Sick Days Reluctant

I never take sick days. To me, sick days are for caving in to whatever is making you sick. I'm a fighter and I always try to stick to my regular schedule, even when sick. (Funny, the only thing I cave in on is working out because I don't want to use up my energy).

At any rate, the temperatures last weekend swung over 30 degrees warmer than they have been. What that means for someone with sensitive allergies to mold and other fun elements of nature is an instant sinus infection. I don't handle temperature swings well. So last Thursday, as the temperature broke the dreaded 40 mark, my lungs started to show asthma symptoms. By Friday, my nose got stuffy and my ears started popping like crazy. Now, the later two signs are normal for oncoming chronic sinusitis. But the asthma takes it to a whole new level. One that should mean "book a doctor's appointment!" which I had done a few days earlier just to be safe.

So Friday night I had a fever. It lasted all day Saturday, too (hey, I saved some $$ on heat!). Sunday I caved in and went to Convenient care. Pretty painless, actually, except for the fact that I still had an ongoing asthma attack and they made me wear one of those little face masks which made it doubly hard to breath. Hello people! Asthma symptoms = make it less difficult to breath not more! I told the doc there what I had and he said I was wrong. That I just had a cold and would be better in 7-10 days. I questioned his assessment and despite my pressure he told me I was probably misdiagnosed in the past. Huh. 

On Monday I had a CT scan. It surely proved the diagnoses I knew I had: bad sinus infection. They gave me a few power pills (I'm allergic to regular antibiotics that would normally be given) and I began to fell a little better. Except for the asthma.

And so it was that I took off work on Wednesday. I'm a controller (shocking, I know). I've got most of my semester plotted out and I didn't want to get off course. But I needed a day to try and sleep and crack open my lungs. It was a good decision. On Thursday, I attempted to work all day but was still feeling pretty lungless. At that point, both of my mentors told me I couldn't come in on Friday. And despite the inner turmoil I had all day with myself over that decision, I took Friday off too. Again, a great decision. I slept (Finally!!) and worked on my lungs all day.

Today it's Saturday. I can breath. Air is the most beautiful thing you can't see. I'm still sick but feel like myself. So much so that I want to go do my usual 4 miles. I'm smart enough not to dive in yet. 

I'll get my classes back on track and recover from this bout of sinusitis. It's never fun but I needed to be humbled and experience a few days without the reigns in my hands. The typical me would save those sick days and see if I could carry them over year after year. I'm a saver - in everything. The challenge now is to investigate costs for sinus surgery #2. The last one was not fun. But after this round, I'm prepared for another surgery. I know it's the right move.

See you on the next post. Rested and Recouped.

KB

FInals...Overshadowed

My motivation for this blog is to write about the "big picture" of my experience teaching in Urbana. And as teaching goes, this has been a big week, wrapping up my 1st semester as a full-time teacher with Final Exams. Yet, every day I have come home from work and sat in front of the television watching the horrific scenes of Haiti. So this blog will be dedicated to the people of Haiti, those struggling to help rescue and provide sustenance and the people from around the world contributing funds to help such organizations meet the needs of the poorest country in the West.

I administered a written reflection final for my students for their Cooperative Ed work grade this semester. It was not my original plan, but I think it was a better measure of what students have learned and connected from the classroom to their jobs than a worksite visit would have done. Most students did A's and B's on the reflection exam. I had 2 students who refused to even do the exam, knowing they were going to get an F in the class anyway because they hadn't had a job.

The Cooperative Ed classroom final was decent. The average for both of my classes as well as my Law final exam was a low C. I was hoping students would have done better. They all had the chance to write vocab or other terms on a 1/2 sheet of paper to use on the exam. I gave them a few days to work on those sheets. It is amazing to me that many of them forgot those sheets at home the day of the exams. There seems to be such a little connection to school=future success. I think, based on the reflections I received, that understanding is slowly seeping in. But, boy, there is a long way to go.

