Career Day Synopsis, For Those That Are Interested

Career Day is over and for all it seems that it was a success. Our rotations included a dental hygienist, a book monger, a veterinary technician, a librarian, as well as a video about farming, career bingo, and the ubiquitous activity sheets. Yes, it was a grand day. And to top it off, Spring Break started the moment I walked out the door, started the truck, and drove home.
The dental hygienist brought "Fred Head" and a set of "false' teeth with her. ""Fred Head" is a teaching tool used by hygienist students to practice their technique. It is simply a head with articulated jaws and a set of teeth. It can be attached to a mount that gives the student the sensation of working on an actual patient sans body. The "false teeth" were not actually real false teeth. Again, they were a model used to help hygienists demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. It was a laugh when she passed those around. Some of the students were not sure what to think.
Next stop on the tour was the book monger from Barnes and Noble. She brought several books to read to the kiddos. She also described some of the things she did at the store; such as helping customers, ordering books, helping the younger kids with reading, etc. One book she read was Eric Carle's "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" I have read this book to my class several times in the past. (Remember, I have had some of these students for 2 years in Pre-K and Kinder.) The book monger got frustrated whenever my students started to recite the story as she read. That is the hazards of reading a story with predictable text and repeated patterns.

Our next stop was with the veterinary technician. I don't really remember much about this stop. By now the kids were getting tired and one of the students was crying and whimpering. She wanted to go home. It seems that during the normal course of the day this is their usual rest-time.

After the vet. tech we moved to the video about farming. The same child is still upset. I don't remember much here either except that another child is now trying to go to sleep.

Next stop is the librarian. This was interesting. The librarian was the mother of one our teachers. She was visiting from Missouri and was filling in for someone who did not show up. Not a bad presentation for being impromptu. Our whining and crying started to subside here.

Our final two stops were much better. We were all awake and getting back true to form.

Then it was over and time to go home. Enough said!

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Career Day, Spring Break, Gardening

Hallelujah! Friday is here!
Today is Career Day at school. It is also the last school day before Spring Break. What can I say?
At Career Day we will have various speakers that will come in and speak with the students about various career choices. Of course for Kindergarten the discussion will be much simpler, but will expose the kiddo's to some different types of careers. In the past we have had nurses, pharmacists, chefs, and delivery drivers come an speak. It is always a good time for all. I will report more later.
The last day of school before Spring Break. Let me say that again. The last day of school before Spring Break. It took approximately 120 school days for it to get here; and it finally got here. I can finally rest my throat. My allergies, a cold, and constant talking in class begins to take it's toll this time of the year. And this year is no exception. The coughing, clearing of my throat, and other unpleasantries can finally take a rest and let my throat get better.
Another plus with Spring Break is I can get back to the garden. I will plan on putting in a vegetable garden next week. Hopefully all of the freezes and frost are over for the season. Tentatively I will plant tomatoes, squash, peppers, corn, cucumbers, beans, and perhaps some other surprise items. I can hardly wait. There's nothing like supplying the rabbits, aphids, beetles, and other assorted creatures with free lunch all summer.
© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Feeling the Fallout

Geraldine Ferraro has stepped down. After verbalizing an astute observation on her part regarding Barack Obama's aspirations, Geraldine has decided to step down from her position in the campaign. She served as an unpaid "Honorary New York Leadership Council Chair," on Hillary's finance committee. I guess this is the latest round in the tag-team resignation match between the two camps. I believe the first happened last week after Hillary was branded a "Monster."
Elsewhere in New York, Client #9 has resigned. It's about time.

Worst of all though, The Baylor University Lady Bears basketball team went down in flames in the Big 12 quarter-finals. This is the first time they have lost in the first round and the first time that a #2 seed has lost in the first round. Firsts are not that great all the time.
© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Politics 101

You know, when I started this blog I told myself, "Self, I'm not going to make this political." I imagine that I've already made it political once or twice already. Well, here I go again.

What is it with the Democrats? The candidate in the delegate lead has been offered the VP slot by the candidate in second place. Well, well, well. To no surprise #1 pretty much declined the offer from #2. Not only does he decline, but he mocks her.
Now another prominent Democrat has suggested that perhaps Mr. Obama has only made as far as he has because his skin color. It seems that this same prominent Democrat has had this problem before.
Now the Democrats face the unenviable task of deciding what to do about the delegates in Michigan and Florida. If they count the delegates in Florida, look out. Who's going to pay for it? Who's going to vote? How is it going to take place? Good questions. Time will tell.
On top of all this, Ralph Nader is in the race again. Yippee!
I thought after the Texas and Ohio primary all of this would be over. Sounds like now it's not even close to being over. But then maybe it is close after Saturday's Wyoming victory for Barack and his Mississippi win yesterday.
© 2008 Barry T Horst


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It's A Deal-Sort Of

I'm sure this is not news to anyone. But oil closed at another new high yesterday. According to Bloomberg.com energy prices, West Texas Intermediate closed up $2.75 / barrel at $107.90 / barrel. Also Reformulated Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (RBOB) futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange closed at $2.7099 per gallon. Add to that about 40 cents plus for taxes and profit and you're looking at unleaded gas hitting $3.20 or more per gallon. This is not good news.

I did find a good deal last night though. I was nearly on fumes and desperately needed to refill my tank. I stumbled upon the local Wal-Mart and discovered they were still selling unleaded for $3.05 a gallon then you get a 3 cents discount per gallon for using their card. I ended up spending $75.00 for gas last night. That was for me and Julie's car. Afterwards, I couldn't believe the words I uttered, "Gee, $3.02 for gas was a good deal!" Even the truck stop nearby the house was $3.09 a gallon.

When I started driving years ago I paid 30 cents a gallon. I also got paid $1.00 an hour. I guess it's all a wash.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Picture Monday March 10, 2008. It's All About Me!

Here I am sitting on the front steps when we lived on Speight Ave. This is about November 1964.

Now this is a clever piece of work. This is a picture of me taking a picture of me. In the mirror you see. I believe this is in July 1974 right after high school. I suppose that is when we knew it all.

This picture is probably in 1976. I was still at MCC at this time. I still had my Toyota. Oh by the way, I'm the good looking one standing up. That is my college roommate, Paul, sitting. I sure wish I could remember who took the picture.

© 2008 Barry T Horst


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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.