Wednesday, July 15, 2009
SRV and Barry
During today's Laying the Foundation training (for pre-A.P. teachers) we did a narrative free-write while we listened to what someone said was Stevie Ray Vaughan's rendition of "Little Wing." Sounded more soulful/funky than the SRV/LW recordings can find online, but who knows. Anywho, this is what I wrote (with minor revisions).
(Ronny Jordan's "The Jackal" has a similar vibe to the song played in class.)
Barry walked down the street as the lightpoles phased on. A warm breeze blew, mixing the smell of produce, beer, cigarette smoke, and perfume. The evening was amber, and Barry leaned back as he strolled, making it look easy. Making it look good.The exercise was to demonstrate tone. Any guesses as to what I was shooting for?
A car pulled by, a long car with fins, and Barry nodded. Driving's fine, but a night like this he had to be out in it. Anton, the guy who sold maybe twenty bucks a day in his junk store, caught his nod and returned it, kept sweeping his stoop.
Ladies were beginning to trickle out on the avenue, their workday ending, most—some, their day just beginning at six. But it was good. It was all good. Barry and the ladies admired each other and the drivers of the long cars. It was all good. And more than that, it was right. It was all right.
Barry took a deep breath, inhaled the oncoming night, held it in. Closed his eyes and let it out slow. Slow and fine. Slow and fine and easy.
(Ronny Jordan's "The Jackal" has a similar vibe to the song played in class.)
Monday, September 08, 2008
Time Told: Mmmmm
Turns out the free coffee for teachers deal was legit.
Yay! Mondays in September suck less than any other Mondays.
Yay! Mondays in September suck less than any other Mondays.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Legit? Time Will Tell
Got an email from my sister-in-law with the following announcement.
Sounds good, but...
Then again, there's nothing at Snopes, so just maybe...
I'll try the drive-thru tomorrow. At least there I can make a quick getaway.
Sounds good, but...
- the ad came at the end of a long chain of forwards
- there's nothing about the offer at the Starbucks website
- the logo on the cup isn't the new Pike's Peak logo
- my sister-in-law wouldn't mind me embarrassing myself showing up for free coffee when none is to be had
Then again, there's nothing at Snopes, so just maybe...
I'll try the drive-thru tomorrow. At least there I can make a quick getaway.
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
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Soitified!
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
