Back at it!!

Greetings Gentle Reader:
Again sorry its been so long that I've been away, but with all of the social media out there sometimes I just forget about my blog - but no more.
Since the Election is almost over - GO VOTE - all of you - I can get back to writing and also talk about my struggle with my weight.  As you might have heard, I'm getting married to a wonderful woman who loves me for who I am, not what I look like (how I found her, it's beyond me, but she's mine now). Didn't really worry about it, but there's nothing like a little kid telling you that you have a big butt, or your daughter asking will you always be fat to make you get to work on things. Getting married in 330 days from me writing this post. Have to get to my fighting weight by September 1 (really have to get there by July 15 (if I can get there, then I get to order myself a new tuxedo - woot) so I have to get on the stick, even though I have a bunch of obstacles in my way - Thanksgiving at my sisters, Christmas, New Year's bowl games, super bowl, Keeneland trip, bachelor party, etc... But I can do this

As of this afternoon, I weigh ___lbs and my goal weight is 225 lbs. just under 1 lb/day - Is it possible? sure. Is it plausable? not likely, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. got a copy of P90X - check
no longer drinking pop - check
changing my diet - that's going to be the hard one. Being poor means you eat what's cheap. I will find a way to no longer be poor, and to eat better.

I want to be clear - I'm doing this for lots of reasons (for my fiancee, for my kids, for awesome wedding pictures) but the main reason is to get healthy. I want to be here for a long time; to see my kids graduate college and get married; to grow old. To just be.

I'll keep you posted on this, other things I need to fix, and the fun that is wedding planning.

Talk to you soon.

Marc

So many stories, so little time

Gentle Reader
So since my last post, I've managed to lose 12 lbs. Don't know how other than Weight Watchers, but I'll take it. If I could curtail my drinking I might even lose more. I fell off the wagon a little last weekend between a b-day party on Friday, Founders Day and more day drinking on Saturday and Restaurant week, but I still lost weight. Now I have to push that up and lose more weight.

Lent is coming tomorrow and I've not decided what I'm giving up. I think I'm going to give up all candy. That will help in so many ways. Or I should just work on doing one random act of kindness every day during lent. That Will help the world so much more.

Happy Founders Day to all of my Brothers in Phi Kappa Psi.

Lastly, Saturday was the anniversary of my Mother's passing. I didn't realize how much I missed her until this year. I can totally see her bouncing her grandchildren around and having fun with them. I see her every day in Olivia, when she's so smart.

I miss you mom.

It's update time

Gentle Reader,

So since we last spoke, I'd talked about getting things ready for the next part of my plan. That started last night at the end of the super bowl. As the confetti fell down on the Giants, and Tom Brady's wife was getting him in trouble with his locker room, I went to my computer and...signed up for Weight Watchers. 

Maybe it's Charles Barkley telling me how easy it can be, but I had to do something. I'd already been looking for something to jumpstart this other than exercise, and I thought this would be great. Eat what you want, just don't go over your daily/weekly point totals and you can lose weight. This is going to suck during Restaurant Week, but I'm going to do this.

Talk to you soon

Marc...

Raising the boy - raising the bar

Gentle Reader...

So last night I was having a conversation with my ex-wife (not to worry, we get along; our goal is to raise the best kids we can) where she told/asked me the following: "I don't know how to raise a boy...what do I do?"

I laughed, and told her firstly that WE have to raise a boy, and get him to manhood. I assured her that we would, along with help from all of the other grownups in his life. I then told her that we'll even turn him into a gentleman. We will give him manners, and refinement, and show him which fork to use and why he should get up from the table when a woman does.

I said something then, that I don't say often, but it rings with me all of the time. My parents used to say that my mom made me a man, but my father made me a gentleman. It was my mother who often yelled at me to stand up straight, to wash my face, to brush my teeth, brush my hair, and look presentable. It was she who would knock a hat or cap off of my head at the table (or anywhere indoors). It was she who would have popped me if my pants were sagging, or if I popped off at a grown up, because, contrary to popular opinion, men don't just pop off for no reason.

