THE HOGGATTEER REVOLUTION
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    • Cerebral Cinema >
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Magical Moments & Lessons:  Beauty & the Beast

7/5/2022

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There were six standout times during my trip to Disney World a month ago.  They're probably not the same standout times that my peers on the trip would point out, but then again, I think differently (and I'm happy to say so.).  All six moments involve my blessed life away from a Disney vacation.  The magical moments and life lessons have more to do with God and family than Disney at all, and that realization continues to bless me greatly.  Here is the fourth of those six moments.
4.  Beauty and the Beast
​
I know Disney visitors make memories while they are there and later reflect on their experiences when they get home - and for years to come - but for me, the reflection came on the spot - not always memories of Disney vacations, but more often in the thoughts of my family back home.  The one time that I remembered a previous Disney experience came a couple of days later, when I found myself at the very hot and crowded Disney park, 
Hollywood Studios.  Walking for more than 12 miles that day was taking its toll on my back, and there was hardly any shade for relief from a baking sun.
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I was about to leave the park for greener pastures when a stage show caught my attention.  This was not just any random show, but the live Beauty and the Beast show.  Now to explain, this show was brand new (as was the park itself) when I visited Disney World for the first time ever, in December of 1991.  My wife and I were there on our honeymoon, and we loved the original animated movie that was released earlier in that same year.  I courted that young lady in the flickers of the movie theater, and there it was live.  This was before the Broadway show or the touring production, and long before we would build sets, repair costumes, and dress performers for one of the touring shows.

​So once again, I sat in a seat in a high section of the outdoor theater (At least it was shaded.), and began to reminisce.  Traveling alone and visiting cool places gives a person the unique opportunity for reflection. I took pictures and video clips of the show and even sent one to my wife so she could know that I was thinking about her at this moment, and as Belle and the Beast went through the throes of falling in love, yet again, my eyes began to sting and I felt the now all-to-familiar feeling of blessedness.  Why can't others slow down for long enough to see that amidst the calamity of a spinning planet, there is peace, joy, happiness, and love?  Why can't others remember to stop and consider the beauty of our world and the love that they once had, still have, and will continue to have in their lives?  Am I the only one?  Life is more than racking up experiences and climbing ladders, and the world would be a better place if folks could just slow down and look at it through new eyes.

Read more about the 50 Teachers Celebration.
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A Little Independence Day Reading

7/4/2022

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Let there be no mistake:  the big July holiday is not
called Firecracker Day, and it's not even called July the fourth.
As I believe that words matter,
the title of this national holiday is Independence Day.

In honor of the holiday and one of my favorite presidents,
the primary author of the Declaration of Independence,
Thomas Jefferson, it is fitting to read the founding document
of these United States (and it's not even that long!).
Here is that Declaration:

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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
​
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
    He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their     operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
    He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people        
        would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to
        tyrants only.
    He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of
        their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
    He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the
        rights of the people.
    He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative
        powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining
        in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
    He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for        
        Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the
        conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
    He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary
        powers.
    He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of
        their salaries.
    He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat
        out their substance.
    He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
    He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
    He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by
        our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
    For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
    For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the
        Inhabitants of these States:
    For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
    For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
    For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
    For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
    For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary
        government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for
        introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
    For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our
        Governments:
    For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all
        cases whatsoever.
    He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
    He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
    He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation
        and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous
        ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
     He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to
        become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
    He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our
        frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all
        ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn


South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward,        Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock


Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of
     Carrollton


Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry
     Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson,
​     Jr.
Francis Lightfoot
    Lee
Carter Braxton
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin
     Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross


Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas
​     McKean
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris


New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John     
     Witherspoon
Francis
​     Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple

Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat
     Paine
Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery

Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel
     Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire:
Matthew
​     Thornton
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Magical Moments & Life Lessons:  PhilHarmagic

7/3/2022

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There were six standout times during my trip to Disney World a month ago.  They're probably not the same standout times that my peers on the trip would point out, but then again, I think differently (and I'm happy to say so.).  All six of these moments involve my blessed life away from a Disney vacation.  The magical moments and life lessons have more to do with God and family than Disney at all, and that realization continues to bless me greatly. Here is the third of those six moments.

