September 30, 2010
September 29, 2010
If It Walks Like a Duck and Quacks Like a Duck...
Anderson Cooper featured the story of Michigan Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shervill and he malicious attacks on University of Michigan student body president, Chris Armstrong. I could write what is going on, but I will let Anderson tell you more about this pair.
CLICK HERE FOR ANDERSON'S BLOG
CLICK HERE FOR ANDERSON'S BLOG
There are so many words I am thinking right now I wish to say to Mr. Shervill, but I will be respectful and keep them to myself...perhaps he should try the same thing.
September 28, 2010
Bullying Kills Kids
First, thanks to Konrad for posting about this article.
Look at this handsome young man. His name...Asher.
Asher is a 13-year old middle schooler. He looks like such a happy kid. He reminds me so much of my current and former students. He looks like a student so full of life and so much potential ahead of him.
However, the world will never know of Asher's future.
Last week, Asher took his own life. He shot himself with his step-father's gun after enduring so much bullying from classmates. I won't go into the details of what his classmates did to him. (I will let you read that in the article...it is disgusting!)
Asher's parents said they went to the school officials numerous times about the constant bullying, but nothing was ever done. As an educator, that saddens and disgusts me that these fellow educators ignored the concerns of a parent. The fact that they chose not to heed the concerns of these parents is unacceptable. The fact that they are denying any bullying was ever reported to them just makes it worse.
Bullying is something that is getting worse each year in the schools. It is our job as educators, parents, and concerned citizens to see that nothing like this happens again.
My heart goes out to Asher's parents, and my prayers go out to Asher and all those affected by the loss of this young man.
Below is the article...you can access it HERE.
Asher is a 13-year old middle schooler. He looks like such a happy kid. He reminds me so much of my current and former students. He looks like a student so full of life and so much potential ahead of him.
However, the world will never know of Asher's future.
Last week, Asher took his own life. He shot himself with his step-father's gun after enduring so much bullying from classmates. I won't go into the details of what his classmates did to him. (I will let you read that in the article...it is disgusting!)
Asher's parents said they went to the school officials numerous times about the constant bullying, but nothing was ever done. As an educator, that saddens and disgusts me that these fellow educators ignored the concerns of a parent. The fact that they chose not to heed the concerns of these parents is unacceptable. The fact that they are denying any bullying was ever reported to them just makes it worse.
Bullying is something that is getting worse each year in the schools. It is our job as educators, parents, and concerned citizens to see that nothing like this happens again.
My heart goes out to Asher's parents, and my prayers go out to Asher and all those affected by the loss of this young man.
Below is the article...you can access it HERE.
Asher Brown's worn-out tennis shoes still sit in the living room of his Cypress-area home while his student progress report — filled with straight A's — rests on the coffee table.
The eighth-grader killed himself last week. He shot himself in the head after enduring what his mother and stepfather say was constant harassment from four other students at Hamilton Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.
Brown, his family said, was "bullied to death" — picked on for his small size, his religion and because he did not wear designer clothes and shoes. Kids also accused him of being gay, some of them performing mock gay acts on him in his physical education class, his mother and stepfather said.
The 13-year-old's parents said they had complained about the bullying to Hamilton Middle School officials during the past 18 months, but claimed their concerns fell on deaf ears.
David and Amy Truong said they made several visits to the school to complain about the harassment, and Amy Truong said she made numerous phone calls to the school that were never returned.
'We want justice'
Cy Fair ISD officials said Monday that they never received any complaints from Brown's parents before the suicide about the way the boy was being treated at school.
School district spokeswoman Kelli Durham, whose husband Alan Durham is a Hamilton assistant principal, said no students, school employees or the boy's parents ever reported that he was being bullied.
That statement infuriated the Truongs, who accused the school district of protecting the bullies and their parents.
"That's absolutely inaccurate — it's completely false," Amy Truong said. "I did not hallucinate phone calls to counselors and assistant principals. We have no reason to make this up. … It's like they're calling us liars."
David Truong said, "We want justice. The people here need to be held responsible and to be stopped. It did happen. There are witnesses everywhere."
Numerous comments from parents and students on the Web site of KRIV-TV Channel 26, which also reported a story about Brown's death, stated that the boy had been bullied by classmates for several years and claimed Cy-Fair ISD does nothing to stop such harassment.
Durham said the school counselor and an assistant principal received an e-mail from Amy Truong earlier this month, asking them to keep an eye on her son, but Durham said it was because of ongoing concerns at home and not about bullying.
Shot himself with pistol
Brown was found dead on the floor of his stepfather's closet at the family's home in the 11700 block of Cypresswood about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. He used his stepfather's 9 mm Beretta, stored on one of the closet's shelves, to kill himself. He left no note. David Truong found the teen's body when he arrived home from work.
On the morning of his death, the teen told his stepfather he was gay, but Truong said he was fine with the disclosure. "We didn't condemn," he said.
His parents said Brown had been called names and endured harassment from other students since he joined Cy-Fair ISD two years ago. As a result, he stuck with a small group of friends who suffered similar harassment from other students, his parents said.
His most recent humiliation occurred the day before his suicide, when another student tripped Brown as he walked down a flight of stairs at the school, his parents said.
When Brown hit the stairway landing and went to retrieve his book bag, the other student kicked his books everywhere and kicked Brown down the remaining flight of stairs, the Truongs said.
Durham said that incident was investigated, but turned up no witnesses or video footage to corroborate the couple's claims.
'I hope you're happy'
The Truongs say they just want the harassment to stop so other students do not suffer like their son did and so another family does not have to endure such a tragedy.
"Our son is just the extreme case of what happens when (someone is) just relentless," Amy Truong said.
To the bullies, she added, "I hope you're happy with what you've done. I hope you got what you wanted and you're just real satisfied with yourself."
Services for Brown will be held Saturday.
September 27, 2010
Everybody Poops
There are just days in teaching where I have an absolute blast...today was one of those days.
Today, in science, we covered cycles of nature (i.e. the water cycle, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle). I began the day with several short statements:
The water you drank today is the same water that dinosaurs drank.
The water you drank today is the same water that little Jacob peed in while swimming several years ago.
The mushrooms that were on your pizza this week were grown using horse poop.
Recycling is alive and well in nature!
If you ever want to get a set of 25 sixth graders, just mention the word "poop." From that point on they will be tuned in for the entire period.
I introduced this book, "Everyone Poops," by Taro Gomi. Several student have told me that their parents read this book to them when they were younger. I just had to laugh.
Discussing the nitrogen cycle, the discussion of poop came up quite a bit. It was present in our textbook, and it was all over the BrainPop video. Surprisingly, my students understood the basics of the the nitrogen cycle. It is not an easy concept for middle schoolers to understand. It is one of those very abstract concepts that they cannot physically see happening. As a teacher, I resort to the most disgusting examples I can think of in the hopes that the students will remember them. Trust me, discussing poop is one of those examples that students will not forget. They certainly went home and told their parents about the poop discussion.
When I said earlier that in order to get 6th graders to remember the nitrogen cycle, it sometimes means that I have to take it all to extremes. I told my students to think of the nitrogen cycle as a giant tree threatening you with a lightning bolt (keeping the guns out of the discussion, I chose to use the lightning bolt) saying "Poop or Die...Your Choice!" Hopefully this will help my students to remember that plants get nitrogen through organic residue (poop), decaying matter, or through lighting causing nitrogen fixation.
To make a long story short...my entire day was spent talking about POOP!
