Michael Landon Hatfield

Life is a journey...

2010-12-01T07:02:00.002-05:00

Life is a journey and, in most cases, we decide where we want to go. Just like any other journey, we need to have a destination in mind before we pack up the car or pull out the walking stick, otherwise we just end up wandering around feeling lost. Once we have a destination in mind, then we have to plan out our journey and how we want to get there. Sometimes the journey from one point to another is easy. Other times it is arduous and makes us question ourselves before we can complete the journey.

Each person's journey is different and each person sees his or her journey in a different way (and others may not perceive your journey as you do). For example, some people are perfectly happy where they are. Others know exactly what they want and focus on getting to the end without worrying about the journey itself. Some raise their sails and let God (or the wind) guide them. Some run from place to place and never figure out where they want to be. Some only dream of moving on but never do.

I picture my journey through life as a trip across a vast map. I pick the next place I want to be and then I figure out how I want to get there. Do I drive? Walk? Take the scenic route or run at an all out sprint? Do I carry my old baggage with me or start anew? Most of the time it depends on where I start from and where I am going, who is going with me, and what sacrifices I have to make along the way (some are known before the journey starts and others pop up unexpectedly along the way). During this journey there may be a point where I change my mind about the destination or I realize that I was not fully prepared to reach the destination and I have to make changes. Do I make mistakes? Of course, we all do. That's normal. That's life.

The problem is that some people are afraid to move to the next stop in their journey. I know I have been at times. Sometimes it is not the destination nor the fear of actually making the journey, but the sacrifices that keeps us from take the chance. Sometimes it is the fear of the unknown that holds us back. Sometimes, unfortunately, the doubts of others can hold you back.

Regardless of where we start and end our journeys, there WILL be a start AND an end. We have been giving the opportunity, in most cases, to decide for ourselves where we end. The only thing in life that really scares me is getting to the end of my journey and looking around realizing I could have reached my goals but didn't.

Things I've learn while riding...

2010-09-08T14:02:00.000-04:00

1 – The paint on the painted lines and crosswalks on the road is thick enough to be felt. And it gets slick if it's wet.

2 – Road kill does not smell nearly as bad as it looks. I have no idea how it tastes.

3 – Seeing pets that have been hit it the road is sad.

4 – For every hill you get to coast down, there always seems to be an evil twin that you have to climb.

5 – Learning your gears will make climbing those hills much easier and your legs will thank you. (note – if your legs or any other body part speaks to you during a ride, pull over and call a cab because you have obviously ridden too far.)

6 – Check your bike before and after each ride for any mechanical issues.

7 – Carry a spare tube and know how to change it. Having to call home for a ride is embarrassing.

8 – Most dogs will only bark at you as you ride by their yards. As long as you don't make faces at them, they probably won't bother you.

9 – For that one mean dog you will eventually ride past, a good squirt of water from one of your bottles seems to work well and is safe for the dog.

10 – Always have plenty of water. Better to have a bottle that does not get used than to run out. This is a lesson learned the hard way. Being dehydrated is no fun.

11 – Don't ride too close to the white line on the edge of the road. Cars will try to pass without moving over and the road edge is usually the roughest part.

12 – Don't ride too close to the center line. You will get cursed at by little old ladies who are late for church services. (The has actually happened to me.)

13 – If your toes keep going to sleep then your shoes might be to tight.

14 – Always take a day or two each week to rest. The body needs to rebuild muscle after working out.

15 – Always use a rear view mirror. Not only can you see cars coming up from behind but you can usually see if they are going to wait for a good time to pass or if they are going to zoom right by.

16 – Find a good local bike shop and get to know the people who work there. Ask LOTS of questions and listen to them when they give you advice. They tend to know what they are doing.

17 – Get a bike fitting. No amount of money or cool equipment will make a bad fit into a fun ride.

18 – Find buddies to ride with. It is much more fun than riding alone.

19 – Ride in organized rides. There is usually one somewhere nearby every weekend during the summer. You'll meet new riders and the money raised goes to a good cause.

20 – Some rides are for fun and some rides are for training. If it's a training ride, then ride hard and push yourself past your comfort zone. If it is a fun ride then have fun.

21 – You will, at some time or another, swallow a bug. The smaller they are the less yucky they taste.

22 – Pretty clothes and fancy gadgets will not make you faster.

23 – Most of the drivers on the roads are polite and respectful of cyclists, but there will always be the few who pass too close, pull out in front of you, or honk their horns. Just be ready.

24 – Headwinds are like campfire smoke. Regardless of the direction you are riding in, it seems to always blow right in your face.

25 – Always wash out your water bottles after each ride. Water should not be green and chunky.

26 – If it is not a timed event then you do not need to worry about where you finish.

27 – There are miles and miles of back roads in Randolph County that are great for cycling.

28 – EVERY road in Randolph County has at least one hill on it. Some are worse than others.

29 – Use sunscreen. Unless you enjoy looking like a backwards raccoon with tan arms and non-tan hands.

30 – I still have much, much more to learn...

Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.

Tour de Furniture

2010-08-07T13:58:00.003-04:00

The weather for the ride this morning was absolutely perfect as we lined up at the mall to begin. I have no idea what the exact number of riders participating in the Tour de Furniture turned out to be but I would guess there were at least several hundred. They divided us up into four groups (100K, 50 mile, 50K, and 10 mile riders) and had a staggered start to allow the 100K riders to leave before the rest of us. When the 50 milers (my group) left I tried to stay with the main group. My goal was to simply finish but I wanted to best my previous time by at least 15 minutes. I do not consider myself a competitive person, but I could not help trying hard to stay near the middle of the group.

Once we left the mall parking lot and started up Johnson Street, I started looking for someone in the group who seemed to be in about the same physical shape as I was. I figured if I did that, and stuck with them, I might fair better. So, using this strategy, I picked out the old gentleman I saw hobbling across the parking lot during check-in. He looked to be about 95 years old. I set myself to the task of staying right on his rear wheel. This worked well for the first ten miles. Then, ever so slowly, I started slipping towards the back of the main pack. Before I knew it the main group, and my 95 year old lead man, were slipping away. I never did see that guy again after that.

As rider after rider began to fall off the back of the group, I ended up riding in a long string of about 20 riders. I would pass a few going down the hills (thanks to gravity and an extra few pounds) but they always passed me back before we crested the always accompanying climb on the other side. Each time it seemed like I would slip back another spot or two in the line of riders. Soon we reached the first rest-stop. A sight for sore... well anyway they had cold water. I refilled my water bottle with cold water and took about 5 minutes to catch my breath. Most of the 50 milers stopped in here and the rest-stop was pretty crowded. I decided not to doddle and used this as a chance to get ahead of some of the riders who had passed me earlier during the ride. Big mistake...

The route was fairly well marked (thanks to the local Boy Scouts) but the arrows were very small, about 3-4 inches long, so you really had to pay attention to keep from missing one. Not missing a turn while riding with the group was easy, you simply turned where they turned. Riding this ride alone was more akin to a scavenger hunt and, of course, I missed a turn. I only went about a tenth of a mile out of the way because luckily I remembered seeing the name of the road we were to turn on and stopped to checked my cue sheet to make sure. Anyway, once back on track, I forged onward.

As the morning wore on, the Sun stayed out and the temp stayed in the lower 80's. Very nice. To bad the head-winds didn't stay away. I never thought the wind would make that much difference, but riding head long into it will drain your energy worse than most hills. By this time the group was fairly well spread out. I could see a few in the distance ahead and a few more in the distance in my rear-view mirror. We were about 40 miles in and I was making decent time (avg about 16 mph so far). Then the clicking started...

I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just my over active imagination and fatigue but it kept getting louder. I found a nice place to stop (the church at the intersection of Bunker Hill road and Hwy 66) and pulled over about mile 42. I didn't see it at first but while sitting on the cobble stone wall finishing the last of my plain water, I saw the spoke sticking out. I tried to reinstall it but the little cap had fallen into the interior of the wheel and I couldn't get to it. 42 miles, 8 to go.

Within minutes a ride volunteer stopped and asked if I needed help. He called a SAG wagon and I waited for them to come get me. They offered to take me the last few miles to the finish so we loaded up the bike and headed back towards the mall, stopping at the intersections along the way to deliver cold water to the policemen working traffic for the ride. After arriving at the mall and unloading everything, I got my free Subway sub and enjoyed the ending of another great event. I am not disappointed that I did not finish the full distance. I had reach my goal of 50 miles a few weeks ago during the Operation Red Sleigh ride and I had a great time today.

Life is not a race. Enjoy the ride.

Time to get serious...

