I've recently thought I would contact TRS (Teacher Retirement System) to see what I'd need to do about retiring. It would be just great if I could retire in the next year or so. I wanted to check my teaching record online and to do that I have to get a password. I suppose it has a high security because I couldn't apply for a password online. I had to download a form to fill out, put in the "snail-mail" and then wait for the return response with my "secret" password. Sounds like a lot of trouble, but if it'll get me the information I need to quit teaching school...I'll do it.
My classes this year are not too bad really. The three third grade classes of reading that I teach each have 22 students. Most of them are a little too immature and don't really want to do schoolwork over playing. But I don't blame them because I'd rather play too. Unfortunately, I don't think we'd get away with it. The principal would be sure to find out and we'd all be busted.
Playing instead of being at the school really does sound better to me. Every Monday evening I have the same strong desire to get up in the morning and just drive away and forget about that school and my job. I know that would be very irresponcible, not to mention that people would think I was crazy.
I have managed to get my school principal to let another teacher and myself have a day in Houston attending a workshop on improving TAKS scores. No, it doesn't sound too interesting, but we aren't at school. I'm not complaining. We get to eat lunch with the business crowd and listen to a speaker give us tips on helping the helpless in TAKS. I even get my gasoline paid for plus the cost of the registration. Not a bad deal.
When I retire, I realize that I'll have to get some sort of job to help supplement my paycheck from the state. But this time I'm going to work at something that I enjoy. I want to be able to leave it at work and not bring home work. I would like to be able to sleep later than 6:00 a.m. and not be at work until 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. I do not want to have to substitute teach. Been there, done that. I'm thinking Barnes and Noble might like to hire an ex-teacher. Or better yet, Half-Price Books.
Well I haven't retired yet and I have papers to grade and a few lesson plans to write. It never ends. ;-/
October 30, 2005
October 22, 2005
The Animals We Are
During a Science Review the word "animal" was used in reference to humans. My third graders were insulted to be called animals. I assured them it was true that all creatures, even human mammals, were considered animals. They still took offense and could not accept that they were indeed "animals".
However, as I stop and picture human beings scurry around each day trying to earn a living, gather food, and race through this maze of daily happenings...we truly are of the animal kingdom. For sure, we are the more influencial, high-order thinker of the species, but "animals" none the less.
We are always on the move like an army of ants. "Done in the ground, to get out of the rain..." says the preschool song. Human animals rise up each day to new expectations. Oh, of course, there are some of us that are not going to a paying job. Theirs is to sit somewhere, to observe life passing, to listen to other people talk or watch them walk past in a hurry to their next event. Or theirs may be to volunteer their time, service and devotion to other human animals. But somewhere in there all humans eat, think, and sleep just like any other animal. It is the thinking that makes human beings superior though. However, I do believe I observe our cats thinking as they peer around the corner of the door poised to leap out at the other passing cat or person that walks by them. They use their minds to think as they pace around my feet and meow their requests for food or affection. Cats, dogs, even pigs can think, but humans have the complex ability to think, contemplate,reason and feel emotion about their daily decisions.
Pondering the thought that we are humans on this round planet, it seems that we are no different than any other animal living here. The earth spins from day to night and day again. We wake, eat, work, live and do it all over again every 24 hours. Have we been programed by a "superhuman"? Are we going anywhere in this world? The difference between human animals and any other creature on earth is that we can pursue a purpose in life. We can seek and act on a reason to exist. What is that purpose? If my answer to that question is simply to survive my time in this physical life on earth, I should quit my job, stop worrying about my health and let happen what will. No, I have to say that my purpose here is to be a learner. I am learning something new everyday. I'm not a terribly intelligent person, but surrounded by both simple and complex people, the minute-to-minute situations I encounter teach me so much about purpose in life. God placed me on this planet to learn His lessons about the life I will live after I have graduated from this world.
We are the ultimate animal and our degree will be Life with God in Heaven.
However, as I stop and picture human beings scurry around each day trying to earn a living, gather food, and race through this maze of daily happenings...we truly are of the animal kingdom. For sure, we are the more influencial, high-order thinker of the species, but "animals" none the less.
