Happy thought of the day - Page 55

badshot · 03-21-2012, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom kelly

Yesterday is History Tomorrow is a mystery Today is a Gift, That's why it's called The Present. Live and Savor every moment, because, This is not a dress rehearsal. Nothing worth having comes easy. Do your best and NEVER quit.....TK

An oldie but seldom remembered...

Great thought of the day sir.

cetheridge · 03-22-2012, 19:27

43rd wedding anniversary today. She's a great woman! Think I'll keep her a while longer. (Hopefully, she'll keep me, too.)

Burns76 · 03-22-2012, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by cetheridge

43rd wedding anniversary today. She's a great woman! Think I'll keep her a while longer. (Hopefully, she'll keep me, too.)

43rd! Good Work. Congratulations!

mark46th · 03-22-2012, 22:22

Leaving tomorrow morning with my son on our annual Spring Pig hunt!!

Richard · 03-23-2012, 16:39

Received this from a former student who struggled in school and who I haven't heard from in a decade - she is now making underwater nature documentaries.

Mr. H,* you and Mr. C have a special place in my heart. Certainly the best role models and I Thank you for being patient, putting up with me and teaching me how to be a success!

And this is why we teach - or should be, anyway...and it made my day. ZD understands.

Richard

* Me

GratefulCitizen · 03-23-2012, 20:44

After far too many days of punching out after 2200, today ended at 1700.
The wife and I took kids #2 through #5, granddaughter #1, and a neighbor kid down to Burger King to eat and play in the hamster tubes.

The weather is getting nice, and beer cravings which faded with summer have returned.

A joyous discovery brought a happy thought today: Guinness is on sale!

ZonieDiver · 03-24-2012, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Received this from a former student who struggled in school and who I haven't heard from in a decade - she is now making underwater nature documentaries.

Mr. H,* you and Mr. C have a special place in my heart. Certainly the best role models and I Thank you for being patient, putting up with me and teaching me how to be a success!

And this is why we teach - or should be, anyway...and it made my day. ZD understands.

Richard

* Me

So, true! Thanks for the reminder, Richard.

I had a somewhat similar experience this week. I'm heading to Ft. Carson next week to visit my grandson, and his parents (Reason #2 for "Happy Thoughts"). As a result of that, and losing a week of income during Spring Break, I have been subsitute teaching five days a week (more work than when I worked). I was at one of our high schools that used to be a bit of a "pit" - but got a new principal at the beginning of this year.

He is a young Latino man (mid-thirties) with a lot of energy. In October, I had a one week assignment in a freshman English class (yikes!). It went very well, especially since it was fairly early in the school year. On my second day there, he appeared in the classroom to welcome me to campus. (That has happened NO where else in my subbing in my old district.) He had instituted a LOT of changes, but one thing I noticed right off, was that when the "tardy bell" rang to start each period, it was deathly quiet in the hallways - no kids scurrying to class. There are many other changes, too, all improvements (including "lesser" teachers being GONE!)

Wednesday, I reported early to cover a "Performing Arts" class - piano (usually easy money, almost like stealing). The teacher had a conference that was cancelled, but forgot to cancel her substitute (me). I reported to the principal's admin assistant, and she said I could go home (and still get paid!). I hung around in case I was needed - and I was.

While talking to the principal, I discovered that he had graduated from the high school I first taught in - over ten yers after I left. My first year teaching was almost my last year, due to inept administration and a large number of poor, uninteresting, mean teachers. (My first day - first day! - during the final period of that warm day, I had to take a switchblade knife from a kid who was using it to clean his fingernails. (I had a flashback to The Asphalt Jungle. I was very sure they had not covered that in my college Methods of Teaching Social Studies class... nor for that matter, from my Phase III MOI class.)

New admin came the next year. Before that year was over, the school had radically changed. Bad teachers were encouraged to improve, or leave. If they didn't leave or improve, the wheels were set in motion to dismiss them. The principal eventually became the superintendent - and changed the whole district - and his AP became principal, and a good friend, and continued to improve the HS to one of the best in the state. I learned that ONE person really could make a difference in education.

The upshot of this long dissertation (sorry, if I had more time, I'd make it shorter - but I'm going diving today... Reason #3 for "Happy Thoughts")? The new principal at the HS I as subbing in took his inspiration from the two men who gave me mine... almost 20 years later. I called both of them yesterday to let them know that they were inspiring others, goodness knows how many, to be that "one person"!

Gypsy · 03-25-2012, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GratefulCitizen

The weather is getting nice, and beer cravings which faded with summer have returned.

Speaking of, yesterday I had a fantastic brew by Two Brothers Brewery based in a Chicago suburb, Prairie Path French Ale. It was fabulous...very light, cold and crisp. Tried their Rogue Irish Lager as well, oh yum!

It all paired nicely with a burger with carmelized onions, portobello mushrooms and swiss cheese on a pretzel bun.

PedOncoDoc · 03-25-2012, 16:23

Went out to the woods around the corner from my place to gather my son for dinner. I found him and his buddy barefoot with shirts off (they left on their jeans), up to their armpits in a pond, both with frogs in hand and big grins on their faces.

It warms the soul to see boys in their natural habitat.

GratefulCitizen · 04-25-2012, 20:05

Had the day off from work.
The weather was calm/overcast at about 75 degrees all day.
Grilled steaks on the back porch.
Made a beer run to the grocery store -- AND GOT CARDED!!!

Never thought it would happen on this side of 40.

Richard · 04-26-2012, 06:05

I was paid $75 to do a 1.5 hr marketing research testing yesterday - a tasting of 5 new wines and a rating of the associated branding materials (labels, store displays, naming) for their entry into the marketplace later this year.

I could do several of those a day if they'd let me. LIG.

Richard

ZonieDiver · 04-26-2012, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

I was paid $75 to do a 1.5 hr marketing research testing yesterday - a tasting of 5 new wines and a rating of the associated branding materials (labels, store displays, naming) for their entry into the marketplace later this year.

I could do several of those a day if they'd let me. LIG.

Richard

Where do I sign up for THAT duty?!?

Gypsy · 04-27-2012, 17:24

I've done several market research studies over the years...none as cool as yours Richard.

GratefulCitizen · 05-08-2012, 12:22

Summer is approaching and tourists are arriving.
But, it's still pretty easy to find a good 1/4 mile of Lone Rock Beach all to yourself on the weekend.

My 11 year-old (all 5' 7" of him) will be getting a kayak for his birthday.
It will be a fine opportunity for him to put some upper-body muscle on that gangly frame.

Destrier · 05-08-2012, 13:55

Son called will be visiting from Kuwait end of month.

Daughter skyped from Afgan, her 4 year old sister watching, told her she had a 'clean room' I had to laugh, compared to her room here before she left, her BHUT in afgan is spotless.

Original owner of my Horse has given me his Caisson. All black, with brass fittings and a really nice Brass Eagle. He has only used it for military funerals in the local area.