Summer Job Blog

Hey readers, If you want to read what it's like to work at a small town newspaper, I'm trying to post a little bit about it on the blog I use for my Newspaper and Yearbook classes at Boyer Valley.

CLICK HERE

The address is http://stupub.blogspot.com That's "stupub" as in "STUdent PUBlications."

Killing time

Why don't I just finish the damn yearbook. Can you tell I'm stalling? Ever use an instant messenger? I never did, but yesterday cheerleaders told me about this "meebo.com" site where you don't have to download anything. Bethany has been after me for 2 years to get one so she can instant-message me when she has groceries for me to get or to pick up the girls early from the babysitter. Anyway, if you ever want to help me not get my work done, here are my screen names:

MSNm- coachmallory@hotmail.com
GTalk- ted.mallory@gmail.com
YahooIM- teds_column
AIM- coffeeholicguy

Hey baseball fans, who loves ya? I just had to put this little Diamandbacks' news item before your eyes, because I know that they won't stay up there very long.

West	W	L	GB
Arizona	27	19	-
Los Angeles	27	20	0.5
Colorado	25	22	2.5
San Diego	24	23	3.5
San Francisco	24	23	3.5

River City Roundup - Events

River City Roundup - Cheer Competition

Nebraska State High School Cheerleading Competition at River City Roundup. Scheduled for Saturday, September 30, 2006 in Omaha, NE at the Qwest Center, this event is hosted by River City Roundup and theNebraska Coaches Association.

This would be fun to attend to see how good cheerleading can get. It's on a Saturday, so maybe we should think about it. THis is Nebraska, remember so we'd attend as spectators, not competitors.

http://www.rivercityroundup.org/Events-and-Activities/Cheerleading-Competition.htm

Summer Camp

Read of "Shout," our BV Cheer newsletter HERE:
or here- http://www.geocities.com/teds_column/Spring06Shout.pdf

Download a permission slip for the Morningside College Mustang Cheer Clinic June 17 HERE:
or here- http://www.geocities.com/teds_column/Morningside06.pdf

Thanks, I needed that

It's not always easy to remain positive, the way cheerleaders are supposed to, but that's why we have cheerleaders- to help us (& each other) to think positive.

Last night I stayed at school to work on finishing the yearbook and to save money on gas, since we had the Spring awards banquet. I was feeling sorry for myself 1) that the yearbook staff had left so much for me to do and 2) that I wouldn't get to see my own kids that night. I thought I'd wait till just before the banquet to go because I'm not very comfortable in social situations, so it's awkward to try to make small-talk any longer than I have to.

Naturally my truck wouldn't start. I looked under the hood aimlessly, as if by looking at something I know nothing about would miraculously solve the problem. We used to have an old car that you sometimes needed to tap on the distributor cap to get it to start. That worked magically every single time you did it. My truck didn't seem to have a distributor cap.

I followed the cables from the battery to the spark plugs. I knew it wasn't the battery because it turned over fine, it just didn't start. I fiddled with the spark plugs, as if maybe that would help just like tapping on the distributor of that old Buick used to. Nothing. The guys at the garage had assured me that the plugs were fine.

There had been two or three mornings when it wouldn't start so I asked them to look when I had had it in for an oil change. They said that the plugs were too new, they had given it a tune up just last year. They said that it started up every time for them, but from my explanation it sounded like a fuel filter or fuel injector.

Trying to get it to start once more so I could make it to the awards banquet, I hoped it was just the fuel filter, not the fuel pump or the injector. I had bought a bottle of fuel injector cleaner the last time I got gas, I put it in the tank and followed it up with some unleaded that I had in the gas can that I keep in the back for the lawn mower. Nothing. The next day my farmer-in-law reminded me that if it were a fuel filter it would start to cut out whenever I'd try to accelerate. Never had, just didn't want to start.

I tried again. Nothing. I looked under the hood again, still not knowing what to look for. I wanted to find the choke. That always works, I told myself. Of course I had no idea where the choke was- somewhere below the steering column down by this side of where the throttle is inside I reasoned. No, nope. Hmmm, is it on top of the engine block somewhere? Oh, who was I kidding? Even if I knew where it was, there's always two guys whenever guys pull that trick. One inside to gun the gas and another under the hood to pull on the choke.

Dang, why didn't I take Engines or Auto Shop in high school? Noooo, I had to take stupid Drafting. Like I ever use that? When was the last time I ever drew a 3-D schematic for some machine-tooled part? Dumb guidance counselor.

Finally I called my wife to ask for a ride after the banquet. The next day, if he'd gotten his crop in, I'm sure my beloved farmer-in-law and/or his mechanic neighbor could come look at it and at least help me get it to the guys at the garage. I started walking to the banquet.

