In the final days of summer we went to see Spike Lee's new movie Blackkklansman yesterday afternoon and finally scored tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for today. Both were sobering and thought-provoking reminders of institutional injustice and white privilege, which are essential considerations as we prepare ourselves to step into our classrooms and begin another year of educating the people who might finally rid this country of both, allowing it to fulfill those founding promises of freedom and equality for all.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Monday, August 20, 2018
Escape the Routine
This year our administrative team decided to do something different for the first leadership team meeting. We had a morning session covering some nuts and bolts, and then after lunch we adjourned to a local escape room.
Three randomly assigned teams of educators had 60 minutes to free ourselves from the silly scenarios they had set up there.
We did it!
I think it might be a good year.
Three randomly assigned teams of educators had 60 minutes to free ourselves from the silly scenarios they had set up there.
We did it!
I think it might be a good year.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
August Blessing
We were playing Name that Tune on our most recent road trip when Jason Mraz's latest single, "Have it All," came on. It was upbeat and boppy, with a nice little positive (if somewhat derivative) gist:
"That would be a good writing exercise," I said to Heidi, "to have the kids write their own blessings in that style. Maybe I'll do that for the poetry challenge."
Tonight, on the eve of my first school meeting for the new academic year, I remembered how effortlessly I slipped into sixth grade English teacher mode on August something, somewhere on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After 25 years, I guess that's who I am, and I'm kinda looking forward to getting back to it.
As for the new year? Take it, Jason:
May you have auspiciousness and causes of success
May you have the confidence to always do your best
May you take no effort in your being generous...
...And may the best of your todays be the worst of your tomorrows
And may the road less paved be the road that you follow
"That would be a good writing exercise," I said to Heidi, "to have the kids write their own blessings in that style. Maybe I'll do that for the poetry challenge."
Tonight, on the eve of my first school meeting for the new academic year, I remembered how effortlessly I slipped into sixth grade English teacher mode on August something, somewhere on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After 25 years, I guess that's who I am, and I'm kinda looking forward to getting back to it.
As for the new year? Take it, Jason:
May you be as fascinating as a slap bracelet
May you keep the chaos and the clutter off your desk
May you have unquestionable health and less stress
Having no possessions though immeasurable wealth
May you get a gold star on your next test
May your educated guesses always be correct
And may you win prizes shining like diamonds
May you really own it each moment to the next
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Urban Adventure
After the success of yesterday's bikeshare-scooter escapade, I invited Heidi on a similar venture this morning. "Let's just walk down and grab a couple of bikes, then cycle over to Crystal City and grab a couple of scooters and see what's going on," I suggested confidently.
The first foible was at the bike dock: we could only get one of the four bikes that were there out for a ride. Undaunted, we put that one back and headed around the corner a bit to the next closest station. There we pulled the first bike out right away, but we couldn't get another one, this time because one was already checked out on the account. So I rode the bike we had back to the first dock and jiggled the first bike until the green light came on. By then, Heidi had walked over to join me, so we borrowed the bike again and rode east.
You know those darn scooters are never quite where they say they will be, and multiplying that by two was definitely double trouble. Once again, we grabbed one right away, and I scootered up and down and all around, consulting the app on Heidi's phone as I rode (because if you already have one, the app on your device won't show any others), until at last I found one. Unlocking it, we were met with a terrible squeal, but still we agreed to ride it until we could find another, which was difficult, because neither of our devices showed us where they were.
Oh, and before Heidi could borrow one, we had to download the app and create an account, and then we had to enter her drivers license # before we could actually unlock the squealing scooter. Not having the document handy, I slyly made up a number, which actually worked.
Not finding any other scooters, and feeling a bit parched after our outing, we agreed to head over to Whole Foods, where we miraculously found another scooter waiting for us right next to the door. We locked both of ours, and while Heidi stood guard, I ran in for some cold drinks. A few minutes later, I rejoined Heidi who was in conversation with some dude who wanted one of ours. I whipped out my phone and unlocked mine, and Heidi did the same. There is a problem with your license, read the error message, try again later.
Shoulders slumped, we relinquished the Birds and walked off toward the mall. After a little shopping, we found a bike station and pedaled toward home, which was not nearly as much fun as scootering would have been. As we approached the very first bike dock, ready to turn our wheels in and walk home, I blinked and blinked again. The unmistakable silhouette of a scooter leaned casually against the bike rack.
