Sometimes, escaping for a weekend is exactly what I need from life. Sometimes, I think God knows exactly how to help me out with that. And sometimes, a friend I randomly met through a rec league softball team last fall gets set up by her job in a sweet temporary apartment in midtown Manhattan about the same time airlines put discounts on their flights between Chicago and New York. Add a day off and a travel buddy, and you end up with a carefree three day weekend of the best pizza in NYC, overpriced Dwight bobbleheads, Nuts4Nuts, cupcakes you have to wait in line for (Two, no six, no twelve, BAKER’S DOZEN!), a subway system that stays on schedule, AP friends, a bar that made me feel at home, and a much needed break from Chicago. It did not include a real camera, so this is all I got…

It’s been almost a year since the final episode of Arrested Development aired, but I’m still feeling the hurt. Much like an amputee that wakes up to scratch a leg that has been gone for years, I wake up longing to spend time with Buster and G.O.B. Sure, I have the entire series on DVD, but this junkie needs a new fix.

I’m constantly blown (”Uh, you mean, “away,” though, right?”) when I make a reference to the show and just get the, “you know, I never watched it” response from friends who I previously held in high regard. I just assumed that at the very least, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series would get a few people to switch over from reality television for at least one night. It turns out that the majority of people would much rather watch scripted “real life” drama unfold among hand picked cast members in scenarios just a lion and a sword away from the Roman Colosseum.

Regardless, every once in a while the internet reveals a treasure to help satiate my addiction. In a beautiful interview that will probably cause massive introspection on the part of any viewer, Michael Cera (who played George Michael… “Quicken Premiere! Dad, I hope you kept the receipt!”) lays out his advice on success. It’s 5 minutes, but well worth it. I would recommend taking notes for future reference.

If I can figure out how to embed it later, I will. For now - just go here.

On days when I am truly lucky, I run across something or chat with someone and am reminded of my year with Admission Possible.

Immediately, my mind turns to my 36 juniors, now charging through their 2nd semester in college. I turn into the new father, proudly bragging about their accomplishments to anyone who will listen. For those moments, I forget about struggling to wake up on Saturdays to sit through a practice ACT, and somehow block out all the drama that comes with being surrounded by high school students. Instead, I get all emotional talking about the commitment each one of them made to their future, and to their families. I dream of the world-changers each one of them will turn into and wait in anticipation as they each realize how to embrace that role.

When I’m done bragging about my kids, I start talking about the staff at AP (and my roommate!) that became my family. Moving to Minnesota with a truck full of stuff and a great roommate was one thing; getting to know and working with a team of strangers was much more intimidating than I thought. I was one of the two people in the room with no ties to Minnesota, only visiting once before to meet a few of the staff members after being offered the position. Of course there were hurdles and challenges and growing pains, just like any family. I think that means Jim, the co-founder and director, was obviously our Alan Thicke and Traci would be our Maggie, which would make us all various incarnations of Mike, Carol, Ben, and sometimes even Chrissy and Luke.  And just like Growing Pains, there was laughter and drama, but sadly no goofy neighbors with names like Boner or Stinky.  Instead, our neighbors were the staff and faculty of high schools, for better or for worse.  Is it bad that I know the entire Growing Pains theme music by heart?  (Baby, you and me… we gotta be… the luckiest dreamers who never quit dreamin’!)
In the past year, AP has tremendously expanded in staff, resources, and the number of students served. The program has started new programs in high schools across the Twin Cities metro area, serving as a living testimony to the Margaret Mead quote about a small group of thoughtful committed citizens changing the world. With that growth comes the increasing need to find those thoughtful committed citizens willing to give a year of their life to service. If you know any soon-to-be college graduate, or even a recent graduate looking for something new, please encourage them to consider serving with Admission Possible as an AmeriCorps member. The pay is low and it’s stressful to try to make ends meet, and often throughout your year of service you will question your decision, but the reward is far greater than any job or salary.

Drop me a line if you have any questions about AP or AmeriCorps.

I still have my wisdom teeth.  I have not faced the gruesome process of extracting four molars from the back of my jaw under local anesthetic, listening to my dentist and his assistant drone on about their kids over the sounds of metallic, sterilized instruments of torture.  I can only guess that watching last night’s college football National Championship game was somewhat akin to that very process based upon stories of pain and horror shared by friends and family; cheeks freshly swollen and bruised, filled with gauze and facing a week of soft foods and painkillers.

The biggest game of the year had passed almost two months ago, and this… this was supposed to be an appendix -  a useless final chapter to a great season.  Win or lose, I could be happy with an undefeated regular season, a Big 10 Championship, and a win over the team up north.  Then, Tedd Ginn Jr. returned the opening kick-off for a 7-0 Buckeye lead 15 seconds into the National Championship.  The possibility of another National Championship for the Sweater Vest brought me so much hope.  What transpired over the next 59 minutes and 45 seconds was possibly the most disgusting game of college football I have ever seen.

The defense was picked apart.  The offensive line that was celebrated as one of the best in college football was completely overwhelmed.  Receivers were covered like blankets - not that it mattered considering how few times the ball left the quarterback’s hand.  The worst though… Tressel… was simply out-coached.  UF knew that the zone could be picked apart by soft passes over the middle.  Their downfield blocking should be turned into a Tom Emanski-style defensive drill video that could be sold on ESPN.  When the game was over, there were no blown calls to blame… no officials to rip into for costing the Buckeyes the game… only a team that was out-prepared, out-played, and yes, even out-coached.

I think tonight I’m going to go home and pull up the DVR of the Nov. 18th game against the team up north and allow myself to forget that January 8th ever existed.  Thank goodness Spring Training is right around the corner.

The Delocator!

That’s right, friends!  You can take your anti-corporate consumer spending to a whole new level of efficiency.  No more asking awkward teenagers behind the counter getting paid minimum wage about the independent nature of their establishment only to get a blank stare.  You can find independent coffee shops, book stores, and movie theaters all by entering your zip code.  In a flash, you will be instantly transported to a world of true community-friendly entertainment hubs and java huts, allowing you to cast your consumeristic votes at a locally owned and operated establishments in an effort to bring down The Man.

(It’s OK to sacrifice corporate uniformity and allow a little adventure into your life, I promise.)