I had everything graded by Wednesday. I had my 1st week of documents and lessons completed yesterday. Today there was a staff meeting in the morning and I made some copies and graded a make-up exam. I was really bored and not motivated enough to get 2 weeks ahead. I thank God I am not a procrastinator. Several Math and Business teachers went to lunch together today and just recapped our final results and various other topics. It was a good way to cap off the week.

Through all of this I realize that had I not had the time to develop lesson plans at work this week, I would have struggled to get things done at home. I am so drawn to the images being sent back to us from Haiti. I want to be there. Helping. I want to go there and just help clear streets. Create some form of organization so that supplies can start being distributed.

This country has been devastated by historical events so that there is little chance to escape poverty. Yet, I recall the way New York emerged from the block of the city that was devastated. The way Chicago emerged from the Great Fire of 1871. What has happened in Haiti is so much greater than either of these events. The earthquake damaged an even greater area of land than either tragedy in a country whose infrastructure is no where near the superiority Chicago's was even in the 1870's.

Yet I wonder that with the help of people from Israel, Jordan, Belgium, the U.N. and the U.S. all working side by side as they have for the last 3 days, I can't help but think that this is a chance for Haiti to rebuild. Bigger. Better. And with a better foundation than it has ever had. It is a time for a new government to step up. One that demonstrates leadership and compassion for the people in their country. With hundreds of different aid organizations and thousands of people, they will have a chance to stand stronger than before. To rebuild buildings stronger and more stable should this same tragedy repeat in the next 50 years.

Even in the wake of the tsunami that hit earlier this decade, organization was in place. A government was able to mobilize. There is none of that in Haiti. In Sri Lanka and Indonesia the dead were photographed and tagged for others to identify at a later time. In Haiti, people are being collected off streets and placed in mass graves. There are no photos. No questions being asked if anyone knows who the people were. Lives of people who will never be accounted for or recorded. As a genealogist this is heartbreaking.

I can only hope and pray that some change comes to this small nation. I am thankful that people are still being found alive. That many of the images coming back to us are of people praising God or calling out to God. Faith is strong. I am grateful for people who are there helping and using their bare hands to dig. And I will join thousands of people around the globe praying for this region of the world. I hope it convinces more of us to move and live outside of our comfort zone, thankful for every thing and every minute we have.

It's a 3-day weekend. Let's hope lights are shining brighter when I next write.
KB

Closing Out the Year

About 2 weeks ago, in a building located in our nation's capital, I officially went into the record books as being scottish. The headquarters of the DAR (Daughter's of the American Revolution) approved my application to become a member, after several years of hunting down records connecting me with my Scottish immigrant ancestor, Daniel Bartholomew who arrived in America on the fateful day of July 4, 1776.

Becoming a member of this honored society has been a goal for many years and is just one of the many things I am able to celebrate this year. I've got quite a list, as you'll see below.  I don't know why I'm obsessed with my ancestry (Scottish, Italian, English, Germany, Irish & Welsh) but for me, it forms not only who I am but my link with history and all of its discoveries and stories. So each December 31st as people put together their list of resolutions, I prefer to look back at all the good things that have happened over the year. My stories. My history. The resolutions are something I think should be dealt with each day, not just at the dawn of a new year.

And so, if you feel so inclined, my list of celebrations. My little history of 2009 is below. Enjoy.

(In no particular order)

