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).

These things are always a great way to waste some time.

Can you fill this out without lying?
- Gonna try

What was the last thing you put in your mouth?
- sip of coffee, Folgers.

Have you ever kissed anyone named Matthew?
- nope.

Where was your default picture taken?
- not sure on Blogger, but Facebook, it's at the Ridgeland balloon glow

Last person you rode in a car with, under the age of 20?
- Oh, gosh. Um, Matthew?

Can you play guitar hero?
- yes

Name someone that made you laugh today?
- Megan and MB

How late did you stay up last night and why?
- Close to 11:30. We stayed up talking to some people.

If you could move somewhere else, would you?
- FLORIDA! (that would be a yes)

Ever been kissed under fireworks?
- Probably

Which of your friends lives closest to you?
- Meg dwells on the other side of the bed. Guess that's the closest.

Do you believe ex's can be friends?
- sometimes.

Calling or texting?
- really depends, but mostly text.

When was the last time you cried really hard?
- Can't really remember.

Where is your biological father right now?
- it's raining, so he's either napping or fishing.

Where are you at right now?
- At work.

What bed did you sleep in last night?
- Slept in my bed.

What was the last thing someone bought for you?
- bought a subscription to MLB.TV the other day.

Who took your profile picture?
- Actually, I did.

Who was the last person you took a picture of?
- Probably Megan or MB, or both.

Was yesterday better than today?
- Whew, yesterday was a grand day. Today, we'll have to see.

Can you live a day without TV?
- Yes.

Are you mad about anything?
- Nope, just get annoyed sometimes (but I get over it).

Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
- Yes.

Are you a bad influence?
- I try not to be. If I'm comparing myself to Hitler, then, "No"

Night out or night in?
- depends. All I want is a good conversation.

What items could you not go without during the day?
- Blackberry and my watch.

Would you share a drink with a stranger?
- yeah, talk about a great conversation starter!

Who was the last person you visited in the hospital?
- Oh. Um. Can't really remember. Maybe . . . . ?

What does the last text message in your inbox say?
- "MarshallRamsey: An hour into my search and only one cartoon idea found. Need to pick up the pace." (twitter update)

How do you feel about your life right now?
- I'm enjoying the ride.

How many times have you been pulled over by the police?
- Three times, and only got a ticket once.

Do you hate anyone?
- nope.

Can you easily tell if someones fake?
- Yeah, have you seen Melissa and Joan Rivers?

Say you were given a drug test right now, Would you pass?
- yes, unless you count "bananas" as a drug.

Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
- daily (ha, right).

What song is stuck in your head?
- "Keep bleeding, keep keep bleeding love"

Someone knocks on your window at 2am, who do you want it to be?
- Publisher's Clearing House.

Wanna have kids before you’re 30?
- yes.

Name something you have to do tomorrow?
- Lift weights, pack for the beach.

Can you whistle?
- yes, loudly.

Do you sleep on your side, stomach, or back?
- side.

Do you think too much or too little?
- sometimes, too much.

Do you smile a lot?
- I smile often.

Who was your last missed call on your cell phone?
- Terrel.

When is the next time you will see the person you like?:
- When she gets home from work.

Are you happy with your life?:
- yes. it's a fun one.

Can you handle the truth?
- I can, but Tom Cruise can't.

What was the last book you read?:
- In the process of HP and the Goblet of Fire. Last book I finished was So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore. It was a great one.

Do you hate the last guy you had a conversation with?
- no. He's a nice guy.

Is there something you always wear?
- a belt. if the pants have belt loops, wear a belt.

What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
- posting to the web (www.rankinledger.com)

Honestly, who was the last person to tell you that they love you?
- Meg when I was leaving for work.

Did you have an exciting last weekend?
- Yes. Went to Memphis with my brother. Ate BBQ in Memphis and catfish in Mississippi.

Have you ever crawled through a window?
- yes, but we're not going there.

Have you ever dyed your hair?
- highlighted it in high school (yep)

Are you wearing a necklace?
- yes.

Are you an emotional person?
- yes.

What's something that can always make you feel better?
- My wife, my dog, my family, stand up comedy, Seinfeld

Will this weekend be a good one?
- yes. beach.

What do you want right now?
- I'd love to get paid to be me.

