Monday, October 23, 2006
Travis and Angela came and left with a production of Godspell, time with my parents, cheesesteaks and Liberty Bells in between. It's always good to see friends.
Our livingroom stereo has been broken for several months now, and I just recently discovered I could listen to CDs on our DVD player, which will have to do for now. Sometimes, tonight for example, I get the rare urge to listen to Scientific, which gives me the urge to listen to Seldom, all of which brings back memories of a really great show in Chicago, along with a very uncomfortable yet oddly enjoyable trip in a pickup truck, which makes me remember driving 5 hours to see shows on a regular basis, and all of this kind of makes me resent adulthood and all of its busyness.
Let me give you an update on my car. Insurance totaled it. No surprise seeing as how they gave me a repair estimate twice the amount of the one I got and gave me an appraisal on my car half of what I was expecting. So I got out with $700, which is $350 more than what I paid for it. I talked to our mechanic friend and he said the damage wasn't anything too bad, and he and his men could pull some things out and replace some other things and make it look good enough to pass inspection for a few more years. The only drawback? He couldn't find a silver trunk lid to match mine...the closest he could get was champagne. So, starting tomorrow, I'll be driving a silver car with a gold trunk. I'm hoping to buy a gold hood to match on the front end.
Tonight we finished season three of Arrested Development, which means it's all over and done with. It really is baffling how all the good shows get cancelled so quickly. Let's keep our fingers crossed for The Office.
I love Paste Magazine, but the fact that they've gone monthly just simply stresses me out.
The Second-Annual-Shorb-Apartment-Costume-Gala-Halloween/Harvest-Party-Extravaganza will be held this Friday at 8:00.
I don't know...I've held off on this squirrel story so long, I'm just not sure it's worth it anymore.
I need to write a research paper for my grad class. Any topic ideas?
Today I was losing patience with kids who take pleasure in trashing my room...ripping stuff off walls, throwing trash on the floor, writing on desks, and so on. I just can't put up with it anymore. I'm too easygoing for my own good.
More thoughts are swirling, perhaps they'll find their way here soon.
Our livingroom stereo has been broken for several months now, and I just recently discovered I could listen to CDs on our DVD player, which will have to do for now. Sometimes, tonight for example, I get the rare urge to listen to Scientific, which gives me the urge to listen to Seldom, all of which brings back memories of a really great show in Chicago, along with a very uncomfortable yet oddly enjoyable trip in a pickup truck, which makes me remember driving 5 hours to see shows on a regular basis, and all of this kind of makes me resent adulthood and all of its busyness.
Let me give you an update on my car. Insurance totaled it. No surprise seeing as how they gave me a repair estimate twice the amount of the one I got and gave me an appraisal on my car half of what I was expecting. So I got out with $700, which is $350 more than what I paid for it. I talked to our mechanic friend and he said the damage wasn't anything too bad, and he and his men could pull some things out and replace some other things and make it look good enough to pass inspection for a few more years. The only drawback? He couldn't find a silver trunk lid to match mine...the closest he could get was champagne. So, starting tomorrow, I'll be driving a silver car with a gold trunk. I'm hoping to buy a gold hood to match on the front end.
Tonight we finished season three of Arrested Development, which means it's all over and done with. It really is baffling how all the good shows get cancelled so quickly. Let's keep our fingers crossed for The Office.
I love Paste Magazine, but the fact that they've gone monthly just simply stresses me out.
The Second-Annual-Shorb-Apartment-Costume-Gala-Halloween/Harvest-Party-Extravaganza will be held this Friday at 8:00.
I don't know...I've held off on this squirrel story so long, I'm just not sure it's worth it anymore.
I need to write a research paper for my grad class. Any topic ideas?
Today I was losing patience with kids who take pleasure in trashing my room...ripping stuff off walls, throwing trash on the floor, writing on desks, and so on. I just can't put up with it anymore. I'm too easygoing for my own good.
More thoughts are swirling, perhaps they'll find their way here soon.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
In a few hours, Travis Yoder and his girlfriend Angela will be arriving in Bethlehem after an 11 hour drive. They'll be spending their fall break with us, and we're quite pleased. It's been a long time since anyone has visited, so we're excited.
Autumn is the season to visit! Who's next??? Come on over!
No, I haven't forgotten about the second squirrel story. It is coming...
Autumn is the season to visit! Who's next??? Come on over!
No, I haven't forgotten about the second squirrel story. It is coming...
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The other week I decided to play a who-can-answer-first-on-the-chalkboard game with one of my classes. When I asked one team what their name was going to be, their ringleader replied with a smile, "Team Smart!"
