It has been some time since I last wrote to you all (4) but I'm pretty bored and I let Kevin borrow my external hard drive that houses all my music and movies so I guess it's just you and me tonight. Since March 1 I have been doing a bit of double duty as a civics teacher and a gym teacher. Basically they wanted another set of eyes to take some kids outside and let them play some baseball everyday. I decided that wiffle ball (tennis ball) would work out great because of the varying skill levels among my students and their propensity (I'm not even sure if I'm using that word right) to forget their gloves at home. This way all can play and hopefully learn something about the game, or at the very least enjoy being outside in the sun.
Civics class is wrapping up nicely I think, our last class is Monday the 18th with a final on the 20th. I'm pretty stoked to be done with that subject. I enjoyed my class but the nature of civics isn't exactly for me. I should have been more open to creating my own course in the very beginning. If I had to do it all over again (and believe me, I would) I would make my course focus more on the Constitution and American government instead of one's Civic duty.. There is something about the freedom's of society and this sense of Civic duty that just doesn't seem to click for me. If people don't want to vote or help out their community they certainly don't have to. there are enough good people in the world willing to put the work in to make this place we call home livable. So I have a hard time honestly fielding questions about civic duties some times and I can't lie to the kids, for one they'll see right through me and two, I have a terrible poker face, pa pa pa poker face. But it's important for the future adults of this world to be able to know the situation and make an informed decision. Whatever that decision may be is up to them. Vote don't vote, I don't really care because some one is going to vote for somebody, that's how it works. So fear not everyone, we will always have a politician to blame for our problems.
Looking ahead, St. Benedict's has a gem of a system we like to call project phase. It's like a may term basically, it's 5 weeks long and students have one class a day that meets from 3 - 5 hours. They work towards a project (get it). I know what class I'm teaching but I'm not sure what the project will be at the time of this publication. The syllabus has yet to be written. I'm teaming up with the baseball coach, Mr. Ross and we are teaching a course on Baseball to some 7th and 8th graders. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us and allow us to go outside and actually demonstrate and practice some fundamentals but there is also a reading component and probably a research paper at the back end of this class to I'm sure. In the works is going to an Amateur Baseball game (the Newark Bears) so the kids can learn how to keep score, a lost art among today's young ball players I've found.
Side note: I am basically the bench coach for the Varsity team here and I've recently decided that these older kids are a lost cause and can't be trusted with keeping the book for the games. So I will be taking care of that from now on as well as my regular bench coach responsibilities. For those of you who are unsure what those are, It's not a whole lot. I basically make sure that the guys on the bench, relief pitchers and non starters are staying focused on the game and are ready to play at a moments notice.
I'm going to wrap this up and you may be wondering why I chose not to include updates on the team's young season and there is a reason for that. We have several games left and I'm hoping there will be good news to report eventually. Once we find our rhythm, you'll be like the 37th person to know.
Regards,
Mike
11 April 2011
15 February 2011
Rough Day
Today has been a rough day. I got a phone call from my best friend this afternoon regarding his mother's bout with Cancer. She has been battling for the better part of a year and up until now it appeared she was on the right track. I should step back for a moment. I have learned that not many people are still as close to their earliest friends in life as we are, my childhood has been split pretty evenly between my house and his house down the block meaning that his mother is essentially my second mother. So the news that her Cancer is spreading into her liver and lungs is even tougher to hear...
I don't want to make this into one of those divine intervention stories but it may turn into that regardless (so be ready just in case) but I was sitting in my room after baseball practice feeling pretty tore up about the whole ordeal when I heard the bells ringing at the Abbey indicating that 5:00 mass was about to start. It's not unusual that I decided to go but today I actually had a lot of praying to do so I put some decent clothes on and went. Fr. Edwin (Any 2010 Johnnies know him as the guest speaker at our graduation) was the celebrant and today's reading was the story of Noah's Ark. I usually stay attentive to the reading just long enough to hear which one it is and then drift back into my own thoughts because A: sometimes it's hard to pay attention during mass and B: I know the stories pretty well. Anyway, my thoughts roamed during the gospel mostly to times spent with my best friend when his mom would make us snacks, take us to the park, that kind of stuff. But when it was time for Fr. Ed to give his homily I straightened up and gave him full attention. He is the kind of guy that when he talks, it's because he has something important to say. He doesn't dance around issues he gets to the point and drives it home. Today was no different.