On the other hand, it was my Pop who ensured I was taught about style, and class, and gentlemanly behavior. He taught me about simple things that make a big difference, like why you should never wear a suit with unshined shoes,  the wonders of the pocket square, and why buying quality versus quantity (and buying versus renting in the tuxedo market) is the way to go. He referred to it as the extra 10%. He got that from esquire magazine (I think, but i never saw him read that magazine ever) , but I use it all of the time.

Its that 10% that I will use to raise the boy. My goal isn't like my fathers - his was to make Mini-Me - but to raise a son, a young man, that will carry on the DUMAS name with all of the prestige and swagger it deserves. If I can do that, we'll be OK.

Before I sign off today, know that we also worry about our daughter as well. Just she seems like she's going to be fine and we're just here to ensure the train doesn't fall off of the track.

Talk soon.

Marc...

p.s - In a total pivot, Congrats to my Chapter at DePaul with their new 16 man pledge class for the winter. Considering at one time, those were the sizes of our fall classes, we've come a long way. High! High! High!

The Inspector, Dr. King and me...

Gentle Reader,

So, yesterday was the anniversary of my Pop's passing. He left us in 1994, when I was all of 22. He was a contemporary of Dr. King; i'm not saying they were buddies or even knew each other (even though they had met) but they were both doing what they could for equal rights for all at the same time, just in different ways. If not for the things they were doing, from marching to filing suits against the unjust, to taking beatings at the hands of those who were sworn to protect them, I would be a very different person than I am today. 

If Dr. King doesn't push for the Civl Rights Act and the Voting Rights act, then Mr and Mrs Loving don't decide to get married and then get arrested and then have the temerity to sue the state of Virginia and take that all the way to the Supreme Court. If that doesn't happen, I can't go and marry a girl from Wisconsin who is as white as snow and have the 2 prettiest children you have ever seen (that's not the proud dad in me talking, TJ does have the greatest head of hair in America, and no one is cuter than my Opie, just ask her...)

If the Inspector, and my mother, doesn't decide that he's always going to show his son what it means to be not just a man, but a gentleman, then I wouldn't ever be able to be the fraternity man that I am. I wouldn't be able to start to show my children how to be a parent. I wouldn't know what to do to have any type of success in this world, but thanks to the Inspector, I do.

Thanks to them both. I know they are watching down on me and I hope they are happy with what they see, not just from me, but from all of us.

I miss you, Pop. Kiss Mom for me

Marc... 

Fighting frustrations - 60 days to a new me

Gentle Reader,

There is nothing like a string of bad luck to make you realize that certain things frustrate you easily. In my case it's 3 major things all coming together as the perfect storm of yuck! My weight loss, my car, and my job. As I look at them right now, all of them are sucking and driving me to the point of losing it. For those of you that know me, you know I'm pretty calm and collected; striving not to raise my voice and yell unless necessary. But KD is trying to tell me that maybe I need a release valve, maybe I need to get angry more and "stand up for myself."  So this is my start...

When it comes to the first week of weight loss, I've been pretty good. I've eaten breakfast everyday, I've been sensible about what I'm eating for lunch (no fast food, Yippee), I've been eating good dinners (thanks, KD for the pork chops and spinach) and I've been exercising (well, I've been walking to and from the L/commuting for work, but it's more than I was doing before so its a start. But its a struggle. I'm frustrated that I can't live on Gummy Bears, I'm frustrated that I can't drink more beer, and I'm frustrated with being fat.

I have to do something about it. It's not enough to just talk about it, I have to take action. Over the next 60 days, I'm going to figure out what exercise is going to take me to the next step in my journey. It might be boxing, it might be muay thai, it might be wrestling, it might be rowing, I have no idea yet, but its gonna be something.

Then there is my car. It must have been made under a bad sign or something, because since June, if it can go wrong it has. Let's review

Massive hail damage, including broken front and rear windshields
Brakes fail while on the road
blow out a tire
have a spin out on major expressway (hit the wall of the Dan Ryan)
bent a wheel
broke a tie rod and assembly

But, with the car, I have to look at the bright side. I have to thank God for Brothers like Mike Burrell and his wife, who loaned me the car when I didn't have a car to get to work and then sold it to me. I'm eternally grateful and he's shown me exactly what Brotherhood and membership in our Strong Band really means.