Oye! What kind of life do I lead? LOL!
Today, in science, we covered cycles of nature (i.e. the water cycle, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle). I began the day with several short statements:
The water you drank today is the same water that dinosaurs drank.
The water you drank today is the same water that little Jacob peed in while swimming several years ago.
The mushrooms that were on your pizza this week were grown using horse poop.
Recycling is alive and well in nature!
If you ever want to get a set of 25 sixth graders, just mention the word "poop." From that point on they will be tuned in for the entire period.
Discussing the nitrogen cycle, the discussion of poop came up quite a bit. It was present in our textbook, and it was all over the BrainPop video. Surprisingly, my students understood the basics of the the nitrogen cycle. It is not an easy concept for middle schoolers to understand. It is one of those very abstract concepts that they cannot physically see happening. As a teacher, I resort to the most disgusting examples I can think of in the hopes that the students will remember them. Trust me, discussing poop is one of those examples that students will not forget. They certainly went home and told their parents about the poop discussion.
When I said earlier that in order to get 6th graders to remember the nitrogen cycle, it sometimes means that I have to take it all to extremes. I told my students to think of the nitrogen cycle as a giant tree threatening you with a lightning bolt (keeping the guns out of the discussion, I chose to use the lightning bolt) saying "Poop or Die...Your Choice!" Hopefully this will help my students to remember that plants get nitrogen through organic residue (poop), decaying matter, or through lighting causing nitrogen fixation.
To make a long story short...my entire day was spent talking about POOP!
Oye! What kind of life do I lead? LOL!
September 26, 2010
Justin
Okay, I have been keeping a secret for a few months. I have been seeing someone, and I have not really told anyone. Why would I do that? Call it fear...fear that I will get my hopes up and all would come crashing down. I now am ready to tell you, my friends, about Justin.
On a personal note...love ya, MH! You know you are one of my most cherished friends!
I met Justin on New Year's Eve. I went to a friend's house for a party. Justin was there with his partner, Brian. They were both pretty interesting to talk with. I didn't really think much of it at the time. I was just meeting some people I did not know.
Fast forward to May.
Justin added me as a friend on Facebook. It took me a while to figure out who this stranger was adding me to his friends list. We chatted through messaging for a few days until I realized who he was, and that I indeed had met him. So, I did add him to my list.
We ended up talking each evening for a few weeks. I found him to be quite intriguing. What I learned through our initial chats was that he is 30 years old, lives about 30 miles from me, works for a large regional bank in our area (he is a loan officer), he is going back to school to get a masters degree in business administration, he loves to travel, he has a kid (well, a bichon frise puppy named Beau), and so much more.
After a great amount of talking, we decided to meet for dinner. I made the 55 minute drive to meet him. We had an awesome dinner. We talked the entire time, laughed a great deal, and just got to know more about each other. Then, we got in my car and drove around for a bit...talking some more. He allowed me to run into Best Buy as I was shopping for a new netbook. Then we made a bee-line for Starbucks. Since I don't drink coffee, I ended up with a soy strawberries and cream. We sat out on the patio for about an hour just talking some more. That was end of our first date. Nothing too exciting, but I enjoyed it.
From that point we talked almost every night. Well, you know, it was all new and fresh.
Some time in June, Justin asked me to go away with him for a weekend. Now, for those of you who know me, you know that I am somewhat conservative and old-fashioned at times. Going away for the weekend sounded too fast-moving for me, but I thought it and agreed to it. We rented a cabin for the weekend. We played around town for two days and had a great time. (For those of you with "those" thoughts, get them out of your head...I am not that kind of guy. LOL) It was a great time just to get away and get to know more about him.
There is more to tell, but I am going to hold that for now.
Now I find that we are at an impasse. Over the past few weeks, we have both become extremely frustrated in the fact we are not able to see each other. We are both extremely busy in life. Whenever one of us has some free time, the other is either out of town or committed elsewhere. We just have not found the time to meet up. It appears we don't have the time for each other. It is frustrating! I feel as though I have been trying to make time for him, but he is not making time for me. I have even kept my school work at school so that I would have some freed-up time in the afternoons, but it is to no avail.
Another brick wall we have between us...sex. As I have posted before, I often despise the thought of it. (I know I am often in the minority here, but it is my life!) Why? I have no idea. It is just the way it is. I am one of those crazy people who have always chosen to wait for love first. There are times when we will be talking, and Justin will bring up a discussion or insinuation of sex. I really get uncomfortable with this, but Justin does not seem to pick up on that.
Well, today was the day I laid it all out on the line. I finally had to let it all go and let Justin know what was in my head. Like the chicken I am, I put it all in a letter that I sent to him. I knew he was studying all day and didn't need to be disturbed. So, I sent the letter and sent him a text to let him know I had sent him the email. Maybe, at some point, I will post the email on here, but for now it will stay private...sorry!
I finally got a response from Justin. He told me that it was a shock to get the message, but he was glad I was able to let it all out. He said he finally was able to understand more about me. There wasn't much more said than that. I know it is going to take some processing time for both of us. I don't know that we will be able to continue on at this point. Seems we are just in two different places right now. We are on two different paths that seldom cross each other.
Simply put, I am feeling the sting of loneliness. It sucks!
As I read this post, I feel it is not making a lot of sense. It is very random. Oh well, it is some honesty for you all! My apologies for the terrible use of grammar! My English teachers would be horrified by such a horrible display of grammar.
There is more to come...but in time.
On a personal note...love ya, MH! You know you are one of my most cherished friends!
I met Justin on New Year's Eve. I went to a friend's house for a party. Justin was there with his partner, Brian. They were both pretty interesting to talk with. I didn't really think much of it at the time. I was just meeting some people I did not know.
Fast forward to May.
Justin added me as a friend on Facebook. It took me a while to figure out who this stranger was adding me to his friends list. We chatted through messaging for a few days until I realized who he was, and that I indeed had met him. So, I did add him to my list.
We ended up talking each evening for a few weeks. I found him to be quite intriguing. What I learned through our initial chats was that he is 30 years old, lives about 30 miles from me, works for a large regional bank in our area (he is a loan officer), he is going back to school to get a masters degree in business administration, he loves to travel, he has a kid (well, a bichon frise puppy named Beau), and so much more.
After a great amount of talking, we decided to meet for dinner. I made the 55 minute drive to meet him. We had an awesome dinner. We talked the entire time, laughed a great deal, and just got to know more about each other. Then, we got in my car and drove around for a bit...talking some more. He allowed me to run into Best Buy as I was shopping for a new netbook. Then we made a bee-line for Starbucks. Since I don't drink coffee, I ended up with a soy strawberries and cream. We sat out on the patio for about an hour just talking some more. That was end of our first date. Nothing too exciting, but I enjoyed it.
From that point we talked almost every night. Well, you know, it was all new and fresh.
Some time in June, Justin asked me to go away with him for a weekend. Now, for those of you who know me, you know that I am somewhat conservative and old-fashioned at times. Going away for the weekend sounded too fast-moving for me, but I thought it and agreed to it. We rented a cabin for the weekend. We played around town for two days and had a great time. (For those of you with "those" thoughts, get them out of your head...I am not that kind of guy. LOL) It was a great time just to get away and get to know more about him.
There is more to tell, but I am going to hold that for now.
