the journey

Exceptional teacher movies

Thomas Echols, my first male teacher, made a significant impact on my life as a young boy.  Besides my own father, he was a wonderful, caring male role model in my grade school years.  I even think of him today. 

In a similar vein, I've been thinking about some of my all-time exceptional teacher movies too.  It's a short, but powerful, list:

• Dead Poet's Society (my all-time favorite!)
• Mr. Holland's Opus
• Good Will Hunting
• School Ties
• The Ron Clark Story (I just recently saw this movie)

What are some of your favorite "teacher" movies?

Technorati Tags: teacher movies, exceptional teachers

Some amazing pools

I'm not much of a swimmer.

Ok, I'll admit it.  I don't swim at all.  But check out the Joule Hotel (Dallas) shown below.  It has a really cool pool with an amazing view.

To take a peek at 14 additional pools, click here.

HT: ysmarko

Tags: swimming pools, pools, amazing swimming pools

Burnt popcorn in my new microwave

It was all so innocent...

I stuck a bag of popcorn in the microwave for 3.5 minutes, but you'd think I left it in there for 33.5 minutes instead.  Yikes.

By the time I reached the living room-- I had taken a quick jaunt to the bathroom--the whole front of the house was filled with gray smoke, a horrendous odor triggered my gag reflex, and the inside of my brand new microwave oven looked like ground zero.

Oh Lord.  It was awful.

And it's still awful.

I've let the house ventilate for 2 hours, turned on all of the fans & hoped for the best.  But so much for hoping.

So, I purchased three odor eliminating room air fresheners as well as three odor eliminating sprays--none of which have done much good so far, unfortunately.

I feel like Cousin Eddie in Christmas Vacation trying to save the burnt up couch-- a noble idea, but a losing proposition.

Geez.

Technorati Tags: burnt popcorn, microwave

That's knot possible

tie display at odels
Originally uploaded by doublebug

[Click on photo for better view.]

I recently attended a wedding in which two of the participants couldn't tie a neck tie. I'm not talking about one of those awful formal black bowties, but a simple neck tie. Nothing complicated, no Windsor knots involved.

So, I gladly tied them (one at a time) around my own neck and gave them back-- ready to go-- to the bewildered guys.

I found the entire experience interesting.

Technorati Tags: Windsor tie, neck tie

Post Secret

Great site!

Here's their Facebook group page.

HT: Facebook friends

Tags: Post Secret

Major changes are afoot

This represents the first major design/content change in over two years.  The following Typelists have been removed:

• Currently reading
• Helpful books
• Other voices
• For spiritual enrichment
• Amazon Wish List
• A few endorsement buttons
• And some categories that are no longer relevant

If you can't live without any of these, please let me know.  Otherwise, enjoy the new minimalist look.

Blesings.

Technorati Tags: blog design

The dream of a lifetime

Ever since I saw one on TV, I've always wanted it.  So I went on a quest today and found one at Walgreens of all places! So much for keeping up with the latest gadgets.

Now it's finally mine!  Muhahahaha.

It's Ron Popeil's Pocket Fisherman.  ;-) Now that I have one, however, I need to decide when (and where) to use it because I haven't fished for years. I'm not what you'd call an avid fisherman-- just a guy who occasionally drowns worms to enjoy the sunshine and the company of friends.

I hope to let you know whether this bad boy was worth the wait. 

Tags: Pocket Fisherman, Ron Popiel, Ronco

Goodbye sugar

Randy's Donuts
Originally uploaded by esabet

I'm a little surprised that I haven't missed sugar.

Not yet, that is.

With the specter of high blood sugar or low blood sugar (really spooky) as a "newbie" diabetic, the last thing on my mind is sugar.

But I'm sure that will change over time. For now, however, it's "goodbye sugar!"

Technorati Tags: diabetes, diabetic, sugar

Urban rest stop

This my kind of place-- warm, welcoming, safe, compassionate.

So I'm left with this question:  Why aren't there more places like this?

Click here to visit their web site.

HT: Coop

Technorati Tags: Urban Rest Stop, poverty, homelessness

On-line seminary

Rockbridge University, a fully on-line seminary, has invited me to participate in their on-line Faculty Orientation Class starting in mid-April.  The course is required of all their full and part-time faculty.

I'm looking forward to this process because it will enable me to teach a course or two for them from time to time.

Sounds like fun.

Technorati Tags: Rockbridge Seminary