back home again in indiana

Anna speaking. :)

Ahh, summer at home. And I'm not even leaving in September! The day after we got back, I saw a man in his John Deere tilling up his field (and driving right past a windmill) and there was a beautiful sunset... it was pretty much perfect and at least whispered (but I sorta felt like it shouted) "Welcome home, Anna!" Err, maybe not. But it was a pretty picture, at least.

Like Hehoff said, graduation weekend was kind of a whirlwind of activity. In typical Anna fashion, I pretty much freaked out and said I didn't even want to go to the graduation ceremony. I'm glad I did, but at that moment, I don't think it would have been possible for me to care any less. He also wasn't kidding about this keyboard. It does make random mistakes and makes me jump all sorts of places I don't want to go.

So, also like he said, we waited in line for forever at the vet's office. This isn't a normal vet. They're good, quick, and cheap. The office looks like a little barn and it's in a place called "Bean Blossom." They have waiting hours between 2 and 7 or something like that, and you take your animals and meet everyone else and their pets for several hours while you wait to see this miracle man. People come from hours away. We drive about an hour, but there was another woman who drove for 2 hours. We've been going to this guy since I was really little. He's very kind and very good. Anyway, we had Hank, Lucy, and Chief. Hank and Lucy needed shots and to get microchipped, and Chief needed to get declawed and "deballed." Ha. Poor guy. It makes me really really sad for him. I love that little guy and I don't like to think about him being knocked out and drugged up and in all sorts of pain. :( But we did see some really fun dogs and lots of fun people. There were three different puppies playing for forever (until they all passed out in the shade) while their people talked. They were fun to watch. And there was this really old man who moved sooo slowly who had a little pitbull mix and a big old shepherd and it kind of made me want to cry for him. He seemed so weak and was trying to help his dogs get up in his truck and almost dropped the shepherd. He kept having to make trips back and forth from the building to the truck because he couldn't carry all of these small things at once. I wanted to help, but I also didn't want to insult him in some way. I probably should have helped.

So I'm finally officially, completely, 100 percently done with student teaching. Well, HS guy still hasn't sent in my evaluation, but I'm done! The experience as a whole was a very good one. The high school kids were fantastic and I'm gonna miss them. The elementary school kids were fantastic. I'm gonna miss them too. I hope this is where I'm supposed to be. It FEELS like it's where I'm supposed to be. I think I could really look forward to going to work every day. Stay tuned to see if that's actually how it works out. If I get a job, that is.

I keep hoping we'll get this apartment. We drove past it last night. It's in a slightly sketchy part of Columbus, but who are we kidding? There really isn't a bad part of Columbus. I keep catching myself saying, "When we move in..." Nope. Can't. Not yet.

One of the most amazing things about being on summer break is the chance to read! Woo! I haven't been able to read in sooo long. I'm eating it up right now.

Well, Hank the Horse (not to be confused with Hank the Dog) got out of the fence today (the fence power was off, and I guess he just went between the ropes) and was just moseying around in the yard eating some delicious looking grass-that-really-was-greener-on-the-other-side grass. Molly was still inside the fence. These horses are a real flight risk, I'm tellin ya! Mom got him to run back into the fenced-in area by pulling out the secret weapon: watermelon. All was saved. Except we had to close the gate off to the pasture, so they don't have food. Time for me to go give them some hay. And maybe some oats. Cause they love that. And I love them. Happy summer, friends.