Now I find that we are at an impasse. Over the past few weeks, we have both become extremely frustrated in the fact we are not able to see each other. We are both extremely busy in life. Whenever one of us has some free time, the other is either out of town or committed elsewhere. We just have not found the time to meet up. It appears we don't have the time for each other. It is frustrating! I feel as though I have been trying to make time for him, but he is not making time for me. I have even kept my school work at school so that I would have some freed-up time in the afternoons, but it is to no avail.
Another brick wall we have between us...sex. As I have posted before, I often despise the thought of it. (I know I am often in the minority here, but it is my life!) Why? I have no idea. It is just the way it is. I am one of those crazy people who have always chosen to wait for love first. There are times when we will be talking, and Justin will bring up a discussion or insinuation of sex. I really get uncomfortable with this, but Justin does not seem to pick up on that.
Well, today was the day I laid it all out on the line. I finally had to let it all go and let Justin know what was in my head. Like the chicken I am, I put it all in a letter that I sent to him. I knew he was studying all day and didn't need to be disturbed. So, I sent the letter and sent him a text to let him know I had sent him the email. Maybe, at some point, I will post the email on here, but for now it will stay private...sorry!
I finally got a response from Justin. He told me that it was a shock to get the message, but he was glad I was able to let it all out. He said he finally was able to understand more about me. There wasn't much more said than that. I know it is going to take some processing time for both of us. I don't know that we will be able to continue on at this point. Seems we are just in two different places right now. We are on two different paths that seldom cross each other.
Simply put, I am feeling the sting of loneliness. It sucks!
As I read this post, I feel it is not making a lot of sense. It is very random. Oh well, it is some honesty for you all! My apologies for the terrible use of grammar! My English teachers would be horrified by such a horrible display of grammar.
There is more to come...but in time.
September 25, 2010
Life Rolls On...
I am afraid I have been a bad friend to you all lately. I have not really had a lot of extra time to devote to posting and reading posts. I feel very behind in catching up with so many of you. For that, I am sincerely sorry!
Turns out that a few of my blogger friends have a birthday this week. I would be remiss if I didn't take the time to recognize them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Austin and Aaron! Hope that both of you have an awesome birthday filled with every hope and wish you could possibly imagine!
This is a weekend in which I don't have any traveling or time commitments. I can actually take some time to really relax and enjoy a weekend off. I don't really know what to do with myself. I got up this morning, ran out for some breakfast, got a haircut, did a bit of grocery shopping, and made my way back home to watch my Tennessee Vols win their football game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. (Hey, in my family you have to be a Tennessee fan or you can be disowned...LOL)
I will be heading out in about two hours to go watch a local band play. This band, called Barefoot Movement is a bluegrass band that I was introduced by the mother of a former student. I love their music and am very excited to see them live. I love live music. There is just something about it that makes my iPod inadequate. It should be a nice evening with good friends and good music.
In some exciting news...I only have two more weeks of school before we have fall break. That's right! Our school system gets a full week off between the first and second quarters. It comes at one of the best times of the season. It is not typically too cold, and the heat of summer has passed.
The beginning of October also my favorite time of year. During the first weekend of October each year we have the Apple Festival, the International Storytelling Festival, and the Wizard of Oz Festival happening in our area.
The Apple Festival is a huge festival in a very small town. It attracts over 100,000 people to the quaint, little town of Erwin. You can find everything apple at this festival. The best part would be the FOOD. Each year we all flock to this festival to pick our favorite kinds of apples. I make a race for my particular kind of apples, simply because they are hard to find. I love a kind of apple called the Mutsu apple. It is a crisp apple that is sweet and tart. Yummy! We also take the time to stop by the Menonite's booth. There we pick up all kinds of delicious apple goodies. Our favorite...fried apple pies. Oh, I cannot tell you enough how delicious those pies are. Don't forget to pick up apple butter, peach butter, pumpkin butter, blackberry preserves, canned soups, etc.
The International Storytelling Festival takes place in Jonesborough, TN each October. Who knew storytelling had such a huge following? Tens of thousands of people from all over the world (yes, I said the world) come to Jonesborough each October to attend storytelling events for three packed days. I drove through Jonesborough today, and all the tents are already up and waiting. I absolutely love going to the festival. Our two favorite events are the evening Ghost Stories under the gazebo in the park and the Midnight Cabaret (a comedy storytelling like no other). This even brings millions of dollars into this small town. Our university is the only one in the nation where you can obtain a Masters Degree in Storytelling. Everyone should try to attend at least once in life!
Sadly, I don't think I will be able to attend the festivals this year. Seems I have to be out of town for some state council events I must attend. Life beckons, and I must heed the call!
Yesterday I applied for a job as a Grant Administrator for after-school programs in our school system. This position would focus on those after-school programs to benefit our at-risk student/family population. Working with at-risk students is an area close to my heart. Given the definition of "at-risk" in America, I would have been considered an at-risk student when I was in school. I understand where a lot of these students are coming from, and I look forward to having the opportunity to work with them. I should know by Monday or Tuesday if I am selected for an interview. Will keep everyone posted.
Speaking of school, Friday was an interesting one. My team has first-period planning. That means our students are in their related arts classes from 8:00 - 9:00 each morning. This is the time I get to plan, write lessons, grade papers, talk with colleagues, call parents, etc. On Friday, I was outside the school entrance returning from going to my car. While outside the entrance I heard screaming coming from inside. I also heard someone screaming the name of one of my students. Just then I saw him bolt across the lobby, slamming doors and yelling along the way. I instantly ran inside to see what was going on with him. There were four teachers standing in the hall as my student goes down the hall crying, yelling, and running away. One of my teammates and I happened to be there. We chased him down to talk with him. He was uncontrollable. We got him to calm down enough to bring him back to the office and into the assistant principal's office. Seems he had gotten into an argument with a female 7th grader. (In his defense, this particular girl is one who is known to push buttons just to get reactions from everyone.) My teammate and I went into the office and sat with this student. We knew how to keep him calmed down. It was not easy. His mom was called in. He was almost sent home. He was lucky that our school's police officer was tied up with another situation. If he would have been there, my student would have been taken out in handcuffs. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Once he was calmed down, everyone spoke with him and the situation was settled. However, my student was not completely ready to go back to class. He was still crying, and this is one tough kid usually. I decided to take him outside for a walk. We walked around the school for about 10 minutes or so. We talked about how far he has come this year and how everyone had noticed. We discussed how he knows this female student and how she likes to really push his buttons. He finally calmed down and was able to return to class. It is amazing to me how some kids can act so tough on the outside, but on the inside they are tender and crying out for help. This student of mine is a prime example. I hope that this is a breakthrough that will help him continue to grow and improve this year.
Okay, I have rambled on long enough. In my next post I feel the need to write to you about Justin...the guy I have been seeing in recent months. It will probably be another long post, so you are warned!
Take care, my friends!
Joey
I will be heading out in about two hours to go watch a local band play. This band, called Barefoot Movement is a bluegrass band that I was introduced by the mother of a former student. I love their music and am very excited to see them live. I love live music. There is just something about it that makes my iPod inadequate. It should be a nice evening with good friends and good music.
In some exciting news...I only have two more weeks of school before we have fall break. That's right! Our school system gets a full week off between the first and second quarters. It comes at one of the best times of the season. It is not typically too cold, and the heat of summer has passed.
The beginning of October also my favorite time of year. During the first weekend of October each year we have the Apple Festival, the International Storytelling Festival, and the Wizard of Oz Festival happening in our area.
