I think I might prefer the virtual world

Yesterday I had to go to Rockwell Collins for a virtual reality demonstration. They are donating a virtual reality projector, computer and screen to the school and I went with a small group of people to check out the technology in their environment. It was pretty cool to see the virtual reality, 3D environment. We had to wear some high tech 3D glasses but it really seemed like we were really in the virtual room.

We had to leave at 6am yesterday morning, thus the blog did not get posted. It was an early start to the day since I also had to teach class last night and didn't get home until around 9:45. Anyway, it was pretty cool and it will be interesting to see if our staff gets jazzed enough about it to actually develop curriculum to integrate it.

Drew had a basketball game last night. They lost 50 something to 14. UGLY! Drew did score one point.

Jess has her first basketball game tonight. I am not sure where it is but it isn't in Perry. I teach so I pay less attention to where she plays when I have no chance of attending.

The weekend went quickly. The huskers won, which was good. Jess had a basketball round robin scrimmage all day Saturday. The kids and Dawn wen to the school play and that was about it.

We did go to Ankeny Sunday to turn in Jessica's volleyball contract but that was relatively uneventful. I did buy a new kitchen trash can..Whoo Hoo!

I can't believe we are a little over a week away from Thanksgiving. I need to call mom this weekend and decide what we are going to do. Jess is having oral surgery over the break so I am not sure I am going to make it to the traditional Thanksgiving decoration day at the restaurant. I really haven't even thought much about it and it is just a week away.

Christmas is fast approaching as well. It won't be long until the shopping season will be full swing. I also have to start thinking of songs for the Christmas CD.

Ok, off to start.

Well, it doesn't feel like Friday

More rain and cold. I was thinking that I might rather have snow and just cold than this crappy, wet, miserable stuff we have been getting.

Friday has rushed upon me quickly this week. I think it has been because it has been such a busy week. Yesterday was a day full of meetings and office work. Nancy had to go with her mom to the hospital yesterday for some testing.

I have zero plans this weekend but the kids have plans. Drew is going to the movies tonight and then the school play tomorrow night. Jess is going to the school play tonight and she has a basketball scrimmage/round robing tournament in Des Moines tomorrow. Saturday night she is going out with friends.

I contacted the University of Nebraska to get information from them on the track program. They seemed very interested in Jess and are sending her a packet and want me to send a video. She received a big packet from K-State this week and has been getting a bunch of emails from the head coach at the University of Northern Iowa.

The economy is going to hit the district pretty hard next year. The state has notified the districts that this year we are safe from additional cuts but next year we will be hit hard. We are looking at possible staff cuts. There is the potential to have a $300,000 deficit or more heading into the next fiscal year.

It is getting to the end of my teaching for the term. I have 3 Tuesday classes left and 4 Monday classes left. It will be good to get them done. I look forward to teaching again next term but I really need to re-organize prior to the sessions starting up.

Ok, off to start the day and push to the weekend.

Without peanut butter and jelly I would die

Still cold and rainy but still now snow.

Class went pretty well last night. I didn't get out of there until about 9:30 so it was a little later than usual. I gave a test at the end of class and it took some of them an hour to complete.

I am hoping it doesn't get slick on the roads tonight. We are supposed to get rain most of the day and the temp is just hovering around freezing. Last night I checked the temp at 8:30 pm and it was 33. The high for the day was 34.

Jess had a hard basketball practice last night. I think it went until 6:30. I haven't talked to her yet but Drew said she was complaining about her legs being like rubber.

Drew is having a little trouble with spelling words. He is just not intuitive when it comes to that. I told him to bring his words home so we can work on them at night. They test every Friday. He said I should remind him to bring them home. My response to that was to explain to him that in a few months he will have a learners permit to drive a car. If he can't handle the simple task of remembering to bring his spelling words home, I am not sure how comfortable I am letting him get behind the wheel. I am pretty sure the spelling list will be here tomorrow. lol

Gas was as low as 1.70 here but it shot up to $1.89 overnight.

Oh! Jess was selected First team All-Conference for volleyball. They had the awards ceremony last night and the coach announced it. It is a big honor because we have one of the toughest if not the toughest conferences in the state for volleyball. For her to make 1st team when our team wasn't that competitive is a very good thing for her.

I also forgot to mention that she got tested for her vertical jump the other day and she has a 25 inch vertical. She can jump up and touch 9 feet 8 inches. The best in the school for girls.

