Happy last day of July. N is watching some hour-long Diego special on dinosaurs. M is off at her class, the other two at summer school. I can write a little with my feet up on the ottoman.
This week has been busy. I’m exhausted. N abdicated summer school so he and I hung out every day while M and his brothers were out. We’ve had a good time, actually, hitting my office a couple times, Hoffers’ pet store once (with S) and a couple other stores/sites here and there. Through the afternoons I’ve let the boys play video games as T bought a couple new ones for his birthday. Yesterday I made them pick up all the crabapples. That was fun to watch. After a modicum of bickering they eventually finished the job together.
Week highlights!
• I need a couple days off from working out. I can’t remember the last time I didn’t lift three days a week (Memorial Day?) in additional to all the regular cardio, and over the last three days I added hoops and jogging. My knees need a break. I’ll take off the rest of today, tomorrow, and maybe Sunday as well.
• T has come along for basketball this week, mostly because a cute fifth grade girl he knows shows up at the Y with his mom.
• I had a rare stretch away from books, too, early in the week. My routine is out of whack. Mary says demolishing routines can be good, and I agree, but between last week’s Chautauqua visit and this week’s schedule I’ve had enough, thank you very much. I’ve read the last few nights, at least, Ross MacDonald’s excellent “The Moving Target”.
• Yesterday N and I visited the model store. I tried to find a cool model to build, maybe something from ancient Greece, but N was in a hurry and a couple very weird teenagers got in a big argument about Magic:The Gathering at a nearby table, so we got the hell out.
• I want to see “The Watchmen” but haven’t had time to even order the movie off of cable.
• I’ve liked working at night. No one is in the office and I get a ton done. Ghosts are the only drawback. I also set up my calendar on Google. Thanks, Louie!
• Mary and I met at Alterra’s Wednesday evening. We sat outside. I watched pretty joggers pass and we talked about the upcoming year. Beautiful night. I cranked The Hold Steady and drove home with the windows open.
• M wants to go to the Ozaukee County Fair tonight. I don’t want to go! I don’t want to go! Doesn’t she know I want to see The Watchmen?
• I need to catch up on True Blood.
• I don’t know if I can travel any more this summer. We’ll see. I at least want to get down to Chicago to check out the Art Institute’s Modern Wing. Maybe I’ll take the train.
• S and I are have hardly visited the WB farmer’s market. We’ll go tomorrow before M hits Zoomba.
That’s it for now. Have a lovely start of August.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Some Chautauqua pics...
1. T on the bridge next to the Athanaeum (sp?) Hotel.
2. M's mom's street. Those are the boys' bikes in front of the house.
3, 4, and 5...all from the Hall of Philosophy, where M and I married. The second pic is from right where we stood during the ceremony. S is in a pic, too. The last one is of the red brick walk leading to the HOP.
1. T on the bridge next to the Athanaeum (sp?) Hotel.
2. M's mom's street. Those are the boys' bikes in front of the house.
3, 4, and 5...all from the Hall of Philosophy, where M and I married. The second pic is from right where we stood during the ceremony. S is in a pic, too. The last one is of the red brick walk leading to the HOP.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Jesus…I haven’t written since Sunday. I thought I hadn’t written since Tuesday. Where did the week go?
Instead of going through the day by day specifics, let me go through the Chautauqua week highlights:
• S and I hit Pittsburgh for the Pirates/Brewers game Wednesday, then we got lost in the terrifying city of Youngstown, Ohio, then we went to the largest candy store in the world (self-billed) in Sharon, PA, then we drove home. Pics to follow, but they’re already on facebook, you lazy bastards. I’ll remember the day as great. PNC Park is beautiful. S and I were early so we walked around, got food, and took pics. Then we settled into our seats, right next to the left field foul pole, and watched the game. The Brew were winning, then losing, then winning, then losing, then tied, then lost in the ninth. S was pissed, of course, but I still had fun. A couple college students behind us were from Cedarburg. The number of Brewers fans surprised me. After the game we got lost on the way to Sharon, leading to the accidental Youngstown visit. S played navigator with the road atlas and got us on the right path. The candy store, Daffin’s, looked like a giant Walgreens but had a ton of candy. They also had this weird room with huge chocolate turtles or whatever in the back. Creepy. We dropped about forty bucks on candy and drove home through the rain. Great day.
• T and I saw Transformers. My God, that movie was awful. I also saw The Hangover and Star Trek. Both were excellent. I saw the former at a horrible run down theater in a the kind of mall zombies take over. The projector went “tick tick tick” and the walls were covered with dust. Gross. I saw the latter at the Chatauqua cinema where a large man with a German accent talked so much through the first ten minutes of the film that I gave up and moved.
