#fm1960

[feely-touchy]

Asleep at the wheel

I am parked out behind the Denny's on FM1960

Waiting for my friends to get off work again

I've been overstimulated all day

By the bullshit as it spews from the radio

But I can't turn it off without hating myself

I am a bastion of tension and insanity

A glutton for punishment, it seems

I don't know how anyone ever gets along with me

All I do is feel stupid and guilty

Then fall asleep

I'm amoral as any black sheep set on fire

I say that I'm okay but I'm a liar

But I dream of the day when I can make a change

I try my best to make that kinder day happen

It's just hard when everything makes you feel estranged

And strains you as the noose grows ever tighter

I've been dragged around by the scruff of my neck

Told that I'm not quite worth killing yet

Just a waste of space

Troubling the ones I love

That I'm more burden than anyone can handle

But I am outside Denny's waiting for my friends

They enjoy the time we get to spend

I'm too scared to ask them why

I'm afraid it's all a lie

But I'll be lied to, gladly

On these darker days

[teachablemomentsblog]

Heart Map: My Sunfire Circle (Part Two)

"The traffic slowly started to inch forward, making me the brand new 4PM, Friday afternoon traffic jam catalyst."

I can pretend like I remember specifics about my work week leading up to Happy Hour, but I’d be lying. At that time, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness, or STAAR test had come and gone, and we had celebrated our positively trending scores (although not at Carlo’s). I also relished in the fact that the school year was close to finished and I could start applying for jobs closer to home. My MacArthur 9th students and I had an unwritten understanding, like most teachers have with their students at the end of the year, to stay cordial and give some degree of effort for the final two weeks of school and we will make it through together.

The bell rang at 2:35 on Friday afternoon for the students to walk to their buses. I lagged behind, and waited for students to disperse before heading to my car. Charles had given me directions to Carlo’s which was right down the street. I walked through the door to Charles, Lawshe, my buddy Glewwe from across the hall, and a couple other random faces I had seen once or twice in the hallway.

Surprise, surprise, within five minutes, the conversation waned without work as a buffer. And, of course, we all proclaimed through forced chuckles we didn’t want to discuss work! Come on! It’s Friday! Let’s enjoy ourselves! And then the ensuing twenty minutes of forced conversation as we searched for common ground on anything...ANYTHING. Thank God Glewwe had shown up, who avidly followed the Minnesota Timberwolves. At least we could chat about basketball. And I could enjoy the relief of talking to a coworker about something BESIDES work.

Charles noticed my effort to socialize had run its tepid course. After an hour of checking my watch in 10-minute intervals to decide if an appropriate amount of time had passed, Charles sat down next to me.

“Hey man. Thanks for coming out. It wasn’t too bad, was it?”

“No way man! This was...fun! I had a great time!” What else do I say? “No, Charles. This was as bad and boring as I thought it would be. But thanks for helping me with my flat!”

He gave me his all-too-familiar smirk as he replied.

“Yeah, I’m sure you did. Haha...well don’t feel obligated to stay if you are ready to go. I know you have the fiance and kid at home.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I mean...I wish I could stay but, I probably do need to head out.”

I quickly said goodbyes and rushed to my Sunfire. (Sorry, Glewwe, for leaving you to fend for yourself.)

From prior experience, I REALLY didn’t want to fight the traffic on Fm1960 at 4PM on a Friday, so I made the ill-fated decision to take the Beltway 8 which connected Highway 59 and Interstate 45, two of the main roads out of Houston. In hindsight, this senseless decision changed me forever. Maybe my happy hour margaritas did more damage than I realized.

No matter which route I took, traffic at 4PM on a Friday was unavoidable. But, at the time, my plan of action seemed like a brilliant idea! And then...Boom! Honk! Honk! Traffic. And not just mild inconvenience that moves molasses traffic. No, I sat idling in standstill traffic in the smoldering Texas sun, stuck in the middle lane, with nowhere to go.

