Letter to Summer

Dear Summer,

I'm not really sure what to say, I mean... we had a good thing. For three months we courted eachother, spending nights together under the moon, you shooting stars....me wishin' on 'em. It was love at first sight wasn't it? The first time I woke up after 9:00 and stumbled downstairs in my cutoff shirt and mesh shorts, the sound of kids and copy machines were a distant memory, no responsibilities whatsoever. Our future became a mutual understanding of corona's and crickets....grilled foods and outdoor fires. We played rounds of golf and took boat rides...things even got pretty hot there in July and August. Oh the endless hours of the west wing we shared over a morning coffee and breakfast sandwich was such a great start to each day. Our afternoons played like an episode of the wonder years...winnie cooper had nothing on you.

However, there were always the signs that too much of a good thing, was in fact, too much. You toyed with leaving, every once and awhile a class or meeting relating to work, but you always came back. Each day that passed things became more awkward...we stopped spending so much time together, you didn't capture my excitement anymore, and I didn't enjoy your assets as much. I have to be honest, I started thinking of another. No, no, no, it's not what you think.....there was only you. It's just.....well....now I can't help it. Soon another will come back into my life and I simply don't have room for both of you....it's not you....it's me. So, Summer, I guess what I'm trying to say is that....we should see other people. Maybe our time will come again, but for now I only have time for school....we'll always have summer, Summer.

B. Wise

My Job

Ever wonder what I teach? Check out this trailer I created that I am going to show my kids on the first day to peak their interest.

Chills.

Your best, might be Tigers worst

Six years ago I was hired in late June to teach at Delaware Hayes High School. I was thrilled. I landed a teaching job and salary of about $33,000. In teaching terms, fresh out of college without a masters, this is considered a good starting salary. Some of you might have just thrown up in your mouth.....yes I know thirty five sounds low, but sadly it's not. This is considered high, you might say I landed the best job of the ones I interviewed for. I remember being pumped when my first paycheck came in the mail and I went to Best Buy and bought, what I'm sure was something AWESOME.

This past weekend Tiger played arguably his worst round(s) of golf in his thunderous career. He put up numbers that my buddies and I put up at the local courses. As my friend Jord might say "He's a coward".

As bad as his round was, he finished second to last and earned one of those giant checks for a bank total of $35,875.

Anyone see anything wrong with that? He made more money than I did doing his absolute worst. His worst was better than my best.

I don't feel sorry for myself at all, that's not the point of this blog. There really isn't a point, I was just dumbfounded when I heard how much a shotty performance can earn him and I wanted to share that with you.

the end.

Naive....overly optimistic....or arrogant?

I can't decide which of the three I am when it comes to situations that come my way. When something is presented in my life I typically take the stance that things will turn out in a good way. When I say situations that come my way....I really mean things that I have no control over.

Let's take a golf outing. I play in many golf outings and always think "we're going to win". Even if we start to play poorly, I think the rest of the field is playing poorly, so we will still win. Is it me being overly optimistic? arrogant? or naive?

Let's take buying a raffle ticket. Whether it's a 50/50 , a true raffle, or any type of drawing, I honestly think I'm going to win. I recently entered a raffle, I bought one ticket and thought it was just ridiculous I didn't win. I bought one ticket, one ticket. The odds were monumentally against me. Is it me being overly optimistic? arrogant? or naive?

Let's take horse betting. The first time I placed a horse bet, I won $75. The second time I won $2. It was a good month until I won again. I thought for sure, that when I pick a horse it's a lock that my trotter will cross the line first. I am honestly shocked when I don't win. Why? I don't have a clue what I am doing, yet I think I should win. Is it me being overly optimistic? arrogant? or naive?

Let's take the lottery. I've played the lottery twice in my whole life. I buy one ticket. I have spent two dollars on the lottery. I stayed up both times and watched the numbers come. I was shocked I didn't win. It's so stupid, but honest. Is it me being overly optimistic? arrogant? or naive?

I wonder why I am not this way in real situations in life? Why don't I go into situations that I have control over and think I am going to win? Don't get me wrong, I have a suitable level of confidence, in fact, I'm pretty sure I was an arrogant S.O.B. in high school. So much that I've consciously tried to erase that part of me. The problem is there is a chance of failure, and that failure would be my fault. With all the others, I can blame the millions of other people that bought lottery tickets. If I am an awful 8th grade teacher, I have to blame myself. If I look back at living in the neighborhood or city we choose and it's the wrong choice, I blame myself. So I over analyze every situation to the point that it becomes numbing to those that I confide in. One day I talk to my wife with the attitude that i have everything figured out. The next day I switch my mind. It must be mind numbing for her.

The reason for this rambling collection of thoughts about myself is that I have it all wrong. I just read my buddy Otis's blog, and he posted the quote below, and now I realize that I focus way to much on what I think about the way things should be. So maybe it's being naive, optimistic, and arrogant all in one. Instead of worrying about self failure, I should focus on how I can impact others in a positive way. If everyone did that imagine the world we live in.

"The best legacy you could leave is not some building that is named after you or a piece of jewelry, but rather a world that has been impacted and touched by your presence, your joy, and your positive actions."
-Jon Gordon-