2010-08-01T15:34:00.003-04:00

There are 8 weeks until I start my week long "Mountains to Coast" cycling adventure across the wonderful state of North Carolina and with summer classes coming to an end, the time to start getting everything ready has come. There are reservations to make, camping equipment to purchase, supplies to gather, and training plans to follow to make sure that I not only complete this epic adventure, but enjoy it as well. I have put off doing most of this until now so that I could concentrate on school and work and so that I could research equipment, supply lists, and just ride. We are still raising money in memory of Jimmy Meris. You can find more information and make donations here. Between this site and sign-up sheets at work, we have raised about $300 so far.

I have compiled a 8 week training plan from the materials available online at Cyclo-CLUB and plan to drop at least another 25 pounds before the ride. I am not interested to how fast I ride from town to town, but I certainly need to work on my climbing ability or I will not even make it out of Asheville, so a big part of my training will be working on hills. I guess I should know Caraway mountain fairly well by the end of the summer. :-)

As for the schedule of the ride, the first day, Sept 25th, we will spend enjoying the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and spend the night camped on the estate grounds. Then, on Sunday, we start riding towards the coast, covering from 40 miles to as much as 80-85 miles on the longer days. After leaving Asheville and tackling the mountains, we will spend the next night in Marion. From Marion we go to Hickory and leave the larger climbs behind, settling into the foothills. After Hickory, we stay in Mooresville, Albemarle, Laurinburg, and lastly Whiteville. Finally, on Saturday Oct 2nd, we will arrive at Ocean Isle Beach for the end of the ride. The organizers of this ride and the towns themselves have worked had to make sure that it is a safe and fun event. Depending on the town, we will be staying at YMCAs, high school gyms, college campuses, or even rec centers. There are also options for hotels every night but that takes away from the adventure.

The plan is for Joy to drive me to Asheville and spend the day with me touring Biltmore Estate and the surrounding area. Then she will return home for the week and then meet me the following weekend in Ocean Isle. We have not spent that much time apart in a very long time. I think that might just be the hardest part of this trip.

What am I expecting? I am certain I will see the state in a new light and I plan to use this time alone on the bike to learn more about myself and the time in camp to make new friends. I expect at times to be exhausted. I expect at times to be elated. I expect in the end to be changed.

James Richard (Jimmy) Meris

2010-07-18T13:56:00.001-04:00

Jimmy Meris of Trinity NC ended his battle with Leukemia on July 17, 2010 at Baptist Hospital with his family by his side. He was born August 28, 1961 in Guilford County to Frank (Tuberose) and Frances Meris both of whom preceded him in death as did a brother Ronnie Lee. His remaining surviving brothers include Ray Meris and girlfriend Ruth Inman, William (Butch) Meris and wife Becky, Rickey Meris and wife Sherry, and Frankie Meris. Also, a sister Barbara Royal and husband Darrel remain.

In 1984, he married Wendy Boles and gained another family. In 1989, he welcomed his only child into the world, Brittany Lauren Meris. Lauren was the light of his life and he was so proud of her. Also surviving are Cindy Beeson and husband Jimmy, Luann Hubbard and husband Kenny and Karen Gillitzer whom he called his "Ice Lady" because in the last days that is what he could eat. Also surviving in both families are a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, aunts and cousins. Lastly, he leaves behind his beloved "little girl" Tinkerbell. He was never sure whether she thought that she was a human or he was a big dog, either way she is mourning his loss.

Jimmy enjoyed people,rarely meeting a stranger. Some he asked to be mentioned were friend and brother Kenny Hubbard, who took him hunting, Don and Lydia Bulla and their daughters, who kept his spirits high especially during his multiple hospitalizations, Danny Pope, he loved the guy time at the tire shop, Chris, Lynn, Lib, Ronald, and Deanna Kennedy along with Ray Bunn who took care of the home place while we were away.

While in the hospital in Nov,2009, Jimmy had cardiac arrest and was revived and it changed his life. He was able to share his story with so many people. Jimmy had faith in God as a little child and numerous times through his journey, he was comforted by angels. Jimmy was not afraid of dying, the mystery had been taken away. He knew where he would go. Jimmy loved God and thanked Him for all HE had done. Instead of being comforted about his departure, he was the one doing the comforting of others.

He wanted to thank Dr Lenny Peters and Amanda Taylor along with the staff of Bethany Medical Center and Peters Medical Research for the support that was given to him and his family during this journey. Also, thank you to "his girls" the nursing staff of 9 North at Baptist hospital. They treated him like family and we appreciate so much their love and kindness. Lastly, Dr Tim Pardee and Dr Leslie Ellis for doing battle against the beast called Leukemia. Your efforts will never be forgotten.

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling," 2 Corinthians 5:1-2

Jimmy's life and faith will be celebrated on Monday night at Davis Funeral from 6-8pm and his body will be laid to rest at Floral Garden on Tuesday at 11:00 am

Pennies for Jimmy (bike ride)...

2010-07-18T10:47:00.002-04:00

When I joined FaceBook originally it was to more easily stay in contact with Landon, Miranda, and Jessica (our kids), not so much to keep an eye on them, but to stay up to date on the events in their lives that were important enough to share but not important enough to call home about. Over time I have reconnected with old friends, made new friends, and learned a lot of really cool things about the people in my life. I have even been able to mend a burnt bridge or two from the past and to start building a network of contacts for my future in teaching.

When I started riding last year I was instantly hooked. One of the very first things I started day-dreaming about was riding a long distance over a period of a few days. I even posted (a long time ago) that I wanted to ride in the Crossing North Carolina cycling event and now I am. This is an organized event covering 400+ miles and taking seven days to ride from the mountains to the beach. There will be quite a few people riding so it is not just me hoping on my bike and trying to ride from Asheville to the beach.

Not too long after I decided to ride in the event this fall, I learned about Jimmy Meris's fight with Leukemia and contacted the family about using the ride to raise money and awareness and possibly to help support them during this long battle. Unfortunately Jimmy has lost his battle and passed away late yesterday afternoon (July 17th) due to complications from the intensive dosage of chemotherapy needed to battle the aggressive cancer.

We are still accepting donations for Jimmy at http://meris.chipin.com/jimmy-meris. This site will allow you to make a donation via PayPal and every penny raised will go to the family. If you donate one penny for every mile I ride, that is only $4.00. That's not much but it adds up, so every donation helps. For those who have donated already, we thank you. For those thinking of donating, please do. Showing your support means a lot, sometimes more than you might know.

I will post updates about the ride, training rides, pictures from the ride, etc. as things progress. If anyone is interested in participating in the ride, helping to raise donations, or just riding together sometime, please feel free to contact me. I would enjoy the company.

Am I my brother's keeper....?

2010-07-13T19:42:00.005-04:00

I think we are. I think payer is a very powerful tool, but I also think that God expects us to help care of each other when we can. It doesn't take much. Even a kind word can change a person's day for the better. Even when we do pray we do not always see God's answer because we are willing to accept anything less than a hand delivered gift.

I heard this story a very long time ago (while in church, I think). I have changed the wording but the message is the same...

There was a massive rain storm in a small town and the land was beginning to flood. As some of the people were leaving town, they passed old man Jenkins standing on his front porch. He lived alone and was a very private person who did not trust others very much.

As the rain continued and the water began to rise a boat floated by and someone asked him if he needed a ride out of town. Old man Jenkins replied, "God will save me if I need saving!" So they left him there.

Later, old man Jenkins was sitting on his rooftop watching the water continue to rise. A small motor boat came by and asked him to get in. They were offering to take him to safety. Old man Jenkins again said that God would save him and waved them away.

The rain persisted and the water continued to rise. By now, old man Jenkins was standing on his chimney and the water was just about to reach his feet. Suddenly another boat appeared and they once again asked him to get in. Old man Jenkins once again shouted that God would save him and he waved the boat away, so they left.

Well, the flood got worse and old man Jenkins was eventually washed away and drowned. When he got to Heaven, he was grateful to be there, of course, but he was confused. "God," he said, "Why did you not save me? I prayed and prayed and you did not save me?"

"Well," God said. "I sent three boats..."

The Long Haul...

2009-12-28T21:08:00.003-05:00

I posted on FaceBook recently my desire to ride the TransAmerica trail in the summer of 2013. I have had several people ask me why then (after they ask if I am crazy). Well, the way I figure it, that will be my first summer off after my first full year of teaching. I can use the time as a sort of sabbatical to reflect on my new career choice. Plus it will give me time to do the planning, save up some cash, and get into shape for the long ride.

I have also been thinking about using the ride to raise money for scholarships to help kids go to college who might otherwise not get the chance. The entire trip is 4200+ miles, so a penny a mile might be a reasonable pledge don't you think? While doing research on the cross-country ride, I found the Cycling North Carolina website and their annual cross-state ride. I think this would be a great way to test myself and see if I should even consider the cross-country trip.

