Life is a journey and, in most cases, we decide where we want to go. Just like any other journey, we need to have a destination in mind before we pack up the car or pull out the walking stick, otherwise we just end up wandering around feeling lost. Once we have a destination in mind, then we have to plan out our journey and how we want to get there. Sometimes the journey from one point to another is easy. Other times it is arduous and makes us question ourselves before we can complete the journey.
Each person's journey is different and each person sees his or her journey in a different way (and others may not perceive your journey as you do). For example, some people are perfectly happy where they are. Others know exactly what they want and focus on getting to the end without worrying about the journey itself. Some raise their sails and let God (or the wind) guide them. Some run from place to place and never figure out where they want to be. Some only dream of moving on but never do.
I picture my journey through life as a trip across a vast map. I pick the next place I want to be and then I figure out how I want to get there. Do I drive? Walk? Take the scenic route or run at an all out sprint? Do I carry my old baggage with me or start anew? Most of the time it depends on where I start from and where I am going, who is going with me, and what sacrifices I have to make along the way (some are known before the journey starts and others pop up unexpectedly along the way). During this journey there may be a point where I change my mind about the destination or I realize that I was not fully prepared to reach the destination and I have to make changes. Do I make mistakes? Of course, we all do. That's normal. That's life.
The problem is that some people are afraid to move to the next stop in their journey. I know I have been at times. Sometimes it is not the destination nor the fear of actually making the journey, but the sacrifices that keeps us from take the chance. Sometimes it is the fear of the unknown that holds us back. Sometimes, unfortunately, the doubts of others can hold you back.
Regardless of where we start and end our journeys, there WILL be a start AND an end. We have been giving the opportunity, in most cases, to decide for ourselves where we end. The only thing in life that really scares me is getting to the end of my journey and looking around realizing I could have reached my goals but didn't.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Things I've learn while riding...
1 – The paint on the painted lines and crosswalks on the road is thick enough to be felt. And it gets slick if it's wet.
6 – Check your bike before and after each ride for any mechanical issues.
2 – Road kill does not smell nearly as bad as it looks. I have no idea how it tastes.
3 – Seeing pets that have been hit it the road is sad.
4 – For every hill you get to coast down, there always seems to be an evil twin that you have to climb.
5 – Learning your gears will make climbing those hills much easier and your legs will thank you. (note – if your legs or any other body part speaks to you during a ride, pull over and call a cab because you have obviously ridden too far.)
6 – Check your bike before and after each ride for any mechanical issues.
7 – Carry a spare tube and know how to change it. Having to call home for a ride is embarrassing.
8 – Most dogs will only bark at you as you ride by their yards. As long as you don't make faces at them, they probably won't bother you.
9 – For that one mean dog you will eventually ride past, a good squirt of water from one of your bottles seems to work well and is safe for the dog.
10 – Always have plenty of water. Better to have a bottle that does not get used than to run out. This is a lesson learned the hard way. Being dehydrated is no fun.
11 – Don't ride too close to the white line on the edge of the road. Cars will try to pass without moving over and the road edge is usually the roughest part.
12 – Don't ride too close to the center line. You will get cursed at by little old ladies who are late for church services. (The has actually happened to me.)
13 – If your toes keep going to sleep then your shoes might be to tight.
14 – Always take a day or two each week to rest. The body needs to rebuild muscle after working out.
15 – Always use a rear view mirror. Not only can you see cars coming up from behind but you can usually see if they are going to wait for a good time to pass or if they are going to zoom right by.
16 – Find a good local bike shop and get to know the people who work there. Ask LOTS of questions and listen to them when they give you advice. They tend to know what they are doing.
17 – Get a bike fitting. No amount of money or cool equipment will make a bad fit into a fun ride.
18 – Find buddies to ride with. It is much more fun than riding alone.
19 – Ride in organized rides. There is usually one somewhere nearby every weekend during the summer. You'll meet new riders and the money raised goes to a good cause.
20 – Some rides are for fun and some rides are for training. If it's a training ride, then ride hard and push yourself past your comfort zone. If it is a fun ride then have fun.
21 – You will, at some time or another, swallow a bug. The smaller they are the less yucky they taste.
22 – Pretty clothes and fancy gadgets will not make you faster.
23 – Most of the drivers on the roads are polite and respectful of cyclists, but there will always be the few who pass too close, pull out in front of you, or honk their horns. Just be ready.
24 – Headwinds are like campfire smoke. Regardless of the direction you are riding in, it seems to always blow right in your face.
25 – Always wash out your water bottles after each ride. Water should not be green and chunky.
26 – If it is not a timed event then you do not need to worry about where you finish.
27 – There are miles and miles of back roads in Randolph County that are great for cycling.
28 – EVERY road in Randolph County has at least one hill on it. Some are worse than others.
29 – Use sunscreen. Unless you enjoy looking like a backwards raccoon with tan arms and non-tan hands.
30 – I still have much, much more to learn...
Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tour de Furniture
The weather for the ride this morning was absolutely perfect as we lined up at the mall to begin. I have no idea what the exact number of riders participating in the Tour de Furniture turned out to be but I would guess there were at least several hundred. They divided us up into four groups (100K, 50 mile, 50K, and 10 mile riders) and had a staggered start to allow the 100K riders to leave before the rest of us. When the 50 milers (my group) left I tried to stay with the main group. My goal was to simply finish but I wanted to best my previous time by at least 15 minutes. I do not consider myself a competitive person, but I could not help trying hard to stay near the middle of the group.
Once we left the mall parking lot and started up Johnson Street, I started looking for someone in the group who seemed to be in about the same physical shape as I was. I figured if I did that, and stuck with them, I might fair better. So, using this strategy, I picked out the old gentleman I saw hobbling across the parking lot during check-in. He looked to be about 95 years old. I set myself to the task of staying right on his rear wheel. This worked well for the first ten miles. Then, ever so slowly, I started slipping towards the back of the main pack. Before I knew it the main group, and my 95 year old lead man, were slipping away. I never did see that guy again after that.
As rider after rider began to fall off the back of the group, I ended up riding in a long string of about 20 riders. I would pass a few going down the hills (thanks to gravity and an extra few pounds) but they always passed me back before we crested the always accompanying climb on the other side. Each time it seemed like I would slip back another spot or two in the line of riders. Soon we reached the first rest-stop. A sight for sore... well anyway they had cold water. I refilled my water bottle with cold water and took about 5 minutes to catch my breath. Most of the 50 milers stopped in here and the rest-stop was pretty crowded. I decided not to doddle and used this as a chance to get ahead of some of the riders who had passed me earlier during the ride. Big mistake...
The route was fairly well marked (thanks to the local Boy Scouts) but the arrows were very small, about 3-4 inches long, so you really had to pay attention to keep from missing one. Not missing a turn while riding with the group was easy, you simply turned where they turned. Riding this ride alone was more akin to a scavenger hunt and, of course, I missed a turn. I only went about a tenth of a mile out of the way because luckily I remembered seeing the name of the road we were to turn on and stopped to checked my cue sheet to make sure. Anyway, once back on track, I forged onward.
