God Bless
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Why Bother??
Okay..Here is the plan.
You stand under the basket and I am going to pass to you....you dunk. DONE DEAL
When Do You Get Excited?
Many people are getting excited about the Texas Rangers. I am one of them. It is hard not to. In years past the Rangers have been out of any contention by May 1st and all of that while watching retreads like Sammy Sosa get at bats.
It was so hard around here sports wise with the Mavericks ending their playoffs early. We had the Stars two years ago make it to the finals and the year before that the Mavericks. Either way we still had a month of dead air before football season because the Rangers have struggled so badly.
Why do I ask the question then about getting excited?
1. Any team worth their salt that the Rangers have played they have struggled.
2. It has not gotten hot around here yet.
3. Injuries- Yes they have some but for the most part they have not had the injury
bug.
4. ALL STAR BREAK- I will remaine cautious until after the break. There have been
many times that the Rangers have been doing well and then they disappear after
THE BREAK!!
Please oh Baseball Jesus! Let this be a good year for the Rangers.
It was so hard around here sports wise with the Mavericks ending their playoffs early. We had the Stars two years ago make it to the finals and the year before that the Mavericks. Either way we still had a month of dead air before football season because the Rangers have struggled so badly.
Why do I ask the question then about getting excited?
1. Any team worth their salt that the Rangers have played they have struggled.
2. It has not gotten hot around here yet.
3. Injuries- Yes they have some but for the most part they have not had the injury
bug.
4. ALL STAR BREAK- I will remaine cautious until after the break. There have been
many times that the Rangers have been doing well and then they disappear after
THE BREAK!!
Please oh Baseball Jesus! Let this be a good year for the Rangers.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Stephen F. Austin
I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1995. I have several items of clothing for SFA that I wear throughout the year. Tracey also wears lots of SFA stuff. She graduated from North Texas in 94. Tracey probably wears more SFA stuff than I do!
What we find interesting is the number of times we are stopped by someone and asked what class we were in. We may just be walking in the mall and we pass someone who says...CLASS OF 85 and keep s walking. It happens everywhere! Last week we were in Galveston walking down the street and this guy and girl saw Tracey's hat and shirt and they yelled out AX'EM JACKS!!
They don't do that when Tracey wears North Texas Stuff.
There are TONS of LUMBERJACKS out there!
What we find interesting is the number of times we are stopped by someone and asked what class we were in. We may just be walking in the mall and we pass someone who says...CLASS OF 85 and keep s walking. It happens everywhere! Last week we were in Galveston walking down the street and this guy and girl saw Tracey's hat and shirt and they yelled out AX'EM JACKS!!
They don't do that when Tracey wears North Texas Stuff.
There are TONS of LUMBERJACKS out there!
Blog Set Up
I am messing around with the back drop for my blog. This one is okay but have not found a replacement yet.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Observations from Galveston
As you know from a previous post last weekend Tracey and I took the kids to the beach at Galveston last week. Tracey and the kids took their shoes off and splashed in the water. I did not go in the water because I was not sure if it was exactly safe for me to do so. So I just sat back and people watched. VERY INTERESTING!
Most of the buildings in Galveston are either rebuilt or are being rebuilt and open for business.
There are a few buildings that have not been touched.
The seafood there is so darn good!
The beach was definitely split into two big groups with a third small group mixed in.
Major groups- African American and Hispanic with a few White's mixed in.
Both the Hispanics and the African Americans were grilling like crazy on the beach.
Hispanics choice of grilling? Steaks and Fajitas
African Americana's choice of grilling- Sausage Links, Hamburgers, and steak!
WONDERFUL SMELLS!!
In the WHAT MADE YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA department.
When your gut is hanging down OVER your bikini to the point that you can't tell you are wearing a bikini....probably means you should have chosen a different type of swimsuit there sweetheart.
White shorts DO NOT act as a good substitute for a swim suit really any time but DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD IDEA if you are NOT wearing underwear there HOSS!
Why?
Why can a Hispanic guy bounce a soccer ball 35 times off his body but cannot throw a football 10 yards?
Why do Hispanic woman just appear to not give a crap what they look like in a swimsuit and yet African American woman puts on a BOAT LOAD of makeup to match their swimsuit?
It's like this...I am sure there was a time that the swimsuit you are wearing looked good on you. But you have gained 65 pounds...this means this swimsuit is too small. SURELY you saw this in the mirror. And surely you did not think this was a good idea. Hey I would like to wear a speedo but I know it would not be a good idea.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!
Most of the buildings in Galveston are either rebuilt or are being rebuilt and open for business.
There are a few buildings that have not been touched.
The seafood there is so darn good!
