Ohio vs. North Carolina: Round 2!

Round one of the North Carolina vs. Ohio battle was close. Now it's time for Round 2! Let's again remember that many generalizations and stereotypes are made for the sake of this competition, so don't be offended if you don't like something. 

                                                                                
    

 

	North Carolina - City	Ohio - Rural
1	Faster-paced city life: I’m going with NC on this one as I like to see and make things happen!	Slower-paced rural life: This is just personal preference, but I need movement.	0
1	Teaching Licensing Department: Really, neither place should receive points, but my issue with NC licensing is currently the fault of Wake County.	Teaching Licensing Department: I’ve talked to 4-5 different people and have received 4-5 different responses. As a result, I still have not been approved for teaching license. I wish I got paid to be incompetent!	0
0	County and State Fairs – They are nothing but junk food and horrible rides!	County and State Fairs – I don’t believe I will ever be a fair guy (I only have one in me a year), but at least Ohio fairs actually have animals.	1
1	Non-Union State – While some employees could definitely be abused by employers, people have incentive to diligently work…so that’s what they do.	Union State – Can anyone say “Hand-out”? That’s what the union mentality creates. While unions do provide powerful resources for employees, they enable many employees to get paid for not doing their jobs. This could get me on the teacher-union black list…Oh NO!	0
1	Racial Diversity: I lived in Charlotte for two years and definitely saw racial segregation, but there was still strong diversity.	Racial Diversity: While some exists, I’m not seeing a lot of black, Asian, Hispanic, etc. farmers here.	0
1	Energy! I think the faster-paced life gives people energy.	Energy-Here’s what I have constantly heard from Ohio people since I married my wife over eight years ago: “I’m tired.” People here are always tired! It must be the manure, gray skies, or something else in the air!	0
0	Milk Prices – My only thought is there are not as many cows in NC, so milk is not on sale as often. (I had to come up with something to give Ohio a point!)	Milk Prices – Lots of cows must equal cheaper milk prices!	1

North Carolina wins Round 2: 5-2



















Farm Facts:
1)It is not necessary to be a farmer to be part of farm bureau (groups/organization that meet all over the country). I am proud to say I am a member of Farm Bureau as they are our insurance company.
2)Did you know that cows emit methane (an atmosphere warming gas) when gas leaves their bodies (burps and farts)? In fact the ever-wonderful EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) tries to create laws forcing farmers to give different "feed" to cows in order to prevent such "global-warming" emissions. I bet you didn't know that fact! Doesn't it make you feel warm and fuzzy that we're spending billions of dollars supporting an agency that is concerned with cow farts! In other words, our society is becoming more concerned with cow "gas" than with smoking.

Ohio vs. North Carolina: Round 1!

Let's spice things up a little and get away from just the biographical account of our move from North Carolina to Ohio. For today's post, I've created a little competition chart. The chart is just the beginning of the competition between the two states. Now, obviously, many generalizations and stereotypes will be made in this post, and future ones, but just know they don't apply to everyone in that state. In other words, don't be offended, unless you need to be.

Well, I can't figure this technology out, and I can't type on the bottom of this page, so here is the farm fact of the day:
1) Just before it's time to be harvested, most crops dry out, their leaves change colors, and/or many appear to be dying/wilted.

2)If wet hay is bailed, it can become combustible.

        

	North Carolina	Ohio
0	Hot at night!	Weather cools at night	1
1	Southern Hospitality – People are friendly; they wave, and like/appreciate social interaction	Not nice! While many friendly people exist, I have met many frowns and dealt with many socially awkward moments. Multiple native Ohio people have supported me in this.	0
1	Blue Sky!	Gray! While it is still nice outside, once the gray comes out, it is here for months! Hello depression!	0
0	Regularly in the top 10 for obesity—Nobody deserves to win this one.	Regularly in the top 10 for obesity—Nobody deserves to win this one.	0
1	Collegiate athletics – Tobacco Road represents three of the strongest athletic programs in the country (Duke, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill-UNC, and North Carolina State University-NC State). Plus, many other strong athletic programs exist.	While many good universities exist, all I ever hear about is Ohio State.  This will rock some people, but maybe I should say, “Go Blue!” (That’s Michigan for you non-athletic supporters.)	0
0	Tobacco is one of the strongest agricultural industries.	I have noticed many smokers, but tobacco is not grown here.	1
1	Very few factory jobs-While unhappy people exist, most people enjoy their work.	Factory jobs - Over the years I have met many people who hate their jobs, but they work in the factories because it’s “what they do.” Some go home to families and hobbies that provide an escape, but too many fall into drinking, depression, and other negative habits. (Remember, this is just a generalization and does not apply to everyone.)	0
0	Professional Sports – Carolina Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Charlotte Bobcats, and other lesser-known pro/semi-pro teams-A lot of bandwagon, fair-weather fans	Professional Sports – Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Cavaliers,  and other lesser-known pro/semi-pro sports teams – Many die-hard fans for constant, losing teams	1
0	Basements only exist when homes are built on sides of hills.	Most houses have basements!	1
1	Topography – Beaches and Mountains!	Some nice hills, but a lot of flat fields	0
5	North Carolina wins Round 1!		4

