Sunday, December 04, 2005

Scholars Day

Yesterday we invited the best and the brightest of our applicants and inquiries to campus for our annual Scholar's Day. It was great to have about 82 families on campus. They attended academic sessions, took tours, and enjoyed some great meals. I really thought it was an excellent day and I am just reminded every day about how much I enjoy working with students and their families. You know, I don't think anyone really goes to college with the exact intention of becoming an admissions counselor, but no one should doubt the tremendous impact that a person in this position can have. It is a worthwhile and exciting profession, a job to which I look forward every single day.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

a real treat...


I had a real treat this week in attending the Dave Matthews Band concert at Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. The band was as good as I have ever seen them, and by the end of the show it was running so long that "Louisiana Bayou" was actually cut. The crowd was certainly not the loudest or craziest I have ever seen (at least in my section), but it was a great show nonetheless! This band just seems to keep on going in their tours year after year! I'll look forward to maybe taking a road trip to see several shows next summer!

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Big night for Hope!

Last night was huge for Hope College as the brand new DeVos Fieldhouse opened for regular season play. Both the men's and women's teams played in the same place on campus for the first time in many, many years. I was able to be there, and what a treat it was! I really think this is great for Hope and probably will inspire a number of new athletic recruits in the next couple of years, not to mention the positive effect that it has as part of our campus in general. It really feels like home, and it was so great to be there. Both teams look excellent, and I look forward to attending many of the games! Sweet!

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Michigan's little Bavaria (click me)

In the last nine weeks of traveling around the great states of Michigan and New York, there have been many wonderful moments happenings where I have chuckled to myself primarily because no one else was there to laugh with me. There was the angry counselor at that yuppy private school, the numerous counselors who asked me "are you a student?", the many individuals at various retail stores who were convinced that since I was wearing a tie I must be employed at that location. I am not sure one of these events can hold a candle to that which I experienced yesterday.

I had heard of the great village of Frankenmuth; after all, there are about 27 billboards advertising it as one travels across Michigan via the major highways. However, I never had made the trip up there to visit although it seems I was quite close in proximity every time I drove through Flint. That all changed yesterday when I was due to make a visit to Frankenmuth High School. It was every intention of mine to sample the "local flavor" of this well-noted city of Michigan, so I made every attempt to do so. As I was driving down the main stretch of the town, I just had to stop at the following location:

That's right. The Bavarian Inn. Owned by a wonderful local family called the Zehnder's. Let me tell you, these people own the entire town of Frankenmuth. Everywhere you look you can see their name on buildings and whatnot. I had a wonderful German chicken dinner (replete with stuffing and mashed potatoes). It was a real treat. With the meal was a generous allotment of breads including the traditional holiday Stollen bread. Talk about a real treat.

What a wonderful way to kick off the last week of this travel season.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Talk about thought-provoking

I would expect that many of you read this blog purely for the gentle, witty banter inspired by the ongoings of my life. In fact, I don't blame you one bit for your motivation, because there is nothing that makes me happier than this banter that you have grown so accustomed to during this past year. Today's post is a horse of a completely different color as I share with you a significant moment from the past day or so. That being said, I would ask that you read the following narrative with a great deal of respect and care.

Scientists and sleep doctors say that we dream all the time we are sleeping. There are hardly any times that I an actually remember the happenings of my dreams, and to tell you the truth, most of the time they are so weird that I don't care to remember them anyway. Most people say that dreams are a manifestation of unresolved emotion, our brain's way of dealing with all of those things that have happened to us in the previous day or so.

Last night I had what was possibly the most vivid dream in my recent memory. With your permission, I will not share it with you in the greatest of detail. Also, please keep in mind that some of the connections may not make sense to you. Heck, they don't make any sense to me, either!

What I remember at this point was being in what I felt to be a bank and meeting this girl, probably just around my age. I was immediately struck at how beautiful she was, with blond hair about chin-length and straight. She was probably my height (for those that care, that is important to me as well:) and was wearing a sweater with jeans. We were in Holland, I think, and it was the wintertime. We were watching TV in her (or my) apartment for some part of the dream, and then we were at the Brewery enjoying each other's conversation. For some part of the dream, I didn't know her name and I am not really sure it matters anyway, but at some point, I learned that her name was Courtenay. Interesting name, and not one that I am usually attracted to, but it was just a dream, anyway.

