Me, A Soccer Fan?

I got my passport and I've even got plane tickets. Looks like my first international adventure is going to be to Rwanda, Africa to visit my cousin. I can't wait. It is going to be awesome. More on that later.

Right now life seems to be consumed with High School Soccer. My alma mater, which also happens to be the school district I currently teach for, has just made it to the 4A Boys State Soccer Tournament. This is especially significant because we are a 3A school, but since there is no 3A soccer division, we have to play in a 4A division. So to get to the State Tournament, we have had to beat schools that have almost 3 times as many students as us. Besides that, we are the FIRST 3A team EVER to even make it to the tournament, so needless to say we are quite proud. Add to that the fact that my brother, also a PHS alumnus, is assistant coach for the team and you see why everything right now is revolving around soccer.

Next weekend is the tournament, so stay tuned to how it turns out.

Almost Ready to Go!

So I finally applied for my passport. After almost 29 years here in these United States of America, I will soon be able to actually leave the country. Of course just about everyone I know has been off this domestic plane except me, so I guess it is about time. I'm a late bloomer. So what. Anyway, I should be getting the coveted little ticket to adventure within the next few weeks or something.

But where should I go? I was thinking of a nice sunny south american vacation and one of those intensive language schools. Or I have people to visit Europe and just about everyone can speak English over there. Then there is always my cousin in Africa or my friends in Australia/New Zealand. Or Darby in China. Hmm. I guess I'll just stay home and watch TV.

I'm a Clogger

I've recently begun taking clogging lessons. So far I've been to four lessons. I think I'm really good at it but I'm not sure. I've ordered clogging shoes, but they haven't gotten here, yet. They should get here sometime next week. I can't wait. You should learn to clog, too. It is F-U-N! I'll let you all know when I start performing.

Catching Up

Ok. So it's been awhile. Life has been busy. Let's see. Where should I start?

I'm still teaching 7th grade math. There's not much I can say about that. It has been an interesting year so far.

At the end of 2006, I appeared in the Palestine Community Theater's production of "Miracle on 34th Street." It was exciting returning to PCT after a twelve year absence. My last role there was in the chorus of "Fiddler on the Roof" when I was a sophomore in high school or something. This time I played Santa Clause's lawyer, Fred Gailey. It was fun. I can say that now that its over. During rehearsals I was praying that the show would get cancelled, but it all turned out fine in the end. For those of you who haven't been to Palestine's Texas Theatre in the last year or so, you have to go see one of their upcoming shows. They have done some MAJOR renovation work on the theater and it is BEAUTIFUL!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I uploaded a video of me singing, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban to youtube, so check that out if you want to hear what I sound like. The quality is not great, but you get a pretty good idea.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what else there is to say. I'm trying to make some summer plans and I hope to make a move in the Fall. Right now Austin is looking good, although I was thinking about school in Oklahoma City. I also have friends in Boston who are trying to get me to move up there and of course there is always NYC. In other words I'm restless and I need a change. Does this post sound familiar to anyone else?

Anyway, I hope to start posting more regularly again, so keep checking back. Also, blogger has finally updated me to the new version so be looking for some really cool changes coming soon.

The Verdict

SAD! My friend Lavina was voted off Australian Idol last night. She made it all the way to ninth place. Thats pretty cool. Australian people are stupid, though, because she was better than those other contestants, but maybe I'm biased. Anyway, that's the end of her Idol run. I guess I'll have to go back to blogging about myself now.

What's Going On

It is almost Australian Idol time again and I didn't tell you about last week. Singing Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way", Lavina earned herself a spot in the top nine. I'll let you know what happens next.

In other news, I just finished my first six weeks as a 7th grade math teacher. That means I am now 1/6 of the way through the school year. 1/6 is greater than 1/10. 1/6 is equivalent to 6/36. Right now we are working on fractions in class, so I tend to think about the world in fractions. Sorry.

Besides class, I've been making the youth sports circuit. Middle School volleyball on Monday afternoon, Middle School football Thursday night, High School football Friday nights and Soccer on Saturday. That part has been fun. It gets me through the week.

