7 Quick Takes: 2011 #3

-ONE-

Those who are familiar and/or sensitive to good teaching know when you have learned something and enjoyed yourself while doing it.  Yesterday, I had my first notable class session where I saw students smiling, nodding their heads in approval and actually laughing at my jokes.  And this was a statistics class of all types!  Looking forward to more of these days.

-TWO-

Also went back to sub-teaching this week where I returned to a previous assignment that I had visited this year.  Although these particular students are double disadvantaged by being severely autistic and coming from difficult home lives, I could see a maturity and growth that wasn't there a few months ago.  I'm unsure what happens in that classroom most days, but whatever is going on, I could see a good change happening in those four walls.

-THREE-

As of right now, I'm scheduled to teach a section of math at BCC during the summer.  Although I will never take the registration sheets for granted again, I'm hopeful that I won't have depend on Craigslist this summer for teaching experience and employment.  I also was able to talk to the department chair that if I stick around for one more year, they will have to grant me an interview for when an opening does come around.

-FOUR-

Since we're on the theme of employment and optimism, let me crush both hopes right here and mention that there will be fewer teaching openings this year than last year.  I will be looking at public school employment this Spring, but I'll tell you right now that I also filled out the forms necessary to teach at BCC again next fall.  I refuse to put all my eggs in one basket.

-FIVE-

In lighter news, I've been usually looking forward to this weekend.  Tonight, I'll be attending a birthday party of a good friend.  Tomorrow, I plan on a quiet afternoon of lesson plans and a bit of fun.  On Sunday, Andrea and I will be spending another dinner (this time for my recently-passed birthday) and watching the NHL All-Star game.  Can't complain much about that.

-SIX-

Looking forward to filing taxes this season.  No, I'm serious.  My cousin told me that if all the interest off loans can be written off against my taxable income straight up.  "Lo and Behold!" on Line 33 holds my taxation salvation.  I have plenty of student loans and plenty of interest paid this year.  Next year is looking pretty good too.  If you haven't downloaded the forms or instruction booklet, do it and stop waiting until April 15.

-SEVEN-

I've been generally dissatisfied and have found myself (again) logging onto Facebook too often.  So I'm planning on limiting my visits during the month of February.  Hopefully that will straight the ship.  I'll still post blog updates and write messages when  necessary, but if something is urgent, best consider something else.

If you're craving the takes, Jen is your gal.

What's that Ruckus? #2

No lengthy introductions or personal thoughts this time.  These couple of songs from The Rocket Summer's album "Of Men and Angels" has been akin to "music therapy" for me over the last week or two.

The Rocket Summer - WALLS

The story of my life I can't quite comprehend.
Don't tell me if you know how it ends.
When everywhere you go feels like a mirror maze,
And you're not sure how you're stuck in this place

PRE-CHORUS:

And you got nowhere else to go and you're lost within your own home,
And you're trying so hard to win, you keep trying, it's embarrassing.
And how you don't even know, but you know you're off the tracks.
And how did you get in here? Thinking how did I get in here?

CHORUS:
I'll help you break the walls down.
I'll help you break the walls down.
Bust you out, and take you home,
Believe you me you are not alone,
I'll help you break the walls down.

Does anybody know where February went?
I was hoping that by not it would be the end of this:
When you open up a book and read a thousand lines,
But you don't really read you just move your eyes.

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS

And I know this is random but just this morning I saw
The sun reflecting off the lawn and window,
Oh, I don't know why, but I thought you should know.

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS

And all the weight you carry will disappear

And I will willingly embrace you

So you lay your head.
So come on home, come on home, come on home.

The Rocket Summer - LIGHT

All I needed was a light in the darkest place
I've ever been in all my life as I try to find my way
And the changing seasons of my life and my eyes don't see
The things I love have run their course 

Are they done? Are they just beginning?

