2022 Update

Greetings,

Thank you for checking in on all-things-Kanak.  We've had a really special year, and I am excited to share the highlights with you.

Geno

Man, this kid is special: spelling bee champ, scholastic bowl whiz kid, Paula Aubry Kompany dancer, the list goes on.  One very special memory from this year is Geno's school baseball team making it to State!  Geno mostly played first base during the school season. Though they lost a one-run heartbreaker during the State quarterfinals, it was the furthest any team at Limestone Middle School had ever gone.  Even my high school kids asked about the team nearly every day.  In addition to Geno's overall success, we are much prouder of the fact that he's just a really nice kid.  He's fun to be around, and I can always count on him for a cheesy joke.  Though he looks like me, he acts and speaks just like his dad, and I couldn't be prouder.

Mary

Mary continues to wow us.  She's a wonderful student, a great athlete, and an all around open-minded, loving person.  Like her dad, anything Mary tries, she seems to pick up on.  Even though she just decided to try bowling last year, she's already averaging around 160 and improving each week. Mary may be quiet and subtle, but her personality is so unique and introspective.  Much to Mary's surprise, she was chosen by her peers to be on Homecoming court.  Even though this type of thing is WAY outside Mary's comfort zone, she handled the experience well--and I even think she may have had a bit of fun with it.  This past summer, Mary got her driver's license, which has been a huge help getting her to her many activities.  She even runs her brother places when Gene and I are busy. Even though they won't admit it, I think they actually enjoy hopping in the car and going for rides together. 

   

Big Geno

As many of you know, after twelve years, Gene was finally able to escape the classroom. After spending more than a year working as the instructional editor for Bowlers Journal International magazine, he was offered a job as a communications manager for USBC. The good news is that this time the job didn't involve relocation down to Texas; instead, he now works from home when he isn't hopping on planes to cover events for Team USA, the PBA Tour, and the PWBA Tour. His first official assignment had him working in Las Vegas for three weeks this past summer, and he spent nearly the same amount of time in Queensland, Australia, in November covering the 2022 International Bowling Federation World Cup. Although he hates being away from me and the kids, he's extremely proud of having earned the opportunity to travel the country and world covering the best bowlers on the planet. This is the happiest he's been at work in a very long time, and we're all very happy for him.  

Me

Though it took me 14 years, I am back teaching at my home school, Herscher High School.  This is my second year there (really my 7th), and it feels like I never left.  I keep myself very busy on the weekends running my photography business and attending my children's MANY activities.  I was so happy to be able to free up my schedule and take a quick road trip to Montana for my brother's wedding in September.  It was a short, but really great, trip, and I am so thankful to Jenn and Jason for giving me the opportunity to celebrate with them.  Now that Gene is traveling more, I am so grateful that Mary has her driver's license.  Gene and I celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary this year.  I know I hear people say this a lot, but I just feel so lucky.  

Kanak Family 2021: Oh, what a difference a year makes!

As is typically the case, many changes have taken place since last we blogged. Don't get me wrong; we're still the same incredibly good-looking, intelligent, and amazing people we've always been. Still, some interesting new developments have emerged. So, without further adieu, let's get to it:

Mary - This girl gets more and more amazing by the day, so you can imagine how much has changed since last year. Currently, Mary is a sophomore at Herscher High School. She's No. 1 in her class and has maintained straight A's despite loading up with every honors-level course that she can fit into her schedule. Despite her dedication to academics, she stays plenty busy outside of the classroom as well, participating in marching band (center snare), scholastic bowl, art club, math team, GSA, bowling, and varsity softball. She was named all-area as a freshman on varsity last season for school softball, and she is a starting outfielder on her Illinois Stars travel team, a group that was ranked in the Top 50 in the nation for their age group last year. That distinction gave Mary and her teammates the opportunity to play in elite-level tournaments in Kansas City, MO; Huntington Beach, CA; and Palm Beach, FL to name a few destinations. But despite all of this, Mary has remained the same sweet, caring, and open-minded young lady she's always been. Don't get me wrong; she's still a teenager, so she still has her salty side. Nevertheless, on the whole, she is an amazing young woman, and we couldn't be prouder!