• I worked out every day. Monday and Wednesday I ran, not quite for an hour, but A) I hate running, and B) I didn’t have a way to tell for how long I had run. Otherwise I worked out in the usual style at either the center near the north gate, where they have televisions attached to the ellipticals and the weights in an adjacent gym, or the much smaller center near the lake where I watched water flow pass and listened (today, at least) to Mogwai. I ate some candy (see candy store post above) but only succumbed to ice cream once.
• The boys had a great time and were more often than not well-behaved. No, in fact, let me change that, the boys were wonderful. They’re sleeping now.
• I met this guy across the street named Gary. He talks like a 50s disc jockey, all breath and stretched-out syllables. We met when I commented favorably upon his Hold Steady t-shirt. I think he wanted to hang out more with me. But I’m an anti-social bastard. Sorry, Gary. You were cool, though. I’m glad our kids got along.
• M’s mom was fine until today, when she tried to push the idea that T should visit on his own soon when I made clear, earlier in the week, that we said he couldn’t until he was sixteen. No thank you. I went for a walk to cool down. She has a hard time respecting the decisions we make. She already raised her kids. Let us raise ours.
• I read a lot…Handke, mentioned previously, the first 50 pages of The Idiot, some travel essays, and the first part of a Ross MacDonald book from the “Archer in Hollywood” series. I can’t remember the title.
• Rain fell every day, but not all day, and I like the rain. Today I sat on the second floor porch, reading the NY Times, and eventually put down the paper and watched the water pour through the tall trees.
That’s it for now. Everything’s packed. I should get some sleep. Good night.
Instead of going through the day by day specifics, let me go through the Chautauqua week highlights:
• S and I hit Pittsburgh for the Pirates/Brewers game Wednesday, then we got lost in the terrifying city of Youngstown, Ohio, then we went to the largest candy store in the world (self-billed) in Sharon, PA, then we drove home. Pics to follow, but they’re already on facebook, you lazy bastards. I’ll remember the day as great. PNC Park is beautiful. S and I were early so we walked around, got food, and took pics. Then we settled into our seats, right next to the left field foul pole, and watched the game. The Brew were winning, then losing, then winning, then losing, then tied, then lost in the ninth. S was pissed, of course, but I still had fun. A couple college students behind us were from Cedarburg. The number of Brewers fans surprised me. After the game we got lost on the way to Sharon, leading to the accidental Youngstown visit. S played navigator with the road atlas and got us on the right path. The candy store, Daffin’s, looked like a giant Walgreens but had a ton of candy. They also had this weird room with huge chocolate turtles or whatever in the back. Creepy. We dropped about forty bucks on candy and drove home through the rain. Great day.
• T and I saw Transformers. My God, that movie was awful. I also saw The Hangover and Star Trek. Both were excellent. I saw the former at a horrible run down theater in a the kind of mall zombies take over. The projector went “tick tick tick” and the walls were covered with dust. Gross. I saw the latter at the Chatauqua cinema where a large man with a German accent talked so much through the first ten minutes of the film that I gave up and moved.
• I worked out every day. Monday and Wednesday I ran, not quite for an hour, but A) I hate running, and B) I didn’t have a way to tell for how long I had run. Otherwise I worked out in the usual style at either the center near the north gate, where they have televisions attached to the ellipticals and the weights in an adjacent gym, or the much smaller center near the lake where I watched water flow pass and listened (today, at least) to Mogwai. I ate some candy (see candy store post above) but only succumbed to ice cream once.
• The boys had a great time and were more often than not well-behaved. No, in fact, let me change that, the boys were wonderful. They’re sleeping now.
• I met this guy across the street named Gary. He talks like a 50s disc jockey, all breath and stretched-out syllables. We met when I commented favorably upon his Hold Steady t-shirt. I think he wanted to hang out more with me. But I’m an anti-social bastard. Sorry, Gary. You were cool, though. I’m glad our kids got along.
• M’s mom was fine until today, when she tried to push the idea that T should visit on his own soon when I made clear, earlier in the week, that we said he couldn’t until he was sixteen. No thank you. I went for a walk to cool down. She has a hard time respecting the decisions we make. She already raised her kids. Let us raise ours.
• I read a lot…Handke, mentioned previously, the first 50 pages of The Idiot, some travel essays, and the first part of a Ross MacDonald book from the “Archer in Hollywood” series. I can’t remember the title.
• Rain fell every day, but not all day, and I like the rain. Today I sat on the second floor porch, reading the NY Times, and eventually put down the paper and watched the water pour through the tall trees.
That’s it for now. Everything’s packed. I should get some sleep. Good night.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
As promised in the earlier post...day one (first full day, I should say) in Chautauqua:
1 and 2. The small building where I attended the Quaker meeting. I tried to take pics inside but the door was locked.
3. Yes I am.
4. The bookstore (or what N calls "The Underground Library") and the post office.
5. T with the fountain in the palm of his hand.
1 and 2. The small building where I attended the Quaker meeting. I tried to take pics inside but the door was locked.
