I’m really not a big fan of jogging. I find it quite boring in fact. I’m also not a big fan of being out of shape and jogging is the easiest, least time-consuming method of getting in some cardiovascular exercise so I’m giving it a shot. Part of the reason I’m posting this here is because if other people read it, I’ll feel bad about never running again. I actually ran a mile today in about 7 minutes, which is much much better than I anticipated for the first time out.
Jogging Tally
3/30 1 mile 6:49-6:56pm
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Good Food
I love a great meal. It’s especially satisfying when I do the cooking myself.
Tonight’s menu for example:
-Baked feta chicken (chicken breasts, topped with feta cheese, lemon juice, red pepper & parsley)
-Roasted red potatoes (topped with butter, lemon juice, & parmesan cheese)
-Green beans
That’s a great meal – and I made enough to eat it 3 more times this week. Just writing about it makes me want to go have some right now and I just finished about 2 hours ago!
Tonight’s menu for example:
-Baked feta chicken (chicken breasts, topped with feta cheese, lemon juice, red pepper & parsley)
-Roasted red potatoes (topped with butter, lemon juice, & parmesan cheese)
-Green beans
That’s a great meal – and I made enough to eat it 3 more times this week. Just writing about it makes me want to go have some right now and I just finished about 2 hours ago!
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Fulbright Program
“Dear Mr. Mingle:
It is a pleasure to inform you that you have been selected as a participant in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Teacher Program to Japan for November, 2006.
Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (JUSEC), a binational commission of 10 members, administers the JFMF Teacher Program, which is fully funded by the Government of Japan. The mission of the Fund is to honor the memory and ideals of late Senator J. William Fulbright by expressing the continuing commitment to friendship and understanding as well as Japan’s appreciation for the benefits which it has received from the Fulbright Program.
The JFMF Teacher Program is intended to provide you with a professional development opportunity to raise your awareness of and interest in Japan and to directly or indirectly apply this cross-cultural experience back in your home schools and communities.
The JFMF Teacher Program involves the cooperation of many organizations: the Government of Japan represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, the Institute of International Education which conducts the recruiting and preliminary selection in the United States and, in Japan, cities and prefectures, not to mention many Japanese teachers and administrators at the local level.
You will receive further information about Japan and the necessary procedures to be followed from IIE within a week or so.
Congratulations on your selection as a participant in the JFMF Teacher Program!”
This is really amazing. From the IIE website: “Each year, up to 600 outstanding educators from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are selected to participate in one of three cycles departing in June, October and November. A minimum of six individuals from each state and Washington, D.C., will receive JFMF awards.”
I will be traveling from November 12-30, 2006. Yes, this means I’ll be missing 2-3 weeks of the school year. My principal and superintendent ok’d my application, mainly because it will look very good for the school to have a teacher in this program.
The program plan: Applicants selected to participate in the 2006 JFMF Teacher Program will receive a fully-funded three week experience in Japan. At seminars in Tokyo, participants are introduced to the Japanese culture and education system and meet with Japanese government officials and educators. Participants also visit urban schools, museums, and historic landmarks. They are then assigned to small groups that spend the next few days visiting a particular Japanese city. The participants visit local schools and teachers’ colleges, where they interact with Japanese teachers, students, and parents. For many, the highlight of the study visit is a short homestay with a Japanese family. The program concludes with debriefing sessions in Tokyo where all participants share their experiences and insights. Throughout the study visit, participants are encouraged to discuss their “follow-on plans” and to develop strategies for sharing their experiences with their schools and communities in the U.S.
Okay – I should wrap this up. I’m really excited to have been accepted into this program. It is highly competitive and a great honor. The application instructions indicate teachers should have completed three years of teaching before applying. I applied with 2 years and 4 months experience (although I’ll have 3 by the time I go). I don’t think my follow-on plan is all that strong and that’s a significant factor in the application as well. Basically, I had to outline how I’ll share my newfound knowledge and appreciation for Japanese culture and education when I return to the US. Well, regardless, I was accepted and I’m ecstatic. Lots of flying in the coming months – to Australia and New Zealand with People to People in July and then to Japan in November!
It is a pleasure to inform you that you have been selected as a participant in the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) Teacher Program to Japan for November, 2006.
Japan-U.S. Educational Commission (JUSEC), a binational commission of 10 members, administers the JFMF Teacher Program, which is fully funded by the Government of Japan. The mission of the Fund is to honor the memory and ideals of late Senator J. William Fulbright by expressing the continuing commitment to friendship and understanding as well as Japan’s appreciation for the benefits which it has received from the Fulbright Program.
The JFMF Teacher Program is intended to provide you with a professional development opportunity to raise your awareness of and interest in Japan and to directly or indirectly apply this cross-cultural experience back in your home schools and communities.
