The wedding DVD...what was this guy on?

Last week Elissa and I got our wedding DVD. We were totally excited to see it and were so happy that my dad had arranged to have the ceremony recorded. Then we watched the video. Like all things about our relationship, the video was a comedy of errors. Had the videographer taken a moment to look at the wedding bulletin, he probably would have been better informed. But it was obvious that this guy really liked to do things "in the moment". Most of the time he forgot to turn off the lapel mic that I was wearing, so when I would sing the hymns, it would totally obliterate all other sound and leave the recording with static...not to mention when I went to go and light the unity candle, it sounded like I was wearing a rubber tuxedo.

The only saving grace was that there were 2 cameras set up and one was NOT tapped in to my lapel mic. Had the video editor even had an iota of sensibility, he would have switched angles at the point where the sound was bad, avoiding the very unprofessional result that he eventually put onto DVD. After a couple of emails back and forth with the "editor" of the video (who was not the same guy who did the video recording...in fact the editor lives in OHIO), it was clear to me that this guy had no idea how to edit a professional video. I will spare you the description of the cheesy animation and horrible sitcom-like music that accompanied the beginning and end of the video to quote you from his email:

"until the last year or so, VHS has been the main way that people have watched video Media." Huh? Where has this guy been? VHS has not been the main media format for about 5-8 years.

So, now after about 3 hours of work in imovie (thank God for Apple), I have a video that looks far more professional and has become something that I would actually watch in the years to come. I just hope that we can get some money back from these guys...cuz it really isn't worth the DVD's it is burned to.

Anyone wanna watch a wedding video?

Handbell Hero #2?

I can't believe that there is more than one of these. This one, I think is far more legitimate than the previous link that I posted. In this game, there are actual people on the screen playing the handbells as you press the keys. Way fun.

Thoughts on Christmas Fest.

So, last night I was watching St. Olaf's Christmas Festival on PBS and two things struck me:

1. I was shocked an amazed to see an entire handbell choir on stage participating in the festival.  Handbells have always been an afterthought, usually played by the brass players in the orchestra to add "color" to one of the acapella pieces.  This year Steve Amundson, the orchestra conductor (of whom I will always be in awe) wrote a new orchestra song in which the handbells play a MAJOR part.  They don't just play an ostinato off and on sporadically in the composition, they are FEATURED and play throughout the ENTIRE THING!!!!  It was incredible.
   
   
2. no matter what year I watch Christmas fest, It always seems like it's the same people singing...I feel like I see people that I know.  Ole's just have a "look" about them.  Is that weird? 
   

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Goodbye video stores

A new service called hulu.com has come around offering videos/TV shows on demand for free (right now).   Here's The Breakfast Club".  I'd hate to ahve stock in Blockbuster. 

The Breakfast Club

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Handbell Hero

For those of you familiar with the popular video game...this totally rocks my world



Check it out: http://www.haanmc.com/sandbox/handbellhero/

Bad Karma

So it seems that I have stumbled into some bad karma these past couple of weeks.  Last week it was car trouble, money issues, and food difficulties.  This week, I seem to have screwed up my back somehow.  Ack!  Why can't I just have a normal week where things are somewhat good? 

Today we are supposed to find out the details of our contract negotiations.  Keep your fingers crossed for something good. 

Did you read this?

So I hadn't really read the article about our contract agreement as of my last post, but now I'm really angry. In addition to making it sound like the district had come to the bargining table willingly with offers, they said this:
"The real cost to the district will be greater, however, because
teachers receive automatic increases for experience and additional
higher education credits."

AUTOMATIC PAY INCREASES!!!!!?!?!?!?! What!?!?!?! Like in any job, teachers get more pay for more experience and education. We spend hundreds of hours a year and thousands of dollars of OUR OWN MONEY to get these credits.

I am so angry right now...and I know that the teachers in my district are once again going to roll over and take this deal. What a joke. Once again the district has won and will continue to reign and treat us like second rate citizens who don't have extensive education and degrees to our credit.

Yet another slap in the face

As of my last post we were told that we had reached a tentative agreement with the district, but that until it had gone to the Union board of directors and they went through all the steps to ratify it for the vote, no details would be given out. Then what do we see in today's newspaper? Yup, all the details of the agreement given to the paper by our wonderful school district.

