I spent a lot of time at the university today.  I feel like I criss-crossed both the east and west bank a few times each.  But after it all I was finally able to turn in the last bits of paperwork the U needed to fulfill my programmatic requirements, and I submitted my teaching license application to the state!  In a few days I'll have a file number with the state, which should be enough for me to start subbing in some school districts.  In a month or so I will have my teaching license in hand.

It's about time!

This is long overdue, but it still feels good.  In only a few weeks I'll be back in the classroom.  Career, here I come.

Simple pleasure - walking across the Washington Avenue bridge and looking at all the student-painted panels
Peace

I have a love/hate relationship with the U of M.  Ok, maybe it's not hate as much as antipathy.  And maybe it isn't love as much as strong liking.

So you might say that I have a strong liking/antipathetic (yes, I like this new word) relationship with my alma mater.  It struck me as I got off the city bus from work a little while ago that I was in a good mood as I was walking into one of the buildings... and that this is often not normal for me on campus.  It is not uncommon for me to be kind of crabby when I have to be on campus and that I get easily annoyed by things.  So being in  good mood while heading to a study area was a bit odd.

There are a number of reasons why I am less than warm towards the U.  Many of them have to do with my experiences, struggles, and my failure to fully take advantage of what was in front of me.

A bit of history.  I came to the U as a sophomore.  I transfered from Purdue (where I got super cheap tuition 'cause my father was a researcher there) because at age 18, I knew I had to be with the woman I was going to marry, and no we weren't too young.  Co-dependence, combined with natural introversion did not lead me to make many friends.  A failing relationship followed by a difficult year following the break-up only made things worse.  Undiagnosed and unrecognized ADHD was just a kick in the balls to top it all off.  I'll just say that my academic record as an undergrad isn't one to be the most proud of.  As I don't remember the name of a single classmate of mine either, the social scene just wasn't happening either.

My junior through super-senior years were spent trying to stay afloat with my classes and working for Housing and Residential Life.  My friends were the peers I worked with.  I certainly had fun with them and have some fond memories, but I certainly wasn't the great Community Advisor on earth.  Damn you, introversion.

Despite my issues, I managed to graduate.  And while life was often times difficult and sometimes painful as an undergrad I do also have some very good memories of my time here as an undergrad.  No, I wasn't a great C.A., but I had a lot of fun with my co-workers.  I took some great classes.  I got into backpacking.  Marching in band wasn't as social for me as it was for many, but it was also a lot of fun as well.  I made friends with the eccentric regulars at a local coffee shop.  My disdain for the two-party system and capitalism developed.

As more of an outsider now, different things kind of irk me about the U.  Skyrocketing tuition (though not really the university's fault) pisses me off.  Fighting hoards of undergrads - who make me shudder in so many ways - makes me crabby (maybe I'm just turning into a crabby old man).  Still being tied to the university due to my struggles to finish my damn paper is a constant irritant (this is a whole other issue I won't go into now).    And now and then the sting of knowing that I could have made so much more out of my time here hits me too. 

Living in the moment, I know that the university as an institution of higher education is a wonderful place.  Music, arts, academia, and the many ways that people and groups within the university reach out are wonderful.  The times when I am on a mission and getting good work done here (though it is on this damn paper) feels good and exciting.  Even though the gophers suck in so many ways, going to different sporting events is a lot of fun.

So yeah, ramble ramble ramble.  Point?  No, thanks.  I think I'll have a coffee instead.

simple pleasure - walking by the shoe tree
Peace

The professor that I had this time last year for an outdoor/adventure experiential education class has just recently gotten tenure with the university.  Since Joe is working for him and will soon be a grad student under him (and took the same class with me), he told me that there was going to be a little party for him tonight.

My Hero break:  Ardol O'Hanlon is brilliant.