In-Law Living Week 1

Over the past eight years, we have typically visited Ohio one to two times over the summer, usually at least for a week per visit. Hence, the first week living in the in-laws basement, on the farm, didn't seem different, except for one thing-we were living in Ohio! Obviously, moving to another state brings many changes and stresses. However, let me just share some of the ridiculous issues we faced that first week:

#1)Why is it so hard to get a new license in a new state? We had some experience with this in the past when we married and had to change our licenses in North Carolina, so we thought we had everything covered. We checked on-line for everything we needed and showed up. Of course, one facility didn't have all the technology for switching a license from another state, so we had to drive thirty minutes to a facility that could. Seriously, welcome to the 21st century. Well, once there we had to go next door to another building to do our vision testing and then go back to the other building to turn in all the paperwork and get the licenses. One problem, apparently Faith needed her marriage certificate because all our other documents "didn't" have her married name on them (a little sarcastic). Well, it took all day, but we made it.

#2)I thought getting a new license was ridiculous, but in Ohio changing your license plates might trump that. So we went to one building to get the car visually inspected, mileage written down, etc. We then went next door to get the title changed. Once the title was changed, we drove to a facility to have our "E-Check" down to verify the car was environmentally acceptable. Once the cars passed, we then took them back to building number two to finalize the title process and get the new license places. Can we not do this all in one stop?

#3)Here's one main difference between public and private institutions: When we accepted the part-time job, we knew either I would need to find some other source of income, or Faith would do something part-time. Well, once we arrived in Ohio, she had multiple people come to here, offering part-time jobs. One of the opportunities was for her to teach part-time at the Christian school where we were planning to send Isaiah for kindergarten, especially since he likely would receive a full-scholarship. Based on the atmosphere and timing of the job offer, Faith took it, as she used to be a teacher and it would be at the same time during which Isaiah would be at school, and Alexis would be at pre-school at the same place. Now, I know we all of our own opinions about public vs. private education, but from the managing standpoint, any time the government is not involved, things run much more smoothly. Even though it was much sooner than she preferred, Faith began work three days after we moved, with the principal having full confidence that her license would transfer. I, on the other hand, have yet to start work in the school. Once we moved, I went to turn in all my paperwork in order to be ready to start the first day of school, and I was told I needed my Ohio teaching license...remember, I'm "tutoring" part-time. Hence, after five hours of going back and forth with the "state" people on the phone, I submitted everything to have my license transferred from North Carolina. Keep in mind, I have taught for ten years, have my master's degree, and have already passed the finger-printing test. More will be explained in a later post, but here I am, two weeks later, still waiting to start. Score one for efficiency of private education.

Despite some of the challenges we faced the first week, we made it, and while my job is on hold, there's definitely "someone" watching over us when we look at how Faith "found" a job, how we have a place to live, and how Faith's mom retired earlier than expected last year, providing her the ability to help with the children as we both must work. More about week two will come in the next post, but a look to the future shows me, the one who did not grow up here, working for Faith's grandmother:) Farm Fact #1It typically takes 150,000-180,000 soy bean seeds to plant per acre and 30,000-40,000 corn seeds per acre as corn needs much more room to grow. Fact #2)There is one piece of silk at the end of the corn cob for every kernel of corn Fact #3)On the corn cob all rows of corn are an even number (ummmm...maybe things in life don't happen by chance)

Moving Day!

In order to understand the purpose of this blog, please read the background page so you know how all this began. Moving day began way too early, but let's back up a few days. We returned from Ohio, where I accepted my part-time job tutor job with no benefits (I just want to add that extra point), and had one week until we were moving out of our house. Keep in mind I have a Master's Degree and have taught ten years (that is not in here for bragging purposes but for humility purposes...read on). We wanted to have a few days in Ohio before I began work, and we needed to get our house cleared as soon as we could to get it put on the market. The week was filled with packing and good-byes, and many tears by my wife. However, our friends are awesome, as people brought us food, helped pack, and helped watch the kids, so when the time came to pick up the moving truck Friday, we were ready to rock and roll. After dealing with some issues at the rental company, I drove the truck home (what a manly feeling!) and a friend and I started loading the truck. Most of the moving took place Saturday morning, and by lunch most of the work was done. With the help of my trusty neighbor, the final things were loaded in the afternoon. We reserved Sunday for final good-byes.

Now, back to moving day, Monday. As I stated it was too early, but we knew the truck would add a couple of hours to the trip, and we wanted to do some unloading once we arrived in Ohio. Well, by 4:30 a.m., my sidekick, my soon-to-be 6 year-old son, Isaiah, and I took off in our "Man truck!" Faith and the kids followed a couple of hours later, and amazingly we arrived at the farm together. Seriously, I was a pro with that truck! Well, I backed that thing into the farm driveway, and I wasn't even able to go to the bathroom before we had that thing unloaded! Do you think Faith's family was excited to have us here? Unbelievable! I thought we were just starting and doing most of the unpacking Tuesday. Unfortunately, that was the beginning of my complete loss of control and pride!

Accept for getting no rest for the weary, moving day went smoothly. I definitely had the easier job with my co-pilot, as Faith had the two younger girls. Wow, the girl drama starts early! And then we were relegated to the basement!

Farm Fact Not all of the corn you see in the fields is "sweet corn," which is the corn we eat. Most cornfields you see produce corn for feeding animals, making products, and making alternative fuel.