I have no idea what is on my agenda today. I haven't checked it and really don't want to know.

Off to start.

Life just doesn't slow down

The weather is very cold and it seems like it going to be like this for awhile. At least we aren't getting any snow.

Jess had her volleyball tryouts yesterday. She was going to try-out for two or three teams. She wanted to play with the same girls she played with last year so they weren't sure if they would all make the same team so it was a wait and see thing.

They all tried out for the same team that they played on last year which has new coaches and management, so that it where the concern came in. They all made the team so she didn't even try-out anywhere else. I took her out to eat instead. We will sign the contract this week and take it back next weekend. A couple of the other girls also tried out for another team but they all want to play for Sports University again. I guess we will see how it turns out.

I was glad she made the Sports University team again. We have all the gear so it saves money.

The other good news is we will be in Omaha again for the tournament so tell Jenny and Angie.

Drew went to the Drake football game this weekend. The school took the entire middle school football team. The tickets were free. It was cold with flurries so even though they had fun, it was a cold mother.

Since we had volleyball tryouts Sunday, I reserved the high school gym for practice. There were three girls that were going to come but it was open to anyone trying out for teams Sunday. We go to get setup and the high school basketball coach was in there getting setup for a middle school practice. Jess was freaked out a bit. Not only did I have to kick him out of the gym but had to tell him it was for a volleyball warm-up for girls trying out for club volleyball.

Basketball practice starts today. We will see if he is grouchy with Jess. What are the odds. 9:00 am on a Saturday morning.

Not much going on with me. Just teaching and working.

Off to start the routine.

Landslide

The weather is a bit rainy and cool and going to get down right cold by the end of the week.

Class went well last night. I only had 3 our of 5 people in attendance. The other two emailed me and let me know they wouldn't make it.

The election was historical last night. Barack Obama won by a large margin. I voted yesterday morning and was the 175th person in my precinct to vote. Nancy was 174. (I think she skipped some of the ballot items.)

I didn't have a chance to talk to the kids much last night so I am not sure how things went with them yesterday. I did talk to Drew this morning for a bit, he had practice, but he didn't have much to say. It was too early, was his response.

I have a conference call this morning but I think the rest of the day is open.

Off to start.

Simply Vote!

Well election day is upon us. The weather is good so turnout here in Iowa should be high. I plan on going a little later in the morning to try to avoid lines. I guess we will see.

Class went ok last night. I covered the material and they took the test and we were out early. It is getting down to the final month of classes and we are running short on material. I can stretch it but I hate to waste people's time.

Drew is enjoying his morning practices. He is in a skills club and they had a event last night at the school until almost 9:00 so I am sure he is a little tire this morning. It is hard to tell sometimes with him because he just isn't a complainer.

Jess is doing the basketball thing and the principal's daughter is a senior this year and this is "her sport" so she is being a pain. To top it off the principal is assistant coaching this year so she can do no wrong. It is going to be a messy season. He really shouldn't coach his daughter. He has objectivity problems anyway and now you throw this in, it may be a mess.

I am really enjoying the good weather. Last night I walked home from class and it was a clear starry sky and a warm breeze was blowing. It was the type of night that would have been great to just sit in a lawn chair, listen to the radio and look at the sky. I always walk extra slow on nights like that so I can enjoy the evening.

Ok, off to start my day. We elect a new president today. I will be teaching so I won't get to enjoy the early returns. It would be a fun night to sit and watch the events unfold. Maybe make some popcorn, drink a little beer and either celebrate the outcome or get good and drunk to wash away the memory of the night.

The day before the big election

The weekend was awesome! Temps in the 70's both days and Sunday we had a high of 74.

I burned leaves Saturday and Sunday and made the kids help. They weren't too big on it but it was a very good thing to have done. I kind of like burning leaves. The leaves were dry so they burned really fast.

It looks like the weather is going to be good the next couple of days. Tuesday is election day so we will see how that goes. So many crazies out there that vote you just never know what could happen.

Drew has early morning practices for basketball this week. He needs to be at the school by 6:15 so he is getting up now and getting ready. He likes the morning practices because it gives him his after school time free.

Jess has "open gym" this week, which is really basketball practice but they aren't officially practicing.

This weekend we will have the club volleyball tryouts in Ankeny. I hope she makes the team again this year. She will be very dissapointed if she doesn't.

Nancy is going to be out of the office today. Dave has kidney stones so they have to go blast them out.

I teach tonight and tomorrow but the end is in sight.

Off to start.