Jessica has also caught the riding bug apparently and has decided to join the Appalachian Cycling team when she gets to ASU. We have contacted several of the coaches and a team member for information and advice. I do not intend to push her (much) but I will support her completely.

MH

Hey - It's me!! I'm still around...

2009-11-02T06:37:00.005-05:00

Yes, I'm still around! I'd like to say I have been too busy to post but we all know it only takes a few minutes to type out a paragraph now and then letting the world know what's going on. :-)

So to quickly recap since the last post...
School is going great. I started my junior year at East Carolina in August. I like the program and the school but it is completely online and I miss being in the classroom with other students. I feel like I am missing out on a lot of valuable interaction and networking, especially now that I am taking the higher lever education classes.

I am still riding when I can. I went to New River Trail in VA and rode 40 miles last Sunday. It was chilly when I got there around 9am but quickly warmed up after riding for a few miles. The fall colors were amazing and the first 30 miles or so was great. Then, as I began to run out of steam, it became more of a workout and less of an adventure. :-) I picked up a contraption that turns the bike into a stationary bike for riding indoors during the winter. I can still workout but it is pretty boring.

I have been working as a substitute teacher for Randolph County. I have subbed at ATMS a few times over the past month or so and even spent 4 days subbing for the shop class while they interviewed for a permanent replacement teacher. The original shop teacher moved from this area to become a policeman in South Carolina, near the beach.

Had two birthdays this last week. Landon turned 24 and Jessica turned 16. Miranda came home to visit yesterday so we were all five together for a little while at least. She is still living and working in Raleigh and Landon now lives and works in Greensboro. We do not get to see them much but we talk to them often and we are proud of them for doing so well. We have such good kids. :-)

Yesterday we visited my grandmother and helped her celebrate her 92nd birthday. She is in a nursing home but still in decent health and has most of her mental facilities intact (in comparison to others her age I guess). She seemed to enjoy the company and the cake and ice cream.

Latest hobby...

2009-07-31T15:06:00.003-04:00

Recently I started cycling and I love it. Tomorrow I will test myself and ride in the Tour de Furniture event in High Point put on by the American Red Cross. The event starts at 7am and lasts, I suppose, until the last riders finish. I will post pictures and results (as well as any wordy wisedom I can come up with) tomorrow after we get home. Please come out and support the Red Cross and the participants as well!

Argggg! I'm a Pirate!

2009-03-31T20:44:00.002-04:00

So... I feel bad about not updating for over a month but not much has really happened. School is going very well and I am staying extremely busy. I'm shooting for getting my name on the President's list this semester (4.0 GPA) instead of just the Dean's list (3.75 GPA). I'm sure the Dean is a great guy and all, but I've done that three times already. It's time to step it up. Plus I have a lot to prove this semester to everyone who thought my taking 28 credit hours was insane. :-)

And on that note... I finally got my acceptance letter from East Carolina University. I have an on campus orientation scheduled during the summer but the courses themselves will all be online through the Wachovia Partnership East program. They are supposed to handle the arrangements for getting me into a classroom for my student teaching, etc. So I'm looking forward to that.

That's it for now. I have a few hours of homework to do tonight and it's already getting late (I'm old, remember! :-))

MH

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't...

2009-02-20T18:49:00.003-05:00

Anyone reading this blog regularly has surely noticed my ramblings are on-again-off-again to say the least. Sometimes I feel like writing tons of stuff and sometimes I just don't have a lot to say. It's during those quite times that I am contemplating life, love, the universe, and everything in it. And speaking of the universe...

As far back as I can remember, I have been drawn towards the little bright lights in the night sky. Just like our ancestors must have done, I too gaze up and wonder about where we are in the universe and where we might someday go. I really began to get into astronomy when I was in about the 8th grade. My parents (or Santa Claus, depending on your point of view) bought me a cool 4-inch reflecting telescope for Christmas that year. Even as small an cheap as it was, I was able to see the rings around Saturn. After that, I was hooked.

However, as with every thing, life tends to get in the way. By the time I got into high school I was working at the family business after school and well into the night. Slowly, as time passed, so did my desire to spend night after freezing night looking into the sky. A few years later, while at sea on the USS Marvin Shields, I stepped out on deck after a midnight shift. There was no man-made light anywhere to be seen so the night sky was perfect. It really looked like a poster you might find at the planetarium. Well, many years have passed and I still try to enjoy astronomy when I can. I am lucky in that my youngest daughter is into it as well. This gives me someone close to share news stories and events with.

When I decided to return to college last spring, I had no idea what classes to take. So I decided to take Astronomy and I am so glad I did. I am currently the president of the Stellar Society (the Astronomy club) at GTCC and we are fairly active in promoting the Cline Observatory on campus, as well as many other events held at the school. In March we are hosting Tri-Star which will bring astronomers from across the state together for the weekend.

Once I become a teacher I certainly plan to integrate astronomy into my science and/or math classes as often as possible. I think it is important we understand the universe God has given us as well as our place in it.

MH

Life's good...

2009-02-12T19:19:00.002-05:00

As most of you are aware I have talked recently about looking up old friends online (specifically FaceBook) and have had the great fortune of reconnecting with a few of them. Tonight I spent a while talking to an old friend about the past. Man that really brought back the memories; some great ones, some so-so ones, and some bad ones. But that is how life is. You have to accept the bad times along with the good. Now of course I won't give details about the conversation, but like I said it really brought back the memories.

It also got me thinking about other things. Life goes by so fast that if you don't slow down occasionally an look around, you will miss out on a ton of cool stuff. For too many years I lived in a shell; a shell I made all by myself. In high school I was made to go straight to the family business after school, so my social life was non-existent. Then, as I got older, I would spend most of my time in front of a computer pounding out code (something I was good at and enjoyed) and I again neglected my social 'training' and never really felt like I fit in in a crowd.

When I realized that I wanted to teach, this was the very first concern my family raised. So, over the past two years, I have begun to break out of this shell. Of course I still spend a fair amount of time in front of a computer, but when I am at school or in public I make an effort to be more outgoing. I talk more, I smile more, and I even flirt a little from time to time. And you know what? It is making a difference. I no long feel out of place. I no longer sit alone and wonder. I do, however, still remain quiet and listen a lot, but I also speak with more confidence when I do decide to share.

I know I have made some very bad choices along the way, but everything has slowly shifted back into focus and I am happy with where I am today. I have great plans for the future as well (see the list of thing to do on my blog!). I guess what I am trying to say is that life is good so enjoy it.

MH

Mother Earth...

2009-02-11T18:58:00.009-05:00

The question of whether we are alone in the universe has two possible answers: either we are or we are not. If you really think about that, either possibility is equally astounding. Let's look at both possibilities:

1 - We are alone. This is it. The universe began/was created then we evolved/were created and that is it. Everything else in the universe is just for us to look at and admire. If that is the case then why are we so self-destructive? Why are we, as a people, so intent on destroying our home as well as each other? I would like to think that if this is it then we would try a little harder to get along with each other and take care of our ecosystem.

2 - We are not alone. The universe is teaming with life and we might even get to meet someone from another world someday. What would they think of what the find? Would you like them to see how we treat each other and how we are treating our planet?

Now, imagine being in a life raft at sea... There are two possibilities. You get rescued or you don't. Again, let's look at each possibility...

1 - You are stuck in the life raft for ever (at least the rest of your life). Let's assume for this little mental exercise that you have plenty of food. Would you take care of your raft? Would you ration your food to try to make it last? I would think that most of us would. We would hope to last long enough to find land or see another ship.

2 - After a few days at sea you get rescued. Knowing this would happen, you have not taken very good care of the raft and you have eaten all your food. What would your rescuers think about you if they found a damaged raft full of candy wrappers and trash? Wouldn't you be a little embarrassed?

Do you see the correlation between the two sets of questions? Why do we treat our 'raft' like we do? Why do we guzzle our 'rations' as if we will get rescued tomorrow? We need to look at the big picture and take responsibility for our actions. Issues such as global warming, using fossil fuels, and over population are causing irreversible damage to our only home.

I originally started out with the intention of talking about my views on the possibility of other life in the universe, but once I started typing it went in a different direction. Aliens made me change it.

MH

Catching up, cutting back, and reminiscing...

2009-02-08T19:38:00.004-05:00

So I had a little free time last night while the NASCAR race was on (yes, I'm a fan) and I spent some time trying to find friends and family on FaceBook. I connected with a cousin in Phoenix, an old pal in Greensboro, and even a few folks I went to high school with 25+ years ago. Even though I have worked with (and played with) the changing technology over then years it still amazes me how easily we can connect to anyone anywhere instantly. I remember the time before the internet, before cell phones, and cable TV. Damn I feel old....

