The Plunge!

Today I took part in my 1st ever Polar Bear Plunge! The weather sucked! The thermostat was stuck in the low 20's and it was snowing all day long! I guess there's something bad-ass about doing a Polar Bear Plunge in the snow!

The weather was so bad that they canceled the 2nd plunge group due to the adverse weather. I'm not sure how that makes me feel. I'd already gotten in and then they decide that maybe it's not a good idea to subject your body to those conditions?


All in all though it was a good time! I raised over $500 for the Special Olympics Maryland and I can say that I jumped into the Chesapeake Bay, and completely submerged myself, in the middle of the winter! I can also say that I now know what it means to be cold! I now can say, honestly, I couldn't feel my toes! I also now know what it feels like to have your body hair freeze - actually freeze solid!


Thank you to everyone who donated! Thank you to Adam for showing up to take photographic evidence of my Plunge! Thank you to Sara, my lovely & supportive wife, for putting up with my whims and for standing in line for over an hour in a white out to catch a return shuttle!

In case you're wondering about the hat it was a gift from my mother, I believe. Several articles of clothing are in my wardrobe because, 'I don't know anyone else that would wear this'. My mother gave me the hat, and I Plunged today for a cause I know she cared about. She was never far from my thoughts.

It's Coming!

2 days left before I jump into the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay! I've raised almost $400 dollars so far! The weather supposed to take a turn for the worse and there may even be snow on Saturday! It's going to be an experience - a cold, cold, numb extremities, teeth-chattering, hypothermia kind of experience.

What Did You Do Today?

Below is a picture, taken by Sara, of the fallen tree and downed power lines that trapped us in our neighborhood until late in the afternoon - until after 4. The tree had fallen across the ONE entrance to our neighborhood pulling down several live wires, hence the brightly colored fire. No one could drive in and no one could drive out. 13 hours with no electricity. Not the most productive day.

Sometimes All You Can Do is Laugh.

I have 3 part time jobs at the present moment. 2 of the jobs aren't paying very well. The 3rd job, a substitute teaching position, pays a little more but is based on how much I am needed to fill in for others - so far I have not been needed.

So here I am, home early from a friday night at the restaurant where we had two major mishaps, prompting an appearance by the fire department, and less money than I was hoping to pull in during the shift. I am beginning to wonder if in a previous life I perhaps amassed a huge fortune, swam in my money vaults ala Scrooge McDuck, and horribly offended fate.

If it weren't for the savings account, which a generous contribution from my parents created in the first place, I would have to go begging for money from my father every month when the rent is due. I am backsliding further and further into debt as I continue to struggle against wave after wave what can only be described as a 'Enormous Shit Streak Of Luck'. I'm suffocating in pitfall of helplessness as I try and try to correct our errors, fix our situation, - right our course.

This bad money karma is killing me.

An Odd Statement

With a straight face she said to me, 'I don't trust the Amish.' Then she continued to eye the two customers, apparently Amish customers, as they browsed throughout the store.

I just clinched my jaw, nodded thoughtfully, and said nothing.

How can someone be suspicious of the Dutch Amish?

Farewell To 'The Lonesome Gods'!

I stayed up last night to finish a book I was reading. The book was titled 'The Lonesome Gods' and was written by Louis L'amour. I can't remember the last time I read a western.

This particular book followed the adventures of a young boy named Johannes Vernes as he grew to manhood in the old west. Without going into too much detail I will tell you that enjoyed the book for the most part, although the ending seemed to wrap up pretty quickly with a nice neat bow right on top.

The boy grows up an orphan, long story, in the desert and learns from the local Indians but must soon leave the desert for the small but expanding cattle town of Los Angeles. There is a storyline of revenge and hatred that eats away at a once proud, and powerful man. There's a mysterious matron who's past seems to lie in the exiled wasteland of Siberia. There's a mysterious giant who lives in the mountains and may or may not be a ancient god. The desert was also a big part of the story -almost a character of its own. The 500+ pages are filled with many memorable characters and the scope of the story is immense.

One of the main themes of the book was letting go of the past and embracing the future - something I'm not always very good at. There are many references to a changing world. The title refers to the old gods of the desert, the old ones, and a forgotten way of life.

Baby Steps

In regards to the below post - yeah, botched that one already. Delayed sending in a bill and had our cable temporarily disconnected. It's back on but obviously that resolution has already bitten the dust. I'm probably missing a credit card payment as I type.

In others news, I have decided to take part in the 14th Annual MSP Polar Bear Plunge! I've raised the minimum $50 contribution and am hoping for more donations from friends and family. The money helps benefit the Special Olympics Maryland. It's an event I've always wanted to experience, and a cause I've always believed in. (As a youth I often accompanied my mother to the Special Olympics and would be a 'hugger' to some of her students who were competing.)

I saw online a friend of mine was taking part in the plunge and I thought 'why not?'. I miss teaching my kids. I miss the population. I miss the feeling of working a job where you feel like your work matters. So I decided to make a small effort to contribute to a worthwhile cause... plus, I'm gonna jump in the Chesapeake Bay in January! I will update the blog as we get closer to the plunge date.

-AND another interesting development to mention - I believe I was just hired to be a substitute teacher at a local private school. The interview went well, I need to fill out some forms and get finger printed but it appears that I will soon be starting yet another job. That will make 3 part time jobs for me at this time. We'll see how long I can keep that up.

I Got It!

I don't normally do New Year's Resolutions because it's just one more way to disappoint myself but maybe this year will be different. So my resolution will be to curb my procrastination. I need to stop putting off things that need be accomplished, completed or addressed. So, I will resolve to stop procrastinating so much... I just decided this today - the 5th day of 2010. Guess, I put it off a little.

With A Whimper

Last year Sara and I rang in the New Year in Chicago, bouncing between several parties. It was fun night filled with friends.This year we opted for a quieter celebration. We went and spent New Years with my father, and spent the night watching a movie. Then on New Years Day we stayed in watched the parade of roses (Did you know the Ohio State School for the Blind has a Marching Band?), some football, and ate black-eyed peas and hog jowl; a family tradition.

Speaking of tradition, this year marks the first year in my memory that there wasn't a New Years open house at my folks' for the January 1st. Mom would work herself in to a frenzy baking, cleaning, and preparing for the party. People would show up and spend the day relaxing at my parents' house. Friends from their college days, old work associates, families we grew up with, church members and more would come by. People that have known me since before I could walk would come by the house to visit.

This year there was no open house. Mom wasn't around to organize everything and the family didn't feel up to handling the planning without her. Dad kept a few six packs in the fridge on the off chance that someone would mistakenly show up this year, but was pretty sure that he had contacted everyone to let them know that the open house was off. No one showed.

So 2010 started off with a simple New Years Eve celebration, New Years Day with family and an allergy attack that slowly escalated over the 1st day of the year. Today I awoke feeling much better, relieved that the holidays are behind us and hopeful that this year will be better than the last. 2009 was an eventful year. It was filled with many accomplishments but much sorrow, and frustration. I for one am glad to see it pass.