Christa Kabbes

I just read on Mrs Cross' website that all extra credit is due May 7, so having nothing to do in geography, I decided to interview Christa.
Warning: these are meant to be weird questions so don't laugh too much.

Is it true that you like cheese?
Si, Si, Si!

What is your favorite sport?
dance

What's the speed of darkness?
Batman

If you run backwards will you gain weight?
No

Why not?
No, because i don't really know

What happens when you get scared half to death twice?
you die

Can a blind person feel blue?
Yea! everyone has feelings

When cheese gets its picture taken what does it say? human?
I love cheese!

Liz Wortman

The Masters

The Masters is one of the oldest golf tournaments in the United States. It first started in 1934, Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts decided to hold an annual golf tournament. For the first five years it was called "The Augusta National Invitation Tournament", because "The Masters" was thought to be too presumptuous. The traditional green jacket that is given to the winner started in 1949, when it first started the green jackets were worn by all the golfers so that the fans could easily spot them while they were playing. The jacket then became a symbol of the winner becoming a member of the prestigious club.



This year was the 74th Masters tournament, the winner was Phil Mickelson with a score of sixteen under. Lee Westwood came in second at thirteen under followed by Anthony Kim at twelve under. Tiger Woods made an appearance but came in at fourth tied with K.J. Choi at eleven under.

Lucky Charms

One of the greatest cereals from General Mills is Lucky Charms. They are mostly memorable from Lucky and the kids that chase after him for his Lucky Charms. The Lucky Charms first appeared in stores in 1964. The Lucky Charms was first invented on 1962 by John Holahan. The cereal consists of marshmallow bits (marbits) and toasted oat-based pieces. The marshmallows started with pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers. They changed over the years by starting to add blue diamonds, purple horseshoes, red balloons, rainbows, pots of gold, leprechaun hats, shooting stars, and hourglasses. Then the hidden key started in 2005, where it starts looking like a yellow door, but when you add milk, the key magically appears. Lucky Charms is now one of the most famous cereals today.

Brennen Croy

Interview with J. Wall and Jeff Repking

So in study hall, I decided to ask Josh and Jeff how the play is going since the play was this past weekend!


How is the play going?

Josh-Very well
Jeff-I concur


Do you know all your lines?

Josh-Yes, but I get confused.
Jeff-Ditto, but I don't get my lines confused.


How was the play Thursday?

Josh-I thought it went well
Jeff-I concur


Jeff, what's with you and the word concur?

Jeff-It fits and it's an easy answer while I try to do my English worksheet
Josh-I concur



Josh, how has your relationship with Barb effected the play?

Josh-It makes it more romantic, I don't know
Jeff-(laughing)
Mrs. Cross - Gag me with a spoon.


Is Mrs. Cross a good director?

Josh-Yes, Mrs. Cross is the best director there is (sarcastically)
Jeff-For fear of my own safety, yes
Mrs. Cross - I was terrible...but, it was my first time directing or doing anything with drama other than set design.

Are you looking forward to the plays this weekend?

Josh-Yes, I want them to be over with
Jeff-I concur


Are you going to miss the play?

Josh-Probably, but not right away
Jeff-I concur and I will enjoy the extra free time
Mrs. Cross' husband - I'll enjoy having dinner at a normal time.

Did you mess up yesterday?

Josh-I don't think so, but I saved someone
Jeff-No:)


Do you want this survey to be over?

Josh-Yes..
Jeff-I concur.


Alexis N

State Of My Game Haiku

Fitness on the rise

Getting used to the new cranks

Fifth in the last Sprint

The Story You Are About To Here Is True

It all started last Thursday, a week ago today, when Mongo may have saved a seventy nine year old man's life. I came across him, face down in a ditch and not really moving, on the side of the Silver Comet Trail...and what followed was a defining moment in my humanity.

Though I do believe I am a kind, compassionate, giving person, I also know that I am partial to narcissistic and selfish tendencies. So when my brain registered at twenty four miles per hour that there was a person laying face down in a ditch, I literally had a split second to decide whether or not to get "involved". I really must have more asshole in me than I originally thought because it took two "I should really stop!" spoken to myself before I finally stopped and turned around.

The man's name was Jack...and he was an "old" 79. He had lost his balance and stumbled off the side of the trail only to collapse, face down, in a bed of pine straw and rocks. He couldn't turn himself over and his face was bleeding, and when I turned him over, his mouth was filled with dirt and straw. It was quite a sobering sight. I cleared his mouth, washed his face with my water bottle, and made him drink some water. He told me that he had resigned himself to dying if no one had come along...and he was completely serious.

The story ends well...with myself and another good samaritan named Terry spending over an hour with Jack, calling his wife to meet us, and slowly walking him an inch at a time the half a mile back to his medication. During that walk I learned about Jack's Diabetes, his war service, his thirty years working for Hewlett-Packard, and his prized Collie who had recently died. I truly felt honored to have been able to have done "something" for a total stranger who, through a potential tragedy, has inspired me to be a better person.

Mcdonalds Rap Gone Bad

In Utah, there were two friends who were looking forward to college and maybe even getting into college for free. Until four friends were arrested for disordely conduct by a Mcdonalds. The four guys got on the website, http://www.youtube.com/, and took pointers on the video "Mcdonalds rap". The four friends practiced the joke for a while then decided to go try it out at a local Mcdonalds. They went through the drive through and tried the rap. The employee didn't feel comfortable and told the manager to get on the mic to listen to what they are saying. The manager told the four friends to say there order normal. The group of guys decided not to and just kept going along with the joke. Sooner or later the guys left Mcdonalds and decided to go to there high school's volleyball game. When the four friends got out of the car they were arrested by the police for disordely conduct. The friends were sentenced to 90 days in jail and a fine. The families are still trying to fight the case and they don't really know what they did wrong.

