Almost made it two years

It has been two years (nearly) since I've blogged last. Will there be more? Maybe.

I wonder if there's a way I can do this without making it public?

Some of my goals

Right now it's second period at Wingfield High School. I have a floater in my class, so I've built me a fort-like cubby hole with filing cabinets, a rolling closet, and a "smartcart." The class in here, right now, is talking about goals: short term, mid term, and long term goals. They had to come up with three of each. Thought I'd give it a go:

Short Term Goals (0-6 months)
1. Get back into running shape. I don't need to be the fastest or the greatest, but I'd like to run at least two 5Ks this spring and still be able to bench 225 and up.
2. Graduate School. I need to take my GRE and get my application into Mississippi College in order to take some summer classes. I also need to find a way to pay for it (taking all donations).
3. Credit Cards. I've got less than $300 to go to pay my last card off. It'll be nice to get that hundred bucks back each month.

Mid Term Goals (6-12 months)
1. Financial. Have at least $5000 saved by then end of 2010. It would be a nice tiny egg to help out whatever is down the road.
2. Continue Education. I need to have at least 9-12 hours of grad level classes completed by the end of 2010.
3. House repair. All the household chores that need to be done around the house are surely adding up. I've got to find a guy to put in a kitchen sink, fix the walls that MB has chewed up, work on some landscaping, and improved the look and comfort of my home. I can't procrastinate.

Long Term Goals (5 years)
1. Parental path. I want to be a dad. That's going to be so cool to be a dad. One day, that's going to happen. The in-laws are pregnant, so I'll get to experience being an uncle. I've got the dogs, so I'm working at taking care of those that can't take care of themselves. Being a dad, though, has joys I know that are going to be wonderful.
2. Professional path. I think my future has several options, professionally. I'm either going to stay in the high school work force and try to teach a night class at a college, or I'm going to try to find a way to work at a college full time. I think the first option is a good one, but the second one is great too. It would be nice to have time to work on my Ph. D. as well as retire in 25 years AND continue my teaching, but pull in two incomes.
3. Leadership path. I'd like to either help someone fulfill a goal or help an institution by having some sort of leadership position. I feel that I can help, but I need to stay humble.

So those are just some of my goals. It'll be nice to see how these fall into place. We've got five minutes 'til the bell rings, so I've got to pretend to get back to work.

A blog from the BlackBerry

So, today has been quite an interesting day. Actually, that's not true. Along the lines of productivity, I've done nothing today. Along the lines of stress, it's been nice.

The state of Mississippi requires all those students in the public school system to take four standardized tests in order to graduate: Biology, US History, Algebra I, and English II. If you fail to pass these tests, you're allowed to retake the test however many times it takes. It SHOULD only take once. But like plans tend to do, sometimes things fall apart.

The group testing this week are all the kids who haven't passed the first attempt or the second attempt. With that being said, they know that if they do not finish on a timely manner, then classes get held.
Today I've been in the gym with the basketball and football coaches. I guess I'm allowed because I coach soccer and baseball. I've gotten absolutely nothing done today, but I have worked on my jumpshot and goofing off abilities.

It's just nice to enjoy even the "rough" days at work. I still have soccer practice to lead this afternoon, but other than that, I'm free sailing. I do have some work that I need to get to, but if I did it, I wouldn't have figured out I could blog from my BlackBerry.
This weekend is a big one. I've got my alternate route class meeting at 9, a soccer game at 1, and the SECOND championship at 3. Oh, and the Clinton Christmas parade, I believe, at 5 (maybe?).

So it's back to work for me. Maybe we'll do lay-ups or pick-and-rolls.

I remembered my blog password!!!!

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy! Can you believe I remembered the password to my blog? Seems like it's been forever since I've posted, or for that matter even written for myself. Since the last post (I think) a lot has changed. I'd say things have changged for the "good," and we're headed upward.





I finally left the paper. It was my first job, and as sad as it was to say good bye to your first job, it was nice to take the skills I had aquired and move on towards something I felt was my calling. After nearly a whole semester as a "high school English teacher," I miss the media-world, but I know that I'm where God has placed me.





I'm working at Wingfield High School with JPS, teaching one English IV class and five English III classes. My kids are great. They keep me on my toes, and they force me to present the things I love in a way that even those who could care less are picking something up. It's fun.





