Here dear readers is a chance to see some reunion pages before they go up.
Most of these people may not mean anything to you.
Its a interesting challenge to keep the names with the photos.
http://www.elcamino68.com/PageFiles/Reunion2008/Rose%20Pages/RosePage2
Have a great day!
Pat
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Working on the photos
The reunion is over.
This year there were a million shots taken as the reunion gathered up people that wouldn't begin to talk to each other in high school but they became good acquaintances at the party.
The big topic of conversation among us all.. when will you retire. Some have retired and are working for their kids.. imagine that. Bill King is working for his son who has a construction company in Sacramento.
Some were interested in what kids we had and what they did. One, Frank Drago was interested in what Heather did since he is a judge on many cases that deal with the same people that Heather works with.
Last night I started to tackle the first photos that Rose has sent me. They are going into pages on the website. It is sure nice to deal with digital photos. First they are color corrected.. I usually need to do a little curve treatment on them. Then I look at the eyes and wipe out the red in the eyes.. Photoshop has a replace the color brush.. it is wonderful for dropping on some black which turns to grey when it is painted over the red. I have an action that renames and re sizes each photo to give me a 75 dpi 400 wide pixel photo. The height is one constraint that I don't mess with. This is done is a batch. The group of re sized photos is loaded on to the external hard drive and then imported into the web page design program in the proper folder where I may use them to compose the pages. I compose the pages and copy and paste in the caption data that was e-mailed me at the same time as the digital file. Then the parts need to be uploaded to the server and checked with an outside browser, Whew that does look like a long process. No wonder more people do blogs.
Love
Pat
This year there were a million shots taken as the reunion gathered up people that wouldn't begin to talk to each other in high school but they became good acquaintances at the party.
The big topic of conversation among us all.. when will you retire. Some have retired and are working for their kids.. imagine that. Bill King is working for his son who has a construction company in Sacramento.
Some were interested in what kids we had and what they did. One, Frank Drago was interested in what Heather did since he is a judge on many cases that deal with the same people that Heather works with.
Last night I started to tackle the first photos that Rose has sent me. They are going into pages on the website. It is sure nice to deal with digital photos. First they are color corrected.. I usually need to do a little curve treatment on them. Then I look at the eyes and wipe out the red in the eyes.. Photoshop has a replace the color brush.. it is wonderful for dropping on some black which turns to grey when it is painted over the red. I have an action that renames and re sizes each photo to give me a 75 dpi 400 wide pixel photo. The height is one constraint that I don't mess with. This is done is a batch. The group of re sized photos is loaded on to the external hard drive and then imported into the web page design program in the proper folder where I may use them to compose the pages. I compose the pages and copy and paste in the caption data that was e-mailed me at the same time as the digital file. Then the parts need to be uploaded to the server and checked with an outside browser, Whew that does look like a long process. No wonder more people do blogs.
Love
Pat
Monday, October 27, 2008
From Carousel , Modified
We had a real good reunion.
We're really glad we went.
The vittals we et were great you bet
The company was devine
A great time was had by all.. at least the class members.
No one got splashed by red wine because they took another's boyfriend 40 years ago (that actually happened)
It was really nice to see some of the class members that haven't been coming to the others. We even had an almost party crasher. He was a older administrator and his wife that had just attended a 50 year reunion and he thought that he would drop by the 40th one that was being held at the El Rancho. We invited him in even though he was an administrator of Capp (the San Bruno high school) instead of El Camino in SSF.
Franscisco was going to be picked up hy us. but we were running a little late (into the no host bar time) so his sister delivered him to the reunion with his mother. We went outside when he arrived and I reaquainted myself with his family.
The buffet was really good. There were many fruits and vegetables at the beginning of buffet line and salmon and prime rib at the end. The deserts were great too. Carrot, chocolate decadence, lemon, and white cake with strawberry moouse cake were offered. There were not many that passed up the cake.
We all had a great time. Fransisco stayed for the after party. We were long gone. Our eyes were flashed to death by the digital cameras that everyone sported.
We sat at the table with Bruce Burns and Carole Brown. There were six of all together. There was plenty of room for the 80 people that attended.
A large number of members came up and thanked me personally for my work in getting the web pages up and updated. It was nice to feel appreciated.
The next day we met up with Earl and picked up Heather and went to the legion of Honor. There was a great visiting display of art for the Simon collection in Berlin. Some of the really ancient artifacts were on display from the Sumeria Babylon era. Most impressive to me was a shiny black bull sculpture dating to the 25th century BC.
I also was impressed by the artifacts that were collected from the silk trail that connected the European counties with China. Some of the original silks were held under dirt to keep from prying hands.
We had lunch at the cafe and headed home in the teeth of the football crowd who suffered through a crushing defeat at the hands of the seahawks. Monet's waterlilies topped that any day.
We whistled on home tired but gratified for a great weekend.
: ) Pat
We're really glad we went.
The vittals we et were great you bet
The company was devine
A great time was had by all.. at least the class members.
No one got splashed by red wine because they took another's boyfriend 40 years ago (that actually happened)
It was really nice to see some of the class members that haven't been coming to the others. We even had an almost party crasher. He was a older administrator and his wife that had just attended a 50 year reunion and he thought that he would drop by the 40th one that was being held at the El Rancho. We invited him in even though he was an administrator of Capp (the San Bruno high school) instead of El Camino in SSF.
Franscisco was going to be picked up hy us. but we were running a little late (into the no host bar time) so his sister delivered him to the reunion with his mother. We went outside when he arrived and I reaquainted myself with his family.
The buffet was really good. There were many fruits and vegetables at the beginning of buffet line and salmon and prime rib at the end. The deserts were great too. Carrot, chocolate decadence, lemon, and white cake with strawberry moouse cake were offered. There were not many that passed up the cake.
We all had a great time. Fransisco stayed for the after party. We were long gone. Our eyes were flashed to death by the digital cameras that everyone sported.
We sat at the table with Bruce Burns and Carole Brown. There were six of all together. There was plenty of room for the 80 people that attended.
A large number of members came up and thanked me personally for my work in getting the web pages up and updated. It was nice to feel appreciated.
The next day we met up with Earl and picked up Heather and went to the legion of Honor. There was a great visiting display of art for the Simon collection in Berlin. Some of the really ancient artifacts were on display from the Sumeria Babylon era. Most impressive to me was a shiny black bull sculpture dating to the 25th century BC.
I also was impressed by the artifacts that were collected from the silk trail that connected the European counties with China. Some of the original silks were held under dirt to keep from prying hands.
We had lunch at the cafe and headed home in the teeth of the football crowd who suffered through a crushing defeat at the hands of the seahawks. Monet's waterlilies topped that any day.
We whistled on home tired but gratified for a great weekend.
: ) Pat
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Off to the Reunion
My high school class is having their 40th reunion at the El Rancho in Mibrae.
We will have over 70 attendees. Many, including me are bringing their spouses. In this modern world there is open.. guest along with the name on the list of the member. Some members are bringing their daughters to be a part. I remember going to our 30th reunion in San Mateo. I thought the folks that were heading downstairs to their 40th reunion looks a whole lot older than we did. Now we are wearing those shoes.
Its an interesting age.. 58. Some are retired. Some have passed away. Some are just getting it right. Many have had multiple marriages. Some have even married the same wife twice after have another wife in the middle. Most are pretty secure with their station in life. If you haven't found something to do in your life that you like,and that pays, you are waiting to start a new life in retirement.
