Don't make us wait!
Okay.
16. Do you feel guilty that school was canceled today and you got to stay home with Charlie while your wife had to go to work?
Absolutely not. Maybe if my wife worked on Fridays, or in Wisconsin where we don't take a day off every other week to celebrate stuff like Chester A. Arthur's birthday. But probably not even then because she is so fond of mocking me on days when I have school and she doesn't. It's called karma, dear. Now I have to finish this up so I can go take a nap.
17. So what did you do with your day off?
First, I lay on the couch for about an hour watching SportsCenter while Charlie played because it was cold and I didn't want to get out from under my blanket. Then I finally got myself (and Charlie) dressed, and we had breakfast. Special K for me, bananas and a bar for him. Then we watched Sesame Street--a great blog about that forthcoming--before getting bundled up to go out to Menard's. We picked up some light bulbs and yogurt-covered pretzels (which Charlie inexplicably called "eggs" all morning), then stopped by McDonald's for lunch. After we got home and Charlie played while I changed the lightbulbs downstairs, he got a snack of corn dogs and crackers before taking a nap. Now I intend to do the same (minus the corn dogs). Outstanding morning.
18. Tell us something interesting you learned in college.
There's one story that always sticks out to me more than anything else:
In the 1950's, Borneo was having some trouble with mosquitoes spreading malaria, so the World Health Organization decided to help by flying in lots of DDT with which to spray the crops. And it worked, but now there were a bunch of dead insects full of DDT, and these gecko lizards were eating them, so the lizards were dying too. And then the cats would eat the lizards (!), so the cats would die. And without any cats, the rat population sky-rocketed, so the sylvatic plague and typhus were spread all over Borneo. So do you know how the World Health Organization helped to fix this problem? They parachuted cats into Borneo. 14,000 of them! And I know this probably isn't the way it actually happened, but I always imagine a bunch of cats in individual parachutes floating down, then landing and scampering off to eat a rat.
Isn't that a great story? It's so great, in fact, that they made a children's book out of it. You can find a PowerPoint of the out-of-print book here. Anyway, I learned that from Skip Wittler in Environmental Studies. And I'm sure that all of my English professors are thrilled that the only thing I remember from college is something I learned in a science class.
19. What's the strangest headline you've run across on the Internet today?
Clay Aiken knows he's "not cool," but still a panties magnet.
20. Now that you're obsessed with the CMT's 20 Questions web site (which you came across by Googling "20 questions" in an effort to come up with material for this blog), have you come across any more factoids as interesting as Taylor Swift's Deff Leppard obsession?
Indeed. For example:
Bucky Covington loves Eminem.
Kellie Pickler thinks she's "very intelligent."
There was, at one point, a rumor that Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, and another similar artist were going to star in a show that was "much like The Golden Girls." (Unfortunately, Barbara doesn't know anything about it.)
Trace Adkins describes his wife as "ultra-cool" about all the beautiful women in his videos.
Garrison Keillor thinks that "the younger generation is forgetting what a tomato tastes like."
Ron White thinks that all comedies on mainstream TV right now "suck" except South Park and The Family Guy.
If Carrie Underwood had to choose between animals and men, she would choose animals.
For more stunning revelations on the country music scene, check out CMT.com.
That was fun. Maybe we'll do it again sometime.
Until then, later gators.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
aside
This is a break from 20 Questions, but Kelly's comment about finding Harper Lee's unfinished manuscripts reminded me of something that Jeff Brower--the one who inspired me to be an English teacher--said the other day. He said, and I'm quoting, "The Chosen is way better than To Kill A Mockingbird." How can one of the smartest people in the world think that? I mean, The Chosen? That seems ludicrous to me. But he's also the one that loves A Separate Peace and Lord of the Flies but hates The Great Gatsby. So what do I know?
Back to 20Q tomorrow, gators.
Back to 20Q tomorrow, gators.
20 questions (part 3)
First, some comments on your comments: 1) Tony Lucca is indeed terrific. And he's buddy-buddy with Sara and Stacy's friend Aletha (sort of). And he went out with Felicity; 2) Friday Night Lights is indeed terrific. Better than the movie, and that almost never happens; and 3) Unless it's my wedding, Joe singing is never a highlight of anything.
On to #11-15.
11. Did you always want to teach high school English?
Nope. At some point in my life, I aspired to be each of the following (in no particular order): lawyer, rodeo cowboy, sports reporter, baseball player, novelist, guy who changes the scores on the scoreboard at Fenway Park, minister, elementary school teacher, principal, researcher at a sports network like ESPN, policeman, Taco Bell employee, doctor.
