Mobill's News

Where have the last 5 years gone?

2007

NOVEMBER - New documentary by D. Storming the field after U of L defeated Rutgers was the most exhilirating sports experience of my life. I envisioned what I want to do next. I want to go back to school and become a Genetic Counselor. They get to help people. They get to keep up with genetics and they get to explain math and statistics on a daily basis. I took the GRE (680/730). Now to get into a school. I think I'm finally moving on.

OCTOBER - I got a letter and gift from a former student in Berlin. He'll never know how much it means to me. And I'm finally working every day again. I grade papers for a standardized testing company. John begins a new blog.

SEPTEMBER - Debra and I visit Alex and take him out for a couple of nights.I passed another PRAXIS (PLT). I failed another job interview (St. Croix). Saw U of L win a couple of football games. Idea Festival in Louisville. Having a job would've ruined IF anyway.

AUGUST - It's reunion month. I see my favorite cousin and niece for the first time in about 8 years. My grandmother also recognized me. I last saw her in October of 2003.

JULY - But the Curse of Squaw Valley Academy follows me still. I interviewed unsuccessfully twice for teaching positions for alternative school positions. At least I got to see Measure for Measure 5 times at Ky Shakespeare Festival. Worked maybe two days installing PCs at Sav-A-Lots.

JUNE - And it happened as I thought it would. Only 2 of my colleagues were retained. Only 9 of the staff of 29 that I joined were still employees on June 1 and that includes the Headmaster and his staff. Only 2 of the original teachers were retained. They had become staff by then. I recuperated in Henderson, Ky. at Blues and Bluegrass festivals. Then I moved to Louisville, Ky.

MAY - I quit. I think was too frustrated to be around delinquent children for 3 more weeks. I begged administration for relief from night duties; for a contract; something. I couldn't even get a contract for agreeing to teach summer school. No. They wanted me to help them get through the month shorthanded so that they could let us go and go back to the way things were before WASC visited. Every day I helped them get away with it, I felt worse. I packed the truck in an afternoon and was on the road by nightfall. Squaw Valley Academy in my rear view mirror was one of the sweetest sights I've ever seen. I drove to Cumberland Gap NP and spent a week pondering the whole ordeal.

APRIL - But by the end of April, there are no contracts for teachers and most of them are jumping ship anyway. Even I have drafted a resignation letter. SVA is only a month away from being able to replace their entire staff and pretend that the WASC visit never happened.

MARCH - And I keep my job. We met several times to draft "Action Plan Items" for inclusion into SVA's report on their methods of compliance with the WASC recommendation. For once, I'm one of the optimistic ones who believes that SVA will reform.

FEBRUARY - The Western Association of Schools and Colleges visits Squaw Valley Academy. I tell WASC that a lot of what they've been told by SVA is untrue and I can prove it. WASC investigates for themselves and makes recommendations.

JANUARY - New York IS where I'd rather stay. But it's against their wishes - New York City Teaching Fellows turns me down. While we're at it. Mississippi Teacher Corps turns me down too.

2006

DECEMBER - Mom was going to have surgery for an aneurysm in January. I drove back home to spend Christmas break with her. It was my first time back since Michelle's wedding. Mom's in good spirits, though.

NOVEMBER - Roxie was taking a geology class and we actually got to go back to Monterey for a field trip. Monterey never looked so good.

OCTOBER - Life was better at Donner Lake. There was no internet or kitchen but there was quiet and I could keep regular hours. It couldn't last though. Surely, SVA would come to their senses and negotiate for my return to campus. You would think so, but, no. What they did do was offer me a contract for about $3000 less than what I was supposed to be earning if I was still living on campus and threaten me with termination if I didn't sign.

SEPTEMBER - I finished burning all the firewood that I could find to keep the boiler going. Maintenance said that there was more firewood but that they didn't have permission to give me a key to it. I couldn't keep up that pace much longer, anyway. I was up at 6am daily to get the boiler started for the showers. I then had to refill it about every 6-8 hours. I taught a full load until 5pm. Then I could start on the IT stuff. I put the kids to bed around at 10pm but it would be 1am until teachers would finish coming in from shopping or whatever. I caught about 5 hours sleep and then did it all over again. When I was offered a reprieve from my housing terms during a staff meeting, I accepted and moved into a motel at Donner Lake.

AUGUST - I was supposed to work full time IT until school started and then work IT half time and teach a half schedule. But when 40 boys move into your home - you're now a dorm manager. When 60 new laptops show up on campus - you're an IT department. And when they give you 9 classes to teach - you're a full-time teacher.

JULY - John and Bernadette finally got hitched. I packed the truck that night and left for Squaw Valley Academy. I suppose that diploma didn't make me any smarter. I made one of the worst decisions of my life within a month of receiving it. Squaw Valley Academy fiasco needs its own website. I did compile this document, though. I moved up to Olympic Valley, CA and began fixing things.

JUNE - Elin Larsson had an opening for her photography at Cafe Noir in Monterey. I flew to Cincinnati for Alex's graduation. The diploma arrived in the mail. I don't think I really believed it until I saw it with my own eyes.

--- I am now a college graduate ---

I interviewed for a job with the Defense Language Institute and was waiting for the offer that I was told was coming when the phone rang. It was Squaw Valley Academy.

MAY - I don't think I did much besides work for about 3 months. But I got it done. And then I passed out. No really. I e-mailed my project, drove down to the burger place and passed out on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. Do I internalize stress? Well, without further ado, here it is: Is Teaching Biotech/Bioinformatics Worth It? I was also invited to present at Epiphany following Sunday service. Take THAT! Southern Baptist Convention. On a downer, Ty's Dad passed away. I sang and played a couple at the memorial service. Jon liked it, so I bought a classical for $80 so that I could strum during communions. R.I.P. Lester Hodge.

