When Will I Use This?

Finally, I Know When I Will Use This

2011-05-20T17:43:00.076-04:00

My mother never allowed me to play organized sports. It's a regret that I will carry forever. However, She could not stop me from playing intramural everything. Ultimately, the benefit of intramural soccer was dehydration and smooth flowing beer after kicking around a ball for an hour. These days, as I have turned assisted fast pitch and baseball coach I mow the fields for a dugout ticket and this year state playoff tickets were included for both teams.

Prior to two weeks, I would never have imagined being a coach on a state playoff baseball team, let alone a team that included the boy. Remember this post from several years ago and now we are together on the same high school team. The playoff series proved to be too much for our start-up 9-5 (conference record) team and in the end Coach put most of the freshman in the to get some playoff experience.

The boy played 3 innings in the field at second base and had no chances. When he came to bat, I got to coach third. He faced the oppositions closer and fouled off the first pitch. But he was over match by the pitchers 87 mph fast ball and struck out.

Perhaps the pinnacle of teaching high school math is Calculus. As soon as I began teaching calculus, I remembered how much I loved the subject in college. Only now, I see it through 9 years of teaching experience. I taught the class twice this year in the fall and in the spring.

There have been an incredible mix of students in those classes:

8 student athletes (4 baseball, 2 boys soccer, 3 girls soccer, 2 swimmers and 1 basketball player)
5 musicians
1 cheer leader
4 sibs of kids I taught prior to this year
2 sisters (1 first semester and 1 second)
28 seniors
26 juniors
1 sophomore
and
the Math High School 2011 valedictorian and today he gave me this letter:

Dear Mathman:

Thank you for such a wonderful semester in AP Calculus. From constantly correcting your mistakes, your odd jokes and your quirky personality, it has truly been a pleasure finally being able to take a class with you. I know we were unable to cover much math in class, but I understand why and I sincerely appreciate all the time you put forth for the class. Honestly, I have never seen a teacher put more effort into their students than you. It is no wonder so many students find you to be their favorite teacher. Thank you so much for an enjoyable semester and for being an excellent teacher.

The letter actually brought a tear to my eye and I realize that it is time to end the blog because I know "When I Will Use This".

So long everybody...

When the Migraine Nearly Made an Appearance

2011-05-10T21:50:00.000-04:00

Educational cuts continue to cause pain. I have done my best to separate myself from these serious, ridiculous and unbelievable issues. In the fall, I resigned my chair position. It was a spur of the moment reaction that I had been thinking about for several weeks.

I was called to the principal's office and I knew I was in trouble, not for I did but for what several math teachers did not do. In the past, I was confident that I could convince my colleagues to try new ideas. But that had changed - it was a directive. I had no power to sell the idea and they had no power to discuss it. Before my boss could ask me why I did not..., I said, "perhaps, I should resign. I am obviously an ineffective leader."

For a while, I thought I was off the hook - some called me the "Peoples Champion". It seemed as though a replacement would be hired. People actually thought I was no-longer chair. But my bubble was burst when the heir- apparent pulled me aside and asked me if I was still chair. Finally, in April the boss decided to fire all the chairs and solicit applications from the entire staff.

This morning, I could feel the onset of a migraine - my head and stomach were transported to 1995 at Radio Shack. Pain set off by having the responsibility for solving problems for which I have no control or authority to take action.

I Have Nothing to Say

2010-11-26T12:07:00.001-05:00

The way it usually goes: I write a post and then never finish it. I have two from this week.

I've been reflecting about the last year at Mathman H.S. and educationally speaking it has be terrible. That view comes from my current ineffective lame duck department chair position. Our new principal spent all of 2009-10 sitting on his hands, mean while the school lost focus. As he said, we are not changing anything from the previous administration and he didn't. There was no change with no focus and support. So, we failed and missed AYP for the first time in 3 years.

This year is different.

For the first time I am not teaching a freshman math course and I am as focused as ever on AYP. I am teaching a test prep class that reviews two years of high school math to help students prepare for the impending graduation test and the next math courses the students need to take to graduate. I am also teaching AP Calculus and GA Math 2. I believe this is the best teaching course load I've had in my short career. Unlike the students I am never bored with repetitive math - Standard Deviation, Circles, Chords, Angles and Reimann sums all in the same day.

When Mowing The Lawn Becomes A Career Goal

2010-10-03T13:02:00.002-04:00

Becoming an assistant baseball and softball coach (the basketball court still has no grass) has made mowing grass a viable part time job. Like everything that I do, I want to do be the the best so I can fulfill those MLB grounds crew fantasies. My coaching experience quickly grew from sitting on the bench for JV basketball to head freshman basketball coach and assistant softball and baseball coach.

Naturally, I have maintained all my other obligations as a teacher and department chair. I am teach three different courses this year, including AP Calculus. The chair gig has become tedious, exhausting and demoralizing. Our school district cut the time allotted to chairs to do the work and our principal has provided more to do. My belief is that my boss wants to do the work that used to be my responsibility.

I am no longer responsible for showing teachers different teaching strategies, explaining curriculum issues or helping the department get better. I do have responsibility for sending email meeting notices, posting templates, ordering office supplies and ironically hiring a teaching in mid-school year. Some believe that I am no longer suited for the job, including me.

Fortunately, I am goal oriented. I wanted to become department chair and I reached that goal. When situations change, goals change. When I met coach a few years ago and began to talk baseball, I knew that I eventually wanted to become part of his coaching staff. Now, I am working on a new set of goals and my new title will be Mr. Coach Mathman.

Calculus By Day Grounds Keeper Later During The Same

2010-08-13T23:18:00.000-04:00

It has been an interesting start to the school year. In fact, I may be underestimating reality when I say that. As usual, my class schedule does not resemble the one that I had on paper last May. I was ready to become a Georgia Math GPS teachin' machine. Math I and Math II and Math III. The gods of class schedules stopped me in my tracks, even though I took that summer quadratics class.

I find myself teaching a new math review course and Math II and AP Calculus AB. At least, I know Math II - its all about those quadratics and them circles. I am excited about teaching AP Calc. But it has been a while since I took the AP course and that Tardis trip back to IU and M215 (now M211) was so long ago. So I taken to sleeping with several calculus text books. My latest goal is written on the inside cover of my old Anton, Calculus book.

I have an interesting observation about the new GA Math Curriculum. The students in my AP course have a mixture of math experience; both curricula are represented by the kids.. Those "new math students" seems to have a better understanding of those troublesome math concepts - domain and range and end behavior and blah blah blah functions. It appears that the new curriculum is aiming to get kids ready for college math. I will become a "matheist" if they make me teach Algebra I ever again.

I also, have expanded my coaching duties, adding assistant girls fast pitch to my list of coaching titles. We are basically the boys baseball staff plus one or two other coaches. Our first game was last Wednesday. The girls lost a heart breaker 7-6 but this team is promising.

I played score keeper for the game. I often keep score at ball games. Most recently I penciled out the Rome Braves game during our annual July 4th baseball adventure. We watched the game while the baby sat in the rest room texting me trying to find the right words to get me to take her home.

On Wednesday, I had no pencil. The pen and I combined to make that score card look like a monkey's handiwork. The monkey stayed with me today when I learned to drive a zero turn lawnmower. I zigzagged through the outfield drawing crazy patterns that my calculus students will have to sort out.

15 Wins and 15 Losses

2010-05-15T22:42:00.000-04:00

With all the bad news in education, budget problems and teacher cuts I keep trying to write these "heady" posts about what's been happening at Mathman H.S. I am really pissed about my colleagues getting fired. 7 draft posts sit unedited in my Edit Posts tab. Eventually, I'll get to them.

On the personal front, school has been going pretty well, except for the 15 teachers who lost their jobs last week. Even the varsity basketball coach got fired. So I don't know if I'll be asked to coach the freshman team again next year. These damn job cuts are stuck in my brain.

Baseball season sure went fast and I enjoyed working with the team. The team's 15-11 winning record was the first since 1998. They beat several teams that made the play-offs and one of our pitchers struck out a potential MLB draft pick with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th inning to end the game (with several MLB and college scouts watching).

Next year, the boy will attend Mathman H.S. and play baseball, too. I can't wait to be an assistant coach when he's on the team. But I will miss my colleague, the other assistant coach, because he lost his job last week, too. Whoops, I slipped in that bad news while I was telling you the good. Stupid negative educational climate.

Remember when I was Fat-Mathman last summer? Well, I am no longer the fat guy. I've lost 25lbs and today, I checked another goal off my list. I ran a 5K race sponsored by our service club that supports helping homeless pets find new homes.

My goal was to run the race in 35 minutes. I was sure that I'd make it in 32. Lots of students, teachers and pups showed up to compete. While I was warming-up and clipping my Ipod nano to my pocket, one of my colleagues and I decided to run together. Holy Cow! We ran a brisk pace for the first half of the course finishing in 12 minutes. 25 minutes and 12 seconds was our final time. It's ashame that she's losing her job, too.

Songs from my nano 5k playlist:

Fade Out Basketball... Fade in Baseball...

2010-02-07T23:07:00.001-05:00

I am little sad about the then end of basketball season. On Friday, the team won by 4. In Saturday's first game, the semi-final, we just could not get it going - the ball would not drop and we were beat again. Relegated to the consolation game we faced the same opponent that we beat the night before.

In the locker room prior to the game the captain's told me that since it was their last game they wanted to just have fun. "OK", I said and started 5 different players. The boys won the quarter 15-2 and they never looked back. The final score was 54-34. We arrived back at Mathman H.S. feeling good about the season. Since the Varsity team was playing a game I ran into the baseball coach and just like that my season changed to baseball.

Tomorrow, is my first day as a baseball coach and I am a little more confident about the sport even though I know that I must learn more about the game. I worry about the time commitment because there is no special neophyte's deal exempting me from practice.

I keeping thinking about my motivation for taking on these coaching responsibilities. To be candid, I want to bring in a little more income to offset the families lost income. I may earn a small stipend for coaching two sports. But, I am also trying to position myself to help the boy's chances of playing ball next year.

I am also lucky. I learned in college how much I enjoyed sports, so much so I was prepared to get a degree in recreation to facilitate a role for myself in intramural college sports. In hind-sight that turned out to be a misguided endeavor except that I met Lisa while earning that degree. Lately, I recalled the questions so many people asked me when they found out that I was getting a degree in Recreation Management: "Are you going to be a gym teacher?" or "Are you going to be coach?" Funny, how these are almost the same questions I was asked when I was getting that pure Math degree: Are you going to be a math teacher?

I also answered these questions the same way: No, No and No.

I am passionate about teaching math and I am always amazed when I learn something new - even if it occurs while teaching very basic Algebra topics. If only I had been focused and understood myself better when I was younger. Add coaching to the mix and I have accomplished two things that I never thought possible. I am working hard but consider myself lucky to be doing things that I love to do.

I Am Coach Mathman

2010-02-03T21:33:00.001-05:00

Are you tired of listening to my latest story yet? It"s almost over. 3 more games and my debut basketball season will be done. The team won (8-3) last Saturday and to be honest our JV coach led the way. I don't have a winning record because of my internal library of basketball knowledge. Watching 60 plus games coached by Bob Knight does not make a basketball expert.

