I really can't believe it. The MN Twins have made the playoffs. They have played great baseball the last 4 months, but even more incredibly, the Chicago White Sox have caved more than Carlsbad Caverns. I guess that it wasn't to be unexpected, they barely hung on last year when the Cleveland Indians were trying to get into the playoffs (they too caved, but let's face it, we all knew they weren't going to make it.) The playoffs are less than a week away, and it seems as if we will be playing the Yankees. Time to get out my Yankees Toilet Paper!
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I'm told if your into TV shows like Lost, 24, the 4400, you would probably like NBC's Heroes. Well, I've watched a total of 2 Lost episodes, 4 or 6 24 episodes, and none of the 4400. However, I do love superheroes. So far, the pilot episode doesn't disappoint. Personally, my favorite is Hiro, and his new found ability to manipulate space/time. Very cool. The tempo was a bit slow, but basically, all they had time to do is introduce all the characters and set up a basic story line. (Scientist dies, son goes to NYC to find research, bunch of superheroes start showing up, bad guy involved.) Yup, pretty basic story. I almost think of this as X-men light.
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By the way X3: Last Stand is coming out next Tuesday. It was on my list to watch this summer, but we never got around to it. Anyway, it looked cool, and a bunch of my students loved it. (Some even saw it 4 times in the theatre.)
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The MN Vikings have come down to Earth and lost a game. No shocker. However, I really didn't think that the Chicago Bears are as good as they had been hyped.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
More on Volleyball, Class Size, Homecoming
Well, my volleyball team is doing well. The little girls (grades 5 & 6) have been playing matches against 7th grade teams, and doing well. Granted, they haven't won a game yet, but they are not losing games by more than 10 points, and in many cases only lose by 2 or 4.
On the other hand, my 7th and 8th grade team is now 5-1, with our only loss coming in our 1st match. In fact, the 8th grade team has been cruising past opponents (that is, until I change things later this week.)
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Our sophomore class is too large. The rooms in this school were designed to hold 15 students (some times comfortably, sometimes not.) This class has 20. It makes teaching very difficult when we are all packed together like sardines.
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Homecoming is next week. The theme, Pirate Fiesta!
On the other hand, my 7th and 8th grade team is now 5-1, with our only loss coming in our 1st match. In fact, the 8th grade team has been cruising past opponents (that is, until I change things later this week.)
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Our sophomore class is too large. The rooms in this school were designed to hold 15 students (some times comfortably, sometimes not.) This class has 20. It makes teaching very difficult when we are all packed together like sardines.
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Homecoming is next week. The theme, Pirate Fiesta!
Cool Weather, Twins, Vikings, Books
Well, the weather has cooled off quite a bit. Last week at this time, we were near 90 degrees each day. Now, if we get to 60, it is quite the warm spell. On the plus side, the cooler weather (plus rain) has helped fight the wild fires. Now the debate is, do we turn on the heat?
Funny thing about the cooler weather is our driving conditions. Actually, in the morning we often have the heat on (not quite full blast), and on some days (like yesterday), we will have to put the A/C on for our return trip home.
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The MN Vikings have won their first two games. This weekend they will play the Chicago Bears. Personally, I think the first two games were a fluke. (In fact, we should have lost the game against Carolina, except they made a bonehead move, and we had to use trickery to get the ball in the end zone. Personally, I don't think that bodes well for upcoming games.) But despite the two wins, I'm still a Vikings Fan. Although I'm seriously thinking of becoming a Colts fan instead. They have my favorite head coach (Dungy) and favorite player (Peyton Manning.)
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Well, as of right now, the Twins are 1/2 game out of the Division Lead. And with the Tigers slumping (or at least the Tigers and White Sox beating each other up), we may be able to take the division lead. I've read somewhere that the Twins magic number is 8. I'm actually hoping that we do get the division, that way we don't have to play the Yankees first thing. (Plus, the A's are a much better team, and why not get the hard team out of the way first!)
