Weblog

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

Thursday, 17 December 2009

  • I love a good redemption story.  Which is why, even after all of his legal troubles of the past, I was pleased to see wide receiver Chris Henry's return to the Bengals this season.  He kept himself out of trouble, he was taking care of his family, and he was playing well and getting playing time as a result.  On the field, he wasn't acting like a punk-*** kid like he used to.  This article describes his transformation: http://www.enquirer.com/editions/pdf/OH_CE_181009.pdf  I was saddened by his broken arm earlier in the season, and kept my fingers crossed that this wouldn't lead to more criminal behavior during his off-time.

    Now, Chris Henry is in a Carolina hospital, fighting for his life.  Homicide detectives have been called to the scene of the accident, which means he is likely not to make it.  I've never met Chris Henry.  I have no personal connection to him.  But I am truly saddened for this.  Saddened for his kids who might lose their dad 9 days before Christmas, and who now might have to live without a father.  Saddened for his fiance' who will live with the knowledge that her actions killed her fiance' (if it was her in the truck), and will now have to be a single mother.  Saddened that so many times in this life, things seem like a waste.  I'm praying that someone shares with them the HOPE that only exists through Christ.  It might be too late for Chris Henry....but it's not too late for all those around him.

Friday, 11 December 2009

  • Currently
    Glee: The Music, Volume 2
    By Glee Cast
    see related
    Sometimes, my job is VERY hard.  I like it most of the time.  There are times when everything just clicks, and you see kids getting the routine, and understanding concepts, and making connections, and you think to yourself, "yeah, this is totally where I should be!"  And other times, the kids are wild, you've taught them the same concept 15 different ways and they're still not getting it, you forget deadlines, you have unrealistic expectations placed on you, or you have parents yell at you for something, and you think, "um, I'm ready for a new career!"

    This week had elements of both.  This happens a lot around Christmas, so it's not really surprising.  It's just amazing that after 6 years of teaching, I'm not any closer at quelching the craziness before it begins.  Aah well.  There's always next year!

Wednesday, 09 December 2009

  • So, I thought I'd start my "Return to Xanga" by posting one of my FAVORITE deals of the season.  I'm a HUGE Amazon.com fan.  I've shopped there since college (when the internet was all shiny and new).  Every December, they do a "25 Days of Free" giveaway.  They have one mp3 downloadable Christmas song every day from Dec. 1 until Christmas Day! 

    Best thing about this deal: you don't have to jump on it that day--the downloads are available until Christmas Day, so you can get the days you might have missed. 
    Second best thing about this: the Amazon downloader takes your files and deposits them directly into iTunes (if that's your music player), plus they aren't in mp4 format, so you can transfer the songs to a video or something else (unlike the songs you download from iTunes directly, which can only be used in iTunes--stingy Apple).

    Since digital downloads are almost universally $1.29 each these days, that's over 30 dollars of FREE music!  Awesome!

    Oops!  Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&tag=fst03-20&docId=1000453281

Monday, 07 December 2009