Hello all!
For about a year and a half, I have been a proud member of www.one.org
(If the link doesn't work, just type it in please)
I have participated in the simple requests that they ask, always via email.
Today, I want you to join. I don't get anything out of this... I just want the peace of mind that my friends are equally concerned about the extreme poverty and AIDS epidemic that is prevalent in Africa. We can help.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Please join.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Time, oh sweet time...
When will I ever have time to post again... not counting this one?
Well, the answer is: I don't know.
Anyway, I'd like to fill you in on some things happening at my school... On Monday we have the Percussion section from the Houston Symphony Orchestra coming to the school... they're bringing an entire 18-wheeler packed with all the percussion instruments that they are going to present and show to us. The kids are off the wall excited!
Then on Thursday we have a Scientist/ER MD. that is coming to our school to be part of our BCB program. Oh, that's right... the cool thing about him. He has just finished a 6 month stint as the resident MD of a research station in Antarctica. He also studied penguins while he was there. Wicked cool.
The week after, we have a bunch of after school practices and things of the sort for our ASTRO's choir... which performs the National Anthem at the Astro's game on the 17th at Minute Maid Park! Its a 7:05 first pitch game, and I'd love for you to come see us... we're sitting in section 420 (yeah, yeah, I know...).
After that, we've only got two talent shows to put on, 4 music rooms (including one storage) to box up, and one week to do it all! All this and teach 6 classes of music every day... by the way, teachers definitely do not get paid enough. Do you know how much crap we have to put up with??? Ah, forget about it... that's a whole 'nother rant.
We're also hoping to have a (ahem) record-setting astronaut come to the school before the end of the year... we'll see!
Woo hoo! I think after the kids leave on the 24th I'm going to crash. Wherever I land, I'm just going to plain lay down and sleep. I'm already exhausted. I need a nap.
Well, the answer is: I don't know.
Anyway, I'd like to fill you in on some things happening at my school... On Monday we have the Percussion section from the Houston Symphony Orchestra coming to the school... they're bringing an entire 18-wheeler packed with all the percussion instruments that they are going to present and show to us. The kids are off the wall excited!
Then on Thursday we have a Scientist/ER MD. that is coming to our school to be part of our BCB program. Oh, that's right... the cool thing about him. He has just finished a 6 month stint as the resident MD of a research station in Antarctica. He also studied penguins while he was there. Wicked cool.
The week after, we have a bunch of after school practices and things of the sort for our ASTRO's choir... which performs the National Anthem at the Astro's game on the 17th at Minute Maid Park! Its a 7:05 first pitch game, and I'd love for you to come see us... we're sitting in section 420 (yeah, yeah, I know...).
After that, we've only got two talent shows to put on, 4 music rooms (including one storage) to box up, and one week to do it all! All this and teach 6 classes of music every day... by the way, teachers definitely do not get paid enough. Do you know how much crap we have to put up with??? Ah, forget about it... that's a whole 'nother rant.
We're also hoping to have a (ahem) record-setting astronaut come to the school before the end of the year... we'll see!
Woo hoo! I think after the kids leave on the 24th I'm going to crash. Wherever I land, I'm just going to plain lay down and sleep. I'm already exhausted. I need a nap.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Lies...
I despise when people lie. It seems to be a sixth sense that I have... and I bet you know who you are.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
VT et al...
Well, ok... here it is. The mandatory post about the VT (Virginia Tech) massacre.
I've been thinking a lot about it. Although I've also been trying to actively NOT think about it.
The whole thing is a very sad story. From the previously unknown student, to the Holocaust survivor turned hero, its all very sad.
I find it interesting that the Holocaust survivor went out like he did. I think that most, if not all, persons that survived the Nazi Holocaust have an incredible amount of integrity. Elie is of course included in this number... but I think that the way that this man chose to be remembered, by holding the door shut for his students to survive, shows the courage that it takes to stare evil in the face and say, you won't get me down again.
