Guardian Angel

God truly works in mysterious ways. Sometimes the most difficult times turn out to be blessings in disguise.

Last Autumn, I left my job as a teacher at Guardian Angel Regional Catholic School. My official story was that I left to find a more financially stable job that would allow my then pregnant wife to be a stay-at-home mom. While that's was definitely true, it wasn't the whole story.

Last July, the school got a new principal, Dan. Dan's job was to turn the school around and make it profitable, something the school had been struggling to due for a number of years. He had his own agenda, and this agenda completely changed the spirit and atmosphere of the school.

As for my role in this, he basically forced me out. When he came on, he was surprised to find that I was a full time, salaried staff member. Apparently, I wasn't on the budget for the school year. That, plus the fact I was not a licensed teacher, pretty much made me expendable in his eyes. He eliminated the computer classes I taught; He had me switch classrooms the same day as the school's open house; and generally assured my school year wouldn't be a pleasant one.

I left Guardian Angel with the hope that I could get a new job quickly. That didn't happen. Instead, my family and I had to endure 5 months of unemployment at a time what seemed the worst possible time - in the early stages of my wife's pregnancy. We got by due to various contract jobs and the generosity of our family and church.

Why do I bring this up now?

Goodbye Gaurdian Angel

I cannot fathom what I would be going through now had I stayed there this year. Limited monetary resources suck when you have a child on the way, but it would have been devastating had I lost my job now. Throw in the fact that my wife worked there to (she left due to medical reasons), and it's magnified that much more. I didn't know it at the time, but God was looking out for me then. My family is much better off now.

My heart goes out to the teachers (who are pretty much screwed since this happens a month before the school year starts) as well as the students and there families, who no doubt will find someplace else to learn, but it won't nearly be the same. Since I've left, I've run into many of my former students and their families. The things I heard that were happening to the school - teachers constantly fearing they'll get fired, students fighting and selling drugs, among other rumors - it would have killed me to see that place deteriorate so quickly firsthand.

Ironically - In Sunday's church bulletin, there was a blurb on how GARCS had raised $200,000 in funds this summer, and how they were even looking to hire a teacher.

R.I.P. Guardian Angel

Happy Birthday Andy!

A happy 27th to my brother Andy! 2007 seems to be a good year for him so far. He and his long time girlfriend recently moved into a new house, so hopefully it won't be too long before we get to see it. He also got his accounting degree and will soon start classes again to get his associates in personal finance. Happy birthday Bro!

Playoffs: Main St. Methodists 17, St. John's 6

This gamed sucked. Not because of the score, or because of how I or the team collectively played; this was one of those games that are unfortunately common in any sport or competition - one where a few overly competitive people completely took the fun out of it.

Amongst my teammates there is a father and his two sons. Good people, all of them, but sometimes they take the games way too seriously, and when they do, it can get ugly.

The father, rounding second when the ump called the play dead, was upset that the ump didn't allow him to continue to third. he started yelling and jawing with the ump, and it pretty much lasted the rest of the game. If you have a problem with the ump's decision, I have no problem if someone tells him so, provided the issue is dropped shortly thereafter. Didn't happen in this case. What's ironic is that the father, when he's not playing for our team, is an ump himself. While it means that he has complete knowledge of the rules and was probably right in his argument, he should have known better.

One son got injured during the game and was going to be replaced. He refused to come out, after we had informed the team of the switch. This caused some confusion that resulted in us batting out of order.

The other son is one of the cockiest people I can think of. He plays within the rules of the game, but he plays to win, even if that means not listening to his teammates or taking out a fielder to reach base safely. Today, he got a hit and made it to second. Rather than listen to the base coaches and hold there, he decides to take off for third, and ends up getting caught in a rundown. He ended up sliding/bowling into the first baseman, preventing him from fielding the ball cleanly and causing him to fall. Yeah, sure he was safe, but it wasn't worth potentially hurting someone. He also ended up swearing at the ump when a play didn't go his way.

It was embarrassing. I was ashamed to be on that team. This is a recreational softball league. There are no trophies, no prize money, no fame and fortune. If you can't play and have fun, win or lose, you shouldn't be playing. We were representing a church! We were playing another church! It was sad and it bugged me to no end.

So that's the end of of our season. We played well, but inconsistantly. I managed to end up with an average over .300, which was one of my goals for the year. (The other, to hit the ball out of the infield, didn't happen. What can I say, I'm a line drive hitter with no power.) The only thing left if the eventual end of the summer pool party. Although there is a kickball league starting up in the fall...

