Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Are you out there blog readers?

So I don't really know how other blog writer's measure their success. Maybe it's by the number of hits per day they get or maybe it is by the number of comments left on their post. If that is the case, then I am not doing so well. I got 9, count em 9 visits yesterday. My last blog had 1 comment. What happened to the glory days of 5 comments and 18 visitors per day? Haha. Are my posts boring? Has this blog become the cyber space version of watching your neighbors slide show of their recent vacation to Nebraska? I know that the real reason I am doing this blog is for me. I enjoy reflecting on my travels and expressing random thoughts and stories...I just wanted my readers to know that I have not been feeling your love lately.

On another note: I had a great day today. I had a very real moment with a student. The type of student who is VERY quiet and is often dismissed as unintelligent. I pulled him/her out of the class and had a heart to heart with them in the hallway. I feel like it was the first time that any teacher had shown him/her a certain level of respect and concern. They area good person, and very intelligent, but they just need information presented to them in a very specific way and they need to express it in a very particular way. I was able to communicate this with him/her and make some great strides today! I was proud. And I feel like I responded to the situation not like a teacher, not like I was taught in college, but like a human being. When it comes down to it, that's all I really know how to do.

BIG NEWS! This weekend I will be traveling to "a place where the women flock like the salmon of Capistrano, where the beer flows like wine." (if you don't get a Dumb and Dumber reference, then you don't get me). A little slice of heaven I like to call Amsterdam. Colin and I booked our flights earlier this week. We will be staying in a nearby town called Haarlem (Hair- lem). it is supposed to be all the cool and fun aspects of Amsterdam without all the sketchy and dangerous aspects. Besides it is a quick train ride into the heart of Amsterdam. I am really excited. Van Gogh Museum, Ann Frank's house, Clogs, Cheese, maybe a cafe or two, Heineken brewery! Come on folks! Its going to be great.

By the way (that's right, I didn't use BTW!... Shoot I just did) my phone number is now on the side bar above my phone number. Just in case you wanted to give me ringy dingy!

A couple of shout outs:

Wicks family- you have done it again! 3 care packages so far! Thank you so much for the two books (one on french wine, one on Italian, a spider man activity book, and a DVD. More on this later. Anyways you have been so great to me via the post system and have completely warranted a fun return package...so keep an ear to the ground, and listen for the hooves of the postman's horse! Love you.

Steve- He is leaving this weekend for Morocco, for over 2 years, enlisting in the Peace Corps. I am going to miss you, but maybe in a year's time I will near a North African vacation and I'll come and visit you buddy. Safe travels and I know you will really impact some people's lives in an incredible way. Your heart is too big not to. Love you Buddy.

Mom- here is a public reminder to practice the two things that I told you I would be checking up on. Both are important. Exercising and re-learning the guitar. Do it. Dont put it off til later. Life is now. I love you.

Dad- I'd like to talk to you on skype sometime soon. I look at one of the pictures of us in the frame that mom sent me and it makes me miss you. Lets set a skype date soon! I love you.

Thats the news from my Island in the Atlantic. Where all the men are handsome, the women are strong, and all the children are above average (also if you dont get Lake Woebegone references, then you dont get me :)

34 comments:

Kale Iverson said...

Yes we're out here.

You are going through a common blogger experience. The are you out there feeling.

I too have called out to people to prove that they are reading and gotten shat for results.

The only way you can deman readership is to make your blog even awesomer than it already is (which is hard but push the limits).

Change it up, add some things, take some things, evolve.

Your blog is awesome, I read it addictively.

But I am your brother...and I love you unconditionally.

Luckily I'm also a blogger and your blog is good.

Love kale

Anonymous said...

Hal...good lord you crack us up...let me set the view for you...
i on the couch with the warm laptop on my...lap....alex reading sitting by the fire....chris sitting at the table doing homework..totally serious..no lie...mj in the office....the dog...somewhere near me....

so i am sitting here reading this when i burst out into laughter (dumb and dumber) part....to where everyone looks at me and maddie comes out of the office....which of course i have to read it to them...c. and a. both got it, mj back in the office....

c. i am secretly betting wants to go to the heiny factory...he is jealous...steal the recipe....you guys can brew when you get back....

c. was also wondering if you were going to amsterdam for......

cracks me up...mj did come out to hear me say we had a number to call you which she quickly asked if we could call. since its 2 a.m. your time....we thought we should hold off on that...at least until we go to school tomorrow....this is mj telling me...

the whole kid thing...its funny how 'moving' it can be when you know you might have just sparked someone....its amazing how much you can really touch a child...after 10yrs of teaching...i have kids come back and see me, what an amazing thing- they remember me!!!! i love when i rec. letters from parents simply saying thank you!

our job is very rewarding and powerful. many good days some real yucky ones...but i have yet to find a real job that has this much impact and emotions all rolled into one.

remember, patience, a sense of humor and a great smile...somedays you will need to use all of these at once... other days...its the little funny things that happen that help you to find the humor and the smile...

'teaching school' whatever you want to call it... helps you with the legalities, history, good practice, etc. but it doesn't help you to deal with emotions,feelings and presence. you have to come with that...i have watched a lot of people who are amazing individuals, but when it comes to the connection with kids...it isn't there... you were blessed with two parents who love(d) you through thick and thin and didn't pass judgement on you...instead they helped guide you through the ups and downs... sometimes wanting to guide more, but realzing you have to find it for yourself... they obviously continue to love and support you. these are the things that help you to be who you are and impact those around you.

continue to show your heart and guidance and you will continue to feel the value of your presence... somedays it might be hard to feel that value, but know that it is there! keep moving and shaking those around you!!!

we love you and miss you!
have fun this wkend and i apologize now if any of these wicks boys call you in the middle of the night!!! ;o)

Susan Iverson said...