It was during my senior year of high school, when I had Jeff Brower for AP English, that I decided I wanted to teach high school English. Because I love sports, I decided to also be involved in coaching. And here I am.
12. So is this your perfect job?
Well, no. I mean, it's awesome. And at this point, it's probably my perfect realistic job (although I'd like to be in Woodstock at some point). But in a perfect world, I'd be a college basketball coach and a writer. I could stay home and write in the mornings, then do basketball preparation, etc. in the afternoons and evenings. That would be my perfect job.
13. Did you know that if Taylor Swift was driving across country and could only have one CD in her car, she would pick Pyromania, by Def Leppard?
I did know that. And I find it fascinating.
14. If you could play poker with any four living people, whom would you choose?
The honest answer probably involves my family, but I know that's not the point of the question, so I'll go with Bill Simmons, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Samuel L. Jackson. That's kind of random, but I'd bet it'd be fun.
15. Why did you use "whom" in the previous question?
Because "whom" is objective (it serves as an object), and "who" is subjective (it serves as a subject). So in that sentence--whom would you choose?--the subject is "you" and the verb is "choose"--"whom" is the direct OBJECT. Therefore, objective case. If the question had been, Who would choose you?, then the object would have been "you" and "who" would have been the SUBJECT. Therefore, subjective case.
Later gators.
On to #11-15.
11. Did you always want to teach high school English?
Nope. At some point in my life, I aspired to be each of the following (in no particular order): lawyer, rodeo cowboy, sports reporter, baseball player, novelist, guy who changes the scores on the scoreboard at Fenway Park, minister, elementary school teacher, principal, researcher at a sports network like ESPN, policeman, Taco Bell employee, doctor.
It was during my senior year of high school, when I had Jeff Brower for AP English, that I decided I wanted to teach high school English. Because I love sports, I decided to also be involved in coaching. And here I am.
12. So is this your perfect job?
Well, no. I mean, it's awesome. And at this point, it's probably my perfect realistic job (although I'd like to be in Woodstock at some point). But in a perfect world, I'd be a college basketball coach and a writer. I could stay home and write in the mornings, then do basketball preparation, etc. in the afternoons and evenings. That would be my perfect job.
13. Did you know that if Taylor Swift was driving across country and could only have one CD in her car, she would pick Pyromania, by Def Leppard?
I did know that. And I find it fascinating.
14. If you could play poker with any four living people, whom would you choose?
The honest answer probably involves my family, but I know that's not the point of the question, so I'll go with Bill Simmons, Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Samuel L. Jackson. That's kind of random, but I'd bet it'd be fun.
15. Why did you use "whom" in the previous question?
Because "whom" is objective (it serves as an object), and "who" is subjective (it serves as a subject). So in that sentence--whom would you choose?--the subject is "you" and the verb is "choose"--"whom" is the direct OBJECT. Therefore, objective case. If the question had been, Who would choose you?, then the object would have been "you" and "who" would have been the SUBJECT. Therefore, subjective case.
Later gators.
Monday, January 28, 2008
20 questions (part 2)
Time for Part 2 in a 4-part series called "20 Questions." Now, I had planned to cover topics like sandwiches, dental hygiene, and the broom that I bought yesterday, but Jessi has made me feel self-conscious about covering those kinds of topics, so I'll have to scrape up something else. Here goes:
6. Go to any good parties lately?
As a matter of fact, yes. Saturday was Charlie's 2nd birthday, so we had a big bash. A brief run-down:
THEME: VeggieTales, of course. Including napkins, posters, balloons, and sidewalk chalk.
ATTENDEES: In the morning, it was just the fam. After Charlie's nap, all his friends came. And remember, we're still living in 1,100 square feet of house, so it was a tight squeeze. But if you don't enjoy spending an afternoon in a confined space with a dozen 2 and 3-year-olds, that seems like your problem, not mine.
FOOD: Napoli's pizza. The only pizza in the tri-state area that can compete with Pino's. Quite a treat.
HIGHLIGHT: On Charlie's behalf, I'll go with the presents. (This was probably more of a highlight for me since I ended up opening everything--with Grace's help--while Charlie played with a balloon.) Just a terrific showing by everyone. An excellent range of gifts, each one just as thoughtful as the next. Charlie has outstanding friends.
