"What else can I be, all apologies"

I've neglected my little corner of the Interweb.

I really did plan on updating this right after my trip to Arizona, but its funny how life seems to go in fast forward when you have to get 30 hrs of student teaching, study French, and 4 months left to pack your life up for 27 months and say your goodbyes to your friends and the people you love. (I prefer to call them see-you-laters, but the sentence just didn't flow)

Arizona was a blast. I went and stayed with my Grandpa Ron for 5 days and had a great time. The first day we went to Apache Town where they used to film westerns with the Duke and the King. Then we headed to a popular tourist spot,Tortilla Flats, for some lunch and went up in the mountains. Living in Ohio makes you forget how beautiful the mountains really are. I think I took nearly 20 random pictures of the mountains when we were out. They could definitely tell the bearded guy was a tourist.

I met some really nice people in the little gated community my grandpa lives in. He warned me I'd be hanging out in a geriatric ward all weekend but the people were very welcoming. I also got up for a 6AM coffee get together with two of my grandpa's friends from Maine. Really nice guys and were very interested in the Peace Corps process and experience. Needless to say I went back to sleep after coffee, which is harder than you think after you suck two cups down.

The week also included dinner at a place called San Tan Flat (Have you noticed everything is called Flat or Flats around here, but there are mountains everywhere in Arizona? Quite the conundrum). It was sort of like a western Cracker Barrel on the inside with saddles and all kinds of knick-knacks on the walls. They also had picnic tables all over outside with your own personal fire pit that you could roast hot dogs or marshmallows on. They had some live music and a place to dance. A very unique place. The fire pits are a great idea and I'm surprised more restaurants haven't ripped off the idea.

We closed the week out by hitting up the LARGEST flea market I'd ever seen and going to see The Machinist at the movies. Now everybody sneaks some contraband into the movies so they don't have to pay the ridiculous movie theater prices but nobody does it like my grandpa! Not only did we smuggle in our Good N' Plentys and Caramel Creams but he popped us some popcorn that we put into ziploc bags and a can of coke and a cup. That's how we roll :)

I also got to spend some time with my Aunt Lori, her husband Gary, son Hunter, and my Grandma MJ and her friend John were visiting from Ohio at the same time. It was great to see everyone, eat an amazing breakfast with everything you could want, and catch up. I had never seen their house before either, it is beautiful! Unfortunately, it was pouring that day (Who'd a thunk it!?) but the bad weather did not deter the good times. John and Gary went to golf in the monsoon and my grandpa took me for my first casino experience on our way back. I think we made 16 or 17 bucks in about 20 mins and got the hell out of there before we blew it!

Like I said I had a blast in Arizona. This summer, I worked 2 weekly farmers markets with my Grandpa and I really think it brought us a lot closer. I loved hearing about all the stories of his life and his experiences. I feel like people my age tend to disregard older generations as over the hill and out of touch, but there is so much that you can learn and absorb from the years they have lived. Granted they may have been raised in a different time, but they still went through the same pains of growing up, finding a career, building a life for yourself, etc. More people should take the time to sit down and really talk to their grandparents and learn about their life because I bet there is a lot more to it than you will give them credit for. Life is too short, enjoy the time together that you have.

After my Arizona trip I began my student teaching at BHS. I worked in Mrs. Gear's 7th grade Computer Connections class helping students use different computer programs, applications, and theories. It was a very good experience to get my feet wet teaching. It was weird hearing Mr. Miller at first but I got used to it after the first week or so. The kids behaved well for the most part, but I feel like some of them need to get taken to Cameroon with me and dropped off in the middle of the village to really appreciate what they take for granted in the US. Mrs. Gear wrote me a great reference letter for the Peace Corps and I greatly appreciate her letting me get my teaching experience in her classroom.

Easter lunch at Grandma Ellie's was a wonderful time as always. It is hard imagining that I won't get to see my family for such a long period of time, but I know I will come back at least once and will use whatever resources I have to stay in contact with everyone. If these 27 months go as fast as the last 5 or 6 months have then it will be over before I know it!

We leave for the Beale St. Music Festival in Memphis, TN this weekend.  Can't wait to see the family down in Tennessee and spend some good QT with my parents and brother. We all haven't got to do a fun vacation in awhile with all 4 of us so it should be a blast. The lineup looks pretty stellar too top to bottom. Hopefully the weather will hold off til we make it back but I'm bringing rain gear regardless. I promise I will update the blog after this latest journey in a much more timely manner.

Until next time my friends.

Max

The beginning of Max's Magical Mystery Tour...

Hello, blogosphere!

Or rather, Hi Mom and Dad!

I've got this blog designed the way I like it for now so lets start with an introduction for any random folk that happen to stumble across my little corner of the Interweb.

I'm 22 years old and currently live in Columbus, OH with one of my best friends, Masa, and his wife, April. I was born and raised in Bucyrus, OH. Small town about an hour north of Columbus.

I digress, I graduated in March 2010 from The Ohio State University (Wow, has it really been almost a year already!?) with a Bachelor's degree in Communication Technology. While enduring the seemingly never-ending Peace Corps Application process, I've been working Guest Services/Security at the LC (concert venue) and more recently as a dishwasher at a Japanese restaurant near OSU's campus. (If you like sushi and/or Japanese food and are in Columbus,OH go to Akai Hana. Thanks for the job Masa :))

I have had a lot of good times at these jobs and even better stories, but sadly they must come to an end. I have already stopped working at the LC and stop at Akai Hana on Wednesday. At the end of this month I am moving back to Bucyrus and living with my parents until my Peace Corps adventure begins in June. I will be volunteering up at Bucyrus High School getting some experience teaching computer literacy to students, like I will be doing in Cameroon. I am also going to sit-in on some French classes to add some additional French training to my own personal studying.

Max's Magical Mystery Tour begins February 15th when I fly out to Arizona to visit and stay with my Grandpa Ron for 5 days. At the end of April, my Dad, brother, and I (and possibly mother, sister-in-law, or buddy) will be driving down to Memphis, TN for the Beale St. Music Festival (BSMF) and to spend time with family. BSMF is always a blast despite the weather and last year was the 1st year we missed in 2 years so we need to make up for lost time right big guy?

May will be my final month to spend time with family and friends, say my goodbyes, and prepare for the real beginning of Max's Magical Mystery Tour on June 1st when I go to staging.

This was a brief description of what my next 5 months are going to include. I am sure to have more rants, pictures, and random updates between now and then.

Love, peace, and chicken grease,

Max

Testing one two three...

This is my test blog to make sure this mic is on. The blog is looking pretty skimpy right now, but it will be vastly improved when I get this bad boy up and running. That is all for now.