Must confess to Halloween being pretty far down my list of "favorite holidays." Given the time to think it through, I would have to rank it somewhere between Presidents day and "Take your dog to work day".
No watershed moment created this aversion to Halloween. I think I even enjoyed it for the most part when I was a kid. Maybe that's the difference, perhaps it's this whole grown up perspective that has me looking askance at fright night.
Maybe it's the extra 35 pounds I'm carrying that is making me hate candy. (Nope just had a few pieces left over from the Fall Festival, I still like candy...)
Maybe it falls into the Valentines/Christmas/Mother's Day, etc. trap of over commercialization. (Yep it does, but I don't hate Valentines or Mothers Day, so this doesn't fit either.)
Maybe it's the whole unknown thing of trusting strangers to give my child (or anyone else's for that matter) untainted treats. (nah, as long as everything is prewrapped, right?)
Maybe I'm just a sissy and hate scary movies. (well...I am a sissy when it comes to scary movies, but that's no cause to hate the entire holiday.)
Lot's of maybe's and no definitely's so I guess I just have to wait another year to find out. Perhaps my perspective will change a bit as Zeke gets older and wants to dress up and visit door to door with a bag of candy in one hand and a roll of toilet paper in the other, who knows......
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Going to School vs. Working at School
I've always loved going to school. So many talk of hating aspects of their educational career, but that's not me. I loved it. Reading, writing, math (though it took many dedicated individuals to get me through...) were all great. History was even better, science the best. On top of that, there were so many other things to do! Running, jumping, talking, flirting, hitting, yelling, riding the bus...It was great. UIL activities, athletics, hanging out in the parking lot...can't beat it!
I loved college. SPC, LCU weren't just initials, they were places where I loved to be. Again, the academics were great and I learned a lot, but it was the connection, the fun that made it worthwhile. I had great friends in my academic career (have lost contact with most, but it was fun while it lasted....don't cry, we'll always have Levelland.....) and that made going to school fun.
I've also now spent the last 10 years of my life working at school. It's an entirely different experience. Skipping school was trouble (if you got caught), but hardly anything really serious. Skipping work gets you fired. Not doing your homework when you go to school get you a slap on the wrist and a zero. Not doing your homework when it's work, get's you behind, bad evaluations, and eventually fired. It's not the same.
Yet I still love going to work. I love the new challenges that each day brings. I love having to stand in the cafeteria 1 1/2 hours a day watching kids eat with the eloquence and grace of so many swine. I like hearing what kids like and don't like about school. It's just good stuff.
So somebody explain to me why I am having such a hard time being motivated in my current act of going to school? My pursuit of my masters degree is KILLING ME. I love to learn, I love to read, so why is this semester so hard? The easy answer is the junior executive. He's much more fun than reaction papers and article reviews, but I'm not sure that I can pin this one on him (yet).
Maybe it's the isolation of masters work. I know people in my class, but I don't hang out with them. We work in groups, but we communicate by email. Not so much fun.
Maybe it's the pressure of continuing to do well. If I could just relax my A type personality long enough to quit worrying about that elusive "4 point", maybe I could settle down and enjoy the ride. Maybe I'm just too competitive. Can't do much without wanting to be good at it. (still trying to reconcile that part of me with my desire to continue playing golf though...)
So I head to class tonight with a heavy heart, but a finished paper. Perhaps I'll get a good enough grade that I'll not have to rewrite it. Maybe I'll get motivated and get to work on my group project.
Maybe I'll go home and hang out with Zeke.
I loved college. SPC, LCU weren't just initials, they were places where I loved to be. Again, the academics were great and I learned a lot, but it was the connection, the fun that made it worthwhile. I had great friends in my academic career (have lost contact with most, but it was fun while it lasted....don't cry, we'll always have Levelland.....) and that made going to school fun.
