Trân trọng,
Tango Hanoi

Today, I:

1] Woke up at 11:09 AM. Exactly. Amazing, right? I actually took note of the time on my alarm clock.
2] Dressed and ate breakfast, which consisted of vanilla yogurt + Kashi cereal. It was surprisingly bland. Kind of depressing.
3] Went to class. Mom picked me up at the house 12:30ish and drove to class; I was like five minutes early which is the latest I've been so far.
4] Talked about vectors, which I pretty much know. They have speed... they have "magnitude"... they have a direction... blah blah blah.
5] Asked the Herr a question about cos (T) and sin (T). For those of you who have forgotten every little smidgen of Precalculus you have ever even touched on, the cos and the sin create a circle in Parametric. Basically, I think cosine becomes the X and sine the Y. Then I asked what exactly was a cosine, and the teacher was like, it's a function. Blehh.
6] Went on the longest streetcar ride ever. Down at Pioneer, we got stalled for like five minutes because there was an ambulance sitting smack on the tracks. [Hey, that rhymed, "smack" and "tracks".] Got down to 23rd eventually.
7] Bought a MMCF and some type of coffeecake at SBucks, which I am all too lazy to write out.
8] Went to Office Depot and... bought stuff.
9] Went home and watched Ocean's Thirteen. It was pretty good; I liked how the end worked out. People said it sucked though. I mean, I could see how it sucked, but I enjoyed it.

Yesterday I watched I Am Legend, which was okay. There were parts where it was scary, but after seeing the mutant things, it was kind of like... ahaaha totally scary, yunno? They looked like mini- Voldemorts, or monsters straight out of a video game. Idk. I'm not exposed to enough video gameyness to know what video game, but... "video game." I'm not gonna be intellectual and talk about the symbolism of the movie, but overall it was an extremely depressing film. Equal to PMSing, basically.

Stitchbunny, please resist from exploiting others' nationalities. I follow this one blog on LJ called "We Are The Moon" or something along those lines, and I was reading the author's latest post. Well, she put down her to-do list, and she had to do all these assignments in German. So I put two and two together, and I was like, HAY GAIZ this old guy I know is German. Our class has been asking the Herr a ton of questions, like what's that thing on the O [I know, magically, that it's an umlaut] and other kind of exploit-ish questions. Well, I think the Herr is exploiting me and AM's Taiwaneseness. Like, with the whole Einstein thing. I mean, AM and I are the only two Chineseish kids in the class. Everybody else is like Korean or something.

So I found this meme from another LJ blog [not We Are The Moon] and I think I might as well try it.  The directions are to list five of your favorite fandoms and for each a reason why they wouldn't work in real life.  Well, here I go.

1]  Uchiha Sasuke and Sai.  [Ooh, the mystery behind Sai's name...]
Why: There's actually a small chance that this pairing might actually work, but over all, the chances are far too slim.  Basically, Sasuke can't love; he's been living his life saturated in hate for his brother and hate for Oro and hate for basically everything else that he's now incapable of any other emotion.  Sai is basically Sasuke-- he can't love, can't get angry, because he's been forced to separate himself from feeling anything except maybe fear.  Sai is bound by duty and Sasuke is bound by his goals.  Although Sai admits to a strong mental sensation when the two first meet, the feeling is supposed to be extreme fear.  That doesn't work out to love... is Sai scared that Sasuke's going to [insert line from Pitbull ft. Lil Jon song that I can't remember but perfectly paraphrases what I'm trying to say here.  Don't brick me, bro]?

2] Akasuna no Sasori and Deidara
Why: Well, for starters, Sasori's dead. Deidara is also dead. But if they had any love while they were alive... um, not sure it would have even existed. I mean, Sasori's a puppet. Puppets don't have peepees. Sasori also happens to be wooden, right? Kind of odd. I don't know Sasori very well, but he seems like the kind of guy who'd get so fixated on his goals that he'd forget about love entirely. He holds love for his deceased family, but I haven't seen him really love anything else... something might come up in the future of Naruto? Sasori and Deidara are certainly both warmer people than Sasuke or Sai, per se, but they're still pretty chillayy.