1. Getting a full-time teaching job at Urbana High School

2. Becoming a member of the DAR

3. Adding another year of swing dancing to my dance card

4. Reconnecting with old friends through facebook

5. The birth of another baby amongst my friends

6. Working at Wrigley Field for Rascal Flatts & Billy Joel/Elton John

7. Working for 2 days in the rain for O.A.R. who thanked me with gift cards

8. Moving to Urbana

9. Attending Summerfest in Milwaukee after a 2 year absence

10. Playing beach volleyball

11. Watching Wellspring, my small group, expand and grow

12. Watching my new favorite TV show, Psych

13. Reading Echo in the Bone which finally was released only to be left with more cliffhangers!

14. Participating in Lyrics for Life day in September

15. Participating in the Chicago Olympic Bid process

16. Seeing the Leon's back up from Peru for a few weeks

17. Discovering the music of Snow Patrol & Tyrone Wells

18. Singing in the staff performance at the Winter Assembly in Urbana

19. Many, many nights at Fizz & Summer Dance

20. Watching Park Community Church truly work hard to transform Chicago & its Family

21. Becoming a true WXRT fan

22. Learning the Shim Sham

23. Begin writing as a pen-pal with a distant family member in Italy

24. Watching the final season of BBC's Robin Hood

25. Plenty of time spent with girlfriends

26. Developing new friendships in Urbana

27. Seeing Public Enemies after having watched it being filmed in Chicago

28. Movie/Game nights on Chicago Ave at the crooked apartment

29. Discovering I can become an Italian citizen

30. Being invited to a private swing lesson with Tom, a fellow dancer

31. Finding the Champaign swing scene, despite it being nothing like Chicago's scene

32. A weekend in Michigan with friends before moving

33. Visits by Sarah, Amy & Kathryn to see me in Champaign!

There are plenty more I could add, but that's as long of a list as I'd like to make.

Tomorrow marks the new dawn of a new day. A new year. A new decade. Use it as motivation to do good, be good and share some good with everyone around you! Make your own history. 

KB

Hiatus

School is out! At least for 2009. And it's been a good 1st semester. We've got 2 weeks left of it when the new year ushers us all back through those doors but for now, I get to take a break from writing about school and share some stories from the northern lands (okay, really just Chicago).

I began my vacation with a night seeing Sister Hazel at House of Blues, my usual concert this time of year. They ALWAYS put on a good show and this was no exception. I brought along two Hazel newbies, my friend Laura whom I have known almost forever and Kathryn, whom I have known for a few years through swing dancing. I picked up Laura on my way up to the city. Had a brief play date with her kids (my nephew and niece) and Todd, another long-time friend before celebrating a brief Hanukkah candle lighting ceremony and then driving the rest of the way to Chitown.

Kathryn met us at HOB, reserving a seat in the restaurant for dinner so that we can "pass the line" when doors opened. I had panicked all week that we wouldn't be able to do this fantastic little feature but she was seated at 5:45 and told the staff we wouldn't arrive till 6:15 (which was a pretty rough estimate). They didn't bat an eye and we showed up at Marina City at 6:15 on the nose despite some traffic on Lake Shore. 

The show as always was genuine, rocking and fun. At one point, Drew pulled out $100 a bought drinks for the crowd. We secured one such drink and kept rocking out. The unique thing about their audience compared to most bands is that the crowd is pretty much split 50/50 men and women. It would be a dream to meet my guy at a Hazel show but I'm not sure what fate has in the cards in that department. It is quite funny to see guys singing full bore on rock songs AND the ballads. Love it.

Last night was a gathering of Chicago runners. For those unfamiliar with what a runner is (and I don't mean the athletic kind) we are the folks who basically keep a concert running. We get anything that might be needed for artist and crew (from groceries to truck parts to cigarettes) and drive artist & crew to hotels, the apple store and any other location you can imagine. Next time you are in Chicago or near Assembly Hall in Champaign and see a white, 15-passenger van go by, you may wonder if it is a runner going by with precious cargo. 

Anyway, the runners did their 2nd Annual bowling night. The gathering was a bit smaller than last year but no less fun. There were plenty of stories to go around. Some good. Some less so. artists from all walks of life. People from every facet of the business. Even dirt on each other. There is talk that a yearbook will be created next year. Now THAT will be something to see.

Tonight I am going out dancing. Swing style. It is the 9th annual Christmas Swing, Trivia & Ugly Sweater contest at Fizz, Chicago's premier swing locale on Monday nights. It has been 8 weeks since I have swing danced (Halloween was the last time). Hopefully I still have it. Before that commences though, there is bowling fun to be had with my high school friends. I don't think any of us has bowled in a long time, except my foray last night. With these friends though, it doesn't matter how the bowling goes, its the conversation and togetherness that makes it so special.

