Oh, What a Time

If you read Maureen's latest post, you'll know we had to reformat our hard drives. It's sort of like elephants breeding. Lots of noise from up high and wait two years for the results. And still issues I'm sure to encounter.

Last night I was on the phone to our friend Verizon for an hour to try and resolve on issue as to why the internet and email stopped working. The young lady at tech support was helpful, but after an hour and no resolution I could sense even she was getting frustrated. She mentioned "sending" me to her supervisors, but had to try one last thing. Them the phone went "click" and no mas Verizon. Just as well, dinner was ready.

Woke up this morning and bing, the internet works. Who'd a thunk?


Thank you Mark for the help.

All I Want is a Place to Play

The field above is the Sunken Diamond on the Stanford campus. One of the more scenic college fields I have seen.

The part of this field I am interested is the bullpen down the line. I have a need, perceived at least, that practices could be more efficient hitting wise if we had more batting tunnels. We could have more athletes busy hitting at any given time. The most logical place is next to the existing tunnels. That is where the bullpens are now. If the pens were moved out into foul territory about 20 feet, similar to the above picture, that would free up some land next to the tunnels for hitting stations or tunnels.

Too bad I have to spend my time fixing the ruts in the wash board like outfield from the person that mows the same way everytime, especially when the ground is wet, further insuring that the ruts are deep.

It Must Be Baseball Season, the Copy

I wrote a story this morning and posted in on the family blog. I just edited it and added some details.

If you would like to read a bit of family history, click here. If you read it at We're not the Waltons, then, as Betty would say, it is redundant to read it here.

What Do You Want to Do?

A few years ago I came upon a blog, No Impact Man, that struck a chord. I continue to read it from time to time and there are some practical things I have learned as well as some personal challenges.

Today this post really reminded me of something.

"For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matt. 16:36

Doesn't the world situation seem to bear out this truth?

What is Love?

Define love. Not the spine tingling, oogly googly, drooling over a picture of your sweety. And not the "Perbing the Dish" type of thing they talked about in The Sandlot either.

Try this for a definition of love. Or this. Or Maybe this: Matthew 5:43-44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

How do you define love? It seems to me the Big struggle today for those truly seeking to follow Jesus is to love others. Those you like and those who you don't find likable.

Life is a Tale Told by an Idiot, or an Author

If you consider yourself even mildly-read, you know, read even a mite more than the normal human, what five or ten books would you recommend to your child? Our children see Maureen and I read, and once in a while ask for advice on a good read. Then again, when they have to read a book for a book report, they really come for advice. So post your Great books. Here are mine in no particular order. Please excuse the Anglo-Saxon bent, but you have to admit these are good.

The Bible--It may not be politically correct, but it has Everything. Everything.

The Razor's Edge-W. Somerset Maugham--The Lost Generation explained better than Hemingway. And with a point. And I like Hemingway.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance-Robert Pirsig--You should read this once every 10 years of your life. Meaning. Quality!

To Kill a Mockingbird-Harper Lee--What book can you read over two dozen times and still learn something? And still cry at the ending the 25th time? Which of us hasn't lost our innocence?

Lord of the Flies-William Golding--We really are all evil inside. What keeps us acting good?

Cyrano de Bergerac-Edmond Rostand--What is beautiful? What is good? What is important?

Romeo and Juliet--You could argue that Macbeth or Hamlet would represent the Bard better but remember, All you need is Love. Who would You die for?

I am forgetting so many that I am embarrassed, but these would keep you tied up reading for a while. By that time I will have another list.

New Book about Baseball

Do you ever wish you had a chance to travel in the world at the height of your profession or avocation? I have been blessed to know people that fit this description. To be around teachers like Teri Bucz, Barbara Simpson, Judy Carreras, Jim Stanaway, and Greg Simpson have given me a view into their world in teaching.

Brad Mills has been open, as much as he can, about what he does coaching in the major leagues. I just started a book called, 3 Nights in August--Strategy, Heartbreak, and Joy Inside the Mind of a Manager. This is about Tony LaRussa and a three game series between his Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. What I have read so far has made me only want to read more.

2009, Not 2008 Redux

I woke up this morning in a funk.  Part of it is the typical for me going back to school blues.  This is a combination of being at a dead run with school activities, papers to grade and teenager ego distresses while trying to be a father and husband; all the while controlled by the clock and bells.  Then your routine is disrupted by a lack of most of those things for two weeks or so, and you reintroduce yourself to your family. You realize there is a life outside of school.  You can get some chores done or started at home.  One gets the time to evaluate their life a bit. Then back to the squirrel's wheel spinning you around at school again.  I dislike the going back.  

I liken it to exercise.  I know I should exercise so I've tried different forms.  I never really liked swimming laps and it had nothing to do with my tendency to sink rather than float.  I disliked coming to the end of the pool and having to make the decision to start again.  In running or cycling you start once and continue to the end.  Only one "start" choice. 

This break led to some introspection and I wasn't always happy with what I found.  It was rightfully pointed out to me that I talk too much instead of getting to the point.  I get distracted telling a story that I think will help illustrate the point, but it usually is too far off the mark and too long in the telling.  I've been known to tell a story about a story that I was telling to make a point.  My students love to see this happen, and it isn't fair to hold hostage my family to these stories.  Mi Familia call them Geezer Rants.  I just did it again.  You see my problem?

I also have some anger about education.  I'm at a funny place in that I can see the end of my career in education.  I don't like what is happening to our schools in general and the local schools in particular.  We have to continually test the students and the schools are graded, publishing the school's scores is grading, and then the scores are evaluated. We as educators then have changes made or forced upon us to improve our scores. But what if the scores continue to go up as at our school?  The continued tinkering implies that what we are doing isn't working, but the scores seem to say otherwise.  It is a constant battle to fend off another layer of work being added to our task while not removing any of the previous layers.  And still teach the ideas that educate our students.  Like an elective subject?  You know, those subjects that interest us and enrich our lives and make us who we really are?  How do those get taught?

The real and imagined changes because of the state budget issues does nothing to help.  This whole issue and how our district will handle it is a constant source of anguish.  Last year's actions does not portend a good reaction.

Unfortunately for my family the above problems get brought home, and I found out over Christmas break that my anger was spilled out over them in different ways.  I am critical of their actions.  I see the potential bad before the actual good in them.  The result is they are on edge around me.  "When is he going to go off, and for what?"  That has to change.  

With that in mind I'd like to start with some good things that happened over Christmas, then some resolutions.  Maureen has an excellent and well thought out list on her blog.

--We had all four children home for a good chunk of time.  I am continually amazed how they have turned out despite me.

--We got to see Wilson play basketball.

--We had a wonderful time "shopping" in Fresno one day with Brad and Sam.  "Shopping" for us is Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.  For Annie it is the mall, she did some of her shopping also.

--Got closer to finishing the studio.  Thank you to our friend Alan for his time and efforts.  I appreciate Maureen's patience on this project and the kick in the butt I need to work on this. 

 

--Got some other jobs done or closer to done at home. With baseball starting, time becomes precious.

--Walking the dogs with Maureen.  Four distinctly different dogs makes for adventure, esecially if one is a puppy bigger than two of the other dogs.  More important is the time to talk with Maureen.  

Resolutions and Goals

--Be nicer and less cynical to everyone, especially Maureen.

--Spend more time helping Maureen in the garden.  I enjoy walking through our yard after work.  We have some plans for expansion that will involve more of my effort.  Certainly this will help with the anger from education expressed earlier.

--Spend more time teaching and helping, less talking.

--Be more of a father to my children and not a teacher.