3. Yes I am.
4. The bookstore (or what N calls "The Underground Library") and the post office.
5. T with the fountain in the palm of his hand.
This seems as good a time as any to write in the journal. S and T are off somewhere, the plaza, I think, while N and a new friend are playing cops and robbers up and down the street. M is watching from the porch. I was falling asleep reading an hour ago so I drank coffee and now may be up until 2:00AM. I’m ok with that.
Today was decent. I woke near 6:30, cold morning, and creaked downstairs and drank Folger’s because that’s all I could find in the kitchen cabinets. Raz the cat and I watched Sportscenter, first just us, then with S, who bundled under a blanket and put his head on my lap. I decided, since the grounds were quiet and T and N were still sleeping, to leave S to the television and leave the grounds for a supermarket run. The Mayville Quality was deserted and much too white and barren of anything interesting but the nice checkout girl helped me get a new discount card for the coffee, diet coke, and two chocolate chip cookie packages (we cleaned out Nana last night).
I decided to hit the first UU Sunday service because I have been a bad, bad Unitarian Universalist over the past year. I hijacked a back row pew and read Handke’s A Sorrow Beyond Dreams and kept to myself until the service started. A woman began by introducing her grandson and extolling his gifted music ability for a good five minutes. Fuck it, that’s exactly what I hate about Unitarian Universalism in practice; there are too many affluent white people showing off their purchased advantages and privileged lives. The minister mentioned he had to speak quietly because the Quakers were having a silent service nearby and I thought, well, you know, that sounds better than this bullshit and walked over to the small octagonal building in the direction the minister earlier pointed. A woman with a brace on her hand waved me into the building or else I might not have entered. I sat at a small wooden desk in the outer row of two concentric circles. A card on the desk explained the service. Apparently Quakers sit silently in a circle (the circle symbolizes the lack of a minister and the equality of those present) and pray however they choose. Every now and then someone gets up, if the spirit holds them, and speaks about what’s inspiring them or a subject related to their prayer. I sat and looked at the grey floor in the grey light and felt at home. Silence is very hard work (I’m paraphrasing from someone I’ll mention in a moment) for me. I prayed, let my thoughts wander and focus, considered anger, how much is inside me, found moments of peace, and basked in the quiet. The card said that everyone contributes whether they speak or not. I love that. A woman rose and spoke of some friends who usually visit and heal themselves after a long year and extolled the importance of journeys. I get that. After a while another guy talked about how engaging in mindful living is hard work (I’m paraphrasing here) and how we’re all here to support each other. The service was beautiful. I sat quietly for nearly an hour. I left before the ending handshake. I’m not ready for that yet. But the Quaker ceremony was by far the most meaningful religious experience, coupled with visiting Bear Butte, I’ve encountered in many years. A service without words, without ministers, without grandstanding—I need that. I looked up the Milwaukee Quakers early this afternoon. Perhaps I’ll check them out.
Later T and I hit the bookstore (or what the boys call “the underground library” after one of N’s first evaluations of the space). He chose a book and I fingered a book on Quaker spirituality but decided to hold off since I brought so many books with me and I didn’t know if better Quaker texts exist. My research mind kicks into gear for better or for worse. I ate a little, read while the boys developed a pulley system for the second floor porch, and walked over to the gym for a workout. The ellipticals (at this gym, there are two on the grounds, one near a north gate, one near the lake) have individual televisions attached. I watched CNN. After the cardio I lifted in a no-nonsense bench/free weight setup. When I returned home I showered. M’s mom was back from Rochester, so we talked a bit before I took the boys to the basketball court. T knocked off my glasses, so we cut the one-on-one game short, then T and S caught fly balls on the baseball diamond. I had tofu sandwiches for dinner. M’s mom and I conflicted twice but nothing major. I can’t remember one of the conflicts, so perhaps I should say we conflicted once. T sat with me on the Bestor Plaza porch while he ate ice cream and I drank coffee. Cute, dressed up girls kept walking past us. I’m not sure why.
I’ll post a few pics. Happy Sunday.
Today was decent. I woke near 6:30, cold morning, and creaked downstairs and drank Folger’s because that’s all I could find in the kitchen cabinets. Raz the cat and I watched Sportscenter, first just us, then with S, who bundled under a blanket and put his head on my lap. I decided, since the grounds were quiet and T and N were still sleeping, to leave S to the television and leave the grounds for a supermarket run. The Mayville Quality was deserted and much too white and barren of anything interesting but the nice checkout girl helped me get a new discount card for the coffee, diet coke, and two chocolate chip cookie packages (we cleaned out Nana last night).
