5 Reasons I'm Glad To Go Back To School

Folks, it's time for an attitude adjustment. I've been having pretty mixed feelings about returning to school. At times, I'm OK with it. At other times, I'm hating life. At yet other times, I'm excited. I'm tired of the mood swings. (It's like I'm pregnant or something - no, wait, that's my wife.) So, in an effort to pull myself out of the funk, I'm going to write five reasons that I'm GLAD to be heading into a new school year.

...

Uh, number one...

Number oNe...

*sigh*

This is going to take a bit of effort. Alright, here we go:

1. I'm excited to try out some new ideas. I've had some cool lessons percolating on the back burner for a while now. Last year, between grad classes and Robotics, I didn't have time to pursue them. Now I do. It'll be great to finally take them off the drawing board.
2. Fresh starts are refreshing. In few other professions do you really get a fresh start so often. Most gainfully employed people need to switch jobs to really start anew. Teachers get to do it every 12 months. Had a miserable sixth period class? Wait a few months and you'll get a new one. Messed up a perfect lesson? Don't worry - you can try it again next year. Fresh starts are one of the hidden benefits to teaching.
3. I'm on the best part of the learning curve. As a fourth year teacher, I'm in a great place. I've been teaching long enough that I'm no longer in survival mode. But, I'm still learning a ton - AND I recognize it. It's a great feeling.
4. I no longer feel obligated to do ALL of the housework. Of course, I didn't do ALL of the housework, but it sure felt like I did. Since Cali had to work like normal over the summer and I had all this "free" time, it fell to me to do the laundry, wash the dishes, clean the house, etc. At the beginning of the summer, it wasn't so bad. But by the end, I hated doing dishes. Could I mention this to Cali? Nope. She'd give me the "I'm pregnant with your baby and I have to work every day while you ride your bikes AND NOW YOU WANT ME TO PITY YOU?!?!" look. No, thank you. I'll do the dishes.
5. I'm getting a Smartboard. Actually, it's in my room right now, just waiting for the software to be installed on the presentation computer. Cool!!!!! I borrowed one a few times last year and really had fun with it. But this one should be MINE. I've got some great ideas on how to use it.
6. BONUS! I'll get to bike commute this year! No grad classes half way across the county any more! Hooray!
   

Honestly, I feel a little better now. Let's hope it sticks. If not, well, ...hey, just have 10 months 'til summer break!

End of Summer Success

I go back to school on Monday. It hasn't been the summer I'd expected it to be. Frankly, I'd expected it to be more bike riding and playing and less paper writing and textbook reading. But it's been good nonetheless - I mean, can I really complain here? I've just gone eight weeks without having to wear shoes! So, although I didn't ride the Wilderness 101 or work at Spokes or even race Wednesday's at Wakefield, I am proud of is this:

Rockin' the skinnies at Schaeffer

So long, summer 2008!

American Folk Life Festival: NASA's Story

First, some wisdom...

You know what? Thanks. That really helps. Next time I'm caught in a storm, I'll know to avoid a tent. No, really, thanks.

At the end of last month, the Herndon High Robotics Team had the opportunity to run a booth at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. If you are wondering why a robotics team would be invited to participate in a folklife festival, you're not alone. Technically, NASA, our primary sponsor, was invited which coincided well with its 50th anniversary. As near as I can tell, NASA was invited because it has some compelling stories to tell (of which robotics is one). Who else had compelling stories to tell? Texas and Bhutan, apparently.

Some pictures:

The Mall was boiling - very hot and humid - during the Festival.

Our booth, with the ever-popular Square Bot demo game we bring to all of our outreach activities.

A robotics student resenting the fact that I roped him into posing next to a mock-up of the Mars Rover for a blog pic.

We shared a tent with these guys. Of course, the professionals think they're so much cooler than us amateur roboticists!

In addition to running the booth, a few students participated in a panel discussion about what it's like to be on a robotics team. The representatives from our team did a great job! I just wish our competition, participating on another stage (see below), hadn't of stolen the spotlight.

Makin' it look easy...

Our competition: NASA scientists running the current Mars Rover mission, Phoenix. I tell ya: those guys got the ladies!

Finally, the only other interesting thing happening at the Folk Life Festival...

How's this for overcompensating? A Buddhist Temple! Bhutan obviously felt self-conscious about sharing the Festival with NASA.

