Here we are to Saturday! Spring Break is nearly over, and I have a few minutes to write something short, maybe.
I am "benefitting" from the most talked about subject in Arkansas....the weather. We have had rain nearly every day this week. Fortunately, it has waited till evening nearly every day. Today has been cold and windy, and it started sleeting this afternoon. I am glad I had some time this morning to put some fresh chicken in the freezer. That's an outside chore, of course. I have already written about my woodsman activities of the first couple of days. Then I got to spend the next 2 1/2 days cursing the government "brains" who decided that changing broadcast signals from analog to all digital was a good idea.
Now, for those of you who live in major population centers, or even within 30-40 miles of one, the following will be hard for you to fathom. Anyone who lives out in the sticks, you probably understand my grief.
In major towns, and "suburbs", it is probably hard to imagine people not having a choice between broadcast "freewaves", cable, satellite, or any of the internet options that allow perfect signals at lightning speeds, with practically no limits to capacity.
I have watched satellite dishes crop up around us like mushrooms after an Arkansas rain, and I have listened to neighbors and relatives complain about how frequently signals are lost due to weather, wind, or stray blowing leaves. To say nothing of the monthly fees just to be hooked up.
Cable is not an option. I am unaware of anyone close to us who has cable, because the closest town with cable access is 15 miles away, and not enough people here to make it worth it for the cable co. to run line all this way. No one wants to be the first to pay for the cable run, and even if we ALL got together, it would make the hook-up pretty pricey.
Internet has the same issues, of course. Many of our friends have added separate phone lines for internet, so as to "speed up" their access, but nothing like what many of you experience.
Now TV! Our digital signal.... after spending 2 days installing the longest range antenna available, running individual cables to each of 2 TV's, so as to not degrade the signal by splitting it, and even adding a signal amplifier.......tops out at 21 on the converter box's meter. And that's when there is no wind or rain. Clouds, wind, etc. have dropped it down to 15-16.
Our problem is terrain, and distance, according to the websites set up to help with the digital switch. We live about 75-80 miles (as the crow flies), from our major broadcasters in Little Rock. We live in hilly terrain, and the issue of direction causes problems. Digital requires a direct line of reception, whereas analog was much more forgiving. We can't point the antenna straight at the broadcasters. (Trust me, I know how to use a compass, and have tried using the compass settings given by the broadcasters, to improve signal reception.) It hasn't helped boost signal strength at all.
I guess we will just have to live with signals going in and out. We can hope that channel 4 comes in strong enough to watch once in awhile, because the kids and I really like "Heroes". I can also hope that in June, when all channels make the switch, that their increased signal strength will benefit us.
Perfect example of government ignoring the people in rural America. I have been reading up on this issue, and there are going to be regions in this country where people will no longer have access to TV signals once the "Big Switch" is final. I guess we will make do. Books can be far more interesting. The nice weather maps and reports will be missed, but we can always read about the tornado that wiped out Drasco, in the next day's newspaper, right?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
I thought I should try and write something before this entire week gets away from me. We are currently on Spring Break. "We" being everyone except for Justin. Justin and the Lyon College crowd had their spring break 2 weeks ago.
The fact that I am sitting here at 10:45 pm, on Wednesday Mar 25, should give some indication of "free" time. It has not been slow this week, that much is for sure.
The weekend was almost typical, the only significant change being a talent show that we put on for the Batesville Branch. It was so much fun. We had 35 people turn out (really good, when you think we have 45 on a typical sunday). There is such diverse talent in our Branch. We had some music, including our 3 youngest. Justin had to work, and Elizabeth was at a Priest/Laurel activity in Conway. Ian, Ben and Kaylee sang "love is Spoken Here", which is one of my favorite Primary songs. Michelle had been sick, and felt like staying home. I was having sore throat issues, and could barely carry a tune in a bucket. I felt bad about not being able to participate.
We also had some poetry readings (original works), and a stand-up comedy routine. Other talents were displayed, such as quilts, paintings, crafts, etc. desserts were great, and everyone seemed to have a really good time.
