Alge-i don't know-ometry

Middle School Math. The most difficult thing that I don't ever remembering how to do. I'm sure that there are plenty of other people that know how to do this, (my buddy Johnny Saleman) however I was never able to get the hang of it. It is true that I need these math skills in my everyday life, I just wish that I knew ore about trigonometry and the tougher Algebra standards. The first day that I started teaching in Hayward, I was thrown into an algebra readiness class with 7th grade students. The everyday teacher left me notes asking me to introduce reciprocals and factoring binomials and trinomials including using protection while factoring. No notes, no examples for me to be guided on, nothing to go by but my extremely positive strong middle school math memory. It was a very tough day! I just remember the students laughing and joking about how the teacher wanted me to instruct them about Protection. No joke....... He told me in the notes that if I used humor about protection then the students would remember how to use the FOIL method; which is pertinent to binomials. The day ended with 6th period refusing to calm down. I don't think that I was or will ever be cut out to teach middle school math or at a secondary level.

What makes you depressed

If a sad feeling goes on for too long, hurts too deeply, and makes it hard for you to enjoy the good things about your life, it's called depression.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of depression: (from depression.org)

• feeling empty or numb
• feeling hopeless (like there's nothing to look forward to)
• feeling guilty or worthless
• feeling lonely or unloved
• feeling irritable and annoyed a lot (every little thing gets on your nerves)
• feeling like things are not fun anymore
• having trouble keeping your mind on schoolwork or homework or getting bad grades
• having trouble keeping your mind on things like reading or watching TV or not remembering what a book or a TV show was about
• having less energy and feeling tired all the time
• sleeping too much or not enough
• not eating enough and weight loss or eating too much and weight gain
• thinking about death or thinking about suicide
• spending less time with friends and more time alone
• crying a lot, often for no reason

Like myself, people who have depression may not even know it. Often it's a parent or teacher who notices behavior changes like the ones in the list above. Depression can run in families. Some people have depression after the loss of someone really close, such as a fruitshack parent; long-lasting problems at home, including divorce, or alcohol use. But people may be depressed for no apparent reason.

Depression has changed my life.

It's given me a chance to view my life and change what I need to for my future. I'm trying to change these details in my life to better myself for the future. It's tough tonight. Sorry for this entry, but sometimes I feel like I'm 60 yr. old living with a 25 yr. old. My life decisions are getting so out of my age range it drives me to figure out what is pertinent in my life. I'm getting old. Ughhhh. Anyway, check out my latest painting at the top, derived from the thoughts and notes from my Grandfather.

Top 15 smiles of past years

I love to Smile

The smell of oil paint being spread on a canvas

A soft breeze on a beautiful Spring day.

Cheesesteaks fresh from Gaetano's South Philly

These are things that make me smile.

The slapstick comedy of Jack Black

Watching Chris Farley sing Fat Guy in a little Coat

Hearing songs that take me back to my childhood

These are things that make me smile.

The amazing taste of Fenton's CCAC ice cream

The sight of U2 performing 5 feet away from me

A dinner prepared for me by my mom.

These are things that make me smile.

Watching my best friend get married

while making his family so proud

Watching my best friends children grow up

These are things that make me smile.

An evening spent with family and friends

Streaming Sportscenter on the computer

Hanging out with my siblings

These are things that make me smile.

Serving in all facets of the word

and when Monrovia calls me Uncle Johnny

These are things that make me smile.

Strengthening my relationship with my Father

using that to strengthen my Core

knowing that I will be with HIM soon

These are things that make me smile.

Trying to be the best Jonathan that I can ever be

That makes me and a whole lot of other people Smile.

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Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Do you believe that when the right person looks at you just the right way, at just right the moment, from far across the room, is it possible to lose your breath? Is it possible to want to live more for someone else, than for yourself? Is forever love possible? Does it know no bounds? When you lose someone you love to cancer. When you say goodbye to your father for the very last time. When you fall in love so deeply you can barely hear the noise around you. When you touch the hand of the one who holds your heart. When you kiss the one you know you’re going to love, but don’t love yet.

When you do these things, does your heart drop?

Forever is only a concern if you reach it. No one chases love for forever, if we did, we’d all be disappointed. Right A? The actual feeling of love doesn’t hit us once and stay with us forever, it comes and goes. Just as anger comes and goes, happiness comes and goes, sadness comes and goes, love comes and goes. Which is why I would encourage you, hold onto the ones you love. Hold them as dear as you did the day you fell in love with them. Blow them kisses over the phone. Send them flowers just enough to send the message, not too much that they forget the thought. Touch their hearts with old stories, first dates remembered and key ones attached on the wall for a daily reminder. Write them letters. Kiss them. (I never kissed enough) It needs to be nurtured and honored, because only time can prove the worth of love.

Photo holiday

Thankfulness

So much to be thankful for, even when I don’t feel like being thankful.

I’m am thankful that gratitude as a way of life, mind and spirit makes me happier and healthier.

But, gratitude as a way of life has hardly been a secret through the years.

Thanksgiving is the one holiday that rarely disappoints.

Doesn’t require much more than just showing up.

You just have to come with an appetite, invite friends and family, and then fall asleep on the couch.

But Thanksgiving actually is the most rigorous of all holidays — by taking the day at its word, its founding purpose, I can make it the most spiritual and potentially life changing day!

Kinda tough to be thankful when you still see too many friends and neighbors out of work including myself. When people are losing their homes. When Wall Street is rewarding Wall Street, as the rest of the country waits for the recovery, any recovery, to trickle down.

So, in a world where greed, divorce, employment can cause you to hang your head in despair, what’s there to be thankful for?

Thankfulness takes some discipline, admittedly, but it has a definite upside. And it's more than just positive thinking.

Some say grateful people are happier, more optimistic, less stressed, less materialistic, more physically active, more spiritually aware, more humble.

The principle has always been at work within my life: In everything, give thanks. When in doubt, give thanks.

Grateful people are often people who have suffered, experienced painful losses

Funny, isn’t it, how people who are showered with material blessings or gifted with physical beauty or superior talents often seem to take these things for granted, or just want more?

The Bible says, “For everything give thanks.” Counter intuitive and revolutionary — because anyone can give thanks when everything is going well.

Thanks …

For waking up.

For two eyes.

For a semi healthy life.

For a roof over my head.

Thanks for another day.

Thanks to my family, who puts up with me despite my many shortcomings.

Thanks for the gift of nieces, who are learning these things themselves from there solid parents.

For that small voice within, that chance again, no matter the circumstances.

For freedom of speech — and freedom to write something like this.

For living as long as I have.

For the solitude of late-autumn. The color of leaves. The color of twilight.

The opportunity to teach children towards their future.

For the freedom to worship Jesus.

For forgiveness and grace — because I need both every minute and every day.

And having both, why wouldn’t I be thankful?

2:44 am