99 BOTTLES OF BEER

                      I have told you many times that I was a teacher in  middle school grades for all my 37 years of teaching. I received many interesting assignments. I liked changes because it made things more interesting.

       One of the assignments I liked was outdoor ed. For many years I was given an outdoor ed class to teach. We covered food, clothing, map reading and safety. Of course the kids had to try out what they learned on field trips. We went back packing in the fall. We winter camped in November. We cross country skied in the winter. We stayed at Youth Hostels.(That's another story)

     So we took the bus to all these  activities. I didn't have a bus license so I got to ride in the back of the bus to patrol all the rowdies, We usually had a 3 hour trip so there was a lot of time to get bored. Some kids listened to their walkman. (This was a long time ago.)Some read a book in all the noise. Some brought games. However, In the back of the bus where I sat with all the rowdies there was a lot of singing. One tune I remember them singing was 99 bottles of beer. I  don't remember any of the words. I think it was a repetition where each number had a made up verse until they got to one. They were enthusiastic as  they tried to make up silly lines. And let me tell Middle school kids can get very silly

    So after hearing 99 bottles of beer many times, I do not remember one line. The ride back  home was  usually much quieter.

MIRRORS

          THE BEST MIRROR IS AN OLD FRIEND.

                                                 George Herbert

THE FLAG POLE CLIMBER

        I have written a few times about attending a one room rural school back in the late 40's.  In all ways it was different from what we have today.

        Many times we would go to school an hour before it started. Not because we liked  school , but so that we could play. There were 17 kids in the school so we were much like one big family. For play we had one ball and one bat. Did we play ball? Well not often. There were seventeen of us so that ends full sides. Some were in first grade so we lose some players there. Some of the girls wouldn't play.

        So what did we do. In a school yard there are many things to play with. We went into the school even if the teacher wasn't there. We made toy farms. We built roads in the dirt. We played in the barn but the was a no no. One kid kept an eye out the window in case the teacher was coming out.

  Very little supervision took place. 

   So one thing every little boy had  to learn was how to climb a flag pole. This was  strictly against the rules but rules only mattered if you got caught.

    So on one of these early morning school times , I decided to climb the flag pole. The teacher was walking to school and was about half a mile away. I didn't think she could identify me from that far away. Kids think adults can't see! When I was at the top we all heard a yell. The teacher had seen us but we weren't worried as she wouldn't be able to identify us. Well, she didn't identify me but took the opportunity to lecture all of us about climbing the flag pole.

COMMENTS ON COMMENTS

          A few weeks ago I changed things on my blog. It was my intention to post a comment every day.

         I admit that I have been struggling the last while. I've found topics hard to come by and the writing wasn't up to what I expected of myself. I've also discovered that my aging slows things down.

         I've had a list of quotes that I wanted to use on the blog for a long time. I wanted to make a side bar with a quote of the day. I collected the comments in my teaching days as I had a quote of the day on the chalk board to get kids attention before I entered the classroom. So my secret for comments was  to get them out of the local paper. Today you can find books of comments.

         I've had some comments on the change. I know I lost some followers but, I also gained some. Some expressed their opinion which was great. I like to see both positive and negative comments. I also like the comments on the way the blog was written before.

     I appreciated one comment more than any other and it didn't make it on to the blog. My son said, "  Dad, it's just not you!" I appreciated his keen sense of who I am and that he will miss that part. By the way he said , " Dad  go back to what you had before."

   A funny thing is happening. I seem to be writing as many posts as before so you are getting two types of blog.

   Thanks for reading from 2008. I've learned so much from this activity. I've found so many interesting  on line friends.

SEND KEYS

      NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN IF YOU HAVEN'T   HIT THE SEND KEY.

                             Dave Shipley and Will Schwalbe

           This quote could apply to many more situations.

WINNING

    When you win, say nothing.  Paul Brown

    It's interesting that Paul Brown was a foot ball coach.

CONSCIENCE

             A clear conscience is usually the sign of a poor memory.

                                                Steven Wright

           Steven Wright was a stand up comedian, writer, film director and actor.