As the morning wore on, the Sun stayed out and the temp stayed in the lower 80's. Very nice. To bad the head-winds didn't stay away. I never thought the wind would make that much difference, but riding head long into it will drain your energy worse than most hills. By this time the group was fairly well spread out. I could see a few in the distance ahead and a few more in the distance in my rear-view mirror. We were about 40 miles in and I was making decent time (avg about 16 mph so far). Then the clicking started...
I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just my over active imagination and fatigue but it kept getting louder. I found a nice place to stop (the church at the intersection of Bunker Hill road and Hwy 66) and pulled over about mile 42. I didn't see it at first but while sitting on the cobble stone wall finishing the last of my plain water, I saw the spoke sticking out. I tried to reinstall it but the little cap had fallen into the interior of the wheel and I couldn't get to it. 42 miles, 8 to go.
Within minutes a ride volunteer stopped and asked if I needed help. He called a SAG wagon and I waited for them to come get me. They offered to take me the last few miles to the finish so we loaded up the bike and headed back towards the mall, stopping at the intersections along the way to deliver cold water to the policemen working traffic for the ride. After arriving at the mall and unloading everything, I got my free Subway sub and enjoyed the ending of another great event. I am not disappointed that I did not finish the full distance. I had reach my goal of 50 miles a few weeks ago during the Operation Red Sleigh ride and I had a great time today.
Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.
Once we left the mall parking lot and started up Johnson Street, I started looking for someone in the group who seemed to be in about the same physical shape as I was. I figured if I did that, and stuck with them, I might fair better. So, using this strategy, I picked out the old gentleman I saw hobbling across the parking lot during check-in. He looked to be about 95 years old. I set myself to the task of staying right on his rear wheel. This worked well for the first ten miles. Then, ever so slowly, I started slipping towards the back of the main pack. Before I knew it the main group, and my 95 year old lead man, were slipping away. I never did see that guy again after that.
As rider after rider began to fall off the back of the group, I ended up riding in a long string of about 20 riders. I would pass a few going down the hills (thanks to gravity and an extra few pounds) but they always passed me back before we crested the always accompanying climb on the other side. Each time it seemed like I would slip back another spot or two in the line of riders. Soon we reached the first rest-stop. A sight for sore... well anyway they had cold water. I refilled my water bottle with cold water and took about 5 minutes to catch my breath. Most of the 50 milers stopped in here and the rest-stop was pretty crowded. I decided not to doddle and used this as a chance to get ahead of some of the riders who had passed me earlier during the ride. Big mistake...
The route was fairly well marked (thanks to the local Boy Scouts) but the arrows were very small, about 3-4 inches long, so you really had to pay attention to keep from missing one. Not missing a turn while riding with the group was easy, you simply turned where they turned. Riding this ride alone was more akin to a scavenger hunt and, of course, I missed a turn. I only went about a tenth of a mile out of the way because luckily I remembered seeing the name of the road we were to turn on and stopped to checked my cue sheet to make sure. Anyway, once back on track, I forged onward.
As the morning wore on, the Sun stayed out and the temp stayed in the lower 80's. Very nice. To bad the head-winds didn't stay away. I never thought the wind would make that much difference, but riding head long into it will drain your energy worse than most hills. By this time the group was fairly well spread out. I could see a few in the distance ahead and a few more in the distance in my rear-view mirror. We were about 40 miles in and I was making decent time (avg about 16 mph so far). Then the clicking started...
I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just my over active imagination and fatigue but it kept getting louder. I found a nice place to stop (the church at the intersection of Bunker Hill road and Hwy 66) and pulled over about mile 42. I didn't see it at first but while sitting on the cobble stone wall finishing the last of my plain water, I saw the spoke sticking out. I tried to reinstall it but the little cap had fallen into the interior of the wheel and I couldn't get to it. 42 miles, 8 to go.
Within minutes a ride volunteer stopped and asked if I needed help. He called a SAG wagon and I waited for them to come get me. They offered to take me the last few miles to the finish so we loaded up the bike and headed back towards the mall, stopping at the intersections along the way to deliver cold water to the policemen working traffic for the ride. After arriving at the mall and unloading everything, I got my free Subway sub and enjoyed the ending of another great event. I am not disappointed that I did not finish the full distance. I had reach my goal of 50 miles a few weeks ago during the Operation Red Sleigh ride and I had a great time today.
Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Time to get serious...
There are 8 weeks until I start my week long "Mountains to Coast" cycling adventure across the wonderful state of North Carolina and with summer classes coming to an end, the time to start getting everything ready has come. There are reservations to make, camping equipment to purchase, supplies to gather, and training plans to follow to make sure that I not only complete this epic adventure, but enjoy it as well. I have put off doing most of this until now so that I could concentrate on school and work and so that I could research equipment, supply lists, and just ride. We are still raising money in memory of Jimmy Meris. You can find more information and make donations here. Between this site and sign-up sheets at work, we have raised about $300 so far.
I have compiled a 8 week training plan from the materials available online at Cyclo-CLUB and plan to drop at least another 25 pounds before the ride. I am not interested to how fast I ride from town to town, but I certainly need to work on my climbing ability or I will not even make it out of Asheville, so a big part of my training will be working on hills. I guess I should know Caraway mountain fairly well by the end of the summer. :-)
As for the schedule of the ride, the first day, Sept 25th, we will spend enjoying the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and spend the night camped on the estate grounds. Then, on Sunday, we start riding towards the coast, covering from 40 miles to as much as 80-85 miles on the longer days. After leaving Asheville and tackling the mountains, we will spend the next night in Marion. From Marion we go to Hickory and leave the larger climbs behind, settling into the foothills. After Hickory, we stay in Mooresville, Albemarle, Laurinburg, and lastly Whiteville. Finally, on Saturday Oct 2nd, we will arrive at Ocean Isle Beach for the end of the ride. The organizers of this ride and the towns themselves have worked had to make sure that it is a safe and fun event. Depending on the town, we will be staying at YMCAs, high school gyms, college campuses, or even rec centers. There are also options for hotels every night but that takes away from the adventure.
The plan is for Joy to drive me to Asheville and spend the day with me touring Biltmore Estate and the surrounding area. Then she will return home for the week and then meet me the following weekend in Ocean Isle. We have not spent that much time apart in a very long time. I think that might just be the hardest part of this trip.
What am I expecting? I am certain I will see the state in a new light and I plan to use this time alone on the bike to learn more about myself and the time in camp to make new friends. I expect at times to be exhausted. I expect at times to be elated. I expect in the end to be changed.
I have compiled a 8 week training plan from the materials available online at Cyclo-CLUB and plan to drop at least another 25 pounds before the ride. I am not interested to how fast I ride from town to town, but I certainly need to work on my climbing ability or I will not even make it out of Asheville, so a big part of my training will be working on hills. I guess I should know Caraway mountain fairly well by the end of the summer. :-)
As for the schedule of the ride, the first day, Sept 25th, we will spend enjoying the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and spend the night camped on the estate grounds. Then, on Sunday, we start riding towards the coast, covering from 40 miles to as much as 80-85 miles on the longer days. After leaving Asheville and tackling the mountains, we will spend the next night in Marion. From Marion we go to Hickory and leave the larger climbs behind, settling into the foothills. After Hickory, we stay in Mooresville, Albemarle, Laurinburg, and lastly Whiteville. Finally, on Saturday Oct 2nd, we will arrive at Ocean Isle Beach for the end of the ride. The organizers of this ride and the towns themselves have worked had to make sure that it is a safe and fun event. Depending on the town, we will be staying at YMCAs, high school gyms, college campuses, or even rec centers. There are also options for hotels every night but that takes away from the adventure.