The beach was definitely split into two big groups with a third small group mixed in.
Major groups- African American and Hispanic with a few White's mixed in.
Both the Hispanics and the African Americans were grilling like crazy on the beach.
Hispanics choice of grilling? Steaks and Fajitas
African Americana's choice of grilling- Sausage Links, Hamburgers, and steak!
WONDERFUL SMELLS!!
In the WHAT MADE YOU THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA department.
When your gut is hanging down OVER your bikini to the point that you can't tell you are wearing a bikini....probably means you should have chosen a different type of swimsuit there sweetheart.
White shorts DO NOT act as a good substitute for a swim suit really any time but DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD IDEA if you are NOT wearing underwear there HOSS!
Why?
Why can a Hispanic guy bounce a soccer ball 35 times off his body but cannot throw a football 10 yards?
Why do Hispanic woman just appear to not give a crap what they look like in a swimsuit and yet African American woman puts on a BOAT LOAD of makeup to match their swimsuit?
It's like this...I am sure there was a time that the swimsuit you are wearing looked good on you. But you have gained 65 pounds...this means this swimsuit is too small. SURELY you saw this in the mirror. And surely you did not think this was a good idea. Hey I would like to wear a speedo but I know it would not be a good idea.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thank You Grandpa Fincannon Part II
In 1942 my mother had just been born when grandpa got the news that his number would be coming up soon in the draft. He did not have a problem with going and serving his country. What he had a problem with was seeing his enemy. He did not care for the idea of fighting in the jungle or in the city because he did not mind the idea of being shot at just he wanted to know WHERE the shot was coming from! So grandpa went down and enlisted in the NAVY! At least in the NAVY he felt that for the most part nothing was going to shoot at you that you could not see! After basic training off Grandpa went to fight for Uncle Sam! He ended up being stationed on the USS Houston. Everything was going okay when according to grandpa their new commander came aboard and he did not like him. It seemed to grandpa that this guy was going to get them killed. His main goal at the time was to SURVIVE the war. This commander took unnecessary risk and this scared the hell out of everyone according to Grandpa.
The opportunity came up that a commander from another ship needed someone to basically .... be a secretary... The only problem was that grandpa did not know how to type. So he LIED and said he could type. Then he had a buddy give him a crash course on some of the basics of typing. He got off of the USS Houston. He said the next time he saw it it was being towed into Pearl Harbor torn all to hell. A hole was in hull that was so big you could drive a SEMI truck through it. Later the Houston was sunk at the battle of Guadel Canal.
During Grandpa's transfer he spent two weeks on the battleship USS Washington. He often mentioned that the safest he ever felt was on that ship. There were multiple reasons. First, those guys could SHOOT. During AA practice he said NOTHING could get near it! During gunnery practice they sank an old WWI cruiser with two shots...from 15 miles away.
His new assignment was as a secretary for the captain. Type up memos to the crew..work the telegraph...that sort of thing. His battle station was to carry ammunition from the ammo box to the guns during battle. The ship was a supply ship. Basically, he was on a floating gas station. They supplied fuel and ammunition to other ships. He did see action in a major battle. The Battle of Leyte Gulf. In this battle his ship was hit and he was blown off of his ship and landed on deck of the ship next him. He got back onto his ship during the battle by diving into the water and scaling the hull of his ship with the help of the netting over the side. Once he got to his battle station he realized his pants had basically been blown off of him and his legs were burned pretty good. For the rest of his life he had no hair on his legs! EVER!!
Grandpa went on and his ship survived. It was at Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan.
Little Factoid- As a result of the surrender my grandfathers commanding officer got several Japanese military swords. He gave one to my grandfather. My grandfather kept it under his bed for 40 years. He put some type of oil on it to keep the blade from rusting.
In the mid 1950's he did use it to chase a peeping tom from my mothers bathroom window but the kind police let him keep the sword.
He did give it to me when I was in college. To this day it can slice paper with ease.
My mother had the sword encased in glass and it hangs in my house at this moment.
Thank you Granpa Fincannon for everything you did to serve our country!
The opportunity came up that a commander from another ship needed someone to basically .... be a secretary... The only problem was that grandpa did not know how to type. So he LIED and said he could type. Then he had a buddy give him a crash course on some of the basics of typing. He got off of the USS Houston. He said the next time he saw it it was being towed into Pearl Harbor torn all to hell. A hole was in hull that was so big you could drive a SEMI truck through it. Later the Houston was sunk at the battle of Guadel Canal.
During Grandpa's transfer he spent two weeks on the battleship USS Washington. He often mentioned that the safest he ever felt was on that ship. There were multiple reasons. First, those guys could SHOOT. During AA practice he said NOTHING could get near it! During gunnery practice they sank an old WWI cruiser with two shots...from 15 miles away.
