Peace of mind

Stop the cuts and #FundOurFuture!

2020-05-24T18:44:00.000-07:00

A storm is coming to Florida's public schools in the middle of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. According to the Orlando Sentinel, "Public schools need $200 billion in financial aid or could have to layoff 275,000 teachers nationwide, leading to an “educational catastrophe” that “could weaken the country’s economic foundation for years to come,” said the letter released Tuesday from the Council of the Great City Schools." We already see teachers seeing their positions declared 'surplus' - meaning that they are laid off until they can find a school within the district that can afford their position. We have been fortunate in 'normal' years to see educators find another school in their district that can afford to fund their position. If these dire predictions hold true, there will be educators and education staff professionals who will be subjected to what is called a 'reduction in force' - meaning that there is absolutely no funding available for their position anywhere in the district. What I am afraid of is that public education stakeholders and advocates will be caught sleeping when state legislatures meet to discuss how they will handle the inevitable decline in revenue that would have otherwise financed public education. This is where I believe in the adage, "If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu." It is my hope that we mobilize proactively to advocate for public education. You can wear your support with a 'Stop the Cuts' t-shirt. I am raising money to support my state and national advocacy groups and I need your help. Please order a shirt today and invite your friends. ORDER YOUR STOP THE CUTS T-SHIRT #FundOurFuture

Awakening

2019-09-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

This past week, I had lab work done in preparation for my annual physical. I have a Vitamin D deficiency. And I am not surprised. I work in a classroom with no windows to the outside. I often either arrive at work before dawn or leave work after dusk. So I do feel as if I could be evolving into a mole person. I do have glasses now, but that was my astigmatism that went undetected until last year. Yes, I got my first pair of glasses at the age of 43. Back to the whole Vitamin D thing. I can't just fault my job for my deficiency. I rarely venture outside in the Florida sun that so many seasonal visitors envy as they dream of the playground that Connie Francis sang about and now News of the Weird regularly features. Don't look at me; I am a winter person. I would much rather bundle up on a cold day than feel like the sun is going to incinerate me within seconds of stepping into my hot car on the doggiest day of August. I am going to take supplements (gummies are cool) while I wait to see my doctor next week. If this Vitamin D deficiency is real, it does explain a lot. The symptoms listed online match what I have been going through as of late, but could not quite put a finger on. Well, neither did my doctors. So, there's that. I am focused on solutions, so forward...

Domingo

2019-09-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is another step in my working on journaling as a verb. I finally added the word 'journaling' to my computer's dictionary because I still could not believe that a piece of modern technology from this decade would not comprehend the use of the word as a verb. Journaling [now I just added the upper-case word to the dictionary] has been a 'thing' for a while, right? The real substance is how we continue to journal even when it lacks the buzz of the moment? This is where I used to do my journaling when it seemed that everyone was starting a blog about themselves or something likely obtuse. It made sense because social media could only take so many paragraphs of rants and/or raves before the unfriends and unfollows come raining down like dollar bills in the champagne room (no touching!). It is a quiet Sunday morning after what appeared like a bad Mad Max in the parking lot of my local grocery store. I went on a seemingly banal trip to pick up provisions for the week when going through the parking lot motions shifted into experiencing the worst Florida drivers known to man, or woman - or anyone because we have all done seen it all if we survived our mean streets. Don't get me started on bicyclist and pedestrian safety. I know that bicycling is good for my health, but so is not being hit by a car because the driver was trying to balance her social life with her ability to go places without harming someone else. I do not feel like discussing politics right now, so I ramble briefly about minute things. That is one drawback to living alone. I do not have conversations during the day. I have mental monologues that feel like conversations - except I have a captive but consistently friendly audience. Even when I encourage myself to think from the perspective of someone else, it feels like I am projecting more than actually speculating about what they would think. Writing, however, is my favorite form of expression because I can speak freely without being cut off or interrupted. I can put down my thoughts and serve them as briefly or as lengthily as I wish. One pet peeve of mine is when someone asks me to 'keep it brief' before I am about to speak. Do I look like I am a long-winded person? I can keep it much briefer than most because I can feel the audience and I can read the room. I know that the best advice in Hollywood is to leave them asking for more. If I want to go into depth, I can write an email, memo, or letter. But I digress again. It's Sunday morning and I am practicing the craft of writing. I majored in journalism and graduated with a degree in communications. I realize that there is a lot more that I can do with regard to how I communicate. I hope that this blog is my way of taking my writing to the next level. But, first, I have a backlog of books that I have acquired but have not yet read because of being in what felt like an endless funk that lasted for years. I lost that focus and motivation. I do, however, want to bring that back now. I know that being a better writer involves being a better reader. Have a great week! I hope that you enjoyed reading this blog.

Radio Free Spirit - Young Folks

2019-09-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

Here is an upbeat song. This has been my wake up song as of late. I hope it brings you joy, too