The plan is for Joy to drive me to Asheville and spend the day with me touring Biltmore Estate and the surrounding area. Then she will return home for the week and then meet me the following weekend in Ocean Isle. We have not spent that much time apart in a very long time. I think that might just be the hardest part of this trip.
What am I expecting? I am certain I will see the state in a new light and I plan to use this time alone on the bike to learn more about myself and the time in camp to make new friends. I expect at times to be exhausted. I expect at times to be elated. I expect in the end to be changed.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
James Richard (Jimmy) Meris
Jimmy Meris of Trinity NC ended his battle with Leukemia on July 17, 2010 at Baptist Hospital with his family by his side. He was born August 28, 1961 in Guilford County to Frank (Tuberose) and Frances Meris both of whom preceded him in death as did a brother Ronnie Lee. His remaining surviving brothers include Ray Meris and girlfriend Ruth Inman, William (Butch) Meris and wife Becky, Rickey Meris and wife Sherry, and Frankie Meris. Also, a sister Barbara Royal and husband Darrel remain.
In 1984, he married Wendy Boles and gained another family. In 1989, he welcomed his only child into the world, Brittany Lauren Meris. Lauren was the light of his life and he was so proud of her. Also surviving are Cindy Beeson and husband Jimmy, Luann Hubbard and husband Kenny and Karen Gillitzer whom he called his "Ice Lady" because in the last days that is what he could eat. Also surviving in both families are a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, aunts and cousins. Lastly, he leaves behind his beloved "little girl" Tinkerbell. He was never sure whether she thought that she was a human or he was a big dog, either way she is mourning his loss.
Jimmy enjoyed people,rarely meeting a stranger. Some he asked to be mentioned were friend and brother Kenny Hubbard, who took him hunting, Don and Lydia Bulla and their daughters, who kept his spirits high especially during his multiple hospitalizations, Danny Pope, he loved the guy time at the tire shop, Chris, Lynn, Lib, Ronald, and Deanna Kennedy along with Ray Bunn who took care of the home place while we were away.
While in the hospital in Nov,2009, Jimmy had cardiac arrest and was revived and it changed his life. He was able to share his story with so many people. Jimmy had faith in God as a little child and numerous times through his journey, he was comforted by angels. Jimmy was not afraid of dying, the mystery had been taken away. He knew where he would go. Jimmy loved God and thanked Him for all HE had done. Instead of being comforted about his departure, he was the one doing the comforting of others.
He wanted to thank Dr Lenny Peters and Amanda Taylor along with the staff of Bethany Medical Center and Peters Medical Research for the support that was given to him and his family during this journey. Also, thank you to "his girls" the nursing staff of 9 North at Baptist hospital. They treated him like family and we appreciate so much their love and kindness. Lastly, Dr Tim Pardee and Dr Leslie Ellis for doing battle against the beast called Leukemia. Your efforts will never be forgotten.
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling," 2 Corinthians 5:1-2
Jimmy's life and faith will be celebrated on Monday night at Davis Funeral from 6-8pm and his body will be laid to rest at Floral Garden on Tuesday at 11:00 am
In 1984, he married Wendy Boles and gained another family. In 1989, he welcomed his only child into the world, Brittany Lauren Meris. Lauren was the light of his life and he was so proud of her. Also surviving are Cindy Beeson and husband Jimmy, Luann Hubbard and husband Kenny and Karen Gillitzer whom he called his "Ice Lady" because in the last days that is what he could eat. Also surviving in both families are a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, aunts and cousins. Lastly, he leaves behind his beloved "little girl" Tinkerbell. He was never sure whether she thought that she was a human or he was a big dog, either way she is mourning his loss.
Jimmy enjoyed people,rarely meeting a stranger. Some he asked to be mentioned were friend and brother Kenny Hubbard, who took him hunting, Don and Lydia Bulla and their daughters, who kept his spirits high especially during his multiple hospitalizations, Danny Pope, he loved the guy time at the tire shop, Chris, Lynn, Lib, Ronald, and Deanna Kennedy along with Ray Bunn who took care of the home place while we were away.
While in the hospital in Nov,2009, Jimmy had cardiac arrest and was revived and it changed his life. He was able to share his story with so many people. Jimmy had faith in God as a little child and numerous times through his journey, he was comforted by angels. Jimmy was not afraid of dying, the mystery had been taken away. He knew where he would go. Jimmy loved God and thanked Him for all HE had done. Instead of being comforted about his departure, he was the one doing the comforting of others.
He wanted to thank Dr Lenny Peters and Amanda Taylor along with the staff of Bethany Medical Center and Peters Medical Research for the support that was given to him and his family during this journey. Also, thank you to "his girls" the nursing staff of 9 North at Baptist hospital. They treated him like family and we appreciate so much their love and kindness. Lastly, Dr Tim Pardee and Dr Leslie Ellis for doing battle against the beast called Leukemia. Your efforts will never be forgotten.
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling," 2 Corinthians 5:1-2
Jimmy's life and faith will be celebrated on Monday night at Davis Funeral from 6-8pm and his body will be laid to rest at Floral Garden on Tuesday at 11:00 am
Pennies for Jimmy (bike ride)...
When I joined FaceBook originally it was to more easily stay in contact with Landon, Miranda, and Jessica (our kids), not so much to keep an eye on them, but to stay up to date on the events in their lives that were important enough to share but not important enough to call home about. Over time I have reconnected with old friends, made new friends, and learned a lot of really cool things about the people in my life. I have even been able to mend a burnt bridge or two from the past and to start building a network of contacts for my future in teaching.
When I started riding last year I was instantly hooked. One of the very first things I started day-dreaming about was riding a long distance over a period of a few days. I even posted (a long time ago) that I wanted to ride in the Crossing North Carolina cycling event and now I am. This is an organized event covering 400+ miles and taking seven days to ride from the mountains to the beach. There will be quite a few people riding so it is not just me hoping on my bike and trying to ride from Asheville to the beach.
Not too long after I decided to ride in the event this fall, I learned about Jimmy Meris's fight with Leukemia and contacted the family about using the ride to raise money and awareness and possibly to help support them during this long battle. Unfortunately Jimmy has lost his battle and passed away late yesterday afternoon (July 17th) due to complications from the intensive dosage of chemotherapy needed to battle the aggressive cancer.
We are still accepting donations for Jimmy at http://meris.chipin.com/jimmy-meris. This site will allow you to make a donation via PayPal and every penny raised will go to the family. If you donate one penny for every mile I ride, that is only $4.00. That's not much but it adds up, so every donation helps. For those who have donated already, we thank you. For those thinking of donating, please do. Showing your support means a lot, sometimes more than you might know.
I will post updates about the ride, training rides, pictures from the ride, etc. as things progress. If anyone is interested in participating in the ride, helping to raise donations, or just riding together sometime, please feel free to contact me. I would enjoy the company.
