Thursday, August 30, 2007
Where I Been?
Been going through Internet withdrawl, that's for sure.
It'll be next weekend before the Internet gets hooked up at our apartment and until yesterday I was without it at school, too. (Blogger is blocked on the district network, so I'm posting this from the Richardson Library.) Were it not for the library and Staples and Corner Bakery I'd be wardriving the suburbs like a wifi junkie jonesing for a fix.
The first three days of school felt like three weeks. Several of the teachers at TJ agree this feels like a very long week. Today felt like a regular day, though; so perhaps things are improving. If tomorrow feels like half a day I could be in trouble. (I had a meeting with my fellow Texas Teaching Fellows fellows on Tuesday; wonderful to be back with the gang again.)
Phil's adjusting to his new school and being a second grader. He finds the 20 minutes of free-reading homework oh-so-onerous. Poor kid. He doesn't appreciate naps, either.
In case you missed it, I had another short in the Door Insider this week: Mormon Missionary Team Faces Blood Doping Charges.
And I'll have some sort of a presence at the Misfits blog tomorrow, so be sure to check that out, too.
It'll be next weekend before the Internet gets hooked up at our apartment and until yesterday I was without it at school, too. (Blogger is blocked on the district network, so I'm posting this from the Richardson Library.) Were it not for the library and Staples and Corner Bakery I'd be wardriving the suburbs like a wifi junkie jonesing for a fix.
The first three days of school felt like three weeks. Several of the teachers at TJ agree this feels like a very long week. Today felt like a regular day, though; so perhaps things are improving. If tomorrow feels like half a day I could be in trouble. (I had a meeting with my fellow Texas Teaching Fellows fellows on Tuesday; wonderful to be back with the gang again.)
Phil's adjusting to his new school and being a second grader. He finds the 20 minutes of free-reading homework oh-so-onerous. Poor kid. He doesn't appreciate naps, either.
In case you missed it, I had another short in the Door Insider this week: Mormon Missionary Team Faces Blood Doping Charges.
And I'll have some sort of a presence at the Misfits blog tomorrow, so be sure to check that out, too.
Labels: Misfits, Second Grade, Teaching, Wittenburg Door
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Movin' On Up...
...to the Northside.
We got OK'd for an apartment in Plano, Texas, this afternoon. Move in tomorrow. Will send address to those I suspect will want it.
If you don't get an e-mail by the end of the month, lemme know and I'll check with Homeland Security (aka Dina) and see if you're cleared for that info.
We got OK'd for an apartment in Plano, Texas, this afternoon. Move in tomorrow. Will send address to those I suspect will want it.
If you don't get an e-mail by the end of the month, lemme know and I'll check with Homeland Security (aka Dina) and see if you're cleared for that info.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Wednesday at the Insider
This week at the Wittenburg Door Insider I run amok in the fashion department with a piece about Bapto-Catholic dress codes.
It's nice when you run across several similarly-themed weird news stories and, instead of shaking your head bemoaning the fact it's impossible to top them separately, you make something new by combining them.
Stay tuned for next week, too. If all goes to plan it'll be my first back-to-back-to-back threepeat in the Insider. (Or you could subscribe to the newsletter and not have to rely on the reminders here.)
It's nice when you run across several similarly-themed weird news stories and, instead of shaking your head bemoaning the fact it's impossible to top them separately, you make something new by combining them.
Stay tuned for next week, too. If all goes to plan it'll be my first back-to-back-to-back threepeat in the Insider. (Or you could subscribe to the newsletter and not have to rely on the reminders here.)
Labels: In Print, Wittenburg Door, Writing
Soitified!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Liberry Daze
We took Phil to the Richardson public library this evening. His first visit to a library other than the one at his grade school. Yes, he was most excited by the free Internet. But we picked up some books, too.
Good times.
- Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the U.F.O. by David A. Adler
- The Day the Spaceship Landed by Beman Lord
- The Spaceship Returns by Beman Lord
Good times.
Labels: Good Times
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
If It's Wednesday...
...more than likely it's another reminder to check out the Door Insider.
Hey, look -- it's Wednesday! By the way, the Doorguys have picked up another of my "articles." Thanks, Robert and Harry!