Sunday was typical. Start at 6:15-6:30 in the chicken houses, so that we could race the clock and try to be showered and out the door by 8:25 to make my PEC meeting. Ian has to come with me, because he has been assigned to make the weekly bulletin. Leonard Powers (mentioned in an earlier post), is still back and forth between the nursing home and the hospital. He is currently in the hospital, but seems to be doing okay, with Pneumonia the significant concern. Church responsibilities last until about 2:30 or so, and then I come home, deal with chickens, help with dinner and what-not. We typically get to read, or just visit, so Sunday evenings are not too bad, most weeks.
Monday and Tuesday were days that were supposed to be pretty, and WOW, was it true, or what? I always have to factor in Chicken houses, of course. We typically start our walks around 8 am on "holidays". The job takes 3 of us about 1 1/2 hrs. we have been leaving Michelle at home, since she is still fighting some respiratory issues from whatever cold took her down last week.
After we finish walking through the houses, inspecting birds, picking up those that died the night before, and dealing with any maintenance concerns, we go home, get cleaned up, and have breakfast.
Then we deal with other chores for the day. Monday involved some hauling. One House has a wet spot, water seeping in under the foundation, into a low spot. No "shiny" surface water, but it turns the litter to a jello like firmness that will just hold chickens, but a human may go knee deep. It required one tractor load of clean litter to firm up the ground to make it cleaner and drier for these birds. Not too troublesome, rice hulls are really light. Kaylee can carry a 5 gallon bucket of them, with no problem.
Then, our next chore! An ongoing challenge, maybe for the next 2 years, really! The ice storm back in Jan/Feb left so many trees down, or damaged, and we have relatives that can't really take care of it themselves. Michelle's Aunt Betty is one. This is Bob's sister-in-law. She and Bob's sister Robbie live just up from old House #1. They had several big trees either fall over, or lose some really large branches. All over the yard. They were fortunate, as were many of us, that things did not end up on houses or cars.
We had planned to help Bob get these trees cut up and moved. I had been working on our own yard, as time would permit, but Bob's old chainsaw was becoming troublesome. I could clean the carbeurator (sp?), and keep things well tuned, and it was still so slow that a 4 inch limb would take over a minute to cut. (New chain, for any who might wonder if the teeth were dull.) Bob decided it was time for a replacement.
Thank Heaven! He bought a nice saw, and man! That thing screams!! We worked on an old "sweet gum" that had fallen in Betty's yard. The trunk was about 2 feet in diameter, and that new saw would rip through that in about the 1 minute it had been taking to cut 4 inches!!! I was sooooo glad!! We got that gum cleared out, and yanked several large branches out of the big oak in front of Robbie's place. Branches about 9-10 inches in diameter qualify as big, don't they?
We filled the old red truck with firewood lengths, and took them home to spend the rest of the evening splitting and stacking. Oak is great! Hickory is nice. Don't usually mess with pine for firewood. Maple, and other hardwoods, so easy to split! Axe, wedge, or 6 lbs. splitting maul, they all make pretty short work of these "nice" hardwoods. Get a good "check", and one or two more hits gives a nice stright split.
Only had 4 wheelbarrows of that stuff. All the other was "sweet gum". Maybe oldtimers would tell me I'm nuts for even trying it. We split all the gum we brought to the house!! Every length, the wedge had to be pounded through the ENTIRE piece, and sometimes requires help from the maul to make the final split.
And what weird directions that wedge would travel!! I had one turn nearly sideways on a single stroke, even though the wood appeared to be perfectly even in color, and density! What a workout!! Good thing I have children who enjoy working outside, (most of the time).
I am going to set this aside for now. It is past 11:30. Interruptions have slowed me down. Phone calls kick me off line, and one of Michelle's clients, who calls pretty late some nights, has called 3 different times. Tired, going to bed now!
The fact that I am sitting here at 10:45 pm, on Wednesday Mar 25, should give some indication of "free" time. It has not been slow this week, that much is for sure.
The weekend was almost typical, the only significant change being a talent show that we put on for the Batesville Branch. It was so much fun. We had 35 people turn out (really good, when you think we have 45 on a typical sunday). There is such diverse talent in our Branch. We had some music, including our 3 youngest. Justin had to work, and Elizabeth was at a Priest/Laurel activity in Conway. Ian, Ben and Kaylee sang "love is Spoken Here", which is one of my favorite Primary songs. Michelle had been sick, and felt like staying home. I was having sore throat issues, and could barely carry a tune in a bucket. I felt bad about not being able to participate.
