Congratulations Graduates

CONGRATULATIONS VERITAS 2007 GRADUATES!

 Many of you I have known for 2 years.  I have watched you grow from squirrelly, irritating, little 7th graders into mature, somewhat dramatic 8th graders. Others, I have just had the privilege of meeting this year and many of you have impressed me greatly with your different strengths.

 I know that MANY of you will find great success in high school.  Some of you may find yourself a little lost in the big pond you will be swimming in next year.  However you find yourself during your freshman year, I hope that you will keep your head, keep your cool and keep your focus. 

 

A high school diploma is SO important to earn and it is easy to earn as long as you keep yourself organized and do what is asked of you.  High school is not the time to go one-on-one with a teacher – you will not win.

 Do not let the “drama” over take your life.  Always, ALWAYS put your education FIRST.  People will change, friends will change, hearts will be broken and hearts will be won, but NO ONE can EVER take away your education – EVER.  If something were to happen, and you were injured in such a way that you lost your education – none of the other stuff would matter anyway. 

Remember you can NEVER learn too much, you can NEVER read too much and you can NEVER have too many books!

I wish all of you the best of luck in high school and you should all know that if you ever need me, for whatever, I can always be found – right here! 

Congratulations Class of 2007!

Good luck and I will miss you! 

 

Have to have my penguins!

 

                                                 And of course. . . . . . . .

You know I HAD to put Johnny’s picture in here!

What do Teacher’s make?

 

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life
.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued: “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”

He reminded the other dinner guests that it’s true what they say about teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”

To corroborate, he said to another guest: “You’re a teacher, Susan,” he said. “Be honest. What do you make?”

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness,
replied, you want to know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face, how dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: I hope I haven’t called at a bad time? I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today. Billy said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?”

And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?
I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, and definitely beautiful over and over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final
drafts in English.

I make them understand that if you have the brains, then follow your heart … and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you pay them no attention.

You want to know what I make?

I make a difference.

What about you?

~Adapted from Author, Taylor Mali~

The music in our lives

 I believe that music plays a big part in many of our lives.  Many times you can hear a certain song and it will bring to light a memory that maybe you had not thought about in awhile.  Sometimes the memory may be happy, it could be sad, it could even leave you wishing you had the ability to time travel.  A well written song can elicit the same emotions as a well written novel: laughter, tears, heartbreak, excitement, love. The next time you are hanging out, listening to your music, pause and think about the lyrics (words) and reflect on their meaning.  You will be amazed at some of the stories that are told through music.  Here is a quote about music that sums up things so well.  Tell me what you think.

We all have a song that’s somehow stamped our lives
Takes us to another place and time

It is a line from the song, “I Go Back” by Kenny Chesney.  Take a listen – the words desribe things pretty well.

http://media.imeem.com/m/elip7lSytV/aus=false/“

 

Friendship

A former student sent me this little story and it carries a great lesson with it.  Make sure you read it all the way to the end!

Two friends were walking through the desert.

During some point of the journey, they had an argument;

and on friend slapped the other one in the face.

The one who got slapped was hurt, but without sayng anything,

wrote in the sand today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept on walking until they found an oasis,

where they decided to take a bath, the one who had been slapped

got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend save him.

After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:

“Today my best friend save my life.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him,

“After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”

The friend replied, “When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand,

where winds of forgiveness can erase it away.

But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone

where no wind can erase it.”

Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your benefits in stone.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them,

a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

Take the time to live!

Do not value the things you have in your life, but value the WHO you have in your life! 

My Dad

I just want to say my dad is the BEST EVER! It is getting close to the end of the year and there are so many things that I must do and so many things that I have yet to finish - that I am just feeling overwhelmed and seriously stressed. 

So I called my dad and said, “Help me.”

He said,”Whatever you need sweetie!”

I  turned over some of the “unfinished” things I had yet to finish. He even came by my house to pick the stuff up.

