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All Quiet on the Front, Industrious in the Trenches
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It’s been over a week now since my last post, so I felt compelled to come out of the shadows for a moment and say a few things.
For starters, I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was still here.
Though I haven’t been posting often this last week, I’ve been busy.
I’ve got my game face on, and I’m plowing away on several high priority projects.
1. I’ve been very focused on finding a job. I’ve enjoyed my little break, but I still need an income, preferably full time until the end of the year. Ideally, I’m looking for one on my campus (because they are obviously lenient about working around class schedules and it will help with the scheduling of my life in general–children, etc.), but I will take any I can find in the meantime. I had a really promising interview on Wednesday: the pay isn’t great but I liked the CFO and attorney I would be working for (even though the job is still accounting-related), but it could also be slightly part-time (which would mean I might be able to keep it while attending classes and so, I wouldn’t have to worry about finding another job later).
2. I’ve been pumping out a scholarship almost every 3-4 days. This has been fun, and I hope I win some of them. I’ve never applied for scholarships before, so it’s been good practice, even if I don’t win any (at least I’ll know that I’m not being competitive enough). This has occupied most of my time. I’ve produced some great essays so far, and am starting to run out of good ones I can apply for. I’ve got a budget set so we can make it without needing them, but it will be tight, so if I win some, it will be bonus.
3. I’ve resurrected my ambition to learn ancient Greek. This has been very fun because my wife is doing it with me. It’s been great to have someone to say the words to, if for no other reason, for the validation–not to mention (for the guys) that if you’re someone who loves Homer and Plato, as I do, there’s nothing quite as sexy as having your wife speak to you in Greek. 
Believe it or not, learning Greek isn’t as hard as it might sound. The hard part is the unique alphabet. Most of it, as with any language, is the vocabulary. At some point, you just have to memorize several thousand words to get good. I’ve found so many resources on learning Greek that I may even write a post just about it.
4. I’ve been imagining some ways I can reinvent this entire blog. As I find myself shifting gears, I find that my perspective toward most of what I’ve written about is changing too. I’ll have a lot more to say about this soon, and I’d like as much feedback from you as possible when I post about it later. The basic premise on the possible change is this:
I’ve always been writing from the view of an unaccomplished person with a great passion to do what for me, has been impossible. It has been the view of someone unwilling to give up on his dream.
Now that some doors have opened up, and I’m moving again (now that I don’t have to give up on my long-term dream of teaching), I suddenly feel detached from that view.
I was the trooper fighting his way like a die-hard up a hill, and now I’m standing at the top of that hill.
5. Still lots of articles in the chute. I’ve got several articles begun (and several very nearly finished) that I’ve been sitting on so I can make sure they’re just right. I’ve got a hefty post about a friend, a short story, and a growing multi-part series about my horrid experiences with my last company. The greater distance I am gaining from it is offering me a clearer view as to just how damned bad it really was.
A teaser: for over a year of my life I sat, daily, just like some unfortunate lab rat, under a wall board that beeped hundreds of times a day.
Dereck :: Nov.29.2008 :: Uncategorized :: 18 Comments »
18 Responses to “All Quiet on the Front, Industrious in the Trenches”
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Funny thing about dreams and desires, Dereck, is they never end. Sure, you might not be aware you have any sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Whatever you decide to write and post on your blog will be the right focus. You will not die. I will not die. We will not give up our dreams, ever. It’s just how and who we are.
Just write.
Hi Dereck,
Glad to see you posting again. #3 and #4 are the most interesting thing to me. I studied Chinese in college and I wish I had someone to speak it with. Im afraid Ive lost most of it.
And I am curious to see what direction your blog takes. Whatever happens I see it as a great story unfolding that many people will be interested in reading.
Cheers,
Jeremy
Ancient Greek? Dereck, you get cooler and cooler. I’m interested to see what you have in store. Good luck with everything. We’ll be listening.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving!
I really like the subtitle of your blog. It made me think of a website that I linked my own blog to. It’s called The Fake Project: You Are Not Dead.
Check it out when you have time to read without scanning too quickly. I’m still not sure what to make of it… like I’m not quite at the place in my life to understand it all- but want to.
Like your blog a lot. You’re a good writer.
Great to hear everything is turning for the better in your life. We are dynamic characters in an ever changing story, therefore we find ourselves modifying our beliefs and motives in response to these changes. That is the beauty of being alive! We owe it to ourselves to change, therefore we should loudly declare “We will not die!”
Carlos Perea´s last blog post..The Jovial Youth and the Herd
Hi! – first time visitor (from “Writing to Survive” link).