Blue Boxer Briefs

I am sorry my faithful readers for my lackings in the postings of the bloggings. I'm hopings that this postings will explainings my delinquencings.
On Friday, Anna's parents showed up in Michigan with a Uhaul to help us pack and move down to Indiana. With their arrival in Michigan came the announcement that they wanted to have everything packed up by Saturday afternoon so that they could come back to Indiana Saturday night and not Sunday like we had originally thought. The packing was fast and furious. We had planned to actually sort the stuff as we packed it and have some semblance of order to the process. That didn't happen. Everything got thrown together, and we packed up plenty of stuff that could just as well have been thrown away.
After packing for a bit on Friday, Anna and her mother went to visit the elementary where Anna had been working. That was fine. Then when they got back, we all met good ol' Johnny boy at Qdoba for some day after Qdoba Thursday Qdoba. That was a good time.
Anna's teacher commissioning ceremony was Friday night. That was sort of weird. It was like a mini graduation just for the teachers. (I swear I type faster than this keyboard can handle. I keep having to fix "mistakes" that I promise I didn't make. It is slowing me way down and thus making me want to cut this post short. I shall persevere.) The speaker for the thing wasn't too bad. In fact he probably would have been a better choice for graduation than the person they did choose.
I'm currently melting in this Indiana humidity, and it's not even that warm out.
Anna had her senior breakfast on Saturday morning. So while she was there, I went to drop off the equipment we had from Comcast. First of all, the Comcast building is impossible to find. Secondly, the employees are screened in by bullet-proof glass. It was kind of creepy. Add in some rather upset customers complaining about lack of service and you have the makings of an unpleasant experience. I think when I did finally make it to the counter and kindly handed over my cable box the lady was pleasantly surprised I didn't scream at her or threaten her life.
Anna, her parents, and I contnued to pack all morning, right up until we all needed to get dressed to go to graduation. We were hot and sweaty and disgusting, and someone packed away my socks, meaning I attended graduation in sweaty sockless feet.
This was the first graduation in the new fieldhouse complex. The place is impressive. Add in the fact that Calvin is now finally renovating the FAC and it makes it kind of sad to be leaving Calvin now.
The ceremony was fine. Many of the different majors taped things to their mortar boards to indentify themselves. The math-ed people had 3.14159. The geographers had compasses on their hats. Anna's music people all put eighth notes on their hats.
The speaker was boring and rather hard to understand. But he wasn't nearly as bad as president Byker. They should come up with a stunt double for Byker to give all his speeches.
When the graduation was finally over we hurried back to the apartment and frantically packed the rest of it up, so we could turn in our keys by five and officially be moved out.
Sunday morning, with the help of Sarah's boyfriend, Anna's father and I unloaded the Uhaul. The humidity here about kills me. I was dripping sweat like crazy.
Yesterday, I grilled some chicken in the rain for Memorial Day. It tasted alright. We had a tought time getting the grill to work though. Not all the gas burners seemed to want to light.
Today, we spent all afternoon at the veterinarian, waiting to get the dogs their shots and Chief declawed and castrated. It was a blast to be sure.
We have a meeting with the apartment lady on Thursday morning. Hopefully we'll get a definitive yes and maybe even some apartment keys.
I will probably not blog again until I have high speed internet. This sucks like something unmentionable. I'm sorry for another likely long delay, but please stay tuned. I hope to have high speed soon. And when I do, I will make sure to keep you all updated on the ultra important details of our Summery existence.

Go Jump a Pineapple

We just went and saw the various orchestras of Anna's high school perform for their Spring concert. I'd never seen a high school level orchestra before so I have nothing to which to compare them.
I have a nice mark on my wrist from where I burned it making cookies for Anna. I like to show it to her whenever I feel like proving to her how amazing I am and how lucky she is to have me.
I had a dream the other night that I was back in high school. I was getting ready for a wrestling meet, and I was really out of shape but got into shape incredibly fast. Then I won both my matches because I am that awesome. But naturally when the meet was over I was taken captive by Nazis. These Nazis led me around as they looked for spies. Apparently they could tell where spies had been based on the remains of fire pits. Well anyway, I managed to knock down their leader and get a gun and try to shoot him, but I wasn't strong enough to pull the trigger. I pulled and pulled and it wouldn't fire. Then I woke up.
The new mewithoutYou comes out tomorrow. Honestly, I'm a little scared I will be disappointed. The songs they have on myspace seem to have headed way off course from their first two releases and seem to have even left their third release behind. I hope it's good, but it could just start to sound like all the "indie" crap Calvin likes to host.
I'm still dying in anticipation of the new Project 86. Seriously, they announced that they were going to start posting some of the new music on Wednesday, and I about screamed "THAT'S NOT SOON ENOUGH!"
So the Rockies are trawling the depths of suckitude at 15-22 right now. It's miserable being a Colorado sports fan at the moment. And don't you dare bring up the Nuggets. Basketball can go sit on a giant pineapple.
My wrist hurts. I think I'm done blogging for the night.

Smelly Smelly

I rejoice that the profundity of my bloggings are enjoyed by so many. That being said, I really really need to shower.
There's nothing like spending a Saturday doing absolutely nothing.
When I sit at my computer naked I end up with a honeycomb pattern on my butt from the mesh padding of my back massager.
Life is not long enough for me to experience it as I would like. There are too many books that I need to read and too much good music that I need to hear for me to ever be satisfied with what I have consumed so far.
I think Anna and I might watch the Preakness. Anna is conflicted. She says herself that she wants Mine That Bird to win , but she also says that her women parts want Rachel Alexandra to win.

Roasted Flesh.

