Sunday, April 26, 2009

My Soapbox and Then Some

Last night I went to the Fiesta Flambeau Parade to end the week of Fiesta. It was okay, but I expected more. Anyway, at the beginning of the parade there were numerous Armed Forces groups that walked through the streets holding the American flag. This is what really eats me up: people had no respect for the veterans and soldiers nor the American Flag. As these brave men and women walked through the streets there was very little clapping for them. I saw only a couple of people stand when the flag was paraded in front of us. Our children see this and take note. If parents do not teach their kids what to do when the flag is around and to show respect for those who have so courageously fought for our country then who will? More people clapped for the high school bands than for the Armed Forces groups that came by. It is a sad day in this country when there is no respect for the men and women who serve for it, to protect us when we are threatened, and to watch over us so we can sleep in our beds without fear of being blown-up, and protect our freedoms. If it hadn't been for those in the military we would not be the country we are today. I have so much respect for those men and women and what they do for my America. People see it as a disgrace these days of someone wants to join the military. Those people are ridiculed and laughed at. I would love for those who do that to go live in a country where they are not guaranteed protection or freedom. How would they like it? Would they be able to handle it? Would they survive? Would they have a greater respect for the things they can do and enjoy here in the good ole US of A? Show some respect to the country that has given you so much! Show some respect for those who protect you so you can sleep at night! Show some patriotism for the country that has not turned it's back on you! The government may have some issues, but the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution and the principals within those documents have never turned their backs on you! U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Okay I'm off my soapbox. Now for the rest of my life. I hate having things up in the air and not knowing what is going on. I have to have some type of direction for the future. Where will I be next school year? I don't know and it's killing me! It's almost May and I haven't had my contract talk for next year. It always makes me wonder if I will even have a job next year. Every other school district has given it's contracts to it's employees for next year, but I don't have mine yet. I know my school will be mad if they start getting recommendation requests from school districts around the state and I haven't told them anything, but what do they expect? I don't know if I have a job next year from them so I have to start looking and putting in applications everywhere. If they expect people to not do that they need to get the contracts out right now. I know they are waiting for the TAKS results to come back to see what core teachers they want to have back the following year, but I am PE and Health, gosh darn it! I don't have any TAKS tests for my students! Why can't I know if I am coming back next year or not? I hate feeling so lost. I just want things to work out how I want them to work out. I know, we make plans and God laughs a little, but I need a plan for my future, especially in this economy. Is my faith waning? I think it is a little. Am I doubting? No, but not trusting. That sounds so bad right now. Ugh! Can't I catch a career break right now?

Number 2: This is going to sound really bad, but I didn't want to be at church today. I was excited for Sacrament meeting, but the rest I really didn't care for. It's almost as if everything these past two months has been about the same thing. I feel like we have been talking about the same old stuff every week. It seems as though everything has been about trials and passing the "test" before you. Isn't there something else to talk about? Aren't there more things out there to talk about besides trials or are we just going through so many of them that we can't think about or talk about anything else? I am just bored with it all right now? I feel as though I have no passion. Prayer, scripture study and all that jazz still happens, but I can't get excited. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe I am just too stressed about everything else. I don't know. It's bad of me and I am confessing my sin to the world, but isn't confession the first step to repentance? Maybe I just need some change in my life. Maybe I am just bored with everything that is going on in the rest of my life and it is being manifest through my spiritual life.

Things just aren't in good order right now and I need to figure out why. I just wish I knew where to start. Any ideas?

