500

In the words of Eminem, "Crack a bottle, let your body waddle," because The Daily Grind is celebrating. According to my dashboard records, I have written 499 posts. This one will make it 500.
Thank you to God, my mom, my dad. Thanks to my older brother who set me down this path of blogging back in January of 2005. Thanks to Ms. Young who taught me to show it, not tell it; and of course Ms. Pope whose love for language and the written word has driven me to give her something of value to read.
Thanks to my wife who lets me slip into this other world so that I might learn something of who I really am. Thanks to the other excellent education related blogs: From the Trenches, The Science Goddess, The Education Wonks, Joanne Jacobs, Coach Brown, and the many others who offer insights into this profession.
In these four years of blogging, I've found myself the story instead of the subjects I write about. I have discovered that maturing as a teacher demands struggling through issues, even if it means my character is maligned. I have contradicted myself dozens of times, whined too many times. I have written with sexy syntax and grotesque grammar.
I have made people laugh, cry, and pound their fists in disgust. I don't regret any of it.
I have written about students I hated and students I adored. I have blasted colleagues and praised others. I've been positive and negative. In the final analysis, I have been human.

So thank you (the three of you) for reading my story--which continues on. I hope you have found yourself thinking, wondering, and questioning from something I have written.