-Scott Deters

Annie

Congrats to the cast and crew of Annie!!! Now I know most of the people who will be reading this weren't a part of the musical, but you sure did miss out. The grade school students did an excellent job. If you went to go see it this past weekend, you know what I'm talking about. If you didn't, then you missed quite a show. Personally, I thought the Tomorrow scene was the best. Annie and Sandy (the dog) were absolutely adorable! So congrats Mrs. Deters on a job well done!

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa

1 1/2 tspns baking powder

1 1/2 tspns baking soda

1 tspn salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tspns vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 9-inch round baking pans

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30-35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost.

Other variations: www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=184

This Is America...We Know How To Do Slutty

One of Mongo's favorites, "Shetland Jens Voigt", sandbags his way to the opening stage win in defense of his title at the SRAM Tour of the Gila.

I don't know what kind of shamockery this race is, with six or seven Pro Tour riders mixing it up with Continental pros, but the fact that Levi is riding for Team Mellow Johnny's and Dave Zabriskie is riding for Team DZ Nuts shows me that it's not exactly a Tour of "Anywhere in Europe" quality field.

Of the twenty one riders who finished ahead of Mellow Johnny himself, two specific riders of note were Floyd Landis and local Tundra Time Trial legend, Michael Olheiser.

(Photo:VeloNews)

From Portland to Pittsburgh

The verdict is in -- and it's CMU.

That's Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. And it's where Simone has decided to spend the next two years in pursuit of a masters degree in CMU's highly regarded Heinz College School of Public Policy and Management.

A generous scholarship offer, along with assurances of lots of individual attention in a cohort of about 80 students and a sense of adventure (not to mention a more affordable cost of living), combined to give CMU the nod over other prestigious schools including NYU and Columbia.

Simone signed her enrollment papers on Monday and today received an internship offer with the Pittsburgh Public Schools that will start in August. She'll begin classes July 12. Not a bad way to get started.

So, what is public policy? And what's so good about Carnegie Mellon that our daughter would choose it over those New York schools?

According to Wikipedia:

Most public policy programs combine elements of political science, economics, statistics, law, international relations, international development, public finance, ethics, sociology and public administration. Some schools also apply quantitative analysis, management information systems, organizational behavior, project management and operations research to the public sector.

Why CMU? Again, according to Wikipedia:

In the most recent US News and World Report Graduate School rankings, Heinz College's School of Public Policy & Management was ranked 10th overall among schools of public policy. The Heinz College has ranked in the top 10 since US News and World Report began ranking schools of public affairs in 1995. Of the 253 schools of public affairs across the nation that were surveyed, Heinz College ranked:

• 1st in Information and Technology Management;
• 4th in Public Policy Analysis;
• 10th in Environmental Policy and Management;
• 10th in Health Policy and Management.

Now, if your idea of Pittsburgh is smokestacks and Rust Belt, think again. Although the city has lost population in recent years (it's currently at about 312,000), the seven-county metro area has 2.4 million people, compared to metro Portland's 2.1 million residents, including about 550,000 in the city.

While Pittsburgh historically relied on steel, today the city's economy is largely based on health care, education, technology, robotics and financial services. Housing prices have remained fairly stable -- and considerably more affordable -- and the city has actually gained jobs during the recession.

Most telling, the city ranks high in annual quality-of-life surveys, even being named "America's Most Livable City" by Places Rated Almanac in 2007.

Most young people would have jumped at the chance to go to school in New York City. But Simone's already had the New York experience as an undergraduate, having attended Vassar College about 75 miles north of the city. I admire her willingness to go against the grain, banking on a lower student-to-faculty ratio and the proven quality of a top ten school in her field.

We're very proud and look forward to visiting once she and Kyndall (and their mischievous little dog, Quimby) get settled.

Photo montage (including CMU at upper right): Wikipedia

Who wants to run 80 miles!

If you are up to the challenge like some of our high school friends, start practicing. Every year there is a River to River run where you get a team of 8 and run from the Mississippi River to the Ohio river. Each team has 24 legs roughly 3 miles each leg each runner will get breaks but will be soar no doubt after it all. My 50+ year old father ran and when he got home wore his shirt with pride right before he passed out in his bed for several hours. Starting January of next year I will race against or with my dad in this event.



Happy Running-Austin

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a miscommunication between the brain and the muscles. Many people with have a hard time controlling all the muscles in their body; their outward appearance is a result of this. Many people think that people with Cerebral Palsy are mentally retarded, this is not entirely true. Some people with the disease do have mental retardation and the severity varies from person to person but their are other people that are very smart and live very successful lives. I know a man with Cerebral Palsy that has five college degrees! Miss Iowa, Abbey Curran, came in second runner up at the Miss USA contest and also has Cerebral Palsy.

During my speech I felt that I talked a little fast and wish I would have relaxed and talked slower. I feel that I did a good job in presenting my information to the class but sometimes messed up on pronouncing some words. I could have known my speech a little better so
I could of had better eye contact. Overall I am happy with my speech and the way I presented it.

By: Keri Utz

The story behind the story

With each passing year, I find myself more and more drawn to the story behind a story -- that is, not just who wrote a novel or a nonfiction book and when, but more importantly, how and why.

