The Killers - Hot Fuss turns 20 apparently. I remember buying it on CD in [Fopp]. Anyway, I was talking to a colleague about how I went through a phase a while back of just trying to listen to albums. So I’m going to start doing that again, I think. Started with Hot Fuss yesterday and on to Sam’s Town today.
You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we’re doing it. You get ideas when you ask yourself simple questions. The most important of the questions is just, What if…? - Neil Gaiman
Both this and the previous link are from one of my favourite newsletters.
“The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. Do you understand?” - Jack Sparrow
The kids should be sleeping. Yumo just came in to get pillows for a castle.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen VS. Josh Kerr! || 2024 Prefontaine Classic - Men’s Mile Preview! - YouTube
This preview for the race is pretty interesting. So much so that I’m planning to watch it now.
I need to do something about my photos. 30000 in my iCloud account. They just pile up…
Anyone have a favourite pencil? I’ve been writing in my journal in pencil more and more recently. Considering treating myself. Any ideas?
Complaints are a gift | Seth’s Blog
But if we choose to engage, then the complaint is a gift. It’s a clue about what might be at the root of the problem.
I find dealing working with parents difficult. The thought that runs through my head is. “I am not doing a good job and they will be unhappy with me.” So parent meetings are always a source of stress for me. I’ve tried to change my mindset a little but still find it difficult.
Makes me think about the discussion I have in China. Nothing seems to be “because I love doing this”. Especially around kids and sports. Everything is expensive lessons to be “good”. I remember I played football in a team because my friends did.
life piles up
towers over us
leering, judging
we work
with heart
giving up pieces
to the pile
till it, we, fall
then
life piles up
Relaxing few hours with Lyra, introducing her to Slow Horses, getting massage and eating spicy noodles. All in the same place.
Have played Otoboke Beaver’s NPR Tiny Desk performance 3 times now. Elise calls it the Crazy Ladies video, which is fair. NPR calls it “An unhinged delight.” I would agree with that.
Ben Pobjoy’s Tips for Long Walks
I would love to do a long walk but I don’t have the time.
I should do a long walk.
I already get up at 5am on Saturday to walk 6km. Maybe I should walk further?
I should do a long walk.
New Craig Mod Pop-Up Newsletter coming in a couple of days. Always good!
Today
what did you
feel?
think?
find?
lose?
remember?
Just rewatched the finale of Season 1 of Severance. It’s been over two years. Come on!
It’s the pizza with the hole.
Podcast mp3s
I bought my daughter a VERY cheap mp3 player for Christmas. Some of the button controls are very anti-intuitive but it mostly works fine. The battery goes and goes.
I got it because she likes listening to music and we wanted her to do that but, obviously, are mindful of screens. We hope that the kids use screens with purpose but if it doesn’t feel like a losing battle.
Anyway, found https://www.podcastdownloader.com which lets me download the mp3 from her favourite podcast so she can listen on her little player.
加油老马!
maybe today
walk away
from anything
without a heart
It’s easy to be busy. I’m always busy. There’s always something else I could be doing. Teaching is great for that. You’re never really done. And so, this week I’ve been trying to not always be the wrong kind of busy. The kind that involves staring at a screen. To be the other kind of busy, the one that involves spending more time with students and colleagues. More heart.
nothing happens next
this is it! and this is it !
and this is it too!
We read A Stone For Sascha by Aaron Becker in class yesterday and talked about time and how things change. Again, I tried to step back and give the kids time to speak. I still find that hard, feeling the need to fill the spaces. A beautiful, wordless book all told. His Journey trilogy is still some of my favourite picture books.
These words are from the comic of two monks that I have had rattling around inside my head for the longest time. And talking about time has brought it back, again.
Music is Rosie Thomas - These Friends of Mine
we hear, but
don’t, can’t absorb
you’re ready
when you’re ready
Stupid challenge. Been thinking a lot about realising things. Then realising these are things you’ve read, been told, were first thought long ago. But it didn’t matter. You’re ready, when you’re ready.
a few
lines each day
condensing thoughts
packaging them
releasing them
letting go
We talked as a family of doing a challenge. The kids said they would do a lap around our compound but that’s changed to just going outside after school. Lyra’s is to read everyday. I’m going to write a poem.
Teaching Isn’t Rocket Science
Teaching Isn’t Rocket Science but It Is Surely Harder (Ryan Fuller)
When I solved engineering problems, I had to use my brain. When I solve teaching problems, I use my entire being—everything I have.
Yeah, I cut the end of that quote. Let’s not go there.
I think it does a good job of starting to get to what can make teaching ‘tricky’. Where ‘tricky’ means all-consuming.
One of my go-to thoughts is that it’s often just the volume of things you have to do and the accompanying stress of trying to do all of them, often simultaneously. If I just had one thing to do, to teach this one lesson I’d be fine, I could give that my focus.
But it’s not just one thing.
And yes, I should probably write things down.
And I have an ongoing, developing, evolving list somewhere in my head of things that need doing.
And important varies moment to moment.
And tasks vary from the simple to the complex.
And sometimes, I’m a frog in pan of water as starts to bubble.
And boil. And more heat is added and added…
And sometimes I’m right there, present.
And sometimes I’m a million miles away.
And it’s just a job?
And what of my own family?