Today I had my first day of teacher in-service in preparation for the new school year. Now, I know - some of you were snoring by the time I got to serv-, but today was a Flippen Group (that's right Flip Flippen is his name) Capturing Kid's Hearts workshop that was actually kind of interesting.
I have been blessed by a number of wonderful people in my life - youth and college ministers, older peers, and adults that have been willing to invest themselves in me. Thank you Momand Dad. Thank you Paul Irby. Thank you Ricky Cavitt. Thank you Clayton Bullion, John Williamson, Corey Moses. Thank you Colby Brownlee. Thank you Bobby, Andy, and Criner.
If you get the chance, read this blog of Michael Criner college minister at First Woodway on "The Wisdom of Mentors".
Here's a statistic that got me dwelling on it. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) commissioned a study of at risk behavior in over 90,000 students and their campuses. Any guesses as to what the #1 factor in lowering at-risk behavior in students turned out to be?
Connectedness to an adult.
Flippen sources a student's "lack of a meaningful relationship with an appropriate adult" as being the major contributor to social, discipline, and academic problems we teachers face in the teaching profession.
My brother, Tim Mason, writes in his blog about the idea that in authentic Christian mentoring/accountability we actually intervene to save our brothers lives. What a great thought! But here's the deal: You save your brother or sister from devastating harm to their lives, not just spiritually, but often mentally and physically, and also the lives of a host of others.
Matt Chandler says some great things about the ways that harbored sin affects lives: Maybe you are subjecting your wife to a marriage of strife because you can't check an addiction that started years before you were together. Maybe you are subjecting your husband to a marriage of strife because you don't have an image of yourself and your body the way that God wants you to see yourself as beautiful. Or maybe harboring other insecurities. Maybe you are subjecting your kids to a lifetime of scars as they follow in your footsteps of abuse and sin that they learned from you. We need each other.
Bonhoeffer writes, "God has willed that we should seek and find His living Word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of man. Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's Word to him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged, for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation. He needs his brother solely because of Jesus Christ. The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the word of his brother; his own heart is uncertain, his brother's is sure" (from Life Together).
Check out this clip posted a month ago about a river rescue in Iowa. If you were the only one around and someone was in need of rescuing wouldn't you step in?
So I echo Criner's plea, "I plead with you young men and women, find a mentor – and listen to them… listen well friends. I plead with you older men and women, be a mentor… we need you."
SDG
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Mindfulness
I have spent the last two work days alone in a room with some 500 pieces of choir uniform. I know that seems completely miserable and it possibly could have been, but I had my trusty ipod to get me through the days! I used the time to get caught up on Watermark sermons I had missed, as well as a few Matt Chandler sermons from the Village. If you get a chance to listen to the "Games People Play" sermons you really should take the time. They are powerful.
The other hours I just played my playlist of hymns and praise songs. It was completely brilliant! It has been a long time since I have been able to just sit and spend hours at a time just letting the Word be breathed over and through me! It reminded me of how much being consistently mindful of our days can change our perspective on everything. Here's a quote from Bonhoeffer:
"For Christians the beginning of the day should not be burdened and oppressed with besetting concerns for the day's work. At the threshold of the new day stands the Lord who made it. All the darkness and distraction of the dreams of night retreat before the clear light of Jesus Christ and his wakening Word. All unrest, all impurity, all care and anxiety flee before him. Therefore, at the beginning of the day let all distraction and empty talk be silenced and let the first thought and the first word belong to him to whom our whole life belongs. 'Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light' (Eph. 5:14)"
SDG
The other hours I just played my playlist of hymns and praise songs. It was completely brilliant! It has been a long time since I have been able to just sit and spend hours at a time just letting the Word be breathed over and through me! It reminded me of how much being consistently mindful of our days can change our perspective on everything. Here's a quote from Bonhoeffer:
"For Christians the beginning of the day should not be burdened and oppressed with besetting concerns for the day's work. At the threshold of the new day stands the Lord who made it. All the darkness and distraction of the dreams of night retreat before the clear light of Jesus Christ and his wakening Word. All unrest, all impurity, all care and anxiety flee before him. Therefore, at the beginning of the day let all distraction and empty talk be silenced and let the first thought and the first word belong to him to whom our whole life belongs. 'Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light' (Eph. 5:14)"
SDG
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
I want to fly
Thoughts from my childhood mind... Ever dream like me?