Friday, April 24, 2009

NIOSA

Last night I was ableto to go NIOSA with Shelly and I had a blast! It was such a great time. I have been here for almost three years and I have never been able to take advantage of NIOSA. I was warned about the crowds and how bad they would be, but I figured that is part of the expereince. I loved all the food I ate. I ate tons of food and am feeling it today so a workout is on order. The whole expereince was great! We walked around a little bit before actually doing anything and came by the Arneson River Theater. There was this really cute group on stage performing. These older women really neeed to stay out of the tanning bed though. It was a little scary looking at them. They seem to be big on crowd participation and the last song they were doing was, well, I don't know the title because I never know the title of anything, but it made for a great last song. So anyway, the were asking for people to come out of the crowd and line up along the river to do a little Rockettes style dancing. I thought it would be really fun to do so I pulled Shelly out there and we started dancing with the rest of the drunkards. Obviously, we had not been drinking so we did not have the liquid encouragement, but it was so much fun! Afterwards we continued out jaunt down the roads and through the crowds to find more good food and live entertainment. We stopped and watched the cutest cloggers in the German area of the festival. It was a group from New Braunfels and they looked like they were having the time of their lives, the they left the stage and the truth came out. There were looks of exhaustion and tiredness, but underneath it all I bet they were all smiles. We then traversed out way through the crowds again and came across the Scentchips shop. Scentships are really good smelling wax chips that can last 4-5 years (depending on how often they are used) and can be really addicting. Well, I got Shelly hooked. I just wanted to stop in and see what new scents they had and just get a little pick-me-up for the rest of the evening. Shelly ended up buying a couple of sachets and a warmer. I am such a bad influence. I can get people to spend money so quickly. It was fun and now Scentchips has a new customer. Fun stuff. We continued through the streets then went over to Hemisphere park where the party was continuing. we walked through the party area over to the fountains that surround the Hemisphere and I was severly disappointed. The fountains were not on. Think about it, people are coming from all over the place to join in the festivities and one of the things that make the area shine are the fountains. I know we are under water restrictions right now, but wouldn't you want people coming from all over to see something that beautiful and get the whole effect of the fountains? I love the fountains at the park. They are a respite from the rest of world. They really soothe you and makef you feel better and less stressed. I was disappointed that the fountains were empty. That was the end of my NIOSA experience. I was so happy to finally sit down and take a break and boy did I sleep great! If you ever have the chance to go to NIOSA make sure you go early enough and really take it all in. It's a great thing to do, just leave the kiddos at home.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Super Steve = Super Grover

These kids are driving me bonkers! They are absolutely crazy! Spring Fever has hit. I feel bad for them since they are inside all day and can only run around once a week in PE. I try to make the best of it and understand where they are coming from. I am getting better at it, but I still have a lot of work to go. The title of this doesn't make much sense, I know, but if you met Steve you would understand. Steve is running around the caf with a Superman cape and a Grover t-shirt on right now. Hence, Super Steve = Super Grover. Make more sense? Middle school, what do you expect?

Last week was pretty boring. I was trying to write down some notes about last week before writing this blog, but nothing came to mind. But, here I go anyway. Monday was FHE. You know, I love having a job to do at church, but I feel like I need a little change. We were suppose to go to a nursing home as a service project, but that fell through, so we ended up playing ultimate frisbee instead. Ultimate came to be just another running workout for me. I am horrible at throwing a frisbee and my team never throws it to me anyway (probably because I am horrible at throwing a frisbee). I just run up and down and act as a distraction. Sometimes I would get lucky and be able to stop an attack, but mostly I was an unsuccessful distraction. I have found that if I do not know how to play a sport or game I just goof around the whole time and wait for an opportunity to try to learn something about it. It was still fun.
Tuesday, I don't remember anything about Tuesday. I know I did something, but it must not have been that much fun if I don't remember anything.
Wednesday was an exciting day! Not only was it Institute, but it was Tax Day and that meant nationwide Tea Parties. I loved the grassroots movements across the US. San Antonio was a lucky city that day. Glenn Beck did his show from The Alamo that day and the Texas pride and patriotism could be felt through the entire city. I was not able to go, which was disappointing, but I think San Antonio represented. A few of my friends went and had a great time. I had a couple of students pulled out of school to go to the event, I am so jealous. There was controversy about everything, but I won't even go into that. I will not stoop to the levels that many of the protestors of the event stooped down to. It would ruin the moment. Instead of going to the Tea Party I decided play soccer and go to Insitute. I realized that by the time I made it downtown, found parking and walked to the Alamo that The event would be almost over and it wasn't worth the money I would have spent for the entire evening. I made a good choice and I am glad I made the choice I did.
Thursday, what did I do Thursday? I know I did something. Grrrrr, I can't remember. It's hard getting old. The premature Alzheimer's is kicking in now. Oh, Yeah! Cooking class. We learned to make this Turkish pasta dish that was sooooo good. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I love Turkish food and am grateful for the opportunities I have had to learn the recipes. We also learned to make Kadayif (a shredded dough type of baklava). Again, sooooo good, yummilicous.
Friday I went after work and did my laundry. It's actually nice doing laundry on a Friday night. There is usually very few people there and I have my pick at whatever machine I need. Wow, I just re-read that sentence and realized that I am so boring. What has my life come to?
Saturday was a very relaxing day. I was going to run in a 5K that day, but when I awoke #1 it was pouring down rain, #2 I couldn't move out of my bed (I really needed the sleep), #3 I didn't pre-register so I didn't waste any money anyway, so I could sleep longer. I woke up did some cleaning around the apartment then went to Wal-Mart to do a little shopping. Afterwards I went to Linda's for a little for some good convo and catching up on stuff. I went home, watched some TV then went to the YSA mini-conference and listened to this amazing speaker, Bro. Cal Stevens. He gets up to the pulpit with just his scriptures, no notes or teleprompter and begins speaking about the prophet Joseph Smith. The things he was talking about really needed notes, but this man's mind is a steel trap. It was a great experience. He really made the fireside fun and exciting. I really wanted to learn more from this man. I rarely ever feel like that after a fireside (sadly I should not feel that way, but I do).
Sunday was a normal Sunday full of great talks, good friends and talking to family. All in all a pretty good weekend.
This week is a short week at work, but we have this Multicultural Fair on Thursday that I am not really looking forward to unless there is food. Today is also the 10th anniversary of the Columbine shootings. Yesterday was the anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing. Great tragedies in this country. Although they were such tragedies we learned alot as a country. I think some have forgotten those lessons like they have forgotten about 9/11. That's another topic for another day.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Review of the Past