His new assignment was as a secretary for the captain. Type up memos to the crew..work the telegraph...that sort of thing. His battle station was to carry ammunition from the ammo box to the guns during battle. The ship was a supply ship. Basically, he was on a floating gas station. They supplied fuel and ammunition to other ships. He did see action in a major battle. The Battle of Leyte Gulf. In this battle his ship was hit and he was blown off of his ship and landed on deck of the ship next him. He got back onto his ship during the battle by diving into the water and scaling the hull of his ship with the help of the netting over the side. Once he got to his battle station he realized his pants had basically been blown off of him and his legs were burned pretty good. For the rest of his life he had no hair on his legs! EVER!!
Grandpa went on and his ship survived. It was at Tokyo Bay for the surrender of Japan.
Little Factoid- As a result of the surrender my grandfathers commanding officer got several Japanese military swords. He gave one to my grandfather. My grandfather kept it under his bed for 40 years. He put some type of oil on it to keep the blade from rusting.
In the mid 1950's he did use it to chase a peeping tom from my mothers bathroom window but the kind police let him keep the sword.
He did give it to me when I was in college. To this day it can slice paper with ease.
My mother had the sword encased in glass and it hangs in my house at this moment.
Thank you Granpa Fincannon for everything you did to serve our country!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Observations of Houston and Galveston Part ONE
Jack has shown an interest warships after he and I saw a show on the History Channel. I came up with a plan for he and I to go see the USS Texas and if all goes well USS Lexington later on this summer. Memorial Day weekend was fast approaching so I ran the idea by Tracey to see if she and Caroline wanted to go. Caroline voted to go so it was done. Here are some of the highlights of our trip!
- This was our first FAMILY ROAD trip for a mini vacation.
- We were in the car for 38 minutes of a projected 5 hour car ride when we heard the
phrase..."Are we there yet?"
- Highway 45 is such a more peaceful and pretty drive than 35.
- Why is there no construction on 45 and yet 35 has been under constant construction
for 30 years?
- 45 is also named the Texas Autoban. I ran 85 for about 45 mintutes and was getting
passed with EASE.
- We stopped for a picnic about 65 miles outside of Houston at a rest stop. This
rest stop is probably one of the fanciest I have ever seen.
- The kids did GREAT in the car. We were 30 minutes out of Houston before we had some
small arguments in the back of the car.
- Houston is a very neat city!
- Our hotel Marriot Courtyard seems to be very close to the red light district along
Highway 45.
- I have a choice of 3 nudy bars, 2 adult video, 1 SPA, and 1 MASSAGE PARLOR all
within 1 mile of my hotel.
- Nice hotel for only 68 bucks total.
- Houston Police are really giving out tickets. Tracey got one for no seat belt.
Sure she had to undo her seatbelt to get out of the car but HEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT
THAT LITTLE FACT OFFICER!
Next- My observations of the beach in Galveston and of Galveston in General.
- This was our first FAMILY ROAD trip for a mini vacation.
- We were in the car for 38 minutes of a projected 5 hour car ride when we heard the
phrase..."Are we there yet?"
- Highway 45 is such a more peaceful and pretty drive than 35.
- Why is there no construction on 45 and yet 35 has been under constant construction
for 30 years?
- 45 is also named the Texas Autoban. I ran 85 for about 45 mintutes and was getting
passed with EASE.
- We stopped for a picnic about 65 miles outside of Houston at a rest stop. This
rest stop is probably one of the fanciest I have ever seen.
- The kids did GREAT in the car. We were 30 minutes out of Houston before we had some
small arguments in the back of the car.
- Houston is a very neat city!
- Our hotel Marriot Courtyard seems to be very close to the red light district along
Highway 45.
- I have a choice of 3 nudy bars, 2 adult video, 1 SPA, and 1 MASSAGE PARLOR all
within 1 mile of my hotel.
- Nice hotel for only 68 bucks total.
- Houston Police are really giving out tickets. Tracey got one for no seat belt.
Sure she had to undo her seatbelt to get out of the car but HEY DON'T WORRY ABOUT
THAT LITTLE FACT OFFICER!
Next- My observations of the beach in Galveston and of Galveston in General.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Thank You Grandpa Fincannon
Thank You Grandpa Fincannon!
We are approaching a very important time of year. The time of year where we give thanks to those people who have served, are serving and have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I have the utmost respect for these people. These people have dropped what they are doing and left their families and friends for a higher duty. Think about this in your workplace and see if you would answer yes to any of these questions.
Is there someone in your workplace that you would die for?