In his sermon he put a new spin on the Ark story by relating it to the Abbey in Newark, I never realized that that is what the city is named for (New Ark) but suddenly it clicked. Fr. Ed talked about how Noah was given clear instructions on how big the ark was to be, what kind of wood to use, how many levels to make it, what kinds of animals to bring, even where to put the door. But Fr. Ed brought something new to the table that had never occurred to me. God gave no instruction how Noah was supposed to move that ark. He never mentioned to make an oar or to bring a sail. he just said to build this boat and God told him everything but how to steer that thing. That'd be a pretty big detail for me if I was Noah. But Noah trusted that God would guide him and his family through the raging waters of the great flood. The whole world was coming down around the ark, yet it was built to last and it somehow managed to make it through the storm of a lifetime unscathed.
Now I imagine my friend is in the middle of a pretty huge storm right now while I'm more worried about how I can be there for him while I'm still 1,000 miles away in NJ. I've never felt more helpless because all I can do is pray. I feel a bit like I'm in the middle of my own flood right now and all I can do is hope and pray that I'll be able to make it through the troubled waters in order to be the best friend I can be.
It's weird that scriptures written thousands of years ago can seem to say exactly what we are feeling today. I suppose they were written that way and hope this doesn't sound like one of those "God's voice called out to me" stories because God calls out to each of us everyday. That's nothing new. It's just that today I actually listened because today I needed to hear that He (that's not meant to be sexist I'm just old fashioned) is still there.
So essentially the point of my whole story is that it's been a rough day. If you didn't get that by the title don't worry because I'm making it clear now. It's a good thing it isn't raining..
Take care everyone,
p.s. If you need me I'll be out trying to build a boat.
I don't want to make this into one of those divine intervention stories but it may turn into that regardless (so be ready just in case) but I was sitting in my room after baseball practice feeling pretty tore up about the whole ordeal when I heard the bells ringing at the Abbey indicating that 5:00 mass was about to start. It's not unusual that I decided to go but today I actually had a lot of praying to do so I put some decent clothes on and went. Fr. Edwin (Any 2010 Johnnies know him as the guest speaker at our graduation) was the celebrant and today's reading was the story of Noah's Ark. I usually stay attentive to the reading just long enough to hear which one it is and then drift back into my own thoughts because A: sometimes it's hard to pay attention during mass and B: I know the stories pretty well. Anyway, my thoughts roamed during the gospel mostly to times spent with my best friend when his mom would make us snacks, take us to the park, that kind of stuff. But when it was time for Fr. Ed to give his homily I straightened up and gave him full attention. He is the kind of guy that when he talks, it's because he has something important to say. He doesn't dance around issues he gets to the point and drives it home. Today was no different.
In his sermon he put a new spin on the Ark story by relating it to the Abbey in Newark, I never realized that that is what the city is named for (New Ark) but suddenly it clicked. Fr. Ed talked about how Noah was given clear instructions on how big the ark was to be, what kind of wood to use, how many levels to make it, what kinds of animals to bring, even where to put the door. But Fr. Ed brought something new to the table that had never occurred to me. God gave no instruction how Noah was supposed to move that ark. He never mentioned to make an oar or to bring a sail. he just said to build this boat and God told him everything but how to steer that thing. That'd be a pretty big detail for me if I was Noah. But Noah trusted that God would guide him and his family through the raging waters of the great flood. The whole world was coming down around the ark, yet it was built to last and it somehow managed to make it through the storm of a lifetime unscathed.
Now I imagine my friend is in the middle of a pretty huge storm right now while I'm more worried about how I can be there for him while I'm still 1,000 miles away in NJ. I've never felt more helpless because all I can do is pray. I feel a bit like I'm in the middle of my own flood right now and all I can do is hope and pray that I'll be able to make it through the troubled waters in order to be the best friend I can be.
