Books Read in 2011

I read 34 books in 2011 (6 more than last year). My goal was 26. Easily beaten.
Really got into James Patterson's Alex Cross series and George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
My goal for 2012 is back to 26 and also to read the Bible in it's entirety.

Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child
Riptide - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Terry Funk - Terry Funk
The Tale of the Body Thief - Anne Rice
Along Came a Spider - James Patterson
Kiss the Girls - James Patterson
Gideon's Sword - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore
Roasting in Hell's Kitchen - Gordon Ramsay
Tripwire - Lee Child
Game of Thrones - George RR Martin
Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk
Jack and Jill - James Patterson
A Clash of Kings - George RR Martin
Dead Until Dark - Charlaine Harris
Cat and Mouse - James Patterson
Worth Dying For - James Patterson
Dreamcatcher - Stephen King
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne
Cold Vengeance - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
A Storm of Swords - George RR Martin
Pop Goes the Weasel - James Patterson
A Feast for Crows - George RR Martin
Roses are Red - James Patterson
Violets are Blue - James Patterson
A Dance with Dragons - George RR Martin
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever - Jeff Kinney
Middle School - James Patterson
Merry Christmas, Alex Cross - James Patterson
Inheritance - Christopher Paolini
Four Blind Mice - James Patterson
The Big Bad Wolf - James Patterson
London Bridges - James Patterson

Priests and Teachers

This morning during church got me thinking about priests and teachers. Sure, I wasn't paying attention to the service, but I really thought about something that has always boggled my mind. It all began when the priest got up to start giving his sermon.
The question I began to ponder was:
Why is a priest paid more than a teacher?
I know, probably not what I should be thinking about while he's giving his sermon, but really, does it make sense that a priest would make more than a teacher. And I mean a lot more.
I just got done being on the vestry of my church, and served two years as treasurer so I know how much he makes. 80,000 a year salary, 10,000 housing allowance (which I don't understand since we provide his housing), all utilities paid for by the church, a house to live in, any transportation costs associated with work, health care. It adds up to over a 100 grand a year.
For what? Two services a week (with an average attendance of about 90 people combined), one or two meetings throughout the week and some work in the community. He does a lot less than what I have seen other priest I know do and gets paid more.
What happened to a vow of poverty?
Me, I teach 6th graders in West Kensington in Philadelphia (nicknamed the "Badlands" by the police). I routinely bring work home with me, work the after school program, and get to work an hour and a half early every day. I don't even make 60,000 dollars in a year, and I do far more work.
Is society trying to tell us that priests are more important than teachers? With all of the controversies surrounding eduction today why is it that teachers are not treated with more respect and paid what they deserve? Until this changes, and teachers are recognized for the life changers they are then there will never be any progress in the education system.

I'm Back...

After watching just the beginning of Julie and Julia again I have decided to get back into this whole blog thing.

I feel that I have a lot to say and often need someone to say it to. There is so much to say about so many things.

So check back often for my thoughts on all kinds of different topics.

First ramble coming soon...

2010 Resolutions

As the year begins, I have set some resolutions for myself that hopefully will stick this year. Some are ones that I start out with every year, while others are new.

1. Lose weight - The goal is five pounds per month, but I think i can do more. Better to set it lower and excel rather than high and not meet the goal. I'm giving up all non-water drinks for a month, then drink them sparingly afterwards. My sister and I have a competition going on to see who can lose the most by the end of June. I gotta beat her.
2. Read 2 books per month (24 total) - I almost accomplished this in 2009, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm almost done the first for the year. Only 23 more to go.
3. Save money and pay off debt - I need to save money, as I have no savings and plan to move to the Dominican Republic in 2 and half years. I'll begin in March, with the goal of putting away 150 dollars a month. I also need to pay off my debt. 4 things will be paid off completely this year.
4. Learn Spanish - I should say work on my Spanish and use it more. I know a lot of Spanish but don't use it as much as I should, especially with a classroom full of students who all speak Spanish (and English too). I'm plan to practice everyday through reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
5. Organize and keep to a schedule - In order for all of the above to work I need to develop a schedule for myself and stick to it. I also want to get myself more organized.
6. Keep on top of school work - Don't fall behind in marking papers. It has been my downfall lately. I need to keep on top of all work from school and get papers marked ASAP.
7. Computerize schedule and calendar - I want to get my calendar onto the computer and then onto my blackberry. This way I always know when I have something planned and don't have to wait until I get home to check my little planner.

Well, that's it. It's going to be quite a task to complete all of them, but they all are reasonable and can be accomplished, as long as I stick to them.

2009 in review

One of my resolutions for the new year is to blog more often, at least once or twice a week. But to end the year, I want to look back at things I have accomplished.
2009 saw me teaching 6th grade, with a class I had for the third year in a row. This was the highlight of the year for me, and was sad to see them graduate in June. In September I started over in 4th grade, a tough transition to a new class, but one that has worked well. I like the class a lot and may get to move with them as well into 5th and 6th grade.
Over the summer I was in the Dominican Republic for 6 weeks. I taught English to some Korean students and also took Spanish lessons. I met a lot of great people and had a ton of fun. After returning from the DR I set out on a little road trip into New York and Connecticut to see Phish (always a dream I had to be able to go "on tour" with a band). I went on to see them later in the year as well in Philly.
All in all it was a good year, and I look forward to 2010.

Books Read in 2009
1. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
2. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
3. Naked - David Sedaris
4. Sign of the Cross - Chris Kuzneski
5. The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
6. Series of Unfortunate Events #1 - Lemony Snicket
7. Touching Spirit Bear -
8. Cirque du Freak: Living Nightmare - Darren Shan
9. Fool - Christopher Moore
10. Cemetery Dance - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
11. Motorcycle Diaries - Ernesto "Che" Guevara
12. Freedom Writers
13. Still Life With Crows - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
14, 15, 16, 17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - All 4 books
18. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
19. Paddy's Lament - Thomas Gallagher
20. Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis
21. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis

Concerts in 2009
1. Metallica - 1/7 - Wachovia Center
2. Soulive - 6/5 - TLA
3. Phish - 8/13 - Darien Lake, NY
4. Phish - 8/14 - Meadows Music Theater, Hartford, CT
5. Phish - 8/16 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, NY
6. Phish - 11/24 - Wachovia Center
7. Phish - 11/25 - Wachovia Center
8. George Stanford - 11/28 - Tin Angel

St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine is the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world. It is an Episcopal church and many people say it may be the largest cathedral, any style. The thing is, is that it is still not done.

Summer Flashback

Since I haven't posted anything in a while, I am going to start putting up pictures and whatnot from my travels over the summer. Enjoy!