It was easy to move over to let the expert coach. I have coached 5 games and he has coached - well who knows. The important thing is that the team won and we're poised for a rematch on Saturday. The last regular season game is Friday against a team we could play in the Saturday's second game (either the championship or consolation).

Enough about basketball.

Believe it our not I am still teaching math. The sports stuff has been a welcome distraction from work and it is bringing in that marginal income. I am teaching another new course this semester. It also has an exciting title: Math 2. Consider me a Georgia Math 1 and Math 2 teacher.

To be candid, I am tired of all the complaining about the new Georgia Math Curriculum. People, keep saying that the students do not have a good Algebraic foundation when the reach Math 3. If you rewind to three years ago... wait. Walk across the hall to that room where the old curriculum is still being taught to those grandfathered kids and you'll find that those kids have weak skills, too. The reason a change had to be made.

I say, "stop your bitching about the curriculum and the students".

Now that I have that I have been teaching these courses for 18 months I have come to realize several things. First, there will always be kids who can and kids who can't because students are products of bad parents, good parents, good teachers, bad teachers, good schools and bad schools. Second, changing the math curriculum doesn't not change the math. Euclid, Newton, Pascal and Pythagoras are dead but their are ideas are alive and well living in math classrooms. Changing the curriculum has provided us, teachers, with new insight into ideas that seem staid and boring to children. The new order requires creativity and thought and collaboration.

I love the challenge of teaching math with this new presentation. Last week, I learned another way to factor quadratic polynomials. This method would have made my Algebra I experience better and now I can share that with my students so that I can make their Math 2 life more interesting than my Algebra I, II Geometry life was in the '80's.

What I am Doing?

2010-01-29T20:00:00.033-05:00

I am feeling a little blog inspired these days. Many thoughts keep popping into my little gray cells and I think, "I should write about that." In an odd way, these ideas are causing my writers block because I just don't have time to write them all down. Clearly the lack of time is a good thing.

As a kid, my parents never pushed me toward anything other than math and music; both came naturally for me. Our musical family forced that on me and I am glad that they did. I love music. And you all know about the math (see the blog title).

My parents absolutely discouraged organized sports because mother was terrified that I (or my sibs) would get injured.. No little league or football. But when I went to Indiana... I discovered intramural sports and I became an intramural jock. I participated in so many sports that I won an award which currently resides in my office to prove to students that I once had some athletic ability.

I am not entirely delusional and understand that my true calling is math education with a side of a lot of different stuff.. So far, I have been a marching band field tech, department chair, club sponsor and chair of several committees. Lately, I have been reviewing a math puzzle book for a publisher in Indiana.

As I have accomplished these non-math things, I realized I really want to coach high school baseball. When an assistant baseball coach position opened last spring I seriously considered taking the job. For the past 4 years, I've been talking to our coach about the actor trying to get him an opportunity to play at Mathman H.S. My naivite and enthusiasm for the boy has helped me build a relationship with the coach. I discovered that he would have hired me if I wanted the job. I decided that I could not effectively coach baseball, teach, be math chair and drive an hour to and from work every day. Eventually, I will solve that problem.

But, I have been serving as an assistant JV basketball coach this season. I was put in this role because we lost another coach in a road tragedy in May on the last day of school. (no I did not write about it) About three weeks ago "something" else happened and I was asked to coach the freshman team.

The day after accepting the job, I coached my first game knowing only one player by name. We achieved a victory nonetheless and after 2 weeks the team was 4-0 (7-2 overall). On MLK day I attended an entire practice and began to figure this thing out. However, on Tuesday we lost our first game thatI coached.

Tomorrow, we start our conference basketball tournament. I am excited and a little nervous to get to the game. If we win, then we play the team that beat us last week.Oh, by the way, coach says, he still has an assistant baseball position open.

A Call To Duty

2010-01-11T20:54:00.006-05:00

In 1984, I was a typical Indiana University undergrad. I was a calculus whiz and understood how to find derivatives. On weekends and at night we watched basketball. A memorable year because IU managed to beat North Carolina that included Michael Jordan to reach the Sweet 16. The core of that team won the NCAA tourney in 1987. The next season - the chair.

My association with Mathman H.S. Basketball started several years ago when the varsity coach was a math teacher. He moved on to his alma mater but his bud is now coach and he asked me to help. In between this year's frustrating pay-cuts and new principal I have been assisting our JV basketball team. I ride the bench during games because our head JV Coach is not a school employee. I am simply representing.

You all know that I really aspire to be a baseball guy. I can tell when a pitcher is done or the ump needs some dirt kicked on his shoe. But my basketball experience consists of playing on slow break league 6 foot and under team back in 1988. Our team was good but we were short; just like me and my basketball skills and knowdge.

As the season has played out, I quckly realized that our JV coach is excellent. I assumed that I would simply watch him, learn a little about basketball and a lot about coaching. All true so far. Today, I was asked to coach the freshman team. Tomorrow, I will be pacing the side lines and trying to control my nerves and keeping my hands off the chairs.

The Rookie

2009-12-29T13:14:00.004-05:00

I decided weeks ago that I was going to write a blog post. I wrote post after post that were 2 or 3 sentences long. I even wrote 2 two paragraphs last week. All these words were left to rot on the digital paper on which they were typed. Now, I am at it again.

I have so many ideas kicking through my brain that I am having trouble deciding which thought I should become my first post since August. August was a devastating month. Our school district decided to move our principal to another school and replace him with a rookie.

In sports, rookies often are identified because they have talent. They run, hit, catch, kick, throw, shoot a basketball or even drive. But rookie principals are an absolute crap shoot and if we are talking about rolling 2 dice like in craps I'll take the 7 before I bet on our new principal.

In the not so distance past, I was confident in the job I was doing as a teacher and chair. I knew that my vision was the boss' vision and therefore the school. My job was to move the department toward that vision. Teach and cajole the teachers to get better and teach and cajole the students to get better. It seemed so simple because we had great leadership. The boss understood that the sum of the parts made a greater whole.

I didn't worry about anything other than the math department and how we would get teachers to improve. I am not implying that we have bad teachers (OK, we do have some) but anyone who does anything knows that you can always do better. To begin debate I often send emails that lead to conversation so that I can share information and more ideas. This year, I have had my methods denounced.

My departmental emails often ask the teachers to reflect upon or consider an idea. A few months ago, I asked the department. "What are we going to do about the number of students who are failing math?" Naturally, I shared my email, with the new boss and of course one teachers fired back (using respond to all) with a host of reasons why this issue was not her responsibility.

I know that there many reasons why kids don't do well in school. But this teacher said that the kids don't do their work and parents must take responsibility. As a parent, I was angered by this statement and as a teacher I was offended. Of course, we need kids and parents to be responsible but in a classroom for 90 minutes a day, the teacher must bear responsibility for the students.

The new boss (he still refers to himself as the "new guy") sent a firm email to this teacher telling her that we are responsible for the learning in our classes and that we can't control student and parent behavior outside of school. Seconds, later he sent me an email telling me, "emails are ineffective because of this type of response." What the boss didn't know and still doesn't know is that my email elicited one response from someone who is unwilling to consider different ideas but prompted 5 others to email or talk to me about student success.

My interpretation of his email to me: "Mathman stop doing what you're doing. I don't believe your method will work." When I went to his secretary to make an appointment to talk to him, she said that he was not taking new appointments.

It a Function of Something...

2009-08-25T21:56:00.003-04:00

I admit that I am not nearly as motivated to write blog posts. I know that I have said that before. But shoot, another two weeks has gone by. The new school year marches on and all of a sudden we are in the middle of week three and open house is on Thursday. The first football game is on Friday against a rival where the old boss landed.

When I mentally sift through all the crap, the new principal, the made up stuff to do, the lack of respect for my fellow department chairs I find the golden nugget - the reason that I teach. All those excentric students from last year stop by to visit me every morning. I really like these kids. Finally, the new Georgia Math Standards are making sense to me. My new students seem to get the math a little better. The students and the math are the reason's I teach and that's what makes it fun.

Arrrgg...

2009-08-10T22:30:00.004-04:00

I am feeling compelled to be here, at my keyboard attached to this blog. I can't say that I have gone back to read any old posts but many of them are with me. I am thinking about them, especially the stories about Mathman H.S.

I wonder if I complained too much in those stories. Maybe. All those problems with admin 1 and admin 2. Honestly, those were false issues; not then but now. Problems that did not go away but have been smoothed out, mostly.

I am worried about Mathman H.S. The jockeying for position seems ridiculous. People who have no business in a leadership roles downward delegating (because of ignorance) and writing emails with big words used incorrectly are distracting us from our goal. They cause the minutia to seem more important than educating our students. I am considering walking the plank. More wine (or beer for JIM), please.

The Yellow Limousines are Approaching

2009-08-09T22:14:00.006-04:00

My brother once told me that I should be able to do any job. I assume, he meant that most jobs are essentially the same. I am not sure that I agree with him but this week I have my own, half stolen, half made up and half trite statement: Everything I learned about careers I learned as a Radio Shack Sales Manager.

If you've been to one of these stores you know exactly what I mean. When I worked there I had a staff of over aggressive, not entirely qualified, mostly nice people who worked for me. I just wanted to the best job I could and make a lot of money, thank you very much!

I don't know when I learned of the golden rule of people but I think it is essentially true.

Sometimes it's referred to as the 80-20 rule. 80% of my customers had no clue. And I mean no clue about anything. These are the folks that have trouble finding a 5 dollar bill in a pocket that contains 2. The 20% get it and are mostly OK. This rule works in many other situations.

As a teacher, my goal is to teach my students well so that they stay out of the Radio Shack 80. The other night, I ran into one of my former students and she is trying like hell to enroll in other 20. Lisa and I pulled up to the DQ drive-up window and after ordering, I commented to Lisa, "She was very polite." Surprise! - one of my own.

She proudly told me that she's going to college. "Great", I said. As I recall, college was never a certainty for her. She has many strikes against her but I am confident for her.

Back in the Radio Shack days my good friend, also named Doug told me, "Douglas, I can out survive any of our District Managers." And we did. There were 5 in the 7 seven years that I ran stores. Most of these guys were pretty good at the job. Education has not been much different. In my seven years working in 2 school districts I have worked for 5 different principals. "Holy shit, Batman that's the same as Radio Shack."

At Radio Shack the real problems were my colleagues and my employees. Now, as you know, I work with some incredible people. Some are great teachers and leaders and educators. Some are absolute boobs. In 1989, I managed my first Radio Shack store. I had one of those boobs working for me. At first, he acted as if he was incharge. He told me that we did things this way or that way while answering my questionswith a nasally "eh".

Eventually, I took control of the situation and the store. I ran the store my way and the boss transferred "eh" to a different location. Mathman HS has some "eh"s, too. One who happens to be my new current administrator. The day before the old boss left, he saidMathman sorry about the "eh" but we'll talk about how to work him.The next day the old boss was gone and the new boss was in.

"Eh", I said. Over and over and over and it continues to echo in my head.

