Just Another Day with Joeymo

Disheartened...

2009-01-31T17:53:00.000-08:00

I turned 25 years old in this past year, and I have experienced more ignorance, more nonacceptance, and more intolerance in this last year of my life than I ever have before.

What is with it?

My family raised me in a way to believe that there was nothing wrong with me, or anyone for being different. My mom taught me to stand up for myself, to be who I was, and to be proud that I was alive. She once told me "Do not let anyone get to you. I did not raise my son to stay under a rock." And internalized that message. I have believed for my entire life that people are inherently good, that if you give them coaching and time they will show you that they too do not want to stay under their rocks.

I was protected. My family built a cocoon around me that kept out all of the negative energy, people's opinions, and encouraged me and my siblings to be accepting people who always took the time to help others who might be less fortunate.

I do not know why, but this year I have begun to see people's realities. I have realized that people can be racist, and hold things against other people simply because of the color of their skin. I have realized that people believe that I should be less than them, simply because they do not agree with who I choose to love. I have realized that people believe that those who are differently able should not be treated equally, that they are below the standard of the "norm". I have realized that no matter what a person might have to offer, something simple can change a person's perception of them.

Although I still believe that people are inherently good, I have started to realize that they can also do very bad things.

And that makes me disheartened.

At times like this, I have to remind myself of how thankful I should be that my inner circle consists of people who are intelligent, caring, and are more than the conventional idea of "goodness". I am thankful that no matter what the outside world thinks, those who I am closest to accept that there is a common right to humanity that all of us share. I am thankful that I can spend my time with people who know that service to others is the only way that we can pay our debt to humanity. I am thankful that I surround myself with people who will fight for someone, even if they do not know their name.

And I hope that one day, others will set aside their ideas of what is right and wrong, and realize that in the core of every single person there is a common soul that connects us all.

My eternal hope is that one day, we will all build up...

and stop breaking down.

Lame

2009-01-18T18:19:00.001-08:00

Hello Blogger Bandits!

I spent the day studying at Borders. When I returned to my car, I found a note stuck under my windshield wipers. It read, and I quote:

"Your car sucks!

Obama sucks!

Illinois sucks!

Go to fucking hell Asshole!"

People are so stupid sometimes. Next time I see a W sticker, or a McCain/Palin sticker, you better believe I am going to have some choice words to say...

Or not. Because I have a life.

A Life Well Lived

2009-01-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hello Blogger Bandits,

Today, we said goodbye to our dear friend Jeanne White. What struck me most about the entire service was that there were hundreds of people there to celebrate a life well lived.

And this presented me with a challenge...are we all doing that?

The overwhelming impression that Jeanne gave to everyone that she interacted with was that she loved life and she was going to do whatever she could to make the most of it. She tried new things. She fought for what she believed in. She took the time to listen to anyone and everyone who needed her. She loved her family. She loved strangers. She loved her job. She took every single moment to live life well. And it rubbed off on everyone she worked with, everyone she touched.

Do we live our lives well during each and every moment? I know there are several times throughout my life where I have allowed myself to get bogged down by the little things, and I have forgotten to live my life well. But there is an important lesson in such unexpected death, and that is that we never know when we will no longer have the opportunity to live our lives well. Whether that time is predetermined or an act of nature, it is there for each and every one of us. And since we do not have a crystal ball to predict when that time will come, we have to be aware of living each and every moment well - because we never know when it may be our last.

I want what Jeanne had. I want people to come together for me, at the end of my life, and I want them to say "The one thing that Joe Morgan did was that he lived his life well. He may have screwed up along the way, but he lived his life well."

Nothing more, nothing less.

Sad, Sad Day

2008-12-31T10:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Blogger Bandits,

Amidst the joy of beginning a brand new year, terrible sadness has overcome members of my high school community. Our lead counselor passed away yesterday due to surgical complications, and the leadership of my school has a large gaping hole in it. This counselor was one of the most amazing women that I have ever met. She was knowledgeable, kind-hearted, strong willed, caring, and funny beyond belief. I do not know how many times she helped me through a situation I was having, counseled me about the best possible path to take, and encouraged me to continue to strive onward even if it might seem difficult. She knew more about the processes of the school district than anyone I have ever talked to. She taught me that, in order to get what you really want and what kids really need, you have to pick and choose your battles - that way, when you complain, they know you are for real.

