This is going to be a really long day, I can tell. It’s not because I have a lot of students, because I only have four. It’s because I’m tired, which I wasn’t until I got into the classroom. Why am I tired? Well, I got my usual amount of sleep last night and had my Monster this morning, so I think the reason must be because it’s hot in my classroom. Like really hot. The AC isn’t coming on for some reason. Many may think I don’t need it because the temperature is only supposed to be 75 today, but I do need it because I have no windows in this classroom and can’t open the door because this is ISS. So it’s hot and stuffy in here with no air coming through at all. I can feel myself get more tired as the day goes on and I’m burning up. I picked the wrong day to wear a tie I think.

In other news, I had a great weekend. I didn’t do anything at all really. Didn’t go anywhere or do anything exciting. I did, however, get to talk to an old friend I don’t get to talk to often. We spent hours catching up. That was a great surprise. Anyway, that’s it for updates.

Edit: Since the post my ac kicked on and the day flew by. I only have about 1 hour left of students.

speaker I’ve not posted a song of the week for a while now. Mostly because there really hasn’t been anything too new that has caught my ear. I have been listening to CunninLynguists’ Dirty Acres almost nonstop for a week or so now. Recently they added the song “Mexico” ft. Club Dub to their MySpace. Many of you might remember Club Dub on A Piece of Strange album last year. They are a very talented band and they fit so well with CL. It is in honor of that and the November release of their album that I now invite you on a trip to “Mexico.”

[audio:http://pieceofshep.com/audio/cl-mexico.mp3]

I am really beginning to wonder what happened to discipline. Every day I deal with kids who don’t care. That’s not unusual. Kids don’t want to work, they want to play. I was like that too, but I always did my work anyway. Why? Because my I knew my parents would not be happy if I didn’t do my work. It doesn’t seem that parents care anymore. I already get the kids after they’ve gotten in trouble. You’d think they wouldn’t want to get in trouble any more than they already have, but many don’t care because there are no consequences for their actions at home. I’m not saying that all parents are apathetic towards their kids’ schoolwork, but many are. It amazes me how they just don’t care. Of course, when their kid fails or when they say their kid doesn’t learn anything, they blame the schools. Well, maybe if you would actually pay attention and care about what your kid does, they wouldn’t be having troubles. Why don’t parents discipline their kids anymore? Are they afraid to? Are too many of them trying to be the cool parents and trying to be friends of their kids? I have no idea. I’m not a parent so I can’t answer any of these. I will say one thing though, my kids will have discipline. If they get in trouble, they will know there will be consequences.

This past Saturday I went to Homecoming at my old high school, Fort Zumwalt South. It was a great game. The Bulldogs have a great team this year and have improved their record to 6-0. They played Frances Howell Central and beat them 34-0. The only downside to the game is we had to sit in the hot afternoon sun to watch it. No, I’m not being a baby. You think Homecoming and you think cool weather right? Well, not this Homecoming. It was 91 degrees out and the sun was beating down on us the entire time. I came home with a sunburn. Who would think you would need to wear sunscreen in St. Louis in October and that it would be 91 degrees? Crazy weather.

I know this is odd for someone my age, but I am a huge fan of The Rat Pack, especially Frank Sinatra. Sadly, they did their stage show before my time and I’ve only seen it in a DVD I have (where they are actually performing in St. Louis at the Fox Theatre with Johnny Carson opening for them) as well as in the HBO movie The Rat Pack starring Ray Liotta, Don Cheadle, and Joe Montegna. When you think back at the time they were performing, these guys were the essence of cool. You had great music by Frank, Dino, and Sammy, along with great comedy to come together for a great stage show. It’s too bad I never got to see it. In St. Louis through the 14th of this month The Rat Pack is back. No, not the originals. That would be disturbing. Impersonators are on tour recreating the famous stage show that took place at The Sands in Las Vegas. This is something I wouldn’t mind seeing. If you can’t see the original, why not a recreation? Too bad I’m the only person under the age of 50 that would actually like to see this. I missed it the first time around, as I wasn’t born until 1983 and I’ll miss it this time as well.