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