Occupational Aspirations

How can you not be happy when you have a student who, when she’s “grown up”, wants to be either a tooth fairy, or a cheeseburger?

Thank you God.  

Thank you for placing this wonderfully innocent personality in my class.

It's going to be a marvelous year!

seizure disorder

Note:  I haven’t written in a while, I think because until now I haven’t needed to write.  And maybe that’s a good thing.

seizure disorder

It’s been almost 22 years since the accident and closed head injury that nearly took my life…but things are still popping up. 

Since about the summer of 1993 I’ve been having these “things”, as I call them, and until now they have been a mystery. 

I can feel them starting and they’re a strange feeling that kind of moves over or through me like a wave.  It builds in intensity to a peak and then tapers off.  They feel like they last for 5 to ten minutes, but Melissa, who has witnessed more than one, tells me they only last for about 30 or 40 seconds.  

My speech comes out in nonsense words, yet I can tell I'm not making sense.   I can feel myself trying to communicate, I know what I want to say and I can even hear the correct words in my head, but the words that come out don’t make sense.  Not even to me.  Once I had one while teaching a math lesson and I kept teaching but I felt like I was saying everything twice.

After having these “things” every 3 to 6 months for almost 20 years, going to several doctors and having multiple MRI and EEG tests without results I had given up hope of ever getting a true diagnosis.   I had just gotten used to having them and moving on with the day.     

However, I recently had one while eating dinner with Melissa at home.  I felt it coming on and said, “One of those things is starting.” 

She started asking me questions.  “Can you count to 10?” “What year is it?”  “Who is the President?”

Honestly, I don’t remember if I could answer them.

She’s seen them before, but this one scared her.  That’s why I agreed to go to the doctor AGAIN, but I wasn’t expecting much. 

Long story short, Dr. Gerhardt found (after looking at my MRI for about 5 seconds) scarring on the left side of my brain that he said is causing a discharge.  I believe it is an electrical discharge of some kind.  I don’t know if it’s like a blackout or a power surge, but I intend to ask Dr. Gerhardt at my next appointment. 

The doctor also knew right away that these were seizures. 

It wasn't until he said that it's possible to die from these that I agreed to start taking seizure medication.  I'm only doing it for Melissa and Macy.

I don’t like it at all and I believe I’m still in denial. 

What I do know is that this is weighing heavily on my mind…thanks for listening.

Writing this is like therapy for me.  I’ll probably write more later.

i couldn't find any words that rhyme today

You know, I couldn’t find any words that rhyme today

And I don’t know if I care to look anymore

It’s strange, but part of me doesn’t care

It doesn’t care if I ever rhyme again

Rhyming suggests enjoyment

But rhyming is hard work

Hard work is therapy

This is therapy

Therapy is hard work

But rhyming is hard work

I don’t care if I ever rhyme again

It’s strange, but part of me doesn’t care

And I don’t know if I care to look anymore

I couldn’t find any words that rhyme today...you know

7 Days Left

Our year’s winding down,

And it has been long

I don’t quite know why,

It could be my new thong

But that’s not a matter,

That we should discuss

It’s not like I’m some old man,

Wearing a truss

A TRUSS?  What the hell? 

Where is my poem going?

There are too many words

And my mind’s overflowing

The year’s winding down,

Yes, yes now we’re on track

Now all that I need,

Is some catchy wise crack

A crack?  Aw HECK!

Now we’re back to the thong,

I’ve got to write something

Or things will go wrong

Not thongs, tightie-whities,

And not boxer briefs

I must write of school things,

To give some relief

I must shift my focus,

To matters of school

There are kids there are teachers,

And both topics are cool

Or the fact that ours days,

Are now down to seven

When you’re in single digits,

You know you’re in heaven

To get thoughts off my thong,

It seems best to say

Relax and breathe easy,

Cause it’s our last Monday!

20 Days Left...

Years ago I started writing poems and emailing them to my grade level and or school.  Somehow a kind of end of year countdown started a few years ago.  I don't do every single day, I write when I'm inspired.  


I decided to post them here.  At least some of them.

Enjoy,
Hugh

20 Days Left

There’s a chance it’s just me,

But you may feel it too

Our clocks move quite slowly,

Up one minute back two

Each year at about now,

Our odd time dance gets loose

You feel like your head,

Is stuck in a noose

We know the steps well,

Though it’s not a line dance

You Waltz or you Tango,

You boot-scoot and prance

What makes each dance hard,

It the students these days

They’re bodies all move,

In peculiar ways!

When I say things like that,

You all think I sound old

It’s a damn metaphor!

So read on and don’t scold

But just when you think,

Things have gone on too long

Your feet start to ache,

And you’d like a new song

CG’s voice pipes in,

And she starts with her schpeel   

Then the dance floor gets restless,

The excitement you feel

The band plays its last tune,

As you glide round the floor

Then you kick those small backsides,

Right out the front door

Then you rest and prepare,

For tomorrow’s swaray

I never said “booze,”

But you like it that way

For I say every word,

With a nod and a wink

And you know that it’s time,

For a rather large drink

Kim’s growing potatoes,

That we’ll use in fun ways

They’ll be ready to drink,

In just 20 days!

New Pool Toy

Yesterday, we got a new pool toy.

It didn't stay long, but it was fun while it lasted.

I'm trying to come up with a better name than "Donald".

Nude Beach

And so we’re on this cruise with St. Maarten as on of our ports.  I’ve been to St. Maarten before.  It’s a fun port with nice beaches.  Melissa and I decided to do an excursion called Rhino Rider.  Basically, a small, inflatable boat with an outboard motor.  It seats 2 and I drove with Melissa on the back. 

Our guide led the Rhino convoy of about 10-12 Rhinos. 

