RickScheibner.net

I really had hoped to get some blogging done this week, but maybe it’s just as well. I’ve been doing some landscaping and remodeling a bathroom in between running kids to their various activities, so that’s been a good break. Hard to believe it’s been a week since school got out. I’ve enjoyed doing anything that’s not school-related this week, and I’ll look forward to looking toward the 2008-09 school year in the next couple of weeks. In the mean time, here are some things making their way through my brain today:

• Remodeling a bathroom isn’t necessarily fun, but it is rewarding. I’m through the difficult parts (tub & shower installation), so the rest should go a little easier now.
• My parents are coming over this Sunday for Father’s Day. Too bad it’s not my turn at worship team.
• Still haven’t received the results from my Praxis that I took first week of May. What’s up with that?
• I’m on a first-name basis with the good folks at Home Depot.
• We’re going to get some family pics taken later this summer. When is a good question. Looking at a calendar, I’m not sure when we’re going to be able to have all four kids here at the same time!
• I really need to start getting into a routine on my bike. I’ve been saying that for like 3 months now.
• We’ve had some resignations from people at school whom I’ve enjoyed some good professional relationships with over the last few years. They will be missed.
• Did I just mention school? Dang.
• My next computer project is getting some wedding pics compiled, edited and printed up.
• Measure twice, cut once. A good philosophy for both bathroom remodels and life in general.
• I need to get over to Pendleton real soon to visit this guy and his family.
• Next iTunes download? The new Jakob Dylan. I’m still digging Jon Foreman right now, especially after his most recent EP. (Note: Links open in iTunes.)

That’s about it for now. I have a post about Evernote and some new professional directions in the works.
Technorati Tags: Floating Thoughts, blogging, vacation, family, Picasa, home remodel,

I always think of the end of the school year like a roller coaster:  The closer you get to the end, the faster you go.  I’ve had plenty to blog about during that time, just not enough time to get to it all.  Here is a synopsis of what didn’t get posted:

• American Idol:  David Cook was a good call, but any of the last three deserved to win.  My only beef with AI this year is that dreadlocks boy should have gone a lot sooner than he did, and Carly should have been in the Final 4. 
• Sturgeon fishing with my parents, sons, wife, and brother was incredible.  We only landed one fish all day–a nice 55 incher caught by my dad–but we had a great time.  Thanks mom and dad!
• I’m not really sold on Obama for President yet, but then again, I’m not really sold on anybody.  McCain is just looking too much like same ol’ same ol’ these days.

One of the things I’d like to get done as we start this summer is pay a little more attention to this blog.  I’m getting a little tired of the automatically-generated del.icio.us items, also.  Here are some things I’ll be posting in the coming weeks:

• Worship confessional:  After a few weeks off, I was back on keys again at church yesterday.  If you’re in the habit of posting worship confessionals also, I’ll be around to visit yours soon.
• Newspaper column:  I’ve been approached by the good folks of our local newspaper to do a semi-regular column.  Details forthcoming.
• Professional directions:  I’m just now completing my school administration credentials, but I’ll be staying on board as a counselor for at least one more year.  I’m going to share some ideas for the next school year, particularly in the areas of student and staff leadership.
• My life:  Crazy crazy crazy this last year.  That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Thanks for sticking with me on this thing.  More to come.

I use a few of Google’s services for more than just simple searches, and I’m willing to bet you do, too. Here are a few things coming out of Mountain View:

• I’m a day late running this, but they just announced the winner of their k-12 contest to design the Google logo. The one you see pictured here was created by Grace Moon, a 6th grade student from Castro Valley, California. Nice work, Grace!
• Google Sites is now open to everyone. I have to admit, I don’t use Google Sites as I have my own WordPress install, but apparently it teams with Google Gears and comes with some slick features. I may have to give it a test drive later this summer when I have a little free time.
• Print layout is now available in Google Docs. This is probably the most significant story here for me. As much as I’ve really been impressed with Google Docs, the one thing that has me not using it on a consistent basis is the difficulty with viewing what the online document will look like in print form. Web media, in general, looks vastly different on the screen than it does on the printer. I used GDocs to design a flier for an education forum I put together last year, and I got it to look fine, but it took more work than it should have. I look forward to putting this new feature to use on some upcoming projects.
• New GMail features, including the ability to set basic HTML as your default GMail view, rather than the AJAX-based view that tends to hang up on slower connections. I use Thunderbird to sync to my GMail account, so this is less important for me. However, it’s nice to know it’s there for those occasions when I’m on a slower line.

Technorati Tags: Google, GMail, Google Docs,

Thanks to Rich for tagging me on this one.  Here goes:

The rules of this particular meme are: 1. List your top ten favorite films (in no particular order). 2. If you are tagged, you have to post and tag 3-5 people. 3. Link back to the one who tagged you. 4. Tip the hat to Dan.