Is there someone in your workplace that would die for you?
Have you ever volunteered for anything in your life knowing there was a good chance you would not make it back?
Do you ever think getting into your car going to work that you may not make it back?
Most of us (myself included) probably answer NO to most of these questions. It does not make you a bad person it is just the way things happened in your life.
If there was any ONE thing that I would do differently in my life looking back it would be to have joined a branch of the armed forces. I was talking with Navy and Marine recruiters in high school. This was right at the time of Dessert Storm. My mother got wind of this when the recruiters were calling the house and she nixed it. Of course I could have just gone and joined but I didn’t. I went off to college. The rest is history. I do still get pumped up when I see the commercials for the Marines. (Best Dress Uniforms)
My grandfather volunteered for the Navy after WWII started. He did not talk about the war voluntarily but if you asked he would tell you his story. It is truly a fascinating story. Right before my senior year in college I was talking to my grandfather about the war and we made a deal. When I came home from college at Christmas I wanted to get his story IN HIS WORDS on recording so that I could share this information with MY kids some day. Just him and a tape recorder….from the time he left his home to the time he came home. It was a done deal. My grandfather passed away December 5, 1994 and with him I lost out on the opportunity. My grandmother lived another 13 years. I did get some more of his information from her and it was equally interesting to hear her side of the story as to what life was like for her during the war.
In honor of both Grandpa AND Grandma Fincannon I think I am going to try and retell their story.
We are approaching a very important time of year. The time of year where we give thanks to those people who have served, are serving and have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I have the utmost respect for these people. These people have dropped what they are doing and left their families and friends for a higher duty. Think about this in your workplace and see if you would answer yes to any of these questions.
Is there someone in your workplace that you would die for?
Is there someone in your workplace that would die for you?
Have you ever volunteered for anything in your life knowing there was a good chance you would not make it back?
Do you ever think getting into your car going to work that you may not make it back?
Most of us (myself included) probably answer NO to most of these questions. It does not make you a bad person it is just the way things happened in your life.
If there was any ONE thing that I would do differently in my life looking back it would be to have joined a branch of the armed forces. I was talking with Navy and Marine recruiters in high school. This was right at the time of Dessert Storm. My mother got wind of this when the recruiters were calling the house and she nixed it. Of course I could have just gone and joined but I didn’t. I went off to college. The rest is history. I do still get pumped up when I see the commercials for the Marines. (Best Dress Uniforms)
My grandfather volunteered for the Navy after WWII started. He did not talk about the war voluntarily but if you asked he would tell you his story. It is truly a fascinating story. Right before my senior year in college I was talking to my grandfather about the war and we made a deal. When I came home from college at Christmas I wanted to get his story IN HIS WORDS on recording so that I could share this information with MY kids some day. Just him and a tape recorder….from the time he left his home to the time he came home. It was a done deal. My grandfather passed away December 5, 1994 and with him I lost out on the opportunity. My grandmother lived another 13 years. I did get some more of his information from her and it was equally interesting to hear her side of the story as to what life was like for her during the war.
In honor of both Grandpa AND Grandma Fincannon I think I am going to try and retell their story.
Why I Hate Public Restrooms
If you get grossed out about this topic do not read any further.
As you can tell from the title of this post I am going to be hitting on a topic that I think everyone is aware of but very rarely addresses publicly. When discussing the public restroom there are multiple rules that you need to follow. Some are no brainers for guys. (One urinal must be between you and the other guy if at all possible.)
I work in a school and the faculty bathroom is literally on the other side of the building. So I have to plan accordingly. Sometimes you can’t avoid it. The other day I am in the stall taking care of business when I hear a student enter the stall next to me. GREAT!! An audience is here now. As I am sitting there this kid starts to let LOOSE. By the sounds that were coming from the next stall my immediate thought was this must be a guy with a stomach ulcer who just had a swim by the all you can eat Mexican buffet at Ponchos. I could not believe this was coming from a kid! I thought this kid was WAY TO YOUNG to have this kind of problem. Clearly he needs to address his diet.
So my immediate thought was to get out of there NOW!! As I am leaving the stall and heading for the sink to wash my hands this kid starts to wrap things up. Then this happens.
We are both at the sink washing our hands at the communal hand washing station. I am trying very hard not to make eye contact and the kid is doing the same. Apparently he did not know anyone else was in there. To say there was awkwardness in the air would be an understatement. We both left the restroom without saying a word.
Isn’t there a rule about letting loose in the public restroom or am I dreaming it?
As you can tell from the title of this post I am going to be hitting on a topic that I think everyone is aware of but very rarely addresses publicly. When discussing the public restroom there are multiple rules that you need to follow. Some are no brainers for guys. (One urinal must be between you and the other guy if at all possible.)