Francisco, Earl Julius, my friend in high school has flown in from Italy. (I know, his arms are tired) It is the first reunion that he has attended. He said that he had a difficult time getting here because there were many airlines that would not take an Italian credit care.
: ) Pat
We will have over 70 attendees. Many, including me are bringing their spouses. In this modern world there is open.. guest along with the name on the list of the member. Some members are bringing their daughters to be a part. I remember going to our 30th reunion in San Mateo. I thought the folks that were heading downstairs to their 40th reunion looks a whole lot older than we did. Now we are wearing those shoes.
Its an interesting age.. 58. Some are retired. Some have passed away. Some are just getting it right. Many have had multiple marriages. Some have even married the same wife twice after have another wife in the middle. Most are pretty secure with their station in life. If you haven't found something to do in your life that you like,and that pays, you are waiting to start a new life in retirement.
Francisco, Earl Julius, my friend in high school has flown in from Italy. (I know, his arms are tired) It is the first reunion that he has attended. He said that he had a difficult time getting here because there were many airlines that would not take an Italian credit care.
: ) Pat
Friday, October 24, 2008
Cross Town Rivals Week
It used to be South City vs El Camino. One game I remember occurred on Thanksgiving. I took my sister, Michael Sue to the game. We had parkas. It rained and rained. It was the big game of the year.
Golden Valley is playing Merced High tonight. In the past the game had playoff implications. Tonight it is not so. The once mighty Golden Valley High School, the new school (now 15 years old) has lost its advantage. Its new coach is trying to field a "safe" team. There were just not that many guys that went out for football. When you look across the field there are only 12 guys suited up when the one offense is on the field. This means there are not a huge amount of special teams, and there are some guys that are playing both sides of the line. They will be on the field throughout the game. This is what I mean by a "safe" team.
The Merced High Bears on the other hand are blessed with a great team this year. They have been romping up and down the valley leveling teams in their way.
The pranks are going on as well. Since Golden Valley High School is the team with the gold and red colors, someone climbed over the gate and boldly stroked upon their quad mustard and catchup streaks the letter M and wrote upon the seats, Merced is the best team.. etc.
I share the room at Merced High with a teacher who is the faculty sponsor cheerleading squad. With all the girls accounted for they number just under 50. This is pretty amazing since the cost to the family per student is over 600 dollars. They come during my teaching hour and sign the sign in sheet so that they may continue to get credit for their cheerleader activities and the adviser has some accountability for their whereabouts.
My students were working on introductions today. We stopped our lessons and learned how to pay a verbal compliment. The cheerleaders responded with thank yous and smiles. I told their adviser that they should be complimented for that. She said that she will tell them.
I hope you had a great week
: ) Pat
Golden Valley is playing Merced High tonight. In the past the game had playoff implications. Tonight it is not so. The once mighty Golden Valley High School, the new school (now 15 years old) has lost its advantage. Its new coach is trying to field a "safe" team. There were just not that many guys that went out for football. When you look across the field there are only 12 guys suited up when the one offense is on the field. This means there are not a huge amount of special teams, and there are some guys that are playing both sides of the line. They will be on the field throughout the game. This is what I mean by a "safe" team.
The Merced High Bears on the other hand are blessed with a great team this year. They have been romping up and down the valley leveling teams in their way.
The pranks are going on as well. Since Golden Valley High School is the team with the gold and red colors, someone climbed over the gate and boldly stroked upon their quad mustard and catchup streaks the letter M and wrote upon the seats, Merced is the best team.. etc.
I share the room at Merced High with a teacher who is the faculty sponsor cheerleading squad. With all the girls accounted for they number just under 50. This is pretty amazing since the cost to the family per student is over 600 dollars. They come during my teaching hour and sign the sign in sheet so that they may continue to get credit for their cheerleader activities and the adviser has some accountability for their whereabouts.
My students were working on introductions today. We stopped our lessons and learned how to pay a verbal compliment. The cheerleaders responded with thank yous and smiles. I told their adviser that they should be complimented for that. She said that she will tell them.
I hope you had a great week
: ) Pat
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Orange Sky October
As I was rounding the block heading home this morning on my morning walk, an inspired sky lit up the morning walk. It was a special kind of glow that occurs for only a few minutes on only a few days. It was really one of those moments that make you think that getting up for the sunrises is special. Most of my morning walk is clearly in the dark. The Starbucks on my walk has finally received an order of the proper sized "here cup" so that my cap won't be drowned in milk. Not only do I get a cap the right size and flavor, I no longer need a spoon to scrape the foam off the bottom of the cup.
Yesterday in class we were working with doctor visits. The two words were assistants and physicians. The two words today were receptionists and vitals. I pulled two kids out in my pull out session today. One of them is up for an IEP on Monday. The other I am working with has a obterator to close the cleft palate. She has good intelligibility but she is missing the formation of some basic sounds in the front of her mouth.. like S and Z.
My three kids in my last class are trying to work up a comedy routine. One kid is practicing the introduction of the major comedian. He is looking for some minor jokes for the introduction person to use to warm up the crowd.
The SH kids came streaming in with their bilingual aide today too. They seem a little more likely to talk and their understanding is improving.
Overall I had a pretty good day. and 'Wednesday is "Writing Day"
: ) Pat
Yesterday in class we were working with doctor visits. The two words were assistants and physicians. The two words today were receptionists and vitals. I pulled two kids out in my pull out session today. One of them is up for an IEP on Monday. The other I am working with has a obterator to close the cleft palate. She has good intelligibility but she is missing the formation of some basic sounds in the front of her mouth.. like S and Z.
My three kids in my last class are trying to work up a comedy routine. One kid is practicing the introduction of the major comedian. He is looking for some minor jokes for the introduction person to use to warm up the crowd.
The SH kids came streaming in with their bilingual aide today too. They seem a little more likely to talk and their understanding is improving.
Overall I had a pretty good day. and 'Wednesday is "Writing Day"
: ) Pat
Monday, October 20, 2008
This Week's Scenarios
This week the scenarios center on the informing function:
1. You need to let the school librarian know that you have lost a book. What will you say?
2. You tell your mother what clean clothes you need tomorrow. What will you say?
3. Your friend has been gone from English class the last two days, and you wonder whether she has remembered there is a test tomorrow. What will you say?
4. You dentist wants to know what kind of dental work has been done in your mouth in the last couple of years. What will you say?
5. You social studies teacher wants to know what is the most difficult kind of test for you to take. What will you say?
6. Your friend is interested in finding out what you did last weekend. What will you say?
7. Your mother wants to know if there are any clothes in your closet that are too small for you and that she can give away or put up for sale. What do you say?
8. You are interested in telling your friend about a movie that you saw last weekend. What do you say?
9. You just observed a middle-aged woman shoplifting and decide to tell the store clerk about it. What do you say?
10. A foreign exchange student wants to know how expensive it is to go to the movies in America. The student also wants to know where the nearest theatres are and what times the shows play. What will you say?
11. A teacher wants to know how your family gets around most of the time. (e.g. by car? By bus?) What will you say?
12. Your birthday is coming up, and your family and you want to make sure that your friends know what you would like. What will you say?
13. Your parents want to know what kinds of curfews your other friends have right now. What will you say?
14. You r friend wants to know if you have ever been permitted to stay alone all night long. What will you say?
15. Call the doctor’s office and let them know that you would like to make an appointment for next week. What will you say?
16. Your friend wants to know your sister’s name . What will you say?
I will be helping students rehearse conversations that center around informing. Looks like fun
Pat
1. You need to let the school librarian know that you have lost a book. What will you say?
2. You tell your mother what clean clothes you need tomorrow. What will you say?
3. Your friend has been gone from English class the last two days, and you wonder whether she has remembered there is a test tomorrow. What will you say?
