Friday afternoon I left school after only 10 hours (shortest time period in 14 days). What to do with a little free time? I was exhausted but a co-worker mentioned sitting down with a beer. That decided it! I would return to a routine that I hadn't participated in for at least a year. First a burger and beer (while reading the paper) at Red Robin, followed by a film across the street.
This summer's weak movie offerings coupled with a busier schedule resulted in my viewing much fewer films than usual. What to see? I was tempted by Little Miss Sunshine, but ultimately decided on Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. I've never really been a fan of Will Ferrell but he has done good work in supporting character roles. The only reason I chose Nights was on the recommendation of several friends who told me that they don't regularly care for Ferrell but really liked this movie.
What a disappointment! There were a few moments of humor but definitely not enough to justify a $8.50 ticket. I know the film is intended to exaggerate human behavior and attitudes; however, only Gary Cole's character seemed consistent enough to be believable. Ferrell spends the film playing the exact same character he always does (see: Elf, Old School, Ron Burgundy . . . etc.). I am usually pretty good at putting myself into a film even when it's not good. But, I seriously contemplated walking out on this one, something I have never done or even considered before. I really could have used the sleep instead.
Now I will have to discuss with all my students who worship Ferrell why three laughs does not make a movie good. I just don't get it!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
LiveDigital is going down.
Just figured out that my school's web filter won't let me see images hosted by LiveDigital. Gonna have to drop that account and try another image host. Any suggestions?
PS - Can't seem to close a LiveDigital account. Once they have you; they don't seem inclined to ever let you go!
PS - Can't seem to close a LiveDigital account. Once they have you; they don't seem inclined to ever let you go!
Monday, August 21, 2006
179 more to go.
Twelve and a half hours later, day one is complete. Teacher's always joke that you can get so much more work done without any kids. But, a school just never feels right until you have masses of students moving, laughing, talking, and maybe even learning in it.
The 12.5 hours might seem a little long until you take into account the 75 hours I spent last week getting ready. I really enjoy learning how to use technology to make people's (read teachers) lives easier. Building a middle school's and a high school's master schedules is a daunting task. However, the middle school teacher's really wanted to keep their 7-period day while a 4-period block works better in high school. The trouble for a small school district (like where I work) is that the schools often share faculty members. Matching the teacher schedules, providing electives, placing students in their correct core classes, and balancing the class loads is the very definition of daunting.
I spent at least 200 hours throughout the summer working through the master schedules and setting up the Student Information System (SIS) on the network. Everything was great until the higher-ups stepped in with requirements that they had failed to mention in the beginning, when the fixes would have been simple. We had to move classes with less than 2 days to go. Then we had to rebalance both schools. Forty new students entered the district with various levels of documentation and they had to be registered and scheduled. At least 100 phone calls, requesting changes, came in on the first day after we mailed preliminary schedules home last week.
To compound the scheduling woes, our regular high school secretary was not around at all this summer. Her son was and is very sick with an infection of West Nile. Anyone who works in a school understands how crippling it can be to lose an extremely experienced secretary.
Merge scheduling responsibilities with volleyball coaching and computer system training/troubleshooting for the rest of the staff and you end up with 75 hours of work with less than 2 actually spent preparing your classroom and lessons. Therefore, I have to log off and spend some time reviewing and upgrading my chemistry notes for tommorrow.
PS - I doubt anyone will find any of this of interest but I still feel better for having written it.
The 12.5 hours might seem a little long until you take into account the 75 hours I spent last week getting ready. I really enjoy learning how to use technology to make people's (read teachers) lives easier. Building a middle school's and a high school's master schedules is a daunting task. However, the middle school teacher's really wanted to keep their 7-period day while a 4-period block works better in high school. The trouble for a small school district (like where I work) is that the schools often share faculty members. Matching the teacher schedules, providing electives, placing students in their correct core classes, and balancing the class loads is the very definition of daunting.
