Kayak Season Begins Again

It's been a busy spring so kayak season started late and slowly. So far Nicki and I have only been to our local favorite Findley Lake and a smaller and less eventful lake near it. Photos above from several visits to Findley Lake - Blue Herons, Green Heron, Night Heron, Turtle, and a Birdhouse.

Portrait in Rods

Two of my favorite 4th grade students decided to create portraits of several teachers using cuisennaire rods during our math class. I was their first subject and I think they captured me well.

"Hat Day" at Prospect

It was Hat Day at my school - Prospect Elementary School. Note the new computers in the background.

Poetry Reading

My 3rd graders read their favorite poems by Shel Silverstein.
Click on the run arrow to start the readings.

Visitor

This is the 2nd or 3rd year that our local white squirrel has dined at our birdfeeders. Our only worry is that he/she makes an easy target for the hawks that frequent our yard especially now that we've lost our snow. There are several white squirrels in Oberlin but this one resides in our neighborhood. She/he does not socialize with the routinely colored squirrels. We often hear the rumble of their chases across our roof.

Independent Study Fair

This is what I do this time of the year. We had 46 kids working on independent research projects since last November and presenting in a big fair with judges last Wednesday evening. A list of projects and the kids' work can be found here with almost 300 photos here.

A good time was had by all - kids, parents, and the 51 judges we had working that evening. The kids are already talking about next year's projects.

A Little Too Much Snow

It started snowing early Friday afternoon and after school I shoveled the driveway. Today (Saturday) I've snowblowed twice (after doing some maintenance work on its sparkplug and muffler) and it is still snowing. A good old-fashioned snowstorm - a blizzard. In between snowblowings I went out for gas and house stuff. Glad I have all-wheel drive and snow tires. Still had to dodge the college kids walking in the unplowed streets.

Of course, Nicki just left to go to a student's piano recital at the Con. I warned her about the adverse conditions. Now I'm waiting for her phone call so I can tell her I told her so. (PS - She made it there and back but reports conditions as awful)

Dog Tracks in Snow

Well the snow kept coming last night and now we have a total of about a foot. No school again. Got a 6:00 AM call form the Superintendent requesting several event cancelation notices to go on the district website.

Part of my morning was taking the snow blower out to clear the drives - just like yesterday. Nicki had to go into work. Oberlin College's motto when it comes to weather and all else: "Fearless". She took her camera and got shots around the Conservatory while I contained myself at home.

I'd call last night's debate a draw. A little testy at times which was expected. And they both sounded like Democrats which helps. Didn't change my vote.

Bird Tracks in Snow

Four to eight inches of snow - the magic numbers with the magic words. And we have no school today. We haven't had many full 5-day weeks in school lately. Next week the kids have Elections Day off while the teachers work.

Once again it is time to remember the exposure compensation numbers for snow photos (+1).

Tonight is the Democratic debate in Cleveland. I'm sure they will spend some time talking about the weather. Ohio must be important again. Nice to have so many phone conversations with my union brothers. They sure want to know how I'm going to vote next Tuesday.

Valentines Day

For our celebration of the day (and yet very spontaneously) Nicki and I went into Cleveland to see the Cleveland Orchestra play. They did a Hungarian opera selection called Bluebeard's Castle by Bartok about a bad duke who takes his new bride to his dark and gloomy castle. She finds 7 locked doors and wants them opened to brighten up the place. It's the old fatal "if you love me there will be no secrets". He suggests she leave the doors locked and don't ask questions but she insists. First door finds a torture chamber with walls covered with blood. Second door finds all his bloody weapons of war. Third door finds jewels and riches - splattered with blood. Fourth door finds a garden and more blood everywhere. Fifth door finds some other bloody stuff - I forget what. He keeps telling her he loves her and please stop asking - but she doesn't of course. Sixth door finds a lake of tears (symbolizing sadness over running out of blood?). And the last door finds his three dead former wives - which she joins. And he's back to being alone and sad. It really fit the valentines theme perfectly. Somebody had a sense of humor about scheduling. The singers and narrator actually did the lyrics in Hungarian and they ran the subtitles off a thing hanging from the ceiling and their voices were fantastic. The orchestra was great - very moody. We had good seats and the tickets were free (Nicki has connections at the office).