As I mentioned before, my 2002 Pontiac Sunfire had seen better days. It still sluggishly moved me from point A to B, even though the perpetual check engine light did annoy me. Beyond that, its only current issue was its tendency to overheat if idling for too long. And, unfortunately, the traffic continued its standstill. So, I stared in agony as my thermometer slowly tilted further and further up.

When I told this story in class, one kid asked, “Why didn’t you just turn the car off?” Um...shut up...that’s why. 

I didn’t know what to do. I literally had nowhere to turn and had to wait for my car to overheat. I had no idea what happened if my Sunfire actually overheated. I attempted the few feeble troubleshooting tricks I knew, like turning up the hot air to push the heat out of my hood and through my car. It didn’t work. (I learned this unsuccessful tip from an episode of King of the Hill. If only they had gone over changing a flat tire, I wouldn’t be in this mess!) I stared in horror as the thermometer needle tilted towards the red sliver at the end of the gauge. Thankfully, instead of a mushroom-cloud explosion in the middle of the highway, which I halfway expected, the car promptly shut off for the last time and I found myself even more stuck than before. And, naturally, the traffic slowly started to inch forward, making me the brand new 4PM, Friday afternoon traffic jam catalyst.

I tried turning the ignition key three more times, but it had fallen silent. The Sunfire had died. I sifted through my limited options and fell back to my mom’s AAA card. Oh good! Finally a legitimate, non-flat tire excuse to give it a try! I looked out my window and noticed the news chopper surveying the traffic overhead. Even better! My smoking Sunfire had made it on television! This day kept getting better and better.

I called the number on the back of my AAA card and followed the prompters for a tow truck. I did my best to ignore the honking and cursing from the commuters all around me. Cuss and honk all you want, but my Sunfire isn’t un-overheating. With sincere regret in their voice, they informed me it would take roughly an hour before they got through the traffic. I also didn’t feel like any of my fellow motorists were willing to help me push my Sunfire to the shoulder. So, I sat, stuck, with my head down while everyone crawled around me. I did my best to continue to ignore the lewd comments from people as I slowly melted in my car.

Finally, the tow truck carefully sliced its way through the sea of automobiles. They pulled in front of me and reversed to the hood of my car. I opened my door, completely drenched in sweat, and greeted the tow truck guy.

“Oh, thank god you’re here!”

“Yessir! So you’re the one that’s holding up all this traffic?”

“Um, yes that would be me. Do I need to show you my AAA card or anything?”

“What? Oh, no. The police called us. We have to get you out of the road.”

“Wait...I called AAA. They should be here any minute.”

“Sorry, bud. We have to do what the coppers tell us to do. And they told us to get you out of here. It’s a safety issue.”

Since they didn’t work through AAA, AAA definitely wouldn’t pay them. Which meant the bill fell onto me. Great! What a nice finishing touch to my first Happy Hour experience!

I took my ride of shame with the tow truck guy, who impressed me with how great he pretended to empathize with my situation but, of course, didn’t hold back when it came to payment I barely had for the tow.

“Oh, yeah. That does sound rough. Eesh, and a new kid, huh? What horrible timing. Anyways, that’ll be $150 bucks. Of course, I take credit cards.”

Ugh.

I never drove the Sunfire again. It’s so peculiar to think back on it now. To think of the chain of events that led to my car’s demise. Charles taught me to change my flat tire which set in motion my car overheating on Beltway 8 and breaking down for a final time. Funny how that works.

I didn’t hang out with my Mac 9 coworkers again. At least not all together. I finished my final week of school, applied for jobs closer to home, interviewed a couple of times, and finally landed a job at Caney Creek High School, where I’ve worked for eight years. 

After the last day of school, I needed to pick up a handful of items from my old classroom. Charles happened to be in his room. We joked around for a while and took a selfie together to send to Lawshe. And then I left and I never walked through the doors of MacArthur Ninth Grade Campus again. And I never saw Charles again.

A couple years later, December 20th of 2015, I received a call from Lawshe.

