This has been a really hectic time around our place. Our second daughter is playing tennis on both the Junior Varsity and the Varsity teams. She usually has one or two matches a week, and this week goes for the two day regionals, with the three day State tournament next week. Number three daughter plays on the Junior varsity and sophmore volleyball teams, again usually with two matches a week, and she has regionals coming up in two weeks. Number four is playing volleyball, but luckily usually only plays once a week. The two youngest boys are playing soccer, with a game every Saturday.
Between the games and all of the practices, I've just about had it. I can't wait for the season end, except then they all start basketball. How many days until schools out?
Take care. Stay sane. Stick.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Hand cartin'
My wife and I have recently been asked to represent out church group in an activity to re-inact the handcart pioneers. This required us to go to Martin's Cove in Wyoming and train over this last weekend. We hiked a little over 7 miles for this training--something that was no problem for me, but turned out to be a bit of a challenge for my wife. I did end up a little stiff the next day, but worked out the kinks fairly quickly. My sweetie had a little more trouble. She had acquired a few blisters, and sore feet, so was moving a little slow the next day. We both realized that we will need to really work to be ready for this trip.
I won't go into the details here of our training, but it was very good. I worked for a program like this for youth when I was in college, so this training brought back many memories--things that I never wrote down anywhere. It has really inspired me to go back and work on my journal. I want to write down as many of those stories as I can remember.
I also met one of the other trainees who had also been a staff member with the same youth program that I had been invovled with. He and I talked for some time, reminiscing over those events.
Take care. Write it down if you want to remember it, Stick.
I won't go into the details here of our training, but it was very good. I worked for a program like this for youth when I was in college, so this training brought back many memories--things that I never wrote down anywhere. It has really inspired me to go back and work on my journal. I want to write down as many of those stories as I can remember.
I also met one of the other trainees who had also been a staff member with the same youth program that I had been invovled with. He and I talked for some time, reminiscing over those events.
Take care. Write it down if you want to remember it, Stick.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Woes of the first week of School
I teach a middle school class designed to help students who are below grade level in reading or math, bring those skill levels up to where they should be. These recovery programs are designed for students who are not special populations, but still need help. They are all based on computer learning where the student works at his, or her, own speed and level. We develop a plan of lessons for each student after giving them an assessment to find out where the deficits in there learning are located. All of this is done on the computer.
Unfortunately, my computers have been down all week. I have not been able to do the assessments. I cannot get my students working on the programs needed to help them. I have no lesson plans outside my computer programs. The teacher who has administrative access to add my students into the computer porgram is out of the office. In other words, I have been winging it all week. The first day we introduced ourselves and the class. The next day, we discussed class rules. Then we played a trivia game. Today I copied some worksheets out of an old textbook. I hope that by Monday My computers are all working. If not, my stress level may go up.
Take care and stay calm under pressure. Stick.
Unfortunately, my computers have been down all week. I have not been able to do the assessments. I cannot get my students working on the programs needed to help them. I have no lesson plans outside my computer programs. The teacher who has administrative access to add my students into the computer porgram is out of the office. In other words, I have been winging it all week. The first day we introduced ourselves and the class. The next day, we discussed class rules. Then we played a trivia game. Today I copied some worksheets out of an old textbook. I hope that by Monday My computers are all working. If not, my stress level may go up.
Take care and stay calm under pressure. Stick.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
And the hits just keep on coming!
They say that bad news comes in threes. I mentioned that My PDA bit the dust, and it is dead. My wife's PDA was replaced with a brand new unit so she's okay. Friday, I took my boys and went to a scout camp. Headed up the hill, my truck died. I still don't know what is wrong. I had to coast and tow it 20 miles back to town. I hope that I can get it repaired quickly. (Yes, I know Inklings--SEE you do need that van! If you do, you can still get it.)
Last week, we had to go to a funeral. My wife's aunt from SLC passed away. We have always tried to stop and see this aunt anytime we were in town, and in fact had seen her only a couple of weeks earlier. She fell and broke a leg, which evidently caused complications and a stroke. Why is it that we get together to see family at sad events like this, but not any other time in some families?
I had to finally go back to work this last week after almost 12 weeks off. Students come back tuesday after the holiday. We had a great keynote speaker though. The teacher from "Freedom Writer's" came along with two of her former students.
Take care. Stick.
Last week, we had to go to a funeral. My wife's aunt from SLC passed away. We have always tried to stop and see this aunt anytime we were in town, and in fact had seen her only a couple of weeks earlier. She fell and broke a leg, which evidently caused complications and a stroke. Why is it that we get together to see family at sad events like this, but not any other time in some families?
I had to finally go back to work this last week after almost 12 weeks off. Students come back tuesday after the holiday. We had a great keynote speaker though. The teacher from "Freedom Writer's" came along with two of her former students.
Take care. Stick.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A Triple Catastrophe!
This is probably the saddest blog I have ever had to write. Within one week we have had three major catastrophes.