The International Storytelling Festival takes place in Jonesborough, TN each October. Who knew storytelling had such a huge following? Tens of thousands of people from all over the world (yes, I said the world) come to Jonesborough each October to attend storytelling events for three packed days. I drove through Jonesborough today, and all the tents are already up and waiting. I absolutely love going to the festival. Our two favorite events are the evening Ghost Stories under the gazebo in the park and the Midnight Cabaret (a comedy storytelling like no other). This even brings millions of dollars into this small town. Our university is the only one in the nation where you can obtain a Masters Degree in Storytelling. Everyone should try to attend at least once in life!
Sadly, I don't think I will be able to attend the festivals this year. Seems I have to be out of town for some state council events I must attend. Life beckons, and I must heed the call!
Yesterday I applied for a job as a Grant Administrator for after-school programs in our school system. This position would focus on those after-school programs to benefit our at-risk student/family population. Working with at-risk students is an area close to my heart. Given the definition of "at-risk" in America, I would have been considered an at-risk student when I was in school. I understand where a lot of these students are coming from, and I look forward to having the opportunity to work with them. I should know by Monday or Tuesday if I am selected for an interview. Will keep everyone posted.
Speaking of school, Friday was an interesting one. My team has first-period planning. That means our students are in their related arts classes from 8:00 - 9:00 each morning. This is the time I get to plan, write lessons, grade papers, talk with colleagues, call parents, etc. On Friday, I was outside the school entrance returning from going to my car. While outside the entrance I heard screaming coming from inside. I also heard someone screaming the name of one of my students. Just then I saw him bolt across the lobby, slamming doors and yelling along the way. I instantly ran inside to see what was going on with him. There were four teachers standing in the hall as my student goes down the hall crying, yelling, and running away. One of my teammates and I happened to be there. We chased him down to talk with him. He was uncontrollable. We got him to calm down enough to bring him back to the office and into the assistant principal's office. Seems he had gotten into an argument with a female 7th grader. (In his defense, this particular girl is one who is known to push buttons just to get reactions from everyone.) My teammate and I went into the office and sat with this student. We knew how to keep him calmed down. It was not easy. His mom was called in. He was almost sent home. He was lucky that our school's police officer was tied up with another situation. If he would have been there, my student would have been taken out in handcuffs. Thankfully, that didn't happen. Once he was calmed down, everyone spoke with him and the situation was settled. However, my student was not completely ready to go back to class. He was still crying, and this is one tough kid usually. I decided to take him outside for a walk. We walked around the school for about 10 minutes or so. We talked about how far he has come this year and how everyone had noticed. We discussed how he knows this female student and how she likes to really push his buttons. He finally calmed down and was able to return to class. It is amazing to me how some kids can act so tough on the outside, but on the inside they are tender and crying out for help. This student of mine is a prime example. I hope that this is a breakthrough that will help him continue to grow and improve this year.
Okay, I have rambled on long enough. In my next post I feel the need to write to you about Justin...the guy I have been seeing in recent months. It will probably be another long post, so you are warned!
Take care, my friends!
Joey
September 24, 2010
I Miss...
Today I have been listening to some of the music on my iPod that I have not accessed in quite a while. I came across my playlist of songs from Nickel Creek, and I could not stop listening.
I miss Nickel Creek so much. They just played some awesome music. I had the chance to see them in concert a number of times, and they just kept on impressing me. They were incredible raw talent.
Most of the videos for Nickel Creek are unable to be embedded from YouTube, but below are the links if you want to hear more.
I miss Nickel Creek so much. They just played some awesome music. I had the chance to see them in concert a number of times, and they just kept on impressing me. They were incredible raw talent.
September 19, 2010
I Am Obsessed With This Song
I can't help it...I LOVE THIS SONG.
The message and the sentiment are so beautiful that I choke up every time I hear it. Had to share!
The message and the sentiment are so beautiful that I choke up every time I hear it. Had to share!
September 18, 2010
They Did It
I am sitting in my extremely beautiful hotel room in St. Augustine, Florida as I type this.
I arrived here just this morning...well, around noon. As soon as I arrived at my hotel, I called Jenny to let her know I was in town. She asked me to come to the salon to spend some time with her, her mother, and her bridesmaids. I got over to the salon, and they were having an absolute blast. Jenny was in the chair getting her hair done up (she chose a total up-do, which is totally out of character for her), the rhinestones put in, and the beautiful flower put into her hair. (I will post a pic of that soon...once I get them from my phone.) They were all drinking wine, eating fruit and cheese, and just having a good ole time! I loved just seeing everyone so happy...especially Jenny!
The wedding was beautiful. It was on the beach at Anastasia State Park. Jenny could not have looked more beautiful. The setting was incredible. It was perfect.
The reception was a blast. The location was very sophisticated. (Very out of character for the bride and groom.) The room was decorated with white tables and teal satin scarved over each chair. The music was too much fun. One thing I will say about Jenny's family is that they love to have a party and DANCE. Even granny, who is well into her 80s, danced the shoes off of everyone else there. It was awesome!
The best part of the reception for me was when I got to dance two slow songs with Jenny. Dancing has always been a thing of ours, and we have not danced in quite a while. She and I just talked during those two songs about how happy she was, how great Chris is, and just how perfect the day has been. I also reminded her that I knew this day would come since last September. You see, I got to be there during their first date. I knew that night this was coming. How did I know? I saw the look Chris had on his face the entire night. He was smitten with Jenny. It was sweet!
At the end of the reception, we all gathered outside to wish Chris and Jenny well as they left in their horse-drawn carriage. After they were gone, I spent some time hugging on Jenny's mother, who I also refer to as "mom." Mom and I walked down the street just talking about Jenny, how happy she is, and how much she needed this. Mom and I just held each other's hand. It was sweet. She just kept thanking me for always being there for Jenny. I told her we have both been there for each other since we were 11 years old.
I am so thrilled that my best friend has found true happiness...and it is a most deserved happiness. I love Jenny with all my heart, and I always will. She will continue to be my best friend.
Will post other updates later. Got a lot to get off my chest, but this post needs to be all about my best friend and the man she now calls her HUSBAND. Love you guys!
I arrived here just this morning...well, around noon. As soon as I arrived at my hotel, I called Jenny to let her know I was in town. She asked me to come to the salon to spend some time with her, her mother, and her bridesmaids. I got over to the salon, and they were having an absolute blast. Jenny was in the chair getting her hair done up (she chose a total up-do, which is totally out of character for her), the rhinestones put in, and the beautiful flower put into her hair. (I will post a pic of that soon...once I get them from my phone.) They were all drinking wine, eating fruit and cheese, and just having a good ole time! I loved just seeing everyone so happy...especially Jenny!
The wedding was beautiful. It was on the beach at Anastasia State Park. Jenny could not have looked more beautiful. The setting was incredible. It was perfect.
The reception was a blast. The location was very sophisticated. (Very out of character for the bride and groom.) The room was decorated with white tables and teal satin scarved over each chair. The music was too much fun. One thing I will say about Jenny's family is that they love to have a party and DANCE. Even granny, who is well into her 80s, danced the shoes off of everyone else there. It was awesome!
The best part of the reception for me was when I got to dance two slow songs with Jenny. Dancing has always been a thing of ours, and we have not danced in quite a while. She and I just talked during those two songs about how happy she was, how great Chris is, and just how perfect the day has been. I also reminded her that I knew this day would come since last September. You see, I got to be there during their first date. I knew that night this was coming. How did I know? I saw the look Chris had on his face the entire night. He was smitten with Jenny. It was sweet!
