14

Another week has ended. With athletics (even volunteering for high school) totally behind me, it is hard to believe that there is so little time left in the year. I remember after two weeks when I said that I was one-eighteenth through with the year and after three weeks when I said that I was one-twelfth through the year, so on and so forth. Now, I am on the other side of the year looking the other way. Although it's turned into a habit, I am finding it harder and harder to tell people that I hate my job. Sure, I'm not jumping out of bed in the morning and whistling on my way there, but I feel like I've adapted, somehow. Would I sign on for another year? Quite doubtful, although it would be tempting if I really thought that anyone really wanted to make anything of the place. As a teacher, no matter where you are or what the circumstances, you tend to get attached to a fair portion of your students. Thus, as the countdown winds down, I find myself becoming as wistful as I am excited... sort of ambivalent, I guess. This ambivalence has replaced what I formerly cast as apathy or indifference... it is not that I don't care, but rather, I have a multitude of conflicted attitudes.

Next year, I'll be a full-time student and graduate assistant, and I'll probably be in my element, and I'll probably have a blast, but I'll miss the smiles, the cool handshakes that have become second-nature to me, and the jokes. I was reading the other night about St. John of Kronstadt, who said that he loved to be around children, because the image of God was more clear in them. Sometimes, there are those moments, such as today, when a kid who has the IQ of a wet towel came up to me and asked for a sheet of blank paper to draw on. The academic purist in me is often annoyed with this kid, but for a second, I saw a glint of a smile and a light in his eye and was able to see the image of God. I gave the boy a few sheets of paper and he went back to his desk to draw (he had finished his test). A moment like this won't help me teach him a lick more of US history, but it certainly helps my patience.

After school, I had a meeting with some of my student council officers about Teacher Appreciation Week, and we brought our proposals to the principal. After the kids left, me, my co-sponsor, the principal, the librarian, and Prince Rainbow all sat around and shot the breeze for over an hour. It was Prince Rainbow (nicknamed on the blog after a character in Watership Down) who recruited me to come to the school, then abandoned me once things went downhill. You know, it's kind of funny how on a Friday afternoon, tension goes away and people are able to joke around just like old times. The workplace ceases to matter, and people can just have fun and enjoy each others' company regardless of their professional opinions of each other.

I never imagined myself missing this place, but damn, I just might.

Athletics Wrap-Up

I left at mid-day to go to the regional track meet. I arrived there around 12:30, but the field events were backed up and my athlete did not even run his race until after 4:00. It was kind of boring, but a poem from Shel Silverstein that I recited in fifth grade, which ended, "I'd rather do hurk than go to work... Hurk, hurk, what's hurk? I don't know, but it must be better than work!" So, the moral of the story is, although I was bored, I only worked half a day.

My athlete ran a great race. Those of you who have been following have seen his time come down from 5:03 to 5:01 and finally to yesterday's... [DRUMROLL]... 4:57!!! The head coach and I were so proud. He lost steam at the end, but ran such a good race until that point that he set a personal best. He placed 8th at the regional meet and, thus, will not be at state, but he is still on the way up and this new time will put him in a position to walk on to the team at the university next year. Unfortunately, I was unable to stick around to see him run the two mile race, because I had to attend our school's athletic banquet.

The banquet was quite a show. There was plenty of good food, and we all had a great time giving the kids their awards. Most of our athletes showed up for the event. A good time was had by all... well, almost all. The only downer was that there were about five teachers who showed up to eat and then left before the awards ceremony. Many of these are the same teachers who are "too busy" when there's a school dance that needs to be chaperoned. It just seems like college-educated folk would have more sense and/or courtesy than to do something like that. Some teachers did stay to support the kids, though, and for that I am thankful. (And if Tnonymous is reading, you're totally wrong in your guess of who stayed and who left!)

I got home just in time to watch a great episode of The Office, after which I made Friday's test and went to bed. It was a fine day, overall.