I want to fly.
I want to jump up and touch the clouds,
To spread my wings and capture the warm summer breeze.
I want to race falcons and heckle the seagulls.
I want to look down on the mountains,
to follow rivers from source to sea.
I want to think of traffic as a flock of geese fleeing the cold.
I want to breathe uncontaminated air,
To feel the cool rush that fills the lungs and the soul.
I want to dodge lightning bolts and play hide and seek in a cloud.
I want to go ten rounds with gravity,
to pull away from its earth-bound net and dance in freedom.
I want to fly.
I want to fly.
I want to jump up and touch the clouds,
To spread my wings and capture the warm summer breeze.
I want to race falcons and heckle the seagulls.
I want to look down on the mountains,
to follow rivers from source to sea.
I want to think of traffic as a flock of geese fleeing the cold.
I want to breathe uncontaminated air,
To feel the cool rush that fills the lungs and the soul.
I want to dodge lightning bolts and play hide and seek in a cloud.
I want to go ten rounds with gravity,
to pull away from its earth-bound net and dance in freedom.
I want to fly.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sorry for the long break!
Sorry for the weeks without posting, but choir camps pretty much saturated the past couple of weeks for me. I worked Baylor's All-State camp as the head male dorm counselor and had an amazing week. Some of you may not think that living in a university dorm and eating university cafeteria food is enthralling, but I have to say it was great kids and a great counselor staff that made the week for me. On a side note - the future of the choral music program is in great hands!
Saturday night after camp, a group of counselors and other friends got together to hang out. I have to say, so much richness to be enjoyed amongst the company of friends! After initial games, a group went to go swimming, and, spontaneously, the living room was transformed into a salsa dancing lesson. Again, one of my favorite things about camp was getting to know the counselors and the primary reason is this: music people seem to have an affinity for great personalities and a love of culture. In any case - Thank you Debbie Hernandez for a brilliant evening and being so willing to share yourself and your culture with the rest of us not just on that night but the entire week!
We could learn so much about hospitality and celebration from hispanic cultures!
The next week I did choir camp all over again! This time we commuted our students via school bus to UNT for their camp. It was great to see some of our students again and find out how their summer was going - but - can I just say - WAY TOO EARLY!
Oh shoot - I forgot to mention - Harry Potter opened on Tuesday... camp started Wednesday morning... and you can't see the premier of Harry Potter alone.... soooo obviously the best decision is to drive to Waco Tuesday afternoon, watch the midnight showing, and then drive back to north Dallas at 3:30 in the morning so that you can nap and load a bus for UNT at 9 am! Totally exhausted, but totally worth it (plus, absolutely no traffic on the way back up)!
Jonathan and Tammy came back into town from their Baltic adventure and I got to spend a lovely evening with them including one of my favorite Waco past times - Bahama Bucks (only this time in Sachse)!
I spent the early parts of this week shopping for new school clothes! Thanks to the help of a couple of wonderful friends a RIDICULOUS amount of damage was done to my credit card balance! Ok - I have to say that I'm to blame for the biggest portion - I decided that if I was going to buy nice new clothes I shouldn't tear them up in a commercial washer and dryer sooo.... I bought myself a set! It was delivered and installed on Wednesday (Thank the Lord! Can you imagine me fighting a washer and dryer up three flights of stairs)! In any case, the credit card company called me on Monday night to make sure that it was me buying all the stuff! OUCH.
Top 5 things about really getting to know someone:
1) Thinking and remembering things you haven't thought about in years
2) Wierd things you have in common
3) Rediscovering the reasons why you are where you are, and where you are going
4) Finding humor in the smallest of things
5) Funny/mildly embarassing stories that make you, you.