Just like my1989 "eh" the current "eh" is puffing out his chest and claiming expertise that he didn't have last year or the year before that. I hear claims of knowledge and solutions when I walk around corners. Everyone has noticed and people are talking. I am listening above and below. I hope that the new boss is listening, too

What Should I Do Now?

2009-08-05T23:38:00.008-04:00

I used to have blogging goals. Now, I only have thoughts that rarely make it onto a typed page. I keeping thinking I want to write about how the egghead's who run our school district moved our principal to a different school and left us with a rookie leader. I could tell you about how school will be different this year for the kids or for me. I did accidently post a draft of my course syllabus the other day, maybe my best work. It is entirely possible that Facebook has ruined me for blogging.

In honor of my facebook summer I am reducing this post to a list of words of stuff that I may have done or thought about doing:

fireworks

read

walk

treadmill

weights

mountain

Indiana

BBQ

tomato

tire

clutch

tea

boobs

teeth

crown

boss

baseball

lawn

computer

sprinkler

plants

flowers

vacuum

laundry

dishes

kitten

liter

plunger

balance

theapy

cobbler

farmers market

cars

wine

reflecting

deck

library

books

birds

squirrels

cats

in-laws

bubble bath

flowers

pictures

photography

facebook

make up

Steve

Forrest

cousin

Australia

Dance

XBox

She Blinded Me With Science....

2009-07-16T23:12:00.004-04:00

Hello and Ahoy!

Summer is going well, so far. But I am realtively boring so...

I wanted to show you a cool project that one of my Mathman H.S. colleagues is working on this summer: Paleoceanography - check out his blog.

Camper Van Beethoven Good Guys 1987 Vusic Video

2009-06-26T00:27:00.001-04:00

A little music for between posts.

Camper Van Beethoven Good Guys 1987 Vusic Video

Shared via AddThis

What Does BMI Mean Anyway?

2009-06-15T20:19:00.005-04:00

You may be wondering where I have been... then again maybe you haven't.

After wrapping-up the school year, I started right back planning for next year. I also went to a car show and the doctor. He knows that I have been going through a persona change. I guess I'll have to fess-up to the kids - I am not pregnant.

The doc pinched my ass and twisted my balls and typed into his calculator.

"Technically, you are obese" he said.

I am Fat-mathman.

I know exactly, when it happened. I checked my exercise log - star- date last January. And before that, I have no idea. Fortunately, for me we have moved and there is a small gym less than two miles away before you get to the Chicago hot dog Joint. I stopped by today and signed up. I am there dudes. I'll be force feeding myself healthy food that would make Miss Healthy Pants proud.

"Is there more?"

"Yes, there is and thanks for asking."

... insert procratination here... insert unfinished business here...

Won't Get Fooled Again, Unless Your A Student In My Class Because You Might Learn Something

2009-05-28T23:22:00.005-04:00

Another school year is done and done. But not really, I still have amath teacher to hire and with our department's admin leaving for another school and the replacement being really lame, it's up to me. So I have one more interveiw tomorrow and if she's really good then she'll get the job but if not I have another candidate in mind.

How do I wrap-up the school year in a post. I have been thinkg about it for couple weeks. Our school really had an incredible year and for me it was most memorable. I will never forget our Band trip to the inauguration in Januray. Lately, I avoided writing about the sadness because at some point it is just too, much (yes this happened last week).

One my most cherished memories happened last Thursday as my students finished their final exam. I actually have an office attached to my classroom. The office houses most of our math texts and teaching materials as well as a few personal odds and ends.

Since, I am a teacher pack-rat I have box full of paper wads that I collected over the year. While I collected the last of the final exams several students sneaked into the office and retrieved the balls of paper. Then Suddenly a wall of paper rained down on me. At the moment. I knew that most of these kids got it - they understood. Math doesn't have to be boring. We can do crazy stuff and learn. Next year - their first task will be to write an equation for the path of a paper ball taveling from their hand to my head. Could it be quadratic?

Collectible Moments at the New Digs or Sort of a Memorial Day Post

2009-05-25T11:12:00.005-04:00

This post has been fermenting since Mother's Day and now it's a Memorial Day post. As high school student, Memorial Day was about concerts and school assemblies. The assembly was always in the Lane Stadium. The band would play American Patrol and a speaker would talk to the students about some relevant topic.

When we lived in Des Plaines, we often visited my Dad's grave - he was a veteran after all. Then we would officially open the Prospect Avenue Bar.

The move to the new digs has helped tidy-up our lives. We cleared out piles of stuff that we don't use and don't need anymore. During the process, I've run across lots of mementos and many collectibles. One of my favorites is my dad's Algebra book from his old World War II Army days. The book was tucked away for at least 15 years. I don't know why I never looked at it closely.

Obviously, I am the the family math person; my sibs are the real musicians. I never even considered a musical career after high school. I knew that my talent for music was minor. My dad was the musician, the band director, the performer, and the teacher. Connecting him to math is a little weird.

I guess my father had to take Algebra when he was in the Army I can't imagine why he really needed it,especially in hindsight. He was a great music teacher but this old book with his writing connects me to him when he was 18, the dancer's age and the age of many of my graduating students. It's a snap shot in time that I apprecite now more than when I received the book.

Beam Me Up Scotty...

2009-05-23T22:09:00.004-04:00

Back in 1979 my father took me to see Star Trek the Motion Picture. It was my birthday present. Today, I took the Dancer to the new Star Trek Movie. If you have seen the movie and you're a Trekie you'll notice the "Star Trek" patterns. But you also know that the Wrath of Khan is the best of those movies and that Kirk reprogramed the simulator in the clip below. He didn't like to loose.

We can't all be Captain Kirk. We can't cheat death.

Here's advice to my graduate daughter. Create your own Koybiashi Maru. Write your own rules for life. Lead, win, celebrate, learn, smile, dance, sing, run, play, laugh, cry, fly, and mostly be happy.

2 Times One Year

2009-05-18T17:34:00.003-04:00

I wrote my first blog post two years ago, today. It's not really a big deal except that we count time in years. Since I have had jobs for shorter time periods and school will be out on Friday...

Baseball Been Very Good To Me, Maybe

2009-05-14T22:46:00.004-04:00

I am not bragging about the actor even though it may sound like I am. A coach doesn't brag about his team when it loses 13 - 0 We are plagued by nagging injuries; sore arms, bruised wrists and twisted ankles. We were bad at the little things and some big things, too.

First, the boys didn't hit tonight. They were intimidated by the opposing pitcher. Coupled with a strike zone from the ankles to the shoulder it was tough to draw a walk. Our hitters were reduced to bobble head dolls.

The actor did walk. He stole second using his self proclaimed ninja move. The catcher made a quick throw and the boy was going to be out but instead of sliding, he jumped the 2nd baseman in stride. He landed and dove into second from behind. On the next play he was called out stealing third. The ump had a blocked view. Coaching 3rd, I clearly saw that he was safe. Too, bad for me.

In the last inning, I brought the actor into pitch. He is our last resort guy - the one we bring in because he can throw strikes and maybe get an out or two. He has three speeds: slow, slower and slowest. Slow is a little faster these days.

As he warmed-up, he yelled at me; " Why am I pitching? Look, I can't even get it to the plate."

Then something changed. The boy - the actor had a Bull Durham moment from the mound. He started talking to the batters. "What do you want me to throw? OK here comes a fastball" or "Here comes another one - no change-up" He was deep into the opponent's heads. One guy managed a base hit just past the shortstop. Other than that hit, the boy stuck out the side.

Our team is notoriously tight in games when they get their asses kicked. But tonight... they had fun. The bad call ump was laughing hysterically and baseball was what it should be: the greatest game in the world.

Happy Birthday Dancer

2009-05-06T21:49:00.005-04:00

I am not the popular blogger of Golden Manor but occasionally I get fan mail. Today, I received a note from M. Contact from Sweet Home Chicago. He found me while looking for information about the old Albany Park Neighborhood. Even now, I am traveling back to my childhood home, Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony is playing on XM (naturally it came from WFMT) and I used listen to that almost everyday back in 1980.

1980 was the baseball year. I went to so many games and the White Sox were terrible. If I had $3.00 or $4.00 dollars I could go to the game and often sit in the first 5 or 6 rows in the outfield of our Comiskey Park. Cheap Tickets. Jorge Orta, Alan Bannister, Lamar Johnson and Bob Molinaro where some of my favorites. And of course Harry Carey and Jimmy Piersal were in their prime telling it like it was; bad fielding and bad base running. It was great.

So M, has set me off on a sentimental rant of sorts because he mentioned the old hot dog joint I wrote about a few months ago. I decided to google the places I stop by when I go home to Chicago: Super Dawg, Susie's, Shelly's Freeze (well I think about this one but I don't stop), Hero's and Charcoal Delights. Charcoal Delights has a special place in my heart because the original store is near the childhood home and the newest store is by the old Des Plaines homestead.

When mother was still alive, we would visit her. She'd call in an order to Charcoal Delights. "I would like a BLT with crisp bacon." Lisa and I dreaded picking up those orders because the cooks really did not know how to make crisp bacon. Eventually, I starting asking before I paid if the bacon was crisp. I couldn't take the tears when the bacon wasn't prepared just right. Now, after 20 years I realize why the bacon had to be crisp and it's because of my busted up crown. My mom couldn't chew bacon unless it was crisp - it was that partial, no back teeth.

Occasionally, in the summer of '91 we would bring our baby, aka the dancer, to mom's house and surely we ate BLT's while we compared baby's. Yes my nephew was born just a month prior to the dancer. In the long run, the dancer won the baby contest - she's won the math award at her high school two years in row and earned a full scholarship (both academic and dance) to Brenau University.

Deja Vu

2009-05-03T22:09:00.005-04:00

It seems to me that blog posts should be interesting to someone. All ideas that run through my brain are re-runs. Same shit different day. The cycle of the same is painful. At school we're worried about our jobs or someone important to a student, parent or teacher has died. The spawn are getting under our skin and spending all of our money. Our baseball team stinks. The storms and tornadoes warnings are yelled across the county every other day by loud blaring sirens.

It is damn boring here.

Multimedia message

2009-05-01T21:01:00.001-04:00

Multimedia message,
originally uploaded by mathman6293.

We find ourselves in another severe weather situation. The girls and I are at the high school waiting it out. No power.

The Faces Of Lisa With A Spoon

2009-04-26T23:38:00.001-04:00

The Faces Of Lisa With A Spoon,
originally uploaded by mathman6293.

Silliness abounds at our house. Sometimes it just happens. We took a break from the yard work and "it" happened. It sure is something!

Multimedia message

2009-04-23T13:15:00.001-04:00

Multimedia message,
originally uploaded by mathman6293.

The boy fell on the way to school. Smart boy walked to the firestation for treatment. Now, we're at the doctor.

Update: The boy is fine. The doctor sewed up his leg with 4 or 5 stitches and he is almost as good as new. As for work today, forget about it. But we did eat Bananas Foster the other night. Would you rather see a delicious dessert instead the boy's busted up shin? That's what I thought.

Long Long Ago...

2009-04-22T21:25:00.004-04:00

It seems like so long ago... back in 2001 when I started my teacher certification program...