15

This day was short and sweet since I am leaving halfway through to go to the regional high school track meet. Three and a half hours barely felt like 15 minutes! ---->

Today, I passed out a study guide that I made for my students to complete in class. If they manage to complete it, keep up with it tonight, and hand it in tomorrow, they will receive bonus points on tomorrow's test. It's funny how they treat potential bonus points like a real grade, but for the most part, they did their work. My first and second periods were quite silent for the most part. I think I'm starting to master the art of giving busy work once in awhile (like most other teachers do DAILY). It doesn't mean that I like it, but I am adapting to the institution.

Speaking of the institution, report cards are coming out today. One punk kid wanted to contest his grade (F), and he went to the principal with his complaint. Of course, I had a nice paper trail of incomplete work and a quiz and a test full of red ink. He tried real hard, but my principal brought him to class and totally backed me up. She didn't even want to hear it from him. I suppose I can say what I want about my principal, but she backs me up where it counts. I guess that has to count for something.

Well, it's almost 11:30... about time for me to clock out and go to the track meet.

16

Today was pretty uneventful in and of itself. We wrapped up our coverage of Common Sense and I touched on the religion of Deism and made comparisons to Christianity. Some of the students were into it, and what I'm finding is that if I am insistent upon speaking and persevere through the first wave of disruptions, most students tend to either pay attention or put their heads down. I don't care what the "experts" say, a sleeping student is MUCH better than a disruptive one!

After school, I went and hung out at the high school track to talk to my athlete and watch him run an easy three miles. The regional meet is tomorrow and I'm hoping that he'll be ready for it.

Of course, day 16 is sort of a marker for me, as I started the "countdown" at 24, so the countdown is 1/3 of the way to being finished. Time is passing so quickly... I can't believe it's been a month since I took those boys to the student council conference! In another month, the bulk of my worldly goods will be sitting in a storage shed in South Carolina. Although time seems to move at a snail's pace sometimes, it seems to me now that time is moving quite fast.

17

Last night, some of my friends came over late, so I got to bed late for the second night in a row. For anyone who is a teacher (or in any line of work, I suppose), two nights of reduced sleep makes for a challenging day at work! But, then, you can't control when your old college buddies pass through town.

To complicate matters, I chose to start on Thomas Paine's Common Sense today, which I teach in the form of dramatic readings that are quite challenging when you are competing with chatter. I focused on the second chapter, Of Monarchy and Hereditary Succession, in which Paine (a Deist) uses stories from the Old Testament to refute the concept of monarchy as a valid form of government. I love this passage, because just as you feel you have lost the attention of your students, you come to the part that says, "and he will put your goodliest young men and your asses to his work." Heads suddenly turn my way as I repeat the passage a few times, all the while holding a stuffed donkey that I bought a few summers ago as a prop.

A few classes even got to the part in the story where Samuel calls down thunder and rain from on high. I give one student a cookie pan and one an unopened box of salt. It was pretty funny, although my cookie pan has been beaten senseless (but I picked my wife's worst rusty pan, so she shouldn't be too upset). The funniest part about it is that it started to rain during the last class period, and now it's even thundering outside. It would be great to call down the elements once in awhile to get everyone's attention, but I guess I will settle for a belated elemental assault.

I wonder if the high school will have track practice... if not, I'll be heading straight home in a few minutes to take a long nap!

18

All good things must come to an end...

After being off for ten days, it was back to work. All in all, the day was uneventful... kids were rowdy, so not much got done, and I went home quickly after school (now that track season was over).

The highlight of the day was lunch, which consisted of BBQ chicken and grilled lamb. One of my fellow teachers exclaimed, "Look at him eat! Lent's over!" It sure beat a bowl of rice, although I need to get back to the bowl of rice after all of this good food I've been chowing down on the past few days.

I looked around for a cute picture for the number 18, but I guess when most people do picture searches for 18, they are looking for various women, etc., so no picture today. Hopefully, I can find something for the number 17.

The 11th Hour

Christ is Risen!
My wife and I attended some great services on Saturday evening and Sunday morning for our church's annual celebration of Pascha (Easter). It's a beautiful experience, unlike any other in the world, though unfortunately, my brother and I had an argument before we left for the service and he didn't come with us. I was so down from the argument that on the way to church, I actually thought about not taking communion. However, the Lord changed my heart when I was hearing the Paschal Homily, originally delivered by St. John Chrysostom in the 4th or 5th century. An Orthodox priest is quite fortunate in that he doesn't have to prepare an Easter sermon... the same one has been given every year for at least a millenia, I suppose. The following excerpt really impacted me:

If any have laboured long in fasting,
Let him how receive his recompense.
If any have wrought from the first hour,
Let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour,
Let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
Let him have no misgivings;
Because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
Let him draw near, fearing nothing.
And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
Let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.