When I started riding last year I was instantly hooked. One of the very first things I started day-dreaming about was riding a long distance over a period of a few days. I even posted (a long time ago) that I wanted to ride in the Crossing North Carolina cycling event and now I am. This is an organized event covering 400+ miles and taking seven days to ride from the mountains to the beach. There will be quite a few people riding so it is not just me hoping on my bike and trying to ride from Asheville to the beach.
Not too long after I decided to ride in the event this fall, I learned about Jimmy Meris's fight with Leukemia and contacted the family about using the ride to raise money and awareness and possibly to help support them during this long battle. Unfortunately Jimmy has lost his battle and passed away late yesterday afternoon (July 17th) due to complications from the intensive dosage of chemotherapy needed to battle the aggressive cancer.
We are still accepting donations for Jimmy at http://meris.chipin.com/jimmy-meris. This site will allow you to make a donation via PayPal and every penny raised will go to the family. If you donate one penny for every mile I ride, that is only $4.00. That's not much but it adds up, so every donation helps. For those who have donated already, we thank you. For those thinking of donating, please do. Showing your support means a lot, sometimes more than you might know.
I will post updates about the ride, training rides, pictures from the ride, etc. as things progress. If anyone is interested in participating in the ride, helping to raise donations, or just riding together sometime, please feel free to contact me. I would enjoy the company.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Am I my brother's keeper....?
I think we are. I think payer is a very powerful tool, but I also think that God expects us to help care of each other when we can. It doesn't take much. Even a kind word can change a person's day for the better. Even when we do pray we do not always see God's answer because we are willing to accept anything less than a hand delivered gift.
I heard this story a very long time ago (while in church, I think). I have changed the wording but the message is the same...
There was a massive rain storm in a small town and the land was beginning to flood. As some of the people were leaving town, they passed old man Jenkins standing on his front porch. He lived alone and was a very private person who did not trust others very much.
As the rain continued and the water began to rise a boat floated by and someone asked him if he needed a ride out of town. Old man Jenkins replied, "God will save me if I need saving!" So they left him there.
Later, old man Jenkins was sitting on his rooftop watching the water continue to rise. A small motor boat came by and asked him to get in. They were offering to take him to safety. Old man Jenkins again said that God would save him and waved them away.
The rain persisted and the water continued to rise. By now, old man Jenkins was standing on his chimney and the water was just about to reach his feet. Suddenly another boat appeared and they once again asked him to get in. Old man Jenkins once again shouted that God would save him and he waved the boat away, so they left.
Well, the flood got worse and old man Jenkins was eventually washed away and drowned. When he got to Heaven, he was grateful to be there, of course, but he was confused. "God," he said, "Why did you not save me? I prayed and prayed and you did not save me?"
"Well," God said. "I sent three boats..."
I heard this story a very long time ago (while in church, I think). I have changed the wording but the message is the same...
There was a massive rain storm in a small town and the land was beginning to flood. As some of the people were leaving town, they passed old man Jenkins standing on his front porch. He lived alone and was a very private person who did not trust others very much.
As the rain continued and the water began to rise a boat floated by and someone asked him if he needed a ride out of town. Old man Jenkins replied, "God will save me if I need saving!" So they left him there.
Later, old man Jenkins was sitting on his rooftop watching the water continue to rise. A small motor boat came by and asked him to get in. They were offering to take him to safety. Old man Jenkins again said that God would save him and waved them away.
The rain persisted and the water continued to rise. By now, old man Jenkins was standing on his chimney and the water was just about to reach his feet. Suddenly another boat appeared and they once again asked him to get in. Old man Jenkins once again shouted that God would save him and he waved the boat away, so they left.
Well, the flood got worse and old man Jenkins was eventually washed away and drowned. When he got to Heaven, he was grateful to be there, of course, but he was confused. "God," he said, "Why did you not save me? I prayed and prayed and you did not save me?"
"Well," God said. "I sent three boats..."
Monday, December 28, 2009
The Long Haul...
I posted on FaceBook recently my desire to ride the TransAmerica trail in the summer of 2013. I have had several people ask me why then (after they ask if I am crazy). Well, the way I figure it, that will be my first summer off after my first full year of teaching. I can use the time as a sort of sabbatical to reflect on my new career choice. Plus it will give me time to do the planning, save up some cash, and get into shape for the long ride.
I have also been thinking about using the ride to raise money for scholarships to help kids go to college who might otherwise not get the chance. The entire trip is 4200+ miles, so a penny a mile might be a reasonable pledge don't you think? While doing research on the cross-country ride, I found the Cycling North Carolina website and their annual cross-state ride. I think this would be a great way to test myself and see if I should even consider the cross-country trip.
Jessica has also caught the riding bug apparently and has decided to join the Appalachian Cycling team when she gets to ASU. We have contacted several of the coaches and a team member for information and advice. I do not intend to push her (much) but I will support her completely.
MH
I have also been thinking about using the ride to raise money for scholarships to help kids go to college who might otherwise not get the chance. The entire trip is 4200+ miles, so a penny a mile might be a reasonable pledge don't you think? While doing research on the cross-country ride, I found the Cycling North Carolina website and their annual cross-state ride. I think this would be a great way to test myself and see if I should even consider the cross-country trip.
Jessica has also caught the riding bug apparently and has decided to join the Appalachian Cycling team when she gets to ASU. We have contacted several of the coaches and a team member for information and advice. I do not intend to push her (much) but I will support her completely.
MH
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hey - It's me!! I'm still around...
Yes, I'm still around! I'd like to say I have been too busy to post but we all know it only takes a few minutes to type out a paragraph now and then letting the world know what's going on. :-)
So to quickly recap since the last post...
School is going great. I started my junior year at East Carolina in August. I like the program and the school but it is completely online and I miss being in the classroom with other students. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of valuable interaction and networking, especially now that I am taking the higher lever education classes.
I am still riding when I can. I went to New River Trail in VA and rode 40 miles last Sunday. It was chilly when I got there around 9am but quickly warmed up after riding for a few miles. The fall colors were amazing and the first 30 miles or so was great. Then, as I began to run out of steam, it became more of a workout and less of an adventure. :-) I picked up a contraption that turns the bike into a stationary bike for riding indoors during the winter. I can still workout but it is pretty boring.
I have been working as a substitute teacher for Randolph County. I have subbed at ATMS a few times over the past month or so and even spent 4 days subbing for the shop class while they interviewed for a permanent replacement teacher. The original shop teacher moved from this area to become a policeman in South Carolina, near the beach.
Had two birthdays this last week. Landon turned 24 and Jessica turned 16. Miranda came home to visit yesterday so we were all five together for a little while at least. She is still living and working in Raleigh and Landon now lives and works in Greensboro. We do not get to see them much but we talk to them often and we are proud of them for doing so well. We have such good kids. :-)
Yesterday we visited my grandmother and helped her celebrate her 92nd birthday. She is in a nursing home but still in decent health and has most of her mental facilities intact (in comparison to others her age I guess). She seemed to enjoy the company and the cake and ice cream.
So to quickly recap since the last post...
School is going great. I started my junior year at East Carolina in August. I like the program and the school but it is completely online and I miss being in the classroom with other students. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of valuable interaction and networking, especially now that I am taking the higher lever education classes.
