Good Time "Off"

Well the extended weekend turned out well despite some rain. I took Monday and did just as I planned: NOTHING. It's been quite a while since I've done so little. Visiting family at the lake and helping our neighbors who've been there since I can remember pack to leave for good was about all I did. I knew that I had Tuesday off to get all my work done.
Work was all I did on Tuesday. Getting caught up in both my classes was high on the list. I did just that and was in good shape for the rest of the week. On Tuesday evening, however, I returned to the lake to see the neighbors off and take one last boat ride around the lake with them. All was good until I was locking up our place after dark, with no lights and missed the last step off the porch. Now, the list of excuses is huge here, but more or less, I'm just an idiot. I turned my ankle pretty good. My school nurse (my usual first stop for the stupid injuries I inflict upon myself) suggested a trip to the doctor, but I chose more ice...
I did little walking on Wednesday to say the least. Fortunately my students are working on their prep for finals and I'm just there for questions. I don't have to move much as they come to me with questions.
Today, my co-teacher in LS science took a look the ankle and a picture. I guess it'll be OK even though it's really big still. This is the first embedded picture I'm attempting. Since it could go wrong, just like so many other things, I thought "why not" right? Here goes. Just remember I usually don't have this "cankle" (as my colleague put it)...OK so maybe a nice lake picture would be better so here's that one instead.
Although for the slightly wrong and twisted I can send the other one too :)

Long Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend as we all pay homage to those that have served and fought for this country, I have worked, trained a new employee and mowed the yard between the rain drops, while reading and working on my classes during the downpours. It's been a full weekend so far. On Monday, I intend to do nothing but relax. I've taken the day off from my second job and will visit with family and friends. All else will have to wait.
Just remember that Monday isn't just an extra day off, it's time to reflect, think and appreciate what others have done and are doing now so that we can continue to do what we do. Thanks to all who are serving and to those that have done so in the past.

Great Find

This week, as I started the process of changing over all my old info into the computer, I thought that there had to be a good way to go about this...and came across something that I hadn't considered. I found an external hard drive to be the slickest darn thing I've used in a LONG time! So far, I've put gigs of stuff on it and am amazed. I'm using an Aluretek with no AC needed. It's pure USB and is tiny. It comes with a little case and a long USB chord. Soon I'll have all my stuff in on the new computer and all my work in one place! Since I've had this, I think I've sold 4 others to people who were just as impressed as I am...nice little unit!
More importantly, I can now load programs on it and use them with any computer and save all of my class work in one place(backing up at home of course) and stop carrying folders around with me.
Even so, I'm a little behind in my classes and will be working to catch up the next couple of days. Not a great way spend the holiday weekend, but it's what I have to do. In a couple of weeks, I'm off for the summer, but start another class.
Sometime soon, things have to slow down! I just hope it's all worth while.

Still Good

All seems to be going pretty well right now. I'm a little bit behind in my classes this week, but should catch up ASAP. I think I'm OK on that front. The classes are a bit different than I expected, but seem to be useful so far.
I brought home over a ton of topsoil today, so that the plants in front of the house will have a nice place to grow...and I did this on one of the hottest days so far. I had 92 degrees on my porch. I guess it's a good way to lose weight? Anyway, I'm done there. I finally removed the old steering box from the Cuda too. The "new" one should be going in tomorrow, but that will depend on how much work I catch up on tonight. It's perfect weather for the car, just haven't gotten the whole thing together lately. Maybe soon.
All fronts are covered for now, with the new computer running great, a portable hard drive on the way, which will allow me to save all my school stuff in one place for a change, and let me finally get all the stuff I need from the old computer. I don't really have any major gripes and am happy to be counting down the days to summer, even though I'll be in classes for most of it. Somehow I'll manage.
Hope all is well where you are!
Good luck.

A Little Confusion

Taking two classes at the same time has added a little confusion. Remembering different classmates from different classes is getting tough and the time requirement is already showing itself to an issue. I'm not the most organized of people so I guess it's time to become among the more organized. Today, I worked out a schedule for myself, working on a different class depending upon the night. I hope this will help.
Other than some minor issues, all is going well. the new computer is working great. I've found all the add-ons that I need. I do now see the need for an external hard drive to take between work and home. I think that will consolidate all of my things and make organization at least a little easier.
On another note. I've introduced my very experienced counterpart to PowerPoint. Suddenly he's excited and interested in some of the things I know. Unfortunately, we are to put together a presentation for the students to watch before they become our students next year. Most of what I've learned in my classes flies in the face of what we'll be doing when we present. I have little say and am more of a secretary, taking his notes, than I am part of the process. It's been like this since the beginning of the year...and I see no end until he retires. I have no problem with him other than the lack of listening to most of what I have to say. I guess, I was in kindergarten when her started teaching, so maybe listening to me has some taboo to it? Who knows. I just hope that I get a good partner when the eminent retirement takes place! One more? two more? Should be soon.