I also had to make a tough decision regarding school. I have decided to drop one of my classes this semester due to not having enough time to really do the work needed to do well. I was planning on having the whole summer off (from school) before starting East Carolina in the fall but I will need to retake American Lit then. I still have Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, and History of Art (all except Art have labs as well) to keep me busy, so don't feel bad for me. I will still finish before August and hopefully get to hold on to my 4.0 GPA :-)

And on a lighter note...
The weather here today was absolutely gorgeous. I love cold weather but I also enjoy warm spring days as much as anyone. We went to the park today to walk and on the way there (and back) we must have seen 25-30 motorcycles out enjoying the weather. I really miss riding and I miss my bike, but it's probably not something I'll ever have again.

MH

Technology and Society...

2009-02-03T06:56:00.002-05:00

One of the biggest problems in society today is the fact that our technology is advancing so fast that we, as a society, are having trouble keeping up. We have extended the average life span to ever longer years, developed ways to communicate to vast numbers of people instantly and globally, and we have even successfully altered human brains with computerized circuitry. If the past 100 years are any indication then there is no telling where we will be by the year 2100.

Please bear in mind, of course, that these ideas are just my ramblings and not hard cold facts. I just think that technology is advancing so fast that we, as a whole, cannot keep up. Despite your beliefs on when and how man first appeared on Earth, it is pretty easy to conclude that after a certain number of years ours bodies begin to wear out. Recently, modern medicine has allowed people to live longer lives. But at what cost? As a society we are having issues dealing with them. Nursing homes are overcrowded and poorly staffed (my apologizes for the generalization of social workers; I know there are some great folks out there) by people who would rather be doing something else. One hundred years ago, people did not have to worry about retirement or old age because they did not really expect to have to deal with it.

And it is not just the elderly that are having to adjust. Certainly the middle-aged person struggling to learn to use a home computer would make a great example here, but I was thinking more about how children are changing to deal with our advanced technological world. Children today have instant access to everything they want and need (in general). Answering a question, for example, on nearly any subject is a internet search away. The desire to listen to a specific song, watch a favorite television show or DVD can be instantly satisfied. Because of this, keeping a child's attention for more than three seconds is a challenge. Look at how they interact today as compared to us as kids. Could you have ever imagined talking to your friends via instant texts or online? Again, I think this shows how they are being conditioned to expect instant gratification. I feel (and again this is simply my opinion) that this helps explain the abundance of 'attention deficit disorder' diagnoses. We (all of us) have grown to expect too much too quick. Want proof? Look in the 'get rich quick' section at the bookstore.

But back to the kids. I'm in my mid-40s. I remember buying my first home computer in 1982. I crashed my car and instead of getting a new one I used the insurance money to buy a TRS-80 desktop computer. It hard no hard drive and no floppy disk. No data storage at all and it only had 16k of memory. I'd be willing to bet no one reading this realizes what 16k means, but basically today's toasters had more memory. You had to type in every single line of a program to run it and when you turned the computer off, the program was gone. Anyway, my point is this. Most adults have seen the world grow and change and I am willing to bet that it continues to grow and change (assuming we don't destroy ourselves) for the foreseeable future. Can you imagine what kind of technology our kids or grandkids will get to play with? How will they deal with it? It is easy to imagine them developing in a much difference way psychologically. Not a bad way, mind you, just different.

I mentioned early something about altering human brains with electronics. Imagine a memory chip in your brain where you could store data just like on a computer and instantly retrieve it. No more lost addresses or phone numbers, no more grocery lists on paper, etc. These advancements are already here and the possibilities are endless; not only the good applications, but the bad as well. The problem, as I see it, is how do we deal with it as a society?

MH

The Big Game...

2009-02-01T21:02:00.002-05:00

I have always liked football and I have always been a Steelers fan. I love to watch a good football game and I love to see the underdog come out on top (unless the Steelers are playing then of course I'll pull for them). As a freshman in high school (in the early 80s), I made the varsity team but was not allowed to play because I had to work at the family business after school everyday.

After high school and a partial semester at Western Carolina I joined the Navy. While stationed in San Diego I got my hands on an authentic Mark Gastineau jersey (NY Jets #99). Now I have always been a big guy. Roughly 6ft tall and very broad shouldered (due to years of loading furniture in the afore mentioned family business) so when I wore the jersey it fit well.

One of our many trips to Hawaii (I think I went 4 times courtesy of Uncle Sam) just happened to coincide with the Pro-Bowl. Without really thinking about it I wore the jersey when we went out on the town one night. A buddy of mine and I were walking downtown one evening when a couple of people mistook me for a pro football player and asked me for an autograph. I scribbled something illegible and they thanked me and went on their way.

MH

25 Random facts about me....

2009-01-30T10:27:00.004-05:00

Currently, on Facebook, there is a fad going around to list 25 random things about yourself that others might not know. I figured I'd kill two birds with on stone an do it here. So let's get started, shall we...

1 - I have been married to my high-school sweetheart and the greatest woman in the world for more than 25 years and we have NEVER had an argument.

2 - I have 3 great kids that I am very proud of. Two are grown and living on their own.

3 - I was a computer programmer for many years and made a lot of money doing it but I have not written a single line of computer code in 5 years.

4 - I love music, especially hard rock, and my favorite group has always been Rush.

5 - I collect TV shows and I'm not really sure why.

6 - I have always wanted to learn to play the drums and the piano.

7 - I have taught myself several languages and I can speak a little Japanese, Chinese, German, Russian, French, and Spanish. The problem is I never get to use them and I am very rusty.

8 - I used to ride a motorcycle.

9 - I have two tattoos; one I could show you and one I cannot.

10 - I accidentally drove a rental car in a real drag race (on a real track) in Hawaii.

11 - I have eaten monkey meat, alligator, bison, and a few other types of animals.

12 - I love to try new foods and my favorite (besides the wife's cooking) is currently Pad Thai.

13 - My favorite authors are Dean Koontz and Alastair Reynolds.

14 - I absolutely hate commercials. I do not need to be told what I need to buy.

15 - I tend to procrastinate - more on this later.

16 - I hate the fact that my family only gets together once a year (at Christmas).

17 - I love cold weather but I do not like to be cold.

18 - When I was in the Navy I saved the entire ship and crew once and all I got was a pat on the back (and that was enough).

19 - I was almost a Navy Seal (dropped after two weeks of training because I could not swim well enough).

20 - When I was a kid I wanted to be a stunt-man when I grew up (or a race-car driver).

21 - I have never been admitted to the hospital.

22 - I am bipolar and I have to take medication everyday for it (and I hate it).

23 - I changed a flat tire once with only a pair of pliers.

24 - I have a spoiled little lap dog I love very much.

25 - I am certain that I think the things on this list are more interesting than you do.

MH

"Grace Under Pressure" - Rush

2009-01-29T21:40:00.001-05:00

I guess I should apologize... I figured out how to import my blog updates into Facebook.

Over the last few days I have had several people tell me that they have read (and believe it or not enjoyed) my blog so I guess I should update more (and try to be funny?). When I started this blog I had a hard time deciding whether to go as myself or do it anonymously. While this does not seem like a hard decision, being open about my identity does two things. It severely limits my ability to rant openly and it holds me accountable for my words.

Now those who know me know I will not usually say anything behind someone's back that I would not say to their face (although I would never intentionally hurt anyone's feelings). So 'ranting' is off the table for this blog. This leaves comedy or telling about my boring life. I will always try to be funny when the topic allows it, but I'm no *(insert your favorite comedian here)* so don't be surprised if it's dry at times.

Finally, since I seem to have a reader base at last, I invite you all to read the past posts and get a feel for things I have (and will) post about. For example: I almost moved to China last fall, I almost got to be part of a TV reality show in Alaska, we drove to Washington DC last spring, and I like learning new things.

So I guess the pressure is on to entertain as well as inform! (I've been using song titles or lyrics for my post tiles but not giving the artist, in case you didn't notice. :-))

MH

"Grace Under Pressure".... Rush

2009-01-29T21:01:00.006-05:00

Come on baby light my fire....

2009-01-28T19:44:00.002-05:00

Today was pretty hectic. I have classes all day on Wednesday (from 8am until 4pm). I usually get out of Chemistry lab before 4 but today we had a little interruption. About halfway through the fire alarm went off. When we went to leave the classroom there was smoke in the halls and it smelled like burnt pop-corn. Of course we all had to stand out in the drizzling rain for 20-30 minutes while they figured out what it was.

MH

Hit me baby one more time...

2009-01-27T20:26:00.004-05:00

For some unknown reason, the body gets all bent out of shape if you don't sleep enough every day. Going to school, working out, keeping chores done around the house, and spending time with friends and family (all important tasks) takes up most of the 24 hours our maker so graciously allotted us per day.

