Cheese and Grapes

For a snack I really like cheese and grapes. I will eat a couple of grapes and then take a small bite from a cheese stick. It is really good. I personally like purple grapes. I usually don't get surprised by sour grapes with purple grapes.

It's been a long time!

Sweet Surprises

A month or so ago I resumed to write my story about Brian and Carly. I take some time at lunch at type a few lines. Sometimes I am able to write a few words before bed. However, today I was surprised at the turn of events in this book. I was so surprised I made my class suffer through me telling them about the surprise.
As you know from posts a year and a half ago that Brian asked Carly to marry him. Though 18 months have passed Brian and Carly's relationship is still very new. Brian has already met Carly's family and they have traveled to Brian's hometown so Carly can meet Brian's family.
Carly woke Brian up for a morning run. This is something they do often. While running, Carly was unusually quiet. Carly then discusses that something doesn't feel right. Brian is thinking that Carly is having second thoughts about getting married. As I am putting this on paper my heart is pounding anticipating why Carly is feeling this way. I was so nervous. I had to know why Carly was feeling they way she was. As I typed the last line before my students came in I finally learned the reason for Carly's hesitation.
Now, if I'm the author of the story shouldn't I know the what's and why's? The surprise came in the fact that I was anxious to know because I didn't know; like I had to keep reading. In this case keep writing. It was a pretty cool feeling. I hope to have it again and more than once.
Thanks for letting me share,

OLD Man

Battles of Weary Soul

I have spent the better part of the last several months fighting battles that occur in the recesses of my mind. However, those recesses of my mind have been found very much in the forefront of my mind.
I will tell you that that up to this point the battles have been bloody (not literally); and that I have lost a vast majority of them.
Because of the topics over which these battles are fought are personal, I am unable to share them. But as I ramble I hope you understand.
More than once at teacher meetings last week I found myself wanting to sneak out and hide in my room. I was afraid that of what may happen if I had to deal with them publicly. They were addressing a few of the topics over which this war was taking place. I didn't leave and stuck with it without too much damage being done.
Reminders of these battles seem to be just about everywhere. It's kinda like, trying to get away from yourself when you get on your own nerves. Think about it; you can't even get away from yourself when you sleep. However, I am reminded that a good movie will help you escape for a little while. Just know that your may find your troubles sitting outside the theater doors.
I will share that I am very blessed. I work a job that I like. Jen is very supportive and extremely patient with me. My children have been fun to watch grow up. Lindsey is now in college and seems to be enjoying the opportunity to spread her wings.
Ashley is fun to listen to when she is playing the organ in church. I was very excited when Bishop Kitchen suggested the idea. She plays the prelude and postlude music in Sacrament Meeting.
Nathan is one big boy. He's a lot stronger at 14 than I ever was at that age. I like to see his tender heart and would like to see it more often.
Maggey is looking just like Lindsey. I think she is taller than Lindsey. Her classroom is clear across the school and that will mean less hugs from her at school.
Abbey is a smart kid. I like to hear her talk about school. It's a lot of fun when she spouts out some fact and Maggey says, "Where did you learn that?" and Abbey's reply is, "In class."
I think I'll be all right. There's probably not any other option, is there? Than to be all right?
May God grant you the righteous desires of your heart. I am grateful to you for reading and letting my soul find some resemblance of peace in you, if only for a short time.
To you with as much love as I can give,

OLD Man

I'm Still Here

I do apologize for neglecting my blog. It is not that I have not had anything to say; I actually forgot about it until I was reading a conference talk from October's Conference.
There is so much I could write, but most of it would be boring to you; and I'm not sure I could count it as writing in my journal because it wouldn't be listed among those pages.
School is going pretty. Much to my surprise, as well as my fifth grade colleagues, we were able to move into three of the new rooms that have been added to our school. We moved in the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Needless to say I spent a considerable amount of time arranging and organizing over the holiday. It has been wonderful to have storage space and enough room to move around. I had some excellent help while moving. Thanks to Jen, Lindsey, Ashley, Nathan, Maggey, Abbey, and Sarah, my student teacher, the move into my new went very smooth.
In the beginning of November I went to St. George for two marching band tournaments. As always, it was fantastic. Thanks ALee for the accommodations. They were fantastic as always. We were able to see Ross and are glad that he's a least able to keep food in his belly.
I am way cool now. I was given an old Droid phone with a data plan. I love it, Jen hates it. The phone was free, what do you expect? I love being cool, even when it is a self appointed cool. And my cool is self appointed (currently).
OLD Man

