One of the best things about teaching people is that sometimes they get a pizza craving, and before you know it somebody's gone to pick one up!

Today we learned about increasing our brain power through art, specifically music, more directly pertaining to developing our reading and math skills until age 5.  Unfortunately, we are much older than five, so we (supposedly) can only get pleasure from music at this point (only a scientist would put it that way).  The point is that we can't change our math skills, which, as far as I'm concerned, is fine.  However, if any of us ever get kids or, instead of that, try to sound intelligent and responsible around people who do, this information might be useful someday.

Where was I?  Ah yes.  Young humans who have "arts training" might benefit in a plethora of ways.  Simply playing music for young humans is helpful in getting them to understand patterns and sequencing, but having them learn an instrument is even better.  They (NPR) claimed piano was the most effective.  That raised a question in my mind: what is the purpose of education?

They're always talking about reading and math, and the class agreed that they are definitely part of it, but education is definitely so much more.  Focusing on only those two is like selecting two of your body's systems to keep living: mind and heart, so how about circulatory and nervous?  Splendid... but seriously, you need the rest of them.  One thing I've learned from education is that sometimes you can look at things the other way from how everyone else has been looking at them and discover beautiful treasures.

I can put it this way: would you prefer to listen to music or do math problems?  Even Einstein preferred to put down his calculations for some good vibrations...

On slushy days like these I realize that the bottoms of my shoes are cracked

Although I've never embraced the label (or any label for that matter), I must say I am very happy to hear that today is unofficially "Kiss a Ginger" day, which is definitely much more welcome than the baffling "Kick a Ginger" day it was made to replace.  The memo must have been confusing, because one of my favorite students avoided both actions and bit me instead (in front of the class).  He didn't break the skin, but he apologized so much for biting harder than he'd intended that I half expected to see blood oozing from my shoulder.  I never should have told him what a snapping turtle was.  They're always practicing things I teach them

This is ground control to Major David: you've really made the grade!

I agree, the stars do look very different today...

I mentioned my work schedule to one of my colleagues the other day.  He's been teaching a while.  I think he's in his forties.  He knows his stuff.  Anyway, he was impressed with my 8 hours of teaching over a split schedule, which has me starting my day at 9 am and concluding at 10 pm, but does include a 5 hour break in the middle, where, luckily, I can go home and rest because I don't live far from my evening shift (yes, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I got switched back to mornings for a month... but supposedly I'll be back in the afternoon after next week, unless something changes again).

Even so, he expressed the opinion that "you're not supposed to teach 8 hours a day!  That's why secondary school teachers only do 6!"

Then he added, "The great thing about doing an 8 hour day though, is that at the end of the day, you don't feel guilty about doing anything to enjoy your free time, because you just taught for eight hours."

When I got home later that evening, I decided to take his advice, and finally listened to a Sonny Rollins album I'd purchased a few days ago.  He's one of those jazz legends I'd always heard about and had often played with others I knew, but I had yet to listen to the saxophonist's own work.

So I did.

I felt rewarded.

I suggest you reward yourself as well!

U!

I wish you a Magnificent New Year!

I'm aware that I'm five days behind on this score, but I can make up for it.

I promise this "Magnificent New Year!" wish for you is good until January 5th, 2017!  That's not only five extra days of magnificence beyond your normal expiration date, but, with predictions that my new year wish will be on time next year, that means you'll have 5 days of double happiness to begin next year!  I also wish you an incredible January, although most people I know don't seem to care as much about that one.