2009 Polar Plunge March 7

So, after a couple days of nice sunny weather, I've decided it's warm enough to go swimming again. March 7, 2009 is the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics at Lake of the Woods. I took the plunge last year, and decided I was only going to to it again this year under two conditions:

1. Someone does it with me.

2. Brittney doesn't have to sponsor me in order to reach the minimum $75 to take the plunge.

Tonight we had our neighbors Wes and Lesli over to play games and I asked Wes if he wanted to take the plunge. He said, "I'll do it, if you do it." So number 1 is taken care of. So, here (http://www.firstgiving.com/brucerichards1) is a link to the webpage where you can sponsor me if you so desire. If number 2 is met, then there will be pictures posted on our blog in March of me taking the plunge again.

On to warmer thoughts

A few funny things we didn't mention about Christmas, on to our New Year's celebration, and then...

2 years ago, Bruce and I made it a tradition to make a matching set of pajama pants every year for Christmas. We wear them for the first time on the 23rd of Decemeber and have a sleep over with our sleeping bags in front of the Christmas tree. This is when we take our yearly family picture. Some wonder why the 23rd? Because....santa can't come if you are sleeping by the Christmas tree on the 24th. As a part of our celebration, we are supposed to eat treats and watch some Chrismtas movies. This year, all the Christmas movies were checked out from the library, so we ended up watching Grumpy Old Men since it has snow on the cover and illustrates the virtue of forgiveness near the end of the movie. Not to mention the broccoli used as mistletoe. Although, not the best Christmas movie, we have made it a goal to find and build a Christmas movie collection so this won't happen to use again. This years pants are green. Last years pants are blue. The thing I like most about the picture, is that you can see our white Christmas tree. I like the white tree because it is different, and much brighter than the ordinary green one. We spent Christmas eve with the Peterson family and took part in the nativity play.



We spent New Year's eating and playing games with the Fernandez's and other families from our ward. It is always neat to take a part in other's traditions. On New Year's Day we traveled to Iowa to spend time with our friends the Robisons. They used to live across the street from us, and we spent tons of time together. However, like most people eventually do, Dave graduated and found a job along the Mississippi River in the Quad cities. It was neat to spend time with them again, and catch up on old times. While there, we visited the John Deere Pavillion. Who would of thought there was so much behind the technology of John Deere's and how much they have changed over time. It was interesting to learn about the history, but even more so to climb into the tractors. It is every little boy's dream palace. They had this simulation machine that lets people experiment with the wonders of the GPS system they install in tractors now. I must admit that the wheel of this simulation machine was extremely sensitive. If you moved the wheel slightly your tractor went completely off course. I haven't driven many tractors in my life, but if this simulation is any indication of my ability to drive tractors, lets be very grateful for GPS. My combine was all over the place. The GPS system that was eventually engaged in the simulation never let me drive off course. It was amazing!!! Hats off to all those tractor drivers who can stay on course without the aid of GPS. A special thanks to all those engineers who designed GPS in tractors for all those farmers out there who drive like me!!






On a more positive note...I am up to 3 miles in 28.5 minutes with minimal pain! Half marathon here I come!

Many are Cold, but few are Frozen

It is a common misconception that Hell is a hot place. There are also people who believe that global warming is a problem. After collecting blood samples Friday morning with it being -17 degree F, I am convinced that we need to be more concerned about global cooling. Nothing wants to work when it's that cold, not the truck, not the Calan gates that allow the cows in to eat, not the conveyor belt that carries the feed into the barn for the cows to eat, not the data ranger that measures how much feed each cow gets, and not the farm crew that ends up having to spend extra time working trying to get everything else to work!

I've always liked summer better than winter though, and I prefer to be too hot than too cold. People who prefer to be too cold say that you can always put on more layers; well I say you can always put on more layers, and still be freezing to death! Or as Brother Rosenstengal said at the Temple today,"If it's hot, I can turn on the fan." Also, pain isn't often assoicated with being too hot, but when your fingers and toes go numb, and then return back to the land of the living, or when your legs, lips, and arms get chapped because of the cold, it can be painful.

It's so cold outside, not even I would go swimming out there! And those of you who remember the pictures from the polar plunge last year know that is saying something.

