Rowen was not looking forward to his concert tonight and kept trying to talk me out of making him go. In the end, it ended up being both of our favorite concert that he has been in. The combination of the orchestra and the orchestra elementary students’ voices and recorders mad for an evening that was as entertaining for them as it was for the audience.
|
For reasons I do not entirely understand, I love the Millennium Falcon. It was one of my all-time favorite toys to play with in the old Kenner action figure days. I have a Power of the Force version hanging from the ceiling in my office as well as a Transformer version, a Hot Wheels version, and a Micromachines version all sitting on my desk. I do NOT have a LEGO version. I REALLY want a LEGO version.
There is an ultimate LEGO Expert-level Ultimate Millennium Falcon that I occasionally like to drool over. It has over 7,500 pieces, a detailed exterior, multiple interior areas, and two different minifig crews (Episodes V and VII plus a porg from VIII). It is almost three feet long and two feet wide, weighs over twenty pounds, takes a couple dozen hours to build, ... and it costs about $800 dollars! The other day, Facebook showed me an ad with it listed for $95. It listed the piece count and dimensions, but as much as I really wanted it (REALLY, REALLY wanted it), I decided to Google the company offering it. As I suspected, it was a scam company, but not in the way that I thought. It turns out that some international companies are creating LEGO knock-offs and selling them in look-alike packaging. Not being LEGO, they do not hold together well, are of dubious quality, and occasionally get lost altogether enroute. Interestingly, the company I looked up also sells knock-off goods in other markets, such as knock-off designer pants in Europe. After returning to Facebook page with a heavy and disappointed heart, I clicked on the option to report the ad as a scam. I really did (and do) want it to be true. As if to emphasize its falsehood, I found two more nearly identical offers from two completely different companies right in a row as I continued to scan my Facebook feed. It's events like this that really damage my trust. It might seem a little ways away, but I've just completed my travel arrangements for June. As many of you know, I work a week in the summer with a few thousand other world history teachers and college professors, grading the written portions of the AP World History Test. Like last year, they are hosting us in Kansas City, Missouri. Because I would like to hold my granddaughter, I have worked it out so I can visit in Michigan for about five or six days after the Reading is over.
Technically, I'm leaving the night of May 31st and arriving in Kansas City in the afternoon of June 1st. From June 2nd to June 8th, I work from 8 am to 5 pm (with an hour to eat the catered lunch) grading essays. On the 9th, I fly out to Detroit, arriving at about 5pm. At that point, I hope that someone picks me up. I will then be in Michigan until Monday, June 15th, when I need to be back at the Detroit airport by about 7 am to make my flight to Kansas City where I will then connect with my Reading-provided flights back home, arriving back in Kenai at about 10 pm. Hopefully, I'll have the chance to visit with some of my friends and family in Michigan, but my priority is time with Irene. I have to say that I'm rather hyped up for this trip. Four months is suddenly a long time to wait. As I was telling everyone I came across today that I was a grandpa and showing them pictures of my adorable granddaughter, a couple of the accosted people asked if I felt old now. I've been asked this at many points in my life: when any of my children become adults, when my daughters graduated from college, when Katrina got married, etc. Oddly, despite the increasing aches, pains, and injuries, my answer is "No. I don't."
Sure, when I realize that the first Shrek movie was made almost 20 years ago, or that all of my students were born after the 9/11 attacks, or other events that point out how quickly time has passed, I feel a little out-of-time. Yet I don't think of myself as old. I remember thinking that people in their 40s (let alone mid 40s) were ancient. Now, I think of myself as still in the prime of my life. It might be that I'm generally in better health than I was a decade or two ago (although that can change if I don't start exercising again). It might be that I still have older friends and relatives who are still going strong. With the Lord willing, I still have many years ahead of me. I pray that I will continue to enjoy them in good health and with a youthful outlook. After all, I have a granddaughter who I want spoil. Irene Elaine Maurer, daughter of Katrina and Peter Maurer, (and my and Janelle's granddaughter) has decided to join us! As she was born in Michigan, her birthday is the 28th. Specifically, she arrived at 12:32 a.m. EST (8:32 p.m. AKST, on the 27th). Her lungs are a bit "sticky," so they are working on suctioning them. Thus, I don't have height and weight other than the comment that she is a "big" baby. Otherwise, mother and daughter are doing fine. It's been a day full of labor for Katrina and anxiousness for the rest of us. We are happy that Irene came to be with us today, even if it doubles up a birthday (which she shares with her Great Aunt Katie). I know that Janelle is glad to have some grandbaby cuddle time before she flies back up.    Pope Francis has designated the third Sunday in Ordinary time as the "Sunday of the Word of God." This was the first such Sunday since Pope Francis made the proclamation; thus today starts a new celebration in the Catholic Church. It coincides with the traditional Gospel readings of the beginnings of Jesus' ministry and His calling of His disciples.