A Day in the Life

2019-08-29T18:02:00.000-07:00

I woke up before my alarm clock did this morning. It felt great. In recent years, I was not getting up at 5:15AM to conquer the day. It was more like trying to will myself out of bed and the only way to rouse myself was to frantically extrapolate how many minutes I could hunker down under my covers and then how many essential tasks could I sacrifice before I had to leave for work. There were mornings where I would bargain with myself over whether I could either lay about for an additional 10 minutes or whether I would actually shave. Oh, my. I knew that there was a limited window of opportunity to get to work without arriving late and looking like a total louse to my morning program students. I report to work daily at 7AM to work with students who need assistance in the morning and then I supervise morning recreation in the gymnasium at 8AM until we begin to transition to the regular school day. I promptly escort the students to their 'holding areas' until the first class of the day begins. Today, I helped my students prepare for a quiz that they have tomorrow on the responsibilities and obligations of citizens. We use our student laptop computers to access online study resources with Quia, Quizlet, and iCivics.org. With the first two, I am able to create online study tools such as flashcards, vocabulary games, and interactive activities that are based on the standards that we need to know to pass the Florida Civics End of Course (EOC) exam. This is where the fun began. I had two classes with at least 28 students each. I had only 25 laptops. In a sweet show of late-stage capitalism, I solicited offers from students to allow another student to use their assigned laptop computer if they happened to have a smart phone. Yes, I am having to ask students to use their own personal devices to compensate for the lack of overall support from the State of Florida to fund the very mandated standards-based education with formative and formative assessments that all must be produced on the backs of the school districts. But, I digress. The morning goes a bit sideways when I had to deal with a discipline issue during the first class period of the day. I handled it with a lot more patience and forbearance than I possessed when I was a rookie teacher. This is why I believe that we should bring back some form of teacher tenure to our public school teachers. I made my share of mistakes when I was younger, but I learned from those mistakes. I doubt that my anxiety would ever allow me to work at the mercy of an annual contract for life. Academic freedom and due process are central to our ability to best serve our students and protect our constitutional rights. I am especially grateful to the American Federation of Teachers' AFT PD program. I worked as a facilitator for a course called "Foundations of Effective Teaching." I felt like a new teacher all over again because I connected with educators from around the country (including a delegation of our fellow Americans in Guam) and the energy inspired me to take a fresh look at my work as an educator. I also believe that the retirement of our longtime principal of 12 years spurred me to engage in deep introspection. And this was even deeper than my normal introspection. I tend to become my own echo chamber of either self-aggrandizement or self-demonizing. But back to my day. I had to admit that I was already worn out from being up with the farm report but my spirit was fortified by my bag lunch (A group of students from Guam gave me and my co-facilitator nice lunch boxes and other groovy tchotchkes) of a sandwich, chips, apple sauce, and lime flavored seltzer water. Returning to class from lunch was no picnic as I had to put the kibosh on restroom foolishness and shenanigans. I am fortunate that I created something new for my classes that also kept me from burning out early in the year. I created student committees on which student volunteer to serve. I have students who help clean up the classroom, take care of our laptop computer cart, mediate disputes between peers, tutor classmates, and monitor supplies. If I have students who want to pass out papers or sharpen pencils, why not let them harness their seemingly unlimited preteen energy into community service? The delegation of duties and tasks does not come naturally to me. I have serious trust issues. I have been let down too many times in the past. So, I figured that I would save myself the trouble and just do stuff myself. I just don't like the feeling that I have when someone else drops the ball or when someone flakes on me. I feel like I should have 'sucker' stamped on my forehead. And, I am not the micromanaging type because I would rather...do it myself...than have to ride someone and spoon feed them. But my student volunteers, right? They kept things flowing smoothly to the time when my planning period began. We normally use this time to grade papers, make phone calls to the parents of disruptive students, go to the restroom (our restroom breaks are very limited as we supervise children all day) or respond to emails (another task that we are afforded little time to address during instructional time). Well, today was normally our department meeting aka Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting that was actually preempted by my work as the chairman of my school's Teacher of the Year selection committee. We observed teachers, two of my colleagues in action, and we came to a decision. This was actually the denouement of a saga that began last Friday when I sent a quick message to the folks that run the county teacher of the year award to ask when we were going to get the Teacher of the Year information. I was told that an oversight led to us not getting the material regarding 'T.O.Y.' ('Teacher of the Year') but they would send me the stuff and the deadline for making our pick was August 30. We had less than a week to get our stuff together. I rallied the troops as our longtime committee chair and put together a timeline for getting it done ASAP. Well, I did ask for and was granted an extension (I figured that it's better to have the extension and not need it than the other way around!) I also like to underpromise and overdeliver. So, after scrambling like a mad man since last Friday, we made the deadline WITHOUT an extension! I had one more class to teach and then I went outside to handle car pick up duty. For the first nine weeks of the school year, I am responsible for marshaling the parents who drive to the school to collect their precious cargo. This damned Florida heat has me sweating like a whore in church (Thank you, President Johnson for your colorful language!) but I did my job in a sport coat at that! I tend to wear shirt and tie out of habit and because I have been doing that since my substitute teaching days. The jacket is optional - depending on my mood and the weather. As soon as my duty time ended, I met up with my local union staff consultant and we arrive in my classroom five minutes before our school's union meeting begins. Thankfully, she brought snacks as I forgot to pick up the promised 'light refreshments' and she was totally clutch! She briefed us on union matters and contract issues. I think I may have recruited a new member (My fingers are crossed!) I took notes during the meeting and shared a copy with her to take back to her office. Am I done yet? Nope! I report to my after school program where I work with students on their homework and give them access to student technology (laptop computers) for those who cannot access the internet for 'blended learning' at home. Blended learning is the new buzz phrase that kind of reinforces the digital divide. I stayed on to work on my after school program binder where I keep my after school work and documentation. When I got back home, it was time to eat. I saw that my mother dropped off laundry that she picked up earlier this week and washed for me. I thanked her and then left a happy birthday voice mail message for my aunt up north. Hello, GrubHub! I had Chinese.

