First Grade Begins
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011
My first summer on Winterset came to an end on August 29, 1978 and it was back to the grind – my second out of thirteen grueling years of public school. I returned to Fairbrook Elementary, but this time instead of going to school in St. Andrew’s School next door, I joined the ranks of the kids who were in ‘numbered’ grades in the main school building. While it was true that we were the low men on the totem pole – or as some upper classmen referred to us, firsties – we had to start somewhere. The other big change was that I was now going to school for a full day, which began somewhere around 8am and ended at 3:10pm, as I recall. I braced myself for the big leagues. I had my picture taken on October 9 – at the age of 7 years, 7 days – to commemorate this occasion. Read the rest of this entry »
I had been very disappointed back in 
First of all, another disclaimer. The pictures that go along with the posting (and most particularly the humorous one of Briana at right) do not in any way, shape, or form tell my story from this time period. They just happen to be the only pictures at all that exist of this time period, showing what Ashleigh was snapping away with her camera, while I was on the literal verge of snapping. This posting will cover the segment of my life from March 26 thru July 7, 2006. It was assembled with a heavy reliance on old emails, jottings in my work calendar, and my own memories. It tells of what I consider to be my great transformation from one person into an entirely different person in matter of three months. 
Of all of the celebrities whom I met on September 25, 2010, at the Hollywood Celebrity show in Chicago, I’d have to say that Tim Kazurinsky was the friendliest. He is probably best known as being a repertory cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1981-84, doing a wide variety of characters and celebrity impressions. He really seemed to be in his element when performing a crotchety old man such as Mr. Robinson’s (played by Eddie Murphy) landlord. One of my personal favorite roles of that of Pa Greavy in the John Belushi/Dan Aykroyd under-rated vehicle Neighbors. 
I have something interesting that helps me recall some events from December 1986. And even more so, it takes a peek inside my head during this time period. And what’s more, it’s all fake. But not really. The truth is that I somewhat cheated on my 7th period English assignment from Mrs. Walters, where we were charged with writing a daily journal for almost a month (which included our Christmas break). I didn’t fill this thing in daily at all. In fact, I’m pretty sure I wrote most of it in study hall after I had returned to school following the holidays.