3] Cross Marian and Allen Walker
Why: Cross Marian is currently dead. Allen Walker is in love with Rinari Lee. Enough said. Otherwise, this relationship probably existed, with Allen only half-willing to cooperate.

4] Kuran Kaname and Kiriuu Zero [cue nosebleed]
Why: They harbor a strong hate for each other, somewhat akin to the animosity between Jacob Black and Edward Cullen in the Twilight saga. Zero has a strong distrust towards all vampires in general, and as benevolent Kaname is, Kaname is no exception. Both are pretty gay but they'd both give their lives to save that of Yuki's, so even a smidgen of a spark between them would be overshadowed by their duty towards Yuki. In the case that the two did happen to have little innocent crushes on each other, their respective pride would also get in the way [and how the hell are they supposed to meet to talk or crap like that anyway? I mean, Zero gets in all this trouble for shirking duty, but if Kaname got in a ten-yard radius of Zero, Zero's fear would eclipse his emotion and Kaname would be dead].

5] L and Yagami Light
Why: Even though Light's last name reads "I'm a gay" backwards, their relationship is kind of... I dunno. I like the part in the manga where they get handcuffed together though. Haaha and the fanflash made by Snow-whoever. [OMG JT]

Dan's Got A Laptop (Again)

For starters, I have a new (to me) laptop. I recently got a Dell Latitude 810, with 2gb RAM, a 2.1 ghz processor, 80gb hd, and a 128mb ATI x600 video card. (sorry for the nerdspeak, but it gets me amped up just talking about it) I have already installed Ubuntu 8.04 with all of my necessary applications, firefox plugins, and a few of my guilty pleasure (ie PokerTH and countless chess apps). I was hurting without a laptop because it seems that I find myself actually IN my studio less and less. Then when I am normally in there, chances are that I'm recording or mixing down tracks, which makes blogging take a backseat. But I don't really have to tell yall the benefits of a laptop vs. a desktop.

I'm about to work out a schedule to balance out my time. I have always underestimated the importance of writing out a schedule, and have tried to juggle all of my tasks 'on the fly.' Well, as more responsibilities fall into my lap, it has become apparent that 'on the fly' isn't going to cut it. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stick to a schedule once you put one in place?

Music Update:

I ran into a small case of writer's block trying to finish the last solo song for “Hype Machine” (don't forget to snatch up the new wallpaper). The first verse is done, but because of the concept of the song, I'm taking my time with it, so that the verses can follow a similar theme/pattern. Concept songs are usually the most rewarding ones to write, but I still prefer just going for broke over a beat. Jonathan is waiting on me to hand over the final, mixed version of the album so he can finalize negotiations with the different distributors. Which means, as soon as I complete this last song, I'll automatically begin working on the the mixing and mastering of the record.

Once the manufacturing of “Hype Machine” is complete, we expect that I'll be doing a lot more shows, and hopefully coming to a stage near you. Email me or my management for inquiries about bringing Dan Johns to your city!

Akshun & I have decided that we're going to start work on some group material, more than likely for a mixtape or podcast series, as soon as we've both wrapped the recording for our solo projects. Ak has at least 40 songs done, so I suspect that he'll have 2 solo projects coming out really soon (just as soon as a certain blogger-slash-emcee finishes the hook on this one Encornelius produced jawn).

I really want to shoot another video soon, and I know that we'll be doing a video for the first single from “Hype Machine,” but I also would like to shoot 1-2 more videos for material off of “Rebirth of a Dying Breed.” My question to you is how late is too late to shoot a video from a project? Zillz and Ak seem to think that it is never too late in this day and age, and I tend to agree with them. If I did another video off of the mixtape, which song would you suggest? Hit me.

Destruction on the Chessboard

The Florence Chess Club's first tournament to decide the club championship starts next week. Being one of the 2 tournament directors, I had to the other director, Drew, in a best 2-out-3 match to see which of us would be in the tournament, and which would be arbiter of the event. Drew beat me in the first game handily, but I won the next 2 in a row to earn the right to play. (Actually I won 3 in a row, but the 4^th game for just for fun) The chess club is ill because it is where 2 worlds and styles of chess collide. The guys that play everyday at the barbershop collide with the guys that meet at fazoli's to play. It is always entertaining to see the match-up's, and to hear the commentary. (nothing is funnier than when Sick-Wit-It starts winning, and he starts to call you random names. He told James the other day that his game was “an ice cream sandwich”)

What I'm listening To...