Throughout the ages man has invented technology to help make life easier. By taming fire he was able to chase away the darkness and spend quality time with the other cavemen in his neighborhood, sharing stories and inventing even more cool stuff. There have been many important inventions over the years. For example, during the middle of the twentieth century a revolutionary invention changed the world; the transistor. This led to the computer age and today we can communicate instantly with anyone, anywhere, or find any information on the internet. I could list hundreds of inventions and talk endlessly about how they changed the world and I am sure everyone has their own favorite, be it a cell phone, car, or even fire, but my favorite is the 'snooze button'. Yep, that little guy is my second best friend lately.

I'm sure you are not much different. We sent the alarm for a certain time and climb into bed and wait for the inevitable buzzing to pull us out of our dreams and back into reality. We all know that the next 30 minutes is divided into 3 ten minute power naps before we finally decide to end the charade and face the day.

MH

All I need is ice cream and a hug....

2009-01-26T17:11:00.003-05:00

Every day is what you make of it, but some days fight back. As you know, Joy and I moved in with her mom so we could concentrate on finishing school. Her mom as a dog that she does not really want and rarely shows any attention. She basically feeds him and lets him out occasionally.

This morning, as I was getting ready for school I started to pack my lunch in a small cooler when I realized he had peed all over then damn thing. I guess he's jealous or something because he's peed on our laundry basket (with clothes in it), Joy's book bag, and a couple other of our things.

Even after this rough start, the day got much better after that. Classes went well (although Chemistry let out a little late and I was almost late to my next class) and my time at the gym was....invigorating. One thing I have noticed is that I am getting to know more and more people on campus. I have to walk across campus several times during the day and recently I have run into someone I know every time. For a person who used to be in a pretty small shell, this is a nice thing.

So even though I am tired and still have a lot to do before I can call it a day, I find that my mindset is much better than that of previous years. I certainly do not feel that I have wasted my life, but I do often wonder how things might have turned out if I had opened up and followed my heart years ago.

MH

New year, new stuff...

2009-01-24T12:11:00.003-05:00

Okay. I know I haven't posted in a while but I took some time off before this semester to veg out. While this seems to have helped mentally (we'll get to that in a minute), it really hurt physically. I had been going to the gym three days a week since May of last year but when the semester ended I just stopped going for three weeks and man could I tell it when I started back. My biggest mistake was trying to pickup right where I left off. Seems the human body does not like things like that and it let me know in no uncertain terms.

Anyway, the holidays were pretty uneventful and normal (as normal can be I guess) and now school has started back. I decided late last semester to change my concentration from math and language arts to math and science. I like math and science better and feel I would do a better job teaching science over language arts. Having done that however, put me slightly behind in class credits if I still intended to finish at GTCC this spring and transfer to ECU in August (more on this in a bit too).

So, being of sound mind (after my three week rest) I signed up for the following classes: Calculus, Statistics, Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Art Appreciation, and American Lit. Counting labs that's 11 classes and 25 credit hours. So far it's not too bad. The math classes both build off of previous ideals and I'm pretty good at math and the sciences all play off each other to some extent. This, along with 2-3 hours 3 days a week at the gym add up to a pretty full schedule, but I will be finished in May and I will have the summer to take any classes I'd like.

Then, assuming I get accepted, I'll start ECU classes in August. These will be online so I can work (hopefully) in a classroom during the day. After two years, and more gray hair, I'll be a full-fledged middle school math and science teacher. :-)

I'm not going to promise I'll update everyday or even consistently, but I know that some of you like to see what's going on and I like writing about it when I get time. I will try to be more diligent in updating. Until then, life live to it's fullest and remember not to take it too seriously; no one gets out alive anyway.

MH

My philosophy of education...

2008-12-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

I feel that the fundamental purpose of education is two-fold: first we must teach children how to behave and function productively in society, and secondly we must continue to pass the knowledge and insights we have gained from the past onto future generations. Children should be taught to think for themselves and be able to solve problems intelligently and efficiently. I think that by having an organized, national educational system we can ensure that the best educational techniques and ideas are shared and that new knowledge is available to everyone equally.

The educational curriculum should begin with the basics which will create a strong foundation for which to build upon. Once the basics are mastered, students should be exposed to a wide range of subjects to allow them to be able to find and area they are both comfortable with and interested in. Only after a student has mastered the basics and learned about a wide variety of different topics should they be ready to branch of into a semi-specialized path of study. This would give everyone a strong foundation on which to build and allow most everyone to excel in a field that interests them, thus giving greater returns to society as a whole.

I believe that an interested student is the most receptive to learning. Keeping the students focused on the lesson and interested in what they are learning is vital. Simply lecturing or assigning the students busy work is not enough. The teacher must change with the needs of the students and has to wear many different hats in the classroom; as a facilitator, a mentor, an instructor, etc. While each of the six different types of education philosophies certainly has its merits, I do not feel that any particular one is right for all occasions. Without question, I am eclectic in my philosophical thoughts about education. There will be times and situations when different techniques will be required and sticking to one philosophy will not work.

Teachers have many roles. They are role models, instructors, mentors, and sometimes just someone to talk to. Teachers need to set positive examples both in and out of the classroom. A teacher needs to be able to change lesson plans when things are not working and be able to recover an unruly class. They need to encourage students to do their very best and challenge them to achieve to be more than just average. Teachers are helping shape the future.

The role of the student also varies. While this is not always as obvious, the students need to do more than just sit quietly and listen. Active participation is important to the learning process. Students not only learn from the teacher but also from other students. Ideas, constructive comments, and thoughts should be encouraged and built upon when it will benefit the lesson.

Of the six different philosophies of education, I would have to say that I agree with points from several, thereby making me eclectic in my educational philosophy. While all of the different philosophies have their merits, I do not feel that any certain one is best for all situations. Differences in learning styles, age groups, etc. cannot all be addressed by the same teaching style. In fact, changes may be needed daily to continue to help students progress and learn.

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Rise of the machines...

2008-12-10T19:57:00.003-05:00

While I certain find the headline distasteful, as well as the author's insistence on pushing the reader away from the programming and optics of the robot, and towards the seedy side, you have to admire the guy's abilities. Assuming all of the demonstrations in the video are real, then this is a very impressive piece of work.

I worked a little with A.I. back in the 90s when computers were just getting fast enough to make a difference (worked on a 'smart' search engine for searching databases). I have since tried to keep up (when I can) with the news coming from that part of science. The progress they are making is truly amazing, but this it pretty advanced. A few minutes into the video he holds up a hand written math equation that she solves almost instantly. Later she recognizes objects just by looking at them.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2023392.ece

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So much for posting every day...

2008-12-10T19:56:00.003-05:00

Sorry. I have college finals this week and part of next. It's been a tough couple of weeks.

And so it begins...

2008-12-04T15:07:00.006-05:00

I talked once before about posting links to funny/odd/weird things here. So, let's begin, shall we?

Picard vs Arnold

Star Trek vs Star Wars

The Front Fell Off

...

Back to school...

2008-12-01T08:04:00.003-05:00

Well the holiday is over and it's back to school/work. As I write this post, I am sitting in a small room in the Science Building, freezing my behind off. It seems to me that at a college of technology, they could at least get the heat to work. :-/

Finals are next week so I guess we'll be hitting the books pretty hard for the next few days and looking forward to Christmas break.

I thought about posting things I find online to this blog and I think I will start doing that. Only thing is, most of the stuff I find I forward to family and friends (the only people who see this) so for a while, it may seem redundant. Anywho, I'll start gathering up the links and posting them tonight. I hope to post something everyday and I'll still post personal events I feel are share-able!

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Thanksgiving...

2008-11-29T18:32:00.003-05:00

My wife is a great lady. She was up before dawn cooking Thursday and prepared food for about 15 people all by herself. We had turkey, stuffing, and all the traditional dishes plus 4 or 5 different deserts. By the time I finished eating I felt like I would bust.

I tried to take a quick nap but Molly beat me to the bed!

Seriously though, it was great having all the kids together again and spending time just talking and cutting up.

When we all felt a little rested we decided to head over to my grandparents' house to visit. Nearly everyone from my side of the family was there, even some I had not seen for a long time. The babies have grown up and the kids are now teens. Man time can get away from you if you don't stop and look around occasionally.

Howdy Howdy Howdy...

2008-11-17T20:03:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, Joy and I went to a B&B in the mountains and it was nice. Turns out the owner is a gourmet chef. While the Bed part was great, the Breakfast part was worth the money.

The cabin was right on top of a mountain so we had a spectacular view of the sunrise and the sunset (and we watched them both). We spent the days driving around Banner Elk and Boone.

Not much else has been going on the last few weeks. Been busy with school and stuff. I have not really been posting because nothing major is going on. Jessica got her permit this week. I guess that's kinda big news. :-)

I've been thinking about expanding this blog to include some of the funny/weird/strange things I find while surfing the internet. I promise to keep it SFW (but just barely). Any thoughts? Let me know.

