Journaling on estrip is easy and free. sign up here

Drew's Journal

drew
My Podcast Link

02/23/2008 17:17 #43439

Invite: Monday Birthday in the Burbs

Why Williamsville? Because that is where there is an 3D digital theater.

Why a 3D digital theater? Because that is where u2 is in 3D.

The schedule: Beer at the Brewpub at Main and Transit @8:15

u23d at the Regal Imax @9:40.

Anybody who wishes to celebrate my birthday and/or watch u2 and/or drink beer is welcome to join. If you want to co-ordinate rides, use the comment box.





mrmike - 02/24/08 21:06
Awesome. Sounds like a plan
drew - 02/24/08 15:44
Mr. Mike, we're driving one friend out so there's room for one more if you want to drive out with us.
metalpeter - 02/24/08 12:12
Happy Birthday!!!
mrmike - 02/24/08 09:43
They know how to pour guinness there, no small fact considering the main attraction of the evening
vincent - 02/23/08 23:18
I'm not sure about the movie, but I'll stop by for a couple of suds. I've always wanted to check that place out but never had anyone to go with.
mrmike - 02/23/08 22:25
I'm in, and coordination would be grand
drew - 02/23/08 21:06
yeah, it's late for me, too. Sadly, that's the only time the movie is on.
jim - 02/23/08 20:23
Sorry, a bit late for us for a Monday :(

Happy Birthday though!

02/22/2008 10:26 #43425

I said I would post yesterday
but I didn't.

Had my visit at P.S. 6, regarding T.

This kid is a good kid one-on-one with adults, but unless a grown up gives him one-on-one attention, he tends to let his life be dominated by his peers. It's a lot of bullying and stuff like that, he gets it and he gives it. And he's just been suspended for swearing at a teacher.

The teacher and principal were thrilled that I called them. It's so sad--nobody came at all for parent/teacher conferences. I know that Buffalo public schools don't have the best reputation, but this teacher and this principal knew what was up, and T's class only had 18 students. The problem is that his Dad is in Iraq (I don't think people think of what it does to families when a war happens) and Mom is, er, disengaged. So T, in 6th grade, spends a lot of time caring for his sister.

We should not act surprised when kids join gangs.

Still, there is some cause for optimism. The teachers and I are on the same team, and there is a good social worker that can help a ton, if we get Mom's signature. I'm going to lean on this kid hard to behave in school and work with him on his school stuff.

One of the things that I realized a while ago was that the number one thing that makes a difference in a kids life is if there is an adult that cares what happens to them. If you aren't working with some kid (and it really isn't "work" hanging out with a kid), I reccomend doing so. I can help make it happen, too.

02/20/2008 15:12 #43404

I bought it.
I am such a consumer. A bunch of my recent posts have been about products. Products don't make you happy. Not even laptops. Especially not laptops, since they belong to the computer family and computers generally make me frustrated.


Anyway, I won't be buying too much more stuff. Unless a ton of Birthday money comes in.

I will post again tomorrow. It will be about:

turning 30

or

visiting a kid's school (he is failing because he keeps getting in trouble)

or

My sermon, which I will hopefully finish (It's about water, fighting, and how Jesus worked for reconciliation as he made an outcast a leader)

or

leadership in general (I've been trying to figure out how to do that well)

or

hanging out with young, upscale, and gay (mostly) episcopalians for soup and discussion of C.S. Lewis (I didn't think they would like him . . .)


You can vote on which one I will post about, but I may just choose the one that strikes me at the time.

Peace.
mrmike - 02/20/08 19:54
Happy Birthday.

Psst, the tigers have actual names too
jim - 02/20/08 17:46
What laptop did you get?

(Also, happy birthday, sorry to hear about the kid, C.S.Lewis - meh)
james - 02/20/08 15:59
you met for soup and discussion? With all that slurping the two don't seem to go together... unless you had really long straws!

02/15/2008 11:08 #43342

laptop survey
I have a computer at home and a computer at work. I don't travel too much, and while I would love to work at Cafe Aroma, I don't do it all that much. It would also be nice to have a laptop for presentations, which I do now and then.

Should I purchase an inexpensive laptop?

I know many of you have them and love 'em. Does anybody regret the purchase? Does anybody not have one and definitely not want one (anyone that isn't married to me, that is)
museumchick - 02/15/08 15:54
I think a laptop can be a good investment. I've always found it to be useful, especially if you find that you need to travel often. I bought my Acer Computer (Windows Vista) in December for less than four hundred dollars. It's nothing fancy, but it runs well.
jim - 02/15/08 11:30
I'd never go back to not having a laptop.

1. You don't have to synchronize files across multiple computers.
2. Laptops are plenty powerful / cheap to replace a desktop computer.
3. Convenience, flexibility, and portability are important to me.

02/13/2008 22:44 #43320

She's going to be on!
Category: tv
Tina Fey hosts a new Saturday Night Live this Saturday night.

I love it.
fellyconnelly - 02/14/08 09:49
yaaaay tina is hot
mrmike - 02/13/08 22:58
That seems appropriate -- thank god that strike is done