Their response? "Oops. Sorry. Next time we will go through the proper channels"

So now who looks bad if we vote the agreement down? Yup, you guessed it. The teachers.

This tentative agreement is nothing stellar either. It's not even close to 3% each year. But, knowing how things usually go in our district, the teachers will probably take it and life will go on as an underpaid, unappreciated, employee.

Should I go elsewhere? Or will it just be as bad there?

Work to Rule Update

So today there is scuttlebut about a tentative agreement on our contract. I am a bit leery of this as it came WAY too fast in reference to all the talk i was hearing. Hopefully we will have more information available tomorrow. Let's just hope we don't get screwed.

Work to Rule, makes me drool

Elissa is out tonight doing stuff with Vocal Essence So, here I am watching RENT and baking Christmas cookies and sort of reflecting on things in my life right now. I was at a music teachers Christmas party last night where the hot topic was, of course, the lack of a contract, work to rule, and the District's crappy treatment of its teachers. For those of you not familiar with "work to rule" it means that all the teachers in the district wait outside their buildings until the work day is supposed to start and then all go in together. We then all leave together at the end of the work day. All extra-curricular activities have been canceled and planning time is at a premium. At first I was worried because I usually get to school an hour before the duty day starts just to get things planned and in order for the day. But i have actually found it liberating and motivating. I actually get all my planning done during my prep time! Go figure! However, the lessons are bare bones and I really have no time for any extra creative lesson ideas.

Anyway, within the conversations last night someone asked if they thought we would be going on strike...This was asked to someone who is on the negotiations team and really is in on the inside of things...he said that it was VERY possible and that the District really is pulling a power play.

Going on strike is a very scary proposition.

I do manage to save some money from my paycheck every week, but it certainly isn't enough to keep me going for more than a month or so. Let's just hope that we settle this contract soon without having to strike.

Keep your fingers crossed

Running on Empty

I'm totally empty...there isn't much left...not quite sure how much longer I can go...

For the past year it's been lots of output from my creative/emotional gas tank but nothing going back in. Last week I found myself having these very strange mood swings, to the point where I was scaring myself. It seems like all I do is give, give, give, of my artistry and I have no way of getting anything back. I teach for 6 hours a day, then I spend 2 evenings at church giving some more to the bell choirs, and on the weekends I teach at workshops or at church or go out with friends.

Nowhere in my life is there anything that is allowing me to create beauty myself. I just don't have the time. I am aching to be in a musical or sing in a choir. I almost cried last weekend when I was sitting in a reading session, surrounded by other wonderful voices who were making music with me and not for me.

This has to change.

Honestly the only way that it can change is if I give up my church job, or find a way to only go 1 night a week instead of 2. I love having the $$, but is it really worth it when everything else in my life is suffering?

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE teaching and everyday I am excited to be in my classroom with my kids (well, almost everyday). But there is a huge difference between that and creating something myself with other trained musicians.

I'll be okay. But if you see anything that I can audition for, please let me know.

Tales from the Choir Loft

I gotta say that I love Elissa's new job with Vocal Essence. The perks are great! On Saturday Vocal Essence sponsored a concert by the Russian Patriarche choir. This is a group of 12 men from Russia who sing Russian Sacred and folk music. It was a sold out concert however, Elissa got me, Andrew, and Eric free seats in the choir loft at the back of the Basilica of St. Mary's. Talk about awesome seats. We were high above everyone and had a great bird's eye view of the concert. Totally the best seats in the house!

The concert itself was incredible and very moving. I was amazed by the amount of sound these 12 guys put out! They filled the Bascilica with the most luscious, soaring voices that I had ever heard.

Guilty Pleasures

A few months ago we were forced to get cable TV in order to get cheaper internet service.  It's only basic cable, so we only get a few extra channels that we didn't have before.  One of the new channels is Disney Channel.  I have to say that I'm totally hooked on Hannah Montana.  Yes, it's a little embarrassing...but I don't care.  Saturday Hannah Montana marathon here I come!

Total addiction

So this game has me totally addicted!