I decided to hit the first UU Sunday service because I have been a bad, bad Unitarian Universalist over the past year. I hijacked a back row pew and read Handke’s A Sorrow Beyond Dreams and kept to myself until the service started. A woman began by introducing her grandson and extolling his gifted music ability for a good five minutes. Fuck it, that’s exactly what I hate about Unitarian Universalism in practice; there are too many affluent white people showing off their purchased advantages and privileged lives. The minister mentioned he had to speak quietly because the Quakers were having a silent service nearby and I thought, well, you know, that sounds better than this bullshit and walked over to the small octagonal building in the direction the minister earlier pointed. A woman with a brace on her hand waved me into the building or else I might not have entered. I sat at a small wooden desk in the outer row of two concentric circles. A card on the desk explained the service. Apparently Quakers sit silently in a circle (the circle symbolizes the lack of a minister and the equality of those present) and pray however they choose. Every now and then someone gets up, if the spirit holds them, and speaks about what’s inspiring them or a subject related to their prayer. I sat and looked at the grey floor in the grey light and felt at home. Silence is very hard work (I’m paraphrasing from someone I’ll mention in a moment) for me. I prayed, let my thoughts wander and focus, considered anger, how much is inside me, found moments of peace, and basked in the quiet. The card said that everyone contributes whether they speak or not. I love that. A woman rose and spoke of some friends who usually visit and heal themselves after a long year and extolled the importance of journeys. I get that. After a while another guy talked about how engaging in mindful living is hard work (I’m paraphrasing here) and how we’re all here to support each other. The service was beautiful. I sat quietly for nearly an hour. I left before the ending handshake. I’m not ready for that yet. But the Quaker ceremony was by far the most meaningful religious experience, coupled with visiting Bear Butte, I’ve encountered in many years. A service without words, without ministers, without grandstanding—I need that. I looked up the Milwaukee Quakers early this afternoon. Perhaps I’ll check them out.
Later T and I hit the bookstore (or what the boys call “the underground library” after one of N’s first evaluations of the space). He chose a book and I fingered a book on Quaker spirituality but decided to hold off since I brought so many books with me and I didn’t know if better Quaker texts exist. My research mind kicks into gear for better or for worse. I ate a little, read while the boys developed a pulley system for the second floor porch, and walked over to the gym for a workout. The ellipticals (at this gym, there are two on the grounds, one near a north gate, one near the lake) have individual televisions attached. I watched CNN. After the cardio I lifted in a no-nonsense bench/free weight setup. When I returned home I showered. M’s mom was back from Rochester, so we talked a bit before I took the boys to the basketball court. T knocked off my glasses, so we cut the one-on-one game short, then T and S caught fly balls on the baseball diamond. I had tofu sandwiches for dinner. M’s mom and I conflicted twice but nothing major. I can’t remember one of the conflicts, so perhaps I should say we conflicted once. T sat with me on the Bestor Plaza porch while he ate ice cream and I drank coffee. Cute, dressed up girls kept walking past us. I’m not sure why.
I’ll post a few pics. Happy Sunday.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
I’m in the Chautauqua house’s third floor bedroom, where M’s dad used to play free cell and check her stocks. A complicated upright fan runs in the corner. On the street below I can hear S, T and four or five other kids playing a modified four-squaresque game. T approached the group and asked if he could play. There is nothing as heartbreakingly beautiful for me as a parent as watching one of my sons approach a group of people he doesn’t know and asking if he can be included in the activity. T’s very good with this sort of thing, which makes him somewhat not my son, or my son plus everything I never had. I recruited S to back him up by mentioning the activity was vaguely competitive. S was ready to kick ass within thirty seconds.
Today was a good traveling day despite some (literal) roadblocks. I woke near four-thirty and the entire family was out the door by 6:15. The boys bundled up in the backseat with blankets, stuffed animals, and video games. We free-fell south through Wisconsin, caught fifteen minutes of accident traffic on the Edens, then ran into a motherfucker of a backup on the Indiana toll road. Turns out a FedEx truck spilled its contents all over the pavement. Forty-five minutes’ worth of crawling later, to the point where I turned off the car a couple of times, we inched passed the detritus of packages that, alas, will not reach their intended recipients. I imagine some pissed people are wondering where their pants, toasters, and Oriental Trade trinkets could be. Check the Indiana Toll Road, people. I saw them.
The rest of the trip was uneventful except for my reminding T not to hit the gearshift with his foot about 4,000 times and a particularly disgusting Indiana rest stop. When the hell are they going to upgrade those facilities? Awful. Thank you, Ohio, for getting your shit together as far as rest stops are concerned. We pulled into the Institution just before the 10 hour mark at 6:15 local time. M forgot to ask her mom to get diet coke so I walked over the plaza and picked up a bottle. After unloading the car and inhaling half a pizza I showered and let the exhaustion of travel creep into my legs. I walked over to the concert, read Tunneling To the Center of the Earth in the back row, but left when I discovered I wasn’t in the mood for Britten’s (sp?) serenades. T and I watched a little Disney Channel, his head in my lap, before he went outside to meet the latest neighbors.
S and N just invaded the room. Where do they get their energy? More later. The night promises to be cool. Excellent.
