"It's not unusual.........."

That's actually the beginning of a Wayne Newton song. But what IS unusual is for me to go several days without posting.

I actually wasn't planning to post tonight. Its almost 11:30 pm. I went to bed around 10:30. But I took some Pregnazone (sic) meds for some poison ivy I caught (the experience of which I might post about tomorrow), and it winds me up. So for about 40 or 50 minutes I've been trying to sleep. ...What was going through my mind as I resisted sleep? I was thinking/dreaming about when Pope John Paul II died and they had that slow procession toting his body around and into St. Peter's Basilica. And then I wondered if the previous Pope, which only "ruled" for about a month, if his body still looked good. And then I imagined what it would be like if for hundreds of years they had put Popes in liquid nitrogen, and every time a pope died, they pulled them all out and dressed the up and made them stand around in the Vatican court yard while the latest Pope was carried around and sat with them. ....gotta love that dreamstate; where wierd things happen.

Today has been a very nostalgic/sad type day. It was my last day at my school. I was done with my kids Friday, that was a nostalgic/sad day too...but so was today. I finished putting in my grades, filing away permanent records, and then came the job of cleaning out my classroom for the last couple of years.

Unloaded files and files of papers from my filing cabinet. Cleaning out my desk. Cleaning out the closet. It became somewhat sad. I was the only one left at school. It was kind of dark, because alot of the lights were turned out in the building. I drug my bags of trash out into to hall. Boxed up my stuff and put it in the truck. It hit me the hardest when it was time for me to take out the podium. I doubt everyone could understand that, but that was tough. I've had that podium for about as long as I've taught. I remember the funny feeling when I took it out of my last school's classroom. And then that feeling again today. ...because it represents what I do. I teach. ...so taking it out and putting it in the truck is kind of like........when a wrestler leaves his shoes in the ring the last time he wrestles, or maybe when a cop turns in his badge. Its always sad to take that podium away. I loved those kids...I loved that school. I had this big speech about God and their lives, the last time I had them in the class (the kids I had for two years), but I started to get a little choked up with the first group, so that got cut pretty short. I did better with the second group and got more of my main points in. It's kind of funny to see 14 year old guys who are the "cool guys" fight the awkwardness and give their teacher a hug anyway. You have the same kids day in and day out for two years and they kind of become your kids. There are a lot of good future Christian leaders in that group.

But thats life, and now its on to God's next location on Tour de Life. NHSGA (North Habersham Sixth Grade Academy). Think its got enough names? There's no rest for the weary....today I pack up at Westminster and tomorrow at 10:00 am I have to meet with the new faculty to discuss next year at the new school.

It's kind of funny, 'cause when I got to Westminster Christian School, I thought I'd be there for 30 years. But...."In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." So true. ....I wonder how long I'll be here.

Behold...the repaired yard decoration in all it's glory. At the sounding of the trumpets, you will bow and worship.

the before picture

My driveway - Home of the decoration - Notice the axe in the ditch......some shubbery had to be sacrificed for the Holy Fence Mount.

Richard Mitchell

Whats up folks. Hey, you guys are always coming across people from FBC and saying go to their blog and check it out. I do, now I've got one for you to check out. It is David's bro-in-law Richard. He and his wife are TFC grads, and he now lives in Birmingham. He's started a blog, and wants people to roll in and give their take on what he's thinking. So do me a favor and go check it out and leave a comment. Agree or disagree, its all good for Richard.

http://www.takeallgiveall.blogspot.com/

Stockbridge strikes again.

Davies keeps it spotless at home
Stockbridge product gets 3-0 win over Mets

...and this guy's dad's name? .........Hiram. My dad's name is Hiram. We must be related.

Words from Shaq

Shaq, who wishes to get into law enforcement at the end of his NBA career, recently said the following:

"I put a lot into it, and when I am done playing, I plan on going undercover..."

More Micah Pictures on his pictorial

More pics has been added to the "Micah Kelly Pictorial". Click on the side bar link to view.

Bust you up in da grill

"What's in your wallet?!"

--Micah preparing for his Capital One commercial spot.

Cruisin' in his hog.