I burned my wrist retrieving cookies from the oven last night. There is nothing quite like cooking your own, still attached, flesh.
Anna is at the elementary for her last (official) day of student teaching. Being the kind soul she is, she acquiesced to the high school teacher's request for her to show up on Tuesday. Apparently he is in major need of help, and my wife is the only one incredible enough to be able to help.
I'm not looking forward to packing up this apartment.
Let's all move to Colorado and be friends again.
I'm hungry, but again, I lack the motivation to do something about it.
It's hard to believe that, in a little over a week, Anna and I will be leaving our first dwelling of our married life. There are so many memories. I can't repress them all.
Oh, I almost forgot. I'm wearing those indescribably patterned boxers again. I suppose it seems like I wear them a lot, but believe it or not, I do sometimes do laundry.

Nerves

There must be a nerve in my butt that runs to my groinal region because if I sit in the wrong position long enough I lose all sensation in my manhoodial zone.

A Dream unDeferred

I'm wearing gray boxers and eating Laffy Taffy.
I go to Red Sun Buffet occasionally in honor of my favorite Hungarian. I got the best fortune the other day, "Trust him, but still keep your eyes open." It doesn't even need the "in bed" at the end to make it creepy.
Today is Anna's last day at the high school, or at least, today was supposed to be her last day at the high school. She always knew they had a concert Tuesday night, but now her cooperating teacher has been uncooperative and wants her to come in on Tuesday as well.
I need to make cookies for Anna's 6th graders tonight. I probably shouldn't poison them.
Chief has taken to grabbing the end of the toilet paper roll and running out of the bathroom and down the hallway.
Chief has also taken to trying to wear Anna's shirts while I iron them.
Chief has also taken to eating my posters.
Heck, if there is something destructive in this apartment he could do, Chief has taken to it.
Howie just spends his time watching Chief bemusedly.
I'm in the mood for some chocolate milk.
Don't worry, I'll take a shower later.
Now that I have mentioned chocolate milk, I can't stop thinking about it. Thus, I must end this post in pursuit of my dream.

Naked Blogging

I have to go get Anna in a few minutes at the high school and then turn around and take her to the elementary school to set up for a fine arts festival thingy-ma-jig. I'm sure I'll be forced at gunpoint into helping set up.
I'm not currently wearing anything.
My face got super dry this winter, and it still hasn't recovered. I'm not sure what the problem is since it has never happened before. It's also not like this was my first Michigan winter or even my first winter in this apartment. Anna keeps trying to get me to use her face lotion. Over my dead body.
I'm currently listening to new mewithoutYou songs they have posted on their myspace. They are definitely continuing to follow the path of their last album. I'm not sure if that will be the greatest thing ever. I would say that they are bridging into a completely new genre, but they were never really definable in the first place.
I'm really hungry, but I don't feel like eating. A pair o'ducks, this.
I should be putting clothes on right now to go get Anna, but I'm really not motivated.
Maybe I'll go naked. That would cause a sensation.
If only I could do some belching for Jana's sake. Then this might be her favorite post ever.
To all my other faithful readers, aren't you glad you read this thing?

A Post to Make You a Better Person

I need to leave in fifteen minutes to go pick Anna up from the high school.
I'm sweating.
I tried to clean up the apartment a little.
I love heavy music.
This summer is going to be an awesome one for music. I already have the new Zao and The Chariot albums. mewithoutYou, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Neon Horse, and Project 86 all have albums coming out in the next couple months. And to top it all off, I'll probably get to see Project 86 (twice, and with them the likes of The Chariot; Haste the Day; A Plea for Purging; and Oh, Sleeper), Becoming the Archetype, and maybe even Maylene & the Sons of Disaster.
Howie didn't used to care when I ran the vacuum cleaner, but it terrifies Chief. And now whenever I run it, both of them go running.
I think those cats are gay together.
After having the new Zao record for a week, I have come to the conclusion that it is excellent. Go get yourself a copy. Now. And if you somehow manage to procure a copy numbered 777, 7777, 666, 6666, or any other cool pattern, let me know and I might buy it off of you.
I just wish Living Sacrifice could finally do what is necessary to give us this new record they have been promising.
The Rockies suck. Which is precisely why I haven't commented much about them lately. It's just too depressing. Yesterday, they won their first one run game of the season. How bad is that?
The Broncos are going to suck. I said this as soon as they hired McDaniels. I said this on draft day. I especially said this when they chose to give up next year's first round pick to move up ten or so spots in the second round. With as bad as the team will be next year, this will almost assuredly be a top 10 pick. And now all these football "experts" even agree with me. We are doomed.
I have to go get Anna now.
I want to thank all my faithful readers for continuing to visit this, the home of the two most awesome people in the universe. You are better people for reading this.

almost the end

Anna again.

