Chi-town

Last weekend was a blast! My aunt, mom and cousin all came to Chicago with me and we had a great time. The race went well, I improved my time from Boston by 14 minutes, so I got a 3:20:21, which was weird because the night before the race I dreamt that I would get a 3:19......pretty cool. The weather was less than perfect, it was forecasted to be raining and really windy the whole time. It was about 38 out and it drizzled and snowed a little but the wind was the killer. From about mile 14-20 we were on Lake Michigan and it was brutal, it would gust cold wind every little bit but all in all not complaints. It was so much fun to be a part of and we really had a good time hanging out in Chicago for two more days after the race, although I hobbled around trying to keep up with them :)

Crazy week

This week has been going non stop and I am excited for the weekend!!! I have been babysitting the Gangle kids (4) after school everyday and spending the night while their parents are in Hawaii..........so that has been busy and my school week has been crazy with meeting with parents and administration. The kid who "lost it" last week has had a complete turn around and is doing great. I had a conference with his mother and I believe that this situation happened for a reason, for not only him to grow, but for me as a coach and teacher as well. We had a rough patch but I believe that good things are to come..........he is a great runner!!! I have learned alot this week on handling situations and dealing with the numbers that I have. I used to think that asking for help meant a sign of weakness but I have realized that asking for help is the mature thing to do and a way to learn, which I never want to cease in. I am constantly trying to better myself( hint, the no dessert thing, which I still am going strong in!) I am reminded a a quote that Mac and I share in loving, it the GD quote, "Once in awhile you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right"..........perfect for what has been happening.I know the cheese is oozin but I really had a week of figuring stuff out in my head. For a minute there I was really upset with myself and thought, you know, maybe I am not really good at this coaching thing, but I know that it is going to take time and experience in order for me to get things worked out.
Love you all!!!!!

Venter

I need to vent some thoughts:
This week has been draining on me, emotionally, but I guess that is what happens when you work in middle school, since these ids are just full of drama. My 2nd period proved to be a challenge this week. I have a student who is always yelling and getting picked on by other students and this week he lost it big time. He got into a fist fight and got popped in the jaw........anyway, I am taking this opportunity to learn from these experiences becuase this is how I can grow as a teacher. I had to call for administration and I don't think I handled the situation as best as I could. Although my co-workers are saying that I am being too hard on myself I can't help be feel a little pressure from the administration. I just don't want them thinking I dont know how to do my job. The problem is that this class has all boys and just 3 girls and everyone is super competitive. My solution-bring the damage. I am going to have to be mean, which I already have been with this class but I am going to have to show no mercy whatsoever and if it is one thing that I have learned from working with inner city youth it is that I have become a hardass.....I used to be a little bit of a pushover but I have learned that it doesnt work that way, also, a student of mine wrote a note on it saying that Mrs Noelin(sp) is 100% gay, this is in a class of mine of 75 and am super mean to this class because of the high number, and i totally caught her writing it, I laughed and the first thing I said was "At least if you are going to write about me, spell my name right............anyway, he friends got her all scared and said she was going to be in trouble. I saw her crying so I sent her into my office and said look I dont care what you think of me, I wish you thought different but it is not a concern of mine. I then told her I don't care. She was still crying, but when I asked her why, she said because she thought she was getting into trouble, not that she could have hurt my feelings........so I made her think that she was going to get in trouble because that is messed up man, anyway she is not getting in trouble but I just want her to think that, luckily I know I am the bomb so it is just funny but wow, what a week of drama!

Deep Thoughts:
"Do you know a good way to stay in shape if you eat a fatty meal, just walk around when you eat it"

Biggie

So I have had this supersick lyric in my head for days

Armed and dangerous, aint to many that can bang wit us, straight up weed, no angel dust, label us notorious that love to bust. It's strange to us, ya'll n's be scramblin, gamblin in resturants with mandalins and violins. We just still in here tryin to win, try not to sin, high of of weed and lots of gin. So much smoke need oxygen, steadily countin those Benjamins. You should too, if you knew what this game can do to you, been in this shiz since 92. Look at all the bull-ish we've been through

the new remix is hot and it took me a hot minute to get it all memorized, you like how I kept it clean!

Say whaaaaaa

"Have you ever had a potato burger with onions rings and hashbrowns....my dad buys a tub of cole slaw to go with it"................................I am not making this up people!

Deep thoughts by Piedmont student

He just keeps them comin............"Did you know that my paintgun can abliverate a piece of plastic into thin air"

just like where his thoughts come from...........thin air

China Cabinet

Good day fresh jivin walkers of earth.....I am currently serving my country and sitting in jury duty, which I have to say is boring but I have realized that it is a good thing when I would MUCH rather go teach than be here, can't say that I would have thought this 6 months ago.....As I sit around and people watch and do too many games of sudoku( of which is making my mind and eyes burn), I find myself feeling so sluggish and I am thankful that coaching PE demands me to be in constant movement throughout the day. Case in point, I just zombie walked my way into the men's bathroom, quickly leaving in Jedi-like fashion once I saw the urinals and thankfully nobody was left scarred by the incident. :)
I have a student, a 6th grader, who by middle school standards is a pudgy dork...I have started to notice that right after I call roll and we are walking to wherever it is we are going to be that day, he clings on to me and asks me the most random questions or thoughts......so instead of being annoyed by it, which I found myself being, I decided that I am going to right them down, and share in the randomness.
Yesterday's: Have you ever put together a china cabinet????

More goodness to come.....................