I'm ready...are you?

For some, summer is right around the corner. For others, it's already here. And those of you that have "real" jobs, well, you'll take what you can get, the 4th of July weekend. Working in education, schools often get summers off. With exceptions of those schools that have those year-round calendars, we get 2 months off every year, not including all the other holidays that happen throughout the year. Some plan elaborate trips to far away destinations, others keep it close to home with various weekend trips to more local places. How ever you choose to spend this summer though, know that the school year will be starting earlier.

Yes that right folks. Our school year, well at least LAUSD's school year will start in early to mid-August. I know, I know...some may be wondering why. Well much of it has to do with the testing culture that our country has adopted over the last decade. Here in California we have the "California Starndards Test" that occurs every May. Now because of this test being in May, schools have had to make sure that all the standards are taught by the time the test was administered across the state. So schools were placed in a pickle. After testing, all the materials were already taught...so what do you do with the remaining weeks? In comes the early start school year.

By starting school earlier, the schools can kill two birds with one stone, as the old saying goes. Schools will get more time (starting earlier) to teach/prepare students for the test. While at the same time cut the amount of time at the end of the year so that the down time after the test is lessened as well. What does this mean for teachers, students, and parents?

For all involved, this summer will be a short one. LAUSD will get just over a month of vacation time, and for those that weren't aware, vacation plans may need to be changed. Students and teachers will have more time to get ready for the test, so that is an upside, and parents don't have to worry about what their kids are going to be doing all summer. Some down side items I foresee though.

Physical Education is going to be one of the hardest hit. Since much of the class occurs outside...the sun/heat will be a very important factor to keep in mind. Air conditioners will have to be functioning properly, as some of us knows, repairs can take what feels like an eternity to repair.

Overall, I think this was a smart move by schools. Eliminating the down time at the end of the year, getting more time to prepare for this test that we have to administer, no matter more stupid the test is. Well that's my rant.

"Just Friends"

I saw this posted the other day, and though about it. It's strange how much has happened to me in such a short amount of time. Marriage, dating, relationship, all changing in a year. Crying, loving, pain, heart ache, just so many raw emotions. And at the end of it all, what are we left with? Memories.

That's what we're left with. Yes, you can be "just friends," but you will have a connection with this person that will always be just a little bit more than friends. You will place them, ever so slightly, in front of others. But it's OK. It's OK to be "just friends" with someone you use to love. It's OK. It's special, you have a connection with this person that others may not understand. Heck, they might even be jealous of it, but don't let it get to you.

When the Past Comes Back

Started with a phone call, which I let go to voicemail. Then a text, followed by an email, and another phone call. Then my brother gets a text to tell me about what I just got a phone call, voicemail, text, and email about. It's been several months since I've heard high or low from her, since I've even thought of her. Then out of the blue, BAM! Broadsided. I never saw it coming.

When I've already been contacted by our agent, why does she need to contact me via so many channels? Anyways, this question is moot. I've been in contact with my agent, that's all I need to do. Moving on has been the best thing for me, I doubt intend on going back to the way I was year ago.

Health Benefits of Sex

Partners in Health e-newsletter - May 2012 - general_health:


'via Blog this'


So I get up on Mother's Day and in my inbox, I see this email from Kaiser. In the subject line it says "How sex is good for your health." Now naturally, it peaked my curiosity, so I click and take a look.


According to the article, the benefits of sex include three things:

1. Stress relief
2. Burns calories
3. Strengthens your pelvic muscles

Now the first two I can see it benefiting both men and women, but the third, well, I'm not so sure the Kegel-like exercises will help, but then again I'm a guy...what do I know.


So ladies, go find your significant other, or for those that don't have one, pull out B.O.B. and have a go at it. Go reap those benefits.