Geno - Ah, the boy. Not to be outdone by his big sister, Geno continues to rock it in his own special way as well. Geno is now in 7th grade at Limestone Middle School. He transferred back into the Herscher district midway through last school year during a teacher's strike for the Bourbonnais schools. Geno is still so incredibly easy going that he didn't mind making the switch nearly three quarters of the way through a school year. That go-with-the-flow demeanor is one of the many qualities that make Geno so special. He is doing very well in school despite needing the occasional reminder to slow down and pay a bit more attention to detail. Still, he's smart as a whip and can hold his own in many a conversation that should be well beyond his years. Additionally, he has a worldly, inclusive mindset that makes Angie and me very proud. He cares about ALL people, not just those who look and think as he does. Knowing that there are young men like Geno out there gives us hope for the future. Geno spends most of his time dancing as one of Paula Aubrey School of Dance's most-accomplished young dancers. He is now in Junior Kompany, the studio's elite, audition-only dance troupe for middle-school-aged dancers. He has classes four nights a week, and he takes private lessons on Sundays. When not dancing, he is still involved in both school baseball and travel baseball. Geno really seemed to turn a corner during his last travel season, and his improved play carried over to the middle school season as well. It would have been so easy for Geno to walk away from the game due to the limited success he experience early on; nevertheless, he stuck with it, and he seems to be getting better every time out. If he applies that never-give-up attitude to everything he does, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with no matter where he goes and what he does in his life!

Angie - If you want to see what a solid work ethic looks like, look no further than my wife. Angie is still one of the best high school ELA teachers you're every going to find, and the students at Herscher High School are lucky to have her. That's right; after all of these years, she's finally back at the school where her teaching career began. But why stick with just one career when you can rock two simultaneously? Yep, in addition to teaching, Angie puts in an incredible amount of hours running Angie Kanak Photography. She  started out as a bright young woman with a decent camera and a love of taking pictures, but now she is a seasoned photography professional capable of covering weddings, engagements, family sessions and more. I would put her work up against that of any photographer out there, and it seems her clients agree as her services are highly sought after, which keeps her days full and her time booked months in advance. Honestly, I'm not sure I've never known anyone more dedicated to what they do. She is a shining example of what you can accomplish if you're willing to put in the time and effort to master your craft. The kids and I are super proud of all that she's done and all that she will do in the future.

Gene - Hmm...what to say about myself? Well, I'm another year older, a little bit grayer, and a few pounds heavier. Make no mistake though: I'm still drop-dead gorgeous, and my mind still functions at a better-than-average level as well. Seriously though, I, too, changed schools...again. Don't get the wrong idea though. The reason for this change was the opportunity to return to Central High School in Clifton. In case you'd forgotten, I taught at Central from 2014-2018 before leaving to pursue an opening at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. Those who know me well know that I regretted making the move, so I'm VERY happy to be back home at Central. When I'm not teaching, I still enjoy working out and bowling. That's really about all that I have time for in terms of recreation due to the immense time commitment required to get Mary and Geno to their respective activities. I sometimes joke that I'm more of an Uber driver than anything else these days, but getting to see my kids do the things that they love makes it all worthwhile. 

The last items of note since last year are as follows: In February 2021, we bought a new house in Kankakee. We are super excited about it as it has ample space for entertaining, especially when the weather is nice. As such, be on the lookout for future party invites (COVID-permitting) lol. If you make it, you'll see that our current menagerie includes one dog (Ziggy) and three cats (McLovin, Goliath, and Garfunkle). They are a handful, but they're all very well-mannered and friendly. If you come by, you're sure to leave with some of their hair on your clothes so that you can think of them fondly even after you've left!

With that, we'll bring this year's entry to a close. If you've made it to the end, kudos to you for your tenacity as, clearly, I am NOT lost for words. Best wishes to you and yours for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. We hope that you are well and that we'll be lucky enough to see you soon.

Warmest regards,

The Kanaks

 

2020 Update

 Let's face it: 2020 has been a pretty sucktacular year. Thousands of people have lost friends and loved ones, most of us have had to do without celebrating birthdays, holidays, and other special events with those closest to us, and just about everyone has missed out on plans, activities, and opportunities that were looked forward to and highly anticipated. Basically, this year has been the equivalent of a Chuck Norris punch to the junk. Still, even in the midst of this dumpster fire of a year, there are always things to be thankful for, and the yearly Kanak Christmas Blog certainly should be at or near the top of your list. With that in mind, here is this year's edition:

