I am back into teaching at OCC. The Fall Semester started last week and I am settling into my routine. I did not have as many "first-day-of-school-late-to-class-no-clothes-or-lesson-plan" nightmares during August as I have in the past. I think it is due to the fact that I spent a good deal of time on campus during August (finishing a special project for my VP, learning our new online course management system, assembling my tenure application material, etc.) so I never really had to "go back" to school - I was already there.
Hurricane Irene ruined our last best chance to hit the beach before school started back up. The boys are in swimming lessons every Saturday morning through October and my schedule does not have a "free" day until late September (right before my tenure application is due!) Therefore, our beach going is likely over until next Summer.
One positive note about Irene...we cleaned out our garage the weekend before she hit. As it became apparent that she was headed our way, we decided to try to fit our minivan in the garage (just in case a tree fell on the driveway.) With some minor organizing (and by folding in our van's side mirrors) we got it in the garage rather easily. Up until this point, we had "eyeballed" the van and garage and decided that it wouldn't fit. Now that we know it will fit, we can keep it safely locked up whenever we need to.
Once again I am dealing with troubling issues at work - it seems that September is the time for those lately - and once again I am finding my only comfort as I turn to my Heavenly Father and Savior. Perhaps September is the "humbling" point in my own Nephite-like pride cycle. Even if it isn't, I am grateful to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who are there to comfort me when the world cannot provide comfort.
Brad
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Summer is here...
The past two days here on the Jersey Shore have been hot - "stupid hot" in fact. I am looking forward to today's "tornado alert" to hopefully blow in some cooler weather before I have to tackle the jungle that is my lawn.
The lawn...we took some initial swipes at it with our push-reel mower; however, the weeds that make up 30-40% of our lawn (or so it seems) just grow too fast and too tall for our push-reel to accommodate. Given that fact, the size of our lawn, and the amount of leaves that we have to rake and bag each year (over fifty 33-gallon leaf bags!) we decided to purchase an actual lawn mower. We decided on a battery-powered model over gas (too expensive and smelly) or corded-electric (yard is too big and electric cords around a lawn mower is just asking for trouble.) We were able to get it through Amazon.com. I had a gift certificate from a textbook publisher (I do regular academic reviews of textbooks and online learning platforms) plus we could get free shipping. It arrived yesterday and the battery is now charging up. If all goes quickly I could have the front yard done tonight and the back done tomorrow or Friday. Hopefully before Friday - I like to leave Fridays free (during the Summer) for time with the kids.
The kids...are all growing up way to quickly. The boys' hair is about 10" long (last we checked) and should be ready to cut and donate by early fall (at the latest!) They are growing so independent - their personalities and age difference are really showing. I guess I've always thought of them as "the boys" and thus treated them very similarly (with minor adjustment for personality type.) But there is a lot of difference between them that can be better explained by age. I really hope I am up to working with them. I sometimes think that I am failing at being the kind of father I want to be. If I am failing now, how do I have any hope later?
Aside from their hair the boys are involved in cub scouts and love to play outside. They love to read and watch Pokemon. Last night we introduced them to "Mr. Bean." My oldest was laughing so hard he had to stop eating so he wouldn't choke on his food.
My daughter is growing up too fast as well. Her strong little personality is evident in all she does. She is very good at telling everyone what to do (she even started counting at her oldest brother when he didn't do what she said - just like my wife and I do.) She knows so many words, signs, and songs. She sings to herself all the time.
My family is my joy and my anchor. I am so blessed to have them!
I'll do my best to keep up a little better with my blog. I plan to continue my Lent resolution of posting only non-political items (unless they are really important and relevant.)
For now, my daughter just woke up from her nap,
Brad
The lawn...we took some initial swipes at it with our push-reel mower; however, the weeds that make up 30-40% of our lawn (or so it seems) just grow too fast and too tall for our push-reel to accommodate. Given that fact, the size of our lawn, and the amount of leaves that we have to rake and bag each year (over fifty 33-gallon leaf bags!) we decided to purchase an actual lawn mower. We decided on a battery-powered model over gas (too expensive and smelly) or corded-electric (yard is too big and electric cords around a lawn mower is just asking for trouble.) We were able to get it through Amazon.com. I had a gift certificate from a textbook publisher (I do regular academic reviews of textbooks and online learning platforms) plus we could get free shipping. It arrived yesterday and the battery is now charging up. If all goes quickly I could have the front yard done tonight and the back done tomorrow or Friday. Hopefully before Friday - I like to leave Fridays free (during the Summer) for time with the kids.