A handful of quality records have been released (or will be released by the time that you read this). Right now, I am proud to say that 2 records from West coast artists are in the rotation. Game's new album “L.A.X.” and Ice Cube's “Raw Footage” bang heavy, and I also have been bumping Nas' “Untitled” and Elzhi's “The Preface.” Elzhi makes me want to write more and more joints!

We won't even talk about the arguments that i've been having with Zillz about Game being the only real hip hop artist to come out on the mainstream level since 2004. I'm gonna have to bring the homie over to the dark side...

I'm out for now...gotta spend QT with my lady. stay up, and stay positive.

Schedule Schedule Schedule Schedule

Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is Is

Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! Up! Up!

August 25, 7 p.m.
Ranchester, Tongue River Branch Library
Reading Wyoming

August 26, 6:30 p.m.
Baggs, Little Snake River Valley Branch Library
Reading Wyoming

August 27, 7 p.m.
Casper, Ft. Caspar Museum
Reading Wyoming

If you'd like to peer even further into the mists of the future, you can always visit our online calendar.

1. Spanish 3. (Hopefully it'll be as good as it was last year, and not like it was Sophomore year).
2. Language Arts. (Yay!)
3. Weight Training.  (Oh hell no, I ain't doin' that shit again.  Even though it's the other teacher, I still don't get along with him either!  So ya, I'm getting out of that one)
4. American Government. (With the devil teacher, of course - it'll be hell, so I'm hoping to be able to convince the counselor for independent study for that class)
7. Leadership.  (I don't really need this class, because I'm not going to try to be a real world leader, just one in cyberspace, but still, it's mainly a do-nothing class and get credit for it, so I guess I'll do it.  You have to write blog posts regularly though, so I guess I'll be good in that class).

Now, if you're like me, you're probably wondering why the 5th and 6th period spaces are blank.
On the list, it doesn't even have a space for 5th and 6th periods.  Just goes from 4th to 7th.
So, I don't know what I get to do for those classes.  I would have talked to the counselor, other than he was up with the football team for practices.  So, I guess I get to get this all figured out at school on the first day, hopefully.
What I'm thinking, is that there is no Calculus class this year, for some reason, and that we still have to figure out stuff so I can do a class through the college.  That's all I know, but that I don't even know, that's me guessing.
I'm thinking that I'll find out when school starts, and it'll only be downhill from there.....
Just like I'm expecting it to be!!!!

Instructor: Alan Siswein, Fee $190.00, Materials $10.00,  4 weeks

Class held at instructor's studio located off S. Broad Street in Trenton

Minimum 3 people to begin class

Wire Jewelry 1- Introduction

Wireless sculpting is a solder-less way to set stones and create jewelry.  In this introductory class, learn about tools, wire, coils, jumprings as connectors,crimps and Greek leather cord.  Students make a necklace, bracelet and anklet with limited-edition polymer clay beads. 

Instructor: Dorothy Arnao, Fee $30.00 Material $35.00, 4 weeks

List of required tools provuded by instructor prior to class

Minimum 4 people to begin class. Maximum 7

Autumn Flowers & Plants

From botanical studies to Charles Demuth or Georgia O'Keefe there are many styles for drawing and painting flowers, plants- even vegetables and fruit- in watercolor.  Classes begin with close observation of the subject and some color exploration.  We'll then move on to developing studies and painting that express your individuality.

Instructor: Gail Bracegirdle, Fee $150.00, 6 weeks

Minimum 7 people to begin class

Beginner Pastel

There's nothing better than opening a box of colorful chalk pastels for the first time.  Use this delightful, easy-to-correct tool to make realistic, sensual drawings.

Instructor: Norma Jean DeVico, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Materials list to be provided,

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Collage

Since Braque and Picasso introduced collage into their cubist works in 1912 and Matisse made paper cutouts in the 1940s, collage has thrived in modern art.  Students will create their own collages using colored paper, newspape, found objects, magazine pictures and personal belongings.  Color harmony, composition and personal expression are emphasized.