I just realized I have been blogging for about a year now. I never stay with record-keeping of any kind for that long, so I am really proud of myself. One year and counting!

So this past week was a really difficult one. As the school year winds down my classes are getting more and more out of control and I just don't know what to do. I have decided that with my 6A/B class I am not going to have them get dressed out. It's just too frustrating and takes way too long. On top of that half the class doesn't dress out anyway so I am no longer going to make them dress out. They can go through the rest of the day smelling bad and looking all sweaty. This way I don't have to go back on my syllabus. I will excuse them from dressing out and offer it as extra credit instead. Maybe that will get some others to start dressing out and acting right. We'll see. My other classes are the same way. I am just so tired of fighting with them every day of every week. There are only seven weeks left (6 1/2 if you count the three days we have as holidays and really 5 if you count the last week as half days) and I know things are not going to get any easier. I just want to be in my gym for the last six weeks. Why can't I go in there right now? I would like to enjoy the gym that has been promised to me for the past three years. Last week was one I would rather forget. The only three redeeming qualities of the week was the Laser Quest trip with a couple of my 8th grade classes that was a blast! And I do not cheat at Laser Quest, I'm just that good (haha!). I was ambushed a few times by a group of boys that thought it would be fun to follow me around and not leave me alone. After a minute or so I was no longer the fun prey. I turned into the predator finding my open "hiding" place and picking people off one by one. Fun times and a first place finish. What more could you ask for?

Saturday was the Texas High School State Soccer Championships. I loved being there watching the games. There was almost a fight at the end of the 4A boys final. That was a dumb game. The ref had no control whatsoever. In a state final you have to have complete control and call an airtight game. If you don't all control is lost and you have lost your credibility as a ref. Pearce won the 4A girls game. There was a player that was AMAZING! I could not believe the footwork of this girl, she was the MVP in my book, but she didn't get that award I think it went to the girl who scored the winning goal. Kinda sad, the player who created all the opportunities and was just so much fun to watch did not receive the highest honor of state MVP. The 5A girls game started really slow and boring. The 4A games was way better. Coppell started off the scoring and were up 1-0 at half. After half The Woodlands scored a couple of goals to go up 2-1 then Coppell came back to tie it up then in the last couple of minutes went ahead 3-2 and the game ended in Coppell winning. I was disappointed by the play of the 5A girls. All they did was play kickball. I expected more from two top-tier teams. I didn't watch the boy's 5A game because it didn't start until 6pm and I had a long drive home.
Finally Sunday, the greatst day of the week, especially this past Sunday. Yesterday was Easter. Only the greatest day of the year. The program at church was beautiful with the songs and speakers. The whole things centered around Christ, which, duh, it should. I was just so into everything. It was a great day to remember and be grateful for what the Lord has done for us. After church I went to Linda's for the BEST sweet and sour chicken I have ever had in my entire life. I wish I had brought my camera to take pictures of the whole evening. If you ever get a chance to eat Linda's sweet and sour chicken you have to really savor the flavors and soak it all in. No restaurant in the world can even come close to what was on my plate last night. Linda, thanks for the meal, it was AWESOME! I love hanging with Linda and the others that were there. It's so much fun to talk to them and just hang out around the house. It was such a relaxing evening. Just what I needed after the week I had last week. That's how you top off a weekend, with a great Sunday thinking and remembering what the Savior has done for us and eating great food with great friends.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Shake it Off