There were hours of observations. I went to different schools. I observed high school and middle school math and English classes. I even visited an alternative school. But pre-service seems different here in Georgia. For the last 6 weeks I had a KSU undergrad observe my class on weekly basis. He saw all my teaching moods and even went to lunch duty with me. It must be difficult to be a student in any field these days - I'd be worried if I picked a field where I could actually to find a job.

Now, in this time of crisis I agonize over our class schedule for next year. I have some idea how many teachers we'll have in the department but on the other hand there are lots of ifs. If this and if that... There are also many worries about the current year most of which I really can't write about here. But imagine the standard stuff you hear about on the news; it's question of how do you get all the parties involved in education to do better - teachers, students and parents. Many of these concerns are beyond my control but many are in my sphere of influence.

One of the first observations I did was at Maine East High School (didn't Hillary Clinton and Harrison Ford go to this school?) and that day there was a school -wide assembly about tolerance and they played this song.

Afternoon Lisa

2009-04-19T14:07:00.002-04:00

Afternoon Lisa
Originally uploaded by mathman6293

Afternoon Lisa.

Vienna Beef Makes It Opossum's Drift

2009-04-19T10:54:00.002-04:00

Originally uploaded by mathman6293

All eight of our arms were pulled in different directions yesterday. The first yank occurred after we crossed the covered bridge to attend the baby's chorus performance. And there it was... a piece of my childhood. The Vienna Beef hotdog sign and the man from down the road had a booth setup at the festival. So close to home. It was like walking to Maury's Redhots on Lawrence Avenue in Albany Park.

Flickr

2009-04-19T10:46:00.001-04:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

And Now for Something Completely Different and It Is

2009-04-14T21:28:00.005-04:00

I am feeling a post starting to brew. But I don't know what to write about this evening. Lisa is covering our new commuting situation and I am sure you will find it a barrel of laughs. This new arrangement reminds of a story...

Back in 2000 before I got fired from that job that November and briefly laid off from our marriage Lisa and I experimented with commuting to downtown Chicago. If memory serves we road the Metra train and walked to our respective destinations. I worked in a high rise on the Chicago River across the street from the building formerly known as the Sears Tower (who the hell knows the name now?).

I recall waiting for Lisa to meet me at my office. At that time I had a window seat with a great view of the river. I sometimes watched the sail boat parade down the river waiting for the draw bridges to open so that they could pass. It was a great view from the 22nd floor. Then I spotted her from all that way. I learned that I could pick out Lisa in a crowd from 22 stories up.

The Economy Really Sucks

2009-04-12T06:59:00.001-04:00

While sifting through the keep and throw-away in the garage last week I came upon many documents from the past. The memories of past mistakes and job issues came alive. As I read through the documents from my last corporate job, it occurred to me that I lost the last two on the cusp of the Bush presidency and that corporations really want to keep their nefarious dealings (see my termination agreement) quiet. But now, that the economy is so bad it is coming out and it effects all levels of the economy.

On Decemeber 12, 2000 I received my last business world job offer:

Dear Mathman:

I am pleased to offer you the opportunity to join A... Corp.

Your starting gross salary will be $60,000 annualized; $2,500 for each semi -monthly pay period... The 2000 target incentive compensation is $30,000...

I never recieved the incentive (commission) plan and on March 31, 2001, my boss gave me a weeks notice before I revceived this the following week:

IT IS HEREBY AFFIRMED by Mathman and A... Corp, that Mathman has been terminated from his emplyment in his position in Business Development effective April 6, 2001. In consideration of this termination, it is hereby agreed that:

1. A.. Corp... will provide a lump sum payment...

2. ... Cobra...

3. ... agree that they will keep the terms, amount, and fact of this agreement completely confidentional...

This was the second time I was terminated for corporate economic reasons in 5 months. Between the first (11/00 -1/01)and second job there were lots of interveiws and job opportunities. After the second teminiation there were absolutely no jobs. That's when I decided to teach. So much water under the bridge. Did I tell you that we live near that covered bridge and the puff the magic power plant? Then there is the current reality. Ultimately, a reality that revolves around economics - for us the move, the job and the family.

Last Wednesday, I had my annual reveiw. You know the kind that only really matters if you are a crappy teacher because either you keep your job or you may not get that contract offer. If you are good there are no pay raises other than the annual "two cents" step raise as indicated on the chart posted on the district's web site.

My suprervisor observed me a few weeks ago and liked my lesson. On Wednesday at our meeting, she explained my evaluation. I immediately decided that I was not entirely happy with her explanation. I felt her evaluation of my lesson planning wasn't accurate and told her so. I have evidence and professional development to back me up. I explained my case and she agreed and graded me accordingly. It felt good to defend myself and come out a head.

Later, that day we had our monthly staff meeting. I knew that the news would not be good. I am worried that my department will lose teachers and seniority matters more than if you're a qualified. However, the boss did take care of one of the clunkers and he won't be back. The bad news is that the district projects a 55 million dollar deficit. The answer a 2% paycut but I will get my two cent step raise. If we lose teachers in the department that's another cut since I get paid by the number of teachers in the department.

The summary: an excellent job review earns me a paycut. If I was surfing a desk and shuffling papers instead of teaching kids who need me - they would get 2% less work. But unlike my former business development job, the district needs teachers. The students won't be leaving beause of the economy and neither will I.

It Is A Dark and Stormy Night

2009-04-10T19:07:00.007-04:00

Sirens are going off again... 7:27...

What were we thinking when we moved here? Nice weather? Sure. Georgia's Tornado Coal Ash Alley. Nope, but we are here. We holed-up in the basement hallway. Unlike, last year the TV has worked most of the time. Fortunately, no twister yet.

A Dozen Pins For Free

2009-04-08T22:16:00.003-04:00

I am so boring. All I do is unpack, put away and throw away. Then I drag the trash bags to the dump. We do live in rural North Georgia after all. Last night, I did managed to go to a Hawiian themed party.

Great to chill with the gang but you know how we teachers are; not me, but my friends don't get out enough. Then they really throw it down. One friend admitted that one of the smells that gets her going is not Axe or Old Spice or Phyeremones but bleach and water.

More beer or pudding please!

Any since my life is so boring I give you another memoriablia collage.

There are some oldies in this. Most notably a pin that my dad picked up when he was in high school. I hope you enjoy the nostalgia.

Semi-colons

2009-04-07T18:49:00.003-04:00

Lately, I am taking my time between posts. Last year I set lofty blogging goals but this year: not. Now that I am on Spring break I should be writing a way but: not. Moving takes up a lot of time and today I was no different. I leave you a pic from the old digs: The Bee.

I Have A Knack For Moving

2009-03-29T22:25:00.008-04:00

This moving business is exhausting. Carry this and move that. Do you really need this. Yes, I am the youngest kid of course I need it. That anxiety kicked in this morning, good thing it is gone now, I had packed up the car intending to make a run to the new digs first thing this morning. I was ready as if I was going on long trip and I needed every inch of space to carry my necessities.

The drive was an adventure. First I saw bambi and 3 of his idiot friends jumping into a cattle pasture. The cows and the bulls looked at them as if they were idiots for jumping into the jail.

Closer to the new digs I saw two magnificent vultures munching on some road kill and one stopped to pose for me.

On Friday, night I stopped for a cold one with some of my school friends. We talked and drank and ate wings. But I thought it was funny how we talked mostly about the teachers that we hate which made me think of My Sharona. But actually the song I should have thought of was Good Girls Don't.

Who's the Clown?

2009-03-25T21:03:00.007-04:00

I blog therefore I am and when I don't blog I am not. So, I haven't been for a few days and it was conscious decision. I just didn't, but now I am back having found a bit of blog inspiration from Miss Healthy Pants' hubby Iwanski. He happened to have a scary Bozo picture up on his Flickr. I just happen to have my pin that proves I went to the Bozo show when I was a kid.

I found the pin while sifting through all the crap that I have accumulated over the years. I am really fond of the little stuff like baseball cards and pins. I found my Bozo the clown pin and many bozo the politician pins, too. And since I have a camera I took pictures.

Just Think - Many School Employees Will Lose Their Jobs at Then End of the Year

2009-03-20T19:18:00.005-04:00

There use to be a Radio Shack 180 N. Wabash in Chicago. I was the store manager there for almost 5 years. Years that I regret in many ways because of the sense that was wasted time. Time that I should have spent to doing something much more important, like spending time with Lisa and the baby dancer.

Nothing exciting ever happened there. Sometimes there was a shop-lifter who would boldly reach behind the cash counter and steal a bunch of radios or scanners or batteries or something. I would follow the alleged perpetrator out the door. If I was lucky there would be a band of teamsters unloading equipment for the next show at the Chicago Theater and they would chase the thief down for me.

Not to mention the local stars who occasionally stop by; all those WLS news and sports casters and even Johnny Morris popped in once. Twice I saw bare nipples which of course were attached to the appropriate cup sized boobs. Boring and not really helpful to humankind.

Even though our children are very difficult and more liberal than Lisa and I combined and general piggy-ness emanates from them they are good eggs. We don't expect to have to worry about their shopping lifting and nipple baring habits. And for me experience and maturity are working wonders. I have a fulfilling job where I can really help children and they know it. After that, math is a fascinating subject.

They learn that sometimes shoes fly and their flight is similar to that of a thrown baseball or even water shooting from a fire hose. Quadratic functions are us, dudes. There are even students that never took my class who know these things because I am the school sidler. Any student or former student of mine knows that I will sneak up on them at any time of the day. I peer into classrooms and open doors. They know I am watching and they know I care.

Today, one student whom I never taught but knows me because visited her classroom regularly last year, rattle me like I have never been shaken before and I have been through some shit in the recent past. This kid refers to me as friend when I am on hall duty.

The bell rang and I took my stack of grid 3x5 cards and waited for my students. I saw my friend walking to class; distraught tears streamed down her face. I caught up with her and asked her what was wrong. Her answer absolutely frightened me - social studies tests should not equate into a death wish.

I guided her into a 180 degree turn and we walked to the counselors office. I took her to the experts. I was shaken but went back to class. How unimportant the math seemed at the moment. After my two classes and lunch duty - I went back to the counselor. It was real. I did not overact and my friend is getting help. Never let anyone tell you that school counselors don't do anything.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

2009-03-18T21:17:00.005-04:00

Day light savings time causes the darkness to encroach upon my morning drive. It seems that every morning, I see the shadow of Bambi's cousins in the darkness. Yesterday, I saw small herd grazing across the road in the dim morning fog. Today, just past the old day care center where the baby used go, I saw 3 or 4 deer shadows cross the road into an abandon cemetery. I stopped my car to watch and let them pass. One got a running start and jumped. He promptly fell in the ditch next the road and then quickly scrambled up and ran across the road. There were 4 or 5 more watching like me but they laughed and ran in the opposite direction.

When I got to school, I walked by our computer lab and noticed that John Nash had stopped by the room. The windows were covered in calculus symbols, numbers and calculations. Very cool.

Then my day deteriorated and I can't really talk too much about it. But I have been teaching a class that meets every other day. On the off day the students have another math class that supports the class I teach. That teacher and I work very closely. Our goal is to ensure the student's pass Math I. While on lunch duty, one our student's told me that the class was bad and they made my colleague cry.

