A Brief Update

I will make this fast because I have some errands to run and packing of all sorts to do.
Wednesday I went to Ennis to finalize where I would be living and to fill out an application for a P. O. Box. I don't have a mailbox in my apartment, so I will have to go to the post office everyday. Luckily, the post office is around the corner from my apartment. With my mail being around the corner and my office next door, the only time I'll have to leave will be to interview someone or pick up reports from the police stations.
While I was in town I stopped by the Daily News and met everyone. I got the full tour of the place and even opened up an old drawer where they used to keep the bodies. Keep in mind, I am working in the old city morgue. After meeting the staff at the newspaper I am getting even more excited. They were all so nice and I am sure I will get along with everyone.
Thursday I went back down to Ennis to finalize getting my P. O. Box. It had to be done in person and I wanted to set up my mail immediately. I came back to Arlington and turned in a change of address form. I also set up a date for my electricity to be set up. They will arrive on Wednesday. I found out my car will not be ready until Wednesday also, so this poses a problem of going back to Arlington to pick MobyD up. I'll just have to do it early in the morning and get back to Ennis before 10:00.
Today I am packing and finishing up small details like address changes with credit cards and bank accounts. You never want the account in Belize to not know where you are. Isn't that right Chad?
Well, I need to finish some packing before we pick up the U-Haul to move James' stuff tonight and then my stuff tomorrow. Life is so much more interesting when you have stuff to do during the day. I have forgotten how fulfilling it is to accomplish things throughout the day.

Playground Built For A Certain Sex

While on recess duty yesterday I was thinking about something never before touched upon. Are specific items on a child's playground made with a particular sex in mind?
With so many children frolicking back and forth, to and fro, it was mind boggling to see how much energy they can store up during an hour of sitting at tables drawing an ice-cream cone inside a circle. No child can restrain from playing on every piece of equipment during 30 minutes of recess, however I observed certain boys and girls drawn to distinct spots on the playground. Let us begin with the staple of the playground.
Swing Set: The swing set is the first thing that comes to mind when a playground is thought of. It is where Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper learned their first lessons on The Wonder Years. Swings are a tricky choice. Girls don't have a purpose on the swing set. They just get on, swing as high as they can and then get off. Sometimes they use them as a seductive trap for men while using their charm and sweetness to exude out of them as they slowly rock from side to side. Yet in general, guys only get on the swing set for three reasons.
1. To measure who is the better man by seeing who can swing higher,
2. Trying to make a full circle around the bar, or
3. Getting as high as possible and then jumping out as far as a human can.
The swings might be the only co-ed outdoor play set. If I had to choose a sex I would say they are geared toward boys for the mere fact that they have purpose when they are on the swings.
Slide: Slides come in a close second in the contest of the quintessential playground item. Guys don't use a slide to go down them. We see a slide as a mountain to be climbed. It is our Everest at eight years old. Girls use the slide for its true purpose. Girls wait in line just to slide down it. Guys use the slide because it is the fastest way down unless their is a fire pole. Girls win with the slide.
In fact, the only time a guy is going to stand in line waiting to spend just a few seconds going back down is if water is running down the slide and their is a drop off at the end into a large pool. Otherwise, we aren't hanging out to slide. We will let the girls do that.
Fire Pole: Fire poles are a young boy's only other option once we are on top of the playground structure. If this is an option for us we will take it every time. Why you ask? Because it gives us a glimpse into the fireman world. Will we enjoy this ride down the fire pole? Are we going to be able to slide down it at 3:00 a.m. when a fire is blazing, because in our young minds this is the only time we will be taken from the fire station?
In a boy's mind, we only see the good things about certain professions. Firemen get to slide down a pole and drive through red lights. Policemen carry guns and shoot bad guys. Astronauts walk on the moon and float in space. We don't realize you can die doing these jobs.
The fire pole is suited for males. It is where we test our sliding skills, because we all know girls only date guys with skills. Actually, I don't know if I have ever seen a girl slide down a fire pole.
Jungle Gym: Hanging upside down while the change we got from our lunch money falls out of our pockets doesn't sound fun to a boy. The jungle gym is a place girls flock to. I don't understand why, but it is. They can hang by their legs for minutes on end. The only reason a boy goes to the jungle gym is to either test each others swinging or hanging ability or to be around a new school crush. Trust me, boys would rather be doing something else than hanging around the jungle gym (did you get that subtle joke). Girls can have their jungle gym.
See-saw: Girls will sometimes sit on the see-saw and gently rock up and down with their friend, but it is for the boy that the see-saw is made. We grab a friend and do one of two things.
1. We push off the ground as hard as possible so our friend will hit with a massive thud and hurt his butt, or
2. Find a way to get higher than the side in the air and jump on it with our friend standing on the lower side so his 70 pound frame will be hurled into the sky.
A boy is in mind when the see-saw is built.
Open Field: Fields aren't really part of the playground, but they are situated near every single one. Girls stay near a playground because the guys are too busy playing either football, soccer or kickball out on the field. We rush out to the grass, pick two captains, choose teams and then play ball. For thirty minutes nothing slows us down and one will only leave the field for three reasons: water, injury or fight. If one of these should occur, the game does not stop. Run and get some water and come back as soon as possible. If your hurt, hobble to the nurse and get it looked at. If two kids have a fight, unless it comes to blows, we don't care. Settle it off the field so we can run the next play. If you count the open field as part of the playground then it is placed for the boys.

