The Uninteresting Life I Love
Yup. It’s me. The Anonymous Coward uncloaked. Not as fearsome as Gandalf I dare say. And worse yet, I’m even more uninteresting — I’m just Another Coward.
Back in the days when I was a pledge/associate in my fraternity, I interviewed a brother who asked me one question: who are you? It lasted several hours. I find that funny because while I like to talk, I don’t ever think there’s that much interesting about me.
So, for those of you who have missed it, my name is Spencer. I grew up around Marietta, Georgia which is in the county of Cobb. My last name is Chastain, and there’s a few notable Chastain landmarks around. Yes, I’m a part of that Chastain family. I have no money as a result of it and am not some kind of prince of town. I’m more like a duke: people recognize the name, but all I have is what I’ve got myself.
I’m married. I married my wife, Lisa, three and a half years ago. Lisa is everything I need in a wife and most of the things I want in a best-friend. (I have a hard time believing someone can be everything for someone else – but, Lisa is giving that a good run for its money) We have a beautiful and amazing son, Josh, who is almost two and a half. He makes fatherhood everything I hoped it would be and more. I rejoice in the mystery and blessings that my coming child holds. God willing, we’ll be bringing that new child into the world next month. Everything seems right on the mark so far, but I get a little anxious at the end of a pregnancy. I’m already dreaming of delivery… I feel good. A little nervous. And the doctor places my new baby in my arms. Right now, it’s 3 dreams for a girl and 2 dreams for a boy.
I know the Hollandses. I went to school with them. Jeff and I are fraternity brothers and use to carpool to IBM. We laughed a TON when we carpooled. Jeff is a good person to carpool with — well, as long as there aren’t gas cans in the car. Adriene is cool, but I did not get to know her all that well during school. Most of all that started happening after I married my wife. Adriene and Lisa seem to mix very well. Jeff and Adriene together are fun people. Some people say they can be grumpy. I call it character, and I consider it good character. And I’m glad only they have their character 
I’m a software engineer by trade. Currently I work supporting air combat simulation with Lockheed Martin. I’m not exactly sure what my future has in store for me, but I think things will be changing “soon”. But, when I get that figured out, I’ll let you know.
I marvel at creation. I stand in awe of all that lies before my eyes. I stand among it with a sense of shepherding purpose, though I’ve not quite come to figure out what that means. I am disheartened when I see good land ruined for men’s ambition, and yet, I understand, too. There are few things more beautiful to me than the whole of creation. When Bilbo wishes to see mountains, I know exactly what he means. There is no place more peaceful nor more evident of God’s powerful goodness and beauty than the mountains.
That’s it for now. I hope that didn’t bore you too much. Like I said, not a whole lot interesting. But, we’re not all movie stars and politicians. I suppose I have some drama in my life, but I’d rather it were not drama nor the norm. There is a rumor that some people get to live out good, simple lives of peace and quiet. I’d count myself lucky if I were one of them.
(Brief aside: I hope to remove the stupid bear in the upper-left corner. I like the theme because of its color scheme and layout. But the stupid bear has got to go.)
Welcome, S.E.C.!
You’re right, the water is nice.
Be sure to read our blogs, as we read yours too.
Hurrah! This is indeed welcome. One of my favorite AYOR writers has a blog.
I couldn’t help but think that you sound very “hobbitish” in your self assessment. Hobbits like the normal comforts of home over “adventures.”
And yes, the stupid bear must die!
I liked hanging out with the Hollands at the AP Weekend.
Especially when Adriene starts bossing Jeff around.
Man, when you come clean, you really come clean.
Welcome man! I DEFINITELY echo the mountain remarks.
Spencer: As soon as I get to work, the bear gets it.
I was going to can the image last night, but I was resetting my connection every 180 seconds. NOT COOL!
Anyhow … yes, welcome. I want to hear that gas can story sometime … I like funny stories about Jeff.
The story is pretty simple, Geof. Jeff has a bad temper.
…and welcome Spencer, the assimilation is almost complete.
Oh, it’s not that bad of a temper, and it appears so seldomly. Most of the time, you’re just a fun-loving geek
I’ve only seen Jeff genuinely perturbed twice in the almost 8.5 years I’ve known him. :fact:
Holland, tell me something I don’t know, will ya?
Spencer, were you around for the phone-smashing incident?
That was my first angry-Jeff experience. I was a happy freshman in my fraternity house… always going through the house, talking with people and messing around. It’s what I did — many times in lieu of going to class, too. Well, anyways, I will never forget that time. I was on my daily rounds. I had already chatted everyone up on the first floor, and I moved on to the second. I’m walking down the hall, wondering if maybe Jeff is in. And that’s when I hear mean, angry shouting coming from Jeff’s room, and before I have the idea that “maybe now is not a good time”, the door flings open and a phone is launched towards the wall immediately across from the door where it promptly explodes. I dove for the ground, covering my head, but it was too late, I had been hit. “Man down, man down!” I yelled, and I heard a second “BOOM!”. All goes silent; I cautiously lift my head and begin looking around. People are sticking their heads out of doors asking, “What’s going on?” I’m just a wild-eyed Freshman who is at a loss for words. I think I may have gathered the remains of the phone and placed them next to Jeff’s door, thinking he might want his destroyed phone. It was probably the shell shock from the experience. By then, a few people, who knew better about what had probably happened, came to me and tried to explain as best they could. I can’t remember what they said nor do I think I heard them then. I was just a frightened freshman who had just seen love gone cold.
…okay, so, I dramatized it a little…