I think that I have everything ready for tomorrow's trip up to Anchorage for the two-day DDF (Drama, Debate, and Forensics) tournament. Changes of clothes, pajamas, toiletries, medicine, and charging cords are ready to go. I will need to pull some items out of my classroom in the morning, but I have time to do so.

Thus begins a series of busy weekends. This weekend is the DDF tournament. Next weekend  has the Little Sweethearts Dance (Feb 7)which my DDF attends for fundraising purposes. The following Thursday and Friday (Feb 13-14) are parent-teacher conferences, but it's the DDF tournament that I'm hosting at SoHi on Feb 15 that is my main concern. The Friday after that (Feb 21) is the SoHi Talent Show which will have at least one act from my DDF team (and possibly a performance of my own). I'm playing the guitar and leading music at my church that Saturday and Sunday (Feb 22-23). This culminates with Spring Break beginning the next weekend, and my journey with 42 other people to Japan that starts that Saturday night (March 8).

Basically, my backpack isn't the only thing that is packed at the moment.

There were certainly some frustrations, aggravations, and devastations today, but I'm going to list some areas of my day that brought at least a sense of contentment. 
1. I read "Federigo's Falcon" from Boccaccio's Decameron to my language arts classes today. It's one of my favorite one to read aloud because of one particular moment in the story when it becomes clear that Federigo is about to innocently give Monna Giovanna his prized falcon to eat when she had actually wanted the bird to comfort her dying son. The dramatic irony brings looks of shock to the faces of my students in an absolutely delightful way and frequently keeps them talking about the story even after class has ended.
2. My granddaughter has been enjoying watching me play The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom almost as much as I've enjoyed playing it. Today, she asked me when I was going to play almost the moment that I got home. When I did sit down to play, she curled up next to me wearing her Spider-Gwen costume and proceeded to give me advice from time to time.
3. Sockeye and Grizz have been wanting my attention. Grizz was up on my chest, rubbing his body on my face within minutes after I sat down for the above-mentioned video game playing. Sockeye waited until I sat at my desk and then climbed up into my lap, purring loudly as I tried to get stuff done.
​My life is filled with blessings.

Before I go further, I just want to give another shoutout to my granddaughter who turned five today! How is she already five?! The time goes by so fast!

Hopefully, she will benefit from the House Bill that came forth from the education committee yesterday. House Bill 69 would increase the base student allowance (BSA) by $1000 for the 2025-26 school year, an additional $404 for 26-27, and another $404 for 27-28 before tying it to inflation. Unlike the last ten years, these increases would be permanent rather than only good for one year and disappearing the next. To be clear, these adjustments are to make up for inflationary increases since 2014--the last time there was a permanent increase to the BSA.

This bill still needs to make it through the Alaskan Legislature, let alone override the almost certain veto that our governor will give to all or part of it. Despite it still having a long way to go, I particularly encouraged by this early move out of committee. Our legislators said that they would make educational funding a priority, and I'm glad to see that they are keeping their word. I'm also appreciative that they made it such an easy number to remember.

As when Bill and Ted asked their future selves what number they were thinking of ...

After a weekend of often-heavy rain, I was tremendously and pleasantly surprised to see snow on the ground when I let the dogs out in the morning. I had seen nothing about a possibility of snow in the forecast when I had checked before going to bed. Even at the time, the Weather Channel app was only indicating that there was a small chance of snow. Meanwhile, there was over an inch on the ground and more falling.

I cannot rationally explain why snow makes me so happy. I was almost giddy with joy when a portion of our drive to school went to whiteout conditions for nearly half a mile. During that time, there was no sign of the taillights of the vehicle in front of me, leading me to slow down considerably and become concerned about what other drivers might do--but still being joyous at the sight of the massive flakes coming down. Throughout the day, I would find myself gazing out my classroom window from time to time, watching the trail of snow stream into the parking lot. Even seeing the snow blow off the roof was a type of entertainment.

I didn't even wear my snow sweater today.

Today's second reading is a continuation from last week's first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. He expands on the concept that Christians are different parts of the same body and that each part serves a different and necessary purpose. Not only should we expect people to play different roles in life, but we should not strive to do everything ourselves.

Today's homily further developed this idea as it explored the concept of the "lone wolf." Rather than a symbol of individualism, the lone wolf is a danger not only to others, but to itself. Without a pack, the lone wolf has no support and can find itself going down dangerous paths due to poor assumptions of its own--there was a particular story about a sharp knife covered in icy blood that is used by some tribes as a trap for such creatures.

I struggle with this issue in my own life. All too often, I find it easier to retreat into myself rather than share my struggles with others. Worse, I frequently feel that I can do things better on my own without the "interference" of others. I have tried to be better about this as I have gotten older. I am more willing to ask for advice or help and am more willing to recognize my limitations than I was in the past, but I still have a long ways to go.

I am fortunate that I have a strong "pack" of family and friends in my life who have been willing to aid me in becoming a better person.

