And thus ends Rocktober

Halloween always makes me sad. It's not because winter is coming (I like the cold and ignore the driveway). It's not because it means 25% of the school year has passed (I'll get to that later). No, it saddens me because it signals the last day of Rocktober. Yes, the month in which all that rocks rocks a little bit more and that guy who does voice-over commercials for every classic rock station in the nation rocks a little harder is almost over. Take heart! Even though Rocktober is ending, that does not mean that we cannot continue to rock. In fact, we must take up the battle cry and continue to rock during all of the months that won't rock for us. Rocktober doesn't just exist as 31 days of the year. It exists deep inside every one of us that refuses not to rock just because it is November.

Anyway, the first nine weeks of the school year ended on Tuesday, and those limbo days between the end and when grades are due are torture. This year may have been worse than others. We had an outbreak of the symptoms of H1N1. I'll never know if many of our kids actually and the pork bug, but they sure acted like it; they didn't come to school - for days. The timing couldn't have been better because everyone was missing the week before then end of the marking period when we cram tests in to make the cutoff and be able to grade them before the grades are actually due. You would think they would be a little more considerate and think of some of the consequences of their not coming to school and how if affects me. I can't stand it when people make everything about themselves!

Vikings are looking good at 6-1. Another win over Green Bay this weekend would make for a very nice record, especially in the division.

Rock on

Tale of the Brat Thief

I still can't decide if I'm upset with the events of last night or proud. I made a couple of brats that I had roaming in the freezer and cut them up to eat with some pasta. I was working on something else and when I turned around, about half of the brats were missing. My daughter was there and said, "I love brats!" and proceeded to continue pilfering my stash. I lost my cool a bit as I didn't have any back-up brats and told her to stop. She took the plate to the table and the next time I turned around ate all but two little pieces. I was really looking forward to those brats, but the enthusiasm she was exuding about them may have made up for not eating them. I quite proud of how much she likes brats. She even chooses them over hot dogs.

Tuesday night was one of the best nights of volleyball I've played in a while. Even though it was in a gym with a concrete floor and the end lines were the walls, it was a lot of fun. We played what was probably one of the best teams, and it turns out that we may also be one of the best teams. We split the 4 games and could have won all 4. I felt a lot more comfortable this week getting use to playing 6's again after three summers of doubles. This is going to be a fun season.

I even went for a run the following day and felt good, not unbearably stiff. Anyone who read my last post saw that I found a new shoe store. It's really my new store. I decided that shoes were too big and contacted them to see if they could do anything for me. They have a 30 day return policy, regardless of the condition of the shoes. I'm glad that I decided to boycott Dick's Sporting Goods. I tried to buy shoes there and couldn't get someone to help me. It was clear that I was looking for shoes and wasn't just looking casually. I had my 1-year-old in a stroller, so I was definitely motivated to find a pair and make a purchase. You don't go trying on shoes for fun with a 1-year-old. As I stood looking at the display, holding shoes and looking intently at the sales people, the only response I could get was a curt notification that they only had that shoe is size 14 as one guy rushed to help someone else. I waited for a good 15 minutes and couldn't even make eye contact with anyone. No one even gave me so much as a, "I'll be with you in a minute," or, "Are you being helped?"

Anyway, I'm heading back to get some shoes that actually fit on Saturday and may get some more wool socks. I love those socks. I want to get some SmartWool clothing too. A friend of mine clued me into a site called Steep and Cheap that has some amazing discounts, so I'm watching that because I can't afford $70 for a running shirt.

Big game on Monday. I'm hoping the Vikings are for real and we see an Adrien Peterson extravaganza as he leads the Vikings to a rout of the Packers. Buffalo wings will be made and the kids will go to bed so I can watch this game.

More volleyball and wool socks

Started a new volleyball league last night. It's been a long time since I played 6's, especially with a full team. It's been even longer since I played on a a gym floor (note to self - need to dive less). That being said, last night was a lot of fun. It helped that we won all four games. This will be a good cross-training activity to give the short-twitchers a jump start and give me some speed back when I run.

I finally got some new running shoes. It's been three years since I bought my last pair, but I have to confess that I didn't really use them until this past January. Our local store closed down and I'm boycotting Dick's Sporting Goods, so I went on a search for another local running store. I found one, but it's 45 minutes away. If you are in the area, check them out. It's Elite Feet in Montoursville. They were very helpful, but I think I may have gotten the shoes a little too big. I'm not sure. The last pair was a little too snug, so it may just be a reaction to actually having some room in the toe box. I also wore my new socks, my first pair of wool running socks (Smart Wool to be specific). The guy at the store said I would be amazed at the difference between them and cotton socks. I have to agree, they did feel pretty good. The only problem is I only have one pair.