The kids...are all growing up way to quickly. The boys' hair is about 10" long (last we checked) and should be ready to cut and donate by early fall (at the latest!) They are growing so independent - their personalities and age difference are really showing. I guess I've always thought of them as "the boys" and thus treated them very similarly (with minor adjustment for personality type.) But there is a lot of difference between them that can be better explained by age. I really hope I am up to working with them. I sometimes think that I am failing at being the kind of father I want to be. If I am failing now, how do I have any hope later?
Aside from their hair the boys are involved in cub scouts and love to play outside. They love to read and watch Pokemon. Last night we introduced them to "Mr. Bean." My oldest was laughing so hard he had to stop eating so he wouldn't choke on his food.
My daughter is growing up too fast as well. Her strong little personality is evident in all she does. She is very good at telling everyone what to do (she even started counting at her oldest brother when he didn't do what she said - just like my wife and I do.) She knows so many words, signs, and songs. She sings to herself all the time.
My family is my joy and my anchor. I am so blessed to have them!
I'll do my best to keep up a little better with my blog. I plan to continue my Lent resolution of posting only non-political items (unless they are really important and relevant.)
For now, my daughter just woke up from her nap,
Brad
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Lent begins...
OK, so lent began on Wednesday - I know!
I did post my Lent commitments on Facebook, but thought I should elaborate here. First, no political posts on Facebook or on my blog. It has been hard - and will be really hard this coming week especially. Normally I can get my "fix" of politics in the classes I teach. This next week is Spring Break - so no classes. So why did I give up political posts for lent? As with any good (non-Catholic) lent commitment, I have chosen something that I do frequently, I normally enjoy doing, but that I feel is not so good for me. I want my blog and my FB status to be about me and my family. I want it to be the phone call back to all my family back West that I don't have the time to make. They know I'm politically opinionated, but they want to know how I am feeling, what I am doing in my career, what the kids doing and how are they feeling. All of these things are easy to ignore when I just link to the latest political article or video. My elimating politics from my posts could do two things. First, it could eliminate my posting altogether. I really hope this doesn't happen (and is why I have two Lent commitments) but it could. Second, it will change the nature of my FB and blog posting and get me into the habit of regular posting about things that my family really would like to hear.
OK, my second commitment is to eliminate late-night television and movies. My wife and I have shared that particular activity for many years now. It began when we started watching Star Trek: TOS via our Netflix subscription and continued through TNG, DS9, Voyager, The Office, all of the Food Network competitions, and beyond. We really had a field day when we got Netflix's Instant View function installed on the Wii. Well, after finding that season 2 of Buck Rogers really sucks we decided to take some time to rediscover other activities. We started reading an Orson Scott Card book out-loud (like we did with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games trilogy) and have spent some time just talking. In addition to time with my wife, I think I may actually have some time to post something worthwhile on my blog (or at least on Facebook!) As with my other Lent commitment, I think this one will help me improve myself and my relationship with my wife. We will probably return to some of our favorite late-night television (it really is an interactive and "connected" experience that we share) but we may be more discriminating in our choice of programs. I hope it will also remove the TV as the "default" activity.
That's all for now. I'll let you know how I'm doing as Lent moves along (on the 2nd commitment - you'll know how I'm doing on the first!)
Brad
I did post my Lent commitments on Facebook, but thought I should elaborate here. First, no political posts on Facebook or on my blog. It has been hard - and will be really hard this coming week especially. Normally I can get my "fix" of politics in the classes I teach. This next week is Spring Break - so no classes. So why did I give up political posts for lent? As with any good (non-Catholic) lent commitment, I have chosen something that I do frequently, I normally enjoy doing, but that I feel is not so good for me. I want my blog and my FB status to be about me and my family. I want it to be the phone call back to all my family back West that I don't have the time to make. They know I'm politically opinionated, but they want to know how I am feeling, what I am doing in my career, what the kids doing and how are they feeling. All of these things are easy to ignore when I just link to the latest political article or video. My elimating politics from my posts could do two things. First, it could eliminate my posting altogether. I really hope this doesn't happen (and is why I have two Lent commitments) but it could. Second, it will change the nature of my FB and blog posting and get me into the habit of regular posting about things that my family really would like to hear.
