Half

This summer, I (along with Shawn "Minnesota Iron Mine" Dobbins, Sarah "Boss" Simmons, Erin "E-Tizzle" Teater, and Tom "Meeting Sleeper" Davies) signed up for the 2011 Houston Marathon. For the past two months, I've been slowly strengthening my legs and lungs.

Today marks the exact half-way point between when I officially started my training schedule and the morning of the marathon on January 30th. I realize that the more difficult and important half of training still awaits me, but I've been blessed with nine healthy weeks of painful, steady improvement.

Saturday morning also marked the latest in a series of "longest runs of my life" - namely the pleasant 13.1 miler that Sarah and I ran around White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX. A half marathon had always been a daunting goal for me, but I'm surprised by how quickly it became a reality with my eyes set on 26.2. So far, this training has convinced me that I can and will run half-marathons semi-regularly for as long as my body allows.

I'm also a couple quick weeks away from the half-way point of my second year of teaching. Life has certainly been more balanced and sane than last year, but at the same time the second year has come with a fresh new set of challenges, while the less glamorous parts of the job persist. I still love being in the classroom and helping my students realize their strength and brilliance, but I have certainly perfected the art of the occasional "chastisement" this year when students offer up immaturity and ignorance instead. Thanksgiving was a welcome break and I was even glad to get back to work today. I haven't seen my family for probably the longest stretch of my life, and I am very much looking forward to spending two long, luxurious weeks lounging around with them in the arctic north.

I started listening to Amy Grant's entire Christmas collection today and so should you.

A Good Mix

A quick, out-of-this-world conversation on the way back from lunch today:

Are we going to get the quizzes back today?

"Yeah, how do you think you did?"

Pretty good.

"Highest score in 8th grade."

Really?

"Yeah, good work."

It was all you. You're the teacher.

"That's nice, but I didn't have to study; I didn't have to write anything on the quiz."

Well - my work and your teaching...

"Yeah, it's a good mix."

Lost in Code

I believe most men live their lives longing for something more, but feeling unable to do anything about it - what Thoreau called "a quiet desperation." Adrift at work, adrift in relationships, basically just adrift. And it's not anything new; I'm sure it's been happening for hundreds of years. Day follows day, and then suddenly you wake up and think, "I wish I had worn my passions on my sleeve more often," or "I wish I had taken more chances," or "I wish I hadn't watered myself down as much." I wrote this song back when I sensed that I was becoming that man.

Lost in Code

Your compass spins around me,

Which way is North?

My magnets always interfere;

It's darting back and forth.

Safely tucked away and forgotten, lost in code we never really knew at all,

I won't say it and so you'll never know. Let silence break the fall.

Come little hand, come big hand

Like clockwork, slip slide

To twilight where memories fade

What a perfect place to hide...

Safely tucked away and forgotten, lost in code we never really knew at all,

I won't say it and so you'll never know. Let silence break the fall.

Dear New Teacher

Today after my Pre-AP students finished taking the 8th grade TAKS, I gave them the following optional assignment:

Teach For America is going to be training a new group of over 300 new teachers this summer! I am going to be a mentor to some of them over the summer so they can get used to Houston and get used to the life of a new teacher. I thought they would enjoy hearing from you guys!

Then I gave them the option of writing a letter to a new teacher or writing a list of things a new teacher should know (about teaching and/or living in Houston).

JS's letter

Dear New Teacher,

Today is your day. You have the courage to be a teacher. Get ready, because they are coming - you got to be ready. Mr./Mrs., you should make your classroom entertaining so kids won't be bored in your class. Don't get nervous, relax and don't stress out. Just be yourself. One of our teachers is fun and everybody likes him. You should interact with the students so they can give you pointers. Thank you for becoming a teacher.

Sincerely,

A friend

CO's list

1. I recommend the new teacher to not be bossy with students - Be nice to the students
2. Teach us things in fun ways so we can learn easily
3. Don't explain things with a big speech because it's boring.
4. Make us laugh because if not we'll sleep in class
5. We students in Pilgrim Academy ask a lot of questions and we don't like when teachers don't respond to them.
6. The new teacher should introduce herself with great detail. If not, we'll be bothering her all the time.
7. Don't get mad easily because we don't like that.
8. Don't give detention just because of a simple thing.