The first happened while we were going to garage sales. We had purchased drinks, and had them in cup holders around in the van. I had also taken my PDA to read while the women looked at the junk--um--I mean treasures that I wasn't interested in. When we got ready to depart to our next destination, I set my PDA down on the console between the front seats, instead of putting it in my pocket as I usually do. I stopped at a stop sign, and then it happened. My PDA slid forward into our friend's soda. It effectively killed my PDA for which I had just purchased a memory stick. I don't think it is a recoverable accident.
Next, only a few days later, my wife and I were at Girl's camp, where she was the assistant camp leader, and I had been drafted as the camp cook. Since my PDA was dead, she had loaned her Palm TX to me to read a book. I had been storing it in a side pocket on my pants when I wasn't reading it. I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure when, but when I took it from my pocket one time, the screen had gotten cracked, effectively killing her PALM. We still don't know what will happen with it. We're not sure if it can be repaired, or if we will be buying a new one, as this one was issued by the school district to her. We will find out soon.
The last event took place last Tuesday, and was probably the most devastating. I turned 50! I still can't believe it. I'm sure someone miscounted somewhere down the road. My girls have not let me forget this incident, and in fact had black ballons and a grave stone at camp for me. They also painted on the windows of our vehicles--"Honk, I'm 50 and an OLD man".
The first two incidents I think we can overcome, but the last one--I guess I'll just have to live with.
Take care. Watch out for those B-days, they sneak up on you. Stick.
The first happened while we were going to garage sales. We had purchased drinks, and had them in cup holders around in the van. I had also taken my PDA to read while the women looked at the junk--um--I mean treasures that I wasn't interested in. When we got ready to depart to our next destination, I set my PDA down on the console between the front seats, instead of putting it in my pocket as I usually do. I stopped at a stop sign, and then it happened. My PDA slid forward into our friend's soda. It effectively killed my PDA for which I had just purchased a memory stick. I don't think it is a recoverable accident.
Next, only a few days later, my wife and I were at Girl's camp, where she was the assistant camp leader, and I had been drafted as the camp cook. Since my PDA was dead, she had loaned her Palm TX to me to read a book. I had been storing it in a side pocket on my pants when I wasn't reading it. I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure when, but when I took it from my pocket one time, the screen had gotten cracked, effectively killing her PALM. We still don't know what will happen with it. We're not sure if it can be repaired, or if we will be buying a new one, as this one was issued by the school district to her. We will find out soon.
The last event took place last Tuesday, and was probably the most devastating. I turned 50! I still can't believe it. I'm sure someone miscounted somewhere down the road. My girls have not let me forget this incident, and in fact had black ballons and a grave stone at camp for me. They also painted on the windows of our vehicles--"Honk, I'm 50 and an OLD man".
The first two incidents I think we can overcome, but the last one--I guess I'll just have to live with.
Take care. Watch out for those B-days, they sneak up on you. Stick.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
All together now can be too close for comfort!
We just returned from a family vacation where we went and joined my brothers and sisters and their families (as many as could come) for a family reunion at my parents home. One dinner we counted between 25 and 30 people present. Now, our parents have a small, two bedroom, 1 1/4 bath home that is all of about 1000 sqaure feet or so. Needless to say, personal space was at a premium. The kids favorite saying was, "Move your feet, you lose your seat!"
We had a table and chairs set up in the front yard, five tents scattered around the perimeter, and at night it looked like Nightmare on Elm Street, with bodies lying everywhere in the front room. To add to our claustrophobic dilemna, there were several days when it rained--hard--most of the day, keeping us all inside.
We survived. We even had fun doing it. We talked, played games, watched old (and some new) movies, and caught up on what we had been doing with ourselves for the previous year.
We'll all do it again next year, and in fact look forward to it. We like making our parents happy twice--once when we come, and once when we leave.
Take care. Luv yer guts! Stick.
We had a table and chairs set up in the front yard, five tents scattered around the perimeter, and at night it looked like Nightmare on Elm Street, with bodies lying everywhere in the front room. To add to our claustrophobic dilemna, there were several days when it rained--hard--most of the day, keeping us all inside.
We survived. We even had fun doing it. We talked, played games, watched old (and some new) movies, and caught up on what we had been doing with ourselves for the previous year.
We'll all do it again next year, and in fact look forward to it. We like making our parents happy twice--once when we come, and once when we leave.
Take care. Luv yer guts! Stick.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Twisted Up
Our hallway bathroom sink has a problem with water pressure in the hot water line. We thought it was a bad valve, that wouldn't turn on right. SO I bought the valve, turned off the water to the house, took off the old valve (with many an exclamation and contortion to get to it under the sink), found out I bought the wrong replacement valve, went and got the right replacement valve, vcame home and put it on (with an equal number of contortions and twisting of my body under the sink into positions that a body my shape does not wish to be twisted into)--still no water pressure.
We called my father-in-law, who is a plumber (among other things), he thinks we may have a flattened pipe, or something blocking the pipe. He says it could be anywhere in the line. Terrific.
We'll deal with the low water pressure.
Take care. Stick.
We called my father-in-law, who is a plumber (among other things), he thinks we may have a flattened pipe, or something blocking the pipe. He says it could be anywhere in the line. Terrific.
We'll deal with the low water pressure.
Take care. Stick.
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