Right now I should be updating the FitnessGRAM results, but I just can't do it. I need a respit from the morning I have had. I figure if I think back on my weekend I will be in a better mood for my high school classes. So here it goes:

Saturday was marvelous! I ran in the Race for the Cure again this year. I love doing this. Besides all the really cool free stuff you get, you get to do something for an amazing cause. As I get to know my students more I am learning that many of my student's family members are survivors of all forms of cancer. I actually ran into one of my sixth graders as I was walking back to the car with the group I was with. I learned that her mom is a breast cancer survivor of ten years and her dad is a prostate cancer survivor of eleven years. That family has been through alot and theye are a terrific family. Their daughter is such a joy and a pleasure to be around. She is also a little mischevious. I still need to get her back for all those water balloons at the school picnic. Any ideas? I think it is so neat that there are thousands upon thousands of people that show for the race. It's a fun time. If you have never done one might I recommend it? It's way fun if you grab a few friends and go.
Saturday afternoon I went to the Alamo Heights job fair. I got the cold shoulder from the high school PE/Health Chair. She did not want to be there. I did have a good conversation with the Athletics Director though. That seems to happen alot with me. I usually have great conversations with the Athletics Directors, but the other coaches never seem enthusiastic about anything. I also talke to the Special Education people. Hopefully I was able to make some sort of good impression on them. The thing I do not like about the fair was that I can't really sell myself. I like to answer questions rather than just start talking about myself. It's really hard for me to do that. I want to know what you want to know about me. Arg to the whole thing.
This weekend was also General Conference. Again, I missed the Saturday sessions, but was able to watch the Sunday sessions. Boy am I grateful to the advancements in technology that I am able to listen to everything again on the internet while I am at work. Today I really need the uplifting of the brethren and sisters of the church. The messages are always so great! As I was talking to my dad he started talking about his favorite seeion of conference, the Priesthood session. He said it eas really good. He said the brethren talked about taking responsibility. he said that all the brethren that spoke sounded like coaches. I can't wait to get my Ensign and read it. He also said that there is no reason someone in the quorums should be without a job because there is always someone in your quorum that can help you. This came along with the need to serve and help each other in the church more. If you know of someone who is out of a job, you more than likely know someone in the ward or you yourself that can help that person find a job. The point is take responsibility and give more service and help to those in the church around you. powerful stuff from powerful men.
I am starting to feel a little better after thinking back on the inspirational weekend I had. I will carry this with me for the rest of the week. Oh, and Easter is this weekend. It is a great week to think about the Savior and what he has done for all mankind.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

HAHA! April Fool's!

I am really interested to see what happens today. How many jokes are going to be played on people, me in particular. I love April Fool's Day but I can never think of anything to do. I have done the whole fake engagement thing, which was actually quite funny becasue almost everyone figured it out except one person. Once everyone else knew it was fake they all played in to it. It was great. I have also done the whole fell out of a tree trying to take toilet paper out of it after being TP'd. Most people knew me well enough to not believe me or anyone associated with it. Darn, what did I do with that water gun I confiscated from a kid? Yay, found it. Phase one done. Phase two, fill it up. Phase three, squirt kids as I walk in the halls and make them think someone is spitting. Phase four, don't tell anyone. But I have done that one too, dang it! This whole joke thing is really hard. I am not that creative so it's really hard for me to think of anything. I had a really good one that I wanted to do that I read about last year, but I never wrote it down so I forgot what it was. Hopefully I think of something to do today. If not then maybe next year. Hey, I can google it! I'll find something.

Never found anything unless you count yesterday when I was talking with a group of students and told them that I had been prison and my real punishment was working at a middle school. A couple of the kids decided to tell another kid that is why I am doing what I am and the joke just continued. I thought the boys would forget about it, then it was carried on. It is actually kinda funny. So the back story could be better, but it was what the kids thought of, I just agreed with it. That's my joke for the day. Not a very good one, but it works.

So far only one person has tried to pull something on me. He came in asking me if I heard about the Spurs. I told him I heard about their loss last night to the OKC Thunder. He then goes on to tell me that they are moving the Spurs out of San Antonio. That would work if the Spurs weren't so popular and well-liked. If that really did happen it would be all over the news and sports channels, but it wasn't so it didn't work.

I really don't take anything said on this day as serious since there is always someone trying to get ya. It's a fun day and lots of funny things happen. Have a great time pulling pranks on people. Just remember to keep it from hurting others. Happy April Fool's Day!