Open Letter to My Wife: I'm at Wakefield

Love,

As you know, I didn't get a job at Spokes this summer. I really wanted to work there for one simple reason: to earn some money to pay for bike stuff. Sure, I could get another job, but I'd probably have to drive there (ugh) and it would probably be lame (double ugh). Without that job, I've got no money and a lot of time on my hands.

As I see it, that leaves me with just one course of action. I've gotta ride long and I gotta ride hard. All day, every day. I have to ride my bikes into the ground. Chains are going to break at the clip-clomp of my cycling shoes. Hubs are going to melt as I mercilessly apply foot to pedal. Handlebars will cringe at my touch and collapse in my iron grip. Sooner than later, all that will be left of my bicycle stable will be a few mangled frames and smoldering pile of Shimano-stamped iron slugs.

"But don't you love your bikes?" you might protest. It's true. My bikes have earned a special place in my heart. But while I have enjoyed my bikes thoroughly, let's be honest: they are on their last legs, living on borrowed time. I have made the Sora components of my road bike last thousands of miles farther than Shimano ever intended. The hubs, drivetrain, and fork on my mountain bike are thisclose to giving up the ghost. I'm afraid it's time to take Old Yeller out back, as much as it pains me to do so.

And once I've properly put a bike to rest, I'll have to replace it, right? Right now, my bikes are like a three-legged dog - a serviceable companion if somewhat funny. But if I loose a bike? A Two-legged dog? That's just pitiful.

So, I'm sorry I didn't pick you up from the metro today. I'm riding at Wakefield. But I've included a map so you can meet me there! Once you arrive, just listen for creaking, rattling, and thudding - that's the sound of my mountain bike staggering once more down the trail.

love ya,
josh


View Larger Map

5 Things I've Already Learned This Summer

With school out and my VT classes at a manageable background hum, I've found myself with a lot more free time. The last two summers Cali and I have been able to travel out to Utah to play with friends and family. Unfortunately, six weeks of vacation is a bit more than Cali could manage this summer, what with the 9-to-5 job she's workin' these days. Which leaves me, well, with quite a LOT more free time than I've had in a long while. Sure, you think I'm just sleeping in, watchin' YouTube videos, and biking my brains out. Well, you'd be right on one of those three counts.

I have learned a bit, though, in the short week school's been out:

• Fancy degrees mean nothing in the face of bad timing. In order to finance my bike lust and summer adventures, I'd planned on working at the local bike shop, Spokes Etc. I was stoked about spending so much time around bikes. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. Despite a BS in physics and years of cycling experience, I was beat to the punch by a bunch of college kids home for the summer. The manager encouraged me to re-apply near the end of the summer (when those college kids return classes to earn their nomenclature). By the way, if you're a wealthy philanthropist looking to make a teacher's summer break, shoot me an email!
  
• Traffic in the metro DC area is surprisingly manageable during the mid-morning hours. Last week was my birthday! Hooray! As a birthday adventure I undertook a NoVA mini-epic on my road bike. I left at 9 AM - perfect timing to avoid rush hour traffic, but enjoy the morning sunshine. In fact, traffic was such a non-issue I've started making plans for all sorts of mid-morning King-of-the-road rides.

*gasp* Bike down Georgetown Pike?!? Are you suicidal?!? Don't worry, folks. I get all my crazy out before lunch!

• Cleanliness is next to godliness. I've been working on a thorough re-arrange and cleaning of the apartment. It's a liberating feeling to just throw stuff away.
  
• I miss my wife. Granted, I don't see my wife any less now than I did during school. BUT in the past I spent 99% of my free time with my love. So it sure seems like I see her less now. Summer would be MUCH better if she were with me!
  
• Crocs make for great cycling footwear. It's true. I'm planning on doing our Pitt-to-DC bike trip on flats - I know, I know, what kind of serious cyclist doesn't ride clipless all the time? As someone who considering installing clipless pedals in my car, I avoided making this decision. BUT I can carry one less pair of shoes on the trip if I just use flats and wear "normal" shoes. Uber-retrogrouch Grant Petersen (of Rivendell fame) has written about using Crocs for cycling. Despite his crankiness (which I can't really hold against him), the man is onto something. They're actually quite comfortable and stable when combined with a quality flat pedal.