Near the end of the day my colleagued stopped by my room and told me about the situation. The students still don't understand that our courses are connected and that we collaborate and communicate. We decided that tomorrow when that group come to me they will be greeted by both of us. They will be surprised.

Finally, I had to meet with a struggling teacher. This one really drives me nuts he teaches the same way everyday. Everyday he has the same results... that's all I say for now. The good news is that in our new digs Lisa and I fit in the tub at the same.

Not My Finest Moment

2009-03-14T17:49:00.004-04:00

On occasion Miss Healthypants provides me blog ideas. Flashing back to St Patrick's Day 1987, I had a date with woman I met while drunk walking to the EL after a Saturday night at the bars on Division Street. This sounds bad on one level but is not that bad but is really bad on another level.

Walking along, in our normal drunken fashion with my friends, both of whom are now doctors, we raucously made our way to the subway. We bumped in to several women who offered to give us lift to the train. I think that I told her my name and that I worked at Radio Shack. No phone numbers were exchanged next thing you know she's calling me at work on Sunday morning.

We talked and talked over the next few weeks and finally decided to meet for a date and it was St Patrick's Day. We met at a little deli in Down Town Chicago. She was from one of the close western suburbs. I picked Chicago because I was going to visit some friends later that afternoon.

When we finally met I quickly realized that I had made a mistake. She just wasn't my type. We ate our lunch and talked a little more and then departed ways. I did not want to leave the impression that I was going to ditch her. Prior to our meeting I planned my emergency escape route just in case I needed it. And I did. I excused myself due to my "appointment". I departed via the Wabash El Station. Up one side, counted to ten and down the other and off to see my friends.

To The Tardis We're Going To 1986a or NCAA Time Takes Me Back To 1986

2009-03-11T20:22:00.007-04:00

I have been meaning to write about snap shots in my life for a long time. Thinking

about time and years as they passed makes me feel like I missed many moments of importance and would give anything to get those moments back. Hence my tardis.

I don't promise to write about these in order or even to write about them at all. The Doctor doesn't travel in only one direction in time and neither will I.

Here are the important years: 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 , 1985 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1986

This morning I heard that Cleveland State is going to the big dance again. I remember the last time they went to the tourney. It was in March 1986. My friends and I were planning our spring break trip to Fort Lauderdale. First we had to watch Indiana beat Cleveland State on TV. Not! IU lost and don't let any tell you that people forget the loses. Here are my top 4 Indiana games when I was a student:

1 . 1984 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Indiana 72 North Carolina 68

2. 1985 Big Ten Season Indiana 63 Purdue 72

3. 1983 NCCA Sweet Sixteen: Indiana 59 Kentucky 64

4. 1986 NCAA First Round: Indiana 79 Cleveland State 83

After that disappointing loss, we loaded up the van and we drove to Florida. A trip that was accented with cases of Busch Beer, beach volley ball and Cap'n Crunch with beerfor breakfast. Nobody cared about basketball after breakfast anyway.

Sunset On the Way Home

2009-03-10T21:33:00.006-04:00

I finally have come to a personal realization after talking to my therapist about one of our anxiety crazed children. She said, the apples don't fall far from tree. I knew that she was talking about me. I had an immediate epiphany.

All those churning stomachs. I would worry about this or worry about that. In my head, I would prioritize and order events to keep help keep perspective. But teaching doesn't usually cause the physical feeling except during March when we are heavy into testing and scheduling for next year.

But there are times when life eats me up, like last year and now as we try to move to our next phase. We (Lisa and I) cope by trying to have meaningful conversations but sometimes we are limited by the time and children and the Internet has become an escape for both of us - separately and together. Lately, I have become a little disconnected from this blog opting for facebook and planning math lessons.

When I feel down - I mean I am feeling anxiety and the problem is that I don't always know if it real or unfounded. Now, my spirits are boosted because it looks like we have secured another house and we'll be close to a library, a park and a small store.

Drive-way Ball

2009-03-09T21:11:00.003-04:00

Eight-four degrees on March 9 is awesome. The weather has been great the last several days. I love driving with the windows down and the music up because like a lemming I am compelled to turn on Who Are You when it finally warms enough to travel with open windows.

Now the children are revved-up because they have discovered the drive-way basketball challenge. The two of them love to beat the crap out of their old man while pretending to play a sport that resembles basketball.

As in all games of this sort rules are only made as needed.

1. Hockey rule: If the ball bounces of a car, garage door or retaining wall it is still in play.

2. No swearing or cussing if you are from Georgia: You may not say fuck or a word that sound like fuck which include but is not limited to truck, luck, nuck, muck, cluck and fluck. Said penalty will result in one free throw.

3. Shatter backboard rule: If the ball is shot through the back bard the opposing team get possession of the ball.

4. Trash talk: The dad is allow to trash talk the children because they live in short attention span theater. It mandatory that he says the following: "The boy has nothing" and "The Cinderella story can't hit a shot."

5. The score: Fat and out shape dads must rest on defense, offense and inbound plays.

Now that you know the rules, check the ball.

Yesterday Morning

2009-03-05T20:30:00.001-05:00

Guess What - Cutting Taxes Is a Bad Fucking Idea

2009-03-03T21:47:00.000-05:00

Georgia has this really great new math curriculum. Some how, by the end of the semester I will have managed to teach it three times. But it is imperfect. The state has provided many hands on "tasks" which really are multi-tiered wordy math problems. In fact many of the tasks contain excellent problems but I can't teach an 18 page packet to freshmen. I am not good enough and neither are they. Lately, I spend lots of time modifying these tasks.

Last week we got the word, words really: Budget Freeze. If you must make a purchase it must be approved via a cumbersome 5 layer process: department chair - administrator - principal and committee - area superintendent. Need a paper clip? Follow the process. Now, someone will need to request paper and toner for all the printers and copiers.

Fortunately, in August I bought several cases of spiral notebooks which I give to the students to take notes. So me and Powerpoint will generally be OK. But there is the matter of the state tasks. I can edit and edit and print in a really small font size so that my two reams of paper last until Memorial Day.

Look Out Toward the Horizon

2009-02-28T21:36:00.006-05:00

There is freedom in living near like minded people and I felt that freedom this weekend. In a sense it felt like my college days but I am not talking about living alone, drinking beer four nights a week and stumbling home two of them.

I felt the freedom of thought and the freedom to be. I sat in that cafe for several hours on Friday and it was alive with activity. Activity of nearness without the need to drive miles upon miles to get somewhere, anywhere. My car was home parked a several blocks away and the rent was cheap.

I wanted to visit the memories of my past. The first kiss, the wedding and the reception. It was all there and I walked. I love our little piece of land and the garden and the produce but the cost is great. We have been isolated from civilization. The civilation that we chose first and it was my decision back then.

I picked Indiana, it was where I wanted to be. IU appealed it was my life for four years. I had to go back - I wanted to live near a college campus and I earned the degree that would allow me to do that but I still didn't know how do it.

Naturally, there were episodes in our lives that we would like to change. We have put ourselves through a lot and maybe if we had known better we would not have tortured ourselves and hurt each other. We could not communicate to make the little issues small and they became big and I think what if? - I had pursued that career in recreation?

My passion no-longer is with recreation, maybe it never was, but my heart is in education and I have been thinking about the next step for the last year. Last year, I started an application to attend KSU but our family issues made me rethink that strategy and I missed the deadline. Everyday, I consider what next?

The IU version

2009-02-27T09:42:00.006-05:00

The block is gone. Thoughts are raging in my head. I am transformed back in time and I'm still here in the moment at my alma mater, our university where it all started. The dancer is considering attending IU.

We ate breakfast at the Waffle House and heard 99 Red Balloons, a song that I automatically associate with my college days before Lisa and I met. I dropped the Dancer off at the dance studio and left the present because the past continued it's assault on my thoughts.

I strolled the Union where I discovered that IU doesn't love me anymore. They just don't. No WiFi access forced me off campus to a little coffee house with delicious over priced coffee and free Internet access.

I am determined to walk the campus. The view is the same but different and I can capture it with my digit camera. I re-lived 6 years of personal history during my short time on campus today. I have seen moments with parents, my friends, "that first girl friend", "the one I really pissed off", the walks with the Dancer when she was little, the Boy and his stick in '97 and that first kiss with Lisa...

It's cold today at least by our current Georgia standards. I don't like it. I don't care. The pull to get back to the Midwest is stronger than than temperature aversion. I love my job at Mathman H.S. and I'm not ready to leave. I feel like there is so much to accomplish there but I know that eventually I will need a change and these memories are calling me.

To The Tardis We're Going To 1985

2009-02-23T21:52:00.004-05:00

I have been meaning to write about snap shots in my life for a long time. Thinking about time and years as they passed makes me feel like I missed many moments of importance and would give anything to get those moments back. Hence my tardis.

I don't promise to write about these in order or even to write about them at all. The Doctor doesn't travel in only one direction in time and neither will I.

Here are the important years: 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 , 1985 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1985

There are anniversaries and there are anniversaries. Back in 1985 when I was attending Indiana University I always bought IU basketball tickets. I watched many games and even got to sit on floor level once. But I did not have tickets to the February 23, 1985 game.

Back then who knew that we would be able to celebrate (?) this day via you tube.

On a side note and if you want to get something off your chest:

This is how feel about the budget issues at school these days.

"get your... head out of your ass"

Help!

2009-02-22T16:49:00.006-05:00

The blog writers block has been incredible lately. I can't even complete a simple meme from Maui Girl. Yesterday, I was at the library where rows and rows and rows of books live. I grabbed one of the shelf, turned the prescribed page and counted out the words. I did that three times. Talk about crappy words: in, the and it. I am so sorry these words need a little help. Now that I have some time perspective, I am going to try it again.

Turn to page 25.
Read the 10th word on that page, or the following if that one is blank.
Type that word into Google Image search.
Post the third image.
Tag 4 people and tell them.
Link back to this post

This book is sitting on the corner of my desk: Quality Teaching In a Culture of Coaching, by Stephen G. Barkley. In fact, I was just at a training with Mr. Barkley. I guess it's appropriate to use his book.

page 25, 10th word: HELP

I tag my last four commentors:

No, I'm only kidding. Tag yourselves if you'd like

Back to the Digital

2009-02-19T20:26:00.001-05:00

I am back to the Digital.

Digital by Joy Division

2009-02-18T21:43:00.001-05:00

Taking a break from the digital.

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In to the Sunset

2009-02-17T22:36:00.003-05:00

I've got nothing except this sunset picture that a I took a few days ago.

The Lawyers Think That This Is A Good Deal For All

2009-02-16T20:53:00.008-05:00

I received a letter from State Farm the other day. It said that I had to elect Uninsured Motor Vehicle Coverage. Even if I already have coverage, I must tell them in writing what I want to do. It's Georgia Law.

... Georgia law requires us to add Coverage UE to your policy unless you reject it in writing. If you do not reject Coverage UE, it will be added to your policy with limits equal to your current Coverage U limits..

Now, the insurance company is trying to pull a fast one backed by the Georgia State Government and the Supreme Court. Mr. Mathman we know you already have coverage but if you don't tell us again that you want the coverage you already have we are going to charge for coverage that you did not chose and by the way it will definitely cost you more money.