A position for the Kenai Borough Assembly in my district opened recently when our standing assembly member was sworn in as a representative to the Alaska State House. The deadline for submitting an application to serve until a replacement election is held in October is next week Friday. After consulting friends and family, I chose to pick up an application. One of the elements of the application is a Candidate Statement of no more than two hundred words regarding the candidate's "position on the issues, why [they] are running for office, etc." (I'm still not used to using "they" as the singular pronoun). What follows is my current draft*:

The primary roles of government are to protect its citizens’ lives, property, and rights; to provide infrastructure that cannot be created by individuals; and to manage the natural resources to ensure that they can be used and appreciated now and in the future. Much of the Kenai Peninsula was founded by people with an adventurous spirit who looked to test their limits while avoiding the overreach of governments who had become burdensome and overbearing. As an Assembly Member, I would keep that rugged individualism in mind while still focusing on the need to expand services for a changing and aging population.
 
I felt called to place my application for this position when I heard about it. I am not experienced at any level of government or management aside from my decades of working as a teacher in the public school system, a few stints in union positions, and a couple of years as a den leader. However, I am a quick learner with a detail-oriented mind and experience in analyzing large amounts of information with an exceptional degree of fidelity. I believe in listening to differing ideas and working with people, but I also hold my ground when needed.  

*It has 199 words.

On my drive into school today, it was 44 degrees (Fahrenheit). It had started to rain heavily by the time I left school. It's supposed to continue to rain through Monday. At present, there is a flood warning for the entire Kenai Peninsula and all the way up through the Matsu Valley (past Anchorage). The earlier prediction of 3 to 6 inches of rain has been brought down to 2.5 inches in the next two and a half days. The meteorologists are saying that an atmospheric river  is flowing into our region which is the cause of this particularly unseasonal weather.

Meanwhile, the South was hit with the worst winter storm in at least over a century. Also, much of the eastern half of the nation has been hit with record-breaking cold snaps. Apparently, there are schools in Virginia that haven't been open for two weeks. Quite simply, many of those states don't have the tools, supplies, or experience necessary to deal with this sort of winter weather.

​I'm not going to place any blame, but I will point out that the Gulf of Mexico never behaved the way the Gulf of America is.

Ryan George launched a new Pitch Meeting video dealing with Back to the Future II on YouTube and that reminded me that the "future" in that movie took place nearly ten years ago. How are we almost ten years past that point and we still don't have hoverboards or flying cars? For that matter, I recently mentioned rewatching the movie 2010. How are we fifteen years past then and we still don't have a moon base (which was established more than a decade earlier in the film)?

Don't get me wrong; I like many of the advancements that have been made which far exceed any expectations of sci-fi writers in the 1980s. I love our level of computer graphics, the advancements in AI, the ability to use our home Wi-Fi, and especially the powerful computing and communications device that fits in the palm of my hand. Still, it's a little disappointing that some predicted gadgets and products didn't make it into the future with us. 

As a young man, I kept wanting hoverboards to be real. This was despite not being able to use a skateboard with any level of skill. Now, I think that I would leave them be. For that matter, the idea that some of the people I see driving on the roads now would also be able to get a flying car were they to become available makes me understand why there has not been a lot of research and development into making them a reality. Still, this 2025 doesn't seem quite as futuristic as I thought it would be.

In what is absolutely no surprise to anyone, President Trump managed to make a number of major errors in his executive orders this week. By errors, I mean errors from his own perspective, not errors in that nearly every one of his executive orders weakens America and its standing in the world. Two of the biggest errors (within errors) highlight the importance of having experienced people double-check your executive orders before you sign them.

You see, it turns out that Trump did not intend to actually pardon the 1,500 convicted felons who stormed the Capitol on January 6tth, 2021. In an interview yesterday, he tried to argue that he had not pardoned them, but granted them clemency for their actions. Apparently, the difference was not made entirely clear to him and, after the interview, he looked into the options of revoke the pardons of at least some of the more violent criminals ... only to discover that Presidential pardons cannot be revoked--at least, not without an "oopsy daisy" Amendment to the Constitution getting passed. 

Second, in his hurry to make certain that the federal government only officially recognize two genders, he accidently made it so that the federal government can only recognize all people as female. The wording of the executive order that he signed said that "'Male' means a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the small reproductive cell." The problem is that there is no "sex that produces the small reproductive cell" in the timeframe of "at conception." At conception all embryos are female, differences in sexual organs do not appear until months of embryonic development. Unlike the pardons, executive orders can be amended rather easily; although, Trump has a tendency to cover his mistakes with larger distortions of the truth.

Now, I certainly make mistakes--on a regular basis even. Still, when one is trying to change (or attack) fundamental elements of our nation, one should probably have some fact-checking done. Oh, I forgot that this administration doesn't like fact-checking--my mistake. 