Today was a good traveling day despite some (literal) roadblocks. I woke near four-thirty and the entire family was out the door by 6:15. The boys bundled up in the backseat with blankets, stuffed animals, and video games. We free-fell south through Wisconsin, caught fifteen minutes of accident traffic on the Edens, then ran into a motherfucker of a backup on the Indiana toll road. Turns out a FedEx truck spilled its contents all over the pavement. Forty-five minutes’ worth of crawling later, to the point where I turned off the car a couple of times, we inched passed the detritus of packages that, alas, will not reach their intended recipients. I imagine some pissed people are wondering where their pants, toasters, and Oriental Trade trinkets could be. Check the Indiana Toll Road, people. I saw them.
The rest of the trip was uneventful except for my reminding T not to hit the gearshift with his foot about 4,000 times and a particularly disgusting Indiana rest stop. When the hell are they going to upgrade those facilities? Awful. Thank you, Ohio, for getting your shit together as far as rest stops are concerned. We pulled into the Institution just before the 10 hour mark at 6:15 local time. M forgot to ask her mom to get diet coke so I walked over the plaza and picked up a bottle. After unloading the car and inhaling half a pizza I showered and let the exhaustion of travel creep into my legs. I walked over to the concert, read Tunneling To the Center of the Earth in the back row, but left when I discovered I wasn’t in the mood for Britten’s (sp?) serenades. T and I watched a little Disney Channel, his head in my lap, before he went outside to meet the latest neighbors.
S and N just invaded the room. Where do they get their energy? More later. The night promises to be cool. Excellent.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Ok, I think I’m going to have to write fairly quickly, but I thought I’d write a little before the day got away from me. Today is the pre-drive “pack, clean, do laundry, arrange for the mail” etc. day before we leave for Chautauqua. I slept past seven on the cool porch and I don’t feel entirely awake. We’re due at the middle school in fifty one minutes for a meeting with T’s future principal. He tries to meet for thirty minutes with every incoming fifth grader’s family. How cool is that?
This week has been busy and I can feel the need for time off creeping into my muscles. I guess Chautauqua is good enough for vacations, but I’d be just as happy staying home. We’re toying with the idea of leaving today but I doubt we will. Tomorrow we’ll be in the Subaru for ten hours.
More later. I’ll have a lot of time to read in NY. I’m ready to go.
This week has been busy and I can feel the need for time off creeping into my muscles. I guess Chautauqua is good enough for vacations, but I’d be just as happy staying home. We’re toying with the idea of leaving today but I doubt we will. Tomorrow we’ll be in the Subaru for ten hours.
More later. I’ll have a lot of time to read in NY. I’m ready to go.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
I’m in the glider, 1:32PM, and I still feel as if Sunday morning hasn’t passed. S and I are watching the Brew game. M and T are at Target preparing for T’s birthday party and buying water bottles that, I hope, the boys do not lose immediately. Where did the morning go? I guess I slept later than usual, near 6:30, then hit the gym for a hard workout from 8-9:15AM. I ate, showered, watched a Burn Notice, and started reading Tunneling to the Center of the Earth.
How about some highlights of the week:
• I almost finished Boyle’s After the Plague, one of the most relentlessly depressing books I’ve ever read. Or maybe I’m not in the mood. Last night I decided to skip the last two stories because I couldn’t see a good reason to continue.
• On Friday afternoon I checked out I Love You, Beth Cooper at the North Shore. The actor playing the main male character overacted in full-geek mode but the girl playing the title role (she also played a cheerleader in Heroes…Hayden something) was perfect. I loved the cool, nearly empty Friday afternoon theater. Summer moviegoing rocks.
• We leave for Chautauqua in six days. I’ve started planning my trip-reading. This will be busy at work, as I’m teaching every day but giving the students off to write Friday, but at least I don’t have afternoon meetings scheduled. I haven’t finished the annual report but I’m waiting on some data from Institutional Research and I’d rather knock that f—ker out sooner than later.
• The boys are in good spirits. Yesterday the neighborhood kids/moms staged a massive water balloon fight. N wants to sign up for Tai Quon Doe (sp?). T stayed over at a friend’s last night. I missed him.
• Yesterday I hit Costcutters and had my hair cut military short. A hair-cutting apprentice did the job. She was friendly but probably shouldn’t have told me she was an apprentice.
That’s it for now. I need a few breaks from work before the fall semester kicks into gear. More later.
How about some highlights of the week:
• I almost finished Boyle’s After the Plague, one of the most relentlessly depressing books I’ve ever read. Or maybe I’m not in the mood. Last night I decided to skip the last two stories because I couldn’t see a good reason to continue.
• On Friday afternoon I checked out I Love You, Beth Cooper at the North Shore. The actor playing the main male character overacted in full-geek mode but the girl playing the title role (she also played a cheerleader in Heroes…Hayden something) was perfect. I loved the cool, nearly empty Friday afternoon theater. Summer moviegoing rocks.