4. You dentist wants to know what kind of dental work has been done in your mouth in the last couple of years. What will you say?
5. You social studies teacher wants to know what is the most difficult kind of test for you to take. What will you say?
6. Your friend is interested in finding out what you did last weekend. What will you say?
7. Your mother wants to know if there are any clothes in your closet that are too small for you and that she can give away or put up for sale. What do you say?
8. You are interested in telling your friend about a movie that you saw last weekend. What do you say?
9. You just observed a middle-aged woman shoplifting and decide to tell the store clerk about it. What do you say?
10. A foreign exchange student wants to know how expensive it is to go to the movies in America. The student also wants to know where the nearest theatres are and what times the shows play. What will you say?
11. A teacher wants to know how your family gets around most of the time. (e.g. by car? By bus?) What will you say?
12. Your birthday is coming up, and your family and you want to make sure that your friends know what you would like. What will you say?
13. Your parents want to know what kinds of curfews your other friends have right now. What will you say?
14. You r friend wants to know if you have ever been permitted to stay alone all night long. What will you say?
15. Call the doctor’s office and let them know that you would like to make an appointment for next week. What will you say?
16. Your friend wants to know your sister’s name . What will you say?
I will be helping students rehearse conversations that center around informing. Looks like fun
Pat
A forwarded note in Email
Jan Choma sent me this via e-mail. It may become an urban myth.. but it is a good thought and last should be considered when ever we send our youth into harms way:
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I'll get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.
'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.
'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago.' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'
She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the other passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers
gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. But for those who do, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The Sack Lunches
I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read. Perhaps I'll get a short nap,' I thought. Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.
'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.
'Chicago - to Great Lakes Base. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Iraq '
After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached Chicago, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time. As I reached for my wallet, I overheard soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.
'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to Chicago.' His friend agreed. I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch.
I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'
She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq; it's almost like you are doing it for him.'
Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?'
'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked. She turned and went to the front of plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. 'This is your thanks.'
After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.
Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked. I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.' I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the other passengers.
Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.
When we landed in Chicago I gathered my belongings and started to deplane. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars! Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers
gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.'
Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is honor and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. But for those who do, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Roast Chicken Dinner for Sunday
This afternoon the house is filled with the smell of roast chicken.
The chicken was washed and placed in a magnalite roaster breast side down. It had a cup of chicken stock to prime the flavor pump.
The potatoes are on. They are at a temperature just below boiling. They are headed for the mashed potato treatment later.
The stock got poured into a pan and will be available for a little gravy.
The rest of the menu will feature a little broccoli with some slivered almonds.
It should be here and I wish you all were here to eat it with us!
: ) Pat
PS I am sure my mom would be aghast to know that a fresh foster farms chicken is now 9 dollars.
The chicken was washed and placed in a magnalite roaster breast side down. It had a cup of chicken stock to prime the flavor pump.
The potatoes are on. They are at a temperature just below boiling. They are headed for the mashed potato treatment later.
The stock got poured into a pan and will be available for a little gravy.
The rest of the menu will feature a little broccoli with some slivered almonds.
It should be here and I wish you all were here to eat it with us!
: ) Pat
PS I am sure my mom would be aghast to know that a fresh foster farms chicken is now 9 dollars.
Fear and Fear of Fear
I am interested in hearing what my fellow practitioners of the counseling art think of the following excerpt from the Huffington Press on October 17th, by Kathryn and Gay and Hendricks Entitled "Body Politics: The Source Of McCain's Odd Body Language, And The Gift It Brings"
As budding psychotherapists 35 years ago, we were taught the essentials of how to help our clients deal with fear. The key principle can be stated simply: what you resist, persists. If you hold fear at arm's length, if you seal it out of your awareness, you sentence yourself to living every moment in a prison of fear. The more you try to seal it out, the more it pervades your life. The stonewall barrier McCain has proudly built to keep out his fear makes him a prisoner inside his own arrogance. His stubborn unwillingness to let in the normal human emotion of fear makes him propelled by it. In the Pink Floyd phrase, he's "blown on the steel breeze."
This much we can tell you from working up-close with more than twenty thousand people: The only real solution to fear is to let yourself acknowledge it and feel it until it dissipates. Fear is natural. Your body spent hundreds of thousands of years perfecting it. It's there to tell you important things like these:
There's a potential threat--pay attention.
There's a problem I don't have a solution to--look for one quick!
When you're scared, look to see if there's a real threat. Figure out what the problem is and get creative about solving it. Get good at distinguishing between real threats and imaginary threats we make up in our minds. Don't use the McCain Prescription for fear, by shutting it out of your awareness. For the sake of his health and for the safety of the rest of us, he should take counsel from another war hero, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf: "Any man who doesn't cry scares me a little." That's a piece of useful wisdom, and it points to why John McCain scares a lot of people.
How does this measure up?
Pat
As budding psychotherapists 35 years ago, we were taught the essentials of how to help our clients deal with fear. The key principle can be stated simply: what you resist, persists. If you hold fear at arm's length, if you seal it out of your awareness, you sentence yourself to living every moment in a prison of fear. The more you try to seal it out, the more it pervades your life. The stonewall barrier McCain has proudly built to keep out his fear makes him a prisoner inside his own arrogance. His stubborn unwillingness to let in the normal human emotion of fear makes him propelled by it. In the Pink Floyd phrase, he's "blown on the steel breeze."
This much we can tell you from working up-close with more than twenty thousand people: The only real solution to fear is to let yourself acknowledge it and feel it until it dissipates. Fear is natural. Your body spent hundreds of thousands of years perfecting it. It's there to tell you important things like these:
There's a potential threat--pay attention.
There's a problem I don't have a solution to--look for one quick!
When you're scared, look to see if there's a real threat. Figure out what the problem is and get creative about solving it. Get good at distinguishing between real threats and imaginary threats we make up in our minds. Don't use the McCain Prescription for fear, by shutting it out of your awareness. For the sake of his health and for the safety of the rest of us, he should take counsel from another war hero, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf: "Any man who doesn't cry scares me a little." That's a piece of useful wisdom, and it points to why John McCain scares a lot of people.
How does this measure up?
Pat
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Writing and Art
Writing in this blog has helped me to be a better writer. It is easier to come up with sentence in sequence. The fluency of writing is easier to maintain due to daily practice. I have learned to spell the words I more frequently use (thank you spell checkers). While it is still not up to professional journalist standards, I guess it is not supposed to be as it is a blog. Reader beware.
1.Do it often:
Art is the same. If you don't practice it, it is much harder to pull it up and use it when you want to "art".
2.Don't Miss the Details
I have the photo I took of cruise ship in Juneau up on my study wall. It a great photo because it has all the elements with out being staged. There is a tiny piece of foreground, a massive ship in the right middle third of the photo and some great atmospherics (clouds) coming down to the city in the background with reflected lights on the water.
When I framed this photo in Juneau just before we left, it was one of the few times that I really wished I had a more extensive camera and the ability to operate it. This photo was taken with a couple of premises that help even out the playing field.
3. Work in the Right Frame of mind
I took the photo with the camera resting on the ledge, not in my hand. This reduced the vibration, even though the ship always has some vibration.
4. Sometimes you have to do it multiple times to get it right:
I bracketed the exposure. I shot the photo with several different exposure combinations so that I would not miss the shot because I was in the wrong photographic mode.
