I once was lost... okay... more than once...

Hello everybody! It seems like a while since I've posted. Things are calming down (except for the end-of-the-quarter flurry of activity). 

My front yard

The contract settlement is a relief to many in the district, and for sure at my school site. With that unsought "project" behind me... I've turned my thoughts and energies to other activities, including... I read another book: My life in dog years by Gary Paulsen.

In his book, Gary tells of some of the dogs who have made a lasting impression upon him. The book is dedicated to Cookie, a dog who saved Gary's life after he fell through the ice and sank. Gary acknowledges that all the accomplishments of his last 18 years are a direct result of Cookie's rescue. 

My front yard view: a park

A good reader often makes connections between a book and their own life. I sat at my desk I thought of my own "life savers," especially my wife Leslie, who  "saved" me from living in the past, from being alone, and helped launch my new career as a teacher. I am in her debt and in the debt of the One who brought us together. (We saved each other.)

The poem:

In a time of grave danger...

A dog saved a man

who then lived many years.

After 18 years... the man still remembers the dog who saved him... and gave him... 18 years... and counting.

Thanks dog.

God saved a man

who then  lived many years.

After 40 years... the man still remembers the God who saved him... and the people God used...

Thanks God.

Thanks people.

Miracles Happen

St. Patrick's - damaged by the "cold"

It is often said, “God moves in mysterious ways…”

What astounds me and fills me with awe is that God moves.  An old time prophet put it this way,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”


It appears that a settlement has been reached between the teachers and district where I work. We’ve done negotiations, letter writing, speech making, protesting, campaigning for candidates, and some of us got together last week for group prayer.

St. Patrick's Rose

In Jesus’ day, he prayed, and once God answered with a voice from heaven. “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”


The state passed a new budget, another local district got results from “fact finding.” Lots of variables changed… it thundered? Yes.


Or was it simply that God moved?


All I know is that once what seemed to be impossible has come to pass: a fair settlement “magically” appeared. Or was it miraculous?


Personally, I’m going with miraculous. And I’m grateful to God… and to those He chose to use in mysterious ways to bring about this miracle.


What do you hear… thunder or the voice of God?

Bird of Paradise

Happy Thursday! (And Friday!)

Allured to the Vista Point...

Joshua Tree National Park

Allured...

Not content with the view from below,
I snapped a picture and made the ascent.

The trek long.
The path always upward.

The view?
Stunning.

Visionary.
Unspeakable.

Ample reward
for the allured.




(A truism I enjoy is this, "Show me someone who is bored, and I'll show you someone who lacks meaningful challenges.")


These days I've got my challenges: some imposed, some chosen. I'll endure the imposed ones, but I aim to enjoy the chosen ones. Some paths are chosen for you, some you get to chose. Regardless, the path is generally upwards with occasional vista points, and at the end... triumph.


Keep climbing!


(I wrote Allured last Friday in response to a photo over here. The picture on this post was of rock climber at Joshua Tree.)

Normalcy anyone?

Well, things are getting back to the new normal. Life is full of changes, and most of mine are work related. The majority of them are normal kind of changes: new co-worker, new schedule, missing team members... that sort of thing.

The ill-wind of spiteful negotiating continues, and although my kite-in-the-wind metaphor for the year helps some; I'm still blown about at times.

There are still lots of good things happening at work though: great co-workers, student growth, reasonable parents, and lots of laughs. Much of the sanity at work is a credit to my boss/principal: Kim. She's one of the main reasons I transferred to this campus, and that decision pays dividends daily. 

Those of you who follow my other blog know that I've devoted some time to seeking clarity and fairness in the contract negotiations. That's gone pretty well... it's up to the voters now... and time will tell if the families of the district want change and can make it happen by electing a change-prone school board. 

In the mean time, I play my part... and live my life.

A good Christmas looms with a planned visit from my son who lives in Canada. Woo-hoo!

