The Importance of Education

Years from now, if anyone ever bothers to dig up my old high school’s time capsule, they’ll find a school football jersey, a yearbook, a Guns ‘N’ Roses CD, a Playstation 3, and a complete diabetes kit.  Yes, we were a unique class.  I’m still not sure if anyone actually had diabetes in the class or if their parents did or if someone just left that kit there as some sort of a joke.  I don’t think I even know who left that diabetes kit there.  All I left was a tangled up knot of my hair since I was already losing it by my senior year.  Male pattern baldness is truly a terrible thing.  I cried when I woke up and found all that hair on my pillow.  Then I looked closely at myself in the mirror and cried some more.  When I dropped my hair into the time capsule to be buried, I almost felt like I was at a funeral, the funeral of my old self.  Everyone knew I was losing my hair so my contribution shocked no one.  They could have guessed that me no matter what.  But that diabetes kit is still bothering me even after all these years.  I have no idea who would have left that.  

admin :: Apr.29.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

I’m jealous of my graduate school classmates.  They’re all getting books published and I’m still only publishing short stories.  I’m not normally this arrogant, but I know that I’m certainly the best writer in the entire department.  Even a few of my teachers have come out and admitted so. Not of these books are fiction though.  One’s about a diet for diabetes, another’s about Japanese medievalism, and another one is a child’s book showing little kids how to ride a bike, clean up after themselves more, and other mundane chores.  I just found out that someone who’s in the journalism department and not even the creative writing department is getting a book published that’s a guide to Chicago’s seediest night life and odd tourist attractions that don’t get a lot of press.  I know that getting published and making it big as a writer takes time.  I know it happens at different times in different people’s lives, if it ever happens at all.  But that doesn’t change how I feel.  Frustration is frustration after all.  I just keep writing though and after I’ve edited and polished all my projects I submit them.  You not only keep writing, but you need to keep submitting. 

admin :: Apr.25.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

After he finished law school, one of my friends moved to Detroit.  Why?  He wanted to become a personal injury attorney in Michigan.  He figured living in the heart of the automobile industry would be a gold mine since there would be more cars and traffic and that would mean that there would be more car accidents.  Add into that all the regular personal injuries and accidents that would happen in a big city like Detroit and he thought he’d always be busy.  Instead, he’s not any busier than any of his lawyer friends back in Chicago and he’s really bored.  It’s hard to go from living in a city like Chicago with its nightlife and restaurants and all the artists living here and go to Detroit.  There’s sports teams up in Detroit sure, but they’re not as famous as the Chicago sports teams, even if none of them win anymore or, in the case of the Cubs, never really did at all.  It’s also hard on him since most of his family and his old friends all live here.  He thought he’d be making so much money he’d be able to come back and visit every now and then when he made the time, but it just hasn’t worked out for him.

admin :: Apr.04.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

We’re all moved in now.  We’ve got all our furniture put into place, the cable and internet’s installed, we went and bought groceries, the garden’s set up, and we even had Brinks Home Security put in.  Now we’re all set here for our new life out here in the suburbs.  It actually took a shorter amount of time than both my wife and I thought it would.  I still have another week to go before I start my new job and she has 2 weeks.  So I thought we’d spend the time getting even better acquainted with each other.  After all, what could be better then spending more time with my favorite person in the world?  As it turns out, everything is.  We just basically sit around, staring at each other, trying to think of what to say.  We have nothing to talk about!  I can’t even think of anything we have in common with each other.  Why did I marry this woman?  Thankfully, I hooked up my Xbox and had bought a Playstation recently so I can make an excuse and go gaming whenever things get too awkward.  But what are we supposed to do?  We’re married!  What was I thinking when I proposed? 

admin :: Apr.03.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

Since I have been working in a law firm, I have started thinking about going to law school after I graduate college.  I find it fascinating working here.  There is so much that you can learn just listening to the way the attorneys interact among themselves and their clients.  I think I have picked up enough information to know whether I will enjoy working as an attorney.  They are very smart people and very dedicated to their jobs.  I may even go to Texas where my Uncle and Aunt live.  They are bankruptcy attorneys and maybe I will one day become able to help them with one of those Texas bankruptcy cases.  I am seriously considering it.  My Uncle and Aunt want me to come and work for them next year, just to see what I think about living and working in Texas.  I’m sure they will do all they can to support and encourage me.  I can see how I may have developed a fondness for working in the field of law now.  It was probably in the back of my mind all the time.  I am not going to rush into this, however, because I really do enjoy painting and drawing, and will get my Fine Arts degree.