It's dissapointment/dissillusionment Friday

Here at School we have had a rash of very bold robberies.  Someone has been going in to classrooms and stealing things out of teacher's purses and locked drawers.  It was very worrisome because yes, our kids are squirrelly and can't listen, but I would never peg any of them as theives...especially the one who finally got caught yesterday. 

A teacher walked in to her room and found this student under her desk stuffing items into a bag from a locked drawer.  This "thief" was someone that NONE Of us suspected.  She was the sweetest, brightest, and most talented student in her classroom.  She has been on all of the "special" groups here at school, was a school patrol leader, was beloved by her teachers and counted on to help out.  How disheartening it was to find out that such a good kid was hiding this darkness inside her.  When caught, she said she would have kept on doing it if she hadn't gotten caught.  Not even sure if there is any remorse there. 

So, what happened to this kid?  Is she seeking attention?  Did something go wrong at home?  Was she just bored because she was so brilliant?  Hmmm.  I'm sad that I can no longer count on this student to help me or to set an example to her classmates.  I will no longer see her the same way and that is too bad. 

The game of Bunnies

I must thank Dean for turning me on to the video podcast TikiBar TV.  It's totally hilarious plus the added bonus of a really hot girl.  Here is one of my favorite episodes:

Sweeney Todd...the movie

It's about time Sondheim made it onto the silver screen. I just hope they dont' mess it up too badly. They did a nice job translating RENT. Hopefully this will still have the virtuosic music.

Teaching in quicksand

I'm not sure how many people who read my blog have ever taught a classroom full of kids (or adults for that matter) but thoes who have I'm sure can sympathize with my day.

Today was one of those days that just kept getting more and more frustrating for me. Usually when a lesson is not being grasped by the students, I am able to modify on the fly and just keep going. I say usually because today was a day of teaching in quicksand. No matter what direction I went, the kids were lost. No matter how hard I tried to make them understand the simplest of directions no one was listening. It's a terrible feeling to know that you need to change activities, but can't because no matter where you go, the students will not be able to handle it: Games are out, instruments are out, so that leaves me with singing songs or clapping rhythm patterns...just kidding. I managed to get through the day. But it left me with a HUGE headache and that sinking feeling that my teaching is stuck in a rut and needs to get a kickstart and that I need to go back and re-vamp my curriculum for the year. ug. Some days this job drives me to drink...Rumplemintz here I come.

I"m back!

a few months ago I made the switch from Blogger over here to Ning (as you can see by the previous post). I love Ning and everything it is and allows me to do. Unfortunately, my school district has blocked access to all Ning.com sites (gasp) which is now forcing me to go back and do my blogging on Blogger.com. You can still access my posts from this website, but soon things will be changing...

Since I am using feedburner to send out the RSS for my blog, that will not change, so if you are subscribed that way, you will not be affected. Once my vision is clear of what I want to do I will post something here for y'all to read. Till then. I'm off to do some web designing...well, not really, but it sounds impressive.

Making the switch

Alright folks. The day has come. I'm making a full switch over to Ning. Please update all your bookmarks and RSS readers to reflect this change. I will no longer be updating my Blogger blog (unless, I find a really cool way to do it) Blogger has become to complicated and now I can have all my stuff in one spot. Enjoy the new home!

http://paulweller.ning.com

bananas are amazing

Have you ever really looked at a banana? It goes through an amazing transformation in it's life. When you get a green one, the skin is thick, green, and tough to open. As it ages, the skin gets thinner, yellow, brown, and more delicate until it's just mush. It practically decomposes before your eyes.

Plus, just think of all the fun bananas bring:
- you can use them as a telephone
- put them into a banana split
- make banana bread/cake
- use the peel when you need a prat fall
- It gave us the Chaquita banana song
- Monkeys eat them...how fun are monkeys?!?!?
- People with dirty minds may have other uses, but I'm gonna keep this PG

Or could it be that I'm just really trying to keep myself awake by eating a banana hoping it will give me some inspiration.