Dude They're From Canada

2009-02-10T20:09:00.003-05:00

I was going to write post this evening. In fact, I made a rough draft but I didn't finish it. I am so in the blogging mood these days. It turned out to be a RockBand 2 night. We recently, added YYZ to our console. BTW - the is Rush.

Enjoy....

Higher Level Job Cuts

2009-02-04T22:40:00.001-05:00

This morning I got the phone call about my colleague. She died this morning and many people at school were tossed into an emotional spiral. I feel and I know that I did my grieving weeks ago when the boss announced that she was entering home hospice care.

In a way her death has odd economic and political ramifications. Earlier this week, I decided that I would not bore you with political education posts. I lasted 2 days because there is talk of passing a voucher law in Georgia:

The bill from Sen. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) would allot parents about $5,000 in taxpayer money to use toward private school tuition. Senate Bill 90 also would allow parents to switch their children from one public school to another.

Johnson says that Georgia Public Education is abysmal. In this economic climate, when some school districts will have to cut jobs one our GA legislators wants to give away our public money. I invite Sen. Johnson to come to Mathman H.S. to see "how bad an education" our students get.

There is no doubt that there are many kids who don't live up to expectations, they perpetually fail classes or don't graduate from high school. Certainly, good schools and good teachers can help alleviate the failure problem. I know from experience that we are constantly working to help kids succeed. Sometimes we fail and they fail.

Some educational topics are taboo and don't seem to get much serious discussion in the media. Meanwhile, the government tries to control success by punishing or rewarding schools. Money is given to charter schools or put toward vouchers. We use bad statistics to show failure or success but our education problem is never addressed by helping people and families at home.

Our society is not collectively willing to admit that educational success is determined by the success of families. Parenting matters. Parental support matters. Caring people matter. Vouchers will not make our educational system better. People, communities all have a role to play in a successful education system. Legislatures must realize that education requires a team effort and it's their job to support parents, students, teachers and schools.

What does this have to do with the death of my colleague? Last week, my boss told us that next year one our administrators will be cut. Education, politics, the economy and life are cruel.

*special thanks to matty boy

Turn Off The Cold and The Rain Please

2009-02-02T17:39:00.005-05:00

Yesterday and the day before that, I considered shutting down the blog. I don't have new launch in mind. I kept thinking that that shit that I spend my time thinking about is either x-rated or I have written about it over and over.

But since it is Ground Hog's day maybe a repeat is inorder. But since it is Ground Hog's day maybe a repeat is inorder. Nah, I am just kidding. I will not bore you with more inane complaining about NCLB or anything at all like boring edu-speak.

Lisa and spent several hours coniving about our Superbowl party. "Will we even bother to turn it on?" "Shouldn't we just watch the Simpsons?" The dancer commercial addict made the decision for us. I did move to the couch for a little while but I was never really totally tuned into the game, except maybe for the 5 minutes or so of the fourth quarter.

We went to our local Publix store to spend our post January fortune on food. It was the least we could do since we fed the kids saltines, pretzels and tap water for the last two weeks. While perusing the two for sales, I noticed an entire family dressed in Chicago Bears garb. Naturally, I spoke to them like I have known them for years.

As we continued our shopping trip, I noticed a dude wearing a Philedelphia Eagles sweatshirt and then there was a guy in a Colts shirt. Did I mention all the people clinging to their Micheal Vick Wear? There was not one person wearing a Steelers or a Cardinals hat, jersey or jacket. Most importantly, that Bears fan I mentioned earlier - he was also a White Sox fan. I can't wait for Spring Training!

Another view from DC

2009-01-29T15:01:00.002-05:00

Do you remember this post? My friend and colleague, LW wrote the quoted letter and she has decided to share her blog with our school. Since, you followed our trip to DC with the band, I thought I would share her blog with you,too.

Check out Writers Block and leave LW a comment!

Do You Really Want To You Know?

2009-01-28T21:54:00.015-05:00

I am not a writer. I struggle with every word that I type. When my brain is functioning at full tilt the ideas flow pretty easily and I jot them down in my moleskin note book. The week before I left for Washington lots of blog fodder crossed my brain. Most of the topics were appropriate for my other blog, The Grass is Greener. But it has become a pain to post over there.

A couple weeks ago, our heroine, Lisa called me up to rail me about something or other. "Holy shit", I thought, "what did I do this time?" "Nope, it was something that I didn't do." Whatever, because it is not really important. The stingers, driven through me while driving to work really really pissed me off. I turned of my phone in an effort to say, "Ha - you can't get me now." So what if I knew the phone wouldn't ring anyway.

The week before I left for DC we had our most difficult productive counseling session. We talked and talked, "blah blah blah". "Maybe this should wait until you get back from DC." "No, I don't think so." 50 minutes of office time spilled into 45 minutes of phone time during our drive home. Then another break-through. We made a simple minor change to our A.M. routine.

This change involves a bathrob, pancake batter and a shower. We have caused an amazing shift our morning dynamic and I can get to work by 7:30 before the students attack. Still, we have many life changes to accomplish in the next few months. Twenty years ago, I didn't know that communication was a learned behavior. Now, I know and I will tell you about it but first you must make an appointment.

Pictures From the Week of January 20 You Won't Find Anywhere Else

2009-01-28T08:21:00.006-05:00

Don't Blink You Might Miss Something

2009-01-27T20:51:00.004-05:00

During the band whirl-wind last week someone told the band members, "Don't blink because you might miss something." I don't think anyone blinked on the trip. It was incredible trip packed with a life time of memories. Maybe that advice makes sense year round.

I have question for you: "What personally historic memories do you carry because you didn't blink?"

Back To Our Regular Programming

2009-01-25T10:15:00.011-05:00

I feel like the spotlight has gone out. I could post more of my 1300 plus pictures from the DC trip but wouldn't that be overkill? The sensation of being in Washington, DC last week is almost indescribable. There were two levels. The air was incredible because of the historic sense surrounding the event. We were in the thick of imminent necessary change and the instant history of the Obama Presidency. Beyond the national ramifications of the event, that trip represents hope for a community of people - the students of Mathman H.S. Students that may have never been to Washington who never imagined that they could sit in the House of Representatives or even meet a Congress or a famous black activist.

Back at school, the band members proudly wore their buttons and their security ids from participating in the parade. They have a sense of accomplishment that no student in any other high school or college or organization in Georgia can match. Mathman H.S. students have accomplished so much in the past several years and have been recognized many times.

Many of our students have had a taste of success. But I still worry for them and their future. Our most difficult job as educators does not stop. We still have to ensure that our students graduate. NCLB is designed to identify failing schools but at the same time keep students from graduating. New rigorous standards are supposed to raise the level of achievement and likely they will but at the cost of providing the same education for an incredible diverse student population.

Look to our band as a snapshot of our nation's students. They are diverse - they come from many different back grounds. I hope that President Obama realizes that he must address our students' educational needs. There is no one size fits all solution.

The Crowd

2009-01-24T18:53:00.000-05:00

What Next?

2009-01-21T18:17:00.012-05:00

I am home and I am exhausted. Since we left there has been and is lot of coverage of our band. We traveled with an entourage of embedded media. Here are some of the links if you are interested:

Our embedded friends

WSB and here is the link to Eric Philips' blog at WSB.

Marietta Daily Journal

New York Times

Others

llAlive

CBSAtlanta

The band arrived around 8:30 this morning and the cameras were already in place. After I got off the bus, I quickly put my luggage aside because I had my double secret Mathman job to complete. Eventually, I stopped by my friend's history class.

Yesterday wore me down: Here's the story provided by WSB [Note I am the guy in the black hat and green coat].

It was cold like when I was kid attending the Chicago Prep Bowl in '77. Once the decision was made to abort our parade plan for watching it warmth, we retreated Au Bon Pain where many of us bought snacks and used the restrooms. I on the other hand, pretended that I was a little boy and found the closest alley like location as possible to alleviate my situation.

To prove that I had sardine dreams here are my pictures from yesterday - yes there are more, but this all for now...

waiting...

Still waiting...

Never made here...

Still waiting...

Still waiting...

That's it we're done....

My friend's history class also made the news. I happened to wonder into the class. I told them several of my DC stories including my Gingrey story. I also related this story:

While waiting for our entourage to eat and relieve themselves, I noticed a woman listening to the inauguration ceremony on her radio.

She provided play by play... I Barak.... will faithfully execute ...

"He's president! We made! Hallujah."

Another group of people embraced and honored the moment by praying in thanksgiving.

I stood there, my camera in my pocket and the moment frozen in my brain not on paper.

Surely I am Frozen By Now

2009-01-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

OK, I wrote this last night....

Enjoy a few more pics.... while I celebrate the inauguration at the parade.

The Capitol

Landing at Reagan

And Another Thing

2009-01-19T23:38:00.004-05:00

Wake up call at 2:30. I am already showered and shaved. My clothes are laid out and ready so that I can layer-up in the AM. All I can think of is those cold days waiting for the EL in Chicago and my slightly shrived nads. My blood has thinned but I will not succumb to the cold.

Today, a reporter and photographer from People Magazine followed the band. I can't wait to see the pictures when I go to the dentist in 4 months. By the way that photographer was hilarious. It took an hour to line-up the shot, the kind that you would see over credits of a John Hughes film, because "Southerns are slow" [he said it not me]. That one my me laugh particularly hard because one the band moms told me yesterday that Northerners talk too fast. Also, I found out from him that, "shitty photographers" like him "have to take a lot of pictures" [I have pics but will have to post them later].

By the time of my next post we will have a new president. Then, I must tell you more about Phil, Not Blinking and much much more.

The Band Is On The Move

2009-01-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

The man who shot the pictures for this NY Times piece road the bus to DC with DC. If you look closely you can see my face in the window in one pic but don't look for me it's about the kids. SCBEMB.

Mathman Goes To Congress

2009-01-19T08:09:00.017-05:00

During this trip I have not had much free time but when I do my brain has been shut off. I can't write in that state. Why is "going along for the ride" so tiring.

Friday we left Mathman H.S. and drove all night to our hotel in Virginia. I didn't get a shower until Saturday afternoon. Since then we have been on the go constantly. The kids have had 3 rehearsals, 1 performance for the Georgia Democratic Party, free time to wander the Mall - we went to the Air and Space Museum, a meeting with Congressman Gingrey, a tour of The House of Representatives, a pep talk from Andrew Young and went a boat cruise on the Potomac.

Yesterday, the entourage waited for almost an hour to pass through security at the entrance to Rayburn Office building. Cranky security guards barked out orders as we entered the checkpoint. With so many sites to watch, buildings and humanity, we noticed the statute at the top of the Capitol. We needed information about that statue.

First, I made phone calls to the history department which yielded marginal results even with the threat of job loss from the boss who was at my side. Finally, Lisa came through with the most information about lady liberty - the one sits a top the Capitol Dome. My history department counterpart left out the information about lady liberty's sword. When called out she replied with this message that arrived as I took place in the metal detector:

No I just didn't think discussing weapons on a school trip was appropriate. It is like shouting bomb on a plane!