For the Lord, who is jealous of his honour,
Will accept the last even as the first.
He giveth rest unto him who cometh at the eleventh hour,
Even as unto him who hath wrought from the first hour.

Often, I feel like the 11th hour worker, and it feels good sometimes to hear that God has room for us at the table, too. I accepted God's offer to renew my soul and felt better for doing so.

On Sunday afternoon, we had our annual parish picnic/feast, which is probably my favorite day of the year. When I was growing up, we just left church and went to eat with our family and took pictures, but I much prefer a large feast of grilled lamb, exotic Mediterranean sausages, etc.

When we got home, we found that my brother had already packed and left to return to South Carolina. I hated that he left without saying goodbye, but I suppose it had to happen sometime. It is the 11th hour in more ways than one, and I must get to work preparing for the 12th...

This Blog is AWESOME!!!

Those of you who have blogs linked on this page, take a look on the sidebar
------------------>
and you will see that I have some annotations on your blogs. You just need to put your mouse over it for a second and you'll see a little comment that I left as a description. I thought they were pretty clever, cute, or funny, but if I missed the mark on your's or if you find your description to be offensive (Dean), let me know and I'll change it.

I don't know why I didn't do this earlier. This blog is one step closer to being the AWESOMEST BLOG EVER (and there are many, many, many more steps to go)!

Holy Friday

First off, I apologize to anyone who has been checking for updates. I have not done much this week to write about. Spring Break has been restful, but moderately eventful. I have spent time nearly every day coaching my high school distance runner. He placed 4th in the mile (5:01) and 3rd in the two-mile (11:09), earning him a place in both events (top four) at next week's regional track meet! I was very happy for him and am glad to have another week to work with him. We shaved two seconds off of his mile in a week and just need two more in the next week to get under 5 minutes. That's going to be a great moment for him!

Our house is now "under contract" and we will be closing at the end of May. It's difficult to imagine moving out of this house and passing it to someone else, but we will be doing that very soon. While we've only lived here for two years, it is our first home, and we had dreams of having our babies in this house. However, I know that one day, we'll have another place to call "home," and it will be somewhere with better teacher pay, Lord willing!

Today is Holy Friday by my Church's calendar. Last night, we attended a beautiful, yet solemn, service where the Passion gospels were read with various chants and prayers in between. This service is always a very moving one for me. Much of the emphasis is placed on the Mother of God, which provides a striking contrast to the general course of events in the Passion. Meditations like these were especially moving:

TODAY THE BLAMELESS VIRGIN
SAW YOU SUSPENDED UPON THE CROSS, O WORD.
SHE MOURNED WITHIN HERSELF AND WAS SORELY PIERCED IN HER HEART.
SHE GROANED IN AGONY FROM THE DEPTH OF HER SOUL.
EXHAUSTED FROM TEARING HER HAIR AND CHEEKS AND BEATING HER BREAST,
SHE CRIED OUT LAMENTING:
WOE IS ME, MY DIVINE CHILD!
WOE IS ME, LIGHT OF THE WORLD!
WHY HAVE YOU DEPARTED FROM MY EYES, LAMB OF GOD?

...

WHEN SHE WHO BORE YOU WITHOUT SEED
SAW YOU SUSPENDED UPON THE TREE,
CHRIST, THE CREATOR AND GOD OF ALL,
SHE CRIED BITTERLY: WHERE IS THE BEAUTY OF YOUR COUNTENANCE, MY SON?
I CANNOT BEAR TO SEE YOU UNJUSTLY CRUCIFIED.
HASTEN AND ARISE,//
THAT I TOO MAY SEE YOUR RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY!

One thing I really liked about Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ was the emphasis on Mary's experience while Christ is brutally beaten, tortured, and murdered. Through it all, she followed, wanting only to hold Him close. No one has ever loved God like that, to be with Him from beginning to end, knowing Him as both Son and Lord. Such a powerful love story only makes a person want to be better... at least, it does for me.