It's weird that scriptures written thousands of years ago can seem to say exactly what we are feeling today. I suppose they were written that way and hope this doesn't sound like one of those "God's voice called out to me" stories because God calls out to each of us everyday. That's nothing new. It's just that today I actually listened because today I needed to hear that He (that's not meant to be sexist I'm just old fashioned) is still there.
So essentially the point of my whole story is that it's been a rough day. If you didn't get that by the title don't worry because I'm making it clear now. It's a good thing it isn't raining..
Take care everyone,
p.s. If you need me I'll be out trying to build a boat.
30 January 2011
Dear friends, it's been a long time...
I noticed that my friend Alyssa finally updated her blog so I guess that means I should try my best to keep up.
It's a new semester here at Benedict's (well not so much anymore) and I have a new group of guys taking Civics class. My class this year is about 6 guys less than in the fall and you wouldn't believe what a difference that can make for a young teacher. It's kind of nice. Also my guys this semester are a bit older and more responsive to my methods, or lack thereof. They are mostly Juniors as opposed to the Sophomores I was dealt in the fall. So it's a cool change of pace. There are different questions and lessons that are meant to cover the rights of a person accused of a crime always seem to end up with me trying to explain the O.J. Simpson case... I haven't covered the difference between Civil court and Criminal court officially yet but I feel like when I get there they should have it down already.
I really like covering the Bill of Rights and the Constitution for some reason. It's surprisingly simple and easy to read for a government document that has somehow only been changed 27 times since 1787. I'd say that's pretty impressive and we should give a hardy pat on the back to the framers who did such a wonderful job. I had a screening of a very underrated film known as "Double Jeopardy" a few weeks ago. It has Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones so you know it's worth a look. And both times I showed it (each semester) the kids were hesitant because it's older and no teenager knows who those two people are anymore but they always settle into the flick once they find out the premise. The husband of Judd stages his own death and sets it up so it looks like she did it, she's convicted and then apparently can get out of jail on parole, find him and kill him. Well besides some obvious flaws in the writing it perks the kids interest in how if you know the law it was designed to work for us rather than against us.
I didn't have the heart to go over everything wrong in the film, she can't legally kill the guy again because she didn't kill him the first time. Double jeopardy say you can't be put on trial for the same offense twice. well she was convicted in Washington State and [Spoiler alert] she ends up killing him in a different state. So therefor it would be a brand new trail and a different act, and a different offense. I could go on. The movie wasn't Oscar worthy but it get's the point across and I like it and more importantly the kids ended up liking it. So maybe it wasn't a waste of 2 whole class days.. It probably was though.
Other than that, all is well here. I'm excited for Baseball season. I'm really looking forward to helping the tea out this year and I may even spend some time working on some baseball skills with junior high kids during their gym time. Baseball is only a varsity sport so this could be a great way to keep 7th and 8th graders interested and engaged to Baseball. Basically it might be my job to lay the foundation for the future of the baseball team. The future of the program is depending on me.. I better work on my fungo skills.
That's all for now. Try and stay warm!
It's a new semester here at Benedict's (well not so much anymore) and I have a new group of guys taking Civics class. My class this year is about 6 guys less than in the fall and you wouldn't believe what a difference that can make for a young teacher. It's kind of nice. Also my guys this semester are a bit older and more responsive to my methods, or lack thereof. They are mostly Juniors as opposed to the Sophomores I was dealt in the fall. So it's a cool change of pace. There are different questions and lessons that are meant to cover the rights of a person accused of a crime always seem to end up with me trying to explain the O.J. Simpson case... I haven't covered the difference between Civil court and Criminal court officially yet but I feel like when I get there they should have it down already.
I really like covering the Bill of Rights and the Constitution for some reason. It's surprisingly simple and easy to read for a government document that has somehow only been changed 27 times since 1787. I'd say that's pretty impressive and we should give a hardy pat on the back to the framers who did such a wonderful job. I had a screening of a very underrated film known as "Double Jeopardy" a few weeks ago. It has Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones so you know it's worth a look. And both times I showed it (each semester) the kids were hesitant because it's older and no teenager knows who those two people are anymore but they always settle into the flick once they find out the premise. The husband of Judd stages his own death and sets it up so it looks like she did it, she's convicted and then apparently can get out of jail on parole, find him and kill him. Well besides some obvious flaws in the writing it perks the kids interest in how if you know the law it was designed to work for us rather than against us.