FS's letter

Dear New Teacher,

My name is F. Let's start with the most important thing to say: Hi! :) I have been a student for like my whole life and I have never met teachers like the ones I have now. They are Teach For America teachers and they are awesome. I learned soooo many new things from them. They always share stories about what happened to them over the weekend or tell us stories that they can relate to ours. I think students like when they relate to them and they are funny. I have been changed because of them. Back then, I didn't want to come to school, but now I want to come to school every day. I hope you have a fun time teaching students. I know it's hard and everything, but you just have to try and find a way into their hearts. Who knows - maybe you'll become one of their favorite teachers. I hope that helps. Well, good luck being a new teacher!!

P.S. Bye!

JL2's letter

Dear New Teacher,

Hello, my name is J. I'm happy that you decided to be a teacher. Trust me, its a lot of fun. You meet new students. Meet other teachers. Oh and that reminds me, I have a teacher that just came to our school. At first he had a little problem connecting with the students. But don't freak out. It happens. After a few days you'll be comfortable and really connecting with the students. You'll have a blast year after year with students.

And I want to thank you for becoming a teacher because you're helping us out a lot by teaching us instead of doing something else. I hope to get to see you one day. Bye. Take care.

Your Friend,

JL2

Less Than Zero - Video

As promised, here's a video of "Less Than Zero" minus the as-yet-to-be-rapped mid-section.

Less Than Zero

While grading papers with Chi in my room after school on Friday, a sixth grader was helping out. We listened to some Modern Antiques, and then some of my old music.

"Why don't you write some math songs and then play them for your class?"

So that's exactly why I'm still awake. I've written the first installment of what will probably end up being a total of one installment of math songs. This one is called "Less Than Zero" (not to be confused with Less Than Three) and is about negative numbers. We've already talked about integers this year, but I might still bring in the ol' six string and rock out when we've got a moment. Video pending...

Oh also, after the guitar solo there's a rap section that describes the rules of integer operations. So yes, I spent the last 3 hours sitting in the dark, quietly writing an integer rap (in other words, I need to seriously reevaluate my life). Jay-Z has yet to return my e-mail about participating.

Less Than Zero
When you've got nothing left, I'm gonna take some more
You might be out of money, but honey that's a debt I can't ignore
When you've got nothing left, I'm gonna take some more
And leave a negative number

Your helicopter soared a hundred stories high
The propellers stopped and you dropped a hundred stories from the sky
But you landed safely in the valley, deep and dry
Just like a negative number

Chorus
Down low, don't it feel like falling backwards?
The biggest negative can leave you feeling small
Less than zero, where's the hero, where's the laughter?
Where's the ground to break your fall?

Grab your jacket, girl, it's thirty-five degrees
And when the sun goes down, you're bound to feel the freezing winter breeze
It's dropping 40 more, and it'll bring you to your knees
You'll feel the negative number

Chorus
Down low, don't it feel like falling backwards?
The biggest negative can leave you feeling small
Less than zero, where's the hero, where's the laughter?
Where's the ground to break your fall?

Guitar Solo

If you're adding a negative, you could think of it as good old fashioned subtractin', baby
So adding seventeen and negative three - between you and me? its seventeen minus three
But what about subtraction? Relax, you're askin' a G-T question
Just add the opposite instead (yeah, keep change flip that)
So all of a sudden, a problem like two minus negative two, becomes as easy as two plus two, Welcome back to second graaade, fool
And dividing is easy too: just divide like normal, ignore those signs,
the little lines, they don't mean nothin', until you're done, then you better not forget none
Positive divided by a positive? (positive!)
Negative divided by a negative? (positive!)
Same Siiiiiigns? (positive!)
Same siiiigns? (positive!)
positive divided by a negative? (negative!)
Negative divided by a positive? (negative!)
Different siiiigns? (negative!)
Different siigns? (negative!)
I see you tryin, you multiplyin' the same signs,
A positive answer will await you on the other side, like when you divide
I'm saying negative five times negative five is twenty-five
I'll sing it one more time: negative five times five... (…...negative twenty five)

When you've got nothing left, I'm gonna take some more
You might be out of money, but honey that's a debt I can't ignore
When you've got nothing left, I'm gonna take some more
And leave a negative number
A negative number...
A negative number...

Declined: Part 1

Suddenly the chimney's warmth entered my consciousness. I slapped my alarm before it could further disturb my roommates. 7:00 in bright red LED. I shot a quick glance at the other three beds that hugged the Western wall of our remodeled attic, a hardwood barracks. Fro's big curly top swung around at me and then settled back to rest. Dunkin laid unmoved by my rustling. Adam's sheets were flung back revealing a freshly emptied nest. He must be off on an early morning run before work, I thought to myself as I climbed out of bed, crouched under the slanted ceiling, and made my way to the stairs.