5.Use Past Experience to do something new:
I was prepared for the shot, because I had taken a similar one with with the cook on the balcony looking at us leaving Juneau a trip or two before. While that photo is good, this one is even better, because I had planned it and took more time making sure that it would work.
Applying this same principals to writing.. even a blog.. its a good reminder on what it takes to make this successful.
: ) Pat
1.Do it often:
Art is the same. If you don't practice it, it is much harder to pull it up and use it when you want to "art".
2.Don't Miss the Details
I have the photo I took of cruise ship in Juneau up on my study wall. It a great photo because it has all the elements with out being staged. There is a tiny piece of foreground, a massive ship in the right middle third of the photo and some great atmospherics (clouds) coming down to the city in the background with reflected lights on the water.
When I framed this photo in Juneau just before we left, it was one of the few times that I really wished I had a more extensive camera and the ability to operate it. This photo was taken with a couple of premises that help even out the playing field.
3. Work in the Right Frame of mind
I took the photo with the camera resting on the ledge, not in my hand. This reduced the vibration, even though the ship always has some vibration.
4. Sometimes you have to do it multiple times to get it right:
I bracketed the exposure. I shot the photo with several different exposure combinations so that I would not miss the shot because I was in the wrong photographic mode.
5.Use Past Experience to do something new:
I was prepared for the shot, because I had taken a similar one with with the cook on the balcony looking at us leaving Juneau a trip or two before. While that photo is good, this one is even better, because I had planned it and took more time making sure that it would work.
Applying this same principals to writing.. even a blog.. its a good reminder on what it takes to make this successful.
: ) Pat
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Long Day at the post
Today started out with my walk. Somewhat abbrevated because I needed to get to Golden Valley to give my lesson plans and then drive to IHOP to meet the negotiating team for breakfast. We had 7 plus the president for breakfast.
We had a very productive session for negotiations. They were happy to meet us at the table because we had 302 pending grievances on the matter from our 5 schools.
At the end of the day management was able to get what they wanted and so were we. We found a win win (always good) and the lawyer got dog shit on his shoes.
He accused us of setting him up. He spent the first couple of minutes wiping his shoes off and then disposing of the kleenex.
I successfully got into his face (figuratively) and he backed down. It made my year at the table.
I invented a new word. punition. It means the conditon of a punitive act. We had some fun with that.. as you may imagine.
After negotiations it was report card night. We defend our first quarter grades to the parents in an arena style format.. too loud too long, dead tired.
Sue is not doing too well with the infusion. This afternoon she experienced flu like symptions.. too hot then too cold and unable to eat anything. I got her some frosties at Wendy's and she was able to eat 8 bites combined.. frosties with small hamburger.
I hope she feels better soon.
66 scheduled to come to our 40th high school reunion.
Pat
We had a very productive session for negotiations. They were happy to meet us at the table because we had 302 pending grievances on the matter from our 5 schools.
At the end of the day management was able to get what they wanted and so were we. We found a win win (always good) and the lawyer got dog shit on his shoes.
He accused us of setting him up. He spent the first couple of minutes wiping his shoes off and then disposing of the kleenex.
I successfully got into his face (figuratively) and he backed down. It made my year at the table.
I invented a new word. punition. It means the conditon of a punitive act. We had some fun with that.. as you may imagine.
After negotiations it was report card night. We defend our first quarter grades to the parents in an arena style format.. too loud too long, dead tired.
Sue is not doing too well with the infusion. This afternoon she experienced flu like symptions.. too hot then too cold and unable to eat anything. I got her some frosties at Wendy's and she was able to eat 8 bites combined.. frosties with small hamburger.
I hope she feels better soon.
66 scheduled to come to our 40th high school reunion.
Pat
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Debating Joe the Plumber
This debate used a technique that I tried to teach all of my debators.
1) Humanize the issue through a classic stereotype.. design your sterotype so that it fits your idea concept
2) Show how your stereotype cannot be ignored
3) Show how your opponent's plan hurts your stereotype.
Classic debate technique.
The adept debater on the other side can either spend the time showing how that stereotype is not relevant, or that the assumptions made with that stereotype are false.
When the opponent chooses either tactic, they are not debating the issue. It is somewhat of a red herring argument.
The red herring argument is when the debate centers around a small detail rather than the principal that needs to be resolved.
Lindsay loaned me a book whose title is "Sway" it is a pretty expensive little hardback. It basically outlines how people will make an irrational choice just so that they won't lose anything. The success rate is not so celebrated as much as even a little loss. The tragedy of the KLM flight in the Azores was cited. People will buy an extraordinary amount of insurance knowing that there is little chance that they will need it. They just don't want to be caught with a little loss. This is what is behind cancer insurance as well as some other insurance products. It is also what makes people pay more taxes than they owe so that they can get a check back from the Feds or the state so they won't have to come up with operating money to pay their taxes. Everyone is protecting themselves from just one little red herring in the kettle.
This is why Joe Plumber is such a strong way to argue.. still it really is a red herring compared to the nation's economy or jobs.
Just my opinion
Pat
1) Humanize the issue through a classic stereotype.. design your sterotype so that it fits your idea concept
2) Show how your stereotype cannot be ignored
3) Show how your opponent's plan hurts your stereotype.
Classic debate technique.
The adept debater on the other side can either spend the time showing how that stereotype is not relevant, or that the assumptions made with that stereotype are false.
When the opponent chooses either tactic, they are not debating the issue. It is somewhat of a red herring argument.
The red herring argument is when the debate centers around a small detail rather than the principal that needs to be resolved.
Lindsay loaned me a book whose title is "Sway" it is a pretty expensive little hardback. It basically outlines how people will make an irrational choice just so that they won't lose anything. The success rate is not so celebrated as much as even a little loss. The tragedy of the KLM flight in the Azores was cited. People will buy an extraordinary amount of insurance knowing that there is little chance that they will need it. They just don't want to be caught with a little loss. This is what is behind cancer insurance as well as some other insurance products. It is also what makes people pay more taxes than they owe so that they can get a check back from the Feds or the state so they won't have to come up with operating money to pay their taxes. Everyone is protecting themselves from just one little red herring in the kettle.
This is why Joe Plumber is such a strong way to argue.. still it really is a red herring compared to the nation's economy or jobs.
Just my opinion
Pat
Day at the Infusion Center
What is an infusion center?
It is a place not in a hospital but in a large room off the reception room of a cancer center where a group of patients are "infused." Today they were running really behind. We had an appointment at 9:45. The infusion is supposed to last 45 minutes. We were out at 2:15.
At 10:45 we saw the doctor. A very knowledgeable Philopino doctor who was figuatively and literally on the run. She checked the results of the blood test for kidney function.. everything was okay. She answered my question.. how and when will we know it worked.. answer: About 2 years from now.
And then she ordered some hot compresses so that the veins would surface. At 11:45 Sue was ready to have the intervenous bottles hooked up. She was sitting in a very elaborate leather reclining chair and there were 12 others much older than her in similar leather reclining chairs and one stout Mennonite nurse checking levels and threading needles. The room was huge. There were 4 TV's hung from the ceiling and most of the patients were sound asleep as the bags slowly flowed into their systems. A few had wives there to keep them company. Some of these folks were also asleep.
Sue was very thirsty so I was dispatched to the Starbucks across the street and down where I had a green tea ice tea made up for her and I had my usual cappuccino. When I returned they had her hooked up to the tubes and the saline was flowing. At 11:45 she was feeling a little uncomfortable since the saline was burning a little. At 1:00 she was given the bottle that contained the bone enhancer medication and it slowly dripped down from the bottle. At 2:15 it was through and so were we. We dropped by the tax ladies and signed 2006 and talked about what we needed for 2007.