This week it's an "I Love the 80s"-athon, as the deaths of religious icons Jerry Falwell and Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner are remembered, and the deaths of other televangelists are contemplated -- named-dropped notables include Oral Roberts, Tammy Faye's ex, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Bob Tilton, and Jonathan Bell. Special Guest Star: Billy Graham.
Check out Televangelists Face Their Mortality ... On eBay.
Hey, look -- it's Wednesday! By the way, the Doorguys have picked up another of my "articles." Thanks, Robert and Harry!
This week it's an "I Love the 80s"-athon, as the deaths of religious icons Jerry Falwell and Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner are remembered, and the deaths of other televangelists are contemplated -- named-dropped notables include Oral Roberts, Tammy Faye's ex, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson, Bob Tilton, and Jonathan Bell. Special Guest Star: Billy Graham.
Check out Televangelists Face Their Mortality ... On eBay.
Labels: In Print, Wittenburg Door, Writing
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Rebooting Windows
Here's a new one for me. Was driving around this morning with the driver's side window down. Pushed the "roll-up" button and -- nothing. Pushed is again. Still nothing. Several more times ... are you detecting the pattern?
So, what do you do when Windows (the operating system) craps out on you? That's right. Turned off the car. Said a prayer. Turned the car back on. Problem solved.
A few minutes later the right-side turn signal did that spazzy thing where it blinks on and off really fast. My in-laws had warned me about that one. Stopped the car. Got out and slapped the front right turn signal really hard. No pain, no gain -- and it solved the problem, too.
That seemed to get the gremlin out of the car (which, double-fortunately, is not an AMC Gremlin). No problems since. Yay.
So, what do you do when Windows (the operating system) craps out on you? That's right. Turned off the car. Said a prayer. Turned the car back on. Problem solved.
A few minutes later the right-side turn signal did that spazzy thing where it blinks on and off really fast. My in-laws had warned me about that one. Stopped the car. Got out and slapped the front right turn signal really hard. No pain, no gain -- and it solved the problem, too.
That seemed to get the gremlin out of the car (which, double-fortunately, is not an AMC Gremlin). No problems since. Yay.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Next Stop: Bmblt Shdy
<consults guidebook> Oh, Patriot City.
I got my "report to work" papers from Dallas Independent School District (DISD) HR this afternoon. Hired, but no contract yet (pending receipt of certification and FBI background check). So I'm semi-officially a Thomas Jefferson High School Patriot.
Get to attend district and campus trainings. Be on campus without catching flak. Breathe slightly easier.
Of course, Dina and Phil arrive in town tomorrow night and my days are now full of job. I'm looking forward to spending some time with them, eventually.
I got my "report to work" papers from Dallas Independent School District (DISD) HR this afternoon. Hired, but no contract yet (pending receipt of certification and FBI background check). So I'm semi-officially a Thomas Jefferson High School Patriot.
Get to attend district and campus trainings. Be on campus without catching flak. Breathe slightly easier.
Of course, Dina and Phil arrive in town tomorrow night and my days are now full of job. I'm looking forward to spending some time with them, eventually.
Labels: ALSW
Friday, August 10, 2007
Coach Culbertson's Baadasssss Anthology
Last week on the Misfits blog I wrote about the importance of fans of a genre being in the best position to critique that genre. (If, for instance, you're not a fan of Fantasy, a harsh review from you on the Lord of the Rings trilogy would be of less use than an equally harsh review from a fan of the books -- clearly, that's a hypothetical example; who couldn't love the Rings trilogy?)
So it's a double encouragement to have seen Nickolaus Pacione's review of Coach's Midnight Diner. Pacione is a horror fan and has published several horror anthologies himself. When I can find the review posted publicly online I'll link to it, but here's a taste for now. (Depending on your upbringing, may include "dangerous words"; if this post's title offended you, beware...)
Order your copy of Coach's Midnight Diner while they last.
So it's a double encouragement to have seen Nickolaus Pacione's review of Coach's Midnight Diner. Pacione is a horror fan and has published several horror anthologies himself. When I can find the review posted publicly online I'll link to it, but here's a taste for now. (Depending on your upbringing, may include "dangerous words"; if this post's title offended you, beware...)
