Scoop

11pm and all's well. My heel still a little sore at times and of course it's annoying to think that I may have to ban myself from the gym for a little while until it heals up. Just not sure it's up to a full-on Bodypump just yet. It was really quite freaky to walk across the rocks and sand at Brooms Head with my sandal slippery with my own blood - watching the red drops left on the rocks etc.
Anyway, watched Scoop (Woody Allen) tonight. Not a bad flick - plot kind of OK - Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johannsen making a very attractive couple so easy on the eyes.
Now watching the end of Later with Jools Holland on ABC2 - kind of good stuff that I could get into the habit of watching if I didn't fall asleep by this time of a Friday.
We drove to the Jacksons to pick up my car from them this afternoon (having lent it so Lynette could get over to Bob & Jean's while we were away) and then I went to Aldi Oxley, mainly to buy an advertised whiteboard for $99. Turns out they sold out today which was pretty darn frustrating! I still loved the whole multicultural experience of shopping among a huge range of accents and overseas styles.
Al has finally got a Facebook page set up and has about 30 Friends so far. Good stuff!
Verity seems to be taking more of an interest in reading which is good. I read The Bear by Raymond Briggs to her tonight for what must surely be more than the hundredth time, but I guess it's all good. She's also into "Beanie Kids", the latest trend in separating parents from their money.
Declan also has a few BKs for some strange reason. He spent a lot of time today working on a huge origami creation for Verity's birthday coming up soon - good concentration and I hope they're both happy with it.
Looks like Al has finally convinced me to buy a kitten for us. I'm still very concerned about the practicalities of this (looking after it when we want to go away, expenses, etc) but it could be good for the kids in terms of advancing their sense of responsibility, etc.
Still haven't finished my school work yet and that's annoying but it's been a matter of willpower which I've failed. I guess there's always tomorrow, though I do wish I was heading off on Long Service Leave like Daven and wagging Term 4 altogether.
Very sleepy now so will head off. Finally finished my last chessmaniac game today with a long draw against a stronger player, so I'm happy with that. One less distraction, I guess. Ciao for now.

Sunday night fever

Sunday school / church not bad. Saw Mum for a while then home. Al not well but Tommy came to take kids to park for a while as payback for looking after their kids yesterday so all good. Watched Eastwood's Gran Tarino in a couple of parts while kids were away - enjoyed it quite a lot, probably more than Million Dollar Baby. He's just a very good director who knows what he's doing and doesn't make things too tricky. I don't know that it took me to any new emotional peaks, but it was good all the same. Catholic priest figure doesn't come out of it too badly either.
Still a bit worried about the curric review meeting tomorrow, but I'll have a decent half hour at least to get my act together, and it doesn't look like I'm going first so hopefully someone else will have softened them up. I suspect that RAVE is an area I will be able to make look good in terms of what we're doing, but of course I'm much more concerned about whether these consultants are looking at the overall WMAC strategy of having a sense of community and common purpose driving all we do etc. Hope I can express that in reasonable terms to them.
Anyway, better head to bed so I'm at least a little fresh tomorrow. Playing a fair amount of online chess at present - probably too much so better cool off over next few days. Chatted a bit with some of my chessmaniac team-mates tonight, including Martin from France. Weird discussion about Men at Work and Peter Garrett - amazing which Australians are known overseas!
Reading Zusak's The Book Thief - still not sure what I make of it so far. Ciao for now.

TV sleeping

Kids asleep (and in their own beds which is a bonus); Al dozing on and off on one couch; me with laptop on the other couch - it's become a recent pattern of late night life in our household. It's 10.30 and we're watching a Grey's Anatomy with Izzy apparently coping with cancer treatment. I haven't watched a whole episode ever - I think - and so am not really paying a lot of attention now. I've been working away on my Powerpoint for Yr 10 RAVE on the history and customs of the Anglican Church - a pretty big project! - and now feel the need, the need for speed... or the need for blogging, really. Just found some cool blogs like the one below. Any anti-atheist blogs are welcome right now!
We finished watching the movie Ghost Town tonight, and I'd have to say it's pretty odd. Not very happy with direction/editing. Ricky Gervais seems unable to play his natural style of comedy and there are some very strange pauses in the flow of action. Tea Leoni seems uncomfortable - in fact, I think almost everyone seems uncomfortable here. Is it a poor man's Ghost / Truly Deeply Madly / Sixth Sense etc? Couldn't give it more than 2 stars.
Earlier today, I finally got around to seeing Evan Almighty which I am setting for all Yr 8 RAVE classes to see this term. I liked it quite a lot more than I expected. I read a great interview with the director Tom Shadyac after I saw Bruce Almighty where it seemed he had a very sound, liberal Christian view of the world. Good to see! Evan is not at all a fundo wacko movie, as I had feared, but should give classes quite a bit to discuss.
In other news to hand, I took the bandages off my knee this morning to survey the scars - not bad. 3 separate puncture wounds, and I was surprised to discover none at the back, which is where I had thought they would enter - guess not. Anyway, I'm still taking it slowly and hope the strength comes back soon.
Was hoping to make it into school today to get a few things organised but it didn't happen. In theory, I should be able to drive an automatic, but I just feel a bit unsure for some reason. Maybe I'll try tomorrow and see how it goes.
No on-line chess today, I'm pleased to report. Want to now go, take panadol etc so I don't wake up at 4am again, and keep reading Tim Winton's Breath, which I am seriously enjoying. Some great tips from a new blog I found tonight called www.conversiondiary.com (female atheist to Catholic) with 5 steps to belief. I'd encourage everyone to check it out!
'Til tomorrow, my brothers and sisters...

Hotting up

OK, more home alone time today in which to accomplish miracles. Foremost is the Yr 10 RAVE course which needs to be created from almost scratch - topic: Anglican Church basics. I normally teach this by myself as a rotating unit to Yr 12s, but the Year 10 course really needs something "Anglican" and thus I am attempting to clone myself, so to speak. I'm also looking for any A/V assistance possible and am a little miffed that I know that there is a video sequence around somewhere of the Primate in his office, looking relaxed and chatting to unseen questioner about the role of Archbishop etc. This would be ideal as a school resource - so where the heck is the footage? I'm going looking for it - and when this detective gets on the case, I mean business.

I'm also looking for Youtube or other clips from films to help tell the Anglican story - maybe from Elizabeth or Golden Age. I didn't see The Other Boleyn Girl or whatever it was called but even with Aussie Eric Bana involved, I suspect it would be more about sex/nudity than the Anglican history I'm looking for, though I guess I should try to see it, just to rule it in or out.

(I got out Evan Almighty last night as well, with the idea of showing to all Yr 8 - will try to watch it today along with my other miracles.)

Looked up good sites re: basics of Anglicanism esp. some from Dunedin NZ and Texas. Need to combine these (with permission) and use stuff from Rev. Gillian M as well. Good luck to me.