Thought I should comment given the mention of Greek and my blog domain name
Also you asked for thoughts on a blog revamp, well as a first time visitor I am not going to make any comments on content or style.
But for presentation I would say I dislike any advertising and carry none on my site (other than my own badges for causes), so personally I would like to see all ads. stripped. Then again I have no idea if they represent any revenue required for running site. I’m in the fortunate position to have free hosting thanks to a good geek friend.
Keep it up with the upbeat job/scholarship hunting. I have been out of work 18 months now, so I know how tough getting that motivation going can be.
Mainframeguy´s last blog post..Bad Sex awards (they’re for WRITING about it!)
Great to have you back on board Dereck. Always love to visit and read you blog.
Ancient Greek? That is rather unique. Just wondering how many languages do you speak/understand?
Regards,
JJ
Glad to see the update. Keep plugging away!
Paul´s last blog post..Wii wish you a merry Christmas
I can relate to your item 4 where you talk about having a different view of yourself after opportunities opened for you. You’re no longer struggling to get to the top of that hill but stand at the top. Congratulations! I feel like that with my blog – for so long I’ve been trying all sorts of ways to recover. None ever worked in the past, and the view of myself as someone having to adapt to a permanent condition shaped my approach to writing. But I’m really feeling now, for the first time, that I may have gotten to that place of getting my real self back. It’s changing everything in my thinking about where to go from here.
I’m so glad you’ve had this experience – and I look forward to giving you feedback on your new plan for the blog. Of course, it will still be you, and that’s the important thing!
Great you’re too busy to write!
love your ideas, especially about not dying (giving up/settling down). I recently changed the tagline on my blog from “joy is certain, death is optional” to “fun with Nature for health, wealth and wisdom” but thinking now to somehow integrate both of them.
I suggest you forget about your “horrid experiences” because dwelling on them keeps them around and blurs the vision of your dreams.
Also speaking of not dying I’ve developed a Fountain of Youth with my Fun-in fitness program, which is simply based on feeling good. That is, feel as good as possible before you start doing something and whenever any kind of pain starts, make an adjustment to stop and heal the pain and feel as good or better than before you started.
Doing exactly that I’m training to run the Phoenix marathon in Jan 2009. A couple of months of fun-in training at 57 and I feel 31 again. Now I’ll see how far I can go in the direction of actually changing my physical appearance to a younger age, besides losing 15 lbs and an inch around the waist.
If you are still a student you’re probably not thinking about your aged appearance, but you know how you feel changes your appearance. And so what if you could keep on making yourself feel better and better, wouldn’t your appearance have to follow suit?? The only question (please let me know if other ?s) you might have about the fun-in procedure is how can/do I keep on making myself feel better and better?
The simple, natural fun-in procedure itself, makes you feel better and better. But in order to feel really good before (in “The First Place”) you start chasing your dreams, you need a healthy diet and lifestyle, which includes a meditation practice that makes you feel totally blissful.
Dhanamjaya´s last blog post..Sex is No Pain, All Gain
My friend…where have you gone?
Haven’t heard from you for quite a while now, Dereck. I only wish the best for your family and you. Salutes bro.
Regards,
JJ
JJ´s last blog post..Hello World: 2009
Hey my old friend, had to stop in and see what you are up to. Enjoyed reading about your dreams, ambitions and recent activities. As always your life is fascinating!
I am relearning French. Lived there when I was younger for a brief time and was almost fluent in it, but not using it it fades, but am loving relearning. Comes back quickly…a bit like riding a bike. Love languages and learning them. Was one of my strengths in school.
I wish you and your lovely family lots of lived dreams!
And encouraging you to just keep reaching for what your heart hungers for.
Never give up the thirst or the reaching.
Hugs to you my friend,
Robin
Robin Easton´s last blog post..Is There Life on Earth?
Hi
I love hearing about people’s dreams and goals – thank you for sharing.
I’d like to know, why the interest in ancient Greek?
Juliet
LifeMadeGreat | Juliet´s last blog post..What Are You Thirsting For?
You’ve been reviewed, as requested
Love Bites´s last blog post..Don’t be so optimistic
Why so many ads in the actual text? You think your going to get an insightful link and bam, it takes you to a crappy advertising site.
chris´s last blog post..I Had a Very Dramatizing Childhood
Glad to see you back writing. I actually just did a minor reinvent of my own blog. Changing the look seems to work if you are looking to create a fresh feeling. Now I just need to start pumping out some new content.
Justin Wright´s last blog post..A New Look For A New Year