To the special woman in my life: Happy Mother's Day

Dear mamma,

Thank you for always being there for me. Sacrificing so much for your sons, I know growing up it couldn't have been easy. I can't even imagine getting married as such a young age, have 3 kids, moving to another country where you know no one, don't speak the language, or have anyone to turn to. Having to raise us alone with all the drama from our youth, but through it all you where there. 

Working long hours to put food on the table, clothes on our backs, and joy and happiness in our hearts. You've always been there for us, through it all you have never given up on us. Sure you were disappointed in us from time to time, but we could always count on you when it counted. This past year has been hard on me, and I just wanted to say thank you so the whole world will know that you are amazing.

Of course we have our differences, but what family doesn't? However, it's the bond that we all have that keeps us together. I love you dearly, with all my heart, and no matter what happens I always will. I know we are far apart and don't get to see each other all the time, but that doesn't matter.

So mamma, Happy Mother's Day!

Love Always, Your Son.

PS, Happy Mother's Day to all the other mothers out there. Without you all, none of us would be here. I hope that you are treated special, not just this day, but everyday.

Alone on the trail

After a wonderful Friday evening, the plan was to get up for an early hike with a friend and sine of his students that he mentors. Unfortunately, he had car issues, so that plan got postponed. I didn't mine to much, as this past week has been tough, not getting enough sleep and all.


I did take a nap, and after waking up decided to go on a hike myself. So I packed up my stuff and drove of to do a trail that I haven't visited in awhile.


Getting to the top of Echo Mountain can be a trek. Two and a half miles of almost constant climbing. In the afternoon, little shade, and countless switchbacks.


I started my hike at four o'clock. The way up to the top is well marked and easy to follow. During the trip up, you're given several opportunities to see the San Gabriel valley down below. On this particular day, the smog is thick, but you can still make out DTLA.


I make it to the top in just over an hour and 15 minutes. When I get up there, there's only a few people at the top, and they're heading back down. This gives me an opportunity to spend some time at the top alone and by myself.



A take the time to meditate and reflect. Listening to the wind blow, the distant humming of cars far off. Birds chirping as they fly around in the beautiful late afternoon sky. As I spend the short time by myself at the top, others begin to trickle up. As I wait for the sun to set, more and more people come up. They begin to set up for what looks to be a potluck. People trekked up pizza, wine, chips and dips, jello shots, and so much more. People young and old, males and females, health and well the not so healthy. All meeting up at the top for some good eats and company. It was really nice to see.


As the sun began to set, I started taking my pictures. I got some amazing photos that I'll share. As I packed up to head down, one of the hikers asked if I was going to stay to get shots of the moon. Unfortunately I wasn't, but I kind of wished I had. Biggest and brightest Moon of the year...it would have been some great shots.


So making my way down, something confused me. Why would people go hiking and not be prepared for the hike. As soon as the Sun went down, it began getting dark and cold very quickly. As I made my way down, people I saw didn't have extra warm clothes or lights. One guy was even coming down on the dark trail using his smart phone as his light source. Needless to say I slowed down so he could follow me.


All in all I had a great time. I got to be alone to think and reflect. I might need to do more late night hikes when the Moon is out and full, but for now, I'll just enjoy the photos that I took.

One less thing for Women to worry about.

This is a great video for all the ladies out there.

Watch "Republicans, Get In My Vagina! (Funny Stuff)" on YouTube

Finally putting them up

Since moving in to my newish place, I really haven't taken all the to truly make the place mine. Yeah, I have a few photos up, mostly of things from the past. I had many frames that contained old photos that I took with me, which needed to be filled with new memories.

Well, that has now been accomplished...well sort of. Several of my larger frames are now up, and I'm working on filling a couple more. A friend of mine is moving far way, to a place where she doesn't really know that many people. As I told them tonight, we all need to move on. Remember that every beginning has an end, and every end a new beginning. So remember and cherish the good times, and learn from the ones that weren't so enjoyable.

I, myself, am beginning a new chapter in my life. I look forward to all of its joys and challenges.

Birthday to me!

