Last One Standing

This morning I was hit with the realization, maybe it was just a feeling, that I am the last teacher of the original English Department 5 that moved into the new building eight years ago still in the building. I was the odd duck, the coach that teaches English, the only male, the least likely at the time to move to the new digs. There were some with more seniority and all the politically correct reasons to be moved instead of me. But I was the one, and it made all the difference.

I knew I could never match those fine ladies and their teaching skills. There was the feeling, good natured, of being a eunuch at times. That was my joke. But the reality was; they welcomed me, and taught me, and helped me, and I became a better teacher. They put up with my sporting absences and hopefully I repaired the copier and toted the books around enough to make up for being gone. I said I could never teach like they did, but I decided I could be average or better in as many other ways of serving them as possible. In spite of that, they did make me a better teacher.

One passed away before her time, three retired for life's reasons. I tried to fill their shoes. Others, good people, moved in. It wasn't, isn't, quite the same.

Next year it looks like I will be teaching some English, but mostly P.E. I will give up Room 81 to a full-time English teacher, and I should. It is right. But I will remember the English building, with the department that was "a hard nut to crack."

And that has made all the difference.

Rainy Day at the Movies

We spent yesterday by the fire cracking pecans from the back tree and watching movies. What we really did was worry about something we had little control over, Wilson traveling back north to school in Oregon. Yesterday's rain here is snow in Mt. Shasta, and more importantly on Siskiyou and Ashland Passes where the boys will be traveling today. All the parental worries for naught, or for good, as we just received a text that they were home in Eugene safely.

The pecan cracking involves using a framing hammer and a section (6") of railroad track. A deft whack with the hammer to the upright end of the pecan sitting on the railroad track splits the shell in two or three. Then you dig the meat out of the shell. Maureen has been doing it by herself, but I got off my caboose and helped with the hammer work. Nice mindless work while watching a movie.

The first film Must Love Dogs was a story of two recently divorced people that eventually after many starts, stops, and miscues fall in love. Internet dating, siblings, friends, a parent and dogs are involved in the escapade. Some were stereotypical and some were insightful in their own way. It was a fun movie to watch on a rainy day.

The young man, played by John Cuzak, builds wooden rowing boats for a living, or at least tries for a living. His only near-sale is to a man that wants him to cut the boat in half to mount on the wall. Beautiful woods varnished to a luster and a delight for the eye. At least for this wannabe, part-time boat builder. The wood boat lust makes me want to build one for myself, but the reality is it would be another partially finished project. Or as my father's sailboat that ended up in the sandbox of a Kindergarten playground.

The next film was really was a documentary for American Masters on Jeff Bridges. What a span of roles he has played. Some of the films I have seen, some not, and some I want to see now. Having recently seen True Grit I was reminded of his acting skills and this documentary showed the breath of these abilities.

The last film was Lawrence of Arabia. I remember hearing that this was a must see movie in a film class, but didn't see it for the first time until my honeymoon. I like historical movies and this one still delights, though like Reds it is looooong. The drama of WWI, the British stiff upper lip, the beginnings of a nation and sand everywhere, literally. I felt I had to check my ears a few times to make sure no sand got in there.

In the end I was struck by the way the British stepped aside and let the Arab tribes try to start their country, smugly knowing they would come calling for help eventually. Reminded me of my students, though I don't sit smugly waiting for them to come for help. They don't come looking very often anymore.

Both groups, the Arabians and students, have for so long wallowed through their lives using what they were given. What happens when what they are given runs out? Students, young people, grow up and rely on what they've been open enough to learn or discern. They make mistakes like we all do and learn to do it differently the next time, or make the same mistake again and again and live with the consequences.

Have those in the Middle East learned in these years since Lawrence? What will they do when the oil runs out? Like it is now.

Something to Read and Chew On

This is a good post I found about the Founding Fathers and God.

New Project

I started with this:



A WWII Navy issue Robeson Shuredge No. 20. It was given to my father from his uncle who fought in WWII. As kids my brother and I threw it and abused it and ruined the handle. I redid it with some leather and wood for the handle.