• We leave for Chautauqua in six days. I’ve started planning my trip-reading. This will be busy at work, as I’m teaching every day but giving the students off to write Friday, but at least I don’t have afternoon meetings scheduled. I haven’t finished the annual report but I’m waiting on some data from Institutional Research and I’d rather knock that f—ker out sooner than later.
• The boys are in good spirits. Yesterday the neighborhood kids/moms staged a massive water balloon fight. N wants to sign up for Tai Quon Doe (sp?). T stayed over at a friend’s last night. I missed him.
• Yesterday I hit Costcutters and had my hair cut military short. A hair-cutting apprentice did the job. She was friendly but probably shouldn’t have told me she was an apprentice.
That’s it for now. I need a few breaks from work before the fall semester kicks into gear. More later.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
I’m on the front porch, the sun setting, kids more hyper than they should be for a Tuesday night at 8:30. N just kissed me good night and tore upstairs with Ducky. T and S are strewn across the house, reading. If I weren’t so tired I’d consider checking out a late night film. There’s something magical about checking out a movie late on a summer night.
So I started the assessment class yesterday. If there’s any class I can run on cruise control at this point, it’s assessment. There are a few areas on which I could improve (today I thought I could clean up the traditional testing handouts) but I can go in robot-mode with the material and emerge no worse for wear. Still, four hours a morning of pure teaching is exhausting when you haven’t taught in a while. And don’t give me that bullshit that K-12 teachers teach, what, five or six hours a day. Whatever. Anyway, I’ve stayed on the workout schedule since yesterday morning and in fact did a full eighty minutes on the bike in the morning (I think a bird dive-bombed my helmet just south of Belgium) with weights in the afternoon. Normally on weight days I stick to thirty minutes of cardio. This morning I might have blown off the cardio and picked up an hour in the afternoon but I managed thirty on the elliptical than another thirty on the modified stairmaster (I can’t get the regular stairmaster to work) at the Y in the afternoon. In between I taught, refined plans, and sent out stray emails. Before dinner I dropped 150 bucks on Costco (detergent, razors, and Alleve pumped the tape) then sat under a tree at T’s game. I find myself occasionally slipping into a state of mild wonder at the boys’ games. I don’t know why, but the impending sunset and the open field and the reflective sense of solitude (I always sit way off by myself) brings that “holy fuck, I moved to Wisconsin and I live here now. In a small town in Wisconsin. How the fuck did I get here?” feeling. I listened to the new eels and read TC Boyle until the air grew cold and I pulled the car over to where I could watch the game in relative warmth. Tonight, by the way, I’m sleeping upstairs as last night I tried to sleep on the porch but woke at three freezing my ass off.
Ten days to Chautauqua. I’m looking forward to the trip.
I’m not in the mood to read, as I read at the game, but I’m ready to curl up in bed and when I curl up in bed I read. Tonight I’ll sleep. Hope you do too.
So I started the assessment class yesterday. If there’s any class I can run on cruise control at this point, it’s assessment. There are a few areas on which I could improve (today I thought I could clean up the traditional testing handouts) but I can go in robot-mode with the material and emerge no worse for wear. Still, four hours a morning of pure teaching is exhausting when you haven’t taught in a while. And don’t give me that bullshit that K-12 teachers teach, what, five or six hours a day. Whatever. Anyway, I’ve stayed on the workout schedule since yesterday morning and in fact did a full eighty minutes on the bike in the morning (I think a bird dive-bombed my helmet just south of Belgium) with weights in the afternoon. Normally on weight days I stick to thirty minutes of cardio. This morning I might have blown off the cardio and picked up an hour in the afternoon but I managed thirty on the elliptical than another thirty on the modified stairmaster (I can’t get the regular stairmaster to work) at the Y in the afternoon. In between I taught, refined plans, and sent out stray emails. Before dinner I dropped 150 bucks on Costco (detergent, razors, and Alleve pumped the tape) then sat under a tree at T’s game. I find myself occasionally slipping into a state of mild wonder at the boys’ games. I don’t know why, but the impending sunset and the open field and the reflective sense of solitude (I always sit way off by myself) brings that “holy fuck, I moved to Wisconsin and I live here now. In a small town in Wisconsin. How the fuck did I get here?” feeling. I listened to the new eels and read TC Boyle until the air grew cold and I pulled the car over to where I could watch the game in relative warmth. Tonight, by the way, I’m sleeping upstairs as last night I tried to sleep on the porch but woke at three freezing my ass off.
Ten days to Chautauqua. I’m looking forward to the trip.
I’m not in the mood to read, as I read at the game, but I’m ready to curl up in bed and when I curl up in bed I read. Tonight I’ll sleep. Hope you do too.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Good afternoon. I’m restless but I’m avoiding working out. If I succeed this will be the first time I’ve skipped two days in a row since, man, I can’t remember. When was I sick this spring? March? Early April? Something like that. I ran into a couple nonstandard days on the SD trip but I still ran, hiked, etc. I’m skipping the workout because of yesterday’s illness and the creeping sense that I’m pushing too hard. Perhaps tomorrow morning, when I get on my bike, I’ll feel a renewed sense of energy and carry it through the next two weeks of teaching.