admin :: Mar.19.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

Boy.  That was a really strange lecture at the church last Thursday night.  I don’t think more than 4 people attended.  The guy seemed to know what he was talking about, although he could have used more of a sense of humor.  He was trying to warn us about products we should never use because they’ve been known to produce bad results—in people’s hair.  I’m sure I’ll never, ever lose my hair.  My hair is guaranteed by the Good Lord Above.  It’ll stay firmly in place with the help of Clairol and a good spray, and will eventually turn white or gray.  But I’m not worried about that.  I’m only 32, so I’ve got me some time.  Plus, as they say, it’s fun to be a blonde.  As long as I stay in shape, the guys are watching, baby.  Not too much action at this church gathering, though.  This Mr. Whalefetch was talking about what he deems the five worst hair loss treatments, and he just went on and on about this.  He started comparing these strange-sounding products that I’ve never heard of before (I’ve never had to!).  You’ll never guess who was asking him question after question.  That’s right, old Mrs. Greerden.  The nerve of that woman!  She was even flirting with him afterward, trying to get him to eat just one of her homemade cookies.

admin :: Mar.18.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

Working as an elementary school teacher is a very stressful job, not only in the sense that some children really do tend to get on the nerves, but also in the sense that I have to deal with so much paperwork and school supplies. After doing research on the internet and consulting with my fellow educators, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to store and keep all of these school supplies organized would be to store them in Rubbermaid organizers. Rubbermaid organizers are lightweight, compact, inexpensive, and they can hold everything, from the children’s homework to glue sticks and crayons. The school usually pays for anything that a teacher may need as long as it is for educational purposes; the school would probably not mind paying for a few sets of Rubbermaid organizers for my class as long as I explained to the school board that these Rubbermaid organizers will not only help me with my organization, but will get the children’s homework graded quicker and will keep the school’s supplies in better conditions. Throwing all of the markers, crayons, and glue sticks in one container would be much easier than having to find the individual boxes for east set of supplies and then pack them back into the box.

admin :: Mar.10.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

Most people would think it's boring but I enjoy helping my mom shop for diabetes products. We make the most out of the limited time we have together. She's normally at work and I'm usually busy with classes but we always manage to find time for each other. Besides, I really like helping her out in any way I can and it's not the only thing we do when we get together. After we're done finding her what she needs we like to take a stroll over to the food court. After our lunch at the food court there is sometimes a good movie playing or sometimes we go into that health shop we like where they're always giving away free samples of something. Last week it was sugar-free chocolate covered pears that they were passing out. We enjoy it because they offer samples of things my mom won't have any trouble eating. Also, it was interesting because the chocolate was not only sugar-free but it was vegan. I think we're leaning toward another outing this week. She's starting to run low on her supplies and I think we both have a hankering for those free samples and a good movie. I feel happy that we make time for each other no matter what. I have the best mom!

admin :: Mar.07.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

I moved out to California as a student and I liked it so much that I decided to stay after graduation.  I really struggled to make ends meet while I was in school, UCLA isn’t cheap but the value of the education that I got while I was there far outweighs the sacrifices that I had to make to afford it.  Now that I’ve got a good job, with a steady income I’ve decided to schedule an appointment with the top doctor for Lasik in Los Angeles.  The time has come for me to start doing some of the things that I’ve always wanted to do for myself but couldn’t afford until now.  I’ve been wearing the same pair of glasses since high school; I think it’s high time for a change.  I think the change in appearance will help boost my confidence as well, it’s not that I’m not a confident person but I think that my glasses have made me a bit self conscious at times in the past.  After I’m free from the shackles of glasses maybe I’ll think about a make over for my wardrobe and something a little bit nicer to drive.  I’ve lived in California for almost six years, now that I’ve got the money in my pocket I guess I should start to try and fit in.

admin :: Mar.03.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off

The thing we were most worried about was keeping the house.  We weren't sure of the laws in our state, and that is what has kept us from contacting a lawyer even to get this thing moving.  We need to know about property protection exemptions, and the only way we can find out is to do a little more homework then contact a lawyer.  Deb wanted to take some more time and think things over.  I'm for that too, but we don't  have a lot of time left to decide things.  I'd say the longest we have is three weeks.  I suggested we go up to the lake, get away from the business, and really think things through this way.  There will be no employees, no kids, dogs barking, nothing.  She liked the idea.  I did to.  And I can get a little fishing in too.  I haven't had a chance  to do that in years.  That Friday we closed and drove up to the lake.  The weather was nice, not too hot.  We got to the house and found that it had been broken into.  Not by humans but by animals.  We think it might have been a raccoon, but we weren't sure.  I started the clean up.  What ever it was — and I think it might have been a couple of squirrels — really ripped the place apart.  We were wondering if they had escaped or maybe had died in the house.  We didn't smell anything, so we are thinking the go out.

admin :: Feb.28.2008 :: Blog :: Comments Off