Greg Waggoner

This is so cool!! I am awful excited to see y'all again. I've been in Chicago for about 8 years now. I love it here. Finally left the dreary consistent California weather for the climate that's always had my heart- The midwest!!

I continued swimming competetively into college, and gave it up in my Sophmore year. I dropped out of school for a year or so. Then went back and graduated from UC Santa Cruz in 1994 with a degree in Philosophy. It was the best worst decision I've ever made. It qualified me to do very little. But it kinda' trained the ol' noodle to make good choices for life. I was a little lax on direction for a couple of years after college, working at a deli and a health food store. I also began apprenticing with a steel drum craftsman in the Redwoods just north of Santa Cruz. My parents weren't too thrilled.

I eventually got the hot tip on substitute teaching. On my first assignment, the school secretary said, "Are you Mr. Waggoner? Boy are we glad you were able to make it!"

I said to myself, "This is alright. Mr. Waggoner eh?"

The kids seemed to enjoy me. I really dug on the hours and the days off. It made for a perfect fit. I've been teaching ever since, at various schools in California and Chicago. I've been working at Emmett Louis Till Academy, on the south side of Chicago, teaching art for 6 years now. I never thought anyone could stand to be around my antics for that long!! But our principal has really enjoyed my contributions to the school. I've been painting murals with the students, and conduct a kids steel drum band in after school. See Mom and Dad, it finally paid off. I built and tuned the entire 15 piece ensemble.

I played steel drum and bass in a few bands all over Chicago, the suburbs, and the tristate area during my first few years here. I've also displayed my art work in a few different shows.

Now I'm in a pool league two nights a week, and play disc golf(frisbee) with Dave Diamond as often as possible. Both of my pool teams are going to playoffs next week. Wish me luck. We're gonna need it.

After having been through 3 or 4 long term relationships with some really wonderful women, I think I may be on to something now. I met Karen about a year and a half ago, and we're having a blast together, when we can find the time.

Oh, and I've discovered the magic of pressing out homemade tortillas. I've been eating tacos 3 or 4 nights a week ever since I bought a big tortilla press on EBay!! Aye Caramba que delicioso!! (That one goes out to Sr. Snell!!)

I'll never forget walking through the short hallway that enters into the Library, opposite side of Mr. Lemkuhl's room. All of a sudden, I think it was Nick Sandven, walked up to another guy at his locker and said, "What's up dude?"

When the guy turned around Nick punched him in the face, and they went at it. Punching, and punching in full throttle fists of fury. They slammed into the lockers and down to the floor.
I was walking right there, right then, and this crowd formed all around me. I imagine many of you saw this too.

This went on for a good 5 to 8 minutes until Mr. Lemkuhl finally broke through the crowd, along with Mr. Dicicco, the Intro to physical science teacher, coming from the other side of the crowd. These two enormous teachers tried to wrest them apart, and couldn't. Man, those two were locked, and pulling hair, and biting into each other's sides.

So Mr. Lemkuhl and Mr. Dicicco picked them both up together, and carried the whole mess to the office. It was awesome!!