Poundin' the Pavement

In high school, running was part of my life in the form of cross-country and track. It is now over 10 years later, and I am starting up again. Motivation is a problem for me, I just haven't been able to make it a habit - but now I am on the way. Two things have helped: A friend's invitation to run a team relay this summer, and the Nike+ kit for my ipod. Accountability from a friend and fellow runner is very powerful. There is nothing like the question, "So, how did your run go?" The Nike+ kit is also very cool. It has allowed me to set a goal, and track my progress, plus it is a pretty hip techie gadget. Lance Armstrong HIMSELF congratulates me on my effort! It is worth every penny of the $30 price tag. I don't have a lot of endurance and speed yet, but I will get there.

Hit & Miss

While over at my brother Nick's house today, I got a chance to feed my nephew. He is almost 6 months old now, and just about one of the cutest babies around. He really liked eating the mushed up pears the best. Together, we managed to get most of it into his mouth, and the rest was in the general vicinity. At one point I had to sort of get some out of a nostril.

Learning NXT

Since I received the Lego NXT set from a small grant, I've been trying to become more proficient with the engineering and programming required. It has been challenging, and as a result, i haven't utilized it in my classroom the way I've envisioned yet. Just building something strong enough is difficult enough. Over the past week, I've been able to build somewhat original robots. The first has tread like a tank and uses the ultrasonic and light sensors. The programming for this was fairly simple, and it was able to turn in a 360° due to the treads being used. The second robot was inspired by one I saw on an NXT blog I read. It is an "inchworm" type design. I beefed it up a bit by using two motors. It took some tweaking of the design and program, but I was able to make it start with a clap, and stop with a clap. It is pretty cool watching it inch its way across the floor.

A Good Dog

I just finished reading A Good Dog, by Jon Katz. I love dog stores, and have read many from James Herriot to Farley Mowat, but this was truly a story about the deep and unique relationship that dogs and humans enjoy. Katz adopts a troubled border collie named Devon, whose name is eventually changed to Orson. Orson is has his fair share of problems in life, and so does Katz. They form a unique relationship, each helping the other to reveal and accept their own place in this world. Katz doesn't anthropomorphize dogs as many authors do, he sees them as the animals they are. I believe that many dog-owner problems result from treating dogs like humans. Dogs are dogs, and we've shared a special relationship with them for millennia, but it is a folly to begin to treat them like little people. Katz made some tough decisions about Orson whose problems got out of control. People have judged Katz harshly for his decisions and actions. He utilized a holistic vet, a shaman, and an animal communicator to help Orson, but finally, the decisions were his own, shaped by his unique relationship with a dog and his understanding of ethical pet ownership. It was a funny, heartwarming, and tragic story that spoke to me personally about the special relationship that I have with our dog Toby.

A crazy few days

The past four days have been a bit wild for Stephanie and I. Both her sister and my mom had to go to the hospital for emergency surgical procedures. Thankfully, both are doing fine now, but the recovery will be a long one for my mom. We both ended up missing a day of work this week due to the emergencies. I took Wednesday off to be with my mom and help out my dad. I brought their two dogs back to Port Orchard with me, just ahead of the snow storm. I listened to the radio as the storm swept in from the north and snarled traffic in the whole area. It began to snow in earnest as I got to Port Orchard, and was sticking when I pulled into the driveway. I just beat it. This district couldn't seem to make a timely decision, but finally cancelled school at 8:40 on Thursday. Friday was also cancelled. Together with the half-day we missed before Christmas, we will definitely be going to school into another week in June. Darn it. With the day that I took off, I'll have a six day break from my class. What was going to be a very productive full week in class was demoliished. The three dogs, Toby, Emily, and Holly are having a good time, and settling into a routine at our house. They love the snow and race around like maniacs.

The Arrival of the SMARTboard

Today the SMARTboard that I was awarded through a grant arrived at school. I've been waiting for the past three days, and was getting anxious. The boxes were huge, but I quickly had them unpacked and the equipment assembled. Students were able to use it right away, and everyone got a chance to draw on it using "digital ink". We were even able to use it for a math lesson today! The students and thrilled to have a new toy, and I am excited to have an incredible tool that will help enhance my teaching - plus, it's fun!