My dad is SO awesome!   When I was growing up it was the same way.  If my brothers or I had questions with school work or had to do a major project, my dad would drop everything and help us. He does that for his grandkids now.

I never remember my dad yelling at me.  I should state that I was, and still am a “Daddy’s Girl.”  That’s what happens when you are the only girl in the family and the first born.  My dad spoiled me, but he also supported me and the decisions I made and he taught me to be independent and never rely on a man to take care of me.  He also instilled in the me the love of reading, learning, teaching and most importantly – to always put God first and trust in him.

 I was also a “Grandpa’s girl” because I was the FIRST grandchild on both sides of the family and I was the only granddaughter for 3 years on my mom’s side and about 16 years on my dad’s side.  So yeah – I was a little spoiled by the “men” in my life when I was growing up.

Fortunately I married someone who understands that I am a little spoiled and that it is the fault of my dad and my grandpas.  The funny thing is – is they do not deny it.  In fact, my grandpa who recently passed away, would brag about the fact that he spoiled me. 

My dad – he finished all my unfinished work for me!!

I LOVE MY DAD - he is SO awesome!  I feel very fortunate to have the family that I have – even if my dad did spoil me.  : )

Puppy Love

Crushed By Puppy Love
( A tribute to those first moments when boy sees girl
as something more than a “Cootie Carrier” ).

This is not what I expected
I find it hard to breath
My stomach’s feeling queasy
I walk with weakened knees

I must put on my bravest face
I can’t show my distress
I’m on a roller coaster
I feel a deep need to impress

Sweat glands working overtime
A heart that’s beating fast
Perhaps I should get some help
Perhaps this sickness will not last

I remember when it started
The moment I was woozy
The moment her eyes looked at me
Her smile had been choosey

Now sparks are shooting in my brain
And I find it hard to think
She wrote my name on her notebook
I’ve been taken to the brink

She’s a perfect, flawless angel
Sent from God above
I know what you are thinking
But THIS IS NOT puppy love

There’s no one quite as pretty
There’s no one quite as kind
There just is no one better
You can look, but will not find

My parents offer sage advice
They say this will not last
They say – feelings will go away
Just a memory in my past

How could they know
How she makes me feel
They’ve been married quite a while
And I know this feeling’s real

I think I’m feeling better
It comes as a surprise
I thought I die of ecstasy
By looking in her eyes

Suddenly I’m swept away
The sickness comes anew
Another girl – she looked at me
Now what will I do?

This is not what I expected
I find it hard to breath
My stomach’s feeling queasy
I walk with weakened knees….

- Glenn A. Hascall -

 

 

Quote

Thoughts on this quote?

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, “I lived through this horror, I can take the next thing that comes along.”    - Elanor Roosevelt

100 things

Okay – Mrs. Vermeulen came up with 100 things about her, let me see if I can accomplish the same feat. 

100.  Dr. Pepper is really the only soda I  drink.

99.  Diet sodas literally make me sick.

98. I drink a lot of water.

97. I do not drink beer or wine.

96. I did not try alcohol until I was 21.

95. My birthday is Christmas Eve.

96. I hate to fly.

95. I have been to Italy and Switzerland.

94. I love visiting my friend Jane in New York.

93.  I love going to San Francisco.

92. I prefer the ocean/beach to the mountains.

91. Alaska is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

90. I almost failed my Junior year of High School, but a very incredible teacher saved me - Thank you Mr. Ishiwata. 

89. I have collected penguins for about 20 years – started as a joke and grew.

88. My first car was a 1969 red, convertible VW Bug. Which looked like this. I got it after I graduated from high school.

         

87. I now have a black and white 1978 VW convertible.   

86. The actor Emilio Estevez held the door of an AM/PM Mini Market door open for me.

85. Madonna almost ran me over on a bicycle.

84.  I sat in front of a house watching the filming of one of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. - The house has a red door, however it is NOT on Elm Street. It is located off Sunset Boulevard.

83. I have seen the Hollywood Walk of Fame at night. . . . . . .  it is a scary place to be.  The freaks really do come out at night, especially on Hollywood Boulevard.