The weird thing about last week's games is that our only starting pitcher not to get a win was Johan Santana. Of course, he did get a no decision. I must say that our rookie pitchers are definitely taking up the slack for the injured Liriano and Radke. Also, Silva has finally started pitching like he did last year. Last game we saw, his sinker ball was finally sinking, and he was getting ground ball outs. If, in his next start, I start seeing fly ball outs, I know he is going to get the loss.
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I haven't talked about books recently. Well, I'm in the last book of a trilogy written by Robin Hobb. If you are into well thought-out characters, fantasy, intrigue, deception, you would definitely like the Farseer Trilogy. The books are Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest. But be warned, the first book starts our really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really slow. In fact, almost all the action takes place in the final 100 pages (of a 500 page book.) If you get through the book, it is really worth it for the final two. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish the book before the baby is born. There are two more trilogies after this one, The Liveship Traders, and the Tawny Man Trilogy. Both of which I want to read.
After the baby is born, The next books on my agenda are Dan Simmons Ilium and Olympos. I really loved his Hyperion and Endymion series, and am hoping for another well thought out and written book.
Also on my list (and already in the my library as well) is L.E. Modesitt Jr's Ordermaster, the sequel to Wellspring of Chaos.
Funny thing about the cooler weather is our driving conditions. Actually, in the morning we often have the heat on (not quite full blast), and on some days (like yesterday), we will have to put the A/C on for our return trip home.
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The MN Vikings have won their first two games. This weekend they will play the Chicago Bears. Personally, I think the first two games were a fluke. (In fact, we should have lost the game against Carolina, except they made a bonehead move, and we had to use trickery to get the ball in the end zone. Personally, I don't think that bodes well for upcoming games.) But despite the two wins, I'm still a Vikings Fan. Although I'm seriously thinking of becoming a Colts fan instead. They have my favorite head coach (Dungy) and favorite player (Peyton Manning.)
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Well, as of right now, the Twins are 1/2 game out of the Division Lead. And with the Tigers slumping (or at least the Tigers and White Sox beating each other up), we may be able to take the division lead. I've read somewhere that the Twins magic number is 8. I'm actually hoping that we do get the division, that way we don't have to play the Yankees first thing. (Plus, the A's are a much better team, and why not get the hard team out of the way first!)
The weird thing about last week's games is that our only starting pitcher not to get a win was Johan Santana. Of course, he did get a no decision. I must say that our rookie pitchers are definitely taking up the slack for the injured Liriano and Radke. Also, Silva has finally started pitching like he did last year. Last game we saw, his sinker ball was finally sinking, and he was getting ground ball outs. If, in his next start, I start seeing fly ball outs, I know he is going to get the loss.
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I haven't talked about books recently. Well, I'm in the last book of a trilogy written by Robin Hobb. If you are into well thought-out characters, fantasy, intrigue, deception, you would definitely like the Farseer Trilogy. The books are Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest. But be warned, the first book starts our really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really slow. In fact, almost all the action takes place in the final 100 pages (of a 500 page book.) If you get through the book, it is really worth it for the final two. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish the book before the baby is born. There are two more trilogies after this one, The Liveship Traders, and the Tawny Man Trilogy. Both of which I want to read.
After the baby is born, The next books on my agenda are Dan Simmons Ilium and Olympos. I really loved his Hyperion and Endymion series, and am hoping for another well thought out and written book.
Also on my list (and already in the my library as well) is L.E. Modesitt Jr's Ordermaster, the sequel to Wellspring of Chaos.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Wildfires - They make me sick!
O.k., so if you haven't heard, most of South-Central Montana is on fire.