So it's my birthday, and I can cry if I want to! But no, I'm not crying. There isn't anything to cry about. I had the day off from work, so I don't have to deal with his incompetence. Though I have been called in for Jury Duty. I know, many of you think that its a waste of time, but hey I see it as doing my civic duty! Was released early, so I got tip run a few errands. Got the title changed on my car, car registration done, and even took some time for me to relax.

I was taken out to dinner by a new friend that night, discovering a new place that has great food, live music, dancing (not that I dance), and no cover (read my yelp review).

The day after was good, woke up after not getting enough sleep from the night before. Worked out, went to a send of party for a friend/ex-girlfriend. Then to my own dinner party with some friends I don't see as often. Best laugh of the evening was from the wife of the married couple.

We started taking about the old days when we all played D&D. Yes, I played don't judge. We were taking about dice rolling and how my friend the DM (dungeon master) would always roll poorly, giving us the players a great advantage. So he changed the way he did things to make it more challenged for us to succeed. Then another friend talked about how his 20-sided die that had two 20's on it would never roll a 20. Then I brought up how the ex-wife would always roll 20's, staying even I suspected her of cheating. This is were the comment came in. In true fashion, she simply states, "but she was cheating." Everyone begins to laugh loudly. People begin to look at us from different tables, but we didn't care. We ended the evening early so I can take a hike the following day.

This birthday is definitely turning out better than last. Thanks to all my friends new and old, for taking the time to spend out with me.

I Don't Have to Tell You.

"I don't have to tell you."

That's what I was told today. What context, you may ask? Well there's a bit of a back story to this, so let me begin from three weeks ago. At the school I work at, we have intersession classes for students that failed the first semester of math and/or English. In years pass, I have never volunteered nor have I been asked to do intersession, but this year I figured why not give it a try.

I signed up to do math, as I feel I'm pretty good at it, and it's 7th grade math...I'm good enough at the subject to do 7th grade math, so in to the lion's den I went. The week leading up to our first session, I went and talked to the math teacher, trying to figure out what theses students needed. I went to the other teacher that was going to doing the same grade and subject as I was so we could coordinate our efforts. I bought materials, created a wiki, slide presentations, worksheets, pacing plan, the whole nine yards as we could say, all in preparation for the class.

I asked the math teacher what the students need help with...what concepts did they need to learn, answer, I'll get back to you. I asked what I should be doing...answer, math. So the other teacher and myself began getting things together to teach these kids. I asked, what I should be doing...answer, "Go over, reteach things that students were suppose to have learned in the first semester. So again, working with the other intersession teacher, we created something from nothing. No guidance, no input from our principal. So for intersession, I asked what I was suppose to do. Students were to be taught first semester material. OK, I can do that.

My principal came to observe me, and then made comments that I was doing things that were too easy. This was the second class with the students, and we were going over basic operations, adding, subtracting, multiplication, division. Things that they were struggling on. I setup the pacing plan to cover everything they did in the first semester, starting with basic operations. Well, he came to my class again recently, and this time put a letter in my mailbox. The letter said, and I'm paraphrasing here, thank you for taking the time to teacher 7th grade math intersession. Unfortunately your class is being closed, sorry for any inconvenience."

No explanation, no reason, just 3 sentences. So two things popped into my head at that moment, first, "does this mean my students have to keep their F's from first semester. Second, what, if anything, did I do wrong?

I found out the answer to the first question real quick...my students were going to still have intersession, which is good, they all need it. The second however, was a bit more elusive. I went to talk to the principal, and he could not give me a straight answer as to why I was removed. At first, he told me that he didn't need to tell me why. Then he said that he didn't feel that I was preparing them for the CST (California Standards Test). So I asked what the purpose of intersession was, remediation or test prep.? No straight answer.

So in the end, I'm not going intersession anymore. I don't know what the official reason is, but I've been told by my birdies that it's because I wasn't doing test prep, and was actually doing my job of re-mediating my students.