​
3.  MIckey's PhilharMagic
There is a 3D show at the Magic Kingdom called Mickey's PhilharMagic.  Since there was no wait, I picked up some 3D glasses and went inside.  I've seen this show before, but at least one new scene has been added to it since the last time I was there.  This is a show that immerses viewers in special effects, occasionally spraying water at them, flashing spotlights and strobes on the walls and into the audience, and once, even spraying a noxious skunk scent.  The 3D visuals are impressive.
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In the short movie, Donald Duck finds Mickey Mouse's sorcerer hat (from 1940's Fantasia).  Mayhem breaks out as Donald chases the hat through many scenes of Disney's animated classics.  As Donald's fast-paced escapades carries him through the scenes, he flies and slips and falls and trips in classically Donald Duck style.

​
But the audience around me was more entranced by the tiny girl sitting in front of me, right in the center of the theater.  The girl, probably around three years old, sat low in her seat, and had the sweetest, most beautiful three-year-old giggle.  Every time the duck splatted or was suspended above the audience or was shot in the sky, this nameless girl giggled out loud.  No one tried to quiet her, and for that, the rest of us were truly thankful. From the audience, I heard, "That's precious," and "I just love her."  They, as I, were enamored with the giggle, and whatever entered the lenses of our 3D glasses didn't matter any more.  All the special effects were overshadowed by this tiny, joyful voice.
I wonder if any of the audience members were there on their own.  I, unaccompanied by family or friends, had a unique perspective that took me back to my own daughter.  So many years ago, she was also a tiny soul, and she, too, had a little-girl giggle that could melt hearts.  In that instant, in the mostly-darkened theater, I had to reflect on the past - those times when she would dance around the Christmas tree at our local theme park, Silver Dollar City, the times when she would sing out loud with pure joy even when no music was playing, those unencumbered moments when she would entertain strangers with her innocence.

And tears welled up in my eyes.  I didn't care.  In the mostly-darkened theater, I let them stream.  No one could see me, and even if they could, they didn't know me, so it didn't matter.  They were the tears of realization, again, that I have been blessed with a rich life.  It doesn't matter that there have been bumps and valleys along the way - moments of heartbreak and struggle; all that matters is that in spite of those difficult adventures, God has blessed my family in so many unexpected ways.

Read more about Disney's 50 Teachers Celebration.
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National Treasure:  Preserving the Declaration

7/2/2022

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It's the season to celebrate the freedoms that we cherish in the United States of America.  The Declaration that Jefferson wrote (with the assistance of other founders) was a genius breakup letter with King George III of England.  It's also the main character in Jerry Bruckheimer's National Treasure, a movie in which Benjamin Gates, played by Nicolas Cage, is compelled to borrow the Declaration of Independence to protect it from people who will do harm to it.

Now, with the anniversary of its signing, we ponder over the ongoing preservation efforts for this parchment and the famous signatures of men who committed treason in its signing. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

It's not the law of the land, but this is our founding document - the item that spurred on a national battle cry to continues to strengthen our country today.
From the National Archives:
The Declaration of Independence is on permanent display inside a special encasement at the National Archives Museum.

The current display case was designed by a team of scientists, engineers and technicians from the National Archives, National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other experts.  They spent four years designing, fabricating, and testing the preservation system.
​
The encasement has an aluminum base and titanium frame made from single pieces of metal to eliminate potentially leaky seams. Inside the case is an atmosphere of argon gas, which has larger molecules than the previously used helium–this will also minimize leakage. The laminated, tempered glass does not touch the parchment, and there are built-in window ports, sensors, and instrument bays for monitoring the environment to preserve the document. For visitors, this design means that the document can be positioned so that all visitors can see it. Finally, unlike the previous encasements, staff can open the case - if it’s ever necessary - and then easily reseal it.
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Magical Moments & Life Lessons:  Bus Ride

7/1/2022

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There were six standout times during my trip to Disney World a month ago.  They're probably not the same standout times that my peers on the trip would point out, but then again, I think differently (and I'm happy to say so.).  Most people would not put commercial air flights and bus rides on their list, but three of my six greatest memories from the trip are just that.  In fact, all six involve my blessed life away from a Disney vacation.  The magical moments and life lessons have more to do with God and family than Disney at all, and that realization continues to bless me greatly.  Here is the second of those six moments.

​2.  Bus Ride
​The second moment of peace came during the chartered shuttle to the resort.  The full-sized bus sported entertainment screens, terrific air conditioning, and only about five other people.  I was surprisingly comfortable as we rolled out of the airport and onto the highway.

