Blog Archives - The Land of the Weird

The Land of the Weird

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

9/16/2018

The priest today asked us to consider who we are and what our "cross" might be. He said that we are not expected to be perfect all of the time. Even Peter finds himself being called the Rock of the Church in one moment only to be called Satan a little bit later.

What is important is that we walk with the Lord now, that we try to bring good works into the world. While no amount of effort on our parts will ever be enough to get us to heaven--that is up to God alone, we still should strive to make our world a better place for all people. If we truly have faith in a benevolent God, then our actions should represent that belief.

This is harder to put into practice than it is to say. I am overly aware of the times this past week (let alone my entire past) where I have not acted in a merciful, helpful, or benevolent way, where I have allowed selfish desires to overcome my better self. That does mean I should just give up trying. It is the struggle to make ourselves and our world a better place that is important. I need to pick myself back up, brush off, and try again.

Selling Popcorn

9/15/2018

Connor and Rowen spent two hours at the main entrance of Freddy's, selling Cub Scout popcorn. They both not only requested to be out there today, but they both said that they want to be out selling every Saturday (even after being out there for two hours today). They are both striving for the $1,500 sales goal--the prize for which is a pocket knife. I'm really conflicted about this.

I don't like these kinds of fundraisers. The price on the products is inflated as the companies that make the product are still looking to make a profit above the amount that is given to the fundraising group. In a sense, those companies are using child labor in their sales as a way to push a product that people would otherwise not buy (certainly not at that price). It reminds me of the beggar groups that used (and use) children (sometimes intentionally handicapping them) to gain sympathy. Meanwhile, the prizes that they flash in front of the kids are overemphasized and not nearly worth what the kids have to sell.

I also do not like losing several hours of my weekend every week for this. It's just one other drain on a resource that seems to be slipping away all too quickly these days. On top of that, I'm terrified of mismanaging something. This fear is magnified by the fact that I am the only adult there during these times. Last year, the boys would team up with another boy or two, and thus another parent was also present. Having too many boys out there was an issue, so they limited it to only two boys a shift this year. I agree with the idea, but it does leave me alone--and sometimes forgetting to tally sales.

However, this experience is really good for the boys. It teaches them the importance of perseverance as well as how to read people's mood and body language. It gives them a better understanding of money and its value. It shows them that work often involves standing and being pleasant for long periods of time even when you don't want to. For my boys, it also helps them learn to work together. Most importantly, it gets them out in public and talking with people from all walks of life.

Right now, I think that the benefits outweigh my concerns. Thus we will probably be out there each week. ... I'll probably be getting some the overpriced stuff too. At least it tastes good.

Content

9/14/2018

Honestly, I am quite content with my life right now. Sure there are things that bother me--some that get my blood boiling even, but that is a part of life. In fact, I wonder if my contentment would be as high if I didn't have something to gripe about (especially considering how much I like complaining). One way or the other, my life feels blessed.

I live in a home that I love, in a climate that I prefer, surrounded by some amazing scenery. My job provides challenge and fulfillment--best of all, it allows me to talk about things that I love to a relatively captive audience. My health is better than it has been for decades. Most importantly, I have wonderful family and friends who tolerate my excentricities.

I could wish for more time in each day to enjoy all that life has to offer me. I almost don't like taking the time to fall asleep due to all the things that I want to do.

It's a good life.

Don't Post When Angry

9/13/2018

This was advice given by an article on blogging that I read before starting my daily posts. Generally, I find it to be good advice, even if I occasionally break it. It is for this reason that the top three things (nope, four) that are currently on my mind are not part of today's post. This is not an attempt to get people to try to pry the topics out from me, or to get a round of sympathy. Rather, it's an explanation for the otherwise lack of a legitimate post from me today. I just don't trust myself to write more at this time.

Hopefully, I will cool off enough to write about some of these issues at a later date.

Early Bedtime

9/12/2018

Tomorrow, Connor has a field trip that requires him to be at school at 6:45 in the morning. This means leaving the house at 6:30. While I try to leave the house by 6:45, it usually tends to be closer to 7:00 (or even later). Thus, not only is Connor going to bed earlier than normal today, I am planning to do so as well.

Honestly, I should probably try to relax a bit more anyway. I've been doing a lot of running around the past three days for events that are not a part of my normal weekly schedule (and I have another one tomorrow). Combined with some other small frustrations, I feel stretched a bit thin at the moment.