Well, I'm off to my adventures. I'll have more hiatus fun when the next blog hits the press. Happy Holidays. May your days be merry and bright. 

KB

Life Got In the Way

Back in 2002 two of my favorite songwriters teamed up to to write a song called Life Got in the Way. (Ken Block & Richard Marx). The song describes how life gets in the way of plans you have for your life from time to time. 

I've had some time to be reflective and introspective the last 2 weeks and can honestly say, life got in the way. I had a lot of plans to get ahead in planning school lessons, getting my evaluation binders back together and getting my finals and review guides ready for January. 

On the Monday before Thanksgiving I found out my Grandmother was approaching her final few days on this side of Heaven. It was at once both a tough phone call to receive and one that was a bit of a stress reliever. Gram has been a victim of alzheimers for the last 3 years. 2 years ago we moved her up from Florida in order to have her n

earer to family members. In that time, my immediate family has spent many a day traveling the hour or so west of Chicago where she was being cared for. This past June was among my last times seeing her. She didn't recognize me or know my name. It was her 90th birthday. While sad, I was nonetheless (great word) happy to share that day with her, her sister and my Mother.

On Wednesday morning on my drive to work I found out Gram had passed away. I knew it was coming, but knowing still doesn't prepare your heart for the floodgates of emotions that surge through you when reality hits. With that one phone call I not only felt much stress depart, at wondering when her passing would happen but also the stress of realizing I wasn't going to be able to do much in the way of planning during what was supposed to be "Thanksgiving Break."

So I sat at our new teacher meeting tonight and frustration that I've felt since coming back from "Break" boiled over,  although its source eluded me until later this evening. Our evaluations are happening now and mine is on Friday. We need to submit our daily lesson plans to our evaluators (mine is the principal). I thought I was bothered by the fact that I technically have 4 preps and had WAY more to submit for evaluation than many other folks. In reality, I think my frustration stems more from the fact that I haven't had a real 2+days off yet since mid-November. I'm still playing catch up with lesson planning. I'm worried about getting review guides done next week. I've got a penchant for being ahead on planning not to-date on planning and it is just plain stressing me out!

Now, only a select few people know all this has happened over the last few weeks. I don't want the world to pity me. It truly is a blessing that Gram has passed as peacefully as she did and that her battle is now finished. There were a lot of folks up There that were calling her home and that thought alone is beautiful.

I think I won't finally be at peace with it all until she is buried, which is sometime in the next few days. In the meantime, I'm going to agree with Ken & Richard and acknowledge that life gets in the way. But it is up to me to push through those roadblocks and trudge forward. I'm a glass 1/2 full person and I need to stop seeing the glass as 1/2 empty in my mind. The good news right now? All these lessons and binders and worksheets that are in my notebook will be done for all of time, minus any tweaking I do down the road.

Now that is some advanced planning....

KB

(This post is dedicated to Gram. Love you always.)

Rookie Mistakes

I made my first big rookie mistake today. It was one of those sounds-great-at-the-time things that ended up probably being more work for me than my students.

On Friday, I gave all 3 of my classes review sheets with the repeated phrase, quiz on Monday. Now, I always give out a review sheet the day before the test and unless I specifically put in their calendar that there is a 2 day study period, it is just a 1 day deal.

My Coop kids walked in and did pretty well on theirs in both classes. My law students...well not so much. Most of them thought the quiz was Tuesday (uh, hello??? Said it several times that quiz was Monday!) Where the mistake you ask? My brain fired up and my mouth responded before I had time to process what my brain was concocting. Here is how it went.

ME: How many people would like one more review day?

STUDENTS: 90% raise hands.

ME: Here's the deal. If you want to take the quiz today, you may take it. If you wait until tomorrow, it will be a much harder quiz. How many of you want to wait till tomorrow? 

STUDENTS: 80% raise their hands.

ME: Okay. How many people want to take the easier quiz today? If you do, please move to the front of the room. Those of you waiting until tomorrow pull out your study guides and move to the back of the classroom.

STUDENTS: 6 students move to the front of the room.