So it was a delight to read in The Sunday Oregonian about Floyd Skloot, a Portland author who's written 15 books, and his daughter, Rebecca, who's just landed 0n The New York Times best-seller list with her first book, the unlikely story about Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Her cells are said to be among the most important things to happen in medicine in the past century because the cells harvested from this one woman -- without the knowledge of her or her family -- have helped scientists study a variety of diseases and develop drugs for treating them.

What's interesting about the Skloots is how Floyd taught Rebecca at an early age about story and character, partly from playing make-believe games, complete with phony accents. Likewise, seeing how much freedom dad gave daughter during her headstrong days in Portland's public schools is instructive because it shows there's never one straight, narrow path to success.

As reporter Jeff Baker notes in the story, "Like father, like daughter; Rebecca Skloot follows her father's literary path," the Skloots have come a long way in the past 30 years:

Rebecca Skloot has absorbed her father's lessons and written something special with his help. "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" is a sensation that has been on The New York Times best-seller list for 10 weeks and put her in more than 50 cities and on "The Colbert Report." It's an overnight success that's the result of 10 years of hard work and a 20-year obsession, and right now Rebecca and Floyd Skloot agree on just about everything except the reason for her success.

It's the power of the story, she says. No, it's the power of the writing, he says.

I suspect it's both. I'm going to add this to my reading list. But if anyone reading this blog gets to it before me, I'd sure appreciate your take.

Photo: Torsten Kjellstrand, The Oregonian

Softball

This years softball team is doing exceptionally well! The team is now 18-5 after last night's 2 losses to t-town. We had a great crowd last night and would love for everyone to come to all the games! We have many home games coming up: 3 this week, NTC tournament is at home, and city series is all in Effingham. So come out and watch!



Our main hitters this year are the Busher sisters, Ann and Mary; both having several home runs! Allie Kabbes is our main catcher and lead off batter. Kelly McHugh is our star short-stop and is the best in the area! Megan Wholtman has really showed off her talent as a freshman having several varsity starts pitching!



We are very excited for the NTC tournament and another chance against t-town, this time on our own field! And also, we hope to sweep Effingham in the city series just like last year! Senior night will be the final game of city series, so come out and honor the senior softball players!

Live and up close

Back in the day I used to love being part of a big, sweaty crowd straining to get a closer look at the big-name rock bands. Typically, I'd be somewhere in the middle of the masses who'd turned out to see the Led Zeppelin, Santana, the Allman Brothers Band, etc.

These days I find myself gravitating to smaller venues with a more intimate connection between artist and audience. In the past year or so, I've seen independent label artists Joan Osborne, Susan Tedeschi, James Hunter, Kathleen Edwards and Patty Griffin at places like the Aladdin Theatre and the Crystal Ballroom that hold only a few hundred people.

Last night was the latest and best example of being able to get up close to a favorite band: Camera Obscura, the indie band from Glasgow, Scotland.

They played at Berbati's Pan downtown and I got in free, owing to Nathan (aka Nathan Detroit) being a regular DJ at the place. (Finally, a family connection that pays off!)

Anyway, I hung out at the back during the warm-up band's set but quickly moved up as the roadies were changing out equipment and tuning guitars. By the time Camera Obscura had finished its 75-minute, 15-song set, I'd moved up to about 25 feet of the stage, directly in line with lead singer/songwriter Tracyanne Campbell and with a great view of the whole band.

My iPhone wasn't up to the task of getting a decent photo so I've resorted to posting two from YouTube. If you can get past the smarmy Craig Ferguson, the band does a nice job on "French Navy," which is typical of their vaguely '60s-ish pop sound. The other, from a studio performance at Santa Monica College in L.A., captures their mellower side on a cover of Bruce Springsteen's"Tougher Than The Rest."



Last night was an all-ages show, which prompted Campbell to comment on the aisle dividing "the old people from the young people or, actually, the alcoholics from the non-drinkers." There were teenagers and hipsters in the 20s and 30s, but there were also lots of folks with gray hair or little hair nodding their heads and even dancing a little to the music.

Now I realize Camera Obscura is a hardly household name. I discovered them on eMusic.com and have come to own their four CDs. They're great musicians and Tracyanne Campbell has one of those voices that's instantly and unmistakably recognizable. They tour all over Europe and the United States, as well as Latin America, Asia and Australia.

On this current tour, promoting their newest CD, "My Maudlin Career," Portland was the sixth stop in as many nights. They played with a lot of energy and left the crowd pretty amped up. Sure am glad I saw them, live and up close.

Summer fever!

As the school year comes to an end, more and more students catch a highly contagious disease called summer fever. If you have the following symptoms you have probably been infected with summer fever; lack of interest in studies, failure to complete homework, sleeping/talking/drawing pretty pictures in class, coming late to classes, not studying, forgetting assignments until you walk through the classroom door, constantly looking out of the window wishing you could be outside instead of in prison (the classroom), and vivid day dreaming. Summer fever can only be cured by one thing....SUMMER!!!

~Sophie

A new Sunday routine

Two Sundays in a row we've been blessed with beautiful weather. So it's been a great time to establish what I hope will be a weekly routine for the forseeable future -- a neighborhood walk of 5 miles or so, paired with lunch at a locally owned restaurant.

The impetus for this new adventure? Laura O. Foster's book, "Portland Hill Walks."

Foster is the author of two other books, "Portland City Walks" and "Walk There!" As her web site says:

Each book leads readers and walkers on urban excursions of two to six miles, telling the stories of neighborhoods' geology, human history, and architecture, along with offbeat tidbits ranging from how Native Americans used local plants, to the story behind those glass squares (vault lights) embedded in old city sidewalks.