In no particular order, here are my top ten movies of all time:

1. The Shawshank Redemption–Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins at their best.
2. Dances With Wolves–The stunning scenery was second only to the spot-on cultural portrayals in this one. 
3. The Matrix–The technology is starting to look a little dated, and this thing still gets parodied quite a bit, but man this is a mind-boggling flick.
4. Akeelah and the Bee–This should be on every educator’s top ten list. 
5. Lord of the Rings Trilogy–You really can’t mention one here without mentioning all three.  I’ve wondered sometimes what it would be like to sit and watch all nine hours of this thing in one setting. 
6. The Apostle–Not too proud to admit it:  I probably wouldn’t have put this movie on here unless I’d seen it first on Rich’s list.  Robert Duvall nails the part of the beleaguered, pushed-over-the-edge southern preacher man.  Both justice and redemption in the end.
7. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe/Prince Caspian–I read this book series probably 20 times or more when I was growing up.  And a few more times as an adult, too.  Can’t wait for Dawn Treader in 2010.  I believe that comparisons to the LOTR trilogy are unfair, despite the kinship of their respective authors. 
8. This Is Spinal Tap–There’s an obnoxious, immature 16 year old boy in me that has to see this movie once ever couple of years or so.  Completely irreverent and totally off the wall.  Just make sure yours is turned all the way to 11.
9. A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott version)–Gotta see this one at least a couple of times every Christmas.  And maybe once in the in-between season, too.
10. Dead Man Walking–Redemption seems to be a theme on this list.  Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon in this one.

Ok, now who to tag?  How about John, Bryan, Stephen, Joshua, and Marissa.

How does your list compare?

Gas is closing in on $4 a gallon, so you’d better make each drop count. That means enjoying some scenery along the way. Dark Roasted Blend has listed two roads in Oregon in part 1 of their series, Most Beautiful Roads of the World. One of them, down the Columbia River Gorge, I travel on a fairly regular basis. When I have time, I get out, take some pictures, and just enjoy the place where I live. Even DRB admits:

Oregon is a state that has everything California and Washington states have - ocean, rainforests, mountains and flower displays - but feels somehow cozier and more user-friendly, perhaps due to the more laid-back attitude of those who live there.

Where is it worth $4 a gallon for you to drive to?

Technorati Tags: Oregon, driving, gasoline, Dark Roasted Blend, Columbia River, Pacific Northwest

If you’re an adrenaline junkie, I guarantee you’re going to love this clip.  And even if you’re not, it’s pretty darn sick.  Take a look:

HT: Neatorama

Tags: YouTube, BASE jumping, video,

Tagged from John:

• A - ADVOCATE FOR: Kids from low-income families who have similar talents and abilities as their more affluent peers.
• B - BEST FEATURE: Ummm…hands? My wife would know better than I do.
• C - COULD DO WITHOUT: The status quo.
• D - DREAMS & DESIRES: Normalcy, whatever that looks like.
• E - ESSENTIAL ITEMS: Laptop, an open wi-fi signal, iPod, Oakleys.
• F - FAVORITE PASTIME: Blogging, worship team, spending time with my family.
• G - GOOD AT: Career, music.
• H - HAVE NEVER TRIED: Any kind of illegal drug. Not that I don’t have my vices; none of them just don’t involve narcotics.
• I - IF I HAD A MILLION DOLLARS: College for all of the kids
• J - JUNKIE FOR: Caffeine, whatever form it may come in.
• K - KINDRED SPIRIT: I won’t insult anybody who may have similar abilities/interests as me.
• L - LITTLE KNOWN FACT: I lettered in four different sports in high school.
• M - MEMORABLE MOMENT: Being on Coffee Hour show on KUMA
• N - NEVER AGAIN WILL I: Run/jog for fitness.
• O - OCCASIONAL INDULGENCE: Big oatmeal-raisin cookies.
• Q - QUOTE: “In times of change learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.“–Eric Hoffer
  
• R - REASON TO SMILE: My wife of 3 months, 4 days, and 4 hours.
• S - SORRY ABOUT: Tons.
• T - TAG SOME FRIENDS: Ben, Crystal, Doug, Joshua, Matt, Kat, Nicki
• U - UNINTERESTED IN: Hip-hop or country music of any kind.
• V - VERY SCARED OF: Being alone.
• W - WORST HABIT: My picky eating.
• X - X MARKS MY IDEAL VACATION SPOT: Oregon Coast, every time.
• Y - YUMMIEST DESSERT: Peanut butter/Chocolate pie
• Z - ZODIAC SIGN: Umm…Taurus? I know it more as a car than a sign, though.