I remember thinking the whole time that I wanted it all to be true. The element of it being a dream must have been part of my conscious at the time. What mattered most about the whole thing is that it felt like the most perfect, trusting love that anyone could ever hope for, the kind of love that we are searching for in this life.

Let me make something very clear about this dream, something very significant. Other than the fact that I was physically attracted to this person, there was nothing physical about the dream itself. It was nothing like that. There was a feeling of purity and innocence that surrounded the whole thing. Maybe that is what made it feel so right.

I wanted it to be true. I wanted to wake up and have the whole thing be a true story. I wanted that person to exist, but when I woke up, she wasn't there and I couldn't even think why the dream had happened to me. I do remember one time, though, when I was in high school when I had a dream that was very similar. The context was different of course, but the feeling remained the same. I believe that one can be content in their singleness and still desire that relationship to come along.

I look around me and see high school and college sweethearts that are or are getting married, some that are still only dating, and some that have even broken up. The reality for me is that my time of having a high school or college sweetheart has probably passed. There were those relationships that were so important in my development into the person I am today, but the fact remains that I have moved on.

All of this leads me to believe that she has not come into my life. The amazing part of it all is that she is out there somewhere, leading her life and hopefully waiting patiently for me as well. Is she around my age? Does she have a similar or completely different career? Is she dating someone right now? Where is she? When will we meet, or have we met already? These are the questions I consider as I wait patiently (or not) for this person to enter my life.

I will not soon forget that feeling that burned so deep within me in that dream. The feeling that everything was right, not perfect, but right. I think God gave me a glimpse of coming attractions in the hope that I will stay focused on the day-to-day and following him.

I hope that's what the real deal is like, that it feels that exact same way. I think it does and I think it will.

Monday, July 25, 2005

This might be my fiftieth post

I'm not sure, but it might. Anyway, I need some advice.

I am being recommended for a position as an admissions rep with Hope. It does not mean that I have gotten the position or anything like that, just that there are people speaking to other appropriate people on my behalf. I am an education major, so does my taking a position like this make any kind of sense? Your thoughts and comments on this post are sincerely appreciated. If possible, please take a moment to e-mail me at andrew.meyers@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Saturday, July 23, 2005

Saturday in the park

No I am not in the park. I actually just thought of the song as I was attempting to think of a clever title for today's post. Isn't the rest of the line "waiting for the 4th of July" or something like that? Anyone who can either confirm or deny the validity of that is more than welcome to do so. I am just way too lazy to even consider Googling it or anything like that.

It has been a more than eventful Saturday to say the least. I went down to the local coffee shop (newly remodeled, I might add) to enjoy a cup of joe and continue reading the first installment of the Harry Potter series. I have indeed jumped on the proverbial bandwagon when it comes to that particular collection of novels and I have no intention of falling off until I find out who the half-blood prince is. (Please don't tell me if you have already found out.)

I called my mother for a good little while and also talked to my little brother Ben. He is very cool and told me about all of his past week's summertime exploits. Then it was off to a very low class book fair (Scholastic would never approve) where I picked up a full copy of Handel's Messiah and the music to the musical The Secret Garden.

My thoughts for today have centered around the topic of redemption. It's a pretty heavy duty thing to be considering, but it has just struck me in this last little while. In everything there is an element of redemption, and it brings me back to the lyrics of the SCC song "All Things New."

You make all things new / You redeem and You transform / You renew and You restore

In all things, no matter how tiring and terrible, unjust and unfair (let's be honest, this world is chock full of these kind of things), God is there to redeem, if we choose to allow him to do so. Isn't that the most precious and comforting thought that we could ever have on our hearts, that God is a god of love and of mercy? I simply cannot imagine depending on anything else.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

I'm not going to apologize

It has been a lengthy amount of time since I have last posted to this little weblog that has come to be known as "scenes from an italian restaurant", and if there is someone out there who will respond to this post with two reasons why that title is appropriate, then they will win the prize of feeling good about themselves for a good little while. (HINT: If you can't figure it out, then go ahead and read on in this post and you will probably figure out a way to answer my little riddle.)