The JFMF Teacher Program involves the cooperation of many organizations: the Government of Japan represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, the Institute of International Education which conducts the recruiting and preliminary selection in the United States and, in Japan, cities and prefectures, not to mention many Japanese teachers and administrators at the local level.
You will receive further information about Japan and the necessary procedures to be followed from IIE within a week or so.
Congratulations on your selection as a participant in the JFMF Teacher Program!”
This is really amazing. From the IIE website: “Each year, up to 600 outstanding educators from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are selected to participate in one of three cycles departing in June, October and November. A minimum of six individuals from each state and Washington, D.C., will receive JFMF awards.”
I will be traveling from November 12-30, 2006. Yes, this means I’ll be missing 2-3 weeks of the school year. My principal and superintendent ok’d my application, mainly because it will look very good for the school to have a teacher in this program.
The program plan: Applicants selected to participate in the 2006 JFMF Teacher Program will receive a fully-funded three week experience in Japan. At seminars in Tokyo, participants are introduced to the Japanese culture and education system and meet with Japanese government officials and educators. Participants also visit urban schools, museums, and historic landmarks. They are then assigned to small groups that spend the next few days visiting a particular Japanese city. The participants visit local schools and teachers’ colleges, where they interact with Japanese teachers, students, and parents. For many, the highlight of the study visit is a short homestay with a Japanese family. The program concludes with debriefing sessions in Tokyo where all participants share their experiences and insights. Throughout the study visit, participants are encouraged to discuss their “follow-on plans” and to develop strategies for sharing their experiences with their schools and communities in the U.S.
Okay – I should wrap this up. I’m really excited to have been accepted into this program. It is highly competitive and a great honor. The application instructions indicate teachers should have completed three years of teaching before applying. I applied with 2 years and 4 months experience (although I’ll have 3 by the time I go). I don’t think my follow-on plan is all that strong and that’s a significant factor in the application as well. Basically, I had to outline how I’ll share my newfound knowledge and appreciation for Japanese culture and education when I return to the US. Well, regardless, I was accepted and I’m ecstatic. Lots of flying in the coming months – to Australia and New Zealand with People to People in July and then to Japan in November!
Monday, March 20, 2006
Out of Attorney Review
I’m officially out of attorney review – this means that the contract for the home sale is final. Home inspection must occur within 10 days. Mortgage documents are filed and all signs point to approval on that end although there’s still a small % of being denied. Assessment has been done by the mortgage company and there’s no indication that any problems came up. April 19 still looks good as a closing date which means lots of moving during spring break.
On the other side, we are still in limbo on the current apartment. We’ve had difficulty getting any straight answer over the phone over when we can move out, how much rent we’re obligated to pay, etc. I sent a letter with our planned moving date asking for details on payment options by phone or letter. The management company received the letter on March 9 and we still haven’t heard anything. I might have to have my lawyer send them a letter – great.
On the other side, we are still in limbo on the current apartment. We’ve had difficulty getting any straight answer over the phone over when we can move out, how much rent we’re obligated to pay, etc. I sent a letter with our planned moving date asking for details on payment options by phone or letter. The management company received the letter on March 9 and we still haven’t heard anything. I might have to have my lawyer send them a letter – great.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Free Ice at Rita's
Don’t forget – Monday March 20 is the first day of spring so that means Rita’s is giving away free Italian ice!
Nearest one for me is in Hillsborough near 206 on Triangle Road.
Nearest one for me is in Hillsborough near 206 on Triangle Road.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
New York Trip
So I spent most of the last two days with 11 high school girls (9 of them my future newspaper editors) and 1 other teacher at the Columbia Scholastic Press Association convention in New York. We left from a train station near school at 6:50am on Wednesday and got back at 6:30pm today.
The kids were great. They were genuinely excited about being there and attending the workshops. We have a major turnover in editors for next year and I feel much more confident now than I did before we went.
We stayed at The Salisbury Hotel in West 57th between Broadway and Avenue of the Americas, just a block south of Central Park and across the street from Carnegie Hall. The rooms were very large by NY standards and the students had great 2 room suites they were very happy with. One of the highlights was going to see Singin’ in the Rain at the Ziegfeld Theater last night. A few of them were hesitant (they wanted to go shopping instead), but I really think they enjoyed it once we got there. The Ziegfeld was built in 1927 and is one of the last 1 screen theaters in the city. In fact, in Singin’ in the Rain they reference the Ziegfeld and the theater in 2006 looks almost the same as the one in the movie.
