DUUUUUUUCK...

My Granny's maiden name is Robertson - no relation to the infamous Duck Dynasty clan. Speaking of which, Phil ain't doin' so hot right now. But, I can't totally blame Phil for his ignorant, racist, homophobic, or more thoroughly, xenophobic rant to GQ. He's a product of his environment. He was literally raised in a swamp. His young life epitomized the redneck culture of the South. (This includes his "salvation" experience.) And, with no repose from this environment for his 67 years, Phil can't be expected to hold any other opinions than he expressed to GQ.

But.

 Let's review this from another angle. "Alex" my fictional example, is gay. Apparently, he/she grew up in an environment of abuse and neglect of some sort. Over time, this abuse and neglect led him/her to so miss the guidance of someone of the same sex that he/she developed an uncontrollable mental and physical attraction to the same sex. Their desire may be offensive, but we can't judge. They are simple a product of their environment.

Phil vs. Leslie...

Rednecks...

With very different

outcomes

I digress...

Mending Fences and Building Bridges

Despite tight finances and a worrisome, but controlled, sickness in the family, life is pretty good right now. My partner and I are newlyweds. We've been fortunate enough to not only dream about plans. We are able to see some coming to fruition. Hank finishes his degree next month. I am finally, seriously writing a book. Together, we bought a vehicle large enough for "family" vacations with the dogs, and we each see the future with a bit more peace of mind, if not growing sense of adventure.

On a more individual level, I spent much time in reflection over the past couple of months. Reflecting on my relationships, personal and professional. Reflecting on what I consider to be the most important things and more importantly how to give those things their priority.  In short, I've been exploring my life philosophies. And, in the end, I'm pleased with most of what's been explored.

In "shaking the fences," I found some areas that need my attention; these areas are not so much in disrepair as needing some shoring up. And to borrow an old, religious term: I want to name it and claim it, instead of faking it until I make it.

NANOWRIMO

After so many months of not making Utmost my "utmost," one might think this post full of inspirational and/or life influencing statements. Ummm... it's not. For one, I've knocked out about half a bottle of Jim Beam Maple, and it's 1:00 AM after a pretty full day at work. For two, and the purpose of this post, I wrote a little over 1,400 words on the first day of National Novel Writers Month toward my first novel.

Granted, I've been manipulating ideas about my first novel since 5th grade. Regardless, I can never put together more than an essays worth of declarations that I find publishable. Maybe, this time, I've broken through the barriers limiting my success.

One can only hope... And, in true professional educator's style: publish or die!

Un-Catholic School

Irony, while often amusing, may sometimes lend itself to tense or disquieting situations. For a handful of my fellow teachers and I, this school year offers us all three elements. Despite being a public-charter school, we find ourselves occupying a portion of a defunct Catholic school in an active, Catholic church.

In theory, this situation should not be overly uncomfortable. Catholics in the urban, Midwestern United States tend to be a bit more progressive. Most posses a strong concern for social justice and community improvement. And, given the dwindling numbers of parishoners, they are eager to formulate non-traditional partnerships.

Such would appear to be the case with my school and our new, Catholic landlords. They signed a lease with our organization with the full understanding that we would, in theory and practice, operate as a public school. Any leftover religious icons, artifacts, statements, et cetera would need to be removed from our operational areas, and the church itself could not run any form of "mission" within our school.

Yet, right now, our portion of the building remains uninhabitable due to code issues. This led to our use of "donated" space in other areas. While few parishoners have been outright rude (some have), the tension has been obvious on both sides.

Marine Fit - The Start

Every now and then, we all lose a bit of focus on our health. It could be our emotional health, fiscal health, physical health, or some combination of such that challenges us. Personally, the last few months proved very trying in all areas. Having to deal with a volatile year ending in a forced resignation from my old school and delays in starting my new job led to numerous problems. I drank too much. I slept too little. I neglected nutrition and exercise. As I tapped into savings and student loans to make ends meet, very little mattered other than not driving myself insane.

My new job began a couple of weeks ago, and I've begun to regain some semblance of fiscal and emotional balance. However, my health is another story. 

A year and a half ago, at age 29, I weighed 157 pounds with a 31.5" waist (I'm 5'10"), and I easily conquered a half-marathon on my way to training for a full marathon.

Running in a full marathon never materialized. The downward spiral started, and I found little motivation to stop the slide. I can't run three miles without my lungs screaming for relief, and my gym time is laughable. 

Luckily, with my new job has come a new awareness of my whole self. Thus, now is the time to get back to being "Marine Fit."

Why "God" Isn't Christian

Funny, a little standardized testing will decimate a teacher's ability to write meaningful blogs. Finally, I find a moment to share about my recent conversion to Secular Humanism in some greater detail. The title of this post may seem to lack the elements of my current belief, but this if for good reason. So many of my friends and readers are considered "faithful" that I need address my change in beliefs much in the same manner as one would cook the proverbial frog - slowly heating the water with the frog in place not dropping it into a roiling vat. 

God or mythological being? Depends on when you lived.

Versed vs. Unversed

When I decide to read a non-fiction work on a certain subject, I always look at the author's biographical information. Overall, I could care less about the small blurbs about their personal lives. No, when researching a particular subject and seeking literature on the matter, I care about pedigree. Where did they go to school? What did they study? What authority do they have to speak on the matter-at-hand? All these questions become vitally important, as I don't wish to waste my time or be misinformed or worse, misled. (For example, if I desire knowledge about the role of the United States in international relations, I am much more likely to consult Colin Powell as Ann Coulter.)

"Manly" Men and Girlfriends

Ever heard of Nick Kasa? Before yesterday, I had no clue who he was. If you weren't an avid Colorado football fan or fanatical NFL Scouting Combine-watcher, you probably didn't either. This is him:

During Q&A time at the combine, Kasa was asked such questions as: "Do you have a girlfriend? Are you married? Do you like girls?