Tonight was another one of those days that just made me feel a little melancholy. #uhoh Nothing bad, just different. I’d planned on going to the basketball game tonight as it was my new school against my old school. We had basketball practice, so I wouldn’t get to see the junior varsity play, which I didn’t like too much. So, I’m the coach, and you know what, I can be late! So I stopped by the gym as the girls were starting to warm up because I had to tease one of my former players. She was adamant, “I’m not going out for basketball,” and “I hate basketball, why would I play it in high school ..read more

Daily writing prompt Share five things you’re good at. View all responses You know what, it’s a lot harder to think about what you are good at than what you are terrible at. Unfortantly, when I saw this post that’s where my mind went. I know it’s terrible, but it’s been a long couple of weeks. #tellmeaboutit Anyway, 5 things I’m good at: Teacher: I always say that I’m an average teacher on a good day, but I still think I’m good at what I do. My job is to teach, but also to laugh, smile, and make connections. In the end, students don’t remember that good lesson on coordinate planes, but they ..read more

I had nothing today to write about. Thanksgiving was exhausting. I don’t feel like I got much of a “break” because we seemed to be getting ready or in the car. The students returned with A LOT of energy, more so than normal, and matching that energy was tough. We saw many people, but because there were so many people, I didn’t feel like I connected all that well. It was nice to have Thursday and Friday off, but I don’t think I slept in much beyond 6:00 AM. Exercise? What’s that? #ugh This isn’t the “complaining blog” so I’ll stop. As it is, like I said, I had nothing to write about. WordPress ..read more

I’ve backed myself into a corner, again, starting a post in the morning and trying to get done late at night, so here are 5 random thoughts at 10:00 CST. This basketball season has been the toughest for me in a long time. Different attitude, girls don’t know us, and just a general “we suck, so why bother” mindset. The mindset can be changed, we have people in the right spots, but it will take time. I hope I’ll be around when this program gets rolling! “Mister” is a sign of endearment. It took me a while to get used to that. Usually, it’s Mr. J or Coach, or sometimes simply my last name. Now ..read more

The last two games of our season have been probably the most frustrating games I’ve coached in a long, long time. #uhoh I’ve moved districts, just up the road so my drive time is a little longer, but my position is relatively the same. I teach sixth grade and coach jr. high girls basketball, this time with my wife. It’s a unique dynamic between the two of us, being married 29 years, and now working side by side, but gosh darn it it works. Last night, there were girls on the floor that I hadn’t sent in, and I looked down the bench and my wife smiled and waved at me. I was next to the AD from th ..read more

This was a WordPress prompt from a couple weeks back. Go figure. The attention span of a fruit fly! What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in? #interesting I agree. I had this conversation with someone at our school a few days ago. We were talking about coaching and some of the things that we’ve been doing with the girls. She made the statement, “We need you here. This is what our girls need.” #wow I was humbled for sure. However, it got me thinking about the choices I’ve made in life. As I was graduating college, I didn’t know that I’d love to coach as much as I d ..read more

Oh my goodness, I SO want to write about my conference experience, I want to SO BADLY and I’ve only had two. But, in the hopes that I will get over myself, I will just keep that quiet! #SPILLTHETEA Alias, no. I will be a good person and just, in the words of someone much wiser than I, “Be a duck and let everyone roll off my back.” However, ACK!! Along with that, I hope to get back on some kind of writing schedule. This whole “new teacher” thing is utterly exhausting (my wife keeps saying “I told you so”), so I’m not writing as much. That will change. Today’s slice, Owl City. We spent one week ..read more

Hello my fine readers! #hola Look at you, using Spanish now! I had another idea for a slice, but WordPress has come through again, with a prompt asking what three magic genie wishes I’d like to have. #ohgoodie I know! So, what three magic genie wishes would I want? Let’s play that game. Wish #1 Clean our planet and make it sustainable. Our planet is in trouble. Not necessarily from climate change, though I think the weather continues to change because of some of the things we are doing. I feel like our planet is in trouble because we are taking it for granted. Between the plastics in our oce ..read more

I get to write this morning because I left the assessments I need to grade at home. #oops The whole carpooling thing with my wife is a work in progress. It’s been a quarter (how is that possible) and we are still working to leave at a set time. Mostly it’s me because I’m so darn distractable. However, she’s guilty of making us late a couple of times too. Either way, I get some writing time before school. #useitwisely I would, but people keep stopping in to talk! Anyway, two weekends ago, we had the chance to visit our old college stomping grounds in Winona, Minnesota. We spent 5 years there ..read more

Daily writing prompt If you had a million dollars to give away, who would you give it to? View all responses Oh WordPress, you always know how to get people going! This is a week late (at least), but still a good topic to be writing about because what if you come into a large sum of money, what do you do? This conversation always pops up around the time that Powerball hits a huge amount of money. What would you do with a million dollars (which isn’t even that much money)? I’d give a large portion to my two daughters. I’d probably set up some kind of trust that is open to them when they turn ..read more