82.  I have been proposed to 3 times, only accepted 2  and ended up marrying one of them -  Patrick Ryan.

81. In high school I drove the family baby- blue station wagon to school. Yes, it was a baby blue station wagon.

80. I prefer Macs to PCs.

79.  I love the video arcade game Centipede.

      

78. My ALL time favorite song is, “Boys of Summer” by Don Henley. It changed my life.

http://media.imeem.com/m/rfcTZm9vbg/aus=false/

77. The theme of my Senior Prom was, “Take a Look at me Now” by Phil Collins, from the movie, “Against All Odds.”  It still reminds me of my high school boyfriend.

http://media.imeem.com/m/7uYV2lw1-f/aus=false/

76. My dad can sing just like Elvis and use to impersonate Elvis by request in Talent Shows at the school he taught at.

75. My grandpa (dad’s dad) taught himself how to play the guitar.  When he was younger his family use to play local barn dances.

74.  I grew up surrounded by music, my dad was always singing, and every time we were visiting my grandpa, the visit always ended with “mini-jam” sessions of guitar music and singing.  It was SO cool!

 

73. I have 2 younger brothers.

72. My brother, 2 years younger, plays and writes his own music – even recorded a CD – and toured with his group in California one summer.

71. I love cats.

70. I love dogs.

69. I want to own a horse someday.

68. I love how each of my children are so different from one another and so unique.

67. I like the Muppet Movie – a lot!

66. I stood in line to see the original Star Wars movie 30 years ago.

65.  I have been to the Winchester Mystery House more than once – creepy.

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose.

64.  I do NOT like heights.

63. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream is my favorite.

62. I cannot eat fast food – it will make me sick.

61. I can make very good Chocolate Chip Cookies.

60. I remember my grandparents taking me to see movies at the El Rey theater here in Manteca – which is now Kelly Brothers restaurant.

59. My ancestors have been in the United States, before it was the United States.

58. One of my Jr. High teachers made us do “dance” for PE.  We had to learn the “Hustle.”

57. I had to pass a swimming test in order to graduate – but I never took it – I had surgery on my leg and could not swim.  The PE teacher knew my dad so he asked me if I could swim, I said yes, so I passed.

56.  I have come very close to dying – twice.

55.  My first “official” boyfriend was named Brian. We just got in contact again – which is totally cool.   

  First “Official” boyfriend. = }    

54. I had to have an emergency appendectomy (appendix) when I was in 7th grade.

53.  My favorite book is “The Stand” by Stephen King.

52. I love to read.

51. I had my tonsils removed when I was 19.

50. My parents own a cabin in Pinecrest and I spent my  summers up there while growing up – had a blast and hung out with other “cabin kids”

49.  Use to own a sailboat = I know how to sail.

 My boat looked exactly like this one.

48. I know how to clean a fish – I have gutted and cleaned MANY fish.

47. I do NOT like to go fishing.

46. I hate hot weather – anything over 85 degrees is too hot.

45. I can drive a stick shift.

44.  I have broken the same toe twice.

43.  I have bruised my tailbone – it HURT!

42. I graduated from high school with people I went to Kindergarten with – alphabetical order (last name) - Bert, Me, Danny. It was cool!

 My High School in San Jose

41. I grew up watching Sesame Street, The Electric Company, New Zoo Revue, Bugs Bunny, Land of the Lost and HR Puff-N-Stuff.

40.  Use to love the cartoon Captain Caveman. I saw it in Italy, and it was strange listening to Captain Caveman speak Italian.

39. While in Florence, Italy, my brother, my cousin and I sat around in the evening and threw wet washcloths at mosquitoes for fun.  There were A LOT of mosquitoes.   (Florenece was built on a swamp)  

38. I use to go to Disneyland every year up until I was about 10.

37. I grew up in San Jose, but my parents grew up in Manteca.

36. After high school I went to San Jose City College before transferring to Pepperdine in Malibu, California. Best roommate ever = Anna Marie – love her!

