Marking….and the morning person

Had a bit of an ‘A-ha’ moment this morning.
I have been trying (without a lot of success) to find time to sit and mark my IT students’ major assessment task over the last couple of weeks. Seems like every time I would sit down to get into it, my phone would ring or the email goes bing and something urgent would come up. Seems I spend most of my working day either teaching or putting out IT-related spot fires. Ah, the worry of being the IT go-to man on campus; a mantle I am happy to wear…. most of the time.

I set aside time last night to nail the last part of this marking task, only to find that once the kids had got settled in bed and I had half a moment to scratch myself I was yawning like a cavern and thinking of bed myself. So I set the alarm for 5am and turned out the light.

5 o’clock comes, out of bed I jump (sort of,) make a cup of tea and away we go. Dialled in (yes, I know – its a long story….) and was able to upload student feedback to Moodle without worrying about tying up the phone line. The brain was ticking, the keys were clicking – it is all coming together….By the time the family all got up, I was basically done! Nice one! The house was nice and quiet. I was being nice and quiet so as not to wake anyone. No distractions, other than the Ipod, and a time limit to work to. The ADD part of me had to be settled with nothing to distract me, so the job got done.

You may remember from my post in March on bodybuilding, that I am used to getting into my day early. Nothing better than lifting some heavy weights before brekky. Early mornings were also the way of things for me when I was a kid – there was me sitting on the heater at 6am waiting for the cartoons to come on. After years of guilt for never finding time to read my bible, I suddenly found 20 minutes at the start of my day – regular quiet time suddenly became a habit.

The only problem with all this is a wife who is a night-time person. She picks on me, calling me an ‘old man’ as I am getting sleepy at early hours, in bed dropping the book I am trying to read on my face. There must be a balance in there somewhere, but it strikes me that we work best when we run in our natural stream. For me, that stream seems to want to flow early, rather than late. So the alarm gets set early again tomorrow…off to the gym, or perhaps to the lappy.

Sonny Sandoval

A band that I have come to love over the past couple of years is nu-metal act P.O.D.  Sonny is the lead-singer and heart and soul of the group.  The band is held up by their hardcore back-end, but it is the vocals that stand out.  Sonny’s blend of screamo, rap and reggae make for a very unique mix.

What draws me to Sonny is his heart for the lost, his way-cool dreads (which he has now cut off sadly,) and the tattoos.  Would love to have mad hair and tatts like that, but my middle-class station in life makes that a little hard.

Having journeyed with the band since ‘Satellite‘ in the early nought-ies, I have enjoyed watching the music and lyrics mature as the boys have wrestled with their own identity as a band, as well as issues of faith.  Aside from the music being interesting in itself, P.O.D. display a heart for the average metal-loving Joe, seeking to get into nu-metal air time with some really positive messages. I was fortunate enough to see the boys do their thing when they seconded to Disturbed in concert last year.  Was quite moved to see all the kids in their black t-shirts  singing “I feel so alive for the very first time, and I think I can fly.”

One theme that comes up continually in Sonny’s lyrics is his love for his mother, who he lost to leukemia before the band got underway.  After many years, one can see that he is still processing this loss, showing a deep spirit and empathy for the broken of this world.

Unashamed of their faith and with a mission to enarm the ‘warriors’ to change the world, P.O.D. inspire me to ‘keep it real.’

Great P.O.D. Lyrics
****************

Even though you feel all alone
It can’t rain every day, It don’t rain for ever,
Your sunshine may be gone, but I know
It can’t rain every day,  It don’t rain for ever.
“It can’t rain every day”  When Angels and Serpents Dance – 2008

I think the hardest part of holding on is letting it go
“Goodbye for now” Testify – 2006



One word, a voice unheard
You can change the world
If everyone would stop and listen
“Change the World” Payable on Death – 2003

Time after time, Walk the fine line
Something keeps bringing me back
Time after time, going in blind
I don’t know which way I need to go
Do all these roads lead me back to you?
“Going In Blind” Greatest Hits: (The Atlantic Years) – 2006

I feel so alive, for the very first time
I can’t deny you, and I think I can fly
“Alive” Satellite – 2001

My life, a sacrifice is made new through these confessions
Manifested, this joy is my desire
Light this fire to flames; praise the name, Jehovah Jireh
“Tribal Warriors” – The Fundamental Elements of Southtown – 1999