I am still riding when I can. I went to New River Trail in VA and rode 40 miles last Sunday. It was chilly when I got there around 9am but quickly warmed up after riding for a few miles. The fall colors were amazing and the first 30 miles or so was great. Then, as I began to run out of steam, it became more of a workout and less of an adventure. :-) I picked up a contraption that turns the bike into a stationary bike for riding indoors during the winter. I can still workout but it is pretty boring.
I have been working as a substitute teacher for Randolph County. I have subbed at ATMS a few times over the past month or so and even spent 4 days subbing for the shop class while they interviewed for a permanent replacement teacher. The original shop teacher moved from this area to become a policeman in South Carolina, near the beach.
Had two birthdays this last week. Landon turned 24 and Jessica turned 16. Miranda came home to visit yesterday so we were all five together for a little while at least. She is still living and working in Raleigh and Landon now lives and works in Greensboro. We do not get to see them much but we talk to them often and we are proud of them for doing so well. We have such good kids. :-)
Yesterday we visited my grandmother and helped her celebrate her 92nd birthday. She is in a nursing home but still in decent health and has most of her mental facilities intact (in comparison to others her age I guess). She seemed to enjoy the company and the cake and ice cream.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Latest hobby...
Recently I started cycling and I love it. Tomorrow I will test myself and ride in the Tour de Furniture event in High Point put on by the American Red Cross. The event starts at 7am and lasts, I suppose, until the last riders finish. I will post pictures and results (as well as any wordy wisedom I can come up with) tomorrow after we get home. Please come out and support the Red Cross and the participants as well!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Argggg! I'm a Pirate!
So... I feel bad about not updating for over a month but not much has really happened. School is going very well and I am staying extremely busy. I'm shooting for getting my name on the President's list this semester (4.0 GPA) instead of just the Dean's list (3.75 GPA). I'm sure the Dean is a great guy and all, but I've done that three times already. It's time to step it up. Plus I have a lot to prove this semester to everyone who thought my taking 28 credit hours was insane. :-)
And on that note... I finally got my acceptance letter from East Carolina University. I have an on campus orientation scheduled during the summer but the courses themselves will all be online through the Wachovia Partnership East program. They are supposed to handle the arrangements for getting me into a classroom for my student teaching, etc. So I'm looking forward to that.
That's it for now. I have a few hours of homework to do tonight and it's already getting late (I'm old, remember! :-))
MH
And on that note... I finally got my acceptance letter from East Carolina University. I have an on campus orientation scheduled during the summer but the courses themselves will all be online through the Wachovia Partnership East program. They are supposed to handle the arrangements for getting me into a classroom for my student teaching, etc. So I'm looking forward to that.
That's it for now. I have a few hours of homework to do tonight and it's already getting late (I'm old, remember! :-))
MH
Friday, February 20, 2009
Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't...
Anyone reading this blog regularly has surely noticed my ramblings are on-again-off-again to say the least. Sometimes I feel like writing tons of stuff and sometimes I just don't have a lot to say. It's during those quite times that I am contemplating life, love, the universe, and everything in it. And speaking of the universe...
As far back as I can remember, I have been drawn towards the little bright lights in the night sky. Just like our ancestors must have done, I too gaze up and wonder about where we are in the universe and where we might someday go. I really began to get into astronomy when I was in about the 8th grade. My parents (or Santa Claus, depending on your point of view) bought me a cool 4-inch reflecting telescope for Christmas that year. Even as small an cheap as it was, I was able to see the rings around Saturn. After that, I was hooked.
However, as with every thing, life tends to get in the way. By the time I got into high school I was working at the family business after school and well into the night. Slowly, as time passed, so did my desire to spend night after freezing night looking into the sky. A few years later, while at sea on the USS Marvin Shields, I stepped out on deck after a midnight shift. There was no man-made light anywhere to be seen so the night sky was perfect. It really looked like a poster you might find at the planetarium. Well, many years have passed and I still try to enjoy astronomy when I can. I am lucky in that my youngest daughter is into it as well. This gives me someone close to share news stories and events with.
When I decided to return to college last spring, I had no idea what classes to take. So I decided to take Astronomy and I am so glad I did. I am currently the president of the Stellar Society (the Astronomy club) at GTCC and we are fairly active in promoting the Cline Observatory on campus, as well as many other events held at the school. In March we are hosting Tri-Star which will bring astronomers from across the state together for the weekend.
Once I become a teacher I certainly plan to integrate astronomy into my science and/or math classes as often as possible. I think it is important we understand the universe God has given us as well as our place in it.
MH
As far back as I can remember, I have been drawn towards the little bright lights in the night sky. Just like our ancestors must have done, I too gaze up and wonder about where we are in the universe and where we might someday go. I really began to get into astronomy when I was in about the 8th grade. My parents (or Santa Claus, depending on your point of view) bought me a cool 4-inch reflecting telescope for Christmas that year. Even as small an cheap as it was, I was able to see the rings around Saturn. After that, I was hooked.
However, as with every thing, life tends to get in the way. By the time I got into high school I was working at the family business after school and well into the night. Slowly, as time passed, so did my desire to spend night after freezing night looking into the sky. A few years later, while at sea on the USS Marvin Shields, I stepped out on deck after a midnight shift. There was no man-made light anywhere to be seen so the night sky was perfect. It really looked like a poster you might find at the planetarium. Well, many years have passed and I still try to enjoy astronomy when I can. I am lucky in that my youngest daughter is into it as well. This gives me someone close to share news stories and events with.
When I decided to return to college last spring, I had no idea what classes to take. So I decided to take Astronomy and I am so glad I did. I am currently the president of the Stellar Society (the Astronomy club) at GTCC and we are fairly active in promoting the Cline Observatory on campus, as well as many other events held at the school. In March we are hosting Tri-Star which will bring astronomers from across the state together for the weekend.
Once I become a teacher I certainly plan to integrate astronomy into my science and/or math classes as often as possible. I think it is important we understand the universe God has given us as well as our place in it.
MH
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Life's good...
As most of you are aware I have talked recently about looking up old friends online (specifically FaceBook) and have had the great fortune of reconnecting with a few of them. Tonight I spent a while talking to an old friend about the past. Man that really brought back the memories; some great ones, some so-so ones, and some bad ones. But that is how life is. You have to accept the bad times along with the good. Now of course I won't give details about the conversation, but like I said it really brought back the memories.
It also got me thinking about other things. Life goes by so fast that if you don't slow down occasionally an look around, you will miss out on a ton of cool stuff. For too many years I lived in a shell; a shell I made all by myself. In high school I was made to go straight to the family business after school, so my social life was non-existent. Then, as I got older, I would spend most of my time in front of a computer pounding out code (something I was good at and enjoyed) and I again neglected my social 'training' and never really felt like I fit in in a crowd.
When I realized that I wanted to teach, this was the very first concern my family raised. So, over the past two years, I have begun to break out of this shell. Of course I still spend a fair amount of time in front of a computer, but when I am at school or in public I make an effort to be more outgoing. I talk more, I smile more, and I even flirt a little from time to time. And you know what? It is making a difference. I no long feel out of place. I no longer sit alone and wonder. I do, however, still remain quiet and listen a lot, but I also speak with more confidence when I do decide to share.
