A Life Worthy

Category: A Life Worthy

  • Tradition

    traditionIt’s a powerful thing.

    And like any powerful thing, tradition is full of potential benefits, but also fraught with danger.

    Kinda like nuclear energy.

    Or drone surveillance.

    Maybe GMOs. (more…)

  • What I Can Do

    HomelessI’m still hoping that I wasn’t scammed.

    They looked like a family having hard times, but for all I know those “kids” may have been actors of very small stature.

    All right, so maybe that’s a little cynical.

    Maybe. (more…)

  • $14.21

    small changeOK, so some of you are going to call me an idiot, a patsy, a pansy-faced sucker.

    And maybe I am.

    I’m sitting in a fast food joint, slurping a soda that I’m not supposed to have because I have braces (don’t tell my orthodontist).  I came here to write a post just for you, because you’re one of my favorite people.  The plan was to write about a cool tradition my family has for my wife’s birthday, but then I got distracted by the news that the AMA has officially designated obesity a disease.  I decided that I needed to vent about the inanity of that concept, and, having an hour or so to kill, I plopped down on a stool to ingest sugar and fat while ranting and raving.

    You’re going to have to wait for both of those posts (and I hope you do), because when I did the afore-mentioned plopping, I saw something. (more…)

  • Bachelor Weekend

    lonely 2I really shouldn’t be left alone.

    Cathy and the kids are at a homeschool convention this weekend.  I had an unmissable appointment yesterday, so I was unable to go with them.

    That means I’m home.

    All by myself. (more…)

  • Real Men Don’t Wear Flip-Flops

    flip flopSeriously.

    I was in the market yesterday, and I noticed a display of flip-flops.  For those of you who don’t know, “Flip-Flops” is the technical term for inexpensive, backless sandals, usually made of rubber.  There are a variety of names associated with this casual footwear, but the intellectual elite know them as “Flip-Flops.” (more…)

  • The Final Anne-alysis

    paintbrushTake one small, inbred country town.

    Add a psychotic, delusional orphan girl.

    Throw in a splash of raspberry cordial.

    Mix thoroughly.

    What do you get?

    That’s been my question. (more…)

  • Grammarfitti

    I’m Zorro, only with a Sharpie.graffiti

    The first time was at Home Depot.  I stood in line, waiting to make a return, when I was assaulted.  The sign said something like, “Bring you’re return’s to the front counter.”

    I tried to ignore it.

    Really.  (more…)

  • Good Enough

    English: 4th place ribbon for a race

    When is it good to say good enough is good enough?

    Last time, I was talking about the astounding level of mediocrity that I find in my classroom.  I’m not just talking about the things they don’t know—like my World History student who thinks that Christianity has its roots in the teachings of Confucius.

    Seriously.

    No, I’m talking about the level of effort I see—and the level of effort that is rewarded.

    What can I do to teach my own kids to be more than mediocre? (more…)

  • Good Job?

    thumbsFor the record…30% is not usually good.

    In baseball, batting .300 is only so-so.

    In basketball, hitting 3 out of 10 free throws is not impressive.

    In a classroom, 30% is an F.  Large-scale F.  Like, If the grades went any lower than “F,” you’d get that lower grade kind of failure.

    So why, when recording a stack of student-graded quizzes, did I come across a paper with “6/20=30%—Good Job!!” written on it? (more…)

  • Keep On

    trailOh, Yeah, life goes on

    Long after the thrill of living is gone…

    A singularly depressing and unwholesome song, yet possessing a kernel of truth.

    I’ve rambled on before about how theater is kind of a metaphor for life.  I think of this again as I prepare for the second-to-last weekend of Treasure Island.  (more…)