“Hey, Lawshe! What’s up!?”

She was crying.

“Charles. H-he passed away.”

“What?”

“He passed away a couple of days ago. Just went to sleep and didn’t wake up. Gannon, he has a wife and a kid. It’s almost Christmas. I don’t know what to do.”

I didn’t know either. We sat silent on the phone for a moment. I don’t fully remember my response as I gathered myself. I told her to please let me know the information for the funeral and I hung up.

I stared at the wall in a daze. The selfie I took with him in the summer a couple of years ago was the last time I would ever see my friend. I felt the weight of my mortality and fragility, since Charles was 41 and I was already in my late 20’s. Time doesn’t wait.

When we gathered for the funeral, it felt bittersweet. On one hand, we all felt the excitement of seeing each other again, if only under different circumstances. The funeral blurred by, but I do remember a conversation with a couple of my friends about the impact of Charles..

“Charles was forever a teacher. That’s what inspired me. Even when he wasn’t teaching, he was teaching.”

I explained to them about my Sunfire and Charles helping me change my flat tire, which led to its retirement.

“And even though it was a bummer with what happened to my Sunfire, I wouldn’t trade that memory for anything. That memory shapes the kind of teacher, the kind of person I hope to be. It gives me something to strive towards.”

Reflecting on it with my students, I tell them I hold onto that teaching philosophy even to this day. And sometimes, I may start a story thinking it’s about one thing but, really, if I give myself the time to think about it, deep down it’s about something much more meaningful.

“So, was this story really about my Sunfire?”

Edmund piped up. “No way, mister. It was about your friend Charles and what he meant to you.”

Absolutely. Sometimes it takes searching our feelings about our memories that shows us what has really shaped us into who we are.

Even though the students may not have necessarily gotten to a point with a story from their own lives that permanently affects them this much, it gives them a starting point and shows that vulnerability is okay. Most great writing starts from a place of vulnerability. Teaching students this concept can prove difficult, so thank you Charles for the lasting impression you have on my classroom and on me.

My Teachable Moments

This one goes without saying,, but don’t take any of your moments for granted. The selfie I took with Charles seemed extremely unimportant and stupid at the time, but now it has turned into the final moment I ever had with him. I still have that picture so I can look to it as a reminder of this philosophy.

Try to put yourself out there. I still regret how I handled myself at Carlo’s restaurant when I wanted to leave. Hell, for all I know, if I had just stuck around a little longer and enjoyed myself I wouldn’t have found myself stuck in traffic and on the 6 o’clock news.

Never stop teaching when people need it. I remember feeling like a very selfish teacher my first year. I didn’t believe in what I was doing. I thought about my wife and baby and made sure I had a paycheck to bring home to them. Charles changed that for me. Even though my first year felt impossible, it reignited my passion to give the world one of the only true things we can offer, our  knowledge and our time.

[therealklutxh713]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nicholas Martin (@namebrandnick)

New #spotifyplaylist #Fm1960 #Searchwarrant #Djnamebrandnick , #Artist, #Musician, #MusicArtist, #MusicIsMyLife, #MusicVideo, #NewMusic, #Unsigned, #UpcomingArtist, #LiveMusic, #NowPlaying, #MusicIsLife, #MusicLover, #MusicProducer, #MusicFestival, #UnsignedArtist https://www.instagram.com/p/CAJBp8Hn4Gr/?igshid=15y54bd3owls5

[coach-cherie]

Visiting both our family members 🤗 💜. Our hearts are full 🥰. #family #inlaws #saturdaynights #northhouston #fm1960 #springtx https://www.instagram.com/p/CWPkuvAgX8P/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mmapgxmoonshot]

#fm1960 (at Houston, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0zpnnZg6rm/?igshid=13xmb8k4xda46

[jondoe7thirteen]

