Once again the American education system has failed our children and their parents. And the American media has perpetuated the problem.
On the local ABC station evening news they ran a three minute synopsis of the last decade, starting with the year 2000. 2000 just happens to be the last year of the last decade.
2001 is the first year of this decade and 2010 will be the last year. But not according to ABC TV. Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve will be the first party of the new decade. I bet even Dick Clark knows that isn’t correct.
Where did these people learn to count? Or did they? Ask a person to count to ten and they will start with the number one, not with zero. Except when it comes to years. It makes no sense. Someone didn’t pay attention in math class or the teacher led them astray when tallying years.
And then these same people wonder why time passes so quickly, why the years just fly by.
The answer is simple. Y’all can’t count!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
SAINTS BE PRAISED!
On November 5, 2009, Sister Fidelis Kreutzer, SSMO, passed from this world. This grand lady was my wife's aunt. I have known Sister Fidelis since my wife and I were first married. While 'Sister' is her formal title, my wife called Sister Fidelis 'Auntie Fid', a name I took to using as well when speaking with her.
The passing of Auntie Fid was a sadness for her family and friends. But we all rejoice knowing she is in God's loving embrace. It should be noted that one sector of the American economy will suffer terribly because of Auntie Fid's going home to God. The Wrigley Chewing Gum Company has lost its best customer.
Over the years, thousands of children, young and old, have come to know Sister through the endless supply of gum that she carried in her pockets. It was through that simple gesture of a pack of gum being placed in our hands that many of us were reminded of God's unconditional love.
My two youngest nieces, when they first met Sister, pointed at Sister Fidelis and asked their aunt, "Who is that?" Sister quickly responded with, "God."
Auntie Fid was right. Through her so many of us met God face to face when she gave us some gum and said, "Bless your heart!" We were blessed indeed!
The passing of Auntie Fid was a sadness for her family and friends. But we all rejoice knowing she is in God's loving embrace. It should be noted that one sector of the American economy will suffer terribly because of Auntie Fid's going home to God. The Wrigley Chewing Gum Company has lost its best customer.
Over the years, thousands of children, young and old, have come to know Sister through the endless supply of gum that she carried in her pockets. It was through that simple gesture of a pack of gum being placed in our hands that many of us were reminded of God's unconditional love.
My two youngest nieces, when they first met Sister, pointed at Sister Fidelis and asked their aunt, "Who is that?" Sister quickly responded with, "God."
Auntie Fid was right. Through her so many of us met God face to face when she gave us some gum and said, "Bless your heart!" We were blessed indeed!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
WHIRLWIND TOUR
Our trip to Germany and Italy is almost over. We have seen Salzburg, Venice, Rome, Assisi, Siena and Florence. We are in Florence until tomorrow morning when we head back to Uberlingen for a restful last week and a Thanksgiving dinner with Jaime's friends on Wednesday night. All sorts of German food to go along with our turkey and noodles(English family style) and some Chinese food from a coworker from Kansas. An interesting dinner to be sure.
Florence is a city I do not need to visit again. Not my favorite place in Italy. Assisi is my favorite city of the entire trip. A quiet hillside to rest and retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. We did get to see the pope in Rome. The general audience with the Holy Father is a hoot. People from all over the world cheering for him when he enters the room and groups aknowledging him in their own way as they are introduced to him. All the prayers and introductions are done in several languauges and by time the audience was over, I felt that Pope Benedict is indeed OUR pope, not just mine.
My favorite parts of the trip have nothing to do with sights and sounds that could be overwhelming at times. It was the simple, quiet moments that filled me with the greatest joy.
Just as I expected, getting off the plane at Frankfurt was the best. Walking through that last hallway and seeing Jaime there put a joy in my heart I had not felt for a long time. And holding her close, not letting go of her for those few seconds is a feeling only a father can understand when he has his daughter in his arms again. Later in our travels, on one of our many train rides, I was sitting with Barb and Jaime in a small cabin for four. Barb and I were on one side of the compartment, Jaime on the other. Barb had fallen asleep. Jaime looks at me and says, "Dad, you can sit over here by me, if you want." I moved right away, knowing what would happen. In an instant, as soon as I sat down, Jaime had her head on my shoulder. Oh, how I have missed those moments over the last ten months. It is so good to be Jaime's dad in person, once again!
Florence is a city I do not need to visit again. Not my favorite place in Italy. Assisi is my favorite city of the entire trip. A quiet hillside to rest and retreat from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. We did get to see the pope in Rome. The general audience with the Holy Father is a hoot. People from all over the world cheering for him when he enters the room and groups aknowledging him in their own way as they are introduced to him. All the prayers and introductions are done in several languauges and by time the audience was over, I felt that Pope Benedict is indeed OUR pope, not just mine.
My favorite parts of the trip have nothing to do with sights and sounds that could be overwhelming at times. It was the simple, quiet moments that filled me with the greatest joy.
Just as I expected, getting off the plane at Frankfurt was the best. Walking through that last hallway and seeing Jaime there put a joy in my heart I had not felt for a long time. And holding her close, not letting go of her for those few seconds is a feeling only a father can understand when he has his daughter in his arms again. Later in our travels, on one of our many train rides, I was sitting with Barb and Jaime in a small cabin for four. Barb and I were on one side of the compartment, Jaime on the other. Barb had fallen asleep. Jaime looks at me and says, "Dad, you can sit over here by me, if you want." I moved right away, knowing what would happen. In an instant, as soon as I sat down, Jaime had her head on my shoulder. Oh, how I have missed those moments over the last ten months. It is so good to be Jaime's dad in person, once again!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
OFF TO GERMANY
Only two days left before my wife and I take off for Germany and seeing our daughter again after ten months of Skype visits. We are getting more anxious to leave as each day passes.