It made me chuckle, so I put it up on the board. The other team had a hard time coming up with a name, so I gave them the name "Team Smarter" just to spite the other team's ringleader.
We played the same game again today, so I gave the teams the same names, Team Smart on one board, Team Smarter on the other.
The ringleader was still upset that he wasn't on the smarter team, so he tried an antic in order to get the last laugh. He took a piece of chalk and added three letters on the board, changing his team name to "Team Smartist." He turned around with a proud smile.
Needless to say, it backfired brilliantly and the rest of us got the last laugh instead. And boy was I laughing.
It made me chuckle, so I put it up on the board. The other team had a hard time coming up with a name, so I gave them the name "Team Smarter" just to spite the other team's ringleader.
We played the same game again today, so I gave the teams the same names, Team Smart on one board, Team Smarter on the other.
The ringleader was still upset that he wasn't on the smarter team, so he tried an antic in order to get the last laugh. He took a piece of chalk and added three letters on the board, changing his team name to "Team Smartist." He turned around with a proud smile.
Needless to say, it backfired brilliantly and the rest of us got the last laugh instead. And boy was I laughing.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
The other day, I had the opportunity to work one on one with a student who is frequently absent and consequently very behind. On the days that she is present, she does very little in class. Her motivation comes in spurts few and far between.
She is turning 16 in the eighth grade. Rumors of her sexual activity abound. Last year she beat up another girl pretty badly and also hit a teacher in the process. needless to say, her reputation among the teachers is not a good one.
I was glad to be able to catch up with her that afternoon. We discussed some possibilities for an extra credit project I was offering that she was really excited about. She caught on quickly and had some great ideas. Then we went over the process for solving two-step equations and she caught on to that extremely quickly, too. She was excited and I was excited. She was doing so well, showing great potential, and I was very proud.
She talked about everything that's been on her plate lately. Her grandfather passed away, her mom was in the hospital, her sister had a baby, and she is often the one to take care of her brothers and sisters. She agreed that she could do really well in school, but just has too many distractions in her life to keep up.
As I worked with her, faculty room discussions faded away. I saw a girl eager to learn, eager to push distractions and responsiblities aside in order to enjoy her childhood and teenage years as they were meant to be. I saw a girl who has grown up entirely too quickly. And in those exciting 25 minutes of working and talking, I--perhaps naievely--saw a tremendous light of hope in her. Of course, I knew the odds remained against her, and in my excitement I remained quite burdened.
She left my room and said politely, "Thank you, mister!"
She stepped into the hallway, and another girl came running up to her to share some gossip. Immediately, the anger and bitterness that holds such a tight grip on my student came out. She threw her folder (containing that silly homework I had just given her to complete) on the ground, started yelling, and stormed down the stairwell. I ran after her calling her name (What did I plan on doing? How can I help?) but she ignored me and continued on her way.
The next day brought with it drama, and I assume it was a continuation of whatever upset her the afternoon before. She was visibly upset and angry in the hallways even before homeroom, and a group of students surrounded her, rooting for her, egging her on.
Her class came to me second period, and the drama continued. I emailed this girl's guidance counselor and assistant principal and warned them that there was going to be a fight if nothing was done. The guidance counselor told me another teacher reported the same thing.
The class came back to be fourth period. She was too upset to focus or work. She asked to go to the bathroom and I thought for sure she was going to find the other girl and beat her up in the middle of my classtime. She didn't.
Fourth period ended and I went down to the lunchroom. As soon as I got to the second floor and passed through the doors, the level of noise and excitement, the crowding of students, told me something major had happened.
Sure enough, this girl for whom I had so much hope, had beaten another girl to a bloody pulp. There was blood on the floor where the fight had happened, and a trail continuing up to the office. The rings she was wearing did quite a number on the other girl's face.
Five day suspension for fighting. Ten day suspension and arrest for physical assault of a teacher. And what will happen after all of that? Those exciting 25 minutes a day earlier now appeared to be a complete waste.
My heart was heavy for the rest of the day as I heard teachers talking in disgust and kids talking in excitement. I wanted to say to the teachers, "You don't understand! You don't see the potential, the beauty, the eagerness I see!" I wanted to say to the kids, "You don't understand! You don't see the hatred, the evil, the endless cycle I see!"
And what can break this cycle? How do I help?
She is turning 16 in the eighth grade. Rumors of her sexual activity abound. Last year she beat up another girl pretty badly and also hit a teacher in the process. needless to say, her reputation among the teachers is not a good one.
