Supposed to be Entertaining, Rarely Delivers

2009-02-01T10:55:00.002-05:00

I remember when I was a child, looking up into the sky and counting the number of jet streams. Even in rural Missouri it was common to see two or three long white tales of smoke streaking the blue sky. I think of those memories with innocence because, as a child, innocence was all I really knew. Missouri, and the USA as a whole, were thousands of miles away from any potential foreign danger.

2009-01-31T19:01:00.003-05:00

Thank you Facebook...1. I'm not thrilled Facebook has become the new forum for email surveys. Originally I'd suggested copying and pasting that as numbers 1 through 25 of my list. Inexplicably, I feel drawn to participate while simultaneously hating myself. 2. When I'm teaching and I'm getting to some critical point in the lesson, I speak to my students with a dramatic, poignant phrase as

2008-11-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

Update.

2008-08-21T15:43:00.003-04:00

Do you know those cushy circular family tables at restaurants that are usually in the corners of like, Pizza Hut or McDondal’s? Right, I was sleeping on one of those tables in the Dublin Airport by myself when all the sudden I heard the distinctive sound, “thud thud, flop flop flop, thud thud, flop flop flop”. Somewhat awakened, I peek my eyes out from under my hat to

2008-05-19T14:14:00.003-04:00

I like food. Maybe that's the best way to preface this entry. About four months ago, Deanna and I went to Cheeburger, Cheeburger, a new eatery here in Princeton. For those of you who've never had the privilege/horror of eating at said establishment, Cheeburger, Cheeburger resembles a Sake n Shake and serves basically the same menu. So we're sitting in our little booth checking out the menu we

2008-05-11T12:53:00.004-04:00

This would have been equally funny had it been about Obama or Clinton. It just happens to be about McCain. In any case, a sad excuse for a post. Stay tuned, though. The next post includes me, an eating contest/challenge, and a giant foam hamburger!

2008-04-12T11:50:00.002-04:00

Warning: This post is not intended for guys who I knew in high school...or maybe even guys I know now.Yesterday was April 11. While that doesn't mean anything to you other than it was a Friday, this is Saturday, and you've loved to see one more day, it does mean something to me. And Deanna. On April 11, 1998, Deanna and I first started dating. Granted, it was only for three months, then we

2008-01-28T20:01:00.001-05:00

Okay, first let me say, I know I haven't posted in, oh...six months. But the past is the past. So anyway, here we go: I spent about 2 hours on the Barack Obama website today creating a profile and searching groups and looking up events. I've spent uncounted hours watching CNN's "Ballot Bowl". I find myself thumbing through the paper looking for news on the election. This is new to me. I've

2007-08-09T05:26:00.000-04:00

I've Got Antz In My Pantz!I have no problem dealing with most annoyances here in Palestine. For example, it doesn’t bother me all that much that “Palestinian Time” can mean any time from five to fifty-five minutes late. I got used to this in Mexico. I can even deal with the trash issue. It being that 95% of all trash ends up on the ground rather than in a trash bin or dumpster. It annoys me

2007-07-27T10:31:00.000-04:00

Hodge-Podge…or Potpourri, if you like that better.As I mentioned in my previous post, we’re in Palestine. So you’d think there might be tons of exciting things to write about. And I’m sure there is. But I can’t think of any single story that is worthy of an entire post. Or at least not one that I feel like typing.So in the spirit of Alex Trebek and Jeopardy, (He’s huge over here) I present a

2007-07-07T06:48:00.000-04:00

Seven days...thirty seven days...let's call it even.Okay, now I understand how bad this looks. And honestly, I fully intended to post seven days after my last post. But I got busy and didn't. I meant to post once about Danny and once leading upto our summer in Palestine. But as you all know, the road to Hell...Anyway. We're here in Palestine and I don't know how often I'll be able to update

2007-05-31T22:39:00.000-04:00

I realize that I haven’t posted in a month. Nothing. Not even a post about poo or the smell of poo. And for that, I am sorry. Instead, I promise to have a real update in the next 7 days. I promise.In the mean time, I offer this short little story and link: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10848This is one of my favorite websites. It’s basically facebook or myspace for book nerds.

2007-04-27T21:10:00.000-04:00

Remember Matt Murray? Remember how he had a huge head? Yeah, I saw a kid tonight who would put Matt's head to shame. Consequently, this is what I would look like if I had a giant head. Not a pretty picture.