Pepperdine in Malibu, CA. Great view!

35.  I almost moved to Tennessee – but I did not like the humidity – gross! 

34. I absolutely love and adore James Purtle.

33.  ”Friends” is one of my all time favortie sitcoms.

http://media.imeem.com/m/otnOg9pdD7/aus=false/

32.  I like “That 70’s Show.”

31.  “Lost” and “ER” are two of my “must see” shows each week.

30.   Someday I want to go to Ireland.

29.   I love the people I work with at Veritas.

28. I actually enjoy teaching Jr. High students – even if they do get on my nerves sometimes. = }

27. I LOVE it when former students stay in touch. 

26.  My oldest and dearest friend, Diego, and I, have been friends for about 25 years.  We grew up together, were always there for each other and still are – love him!

25.  My second oldest and dearest friend, Christine, and I have been friends for about 20 years.  I miss seeing her as much as I use to.  She lives in San Jose and was my Matron of Honor in my wedding.

24.  I think the movie “The Breakfast Club” is the perfect movie to show what high school is really like.

23.  My all time favorite movie is “Titanic”

http://media.imeem.com/pl/L38fZ_hiY9/aus=false/

22. I have had people sing the song ”Wendy” by the Beach Boys to me, more than once.

21. I love going to concerts.

20. My first concert was Bruce Springsteen – 1985 – his Born in the U.S.A. concert.

19. Huey Lewis and the News are one of my all time favorite groups.

18. I do not swear.

17. I do not like rice, apples, Chinese food and I am allergic to citric acid found in my fruits and soft drinks – except Dr. Pepper - it makes me sick and eats away the top coating of my tongue. 

16. I have a “geographical” tongue. Yes, this is a real medical condition – seriously.

15. I have no desire to visit Hawaii.

14.  I love U.S. History.

13. I love to sleep in and I have to sleep with A LOT of pillows!

12. My parents and grandparents = AWESOME!!!!!!!

11. I am afraid of illegal drugs – that is why I have never tried one.

10. I almost ran over David Letterman in Malibu one day on my way to work.

9. Growing up I had more guy friends than girl friends. It was hard to find bridesmaids for my wedding – guys just don’t look good in dresses and none of them would shave their legs. 

8.  I use to spend 1 to 3 weeks of the summer at Church camp, as a camper and/or a counselor.  Great memories!

7. I use to have posters of Erik Estrada, Sylvester Stallone and the Bee Gees in my room – when I was 12.

6. At Pepperdine I asked a guy to a formal by reading him a Dr. Seuss book. It was like a formal Sadie Hawkins.

5. I love Johnny Depp!!!!

       

4. I believe today’s music and movies think people are to stupid to understand more in depth meaning/vocabulary.  Movies are violent and vulgar and music is full of foul language.  I want to be challenged intellectually, not treated like a moron.

3.  I have gone to church all my life and still go.  I believe in God and try to live my life for him and to set a good example for my children.

2.  I love my 3 children – they complete me.

1. I LOVE MY HUSBAND, HE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT HIM!!!!! 

http://media.imeem.com/m/7ZtD5NAYNm/aus=false/

Dedication to WWII Veterns – like my Grandpas

This is a story I found on the internet and I believe it is perfect for Memorial Day tomorrow.  Every time you see our Flag flying you need to pause and remember that many people died fighting for our country and our Flag.  Remember them and never take their sacrfice or your freedoms for granted. 

                          

An elderly gentleman gave me something over twenty-six years ago that really belongs to you World War II veterans. I think it’s time that I pass it on. I am a thief who took, enjoyed, and hoarded something of yours. He meant for you to have it, but he gave it to me.

The Mitzels had always been good to me back in Clinton, Ohio–my hometown. When I learned that they were vacationing in Vienna, I took a week’s leave to go intercept them. The year was 1977. I was a young soldier stationed in northern
Italy.

