The Sweet Nectar of Life

What a wondrous moment it must have been when the first brewery began in England. John Barras and Company set out on a most incredible adventure. The adventure of capitalism and free enterprise in the late 1700s. There were unaware that their efforts would have an immense, long-lasting effect on those they would touch with their sweet ale. A brown ale it would later be called...and with such success that soon after its release it would win the gold medal at the International Brewers' Exhibition. Now, that same, distinguished, award-winning, palate tingling beer is in my own home. Thanks be to the beer gods who have allowed Newcastle to dominate its trade for centuries and hopefully for more to come. http://www.newcastlebrown.com/home/

These women are desperate?

I went to visit my parents today and after dinner, as my fiancee and I were picking out wedding stuff, Desperate Housewives came on tv. I guess my mom likes this show, so I figured I'd see what it's all about. Kinda funny actually...but 2 things...I guess I've become REsensitized since HS and college, because all I really watch is SportsCenter, FoxNews, History Channel, and DVDs of 24 seasons. Plus, as a middle-school teacher I thought it was a little overboard when a guy stripped his wife down to her underwear on primetime public TV. Call me old-fashioned...oh well...you're probably where I was...OVERLY DEsensitized. And number two- I don't think they're desperate at all...except for FOOD!! Maybe they should eat a little more and enjoy their posh, perfectly groomed cul-de-sac. Dang.

Reverse Psychology

I have a fifth grader who I will call "Tommy." Tommy has had a hard homelife and struggles with self-esteem problems which are just magnified by his lack of abilities and desire. He's been tested for learning problems, but he CAN do it...he just decides he's "stupid" and doesn't try whenever he hits a wall. So...begins the story...
After one math lesson (like many) he is saying under his breath during the whole thing..."math is stupid...I hate math...this is dumb" After the lesson I ask him if he needs some help and of course he's in is defeatist attitude and everything is "stupid." So, all of a sudden he hears Mr.Gehrke say, "YEAH! THIS MATH IS STUPID! SOOOOO STUPID! IT'S EVEN DUMB! LET'S SHOW THIS MATH HOW DUMB IT IS BY BEATING IT AND FINISHING IT!!!...WHAT DUMB MATH!!" He had no idea what to do, nothing to say and I wanted to laugh so hard at myself, but I think all of a sudden he heard what he sounded like and it sparked something inside. I just couldn't believe it worked...I just thought...might as well...nothing else has worked. I'm pleased to say after a few other things he has had a good couple weeks. Tommy is hopefully on his way...finally.