APRIL - Epiphany honored as Marina's organization of the year. Father Jon Perez honored as Marina's citizen of the year.

MARCH - Rebuilt the network at the Marina Teen Center. Applied unsuccessfully for the Southern California Bioinformatics Summer Institute.

FEBRUARY - Visited the hermitage at New Calmaldoli. Joined St. Benedict group at All Saints in Carmel.

JANUARY - I don't remember who actually lit the fire, but it was either Swarup or Sharon who stuck it underneath me and yelled in my ear, "Are you ever going to graduate!?" I decide to try writing up the Bioinformatics for Teachers workshop as a capstone project. I enroll at CSUMB for one more try.

2005

NOVEMBER - Spent Thanksgiving (and Christmas) with Michelle and Jim in Gilroy. We begin attending Taize services with the Monterey Peninsula Taize group.

OCTOBER - Attended the California Baptist annual convention as a reporter for the Seaside Post. I'd give you the link for that but they're not gonna last. Mom flew out to Gilroy to visit. That's her helping Noah read Out of the Silent Planet.

SEPTEMBER - I turned 40 without the possession of a college degree.

AUGUST - CalState TEACH changed their minds about letting ungraduated seniors into their credential program. Found part-time job at CriticalThinking. Worked on 40-year "brain-dump" and "rap CD" for Alex. Never recorded it. Just don't have the pipes for rap. Missed LinuxWorld for 1st time.

JULY - Passed CSET, then Alex Week, then kicked out of student housing to spend a week on my back with muscle spasms. Now I live in "downtown" Marina. 3 weeks into my Computer Literacy course I get a email from school that my petition for exception to school policy was accepted.

JUNE - Conference month. Wireless Community and Mobile User and Bioinformatics for Teachers. Forced to attend an Computer Literacy course to fulfill the graduation requirement at my "school" because they have no one on campus who can evaluate whether someone is computer literate or not. Wrote paper on using math inspired by Abraham Maslow to prioritize charitiable contributions. Also preparing for Alex Week in July

MAY - Another visit to Cincinnati. Capstone project not completed on time. Graduation subsequently delayed... but the scorecard is complete. R.I.P. Dr. Harry C. Hunter. Mother bought me a very nice VW Beetle for graduation. Really should graduate, though.

APRIL - End of internship at DMDC through Consortium. CBEST scores 78/75/41! Father Jon Perez fully ordained at Epiphany.

MARCH - Weight Watchers again. I've lost 50 lbs. But it's the same 25 lbs. twice.

FEBRUARY - Dave begins Peace Corps assignment. Recited "The Desert" for a roving reporter. R.I.P. Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. 

2004

DECEMBER - End of 3rd year at CSUMB. 3.5/3.6. Acting debut as Eugene Carmen. Saw Hapa on the mainland. R.I.P. and thank you, Rev. D.B. 

NOVEMBER - Dad's 2nd visit. Flamenco-a-go-go.

AUGUST - Linux World again but best one in years. Began 6th semester at CSUMB. 

JULY - Only the greatest vacation ever! 2 weeks in Baja - just me and our '96 Prizm with a spare rim. I will still be working on the website for this when Jesus comes. Thank you Wood family!

JUNE - Rush releases Feedback. Hooked up with Benny from Aristasoft for old times sake. Brief flirtation with new community chorus cut short by...

MAY - All As except for surfing. Didn't study enough. Hard to study when you're underwater. 3.9/3.6

APRIL - Frustration peaks, Windows purged from all desktops. Windows-only hardware reserved for art projects. Done with rh9, too.

MARCH - Eye-opening trip to Mexico with Third World Opportunities

FEBRUARY - The Right Reverend (actually, rather Left) Paul Strudwick left his flock at All Saints for the greener pastures of Vancouver.

JANUARY - Celebrated 10 years of The Bill and Roxie Show with a weekend in Yosemite. Began 3rd year at CSUMB.

2003

DECEMBER - End of 2nd year at CSUMB 3.6/3.6. Mother and Debra visited us. Completed academic documentation project for ESSP 495.

OCTOBER - Visited Alexander Ralles in Cincinnati. First visit to Yosemite. Requiesat en pacem, J.S.H.

SEPTEMBER - Finished diet 30 lbs lighter. 1st visit to Monterey Jazz Fest.

AUGUST - Linux World again. Began 4th semester at CSUMB. Thank you Carteena and the rest of the Epiphany Choral Ensemble.

JULY - Started a new internship with Consortium. I am back in the IT world after a 2-year hiatus. Win2k migrations are still the issue. Began cycling again and a 1750 calorie diet. 210 lbs, I show up on weather radars. Spirit West Coast.

JUNE - Conversational espanol at MPC. End of Monterey County internship (I think). Website finally published.

MAY - All 'A's except for espagnol 3.5/3.6. A in Inquiry-based Science for Teachers (projects site - lesson plan). Watched Ken Burn's Jazz.

APRIL - Joined Epiphany Choral Ensemble. Delivered message at Faith Lutheran.

MARCH - Transect trip to Baja. I should make a Baja page, that was huge! First real haircut.

FEBRUARY - Won the campus College Bowl tournament, participated in regionals in Fresno (2-9). Met Jello Biafra. Requiesat en pacem, Marty.

JANUARY - No holiday class for 1st time since Summer 2001. Barb and Gaynor visit us and most of North America. Began 2nd year at CSUMB.

2002

DECEMBER - End of 1st year at CSUMB, 3.3/3.6. Roxie got another A in Math at MPC.

Heroes

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