Midweek reflections

2019-08-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

It's the middle of the week and I need to get into the habit of journaling, so please forgive me if I write like I am going off on an epic stream of consciousness. I want so much to share here what I would not say out in the open. This is because I feel confident in writing my feelings down because I know that I have an audience. It's just too awkward to share my thoughts out loud because the feedback is immediate and I tend to be protective of my thoughts and feelings. It's an energy thing, I guess. That, and I function better in more intimate settings. One-on-one conversation is easier for me because we can focus on each other in our communication. If it is three or more people in a conversation, I feel like I am jockeying for position just to be heard. Today, I had good news that I was chosen the "Champion of the Month" at my school. I am proud to say that my school earned an "A" grade from our state's Department of Education. The sad thing is, although my school has busted a hump trying to earn the grade that we have now, our state government continues to stack the deck against schools such as mine. But, I digress. I dislike complaining and my aunt advised me to be upset or angry for a few minutes and then let it go. She called it "Two tears in the bucket - and f--k it!" There is a reason why I click so well with my aunt in Detroit - she understands me! That is the greatest gift that someone can give another person - understanding. Tomorrow is my aunt's birthday. Correction: tomorrow is my Auntie's birthday. There is a difference between Aunt and Auntie! Look it up. I am guessing that my newly found desire to return to my blog is a sign of brighter days ahead. I noticed that I have been finally clearing away the debris and detritus of my life that I accumulated over the days since approximately 2017. I believe that I was in a depression over a confluence of crappy events in my life that threatened to overshadow my joy for good. I put on a happy face in the real world because that was my obligation. At home, however, I let things pile up. I let myself get sloppy. I had no self-awareness about myself because I live alone and entertain at home only once in a blue moon. Long story short, I let myself go. Thankfully, this past summer woke me up to my own mental health. That, and my new awareness of emotional availability. A former colleague introduced me to that concept. The truth is setting me free as I begin to make sense of where I am and who I am today.

In the affirmative

2019-08-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today's post is called in the affirmative. I volunteered with my Sunday school program today and we talked about the power of affirmative prayer in our lives. I was inspired by the spirit and the creativity of a group of young Truth students who spoke from their hearts about what they wish to see manifest through their co-creatorship with their Creator. I wanted to take a moment to comment on this because I never cease to be inspired by the wisdom that belies each new generation in the Unity movement. I am grateful to be a witness to this energy that I know will transform our world. This past year has had its challenges as I fought with being hospitalized for the flu and going through the usual political stuff with Tallahassee. I also saw great wonder in my travels and learned the necessity of self-care. This came from my taking an active role in affirming great things but also putting feet on my prayers and affirmations. I spoke of being a reformed supplicant who evolved into a partner with our Creator in co-creating through affirmation of our Truth. We then played a fun bingo game in which we created affirmations for the people and things in our lives. This is my journal entry for today. Peace be with you.

Hello, Stranger

2019-08-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

It is good to be back. I took for granted that I could use social media as my megaphone as well as my lazy man's excuse for blogging but there are times when I cannot express my feelings in a tweet. And there are other times when I feel that my Facebook followers don't always want to read the equivalent of 'War and Peace' when I post. So, here I am. But how did I get back here after such a long hiatus? Well, I was inspired by a retiring Unity minister named Rev. Greg Barrette. I first crossed paths with him when I was a delegate at the International Youth of Unity conference at Unity Village, Missouri. He was a young seminary student who spoke to us in chapel services about the world's major religions and how they are interconnected like the spokes of a giant wheel. The closer we are to the hub, he said, is the closer we are to our true nature as one spirit. The further out toward the rim of the wheel, he said, we are driven by the interpretation that men and women place on the so-called fundamentals of what they believe to be worth killing and dying over. But I digress, I saw a recent post of Rev. Barrette's about the importance of keeping a journal. I was inspired but still found myself struggling to find the time to sit down and write an entry. Today is the day that I begin keeping a journal again. I hope that this entry in my blog is the beginning of something beautiful going forward. And I hope that I have provided you with some light in your life as well. I am not ashamed to accept love offerings from people. If you wish to support my blog and my life's work as an educator and potential minister, please feel free to cash app me at $johnmeeks1974 or send a PayPal donation to johnmeeks@bellsouth.net. Money talks and it would be an awesome incentive for me to keep speaking my Truth for you and our world. Namaste.

What does resilience mean to me?

2017-05-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass

When we turn on the evening news and see the police tape, it's too late.

There is a lot of finger pointing and hand wringing to be done when the latest tragedy plays itself out. It is an honor student who is caught running with the wrong crowd. It is the bullied student who violently lashes out after being ignored for so long. It is a neglected child who decides that it is better to drop out of school.

This begs the most important question, "How can we protect our children from failure?"

The simple answer is that we cannot child-proof the world. There will be challenges that face our children. The challenge for us is to best prepare our children for whatever comes their way.

Having taught middle school since 2002, I can attest the importance of training our young people to be resilient. I cannot lie, however. I did not refer to it a resilience until it has become a topic of conversation in educational circles these days. The principle, nonetheless, is the same.

Dr. Steve Piscitelli recently interviewed me about what I think of developing resilience in young people. Please click the link to his podcast for my thoughts on resilience. I hope that you gain something from our interview!

Middle School Resilience: Do We Build or Do We Mend?

Attitude

2016-01-30T09:35:00.002-08:00

The struggle is real.

And so is the solution.

Every pageant contestant can tell us about how they value world peace. It's a simple cause to advocate because it is of universal concern - excepting, of course the fanatics out there.

We're thinking globally, but want for ways to act locally.

And let's think very locally --- very micro.

I was washing dishes this morning when I felt like I needed a sandblaster to clean one plate. With each revolution of my hand, I grumbled. I complained. I cursed the stuck-on bits of food.

I noticed that it felt like I was massaging my plate.

The motion of my hand changed as the context of this chore changed. I became mindful. I became relaxed. I became. I was the focused Karate Kid of dish washing.

The work is going to always need to be done. I learned a great deal about how an attitude can change things.

