Friday, December 18, 2009

Welcome to LA

I made it! Hello LA, it has been a long time. A year to be exact. It's nice to see you haven't changed much. Smoggy air, tons of traffic and lots of freeway time. However, so I am not totally an LA grinch I will mention the few things that I do enjoy down here. Your bright night time lights and fancy cars. Warm air and proximity to the ocean and the mountains. And so many of the family members reside in your periphery. So, away with the LA frown and hello to the LA smile.
This time down I took 101 all the way. Santa Rosa to LA via 101. It takes way longer than the 5 but totally worth it. I spent about 8 hours making the trip whereas if I had taken 5 I may have made it in 6 or so. Anyways, the scenery was terrific and there was always something to look at along the way.
WARNING!!!! Driving while looking at the surrounding scenery can be hazardous to your health.


Not pictures that I took! Photos from Google Earth of course.


Cool looking bridge between the ocean and 101. Can't forget about the bridges right! Pictures form GE too.




Seems to be plenty of bridges out there to discover.
SO, thanks for thumbing through the blog again.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

note to self

It is time to begin the running again! I feel defeated just in saying this and accepting the amount of work that lies ahead. I haven't moved for nearly four months. Marathon? Holly sh_t! There is a half I should hit first in Marin County. I completed it last year wit a time that I was very proud of. And the SF Marathon? I hear it's a nightmare. Up hill, down hill, and so long! Well, for now I must decide on a path to achieve this goal.
Eat Better
Move
Move again

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Patience, Practice, Persistence

The after school environment is difficult indeed. For 4 hours a day we must put others before ourselves and serve the youth of our community whole heartedly. Everyday is a new day for our kids and ourselves. Yesterday happened! Today is today, a new day with new chances and new choices to make.
Often I see myself, and others, reacting to situations in negative ways because of patterns of behavior displayed by our youth.

Example: Little Johnny continually acts out by jumping around and running in the gym during a time when everyone is expected to be lining up. It is not fair to Johnny if we, the adults, proceed by saying, "Johnny!!! Get in line, you are ALWAYS running about and not listening. No games for you today." What has happened is that we are taking his behavior from the past, and today, and using it to punish him. Instead, one must address the current situation, point out what the expected behavior is and then give Johnny a chance to correct the behavior. Yes, it is okay to remind Johnny that this behavior is noticed often. No, it is not okay to let yesterdays behavior be the sole influence on our decision today. Yes, take past behavior into consideration when dealing with Johnny, however, today needs to be a new chance for Johnny to improve that behavior. This is much harder than simply punishing. It takes PATIENCE, PRACTICE, and PERSISTENCE.

We must be PATIENT because these behaviors we are seeing (all negative behaviors not just the running in the gym) can take a very long time to correct. Although possible, change overnight is not realistic. Remember, after the 4 hours you are spending with Johnny he has twenty more to go without your influence, suggestions and role modeling. You should not be surprised when the behavior is repeated the next day.

We must PRACTICE how we deal with kids everyday. No one is expected to be perfect in their dealings every time. However, if we continually practice the correct ways to speak with our members it will become easier. And kids need practice too. They have to practice hearing and listening to direction and then correcting behavior based on our guidance. The ability to take instruction, understand it, and then change behavior is something that takes a lifetime of practice. I'm 30 now and still not sure I've gotten it down.

We must be PERSISTENT in our efforts to help influence Johnny's behavior. If Johnny acts up, we address it. Every time! Every day! (Addressing it correctly of course) Everyone involved with being a role model for Johnny must be willing to address his behaviors and be persistent in correcting them. If we sit by and watch we are only hindering our own efforts to change the behavior.

Remain positive, and try to use language that is appropriate for the age group. Remain calm and handle the situation. You are the adult, show everyone how adults are supposed to act. By doing this you will be showing Johnny the correct way to handle himself as well.

Hope some of this makes since. I struggle every day to find the patience to handle any number of situations. Working with kids is hard, very hard! It will test you and take you to your limits. You will want to crack (and sometimes will) and give up. Yelling, punishing, ignoring and dismissing are the easy reactions. Being patient is hard, finding the correct coarse of action is tuff, and getting results is the hardest. But through PATIENCE, PRACTICE, and PERSISTENCE you can do it.

One last thing. Everyday is a new day. Be your best today. Be positive, caring and respectful and let all who come into contact with you be better off for it. Thanks for reading the blog again. I can't begin to say how much it helps just to get some thoughts out.

Happy Thursday


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Need blogging help!

Yesterdays blog had a different format when I was creating it. Unfortunately, when I published it all went to heck. Maybe someday I'll figure this stuff out. Until then, please be patient with my efforts as a BLOGGER!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

La iglesia, la castilla y la ciudad.


La iglesia, la castilla y la ciudad.

Quiero visitar esta ciudad.


In through the valleys and out through this land, spreading and living, wherever we can. In hilltop castles we gathered proud, to boast of victories and sing so Loud! Men and beast did pass our way, so we fought and fought, and are still here today. En Espanol hablomos por vida my friend, from the very beginning, all the way through the end.


It seems that there are scores of castles littered about Spain, nestled on hill tops that dominate the land. In an ancient time men would hold out here fighting off passing tribes and warring peoples. Behind these walls families were safe and cultures were born. Without them, the world would have been different today. Spain was amazing, although my trip was to short and felt incomplete. Yet I had seen so much in just a short time, just long enough to make up that earlier rhyme.

































Oh town of white, are you white at night? Is the sun so hot, that you want it not? Your colors hide as does the rain, far down south, in the heart of Spain.






Thank you for looking through yet another writing. My trip was made possible by Google Earth!
My photo
Santa Rosa, CA, United States
Currently trying to get better.