new york, new york

It has been a great week so far as I participate in a swing of college fairs throughout western New York. I spent Monday and Tuesday in Buffalo and then headed over to Rochester for some fair sessions at the Riverside Convention Center. Definitely some of the more social fairs I have attended -- last night I went out to local haunt the "Dinosaur BBQ" with several reps from other schools. Always cool to meet nice people in your same profession, although I am certainly not the representative to do that sort of thing at every fair I attend.

Tomorrow I have a session of the Rochester fair in the afternoon, and in the free moments I will no doubt be enjoying the third round of the TPC at Sawgrass (it should be golf's 5th major). Hopefully Tiger can get it together in rounds 3 and 4 -- he often does, as we have seen already this season. Too bad as well about Duke and Gonzaga -- SportsCenter this morning had an amazing statistic: in no year have all four #1 seeds made it to the Final Four. I guess when you think about it, that does make a lot of sense. The odds are not particularly in that outcome's favor.

Missing Michigan, but always thankful to come back and see family and friends -- to remember my roots, so to speak. Have a great weekend!

road trip take II

I probably should call it "air trip part I", but I kind of like the idea of having a part II of something. Feels like something has been accomplished. That's right, you guessed it, I am headed to the NCAA Division III Women's Championship in Springfield, Massachusetts. Pretty much the ultimate in Flying Dutch fandom if I do say so myself. My buddy from Admissions, Adam, and I will fly from Chicago to Hartford, Connecticut (pretty much home to my sister Kelley) and then drive to Springfield. Friday night is the semifinal with Hope playing at 6 PM and then depending on the outcome, they will play again at some point on Saturday. It will be a nice little vacation -- and I get to see my sister which is a total plus! Hope all is well with those who read this (and those who don't). Peace.

bon weekend

This was a terrific weekend! A couple of my buddies and I headed down to Springfield, Ohio to watch the Flying Dutchmen in the Sweet 16. Unfortunately, we lost, but it did give us the opportunity the next day to head over to Greencastle, Indiana. Yeah, we saw smalltown America for sure. Oh, in Greencastle we saw the Flying Dutch take on the tigers of DePauw in an Elite 8 matchup. They won quite handily in the end and now advance to the Final Four in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Already in the works is a Hope College Admissions trip to the Bay State to watch the Lady Dutch of Hope College take on the something-somethings of Scranton, PA (Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company regional office located here?). Our commitment to being number one fans for Hope basketball should be apparent at this point. So I head back to the office tomorrow looking forward to a Final weekend of basketball spectatorship for this year.

To think, it all started with a brand new fieldhouse back in November. Thirty-two conference home games later, the Dutch and Dutchmen were undefeated in that place. What a blessing for an already terrific college! For me, it has meant connecting with a side of Hope College once somewhat foreign to me. My experience is now the well-rounded one I sought beginning in late August 2001. I am truly thankful for what God has blessed me with in these last five years. Have a great week.

the year 2006

It is the new year and as I consider the prospect (usage of this word is ironic for obvious reasons) of returning tomorrow to life at the Admissions office, I reflect on what the last year has brought in my life. If you will allow me, I will take just a few moments to reflect on the year that was 2005...

January brought the beginning of my student teaching, first at the elementary level (those kids were the greatest) and I then moved on to the junior and senior high levels (also super kids at these levels as well). Highlights of my student teaching experience included preparing my high school Chorale and Chambersingers for an important concert with the Grand Rapids Symphony and attending Jenison's production of "Seussical" in which many of my students performed.

The spring season saw my return to the single life. At the time, it was pretty devastating, but quickly I realized that it was very much for the best. At this point, I really realized that there is contentment in singlehood.

May brought my graduation from college and a tour to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. It was a real treat--an awesome trip to cap off my college years. From there, I would return to Holland and begin my search for a teaching job. I found myself at the Orlando Convention Center in Florida, where I would have interviews, visit schools, and eventually be offered a position which I did not take. Incredible that I went all that way really for nothing, but it was as if I needed to go down there to find out if it was the place for me.

A position as Admissions counselor at Hope became available and I pounced on it. At that point, I had had no other options come up in the Holland area, and I needed a job that would provide me with good experience and a positive financial situation. This was it! I spent the months of September, October, and November traveling across Michigan and New York recruiting students at high schools and college fairs. Since then I have been working on recruitment programming, attending Hope basketball games, and enjoying a restful winter break.

I am excited to know what the next twelve months will hold for me and what thoughts I will have at the conclusion of this year. For now, I will enjoy every minute of every day and hope that my every action glorifies my God. I am thankful for a loving family, caring friends, the ability to establish myself as a professional in the working world, and the hope that reminds me that someone is waiting who I will someday be able to share my life with. I won't lie--I am excited for the person God has waiting for me, and I pray that he will prepare me for her to enter in my life.

To borrow the lines from one of my favorite songs:

Someone is waiting...


Would I know her even if I met her?
Wait for me,
I'm ready now,
I'll find you if I can!
Did I know her? Have I waited too long?
Maybe so, but maybe so has she.
Wait for me--I'll hurry!
Wait for me--I'll hurry!


Wait for me.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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--

Sometimes I wish I could be driving down this road tomorrow 

Whatta-melon! 

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--