I didn't have the heart to go over everything wrong in the film, she can't legally kill the guy again because she didn't kill him the first time. Double jeopardy say you can't be put on trial for the same offense twice. well she was convicted in Washington State and [Spoiler alert] she ends up killing him in a different state. So therefor it would be a brand new trail and a different act, and a different offense. I could go on. The movie wasn't Oscar worthy but it get's the point across and I like it and more importantly the kids ended up liking it. So maybe it wasn't a waste of 2 whole class days.. It probably was though.
Other than that, all is well here. I'm excited for Baseball season. I'm really looking forward to helping the tea out this year and I may even spend some time working on some baseball skills with junior high kids during their gym time. Baseball is only a varsity sport so this could be a great way to keep 7th and 8th graders interested and engaged to Baseball. Basically it might be my job to lay the foundation for the future of the baseball team. The future of the program is depending on me.. I better work on my fungo skills.
That's all for now. Try and stay warm!
02 December 2010
Checklist
There is indeed a checklist of things to do while I'm out here in Jersey and since it's almost new years I think it's time for a midterm report and maybe even give myself a grade at the end.
Remember that some of these ideas for the checklist are brand new so they haven't been checked off yet but a lot of them are written in my actual journal that I wrote during my first week here. That's the last time I picked up too.
Also these are more touristy things and do not reflect the spiritual growth that is taking place daily. If you wish I can write about that another time.
In no particular order..
Figure out how to teach (> ) -that's half a check
Figure out the wrong way to teach (X)
Learn to fist pump (X)
Visit the Shore (X)
Figure out how to navigate Newark (X)
Manhattan (X)
the rest of NYC (X)
Hoboken ( )
Jersey City (X)
Go to a game at Yankee Stadium (X)
The new Meadowlands Stadium (X)
See a Devils Game(X)
Visit Madison Square Garden ( )
Take a walk in Central Park (X)
Go to the Statue of Liberty ( )
Empire State ( )
Basically do the highlighted tour of NYC ( ) *I think I'm holding out for visitors to come with me..
Pick a fight with a Yankee Fan (X) *he was 14, no fists were thrown.
See a Guido (X)
Get offered to buy drugs on a street corner (X) *technically it wasn't the corner but whatever.
Learn how to Dougie ( ) *I'm currently working on this one!
Figure out how Tyler Perry's movies have grossed 400 million dollars ( )
Figure out NYC Subways (X)
Volunteer to help coach Baseball at St. Benedict's (X)
Make Scotch my official Drink of choice ( ) *my taste buds might be too immature to appreciate this yet.
Take a few weekend trips to Philly, D.C., Boston (X) Philly - Check
Read Books for enjoyment (X) *accomplished several times over (see books to read blog for updates)
Improve my pool playing (X)
And also get nicknamed Minnesota Fats because of my pool prowess ( ) skipping this out of respect for Fats
Become better at living simply (X) I think I'm getting good at this...
Not grow to hate High Schoolers (X) digging the kids here as long as I don't have to be the responsible one
Make friends with no affiliation with the school or Monastery ( )
Gloat and brag after a Minnesota team beats any NYC team ( ) *haven't had a chance yet.. C'mon 'Sota I'm getting killed over here!
Update! I now have 21 out of 32 done. that's just over half but since this grade is curved to the Max I'm giving myself a B as of May 14th.
If any one has any thoughts on things I should add to me list I would love to hear them!
Remember that some of these ideas for the checklist are brand new so they haven't been checked off yet but a lot of them are written in my actual journal that I wrote during my first week here. That's the last time I picked up too.
Also these are more touristy things and do not reflect the spiritual growth that is taking place daily. If you wish I can write about that another time.
In no particular order..