I was relieved that I hadn't missed the meal. I was the very last person in line behind all the parents. I took the very last seat at the coachs and teacher's table. I don't know if I'm losing my hearing or if it was just the din of the crowd, but I had a tough time hearing any of the conversations at the table, which made polite small talk even harder.

Plenty of chummy humor between the Athletic Director who Emceed and the other ball-sport coached, who were sitting on the opposite end of our two or three tables. I never really fit in with all the jocks when I was in school either. At least the sports editors on the school paper were pretty nice to me. Maybe that's why I work so hard to actually coach and not just be one of those lazy sponsors who never even attends any games with their cheer squads. Maybe I'm overcompensating or trying to prove something to somebody. Whatever.

Yadda yadda yadda, scholarships, music, band, science, blah blah blah, etc. etc. Not that that's bad, all the presenters were great, all the kids deserve recognition, it's just that no one ever enjoys these things do they? I don't even like the Oscars that much. At least at the Country music awards you get to hear bands play. Dang it, Coach, why do you make me second to last? I just want to get it over with. I'll never be able to say anything as clever and insider as you football, basketball, baseball and golf guys... okay here we go.

Geez, how come I have no trouble at all talking in front of people all day long, but this freaks me out? Maybe because that's 10-20 kids at a time in a classroom and this is more than half the kids in school, plus most of my colleagues and administrators, plus all those kids parents all at once.

So I get it done. I feel bad because I fell like I made it sound like I didn't appreciate or don't like the football cheerleaders, but at the same time I don't feel like I did a good enough job of letting the basketball cheerleaders know how much I appreciated them or what an outstanding job they did. But, I didn't stutter or get any name wrong and I was brief- which is what most people want anyway. And when I got back to my table the History and Science teachers said they liked my joke, although they were the only two who got it.

Needless to say, it had been a rough night. I walked back to school Bethany wasn't there to pick me up yet, but there were post-it notes all over my windshield. I don't know if it was all three or just two of the eighth-graders who will be freshman cheerleaders next year- but they'd been to Adventureland with the junior high music kids. And they did what cheerleaders are supposed to do, even on the last day of school. They gave me a lift and reminded me to be positive.

Dealing with it

Well, the Junior I was begging to come back out decided not to and the Sophomore who'd quit last season came and talked to me and I caved. At least we'll have 4. Always got to be positive, right?

So at least there are four. The "Fantastic 4," and even though they're all girls, I could tell you which one would fit in each role- but they might not appreciate that. One is outspoken like Johnny Storm (human torch), one is fairly serious and really smart like Mr. Fantastic, one is silent and shy, almost invisible like the invisile woman, and one is burdoned with anger and has the weight of the world on her shoulders, kind of like the thing.

Still no resolution on the concession money theft. Part of me wants to just let it go and try to get over it. Part of me wants to know who it was. It may break my heart, or tick me off, but at least I won't keep being suspicious of all 11 of them- at least there would be some sense of closure. If it was malicious I can let myself feel angry. If it was a compulsion or a mistake or even a preceived need, then maybe I can offer them some kind of help or at least forgiveness or at very least pity.

As it is I just feel out of control, violated, cheated and burned.

I keep wishing that at least a couple of hundred bucks would show up mysteriously in an envelope with an anonymous note or someting in my desk or in the office. I want it to go away. If/when whoever it is gets caught without coming forward, they'll no doubt be at least suspended and not allowed to participate in Drill or Cheer or any extra-curriculars. Who knows, maybe even police charges. If they'd just come forward and return whatever they haven't spent- I for one would consider them brave and not only forgive them, but be really proud of them for having such courage. And I can't imagine anything worse than detention, maybe a short suspension at most. But I can't speak for the administration. And what the heck, I have no clue who it could be or how to get them to confess anyway. That's why I'm just a teacher and not in guidance or administration.

Still, instead of getting excited about these 4 that I have because all 4 of them are kids that I really care about and love- between not having enough candidates for a tryout (what is wrong with me? With Cheerleading? Whith our Cheer program at BV?) and this concessions theft thing, I'm really depressed.

Such is life and life goes on. This too shall pass.

Next year's football squad?

Here are at least 2 of the 3 eighth graders who will be on Varsity as freshmen next fall.
Jessica tries on the black suit.
Christine wanted "glamore shots" taken a couple of weeks ago in
AIEEEEE!!!!!!!! These kids scare me!

