What I am Thankful For- 2017
It's Thanksgiving time again, to quote the recent sketch by Chance the Rapper in his monologue on Saturday Night Live.
What am I thankful for in 2017?
I am thankful for one year and eight months of marriage to Sara. Bliss every moment? No. Most moments though? Yes. Whenever an unexpected bill comes in, I clench my teeth, pull her in my arms and say that "this is a minor inconvenience." And whenever we have a romantic night, like around Valentine's Day, or the night that I got her the new Hyundai Accent, everything else is worth it. I love you, Sara!
I am thankful for my second year teaching Spanish full-time at Lewistown Community High School. Third year of having a full time job (though a semester of that first year was arduous student teaching). I am thankful that I have gotten to watch the freshmen I had when I was covering Mrs. Streeky's maternity leave back in 2014 seen through to their senior year.
I am than more experienced this year than the last three years. I don't flip out as readily when I lose something. Far fewer terrible days than last year. I make amends with the students I've wounded by way of discipline, and they make amends with me when I get wounded by their not following the rules.
This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame part. Right. Let's just look to the website.
https://www.rockhall.com/class-2018-nominees
I am thankful that Bon Jovi got back on the ballot. We used to warm up to "Living on a Prayer" during rehearsals for American Daughter. Whenever I reach the halfway point of a really long story that I am working on, I treat myself to listening to that song. Even if it's only in my head. I am thankful that Kate Bush got on the ballot, just because she's so different. Not mainstream at all, and yet I think the Rock Hall prides itself on the critical darlings and cult fanbase acts that they consider for induction. I'm listening to "Wuthering Heights" while I type this. The Cars, Depeche Mode, and Dire Straits!!! This could be a great induction class. The Eurythmics have a good shot too, as do LL Cool J, The Meters, MC5, Radiohead, and Rage Against the Machine.
I am thankful to have gotten my Spanish endorsement added on to my Type 2 provisional license.
I am thankful to have Macomb close enough that I can go to Dr. Brown for revisions on the slogfest that is my edTPA portfolio.
I am thankful that I was able to pull of the Spanish Club Dia de los Muertos party without a hitch.
Destiny Chapman, Kennedy Mayberry, Libby Hopkins, and Alex Ebert have food. I literally spent the last like fifty bucks I had on this party! I was glad that God allowed me to have that fifty bucks put away for that specific purpose, such that I could still have the party after meeting mounting bills.
I am thankful for the trips and travel that I have been able to make this year.
I had the wonderful field trip from Lewistown to Davenport, Iowa with no less than forty-one members of Spanish Club. We had a wonderful time watching the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet perform the works Latin American Inspirations and Spanish Passions at the Nighswander Theatre on the Annie Wittenmeyer Campus. I am thankful that we had enough sandwiches from the party sandwich to feed everyone in Spanish Club, including the bus driver.
I am thankful that I got my trip to Hibbing, Minnesota in with my dad. We got to debut Greatest Hits Volume 38 on the trip. Eric Clapton. Steve Winwood. The Four Tops. Original music from La La Land. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Benny Goodman featuring Peggy Lee. Perry Como. Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66. The Sound of Music, Original Broadway Cast. Billy Joel. Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Mary Hopkin. Demi Lovato. Sia featuring Diplo and The Weeknd. Peter, Paul, and Mary. Steve Goodman. There won't be a more eclectic mix of artists in a mixtape, mix CD, or playlist this year than Greatest Hits Volume 38.
....with the possible exception of Volume 39, pending my dad's choices.
I am thankful my dad finally got to sit behind the wheel of those dusty, musty old buses.
I am thankful our Lewistown Girls' basketball team won its regional.
I am thankful I got into Inherit the Wind at Richmond Hill Theatre.
I am thankful Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 was as spectacular as it was, and the soundtrack held up to the first one. It was definitely worth the fourteen dollars spent on iTunes.
I am thankful that I got into Sunset Boulevard at Quad City Music Guild.
I am thankful that we made it to all seven of the Scholastic Bowl meets without a hitch.
I am thankful that All Shook Up went over well at Lewistown this past Spring.
I am thankful that Steve Winwood has a new live album, Greatest Hits Live, out, and waiting for me to purchase it in stores.
I am thankful that John Green has a new book out, Turtles All the Way Down. That I have purchased.
I am thankful Peter Baker from the New York Times has a book about Barack Obama out. A big heavy one. My parents bought it for me using my educator discount back in October. I should be receiving that around Christmas Day.
I am thankful that Amy Schumer has a book out of essays. Would have bought that this past Sunday at the Barnes and Noble in Schaumburg with Sara if I hadn't stumbled upon the John Green Book first.
I am thankful we made it safely to Lincolnshire to see Newsies at the Marriott Theatre.
I am thankful Mason won state with his traveling baseball team.
I am thankful I was able to pick up some hours at Arc.
I am thankful we made it to Peoria safely to see the Peoria Symphony Orchestra perform the original score to La La Land while the movie screened behind it.