Figure out how to teach (> ) -that's half a check
Figure out the wrong way to teach (X)
Learn to fist pump (X)
Visit the Shore (X)
Figure out how to navigate Newark (X)
Manhattan (X)
the rest of NYC (X)
Hoboken ( )
Jersey City (X)
Go to a game at Yankee Stadium (X)
The new Meadowlands Stadium (X)
See a Devils Game(X)
Visit Madison Square Garden ( )
Take a walk in Central Park (X)
Go to the Statue of Liberty ( )
Empire State ( )
Basically do the highlighted tour of NYC ( ) *I think I'm holding out for visitors to come with me..
Pick a fight with a Yankee Fan (X) *he was 14, no fists were thrown.
See a Guido (X)
Get offered to buy drugs on a street corner (X) *technically it wasn't the corner but whatever.
Learn how to Dougie ( ) *I'm currently working on this one!
Figure out how Tyler Perry's movies have grossed 400 million dollars ( )
Figure out NYC Subways (X)
Volunteer to help coach Baseball at St. Benedict's (X)
Make Scotch my official Drink of choice ( ) *my taste buds might be too immature to appreciate this yet.
Take a few weekend trips to Philly, D.C., Boston (X) Philly - Check
Read Books for enjoyment (X) *accomplished several times over (see books to read blog for updates)
Improve my pool playing (X)
Become better at living simply (X) I think I'm getting good at this...
Not grow to hate High Schoolers (X) digging the kids here as long as I don't have to be the responsible one
Make friends with no affiliation with the school or Monastery ( )
Gloat and brag after a Minnesota team beats any NYC team ( ) *haven't had a chance yet.. C'mon 'Sota I'm getting killed over here!
Update! I now have 21 out of 32 done. that's just over half but since this grade is curved to the Max I'm giving myself a B as of May 14th.
If any one has any thoughts on things I should add to me list I would love to hear them!
30 November 2010
Guilt.
I've often thought about the feeling of guilt. Where does it come from? Is it something that everyone traces back to their Mother some day? It has been used in conjunction with Catholicism, being Irish, or even Midwestern. All of these would describe me (although it's less amazing when you find out that I wouldn't have written them down if they didn't). Last night I was watching the Gopher basketball game and they were upset by Virginia. I couldn't help but feel somehow responsible.. Maybe if I watched a little more closely or cheered a little bit harder or even said a prayer...
As a side note I'd like to point out that I don't believe in prayer when it comes to sports. The only exception is player injuries. I feel like God has more important things to look over something that ultimately has very little real meaning..
Getting back to my point:
It's a strange feeling when I feel guilty for something that I know I have no control over. I think that part of my guilt comes from being a Minnesota sports fan and the helplessness that comes along with that. But I just feel like there is something I could be doing to help. Now that I'm a teacher (and I use that term loosely) I feel guilty when a student does poorly on a test, like it's my fault.. Conversely though I'm proud of the student who does well and I feel it reflects very well on the good student and not at all on his teacher..
Does that make any sense? The good students do well because they work hard, study, and come prepared while the poor students have a poser for a teacher. Looking at that last sentence it sounds absurd and I hope it is. I know somewhere in my rational brain that a few of these kids are going to have to learn how to take care of themselves and take responsibility for their education but I feel like I can some how help with that but have been unable to get through to them.
I have 8 students out of 30 that are currently failing my class. 4 of them should have absolutely no trouble earning a passing grade, a couple are on the fence and I'd say 2 are in a deep hole. I feel guilty but I don't want to start calling parents to tell them that their child is "in danger of failing." I'd almost rather deal with an angry parent after the semester and say that your child failed because he didn't do anything to stop it.
My class is different than others only because I don't want to treat high schoolers as high schoolers. I want them to be responsible and I will give them the grade they deserve. I don't take attendance, mark people tardy, or as of very recently accept late work. Mr. Turek's motto that the world is run by those who show up is something I want to ring true in my class. Especially since my class is Civics and they should probably learn that it's important to show up and take a stand on issues we care about. Some kids seem to need a drill sergeant for a teacher and I don't think that is something I can become. I feel like a toughy when I don't go all over the world to get on a kid's case to make sure he passes his class. That should be his job.
But I feel guilty about it afterwards..