CHORUS:

And I'm old enough to know that time doesn't move slow enough
And young enough to know that I can't ever be too old enough to trust you
Higher and higher
I wanna go there with you
Some say your fire, your fire is through
And I don't wanna think that way

So you lost your job or lost the girl and you crushed your soul
And now you're standing at a new painful fork in the road
So you wet your finger, hold it up
But there's no wind there telling you where you where you should go
So you try, try to trust while you bear it

CHORUS

I am Yours, do what You wish
I am Yours, I am Yours and I know this
Whatever happens next is in Your hands, in Your plans, nothing less
Every day there is a choice and through the joy, through the pain I will rejoice
I am Yours, do what You wish
I am Yours, I am Yours and I know this

Save me because I need it
And I can't help but feel desperate
When my desires they seem are coming to their endings
But I will trust 

It's not the end, but a great beginning 

7 Quick Takes: 2011 #2

-ONE-

After a long season of not teaching, I'm finally back at BCC teaching just the statistics class.  Unfortunately, the second section never worked out so I'll be heavily working the sub-teaching circuit until June.  I have also landed myself a tutoring gig for the immediate future.  Things aren't looking as bad as they did last week.

-TWO-

Because of the not-so-desirable circumstances, the events surrounding my birthday wasn't as exciting as I wish they were.  However, that is not to say I haven't seen the blessings.  Thank you to everyone who wrote on my Facebook wall and special thanks to those who brought bacon treats to my house on Wednesday.  (I'm looking at you Kellie; the bacon-wrapped crackers get better every time I eat it.)

-THREE-

I decided to change up my Mission Group at the church this week my writing my own questions.  It was fun and exciting to do, not to mention it reminds me of my old Alfred days.  If you want the questions, I'll be posting them up every week that I do them over at r2r, so you can view them there.

-FOUR-

I haven't updated everyone about my Sunday school class in awhile.  God has really blessed me through them.  Even though I dread getting up a bit earlier on Sunday, somewhere between enter the church and walking into the classroom, God changes my entire state of mind.  I hope I have blessed the children as much as they have blessed me.  We're currently trudging our way through the Old Testament and will be finishing Joshua this week.

-FIVE-

I'm not one to really talk about the weather, but its been a bit snowy here lately.  Its not that I mind shoveling and salting the doorway and sidewalk, but with gas pricing creeping up a few cents everyday I am getting that much more eager to start riding my bike that I got for Christmas.  Waiting is always the hardest part.

-SIX-

Since Christmas, I've been listening to a lot of new music.  Expect to see some music-themed bloggings over the next few weeks.  Its been a real encouragement to me.

-SEVEN-

And a congratulations to Adam and Anna on officially starting to date.  While I'm at it, I should also mention that I completely neglected for months Becca and David dating relationship on here.  If you see either couple, be sure encourage them daily to live a healthy, spiritually sound and God-glorifying relationship.  From experience, I know that being close to friend who were close to God made my relationship with Andrea much easier and put us on a very good path.

Want more takes?  See Jen.

Valleys

Last week was incredibly difficult for me on a lot of levels.  Although I wish I could fully share everything that is going on, sometimes its better to keep somethings on the DL.  Maybe there will be a day where I can express everything that has been challenging me this week, but that just simply isn't going to happen today.

On Thursday, I lost one of my two classes at BCC was taken away because of poor enrollment elsewhere.  When I found out, I was really devastated and I'm to some degree I still am.  Having a second section was not only more income, but an indicator that my teaching was considered quality enough to be more teaching responsibility as an adjunct professor.  Also, I have been trying to attend meetings and do things outside of my teaching requirements.  Because I know that odds are against me, I'm still doing everything I can to show that I'm serious about wanting to have a full-time job in teaching at BCC.  A caveat though, I got an e-mail on Saturday morning telling me "a situation is developing" that might get me back the class I lost, but a different section.   I'll find out tomorrow.

Some of my friends are going through ridiculously difficult seasons of their life.  And it seems like everyone else is having a number complicated struggles as well.  When you thrive as a community, you also tend to get hurt as a community as well.  Seeing so much need has been a "downer" at the very least for me, but I know its much more painful and challenging for those who are actually dealing with the problems.  Apart from prayer, Andrea and I have been doing our best to reach and comfort those in need, but we are only two people.  I have no idea how widespread this blog is, but if you think you know who some of these people are, I ask for your helping and caring hands to assist in rebuilding the community.

Lastly, it's become official that my mom will be moving to Scranton, PA in March.  I know my mom only has the best intentions in moving closer to me and my grandma - both in Binghamton.  But her frequent visits usually put me on edge and are often times very stressful for everyone involved.  Because I neglected visiting her in Vermont because of the time and distance, I won't have that crutch anymore.  Does this sound like I'm an ungrateful child?