One of the reasons why I haven't posted is that I have taken up a new glorious and exciting hobby which I will now take a few moments to share about. Golf. Now, I know what you all must be thinking, that's really great that you've taken up such a hip sport, Andrew, why don't you start drinking Metamucil and watching reruns of the People's Court as well? Well before you go off into some kind of rant about golf is an old person's sport, you should probably ask yourself: did I watch the young Tiger Woods win the British Open this past weekend? If the answer is anything but yes, then you should ask yourself another question: how is that I came to be so incredibly uninformed?

With that little rant out of the way, I would like to take some time to talk about my golf game. I purchased some kind of off-brand clubset from eBay and have since played 9 holes twice with the new equipment. I love the distance I can get off the tee with a good drive and my new enormous driver. I have been fairly successful in getting to the green in regulation, but my downfall has to be my ability to read putts and score well from a short distance. Hopefully, I can get out some more and practice around the putting green and whatnot.

Now for a little hinty about my aformentioned riddle (in the form of an abstract poem):

i work in a restaurant
and i like the piano man as well

That should help you out.

Bye bye.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Sometimes the answer is so simple...

We'll make a wish and do as dreamers do...



There are pieces of music in this world that can move you, change you so deeply that after listening to them you are never the same.

For me, it has always been music that highlights those qualities that make us human. It is music that is timeless. Music that stays with you from the minute you hear it and for the rest of your life.

Sometimes a song will come on the radio, and if it is a tune that is closely linked with a period of my life, I can't help but go back to that time and relive it in some way.

That, my friends, is what makes music so powerful. Its strong link to our memory helps us retain the important happenings in our lives, even after we feel as if we have long forgotten them.

I love music because it helps to grow by reminding us of where we came from. It reminds of lost loves, chances we never took, and the unforgettable promise of tomorrow.

There may be no greater reflection of our humanness than the music, the art that we create.



and all our wishes will come true.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Tough decisions are not easy

I know what you are thinking. Thank you, Captain Obvious. I don't remember missing that many classes in college. Occasionally I was ill or had some other kind of legitimate excuse for not being able to be there. There must have been one day centered around making adult decisions that I wasn't able to attend. Too bad, I could have used that information today.

Come with me now to last week Thursday when a school in Florida called to say that they were offering me a position. I had previously lost all interest in pursuing the position, but since I had just been turned down for another, I began to give it some serious thought. When push came to shove and after some questions asked of their principal, I realized that no amount of year-round golf or theme park-hopping could ever compensate for what wasn't a really great fit for me. I had to turn down the job. It was the right decision for me to make.

I am twenty-one years of age. I just graduated from college and I just feel like I have no business being picky. A job is offered to me and I turn it down. Is this okay? I am certain that something will come along, perhaps even in this area, but a position was within reach and I had no choice but to say no. It just wasn't a good fit for me, at least not good enough that I could hike myself all the way down to Florida for it.

At some point, we have to get this right. "They", whoever "they" are, need to realize that you only get out of something what you put in. You want effective teachers, teachers who want to teach in your district and are going to be around for a long time, then give them the tools they need to be successful. I don't claim to know the first thing about economics, but I do know things aren't great now. Even so, education reform has to start somewhere, and for my money, I believe it has to start with proper allocation of resources. Get your priorities straight, and things will start to turn around for you. I am all for athletics in the schools, but if you make that your priority, academics are going to be the first things to suffer. If you don't have the money to contribute to a program, you don't have any business keeping the program running. The kids are the ones that suffer. I'll find another job, but somewhere, some kids are losing out because they aren't on a level playing field with other students in this country. They lose and nobody wins.

I want to change our world for the better and I am patiently waiting for the chance to start.

My search has only just begun. I am ready to fly...

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

The world can be tough

Anytime now, big guy. Last week at this time I was in Orlando--thinking and dreaming that that was the place where God intends for me to live. The reality is (after two interviews, one good school, one not-so-good school, and no real options) that Florida may in fact not be the place for me right now. The signs are pointing in the wrong direction if I am supposed to be traveling there. So, what are you going to do now?

I was told that this blog can be funny at times. I have to say that a statement like that is incredibly flattering. When it comes out of my head, it is funny for sure, I don't think anyone can argue with that. But to also have affirmation from beyond the limits of my orb, well, that is just exactly what the doctor/psychiatrist ordered.