Earlier this month, the Derby fire managed to burn over 200,000 acres. Now the Jungle Fire is up to 20,000 acres, and in danger of burning celebrities homes. (Of course, this made news!). Anyway, we have been getting ash and smoke for days. I think it is finally catching up with me. Basically it feels as if I'm having a bad allergy attack, which really sucks. My 24 hour medicine is working overload, and by noon, I really want to pop another pill. Of course, then I get distracted by work, and when I remember again, it's time for work.
Hopefully the cooler weather coming (it's supposed to be only 49 degrees on Saturday), will help with these fires! I really don't like feeling nauseous, stuffy, head-achey all the time.
Earlier this month, the Derby fire managed to burn over 200,000 acres. Now the Jungle Fire is up to 20,000 acres, and in danger of burning celebrities homes. (Of course, this made news!). Anyway, we have been getting ash and smoke for days. I think it is finally catching up with me. Basically it feels as if I'm having a bad allergy attack, which really sucks. My 24 hour medicine is working overload, and by noon, I really want to pop another pill. Of course, then I get distracted by work, and when I remember again, it's time for work.
Hopefully the cooler weather coming (it's supposed to be only 49 degrees on Saturday), will help with these fires! I really don't like feeling nauseous, stuffy, head-achey all the time.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Where hava all the diaper bags gone?
So, in our baby gear buying craze, one item we simply cannot find is the essential, diaper bag. You would think that they would be easy to find. We have walked all around several stores, and I simply think that diaper bags do not exist. Of course, we have found 1 (yes, just 1) in Wal-mart. And of course, it probably only holds 3 diapers, and a bottle (yup, it is really, really tiny.)
Of course, we could order one off Amazon. But, I would rather actually handle the diaper bag before purchasing it. Seeing all the cool little pockets and accessories.
Also, I had read somewhere that Dad's should have their own diaper bag for the kid (Supposedly to encourage the dad to help, but I think it really is so that the Dad's don't mess up the mom's bag). So, looking at various bags on the Internet, I think I want a backpack style bag, much like this one. It looks very cool, and its got Velcro pockets. Is it practical and useful. I doubt it. But it sure looks cool.
Of course, we could order one off Amazon. But, I would rather actually handle the diaper bag before purchasing it. Seeing all the cool little pockets and accessories.
Also, I had read somewhere that Dad's should have their own diaper bag for the kid (Supposedly to encourage the dad to help, but I think it really is so that the Dad's don't mess up the mom's bag). So, looking at various bags on the Internet, I think I want a backpack style bag, much like this one. It looks very cool, and its got Velcro pockets. Is it practical and useful. I doubt it. But it sure looks cool.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Keeping busy with volleyball
Well, volleyball again seems to be eating my spare time. I do enjoy the sport, and working the girls, however it just eats up time. In fact, all of Friday afternoon, all I did was volleyball work. Even though I was supposed to be "teaching", I infact had to get ready for games. (O.k., so I only had to give a test, and supervise a study hall, but if I did indeed have to teach, it might not have been done with the best quality instruction.
Well, so far my volleyball team is doing well. We had a triangular this past weekend and kicked some tooshie. My 7th/8th grade team played two 8th grade teams. When playing just my 8th graders, we really kicked butt. When playing primarily 7th graders, we still won, although it was a bit harder. At the same time the 7th/8th graders were playing, I also had a team of 5th/6th graders playing teams of 7th graders. Although my younger athletes lost, the didn't lose by more than 10 points, and almost beat the host school (they lost by 2 in the final game.)
School continues to go well. Today we had a big set back in Physics. It seems that my Juniors and Seniors have difficulty writing the equation for a straight line. Yup, they couldn't figure out the slope, or put it in y-intercept form. (y=mx+b). I was absolutely appalled. So tomorrow we are going to go over today's assignment in class. Hopefully this doesn't happen all year in physics.