OK, my second commitment is to eliminate late-night television and movies. My wife and I have shared that particular activity for many years now. It began when we started watching Star Trek: TOS via our Netflix subscription and continued through TNG, DS9, Voyager, The Office, all of the Food Network competitions, and beyond. We really had a field day when we got Netflix's Instant View function installed on the Wii. Well, after finding that season 2 of Buck Rogers really sucks we decided to take some time to rediscover other activities. We started reading an Orson Scott Card book out-loud (like we did with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the Hunger Games trilogy) and have spent some time just talking. In addition to time with my wife, I think I may actually have some time to post something worthwhile on my blog (or at least on Facebook!) As with my other Lent commitment, I think this one will help me improve myself and my relationship with my wife. We will probably return to some of our favorite late-night television (it really is an interactive and "connected" experience that we share) but we may be more discriminating in our choice of programs. I hope it will also remove the TV as the "default" activity.
That's all for now. I'll let you know how I'm doing as Lent moves along (on the 2nd commitment - you'll know how I'm doing on the first!)
Brad
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Don't mess with Texas...
I'm sick.
When I get sick, I get cranky.
Here's my cranky...
Longhorns 17, Badgers 1
So why did Paul Krugman get a Nobel Prize when he can't do undergraduate statistics?
In other news, my son is doing much better regarding his hip pain. He has been pain free for about 6 weeks. We have an appointment with a specialist later this month (that was their first opening) so we can see "what happened" and perhaps answer the question "will it happen again?"
OK, I'm coughing too hard and my throat and body are in enough pain - I've got to go!
When I get sick, I get cranky.
Here's my cranky...
Longhorns 17, Badgers 1
So why did Paul Krugman get a Nobel Prize when he can't do undergraduate statistics?
In other news, my son is doing much better regarding his hip pain. He has been pain free for about 6 weeks. We have an appointment with a specialist later this month (that was their first opening) so we can see "what happened" and perhaps answer the question "will it happen again?"
OK, I'm coughing too hard and my throat and body are in enough pain - I've got to go!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
I really have to say something...
Though I've had little time to blog lately, and still have no time, I have to say something about the reform/union issue in Wisconsin...
The merits of the legislation and the tactics being employed to pass/prevent said legislation are purely political questions - meaning there are no right or wrong answers, simply winning and losing answers.
There is on issue that is not at all a political question, rather it is a moral and/or ethical question that has a definite "right" and "wrong" answer...
Can you call in "sick" to work when you are not really sick?
Say I called in sick at work. Later that day, while cruising Seaside Heights, I am caught on camera by a news crew covering a story about the location of "The Jersey Shore." My boss sees that story and me downing a huge funnel cake (I would too!)
I would be fired. No questions asked. Perhaps I would be formally reprimanded (as a first-time offender) but all trust would be gone and I would never get a promotion.
With that in mind, here are the people who are teaching Wisconsin's children and youth:
Teachers swamp clinics in Madison Friday to get sick notes
And here are their willing accomplices in this fraud:
Doctors handing out fake medical excuses at WI union protest
All of these folks should be severely fined, if not fired. The doctors' licenses should be revoked and their teaching/clinical positions at UW Madison terminated.
Finally, if any one of the people engaged in this practice are members of my own faith, they should turn in their recommends right now - they obviously have no meaning to them (something about "honest in your dealings with your fellow men....)
Brad
The merits of the legislation and the tactics being employed to pass/prevent said legislation are purely political questions - meaning there are no right or wrong answers, simply winning and losing answers.
There is on issue that is not at all a political question, rather it is a moral and/or ethical question that has a definite "right" and "wrong" answer...
Can you call in "sick" to work when you are not really sick?
Say I called in sick at work. Later that day, while cruising Seaside Heights, I am caught on camera by a news crew covering a story about the location of "The Jersey Shore." My boss sees that story and me downing a huge funnel cake (I would too!)
I would be fired. No questions asked. Perhaps I would be formally reprimanded (as a first-time offender) but all trust would be gone and I would never get a promotion.
With that in mind, here are the people who are teaching Wisconsin's children and youth:
Teachers swamp clinics in Madison Friday to get sick notes
And here are their willing accomplices in this fraud:
Doctors handing out fake medical excuses at WI union protest
All of these folks should be severely fined, if not fired. The doctors' licenses should be revoked and their teaching/clinical positions at UW Madison terminated.
Finally, if any one of the people engaged in this practice are members of my own faith, they should turn in their recommends right now - they obviously have no meaning to them (something about "honest in your dealings with your fellow men....)
Brad
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