Lori gave me the book for my birthday in December but we had to wait past the worst of the wet weather and our own busy schedules to get to this point. We took our first walk a week ago in Southwest Portland, from Willamette Park all the way up to Capitol Hill Road and Barbur Boulevard, then over to Terwilliger Boulevard and back down to the park, via Laview Drive, a street with spectacular views of Mount St. Helens, downtown and the Willamette River.

Afterward, we drove to the Sellwood neighborhood, happened upon a food cart named Bruce Lee's Kitchen (how could we resist with a name like that?) and sat down to a delicious meal of red curry and pad thai prepared by Liza, the owner, cook and cashier (below). Definitely recommend it.

Today we took our second hike through our own part of town -- the Alameda Ridge loop, starting at Northeast 52nd and Sandy Boulevard, then bearing north and west out to 24th and Alameda, where we turned around. When we got back to Sandy, we had lunch on the rooftop patio of Laurelwood brewpub. This time we took Otto. He laid at our feet, just happy to be along, as we switched from shade to sun.

As much as I enjoy running, I have to say there's a different kind of satisfaction that comes from going at a slower pace through both new and familiar neighborhoods. You notice so much more -- the flowers, plants and yards; the individual personality of each house; even a different angle on something you've seen dozens of times before.

It may seem silly that it took a book on urban walks to get me into this new routine. I've been running for so many years that it never seemed necessary. I was wrong.

What Will $725.00 Get You On Ebay?

"O.G." 1988, Santa Cruz, Salba VooDoo deck.

I Can Call You Betty

Mongo finishes his "Classics" podium prognosticating season with the big squadoosh at Liege-Bastogne-Liege...dropping me to a pedestrian, yet acceptable, four for twelve (.333) for my Spring campaign.

(Photo:Sirotti/CyclingNews)

Ok...That's It Then: I Am Awake And The Coffee Has Been Smelled

"You can't always get what you want

You can't always get what you want

You can't always get what you want

But if you try sometimes well you just might find

You get what you need"

(The Rolling Stones)

(Photo:Bettini/CyclingNews)

AK47 Update: "You're Fired!"

Actual text from the Team RadioShack website...

Team Note: Andreas Klöden was held up by a crash and dropped out at the second feed zone today. "I was caught behind a crash and lost time. But honestly, I didn’t have the best legs today. That's racing!" (Andreas Kloden)

"You have no heart and you're a bum! You make Oscar Pereiro look like he can still ride...Ptooey!...I'm done with you!" (Mongo Pusher)

Bible Storybook Keepsake Box

I got into major craft mode this afternoon and made this keepsake box. I began with vintage books about the Bible. This particular one is in a four volume set, so I have three left to make more boxes.

I began by drawing a rectangle on the first page of the book and then drilled a hole in each corner. These served as my guides when I took a ruler and exacto knife and cut out the inset. This took a while since I could only do enough pages as I could cut through. Once the box was cut out, I replaced my drill bit with a drum sander and sanded the cut edges to smooth them out and even them up.

I covered the inside front cover with scrapbook paper as well as the inside back cover (which you can see at the bottom of the box) and a portion of the cover. I then added pages from vintage Bible story books I had on hand. Then as a final step I brushed glue on the last page of the book to adhere it to the back cover, then the outside edges of the pages as well as the edges inside the box. Allowed it all to dry by stacking books on top to keep it flat. I also slipped a piece of wax paper between the cover and first page so that they wouldn't stick if there were any stray glue.

Harleigh can use these as graduation gifts for friends, and I just might keep a few to use as gifts!

Best of the Broken Taco Shells

Stretch limos, red carpets and paparazzi. Champagne flowing freely and black-tied waiters serving the finest hors d'hoevres to A-list guests...

Welll, actually, none of that was on display last night when members of the Broken Taco Shells, along with two spouses and one child, gathered last night for a team "banquet" and awards ceremony marking the end of our season in Hollywood Bowl's Winter League.

Hosted by the charming Erin Payton at her Hollywood condo, we feasted on (what else?) tacos, refried beans, chips and salsa, homemade guacamole and fresh fruit -- all topped off by Erin's killer rum cake. Ginger martinis and three brands of Mexican beer kept us well lubricated.

It's been a great time, with four regulars and three subs carrying us through the 16-week season. (Actually, we bowl once more this Tuesday.) We've formed some great friendships and had a lot of laughs, even as our scores have gone up and down like roller coasters.

Team members Steve and Kelly Kern weren't able to attend, as they're splitting their time now between Florida and the Oregon Coast. For those who were there, everyone took home a trophy:

Left to right, above:
Rookie of the Year -- John Jay
The Bell Ringer Award (hey, it's your turn!) -- Colleen Sorensen
The Chalupa Award (for regularly breaking 100) -- Erin Payton
The Awana Be A Better Bowler Award -- Beth Reeves
The Can of Whipped Cream Award (because no one can be empty-handed) -- George

Best English class ever!

Last Friday Mrs. Cross decided she would shoot the sophomore boys with a water gun in all the English classes. So, yesterday the sophomore boys decided to rebel in 7th hour English and bring in water guns of our own and we shot Mrs. Cross almost the entire hour. When she thought she would pull out a water gun of her own we all had a full out brawl all class period. All of us had to shoot Ginger and Walters for a while though and make Gingy look like he peed himself. The best part by far though was when Brennen charged at Mrs. Cross and he slid all the way across the floor, it was hilarious! Overall though, that was the best English class I have ever had.

*I'm so glad you managed to have "the best English class"--finally, after all these months of me trying to cram literary analysis into your head. You can shoot me with water pistols as much as you like--I'm just glad we managed to get some work done first. Lazy sods.