And then there are just some nuances that maybe I'm just more attentive to.  The biggest one of note is that we have a squirrel that has found its way in our bedroom walls and makes quite a racket during the nighttime when we're (trying) to sleep.  Will be calling the landlord about this one.

I know there has been some good news sprinkled around, but I'm not in-tuned enough to remember any.  Sorry.

If you feel lead to pray for my situation, please also pray for my friends and community as well.  We're all equally in need of it as well.

2 Year Anniversary

If you attended our wedding on this day two years ago, you were involved in a beautiful ceremony and reception while simultaneously being snowed in by the worst snow and ice storm of 2009.  You're welcome.

For those of you unfortunately enough unable to attend the ceremony, you missed a good one.

But seriously, I just wanted to thank everyone for their well-wishes on our second year anniversary.  

Overall, the day has been and will continue to be uneventful.  I'm writing lesson plans and Andrea is taking a defensive driving course online.  Although later this evening, we are planning eat at the Whole in the Wall Tony's in Endicott, and if we have some extra time, crash Cyber Cafe West's Trivia night.

7 Quick Takes: 2011 #1

-ONE-

Finally started working on my lesson plans to find out that teaching two classes probably won't be as bad as I'm making it.  Although, I'm a bit worried that I won't get as far ahead in my plans as I had hoped.  Oh well, that's why they're called "plans."

-TWO-

Got a chance to spend some time with Adam last night and earlier today.  The good times full of miso ramen soup and photo-shots were a bit damped by our cat attempting to eat and destroy Adam's hat.  Thankfully, by early this morning we had located another one in Elmira that we gave him the money for.  It's exciting for me when siblings (in-law) come over because I didn't have any growing up.  These days are special to me.

-THREE-

Christmas will officially end tomorrow when Andrea and I give and receive our final gifts to people who we didn't get a chance to see recently - my father and her grandparents.  Once that's taken care of, I'll be looking forward to not hearing anything more about it for another 10 months.

-FOUR-

Today I finally paid off Serena - our 2003 Hyundai Accent.  Because of the extra money we got from the Saturn, we were able to take a sizable portion off our loan.  A pay plan of 3 years was cut down to only 17 months.  Praise God for having one loan off our backs.  Those student loans on the other hand...

-FIVE-

New Years Day started the year on the right foot again this year by heading out to Port Dickinson Community Park and finding 3 of the 4 geocaches hiding there.  This years team comprised of myself, Kenni, Adam, and a new member, Elisabeth.  That's geocaches #30-32.

-SIX-

I encourage everyone to check out Marissa's post about "The Boy who Harnessed the Wind."  When summertime rolls along, I'll probably be reading this.  Although for the time being, I am having a hard time with Barnes & Noble ordering it.  Good thing I have six months to figure it out.

-SEVEN-

This past month, I've been catching episodes of HBO's "24/7" documentary on hockey, and in particular, their focus on two of the NHL teams - the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.  And although I am a bit disappoint about not winning the Winter Classic that we hosted, I am relieved to know that the Pittsburgh organization itself is many time more professional, fun-loving and down to earth than the Washington one.  If I was a Washington fan before watching this, I probably would have given up hockey altogether - it would be very embarrassing for me to be a part of.

For more takes, see Jen

RIP 2010 Holiday Season

I was going to write here about how frustrating my holidays were... and trust me, they were... but then I realized it was going to fall into the "unnecessary gossip" category.  So instead of writing sentences that I know I will regret later, I'll just post a Relient K song since that's what I'm listening to right now.

Not a great first entry of the year, but I plan on making it up to all ya'll.

Taking a page from Kellie's blog and I'm going to try to update the blog on a near-daily basis.

Lastly, if you would, read my 5-minute sermonette on encouraging others, which might or might not be the reason I didn't actually blog anything of value here.

Relient K - For the Moments I Feel Faint

Am I at the point of no improvement?
What of the death I still dwell in?
I try to excel, but I feel no movement.
Can I be free of this unreleasable sin?

[Chorus:]
Never underestimate my Jesus.
You're telling me that there's no hope.
I'm telling you you're wrong.

Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong

I throw up my hands
"Oh, the impossibilities"
Frustrated and tired
Where do I go from here?
Now I'm searching for the confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles is overcoming my fear

[Chorus]

I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
I think I can't, I think I can't
But I think you can, I think you can
Gather my insufficiencies and
place them in your hands, place them in your hands, place them in your hands