2 a days!

Angel in my Mom's yard.

The last 4 days I have gone to the gym twice a day, run 2 miles each time. I will do the same tomorrow and then rest on Saturday, New Years Eve, and then Sunday, on New Years Day, I will run another 5K in Palo Alto. I want to go down to 175 pounds before the new year, and I think the best way for me to loose the weight is to exercise more often. That is how I lost the weight before, now I need to increase my exercise. I am down to 177.2 pounds. I need 2.2 pounds in the next 2 days. I guess I sort of am cheating, I got that weight down to 177 by weighing at home without clothes on, when I was weighing myself before with my gym clothes on including my shoes. Working out twice a day reminded me of the time I was thinking about playing football in high school. During the two weeks before school stated we were practicing twice a day, morning and afternoon. It hurt, A LOT! I quit when school started. If you want to know why I quit football you can read this essay I wrote before:

Waterfall in Mom's yard.

Two weeks before high school starts the football team starts practice. My first year of high school I decided to go out for football. It was the first time I ever put on pads and got hit. HIT!! I thought it wasn’t supposed to hurt with those pieces of plastic on my shoulders and my thighs and head. Did you know there wasn’t any padding to protect your stomach, or arms or shins? One of my least favorite memories was running through this obstacle that is shorter than me, so I have to run with the plastic padding in front of me in a crouching position, and having someone run at me lower than I was and getting hit in the stomach. I got HIT!! It HURT!! I figured I had more to learn. Even though it hurt, I just thought I had to learn to do it better. It was only the third or fourth day and I knew I could do this. My first year of high school I wanted to do the things I was “supposed” to do, and that included football.

I didn’t know which was worse, the “getting hit” part or the running part. Those plastic pads were heavy. The problem wasn’t just running around the track, it was running UP the hill next to the track. My legs hurt from running. My stomach hurt from getting hit. I was surviving and getting stronger. It felt good to hurt so much and I felt like I was growing up so much.

The second week we had to decide what position we wanted to try out for. I had no idea so I decided I wanted to be defensive line, because they didn’t have to run so much!! I didn’t think about the fact that I was 5’8” and 90 pounds. I never thought about the weights some people lifted weighed twice as much as I did. We practiced plays and learned how people moved in each position. At the end of the week we had the linemen practice tackling the running backs. The best running back was Wayne Ferguson. He was new to the area and no one really knew him but in the two weeks of practice everyone found out what he could do. I found out the end of the week about Wayne Ferguson. When he had the ball in front of me, running towards me I tried to tackle him. I guess I didn’t get low enough and as I tried to tackle him he picked me up on his shoulders and ran with me hanging on. It was so humiliating. I had no idea what was going on, all I knew was he wasn’t going to fall down with me on his shoulders. Wayne Ferguson was gracious. He gently put me down and instead of laughing at me, like the whole rest of the team; he tried to help me with my tackling technique. What it really helped me do was making a decision, when I went back to the locker room and turned in my plastic pads, that didn’t cover my stomach and started high school the next Monday.

I ended up on the swim team in high school, no pain from getting hit!!

That year the football team was undefeated. I felt good because I knew them all, and felt like I was part of the team while sitting with the band. Throughout high school I kept up with what was going on with Wayne Ferguson. I don’t know if I ever really talked to him after that time he carried me around the practice field, but I never forgot his kindness and always thought of him as a friend. Through high school the football team, led by Wayne Ferguson, was the best team in the league. It was fun to go, and I always remembered that moment in time when I was carried on his shoulders. More important was the short conversation we had and the helpful comments he made. Wayne was “the man” on campus, at least during football season. Even though I never talked to him, I kept in touch with what was going on with him. My last year in high school Wayne Ferguson wasn’t on the football team and I later found out that he had transferred to another school. The other school somehow gave him more opportunities to be seen by college football scouts. I had heard that his father sent him there so he could get into a big school. I thought he would probably be a top college football player and end up in the pros. I didn’t know how stuff like that happened, but I thought he was so good that there was no doubt In my mind that Wayne was that good. I also thought that if anyone deserved good things, it was Wayne, he was “the best” as far as I was concerned. Without Wayne our team was terrible. Up to that year the football team was great, and after he left it was less than average. I couldn’t imagine what I would have done if my father had done that, I would know it was for my future, but what about my last year in high school. When I was in college I had heard that Wayne went to a college in Nevada. I figured in Las Vegas, then found out it was in Reno, I didn’t know they even had a team. Then I found out he wasn’t first string, and wasn’t considered a top player.

