A Day in the Life of a Soldier

This was seriously one of the best days I've had in a long time.  I am so happy that Angela talked me into signing up for it.  We go to go on post with about 50 educators to learn more about what soldiers go through.  It was truly amazing.

This morning was spent touring the Cavalry museum and they let us try on uniforms from each of the wars.  Here is Tracy, our Principal, all decked out.  We also practiced getting into formation, etc.  

Then we ate in one of the mess halls.  It was great! Angela and I, then Tracy and our new Assistant Principal, Dave Martinez.

After lunch we went to the simulator training center where first we got into a caravan of humvees and shot at simulated enemies on screens all around us while we drove on rough terrain. I took a turn shooting the big gun on top then a rifle from inside.

Then they showed us how to clear a room in teams of three.  One of the soldiers took the best video of me on my turn.  Ask me to view it.  Hilarious!

We next went to a simulator training next door where we went inside Bradlee vehicles and did a practice simulation and then another simulation of real warfare.  Dave and I were hitting targets like crazy during the practice round but when they started the real thing and moved toward us, we quickly used up our ammo and got killed.

It was pretty amazing seeing how tiny the space that the soldiers have to be in.  The Bradlees are basically their campers for months at a time.  We were cramped in there like sardines and they have six people  plus all their belongings in there!  And all their food and water and ammo.  Unbelievable.

Next they took us to the real vehicles where we tried on the gear and touched he real guns and got into and on all the vehicles.  We got on tanks, Bradlees and humvees.  

We got to put on all their equipment which was crazy heavy by itself.  But then they had us try on their packs, too.  I couldn't even take two steps and they train in those!  Not to mention combat! 

We then went to the recreation center which is a prototype for military installations, a ten million dollar project with amazing technology and entertainment.  There were six satellites and tvs, about a half dozen large screen gaming centers and about three dozen additional computers, poker and pool tables, a patio with a fire pit and giant bbqs, and a full snack bar, bar and coffee shop.  After seeing what these soldiers experience, I see how they truly need something like this.

The soldiers that we met today and interacted with were friendly, helpful, courteous and professional.  They patiently answered any questions and explained things in ways we could understand. They were so proud to share what they do with us.  We met two of the four head honchos at Fort Riley and they were super impressive yet very personable, also.  They didn't just bull us, either, they shared the real life issues with us.  They really wanted us to know what it's like to be in the army.

I went today basically to meet the new Assistant Principal and do some team building with he and Angela and Tracy, which we did, but we did so much more!  I learned so much.  My step dad would have been so incredibly impressed with the simulators.  I am so glad I did this.  

School is out

The end of school came up fast on me this year and I wasn't prepared emotionally.  The trip to LA and Newton was a huge distraction.  With that and a week of interviews, I felt I hardly spent time with my kids toward the end.  And I didn't have time to face all the upcoming changes.

With the end of a school year always comes goodbyes.  We say goodbye to the kids every year, I turn over half my caseload.  But we also have staff leave.  Seems like we've had more than our share this year.  I already blogged about how I've come to accept change as inevitable and people coming in and out of my life.  Last year Greg left.  Overall, through it wasn't fun or easy, that change has been ok, positive, even.  This year, we said goodbye to Marvin.  I feel sad about this but also hopeful as God was faithful in answering our prayers for a great replacement for Assistant Principal.  I am excited and hopeful about that.  But I will truly miss Marvin.

Marvin is a unique person.  He is hilarious.  I will always remember how he greets me every day, truly happy to see me.  He carries his emotions on his sleeve so you never have to guess how he is feeling. If he says something, you never believe him because regardless of the mood he is in or the circumstances, he is kidding.  I have fallen for his jokes again and again.  This week, he told me that his replacement, Dave, couldn't start until late fall due to contract problems.  He got Angela and Tracy in on it.  I believed them.  

Marvin comes up to me every single day and puts something in my hand.  Usually a piece of trash he's picked up off the floor.  When Nancy and Greg left for a week, he and I ran the school.  We had the most insane week ever, situations that neither of us had ever had to deal with before.  We worked so well together.  At one point when we were super stressed out and there late, Marvin came up and said very seriously, "well, I know what I need to do.  I need to go to the bathroom."