We also had some poetry readings (original works), and a stand-up comedy routine. Other talents were displayed, such as quilts, paintings, crafts, etc. desserts were great, and everyone seemed to have a really good time.
Sunday was typical. Start at 6:15-6:30 in the chicken houses, so that we could race the clock and try to be showered and out the door by 8:25 to make my PEC meeting. Ian has to come with me, because he has been assigned to make the weekly bulletin. Leonard Powers (mentioned in an earlier post), is still back and forth between the nursing home and the hospital. He is currently in the hospital, but seems to be doing okay, with Pneumonia the significant concern. Church responsibilities last until about 2:30 or so, and then I come home, deal with chickens, help with dinner and what-not. We typically get to read, or just visit, so Sunday evenings are not too bad, most weeks.
Monday and Tuesday were days that were supposed to be pretty, and WOW, was it true, or what? I always have to factor in Chicken houses, of course. We typically start our walks around 8 am on "holidays". The job takes 3 of us about 1 1/2 hrs. we have been leaving Michelle at home, since she is still fighting some respiratory issues from whatever cold took her down last week.
After we finish walking through the houses, inspecting birds, picking up those that died the night before, and dealing with any maintenance concerns, we go home, get cleaned up, and have breakfast.
Then we deal with other chores for the day. Monday involved some hauling. One House has a wet spot, water seeping in under the foundation, into a low spot. No "shiny" surface water, but it turns the litter to a jello like firmness that will just hold chickens, but a human may go knee deep. It required one tractor load of clean litter to firm up the ground to make it cleaner and drier for these birds. Not too troublesome, rice hulls are really light. Kaylee can carry a 5 gallon bucket of them, with no problem.
Then, our next chore! An ongoing challenge, maybe for the next 2 years, really! The ice storm back in Jan/Feb left so many trees down, or damaged, and we have relatives that can't really take care of it themselves. Michelle's Aunt Betty is one. This is Bob's sister-in-law. She and Bob's sister Robbie live just up from old House #1. They had several big trees either fall over, or lose some really large branches. All over the yard. They were fortunate, as were many of us, that things did not end up on houses or cars.
We had planned to help Bob get these trees cut up and moved. I had been working on our own yard, as time would permit, but Bob's old chainsaw was becoming troublesome. I could clean the carbeurator (sp?), and keep things well tuned, and it was still so slow that a 4 inch limb would take over a minute to cut. (New chain, for any who might wonder if the teeth were dull.) Bob decided it was time for a replacement.
Thank Heaven! He bought a nice saw, and man! That thing screams!! We worked on an old "sweet gum" that had fallen in Betty's yard. The trunk was about 2 feet in diameter, and that new saw would rip through that in about the 1 minute it had been taking to cut 4 inches!!! I was sooooo glad!! We got that gum cleared out, and yanked several large branches out of the big oak in front of Robbie's place. Branches about 9-10 inches in diameter qualify as big, don't they?
We filled the old red truck with firewood lengths, and took them home to spend the rest of the evening splitting and stacking. Oak is great! Hickory is nice. Don't usually mess with pine for firewood. Maple, and other hardwoods, so easy to split! Axe, wedge, or 6 lbs. splitting maul, they all make pretty short work of these "nice" hardwoods. Get a good "check", and one or two more hits gives a nice stright split.
Only had 4 wheelbarrows of that stuff. All the other was "sweet gum". Maybe oldtimers would tell me I'm nuts for even trying it. We split all the gum we brought to the house!! Every length, the wedge had to be pounded through the ENTIRE piece, and sometimes requires help from the maul to make the final split.
And what weird directions that wedge would travel!! I had one turn nearly sideways on a single stroke, even though the wood appeared to be perfectly even in color, and density! What a workout!! Good thing I have children who enjoy working outside, (most of the time).
I am going to set this aside for now. It is past 11:30. Interruptions have slowed me down. Phone calls kick me off line, and one of Michelle's clients, who calls pretty late some nights, has called 3 different times. Tired, going to bed now!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Gum Wars, revisited
I fully intend to be "short-winded" today, but we'll see how that goes once I get rolling.