So last night I didn’t feel pain as much as exhaustion. I went on a massive Hidden Camera tear, finishing the last ninety pages between noon and seven. The book was ok but I read with a desire to finish more than an attraction to the novel. I ended the book in the boys’ room. My God, N’s bed is comfortable. I had no idea. Anyway, once I was done I moved downstairs, turned off the lights, and settled onto the couch for television and exhaustion. About ten minutes later some friends rang the doorbell. Apparently M had invited them over for the fireworks. Oh well. I stayed on the couch and chatted until they went into the backyard with M to supervise the sparkler distribution. A more socially aware man would have put in the effort to follow but my socially disabled ass stayed on the couch and watched a “Wipeout” rerun. Later I fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake until 6:00AM. Yay sleep. N woke a bit later. He and I went on our traditional Sunday morning donut run before anyone else woke. By 8:00AM the kids were bored so I hauled them north to Harrington Beach State Park. The forest was cool and dark and we saw two deer within five minutes of our arrival. T and S practiced stone skipping on the beach while N and I explored the path. We didn’t stay long, maybe an hour, before returning home. I spent most of the afternoon perfecting a South Dakota photo book on Kodak gallery, downloading music onto the mp3 player, and otherwise getting my head ready before two weeks of teaching. I feel like a slug for avoiding working out, but I look ok and I feel better for the rest. Hope I sleep tonight. Have a lovely Sunday evening. Keep your head clear.
So last night I didn’t feel pain as much as exhaustion. I went on a massive Hidden Camera tear, finishing the last ninety pages between noon and seven. The book was ok but I read with a desire to finish more than an attraction to the novel. I ended the book in the boys’ room. My God, N’s bed is comfortable. I had no idea. Anyway, once I was done I moved downstairs, turned off the lights, and settled onto the couch for television and exhaustion. About ten minutes later some friends rang the doorbell. Apparently M had invited them over for the fireworks. Oh well. I stayed on the couch and chatted until they went into the backyard with M to supervise the sparkler distribution. A more socially aware man would have put in the effort to follow but my socially disabled ass stayed on the couch and watched a “Wipeout” rerun. Later I fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake until 6:00AM. Yay sleep. N woke a bit later. He and I went on our traditional Sunday morning donut run before anyone else woke. By 8:00AM the kids were bored so I hauled them north to Harrington Beach State Park. The forest was cool and dark and we saw two deer within five minutes of our arrival. T and S practiced stone skipping on the beach while N and I explored the path. We didn’t stay long, maybe an hour, before returning home. I spent most of the afternoon perfecting a South Dakota photo book on Kodak gallery, downloading music onto the mp3 player, and otherwise getting my head ready before two weeks of teaching. I feel like a slug for avoiding working out, but I look ok and I feel better for the rest. Hope I sleep tonight. Have a lovely Sunday evening. Keep your head clear.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Happy Fourth of July. Why do I get sick every holiday weekend?
Last night I had three beers and some pizza. I figured I earned some shitty food after working out so intensely over the past six weeks. You know, moderation and all that. So, and I’m unsure if the condition was connection to beer and/or pizza, but I woke at one or so with the worst stomach pains imaginable. I showered, took drugs, etc. and finally fell back asleep near four. You know when you’re too sick to do much but recline in bed and wish you were dead? That’s how I felt between one and four. And more than my stomach hurt. Allergies attacked my head and my left wrist felt numb. I have no idea what the fuck was wrong with me. Oh, I forgot my back. My back hurt terribly, and I could identify exactly where in my lower vertebrae the pain originated. That fucking hurt. I finally fell asleep around four and woke near 10:30. Now, remember, I’m usually up near four, so 10:30 is half of my day. I woke, drank about a gallon of iced tea, ate a little, and settled on the couch. Most of the day passed with the Brewers kicking the hell out of the Cubs and a few detours to the History Channel for Revolutionary War history and CMT for my ongoing study on country music, by far the weirdest type of music I’ve ever encountered. M and the boys were at the parade/town celebration with friends then took in Ice Age 3 with the same group of friends. They’re back now, watching Zooboomafoo. Well, N is watching Zooboomafoo. He’s on the couch next to me. I don’t know where everyone else could be.
I’m grinding my teeth. A poem is emerging. But I can’t remember things. What’s wrong with me? At least today was schedule free day. I hadn’t planned on working out or addressing paperwork. Maybe that’s why I get sick. Maybe I don’t take enough days off. Maybe I push too hard when I’m at the gym and office. I’m good for four or five hours in the latter and then I collapse. As to the former I lift and run even when I’m tired. Maybe my body is trying to tell me something. Maybe this is another dissonance from which I should learn but rarely do.