Saturday night after camp, a group of counselors and other friends got together to hang out. I have to say, so much richness to be enjoyed amongst the company of friends! After initial games, a group went to go swimming, and, spontaneously, the living room was transformed into a salsa dancing lesson. Again, one of my favorite things about camp was getting to know the counselors and the primary reason is this: music people seem to have an affinity for great personalities and a love of culture. In any case - Thank you Debbie Hernandez for a brilliant evening and being so willing to share yourself and your culture with the rest of us not just on that night but the entire week!
We could learn so much about hospitality and celebration from hispanic cultures!
The next week I did choir camp all over again! This time we commuted our students via school bus to UNT for their camp. It was great to see some of our students again and find out how their summer was going - but - can I just say - WAY TOO EARLY!
Oh shoot - I forgot to mention - Harry Potter opened on Tuesday... camp started Wednesday morning... and you can't see the premier of Harry Potter alone.... soooo obviously the best decision is to drive to Waco Tuesday afternoon, watch the midnight showing, and then drive back to north Dallas at 3:30 in the morning so that you can nap and load a bus for UNT at 9 am! Totally exhausted, but totally worth it (plus, absolutely no traffic on the way back up)!
Jonathan and Tammy came back into town from their Baltic adventure and I got to spend a lovely evening with them including one of my favorite Waco past times - Bahama Bucks (only this time in Sachse)!
I spent the early parts of this week shopping for new school clothes! Thanks to the help of a couple of wonderful friends a RIDICULOUS amount of damage was done to my credit card balance! Ok - I have to say that I'm to blame for the biggest portion - I decided that if I was going to buy nice new clothes I shouldn't tear them up in a commercial washer and dryer sooo.... I bought myself a set! It was delivered and installed on Wednesday (Thank the Lord! Can you imagine me fighting a washer and dryer up three flights of stairs)! In any case, the credit card company called me on Monday night to make sure that it was me buying all the stuff! OUCH.
Top 5 things about really getting to know someone:
1) Thinking and remembering things you haven't thought about in years
2) Wierd things you have in common
3) Rediscovering the reasons why you are where you are, and where you are going
4) Finding humor in the smallest of things
5) Funny/mildly embarassing stories that make you, you.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Organic Living
Organic has become a word that we have all heard an
d fallen in love with. There is wave sweeping the world using terms like green, organic, sustainable, fair trade, post-consumer, hormone-free. Organic is not just a food choice, it has become popular clothing choice, even building material choice. I must say that I love these trends - I buy organic milk (it is awesome - sweeter, smoother, and stays good for about a month longer). I buy hormone free meats and I often eat organic fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, I bought 100% recycled post-it notes a couple weeks ago.
I guess I first fell in love with all of this in the 6th grade when I had this amazing sam
ba-playing ponytail wearing all honors teacher named David Matthews (that's him on the left in the picture) who took us on all the adventures we could handle in a year. We picked up trash and recyclables on the hike and bike trails around Austin, we picked up trash down along Padre Island National Seashore, explored caves and springs at Westcave and other nature preserves around Austin, and watched a few Texas bald eagles overhead on the Vanishing Texas River Cruise. Now Mr. Matthews continues his work at Small Middle School in Austin. I found this great article on some things he has been up to.
Twice this spring I watched a news segment on Alice Waters. She is a chef behind major organic and "slow-food" movements and was a powerful influence in getting the vegetable garden planted at the White House. I think I agree with her and David Matthews that programs in our schools that educate our students about our food, where it comes from, protection of our resources, healthy living and eating, are great for our future. I want a garden so badly but, unfortunately, 3rd floor balcony cement makes for terrible topsoil.
Organic took on a different meeting for me a couple of weeks ago. As we were going through our AP training, Dr. Ferrandino, our theory professor and AP consultant for the week, continued to use phrases like "learning organically", referring to the natural processes of discovery, teaching in context, and guided discussion.
