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Adventures in Mediocrity (9 unread)

• 

  Life changing decisions already? Part 3

  Posted: August 19th, 2008, 5:25pm EDT by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  We had our meeting with the new principal and the GT supervisor. After all that build up, the meeting went very well. We sat down and after introductions, the principal said, "so, Marc will be starting in third grade with us this year." She was very supportive and said they would do all they could to make sure he is successful. Now we just have to hope both our childrens' transitions to their new school go smoothly.
• 

  Life changing decisions already? Part 2

  Posted: August 1st, 2008, 6:01pm EDT by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  The other night, I was talking to my dad and he asked "how would this decision be good for Marc?" I realized Amy and I always discussed the matter in terms of what was best for Marc but when we shared the dilemma with others, it sounded more like a power struggle between the parents and the school. From the beginning, Marc has been very involved in this process. He enjoys being challenged and dislikes the attention of being expected to get every answer right by his peers. He is very much in favor of acceleration and was disappointed by the principal's decision. We understand that Marc does what is expected of him. If a teacher expects him to do 2nd grade work, that's what he'll do. If they expect him to do the fourth grade work he's capable of, that's what he'll do. He's mature, has a very god sense of humor, and is tall for his age. He's not into competitive sports (it's funny to me how many people have suggested not accelerating because he'll be a year younger than his competitors in sports). We really feel he'd be bored and unchallenged in a second grade class.
  
  Last evening we got the test results. Even we were surprised by what they showed. Marc's IQ was extremely high. His Math ability was "Very Superior" and his English was Superior. The psychologist actually wrote "it would be detrimental for Marc to be placed in second grade classroom next year. Across the board he was advanced in all subjects.
  
  As a parent, it's interesting getting results like this. It's not like A's on a report card. He didn't accomplish some great feet. He simply is what he is. It doesn't make him better, it makes him unique with special needs. It means it's going to be a great effort over the next 10 (yes, we probably lost one) years for us to make sure he gets the challenges and education he needs and deserves.
  
  So now we have to go back to battle. Hopefully the tests will speak for themselves and little will need to be said after the results are shared. We'll just have to see what the next few weeks bring.
• 

  Castrating My Truck or The Death of a Small Portion of My Identity

  Posted: August 1st, 2008, 5:04pm EDT by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  Due to the ridiculous rise in the price of gasoline and it's effect on the price of everything else, the great distance to any place to you can legally drive a vehicle off road, and the wear and tear I've put on my truck; I've decided give up offroading. I'll eventually sell the truck for something more eco friendly, but for now I'm just removing 400 or so pounds of steal and 2" of extra rubber. I figure I should pick up between 3-5 MPG which is a lot these days.
  
  Sunday night I listed my parts on the classified sections of my Xterra club forums. By Monday morning I had sold my CB, skid plates, sliders (steel step rails), steel bumper, one of three oversized tires, and my hi lift jack. I should clear about what it costs to get Marc's testing (see next post). That's almost exactly half of what I paid for the stuff so I definitely got my money's worth over the past 8 years.
  
  I spent all evening Tuesday and all day today removing parts. With a small tear in my eye, sweat rolling down my face, and a combination of dirt and grease covering my entire body, I loosened rusty dirty bolts while laying in contorted positions and holding up heavy parts. I Dremmeled away broken bolts and even helped one of my buyers install the parts on his truck. By the end of the day my truck had gone from the beefy behemoth to the piddly mall crawler. I even put the stock step rails and bumper back on.
  
  The final step is the tires. I blew one out offroad last weekend. I figured that was the sign that it was time to quit before I broke something really expensive. I decided to go with small economy tires. They should have been put on Wed night but Mr. Tire broke my wheel lock key. (If you are unfamiliar with wheel locks, they are lug nuts that require a special socket to remove. If you have them, I suggest you throw remove them now and dispose of them. The chance of your wheels being stolen is much less than the chance of this thing causing you a huge hassle.)
  