We are always on the move like an army of ants. "Done in the ground, to get out of the rain..." says the preschool song. Human animals rise up each day to new expectations. Oh, of course, there are some of us that are not going to a paying job. Theirs is to sit somewhere, to observe life passing, to listen to other people talk or watch them walk past in a hurry to their next event. Or theirs may be to volunteer their time, service and devotion to other human animals. But somewhere in there all humans eat, think, and sleep just like any other animal. It is the thinking that makes human beings superior though. However, I do believe I observe our cats thinking as they peer around the corner of the door poised to leap out at the other passing cat or person that walks by them. They use their minds to think as they pace around my feet and meow their requests for food or affection. Cats, dogs, even pigs can think, but humans have the complex ability to think, contemplate,reason and feel emotion about their daily decisions.
Pondering the thought that we are humans on this round planet, it seems that we are no different than any other animal living here. The earth spins from day to night and day again. We wake, eat, work, live and do it all over again every 24 hours. Have we been programed by a "superhuman"? Are we going anywhere in this world? The difference between human animals and any other creature on earth is that we can pursue a purpose in life. We can seek and act on a reason to exist. What is that purpose? If my answer to that question is simply to survive my time in this physical life on earth, I should quit my job, stop worrying about my health and let happen what will. No, I have to say that my purpose here is to be a learner. I am learning something new everyday. I'm not a terribly intelligent person, but surrounded by both simple and complex people, the minute-to-minute situations I encounter teach me so much about purpose in life. God placed me on this planet to learn His lessons about the life I will live after I have graduated from this world.
We are the ultimate animal and our degree will be Life with God in Heaven.
October 20, 2005
Top 100 Songs of 1970
On my son, Kyle's blog. (see my list) He listed the top 100 songs from his graduating class of 1997. He got this idea from a friend, Deanna, (see my list) who said to go to musicoutfitters.com and type in your graduating year in the search box. From there it will navigate to a search page and your graduating year will be the first hit. Click on it and there it is. The songs of your graduation year.
Then: 1. Bold the songs you like
2. Italicize the ones you hate
3. Underline your favorites
4. Ignore the ones you don't remember/don't care about.
Unfortunately, my computer doesn't show the tools to underline, bold or italicize. So I'm going to use the following:
1. "" around the ones I like.
2.[ ] the ones I hate (there aren't many)
3. * my favorites
4. Ignore the ones I don't remember. (yeah, there might be a few, did you see the grad year?)
Well too bad Kyle wasn't really impressed by his classes' song list. He needs to check out my list from 1970. Now that was music!
1. *Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
2. "(They Long To Be) Close To You", Carpenters
3. *American Woman / No Sugar Tonight, The Guess Who
4. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", B.J. Thomas
5. *War, Edwin Starr
6. *Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross
7. "I'll Be There", Jackson 5
8. "Get Ready", Rare Earth
9. *Let It Be, The Beatles
10. Band Of Gold, Freda Payne
11. *Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Three Dog Night
12. [Everything Is Beautiful[, Ray Stevens
13. *Make It With You, Bread
14. Hitchin' A Ride, Vanity Fair
15. [ABC], Jackson 5
16. The Love You Save / I Found That Girl, Jackson 5
17. *Cracklin' Rose, Neil Diamond
18. Candida, Dawn
19. "Thank You (Fallettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) / Everybody Is A Star", Sly and The Family Stone
20. Spill The Wine, Eric Burdon and War
21. O-o-h Child / Dear Prudence, Five Stairsteps and Cubie
22. *Spirit In The Sky, Norman Greenbaum
23. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), Melanie and The Edwin Hawkins Singers
24. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today), Temptations
25. Love On A Two Way Street, Moments
27. Which Way You Goin' Billy?, Poppy Family
28. All Right Now, Free
29. Julie, Do Ya Love Me, Bobby Sherman
30. *Green-eyed Lady, Sugarloaf
31. *Signed Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours), Stevie Wonder
32. "Ride Captain Ride", Blues Image
33. *Venus, Shocking Blue
34. Instant Karma (We All Shine On), John Ono Lennon
35. [Patches], Clarence Carter
36. Lookin' Out My Back Door / Long As I Can See The Light, Creedence Clearwater Revival
37. *Rainy Night In Georgia, Brook Benton
38. *Something's Burning, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
39. "Give Me Just A Little More Time", Chairmen Of The Board
40. "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", Edison Lighthouse
41. *The Long And Winding Road / For You Blue, The Beatles
42. "Snowbird", Anne Murray
43. Reflections Of My Life, Marmalade
44. "Hey There Lonely Girl", Eddie Holman
45. *The Rapper, Jaggerz
46. *He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Hollies
47. Tighter, Tighter, Alive and Kicking
48. Come And Get It, Badfinger
49. *Cecelia, Simon and Garfunkel
50. Love Land, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
51. Turn Back The Hands Of Time, Tyrone Davis
52. Lola, Kinks
53. *In The Summertime, Mungo Jerry
54. [Indiana Wants Me], R. Dean Taylor
55. (I Know) I'm Losing You, Rare Earth
56. [Easy Come, Easy Go], Bobby Sherman
57. Express Yourself, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
58. Still Water (Love), Four Tops
59. *Make Me Smile, Chicago
60. *House Of The Rising Sun , Frijid Pink
61. *25 Or 6 To 4, Chicago
62. "My Baby Loves Lovin'", White Plains
63. Love Or Let Me Be Lonely, Friends Of Distinction
64. *United We Stand, Brotherhood Of Man
65. "We've Only Just Begun", Carpenters
66. Arizona, Mark Lindsay
67. *Fire And Rain, James Taylor
68. Groovy Situation, Gene Chandler
69. "Evil Ways", Santana
70. "No Time", The Guess Who
71. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Delfonics
72. The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked The Roses, Elvis Presley
73. *Up Around The Bend / Run Through The Jungle, Creedence Clearwater Revival
74. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You, Ronnie Dyson
75. *I Just Can't Help Believing, B.J. Thomas
76. It's A Shame, Spinners
77. For The Love Of Him, Bobbi Martin
78. Mississippi Queen, Mountain
79. "I Want To Take You Higher", Ike and Tina Turner
80. The Letter, Joe Cocker
81. "Ma Belle Amie", Tee Set
82. The Bells, Originals
83. Yellow River, Christie
84. Somebody's Been Sleeping, 100 Proof and Aged In Soul
85. Vehicle, Ides Of March
86. [Gimme Dat Ding], Pipkins
87. "Lay A Little Lovin' On Me", Robin Mcnamara
88. Up The Ladder To The Roof, Supremes
89. *Travelin' Band / Who'll Stop The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival
90. *Come Saturday Morning, Sandpipers
91. Psychedelic Shack, Temptations
92. Without Love (There Is Nothing), Tom Jones
93. Are You Ready?, Pacific Gas and Electric
94. *Woodstock, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
95. I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Dionne Warwick
96. Look What They've Done To My Song Ma, New Seekers
97. Walk A Mile In My Shoes, Joe South
98. *The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King
99. It's Only Make Believe, Glen Campbell
100. *Call Me, Aretha Franklin
Then: 1. Bold the songs you like
2. Italicize the ones you hate
3. Underline your favorites
4. Ignore the ones you don't remember/don't care about.
Unfortunately, my computer doesn't show the tools to underline, bold or italicize. So I'm going to use the following:
1. "" around the ones I like.
2.[ ] the ones I hate (there aren't many)
3. * my favorites
4. Ignore the ones I don't remember. (yeah, there might be a few, did you see the grad year?)
Well too bad Kyle wasn't really impressed by his classes' song list. He needs to check out my list from 1970. Now that was music!