Good Friday - Words from the West

Today is the first day of Spring Break, and for those members of most forms of Western Christianity, it is Good Friday. According to the Orthodox calendar, this Sunday is Palm Sunday, which makes today just a restful day for me. Everywhere I go, people are saying, "Happy Easter," and I say, "you, too," but in my mind it is, "yeah, whatever." My Greek godfather calls it, "White Easter," which I find hilarious.

It's a beautiful day outside. I went out to the track and did a little running. My mile time is 6:23 and I need to work on it to get it down (What's your's, Dean?). The highlight of my day was a little later, when I coached an athlete from the high school next to where I work. He runs the 1 and 2 mile races, and has a lot of talent, but has been given little specific direction. Now that my track season is over, I can spend time helping him until his district meet on Wednesday. He's a good kid, and very appreciative.

Although I spent most of my day playing outside, I don't stay fully ignorant about what most of the Christian world is doing. I read a good article last night about the Pope's Good Friday Meditations. Of course, there's a degree of controversy, since it includes an attack on genetic manipulators:

Surely God is deeply pained
by the attack on the family.
Today we seem to be witnessing
a kind of anti-Genesis,
a counter-plan, a diabolical pride
aimed at eliminating the family.

There is a move to reinvent mankind,
to modify the very grammar of life
as planned and willed by God.[1]

But, to take God’s place, without being God,
is insane arrogance,
a risky and dangerous venture.

Although Pope Benedict did not write the meditations, he certainly gave them his seal of approval and I'm glad to see him baring his teeth a little after being Pope for a year. Although I look at the Catholic Church from the outside (although I did a brief stint as a Catholic in 2001-2002), I was always a fan of Benedict when he was Cardinal Ratzinger, "Rotweiler de Dios." Of course, the meditations have much to offer besides controversy, such as these passages:

We, in our silly rebellion,
we, with our foolish sins,
have made a cross of our own anxiety
and our own unhappiness: we devised our own punishment.

and

Lord,
how easy it is to condemn!
How easy to throw stones:
the stones of judgement and slander,
the stones of indifference and neglect!

If anyone's interested, the meditations can be found on the Vatican's website.

19

I had trouble finding a picture to go with this part of the countdown, then I remembered commercials for the breakfast cereal, Product 19. When I read up on it, the only reason this cereal got this name was because the executives at Kellogg's were having trouble naming the cereal, settling on the name because it was the 19th product they were working on that year. An "odd" number, this 19.

Numbers aside, this was a big day. I was giving my first test in six months, as I have not really had a chance to give a major test since I've been moved back to Social Studies. I put on a starched shirt and tie and a pattern sportcoat and even brought my glasses along. (I have 20/30 vision, so the glasses help, although I don't wear them as much as I should.) For the second day in a row, I rode to school with the windows down with some old Megadeth tunes blasting through the speakers. I find myself slipping out of the rap phase for the time being and going back to my metalhead roots... and I like it!

Once I got to school, I made copies of the test, checked my box, and actually arrived nearly on time to my morning duty post in the cafeteria. Each class period started with a quick review, followed by the fill-in-the-blank/multiple choice portion of the test, followed by a short one-paragraph "essay." The kids actually behaved better than I expected, by and large... don't get me wrong, not perfect, but not too, too horrible.

During my "planning" time, I received an inquiry about my house from someone at the district office (fingers crossed), then I was summoned to the principal's office to sign formal resignation papers so I can be properly processed out at the end of the year. My principal then proceeded to talk my ear off for 40-45 minutes about this and that person in Texas until someone else needed her and I was dismissed. Does this happen to anyone else? I mean, when your boss wants to talk for Lord knows how long about irrelevant shit and you have to listen because it's your boss?

At the very least, she was cordial, but it still would be nice if she'd make some attempt to retract or amend her viscious insults from December. Well, whether she does or not, 18 working days to go after this one...

... AND I AM ON SPRING BREAK!!!

20

I can't think of any better tribute to this number than some 20 inch chrome rims! My brother was listening to this Ludacris song, "Roll Out," that says something about "rolling on 20s." While he told me that the song is old, I got immediately hooked on the phat jam and have been listening to it periodically all week.