At the end of the reception, we all gathered outside to wish Chris and Jenny well as they left in their horse-drawn carriage. After they were gone, I spent some time hugging on Jenny's mother, who I also refer to as "mom." Mom and I walked down the street just talking about Jenny, how happy she is, and how much she needed this. Mom and I just held each other's hand. It was sweet. She just kept thanking me for always being there for Jenny. I told her we have both been there for each other since we were 11 years old.
I am so thrilled that my best friend has found true happiness...and it is a most deserved happiness. I love Jenny with all my heart, and I always will. She will continue to be my best friend.
Will post other updates later. Got a lot to get off my chest, but this post needs to be all about my best friend and the man she now calls her HUSBAND. Love you guys!
September 12, 2010
Here We Go Again
Why does cancer and death seem to be abound these past few weeks?
I just received a message from my friend Lori, who is the aunt of a former student, Sam. Sam's dad (Rick) has been fighting Leukemia for a couple years. Lori's message was as follows:
Things are sad. Rick was brought home by ambulance on Friday, and he's here with Hospice. We're very thankful to have him home, but just heartbroken with the situation. I gotta say Sam is just remarkable! He walks in with a smile and is fantastic. The conversation is upbeat and positive. He's a heck of a kid. Thank you for keeping up with us. I am sure I'll see you tomorrow.
Once again, my heart is breaking at the thought of another family being torn apart by cancer.
I remember meeting with Rick earlier last year when his Leukemia was in remission. He was meeting with us to discuss how he can help Sam become more successful in school. I remember thinking that Sam looked and acted a lot like his dad. It was clear that Rick loved his kids, and that he was trying to make up for lost time. It was not long after that parent-teacher meeting that Rick's leukemia came back with a vengeance.
Rick has been spending that past months (at least since Christmas) at Vanderbilt University fighting this disease for all it's worth. During that time, Sam and his sister have been living with Aunt Lori. Lori is truly amazing in my book. She opened her home to her son's kids, and she has been working to make sure that each of them is successful in school. I credit Lori for helping Sam achieve so much this past year. She is an incredible lady.
I have this awful feeling that Sam's dad will not survive this week. I am going to hate to see what will happen to Sam. As Lori put it, "He's a heck of a kid."
As a teacher, I will be there to help Sam through this. As a friend to Lori, I will be there to help her as she transitions from being the caregiver to her son's kids to being their full-time guardian, and as she copes with the loss of her beloved brother.
Prayers and thoughts go out to Lori, Sam, Jayne, and family as they deal with Rick's illness.
I just received a message from my friend Lori, who is the aunt of a former student, Sam. Sam's dad (Rick) has been fighting Leukemia for a couple years. Lori's message was as follows:
Things are sad. Rick was brought home by ambulance on Friday, and he's here with Hospice. We're very thankful to have him home, but just heartbroken with the situation. I gotta say Sam is just remarkable! He walks in with a smile and is fantastic. The conversation is upbeat and positive. He's a heck of a kid. Thank you for keeping up with us. I am sure I'll see you tomorrow.
I remember meeting with Rick earlier last year when his Leukemia was in remission. He was meeting with us to discuss how he can help Sam become more successful in school. I remember thinking that Sam looked and acted a lot like his dad. It was clear that Rick loved his kids, and that he was trying to make up for lost time. It was not long after that parent-teacher meeting that Rick's leukemia came back with a vengeance.
Rick has been spending that past months (at least since Christmas) at Vanderbilt University fighting this disease for all it's worth. During that time, Sam and his sister have been living with Aunt Lori. Lori is truly amazing in my book. She opened her home to her son's kids, and she has been working to make sure that each of them is successful in school. I credit Lori for helping Sam achieve so much this past year. She is an incredible lady.
I have this awful feeling that Sam's dad will not survive this week. I am going to hate to see what will happen to Sam. As Lori put it, "He's a heck of a kid."
As a teacher, I will be there to help Sam through this. As a friend to Lori, I will be there to help her as she transitions from being the caregiver to her son's kids to being their full-time guardian, and as she copes with the loss of her beloved brother.
Prayers and thoughts go out to Lori, Sam, Jayne, and family as they deal with Rick's illness.
I'm Free
To continue with the random bits of music I put on here...
This song is one I have found and obsessed about recently, not to mention that Stuart Matthew Price tears it up. I love his ability to portray such emotion in song. It is a gift that is all too rare!
(I included another version at the bottom of this post in case you don't care for Price's version.)
Free
by: Scott Alan
First I need to say
You grow more beautiful each day
Like Leaves as their colors change
This may sound cliche
But I'd be lost if you ever went away
No, words are not my strength
So many years have gone by
So many days I peered from the outside
Always felt so lost at sea
(Like wind without the waves)
Then you stepped into my life
You found me here, just in the nick of time
Unlocked me with your key, and set me free
The world could never understand
Love me only the way you can
Rebuilding me from inside
I don't care if the world sees me as strange
(I know the world sees me as strange)
Never once have you wanted me to change
You take me as I am
I lost a piece of who I was
You brought me back, now I'm no longer lost
Brought meaning to my life
I've grown to finally understand
That someone could love me as I am
And I'd finally be free
A single kiss and you awakened me
And I was free
From my darkest hour your rescued me
Now I'm feee
With you I'm free
Here in your arms, I'm free.
I'm free
This song is one I have found and obsessed about recently, not to mention that Stuart Matthew Price tears it up. I love his ability to portray such emotion in song. It is a gift that is all too rare!
(I included another version at the bottom of this post in case you don't care for Price's version.)
by: Scott Alan
First I need to say
You grow more beautiful each day
Like Leaves as their colors change
This may sound cliche
But I'd be lost if you ever went away
No, words are not my strength
So many years have gone by
So many days I peered from the outside
Always felt so lost at sea
(Like wind without the waves)
Then you stepped into my life
You found me here, just in the nick of time
Unlocked me with your key, and set me free
The world could never understand
Love me only the way you can
Rebuilding me from inside
I don't care if the world sees me as strange
(I know the world sees me as strange)
Never once have you wanted me to change
You take me as I am
I lost a piece of who I was
You brought me back, now I'm no longer lost
Brought meaning to my life
I've grown to finally understand
That someone could love me as I am
And I'd finally be free
A single kiss and you awakened me
And I was free
From my darkest hour your rescued me
Now I'm feee
With you I'm free
Here in your arms, I'm free.
I'm free
Let Your Light Shine Through
Snapped this photo on my Blackberry last weekend while laying in a field in the park.
(Hey, it's the best place to unwind and de-stress!)
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Love this picture. Wanted to share!
(Hey, it's the best place to unwind and de-stress!)
.jpg)
Love this picture. Wanted to share!
September 9, 2010
Thank You, General Powell
All of this controversy over the building of a mosque in New York City near Ground Zero has gotten completely out of control. On top of that we have this "pastor" (and I use that term lightly) in Florida who is threatening to hold a Quran burning on September 11 making matters much worse.
For those who may be new to my blog, let me start with this statement...I teach 6th grade social studies and science. Part of my curriculum in social studies is a study of the 5 major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism). We teach the major world religions in an effort to promote understanding and acceptance of everyone and their views in life. With that being said, let me just tell you about how 6th graders perceive this event taking place.
I have always been a teacher who believes that students should not be masked from the events that shape this world. Since I began teaching, I take time every year to discuss the events of September 11, 2001, with my students. As each year passes, I work with students who were younger and younger on September 11, 2001. My current students were ages 2-3 when the terrorist attacks occurred. Obviously, they have no memory of those days.