A few years later I had heard Wayne had become an elementary school teacher, as I had. I couldn’t imagine that this guy that had carried me on his shoulders ended up being an elementary teacher, the same as me. I heard about him every few years because he had made an impact on my life, but showing me that even though he was the top athlete of the school, he took the time to help me. I often thought of that time when I had to make decisions in my life, and remembered to be humble.

I always wanted to tell Wayne Ferguson what an impact that brief moment in our lives made on me. I’m sure he doesn’t even remember that time, or that he even remembers me. We never hung out with the same people, We never had classes together, I was never anyone important on campus, but, he made an impact on me.

I wonder how many times a little second in our lives affect others so dramatically. How many times do we carry someone on our shoulders without even knowing it, and a small gesture  in our lives, can be so dramatic in another person’s life.

2005 New Years Eve in bar in Monterey with Mike!

NO Win Situations

Bumper Sticker on my car in high school.

Student teaching as a college senior.

I was talking to a friend of mine tonight and she told me a story about what happened to her yesterday. She was in a parking lot yesterday and saw a lady back into another car. The lady looked at the car she bumped into and then walked into the store. She waited in her car until the man who owned the car came to the car and she told him what she saw and where the woman went. My friend then went to work. My friend was in a dilemma that she didn't know how to get out of. She could have very easily driven away, but then the man would never have known what happened to his car, and she knew how that felt. By staying and telling him the lady that hit his car got into trouble. It was a no win situation, someone was going to hurt because of what she knew. While she was telling me this I was thinking of a situation I had 30 years ago. It affected me so much that I still remember exactly what happened. Three of us were driving back from El Paso. The other two I had only known for a couple of weeks. They went to UCLA while I went to Cal Poly. We met during Army training and were on our way home. They were going to drop me off at the airport to fly back to Monterey and they were going to go home in the Los Angeles area. We drove all day and then night. The drive was about 16 hours. All three of us shared the driving, and I was driving the last leg. I had just finished driving through the desert and arrived in Barstow, California needing gas. The other two with me were sleeping while I drove in. This was when most gas stations still had attendants that would pump the gas for you. The other two men with me had never been to a gas station where you pumped the gas yourself. I thought they were sleeping so I went inside the store to pay for the gas. As I was standing in line everyone in the store started looking out the window towards the gas pumps and shouting. I looked out the window and the two men I was riding with were laying on the ground with 8 to 10 men standing around them kicking them. I wasn't sure what I should do. I felt I should run out and help my new friends. I thought it was my responsibility to help them when they were in trouble. I knew if I had done that I would be joining them on the ground with 10 people kicking me. I didn't do anything except made sure the police were called. After watching for about 3 minutes I heard police sirens coming and the people kicking ran to their cars and drove off. The police came and stopped at the gas station and helped the two men I was with. An ambulance came and took them both to the hospital where they were treated and released. On the four hour drive home I apologized to them for not being more help. They told me they were glad I didn't get hurt like they had or we would have no one that could drive. They said they understood my thinking, but were glad I had the common sense to call the police and not jump in and do something stupid. Then the one that owned the car said I could have gone into the glove compartment and he had a gun there I could have used. I thought to myself that I would never have done that, I know I could never shoot someone, and they would have probably taken the gun away from me and used it. I finally got them both back home and their parents took me to the airport and I flew home. After all this time I still wonder if I had done the right thing, should I have jumped in with a baseball bat to reduce the abuse those two took, or should I have done what I really had done and just waited until help came. I sometimes wonder about it even 30 years later!

Chicken Soup

A bowl of soup.

In the fridge for lunches!