1. *Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon and Garfunkel
2. "(They Long To Be) Close To You", Carpenters
3. *American Woman / No Sugar Tonight, The Guess Who
4. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head", B.J. Thomas
5. *War, Edwin Starr
6. *Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Diana Ross
7. "I'll Be There", Jackson 5
8. "Get Ready", Rare Earth
9. *Let It Be, The Beatles
10. Band Of Gold, Freda Payne
11. *Mama Told Me (Not To Come), Three Dog Night
12. [Everything Is Beautiful[, Ray Stevens
13. *Make It With You, Bread
14. Hitchin' A Ride, Vanity Fair
15. [ABC], Jackson 5
16. The Love You Save / I Found That Girl, Jackson 5
17. *Cracklin' Rose, Neil Diamond
18. Candida, Dawn
19. "Thank You (Fallettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) / Everybody Is A Star", Sly and The Family Stone
20. Spill The Wine, Eric Burdon and War
21. O-o-h Child / Dear Prudence, Five Stairsteps and Cubie
22. *Spirit In The Sky, Norman Greenbaum
23. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain), Melanie and The Edwin Hawkins Singers
24. Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today), Temptations
25. Love On A Two Way Street, Moments
27. Which Way You Goin' Billy?, Poppy Family
28. All Right Now, Free
29. Julie, Do Ya Love Me, Bobby Sherman
30. *Green-eyed Lady, Sugarloaf
31. *Signed Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours), Stevie Wonder
32. "Ride Captain Ride", Blues Image
33. *Venus, Shocking Blue
34. Instant Karma (We All Shine On), John Ono Lennon
35. [Patches], Clarence Carter
36. Lookin' Out My Back Door / Long As I Can See The Light, Creedence Clearwater Revival
37. *Rainy Night In Georgia, Brook Benton
38. *Something's Burning, Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
39. "Give Me Just A Little More Time", Chairmen Of The Board
40. "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", Edison Lighthouse
41. *The Long And Winding Road / For You Blue, The Beatles
42. "Snowbird", Anne Murray
43. Reflections Of My Life, Marmalade
44. "Hey There Lonely Girl", Eddie Holman
45. *The Rapper, Jaggerz
46. *He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, Hollies
47. Tighter, Tighter, Alive and Kicking
48. Come And Get It, Badfinger
49. *Cecelia, Simon and Garfunkel
50. Love Land, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
51. Turn Back The Hands Of Time, Tyrone Davis
52. Lola, Kinks
53. *In The Summertime, Mungo Jerry
54. [Indiana Wants Me], R. Dean Taylor
55. (I Know) I'm Losing You, Rare Earth
56. [Easy Come, Easy Go], Bobby Sherman
57. Express Yourself, Charles Wright and The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band
58. Still Water (Love), Four Tops
59. *Make Me Smile, Chicago
60. *House Of The Rising Sun , Frijid Pink
61. *25 Or 6 To 4, Chicago
62. "My Baby Loves Lovin'", White Plains
63. Love Or Let Me Be Lonely, Friends Of Distinction
64. *United We Stand, Brotherhood Of Man
65. "We've Only Just Begun", Carpenters
66. Arizona, Mark Lindsay
67. *Fire And Rain, James Taylor
68. Groovy Situation, Gene Chandler
69. "Evil Ways", Santana
70. "No Time", The Guess Who
71. Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time), Delfonics
72. The Wonder Of You / Mama Liked The Roses, Elvis Presley
73. *Up Around The Bend / Run Through The Jungle, Creedence Clearwater Revival
74. (If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You, Ronnie Dyson
75. *I Just Can't Help Believing, B.J. Thomas
76. It's A Shame, Spinners
77. For The Love Of Him, Bobbi Martin
78. Mississippi Queen, Mountain
79. "I Want To Take You Higher", Ike and Tina Turner
80. The Letter, Joe Cocker
81. "Ma Belle Amie", Tee Set
82. The Bells, Originals
83. Yellow River, Christie
84. Somebody's Been Sleeping, 100 Proof and Aged In Soul
85. Vehicle, Ides Of March
86. [Gimme Dat Ding], Pipkins
87. "Lay A Little Lovin' On Me", Robin Mcnamara
88. Up The Ladder To The Roof, Supremes
89. *Travelin' Band / Who'll Stop The Rain, Creedence Clearwater Revival
90. *Come Saturday Morning, Sandpipers
91. Psychedelic Shack, Temptations
92. Without Love (There Is Nothing), Tom Jones
93. Are You Ready?, Pacific Gas and Electric
94. *Woodstock, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
95. I'll Never Fall In Love Again, Dionne Warwick
96. Look What They've Done To My Song Ma, New Seekers
97. Walk A Mile In My Shoes, Joe South
98. *The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King
99. It's Only Make Believe, Glen Campbell
100. *Call Me, Aretha Franklin
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