Catching the true Christmas spirit (finally!)

My wife and I have been searching through our credit card reward points looking for gift ideas for everyone in our little family. As I looked through all the items, I could not find anything that I wanted enough to "spend points" to get. DVDs? Nope, I've got netflix (on demand via the Wii) CDs? Nope, I can find anything I really want through cheaper or more song-specific means. Books? Nope, the library (OCC or Ocean County College - including inter-library loan.) That pattern continued through everything I could think of. The practical things I want are too expensive (tool set, propane powered mulching mower, leaf blower/bagger, etc) and the smaller things were too easy to rationalize away.

I needed to find something I really wanted (not just needed.) I think I finally did. I won't say what, because I think a large man who lives north of us and likes red (no, not Governor Christie) might be involved. Although it has no practical use, I am really excited about it. I think that's so cool! Maybe this is what Christmas should be about (and I've been missing the point) - making people feel happy and loved, not simply providing what they need.

That idea can go beyond the gift-giving to include the entire Christmas season.

Brad

O how things have changed...

After my last post, things really went downhill at OCC. A new policy that "caps" the percentage of full-time faculty that can be tenured at any time has done serious damage to any positive atmosphere on campus - especially among the non-tenured faculty. Basically, the numbers do not add up to allow all those who are eligible for tenure over the next two years to be granted tenure. NJ state law requires tenure or termination at the start of the 6th year of teaching for county colleges. So we are all a little worried. I know I am an excellent professor and colleague; however, some events during the early Fall have cast some doubt on my own tenure expectations.

No matter what happens, I know that my Heavenly Father directed me to this job. He has always been there for me I have always tried to follow Him. I know that no matter what happens, it will be for His purpose (and my good.)

I know that is a bit of a downer for a 1st post back. I will have more positive posts. I plan to post everyday between now and Christmas. If I can do that, I will definitely have established a habit.

Brad

Pondering the future...

In all my time here at OCC, there has been an increasing expectation or recommendation that I ultimately move into an administrative position. From others' perspectives I have the necessary skills to do so, and from some, I excel at the most important skills necessary to a good administrator. From my own perspective, I could see how I might be able to more effectively contribute to the overall mission of OCC from an administrative position, as opposed to a faculty position. I always knew that tenure was a necessary step to acheive before considering any administrative position (just for job security.) But within the past 2 months the issue has been strongly present in my mind. I knew I needed to do something to "resolve" my uneasiness. So I talked to a friend. The friend reinforced the idea that I have all the necessary skills for administration, but I still lack the knowledge and experience that would allow my skills to be effectively deployed. After that discussion, I was at total peace with myself. My decision was made and I was happy with it - I am an awesome professor! I love what I do, and I make a day-to-day difference in the lives of my students, co-workers, and the greater Ocean County community.

Today I saw this interview with Gov. Christie. His response about being the Governor of NJ and the idea of running for president really reflects my feelings about being a professor and the idea of becoming an administrator (especially the time with family aspect!)



At peace with the present,
Brad

A Joyous Milestone...

Yes, this is my 100th post on this blog. I have been posting off and on (mostly off) for nearly three years now. Since I first started I have experienced too many things to relate in a single post. However, here are some of the highlights:

Moved to NJ to begin my career teaching Political Science.
Served as both seminary teaching and choir director for my ward.
Bought my first home.
Participated in the birth of my first daughter.
Baptized my oldest son.

As I said, there have been others, but those are the ones that really rise to the top.

My major goals for the next three years include:

Gain tenure at OCC.
Baptize my second son.
Ordain my oldest son as a deacon.
Take my wife on a cruise.

Again, not an exhaustive list, but it hits some of the more important items.

My final statement in this 100th post is an enormous "THANK YOU" and "I LOVE YOU" to my wonderful wife. She has made the last three years (and all 10+ years of our marriage) wonderful.

Looking forward to many more years of joy,
Brad

Fun with my boys!

The week after Mothers' Day was an amazing week for me and my boys. It was that busy "last week of class" for the Spring Semester, so I was not planning on one of the events that we shared, and dreading the other.

The Brick Armory:

One of my students who is in both the clubs I advise has a membership to a local gun range. As a member of the armed forces, he also has several weapons of his own. He has regularly invited me to come with him and the other students, but they always went in the evening (which is family time for me.) He said the family could come, but I've never taken the initiative to plan it. Well, Wednesday (5/12) he reminded me yet again. I called my wife to see if the boys and I could go (somewhat hoping she would give me an excuse not to go.) Well, she didn't. In fact, it worked out perfectly for her evening plans - so off to the gun range we went!

