Tuesdays with Mr. M

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A student approached me at my school about five months ago; I’ll call him “Mr. M.” He wanted me to teach him to play guitar.

Now, I’d never taught someone to play guitar before – not really. I mean, I’d had small groups of students in an after-school class for eight or nine weeks, meeting once every seven days, but that was the extent of my musical teaching experience. I put Mr. M off, telling him that it would have to be approved with his parents before I agreed to any such type of undertaking.

His mom contacted me later that day, indicating her excitement that I’d be teaching her son to play—if I were indeed willing.

I won’t lie; I felt a trifle overwhelmed at the prospect and sorely contemplated telling Mr. M that I was too busy to teach a private guitar lesson each week. Considering my then-current schedule, fitting a 30-45 minute session in each week was going to be a stretch; as Bilbo Baggins so eloquently put it, it would be “like butter scraped over too much bread.”

Moments with Joey – Resting Rooms

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SCENE 1, INTERIOR. MIDMORNING, CLASSROOM. The class is working in small groups on math review problems as the teacher moves from group to group checking over their work. As he moves across the room he is approached by a 5th grade boy.

JOEY: Mr. Z, I’m going to the rest room, okay?

TEACHER: Oh, are you tired?

[The boy looks confused before an expression of dawning comprehension flashes across his face].

JOEY: What I meant is that I’m going to go to the bathroom.

TEACHER: You’re going to take a bath? Here at school?

[The boy shakes his head and tries to hide a smile. He rolls his eyes and tries to use a sarcastic tone].

JOEY: Yeah, I thought I’d take one in the toilet.

[Pause].

TEACHER: Well, you better flush twice then...

[The boy chokes on a laugh as he picks up the basketball hall pass filled with rocks and moves out into the hallway].

[Fade to black].

Media of the Week - Boyce Avenue

Pin It I was recently introduced to Boyce Avenue's cover of Tracy Chapman's Fast Car by a fellow blogger, Carly.



And then I found this other little gem by the same group that I enjoyed quite a bit...



By the way, I posted over at Four Perspectives if you were interested. If you're not interested, I still posted...

Messages from the Future

Pin It I was sitting in the kitchen, getting ready to enjoy a quiet dinner, when I heard a strange sound coming from the living room. Thinking of gremlins, prowlers, and other things that go bump in the night, I went to investigate and was surprised to find my printer whirring as it woke itself up from sleep mode. Something was going on; something strange was happening.

But I hadn’t printed anything.

And yet, as I stood there, a document was emerging from the printing tray.

I cautiously leaned over and took the sheet of paper from the out-tray, feeling the heat soak into my fingers as I gazed at the letterhead - which was oddly addressed to me.

What the heck?

Well, one should always listen to their future self, right? After all, they probably know exactly what they’re talking about.

I also took the copy of Toy Story 3 over to my neighbor – with whom I share a wireless network. Funny though, he wasn’t at all surprised that I was bringing it over. I can only assume that I must have faxed him from the future as well…

Man, but I’m considerate.

Moments with Joey – Zimmered

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SCENE 1, INTERIOR. AFTERNOON, HALLWAY. The teacher is picking up his class from the school library. As the kids are moving into the hallway for a three-minute break, they are having a discussion about the shooting record of Jimmer Fredette and the final few games of the basketball season. The conversation then shifts to their teacher’s last name…

STUDENT 1: You know Mr. Z could school you.

STUDENT 2: Yeah, you could be Z’d

STUDENT 3: Or Zimmerman’d

[Pause].

JOEY: Zimmered

[The classmates in the vicinity start to grin and begin making comments to each other like: yeah, Zimmered! Being Zimmered would be cool!].

SCENE 2, INTERIOR. AFTERNOON, CLASSROOM. The class is getting ready for afternoon recess. As one student throws a wadded-up piece of trash toward the wastebasket, Joey leaps in the way and catches it before it goes in.

JOEY: Oh yeah. I’m awesome.

[The teacher looks at the boy for a second and shakes his head].

TEACHER: You know, my dog used to get excited like that when he’d catch the food I’d throw to him…

[The boy grins].

JOEY: Oh yeah, I’m a dog replacement!

TEACHER: Only you would be excited about that…

[The boy grins even wider and then breaks into song].

JOEY: ♫ ♪ Can you teach me how to Zimmer? Teach me how to Zimmer… ♪

TEACHER: When I Zimmer you, you’ll know.

[The boy starts to dance around as the teacher rolls his eyes and walks away].

SCENE 3, INTERIOR. AFTERNOON, CLASSROOM. The class is taking out their picture books to practice their fluency before going to their second grade buddy class. As they get ready to read, Joey raises his hand.

JOEY: Mr. Z?

TEACHER: What is it, Joey?

JOEY: Whenever I read out loud I try to think of how you’d read the book and I hear your voice in my head. Then I try to read that same way and make it sound the way that you’d have made it sound.

TEACHER: Congratulations, Joey…you’ve been Zimmered.

[The class bursts out laughing].

[Fade to black].



Oh, and I am posting today over at Four Perspectives. You just might find it magical...

California - Day 3: The Streets

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Can you take a guess where a few of these streets were used?

Awesome...



And I even listened to the song...

Oh, and I'll be at Disneyland Friday and Saturday if you're going to be in the area; I'd love too meet you!

California - Day 2: Sailing

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The splay of salt air and the waves was amazing as the wind whipped through our hair...until it swept over the deck to where I was sitting...