An archived stack of papers: 'life'

All In A Day’s Work

In a stack of papers called Technology.

  • Apr
  • 09
  • 2008

Yesterday was a 12.5 hour day. Here’s how it went:

Arrive at 7:43am, far later than I like to arrive but about as early as I can these days. My night owl ways take a toll on arrival time.

From 8:13 to 2:45, my classes run like normal. Group survey presentations in Speech. A few Greek/Latin roots, STAR prep, and reading Richard Wright’s Black Boy in English... read more

Remember Me?

In a stack of papers called Connections.

  • Mar
  • 28
  • 2008

You need to be more than just your job. For so many different reasons, you have to be a complete person and that means spending time working on other areas of your life. Remember who you were before you started working? You’re still that person and still have those interests. In all likelihood, that person and those interests are what got you involved in your current job in the first... read more

2007 In Review

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Jan
  • 12
  • 2008

I spend a lot of time on teaching. From grading papers to puzzling out tomorrow’s lesson to just being at work, there’s not a lot of free time in my day. But there is some. How do I spend that time? And what do I have to show for 2007? When not standing in front of a group of students, I’m reading, writing, running, or watching.

Table Of Contents

... read more

Published!

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Dec
  • 22
  • 2007

I didn’t want to say anything here until I had the book and check in hand. Well, the book arrived yesterday and the check last week. It’s long been a goal of mine to have something published in a print source; that’s now happened and I’m excited, honored, and humbled all at the same time.

... read more

Thanksgiving Day Loss

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Nov
  • 22
  • 2007

I ran 6.2 miles this morning. My watch read 51:56; I’ll update after the official ChampionChip time is posted. That’s all good, but I’m pissed.

In the final stretch of the race, a guy appeared next to me. I kept pace with him and had a brief... read more

This Is Not A Drill

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Sep
  • 28
  • 2007

No one was killed and no one was injured. That’s the good news.

As I’m reading chapter four of The Great Gatsby out loud to seventh period, the fourth time I’ve read this chapter out loud in the same day, the lights start to flicker. Eventually, they shut off completely. Students get distracted and look around to figure out what’s going on. They see it before I... read more

Back-to… You Know

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Jul
  • 30
  • 2007

Yesterday, the first back-to-school commercial blasted in my ears. It was almost offensive, but an alarm went off in my head to the reality of the cruel calendar. And then there’s that someone who told me the other day that I should wait until a week before school starts to get my game face on. What to do.

Work!

On the one hand, I’m getting the message that school is around... read more

Razor Bush And Makeup Tree

In a stack of papers called Personal.

  • Jul
  • 21
  • 2007

The Razor bush and Makeup tree are essential components to survival on any island. It is fortunate for most desert islanders we see in shows like Lost and dating even as far back as Gilligan’s Island that these two plants grow in abundance anywhere fit for the marooned. This... read more

Top Priority

In a stack of papers called Instruction.

  • Jun
  • 30
  • 2007

Washing my face in the bathroom of my room at Okayama City Hotel, a new and fairly fancy hotel in Okayama, Japan, I noticed a package labeled Razor on the counter. Hairbrush and Toothbrush were stacked behind Razor. This is a common thing in Japanese hotels. You’ll find a few of these packages in my bathroom at home, too. They come in quite handy, whether on a trip or when I simply run out of... read more

Develop By Distance

In a stack of papers called Connections.

  • Jun
  • 16
  • 2007

Rolling socks and folding shirts, I’m thinking about what summer break means. On Monday, I’ll get onto a plane bound for Japan with 21 other students and 3 other adults. While I still have a week of work (take a group of kids on a trip for seven days, then tell me that it’s not work), I’m distancing myself from school as much as I can.

You should, too.

Teaching is... read more