🎪281-780-4593🃏Dm or text 🎭  #artist #texasartist #blackartists #blackart #houstonartists #houstonart #blackartistsmovement #Houston  #fm1960 #kingwood #alliseeisus #lettering  #allgasnobrakes #hurricaneharvey #harveyrelief #houstontattooartist #houstontattooshops #hurricane #houstonevents #greenspoint #screwston #springtx #eastsidetx #newcaneytx #studewoodtx #survivor #humbletx #kingwoodtx #Crosbytx #Atascosita

[carhustler1]

Congrats mr.jarred nolen on your purchase and congrats on the baby on the way. Need a car ? Call Alex Sandoval 832-312-0817 #conroe#wefinance#alexsandovalismysalesguy#houston#fm1960#chaconautos1960#hyundai (at Alex used cars) https://www.instagram.com/houstonautomobilefinder/p/BwdJsSIgTFH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=luta1movl32l

[therealklutxh713]

Dj Namebrand Nick #Fm1960 Stepharder playlist has dropped on #Spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/B84MXD_HA8f/?igshid=5aj6ocar15m0

[2sentmedia-blog]

Make sure your Woman, Lady, Girlfriend, Spouse, Wife is rocking an exceptional #SummerBunnie Outfit :: Don't let her be misrepresenting you in these streets. #Kohls #Ross #Macys #TJMaxx#charmingcharlie #Target this is where the smart eco-savy budget barginers women shop... #summertimesongs #sunroofback #playlists #fashionguru #thriftstore #fashionfoward #familythriftstore #FM1960 #Humbletx #atascocita (at Fm 1960)

[ruemxu]

Hi, Houston! I’ll be at Bedrock City’s FM1960 on Free Comic Book Day! :D Swing by if you’re in the area! Here’s the link to the event!

[houstontexaslawinfo]

What rights does a father have in Texas?

If you want to related father has a right in Texas Law experience, so you can better suggestions about Family Lawyer Houston Texas.

Family Attorney Houston – A common question asked by Fathers who come to our office for a consultation is a variation on, “I have a friend/cousin/co-worker who told me that fathers can’t get a fair outcome from a judge in a Texas divorce when it comes to their children. Is this true?” Fathers are afforded both rights and duties under the Texas Family Code. In Texas, a man can be a father to a child if he is:

-presumed to be the father

-legally determined to be the father

-adjudicated by a court to the the father

-has acknowledged paternity

-is an adoptive father

The most straightforward way for a man to be presumed to be a child’s father is if he is married to the mother of the child and the child is born during the marriage. A father may also file a petition with a court that has jurisdiction over him and his presumed child in order for a judge to declare that he is the biological father. This can be accomplished through genetic screening or if both the father and mother sign a document known as an Acknowledgment of Paternity.

When a court legally determines that a man is the father of a child, the Texas Family Code gives that father rights and duties including the right to have physical possession of the child and to direct his or her moral and religious training.The duty to care for the child and a duty to support the child are among the other rights afforded. Both the mother and father have the above rights and duties unless a court order is in place that can create or modify the rights and duties afforded to a parent under the Family Code.

Divorce Lawyers Houston – A divorce can lead to one parent attempting to restrict or deny possession or access to their child from the other parent. Fathers need to understand and be prepared to defend their rights so that their ability to parent and build a relationship with their child or children is not affected negatively when a divorce occurs. Our State encourages both parents to have ongoing contact with their children as long as the parent shows the ability and wherewithal to act in the child’s best interests. While it is common for a court to give one parent the right to determine the primary residence of the child, Texas courts allow for parents to arrive at an agreement on their own regarding the nature of their care-arrangement with the child. Basically, the court that any parent walks into for a divorce matter would prefer that the parties work out a solution that best suits the child and themselves rather than to have the court make that determination.

Whether a father seeks to have their child live with them (custodial parent) or would like the child to live primarily with the mother (non custodial parent), men in Texas are afforded rights and the State has a general policy to encourage that fathers build relationships with their child and have access to them.

In order to ensure that your rights as a father are safeguarded and advocated for, a family law attorney well versed in the law and in the judicial system can be your best ally. The attorneys at The Law Office of Bryan Fagan understand how difficult and trying a divorce can be when a child is involved and our office is well equipped to advocate and defend a father’s rights in an effective, efficient manner.