Did you catch it? Yeah, that was more work I created for myself. Fantastic KB! You've cleared your plate for the rest of the week except for grading quizzes, review guides and timesheets and you create MORE work for yourself! Geez!

Now, some of those kids did get 100% on the quiz. Some got D's. I am offering those folks who stepped up a chance at a retake of the quiz tomorrow if they did not like their grade. It's only fair after all. The new quizzes are all typed and copied for tomorrow. An extra 12 questions and 2-3 extra credit instead of 5. (The extra credit consists of terms from earlier in the year to start "reviewing" for the final in January).

The plus side of this scenario is that now I don't have to figure out what video to show on Wednesday. Sweet! The other plus is that I've got the unit on Renting nearly finished for when we come back from break. All I have to do is write the review guide and choose quiz questions. 

I think I may do a review game for the next chapter and make them do the review guide for homework. Force them to study (or copy) answers from their books and notes. I think my game of choice may be good for them. There is only 1 way to find out...

I'm once again off to sleep. What a long day. Teaching. Meeting. Workout. Long phone calls. At least it is Thanksgiving week. And I am thankful for a 4 day weekend!

G'nite y'all.

KB

The Importance of Making Others Important

I realized tonight the great responsibility teachers have. I'm not talking about what we do every day in the classroom. I'm talking about the stuff we do outside the classroom.

This week alone (and it's only Tuesday) I've done some things that I'm beginning to realize are extraordinary in this town. 

For example, I just got home from the 1st Orchestra concert of the year. I have 3 students in orchestra, 2 in Law and 1 in Coop. The three of them represent a variety of learning styles and aptitudes. That's the beautiful thing about music. At any rate, I went to the concert tonight. What I was expecting was a packed auditorium, just like it was when I was in high school or at Sandburg & Hinsdale Central. But here, there was a sprinkling of parents. I didn't see a single person I recognized, including teachers. My heart fell when I entered that room. 

What Urbana is lacking in a major way is support of its students. There are probably 60-80 students in orchestra. There were probably 25 pairs of people there. Really? Even parents don't display support of their children. I understand that many of them may be at work, as this is a working class town, but I have the feeling that many of them just needed a break or had other children to be with. What of the rest of the community? 

This is where my marketing brain fires up. Did they put posters around the community? Was there even a way for the folks detached from the high school to know this was going on? The orchestra teacher is very talented. She definitely showed compassion for her students. I think she talked to them as though they were still in the classroom though. She told them to be quiet. She told them to clean up the stage. She told them how to get on and off the stage "as we practiced." If teachers are the role models and this was a big event, the students need to see us outside of the room we sit in every day and how to role model behavior that demonstrates that in public, in a different forum, things proceed differently. She treated them like they were in the classroom so I think some of them acted like they were in the classroom. After all, many of their parents were not there so who else would keep them in check?

The other thing I did was yesterday. I have 3 students still looking for jobs. I walked the entire mall last night (1.5 hours) and got every job application I could get and inquired to see who was hiring and who had completed the search for holiday workers. (I did skip the maternity stores and jewelry stores). I told both classes of my findings. It was up to them to peek at the applications, tell me which ones they may want to copy and turn in (to the store) or to come see me in my office to get a copy. One of the 3 took up the offer. Another didn't budge. The third was absent for the 5th day in a row. I've also arranged a large number of volunteer hours so that students can get volunteer extra credit (It is work after all). They of course don't see the fact that I'm going to spending HOURS at these locations doing gift wrap or that they are only signing up for an hour or two. Even the ones who desperately need hours aren't signing up (except my one student who took an application). I'm going to have to make it mandatory for the other 2. 

I think one of my goals is going to have to push for greater parent and community involvement in what I do. Or what my students do. It is just so sad to walk into a building where artists, athletes and other talent is being displayed to a little, tiny audience. Time shall have to tell....

For now, I've taken the night 'off' and have just 6 more items to complete before Thanksgiving Break. Then it's DVD time. More on that at a later date.

Stay dry folks! I'm heading to sleep....

KB