LOWLIGHT: The Badgers lost. And Joe sang into Charlie's PlaySkool phone. Kind of brought everyone down.
So there you go. And I'm still kind of tired.
7. Now that you've had some time to reflect on your Top 50 Movies of All-Time, are there any that you wish you'd included but didn't?
Yep. Two, actually. Good Will Hunting and Scent of a Woman should both have made the cut. And that would push out Dog Day Afternoon and The Negotiator, which is fine because I like both of the former better than both of the latter. But I've also seen some movies--I think Juno is one--since then that should make the list too. Maybe I'll do a revised list sometime.
8. What are you reading right now?
That's a tricky question because I'm always in the process of reading about a dozen books. If I had to pick one that I would say I'm "reading right now," it would be Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safron Foer. It's written from the perspective of a nine-year-old kid named Oskar whose father died in the 9/11 attacks. He finds a key in his dad's bedroom and goes through the 5 boroughs trying to figure out what it's a key to. I'm about 2/3 of the way through it, and it's solid. You'd like it.
9. What are you listening to right now?
I just bought the Juno soundtrack, and it's really good. But that's kind of a boring answer, so I just looked through the collection on my computer, and if I were going to make you a CD at this very moment, here's what I'd put on it:
"Brown Eyes," by Andy Davis
"All I Want Is You," by Barry Louis Polisar
"Good Morning Son," by Ben Folds
"Buckets of Rain," by Bob Dylan
"Nothing Fancy," by Dave Barnes
"All Will Be Well," by Gabe Dixon
"Big," by Gentry Morris
"Ghost Repeater," by Jeffrey Foucault
"Loose Lips," by Kimya Dawson
"Don't Touch My Hat," by Lyle Lovett
"Wild Rose," by Sam Baker
"Death of Me," by Tony Lucca
"Galuppi Baldassare," by Kris Delmhorst
"New Slang," by The Shins
"Sunday Morning Coming Down," by Johnny Cash
10. What's your favorite brand of frozen pizza?
Jack's Original. And once again, I won't listen to discussion on this.
6. Go to any good parties lately?
As a matter of fact, yes. Saturday was Charlie's 2nd birthday, so we had a big bash. A brief run-down:
THEME: VeggieTales, of course. Including napkins, posters, balloons, and sidewalk chalk.
ATTENDEES: In the morning, it was just the fam. After Charlie's nap, all his friends came. And remember, we're still living in 1,100 square feet of house, so it was a tight squeeze. But if you don't enjoy spending an afternoon in a confined space with a dozen 2 and 3-year-olds, that seems like your problem, not mine.
FOOD: Napoli's pizza. The only pizza in the tri-state area that can compete with Pino's. Quite a treat.
HIGHLIGHT: On Charlie's behalf, I'll go with the presents. (This was probably more of a highlight for me since I ended up opening everything--with Grace's help--while Charlie played with a balloon.) Just a terrific showing by everyone. An excellent range of gifts, each one just as thoughtful as the next. Charlie has outstanding friends.
LOWLIGHT: The Badgers lost. And Joe sang into Charlie's PlaySkool phone. Kind of brought everyone down.
So there you go. And I'm still kind of tired.
7. Now that you've had some time to reflect on your Top 50 Movies of All-Time, are there any that you wish you'd included but didn't?
Yep. Two, actually. Good Will Hunting and Scent of a Woman should both have made the cut. And that would push out Dog Day Afternoon and The Negotiator, which is fine because I like both of the former better than both of the latter. But I've also seen some movies--I think Juno is one--since then that should make the list too. Maybe I'll do a revised list sometime.
8. What are you reading right now?
That's a tricky question because I'm always in the process of reading about a dozen books. If I had to pick one that I would say I'm "reading right now," it would be Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safron Foer. It's written from the perspective of a nine-year-old kid named Oskar whose father died in the 9/11 attacks. He finds a key in his dad's bedroom and goes through the 5 boroughs trying to figure out what it's a key to. I'm about 2/3 of the way through it, and it's solid. You'd like it.
