The World is in Good Hands

I have just spent the last three days in Washington DC with my school's quiz bowl team, which I coach. We are here for national championships. Most people would balk at the idea of spending 4 days in a big city with 6 teenagers between 15 and 18. And normally I would too. But these kids are different. They’re special. And not in the Olympics way. These are the best of the best. So you would think we did well here.

Yeah, we got our ass handed to us.

But it wasn’t about the competition. I mean sure, we wanted to do well. Who doesn’t? But something happened this weekend that defies logic. I saw 6 kids have the time of their lives, literally. The will walk away from this weekend with memories that will last a lifetime. They will never forget the 4 days they spent in our nation’s capital.

And neither will I.

We just left a little restaurant in Fairfax where we are staying. Dolce Vita is a little Italian restaurant. And boy do I mean little. It’s in a strip mall space that must have originally been a shoe store. It’s cramped, loud, and obnoxious. And I want to move here so I can eat there every night. It was by far the most amazing meal I have ever had. Ever. But it begs the question, was it the food or the significance of the meal?

Don’t get me wrong, the food was amazing. I have no problem saying it was the best Italian I have ever eaten. But there was so much more than the food going on. See, this is our first year and for the seniors, it’s also their last. We come from a school not known for its academics. It’s more known for its fights and drug arrests. So these kids are looked over quite often. That’s why I started the team; I wanted to give those kids an outlet. I wanted to save them from the drudgery of that school. I wanted to give them the recognition they deserve. I wanted to save them for the future.

And in the process, they saved me.

I don’t mean to get emotional or melodramatic, but they really did. I was ready to quit. I can make a whole lot more money in industry. Hell, I could probably make more money writing full time. No mother, I still haven’t quit my day job. I didn’t feel like I was making a difference. I didn’t feel like I was doing any good in the world. And then these kids came along and showed me what a fool I was. And for that I will always thank them. I will carry this weekend to my grave as my favorite non family moment ever. Normally this is where I put some funny last line that summarizes the post. I will keep with at least part of that tradition…

To Courtney, Laura, Diemmi, and Nathan: I can never say it enough. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have started something that will last for years to come. Know that every trip we take from here forward will never be the same. Each year will bring new memories, especially for those leaving. But you will never be replaced in my mind or my heart. I love you all and wish you the best.

Somtimes, People Don't Suck

As I mentioned before, I teach high school. This Thursday, I leave for 4 days of academic mania as the Red Raider Quiz Bowl team heads to Washington DC for the PACE NSC National Championships. The school was very generous to us at the beginning of the year, buying us T-shirts and a $600 buzzer system. It's the end of the year so no money is left for us to pay for this trip. So now we are in the wonderful world of fundraising. Yeah!!!

The problem, of course, is we are inundated with people asking us for money. Charities, religions, agencies, schools, preschools, everybody wants our money. And that's not to mention our friends on the roadways, need help, God bless.

So most people turn up their noses to helping. Especially businesses. Oh they support some major charity that works everywhere so they say they help the communities they're in. Few actually work with true, local, grassroots groups.

So here we are, 2 weeks from leaving, and we still need $1800 to pay for everything. Enter the Greensboro News and Record, Barnes and Noble, and Bojangles. All three of these groups stepped up, promoted our team, and allowed us to do some things to raise money. I am forever grateful to you.

But more than them, thank you to all of you who proved me wrong. Thank you to all of you who showed up, sent money, donated time, bought books, talked to us, answered questions, and sent words of encouragement. Thank you to those who paid for a average car wash. Thank you to the parents who drove from other towns to get their car washed. (I think she was checking to see if I still had my day job.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. We made it.

Now if I can only find a way to get us there...

SCORE!!!!!

I will never believe it.

I'm living it and I still don't believe it.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages: You are reading the newest blogger for eHome Upgrade, a website devoted to bringing understanding to the home network and digital media. I, being an expert in the field of home automation, am a perfect fit for this position.

Did I mention it paid? Yes it does. It would be impolite to give specific details, but let's just say I can take my wife out 3 or 4 times a month if I want, babysitter included.

At the risk of sounding 80's, it's so awesome. Who would have thought you could really make this kind of part time income? Who would have thought I could really make this kind of part time income? Thank you to all of you who read my first stuff. Thank you to Jason Powell for giving me my start. Thank you to my family, who stood behind me.

Wow, I always wanted to say that.

...And no mother, I still have no plans to quit my day job

Freelancing, Baby

So after a day down with a pulled muscle, I'm back. Sucks I hit an injury on my first day in. Momma always told me life could suck. looks like she was right. Well, on to the good stuff.

I am one day into my new freelance writing gig and I am pleasantly surprised. I have already run down two legitimate leads and have my eye on three others. I thought it was hard to break into writing? To be fair, I'm not exactly buying million dollar houses with the income. I'm not even buying candy bars. I am however, making a name for myself every time I publish. I hope to keep riding the wave. I really like it.

Some of you who know me may be asking yourselves, "What the..." in regards to my decision to write professionally. Let me make one thing perfectly clear mother, I am not quitting my day job...yet. Nor do I have plans to quit it...yet. You see, I'm just having fun, doing something I like. If I make a billion dollars, guess who's quitting his day job? If I make five bucks, guess who's gonna supersize their meal? The point is, I'm not doing anything to jeopardize the family. On the contrary, I am earning us more money, so all is well. Please, relax and enjoy the present knowing that our future is safe.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go write another 300 articles so I can tell my principal to go to...

Welcome to The Triangle Theory

Greetings and welcome to The Triangle Theory. You have ventured into a mind my wife describes as probably being “a fun place to play.” I don’t like playing in it because it can also be an overwhelming place to be. So, this should be a release valve for my adventures in teaching, parenting, living, and breathing. So sit back and enjoy. Who knows, maybe you might stay for a while.

A little about me then. I am a married father of four, yes four, girls ages 11, 9, 7, and 20 months. My house smells pink for God’s sakes. I teach high school so I am way more mental than I should be. Or is that postal? At any rate, there will be plenty of entries on my students and kids as they pretty much so run my life. I am coach of our high school quiz bowl team as well as adviser for SkillsUSA for which I have won back to back state championships. I also write a weekly TV report for www.prowrestling.net. Check it out when you get a chance.

So the name of the blog probably raises some questions. As the banner says, the triangle theory concerns girls, bands, and sex, three of my favorite subjects. Ahem. At any rate, this came from a long night of band practice (and drinking) from back in my 20s. The idea is simple: if all you do is walk on stage and hit a triangle one time, some girl in that crowd will want to have sex with you because you were on stage and “in the band.” I thought it was a funny thing to say, until I started running sound for bands that actually played out somewhere.

We would be in these little dive bars with a max capacity of 100 people and we were always in a fire violation. I would be yards away from the band, running sound, and women would flock to me, trying to hook up. Believe me when I say, I’m not Brad Pitt, so it wasn’t my boyish good looks. It was being “with the band.” If I wore a laminated badge, guaranteed to have ‘em lined up for blocks. They were like sheep.

And it disgusted me. It was hero worshiping for no other reason than that person can play an instrument and you can’t. I hated it then and I hate it now. When I see girls screaming and fainting over Hannah Montana or the Jonas Brothers I want to puke. So I have dedicated my life to breaking these ideas about people and fame. My bullshit meter is primed and ready to go. No more will you worship those who have fame and money. No more will you worship those who have influence. No longer will you allow men of questionable sexuality determine what clothes are cool or not. No, you will stop worshiping those mindless faces and you will start worshiping true heroes. Heroes who make this life a better place…

…like teachers who write blogs…