Gene: I typically save my portion for last, but what's life without whimsy? As such, I'm saving the best for first this time around. You may remember that last year's blog announced that, at long last, I would be leaving the teaching profession to take a job with Storm Bowling Products out in Utah. Well, remember what I said about everyone losing something due to the pandemic? Well, you guessed it: that job is off the table at this point. Don't worry though; they still let me do lots of free writing work for them out of the kindness of my heart! In all seriousness though, I actually enjoy helping out their marketing team when I can. Several promotional pieces of mine are published all over the world now, particularly in the Asian market (super cool!). Closer to home I've taken a job at Iroquois West High School, a small school down in Gilman, Illinois. Teaching during COVID has been unique to say the least, but it's actually going well for me, and I'm happier in teaching than I've been since I chose to leave Central a few years back. Part of me is still disappointed at having lost out on the job with Storm due to all of this, but the silver lining is that it has allowed me to still stay here in Illinois close to the friends and family that I love the most. As such, I really can't complain. Well, I can't other than the fact that teaching actually caused me to get COVID about a month ago. Thankfully though, I came through it without too much difficulty! In any event, as Christmas approaches, I'm healthy, happy, and more contented than I've been in a while.

Angie: What is there to say about this rock star? As she always has, Angie is kicking butt and taking names both inside and outside of the classroom. She has become one of the most-liked and well-respected teachers at Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center, which is no surprise as you'd be hard-pressed to find a better teacher anywhere in the world. When she's not helping to mold the minds of America's youth, she's managing her own highly successful small business, Golden Fish Pics by Angie Kanak. She is an amazing photographer with a great reputation, which is why the rest of the family seldom sees her during the warmer months as she's constantly out shooting family sessions, senior pictures, themed events, weddings, and more. Although we'd love for her to have more free time, we're all very proud of her for turning her talent and passion into a thriving business. It just proves, yet again, that there is nothing that she can't do if she puts her mind to it.

Geno: Ah, the boy one. In many ways, he's still the same. He's still very sweet, very bright, and very emotional. Geno has always worn his emotions on his sleeve, which is a quality that can cut both ways. As is the case with most 11-year olds, there are times when his passion manifests itself in ways that he comes to regret after the fact. Still, his emotional nature is also what gives him such a big heart and so much love to share with the ones that he loves, and we wouldn't change that for the world. Once the move to Utah was postponed indefinitely, he made the decision to spend his 6th-grade year at Liberty Intermediate School in Bourbonnais. Per the usual, his grades are very good, and his teachers have nothing but nice things to say about him. Outside of school, he's preparing for his second season of travel baseball, this one with RBI Sports out of Morris. Of course, he's still dancing as well. He's taking classes at Paula Aubrey School of Dance in Bradley like he always has, but he's also taking private lessons on the side from an instructor who said that "Geno has an IT factor that you just don't see in a lot of dancers, something that could really allow him to go far in the world of dance." The skill and confidence that Geno displays while dancing is truly something special. I'm not sure that he truly understands how much courage is required to take the stage and be front and center in an auditorium filled with more than a thousand people. That would be enough to make many adults cower in fear. Not Geno. When that music comes on, his personality comes to life, and he does his thing, usually in a way that brings the crowd to its feet. Simply put: if you haven't seen him on stage, you're really missing out as he always delivers a memorable performance!

Mary: I almost can't believe that I'm writing this, but Mary is now nearly halfway done with her freshman year at Herscher High School. As has always been the case, she is keeping extremely busy. She is involved in marching band, scholastic bowl, and art club, and she'll be on the softball team as well. As you probably already guessed, most of these activities have had to be scaled back due to the pandemic. However, that doesn't mean that these groups aren't meeting, rehearsing, and practicing as much as is safely allowed. Her grades are still stellar, which is no surprise as she is still highly motivated to maintain her straight A average. In addition to school activities, Mary is still playing travel softball. However, she is no longer with the River Valley Rage organization. This summer, a local coach approached our family with an offer to have Mary join his elite-level team with the Illinois Stars. It was very difficult for Mary to leave her Rage teammates and coaches, but she knew that the opportunity was too good to pass up. The decision has proven to be good one as Mary immediately adjusted to the higher level of play, shining both at-bat and in the field. As much as we miss all of the amazing people with Rage, we are super excited to see where Mary and this amazing Illinois Stars team can go this summer. They already have their sights set on the Premier Girls' Fastpitch National Tournament in California, and based upon how they played and who they beat this Fall, there is no reason to think that this group can't compete for a national championship; they are that good. Honestly, these days, there are few things in the world that I enjoy more than watching Mary play softball. She's a very talented player and an amazing young woman with limitless potential. Like her mom, I honestly don't think that there is anything that she can't accomplish if she puts her mind to it!