I'm also coaching. I'm the boys soccer assistant coach, and the girls head soccer coach. Did I mention that there has never been a girls soccer team? It's a rough road getting a team together when I don't know the "ropes" or who I'm supposed to contact. But I guess I'm learning. I'm also coaching the baseball team. We haven't started practice yet, but I'm looking forward to it (that won't be 'til next semester).





Today is my last day of the week-long Thanksgiving break. That week off was nice! Now we've got three weeks to plow through to get our second 9-weeks completed.

* * * *

Also, of note in my life, one of the pastors I've been following through podcast suffered a seizure this past week. He had a mass on his frontal lobe. They said he's met with a surgeon and they're going to work on it. He's a young guy with three kids and a great theological grasp on the Bible. I'd have to say he's one of the main voices that has influenced and guided me all through these past few years.

His name is Matt Chandler. He preaches at The Village Church in the DFW area. They have three campuses, and they're very, very community-based. I like their church. It's a nice bit of fresh air. I'm not too thrilled about the mega-church idea around central-Mississippi (or the entire nation, for that matter). I could go on forever about that, but I'll let that lie for a bit. Won't wake it until I have some true time to state my thoughts, unadulterated.





But we've got the Christmas tree up, we've got the Peanut characters out in the yard, and I've got my shopping finished! I'll take it. Now it's two weeks of class, one week of finals, and two weeks of Christmas break. Almost done with 2009. Odd. It's going too fast.

I'm lame, I know

Usually I don't like these things, but I figured it couldn't hurt to become one of the crowd.

Basic Info
Do you suffer from migraines?: No
What is your mom's name?: Stephini
What is your dad's name?: Chuck
Are you all or some of your grandparents alive?: Two, but I only speak to one.
What are your pets' names?: Maggie Belle (or MB as we call her).

Have you Ever
Been to a summer camp?: Yes. Learned how to get in trouble.
Been a summer camp leader?: Yes. Learned how to take God's payback.
Held an alligator or crocodile?: Yes. It was three feet long.
Wanted to go to the moon?: Not really. I mean, it's a moon. Big deal. It's a rock.
Been diving in the ocean?: Yes, off the coast of Belize.

Do you
Eat too much junk food?: No. I'm not a junk food eater and I don't usually have a sweet tooth
Go to a weekly religious service?: No. Long story. I don't believe in the meeting. I believe in the daily life of following The Way.
Know how to play darts?: Yes, and I'm not that great at it.
Own a Barbie?: No.
Play with your food?: No, I eat my food.

What is
Your dream wedding?: The one that was two years ago. So I guess my answer is "over."
Your dream proposal?: ditto
Your biggest turnoff?: Ignorance
Your least favorite part-time job?: Furniture mover.
Your favorite snake food?: Rat? Mouse? Muggles?

This/That
Mac/PC: Mac any day, hands down.
Google/Yahoo: Google
BMW/Mustang?: Neither. Truck.
Math/English?: English
Pacific/Atlantic?: Atlantic (you've got NYC and London).

Relationships
Why do you think people cheat?: Boredom.
Did you marry your highschool sweetheart?: No, but I did go to high school with my wife. Never really had a "sweet heart"
Which celebrity couple will last forever?: Jesse James and Sandra Bullock
Which celebrity couple will breakup next?: Paris Hilton and anyone
Who is the last person you wanted to kiss?: Megan.

Finish...
Once upon a time...: "Not at the table, Carlos."
I yell because...: you're not listening, and I deserve your undivided attention.
People who are annoying need ...: "Never take life too seriously, you'll never get out alive."

Firsts
Film you watched alone?: Um, maybe the 1989 Batman.
Craft you made in school?: Didn't make crafts. Got Becky to do them for me.
Time you rode a bike?: Rode many.
Time you broke a bone?: 7th, cracked my growth plate in my ankle in three places and broke my fibula.
Accident you got into?: No lie: After my mom and I sang one Sunday night in church, my high school buddies and I went to Wendy's on HWY 80. I had just placed my order when I got a call: "You're mom's car just caught on fire." Not believing it, I ignored it until I got a call from my mom. "My car's on fire." I raced back to the church and sure enough, her car was on fire. After we got her settled and found a way home for her (I offered to take her home, she said no), I drove back to Wendy's. As I was waiting for the traffic to pass so I could turn out of the turning lane into the parking lot, a small truck plowed into the back of my car. The only thing he asked was, "Your dad's not a lawyer, is he?" Really good, mate. Never mind the fact that he killed my Rodeo, but he had his baby in the back of the tiny extended cab NOT BUCKLED UP. Oh, and he was uninsured. He got off with nothing and didn't even pay for my repairs. There's my accident story. AND I had to eat my cold Wendy's. We were down 2 out of the 3 cars at the Chapman house. (The funny thing was the dude who hit my car went to my uncle's church. Didn't phase him one bit. Stupid uninsured drivers.)

