The Long and Winding Post (alt. title: Using a mailbag to catch your five readers up on your life for the last three weeks)
Folks, it’s June 14th. You know what that means? Summer vacation is here. It means the updates are coming quickly. Instead of posting separate entries, I’ll just update the mailbag…
Dear Tony,
How was the end of your school year? Did you cry like a baby?
Sincerely,
Teacher Let This Monkey Out a Week Ago
Dear Monkey,
As usual, the end of the school year came much faster than I am ever ready for. We had a terrific time at the picnic, at field day (I still ran faster than the eight year olds, despite being fatter than ever), building a fort in the classorm, and through the last days of school. The kids seemed to love the books I chose for them, and I’ve gotten emails from a couple of them already about how summer is going. There are so many things that go through your head, things you want to say to the kids, but it’s hard because the kids are thinking about summer. This was a terrific group of kids–> I just hope they remember some of the things I tried to teach them this year. In case you’re wondering, here are the three biggest ideas I try to instill on the kids…
1) You have potential…
2)Think deeper!
3) Don’t panic. (they don’t really know about the Hitchiker’s Guide yet.)
You would be surprised how well these ideas apply to most of the classroom activities.
On the other hand, I am enjoying summer, despite the fact that I have to finish moving classrooms sometime this week.
Regards,
~Teacher Tony
Dear Tony,
How’s that fantasy baseball team of yours doing? You still comfortable being in the middle of the pack?
~The Boy of Summer
Dear Boy,
After a VERY shaky start to the year, Canseco’s Disciples have rebounded nicely, and are rounding into form for the mid-year stretch. With Rolen and Mark Loretta on the shelf, it’s been an interesting lack of real offense in the last few weeks, but Bobby Abreu is an amazing fantasy machine. Pitching-wise, my pick ups of Mark Redman and Cliff Lee have been okay, but Roy Halladay is making every-thing gravy. That, and the duo of Isringhausen and Wagner cleaning up make my pitching probably stronger than my offense. Currently, I’m in fourth place, strengthened by the schedule where I play people who haven’t touched their rosters all year. I’m guessing I’ll finish in third or fourth place, unless my offense really starts to pick it up.
In other baseball news, I purchased 5-game pack of Kane County Cougars tickets for my live baseball enjoyment this summer. I’ve been to two games now, and have been really impressed with what my $9 gets me. I brought along the gang the last time– 8 of us went to see the Cougars lose, but we had the Jesse White Tumblers, fireworks, and thousands of children screaming about SpongeBob. Can’t go wrong with that. Great to see all the guys, especially since we played cards afterwards!
~Manager Tony
Dear Tony,
Seen any good musicals lately? Listened to any good music lately? Done anything besides sit on your duff? (No, not Hilary, or Kaylie either, for that matter…)
Scratching an itch that cannot be named,
Nosy Nora.
Dear Nosy,
Why, yes, I have been to the theatre recently. Last Wednesday, McGirr, the Lovely and Engaging Mrs. K., and I travelled to Ford Centre Orienta l Theatre to see Wicked If you enjoy alternate timelines, and prequels/sequels, you will really appreciate this story. I am not a huge fan of the original Wizard of Oz, but this was a beautifully well-written and produced show, complete with outstanding cast and music. Even if you don’t like musicals, you will like this one. The most enjoyable part for me was figuring out how everything ties in to what we know, or what we THINK we know about the land of Oz. Truly spectacular for science fiction/fantasy fans, and a grand production for musical fans. Sorry, even thinking back to it now makes me want to go back, and I don’t even like musicals that much.
We’ve also been watching movies a lot, because, well, it IS summer. I would highly recommend the movie “Crash” which had Don Cheadle in it, as well as many other decent actors. I liked “Flight of the Phoenix” even though it was very poorly written. The L and E Mrs. K. enjoyed “Neverland”, and we both were intrigued by “Kinsey.” Next up: The third season of “Six Feet Under” has arrived, so we will be hunkered down for the next few days (13 episodes to watch)
That’s the entertainment update.
~Plugged in and drooling Tony
Dear Tony,
How about the rest of the summer? What have you got up your sleeve for fun?
Stalker Steve
Dear Stalker,
Well, we’re going to Great America this week, and maybe once a week during the summer (We have renewed our season passes) We also have date days/nights planned for lots of fun.
Concerts the summer include Coldplay and Ben Folds/Rufus Wainwright.
Right after our anniversary (July 6th for those of you playing at home) we’re going to the Smoky Mountains for a three-day cabin “retreat.” To quote Josh, we watch the mountains “in the haaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooot tuuuuuuuuuub!!!!!”
Grad school starts for me on July 11th. Three days a week, five hours a day. Could be worse. I’m looking forward to learning about new theory and applications in litearacy. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be hearing all about it as it starts.
Other ongoing tasks for the summer include: work out and get myself less fat than I am currently. Try and actually be tan this summer. Read as much as I can, watch as many movies as I can, and enjoy life. More than you wanted to know, I’m sure.
~Tony
Other than that, things have been busy. Unfortunately, I had to put on funeral socks for a distant member of V’s family, so we got to discover how scary Bloomington, IN, is *without* the college kids there.
Well, that just about does it for this round of mailbag. Stay tuned for quick anecdotes later in the week that include:
Strawberries and cream (or, how I got crispy in fifteen minutes flat)
The Stupid RC car guy in my apartment complex
How my couch potato-ness almost ended the potato famine.
Thanks for reading. Comment if you want, especially if you made it this far.
RSS Trackback URL 14. June 2005 (13:46)Filed under: General, Sports and Wine, School Daze, Unfortunately Serious, Music and Movies