This past Thursday I witnessed one of the most moving things in my 33 years - singing Legionnaires. I was subbing at an elementary school all week ($$) and on Thursday we had a short assembly.
The kids sat on the gym floor and in marched a bunch of men in their 60s to 80s. Behind them marched a smaller group carrying the flags. For the next hour the men sang many songs about war & life. Needless to say all the teachers were spellbound and most of the kids as they stood in their uniforms, singing proudly.
(unfortunately some Grade 6's were idiots but I volunteered to give them detention. I enjoyed it).
I think more people are "getting it" with the current war 'over there.' A veteran doesn't have to be someone who fought in WWI or WWII - it can be a current member of the military.
cgc
Monday, November 13
Sunday, November 5
I just don't understand
This past week in Newfoundland a man got sentenced several years in jail for stabbing two people. One was a cop. It was expected.
In another sentencing, a man got 6 months for leaving a scene of a crime. You may say no big deal, but the crime scene he left was a dead boy on a road. Apparently he doesn't remember hitting the kid. Oh, plus he had a few drinks but waited until it was out of his system before he turned himself in to the cops. Many people are upset. I can't blame them. If I went out and shot a moose today without a licence, I would probably get more jail time.
Sometimes it seems the accused have more rights than the victims in Canada.
On CNN this morning I found out that Saddam got the death penalty by hanging. ouch. Not a surprise there, considering the nutjob that he is. But he will probably win an appeal, saying if he is put to death, there will be a lot of civil unrest. Politics and the (in)justice system, how tangled they are!
later
cgc
In another sentencing, a man got 6 months for leaving a scene of a crime. You may say no big deal, but the crime scene he left was a dead boy on a road. Apparently he doesn't remember hitting the kid. Oh, plus he had a few drinks but waited until it was out of his system before he turned himself in to the cops. Many people are upset. I can't blame them. If I went out and shot a moose today without a licence, I would probably get more jail time.
Sometimes it seems the accused have more rights than the victims in Canada.
On CNN this morning I found out that Saddam got the death penalty by hanging. ouch. Not a surprise there, considering the nutjob that he is. But he will probably win an appeal, saying if he is put to death, there will be a lot of civil unrest. Politics and the (in)justice system, how tangled they are!
later
cgc
Wednesday, October 25
Sickness & Interviews
I have pneumonia for the first time in my life. After running a temp over 38 degrees for four days my wife suggested a trip to the doc. A chest x-ray later confirmed it.
So now I am home, downstairs resting. With all the sweating and farting since Sunday, the rec room sofa may be on its last legs. And yes, this is the same couch that was "roughed up" getting downstairs.
Lucky for me my profs are understanding, and I have an extension on a paper.
I had an interview last Friday for a job I was already doing. Weird, eh? But I didn't get the gig. I came in second place. F@#k. Admin said I was fine, but they gave it to the guy with elementary training and I have jr/sr high school training. Then she said something that threw me - my personality is better suited to junior high school. Huh?
So I am back to square one. I hope the jr/sr schools start calling again, after telling them I have been booked for the past three weeks.
sigh
cgc
So now I am home, downstairs resting. With all the sweating and farting since Sunday, the rec room sofa may be on its last legs. And yes, this is the same couch that was "roughed up" getting downstairs.
Lucky for me my profs are understanding, and I have an extension on a paper.
I had an interview last Friday for a job I was already doing. Weird, eh? But I didn't get the gig. I came in second place. F@#k. Admin said I was fine, but they gave it to the guy with elementary training and I have jr/sr high school training. Then she said something that threw me - my personality is better suited to junior high school. Huh?
So I am back to square one. I hope the jr/sr schools start calling again, after telling them I have been booked for the past three weeks.
sigh
cgc
Wednesday, October 18
Tuesday, October 17
Kids
It seems the news is filled with stories of kids turning into nutjobs.
I read the paper today and the main story was about some kids, aged 7 to 11, trapping a disabled kid in a shed and burning it down. Lucky for the kid an adult came by and saved his ass. The cops can't charge the kids, but by Jesus a can of whup-ass is needed for the disturbed little buggers.
What are parents doing today? I am not a dad yet, but one is certain - I won't let the kid run the show. He (I gotta have a boy) will know who is the boss - his mother, then me (ha).
Everytime I hear a kid whine or complain, my toes curl. I just want to say, "Stop. The decision is final. Keep whining like that you will lose....blah blah blah."
As a teacher I find it hard to bite my tongue because it is the parent's "fault" in giving the kid the misconception that they are in control. All this touchy-feely kindness has gone WAY overboard. There is nothing wrong with a kid being scared of their folks. I was scared of mine.
And I turned out....ok. :)
cgc
I read the paper today and the main story was about some kids, aged 7 to 11, trapping a disabled kid in a shed and burning it down. Lucky for the kid an adult came by and saved his ass. The cops can't charge the kids, but by Jesus a can of whup-ass is needed for the disturbed little buggers.
What are parents doing today? I am not a dad yet, but one is certain - I won't let the kid run the show. He (I gotta have a boy) will know who is the boss - his mother, then me (ha).
Everytime I hear a kid whine or complain, my toes curl. I just want to say, "Stop. The decision is final. Keep whining like that you will lose....blah blah blah."
As a teacher I find it hard to bite my tongue because it is the parent's "fault" in giving the kid the misconception that they are in control. All this touchy-feely kindness has gone WAY overboard. There is nothing wrong with a kid being scared of their folks. I was scared of mine.
And I turned out....ok. :)
cgc
What I Have Been Up To
It has been too long since my last posting...
I have been teaching 2 hours a morning at a local elementary since the end of September. I will know by Friday if the job will be mine for the rest of the school year. I would take a hit $$-wise, but having a year replacement time would look great on the resume. Plus, it gives me time to work on my Masters.
Speaking of my Masters, %&&*@$#$ readings and research papers. I long for the end of the semester already. As the cobwebs leave my brain, confusion enters. :)
I have been teaching 2 hours a morning at a local elementary since the end of September. I will know by Friday if the job will be mine for the rest of the school year. I would take a hit $$-wise, but having a year replacement time would look great on the resume. Plus, it gives me time to work on my Masters.
Speaking of my Masters, %&&*@$#$ readings and research papers. I long for the end of the semester already. As the cobwebs leave my brain, confusion enters. :)
Sunday, October 8
Labels
On Friday I was called a metrosexual.
Me.
I guess wearing nice stylish shoes and a decent shirt warrents that label. ha My coworker asked where I got the shoes, we chatted and then she laughed and called me a metrosexual. She even asked if I plucked my eyebrows. I will not answer that.
I told if she ever saw me at my house, "slob" would probably be the label she would give me with my old jeans and beer t-shirts.
It makes me wonder how "dressed down" people get when they get home. If you don't socialize with your coworkers outside of work, then you really don't get to know them. Sure, sometimes it may be difficult to get together, or you may even dislike a person, but in my experience, a group that plays together while working together is a healthier group.
Time to go look for some stray hairs!
cgc
Me.
I guess wearing nice stylish shoes and a decent shirt warrents that label. ha My coworker asked where I got the shoes, we chatted and then she laughed and called me a metrosexual. She even asked if I plucked my eyebrows. I will not answer that.
I told if she ever saw me at my house, "slob" would probably be the label she would give me with my old jeans and beer t-shirts.
It makes me wonder how "dressed down" people get when they get home. If you don't socialize with your coworkers outside of work, then you really don't get to know them. Sure, sometimes it may be difficult to get together, or you may even dislike a person, but in my experience, a group that plays together while working together is a healthier group.
Time to go look for some stray hairs!
cgc
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