Saturday, November 9, 2013

Show & Tell: In Jeopardy, Bad Teachers & Veterans Day

For someone who has retired and is supposed to have free time, I find myself recognizing this truism…

I'm so busy now I don't know how I ever found time to work before. 

Of course, part of that could be launching my new (ad)venture in real estate. 

But I don't think so. Somehow I have managed to fill in all the spaces between the hour hands with stuff to do. Lots of stuff to do. Main difference is that, for the most part, it's all stuff I like or want to do except I never, ever seem to find enough time to devote to writing. So before that gets away from me, I have three important things I wanted to share… So we'll call this post Show &Tell…

Show & Tell #1…

My blogging buddy & teacher friend John Pearson is a contestant on the Jeopardy Teachers Tournament. (Some of you may know him as Mister Teacher). 

How cool is that? The tournament begins Monday (that's Nov. 11). You can check out the times and station by clicking here.  His episode airs on Thursday. So let's all support John and give it a watch. 

Show & Tell #2…

For the most part, pretty much all my training in my latest (ad)venture has been pretty good unlike the beating one normally takes in teacher professional development days. 

In fact, these real estate people take their professional training pretty seriously. They lock the doors when it's time to begin. So, if you aren't there on time, you are out of luck. You actually have to pay attention or the monitor will come by and tell you to. In the last one I attended, they fined you if your cell phone went off because it's supposed to be turned off or silenced. See what I mean. No shenanigans. No siree, Missy.

But, most importantly, they take their food and snackage seriously. One session I attended had a catered lunch with turkey pesto, chicken salad and crab cake sandwiches, goat cheese  empanadas, wild rice salad, fresh fruit salad and sweet potato chips. We also had a morning snack and an afternoon snack. Snacks ranged from ice cream to a variety of delicious popcorn to fresh fruit.

All of that was a very good thing since the instruction (for the first time since I've been doing this) was sub-par. (And by sub-par, let me just say it took 25 minutes to highlight one item. Really. Yes. Really. I would have rather poked my eye out with a pencil.) At least the food and snackage was enough compensate for it.

Which brings me to two other truisms…
#1… If you're a bad teacher, you shouldn't teach. Anyone. At any place. At any time. For any reason. And I mean period (and not an Obama period either).

#2… If for some reason, you must have a bad teacher, then the food and snackage needs to be of high enough quality to compensate for the bad teacher. Raise your hand if you agree. Thought so.


Show & Tell #3…

Howard the Shelter Cat with his favorite Marine Corp blanket
And finally, Monday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. 

And while I  believe everyone should thank veterans all the time, at least remember those who safeguard our freedoms on this special day. While I appreciate all veterans, Howard the Shelter Cat and I are particularly fond of Marines. 

Semper Fi.