I descended to the kitchen, thankful once again for the wood-burning stove we'd installed in the fall. I glanced out the kitchen window into an all-too-familiar Wisconsin scene. The morning sky hung dim and gray over the stale carpet of snow.

I emptied the dishwasher, poured some Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and absently enjoyed it at the dining room table. I grabbed one of my roommates daily Bibles and thumbed through it while the steady hum of Fro's fish tank accompanied my thoughts. "It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Hmmm. Figure out that little nugget, Saul.

"Good morning, today is February 2nd, 2010. There are no changes," Brieghton sang through my cell phone as I rinsed my bowl and headed up to the shower. Her daily prerecorded message always brought a little apprehension. My schedule for the week had me working with Jenny and Leda this morning and Nick this afternoon - a slam dunk of a day, if you ask me. But because of how quickly things can be shuffled around at a place like CSN, I could still end up anywhere. Hell, I could end up spending the day with Karl. The thought stopped me for a second.

I'd been at CSN for almost exactly a year. Was it really that long? I'd never imagined it as any more than a temporary gig, but then again... working as a "Job Coach" at all hadn't entered my mind until a week before I had started. I thought back to those first months when I was out with clients at job sites all day. Everything was new. Spending the day with adults with developmental disabilities. Studying and writing incident reports. Being "on" and "alert" for the whole day... Now I got the opportunity to work on technology projects for a couple shifts each week. I also got to regularly lead music therapy with Carson. Non-profits are exciting like that - share what you love and fit it in however you can.

The hot water shook me free. How long had I been standing in the shower? I pulled back the curtain and glanced at the clock: Time to go. Clothes. Lunch. Out the door.

My hands raced the Camry for warmth. Settling for a stalemate, I attempted to rub the numbness from my hands as my car sputtered down the alley. I had promised myself that last winter would be my final one in Wisconsin, and mornings like this laughed and pointed at me for failing to follow through.

And with that thought I wrestled for the remainder of the short drive. At once, I drifted back to early May. My life's surface looked basically the same then as it did now, but underneath the maelstrom had churned. It was one of those moments - one of those critical, defining, go-big-or-go-home moments - when life's road splits and you're left facing two mysterious futures staring back impatiently as if the choice should be clear to you.

I continued on Fish Hatchery over the Beltline. Almost to Luann Lane. Almost to work. While sitting on the Teach For America wait-list since January 20th, I had been building a nice in-the-meantime life in Madison. The funny thing was that by May 7th the meantime had begun to feel an awful lot like home. So when I received my acceptance letter from TFA that day, the internal conflict had come to a head.

"Houston. Generalist 4-8." Wait, I could be teaching Elementary School? In Houston? Not what I had pictured at all. I don't know anything about Houston. What if I have to teach science? My mind raced and my heart pounded - I remember like it was yesterday. The "fight or flight" juices boiled.

I vowed to make my choice over the weekend, because if I decided to accept, things needed to happen quickly if I was going to be in Houston four weeks later. I had driven up to Neenah to relax and spend some time with my parents while the decision fermented. And then I had received Palma's e-mail...

A pounding at my window tore me back to reality. My car sat idling in the parking lot - my mind had been swimming while my coworkers slowly arrived. Steph waved and laughed when she realized she'd startled me, and something about it made me laugh too.

First Year Teacher Survival Guide: Dropbox

On Thursday, I was grading some tests at school and entering the student data into the tracker (nerd alert) on my school desktop. I wasn't finished, but I had to drop off some forms at the Alternate Certification Office before my night class. After dropping off the forms, I stopped at a coffee shop and graded a few more. I opened up my netbook, entered some more data and then headed off to class. When I got home, I finished grading and then tracked some more data on the desktop in my room.

I didn't e-mail the tracker to myself. I don't have multiple, different copies of the file on all three computers. I didn't use a USB drive. I didn't have to log onto Google Docs. I didn't have to worry about entering the wrong data because I know it's automatically backed up. Sorcery? No, Dropbox.

Dropbox is a piece of software that allows you to share a folder across multiple computers. As a first year teacher, it has revolutionized my last couple weeks. I can work on assignments for my UST classes, lessons, share music from computer to computer, without a single wasted second spent transferring files and keeping track of which version is where.



