Journeys

Posted on March 28, 2005 by Wanderer

Well, the physical part of my journey northward has begun. I’ve done enough mental travel down this road. Now it’s time for the actual trip.

I’ve said the goodbyes…the see-you-laters…the until-next-times.

And it still doesn’t make up for some of the relationships and friendships I’ve made with these people for the past six years. I realize that I’m making a better place for my family — but the friends that we’ve made.

But I go on. We always seem to do so, don’t we? And I’m always up for a good road trip!

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End of an Era

Posted on March 20, 2005 by Wanderer

It’s been an emotional weekend. Two days ago I finished my last day at my lab job. I know people aren’t supposed to like work — but I’ve always known that I’m weird. I enjoyed it. Not to say that it didn’t have it’s frustrating points, all jobs do, but it was worth it.

Today was my last day as Camp Director of Camp Seale Harris. I have been at CSH for over half of my life…as camper, as counselor-in-training, counselor, adventure director, and, finally, for the past three and a half years, as camp director. The camp, no matter its location, has been my home for 15 or 16 years.

I’ve come to realize that, because of diabetes, I have avoided being that just-under-30something-yearold nerd who plays D&D on the computer in his parents’ basement. I’ve grown into a (semi-)responsible person who has traveled across the country and world, and learned along the way, because of a disease that so many people treat as “the end of the world.”

Diabetes is a part of me. I have, through the grace of God, taken it and made it something that encourages my growth in life rather than hinder it. Because of it and His grace, I am able to provide an environment where my wife and soon-to-be-son will, along with myself, grow spiritually as well as professionally.

So I’ve ended an era in my life. It is scary, but taking the next step…beginning the next era…is one of the most exciting things I have ever done. And I won’t be alone. With God, Sarah, and Josiah, great things are just around the corner.

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The Countdown Continues

Posted on March 16, 2005 by Wanderer

I have two more days at my job after today. It’s still weird thinking that. I’ve been here four-and-a-half years, and although, to some, that is a relatively short amount of time, that ‘short’ time, for me, has contained some of the most rich and rewarding experiences I have ever had.

In another week-and-a-half I begin my travel to Charlton, MA. I’m taking three nights to get there. One night at my parents’ house, one night in Virginia (it’s the midway point), and one night in Newark, NJ to visit a good friend.

I’m looking forward to the road trip, and will be using my last couple of days in Birmingham making the perfect 10 CD-playlist for the CD changer in my car. I plan on setting it to the full 10-disc shuffle mode and seeing how long it takes me to go through every song on every disc.

But…enough about the ‘countdown’ for now. More to come later.

Posted in Rambling | Comments Off on The Countdown Continues

Northern Wanderings

Posted on March 4, 2005 by Wanderer

Well…it’s finally official (otherwise I would’ve posted it sooner).

We’re moving to Massachusetts. I’m taking over as Camp Director for a diabetes camp up there.

Yeah, I know…it’s just a little bit away from Alabama, but when it gives me the best of both worlds (camping and science) and lets my wife not have to work (unless she chooses to)…I’m all for it. It was a long decision, but by the end, it was an easy decision to make.

So…if my posts sound a little stressed in the coming weeks, then it just means I’m trying to hurry up the packing required. 🙂

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Not all who wander are lost…

Posted on February 22, 2005 by Wanderer

I’ve often considered myself a wanderer…not in the literal sense where I’m always moving from place to place. At least not physically, although it would be nice if I had enough money to do that.

The places I go, whether it is to camp in the summer, or even going to work…are wanderings. J.R.R. Tolkein wrote the quote that is the title of this post (and the only bumper sticker currently on my car). Sometimes I just have a “feeling” where I’m supposed to go. I may not know the details, but the general direction is clear.
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Progress

Posted on February 12, 2005 by Wanderer

It’s amazing what a change in location can do for a person.

About a month ago, I moved my laptop, wireless mouse, an extra keyboard, and an extra monitor upstairs to my old desk in the cat’s room (yes, it is technically the “extra bedroom,” but it belongs to the cat — believe me).

Since we only have one functioning television in the house (gasp!) I’ve been spending more time at the computer while Sarah is upstairs with me instead of downstairs, sometimes on the computer but usually watching tv. It’s amazing how my productivity on the stuff that I do (whether it is for camp or myself) has tripled. (Yes, I know…I’m amazed really easily.)

In the past month I’ve put not only my website back up, but managed to get a website almost redesigned for a camp organization (no real changes — just making it easier for them to edit without changing everything they don’t want to!).

And to top it all off…I’ve actually posted more than once per month. Wow. (I told you I was amazed really easily.)

Posted in Rambling | 1 Comment

Getting Kicked

Posted on February 7, 2005 by Wanderer

I never thought that getting kicked would be a good thing. Until last week.

When your unborn son kicks (in the middle of tickling his mother) and you feel it for the first time, it kind of makes you smile.

Yeah, I know…”kind of” is an understatement. I was ecstatic.

I’ve only felt a couple more since then (I always seem to have a calming effect on him…signs of things to come?) but I always remember that first one. Of course, it doesn’t hurt the memory process that Josiah was tickling Sarah for ten minutes after I felt that kick. 🙂

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Finally Finished

Posted on January 30, 2005 by Wanderer

Well, my home page is up. It’s simple and still lacking the function I want to put in it, but the frame is there. There’s nowhere to go but up!

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Progress

Posted on January 29, 2005 by Wanderer

It’s amazing what time and boredom can do to a guy at 10pm on a Friday night.

Sarah went to bed at 10pm after we watched Battlestar Galactica. I decided to watch a little bit of Stargate SG-1, and then got bored of it (although it was a good episode) and went upstairs to my notebook computer. A couple of weeks ago I put the notebook on the desk in our cat’s room (yes, it’s totally the cat’s room, not ours) along with a second monitor so I could accurately tell the proportions of images I wanted to put up on the web site.

Well, here it is 1:45am, and I’ve made a good start to the redesigned home page. Hopefully it’ll be up before the weekend is over, but in my opinion it should be up by Thursday at the latest.

Posted in Internet, Rambling | Comments Off on Progress

It’s been way too long

Posted on January 23, 2005 by Wanderer

I went to Oak Mountain this morning. I think it’s been at least two or three years since I went up there. Which means it’s been way too long since I went.

When I was in college (it’s hard to believe that it’s been four and a half years since I graduated) I used to go to Oak Mountain once a month — at the very minimum. My first two years I probably went once or twice a week. Going to a park or driving has always been my way of relaxing, and thinking about big issues.

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