As a side note I'd like to point out that I don't believe in prayer when it comes to sports. The only exception is player injuries. I feel like God has more important things to look over something that ultimately has very little real meaning..
Getting back to my point:
It's a strange feeling when I feel guilty for something that I know I have no control over. I think that part of my guilt comes from being a Minnesota sports fan and the helplessness that comes along with that. But I just feel like there is something I could be doing to help. Now that I'm a teacher (and I use that term loosely) I feel guilty when a student does poorly on a test, like it's my fault.. Conversely though I'm proud of the student who does well and I feel it reflects very well on the good student and not at all on his teacher..
Does that make any sense? The good students do well because they work hard, study, and come prepared while the poor students have a poser for a teacher. Looking at that last sentence it sounds absurd and I hope it is. I know somewhere in my rational brain that a few of these kids are going to have to learn how to take care of themselves and take responsibility for their education but I feel like I can some how help with that but have been unable to get through to them.
I have 8 students out of 30 that are currently failing my class. 4 of them should have absolutely no trouble earning a passing grade, a couple are on the fence and I'd say 2 are in a deep hole. I feel guilty but I don't want to start calling parents to tell them that their child is "in danger of failing." I'd almost rather deal with an angry parent after the semester and say that your child failed because he didn't do anything to stop it.
My class is different than others only because I don't want to treat high schoolers as high schoolers. I want them to be responsible and I will give them the grade they deserve. I don't take attendance, mark people tardy, or as of very recently accept late work. Mr. Turek's motto that the world is run by those who show up is something I want to ring true in my class. Especially since my class is Civics and they should probably learn that it's important to show up and take a stand on issues we care about. Some kids seem to need a drill sergeant for a teacher and I don't think that is something I can become. I feel like a toughy when I don't go all over the world to get on a kid's case to make sure he passes his class. That should be his job.
But I feel guilty about it afterwards..
03 November 2010
Happiness
A few weeks ago I gave up my Saturday morning to administer the SAT. It's a fairly simple job, hand out the materials, read the instructions, make sure they don't cheat, then collect the materials. That leaves a lot of time sitting in the back of the class room. So as I was doing this I picked up a book that I felt like I should have been forced to read at some point in my high school career but some how I must have slipped through the cracks. It was Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. I didn't finish the whole book that morning but since then I've been picking it up now and then and reading a chapter or two. It's broken up nicely where the chapters don't necessarily depend on one another so it is very easy to read it over a long period of time. Anyway the other night I ran across this passage about happiness. I believe it's actually a quote from Tolstoy's Family Happiness but I'm not certain of this and too lazy to check. Anyway the passage really spoke to me because it put into words a definition of happiness that I feel like I've been wrestling with for a long time so I wanted to share this will all (4) of my readers out there.
I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor - such is my idea of happiness. And then, on top of all that, you for a mate, and children, perhaps - what more can the heart of a man desire?
None of that is new or revolutionary to me but I guess I just never heard it all put together in such a way before. If I could, by the grace of God, manage to have a life like the one Tolstoy describes, I can't imagine it being anything but bliss.
The thing that I find most important at this stage in my life is the part about work, "which one hopes may be of some use;" I believe I have found very meaningful work here at St. Benedict's and I'm lucky because as a volunteer here the work I do is rarely unnoticed and it is hardly a thankless job. But sadly that isn't true for all teachers out there. But going further, this passage doesn't say anything about having money to support a family or being able to know exactly where your next meal is coming from and precisely when your check will be deposited into your checking account. I just want to be able to find more meaningful work after all this. That's the first part of Tolstoy's little checklist I'm going to work on.
Why not try for a little dialog? How do you define Happiness?
I have lived through much, and now I think I have found what is needed for happiness. A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people to whom it is easy to do good, and who are not accustomed to have it done to them; then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbor - such is my idea of happiness. And then, on top of all that, you for a mate, and children, perhaps - what more can the heart of a man desire?
None of that is new or revolutionary to me but I guess I just never heard it all put together in such a way before. If I could, by the grace of God, manage to have a life like the one Tolstoy describes, I can't imagine it being anything but bliss.
