Wife Advice

My brother has been writing a blog offering marriage advice. He started it out on his blog and then he and his wife started a separate blog just for wife advice. He has been asking me to put a link on my blog, so the millions of readers I have will go to his blog. I think 2 people other then my family read this blog. He is in a scholarship contest for his blog, so if you go to his blog and then click on the vote bottom you can vote for him. He also has ads on his blog, so he is hoping to get a little cash for it. Everyone that visits the site is helpful for him.
Note: The stories can sound a little harsh, so just remember that it is my brother who is telling most of the stories, but his wife will also post stuff too. Also keep in mind when people comment on this site it seems they are trying to just make a joke or ruffle someones feathers, so don't take it to serious.
http://www.wifeadvice.com/

The Simpsons

I have decided to share some battles from my past:

When we were younger and started to watch more adult shows my parents would try to restrict what we watched. This was a constant battle over the years, but there was one show the we, as kids, fought long and hard to watch, and we finally won. That was - The Battle for the Simpsons.

When the Simpsons first came out, I don't think my parents knew what it was all about. I assume they thought it was a cartoon, so it must be "ok," but I remember after watching it as a family one Sunday night my parents told us we could not watch it.

This was a big problem, because after the first show we were all addicted. It became a ritual where we would sit down in the family room and wait for the show to come on. When it started you saw the Simpsons name appear through clouds along with the sweetest sound. In a chorus of voices would say "The Siiimpso...ns." After the first few shows we would wait in anticipation and my oldest brother would say, "Ok. Be quiet, it's on." We would be silent and my brother would sing, "The" and we would allow follow with "Simpsons."

We would watch the opening credits, making sure we saw what Bart had to write on the chalk board this episode, and then we would be tricked by Maggy driving car and the finale of the opening would be to see which way they all ended up on the couch.

My parents were offended and insulted by what the Simpons represented and the content that was being put in a cartoon on TV on Sunday.

They would come up with different rules and tactics, but we stayed united and had a strong front. We knew this was a battle that we would fight to the death. Eventually my parents backed off and an agreement was made. We could watch the Simpsons, but we could not watch "Married with Children," which my parents still despise and if I watched it with my mother now I am sure she would still say, "Turn this filth off."

Now, a generation later, I am watching the Simpsons with my son most nights. We have a routine too. We curl up on the coach with popcorn and milk and watch an episode. I watch it now and wonder what all the fuss was about. I feel the Simpsons is a witty comedy that captures the American family especially the way it was at the time the show started. It often provides important life lessons, and while sometimes crude, it never gets too bad. I, however, do not agree with some of the racial comments that are made, but maybe that kind of humor will help break down barriers?

I now find myself viewing some of the new shows that are out and I am responding with, "Who would watch that filth?" You know all those cartoons and other inappropriate shows that are out on network and cable TV now.

I wonder what will happen when my children want to watch those shows. Who will win? Am I just too old, or have the newer shows really gone too far?

The Battle For the Hallway 2

Things have been going well during my duty period. I am supposed to make sure that the older students don't run down the first grade hallway after their lunch. This is not a problem.
But just moments ago a group of 6th grade students went into the bathroom in the hall I patrol. Moments later two bigger students came out holding up a small student who had blood pouring out of his nose. It looked like someone smashed his face with a wooden mallet. So off they went as usual to the infirmary.

The Fight to be a Good Dad

Before I start, there are a few things you should know about me if you don't already (if you've been around me for 5 minutes you would have noticed these things). First, I am an extreme pessimist and second I am never happy in the moment and I am always looking for the next thing to do. I just can't live in the moment and I am always planning, looking forward to, or worried about the next event or step in life.

These attributes about myself and my wife's latest post on her blog have caused me to question what kind of a father I am.

Here's the problem, I don't feel like a dad. I don't feel like an adult or husband either. When I was in college, I didn't even feel like a student.

For my entire life I was always looking forward to the next stage of my life. I would say things will be better when...I get married, have a kid, start MCC, Rutgers, or TCNJ. Every time I got to the next stage it did not live up to my expectations or I didn't feel like I fit the role.