  So anyway, they tried a special tool but had no luck removing the wheel locks. I called two Nissan dealers who were no help. One wanted to charge me $100 a wheel to chisel them off. Finally I was able to find the company that makes them online. They told me that I could send the broken key to them and they'd send a replacement free of charge. So, as soon as that key comes, assuming it doesn't break as well, the castration will be complete. My truck will no longer have any balls.
• 

  Life changing decisions already? Part 1

  Posted: July 31st, 2008, 3:12am EDT by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  Since Marc started school, we have been absolutely amazed by his ability to learn but aren't all parents. He had an excellent kindergarten teacher who had him reading in the first couple months of school. We hadn't pushed Marc at home. He went to kindergarten knowing the alphabet, letter sounds, and how to spell abut 10 words. Math was his real strength though. He was like a human calculator. Show him how to do something once, and he's got it. His teacher looped the class so Marc got another year with this outstanding educator. By January, the teacher was suggesting we have Marc skip 2nd grade. He let us know that Marc was well beyond the other students and that he had already taught him most of the first and second grade curriculums. He said he was having trouble keeping ahead of Marc with assignments.
  
  At first we were unsure how to handle the request. We didn't really want our little boy growing up a year quicker and we didn't we want to do what's best for him. We did a lot of reading and found that acceleration does seem to be the best option for Marc. The teacher did more testing and confirmed that Marc is highly capable.
  
  Unfortunately, we hit a great deal of resistance from the principal. The principal is one of those people who won't take a risk. He wants 100% assurance before he makes a change like this. He felt the testing the teacher gave was invalid because it could be coached. We got in contact with the county GT supervisor and a reading and math assessment were given. The reading assessment was subjective and showed Marc was reading independently at a 4th grade reading level. The math test they gave was the end of the year assessment for 3rd grade. It had a good deal of vocabulary Marc was unfamiliar with and a few concepts he had never seen. He scored a 16/26 on the assessment so the principal determined this showed he was not ready for 3rd grade. Now Marc is the kind of kid who could have aced that test if they'd shown him one time how to do each problem one time. The test wasn't an ability test, it was more of a final exam on content he hadn't seen.
  
  Because of my new job, Marc will go to a new school next year. If this transition is to occur, we feel it would be in his best interest to happen now. That way he will skip a grade and start a new school all at once. He won't get as much attention for skipping and won't have to make new friends with the possibility of having to move up later in the year.
  
  The GT supervisor understood our concerns, but without data and with the principal against it, his hands were tied. He suggested we get private educational/ ability testing which we did.
  
  Now there is a great abundance of money and assistance for children in this country for special education services. They receive testing, individual education plans, special teachers, a greater ratio of teacher to student time, and funding for many programs and materials. Unfortunately, there is very very little for gifted students. If our child had a disability, the law would require educational tests be given at no cost to the parents, however, since his special needs are at the opposite end of the spectrum, he has no right to anything. Since our child's special needs are that's he's more capable than average, we have to pay $1200 for the testing he needs. Both situations involve kids who will not receive their appropriate and least restrictive education in a regular classroom. I in no way mean this to diminish the importance of special education, I am simply showing that there is a great discrepancy. I do however see a big problem as a society if we continue to devote so little of our educational resources to our students with the most potential.
  
  So Marc was scheduled for educational testing. We were to meet with the Dr. once, then Marc was to meet with him for an interview. Following that Marc would have two sessions of testing. Finally we would get the results. We could then use this information to make a better choice about Marc's education and possibly use the results as ammunition if they showed what so many had already implied.
• 

  Long overdue

  Posted: July 31st, 2008, 2:17am EDT by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  I haven't posted recently, mostly because I really didn't have anything to say, but when has that ever stopped me from shooting off my mouth before. So, where to start?
  
  I'm starting a new job in the fall. I'll now be a high school media specialist. I'm very excited and scared to death at the same time. As I may have mentioned before, my biggest fear in life if that everyone will realize I've been faking it all along and have no idea what the hell I'm doing. That's not totally true but it sure does feel that way sometimes.
  