The thing that I find most important at this stage in my life is the part about work, "which one hopes may be of some use;" I believe I have found very meaningful work here at St. Benedict's and I'm lucky because as a volunteer here the work I do is rarely unnoticed and it is hardly a thankless job. But sadly that isn't true for all teachers out there. But going further, this passage doesn't say anything about having money to support a family or being able to know exactly where your next meal is coming from and precisely when your check will be deposited into your checking account. I just want to be able to find more meaningful work after all this. That's the first part of Tolstoy's little checklist I'm going to work on.
Why not try for a little dialog? How do you define Happiness?
27 October 2010
Newark in October
Hello all,
I think I warned you that I'm not very good at staying on top of this blog thing but know that I'm considering giving this my best effort in the very near future. I saw that I haven't posted anything since September and I don't want to for zero for October (as a baseball fan that is about the worst thing that could ever happen).
Let's start with some of the cool things I've seen. Last week I jumped at the opportunity to go to a football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium. This wasn't just any football game though, this was the longest uninterrupted series in college football. Notre Dame vs. Navy, they have played each other every year since 1927. And being a huge Notre Dame fan I couldn't pass up a chance to see the Irish play (especially when free tickets fall into my lap the day before the game). The fact that it was at a brand new stadium (home of the New York Giants and Jets) made the deal even sweeter.
The game itself was actually terrible. Navy squashed my Irish team 35 -17 and the score makes the game seem closer than it actually was. Navy and their option attack made Notre Dame look foolish for not adding an extra line backer to their defensive scheme. The Irish stayed in a 5 - 2 defense all game at got torched. Navy threw the ball 3 times in the whole game and still managed to rack up over 350 yards of offense and put 35 points on the board.
So if you aren't up on your football lingo, basically the game was a bloodbath. But, the day turned out to be one of the nicest afternoons of the fall, partly cloudy and just the right temperature for football on a Saturday afternoon so you certainly won't hear any complaints from me.
Another thing I can cross off my bucket list is going to an NHL game. Who would have thought that a kid from the State of Hockey would have to move to New Jersey to see his first professional hockey game? Apparently St. Benedict's has some connections with the New Jersey Devils (irony?) and we went with a bunch of kids from the school. The tickets were a gift to the school and each student got a Devils t- shirt and a towel (like a knock off version of a Homer Hankie I guess) I swung by after the line of kids went through and got one of each for myself as well. So I got to see the Devils lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I was really excited to see Sidney Crosby, one of the brightest young stars of the game (and the guy who won the Olympic Gold Medal game for Canada handing the U.S. team the Silver). Crosby played his High School Hockey at Shattuck in Faribault, MN so I kind of claim him as one of us. The Prudential Center is a fairly new venue and it was very similar to the Excel Energy Center as far as size and layout goes so I felt very much at home there.
But besides attending sporting events I have been doing a bit of educating here and there. The semester is in full swing and my Civics class is finally about to take off. Why is it that it takes months to get through the background of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights leaving me just less than half the semester to get through the 3 branches of government, key supreme court cases, set up a mock trial, oh and try and incorporate the election into class somehow? You would think that it would be easy to work in the election to Civics class but since I don't think I'm going to vote this year on account that I have no idea who any one is in Minnesota who is running for Governor and I don't even know what offices are up for re election in Newark it's going to be hard for me to work it into my class. On a side note: I'm not sure if that sentence makes sense to anyone at all. It might be a giant run on but hopefully you can figure it out. Also, could some one please explain to me what the Tea Party is all about and this supposed witch running for office? I don't even know what channel the news is on here and I'm actually perfectly ok with not knowing what is going on in the world of politics. I would be better off teaching a government course as opposed to a political science course. As far as personal politics go I will say that I am the most unpredictable voter ever so I don't want to field a bunch of political questions because I know I'll have no clue how to answer them.
So as you can see I have a lot to learn about my subject still but I' staying a chapter ahead of my class at least. So I could be doing a lot worse. One of the harder parts of being a volunteer teacher with no experience is that if I want to give the kids homework I have to do it too because I need to make a key. I have no teacher's edition to the book so everything they've done, I've done. Needless to say I haven't given out much homework this semester :)
Well I guess that's pretty much the news and it's time I hit that old dusty trail. I wish you all a great rest of the week. You are all in my thoughts and prayers daily.