St. George

This past weekend, Ken, the Greenwood's custodian, invited me to play in a softball tourny in St. George. This the first time I have played softball with adults since 1993.
I had a great time. I was the second oldest guy on the team.
Let me tell you...there are some softball fanatics out there. Ken invited guys he knew that liked to play. We haven't played together before. We played teams that have been playing for years. Needless to say we got spanked pretty bad. I'll tell you what I had a good time.
I got to meet Little Ross while I was there. However, he was in the ER with an IV. I tried to tell him there are better ways to get attention. I'd like to thank Jason for the little bit of humor. Jason wasn't home when ALee took Ross to the hospital. When he arrived home the neighbor told him that they had just taken Ross the hospital. Jason's first thought was, "They couldn't do that we buried him 3 months ago." It took him a minute to realize it was Little Ross and not his father-in-law, who in fact was buried 3-4 months ago.
Similarly, when mom called to tell me that Dad is gone. My first thought was, "Where did he go? Did he go get a Coke or something?"
Then mom said he's not breathing. "Oh, he's gone." I sure do miss him. Even now sometimes I forget that he had died.

OLD Man

Congrats Rwanda!!!!!

An article in TFK (Time for Kids magazine) said that a shop in Butar, Rwanda is the first to serve soft serve ice cream. This just happened in the last couple weeks. All of the ingredients can be obtained locally. If I remember correctly the name of the shop is called Sweet Dream.
I take so much for granted!!!!!!

OLD Man

I have a Confession

My confession is this. I have been painting the outside of our house. It has been on my Honey Do list for 3 years. If I keep it up Jen might think that the stuff that has been on the list for several years just might get done. Time will tell. I may have to rest for about 3 years before I do another item on the list.
Though that is my confession I really want to celebrate a small discovery. I am afraid of heights. Climbing trees and ladders have not been my strong suit. However, I have discovered that as I have been painting my house that the fear that I've had climbing ladders is nonexistent. When I realized this I felt great. I just wanted to share my small celebration with you. In life we need to celebrate what we can no matter how small or insignificant.

Family Update

We have been in school a week shy of a month. I am enjoying my class though it is bigger than originally anticipated. Being a teacher requires flexibility.
For the most part they behave pretty well.
Outside of school life is moving quickly. Marching band starts on Mon and seems to go non stop until the first week of November.
Ashley is going on a choir tour in April. It sounds like a fun trip. I told her that I could go as a chaperon. She asked why. I said, "That's what parents do." I'm not sure she liked the sound of that. It soooooo boring to have your parents along.
Nathan is finishing up his bicycling merit badge this weekend with a 50 mile bike ride on the Rail Trail near Park City. As of last night he wasn't looking forward to this. He was hoping to borrow his sister's iPod so he could listen to the BYU game. Nathan has earned about $40 rent his iTouch to his sisters. If he were smart he'd save his money to buy him a 32 or 64 gig iTouch and still rent the one he has now. Bell rang. Bye.

OLD Man

Obviously, I have put Brian and Carly in the freezer for a while. I haven't scheduled my time appropriately to add anything more to their life. I can't say that mine is very hectic, but planning is not my forte. I think Jen will be more that happy to confirm that. In our relationship I'm the one with my head in the clouds (I understand that I have left myself open, so fire away. I won't let you see me cry).
Also, I became tired of deleting all of the Korean porno links from my comments. Why do people have to do that? If they want to comment go ahead, but don't leave that garbage on my blog.
School is going pretty well. So far, I think that I'm doing pretty well with 27 students. Realize that I was to only have 19-21 and yes even adding 2-4 students changes the class drastically, let alone 8. To all my extended day colleagues...you get paid much more to teach more students. You can't complain.
Joe if you read this blog you need to read Wednesday Wars. It is excellent and should be right up your alley.
It has been a busy day with regional stake conference. Three meetings today and a general session tomorrow. I am somewhat worn out, but can't sleep currently. Why do the kids have to sleep in the family room? It is hard to watch a movie with them on the couch and floor. That may be the only good childhood memory they have. They do it quite often and they love it. The hard part is agreeing on a movie.
To you readers that can't find anything else better to read I say, "Good Night."

OLD Man