I've also been singing in the community choir and it looks like I'm gonna be singing a duet in the Christmas Cantata at the Civic Center, so I better see all y'all there. The music is nice and this year we are actually tackling the "Hallelujah Chorus" and Mozart's "Regina Coeli" along with the Cantata, so it should be really nice. I'll give you all the details when it gets closer.

The rest of my time is spent grading papers, although I'm thinking about auditioning for the Community Theater's Christmas production, "Miracle on 34th Street". We'll see. I haven't really decided yet and the auditions aren't until tomorrow anyway.

Ok, then. Right now I need to do laundry, eat something and of course grade papers, so I better go. Until next time...

The Verdict

Monday is Verdict Day on Australian Idol. I'm happy to say that now my friend is in the top 10. Just in case anyone's keeping up. Ok. That's all.

My Friend the Celebrity

Those of you who know me know that I am friends with TONS of celebrities. You also know that when it comes to celebrities, "friends" can mean I once saw them walking across the street in NY; and when it comes to friends, "celebrity" can mean they were an extra in a movie even if their entire scene got cut. Well I have a new celebrity friend, but I think this one could be my most legit, yet. About seven years ago, while working as a group leader at Camp AmeriKids, I got to work with this really cool chick from New Zealand named Lavina Williams. I remember her being very chill, so cool and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Even back then she was well known in NZ for singing in a popular girl group there. Since then she has moved to Australia and has spent the last few years performing in Sydney's incarnation of Disney's "The Lion King." Well, last year her sister got 2nd place on Australian Idol. This year, Lavina tried out and is currently in the Top 11 of Australian Idol. Thanks to YouTube and the internet, I've been able to find some clips of her singing on the show. Unfortunately I can't vote for her without making a very expensive phone call, but I thought that all of you needed to know that I have a famous celebrity friend in Australia. Here is a clip for you to enjoy!

Yes, I'm Still Alive

Well, its been awhile. I've been really busy. Lot's of stuff going on, but not much to talk about right now and no time to say it. I got back from camp on August 13, started teacher orientation on August 14, took a test toward my certification on August 15, set up my classroom on the 16th and started teaching on the 17th. I've now been through one week and two days as a 7th grade math teacher and it has been quite interesting. I am going to be writing a book based on my first year as a teacher. It should be interesting. Watch for its release sometime next year. Anyway, hopefully I can start writing on here again with some consistency. Thats all I have to say right now.

Where I've Been

Well, I'm halfway through my camp experience for 2006. First session is over and I'm desperately trying to rest up before second session begins in 3 more days. I feel very tired.

Overall, I count the week a success. We had a very challenging cabin full of 15 9-12 year old boys from the inner-city areas of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It was a difficult week, though not without its moments of brilliance. I do have to give props to my fellow coyote counselors: Dave, the other Chris, Suzi, Shannon, Emily and our amazing group leader, Justine, and also to the invaluable help from our LIT's Ray and Richard. As a team we were able to successfully prevent our cabin from spiralling hopelessly out of control. So if y'all are reading this, just know that you rock!

So anyway, thats what I've been doing since the last time I wrote. I go back Wednesday to start the whole process over again, but this time with an older group of boys. I'm pretty certain that this will be my last post at least until I get back to Texas. Once camp starts its like you're in a different world and it becomes hard to believe that life exsists outside of the campgrounds.

Leaving and Staying

In a few hours I'll be getting on a plane headed for New York City. After 3 days frugally spent in the city, I'll be boarding a train and heading up to spend the next month at Camp AmeriKids. I have spent 7 of the past 8 summers working at camp, and I'm looking forward to another great year. I think this year might be interesting as several of my favorite camp people are unable to come back this year for various and sundry reasons. That means I'll have to develop new relationships with new people. Developing new relationships with new people is something I both love and hate at the same time, so I go into these kinds of experiences with fear and loathing and anticipation and exhilaration. But no matter how hard or easy or exhausting or whatever camp is every year, it is always an amazing experience and I always come away feeling like I've gained years-worths of knowledge.

It also occurred to me that my very first posts on this blog were about camp, too, so that means I've been blogging here for about a year. That's quite a milestone. That makes this the only journal I've ever been able to consistently keep up with for any significant amount of time. Thats pretty cool.