I think maybe all of us need to consider the way living "organically" - by natural process and development - could affect the way we interact with the world. I think we could all use a good dose of sustainable, growth-hormone free "slow-food" in our work, our play, our goals, our relationships. I do believe that we are seeing the effects of short-cutting, attention-grabbing, over-stimulating, curbside-to-go, mentality not just in our children and our future, but here and now in ourselves.
What do you think?
5 things that "organic living" could mean:
1) S-l-o-w D-o-w-n... should you really get mad at that person going three miles under the speed limit, or be frustrated because you're 25 and single, or 25 without a graduate degree?
2) Plan more. It's amazing how much we can raise quality and save ourselves in time, money, and energy.
3) Invest some real time into real people. Desire to grow a relationship, not pop one out of the freezer and stick it in the microwave.
4) Set aside time to actually do the things you want to or should be doing (reading that book, cooking that meal, working out, spending time with someone) not just dream about it.
5) Devote less time to media. Of course some things are great, some things are necessary, but some things are simply way out of control.
d fallen in love with. There is wave sweeping the world using terms like green, organic, sustainable, fair trade, post-consumer, hormone-free. Organic is not just a food choice, it has become popular clothing choice, even building material choice. I must say that I love these trends - I buy organic milk (it is awesome - sweeter, smoother, and stays good for about a month longer). I buy hormone free meats and I often eat organic fruits and vegetables. Interestingly, I bought 100% recycled post-it notes a couple weeks ago.I guess I first fell in love with all of this in the 6th grade when I had this amazing sam
ba-playing ponytail wearing all honors teacher named David Matthews (that's him on the left in the picture) who took us on all the adventures we could handle in a year. We picked up trash and recyclables on the hike and bike trails around Austin, we picked up trash down along Padre Island National Seashore, explored caves and springs at Westcave and other nature preserves around Austin, and watched a few Texas bald eagles overhead on the Vanishing Texas River Cruise. Now Mr. Matthews continues his work at Small Middle School in Austin. I found this great article on some things he has been up to.Twice this spring I watched a news segment on Alice Waters. She is a chef behind major organic and "slow-food" movements and was a powerful influence in getting the vegetable garden planted at the White House. I think I agree with her and David Matthews that programs in our schools that educate our students about our food, where it comes from, protection of our resources, healthy living and eating, are great for our future. I want a garden so badly but, unfortunately, 3rd floor balcony cement makes for terrible topsoil.
Organic took on a different meeting for me a couple of weeks ago. As we were going through our AP training, Dr. Ferrandino, our theory professor and AP consultant for the week, continued to use phrases like "learning organically", referring to the natural processes of discovery, teaching in context, and guided discussion.
I think maybe all of us need to consider the way living "organically" - by natural process and development - could affect the way we interact with the world. I think we could all use a good dose of sustainable, growth-hormone free "slow-food" in our work, our play, our goals, our relationships. I do believe that we are seeing the effects of short-cutting, attention-grabbing, over-stimulating, curbside-to-go, mentality not just in our children and our future, but here and now in ourselves.
What do you think?
5 things that "organic living" could mean:
1) S-l-o-w D-o-w-n... should you really get mad at that person going three miles under the speed limit, or be frustrated because you're 25 and single, or 25 without a graduate degree?
2) Plan more. It's amazing how much we can raise quality and save ourselves in time, money, and energy.
3) Invest some real time into real people. Desire to grow a relationship, not pop one out of the freezer and stick it in the microwave.
4) Set aside time to actually do the things you want to or should be doing (reading that book, cooking that meal, working out, spending time with someone) not just dream about it.
5) Devote less time to media. Of course some things are great, some things are necessary, but some things are simply way out of control.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
If you could do anything in the world and be assured 100% success, what would you do, and why aren't you doing it?
This question was asked of me this week and I haven't given it it's due time. Hopefully both you and I will get the chance to really dive into all it contains.