I've also started a new credential program: Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC). That's going very well, and that will be a new topic on this blog.

Reading everyone's blogs lately has stirred up my mental juices to post... Now I need to get out and get some pics of So Cal in October!

More to follow...

One Busy Month! (More to follow...)

Well, September sure flew by!

School started August 30th, and I've been busy ever since.

Dani at 13,000 feet (and climbing)

Comparatively speaking, I'm still skating. Many of my co-workers have school age children, and their afternoon and evening schedules make mine look semi-retired.

Never-the-less, between extra union meetings, Board Meetings, and getting back into the swing of a "normal" work week, I have been neglecting this blog.

I've even neglected reading many blogs. But... hopefully... I'm back!

So what's new in my life?

The TV series Bones -- My wife and I have watched most of 4 or 5 seasons: dark humor and great character development surrounding a geeky police procedural.

Joel, enjoying BC's waterways

Changes on campus -- more stress on my co-workers: bigger classes, looming pay gouges instead of pay cuts, new computer programs (and glitches), and a new aide for me.

A great week-long visit from my youngest daughter.


And, I started a new credential program: Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC). It meets one Friday/Saturday a month for 14 months. Last weekend was the beginning. I'm lovin' it.


So that's the mini-update from 36,000 feet. I'm a zoom-out, zoom-in kind of guy... perhaps next post I'll zoom in on something from this big picture: the life of Don.

John and Jo -- enjoying each other

Joanna and an armload of twins

Joanna and her girls

What do you wish for today?

CSUF Arboretum

I came across this question on a blog today: What do you wish today?

I'm always on the lookout for a good question. Here is how she answered the question:

So today I wish for one day during my vacation that folks are happy and ok around me and that I can let go of the stress and just relax...and read...just for one day this week. That would work for me. What do you wish today?

Often, while watching TV in the evening, my wife will get up and ask me, "Want anything while I'm up?"

Who thinks up these blossoms?

My first answer is "World Peace." (No, I'm not an ex-beauty contestant... but that's what I want!)

My second answer is "Whirled Peas." (I'm a smart alec, and I've already used "World Peace.")

My third answer is usually, "Nothing, honey. I'm good." (I'm generally content just watching the TV.)

But this question is different: What do you wish today?

I read a quote lately on another blog that gave me my wish for today:

Hey, What's going on family?

"Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find."

~William Wordsworth

My wish today: Find me some stray gifts of pleasure and claim them!


Simple pleasures. Simple joys. Simple delights.

My twin grandsons just turned eight months. On a recent visit I watched them flail their arms AND their legs in delight over some "stray gift of pleasure." 

I may not go that far, but they've got the right idea!

How about you? Are you in the hunt today for some stray gift waiting to be claimed by you?

Second to the last Sunday of my Summer Vacation!

My summer vacation is almost over, but the NFL pre-season is in full swing, so all things balance out. (I love AT&T's U-verse and the NFL channel.)

CSUF Arboretum: Going places!

It's been a great summer: one of my best ever.

I wrote to a friend today: The coming school year is full of changes and challenges -- and that's different how?

So much of life is about outlook and attitude. It's not always easy to make sense of things, but if you ponder a bit... or a lot... for a long time... sometimes things make sense...

Or you at least can create a mental game plan. I did that today over on my other blog in a post called Adapt and Thrive!

St. Patrick's rose: a beauty!

That post is really a result of a lot of summer-long pondering over issues at work. But many of the conclusions I reached have broader applications.

I end that post with a quote from a friends FaceBook profile:

"Kites rise highest against the wind -- not with it."

Life is full of problems, challenges, disappointments, etc.

A spider enjoys a lacewing lunch at St. Patrick's

There may be an ill wind blowing, but I don't have to be driven along by it. I can be like the kite and rise up.

That's my plan for the coming school year! (I may even decorate my classroom with a kite or two to stay reminded.)

Da Haan's at da Petting Zoo!

Happy Sunday/Monday.