So to not be too negative, I'll end with some pictures of summer in the hopes that it comes soon!

Here's hoping I make it to the eternal burnings of the Celestial Kingdom described by Joseph Smith.

Out with the Old....In with the New

With the start of a new year, it is always a moment of reflection from what has happened in the past year, to what one wants to happen the next year. This past year has certainly been busy, and we don't anticipate any change in that anytime soon. The first half of the school year actually passed by rather quickly, and from my previous experience, the last half of the school year will pass by even more quickly. Since I haven't yet commented on my classes this year, I will just say that this year is a lot better than last year by far. The difference: 1 full year of experienc with junior high instead of high school under my belt, knowing what to expect from the school system, knowing my students better, knowing how issues will be addressed on the administration level, and the best reason of all, knowing what I am doing!!! As far as planning - I spend a lot less time because I already have something to base my plans off. Last year, I had to design, plan, carry out an entire year's curriculum (with very little resources) for 3 different classes. It wasn't an easy challenge, but one I met with decent success. This year I can just add to, delete from, or adapt those basic structure plans. I have improved my grading methods (and have a few less students this year), so I don't spend near as much time grading as I did last year. I don't spend much time writing tests, creating worksheets, or creating handouts because I mostly just use the same ones as last year. You would think with all of this saved time, I would have more time to myself to do the things that I enjoy. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Last year I was the assistant coach of the 5/6 grade basketball and volleyball team. This year, I have moved up to the assistant coach of the 7/8 basketball and volleyball team. What does this mean exactly? A little more money, but a whole lot more time. The seasons are longer periods of time and more games crammed into one week. Most weeks I have 3 games per week. I don't usually go home between school and games because of the long drive. Besides that is the only time I have to get my grading and everything else done. Sometimes I wonder why I became an English teacher. It really has a heavy paper load.

I'll just give a recap on our basketball season this year. Our 7th grade team finished their season with a record 12-10. We were 8-5 in conference and placed 4th in the regional brackets. We lost our first round game to St. Malachy. A 12-10 record may not seem like the best, but it is over 500 and is much better than that same team did last year as 6th graders when they only won 2 games out of the whole season. It's not a bad record considering we have 6 girls on the team (some of which have no previous experience with basektball). Our 8th grade team had an overall record of 15-8. 11-2 in Conference and placing as the number 1 seed in regional play. We lost the regional championship by 10 points against St. Malachy.

Out with the old: Basketball
In with the new: Volleyball
With the end of the basetkball season, I was granted one day off before we started volleyball practice. Our first volleyball game is this coming Tuesday and based on the practices we've had over Christmas break, we should have a decent season.

Out with the old: Bruce and I have officially paid off all student loan debt.
In with the new: We plan to save bunches of money and thicken our savings account.

I haven't thought too hard about some new years resolutions, but there is one in particular weighing over my head. I agreed to run a 1/2 marathon with Bruce sometime in April. For those who know me know that I hate running. There are so many things I would rather be doing with my time than run. However, I felt like this would be a good goal for me to set, and although 13 miles certainly seems daunting, I have faith in myself. It will also probably be a good thing for my body. The hardest part about this whole thing is....motivation. The second hardest is overcoming the "pain" of running. Ever since I had my appendix removed a little over 2 1/2 years ago, I can't run long distances without a significant amount of pain. It must be scar tissue or something.

Out with the old: Pain while running
In with the new: In shape, more respect for running, and less pain (hopefully!:))

Out with the old: I cleaned and organized my closet
In with the new: To make room for the new clothes I got for Christmas. (Thanks mom and Katie!)

If I think of anymore, I will post them later.

Sharing Gifts, the Gospel and Love for Christmas

This Christmas season I felt especially blessed with temporal needs (food, clothing, finances), the gospel and love (from family and friends, most of all Brittney). I felt a great desire to share these three things with as many people as I could. It is not appropriate for me to share all the experiences I had, but I felt the Lord guided me in who I could help and how.