Today I cooked chicken soup. This is nothing new, I just haven't done it for a long time. When I lost weight before I used to live on my chicken soup. It helped me lose weight then, and I hope it does this time too. The main reason to make chicken soup is to have something to eat when I'm hungry. It is easy to take out a container of chicken soup and stick it in the microwave for a couple of minutes and have something that is filling. The problem is in the past few years has been I didn't like the taste of my soup. When I first started making my soup Sarah, my youngest daughter, liked it so much she would ask me to make it every time she saw me. At that time I always had soup in my fridge and she would eat one or two bowls of it when she came over. It used to be part of my Sunday afternoons to make soup. Sarah suggested I start to sell my soup to the construction workers that were working across the street. She was excited by how much I could make because my soup was great!! People would ask me what I put in it and I would tell them the truth, I had no idea what went into it I just put what was in the spice rack next to the stove. As spices got used up I would just buy what was there before. Then, I stopped making soup for a while. When I started again I didn't like the taste myself. I ended up throwing out the soup I didn't eat. Sarah didn't want to eat it any more. So, I tried again today. I used to whole chickens and just throw it in after I took off the skin. I would spend an hour or two cooking it until it came off the bone, then I had to fish the bones out. I changed to just buying legs and thighs and that was easier to get the bones out. Now I just buy the more expensive boneless chicken breasts, but I figure I get more meat. The soup is different because I do that, instead of getting the small pieces of chicken from what came off the bone I now have small cubes of chicken in my soup. I had started using garlic salt and garlic powder instead of real garlic. (I hate unwrapping those little packages from God!) Today I used garlic instead of salt and powder. Today's soup was WONDERFUL! I am the only one that has tried it, and I am happy it is so good. I will be eating it a lot in the next couple of days and it is very very good. I don't think there will be any for Sarah from this batch. My sister Sue is coming next week and I will keep a container of soup for her since she has never experienced my culinary delight. I am happy about this batch and wonder if I will be able to match it again. As I was cooking it reminded me of the time I was asked to be on Korean TV. I said sure, and then found out it was a cooking show. They asked for us to cook something and be interviewed for a short episode in a woman's show. Shows in Korea often asked us to be on because we were an international couple and were interesting. We cooked spaghetti sauce for the show. Just followed a recipe from a cook book. It was interesting to me since they all laughed when I used a measuring cup. After watching the show I asked my wife why they laughed and she said I was using a measuring cup and they didn't understand why. I still don't agree they should laugh at me for using a measuring cup, but I guess it is a different culture, not Korean culture, but Women's culture!!

Warm home versus hot water

A store in Dahu Township, Taiwan

Faye eating hotdog on a stick in Taiwan

Last Friday, two days before Christmas, my heater quit working. I don't know what happened, but I noticed the house was getting cold and the heater didn't turn on. I went back to check to see if it was on and it was. When I turned the heat off then on I could hear the click, but the heater didn't make that "poof" sound and start churning warm air. I quickly went out and bought a space heater, so I was able to make it through the cold weekend. When I say cold, though, it isn't the same kind of cold and other parts of the country. Cold here means it dips into the 40s at night. The days warm up to 60 or 70. Today, Monday, I realized I can just call the gas company and ask them to light the pilot light again. I hope that is the problem. A few months ago my hot water heater went out. It was old and I have been expecting it to stop working for a few years. I tried to ignore it for a couple of days, like I have with the house heater this weekend, but I found out that was impossible. I found the problem with the hot water heater in the morning, and figured it was warm outside so I could take a shower without hot water. I was wrong!! Hot water is very important, more important than a warm house. I took a cold shower once, and the found a plumber that would replace the hot water heater, at the best price I could find, within 8 hours and the next morning the water was warm again. With a cold house I can buy a space heater, I can put on a jacket in the house, I can take a hot shower and stay warm all day. If I have to make a choice, hot water is something I can not put off, or do without while house heater I can delay. It kind of reminded me when I lived in Korea. When I first got there we lived in a apartment We lived in a 5 story walk up, on the top floor. We found out in the morning the water didn't have enough pressure to go to the top floor, so my smart wife had the owner put a vessel on the roof to supply water when there wasn't enough pressure, it is not uncommon in Korea. Well, in the winter the water on the roof froze, or the pipe coming down from it did. In the winter we didn't have water until noon, but I had to go to work at 6am. So, the night before we would put water in two large buckets and in the morning I would heat one up and then combine the two to make the hot water warm, and I would have to have a sponge bath in the bathroom, which happened to be on the porch outside! Yes, it was cold out there, more like freezing. But, I could endure the cold, and had to have a shower every morning. I didn't have a bad attitude about it. I could have done like the Koreans do and bathe twice a week in a community bath house. That was something I really didn't want to do, either of those options. I spent 6 months warming water every morning over a gas stove, then taking a sponge bath in the cold outside porch. We moved before the next winter and the next place had running warm water every morning! Sometimes it is the little things in life we take for granted, until we don't have them. Life is good now, I have warm water!!

Best on top of BEST

Christmas at Dad's!

Last night I had a GREAT Christmas Eve. My kids and my mom went with me to our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at the Japanese Restaurant where they cook at your table. It was wonderful and we had a lot of fun! The best part of the evening was before we went to dinner we opened gifts, it was the first year I was able to give the girls EXACTLY what they wanted. I spent more on presents this year than I have in the past 10 years combined. I didn't really spend that much, compared to some families, but that tells you how much I usually spend. I usually buy one gift that is what they want, sort of, and one that is useful. Like one year I got Lindsey perfume (but not exactly what she asked for and I learned not to do that) and a star wrench because she had a flat tire a couple of weeks before and I had to come change it for her because she didn't have a wrench in  the car.

