Update

It's one of those weird weeks. We are here all week but the kids are only here for three days. Then on Thursday, we work from noonish to eightish to meet the needs of those parents who work days and can only come in to see us at night. Friday the hours are more normal, eight to three, but it does make for an odd week.

I have to change everything. That's a pain. Moving I mean. Change of address forms, all kinds of forms, knowing that I won't remember everything, but I think my biggest concern is the changing of the email account. Moving from Jonestown to Palmyra means I have to switch comcast providers. I don't want to have to change my email address because I have so much sent to that email address.

The things I worry about.

I did golf on Saturday. It was fun. I played well and then lousy and then well and then lousy. I have applied to be the golf coach here next year. I have mixed feelings about it. Coaching requires a big commitment and I want to do a good job. I also want the kids to be better golfers.

Mulling over things.

I don't know about you, but I have a one track mind. When something major is going on in my life, like moving, I focus on that and struggle focusing on anything else. So right now, focusing on other things like correcting essays and tests and discussing Hamlet is much more difficult for me. But there is always something.

The silly Phillies didn't repeat, sorry to say, but making it two years in a row is quite an accomplishment. Next year. They need pitching. Consistent pitching.

The move is on. I am going to be moving to Palmyra over Thanksgiving vacation. Not looking forward to it.

I am going golfing tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

Nate Graybeal has a Phillies shirt on. Go Nate.

There are so many things I'd like to say. I think the testing that we force kids to do which is supposed to measure their achievement in certain areas is for the most part unreliable. The more we test, the less we teach. I'm not stupid. Most of my kids aren't going to be English teachers or English majors. I want them to read because reading is good for them and makes them better people, but we make reading and writing punitive and that makes them hate it.

Schools. Parents. We do the best we can. I'm reading this book by Alan Sitomer. He's teacher of the year in California. He says that the best thing we can do is be honest with kids and tell them life kicks you in the gut sometimes and it's best if you know how to deal with that. To me that means that a deadline is a deadline, an assignment is an assignment, and responsibility is responsibility. Second, third, fourth chances send a wrong message. Sure, you get a bunch of times to take your driver's test, but if you get drunk, drive and kill someone, there's no do-over. No second chance. I will do my best as a teacher to try and relate information to a student at his or her level, but eventually he or she has to do something as well. I am often stunned when kids tell me they don't get something but have really put forth no effort to get it. Sometimes you just have to read with a dictionary open beside you. Sometimes you just have to figure stuff out. I've put together a few gas grills in my day, and I've had to take them apart and reassemble them because I didn't "get" the directions the first time.

Be accountable for your actions.

World Series tied at 1-1.
Kind of weird game last night. Didn't stay awake. Heard a story from a woman who had overdue books for 13 years. She eventually took them back having felt guilty. The libraries were so shocked, they didn't charge her or anything. Some figured she probably owed 700 in fines.
I ate a bunch of junk today that I shouldn't have. Not feeling too well. That's why.

Another week has come and gone. This year seems to be flying by. Often I type those types of statements and find that it's the same thing I typed before. Silly.

Someone is coming to see the house tomorrow. If I say that I hope it goes well, I don't know if I really mean it. If it goes well, if the people make an acceptable offer on the house, then we head down the path towards the dreaded move. I don't know that I hate anything worse than moving. I don't mind moving other people; when you're tired or done, you leave, but moving yourself, from start to finish takes weeks. That's the preparation for the move and the move and the aftermath of the move which consists in some ways of finding things you've moved but haven't used in decades. Someone is coming to see the house tomorrow. No sense in feeling strongly one way of the other.

The Phillies

So for the second year in a row, the Phillies have won the National League Pennant. This rarely happens. It's quite and accomplishment. So I pretty darn excited.

We are watching Oedipus the King. In the story, the main character inadvertently kills his father and marries his mother. This is one of the true Greek tragedies. He was marked out for suffering since the day he was born. Sad. A tragedy.

Catharsis.

It all came true. The prophesies. They all came true.

I've been so busy and blogging has become the victim. The house is for sale, we're trying to buy a new one, my kids are busy, one has moved out, the other is looking for a new job, I'm finding life a little overwhelming right now, but there's not a whole lot to do about it. Staying above water. An idiom? At least the weather has improved somewhat and the Phillies are a win away from the world series. It's funny how a year can change things. Last year at this time, with Hamels on the mound, we fans would have felt a victory was assured, but a year later, I'd honestly rather see Happ or Lee on the mound. Maybe he'll have a good one.

Post number 200. Lots going on. Kids getting married. House for sale. Trying to buy a new one. Dog. Stuff. Craziness.
Dress down day tomorrow.
Pay day tomorrow.
No middle school football.
No middle school field hockey.
Pictures are here.
Meet in room 62. Tomorrow is Friday.
No high school soccer.
Games will be played at the outer fields. Past meal is still on.
Band practice is 6:30 to 8. Arrange for an earlier ride.
Accelerated Reader tomorrow.