In Which Our Boy Shakes Off the Blues

Here it is, nearly one pm on Sunday, and I sit to take a break from a whirlwind of activity. Yesterday, Ripken roused me from sleep at 7:15. I let him out, made coffee and perused the papers (Tribune and NYT). After a bowl of cereal, I ran to the hardware store to buy a pair of waterproof gloves, climbed the ladder, and cleaned the gutters. The recent rains had reminded me that this needed to be done, because all of the water running off the roof cascaded into the open bedroom and living room windows. This was not good.

But, yesterday was beautiful, so, yanking funky muck from my gutters in the warm morning sunshine was actually kind of pleasant. After that, I decided to wash all of the blinds in the house, since that has not been done for nigh on eight years, and they were getting a little dingy. It takes quite some time to do that. As a matter of fact, I only did about half of them. I watched a little bit of the Cards-Cubs debacle before running back to the hardware store to get some plumbing supplies to fix a minor problem with the bathtub. The hardest part about that was buying the right size cotter pin, but, I did.

I was getting a bit hungry, and had been thinking about lo mein since Friday afternoon, so I wizzed buy China Chef to pick that up. Back home, I had the end of the game on in the background, as I fixed the tub and finished some more of the blinds. In between, I also did some laundry.

From about seven to nine, I finished making all of the changes to the first draft of the novel on the computer. Of course, in a few weeks, it will be time to work through the second draft, but I am glad I can say I am making progress. At nine pm, I lay down on the sofa to read. An hour later, I woke from a short nap to trudge off to a proper sleep in the bed.

This morning, I took a bit more time with the papers, did some cleaning in the car port, then mowed the lawn. I still have to go grocery shopping (next on the list). I also hope to get some grading done, work on a future assignment, and play softball this evening. The sunshine sure does perk a brother up.

In Which Our Boy Contemplates His Old Age

I was sitting on the sofa the other day, trying to decide whether to get up and eat something or continuing sitting on my duff, when it dawned on me that I am going to be a sad old man (whenever I become an old man). I can only hope that Monkey is around as long as I, so she can keep my miserable backside moving. When she's not around, I sometimes can't get motivated to do anything but go to work (and that is hard going sometimes). I can't even be bothered to blog (yet, here I am...progress?).

It has rained alot this week, that always puts me in a foul mood. Mostly, however, I think I just get a bit blue and self-absorbed when she's not around. After all, she is an integral part of who I am. Without her, it's like a piece of me is not around. I know I sound like a Shel Silverstein poem (or...ugh...a Nick Sparks book), but, it's true.

Come home, Monkey.

I've been reading Atlas Shrugged. It's one of those "I always wanted to read it, but it's so goddamn long" kind of books. I really thought it would be dry and didactic, but, so far, it is pretty captivating. The characters are intriguing, and it has (even though it was written well after and is not quite so futuristic) this sort of Fritz Lang-quality that I like. Maybe I am way off base on that one, but, it's the best way I can describe it.

Also reading High Fidelity. The Nick Hornby book they made into a movie with John Cusack--you know, the one in which Jack Black got his "big break". I hate the movie for that. I mean, the Jack Black character in that movie fits the bill perfectly, but, has anyone noticed that that is all he can do? It's the same damn character in every movie. He's even the same character when he's playing with Tenacous D. Hello! That's not acting, that's just him being him. Can't wait to see him on Inside the Actor's Studio telling all the first years to "be in the moment." That's actor speak for "I don't know how to act." But I digress. The book is actually pretty good. It's British, so, it is far different, on some levels, than the film. Which is a good thing. The most appealing thing about this book is the main character's straight-on analysis of himself as a guy in a relationship (any semi-committed relationship). I am finding him highly entertaining. Is it a book that has a universal appeal? I don't know. Is it great literature? Nope. Am I digging it? I am.