Back to the Grind

Spring break is over and I'm back at work today. To say that I'm unmotivated would be an understatement. I didn't think that I could feel as burned out as I did last year, but here it is April and I'm just wiped out. Worked all week on my Master's Summary paper and finally got it finished and set off to be edited. Hopefully there won't be too much to change or improve. Now I just have to hang on until the end of this month and I'm home free. Got 2 concerts at school coming up, 3 more class sessions, and a portfolio to put together and then I will have a Master's Degree. WHEEEEEEE!! Who's buying me a drink on May 4th?

New Pictures on the Site

For thoes of you who missed my famous turn as Frankie in Forever Plaid, I have posted pictures on my website.  It was so much fun.  Perhaps someday I'll do another show. Stay tuned folks.

Addicted to Ning.com

Hi, my name is Paul and I'm addicted to Ning.com.
I was first introduced to Ning.com about a year ago by Kyle, a friend of mine from High School. He works there so he was way pumped about this new social networking site. About a month ago they introduced a brand new Ning.com and it's completly awesome. If you haven't visited one of the sites I built on this new platform, you really should go check out ning.com.  Soon, I am hoping to move the entire Handbell Podcast website to Ning...making it an incredible tool for the handbell community.
This week alone I have created or updated 7 Social networking sites on Ning:

* My own personal site
* The Weller Family (must be a Weller to join)
* The Green Lake Famliy (invite only)
* Orff Friends (must be a certified Orff-Schulwerk teacher to join)
* A Wedding website (invite only)
* Wassup Bitches?! (invite only)
* Anoka Hennepin Music Teachers (invite Only)

and the one I'm particularly proud of:

* The Handbell Community (brought to you by The Handbell Podcast)


But now I can't stop. This is crazy. Someone needs to help me get control, or just keep me busy on one of these other sites by posting blog posts, discussions, photos, and videos.

Spring Break!

I'm on SPRING BREAK!  Last night I actually stayed out until 3am sitting in a hot tub with my cousin and his wife.  It was way fun.  What are my plans for the rest of the week you ask?  Nothing exciting, I have to finish writing my summary paper, do  my taxes, and pay bills.  But at least I'll get to sleep in till 7 or 8 wheeee!

I'm screaming frustrated

The state of education in this country is VERY dismal...however, the state of ethics that we are supposed to demonstrate in schools is even worse. Take for example, my school. Our discipline policy is crap and because the district decide kids need exercise (as if that's our job to manage) we can no longer take Recess away as punishment. This has left us flaccid. We have no consequences to hand out to the kids. Combine that with weak and absent parenting and you get a society run by idiots.


Today I heard about one of our students bashing another student's heads against the sidewalk on the way home from school yesterday. It was so violent that a community member who observed this said the child was "acting like an animal". Needless to say this was not the attackers first offense. What was is punishment you might ask? Was he expelled from our school? Taken away by the police and thrown in jail? Nope, he was given a vacation. He gets to spend 5 days in the "suspension school".


Just imagine if you or I had done this to another adult or even another child. We would be in jail faster than Michael Jackson's nose melting on a hot day. The attacker gets to come back to school to terrorize this poor kid another day. Huzzah for our educational system...districts too concerned about getting sued and can't stand up and say when something is wrong.


Call the kettle black already!


I'm too angry...must stop this rant before it gets too long. Comment if you feel so moved.

What about the Ugly Asians?

hot asian
Originally uploaded by pkweller.

Yes...honestly this is a sign I found at my local GROCERY STORE! I'll bet you thought it was some new hip club here in the Twin Cities. When I first saw this sign I had pictures of hot Asian men in tight pants (not that this image does anything for me...but, you know) dancing around to techno music. I'm sure people in the store must of thought I was nuts as I walked around laughing outloud to myself about the thought of a "Hot Asian Bar" inside the Cub Foods. Could this be construed as racist? But then again, to quote that famous broadway musical: "Everyone's a little bit racist...sometimes" Enjoy a snicker while I have a pot sticker.

2nd Grade Humor

I love the fact that 2nd graders don't get sarcasm. This one kid started to tattle on someone and said,

"I was over there..."

and I interrupted him and said,

"yes and now you are over here. Isn't that great?"

The other adult in the room with me just lost it as this little kid looked at me with the most confused face you've ever seen. I had a hard time teaching the rest of the hour because whenever I looked at her, she started laughing again.

Priceless.