By the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day, and here's an Irish blessing I heard on the radio today. "May your days be happy and your life be long, for there are few angels on earth, and Heaven is overflowing."
I felt I should give a follow up to my little lesson in history and sociology of the past few weeks. I will also let you in on a little secret regarding the level of intent. I had been contemplating a way to make a lesson out of some of the social issues that lead Germany into Nazi socialism in the last century. I really love the book "The Wave", about the history teacher in America whose exercise in "socialism", ( that is, the power of community, even moving to negative outcomes), went terribly well. And nearly had terrible consequences. My copy is at school, so I will try to remember reference info for another time.
Spring is the time that I typically try to bring some WWII history into my lessons, since several significant anniversaries take place in the next 60 days. When the gum issue arose, I had an opportunity to try something. It is a tactic that parents, teachers and other civic leaders have used, in various degrees of harshness, and with great success, for centuries.
The Gestapo style tactics of community pressure, negative "propaganda", secrecy, intimidation and public embarrassment, etc., were never intended to be nice. They were not concerned about popularity. What worked, worked.
My guilty gum-chewer could not survive the pressure. It was not completely intended to involve others, ( I was hoping the guilty party would just turn himself in), but it did ultimately take some peer pressure.
I was handed a wad of notes by one student, and a sheepish friend, with the comment from the second, "It's all true, it was me."
They had gone back and forth with things like "I'm going going to tell if you don't fess up", "Dude, don't tell, I'll bring you money next week", "I'ts not fair that we all get punished because of your stupidity.", "Man, don't tell, I'll make it up to the class somehow", and so on. 2 Pages, ending in some name calling.
It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
By the way, Happy St. Patrick's Day, and here's an Irish blessing I heard on the radio today. "May your days be happy and your life be long, for there are few angels on earth, and Heaven is overflowing."
I felt I should give a follow up to my little lesson in history and sociology of the past few weeks. I will also let you in on a little secret regarding the level of intent. I had been contemplating a way to make a lesson out of some of the social issues that lead Germany into Nazi socialism in the last century. I really love the book "The Wave", about the history teacher in America whose exercise in "socialism", ( that is, the power of community, even moving to negative outcomes), went terribly well. And nearly had terrible consequences. My copy is at school, so I will try to remember reference info for another time.
Spring is the time that I typically try to bring some WWII history into my lessons, since several significant anniversaries take place in the next 60 days. When the gum issue arose, I had an opportunity to try something. It is a tactic that parents, teachers and other civic leaders have used, in various degrees of harshness, and with great success, for centuries.
The Gestapo style tactics of community pressure, negative "propaganda", secrecy, intimidation and public embarrassment, etc., were never intended to be nice. They were not concerned about popularity. What worked, worked.
My guilty gum-chewer could not survive the pressure. It was not completely intended to involve others, ( I was hoping the guilty party would just turn himself in), but it did ultimately take some peer pressure.
I was handed a wad of notes by one student, and a sheepish friend, with the comment from the second, "It's all true, it was me."
They had gone back and forth with things like "I'm going going to tell if you don't fess up", "Dude, don't tell, I'll bring you money next week", "I'ts not fair that we all get punished because of your stupidity.", "Man, don't tell, I'll make it up to the class somehow", and so on. 2 Pages, ending in some name calling.
It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Herr Wahlquist, the "Gumstapo"
I am not in a happy place right now. I am even in a less happy place in my classroom as of late. Let me explain.
I thoroughly enjoy teaching. It does not pay well enough for me to be doing it, if I did not have a high level of satisfaction in other areas, related to teaching. I find entertainment, challenge and joy in stimulating young minds. Sometimes, we disagree, but it is wonderful to watch students think through something, get creative, and come up with solutions or ideas that are their own. (any either language)
I incorporate a significant level of history, politics (social studies teacher, can't help it!) and hopefully life-skills and values, into my classroom. (I know, in our current culture, the "values" part may get me in trouble, but I stay away from specific religious views, and promote things like honesty, respect, responsibility, etc.)
As to respect, I have taken the stance from my first year teaching, that teenagers should be shown a level of respect and consideration appropriate for young adults. ( on the condition that they act accordingly). This relates specifically to things like chewing gum, water-bottles, and movement in the classroom.
