Is it time for me to seriously look for another job?

I really think that it is time for me to find another job! I know it sounds ridiculous, but yet I can't seem to escape that feeling. I have enough time vested in the retirement system to retire this January; and ever though I know I couldn't afford it, the prospect intrigues me.

Teaching music should be fun! The students should want to be there, and by the time they're in high school you should have some outstanding people, and I believe I do. Why is it that it gets harder every day to motivate them and keep them focused? Why should I have to work harder at something that some happen naturally?

I have over 20% of my 6th grade class failing choir. How hard is it to pass 6th grade choir. Music theory, the same as I have taught it for the past 30 years, gets these kids nowhere. When assignments are supposedly done in the class, why do almost 40% of them fail to turn it in. Why did over 20% of the class fail their last test, EVEN WHEN THEY COULD USE THEIR NOTES?

The advanced high school kids don't respond unless they're yelled at. Let a total stranger talk to them and everyone responds; they don't even respond when I say "hi" anymore.

I know I'm burned out; I know I still care. I think that's what bothers me the most, is that it still bothers me when I can't get to them. They don't seem to care, why do I have to be the only person who does care?

I sat down here, before writing in the blog, to look for other positions. With it being mid November I realize that the jobs are few and far between. I should be happy that I have a job I suppose, but it sure is miserable.

To make things worse our high school is a disaster. No adult runs the building. Our principal is rarely seen and even less effective when she is seen. The assistants have their hands tied trying to complete all aspects of the school. The inmates are running the asylum and the students KNOW it.

I guess I need to keep buying lottery tickets!

2011 Update

Wow, it's been over 18 months since my last post. It would be impossible to summarize in a short space how much has happened and is currently happening, but here goes:
Michelle and Steve got married in June, 2010, so they're married over a year now. We now have three grandsons: Triston, James and the latest addition, Marino. Triston and Marino are brothers; Rachel is their mom. James is Nick's son. Don't make me think of their birthdates...it's mind boggling sometimes.

Redford Union Schools is quickly drowning in debt, likely to be taken over by a state appointed Emergency Financial Manager, or F-em, as they're known. Job security is a thing of the past and perhaps retirement, forced or otherwise, is on the horizon.

I plan on writing more often, mostly for self-therapy for the stress of job and family situations. Marino has been diagnosed with scaphocephaly, or a fusing of the skull plates in the head, something not uncommon for preemies, I read. More on that later I'm sure.

What's the good word? The MSU Spartans beat UM for the fourth year in a row, The SL Cardinals just won the World Series, I love my wife and kids, and grandkids. Expecting a visit from Michelle and Steve soon, the weather has been acceptable. We had a great fall camping trip this year to St. Ignace, Michigan. So the year hasn't been a total write off.

More to come!

2010 Already - And another grandson

Geesh here it is February 8th and I'm just making my first entry into this blog for 2010. Talk about motivated!

We're hopefully getting our first snow storm of the season with the possibility of 6 to 10 inches on the ground by morning. As I'm sick I could sure use a nice snowday right about now. Even so we have mid-winter break coming up next week, so I could make through 'til then, but I can't imagine the mood that the students would be in tomorrow if by some chance we did have school!

I think at my last posting we had one grandson, Triston. As of this writing we now have two grandsons, adding James Michol on January 1st of 2010.



Michelle's wedding is also coming up fast (late June) so it has been a busy 2009 and continuing into 2010. Hang on...here we go!

Barkley, "Marley and...", me

I'm not usually inspired to write deep things for consumption in cyberspace but last night I watched the movie "Marley and Me" on HBO. Hey, it was free and I hadn't seen the movie. The synopsis is primarly about a young couple who hope to delay the start of their family by adopting a dog, in this case Marley who is a labrador, golden to be exact. The movie focuses on the struggles of training this seemingly unruly dog, but its main focus is the struggle this couple is having with their marriage and eventual three kids. Unlike most movies the characteristics of this family are quite typical and very believable; all the while dealing with the antics of Marley.

The husband, a newspaper man, ends up writing a regular column about his life, family and of course the antics of Marley. He is doing well, even if he doesn't believe it himself; everyone can sense it but himself. Anyway, the movie continues to revolve around the family.

This is where most people would continue to see the importance, or relevance of the family's plight and fight to suceed; but I really want to focus on the dealings with the dog, who continues to age, not always well, in the movie.

The kids are growing and Marley is aging, living a happy adult dog life, but you can see he is beginning to fail. He still has his moments of goofiness and never fails to have the last word in most situations. Nearing the end Marley's health is failing and the family now must cope with the possibilities that lie in the future. As predicted Marley needs to be put down, and the family sadly loads Marley into the back of their car so dad can take him to the vet. Everyone is sad and crying, but does get to say their final farewells.

Dad is with Marley in the vets room and he quietly tells Marley of his love and success, the joy and laughter he has brought to the family. Marley receives his final injection and dies peacefully on the table, in the arms of the father.

I sat there are cried for the last 40 minutes of this movie as we went through a similar situation this September with our beloved border terrier, Barkley. He had been a member of our family since the kids were little. Unlike Marley he never destroyed car interiors, living room furniture, or knocked out windows or doors in the house. Mind you Barkley was no saint, but certainly not the scoundrel that Marley played in the movie.

This is where I digress a bit, pardon me, but afterall it is *my* blog.

Barkley loved everyone. We used to say that strangers were just friends they Barkley hadn't met yet. He never barked at the mailman, the paperboy, neighbors or their pets; he just wanted to say hi and let's be friends. Being a terrier and small he could handily fit under the dining room table and steal your napkin off your lap, jump up on the back of the sofa and steal a scrunchy out of your hair, or any piece of food that was within jumping reach. He loved to "walk" and that's putting it mildly. He'd pull you most of the way; as long as you covered new territory you got pulled. If you turned around you were headed home and the pace was much more leisurely.

Barkley and I started out in the show ring together. I had fun, Barkley put up with me. There were a few times when we'd be at a dog show and someone would tap me on the shoulder to tell me that my dog was peeing on my pantleg. He did this only to tell the other dogs that I was his owner, and no one elses. Barkley really shined in the dog ring when Rachel, my daughter, would enter him. They always brought the best out in each other and it was shown to all. Rachel "finished" Barkley in about 6 months, not bad to a young lady in her early teens!

Barkley would camp, hated to swim, loved to chase a ball, hated to return it, but always seemed to say "here it is, come and get it and throw it again." Most importantly he loved his family.

This is where I tie my digression back into the movie.... At the end of the movie the dad is stating that dogs are pure love. Regardless of the day you've had, or the day that they have had they love you...no questions, no doubt. This was Barkley! Even towards the end of his life, when he was physically depressed, he never failed to lick your hand or your face, never failed to beg quietly at the dinner table, or sit and cuddle with you on the sofa.

Before he passed I told him (many times) that he had been the best dog ever, he loved us and helped us all to grow; and that his job here was done, he could cross over the rainbow bridge with pride knowing that he had done such a fine job here on earth.

Nick, my son, and I took Barkley to the Michigan Humane Society for his last car ride. He greeted the two workers there with tail wags and excitement to meet two more "friends". Nick carried Barkley to the table and I held him as he quietly went across the bridge to the other side.

Good boy Barkley; we love you too!

Being thankful

It's that time of year when we begin to fully realize the things in life that we should be thankful for. Many times we take things and people for granted but I've come to realize how very important and special my wife is; not only to me but to our kids as well.