Whoah, We're Half Way There...(you know the rest)

Hey! Don't ask me why I choose to Title this blog post with a Bon Jovi rock ballad bar none. It just seemed funny and appropriate at the same time. I think that is a rule that I subconsciously live by, funny and appropriate, though funny often gives appropriate a monster wedgie in it's quest to be the center of attention. Appropriate rarely gets to be the center of attention and is usually so only due to funny's inability to remain appropriate....Now for something painfully appropriate.

Tis the beginning of the second semester and the learning machine is being cranked back up to 11 with the possibility of new expanding territory. I will remain hopeful, as always, that both the students and I are coming back with our deals "worked out" and ready to take on the challenge that is 2nd Semester.

For Freshmen that means getting your Greek armour on and traveling to battle for King Menelaus and the return of his bride Helen of Troy. Your return voyage will be with King Odysseus, Master Mariner, the Cunning Warrior. Expect delays up to 20 years.

For Juniors that means Jazz music and spending it like you got it attitude. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is modern staple of what made the 1920's so roaring in the first place.

For Creative Writing that means looking at non-fiction writing, but through a "creative" lens. Thus Creative Nonfiction is born. Don't freak out on me, the same rules apply to nonfiction writing that apply to fiction writing. Lots of other interesting stops along the way to the end of the year.

Now for funny. Our very good friends, Let's call them, The Pac-Man's because that's how I roll. Well the Pac-Man's had a scavenger hunt in the Modesto Mall for their son's 6th and daughters 10th birthday party. I was very skeptical at first, being that most of the kids parties I have been to involved being outside so the cupcakes don't get ground into the carpet (which coincidentally is why we put in hard wood floors) so this almost qualifies in that you can make a mess and have the hired help clean up, as long as you don't mind sharing your birthday atmosphere with the rest of Post Holiday Modesto. I was pleasantly surprised. We had 1 hour to find over 50 items, and could only "buy" up to $3.00 worth of anything. We took pictures with strangers, rode small automated cars, "liberated" french fries, stole straws and napkins, and generally committed several other silly acts in the name of a good time. Here is the highlight photo from our day out. The rule was that you had to do the silliest family photo that you could do (your family gift was the photo). We though it would be great to take the picture facing the wrong direction. I love this photo!

See you in 1 week kids!
P.

Ello poppet....

Well, school is underway and I am already swamped with papers. I am literally taking "time to write" out of my "time to grade" schedule. That in and of itself is not so amazing really. Grading is really pretty tough to do, especially when it is essay work. I am not one of those, slap a grade on it fellows and keep on truckin' into the next assignment. I like to leave commentaries, even though I know that a good portion of students don't/won't read them. If you are reading this and think, "Wait! That's not me. I kinda like the commentaries..." Thanks for the vote of confidence! Everyone else, you need to get on board with the program.
Anyhoo...the begining of school signifies my favorite times of the year, Fall! The leaves and the weather, and ohhhhhh the pretty colorssss... Yeah Fall is pretty great. As a kid it meant a great layout of awesome holidays back to back to back to back: Halloween to My Birthday to Thanksgiving to Christmas. My father-in-law takes the month to celebrate his birthday with the same furvor! He calls it "Johnny-Gra" and I like the idea though "Chris-Gra" sounds lame... Free sticker to anyone of my students who guess my Birthday!
My family and I recently went on an overnight excursion to the Montery Bay Aquarium I was able to get some neat footage of the shark exhibit that they have. I could have sat in front of that tank all day. It is two stories tall and full of the freakiest and most dangerous fish in the ocean. The Montery Aquarium has the only Great White Shark in captivity. It is still a baby at 4 1/2 feet long. Yikes and Zoinks Shagg! Click the film to check it out! Check back soon to see what stuff we are up to in class!
Mr.P