Harrisburg, PA – Chicago, IL (659.95 miles; 10 hrs. 46 min.)
Chicago, IL – Lake Itasca, MN (622.78 miles; 10 hrs. 40 min.)
Lake Itasca, MN – East Glacier Park, MT (926.93 miles; 14 hrs. 50 min)
East Glacier Park, MT – Seattle, WA (616.97 miles; 9 hrs. 57 min.)
Seattle, WA – Redwood National Park, CA (511.63 miles; 9 hrs. 2 min.)
Redwood National Park, CA – San Diego, CA (853.24 miles; 14 hrs. 17 min.)
San Diego, CA – Grand Canyon, AZ (552.42 miles; 8 hrs. 23 min.)
Grand Canyon, AZ – Taos, NM (539.54 miles; 8 hrs. 23 min.)
Taos, NM – Houston, TX (910.66 miles; 14 hrs. 48 min.)
Houston, TX – Nashville, TN (785.56 miles; 12 hrs. 33 min.)
Nashville, TN – Lynchburg, VA (497.62 miles; 8 hrs. 5 min.)
Lynchburg, VA – Harrisburg, PA (281.41 miles; 4 hrs. 47 min.)
Total Miles: 7,758.71
...that's the plan, anyway.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Relationships
So another one of my friends is engaged, and she'll be getting married this coming October. Let's recap:
Billy has been married almost a year.
Jordan has been married for over two years.
Justin is around a year and a half.
I'm happy for all of them, of course, but I wonder when for me, you know? I'm not someone "living it up" as a bachelor. I'm not some bohemian living in a flat down town. I want to be settled down. I want a wife to love, honor, and cherish. I want the family. I think that's what makes going back to school even that much more difficult. That's two more years for sure until I have that. It's actually incredibly depressing to think about.
Billy has been married almost a year.
Jordan has been married for over two years.
Justin is around a year and a half.
I'm happy for all of them, of course, but I wonder when for me, you know? I'm not someone "living it up" as a bachelor. I'm not some bohemian living in a flat down town. I want to be settled down. I want a wife to love, honor, and cherish. I want the family. I think that's what makes going back to school even that much more difficult. That's two more years for sure until I have that. It's actually incredibly depressing to think about.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Here's to the Future
So, long time no blog, huh?
Yesterday I received an unexpected email from West Chester University accepting me into grad school. What was unexpected is that they didn't interview me. I mean, my name written on a piece of paper is typically enough to make men everywhere jealous and all women swoon, but I figured they would want to at least meet me before accepting me.
As good news at that was, it was a little disappointing because I was hoping to hear from my first choice, the University of Delaware. They had told me they would contact me mid-week this week, and as Wednesday ended, I was becoming pretty anxious. Well today I received an email from the head of the department saying they were recommending me for admission to the graduate studies board! I guess things are officially official, but my impression is that it is merely a formality. So now all that's left to do is to secure a grad assistant position. I really want a hall director job. All assistantships pay full tuition, but a hall director gets free housing. Bonus, the guy whom I met while interviewing at UD said he felt that hall directors get special treatment. I like that, whether it's true or not. In addition, a hall director this coming year will receive $11,000 in stipend. Any other position will receive $15,000, but does not get the free room.
I guess some of my goals are actually coming to fruition. This is new to me. I'm used to having ridiculously lofty goals (re: professional baseball player) or no goals at all. Now that this is within my grasp, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. I know this is the right decision. Teaching is not for me. I really wish it was, but it's not. I like the idea of being somebody important in a community, being a mentor to students, etc. The negatives are just too much, though. Things like constant new paperwork. New acts being passed every year. Pain in the butt students. Pain in the butt parents. Pain in the butt administration. It really just never ends. And I've had great experiences with all those parties, it's just that a few bad ones can overshadow it all.