I began today's class by a brief discussion of what happened on 9-11-01. I wanted to really give our students an idea of the fear and pain felt on that day. We then turned to the news media surrounding this building of the mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. We discussed what is being said in the media. I was amazed at how many of my students had absolutely NO IDEA what is going on with this controversy.
We also took some time to look at this Florida "pastor" who is threatening to hold a Quran burning on September 11, 2010. My students really had no idea why this burning of the Quran was such a hot topic. I finally had to put it in terms they would understand. I said "Imagine someone lighting a match and setting thousands of Bibles on fire."
The gasps that came out of my students' mouths could have sucked all the air out of the room. Their eyes got huge, and their mouths hit the floor. They got it! They finally understood that the Quran is the holy book for the Muslims. They instantly began to come forward with tons of questions. The two major questions were (1) Why would someone want to burn these books, and (2) Will this cause problems for Americans overseas?
See, my students have their bright moments of wisdom!
Discussions went on include how can the Bible or the Quran be used to make a person's point on either side of the discussion. We concluded that people can take any text or speech, tear it apart, use only the pieces you want to support your side, and rearrange it all to work for you. (I could have used various examples that are used into other discussions, but I kept other discussions out of this day!)
One of the greatest moments of the day was when one of my students came up to me with a very perplexed look on her face as we lined up for lunch. She told me that her minister said that Christians really shouldn't talk about their religion to others because we don't want to offend anyone. She didn't understand why someone would say that, especially when Christians talk about their faith in hopes of bringing others closer to God. She and I talked about the natural curiosity of humans, and how it was okay to discuss what you believe as a Christian. She agreed it was okay to talk about your faith in the effort of educating others so that they will understand her beliefs. I told her that the goal of talking is to learn from others so we better understand each other. She is such a bright young lady.
What really made me smile today was when one of my students, we shall call him Cole, raised his hand and gave a short comment about the day's discussion. He said "Thank You!" I was a bit confused, so I asked him "for what?" He was thanking me for taking the time to explain what was going on with this situation. Cole told me that he had seen it all on TV but he couldn't really understand what was being said.
I am waiting on the phone calls or emails that will inevitably show up from parents who might get upset that I am discussing this topic in class. As I tell my students all the time, to understand where we are going we must first understand where we have been.
I think I will stop on that note. I could go on for days. Just had to share he bight moments of my day with 6th graders. Now, someone please find me some adult conversation!
Eat Your Heart Out
What did I do to deserve friends like this?
When I arrived home this evening, there was a large package the took up most of my mailbox's interior space. I didn't know what was going on...I could not remember ordering anything online recently.
Then I saw the return address, and I got a rush of sheer excitement! Instantly, I knew what was in the package!
What was it, you ask?
COOKIES!!!!
More specifically, ricotta chocolate chip cookies. They have quickly become one of my favorite cookies. I normally don't eat sweets, but these are too awesome to pass up.
Better yet, they are homemade by a wonderful pair of ladies! I have to take a second to say THANK YOU and LOVE YOU to Mandi and to Peach! You made my week! It truly is such a small gesture of friendship that means so much in life!
PS...EAT YOU HEART OUT, MILES! (LOL)
September 8, 2010
Sing Me a Song!
What can I say? I am a sucker for a guy who can sing!
I don't know what it is, but I become weak in the knees, especially if I am being serenaded.
(Not that this happens...EVER! A guy can dream, can't he?)
More later...right now I need to be asleep. Man, I hate insomnia!
Just a few of my favorite guys who can sing to me any day of the week:
Kyle Dean Massey
Matt Doyle and Wesley Taylor
Aaron Tveit
More later...right now I need to be asleep. Man, I hate insomnia!
September 6, 2010
What If Everybody...
I chose to spend my Labor Day at home just relaxing given the very emotional weekend that has passed.
(A funeral for a remarkable 18-year old is not how I wanted to spend my Sunday. So sad.)
I took a bit of time today to go on Facebook and catch up with some friends of mine I have been neglecting. While on Facebook, I noticed the following status update:
"After spending much of my labor day morning looking at footage from the 9/11 terror attacks, I say again: 'No Mosque in Murfreesboro.'"
It instantly caught my eye. Right away I noticed that the update came from one of the youth I work with in our statewide youth organization. For the record, he is 17.
The debate that followed his statement was fascinating. You have to imagine that there are five or six teenagers/young adults (age 17 - 19) engrossed in this discussion. There was a myriad of comments and accusations thrown around. Let me just highlight some of them for you:
(A funeral for a remarkable 18-year old is not how I wanted to spend my Sunday. So sad.)
I took a bit of time today to go on Facebook and catch up with some friends of mine I have been neglecting. While on Facebook, I noticed the following status update:
"After spending much of my labor day morning looking at footage from the 9/11 terror attacks, I say again: 'No Mosque in Murfreesboro.'"
It instantly caught my eye. Right away I noticed that the update came from one of the youth I work with in our statewide youth organization. For the record, he is 17.
The debate that followed his statement was fascinating. You have to imagine that there are five or six teenagers/young adults (age 17 - 19) engrossed in this discussion. There was a myriad of comments and accusations thrown around. Let me just highlight some of them for you:
- "Saying 'No Mosque in Murfreesboro' does not portray hatred for any religion."
- [Building the mosque] "will jeopardize the safety of the community and/or damage property values surrounding it."
- "Building a mosque in your town is a market killer."
- [Muslims] "are trying to take foot in our major cities, and change our way of life..."
- "I believe that the Muslim religion was created out of hatred..."
- "A lot of peaceful mosques have been turned into military style buildings."
- "Muhammad, in my opinion, was an evil pedophile (by all accounts)..."
Just a quick note - NONE of the above comments were my own. In actuality, I got extremely heated at the comments being made. I held out as long as I could in their discussion, but I have never been one to back down from intolerance. I basically wrote an essay detailing how everyone needed to stop, take a breath, settle down, and think about what they are saying. I also went on to correct statements about the building of a mosque causing property values to plummet and Islam's origins coming from hatred. Those were the two statements that really got my blood boiling.
I was respectful in how I wrote my response. Remember...these are 17-19 year olds who each have their own strong opinions, and I wanted them to know that they were entitled to their opinions. That is part of the beauty of the United States, the Constitution, and our Bill of Rights. I did ask them to think about some of the accusations they were making. Specifically, I asked them to refrain from making outlandish comments about religions they have not studied or know anything about. (One of them told me he had studied ancient cultures, but I doubt the validity of his claim given some of his comments about Islam.)
All in all, the debate finally subsided after my comments. There was one rogue teenager (who didn't even live in Murfreesboro but had to weigh in his opinions) who wanted to get the last word in. He thanked me for my comments and then respectfully disagreed with me on some points. I left it at that. I was just happy to see the discussion ending.
It is remarkable to me that the debate over the building of a new mosque in Murfreesboro has gotten such national attention. Let's be honest about a few things :
- This is not a new incoming mosque to the city. A mosque has been there for over 20 years. The leaders of that mosque feel that it is time to build a larger building to accommodate all the families moving into the area. Their current building is extremely inadequate. No one has ever set forth a debate on their mosque in over 20 years. Do people not realize that the debate over the new mosque being built did not hit the airwaves until the proposed mosque near Ground Zero came into light.
- The plans for the mosque have already been approved, and work is beginning. What is the point of protesting something that has already begun?
- Most of these extremist views seem to come from people who have no working knowledge of Islam whatsoever.