I meant to publish this post with great pictures of a striper fishing trip on Lake Whitney that was set for Wednesday morning. We got up around 4:30 and headed out to the lake, only to find out that our guide's boat had shut down and wouldn't start... It's ok - I got to salvage the morning reading virtually an entire Harry Potter book (2) and having lunch with JR. Yes, I know, the movie is fast approaching and I still have a ton more Potter's to read!
I ordered my first pair of TOMS shoes! I'll see how they work out. I went to church on Sunday morning (in long cargo shorts - which is common at Watermark in the summer) but couldn't get myself to wear sandals or flip-flops in church (overly casual shorts, but not overly casual shoes? Yes, it's ridiculous I know). Anyway - hence the TOMS shoes. I decided there was probably nothing more unstylish than cargo shorts, a polo, and crew length socks rolled down w/ old tennis shoes. Why should I care? Eh - I don't know, but I do so get over it.
By the way - Sunday's sermon - "Our need to for others to show us the way: because Mufasas become Maneaters" was, in my opinion, exceptional, partly because it included Huck Finn, My Side of the Mountain, and a real white siberian tiger cub! You can check it out at watermarkradio.com/.
5 things to do this week:
1) "The road to knowledge begins with the turn of the page" so says my fortune cookie from Pei Wei. Read something worthwhile! Harry Potter counts - don't tell me otherwise!
2) Ponder the above question.
3) Start or update your blog!
4) Call those three people on your list that you were supposed to catch up with and didn't.
5) Have a ridiculously good time eating good food, connecting with people, and celebrating the 4th of July!
Oh - and I need a Harry Potter costume for All-State camp... any suggestions?
SDG.
I meant to publish this post with great pictures of a striper fishing trip on Lake Whitney that was set for Wednesday morning. We got up around 4:30 and headed out to the lake, only to find out that our guide's boat had shut down and wouldn't start... It's ok - I got to salvage the morning reading virtually an entire Harry Potter book (2) and having lunch with JR. Yes, I know, the movie is fast approaching and I still have a ton more Potter's to read!
I ordered my first pair of TOMS shoes! I'll see how they work out. I went to church on Sunday morning (in long cargo shorts - which is common at Watermark in the summer) but couldn't get myself to wear sandals or flip-flops in church (overly casual shorts, but not overly casual shoes? Yes, it's ridiculous I know). Anyway - hence the TOMS shoes. I decided there was probably nothing more unstylish than cargo shorts, a polo, and crew length socks rolled down w/ old tennis shoes. Why should I care? Eh - I don't know, but I do so get over it.
By the way - Sunday's sermon - "Our need to for others to show us the way: because Mufasas become Maneaters" was, in my opinion, exceptional, partly because it included Huck Finn, My Side of the Mountain, and a real white siberian tiger cub! You can check it out at watermarkradio.com/.
5 things to do this week:
1) "The road to knowledge begins with the turn of the page" so says my fortune cookie from Pei Wei. Read something worthwhile! Harry Potter counts - don't tell me otherwise!
2) Ponder the above question.
3) Start or update your blog!
4) Call those three people on your list that you were supposed to catch up with and didn't.
5) Have a ridiculously good time eating good food, connecting with people, and celebrating the 4th of July!
Oh - and I need a Harry Potter costume for All-State camp... any suggestions?
SDG.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Week Summary
I spent most of the week at TCU getting trained to teach AP Music Theory next year. It was a really great course - I've heard nothing but great things about all of the AP programs at TCU. I'm really getting excited about getting to teach the class in the Fall.
While I was there I got to catch up with Colby and Joanna Brownlee. It was so good to see their faces again - both are doing well and working hard! I also got to catch up with my high school classmate Chris Surley. We met up at the Gingerman where I got to join is friends who team up to play Trivia every Thursday night! Not wanting to let me down, we all put our heads together and came out on top! Every team gets to name themselves for the evening and the names were almost all commenting (mostly inappropriate) on the celebrity deaths of the day. Even though we won the night, I think "The autopsy will confirm whether he was black or white", and "Way to steal Farrah's thunder, you jack***" won the biggest laughs when announced. I also was acquainted with Firemans #4 - eh - interesting for all you ale connoisseurs.