What will I do? Well, I have a job here that can keep me on my feet for a while and there is always substitute teaching until the right job comes along. The troubling thing is that other Florida school (the one I am not interested in) may be poised at this moment to offer me a position (one that I probably would not take). Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

And while it may be no ten thousand spoons on my wedding day (or however the song goes), I am still left wondering what to do next. I had sort of put my proverbial eggs in one basket for the time being and I wish I didn't feel so scrambled. But, there is no rest for the weary. Back I will go to good ol' Gordon and Margaret Van Wylen Library and hope that something will come up. That, and a little heavy duty prayer can't hurt, either.

I needed to go to Florida. I needed to see the state of things. I needed to let go of my financial apprehensions in the interest of what had been on my heart.

This child is ready to go where you send thee.

Monday, June 27, 2005

sorry about that

I haven't posted in a while. I know, it probably affected you in some adverse way. I can't save the world and you know that. But I am here, I am back, and if that doesn't make you happy, then what shall I say to you?

Last week I flew to Orlando. Florida. About a thousand miles a way from Michigan and with plenty of palm trees to feast your eyes on. I was attending a job fair entitled "The Great Florida Teach-In" and the Orange County Convention Center. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my adult life. I met many people, had several interviews, and even visited some schools after renting my very first automobile. What a time it was!

No Disney, thank you very much for asking. Well, actually, I take that back because I did manage to take a few minutes and go to Downtown Disney. I also took a picturesque drive past Epcot and saw Spaceship Earth which was looking lovely as always. That, my friends, is a wonder of modern architecture, to be sure.

Now I wait for schools to get back to me with their decisions so I can make some choices about where to live and such should I happen to procure employment. It is an exciting, but somewhat frightening time as I venture out on my own. I trust many of you are feeling the exact same way. Until again I blog--

Friday, June 17, 2005


Sometimes I wish I could be driving down this road tomorrow Posted by Hello


Whatta-melon! Posted by Hello

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Sweetness!

Totally cool...check out an all-day Dave Matthews Band radio marathon at:

http://www.wbwc.com, click on "Listen Now"

Enjoy!

A day of fun

Yes, that's right. We took a little trip to that haven of amusement bliss we like to call Michigan's Adventure. Not a bad place to hang out for a couple hours on a cold and rainy June day. They have several fine roller coasters that were very enjoyable to ride, my favorite being the death-trap wooden job they refer to as "Shivering Timbers." I thought it was a little weird when I had to sign some kind of legal document before getting on the ride, but whatever...

Then on to the fine Studio 28 in Grand Rapids for an opening day showing of the epic "Batman Begins." Now please do not be confused, 28 refers to the street of its location, not the number of theatres in the building. The movie was fantastic and even a little bit scary at parts, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. You all should definitely go see it!

It is Thursday. One week and one day since my initial interview with Four Corners Charter School and I am patiently waiting to hear back about their decision. They said they would let me know by Monday the 20th--hopefully I won't have to wait quite that long to hear back. However, if waiting means that I would procure the position, then I will definitely continue to be patient. No matter what, I know that God's got a plan and I am just on a need-to-know basis. Apparently at this point I do not need to know. I'm okay with that.

Holland is beautiful today, sunny and warm, but not hot. Pistons/Spurs game 4 is tonight and we are looking to have a fine viewing of it over here at the apartment and any and all that are interested are welcome to attend. It will be a wonderful time!

Thanks to those that have made use of my e-mail address from my previous post. I look forward to hearing from many of you real soon! Peace--

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

I'm not worried...

because God has got this one. No amount of anxiety is ever going to have a calming effect, so I am done with it right now. I'm simply going to do the right things and hope that I happen to land a job in the next couple of weeks.

God is bigger than __________. (insert everything here, including my job anxiety--thanks Karen).

You make all things new.

Two days in a row! Job search update...

Here we go with what it sure to be an interesting and fun-filled post about my current experience as a college graduate.

First, what it means to be a college graduate. As a college graduate, I have spent my days at the college library (probably more time than I was ever there during my actual stint in college) looking for jobs and hoping that one of them would pan out for me. Teaching jobs are funny because each district has a different, but equally confusing application process. This has proved to be incredibly time-consuming with little reward. However, I did have an interview last week with a school in Davenport, Florida called Four Corners Charter School. It is a K-8 school that is in need of a middle school music teacher. The interview was over the phone and I felt like it went pretty well. They said they would be making their decision by June 20, and also asked if I would be willing to fly down and visit. I said that I would have no problem making the sacrifice to fly down to Florida on a whim!