After coming in from Tuesday's track meet, I didn't feel like getting new material together, so I scrapped my plans to focus on Montesquieu for the day and decided to review the material on John Locke and natural rights. It's good to review sometimes. It validates kids and makes them feel smart. Sometimes it's fun to go over something you already sort of know... especially when your teacher has a crunk Who Wants to be a Millionaire? game on PowerPoint. Basically, I just come up with 15 questions about the material, display them one at a time, and the kids shout out the right answer. The best part is it takes up a fair amount of the period and when it's time to make a test (I make all of my tests from scratch), I have a whole bunch of possible test questions in front of me, complete with multiple choice distractors!

Anyway, we had a good time and the day was pretty easy. After school, I found out that we had an offer on the house, so we went and met with our agent, countered the offer, and went out to eat some good Italian food. Then we got a few pieces of Tiramisu for dessert to go and brought it over to our friends' house. Interestingly enough, they had rented the infamous Brokeback Mountain. I figured since I didn't have to pay any money, I'd might as well check out the hype. While we only got through about half the movie before it was time to go home, make tests, and go to bed, we did catch the infamous "pup tent" scene. While it was nasty (one specific aspect of this scene was ESPECIALLY nasty - Michelle and anyone else who has seen it will know what I'm talking about) and quite gross, it wasn't as bad as I had expected. The scene had been hyped up so much that I kind of expected some sort of all-out... well, we'll stop there. A pretty mediocre film, overall, I think, although I still have not seen the second half of it.

My wife and I went home, got to work on our tests, and got to bed close to midnight. This was the first test I had made in quite awhile since I'd been teaching computers for half a year, but it felt good to make a test again. In a strange way, things seem to have come full circle in the last week... that's what I like about this day-by-day account - it's easier to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

21

This day was eventful, but not by any means tough in comparison to others. My computer equipment was working properly, so I was actually able to present my lesson and engage a decent portion of my students. The current topic includes the Enlightenment, Locke, and Montesquieu. These foundational philosophies are not stressed enough in our schools and I think that our students are worse off for not understanding them. How can people understand our government if they do not understand the philosophies that created it?

Anyway, not to bore the readers with academic details... after lunch, my brother arrived and he finished up our plans for the district track meet while I taught my sixth period class. There was little to do during seventh period since I had covered most of my material the day before, which was good because we had to leave before seventh period was over.

The district meet went very quickly and efficiently... while I wish they would have had food for the coaches, I was glad the meet was over by 7. My boy high jumper placed 2nd, and my girl shot putter placed 3rd. We also had a 4th in the 800 meter run and a 6th in the 200 meter dash. I believe that one of my discus throwers placed, as well, but I am unsure. We finished 5th out of six teams, but I was very proud of my athletes.

I had to wait for rides until 7:45, and then I was home free, with the season over and my 3% coaching stipend fully earned. I went home, took a shower, and took my brother/assistant coach out for fried rice and sushi. My brother has been a great help to me during this season. While I was glad to have the season over with, he would have been ready for ten more meets. He said, "That's the difference between me and you." I said, "No, the difference between me and you is that I teach school all day and you wait tables at night." While coaching is a burden that one takes on joyfully and willingly, it feels good to be able to put down even the most joyful burden, at times.

Now, back to teaching... and chilling out, reading short stories from across the Atlantic, and perhaps getting a little exercise here and there!

22

A day late, but better late than never!

Monday was a big day, since the DAT (District ASSistance Team) was coming in. Since our school is a failing school, we get two visits from a group of district folks who come and observe our classrooms, make notes, etc. Over the weekend, I had prepared a lesson on the computer using a number of computer applications (PowerPoint, Inspiration 8, and streaming video). I arrived about 10 minutes before school started to find that the cable that connects the tablet PC to the big screen was GONE. Between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, it simply disappeared! So I panicked, then threw something together and wrote the notes on my little whiteboard as the first person came in to observe. After the first period, the lady said, "good lesson." I wish she could have seen the real one, but oh well. Perhaps, I did alright. Even though I am leaving after this year, I still hate and fear failure in any form that it may present itself.