Good night. The poem involves bats at sunrise and the worst kinds of weightlessness.
Last night I had three beers and some pizza. I figured I earned some shitty food after working out so intensely over the past six weeks. You know, moderation and all that. So, and I’m unsure if the condition was connection to beer and/or pizza, but I woke at one or so with the worst stomach pains imaginable. I showered, took drugs, etc. and finally fell back asleep near four. You know when you’re too sick to do much but recline in bed and wish you were dead? That’s how I felt between one and four. And more than my stomach hurt. Allergies attacked my head and my left wrist felt numb. I have no idea what the fuck was wrong with me. Oh, I forgot my back. My back hurt terribly, and I could identify exactly where in my lower vertebrae the pain originated. That fucking hurt. I finally fell asleep around four and woke near 10:30. Now, remember, I’m usually up near four, so 10:30 is half of my day. I woke, drank about a gallon of iced tea, ate a little, and settled on the couch. Most of the day passed with the Brewers kicking the hell out of the Cubs and a few detours to the History Channel for Revolutionary War history and CMT for my ongoing study on country music, by far the weirdest type of music I’ve ever encountered. M and the boys were at the parade/town celebration with friends then took in Ice Age 3 with the same group of friends. They’re back now, watching Zooboomafoo. Well, N is watching Zooboomafoo. He’s on the couch next to me. I don’t know where everyone else could be.
I’m grinding my teeth. A poem is emerging. But I can’t remember things. What’s wrong with me? At least today was schedule free day. I hadn’t planned on working out or addressing paperwork. Maybe that’s why I get sick. Maybe I don’t take enough days off. Maybe I push too hard when I’m at the gym and office. I’m good for four or five hours in the latter and then I collapse. As to the former I lift and run even when I’m tired. Maybe my body is trying to tell me something. Maybe this is another dissonance from which I should learn but rarely do.
Good night. The poem involves bats at sunrise and the worst kinds of weightlessness.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Thursday night, kids are restless, overcast sky and the air growing cooler. Today was the last day of the work week and tonight feels like a Friday night. The house is a mess but I’m ok with that since we’ll clean tomorrow. The house feels pleasantly messy. I’m sure you know what I mean.
So what happened this week? Let me think. Too many metaphorical fires emerged at work. They were annoying but manageable. I’m feeling somewhat burned out and I’m looking forward to finishing the assessment class in two weeks (starts Monday) and getting out of town.
Week highlights…bullet points:
• Last night N said a contestant on Wipeout was hit in his “babymaker”. Apparently he learned the word at park and rec. At least he has the context correct.
• I’m reading Hidden Camera but not enjoying the book all that much. I can’t entirely blame the author, though, as I’ve read a ton lately and might need time away from literature. I don’t know. This weekend is largely open, so I could probably knock the sucker out with longer stretches on the front porch. Maybe I’ll get in the mood.
• I’m set to play hoops tomorrow for the first time in a couple weeks and the last time in a month. I’ll try not to suck.
• A friend burned me an, ahem, questionable copy of Coraline, but I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet.
• Seth McClung sucks.
• I like getting coffee at work. I like walking through the halls and talking with the student behind the coffee counter, and I like walking back to my office and drinking the coffee. I know almost everyone in the halls and the campus feels like a movie set with an extended camera shot trailing my path.
• We might get a sitter (thanks, Kelvyn) tomorrow night and check out “The Hangover”.
• Tomorrow I want to visit Cedarburg’s farmer’s market and maybe Costco.
• S just asked me if I ever read Moby Dick.
• More later. Good night.
So what happened this week? Let me think. Too many metaphorical fires emerged at work. They were annoying but manageable. I’m feeling somewhat burned out and I’m looking forward to finishing the assessment class in two weeks (starts Monday) and getting out of town.
Week highlights…bullet points:
• Last night N said a contestant on Wipeout was hit in his “babymaker”. Apparently he learned the word at park and rec. At least he has the context correct.
• I’m reading Hidden Camera but not enjoying the book all that much. I can’t entirely blame the author, though, as I’ve read a ton lately and might need time away from literature. I don’t know. This weekend is largely open, so I could probably knock the sucker out with longer stretches on the front porch. Maybe I’ll get in the mood.
• I’m set to play hoops tomorrow for the first time in a couple weeks and the last time in a month. I’ll try not to suck.
• A friend burned me an, ahem, questionable copy of Coraline, but I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet.
• Seth McClung sucks.
• I like getting coffee at work. I like walking through the halls and talking with the student behind the coffee counter, and I like walking back to my office and drinking the coffee. I know almost everyone in the halls and the campus feels like a movie set with an extended camera shot trailing my path.
• We might get a sitter (thanks, Kelvyn) tomorrow night and check out “The Hangover”.
• Tomorrow I want to visit Cedarburg’s farmer’s market and maybe Costco.
• S just asked me if I ever read Moby Dick.
• More later. Good night.
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