As we passed beneath the shadows of palm trees and past gas stations with inflationary prices, my mind took me over once again.  Before I knew it, I was smiling.  I could feel it on my face.  If anyone had seen me, they would have wondered what I was up to, but there was no one to see me, so I allowed myself the moment.
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The first thought came that I would not go back to the classroom as a regular teacher - that I had my last day of school the day before.  There was a sense of freedom in that - something that told me I was free from state standards and administrators who were taking teachers back into the waters of constriction.  No longer was I under the thumb of authority that told me that I had to adhere to pacing guides and administer common assessments.

There is great joy in that, but more so, once again, my brain journeyed to a state of peacefulness, and once again, I could only think of how blessed I am.  I have been happily married to the same, cherished bride for over 30 years. I have been blessed with two beautiful children who know God and face the world as believers.  I have just completed a creative and challenging career that has satisfied me in countless ways.  And now, moving forward, there are still many, many opportunities that await me on the path ahead.

So there I was with a tremendous smile of tranquility, and all I could think of was that I wanted others to feel the same way.  There are too many people walking through the streets with worry and struggle on their minds and with no desire to find peace through God and family.  What the Lord has given me should never go unnoticed by me, and I must never take it for granted:  may it also be contagious.

For more about the experience, go to the 50 Teachers Celebration page.
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Fred Jones Museum:  the American Southwest

6/30/2022

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I took several photos on my recent visit to the Fred Jones Museum of Art on the University of Oklahoma campus.  The museum is larger than it seems from the outside, and I kept finding staircases to more floors (There is an elevator, as well.).  I think I finally determined that there are four levels, but through the art, there are hundreds of stories (See what I did there?).

There is a large gallery containing art from the Southwest (USA), which slows down the visitor with the opportunity to see some historical and cultural context, as well as the chance to appreciate the artistic abilities of some old souls.
Some of these pieces manifest in the form of baskets from hundreds of years ago, the intricacies of the weaves defying every attempt to say that these were primitive people.  The pottery in the museum includes shapes and figures that modern people may not recognize, but one display (above) has some very familiar images.  No, that bowl is not as old as most of the others.

As far as Native jewelry is concerned, the display below points out some interesting features.
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This demon horse with the fiery eyes bucks up intimidatingly as a visitor approaches (Actually, it is permanently in that position.).  This sculpture seems decidedly out of place among some of the older pieces.
Some of the displays are markedly more modern than others.  The woman (left) has horse heads for legs, but don't ask me to explain why (Obviously I know, but it's not my job to interpret the art for you.).
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Next, we're on to the selections that are displayed on the walls in the Southwest galleries.  Some of these made me think and wonder more than others, so I took pictures of them and their display cards so I could study them closer at home.

The first, Father Sky and Mother Earth has some symbolism to the culture, but challenged me to ponder the creation of our universe and specifically our planet.  It amazes me that so many cultures have reached into their imaginations to explain Creation to their children.  Perhaps it is hereditary curiosity to cause people to search for God.
Another, much older, painting was more literal.  Titled Hopi Snake Dance, this.  Painted from experience, this is a piece that depicts ancient ritual.  I was taken aback by the depiction of the dancers carrying the snakes, some even in their mouths as they round the bluff.  It is, again, an intimidating image that puts the viewer into a frightening situation, especially if one is afraid of snakes.

I suppose mankind has long sought dominion over even the most dangerous of creatures.  From a Biblical perspective, that must mean that we even conquer the serpent who tempted the first humans to sin.
I really enjoyed standing at Canyon Country for a couple of minutes.  This piece is only 30 years old and in more of a "pop" style, but its larger size makes it stand out.  It would not be as effective at a smaller size and maintain its sense of the scale of the canyons and bluffs depicted.

I encouraged myself to internalize the gentle strength of a shepherd as he guards his sheep and keeps them together.  This is an important role in any society - a noble effort to protect those who need protection.
Finally, the pictures below denote a tale of two sculptures.  The first, The Pioneer Woman, is not an homage to Ree Drummond; although Mrs. Drummond is a pioneer in some ways, this sculpture (a study for the full-sized statue in Ponca City, Oklahoma) intends to portray the strength of women who pioneered moves to new locations on the prairie.  The statue is normally photographed from the front, where the onlooker notices the boy in one hand and books in the other.  Clearly, she is intelligent and responsible.