Super Mike...

2008-11-05T20:04:00.005-05:00

http://www.makemesuper.com/r.php?i=1_a93d2-171414-m-Mike

I was as surprised as you...

I baked you a cake, but we eated it...

2008-11-01T12:38:00.002-04:00

We had two birthdays in the family this week. Landon is the oldest and just turned 23 two days ago and Jessica turns 15 today. We have always tried to keep the two birthdays separate and to keep the birthdays separate from Halloween. This means two parties, two cakes, etc.

I guess the next thing is to take Jessica to get her driving permit...

Volunteering...

2008-11-01T12:34:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, when you offer to do something to help someone else out, it works out and sometimes it doesn't. Well, I volunteered for a program at a local elementary school to have breakfast with a student once a week. And I am certainly glad I did.

My breakfast buddy is a fourth grader and Friday was my first time meeting him. We sat and ate cereal and chatted. He likes Star Wars (who doesn't? :-)) and has a small dog named Sally. He's a really cool kid! I'm be joining him for breakfast every Friday for the rest of this year.

NC State Fair...

2008-10-21T20:22:00.007-04:00

Last Saturday we went to the North Carolina State Fair. It was great. Miranda (my oldest daughter) and Sam (her beau) live in Raleigh so they went with us. We were able to park at Sam's mom's house and walk to the fair grounds (just a couple of blocks) . Since Sam worked there last year he knew pretty much where everything was.
We decided to throw caution to the wind and try some of the food found only at the fair. The deep fried Snickers was actually not bad, but the deep fried Reese's Cup was a little better (not peanuts :-)). We didn't ride too many rides but Joy (wife), Jessica (youngest daughter), Miranda (you met her earlier), and Sam (still dating Miranda) did ride the twister (pictured above). I'm too old for that kind of shenanigans. (Actually, I just didn't want to get sick after the corn-dog, giant burrito, and deep-fried candy bars).

Classroom Observations...

2008-10-12T16:10:00.003-04:00

This week, during my 7th grade class observation, the teacher finally put me to work. After helping out by grading some quizzes and a chapter test, I helped out in the students while the class worked on a 'cut and paste' project. They were tasked with cutting out 24 squares with fractions on them and aligning these squares on a new sheet in order, where each fraction lined up with a matching fraction. I tried to use the analogy of a jigsaw puzzle (finding the corners, then the edges, etc.) but I was very surprised to learn that there was not a single student I talked to that had ever worked a puzzle. I felt so old.

The Economic Mess...

2008-10-12T16:05:00.002-04:00

After watching the market nose dive over the last 6 months and especially the last week, I am SO glad I decided to retire from software design at the beginning of this year. I cashed in my 401K to live on for the next few years while I return to school. I would hate to know I had lost all my entire retirement fund because of this mess. Once I get my teaching license and start teaching, maybe things will be back to normal and I can start saving for my golden years. :-)

It's snowing in Fairbanks...

2008-10-12T15:56:00.003-04:00

The photo in the right is a live shot of downtown Fairbanks in Alaska. As I write this, it is snowing heavily and has been since before daylight. This is not their first snow of the season but it's the biggest I have seen so far this year. Most people think it is like this year round, but in the summer, Fairbanks (and most of Alaska) is as warm as the rest of the lower 48 (though temps matching those in the southwest would be rare).

As for the weather where we are, it is really nice today. 73 degrees and sunny. We took Molly to the park to walk and she apparently stepped on a bee. She didn't yelp or even make a sound but we saw her limping and found the bee still stuck to her paw. I ended up carrying her all the way back to the car. She seems to be fine now.

New profile photo...

2008-10-05T20:38:00.005-04:00

I've been working out every day for the past few months. I feel great and I have really started to get into better shape (round is a shape, right?) I have had to buy new pants (two sizes smaller) and the shirt I am wearing the this picture is smaller than what I used to wear. I usually smile more, ut the sun was in my eyes in this one.

Anyway, I uploaded a new photo taken this weekend at the Autism Walk. And here is another. ;-)

Sigh... I know, I know...

2008-10-05T20:28:00.006-04:00

I am really sorry it has taken me a month to post. I know I said I would post more often, but I have been really busy the last few weeks. I promise to try to post more often.

Now, here is what is new. I have begun my classroom observations for the lab portion of my Foundations of Education class. I sit in on a 7th grade math class (two periods) once a week. So far it has been a blast.

The Autism Walk was a great success. I raised $115.00 and all together I think our team raised $680. The event itself raised over $400,000. I posted plenty of pictures on my Flickr site. We walked 2 laps around Lowe's Motor Speedway. This picture was taken at the start of the walk.

Walk Now for Autism

2008-09-02T20:42:00.002-04:00

I am participating in Walk Now for Autism to help find a cure for autism. Autism is the second most common developmental disorder in the United States affecting one in every 150 children born today. Despite some promising discoveries, the cause of autism is unknown and a cure does not exist. Research is crucial. Every 20 minutes another child is diagnosed with autism. Not only must we find ways to improve the quality of life for children and adults with autism, but we also must find a cure, and soon.

Walk Now for Autism is our chance to make a difference in the fight against autism by raising money for autism research and heightening public awareness. Please join me in my fight as I raise $250 to help fund essential research. I will be walking on October 4th (at Lowes Motor Speedway) and would like you to support those affected by autism.

You can donate to Walk Now for Autism and join my team online through my webpage at www.walknowforautism.org. Donations can also be mailed to Autism Speaks using the donation form located on my page or send me a check made out to Autism Speaks. My team name is GTCC; please note this on your check and the donation form. Please join me in my fight against autism. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the more than 1 million Americans living with autism today.

If you would like to make a donation online, here is the link to my page.

I hurt all over...

2008-08-27T20:48:00.002-04:00

I joined a local gym closer to home this week and worked with a personal trainer for the last three days. Every muscle in my body hurts (even my brain because of all the homework from school :-)). We have a dog-gate blocking access to the bedroom which we use to keep Molly pinned up when we need to and stepping over it tonight was painful. But I know in the long run I will feel better and be in much better health overall.

The long days are starting to catch up with us. Joy has to be at work at 6am (we get up at 4:30am) and is working 10 hours a day, then has two classes at High Point University each night during the week and does not get home until after 10pm. Jessica doesn't get home from school now until 5:30pm and has Drivers Ed two nights a week which gets her home after 7:30pm.

My schedule is not quite as bad, but I am taking six hard classes this semester and I have to do a lot of the chores around the house (doing laundry now), so we are all really busy.

I cracked my butt...

2008-08-22T20:43:00.002-04:00

Wednesday morning I went out to bring in the trash cans from the curb. I stepped a little farther out onto the top step (going down from the front porch) and it was still wet from the night's dew, so my foot shot straight out. I landed hard on my behind (got a nice bruise but I'll refrain from posting a picture).

I don't think I broke anything, but damn it hurt. Still does. Nice and sore I is.

Hey, I said I'd post more often but I never said it would be fun to read. :-)

Congraduations...

2008-08-19T20:28:00.002-04:00

Congraduations (congratulations + graduation) to Joy for getting her Associate of Arts Degree from R.C.C. Her diploma arrived in the mail last week and we couldn't be more proud of her! Way to go dear! She starts classes at HPU next week.

Sorry for the delay...

2008-08-19T20:25:00.002-04:00

I know it's been a while since I've updated and I know I said I would update more, but it has been a very busy few weeks. First, we've moved. For those that need to know where to, you already do. :-)

Secondly, school has started back and since all three of us are in college now, everyone is covered up with work, homework, and chores. I know it's not really a good excuse, but it's all I have.

I WILL update more often. I promise! ;-)

Responsibilities suck...

2008-07-20T19:55:00.003-04:00

We do not watch a lot of television. Some sports, educational shows, and a few sitcoms from time to time, but usually it stays turned off. Oh and cartoons :-)

Earlier this summer there was a show we ran across called The Alaksa Experiment, where four groups of people were dropped off in remote areas in Alaska for three months to fend for themselves. The show tracked their progress (good and bad) and showed how hard surviving in the Alaskan wilderness could be.

That was something I have always wanted to do. Just be dropped off and left alone in the Alaskan wilderness in the fall/winter and made to survive on the land. I think it would be a life altering experience. So, after finding out about the show I went to the Discovery Channel website to get more information on the series (next showing, times, etc.) and they had a link for expressing interest in being on the show next year. So I filled out the sheet and sent it in.

Well guess what. We were selected to audition for the show! Yeah! I can't wait! What? I have work and school and a family and...resposibilities. DAMN! Damn, damn, damn.

So, of course, I'll not respond. I'll stay home and be responsible, again.

The first college graduate in the family...

