OCTOBER IS OFFICIALLY
HERE!!!
2 A team not famous for home runs this year dogged them last night.
3 It didn't help that Romo served a cream puff in a critical situation.
4 Nice to see we're human. Now we need to get the job done.
5 The Giants' amazing success in these playoffs forces my hand to start this thing on item 5 each night they play. Last night was one such night. I began writing this just before the game.
6 Baseball wears me out. Anyone down for cutting work and hitting the beach? = D <-------sideways emoticon guy filled with hope on Monday. Thought you could use a pick-me-up.
7 Moving Backwards, Part One: Fridays see me giving dictated vocab tests, the latest not really a test of vocabulary at all, but of lit terms. Easy way to lay down some standards.
8 I let the students study for a spell, and then we get going.
9 Different classes settle in differently. My class after lunch has a bunch of really fun students, but they are coming in after lunch.
10 They get giddy in my class because I don't ride them to calm down. I'm pretty easy going. They also arrive on sugar highs, so they arrive hyper.
11 I get them quiet for a brief stint, but they are by nature a really giddy class.
12 I can't think of a better word.
13 But REALLY fun. They make me laugh all the time.
14 Friday was another story. They had been a bit loud on Thursday, so they ramped it Friday.
15 I USUALLY stand at the front of the room, give a bluff "Okay. You guys ready? Number One." Every week they fall for it, start zipping open backpacks, frantically sharing paper and getting genuinely nervous. It is a sobering moment for all.
16 Friday they did that. I then USUALLY say, "On the count of three tell the person next to you s-h-h-h-h-h..."
17 I KNOW. Third grade, right?
18 It works nearly every time.
19 Except Friday.
20 They were going to remain ramped up.
21 I stood at my podium looking over the top of my glasses. I play the Sage-on-the Stage at times. Not gonna lie.
22 I combed the room from left to center to right. They chattered and squealed more than usual. Test nerves in overdrive.
23 My eyes arrived at this kid named Sam. He was pretty chill, leaning his chair against the wall with hands behind his head. He wore a black Cougar jersey. He could see the same thing I saw: the class's continuing giddiness.
24 He looked up at me. "Mr. Harrington. Say, 'Are you ready kids???' really loud."
25 "I can't hear you." I learn things from Dad. I couldn't hear him.
26 "Say, 'Are you ready kids???' really loud."
27 I looked over. He nodded and smiled. He knew something I didn't.
28 I took his cue, naturally.
29 I looked out at the crowd of giddy kids and said, "Are you READY kids???" They looked up in perfect glee, smiled and SCREAMED as if on cue,
"AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN!!!"
30 It floored me. It floored them. I later found that was a response from a Sponge Bob Square Pants character named Patchy the Pirate.
Facebook public coincidence: I Googled "Are you ready, kids?" and this picture popped up:
Facebook public coincidence: I Googled "Are you ready, kids?" and this picture popped up:
31 No lie.
32 That's beyond a Heidi trip. That borders on my Mom, who I know has been steering a course these past few weeks.
33 The fact that I mentioned my Dad's calm response to his hearing loss as simply, "I can't hear you" makes this an extraordinary coincidence to a guy whose life is filled with coincidences, particularly every October nearing Halloween.
34 So there you go.
35 I liked this story before I saw the Google. I had NO idea the entire class was going to randomly yell, "Aye, Aye Captain!!!" It surprised both sides and had all of us giggling through the entire test.
36 For the record, they all pretty much aced the test. Sharp cookies.
37 I get to go in today and share that a bit. I might tell them about the night I sat in the Activities' office putting together a Poe unit when a black bird flew in and alighted on top of a small television set. This was around 11 at night.
38 There's no escaping October. The Giants are an added bonus.
39 The Orange and Black Attack.
40 Wind, leaves, and the onslaught of cold.
41 By the way, this year San Jose will hold A Nightmare Before Christmas in the Park. It is a one-night fundraiser for our annual Christmas in the Park. It will take place on October 25 (Happy Birthday Linda!) from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is $100 a pop. Here's a link if you are interested:
42 Okay, that's about it!
43 I gottago and get all this Halloween stuff going.
44 Have a GREAT Monday. Fly low.
45 See you again.
46 Peace.
~H~
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