2007-04-09T15:52:00.000-04:00

I’m typing this post in the library because I am blown away by the events that have just developed.Let me say this first. Princeton is pretty much the most “posh” town you could live in. Nearly everyone here (except for us and our neighbors) is rich. Probably because they are all somehow associated with the university or one of the major companies in the neighborhood. In any case, most of the

2007-03-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

I must admit that I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy novels and watching Hero’s lately. I divulge this information as a preface to this entry. Probably it plays a big part in my thinking as of late.I think I have a super power. You know, something beyond the normal human limits. In the world of comic books, I suppose I’d be considered a “mutant”. But I feel that mutant is such an unkind word

2007-02-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I surprise even myself for dorkiness. I thought I gave this kind of thing up in high school. I saw this on Joanna’s Facebook and tried it even though I could really use a nap and have 22 finals to grade, lesson plans to prepare, and reading for my class tonight. So naturally I’m procrastinating. Anyway, here is my waste of time:1. Put your music player on shuffle.2. Press forward for

2007-01-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

Tell me if you think this is mean. I told a student that he had a mistake on his Sudoku puzzle when he really didn’t. Apparently being a teacher means never telling a lie and he thought he could trust me. And of course he believed me when I told him he’d made two mistakes. He then spent the next ten minutes trying to figure out what he’d done wrong. I could see he was growing frustrated and

2007-01-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

Has anyone else seen this shirt?While waiting at the airport in Chicago, a slightly heavy-set woman passed me wearing this same shirt. And I couldn't help but lock on my eyes on her "ta-tas". And not for any sexual reason at all. But because of the shirt. I think I can honestly say this is the best/funniest t-shirt I've ever seen. In fact, this shirt makes me want to support breast cancer

2006-12-12T23:46:00.000-05:00

Does anyone else have a problem with Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure being played on AMC? Cause it was playing on AMC two nights ago. I mean, is it really an American Movie Classic on par with Casablanca or Mr. Smith Goes To Washington?I also find it funny that rottentomatoes.com gave it a 100% fresh raiting. Maybe that's how it made it on AMC.

2006-12-03T00:31:00.000-05:00

After talking to Derek online for a little bit, I decided at his suggestion that I should make a top 10 High School Memories List. As a disclaimer, I should explain that I actually don’t know if these memories are top 10 material or not, they just happen to be the funny things I remember off the top of my head. So without further ado, and in no particular order,1. Debate Class. Derek Ozkal

2006-11-28T23:56:00.000-05:00

Reader be warned. I am listening to Seven Mary Three while typing this entry. Therefore, my thoughts are probably charged with extra emotion and discontent aimed at the world.I said last time that I would update with some information about my trip to Israel/Palestine. I just needed a little time to sort out everything I saw. Well, two weeks later and I’m still not sure I’ve got a good grasp

2006-11-12T13:27:00.000-05:00

Deanna and I flew in this morning from Israel. It was an incredible week for a few reasons. I’m still in this processing stage, trying to make sense of what we saw and what it all means. I have to say (in no great detail) that my opinions on the Israel/Palestine conflict have changed pretty dramatically. I’ll write more about the trip later, and maybe in installments. I hope that the few

2006-10-24T16:28:00.000-04:00

I'm leaving on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again....actually, yes I do. November 12th.In five days Deanna and I will be heading to Israel for two weeks. Although the trip has been in the works for almost a year for Deanna, it’s been in the works for just a few weeks for me. As probably most of you know, Deanna is really interested in the Middle East and the peace process, or lack

2006-10-19T10:03:00.000-04:00

I know this isn’t the update everyone is looking for. Actually, probably no one is looking for an update at all. But because I’m trying to avoid what I’m doing and pass time, I’m posting an entry.Right now I’m in what we educators call an “in-service”. Can you say that? In-Service. I’d tell you how important it is but I can’t because it’s not. It is now thirty minutes after our official starting

2006-09-28T22:37:00.000-04:00

They look so smug.Public Service Announcement:Be warned cereal lovers everywhere. Every year General Mills releases Boo Berries Cereal along side breakfast staples Count Chocula and Frankenberry. It is a clever little attempt to tie in the “monster cereal” to the ever-spooky Halloween. But what they don’t tell you is this:BOO BERRIES ARE REALLY JUST FRANKENBERRIES IN DISGUISE!!!Yes, I know, I too