So, after last night I didn't think it could be topped. Today I was in pajamas until noon. Then I decided I better go get something to eat. I got dressed and went to Carl's Jr., the only fast food place open today and I like it because it has Diet Dr. Pepper! As I was eating Sarah called and told me the girls were coming over to my house. They had planned to stay for a couple of hours and go to the movies with their mom later in the evening. While they were at my house their mom called and cancelled the movies. So, the best gift they could give me, which they didn't realize was a gift, and stayed all night. It was great to just hang around with the three kids! Not for any reason except to hang out. Wow, what a great weekend. I look forward to the next week and next week and next week. 2012 will be a fantastic year.

Vacuums

Christmas 2011

Tonight is Christmas Eve, 2011. My tradition, since my divorce in 2001, is to meet my daughters on Christmas Eve, before they go to church, have dinner and exchange gifts. Then they go and I am alone. We all sometimes sacrifice things to make others comfortable. I don't always have the best Christmas after my kids leave, but I always have the best Christmas possible when I'm with my kids. Think of going from a very high, to a very low! I always smile when I am with my kids, because I am always happy. Think of when I have my kids on the weekends, the normal family dynamics of arguments, having things to do together, fighting over what to have for dinner, just being annoyed with each other. But, you are together. You realize what you had after you loose it! I loose it every time the weekend is over. Like going into a vacuum. Sometimes one or all of my kids stay for a few weeks, then the bond gets closer. Then, they leave. It goes away, the emotion of being so close to others in the family. The feeling of having, being part of the family. It is like going from a very high to a very low, in a matter of minutes. I would never want to go without the high, and I know the low is for me, not for them. If I thought, for a minute, it was that way for them I wouldn't go through that. I can handle it, because I know there will be another high. Tonight I ate dinner with all three kids, and my mother. My mother was an added element to that high! I really was happy she joined us tonight, and cherish every time I see her. I am having a great Christmas, and will have a terrific new year. I hope everyone else does too!! God Bless You All!!

Christmas sorrows and cheers

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2004

Sarah showing gifts 2004

Christmas time always reminds me of sad times as well as happy times. I remember the first Christmas I spent after I graduated from college. I was in Germany as a second lieutenant. I remember that I was an officer so I had to put on the facade of how lucky we were to be in Europe to experience Christmas. Some of it was cool, I actually saw a St. Nicolas dressed up in red and in a horse drawn sleigh that went around giving candy canes. I went to Kristkringlemart in Nuerenburg and saw all the lights and Christmas stuff being sold. Germany does Christmas GOOD. I can remember telling people how great it was, and in the inside feeling sad and lonely. I remember the Christmas tree lighting in Kitzengen and leading in the carols. I got everyone all excited and happy singing around the Christmas tree, then quietly went to the back of the crowd and tears running down my eyes because I was so alone! I do that a lot, try to put on a "happy face" to cheer people up, then quietly move away and be by myself. I was in Korea one Christmas,  I was the Company Commander and gave out gifts to everyone to make them happy, I made sure EVERYONE had another person around them so no one was alone. I wore one of those santa hats when I was in my uniform so everyone had a laugh and some cheer in their life. Then I left the installation, which no one was allowed to do without my permission so I knew I was going to be around no one that knew me. I walked through the little town next to the post and I can remember walking by a little white church. I stopped outside the church and listened to the choir practice their carols for Christmas Eve service. I didn't know the words they were singing, but I knew the tunes. I stood outside in the freezing cold and it was snowing a little. I just listened and sang quietly in English as they were singing in Korean. I also remember when I was young and my brother and I would look under the door as my parents brought the gifts out of their room and put them under the tree. I remember when my dad was in Korea or Vietnam and my mom tried to make Christmas fun for everyone. Or when I got a bike for Christmas and when our relatives in Chicago called we would tell them we were out riding bikes, when they were out shoveling snow. One of my favorite memories was when I went to Korea to teach English and the first year Lindsey was 4 and Jayne was 2, I was out teaching all day and stopped at the market place to buy the toys. I got home at 10 pm that night after tutoring all day. When I got home the kids were literally sleeping under the Christmas tree and their mom and I wrapped the gifts and put them under the tree next to the kids. After we were done we opened the door and yelled in the direction of the kids, "Bye Santa, thanks for coming". It woke the kids up and Lindsey ran down the 5 flights of stairs to get a glimpse of Santa. Or when Lindsey was 1.5 months old she was the baby Jesus in the church manger scene, and I played Santa Claus. Since my divorce our tradition is on Christmas eve the kids and I go out to a nice dinner and exchange gifts. Then they go to church after dinner with their mom, the same one Lindsey was baby Jesus for. It is fun and I wonder how much longer we can keep that going since the kids are starting to graduate from college and going to soon have their own things to do! Good and bad Christmases, it is always a memorable time of year!

