Happy New Year

I will be glad for the holidays to be over for only one reason... so I can get back on my diet. I have eaten nothing but junk for a solid month and it shows. I will get back with the program Monday.

Happy New Year, everyone!

This graphic is aimed at me...

This is serious

As 2015 comes to a close, I want you all to know I take this blog very seriously. I have been posting something (almost) every day, and sometimes twice a day for four and a half years. I have posted nearly 1,800 times and have over 30,000 page views. I try very hard to keep things fresh and interesting. I put a lot of effort into my writing and try to keep it from becoming monotonous or boring. I hope you all have as much fun reading this blog as I do writing it.

The Common Core

As a teacher, people ask me all the time about the Common Core. I pains me so much to see what education has become, that I don't even like to talk about it. If you don't know what Common Core is, or if you just want to know more about it, I'll let you do your own research. For the purpose of this post, I'll tell you Common Core is more about the path a student takes to arrive at an answer more than finding the actual correct answer. It's supposed to be about thinking skills more than the accuracy of the answer. I guess the theory is if students are better thinkers, they will become more accurate in their answers. I disagree. 9x7=63. What's wrong with just memorizing that fact? Why must we ask kids to first multiply 10x7 and then subtract 1x7? Our education system cannot be built on students being given credit for taking the right path, but arriving at the wrong answer.

Tinkle!

I totally want one of these for my classroom! As a teacher, I spend more time sending kids to the potty than actually teaching. Not kidding about that, folks.

Same Old Bungles

I posted something about this same topic on November 16th. That’s the night the Bengals lost to the Texans on primetime television. The big issue was the other team’s ability to make halftime adjustments while the Bengals seem completely incapable of doing the same. I place this continual problem squarely on the shoulders of Marvin Lewis.

As I watched the Bengals play the Broncos on Monday Night Football, I witnessed the same problem rearing its ugly head again. The Broncos made halftime adjustments and came out firing in the second half. The Bengals sat on their hands and allowed the Broncos to take it to 'em. I will shout it from the mountaintops again… Marvin Lewis needs to go! He is a horrible game manager and does not know how to make halftime adjustments. In addition, his carefree coaching style makes for a very undisciplined team. Undisciplined teams don’t win big games. The Bengals don’t win big games. The Bengals committed stupid penalties and ultimately fumbled away a game they clearly should have won.

The Bengals are in the playoffs, but I fear a repeat of the last four years… a first round loss. I’m looking at you, Marvin Lewis. You are a good, regular season, 1:00 on Sunday coach. You are terrible in primetime, high-pressure games. We need somebody else to take us to the next level.

Yum!

It's hard to beat blueberry preserves on biscuits.

Too cute! I just had to post this.

Introvert

I am an extremely quiet person. I can go for hours without saying a word and be perfectly content. I have always been made to feel like I'm a social misfit or there's something wrong with me just because I don't like to talk. In fact, I'm just an introvert. There's nothing wrong with that. Some people enjoy conversation. I don't. Some people need social interaction to survive. I don't. There's nothing wrong with me. I can be social when I want to be. Sometimes I'm even in the mood for social interaction. But if I'm not in the mood to talk, it doesn't make me some sort of socially inept, backward bumpkin. Most people can't understand this (and I really don't expect the to). The graphic below might help. It's all true except the part about talking about life for hours. There ain't nothin' I'm gonna talk about for hours. I don't care how interested I am in the topic. However, just because I don't like to talk, doesn't mean I don't think. I always have something going on in my head, I just don't feel the need to tell everybody else about it.

Political Correctness

Does anybody believe that political correctness hasn't gotten completely out of hand? Traditional Christmas cookies have always been gingerbread men. What kind of store sells non gender specific gingerbread people? Seriously? Somebody gets offended at the term gingerbread MAN? You gotta be kidding!

Those d%$! crackers!