But a view from the side reveals something else:  her determination.  He gait carries her forward.  She knows where she is going.  She is unstoppable.  And she does it all in a bonnet, a long dress and petticoats.
The next sculpture rests nearby, but not in a resting position.  It is an unbelievable first attempt at sculpture for the iconic artist, Frederic Remington.  While The Pioneer Woman denotes a determined resolve, perhaps Broncho Buster does the same thing in a very different manner.  Here, the cowboy fights to stay on the horse.  His determination is to do so in spite of danger and challenge.  His seat remains firmly planted in the saddle.  His leans forward in his posture.  He reaches back for balance.  And all while keeping his hat on his head.
Both of these historic sculptures speak to us today and teach us valuable lessons.  We, too, must lean forward, determined, while reaching behind us for security.  We, too, must keep our chins up, learn what it takes to achieve, and take others with us.

The Southwest galleries at the Fred Jones Museum of Art allows such quiet contemplation if you take the time to allow it to do so.  Watch for more posts from other sections of the museum coming soon.
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Magical Moments & Life Lessons:  Crash Landing

6/29/2022

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There were six standout times during my trip to Disney World a month ago.  They're probably not the same standout times that my peers on the trip would point out, but then again, I think differently (and I'm happy to say so.).  Most people would not put commercial air flights and bus rides on their list, but three of my six greatest memories from the trip are just that.  In fact, all six involve my blessed life away from a Disney vacation.  The magical moments and life lessons have more to do with God and family than Disney at all, and that realization continues to satisfy me greatly.  Here is the first of those six moments.

​1.  Crash Landing
OK, so we didn't really crash land, but sometime during the flight from Atlanta to Orlando a little flap opened in the ceiling of the plane.  Thankfully, those famous masks remained in place - that is, until the pilot brought the craft down pretty hard on the runway in Orlando.  It was then that the cluster of masks dropped.  A ceiling panel above the aisle jostled loose as well.
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When the flap opened in the first place, passengers had to wonder, as I did, whether the rest of the masks should have dropped.  Were we in need of oxygen in a soon-to-be depressurized cabin?  Flight attendants discussed the need for closing the flap, but they knew that tampering with the apparatus could only cause the rest to drop needlessly and cause a panic, so they left things alone.  When the tubes and masks all dropped and tickled the bald head below, the staff made sure to instruct the people below not to pull on them in any way for the same reason.
​That hard smack into the landing strip didn't frighten me.  The masks, though a surprise, were not scary.  Though unexpected and a little shocking, I quickly went to God in prayer and thanked Him for continuing my life on Earth. When the plane "crashed", my mind immediately took me to a state of blessedness instead of panic.  My prayer was not uttered from a position of fear, but was a prayer of thanksgiving instead.  It was surprisingly peaceful moment.

​Life is full of adventure.

For more, go to the 50 Teachers Celebration page.
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50 Teachers Celebration:  Departing Disney

6/28/2022

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For my last morning at Disney World, I packed everything up and checked my luggage with the concierge at the resort.  After a last walk around, I took some time for a cheeseburger and some fries.  With some hours before the bus ride to the airport, I couldn't just kill time doing the same things.

So I took another walk - this time on the sidewalk to the Magic Kingdom.  This sidewalk is fairly new and very comfortable, though I don't think I would feel the same way coming back at the end of a day.  This sidewalk skirts the lake and gives a nice view of the Grand Floridian.
It's a nice little stroll that also passes under the monorail .
I was on the lookout for wildlife, especially wanting to find an alligator or giant snake monster, but I had to settle for just enjoying the peace of the gentle stroll.

Would you like to know where this trail ended?  Exactly where the signs said - to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.  There was no reason to enter the park, so I took a couple of pictures.  This was the gateway to "the happiest place on earth".  I hung out for a few minutes, watching people as they approached the glory they anticipated.
A short ride on the monorail took be back to the resort, all I needed to do was wait for the bus.  It was a peaceful time that allowed me to read some chapters of my book, The American Spirit by David McCullough (I would read more on the flights and finish the book shortly after returning home.).
The airport at Orlando was a crowded mess, with a hectic TSA line, full waiting areas, and delayed flights.  My flight was delayed so a tire could be changed.  That put my connecting flight in Chicago in danger, which would mean I would overnight in the airport.​

Thankfully, the pilot put the pedal to the floor and we made it earlier than predicted.  It still took a fast sprint through one concourse and into another to get to my next flight - with 15 minutes to spare.  Finally, I was headed home to the family!
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Fred Jones Museum of Art:  What's In a Name?