St. Maarten is a small island that is divided down the middle.  One side is French and the other side is Dutch. 

(Well, it’s not really the middle somehow the French cheated and their side is larger…but I digress)

We started on the Dutch side and our guide led us around and through the waterways over to a beach on the French side.  Before we left he made sure to let us know that the French side is a bit more open minded than the Dutch side.  And as such, is littered with clothing optional beaches, and that we shouldn’t be alarmed, or point, or laugh, or giggle when we see these free spirited bathers. 

My first thought was, “Hey, I’ll get to drive a fun boat and see some fun sights to boot.”

I was only half right.

Driving the boat was a blast!  I highly recommend it if you ever have the chance. 

As for the nude beach…

Well it was somewhat of a disappointment.  For you see, there were two couples enjoying the surf wearing nothing more that sunglasses and smiles.  However, they were also probably five years older than my parents and not in very good shape. 

I tried to avert my eyes, but I kept finding myself looking in their direction.  I don’t know why.  Maybe I was hoping I was wrong, maybe I was hoping someone easier to watch would join their party, maybe I was hoping they would put some clothes on.

Whatever the reason, next time someone says, “Nude Beach,” I’ll know not to get my hopes up.

           

Note to Mom and Dad:  In no way did I mean to imply that YOUR age should keep you away from a nude beach.  I’m sure you both will fit right in. 

            Just make sure I’m not around

Cruise2012

My daughter’s high school drill (The Lake Highlands Highlandettes) went on a Spring Break cruise to celebrate their 50^th year as a drill team.  The cruise was open to all current Highlandettes, all former Highlandettes and any parents who wanted to tag along. 

Melissa and I tagged along.

About 15 other parents tagged along with us and we all had a great time.  There were also a number of actual chaperones also on the ship, but for us it was really just a cruise that our daughter happen to be on as well. 

The cruise was really fun.  I ate too much, drank too much and got sunburned…

Like I said, the cruise was really fun!

I came home with a wee-bit of blog fodder.  (If that’s even a correct use of that word???) My plan is to write about several different fun and interesting parts of the cruise.   The parts I have in mind are:

·      Riding the Rain Forest tram

·      The crazy, death defying cab ride

·      My first, and hopefully my last, time on a nude beach (sorry no pictures!)

·      Nick, rum punch and the 4X4

·      Attack of the green monkeys

I may add to the list and I may combine two of them into one story.  Let’s just play it by ear. 

Remember, I said, “My Plan,” is to write about these events.  But I ain’t promising when!

I also don’t know what order I’ll write them in.   I'll figure that out later.

My hope is that putting this on-line will inspire me to write.

Let's see what happens

Hugh

Jury Duty Day

Jury Duty... It's a lot like dog duty, but without the unpleasant aroma.

Well, not unless my dog eats something pretty strange.

Educational Pit Stop

What I said:

“You can press the accelerator as hard as you want, but at some point your car’s not going to go any faster.  If you’re in a Ferrari you’re set, but if you’re driving a KIA you’ve got a long way to go…  Either way, if you always drive at your top speed, pretty soon you’re going to blow your engine!”

We were looking at the 2011-2012 Math TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) for grades K-6.  The TEKS tell us are what the state has decided we must be teaching.  It also lets us know what will be on the state’s new STAAR standardized test.

When I was in college studying to become a teacher the catchphrase “Developmentally Appropriate” was being tossed around like hash at the local diner.  Every lesson we planned and every activity put together had to take into consideration not only where the students are educationally, but also what they are developmentally ready understand. 

However, the more we looked at the TEKS we saw an all too familiar and disturbing trend.  Math skills that only two or three years ago were on fifth grade level, were now popping up at the fourth grade level.  And things from the fourth grade TEKS are now in the third grade TEKS, and so on and so forth. 

The real trouble is we have fat cats in Austin who have never met a child who wasn’t from a well to do, nurturing home.  So they can’t understand why EVERY child can’t just get the help he or she needs.  When you live in a home where your mother and father value education, and have the time and ability to help you understand your homework, then you are in luck… you’re also in the minority. 

The state, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that the way to fix its national educational rankings is to demand that elementary school students be instructed at developmentally inappropriate levels.  Each year the “rigor” of the required educational materials increases, and the same students fall farther and farther behind.  I’m sorry, but when you’re teaching pre-algebra to third and fourth graders there is something wrong. 

So, when does it end?

Do we start having all kindergarteners take the PSAT?  Maybe we can require preschoolers to pass a Play-do calculus exam.  Or wouldn’t it be better if we introduced improper fractions to a child in the uterus?      

If this were an Indy 500 race, every student would be in pretty much the same well tuned, ready to race vehicle.  But Texas’ students are looking more like a bunch of cars at the local drag strip.  Some of them are ready to race, but most are in desperate need of a pit stop. 

A Sudden Gush of Warmth

I love teaching for more reasons that I can name. 

When you are surrounded by young minds and young hearts who not only enjoy being around you, but also think you’re cool…well baby, you’ve got it made. 

When you’re at the grocery story and small bodies with large voices rush at you while screaming your name…you feel like a movie star.

When every joke you tell explodes the room with laughter… you start to believe you’re truly funny.

When a parent comes to you and says, “I’m an physics professor at SMU, but my son tells me I don’t understand how to divide correctly, can you help me?” … you know you’ve hit the big time.

When parents of former students who are now in high school see you in line at Starbucks, and jump up and pay for your coffee… you see you made a difference.  

When a high school senior, number six in his graduating class, asks you to come to the districts Top Ten Graduates Luncheon as his most influential teacher… you realize your life has been meaningful.

And finally, when a student walks up to talk and calls you “Dad”… you get a sudden gush of warmth in your heart.