A friend had written, giving me the Mitzels’ itinerary and the name of their hotel. Joan Mitzel, then traveling in Europe with her family, had accompanied me to the homecoming dance in my senior year of high school. We had attended church together.

Arriving in the beautiful city, I got a room and telephoned my friends. Dr. Mitzel answered. When I was nineteen it did not occur to me that I might be intruding. Dr. Mitzel made me feel that he was delighted. We kept my presence in the city a secret until I could sneak up on the family on the front steps of the opera house. Puzzled looks, warm handshakes and hugs, and a few “how-did-you-find-us-here” questions, asked in various ways, marked our reuinion.

The Mitzels graciously took me with them for the day, sightseeing, tasting food, and soaking up the beautiful sights of old Vienna. It didn’t matter to me what we did. It was good to be with a family from home and away from the army for a few days.

That is when I encountered the elderly gentleman on the sidewalk. Gray, small, and stooped, walking with effort, he approached slowly, tentatively, almost timidly–unlike a practiced panhandler wanting a handout or a religious zealot with a pamphlet. Struggling to speak the words in English, he asked, “You–are an American? A soldier?”
“Yes, sir.” I said. “I’m an American and a soldier.”

He reached out a withered hand and touched my arm. His eyes misted. For whatever reason, this was a meaningful moment for this aged gentleman speaking to a stranger on a sidewalk in Vienna, Austria in 1977.

“You are–,” he started, but paused, searching for the word. “You are–,” he began again, pausing, but then finding the word he wanted, “noble.” Then he said it again, all together, “You are noble. You are a noble man.” He patted my arm a few times, gently tapping the sentiment into place.

“Thank you, sir,” I said. “Thank you very much.”

He looked at me as though I were a magnificent statue portraying some exalted luminary. Never had I felt so respected, so immensely honored. No president or general pinning a medal on my chest could have expressed more genuine admiration than the words, touch, and countenance of that bent, wrinkled, humble man. I knew I had done nothing at all to earn it, but I accepted it with puzzled gratitude in that sudden, electric moment on the sidewalk. I said, “thank you,” and the man finally turned and hobbled away.

Why? What had I done to provoke such high praise? I was nothing more–or less–than a generic American soldier on furlough in a European city thirty-one years after the end of World War II. My G.I. haircut must have given away that I was a soldier. I wore civilian clothes. Maybe the man had overheard my speech and observed enough to suppose that I was an American.

I had performed no noble act. The man respected me so highly because I was an American soldier. He had no basis for honoring me with such tribute beyond that. I stood in for you to receive the reward. I was the visible symbol who just happened to be there for the man who had to say something.

I accepted the gift, knowing even then that it was for you. You earned the respect that he gave me. Please accept my apology for holding it for so many years before passing it along.

When I watch the old black and white footage from World War II, sometimes I think I see a younger version of the man I met in Vienna. He is waving and smiling at American tanks and soldiers, trying to get your attention so he can thank you. At times, I think I can make out his features on the faces of living skeletons borne away from liberated concentration camps, unable to speak. At least I know that it was supremely important to the man who spoke to me in
Vienna to say what he said to me that day.

The vintage films show images of you, too. You are trudging through mud, or flying planes, driving tanks, smoking cigarettes in foxholes, firing rifles, and writing lonely letters to loved ones at home. I never have to struggle to find the fitting word. A meek and gentle man gave it to me on a sidewalk in
Vienna. When he looked at me he saw you and told me what he really wanted to tell you. You are–. I cannot bring myself to just blurt out the word that he worked so hard to find and chose so carefully. You are that thing because of what you did for so many imperiled people. You endured hardships to earn the two syllables that he used so reverently to speak of you. Hold still long enough to feel his hand tapping the sentiment into place. Picture his moist eyes and hear his earnest, struggling voice when I tell you what he said to you when he spoke to me: “You are noble. You are a noble man.”

