Though some find using Xmas in place of Christmas to be uncouth at best, I find it refreshing. X is the first letter for the word Christmas in Greek. It also harkens back to the time that God is so immense and awesome that we mortals should not utter God's name in full.
Seems to me that that is the kind of being I want to celebrate in a holiday. Certainly not the god of mammon and hubris that most America does.
Merry Xmas and I hope your holiday is filled with much family.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Coping in the New World
Paul Cooley http://carfreefamily.blogspot.com/ threw out some ideas that made me think. I'm interested in this book, Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle now after reading this blog. I have a copy of The Intregal Urban House and we have used its ideas for years. Then this blog came along, you know how that happens. http://moralequivalentofwar.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/housing-simple-as-that/#more-294
The last blog is a bit depressing, but brings up some good ideas. Really though what this combination made me think about is how I live on this earth. There was a time I used the IUH and implemented their ideas. I dreamed of doing it all. Life intruded and we moved and things were forgotten. As with most of us, we put into practice what we can and hope for more later.
Later is now it seems. It sure would be nice to tidy things up and then "simplify down" from here on out. Maybe doing it now will lessen the effect of our country's future economic rollercoaster ride. In reality, if it makes my life better and easier, that is good.
The last blog is a bit depressing, but brings up some good ideas. Really though what this combination made me think about is how I live on this earth. There was a time I used the IUH and implemented their ideas. I dreamed of doing it all. Life intruded and we moved and things were forgotten. As with most of us, we put into practice what we can and hope for more later.
Later is now it seems. It sure would be nice to tidy things up and then "simplify down" from here on out. Maybe doing it now will lessen the effect of our country's future economic rollercoaster ride. In reality, if it makes my life better and easier, that is good.
Looking for some Fun and having to think?
Try this quiz. Some of the comments are interesting to read also, but just thinking about the answers and our place in the world is a nice exercise.
http://www.kk.org/helpwanted/archives/001084.php
http://www.kk.org/helpwanted/archives/001084.php
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Been Thinkin' 'Bout. . .
I think I discovered my name if I was a blues singer, though calling me a singer would be a stretch. Ben Thinkinbout, or maybe Bent Hinkinbout. That is going nowhere fast.
I've been thinking about changing jobs. My family suffers through this too many times in normal year. You know the symptoms; bad day at school, boring/meaningless meeting, rude colleagues in said meeting, another task on top of just doing the job you were hired for (In my case teaching students), seeing a new person lay a task before us that has already been done twice before, give our best effort and thought to the new task and seeing someone else subvert the idea into a no-win situation that becomes a political nightmare.
Add on the thoughts of being towards the end of a career and the ramifications of moving to a new job. Will the pay be less in the end? What if it's a wash now, but retirement is greater? What about the energy expended just looking and changing jobs?
My wonderful wife asked me a question last night over dinner. We were eating in a mall restaurant after "shopping" with our daughter on her birthday. I didn't realize until after we sat down that the couple next to us were former students of mine. We call them affectionately "Formers" and present students "Presents." Our children coined the terms. This couple had their children with them and I was remembering when our children were young when I realized who they were. Haven't seen these particular people in years and it was pleasant saying hello. In walking through the mall before dinner we had seen close to a dozen Formers and Presents. This is a typical public experience. My wife knows that I'm thinking about changing schools again. She asked me, "Do you think you'd enjoy going out in public without being seen and known? Or would it bother you?"
I had to think about that. Gandhi said that one of the reasons he liked traveling 3rd class was to be anonymous. "Where I was surrounded by people who had heard of me I was the victim of their craze for darshan. . . [and]has often made me angry, and more sore at heart. Whereas travelling, though often trying, has been uplifting and has hardly ever roused me to anger." There are definitely times it is nice to be anonymous. I was starting to have the thoughts that Gandhi had. Wouldn't it be nice to walk about and not be noticed? But it seems at times I find a comfort in knowing others. It's nice that these Formers at least have a nice enough remembrance to be pleasant to us. It gives me a sense of being accountable. I can't hide. Kind of a physical reminder that God is everywhere. But that isn't the question at hand.
To me the questions of changing jobs comes down to where will I be most effective for the next 10-15 years and where will I be that helps my family the most? If a person feels called to help others, isn't home the first place that they should help? If home is cared for, then others can be helped.
The multifaceted answer is, given current and potential transportation costs, staying put is better financially. Don't want to sell and move. With paid extra duty assignments, there aren't many districts that pay more than I earn now. There are some that match or exceed with less days worked and that should be explored. Wouldn't it be nice to spend some more family time before all of the children are on their own? I wonder about the energy needed to change, so staying would be better. But can I still be effective where I am. For now, yes.
I've been thinking about changing jobs. My family suffers through this too many times in normal year. You know the symptoms; bad day at school, boring/meaningless meeting, rude colleagues in said meeting, another task on top of just doing the job you were hired for (In my case teaching students), seeing a new person lay a task before us that has already been done twice before, give our best effort and thought to the new task and seeing someone else subvert the idea into a no-win situation that becomes a political nightmare.
Add on the thoughts of being towards the end of a career and the ramifications of moving to a new job. Will the pay be less in the end? What if it's a wash now, but retirement is greater? What about the energy expended just looking and changing jobs?
My wonderful wife asked me a question last night over dinner. We were eating in a mall restaurant after "shopping" with our daughter on her birthday. I didn't realize until after we sat down that the couple next to us were former students of mine. We call them affectionately "Formers" and present students "Presents." Our children coined the terms. This couple had their children with them and I was remembering when our children were young when I realized who they were. Haven't seen these particular people in years and it was pleasant saying hello. In walking through the mall before dinner we had seen close to a dozen Formers and Presents. This is a typical public experience. My wife knows that I'm thinking about changing schools again. She asked me, "Do you think you'd enjoy going out in public without being seen and known? Or would it bother you?"
I had to think about that. Gandhi said that one of the reasons he liked traveling 3rd class was to be anonymous. "Where I was surrounded by people who had heard of me I was the victim of their craze for darshan. . . [and]has often made me angry, and more sore at heart. Whereas travelling, though often trying, has been uplifting and has hardly ever roused me to anger." There are definitely times it is nice to be anonymous. I was starting to have the thoughts that Gandhi had. Wouldn't it be nice to walk about and not be noticed? But it seems at times I find a comfort in knowing others. It's nice that these Formers at least have a nice enough remembrance to be pleasant to us. It gives me a sense of being accountable. I can't hide. Kind of a physical reminder that God is everywhere. But that isn't the question at hand.
To me the questions of changing jobs comes down to where will I be most effective for the next 10-15 years and where will I be that helps my family the most? If a person feels called to help others, isn't home the first place that they should help? If home is cared for, then others can be helped.
The multifaceted answer is, given current and potential transportation costs, staying put is better financially. Don't want to sell and move. With paid extra duty assignments, there aren't many districts that pay more than I earn now. There are some that match or exceed with less days worked and that should be explored. Wouldn't it be nice to spend some more family time before all of the children are on their own? I wonder about the energy needed to change, so staying would be better. But can I still be effective where I am. For now, yes.
Am I Thankful!
Sure glad I don't teach in Sudan, I would have been caned, beaten and dead long ago. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22039372/ It is all politics we know, but it would be nice to have our national politicians look at something like this and see a part of themselves and their politics in the event. Aren't elected officials supposed to represent people instead of thinking they can lead them around by the nose ring?
How many billions will be spent this go around that might be better spent helping people?
How many billions will be spent this go around that might be better spent helping people?
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