Join today and we'll both receive some bonus space - booyah! (Kudos to Stolow for making me a believer)

A Decade of Favorites: Top 10 TV Episodes

I've spent a decent amount of time watching TV over the last 10 years. I started coming up with my 5 favorite episodes but instead stretched it to a top 10, one from each year. I tried to use discretion in spoiler situations, but read and view videos at your own risk.

10. Community - "Introduction to Film" (October 1, 2009)
It is extremely difficult for me to put an episode from the past few months in my top ten list of the decade. Community has yet to withstand the test of time, like the rest of my list has. But as far as new shows go, Community (along with Modern Family) contains my favorite kind of humor: funny. "Introduction to Film" features Abed, the quirkiest character on TV, making a zany film against the wishes of his strict father. Like the rest of my list will prove, my idea of a good episode features a delicate balance of humor and heart.

9. West Wing - "College Kids" (October 2, 2002)
I don't know if this episode is as enjoyable on a stand-alone basis as some of the others on my list. Part of it's magic is the way it continues the story of the two-hour premier of season four: Josh, Toby, and Donna finally back in D.C. after being left behind by the presidential motorcade in Iowa. In all honesty, there are probably better episodes of West Wing, but this one includes my all-time favorite musical moment in a television show (link above). At a Rock The Vote event, Aimee Mann performs James Taylor's powerful "Shed a Light" while Josh and Amy Gardner reunite with a conversation full of emotion, honesty, and good ol' unfortunate timing.

8. LOST! - "Greatest Hits" (May 16, 2007)
I don't want to say much about this episode because I know that my brother is still trying to get caught up on LOST. Then again, I'm not sure he reads this. Very heartfelt episode, with plenty of great flashbacks to satisfy any LOST fanatic.

7. Arrested Development - "Bringing Up Buster" (November 16, 2003)
Arrested Development started the documentary-style comedy, and in a way it was far too clever for it's own good - perpetuating inside jokes on top of inside jokes that ran from the first episode to the last, not even making faint sense to anyone besides absolute fanatics. In other words, people either watched AD religiously or not at all. "Bringing Up Buster" features some classic Buster moments, Tobias as the director of Maeby's play, the introduction of Steve Holt (Steve Holt!), and of course "The Cornballer." "I've made a huge mistake."

6. How I Met Your Mother - "Drumroll, Please" (January 23, 2006)
Probably the girliest episode on my list, but so be it. "Drumroll, Please" consists of Ted recounting the events of a wedding where he met a mystery dream-girl. As he slowly unravels the mystery of her identity, we realize that Robin's got the hots for him. Oooo! It also includes your standard classic Barney clip.

5. Scrubs - "My Screw Up" (February 24, 2004)
Nominated for 2004 Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
( watch part 1 / part 2 )
It's sometimes amazing what television shows can do in twenty minutes. Scrubs is slapstick and hyperbolic, but it's also got a lot of heart. This episode features Brandon Fraser, who appeared in a couple earlier episodes. Every episode of Scrubs contains priceless moments, but "My Screw Up" stands out in my mind (along with "My Last Chance") far above the rest. It provides a very unique look into Dr. Cox's psyche.

4. The Office - "The Dundies" (September 20, 2005)
The first episode of the second season of the office contains some of the most beloved moments of the series: drunk Pam falling off a stool, emcee Dwight, the Spicy Curry award, "That was a FUN-raiser, I think I made that very clear in the fliers", drunk Pam kissing Jim, and of course Ping. Michael (Steve Carrell) is at his best, but unlike in the short first season, viewers are finally given the opportunity to feel anything but annoyance toward him. Now that the Office is in it's 7th (!!) season - some better than others - watching the early stages of Jim and Pam is priceless.

3. Freaks and Geeks - "Discos and Dragons" (July 8, 2000)
"Discos and Dragons" is the final episode of the greatest single-season show of all time. After falling in love with the characters all season, we continue to see their fluid high school identities change, as Daniel Desario (James Franco) hangs out with the A/V Club. I didn't realize it, but my top-ten includes two different Jason Segal shows. Another classic clip: The truth about jocks.

2. LOST! - "The Constant" (February 28, 2008)
Time Magazine Best TV Episode of 2008 - more reaction...
(watch the first three minutes)
"The Constant" is the best episode of LOST but it also works well as a stand-alone forty minute film. Again, I would hate to spoil anything for anyone, but this episode has it all: love, action, mystery, and even a little time-displacement. This episode is the fifth episode of the fourth season; not even a premier or finale.