I was glad to be able to catch up with her that afternoon. We discussed some possibilities for an extra credit project I was offering that she was really excited about. She caught on quickly and had some great ideas. Then we went over the process for solving two-step equations and she caught on to that extremely quickly, too. She was excited and I was excited. She was doing so well, showing great potential, and I was very proud.
She talked about everything that's been on her plate lately. Her grandfather passed away, her mom was in the hospital, her sister had a baby, and she is often the one to take care of her brothers and sisters. She agreed that she could do really well in school, but just has too many distractions in her life to keep up.
As I worked with her, faculty room discussions faded away. I saw a girl eager to learn, eager to push distractions and responsiblities aside in order to enjoy her childhood and teenage years as they were meant to be. I saw a girl who has grown up entirely too quickly. And in those exciting 25 minutes of working and talking, I--perhaps naievely--saw a tremendous light of hope in her. Of course, I knew the odds remained against her, and in my excitement I remained quite burdened.
She left my room and said politely, "Thank you, mister!"
She stepped into the hallway, and another girl came running up to her to share some gossip. Immediately, the anger and bitterness that holds such a tight grip on my student came out. She threw her folder (containing that silly homework I had just given her to complete) on the ground, started yelling, and stormed down the stairwell. I ran after her calling her name (What did I plan on doing? How can I help?) but she ignored me and continued on her way.
The next day brought with it drama, and I assume it was a continuation of whatever upset her the afternoon before. She was visibly upset and angry in the hallways even before homeroom, and a group of students surrounded her, rooting for her, egging her on.
Her class came to me second period, and the drama continued. I emailed this girl's guidance counselor and assistant principal and warned them that there was going to be a fight if nothing was done. The guidance counselor told me another teacher reported the same thing.
The class came back to be fourth period. She was too upset to focus or work. She asked to go to the bathroom and I thought for sure she was going to find the other girl and beat her up in the middle of my classtime. She didn't.
Fourth period ended and I went down to the lunchroom. As soon as I got to the second floor and passed through the doors, the level of noise and excitement, the crowding of students, told me something major had happened.
Sure enough, this girl for whom I had so much hope, had beaten another girl to a bloody pulp. There was blood on the floor where the fight had happened, and a trail continuing up to the office. The rings she was wearing did quite a number on the other girl's face.
Five day suspension for fighting. Ten day suspension and arrest for physical assault of a teacher. And what will happen after all of that? Those exciting 25 minutes a day earlier now appeared to be a complete waste.
My heart was heavy for the rest of the day as I heard teachers talking in disgust and kids talking in excitement. I wanted to say to the teachers, "You don't understand! You don't see the potential, the beauty, the eagerness I see!" I wanted to say to the kids, "You don't understand! You don't see the hatred, the evil, the endless cycle I see!"
And what can break this cycle? How do I help?
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Half Nelson review is finished.
I've got a heck of a story coming soon...I won't tell it now, but I will tell you that it involves a squirrel...(..or does it??)
I've got a heck of a story coming soon...I won't tell it now, but I will tell you that it involves a squirrel...(..or does it??)
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Today I experienced my first Code Red Lockdown.
It was pretty fun and exciting, but probably mostly because it didn't involve a crazy man with a gun inside the building, and also because I had the privilege of monitoring an empty hallway instead of being stuck in a locked room entertaining the same group of crazy kids for an hour and a half straight.
It was nothing too serious, just a necessary precaution after some angry guys in cars were shooting some guns a block away from the school.
In other news, I saw Half Nelson on Sunday. I'm afraid I overhyped it a little too much, but it was still pretty good and very interesting. I'll hopefully post a full review of it pretty soon over on Chalupa's movie blog.
And in other news, a very happy birthday wish to my beautiful mother, Yvonne! She turned 39 today, but she doesn't look a day older than 38! And so....next year is the BIG 4 - 0!!!!!!!!! Oh boy!
It was pretty fun and exciting, but probably mostly because it didn't involve a crazy man with a gun inside the building, and also because I had the privilege of monitoring an empty hallway instead of being stuck in a locked room entertaining the same group of crazy kids for an hour and a half straight.
It was nothing too serious, just a necessary precaution after some angry guys in cars were shooting some guns a block away from the school.
In other news, I saw Half Nelson on Sunday. I'm afraid I overhyped it a little too much, but it was still pretty good and very interesting. I'll hopefully post a full review of it pretty soon over on Chalupa's movie blog.
And in other news, a very happy birthday wish to my beautiful mother, Yvonne! She turned 39 today, but she doesn't look a day older than 38! And so....next year is the BIG 4 - 0!!!!!!!!! Oh boy!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Last week was a pretty bad week. A car accident, a stolen CD player along with a favorite new CD, some frustrating kids at school, along with some other minor setbacks all came together and made things pretty rough.