Lasts
Play you went to see?: saw A Christmas Carol
Person you yelled at?: The umpire at a Mets game (well, I wasn't there, but he was. I was watching it on tv).
Person you texted?: Megan.
Song you had in your head?: "The Impression that I Get" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Time you had surgery?: I'd say about three years ago. Hyperhydrosis

A fitness update

I've been trying to gain a little muscle weight. I know, when most people are trying to lose weight, I'm trying to gain it. I tried to go for the lower weight goal, but the lowest I every reached was around 172. For a guy my height (or rather "short" at 5'8"), the charts say I'm supposed to be around 160. Yeah, I was "around" 160 at the end of my high school career.

But since the beginning of the year, I've cut down a bit on my distance running and cycling and have been focusing more on lifting.

Now, I've never been a lifter. I've never been that kind of guy. Usually I'd rather run five miles and feel that burn rather than try to bench 200+ and feel like I'm about to die. But I've arrived at the part of weight lifting where I really (really) enjoy it.

Wednesday night we worked arms. I think I over did it because a few hours later my neck started hurting. Also, yesterday, I could not move. I felt like a truck had hit me, backed up, hit me again, and then the driver sort of laughed.

But I'm getting there. I'm around 183 right now, and I'd love to add maybe 10 or 15 more pounds (muscle, mind you. I'm sure I could easily gain weight with the help of Betty Crocker).

Now, the fun thing about all of this is the food. In endurance sports, I needed plenty of carbs and calories to get through the run or cycle route. With weight lifting, I'm still supposed to eat a bunch, but mainly low sodium and semi-low carb meals. Basically, I can still eat anything I want, as long as I continue to work out. My number is 3,800 calories a day!!! Trust me, I never eat enough a day.

And that's what I really wanted to mention. I've started eating every three hours. It's funny because I get to eat like a hobbit. I have first breakfast, second breakfast, first lunch, snack, dinner, and snack. But sometimes I have to make myself eat something because usaully I just forget.

Trying to eat like an 8 year old while turning into a 25 year old is harder than it looks or sounds. I could eat anything and everything, never getting full when I was 8. But now, I feel like I'm about to pop every once in a while.

The world isn't the same; you'll never change it.

The past few weeks have brought huge promise and change to my household. Last Wednesday, I turned in my two weeks notice at The Clarion Ledger because I had finally gotten a job as an English teacher. Actually, I had been offered two jobs and had to choose between the two. One was a teaching job (the one I chose) and the other was a position in Mississippi College's Career Services department. Both had promises and "fun" attached with them, but I chose the one that I knew God was leading me towards and the one I've been working for over a year to procure.

Any way, next Thursday is my last day at the CL, and it's bitter-sweet (like every last day at a job). I'm really going to miss the people I work with. I just feel the newspaper business is not a safe place in which to raise a family.

Also, my brilliant wife is shifting work as well. Meg is going to be one of the graduate assistants in the history department at Mississippi College as well as teaching a freshman level history class, Western Civilization. She's on her way to finishing her MA as well as becoming "Professor Chapman." Good job, chicklet.

We had a small break from central Mississippi and went to Perdido Key. We shopped and laid out in the sun, played some volleyball and boogie boarded. But now it's back to reality (sort of).

Phillip is coming home this Sunday to spend a week home before gearing up to head to the University of Memphis. He's excited, and I'm excited for him. I keep saying, "Wow, Phillip. D-1 ball!"

The Friday after my last day (Aug. 31) Meg and I are finally celebrating our anniversary. Nothing like a celebration five weeks after the real date, huh? We're going to New Orleans and staying in what we like to call "our" hotel (The Ambassador Hotel). We're also eating dinner on the Natchez Steamboat on Friday night and taking the Voodoo tour on Saturday night. Going to be fun (and frightening).

But it's back to work for me. August is surely going to bring some big change. I'm starting a new job, Meg's starting a new job, my cousin's wife is having her THIRD baby, my brother's starting at Memphis, and the world is never going to be the same.

"The world isn't the same, you'll never change it." (love that line).