Big things poppin' AND lil things stoppin'
Friday was an all-out conference fest at school. 8 hours of parent conferences. I am happy to say that no one was assaulted...not even verbally, which was kind of a bummer, but I digress. Tomorrow, our new floor is getting put in. Will I post pictures you ask, maybe!
Let me see, let me see, what else. Ah, so we've started weight training with the girls varsity team at school. The first few days we had to walk them through the workouts but now they pretty much do it themselves. Basically what that means is that while they are doing their thing, I get to lift, which is nice, and healthy. So I look hot now. (Pictures to come!!)
And, next Wednesday we find out if our baby is a boy or girl. Do I care? Good question! Not really, healthy is really all I care about. My wife thinks it's a girl which means it probably is a boy.
And also, I am going to be here for Christmas and New Years. Yeah, in Florida. My wife will be far to pregnant to travel and so we will not be going to Michigan for Christmas this year. I was talking to Dave on the phone and I remarked that I could not remember ever missing the Christmas get together. I always made part of it at least. So, think of me when you're wiping the board or throwing down that timely Holy Day.
Things are going really well. My beard is full and lush, my eyes, blue as the whale whose name they inspired, and my...well, you get the picture.
I am not handy. I don't really want to landscape my lawn or spread seeds around or build an addition to my lanai. Oh, but I will. I'm growing and changing every day. How bout you?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Reflections on the AuSable or My Brain as a Trout Stream
Cool and clear
Like a swift stream
That’s the way the mind flows
Bubbles and gurgles and shallow waves
Thoughts bob by in a spray of foam
Floating and spinning
Whirling and rocking
Fuzzy ideas follow feathered flashes
Like a mallard’s ducklings
While the shiny thoughts
The brook trout thoughts
Swish their dappled tales and rise
Only occasionally to the surface
For a brief splash in the sunlight
Then back to the deep holes
The dark holes where the big ideas live
Someday I’ll catch me a big idea
Like a swift stream
That’s the way the mind flows
Bubbles and gurgles and shallow waves
Thoughts bob by in a spray of foam
Floating and spinning
Whirling and rocking
Fuzzy ideas follow feathered flashes
Like a mallard’s ducklings
While the shiny thoughts
The brook trout thoughts
Swish their dappled tales and rise
Only occasionally to the surface
For a brief splash in the sunlight
Then back to the deep holes
The dark holes where the big ideas live
Someday I’ll catch me a big idea
Changing Clothes
I was physically shaking when I approached my brother's casket. I was in the back of the procession. We were coming up through the church basement and I stopped in my tracks. My wife tried to gently pull me forward up the stairs and into the sanctuary. I just stood there and shook my head. I was terrified. I wouldn't move. After about thirty seconds I started walking again and we moved up out of the dark stairway into the narthax and then through the doors into the sanctuary. I could see my brother's body from a distance but as I neared the casket the strangest thing happened.
I felt relieved and a little confused. The body in the casket looked nothing like my brother did in life. It was ludicrous. I smirked. I looked around as if to say, "Who is this in my brother's casket?" For sure, there was some resemblance to the man I knew and love and certainly it had to be his body, but without his spirit, the thing that is Dan and that will always be Dan, it was simply a form. I was relived because I knew that my brother was not there anymore.
At the cemetery I was not sad when they lowered the casket into the ground(I could barely stand I was so sick) because I knew that my brother was not in that box. I had seen his form, the thing that housed him for 25 years, but I could not see him. No matter how hard I stared, no matter how long I looked at that body I could not see him and I was relieved because I knew he had gone.
I felt relieved and a little confused. The body in the casket looked nothing like my brother did in life. It was ludicrous. I smirked. I looked around as if to say, "Who is this in my brother's casket?" For sure, there was some resemblance to the man I knew and love and certainly it had to be his body, but without his spirit, the thing that is Dan and that will always be Dan, it was simply a form. I was relived because I knew that my brother was not there anymore.
At the cemetery I was not sad when they lowered the casket into the ground(I could barely stand I was so sick) because I knew that my brother was not in that box. I had seen his form, the thing that housed him for 25 years, but I could not see him. No matter how hard I stared, no matter how long I looked at that body I could not see him and I was relieved because I knew he had gone.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
U of M Debacle and Other News
First let me say that the University of Michigan has really done every fan and everyone who watched the game today a diservice. I only hope that through this lowest point in the school's football history the Wolverines can grow stronger. That aside, the Wolverines have definitely made my weekend in Miami less enjoyable.
