night. He said he didn't dance with a girl but I am not sure if I believe him. He said he had a good time and that is what matters.
If the weather wasn't going to be so good today I would really be grumpy. I am tired and the coffee isn't helping much today and it is Monday. The weather is what I am hanging on to.
I hope things are going well for everyone.
Friday, January 25, 2008
How does this snow blow?....Let me count the ways.
The weekend is almost here. Friday is my favorite day of the week and I don't have any big plans for the weekend.
Jess has a game tonight and a game tomorrow. Both of these games are here in Perry so that makes it very easy.
They had a JV game last night and they won. I am not sure how it all went but Jess told me about it when she got home. She said she played well and scored some points. I really didn't ask too much about it. She was telling me that they went to the game in a suburban, which is like a station wagon but more like a truck, anyway the coach put 11 girls in this thing. 3 or 4 or them were sitting on laps and when the AD found out, he was ticked. Most of the girls got a ride home with their parents.
Drew and I had a nice evening together. We had tator tot casserole for dinner and watched a couple of episodes of "Chuck". He has a speech to give today. The topic he chose was Niagara Falls. They went there this summer on vacation so he decided that was something he was a bit familiar with. One of Drew's friends chose "Drew" as his topic and is giving a three minute speech about Drew. He thinks it is funny, so do I.
The basketball season will be coming to an end soon. I am kind of looking foward to it being over. The season kind of wears on the kids and you can tell when it is time for a new season and a new coach. Track is just around the corner and for Jess she will start the volleyball tournament season as well.
I have a bit of preparation to do for the classes I teach so I plan to do some of that this weekend. Since the classes are at different spots in the competencies, it is like lesson planning for two completely different courses. Not a big deal.
Off to start my day and weekend.
Jess has a game tonight and a game tomorrow. Both of these games are here in Perry so that makes it very easy.
They had a JV game last night and they won. I am not sure how it all went but Jess told me about it when she got home. She said she played well and scored some points. I really didn't ask too much about it. She was telling me that they went to the game in a suburban, which is like a station wagon but more like a truck, anyway the coach put 11 girls in this thing. 3 or 4 or them were sitting on laps and when the AD found out, he was ticked. Most of the girls got a ride home with their parents.
Drew and I had a nice evening together. We had tator tot casserole for dinner and watched a couple of episodes of "Chuck". He has a speech to give today. The topic he chose was Niagara Falls. They went there this summer on vacation so he decided that was something he was a bit familiar with. One of Drew's friends chose "Drew" as his topic and is giving a three minute speech about Drew. He thinks it is funny, so do I.
The basketball season will be coming to an end soon. I am kind of looking foward to it being over. The season kind of wears on the kids and you can tell when it is time for a new season and a new coach. Track is just around the corner and for Jess she will start the volleyball tournament season as well.
I have a bit of preparation to do for the classes I teach so I plan to do some of that this weekend. Since the classes are at different spots in the competencies, it is like lesson planning for two completely different courses. Not a big deal.
Off to start my day and weekend.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Why do I believe that everyone who doesn't think like me is an idiot?
To say it is cold today is a bit of an understatment. -12 degrees, what the what!
I went to meet the instructor and teach my DMACC class last night. I wasn't sure how it was going to work. I had no idea where they were at or what they were doing so I was hoping he would either teach the class or get to a point where I could take over and move from that point forward.
He was planning on teaching the class last night, which was fine, so I met with him and went over the material he has covered to this point. I read the syllabus and stayed for the first hour and a half of class. I talked to the students a bit and then told them what to expect next week. He has a test for them to take next week so they will do that. At that point it will be my class to do as I please.
It should be a pretty good experience and the classrooms they use are awesome! The setup is very cool. They have a computer with a projector. It projects to a smart board which allows me to use my hand on the board like a mouse. They also have a white board off to the side that allows me to write or highlight info. It is a very nice setup. I think I will try to model this at our school.
It was a short night. I got home a littl after 8. It is a 70 mile round trip to the DMACC West campus so it is good that they pay mileage.
Nancy is taking the day off today. She has to take Dave to the doctor and will be gone most if not all of the day. I hope it isn't to hectic today while she is gone. I have some things I want to get off my list and I really don't want to deal with the phone.
Drew has an early morning practice and Jess has a JV game in Adel tonight. I am not sure if I am going to the game. She will only play two quarters because they are only allowed so many quarters in a year so varsity players can only play two quarters of JV. I am not sure I want to travel to Adel for two quarters. It is going to be cold and gas isn't cheap. I may go though, who knows.
Did I mention how awesome it is to have my teaching material? IT IS AWESOME! Handouts, presentations, video clips, test generator, answer key. I guess it is funny how little things in life can make a person happy. Such is life. Small victories.
Ok, off to start my day.
I went to meet the instructor and teach my DMACC class last night. I wasn't sure how it was going to work. I had no idea where they were at or what they were doing so I was hoping he would either teach the class or get to a point where I could take over and move from that point forward.