Erica and I seem to be a magnet for such things. Really, it seems like both the Checkeyes and the Shorbs are bad luck magnets, so now that our forces are combined, it's going to get really bad. Start praying now for our children.
And sometimes we hear about friends and all the breaks they get, you know, good deals on this or that or free stuff or whathaveyou. All of it is small in the big scheme of things, but they begin to add up. And instead, Erica and I are here, losing our cheap cars, having all of our appliances burn out because of bad wiring in our apartment, so on and so forth.
It's fun to joke about, but after a while, it gets pretty old and tiresome.
That's when I start up a pity party. Why us? I don't mind if it's us every once in a while, but why is it ALWAYS us? What did we do? We're decent people, trying our best. When will something ever work out for US? Just once?
Maybe we should be the opposite...Erica and I will start robbing people...we'll just be creeps....really awful and ugly and cruel. For one, it seems we'd get away with everything and enjoy ourselves. But if not, then at least it would be justifiable, we'll deserve it then.
Go ahead and worry about me, but I'm not the only one who thought this way. Asaph did, too:
I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
Their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me...
--And then he starts to come around, I guess, and it's a good reminder--
...till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
(Psalm 73)
Erica and I seem to be a magnet for such things. Really, it seems like both the Checkeyes and the Shorbs are bad luck magnets, so now that our forces are combined, it's going to get really bad. Start praying now for our children.
And sometimes we hear about friends and all the breaks they get, you know, good deals on this or that or free stuff or whathaveyou. All of it is small in the big scheme of things, but they begin to add up. And instead, Erica and I are here, losing our cheap cars, having all of our appliances burn out because of bad wiring in our apartment, so on and so forth.
It's fun to joke about, but after a while, it gets pretty old and tiresome.
That's when I start up a pity party. Why us? I don't mind if it's us every once in a while, but why is it ALWAYS us? What did we do? We're decent people, trying our best. When will something ever work out for US? Just once?
Maybe we should be the opposite...Erica and I will start robbing people...we'll just be creeps....really awful and ugly and cruel. For one, it seems we'd get away with everything and enjoy ourselves. But if not, then at least it would be justifiable, we'll deserve it then.
Go ahead and worry about me, but I'm not the only one who thought this way. Asaph did, too:
I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by human ills.
Their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance.
This is what the wicked are like—always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been plagued; I have been punished every morning.
When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me...
--And then he starts to come around, I guess, and it's a good reminder--
...till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin.
When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.
(Psalm 73)
Friday, October 06, 2006
I forgot to mention that when Erica was on the phone with car insurance people, she accidentally said:
"No, it wasn't our fart...er...I mean...fault." As we looked at each other with big eyes and tried to keep from laughing she added sheepishly, "...um...excuse me."
And we are still laughing about it four days later.
"No, it wasn't our fart...er...I mean...fault." As we looked at each other with big eyes and tried to keep from laughing she added sheepishly, "...um...excuse me."
And we are still laughing about it four days later.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Some people have all the luck.
Some people have all the bad luck. I'm one of them.
I'm off for Yom Kippur today, and Erica and I were out celebrating (even thought it's not really a holiday you celebrate, per se), and while sitting at a red light turning green on our way to lunch, we got rear-ended out of nowhere by a big bad Ford Explorer.
Thankfully it was my car, not hers, although when an '86 car gets some damage, I'm guessing it's pretty much totaled. Thankfully, too, no one was hurt besides some minor whiplash.
But when I asked the other driver "What happened?!" the only excuse he could offer (with a chuckle) was "Spider in the car."
"Oh." I responded. "Of course."
Who else besides Nate Shorb would be involved in a car crash caused by a spider?!
And so, that's two accidents in just over a year, neither of them my fault. Great. Just great.
Some people have all the bad luck. I'm one of them.
I'm off for Yom Kippur today, and Erica and I were out celebrating (even thought it's not really a holiday you celebrate, per se), and while sitting at a red light turning green on our way to lunch, we got rear-ended out of nowhere by a big bad Ford Explorer.
Thankfully it was my car, not hers, although when an '86 car gets some damage, I'm guessing it's pretty much totaled. Thankfully, too, no one was hurt besides some minor whiplash.
But when I asked the other driver "What happened?!" the only excuse he could offer (with a chuckle) was "Spider in the car."
"Oh." I responded. "Of course."
Who else besides Nate Shorb would be involved in a car crash caused by a spider?!
And so, that's two accidents in just over a year, neither of them my fault. Great. Just great.
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