Here’s an excerpt from an e-mail I just sent to the students to let them know how happy I was with how things went:
What a whirlwind two days in New York! While it's fresh in my memory, I want to commend you for how you handled yourselves throughout the trip, start to finish. I've chaperoned a number of school and outside groups on day and overnight trips in the past and this is the smoothest any of them have gone. I know Mrs. Benitz agrees when I say how impressed we are with your demeanor; we've already started brainstorming how to make the trip even better next year.A couple examples of why we are so impressed:-Your excitement about going to the workshops was great to see. You were clearly interested in learning about how to make the newspaper better and the discussions we've had already make it well worth the effort of getting to Columbia. This was clearly not the case with some of the students from other schools in the workshops I attended.-One of the waiters at the Brooklyn Diner commenting to us about how well behaved you were (must have been the pancakes).-No complaints in the hotel (and I'll pretend I didn't know you were in each other's rooms at 11).-You were very aware of your surroundings throughout - walking along the street, on the subway, etc.I really enjoyed getting a chance to talk to most of you while we were away. One of the reasons why I love working with the newspaper, marching band, etc. is because I can get to know the students involved so much better than I can in the classroom and without the homework and grades to get in the way.Okay, enough. You were awesome and I would not hesitate to take you to other conventions in the future.
The kids were great. They were genuinely excited about being there and attending the workshops. We have a major turnover in editors for next year and I feel much more confident now than I did before we went.
We stayed at The Salisbury Hotel in West 57th between Broadway and Avenue of the Americas, just a block south of Central Park and across the street from Carnegie Hall. The rooms were very large by NY standards and the students had great 2 room suites they were very happy with. One of the highlights was going to see Singin’ in the Rain at the Ziegfeld Theater last night. A few of them were hesitant (they wanted to go shopping instead), but I really think they enjoyed it once we got there. The Ziegfeld was built in 1927 and is one of the last 1 screen theaters in the city. In fact, in Singin’ in the Rain they reference the Ziegfeld and the theater in 2006 looks almost the same as the one in the movie.
Here’s an excerpt from an e-mail I just sent to the students to let them know how happy I was with how things went:
What a whirlwind two days in New York! While it's fresh in my memory, I want to commend you for how you handled yourselves throughout the trip, start to finish. I've chaperoned a number of school and outside groups on day and overnight trips in the past and this is the smoothest any of them have gone. I know Mrs. Benitz agrees when I say how impressed we are with your demeanor; we've already started brainstorming how to make the trip even better next year.A couple examples of why we are so impressed:-Your excitement about going to the workshops was great to see. You were clearly interested in learning about how to make the newspaper better and the discussions we've had already make it well worth the effort of getting to Columbia. This was clearly not the case with some of the students from other schools in the workshops I attended.-One of the waiters at the Brooklyn Diner commenting to us about how well behaved you were (must have been the pancakes).-No complaints in the hotel (and I'll pretend I didn't know you were in each other's rooms at 11).-You were very aware of your surroundings throughout - walking along the street, on the subway, etc.I really enjoyed getting a chance to talk to most of you while we were away. One of the reasons why I love working with the newspaper, marching band, etc. is because I can get to know the students involved so much better than I can in the classroom and without the homework and grades to get in the way.Okay, enough. You were awesome and I would not hesitate to take you to other conventions in the future.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Hard work -> Luck
Wow, it’s great to be through the process. The first big steps to becoming a homeowner are now done. I’ve made the commitment. The hardest part will come later when it’s time to pay the mortgage…
Thomas Jefferson said “I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more luck I have.” I got really lucky in this process.
Had the condo owner in New Brunswick been willing to close in April or May, I’d be moving there instead (interestingly, they did change their mind and agree to that on Monday. The Foxtons agent called while I was out looking at the condo I wound up buying). The community in New Brunswick, as previous blogs indicated, was not exactly in the nicest of areas. It was a bit further from work. It was urban. Etc.
Now I’m moving back to Hillsborough, the town I first moved to after moving out of my parents’ home in Saddle Brook. I love it there (like I do here in Belle Mead). I really like the parks and rural areas along Dukes Parkway, I like walking and riding along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, I like driving the empty county roads through the active farm areas along the Franklin border, all while being within easy distance from major stores and conveniences. Here I already have my dentist and my food shopping routine, I know the commute to work (which will be about 10 mins shorter now since I’ll be on 206 less) and all in all it’s just a better fit.
I’m not done yet of course. My attorney (doesn’t that sound funny?!) is reviewing the contract; this process should take until about Friday or maybe even Monday. Then I’ll start the mortgage application process on Monday. There’s no absolute guarantee I’ll get the mortgage so keep your fingers crossed.
More updates to come and hopefully some pictures in a week or so when I go for the home inspection.
Thomas Jefferson said “I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more luck I have.” I got really lucky in this process.
Had the condo owner in New Brunswick been willing to close in April or May, I’d be moving there instead (interestingly, they did change their mind and agree to that on Monday. The Foxtons agent called while I was out looking at the condo I wound up buying). The community in New Brunswick, as previous blogs indicated, was not exactly in the nicest of areas. It was a bit further from work. It was urban. Etc.
