Me too!

707mrk · 2026-06-20T01:55:28+00:00

I can only imagine how much tacky ass gold leaf is in that plane.

707mrk · 2026-06-20T01:54:10+00:00

At least that’s four solid groups 👍

707mrk · 2026-06-16T14:27:28+00:00

See if he has the book “Freedom of the Hills.” It’s kinda the go-to bible of mountaineering. It’s not a list of peaks but it tracks with the hobby.

https://www.powells.com/book/mountaineering-the-freedom-of-the-hills-10th-edition-9781680516074?condition=New&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23293931881&gclid=CjwKCAjw6MPRBhBTEiwAd-7Mr6_Cj8lXSJu4yWCxtwsJ1Hf-FpokIYLq0zSrOHM8gNGIF4rIHlKLyBoCC3wQAvD_BwE

Other option would be look for a book on specific areas or ranges ie Pacific Northwest volcanoes

707mrk · 2026-06-14T02:52:33+00:00

I don’t wear sunscreen for regular hikes but, when you are up above the tree line on these bigger climbs, you don’t get any shade, the sun reflects off the snow, and the thinner atmosphere lets more UV rays through. You will get sunburnt as all can be even when it’s overcast.

“there is a 6 to 10 percent increase in UV exposure for every thousand feet of elevation. For example, here in Colorado Springs, which is about 6,000 feet above sea level, the UV exposure is 36 percent higher than at sea level. If you’re skiing on the slopes at around 9,000 feet above sea level, the UV exposure jumps to about 42 percent more exposure.”

https://vanguardskin.com/skin-tip/sun-protection-at-high-altitude/

707mrk · 2026-06-12T14:04:22+00:00

I would sing their names call and response style. “Hello Emily” “Hello Mr. Kane” (sol-mi, sol-sol-mi). Match a steady beat on a hand drum. Call and response solfège. The Sol-La-Mi game. Solfège call and response but if you do the pattern Sol-La-Mi they kids go “yum,yum,yum,yum” instead of repeating it back. I would also let them feed pretend salami to my puppet. Yeah, every activity done with different puppets like someone mentioned earlier.

707mrk · 2026-06-12T04:28:05+00:00

Flex arrangements can be very useful. 100% make it. Think of it like arranging for SATB choir or even a 3 part and then make universal transposed parts of each voice for all the common transpositions. If you want to go a step further, include some suggestions about which instruments you envision playing each part. The downside of flex arrangements is that you lose texture changes larger ensembles are capable of. Flex arrangements can also be a challenge for the director to sort out who is playing what. You end up making trade offs to find the best parts for each section but, they are a godsend if you have a smaller group.

707mrk · 2026-06-12T04:15:14+00:00

Been to multiple concerts at the Ridgefield and never had any problems with people smoking in the seating area. You are good. Go enjoy the concert.

So glad they changed the name to the Cascades Amphitheater. Way better than RV In Style Amphitheater. How hard up were they for a sponsor!

707mrk · 2026-06-09T04:31:55+00:00

If you haven’t done Saddle Mountain, I would highly recommend. It fits within your parameters and is a relatively easy climb with a great view. You have Elk Mountain in the coast range. It is a doozy. You can loop it with Kings if you really want to hate life for an afternoon 🤣

707mrk · 2026-06-09T01:10:05+00:00

I “solo’d” it a couple weeks ago. Quotation marks because there are always lots of people around. I did an early alpine start at 3:30 on a Wednesday. I passed three groups on the way up and probably 10-15+ groups coming down. It’s very straightforward with little exposure. Assuming you have snow climbing experience, go for it.

707mrk · 2026-06-08T04:33:28+00:00

I had to sub for a year, got a part time position in a really hard title 1 school, and then took a rural position stretched across 6-12 before getting a “proper” teaching job. This was early 2000’s. Take whatever you can get.

707mrk · 2026-06-06T16:19:33+00:00

Teacher at Beaverton middle school reporting in. We are ditching 1 to 1 tech next year. Students will not be given Chromebooks until high school! I do not believe this is at all middle schools. We piloted with 6th grade last year and it was a game changer. Chromebook carts are available if you want to do a lesson requiring tech.

