12/31/99
It's time for a note from the teacher on his first Christmas vacation
in quite a few years! After a rocky and wild few months, Ted is
settling
into his new role as one of two teachers in the middle level
alternative
school in Brainerd, Mn, (MLAP for short.) Having a break for the
holidays
is great, and very necessary as life with 14 7th-9th graders who
have chosen an alternate route through the school system requires all
of
my skills as a parent and older guy who's been around! I'm told I'm
doing
well, and thanks to a great teaching partner and wonderful and
supportive
administrators, I can believe it most days! I hope to get the students
designing a web page for the school this year, so I can direct you to
see
more of what we do. For now, I'll just say that I was hired to teach
Math,
which I had never done and attempt daily, Music and science, which I
know
a bit more about but with 12-15 year olds in the same class is tough to
find a way to it. We will be taking some field trips this winter: to
Wolf
Ridge Environmental Learning Center, Ann Frank play in Mpls, Science
Museum,
and an alternative school conference where the kids compete in things
like
public speaking, and hopefully, musical performance. We have a bunch of
acoustic guitars and an electric Fender and amp, a keyboard, various
shakers
and drums, and kazoos! Maybe we can get a clip of a future rocker or
rapper
on the site! It has been an interesting change for me, but being home
weekends
and evenings and all through this time of year has been wonderful, and
well worth it. I do miss playing quite a bit, and hope to get out more
in 2000. Check the schedule for dates I have coming up in Ely.
As for Glen, he has had a good fall as a solo
performer
on the corporate circuit. He has taken many of the tunes we used
together
and added to them, getting people involved in new ways and adding a
keyboard
and a 12 string guitar to the show, and it is working well for him. He
still has enough time at home with his kids, and is hopefull that 2000
will continue to be a growing and learning year for his burgoning
comedic
and musical talents! Since most of his dates are corporate most people
won't be able to see him unless you are lucky enough to have your
company
bring him in for a show. If any public dates do come up, we will
announce
them here or on his web site when it gets up.
9/4/99
After a good 6 day run at the state fair, Ted and Glen now start their
new careers, Glen as a solo performer on the corporate circuit, and Ted
as a teacher in the Brainerd, MN. school district. We have Labor Day
weekend
off, and September is looking like it will be a good month for us both.
Glen has a few jobs booked, and for the first time in ten years, Ted
does
not need to pull out his calendar to know where he will be! I have a
couple
days on the school payroll under my belt, and we start classes on the
9th.
My first day was OK, meetings and trainings. Day 2 saw me fresh faced
and
excited to meet the returning students for interviews, and as I arrived
ar 7:15 I was greeted by my grim faced (usually very smiley) principal
and my co-teacher, with glass all over the floor and fire extinguisher
dust everywhere! A former MLAP (Middle Level Alternative Program - my
new
place) student had gone on a rampage the night before through
several
of the close by schools and ours. They caught him, but not until he did
some damage to the area. A bad morning! Most of our computers are
toast,
and it takes a lot to clean up that stuff, so I haven't been able to
get
in to get ready, which is not helping my anxious self at all! We will
be
starting on Thursday the 9th, whatever happens, and I am ready to get
after
it, even if I am not ready at all! Thanks to all who came out to the
fair
to see us. We truly appreciate all the support over the years!
6/16/99
Big News! Ted's decision to get out of the full time music biz became
easier as he has been offered, and contracted, and approved by the
school
board, to be the new Math/Science/Music (and whatever else is required)
teacher in the middle level alternative program in the Brainerd School
district! Yup, I got a job! Yikes! I will be working in a program for
kids
who have had a hard time passing in regular school who are not eligible
for special ed but need more individualized help and motivation to
succeed.
I will be working with a woman teacher who has been with the program
for
all three years of its' existence, and a teachers aid, with 15 students
in grades 6-9, in our own building close to the administration and
Mississippi
Horizons Middle school. After interviewing for the first round of
elementary
openings and not getting an offer, I was recommended for this position
by one of the principals I know pretty well, and all moved along
smoothly
till I was offered the position. Now in addition to my already hectic
summer
I need to learn to be a math teacher and lots else! It is an ideal fit
for me, and though it will be extremely challenging, I will have an
opportunity
to make a real difference in the lives of the kids, which is a position
I have always wanted to be in. Thanks for all your thoughts and
encouragement.
I will continue to do a few gigs here and there, mostly at resorts in
the
north, so keep checking in and I will try and keep this as current as I
can. (I plan on getting some photos of fish and other activities here
sometime,
just like our old mailers)
We will be keeping in touch with folks through updates here and with email. As soon as Glen starts to get any public solo dates I will start posting his schedule and other info for him. He almost has his solo promo done, which will help him get up and running as a solo act with the agency. He is still being Mr Home Improvement as well as Cd Display Constructor Man, so he is busy as ever, but can see a light at the end of the project tunnel.
2/23/99
Howdy! I thought it was time to get a bit more info on the site, and
so I will start with the biggest piece of information that we have had
on us in the 9+ years we have been together. The news is that as of
September
1, 1999, Glen and I will be splitting up. After that we may do a few
holiday
functions for our agency, and possibly an occasional resort or annual
get
together, but after September 1 we will be on to other challenges. Glen
will continue on with the agency and work on developing a solo show to
work in the areas we have been getting into the last few years. Ted is
going to get back to the teaching field, an area that he was heading
for
when he found himself in Minnesota with nothing to do one fall 9 years
ago, and asked the fateful question, "Maybe we should become a duo?!"
There are several reasons, but most involve me (Ted)
needing to have more time with my family, and not seeing our schedule
evolving
into anything but more of the same time commitments we have had all
along.
This comes at a time when Glen and I are finally seeing a better
financial
return on all our work over the years. We have been getting more and
better
money with our agency gigs, and for the first time our new CD has
provided
us with a paycheck that we didn't have to reinvest in our business. But
my kids, Sam and Willi, are 8 and 6, very active, and I want to be
around
more when they are off school, in the evenings and weekends, and
summers.
A traveling musician's life is lived at the opposite of these times. My
social life has involved Glen and the many friends we have made in our
years together, and I will miss that most of all. The change will mean
that I will have a social life with my wife Micky, and get to know some
folks that have always been in the someday category.
I student taught 10 years ago in Fairbanks, and
have never had my own classroom. I have worked with kids in many
different
capacities, and have kept my license current for a possible return to
teaching,
and now is the time. I will look for a job in the Brainerd School
District,
as we live here and I have many good contacts in the schools from my
work
with the kindergartens the last few years. My wandering heart has
ventured
out to look at some other possibilities, such as Alaska teaching or
something
overseas, but I first need to get into my own classroom and figure out
what kind of teacher I will be. Then anything is a possibility!
We will continue to work on selling the Up North
recording, and there is always a possibility of other projects, so this
web site will remain active. I will keep our schedule up to date, and
add
any solo gigs Glen has after September. If he gets online in the
future,
he may take over the site, but for now, this will remain here. Please
check
out our schedule and come out to see us somewhere over the coming
months.
For
sure stop by at the state fair! We don't know which stage we
will
be on yet, but I think it is a new one. We always are glad to see folks
out, and look forward to seeing you soon!!