Random Thoughts on Random Topics

22. December 2010 · 5 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

Technology

  • Really irked about the FCC’s “Net Neutrality” ruling.  I think one of the side effects of the ubiquity of computing has been a slide into complacency among users.  Mr. Geeky thinks an alternate Internet will pop up.  I’m not so sure.  Yet another reason why I think delving into the more technical issues of computing is important.
  • Delicious‘ demise.  Unfounded or not, I think I will have to move my bookmarks.  This won’t be the first time.  Way back in the dark ages of the Internet, I used Furl, which in some ways was a superior product.  It actually saved pdf’s of your links.  No link ever went dead.  I moved to Delicious out of a need for more social aspects–there were more people there.  I still haven’t decided where to go.  I’ve never been a fan of Diigo.  It’s too busy.  Suggestions welcome.
  • Blogging.  Feeling very blah about it.  Of course, many folks are not blogging at the moment because of the holidays.  Ironic, since this is the very time I have to read and write.  Oh well.  I’ll keep plugging away for a while, but who knows how long it will last.
  • Gaming. I deactivated my WoW account.  Which makes me kind of sad, but it doesn’t make sense to pay 14.95/month for something I don’t use.  I might step back in over the summer, but I don’t see having time to game during the school year.  Plus I have to get the new expansion.  Too many hurdles.  I definitely miss my guildmates, though.

The Holidays

  • Whenever I think I’m done, I realize I have one more thing to do.  Sigh.  I’m hoping to get everything absolutely completely done today.
  • Gifts.  We’ve tried to scale back this year, and have been mostly successful.  There will be no Santa this year for the first time ever.  Last year was the first year Geeky Girl didn’t believe, but we still did the whole putting gifts out thing.  This year, by the Geeky Kids’ request, we’re just doing stockings from “Santa”.  Everything else is from a real person.
  • Food.  The kids also requested I not do anything complicated for Christmas Eve dinner because they want to spend time with me.  Which I think is probably the sweetest thing ever.  My kids are totally awesome.  So, we’re keeping it simple.  Ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, maybe a salad.  The dessert will be made the day before.

Weight

  • I downloaded LoseIt at Jody’s suggestion and so far, I love it.
  • I haven’t done a huge amount of exercise over the last couple of days (mostly walking the dog and doing housework), but knowing I can eat a snack if I do something for 1/2 hour is pretty motivating.
  • I replaced the batteries in my Wii Balance Board, so I’m ready to rock some Wii Fit.  I have a real aversion to cold weather.
  • I’m planning to pretty much blow my calories out on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, but who knows, maybe it won’t be so bad.
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Down Time

20. December 2010 · 3 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

It’s vacation time.  I have to admit I really like the longer breaks offered in the education industry.  It’s not as long as a college break, but two full weeks will do my body and mind some good.  Geeky Boy is in school until the 23rd, which still strikes me as crazy.  I feel not just for the kids, but also for the teachers, who will only get a little over a week off.  I know, more than many people, but given how many hours most teachers put in, they’ve probably earned a month off from comp time alone.

I’m not going to be taking it completely easy this break.  There’s all the Christmas stuff to do, which is mostly done, but there are a few other gifts and grocery shopping left.  I’m also going to try to work out this week.   The gym at school is open a few days this week.  Next week, I’ll be on my own, but I’m going to try to do something.  I’ve managed to work out at least once a week for the last few weeks.  My goal has been to work out 3 times/week.  I went to a regular checkup at Thanksgiving, which confirmed what I’d been feeling in my clothes and seeing in the mirror.  I’ve gained about 20 lbs. over the last couple of years.  As I’ve said many times on this blog, I have an aversion to exercise for exercise’s sake.  But I’m at the point where it feels necessary.  I figure if I keep gaining 5 lbs/year, as I have been, then I’ll be in a very unhealthy situation pretty quickly.

I’m also planning to do a little bit of programming over the break and planning my spring semester class.  Geeky Boy is currently taking the class I’ll be teaching.  I have been jotting down notes about what I want to do and it turns out they’re exactly the kinds of things Geeky Boy has been doing.  So, I’m on the right track.  It’s funny because both of these classes could have been taught in a very computer science-y way, but because they’re art classes, I’ve avoided teaching them that way.  Which is kind of too bad, but probably good, because it would be/would have been difficult to plan more computer science-y courses.  I’m looking forward to next year, when I will be teaching computer science and I don’t have to worry about being too computer science-y. ;)

But I’ll be fitting in plenty of game playing, both on the computer and off (we had a rousing game of Settlers of Catan over the weekend).  And there’ll be Christmas special watching and movie watching.  I might even catch up on blog reading and writing.

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Reboot . . .

06. December 2010 · 4 comments · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

Almost a month since my last post–whoa!  Over the last few days, I considered closing up shop.  I barely have time to read blogs anymore much less write in one.  But, like Janet, I do find writing here when I can useful.  I have a ton of things to reflect on and talk about.  Here are just some bullets of stuff going on in my life right now:

  • Running two robotics clubs, one of which meets every day after school–lots to say about what I do/don’t like about these two very different clubs
  • Rethinking one of my courses, which is requiring new prep
  • Promoting computer science, which is well-supported by the administrators and my colleagues here, though not always understood.  I’m still fighting the perception that CS = learning Word and Excel or that CS is unneccessary because either a) these kids all know how to use their computers and so don’t need CS or b) all the jobs in CS are being outsourced.  a) drives me more crazy than b).
  • Struggling to find time to learn new skills.
  • Getting frustrated by the CS education blogs I’ve been reading that make some odd assumptions about how K-12 works.
  • Loving, loving my job.  My colleagues are just awesome.  The students are great, and despite working really, really hard–and a lot!–I love coming to work every day.  I’m still getting used to the fact that people support my work and me.  I’m used to something very different.  I’m loving feeling like I’m in the right place.