It's been awhile

Wow...I haven't posted in so long, I'm not even sure where to start. It's been almost two months since my last post, and I'm not sure if that's a good sign or a bad one. I guess on one hand its good. I haven't had any developments that I've felt I've really had to write about. On the other hand, that could also mean that I just haven't been writing the things that have been bothering me. Which it is, I'm completely unsure.


Time truly heals many of the wounds that life causes. Time allows us to move on and go forward. Time, given enough of it, can even allow us to forgive, and maybe even forget. So, I've been working on just that, forgiving and trying to forget. I'm moving on, going forward with my life. I'm letting the sands of time work it's magic on me.


Changes are coming, I'm taking steps to reorganize my life for me. I'm working getting me in order. I'm focusing on the tasks that I have for myself. Work is moving forward. Life moving forward. Funny thing, I feel the ex is still trying to get at me. Dating, now there's an activity I'm not use to doing, but more on that next time. For now, I need to check to see if I have Jury Duty.

Love Hurts

"Everyone says that love hurts, but that's not true.
Loneliness hurts, rejection hurts, losing someone hurts.
Everyone confuses these things with love but in reality,
Love is the only thing."
~ Student

So it's been several weeks now, and I'll be honest, like the first time around this time last year, being alone sucks. One of my students wrote the quote above, and to be honest, it's kind of true. I know I did the breaking up in my last relationship, but I'll be damned if I don't feel alone again. Yes, I know I should talk to someone about it, but how do you bring this up in conversation? I'm the one that truly messed up in the head. But live and learn. I need to move on. I need to get back to me. I need to get out and meet people. But how does one do that? I know I need to move on, but missing what I had, is that wrong? Damn, I really am messed up. I'm not sure what it is. Do I miss her? Or do I not want to be alone? Can it be that I'm so vain that I just miss being intimate, and I'm craving physical contact? Well, whatever it is, I don't like it.

I'm a social creature that craves physical contact, and when I don't get it, I feel hurt. But I have a great group of friends that are always willing to be there for me and help me through everything. I'm truly grateful for them all. Always calling, or checking up on me. Just knowing that they care enough to do that can flip my mood right around. I'd like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart. With you all by my side, I can weather through just about anything.

Late yet again

So, I've never worked some where were they didn't have direct deposit. That said, where I an now doesn't have it. That means the boss, twice a month, had to get the check cut, signed and handed out to the employees. now there would be a problem if we actually got paid on time, with enough time to actually get to the back to make a deposit.

Alas, that's not the place I work at. Here, checks are rarely interested in. Someone please tell me. In California do employers have to pay employees by a certain time.

I remember in my first job, payday was every other Friday, and checks would be ready by noon...not so much now.

Singles Awareness Day (Valentine's Day)

Two years in a row, I'm spending this corporate America holiday alone. One day a year, well, if you've been reading this blog then you know why. This year, well this year, I'm again alone. Yeah, I had a girlfriend, but I broke it off. Don't ask about the details, but were still friends.

One thing I about our relationship, we were good together. She helped me realize many things about myself. Thing that I really didn't share with others. This that in a sense pissed me off because she wouldn't let it go. She forced me to take a hard look into myself.

I'm still working on picking up the pieces that's my life. Yeah, I thought I was better. I thought things were turning around, but maybe I'm lying to myself. I need help, but to be honest, I'm afriad to ask. I don't like feeling that I don't have control. Maybe that's even why I broke up with her...it was something that I could control. I needed to feel in control even if it was breaking up.

I know that I can lean on my friends and family, but I'm too scared to ask. I feel helpless in all this. I'll be honest, I don't think I ever really got over my depression, only masked it. I really haven't gotten over my ex-wife...only surpressed it. I still think to myself if I did things differently, could it have changed things. Yes, I have friends and family tell me that everything that happened isn't my fault, but isn't that what they're suppose to do? I'm glad that I'm divorced...it's what she wanted. I'm glad she's happier without me in her life, but how do I get happy?

