the end of R&R

I dont do a damn thing when I come to Mama and Papa's house. Ive been here since Friday evening. I left the house today for the first time. It's incredible to have a haven like such to come to and not have any worries in the world.

Ive always enjoyed looking at all the photos around the house. My mom has two older siblings, Jeff and Marilyn. The frames are hung with a certain arrangement. One wall in the guest bedroom is full of Calhouns, another of Busches. Pics from like when my mom and aunt are in college, to the progression of our families growing up. It's just neat.

Above Mama's main set of chest-of-drawers are four frames in a diamond shape. Her kids at the top, MH and I to the left, Jim and David to the right, and Matthew and Zach at the bottom...kids then grandkids. Just plain neat.

Anyways, I suppose it's hard to imagine to some extent. But, may I suggest next time you visit relatives - pay close attention to the frames around the house.

These past few days have been good, but I am definately ready to get back to the AU and on to Pensacola.

Cheers to '09!

sshhhhhh.....

I like quiet holidays. This year was no exception. Thanksgiving day was very quiet. Christmas day was much of the same. Dad woke MH and I up at 10 or so, we opened presents, had brunch, chilled, then his parents came over. Simple enough. After a lunch conversation full of blah blah blah we were able to relax the rest of the afternoon.

Most of you who know me know that I am not an overly quiet person. However, I do keep my mouth shut at times. In fact, I think I prefer to. I only talk when no conversation is present. I think I spoke the most at the lunch table on 12/25 when the Yankees off season transactions were brought up.

Anyways, quietness is continuing up here at Mama and Papa's crib. I got in Friday evening. Since then, I have read a good bit of "The World is Flat" and watched 9 episodes of Boston Legal. Season 3 of BL should be in my mailbox when I return from New Years in p-cola. BTW, P-cola, visitors welcome..if Evans is down with you!

shopping

i know everyone has heard of black friday. every year we hear what crazy shoppers do to each other while gunning for fifty bucks off a flat screen. yea, i know the news reports the worse of the worse, but this year seems different - at least in opelika. shoppers dont seem to be as insane as they have been before.

i work out in a shopping center, and the people are calmer this year compared to last year. what's going on? is it b/c they are more broke? i'm working the last two shopping days...still time to change my opinion.

yesterday, i went to the mall in town. yea, it was moderately crowded, the line at american eagle was long, but people were calm! what's going on?

anyways...i'm done with my shopping.

Merry Christmas

life in a nutshell

Now that school is out for 3 weeks or so. this is what i'll be up to

--Home for Christmas (Eve too)
--Mama and Papa's 26-30
--Pensacola, 31-2

I like the line up. Not too much time around Auburn to get bored.

The ideas of "Dexter's Code" and "New Year Resolutions" are on my mind these days.

cruise control

i had a teacher in highschool tell me that finals week should be the best week of the year. does that make sense? it didnt to me at first. until a few semesters ago when i realized that it is the best week if you know you are in good shape at the end. you bust ass all semester and everything seems less stressful come finals time.

chaining things up from last post...i told my mom at thanksgiving dinner that i wanted a new pair of Js for christmas. you know, jordans...shoes. i dont think she thought i was serious. but i am, i want the "jordan jeter clutches". the ones that are mostly white with blue. check them out!

http://www.footlocker.com/catalog/productdetail/model_nbr--93049/sku--18594101/cm--GLOBAL%20SEARCH%3A%20KEYWORD%20SEARCH/

breaks

Thanksgiving break is here, well after i take a test at 1pm central. But is it really a break? Not really, it's just a week when class is not in session. I love how certain teachers like you to write papers and read books over break.

But actually, the book I have to read is "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman. I had this on my list to read prior to taking international economics. I guess this is business meets pleasure. Writing philosophy papers is a pain. No pleasure there.

On to think about Christmas break. No school work to do then. Auburn empties, leaving only the semi-locals like myself to casually stroll around town with the locals. It's better than summer in Auburn.