And finally I leave you with this: the (temporary) answer to the delimma of where I'm going. (Remember the posts about Africa and NY and California and all that?) Here it is. The answer and the reason I don't believe in making plans: I'm not going anywhere. You heard me right. I'm staying in the place that was at the very bottom of my list of places I wanted to be. Right here in my hometown. I decided to spend the next year getting my teaching certification and when I did, doors started opening up all over the place. Not that the doors aren't complete with hoops through which I have to jump, but the doors just flung open wide. I mentioned the fact that I would soon be looking for a teaching position to someone and by the next morning I had an interview. By the next week I had an offer from that district as well as another. And all that without sending out a single application. So now I am spending a considerable amount of energy getting all my papers and credentials and transcripts and whatever else in order. And for at least the next 9 months I will be a middle school math teacher. It seems like a good step. I will feel more equipped when I decide to go teach in Africa and it will afford me more opportunities if I end up in California or back in NY. I can start making a grown-up salary and I'll be able to get assistance paying off my student loans. So into the classroom I go. Wish me luck.

The Big Event

As much as it pains me to admit it, my 10 year reunion ended up being lots of fun. A few more people showed up to the dinner and dance that I hadn't seen at any of the other events. So it was fun catching up with them. I danced (not a suprise to anyone who knows me well). I got to find out about several people I had wondered about over the years. I was even a finalist for an award: Most Changed (for the Better) Since Graduation. I'm not sure if that means I was a loser before or what, but I guess I'll take it. I didn't actually win, but I was one of the three finalists.

And for those of you who have been reading the reunion saga from the beginning, I achieved my catharsis (do you achieve catharsis or do you receive it?). Sometime during the weekend, I quit worrying about those people that had the power to make me feel insecure or inadequate. If I wanted to dance, I danced. If I wanted to laugh and be stupid I did it. I realize they may have still said things about me, or looked down their noses or whatever, but I really didn't care. I still don't care. Hopefully it will last. The people who I value seem to genuinely value me, so why does anything else matter? And so concludes my 10 year reunion experience.

The Picnic

Event #3 of the Palestine High School class of 1996 reunion (I skipped event #2, remember) was a family picnic at Reagan Park. I enjoyed this event, because people brought their little (and not so little) kids with them...and if you know me even a little bit you know that I get along better with kids than with people my own age.

I tried to get there late (again) and ended up being one of the first ones there (again). I ate lunch before I got there, though, because eating outside attracts bees, wasps and stinging insects...and if you know me even a little bit then you know I DON'T get along with bees, wasps and other stinging insects.

Anyway, I felt calmer on the inside this time. All the feelings were still there, but they weren't right on the surface. Tonight is the big dinner and dance function. Sounds like fun. I'll let you know.

The Verdict

Where were all the fat people? I was counting on everyone gaining weight or something. With few exceptions, all the girls looked exactly the same. I didn't recognize any of the guys. It was kind of odd really.

I did learn that my pre-reunion emotional storm was quite common, especially among my group of friends. I also learned that it was shared by "those people" except I think for different reasons. I think they had weird emotions due to things they had done in school. We had weird emotions due to things that were done to us. Does that make sense? Anyway, most of the people I was looking forward to seeing were there, so that was good. Most of the people that I was dreading seeing were there too, but they seemed not to see me or know who I was (what else is new) so that actually worked out ok.

All-in-all, there were no disasters and I have no regrets about going, so thats good. Tomorrow there is a golf tournament (which I will be skipping) and then a picnic (which I will probably attend) and then the "big event" dinner and dance which I also plan to attend. I'll let you know how all that goes.