My Season Totals: 5-16 (.312 Ave.) 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

Benchwarmers: A Lot, St. John's: A Little

We played our last regular season game today, and lost once again to the dreaded Slaughter Rule. I had a horrible game striking out twice and having my only two fielding chances end up a fraction of what they could have been. The first, I just tipped a screamer down the first base line that almost took the glove right off my hand. I knew I could have gotten it. Granted, it was hit so hard I might have broken my hand, but still, so close. The other opportunity was a grounder that I fielded cleanly enough, but juggled on the transfer to my throwing hand, allowing the runners to reach safely.

We end our season in third place with a 4-12 record. Fortunately, everyone qualifies for the playoffs regardless of record, so we have at least one more game on Friday. If we win that, we get to play Sunday as well.

My Season: 4-14 (.286), 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

I Sound Like Who?

Meredith's sister Inez came over today, with her new boyfriend. During the course of the visit, the boyfriend, Brian, slapped his hands together and exclaimed "I know who you sound like! Dennis Miller! You sound just like him!" That was a new one to me. Neither my wife, her sister, nor I could hear it, but he was fairly certain I sounded like the former SNL cast member. If any friends out there reading this can verify this claim, I'd be curious to know. Do I sound like Dennis Miller? Who do I sound like?

The First Of Many

To quote Peter Griffin: "I've brought you the greatest gift of all. A child's laughter."

Today marked a monumental day in the life of a first time father. For the first time, I made my daughter laugh. Our neighbor had done it last weekend and I've been trying to get a laugh out her all week. I finally accomplished my goal today with a variation of Peek-A-Boo.

No matter what kind of mood I'm in or what kind of day I've had, a smile from Victoria instantly lifts my spirits. I wager her laugh will be equally addictive.

Free Methodist Church 16, St. John's 3

We played another "slaughter Rule" game today. Unfortunately we just couldn't keep it close. On a positive note, I finally got my first RBI of the season, driving in my sister-in-law with a single. I also fielded both chances I got cleanly, even getting a runner out trying to advance to third. We've got one more game to make-up on Monday, then the playoffs start next week Friday.

My Season: 4-12 (.333 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R, 1 RBI

St. John's 10, WWRC 7

Whew, was it ever hot today! It was easily high 80s/low 90s. Unfortunately, our opponents had a game in the sun right before facing us, so I definitely felt sorry for them. Their pitcher threw the ball very flat with some back-swing on it, so he struck out a bunch of us during the game (including me twice). We were able to get some good solid hits off him though.

Personally, this was my best game defensively. I made a fantastic stabbing catch of a line drive to the left of me. I also fielded everything cleanly, except for one ball that hit the third base bag. I need to work on transferring the ball from the glove to my throwing hand and getting the ball to the first baseman. Twice I fielded a grounder and didn't get rid of it in time. At the plate, in addition to the two K's, I did manage a base hit. Alas, I tried to reach second when the first baseman missed the catch, but I was too slow and thrown out at second.

My Season: 3-10 (.300 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R

Any Doubt She's My Daughter?

McClung 20, St. John's 0

To quote the great philosopher Shaggy: "Zoinks!" What more can I say? The hit the ball everywhere our fielders weren't, and we hit right to their players. I had what was probably my best defensive game, fielding 3 balls cleanly, although I did make a mental mistake by throwing to an empty base. I only got one at bat this time around, the last out of the game. From what I've been told, we've played this team 4 times already and lost every one. Here's hoping we rebound on Sunday!

My Season: 2-7 (.286 Ave), 5 BB, 5 R

Adventures In IT #3: Geniuses

In the past 2 weeks, I've had to deal with...

...A woman with a laptop that keeps crashing. After I fix what I can, she informs me that when it crashes, she can get it going again by dropping it a couple of inches onto a table.

...Another lady who had a CD stuck in her computer, and proceeded to completely mangle the drive with a screw driver. She could have saved herself roughly $70 had she just stuck a paper clip in the small hole on the CD Drive.

...A gentleman who brought in his computer because the sound didn't work. I hooked it up and tested it, it worked fine. He tries it at home, no sound. I figure his speakers are faulty, so he brings them in. I proceed to show the man the knob on the side that turns them on. Problem solved.

There's a techie term out there, PEBKAC. It stands for Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. It's people like these that keep me employed I guess.

Main St. Methodiths 8, St. John's 7

Although we lost, this was a fun game. Both teams came back from behind, with our opponents finally winning during the bottom of the last inning, after we had tied it the half-inning before.

I played third, and only had one potential play. I let a high pop-up drop that I should have caught. Fortunately, it was in foul territory, so no harm done. At the plate I went 1-2 with a single and a strikeout (looking too - ugh!) With this hit, my average is now officially over .300, so I feel like I'm actually doing well, even if I have yet to hit the ball out of the infield. All in all, a good, fun game.

My Season: 2-6 (.333 Average), 5 BB, 5 R