Ending On A High Note

Today ends my run as a substitute teacher. While some days were wonderful and filled with experiences I will never forget, others were very commonplace and not worthy of recollection. My record for sending the most students to the office in one day at T. A. Howard will probably never be broken by any sub in my lifetime. I will also cherish the memory of a junior high break up going down during seventh period science. Junior high love is so heart shattering.
My closing assignment is for Melissa, Joanna's sister. She teaches kindergarten at Charlotte Anderson Elementary and I was not looking forward to enduring the six-year-olds for eight hours. However, my outlook changed once I walked in the door and saw their smiling little faces. I began to perk up a bit.
They are in P.E. using up some of their energy right now and I am thoroughly enjoying my break. In just a few hours my run as a substitute teacher will end and I will be moving on to bigger, brighter things. Who knew quiting a part-time job could be so sad? Wait, what am I talking about? I am going to be a journalist. Forget subbing.

The Preperation Continues

My journey of organizing my move to Ennis continued today when I passed through the town today on my way back from Fairfield State Park. After lunch Joanna and I decided to travel the Bluebonnet Trails before returning home from camping. Sandy, my editor, asked me to drive around and take notes of where things are. This is exactly what I planned to do.
I drove downtown to the visitors bureau where we grabbed a map of the roads to take to see the bluebonnets. I only got lost one time, but quickly found my way back again. The blossoms were colorful and in full bloom. I even learned a couple of county roads like 1181 and 660 while observing the state flower.
I plan on finalizing where I am going to live either tomorrow or Monday. I will keep you posted.

Countdown To Ennis

I will be updating my personal movements over the next few days to show what it takes to get prepared in moving to a new city for a job. Today was the first day of preparation.
It began with a drive down to Ennis. I went to a few apartment complexes. I found two I liked and am setting up a meeting to look at another next week. Between the two apartments I saw, I have a choice between a more expensive but nicer/newer two bedroom and a less expensive but roomier one bedroom. However, if I like the one I haven't seen I will probably take it because of size, price and location.
I then ate at a place called Wall Restaurant. It was a Chinese place and I didn't really like the General Chicken. Of course, I haven't liked any General Chicken meal since Nacogdoches. No one makes it like Peking. Ask for C13. Say my name. She knows me.
I bought a map of Ennis at the local Wal-mart so I could get myself around the city. It was quite helpful in finding one of the apartment complexes. I am going to like Ennis I think.
I will be camping this weekend, so the Ennis trips will have to continue on Monday. I will be touring the city a little next week and picking a place to live so I can move in next weekend. My goal is to be settled and rested by Saturday. We'll see if that happens.

Send This To Copy

I HAVE A JOB!!!
That's right folks. My interview was canceled because they are formally offering me the job as government/police reporter at the Ennis Daily News. I'm a reporter!

Keep Holding On That Headline Jimmy

I have been called back for a second interview. Can you believe it? I am so excited! My interview is Tuesday at 11:00. Hopefully I will give the right answer to any questions and make a good second impression.

When Stepping Stones Step Back

Last night James and I decided to take our poker playing abilities to another level. We were going to drive to Shreveport, sit down at a Texas Hold'em table and play $10-20. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but let me assure you it is. It's the next step to becoming a poker great.
Both James and I were not nervous, more anxious than anything. We understood that we had to play at a higher limit game to become a better player. However, I didn't know it was going to be a $680 lesson. I had the worst run of cards I have ever seen in my life.
You are probably thinking, "Oh, he is just exaggerating. It was probably bad play on his part." No, it was bad luck. I played good hands and only won about five hands total. Two of those were split pots and none of them were during my second session. I was even beat when holding the fourth best hand. Only pocket sixes, aces or jacks beat me. Oh wait, what do you know. He's got the jacks.
I will be returning to the $10-20 tables because I will not let this deter me. The only thing that deters me is that I have to ask my mom for some money now.