After work, I would often stop by to say goodbye to Marvin on the way out.  He always invited me to sit.  Sometimes he'd ask me if I wanted a beer and he'd reach below his desk and open his fridge.  Of course he never had beer but he'd be so convincing I'd think it every time even for a second.  He had such great snacks and meals that Jolene made for him.

Marvin was great with kids and they love him.  He did the same teasing with them.  This week I was outside with him during lunch.  First several girls came up and asked him if they could get a drink inside the building.  He told them to go get water out of a spigot coming out of the wall. They believed him and went over there but there wasn't any way to turn it on.  Then two girls came up and asked him if they could use the restroom.  He told one yes and told the other she had to go all the way across the tennis court and ask Mr Newell.  She looked at him and he was so serious that she didn't know what to do.  There was a kiddo standing there and asked if he could go into the soccer game.  Marvin said yes but he'd have to stretch first.  He then led the kid in the most ridiculous series of stretches.  The kid took him seriously and did every stretch even though they had nothing whatsoever to do with soccer, like arm circles.  He also told me a story of telling a kid who was great at soccer  that he needed to work on his skills and enlisting a kid with half the athleticism to give him tips.  Unbelievable.

Marvin was so positive with kids and took every referral seriously.  He spent time with every kid and got them to completely understand and take responsibility before he moved on.  He was fair and consistent but made each decision uniquely so that it would be meaningful for the kids.  He supported teachers and parents.  He took the time to develop relationships with parents, even the most difficult ones and they trusted him.  He took the time to really understand kids and the nuances of what made them behave the way they did.  Marvin always supported the underdog. And he always made me feel listened to and supported and heard.

In meetings, Marvin was always the idea man.  Maybe we could do this or that.  Then he'd start devising a detailed plan of action.  I will never forget the incredible hard work that Marvin put into Eagle Extravaganza. In the early days, it was a huge event that every kid came to and wanted to win.  Every activity was planned to the detail.   I remember during the night, coming in the office to ask him a question and he and about 5 guys would be in his office running stats on the teams.  You'd have thought they were running the NFL draft with how serious it was.  The tug of war brackets alone were a thing of beauty.  Then Banana man would come with sound effects and smoke.  Winning the bananathon in the packed out gym was such a huge honor.  And then when the night was over, everyone would go to Bob's diner and eat a huge stack of pancakes.

I don't want to wrap his blog up because it feels like an era is ending.  But it is.  The Marvin Rupe era at Eisenhower.  He has left such a huge impact on Eisenhower that will never be gone.  He will always be a part of Eisenhower and I know that Eisenhower will always be a part of him.  Love you, Marvin.

Leah Special Day:Graduation

Stayed at the Comfort Inn in Newton last night after flying in to Wichita late from LA.  Got up, showered, had breakfast, then ran over to the church on campus to save seats.

The baccalaureate service was special.  It was emotional, spiritual and heartfelt.  They had special good music, readings, speakers and memories of Bethel.  Bethel is such a great place.  It really was suited so well for Leah and allowed her to grow in so many ways into the person she is now.  

Dad, Jean, Larry, Jo, Scott, David and I all ate lunch at he graduate luncheon in the Bethel student center then went over to the house for awhile.

Leah and David's little house is looking great and it's almost completely done with the remodel!

We popped over to Mojo's for a bit then snagged awesome seats for Leah's graduation.  The weather was absolutely perfect and the ceremony was in the stadium.  Once again, Bethel did it right.  The speaker was excellent.  He spoke of how special it is to be a Thresher, the values of that and how to live a life in service to God.  

I am so very proud of Leah.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude!

After the ceremony, Mojos had a party for the graduating baristas complete with yummy snacks.

LA Last Day

Joel picked us up this morning and we checked out of the hotel.  We went to a CVS to get sunscreen on the way to the beach but Joel closed his finger in the car door so we had to do some first aid.  We bought thess tiny little finger covers that looked like mini condoms that will be fun for him to pass out to his friends at the frat.  Ha ha.

We drove on the crazy freeway and through a traffic jam in Santa Monica until we got to Malibu beach. It was very nice, cooler than it's been all week.  It wasn't super crowded either.

The boys played catch and soccer and we all,played in the waves and took turns sitting on our one towel.  

We then drove a bit further down the road to a super nice beach restaurant called Gladstone. It was yummy.  I had fish and chips.

