It's been awhile

My good friend Sharon texted me today and basically told me to get off of it and start blogging again.

I quite agree. Things were just a bit busy with the first week of school. But I'll try to make up for that over the next few days.

Some of what's been happening - - -

For all of those who are raving about our new principal: I told you so. Don't you just feel an incredible sense of renewal and commitment?


****

I can't believe it's true, but we are only a few days away from having our computers wide open to youtube and blogs. What a change! In fact, Kelly and I will be doing a common prep next week devoted to blogs and all the possibilities they present. Kelly has done a masterful job setting up a blog for us and has come up with a really interesting challenge to the staff. I will say no more. I don't want to give too much away.

****

Sometimes I forget what a wonderful facility we really have at Lincoln. Of course, it is easy to forget that when my room is hot and muggy for want of air conditioning in the fall (or want for heat in the winter). But since I've spent the better part of 12 years teaching in this building, sometimes I need to look at it from a different point of view.

Well, that point of view was offered two weeks ago when KoKo and some of her friends paid me a visit during the Friday of our inservice week. I ended up giving them an impromptu tour of the place.

While I had been down the halls, in the auditorium, on the stage, and in the stands so many times before, but seeing the girls' reactions really helped me see the old place in a new light.

"I wish we had a school like this!"

"Oh my word, I'd love to act on this stage."

"That is so cool."

"Look at all the banners."

"Who painted all of those things?"

"Do you ever get lost?"

"That bathroom is so cool. Listen to those hand dryers! They're like jet engines."

"That Hall of Fame is so cool!"

And those were just a few of the comments that the girls raved about.

Now every time I walk down the halls, instead of solely noticing the tiles falling from the ceiling or the lack of parking or the lack of light and color on the second floor especially, I am reminded of the girls' comments and the old place looks pretty good.

****

Our freshman took it on the chin last night at Red River, 38-8. It was pretty rough. I believe we didn't have a first down in the first half. That was tough. But when you only have a handful of players out for football, it is rather difficult to practice. Even when sophomores have been added to our squad, we still struggle to put 22 players out there (in fact, we only had 18 players one day, so we ran 9 man style).

The lack of a quality practice showed - lineman didn't get off the ball and stood straight up, running backs tried to cut outside instead of hitting the hole and got run down, our ends lost contain, and the overall intensity was missing.

It will get better, but we still have a very far way to go.

****