6/27/2022

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There is a museum on the University of Oklahoma campus that takes the visitor to lands far and near.  Moments in the Fred Jones Museum of Art compel the visitor to ponder the world and its cultures.

I found myself spending four hours perusing the sculptures and paintings of this museum on a recent trip to the area.  My daughter, beginning her college life on the OU campus, this fall, needed to spend a day with the marching band in the building across the street from this stone structure, and during the last year or so, I have wondered as to what might await me inside the museum.

​The large, bronze Sphinx out front certainly draws the eye, but I'm not so sure it gives the right impression about what is inside.  Is this a modern art building, a display of student art created in college classes, or is it a serious collection of masterpieces?  The steel sculpture on the other side of the entrance is no help:  it is a wheel of curved steel, with each curve ending in simplistic human eyes.  When I saw the title of the piece, I had to laugh out loud:  Big Walking Eye Flower.  No one can claim that particular piece is wrongly named.
Of course, as sights and sounds often do, the sculpture and its title start me to thinking:

What if everything was named exactly as they are?
What if nothing was subjective?

Sometimes I see a title, and the accompanying art piece needs further interpretation for me.  Sometimes the artists purpose eludes me, and I fail to understand the meaning of it.

But for the Big Walking Eye Flower, the name is perhaps the best part of the sculpture.  Of course, I'm pretty sure the thing is rolling around the corner - to get away from that Sphinx creature on the other side.  What it may not know is that there are more modern sculptures in its path (not pictured here), including a giant man leisurely reclining in the grass (and by that I mean that he is half-way buried in the lawn).

The whole museum has kind of a Tardis effect in that it seems much larger on the inside than it does on the outside.  Normally, I wouldn't have the time to appreciate every single piece that hangs in an art museum, but as I said, I was in there for four hours on a Friday, just me and a few docents with nothing else to do except guard the art and keep me from breathing too closely to it.  In a couple of days, I'll take you inside the museum for a look at one section.
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50 Teachers Celebration:  It's Hot in Hollywood

6/26/2022

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The first time I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios, it was known as Disney/MGM Studios was on my honeymoon almost 31 years ago.  The park had just opened for the first year, and we fell in love with it.  We especially enjoyed the street characters who harkened back to the Golden Age of Hollywood movie-making.

Back then, the park was all about making movies, complete with a backlot tour with a glimpse into a soundstage, movie vehicles and structures, and a presentation about disaster special effects.  We also liked the Foley soundstage show and things that surrounded it, but that, too, has given way to a theater where they just show another cartoon.  The big signature ride, The Great Movie Ride has been transformed into a ride with a bunch of projection screens, and is basically a ride through Mickey cartoon (Don't get me started on the new look for Mickey and the gang!).  That ride does not even fit the setting of the iconic Grauman's Chinese Theater.  It seems that much of what our group with the 50 Teachers Celebration learned about theme park design, last month, was lost in the design and planning of Hollywood Studios.

A lot has changed in three decades, and now the park really seems unorganized.  It's not at all about making movies anymore, and the fact that there is really no shade can make for a miserable visit.  The park seems to dead end in a number of places, and many of the shops are closed.  Maybe that's a result of the pandemic, but I didn't notice the same issue at the other parks.
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I wasn't interested in a lot of what Hollywood Studios had to offer, but I did want to soak in the theming of the area.  The Muppet 3D show has always been a pretty decent way to get out of the sun, but this show is getting old and desperately needs to be updated.  The whole area around the theater is now a Muppet area, and the theming is apparent if you know much about the franchise, but again, some of the shops were closed, and much of what is there is just facade.
Nearby is the underpass to another land that has made Hollywood Studios into a must-visit destination for many fans.  It is the Star Wars section of the park.  
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Visitors will schedule a time to stand in line to pay good money to build a light saber in this section, and it blows my mind.  None of the rides has short wait times, and since I am not a fan of the franchise, I didn't need to spend much time here.
I did circle back to do the original Star Wars ride, Star Tours, which has been revamped and improved since my other visits, but that was enough for me.  It's not even in the Star Wars portion of the park.