Morningside Mustangs' Cheer Clinic

Morningside Mustangs' Cheer Clinic
Saturday June 17, 2006
Alley Gymnasium
3501 Peters Ave
Sioux City, IA
8 AM- 3:30 PM
$25 or $35 if you want a t-shirt

Learn 3 cheers, 6 chants, jumps, building and spotting techniques for several stunts
Wear work-out coltes & bring a water

Lunch provided

Please let me know ASAP because we're supposed to pre-register by June 2

We'll probaby meet at school around 6:30 am if you don't drive yourself. We'll probably grab a snack or something at the mall right after so we'll get back to school around 5-6pm

Football tryouts

What is going on? Did somebody curse me? I know that we have a really awesome volleyball team, but man! I only got 3 eighth graders to come out for football cheer. I had one high school veteran sign up, but she didn't come out.

Second hand I heard that she'd only come out it there weren't any tryouts and if I REALLY needed her. Problem for her is that I wasn't sure I'd accept her back anyway because she quit before basketball season was finished.

So I am begging another veteran who's not going out for volleyball and trying to persuade another girl who's cheered at Maple Valley before she transferred to BV- however, she is having knee surgery later this month and may not be able to participate for 4 months.

Sigh. The two positive parts of this predicament are at least four of the awesome five that I had last basketball season and those 3 eighth graders are awesome girls that I care about alot (even if one of them is one of the 11 suspects in the track concessions investigation- I don't think it's her and it would break my heart to find out it was). I'm not sure how two of the three will get along, but if I get at least one of the other kids I'm trying to recruit, that will help the dynamic a lot.

Trust breaker

This is just not an easy job.
Last Thursday was the last Track meet. You'd think that would be a relief, except that one of the many girls who worked may have got away with between $300 and $600!

Things were ripe for this kind of thing to happen because so many people were in and out of there and because it was so busy it was hard to keep your eye on the bag the whole time between cleaning, restocking and helping customers.

7th & 8th grade cheerleaders help me take down the taco meat, hot dogs & buns and get set up. After their track practice was over, somewhere between 4 and 4:30 two high school girls came (2 middle school girls left) a third high school girl came after her practice just before 5.

Sometime around 5:30 I tried to clean-up the bag, sorting bills by denomination, but not really counting it. I noticed one $50 and estimate at least 10-20 $20s. AS it started getting busier I suggested calling the middle schoolers back, back but the high school girls asked two other Drill girls to work.

Sometime around 6:30 I came up to the school to get another can of nacho cheese from the kitchen. Routine, 5 years of doing this I’ve always been able to trust the kids and go buy quarters, more lettuce, whatever. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t gone more than 15 minutes.
Around 7pm we were sold out of everything but pop. One high school girl's back was hurting so I told her she could go home, two others left too. I asked those two middle school girls to come back and help sell pop and clean-up. One didn’t but but one did and brought a 7th grade cheerleader with her.

There were a few kids "Peripheral" kids who I didn’t ask for help and didn’t really want back there but obviously I wasn’t forceful enough:

I think asked to keep her backpack in behind the door with other kids’. Another was talking to workers, I’m not sure even if or when she may have been inside and one more came back and talked to kids and acted like she was selling pop.

They all cleared out by 7:20 or so, One helped me bring back the crock pots and extra hot dog buns and I had her count change as I counted bills, so she is the one student who know that we’re short.

So far we haven't gotten to the bottom of it, although our principal has interviewed averyone.
I always try to trust kids and look for the best in them, so this has me really has me shook up.

Miss Iowa Teen USA

Miss Iowa Teen USA
This is the website to visit if you're interested in applying for the Miss Iowa Teen contest.

email from "Animal," a kid in my youth group

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study.

The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.

Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to

people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn Down that street."

This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Stree t.

At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.

Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will".

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he

just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?"

The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.

Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.

Here's a link to our youth group page
http://stjlyf.blogspot.com

Tryouts

Varsity Cheerleading & Mascot Tryouts for 2006 Football season- Wed May 17^th, Tryout practices Mon & Tue, Mat 15^th & 16^th. Please see Coach Mallory in Room 219 to sign up and get paperwork as soon as possible.

Click here (http://www.geocities.com/teds_column/bv_cheer_tryout_forms.pdf) to download forms

Tryouts will be AFTER SCHOOL. We'll try to set up a shuttle bus for eighth graders (soon to be freshmen), but it will be your responsibility to sign up for it.

Tryouts

bv_cheer_tryout_forms.pdf

Varsity Cheerleading & Mascot Tryouts for 2006 Football season- Wed May 17th, Tryout practices Mon & Tue, Mat 15th & 16th. Please see Coach Mallory in Room 219 to sign up and get paperwork as soon as possible.

Click here to download forms

Tryouts

Varsity Cheerleading & Mascot Tryouts for 2006 Football season- Wed May 17th, Tryout practices Mon & Tue, Mat 15th & 16th. Please see Coach Mallory in Room 219 to sign up and get paperwork as soon as possible.

Click here to download forms