2 days left at the elementary school
3 days left at the high school
1 week and 6 days until I graduate. Wow.

I still have my exit interview which I don't think will be a huge deal, and have to fill out quite a bit of paperwork, but I'm almost done. It's hard to believe. Then I'm on my way to becoming a real, live adult. Creepy. I'm only a year behind my friends. :)

I found another school hiring in Brown County, Indiana, which is one of the prettiest parts (by far) of Indiana. It's where the big hills are. It's nicknamed the "little smokys" for a good reason. It's a little closer than the other job and is only high school instead of high school and middle school. It's teaching 4 choirs and 2 classes of piano. I'm a little worried about the piano since I'm not amazing, but I do think I know enough to even help people who may technically play better than I do. But I haven't heard from either job, and we haven't heard a yes or no from the apartment people, either. It's kind of stressful since we're so close to the end.

I am really getting very sad to leave both places. I'm lucky. Just very lucky... I've gone to a fantastic school with the awesomest friends ever. I love my major (even if it does frustrate me and I spend a lot of time questioning everything) and I love my life. I'm just incredibly thankful to have had such great opportunities so far and I hope I'll find a few new equally great opportunities along the way.

It's scary. I don't know where I'll end up. I don't know if I will manage to stay in contact with the people I've loved for the past 5 years. I don't know if I'll end up teaching for the rest of my life, or if something else will come along. But I do know that it'll be OK. Really. Every single ounce of my life (because we all know life is measured in ounces).

You know me well, and know that at any given moment, I'm probably worrying about something. But why? I'll leave you with this. :)

Matthew 6:25-34

(The Message)
25-26"If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it
follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether
the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than
the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes
you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to
a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
27-29"Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever
gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on
fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the
fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp
or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten
best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
30-33"If God gives such attention to the appearance of
wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to
you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to
get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to
God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these
things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality,
God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all
your everyday human concerns will be met.
34"Give your entire
attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things
come up when the time comes.

A Titular Thing

Anna's currently in the bath.
Chief is currently insane.
I'm currently wearing gray boxers with a black waistband.
Chief really is the whiniest kitten ever.
Anna just got out of the bath.
She's listening to music.
I'm not.
We keep getting phone calls from a 616 number that isn't leaving a message. We have a sneaking suspicion that it's Calvin asking for money.
I've been eating too many Girl Scout cookies.
Sometimes you read a book that is just indescribably disturbing.
I think I might grow up to be an alcoholic. That sounds like a good time.
Anna has one more week of student teaching.
I don't really have anything to say.
I think I might get some chocolate milk.
I miss my friends.
We are definitely getting Chief de-clawed. He is shredding both my skin and my chair.

Mothers' Day is approaching and I smell bad

I mailed my mother-in-law's Mothers' Day present today. Anna and I went in with Sarah on a gift card to Hobby Lobby. The theory being that if we get her a gift card, we have to get it to a place where she can't possibly buy anything anyone else wants.
I'm the best husband ever. Anna texted me today, saying she needed me to find one of her choir songs on itunes, download it, and bring it to her. I did. That's right. I'm awesome.
I should shower.
Anna is doing with student teaching next Friday. Weirdness. Then she graduates, and it's off to the big scary outside world for both of us.
Howie was peeing in his litter-box the other day when Chief decided to join him. They peed together for a bit. It was touching.

A Coloradan Married a Hoosier

So I'm a Coloradan, and I married a Hoosier. It's an odd match. I learn new things every day. Here are some of those things.

1. Not even Hoosiers know what "hoosier" means
2. Apparently, in Indiana the laws of physics don't apply. Thus, when all the air is removed from a space a vacuum is not created, but if you add a back and forth motion to this space, you have created something commonly referred to as a "sweeper."
3. Hoosiers hate the English language.
4. Hoosiers love adding "Rs" in the most absurd of places.
5. Carhartt and Wrangler are to Indiana what Versace and Prada are to Hollywood.

I'm sure there will be more to come. I just happened to be thinking about this today.

