Makes Me Smile #5 - Warm Copies

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I was fortunate this year to get a printer placed in my classroom. This is a wonderful thing simply because it saves me vast amounts of time walking from one end of the school to the other.

This past Friday my class was finishing up a writing assignment as I printed up their Weekly Evaluations. As I lifted these pages out of the printer, the warmth emanated from the paper to my fingertips. I held the copies close to my chest. The warmth of these crisp sheets flowed through me like sunlight on a winter’s day.

Warm copies from the printer make me smile.

The Forgotten Photos - Shadow and Light

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I got busy last summer and never looked through the photos of my journey to the Redwood Forest. These are just a few of the images of light and shadow from the sojourn to - and while at - this majestic place.

I should also probably mention that I'm guest posting over at Laugh out Loud today...

Moments with Joey – Favorites

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SCENE 1, INTERIOR. MORNING, CLASSROOM. The teacher is walking back into the classroom from making copies before school starts. A lone boy is sitting at the back table with his Math book cracked open. He is working on an assignment as the teacher moves to the table.

TEACHER: Hey, how’s my favorite Joey in the whole, wide classroom?

[The boy looks around the room, noticing that he is the only kid currently present].

JOEY: Mr. Z, I’m the only Joey in the room…in fact, I’m the only kid here.

TEACHER: Ah…[The teacher puts on a knowing look]. But that does not negate the fact that you’re my favorite Joey…

[The boy lets this sink in for a moment; after a few seconds he looks up at the teacher].

JOEY: Mr. Z, what if I were the only kid to show up for the day? Wouldn’t that be cool?

TEACHER: Yeah, it would. We’d have to go on a field trip…maybe to go see a movie or something. Maybe the newest Harry Potter.

JOEY: I’ve already seen it.

TEACHER: Well, maybe that new Narnia movie, then.

JOEY: I’ve already seen that one, too.

TEACHER: Then maybe we’d just have to stay in the classroom and do homework all day.

JOEY: With you? Just you and me? THAT would be so awesome…

[There is a pause as the teacher and boy both continue to work on their individual projects].

JOEY: Mr. Z?

TEACHER: What?

JOEY: Thanks for letting me be your favorite Joey in the whole, wide classroom.

TEACHER: You betcha...after all - you could have been my second favorite Joey.

[Pause].

JOEY: Yeah, and you’re pretty nice like that.

TEACHER: Somebody’s gotta do it...it might as well be me.

[Fade to black].

The Forgotten Photos

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I was searching for something on my computer this evening when I stumbled across these photos. These were from my travels over the past year or so...I wondered to myself just why I didn't share these before now.

I have no idea; I guess it's because I'd forgotten about them.

I share them with you now...

Oh, and I posted over at Four Perspectives tonight, too.

Media of the Week - Sesame Street

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It’s a little bit funny…I originally started off this week’s Media of the Week with merely wanting to show a clip I found on YouTube recently, starring Grover with the clever remake of an Old Spice commercial.



As I wrote my two sentences and prepared to publish, I thought about Sesame Street. I thought about watching it when I was a kid. I thought about you, and how we probably share this show in common. After all, most of us have grown up creating fond memories with Sesame Street along the way. And let’s be honest, who can’t resist tapping their foot and singing along with the words of the catchy opening tune, belting out along with it, “to where the air is free!”?

Reflections of Insecurity

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There are times in my life when people point out my flaws. I know that these imperfections exist. I am conscious that I have them. Believe me, there is nobody in this world that knows better than I do that they exist.

Do I try to be better?

Yes.

Am I perfect?

Far from it.

Yet, when people seem inclined point out my failings and the places where I am deficient in life, I always find myself pondering these non-successes with an intensity that borders on merciless. It isn’t long before I start to berate myself, and I begin to focus on all the other shortcomings that I have—all of those things that others know nothing about, and I add them to the list of reasons why I am a complete failure as a person.

This happened recently.

When I awoke this morning I was so distraught that I didn’t feel like going to work. I found myself sinking into the whirlpool of depression and despair as I thought of all the ways in life I hadn’t succeeded, and those ways in which I’ve been a disappointment.

I laid there in bed staring at the ceiling, hardly mustering up the energy to get ready for the day. I thought about school. I thought about calling in ill. After all, one who felt in such dire straits as myself could hardly be expected to go to work and have the energy and vigor expected of a teacher, could they?

Moments with Joey – The New Student

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SCENE 1, INTERIOR. MORNING, CLASSROOM. The teacher is getting the math lesson ready for the day when a young boy enters the classroom. He pauses at the door for a second and scans the room. Upon noticing the teacher, the boy begins to walk towards him.

JOEY: Hi, you’re Mr. Z, right?

TEACHER: Joey, you know exactly who I am.

JOEY: Oh, no I don’t. You see I’m a new student.

TEACHER: Oh. [The teacher feigns surprise]. Well in that case, what’s your name?

JOEY: Joey; it’s spelled J-O-E-Y.

TEACHER: Well, it’s nice to meet you, Joey. So, is there anything I should know about you?

[The boy looks thoughtful for a second, and then cracks a whisper of a smile].

JOEY: Yeah, I’m a slacker.

[The teacher grins].

TEACHER: Well, now that is some important information.

JOEY: I thought you would want to know.

TEACHER: Yeah, though I probably would have eventually figured it out on my own...

JOEY: Yeah, probably...

[Fade to black].