Instructor: Norma Jean DeVico, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

materials list to be provided 

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Digital Camera Basics

Learn to understand the basic features and operation of a consumer-model digital camera, including built-in functions and effects; downloading, viewing, and organizing photos on the compter; using various storage media to archive and transfer photos; different methods of printing high-quality photos; using digital photos with the internet, email, and popular software applications; and basic ways to enhance photos using image-editing software.  Gain an understanding of digital photography terminology, including common image file types and pixel resolution.  Students should bring a digital camera.

Teacher Sean Bolden, Fee $140.00, 4 weeks

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Intro to 35mm Photography and Digital Photography

Get the most from your camera before developing & downloading. Learn how to adjust the settings of aperture & shutter for good exposure.  We cover: compositoin, lenses (zoom, wide-angle, telephoto & macro), use of flash & filters, special effects, film adn pixel quality.  Learn about your camera equipment while experimenting in creative photographic environments.  Designed for 35mm & digital cameras.  Field labs included.

Teacher: Sean Bolden, Fee $140.00, 4 weeks

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Fabric Collage- Piece Together Your Creative Side

Use fabrics and textiles to create unique pieces of artwork.  Learn about different types of  fabrics and textiles, their weights and how they work together.  Product one large or several small collages.  Some materials provided.

Instructor: Beverly B. Keese-Kelly, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Materials: list provided prior to first class

Minimum 4 people to begin class

From Trash to Treasure: Developing Your Artistic Vision

Oopen your mind to endless "re-do" possibilities.  Supply your own trash- chairs, tables, lamps, decorative items, household accessories- for a hands-on, see-and-do workshop.  Learn about various furniture styles and techniques to help create your own 'objectd'art." Give an old piece a new identity.  Class limited to 7

Instructor: Emilia Kestin, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Introduction to Artist's Materials

For beginning artists who don't know where to begin, students are exposed to several art techniques: Pencil, charcoal, ink, pastel and watercolor.  Learn to draw while working on still lifes, landscapes, portraits and the figure.  We will analyze and render what we see.  Line quality, composition and shading are emphasized, yet students learn to use traditional materials in fun and unexpected ways.

Instructor: Norma Jean DeVico, Fee $150.00, 6 weeks

Materials list to be provided

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Introduction to Design & Illustration

Beginners and advanced level artists will explore the fine art of illustration and desing.  Learn the special techniques used to design book jackets, greeting cards, communicatins materials, magazine covers, state sets, movie posters, children's picture book, and model-making for special effects.

Instructor: Donald Jones, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Materials: list provided prior to class

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Introduction to Printmaking

Discover chine colle, collagraph, drypoint and monopritn, and have fun combining techniques.  Pursue your own muse with our etching and block presses.  Ink, blotters and tarlatan are provided.

Instructor: Susan Freeman, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Minimum 4 people to begin class

Mentoring for Those Who Want to Be Successful Artists- DROP-IN

The mentor program is designed to help the graduate student and gifted artist during the transition process from amateur to professinal.  We review requirements that must be present within the porfolio presentation of the illustrator, photographer, painter, sculptor, graphic designer and animator.  We cover market prospects of the internet, artist representatives, fine art publisher, self-promotion networking, gorup shows, career counseling, entrrepreurship professional organizations and how to make money in the industry.

Instructor: Donald Jones, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Oil Painting II

Geared for the experienced painter who has some understanding of composition, color, technique and materials needed to execute an oil painting.  Emphasis is on application of the fundamentals. Individual projects are discussed withthe teacher and reviewed periodically by the class as a means to understanding various techniques.  Bring supplies to the first class for discussion and review.

Instructor: Larry Chestnut, Fee $120.00, 4 weeks

Minimun 4 people to begin class

Ian has booked 2 hours on Monday, 25 August 2008, at Bukit Timah Campus - 8 to 9 pm on Court No. 1, and 9 to 10 pm on Court No. 2. Numbers are capped at 14. The other sessions next week are as follows:

• Tuesday, 26 August 2008, 9 to 10 pm, Futsal @ East Coast.
• Wednesday, 27 August 2008, 9 to 10 pm, The Cage (Kallang), Pitch 1.
• Thursday, 28 August 2008, 9 to 10 pm, Futsal @ East Coast.