2008-07-19T10:50:00.001-04:00

My wife is in the process of taking her last course needed for graduation from college. By the end of August she will be the first college grad in her entire family. It has taken a few years, but she's worked full time and raised a family at the same time. We couldn't be more proud of her!
I'm planning to try to do something a little special for her but since she tends to check this blog from time to time I can't really say what that might be. :-) If anyone has any ideas, feel free to share them.

Huston, we have a problem...

2008-07-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, at about 5:45 pm EST, my youngest daughter Jessica got into a small single engine plain with a friend and classmate of mine named Josh. As my wife and I watched them taxi to the runway, we could see Jessica sitting in the front passenger seat, her face filled with excitement and anticipation. Roughly an hour later they landed and we waited patiently for them to return to the parking lot. She had an experience she will never forget and her cheeks must have hurt from the smile she wore well into the evening.
What is the problem you ask? Ah, yes... the problem. Well the problem is that now she wants more. She's extremely bright (all our kids are) and interested in becoming an astronaut (or at the very least working for NASA as a researcher/astronomer), so this simply fueled that dream. That was the point of course, but she wants to try to get her pilot's license and that takes money. Lots of money.

To the moon, Alice, to the moon...

2008-07-08T19:58:00.002-04:00

A few weekends back, we took our youngest daughter on a tour of Washington DC. She's 14 and starts college in the fall (yes, you read that right :-)), and even though she is not certain what her future holds she is very interested in space and astronomy. While we were there she had the chance to meet two astronauts at the Air and Space Museum. We were at the doors when they opened so there was no line and she was able to spend a few minutes talking to the astronauts.
One of them asked her if she had ever flown in an airplane before. He told her she needed to find a local pilot and have him take her up for a short trip. Well, as fate would have it, the young guy that sits next to me in class this semester is a pilot. After getting to know him a little I finally asked about taking her up. So, this Thursday she gets to take a one hour flight around Winston and Pilot Mountain. This digs deeper into our dwindling savings, but it is an experience she will never forget.

Can I call you a cab, sir...

2008-07-08T19:58:00.001-04:00

Last fall, when I decided to change careers and become a teacher, we knew we would have to make a few sacrifices. We moved to a smaller, cheaper home, and we sold my Jeep to remove that payment from the monthly bills. For almost 10 months living with just one vehicle was worked out well, but yesterday I ended up stuck at home with no way to get to my 8am class.
I've been doing very good in school and missing one day would normally not be a big deal, but at about 8:30am yesterday morning I suddenly remembered I have a major paper due that I should have taken to class. I actually considered calling a cab but decided to take the 5 point grade cut and turn it in late. I emailed the instructor to let him know and all should be well now.
The ability to take college course online is a big plus for people returning to school years after joining the workforce. While the class I mentioned above is on campus (I have 2 on campus and 4 online this semester), most of my classes are online. This fall will be the same way with a few classes in person and a few more online.
The money from my 401K and our savings is drying up faster than I expected so I'll have to find a job or two in the fall to help pay the bills. Hopefully new year I can qualify for financial aid.

I know, I know...

2008-07-08T19:57:00.000-04:00

I know I said I would try to post more often. Every time I say that I dissapear for a few weeks. But I have an excuse this time. :-)
Classes during the summer are divided into 'mini-mesters' of 5 weeks each. This means that a 16 week course is taught in 5 weeks. Some instructors cut the class a little slack and cut out a little of the work. Some don't. My Humanities class that just started falls into the latter group. The instructor is cramming all 16 weeks worth of work into the 5 weeks we have in class.
I agree with this completely. There is a lot of work but it is a very interesting class. I will try to keep it from taking up all my free time. :-)

I guess it could have been worse...

2008-06-17T06:50:00.002-04:00

I had to have a broken tooth cut out yesterday. Everything went okay and I'm recovering nicely (thanks to the Vicaden :0) but I haven't been able to eat anything since Sunday night. I was going to try to write a witty entry with a catchy title, but instead you get this and I get to go back to bed.

The things the mailman brings....

2008-06-12T16:51:00.002-04:00

My youngest daughter Jessica is an aspiring writer and she entered a short story in a national contest recently. Today she received a letter informing her it was chosen to be published in a book called Anthology of Short Stories By Young Americans. If anyone would like to read it (and it IS really good) here is a link: http://valen-san.deviantart.com/art/AoSSbYA-Entry-81480579

Chick Flicks...

2008-05-31T19:49:00.004-04:00

One thing I think is important in a relationship is compromise. My wife and I have quite a bit in common, but choice of movies is not one of them. But she's caved and gone to movies with me that she really did not want to see, so today I went with her to see "Sex and The City." It was not really that bad. There was an uncomfortable moment with a scene (definitely designed for the women) of a muscular guy showering in slow motion, but overall it was a decent movie. I won't give anything away, but if you have never seen the show on HBO you might be lost not knowing everyone in the movie. It's basically a 2 hour episode of the show.

GTA IV ...

2008-05-30T20:35:00.003-04:00

Put your gamertag here too.

I don't get a chance to goof off much, but I've been playing GTA IV on XBOX360 and it rocks. This week I decided to try playing online...100 times more fun! At one time today, there were four of us in a stolen armored truck running from the cops. One guys driving and the rest of us shooting.

Never say never...

2008-05-30T10:15:00.002-04:00

I did something yesterday I said I would never do; I signed up to run a 5K (The Joann Gaddy Grimes Big Event to Fight Cancer). I am not a runner and never will be, but it is for two good causes. First, is it for cancer research. Joy's father died from lung cancer several years ago and we are doing this to both honor him and contribute to a good cause. Secondly, it is for a major project grade in my PE class.

The event is June 7th and if anyone would like to participate or make a donation, please feel free contact the official website or let us know. The team name is "Olen Harrelson Mem" (short for memorial - not enough room for more text), just select the team name when donating.

One in a billion....

2008-05-27T19:51:00.002-04:00

There are roughly 6.5 billion people on the planet. I'd guess that half of those are female and about one third of the females are of the right age to date/marry. So how'd I get so lucky? 25 years ago today I took the love of my life on our first date. We were married in Novemeber of the same yearand we've been pretty much inseparable ever since. We still enjoy each others company. We still hold hands, talk, share, laugh and cry together. So you've heard the phrase 1 in a million? I've found my one in a billion!

I can't believe my little girl is going to college...

2008-05-27T19:49:00.001-04:00

My youngest daughter is 14. She starts driver's ed this summer and college (yes college) in the fall. We took her to the freshmen orientation tonight and filled out all the paper work. They grow up so fast...

Memorial Day...

2008-05-25T20:47:00.004-04:00

First off, thanks to all the men and women who have or are currently serving in the United States armed forces. Here's a pic of the ship I served on in the late 1980's, the USS Marvin Shields. This pic was taken while we were in Hawaii (lovely place).

We grilled out today, a little cliche I know, but it was really good. Tough luck for Danica in the Indy 500, but at least it was a safe race.

School's going well. Having to run the mile for my PE class was tough but I did better than I expected. Jessica, Joy, and I ended up joining the YMCA last week so I'm sure I can improve my overall time before the end of the semester.

Have I finally bitten off more than I can chew?

2008-05-20T18:49:00.002-04:00

Since I am not working this summer (so far I have emptied my savings account and have cashed in my tiny 401K) I am taking as many classes as possible to make sure I finish on time. I have English, Psychology, Sociology, Humanites, Health, and Physical Education this summer and classes started yesterday. It's certainly not an impossible feat, but like everything else I tend to do, I always try too hard and end up doing more work than I usually need to to get the job done.
I just can't settle for passing, I have to excell. Gotta go for now since I have homework. :-)

Old friends, new friends...

2008-05-20T18:46:00.002-04:00

After finding out about my 25 year high school reunion, I filled out some info on classmates.com. I have since heard from a couple of old high school buddies and it's been very cool cathing up on what everyone is up to. Also, I've made a few new friends while going to college.

Languages...

2008-05-15T18:52:00.004-04:00

I have a thing for learning new languages. I'm not sure why, but they draw me in. Because of this I have studied several over the years(Japanese, Chinese, German, French, and Russian) but I never get to use them.

Several years ago, my youngest daughter and I started studing Japanese. Once we felt we could communicate slightly better than a drunken tourist, we wanted to test it out. So we promptly visited the nearest "Japanese" resturant to mingle with the natives. Not a single person in the place spoke or even understood Japanese. The chef was from Mexico! At least at the Chinese buffett they understood 'thank you' (and even seemed pleased I actually made the effort).

But it is not like riding a bicycle, you will forget if ou don't practice. So today when I visited my wife's work and I ran into a co-worker of her's that is learning Japanese, I blanked...

Back to the books I guess (I still may need it someday :-))

Yikes...

2008-05-15T18:50:00.002-04:00

I received a message today from a high-school classmate about our reunion coming up. Has it been that long? 25 years already? Wow. Where did the time go?