9. What are you listening to right now?
I just bought the Juno soundtrack, and it's really good. But that's kind of a boring answer, so I just looked through the collection on my computer, and if I were going to make you a CD at this very moment, here's what I'd put on it:
"Brown Eyes," by Andy Davis
"All I Want Is You," by Barry Louis Polisar
"Good Morning Son," by Ben Folds
"Buckets of Rain," by Bob Dylan
"Nothing Fancy," by Dave Barnes
"All Will Be Well," by Gabe Dixon
"Big," by Gentry Morris
"Ghost Repeater," by Jeffrey Foucault
"Loose Lips," by Kimya Dawson
"Don't Touch My Hat," by Lyle Lovett
"Wild Rose," by Sam Baker
"Death of Me," by Tony Lucca
"Galuppi Baldassare," by Kris Delmhorst
"New Slang," by The Shins
"Sunday Morning Coming Down," by Johnny Cash
10. What's your favorite brand of frozen pizza?
Jack's Original. And once again, I won't listen to discussion on this.
Friday, January 25, 2008
20 questions (part 1)
Today marks the beginning of a 4-part series on teacher man called 20 questions, in which I make up 20 questions and answer them. I'll give you a moment to gather yourself on the edge of your chair. Good? Good. Here we go.
1. How many movies have made you cry?
Interesting question. The answer is two. The first, I am not at all ashamed of. Field of Dreams. I've seen it a million times, but when Kevin Costner's character asks his dad if he wants to "have a catch" at the end...well, let's just say it tends to get a little dusty in the old Baker house. The second movie that made me cry I am somewhat ashamed of, but in the interest of honesty, I will reveal that it was...(drumroll)...Jersey Girl. And I know it had Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (and George Carlin!), but it's about a guy whose wife dies while she's giving birth to their son, and that's sad--I don't care who you are. Anyway, it was like a minute, and my wife still brings it up whenever that stupid movie is on TBS. Whatever.
2. Have you ever had a cup of coffee in your entire life?
Nope.
3. What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
I've eaten some strange stuff--elk meatloaf, a chocolate-covered cicada, an entire lemon slice (including the peel). But at gunpoint, I'd have to go with a squirrel potpie. My grandpa used to make it. Or at least he did once. And I had some.
4. Who is the greatest basketball player of all-time?
Larry Bird. I won't listen to that Michael Jordan nonsense. Jordan was a better defender, and he was better at dribble penetration. Bird was a better rebounder, a better passer, a better shooter, and he did what he did against significantly better competition that Jordan did. Significantly. If I'm starting a team today, and I get any player in history in his prime, I take Bird every day of the week. End of discussion.
5. Have you ever been in a play?
I have, actually. I played Guard in the Ripon College production of Bakkhai. I had the shortest speech in the play, but at least one audience member told me that she thought it was the best one. (Hey, Mom!) Anyway, I was the one that stood up to Pentheus and told him that Dionysos wasn't all that bad a guy. Took tremendous courage. And I am nothing if not tremendously courageous.
That's it for today. Catch #6-10 on Monday.
Later gators.
1. How many movies have made you cry?
Interesting question. The answer is two. The first, I am not at all ashamed of. Field of Dreams. I've seen it a million times, but when Kevin Costner's character asks his dad if he wants to "have a catch" at the end...well, let's just say it tends to get a little dusty in the old Baker house. The second movie that made me cry I am somewhat ashamed of, but in the interest of honesty, I will reveal that it was...(drumroll)...Jersey Girl. And I know it had Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (and George Carlin!), but it's about a guy whose wife dies while she's giving birth to their son, and that's sad--I don't care who you are. Anyway, it was like a minute, and my wife still brings it up whenever that stupid movie is on TBS. Whatever.
2. Have you ever had a cup of coffee in your entire life?
Nope.
3. What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
I've eaten some strange stuff--elk meatloaf, a chocolate-covered cicada, an entire lemon slice (including the peel). But at gunpoint, I'd have to go with a squirrel potpie. My grandpa used to make it. Or at least he did once. And I had some.
4. Who is the greatest basketball player of all-time?
Larry Bird. I won't listen to that Michael Jordan nonsense. Jordan was a better defender, and he was better at dribble penetration. Bird was a better rebounder, a better passer, a better shooter, and he did what he did against significantly better competition that Jordan did. Significantly. If I'm starting a team today, and I get any player in history in his prime, I take Bird every day of the week. End of discussion.
5. Have you ever been in a play?
I have, actually. I played Guard in the Ripon College production of Bakkhai. I had the shortest speech in the play, but at least one audience member told me that she thought it was the best one. (Hey, Mom!) Anyway, I was the one that stood up to Pentheus and told him that Dionysos wasn't all that bad a guy. Took tremendous courage. And I am nothing if not tremendously courageous.
That's it for today. Catch #6-10 on Monday.
Later gators.
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