I talked to a number of people who are in Kieth's program.  They were all very cool.  I suppose it has something to do with the fact that they are all into experiential and outdoor education.  But it got me thinking again about how much I would love to incorporate some kind of outdoor component into my teaching.  It would be wonderful to design a curriculum around our perceptions and connections to the environment around us.  There are so many connections to the environment and the way we live.  It just begs to be explored.

Who knows.  Maybe some day I will enter a program like the one Keith runs.  I could develop the curriculum and run a residential charter school based upon our relationship with the environment.  Science, math, reading, history, psychology, economics, art... it's all there. 

Now I'm tired and ready to crawl into bed.

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Ireland pictures coming soon.  This weekend for sure.
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Simple pleasure - grilled cheese.  Yum!
Peace

Since I didn't have work today, Burnell asked if I wanted to tag along with him to the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies spring conference today. It just happens that this year it is at Mystic Lake Casino (there's sound in this link, fyi). Kinda funny.

So we showed up just in time to get breakfast and hear the morning keynote, a woman who works for Sesame Workshop, the fine people who created Sesame Street.  She talked about all the research and intentionality that goes into the development of versions of Sesame Street for other countries.  Sesame Workshop sends some people to meet with educators, and other experts from that country to develop a unique curriculum that addresses the needs of children in that country.  Hats off to them.

I went to a session about teaching about our population hitting 300 million and the implications of that.  While the session wasn't the greatest, we were given some good materials and what we did would be a good jumping-off point for some very good lessons and discussions. 

Neither Burnell nor I were all that interested in going to any of the later sessions, so I walked around the exhibits to look at text books, maps, different curricula and resource groups.  I picked up a few things that could be very helpful for once I start teaching.  It seems like the conference was pretty well done and full of resources and connections.  I am planning on going in the future. 

While we were there, I saw my cooperating teacher for my jr. high student teaching.  I didn't go say hi.  She never watched me teach once.  She wanted me to take on more than we were supposed to and when I struggled with doing all the extra stuff, she was unhappy with me.  Runner-up to state teacher of the year, my ass.

Burnell had to catch up with one of the state coordinators so he could get his continuing ed credit that applies to relicensure.  While he did that, I went into the casino.  I went up $.50 on a video poker machine and then went over to play blackjack.  I threw down $30 and left about 15 minutes later with $75.  Not too bad by my estimation.  I thought about staying longer, but when I noticed how much my hand was shaking (Adderall, coffee, and not much food), and that I indicated a hit on 19 (which I immediately realized was a mistake and the dealer was kind enough to allow for my oops) I decided I needed to be done.

We drove back to St. Paul and went out for a light lunch (on me.  HA!).  Burnell and I talked quite a bit about teaching, conferences and different educational opportunities and resources.  We talked about my school and students.  We talked about what's going on with Drew and Chris (ok and less than ok, respectively).  I get a kick out of him.  He's a really good guy with lots of perspective.  My mom chose well in marrying him.  He said that he appreciated getting a chance to just talk with me without the commotion of the rest of the family running all over.  Yeah, he's alright.

Now it's a quarter to two.  I've had some food, but I still feel a little shaky.  I want to take a nap, but it is 46 degrees and sunny outside.  Maybe I'll go for a run a little later.  I wish the tennis courts would clear off and dry up.

Simple pleasure - watching my pretty snow melt
Peace

I am getting back on the ball with my research. My paper will be done this spring. If it isn't, I will tattoo 'dumb' on my forehead.

Today at work was fine, we took four students to the central library in Minneapolis where they sat and looked at myspace for over an hour. That seems like such a wast of time... but here I am checking my journal multiple times a day too. I guess there is value in just getting them out and trying to keep them appropriate in public too.

After I get a form signed by my adviser, I will have access to the library and the online indices. Then I give Joe a call and we will be off to cause trouble somewhere... and by trouble I mean probably sit, have a beer, and laugh a lot. Then assuming it's not too late once I get home tonight, I make krumkake for coffee with our neighbor tomorrow night.

Off to Appleby Hall now.

Simple pleasure - a cold wind in my face
Peace