Maybe instead of let there be peace on Earth...

Let there be a global attitude adjustment, and let it begin with me. [Smile]

If you liked this message, please donate to paypal.me/JohnMeeks

Peace be with you!

Bringing New Thought and zombies together

2016-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

Unity and New Thought students! My book is on sale today! Learn about The Twelve Powers by Charles Fillmore through the eyes of a Walking Dead fan. It is a great book for small group study. Buy your copy today via CreateSpace and Amazon.

Beyond the zombies: 'The Walking Twelve'

2016-01-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

"It's more than just zombies."

When I first heard of 'The Walking Dead,' I assumed that this series was not for me. I was not interested in watching gratuitous violence and gore for a mindless indulgence.

After being urged by a friend, I took a chance on TWD during a holiday weekend. Thanks to Netflix and a well-timed AMC marathon, I was able to get caught up in time for the second half of the fifth season.

I learned to love what became a mindful indulgence for me. What I mean by mindful is that, instead of just mental chewing gum, watching TWD provides me with much more food for thought than most television. This was an open door for me to explore spirituality through Rick Grimes and his circle. What makes the 'good' guys good? From there do they draw their strength? What can we learn from them?

Basing my thoughts on The Twelve Powers by Charles and Cora Fillmore, I explain what values each character represents to me and how these values apply to our everyday lives.

My book 'The Walking Twelve' is a look at TWD from a New Thought perspective. I believe that it would be great for individual reading, a book study group, or curriculum for high school and/or young adults.

Buy your copy today! From proceeds from this book, I will be donating to the Southeast Region Youth of Unity in gratitude for the Truth lessons that I received growing up.

BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

Riding the rails and seeing America

2015-08-11T13:20:00.002-07:00

If you want to see and appreciate 'flyover country,' you have to stop flying over it.

This summer, I took a spectacular journey via Amtrak. This is what I imagine an old-school whistle-stop campaign may have been before politicians joined the jet set.

Indeed, my travels took me through two dozen states and I marveled at the scenery while I crossed time zones, regions and even mountain ranges. And I did not go it alone. Thanks to social media, this solo traveler brought friends and family into his summer adventure.

This leads me to why I am writing this blog post. The most common question that I was asked upon my return:

"How did you do it?"

It was quite simple. I purchased a USA Rail Pass from Amtrak. There are three options for travelers: 15 days (8 segments) for $459 30 days (12 segments) for $689 45 days (18 segments) for $899

As you can see, the USA Rail Pass affords travelers a chance to get around quite a few places for a fairly reasonable price. I don't know if I would be able to fly around the country in two weeks for less than $500. And it's not like I would want to, either. Part of the magic of traveling by train is that I can savor the trip as much as my destination.

But what about the segments? That is simple. Long-distance trips will require changing trains. For example, I used a USA Rail Pass to travel to Kansas City, Missouri a few years ago. My first segment took me from Jacksonville to New York. My second segment began in New York and ended in Chicago. My third segment went from Chicago to Kansas City. With the help of my Amtrak agent, I managed to schedule my segments so I could get back home within the two week window.

The next frequently asked question that I get is about sleeping accommodations. It costs extra to get a sleeping car and it is more economical to share a compartment with friend or family. It has the added benefit of including the cost of all dining car meals (except alcoholic beverages). I have traveled by sleeping car before but I do not mind riding coach. There is plenty of legroom in coach and the seats recline quite nicely, thank you very much. I don't mind catching some shut eye in the upper deck of observation car or the lounge car as there are seats that allow for such relaxation. Just remember to be considerate and wake up around dawn as it is not your personal bed chamber but a common area for your fellow travelers (Amtrak crew will gently alert you to this).

To be honest, as a teacher who has summer vacation, I do not see why I have to rush to my destinations. If time is no object for you, I highly recommend taking the train to get where you want to go.

Ten years ago, I took the Sunset Limited train to Los Angeles. This was not via the USA Rail Pass, but it inspired me to venture on as many Amtrak routes as I can. I am glad that I opted to go transcontinental when I did. That same summer, Hurricane Katrina struck and the Sunset Limited service has been suspended since then (With no apparent plans from Washington to revive this service past its truncated New Orleans to Los Angeles route).

Well, if it sounds like I am shilling for Amtrak, I probably am. [Grin] I remember when I was taking a public relations class at the University of North Florida. What did I choose as my class project? You guessed it. The National Passenger Railroad Corporation, affectionately known as Amtrak.

Over the years have gone on short trips from Jacksonville to Tampa and on longer trips to Portland, Maine. It has always been in the back of my mind that I needed to share my experiences so others would know about the fun of riding the train. Well, here are some highlights of my most recent train trip.

