From Frosty to Toasty

After the last post, things have changed.  We had a string of days with freezing nights.  We lost some plants, but generally survived.  The chickens continued to lay.  The older half of us got sick and are now recovering.  Now we are moving into a strings of potentially record nights for highs.

Go Figure.

"The Times They are a Changin'"

Last week was a whirlwind to say the least.  On Monday  I was called into the principal's office to talk.  In the last few years that usually means something is about to change in my teaching life.  I was asked to teach a class that I have never taught before.  This is the third time in three years  that I have been asked to teach a new class, and this class will be out of my degree major.  I have taught classes out of my degree subject before; Basic Math, PE and Photography.  Usually I have had a non-teaching background in those classes.  The changes were good in those cases and I learned along with the students.

This change though, caught me off guard totally.  Because it involves a retirement of a colleague that hasn't been made public, I can't disclose the class yet.  I will say that of the few that I have told, everyone dropped their jaw when they heard the news.  It took a few days to process the idea.  Maureen believes it will be a great opportunity to teach kids some skills they don't have that will help them when the world goes more haywire than it already is.

This change is the impulse to read The Ordeal of Change, which I haven't started yet.  I had already made the decisions to change some other things for next year.  This additional change, though unexpected, will be added to the heap and should make for a calmer life.  As I read the book I'll share some thoughts.

A few weeks ago I mentioned we added a new German Shepard  to our 'Zoo.  Below meet Gunnar.

He and Khole have become best friends and both being big puppies it's a hoot at times.

The Power of Mediocrity

Three separate time this morning, 25 minutes, 38 minutes and 48 minutes, I spoke to a human at our DSL service tech support. The first two times I hung up on them and recalled immediately. This is after I reset the modem and turned off the modem multiple times. Turned off and on the computer multiple times. The third time I spoke to a human we spent 48 minutes and he finally said a tech would call and set up a meeting because there is a problem "between the central office and your computer." I asked if it was a billing issue, "No." I then said my modem shows it is connected and the lights are on for Internet and DSL and my computer says it is connected, how can it be a line issue? "It is a central office line issue, out techician will call within 24 to 48 hours to set up a meeting." Thank you.

I turned off the computer and went to the post office. Came back, turned on the computer and we have DSL and internet. Go Figure.

We have a saying in the Garver household and it applies to this.

No, but it's consistent.

Random Thoughts for a Sunday Morning

A while back I named this truck Christine. You know, like the Stephen King novel. I secretly have liked this truck, but would like to make some changes like raising it a bit so that one could carry a real load in the bed. Sam originally bought it, but being detained overseas, Wils has been driving it. Or at least when it starts. This last week it has been running consistently and Christine has reminded me why she is a good truck, despite the name. And she is owned free and clear.



We have played plenty of baseball this week. Six games in six days with one more rained out and to be played later. The team is starting to come together and roles are being defined. Yesterday was the culmination of the Farmersville Baseball Classic. After the preliminary games, we were seeded third. Wilson pitch most of the game against the #2 seed, Kern Valley, and we won 3-2. It was an intense game and the Butterflies roared like Lions. In the championship game we forgot how to catch and throw and lost to a good Fresno Christian team 6-2. After the game and the trophies were handed out, the two teams and coaching staffs gathered, intermingled and were lead in prayer by a player. You certainly don't see that every day. I ended the night with a visit to the JV team playing the late game in the Mt. Whitney tournament. The Baby Butterflies also played an intense game and beat Mt. Whitney 4-2. Mark, our JV coach, couldn't make the game so Jesus, a long time JV and Varsity coach took the team. Marshall and I decided to help so the Little Monarchs had three varsity level coaches helping them. It was fun to be in the dugout with Marshall, Jesus and AJ again.



The cat here lying languidly with Sam is Sofie. Sofie is our only cat that isn't fixed, yet. Well you know what happens when that situation exists. Sofie had her litter last night. Six wonderful kittens. So now all friends and relatives can step right up and pick a number to choose their very own cuddly ball of fur.

Pan = all + cea = cure

Many people believe that technology is going to save the world. I don't. After Jesus, people using un-common sense are going to prolong what we think is the world. People's reliance upon technology is going to ruin and destroy the world.

Last night towards the end of our high school football game a local man collapsed. This is a man that had helped many in the community, has given countless hours to many groups and organizations, advised numerous citizens through the years. He collapsed while he was again giving; he was working at the barbecue the Kiwanis does before, during and after the game. Just as he has for years. His son and a local doctor administered CPR until the EMT's could arrive. As the game ended, something he would enjoy to watch as he tended the fire, he lay unconscious with no pulse as people prayed and fought for his life as the ambulance arrived.

Ray is living today. The doctor and the son pumping and breathing. The EMT's doing what they know. The hospital techncians working their machines. A local man is alive because technology was used and worked at the proper time.

What caused the "attack?" Bad diet? No. Lack of exercise? No.

Wrong medication. Bad technology at the wrong time.

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

Can you name the singer of that ode?

I was reading essays last night after the Super Bowl and came across a gem. The students in my classes are not the honors/Advanced Placement type of students. They are the down-to-earth people that make this town and world work. Standard English is not always their first language, and that especially includes the Anglo-Saxon bred kids with eight generations of ancestors having lived on this side of the pond.

So as I was wading through a district mandated essay about whether security fences make the students feel safer or not, I stumbled upon the reason for my existence. "Yet another reason why fences are malignant to the school is because they are inconvenient. Sometimes students are a couple minutes late and the gates are closed so they have to go through the office. All of that just wastes time that you could of been wasting in class learning."

I feel wonderful that a student has finally figured out what my job entails.




Trivia answer--Freddie Fender

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.