Monday, June 25, 2012
Ramble On: Ch Ch Changes
Ramble On: Ch Ch Changes: This time of the year, you see lots changes and transitions in peoples lives. Graduations, and weddings are common occurrences in June. At...
Ch Ch Changes
This time of the year, you see lots changes and transitions in peoples lives. Graduations, and weddings are common occurrences in June. At my age, I don't have to attend many weddings. Graduations on the other hand are regular events. Part of the reason for that is that as a teacher, it is part of the natural evolution of a school year and a process of that spans 13 years in which you play a role. That is not the reason I chose to write about graduations. I have two nephews who graduated from high school this year, and oddly enough, turned 18 within a week of their graduations. Since I have not had a chance to talk to them about the next steps in their lives I am using this to accomplish that purpose.
Guys, sorry that distance and work kept us from being at your graduations. Don't ever let the fact that we aren't at these important events to mean that we aren't interested in you and what you are doing. In years to come you will find that there will be things that are important to you and due to things you can't control you won't be able to do them. That is part of life. It does not make them less important.
They also call Graduations ceremonies Commencements. You both know that to commence something is to start. So leaving high school is not about ending, it is really the first step in the next phase of live. You will be starting college in August and will be faced with new experiences and challenges that will continue to shape the adults you are becoming. You both have clear interests and passions that you want to pursue, and that is fantastic. Pursue them, but don't overlook things that might broaden your view on yourself and the world.
Do not become sheep. The crowd is not always right. Don't follow along just to get along. Make good decisions about the freedoms and temptations you are going to be presented with. There are some dangerous traps and pitfalls on the road ahead. Beware. A strong moral compass will help you find your way.
Embrace the college experience. There are so many opportunities on campus to broaden your view of the world that it is a shame to not take advantage of some of them. It will be a chance to learn something about different people and cultures. You may not like everything you experience, but it is a lot like trying different foods, you won't know what is out there unless you try a taste.
Expect there to be twists and turns on the road. It is a rare thing to follow a straight path to your dreams.
Talk to your parents. They are good sources of wisdom, and can help you chart your course. On the other hand, don't let them dominate you decision making. It is a tough balancing act, and you will have to figure this part out on your own.
Check in on your grandparents from time to time. They want to know what is going on with you, and they won't always be around. So drop in on them from time to time. You will be blessed, and so will they.
From here on out, change is going to be your constant companion. Embrace it, go with it and make the best of it.
There are going to be times when live is going to kick you down in the dirt and stomp you. Get up, dust you butt off and get back after it. Dirty secret revealed - Life is a tough contact sport and you won't always win. Take the experience of failure and use it to your advantage to learn something to keep you moving forward. Success is getting up one more time than you get knocked down.
While you may not see me on a daily basis, remember that I am here for you and will help you in any way that I can. Move forward with the confidence of youth, and make the most of the opportunities that live will offer you.
Guys, sorry that distance and work kept us from being at your graduations. Don't ever let the fact that we aren't at these important events to mean that we aren't interested in you and what you are doing. In years to come you will find that there will be things that are important to you and due to things you can't control you won't be able to do them. That is part of life. It does not make them less important.
They also call Graduations ceremonies Commencements. You both know that to commence something is to start. So leaving high school is not about ending, it is really the first step in the next phase of live. You will be starting college in August and will be faced with new experiences and challenges that will continue to shape the adults you are becoming. You both have clear interests and passions that you want to pursue, and that is fantastic. Pursue them, but don't overlook things that might broaden your view on yourself and the world.
Do not become sheep. The crowd is not always right. Don't follow along just to get along. Make good decisions about the freedoms and temptations you are going to be presented with. There are some dangerous traps and pitfalls on the road ahead. Beware. A strong moral compass will help you find your way.
Embrace the college experience. There are so many opportunities on campus to broaden your view of the world that it is a shame to not take advantage of some of them. It will be a chance to learn something about different people and cultures. You may not like everything you experience, but it is a lot like trying different foods, you won't know what is out there unless you try a taste.
Expect there to be twists and turns on the road. It is a rare thing to follow a straight path to your dreams.
Talk to your parents. They are good sources of wisdom, and can help you chart your course. On the other hand, don't let them dominate you decision making. It is a tough balancing act, and you will have to figure this part out on your own.
Check in on your grandparents from time to time. They want to know what is going on with you, and they won't always be around. So drop in on them from time to time. You will be blessed, and so will they.
From here on out, change is going to be your constant companion. Embrace it, go with it and make the best of it.
There are going to be times when live is going to kick you down in the dirt and stomp you. Get up, dust you butt off and get back after it. Dirty secret revealed - Life is a tough contact sport and you won't always win. Take the experience of failure and use it to your advantage to learn something to keep you moving forward. Success is getting up one more time than you get knocked down.
While you may not see me on a daily basis, remember that I am here for you and will help you in any way that I can. Move forward with the confidence of youth, and make the most of the opportunities that live will offer you.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Things I Think I Know
From time to time I like to clear my head of some random thoughts and ideas. Today is one of those days.
- Is it just me, or is there something seriously flawed about the "Snow White and the Huntsman" premise. In whose universe is Kristen Stewart more beautiful than Charlize Theron.
