My email post just got posted...

I just wrote my entry (scroll down a bit) "Sleepless in Seattle". I edit some, and go to check out how it looks and lo and behold, my emailed post shows up. (The very next entry below.) It took, what four hours to get here!?!? Look at how it appears on the blog. The words just randomly skip lines, and don't fill the post field entirely across...and I'm not gonna edit it. Well, thanks for reading and I'll catch you on the other side of the lake. (I made that up, kinda sounds like something a Seattlelite would say, or perhaps see you on the other side of the Sound.)

The Pacific Northwest is da...

bom? bomb? Its very nice. Its almost 9:00 p.m and the sun has not even set.
This is just
a summer phenomena I hear. So in a manner of thinking, it all balances out.
My friend
says that you can by a sun lamp for the long, dark winter days...

I just got back from dinner on Lake Washington, and this morning I went to eat
dim sum.
At church, there was this famous person. And I told my friend, hey that looks
like a
Chinese American tennis player. "He is." OH. It was cool to worship in the
same place.
Didn't say hi, though. Maybe next time.

On Wed, a former President is going to sign books. I think I may try to get a
copy. Now
that would be way too cool.

On the plane, I sat next to a pretty young lady, who was half Indian,
Australian. She said
her Dad was from Fiji, and her "mum" was English but grew up in Australia.
And sure
enough they have to adjust to Washington State's cold weather. I rarely talk
to people on
the plane, but we talked a bit, as my flight to Seattle took two phases. From
Albuquerque
to Oakland, and Oakland to Seattle. I also happened to talk to the person
next to me on
the first phase. That was quite interesting as well. He was a master's
student in EE at
UCLA. She was a history (Soph) at BYU.

Well, its time to get some zzz's, early morning conference all this week. The
bright side, I
get out at 3:30.

Sleepless In Seattle

I emailed myself a post earlier but it didn't go through. I guess that is why I can't sleep. LOL. Seriously, its been pretty warm here, but ironically it feels like winter to me...j/k, I don't think my friends up here have air conditioning, the weather is awefully cool, and I would imagine it just gets colder as the year goes on. Defn. the summers here are wonderful. The sun didn't set till 9:00 p.m. I believe that sunrise is 5:30 a.m. We shall see.

This morning I went to church. We sat in the back to the left, and there was this guy two rows or so in front, and I thought, hey that guy looks like (famous Chinese Christian athlete), and my friend says---it is. It was pretty cool worshipping together, although corporate worship is still pretty much private for me. Like I sort of close my eyes and (try not to fall asleep)...j/k.

So the day was pretty cool. Got to go eat dimsum which I didn't get to do in Washington D.C., nor Dallas, TX. In the evening we went to this grill off Lake Washington.

Oh, and some guy drove up to us, and gave us the upsidedown "horn". Y'know how UT fans do the "Hook'em" with the index and pinky fingers extended to emulate the horns of a bull? The guy was like big time shadowing us, and like waving the upside down horn. What can you do back? Grin, and salute. Hook em Horns. (Ironicallly, I never attended the University. I just wear the burnt orange, stay late, and be loud.) Now why did this guy do this on the freeway by the way. Well you can guess, its cuz my friends have one of those car magnets with the UT symbol emblazoned on their vehicle. My friend just said, it must've been an Aggie.

Soon I'll Be Off To Seattle, Washington

It's only about 10:09 p.m in Seattle, but I'm currently in Dallas, and I've been up since 6:45 a.m. Needless to say, I can surely fall asleep. I am on the last leg of my vacation/conference hopping.

Today was the last day of the Hatton W. Sumners Inst. on the founding documents. We watched the afternoon rains through the tall glass windows in the cafeteria. The school we were in is a band new school on the Southside of Arlington. It was neat. I heard that it didn't rain too much in Big D. Or rather, someone said that it didn't rain. This week I was fortunate enough to get some good Chinese food, with "exotic" Chinese vegetables that I wouldn't normally get, but that are taken for granted in large metroplexes with large Chinese populations. I am thinking about starting a garden! (back in El Paso).

Whoa, time is flying by...