Then I stumbled, completely by exploration, on another Star Wars feature, on the opposite end of the park.  This was a little museum with models of some of the vehicles used in the franchise, including a land speeder that I presume was screen used.  No one else was around this area, and it was not on the app map, so why was it here?
In fact, I think the display took the place of Pixar Studios, where guests used to take tours of the animation process, talk to illustrators, and catch some behind-the-scenes looks at upcoming Pixar features.  Sadly, that has also fallen by the wayside.

Instead, there is Toy Story Land.  Going from Star Wars to Toy Story is a harsh transition.  This decor of the area is well-themed, but there is not much to do if you don't want to stand in line for a Slinky Dog roller coaster or a couple of other rides.
Other Pixar films were also recognized, such as a Cars attraction, which sits adjacent to the famous Rock-and-Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith. It's as if the powers-that-be just closed their eyes and pointed randomly at a park map to decide where to include this, and there is no rhyme or reason to the location.

One might think The Incredibles would be terrific fodder for an attraction, but the only think I spotted was this gate to a backstage area.  There was hardly even any merchandise for sale branded to these superhero movies.​
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Finally, I stumbled into some treasure, and I know it doesn't attract money by the truckloads, but it was something to see.  It is a smallish building marked "Walt Disney Presents", and most people find it completely by accident and do not intend to spend any time in there at all.

It was air conditioned, though, and it finally brought me back to a bygone era.  It is a peek into the Disney archives, and I think some of the artifacts inside are worth me appreciating.  I wish there were more.

I was especially enamored by Walt Disney's second grade desk, complete with his initials carved into the work surface.  Also here was original Silly Symphonies sketch and a scale model of Marceline, Missouri, upon which Main Street USA is based.  He is a famous Missourian, you know.
Also present were movie props from the classic 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, as well as an original model of the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom.  I was impressed to see the original programming console for the audio-animatronic of Abraham Lincoln, created for the 1964 World's Fair.  Right next to it was the original, skinless body of the 16th president, which moved and talked to audiences almost 60 years ago.  I wondered at how much the technology has improved for the new audio-animatronic humans still entertaining in various park attractions today.​
There wasn't much more for me to do, and I had a $200 gift card burning a hole in my pocket, but I did get to appreciate some cement impressions left in front of the Chinese Theater and in another location.

The other location has sentimental value for me, as my wife and I enjoyed sitting there 31 years ago to see the brand.  When we dated, one of our favorite movies was the then-new Beauty and the Beast, and now we were getting to see a live version of the show.  A few years later, we attended the live on-the-road performance of the Broadway version.  We even built the set, repaired costumes, and dressed actors for a later touring production.
It was a pleasure to get to see this, costumed musical review again.  Hopefully, none in the full audience noticed the sentimental tears in my eyes.  Truth is, I didn't care if they did.  I love connecting to stories so closely, and this was a moment for me to celebrate the family that was absent from me during this trip.
The Tower of Terror is also in the area - now the symbol for the park due to its height.

After this, I was off to Disney Springs for a look around.  For transportation, I chose the Skyliner and rode the cable over the headwaters of the Everglades.
On the way, I stopped at the Art of Animation resort to catch a connecting bus.  This resort had an interesting vibe in the Finding Nemo area.  I wanted more time to explore other locations.
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Thirty-one years ago, this was known as Pleasure Island, and the specially-themed clubs were unique - though off of Disney's traditional brand.  The crowds, this time, were elbow-to-elbow.  Part of my over twelve and a half miles of walking on this day were spent walking the length of the entire facility.

I found Disney Springs to be crowded, hot, and mostly generic - like a mall one could visit in any major city, with only a few unique items sprinkled once in a while.  I picked up a couple of t-shirts at the world's largest Disney Store.  The supply was still limited, and I couldn't find a Beauty and the Beast or Tangled shirt for my wife and daughter.  I felt like the subtle "Single Rider" shirt was appropriate for this trip I experienced by myself.
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Retirement:  World Events

6/25/2022

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It was when I visited the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph, Missouri, a few years ago, a poster on the wall caught my attention.  It was a vertical timeline of Buffalo Bill Cody's life.  On the left side of the timeline were the events that happened to Buffalo Bill himself - his achievements, notable occasions, etc.  On the right side of the timeline were national and world events.  I remember thinking how amazing it was that all of those important, historic events just happened to occur during Cody's life.

