Well, for those of you getting an update, I'm once again going through some hoops to get my teacher certification, this time in the state of Texas. I am done with the seminars now, but I wanted to mention how often they'll throw on a video that makes everybody in the audience get teary eyed. In the last teacher training seminar I went to on Saturday, they first played some clips about Teddy Stoddard. In the movie link here it's Teddy Stallard, and it will probably affect you differently if you watch it knowing this, but it is purely fiction (Ballard, 1974). Anyway, it's touching though, giving aspiring teachers one more reason to stick with it and really care about making a difference.
Then, later in the morning they played this one. Now, I'm no country music fan, so it was all I could do to simply bear the music and lyrical tone. But yes, I will admit it, the content touched my heart. I don't know if it's "a true story" or not either (fiction I guess), but it also makes aspiring teachers want to care about each and every kid.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
back in the saddle again
Well, my "Spring Break" ended yesterday, so today I was back in the saddle with my awesome team of teachers at the language school. We are doing some planning and development these two days, and on Monday a new (two month) term starts for us. This so-called spring break was scheduled to beMonday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while today and tomorrow were scheduled work days for me. However, I met with some students in New Orleans on Monday as a school representative, and then I came in for a short while on both Tuesday and Wednesday, so it is really funny to think of it as a spring break.
On Monday, Bonnie and the kids and I all drove back in to Houston to get back in the saddle again as far as home and home routines. Actually, thanks to all the recent teacher training, everything is a "procedure" these days, so Bonnie and I hashed out a lot of procedures of parenting that we are starting to implement at our house. So far we've been really pleased, because children take to procedures with the gusto of a new game:
You want to play the Wii? Okay, let's check what we need to do.
What we need to do?
Yeah, there is a checklist and then steps we need to follow.
Steps?
Yes, first of all, is it an appropriate time to play? Yes it is. Next we need to make sure tidy up the living room before we play. Step one is to pick up our toys and put them away. Isaac, you do step two. Step two is to make sure all the shoes are put away nicely.
What's step three?
Orry, you just finish step one and then we'll do step three. Let's put all these toys away.
What's step three?
Step three is taking care of jackets or other clothes.
What's step four?
Step four is making piles with the things that are still out.
What's step five?
Step five? Let's make sure all the other steps are finished. Let's help Isaac finish up.
Okay, now what?
Now we get to play. But first, look at the Wii-motes and see where everything belongs. When we finish, we're going to put everything right back where it belongs.
And so on. That was fun.
So we formulated all sort of procedures for all the little details of life. Then we have procedures to teach, which become routine, and then we have a smoothly oiled productive household.
I heard that routines/procedures are how we can teach responsibility to children. As in, some action is expected in a given situation. And how the student is aware of what is expected and how they choose to do or neglect what is expected defines how responsible they are. So teaching and practicing any sort of meaningful routine makes a lot of sense.
On Monday, Bonnie and the kids and I all drove back in to Houston to get back in the saddle again as far as home and home routines. Actually, thanks to all the recent teacher training, everything is a "procedure" these days, so Bonnie and I hashed out a lot of procedures of parenting that we are starting to implement at our house. So far we've been really pleased, because children take to procedures with the gusto of a new game:
You want to play the Wii? Okay, let's check what we need to do.
What we need to do?
Yeah, there is a checklist and then steps we need to follow.
Steps?
Yes, first of all, is it an appropriate time to play? Yes it is. Next we need to make sure tidy up the living room before we play. Step one is to pick up our toys and put them away. Isaac, you do step two. Step two is to make sure all the shoes are put away nicely.
What's step three?
Orry, you just finish step one and then we'll do step three. Let's put all these toys away.
What's step three?
Step three is taking care of jackets or other clothes.
What's step four?
Step four is making piles with the things that are still out.
What's step five?
Step five? Let's make sure all the other steps are finished. Let's help Isaac finish up.
Okay, now what?
Now we get to play. But first, look at the Wii-motes and see where everything belongs. When we finish, we're going to put everything right back where it belongs.
And so on. That was fun.
So we formulated all sort of procedures for all the little details of life. Then we have procedures to teach, which become routine, and then we have a smoothly oiled productive household.
I heard that routines/procedures are how we can teach responsibility to children. As in, some action is expected in a given situation. And how the student is aware of what is expected and how they choose to do or neglect what is expected defines how responsible they are. So teaching and practicing any sort of meaningful routine makes a lot of sense.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
going bald
Those who know me best will attest that for the past two years, the hair atop my head is not what it used to be. I was under the impression that I drew the head-of-hair-for-life card, but alas, dear reader, my thinned top and plainly receding hairline indicate otherwise.