The most important lesson she taught me involved not being so apologetic. One day, I did something that was wrong. She came into my office and asked me why I had taken the steps that I did, and then told me not to do them again. I cannot even remember what it was, but I do remember being so upset because I wanted so much to please her out of respect. I sent her an e-mail apologizing, and telling her that I would make sure it wouldn't happen again. She came over to my office after reading the e-mail and said to me, "Joe, it's alright! People make mistakes. You just need to learn from them and change it the next time. But stop worrying so much." And she was right; she has once again taught me that life is too short to spend worrying about what you have not done right, or what you should have done differently. You have to go through life, make mistakes, learn from the, and keep going.

I am sad that I did not get to say a proper goodbye to her. I am sad that future generations of students will not have the opportunity to learn from her. I am sad that her family has lost an integral figure in their lives. I am sad that I have lost a dear friend. I am sad that she did not get to see 2009, because I know she would have been excited.

I am sad that the world has lost one of the good guys.

You CAN go home again...

2008-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello Blogger Bandits (hahaha, I have to come up with something different).

It has been a while since I posted, and now that I am here in Joy, Illinois, I have nothing but time on my hands! So I thought, why not give Blogspot a visit?

As I stepped off of the plane in Peoria, Illinois yesterday, I realized something. Coming home after a while not only allows you to appreciate your childhood home, but also to appreciate the new home that you have made. I love coming back to Illinois, visiting my family, sleeping in my old room, talking with old friends, and visiting old haunts. I love the feeling of winter. I love seeing my dog (who is getting far too old for my liking). I love going to the mall that I shopped at for my entire teenage life. I love being in the central time zone. I love seeing my nephews. I love having a little bit of time to just live the laidback lifestyle that comes with growing up in a farm community. I love having my mom downstairs, who still calls me every ten minutes while she is at work just to make sure that I am okay (some things will never, ever change).

On the flip side, it makes me appreciate Las Vegas all the more as well. I love that it never gets below zero in the LV (thank God...although recent weather patterns in Nevada have made me question that assumption). I love that if I get hungry (or bored) at 1 AM, there is somewhere to go and something to do. I love the friends and family that I have built in the LV. I love being busy at work. I love having Fred nearby (who does not call me every ten minutes to make sure I am okay :)). I love my house, and my big bed. I love my DirecTV. I love having my car right outside, waiting for me. I love the casinoes (even though they drive me crazy sometimes). I love studying at UNLV. I love reading a good book at the Borders up the street.

I guess that the rest of life is that contradictory paradigm - loving the home that you had, and loving the home that you have. Both have their charms, and both have their pleasures. I used to think that you had to pick one or the other. Two years ago, I would never say that the LV was my home. I would always say I was from Illinois, but that I was living in the LV for a little while. I felt like it was a betrayal to the love of my childhood home to say that I loved my new adult home. But I am slowly starting to realize there is enough love for both of them.

So, by way of Joy (and Chicago), Illinois, I can proudly say I am a resident of the LV. I will enjoy my time here, and I will also enjoy going back.

I will have them both.

Happy Christmas season everyone!

Published Author

2008-09-14T11:03:00.001-07:00

Hidey Ho Xanga Rangers!

Oh wait, this is Blogspot...

I will have to come up with something witty.

Life has been crazy busy these last couple of weeks. I work all day, and then I turn around and go to school for three nights out of the week. The other four nights, I feel like I have to study to get ready for school and work the next day. But within all the chaos has come some beacons of hope and happiness...

I am going to be a published author!

I found out last Sunday that my article was accepted for publication, pending some minor changes. I simply have to fix some of the grammatical things that were wrong with my manuscript, edit some stuff out, and I am good to go.

So, it all pays off at some point, right?

Why Can't They Make Research Exciting?