I had better go get some sleep, considering that not only will I be on the road earlier, but I will be making a right instead of a left onto the highway tomorrow morning. Hopefully, the boys will let me know if I start autopiloting into Soldotna.

Great Weather

9/11/2018

I don't know what's going on this year, but we just hit 70 degrees again this week. Like the day before, and the day before that, today was an absolutely gorgeous day. Honestly, I'm feeling rather spoiled.

Currently, it looks like these wonderful days will be around until the weekend. At that point, it looks like the cloudier, cooler temperatures that are more the norm this time of year will start to kick in. This means that I need to enjoy the great weather while it lasts.

Between the good weather and our Oasis days, the boys and I have been spending much more time outside this summer than the past few years. The temperatures have been nearly perfect--I can wear my cargo shorts and a t-shirt, yet not feel like I'm instantly breaking into a sweat when going outside. The only downside is that I've had to mow the lawn more frequently.

Still, I'll take some extra mowing if it means having more of these kinds of days.

Seeing Red

9/10/2018

I just got home, having gone to work and then to Homer for this evening's school board meeting. In solidarity with the other educators in our district, we joined in force wearing red. It was an impressive turnout, especially considering the long drive there and back for those of us who live in Soldotna (and beyond).

We are currently working without a contract and with some sketchy moves on our health insurance (which unfortunately hit our parapros the hardest). These are games with which I am unfortunately familiar. Hopefully, the school board will see our gathering not as a threat, but as a sign of our determination. With luck, it will be the reminder that they need that the numbers they have been manipulating stand for actual people.

Considering the outside forces that are already working to tear down our schools, I pray that our administration and school board realize that they need to work to build up their teachers. This was a lesson that I have seen too many schools fail to learn. By dividing from within, they weren't prepared to deal with the greater assault from the coordinated conspiracy to bring down public education, and have suffered as a result.

Personally, it would be nice to next time see the school board members themselves wearing "red for ed."

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

9/9/2018

I found my mind wandering during mass today. I felt that I was pretty well-focused during the readings and homily, but I started taking mental journeys during the second half. I began to plan out my day, and from there my mind strayed into memories of shows we recently watched and then discussions I've recently had. I remember either reading or hearing someone say that these stray thoughts are not necessarily something to be ashamed about, but rather show us that these are parts of our lives that we should share with God.

In this way, these wandering thoughts are like the ears of the deaf man who is cured by Jesus in the Gospel. Our minds are cluttered with matters of the world that keep us from listening to God. Jesus commands the ears to "Be opened!" So too does He speak to our minds. I need to learn to let Jesus be more a part of my day-to-day thoughts. Imagine if I only talked to my friends about one thing all the time and did not include them in my daily struggles ... well, they might be grateful ... but still, I wouldn't be creating much of a relationship.

A Question of Value

9/8/2018

I'm pursuing my doctorate in educational technology. To do so, I have been taking out student loans to cover the tuition and books. By the time I am done, even if I were to finish in record time, I will owe a significant sum. I will also be earning more at my current job. Considering that I believe I will need to work for at least another fifteen years (probably twenty), I will be able to more than recoup this investment.

However, I do wonder if it is truly worth the time and stress that it has brought. I've tried to keep it from interfering with my family, and I feel that I've largely succeeded. But what if I had devoted this same amount of time to writing another book, or even two? Or what if I had spent more time trying to cultivate friendships as I had before I took on this academic workload?

Costs come in many forms other than just money. Meanwhile, I'm not really certain what I will do with my doctorate once I get it other than hang it on my wall. Doesn't getting a doctorate also confer some level of responsibility? What is the point of learning all of the skills that I have learned if I don't put them in some sort of practice?

Granted, I have already taken steps to try and apply what I have learned into my classroom. Unfortunately, I also now have a better understanding of where the gaps in my knowledge are as well. This raises the obligation to fill such gaps, a process which will also have costs in effort and time.

I worry that I have pursued all of my degrees for the sake of having the degrees. Would that time and money have better spent in other pursuits? At least I am fortunate in that my education allows me to do a job that I love. Perhaps that is enough of a reason.

Fall Is Coming

9/7/2018

I noticed today that some of the local birch trees are beginning to turn yellow. The fireweed has already started to live up to its name. It won't be long until fall is in full swing (probably before fall officially begins).

