February 14, 2011

Ahh, today is Valentine's Day.

Couples all over are celebrating with flowers, candy, and a typical romantic comedy.

Others are drunk, crying, and OD-ing on pints of ice cream because alas, they have not found their loves.

I on the other hand spent my night at IGA closing down the store with one of my good friends. So, it was a pretty decent night.

Because as we know, I love history, I thought I'd tell you a little bit about St. Valentine!

Well, Valentine was either a priest or a bishop, no one is 100% sure of which one. Well, he was uniting Christian couples in Holy Matrimony.

Awwww.

So, whats the big deal?

Well, during the time he was doing this, Rome was ruled by a guy named Claudius II, he was not a fan of Christians.

Helping Christians in anyway, was considered a crime.

So eventually, Valentine was arrested, Claudius got to know him and thought he was a pretty swell guy, until Valentine did the unthinkable, he tried to convert Claudius to Christianity.

FOR SHAME!

After this...he was condemned to death. They stoned him and beat him with clubs, but this would not kill him. So, they decided it would be best to behead him.

So, if you are unhappy with your Valentine's Day, remember, St. Valentine had a much worse one...

But never the less, Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there!

February 13, 2011

Well, today it reached 50 degrees. This means that the snow and ice are melting, except for in my driveway..it remains a sheet of ice, probably because Mother Nature wants me to break my leg.

I heard some people at work today describe this as the "Spring Thaw", but we must remember, this is Illinois...and Illinois is tricky.

But, while it lasts, everyone enjoy the nice weather.

February 12, 2011

My favorite ice cream ever is Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia. Ben & Jerry really know what they are doing.

Anyway, as I was enjoying my ice cream, Lily tried to enjoy some too....she didn't get any.

February 11, 2011

I was at Wal Mart tonight (blech), in the "craft" section....I guess crafts and wedding decorations go hand in hand? But anyway...this is a wedding cake topper and I found it...awful.

Its a bride dragging a groom to I guess the wedding, maybe shes knocked up and is like "dammit, marry me", because..thats a lasting relationship...

Anyway, if you look closely at the bride, it looks like a. shes been punched in the face or b. shes been crying....but maybe c. shes crying because shes been punched in the face, which ever option..its....terrible.

February 10, 2011

Well, tonight on the awesome Thursday night comedy night, it was mostly Valentine's Day episodes. I am not a fan of Valentine's Day. I think its lame. Some would say I'm bitter, but...whatever.

So in the spirit of lame ass Valentine's Day, if I could make this fictional character real....I would totally want him to be my Valentine.

Now I'm lame...haha.

February 9, 2011

And today.....was another weird day.

I got up at 5:30 am and started to get ready for my day of substitute teaching at South Central.

I love student teaching there, the kids are generally good and I like the other teachers there. Its where I student taught, so it feels sort of like home.

Today though, would prove to be not one of those great days at South Central that I'm used to.

They had lost a student to one thing that I will never understand and thats suicide. Seeing the look on all those kids faces was absolutely heartbreaking. Something I never want to have to experience ever again.

When I was driving home from South Central my phone rang.

I was offered the job that I had interviewed for the day before. Of course I accepted.

I am so incredibly excited to be teaching, even though its not social studies, and its not in a high school or middle school, but still its teaching. I am ready to start the new phase of my life even though it might be hard to say goodbye to what I'm used to. I guess this is what growing up is about.

Tonight I looked at the sky as the sun was setting, and I thought it would be a suitable picture to sum up my day.

The night is coming, and I guess it could represent the unknown....for whats going to happen to my career, for whats going happen to all the families and friends that that student left behind. But then with the darkness, theres always light to help guide our way.

February 8, 2011

Today....was a weird day.

I started out with a job interview, and I think it went well.

Then I spent the rest of the afternoon in East St. Louis.

I'm not going to go into why I was there or what happened, but it was a hard day. But, I needed to be there for a friend.

Its scary to think that you can put your complete trust into someone and then they have a completely secret life, but I guess you just never know.

But heres my picture of the day, the Arch...



Also, some lyrics a song by Jack's Mannequin that will hopefully help my friend in this hard time.

"Swim"

You've gotta swim
Swim for your life
Swim for the music
That saves you
When you're not so sure you'll survive
You gotta swim
And swim when it hurts
The whole world is watching
You haven't come this far
To fall off the earth
The currents will pull you
Away from your love
Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the dawn
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
A crack in the armor
I swim to brighter days
Despite the absence of sun
Choking on salt water
I'm not giving in
I swim

You gotta swim
Through nights that won't end
Swim for your families
Your lovers your sisters
And brothers and friends
Yeah you've gotta swim
Through wars without cause
Swim for the lost politicians
Who don't see their greed as a flaw

The currents will pull us
Away from our love
Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave
Begging to tear down the dawn
Memories like bullets
They fired at me from a gun
Cracking me open now
I swim for brighter days
Despite the absence of sun
Choking on salt water
I'm not giving in
Well I'm not giving in
I swim

You gotta swim
Swim in the dark
There's no shame in drifting
Feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark
Yeah you've gotta swim
Don't let yourself sink
Just find the horizon
I promise you it's not as far as you think
The currents will drag us away from our love
Just keep your head above
Just keep your head above
Swim
Just keep your head above
Swim, swim
Just keep your head above
Swim