One Year of Kris-bert

Saturday, August 29, Kris and I celebrated the one year anniversary of our first date with a trip down to Kemah. Officially, the first date was August 30, 2008, but we decided to do our celebrating a day early. This was my first trip down there in almost nine years, so I was quite unprepared for whatever we might find down there. The evening got off to a smashing start with a waitress at the Cadillac Bar who played hide and seek when it came time for the check. Maybe she wasn't all right in the head. I don't know, but I could have read War and Peace in the time it took for her to get the bill out to us. Both Kris and I were thoroughly stuffed, I with the grande burrito, she with a lovely helping of quesadillas (or "dang quesadillas" as Napoleon Dynamite's aunt called them). We both worried about my, well, pipes, after taking in such a hearty Mexican meal. I assured Kris that all was well, and I think our favorite part of the dinner portion of the evening was watching a little boy take baskets of chips off patrons' tables to feed the fish. I had no idea the marine life had such a multicultural diet. Of course, we did catch some bizarre boardwalk strollers when we people watched during the meal. Then again, maybe those same people are commenting in their own blogs about the bizarre couple from Saturday night at Cadillac Bar.

More anniversary stories to come later..............

To quote The Four Seasons, "Oh, what a night!"

It's 8:30, and I'm Still at Work. What Am I, a Teacher?

Indeed, it's officially 8:34 by my computer clock as I begin typing. Time management is oh, so sorely needed. I was discussing with a coworker the possibility of doing all my grading during the week and saving the weekend for planning/creating lessons. With six classes to teach this year (one of which is totally new to me), I definitely need to manage my time better and plan better in just about every area of life. I'm not the eager beaver I once was in my youth, able to work until all hours of the night and stimulate young minds with ease and passion the next day. Then again, maybe I'm selling myself short, and I can be that same person, just with the effort and time spent in the right direction. I've always spent quite a bit of time on my schoolwork and keeping in touch with parents. Ah, but now comes the challenge of juggling six classes (three preps), a second job, driving the cross-country and volleyball teams to their away games, coaching soccer (it'll start up in a few months), and time with my lovely lady friend. I wonder if it's possible to grade while I'm driving? Hmm, maybe I could get a tape recorder. Did I mention I've always been a people pleaser? Always have been. Sometimes that can be a good thing, sometimes not so much. I'll even admit I put too much stock in what people think of me, and that includes all people. My nerves and emotions do need to toughen up. Perhaps, a steeling of the nerves will help in the time management area.

Any ideas out there?????

She Liked It!!!!!!!

Overall, the experiment was a success! Of course, the finished product looked much better in my mind than it did in reality. I had an average-sized vase at home that I took to school. After school, I picked up a rose at Kroger and thought nothing of the size. Unfortunately, the rose resembled Gulliver when placed in the vase. Plus, I wasn't able to stuff nearly as many Oreos in the vase as I imagined. To me, it looked a bit gawky, but, fortunately, Miss Kristin appreciated it and reset the rose in water. I didn't get down to her house until almost 10:00. At first, I wasn't sure I'd even get to present her with the bouquet since she didn't hear her phone ring when I arrived at the house (I didn't want to ring the bell or knock on the door and disturb the loving couple and daughter Kristin lives with). Thankfully, Miss Wood checked her voicemail, and we were able to visit for about half an hour. We were both a wee bit exhausted, but I think all in all, the liked the bouquet.

Will she like it?