One hell of an anthology, Coach's Midnight Diner. ... This is for horror fans who think Peretti is just touching the iceburg. ... Got to hand it to the Coach. ... Part Lovecraftian Horror, Part Crime Noir, Part Weird Fiction, but an all out asskicking.Thanks for the high praise, Nickolaus.
A must for fans of Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, Edgar Allan Poe, Algernon Blackwood, and Stephen King. ... They can't say Christian Fiction can't be dark and brutal! This thumbs their nose at them. Christian Fiction is going where dragons live.... FINALLY! An anthology with Christians who just write the damn story.
Enjoy this with a cup of coffee, a shot of whiskey, or even a case of beer (don't get too wasted because this thing has a message.) A Christian anthology for a crowd who listens to heavy metal music ... who wear a lot of black and listen to Goth Rock or Heavy Metal.
...This anthology packs a mean uppercut when it is written to turn the other cheek. Coach underestimated the intense nature of this one. ... The stigmas of Christian Anthologies are permanently shattered....
...They have a strong faith in God but they are total badasses about it. Christian or Non-Christian -- you'll enjoy this if you like Speculative Fiction.
--- Nickolaus A. Pacione
Editor, The TABLOID PURPOSES series.
Publisher, LAKE FOSSIL PRESS
Order your copy of Coach's Midnight Diner while they last.
Labels: Coach's Midnight Diner
Thursday, August 09, 2007
20 (of 47) Questions
1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Middle name after the disciple Thomas. No wonder I’m skeptical.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Most any meat at any meal is good. At lunch a nice pulled pork with barbecue sauce on the side is just dandy.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, I have kid.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
(Yer kiddin, right?) Define “a lot.”
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. And not in a specimen jar or my pocket, either.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Does anyone really jump? Isn’t it more of a bungee fall? And no, I wouldn’t.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
There was a lemon thing at Baskin Robbins the June Phil was born. Nothing’s come close since, though B&R German Chocolate Cake and Blue Bell Key Lime Pie are good.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Wasn’t listening to anything. So I hit the “play” button in my FoxyTunes app (thanks, Ang). It picked “Consider” by The Choir. Good song.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO LINKED THIS TO YOU?
The Mir? Yes.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
That episode of Psych that had a Spelling Bee ... that was kind of like a sport. And Shawn and Gus make sport of Detective Lassiter a lot. Um, yeah ... sports.
30. FAVORITE FOOD(S)?
Multi-meat pizza; Togo’s pastrami/Erik’s Marrakesh Express; really good, hard extra-sour rolls/bread; loaded potato skins (no chives/onions); Guinness.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scarpy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Theater: Spider-Man 3; DVD: The Cheap Detective
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Olive green
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Season: Winter; Girl’s name: Summer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Brendan by Frederick Buechner
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Wireless optical mouse, so it’s the woodgrain of the desktop.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Cape Canaveral, Florida
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Jose, Calif.
(See original 47 Qs here)
Ang. Jenny. Mich. Jen. You're up next.
Middle name after the disciple Thomas. No wonder I’m skeptical.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Most any meat at any meal is good. At lunch a nice pulled pork with barbecue sauce on the side is just dandy.
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No, I have kid.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
(Yer kiddin, right?) Define “a lot.”
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes. And not in a specimen jar or my pocket, either.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Does anyone really jump? Isn’t it more of a bungee fall? And no, I wouldn’t.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
There was a lemon thing at Baskin Robbins the June Phil was born. Nothing’s come close since, though B&R German Chocolate Cake and Blue Bell Key Lime Pie are good.
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
Wasn’t listening to anything. So I hit the “play” button in my FoxyTunes app (thanks, Ang). It picked “Consider” by The Choir. Good song.
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO LINKED THIS TO YOU?
The Mir? Yes.
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
That episode of Psych that had a Spelling Bee ... that was kind of like a sport. And Shawn and Gus make sport of Detective Lassiter a lot. Um, yeah ... sports.
30. FAVORITE FOOD(S)?
Multi-meat pizza; Togo’s pastrami/Erik’s Marrakesh Express; really good, hard extra-sour rolls/bread; loaded potato skins (no chives/onions); Guinness.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Scarpy endings.