He was planning on teaching the class last night, which was fine, so I met with him and went over the material he has covered to this point. I read the syllabus and stayed for the first hour and a half of class. I talked to the students a bit and then told them what to expect next week. He has a test for them to take next week so they will do that. At that point it will be my class to do as I please.
It should be a pretty good experience and the classrooms they use are awesome! The setup is very cool. They have a computer with a projector. It projects to a smart board which allows me to use my hand on the board like a mouse. They also have a white board off to the side that allows me to write or highlight info. It is a very nice setup. I think I will try to model this at our school.
It was a short night. I got home a littl after 8. It is a 70 mile round trip to the DMACC West campus so it is good that they pay mileage.
Nancy is taking the day off today. She has to take Dave to the doctor and will be gone most if not all of the day. I hope it isn't to hectic today while she is gone. I have some things I want to get off my list and I really don't want to deal with the phone.
Drew has an early morning practice and Jess has a JV game in Adel tonight. I am not sure if I am going to the game. She will only play two quarters because they are only allowed so many quarters in a year so varsity players can only play two quarters of JV. I am not sure I want to travel to Adel for two quarters. It is going to be cold and gas isn't cheap. I may go though, who knows.
Did I mention how awesome it is to have my teaching material? IT IS AWESOME! Handouts, presentations, video clips, test generator, answer key. I guess it is funny how little things in life can make a person happy. Such is life. Small victories.
Ok, off to start my day.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
9 out of 10 people agree, "Hump Day" is a stupid name
I really don't care for the term "hump day". For some reason it reminds me of a camel or a dog going to town on someone's leg. Not the best imagery to start the day.
I was asked to teach another DMACC class starting today. Another instructor that teaches the same class I teach but at the DMACC West campus changed jobs or something and isn't able to continue teaching his class. They asked me to take the class. It is Wednesday from 6-10 and pretty much the same as my current class. I have to drive to the West campus in Des Moines but they pay mileage and it is right off the highway so it isn't a bad drive. I said I would do it, I don't want to turn down the money and I like teaching. The only down side is 6-10 on Monday nights and now on Wednesday nights too. Add the 30 minute drive to and from DMACC and Wednesday is a 5 hour committment. I guess I will see how it goes.
The girls basketball team lost another one last night. I think by 20. Jess plays well but doesn't want to take the open shot from outside. I am done talking to her about it. If she hasn't gotten the message at this point, there isn't any reason to talk to her about it with 7 games left. She will just have to develop for next year.
Drew's team also lost but it was a good loss, if there is such a thing. They lost by 4 but the last time they played this team, they lost by 30 or 40. At least they closed the gap. Drew played well but didn't score. His shots weren't falling.
I am pretty much ready for basketball season to be done. It has been a long season without much success and it is time to move on. Feb 13 is our regional game and that should be the end of it.
It has been very cold here lately. I think the temp right now is 8, which is an improvement from other days this week and tomorrow it is going to get really cold. The weather people say it is going to be a high of 15 and a low of -10(without wind chill).
Not much else to say today. The week is just moving along and I am ready for Spring. Since we are in January, it is going to be a long Winter.
I am going to work on a new name for Wednesday, I am done with "hump".
I was asked to teach another DMACC class starting today. Another instructor that teaches the same class I teach but at the DMACC West campus changed jobs or something and isn't able to continue teaching his class. They asked me to take the class. It is Wednesday from 6-10 and pretty much the same as my current class. I have to drive to the West campus in Des Moines but they pay mileage and it is right off the highway so it isn't a bad drive. I said I would do it, I don't want to turn down the money and I like teaching. The only down side is 6-10 on Monday nights and now on Wednesday nights too. Add the 30 minute drive to and from DMACC and Wednesday is a 5 hour committment. I guess I will see how it goes.
The girls basketball team lost another one last night. I think by 20. Jess plays well but doesn't want to take the open shot from outside. I am done talking to her about it. If she hasn't gotten the message at this point, there isn't any reason to talk to her about it with 7 games left. She will just have to develop for next year.
Drew's team also lost but it was a good loss, if there is such a thing. They lost by 4 but the last time they played this team, they lost by 30 or 40. At least they closed the gap. Drew played well but didn't score. His shots weren't falling.
I am pretty much ready for basketball season to be done. It has been a long season without much success and it is time to move on. Feb 13 is our regional game and that should be the end of it.
It has been very cold here lately. I think the temp right now is 8, which is an improvement from other days this week and tomorrow it is going to get really cold. The weather people say it is going to be a high of 15 and a low of -10(without wind chill).
Not much else to say today. The week is just moving along and I am ready for Spring. Since we are in January, it is going to be a long Winter.
I am going to work on a new name for Wednesday, I am done with "hump".
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
We had tacos for dinner last night and I think I ate 5 too many
I am going to have to go out and shovel the driveway so this is probably going to be a bit short today.