I work in a school and the faculty bathroom is literally on the other side of the building. So I have to plan accordingly. Sometimes you can’t avoid it. The other day I am in the stall taking care of business when I hear a student enter the stall next to me. GREAT!! An audience is here now. As I am sitting there this kid starts to let LOOSE. By the sounds that were coming from the next stall my immediate thought was this must be a guy with a stomach ulcer who just had a swim by the all you can eat Mexican buffet at Ponchos. I could not believe this was coming from a kid! I thought this kid was WAY TO YOUNG to have this kind of problem. Clearly he needs to address his diet.
So my immediate thought was to get out of there NOW!! As I am leaving the stall and heading for the sink to wash my hands this kid starts to wrap things up. Then this happens.
We are both at the sink washing our hands at the communal hand washing station. I am trying very hard not to make eye contact and the kid is doing the same. Apparently he did not know anyone else was in there. To say there was awkwardness in the air would be an understatement. We both left the restroom without saying a word.
Isn’t there a rule about letting loose in the public restroom or am I dreaming it?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The "passing" of another XBOX 360
If you have read my profile you would have seen that I am still a fan of video games. There was a time where that was my source of stress relief. Can't go all Rambo at work so when I got home I would blow up some crap in a game. Good times!
For no reason that I can explain really that has changed over the last year. Other than a few select games there has not been anything out there that has excited me. Those that have are first person shooter games and those games come with blood, and usually some language. I have played those games in the past around my son but when he started talking about shooting people and drawing guns I quit doing it.
Well there is a game coming out that I am actually excited about (boxing) and I turned on the ol 360 yesterday morning to tinker around a bit. While Jack plays on the 360 this was my first time in probably 3 months at least to even turn the thing on. As the machine was turing on I heard the ever familiar "whirl" sound followed by clicking. I instantly knew what this meant. This xbox 360 was about to die. You see I have had FOUR xbox 360's die on me. Every one of them I have gotten replaced through a warranty I had at the store I bought them. This system is out of warranty. This being the 5th system about to die on me I had had it.
Over the past year I had been turning in games for store credit. So I decided to bag everything up and turn the system in. I love the xbox system but I am tired of it breaking down on me. So I bagged it all up and with everything turned in I got
A used Playstation 3 AND two games. When I got home Tracey was like .... THATS ALL YOU GOT?? But with the blue ray player in the system the cost is 100 dollars more. That did not impress her at all. Oh well.
I still have $2.81 on my card.
I still have one broken xbox 360 in my closet. I am thinking of sending it off to get fixed and then selling it at work.
For no reason that I can explain really that has changed over the last year. Other than a few select games there has not been anything out there that has excited me. Those that have are first person shooter games and those games come with blood, and usually some language. I have played those games in the past around my son but when he started talking about shooting people and drawing guns I quit doing it.
Well there is a game coming out that I am actually excited about (boxing) and I turned on the ol 360 yesterday morning to tinker around a bit. While Jack plays on the 360 this was my first time in probably 3 months at least to even turn the thing on. As the machine was turing on I heard the ever familiar "whirl" sound followed by clicking. I instantly knew what this meant. This xbox 360 was about to die. You see I have had FOUR xbox 360's die on me. Every one of them I have gotten replaced through a warranty I had at the store I bought them. This system is out of warranty. This being the 5th system about to die on me I had had it.
Over the past year I had been turning in games for store credit. So I decided to bag everything up and turn the system in. I love the xbox system but I am tired of it breaking down on me. So I bagged it all up and with everything turned in I got
A used Playstation 3 AND two games. When I got home Tracey was like .... THATS ALL YOU GOT?? But with the blue ray player in the system the cost is 100 dollars more. That did not impress her at all. Oh well.
I still have $2.81 on my card.
I still have one broken xbox 360 in my closet. I am thinking of sending it off to get fixed and then selling it at work.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Special Bond
Growing up we had a dog named Dolly. She was the family pet but I had a special bond with this dog. She slept in my bed from 2nd grade all the way until her passing when I was in college. Growing up she knew when it was time for me to come home from school by instinct. My mom would open the front door and Dolly would sit on the porch and look down the street for the first sign of me. She would sit there and whimper until my Mom would say…GO GET BROTHER! Then off she would run to greet me and she would walk home the rest of the way with me and my friends. Dolly was a GREAT DOG! Many of you probably have grown up with a special pet. I always felt sorry for my friends who did not have any pets. I think you miss out on something special.
One of the MAJOR reasons we got Maggie was for the kids. We were looking for a dog that would be a bit larger than Max and Lilly and would play with the kids.