By: Steven Wolke

The Rose Bowl Of Spring Classics: Predictions Sure To Go Wrong

1..."Frito Bandito"

2..."L.L. Cool Chez"

3..."Face Spinnaker"

AK47 Update: One More Chance

Mongo was ready to dump AK as his "Guy" before La Fleche Wallonne. Lo and behold, Kloden feels the pressure and attempts a solo breakaway on the final climb up the "Murder Wii"...Unfortunately, this attack was unsuccessful and he finished twenty fourth. But...at least he tried!

It is for this reason alone that I'm giving him another chance at Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Though Chris Horner is probably the hot hand for The Shack, Kloden needs to show Mongo that he's serious about getting into "Tour" shape and competing with the thoroughbred GC contenders.

Israeli Warfare

My eight minute informative speech was on Israeli Warfare. It was not too hard of a subject, but it was also very interesting as to the information given about their techniques and abilities. The best part of the whole speech was definitely the Krav Maga. I probably could have done better on the information, but I'm not going to lie, it is not very easy doing research on foreign warfare, but I managed to do it and get a 92.5%.

Brennen Croy

I thought you did really well on this speech, Brennen. It was informative and nicely presented. I wish you'd have given us a demonstration of your awesome Krav Maga skills--but maybe after you take some classes in it this summer, you'll be able to do that. Krav Maga is awesome! -- Mrs. C

Importance of Being Earnest

I invite everyone to come and see the play this weekend. Everyone has worked very hard and would very much appreciate your support. The play is called The Importance of Being Earnest. The play is very interesting, and I'm not going to tell you about it, because I don't want to ruin it. Just know that it is funny and you will like it. So tell your family and friends to come on out to see it, because you are sure to get a few laughs!




-Jeff Repking

There's still one showing left -- tonight at 7:00 pm in the MPR. Come out and watch!

Weekend plans!

Why would you go out to a party or an event like prom when there's all this fun stuff to do?!

• Go watch The Importance of Being Earnest
  
• Go on a bicycle ride


• Make homemade ice cream


• Make a batch of cookies & deliver them to a needy family


• Make popcorn, or candy corn


• Work on a jigsaw puzzle


• Read a book aloud


• Go fishing


• Have a candy treasure hunt


• Sing favorite hymns, choruses, or nursery rhymes around the guitar or piano


• Go to the zoo


• Go bowling


• Catch fireflies


• Visit a nursing home


• Color a picture and send it to your grandparents


• Visit a farm & milk a cow!


• Identify leaves


• Jump rope


• Design your own t-shirt with your own logo


• Work on a stamp collection


• Build a fort with objects around your house

HOW FUN

Sami

Senior Skip Day 2010

Well, as most of you know, a lot of the seniors aren't here today (April 23rd), and for those of you who quite possibly live under a rock, it's senior skip day. Just about every senior in every high school in the United States "celebrates" this day, but you might be wondering, "then why are there some seniors at school today?" Well, I have the answers. Some seniors are smart enough to figure out that teachers will give you bonus points for coming in to class when no one else has. And some seniors are afraid of that their AP teachers might kill them if they miss class two weeks before the AP exam. Either way, for all of you juniors, consider both of these points before you decide to skip. If you are definitely going to skip, and there is no room in your mind for reconsideration, then you can do what about 25% of the senior class did today: either come in to school for one class, or leave after all of your important classes are done.

A debacle at the Rose Garden

Spirits were high throughout the city and the anticipation of NBA playoff basketball couldn't have been greater when the Phoenix Suns came to town to take on the Trail Blazers.

As I stepped off the bus on the south side of the Rose Garden 20 minutes before tipoff, I could hear a local band (think the Shitty Beatles from "Wayne's World" doing a bad cover of "Livin' on a Prayer") entertaining the pre-game crowd and I could see lots of face paint and red jerseys all around me. Most were wearing No. 7, just like their hero, Brandon Roy (above), and there were smatterings of Aldridge, Webster, Oden and Przybilla.

Twenty minutes after the game began, the Blazers had begun to crash and burn. They trailed from start to finish en route to a 108-89 loss that wasn't even that close and put them behind in the series by 2 to 1. What's worse...I was seated next to a mom and dad and their young son, who just might have been the only three Phoenix fans in the whole arena. The parents were fine but the kid, wearing a Steve Nash jersey and a Suns baseball hat, started getting on everyone's nerves in the second quarter.

I mean, the arena was already pretty quiet with the home team getting blown out, so when the boy, maybe 10 years old, started making razzing noises in an attempt to rattle whichever Blazer was taking (and missing) foul shots, it felt like salt in the wound. Fortunately, his dad counseled him to put a lid on it.

All in all, a disappointing experience. I've never seen fans more pumped up -- or more frustrated -- than last night. If the Blazers hadn't dug themselves such a big hole, I'm certain the crowd support would have put them over the top.

Next game: Saturday. I'll be at work but I'm sure TVs will be on all around the office.

Photo of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge: Bruce Ely, The Oregonian

AP Classes

The point of taking AP classes is to get a class out of the way for college. Just about anyone is able to take the class, but how many people actually get out of the college course? Here's how it works. You take a class by a certified teacher. During the year, you cover material that is "required" by the AP class. This material will help you on the AP test.