Now if only I could determine what to tell my mom what i want for Christmas...

celebration

anyone watch the election returns long enough to see a ton of cool scenes from all over? i think my favorite crowd -- picking grant park would be cheesy -- was the one gathered in front of the white house. the remote reporter said no one was being rowdy, just a jubilous crowd rejoicing. i can't recall what network we were on at the time, but the pundit said something to the effect "if you have been to washington and stood at the fence to see the white house, this is where they are." i havent been to washington in eleven years, but was taken back instantly with that comment. to be taken back to such a fond memory was neat.

i'm off to get as many newspapers as possible today. i know i can get oa news, ledger, gump ad, bham news, usa today and nyt.

side note, can we move elections to friday or saturday so it's more suitable for parties. last night made me wish i lived in a high energy place like dc, or nyc, or chicago, to join in celebration...but not go to work the next day!

the dark side

nope. not star wars. not a secret, well sorta secret, killer like dexter. no coin like twoface. i'm talking about the dark side that comes earlier now that the time changed. night time = dark side.

i like the new hours for darkness. it was wierd getting off work at 3ish yesterday and see dusk at normal off work time of 5ish. it means that, well, it means i'll be working at night during the week.

school work is meant for day time. the library during the day is way better than at night. more energy, people who actually get shit done are there. i mean, a lot of productivity at night, but the social scene is bigger. more groups of people being told to be there with out much interest is actually being a student.

maybe next time i'll tell ya a bigger reason why night and day are so neat, but for now that stays within my personal 6ish inch blogosphere...my skull.

get out and vote tomorrow. i think obama has it in the bag, but i'm hoping i, and other swing voters, can help obama turn georgia blue.

expectations and a rant

So...I made a spreadsheet in excell that lets me figure out what i need to do in each class to obtain an A. Naturally, this means that I do not need to make a 100% on every assigment (in fact, my grades were so good first half of the semester that i got some wiggle room). Should I study to strive to make a 100 on every assignment. Where do you draw the line in taking the time to do well and doing the most with your time? Is putting everything on the line in money and banking smart? Is shooting for a 75 on other tests bad? Tell me, whats the difference between a 90 and 98 avg? Bump all yall haters that thing i'm a slacker for thinking ahead and altering my goals just because all you can think is "do the best." Do the most efficient, do as much fun as you can.

Political thoughts...
I downloaded the Dave and Tim show that served as an Obama rally. Recall DMB went on the vote for change tour in 2004 rallying for Kerry. Between songs, Dave said something to the effect..."Glad to be sitting here. Gotta say...I think there are probably all different kinds people here. It's my opinon, that if Obama becomes the next president. That the screams of celebration that will come from all over the world to this country will be audible without microphones." A lot of journalist have written about this, the notion, that our country will be percieved differently simply because Obama, not McCain will be president. Blowback is a term coined by the CIA that refers action taken by terrorists and other groups due to actions of America. Imagine, if you would, less blow back simply because of who our leader is. Wow. Later Dave said "OBAMA! I like him so much. I dont understand how you cant like him. This is my problem - what's wrong? Make a choice, but's there is only one. What are you thinking...COMMON! TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE...i'm talking bout the future bitches. dammit it's the world...ahhhhh." Some vocal inflexes that cant be blogged. (Download at dreamingtree.org to hear for yourself) But think about it, what does mccain offer? What change? Republicans claim that they are good because they think one thing and stick to it. Hmm, thats good and all, if it works. Be progressive, Europe had health care offered well over 50 years ago. Plus, i hate the arguement that we cant afford health care but we can afford wars, tax cuts, $800 toilet seats, and space shuttles. I mean space is cool and all, but obviously the money we spend on it pretty much is launched into space and never returns. The text books can't possibly be paying that much for cool pictures. Whoa, tangent. Anyway, later Dave complains about his chair being too soft and dubs "thats the complaint of a person who needs to be taxed more." The rich bastards in this country should pay more taxes. If doctors were into the medical business to help instead of make money that might help too.

okay okay, that paragraph was too big. so ive been reading "conscience of a liberal" by krugman. he talks about estates in NY being torndown years ago to build smaller houses. in class the other day i suggested, why dont we stop building big houses and settle for 900 square foot houses. (extreme, i know, but you should hear the republicans in the class) ole girl commented back -- well after the fact, and discussion had moved on-- that "she wasn't busting ass for 8 years to live in a 900 sq foot house. thats stupid." Well, what are you busting your ass for? A big house, with a big house payment, with a big debt, and big cars, and big pollution, and big hips with big children and a big ego? Maybe thats not what your busting ass for, but I bet you a 900 square foot house you end up with at least 6 of those.

back to blog

i almost forgot i had this thing until my friend "dad" showed me a blog from a fellow CWE CC. Congrats to Chelsea and Nathan on the birth of their daughter Avery.

So here's what's up...