1. The City: I knew that I would have four hours to spend in New York while I waited for my train to Chicago. I dropped in at the Four Seasons restaurant on the Upper East Side. I recently read that the Four Seasons will be closing next year. I was not disappointed as this swank place treated this sweaty, hungry visitor like a high roller. Having read about their jacket policy, I asked for a coat to wear upon my entrance. The gentleman at the coat check smiled and said not to worry as it was a scorcher of an afternoon. Gazpacho, Maryland crab cakes, and Chardonnay were my posh lunch for the day. Thank you, Four Seasons! 2. The Emerald City: The International Youth Hostel in Seattle is a great lodging option. The college dorm-style rooms are a bargain, are safe, and they have a great deal of amenities (Free continental breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free group walking tours, clean bathroom facilities, etc.) I liked the fact that this hostel is within walking distance of the Seattle train station and is on a transit line that will take you into the central business district. If you opt to visit Seattle, I highly recommend purchasing a CityPass for affordable access to the Seattle Aquarium, the Space Needle, Argosy Cruises, and other attractions. 3. The passengers and crew: The train creates a sense of community when traveling long distances. I talked about philosophy and science with a seatmate who was from Bangladesh and was working for Microsoft. There was a pair of women named Linda (and one husband) who were returning from a convention for women with their name. They were amazed that I knew quite a bit about Johnny Ray and other singers from an era 'before my time.' I met Amish people from Ohio, parkour performers from San Jose, a retired art teacher, a Russian immigrant, and a woman and her grandson who were on a 30-day USA Rail Pass. On my Sacramento to Chicago segment, I liked visiting the cafe car where I talked with an engineer who moonlighted as a musician and the cafe car attendant. Our conversations ranged from James Bond to the Simpsons. I even found myself part of a bachelor party. I have never been to one, so I had no qualms with sharing my booth in the cafe car with a very boisterous gang headed to Portland. I even got a Crown and ginger ale from one of the attendees for being part of their festivities. 4. Making connections: Thanks to Facebook, I met up with a classmate from elementary school in Seattle and also had dinner with a former student and his mother. I was reminded of how small the world feels at times and how it was nice to renew old ties. It was during a layover in Sacramento, waiting for my connecting train to Chicago, that I experienced very friendly service at a local Starbucks on a Sunday morning. I was able to have breakfast, read the Sunday paper and charge my phone. I left a nice note and a tip with the baristas for allowing me to rest up there. 5. America: This was the main attraction of my trip. Through my window, I was able to see the landscape from the perspective of someone who did not have to worry about keeping his eyes on the road. My sightseeing ranged from the Hudson River north of New York to Lake Erie outside of Toledo to the Mississippi River in Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains to the Columbia River in Washington State. I made a point of keeping my Instagram filled with as many images as I could. I am especially glad that others were able to experience vicariously what I hope they will soon see for themselves by train. 6. Guides: On selected routes, including the Empire Builder and California Zephyr that I rode this summer, there are volunteer guides who will narrate parts of your trip. In the double-desk observation car, these guides share the stories behind the sights. Our guides alerted us to Chihuly works gracing an Oregon bridge and also the Tacoma Narrows Bridge that replaced 'Galloping Gertie.' Even the terrain that we saw had its own backstory - like the area still coated in ash from the Mount St. Helens eruption of 1980.

I know that this blog entry only scratches the surface of my trip and I know that I will expand upon it when the feeling strikes me. The bottom line is that I love riding the train and highly recommend it to others.

Fakih and Brandy bring the Christmas!

2014-12-22T14:14:00.001-08:00

This video clip made my morning when I first saw it on my Facebook page. Thank you Fakih and Brandy for such a festive rendition of an great Christmas tune! I am sharing this in the hopes that it does go viral. The world needs this double shot of cheer. Pass it on :-)

Walking and laughing

2014-11-30T17:11:00.000-08:00

As with a lot of television, I find myself late to the party with The Walking Dead. I really was not interested in watching before because I was all about Mad Men and did not take a liking to the science fiction genre. I wasn't interested in Breaking Bad either.

All it took was Rosie Larsen and that story changed. Well, it was actually my increasing need for new binge watching shows when I finished watching 'The Killing.' By the time I reached the end of my run with Linden and Holder, I decided to take the advice of members of my 'Covert Crew' fans of Covert Affairs.

It was early November and I was beginning Season One of a show that many around me were bursting with potential spoilers. I watched one or two episodes after work and ran though a few more on the weekends. I was amazed to be getting through the seasons that followed the brief first season. I hoped and hoped that I would be finished with the fourth season so I could seamlessly catch the Season Five marathon and then the mid-season finale.

Did I make it? Yes. And, now, I must wait until the second half of the season. In the meantime, enjoy some memes.

I created none of these memes but I found them on the Internet and thought that they made great comic relief!

Empire building with GoFundMe

2014-11-22T13:23:00.000-08:00

I want to take you with me on a cross country trip.

I have been enamored of rail travel ever since my first Amtrak journey to Baltimore as a child of eight years old. I was a young history buff who knew only of the heyday of passenger rail in books. That summer trip to visit family created in me a desire to take the rails wherever and whenever I could.

When I graduated from college, I finally fulfilled that childhood dream - a celebration trip to New York and I have frequented Amtrak since then.

I have been on short jaunts to nearby Winter Park in my home state of Florida. I have taken a four-day journey to Los Angeles from Jacksonville aboard the Sunset Limited.

What has tied together my various ramblings on the rails, whether it be summering in Maine or conventioneering in Kansas City, I most enjoyed using social media to share my impressions of this vast country.

It gives me a sense of joy to know that I have friends and relatives who tell me that they live vicariously through my postings on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter and the like. This means a lot to me as I hope to make my trips as enjoyable for others as they are for me - albeit virtually. This, I suppose, is one of the benefits of being a teacher. My summers are a chance to relax and be an artist of sorts, with my craft being an Amtrak artist (so to speak). With a Klout score that hovers around 70, I am in the top ten percent of Internet 'influencers.' I am hoping to be a positive influence :-)

Having been to three corners of the nation via train, I have wanted to visit the Northwest. My grandmother tells tales of taking the Great Northern railroad as a child. I would like to experience that this upcoming summer. And this is where I bring you with me. I originally applied for an Amtrak residency that was established for writers who wanted to hone their railroad writing. I did not receive such an opportunity, but I wanted to create an opportunity for myself.

My aim is to document every step of my trip from Jacksonville, Florida to Seattle and back via Amtrak's Empire Builder. I might even venture into Vancouver if the time is right. My goal is to raise $3,000 to cover my transportation and lodging along the way.