Tonight was the night where a man in my circumstances explores options. Too bad I didn't save my recent google/wiki searches, because that would pretty much tell the story. An abridged version:
male pattern baldness awareness day
alopecia
free testosterone
free testosterone sex
free testosterone sexual activity
free testosterone sexual activity balding
sexual activity balding
rogaine
anagen
minoxidil
minoxidil price
cheap rograine
cheap minoxidil
male balding hairstyles
kimbo slice
I started out looking for male pattern baldness awareness day because I thought that would be a good day to start rocking what I by and by came to know is called a power donut. (See Larry David, above)
But then I realized that I should also think about the alternatives. For example I didn't know if Rogaine would be something you apply for a while which reverses the balding for life (Of course it isn't). I also wondered about price. Getting cheap generic minoxidil runs about $60 per year, and doesn't seem expensive even if I were to use it for the next 30 years.
But I'm not really one for chemicals. Especially when there is also a timely maintenance routine twice daily, let's be honest.
So by and by I learned such terms as "skullet" and "free testosterone" and I learned who Kimbo Slice is.
You see, it's one thing to embrace the short hair cut, but what about the beard? And I'm not interested in a goatee really. But I got some great tips at artofmanliness.com, and that might be worth a read if you're looking for a laugh or, let's be honest, some information.
On another note, it's nice to get to Louisiana again, the birthplace of my offpsring. We are all together again and everybody's finally getting over colds and so on. Annie and Isaac started competing for objects and attention. On Monday we'll head back to Houston via New Orleans and then we'll enjoy a few days off for Spring Break.
Here we go, springing forward in Spring again.
Tonight was the night where a man in my circumstances explores options. Too bad I didn't save my recent google/wiki searches, because that would pretty much tell the story. An abridged version:
male pattern baldness awareness day
alopecia
free testosterone
free testosterone sex
free testosterone sexual activity
free testosterone sexual activity balding
sexual activity balding
rogaine
anagen
minoxidil
minoxidil price
cheap rograine
cheap minoxidil
male balding hairstyles
kimbo slice
I started out looking for male pattern baldness awareness day because I thought that would be a good day to start rocking what I by and by came to know is called a power donut. (See Larry David, above)
But then I realized that I should also think about the alternatives. For example I didn't know if Rogaine would be something you apply for a while which reverses the balding for life (Of course it isn't). I also wondered about price. Getting cheap generic minoxidil runs about $60 per year, and doesn't seem expensive even if I were to use it for the next 30 years.
But I'm not really one for chemicals. Especially when there is also a timely maintenance routine twice daily, let's be honest.
So by and by I learned such terms as "skullet" and "free testosterone" and I learned who Kimbo Slice is.
You see, it's one thing to embrace the short hair cut, but what about the beard? And I'm not interested in a goatee really. But I got some great tips at artofmanliness.com, and that might be worth a read if you're looking for a laugh or, let's be honest, some information.
On another note, it's nice to get to Louisiana again, the birthplace of my offpsring. We are all together again and everybody's finally getting over colds and so on. Annie and Isaac started competing for objects and attention. On Monday we'll head back to Houston via New Orleans and then we'll enjoy a few days off for Spring Break.
Here we go, springing forward in Spring again.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
all the single ladies
Flash Mob. That's my newest interest. And what better introduction than:
And when I am not thinking about flash mob these days, I am thinking about addiction and recovery. In fact, I combed through some web-research for language clues because a while back, when I was working alongside guys in recovery, it became clear to me that there is "addict thinking" and "rational thinking" and lately I wanted to get something like a clear picture of what language clues one can key in on when it comes to talking with someone in recovery. My findings are worth sharing, I think.
The thing is, I copied them all down from a website I found (which didn’t allow cutting and pasting). I copied them to a notebook page. But unfortunately my computer, in the process of hibernating or something, lost my efforts. So I will just point you to the webpage, and you can scroll down to addict thinking and criminal thinking and find them for yourself I guess (starting at around page 30 of 88).
Actually, there’s a lot of other things I think about, other than flash mobs and abuse recovery. For example, the wife and kids. Since this week we’re occupying different states, I’m thinking about them a lot more than I’m spending time with them these days. I’m really looking forward to seeing them on Friday! Until then, it’s flash mobs, and addiction recovery, and oh yeah, work.