I know I have made some very bad choices along the way, but everything has slowly shifted back into focus and I am happy with where I am today. I have great plans for the future as well (see the list of thing to do on my blog!). I guess what I am trying to say is that life is good so enjoy it.
MH
It also got me thinking about other things. Life goes by so fast that if you don't slow down occasionally an look around, you will miss out on a ton of cool stuff. For too many years I lived in a shell; a shell I made all by myself. In high school I was made to go straight to the family business after school, so my social life was non-existent. Then, as I got older, I would spend most of my time in front of a computer pounding out code (something I was good at and enjoyed) and I again neglected my social 'training' and never really felt like I fit in in a crowd.
When I realized that I wanted to teach, this was the very first concern my family raised. So, over the past two years, I have begun to break out of this shell. Of course I still spend a fair amount of time in front of a computer, but when I am at school or in public I make an effort to be more outgoing. I talk more, I smile more, and I even flirt a little from time to time. And you know what? It is making a difference. I no long feel out of place. I no longer sit alone and wonder. I do, however, still remain quiet and listen a lot, but I also speak with more confidence when I do decide to share.
I know I have made some very bad choices along the way, but everything has slowly shifted back into focus and I am happy with where I am today. I have great plans for the future as well (see the list of thing to do on my blog!). I guess what I am trying to say is that life is good so enjoy it.
MH
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mother Earth...
The question of whether we are alone in the universe has two possible answers: either we are or we are not. If you really think about that, either possibility is equally astounding. Let's look at both possibilities:
1 - We are alone. This is it. The universe began/was created then we evolved/were created and that is it. Everything else in the universe is just for us to look at and admire. If that is the case then why are we so self-destructive? Why are we, as a people, so intent on destroying our home as well as each other? I would like to think that if this is it then we would try a little harder to get along with each other and take care of our ecosystem.
2 - We are not alone. The universe is teaming with life and we might even get to meet someone from another world someday. What would they think of what the find? Would you like them to see how we treat each other and how we are treating our planet?
Now, imagine being in a life raft at sea... There are two possibilities. You get rescued or you don't. Again, let's look at each possibility...
1 - You are stuck in the life raft for ever (at least the rest of your life). Let's assume for this little mental exercise that you have plenty of food. Would you take care of your raft? Would you ration your food to try to make it last? I would think that most of us would. We would hope to last long enough to find land or see another ship.
2 - After a few days at sea you get rescued. Knowing this would happen, you have not taken very good care of the raft and you have eaten all your food. What would your rescuers think about you if they found a damaged raft full of candy wrappers and trash? Wouldn't you be a little embarrassed?
Do you see the correlation between the two sets of questions? Why do we treat our 'raft' like we do? Why do we guzzle our 'rations' as if we will get rescued tomorrow? We need to look at the big picture and take responsibility for our actions. Issues such as global warming, using fossil fuels, and over population are causing irreversible damage to our only home.
I originally started out with the intention of talking about my views on the possibility of other life in the universe, but once I started typing it went in a different direction. Aliens made me change it.
MH
1 - We are alone. This is it. The universe began/was created then we evolved/were created and that is it. Everything else in the universe is just for us to look at and admire. If that is the case then why are we so self-destructive? Why are we, as a people, so intent on destroying our home as well as each other? I would like to think that if this is it then we would try a little harder to get along with each other and take care of our ecosystem.
2 - We are not alone. The universe is teaming with life and we might even get to meet someone from another world someday. What would they think of what the find? Would you like them to see how we treat each other and how we are treating our planet?
Now, imagine being in a life raft at sea... There are two possibilities. You get rescued or you don't. Again, let's look at each possibility...
1 - You are stuck in the life raft for ever (at least the rest of your life). Let's assume for this little mental exercise that you have plenty of food. Would you take care of your raft? Would you ration your food to try to make it last? I would think that most of us would. We would hope to last long enough to find land or see another ship.
2 - After a few days at sea you get rescued. Knowing this would happen, you have not taken very good care of the raft and you have eaten all your food. What would your rescuers think about you if they found a damaged raft full of candy wrappers and trash? Wouldn't you be a little embarrassed?
Do you see the correlation between the two sets of questions? Why do we treat our 'raft' like we do? Why do we guzzle our 'rations' as if we will get rescued tomorrow? We need to look at the big picture and take responsibility for our actions. Issues such as global warming, using fossil fuels, and over population are causing irreversible damage to our only home.
I originally started out with the intention of talking about my views on the possibility of other life in the universe, but once I started typing it went in a different direction. Aliens made me change it.
MH
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Catching up, cutting back, and reminiscing...
So I had a little free time last night while the NASCAR race was on (yes, I'm a fan) and I spent some time trying to find friends and family on FaceBook. I connected with a cousin in Phoenix, an old pal in Greensboro, and even a few folks I went to high school with 25+ years ago. Even though I have worked with (and played with) the changing technology over then years it still amazes me how easily we can connect to anyone anywhere instantly. I remember the time before the internet, before cell phones, and cable TV. Damn I feel old....
I also had to make a tough decision regarding school. I have decided to drop one of my classes this semester due to not having enough time to really do the work needed to do well. I was planning on having the whole summer off (from school) before starting East Carolina in the fall but I will need to retake American Lit then. I still have Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and History of Art (all except Art have labs as well) to keep me busy, so don't feel bad for me. I will still finish before August and hopefully get to hold on to my 4.0 GPA :-)
And on a li
ghter note...
The weather here today was absolutely gorgeous. I love cold weather but I also enjoy warm spring days as much as anyone. We went to the park today to walk and on the way there (and back) we must have seen 25-30 motorcycles out enjoying the weather. I really miss riding and I miss my bike, but it's probably not something I'll ever have again.
MH
I also had to make a tough decision regarding school. I have decided to drop one of my classes this semester due to not having enough time to really do the work needed to do well. I was planning on having the whole summer off (from school) before starting East Carolina in the fall but I will need to retake American Lit then. I still have Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and History of Art (all except Art have labs as well) to keep me busy, so don't feel bad for me. I will still finish before August and hopefully get to hold on to my 4.0 GPA :-)
And on a li
ghter note...The weather here today was absolutely gorgeous. I love cold weather but I also enjoy warm spring days as much as anyone. We went to the park today to walk and on the way there (and back) we must have seen 25-30 motorcycles out enjoying the weather. I really miss riding and I miss my bike, but it's probably not something I'll ever have again.
MH
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Technology and Society...
One of the biggest problems in society today is the fact that our technology is advancing so fast that we, as a society, are having trouble keeping up. We have extended the average life span to ever longer years, developed ways to communicate to vast numbers of people instantly and globally, and we have even successfully altered human brains with computerized circuitry. If the past 100 years are any indication then there is no telling where we will be by the year 2100.
Please bear in mind, of course, that these ideas are just my ramblings and not hard cold facts. I just think that technology is advancing so fast that we, as a whole, cannot keep up. Despite your beliefs on when and how man first appeared on Earth, it is pretty easy to conclude that after a certain number of years ours bodies begin to wear out. Recently, modern medicine has allowed people to live longer lives. But at what cost? As a society we are having issues dealing with them. Nursing homes are overcrowded and poorly staffed (my apologizes for the generalization of social workers; I know there are some great folks out there) by people who would rather be doing something else. One hundred years ago, people did not have to worry about retirement or old age because they did not really expect to have to deal with it.