Brittney bought me too many presents for Christmas. I felt like a little kid again as I opened Lincoln logs, a wooden train, and the snap pants I've been asking for since last Christmas as well as CDs and books. I gave Brittney wooden spoons, a mixing bowl, a deep skillet, running pants, the game Life on the Farm, and Santa Claus brought us a toy dairy farm set and Illinois pullovers. Just a comment about the wooden spoons. I knew Brittney wanted some more of them, so I went out and got some for her the Monday before Thanksgiving to give her for Christmas. Two days later we were having a conversation and Brittney mentioned something she was thinking of buying, and I told her not to buy anything for herself during the month before Christmas, because someone might be giving it to her for Christmas. The very next day she went out and bought herself some wooden spoons because she needed them for our Thanksgiving dinner. I laughed so hard; I had to explain to her why, even though it spoiled the surprise.

Brittney signed up to take dinner to a couple people in our ward who were unable to leave their houses on Christmas. I invited some people from my lab and other friends over for Christmas dinner. I was worried how we would be good hosts and take out the meals while it was still hot, until finally it dawned on me that we could have our guests go with us to take the meals out. We had a feast, then I took Ming Feng and Yaodong, both from China, and Andulfo, from Hondorus with me, and Brittney took the Jacks with her to deliver the meals. We tried singing "Jingle Bells" at the house I went to, it was a humble version with only one native singer. It was a good experience though for everyone. When we got home, we all played Life on the Farm, and Dr. Ming Feng won. It was a great Christmas.

Proposition 8

Our local newspaper ran an editorial a couple weeks ago wherein the author questioned why the Mormon church was so concerned about the passing of proposition 8 in California when there were so many people sick and in need of help, so I wrote an answer and it appeared in the Savoy Star today. I thought you might like to read:

To the Editor,
I applaud the passing of Proposition 8 in California. God set the standard for marriage when he commanded Adam and Eve to cleave unto each other. Children are most likely to succeed in a home where there is both a father AND a mother, neither being wholly dispensable.

The people in California are choosing to not endure a breakdown of the true definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Alexander Pope reminds us that first we endure, then pity, then embrace. Embracing an alternate definition of marriage would jeopardize propagation of the human race because same sex relationships cannot produce children on their own.

People of different backgrounds are standing together on this vital issue. Legalization of same sex marriage imposes on rights of educators, adoption agencies, and civil servants to follow religious beliefs. For example, Catholic Charities in Boston stopped adoption services because advocates and government officials challenged their right to follow their religious beliefs, placing children in homes with both a mother and a father.

The joys of marriage between a man and a woman, and the ensuing joys of having children are worth every cost. I have been married to my wife for three years now. It is hard for me to remember now how I ever survived without her. Our differences compliment each other and help each of us become a better person.

Anyone interested in learning more about why Mormons would spend so much money promoting Proposition 8, the importance of family, and what we are doing to relieve the sick are invited to talk with our missionaries or visit www.mormon.org
Sincerely,
Bruce Richards

Thanksgiving

I know I have posted a lot today, but I have the day off, Bruce is napping, and I have nothing else pressing my schedule to do. Bruce and I wanted to stay here for Thanksgiving, but we wanted to have something more than just the two of us. We decided to schedule the church building and invite anyone in the ward who wanted to join us for a Thanksgiving feast. We had some volunteers, so we gave everyone food assignments, brought a lot of games, and had a great time. I cooked a 23 lb. turkey which was ready way too early, and we had more food than we could possibly imagine between turkey, ham, duck, stuffing, potatoes, salad, etc.


We visited for a couple of hours before hand and played a friendly game of basketball. We played card games and more basketball after dinner. Bruce and I were at the church from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm, but it was loads of fun. We had a member in our ward from Taiwan bring a friend from China, and Bruce brought the Akbar from Iran and Dr. Ping from China (they work in his lab) also. They brought the duck and some other Chinese desserts. We had plenty of pie, and I took a boat load of leftovers home. I was really glad we were able to stay here for Thanksgiving. It made things a lot easier, and despite the preparations, it was actually a very relaxing day. I had the day off of school on Wednesday, so I made some of the dishes then. I'm glad we were able to express our thanks to every one sitting at the table. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.


The Saturday before Thanksgiving, we played in the Elder's quorum annual Turkey Bowl. I ended the game with 2 Touchdown, 1 TD pass, and 1 interception. Bruce and I were actually on the same team this year, but our team lost by 2 touchdowns. It was extremely cold in the morning, but we warmed up as we were running around. We enjoyed some great apple cider and donuts during half time.