Minimum 10 for each session. Confirmations by the end of tomorrow please.

As always, all confirmations or any subsequent withdrawal as a comment below please. After you confirm, your confirmation should appear as a comment below.

Please specify both the day (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday) and the venue (The Cage, Sports Planet @ East Coast, Bukit Timah campus, or the Premier Pitch) in your confirmation.

Confirmations by 5 pm tomorrow please.

If you have difficulty when trying to confirm, feel free to give me a call.

If you have no access to the internet or the blog from either the office or home by Saturday, you can e-mail or SMS your confirmation to me, stating that you cannot access the blog, and I will post the confirmation (or withdrawal) onto the blog for you.

Thanks.

So hit refresh often. And if all else fails, feel free to go all bricks-and-mortar on us -- call us at (202) 518-9400.

Have almost all of the items that I need, which among other things includes (this is for the entire semester, remember) "5-7" Tshirts, 2 pairs of pants, a headlamp (no, no pictures of me in this), a Swiss Army knife, snake boots, hiking boots, sneakers, and soccer cleats.  

Here is the schedule of events (we're bouncing all around the country):
August 25 Arrival in San Jose
August 26 Visit to OTS offices at the University of Costa Rica, San Pedro Orientation
August 28 - September 7 Las Cruces Biological Station
September 8-13 Cuerici Montane oak forest, paramo 
September 14 - October 3 Visit to La Selva Biological Station, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui Tropical lowland wet forest
October 4 - 24 Costa Rica Language Academy, home stays with Costa Rican families
October 25 - November 2 Midterm Break 
November 3 - 8 San Gerardo Biological Station, Monteverde Cloud forest
November 9- 14 Nicaragua Transition between dry and wet forest
November 15 - December 5 Palo Verde, Guanacaste Tropical dry forest, wetlands
December 9 Students return to the U.S.

...with last night's loss, the saints were eliminated from playoff contention...

Monday, August 18

El Paso 1 at Shreveport 0 - Suspended 3rd
Grand Prairie at Fort Worth - PPD/Rain
Sioux Falls 3 at Wichita 2
Sioux City 4 at Pensacola 10
Lincoln 7 at St. Paul 1

Tuesday, August 19

El Paso at Shreveport - 7:05 p.m.
Sioux City at Pensacola - 6:35 p.m.
Grand Prairie at Fort Worth - 7:05 p.m.
Sioux Falls at Wichita - 7:05 p.m.
Lincoln at St. Paul - 7:05 p.m.

...the explorers, saltdogs, and wingnuts are left to fight for the only playoff spot remaining in the american association playoffs...

Fellow Authors,

I keep hearing that the #1 rule for writing is to schedule time for writing, and stick to it.  And for me, it seems to be my #1 problem!  So, how do all of you find the time to write?  

And, where do you write?  A special nook?  Outside? Starbucks?  

Longhand or Laptop?

Also, I've been updating the links, on the right hand side of this page.  If any of you has a link you think I should add, or your own site, send it to me so I can update it.

Thanks!

Heidi

That outfit is my Ten Dollar Outfit.  Ten dollars at Loose Threads.  Not too shabby.

And thus concludes this week's month's year's lifetime's edition of Clothes Shopping Advice From April, Who Hates Shopping For Clothes And Does It As Little As Possible.

In other news: there are leaves on my driveway.  Non-green leaves that are not attached to trees.  Investigation pending.

In even more news: my counselor e-mailed me back.  Here is version 2 of my senior year schedule, which is at least decent enough to last me a semester.  Unlike version 1.

1    Extension  }  MATH 221- Linear Algebra
2    Extension  }  at Cornell (Fall)
3    AP English Lit/ Economics (Spring)
4    AP Computer Science
5    Government (Fall)/ Free (Spring)
6    AP Latin
7    PE (evens)/ Free (odds)
8    Free

There are clearly still some problems, like the fact that I'm going to have to switch periods for English or Economics halfway through the year.  Also I guess I can't do math seminar?  Bah!  But this was the best way to work the Cornell class in and still keep all the classes I wanted.