We sat on the beach a bit longer then set out for the thirty minute drive that took us an hour and a half due to traffic to the airport.  When Joel dropped us off, he told us he loves us!  I will miss him, of course, but we will see him in August!  

Graduation Day

Whew!  Hot, sweaty, crowded day.  A proud emotional day, also.  

Scott and I rode to campus using a taxi service called Uber which did not end up being cheap.  We walked along with the streams of people only to find that the seats were already taken.  So we stood, sweating, mushed up against pushy people for an hour.  When the kids streamed in in their graduation robes and the speakers started, we couldn't even see.  I stood until I was worried I'd pass out then moved over by the stairs so I could sit down.  At least we were in shade!  The valedictorian speech was much like a bad High school speech then the main speaker talked about his company success mostly and told the kids to be philanthropic.  Then they released doves and it ended.  We met Joel and walked to the DKA house

where they has a meal catered in for us.  We sat in the heat and ate then went into the house to sit in the air conditioning with parents and kids we didn't know.  

Then we walked in the heat, said goodbye to Larry and Joanna (who spent 2 1/2 hous on the dash back to their hotel) to the hall where the Cinematic Arts graduation was.  There, they had us wait outside under a tent and it was hot!  We did run into Mike's family and are pop cycles with them before we went in.

We got great seats on the front row of the second section.  There was a video of the history of the Cinematic Arts school which was interesting, then the speakers were good:  the guy who made the marvel films and the guy from Century Fox.  

Then the groups started graduating.  We sacrificed actually seeing Joel cross the stage to take pictures that didn't really come out.  I felt emotional that Joel actually did this!  I'm so proud of all our kids!

After graduation we went over to the reception in the courtyard at the cinematic arts building and had a snack and met more of Joel's friends.  

We then went back to the house and rested in the coolness and quiet.

Then we picked up Joel's "friend" Haley and went to LA live and ate at a great restaurant, Yard House.  It was really nice.  It finally cooled off and we ate on the patio.  It was good to get to know Haley and always good to spend time with Joel.

It sounds like I'm not having a good time but I am.  It is very hot which has put a damper on things quite a bit and I'm tired.  Our hotel is not super close either.  I don't love LA but it's Joel's home now.  That makes me sad, really.

LA Day 2

Today I slept until 8 or so then had my quiet time and ate a muffin we ordered last night from LA Cafe.  I exercised and showered and read til Scott got up then texted Joel.  He picked us up and we met Larry and Jo at Hakata Ramen for lunch in downtown LA.  

They all ate their individual Ramen and I had a rice dish.

We went to Little Tokyo where I bought two pais of leggings, a pink kimono, and a good luck kitty for my printer's drawer.  We also ate gelato and mochi ice cream.  Yum.  Mike met up with us there.  

We walked a ways and went to a cool bookstore called The Lost Bookstore.  It was super hot out again today.

We got in our cars and went to a cool restaurant called Fred 62.  It was decorated retro.  

We put the top down on Mike's car and drove up to Griffith Observatory with about 3 thousand other people to watch the sunset and take pics.  

All in all a great day.

LA Day One

Travel to Wichita in the middle of the night then a direct flight to LAX went without a hitch.  We both slept hard on the plane.  Joel gave us giant hugs when he picked us up at the airport.  

We ate a big yummy breakfast at Jack and Joes. Blueberry and lemon Pancakes, eggs, 

bacon and coffee. 

We hung around Joel's room for awhile even though it was HOT!  The frat was super messy too!  

We walked to campus and ran errands, ATM machine, engineering building to pick up his Cole shirt (the game team he was on), 

the bookstore to pick up his cap and gown, then across campus to get headphones from his friend Haley.  Then we waited for Larry and Jo who rode the bus from their hotel.

Then: USC demo day!  

We watched presentations of all 7 video games from the advanced gaming class.  Super impressive!  One was to teach social skills to kids with autism!  Joel's team made a game called Cole. Fun sarcasm and dark humor. 

After demo day was a reception where we met Joel's friend Mike's parents then played another game Joel made.

We walked back to Joel's house then took Larry and Jo to their hotel and we are now hanging out in our hotel with Joel waiting for some food tobe delivered.

It feels surreal to be here in LA and to be with Joel.  I love him so much.