Have you ever worn the opposite sex's clothing?
- no.

Look behind you, what do you see?
- an elevator

Have you ever worked in a food place?
- yes, McAlister's Deli

What would you name your future daughter?
- I'm not allowed to say the names.

What would you name your future son?
- Can't say those either.

Any summer plans for 2009?
- Beach, did the wedding thing, avoided layoffs.

Whats on your schedule for tomorrow?
- Work, workout, pack, sleep, eat in between them all

Does anyone know your facebook password?
- Yes

What song is playing on your iTunes?
- Will You Return by the Avett Brothers

Celebrating the 4th

This past weekend, we celebrated the 4th of July by eating a ton of food, or rather, I did. I ate so much food on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Believe it or not, I was full! I couldn't eat another bite last night as Megan did the usual - pass her food on to me.

Friday we had the day off of work, so I lounged around and ate some food at my father-in-law's taxidermy shop (3 hamburgers, 2 links of sausage, tons of french fries). That evening, Meg and I took Maggie Belle to Ridgeland to see the balloons and hear Diamond Rio (nothing says America like mid-90's country). As they say at The Cupboard, "A good time was had by all."

Saturday, we went to Yazoo with Meg's family to get on Dan's (brother-in-law) family's boat at Wolf Lake. There, I also ate two hamburgers, potato salad, rice crispy treats, and more. I learned how to wakeboard, and learned that Haley Barbour has a lake house out there (bet we paid for it too).

Sunday, I ate a smoked pork loin and chicken as well as some Mexican food with my parents after a nice patriotic service at Parkway Baptist (we got to hear from a Marine who survived the attack on Iwo Jima - he was 83 years old).

With all the food and fun we had, I didn't look over the best part of the weekend. We got to spend some good quality time with both sides of the family. It was great. Also, it was great to join the entire country in thinking about our troops overseas. Several were home and decked out in their dress uniforms.

Here are a bunch of pictures from our weekend:

Ridgeland Balloon Glow

Maggie Belle does not like her harness. But she did want to drive.

Meg and myself at the balloon glow.

The balloons.

The fat dog and the barefooted boy.

The fat dog and the cute wife.


Wolf Lake

Megan and myself taking in the view.

Riding in the boat. Looking at our governor's house I paid for.

Haley's house.

Dan showing me how to wakeboard. "Sit like a frog."

Sitting like a frog.

Getting up. Took a few tries.

I'm a pro! No, it killed my legs. But it was so much fun.

Dan telling me to move side to side.

Me, busting.

Meg at her attempt. "sit like a frog."

Meg getting up.

Meg falling down.

Opting for a safer ride.

My wife and her husband.

Dennis (Dan's dad) tried to kill us.

And who would've thought Megan would be the survivor. So wrong.

Freedom found in a painter's wife and a good buddy.

The name of the blog, "From this Vantage Point."

The idea: "To try to find a new way of seeing things."

The application: "Allows me to realize that my way of seeing things is not the only way, and recognizing the other views does not necessarily mean I agree or believe in those ways, but it allows me to broaden my mind, become more accepting of others, and questioning what I know as truth."

I just read a column from a well known lady around my home town who calls herself a "self proclaimed hippie." She talked about how when she was young, she wanted to be a rich, famous actor. She wanted the buzz. But through out her life, the experiences she's had has made her realize she's the person that is made up of the events of her life.

I can tell you, she possesses nothing near pretentiousness. No, far FAR from it. If you look at her from a "normal" point of view (and what the heck is normal?) you might consider her a bit strange. But she's got freedom. She's still got dreams that will most likely never come to be, but she lives with freedom.

I've got a good friend from high school who lives with freedom as well. Remember in high school if you were type-1 you couldn't be type-2? If you were a "dumb football player" you were not allowed to be a chemistry whiz. My friend from high school was your typical "indie" kid, dressing like a soft spoken rock star, but he was part of the show choir (something the indie-kids just didn't do), he moved onto Mississippi College and became student body president, and is going to move on in the direction he feels best for his life.

He even had the strength and maturity to realize that his relationship with God is strong and that "church camp" just wasn't for him. You could've been John the Baptist and if you didn't show up to "church camp" you were going to hell! Not my friend. No, he's transparent. True.