Poker Entry No. 8

April 2, 2005
Players: 23
Entry Fee: $25
Rebuys: N/A
Place: 4th
Winnings: $0

This story and lesson could be the worst I have ever had to put myself through. It is the most amazing call on my part, and I don't mean amazing in a good way.
The tournament was at Steed's. The blinds went slow enough and the stack was large enough to play with. It was set up quite well and I will definitely be returning for another game if it is kept the same way. My mistake was against Brian Simmons early in the tournament.
I was second in chips and had a good table image. This image was helped by Josh Bishop and Brian Simmons who have played with me before. They know I am a solid player who plays good cards or has some reason to be in the pot. The hand in question was as follows:
I was in a middle position with A-K offsuit. I knew someone was going to raise behind me (it was that kind of table) so I decided to call and re-raise when it came around again. Two more behind me called and then Brian raised from the small blind. He raised $200, with blinds being $20-40. A raise that made me think I could beat him if I hit my hand. The two in between Brian and me folded and I re-raised another $800. I was going for a large re-raise to either win the hand right there or create a large enough pot to give me pot odds for draws. The two behind me folded and Brian called after thinking for a few seconds.
The flop came 5-4-5 rainbow. Brian came out betting $500. I raised without hesitation. I made it $2,000 to go. He had to think about it for a few seconds but eventually called. The turn was a 6. There were two suited cards, but I wasn't worried about that at all. Brian checked quickly and I checked.
That was my first mistake in this hand. Brian had about $2,600 left and I had about $2,850. I should have gone all in on the turn. I knew he wasn't too proud of his hand. If I had gone all in on the turn I am almost positive he would have folded.
The river came with a Queen. Brian thought for a few seconds and then bet $1,000. I thought for about fifteen seconds going over the hand in my head. I asked how much he had left and he said $1,600. Would he go all in with his single pair hand. He didn't have a five, six or Queen. I couldn't see him having a four, even with the possible A-4 suited. Honestly I put him on pocket 3's. I'm not sure why that hand popped out in my mind.
I told myself either fold or go all in. Then my mind left me. It literally exited my head, went to the kitchen and grabbed a sandwich. That is the only explanation I can come up with because I didn't fold or raise. I called! Why did I call? I only have a pair of fives with A-K-Q kicker. He has to have that beat.
Come to find out he did. He flipped over pocket 2's and said, "You probably have me." I sadly had to reply, "No... no I don't." What in the name of all that is good and pure was I thinking?
Lesson: When holding Ace high, don't call. It is the worst possible move you can make.

Stop The Presses!

It only took one year, 10 months and 18 days, but I finally have an interview with a newspaper. I have been requested to be screened by the Ennis Daily News. The position open is a government/police reporter.
I am really excited and a little nervous. My interview is at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow. It should be a few hours but I will let you know as soon as possible how it went. I would like those who can remember to be praying for me tomorrow that I don't make a fool of myself or anything like that.

Pope Dies, I'm Lost

With the loss of Pope John Paul II an era has now passed. I myself have known no other man to be the pontiff in Vatican City. Many Catholics had started mourning since his ailing a few years ago. However, his health got very poor last week and a vast number feared the worst. The Holy Father sadly passed on Saturday after days of weak condition.
I am not Catholic, so I do not understand all of the sadness around this. I am not trying to sound hard-hearted, but I would like someone to explain to me what the fascination is with this man. Is he your Jesus Christ or what?
I know how they pick a pope, so I don't need that explained. Just give me an answer to this question. Who is the pope? Give a detailed description of who this man is to the Catholic people and what purpose he serves. Isn't he just the head of a church?
I would be sad if my pastor died, but I wouldn't go stand in the Bob Duncan Center and light candles and pray for hours straight. I would probably sit with my family and mourn the loss of my cousin. That is who our pastor is.
Again, I wish not to step on any toes. I like to think of myself as Fred Astaire if you know what I mean. I just want to get a handle on who this man is and why he was so revered. Was he like Gandhi or Buddha? Or is he just a leader of the church who did many good things for his one billion followers? Please, discuss.

Congratulations 1,000th Visitor

I hit 1,000. I am so happy. It has been a long road, but I'm glad you were there with me for it. Let's hope the next 1,000 can be just as fun.