And it is not just the elderly that are having to adjust. Certainly the middle-aged person struggling to learn to use a home computer would make a great example here, but I was thinking more about how children are changing to deal with our advanced technological world. Children today have instant access to everything they want and need (in general). Answering a question, for example, on nearly any subject is a internet search away. The desire to listen to a specific song, watch a favorite television show or DVD can be instantly satisfied. Because of this, keeping a child's attention for more than three seconds is a challenge. Look at how they interact today as compared to us as kids. Could you have ever imagined talking to your friends via instant texts or online? Again, I think this shows how they are being conditioned to expect instant gratification. I feel (and again this is simply my opinion) that this helps explain the abundance of 'attention deficit disorder' diagnoses. We (all of us) have grown to expect too much too quick. Want proof? Look in the 'get rich quick' section at the bookstore.
But back to the kids. I'm in my mid-40s. I remember buying my first home computer in 1982. I crashed my car and instead of getting a new one I used the insurance money to buy a TRS-80 desktop computer. It hard no hard drive and no floppy disk. No data storage at all and it only had 16k of memory. I'd be willing to bet no one reading this realizes what 16k means, but basically today's toasters had more memory. You had to type in every single line of a program to run it and when you turned the computer off, the program was gone. Anyway, my point is this. Most adults have seen the world grow and change and I am willing to bet that it continues to grow and change (assuming we don't destroy ourselves) for the foreseeable future. Can you imagine what kind of technology our kids or grandkids will get to play with? How will they deal with it? It is easy to imagine them developing in a much difference way psychologically. Not a bad way, mind you, just different.
I mentioned early something about altering human brains with electronics. Imagine a memory chip in your brain where you could store data just like on a computer and instantly retrieve it. No more lost addresses or phone numbers, no more grocery lists on paper, etc. These advancements are already here and the possibilities are endless; not only the good applications, but the bad as well. The problem, as I see it, is how do we deal with it as a society?
MH
Please bear in mind, of course, that these ideas are just my ramblings and not hard cold facts. I just think that technology is advancing so fast that we, as a whole, cannot keep up. Despite your beliefs on when and how man first appeared on Earth, it is pretty easy to conclude that after a certain number of years ours bodies begin to wear out. Recently, modern medicine has allowed people to live longer lives. But at what cost? As a society we are having issues dealing with them. Nursing homes are overcrowded and poorly staffed (my apologizes for the generalization of social workers; I know there are some great folks out there) by people who would rather be doing something else. One hundred years ago, people did not have to worry about retirement or old age because they did not really expect to have to deal with it.
And it is not just the elderly that are having to adjust. Certainly the middle-aged person struggling to learn to use a home computer would make a great example here, but I was thinking more about how children are changing to deal with our advanced technological world. Children today have instant access to everything they want and need (in general). Answering a question, for example, on nearly any subject is a internet search away. The desire to listen to a specific song, watch a favorite television show or DVD can be instantly satisfied. Because of this, keeping a child's attention for more than three seconds is a challenge. Look at how they interact today as compared to us as kids. Could you have ever imagined talking to your friends via instant texts or online? Again, I think this shows how they are being conditioned to expect instant gratification. I feel (and again this is simply my opinion) that this helps explain the abundance of 'attention deficit disorder' diagnoses. We (all of us) have grown to expect too much too quick. Want proof? Look in the 'get rich quick' section at the bookstore.
But back to the kids. I'm in my mid-40s. I remember buying my first home computer in 1982. I crashed my car and instead of getting a new one I used the insurance money to buy a TRS-80 desktop computer. It hard no hard drive and no floppy disk. No data storage at all and it only had 16k of memory. I'd be willing to bet no one reading this realizes what 16k means, but basically today's toasters had more memory. You had to type in every single line of a program to run it and when you turned the computer off, the program was gone. Anyway, my point is this. Most adults have seen the world grow and change and I am willing to bet that it continues to grow and change (assuming we don't destroy ourselves) for the foreseeable future. Can you imagine what kind of technology our kids or grandkids will get to play with? How will they deal with it? It is easy to imagine them developing in a much difference way psychologically. Not a bad way, mind you, just different.
I mentioned early something about altering human brains with electronics. Imagine a memory chip in your brain where you could store data just like on a computer and instantly retrieve it. No more lost addresses or phone numbers, no more grocery lists on paper, etc. These advancements are already here and the possibilities are endless; not only the good applications, but the bad as well. The problem, as I see it, is how do we deal with it as a society?
MH
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Big Game...
I have always liked football and I have always been a Steelers fan. I love to watch a good football game and I love to see the underdog come out on top (unless the Steelers are playing then of course I'll pull for them). As a freshman in high school (in the early 80s), I made the varsity team but was not allowed to play because I had to work at the family business after school everyday.
After high school and a partial semester at Western Carolina I joined the Navy. While stationed in San Diego I got my hands on an authentic Mark Gastineau jersey (NY Jets #99). Now I have always been a big guy. Roughly 6ft tall and very broad shouldered (due to years of loading furniture in the afore mentioned family business) so when I wore the jersey it fit well.
One of our many trips to Hawaii (I think I went 4 times courtesy of Uncle Sam) just happened to coincide with the Pro-Bowl. Without really thinking about it I wore the jersey when we went out on the town one night. A buddy of mine and I were walking downtown one evening when a couple of people mistook me for a pro football player and asked me for an autograph. I scribbled something illegible and they thanked me and went on their way.
MH
After high school and a partial semester at Western Carolina I joined the Navy. While stationed in San Diego I got my hands on an authentic Mark Gastineau jersey (NY Jets #99). Now I have always been a big guy. Roughly 6ft tall and very broad shouldered (due to years of loading furniture in the afore mentioned family business) so when I wore the jersey it fit well.
One of our many trips to Hawaii (I think I went 4 times courtesy of Uncle Sam) just happened to coincide with the Pro-Bowl. Without really thinking about it I wore the jersey when we went out on the town one night. A buddy of mine and I were walking downtown one evening when a couple of people mistook me for a pro football player and asked me for an autograph. I scribbled something illegible and they thanked me and went on their way.
MH
Friday, January 30, 2009
25 Random facts about me....
Currently, on Facebook, there is a fad going around to list 25 random things about yourself that others might not know. I figured I'd kill two birds with on stone an do it here. So let's get started, shall we...
1 - I have been married to my high-school sweetheart and the greatest woman in the world for more than 25 years and we have NEVER had an argument.
2 - I have 3 great kids that I am very proud of. Two are grown and living on their own.
3 - I was a computer programmer for many years and made a lot of money doing it but I have not written a single line of computer code in 5 years.
4 - I love music, especially hard rock, and my favorite group has always been Rush.
5 - I collect TV shows and I'm not really sure why.
6 - I have always wanted to learn to play the drums and the piano.
7 - I have taught myself several languages and I can speak a little Japanese, Chinese, German, Russian, French, and Spanish. The problem is I never get to use them and I am very rusty.
8 - I used to ride a motorcycle.
9 - I have two tattoos; one I could show you and one I cannot.
10 - I accidentally drove a rental car in a real drag race (on a real track) in Hawaii.
11 - I have eaten monkey meat, alligator, bison, and a few other types of animals.