Weddings are Ridiculous

I'm not talking about the actual ceremony or the institution of marriage, I'm talking about the frickin' cost of the damn thing. I mean c'mon why does one have to go into debt in order to profess one's love for a fellow human being? This wedding we are planning is going to be amazing, fun, and the party of the century, but we are going to be paying for it for the next 10 years! Sheesh. I think we need to cut back on things. How would everyone feel about bringing a box lunch or perhaps a pot luck hotdish to pass? I'd better start saving my pennies now.

Twitter...yes, again.

I know that I have said this before, but I'm gonna say it again for those who weren't listening. EVERYONE needs a Twitter account. What is Twitter you ask? Well, twitter is...um...well, it is a communications gateway that asks the question: “What are you doing now?” Users can answer and hear their friends’ answers via SMS (phone text message), via IM, or on a webpage. It's quite addicting and allows friends to keep in touch via little everyday things instead of lengthy emails or blog posts.

Need more convincing? Check out this article on 5 ways to use Twitter for Good.

Now...go and sign up RIGHT NOW

Oprah Garbage

So to make up for the snow day where class was canceled last week, our instructor is showing us a video right now. Keep in mind that this is a class called "Ethics". The video is called "the Secret" and was shown and talked about on Oprah (each time I type her name I type opera instead of oprah... really have to think hard about how to type that). The secret of this video is that it's motivational, positive thinking, crap. What the hell does this have to do with ethics? It's touchy-feely-daytime TV-garbage. All it's doing is retelling the old philosophy that positive thinking nets you positive results. Duh! WHy do I need to waste 90min of a saturday watching this garbage.

I want a drink and its not even noon yet.

I've got a new home

Hello everybody!

So i've moved my blog to Ning.com because I'm totally in love with how it looks and the fact that I can put all my pictures, videos and stuff in one place. Soon the blogger page will look like the other site, but right now I'm being lazy...wait what am I saying, I'm in the middle of writing a HUGE paper, taking 2 classes at St. mary's, teaching, and directing 3 handbell choirs. Sheesh, I should wish to be lazy. So, stop on by the new site and join as a member...you can even create your own blog right on my blog site or post something to the fourm.

Enjoy



Oh, here's the link

SNOW DAY!!

Yesterday we were all cursing our district for not closing as we dug our cars and helped each other push them out of the parking lot. Today, they graciously gave us a snow day and a 3-day weekend (I'm sure that was their plan all along...ha ha). But it certainly was warranted. At last count (and the snow is still falling) we had about 15 inches of snow on the ground and the piles of shoveled show are HUGE. I just got back in from shoveling my car out of the parking space. I love the snow! We have not had a good snow in MN in a very long time, so I am totally excited for it. Now if only I knew a good place to rent and go cross country skiing. Here are a few pics from this morning

My Life is Complete!

For those who know me, know that I am TERRIBLE at returning phone calls. I just don't go well with listening to voicemails and then remembering they are in my phone. For years I have been looking for a way to see my voicemail either by sending them to my email account or some online thing. Well, I found it today! A widget that I have placed on my dashboard will make my voicemails visual! Hope against hope that now I will be able to return more phone calls. The best news is that it's FREE!

A New Musical

Okay, when I first saw this listed as a new musical by Duncan Sheik, I was a bit skeptical, but I have to say that I am floored by the music and the storyline. Check out this song from the show. I have the soundtrack on order, so I'll give you a full reivew when I get a chance to listen to it all.

David Hasslehoff...yes, it's as bad as I thought

I love the Musical Jekyll and Hyde and unfortunately the only video version has Mr. Hasslehoff as the lead. Yes, it's as bad as I thought it was going to be. Enjoy!

You've never what???

So I was in the teacher's lounge just now, when I expressed the fact that I have never been in the Metrodome (our professional sporting facility). I was met with shocked, confused, and repulsed faces as if EVERYONE has been there because sports rules the world.

Then I asked if any of them had ever been to Orchestra Hall. Two out of 6 raised their hands...but nobody looked shocked or horrified.

Hmmmm...further proof that professional sports is lost on me.