Come May, you take a 4 hour long AP test. The tests usually consists of Multiple Choice and Free Response. For Calculus, the Free Response are toughly graded and test your ability to show work. On English, you must write 3 essays in the given time. One of the essays asks you to write on a book you have previously read. It's tough stuff. On the test, you can score ranging from a 1 to a 5. Most colleges accept a 3 and above, while others will only accept a 4 or a 5 (being the best grade). Many people don't understand that although you may be taking an AP class, you are not automatically out of a college course. If, by chance, you do not get a high enough grade on the AP test, you have options. You can take a CLEP test once you get to college for a small fee. This can get you out of a class if you score well enough. That way you can skip some easier classes and go right to the interesting ones for your major. With our excellent teachers, St. Anthony students usually perform exceptionally well on the AP tests. Best of luck to all those testing in May!

*Also, many universities give preference to students who take AP classes (whether or not the student passes the class). The U of I is included in this category. There are so many benefits to taking an AP class--and I absolutely love teaching AP Literature. I'm really looking forward to teaching AP Language next year--I'm so excited that so many students have signed up for the class.

Good luck to everyone on the AP tests this year!

The Playoffs

Recently, I had to give a speech to inform everyone about something. I decided to do mine about the 2010 NBA Playoffs. They started on April 17th, and have been going on since then. I gave facts about the teams, as well as stats and starting lineups. I also gave them my predictions about who will win (Cavaliers).

So far the leaders are: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics from the east. From the west, we have the Los Angeles Lakers, while all other teams are at a one win tie, which is the reason why this year's Western Conference is going to be a memorable one.

I believe that I had given a pretty good speech, but no matter what, there's always room for improvement. I reached the 10 minute time limit perfectly: no more, no less.I believe that I could have kept better eye contact, and not move as much, and maybe put some more information into my presentation. Overall, I think that I gave a pretty good speech on the topic I discussed, and got a grade that reflected my hard work.

-Jordan Tabbert

A Night In Mason.....

Twas the night before the Bass Fishing meet and all through the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. But out in the woods the wolfpack was out. Jarod, Evan, Jared, and Cole had no doubt that tonight would be the night that something would shout. As the fire was cracklin', Evan took a gander at something in the shallows. We all had our eyes ready to see any movement, when a big ol' snapper emerged from the depths of the mossy pond. Before we knew it, I had my boots off, jeans on, and I was knee deep in the shallows with a huge prehistoric beast. It put up a great fight but I was fighting it with all my might. I finally got it aboard the land, and still it was fighting right there in my hand.



To be continued......



Jarod Lin (accompanied by Jared Having, Cole Heuerman, Evan Hakman)

Simple Minds

"That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest."

(Henry David Thoreau)

Spoke Dancing

Mongo would like to wish his buddy, "Shady", a happy birthday and good luck at this weekend's Athens Twilight Criterium. I would also like to say that "Shady" is living proof that it is impossible to true a wheel properly while you are talking on your cellphone. I think that the retarded, blind monkey that trues the OEM Alex wheels at the factory could have done a better job...seriously. Luckily, Mongo is the Salvador Dali of the spoke wrench and corrected what needed to be corrected.

Taking One For The Team...Literally

Sacrificial lamb, Li Fuyu, is expelled from the "Bruyneel Triangle" and sent to the slaughterhouse when one of The Shack's cocktails doesn't pass the UCI smell test.

"You werrcome, Merrow Johnny!"

Chateau Gahan Facelift

With Harleigh's graduation coming up and lots of folks expected at our humble abode, I bit the bullet and worked a bit of magic to take our house from a dated 70's cedar look to an English cottage feel. With a new dressing of gray paint, off-white trim, the addition of shutters, and a rusty-red door the place looks so much better. And this past weekend I did a bunch of planting . . . an evergreen clematis climbing up the basketball hoop, two peony bushes, a colorful mix of annuals and perennials, hydrangea. It all makes me very happy. (And the back yard is all planted too!)

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Avid about Vestal

"Avid" isn't a word that pops up much in everyday conversation. I've always thought of it as a synonym for "eager" or "enthusiastic." After yesterday's guest speaker experience, at Vestal School, a K-8 school in Northeast Portland, I'll never use the word again without thinking of the enthusiasm and attentiveness I saw in the faces of students I spoke to in a crowded, second-floor classroom.

A long-time friend, Elsa Guiney, a school counselor at Vestal, invited me to come talk to some 40 students who participate in the AVID program. The acronym stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. As Elsa explained to me, it's a program that selects motivated students that do not have a history in their family of going to college. It starts in 7th grade and goes through high school helping students develop the skills and determination to attend college. All of the AVID students from nearby Madison High School last year were accepted to four-year colleges.

As someone who was the first in my family to attend college, and who (for better and worse) navigated that journey basically on my own, I was happy to accept. My parents, both from large families and needing to help out at home, didn't have the opportunity to go beyond the 8th grade. From the time I was in elementary school, I was keenly aware that while I could not go to either one for homework help the way my peers did, my mom and dad always encouraged me to do well in school and established an expectation that I would go to college.

Looking into the innocent faces of these tweens and answering their earnest questions, I felt good sharing my story -- how I got into journalism in high school, how I knew instantly and forever that is what I wanted to do, and how lucky I've been to do it professionally for 30-plus years. Likewise, I felt good that they seemed to really listen and absorb the advice I offered.

Build good habits now -- such as being on time and planning ahead -- and that will serve you well on your path to, during and after college, I told them. In addition, I urged them to be self-starters, to persevere and to be resourceful.

Lastly, have a sense of adventure. Dare to go beyond what's familiar and surprise yourself with what you'll learn about yourself and the world around you. Going away to college, especially out of state, will introduce you to new ideas, new people and places, new cultures and climates, new everything. Embrace the newness.

I left with a nice gift -- a candy-filled coffee mug with the school's likeness -- but more than that I left with a feeling that maybe I'd helped reinforce the value of a college education and given these mostly minority kids, kids just like me, some practical advice that would stick with them.