2008-09-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have spent most of today reading my new text on Single-Subject Design, and have found myself extremely bored with the text. The first chapter is all about how the research base of psychology has changed from being a study of individual differences to an area that thrives on the ability to find the average distribution of different human characteristics, back to a study of individual differences. It actually is an interesting topic, but the author of the book is so dry that I really couldn't concentrate. Everything else at Panera was more entertaining than reading that book. Watching people refill their drinks. Monitoring the crazy lady with the Mickey Mouse ears and the bear glove on her hand trying to encourage people to register to vote. Watching people eat. Anything was more interesting!

Which led me to wonder...why do topics surrounding research have to be so boring? Research really is exciting - it is the development of new knowledge, the acceptance or refutation of certain theories and principles. The implications of the results of certain research studies have resounding impacts on our daily lives. But whenever I pick up a research text, or read a research article, I am often bored to tears.

My goal, as I continue on my path towards being an academic, is to write with a tone that makes people enjoy what they are reading! One of academia's biggest complaints about educators is that they don't take the time to read the research that is being developed. However, teachers already don't have enough time to read research - why do we make it even harder for them by writing things that are of little to no interest?

I want to make knowledge exciting. Hopefully I can figure it out.

Variety is the Spice of Life!

2008-08-16T13:51:00.001-07:00

I need to change something up a bit. I tried to move my furniture in my bedroom around the other day, but it didn't work out as easily as I wanted it to. So, I came to the next easiest thing...changing the look of my blog. So much better than moving furniture. All I had to do was click a few buttons and voila! New look for Joeymo!

I am hosting a tattoo party tonight. What is a tattoo party you may ask? I am actually not really sure. My friend is dating this guy who is a tattoo artist in Venice Beach, CA, and I guess he is going to come to my house and give people tattoos. Sounds a little scary, I know, but I have actually seen the guy in action and he appears to be pretty safe to me. I haven't officially decided if I am getting another one yet or not...I will let you know if I do! I have sent him my idea, and am waiting to hear about how much it would be. If it is over 200 bones, then no thanks. But if it is under or around, we may just have a deal. Fred says that I should get a discount because I am hosting the party - I couldn't agree more. Fred also volunteered to yell at him and throw him out of my house if he won't get me a discount. That sounds even better!

Had dinner with the Charlands last night for Kim's 21st birthday. What a motley crew that one is. I love their family. Each and every one of them is so fun-loving and intriguing. I see where Katie gets it. We had a really good time!

Eh, not much else. Summer school ended on Friday. I am not sure how I did, but we will see. I nailed the two curriculum classes I was in, but statistics might be another story. I did the work okay, but that final exam was a bit difficult. Oh well, such is life. Hopefully my 4.0 streak at UNLV hasn't come to an end...

Glitter Gulch

2008-08-04T19:04:00.001-07:00

My sisters and their other halves were in town last weekend, and naturally, debauchery ensued. How else would you have the Teyler kids?

To tell you of all of the events would simply take too long. I am therefore going to tell you about my night at Glitter Gulch. For those of you who are unaware, Glitter Gulch is a strip club located on Fremont Street. For those of you who don't know about that, Fremont Street is the old Strip. Imagine - old strip = old strippers. Not a difficult equation. Now, this isn't my first venture to Glitter Gulch. You may remember the stories of Katie and I taking Brian to Glitter Gulch a few years ago on Brian's birthday. At that time, Katie, Brian, and I experienced our first breasts in the face, and Katie and I realized that you don't tell strippers you are not sure how much to tip them because they will basically take all of the money that you have.

Holly, Kyle, and I decided that it would be a good idea for us to go to Glitter Gulch (after fifteen or so drinks). This is interesting because I am clearly not interested in the events at Glitter Gulch and Holly and Kyle were on their honeymoon. I was the only one not nervous about our attendance at this strip club. Holly and Kyle were a little apprehensive. I was shouting "Take off your shirt and let me see your boobies!"

While we were in line to get in, a man in a wheelchair was trying to get in. He had CP, and these two other people just walked him up to the door and left him there. Poor man, just wanted to see some breasts but had no money and couldn't talk. Needless to say, Glitter Gulch didn't take him...sad face.