Being the ONLY fan of Michigan sports among my inlaws I am harrassed everytime the Wolverines, Lions, Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings or sometimes even the Shock, lose a game. But the worst, the absolute worst is when a team, most notably the Pistons and Wolverines, is perpetually in the hunt for a championship. Pistons vs. Heat in the playoffs can get down right nasty. Thank goodness the USA just beat Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Championship, a loss there might have been unbearable.
So far this weekend has been pretty relaxing. Today (Sunday) we are having some kind of party in the afternoon. Should be fun.
I need to go grade some schoolwork. I'm trying to get everything caught up before school begins again on Tuesday.
I'll write more later.
Being the ONLY fan of Michigan sports among my inlaws I am harrassed everytime the Wolverines, Lions, Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings or sometimes even the Shock, lose a game. But the worst, the absolute worst is when a team, most notably the Pistons and Wolverines, is perpetually in the hunt for a championship. Pistons vs. Heat in the playoffs can get down right nasty. Thank goodness the USA just beat Puerto Rico in the FIBA World Championship, a loss there might have been unbearable.
So far this weekend has been pretty relaxing. Today (Sunday) we are having some kind of party in the afternoon. Should be fun.
I need to go grade some schoolwork. I'm trying to get everything caught up before school begins again on Tuesday.
I'll write more later.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Noodles and Pot Pies
On the basketball court I was a totally different person. That rectangle of wood or blacktop or even carpet was a different world, a world that shunned the manners and customs of polite society and rewarded the brash and confident. I talked a lot, we all did, but there was always that unspoken rule, “Don’t talk trash if you can’t back it up.” One summer night in the early 2k’s I got to see first hand why that unspoken rule is so important.
We always showed up as a team when we went to the local park, at least enough so we only had to pick up one or two, two at the most. We could carry two. My roommate Brian played post which was odd because I was at least two inches taller than his 5’11”. But he was tough. He never played ball in high school because wrestling season and basketball season overlapped and he was first string at 189lbs.
It was mid-summer in Grand Rapids and we showed up at around 7 at the park near the house we were staying in at the time. The community was very mixed, very diverse. The housing was lower income and the ethnicity seemed to change by street. Our street was white at one end and Mexican at the other. The street over from ours was largely black and so the pattern continued with a mix of whites, Hispanics and blacks on the streets stretching north and south away from ours for several blocks. Anyway, we got to the park a little bit late and two teams were already running but the wait was not that long. We were standing behind a chain link fence under one of the baskets when this kid gets a fast break straight toward us and the unguarded basket.
Brian yells, “Dunk it!” right as the kid enters the lane and does a handy little lay-up over the front of the rim. Brian continued to jab the kid for his lay-up, “I thought you were gonna dunk it.”
“ I’ll dunk on you,” the kid shot back.
Now the kid had some decent size probably 6’2” or 6’3” and not skinny, but Brian had backed down and bodied much bigger players than the “lay-up kid” since I had started playing with him and he immediately took offense to the kid’s tone.
“We got next,” he yelled pacing down the fence line toward the kid who was now retreating down court to play defense as the opposing team brought up the ball, “and I got him!” his arm was completely outstretched, finger jabbing at the kid, his body taught as if his index finger was iron ore and the “lay-up kid” a colossal, freckled magnet.
Much to Brian’s delight the “lay-up kid’s” team won the game and our team piled out onto the court. I shot for ball and missed. (Hey it was double rims, you know how they are.) We jogged down the court and turned waiting for the other team. The “lay-up kid” looked focused as he brought the ball over mid court and straight at Brian who was waiting for him at the basket. The kid jumped from the right block and reached for the rim, the ball cradled in his outstretched arm. He didn’t quite make it. Brian came flying from his right side and threw him down. Now, I say “threw him down” as opposed to “threw it down” because Brian didn’t just block the ball. No, he put his hand on the ball and threw both it and the “lay-up kid” to the hot asphalt.
“I thought you said you were going to dunk on me punk!” Brian had picked up the ball by then and stood screaming over the “lay-up kid” who was curled in the fetal position under the bucket.