This week has been a little lazy in terms of the job search, simply because I am waiting out the results of this interview that I had last week. I truly hope that it pans out because it is a great area and the mix of classes is exactly what I am looking for: weighted heavily in general music with a choir class as well. I would be able to focus on what I really love, which is getting kids excited and involved in learning music.

So we will see what happens...if you happen to read this and feel inclined to do so, please take a minute and just shoot out a prayer for this, because I really feel like it is the opportunity for me and I am just looking for some kind of security about what it is going on for me in the fall. I would also like to start searching for apartments with palm trees and whatnot! Did I mention this school's proximity to Disney World? Well, nevermind...

As always, feel free to comment and share your thoughts on all of this! I look forward to all of your thoughts. Peace...


this is a swan Posted by Hello

Monday, June 13, 2005


A flippin' peacock Posted by Hello


Nice shot of the castle in Disneyland Paris! Posted by Hello


Space Mountain: Mission 2...pretty cool! Posted by Hello


My Disney-ness has gone international...me at Disneyland Paris! Posted by Hello

I want to be a better blogger...

I suppose that the fundamental purpose of a weblog is to provide a place where people you see on a regular basis (or more importantly, those you don't) can read up on all the ongoings of your life. A blog is a place where you can control what chapters individuals read of your "open book."

However, if you do not ever take the time to write on your blog it just becomes another piece of .html floating around in cyberspace, or something incredibly dramatic like that. Well friends, I am back in the game, and since I have plenty of minutes to play, here we go...

I spent the weekend basically alone for my roommate is and was in Aruba windsurfing with his brother and father. That is one nice life. I did, however, acquire a little piece of television history we like to call the MacGyver Season 2 on DVD. It has provided me with mucho entertainment and fun. I got to hang out with Krouton (not her real name) on Saturday night, did a little sing-sing at the church on Sunday morning, and watched the Pistons game (or massacre) and ate Chinese food with a few friends last night.

As for today, today has been a day of not a whole lot. I am anxiously waiting to hear from a school in Florida that I interviewed with last week via telephone. I really want them to offer me the job I applied for. It's a middle school music position that centers heavily on general music, which is quite exciting to me, so please keep that in your prayers this week as the powers that be deliberate and whatnot.

This evening will be a fun time at the 84 East and then who-knows-what. Some kind of cavorting no doubt.

For those that are interested, here is some new contact information that you may take advantage of:

My new e-mail is: andrew.meyers@gmail.com.
My new cellular device's number is: available when you e-mail me at the above address.

Have a wonderful evening and feel free to comment...thanks for being a part of these last eight minutes of my life. Cheers...

Saturday, April 23, 2005

It was pretty darn sweet...

Yesterday the boys visited Jenison Junior and Senior High Schools for some impromptu performances. No setlists, just a lot of fun and hopefully some learning to for the students of those institutions. We headed over to sing for the 7-8-9 Male Chorus (of about 140 students), did about a 25-minute set with a little schtick. Then, we headed back to the senior high to sing for the 9th grade women and the 7th grade women of that hour ended up coming over to hear us. Both classes had a blast, and it was just a cryin' shame we couldn't have had the boys stay for the 4th, 5th, and 6th hours as well! Thanks to the members of 12th Street Harmony for taking time out of their day to come out and sing in Jenison...it was a blast!


The boys visit Jenison Junior High Posted by Hello

Saturday, April 09, 2005

Disney might be a fun place to work

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I sent in a cover letter and résumé to the Walt Disney World Casting Center requesting that I be considered for a position with their "Magic Music Days" program. MMD brings performing groups (choirs, orchestras, bands) to WDW to perform for guests. Churchville (my alma mater) went their several times in the 90s. I want to work as a "talent coordinator" with the groups that come to perform for "the World." Please keep this in your prayers as I am really looking to hear back from them this week as I prepare to make some decisions. I am just hoping that my envelope gets in the right person's hands and they choose to respond in some way to me, and soon! I just feel that this has been on my heart for a long time and for good reason, so we will see what happens! Could be the most awesome thing that has ever happened to me...

Saturday, January 29, 2005


Missing the magic... Posted by Hello


Reflections of genius... Posted by Hello