SIC's make me Sick

I'm writing a SIC which is a School Initiated Course. And yes, it is as much fun as it sounds. It's a lot of work. Kind of fun, but a LOT of work.

cheers

Music and Friends

I had the opportunity to see Steve Bell in concert in Winkler about a month or so back. I've listened to Steve Bell on and off for about 20 years. The first time I saw him was at a chapel service at Providence College. At the time I thought he had a very smooth and worshipful sound. I've been able to follow his career a bit because Steve Bell is a Golden West Radio staple. He's been featured on Made in Manitoba a number of times and because I produced the show I got to listen to the songs a number and keep the cd's afterwards. The cd's don't come out that often, not because I don't like them, but because I've found I need to be in a specific mood to listen to them. Anyway, back to the concert. It was beautiful. There is something about his music that is so simple yet so profound. I can identify with the lyrics. He has become my Sunday morning staple music. I'm listening to him right now actually. Anyway, back to the concert. One of the people playing with Steve Bell was Mike Janzen. I go even further back with him. I worked with Janzen at Red Rock Bible Camp when I was in high school. He is passionate and caring and the most talented musician I know. The thing I like about him is after not seeing someone for 5 to 10 years you can pick up right where you left off as if no time had passed. It was great to be able to talk to him for a few minutes after that show. Well, back to my homework I guess. I think I'll leave Steve Bell playing in the background.

cheers

I Can't Sleep

I shouldn't write a post after midnight. I'm bound to say something I shouldn't. I guess I just have to be extra careful before I hit "publish post". I am trying to be more positive. For some reason the wiring in my brain is configured in such a way that when things come up that irritate me the synapses that tend towards the cynical part of my brain fire. This part of the brain has many connections to the "that's not fair" section which is cross-wired with the "ooh that makes me so angry" section. Unfortunately these three sections can get control of my mouth and my typing fingers and from there bad things happen. I've tried installing a "sober second thought" device that is supposed to filter out most of this. Unfortunately there must be a bug in the system because it only seems to be partially effective. This has led to more use of the "crap I can't believe I did/said that" recovery system which seems to only work when "man, I'm useless" is already running.

"And here by the water, I'll build an altar to praise Him. Out of these stones that I've found here. I'll set them down here, rough as they are. Knowing You can make them Holy." Steve Bell

Rough as I am God can make me Holy. This is also known as the system reset. Only God knows how many times I've had to use that function. Only He doesn't keep track.

cheers

It's time to Blog

It's that time again when I go to a blog and blog. I'm halfway through my second week back at university. I'm finding it a little tough to get into the groove but I'll get there in the next day or two. I think we're supposed to develop a teaching philosophy. Is there really anything I need to write beyond the word CARE? I have decided this is my personal philosophy. CARE. CARE about my students as people and not receptacles of knowledge, care about the people I work with and work with them to create a CAREing environment where students feel safe. My friend Josh called me an optimist. I'm ok with that moniker. I want to be the dreamer and not let myself be held back by my own cynicism.

cheers

A Prayer For Baptism

Here is a prayer I used during the baptism service this past weekend. It was a beautiful morning for a church service on the beach at Winkler Bible Camp. I got this prayer from Christine Sine's blog which is associated with Mustard Seeds Associates.

"We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life. We thank you, Father for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit."

Cheers

End of an Era?

Ok not really an end of an era. This last week I finished my summer stint working for Landville Drywall, my Dad's company. You could say I've been working on and off for him for 35 years. (I didn't have to do stuff till I was 2) The last 3 summers have likely been the most important for me. I don't think I would have been able to get a summer job around Winkler area. And especially not one that paid the same amount that I made working in Winnipeg. There were good and bad things.

Good

-wages

-flexibility of hours and days worked

-get to see my parents

-breakfasts with my dad

-got to hang out with my cousins

Bad

-gone from home more than I would have liked

-dusty, itchy working conditions

-on the road, A LOT

I think one of my favourite things about this job has been going for breakfast with my dad. That is the thing I will treasure most. It has been an opportunity for us to just hang out. sigh. I'm going to miss that. I have also appreciated the opportunity to have a good paying job and being needed. I know Landville is busy and that this is work that needs to be done so they can keep up. They aren't scrounging to find work for me to do. I'm doing my part to help them keep up.

The thing is I don't want to need to work for Landville anymore because that would mean I have a teaching job. The construction thing is fun but it feels temporary. I'm looking forward to some permanence again.

cheers

Movement in Theatre

"Getting your intention fully integrated with your body is essential to any style of performance. The audience isn't telepathic; it only understands what is happening through what it sees and hears. If the script, or the director/choreographer's vision, is not fully realized in clear physical action , then the audience cannot comprehend what is going on."

Lorna Marshall from The Body Speaks: Performance and Expression.

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