I've also now spent the last 10 years of my life working at school. It's an entirely different experience. Skipping school was trouble (if you got caught), but hardly anything really serious. Skipping work gets you fired. Not doing your homework when you go to school get you a slap on the wrist and a zero. Not doing your homework when it's work, get's you behind, bad evaluations, and eventually fired. It's not the same.
Yet I still love going to work. I love the new challenges that each day brings. I love having to stand in the cafeteria 1 1/2 hours a day watching kids eat with the eloquence and grace of so many swine. I like hearing what kids like and don't like about school. It's just good stuff.
So somebody explain to me why I am having such a hard time being motivated in my current act of going to school? My pursuit of my masters degree is KILLING ME. I love to learn, I love to read, so why is this semester so hard? The easy answer is the junior executive. He's much more fun than reaction papers and article reviews, but I'm not sure that I can pin this one on him (yet).
Maybe it's the isolation of masters work. I know people in my class, but I don't hang out with them. We work in groups, but we communicate by email. Not so much fun.
Maybe it's the pressure of continuing to do well. If I could just relax my A type personality long enough to quit worrying about that elusive "4 point", maybe I could settle down and enjoy the ride. Maybe I'm just too competitive. Can't do much without wanting to be good at it. (still trying to reconcile that part of me with my desire to continue playing golf though...)
So I head to class tonight with a heavy heart, but a finished paper. Perhaps I'll get a good enough grade that I'll not have to rewrite it. Maybe I'll get motivated and get to work on my group project.
Maybe I'll go home and hang out with Zeke.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Always Something New
Time flies. Am I the only one that feels like I step through a worm hole on a daily basis. I wake up, go to work, blink twice, come home, bathe the little one, work on my homework for my classes, kiss my sleeping wife, close my eyes for approximately 15 seconds and the process begins again.
Weeks of my life are flying by faster than I can lose a game in fantasy football.
Every time I look up there is somewhere else to be or something else to do. Granted, many are by my choice, but there is little time that isn't occupied by "something".
I asked for suggestions for TV watching, but I don't know it will do much good since I don't have time to even set my DVR for later viewing. My problem is there isn't much "later."
Anyone else having this problem? Suggestions for me?
Chris
Weeks of my life are flying by faster than I can lose a game in fantasy football.
Every time I look up there is somewhere else to be or something else to do. Granted, many are by my choice, but there is little time that isn't occupied by "something".
I asked for suggestions for TV watching, but I don't know it will do much good since I don't have time to even set my DVR for later viewing. My problem is there isn't much "later."
Anyone else having this problem? Suggestions for me?
Chris
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Opposite of the Baby Blues
Regardless of my evident bias, predjudice, and generally being partial...Our baby is cute.
Don't get me too wrong here, I think all kids are cute. It's just that some are cuter than others and I've decided that my son fits into the not having been beaten with the ugly stick category. I have darling nieces and nephews, I have friends that have cute babies, I see cuteness each time I watch TV, but my son takes the cake.
Perhaps it's because he's mine (and Jill's too, I know...). Perhaps it's that little half smile that reminds me of me. Perhaps it's because he got most of his looks from his mama (and Lord knows that's a good thing.) Anyway you slice it, he's alright.
Even more fun to watch than TV!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Search for Something Watchable
Ok. I have reached the point where I'm sincerely asking for help. (Not promising to take your advice by any means, but I am asking.) I am officially lost in TV Land. Not the network mind you but the entire TV watching experience. My rut is so deep it resembles a rather large hole in the ground in Arizona.
I've always been guilty of being a sports fanatic. For years my mantra has been, "If it sweats and wears a number, I'll watch it." Pretty much all I watch any more are sports. Even the "quasi" sports...billiards, poker, soccer, Baylor Football...can hold my interest for a time. I do love sports, but I need something else.
I need something, or somethings to become addicted to like the rest of the TV watching world. Unfortunately, my tastes for the most part run counter to the flavor of the month TV viewing public.
