Put Your Thinking Cap On ... I'm Making Jokes

People come up to me, and they say ... "Steve, how can you be so (freaking) funny?"  - Steve Martin


I'm a funny guy.  Sometimes, I just sit back and bask in my funny-ness.  (Yes, that's a word.)  I don't tell traditional jokes.  I don't tell stories.  Instead, I make witty, insightful remarks on a deep, thought-provoking level that some might refer to as 'high-brow humor.'

Here's an example from last week:
My children like playing 'Just Dance 3' on the Wii.  One of the songs is called "Boogie Wonderland."  While they were dancing to it, I started singing "Booger Wonderland."

My oldest daughter chuckled.

As if that wasn't enough, I started putting a finger up my nose and singing even louder ... "Booger Wonderland ... "  No one laughed out loud, but a couple of kids smiled.  A couple of others looked grossed out.

Like I said, I'm a funny guy.  Witty.  Insightful.  High-brow.


This week, I took it to a whole new level.  My wife and I were out driving near Lake Travis.  We passed a dam.  I pointed to it and said, "Damn!"

Yep.  Funny.

My wife didn't laugh out loud, but I'm sure she was chuckling ... maybe even smiling really big on the inside.

Why?  Cause I'm a funny guy.  If you're lucky, you'll be around me the next time I make one of these humorous insights.  I just hope you'll have your 'thinking-cap' on so you can keep up.

4 Years Later ...

It's been four years.  Four years ago, we made the biggest move of our lives.

On Sunday, July 27, I stood in the pulpit for the very last time as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Blackwell, Oklahoma.  Just a couple of days later, we stood in a courtroom Newkirk, Oklahoma, and finalized the adoption of two of our children.  On Thursday, July 31, the 7 of us loaded into the biggest U-Haul they make (pulling our car) and our minivan, and drove everything we owned down to the countryside outside of Gonzales, Texas.  That Thursday night would be the first night in our new home: the RV Park we were purchasing.  (Those first few nights are a long story ... that I still don't even have the words for!)  On Friday, August 1, we signed the papers and officially became the owners of Hill Shade RV Park.

There are several aspects of this story I could talk about.  But here's what struck me this week:

As a Southern Baptist Minister for 20+ years ... I was never the most 'talented,' but I was always honest, sincere, and genuine.  I truly cared for the people I was lucky enough to work with, be around, and experience life with.

Now, 4 years later, I'm a school teacher.  Not the most talented one.  But, I'm always honest, sincere, and genuine.  I truly care for the students I have the privilege to teach, and the teachers I'm lucky enough to work with.  

My career path has changed.  But, in the ways I consider most important, I'm still the same guy I've always been.  That makes me happy.

The Needs of the Two Outweigh the Needs of the Many

On Friday, July 19, I spent over 8 hours sitting on an airplane.  For most on the trip, it was a long, uncomfortable experience, with 2+ hours of delays on an already long day.  However, for two passengers, circumstances worked to their benefit.  There is a phrase that goes something like: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”  On July 19, on Southwest Flight #411 from Manchester to Baltimore, the Universe decided that the needs of the two outweighed the needs of the many.

My trip started out in Manchester, New Hampshire.  It was supposed to be an hour-and-a-half flight to Baltimore, where I would change planes, and then fly home to Austin.  However, on the way, we were diverted to the airport in Norfolk, Virginia.  There was a big storm system just sitting over Baltimore, and the Captain announced that because of the storm, and because we did not have enough fuel to simply fly around until the storm moved on, we were being diverted to Norfolk.  (Yes, it freaked me out a little bit that we were low enough on fuel to be diverted that far out of the way!)  After the announcement that we were being diverted to Norfolk, the gentleman sitting next to me said, “Are we going to Norfolk?  That’s my final destination!” 

Wow.  And just like that, he was getting home early.  The flight attendants announced his good fortune, and people actually applauded for him as he walked off the plane while we were refueling.  It was a nice gesture.  People were clapping for one man, as the rest of us sat … delayed … frustrated.

Then, a few people actually boarded the plane.  I was intrigued.  This was an unscheduled stop.  Why would people be boarding a plane that was never supposed to be there in the first place?!  And, since the seat next to me had become available, a young woman sat down.

I asked her why she boarded a plane that was never supposed to be there.  She said, “My original flight to Baltimore was cancelled.  Now, I can actually get to Baltimore and catch my connecting flight to Detroit, and get to see my husband this weekend!”

Wow.  Without my flight being diverted several miles south of Baltimore, this young lady (who serves in the Coast Guard and is therefore separated from her husband for several weeks out of the year) would’ve missed cherished time with her husband in Detroit.  At the earliest, without my diverted flight, she would’ve arrived in Detroit 18 hours later.  But because of bad weather over Baltimore, and low fuel on my plane, and a decision to divert to Norfolk, this young lady can get her full weekend with her husband.