  I found out this job was a possibility back in October. Our school system has strange transfer process. If you are interested in a transfer you have to request it by January, even if a position is not open. If a position becomes available you get an interview. However, they can't interview until the position is available (current position holder announces retirement or resigns). This means you basically have to know a position is going to be available months before it is. Luckily for me, I happened to overhear that the current media specialist was retiring. I had really planned to wait a few year before jumping from elementary to high, but being as the school is right next to my house I had to jump on the opportunity. The kids will go to the elementary school beside the high school so logistically, the move is perfect.
  
  I worked very hard getting my portfolio up to date, speaking to high school media specialists, and reading up to prepare for my interview. I also had the recommendation of my previous supervisor, my current supervisor, my previous principal, and my current principal.
  
  My interview went really well and I really liked the principal there. I went in with thinking, if I get the job great, if not I'm happy where I am. I walked out thinking, man, I really want to work for him. The principal seems to put what's best for students first and trusts his staff as professionals. It seems more and more principals nowadays are only worried about making sure the school does well on high stakes tests and blindly follow, to the letter of the law, whatever mandate or program the county favors this month.
  
  So, I waited a month or so and got a letter stating I had received the position. Wow. It's so strange thinking about going to a new school. Everything I've done in my career has been at the same elementary school. I went from being a classroom teacher to a media specialist, but I never left my building. I'm very excited at the potential the new position has. I can work with young adults and discuss real issues, I can do much more with technology, I can read and recommend young adult novels, and I can be more of a librarian than I could teaching 25 classes a week in elementary. At the same time, I have to learn how to teach, manage, and deal with the behaviors of high school students. I also have a lot more responsibility for running a larger library, spending a much larger budget, and doing a lot more cataloging than I currently do. The thought is a very overwhelming to me.
  
  In addition, I have the added bonus of not being a the favorite coming in. When I took over at my current school, the media specialist was not well loved. My staff knew me and was very excited when I got the job, especially the tech who hated the previous media specialist (the tech is like the librarian's assistant, they do a lot of book check out, cataloging, and other mostly clerical jobs). The other person who had applied for the media specialist position at the high school was really good friends with the tech there. We've gotten along well so far but she's also let me know that she was really pushing for her friend to get the position. She felt that my previous boss had too much say in who got the position. So, although she's told me she doesn't hold it against me, it's still hard feeling like I have a strike against me before I even start.
  
  So here I am, about to go into the complete unknown. My last experience with high school was when I went there. I'm hopeful that things will go well and I will love it. At the same time it's really hard to leave my comfort zone and go into a position where I need to do well, learn quick, and show that I'm in control of it all.
• 

  Weekend in AC

  Posted: December 10th, 2007, 2:46pm EST by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  This past weekend was my big weekend in Atlantic City. Amy and I both met out weight loss goals so we both earned our trips. I booked a decent room in the Tropicana. My friend Toby and headed up for the weekend.
  
  After 3 trips around the block to find the entrance to the parking garage, we grabbed our bags (mine loaded up with a gallon of beer and Captain Morgan because Toby said their were no free drinks in tournaments), and we headed into the hotel. After hiking across the casino and asking directions 3 times (it was that far) we finally got tho the check-in desk. A nice clerk saw we were in a room clear back where we started so he nicely changed or room to this side. We hiked up to the room (my bag was really heavy by this point) only to find the room had not been cleaned; cups all over, sheets off the bed, etc. We hiked back down to the desk, were given a room clear back where we started, and hiked once again. By this point I was exhausted and needed a change of clothes. I took a couple shots of the Captain to get my game on and we headed out.
  
  We then decided to walk (against my better judgment) the 5 blocks to Caesars in the freezing cold crime ridden streets of AC. We signed up for the 9:00 tournament and walked the shops until game time.
  
  The blind structure was tough, 5000 chips, blinds up every 20 min and antes at the third level. Since the table was loose and I didn't catch any decent hands, it was hard to build a stack. I did catch quite a few free Captain and Cokes (yes they were free!). I held out for 2 hours but went out 11th out of 40 some of us. They paid the top 6. Toby went out 9th.
  
  We ended just a bit too late to make the midnight madness as the Taj so we caught the bus back to the Trop and called it a night.
  
  The next day we played the 11:00 at the Showboat and both busted early. I was flopped a straight, got it all in, and busted to a guy with 2 pair who sucked out with a boat on the river. Oh well, I got my money in when I had the best of it, what can you do?
  
  I was out early enough to play the 2:00 tournament. I figured what the hell, we came here to play. I played very conservative and enjoyed my free liquor. Between the earlier game and this one, I was in good shape :P I caught some lucky hands, built my stack slowly, and was somehow still in it after 2 hours. After the 2nd break, I was moved to a new table. They were very tight so I was able to bluff my ass off and pick up quite a few chips. The hand I did show down won so I was sitting pretty.
  
  Another move and I decided to get conservative again. We were down to two tables (about 20 of the original 50+ players were left). I couldn't believe I got this far. I got crap for a while and then picked up Ace & 7 of spades. The flop came down with two spades. I raised trying to win the hand but an old dude across the table called with a cocky grin. To my amazement another spade came on the turn. He checked, I now had the hand. The board wasn't paired so I had the nuts (highest hand possible). I tried to look nervous and raised about half the chips I had left (3/4 of the pot) and he called. The river was a blank and I looked at my chips. Not much left compared to how big the pot was. I asked nervously how many chips he had left. He said more than you have. So I thought for another minute, said "what the hell, I'mm all in" He called instantly and turned white when I showed the flush. He had 2 pair and thought I just had a pair.
  
  The next hour was pretty good. Our table broke and we were down to one table. This annoying librarian looking lady started asking about taking a collection for the bubble boy (the person who loses just before the paid positions). The tourny was paying 7, there were 9 of us. We agreed, 10 bucks each would pay the entry for the guy who bubbled. Then she busted out, two away from the bubble. I felt kind of bad for her but everyone was glad she was gone. She had been bitching about jacks for the past three hours.
  
  I was so excited, at this point I was getting money no matter what! I picked up some OK hands, played well and actually outlasted half the table. The dude across from me had about 1/2 the chips and we were down to 4 players. He was winning with ace rag over and over so I had to make a stand. I looked down and Ace 10 clubs and went all in. He called turning over Ace Jack and it was all over. Still, I just made $318 on my $65 entry. I was so psyched!
  
  I took myself out to the Hard Rock for a pig sandwich to celebrate!
  
  After that the weekend wasn't very eventful. I tried a cash game with Toby that night. There were 5 really drunk guys at our limit table. Thy were all going full speed ahead on every hand. You can beat one drunk idiot but 5 of them made it impossible. I had pocket queens busted 3 times and aces busted once buy idiot hands like 9 4 hitting 2 pair. I should have walked earlier but I was kept thinking they couldn't get lucky forever. I learned my lesson.
  
  The last day I was still a little ahead but I came to play so I entered on last tourny. I got crap cards and busted early. Oh well.
  
  I left AC with $100 less then had come with. However, I had played in 4 tournaments, $100 in a cash game, and I had at least 20 free drinks. I also had a blast. If you do the math, I think I definitely came out ahead.
  
  So what did we learn?
  1. Drinks are free in tournaments (don't haul in 10 lbs of liquor).
  2. Atlantic City is a shit hole. (don't go there unless you just came to play poker, their ain't nothin to do there but gamble) If I'd have the time it would only have been another $100 or so a piece to fly to Vegas.
  3. Jitneys are your friend ($2 short buses that go up and down the strip preventing frostbite, sore feet, and muggings)
  4. Never play limit poker with a table of drunk idiots at a bachelor party.
  5. The Showboat is the best play to stay and play poker in AC.
  6 Old people walk like battering rams when they are gambling away their children's inheritance.
• 

  I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane!