Jack and Caroline LOVE Maggie! Caroline however seems to be building a special relationship with Maggie. She will go outside with Maggie and play with her for quite some time. She will throw toys for Maggie to play with along with just sitting there and petting Maggie. The night before last Caroline went outside with Maggie. You could hear Caroline singing to herself. I looked outside and there was Caroline singing and dancing. Maggie just sat there and watched Caroline. She never moved. She just sat there and watched her. It was cute to watch. When Caroline came in the house Maggie was right beside her.
Those two are quickly becoming best friends!
Did you grow up with a special pet?
One of the MAJOR reasons we got Maggie was for the kids. We were looking for a dog that would be a bit larger than Max and Lilly and would play with the kids.
Jack and Caroline LOVE Maggie! Caroline however seems to be building a special relationship with Maggie. She will go outside with Maggie and play with her for quite some time. She will throw toys for Maggie to play with along with just sitting there and petting Maggie. The night before last Caroline went outside with Maggie. You could hear Caroline singing to herself. I looked outside and there was Caroline singing and dancing. Maggie just sat there and watched Caroline. She never moved. She just sat there and watched her. It was cute to watch. When Caroline came in the house Maggie was right beside her.
Those two are quickly becoming best friends!
Did you grow up with a special pet?
Maggie the Guard Dog Reporting For Duty...SIR!
Maggie is our 2 year old Rhodesian Ridgeback that Tracey rescued from an animal shelter 2 years ago. She is a big girl in that she is tall and she weighs I think somewhere around 90 pounds but she is a sweetheart. Because of her size people who don’t know her are very careful around her and we consider this a good thing.
At night Maggie has free roaming privileges in the house. Here lately she has chosen to sleep in our room on the floor by Tracey. If you get up for any reason she will usually follow you to your destination then return with you to the bed. Once you get covered up pet Maggie on the head and scratch her ear. She will then return to her bed and go back to sleep.
The other night we were getting ready for bed and Maggie was not in our room. I asked Tracey where Maggie was and I was informed that she was probably with Caroline. They have really been bonding lately but that is another post. I knew Caroline was going to sleep on the couch that evening so I went into the den and sure enough there was Maggie. Caroline was almost asleep but not quite. Maggie was sitting up in front of the couch. As I walked through the den Maggie never moved from her spot. She followed me with her eyes but that was it. It was almost like one of those British guards that never move!
Some time during the middle of the night I got up to get a drink. As I entered the den there was Maggie. Still in front of Caroline but she was now lying on the floor. I did notice she was awake and was following me with her eyes but again she did not move!
If you got into our house you were not going to get to Caroline without somehow getting through Maggie.
The next morning Tracey went through the den and she started laughing. You walk into the den and there is Caroline and Maggie asleep. Sometime in the middle of the night however they switched positions. Caroline was on the floor asleep and Maggie was ON THE COUCH asleep! A major NO for Maggie but it was so cute we let it pass.
Maggie the Guard Dog- Reporting for DUTY!
At night Maggie has free roaming privileges in the house. Here lately she has chosen to sleep in our room on the floor by Tracey. If you get up for any reason she will usually follow you to your destination then return with you to the bed. Once you get covered up pet Maggie on the head and scratch her ear. She will then return to her bed and go back to sleep.
The other night we were getting ready for bed and Maggie was not in our room. I asked Tracey where Maggie was and I was informed that she was probably with Caroline. They have really been bonding lately but that is another post. I knew Caroline was going to sleep on the couch that evening so I went into the den and sure enough there was Maggie. Caroline was almost asleep but not quite. Maggie was sitting up in front of the couch. As I walked through the den Maggie never moved from her spot. She followed me with her eyes but that was it. It was almost like one of those British guards that never move!
Some time during the middle of the night I got up to get a drink. As I entered the den there was Maggie. Still in front of Caroline but she was now lying on the floor. I did notice she was awake and was following me with her eyes but again she did not move!
If you got into our house you were not going to get to Caroline without somehow getting through Maggie.
The next morning Tracey went through the den and she started laughing. You walk into the den and there is Caroline and Maggie asleep. Sometime in the middle of the night however they switched positions. Caroline was on the floor asleep and Maggie was ON THE COUCH asleep! A major NO for Maggie but it was so cute we let it pass.
Maggie the Guard Dog- Reporting for DUTY!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
When A Woman or Man Is Not Touchable
For a few weeks now we have been hearing about how John from John and Kate plus 8 has been linked to another woman..alledgedly. Well now the mom is fighting possible affair rumors.
Here is a little revelation for both John and Kate!
