One dead battery and one poopy diaper later, and we’re off!
Mileage: 101166
All posts by Andrew
Nine Years Down
It’s been another great year in the classroom, and I feel as engaged and motivated as I ever have. I’m definitely looking forward to the time off in the coming summer weeks, but I no longer fear the arrival of September, as I did when I first jumped into this new career.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since I left my IT career. I would write “no regrets” but that sounds too pensive, like I really do have regrets but I’m trying to convince myself that I don’t. In this case it’s the opposite of regret—I am profoundly fortunate that I found a career that gives back more than I put into it. For those of you who know some of my background interests, consider that in addition to teaching a fantastic social studies course all year, I did the following in my classroom:
- taught students how to design 3D models to print on a 3D printer
- had a bocce ball tournament (well, we went outside for this)
- blasted music during our weekly advisory musical chairs deathmatch
- played dungeons and dragons (!)
It’s a very good fit.
The Eels & Steve Perry
Mind-boggling Eels concert at the Fitzgerald Theater tonight. Mark Oliver Everett and the band were in top form. As I giddily posted to facebook afterwards, “Eels were SO good. I’d rank this in my top five lifetime shows. Stunning performance. We got Grace Kelly Blues AND Last Stop This Town. (Two favorite songs.) Along with a lot of great numbers from the latest album. Joy. Rapture.”
But that was only the beginning. After the second encore, Everett invites none other than Steve Perry (Journey!) on stage for his first public performance in 20 years. Unbelievable. A few pictures borrowed from the internet (my phone didn’t hold up) followed by a video of the Steve Perry encore:
Opting Out
We came across this display at a local St. Paul school a few weeks ago. It gave me hope. Kudos to the courageous parents, teachers, and administrators who resist the pressure to conflate standardized test scores with educational achievement.
Including the top shelf, out of the frame above, I counted 46 houses. The school has 570 students in grades 4-8 this year, suggesting that about 8% of the students opted out.
A small step?
Master and Apprentice
After work yesterday:
Griffin: “Daddy, want to help me build my castle?”
Daddy: “Sure! Hmm, let’s put this block over here…”
Griffin: “No! That doesn’t go there. It should go here.”
Daddy: “Oh, ok. … Is this the wall of the castle?”
Griffin: “No!” <rolls eyes> “That’s a row of milk jugs stuck together.”
Daddy: “Ah, I see. Is this the castle living room?”
Griffin: “No! That’s the trap for catching bad guys.”
…
You know nothing, Jon Snow.
Mother’s Day
Two generations of amazing mamas with their latest handiwork.
First Ice Cream Truck of 2014
A lovely, warm, Saturday evening, clouds looming with impending rain, the chimes of the ice cream truck arrived at the perfect moment.
(Griffin notes that this wasn’t really the first ice cream truck of 2014; it was the first one where we bought ice cream. )
Poor Turtles!
When Sarah told Griffin that she was eating a “Turtle Bar,” he frowned and asked,
“Is there really a turtle in there??”
(He’s convinced that we are bent on the destruction of turtles; see our recent post about Spicy Turtle Blood.)
May Day Parade
An annual tradition, we joined friends near Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis for the 40th annual May Day Parade. It’s an incredible production every year. The pictures below illustrate some of the contrasts and creativity that characterize the parade. Click to view a larger slideshow.
Before the official parade began. Flaming punk ferris wheel and skating a half-pipe in a cage…
Big section on bees
The hive
A section focused on the tiny side of life.
A rotting log.
A beetle.
Amazing costume
Al Franken ran by just before the canoe guy, but I missed my shot.
Spicy Turtle Blood
We’re a Sriracha family normally, but last night we broke out the regular chili oil thinking it might go better with the delicious Tom Ka Gai that Sarah made (it didn’t).
Griffin reached for the unfamiliar bottle, took one look at the label, and exclaimed,
“What is this?
Spicy turtle blood???”
Maggie’s 2nd Birthday
Maggie’s birthday, just a few days after Griffin’s rescheduled party, was a lower key affair, but fun for all of us. It began with some presents in the morning before Andrew went to school. Then a pancake breakfast with Caroline and Griffin. Then, by Maggie’s request, an expedition to Adventure Peak. After Andrew got home, we all headed over to the Highland Grill for dinner. Finally, a cake perfectly sized for a two-year-old.
Sleepy two-year-old.
I try! I try!
I like it!
Great new books from Caroline — best read together in a box, of course.
Special pancake breakfast with Caroline and Griffin
Birthday dinner at the Highland Grill
Sans cookie
Maggie and Daddy
Happy Birthday to Maggie!
Yay!
I know what to do now…
Blow out the candle!
Eating cake
Happy brother, angling for more cake.
Happy girl