Around lunchtime, I heard through the grapevine that the cable guy had taken my cable and brought it to someone else. I was able to track it down and finally able to use it by the last period of the day. When I can use a computer to teach, it makes it easier for me and a lot more interesting for the kids.

Some of the classes are so loud that they're starting to get on my last nerve. I told third period that I was on the verge of quitting and they just needed to try me if they wanted to know if I was serious. You know the strangest thing is that although I have a lot of loud and rude students in my classes, they actually like having me in there more than they like potential alternatives. I have to use whatever weapons I have, and honesty is the proper medicine at times, even with children.

A couple of sweet, studious, twin girls that I teach came up to me later in the day and asked, "Mr. [Feanor], you're not really going to quit during Spring Break, are you?" I told them that most likely, I would not. One asked me, "Mr. [Feanor], are you saved?" I didn't know what to think until she continued,"... because you have the patience of a saint." I've certainly never thought of myself as having the patience of a saint, but it was good to hear and it made me smile. That someone would think I am a Christian by the way I act at work is baffling, but their feelings are appreciated. In education, there's always someone who appreciates you. You just have to wait for those moments when they show it and it all seems somehow... strangely... worth it.

My patience of a saint wore off as I was still waiting for kids' rides at 5:45 for a practice that ended at 5. Monday's practice was the last track practice. After Tuesday's district meet, that aspect of my job will be over. While I have enjoyed coaching, I will welcome having one less responsibility at work.

We'll see if the "patience of a saint" can last 21 more days.

23

The track meet went pretty well yesterday. One of my athletes finished 5th in the 800m Run and I was quite proud of that. He shaved 20 seconds off his practice time. It's amazing what a little effort can do. My kids were more competitive this time than the last, and I think we'll post a respectable (though middling) showing at the district meet. We got in around 11:15 last night, which put me getting home around 11:45 and going to bed about an hour later. Needless to say, I'm quite exhausted.

I was hit last night with the reality that track season will be over on Tuesday. A sense of, "What now?" hit me, as I have pondered all of the high points of the year. There have been many, but none of them have had anything to do with the actual process of teaching. So, although I only have 23 days left, I still think constantly of throwing in the towel. However, I don't need to make that decision now because I am too exhausted. I don't need to let my body make a decision that I should make with my mind, and with the advice of others.

I spoke last night with a man that I respect highly and he told me that although he might not have done it when he was my age, he would advise me to stick it out. I need to consider that, as it was also the advice my old principal gave me back in December.

The assistant superintendent popped in for like two seconds wearing jeans and a football jersey then stood in the hall for a little while. Of course, my class kept acting a fool - they didn't know who the hell he was but it might not have made a difference if they had.

I was thinking about taking that half day off that I have coming, but I think I'm going to stick it out for the day, although I think I'll cancel track practice and get some rest this evening.

ADDED LATER IN THE DAY:

I know the tone of post 23 was a little down, but I was just walking through the hall before lunch and one of my students held out his hand for a five and said, "What's up, my n***a?"

That really made my day. I know a lot of people have a problem with that word, but for this kid, he was paying me a big compliment, right up there with some of my kids who say I'm "gangsta." I love these kids. I really do. I'm going to finish the week with a smile, now.

24

One time, back in the good 'ole days when AWG was my neighbor, he came over and had us watch that show, 24. Although I never saw it again, it was a pretty interesting show and every episode is like an hour of a single day or something like that. Anyway, I thought of the show when I noticed last night that there are 34 working days left in the school year and I have 10.5 days of sick leave remaining. Basically, today makes 24 days that I have left to work. This is the first of 24 "countdown" posts that I'll be posting.

Today, we will be going to our second track meet and leaving school around 1:00. Since I will be gone for my last two periods of the day, I thought I'd give the three morning classes some free time to talk or whatever. They know the expectations (stay in your seat, keep the volume down, etc.) and most of them follow these expectations. A few kids in third period thought it would be cute to start throwing paper, so I wrote their asses up and sent them out.