YOU ARE NOT TOUCHABLE! WHY YOU HAVE TO ASK?
You have EIGHT FREAKING KIDS!
What woman is going to date or marry a man who is on the bill for child support for EIGHT FREAKING KIDS?
And Kate... Sorry but no man is going to take on EIGHT FREAKING KIDS.
Neither one of you is touchable. You better figure this out because it is about to get LONELY
Here is a little revelation for both John and Kate!
YOU ARE NOT TOUCHABLE! WHY YOU HAVE TO ASK?
You have EIGHT FREAKING KIDS!
What woman is going to date or marry a man who is on the bill for child support for EIGHT FREAKING KIDS?
And Kate... Sorry but no man is going to take on EIGHT FREAKING KIDS.
Neither one of you is touchable. You better figure this out because it is about to get LONELY
Monday, May 11, 2009
At Peace!
The past 8 weeks have been a little trying financially for Tracey and I. I know ....who has it NOT been taxing on? I am not going to go into great detail because it does not matter for this post. Besides like I mentioned is there anyone who reads this that has not felt the pinch?
Due to my illnesses of the late fall and early spring Tracey and I were hit with some big medical bills. Add to that this month and last month I am clearing about 2/3 of my salary to make up all of the days I missed from work. So the combo of added bills with less money gets a little taxing.
Again I know many people who have it MUCH worse than us so I am not trying to get sympathy.
The good news is we have a plan and at the end of July we will have all medical bills paid off so that is awesome!! At the end of THIS MONTH I will have repaid my debt to the district and I will be back on full salary. Add to that we refinanced our house and our house payment went down 200 dollars and we won't have a payment at all in JUNE. The light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel.
NOW THE REASON FOR THE POST
A cool thing happened to me tonight. I was straightening one of the rooms in the house and I had the stereo playing a CD that I have not listened to in a while and a song came on that I had not heard in a long time.
The song really related to me and the situation. The song hit so close to home that I found myself not straightening at all. I was just standing there listening to the song. I then hit replay and I turned off the lights to the room and sat down and leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and listened to the music.
When the song was over I felt as if I was cleansed in some way. Another way of putting it might be a burden was being lifted. I don't know how to say it or put it in a way that does not sound corny!
How about At Peace?
Due to my illnesses of the late fall and early spring Tracey and I were hit with some big medical bills. Add to that this month and last month I am clearing about 2/3 of my salary to make up all of the days I missed from work. So the combo of added bills with less money gets a little taxing.
Again I know many people who have it MUCH worse than us so I am not trying to get sympathy.
The good news is we have a plan and at the end of July we will have all medical bills paid off so that is awesome!! At the end of THIS MONTH I will have repaid my debt to the district and I will be back on full salary. Add to that we refinanced our house and our house payment went down 200 dollars and we won't have a payment at all in JUNE. The light is getting brighter at the end of the tunnel.
NOW THE REASON FOR THE POST
A cool thing happened to me tonight. I was straightening one of the rooms in the house and I had the stereo playing a CD that I have not listened to in a while and a song came on that I had not heard in a long time.
The song really related to me and the situation. The song hit so close to home that I found myself not straightening at all. I was just standing there listening to the song. I then hit replay and I turned off the lights to the room and sat down and leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and listened to the music.
When the song was over I felt as if I was cleansed in some way. Another way of putting it might be a burden was being lifted. I don't know how to say it or put it in a way that does not sound corny!
How about At Peace?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Funny Sign
I am not a gun carrying, card holding member of the NHRA. I do have "a few" select weapons locked up in a gun cabinet. This sign did make me giggle.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Random Blogging Here!
Well Mrs. Jdhteach had her summative today. She had been dreading it I know because she started talking about it last Thursday. Last year her principal did her wrong in my opinion and Mrs. Jdhteach was afraid something would be pulled out of thin air and she would be done wrong again.
Thankfully all went well today and Mrs JDHTeach is moving forward.
Big Sigh of Relief!
Funny Quotes I Heard Today That Make Me Laugh!
- I have to have the only son who is a GT Redneck!
- Yeah, my son wants to go into the military and get into the special forces. He
wants to pop out of the snow and shoot people......It's good to have a goal !
Thankfully all went well today and Mrs JDHTeach is moving forward.
Big Sigh of Relief!
Funny Quotes I Heard Today That Make Me Laugh!
- I have to have the only son who is a GT Redneck!
- Yeah, my son wants to go into the military and get into the special forces. He
wants to pop out of the snow and shoot people......It's good to have a goal !
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Did I miss it?