Anyway, I think it'd be great to meet some of the folks I went to high school with. Not sure what I'd say or talk about, but it'd still be fun!

Washington DC

2008-05-12T13:08:00.002-04:00

We have been wanting to take a trip to Washington DC for a while now. I have been a couple of times in the past on business trips, but never on vacation.

We left about 6am Friday morning and arrived around noon. Very smooth trip, very light traffic, and the hotel was right off the interstate. Everything was within walking (or a short ride on the subway) distance.

Friday we went through Union Station on the way to the Zoo. The Zoo was really nice and the pandas came right up to the glass while we were there. Unfortunately the elephant exhibit was closed.

After leaving the Zoo we ended up eating dinner in Chinatown. That was THE BEST Chinese food I had ever eaten. I ordered to same thing I would have gotten at home, but it was 100 times better. I can only image how good the food would be in China.

Saturday we left the room early and walked to the Smithsonian and the National Mall. We got to the Air and Space Museum a little early, but went right in when the doors opened. Jessica ended up meeting several astronauts and got autographs and pictures. She was beside herself with excitement.

During the day we walked and walked and walked and saw tons of cool buildings, museums, etc., but in the evening when we decided to visit Union Station again (we rushed through the first time) to look around we took a cab. Union Station is huge; the pictures do not do it justice.

When we left Sunday morning, we drove by the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Cemetery. The drive home on Sunday was just as smooth and traffic free and the drive up. I was surprised.

Here's the link to the pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaellandonhatfield

It's been a while...

2008-05-12T13:02:00.003-04:00

Sorry it's been so long, but I'll catch everything up and try to start posting at least one a week.
First off, I'm not going to China after all. I still have family and responsibilities here that I can't leave; even for a few months.

One of these, and probably the one at the top of the list, is the fact that my youngest daughter, Jessica, was accepted into the early college program. This means that instead of being a freshman in high school this fall, she's going straight to the local community college instead. She'll graduate in 4 years with BOTH a high school diploma and an Associates degree. (And it's free.)

I am currently taking more classes in anticipation of transferring into East Carolina University's teaching curriculum next fall (2009). Two years after that (once I finish school) I'll be ready to become a full time middle school math teacher.

Flickr...

2008-03-23T20:08:00.001-04:00

For those interested I've setup a Flickr site.

Been a while...

2008-03-23T19:59:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the long delay between posts but a lot has been going on. More correctly, I've been going through a lot. I've always wanted to travel around the world and visit everywhere and see everything. Lofty goals I know, but I'm finally going to do something about it and I have really been agonizing over this for the last few weeks.

I am not sure of all the details yet as I still have a lot to work out, but I am going to China in the fall to teach English. Currently, it looks like I will be leaving in August and spending about 8-9 months in Harbin, China.

Harbin is the capital city of one of the northern provinces and is located in the north eastern corner of China. Very cold winters... They have a huge winter festival every year (the picture above is from a past one).

I am very excited about this opportunity but the decision to leave my family for such an extended time was very hard to make. I know if I don't do it now, then I never will and that will be every harder to deal with.

I'll keep you posted!

Laid off...

2008-02-21T09:41:00.002-05:00

The company I work for agreed to let me take the afternoons to go to school. I was working 6am to noon and then some evenings from 3pm to 6pm or so. Then work slowed a bit and there was no more afternoon/evening work. That was fine, I was stretching myself to thin with work and school anyway. Then yesterday I was given the option on moving to another department full-time or being laid-off. Since I'm not quitting school (and I have classes all week in the afternoons), I got laid off from my job yesterday. At first I was a little upset, but then I realized I really didn't like the job anyway and now I can concentrate on school for a while.

Valentine's Day...

2008-02-15T16:37:00.002-05:00

Card and a box of candy...$20.00
Dinner for two at Ruth's Chris steakhouse...$150.00
Two tickets to the Greensboro Symphony and a special song dedication...$350.00

Seeing the dress come off to reveal sexy black lace stockings and matching undies..... PRICELESS!! :-)

Is 42 too old to change careers?

2008-02-10T12:38:00.000-05:00

For those of you who do not know me, I have worked in the furniture production field and I worked as a computer programmer for several years. I have had good success in both, but have never really found my niche. Recently I decided to finish school and get my Masters Degree.

I'll spare you the details, but it seems that very few of my past educational credits will transfer so I'm basically starting over. No big deal, I've forgotten a lot of stuff and I enjoy school, so it's all good. (Do the kids still say things like that?:-)). Well, I've always thought of teaching and I enjoy subjects such as math/science/astronomy that have limited career options. (How many ads for astronomers do YOU see in the want ads?)

I also want to see the world (which was one reason I joined the Navy in 1983). I've been looking into TESL (Teach English as a Second Language) programs for a while now. Foreign countries hire qualified teachers to teach English to all grades (from elementary to university) and they pay you well for it. Well being relative of course, you'll make good money for the are you are living in. This would be the best of both worlds. You spend as long as you want (6 months, 2 years, whatever) living and working in a foreign country. You get to EXPERIENCE a place not just see it.

Anyway, to make a long story even longer, I've decided to change my major to Elementary Education. I feel like this will give me plenty of options for the future. Worse case I get stuck teaching here in central NC and that wouldn't be so bad would it. ;-)

Went to visit Miranda and Sam...

2008-02-02T21:23:00.000-05:00

Joy, Landon, Jessica and I went to visit Miranda and Sam today in Raleigh. We had a good time eating lunch at a small grill/cafe and walking around at Best Buy. It was a fun day.

Smells...

2008-02-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

It was very cold and raining when I left work Friday morning around 10am. The company is installing a new conveyor system in the assembly area and the plant was basically closed except for a few people coming in to catch up on their backlog of daily chores. As I opened the door and stepped out I took a deep breath (I love cold weather). I was immediatley taken back to a moment in my childhood when I was visiting relatives in the moutains of Kentucky.
I could smell the homecooked (any very artery clogging) fried meat and eggs cooking. We were getting ready for a big country breakfast including eggs, gravy, biscuits, various fried meats, etc.
Suddenly I stopped and thought, "Where did that (memory) come from?"
It took me a few seconds, but I realized that the frigid air carried smells from the mutiple fast-food resturants nearby still cooking and serving breakfast. I was amazed how that smell has taken me back in an instant to a memory I would not how thought of otherwise.

The human mind is an amazing piece of work. (Yes work, not happenstance, but I'll save that for another post.)

Good news, bad news...

2008-01-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

Way back before comedy became vulgar, there was a routine called good news, bad news. Basically one guy would say something and the other would respond 'that's good', then the first guy would say, 'no...such and such' and the second guy would say 'oh, that's bad'. This would repeat several times, and apparently passed for entertainment. So here goes...

"I had to start an internet blog for school."
"Oh, that's bad."
"No, not really. Turns out it's kinda fun."
"Well, that's good then.
"It was hard to think of a name and title, etc."
"That's bad..."
"But I did a good job I think."
"That's good."
"It's online for everyone to read."
"That's....bad."
"I used my name for the title."
"That's.....bad"
"Now I can't talk about work, personal things I want to keep quiet, family..."
"Crap...that's really bad...."
"No, that's good. I can talk about positive things and stuff that others might find helpful and interesting."
"BOOORING!!"

"You aren't playing the game right..."
"You could dis me on your blog."

Be careful what you ask for...

2008-01-22T20:05:00.000-05:00

Apparently the old saying is true. Everyone was complaining that it has been unbearably hot in the Astronomy class room until today. It was 58 degrees. In the class room, not outside.

Long day...

2008-01-21T20:44:00.000-05:00

I want to try to update this blog every day or so. It was a long day today with work and homework, so this update will be short.

We are supposed to get some wintery weather in the morning, but we'll see how that turns out. Seems like we get less and less snow/ice every year. The snow that fell Saturday was nice. I closed the bedroom door, opened the window next to the bad, and curled up and watched it snow until I fell asleep.

School is going well. I'm taking 6 classes this semester. Joy (wife) is taking 3 and will graduate at the end of the summer semester baring any unforeseen problems. She thought she would be finished this semester, but her adviser goofed up and she was 4 classes short instead of just 2.

Anywho, see ya in a day or two.

Hi. I'm Mike...

2008-01-20T16:05:00.000-05:00

This is my first blog. I have been thinking about starting a blog for a while now and since I have finally gotten around to doing do, I guess I should introduce myself.

I am 42, married, and I have 3 children (22, 20, and 14). I have spent most of my adult life working in the computer software industry and I have recently decided to return to school. My overall goal is a PhD, but in what, I have not decided (something in the Astronomy field probably).

I have 42 years worth or stories to tell (actually 41 years worth, I just ate, slept, and pooped for the first year) So check back often for current updates and flash backs.