Evals

I may have to start considering myself a pretty good teacher. Although, I am still not sure if my excellent reviews are because I am good or because I am nice and the students like me. Ideally, both would be good. Nevertheless, Spring Evaluations came in today and while my numbers were high; I, more importantly, got some great written comments. Including one student who signed their name even and said, "best composition class I've ever taken." I also like, "Give Mr. Hudek a raise. He honestly is a great teacher. He really cares about his students."

"School is cool" is also a good one.

Teacher Day II

I really appreciate my class (If any of my students should find this page: good job this semester). Maybe it’s just the end of the semester and both teachers and students alike are in good moods but class today certainly had the aura of good feelings. All we did was talk about EWP, review for the final, and do the class evaluations (of me) but, again, if felt really good and really satisfying.

Several students needed to talk to me after class (I had to leave when the completed the evals) and a few students said nice things including, “You’re the coolest Mr. Hudek.” I am still not sure if they think I am the coolest because I am easy and nice or if they think that because they are really learning something. Here’s hoping its both.

Now, I still have to wait and see about next year (check back in July) but I talked to some of the powers that be communicating my appreciation for my class and my desire to stay sharing with them my joy of the past couple weeks.

Teacher Moment Day

I really, really (really) hope to be retained for next year. Please, Dr. Ringuette, bring me back! Today, we discussed about eight poems (I don’t normally discuss that much poetry in one day but we had to push a day back into today’s class period). Wow, the “kids” did a fantastic job. I thoroughly enjoyed their readings of and reactions to the poems. They really tried; they really took some stabs at the deeper levels and “figured” them out pretty well. Langston Hughes’ “Dream Boogie” was especially good. So was “A Letter of Recommendation From my Father to my Future Wife” by Richard Jones.

I also had a student whose papers are very strong, amongst the best in class but who never talks in class, share some powerful interpretations that the entire class stopped and took notice of what he said. It was awesome. He even came back after class was over to keep talking about Wallace Stevens’ “The Emperor of Ice Cream” because he was still bothered about the imagery and working out his interpretation. There has to be a special place for someone to come back after class to discuss that poem.

In addition to all this, I handed papers back (about poetry) to which several students did a very good job, including many students who handed in their best papers of the semester. It was satisfying to share in their good work and give them praise for their effort. My top writer also sincerely and kindly thanked me for what I said on her comment sheet (which was, “Your papers have been an absolute joy to read, great job.” So, just a day of good, warm feelings, the type you need as a teacher.

$90 Lunch

Building an academic portfolio is expensive. Paper presentations at various conferences are one of the things included in my professional development. I presented at one such conference today. The Illinois Philological Association hosted their 11th annual conference at Illinois-Springfield where I presented “Sufjan Stevens’ Cultural Critique of Modernism.” Seven people (including the panel) heard my presentation. The cost for registration at said conference was $60, I spent $30 on gas to get there but I did get a “free” lunch out of the deal.

Another Good Quote

From Knowing God: “Still he teaches believers to value his promised gifts, and compelling them to pray persistently for them, before he bestows them.” J.I. Packer

Books / Quotes

I am doing something I swore I would never so; something I looked down upon. I am reading about seven books right now at once. My brain is going to blow up. The books are great, don’t get me wrong but I just cant read all of them fast enough. Here are some good quotes I will give you from these various readings:

“In our day heaven and earth are on tiptoe waiting for the emergence of a Spirit-led, Spirit-intoxicated, Spirit-empowered people. All of creation watches expectantly for the springing up of a disciplined, freely gathered, martyr people who know in this life the life and power of the kingdom of God. It has happened before. It can happen again.”
-Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline

“Do you know why the mighty God of the universe chooses to answer prayer? It is because his children ask. God delights in our asking. He is pleased at out asking. His heart is warmed by our asking.”
-Richard Foster, Prayer

“Through significant life experiences God teaches people about life and relationships. It is through the normal experiences of failure and success, criticism and praise, loyalty and betrayal, illness and loss that God matures people.”
-Henry Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership

“When King Rehoboam next sent out Adoniram, head of the workforce, the Israelites ganged up on him, pelted him with stones, and killed him. King Rehoboam jumped in his chariot and escaped to Jerusalem as fast as he could. Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty ever since.”
-2 Chronicles 10:18-19, The Message

Checking In

All is well. I haven't felt much like posting of late.

