Cool library program

My friend and I are putting together this new program at the library. I am hoping to get a good response and possibly continue in the future with similar gaming programs. Definitely let anyone know who might be interested or have ideas for other games we could try.

Michael Peters is the brilliant artist who created this flyer. What I'd give for his skills with Photoshop.

The High Life

I can hardly believe how perfect my life is right now. I mean.......everything is just so amazing. It is hard to describe this level of joy. I couldn't complain about anything right now. Well....I take that back. That Meijer job.....leaves much to be desired. But honestly, that's it. Everything else, every other event on my planner is something I look forward to. Every week is so exciting and busy and satisfying.
Anyway, I imagine this is probably the most boring blog I could possibly write. I realize that good news is all too unpopular. Probably more people would read this blog if I whined a bit or ranted more. Not that I care if anyone reads. Merely observing. I think I just type out these blogs as a way to pass the time. Sometimes it helps me to relax and contemplate my life more acutely.
Well, I guess I'm done. Off home soon for another peaceful, relaxing evening with my beautiful wife in our wonderful house.

WWII Programs

Here is a small flyer for this year's upcoming WW2 programs, coordinated by Mr. Larry Martin.

The Brutal Onslaught of Despair

I tend to be an optimistic person. I have been oft criticized for this fact. When times are hard, I find it easy to see the bright side of things and to look forward, putting things in their proper perspective. Yet, while this does seem to come naturally to me, and I am clearly a minority, my positive outlook is challenged and shaken no less often than anyone else.
I was at work the other day, following much of my usual routine consisting of browsing lots of news headlines and corresponding with friends and colleagues. It was a rather slow day, and I had little to keep me busy and tear me from the depressing daily reports filled with tales of tragedy and woe. The rain was coming down steadily outside and we seemed to be in the midst of a depression epidemic, as everyone I encountered had a sullen, hopeless expression on their faces and grim attitudes to match. Even I found it difficult to maintain my optimism in the face of such negativity. However, in spite of all this opposition, I continued to persevere and remain stalwart in my happiness.
I must fully admit at this time that those around me who choose to persist in their grouchiness are not entirely to blame. I will not argue with their claims that times have never been harder, that the future never looked quite so dark or that there seems to be little hope and purpose in even trying when just getting by takes all that you have. This is the message, the trumpeted report, I received in constant salvos of gloom throughout the day. Close friends spoke of their hopeless quests for employment and others of the overbearing weight of countless debts and bills. I read a report from "Forbes" that listed Jackson, Michigan as the worst small city in the nation for jobs.
After awhile, these things began to weigh more and more heavily on my mind. I began to ponder the future myself and question whether it really was as bright as I had so firmly upheld. My fiance and I have discussed very seriously whether this was the right place for us to settle and raise a family. We have always felt very strongly that it was and neither of us have felt any inclination to explore anything outside of this county. But reason, it seemed, was pointing somewhere else. 

As much as I resisted this not-so-subtle nudge of fate, I felt responsibility compel me to at least consider the future in a more serious manner. I began to question my motives for everything and imagine every possibility. I thought long and hard about what was best for my family-to-be and tried to ignore my own desires and dreams. It was with these heavy thoughts on my mind that I left the library and began walking through the dreary, sprinkling cold to my car. The picture outside was indeed dismal. Weather aside, there was little good to be seen. A lone bum in tattered clothes stumbled across the parking lot, muttering to himself. I could see someone bundled tightly in a thin rain coat riding his bike down the cracked, puddle ridden sidewalk. Rusty, clunkers filled the parking lot and I could just discern the sound of a siren wail in the distance. Yet somehow, in the midst of all this gloom, I smiled. I cannot really say why, but I smiled. Something deep inside told me that I was right where I belonged. That no matter what happened or how dark things became, everything would be just fine. Even if things were bad, worse than anywhere else, I could make it through. Ashley and I could make it. 

I held my head high and proceeded to walk proudly across the street towards my own rusty clunker, having accepted fate's challenge of making a life in the most challenging town in the country. Having overcome of my own will, the powerful urge to succumb to the wave of despair, I felt a renewed sense of joy as my jovial spirit returned in full force. It seemed to me that the sun began to shine again and, for a moment, everything was right.

It was at that moment that I happened to hear a loud, gruff voice shout "HEY!!". I whirled around and, as I happened to be the only person there looked up towards the caller. I saw a dark SUV cruising down Blackstone with a large, angry looking man protruding from the passenger window. He held up his right hand in an obscene gesture, scowled at me and shouted "F*** YOU!!"

The crib

So we are buying this cool house finally. Closing date is officially next Friday. I am, needless to say, extremely excited. Just days away from owning my first house....pretty awesome. This is a picture from the front. Not too special right now on the outside, but it will be when I am done with it.

New Year rant

School is really boring me these days. I never have time to study and the homework can hardly hold my attention anyway. It seems that I have completely lost interest in school. I don't learn nearly as much as I would like to. Learning is not a problem in fact I enjoy it. However I usually learn more working an afternoon in the reference department here at work then I do in a day of classes. Each class is filled with silly activities where we split in to groups and try to agree on what the teacher actually wants us to do. Invariably, I am placed with a quiet, clueless freshman and a loud, clueless sophomore and I have to explain what we are doing and get them to do it right or just do it myself. They are always very simple problems that are somehow made difficult by my fellow students. Then if we are not doing a project, we are listening to monologues by the loud, ignorant "genius" in the class who decides they don't want to be a student but rather the teacher. Economics is great for that. Everyone there thinks they know the answer to why the economy is suffering, and are filled with their own fool-proof and often half-witted solutions to the worlds problems. Good for a laugh now and then but after a while I get tired of it. Just let the professor talk and tell us which page to read so I can get my grade and go home. I feel a bit sad that I don't enjoy school anymore. I don't hate it either but I just find it to be a waste of my time. I can't seem to find any other students that I can talk to anymore. No one else is in the same boat that I am in and I can't connect with anyone. No other students that I know would dream of getting engaged at my age. None of them work as many hours as I do. All of them just look forward to the next party this weekend and wouldn't dream of spending Friday night at home with their family. In the end, I end up being a tad anti-social amidst the college crowd. I usually keep to myself which is not my nature. Strange really.
Well, that sounded very angry. I'm a little surprised at myself that I wrote all that. Maybe I should not publish this post. I guess it doesn't matter really.
The New Year has otherwise been good to me thus far. I am still counting the days before I get to be married to the most amazing girl in history. 188 days today. She is too perfect for words. I wish there was more I could do for her.
I should be going on my lunch break soon. I have some hot pockets in the freezer upstairs. Not very good at all but it is a lunch. Hopefully Ash won't make me eat this crap every day and I will eat decent lunches but until then, it's hot pockets and pb & j. Yay........