Incidentally, this is something like what I wanted for junior year, with 7th and 8th free so I could do accompanying at IC for teachers so desperate they would hire even me.  Now I was really keen on getting 1st and 2nd free so I could take a math class at Cornell.

What the hell.  My interests need to sit down and have a heart to heart so they can get themselves straightened out, because this isn't going to work.

At any rate.  Let me also note that by mid-May, after AP season, I will effectively have two classes, one being PE-- so, one class.

Which is pretty damn sweet.

On Monday, September 1, 2008, those of you getting a day off of work with hopes of catching up on your favorite soaps, we have good and bad news for you.... Get the Labor Day programming for all of your soaps at Soaps.com...

Photograph courtesy of ABC.

(A113)

Mr. Roscoe

2. AP English Literature

(B275)

Mr. Barrett

3. AP Calculus AB

(A122)

Mr. Bringardner

4. Cisco II

(A116)

Mr. King

5. International Diplomacy /first semester

(B174)

Mr. Reed

5. US Government /second semester

(B153)

Mr. Turner

6. AP Computer Science AB

(A116)

Mr. King

7. AP Statistics

(A126)

Mr. King

8. Early Release

I’ve been in such a funk this summer, which is unlike me because I love summer. I love the green and the heat (within reason) and the long days. But the days have been so very long with the two girls, and I’m always scrambling to squeeze in one more thing. I have been taking Zoë with me to work for a couple of months now, and frankly, it doesn’t work. She usually falls asleep in the car on the way there, but she wakes up after about ½ hour, and then I nurse her and put her on the floor next to my desk or hold her as I type. I share the office, which is slightly larger than a broom closet, with two other people, and while they are gracious about my crying and fussy baby, I know that they must want to wring my neck or Zoë’s neck or both of our necks. So, after another ½ hour, I pack up my things and the baby and head home. Zoë sometimes falls asleep again on the way home, only to wake up as I pull up in front of our house. By the time I nurse her again and bounce her and get her ready to fall asleep for real (whatever that means), it’s time to go pick up Stella from whatever camp I’ve enrolled her in for the week. Sometimes Zoë falls asleep for a couple of hours in the late afternoon, during which I work a little and play with Stella. Later, we have dinner, Stella showers (she has declared herself too old for baths) and we read books before bed. All of these things are accompanied by Zoë’s fussing and crying and Stella’s late-afternoon whining. (Sometimes Zoë cries so much while I’m reading to Stella that I just put her in her crib in the other room and let her wail as we make our way through the three books of the night.) When I finally get them both to sleep (about 8:30), I pour myself a glass of wine and sit on the porch and stare out at the street, semi-comatose. This is when D usually gets home. We talk for a bit and often watch an episode of The Wire, which is fabulous and heartbreaking. Then I go to bed, wake up three times to nurse Zoë, then begin the day all over again.

Things will be easier in a couple of weeks because D won’t have to coach in the evenings anymore, so he’ll be home to help with dinner and kids and bedtime. Also, I’ll be done with my job in two weeks, and that will be a relief.

But the thing I can do in order to de-funk myself is to carve out serious writing time, and I’m determined to do this. D has agreed to go into work a little late so that I can write everyday from 7-9 a.m. It’s the only way I will make progress on the essay I’ve begun. I also need to dive back into my book because I finally figured out what it is really about. If I were one of my students, I would have pressured myself into this discovery about, um, a year ago, when I finished the damn thing. In workshops I always ask them to identify for the author what the piece is really about. But I failed to heed my own advice, failed to answer my own questions. (I hate when I do this.)

But this morning while I was changing Zoë’s diaper (after waking many nights feeling despondent about my “this is no market for this” book), I realized that the book is really about learning to live with uncertainty. Having a preemie is the situation, of course, but the real story is about uncertainty, control, and having faith that I will be able to handle the unexpected. (If you haven’t read Vivian Gornick’s The Situation and the Story, you should—she’s the one who makes the distinction between a memoir’s situation and its real story.) Knowing what the book is about won’t change the perception of my book as a preemie book, of course, but it will make the book better, and this makes me feel hopeful again.

The other thing that makes me feel hopeful is that D will be back tonight (he’s been gone all weekend), and tomorrow I’ll start my morning writing. It will help snap me out of my funk. I’m sure of that.