- Extremists are using the memory and pain of September 11 to instill fear in people just to further their cause.
- Most of the extremists protesting the building of these mosques have probably never met a practicing Muslim.
In my profession, it angers me when people try to instill their fear and prejudices on others. It is sad that parents are teaching kids to fear and hate others unlike themselves.
How can we be the nation for all who come here when there are those teaching intolerance for people different from themselves? When will it stop?
After I finished in the above debate, I needed to calm down. Instantly, I turned to music. I needed something that was going to slow my pulse, lower my increasing blood pressure, and give me hope for the future of this world?
Found it!
What if everybody reached out with one hand.
What if everybody sang with just one voice
Maybe we could change things
What if everybody cared with just one heart
What if everybody tried to light one spark
Maybe we could change things
THINK ABOUT IT!
Note: The pictures of the Twin Towers are video footage from the bombing attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 when a truck bomb was detonated in the parking garage below the North Tower.
Note: The pictures of the Twin Towers are video footage from the bombing attack on the World Trade Center in 1993 when a truck bomb was detonated in the parking garage below the North Tower.
September 4, 2010
An Absence
This has been a very challenging week...a school shooting in our area, the death of a remarkable high school senior, another round of gout, etc. The week ran it's course last night when my body just gave out. I slept most of the evening away and into this morning.
This morning, my best friend Jenny called asking if I wanted to meet her in Asheville, NC, for lunch and just to hang out a bit. I wasn't going to let this pass me by. I heartily agreed to meet her around 12:30. I get to Asheville and call Jenny to see if she had arrived yet. She was still about half an hour away, so I parked the car and went walking downtown.
I love downtown Asheville. It is such a laid-back atmosphere. It has the uniqueness and diversity of a bigger city, but it still has a very southern feel to it. Asheville has always been seen as a more liberal town...accepting of everyone. That was evident today by some of the people I saw there. I saw blue/green mohawks walking down the street, gay/lesbian couples holding hands down the street, bohemians galore, etc. I even walked by a store where the mannequins had silver duct tape over their mouths and "NOH8" painted on their faces. (Being a big fan of Adam Bouska and the NOH8 Campaign, it caught my eye and brought a smile to my face.)
Jenny finally made her way into downtown, and she met me at the Mast General Store...one of my favorite stores in Asheville. It is just a fun store to visit. We especially love the candy section. There are barrels of "old-timey" candies, and you can pick all the different kinds you want. I behaved myself today and didn't get any candy. However, I did manage to pick up a hand-blown glass Christmas ornament. Each one is individually made and designed in Boone, NC. Love it!
We went to lunch at an awesome restaurant called the Tupelo Honey Cafe. It markets itself as southern cuisine with a twist. They offer food from local markets and growers, healthier options, and a very unique menu. Jenny loves this restaurant, but it was my first time there. I ended up starting with their peach lemonade. All I can say at the first drink was "oh my..." It was incredible. I then got to order Petunia's Pain Perdu. ("Two pieces of New Orleans-style french toast made with City Bakery challah bread topped with cinnamon sugar, blueberry sauce, and toasted almonds.") They lied...I ended up with three very large pieces of french toast. I also ordered a side of candied-ginger cornbread with whipped peach-butter. Let me just go on record by saying I LOVE SOUTHERN COOKING! The food was unspeakable incredible. I wish I could say I ate it all, but there was just too much of it.
Oh, I did not mention what Jenny got! She had the Cajun Skillet Catfish ("Blackened, topped with Sunshot salsa, served over goat cheese grits.") Jenny was also speechless during her lunch. I will say, the goat cheese grits were perfect.
After lunch, we went walking through some of the shops in downtown Asheville. There are so many unique shops, and each one is a new adventure. We had a blast. Most of all, it was great just to spend time with my best friend. I have not seen her since we went to see Wicked, which was back in May. Jenny is just an amazing person, and I love her so much. She and I have looked out for each other through the years, and I could not imagine life without her. Below is a picture of Jenny that I took during lunch. She was on the phone with her calling service. She is on call this weekend, and a nurse was calling her about a patient. It was hilarious to sit there and watch her get frustrated with this nurse. Go Dr. J!
I walked Jenny back to the parking garage so she could get to her parents home for the night. She is delivering her wedding dress to them so the parents will be able to drive the dress down to St. Augustine, FL for the wedding. Jenny does not want to chance it with carrying the dress on the plane. I couldn't imagine why?
After walking Jenny back, I decided to spend some more time in Asheville. I did a bit of shopping around, but didn't buy much. I decided to hit the mall for a few minutes just to check it out. Of course I ended up buying a new pair of khaki's from Ralph Lauren, a new cologne (Ralph Lauren 4), and some pajama pants. Yes, I behaved myself. LOL
It was a great day out on the town. I needed a break from my life, and that was just what I got. Love ya, Jen!
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Tonight I find myself feeling very saddened. (Yes, despite the great day out with Jenny! Seems I spend a lot of time thinking about things when it gets quiet at home.) I got to thinking about my life. Despite all the work I do in my school, my community, and beyond, I have this great sense of being very alone.
I came home to a very quiet and empty house tonight. It is the same every night. I come through the door, and there is no one here to greet me. There is no one coming in later that will ask me about my day. There is no one to care for me when I am sick or dead tired. No one to just hold me when I am feeling down, scared, unsure, etc. Consequently, I should also say vice-versa. I am not looking for a one-sided relationship here. Just thought I would throw that in before someone catches me on it.
On some level, I find myself jealous of Jenny lately. I know she is utterly happy, and I could not be happier for her. I have seen her through some of the worst times in her life...most definitely the worst relationships. She deserves to have someone who fulfills her life in ways she has never had. Chris is that guy for her. I am happy for them both. But, as I said, I am somewhat jealous.
Part of the jealousy is that Chris is taking part of my Jenny away. That sounds very childish, but some levels of childhood still exist here. I have known Jenny since we were 11. Our tight friendship has been since 1995. She has been my best friend for 15 years, and I wouldn't trade anything for that time. On some subconscious level, I am fighting away the feelings that Jenny is going out of my life. I know she won't! I am just feeling what has happened with so many of my friends over the years. They have gotten married, moved off to lands unknown, and then they lose touch with you. It is sad. Like I said, I don't see that happening to us.
As I have watched Jenny and Chris over this past year, I realize just how much I am missing in my life. I don't really have anyone to share my life with in a way it is meant to be shared with someone else. The majority of my friends are married or living with someone. A number of them have kids and are enjoying parenthood. These friends have so many people with which to share their lives.
Then, there is me...sitting here in this small town...no family within 150 miles...my closest friends living hundreds of miles away...working very hard to not open up.
I understand that I have been the barrier in my life. I have spent so many years building walls in my life to protect me from pain and suffering. I often feel emotionally inept. I don't express the emotions I am feeling at the time. (True, I sometimes let them out on here.) I simply don't let others see them in person.
What's it going to take for me to finally allow myself to open up and be loved?
What's it going to take for me to allow someone to actually reach out and hug me?
When will I be comfortable having someone just sit and hold on to me...just to be next to me?
Yes, I dream of love. I dream of having someone in my life who loves me like no one else ever could. Is it simplistic...perhaps. Is it realistic...perhaps. When will I begin to feel love...who knows!?!?!?!
September 3, 2010
Fly
This morning I received a text message stating that a new message had been posted to Bradley's Caring Bridge account. I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I rushed to open the post. Below is the message we all received:
Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors of Bradley,
It is with a sad heart that I tell you, at 8am on his 18th birthday, Bradley heard the words from Heaven.