Mr. Gringrey provided pizza and a tour for the band students. He said a few nice words prior to lunch and then the kids ate pizza for the second time in 24 hours. Just like college life, except the pizza was not 24 hours old and stuck to a cardboard box.

As soon as the Congressman finished speaking, I quickly walked over and introduced myself to him. I briefly told him that I teach math and am the math chair. I quickly brought up his appearance on the Colber Report.

He said, "yes they had me put on a Van Dyke". He told me that he really enjoyed appearing on the show and that many members [of the House] did not really understand Colbert is a comedian and would not appear with him. Gingrey said that he enjoyed the experience.

The Congressman then deftly, changed the conversation back to math education. He mentioned that he thinks that math and science teachers should be paid a premium. After the chamber tour and when I asked him to get the picture he again talked about his math experience at Georgia Tech. Imagine, Mathman had the ear of his Congressman (R) and I wanted to talk comedy and he kept talking math.

It must be my mathy influence.

Just A Taste

2009-01-18T19:01:00.006-05:00

Time is short. I must leave the hotel in minutes and I have hours of things to discuss. I will leave behind a few pics.

On the Capitol Steps

From the Capitol steps

The Capitol steps

2009-01-18T11:20:00.001-05:00

Andrew Young talked to the band before their performance.

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2009-01-18T08:30:00.001-05:00

I miss my routine. It's my friend & my enemy. It's necessary.

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2009-01-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

First breakfast. Then a performance and tour of the Capitol.

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2009-01-17T20:15:00.001-05:00

Sailing the Potomic.

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From My Cell Phone

2009-01-17T07:04:00.002-05:00

I'm itching to be at a computer. I have the most necessary electronics- Ipod, cell phone and camera. But a connected computer is the link to friends, virtual and real. This bus shields me from one reality while transporting us to our future.

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And So It Begins

2009-01-16T18:03:00.008-05:00

It is almost time to leave. I have finished all my lesson plans and printed rosters and notes for my sub. I cleared my desk and stacked the loose papers that usually skip around my desktop. And now I have minute.

There is excitement in the air around Mathman H.S. There were media trucks, cameras and reporters at this afternoon's pep rally. As the band marched in, the cheerleaders and the football team lined their entrance. To me, a life long musician, it was a great moment - a role reversal representing the great honor bestowed upon the band and our school.

When Mr. C, our band director, arrived at Mathman H.S. the first thing I found out about him was that he was an Indiana University grad. Alumni stick together and we became instant friends. Due to IU and band talk, it was not long before to long before the boy was in the band's show. The next year, I officially worked for the band. Helping them to blow not suck. Time and budget constraints limited tenure.

For the past two years, I have been involved less but I am so proud to have been associated with our band. Students who were freshman that year with the boy are now the group's senior leaders.

We leave Austell in few hours and I must get the heck out of my room and over to the band room. Those who are in Atlanta watch Fox 5and WSB tonight to see if we're on TV. See you from the road.

As We Prepare For History

2009-01-15T22:26:00.002-05:00

My colleague and sometimes partner in crime has put up her first post.

Please meet Tequilla Mockingbird

Just taking advantage of the moment- An Inauguration Story

2009-01-15T20:24:00.002-05:00

So, as many of you know South Cobb High School's Marching Band is heading off to march in the Inauguration as they were selected via application process. I must admit that as I reflect on the numerous reasons why I continue to work at South Cobb, school pride, even among the administration and staff is rampant and this small Marching Band with a huge success story exemplifies so much of what my school is about. For those of you who don't know- check us out!

-pictures of our band from the local paper.

And here is an email from a staff member who has been keeping up with all of the media coverage our Band has received. She has over 30 hours of film/ media footage since we got the big news in December and the band hasn't even marched yet. It will be a cool documentary!

"Hi all, Things are happening so fast that I'm afraid that by the time I get to my computer to tell you, you've gone home and won't read the email. Today, just to keep you in the loop, we had the unveiling of that smaller trailer that's been with the band since the 80's and the soap box derby car that has been wrapped so our student with a rare neuromuscular disease, can go down the parade route, being pushed by his father. Channel 2, WSB-TV was here, the MDJ and the AJC were all here to cover. Channel 2 will probably run it tonight at 6. I'd look for the article in the AJC and MDJ tomorrow. NPR ran a story this morning and last night. Channel 11 will run a story that they shot on Saturday TONIGHT on Chl 36 at 10pm and Chl. 11 at 11pm. We got a call from an National Radio program in Canada today. They are interviewing Zac this afternoon. With CNN, NYTimes, we are ON THE MAP, folks!!"

Also, she didn't mention the fund raising effort that was done in order for our students to afford the trip where the community came together and helped raise over 100K in three days. A majority of our staff began to listen to Q100's Bert Show in the morning as they interviewed members of the band and told Atlanta our story as apart of the fund raising, which they- the radio station initiated. Nor did she mention the moment in Congress yesterday when our Congressman spoke briefly about our band and its story! Nor did the email speak fully of the NY Times article that was in Wednesday's paper (1/14/09). As far as other coverage, the WSB-TV inauguration special will run on Monday, the 19th at 10pm. Our band will be included in their special. Even though I am not directly involved with the band, it is my school and those are my students and I am proud them and everyone who has invested their time and money in South Cobb! ~tm

I Am Not Obsessed

2009-01-14T19:29:00.007-05:00

It feels like I'm at it again. Our baby has taken to writing poems. If you sift through pile of kid papers and drawings in her room, you will find short little poems written on tiny lined paper.

Last, week our temple in Skokie sent us our annual yartzeit notice for my mother. A few minutes ago Lisa said to me, "I don't want to upset you but it is your mother's yartzeit" Her comment did not upset me. I have done my share of death reflection over the past several days. I don't have the memorial in me for my mom like I do for my dad. My mom was so elusive during the last few years and when she died suddenly it was unexpected but some us were not that surprised.

The day after I received the notice, the baby asked me what it was. I explained how it was a reminder of my mom's death and it is traditional to say The Mourners Kaddish every year:

Yit'gadal v'yit'kadash sh'mei raba (Cong: Amein).

May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified (`Cong: Amen.)

b'al'ma di v'ra khir'utei
in the world that He created as He willed.

v'yam'likh mal'khutei b'chayeikhon uv'yomeikhon
May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days,

uv'chayei d'khol beit yis'ra'eil
and in the lifetimes of the entire Family of Israel,

ba'agala uviz'man kariv v'im'ru:
swiftly and soon. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein. Y'hei sh'mei raba m'varakh l'alam ul'al'mei al'maya
(Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and ever.)

Yit'barakh v'yish'tabach v'yit'pa'ar v'yit'romam v'yit'nasei
Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled,

v'yit'hadar v'yit'aleh v'yit'halal sh'mei d'kud'sha
mighty, upraised, and lauded be the Name of the Holy One
(Mourners and Congregation:)

B'rikh hu.
Blessed is He.

l'eila min kol bir'khata v'shirara
beyond any blessing and song,

toosh'b'chatah v'nechematah, da'ameeran b'al'mah, v'eemru:
praise and consolation that are uttered in the world. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Y'hei sh'lama raba min sh'maya
May there be abundant peace from Heaven

v'chayim aleinu v'al kol yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
and life upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Oseh shalom bim'romav hu ya'aseh shalom
He Who makes peace in His heights, may He make peace,

aleinu v'al kol Yis'ra'eil v'im'ru
upon us and upon all Israel. Now say:
(Mourners and Congregation:)

Amein
Amen

Lisa found this poem in the baby's room. After I read it (and teared-up), Lisa put it back in the baby's room. On several occasions, I asked her if she had written any more poems. I told her I really like her writing. She did not fess-up. Lisa finally rescued it.

I present my baby's tribute to my parents:

Starlight by sgmg - "the baby"

Starlight, you shine

So bright in the

Night, you take f[l]ight

I know every thing

will be alright, when

I have you in sight

- In love of my

Grandparents I never met

Mathman Goes To Washington

2009-01-13T19:57:00.005-05:00

Last night, I attended a pep rally at school for our soon to depart band. A local TV station will broadcast a special about the band next Monday night. The New York Times published an article today, too.

I don't know my exact responsibilities yet but I am preparing my Obama travel wear.

It's All About Us

2009-01-12T16:20:00.005-05:00

One of the unintentional themes of this blog is death. A recent viewing of The Wrath of Khan reminded me of how Captain Kirk cheated death, which is why everyone was teary-eyed when Spock died. Apparently, our boss does not have that power and our regular rotation of life and death continues here at Mathman High School. This time no death has occurred but it is imminent.

The email said, that we were meeting to discuss our colleague's condition. She hasn't worked since last April or May because her cancer which was in remission had come back. Now, she's in home hospice care. As the boss told us about the situation, he had to hand the mike to the man from grief counseling with the long hair whom we have become too familiar. He was too choked up.

Always, Always in these situations I flash back to my father's death and then my mother's. Both were teachers and for me every teacher's death relates back to them. Our colleague has been private in her illness and her death. She wants people to remember her for the person that she is and was before her withering. It is difficult for some of my friends to be denied a good bye, one that is acknowledged by the traveler.

Again, I go back to my father. I have two last memories of dad. Last, he is lying in his coffin with his hands folded and they look strangely like my own hands. He clutched a baton, his baton. He led us to perform the music that he heard in his head.

The other memory is not very positive and it's the last time I saw my father alive. My parents and brother and I went out to dinner for my last spring-break meal before I had to go back to Indiana University. Mother was being "particular about something" and mom and dad had a minor spat. The details of this incident are so unclear in my memory that I question mentioning it. However, that moment at dinner came back to me. It was the feeling of remorse that I had when I first heard my dad was dead - that stupid dinner, why can't my parents get along?

That question eventually, stopped playing in my head. I don't know how long it ran but it was replaced with the real memories. I am walking down the hall in high school and find myself following my dad while submerged in a sea of students. Or the motion he made with his hands while conducting the band during concerts (the boy's band director uses the same move).

Funerals and Memorials are for the living. When my father died there were no good-byes; he died suddenly from a ruptured aorta. His funeral was the most incredible I have ever attended. It seemed that the line of cars went on forever. In the end we, my family - my mom and my siblings had to live with his death. Everyday, some days just for a second, I think of my dad and his influence and his imperfections and his inspiration. He lives on.

I understand the need for people to say goodbye. I believe my colleague is trying to leave the world with grace. We should allow her to be remembered for her dedication to Mathman H.S. and her mental toughness in situations that required it and her compassion for those in need.

The Eyes Have It

2009-01-11T20:32:00.000-05:00

New Order - Temptation ... green eyes...

Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrision

Stuck In A Tube

2009-01-11T16:34:00.000-05:00

There was a to do about the vaccum. Polly Pocket thought that it would be a good idea dive head first in the vaccum hose. I have hated vacuums dating back to my Radio Shack days. We had Kirby back then and he was a bag-less wonder. Sometimes, I had to reach-up his bottom and pull out the clumpy blockage.

At home, we have played with canister vacs, bag-less vacs and traditional vacs and the tiny portable vacs - that really suck. It is a good thing that all these vacuums suck because they are simply the bottom feeders of our appliances. They clean but the floor or the carpet is never really clean; upon inspection you can always find a hinden dust ball or a corner of something. Often mop or carpet cleaner must be called in to finish the job.