Have a break, have a Kit-Kat

hilarious

cute pet deer

stretch

Stockbridge produces nothing but studs

Davies' debut a gem
Rookie from Stockbridge blanks Boston for five innings

Boston — On a raw New England night, the pride of Stockbridge stood strong and made them take notice at the epicenter of Red Sox Nation

I would just to point this out to everyone. It is an article from the Atlanta-Journal Constitution about the Braves awesome rookie pitcher from the most awesome place to be from. Stockbridge, Ga. Also known to me as..."home". I don't care what Jared or David says. I am from Stockbridge. Birth to 14. It qualifies as my place of upbringing. GO STOCKBRIDGE!!!!!

Linguistic Profile

Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English

40% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

This is my profile. Take the test. I got this from Rick and Christie's site (A Couple of Words)

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Answer to prayer

Today, the aforementioned principal called me and offered me the job. It has only to be approved by the Board of Ed., and that is usually a foregone conclusion. So unofficially, I have the job. This is a major answer to prayer. Thanks to those who have remembered to pray for the situation.

Now:

I work 3.5 miles (about 5 minutes) away, instead of over 30 minutes like for the past 4 yrs.

I get paid not quite (several thousand less than) double what I got paid last year; (unfortunately, this is of course negated by the loss a lesser income).

Insurance was going to cost almost $900 a month, now family insurance costs $180 a month.

I was going to be broke and eating mayonaise sandwiches, now I will have some spending money and be eating baloney and mayonaise sandwiches with cheese.

Tori was going to have to find some part time work to make ends meet, now she will not have to, and work only when desired (apart from our Church work).

We were going to be limited severly with our desire to purchase a different vehicle, now more possibilities exist.

Micah was going to have to spend some time at a Mother's Morning out Program a few times a week, while Tori worked at another Pre-school, now Micah gets to stay home with mommy all the time.

I was going to be deprived of XBox live at my house when we gave up DSL, now I will not only have XBox live, but now I will get wireless to accomodate the laptop that all Habersham County teachers recieve.

So as you can see, the list goes on and on. The funny thing is, this was something that we thought would happen months ago. But God had different plans. I applied here first, but the door was shut. I then applied at Banks County Middle School, a school that does not exactly rank high on my list of places to work. They had a position that fit me open, and I was relatively well liked there, but I believe God closed the mind of the principal so that he would not offer me a job. If he had, I would have been out of luck, when this great job came open.

A lady who needed to move assignments in order for there to be a position open for me, agreed to do it. Where is God's hand in that? Well, it just so happens that we went to church with this lady and her husband for a very short time at our previous church. I believe God put them in our lives for a short while then, for one, so that at this later time, he would use it to open this spot up for me.

Plus, a lady that was Tori's teammate, and now will be mine, just happened to go to college at Toccoa Falls, and worked hard to persuade the powers that be to make a place for me. It is amazing to see God work.

So why all the rigamaroll ( I was determined to use that word)? Well, I think it was a test of faith. He doesn't always make things easy, he likes to test us and purify us through trials. But he always takes care of us. And knowing that he takes care of the flowers of the field and the birds of the air, gave me confidence that He would take care of us too.

What to post?

Well, its been one of those things were life has been so crazy the last couple of days that I feel like letting things settle down before I post.

One main thing has been my job situation. The school where I had first applied, had no openings, but recently several teacher had relocated to different counties. So there is now an opening. So today I went up and had an interview with the man who will be the principal of the North 6th Grade Academy. He is a neat guy. Very laid back and not the "bite your head off" type that principals usually are. The interview went great and it went on for almost 2 hrs. Basically, he just has to check on something to make sure the spot really is "open". Then he may call me tomorrow or the next day. So there looks like a very strong possibility that I may actually get this job now. That would so be an answer to prayer. It will help us TREMENDOUSLY financially and give us very good and very AFFORDABLE health insurance. So that is awesome. Definetly an answer to prayer. I had put it in His hands, though, so I really wasn't worried about it either way (although it was on my mind alot).

Also, I have about 7 or 8 days of school left. Then it is summer time fo shizzle. So then when some of you are just getting going with your busy time, I will be winding down for some R & R. I will even have a break from alot of Church activities and the thing we will do with the kids during the summer is fun. So it's all good this summer.