By Tim Nichols
Copyright 2005

                            

Titanic

http://media.imeem.com/pl/prJJ2ZY-KN/aus=false/

 

Okay – since I disclosed my obsession with Johnny Depp – which most of you knew anyway – I will now tell about my lesser known obsession. I LOVE the movie Titanic. I am also completely fascinated with the factual history of this horrible event in modern day history that claimed the life of 1500 people in one fateful night.

http://www.allsitecafe.com/titanic.html

Great site for the history of The Titanic – many links – including passenger lists. My husband – Patrick Ryan – “died” on the Titanic – according to the passenger list for 3rd class. 

ANYWAY. . . . . . . . . . . 

In 1985 Titanic was discovered by Robert Ballard. 

http://www.titanic-titanic.com/discovery_of_titanic.shtml

Shortly after the ship was discovered I pick up a Scholastic book that showed the searching and the finding of the sunken vessel on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.  Then I began to read about the passengers, those who survived and those who were lost.  It is a timeless tale of “What would I have done if I had been on the Titanic the night it sank?  Would I have been a survivor, fighting for my place on a lifeboat? Or would I have faced the inevitable and held tightly to my loved ones as the ship went down into the chilly waters?  As a human, it is impossible to say what any of us would have done in that type of situation.  We would like to think that we would be humane to others and do the right thing, but what would the right thing be?

Then in 1997 the movie was released.

http://www.titanicmovie.com/us/home.html#loadedhttp://www.titanicmovie.com/menu.html

Once it hit theaters it broke all previous box-office records.

http://www.casenet.com/movie/titanic.htm

So the question remains – why am I obsessed with the movie?  The history had fascinated me for over 10 years.  I knew how the movie would end – 1500 people would die.However, I was not prepared for the spectacular movie in which the story of Titanic was told.  From the opening scene to the last credit I was hooked.  I felt like I was there, on that ship, traveling the Atlantic on my way to America.

I was also drawn into the story of the social classes.  In the early 1900’s social classes in America were very well drawn and seperated.  The ones who had – had a lot and the ones who had little – had VERY little.  It was the haves and the haves not.  The two did not meet.

However, in the movie, they do meet, Jack – a have not and Rose, one who has it all. As the ship sails towards it’s envitable end, Jack and Rose fall in love.  Their love story I believe is part of the movie that drew me in.

The first part of the love story that rings so true to me is that feeling of first love, new love, that feeling of - nobody can stop us because we are young, in love and will conquer the world.  Some of the banter that was exchanged between Jack and Rose could have been taken from conversations I  had with some people in my past when I was young and in love.  

 Hopefully, many of you will have a “Jack” in your life. I have been fortunate to have had more than one.  A “Jack” in your life is that special someone who will “save you” from yourself. Who will love you for who you are and who will always bring out the best in you.  Then when push comes to shove, they will let you go, because they want you to have the life you deserve, even if it breaks their hearts to do so.  I am fortunate in the fact that I have a couple of “Jacks” that I can honestly say, “Saved me – in every way a person can be saved.”

I have seen the movie more times than I can count.  I love the soundtrack.  I also met some of the most wonderful people due to my obsession.  I began talking to people on a Titanic movie chat room board.  We not only talked about Titanic, we talked about other things too.  Pretty soon,. we were a part of each others lives.We first started talking (chat room) in 1998. 

In 2003, we arranged to all meet in New York where Jane owns a Bed and Breakfast in Brooklyn.  There were 8 of us who converged on her B&B in NY in July 2003.  We came from all over:   2 – California, 1-Texas, 1-Ohio, 1-Wisconsin, 1-Connecticut, 1-New Jersey,   1-upper New York.  We had never met before – yet it was like seeing old friends.  We all hit if off wonderfully and I had the best 8 days ever and made lifetime friends.  All of this due to a movie called Titanic.

Here is a photo array of our adventures:  http://www.dakgraphics.com/titanic2003/

I have not watched Titanic in a very long time and I believe it is due to be watched.  It is just finding the time – after all it is a 3 hour movie – but I LOVE it!

              

Now if only Johnny Depp had played Jack Dawson. . . . . . .