12 - I love to try new foods and my favorite (besides the wife's cooking) is currently Pad Thai.
13 - My favorite authors are Dean Koontz and Alastair Reynolds.
14 - I absolutely hate commercials. I do not need to be told what I need to buy.
15 - I tend to procrastinate - more on this later.
16 - I hate the fact that my family only gets together once a year (at Christmas).
17 - I love cold weather but I do not like to be cold.
18 - When I was in the Navy I saved the entire ship and crew once and all I got was a pat on the back (and that was enough).
19 - I was almost a Navy Seal (dropped after two weeks of training because I could not swim well enough).
20 - When I was a kid I wanted to be a stunt-man when I grew up (or a race-car driver).
21 - I have never been admitted to the hospital.
22 - I am bipolar and I have to take medication everyday for it (and I hate it).
23 - I changed a flat tire once with only a pair of pliers.
24 - I have a spoiled little lap dog I love very much.
25 - I am certain that I think the things on this list are more interesting than you do.
MH
1 - I have been married to my high-school sweetheart and the greatest woman in the world for more than 25 years and we have NEVER had an argument.
2 - I have 3 great kids that I am very proud of. Two are grown and living on their own.
3 - I was a computer programmer for many years and made a lot of money doing it but I have not written a single line of computer code in 5 years.
4 - I love music, especially hard rock, and my favorite group has always been Rush.
5 - I collect TV shows and I'm not really sure why.
6 - I have always wanted to learn to play the drums and the piano.
7 - I have taught myself several languages and I can speak a little Japanese, Chinese, German, Russian, French, and Spanish. The problem is I never get to use them and I am very rusty.
8 - I used to ride a motorcycle.
9 - I have two tattoos; one I could show you and one I cannot.
10 - I accidentally drove a rental car in a real drag race (on a real track) in Hawaii.
11 - I have eaten monkey meat, alligator, bison, and a few other types of animals.
12 - I love to try new foods and my favorite (besides the wife's cooking) is currently Pad Thai.
13 - My favorite authors are Dean Koontz and Alastair Reynolds.
14 - I absolutely hate commercials. I do not need to be told what I need to buy.
15 - I tend to procrastinate - more on this later.
16 - I hate the fact that my family only gets together once a year (at Christmas).
17 - I love cold weather but I do not like to be cold.
18 - When I was in the Navy I saved the entire ship and crew once and all I got was a pat on the back (and that was enough).
19 - I was almost a Navy Seal (dropped after two weeks of training because I could not swim well enough).
20 - When I was a kid I wanted to be a stunt-man when I grew up (or a race-car driver).
21 - I have never been admitted to the hospital.
22 - I am bipolar and I have to take medication everyday for it (and I hate it).
23 - I changed a flat tire once with only a pair of pliers.
24 - I have a spoiled little lap dog I love very much.
25 - I am certain that I think the things on this list are more interesting than you do.
MH
Thursday, January 29, 2009
"Grace Under Pressure" - Rush
I guess I should apologize... I figured out how to import my blog updates into Facebook.
Over the last few days I have had several people tell me that they have read (and believe it or not enjoyed) my blog so I guess I should update more (and try to be funny?). When I started this blog I had a hard time deciding whether to go as myself or do it anonymously. While this does not seem like a hard decision, being open about my identity does two things. It severely limits my ability to rant openly and it holds me accountable for my words.
Now those who know me know I will not usually say anything behind someone's back that I would not say to their face (although I would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings). So 'ranting' is off the table for this blog. This leaves comedy or telling about my boring life. I will always try to be funny when the topic allows it, but I'm no *(insert your favorite comedian here)* so don't be surprised if it's dry at times.
Finally, since I seem to have a reader base at last, I invite you all to read the past posts and get a feel for things I have (and will) post about. For example: I almost moved to China last fall, I almost got to be part of a TV reality show in Alaska, we drove to Washington DC last spring, and I like learning new things.
So I guess the pressure is on to entertain as well as inform! (I've been using song titles or lyrics for my post tiles but not giving the artist, in case you didn't notice. :-))
MH
Over the last few days I have had several people tell me that they have read (and believe it or not enjoyed) my blog so I guess I should update more (and try to be funny?). When I started this blog I had a hard time deciding whether to go as myself or do it anonymously. While this does not seem like a hard decision, being open about my identity does two things. It severely limits my ability to rant openly and it holds me accountable for my words.
Now those who know me know I will not usually say anything behind someone's back that I would not say to their face (although I would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings). So 'ranting' is off the table for this blog. This leaves comedy or telling about my boring life. I will always try to be funny when the topic allows it, but I'm no *(insert your favorite comedian here)* so don't be surprised if it's dry at times.
Finally, since I seem to have a reader base at last, I invite you all to read the past posts and get a feel for things I have (and will) post about. For example: I almost moved to China last fall, I almost got to be part of a TV reality show in Alaska, we drove to Washington DC last spring, and I like learning new things.
So I guess the pressure is on to entertain as well as inform! (I've been using song titles or lyrics for my post tiles but not giving the artist, in case you didn't notice. :-))
MH
"Grace Under Pressure".... Rush
I guess I should apologize... I figured out how to import my blog updates into Facebook.
Over the last few days I have had several people tell me that they have read (and believe it or not enjoyed) my blog so I guess I should update more (and try to be funny?). When I started this blog I had a hard time deciding whether to go as myself or do it anonymously. While this does not seem like a hard decision, being open about my identity does two things. It severely limits my ability to rant openly and it holds me accountable for my words.
Now those who know me know I will not usually say anything behind someone's back that I would not say to their face (although I would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings). So 'ranting' is off the table for this blog. This leaves comedy or telling about my boring life. I will always try to be funny when the topic allows it, but I'm no *(insert your favorite comedian here)* so don't be surprised if it's dry at times.
Finally, since I seem to have a reader base at last, I invite you all to read the past posts and get a feel for things I have (and will) post about. For example: I almost moved to China last fall, I almost got to be part of a TV reality show in Alaska, we drove to Washington DC last spring, and I like learning new things.
So I guess the pressure is on to entertain as well as inform! (I've been using song titles or lyrics for my post tiles but not giving the artist, in case you didn't notice. :-))
MH
Over the last few days I have had several people tell me that they have read (and believe it or not enjoyed) my blog so I guess I should update more (and try to be funny?). When I started this blog I had a hard time deciding whether to go as myself or do it anonymously. While this does not seem like a hard decision, being open about my identity does two things. It severely limits my ability to rant openly and it holds me accountable for my words.
Now those who know me know I will not usually say anything behind someone's back that I would not say to their face (although I would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings). So 'ranting' is off the table for this blog. This leaves comedy or telling about my boring life. I will always try to be funny when the topic allows it, but I'm no *(insert your favorite comedian here)* so don't be surprised if it's dry at times.
Finally, since I seem to have a reader base at last, I invite you all to read the past posts and get a feel for things I have (and will) post about. For example: I almost moved to China last fall, I almost got to be part of a TV reality show in Alaska, we drove to Washington DC last spring, and I like learning new things.
So I guess the pressure is on to entertain as well as inform! (I've been using song titles or lyrics for my post tiles but not giving the artist, in case you didn't notice. :-))
MH
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