Yesterday was Valentines Day, one of the "most romantic" days of the year. Well that's if your in a relationship, but for us single people out there, well it can get kind of depressing. One of my best friends came over last night...we talked, watched a bit of White Collar, but it just wasn't the same. My ex-girlfriend and I had plans to have a dinner last night...needless to say we didn't. I was still thinking of her though. I know I need healing time, and it wasn't really fair for me to drag her into my issues...no matter how much she wanted me to or willing to. I'm sorry it took so long for me to get this all out in the open, but it's hard for me.

Thanks for taking some time to read. This time next year, well let's hope all will be better.

First of the Month

"Wake up, wake up, wake up it's the 1st of the monthTo get up, get up, get up so cash your checks and get up"

Thirty-one days are gone. Amazing how fast that happened. Well, a few updates on my resolutions.


1) Finances are getting in order real quick. Summer is fast approaching and being a teacher, that means no checks.
2) Getting Ripped. Running a bunch! watching my diet, not dieting. Those "dimples" one gets right where the abs and hips meet, they're forming nicely.
3) Been focusing on me, and I'm doing better for it.
4) Slowly, but surely things are being donated, recycled, or tossed.


On a side note, I went back to airsofting for the first time in over a year...it was fun, but I don't think I'll be going back to HSP.

Hacked.

Hey all,

You might have gotten an email from me about joining twoo...I didn't send the email, and I want to say sorry if you got this email from me. Do not open the email, as I'm not sure what it's all about.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

New Year's Resoultions

Around this time every year, people all over begin to make a list for themselves. Often times it will include things that we take way or give up, eat less, lose weight, stop smoking, drinking, or some other substance. It also can be things that we want to do more; exercise more, save more, or laugh more. But often, these lists that we create for ourselves fall short in the end. "I'll start in the new year," is often the mantra that many aspire to. Why do we put so many things off until another day? If its something that we want to change why not start right now? I read somewhere once that "Procrastination is like masturbation.  At first it feels good, but in the end you're only screwing yourself." Not sure who wrote/said that, but how true that statement is.


So, what kind of resolutions do I have... There's a loaded question for myself. Well, this year I want to make changes for myself. I need to work on me, and focus on that. This is in every aspect. I have several things that need to be worked on.


For those that know me, you know that I'm working with some great people to try and open a charter school. This place is going to be crazy. Gone are the days where we only prepare our students for the "high stakes" tests that need to be administered to students. No, we're trying to bring education back to what it's really about...thinking. Yes, I know, so simple, yet its something that education had moved away from.


Wait, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Resolutions. So I've come up with a few things.


1) Save Money. Now this might sound easy, but honestly, I have issues with this...I like to spend. However, now that I'm on my own, I got to budget better, and get a grip on my finances.


2) Get Ripped! Now most of us have a goal like this at the beginning of the year. "I want to lose weight, I want to get in shape, blah blah blah." Come on people, stop wanting and let's do this. I'm trying to workout 6 days a week, but at least 5. Nothing much, nothing crazy...just making sure to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity in everyday. Now the getting ripped part...well, I'm not sure I'm going to get it...but I'm going to by trying every day! So if you want a workout buddy...hit me up.


3) Focus on me. After so many years of being in a relationship with the same person, doing what I though I was doing to keep things smooth...well forget it...I'm looking out for number one. What this means, either get on for the ride, or get off...don't drag me down. Now this doesn't mean I won't work on the relationship that I'm in. It only means I'm not going to take shit like I did before. Sorry for the language.


4) Get rid of crap. I have a lot of crap that I just can't seem to let go of. Why am I hanging on to it? Well, it could be useful...right? Well, that something that I have to work on.


So there it is...my resolutions. I have 352 days to get this all done...unless the end of the world actually happens on 12/21, in that case does it really matter?