Lindsey learning to drive Christmas Eve 2004

Learning by doing!

EunHee teaching a class.

Anya brought snakes and lizards to class.

I went to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as I went there they kept emphasizing "learning by doing". I really liked this way of thinking and have been applying it to many ways I teach. This weekend was the last day of my December class in San Francisco. This class was a unique class in many ways. First, one student brought in reptiles, a couple of snakes and lizards, and taught the class using those as props. The other first in the class was a non-native speaker that came in to be an ESL student taught a class. I often invite people that are learning English to come to my class so my students have a realistic experience. I have my students teach classes as often as I can so they can make mistakes and I can give them suggestions on how to improve. I have had over 100 ESL students come to my classes, I have taught more than 25 classes. This month I advertised on Craigslist asking anyone that wants to come to join us for a win/win situation. EunHee answered my ad and brought 2 friends with her. All three came the first day, then only Eunhee came the second day. The next week Eunhee came both days. By the third weekend she was part of the class. I asked her if she would like to teach during the finals like every of the students. She agreed and taught a class on the Korean alphabet. She did a great job. She learned a lot by doing the teaching. She learned how it feels to be a teacher, which will help her be a better student. She is the reason the class was successful for everyone.

The snake loves Eunhee too!

Why don't teachers teach?

I teach a certification class on weekends for people that want to teach English overseas. They have to get a certification to teach in many countries in addition to their college degree. I was hired because I have 8 years of experience teaching in Korea plus 10 years teaching ESL here in California. I have been teaching this certification class for over 4 years. I work for a company headquartered in Canada. One thing I really like about their curriculum, and the primary thing I emphasize in my class, is what they call ESA. ESA stands for Engage, Study, Activate. Engage is a way to introduce the subject, not just saying, "today we are going to talk about giving directions". It is less obvious as in asking questions about how people give directions. I tell them about the time I was in Korea and I asked people to tell me how to get to their house. One man said to get on bus number 34 and get off at the twelfth stop and then go to the 7-11 on the corner and yell, "Hey, Mr. Kim", and he would come down and get me! I laughed when he said that thinking about how many "Mr. Kims" would be in the area. Using the Engage also gives the teacher the opportunity to assess if the students need the lesson, and if the lesson needs to be made more difficult or easier depending on the students' present level. The Study is actually teaching something. After every lesson the kid should be able to go home to his parents, or the adult should be able to go home to their spouse, and tell what they learned. The problem is that teachers often just tell students to do something, rather than instruct them how to do it. In many classes the teaching is self taught, and the teacher just acts as a guide rather than a teacher. If that is done once in a while it might work, but the teacher needs to show the students how to learn. They need a step by step process to show the students how to master the new skill. I'm tired of watching teachers just tell the students to read the book and not teach anything. I try to force my students, who are future teachers, to TEACH something. Not to just expect the students to learn through osmosis. I don't know how effective I am in teaching how to teach, but I spend a lot of time showing them how to teach something. If I am teaching them how to give directions I will teach them what block means, teach what on the corner and in the middle of the block is. I will tell them go up and go down mean the same thing. I will keep teaching them about giving directions. I have attached a the first half of the lesson I use to teach my students how to teach. The third part of the way I teach my students how to teach is the Activate. Activate often is a game, using the skill taught during the lesson. Students need some way of practicing what they learned in class. Sort of like in Math class where the students would practice what they learned in class. In the class where I teach them how to give directions I will give them a map and give their partner the same map. The two maps will have different buildings marked and then they will give each other directions to find the different buildings around the map. The important part is they speak English and use the vocabulary and phrases I taught them in class. I think my classes are successful if my class is noisy and people are laughing. I always teach future teachers that "They can't learn if they don't laugh"!!

Friendships

Church in Weaverville, CA

I went to my last school for the year today!! Since schools are not open for the next two weeks I have some time to rest, prepare my schedule for next month, and do all the paperwork I have gotten behind in. I went to Fremont today which is only 30 minutes away. It is also where my college roommate, Chris, lives. If you were to ask me who my best friend was it would be Chris. Even though I don't see Chris very often, nor even talk to him on the phone he is the one person who really understands who I am and why I do what I do. Chris and I were able to sit in the same room and say nothing, but know what each other were thinking. Chris asked me if I minded meeting at McDonald's today. I felt like that was one of the silliest questions he could have asked. Of course I would like to meet at McDonald's, it is my restaurant of preference. Chris and I roomed together for two years in college, and before that we were near each other for the previous two years and always hung out together. At night we would often run to McDonald's at 10:55, because it closed at 11. After we talked for a while I went over to his house and fixed his computer network and his daughter's computer. I was happy I could do something for him since he often does things for me! It was great seeing him and I look forward to seeing him again.