1. West Wing - "Two Cathedrals" (May 16, 2001)
2001 Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series - more awards...
I've said it a hundred times, but the first four seasons of West Wing contain the best television writing and acting out there. This episode is simply the best hour of television you will ever see (James Lipton agrees with me), whether you watch any more West Wing or not. Death, strong internal religious conflict, flashbacks to a young President Bartlett in boarding school grappling with his own developing greatness, scandal, shouting at God in Latin, Dire Straits, rain, and a unique cliffhanger that lets the audience in on it's resolution while the other characters anxiously await.

Honorable Mention:

• 30 Rock - "MILF Island" (April 10, 2008)
• Arrested Development - "Top Banana" (November 9, 2003)
  
• Freaks and Geeks - "Carded and Discarded" (January 10, 2000)
• Freaks and Geeks - "Smooching and Mooching" (July 8, 2000)
• Californication - "Blues from Laurel Canyon" (December 7, 2008)
  
• The Office - "Office Olympics" (October 4, 2005)
• Scrubs - "My Last Chance" (October 26, 2004)
  
• West Wing - "Bartlett for America" (December 12, 2001)
• How I Met Your Mother - "Slap Bet" (November 20, 2006)

Also receiving votes:

• LOST! - "The 23rd Psalm" (January 11, 2006)
• 30 Rock - "Rosemary's Baby" (October 25, 2007) - funniest clip on this page
  
• Community - "Introduction to Statistics" (October 29, 2009)
• Californication - "California Son" (October 1, 2007)
  
• Arrested Development - "Mr. F" (November 7, 2005)
• How I Met Your Mother - "Swarley" (November 6, 2006)
  
• How I Met Your Mother - "Okay, Awesome" (October 17, 2005)
• How I Met Your Mother - "The Pineapple Incident" (November 28, 2005)
  
• How I Met Your Mother - "Slutty Pumpkin" (October 24, 2005)
  
• The Office - "The Alliance" (April 12, 2005)
• The Office - "Conflict Resolution" (May 4, 2006)
  
• The Wire - "Final Grades" (December 10, 2006)
  
• West Wing - "20 Hours in America" (September 25, 2002)
• West Wing - "Noel" (December 20, 2000)

To: Future Me

Yesterday, I had all of my students write letters to themselves that I'll return to them on their first day of 8th grade. Every day my students amaze me with their self-awareness. Here's one of the letters:

My Goals, My Life

I am not doing so well in math and I know I can do way better than what I'm doing now. It is a new year and a new DECADE! I am going to try harder and do my best! Learning math is a very great, important and fun thing to do and achieve! To me, math is...... Everything!!!! People needed to know about math and measurement to build homes and even our schools!!

My first goal for this year is to get at least three or four hundreds on my quizzes or tests. My second goal is to STAY FOCUSED!!! I sometimes tend to doze off or daydream a lot and sometimes I don't even know what we're talking about! I feel bad that I do that. I just can't help it! I will try not to do it anymore. I promise! :) My third goal is to do all of my Do Nows and homework neatly and show ALL of my work and also try to do it as correctly as possible.

I love art!!!! It takes me to somewhere else. It takes me to this beautiful place in my imagination. I can explain and express my thoughts and feelings. I also like to TALK about religion and the government. It lets me state my opinions in the world. I can't wait to get to high school so we can have debates in class! I know exactly what I have to say! Good bye and good day!

A Decade of Favorites: Top 5 Vacations

In the past 10 years, I've had the opportunity to go on some great trips with family and friends. Here are my top 5 vacations from the "zeros"

5. Mountaineering with the Hahns (Tennessee; Spring 2002?)

One constant theme through the decade was vacationing with the Hahns, close family friends. The trip to Tennessee was the first time we rented a big house and spent a week somewhere. It wasn't our most glamorous or exotic trip, but we stayed in a house overlooking the mountains. Nick and I laid around and played pool, watched a lot of movies, and played a lot of Tony Hawk on Playstation. It might sound lame, but it was probably the most relaxing week of my life. We also spent a day at Dollywood, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.

4. The Camanns do New York (Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; August 2004)

In true Camann fashion, we loaded up the van and headed out east. We saw Niagra Falls, had Buffalo Wings at the restaurant where they were first served, and stayed in the Hamptons. Once in NYC, we saw Central Park, Ground Zero, Time's Square, Al Roker, The Late Show with David Letterman... We saw the Brewers come back at Shea against the Mets, and then stopped in Philadelphia on the way home to see the Brewers win in extras at Citizen's Bank against the Phillies.

