Emu Email Episode XXXI: "24"

All,
In honor of one of my favorite shows (and Emmy winner!), "24", I am going to use this Emu to attempt to tell the story of an eventful 24 hours this past week in my life in true "24" style. Although not as exciting in most cases as Jack Bauer's life (and there won't be any shootings or terrorists either), there is some big information about my life placed within my story that only those who truly read these will learn. So, if you don't read, you will be one of the last to know this important information.
*11:00 p.m Wed.: As I fall asleep, I know that the hard part of the week is behind me. No more grad classes, the 3-day weekend is almost here, and college football starts tomorrow. I don't give much thought to the 6 or 7 students we suspended today due to multiple fights, one between 3 girls! Life is good.
*7:30 a.m. Thurs.: We meet as a freshman team to setup tutoring as we always do every Thursday. I am especially happy because Mr. Anthony will be speaking to my 9th grade classes today to orientate them to high school, meaning I teach only 2 of my 6 classes, one a continued lab and one practicing computer searches. This will be an easy day.
*noon: Just finished up our first 9th grade meeting and Mr. Anthony is in rare form. He has already suspended another 2 high school students for fighting, girls again. These 2 might get expelled. So far, almost all students suspended are in the 9th grade. But hey, my day is half over.
*1:00 p.m. I use this time to visit with Dr. Lane as Mr. Anthony says that he can speak to the class without me. Although, not CCEA President anymore, Dr.Lane would like me to be an administrator of our new mapping software. Apparently, having one of my brothers as an administrator and the other as a computer wiz, they assume I can put the two jobs together and see over this project. I don't ask about pay b/c I assume it is zero and blindingly agree. Ulitmately, the job is probably just holding passwords for all the teachers and easy enough that a local Bonobo chimp could do it. Actually, it was down to me and the chimp with me winning due to the factor that I can't grow facial hair.
*2:00 p.m.: Mr. Anthony answers his cell phone for the 7th time today during his talk and this time says twice "Call the cops, I don't care, just call the cops". You would be amazed at how this grabs 9th graders attention. Apparently, a former grad is now on school grounds despite being banned a week earlier.I offer to take over his speech, but he declines. One phone call later, I am giving the talk. Not too hard since this is my 6th year of hearing it, 3rd time today.
*3:10 p.m. School is out, now the fun part. Mr.Anthony gave the last talk and I got some time to correct papers, first time all day despite planning on doing it all day long. Now all I have to do is pickup Jack, get Carrie and drop her off at the airport, and then meet everyone out at Legends for the ISU and UNI games. Easy right?
*3:45 p.m.: I leave school noticing I need gas. No problem, can hit the gas station that I have a 3 centsoff coupon (Does Jack Bauer ever stop to usecoupons??!) on my way. In fact, I can get Jack, get gas, and get to Carrie's early!
*4:00-4:15: Trying to weave my way through an intersection maze in which you never get a green light. In an attempt to cut through a parking lot, I just get more red lights. I end up getting to Carrie's right on time, not 15 minutes early as planned.
*4:30: Carrie greets me with "I have to cancel my flight". Apparently something came up and now she has to cancel. No problem, cancel done. Ooops, she wasn't supposed to cancel, just "see if she could cancel". She actually needs to get back on that flight and I have to bring her to the airport ASAP. Well, we can't get her on the flight, but we do find an option to get her on a later flight for just about twice the price. Heck with it, she will stay home this weekend. She calls the school to cancel her sub for Friday.
*4:45: As we are cancelling and re-cancelling flights and subs, I check my voicemail. A call from Reagan, and not a good one, I can tell it in her voice. I call her immediately and find out bad news. She is having some problems and when she is pregnant, problems are not good. (Oh yeah, in "24" flashbacks kind of help, but with writing, we don't have those, so I apologize if this news shocked you. If we could flashback, we would find out that Reagan and I learned we were expecting a month ago and are due in April. Aren't you glad you read this far??!). OK, Carrie is crying, Jack is crying, I am scared and we are our cell phones, even Jack. Carrie is trying to get on another flight, I am trying to see if we can get an urgent ultrasound done, and Jack is apparently checking the status of his savings bonds, I think.
*5:30 p.m (1 hour until Legends party) I get the call from Reagan (and have talked to Mom, Dad, Katie Barry, Kim Casey during the past hour) that an immediate ultrasound has been scheduled. We consider mulitple "Jack" options and decide to leave him with Carrie who is still working the phones. I speed off to downtown Des Moines. After calling Mom to give an update, I patch through to Dad, to Katie, and to Reagan without hanging up. Two years with this phone and this was my first attempt at this. Not bad considering I am weaving through traffic at this point.
*5:35 p.m. I attempt another short cut and it worked! Problem is that this short cut takes me the wrong direction and now I will be about 5 minutes later than expected. This never happens to Jack Bauer either! I keep working the phones hoping that I will beat Reagan there so I can help out, but she beats me.
*5:40 p.m. I arrive at the clinic only to find that the ultrasound has already occurred and good news wasfound. All was normal. What a relief. The quick prayer chains that Mom called around with must have worked! Now that all is well and all are safe, I ask the question: "So....can I go to Legends now??". Well, it took some doing, but I got the go ahead and made it at 6:30, just in time for pregame. Hopefully,after a nice meal, a few beers, and 3 quarters of good action, I can safely go home after securing a ISU andUNI win. I predicted a 31-20 victory and that wouldbe good enough for me.
*10:17 p.m. Toledo drops a 2-pt conversion in triple overtime to lose the game to ISU 45-43. UNI won over 1 hour ago (against my new school Drake). Fortunately for me and my driving ability, I stopped drinking in the 3rd quarter thinking I would go home sometime during the 4th quarter.
*11:00 p.m. I crawl into bed after a long day in which I hadn't seen home since 7:00 a.m. It felt good. At one point we weren't sure about our new baby, but now he/she is in good health. At one point, Carrie didn't have a flight, but now I would begetting up at 5:25 a.m. to get her to the airport. At one point, I looked at my empty beer mug and said ISU sucks and I could care less about them this season, and then they won. Sure, kids were all still suspended, but hey that will probably make my Friday better. 5:25 will come early tomorrow, but tomorrow couldn't be as hectic as today...could it??

So there you have it, we are pregnant with number 2 due next early April. Reagan is doing well and we are excited. It will be quite a next few years with me doing grad school and adding to the family and adding a new school building, but we are truly blessed and are thankful for the friends and family that support us. Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Love&Prayers,
Ben

"24" season 6 premieres in January, 2007!!