Those same indescribably patterned boxers

The middle school that Anna is somewhat associated with had its choir concert last night. The reason I say "somewhat" is because Anna only works with the 6th grade choir. The 5th and 7th/8th grade choirs meet on days when Anna isn't there. Anna's cooperating teacher had Anna conduct a couple of the 6th grade songs. Apparently she also wanted Anna to conduct a couple of the 7th/8th grade songs but reason prevailed. As I listened to the concert, I came to a couple very definite conclusions that I shared with Anna afterwards. First, the songs Anna conducted with the 6th graders were by far the best performances of the night. Second, it's a blessing that Anna did not have to conduct the 7th/8th graders because that may have been the most embarrassing excuse for a choir I have ever seen. As I understand it, there are so very big behavioral issues going on with some of the 8th grade boys, and it is detracting heavily from the choir. All I know for sure is that it was obvious that not even half of the boys in that choir were even pretending to sing, and when their songs called for the guys only, it became apparent that none of the guys were doing anything more than pretending.
I told Anna I would clean the guinea pigs' cage today. I'm putting it off until the last minute.
Chief is currently sitting on the cage, staring at the pigs.
I got the new The Chariot album yesterday. It's copy 18,288/25,000, hand stamped and signed by the guitarist, Bryan. I like this new fad of numbering album copies.

Dark blue boxers with a black waistband

One of Anna's choirs had to sing at a church last night (like they seemingly have to do every flipping Sunday evening). The church had a pimping pipe organ and some nice stained glass. Unfortunately, the predominant color in the stained glass was orange, giving the sanctuary the permanent air of the '70s in the fall.
Weather.com says that it's currently 66 degrees with a high today of inappropriate reference to a sexual position.
Yesterday, Anna applied for a job as choral director for a high school in Brown County, Indiana. Honestly, it actually sounds like a better job than the one in Versailles. Apparently Anna's Versailles contact is really pushing hard to get Anna hired there. Hopefully one of the two works out.
I'm listening to the new Zao album "Awake?" as I write this. Go order yourself a copy (especially you, Jana, because it will make you cry). The "poor vocal health" exhibited on the album does my heart good. It takes me awhile to formulate my opinion on an album, but I can say for sure that I like it a million times more than "The Fear is What Keeps Us Here."
Now I just need to go out tomorrow and pick up "Wars and Rumors of War" by The Chariot.
We still haven't heard back about the apartment job.
Anna got some Girl Scout cookies from some of her elementary schoolers. I've already devoured all the Caramel Delights. I might have to go destroy that box of Thin Mints that's staring at me.
Chief is sleeping in a rather awkward position on the couch.
I'm going to invent the poopless and peeless cat.
Somehow, in my sleep, I pulled the all the sheets and the mattress pad off of my side of the bed. I woke up on bare mattress.
I love the smell of new CD artwork. It's almost as pleasant as the smell of books.
When I grow up, I'm going to build a house with my own den,and the walls will be covered in bookshelves full of books. Don't tell anyone, but I'm also going to put in a secret passage behind said bookshelves.

I'm wearing a pair of grayish blue boxers in a pattern I don't think I can describe

I got the new Zao album today. I pre-ordered and had no idea when to expect it, since it officially comes out on Tuesday. It came with six, separate, kick butt album covers, and on the back, it tells me that I have copy 3057 of 8000. It's so satisfying to pop in a new album and just relax and enjoy the heaviness.
Anna and I went to Big Bob's today. I love a good deep dish pizza.
We got Chief a tag and a collar today. He's been going crazy trying to get the collar off.
I'm really rather thirsty right now.
I love this massage chair Anna's mother gave me last Christmas.
Well I think it's time for some hydration and some metal.

??

Dear Hoffer,

What's with all the underwear updates?
You're so weird.
Let's go do something today. Like go to the beach.
Check yes or no.

yes no

Love,

Anna

Light blue boxers with a lighter blue wasteband

I think I broke Chief's tail. Somehow he got it caught under the wheel of my chair. I couldn't figure out why he wouldn't stop whining. It's not too bad. There's just a little kink right near the end.
Three of Anna's high school choirs made it to the state choral competition which was held yesterday. I ended up tagging along. The choirs really are very good. I had the opportunity to listen to some of the other choirs at the festival and none of them were in the same league. And remember, all these choirs had to qualify to make it to this level.
Oh, on a side note, during one of the clinics at the competition, the clinician referred to Anna and I as "Mumsy" and "Popsicle." Apparently he thought we were supportive parents. The choir has now lost all respect for Anna.
I've got some Carolina-style pork in the slow cooker. It smells spectacular in here.
I'm currently wearing blue boxers with a light blue wasteband.
I shaved my beard off. It'll probably be back soon.
I think I've decided to become a drug addict. What should be my drug of choice?
I keep smelling the pork, and it's making me hungry.
The Chariot is currently streaming their entire upcoming album on myspace. At first listen, I would say it's a good one. And I am excited to get it, but gosh darn it, I want the new Zao album a million times more.
Facebook changed the "Friends" tab so that, as far as I can tell, I can no longer view friends based on their updates and profile changes. This irritates me.
My neck kind of hurts again.
I feel like reading. Adios.