One of my DDF students was working on a project for another teacher's class yesterday. The project included spoiler information about season 2 of Arcane--an animated series on Netflix that Janelle and I started watching together a couple of month ago. I halted discussion that other students were having about the show until they made it clear that they were only talking about episodes from season 1. However, they teasingly threatened me with revealing spoilers for season 2.

I was told that I just needed to watch the show so that it wouldn't be an issue. I said that it was a show that I was watching with my wife and that it is rare for us to watch anything after dinner (as the show is not appropriate for my grandchildren). I was then asked why I didn't just watch it myself. 

The fact is that I don't like watching things by myself nearly as much as I do with others. I like seeing other people's reactions and being with them. I like being able to posit theories, talk about trivia, or even just have someone to share an emotional (triumphant or sad) moment.

This is why I invite people to movie and TV marathons. This is why most of my YouTube watching is focused on videos of people reacting to or talking about shows or movies. This is why I have so many movies and shows that have gone unwatched. This is why I've been glad that Rowen has been willing to watch stuff with me during these past couple of summers.

​I don't know; perhaps I should start watching more things on my own. 

Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Day / Inauguration Day 2025
This was a difficult day for me to celebrate with my tradition "Happy" followed by the holiday. "Happy Martin Luther King Day" is already quite a mouthful even before I add in the Dr. and Jr. to make it "Happy Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Day" as I address nearly every student whom I see. However, it was saying "Happy Inauguration Day" that was particularly difficult for me to say today. I did so anyway, alternating between the two with the help of my classroom neighbor. 

As I have told my students who ask me what I find so happy about Mondays when I say "Happy Monday," it's not that I expect them to be happy that it is a Monday, but that I hope that they will have have the chance to be happy during that Monday. The same was true with me today. I told my students that Inauguration Day is worth celebrating because it shows that Americans can have a peaceful transition of power at the highest level of government (although this was put to lie a bit in 2021). Unfortunately, I've had to stand by today and watch as our great nation returns to the downward spiral it was in during 2020. 

President Trump is only the second President to be elected for two non-consecutive terms (Grover Cleveland was the first). He is the first President to be reelected after being impeached (let alone being impeached twice). However, history will likely note some other unique elements from today. 

The most amazing to me is that America elected a convicted felon to its highest office before it elected a woman. This is the equivalent of the DC storyline where Lex Luthor became President. In this case, President Trump immediately showed his disdain for justice when he pardoned 1,500 criminals who were found guilty in courts of law for their illegal storming of the Capitol, many of whom also committed violent actions that wounded 174 police officers. In an event filled historical irony, he then, with no sense of irony about him, signed an executive order returning capital punishment to federal cases--specifically citing attacks on police officers as being a crime where the death penalty should be pursued.

He declared an emergency on our border and authorized the use of military force to build a wall and deal with immigrants. He closed any avenues for people to seek asylum in the U.S. and said that people born in American are no longer citizens unless they were born to American citizens.  He declared a "national energy emergency" and rolled back incentives for green energy programs while lifting many regulations and safeguards to promote mining and drilling. He lifted the ban on expanding private ownership of prisons. He removed the U.S. from the World Health Organization, severely decreasing the U.S.'s international status, and from the Paris climate accord. He removed portions of the Pendleton Act that requires governmental positions to be given to people who have proper experience or education in their jobs to clear the way for people unqualified, but loyal to him, to take those jobs. He even renamed Denali, returning it to being federally recognized as Mount McKinley (another champion of tariffs), and the Gulf of Mexico (now federally recognized as the Gulf of America). He also declared that a 25% tariff will begin on our largest trading partners of Canada and Mexico on February 1st unless some as-yet-unestablished agreements are made.

All of this (and more) on day one. Were I a foreign power who wanted to destroy the U.S., these are sorts of executive actions that I would want a President to enact. Yes, it was difficult to say "Happy Inauguration Day" today.

We all have our roles to play is the message from today's second reading. Not everyone's talent or ability will be of the same kind or to the same degree, but they all come from the Holy Spirit and are all worthy of celebration and praise. It is by working together with our varying gifts that makes us capable of doing truly great things.

This was true even for Jesus in today's Gospel about the wedding at Cana. Jesus completes the most noteworthy task of changing the water into wine, but it is others who fill the jugs with water and bring them to Him. It is the steward who makes the proclamation about the wine. It's even Mary who gives puts Jesus on the path of this first public miracle. For that matter, had the newly wedded couple not invited Jesus (or whoever invited Him--I'm uncertain of the custom at the time), everything would have turned out quite differently.

It is in working together and using our gifts, no matter how mundane they might seem, that miracles can happen.

It's been a long time since I've lost track of time this badly. I started playing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and got lost in it immediately. It has a surprisingly satisfying gameplay loop that had me just exploring more and more. I have been doing "just one more thing" well past my bedtime!

I know that I've only just scratched the surface of this game, but it's already had me belly laughing and whooping out loud at some of the things that I've been able to do in it. I'm really looking forward to playing more. For now, however, I should probably call it a night ... or early morning.