Still Plugging Away

This week has been full of good and not so good. After the arrival of the computer, it was time to get things working like I need them to work. Today, I finally managed to get Acrobat Reader to install. I guess it has issues with my OS. A little research worked well and I'm now reading what I need to for my classes. I'm still stuck on figuring out how to watch my intro's to the classes though and working through that now. Other than that the new system is great, but is taking a little getting used to. It's just different enough to make me think about where things are before going to them. I'm sure it will become "natural" in time. I still haven't retrieved anything from the old computer yet. That's a "not so good" thing. I need some of that stuff, but haven't gotten around to slaving the drives(I had two in the old computer) to my new one to transfer the data.
My grade took their field trip on Friday. It was new one for all the teachers to try. Due to expenses, funding cuts, and a lack of fund raising by our students it was scaled back a bit. We were to start the day with an Imax about Everest. In science we reviewed what we had learned about plate tectonics and how the mountain is being formed. Other classes looked into other aspects. When we arrived, were seated and the intro started it was obvious that something wasn't right. We watched a movie on the migration of various creatures throughout the world. While it was a fine movie, it wasn't what was expected at all. It confused all of us. I haven't heard a good explanation yet, but I'm sure something must have happened to the intended movie. Oh well.
The rest of the day went well, with very few problems. It was much closer to home and helped to show kids that there are things nearby that are fun and easily accessible. I gave the digital camera to a student at the start to get some shots that students might like. An hour later I checked in with that student and found only two pictures taken...I quickly found a new photographer and ended up with over 150 pictures! That's what I wanted! Many aren't too good or useful, but most are great. They'll be added to the end of the year slide show. All in all a good but tiring day. The teachers will pass out surveys for the students to determine thoughts about the day and later meet to plan changes for next year and see what really worked well/what we really don't want to happen next year. Hopefully we'll spend most of the time on the positives not the negatives...but I know where we'll end up.
A worker quit where I work my second job. It was sudden and completely unexpected(at least to me). I spent most of today catching up what he hadn't done and am working with my bosses to determine where we go from here. Life is interesting to say the least!
I'll miss the first car show of the season tomorrow due to a leaking and stubborn steering box. It just doesn't want to separate from the rest of the car. Oh well, it's just another day and I'll save money on gas! maybe I'll make the next one. Besides, I have to do two people's jobs tomorrow anyway and really don't have the time to prep the car or drive to the show. It'll all work out I'm sure.

Happy

Today I received my new computer. I'm happy to be current for the first time in a long time. so far it's been fine, after opening the case to solve a grinding noise issue, which turned out to be a wire in the processor cooling fan. Other than that, nothing has been an issue. Right out of the box, it functioned fine, and with most of my bookmarks online now, I'm up and running. I do have to slave a hard drive to take my MP3's, and previous work with me, but that can wait a little while. We'll see how things shake out later on. This should make my current classes at least a little easier and give me access to my camera for digital photos and allow my scanner to work too. All seems right with the world this evening.

Time Gone

Well, my little break is over. I'm not only caught up at work, but a little ahead of the game and can finally see that the top of my desk is black! It's been a while since that color has shown through. I spent most my extra time catching up on things around the house. The yard is all mowed for the first time this year, the car has been washed, the garage cleaned, trimming done....and so much more. I did spend some time shooting, wasting a few hundred rounds at sporting clays and five stand, which is always a good feeling. Yesterday, I changed out the rear differential in the Cuda and should be driving it again tomorrow, after making sure that there are no leaks. The first car show of the season is Sunday. If I can get a steering box changed out before then, I'll make it to that one. If not, there are lots more to attend over the next few months. Nothing big if I miss it.
I've read the syllabus for each of my two new classes, which don't seem to be too bad, but I'm starting to think that two at once might be a little much...then I start a third one four weeks from now. I guess I'll just have to set a timeline and stick to it! Hopefully all will go well. I guess time will tell there.

A Little Time Off

This past week, I've spent time away from the computer and doing other things. Having a little time between classes was nice. Time for other parts of life. Taking care of the house, trying to get the yard under control and cleaning everything that piles up when you work on a project. It was a good week, but it's just about over. I start two classes on Monday and expect to have little time to do much at all. I've started reading my text that was listed, so that should help get me on the right track. All is pretty good. Nothing too major, just the normal issues that happen with kids nearing the end of a school year, colleagues talking about shake-ups in the coming year, transfers etc. Nothing that major. My position will change a little and I'll lose the LS end of things, but I guess I should expect new things from the administration each year. I'm not too worried about that though, the big change was the curriculum this year, which was rough to say the least.
On the bright side though, I've finally found a computer and should be up to date by the middle of next week. That will be nice, being current for the first time in what seems like forever. I figured that it was about time, considering the tech oriented classes that I've been taking and the fact that I couldn't run a program for my last class due to the antiquity of my current system. It will be sad to see it go. With the way prices are going, it will most likely be the last one that gets built here. It's like reloading shells. If you ignore what you're worth for an hour of work, you just about break even. So this time, I'm getting a warranty, customer service and a complete set up sent to my door. No fooling around, putting one together. I did spend a ton of time checking out different places and specing out what I need though and did request help from a good friend...which drove up the cost of what I "need", but I hope this new one lasts for the next ten years!
Well, I'm off to grade tests so I can show my students their updated grades tomorrow. That will be the end of the evening for me.
Good luck this week.