The cats are ALIVE!!

I have been on a road trip for the past 3 days. It is Wednesday night and I left my home at 2 pm on Monday. Right before I left I hurried home and threw my clothes in a suitcase and then left. As I left I shut my bedroom door, I usually do that when I am gone for an extended period of time so the cats don't shed all their hair in my room. I guess I presumed the cats were hiding in the living room. I went up to Hoopa on Tuesday, worked up there and then drove to Sacramento on Tuesday afternoon. I then worked in Sacramento on Wednesday morning then worked again in Livermore in the afternoon then in the evening I had a meeting with an old student that is establishing a university in Vietnam and has asked my help in finding faculty. I finally got home around 8:30 on Wednesday and I started bringing in the mail and getting some stuff out of the car. 

I then heard a faint noise from behind the bedroom door, and I found out I had locked the cats IN the room rather than OUT of the room. I opened the door and the cats ran out of the door to their food dish. The sat there and ate for about 10 minutes. I didn't know how to apologize to the cats. I didn't know if they would ever talk to me (that is just an expression, they don't really talk to me). I thought they would be upset for a LONG time. But, but 9:30 the one that always tries to be in my lap was jumping in my lap and I was pushing him out, and the other one that always curls at my feet was warming my feet. I am so happy they are back to normal, but I feel really really bad about what I did to them. I haven't found where they used the bathroom in my room, but at least it wasn't in the bed. The room doesn't smell bad, like I was afraid would happen. I am VERY HAPPY to be home!!

Indian Reservation

The view from the office window

Yesterday I taught on Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation in Northern California. The high school includes students from all over the area, not just kids that live on the reservation. Some kids have to commute for an hour each way. If you visit the school and don't know the location it seems like every other high school I visit. Some kids are very nice and some are a little noisy. There isn't the diversity of races as much as other schools, but there is a little diversity. Some kids are blonde, some are dark skinned, some are tall or short or heavy or thin. As I walk around the school there is a lot of signs about pride and heritage and some signs talk about the "tribal council" versus city council. The staff tells me most of the kids come from a very low socio economic class. When I work with the kids I enjoy it. Many kids are very smart. even the kids that cause problems, like that blonde girl that sat in the middle of the room that couldn't stay on task, are respectful and follow directions. I wish I could go to that school more often, and I really wish it wasn't a seven hour drive. I make it a point to give them the best presentation I can so they get the most out of it.

Hoopa Valley High nestled into the mountains

Bigfoot Motel ... again

Bigfoot Motel

Don't hit tall hairy men walking.

If you asked me this morning what my week was going to be like I would have told you that Monday I was going to be in Hercules, about an hour away, Tuesday I would be in Morgan Hill, 30 minutes away, Wednesday I would get up really early and drive to Sacramento, two hours away, then go to Livermore, half way to my house, then Thursday I would be going to Fremont, about 3o minutes away and Friday I would be just going to my office, about 10 minutes from my house. I got to the high school in Hercules and then had to go to another office about 30 minutes out of my way to pick up some paperwork. As I was driving to the office I realized I forgot my computer at the school so I would have to go back. Also on my drive I got a call from a guy I work with that is about a 6 hour drive north of me. He told me that he needed my help on Tuesday and asked if I could come up for the day. He wants me to go to Hoopa Valley High School which is a 7.5 hour drive for me. So I coordinated a change in my plans for Tuesday, drove by my house to get a change of clothes, and started driving. I stopped and picked up my computer on the way and then kept driving ... and driving ... and driving. Luckily I had checked out two books to listen to on Friday and I finished one book and will finish the second before Wednesday. I drove up to Hoopa, California and am spending the night in the Bigfoot Motel. I love this place because the motel is really terrible, but the people are very nice. I stayed here about ten months ago and I have looked forward to staying here again. The bigfoot museum is right next door to the motel. The high school I am going to is on an Indian Reservation and it is humbling to see. So now my schedule is Monday go to Hercules then drive 7 hours north and spend the night. Then go to Hoopa Valley High School and drive 5 hours south and spend the night. I will then go to Lincoln High and then drive an hour south and go to a high school in Livermore and then finally get home about 6pm. Thursday I will go to American High in Fremont and then, maybe, go to the high school in Morgan Hill in the afternoon. Then Friday fill out all my reports for the week and rest on the weekend (except we know there is no rest on the weekend because I teach for 10 hours Saturday and Sunday). I really do enjoy my job and I should get some great pictures tomorrow on my drive!!

