Toto, we're not in Spooner anymore!

February, March, April, May. . . . .it has been 7 months since I have talked to you last. 7 months since I've shared my war storries and successes. 7 months since I've vented to you about how amuzingly crazy children can be. 7 months since we've last talked. Here we go - I'll try to keep it brief!

The School year finished off in Spooner with a bang. I got the kids back outside (where they belong) and concluded the year with a "movin -n- munchin" field day. During this time I also began my graduate program at UW-lacrosse. Who ever thought one would have to pay so much money to sit in a classroom with no windows for 9 hours at a time.

Once summer arrived, I immediately moved back to Eau Claire for the summer to work yet another year at the Eau Claire Golf and Country Club Grounds (the best job EVER) with all intentions of moving back up to Spooner in the fall. On July 1st, I solidified my future committment to Stephanie by placing a big shiny rock on her finger then saying something like "will you put up with me the rest of your life?" She said yes so we began looking for jobs closer to each other. . .we were just holding out to see who could get closer to who (whom?). Having both been "professional job application submitters" last year, we were well aware that with tight budgets, many schools were not refilling positions. Needless to say, job postings on the DPI website were few and far between compared to last year. In late August, we ran across a posting for a job in the Osseo-Fairchild School District. I applied, I interviewed, and now I sit writting my blog from the coaches office right outside the gym from the Osseo-Fairchild HS/MS.

I have had to carry my girlfriends casket to a cemetary, play the bagpipes at a best friends funeral, sit at my father's bedside during the recovery of his heart attack. . . . Going up to Spooner and Handing my letter of resignation to Chris Anderson, breaking the news to my basketball team, moving out of my appartment, and having one last night out on the town with Chad (for now) ranks right up there with one of the hardest things I have ever done. The relationships I established up in Spooner between random "locals", other teachers, students, athletes, and annoying Vikings fans (Chris) feels like a steel chain that I have put together and can never be pulled apart. I will always love that year I had in Spooner and yes I do miss it!

But the greatest thing about steel chains is that you can always add on. I have already added links to the chain and I am more than thrilled to be in Osseo-Fairchild. I teach 4K-8th grade PE and will be coaching the boys JV basketball team. There are many great people in this community and I they have already begun to leave their mark on me. Most importantly, Stephanie and I are now close enough to each other that we can settle in (not too much), establish roots (just bought a house and car) and get in touch with growing up (though we all know we never will). I also get to see my little godson Ayden much more often now.

I leave you with the first of many "pleasing" stories that happened just in the first couple weeks of school. While demonstrating the difference between jogging and sprinting to a group of 3rd graders, Jacob was VERY quick to point out that "Mr. Sturgis, when you jog, you look like David Hasselhoff in Baywatch"

I'll take that as a complement. . . . .I think


Much Love
Mr. S

Woah.

Ok, so time has flown by and my last post came at the beginning of the basketball season. Now, with 1 regular season game left and being almost half way through the 3rd quarter, I seem to have lost track of time. 3 months. That is the length of time it has been since my last post. . almost. From school to basketball, from Stephanie to recreation, I probably have a story for every day. This blog will attempt to share as many of those stories . . . one sentence/phrase at a time.

Basketball = win win loss loss win loss win loss loss win loss loss loss loss win loss win win loss. If you notice, loss was in that phrase more than win. 8/11 with 1 game left. Its been fun, it's been hard, it's been a journey. As my father always told me, "the journey is the gift we are given. . .hold on and enjoy it."
I have continued to tie more shoes than anyone I know (thank you Mr. Kleinke).
I have been: Spit on, puked on, and hit. . .and told "MR. STURGIS, I WISH YOU WERE MY DAD"
I've had: Blood on gym mats and pee on the hardwood. . . and more cupcakes than a bakery
I have seen: many kids cry, more kids laugh, and teachers that hate their job. . . and teachers that love their job
I have experienced: Boring meetings, politics first hand, and what a "teacher's salary" means. . . and new relationships
I've witnessed: parents who seemingly don't care, and parents who care too much.. .and 200 little sponges soak up knowledge.
I wanted: to be closer to Stephanie and save more money than I spend. . .and be a better teacher.
THE LATEST: I recently had a mystery student drop a nugget in my gym followed by another student picking up the "chocolate squirrel" and ask "HEY, what is this?"
I have also just recently been accepted to a masters program at UW-Lacrosse for Physical Education/Adventure Education.

What I have taken from all of this is that I am may have 2 or 3 rough stories before I have a smooth one, but that one smooth story has the weight of 2 tons.

Love, love
more to come