I learned today that the principal of our Junior High principal is retiring. This guy is awesome! He has been recognized as an outstanding educator at both the state and national level. He has been in the education business for 29 years! When I was a campus administrator I often picked his brain. I am really going to miss not only his knowledge but his humor. He has a knack for telling a joke and you don’t realize he is joking until he gets to the punch line.
I have mixed thoughts about this for other reasons. Part of me thinks “DANG” I missed an opportunity here. I have had talks with my superintendant in the past that I would be interested in the Junior High job if it ever came open. Not that I stood a chance if I ran against someone like the current principal but I would like to at least come in and talk about it. If after the conversation it was determined I was not ready FINE! Interviews with my superintendant are a conversation. I have never felt more comfortable in an interview.
Obviously at this point I am not in the race. With me recovering from a bout of ECOLI and pneumonia it will be at least Christmas before I am back to pre-bout energy and strength levels. Add to that I am recovering from Leukemia. The long hours it takes to be a principal I cannot do day in and day out.
So my first thought was DANG! Then I got to thinking about it and I thought….would I even WANT to do that job? True it would be a salary increase for me but at what cost. There are a TON of evening activities to cover. It is a 12 month contract. No extended time off.
There are many things I enjoy being a principal. If done properly it is by far the hardest job in education. Sorry teachers it is. I enjoy working with the kids. I enjoy organizing the school. I enjoy working with the teachers. In general I feel I have a very even keel personality and I am the type of person someone will follow and work well with. I respect other opinions and am not afraid to admit that I am wrong.
Right now is not a fun time to be a principal. Everyone is tired (kids and teachers) subs don’t even want to come in. You are starting to have to plan for next year and are in meetings discussing said topic when all you are trying to do is close down this year. At this time of year there are some LONG LONG days for principals. I remember last year going quite a few days without seeing my kids awake.
So I don’t think I really miss it right now. I lose energy just thinking about it. Never say never though. You never know. I might dip my toe back in that pool some day.
I have mixed thoughts about this for other reasons. Part of me thinks “DANG” I missed an opportunity here. I have had talks with my superintendant in the past that I would be interested in the Junior High job if it ever came open. Not that I stood a chance if I ran against someone like the current principal but I would like to at least come in and talk about it. If after the conversation it was determined I was not ready FINE! Interviews with my superintendant are a conversation. I have never felt more comfortable in an interview.
Obviously at this point I am not in the race. With me recovering from a bout of ECOLI and pneumonia it will be at least Christmas before I am back to pre-bout energy and strength levels. Add to that I am recovering from Leukemia. The long hours it takes to be a principal I cannot do day in and day out.
So my first thought was DANG! Then I got to thinking about it and I thought….would I even WANT to do that job? True it would be a salary increase for me but at what cost. There are a TON of evening activities to cover. It is a 12 month contract. No extended time off.
There are many things I enjoy being a principal. If done properly it is by far the hardest job in education. Sorry teachers it is. I enjoy working with the kids. I enjoy organizing the school. I enjoy working with the teachers. In general I feel I have a very even keel personality and I am the type of person someone will follow and work well with. I respect other opinions and am not afraid to admit that I am wrong.
Right now is not a fun time to be a principal. Everyone is tired (kids and teachers) subs don’t even want to come in. You are starting to have to plan for next year and are in meetings discussing said topic when all you are trying to do is close down this year. At this time of year there are some LONG LONG days for principals. I remember last year going quite a few days without seeing my kids awake.
So I don’t think I really miss it right now. I lose energy just thinking about it. Never say never though. You never know. I might dip my toe back in that pool some day.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Do You Hear What You Are Saying?
The piggy virus has got everyone up in arms. School districts are shutting down schools and sometimes entire districts. Being in the education field myself I am starting to see a side of some people that is a bit on the sorry side. That sorry side is wishing someone illness.
I have seen or heard on more than one occasion someone say or type on Face book this statement.
WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO GET SICK! I NEED A BREAK!!
So because you want to stay home you are wishing someone the flu. In addition to that that someone is most likely going to be a CHILD.
Wishing ill will on someone so you can have a day or days off is just sorry. I have heard people joke about it and that is different. But when people are typing "When is it going to be MY turn. That is just sorry.
Would your attitude be different if YOU were the one that had flu and everyone else stayed home?
I have seen or heard on more than one occasion someone say or type on Face book this statement.
WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO GET SICK! I NEED A BREAK!!
So because you want to stay home you are wishing someone the flu. In addition to that that someone is most likely going to be a CHILD.
Wishing ill will on someone so you can have a day or days off is just sorry. I have heard people joke about it and that is different. But when people are typing "When is it going to be MY turn. That is just sorry.
Would your attitude be different if YOU were the one that had flu and everyone else stayed home?
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