UPDATE: I am working on my proposed itinerary for my trip and here are my plans: With my bags, camera, tablet and smart phone packed, I depart the Jacksonville Amtrak station on the evening of June 29. I arrive in Washington, D.C. the next morning and spend the day enjoying the nation's capital until I leave in the afternoon for Chicago. I hope to return to Florida House before I leave D.C! The next morning, it's Chicago and a museum or a skyscraper (I still call it the Sears Tower - LOL) and then on the train for Seattle after lunch. The next stretch of the trip will be two days venturing into parts of the nation that I only dreamed of seeing. This is where I think that my best work will be - on the old frontier aboard the Empire Builder.

When I arrive in Seattle, my aim is to stay in a hostel and partake in a very happy Fourth of July. Thankfully, I am not tethered to finite rolls of film and will be giddy with sharing and oversharing this epic experience. I will stay in the Evergreen State until I depart Seattle on July 5 at 1:40PM. The return trip will consist of getting into Chicago on July 7th, arriving in Washington on July 8 and back to Jax on July 9. The return trip? Mostly afterglow :-)

Please donate to my GoFundMe account here. Thank you! I promise that you will be glad that you invested in my journey!

Radio Free Spirit --- Pandora finds...

2014-05-27T17:35:00.001-07:00

For this session of Radio Free Spirit, I am sharing music that I have found on Pandora. They all three are ambient and mellow tunes that help me to relax. I hope you enjoy them!

Can you help Wendy?

2014-05-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

It all started with a vintage suit (Pictured).

I went looking for a unique suit to wear for Easter on a rookie teacher's salary. Being a fan of vintage clothing, I happened across a store in Jacksonville's eclectic and bohemian Five Points neighborhood.

As soon as I entered Time Warp, I fell in love with the store's wares and walked away with a suit that cost no more than $50. Not only were the prices affordable, the owner was very sweet.

We talked about how film and television productions often rely on vintage clothing stores to properly capture a time from the past. Being inspired by how decades like the 1960s were half a century ago but still hold a timeless appeal, I liked the aesthetic that came to vivid life in AMC's 'Mad Men'.

I returned to the store and enjoyed conversing with Wendy about how I wore my Easter suit to my tenth high school reunion. I brought a picture of myself having a rip roaring good time at the Omni with Orange Park's Class of 1992. I bought more clothes from what became a favorite of mine.

Somewhere along the way since then, Time Warp closed.

I heard that she left the business after being attacked. I lamented the loss, but the memory of Time Warp soon faded.

I returning home from visiting family in South Carolina for Memorial Day weekend when I saw the front page of the Times-Union. It caught my attention with a front page article about a woman who suffered facial damage. I forgot about it as I was taking my parents and baby niece back home and trying to beat what looked like an approaching storm. [See article here]

I saw a reference to the Sunday front page story when I was casually looking at the news online. I clicked on the link and entered a time warp. The first few sentences of the article brought me back to the unclear and foggy story that I had previously heard of Wendy, but the entirety of the article opened my eyes to what had happened to Wendy and where she had been since then.

My heart broke.

The cheerful young woman who was a highlight of my day when I came to look for clothes for myself or brought out-of-town visitors to see Five Points. I missed Wendy, her Time Warp, and how Five Points was not the same for me after she left.

Now, I learn that Wendy is on the road to recovery but it is an uphill climb made rockier by her medical bills. Please visit Wendy's web pages and consider donating. Wendy Somerset Recovery Donations

Can you like my friend's page? It's for a good cause!

2013-10-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

As I am raising money to update technology in my classroom, an old classmate of mine has agreed to donate one dollar (US $) for every person who likes his law firm's Facebook page.

All you have to do is visit the below Facebook page and click 'Like' and he will do the rest. Please LIKE McGrath, Gibson, LLC today!

CLICK HERE TO LIKE McGrath, Gibson LLC!

You have the power to help our students succeed!

2013-10-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

The key to preparing students for college and career is to provide them with the most updated education technology to help them learn and succeed.

In today's schools, technology makes the difference because we can ill afford to get by with the traditional rote memorization of facts and the same reading and recitation. We are responsible for preparing students to use computers and audio/visual equipment that they likely will be using in higher education and the workplace.

The challenge, however, is that creating a 21st century classroom for our students takes money. As I teach sixth grade world history and want my students to have access to a technology cart to help present lessons and show them how to make the most of today's communications (laptop cart, document camera, projector, etc.), I have signed up with a local fundraising site to help acquire what we need to help our students get to the next level.

My goal is to raise $1,000 to purchase a technology cart for multimedia presentations, a document camera (also known informally as an 'ELMO' projector), and audio/visual for students projects and presentations through this new fundraising website (www.powerupjex.org). It is sponsored by the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF) to match donors with worthy causes in public education. An added benefit of donating through PowerUpJax is your receiving a detailed report of where the raised funding goes in my classroom.

Check the below link to donate today! I will have the added benefit of matching funds, dollar for dollar, from Community First Credit Union. Thank you for your support!

In honor of Labor Day...

2013-09-01T19:00:00.000-07:00

"Dignify and glorify common labor. It is at the bottom of life that we must begin, not at the top." - Booker T. Washington

I hope that this Labor Day is a reminder that all work has its importance in our society.

We fondly remember the days when we could look forward to graduating from high school and spending a career that ended with a nice gold watch and pension. Today, we seek a more instant reward as evidenced by the so-called celebrities who are famous for no real known reason or for reasons we dare not share with mixed company.

This Labor Day, however, I hope that we can honor those who indeed expend their effort to not only make a life for themselves, but to serve others. Generations ago, the mere idea of working meant risking life and limb to make a buck.