The first foible was at the bike dock: we could only get one of the four bikes that were there out for a ride. Undaunted, we put that one back and headed around the corner a bit to the next closest station. There we pulled the first bike out right away, but we couldn't get another one, this time because one was already checked out on the account. So I rode the bike we had back to the first dock and jiggled the first bike until the green light came on. By then, Heidi had walked over to join me, so we borrowed the bike again and rode east.
You know those darn scooters are never quite where they say they will be, and multiplying that by two was definitely double trouble. Once again, we grabbed one right away, and I scootered up and down and all around, consulting the app on Heidi's phone as I rode (because if you already have one, the app on your device won't show any others), until at last I found one. Unlocking it, we were met with a terrible squeal, but still we agreed to ride it until we could find another, which was difficult, because neither of our devices showed us where they were.
Oh, and before Heidi could borrow one, we had to download the app and create an account, and then we had to enter her drivers license # before we could actually unlock the squealing scooter. Not having the document handy, I slyly made up a number, which actually worked.
Not finding any other scooters, and feeling a bit parched after our outing, we agreed to head over to Whole Foods, where we miraculously found another scooter waiting for us right next to the door. We locked both of ours, and while Heidi stood guard, I ran in for some cold drinks. A few minutes later, I rejoined Heidi who was in conversation with some dude who wanted one of ours. I whipped out my phone and unlocked mine, and Heidi did the same. There is a problem with your license, read the error message, try again later.
Shoulders slumped, we relinquished the Birds and walked off toward the mall. After a little shopping, we found a bike station and pedaled toward home, which was not nearly as much fun as scootering would have been. As we approached the very first bike dock, ready to turn our wheels in and walk home, I blinked and blinked again. The unmistakable silhouette of a scooter leaned casually against the bike rack.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Exercise in the Sharing Economy
It was another hot day here, but after returning home from a mid-afternoon movie, I was restless. 95 degrees had subsided to 88, and the lazy early evening sun was sinking behind haze and boomers that were too far away to rain. I tapped my phone and checked the scooter app. There were a bunch a couple miles away in Crystal City, but at that time of day, traffic would be heavy, and I wasn't looking for a place to drive.
A bike path led directly to the scooters, and I knew there was a bike share station on the way and another one at the end. With that, my plan was clear. Ten minutes later I was on a bike, 15 minutes after that it was parked, and I was walking a couple of blocks back to the scooters I had pedaled past. From there it was all wind in my hair as I rolled back home.
A bike path led directly to the scooters, and I knew there was a bike share station on the way and another one at the end. With that, my plan was clear. Ten minutes later I was on a bike, 15 minutes after that it was parked, and I was walking a couple of blocks back to the scooters I had pedaled past. From there it was all wind in my hair as I rolled back home.
Thursday, August 16, 2018
Sun Drenched
Chapter I:
Oh, Pennsylvania! I don't think I would recognize you without a torrential downpour or two, even when the sun is shining.
Chapter II:
"Do you think visibility is better or worse when it rains so hard it's like you're in a car wash but the sun is shining?" I asked Heidi somewhere along Rt. 322.
Chapter III:
I answered my own question. "I think it's worse."
Oh, Pennsylvania! I don't think I would recognize you without a torrential downpour or two, even when the sun is shining.
Chapter II:
"Do you think visibility is better or worse when it rains so hard it's like you're in a car wash but the sun is shining?" I asked Heidi somewhere along Rt. 322.
Chapter III:
I answered my own question. "I think it's worse."
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
The Language of the Kitchen
It has been fun spending time with Kyle, and at 18 his interests are maturing a little bit as the reality of self-sufficiency creeps ever closer. As such, he has been more of a presence in the kitchen and at the grill, making observations and asking questions.
"So you're scraping the lime skin onto the raw fish?" he asked rhetorically yesterday.
"I'm adding lime zest to the marinade," I translated, "but basically, yeah."
Then I tapped a bit of the grated zest into his palm. "Smell that, then taste it."
"Wow!" he said. "I can see why you use that."
"So you're scraping the lime skin onto the raw fish?" he asked rhetorically yesterday.
"I'm adding lime zest to the marinade," I translated, "but basically, yeah."
Then I tapped a bit of the grated zest into his palm. "Smell that, then taste it."
"Wow!" he said. "I can see why you use that."
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)