Well done, my good and faithful servant.
We appreciate your prayer right now as our battle of missing Bradley has just begun.
Yes, today is Bradley's 18th birthday. His mother always said that turning 18 is all Bradley had talked about for the past couple months. Last week, it did not look as though he would make it to his birthday. Who would have ever guessed that he held on long enough to turn 18 and become a man. However, I would argue that he became a true man many months ago when he began this journey.
Yes, there is sadness across the region. His high school classmates have been gathering all day to console each other, sing hymns (as Bradley would most certainly appreciate), and talk about the good times with their newly departed friend. I read a Facebook post saying that students were also making posters for tonight's football game. No doubt that it will be an affair to remember.
For someone so young, he touched and changed so many lives.
In honor of Bradley, I offer this song...seems the perfect one to send him on his way.
September 2, 2010
What's Going on In Life?
Been only four days since I made some posting, but it feels like much longer. Life had been crazy this week. Here are some thoughts of the week.
Starting Over
This week was a new start to my teaching year. Monday was the first day without my autistic child in the classroom. For those who have not read/heard, he got moved to a more appropriate classroom setting. I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying being able to teach my kids. They are much more relaxed this week without having to worry about the screaming or interruptions. We have laughed, sang, and just had fun learning about the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages in history.
In science we have been studying ecology, or the interaction of living organisms and their environment. It all kicked off on Monday when students wanted to argue/debate the fact that you can/cannot interact with the sun. I am never one to back down from a challenge. I went to the window seat, pulled up the blinds, knelt down in the window and started reciting lines of Romeo and Juliet to the sun. The kids were rolling in the floor. Just as I was finishing my ode to the sun and got up from my knelt position, the school psychologist walked by my window. Luckily, she did not see me. I could just imagine her coming to my room to make sure I was okay.
It is moments like that which I love the most about teaching!
Facing life...and death.
As I reported earlier this week, a local student has been fighting Ewing's Sarcoma for two years now, and it appears his fight is almost over. His friends and family have been amazing as they rally around him this week. The waiting rooms at the Children's Hospital have been full every afternoon and evening with friends hoping to get to see Bradley. When he was feeling up to it, he would have visitors in his room. His friends and family have shown nothing but love and support for him.
Tomorrow will be Bradley's 18th birthday. His mom has been thinking he has been holding on for that day because he has talked about turning 18 for such a long time. On Wednesday night his friends and family threw him an 18th birthday party at the hospital. Bradley's mom posted that he thought Wednesday was his 18th birthday, so she wanted to celebrate it then. I think she thought he would let go after that.
In true Bradley fashion, he has not given up yet. So Bradley and his mom are 9 days in the PICU at the hospital. She has not left his room since they have arrived. She showers in his bathroom, then she eats and sleeps in his room. She is not leaving his side for anything. She is truly amazing.
Today's post from Bradley's mom was so heartbreaking. She spoke about Bradley having difficulty breathing today. He would stop breathing, his 02 would drop, and she would think it was time. Then Bradley would fight back and take a breath again. She is having a very had day today. The hardest part of that post was at the end when she says "The 'Bradley' moments are getting further apart and I don't want him to suffer anymore...I love him so much, I have to let him go..."
I can't imagine the pain she is going through. A mother who has such a strong love for her son is coming to the realization it is time to cut her son free and let him fly to Heaven.
I have seemingly learned so much from Bradley and his mother about bravery, compassion, the will to live, and everlasting love. I only hope that I can live my life to the fullest as Bradley has taught so many of us.
Who knows when Bradley will leave this Earth and go home to God? Just pray that his pain is no more and that he feels the love and peace from those around him.
Thought I would post this video for Bradley.
In other sad news, I learned this week that my former student, Sam, received news this week that his father may not survive the week either. His dad has been fighting leukemia for a few years. I spoke with Sam's aunt earlier in the week, and she told me his treatments were no longer working, he developed pneumonia, and the doctors had to intubate him. He is now on a ventilator. This was the news I was hoping not to hear about this happening. I worry about Sam. I worry about how he will come through losing his dad. I have told his aunt to keep me posted and that I will be here if she needs me. Ugh!
That all was a bit tough to write. I feel the need to stop and just process it all.
Starting Over
This week was a new start to my teaching year. Monday was the first day without my autistic child in the classroom. For those who have not read/heard, he got moved to a more appropriate classroom setting. I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying being able to teach my kids. They are much more relaxed this week without having to worry about the screaming or interruptions. We have laughed, sang, and just had fun learning about the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages in history.
In science we have been studying ecology, or the interaction of living organisms and their environment. It all kicked off on Monday when students wanted to argue/debate the fact that you can/cannot interact with the sun. I am never one to back down from a challenge. I went to the window seat, pulled up the blinds, knelt down in the window and started reciting lines of Romeo and Juliet to the sun. The kids were rolling in the floor. Just as I was finishing my ode to the sun and got up from my knelt position, the school psychologist walked by my window. Luckily, she did not see me. I could just imagine her coming to my room to make sure I was okay.
It is moments like that which I love the most about teaching!
Facing life...and death.
As I reported earlier this week, a local student has been fighting Ewing's Sarcoma for two years now, and it appears his fight is almost over. His friends and family have been amazing as they rally around him this week. The waiting rooms at the Children's Hospital have been full every afternoon and evening with friends hoping to get to see Bradley. When he was feeling up to it, he would have visitors in his room. His friends and family have shown nothing but love and support for him.
Tomorrow will be Bradley's 18th birthday. His mom has been thinking he has been holding on for that day because he has talked about turning 18 for such a long time. On Wednesday night his friends and family threw him an 18th birthday party at the hospital. Bradley's mom posted that he thought Wednesday was his 18th birthday, so she wanted to celebrate it then. I think she thought he would let go after that.
In true Bradley fashion, he has not given up yet. So Bradley and his mom are 9 days in the PICU at the hospital. She has not left his room since they have arrived. She showers in his bathroom, then she eats and sleeps in his room. She is not leaving his side for anything. She is truly amazing.
Today's post from Bradley's mom was so heartbreaking. She spoke about Bradley having difficulty breathing today. He would stop breathing, his 02 would drop, and she would think it was time. Then Bradley would fight back and take a breath again. She is having a very had day today. The hardest part of that post was at the end when she says "The 'Bradley' moments are getting further apart and I don't want him to suffer anymore...I love him so much, I have to let him go..."
I can't imagine the pain she is going through. A mother who has such a strong love for her son is coming to the realization it is time to cut her son free and let him fly to Heaven.
I have seemingly learned so much from Bradley and his mother about bravery, compassion, the will to live, and everlasting love. I only hope that I can live my life to the fullest as Bradley has taught so many of us.
Who knows when Bradley will leave this Earth and go home to God? Just pray that his pain is no more and that he feels the love and peace from those around him.
Thought I would post this video for Bradley.
In other sad news, I learned this week that my former student, Sam, received news this week that his father may not survive the week either. His dad has been fighting leukemia for a few years. I spoke with Sam's aunt earlier in the week, and she told me his treatments were no longer working, he developed pneumonia, and the doctors had to intubate him. He is now on a ventilator. This was the news I was hoping not to hear about this happening. I worry about Sam. I worry about how he will come through losing his dad. I have told his aunt to keep me posted and that I will be here if she needs me. Ugh!
That all was a bit tough to write. I feel the need to stop and just process it all.
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