I dismantled the vacuum. I removed the hoses and the filters and the bag. Polly was nowhere to be found. I retrieved my forceps. No use. I grabbed a screw driver because I saw a small plastic locking screw. I turned it left and released a small connecting pipe. I grabbed her by her feet. Polly Pocket was free and in the trash we she belongs.

How Big?

2009-01-08T18:08:00.002-05:00

When they tell you that size doens't matter. They are lying to you. Last semester, my Math 1 class had anywhere between 31-34 students. The class fluctuates because of our highly mobile population. My new Math 1 class has only 25 students. It's a dream.

Interesting?

2009-01-06T22:26:00.004-05:00

Soon, GW will be history.

Is this story related to the last 8 years or has the time period underscored the phenomenon?

From Freakonomics

What do Bruce Pardo and Atif Irfan have in common?

In case you’re not familiar with their names, let me rephrase:...

Medieval Times

2009-01-05T22:49:00.005-05:00

Today my arms are longer. It wouldn't be so bad but the left is longer than the right. I was only slightly surprised when the rack appeared in math wing just outside our computer lab. First several teachers took hold of me. I managed to free myself but I was ambushed and was stuck. At first the pain of the rack was excruciating but by the end of the day the dull pain simply numbed my brain.

Not What I Was Looking For

2009-01-05T11:47:00.003-05:00

I intended to find information about the Chicago Blizzard of '79. I recall that there was lots of snow and we missed a couple weeks of school. I was interested because of the 30th anniversary of that storm and the baby's 10th birthday is Wednesday. There was some good snow in '99, too.

I did my google search and I landed on an entirely different Chicago based website. I spent several hours perusing the pictures and text about the Chicago Transit system. I have so many memories of the Chicago L. Damn my sentimentality.

While looking for our Washington DC pictures (for a previous post) from a few years ago, I found two of my favorite pics from the Smithsonian. I took these pics before my blogging days.

When my friends and I lived in Chicago, just after college days, we use golf at Billy Caldwell. Both of my friends became Doctors, what was wrong with me, so the golf was part of their curriculum. And now, that [golf] ball is history along with the L trains.

And Another Thing

2009-01-05T03:57:00.000-05:00

I am shaking my fist at this one.

The Trip Post Number 1 or Only Two Weeks Left or Land of Multple Elipses

2009-01-04T15:30:00.007-05:00

I have avoided and denied.

I am pretending.

I am not really pretending. I just don't want to return to work tomorrow. It chills my bones to know that I have to sit in a meeting at 9:00 and then chair one at 9:45. How much preparation will I get done for classes on Tuesday? Zero.

This semester will prove to have plenty of out of class time for me starting with the inauguration parade. I received a very detailed pack list for the trip to DC. This list is specifically for the students but I must adhere to size and weight considerations. It gets very specific:

... Clothing

... undergarments

... Personal Care Products

Contacts/Glasses

Saline Solution

Deodorant

Shampoo

Soap

Toothbrush

Dental Floss ...

I can't imagine leaving the area with out extra undergarments. Sometimes, I even consider carrying extras in the trunk. You never know when an explosive diarrhea attack will sneak up on you. The rest of the list seems obvious and I often travel with extra dental floss anyway.

More later...

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

I set a lofty blogging goal last year, average one post per day for the entire year. I managed to reach my milestone. That's a huge accompishment for me; writing 365 posts in 365 days.I live most of my written life in variable and number form. Reading good, writing a challenge.

2009 will surely prove to be another interesting year. For starters there is the inauguration parade and dance auditions from Indiana to Georgia. The rest of our first sixty days will also include all things bankruptcy, creditors, lawyers and future landlords.

As scary as bankruptcy may seem, I view it as another new begining. A begining that is related to the renewal of our relationship. It is reminder that we have a fresh start and we can take that other road:

...I Shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost- from The Road Not Taken

5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 .... Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T10:06:00.005-05:00

Mathman's Year End Review

The Break-up

What's the need to re-hash everything from last winter and spring? We, Dcup and I have written enough about our difficulties here and here. By April and May I was fully prepared to be a single father even though that was not my first choice.

The Re-connecting

The important result from last year's jackasery and I stress important is our improved relationship. We are heading in a positive direction.

The return path has not always been easy. The initial approach was probably the most difficult day of our lives. We've agreed to learn how to communicate with each other and I think it is going well. There have been rough patches that remind of difficult and sad memories and times.

Forward we move.

The Death

One of the most difficult and strange days at Mathman H.S. was the day another one of our students died. The words of my colleague:

The truth is that we can’t make sense of it. Maybe the whole point of tragedy is that it gives people a chance to reconnect and strengthen our support system. A chance to check in with each other when we get too distant. A tune up, so to speak. I’m certainly not trivializing what happened into a “moral to the story” but I felt the strength of a couple thousand people, all experiencing the same thing today. It was comforting, even in the grief.

The NCLB

We did experience some positives but otherwise...

...enough Said

The New Math Course

If you missed my recent comments here they are again...

The Epilogue

Today, we completed our compliment of Rock Band Instruments. Now, we don't have to wrestlefor the guitars and microphones. The band will be Rockin' in the New Year!

The Legacy Awry - Nope - The Same Old Thing

2008-12-31T09:24:00.009-05:00

I am a child of Chicago politics. Our former 39th Ward Alderman was
Anthony Laurino:

Tony Laurino resigned as alderman in 1994, and Marge Laurino was named by Mayor Richard Daley to replace him. At that time, Tony Laurino was under indictment on eight counts of mail fraud and defrauding the City of Chicago, allegedly by putting 35 family members, friends and Democratic precinct captains in "no-show" jobs for the City Council Traffic Committee, which he chaired. Laurino died before his trial, but his daughter, Marie D'Amico, pleaded guilty in 1994 and was sentenced to 10 months in prison for collecting more than $100,000 in city and county wages for "no-show" jobs. Her husband, John D'Amico, a city Department of Streets and Sanitation deputy commissioner, pleaded guilty in 1995 and was sentenced to 2 years in prison for aiding his wife's "no-show" scheme, for securing other "no-show" jobs, and for taking kickbacks from those whom he landed on the payroll. John D'Amico Jr. is their son. Tony Laurino's wife, Bonnie, and stepdaughter, Christine Boyar, also were sentenced. Overall, the alderman put 10 members of the "Laurino Clan" on the city or county payroll, which, when added to other "no-show" friends and precinct captains, cost the taxpayers $1.8 million over 30 years.

I even knew some people caught in the Laurino scheme.

Maybe I am numb to Chicago political scandal. Not living in Chicago drives me nuts, now that it is on the national scene I feel like I am missing out in some way.

So Illinois' corrupt governor [I will not comment on Blago - everyone knew he was bad from the begining, duh!] makes his appointment for senator. Roland Burris seems like a reasonable choice.

The weaklings of our Federal government will step-in to keep Burris out of the Senate because of the Blago accusations. Their refusal fits their well establish pattern:

We, the Senate of the United State of America refuse to do anything about George W. Bush and his criminal presidency.

Bush wins again.

The Fugitive - can you find Mr. Burris?

Winter Colors

2008-12-30T22:27:00.002-05:00

Holiday Colors At Home, in our yard, in the cedar tree.

Our Family's Hanukah Celebration

2008-12-30T16:45:00.003-05:00

The Eighth Night Celebration

That Chick's A Rockstar

2008-12-30T08:55:00.003-05:00

"Did you have to write a relationship post over there?"

"Yes, I did. So shut the hell up."

She Has The Eye Of The Tiger

2008-12-29T22:04:00.007-05:00

Dcup has been in denial for years. She never admitted it, in fact she denied it. That chick can sing and I am the lucky one.

Rock Band 2 Rules.

For the singer Dcup

Mathman Unpluged #3

2008-12-29T18:53:00.001-05:00

Did you ever want to climb into my, Mathman's, brain? OK, I suppose not. As I try to get through to new year I thought I would check all those half written and un-published posts. Like the Beatles before me I am going to publish some of these half written and incomplete posts...

From June 28, 2008

This must have been a perfect day: Today, the White Sox beat the Cubs.

Too, bad they both blew it in the play-offs and the Bears Suck. I am considering the Packers for next season.

Fat Cat Bellies Up To The Bar but the Birds Hide in The Shawdows

2008-12-29T15:30:00.004-05:00

The Impossible Dream

2008-12-28T21:41:00.002-05:00

In the summer of '81 I played in the pit orchestra for a local theater's performance of Man of La Mancha. It is remains of my favorite muscials. La Mancha's author passed last week.

"'The only thing I would want the newspaper to say is this: He invented the phrase 'The Impossible Dream' from MSNBC.

When Will I Use This?

Finally, I Know When I Will Use This

When the Migraine Nearly Made an Appearance

I Have Nothing to Say

When Mowing The Lawn Becomes A Career Goal

Calculus By Day Grounds Keeper Later During The Same

15 Wins and 15 Losses

Fade Out Basketball... Fade in Baseball...

I Am Coach Mathman

What I am Doing?

A Call To Duty

The Rookie

It a Function of Something...

Arrrgg...

The Yellow Limousines are Approaching

What Should I Do Now?

She Blinded Me With Science....

Camper Van Beethoven Good Guys 1987 Vusic Video

What Does BMI Mean Anyway?

Won't Get Fooled Again, Unless Your A Student In My Class Because You Might Learn Something

Collectible Moments at the New Digs or Sort of a Memorial Day Post

Beam Me Up Scotty...

2 Times One Year

Baseball Been Very Good To Me, Maybe

Happy Birthday Dancer

Deja Vu

Multimedia message

The Faces Of Lisa With A Spoon

Multimedia message

Long Long Ago...

Afternoon Lisa

Vienna Beef Makes It Opossum's Drift

Flickr

And Now for Something Completely Different and It Is

The Economy Really Sucks

It Is A Dark and Stormy Night

A Dozen Pins For Free

Semi-colons

I Have A Knack For Moving

Who's the Clown?

Just Think - Many School Employees Will Lose Their Jobs at Then End of the Year

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Not My Finest Moment

To The Tardis We're Going To 1986a or NCAA Time Takes Me Back To 1986

Sunset On the Way Home

Drive-way Ball

Yesterday Morning

Guess What - Cutting Taxes Is a Bad Fucking Idea

Look Out Toward the Horizon

The IU version

To The Tardis We're Going To 1985

Help!

Back to the Digital

In to the Sunset

The Lawyers Think That This Is A Good Deal For All

Dude They're From Canada

Higher Level Job Cuts

BlogRoll Amnesty 2009

Turn Off The Cold and The Rain Please

Another view from DC

Do You Really Want To You Know?

Pictures From the Week of January 20 You Won't Find Anywhere Else

Don't Blink You Might Miss Something

Back To Our Regular Programming

The Crowd

What Next?

Surely I am Frozen By Now

And Another Thing

The Band Is On The Move

Mathman Goes To Congress

Just A Taste

From My Cell Phone

And So It Begins

As We Prepare For History

Just taking advantage of the moment- An Inauguration Story

I Am Not Obsessed

Mathman Goes To Washington

It's All About Us

The Eyes Have It

Stuck In A Tube