Winter Retreat

I’m really glad I went. I was a little uncomfortable and unsure about going but it was Tommy Oaks and then Ben Miller and his ISU crew leading worship. It was very refreshing and a great reminder of things which I believe C.S. Lewis said something like our walks with Christ are not so much in need of conviction and learning but, rather, reminders. I certainly got some of those.

First, the worship was awesome and I do long to be able to be at home during worship somewhere else but through campus ministry events, but so far, no.

Second, Tommy Oaks was everything I needed to hear this weekend. Perfect. His first talk was the “Hot Now” talk I had already heard but enjoyed being reminded. On Sat. he talked about “three pages a day,” that if we read about three pages in our Bibles a day we would read it in a year. Today he talked about Namman and how he had to dip seven times into the Jordan. Tommy elaborated asked which dip was most important. All of them. He then went on to describe his visualization of the each dip and how ugly and nasty it must have been. The point: You don’t know when “seventh dip” moments will come but you have to keep slogging through dips 1-6 to get those “seventh dip” days.

Additionally, Tommy answered a question of mine pretty much perfectly, exactly what I need to hear!

Awesome weekend.

Well, keep on rockin’ in the free world…

Sometimes I Have to Laugh at Myself

Sufjan Stevens has two songs on the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack: “Chicago” and “No Man’s Land.” I certainly enjoy “Chicago” but I was really taken by “No Man’s Land.” However, I was thinking (for whatever reason) that the song was exclusive to the soundtrack. I really wanted it but didn’t want to spend the money. Well, I found out today that it actually is on the Avalanche album, which I own, and have owned it for a few months now. In the end, a very happy discovery.

I am also enjoying using my ipod in the various vehicles I am currently driving thus making Sufjan Stevens all the more enjoyable that I can listen to him on the open road, where he is quite good, which is also probably why they included him in Little Miss Sunshine in the first place. I think the point of this post is that I like Sufjan Stevens, but you knew that.

Automotive Incidents

Incident #1

Last Friday I took a drive out to Lake Charleston. The day was bright; the trees were covered in ice, the roads of Lake Charleston looked clear. I rounded the bend past the lake (I didn’t notice something very crucial). As I continued on to the second bend past the dam, the roads were still clear and I proceeded up the hill.

Again, roads are clear.

I come to the end and I see four people with sleds standing in the road. Huh? What are these people doing up here? I get to the down slope and, yep, it is covered in snow! Now, this LeSabre is big, it’s got a big front end and some junk in the trunk too.

The hill is pretty steep and I am not sure if I will loose control if I go down. I go anyway. Soon enough I am pumping the breaks and when they don’t work, mashing on the emergency break to stop my now out of control vehicle.

I skip about half way down but do stop the vehicle, again, half way. However, I am now broadside with the road instead of in the lane. I am not in the ditch though! (all the while the sledders are just watching me).

It took me several minutes to find the switch but I release the emergency break, ease off the regular brake and eventually get my car straightened. Should I try again? Sure! This time I just very very easily let off the gas and coast. I returned to the paved street safe and sound...

Incident #2
A friend of mine was flying out of Indy and I accompanied him so as to drive his vehicle home and then pick him up at the proper time.

He leaves me the keys, everything is fine and good. I cruise along I-70, everything is going great but I was approaching "E" and also thinking “I am hungry. I will stop in Terre Haute and take care of both issues.”

I pull into the station, look in the rear-view and see that, indeed, the gas-flap is on the driver’s side. However, when I get to said flap, it has a lock. No big deal, I figure, surely the ignition key unlocks this flap. Nope. I cannot get this thing to budge for the life of me and I am facing being stranded in Terre Haute.

After several minutes of fighting with the ignition key and gas lock I gave up and got something to eat instead.

I was stuck. What to do? What to do?

Going through the owner’s manual searching for anything that might help me, I find a section about lost keys. The manual says that a Toyota dealership might be able to create new keys or be able to get into locked cars. I try it.

They create a new key based on the vin number and viola! the key works! I later found out that the original key should have worked.