Cub Scouting

Two weeks ago, I took my cub scouts SCUBA diving!
Sports Chalet has a program called "Discover SCUBA". It's a free 2 hr. intro to diving.
4 boys, another dad and I went. It was great! I used to dive years ago and have forgotten how much fun it was.
Also, for Joel it was very exciting. We've been doing swim lessons for years with little signs of improvement. Finally I bought him a mask and snorkel and had him try it. He took to it right away, with no fear or hesitation whatsoever.
The pool at Sport Chalet went from 4' to 13'. Joel was the only one of the cubs to go to the bottom of the 13'. He spent an hour underwater and we had to drag him out of the pool when it was over.
Several of the other boys were "non swimmers" but they were still able to play around underwater. It was very exciting for all of us!

I want this job!

I saw this on Dark Roasted Blend.
So, how does one get a job doing this?

17 and counting

Yesterday Marilyn and I celebrated our 17th anniversery. Who have thunk it?
I hadn't done anything for 17 years, except maybe college...
I can't imagin having a better life. Like Mike Scott says "Woman of the hearthfire, you're the harbor of my soul" ("Bang on the ear" by the Waterboys)

One of my all time favorite songs is John Hiatt's "Have a little faith in me". It sort of sums up the last 17 or so years:

When the road gets dark
And you can no longer see
Just let my love throw a spark
And have a little faith in me

And when the tears you cry
Are all you can believe
Just give these loving arms a try
And have a little faith in me
And

Chorus:
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me
Have a little faith in me

When your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here darlin
From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me

And when your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you will see
I will catch, I will catch your fall baby
Just have a little faith in me


Well, Ive been loving you for such a long time girl
Expecting nothing in return
Just for you to have a little faith in me
You see time, time is our friend
cause for us there is no end
And all you gotta do is have a little faith in me
I said I will hold you up, I will hold you up
Your love gives me strength enough
So have a little faith in me

My friend Kit Creely

Today I went to the wake of an old family friend. Kit Creely passed away on June 12th of heart failure.
I had known Kit since JR. Hi. His daughter Anne was a friend and my sister and Anne's sister were friends. My mom is really close to the family and sees them quite often.
It's funny how good it felt to be in their house again after so many years. I am sorry that it was because Kit was gone.
He was one of those people I always ejoyed talking to. Even in my asshole-youth phase. He was an adult that was easy to talk to.
Kit was a third generation book seller until Crown books ran his little book store ot of business. He also loved airplanes and flying. When I graduated from flight school, he was one of the people I wanted to stop by in my new flight suit with aviator wings on it, because I knew he would understand and think it cool.
I had forgotten how special Anne was too. She was my friend when very few people would be. And she was greating everyone at the wake and making sure everyone
I'm sad for them.
I'm sad for me too.

Jinkies! My wife Rocks!

My wife had lunch today with Bob Singer. He's the guy who drew The Flintsones, Jonny Quest and Scooby Doo among others.
He drew for Marilyn a picture of Velma for me.
I always had kind of a thing for Velma; this explanes a lot ....

Painting Party

Last weekend the cubscouts had a painting party.
Around the corner from our house is a little old lady who can't quite keep her house up. It was painted yellow, light green, dark green, blue, brown and white. And not in a good way either. Plus, she has nine million (or so) boxes and tubs stacked up around the house. Needless to say the city was not happy with this and was sending her nastygrams. So, the cubscouts of Pack 373 went over and painted her house. It was great for the boys. They got to learn how to roll and spray paint, plus we did something nice for someone.
The strange thing is that she has junk piled up inside the house to the point that you couldn't walk through any of the rooms (that we could see through the windows) and that her water doesn't work.
We hooked up with the Lions Club and they have donated several dumpsters and the head of the sanitation district has been fixing up her yard for her on his own time.
The ammount of stuff piled up makes me nervous.
Here's a good link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers

Computer Using Educators

I forgot to mention this; Last weekend I was in Palm Springs presenting at the Computer Using Educators conference.
I presented a 3 hour class on using digital ca,eras in the classroom, which i've done for a few years now. I also presented a NEW idea I've had: "Staff Development That Doesn't Suck". Most teacher professional development is painful.
Anyhow, PS was good. My family came along and played in the pool while I yakked.
I still have to submitt my per diem stuff and I am not looking forward to that talk with my boss..."yes, boss, I did spend my daily $15 on dinner. Yes, the whole $15, no the beer on the reciept is not mine..."
Next year, i plan to expand my talk to 2 hours. I focused mostly on planning and I want to look at better presentation skills and classroom stuff.
We'll see.

Thanks to the cicus hall of fame for the cool photo!

Early birthday!

Being the most spoiled man in the world, I got an early birthday present! My birthday isn't for another 2 weeks, but a couple weeks ago my wife bought me a new guitar. (my latest Mr. Toad-like mania) She wanted me to have a "real grown-up guitar". It's a Gretsch 5120. I got Vintage Orange for the cool retro vibe. It has a great sound and feels really nice to play (once I got rid of the extra heavy store strings). The tone is amazing. This is the first hollow body I've played and I am hooked.
Marilyn has said my playing has already gotten better just in the last 2 weeks.
I am so jazzed. I started playing guitar again about 6months ago after a hiatus of 20 years or so. It's a good de-stressor after work and a good mental puzzle for me.
The past year or so I have been listening to mostly jazz and instrumental rock; except of course for Cheap Trick and Bowling for Soup. The reason is since I am in classrooms all day long; I don't want to hear words on the way home in the truck. Most of the instrumental stuff I listen to is Surf-Rock. I've never surfed but don't see that as an impediment. At least not yet.
I've been learning a few of the classics: Having An Average Weekend, Pipeline and Apache as well as a couple things by Django. I just started lessons because I want to learn to read music as well as unlearn the bad habits I have. I will keep you posted.

Beakman!

This last weekend the Waters family went out to see "Beakman Live". It was great! If yo get a chance--GO!
Beakman does a great show on Science, making it fun and easily absorbed.
Marilyn and I were both picked to go up on stage and "help out". I realize I'm going all fan-boy.....
Paul Zaloom (Beakman) teaches the way we should. I think it's important to instill a sense of "ooh" and "ahh", especially when you talk about science. Kids need to see the wonder of discovery; otherwise they will stop asking questions.
After the show, I asked Mr. Zaloom how we could get teachers to teach more like him? He replied "Get rid of standardized testing". Ahmen.
Heres' some links:
http://www.sonypictures.com/tv/kids/beakmansworld/index.html
http://www.paulzaloom.com/index2.html

Nursed back to health

Over the weekend Joel and I went quad riding. It was great! The weather was bright and clear, in the mid 70's. However, I had a small boo-boo and sortta' dislocated my hip a little.
When I got home, Marilyn yanked on it for me and it popped back in. I felt lot's better. I also had a vicodin and a nap. Fortunately, I had Joel and several stuffed dogs and Neemo the cat to look after me.
I am loved, by several species.