I couldn’t help but grin, but my smile turned to confused brow-wrinkles as the “lay-up kid” lay there and whimpered, “Why’d you do that? Why do you gotta be so mean? Leave me alone. Ow, that hurt.”
We really didn’t know what to say. Everyone on the court just kind of looked at him. Normally, if you get thrown down you get up and get back in the game if you can. Maybe you scream a little at the guy who blocked you to the ground, get in his face, threaten him a little because let’s face it no one wants that to happen to them. All physical danger aside it’s one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you on the court. We didn’t know whether to laugh or get a broom so we could push him to the side and keep playing. After a few more agonizing seconds he got up, and to his credit, finished out the game, though he was never a factor and we handily beat his team. After that game we never saw the “lay-up kid” again. I guess someone should have spoken to him about that all-important unspoken rule.
We always showed up as a team when we went to the local park, at least enough so we only had to pick up one or two, two at the most. We could carry two. My roommate Brian played post which was odd because I was at least two inches taller than his 5’11”. But he was tough. He never played ball in high school because wrestling season and basketball season overlapped and he was first string at 189lbs.
It was mid-summer in Grand Rapids and we showed up at around 7 at the park near the house we were staying in at the time. The community was very mixed, very diverse. The housing was lower income and the ethnicity seemed to change by street. Our street was white at one end and Mexican at the other. The street over from ours was largely black and so the pattern continued with a mix of whites, Hispanics and blacks on the streets stretching north and south away from ours for several blocks. Anyway, we got to the park a little bit late and two teams were already running but the wait was not that long. We were standing behind a chain link fence under one of the baskets when this kid gets a fast break straight toward us and the unguarded basket.
Brian yells, “Dunk it!” right as the kid enters the lane and does a handy little lay-up over the front of the rim. Brian continued to jab the kid for his lay-up, “I thought you were gonna dunk it.”
“ I’ll dunk on you,” the kid shot back.
Now the kid had some decent size probably 6’2” or 6’3” and not skinny, but Brian had backed down and bodied much bigger players than the “lay-up kid” since I had started playing with him and he immediately took offense to the kid’s tone.
“We got next,” he yelled pacing down the fence line toward the kid who was now retreating down court to play defense as the opposing team brought up the ball, “and I got him!” his arm was completely outstretched, finger jabbing at the kid, his body taught as if his index finger was iron ore and the “lay-up kid” a colossal, freckled magnet.
Much to Brian’s delight the “lay-up kid’s” team won the game and our team piled out onto the court. I shot for ball and missed. (Hey it was double rims, you know how they are.) We jogged down the court and turned waiting for the other team. The “lay-up kid” looked focused as he brought the ball over mid court and straight at Brian who was waiting for him at the basket. The kid jumped from the right block and reached for the rim, the ball cradled in his outstretched arm. He didn’t quite make it. Brian came flying from his right side and threw him down. Now, I say “threw him down” as opposed to “threw it down” because Brian didn’t just block the ball. No, he put his hand on the ball and threw both it and the “lay-up kid” to the hot asphalt.
“I thought you said you were going to dunk on me punk!” Brian had picked up the ball by then and stood screaming over the “lay-up kid” who was curled in the fetal position under the bucket.
I couldn’t help but grin, but my smile turned to confused brow-wrinkles as the “lay-up kid” lay there and whimpered, “Why’d you do that? Why do you gotta be so mean? Leave me alone. Ow, that hurt.”
We really didn’t know what to say. Everyone on the court just kind of looked at him. Normally, if you get thrown down you get up and get back in the game if you can. Maybe you scream a little at the guy who blocked you to the ground, get in his face, threaten him a little because let’s face it no one wants that to happen to them. All physical danger aside it’s one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you on the court. We didn’t know whether to laugh or get a broom so we could push him to the side and keep playing. After a few more agonizing seconds he got up, and to his credit, finished out the game, though he was never a factor and we handily beat his team. After that game we never saw the “lay-up kid” again. I guess someone should have spoken to him about that all-important unspoken rule.
Here's How It Went Down
So, I'm back teaching again, but not at the school I had mentioned earlier. The school at which I am currently teaching is a christian school, however the pay and benefits are better than what the public school currently offers, at least in my case.
I thought my chances of teaching at the school were nil since I had sent my resume' in twice and both times it was rejected due to lack of positions available. I thought God was saying "no" but it turns out he just wanted me to wait. Right about the time when I stopped blogging anything longer than a sentence I got a call from the Upper School principal to come in for a middle school math interview. After meeting with the principal and the headmaster I was offered the job which I snapped up.