Then I got to thinking about my own lifetime, during which some very important, historic events have also occurred.  It's that way for everyone.  I could go all the way back to events like the moon landing, the war in Viet Nam, and Watergate, but let's not even mention those.  Instead, let's just consider the events of the last 32 years.  For me, some of these events are forever tied to my career in teaching.
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When I started teaching in the fifth grade center, one of the greatest challenges was teaching about the first war in Iraq, waged after Saddam Hussein invaded the smaller country of Kuwait.  I had a friend at the time who was flying in AWACS planes, and my fifth graders wrote letters to him and his buddies.  We actually made the local news in Oklahoma City in the first two weeks I was a teacher.

Another big national event came in 1995, during my fifth and final year in Oklahoma City.  I've written many times about the terrorist bombing of the Murrah Federal Building, four and a half miles from our school.  After this event, I had to counsel my second graders daily.  This was the first terrorist attack on American soil, and we had some learning to do concerning how to address such an issue.  I felt like I was quite successful with my honest and open approach, and my students reacted very positively.

Sometime afterward, there were anthrax attacks - mostly not real, but frightening nevertheless.  I remember getting book orders with special messages explaining the white powdery residue that often accompanies books.

A difficult election came five years later, when George W. Bush was declared the winner after many ballots had to be recounted - especially thousands in Florida.  The term "hanging chads" drew a lot of skepticism and criticism at the time, and it seemed like the nation stayed in limbo for a while - as if we would never know the outcome of the election.

I had a few flashbacks to the '95 bombing when, in 2001, planes were flown into skyscrapers in New York, as well as into the Pentagon and an empty Pennsylvania field.  That attack turned the nation on its ear, and none of us was in the mood for the uncertainty that came with it.  The War on Terror commenced shortly after, with attacks in Afghanistan and Shock and Awe in Iraq.  Saddam Hussein and his sons were captured and executed in Iraq, and Osama Bin Laden was also captured and killed in a secret raid.

Many of us remember the Joplin tornado in 2011.  That was a year that was cut short for my fourth graders in Joplin, Missouri.  One hundred sixty-eight of our friends and neighbors lost their lives to the storm, eight of them being students from other schools in the district.  The following year was one of my favorites, even as we dealt with families who had lost their houses, their possessions, and their loved ones.  One student still have shrapnel in his head that year, after being thrown across the street from his house and losing his mother in the tornado.

Lots of things happened in 32 years, but one of the worst came last, in 2020, when again, our school year was cut dramatically short with the pandemic.  Coronavirus Disease 2019 devastated our national economy and is still assisting the deaths of many people around the world.  Face masks were the norm, and we talked a lot about "social distancing".

In 2022, we experienced another contentious election, and the anger over the controversial ballot counting methods and questionable overnight events sparked a run on the capital in Washington, DC.

Some of these events are still being felt in our world, as high gas prices and unprecedented inflation are strangling our country, and faltering national morals are infiltrating and just about every aspect of society.

We could talk about a few mass shootings, a number of them in schools around the country and one that was averted with no injuries in our own Memorial Middle School which was, thankfully thwarted when the gun itself jammed.

It has all happened within the last 32 years, and I've taught kids through or around them all.  It's no more than any other teacher has done.  We tend to step up when facing horrible situations.  We tend to face problems head on without thanks.  Teachers are often the unsung heroes who help guide children through terrible situations that have the possibility of becoming mental health catastrophes.  We talk kids through issues they shouldn't have to face.  I am pretty pleased with my own effectiveness, but I fear I could have accomplished more.
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50 Teachers Celebration:  Visiting  the Animals

6/24/2022

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On the Saturday of Disney's 50 Teachers Celebration, I made it to Animal Kingdom.  I didn't like the Avatar movie for its violence and overarching preaching about climate change, but I wanted to see the area that Disney was building last time my family visited.  The Pandora area boasts two ride features - a 3D flying simulation and a floating dark ride.
This is one area where Disney demonstrates its embrace of the latest technology.
The best part of Animal Kingdom is its ability to immerse the guest in the culture of the African and Asian continents.  Asia's ride feature is Expedition Everest ​- a coaster in which riders encounter the yeti.
The Asian area (above and left) - and the African area (at the bottom of this article have some large walk-through features where animals are on display in natural, "ancient" environments.  The park is linked with a river system so boats can deliver a different kind of entertainment, one form of which is a new kite show, with kites pulled behind personal water craft.  Another area of the park is basically a parking lot carnival themed to cheap dinosaur rides.  One larger attraction is a jeep ride through the dinosaurs before they were extinct.
The African area is beautifully-themed piece of land, where the buildings look very real.  If not for the tourists, I might be a little bit scared.  This is where a guest could stand in line for the safari ride.