3. KC Marathon #1 (La Crosse, WI; Kansas City, MO/KS; October 2007)

During my first year in the "real world," Shawn decided to run the Kansas City Marathon and I decided to join him for the drive down. I stopped first in La Crosse for a reunion of sorts. Then Shawn and I made the drive with malfunctioning windshield wipers. We got to spend the long weekend with Whitney "Dirrrty" Stach and her sister, visit Arrowhead Shawn run very well and great fun was had by all.

2. Brewers Spring Training (Phoneix, AZ; March 2006)

Does it really get any better than this? As a fresh 21-year-old, I embarked on my first non-family Spring Break to the welcome heat of Arizona to watch baseball for a week. Awesome. We saw 5 games, got numerous autographs, shared a drink with ex-Brewers-announcer Daron Sutton, spent a day in Tuscon, and celebrated St. Patrick's day. Go Crew!

1. ESCAPE (New Zealand, Austrailia, Fiji; January 2007)

Of course there could be no other at number 1. This trip marks the only non-Canada time I've been out of the US. During my senior year at UW-La Crosse, Palma and I joined 16 strangers (well, not for long) on a month-long adventure through New Zealand and Australia, followed by a week on a remote island in Fiji. Awesome. We sky dived, white-water rafted, black-water rafted, swam with dolphins, jumped in a glacier lake, played some rugby, surfed, hiked, did the second highest bungee jump in the world. It was an experience that is unmatchable.

Also receiving votes:

The Camanns do Colorado, the Tour of Capitals (January 2003)

Visiting Palma in New York when he was interning with the NFL (NYC, Summer 2006)

Family Vacation to Kiawah Island with the Hahns (Spring 2003?)

Family Vacation to Tiabee Island with the Hahns (Spring 2004?)

Thanksgiving Road Trip with Jeff and Jake (New Orleans, Memphis, November 2009)

CAM Spring Break Service Trip (New Orleans, Spring 2009)

Wake Boarding with KP (Siloam Springs, AK, Summer 2006)

2024 Reunion at Shawn's Graduation in La Crosse (La Crosse, December 2007)

No votes:

Vomiting on the Sleeping Bear Dunes (The perimeter of Lake Michigan, this decade sometime)

A Decade of Favorites

In 2000, I was a sophomore in High School. I weighed a cool 145, soaking wet. SimCity was my drug. I was unable to drive, I loved math and choir, I was socially awkward, and I worked as a paperboy. It would be two years until Tyler and I came to the realization that we enjoyed writing music together. Another two years before I owned and operated a cell phone. Two more before I was eligible to create a facebook account. Two years after that I had my very own 401(k).

And now, here we are. I can drive. Math and music still make their daily appearances. Social awkwardness is relative, I suppose, but I'd like to think I've made at least some progress in that department. Tyler and I have released 4 or 5 albums under 4 or 5 different monikers. I've received a few different pieces of paper that represent 4-year-chunks of my life. The 401(k) has been ravaged. Jobs gained and discarded. Frisbee and Softball games won and lost. Relationships have blossomed and fizzled out. I bought big TVs and sold them. I lived with my family, with strangers, with best friends, and even all by myself. I've changed classes, majors, musical-tastes, dorms, cities, states, hair-styles, careers. I'm nearly twice as old, and I've got the belly to show it.

I honestly couldn't be more excited about what the next decade has in store. By 2019 I will hopefully have started a young family. Wherever I am, and whatever I'm doing, I know it will be informed and inspired by the relationships and experiences I've had in the past decade, especially in the last few years. For the foreseeable future that means teaching in Houston, something I've fallen quickly in love with. But I can't say yet where life will take me after that.

In the coming weeks, I'll reveal some of my favorites of the past decade. Since I'm not very good at nailing down a top ten given a broad topic (I've often commented that a movie is somewhere within "my top 100" or "top 250"), I'll instead focus on Top 5 lists in specific categories:

• Favorite Vacations of the Decade
• Favorite Albums of the Decade
  
• Favorite Movies of the Decade (Comedy, Drama, Action)
  
• Favorite Jobs of the Decade
• Favorite Parties of the Decade
• Favorite Intramural/Rec League Sports Teams of the Decade
• Favorite Guilty Pleasures of the Decade
• Favorite Nicknames of the Decade

Look out, oh readers few. It's list time.