I am not in the education field anymore. That said, I am still striving for a degree in economics. The time table is set to graduate in may. Filling out graduation forms for the second time sparked an interesting emotion.

I like ECON. ECON is a neat way to view the world with applications in every area of life. Plus, it builds off my strength...math. I remember saying in education job interviews that i wanted to teach math bc i had not found a field in which i cared to practive math, but thought that it was great for students to learn so that they could help our country. One of the few things i said in those interviews that wasnt BS.

Election is less then two weeks away. I am voting for Obama. I cant refute the arguement that an individual vote does not count, b/c one vote is so small. However, I feel that we should. I'd even say God wants us to vote.

Not sure what the purpose of this blog is, but I might try to make it worth something. Reading through the post of early last winter was neat. It's amazing how quickly things change.

long times

i now its been a long time since i made a post. havent known what to write its been so up and down and stressful and wonderful, interesting and boring.

not to mention the lack of time to put something up, nor anything interesting enough that you would want to know.

for now, i'll keep it brief and let whoever reads this know that everything is okay, we all experience bumps in the road and have to regroup. that's where i am now, things could be better, but for now i need to think how to make things better.

lately there has always been plenty to think about, growing up and experiencing the real world has been a big eye opener. even though i'm not quite in the real world yet. it aint the laid back college life thats for sure.

peace be with ya

stress

i dont get stressed out till the last minute. perhaps that is due to the lack of discipline. whatever the case, the pace at which im balancing work and play is appeasing to me; and, thats how i plan to keep it.

ive realized that i will always have to strive to work harder, no since working too hard now and becoming complacent with accomplishment later. one day at a time, one footnote at a time.

but in conclusion, long live the weekend. live easy and enjoy the down time.

in a wierd mood lately...

rc

no title

just felt like leaving a note because, well i was reminded that i had not in a while. this past week has been my first week teaching 2 classes in one day. its amazing how much more teaching for another hour and a half is. i still only have one prep, but twice the grading, less time to break. stayin on the grind for 2 straight blocks is strenous.

anyways

last weekend i went to columbus for mardi gras ball. it was fun being a duke. i defeinately enjoyed the spotlight when we were making our grand march in. we being the royal court, more specific, my maiden and i. all eyes on us, as a surprise. only we knew who the court was 30 minutes before it started. then drinks, food, dancing and no driving compliments of mary helen.

mardi gras might be my new favorite holiday. after last year in mobile, and this year as a duke. i have had two great experiences. its nice to be in an environment where everyone is so relaxed and having a good time.

i got madd work to catch up on, i cant be a lazy ass at the house much longer.

hollllla
rc

layin up

mlk day. a three day weekend. lordy it took two days to get over the week, a third day is awesome. i dont think ive appreciated a three day weekend since highschool. ive had three day weekends for almost two years now, including four day weekends last spring (that was awesome). i showed my appreciation today by sleeping till damn near 3pm.

rollin in the hay last night at the club. it was almost deja vu. i havent been to supper dump since hay last played there earlier this month. saw the same people, some i havent seen since then. kinda wierd. it was not crowded and "everyone had plenty of room to express themselves" as i eloquantly put it at 3ish am.

it just donged on me that i have my first teaching observation the monday after mardi gras/super bowl. what the hell was i thinking?

keeping low key

having to be at opelika by 730 every morning m-f has been quite an adjustment. no more going out to the bars during the middle of the week, and by the time the weekend gets here i just dont have the same drive to get crunk on the weekend like i use to. is this this part of growing up that alot of adults claim sucks so bad?

saturday morning was a professional development workshop at haley center for team-math. i got to meet a few professionals that will soon enough be considered my colleagues. it felt good to engage in an exchanging of thoughts with such smart people who genuinly care about the educational nature of our country. not to mention all the best wishes and what not.

reagrdless of all the responsibility ive had to inherit this semester, i am very pleased and do not feel over burdened. as joseph said the other night "it feels good to get up and go to a job you enjoy every morning, dont it?"

intern

interning is going extremely well, and should continue to do so. i am forever grateful of the position i am in now and feel confident that only blessings are to come, coincided with hard work.

jan

The break has been odd. Not traveling has made it seem real low key.

Columbus was cool. Christmas was laid back, the Deb Ball was as expected.

Auburn is quiet, what was once fantastic transformed into anxiousness waiting on other AU students to return.

That's the quick catch up, catch ya later