We sit down at the bar, and I am accosted by several strippers to go "Play with them in the private room." Having learned my lesson the last time, I told them no, I was gay and was not interested. They said, well, we can go talk about fashion if you would like. I told them no thank you. After quite a few boobies were rubbed in our face, we decided to move to a table so we were not as close to the action. The strippers still wanted to hang out with us (possibly because there were no other people in the bar). At one point, a stripper came to our table and I said "I am not interested." She said "I am not you, I am here for her," indicating my sister. I told the stripper, "You can't have her. She is my sister." The stripper insisted, so I did the only logical thing:

I thumb-wrestled her for who could have my sister.

And I lost.

Such is my life.

Announcement

2008-07-22T14:33:00.000-07:00

I have an announcement to make.

I am kind of a local celebrity.

Last Friday, I was at the outdoor shopping mall here in good old Vegas, enjoying some yogurt when my friends and I saw the NBC News 3 van with their slogan "Watching Out For You" printed on all sides of the van. We of course began making comments (because that is what we do).

"What are they watching out for in Town Square?"

"Must be a slow news day if they are taping people shop."

I guess the powers that be must have heard our commentary, because the reporter came over to us and began trying to make small talk. We knew right away she wanted an interview, and of course the sucker she went after was none other then JoeyMo himself! She told me that she was doing a story on the new Batman movie. I told her I hadn't seen it yet, and she asked me if I was planning on seeing it. I said of course, and she said you will do!

It was a stupid interview. Why was I excited about Batman and why did I think that people were still going to the movies with all of the economic hardships. But, that stupid little interview has many people talking about how they saw Joe Morgan on the news!

Okay, so it is people I already know. But the film deals are bound to follow.

Right?

Resubmitted

2008-07-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

I had a project during the spring semester in my Technology and Special Education class. The project was to develop a new idea for using technology in the education of students with disabilities. We were to research the background of the topic, and then create a new lesson idea for teachers to do based on the research. We wrote and wrote and wrote about this topic since about the second week of February, and then submitted the articles for peer review in a journal in May. About the second week of June, I got an e-mail saying that my article had been reviewed, and although the reviewers liked my idea and the research I did, they wanted me to fix the part of the article where I gave directions about how to do the activity in the classroom.

Reject and resubmit they called it.

I have spent the last week rereading the article, rewriting, and figuring out a new way to incorporate my ideas into the classroom environment. I am tired, and I am sick of writing (I also had two papers due this week for my online classes). But, it is done. I just resubmitted.

The same feeling came over me today as I resubmitted. Gratitude that I did not have to work on this manuscript anymore. Pride that I finished it. Fear that the reviewers are not going to like what I wrote. Anticipation as I have to wait to see what they say.

We will just have to wait and see what happens. I know it is hard to be published, and I have no false pretenses about my chances of being published this time around. But it has been fun to work on something that has been such a big deal.

I Know the Heart of Life is Good

2008-07-08T10:49:00.001-07:00

Do you ever just step back and wonder about the inherent goodness of life? The inherent goodness of people? Whether or not there is an inherent goodness in life?

I am an optimist. I like to think that everyone is good at their core, and that decisions and circumstances in life bring them away from this core of goodness, and it is very possible for them to return to that goodness if they change their choices and understand that life is about service to others and the personal relationships that you develop as you meet new people throughout life. My views are pretty ironclad, and they are not easily shaken. Give me the most selfish person in the entire world, someone who is mean and out for only them, and I will try to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I had a little bit of break in my faith last week.

I heard that one student at my school was involved in a fight that ended with the death of a student from my school. It appears that all of the kids involved in this situation were high and/or drunk, and it was a stupid fight that escalated. However, it appears that the fight started because the one student just decided that he didn't really like one of the other student's friends and decided he wanted to beat them up. As he was going forward, the other student decided that he was going to step in and try to protect his friends, and was stabbed in the scuffle.