Thanks to the labor movement and social progress, we can afford to take for granted the protections and the regulations that allow us to live and work another day.

Monday may be a holiday, but it this day of leisure is best spent observing the long road that our forbears and our contemporaries have walked for us to benefit from the sweat of our hard work.

While some may deride the labor movement as being radical, we must always remember that men and women who provide goods and services are central to the success any economic system. When we abuse, mistreat or disrespect our laborers, we also cause grievous harm to our community and our long-term prosperity.

Look no further than when Henry Ford raised wages for his workers so they could purchase his automobiles and contribute to a greater society.

Look no further than the popular retailers whose low wages force their employees onto the public dole and place an undue strain on our welfare system.

A little respect and dignity go a long way for our workers and for humanity.

Happy Labor Day 2013.

Radio Free Spirit goes back to the 1960s

2013-08-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the Cousin Brucie program on Sirius/XM when I found this little gem. If this has not been incorporated into the Mad Men soundtrack, it should. There is that wall of sound aspect to it that makes me fall in love with this song. Please also keep in mind that the lyrics whisper in ways that today's 'love' songs tend to scream. Give it a chance and let me know what you think. The school year is back in force and I wanted to post some light material for your enjoyment!

After you give this one a listen, also think about Spanky and Our Gang. I enjoyed their music going back to when I was in junior high school listening to the oldies station at night before I went to bed...

A royal pain?

2013-07-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

The royal family in Great Britain is welcoming a new addition, and many around the world are joining them in their celebration.

Huzzah, right?

The joyful sentiment is not shared much by others who shrug and openly ask, "Who cares?" This, in my opinion, is that this is a legitimate question in light of how our modern world consists of various forms of government that involve power being handed down through means other than inheritance.

This skepticism rings especially true in the United States of America, a nation that violently broke away from its 'mother country' and has since taken pride in being a meritocracy. George Washington famously turned down being president for life and set a precedent for a new way of leading on this side of the pond. For those who are not Anglophiles in America, the spectacle of anything royal somehow triggers a gag reflex and cries of open apathy - or even antipathy.

Those who have taken to the streets to proclaim how little they care about the yet-to-be-named baby prince are sincere in their wish that we could focus on more important things. Sure, the arrival of a future king is not necessarily an event of interest to all, but what real 'news' occupied our attention in the previous days and weeks?

To be honest, the news has been a welcome distraction for me in light of racial tension, serial killers and political gridlock here in my country. The degree to which I care is no more than what other news dispatch arrives on my computer, but I do not shy away from showing some interest.

But why am I interested?

Sure, Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy that has whittled down royal power to that of a figurehead who graces national currency, but the British monarch continues to be the head of state. In that vein, royal watchers are no more annoying than those who are fascinated with our very own combination head of government and head of state. Remember when American women attempted to copy the look of Jackie Kennedy or those who stormed department stores to buy the same attire as Michelle Obama?

It's not all superficial, however. For all of the leisure and laziness that is perceived in the British royal family, let us not forget that they have a staying power that has withstood the overthrow of other monarchies. In modern times, the British royals survived two world wars, the violent overthrow of other monarchies and managed to keep healthy ties with their Commonwealth. And even as republican movements come and go, the House of Windsor maintains a reservoir of good will that other political institutions would envy.

And the media do play a role in preserving the royals' relevancy. Before the modern media, the royal family indeed lived a very cloistered existence. The public trusted in their monarchs simply through Divine Right. As other nations changed their governments, the royals needed to justify their expense to the public. King George V knew that, in light of radical movements and the overthrow of his cousins, he had to present his family as everyday citizens and to dispel the image of the debauched kings and princes like his father - King Edward VII.

The new media of motion pictures and radio gave King George V a powerful tool for public relations. The human connection of a king's voice and his ceremonial presence combined to cast strong ties within what was a Dominion of Nations. Those ties were tested during the abdication crisis of George's son, Edward VIII. Great Britain moved past the abdication and then buckled down through a war in which their King George VI and family would not abandon them.

As you can see, the history of Britain is infused with the story line of their royals' 'soap opera.' Historians still discuss the drama that pitted George VI against the Duke of Windsor and debate how the Germans may have planned to use the former king as a tool for invasion.

Hollywood even entered the fray of royal watchers with its moving 'The King's Speech.' The tale of overcoming a speech impediment exposed the private battle of a king for the entertainment of millions. The details of his struggle were given added gravity by his responsibility to his nation. A film about a man who stopped stuttering would not have meant as much without the narrative of a man who was to be the voice of his empire.

The rest of the Pandora's Box for the royals came with television. The documentary of a day in the life of Queen Elizabeth II may have been a watershed moment in how Britons viewed their royals and then, of course, there was Princess Diana.

The frenzy of attention increased with every glamorous photo-op that featured Princess Di. The royal wedding generated record ratings on television not because the television networks had nothing else to broadcast in the early morning. Public demand reached a fever pitch for those who daydreamed of a Cinderella-type possibly becoming the queen consort.

The royal soap opera rivaled fiction in the coming decade of Andrew, Fergie, Charles, Camilla, etc. This after all, was the generation of the future king. At least with Queen Elizabeth, she only had a few minor scandals from Princess Margaret. In the 1980s and 1990s, the family was publicly falling apart. It seemed to hit the bottom when Princess Diana was killed in 1997.

I guess that one important aspect of this new royal baby is that it appears to be a redemption of a family that went through divorce and strife out in the open. I am sure that there are days when the Windsors want to retreat into themselves. But, as Princess Diana's death showed us, there is always someone who is standing outside with a camera. Their shame has been public so much, it would at least be fair to broadcast their triumphs as well.