While the Bible has always been a central document in the Church, there are many Catholics who haven't read it. Sure, all the Gospels and the epistles of Paul are read at the pulpit over the course of a three year cycle which includes readings from all parts of the Bible. Meanwhile, the mass itself incorporates Biblical elements every time one is conducted. However, it is still quite important to read and contemplate on the scriptures themselves. It has been my plan to reread the Bible once I finish the series of other religious writings I've been consuming as part of my morning prayer and reflection. I have a while to go still with Saint Augustine's City of God, but will probably have that finished this summer. At that point, I will start reading the Bible with the Gospels, proceed through the New Testament, then the Old Testament, and finish with the Gospels again. This is my favorite way to read these books of scripture as the focus remains on Jesus' teachings. As Winston says in Ghostbusters, "I love Jesus' style." My granddaughter is still stubbornly refusing to come out into the sunshine. Janelle and Katrina have been going on walks in the hopes of making some progress. Unfortunately, the contractions will make a brief appearance, and then settle down again.
I've made progress on my proposal for my doctoral project. I still have a long way to go, but I've made more headway this past week than the previous couple of months combined. This still puts me farther behind where I want to be, but I did recently receive the official document from Walden stating that I am a doctoral candidate in educational technology (as opposed to just a student). The process of shovelling my drive from the eight or more inches of snow we received on Monday made my shoulder start acting up again. Thankfully, much of the pain is gone after its peak on Thursday (I always hurt the worst two or three days after an activity). Knowing what causes it makes me feel a bit better, but I would really like to get back to normal activity in the near future. It's another week before Janelle returns home. We haven't destroyed the house yet, but we all really miss her. I just hope she gets to hold our granddaughter soon so we don't have to reschedule her flight out. This annual event often does not make news headlines despite growing attendance, largely because it has been going on for 47 years--thus many media outlets do not consider it news. This year's, however, made the headlines due to President Trump, who became the first sitting President to attend the event. While his visit became the main focus, it also brought more attention--and thus discussion--to the March for Life and what it represents.
I am unapologetically pro-life. While I do not agree with laws that simply outlaw abortion, often placing the death penalty as a possibility (which as a pro-life person, I also stand against), I feel that abortion in America has become one of the worst atrocities in the history of the world. Averaging over a million lost lives a year since the fateful Roe V. Wade decision, the primary casualties--as in most calamities--are among the socioeconomically disadvantaged and minority communities. Granted, this attack on life is not limited to abortions alone. It is in the lack of adequate healthcare for millions of Americans. I believe the statistic is now that it takes sixth months worth of the median salary for women to pay for an average birth in America today. Thus, many women are not receiving necessary care up to, during, and after their pregnancies. Those who do receive the care are paying an extraordinary amount. This is an issue that must be remedied if we are truly interested in ending abortions. On top of that, we have millions of children living in poverty and going hungry in our country. Meanwhile, our nation has been attacking our children's educational system, removing environmental protections, and saddling our children with the largest national debt ever. For a people who claim to value the lives of every child, we are doing a poor job of actually fixing the issues that today's children are currently facing and will face in their future. We should all march for life, that first of the certain unalienable rights explicitly stated in America's Declaration of Independence. We need to end the atrocity of the abortion epidemic--which claims more lives than any other cause of death each year. However, we need to deal with the root causes rather than just the final symptom. We need to advocate for healthy lives in all who live here, now and in our future. Our children deserve better than what we have given them. Sometimes, it feels like my children are growing up entirely too fast. Just yesterday, two events reminded me that Connor will be a teenager later this year. Sure, the sass has been there for a while, but these were some extremely clear signs.
The first was that he came to me complaining about his chin hurting. Sure enough, there stood his first pimple. Being an inquisitive child, he had all sorts of questions about what it was, why it hurt, how long it would last, etc. He seemed upset that he couldn't "pop" it (not for lack of trying) as he had heard a lot about popping pimples and wanted to experience it himself. I told him that he would have plenty of opportunities. The second was considerably sadder for me. Connor has always been precocious, but he also has a tender, childlike side as well. One of the more endearing traits is that he keeps stuffed animals (particularly a leopard named Stufty) in his bed to keep him company ... at least, until last night. When I put the two young boys to bed, and Rowen was looking for his cadre of stuffed animals, Connor handed his group to Rowen, including Stufty. I asked what brought that on, and he said that he hadn't really slept with them for a few weeks now and he thought Rowen would like them. I'm telling you: it's too soon. As I was picking out songs for children's choir practice, I once again realized just how limited my guitar-playing skills are. I had to pass over several songs that I like because I either do not know the chords required or that they use chords which I just haven't been able to play correctly (especially bar cords). I have been able to expand the number of chords I can play a bit within the past few months (hello, F ... sometimes), but I have not dedicated the practice time necessary to really improve. As is, I only play for about an hour a week.