Work, which is thinking about the academics and administration of this language school, as well as instruction in language and math at the college, is also taking up plenty of time. And it’s enjoyable, for the most part.
Also enjoyable is watching the setting sun through our big circular windows. The glass is thick, and when one views the sun near the edge of the window, a couple clear refractions from the sun can be seen. And I am sure that if there is a large sunspot or an eclipse of mercury, I could check it out in the refraction action of the window. In fact, I gave that more thought to that today than I did flash mobs.
And when I am not thinking about flash mob these days, I am thinking about addiction and recovery. In fact, I combed through some web-research for language clues because a while back, when I was working alongside guys in recovery, it became clear to me that there is "addict thinking" and "rational thinking" and lately I wanted to get something like a clear picture of what language clues one can key in on when it comes to talking with someone in recovery. My findings are worth sharing, I think.
The thing is, I copied them all down from a website I found (which didn’t allow cutting and pasting). I copied them to a notebook page. But unfortunately my computer, in the process of hibernating or something, lost my efforts. So I will just point you to the webpage, and you can scroll down to addict thinking and criminal thinking and find them for yourself I guess (starting at around page 30 of 88).
Actually, there’s a lot of other things I think about, other than flash mobs and abuse recovery. For example, the wife and kids. Since this week we’re occupying different states, I’m thinking about them a lot more than I’m spending time with them these days. I’m really looking forward to seeing them on Friday! Until then, it’s flash mobs, and addiction recovery, and oh yeah, work.
Work, which is thinking about the academics and administration of this language school, as well as instruction in language and math at the college, is also taking up plenty of time. And it’s enjoyable, for the most part.
Also enjoyable is watching the setting sun through our big circular windows. The glass is thick, and when one views the sun near the edge of the window, a couple clear refractions from the sun can be seen. And I am sure that if there is a large sunspot or an eclipse of mercury, I could check it out in the refraction action of the window. In fact, I gave that more thought to that today than I did flash mobs.
Monday, March 7, 2011
McMiscellaneous
Here I am, on the way back to Houston. And before you think I am blogging while driving, please rest assured I am in a McDonald's parking lot. No, I will not eat their food, but ever since I learned that all McDonald'ses offer free wi-fi, I've been frequenting their parking lots from time to time. And yes, I will slurp one of their smoothies from time to time, actually.
It is the 20-teens, afterall. Nowadays, you can do all sorts of things. Like, for example, you can browse the current world emergencies and disasters from the comfort of your own home without turning to the news. It is from there that I was reminded our family vacation spots during my childhood, at Island Park in eastern Idaho. There is also home to one of the worlds' largest calderas, a large caldera distinct from the great Yellowstone caldera. It is older, it shares Yellowstone's high status as an 8 out of 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, and it is--the way I understand it--part of a path of calderas which form every so often as our Earth's crust passes over the hotspot which is now responsible for the geo-active Yellowstone as we know it.
For more Snake River Plain info, just wiki it, or click here. Otherwise I'll go on and on about southern Idaho.
Anyway, I like that you can find out about what disasters are happening around the world without all the newsy drama bits. Of course, it's not the most uplifting, but hey, what do you expect from a McDonald's parking lot?
Well, the unfortunate thing about this week is that I will be flying solo in Houston until Friday. On the plus side, today is a day off for me, making up for extra hours I've already logged. I'll mozy on back to Houston, and get situated for the week. I've got teacher training, a final week at school, and presumably plenty to keep me occupied. Plus, I am headed back with a car full of stuff. Now that we got our garage somewhat cleared out, it's time to get all of our belongings that have been lingering at the Bourgs' house since way back even to Bonnie's teenage years.
Well, even though it's Mardi Gras time everywhere, I am getting reminded of how out-of-proportion it is in Louisiana. In Texas even, a few long hours away, it just isn't that big of a deal.
It is the 20-teens, afterall. Nowadays, you can do all sorts of things. Like, for example, you can browse the current world emergencies and disasters from the comfort of your own home without turning to the news. It is from there that I was reminded our family vacation spots during my childhood, at Island Park in eastern Idaho. There is also home to one of the worlds' largest calderas, a large caldera distinct from the great Yellowstone caldera. It is older, it shares Yellowstone's high status as an 8 out of 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index, and it is--the way I understand it--part of a path of calderas which form every so often as our Earth's crust passes over the hotspot which is now responsible for the geo-active Yellowstone as we know it.