Its going to be Wed. I am in Dallas attending the Hatton W. Sumners Institute on the Founding Documents. The highlight of today's conference was a debate by our professors in full 1776 costume. We had in our midst the pleasure of "Alexander Hamilton" and "Patrick Henry". Presiding was Gov. George Clinton of NY. "We" the teachers were the assemblymen of the colony of New York. We were to vote on the 'new' Constitution that they had written in Philadelphia. Unlike the history we voted thirty something to nine in favor of the Constitution, but back then, NY barely accepted, something like 30-27.

In what will be about 19 hours, I will head down to Pegasus Plaza for a free concert. The headliner: Los Lonely Boys. On Thursday I will head to the museum. And Saturday morning, I fly back to Albuquerque and Sat. evening, I fly out to Seattle. Yikes its about 1:15 a.m. I have to wake up in four hours and drive out to Arlington for my conference!!!

These summer conferences are dubbed "grazing" conferences, because they feed you breakfast, morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snacks everyday! After Seattle: Phoenix. I'll be attending a wedding. And I got word that my nephew (along with his mommy, my sister, and his daddy) is coming to El Paso. He's on the verge of 23 months.

This past Saturday, I attended a birthday party for my friend's one year old. A custom that I was not familiar with, the laying of hands on the cake. Apparently this is the time, or rather the very first time that one feeds cake to a child. Hmmm. Anyhow, my friend's son is very cute. His name is Noah.

Sundays in Dallas

I attended church this morning. Although it was not in a church. My friends are starting a church in Frisco, Texas, and they worship in an elementary school. My friends showed me the land that the church has already purchased. Frisco is a growing community out here in North Texas, near Dallas.

We went to eat at a place called the Lion's Chinese Cafe, but I thought my friends were saying "alliance" cafe. Anyhoo, some pretty good Singaporean cuisine. Items like Coconut Rice, Curry Chicken...good stuff. The curry had coconut milk in it as well. I guess this is a Southeast Asian thing.

And all of a sudden its Sunday afternoon, I took an hour nap, and at the moment am waiting for dinner. But my friend's are having a bible study, and they although the bible study is over, they are discussing other group related items. So I came in here to type away. Afterall, my friend has a very comfortable office chair, and ergonomic keyboard, and a cable modem.

I've never been much of a surfer, I go to the same sites, and do the same stuff: check email, check blog, write on blog, and maybe read the news.

Yesterday, spent the day at another friends house. It was his son's first birthday. I watched the kid put his hands into the cake, and they were all blue. He had frosting all over his mouth...very cute.

Tomorrow morning I make the long journey to Arlington, to attend a workshop on the Constitution.

Founding Documents

So I am up here in Dallas to attend a conference/workshop sponsored by the state bar of Texas on the Founding Documents of the United States. The conference doesn't start till tomorrow, so nothing to report. It did occur to me, that I hope these documents survive for the next couple hundred years. What I mean is: will we abadon these principles? The neat thing is that the Constitution was made to be amended.

I must admit that at times I get a bit of wanderlust, and think about traveling the world. I am coming to grips with the real fact that I do not have the money to do all this traveling. And even relocating can cut into one's budget. Anyhoo, while been up here in Dallas, I've been thinking about my life's direction. A year ago, I envisioned myself heading West, with El Paso being the stopover. Then six months ago, I envisioned EP being my way station. Now I realize that I am a fickle person by nature, and defn. I should pray for God's leading. But y'know that personal preferences sometimes rule the day.

The best part about being a school teacher. I get to talk to kids about their futures, and see them off as they journey into life. There is so much hope. At the school I work at, students are heading off to UT, Boston, Rhode Island, etc. Wow, what an adventure in my mind. Contrast that to lives cut short, and I think about the blessings and the oppurunities one has. I read about a death in Sports Illustrated concerning a 21 year old student athlete who just died for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Two men were arguing and one shot at the other, the bullet richocheted off a wall and struck her in the throat. Tragic.

In about a month and a half, school starts up again for those of us in a year round school. I am so excited for this coming semester...lots to do for my classes, and the High Q (quiz bowl) and Academic Decathlon. This should be an awesome year.

Comfortable Chair = Longer Blogs

So I am sitting here typing away. If you read down, you'll see that I am away from home. The traveling I've done this month: D.C., Albuquerque, and now Dallas. So as I travel, I am thinking about what I will do this coming school year. I've been thinking about my future.