But I'm just frustrated. I hate taking the train (check that, a bus, a train, and then a drive or 2 more buses if  my buddy/work wife couldn't pick me up) and I hate not being able to get what I need, when I need it. I hate not being able to see my gf after work since by the time I get home and try to get to her on the other side of the city, i'd have to turn around right when I get there. I talk to her everyday, but I miss her.

On this over the next 60 days, i'm going to have the car fixed and ready to go. I'm saving to get a newer vechicle and i'm planning to make that happen by the end of the year

I'm not going to get into my job other than to say I'm angry and frsutrated and I'm going to take steps to make changes so I'm not worried about my next meal or if I can pay a bill. Watch out world.

See ya soon

Back on the blog - Phat Guy for Phi Psi!

Gentle Reader -

Sorry that I have been gone for so long. The world has been changing around me every day. One of my resolutions this 2012 is to write more...both about me and about things that make me who I am.

I've really decided to work on my weight. For those in the know, the name of this blog comes from the fact that, at one time, I was "One biscuit shy" of weighing in at 400lbs. Not good at all. Well, at least we're not there any more, but we still have a long way to go. I'm committed to losing the weight. I've started eating healthier, I've started to wean my self off of pop (or soda for your Easterners) and no more fast food (Opie isn't going to like that one). I'm starting weight watchers again, too. I've run in my first 5K (OK, let;s be real, "run" isn't honest - I finished and I shuffled, but I didn't run) where i dressed like Santa and I'm committed to running in a 1/2 marathon by the end of the year - training starts soon. Any and all help people want to give me (both positive and negative) is welcome. When I run that, I'm going to raise money for my fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, specifically for the 2 chapters that I advise in Chicago. - More details to follow on that.

I'll be writing at least once a week about things that cross my radar, if not more if it warrants it.

See ya soon

Marc...

Where the hell have you been???

That's right, Gentle Reader. I've been gone for a while. While gone tons of things have happened. Some are important (both kids had birthdays, I actually started making money at my job; took a trip to OH/KY where I had a lot of fun and also made some changes. Some were not my decisions alone, but some were definetely for my benefit. One of these things is that I've decided to start running. Its my goal to run a 5K by Christmas and run a 1/2 marathon by this time next year. I'm even going to make it a charity event. I'm going to call it Phat Guy for Phi Psi. Every donation is going to go to the Carlos Navarro Scholarship Fund. MY goal is to try and raise 5K for the marathon. I also plan to make a fair amount of money from people betting against me. I love when people try and steal your thunder and try and tell you what you can't do. It's times like this where people show themselves as yiour friend or your adversary. I'm not going to let them get in the way of my life. I've started training, slowly, by running and riding my bike to build up my endurance. My next step is to get into a training program and really get after it. I want this to be a catalyst for change. I know some of you are asking, "why now?" Well, the short answer is someone very dear to me sent me a quote from, of all people, Drew Carey. The funnyman was asked why he started running to lose weight. He said that you can't just go on trying to get to a pants size as a motivator - you need to set goals and bust through them. I was that guy, I was trying to simply set as a goal to make it so I could buy a pair of chinos at the GAP - That's a crappy goal. For one, the GAP isn't cool anymore, and 2) I needed more. I figure that if I make this happen, I'll raise some money, lose a bunch of weight, laugh at folks trying to serve me haterade and also have some fun in thr process. I'll try and write at least twice a week, and talk to you about my running and other things that cross my desk. Until then...
-- "Make no little plans...they do nothing to stir mens blood."

Who will fill the breech?

As I was cleaning up my apartment (always fun with 2 kids under 6 under foot) I came across my Nametag from the 2010 GAC (my fraternity's convention). As I held it, my thoughts instantly went first to my friends and Brothers who are in AZ celebrating the life of our friend and Brother Dudley. I'm sure the service was grand in its simplicity and while there was, i'm sure crying, I'm also sure there was laughing. That's the kind of service that Dud would have wanted. The second thing that crossed my mind was this was the nametag of the last GAC Dud will ever attend bodily (he'll always be there in spirit, we know that). He signed it, as he's signed everyone of my nametags since 1992, in the same manner: Ralph D Daniel, AZ Alpha 1947 (let us be who we say we are...).