For more Snake River Plain info, just wiki it, or click here. Otherwise I'll go on and on about southern Idaho.
Anyway, I like that you can find out about what disasters are happening around the world without all the newsy drama bits. Of course, it's not the most uplifting, but hey, what do you expect from a McDonald's parking lot?
Well, the unfortunate thing about this week is that I will be flying solo in Houston until Friday. On the plus side, today is a day off for me, making up for extra hours I've already logged. I'll mozy on back to Houston, and get situated for the week. I've got teacher training, a final week at school, and presumably plenty to keep me occupied. Plus, I am headed back with a car full of stuff. Now that we got our garage somewhat cleared out, it's time to get all of our belongings that have been lingering at the Bourgs' house since way back even to Bonnie's teenage years.
Well, even though it's Mardi Gras time everywhere, I am getting reminded of how out-of-proportion it is in Louisiana. In Texas even, a few long hours away, it just isn't that big of a deal.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
good day, ticket update
What a beautiful morning we had this morning. The birdsong was outdoing the sun, which was outdoing the crisp spring weather, which was outdoing the relative stillness we call home in the pocket of this subdivision which is in a small pocket in the corner of the vast expanse of the otherwise bustling city of Houston. Sure, I was racing off to work, but how nice it is that the morning commute to work is 4-7 minutes and involves only one left turn on busy roads.
The math problem for the day is this, and if you are used to driving in Houston, you might get this one: My commute to work takes 4-7 minutes. My commute home from work is twice the distance, but also takes only 4-7 minutes. Each commute is the shortest legal driving route. Explain.
I taught a conversation class today. I don't teach it every day, so when I do have it, it is a little bit of fresh air for me, and for the students, since we all get to do something we don't usually get to do. They told me how they like when I lead the class. Teachers like to hear that sort of thing. Also I'm seeing my regular students improve. Teachers like to see their students grow.
But I won't kid you. One of the best parts of the day came when I called the Henderson Mayor's Court to discuss my speeding ticket. Yes, slow me got a speeding ticket racing back to our bustling city from Louisiana in January. I was speeding 73 in a 60 on I-10, coming off the bridge, and so I was easy pickings. An old hat in years past at mitigating tickets and cleaning up my driving record, of course I wanted to appear in court and take care of this ticket. But it turns out the court date is a Wednesday, the place is four hours from Houston, and it is the Wednesday that is the day before the day before our final exam for this term, so there's no nice way for me to miss out on that day. Driving there in the wee hours, and driving back in the afternoon is an option, but please note that on either side of that Wednesday, I will also be driving to Louisiana twice. The hours add up, so you might understand why I was interested in checking out the legal services available which might help me in taking care of that ticket.
I found that for a fee of $200, I could retain a lawyer to represent me, even to go so far as to say that he would make sure I don't have a moving violation. Of course, the old hat I am, I was adding up a fine for a non-moving violation with the lawyer fee, and realizing that financially, it wasn't going to make sense unless the speeding ticket was $200 or more. I was pretty sure that the non-moving violation fine would be around $100, and I knew that $300 was more than any penalty I'd see immediately from an insurance standpoint. I also recognize that I'm not the type like I used to be, and that I could probably expect to go another couple or three years without getting pulled over, and I, in my way, considered these things, along with the recognition of my pride for having a nice and clean driving record for the past 35 months. (The 35 months previous to those I had 4 or 5 citations.).
Anyway, before I could retain the lawyer, I realized that I needed to call and get the exact ticket cost in order to finally weigh the pros and cons. Bonnie and I joked about it being $150 because I told her if the ticket were only $100 I would just pay it, and if it were $200 I would just pay the lawyer. So of course, when I called the Henderson Mayor's Court, they explained that the fine was, indeed, $150. But then, of all things, when I inquired more about the non-moving violation, the clerk explained that if I paid before the due-date, they make sure it does not go on my record. Now, it sounds a little fishy, so of course I googled it. It looks like there might be a simple online course ($40) I might have to take--and I'll call and get all the details, but I am pretty stoked that I will pay less than $200 total, and still keep the dang infraction from my record.
Other good things happened today. But unless I get off of here and get on the Wii and check out my body test for the day, I'm not going to be able to put a virtual stamp on the virtual calendar to mark my virtual progress.
Thanks for reading.
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