Photo: Portland Public Schools

The 'I'm Too Bored to Write a Coherent Blog' Blog

˙ʍouʞ noʎ 'ןןǝʍ os sʞɹoʍ ʎןuo ɔıbɐɯ ˙uoʇɐzıןɐʇıdɐɔ ɟo ʞɔɐן ʎɯ ǝsnɔxǝ ǝsɐǝןd 'osןɐ ˙sıɥʇ sɐ ɥɔns ʇsod ןɐuoıʇuǝʌuoɔun uɐ uı ǝsuǝs ǝɹoɯ ǝʞɐɯ pןnoʍ ʇɐɥʇ ˙dn pɐǝɹ puɐ boןq ǝɥʇ ɟo ɯoʇʇoq ǝɥʇ ɯoɹɟ ʇɹɐʇs ʎןqɐqoɹd pןnoɥs noʎ 'pǝɔıʇou ʇ,upɐɥ noʎ ɟı ¿ʍou noʎ uɐɔ 'ǝʌıʇɔnpoɹd buıɥʇǝɯos buıop ʇuǝds ǝq oʇ ǝɯıʇ ʇǝuɹǝʇuı ɹnoʎ ɟo ʎʇıɹoظɐɯ ǝɥʇ ʇɔǝdxǝ ʎןʇsǝuoɥ ʇ,uɐɔ noʎ ˙sboןq ɟo ɹǝpɐǝɹ 'ǝɯıʇ ɹnoʎ ǝʇsɐʍ ʎןʇuǝıɔıɟɟns oʇ ɥbnouǝ ǝןqɯɐɹ ןןǝʍ sɐ ʇɥbıɯ ı 'pǝʇɹɐʇs ǝʌ,ı ʇɐɥʇ ʍou 'ɹǝʌǝʍoɥ



˙˙buıɥʇou sǝob ǝɹǝɥ ˙ʞuıɥʇ oʇ ʎʇıןıqɐuı ʎɯ ʇɐ ʎןʇɥbıן ǝןʞɔnɥɔ ןןıʍ ǝuoǝɯos ǝqʎɐɯ ʇnq ןןɐ ʇɐ buıqqɐɹb-uoıʇuǝʇʇɐ ʎɹǝʌ ʇou ʎןןɐǝɹ s,ʇı ˙sıɥʇ ʇsod ʇsnظ ןן,ı ssǝnb ı 'ןןǝʍ ɥo ˙sʇuıod snuoq ǝɥʇ pǝǝu ʇsnظ ı 'ɔıdoʇ buıʇsǝɹǝʇuı uɐ ǝq oʇ ǝʌɐɥ uǝʌǝ ʇ,usǝop ʇı ˙ʇno ǝɯoɔ ןןıʍ buıɥʇǝɯos 'ǝɯıʇ ɥbnouǝ buoן ɐ ɹoɟ ǝןqɯɐɹ ı ɟı ǝqʎɐɯ ˙sʇɥbnoɥʇ ʎɯ buızıuɐbɹo ʇsnظ ɯ,ı 'ʇnoqɐ boןq oʇ ǝʌıʇɔnpoɹd buıɥʇʎuɐ ǝʌɐɥ ʎןןɐǝɹ ʇ,uop ı ˙ʎןʇɔǝɹıp ʇı ʇuoɹɟuoɔ oʇ sı ʞɔoןq s,ɹǝʇıɹʍ ǝɯoɔɹǝʌo oʇ ʎɐʍ ʇsǝq ǝɥʇ ¿ʇɥbıɹ 'ʎuɐ sɐ ʇɥbıu ɐ poob sɐ s,ʇɥbıuoʇ pǝɹnbıɟ ı os ˙ʞɔoןq s,ɹǝʇıɹʍ ǝʇɐɥ ı ˙sʞǝǝʍ ʍǝɟ ɐ uı boןq ʍǝu ɐ ǝpɐɯ ʇ,uǝʌɐɥ ı

Who Is The Guy In The Glasses, And Why Is He Eyeballing The Old Lady's Rack?

Cadel wins La Fleche Wallonne like a man...outsprinting Contador and Rodriguez up the final climb of the 20%+, "Murder Wii".

(Photo:CyclingNews)

Wake Me Up From This Nightmare

Giro del Trentino: Stage 2

1st...Ricardo Ricco

2nd...Alexandre Vinokourov

3rd...Ivan Basso

BTW...Vinokourov won the Stage 1 TT and is the current leader on GC.

(Photo:CyclingNews)

Before and After

I got this cabinet a while back and was really considering just stripping and refinishing it. I hate to be that woman who always paints everything white. But in this case, I really did think it would look better in white. Not to mention that we'll be using it for Ali's wedding and so it needed to be spruced up anyway. Before and after below. Whatcha think?

A gaggle of journalists

Last Friday, I was among dozens of professionals who took time out of their day to speak at a national convention of high school journalists that drew some 3,000 students and their advisers to the Oregon Convention Center.

It was a nice respite from the office routine, being able to meet with earnest students who are there by choice and have some interest and experience in the subject versus trying to gain and keep the attention of indifferent kids sitting through an obligatory Career Day program.

I spoke twice in back-to-back roundtable sessions, joined by Jacques Von Lunen, a former Oregonian intern who now writes a column on pets for the newspaper. Our first group included a boy from Lowell High School in San Francisco (that city's version of Lincoln High School here in Portland -- brainy kids who usually wind up going to UC Berkeley) and girls from suburban Dallas, Texas, and Fargo, North Dakota. The second group: girls from Huntington Beach, California, and Missoula, Montana, and a boy from Lewiston, Idaho, who, true to form, wore a baseball cap bearing a largemouth bass emblem.