Pros:
1-I had already committed to helping my friend John coach the varsity girls basketball team at said school, so working there helps us plan.
2-Competetive pay-No christian school I had interviewed at before could touch what the current school offered.
3-Small class sizes-yes, all my classes except one are the in the teens for numbers ( i have one with 8 kids in it) so no more 30 kid classes.
4-Sweet Nike hook ups through the Assistant Athletic Director (who used to work at Nike and tried out with the Houston Rockets before injuring himself and losing his shot at being drafted)
5-The peeps there seem cool and genuine which is a big plus to me.
6-My friend John is there so we can "cut-up" alot.
7-They gave me a new laptop.
Cons:
1-The school day starts early and runs late. (7:15-4pm) The students leave @3 which gives the teachers an hour after school. I guess I'll take advantage and never bring work home.
2-I am teaching Math, albeit middle school Math so no big deal. (I'm just more of an English, History, Science...well anything but math...guy.) I've looked through the curriculum, so far, so good.
3-I've heard the parents can be a pain which will be new for me because in my last 4 years of teaching the parents were largely non-existent.
4-I am currently teaching 5 periods of Math, 1 period of PE, assisting with the girl's varsity basketball team, and doing chapel anouncements/speaker introductions. (Alot of work for my first year at the school and learning their system. Can you say burn-out?)
In other news, it is hot. I hate August because all you do is sweat unless you are indoors. Oh, and it rains every day and sauna's things up nicely.
I saw an alligator the other day near my mom's Florida residence. Having not grown up around them I think they are cool. Locals probably think I'm weird the way I thought city missionaries were weird when they asked my dad and me to take them down some trails near our house in Roscommon so they could see some deer. We didn't see any but they enjoyed the wilderness of the Roscommon village limits.
I have gummi bears and I'm starting to think they are my favorite candy...seriously.
http://megaman2box.ytmnd.com/
-Peace
I thought my chances of teaching at the school were nil since I had sent my resume' in twice and both times it was rejected due to lack of positions available. I thought God was saying "no" but it turns out he just wanted me to wait. Right about the time when I stopped blogging anything longer than a sentence I got a call from the Upper School principal to come in for a middle school math interview. After meeting with the principal and the headmaster I was offered the job which I snapped up.
Pros:
1-I had already committed to helping my friend John coach the varsity girls basketball team at said school, so working there helps us plan.
2-Competetive pay-No christian school I had interviewed at before could touch what the current school offered.
3-Small class sizes-yes, all my classes except one are the in the teens for numbers ( i have one with 8 kids in it) so no more 30 kid classes.
4-Sweet Nike hook ups through the Assistant Athletic Director (who used to work at Nike and tried out with the Houston Rockets before injuring himself and losing his shot at being drafted)
5-The peeps there seem cool and genuine which is a big plus to me.
6-My friend John is there so we can "cut-up" alot.
7-They gave me a new laptop.
Cons:
1-The school day starts early and runs late. (7:15-4pm) The students leave @3 which gives the teachers an hour after school. I guess I'll take advantage and never bring work home.
2-I am teaching Math, albeit middle school Math so no big deal. (I'm just more of an English, History, Science...well anything but math...guy.) I've looked through the curriculum, so far, so good.
3-I've heard the parents can be a pain which will be new for me because in my last 4 years of teaching the parents were largely non-existent.
4-I am currently teaching 5 periods of Math, 1 period of PE, assisting with the girl's varsity basketball team, and doing chapel anouncements/speaker introductions. (Alot of work for my first year at the school and learning their system. Can you say burn-out?)
In other news, it is hot. I hate August because all you do is sweat unless you are indoors. Oh, and it rains every day and sauna's things up nicely.
I saw an alligator the other day near my mom's Florida residence. Having not grown up around them I think they are cool. Locals probably think I'm weird the way I thought city missionaries were weird when they asked my dad and me to take them down some trails near our house in Roscommon so they could see some deer. We didn't see any but they enjoyed the wilderness of the Roscommon village limits.
I have gummi bears and I'm starting to think they are my favorite candy...seriously.
http://megaman2box.ytmnd.com/
-Peace
Friday, August 10, 2007
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