Live long and Prosper,
(Forgive me, I couldn't think of a better salutation)
Michael
I think I warned you that I'm not very good at staying on top of this blog thing but know that I'm considering giving this my best effort in the very near future. I saw that I haven't posted anything since September and I don't want to for zero for October (as a baseball fan that is about the worst thing that could ever happen).
Let's start with some of the cool things I've seen. Last week I jumped at the opportunity to go to a football game at the New Meadowlands Stadium. This wasn't just any football game though, this was the longest uninterrupted series in college football. Notre Dame vs. Navy, they have played each other every year since 1927. And being a huge Notre Dame fan I couldn't pass up a chance to see the Irish play (especially when free tickets fall into my lap the day before the game). The fact that it was at a brand new stadium (home of the New York Giants and Jets) made the deal even sweeter.
The game itself was actually terrible. Navy squashed my Irish team 35 -17 and the score makes the game seem closer than it actually was. Navy and their option attack made Notre Dame look foolish for not adding an extra line backer to their defensive scheme. The Irish stayed in a 5 - 2 defense all game at got torched. Navy threw the ball 3 times in the whole game and still managed to rack up over 350 yards of offense and put 35 points on the board.
So if you aren't up on your football lingo, basically the game was a bloodbath. But, the day turned out to be one of the nicest afternoons of the fall, partly cloudy and just the right temperature for football on a Saturday afternoon so you certainly won't hear any complaints from me.
Another thing I can cross off my bucket list is going to an NHL game. Who would have thought that a kid from the State of Hockey would have to move to New Jersey to see his first professional hockey game? Apparently St. Benedict's has some connections with the New Jersey Devils (irony?) and we went with a bunch of kids from the school. The tickets were a gift to the school and each student got a Devils t- shirt and a towel (like a knock off version of a Homer Hankie I guess) I swung by after the line of kids went through and got one of each for myself as well. So I got to see the Devils lose to the Pittsburgh Penguins. I was really excited to see Sidney Crosby, one of the brightest young stars of the game (and the guy who won the Olympic Gold Medal game for Canada handing the U.S. team the Silver). Crosby played his High School Hockey at Shattuck in Faribault, MN so I kind of claim him as one of us. The Prudential Center is a fairly new venue and it was very similar to the Excel Energy Center as far as size and layout goes so I felt very much at home there.
But besides attending sporting events I have been doing a bit of educating here and there. The semester is in full swing and my Civics class is finally about to take off. Why is it that it takes months to get through the background of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights leaving me just less than half the semester to get through the 3 branches of government, key supreme court cases, set up a mock trial, oh and try and incorporate the election into class somehow? You would think that it would be easy to work in the election to Civics class but since I don't think I'm going to vote this year on account that I have no idea who any one is in Minnesota who is running for Governor and I don't even know what offices are up for re election in Newark it's going to be hard for me to work it into my class. On a side note: I'm not sure if that sentence makes sense to anyone at all. It might be a giant run on but hopefully you can figure it out. Also, could some one please explain to me what the Tea Party is all about and this supposed witch running for office? I don't even know what channel the news is on here and I'm actually perfectly ok with not knowing what is going on in the world of politics. I would be better off teaching a government course as opposed to a political science course. As far as personal politics go I will say that I am the most unpredictable voter ever so I don't want to field a bunch of political questions because I know I'll have no clue how to answer them.
So as you can see I have a lot to learn about my subject still but I' staying a chapter ahead of my class at least. So I could be doing a lot worse. One of the harder parts of being a volunteer teacher with no experience is that if I want to give the kids homework I have to do it too because I need to make a key. I have no teacher's edition to the book so everything they've done, I've done. Needless to say I haven't given out much homework this semester :)
Well I guess that's pretty much the news and it's time I hit that old dusty trail. I wish you all a great rest of the week. You are all in my thoughts and prayers daily.
Live long and Prosper,
(Forgive me, I couldn't think of a better salutation)
Michael
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