Well, so far my volleyball team is doing well. We had a triangular this past weekend and kicked some tooshie. My 7th/8th grade team played two 8th grade teams. When playing just my 8th graders, we really kicked butt. When playing primarily 7th graders, we still won, although it was a bit harder. At the same time the 7th/8th graders were playing, I also had a team of 5th/6th graders playing teams of 7th graders. Although my younger athletes lost, the didn't lose by more than 10 points, and almost beat the host school (they lost by 2 in the final game.)
School continues to go well. Today we had a big set back in Physics. It seems that my Juniors and Seniors have difficulty writing the equation for a straight line. Yup, they couldn't figure out the slope, or put it in y-intercept form. (y=mx+b). I was absolutely appalled. So tomorrow we are going to go over today's assignment in class. Hopefully this doesn't happen all year in physics.
Baby Stuff, Discussion of a division title, crushing dreams
Well, we are less than 2 months away from the baby's arrival. As a result we've been in the mood of acquiring baby gear. So far, we've purchased the crib, the changing table, and the stroller/car seat. Just yesterday, we took an "emergency" trip into town to purchase more items. Yup, target had a baby sale. And since one of the items was a big ticket item (i.e., no rain check) we decided to head into town and get them. So we picked up a "play yard", and one other item.
The actual reason for the trip was to pick up a breast pump. Taking j-vo's and several lactation consultant's advice we went with the Medela New Pump In Style Original Breast Pump. Great part was that it was over 10% off!
I must say, I really do like going into town and buying baby gear. (In actuality, my favorite part is putting all the stuff together.)
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I must hand it to the MN Twins. I thought for sure that they would not even be in the Playoff Race. Then they started doing better and next thing you know, they are leading the wild card race. But after this 4 game series with Detroit, they are only 2 games back of the division title. considering they had the crappiest of all starts. (O.k., not the crappiest, but really, really bad.) Am I too optimistic in thinking we actually have a chance at the division title. Considering that Detroit might actually be having one of the biggest collapses in recent sports history, I think a division title IS possible.
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So, tonight is the night for football. Yup, the Vikings play tonight. I say tonight is the football night because tonight, is when my Superbowl dreams for the Vikings will be crushed. Oh, the Vikings might win tonight and give me false hope that this season will be different, but I know better. Yup, win or lose, the Vikings will toy with being great, but ultimately succumb to sub-par play. Or the Vikings will show the world how mediocre they are, but then have a second half rally, only to come up short again. And if they do happen to make the playoffs, I know for certain it will be one and done.
At least I can still have fun during football season rooting for Peyton Manning, and enjoying all those Peyton Manning commercials.
The actual reason for the trip was to pick up a breast pump. Taking j-vo's and several lactation consultant's advice we went with the Medela New Pump In Style Original Breast Pump. Great part was that it was over 10% off!
I must say, I really do like going into town and buying baby gear. (In actuality, my favorite part is putting all the stuff together.)
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I must hand it to the MN Twins. I thought for sure that they would not even be in the Playoff Race. Then they started doing better and next thing you know, they are leading the wild card race. But after this 4 game series with Detroit, they are only 2 games back of the division title. considering they had the crappiest of all starts. (O.k., not the crappiest, but really, really bad.) Am I too optimistic in thinking we actually have a chance at the division title. Considering that Detroit might actually be having one of the biggest collapses in recent sports history, I think a division title IS possible.
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So, tonight is the night for football. Yup, the Vikings play tonight. I say tonight is the football night because tonight, is when my Superbowl dreams for the Vikings will be crushed. Oh, the Vikings might win tonight and give me false hope that this season will be different, but I know better. Yup, win or lose, the Vikings will toy with being great, but ultimately succumb to sub-par play. Or the Vikings will show the world how mediocre they are, but then have a second half rally, only to come up short again. And if they do happen to make the playoffs, I know for certain it will be one and done.
At least I can still have fun during football season rooting for Peyton Manning, and enjoying all those Peyton Manning commercials.