                                                                            

         

Mary & Professor

            

2019

If you're reading this, you must REALLY love our family because, honestly, nobody freakin' reads anymore! In any case, we appreciate you taking the the time to come here and check out what's new and exciting in the Kanak family, so, without further adieu, here goes:

Mary - She's still the same smart, sassy, and quirky young lady she's always been...only taller! She's nearly caught up with Angie in height, and her size 9.5 shoe seems to indicate that she's only going to get taller. She's an 8th grader at Limestone Middle School, and she's made quite a name for herself there. Last season, she continued to be one of the best players on the varsity softball team, and she more than holds her own as a member of SEL Team, Math Team, Scholastic Bowl, band, and choir as well. Despite all of those engagements, she's still managed to maintain straight A's, often booking grades north of 95%. Outside of school, she still loves travel softball with River Valley Rage 14U, reading, and taking care of her ducks. She's also quite the artist. Basically, the girl is pretty much amazing at everything she does, and the rest of us are getting kind of sick of it!

Geno - As as 10-year-old, our little performer is not nearly as little anymore. Still, he continues to light up local stages while performing in various productions for Paula Aubrey School of Dance, Kakakee Valley Theatre  Association, and Bradley-Bourbonnais Theater Education Project. He even earned a dance scholarship this past summer while studying at a dance convention in Oak Brook. However, Geno's interests don't rest with the performing arts alone. He is now a member of the House of Sports 11U travel baseball team, and he's become a big fan of NBA basketball, NFL football, and Major League Baseball as well. Still, even as he grows and changes, he's still one of the kindest, sweetest, most-affectionate young boys you're ever going to meet, and we wouldn't change that about him for the world!

Angie - What isn't there to say about Angie? With each passing year, she takes on more projects and responsibilities, yet she handles all 50 of them with more grace, professionalism, and attention to detail than most people show when handling one or two tasks! Currently, she's in her second year as an English teacher at Bourbonnais Upper Grade Center. Per the usual, her students adore her and appreciate her for being the incredible teacher she's always been. When not at BUGC, she also spends a couple of nights each week teaching classes for the English Department at Kankakee Community College. As if that weren't enough though, she continues to work as a full-time photographer, where she has built Golden Fish Pics by Angie Kanak into a respected and sought after local choice for amazing event photography. Selfishly, the kids and I miss her when she's out and about on various photo assignments, yet we couldn't be prouder of how she's managed to transition her love of photography from a hobby to a thriving personal business! Honestly, I don't know where she gets the energy, but I've learned over the years that there is simply nothing that this woman can't do!

Gene - I'm currently in the midst of my tenth year as a high school teacher, my second as a member of the faculty at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. I'm also in my second year as one of two bowling coaches at BBCHS. This will, however, be my last year in both of those roles as I've accepted an offer to join the Technical team at Storm Bowling Products in Brigham City, Utah. While the thought of moving out of state again is bittersweet to say the least, I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity with Storm. The only job that would be better than this one would be if I were actually talented enough to earn a living competing as bowler, but, sadly, that isn't the case, so this will have to do! There are lots of logistical matters to take care of between now and when I move out to Utah late this summer, but I'm really excited about what is to come, and I can't thank Angie, Mary, and Geno enough for supporting me as I take on this exciting new adventure!

Well, if you're still reading, again, you must really care about us because, as all of you know, I'm certainly not short on words. Thank you so much for taking the time to see where things are going for our family; it means a lot to us! We wish each and every one of you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season, and we hope that our paths will cross very soon!

With Love,

The Kanaks

2018

The Kanaks 2018: 10-word summaries for each family member!
Geno: Played baseball, loved it. WWE, 4th grade, still loves dancing.
Mary: 7th grade, played varsity softball, percussionist and choir, draws a lot.
Angie: LOVES new school, BUGC. Takes lots of pictures.  Still awesome. 
Gene: Changed schools, still thinks teaching sucks and longs for death.

2017

Well, as we look back on this year, there have been some exciting things. Here goes:

Alright, lets start with Geno, the youngest of the family. Geno is 8 and is in 3rd grade. He is still extremely kind, affectionate, and honest... to everybody. Though most accept his love, Mary, on the other hand, doesn't quite enjoy it as much as we would like her to. Geno was in the Lion King as a zebra and dancer this summer, and he was great. He still loves dance, and he was Fritz in this year's production of the Nutcracker, by Paula Aubrey. He was also an Arabian in two of the four shows. We think he will continue to grow in many ways, and he gets better at everything he enjoys.