Butterflies - Still

You know what I think is neat? Every week when I write new lesson plans for my kids, I get butterflies just before they come in. Sometimes I am excited about the lesson and I really want to see how it goes with the kids, and sometimes these butterflies are caused by my lesson plan extending outside my comfort level trying something new. Either way, these are good butterflies and it makes me love my job even more. No day is ever the same here and nothing ever goes quite as planned. It's like performing experiments all day.



I just wanted to share some positivity today...after all the negativity that has been going around this school lately.

Thar She Blows...on the stage?

I remember back a year or so ago, my dad and I were discussing a musical based on the novel Moby Dick. It was a ridiculous premise with chorus lines and a strange ensemble number called "thar she blows" in which captain Ahab did a little tap dance. I don't remember how exactly we came to this topic or how it eventually ended. Although I do remember it being absolutely hysterical! Can you imagine a stage full of men dressed as sailors singing a chorus of "thar she blows"? Priceless right?



Well, today, I was stumbling around the net to kill some time, when I found a new Opera all about...yup, you guessed it: Moby Dick. "Call Me Ishmael" is the name of this and the tagline says: "More than a musical - more than an opera". Searching the site I didn't find any mention of a big musical number featuring that famous line "thar she blows". Although there is a ballet showing a "wild orgy of drunkenness below deck".



All I can say is...next time dad, we'd better keep the ideas a secret

New Website

Hey, Check out this new website I just created

An Explanation

A reader of my blog suggested that I explain yesterday's joke for the non musical geeks in my audience. So, here goes: Yesterday was Phillip Glass's Birthday and I was listening to NPR's Composers Datebook when I heard the joke. Phillip Glass is a 20th century composer who is part of the minimalist school of music. He is famous for writing music that has lots of ostinati (repeating melodic or rhythmic patterns that go on and on). Hence the joke that just keeps going on and on forever.



Okay, so maybe it's only funny to me





However, I LOVE Phillip Glass. There is something extremely calming and so unique about the complex simplicity of his music. He is a huge supporter of Tibet's fight for freedom and wrote the music for Martin Scorsese's KUNDUN. Kundun is an amazing movie with haunting music that tells the story of the current incarnation of the Dalai Lama and his fight for peace in the world.

My favorite new joke

Knock Knock...



Who's There?



Phillip Glass



Phillip Glass Who?



Knock Knock...Who's There? - Phillip Glass - Phillip Glass Who? Knock Knock...Who's There? - Phillip Glass - Phillip Glass Who? Knock Knock...Who's There? - Phillip Glass - Phillip Glass Who? Knock Knock...Who's There? - Phillip Glass - Phillip Glass Who?



Sorry if you don't get it, It's a joke for music nerds. I find it hilarious!

Music Geeks Unite

This guy has it totally right...every other song is based on the same chords as pachelbel's cannon



And NO we will not be playing the Cannon at our wedding.

This is Brilliant!

Have you ever made up your own "sign language" for a song? This is amazing.

Coolest little app...ever!

okay, so I'm a total mac app junkie. I love looking around the web for freeware that makes the most out of my machine. I'm also a low-tech junkie...I aspire to write in Journals and I carry with me a small Moleskin in which I write ideas, thoughts, lists, and to do items. I am a huge fan of the GTD movement (getting things done) and all the ideas that have come out of that desire to get ourselves more organized. So today, in my wanderings I found THE best application ever. It creates a paper PDA (called the hipster pda, named as such because it can fit in your hip pocket or because it is "hip").



This software comes in two forms, both of which are free:

An Online version called PocketMod which allows you to drag and drop various page templates into your hipster PDA

-Software version called PagePacker based on the same online design allowing drag and drop into the pages via templates and your own pdf files.



With this sofware I was able to create a small 8 page planner with important phone numbers from my apple address book, my January ical calendar, and pictures from my iphoto. I may be turning in my moleskin for something even less fancy. All I do is drag, drop, print and fold and there it is! Let me know what you think!

Photo Stamps

Funny Faces.jpg
Originally uploaded by ehgreen01.

For Christmas my dad gave Elissa and I software so that we can make our own stamps with photos. I was thinking that we should use this one when we send out the wedding invitations. Thoughts?

De-bauchery in Boston

Just posted photos of the Boston Trip. Check them out on Flickr