LAW OFFICE OF BRYAN FAGAN | SPRING, TEXAS DIVORCE LAWYERS

Divorce Attorneys in Houston – If you suspect that your spouse is committing adultery, and you are considering ending the marriage you do not have to navigate the Texas divorce process on your own. Contact a competent Houston divorce attorney to help guide you through the maze. If you have questions regarding divorce, it’s important to speak with a divorce lawyer right away to protect your rights. Our divorce lawyers are skilled at listening to your goals during this trying process and developing a strategy to meet those goals. Contact Law Office of Bryan Fagan by calling (281) 810-9760 or submit your contact information in our online form. Law Office of Bryan Fagan handles Divorce cases in Spring, Texas, Spring, Cypress, Klein, Humble, Tomball, the FM1960 area, or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Liberty County, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend County and Waller County… Continue Reading

[grownfolkschoice]

#popup #Kutthouse #ARTOFSKRATCH #northside #fm1960 #rocknrollit #2-5p #Sat #htx #houston #texas #headshop #skratchdj #grownfolkschoice

[therealklutxh713]

Tap tap ! It’s me 🤷🏽‍♂️ Clarance again 🔥💧🌬🍃 I just wanna say THIS BY FAR is the best #Birthday EVER!!!! @theestallion rt and followed 😳😳😳😳 ..I just wanna say in my @kingkeraun voice “ REAL ASS NI**a give a damn bout a bihhhhh😩😩😩(except Meg you mess with her you’ll get hit with a car bomb I swear2God) Thank you 🙏🏽Graduation is gonna be a movie 🎥 🍿 on #fm1960 #IssaKLuTxHSituation #klutxh (at The Woodlands, Texas) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4FxdC3F7pB/?igshid=yitkc45ft8k9

[madeneweverymorning]

Texas

Oh, Houston. I miss it so much! The Woodlands, Magnolia, Galleria, FM1960, and even Kingwood where I used to work. Then we moved to San Antonio but couldn’t enjoy it because we were only there for like a month.

The food was always A-1, except the BBQ. Carolina BBQ is much better. Born and raised in NC!

It was also the most dog friendly state I’ve ever been. We could take Daisy girl inside every store almost. That was back when we had only one sweet fur baby. Now we have 2 :)

I have to figure out how to convince my husband to move back. Any ideas?

[jondoe7thirteen]

🎪281-780-4593🃏Dm or text 🎭  #artist #texasartist #blackartists #blackart #houstonartists #houstonart #blackartistsmovement #Houston  #fm1960 #kingwood #alliseeisus #lettering  #allgasnobrakes #roses #houstonnorthwest #houstontattooartist #houstontattooshops #lonestarcollege #houstonevents #greenspoint #screwston #springtx #eastsidetx #newcaneytx #studewoodtx #eternalmicroglide #humbletx #kingwoodtx #Crosbytx #Atascosita

[bigmicpereida]

On Sunday March 22nd we will be in #houston #texas with @keithmurrayrap @ill_sill @jlyric24 @bigmicpereida @bigtree4real @akademics512 @djberlin @jsuntheprophesor at the @skylinehookahloungehouston !!! Skyline Lounge 10541 FM 1960 W. 🥶🥶🍾🔥🏄🏽‍♂️🗣 Skyline Hookah Lounge 10541 FM1960 W. Houston Tx 77070. Call or text to get u free section 281-460-8394 for more info and let us help make it a Happy Birthday to you!! Drinks ,food and hookah #likeforlikes #rapper  #Tuesdaysnight #wednesday  #thursdaynight # Fridaynight #saturdaynight #Sundaynight #party #skylinehookahlounghouston #hookah #hookahlounge #dj #htx #houston #northhouston #nightclub (at Skyline Lounge Houston) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8sETeMlP78/?igshid=cskjzofs1kha