Saturday I got to go out to a friend's lake house on Lake Cypress Springs. We went tubing and water skiing and got to enjoy a very hot but very fun day.
Today was a very lazy day. Watermark was packed this morning. I went to lunch with Ben Jones and we ate at Five Guys burgers. If it's good enough for Obama and his staff - it's good enough for me!
Five things that will make this a great week:
1) Try something you've always wanted to do/eat and never have
2) Pull out one of your favorite books from when you were a kid and read it again
3) Make a list of 3 people you haven't talked to in far to long and set aside time for each
4) Start researching your next vacation - even if you can't get it soon - doesn't it help to think about it?
5) Get up just before sunrise and sit on the patio with a cup of coffee or tea and just take it all in.
I hope I find myself on some of your lists to call... I would love to hear from you!
SDG.
While I was there I got to catch up with Colby and Joanna Brownlee. It was so good to see their faces again - both are doing well and working hard! I also got to catch up with my high school classmate Chris Surley. We met up at the Gingerman where I got to join is friends who team up to play Trivia every Thursday night! Not wanting to let me down, we all put our heads together and came out on top! Every team gets to name themselves for the evening and the names were almost all commenting (mostly inappropriate) on the celebrity deaths of the day. Even though we won the night, I think "The autopsy will confirm whether he was black or white", and "Way to steal Farrah's thunder, you jack***" won the biggest laughs when announced. I also was acquainted with Firemans #4 - eh - interesting for all you ale connoisseurs.
Saturday I got to go out to a friend's lake house on Lake Cypress Springs. We went tubing and water skiing and got to enjoy a very hot but very fun day.
Today was a very lazy day. Watermark was packed this morning. I went to lunch with Ben Jones and we ate at Five Guys burgers. If it's good enough for Obama and his staff - it's good enough for me!
Five things that will make this a great week:
1) Try something you've always wanted to do/eat and never have
2) Pull out one of your favorite books from when you were a kid and read it again
3) Make a list of 3 people you haven't talked to in far to long and set aside time for each
4) Start researching your next vacation - even if you can't get it soon - doesn't it help to think about it?
5) Get up just before sunrise and sit on the patio with a cup of coffee or tea and just take it all in.
I hope I find myself on some of your lists to call... I would love to hear from you!
SDG.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Taking a hiatus
So, it appears that my blog commitment is taking a hiatus just as it was beginning. I'm leaving until Friday and won't be updating my blog while I'm gone. Enjoy the week and I promise myself that I'll update Friday or Saturday!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
When a teacher tells you to, you better do it!
So... I was advised that my blog needed to be updated so here goes.
I have a confession to make: I am addicted to the F word. Yep. You heard me.
Gordon Ramsay's "the F word" on BBC America, isn't that what you were thinking? I think it's because it serves so many of my loves - good food, adventure, interesting information, living sustainably, competition, and a very hilarious candid-ness that can only come from a culture less interested in coddling people's egos than America. If you get the chance to see what I'm talking about, check it out at 4pm on BBCA and let me know if you agree.
Although admittedly far to much of my early summer has been spent in front of the tube, I have managed to be productive in some ways. I'm still playing ultimate frisbee on Tuesday evenings. Now, for those of you who think are currently giggling and think that ultimate isn't a sport you can check out this video for starters:
Ultimate Frisbee Highlights (youtube)
or you can come up and cheer us on for a couple of hours on Tuesday.
Finally, I averaged a 58 on a couple rounds of golf today. Well, this me averaged a 58 -->
I think I look pretty striking with orange hair, yes? Tiger Woods 2010. The only problem with letting a game system in your apartment is that you can play games on it.
Anyway - all next week I have class 8:30-4:30 to get AP Music Theory competent. I guess that'll make up for all the time I wasted on the couch this week. If you're around TCU and don't have anything to do in the evenings just let me know!