Of course, I get called in to the assistant principal's office, who tells me that he can't do anything to them if there wasn't an assignment. I expected as much, but I neglected to mention to him that he probably wouldn't have done much if I had been teaching. I'm proud of myself for keeping my tongue held on that matter. I encountered this one time last year (although the students had an assignment on that occasion and the student lied to the principal and said we hadn't been doing anything) so it wasn't much of a surprise. What baffles me, however, is that there isn't a set expectation for student behavior under any circumstance. That's one thing that disillusions me about this whole public ed. business. There's ALWAYS some excuse for bad behavior.

Well, in a short time, we'll be heading out to the track meet. We'll probably get our asses whipped, but I suppose we'll have fun and I'll be able to mark off another day. A recap will be available for your viewing tomorrow in a post entitled, "23."

Moving Along...

My wife and I just got back at 3:30 this morning from a hit-and-run job interviewing trip to South Carolina. We left on Sunday morning and were gone barely 40 hours, around 25 of which were spent on the road. However, my wife has A JOB at a great school to show for it. My dreams of moving back to the great state of South Carolina are one step closer to being realized.

Of the driving, my wife did about an hour and a half of the 25. I like to drive and she doesn't, so that leaves me to be the King of the Road on my own while she sleeps. On every trip, I tote a handful of CDs and over the long drive, I always tend to find a song that really speaks out to me and meets me where I am. I tend to listen to it a dozen times each leg of the trip when I discover the song on the way. On the February trip, it was "Drive," by Incubus - a song that uses driving as some sort of metaphor for taking control of the wheel of your own life. This time, it was "Moving On" by the All American Rejects. You can actually watch the video on their website (I have not seen it, just listened to the song a lot over the past few days).

I know a lot of my fellow bloggers like to post song lyrics, something I usually reserve for various gangsta rap tunes, but I'm going to post the song here, dedicated to AWG, who gifted me the CD in July (Thanks, Andrew!):

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS LYRICS

"Move Along"

Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking
When you fall everyone stands
Another day and you've had your fill of sinking
With the life held in your
Hands are shaking cold
These hands are meant to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along
Move along

So a day when you've lost yourself completely
Could be a night when your life ends
Such a heart that will lead you to deceiving
All the pain held in your
Hands are shaking cold
Your hands are mine to hold

Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along
(Go on, go on, go on, go on)

When everything is wrong, we move along
(Go on, go on, go on, go on)
When everything is wrong, we move along
Along, along, along

When all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
[x3]

(Go on, go on, go on, go on)
Right back what is wrong
We move along
[fade out]

Thanks to Heather (heatherstar@msn.com) for these lyrics
[ www.plyrics.com ]

Track Meet

Ever since I got back from the LASC convention last weekend, I have been non-stop with coaching track. We had our first meet on Thursday. We finished seventh out of eight teams, but I think we can improve before the district meet in a week and a half. My brother/assistant coach and I have made some adjustments and will keep on trying to get better. We've got some good kids and I hope that I haven't let them down with poor coaching.

In spite of our lackluster finish, I was encouraged by some things:

1. We were always competitive. While we lacked those 1st and 2nd place finishes that are so critical in a meet, my runners were always with the pack and were not embarrassed. That was encouraging and I think that there's room for growth.

2. One of my runners finished 3rd in the mile run (around 5:40) and was about to finish 3rd or 4th in the two mile run when, about 40 yards from the finish, he suddenly stopped. I encouraged him to finish the race and he collapsed on the track. We carried him off and his dad brought him to the hospital. It ends up that he's out for the season due to some sort of hip injury, but I am quite proud of that boy, because I have always told my runners that we have insurance if they give it their all and collapse. Although I meant to collapse after the finish line, I was glad to have a runner give it his all.

The greatest highlight had little to do with the competition. I had just walked onto the field, when I heard a few girls scream, "MR. [FEANOR]!!!" I looked to see two of my former students from last year running up to me and gave me some of the hugest hugs that I have been given in awhile - one of those where they run up together and you have to hug both of them at once. I miss my former students terribly, and there's no better feeling to see that they miss you just as much... if not more.

Often, I have wondered whether I have left a trail of ill-will in my wake, but I am seeing more and more the young lives that I have touched with this bullshit job we all refer to as "teaching." While the adult part of this profession is incredibly frustrating, what comes "from the mouths of babes" makes up for it tenfold.