Night Night Time

I miss the good old days when it was bed time and I just got to dump Calvin in his crib. Now I have to go through this elaborate routine, which actually starts when I get home.
When I get home I will try to get Calvin good and tired by running around the house or outside with him.
Then it is time for dinner. I have to make sure he eats enough or he will wake up early, because he is hungry.
Next is bath time. This has been a big problem lately, because every time I give him a bath he poops in the water. It is really gross cleaning up poo in the bath.
Next is popcorn and a movie or Simpsons. We have evolved from the Simpsons to watching clips from Monsters Inc. The Incredibles and other good films. This is also a good activity, because it is the only thing that calms him down before bed.
After the movie it is finally bed time. I bring him up stairs with his milk and we read Good Night Moon and How Does a Dinosaur Eat All His Food. We follow this up with a prayer and then a short story. I will then lay down with Calvin for a few minutes...to try to keep him self awake he will shake his head, sing, or rub my hair and or face. Then he give me a good night kiss and hug and I leave. If all the elements of his routine were in place it is usually a easy transition.

Still Sick

I am still sick. It sucks! Mucus is flowing out of my nose and my lungs are on fire.

Association and Misperception

At least once during a conversation I will experience intentional association(That's when your mind associates new information with existing information). To understand what some one is telling me or the world around me my mind will associate most of what I experience to movies or music. At first this seemed kind of comical, because I would use the dialogue or lyrics during my conversation. Most people don't even notice, but sometimes people will get my obscure references. I realized this was a problem when I was talking to my wife and instead of explaining myself with my own words I just said, "You remember that scene from Good Will Hunting where they are sitting by the pond?"
"Yes"
"It's like that"
And that was the end of the conversation for me. I think using movies and music as a filter for my world view may be the causing me to some misperceptions.

Down With The Sickness

Warning: This post contains information about my mucus, so if you get grossed out don't read it.

I have been fighting a really bad cold over the weekend. I hate being sick. I am always amazed at how much mucus my body produces. I can't help but feel a little proud when my body creates a particularly large amount and interesting color of mucus.

Hero for a Day

I am a hero now. At least in the eyes of my 5th graders. It started to snow early today and my kids were having trouble listening during the lesson. Their eyes were glued to the window watching the huge flakes float through the air. By the time my last lesson of the day came around the ground and trees were covered in white and my students were even more distracted, so I breezed through my lesson got the kids geared up and brought them outside. As soon as they stepped outside a spontaneous snow ball fight erupted. After ten minutes they were cold and tired and came in. I brought them back to class right as the bell was ringing for the break. The other students saw that my kids were covered in snow and got really jealous. When back in the class my kids started to chant, "Mr. Clark, Mr. Clark". I was trying to quiet them down, so the home room teacher wouldn't find out, but it was to late, the home room teacher came in and realized what was going on after looking at the kids and sneering at the water that was left on the ground. I told the kids I would see them later and took off.
It is is nice to be a hero for the day.

Battle for a gift: Lost this year

Knowing that my wife would not be getting a Christmas gift for me I decided to go out shopping and buy I gift for myself. I bought sneakers, a sweatshirt, and a watch. After my wife found out that I went shopping she started to complain about me spending money. I thought this is crazy if you don't buy me a Christmas gift I should be able to purchase one for myself.
After our conversation about Christmas gifts I told her I wanted to get my self a birthday present, because I knew she would not be getting one. I told her I wanted an ipod, but she said I couldn't get one.
I just don't get it what does a guy gotta do to get his wife to get him a present.
The Christmas gifts I got Celine:
1. 2 DVDs (Of movies that she would like)
2. A book
3. A watch

The Battle for the Hallway is Lost!

As many of you know I have waged a war against to students in the hallways. They are crazy! They run around and act like maniacs. After four months on the front lines I have decided to retreat form this battle. A student ran into a teacher that I work with in the cafeteria making her drop her tray of food and the the kids just ran off. When walking in the hallway I always stay on the outside wall when turning a corner otherwise it is likely that a student will run right smack into me. I try to travel around the school when classes are going on.
Injuries observed so far (This is true)
10 broken arms
4 crutches
1 bloody face
20 (about) bruises and cuts on the face
50 (about) crying in the hallway
endless collisions and kids having karate fights
Most of the teachers and administration ignores this behavior and those teachers who try to control have been fighting a losing battle.