Think of the young undergradutes he touched when he met them the first time and gave them the grip (after he admonished them for altering it)that can go back and tell their Brothers - I met Dud. Think of our favorite game at the GAC Banquet where we stand to see who's been there the longest, and for the first time in my membership, Dud won't be there to win. Think of the people who will only know him as a quote - a quote he wrote, not to talk just about Phi Psi, but about all Fraternities - It's for us all.

You see, Dud, while he was first and foremost a Phi Psi, he was a FRATERNITY MAN. He believed firmly in the ideal of fraternity and what these men's and women's groups could do for their members and for their universities. One of the reasons that the interfraternity world saw him as "our" gentleman was his constant call for gentlemanly behavior and the idea that, while all of our Rituals might not be the same, they told the same story - be an honorable man, Love your friends, strive for excellence, and take care of each other.

This brings me to the title of my post today. Nature abhors a vacuum (unless its a Kirby-inside joke for my friend Momo) and so, as I write today, I wonder? Who will be the epedimy of fraternal gentlemanly behavior? Who will teach all of us, young and old, to always be considerate of our Brothers and Sisters, regardless of what letters they wear on their badge? Who will show our young men in Phi Kappa Psi? Luckily for us there are men that I know will fill in - Names of men that inspire me everyday, both as my peers and my mentors. Instantly I think of the pride of Kouts, IN...or my "Big Brother" who sings Oskee Wow-Wow. Perhaps the aforementioned Momo, or the scholar of Central Illinois, his hats and all. Perhaps its one of my favorite Cheeseheads, the historian or the preacher. Or maybe its my favorite southerner, who oozes charm and gentlemanly behavior.

In any case, while there will be a vacuum for a while, it won't be long before its filled. For that I'm eternally grateful, both to these men for being great men and to Dud for teaching us all.

Safe travels to all of my Brothers who made the trip to AZ and to all of my friends across the Fraternity and Sorority world, keep striving to make this world a better place.

Dad, Dr. King, Opie and Simba

As we come to the end of another day celebrating Dr King and his vision and legacy, I always think of my father. As I mentioned on these pages, my dad died on the 15th of January. What I don't often talk about was my father and his place in the Civil Rights movement. He was a contemporary of Dr. King in some ways. A Child of the South, born just before the Depression, someone who bore witness to Jim Crow overtly and subvertly, he elegantly, like so many others in this country, silently and quietly fought against discrimination at every turn. Dad didn't win a Nobel Prize for peace, but he showed that a peaceful way to your ends is always the right way to go. Dr. King used the bully pulpit as a leader (not the leader) of the Civil Rights movement. Dad decided to use the courts, like hundreds of others, to ensure equality for himself and his children. He's one of my biggest heroes.

My dad always taught me that, when it comes to race relations and dealing with the ignorance and small mindedness of people, it's better to be like a duck and let that hatred roll off of your back. With few exceptions, I've done just that. More importantly, it's my mission in life that I don't have to teach my children the same things I had to learn - it's my hope that my children are judged by their merits, that they, as bright and beautiful as they are, never have to come home and ask why someone called them nigger; that they can visit any of their friends and not have to worry about the car lights being broken or having to fight their way out of a neighborhood in this awesome amazing city; that the idea of DWB (driving while black) is an urban myth.

Keep the dream alive, if only so our Children can make the dream a reality.

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Best and worst weekend all at once

This is why I Strive to be the best Fraternity man I can...He is who we all strive to be when we try to live our Creed. It's such a sad day for all of us that wear the Shield, and especially sad for those of us that call him Friend, Mentor, and Counselor.