I hate to see the waste of young life at the hands of another young life. And I have to stop and ask myself - what is the point of it all? Can life be inherently good when it ends so suddenly, abruptly, and unnecessarily, in violent death? Can life be all that good when a 17 year old kid doesn't even get the chance to grow up? To become a man? To succeed and fail like everyone else before him on this path? Can there be good when another young child turns to violence, and too ends his life because of a dumb decision?

Can there be inherent goodness when there is hatred and malice around every corner? Can there be an goodness at all when we hear about death and destruction, poverty and hunger, sadness and despair? Is there any inherent goodness when the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? When those who are willing to sell everyone around them out are more powerful than those who make the sacrifices to improve the quality of life of those around them?

I was a little overwhelmed.

And then it hit me. There is always going to be death and destruction. Those who value material items and their own status are always going to be around. There will always be depression, sadness, despair, and hunger.

The heart of life is the people who step in and try to change it. Because in the end, all the material items in the world mean nothing compared to the relationships you can make with people around you if you take the time to sacrifice and talk and get to know and build. If you take the time to help. I look at the student who died. The heart of his life was good - he stepped in when he saw someone he cared about being beaten down, and he tried to lift him back up. I see it in the rescue workers, the counselors, the volunteers, the teachers, the support staff, the mentors, the students, the friends, the family.

The heart of life is good. Malice may try to win out, but I believe that goodness will always win out in the end.

I have to - because if not, what else is there?

Updates from Holly and Kyle's Wedding :)

2008-06-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

So the wedding has come and gone, and I must say that it was overall a success. Holly was beautiful, as always. Frederick got to meet the family, without any issues. Hope was amazing, even if she did get a little rattled a couple of times ;). It was good to see kids growing up, hang out with Jonathan and Sara, and see cousins that I haven't seen in a long time. Oh yeah, and I got a new brother! It was a really good time.

Frederick and I drove from Las Vegas. We left Nevada on Thursday at about 4:00 in the afternoon, after he got off of work. It took us about twelve hours to get to Colorado (that's right math wizards, we arrived at about 5:00 AM). I decided officially that wherever my life takes me, it is going to be to a city. We got pulled over at about 3:00 AM in a speed trap. Frederick was driving, and the speed dropped from 45 to 30. The cop was nice, thankfully, and she let us go with just a warning. Then I drove through the mountains. No cell phone signal, deer crossing the road, no street lights. It was an intense experience to say the least. At one point, my GPS went off-line, and I of course did not print a hard copy of my directions because I did not expect my GPS to go off-line. I proceeded to call my sister to find out which way to go. She, of course, was hammered. I said "Holly, I don't know where this road is." She said "That's a problem no one knows the answer to..." Luckily, the GPS came back on line and we made it!

The ceremony was on Saturday - you couldn't have asked for better weather. It really was a fun wedding. We didn't do anything traditional - we just kind of did what we wanted to do. I was really nervous, but I ended up having a great time. Holly and Kyle wrote their own wedding vows, my cousin and his band sang the songs, we heard speeches from each family - it was about these two people joining their lives, and it was really a blessing. At the end, Holly and Kyle had ordered cryogenically frozen butterflies to be released into the air. Each of their family members and the bridal party had butterflies that they made a wish upon and then released. It was beautiful (even the dead ones that people were trying to through into the air for the appearance of flying).

The reception was a lot of fun. They only had a keg and some wine, so I started with the wine and then my step-sister and her husband went into town and brought me my friend - vodka. The party was really on at that point. We had a great time. Frederick booty-danced with my mom. It was funny. Then we got the ipods out and started to dj the reception. My 4-year old nephew had all the moves on the dance floor, and it was just really a wonderful time.

I am so glad that my sister is happy, and I really like her husband! They are going to be coming to Vegas in a few weeks, and our oldest sister and her boyfriend are (hopefully) going to be meeting up with us. I cannot wait! We always have such a fantastic time when we are all together, and it gives me something to look forward to.

The week has been busy since I got back. Had to tutor on Tuesday and Thursday, chaperoned a first grade field trip on Wednesday, worked some more on Friday, wrote a paper and did some studying. Hopefully next week will be a little lower key.