Sue had a chance to shop at Craft shop and a stop at Target and finally we got something to eat at the coffee shop.
We left the day knowing that we were indeed better off than the others that were waiting for cancer infusions. A new appreciation for our lives..
Love
Pat
It is a place not in a hospital but in a large room off the reception room of a cancer center where a group of patients are "infused." Today they were running really behind. We had an appointment at 9:45. The infusion is supposed to last 45 minutes. We were out at 2:15.
At 10:45 we saw the doctor. A very knowledgeable Philopino doctor who was figuatively and literally on the run. She checked the results of the blood test for kidney function.. everything was okay. She answered my question.. how and when will we know it worked.. answer: About 2 years from now.
And then she ordered some hot compresses so that the veins would surface. At 11:45 Sue was ready to have the intervenous bottles hooked up. She was sitting in a very elaborate leather reclining chair and there were 12 others much older than her in similar leather reclining chairs and one stout Mennonite nurse checking levels and threading needles. The room was huge. There were 4 TV's hung from the ceiling and most of the patients were sound asleep as the bags slowly flowed into their systems. A few had wives there to keep them company. Some of these folks were also asleep.
Sue was very thirsty so I was dispatched to the Starbucks across the street and down where I had a green tea ice tea made up for her and I had my usual cappuccino. When I returned they had her hooked up to the tubes and the saline was flowing. At 11:45 she was feeling a little uncomfortable since the saline was burning a little. At 1:00 she was given the bottle that contained the bone enhancer medication and it slowly dripped down from the bottle. At 2:15 it was through and so were we. We dropped by the tax ladies and signed 2006 and talked about what we needed for 2007.
Sue had a chance to shop at Craft shop and a stop at Target and finally we got something to eat at the coffee shop.
We left the day knowing that we were indeed better off than the others that were waiting for cancer infusions. A new appreciation for our lives..
Love
Pat
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Creedence Revival
I was plowing around E-music tonight,
They have several Creedence Clearwater Rivival albums for downloading. Creedence or CCR was that band that was giving free concerts in Golden Gate Back back in 1969.
Yes they are from El Cerrito.. they sure have the that southern rock sound down. A favorite song of mine.. Lodi. I think that its lyrics are especially true since I was stuck twice in Lodi with broken waterpumps on school suburbans taking kids to compete in forensic competitions. How do you know the waterpump is gone? You drive down the road and sudddenly you see the hot light light up. You are suddenly out of water/antifreeze.
1st make sue that it isn't an independent fan.. it can start up and take off a finger or two. The fan must be connected to a fan belt to go to step2.
2nd reach down and grab that fan blade. if it wiggles back and forth, then the bearing is bad in the fan and that is why your water leaked out and the vehicle overheated..
this happened twice in Lodi. One time we had just one suburban and had to call the spouses to pick us up in mini vans to get us home. Lucky we had those. Wendy's on 99 got a lot of play that evening as the kids decended and waited for rescue.
The funny thing was that I was relating the story to my lunch group of fellow teachers and found out that Ron had the same issue with one is his cars on 99 in Lodi too.
It must be something in the air there that wrecks waterpumps..
: ) Pat
They have several Creedence Clearwater Rivival albums for downloading. Creedence or CCR was that band that was giving free concerts in Golden Gate Back back in 1969.
Yes they are from El Cerrito.. they sure have the that southern rock sound down. A favorite song of mine.. Lodi. I think that its lyrics are especially true since I was stuck twice in Lodi with broken waterpumps on school suburbans taking kids to compete in forensic competitions. How do you know the waterpump is gone? You drive down the road and sudddenly you see the hot light light up. You are suddenly out of water/antifreeze.
1st make sue that it isn't an independent fan.. it can start up and take off a finger or two. The fan must be connected to a fan belt to go to step2.
2nd reach down and grab that fan blade. if it wiggles back and forth, then the bearing is bad in the fan and that is why your water leaked out and the vehicle overheated..
this happened twice in Lodi. One time we had just one suburban and had to call the spouses to pick us up in mini vans to get us home. Lucky we had those. Wendy's on 99 got a lot of play that evening as the kids decended and waited for rescue.
The funny thing was that I was relating the story to my lunch group of fellow teachers and found out that Ron had the same issue with one is his cars on 99 in Lodi too.
It must be something in the air there that wrecks waterpumps..
: ) Pat
Monday, October 13, 2008
New Word: inamorata
An inamorata is a female lover. Sue came across this word when she was reading "Men to Match my Mountains" the classic book about the founding of the West. For a period of time it was Dad's favorite book. He recommended to to many. We found it in a charity book pile.
It was a Cold and Windy Columbus Day
The year after Kennedy was killed, our family had a chance to see the president.
It was Columbus Day. A day that most schools were out for the holiday.(unlike now) We were gathered up and headed to Washington Square to see the president, LBJ. The car caravan snaked its way through North Beach along with the other floats with dignitaries.
LBJ got out of the car and gave a credible speech. We found out later that it was the same car that Kennedy was supposed to take through Dallas. This time the bubble top was on and there were no problems.
We watched the parade which included the cast of the new movie Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke was on the float as was Julie Andrews. We saw the movie later and could really relate.
After standing in line for so long and listening to all the politicians gas on and on about this and that, Dad took us to dinner at one of his favorite places, San Remos. It was truly a family restaurant then. There were no fancy table clothes or menus. It was a multiple course meal with San Francisco french bread, soup and salad and then they asked what kind of pasta you wanted, spaghetti or ravioli. Then once you had eaten all of this, they asked what entree you wanted. It was usually steak or chicken. Desert was always espresso and a tiny cup of ice cream. No frills just good food. We loved it. I once ate 3 baskets of french bread in one sitting. I had just returned from college and I could not get enough of it.
Hats off to the old San Remos and wishing that you all had a great Columbus Day.
: ) Pat
It was Columbus Day. A day that most schools were out for the holiday.(unlike now) We were gathered up and headed to Washington Square to see the president, LBJ. The car caravan snaked its way through North Beach along with the other floats with dignitaries.
LBJ got out of the car and gave a credible speech. We found out later that it was the same car that Kennedy was supposed to take through Dallas. This time the bubble top was on and there were no problems.
We watched the parade which included the cast of the new movie Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke was on the float as was Julie Andrews. We saw the movie later and could really relate.
After standing in line for so long and listening to all the politicians gas on and on about this and that, Dad took us to dinner at one of his favorite places, San Remos. It was truly a family restaurant then. There were no fancy table clothes or menus. It was a multiple course meal with San Francisco french bread, soup and salad and then they asked what kind of pasta you wanted, spaghetti or ravioli. Then once you had eaten all of this, they asked what entree you wanted. It was usually steak or chicken. Desert was always espresso and a tiny cup of ice cream. No frills just good food. We loved it. I once ate 3 baskets of french bread in one sitting. I had just returned from college and I could not get enough of it.
Hats off to the old San Remos and wishing that you all had a great Columbus Day.
: ) Pat
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Fall Foods
This weekend I made some typical fall foods.
Fall is a time where you may turn on the oven and heat up the house a little and it is not a problem. We have had some night time temperatures that have been in the 40's. Daytime we are up in the 60's. In just one week we have gone from upper 90's and temps in the upper 70's at night to this.
So.. no problem using the new convection ovens. On Friday night I made scalloped potatoes. Sliced with the Cuisinart, cheese shredded with the Cuisinart, and matrix from milk and corn starch with a little bacon thrown in on top.. yum.