I spent at least 200 hours throughout the summer working through the master schedules and setting up the Student Information System (SIS) on the network. Everything was great until the higher-ups stepped in with requirements that they had failed to mention in the beginning, when the fixes would have been simple. We had to move classes with less than 2 days to go. Then we had to rebalance both schools. Forty new students entered the district with various levels of documentation and they had to be registered and scheduled. At least 100 phone calls, requesting changes, came in on the first day after we mailed preliminary schedules home last week.
To compound the scheduling woes, our regular high school secretary was not around at all this summer. Her son was and is very sick with an infection of West Nile. Anyone who works in a school understands how crippling it can be to lose an extremely experienced secretary.
Merge scheduling responsibilities with volleyball coaching and computer system training/troubleshooting for the rest of the staff and you end up with 75 hours of work with less than 2 actually spent preparing your classroom and lessons. Therefore, I have to log off and spend some time reviewing and upgrading my chemistry notes for tommorrow.
PS - I doubt anyone will find any of this of interest but I still feel better for having written it.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Freewheeling Flashback . . . with Fish!
We both have careers and responsibilities. He has a growing family. We are both feeling older and older as each summer passes . . . . and yet. If you put us in a boat on a lake loaded with fish, we instantly slip into the verbal rhythm we shared as college freshman fresh from high school. The only cares we have are having fun, making each other laugh and maybe bringing a fish to hand occasionally. You've gotta love having a best friend!
Me
and He
and He
Monday, August 07, 2006
Silver Creek 2006 Pt. I
Well, I've had 24 hours to recuperate and reflect on the annual Silver Creek trip. Make it to the campground at 12:30 AM Friday morning. Up at 6:30 to dress and head out. Get to the stream at 7:15 and then stand around and wait for the trico hatch. And wait. And wait. Sometime around 9:30 the stream erupts with millions of tiny mayflies swarming, mating, heading upstream and finally diving/falling into the stream to complete their reproductive cycle. The trout of the stream proceed to gather in large pods and go into a feeding frenzy. The water appears to boil with the gulping of large fish sucking down tiny insects. Anglers have about 90 minutes to hook into a monster fish.
It is truly something to behold and something even better to experience.
To satisfy Dave's request for fish photos, here is my first trico-trout from Friday morning.
Click here to comment!
It is truly something to behold and something even better to experience.
To satisfy Dave's request for fish photos, here is my first trico-trout from Friday morning.
Click here to comment!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Clerks II and an Introduction . . . of Sorts
How to start this . . . how to introduce myself . . . how not to sound like an idiot. These are the important questions of the day.
For those who knew me in high school, this description by Matt would seem most accurate. However, who we are as adults most often is not a reflection of who we were in high school. Witness the current incarnation of Brandon; this is definitely not the proto-slacker I remember. Every life must pass through a crucible. Impurities are burned away and the core strengthed by fire. For many the crucible takes on the identity of college for others it might be military service or maybe even marriage and the formation of a family.
My crucible experience occured during my late twenties in the city of Pocatello. Discussion and revelation about my experiences comes with some trepidation. Before starting this blog, I have spent a great deal of time contemplating the importance of anonymity. Many of the teacher blogs I follow go to great lengths to maintain their anonymity. I am not ashamed of my past nor do I fear community reactions (well maybe a little fear). My concern is student knowledge of my personal history.
Most of my students have led a very sheltered and conservative life. Like all teenagers, my kids are curious. While curiousity is a valuable asset to education, it can become an incredible hinderance when directed in unnecessary directions or enabled at inopportune times. In order to build trust in the classroom, I always speak directly and truthfully to my students. I avoid equivocating and dodging of questions. I make it a point to inform my students that I was not raised in a monestary. I am always shocked to hear student reactions when they find out bits and pieces of their teachers' lives. It is as if they think we exist only within the walls of the school. Portions of my life likely would be very entertaining for my students and very distracting to their education. So the following descriptions will be vague in the likelihood of eventual discovery of this blog by my students.