I remember the first time I met him, in San Francisco at the 1992 GAC. I was a Colony member and it was my first GAC and I was as eager as a schoolboy getting his first bike. I was meeting as many people as I could and I met Dud. He walked up, saw my Colony pin (most don't know what it looks like) and gave me the Colony Grip, ever mindful that I was not ready to share in the bonds of Brotherhood. We talked and he gave me his address and told me to write if I ever needed anything.

My next most vivid time I recall meeting him occured at my Chartering. What made that special was that he met my father -my father who didn't want me to join a fraternity. After meeting Dud, Dad told me that he wasn't worried anymore, that I was in good hands because Dud was such a gentleman. That was the last big event my Dad and I went to together, as he was gone in less than 3 months (Jan 15)

I would see him more over the years at Fraternity events and new Chapter Charterings, each time me trying to learn more about the old days of Phi Psi, each time gleaning more about both Phi Kappa Psi and Dudley.

My last big memory of him comes from the day I was initated into the Order of the SC - He was the President, and for him to tell me I was a member was one of the most special days of my life. I'll never forget him giving me the grip and looking at me, and him telling me how happy he was that I was a member.

I've tried not to cry as I've written this post, but it's been hard. I will definetely raise a glass to Dud (vodka? a glass of chablis with ice? ) over the weekend

"Let us be who we say we are...a Fraternity not a Club; run by Men not boys, and based on Ideals not Expediency.

Dud, when you get to heaven, there will be a guy there, about 6 feet tall in an impeccable suit and a fedora. You'll feel you've met him, and you have. He's my dad. 17 years ago today he left us for a better place. He'll show you the way around the place. Tell him I said hi and I love him.

The cleanse

Gentle reader,
As you might be aware, yesterday, thanks to the efforts of Jimmy Kimmel, was National UnFriend Day on Facebook. You could, without guilt, get rid of all of the people that you really don't talk to on this site, people that you signed up because you wanted to pad your stats, people who were cute and you met at the bar and then never spoke to again and people who just have ticked you off.

I did just that - My goal in my purge was simple - get under 1000 friends ( the next purge might be far more brutal, but it too needs to be done)

Bye, bars and clubs I'll never visit again. So long to the people that shill for special events and send me 15 events to answer a week. It's been real.

I loved it. Everyone should do it! just go and blow people up.

If you're reading this, then guess what, you made the cut and hooray. If not, I'm sorry... No hard feelings.

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Happy Chapter Day Illinois Zeta!

Hello Gentle Reader:

While I'm writing a longer post for this blog about some other things, I would be remiss if I didn't reach out to the over 200 men that have decided to stand with me as my Chapter Brother and celebrate our 17th anniversary. It has been a long road, full of trials and tribulations, happiness and sorrow, and love and hate. I thank each and everyone of you for helping me become the man that I am, and the man that I further aspire to be. 

What a long way we have come from that fall, slightly cold morning when 29 of us, clad in our tuxedos, walked over to St. James Church and pledged ourselves to be lifelong companions in this journey.  And we have done just that - we have travelled together, laughed together, cried together and be there in good times and bad. We have fought with each other and helped each other through the times that weren't as happy. But we've done that because that's what Phi Psis do. This is why we are the preeminent men's group at DePaul. This is why young men, over the last 17 years, have come to Lincoln Park and decided that they wanted to be a part of the Noble Fraternity. Men with names like DeFina, Schoefernacker, Reynolds, and Maza. Intelligent men named Hernandez, Medio, Hanichak, Trotter, Mattzela and Fenedick. Exuberant men named Mandel, Lieberman, Cavallo, Bill T, Wojtonik and Weaver.  Pensive, thoughtful men named Spurlock, Haro, Harvey, Dimasi, and Condren (both versions 1 and 2). And everyone else that has, for no matter how long, called Illinois Zeta home.

Thanks also to all of those Brothers of Phi Kappa Psi across the country, from the time I was a bright eyed Colonist until now, that have guided me and allowed me to live and to flourish. Men like Knapp, Watt, Ong, Blazer, Kent, Harper (wow do I miss you, Terrry), Dud, Tryon, Chic,all the guys around the bend at dinner and my Fraternal Father, Nez (i could never thank you enough for all that you have done for me...and my contemporaries who strive, as I do to continue to live by the guiding principles set forth by Thomas Campbell over 150 years ago - Lee, Knacks, Dusty, Chaty, Hauck, Marks, Will H, Trig, Patterson, LeRoy, Ben, Luke, Hall, Nicky, Jon A, Rich Rozycki and his brother Tom, Poobah, and our ED, Collie.

