HAZCOM Training

Chill'n out at the ESC for a HAZCOM education. Have you seen the stockroom? Honestly, I'm surprised that we haven't been shut down yet!

Complain Complain Complain

These kids this morning are in a complaining mood (more so than usual).  I give them a simple 6-question assignment to work on in class, so that they don’t have to take it home for homework, and half the class is complaining that I give them too much classwork.  So I say “fine … take it home and we will start on the next set of notes”  and surprise surprise … they don’t want to do that either.  I’ve offered to send them down to the comfy  chairs in the office, but alas … no takers.  I may have to insist on some going down.  I’m too tired to put up with some of these kids today.  Guess some are too tired to put up with me too.

   
    
 	
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Going to Fry's

Fry's Electronics is the most dangerous and the most amazing store in the world ... because you know I've been to them all.

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Movie Season

Below you (Coach F) will find a comprehensive list of the movies that are set to grace the theaters this summer. These movies are begging to be seen. I'll make this list, but if I miss any, I would be happy to add.  I count 12 blockbusters, each at $9 so if I do my math right ... Kathy and Mrs. Coach F are going to have to get a summer job. : ) 

March 6 - Watchmen

March 27 - Monsters vs. Aliens (in 3D no less)

May 1 - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

May 8 - Star Trek

May 15 - Angels and Demons

May 22 - Terminator Salvation

June 5 - Land of the Lost

June 5 - Year One

June 26 - Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

July 1 - Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs 

July 17 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

August 7 - G.I.Joe: Rise of Cobra

Fun With Google Maps

Any body reading this wondering where the Evil Science Teachers live ... here ya go.  Looks like Mr Evil was out.   More fun to come.

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POOP TECH

How could I forget this?!?  About 2 weeks ago, I was forced invited to go to Hobby Lobby to by stuff for Katy's invites to her Big 3 Party, and as we approach the car ... we notice there is a business card sticking out of our driver's side window.  As I read the card ... I notice that is is for a new business in the area.  Wasn't sure that this was even a need in the Lubbock metropolis for their survices.  When I got home ... I checked out thier web site and ... sure enough, for a small, reasonable fee they will do a job that Americans just won't do.  These fine gentelmen will come by our home not every now-and-then, but as often as twice a week and pick up the dog poop in your yard!

Basketball Tuesday ... Last One

Last game for the girls and last home game for the boys.  Tonight ... we face the Smyer Bobcats.  JV  girls won in a game that could have gone terribly, terribly wrong (not unlike seeing our Super. in drag, but that's a whole nother therapy session).  Update as the game goes.

UPDATE- WF 26 SM 28

UPDATE- I think Coach F has many, many clones ... he's walked by at least 5 times, but never back the other way.

UPDATE-  WF 41, SM 61

Tough game on senior night.  Boys are up next.

UPDATE- WF 30 SM 37

Boys played hard ... kept it close for a while, but in then in the end it was not to be

UPDATE- Coach F's youngest found some new friends and unbeknownst to him, I snapped these pics while he thought he was cleverly hidden.

TCEA - Day 3

Last day of the conference ... big door prize day ... or so I hear.  Session at 8am on creating a Moodle.org site, a pretty cool online classroom site I'm thinking about implementing for TAKS, more on this later.  There was this one guy that came in late, sat in listening and taking notes then, with five minutes left in the session and our speaker on a role ... he asks a blindingly brilliant question that brings everything to a stop.  He asks "I occurs to me that you have not yet shown us how to make a page from scratch.  Can you please show us?"  This just bring everyone to a stop.  The speaker tells him that's what we've been doing!  He nods his head and we end the session. 

From here, I went to explore the exhibits for the final time ... talked to some guys about an online calender hosting site which would be better than MS Office.

After that, down to the ballroom for the closing session.  The speaker was Dr. Robert Ballard, the guy who found evidence of plate tectonics, underwater sea vents, or black smokers, and the Titanic.  Really good session about his Jason Project and how they are live streaming deep sea exploration to thousands of kids in public schools.  

There was a plethera of door prizes ... none of which I was alowed to take home.  The best one was a $7500 Promethean classroom whith Promethean Board and attached projector, 34 active votes and free training.  Wouldn't have minded that.  Oh well.  I did sign up to win one of 50 iPods at the vender exhibits.  Probably only get junk mail.

After the convention came to a close (12:00) and before  I flew out (5:20) we stopped to eat at a Mongolian grill down town and killed 4 hours at the Texas History Museum.  It was there I heard the quote of the year from a 10 year old boy.  He looks at his mom and says "Wow, it's like I'm surrounded by history!"

TCEA - Day 2

Day 2 of the TCEA convention ... much like day 1.  Started out with a session at 9 about ways to use Excel, then on to one at 10.  The one at 10 was advertised as ways to make science lessons more interesting for kids by using new technology ... so it was PACKED!  What wasn't advertised was the fact that the grade level was K-3rd.  8/16ths of the group bailed.  

UPDATE- Killed some time in the exhibit hall talking to some folks about stuff they want to sell.  Got some good ideas and some gadgets I wouldn't mind having.  Nobody volunteered to come and convince the school board to pay unfortunately.  They kept telling me that was my job.

Went to the state capital building last night and got some great pics.  Here's one.  

More will come when I get back home ... I forgot the cable for my phone/camera/pda/theft deterrent system

UPDATE - Ate at a really good bbq joint.  I heard from a reliable source I listened to yesterday morning that it is one of the oldest in town ... and is frequented that none other than our own Gov. Perry.  Didn't see him unless he was upstairs in the VIP room and not out on the patio with us peons.  Great food though ... the place is called Iron Works Barbecue.

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Day 1

Day 1 and I'm starting off with the TECA Starters class ... Woo! No indegestion and free coffee so its a good start.

UPDATE- 230, taking my 1st break. Sevral free pens and shirts and I signed up to win a bunch of junkmail advertized as a TV or computer. Back for more.

Blogging from A-Town

I'll be updating everyone back home from Austin as the week goes on. Hanging out at the airport now ... flight leaves at 4.

UPDATE- Flight was early, got lost on the way to the convention center ... made our way to the hotel ... now on our way to Papadoux's. Updates and indigestion to follow.