Tami and I are babysitting the grandkids today. We got a little bit of a shock when Elliott asked for some damn crackers. We did a double take until we realized he was asking for graham crackers. It makes sense because his "gr's" come out as "d's". He calls Tami "Dam-ma", so it stands to reason graham crackers would be damn crackers.

Gifts

I sure am glad I didn't get a Christmas gift like THIS!

Dickens!

Charles Dickens wrote one of the most beloved Christmas classics of all time. A Christmas Carol, featuring Ebenezer Scrooge and his three ghostly visitors never gets old.

In honor of Charles Dickens, I present you this Christmas funny...

Merry Christmas

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. Take a moment and remember what Christmas REALLY is. The celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss in "How the Grinch stole Christmas":

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

Merry Christmas, loyal blog readers!

Merry (hic!) Christmas!

Nothing quite says Christmas like dealing with difficult relatives and getting plastered to even tolerate them. Thankfully this is not the case in my family.

Donner and Blitzen

I guess ol' Santa knew what he was doing when he named his reindeer. Did you know Donner and Blitzen is German for thunder and lightning? After these pre-Christmas eve thunderstorms, the names of those reindeer seem darned appropriate.

A thunderstorm on December 23rd? It's tough to beat that. I'm loving it!

Holiday Pounds

It's a tale as old as time itself. Putting on holiday pounds is almost as sure as death and taxes. I am not an exception to this. I have not been on my diet since Thanksgiving and I haven't been behaving myself at all. I will hit the diet full force again next week. Until then, I guess I will eat, drink and be merry.

Good Advice

This is an oldie, but a goodie...

Good advice to live by. Don't ever give up!

Eggs

Have you ever heard you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket? Here's why.

People back in the day sure knew what they were talking about!

Star Wars (No spoilers here)

We saw the new Star Wars movie last night. While Tami and I are not huge fans of the movie franchise, we are familiar with the story. We enjoyed the movie a lot. It was well done and very entertaining. We were not disappointed by any stretch of the imagination. Don't worry. I won't be posting any spoilers. Go see it even if you only have a mild interest. it's worth it.

Just Because

I don't know why I find stuff like this so funny. I just do...

Late braking indeed!

Let It.... NO!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
but the fire is so delightful
and since we've no place to go
Let it... NO! Let it... NO! Let it... NO!

You guessed it everybody. As I drove to work this morning I saw the first, light, wispy, flakes of snow. The flurries only lasted a few seconds, but it definitely happened. Mark the date... December 18th. Three days before the official beginning of winter, the first snow fell. It was light and inconsequential, but it fell.

Everybody sing along...

And since we've no place to go...
Let it... NO! Let it... NO! Let it... NO!

Yes!

I am totally going to post this in my classroom. It says it all!

Star Wars

The new Star Wars movie comes out in a few days and the sci-fi world is losing its collective mind. I have posted a Star Wars spoiler below. View the photo at your own risk!

Star Wars spoiler alert---

Staying young

I couldn't agree any more with this statement. Just ask any teacher or look at my hair. It's turning gray and falling out. Kids keeping you young? Bah! Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Belt

Who among us can't relate to this? All my dad had to do was reach for his belt buckle and it struck fear into us kids. We were ALL raised on the belt and we turned out fine.

Lost our cards

Sorry for not posting today. I got home from work and headed directly to Greensburg to babysit the grandkids. We had a blast but failed in the bedtime department. We were instructed to have the kids in bed by 8. Things didn't quite work out. The kids were still up at 10 when their parents got home. It's not that we didn't try... we just ran into some headstrong (and really cute) kids. I just hope they don't revoke our babysitting cards.

Concert

Sveta is a member of the Columbus, Indiana Children's Choir. She's actually in the preparatory choir, which is the training group for the real choir. This afternoon they had their Christmas concert. Here's Sveta after the concert with some flowers from her parents. We also ran into an unexpected guest in the lobby.

Rember

You should always "rember" to use spellcheck before showcasing your patriotism.

Warm Winter

As you know, we are experiencing unseasonably warm temperatures. In fact, we are breaking records.

Since 1870 there have been 13 days in December that reached 70 degrees. Today was one of them. Tomorrow will be the 14th day to ever reach 70 in December. Incredible.

Shhhhh!

Before anyone gets offended... this quote is directed toward me.

This blog is called Silence Runs Deep for a reason. I have found a lot of success in my life by just being quiet or knowing when to shut up at the right time. Many times when I've had a major problem in my life, it was because of my mouth. It's better to keep your mouth shut and let everyone think you're a fool rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt.

30K

Another milestone eclipsed. This humble blog, Silence Runs Deep, reached 30,000 page views today. It is unbelievable that you good folks have taken the time to look at this little corner of the blogosphere over 30,000 times. From the bottom of my heart thank you for taking the time to spend a little bit of your time each day with me and my musings.

4 more!

Four more days until Christmas break! This is the best time of year second only to summer. The kids are ready for a break and the teachers feel the same. Can't wait for some relaxation and fun for the Christmas season.

Soli' Deo Gloria!

Sleepy Head

Teachers can have fun too.

I have a student who falls asleep in my class every day. Most of the time it's in the morning, but today he fell asleep about 20 minutes before dismissal. He wasn't just taking a light nap. He was dead to the world. I told the rest of my students if he stayed asleep we should all sneak out and let him wake up to an empty classroom. The kids loved the idea. I finished teaching and had the kids VERY QUIETLY pack up their book bags and prepare to go home. We silently crept out of the room while sleeping beauty didn't even stir. He slept a few more minutes and then woke up. The look on his face was priceless when he realized he was the only person in the room.

This is the second time in my career I've pulled this prank. Not all teachers are boring fuddy duddies.

Santa!

In the spirit of Christmas, I present to you creepy Santa photos...

Sunset

A picture is worth a thousand words. This was the view out my back door this evening. Any description from me would taint the image. Let the beauty of God's creation speak for itself. Soli' Deo Gloria!

The Grinch

Christmas is a short two and a half weeks away. That blows my mind. I cannot believe the holiday season is upon us. Before we can blink it will be 2016.

As Christmas approaches, I am reminded of what the season is really about. It has absolutely nothing to do with presents, but does involve one very precious gift. God sent his only son to the world in the form of a man to save sinners like me. I am not worried about what I will "get" for Christmas. I have already received the one and only gift I need. Jesus Christ. The Savior of the world.

Underage drinking

It seems kids are starting to drink alcoholic beverages at a much younger age nowadays. Teenagers have always tried to get ahold of some contraband booze, but it seems getting the stuff is entirely too easy for kids today.

This kid is clearly hitting the sauce at a very early age.

This kid already has impeccable taste. But I can't say I approve of the drinking and driving.

I can relate

I can totally relate to this. I used to be a person who could stay up late and get up early the next morning. Not any more! As I grow older, I consider it a triumph if I make it past 11:00. Age does have a lot to do with it, but I also blame my easy chair. My recliner is waaaaaaay too comfortable for my own good.

I left the mob

A few years ago I was spouting off about The Shave Mob. Their mail order razor cartridges are a fraction of the cost of those you can buy in the grocery store (Mach 3 or Fusion for example). For a long time I was really happy with the quality shave I got with The Mob's products. However, in the last few months the cartridges starting breaking even before the blades got dull. I thought maybe I got a bum batch, so I ordered some more. I got the same result. Clearly the Shave Mob started making cartridges of inferior quality. In other words, they were cheap in more ways than one. I take my shaving very seriously, and I decided it was time for a change. Dollar Shave Club is not an option. They send you cartridges every month. I sharpen my blades and they tend to last longer. Therefore I needed something where I could buy on demand and not on some subscription service's timetable. Enter Harry's Razors. Hearing they had German engineered blades was enough to sell me on trying their product. I got my first shipment yesterday. I have shaved twice with my new razor and Harry's blades. The jury is still out on how well I like them. The price is comparable and they can't be any worse than the Shave Mob.