T Minus 3 Hours

Are the feelings surrounding high school reunions universal? The first event in my 10 year high school reunion begins in about 3 hours, and though I've decided to go (I think) the storm of emotions and feelings that have been churning inside ever since I got that reunion packet several weeks ago is raging on. On one hand (and for anyone counting this post is likely to have a lot of hands), there are people from high school that I would definitely like to see and catch up with. On another hand, there are probably MORE people that I really would like to avoid at all costs (I know it sounds harsh, but this is my blog and I can say what I want). There were a lot of mean and hurtful people that I grew up with that seemed to spend our entire school lives making sure everyone knew they were better (richer, more beautiful, more popular, more athletic, whatever, whatever). On one hand I know now (and actually knew then) that these attitudes were born out of their own insecurities and were simply tools crafted and used in an attempt to make themselves feel better. On the other hand, while I doubt they ever made themselves actually feel any better, I know they succeeded in making TONS of people feel much, much worse. And even though I know that they are probably MORE insecure than the people they hurt and in a lot of cases they weren't even aware of what they were doing (and I'm also aware that I may have been unaware of the fact that I was having the same effect on other people, though I PRAY thats not the case), they still hurt. And I hate it that 10 years later I find it difficult to be around these same people (even though most of them seem overly nice now...which causes even more conflict) without feeling very uncomfortable, uneasy...basically the way they worked so hard to make others feel in school. I mean I know that my worth is independent of those people, and very few people I've met in my adult life can affect me like that. So why is it that these people (who are really minor leaguers compared to some of the people I've met in my adult life) still trigger these stupid feelings? I suspect it must be some sort of habit or learned response. How do you counter those again?


But forget about all that. Then there is my completely insane but impossible to repress impulse to compare myself to everyone else. Again this whole process is laden with conflict. First of all, I don't think my personal standards and goals look anything like 98% of my graduating class, so there is really nothing to compare: I don't want to be married; I want kids, but not right now; finding a fulfilling job is more important to me than having lots of money. So why is it that tonight and tomorrow I will allow myself to feel inadequate when people seem to have things that I don't even want in the first place? Its just crazy. I don't like it when my emotional side and my analytical side argue.

So anyway. I'm trying to frame this whole experience in my mind as an adventure, as a study in sociology, and as a possible therapeutic excersize. I'll let you know how it turns out. And for those of you who have already been through this... was your experience similar? Did you survive? Regrets?

Who I Was

To be honest, I think using these quiz things on my blog are kind of like cheating, but the fact is I really, really love psychological and personality analysis, so this could definitely get out of control without a few boundaries. So with that in mind I am imposing the following very bendable rules on myself: 1) No more than 1 quiz per month; and 2) I will try to relate them to something relevant going on in my life. Is that cool?

The quiz for June is inspired by my impending 10 year high school reunion which is coming up in like 2 more weeks:

Arty Kid

Whether you were a drama freak or an emo poet, you definitely were expressive and unique. You're probably a little less weird these days - but even more talented!

Who Were You In High School?

So I think it seems pretty accurate. Especially the part about being less weird and more talented... What do you think? (Those of you who knew me back then.)

A Cool New Way to Give

Check this out! I stumbled across this search engine today that donates money to the charity of your choice every time you search the internet. It's powered by yahoo and there are lots of charities to choose from. Boys Hope, Camp AmeriKids and Inivisible Children are all on there, and you can also see how much money each organization has earned so far. So if you're not too attached to your current search engine then why not go ahead and help out a cause by doing something you do everyday anyway! Here's how it works:

GoodSearch

1. Go to www.goodsearch.com (which is powered by Yahoo!)
2. Designate your favorite charity as the charity you support
3. Since GoodSearch shares its advertising revenue with charities and schools, every time you search the web at GoodSearch, you’ll be earning money for your charity

You can keep track of how much we’ve earned by clicking on “amount raised” once you designate us as your organization of choice. The more people who use the site, the more money we’ll earn, so please spread the word!!

So see... It's as easy as that. I've already done a couple of searches with it and it seems like a pretty good search engine. Give it a try.

If Only I Had a Dollar For Every Time...

Aw, man. This page has now been viewed over 1000 times. Admittedly, 300 of those views are probably mine, but still the remaining 700 views by all of y'all are awesome! Thank you for holding out hope that someday I might write something truly worth reading. You guys are the best.

It's Just How I Talk

I came across this test, which I find very interesting. It's probably not quite accurate, because some things I say different ways depending on my mood or where I am, but I tried to pick the way I usually say it. Anyway, here are my results:

My Linguistic Profile::

70% General American English

20% Dixie

5% Yankee

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

You Mean You STILL Haven't Seen the Movie?

Now you can watch it online. Go here: