Florida Rocks

The Florida spring break begins. Bee, Eric, Annika, Mom, and Dad all arrived in Orlando via AirTran. A "discount" airline in if I've ever seen one. Cramped seats, skimpy food, and for some unexplained reason they give away free headphones. They must have some promotional deal with XM radio, which plays through the armrest system. The trip started off a bit rocky when we forgot the stroller and I left my sunglasses in Barnes and Nobel (oops). I sprinted back to the store to grab them before someone else could "borrow" them for their own use. I nearly gave myself a hear attack...I was wheezing and coughing terribly after just a few short minutes. (Time to get back in shape.)

It is drizzling here but warm and lovely. We head to the resort at noon. Yeah I'm on vacation.

Wisconsin Soccer Player turned englishman has a blog on ESPN

"Credit to us though, it's not like we haven't been close or haven't been in every game, we just haven't had the breaks.

Out of our first nine games, we have five draws and four losses. We have hit the crossbar on more occasions than I can count, given away two penalties late in the game to lose. One was literally at the last whistle of the game against Bolton, the other a horrible call by the referee who gave a handball in the box, while the replay clearly showed the ball hitting our player's face and going out of play."

What I find interesting about this quote is that it shows a necessary trait of any type of pro athlete. They honestly believe that they are just as good as everybody else. You have to believe just to survive...but seriously they haven't "been in every game." They are clearly not as good as the other teams, but to admit that as a player is to not be able to compete mentally. It's this whole idea that if you can trick yourself into ignoring the evidence you can often overcome it. Nobody would break a world record if they didn't ignore that fact that nobody can run that fast.

It's a bizare mental game.

Eric is at an interesting stage these days. He's terrified of movies and yet he loves them. We rented all these movies for when he was sick, but he never wanted to watch them because they were scary...he just assumes every movie is scary if he hasn't memorized it. Well, Rebecca sort of bullied him into watching the Aristocats. There was much bawling, teeth nashing, and general misery and the result is that he loves it now. Being sick makes Eric wierd.

This last Tuesday our levy failed at our school. It was very close 49 to 51 which of course makes it even harder to take. The district ran an organized, enthusiastic campaign and about 300 parents went door knocking, but it wasn't enough. It means a 10% cut next year, which is pretty deep no matter how you look at it. When I was hired in '97 the district was still reeling from a number of failed levies. I remember in a staff meeting nearly fainting when Deb Geiger told me that class sizes averaged 35 (they had been about 25 or less where I student taught). Every year since things have sort of degenerated. Actually, I guess there were a few good years in 2000-20001, but I was getting used to classes of 10 to 15 in Kwajalein. The last few years my classes have averaged 35-40 and with the upcoming cuts it's going to be awful. My guess is the new legislature will push to increase education spending but there is only so much money (much of it increasingly obliterated by healthcare costs) The whole picture seems pretty grim.

Eric and Annika Quotes

This weekend I helped Natalie move to Mil-wok-ah! It's all so very exciting. Steve and Natalie drove from LA in a rented truck and we came over and helped unload the truck and set up the apartment on Sat. and Sunday. It was pretty hard work, but everyone being together made it fun. The apartment complex is beautiful and only 10 minutes from Steve's place. It also is a minute from the Miller Brewery. Steve is worried Natalie might take too many Brew Tours:)

On Saturday night we ate out at the Chancery and everone gave Natalie one article of warm clothing: Hats, gloves, scarves, and long underwear. We even had the waitress give her a scarf at the end of the meal when she brought the check. (The whole plan was Shannon's idea and it was hillarious)

On Sunday Steve and Jeremy got to play soccer together for the Serbian's. They got hammered 5-1 but Jeremy scored the only goal for his team!!!

What would people like to see me write about? What would you like to know about me? Why on earth would anyone care what I think? Let me know!!!