I have tried to be pretty relaxed about chewing gum, because I really don't like wasting time dealing with it. My only conditions have been that I neither see it (bubbles, or open mouth chewing), nor hear it (chomping and slurping), and that there never be evidence it was here, once the chewer has left the room. Well, recently I have had to put on the uniform of the "gum Gestapo", or the "Gumstapo".
For those less familiar, the Gestapo, (German acronym for GEheime STAats POlizei), was Nazi Germany's secret state police, words translated in correct order and form. They were masters of scare tactics, secrecy, intimidation and bullying as means of controlling the population, or hunting down information and other state goals. Even many high ranking officials were nervous when the Gestapo came calling, because they answered only to the highest powers in the Government.
See, history lesson, can't help it. Anyway........
I have had occassion recently to be aggravated. I have been discovering new, if not fresh, wads of gum in places in my room that remove the possibility of "old" or accidental. Therefore I have started some Gumstapo tactics.
I am stopping each student at the door, and having them show me their shoes, to ensure that they aren't "tracking" it in. Like the historical model, public embarrassment was useful. They have to spit out gum before being seated. This hasn't worked completely, because the last 3 days, I found 2 wads that seem to be "maliciously" placed. Escalation!! Next step, enforce policy. Gum is not allowed, so I informed students there would be a discipline write-up if they were caught chewing gum.
In an almost funny first test, I had been chewing out my first period class (pun intended), and had given them the instruction to get rid of any gum, no consequences. I then went on for several minutes about respect, maturity, rules, and such, not to mention the grossness of finding a fresh wad of gum while moving a desk. I looked back to one corner of the room just in time to see a flash of yellow as one girl started talking to her neighbor. Not teeth yellow, certainly not natural mouth color. SHE STILL HAD GUM IN HER MOUTH!!!
Well, what am I supposed to do? Any parent will tell you, if you make the threat of punishment, follow through. So she got a trip to the office, and ended up with 5 days lunch detention for insubordination. I had, after all, given instruction to spit out gum, AND a chance to do so with out penalty.
Then, today, I found a wad stuck to the bottom of a chair leg!!!! Someone wants to play hardball. I guess my next step will be to have the students learn what it is like to live with the Gestapo. You stand at attention near your desk until instructed otherwise, class begins with desks flipped over and inspected. Class ends with desks flipped over and inspected again. "criminals" will be dealt with in the most severe manner. Those who forget to spit out their gum before class will simply be written up.
It sounds like fun, doesn't it? I am wondering just how far my little game will have to go before the obnoxious parties involved get the message. I asked one of my "mentors" if they thought it would be too much to have students flash their pearly whites and say "aaahh" as they enter the room. LOL, they thought it might be an appropriate next step.
I should have started this entry:
Not so long ago, in an Arkansas town far, far away......
I thoroughly enjoy teaching. It does not pay well enough for me to be doing it, if I did not have a high level of satisfaction in other areas, related to teaching. I find entertainment, challenge and joy in stimulating young minds. Sometimes, we disagree, but it is wonderful to watch students think through something, get creative, and come up with solutions or ideas that are their own. (any either language)
I incorporate a significant level of history, politics (social studies teacher, can't help it!) and hopefully life-skills and values, into my classroom. (I know, in our current culture, the "values" part may get me in trouble, but I stay away from specific religious views, and promote things like honesty, respect, responsibility, etc.)
As to respect, I have taken the stance from my first year teaching, that teenagers should be shown a level of respect and consideration appropriate for young adults. ( on the condition that they act accordingly). This relates specifically to things like chewing gum, water-bottles, and movement in the classroom.
I have tried to be pretty relaxed about chewing gum, because I really don't like wasting time dealing with it. My only conditions have been that I neither see it (bubbles, or open mouth chewing), nor hear it (chomping and slurping), and that there never be evidence it was here, once the chewer has left the room. Well, recently I have had to put on the uniform of the "gum Gestapo", or the "Gumstapo".
For those less familiar, the Gestapo, (German acronym for GEheime STAats POlizei), was Nazi Germany's secret state police, words translated in correct order and form. They were masters of scare tactics, secrecy, intimidation and bullying as means of controlling the population, or hunting down information and other state goals. Even many high ranking officials were nervous when the Gestapo came calling, because they answered only to the highest powers in the Government.