Maybe that is one reason to 'care.'

Life, Love and Lilies: The Sanctified Self - A Book Review

2013-07-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

This is one homework assignment that I take joy from!

After a relaxing Presidents Day weekend of hosting friends from Atlanta, including a post day trip to the Nation's Oldest City, I received a very thoughtful gift.

Brenda Bunch Strickland gave me an autographed copy of her book, "Life, Love and Lilies: The Sanctified Self." Even though the weeks have passed since then, I knew that the time would finally be right for me to read Brenda's thoughts on life, love and lilies.

Thankfully, after a school year of challenges, I sat down in a quiet waterfront park here in Bath, Maine to enlighten myself with Brenda's unique perspective. I managed to breeze through but also to savor her words like the sweet summer air around me and the cooling waves of the river at my feet.

Firstly, don't let the title fool you. This book is specially created for those who believe that being 'sanctified' is about as rarified as becoming a saint or a martyr. In reality, Brenda shares her thoughts about how we can achieve our potential as spirits in the material world.

For this lifelong journalism student, Brenda skillfully breaks down the who, the what, the when, the where and the why of our very existence. With as much reason as passion, she takes me on a journey into purpose, existence and the road ahead. The usual baggage of sin, fear and guilt are set aside so we can learn to travel light.

And what a trip it is. Brenda understands that it takes universal thinking to understand the universe. She does not limit herself to one path or condescend on other beliefs to make her points. She embraces all that is good and I know that the good returns her gentle hug.

Yes, the bookstores are populated with religion, new thought, new age and all that could keep a thinker occupied for centuries. Yes, we may never grasp the answers to all of life's questions in this lifetime. Brenda, however, has a worldview that make her efforts worthy of recommending to all who want to begin somewhere.

Central to her book, in my opinion, is the Bible verse from the Book of Matthew. We are to behold the lilies of the field as they toil without worry for their sustenance. This has been misread by many to think that we can just sit there and expect good to come our way. In practical terms, Brenda explains that even the most leisurely and lovely among us have work to do as the lilies serve to hold the ground together in the face of erosion. We, too, have our work and we too can lay down our worries to make room for the best that we deserve.

I hope that you consider looking up this great book to read for yourself! To order a copy ($20 plus shipping), call 404-734-8827, email brenstrick@gmail.com, or visit www.brendastrickland.us.

Reunion and retreat. Thanks JD Peeps!

2013-07-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

The best thing about my junior high school years is that I am here in Bath, Maine for a week.

Twenty-five years ago, I met a snarky, sweet and pretty girl in my ninth grade art class in Orange Park, Florida.

Not only did we have an art class in common, we shared an English class. We joked about substitute teachers whom we referred to as feminine hygiene products, we passed notes when our peers were discussing 'Alas, Babylon' and we rocked out to the Hoyle Dempsey morning show on the WAPE-FM.

We shared so many laughs in our freshman year. We were not typical freshmen because we were on top of the heap. The junior high school pecking order led directly up to the ninth graders who knew not very much of the coming sophomore slump.

Then, she was gone. I sorely missed my art buddy whose sense of humor made me openly wonder if we were long-long siblings. Just as she opened my eyes and ears to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, she was gone.

This was the heavy price that I paid for being a Navy brat. I knew that whatever bonds that I formed would be torn asunder by Uncle Sam's dictates that my friends' parents would be stationed to any random duty station if to point out that my socialization and friendships took a back seat to our national security.

Tenth grade for me was a letdown without her. She must have made a mark in our town because rumors came and went around our Sunshine State suburb that she was dead. Whatever the truth was about this mysterious friend, I thought fondly of the nearly 180 days that we sat in tiny desks with the kind of dialogue that now permeates the typical teen sitcom that populates American television.

Although she was gone, she was the template for all of my future friendships. When I joined my church youth group, when I started an underground newspaper, when I eventually went away to college. The ones who drew me the closest were the ones who seemed to step right out of Spy Magazine.

Or the Village Voice

Then along came MySpace.

Seeing that I halfway feared that I would have to conjure up a seance to reunite with her, I decided to search her through social networking.

It almost did not happen because I was reluctant to join MySpace. After all, what were the odds of finding people with whom I wanted to connect? Once I got on, I began making connections with folks who were unseen in years.

On a whim, I looked her up. I found her. I sent her a message.

As far from Maine as she was, she and I crossed the span of decades to reconnect. I could hardly wait to make the trip of the East coast to see her again. Thanks to Amtrak's USA Rail Pass, I embarked on a journey to rediscover myself.

Much like I thought that she had left this mortal coil, there was a younger me that I thought had surely been exterminated by adulthood and broken dreams. I saw life as a never ending trail of disillusion and failure as I did not quite measure up to what was expected of me.

The creativity, imagination and zeal that drove the freshman me became liabilities for a middle aged teacher who found himself demanding the kind of conformity and compliance of students that would have surely earned himself the 'douche' tag from a younger me.

But I digress. The train trip that I took was a shot in the dark that I was going to find a Pine State paradise. Unlike most gambles where I leave with a lighter wallet, I found my visit to be a tonic for the soul.

It was not just the salty breeze and the New England charm, it was a long lost sister whose reunion also reunited me with myself. Not only did I drink a lot of Moxie, I found my mojo again. The spirit of a fourteen-year-old boy returned to remind me that there is plenty of fun to be had in life.

As I write this entry, I am thankful for spending time with her and her family. They are the most gracious hosts and their town is a getaway. The ties that we restored have also restored me. That is why I love summering up here. I dedicate this blog entry to M.C. and her wonderful family.

As the next school year begins for this middle school teacher, I already am dreaming of my return to this Down East Shangri-La.