I will have you know that at least the exercising part is back up and running. Maybe this weekend will get the guitar part started. I am a little nervous about your flying to Amsterdam right now but oh well, not much I can do about it now. In fact, I'm finding there isn't much I can do about anything either one of you does now. That's kind of an eye opener for me. I'm so glad you are planning on the Van Gogh Museum. It is so worth it. Have fun and be safe. Love Mom

Anonymous said...

If your calling roll for blogger attendance...

Present. :)

Keep it up brother, enjoy the travels and keep posting excellent music, thoughts and random experiences.

stevetothesmith said...

See Hal, people leave comments! Hey dude thanks for the shout-out, i really appreciate it. As of right now i'm like 12 hours from heading to the airport so my nerves are pretty much shit. Sounds like you're having a kick ass time brother. I miss you and love you man.

Anonymous said...

Hey buddy, I wrote you a post yesterday but it didn't show. I read these posts everyday man. Enjoying living vicariously through you as I work my ass off. A little sad I didn't get a shout out tho.

Greg

Anonymous said...

buy valium online valium dosage for children - purchase generic valium

Anonymous said...

where to buy xanax online no prescription can u overdose xanax - what do generic xanax pills look like

Anonymous said...

buy ativan online lorazepam 1 mg erowid - ativan side effects pediatric

Anonymous said...

zolpidem online zolpidem tartrate effects - zolpidem dosage 15

Anonymous said...

buy generic ambien online coupon for generic ambien cr - buy ambien us

Anonymous said...

cheap ativan online can you buy ativan online - ativan gg 92

Anonymous said...

generic xanax generic rx source xanax - other pills look like xanax

Anonymous said...

xanax online xanax withdrawal newborn - valium or xanax high

Anonymous said...

soma online buy soma with paypal - buy soma online canada

Anonymous said...

buy valium without rx generic valium id - will 10mg valium get me high

Anonymous said...

ambien cheap death by ambien overdose - cheapest ambien online no prescription

Anonymous said...

Blogger: Be Hungry - Post a Comment meridia diet pills online - buy reductil online http://www.meridiaordernow.com/#buy-reductil-online

Anonymous said...

Blogger: Be Hungry - Post a Comment cheap ventolin online - generic ventolin online http://www.ventolinforsaleonline.com/#generic-ventolin-online

Anonymous said...

Reargecex discount buspar - generic buspar http://www.busparspecialoffer.com/

Anonymous said...

Blogger: Be Hungry - Post a Comment meridia cost - where to buy meridia diet pills http://www.meridiaordernow.com/#where-to-buy-meridia-diet-pills

Anonymous said...

Hi, MoxoredapeTox buy imitrex without prescription - imitrex without rx http://www.oparticular.net/#imitrex-without-rx

Anonymous said...

Nuclear Medicine Pittsburgh prednisone online pharmacy - prednisone pills http://www.prednisone4sale.com/#prednisone-pills

Anonymous said...

Oral Medications For Sheep prednisone price - prednisone sale http://www.prednisone4sale.com/#prednisone-sale

Anonymous said...

Hello, lipitor online no prescription - buy atorvastatin no prescription http://www.costoflipitoronline.net/#buy-atorvastatin-no-prescription

Anonymous said...

advitleva propecia pills - finasteride online pharmacy http://www.bestpricefinasteride.com/

Anonymous said...

dalsCleax plavix sale - generic plavix no prescription http://www.plavixonlinediscount.com/#generic-plavix-no-prescription

Anonymous said...

tfv cytotec medication - order cytotec no prescription http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#cytotec-price, [url=http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#cytotec-price]buy generic cytotec no prescription [/url]

Anonymous said...

tmd buy generic cytotec no prescription - buy cytotec without prescription http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#discount-cytotec, [url=http://www.cytoteconlinecheap.net/#discount-cytotec]cytotec pill [/url]

Anonymous said...

sob purchase gabapentin - gabapentin online pharmacy http://www.neurontinonlinesales.net/#gabapentin-online-pharmacy , [url=http://www.neurontinonlinesales.net/#neurontin-sale ]neurontin sale [/url]

Anonymous said...

egy azithromycin for sale no prescription - azithromycin chlamydia http://www.zithromaxordercheap.net/#buy-azithromycin-without-prescription , [url=http://www.zithromaxordercheap.net/#cheap-azithromycin-online ]azithromycin online [/url]

Anonymous said...

Hello, soma drug - buy carisoprodol http://www.californiabarattorneysearch.net/#buy-carisoprodol , [url=http://www.californiabarattorneysearch.net/#soma-without-prescription ]soma without prescription [/url]

Anonymous said...

1 order cymbalta online - buy cheap cymbalta http://www.cymbaltabuyonline.net/#generic-cymbalta, [url=http://www.cymbaltabuyonline.net/#generic-cymbalta]buy cymbalta[/url]

Anonymous said...

3, [url=http://www.lunestabenefits.net/] Order Eszopiclone [/url] - Cheap Lunesta - generic lunesta http://www.lunestabenefits.net/.

My Playlist