For example, like most kids I looked forward to driving my whole life and when I was finally able to drive I had to deal with, traffic, paying for gas, car accidents, car maintenance, etc. Now I don't like driving, so Celine does most of it.

Whenever I assume a new role, I never feel like I fill it. I never felt like a good student in college, I just felt like an impostor pretending to be a good student.

Now, after reading Celine's blog and her comment of how I sent Clavin back to bed, it feels like I was just pretending to be a parent. It just seems like when I act like a father I just end up winging a lot of stuff or pretending to be a good parent.

I just wonder if other people who are great teachers, parents, or are good at some role in their lives, if they feel like they are or if they feel just like me - like they have everyone fooled, like they are just acting the part.

Unbelievable!

What! I can't believe you all think Tom will win. I can't really blame you I guess. I do have appalling numbers, but I will turn it around.
Weight: 168
BF: Consistent 26

Supply Shortage

People have been asking if I want them to bring or send me anything. I decided to make a list of things I wish I brought or had with me. People are not supposed to get me these items.
The list is just to fill your curiosity or, if you would like to bring or send something small, you can get an idea of what I am missing from home.

Note: Shipping is extremely expensive and customs can be a little tricky. Items are most likely to bypass customs if they are shipped in a padded envelope.
Things I miss from home:

Natural Peanut Butter
Marshmallows
Pizza
Subs
Milk
Indian Food
Baking needs (Chocoalte chips, liquid vanilla, brown sugar [not cubed])
Cereal
TV shows
XBox
DVD's
Appliances
Car (It is strange how much you miss driving when you can't do it anymore)
Trees
The Gym
Oh yea and my family

The Water Hole

Wars have historically been fought over the same reasons. 1. Access to resources 2. Ethnic differences 3. Religious differences. It is the first one that I find myself battling right now. We have a large, blue water bottle in our office that we all use. However, when it is empty, someone needs to open the new one and take off the pump from the old one and put it on the new one. There are water machines, but they cost money and the school doesn't provide them, so we use the ghetto version.

Here is what I have to battle weekly: I am the only one who changes the pump. At first I did not mind, but after a few weeks I notice that I am the only one who changes it, and it is getting old. What really bothers me is that I think people purposefully wait for me to do it. I think their feeling is that I am a man, so I should do this labor.

Mark my words - the day will come when I will no longer change the pump!

The Schedule

I talked to my brother the other day and he had a lot of questions about what I do during the day, so I am going to give you an outline of what my day is like.

5:30 wake up and work out (Celine and I worked out a system where I would get up early in the morning, so I could work out. At that time Calvin was sleeping until 7:00, so Celine agreed to this. For past few days he has been getting up shortly after me, so I feel re-negotiations are coming. I must admit my negotiaton skills were not very good when I first got married, but have drastically improved over the past 4 years of being in the trenches.

7:45 Get ready for work

7:50 Elif the nanny comes and we do our goodbye routine

8:00 At the office checking emails and clearing off my desk

8:10 to 3:30 work: I leave different time each day, but this is the average. I teach 4 periods a day and have a total of 5 classes. There are 24 students in a class and I see 12 at a time. It's called "splits class" and it is so the studnets can get a more concentrated contact with English. I also have an endless number of meetings.

3:30 to 8:00 Monday and Wednesday: Shop, go to the park or for a walk, eat dinner. We also have a potato night most Wednesday nights where we all meet at the Social Center for a little pot luck.

8:00 Calvin's bedtime routine

8:30 to 930: Free Time

9:30 sleep

Exceptions:

Tuesday and Thursday

4:30 to 6:00 I watch Calvin and Celine goes to Turkish class

6:00 to 7:45 I'm at Turkish class and Celine watches Calvin

Weekend

Friday night: Hang at home or Celine and I will take turns going out (Mall, movie, ect.)

Saturday: Shop or go on a outing to the city.

Sunday:

9:30 arrive at Taksim

9:30 to 11:30 hang out

12:00 to 2:00 church - just down the street from where we are dropped off

2:30 to 8:00 hang out at home or go for walk and eat dinner