Lesson in Humility

Sometimes I get to thinking I’m pretty darned special. Or original. Or clever. Or ahead of the curve. Or…

Nope.

I remember coming out of high school, I had built a small following of fans for my music–I often dreamed about becoming the next great overnight musical celebrity, and even thought I had the talent to make that happen. Then I arrived at college, and just about every single kid in my dorm had a guitar (like me), and a crazy dream of musical fame (like me). Many also had talent that put mine to shame. Darrel Evans (now wildly popular in pop-christian genre) was just a few doors down the hall, and he wasn’t even the best one. I quickly stashed my guitar in the corner, and actually started reading my college textbooks. Figured I might need that degree after all.

A few years ago, I rekindled my love for writing (begun in my high school creative writing class), and have since dared to consider myself “a budding writer on the verge of publication.” Then, a few months ago, I started this blog, and have watched it blossom, proud of myself and my technical trendiness. Oh, what a good boy am I…

Well, a few minutes ago, I read a real blog from a real writer. Someone I knew, nonetheless–I just never knew what a phenomenal writer she was. Also unbeknownst to me, she has quietly been blogging away for the past couple of years, sharing her soul and wit for all web-wanderers (Eng. I students please note and appreciate the Anglo-saxon meter and kenning).

The enviously green icing on the cake? She’s a teacher. Former Sunset teacher. She once taught my class. Probably did that better, too, come to think of it…

So if humility is the pathway to wisdom, shouldn’t I be a genius by now? Somehow that doesn’t sound very humble…

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Stupid Yard & Square Trees

I drove up to my house this afternoon and instantly noticed all three of my neighbors (on both sides and accross the street) were mowing their yards. Mine, as always, was a jungle. I caved to the peer pressure and dragged the mower out from its winter hibernation, then proceeded to mow the stupid yard.

While I was mowing, I got to thinking about something a fellow teacher had told me earlier today, and the more I thought, the more irritated I became. He had the audacity to tell me that as someone who likes nature, I should “enjoy” yardwork.

There is NOTHING “natural” about a stupid, manicured, trimmed, imported, bought-flowers-at-the-store, suburban neighborhood YARD! Basically, I mow because I’m afraid of getting lynched.

Then tonight I read Annie’s blog, and an article she posted about square trees in Scotland. Yep…it figures. Give the freakin’ yuppies in my neighborhood a few more years, and we’ll probably have to plant square trees, too. @#$@#%!!!!

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Drum Roll, Please…

Thanks for waiting so patiently, folks. After we left the doctor’s office, we went to lunch, called our parents, then went to Babies ‘R Us and spent three hours registering for all sorts of baby stuff. Finally, we went to dinner and just now got home (8:50pm). You’ll all be very pleased to know…IT’S A BABY! Ok, ok, I know–that’s not the answer you were looking for. Well, we got to see some great pictures on the ultrasound. The doctor was impressed with how well the baby posed for us. We saw the brain (very important) the spinal cord, the little beating heart, legs, feet…and one other unmistakable organ that quickly identified our little son-to-be.

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Waiting…

Today is the day of reckoning. It’s 12:29; Amy and I are sitting in the waiting room of her doctor’s office. In a few minutes we will go in and I’ll get to see for the first time a picture of the child we’re bringing into the world. Then we find out the flavor…

It dawns on me that perhaps someday our child might actually read this, and get to share this moment with us. Amy says she probably should proofread this blog before I submit it. Time’s up; looks like we’re going in (wish us luck, and that I won’t say anything stupid when we find out the gender).

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School of Blog?

And then there were two.

Bloggies, say hello to your future teacher (English II Pre-AP & English IV AP), who now has her own blog at Mrs. Grimes’s Classroom. This blogging phenomenon seems to be catching on. Perhaps we shall someday have two schools–one actual, and one virtual…

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Motherhood, Inc.

I’m sitting here in a maternity store, outside the fitting room, while Amy tries on clothes, periodically popping her head through the curtain to send me on a quest for a different size. There are pregnant women everywhere. The few men, like me, all seem to have the same helpless, bewildered look on their faces that says, “Help! What have I gotten myself into? I miss college.”

Amy has found the “perfect” Easter dress–pastel, with a bow around the top of her now-visibly-pregnant stomach. I tell her she looks like an Easter egg, to which she responds with a swift kick in my shin, before disappearing behind the curtain again. Silly me, I thought I was complimenting her.

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Come Join Cool Debate

This could turn out to be fun: Mexican Immigration Debate on Comments from one of Christina’s blogs. Annie??? Help???? Willer??? (Nah, you’d probably side with Timothy).

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