- Money has always equated to power. In the recent recall election in Wisconsin, 60 million dollars were spent to sway 2 million votes. That equates to $30 per vote cast.
- It seems to me that the only two groups that are benefiting from the politically partisan world we live in and the spend as much as you want campaign rules. That would be the political consultants, and the media outlets that benefit from the campaign advertising. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/political-consultants-2012-campaign-big-money_n_1570157.html
- That the NBA Playoffs run far too long. It is possible that they will be over by the 4th of July.
- Change is a good thing, and with the coming school year, many of us will be coping with and adapting to new situations. Tight economic times have led to changes in our schools, and administrative changes will make things interesting for me and my colleagues.
- The political unwillingness to tackle difficult issues is leading to an ongoing and increasing decay in our infrastructure. It will be interesting to see if and when this situation will begin to change.
- I wonder if kids today will look back on some of the entertainment we view today the same way we do the programs of the 1960s and 70s. This comes from coming across a Batman episode the other night. I will say Eartha Kitt looked marvelous.
- The benefit of age is that we learn to control our urge to say what comes to mind. Spending my days in the world of 6th graders shows me how valuable that is.
- American media is too obsessed with politics. They spend too much time on elections, personalities and divisions and not enough time one the impact of all of this on the citizens and the country as a whole. They fail to recognize the tremendous trickle down impact of our inability to govern is having on the people and the nation.
- The Electoral College system makes it possible for entire states to be ignored in Presidential Elections. If your state is not viewed as in play, no one pays any attention to you.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
I Got the Music In Me
Since the 6th grade that I can remember, I have always been a listener of music. Why that time is so clear to me is that after lunch our teacher let us bring 45s, (yeah, I am old.) and play them on the record player. Mostly what we heard were pop radio hits like "Dizzy" by Tommy Roe, "Crimson and Clover" by Tommy James and the Shondells and "Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey Goodbye" by Steam. Saturdays meant Bandstand with Dick Clark.
The constant was the radio. My hometown had a few really good DJs Drake Hall, David Hall and some kid named Sajak, so local radio was always interesting. You could hear rock, pop and soul. As I got older we saw the rise of FM radio which was free from the Top 40 rules. Music just kept getting more diverse for my earholes.
I was also being influenced by the music that was around the house. My parents were not big music fans, but there were some boogie woogie records and some Johnny Cash. My dad did influence me by what he sent home from Vietnam. He sent Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, "Are You Experienced" by Hendrix along with some Montovani. The Mantovani didn't take. Every 10-11 year old needs a little Hendrix in their lives. As I got older my cousin Ron introduced me to the Ventures, and Yes.
My wife says that I like "funky" music. My students ask me what I listen to and I have a hard time getting them to understand that I listen to a broad range of stuff. My iPod has music that covers generations. Duke Ellington from the 1930s and 40s. The incomparable Miss Peggy Lee has a place, as do Cash, and Springsteen, and others too numerous to mention. You will also find classic southern rock, singer songwriters, rap, soul, blues, bluegrass, just to name a few. I am always looking for something else.
I can't place a specific reason on why I like what I listen to, but one consistent factor is strong lyrics. Since I am also a reader, this does not surprise me. Words have power and in many cases, songs are the only way that people are able to express themselves. I find it difficult to explain exactly all of the ways that music is important to my life. Suffice it to say that it is something I choose not to live without.
I have to admit that I love the variety of music I can find on Satellite Radio (Yeah Steve Earle.) ITunes gives me access to a great variety of stuff to put on my iPod. Pandora, Soundcloud and a ton of other online sources also can feed my music needs.
The constant was the radio. My hometown had a few really good DJs Drake Hall, David Hall and some kid named Sajak, so local radio was always interesting. You could hear rock, pop and soul. As I got older we saw the rise of FM radio which was free from the Top 40 rules. Music just kept getting more diverse for my earholes.
I was also being influenced by the music that was around the house. My parents were not big music fans, but there were some boogie woogie records and some Johnny Cash. My dad did influence me by what he sent home from Vietnam. He sent Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, "Are You Experienced" by Hendrix along with some Montovani. The Mantovani didn't take. Every 10-11 year old needs a little Hendrix in their lives. As I got older my cousin Ron introduced me to the Ventures, and Yes.
My wife says that I like "funky" music. My students ask me what I listen to and I have a hard time getting them to understand that I listen to a broad range of stuff. My iPod has music that covers generations. Duke Ellington from the 1930s and 40s. The incomparable Miss Peggy Lee has a place, as do Cash, and Springsteen, and others too numerous to mention. You will also find classic southern rock, singer songwriters, rap, soul, blues, bluegrass, just to name a few. I am always looking for something else.
I can't place a specific reason on why I like what I listen to, but one consistent factor is strong lyrics. Since I am also a reader, this does not surprise me. Words have power and in many cases, songs are the only way that people are able to express themselves. I find it difficult to explain exactly all of the ways that music is important to my life. Suffice it to say that it is something I choose not to live without.
I have to admit that I love the variety of music I can find on Satellite Radio (Yeah Steve Earle.) ITunes gives me access to a great variety of stuff to put on my iPod. Pandora, Soundcloud and a ton of other online sources also can feed my music needs.
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