Now I’m moving back to Hillsborough, the town I first moved to after moving out of my parents’ home in Saddle Brook. I love it there (like I do here in Belle Mead). I really like the parks and rural areas along Dukes Parkway, I like walking and riding along the Delaware & Raritan Canal, I like driving the empty county roads through the active farm areas along the Franklin border, all while being within easy distance from major stores and conveniences. Here I already have my dentist and my food shopping routine, I know the commute to work (which will be about 10 mins shorter now since I’ll be on 206 less) and all in all it’s just a better fit.
I’m not done yet of course. My attorney (doesn’t that sound funny?!) is reviewing the contract; this process should take until about Friday or maybe even Monday. Then I’ll start the mortgage application process on Monday. There’s no absolute guarantee I’ll get the mortgage so keep your fingers crossed.
More updates to come and hopefully some pictures in a week or so when I go for the home inspection.
Monday, March 06, 2006
I made an offer!
I made an offer on a condo in Hillsborough today after looking at a few places this afternoon.
Click here for the link:
You can zoom in pretty close with the satellite image to see the unit. It faces the pool diagonally.
The condo is in the Kimberwyck development. It’s 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2nd floor unit.
LR: 19x13
DR: 14x11
KIT: 10x11
BR: 16x12
LAUND: 3x6
BATH: 6x8
TOTAL SQ: 769
There’s also a huge attic area for storage.
This is the blueprint for the apartments in this same complex. It’s pretty close to the unit except the bathroom is between the bedroom and kitchen in the one I’m looking at.
It includes all the appliances in the kitchen (range/oven, fridge, dishwasher), washer, and dryer. There’s a pool and tennis court pretty much right outside the front door.
It’s the only unit available in this development so I offered list price, hoping to snag it before anybody else does.
The kitchen needs some updating. I hope to get a new range/oven and microwave/exhaust fan ASAP there. New cabinets would help a lot too. I’d also like to knock out the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, at least most of the wall. Right now it feels very closed off and that would open it up a great deal.
I should have a much better idea tomorrow of whether they’re going to accept the offer, but there’s not much reason for them not to.
Click here for the link:
You can zoom in pretty close with the satellite image to see the unit. It faces the pool diagonally.
The condo is in the Kimberwyck development. It’s 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 2nd floor unit.
LR: 19x13
DR: 14x11
KIT: 10x11
BR: 16x12
LAUND: 3x6
BATH: 6x8
TOTAL SQ: 769
There’s also a huge attic area for storage.
This is the blueprint for the apartments in this same complex. It’s pretty close to the unit except the bathroom is between the bedroom and kitchen in the one I’m looking at.
It includes all the appliances in the kitchen (range/oven, fridge, dishwasher), washer, and dryer. There’s a pool and tennis court pretty much right outside the front door.
It’s the only unit available in this development so I offered list price, hoping to snag it before anybody else does.
The kitchen needs some updating. I hope to get a new range/oven and microwave/exhaust fan ASAP there. New cabinets would help a lot too. I’d also like to knock out the wall separating the kitchen from the living room, at least most of the wall. Right now it feels very closed off and that would open it up a great deal.
I should have a much better idea tomorrow of whether they’re going to accept the offer, but there’s not much reason for them not to.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Black. White.
FX Networks premiers a new reality show on Wednesday, March 8. The show airs at 10pm.
This official show link is:
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/blackwhite/main.html
This is additional information and chat available at the show's official MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/blackwhite
Basically the premise behind the show is that they took a white family and made them black and a black family and made them white. They then track the two families as they experience the other race.
While the show is designed to put the families into extremely sensitive situations in order to make it entertaining, I think there is still value to the idea behind it. It’s interesting to look at stereotypes and prejudices in this way. The show does not bill itself as a sociological study in any way; it’s meant to be entertaining. As such, watching it without taking the larger perspective into account may not be wise.
Oprah did a special about the show not too long ago. She was able to accurately take clips from the show and put them into this larger picture I’m talking about. I hope to do the same thing with my Sociology students.
This official show link is:
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/blackwhite/main.html
This is additional information and chat available at the show's official MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/blackwhite
Basically the premise behind the show is that they took a white family and made them black and a black family and made them white. They then track the two families as they experience the other race.
While the show is designed to put the families into extremely sensitive situations in order to make it entertaining, I think there is still value to the idea behind it. It’s interesting to look at stereotypes and prejudices in this way. The show does not bill itself as a sociological study in any way; it’s meant to be entertaining. As such, watching it without taking the larger perspective into account may not be wise.
Oprah did a special about the show not too long ago. She was able to accurately take clips from the show and put them into this larger picture I’m talking about. I hope to do the same thing with my Sociology students.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
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