Even though I know this is the right decision, it's hard for me to want to follow through. It's another two years until I'm really out on my own. I'll be 27 when I graduate. I was supposed to be married at 25 with kids on the way at around 27 or 28. So much for the life plans you make up in high school, huh? But this is different. It's not undergrad. I will have an on campus job. I'll be out of my parents' home. And at the completion of these two years, I will have both a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Higher Ed. Counseling: both major accomplishments. On top of that, I will be very marketable for a real, permanent job. Stability. I haven't had that in a long time. Even grad school will provide more of that then I've had the past three years. Long-term subbing wears on you. It's your classroom, but only for a little while. The room is never really yours.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. It will be a good experience.
As a parting note, I'm really stoked (from the 90's much, am I?) about the 2009 baseball season. I turned off the Baseball Today podcast on my drive home, and talked to myself for 15 minutes about this coming season. Mostly about how I think the Reds and Marlins are really, really dangerous, and how they both remind me of Rays from last year. Not that I think either team will even make the playoffs, just that after many bad years, there will be significant improvement.
Anyway, I'm watching Villanova and Duke until I fall asleep. Me watching college basketball? Wow, I've changed. GO 'NOVA!!!
Yesterday I received an unexpected email from West Chester University accepting me into grad school. What was unexpected is that they didn't interview me. I mean, my name written on a piece of paper is typically enough to make men everywhere jealous and all women swoon, but I figured they would want to at least meet me before accepting me.
As good news at that was, it was a little disappointing because I was hoping to hear from my first choice, the University of Delaware. They had told me they would contact me mid-week this week, and as Wednesday ended, I was becoming pretty anxious. Well today I received an email from the head of the department saying they were recommending me for admission to the graduate studies board! I guess things are officially official, but my impression is that it is merely a formality. So now all that's left to do is to secure a grad assistant position. I really want a hall director job. All assistantships pay full tuition, but a hall director gets free housing. Bonus, the guy whom I met while interviewing at UD said he felt that hall directors get special treatment. I like that, whether it's true or not. In addition, a hall director this coming year will receive $11,000 in stipend. Any other position will receive $15,000, but does not get the free room.
I guess some of my goals are actually coming to fruition. This is new to me. I'm used to having ridiculously lofty goals (re: professional baseball player) or no goals at all. Now that this is within my grasp, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. I know this is the right decision. Teaching is not for me. I really wish it was, but it's not. I like the idea of being somebody important in a community, being a mentor to students, etc. The negatives are just too much, though. Things like constant new paperwork. New acts being passed every year. Pain in the butt students. Pain in the butt parents. Pain in the butt administration. It really just never ends. And I've had great experiences with all those parties, it's just that a few bad ones can overshadow it all.
Even though I know this is the right decision, it's hard for me to want to follow through. It's another two years until I'm really out on my own. I'll be 27 when I graduate. I was supposed to be married at 25 with kids on the way at around 27 or 28. So much for the life plans you make up in high school, huh? But this is different. It's not undergrad. I will have an on campus job. I'll be out of my parents' home. And at the completion of these two years, I will have both a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Higher Ed. Counseling: both major accomplishments. On top of that, I will be very marketable for a real, permanent job. Stability. I haven't had that in a long time. Even grad school will provide more of that then I've had the past three years. Long-term subbing wears on you. It's your classroom, but only for a little while. The room is never really yours.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it. It will be a good experience.
As a parting note, I'm really stoked (from the 90's much, am I?) about the 2009 baseball season. I turned off the Baseball Today podcast on my drive home, and talked to myself for 15 minutes about this coming season. Mostly about how I think the Reds and Marlins are really, really dangerous, and how they both remind me of Rays from last year. Not that I think either team will even make the playoffs, just that after many bad years, there will be significant improvement.