This does not even touch on my lack of technique. I know only a few strum patterns and some mild variations of finger-plucking (I'm sure there's a better term for that). However, I have not even worked out how to play individual notes rather than cords. Like many things in life, this is something that takes time--that most precious of resources. I have toyed with the idea of taking classes from someone. Unfortunately, that will have to wait at least until after I get this slowly forming dissertation done. In short, I won't be playing "Free Bird" anytime soon. Impeachment is a multi-step process, with the House of Representatives drafting and voting on Articles of Impeachment and then the Senate conducting a trial based on the charges brought before it. In that trial, both the prosecution (usually from members of the House or Senate that support impeachment) and the defense (the President's staff, although often supported by party members in the Senate) are supposed to make their cases regarding the charges. In the current impeachment proceedings, the charges are abuse of power (specifically in using the office of President to illegally pressure a foreign power in an attempt to undermine a political rival in an upcoming election) and obstruction of Congress (for directing staff to refuse to cooperate in the impeachment investigations, specifically ordering them to not answer subpoenas to testify).
Here's my question: Why has not even one person yet testified under oath that the President did not do either of those two things? Meanwhile, every person who testified in the impeachment proceeding up to this point said that President Trump is guilty of the above charges and then provided evidence to back up their testimonies. This leads to some other questions: If the President is innocent, why would the Senate not call up witnesses to support the him? Why do members of the Republican party not want to have testimony under oath that would exonerate him? More interestingly, why is the Senate restricting the press' access to the proceedings? Instead of facts from President Trump's defence team, all I have seen is rhetoric on talk shows, right-wing media editorials, and the President's own tweets (which are often notoriously either false or deliberately misleading). Likely, because the Senate is in the control of the same party as the President, they will move to end the impeachment trial as soon as possible with as little investigation into the allegations as possible. I cannot help but wonder what they are afraid of finding ... or perhaps what they know but are afraid of letting the public find out. I don't know. That swamp is looking pretty foggy, almost as though it's expanded rather than been drained. I was shoveling for over two hours today, and am planning on going to bed early. Thus, instead of a normal post, here are some pictures from the past couple of days. Today our pastor's discussions had two major themes. The first was given through the reading of a letter from the archbishop concerning the recently published independent investigation are sexual abuse by priests and other church ministers in Alaska. As the results were released on Thursday, I had already read them. This announcement was to let people know that the information was available and that it was part of the Church's efforts to end such abuse and any type of cover-ups.
The second was about the need for unity between all Christians. Our pastor was clear in saying that we don't need to agree on all things, but rather that Christians need to work with one another instead of against if we really want to make the world a better place. This entire week is dedicated to Christian unity. An example of such an equmenical effort is the Kairos prison ministry, which had its breakfast and pie auction today. Through Kairos, Christians for many different denominations work in prisons to help prisoners find love and acceptance that they might otherwise lack. Both of these ideas can be brought beyond the Church. There are terrible parts of our world that, when brought to light, need to be confronted rather than pushed aside and ignored. By acknowledging such horrors and actively working to eliminate them, we make the world a better place. Meanwhile, that effort is most successful when we work together rather than tearing each other apart. Several months ago, I was surprised when my youngest sons asked me if they could stay after school to practice for the Native Youth Olympics. At the time, I didn't know that non-Natives could participate, but the real surprise was that Rowen wanted to do it. They both seem to really enjoy the activities, and it keeps them active and off of electronics for a while, so I agreed despite the scheduling issues that it has caused.
This weekend held and holds the competition that they've been working towards. Connor chose four events and Rowen chose three to compete in. Last night, both boys were competing in the Alaskan high kick where they have to keep one hand on the floor, hold one foot in the other hand, and kick a hanging ball with the other foot, landing with that foot and balancing on the one hand and one foot. Rowen made it past the starting height and Connor managed to place 5th in the entire 1st-6th grade boys group. Today lasted much longer than expected. Both boys competed in the arm pull, a double-elimination competition where two people sit and lock an arm and then pull until one lets go or is lifted off the mat. Rowen won about four times, but was eliminated by much larger boys. Connor managed to place 3rd. After getting lunch at Arby's (2 for $6 mix and match!), Connor competed in the stick pull. Again, two people face each other, grasp a stick, and pull until the other person lets go. This time, Connor was undefeated and won 1st place. He really enjoyed hearing everyone cheer as his name was called to mount the podium. His final event was the one-foot kick. True to its name, the goal is to kick a hanging ball and land on the foot that kicked it. Connor did quite well, but did not place in the top 5. Tomorrow, is Rowen's final (and favorite) event: the wrist carry. I haven't seen this one yet, but I think the goal is to lock a wrist on top of a stick and see how long you can hold it there while hanging from it. Considering how often he hangs on us and his brothers, this sport is almost custom made for him. It was quite a long day, but the boys had a blast. Connor wants to go to the state competition in Anchorage next month, and both boys want to keep training after school. I certainly think it has been worth the time. |
You Have Been Warned:The writings within hold wit, wisdom, and whimsy, with no warning as to what is which. Blog collections:Single documents with all of the blogs for the selected year(s).
2011-2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Archives
August 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