I don't like reality shows because most are so contrived that they skip the reality concept for me. (Although I think an actual reality show based on the Geico "Tiny House" commercial could be GOLD!) I'm not bashing them, because I know some people live their lives according to Survivor, Big Brother, etc. I'm simply saying that I like my TV a little less real and not quite as insulting to my intelligence.
I'm not into young adult drama either. I must confess to already threatening Zeke with no TV at all if I catch him trying to watch the OC. So that, Everwood, Gilmore Girls, etc is pretty much out. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty much ruling out anything on the WB and EVERYTHING on UPN, just on principle.
Dramas are ok as are comedies. I actually sat through an entire episode of "Rodney" the other night. Had a hard time hearing Mr. Carrington's dialogue over me incessantly humming "Don't Look Now Your Mama's Got Her Boobs Out", so that may not be an option either.
Unlike my parents, I cannot constantly watch FoxNews. Just in case you were wondering, C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 (why?) are out as well.
So help me out. Find me something good to watch. Night and time are not a problem, that's why God allowed the invention of DVR!
Chris
I've always been guilty of being a sports fanatic. For years my mantra has been, "If it sweats and wears a number, I'll watch it." Pretty much all I watch any more are sports. Even the "quasi" sports...billiards, poker, soccer, Baylor Football...can hold my interest for a time. I do love sports, but I need something else.
I need something, or somethings to become addicted to like the rest of the TV watching world. Unfortunately, my tastes for the most part run counter to the flavor of the month TV viewing public.
I don't like reality shows because most are so contrived that they skip the reality concept for me. (Although I think an actual reality show based on the Geico "Tiny House" commercial could be GOLD!) I'm not bashing them, because I know some people live their lives according to Survivor, Big Brother, etc. I'm simply saying that I like my TV a little less real and not quite as insulting to my intelligence.
I'm not into young adult drama either. I must confess to already threatening Zeke with no TV at all if I catch him trying to watch the OC. So that, Everwood, Gilmore Girls, etc is pretty much out. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty much ruling out anything on the WB and EVERYTHING on UPN, just on principle.
Dramas are ok as are comedies. I actually sat through an entire episode of "Rodney" the other night. Had a hard time hearing Mr. Carrington's dialogue over me incessantly humming "Don't Look Now Your Mama's Got Her Boobs Out", so that may not be an option either.
Unlike my parents, I cannot constantly watch FoxNews. Just in case you were wondering, C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 (why?) are out as well.
So help me out. Find me something good to watch. Night and time are not a problem, that's why God allowed the invention of DVR!
Chris
First Post
Wow. Once more into the breach my friends. Yet another technology tool for me to play with.
After some not so subtle prodding by my friend Scott (http://scottfreeman.typepad.com/) reading his wife Tracy's (http://tracyfreeman.blogspot.com/), and a brief workshop on it's use in the classroom, I have joined the blogging world.
This will definitely be a work in progress. I can only promise my opinions and only when Zeke allows me the time to work on it.
I'm not at all eloquent, but I do have some strong opinions on some subjects. Hopefully we can start some interesting discussions. Feel free to comment early and often, but please, be nice.
Don't forget the family page (www.theborlands.net). They will stay reasonably separate as the family site is just that.
So with that said, on we go. More postings as ideas warrant.
Chris
After some not so subtle prodding by my friend Scott (http://scottfreeman.typepad.com/) reading his wife Tracy's (http://tracyfreeman.blogspot.com/), and a brief workshop on it's use in the classroom, I have joined the blogging world.
This will definitely be a work in progress. I can only promise my opinions and only when Zeke allows me the time to work on it.
I'm not at all eloquent, but I do have some strong opinions on some subjects. Hopefully we can start some interesting discussions. Feel free to comment early and often, but please, be nice.
Don't forget the family page (www.theborlands.net). They will stay reasonably separate as the family site is just that.
So with that said, on we go. More postings as ideas warrant.
Chris
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