When we got there, neither of the boys wanted to shoot. I took a couple of turned with the .22 pistol before my younger son decided he wanted a turn. He went right to it! He didn't miss his turn the rest of the night. My older son remained resistant (he even got teary when I suggested that he could have a turn if he wanted one) so I didn't push the idea. Eventually, he saw how much his brother liked it and decided it was OK to try. Once he got the pistol in his hand, though, he began to loosen his grip finger by finger (I was holding it too for the first attempt.) I finally convinced him to just try one shot before he gave up. He did. And then he took another...and another...and another! He quickly emptied the clip and told me how excited he was for his next turn. The rest of the night the two boys took turns with the .22 pistol. They even named the target ("Mr. Deadman") and did a fine job making the name fit. My older son was able to understand the concept of aiming and did the better job of recognizing some of the technique of shooting (two years does make a difference!)

I got to try a couple of other guns. My favorite was the 9mm rifle. Using it, I finished off whatever was left of Mr. Deadman. In the end, both the boys want to go back for another night at the gun range.

Fathers & Sons:

OK, this was the one I knew about but was dreading. I hate camping. The only things that makes camping fun are family (like the Weston reunions) or condos (like East Canyon - maybe a houseboat like Lake Powell.) In this case I didn't see either. My boys are family, of course, but not in my "camping fun" family. They don't sit around the campfire telling old family stories while smoking, drinking coffee and cussing - that's the family I remember as fun. And where can you really "camp" in New Jersey?

Well, we didn't go to a real campsite, but that turned out for the best. We stayed on a large grassy patch in the middle of a "forest-type" area. The boys and I got there with two adult sleeping bags and a 3-man tent. They had their pjs, but no other change of clothes. Ten minutes after we got the tent set-up and loaded, it started pouring rain. We had coordinated dinner with the other fathers/sons from our ward, so that went smoothly, but we were soaked. Fortunately, the rain stopped early enough that the bonfire could be built and we could dry ourselves while we roasted marshmallows for smores. After the fireside, we went to sleep. I had neglected to bring a pillow, but we all slept well. The boys enjoyed the big breakfast in the morning and we left by 8:30. Although my oldest was carsick on the way home, we are all looking forward to next year. We have a list of changes we need to make:

1. Bring an extra set of clothes for everyone.
2. Bring ponchos
3. Each boy gets his own adult sleeping bag (so daddy need a new one)
4. Bring a foam mattress, not air (I forgot to mention that the air mattress had a hole in it and was completely flat by midnight!)
5. Bring a pillow for daddy.

After that week I have come to appreciate my boys a lot more. They are really fun to be with. Any time they aren't, it is normally my fault. Like anything in life, you get out of it what you put into it. I am trying to put more into my relationships with my family. They really are worth it.

I just hope that I am worth it too,
Brad

A bit of a rant...

I have commented on the free speech vs. "I'm offended" debate before. Simply by framing the issue with those words, you should know where I stand. I found this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer and completely agree with the author's conclusion:

'South Park' vs. the sword

Theo Van Gogh, whose antics occasionally resembled South Park's in their tastelessness, discovered that his pen was no match for a killer's sword. And yet, the pen - the keyboard, the comedian, and the editorial cartoon; Bart, Cartman, Kyle, and Kenny - actually holds enormous power. To win, however, it needs its backers to show backbone. Too bad South Park's have none.

If you prefer a picture (I'm not going to type 1000 words) here's one I used at my old blog.



End of rant.

Now I get to discuss Arizona's immigration law with my class (no controversy there!)
Brad

Well, it's about time!

Well, I'm back into biking to work on a regular basis. Three days last week - which is what I will normally be able to do until May. My Wednesday schedule keeps me on campus until 5pm, which is when I normally like to be arriving at home, not headed home, so I normally drive on Wednesdays. Plus, we normally schedule our family's chiropractor appointments then - so driving just works out for the best. Thursdays I teach a late-afternoon/early-evening course for the "Kean @ Ocean" program through Kean University. The class runs from 4:30 to 7:15. That is also pretty late to be biking. Now that the weather is better and it is still somewhat light at 8pm, I may try biking those days too. That leaves Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Since I have biked so little since last November, it's probably best to start out slow.

I'll try to post a little more regularly,
Brad