My December Class!!

San Francisco

This month's class has gotten off to a strange start. It was supposed to be thirteen students and one didn't show up. The first weekend there were twelve students. Everything went very well in class. The students got along good and we had a very good first two days. One happy addition was a girl from Korea that answered a Craigslist ad I put on looking for actual ESL students my students can meet and teach. This girl's Korean name is Eunhee and uses the English name of Fey. She is a very important addition to the class and she is showing the class how ESL students learn. The students get the opportunity to try to teach new concepts to their students. Eunhee attends an ESL school in downtown San Francisco and sometimes brings others from her school to our class, but Eunhee comes every day of class and stays all day. It is a win/win situation for her and the class because she gets lessons in English she would never get in a normal situation  and the class wins because they get to learn more then they ever would just listening to how to teach ESL. In the class we have a 19 year old girl and her aunt. These two have been all over the world. They just came back from a trip to India where they did some volunteer work in the slums teaching English. They have some great stories and they show great skills when they teach. It doesn't hurt that the aunt is very very smart and very very pretty. Another girl in class just came back from a trip around the world where she has some exciting stories about her adventures. One woman in class is getting married and moving to Italy. She has a unique view on what she needs to learn and has become a close friend and confidant. The girl that lives in San Jose happened to go to Seattle Pacific University, which isn't a big deal except that is where my oldest sister went, when it was Seattle Pacific College. One man wants to learn how to teach ESL because he is going to Japan to be with his son's family. His son is in the Army and he wants to be around the grandkids as they grow up. I admire him and think that he will do fine in the classroom. One girl is very beautiful and her husband is also in the class. No one knows they are husband and wife and they won't learn unless they read my blog, which I don't think will happen. One girl is going to go teach in Egypt where she has relatives. She was mentioning yesterday that she might not want to live in the same city as her relatives because she won't have any independence. The class has a girl that is half Korean and half French. She wants to go teach in Japan or China. There is also a girl that uses a Japanese name, but doesn't speak Japanese. She is a "firecracker" and always in motion. She is great to have in class and always participates in everything. She sticks out in my mind because we did have another man in the class. He was someone I had met before in a Information Seminar I taught a few weeks ago in San Francisco. I was happy to see that he was in my class. After the second day of class I received an email from him that said he was thinking about something I had said to him about thinking about what he would do with his future. He said he decided to drop the class because of what I had said. I had no idea what he was talking about. He later said he felt uncomfortable because he felt the girls were all stalking him like they always do. He sent a few other emails that made me think he wasn't "all there". When class continued this weekend the students were talking about how he was mumbling to himself all during class and one of the guys had seen him in the bathroom just staring at the walls. I was worried he would say something to my company that would get me fired. I am still concerned about it, and we will see if anything comes of it. At the bottom of this guy's email was his blog address and I looked at the blog and the Japanese girl in the class was discussed in his blog and a movie she had made a few years ago, and had forgotten about, was on his blog. I was worried so I warned the girl and she was concerned. Lets see if that is all that happens. I look forward to the next weekend classes and I will be really sad to see this group leave! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkEbcd_LLhI&feature=g-upl  this is a video of me teaching this class!

I want to marry an internet Russian Bride

San Francisco landmark!

I went drinking tonight, and I never drink. I met a girl today that met her husband on the internet and then married him. She is from Russia. Tall, blonde, beautiful and very smart. She is one of those women that enters the room and everyone gets quiet, even the women. Everyone wants to know who she is, because she MUST be someone important. How do I know she is smart? She has been in America for 2 years and speaks English very well and doesn't have much of an accent. Her English is very good. She has three different jobs because she has a drive for her future. I admire her for many reasons, including her beauty and her desire to improve her life. I felt sad today after I met her. I thought about how nice it would be to be with a woman like this. To have a beautiful woman be a partner in life. To know I was helping a woman with her life and she was helping me with my life. Most people that know me think I like Asian women most, but the truth is I live in an area that most of the single women are Asian. I wish I could meet a Russian woman that could become devoted to a husband and learn to love a man that wanted to help her. Thinking of that I stopped at a bar on my way home. Unfortunately there were no Russian women. I say I went drinking but that means I had 2 beers, not too bad. It will help me sleep and then dream about how it would feel to come home to someone rather than only my cats!