Moving on to Mary, she is another year wiser, sassier, and funnier. Mary is in 6th grade and is 11. Her current interests are softball, dance, and reading. This year, she is only taking tap class. Mary was a sun bird in the Lion King this summer. She also made the travel softball team, Rage. Most people say their kids are the best, but she is truly great at all of those things. The only thing is her brother, who keeps her on edge even when it isn't necessary. Though she doesn't show it, she truly does care about him deep inside her heart, but maybe it's a good thing that the siblings haven't teamed up to get us because they could be unstoppable!

As for Angie, she got a new job at Reed-Custer High School. This is a big change for her, and it's had its ups than downs. Still, she's an amazing teacher. However, she's now also running a wonderful photography business beside her teaching job. It has grown so rapidly that she has at least two appointments every day of the weekend. Her cause this year was lupus, and Gene, Mary, Angie, and some more family participated in the walk. It was a lot of fun!

Lastly,  there is Gene. He is an honest, funny, and affectionate person who goes to all family events and activities that he can, but he is busy being a coach and teacher at Central High School in Clifton. Both require a lot of skill that he possesses and excels at. When not doing any of the other things, he bowls on Monday nights at Victory Lanes and plays some slow-pitch softball every now and then. It's still not very different from the last year, but why change?

As a family, there were plenty of highs. We all love watching Mary play softball, watching the Lion King this summer, and just hanging together, enjoying each others' company. We also loved our many trips to Six Flags Great America. Mostly, all the highs weighed out the lows. Who knows what 2018 will bring?

The Kanaks 2016: Might this be the end?

Well, it's been another year, and a lot has happened since last we updated. To track some of the highlights, Fidel Castro has died, the Cubs won the World Series, and Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Clearly, Hell has at least started to freeze over. Therein lies the reason for the somewhat cryptic title to this year's edition. In any event, here goes:

We'll start with Geno. This fun little man is now seven years old, and he's enjoying his transition to second grade. To be honest, Geno hasn't changed a great deal. He's still extremely kind and affectionate. It's hard for any of his family members or closest friends to go more than a few minutes without having Geno offer a hug and an affirmation of his love for them. Most of us find it quite endearing. Mary...well, let's just say that she's the exception. In any event, when he's not giving love, Geno can usually be found playing with his many toys or listening to music and dancing. Yes, he still loves to dance, and he gets better at it all of the time!

Moving on to Mary, she is another year older, brighter, and sassier. She truly is an amazing young girl. Her current list of interests include softball, dance, reading, and writing. I know that all parents brag on their children, but she truly is pretty good at all of those activities. In fact, she's pretty good at just about everything that she does. Her only Kryptonite is her brother. While she is fairly kind and accepting to most people, like many big sisters, she's pretty hard on her little brother. Still, when you get down to it, she truly does care about him even if she won't admit it. While Angie and I wish she would be a little kinder to Geno, maybe it's for the best. Both of these kids are highly intelligent; once they find out that they'd be twice as powerful if they team up, Angie and I could be in trouble!

As for Angie, she continues to teach at Kankakee High School. In addition to teaching, she has helped good friend Deena Cassady produce and direct some amazing dramatic performances at KHS, she's developed her skills and undertaken a successful side business as a professional photographer, and she completed another Susan G. Komen 60-mile walk to support breast cancer research. Simply put, there is nothing she can't do if she puts her mind to it. I've known a lot of amazing people, but Angie is truly one of a kind, and she's proven that over and over again in 2016.

Lastly, there's me. Other than my appearance - I trimmed the obnoxious goatee and grew my hair back out - not much has changed with me in the past year. I'm still teaching English and coaching softball at Central High School in Clifton. Both positions require a lot of patience, but they can be quite rewarding at the same time. When not working or hanging with the family, I can still be found working out, bowling, or playing softball. I think I said the exact same thing last year, but it's still true, so why try to make it sound fancier than it is? What can I say? I'm a simple man with simple pleasures.

As a family, we experienced a lot of highs this past year, including Mary's great softball season, the kids' outstanding performances in Seussical Jr, and our family vacation to Branson, which allowed us to watch great shows, do some ziplining, and see some amazing sights. Sadly, there were also so tough lows, including having to say goodbye to Pappy, who passed away suddenly and way too soon; nevertheless, we all know that those we love are never truly gone, so we'll continue doing amazing things and taking time to remember the good times we've had.

We don't know what 2017 has in store, but we know that we're going to do our best to continue making amazing memories. We hope that as you read this, all of you are in good health and good spirits. Know that whether you're near or far, you're special to us, and we wish you and your loved ones nothing but the very best. As always, thanks for reading, and best of luck until we meet again!

With love,

The Kanaks