I try to be romantic. Really, I do. At times, I've referred to myself as a "hopeless romantic." Some may simply consider me "hopeless." I make mental notes of scenes from movies and TV shows that seem to get the girl's heart or seem creative to me. I haven't pulled a John Cusack from Say Anything, but I like his style, and I've always got a copy of "In Your Eyes" nearby. Kristin and I have been dated for almost a year. In fact, she believes our first date was last year on August 25, so in some ways, today is our first anniversary. However, I'm more concerned about the new chapter Miss Kristin (as she was known at her old job) officially began today. This was her first day as a bona fide school teacher. She's a special ed resource teacher at an elementary school down in Clear Lake, a suburb south of Houston. I still remember to commemorate the first day of my teaching career when I was charged with handling a fourth grade class at West Elementary School in Logan, Ohio, my dad made an "official" certificate on the computer recognizing that special day. Our "theme song" (for lack of a better term) is "Moon River." For this past Valentine's Day, I rewrote the lyrics to the song with lines connected to our relationship. That meager attempt seemed to go over well. For her birthday (April 30), I drove down unbeknownst to her and waited with her roommate at her house for her to return home from visiting with a friend. It was a Thursday night, and I drove to her house from school and got there around 8:00. Her roommate and I had no idea when she would return home, so even though I've never seen it (thank goodness), I did play The Waiting Game. I had bought a humongous cake from Kroger (I obviously had no idea how to mentally size the cake from the employee's directions). We probably could have fed a small third-world country with that pastry. Gradually, I think I was improving in my romantic pursuits. She really seemed to like that one. And now for today's idea: I am about to leave school (It's 8:30. Don't even ask why I'm still here!). I am going to pick up a rose and a box or two of cookies. I already have a vase I brought from home. After inserting the rose into the vase, I will completely surround the flower with the cookies, creating my very own "cookie bouquet." Hopefully, the idea's a winner.....

Mr. Dylan Was Probably on to Something

Ah, to be young and vibrant and, well, full of energy again. I think Zimmy was right when he said oh so many years ago, "The times, they are a' changin'." Vividly I remember getting up for those 6:30 morning practices three or four times a week for track and cross-country in college. Granted, when I first met with Coach Banton during fall quarter my freshman year and he told me about morning practices, I thought, "Yeah right! There's no way I'm going to run and lift weights in the morning and then come back and practice in the afternoon." Sure enough, I got into a pretty good pattern by the end of my freshman year. I'd get up early, stay up late, and think nothing of it.

Lately, it seems I just don't have the same 24-hour steam I used to. I often feel totally wiped out and drained physically and emotionally. Even as recently as a few years ago, I could multi-task with the best of them: working on lessons, grading, staying in touch with friends, and even meeting social engagements. What's happened to the quirky ol' bald man? I think some of it has to do with attitude. This is something I want to change this year. A verse in Proverbs says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." When I find myself feeling low and discouraged and overwhelmed, I've noticed that not only the quantity of my work suffers but also the quality. And that's a very humbling, take-a-minute-and-reevaluate-things thought when you work with young people as I do. On the flip side, when I'm up and confident in myself and my abilities, shoot fire, the sky's the limit. I want to regain that tenacity I had those many years ago. I know the good Lord didn't bless me with certain gifts and abilities just to be used for a certain amount of time but for my whole life. There are many areas in my life in which I'd like to be more diligent and dedicated: spiritually, professionally, personally, socially. I've been very fortunate and blessed to have such abundant unconditional love and support from Kristin. I want to improve actively showing her my appreciation for what she's done for me but also look for ways to support and encourage her. I think there will be benefits for both of us.

I guess a solution to my quandary is motivation and desire. When the levels of motivation and desire increase, productivity increases as well. Hopefully I can be more productive and address, beat down, and eliminate those feelings that result in a defeatist, discouraged attitude.

Fount of What??????

OK, let me welcome myself to the world of blogging. "Self, welcome."
"Thank you, self."
All right, all right, now that the introductions are out of the way, allow me to first explain the title I have chosen. Most of the time (my lovely girlfriend, Kristin, may not agree with this), I have a pretty sharp memory. And for some reason, I seem to remember the most random, useless information. Hopefully, I'll have a chance someday to take advantage of this on a game show or a book about repressed childhood memories (don't those seem to always be of interest), but until then..........

1. My parents were married on April 10, 1970, which according to one book I read, is the date the Beatles officially broke up.
2. The executive producers of several sitcoms of the '80's and '90's are William Bickley and Michael Warren. My dad went to grad school with a guy by that name, but to my knowledge, Pops has never worked in the entertainment industry.
3. I was raised on folk music, and my first concert was Peter, Paul, and Mary.
4. Sting was a school teacher (not a very happy one) before he took up music full-time.
5. I was born on Kristin's parents' anniversary (actually the year before they married).
6. I was born two months to the day after the great American distance runner Steve Prefontaine died.
7. From 1978 to 1984, my family lived in Enterprise, AL. Enterprise is the home of the boll weevil, an insect that eats cotton crop. There's even a statue to the little bugger (pun intended) in the middle of town.

This is just a sample of the bizarre gift (perhaps it's a curse) the good Lord has blessed me with. More random, useless information to follow.....