  Posted: November 26th, 2007, 4:22pm EST by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  Good weekend. Spent Thanksgiving weekend with the inlaws, brother and sister in laws, and their many minions. We had a great house, aside from no heat on our floor, and great weather. The first day was 75, following days were in the high 40s/ low 50s. The kids played with their cousins a lot so I actually participated in some adult conversation (felt kinda weird) and played some online poker (free wifi rocks!).
  
  The best part though, was getting to sky dive. We had planned and attempted the trip 2 and a half years ago for Dan's 30th birthday. After we were geared up, the clouds rolled in and they canceled the jump. Since we were driving past the "airport" on the way home and Dan was as well, we met up to jump.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Yes, that's the runway!
  
  
  
  We pulled into the row of RVs and dirt field that claims to be Laurel Airport Sunday afternoon to a brisk 50 degrees and light cloud cover. We got geared up, signed about 17 pages of waivers (I kid you not), and met the instructors.
  
  
  
  
  
  30 min later we had had our 5 min. training and were boarding a two prop plane that looked straight off the cover of one of Jimmy Buffet's albums. I kissed Amy and the kids goodbye, and boarded.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  We literally had to sit on each others laps as they crammed about 16 of us into the back of this plane, pulled down the mini garage door on the side, and took off (all in a matter of 3 minutes).
  
  Uncomfortably squished between two dudes, I figured we were just about as high as we needed to be after 15 minutes. The instructor then informed us we were only halfway. He pulled my straps tight one more time and began attaching himself to me in ways that should be reserved for a dungeon. 10 minutes later a green light came on and we were at 13,000 ft, ready to plummet back to earth.
  
  The dudes in the front, solo jumpers, pulled up the door, counted to three, and jumped out. Woosh, they were gone in a millisecond, swept away like cartoon characters. 2 tandem groups went after and then we waddled up to the door. Surprisingly I was not at all nervous about jumping. The only thing I was worried about was not beding my legs high enough in the air. I put my feet on the edge of the door, crossed my arms, and the instructor leaned us forward.
  
  Before I knew it we were out the door and falling very very fast. I felt my ears bubbling and popping (I was a bit congested) and icicles forming on my face. The wind was rushing by so fast but it didn't really feel like falling, not like a roller coaster anyway. More like just going really fast straight down. We fell like that for over a minute and then he pulled the shoot.
  
  
  
  
  
  We abruptly stopped and then floated from there down like a feather. The view was incredible. You could see the curvature of the earth in 360 degrees. It was so calm and peaceful after such a rapid decent. The instructor let me control for a bit and showed me how to put us into a 2 g spin (not very comfortable, I like my brain in my head). A few more minutes and we were ready to land. there was a big gravel pit that we flew into. It was about like sliding into first in baseball. I was on the ground and Marc didn't have to follow through on his offer to scrap me up if things didn't work out.
• 

  Cristy tagged me

  Posted: November 12th, 2007, 3:03pm EST by Exvestigator

  Tags:    [edit]

  Rules
  
  A). Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
  
  
  
  B). Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
  1. My dream job would be to work on the Geek Squad.
  2. I do the majority of my reading on the toilet.
  3. I hate being around dogs.
  4. I hated reading and avoided it like the plague until college.
  5. I love all three CSIs for different reasons. CSI for quality TV, NY for quirkiness, and Miami for the hilarity of David Caruso's acting and how good it makes my HDTV look.
  6. I'm needle phobic but getting tattoos doesn't bother me. The wiping and cleaning afterward does.
  7. I get my back waxed at least 3 times a year.
  
  C). Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
  
• Every Wrong Move (Amy)


• Jer Illuminated (Jeremy)


• Dementation (Jen)


• (Wry)


• Open Vein (Belaja)


• Ripzip-a-dee-doo-dah (Ripzip)


• Todd's Hammer (Todd)

>
D). Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.