1.  Um, I know that it is culturally unacceptable to speak ill of the dead.  I refuse to be a hypocrite.  Everyone is a blend of good and bad, and even a stopped clock is right twice a day  However, not everyone who dies was good folks.  While I can't think of anyone I currently wish would die (I have wished various peope would die over my lifetime ( Read more... )

So one of my goals now that I no longer work for a living is to become more physically fit, hopefully losing a good bit of poundage in the process.  In the interest of trying to find exercise I might actually do on a regular basis, I discovered something called a Fitdesk.  It's essentially a small stationary bike, but set up with a desk on it so ( Read more... )

So, I retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year.  To replace me, they offered the job to an early childhood center teacher who is a central administration pet and has never taught gifted before.  She is working on certification.  This may or may not go well, long-term--in my experience you really have to have a true passion for working with ( Read more... )

The weather forecasters nailed Snowpocalypse for once.  It started several hours later than they originally predicted (which was okay since we had plans Saturday night for a gathering with friends which we were able to carry out, since the snow didn't start till after midnight), but we ended up getting major snow--at least for this area.  The ( Read more... )

Holidays are over.  Shortest Christmas break in years, but I guess I won't worry too much about that since it's my last Christmas break.  We did get an extra hour--it snowed 3 inches or so overnight, and the superintendent emailed us last night and said instead of showing up at 8:00 today for curriculum planning, we could come in at 9:00.  I'd have ( Read more... )

This weekend has been gorgeous--an example of the best fall weather Missouri can offer.  Most of the leaves aren't turning yet, but it's sunny and not too cold.  Today the spousal unit and I went walking in the Botanical Gardens--and finally located the brick I bought with Ellen Redlock's name on it.  It was a deal for a $500 donation, payable in ( Read more... )

So.  Yep, I've decided to do it.  This will be my last year teaching.  If I had any doubts originally, both the principal of That Other School and the assistant superintendent have managed, multiple times in the first three weeks of school, to remind me of why 28 years is enough ( Read more... )

More travelogue:

( Ring of Beara and driving to Doolin )

To continue my travelogue of our Ireland trip:

( Cut because I waxed long... )

So, we traveled to Ireland on my spring break (March 23-April 1).  It was a fine, fine trip.  As with most first-time-in-a-country trips, there are things we learned that we will put to better use next time, but overall, it was most satisfactory ( Read more... )