They were nice kids and we had a good discussion, though Jacques and I were horrified to learn about two newspaper advisers from hell. The one from Texas said their adviser inserts her own opinions into student editorials; the one from North Dakota said last year's adviser was removed by the administration because he resisted censorship efforts and now the students, cowed by what they've seen, censor themselves. Wow. Whatever happened to the concept of freedom of expression on high school campuses?

That evening, I joined another colleague, reporter Yuxing Zheng, at dinner with two representatives from the Quill and Scroll Society, an honorary scholastic journalism organization based at the University of Iowa. Julie Dodd (above left) teaches journalism at the University of Florida and, like me, is a member of the Q&S board of trustees. Vanessa Shelton (above right) is executive director of the society.

Vanessa and Yuxing (left), a former national high school journalist of the year, did videotaped interviews with students who visited the Quill and Scroll booth at the convention center. The plan is to edit them and put them up on the society's web site as a promotional tool. Though the society is nearly 80 years old (I was a member in high school), it still flies below the radar in a lot of places across the country.

The four of us had a great time -- wonderful conversation and delicious food -- at Southpark restaurant. I wish I'd had more time to be a better host while Julie and Vanessa were in town, but I had to work all day Friday and Saturday. I'll see them again in the fall at the annual board meeting in Iowa City.

And if my wish comes true, Yuxing will join or replace me on the board at some point. She's a remarkable young lady and I've enjoyed seeing her grow up from a precocious sophomore attending The Oregonian's summer journalism camp for minority high school journalists to a student at Northwestern University to newsroom intern and then staff reporter at The Oregonian and, now, coordinator of that same summer journalism camp. All at age 25.

Can animals warn us about earthquakes?

A common myth about earthquakes, stated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), is that animals can predict earthquakes from weeks to seconds before one. The earliest witness of this theory was in 373 B.C, Greece. Rodents, reptiles, and centipedes reportedly moved from their homes to higher ground before an earthquake. A scientist in Berkley claimed that he could predict earthquakes just by watching the lost dog ads in the local newspaper, as the missing dog percentage went up, the more likely they were running away to safer, higher ground. But this way of predicting earthquakes was not proven accurate, at all. During the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, all the animals began running towards the hilltops, and when recovering the dead bodies, many wondered why there were so little dead animals. Some scientists say it's because animals can hear the low frequency sounds below the earth, sounds so low that no human ear can pick up. Unsurprisingly, no law has been proven yet to explain this behavior, or why animals act this way before disasters!

Lexi K.

College

Everyone seems to be asking me about college these days, but I am still undecided. I decided I would ask a couple of my fellow seniors and share the information. Thanks Allie and Myles!

Where are you going to college?

A: Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri
M: Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee

How big is your college?

A: 20,000

M: 4,000

Why did you choose this college?

A: It's far away from home. It has a great study abroad program.

M: My specific major.

What is your favorite thing about your college?

A: Their mascot is the bears!!

M: Campus is small but it is located on music row in Nashville.

How far away is your college?

A: 5 hours

M: 4.5 hours

Where will you be living?

A: a suite dorm with 3 other girls

M: dorms

What is your major/minor?

A: Psychology and Spanish (double major)

M: Audio Engineering Technology with a possible minor in Music Business.

Do you plan to join any sports/clubs?

A: intramural volleyball and softball

M: maybe intramural sports and a band!

Busy Week(s)

Last week was pretty interesting. My Speech students presented informative speeches--which were, of course, informative. I learned quite a bit about a variety of topics and thought that the students did a great job presenting their information. Everyone has improved so much over the course of this term. They've got a persuasive speech coming up in a couple of weeks--a 10-12 minute speech--that will be especially challenging. They've got to choose a topic (one that can be argued/debated), choose a side, do some research, create a visual or audio-visual aid, prepare the speech, and present the speech. The difficulty comes with the argument--basically, the persuasiveness of the speech. Topics last term ranged from "the use of steroids in baseball" to "women in the workplace." I'm sure this term's topics will be just as varied and interesting.

This is a busy week for me and several of my students. The Spring Play (The Importance of Being Earnest) will be performed on Thursday for the grade school and Friday and Saturday night for the public. The cast and crew have been working so hard for months--and their efforts are definitely paying off at practice. Josh Wall is in the lead role as Jack Worthing. There are a couple of *kissing* scenes--so the play should be a hoot. It's a romantic comedy--something I hope will appeal to a variety of people.

So, for the final update... Today might have been the funniest / silliest day of the whole year. As many of you know (because most readers are my students), my students have worked super-hard all year long. We haven't had many "fun" days or really any days off at all. We did manage to watch one whole film--but, as it was work-related, it wasn't considered a "fun" movie. Okay, back to the fun part... Last week, several of my students threatened to bring in Super Soakers in retaliation (for what, I don't know). I took the initiative and got my own water pistol (for a buck at DG). After Patrick and Brennen each hit me with a ball during Speech, I decided to put my water pistol to good use--effectively soaking most of the people in my English classes.

Unfortunately, today was payback time. My 7th hour students ganged up on me and soaked me with numerous water pistols. My hair was soaked, my shirt was dripping wet... It was hilarious. The funniest part, though: Brennen doing a slip-n-slide. Bwahahahahahaha!

At any rate, I'm so proud that I teach at St. Anthony. Not only are my students quite brilliant, they're just plain wonderful kids. You guys made my week!