Friday, September 01, 2006
I beta watch out
Ok, so the title is a really, really bad pun. Anyway, I've "upgraded" to the new Blogger, which is of course in Beta. So hopefully this won't crash, screw up my blogs, or anything of that nature.
I'm very tired right now. Work has me stressed. I probably lost 2 hours of sleep just dreaming about volleyball.
Anyway, its now September. That means only one more month of baseball this year. And with the MN Twins surprising people by actually being in the wild card race, September could be quite interesting. Of course, after this weekend, they may not be in the race anymore (Yup, we are visiting Yankee Stadium).
The weather has cooled off considerably. On Wednesday, it was well over 95 degrees. Now, we might not even make 70. I woke up this morning and the temperature was 39.1 degrees. Brrrr.... But don't fret, by Monday, we will be in the mid-80's again.
Of course, this is labor day weekend, so we have a few things planned. Tomorrow, we are going to go into town. I think we will purchase a few groceries. However, the main goal will be to buy mrs. glacierman some more work clothes. If we have time, we may look at some vehicles as well.
Well, I need to get my stuff together for tonight's volleyball game. Just one last thing ...
Go Twins!!!!!!
I'm very tired right now. Work has me stressed. I probably lost 2 hours of sleep just dreaming about volleyball.
Anyway, its now September. That means only one more month of baseball this year. And with the MN Twins surprising people by actually being in the wild card race, September could be quite interesting. Of course, after this weekend, they may not be in the race anymore (Yup, we are visiting Yankee Stadium).
The weather has cooled off considerably. On Wednesday, it was well over 95 degrees. Now, we might not even make 70. I woke up this morning and the temperature was 39.1 degrees. Brrrr.... But don't fret, by Monday, we will be in the mid-80's again.
Of course, this is labor day weekend, so we have a few things planned. Tomorrow, we are going to go into town. I think we will purchase a few groceries. However, the main goal will be to buy mrs. glacierman some more work clothes. If we have time, we may look at some vehicles as well.
Well, I need to get my stuff together for tonight's volleyball game. Just one last thing ...
Go Twins!!!!!!
Volleyball
So, I think I'm feeling a bit stressed. Hopefully, I'll get the hang of this volleyball think soon. I wouldn't have thought that having taken a year off, I would have been this disorganized. (Of course, I could have been this disorganized, and just not have realized it.)
Anyway, we play our first game of the season later today. And with only 3 practices under our belt, I'm pretty sure we ....
There are 24 girls in Junior High Volleyball this year, the most I've ever had. Only one coach (me), no managers, and no other adults (except for the bus driver for away games). I don't know about you, but working with 24 girls, ages 10 to 15, can be extremely challenging if you don't have back-up. At least for this trip, I've asked another teacher to help. Hopefully, she'll be able to watch some of the girls, when I'm not able to. (Not to mention, check the locker room!)
Well, I do think I'm ready. I have rosters, line-ups, parental sign out sheets, lists, bus lists, uniforms for girls that forgot them the other day, kneepads, money, etc. Of course, I haven't done much school-work today. That's the problem, I either spend my all my time with coaching duties, or I actually teach. Can't really do both at the same time.
Anyway, we play our first game of the season later today. And with only 3 practices under our belt, I'm pretty sure we ....
There are 24 girls in Junior High Volleyball this year, the most I've ever had. Only one coach (me), no managers, and no other adults (except for the bus driver for away games). I don't know about you, but working with 24 girls, ages 10 to 15, can be extremely challenging if you don't have back-up. At least for this trip, I've asked another teacher to help. Hopefully, she'll be able to watch some of the girls, when I'm not able to. (Not to mention, check the locker room!)
Well, I do think I'm ready. I have rosters, line-ups, parental sign out sheets, lists, bus lists, uniforms for girls that forgot them the other day, kneepads, money, etc. Of course, I haven't done much school-work today. That's the problem, I either spend my all my time with coaching duties, or I actually teach. Can't really do both at the same time.
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