I don't really have time to go on tonight... I am very impressed by the heroism, and very saddened by the realism of this story.
Btw, my dad was an engineering student at VT... and as he said, took the majority of his classes there in Norris Hall. He was also in the Corps of Cadets there, FYI. And the last interesting thing is that my dad was a classmate of (the apparently quite wealthy) Ambler Johnston that the dorm there was named after. I thought that was interesting.
I've been thinking a lot about it. Although I've also been trying to actively NOT think about it.
The whole thing is a very sad story. From the previously unknown student, to the Holocaust survivor turned hero, its all very sad.
I find it interesting that the Holocaust survivor went out like he did. I think that most, if not all, persons that survived the Nazi Holocaust have an incredible amount of integrity. Elie is of course included in this number... but I think that the way that this man chose to be remembered, by holding the door shut for his students to survive, shows the courage that it takes to stare evil in the face and say, you won't get me down again.
I don't really have time to go on tonight... I am very impressed by the heroism, and very saddened by the realism of this story.
Btw, my dad was an engineering student at VT... and as he said, took the majority of his classes there in Norris Hall. He was also in the Corps of Cadets there, FYI. And the last interesting thing is that my dad was a classmate of (the apparently quite wealthy) Ambler Johnston that the dorm there was named after. I thought that was interesting.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Pretty Cool
Heh.
Tomorrow the music teachers at my school, including me, get interviewed by the Houston Chronicle... of course its about our Building Cultural Bridges project that we do.
One of these days I need to post the pdf of that article about us in the Southwestern Musician. Let me see if I can find a link... nope. I'll try again soon.
Anyway, pretty cool, huh?
Tomorrow the music teachers at my school, including me, get interviewed by the Houston Chronicle... of course its about our Building Cultural Bridges project that we do.
One of these days I need to post the pdf of that article about us in the Southwestern Musician. Let me see if I can find a link... nope. I'll try again soon.
Anyway, pretty cool, huh?
Friday, April 6, 2007
April, oh April...
Wow. That title sounds bad.
No really, I'm happy that April is finally here. Of course I'm writing this on the 6th... hopefully showing how horribly busy it has been lately.
I wanted to just make a brief post this morning. Today is Good Friday. My family wants to go to church on Sunday for Easter. And I have no problem with this.
What I found interesting though is that the kids at school were so confused as to why we get off school today and Monday. So they ask the only teacher that talks to them... me. And really, all other teachers are so stiff. I want the kids to learn about everything... not just music, science and math. I found it interesting that the kids were interested to talk about such a subject. Some of them said "We're talking about God???" Which my reply was a good one, I think... "Yeah, but just for information. I don't even go to church, so if you don't either, don't worry about it." The separation of church and state at work. :)
Which reminds me, my next post, hopefully again tonight, will be about the conflict in Texas schools whether we should or should not teach the Bible in our High Schools... I have my opinion, of course...
No really, I'm happy that April is finally here. Of course I'm writing this on the 6th... hopefully showing how horribly busy it has been lately.
I wanted to just make a brief post this morning. Today is Good Friday. My family wants to go to church on Sunday for Easter. And I have no problem with this.
What I found interesting though is that the kids at school were so confused as to why we get off school today and Monday. So they ask the only teacher that talks to them... me. And really, all other teachers are so stiff. I want the kids to learn about everything... not just music, science and math. I found it interesting that the kids were interested to talk about such a subject. Some of them said "We're talking about God???" Which my reply was a good one, I think... "Yeah, but just for information. I don't even go to church, so if you don't either, don't worry about it." The separation of church and state at work. :)
Which reminds me, my next post, hopefully again tonight, will be about the conflict in Texas schools whether we should or should not teach the Bible in our High Schools... I have my opinion, of course...
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Google TiSP
If you have not seen this yet, you must go check out Google's new free wireless IP service....
http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html
http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html
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