Snow continues to fall and I think we have a total of maybe 5 inches. We probably had between three and four last night and an inch or two yesterday. Not a lot but enough to be a pain.
Both kids have games tonight. Drew is away. I thought he played in Perry but that wasn't right. Jess does play here tonight so I will get to see that one.
My instructor books for class still haven't arrived but they keep promising. Kind of like, Checks in the mail.
Yesterday went pretty well. The constant in technology is that we will always have to deal with the most stupid of people. The bright ones, we never hear from. I guess I should be happy there are stupid people because it does provide a sense of job security. You know what?.........I still hate them!
Nothing on the agenda for the day but I plan on working on getting out web server configured and ready for a swap.
I need to get out and deal with this dang snow.
My back was just starting to get better................ugh
Snow continues to fall and I think we have a total of maybe 5 inches. We probably had between three and four last night and an inch or two yesterday. Not a lot but enough to be a pain.
Both kids have games tonight. Drew is away. I thought he played in Perry but that wasn't right. Jess does play here tonight so I will get to see that one.
My instructor books for class still haven't arrived but they keep promising. Kind of like, Checks in the mail.
Yesterday went pretty well. The constant in technology is that we will always have to deal with the most stupid of people. The bright ones, we never hear from. I guess I should be happy there are stupid people because it does provide a sense of job security. You know what?.........I still hate them!
Nothing on the agenda for the day but I plan on working on getting out web server configured and ready for a swap.
I need to get out and deal with this dang snow.
My back was just starting to get better................ugh
Monday, January 21, 2008
Monday Checklist - Excedrine Migrain, Pot of Coffee, Fake Smile, Positive Attitude (Whatever)!
The weather is cold and a bit snowy. On the bright side, we didn't get as much snow as they had predicted. Saying that, I should probably knock on wood because they are still calling for some snow today. It seems like most of it went north of us so I really thing we are in the clear.
The weekend was uneventful. Jess's basketball team lost big time to the best team in the conference. Saturday she played in a JV game and they lost but it was close. I had to set up for a wrestling tournament so was unable to attend the game.
Jess and Dawn and Dawn' mom went shopping after the game Saturday. Long story-short; Grandma fell in a store, landed on her head and broke her wrist. She was sent by ambulance to the hospital where they did a CAT scan and a few X-Rays and then sent her home. She seems to be fine except for a broken wrist, sore head, sprained ankle and a bruised ego.
Sunday I just stayed inside and watched football. I have a pulled muscle in my back and it has taken most of the weekend to get it so I can move without wincing. I skipped volleyball this weekend too. I didn't think I would have been any good out there.
It is currently 11 degrees outside which is an improvement from yesterday. As I sat and enjoyed my morning coffee it was -7. Looks like we are in the midst of a heat wave!
This week I don't have class. It is MLK day so DMACC is closed. That means tonight is a free night for a change. Tuesday Drew has a game away and Jess has a home game. Nothing Wednesday. Thursday Drew has a home game and Jess has a JV game away. Friday Jess has a home game and I think there is a Saturday game for Jess here in Perry. At least this week I have Monday and Wednesday night free.
The lady who guesses the weather forcast just said we are expecting about 2 more inches of snow here today. That isn't too bad. I hope she is right for a change.
Molly just jumped up on my lap and wants everyone to know she says "hello".
Well, I should start my week. Monday----Ugh!
The weekend was uneventful. Jess's basketball team lost big time to the best team in the conference. Saturday she played in a JV game and they lost but it was close. I had to set up for a wrestling tournament so was unable to attend the game.
Jess and Dawn and Dawn' mom went shopping after the game Saturday. Long story-short; Grandma fell in a store, landed on her head and broke her wrist. She was sent by ambulance to the hospital where they did a CAT scan and a few X-Rays and then sent her home. She seems to be fine except for a broken wrist, sore head, sprained ankle and a bruised ego.
Sunday I just stayed inside and watched football. I have a pulled muscle in my back and it has taken most of the weekend to get it so I can move without wincing. I skipped volleyball this weekend too. I didn't think I would have been any good out there.
It is currently 11 degrees outside which is an improvement from yesterday. As I sat and enjoyed my morning coffee it was -7. Looks like we are in the midst of a heat wave!
This week I don't have class. It is MLK day so DMACC is closed. That means tonight is a free night for a change. Tuesday Drew has a game away and Jess has a home game. Nothing Wednesday. Thursday Drew has a home game and Jess has a JV game away. Friday Jess has a home game and I think there is a Saturday game for Jess here in Perry. At least this week I have Monday and Wednesday night free.
The lady who guesses the weather forcast just said we are expecting about 2 more inches of snow here today. That isn't too bad. I hope she is right for a change.
Molly just jumped up on my lap and wants everyone to know she says "hello".
Well, I should start my week. Monday----Ugh!
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