Uneventful Days

I was not a very nice person today. I was snappy with my own kids and my students; I avoided people as best I could. I had a teacher meeting, a parent meeting, a social lunch and I taught two classes, but other than that I hunkered down and got work done, quietly and alone. My teeth were killing me and I am pretty sure I have some kind of nasal infection. I’m not feverish or sick in the normal sense, but my skull ached all day and caused me to be a bit cranky.


I got a lot of work done on my Learning 2.0 talk after school and when I got home tonight. I feel much better about that. Now to plan out the workshops and be ready to roll next week. I am pretty excited to be back in Ho Chi Minh City, to see old friends, connect with new teachers and enjoy one of my favorite cities. Although it looks like there is some flooding happening at the moment.


I was supposed to run today, but I took a much needed 30 min nap before I made the girls dinner.


Days like you make you appreciate the normal healthy days. So if you are not in any kind of physical pain, and you are not sick in anyway and feeling pretty healthy, take a moment to look away from your phone, or close your laptop, take a deep breath and enjoy this moment of good health. I am looking forward to joining you soon.


In other news, I can’t even imagine what the headlines will say about the debate tonight. Part of me is glad to be sleeping through it, although I will most likely watch the whole thing on Youtube tomorrow.


Every week, I look forward to the latest Atlanta episode. It is my favorite thing on TV these days.


I am stuck in a mediocre YA book and I am looking forward to powering through it this week, so I can get the latest Jonathan Saffron Foer book before my trip.


The Raiders win again and are 2-1. Big game in Baltimore next week, but like an idiot I have faith. The Niners are beyond bad and life is good.


This is my life these days. Even traveling to Vietnam has become routine. We have a two-week October break coming up and t will be nice time to relax and catch up with the kids. Not going anywhere, but looking forward to some long uneventful days.

Soul-less Data

I operated in a fog today. We had a teacher only day where we mostly worked in small groups to find evidence for accreditation. It was not fun or engaging work in anyway, and while working with Udi, Ian and Anne Marie is normally quiet thought provoking, today it was just a series of menial tasks that needed to get done. We didn’t, and I wasn’t in the mood, to have any interesting conversations about learning or life or anything. We simply copied and pasted documents into a template for a report.


What if this was your job? I know for many people it is. No kids. No teaching. No planning, No learning. Just data. Raw and necessary but with little soul.


But maybe, the monotony of the task matched my mood. I was no longer sick, but I had little energy for anything. During our PD days, our school is committed to having two hour wellness sessions, where teachers put on activities and we can take part in the name of well being.


There are things like art or exercise, but I usually do whatever Richard Nies is hosting- last time it was Texas Hold’em and today it was watching Monday Night football. It was a god awful game where the 49ers crushed the Rams in one of the worst offensive displays I have ever seen. I’m not sure watching the Niners win is good for my well being, because it actually made me a little sick, but it was a nice break in the middle of the day.


Did I mention that The Raiders are undefeated right now? One could say one of the best teams in the league. And one should.


Back home I was back in HOG mode- planning units, setting up presentations and just getting things done. Looking forward to getting back into the flow. I still feel I am recovering from my trip to CA, but a three day week and another weekend should get me back on track.


…


About to watch the first episode of Atlanta- Donald Glover’s new show and I am pretty excited. I love his work in Community as well as his music as Childish Gambino. Super talented dude, so I am sure that whatever he touches turns to gold.


Wilco has a new album out that I want to explore and they just did a three night stint at The Fillmore in SF. Damn! I miss good live music. We get a few okay shows here in Singapore, but no three night stints by Wilco.