See, history lesson, can't help it. Anyway........
I have had occassion recently to be aggravated. I have been discovering new, if not fresh, wads of gum in places in my room that remove the possibility of "old" or accidental. Therefore I have started some Gumstapo tactics.
I am stopping each student at the door, and having them show me their shoes, to ensure that they aren't "tracking" it in. Like the historical model, public embarrassment was useful. They have to spit out gum before being seated. This hasn't worked completely, because the last 3 days, I found 2 wads that seem to be "maliciously" placed. Escalation!! Next step, enforce policy. Gum is not allowed, so I informed students there would be a discipline write-up if they were caught chewing gum.
In an almost funny first test, I had been chewing out my first period class (pun intended), and had given them the instruction to get rid of any gum, no consequences. I then went on for several minutes about respect, maturity, rules, and such, not to mention the grossness of finding a fresh wad of gum while moving a desk. I looked back to one corner of the room just in time to see a flash of yellow as one girl started talking to her neighbor. Not teeth yellow, certainly not natural mouth color. SHE STILL HAD GUM IN HER MOUTH!!!
Well, what am I supposed to do? Any parent will tell you, if you make the threat of punishment, follow through. So she got a trip to the office, and ended up with 5 days lunch detention for insubordination. I had, after all, given instruction to spit out gum, AND a chance to do so with out penalty.
Then, today, I found a wad stuck to the bottom of a chair leg!!!! Someone wants to play hardball. I guess my next step will be to have the students learn what it is like to live with the Gestapo. You stand at attention near your desk until instructed otherwise, class begins with desks flipped over and inspected. Class ends with desks flipped over and inspected again. "criminals" will be dealt with in the most severe manner. Those who forget to spit out their gum before class will simply be written up.
It sounds like fun, doesn't it? I am wondering just how far my little game will have to go before the obnoxious parties involved get the message. I asked one of my "mentors" if they thought it would be too much to have students flash their pearly whites and say "aaahh" as they enter the room. LOL, they thought it might be an appropriate next step.
I should have started this entry:
Not so long ago, in an Arkansas town far, far away......
Gum Wars: Episode 1
The Gooey Menace
The galaxy is in disarray. In an "underhanded" (or "under the table?) move, Rebels have defiled the sanctity of the Galactic Empire's seating arrangements. Empirial officials have dispatched the dreaded "GUMstapo", protectors of the sanity, cleanliness and general well-being of the empire's many peaceful citizens.
Martial Law ensues..........
Okay, I could get carried away with this, and I have made the mistake of portraying myself as the Empire(the bad guys in the movies). You're not supposed to want the rebellious gumchewers to "win". Maybe I should recast them as the notorious Hutts, and figure a re-write.
Stay tuned for reports and updates of latest casulties.
"May the farce be with us all."
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Loving Technology
It has been over a month, but I am still here.
We have had some computer problems, namely a crash. we had to wait for a paycheck to take it in for service (or replace it if needed). Once we got the computer back, we had to download several different installers and drivers, and this is a long slow process.
We have just in the last few days been able to get to our e-mail, but much of the old, saved e-mails are gone. And of course, new e-mails have a tendency to pile up when one is disconnected from the cyber world.
I know it was only around 125-150 over the first few days back online, but it felt like 8000. Michelle may have read and deleted some (probably did), so we had more.
I would love to go on about several different topics that are rattling around in my brain, but I am still adjusting to the time change. It caught me by surprise (??) this morning, after a very late night. Story for another post.
I am going to sign off, and go catch some ZZZZZ's
We have had some computer problems, namely a crash. we had to wait for a paycheck to take it in for service (or replace it if needed). Once we got the computer back, we had to download several different installers and drivers, and this is a long slow process.
We have just in the last few days been able to get to our e-mail, but much of the old, saved e-mails are gone. And of course, new e-mails have a tendency to pile up when one is disconnected from the cyber world.
I know it was only around 125-150 over the first few days back online, but it felt like 8000. Michelle may have read and deleted some (probably did), so we had more.
I would love to go on about several different topics that are rattling around in my brain, but I am still adjusting to the time change. It caught me by surprise (??) this morning, after a very late night. Story for another post.
I am going to sign off, and go catch some ZZZZZ's
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