My morning was well-spent in this park, photographing the environment.  I bought a Mickey Bar earlier, but I needed something more substantial before heading out to hop to another park in the afternoon.  Food is pretty expensive, but I found a simple pizza slice to tide me over for a while.
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A Good Day (A Really Good Day)

6/23/2022

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​It was almost a week ago, on Friday, June 10, 2022, which became quite the eventful day in our family.  Both of our "children" became something new on that day, and we couldn't be happier.
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Pride of Oklahoma
There have been some uphill battles for our daughter, but, slowly and surely, the young lady is recovering from those battles.  On June 10, I drove her to Norman, Oklahoma, so she could participate in her first actual college class.

Recently, she received word that she qualified to be in the marching band at the University of Oklahoma.  Securing a position onto The Pride of Oklahoma is not an easy achievement, but there I was, dropping her off at the Catlett Music Center with the intention of leaving her there for a six our band orientation/practice session.

This aspiring Music Education major was thrilled to meet other first-year members, section leaders, and directors during the day, and she was on Cloud Nine when it was all over, anticipating the hard work and the fellowship that comes along with being a part of such a prestigious group.  It's definitely not an easy path to follow, but at least it is a path of her choosing, this time, and we wish her the best as she begins the regular school year at OU in August.
​Green Valley Bible Camp
Then, during the same evening, I received a text from a friend, telling me that our son expressed a desire to be baptized at camp.  Our family takes such a desire very seriously, understanding Scripture's instruction to submit to immersion to contact the blood of Jesus' sacrifice and to receive the forgiveness of sins.

I talked to the young man on the phone beforehand to see what he was thinking. He told me he was aware of some weak choices he has made, and he knew he needed to repent now. He was uncharacteristically solemn, and had been in tears with the realization.

This young man is always good for a surprise. He could not and would not wait until he got home from Bible camp, and that tells me he understands something about the urgency of baptism.  I would have liked to have been present, but I am not willing to deny anyone the urgency and the importance of being immersed for the forgiveness of his sins.
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I encourage you to follow the examples of my children.  One is successfully overcoming some great challenges during the last couple of years and is moving forward in spite of lingering issues still unmastered.  The other has begun a Christian journey that we pray will be fruitful and effective.  Both are pressing forward in difficult endeavors, but the decisions they have made are ones that will alter their lives in positive ways.  If you don't understand our emphasis on these things, I am always happy to discuss them with you, with positivity, from Scripture.
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Teacher Stars in Disney Video & Appears on GMA

6/22/2022

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Yes, we were on Good Morning, America because of our 50 Teachers Celebration at Disney World.  In fact, cameras were on us the whole day.  Someone suggested that they probably have close to 100 hours of footage to sift through.  Others predict that there could be a special on Disney+ in the coming weeks.  None of us knows the plans for all of the footage following our experiences.  Below left is a link to one of the GMA reports, and at the right is a better, more explanatory video.  I suppose I can now claim that I have appeared in a Disney production and that I have appeared on national television.  By the way, in the GMA report, when KATRINA mentions they had a history teacher helping them, that's a reference to Yours Truly.
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Click the picture to go to the GMA report.
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Retirement:  Family

6/21/2022

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Since I began teaching, my family has changed drastically.

When I started, all four of my grandparents were still living.  When I started, I was unmarried, still dating.

When I started, there was no daughter, no son.

When I started, my dad was still alive.

While the word patriarch should never be used for someone with my vitality and charm, it would seem that I have suddenly been rocketed into the role.  Outside of my mother, who just turned 78, I am the oldest.  There are only three generations in our family.  My children only knew one of their great grandparents (My son doesn't remember her at all.); otherwise, they only know them through stories that I can tell them.

I still remember everything with fondness, but it has all changed so drastically in just three decades.
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