Here's one snippet from the book that really stood out to me. Shortly after Roosevelt was nominated for the Vice-Presidency in 1900 (the previous Vice-President, Garret Hobart, having died suddenly the previous year), he went out on the campaign trail for William McKinley. His schedule was, shall we say, vigorous. Here's a sample daily schedule from the diary of an aide:

7:00 A.M.   Breakfast

7:30 A.M.   A speech

8:00 A.M.   Reading a historical work

9:00 A.M.   A speech

10:00 A.M.  Dictating letters

11:00 A.M.  Discussing Montana mines

11:30 A.M.  A speech

12:00          Reading an ornithological work

12:30 P.M.  A speech

1:00 P.M.    Lunch

1:30 P.M.    A speech

2:30 P.M.    Reading Sir Walter Scott

3:00 P.M.    Answering telegrams

3:45 P.M.    A speech

4:00 P.M.    Meeting the press

4:30 P.M.    Reading

5:00 P.M.    A speech

6:00 P.M.    Reading

7:00 P.M.    Supper

8-10 P.M.   Speaking

11:00 P.M.  Reading alone in his car

12:00          To bed.

That's a daily schedule that will turn a few heads. On the other hand, all you have to do is substitute "A speech" with "Teach class" and the word "telegram" with "email" and you have a pretty close fit to the modern educator's school day.

What stands out to me is not so much the sheer frequency of speaking engagements TR had (is this close to what Obama and McCain do today?) but what surrounds those speeches and discussions. Do you see it? It's reading. This schedule includes 4.5 hours a day of it. And it's not just memos or strictly political works, but fiction, science, and so on. To me, there are at least three deep lessons to learn from this.

First, making time for personal growth during the day, especially the growth of the intellect, is extremely important. Educators make their living by expending intellectual energy. You cannot continue to expend energy indefinitely without fueling back up somehow, if you expect to last long. This is very easy to forget, as we see the sheer amount of stuff in our inboxes and begin to think that if I just had one more hour, I'd get that much more stuff done and be that much happier. But I think -- and perhaps TR thought as well -- that happiness can also come from having time to make sure you get fed yourself and not just spend all your time feeding other people.

Second, this time for personal/professional growth can be structured in bite-sized chunks. Look at TR's schedule again. His reading times average just 45 minutes each, split evenly between three half-hour time slots and three one-hour time slots (the longer ones coming outside the usual work day). In the past, I've tried to schedule in these inviolable times for reading and research, but only in single, monolithic, 3-hour long slabs happening once a week. That approach has never worked out for me. So as I think about making time in my busy schedule for reading and writing, maybe the more realistic approach is to take frequent, small chunks of time in which to do it. Surely I can afford 30 minutes a day, right? I probably waste that much time each day checking emails I don't need to see.

Third, this time for personal/professional growth benefits from a kind of happy diversity. TR was reading whatever interested him, regardless of whether it pertained directly to being the Vice-President or not -- ornithology and Walter Scott along with everything else. Personal/professional growth time ought to include, for me, not just mathematics but also new things -- say, computer programming, biology, history, and so on. You never know exactly what is going to pertain to your job, and the most pertinent thing for your job if you're a teacher is a well-rounded, active, happy mind.

So I take some encouragement from this little bit of history, that the most effective thinkers and doers from our past had schedules that were even more insanely busy than mine, but never suffered from burnout or lost their passion and drive for what they do -- because they took time to feed themselves and grow themselves just as they fed others and helped them, and their country, to grow as well.

Hope everyone had a nice week off...

Just a friendly reminder that hula resumes this Friday.

Mahalo!

Two or More ... has been invited to participate in the One Voice Music Festival at the Hookstown Fairgrounds on Labor Day weekend!

We'll be starting things off on the Main Stage (Club Harmony) at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 30.

Admission to the entire three-day festival is free.

For more information about the festival, click here. To see our bio on the festival's website, click here. (We're the first band at the top of the page! Click on "bio" for more about us!)

We're very, very excited about this opportunity and have a fantastic set planned to help start the day off in the best way possible! Come out, support us and the festival, and prepare for a great day of praise, prayer, and worship!