During my late twenties, I was absorbed into a network of friends that was centered around a place. That place coincidentally was called Center Street. It was and is a bar. During my relationship with the establishment, I became friends with the employees, owners and regulars. However, this place was not a Cheers or Central Perk. The community we built was made up of individuals from various walks of life; teachers, students, engineers, slackers, rugby players, rugby fans, coaches, dope smokers, dope dealers, ex-soldiers, strippers, bouncers, artists. They also came from various ethnicities; native Idahoans, Native Americans, French descendents, Irish descendents, German exchange students, hispanics, Japanese americans, African americans. We engaged in many activities; drinking, card playing, boating, fishing, drinking, dancing, bar hopping, rugby playing, drinking, road tripping, gambling, singing, drinking. Throughout it all we talked. We talked about everything and everyone including a very healthy/toxic dose of sex. We spent as much time as possible pursuing sex and when not successful, we spent the remaining time talking about it.
This then is where Clerks II enters the discussion. I thought the movie was funny. It is typical Kevin Smith, short on visuals and long on dialogue. While some may find the rantings of Dante and Randall risque or downright offensive (Good Morning America's Joel Siegel walked out), I found it nostalgic. It reminded me of a time during my life that has passed. In short, I liked it. But, my personal crucible has clearly turned me into a 'sick fuck.'
For those who knew me in high school, this description by Matt would seem most accurate. However, who we are as adults most often is not a reflection of who we were in high school. Witness the current incarnation of Brandon; this is definitely not the proto-slacker I remember. Every life must pass through a crucible. Impurities are burned away and the core strengthed by fire. For many the crucible takes on the identity of college for others it might be military service or maybe even marriage and the formation of a family.
My crucible experience occured during my late twenties in the city of Pocatello. Discussion and revelation about my experiences comes with some trepidation. Before starting this blog, I have spent a great deal of time contemplating the importance of anonymity. Many of the teacher blogs I follow go to great lengths to maintain their anonymity. I am not ashamed of my past nor do I fear community reactions (well maybe a little fear). My concern is student knowledge of my personal history.
Most of my students have led a very sheltered and conservative life. Like all teenagers, my kids are curious. While curiousity is a valuable asset to education, it can become an incredible hinderance when directed in unnecessary directions or enabled at inopportune times. In order to build trust in the classroom, I always speak directly and truthfully to my students. I avoid equivocating and dodging of questions. I make it a point to inform my students that I was not raised in a monestary. I am always shocked to hear student reactions when they find out bits and pieces of their teachers' lives. It is as if they think we exist only within the walls of the school. Portions of my life likely would be very entertaining for my students and very distracting to their education. So the following descriptions will be vague in the likelihood of eventual discovery of this blog by my students.
During my late twenties, I was absorbed into a network of friends that was centered around a place. That place coincidentally was called Center Street. It was and is a bar. During my relationship with the establishment, I became friends with the employees, owners and regulars. However, this place was not a Cheers or Central Perk. The community we built was made up of individuals from various walks of life; teachers, students, engineers, slackers, rugby players, rugby fans, coaches, dope smokers, dope dealers, ex-soldiers, strippers, bouncers, artists. They also came from various ethnicities; native Idahoans, Native Americans, French descendents, Irish descendents, German exchange students, hispanics, Japanese americans, African americans. We engaged in many activities; drinking, card playing, boating, fishing, drinking, dancing, bar hopping, rugby playing, drinking, road tripping, gambling, singing, drinking. Throughout it all we talked. We talked about everything and everyone including a very healthy/toxic dose of sex. We spent as much time as possible pursuing sex and when not successful, we spent the remaining time talking about it.
This then is where Clerks II enters the discussion. I thought the movie was funny. It is typical Kevin Smith, short on visuals and long on dialogue. While some may find the rantings of Dante and Randall risque or downright offensive (Good Morning America's Joel Siegel walked out), I found it nostalgic. It reminded me of a time during my life that has passed. In short, I liked it. But, my personal crucible has clearly turned me into a 'sick fuck.'
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