Today was the first full day of Autumn and we reached 84 degrees in my classroom. We got an email on Monday saying the AC would be off for the week. Anything above 75 and it gets difficult for anyone to concentrate in a classroom. We were spoiled up to this point. The new system put in over the summer (or fixed or whatever...it worked) kept the temperature in my room below 72, often below 70. It was really nice. Today, not so nice.

A new year, a new outlook

Tomorrow I'll be finishing my 3rd week of the new school year. By this time last year, I had pinpointed with laser-like accuracy who the major a******s were going to be (I take pride in an uncanny early detection system that seems to cut through a b******t facade faster than most others). So far, I am not detecting any. Sure, there are some squirrels and some who will be followed by a plethora of people in the south saying, "Bless their heart," but I don't think anyone is going to be be an enemy combatant. This year is looking good.

That's my initial reaction, but it could also be the fact that I'm playing with my new toys every day in the classroom. I got my smartboard (actually it's an Eno board), projector, and laptop - no more running Windows 98 at home anymore. Now I have a Mobi which is a handheld, portable, and wireless device that lets me control the Eno board from anywhere in the room! It is so cool and so much fun. I can stand right behind a talkative student and put notes on the board from there. I can stand in the back, write on the board, and watch what everyone is doing. They have their backs to me instead of the other way around! Even with new expectations placed on us including looming intercession from the state if test scores don't go up, I am having fun. I hope to carry this through the whole year.

What do Kubla Khan and Cheese have in common?

In Madison did Eric find
A tasty cheesy treat well-fried.
Within the cafeteria
Behind the plexiglass clear shield
Held waiting under heat.
So first he asked to have a bowl
And then he tasted new delight.
Crispy with a melted center,
Yellow, not that mozzarella.
Though close cousins the two do be,
A stronger personality –
More individuality.
But oh! That gooey goodness did go know I not
And I did decree within that place that day!
A savage a place as I have ever known
For foodstuffs’ lives depend on fickle students
And their tastes do wax and wane amongst many!
From this place I would save my new favorite treat.
As if in my power it had been to save them
A mighty fountain of my willpower
A deluge in the comment box commenced
Did soon sway the gods themselves to my mind
And within a week fried cheese curds had returned.
That with music loud and long,
I would taste in my mouth,
That crunchy crust, that cheese ooze!
And all who saw would want them then,
And all who smelled them, not resist.
For all who came on fried cheese fed,
And ate the cheese of paradise.

Ok, Brett, now you have to win!

Silly me, I thought that Favre was a non-issue. I actually thought that it was now down to Jackson and Rosenfels and I was wondering how well we could count on them to hand off and throw a pass once in a while. It seems that Favre is now a Viking. Everything I've seen said it was pending a physical today, but if he was going to fail a physical today, it would have happened anymore. I feel a little sorry for Rosenfels. Jackson has had enough chances to prove himself and we can't spend any more time waiting for him to develop. I remember when Favre was a newish quarterback and I always looked forward to the games we'd play the Packers because the Vikings defense always feasted on his wild throws. Little did I know then that he would develop into one of the best QB's ever. Even then, Favre was exciting. I don't get the same feeling from Jackson and have been giving him the benefit of the doubt these past few seasons. But even with Adrian Peterson consuming the opposing teams' attention, he couldn't manage to make the throws he needed to make. Rosenfels, even though he hasn't been a great QB in the past, made this move with the idea that he would be able to compete for the starting position. But, this is professional football, and you need to be the best at your position on a team to start and if a team can get someone better, you're out of luck. I think the saddest part is that Favre is the best QB we have now, even at 40. We've had how many years since Culpepper imploded to develop some talent? At least we didn't go after Jeff George!

Saying all of that, the Vikings are a better team today than they were yesterday. Show us the wins, Brett.

New Marathon Plan

Grandma's is too far away and will cost too much to run. More specifically, it will cost too much to travel and stay for the weekend in Duluth. So, I have decided to run the local marathon in May instead. The River Towns Marathon will be on Saturday, May 8, 2010. I'm putting my goal out there right now. I want to run it in under 4 hours. I think that's a realistic goal. I would love to do it in 3 or even under 3.5, but I'm just not sure I can do that at this point. Closer to the actual date, I'll reevaluate this goal and see where my training is. 9 minute miles would put me at right around 4 hours. 8 minute miles would put me right around 3.5 hours. I have not raced any 5k's lately (I plan on doing one in September), but I can't seem to get a training run of 5k in 8 minute miles, so I'm not sure that I can get that pace for 26.2 miles in May. We'll see.