Last but not least I want to thank all of the people in my life who have been a part of this amazing journey with me that are NOT my Brother...you have allowed me, and probably all of us in Phi Psi, the ability to be strong, intelligent men who want to do good in the world. To the women who took a leap of faith in college when it might have been social suicide to be seen with the new guys on campus to the ones that still talk to us to this day, thank you! The ladies of Phi Psi are indeed an amazing bunch, and without them none of us would be here, so my heartfelt thanks to you all.

As we move into year 18, I leave you with the most poignant modern words about our Strong Band:

"Let us be who we say we are...a Fraternity, not a Club; run by Men, not Boys; and based on Ideals, not Expediency."

Always In the Bond,

Marc A. S. Dumas (003...)

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Happy Labor Day!

Hello Gentle Readers!

I really need to get on a better schedule of writing this blog, and as such, actually start talking about things that matter.

That starts tomorrow - until then have a happy Labor Day!

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Top ten things that shouldn't happen at formal this year

Gentle Reader,
This time of year, at least at my alma mater, is time for young men to put on their best suits ( or their borrowed suits, or the suit they last wore  when they were 4 inches shorter and 20 lbs lighter) and the young women they are trying to woo balance on platform heels that would make most experienced strippers fall while wearing a dress that will give them the ability to be "classy" and yet do moves on the dance floor that can't be seen except for on E!.

Due to the fun things that I've seen in my time as a Fraternity man, and as a Chapter Advisor, here are my top 10 things that I hope not to see if I were to "drop by" formal...
(note: all of these things are things I've either heard about or seen first hand)

-Falling asleep in your food - usually dinner is at 7 and I know that the kids now a days like to "Pre-Game" but keep it together liong enough to eat the food that will soak up some of that really cheap vodka you've been drinking

-Threats to jump off of balconies due to lost love - I know it hurts, but he/she isn't worth you, and it's one date but all that happens if you jump is a mess, and more paperwork for me and I hate making that call to "Nationals" and filling out the mountain of paperwork.

- vomiting in public places - i understand that, on nights like this, you are not buying that food and drink, simply renting it, but turn your rental back in somewhere privately. No one wants to see you do that, and while it's sort of funny to watch you hold your dates hair up (and quite endearing; that's true love) it's not something I really want to see

-you shirtless/pantless- I'm talking to you, frat boy! I know you have been working out in the student gym for the moment during your favorite grind song to show off your newly found abs, but stop it. You sell the idea to potential recruits and the campus at large as gentlemen. In this day of video everywhere, do you really want the reason you didn't get that awesome intership to be a video of you, shirtless, grinding on someone, put to a gay porn soundtrack (it happens)

-voyeuristic sex - it's formal, not a porno shoot. I shouldn't be able to walk into any open room (banquet hall, guest room, storage closet) and see you, sorority girl, coyly showing one boob, or you frat boy (probably my brother) trying to convince her that "just the tip" is OK. Really? Really? no. Get a room. Lock the door. Don't have a roommate, you cheap bastard. Don't be so loud that people think something bad is happening. Bring some music.
staying on sex...
-you not bringing protection and trying to use a myriad of things to replace a condom (toothpaste is still my favorite) If you do/did this, and your SO says it's ok, then you get what you get and godspeed.

-having an ass/bitch/douche as a date - I know that formal is the social event of the season ( i know of women that have gone to great lengths to snag an invite to my chapter's formal - at one time it was indeed the hottest ticket in town) but if you do get invited, remember that - you are an INVITED GUEST. Hopefully you wouldn't act like an idiot if invited to your date's family's house, so why do that here. Keep your clothes on (see above), handle your liquor, make sure you meet as many people as you can (you never know how that networking might work for you) and don't pee in the pool...