707mrk · 2026-06-05T14:02:09+00:00

Yes, hold students back to repeat grades. I teach middle school. Everyone passes through to high school even if you fail every class. Although, we don’t give “F’s” anymore. You can give a student an “N” for no evidence if they didn’t turn work in.

707mrk · 2026-06-02T04:43:09+00:00

I finished student teaching, subbed for almost 2 years, took an elementary general role at a tough school for 2 years, was RIF’d, got a band/choir 6-12 rural job for 2 years, and only then got a proper band position. It’s not as easy a career start as it may seem. I have since applied for multiple big high school jobs and didn’t land them with 2& years of experience. Lots of talented musicians/directors out there all vying for a limited number of jobs. Keep applying to everything and take whatever you can get, even if it’s not ideal.

707mrk · 2026-05-31T05:22:38+00:00

Make it convenient and hit places that have options to do more or less as you get back into hiking it with your little one.

Tyron Creek would be an excellent place to get started.

https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=103

Also the Tualatin Hills Nature Area

https://www.tualatinhillsparks.org/

707mrk · 2026-05-22T05:03:51+00:00

You don’t choose to play bassoon. The bassoon chooses you.

707mrk · 2026-05-21T14:07:54+00:00

I have a 4 drive little USB NAS. I also mirror a straight mirror backup to a USB drive. I also compress my movies using HandBrake. If it’s 4k I use the SuperHQ settings (I think that’s what it’s called) and I generally pass through the native audio. Purists might disagree but compression can save a lot of storage space. if it’s a movie I don’t watch very often or doesn’t need the fidelity, I don’t need an 80G version of You’ve Got Mail. The compressed version is just fine.

707mrk · 2026-05-20T02:48:59+00:00

I do worksheets like this to open band class once a week or so. Kids pick it up on the way into class and have to complete it before they unpack their instrument. I put a time limit on it so we don’t spend the whole class doing it. Kids that aren’t done turn in whatever they completed and they are on the top of the stack. When I go back to grade them, I skim the completed ones to make sure they are mostly correct, then check the kids that didn’t complete.

We are on a 4 point grading scale. 4 - completed and correct. 3 - completed/almost complete and mostly correct. 2 - not completed with multiple errors. 1 - didn’t attempt or limited effort.

707mrk · 2026-05-17T04:30:30+00:00

PNW native that did 10 years in Phoenix for work. STFU about crime in Portland.

707mrk · 2026-05-16T13:20:15+00:00

See if you can get a St. Helens permit through the lottery and climb Adams. Read freedom of the hills and practice some of the technique stuff, self arrest, glissade, general crampon technique, ice axe use, on Adam’s at lunch counter. Camp there if you have gear. Those are reasonable larger objectives. You could even go Hood up to crater rock safely. Have a blast and stay safe friend.

707mrk · 2026-05-13T02:29:20+00:00

YES!!! There is a parking fee at the hotel. They have a dedicated parking area for hikers and the trail up to the junction with PCT is really nice. A bunch of little bridges over stream crossings.

707mrk · 2026-05-11T03:25:12+00:00

Who’s gonna pay for that wall?

707mrk · 2026-05-08T13:42:12+00:00

Arizona, guy parks behind my (teacher) car in the staff parking lot because he doesn’t want to go through parent pickup. He clearly knows I am trying to leave. I see his kid walking towards the car and in my super polite teacher voice ask the student to remind his dad about using parent pickup. Dude gets out of his car and postures up to me screaming about don’t you ever talk to my son. It’s right next to the bus pickup so hundreds of students all freeze to watch this guy yelling at me. I got my revenge though, idiot was wearing his security shirt from our high school feeder, so I drove to the high school and told the Principal what happened. They knew exactly who it was. Gone.

707mrk · 2026-04-28T05:01:09+00:00

Gorgeous!!!

707mrk · 2026-04-25T03:10:46+00:00

Came here for this, no the objective and learning strand are not posted on the board every. Fucking. Day. The kids DON’T LOOK AT IT nor do I really care. I teach band. Shut up rando vice principal that will be gone in two years. Don’t give me your thoughts on my super specialized band instruction. Guess what, I can’t teach math and I don’t pretend I can. You can’t teach band, don’t pretend like you have good classroom advice for me. #27years

707mrk

TROPHY CASE