I posted a Facebook status one time that I wanted to live in the freedom that the middle-aged white women who dance like morons on the Ellen Show have. I want to dance at unknown bands' concerts. I want to relish in the morning sun of a Sunday morning. I want to find the beauty in the coolness of cold, cold fruit. I want to live in freedom.

Does that mean I'll be a rogue or an odd duck? That's the beauty of it! It doesn't matter.

The Kids Are Alright

My cousin's kids are so funny. Just getting to hear the topics of conversation they bring up only leaves me to wonder what's going on in their heads. So, I thought I'd post a few funny videos of kids.

Anxiety, dreams and video games.

Most of the time, the anxiety that wells up inside of us captures our soul, holding us captive. Determined to shake it, the harder we try, the tighter it grips. Have you had one of those dreams?

Some show up in their underwear to work or school while others find themselves presenting something with no preparation or with out a clue. For me, it's sight.

I'm either driving or someone's life is in danger or I'm walking through someone's front yard trying to avoid the stickers. If I try to look where I'm going, my world goes black. If I relax, I can barely make out what it is I'm trying to focus on. I know the only way to see in those dreams, but I stubbornly try with all my might.

My dad told me, in all his random wisdom, that I'm actually awake. I'm in some sort of trance where my body won't do what my brain tells it to do.

I'm not a worrier. I just don't worry. Close to financial ruin? I don't worry. Possibly coming down with the only case of madeupcrazyvirus? Not worrying. The airplane is going to be delayed upon arrival, but the departure is six minutes away from takeoff and I've got to get to terminal C from terminal A? I don't worry, I attack it.

But I do get anxious. I'd trade my everyday anxiety for worry. It reminds me of Tetris. Remember that game? You have to line the blocks up and fill a line for it to disappear. If you're directly in line, you can press the downward key and force the block down faster. But if you get too antsy and careless, you might be one or two spots from where you want to be. Then you have to try to fix the mistake.

That's how I feel with life. I need to learn a few things from Tetris. I need to learn a few things from my anxiety dreams. If I relax and get my heart rate down, things might fall into place where they should be.

The Bible talks about not being anxious. Doctors say decreasing anxiety helps your heart. Stress is a bad side effect. Thanks, Tetris. You make the world seem to make sense.

Now, what were they trying to say with Super Mario Brothers? Hmm, turtles and mushrooms? Flying bombs and fireballs? And does the MIA princess reveal our lack of emotional commitment?

The sound of silence (I WISH!)

I'm either getting older (yes, yes, I know we all age, but I think my inner old man is waking up from his post-Ensure nap) or I'm simply becoming more neurotic, but the truth is, I'm hearing more sounds.

Yeah, could be a good thing, but I'm not spinning it that way. No, not at all. I'm hearing it all! I haven't slept well in the past few days, not because I'm tossing or turning or anything like that. Instead, I'm hearing EVERYTHING in my house, and it wakes me up. Everything from the refrigerator compressor turning on (on the other side of the house), I hear the dog yipping in her sleep, I hear car doors shut, or (the worst) I can hear a clock tick.

I know, it's probably anxiety. But it's seeping into my daily life. It no longer makes me cringe, but now makes me laugh. I hear so many things at work, as I'm sure so many others do as well. Working in a low-wall cubicle, nothing breaks any sound. I can hear the echo from the front desk (where many toddlers love to hear their voice echo . . . loudly), I can hear editors talk in their offices. I can hear "middle aged women" conversations as well as "middle aged men" conversations, "sports" conversations and "hey, what are you doing tonight" conversations.

My favorite thing is one person in particular hums or whistles. The funny part is, he only hums or whistles when he's moving. If he sits, silence. If he stands at the elevator, silence. If he's making his way down the hall, some song comes out. It's like his personal theme music.

I'd be no good in a large city. We stayed in New Orleans a couple of months ago, and the cars and horns about drove me crazy. A habit I picked up from my father is a "noise maker." I have a fan under my bed that I turn on to block out all the little ticks and pops and clicks from everything else. I know, I have issues. But please, don't tell me about them b/c I'll never be able to sleep if you do. I can't sleep as it is, so I guess it wouldn't really matter. Oy vey!