-not making it to the dinner/dance. It's the Holiday Inn Rosemont, not Vegas...make plans to hold your drinks to a point where you can walk, not fall down in elevators and actually have a conversation with your dinner companions.

-leave during the middle of the event. I know, the last thing you want to do is hear guys like me give speeches or, if you're a date, listen to who wins Brother of the Year, or Super Special Sister, but stay. You never know when your alums, intent on buying the room a few drinks, will show up and the room will be empty - BAD.

while I'm speaking of alumni, make sure that you recognize that, if you see alums of a certain age, with a woman (or a man), especially if that woman(man) has a ring on her left hand, that's probably their spouse. Make sure you say hello, and introduce yourself. Also don't exclaim that these "old people" are taking over/crashing your formal, and don't call them cougars or jaguars - very bad.

know what the dress code is - formal, at least in college, means semi formal. Find a suit and wear it. A cardigan doesn't cut it. Find a tie and wear that. Wear dress shoes, with dark socks. Do not dress like a pimp, unless you are one (If I ever walk into a formal and see someone wearing a suit out of one of the colors of the rainbow, understand that I will clown you, in front of your date, and then she'll leave with me, or one of your brothers that didn't bring a date

lastly, do not, fight your twin brother to the death, or cause anyone any bodily harm. Do not cause any bloodshed, and let's keep the police presence to a minimum. I don't want to have the potential of going to jail, or have to fill out paperwork, or call your parents.

All in all, have a good time.

IF you are reading this on facebook, please leave us your favorite formal story, embarassing or cute.

Marc...

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Why are people losing their minds about 8th grade graduation

Hello, gentle reader.
I'm sorry that I've been gone for so long, but I've been super busy. Since my last post, I've managed to leave my first apartment (lesson learned: if you know going in that someone is crazy, don't move in with them, no matter how nice it seems), live in a series of hotels (love the fact that I didn't have to clean behind myself, but got sort of claustrophobic after a while) lived with one of my best friends (who's daughter is the 2nd nicest little girl in the world for letting me live in her room all that time) and finally moved into what I think will be my PCS (permanent change of station) for the foreseeable future. Oh, and i got a new job as a Recruitment and Admissions Officer for a group of Charter Schools here in Chicago.

Along with that, I've tried to come to grips with being single, not seeing my children everyday, dating (i really need someone to honestly look at my match.com profile and tell me what is wrong-if you think you can help, ping me! please!) balancing work and life, and trying to win a baseball game or 2 with my high school team (we did OK - 13-1 in conference and 16-7 overall - playoffs start this Thursday - i can't wait ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE A WARRIOR!). That and keeping on my goal to lose as much weight as possible without getting crazy obsessive about the whole thing (in case you hadn't heard, between Ash Wednesday and Easter I lost 37 lbs. Woot! )

So why the title of my post? Well, in my position at school, my desk is located in the main office and I see a lot of stuff. What i saw today made me start this post. our 8th graders (our schools go from 6th to 12th grade in the locations that are at least 4 years old) and their families are losing their minds over tickets for graduation. People want to be able to invite everyone from mom and dad to their last cousin to see them accomplish this rite of passage - graduating 8th grade! A mother today was insisting to our Program Director (great guy - most laid back cat you could ever meet) how she had "professionals" coming to graduation practice and how she didn't want to be embarrassed...what sort of professionals? are there really people that are professional graduation runners - for 8th fricking grade??? WTH! That's not to mention the parade of cap and gown vendors coming into show their wares. Do we get Red and Grey robes or black - do we honor the kids on the honor roll or the Principal's list with tassels?

Please! this is truly a sign of why our kids are falling back - we give out glory and praise for the things they are supposed to be doing. (don't even get me started on the graduation I have to attend in August for my little one - from NURSERY SCHOOL) and then when something is truly amazing we blow it out of the water. When i finished 8th grade - we had graduation - we wore suits and dresses, we sang a song (Time to remember...) while they showed our baby pictures and some candids of the year. they gave out some academic awards and we got our diploma - that was it. No grand hoopla, no reserved seating (it was outdoors) and no hype because everyone was going to High school and everyone was going to graduate high school (that's when you throw the big deal) and go to college.