I stripped the old handle I made off and found this:


I want something like this:

Or at least a shorter version of what I have now. Something to carry in my pocket or on a belt for use around the house, garden or field. A fixed blade version of the 2.5" to 3.5" folders many carry around now. I gave my folder to Brad for his new job with no regrets because I had this in mind.

Been Gone, Now Home

Carrots from across the street.

Got home today after being away for a few days. Extremely happy to be home, but have the feeling coming home is opening the door to more questions than answers. Looked around the house and the familiar sights were a blessing to see. Watering the chickens and scooping the dog waste brought their usual pleasure and calming salve.

But couldn't help but see the things that need to be done. Got to get to work.

Who's the Big Cheese in Your House?

Just a picture to whet your appetite. This is from Maureen's cheese making project. Another chance for me to eat from her efforts.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those in Japan. Little warning and ka-blam! In watching the news Thursday night an engineer made a statement that stood out and I've been thinking about. "The Japanese are the best prepared citizens and country in the world for earthquakes and tsunamis."

And I keep hearing the words in my head, "And look what happened to them." We have been making plans and preparing and storing for the last few years. Each month seems to see us step up the efforts in some small way. We're trying to branch out and cover as many base needs as possible, but in the end we have only so many resources to draw upon and it will take time.

What I'm really trying to beat around the bush about is preparedness being a way of life. But even when you prepare, there will be something that you can't completely prepare for. The severity of the earthquake and quickness of the tsunami still caught the prepared Japanese off guard. The latest reports seems to imply that the elderly were hurt the worse and most. The nuclear power plants that have been damaged. These outside and man-made events we have no control over.

We just have to keep plugging away at what we do, further grinding away the excess, while keeping the essential.

A Thank You, and This is How It Works

Looking where else, but onto a baseball field. The two on the right I was blessed to coach in baseball. The one on the far left I coached, and coached with, in water polo. All of them suffered from me more than I ever did from them.

The first Thank You goes to Maureen; I'm her husband. Not, here's the wife. She's the spoon that stirs this family in a good way. Maureen works hard. Raises chickens, veggies, makes supper, brews tea. All I have to do is taste and compliment. Unless I be stupid. Thank You!

The four men above pictured are this branch of the Garvers. Recently I found we stretched back through Illinois, Georgia, Pennsylvania to Switzerland and the Alsace region of Germany and France. Interestingly Maureen's family, the Derrs, come from the same region and ended up in Pennsylvania as the Garvers did.

Today we won another baseball game. None of the above men other than me was involved. Of the pictured group one is in California working at a Christian camp and preparing to get married, if one can ever prepare to do such a thing. One is in Louisiana preparing to go to Iraq to do what he is told to help others. One is in Oregon preparing to graduate from college, I hope. I'm, in coaching a winning high school baseball game, one step closer to the end.

Baseball Trivia

The picture above is from the left field corner with the new banners honoring our two recently retired numbers. Ray Strable graduated from EUHS and after COS and Fresno State played in the Twins organization rising to AAA. He came back to Exeter and coached for years and was the athletic director. He helped me in so many ways to learn the coaching business.

Brad Mills was a class mate, team mate and is a friend. After COS and U of Arizona he played with the Expos and the Cubs. He was the bench coach of the Red Sox for 5 years and helped them win two World Series and currently is the manager of the Houston Astros. We named our first son after him.

Now for the trivia question. According to the scoring rules of baseball, what are the seven ways to reach base?

Baseball on the Mind

We are in the midst of 6 games in 6 days. Reminds me of college when we played 10 games in 8 days over one stretch. The kids are playing well and in hindsight why would they not? Crima-flippin'-nently! Why wouldn't you be happy playing a game, instead of sittin' in class listening to a teacher when the sun is shining outside?

The above picture was seen during the World Series and I stole it for our team this year. The idea is that a patient batter is a more successful batter. Currently this year over the first 4 games we as a team have 8 Positive AB's in a loss; and 26, 28, and 18 positive AB's in three wins. Some new thinking may be in the air.