What Would Have Been

I'm not exactly sure what I would have blogged about had I been keeping this up over the last 18 months but I thought I would list and briefly describe ten things that likely would have appeared here.

1-My Scoooter
My brother Dale always wanted a motorcycle but my parents would never allow it. By the time I was a teenager I didn't even bother asking. I didn't care much about motorcycles anyway. However, I bought a scooter for my 1.5 mile commute last year. It's basically a Chinese made knock-off of a classic vespa design but I love it. The kids beg for rides and I'm happy to oblige. I don't have a picture of the scooter but I took this picture of Utah Valley after riding up to Squaw Peak.
2-Foyle's War
A great British television serious about Detective Christopher Foyle who solves various mysteries in the area of Hastings during WWII. It does a wonderful job of showing what life was like in England during the war without being a series about the war. Each episode is pretty much a crime procedural but there are some fun running story lines through the series.
3-Good Food
Utah County is getting some stellar places to eat that probably each would have received some mention including: P712, Communal, Slab, and Rooster Dumpling and Noodle. I currently live in New York City and can't wait to get back to Utah for good pizza (yes I know, there are probably some great gourmet pizza places here too).
4-Hunger Games
This is a nail-biting and brilliant YA trilogy by Suzanne Collins. She creates a tense scenario for unique adventures combined with thoughtful and deep characters reminiscent of Orson Scott Card's Ender Wiggins.
5-My Job
Got a job. Moved to Utah. Met and worked with a lot of great teacher and students. Tried to fix long-standing problems of finance and enrollment. Closed the school. Don't regret the experience but I'm glad to be moving on. Best and worst year of my career in education so far. The picture her is the copy machine. A great example of the good sense of humor among my great colleagues in a tough situation; also an appropriate symbol of the types of challenges the school faced.
6-Mountains
It was great to be back in Utah and be around the mountains. We had some good walks and drives but mostly it was just great to see Mt. Timpanogos towering over the valley each morning. Especially fun to see while riding my scooter.
7-Moving to New York City
I was fortunate to find an interim job when the school closed but it did mean leaving my family for 7 months to work in New York City. Many thanks to Skype and JetBlue for keeping me sane and providing a connection with home. Despite the challenge of being away from family it has been fun to enjoy the city and ability to take advantage of movies, Broadway shows, and museums with relative ease after being on Long Island for eight years. I will certainly enjoy and appreciate my family even more from my experience of living away from them for such a long stretch but am trying to make the best of where I am for now. The picture is Teachers College where I am working. My office is the second story window to the right of the blue flags.

8-Drive
Daniel Pink has followed up his great book, "A Whole New Mind," with this great summary of research on motivation. He cites studies the challenge the traditional view of motivations in the workplace, family, and self and instead focuses on the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. A good summary video is available on TED.

9-The Death and Life of the Great American School System
Diane Ravitch discusses the changes in education over the last 30 years, with a particular focus on the many changes over the last 15 years. As an original supporter of school choice, No Child Left Behind, testing and money other trends, her concern and condemnation holds even more weight (she eats a bit of crow).

10-Soccer
I had season tickets to Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake last year. Two tickets in the middle of the field on the front row of the upper deck. RSL fell short of the MLS cup but they had an outstanding season and never lost a game at home. The season is just starting up again and I am excited for another great season (but no season tickets this year). I actually got to go down to the field for the last 10 minutes of the game when RSL gave the LA Galaxy their first defeat of the season.