Need to hit the gym - but somehow, I got a heat rash in the last couple of days. I don't know if you have ever had one before...not that big of a deal, just kind of ugly, so I am waiting a couple of days for that to clear up. Hahaha, like you wanted to know about my rash...

Peace.

The Ebb and Flow of Teaching

2008-04-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

In the last two days, I have once again been struck by the impact that educators have on the lives of the students that he or she interacts with on a daily basis. The thing that society does not quite understand about teachers is that our jobs would be so much easier if that was all we were - teachers. In fact, we are so much more than teachers to some of these students.

We are coaches. We coach them in sports, we coach them in class, we coach them in life. We encourage students to be the best that they can be and try to impart lessons of how important it is for them to work with each other during important tasks. We teach students how to lean on each other, how to reach out if they need help, and how to stand up and step in if another person needs them.

We are therapists. We listen to the problems that they are having, and we try to help them develop strategies for dealing with the things that life throws at them. We connect them with other supports, follow up with them to make sure that they are doing okay, and build a support system that will continue to assist them as they go throughout their days and years with us.

We are members of their family. We often work so intensely with an individual student that we get to know their brothers and sisters, their mothers and fathers. We are invited over for meals, consulted when there is something going on outside of their control, and become people they come to when they need something. We become integral parts of their lives.

We are their friends. We will listen, we will laugh with them, and we will tell them that everything is going to be okay.

We are their enforcers. When they break the rules - and believe me, they will - we try to show them the error of their ways and teach them to man up to the consequences of their actions. We have to punish them, no matter how much we do not want to, because we also have to teach them how to handle the situation in the future in an appropriate manner.

Never do I take my job as an educator lightly. I know fully well the impact that I can have on my student's lives, and whenever I get frustrated or bitter, I realize what an amazing gift I have been given in my role as a teacher. It is tiring, and stressful, and frustrating all at the same time. But sometimes, we get lucky. And what develops out of these kids can be some of the most beautiful moments in life. I am blessed beyond belief each and every day.

You know why?

Because teachers may be guiders along the path, but we are also students of life.

This is Why I Teach for America

2007-01-03T22:04:00.000-08:00

For real interaction with a student today:

Me: "Hey, how was your break?"
Student: "It was great!"
Me: "Did you get any cool gifts?"
Student: "I got a new bike, and some clothes, and some other stuff for my birthday."
Me: "When was your birthday?"
Student: "January 1st...I turned 19."
Me: "You know, we are pretty close in age...how old do you think I am?"
Student: "Let me think about it [pause] maybe 60."
Me: "Do I look 60?"
Student: "Kind of."
Me: "A little lower than 60."
Student: "Okay [pause] maybe 80."

LOL.

THESE Are the Days...

2006-12-19T21:29:00.000-08:00

Hey Bloggers!

Let me tell you, Winter Break and I go together like peanut butter and jelly, like ying and yang, like Mary Kate and Ashley, like Nick and Jessic- (oh, wait...scratch that last one). These are the days to be grateful for.

Yesterday (Monday), I woke up at 11:30 AM and successfully moved from my bedroom upstairs to the couch in the living room...and that was pretty much all the further I got. Watched "Days of Our Lives" and then some "Law and Order". Took a nap, and then watched more "L & O", then ate dinner with the fam, then watched "Deal or No Deal", read a little, came upstairs, watched "Six Feet Under" and then "Identity" and capped the night off with "Full House" and "Roseanne" on Nick at Nite (which, I can't believe these shows I grew up with are on Nick at Nite). Went to sleep and woke up at an ALARMING 12:30 PM this afternoon (just in time for "Days"). However, I did venture out of the house today - I went Christmas shopping with my mom, which proved quite eventful as I finished everything in one evening!

Hopefully tomorrow, I get up and work out a little bit and then hit the books for school...I hope to be lesson planned for January by the end of the week! We'll see what happens!!

Hope everyone is well!

I'll Be Home for Christmas

2006-12-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hey Bloggers!

