Play Ball!

The Cardinals officially open their season at home today against the Colorado Rockies. I’m interested to see how much all the off-season changes (and there have been many) pay off, particularly the much-mentioned bringing up of “homegrown” players from within the system. We still have no pitching (a starting rotation of five righthanders?), but it’s [...]

When Renting Has Its Advantages

Even if you don’t live in St. Louis, you still might have heard about all the rain the Midwest has received of late. Though we don’t live near any overflowing riverbanks, here’s a shot of our own little tragedy as a result of the rain: as of early this morning, Cair Paravel is no more.

The [...]

On Nostalgia

“Nostalgia undermines the ability to make intelligent use of the past. Memory, in contrast, does not idealize the past to condemn the present, but draws hope from the past in order to enrich the present and guide the future.” Christopher Lasch
“Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.” Peter De Vries

Bittersweet Break

Due to either brilliant planning or pathetic procrastination, my Westminster Spring Break is turning out to be more about remembering what it’s like to be a full-time student than what it’s like to be a teacher with a week off. On the docket:

Listen to seven 45-minute lectures, read five chapters, complete a study guide, and [...]

Easter Haiku

Easter happiness
Where, O death, now is thy sting?
Since love made a way

Overcast Links

A few links on an overcast, rainy day (our third in a row, which I’m loving):

Megan is finishing up her music discussion week (one more song tomorrow), so check out the lyrics and leave a comment; everybody’s doing it
At least somebody at the New York Times gets it regarding Eliot Spitzer (and men in general [...]

Who Needs Curriculum When You’ve Got New York?

Last Monday, I started a unit with my ethics classes on the seventh commandment (”You shall not commit adultery”). For those watching the news cycle of late, you know that last Monday was the beginning of the whole Eliot Spitzer downfall and, as of yesterday, the disclosure of sexual dalliances by his replacement, David Patterson.
The [...]

The Truth Is Out There

In the comments on my last post, the discussion took a turn and ended up on The X-Files and the upcoming second movie, due out July 25th. I’m geared up for the flick, though I have no idea why they’re apparently letting go of the government conspiracy arc and dealing only with the paranormal; still, [...]

Wow (and Whew)

Yesterday after school, Jim Marsh, headmaster at Westminster, walked into my room, shook my hand, congratulated me, and then gave me an envelope with a contract for the 2008-2009 school year. Unless I do something really stupid (or stop doing something I am apparently doing right) between now and the end of May, I have [...]

Listening to Lamott

Last night my nine-year-old and I went to hear author Anne Lamott read from her new book, Grace (Eventually). The setting for the evening was the “sanctuary” of the Ethical Society of St. Louis, and the place was packed with at least 500-600 folks eager to hear Lamott’s random but winsome thoughts about writing, politics, [...]

Becoming More Like Them (part 2)

I resonate with Campagnola’s assessment, particularly when she writes:
“The contemporary church has often understood this verse (Matthew 18:3) to teach what great kingdom citizen character looks like – a child-like faith, humble and meek and ever ready to believe in Jesus. But Jesus took the disciples beyond the questions of character and greatness and challenged [...]

Becoming More Like Them (part 1)

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus, Matthew 18:3

“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree,
I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up, not me!”
Peter Pan, “I Won’t Grow Up”

Child-like. Childish. In most adult [...]

Desperately Seeking Sabbath

“All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Blaise Pascal

In a bit of a melancholic funk today from squeezing too much work into too little of a week last week; not sleeping well, not reading much, and not getting enough of my recommended daily allowance of time spent [...]

Politics That Make You Go “Hmmm”

In light of the primaries tomorrow (supposedly a dead heat), two questions keep floating through my head. First, why has Clinton’s campaign been so poorly run (especially since January)? The second is, in light of number one, why is Obama not set to run away with the primaries tomorrow (and the democratic nomination as a [...]

Caption Contest Winners

For those following the caption contest and waiting with bated breath for the results, Megan has made her final evaluative decisions. Her rankings and rationale:
#5 “I feel like life is changing, and it all depends on this little box.” (Maddie) – okay, so I’m a little biased, but this was pretty good for a nine-year-old
#4 [...]