Starting Over - Weight Loss

December 8, 184 pounds

Today I decided that to loose the weight I want, to complete what I started before, I am going to have to have a plan. I will do it ... I will loose at least 5 pounds before December 31, 23 days. Three weeks. I lost weight before, 15 pounds, by exercise. The next 5 pounds are a way for me to prove that I can do it. My thinking is the secret to loosing weight is variety. I talked to a lady a few weeks ago and I told her I lost weight, she asked me how and I told her through exercise. She was skeptical because she said she walked 9 miles every day and it didn't seem to help. I realized that the secret isn't exercise it is varying the exercise. I am on my way, first step is to decide to do it. Today I started back at the gym. Ran 2 miles in 21:55. After running my heartbeat was 150. Here is the picture from the scale tonight. I WILL do this!!

Strength

Seagull in Monterey

Taken by the daughter on her birthday

http://www.marinij.com/novato/ci_19459416?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com

About two years I met a lady that said her husband had been a victim of a drive by shooting. Jen was really sad and depressed and she kept talking about her husband, as if he was still with her. Every time I talked to her she would talk about his ghost, and how she would talk to him every night, asking for guidance. When I was at home she would talk to me on the computer and tell me about tv shows she would watch about a woman that could talk to ghosts. She would focus only about that. I thought she was obsessed and she would never move on. I didn't know how to help her, I didn't know what I could do except be there when she asked for help. As time went on she would ask me advice about moving, or about her kids' school or about her future employment plans. She asks about what should she do when her kids want a computer or game. She is from Vietnam and doesn't know how we do things. She doesn't understand schools here, but she learns quickly. I understand where she is coming from, she had her husband shot to death in her garage. She called the police when her husband's car was still running with him shot in the head in the driver's seat. I had never read the reports about what really happened, but now I really understand this situation. I have met the kids a few times, once we went together to the water park, once they were in the area and stopped by, and once I went with them to celebrate the daughter's birthday. People like this touch your life, and you are stronger because you know them. Jen won't read this, but if she did I would just tell her that I would always be around if she needs me, and so would anyone I know!!

Rumors!!

Sea Lion in Monterey

I did something that I will regret for a long time. During volleyball season I was talking to one of the parents and heard some rumors about one of the team members and then I repeated it to another one of the parents. I didn't really think about it, but then my daughter reminded me I was spreading rumors about one of her best friends. I wish I could apologize to her, but it was hard to admit that I was wrong. I tried to justify me spreading rumors with some lame excuses, but the truth is I had wished I hadn't listened to the person that told me the rumor and I truly regret repeating what I had a hard time believing myself. A couple of weeks later I heard that there was rumor that I was on drugs. I had to laugh because it is the most ridiculous thing I can think of. In case you are wondering the truth is I had smoked pot once in my life, when I was in college and one of the prettiest girls I had known offered me a pipe while at a party. I smoked because she wanted me to, but it had no effect. I have never wanted to use drugs because I could never understand if it makes you feel good what happens when it wears off. I know my personality is addictive and I would want it again and again. I am that way with a lot of things. I get addicted to books, and video games, and even teaching. When I had heard that there was a rumor that I was using drugs I wasn't worried about it until I realized if the school had heard the rumor it might cause problems. I have learned in my life that perception is in fact reality in many people's minds. Right now there is a scandal about a coach that has been rumored to have molested children. People have automatically decided he was guilty. He has been accused by some boys. People automatically perceive molesting as sex, I made that conclusion too. In fact, he took a shower with the boys. People say that is molesting, does that mean during the shower he touched the boy, or he looked at the boy, or he ... what does molesting mean? I wonder how far you have to go to "molest"! I guess I am wrong too, but not condemning the man without knowing what happened. I think of the things I have done and I realize that I could have been accused of things I had no idea were wrong. Rumors are rampant in every society, I don't think anything can be done but we need to realize that words are as harmful as acts.

You may read this and think I am condoning something, but what I really say is don't judge someone until you know the facts. Just because someone uses the word "molest" doesn't really tell you what they did, it is the perception of what they did. I think that anyone that does anything indecent to a child, or anyone, is VERY BAD, but I also know that sometimes you have to look at the background, not just what you see. I have been stopped by the police because I had my daughter, who looks asian, in my car after midnight. My daughter really got self conscience about it and wondered if she should carry ID to prove she is my daughter! I went into elementary education when I was in college and I really had a desire to work with kids. If I knew any male that was thinking the same thing right now I would tell him he is crazy and I would strongly advise him not to do anything with kids. These days it is too risky and not worth the potential disaster in your life is the wrong person perceives the wrong thing.