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Theater: Spider-Man 3; DVD: The Cheap Detective
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Olive green
34. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Season: Winter; Girl’s name: Summer
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Brendan by Frederick Buechner
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Wireless optical mouse, so it’s the woodgrain of the desktop.
44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Cape Canaveral, Florida
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
San Jose, Calif.
(See original 47 Qs here)
Ang. Jenny. Mich. Jen. You're up next.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Nutty as Squirrel Poo
It's been quiet here the last couple days as I've been reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The title of this post is my favorite line from the book.
Did I like it? Yes. Did it stretch things a bit far? Yes. Were there quite a few treading water scenes/chapters spent waiting for something to happen. Yes. And in parts it felt like the James Bond flick Die Another Day, which had to make subtle and not-so-subtle references to all the other Bond flicks that had gone before. Still, enjoyable. And done. And probably my favorite after Prisoner of Azkaban.
It might be quiet here the next couple days, too, as I go and read all the blog posts I've been avoiding for fear of spoilers.
BTW: Voldemort is evil.
Did I like it? Yes. Did it stretch things a bit far? Yes. Were there quite a few treading water scenes/chapters spent waiting for something to happen. Yes. And in parts it felt like the James Bond flick Die Another Day, which had to make subtle and not-so-subtle references to all the other Bond flicks that had gone before. Still, enjoyable. And done. And probably my favorite after Prisoner of Azkaban.
It might be quiet here the next couple days, too, as I go and read all the blog posts I've been avoiding for fear of spoilers.
BTW: Voldemort is evil.
Labels: Books
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Slightly Edgy
Lock up the children:
This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
(via Jordon Cooper)
This rating was determined based on the presence of the following words:
- dead (4x)
- knife (2x)
- death (1x)
(via Jordon Cooper)
Labels: Memes
Friday, August 03, 2007
The Reverse Vampire
Phil has a couple teeth out at the moment, the teeth on either side of the front two on the bottom. If I'd've gone to the Bryman Institute to be a dental hygienist I'd probably know the technical name for them. Instead of having two extra long teeth on the top like a regular vampire, he has two gaps on the bottom. I leave it to you to puzzle out the meaning of this post's title.
Dina snapped this pic of my little reverse vampire on a trip to Crater Lake toward the end of last month.
And a couple shots of the boy and Oregon's only national park: 1, 2.
Dina snapped this pic of my little reverse vampire on a trip to Crater Lake toward the end of last month.
And a couple shots of the boy and Oregon's only national park: 1, 2.
Labels: Philpix
Thursday, August 02, 2007
I'm a Patriot (almost)
If all goes to plan, Thomas Jefferson High School is where I'll be teaching come month-end. Sophomoric English. No, wait ... English for Sophomores. Well, odds are good it'll be both.
Three classes of straight English II, two classes of catch-up for those kids who did not-so-well at English I.
I've signed the paperwork that the TJHS office has to send in to the district HR folks. Then they get in touch and I sign more paperwork, a contract, and possibly even someone's cast if they've got a broken leg or something.
At least that's what I'm told.
Stay tuned...
Three classes of straight English II, two classes of catch-up for those kids who did not-so-well at English I.
I've signed the paperwork that the TJHS office has to send in to the district HR folks. Then they get in touch and I sign more paperwork, a contract, and possibly even someone's cast if they've got a broken leg or something.
At least that's what I'm told.
Stay tuned...
Labels: Teaching
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Oh, Magoo -- You've Done It Again
Yeah, another one in the Insider.
This week: Evangelicals Mourn Final Harry Potter Novel.
And before a well-intentioned Potterhead gets his or her dress robes in a bunch, it's satire people. Sweet, enchanting satire. "Satirus amusicus," as Hermione would say with a deft wave of her wand and flick of her wrist.
And then she would be justly burned for a witch.
If you're not already an Insider subscriber, become one.
This week: Evangelicals Mourn Final Harry Potter Novel.
And before a well-intentioned Potterhead gets his or her dress robes in a bunch, it's satire people. Sweet, enchanting satire. "Satirus amusicus," as Hermione would say with a deft wave of her wand and flick of her wrist.
And then she would be justly burned for a witch.
If you're not already an Insider subscriber, become one.
Labels: In Print, Wittenburg Door, Writing