I came back to EP to finish a BA in Christian Studies. Never fathoming that I would find a new teaching job, with a renewed energy/vision for the profession. I've been back a year and I've been wondering, what next? Do I try to get into a "peace corp" type position? Or do I just travel the world as a tourist?

It just occurred to me the whole: "Do not be yoked with unbelievers?" And I'm thinking about this somewhat...more on this another time.

But I want to be a better teacher, so I've been thinking about that. My BA should be through this December. I have like six hours more. At first I was thinking that it would be cool to go on to Seminary...but I'm not so sure now. Money is a factor and of course what do you do with that kind of degree?

Well, I'm outta time. Thx for reading.

Book Thoughts #8

Earlier in the year, for my other blog "Mars Hill Today". I began my attempt at writing a book review a week. Let's see, we are in the sixth month of the year, which multiplied by four would get you...24 book reviews, which I believe thoughts is a more accurate term...ok, so this # 8.

"Hard America, Soft America" by Michael Barone. I finished this in the shadow of the Esquith book. Barone argues that some sectors of society need to become "hard". For example, school in America is soft. But the working world from 18 to ??? is "hard". Yet he points out that without softness we wouldn't have social security. He says that in Europe, youth is "hard" but adulthood is "soft". And this is concerning school and work. Since I am school teacher, I wonder if the softness in American schools is counter productive...Barone says that evidence of the softness of schools and the desire on the part of teens for hardness can be seen in the number of teens entering the workforce. Barone argues that these teens are seeding hardness, and the schools do not offer it. Interesting point. I would say not all schools. Anyhoo, but in general most. I believe American Universities are classified as "hard" but I wonder if "softness" is not creeping in. As a school teacher who happens to teach Pre-Ap at the moment, more hardness is needed all across the board. I found so many other teachers who say that the students are not being prepared, and need basic skill so that will free up space for the AP teacher to focus on content...

I was frustrated by the lack of answers. I guess I was hoping for Barone to layout the solution. I didn't feel he had any solutions but was basically laying it all out, and kind of telling the reader what the options are, and its our choice how we use hardness and softness.

New Moon on Monday and its...

Currently have that Duran Duran song stuck in my head. Where did it come from? I'm not listening to anything, and I've only been surfing the web...

Where in the World is William Woo? (sung to the Carmen Sandiego theme tune). I am in BIG D, Dallas. I recently finished a workshop in Albuquerque (I hoped I spelled that right?) And I am here in Dallas for a conference on the Constitution. (Next week I go to Seattle Washington and interestingly enough the week prior I was in Washington D.C.). I am debating going to ATX, that's Austin y'all, in July. I believe I could squeeze it in to my schedule...hmmm. Because school starts on the 26th, and teachers have to report a week earlier.

I'm "stoked" cuz I can check my email in the comfort of a cozy office chair. At UNM, I had to stand up to use the free access computers. The advantage to that is that you don't spend a great deal of time at email...which can be take up a great deal of your time. Not to mention blogging.

Misspelling Albuquerque

Hmmm, I realized I was misspelling the name of this city on the Rio Grande in North-Central New Mexico. Wow, one more day and then its onto Big D.

Albuerquerque, New Mexico

Its pretty nice here. The Rio Grande is much wider, and the place is just different. I guess its just not being at home that makes things different. Its the hump week, and we have 1.5 days of inservice left. Yikes.

Next on my journey is Dallas, Texas.

I guess cuz this computer terminal is at chest level, and the fact that there are no chairs makes surfing/checking email that much more less desirable. So I will end this post soon. I like to go to conferences, and I think I am learning quite a bit at this one. Now I just have to home and implement it all!

Here is a good post by the KID, Edwin in SF. We are just too consumer oriented for our own good. I'm talking about society here in America. Check out his thoughts.

Long time...

Well, I've been on the road. Last week, I happened to be in Washington D.C. when news got out that the former President passed away. I was in the rotunda just this past Monday. I came home, had to work developing curriculm guides, and now I am currently in the Student Union at the University of New Mexico. Free internet access. YES. I wish I bought my laptop. There are so many places here with wireless access...and there is access in the dorms. Oh well. So I thought I'd email my blog and fwd alink I rec'd in
my email. (edit: but the link got lost...oh well).

(edit #2: Here's the link)

Thanks for reading. More later.