On my walk back from Starbucks I stopped into the grocery store and bought some memphis style barbecue ribs for 1.79 a pound. They got browned first and then slow roasted with some barbecue sauce. I made some homemade cole slaw to go with it. Pretty yummy.. wish you were here to chow down..
In case you missed it. Both Bay Area football teams got blown out in the fourth quarter. What a waste of time!
Grades are due this week.. and so are a couple of IEPs that I am responsible for the paperwork.
Sue is getting infussed on Wednesday for bone growth. It is done over where the cancer folks get theirs. They often have bone density issues too. I am taking off the day just in case.
Thursday we are back at the negotiation table. We have a new team with four returning members and three new members. It will be a real education for the new members. Two of them have learned a lot of theory down in LA this summer and one did not get a chance to even get the theory. One of the members was on the team 4 years ago and is getting a chance to come back on. She is on the citizen's planning commission of Livingston.
: ) Pat
Fall is a time where you may turn on the oven and heat up the house a little and it is not a problem. We have had some night time temperatures that have been in the 40's. Daytime we are up in the 60's. In just one week we have gone from upper 90's and temps in the upper 70's at night to this.
So.. no problem using the new convection ovens. On Friday night I made scalloped potatoes. Sliced with the Cuisinart, cheese shredded with the Cuisinart, and matrix from milk and corn starch with a little bacon thrown in on top.. yum.
On my walk back from Starbucks I stopped into the grocery store and bought some memphis style barbecue ribs for 1.79 a pound. They got browned first and then slow roasted with some barbecue sauce. I made some homemade cole slaw to go with it. Pretty yummy.. wish you were here to chow down..
In case you missed it. Both Bay Area football teams got blown out in the fourth quarter. What a waste of time!
Grades are due this week.. and so are a couple of IEPs that I am responsible for the paperwork.
Sue is getting infussed on Wednesday for bone growth. It is done over where the cancer folks get theirs. They often have bone density issues too. I am taking off the day just in case.
Thursday we are back at the negotiation table. We have a new team with four returning members and three new members. It will be a real education for the new members. Two of them have learned a lot of theory down in LA this summer and one did not get a chance to even get the theory. One of the members was on the team 4 years ago and is getting a chance to come back on. She is on the citizen's planning commission of Livingston.
: ) Pat
Sunday, an Ordinary Father's Day at Starbucks
Early Sunday morning, Dads are bringing their little kids to Starbucks. This week there were three small families of small kids that arrived with dad to get Sunday breakfast and drinks with a drink to head home for Mom.
It is interesting to see how they interact with the Starbucks set up. My walking distance Starbucks is designed on the small plan by daughters inform me. There is just one major sit down area. There is one table indoors as you first come in, but many more past the coffee bar fulfillment area.
One little group of three with their Daddy, two boys and one girl decided the place to be was under the handicapped table. As dad greeted his friends, they all took spots under the table. When their dad noticed them there, he politely ordered them out, The came out without a fuss. The oldest girl of the group was about 6. The others, a boy about 5 and the other girl about 4 thought that it was great fun.
The oldest girl was the one to go the bar and get mommie's treat, as dad put it, a grande vivano. She walked up and retrieved the Vivaano, When the group was ready to leave the pastries and the drinks were too much for her to carry out by herself. She enlisted her sister and brother to help her out by gesture. They complied without a fuss.
I also noticed that several more kid and daddy groupings were in the grocery store. All were well behaved and actually "helping". when I picked up some things the morning. No mom in sight.. she shouldn't have to be there.. its Sunday morning..
: ) Pat
It is interesting to see how they interact with the Starbucks set up. My walking distance Starbucks is designed on the small plan by daughters inform me. There is just one major sit down area. There is one table indoors as you first come in, but many more past the coffee bar fulfillment area.
One little group of three with their Daddy, two boys and one girl decided the place to be was under the handicapped table. As dad greeted his friends, they all took spots under the table. When their dad noticed them there, he politely ordered them out, The came out without a fuss. The oldest girl of the group was about 6. The others, a boy about 5 and the other girl about 4 thought that it was great fun.
The oldest girl was the one to go the bar and get mommie's treat, as dad put it, a grande vivano. She walked up and retrieved the Vivaano, When the group was ready to leave the pastries and the drinks were too much for her to carry out by herself. She enlisted her sister and brother to help her out by gesture. They complied without a fuss.
I also noticed that several more kid and daddy groupings were in the grocery store. All were well behaved and actually "helping". when I picked up some things the morning. No mom in sight.. she shouldn't have to be there.. its Sunday morning..
: ) Pat
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Tri Tip the New Fundraiser
It seems that every club on the high school campus is having a tri tip dinner.
The originators, the FFA A(Future Farmer of America) put a on a pretty good 8 dollar dinner. It includes salad, beans and a roll.
The band decided to do exactly the same thing this year. They are going to march in the Tournament of Roses (the Rose Bowl parade) so they had a 10 dollar a plate tri tip dinner.
The football team tried something a little different. They had uniforms to pay for. They advertised a dinner to feed four. It had a whole tri tip, a bag of salad, a clamshell of rigatoni, and a two liter of soda for 25 dollars.
I bought two tickets from the band. I used them and we had a great dinner. I bought one ticket from the FFA, and promptly forgot the date so they had the benefit of the unfulfilled ticket.
The football team one started out as a fiasco. I lined up with my fellow dinners in our cars since it was a drive through dinner (little cleanup needed since all you have to do is clean up the kitchen or the outdoor barbeque when done). The line was getting longer the longer I waited. I think the organizers did not think that that many people would actually show up and make them come through with the dinners that they bought. When they got to me they were totally out. They were mostly out the whole evening.
On Sunday the lady that gave me the rain check called and left the message on the answering machine that the fulfillment of the rain check would be on Wednesday night. So I arrived for the fulfillment of the trip tip dinner. They were waiting for the people to arrive. Four ladies with multiple bags of dinners were waiting to "service" the cars that arrived. Several "fathers" were their too. It looked like the cooking was long ago completed.
They apologized and offered an extra rigatoni serving because they had extra. I took it and gave it to my neighbor across the street. He was pleased because he wasn't sure what he was going to cook that night.
We had a couple of really nice meals from the set. The meat had both well cooked parts and rare parts. The salad was a "bagged type" but they through in an Italian dressing. The rigatoni was very good. Overall it was a great deal. 4 plus meals (Sue had a sandwich for lunch) for a 25 dollar contribution.
: ) Pat
The originators, the FFA A(Future Farmer of America) put a on a pretty good 8 dollar dinner. It includes salad, beans and a roll.
The band decided to do exactly the same thing this year. They are going to march in the Tournament of Roses (the Rose Bowl parade) so they had a 10 dollar a plate tri tip dinner.
The football team tried something a little different. They had uniforms to pay for. They advertised a dinner to feed four. It had a whole tri tip, a bag of salad, a clamshell of rigatoni, and a two liter of soda for 25 dollars.
I bought two tickets from the band. I used them and we had a great dinner. I bought one ticket from the FFA, and promptly forgot the date so they had the benefit of the unfulfilled ticket.
The football team one started out as a fiasco. I lined up with my fellow dinners in our cars since it was a drive through dinner (little cleanup needed since all you have to do is clean up the kitchen or the outdoor barbeque when done). The line was getting longer the longer I waited. I think the organizers did not think that that many people would actually show up and make them come through with the dinners that they bought. When they got to me they were totally out. They were mostly out the whole evening.