Again, for most of us on this flight, it was longer than we wanted.  Frustrating.  Tiresome.   And we were stuck on an airplane instead of in the airport able to eat or stretch out.  Add to this, that once we actually landed in Baltimore, we had to continue to sit on the plane in a ‘Remote Parking Area’ because the airport traffic was so backed-up.

But, for two people, these circumstances worked out to their benefit.  For me, it was a fascinating turn of events.  And I was happy for them … and tired … and frustrated.

My Week in New England

I am one lucky teacher.  I teach Robotics and Engineering classes, and the company who writes most of my curriculum is based in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Every summer, they host professional development training for teachers, and I get to attend.

It is a helpful conference.  I really do learn a lot.  As a bonus, this company chooses to treat the teachers they host like Kings and Queens.  Once we arrive in Manchester, we don't pay for anything.  They put us up in a Sheraton hotel, and feed us constantly.  They spare no expense when taking us out, either.  It's very nice.  Like I said ... I'm one lucky teacher.

This year, I learned much more about our Classroom Management software, which hosts all of the curriculum modules.  Plus, it was my first year to get some experience with the new Cortex Robotics Controllers (the controller is the 'brain' of the robot).  The new transmitters look like XBox Gamepads!  The students are really going to like them.

Action-Movie Overload

My Summer Break - Day 32

In less than a week's time, I watched the following movies:

• World War Z
• Mission: Impossible
• Mission: Impossible II
• Mission: Impossible III
• Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol
• The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
• White House Down

That's a lot of movies featuring spies, shoot-outs, explosions, espionage, deceit, disguises, thrills, tension, etc.   Apparently, my brain overloaded!  Not to mention ... I mixed in a couple of episodes of "House of Cards" and "Lost: Season 2" along the way.

A couple of nights ago, I had a dream in which I was pulled over by the police for going too fast in a motorized wheel chair.  The wheel chair could go really fast!  I was in a parking lot ... and as I passed a police car, I tried to slow down ... and ended up doing some moves like Tom Cruise did in Mission: Impossible II on his motorcycle.  (I think the wheel chair was from Naked Gun 2 1/2.)

Later, when I was trying to provide my drivers license (yes, for driving a motorized wheel chair), my wallet was very dirty and greasy, and had bullet fragments in it.  

Last night, I can't remember details of my dream, but I remember waking up at one point feeling like I was being followed/chased.  At another point, I had a dream in which I was going to engage another person in hand-to-hand combat ... actually believing that I could do 'some moves.'

Yeah .. overloaded!

For the last couple of days, whenever I've been out of the house, I've been watching people.  What are they carrying?  Is that a device?  Do they look suspicious?  Is that their real face or are they going to pull off a mask?!  

I think I need to watch some comedies.  No guns.  No explosions.  No spies or conspiracies.  Unless it's Archer!

iPadpalooza

iPadpalooza.

Yeah ... the title of this conference bugs me a little, too.  The IT department in my school district signed all of the Technology teachers up for this conference.  A two-day workshop aimed at equipping us to use iPads in the classroom.

My expectations: not very high.  My students already have a 1-1 ratio with desktop computers and internet access.  Plus, we have Robot Kits that we work with almost every day.  I'm not sure where to fit iPads into that ... my feeling is that I would simply be doing it just to do it.

We'll see.  

http://ipadpalooza2013.sched.org/

Update:  Post-Conference

The conference was much what I expected ... very little application for ME in MY classroom.  Again, with an already 1-1 ratio of students to computers, and Robot-Kits available, there just isn't much room to 'fit in' activities with the iPad.

A handful of the classes at this workshop focused merely on telling you what Apps are out there and available.  Many of the apps talked about are for simple entertainment.  Others are primarily or solely for Elementary-age students.

I did learn a little bit about file-sharing ... like: it's still limited.

If you are a teacher, and have little or no access to computer work-stations, then access to an iPad cart can be a wonderful addition to your classroom.  Be ready to put in a lot of work and time spent pre-planning.  

Father's Day

Summer Break: Day 16

Father's Day was nice.  I enjoyed a lazy morning.  I went grocery shopping.  I watched a movie (the Patriot) with my kids.  And the Spurs beat the Heat.  (I'm not a Spurs fan ... but I like seeing the Heat lose!)

There were two highlights of my day.

1) Mackenzie "Heisenberg'd" me!  She sketched a picture of me ... and it looks awesome!  She is quite the artist, and this was her Father's Day gift to me:

2) I got to catch up with an 'old' friend.  (She's not old ... I've just known her a long time!)  Michelle and I have known each other since Junior High, and we only live about an hour away from each other.  We've been talking about catching up together, but never have.  On Sunday, she was passing through town, messaged me on Facebook, and I encouraged her to drop by the house.  I'm so glad I did.  It was SO FUN catching up with her.