Update

For the 2 or 3 of you who read my blog, I have an update that goes back to my very first post back in November, 2004.

In that post, I mentioned my hockey playing days and some of the fellas I played with all those years ago.

Well, it seems that one of those fellas went and read what I said and he decided to say hello to me after nearly 25 years, (even if all I did was stand in front of the net and poke in the shots of his that the goalie happened to stop). I was very happy to hear from him after all this time and plan to keep in touch.

As for this blog, this "blast from the past" has gotten me motivated to write more about my present. I am on vacation right now, but when I get back, expect a lot more frequent posting from me.

Thank you, UT!

Affter having been at the University of Tennessee for a little over a year now, I have to say that coming here is the best decision I have ever made!!

The people I have gotten to know here have become almost like my family. They not only provide me with the opportunity for a good education, they provided me with a place to live in a hurry when I needed it. They have also provided me with a job that gives me the time I need to study, as well as nice folks to work with who have helped me more than they know. Without these people, I would pretty much be up the river with no paddles, so saying 'thank you' somehow seems to not be enough, but it is the best I can do for now.

GO VOLS!

Walking, Part II

This walking class is tougher than I thought it was going to be. First day, we walked a mile and then a bunch of steps. My legs are killing me!!

I'll tough it out and see what happens. Still sounds like an interesting class from looking at the syllabus.

Walking

I am starting a walking class today. 1 credit which I should get an "A" in at least. I am doing this for more than the easy grade though. I also hope to get rid of some of this gut I hae developed since I have been in Knoxville, and to hopefully give me more energy as a result.

I am not sure what is wrong with me, but I just have very little motivation to do much of anything, and I know I need to do something to change the way I am going.

Divorced

Well, I went to sign all the divorce papers this morning. I am agreeable to the greatest majority of the stuff I signed. The only thing I didn't care for was that she seemed so darn HAPPY about it all coming to an end.

Now it goes to the judge, who has to hold on to it for 14 days before he (the judge) signs it, then poof.....DIVORCED!

Back in Greensboro...for now

I know now why I left Greensboro.

I am here for a few days to visit my parents, and would not live here again on a bet. Way way too crowded with nothing to do. I did get to see the Depot downtown for the first time in about 30 years, but that one highlight is overshadowed by all the corporate sprawl from the airport coming into town on I-40.

Liberalism is a mental disorder

This guy is the only talking head who tells it like it REALLY is without the political baggage of Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly on the right or Al Franken and the Air America left wing nut jobs. Check him out!

This is way cool!

Check out http://chancellor.tennessee.edu/hurricaneassistance/. The University of Tennessee-Knoxille (as well as the other state supported universities) are offering to help Hurricane Katrina victms in a very unusual and special way by offering an education to some of those students displaced from their own colleges by the hurricane.

Way to go!

Back to school...

I got a rare treat to take my son Ben to his first official day of kindergarten. He seemed to be really ready to go to school and meet all the new kids.

I start back next week.

Here are some pictures from the UT Orange and White game, and some other various pictured of my kids and my parents when they came here last month. 

Just a short note....

I ended up with a B in my second summer course. More over the weekend.....

HOT!

It's supposed to be 95 here for the next few days with heat index temperatures around 100 or so. Good thing I have a pool. Going in a little while to pick up Ben and bring him back here for a couple of days.

We're going tonight to see the Tennessee Smokies baseball team. They are the AA affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The company gave me free tickets. YAY!

What rights do you have?

This post is in response to a blog conversation I have been having with the head of the Republican party in my hometown. Thank goodness I don't live there anymore.

Basically, he goes on and on about the rights of the majority and the rights granted to us by God.

Apparently, he got called to task for deleting a post where he received a lot of negative comments, and he has yet to admit that he did it (either intentionally or accidentally). He blames the post going away on a "power outage" that he had at his location. Maybe there was a power outage at his location, but that would have no effect on posts that are already stored on Blogger's servers (whereever they are).

Now, as Paul Harvey says, "the rest of the story". You will see my response to him in the comments below.....

The one true right God does give each individual is the CHOICE to accept His Son Jesus Christ or not to. What each individual does with that choice is their own business, and it will be up to God to stand in judgment, not to any of us.

It is like a former pastor of mine said about the Christian lifestyle...."if I'm wrong (about what he says from the pulpit), I at least have lived a good life and hopefully have made other peoples' lives better in the process. If I'm right, then we will receive all of the riches God has promised us in the Bible".

I think God does give us other rights, but without that first right, the others mean very little.

New pictures

My 5 year old Ben, busy at my laptop

Ben riding a camel at the Knoxville Zoo
Ben on the tram at the Zoo
Here are some various pictures. I'll upload more later.

RRRRRRRRRR

I just had to reformat my hard drive. What a pain in the butt!

Here is where I am today.

D-Day

I find out a little later today what I got for my Poli Sci class. Hoping for an A, but I still think I'll end up with a B+.

UPDATE

I ended up with the B+. No complaints....

Yaaay for me!!

I ended up with a 95 on my group project. I know she most likely won't read this, but thanks Jennifer!

I have gotten B's on the 2 tests, and an A on my paper, in addition to this grade. I still have to take the final next week, but I could end up with an A, but most likely a B+.

Pretty good considering that I truthfully understand very little of what the professor is saying (he speaks VERY broken English), but he is a pretty decent guy in spite of that.

Going away

I am going away for a few days to visit my parents. Their house happens to be in a wireless hotspot, so I'll take my laptop along and maybe blog while I am there.

Happy 50th b'day to my brother tomorrow!

Good day

I had a very good day with my little boy on Sunday. First, we went to the zoo here in Knoxville for my company's picnic. They had a terrific spread for lunch. He got to ride a camel and went on the carousel a couple of times. He particularly enjoyed seeing the elephant. I'll post some pictures as soon as I get them developed.

After lunch, we stopped by the university to watch a baseball game. He enjoyed it more than I thought he would. Of course, meeting a little girl who came up and sat with us eventually probably helped that some. The only problem was that he kept cheering for the other team to hit a home run. He did enjoy clapping and dancing around when they played "Rocky Top", so there is hope for him after all I suppose.