Sidenote: You should ask JR and Chels about some fleas and a mohawk and maybe ask for a picture.
Finally - I found a list of summer things to do I made a couple years ago. Here's 5 for you to do this week:
1) Have a picnic and feed ducks at a park
2) Read all night and sleep all day
3) Go to the local farmers market (yay Chels!)
4) Visit a used bookstore
5) Have a cookout
Do this and you too shall lead a happy and prosperous life... provided you send this to 5 new people in the next 5 minutes! (Isn't that how it goes?!)
I have a confession to make: I am addicted to the F word. Yep. You heard me.
Gordon Ramsay's "the F word" on BBC America, isn't that what you were thinking? I think it's because it serves so many of my loves - good food, adventure, interesting information, living sustainably, competition, and a very hilarious candid-ness that can only come from a culture less interested in coddling people's egos than America. If you get the chance to see what I'm talking about, check it out at 4pm on BBCA and let me know if you agree.
Although admittedly far to much of my early summer has been spent in front of the tube, I have managed to be productive in some ways. I'm still playing ultimate frisbee on Tuesday evenings. Now, for those of you who think are currently giggling and think that ultimate isn't a sport you can check out this video for starters:
Ultimate Frisbee Highlights (youtube)
or you can come up and cheer us on for a couple of hours on Tuesday.
I also have tried to go 30 minutes of non-emasculating yoga a day - I think if it's on Wii Fit I think it becomes less effeminate and more nerdy. I think I'll take that trade.
I picked up the español rosetta stone this this week. So far it seems like a great program and I'll update you on my progress.
I picked up the español rosetta stone this this week. So far it seems like a great program and I'll update you on my progress.
Finally, I averaged a 58 on a couple rounds of golf today. Well, this me averaged a 58 -->
I think I look pretty striking with orange hair, yes? Tiger Woods 2010. The only problem with letting a game system in your apartment is that you can play games on it.
Anyway - all next week I have class 8:30-4:30 to get AP Music Theory competent. I guess that'll make up for all the time I wasted on the couch this week. If you're around TCU and don't have anything to do in the evenings just let me know!
Sidenote: You should ask JR and Chels about some fleas and a mohawk and maybe ask for a picture.
Finally - I found a list of summer things to do I made a couple years ago. Here's 5 for you to do this week:
1) Have a picnic and feed ducks at a park
2) Read all night and sleep all day
3) Go to the local farmers market (yay Chels!)
4) Visit a used bookstore
5) Have a cookout
Do this and you too shall lead a happy and prosperous life... provided you send this to 5 new people in the next 5 minutes! (Isn't that how it goes?!)
Monday, May 25, 2009
OK. We're gonna give this another shot.
I can't believe I'm almost done with year two of teaching. It has been a truly amazing couple of years and I am finally beginning to see myself developing some of who I want to be as a teacher. I will start to teach AP music theory next year which will be really challenging but I think will be a lot of fun.
We found out this past week that our varsity mixed choir was selected to perform at the annual state music convention next year. It is a tremendous honor and I am both excited and nervous about what this will mean for next year.
I decided to make a list of five things every time I post - so here's five things from this week that I love and highly recommend:
1) Cookies & Cream handspun milkshake from Chickfila
2) CocaCola Icee
3) Re-reading Harry Potter in preparation for July
4) Cleaning off the balcony (or patio) in preparation for summer
5) Starbucks grande upside-down iced caramel macchiato
We found out this past week that our varsity mixed choir was selected to perform at the annual state music convention next year. It is a tremendous honor and I am both excited and nervous about what this will mean for next year.
I decided to make a list of five things every time I post - so here's five things from this week that I love and highly recommend:
1) Cookies & Cream handspun milkshake from Chickfila
2) CocaCola Icee
3) Re-reading Harry Potter in preparation for July
4) Cleaning off the balcony (or patio) in preparation for summer
5) Starbucks grande upside-down iced caramel macchiato
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