Tag Archives: hard work

Testy, testing, whatever…

Thursday, March 8, 2012, @ 5:44 pmFamily, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, education, hard work, making the days count, race to the top, reading, seventh grade, standardized tests, teaching, weather, writingClay

Snapshot_20120308_5 — plugged in, late afternoon coffee - just for fun! See Author's note below!

It’s springtime – or pretty darn close. The days are getting longer and slowly warmer. Yesterday it was in the sixties and windy with gusts in the 30-40 mph range. It’s been a pretty lame winter and I’m glad it’s getting closer to spring. There is that feeling in the air when it smells like spring. The wind howls and you know, really know, that warmer days are near. Right now, it is that time in the day when the sun seems to hang in the air and make the afternoon linger and seem to last another hour, or two. Continue reading Testy, testing, whatever… →

Olivia’s Dad, WOW, what a week

Saturday, February 11, 2012, @ 12:21 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, sports, teaching, Writingchurch, hard work, making the days count, reading, scouting, seventh grade, third grade, writingClay

I can hardly believe that the week has passed me by. It was a busy week full of activity and teaching. However, the best part, or parts, was sharing it with Olivia. A normal week, depending on the season, can be spent at basketball games, scout meetings, outings, church, managing homework, and having dinner together. But, this week was different. Our week began with the Super Bowl where I was out numbered 3-1 in favor of the Giants and ended with the Daddy-Daughter Dance Friday night. There was a lot in between. Continue reading Olivia’s Dad, WOW, what a week →

Winter Break is over

Sunday, January 8, 2012, @ 6:26 amCooking, Family, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchurch, eagle scout, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, scouting, seventh grade, teaching, weatherClay

moon0105 — Thursday night's moonrise and the sunset highlights the trees

Winter Break is over. I suppose that is a good thing. I need to get back to work and have a bit more structure in the day, but I have certainly enjoyed the time to rest, relax, and restore. I have enjoyed cooking, reading, and spending time with family. I have my regrets – I didn’t accomplish as much grading as I wanted, I didn’t clean up my desk and organize my personal office like I planned and sadly, I have been restoring my waist line and not vice-versa. Continue reading Winter Break is over →

Let it snow – part 2

Monday, January 2, 2012, @ 8:01 amadventure, Cooking, Family, pets, Reading, teaching, Weather, Writingchildren, eating, education, Family, Grayling, great days, hard work, making the days count, pets, reading, teaching, weather, writingClay

ivy_stairs — Ivy looks down from upstairs

It is still snowing and I hope it doesn’t stop, or at least doesn’t stop until I want it to. I was up late, too late, last night and when I woke up this morning, I peered out the front window and was relieved to see a blanket of fresh snow covering the front yard and extending out into the lake Evidence Ivy’s and my walk had been erased.

Olivia is sleeping and I hope she sleeps for a bit longer; she was up late, though not as late as I was. This morning, Ivy barked and wanted out and I was afraid she was getting up, but she went back to bed. Ivy went outside did her business and came back inside and snuggled up on the blanket by my feet and went back to sleep, too. Continue reading Let it snow – part 2 →

Pearl Harbor – 70 Years Later

Wednesday, December 7, 2011, @ 12:28 amcountry, Family, history, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Today in History, WritingDay of Infamy, education, Family, Guys Read, hard work, making the days count, patriotism, Pearl Harbor, politics, reading, seventh grade, teaching, writingClay

I wasn’t around seventy years ago, but my in-laws were, they were teenagers then and remember the day quite well; much like I and my generation will remember 9/11

Yesterday, I casually mentioned to my seventh graders that today was an important anniversary and they looked at me in odd way – sort of like Ivy when she is confused, tilting her head to one side and cocking her ears back, as if to say, “So, you say?” What it really means is that they have no clue what you are talking about and they don’t have a good answer, because by the way I am looking at them, they should know. Continue reading Pearl Harbor – 70 Years Later →

Day 67 – is it real?

Friday, December 2, 2011, @ 5:03 amFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingeducation, hard work, quotes, reading, teaching, winter, writingClay

Milton-20111201-00016 — looking back - the sun rises on the first day of winter

Today is the sixty-seventh day of the school year. It doesn’t seem possible, but, it is. It is funny how time moves so quickly. This week has virtually evaporated. A week ago, it was Thanksgiving Break and now I am looking down the barrels of Winter Break and a long two-week holiday, which will seemingly go faster than Thanksgiving’s five days. Continue reading Day 67 – is it real? →

Giving Thanks – Happy Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 24, 2011, @ 9:44 amcountry, Family, jobs, Life in General, pets, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, Family, great days, hard work, making the days count, Paris, pets, reading, scouting, teaching, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving 2011, writingClay

I went back in time yesterday morning to last year, the year before, and all the way back to Thanksgivings past. I went way back. I have been blogging at Making the Days Count since late May 2010 and have a few readers who follow along, so I feel I can go back to last year’s post without much of a problem for readers feeling like, ‘hey, I have been here before!’ Continue reading Giving Thanks – Happy Thanksgiving →

Thanksgiving Eve

Wednesday, November 23, 2011, @ 8:38 amcountry, Family, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, eating, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, making the days count, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Thanksgiving Eve, Thansgiving, weatherClay

People do not call it that, but that’s what today is, the day before Thanksgiving. Hence, Thanksgiving Eve, I am calling it!

I have today off and there was the ‘Friday’ feel in the building yesterday. The kids were giddy, the teachers were too and it was a day when learning and leisure collided. My kids, on the other hand, have been off since last week and have the entire week off. Continue reading Thanksgiving Eve →

Elementary, my dear Watson

Sunday, November 20, 2011, @ 12:28 pmFamily, Life in General, Reading, Scouting, teaching, Writingchildren, education, fall in the Midwest, Family, hard work, high school football, mysteries, reading, scouting, seventh grade, Sherlock Holmes, teaching, weather, writingClay

Another busy weekend, full of choices: what to do, what to leave undone, unfinished, or unstarted. It had been a busy week at school and home. For my kids – William and Olivia, it was the last week before Thanksgiving break. They get the entire week on vacation. For me, it was the end of the narrative unit and the beginning of the mystery unit and Sherlock Holmes. I like Sherlock. I like how he helps me think at a different level and I marvel at his ability to see things others do not. Continue reading Elementary, my dear Watson →

Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, @ 5:16 amFamily, Life in General, Reading, teaching, Writingchildren, Coleen McGregor, Dulles Jr. High Class of 1976, education, Family, hard work, history, making the days count, reading, seventh grade, teaching, weather, writingClay

The gentle rain on the roof, rolling into the gutters outside my bedroom window was soothing and I slept well last night, perhaps, too well. I had a hard time convincing myself it was a good idea to get out of bed and start the day. I finally got up went downstairs, started the coffee, and made lunch for William and me – salads. Continue reading Part 5, the conclusion, and the ride home →