Thankful for my family. A blessing I never take for granted come Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
What am I thankful for in 2017?
I am thankful for one year and eight months of marriage to Sara. Bliss every moment? No. Most moments though? Yes. Whenever an unexpected bill comes in, I clench my teeth, pull her in my arms and say that "this is a minor inconvenience." And whenever we have a romantic night, like around Valentine's Day, or the night that I got her the new Hyundai Accent, everything else is worth it. I love you, Sara!
I am thankful for my second year teaching Spanish full-time at Lewistown Community High School. Third year of having a full time job (though a semester of that first year was arduous student teaching). I am thankful that I have gotten to watch the freshmen I had when I was covering Mrs. Streeky's maternity leave back in 2014 seen through to their senior year.
I am than more experienced this year than the last three years. I don't flip out as readily when I lose something. Far fewer terrible days than last year. I make amends with the students I've wounded by way of discipline, and they make amends with me when I get wounded by their not following the rules.
This is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame part. Right. Let's just look to the website.
https://www.rockhall.com/class-2018-nominees
I am thankful that Bon Jovi got back on the ballot. We used to warm up to "Living on a Prayer" during rehearsals for American Daughter. Whenever I reach the halfway point of a really long story that I am working on, I treat myself to listening to that song. Even if it's only in my head. I am thankful that Kate Bush got on the ballot, just because she's so different. Not mainstream at all, and yet I think the Rock Hall prides itself on the critical darlings and cult fanbase acts that they consider for induction. I'm listening to "Wuthering Heights" while I type this. The Cars, Depeche Mode, and Dire Straits!!! This could be a great induction class. The Eurythmics have a good shot too, as do LL Cool J, The Meters, MC5, Radiohead, and Rage Against the Machine.
I am thankful to have gotten my Spanish endorsement added on to my Type 2 provisional license.
I am thankful to have Macomb close enough that I can go to Dr. Brown for revisions on the slogfest that is my edTPA portfolio.
I am thankful that I was able to pull of the Spanish Club Dia de los Muertos party without a hitch.
Destiny Chapman, Kennedy Mayberry, Libby Hopkins, and Alex Ebert have food. I literally spent the last like fifty bucks I had on this party! I was glad that God allowed me to have that fifty bucks put away for that specific purpose, such that I could still have the party after meeting mounting bills.
I am thankful for the trips and travel that I have been able to make this year.
I had the wonderful field trip from Lewistown to Davenport, Iowa with no less than forty-one members of Spanish Club. We had a wonderful time watching the Hispanic Flamenco Ballet perform the works Latin American Inspirations and Spanish Passions at the Nighswander Theatre on the Annie Wittenmeyer Campus. I am thankful that we had enough sandwiches from the party sandwich to feed everyone in Spanish Club, including the bus driver.
I am thankful that I got my trip to Hibbing, Minnesota in with my dad. We got to debut Greatest Hits Volume 38 on the trip. Eric Clapton. Steve Winwood. The Four Tops. Original music from La La Land. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Benny Goodman featuring Peggy Lee. Perry Como. Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66. The Sound of Music, Original Broadway Cast. Billy Joel. Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Mary Hopkin. Demi Lovato. Sia featuring Diplo and The Weeknd. Peter, Paul, and Mary. Steve Goodman. There won't be a more eclectic mix of artists in a mixtape, mix CD, or playlist this year than Greatest Hits Volume 38.
....with the possible exception of Volume 39, pending my dad's choices.
I am thankful my dad finally got to sit behind the wheel of those dusty, musty old buses.
I am thankful our Lewistown Girls' basketball team won its regional.
I am thankful I got into Inherit the Wind at Richmond Hill Theatre.
I am thankful Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 was as spectacular as it was, and the soundtrack held up to the first one. It was definitely worth the fourteen dollars spent on iTunes.
I am thankful that I got into Sunset Boulevard at Quad City Music Guild.
I am thankful that we made it to all seven of the Scholastic Bowl meets without a hitch.
I am thankful that All Shook Up went over well at Lewistown this past Spring.
I am thankful that Steve Winwood has a new live album, Greatest Hits Live, out, and waiting for me to purchase it in stores.
I am thankful that John Green has a new book out, Turtles All the Way Down. That I have purchased.
I am thankful Peter Baker from the New York Times has a book about Barack Obama out. A big heavy one. My parents bought it for me using my educator discount back in October. I should be receiving that around Christmas Day.
I am thankful that Amy Schumer has a book out of essays. Would have bought that this past Sunday at the Barnes and Noble in Schaumburg with Sara if I hadn't stumbled upon the John Green Book first.
I am thankful we made it safely to Lincolnshire to see Newsies at the Marriott Theatre.
I am thankful Mason won state with his traveling baseball team.
I am thankful I was able to pick up some hours at Arc.
I am thankful we made it to Peoria safely to see the Peoria Symphony Orchestra perform the original score to La La Land while the movie screened behind it.
Thankful for my family. A blessing I never take for granted come Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.