Anyway, I'm watching Villanova and Duke until I fall asleep. Me watching college basketball? Wow, I've changed. GO 'NOVA!!!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
And Five to Go
So here's a current list of things I want to do before I turn 30:
1) Earn a Master's
2) Visit two more foreign countries (Any combination of the following would be ideal: Israel, Ireland, Ghana, Morroco, Brazil, or Australia)
3) Visit at least two more American cities (Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City are my top choices)
4) Write a book
5) Own a motorcycle
6) If I get diabetes I want to run a marathon
7) Read the entire trilogy of The Lord of the Rings
8) Attend a Phillies playoff game
9) Attend a Flyers playoff game
10) Hike at least one state worth of the Appalachian Trail
11) Learn to play a few songs on the guitar
12) Attend a church service led by Mark Driscoll
13) Finish my scrapbook from when I went to Europe when I was 17
14) Read the entire Bible
15) Start a family
1) Earn a Master's
2) Visit two more foreign countries (Any combination of the following would be ideal: Israel, Ireland, Ghana, Morroco, Brazil, or Australia)
3) Visit at least two more American cities (Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City are my top choices)
4) Write a book
5) Own a motorcycle
6) If I get diabetes I want to run a marathon
7) Read the entire trilogy of The Lord of the Rings
8) Attend a Phillies playoff game
9) Attend a Flyers playoff game
10) Hike at least one state worth of the Appalachian Trail
11) Learn to play a few songs on the guitar
12) Attend a church service led by Mark Driscoll
13) Finish my scrapbook from when I went to Europe when I was 17
14) Read the entire Bible
15) Start a family
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
2:00am Budgeting
So life hasn't really slowed down much lately like I was hoping it would after that consisted of mid-trimester grades being due and taking the GRE. I will allow the fact that I am typing this entry at 2am on a Tuesday morning serve as a testimony to that.
I don't know if you were aware of this, but Jesus talked a lot about money. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Then of course there's the time he overturned the tables in the temple because of the merchants. And what about the time he has Peter catch a fish that has money in it to pay both of their taxes? Then there is my favorite about money: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I really need to meditate on His words. I want to go to grad school in the fall. Financially, it shouldn't be too difficult if I can get a grad assistantship. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do. But I just spent a couple hours balancing my checkbook, looking over my savings account, and then figuring out how to pay my bills. I took some time to look over my credit card bill, which is ridiculous. I can't believe how much I spend and how quickly it all adds up. Really, it's embarrassing: tons of music, eating out at restaurants constantly, iTunes, books, etc. Now, I never pay cash, so all I pay for gas is on there too, which is a lot considering I drive about two hours a day between jobs and home. Still, it's ridiculous.
So my prayer for myself is to become a better steward with my money. Hopefully I'll be able to develop a budget to work with. I really should talk to my dad about it. He's amazing with all that stuff.
Anyway, work should be a cake this week. Tuesday is a doctor's appointment with the whole blood sugar thing, so we'll see how that goes. Then, of course, Thursday I turn 25. I think I'll probably post again before then, or maybe on my birthday and talk about how old I feel. I'll also put up my list of things to do before I'm 30. I'm going to be down to only five years to get it all done. Crazy.
I don't know if you were aware of this, but Jesus talked a lot about money. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's." "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." Then of course there's the time he overturned the tables in the temple because of the merchants. And what about the time he has Peter catch a fish that has money in it to pay both of their taxes? Then there is my favorite about money: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
I really need to meditate on His words. I want to go to grad school in the fall. Financially, it shouldn't be too difficult if I can get a grad assistantship. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do. But I just spent a couple hours balancing my checkbook, looking over my savings account, and then figuring out how to pay my bills. I took some time to look over my credit card bill, which is ridiculous. I can't believe how much I spend and how quickly it all adds up. Really, it's embarrassing: tons of music, eating out at restaurants constantly, iTunes, books, etc. Now, I never pay cash, so all I pay for gas is on there too, which is a lot considering I drive about two hours a day between jobs and home. Still, it's ridiculous.
So my prayer for myself is to become a better steward with my money. Hopefully I'll be able to develop a budget to work with. I really should talk to my dad about it. He's amazing with all that stuff.
Anyway, work should be a cake this week. Tuesday is a doctor's appointment with the whole blood sugar thing, so we'll see how that goes. Then, of course, Thursday I turn 25. I think I'll probably post again before then, or maybe on my birthday and talk about how old I feel. I'll also put up my list of things to do before I'm 30. I'm going to be down to only five years to get it all done. Crazy.
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