So for the love of all that's holy and good in the world, please stop this madness - I beg of you!

In other news, Congrats to the Wolfpack of Saint Ignatius for both their boys (3rd place) and girls (2nd place) water polo teams! Great season and Hail Ignatius!

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

It's the most wonderful time...of the Year!

It's opening Day! Next to my birthday, and right in front of Election Day, it's the best day of the Year! It's a chance to re-new, and hopefully my Sox will win the AL central behind the great pitching they have. Here's hoping

In other news since I've been gone for so long, I've back on the weight loss kick. For Lent this year, I gave up pop and candy and fast food. After my body dealt with the shock of no gummy bears for the past 47 days, I lost 25 pounds. I feel better, but my knee doesn't want to buy into this program. I think I'm going to do P90X starting in a few days, once i can get the money to afford it.

On the baseball team front, my team is 3-3 (we should be 5-1 or 4-2 at the worst) as we move into conference play. Our conference is weak, so we should do OK and get ready for the playoffs in 45 days!

Hopefully I will find somewhere to live this week as living in a hotel isn't the best way to go

See ya soon - Hope Butler pulls one out of the hat tonight!

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

Life changes fast...

So, today is Ash Wednesday. Millions of Catholics around the world are walking around their cities and towns with ashes on the foreheads, and thousands of others are walking up to them asking," Hey, do you know you have dirt on your face?" 40 days of this. Lent is supposed to be a time of reflection and reconciliation for the last year, and for your life, as we begin to celebrate the most holy day of the year- Easter - which we do by having out kids gorge themselves on chocolate bunnies and Peeps.

This year for Lent, I've decided to go back to the tried and true method of my youth and give something up. I've decided to give up pop and candy, and as an added bonus, give up eating at McDonald's. This means for me 2 things: 1)no gummi bears, which is my life source; 2) no red licorice during baseball games, which is what I chew instead of dip. This is going to be a long 40 days.

In other parts of my life that are changing, i'm moving in less than 15 days. Holy crap. not a lot of time to get 20 years of life into boxes while also splitting up the memories. In case you hadn't heard, my wife and I got divorced in January. I don't know what I'm going to do about that, and when I move out, I'll probably have a good cry about it and get really drunk, but it really hasn't hit me yet. Most of all, I don't know what to tell my daughter. I've got to come up with something quick.

So, I'm sorry if this post is depressing or something - i'll be back to funny soon

See ya around

Marc...

Lots of Balls in the air, let's hope none of them fall soon

Hi, everybody. So it's that time of the year where everything is coming at me - Founder's Day for the fraternity is 30 days away, which means my bienniel decision on if I'm going to run for office for the National Fraternity. I'm leaning towards no, but I still have 30 days, or so, and then i have until late july to really make up my mind.  Then I have my baseball team, who I have never met, who I need to hire coaches for yesterday, and for whom I need to go and really take stock of what we have in the inventory for things like balls, bats, etc.  This is nuts. Lastly, my personal live has been going topsy turvy and I don't know what to do about that - life changes, people coming in and out of my life - the want for LAsiK, all of these things are going on and I have to get a grip on this stuff by March 1. The one good thing is the fact that I've started selling stuff - people are buying insurance and I'm making money.

More to come later

Posted via email from Marc's posterous

New Year- New Posting

Happy New Year!
As I said in my last post, I'm going to be committed to writing here more often.
I hope everyone hada great New Year's Eve/Day and is now focused on the new year. For me, that's about  4 things: Family, Work, Health, and Phi Psi.
Today is about work. My father told me that no one has ever drowned in a puddle of sweat. I've acted like I could drown in a second, and that's going to change. I'm really going to be focued to getting my career and my business off of the ground. To that end, I need your help. If you are one of the few people that actually read this blog, I need referrals for people that need insurance. If you send me a referral and they turn into a client, then I will send you a $100 gift card of your choice.
I know that it's not a lot, but I'm trying to get this moving, and I figured any little thing would help.

See ya soon - next post will be on Phi Psi

Marc...

Posted via email from Marc's posterous