For those keeping up (which I haven't been). I updated The Fingers of Time. I know it's been a few weeks, but I have been busy. I threw two posts on there. Three sections total. Enjoy, if you want.

In Which Our Boy Makes Some Tough Choices (and Some Pie)

Monkey's birthday is Monday. We had dinner last night to celebrate, since she will be in Lincoln on Monday, and I will be traveling there on Monday night to settle on the house on Tuesday. On Friday, after a short one or two with Capt. Morgan and Coach B, I came home and made a pie for Monkey. Her choice of desserty-thing on her birthday is always pie...always apple. So, on Friday I made a pie. But that's not all I made.

I had to decide which of the positions I had been offered I would take. I chose a newer school which operates on a block schedule. It will be a new experience (beyond the fact that it is a new school for me). The block schedule entails teaching each class in a 90 minute period, instead of a 50 minute period. This will take some getting used to. But, I really felt a good vibe from the department chair and the principal that I interviewed with, and I had to go with my gut. I don't think any of the possible schools would have been a bad choice, but this one just seemed like the best one for me. So, I have a job and a house...let's move, already!

In other, related news, I found my pants.

In Which Our Boy Discovers He Has No Trousers

My pants, they're a miracle
You know their strength
You know what they feel
when I move they do a dance,
everybody loves my funky pants
--Corky and the Juice Pigs, "Pants"

Well, let me tell you about my week, so far.

Monday after school, I drove up to Lincoln. Five and a half hours. The first four hours and fifteen minutes were great, but I burned up Iowa in my sleep and shot somnambulantly across Nebraska Highway so fast, my tail lights are still trying to catch up with me. I somehow awoke at the door of the rental version of Monkey House Nebraska (it's not even a nice place to visit--except for the Monkey). I got in, opened up my garment bag to hang up my suit, iron my shirt, and prepare for a relaxing hour of chatting with Monkey and reviewing my interview notes. I was emotionally drained, as well as tired, since I had pretty much listened to four hours and fifteen minutes of NPR coverage of the Virginia Tech atrocity, which had happened that morning.

When I went t o hang up my suit, I noticed that it felt a bit light. That's when I realized that the pants were not with the jacket. The dry cleaners had not returned them with the coat when Monkey picked them up. This was a problem.

I nearly went into shock. Luckily, I only experience a brief flash of catatonia before Monkey and I dashed off to the Target, which was closing in mere minutes, where I bought a $99. linen suit off the rack. It was quite a whirlwind of emotion. Not the worst of which were, perhaps, my feelings about the possibility of having to wear the pants of some random frat boy, but that's a-whole-nother thing.

Tuesday was a long day of interviews (I wound up with five) and driving. I was finished interviewing by 4pm. I was back on the road to CoMo by 4:30. I felt good about all of my interviews.

This afternoon, I was offered three positions (with a possibility of a fourth, but it's a matter of timing). Now I have to decide. What a wonderful difficulty to be in!

And, to top that off, the Deadliners kick off the season with a doubleheader, and the weather is awesome. (We were rained out of our Sunday league, earlier this week).

All in all, an awesome week...except for the thing about the pants.

In Which Our Boy Prepares to Sell Himself

The week past was chock-full of sponsorship business and phone calls to and from Lincoln. I have a big fortnight coming up, as this Tuesday will find me in Lincoln for four job interviews. Next Tuesday will find me back in the same town closing on the house.

I have been trying to do some homework for my interviews this past week and weekend, as well, but Monkey and I are entertaining some guests from the west, and I don't have a whole lot of time. I did go up to school for a few hours this morning to get some things done. I hope to spend a few hours tonight doing some more preparation.

I'll leave here on Monday after school, interview on Tuesday and drive back that evening, to be back at school on Wednesday morning. Whew! Wish me luck!

I will keep you posted.

Monkey brought back some pics of the house this weekend. I'll post when I have a minute.

Thanks to ComoProzac and his musical pipeline, I am lately digging on Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Feist. Check 'em out!