We've been blessed with a series of days (and weeks) with amazing weather. The sun has been shining, cool breezes have been blowing, and the insects have not been in full attack mode. These pleasant days made it so the changing leaves took me by surprise when I noticed them today. I've already had to start wearing a jacket in the mornings, but I fully expect frost to come soon too.

Already the nights have grown long enough to be noticable. Soon it will be time to pack up the hammock swing and cargo shorts. Pumpkin treats and cider will start feeling more appropriate. Hay mazes and Halloween decorations are on the way.

As much as I have loved the recent weather, I still feel blessed to live in a place where the seasons change and bring fresh experiences. It reminds me that life is full of changes, and that most of them are not bad.

Continuing Oasis Days

9/6/2018

A little over a month ago, after watching Ready Player One, I decided to follow create Oasis Days as a means to get my boys to interact with each other more often. Oasis days fall on every Tuesday and Thursday. The rules are:
1. No watching videos on computers or devices (unless it is part of homework)
2. No playing single-player video games
3. Multiplayer video games can only be played if they include other family members (although we have fudged this a bit to allow family members who live in other states to count)
4. If the weather is nice, at least one hour must be spent doing something outdoors
5. If the weather is poor, at least one hour must be spent playing a board game with at least one other family member

I was not certain how this experiment was going to turn out, but so far, it's been fairly positive. The boys and I have been doing more things together even on days that aren't Oasis days. We have spent more time outside than we have in a long while (the nice weather has certainly contributed to that), often staying out for well over the required hour. All of us have been reading more.

Sure, there has been complaining. Connor has petitioned that since school days are all basically Oasis days for them that they shouldn't have to continue the restrictions once home. However, the complaints have been minimal and half-hearted. I think that they have enjoyed having the time set aside to figure out how to do things together. I know that I have.

Badminton

9/5/2018

Early in the summer, I picked up a portable badminton set. Instead of using poles, string, and stakes, this one is a single apparatus made of plastic tubes that fit together. The end result looks like a bow resting its handle on the ground with the net serving as the bowstring. The first couple of times we pulled it out, we then collapsed the entire piece of equipment into its portable form. However, we've been playing enough lately that we've just toted it in its assembled under the carport when we're done playing.

Connor, in particular, has become fascinated with the game. All of the boys have improved since we first started. Today, Rowen even managed to get a couple of serves over the net. We had several longer rallies going, making the game a lot more fun than our first couple of outings.

We usually play doubles, alternating partners so that each of the boys has a chance to partner with me. The older boys came really close to beating Rowen and me this time. We also play a variety of singles matches. Today, Connor beat Trevor for the first time (which led to an unsurprising amount of smack talk--from both sides). We are still working on how to lose (or win) graciously.

As it looks like we are in for more good weather for the next week, I hope to continue getting in more badminton games with boys, and maybe even with Janelle on her days off.

Taxi

9/4/2018

I was back to the role of playing taxi driver today. The little boys' bus arrives at about 4 pm, so I have to leave school soon enough to pick them up. Trevor's rehearsals for the musical end at either 4:15 or 5 depending on if he has music practice (today it was 4:30), so I have to go back into town; if I have time, I drop off the little boys at the house so they can start working on any homework or chores they might have.

As it was buy-one-get-one-free Tuesday at Papa John's, and time was short, I picked up pizzas. Check-in for our cabin is at 5; however the guests arrived early--before I got home from getting Trevor and the pizza--and I had forgotten to put the key in the cabin when I dropped off the boys. Thankfully, Connor was conscientious enough to give them the key (even if it went against his standing orders). I then need to drive back into town as Cub Scouts start at 6:30 on Tuesdays and finish at 7:30 (8:00 if we stay for the snack).

I'm glad that I have a Prius to help cut down on the gas consumption.

Unions

9/3/2018

In general, I am a supporter of unions. To me, they are another extension of democracy. They allow workers to band together to help their common interests. In this way, the otherwise disenfranchised are able to challenge the "master class" who often puts profit above the benefits of those who make that profit possible. When we work together, we are mighty.

However, like other human institutions, unions can be full of faults as well. Like the businesses they often clash with, unions frequently focus on the short-term and are willing to sacrifice the needs of some of their members to benefit others. They can be corrupted in their single-minded pursuit of their goals.

I have personally seen both of these sides of unions. When at their best, unions can bring people together to solve the problems that would be insurmountable if fought alone. At their worst, they become full of bickering and discontent that focus more on broader politics than the needs of their members.

In the end, I believe they do more good than harm.