On Sunday the lady that gave me the rain check called and left the message on the answering machine that the fulfillment of the rain check would be on Wednesday night. So I arrived for the fulfillment of the trip tip dinner. They were waiting for the people to arrive. Four ladies with multiple bags of dinners were waiting to "service" the cars that arrived. Several "fathers" were their too. It looked like the cooking was long ago completed.
They apologized and offered an extra rigatoni serving because they had extra. I took it and gave it to my neighbor across the street. He was pleased because he wasn't sure what he was going to cook that night.
We had a couple of really nice meals from the set. The meat had both well cooked parts and rare parts. The salad was a "bagged type" but they through in an Italian dressing. The rigatoni was very good. Overall it was a great deal. 4 plus meals (Sue had a sandwich for lunch) for a 25 dollar contribution.
: ) Pat
First Rain, First Pomegranate
Last weekend we had the first rain of the season,
We had a meteorologist from a local TV station come to our high school one morning. A number of classes were able to set aside the curriculum and listen to his speech.
He said that we are a "Mediterranean" climate. We share the same climate and rain pattern as those countries that border the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. Specifically we have rain only in the Fall Winter and Spring. The highs and lows are not extreme within the season, Only 20 percent of the World has our climate conditions.
I think that that is why my brother-in-law Reza who grew up in Iran appreciates our climate.
I harvested our first pomegranate this week. Most of it was very red but some of it was white. I think that they get their brilliant red color after they are ripe for a period of time. This one had started to crack its skin. This is a sure sign that it needs to be harvested. It was good. It take serious time to eat a pomegranate. Each layer must be peeled and carefully exposed. The white connective tissue has a different flavor but is usually discarded. Eat the seeds!
: ) Pat
We had a meteorologist from a local TV station come to our high school one morning. A number of classes were able to set aside the curriculum and listen to his speech.
He said that we are a "Mediterranean" climate. We share the same climate and rain pattern as those countries that border the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. Specifically we have rain only in the Fall Winter and Spring. The highs and lows are not extreme within the season, Only 20 percent of the World has our climate conditions.
I think that that is why my brother-in-law Reza who grew up in Iran appreciates our climate.
I harvested our first pomegranate this week. Most of it was very red but some of it was white. I think that they get their brilliant red color after they are ripe for a period of time. This one had started to crack its skin. This is a sure sign that it needs to be harvested. It was good. It take serious time to eat a pomegranate. Each layer must be peeled and carefully exposed. The white connective tissue has a different flavor but is usually discarded. Eat the seeds!
: ) Pat
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tesuque Pottery
I was looking at a book with some references to Tesuque pottery designs. The library in Merced has a wonderful book with different designs from different tribes. The Tesuque designs interested me.
The Tesuque are a Pueblo tribe north of Santa Fe. They have pottery that represents the rain God and dove or bird like pots with a rain God type of motif worked into it. The major proliferation of the clay Rain Gods occurred when a trader noticed its relationship to the famous Kikopelli, the pipe playing symbol. The main problem was that the rain God elements emphasized phallic segments. These needed to be removed or modified to make the little ceramic rain Gods more salable to the tourists. This modification occured around the turn of the century when Indian artifacts became a tourist industry.
These little terra cotta turn of the century pieces are continuing to go up in price even though they were not very authentic.
The designs on the bowls however, are more authentic and represent a different design constraint. I am looking at these for a border for one of my next paintings. I need a painting that will go with the gold in my bathroom. This may be it.
If you have a chance fire up that Google and take a look at the design that the Tesuque use in their art work.
: ) Pat
The Tesuque are a Pueblo tribe north of Santa Fe. They have pottery that represents the rain God and dove or bird like pots with a rain God type of motif worked into it. The major proliferation of the clay Rain Gods occurred when a trader noticed its relationship to the famous Kikopelli, the pipe playing symbol. The main problem was that the rain God elements emphasized phallic segments. These needed to be removed or modified to make the little ceramic rain Gods more salable to the tourists. This modification occured around the turn of the century when Indian artifacts became a tourist industry.
These little terra cotta turn of the century pieces are continuing to go up in price even though they were not very authentic.
The designs on the bowls however, are more authentic and represent a different design constraint. I am looking at these for a border for one of my next paintings. I need a painting that will go with the gold in my bathroom. This may be it.
If you have a chance fire up that Google and take a look at the design that the Tesuque use in their art work.
: ) Pat
Monday, October 6, 2008
In the Joke
Sometimes I feel like I am the character in my dad's joke:
A man with a pickup truck was driving through the residential part of a city.
Every time he came to a stop sign he got out of the truck and went around and smacked the sides of his pickup truck.
After the third time that he did this, the driver who happened to be following behind stopped the man and asked him what he was doing.
The man replied," I have 200 chickens and only cages for 100. I need to keep half of them flying for this to work."
Such is life.. keep those chickens flying
: ) Pat
A man with a pickup truck was driving through the residential part of a city.
Every time he came to a stop sign he got out of the truck and went around and smacked the sides of his pickup truck.
After the third time that he did this, the driver who happened to be following behind stopped the man and asked him what he was doing.
The man replied," I have 200 chickens and only cages for 100. I need to keep half of them flying for this to work."
Such is life.. keep those chickens flying
: ) Pat
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Midnight Hockey
Wednesday night last week in the middle of the night I heard the screech scratching on the hardwood floors. It continued until 3 am.
On most nights its just the cats rolling around and having a wrestling match or two. This night it was a strange scraping around. Sometimes Georgie, the white mannx batts around straws. I thought to myself.. yep he has a straw.. back to sleep.
In the morning I was getting ready to go to school and my Wayne Gretzky cat had used my glasses as a hokey puck and glasses were no where to be found..
I looked everywhere. Finally in the heat of having to leave for school, I gabbed an old pair in my desk drawer.. I don't know how many years ago's prescription...and off I went. They are aviator style glasses. At my prescription level they are pretty heavy. I can still see very will with them. In fact I think that they are a bit strong.
My students in the morning classes noticed right away. The afternoon classes.. no response. Some of my morning students felt they were an improvement.. booo.
The glasses are still among the missing.. despite my scouting efforts.. I hope they are not out in the garage.. : (
Pat
On most nights its just the cats rolling around and having a wrestling match or two. This night it was a strange scraping around. Sometimes Georgie, the white mannx batts around straws. I thought to myself.. yep he has a straw.. back to sleep.
In the morning I was getting ready to go to school and my Wayne Gretzky cat had used my glasses as a hokey puck and glasses were no where to be found..
I looked everywhere. Finally in the heat of having to leave for school, I gabbed an old pair in my desk drawer.. I don't know how many years ago's prescription...and off I went. They are aviator style glasses. At my prescription level they are pretty heavy. I can still see very will with them. In fact I think that they are a bit strong.
My students in the morning classes noticed right away. The afternoon classes.. no response. Some of my morning students felt they were an improvement.. booo.
The glasses are still among the missing.. despite my scouting efforts.. I hope they are not out in the garage.. : (
Pat
Friday, October 3, 2008
On some Crazy October Night....
My sister came on some crazy October night.
The stars were bright and several shooting stars were seen as we camped out on the hill in San Bruno.
My sister Kelly was born this night many moons ago. I was at a camp out for the Robin Hood archery club that I belonged to. I found out the next morning that I was a "big brother" again. My sister Mikie is only three years younger than I.. Kelly is 9 years younger than me.