Reminds me of high school chemistry

I saw these jokes on a random blog. It reminded me of Dr. Pipes highschool chemistry class. Perhaps Michael can chime in with some funny chem class stories:

TOP 10 WAYS TO GET KICKED OUT OF THE CHEMISTRY CLASS:
10. Pretend an electron got stuck in your ear, and insist on describing the sound to others.
9. Give a cup of liquid nitrogen to a classmate and ask, "Does this taste funny to you?"
8. Consistently write three atoms of potassium as "KKK."
7. Mutter repeatedly, "Not again... not again... not again."
6. When it's very quiet, suddenly cry out, "My eyes!"
5. Deny the existence of chemicals.
4. Begin pronouncing everything your immigrant lab instructor says exactly the way he/she says it.
3. Casually walk to the front of the room and urinate in a beaker.
2. Pop a paper bag at the crucial moment when the professor is about to pour the sulfuric acid
1.Show up with a 55-gallon drum of fertilizer and express an interest in federal buildings.

New pictures have been added to the "Micah Kelly Pictorial". Click sidebar link to see them.

"Welcome to 'This Old Fence'"

Ok. This is going to be one of those posts, where nobody will probably give a hoot but me. But, oh well, it's my blog....I'll cry if I wa....nevermind.

This is a little project I'm working on. It's of no significance. No one will really care when it's finished. It serves no real purpose. It's just a yard decoration. Yet, somehow I am compelled to fix it up. It used to be in my parents yard in Young Harris. As you can see my dad painted "KELLY" on it, and it has some rusty numbers that used to be the street address. So this picture is the before picture, and someday I hope to post the after picture. I'm sure you'll put that on your calendars.

So anyway, its got this metal frame on the back that you stick in the ground by the road. Just a friendly little thing to let people know it's your house. So I am cleaning it up, repairing it, redoing it, and I am going to stick it down by the road.

First I pulled out about 40 staples that were in it. I tore of some of the ragged black cloth background on the back. Yesterday I disconnected the rusty, metal frame and got most of the rust off with my electric grinder/wire brush. I bought some black spray paint at I Own Your Soul.....also known as Wal-Mart. (Side story: I used the self-checkout, and the total was $1.01. All I had was a $20. It was a dollar and ONE CENT. That should never be allowed to happen. Luckliy, I used a Jedi mind-trick to get a Wal-Mart girl to give me a penny.) So I'm going to paint the frame, sand the wooden picket fence, repair as needed, paint it white, repaint "KELLY", buy new metal numbers to match my address, staple new fake leaves/flowers to it, and wala, it will be completed in all its glory.

Does anyone really care? I doubt it. But, ...so what. Welcome to the random world of Charlie's free time.

I do have something else to post....

I do have something else to post, but I just got too tired to do it last night. I got in the hot tub, then laid down on a cool, crisp bed, and it just sucked all the gumption right out of me. So I'll try to post about it when I get home. It's been a busy couple of weeks...not so much at work, but at home. Having a baby sure does change your life. I've always heard it, and always believed it, but now I am getting to experience it.

MANILA, Philippines -- An eight-story office building which was leaning precariously for days in one of Manila's busy commercial districts, collapses hours after occupants fled in panic following creaking sounds and bursting water pipes. No injuries were reported but the incident damaged another building across the street.

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. -- Rick Barker, left, an arborist, uses an incremental borer to retrieve a core sample from Michael Carmichael's giant ball of paint. Carmichael, right, is having the core sample sent to the Guiness Book of World Records in London, UK to have his creation officially recognized as the largest ball of paint in the world. Carmichael began the project by painting a regulation size baseball in 1977 to arrive at the current 111-inch in circumference ball after 18,000 coats of paint.

I don't know why, but this racoon reminds me of Oppie

PALMERTON, Pa. -- Bandit, the world's heaviest raccoon, rests in the lap of Deborah "Pepper" Klitsch on Jan. 30, 2001. Bandit, a junk-food crazed critter billed as the world's weightiest raccoon, died Saturday, May 8, 2004. Klitsch denied the occasional charge that she overfed the rotund raccoon, whose weight ballooned to nearly 75 pounds, three times the average for his breed. He was born with a bad thyroid gland, Klitsch said.

Snickers brought this into the house and left it in the office. I'm pretty sure it used to be a frog.

(Nevermind David, you must be right.) Natasha, a 5-year-old black macaque walks at the Safari Park near Tel Aviv. The young monkey began recently walking exclusively on her hind legs after a stomach ailment nearly killed her, zookeepers said