Happy beginning of Winter Break! I think this is definitely my favorite time of year. Time to rest. Time to reenergize after months of hard work and dedication. Time to catch up with family and friends. Time to reflect on where the past year has brought you, and to strategize where the upcoming year will take you. Time to get to know the person you have become through all of the trials and tribulations of the last twelve months. Time to be thankful for where life has brought you. Time to remember those you have lost. Time to anticipate those you will meet. This is a time of excitement, of joy, of gratitude, and most importantly of love. This is the MOST wonderful time of the year.

I got back to Chicago on Friday, late at night, and went to Jake's apartment. Spent Saturday with Sibil, Leena, Mike, Kurian, and Jocelyn in my favorite city in the universe, and then went to Shiji's engagement party on Saturday evening. It was strange - knowing that I was there to celebrate the engagement of one of my best friends, and knowing that it truly is the end of an era. People all around me are going to start getting married and beginning new lives with new people. My brother is having a baby. My sister is living with her boyfriend. My cousin just had a baby. My sister is getting married next fall. Changes are in the air, and it is time for us all to move forward. I just sat around thinking about what different people we had all become. We were all together as a collective group throughout college. It always seemed that our paths would be interconnected for the rest of life. And then the world hit us, and we realized that our paths would not be travelled together for the remainder of our time. We were going to travel down different paths, learn different lessons about life, change, and become new people altogether.

As I sat there, I realized that I have spent much of my time over the last few years getting back to the place I was when I graduated from college. But the truth is, I never will be that young man who walked out of the halls of UIC in May of 2005. I am a new creation. It is this new person that I have to begin getting used to. Trying to pretend I am something that I am no longer is tiring, and is not truthful to the essence of who I am. I have to be real. I have to move forward. We all have to. Because in moving forward, life truly happens. We love to look back on the memories, of how life used to be, but that would no longer be life. Life in slow motion is standing still. We have to live it, to love it, and to continue to move forward.

So, on the eve of new life, I wish Shiji and Sheena, Mike and Sibil, and all of the other couples on their way to becoming a unit the best of luck. And to the rest of us, who continue to move forward and shape our own paths in the universe, I encourage you to keep going. You are beautiful. Your life is successful, and will continue to be as long as you love yourself and work to help the people around you.

Take care, and Happy Holidays!

I Love This Man...

2006-12-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OmWlrtpqp40

And you'll see why...

A New Beginning

2006-12-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hidey Ho Bloggers!

I have decided that it is time to start something else, something new, something fresh. I tried to start a Blogspot a couple of years ago, but for some reason didn't keep up with it. But Carolyn and Katie both have blogspots, and I love Google, so I decided that maybe it was time for me to make the move as well! Xanga has been my home for soooo long, but I am ready for a fresh start. I think Xanga and I were together for a little over 1100 days or so, and I will continue my love affair with the website through my fellow Xanga Rangers posts, but I think I am ready to start putting my thoughts down in a different venue.

So, here we are, on December 9, 2006. My how time flies! I can't believe that it is almost time for Christmas break once again. I have six more days in the desert, and then next Friday, I leave for Chicago! I am so excited! Shiji's formal engagement is going to be on December 16 in the afternoon, so I have to be back right away in order to attend the event of the century. I can't believe Shiji is getting ready to get himself married. It is such a strange thing to think about - my best friends, getting married. It makes me feel kind of old...another stage of adulthood. Then it is off to Joy on Sunday for two weeks of life on the farm! I am excited to go home - I haven't seen my family since August. Jonathan is having a baby, and is now engaged and I have never even met his fiance. I'll get to see my nephew, my sister and her fiance...my mom also took a week off of work, so I will get to hang out with her! Then its back to Chicago on the 28th to hang out with Katie and whoever else for a couple of days before I make my way back to the desert for New Year's and the restart of school. I am definitely in huge need of a break.

This week should fly by. Have to finish a paper for Monday, a project by Wednesday, and then I have a final exam on Thursday. Plus, a couple of IEPs to work on and finish up, and I will be kosher to head back to Illinois!

Hope all is going well, throughout the land of cyberspace. Keep on keepin' on.