She is always supportive of my endeavors. She has later told me that I was a major reason that she went to school to become a speech and language specialist. Then again she also said that I could sell refrigerators to Eskimos.. ha
She is a bit of a promoter too. I like that. She can get people to do what they need to do. It is wonderful that she is pursuing a Phd in education. We need promotional leaders like her.
She truly brightens the world around which she treads..
Love ya Sis
Pat
The stars were bright and several shooting stars were seen as we camped out on the hill in San Bruno.
My sister Kelly was born this night many moons ago. I was at a camp out for the Robin Hood archery club that I belonged to. I found out the next morning that I was a "big brother" again. My sister Mikie is only three years younger than I.. Kelly is 9 years younger than me.
She is always supportive of my endeavors. She has later told me that I was a major reason that she went to school to become a speech and language specialist. Then again she also said that I could sell refrigerators to Eskimos.. ha
She is a bit of a promoter too. I like that. She can get people to do what they need to do. It is wonderful that she is pursuing a Phd in education. We need promotional leaders like her.
She truly brightens the world around which she treads..
Love ya Sis
Pat
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Leave the Drama for your Mama
The kids and I had a great time with the scenarios. I picked the two students at time to go through them. (See the previous post)
I would tell them the words to say and they would say them. and then try to remember them for the rewind. One would pick a number and then I would read the scenario and they would say the words that go with it. Everyone but one really shy guy participated. Most of the students wanted a second try at it and wanted us to do it again Friday. No such luck..I will put it on the shelf and we will do it more than one time this semester. It was a good experience.. it took a lot of energy. They learned and they were expressing.. Dosen't get much better than that. I even did it with my pull out students. It was hard for them.
Have a great evening
Pat
I would tell them the words to say and they would say them. and then try to remember them for the rewind. One would pick a number and then I would read the scenario and they would say the words that go with it. Everyone but one really shy guy participated. Most of the students wanted a second try at it and wanted us to do it again Friday. No such luck..I will put it on the shelf and we will do it more than one time this semester. It was a good experience.. it took a lot of energy. They learned and they were expressing.. Dosen't get much better than that. I even did it with my pull out students. It was hard for them.
Have a great evening
Pat
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Work for Thursday: Ritualistic Language
From Daily Communication by Linda Schwartz and Nancy McKinley
Ritualizing Function:
We are going to do a little role playing: Primarily for older students in speech..
1. Your new neighbors want you to feed the dog while they’re gone. You go over to meet them and the dog . What will you say?
2. Your grandfather sent you a gift for your birthday and you see him for the first time since opening the present. What do you say to him?
3. You just slipped into your desk in first period. You realize there is a new student sitting across from you. What could you say?
4. You answer the door and there stands a friend of you mother’s, However, your mother is not home right now. What will you say?
5. You friend has started talking with you after school about how awful the day was. However, you are concerned about getting to the after-school job on time. You politely want to get out of the conversation. What will you say?
6. You accidentally hit a ball through a window in a nearby house while playing with your friends. You go up to the house and to talk with the people inside. What will you say?
7. Your brother’s new friend comes over and you are in the same room together for a minute until your brother gets there. The friend is a year older than you, and you have never met. What will you say?
8. Your friend helped you finish a lot of homework last night. You see the friend the first thing today. And still feel grateful. What will you say?
9. You mother is talking with you about your chores that need to get done on the coming weekend, but you want to leave now to see your friends, What will you say?
10. You borrowed your friend’s jacket and ripped the elbow out. You friend is coming down the hallway toward you now. What will you say?
11. You parents made a tentative promise that you would baby sit children of old family friends. You need to call them to confirm the arrangement. What will you say?
12. There is a caller on the phone wondering if you or someone else in your family wants to buy magazines. You have just listened to the whole sales pitch and now want to say “no.” What will you say?
13. You helped a young child who fell off his bike. The bike is broken. Call the child’s parents. What will you say?
14. Your mother asked you to phone the doctor’s office to let them know that she is late, but on her way. She will be there in 10 minutes. What will you say?
15. You answer the phone and it is your dad’s friend. Your father is sleeping and does not want to be disturbed. What will you say?
16. Someone calls you and asks for Donna. You think it must be a wrong number. They call back a second time. What will you say?
17. You decide to call in a local radio station to request your favorite song and dedicate it to a friend. What will you say?
18. You wake up feeling terribly ill and decide to phone the school and let them know you will not be in today. What will you say?
19. You and your hungry friends are sitting at your house. You have just finished dialing the nearest pizza restaurant. What will you say?
20. Your friend is leaving on a trip tomorrow and you want to call him and wish him a good time. What will you say?
Ritual: greeting, leaving, thanking, apologizing
Ritualizing Function:
We are going to do a little role playing: Primarily for older students in speech..
1. Your new neighbors want you to feed the dog while they’re gone. You go over to meet them and the dog . What will you say?
2. Your grandfather sent you a gift for your birthday and you see him for the first time since opening the present. What do you say to him?
3. You just slipped into your desk in first period. You realize there is a new student sitting across from you. What could you say?
4. You answer the door and there stands a friend of you mother’s, However, your mother is not home right now. What will you say?
5. You friend has started talking with you after school about how awful the day was. However, you are concerned about getting to the after-school job on time. You politely want to get out of the conversation. What will you say?
6. You accidentally hit a ball through a window in a nearby house while playing with your friends. You go up to the house and to talk with the people inside. What will you say?
7. Your brother’s new friend comes over and you are in the same room together for a minute until your brother gets there. The friend is a year older than you, and you have never met. What will you say?
8. Your friend helped you finish a lot of homework last night. You see the friend the first thing today. And still feel grateful. What will you say?
9. You mother is talking with you about your chores that need to get done on the coming weekend, but you want to leave now to see your friends, What will you say?
10. You borrowed your friend’s jacket and ripped the elbow out. You friend is coming down the hallway toward you now. What will you say?
11. You parents made a tentative promise that you would baby sit children of old family friends. You need to call them to confirm the arrangement. What will you say?
12. There is a caller on the phone wondering if you or someone else in your family wants to buy magazines. You have just listened to the whole sales pitch and now want to say “no.” What will you say?
13. You helped a young child who fell off his bike. The bike is broken. Call the child’s parents. What will you say?
14. Your mother asked you to phone the doctor’s office to let them know that she is late, but on her way. She will be there in 10 minutes. What will you say?
15. You answer the phone and it is your dad’s friend. Your father is sleeping and does not want to be disturbed. What will you say?
16. Someone calls you and asks for Donna. You think it must be a wrong number. They call back a second time. What will you say?
17. You decide to call in a local radio station to request your favorite song and dedicate it to a friend. What will you say?
18. You wake up feeling terribly ill and decide to phone the school and let them know you will not be in today. What will you say?
19. You and your hungry friends are sitting at your house. You have just finished dialing the nearest pizza restaurant. What will you say?
20. Your friend is leaving on a trip tomorrow and you want to call him and wish him a good time. What will you say?
Ritual: greeting, leaving, thanking, apologizing
Word for the Day: dyspeptic
adjective: of or having indigestion or consequent irritabilty or depression.
Noun: a person who suffers from indegestion or irritabilty
Interest in this word came from the political arena where describing Mrs. Palin's chances in the VP debate on Thursday:
She'll have to confront Biden much more directly, and the Delaware senator may not be as easy to bait as her dyspeptic primary opponents.
Noun: a person who suffers from indegestion or irritabilty
Interest in this word came from the political arena where describing Mrs. Palin's chances in the VP debate on Thursday:
She'll have to confront Biden much more directly, and the Delaware senator may not be as easy to bait as her dyspeptic primary opponents.
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