When we tell people we are going to travel to Germany and Italy we get all sorts of advice and recommendations. The usual ones include “Have a great time!”, “Have a safe trip!”, “Oh, Italy! Enjoy the food! Enjoy the people!”, and so on.
Two comments have stood out not for their enthusiasm but for their approach. One, from a well traveled friend of mine: “Trim your toenails before you leave. Your feet will swell from lots of walking and that extra bit of toe room makes a difference.”
The second from a parent at my wife’s school after my wife sent an email to parents saying she will be gone for a while and that we will meeting our daughter who has been working in Germany for the past year. Before our daughter returns home to start her own business, we are going to go explore Italy with her. We have never taken a trip like this before, (We have been to Canada and the East coast) and can’t pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. The parent responded to my wife with,
“Good for you. Have a wonderful trip, we have never done anything like this either, so I will hold out hope that our daughter or son create the opportunity for us one day.”
If you can’t travel when you are young, maybe your children will make it possible for you when they are young adults. Bring your own toenail clippers.
When we tell people we are going to travel to Germany and Italy we get all sorts of advice and recommendations. The usual ones include “Have a great time!”, “Have a safe trip!”, “Oh, Italy! Enjoy the food! Enjoy the people!”, and so on.
Two comments have stood out not for their enthusiasm but for their approach. One, from a well traveled friend of mine: “Trim your toenails before you leave. Your feet will swell from lots of walking and that extra bit of toe room makes a difference.”
The second from a parent at my wife’s school after my wife sent an email to parents saying she will be gone for a while and that we will meeting our daughter who has been working in Germany for the past year. Before our daughter returns home to start her own business, we are going to go explore Italy with her. We have never taken a trip like this before, (We have been to Canada and the East coast) and can’t pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. The parent responded to my wife with,
“Good for you. Have a wonderful trip, we have never done anything like this either, so I will hold out hope that our daughter or son create the opportunity for us one day.”
If you can’t travel when you are young, maybe your children will make it possible for you when they are young adults. Bring your own toenail clippers.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
IT IS FOOTBALL SEASON ONCE AGAIN
And there are some things about football, college and professional, which I still don’t understand. Every year I ponder the same mysteries.
Why, on a pass play to the tight end, do the announcers always say the quarterback “completes a pass to the big tight end.” Have you ever seen a tight end in football who isn’t big? I checked statistics on tight ends in the pros. A sampling of five shows that the average weight is 250 lbs. and the average height is 6’ 4”. Do the announcers think we can’t tell that the tight end is big? Just once I would like to hear an announcer say, “The quarterback completes a pass to the little tight end.” That won’t happen, but the use of the phrase ‘big tight end’ is far better than “the quarterback completes a pass to his tight end.”
Another call by announcers that always intrigues me is the one about the running back who has broken through the line for a 20 or 30 yard run for a touch down. “And No. 22 scampers 30 yards for the touchdown!”
Only football players “scamper”. Baseball players don’t scamper as they run the bases. A basketball player doesn’t scamper after stealing the ball and running down the floor for a slam dunk.
And yet I cannot imagine telling a 6’, 210 lbs. running back named Bubba that he ran ‘nimbly and playfully about’ as he scored the touchdown.
Bambi scampers. Bubba barreled his way through to the end zone.
Why, on a pass play to the tight end, do the announcers always say the quarterback “completes a pass to the big tight end.” Have you ever seen a tight end in football who isn’t big? I checked statistics on tight ends in the pros. A sampling of five shows that the average weight is 250 lbs. and the average height is 6’ 4”. Do the announcers think we can’t tell that the tight end is big? Just once I would like to hear an announcer say, “The quarterback completes a pass to the little tight end.” That won’t happen, but the use of the phrase ‘big tight end’ is far better than “the quarterback completes a pass to his tight end.”
Another call by announcers that always intrigues me is the one about the running back who has broken through the line for a 20 or 30 yard run for a touch down. “And No. 22 scampers 30 yards for the touchdown!”
Only football players “scamper”. Baseball players don’t scamper as they run the bases. A basketball player doesn’t scamper after stealing the ball and running down the floor for a slam dunk.
And yet I cannot imagine telling a 6’, 210 lbs. running back named Bubba that he ran ‘nimbly and playfully about’ as he scored the touchdown.
Bambi scampers. Bubba barreled his way through to the end zone.
Monday, October 12, 2009
AWARDS?
President Barack Hussein Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last week. Quite an honor. An interesting choice given that the man has only been in office nine months and has only given speeches about things the prize committee deems important in its selection process. But the President has to be proud.
What should make him more proud is that just a few months ago he was given an honor not afforded to other presidents, except for Washington and Jefferson. Just in time for Christmas gift giving, Joseph Enterprises is again promoting its Chia Pet of President Obama. The Nobel Peace Prize pales in comparison to the Chia Pet award. Or does it?
What should make him more proud is that just a few months ago he was given an honor not afforded to other presidents, except for Washington and Jefferson. Just in time for Christmas gift giving, Joseph Enterprises is again promoting its Chia Pet of President Obama. The Nobel Peace Prize pales in comparison to the Chia Pet award. Or does it?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO! Part II
I root for the University of Oregon Ducks. My reasons for doing so are plentiful. My daughter is a Duck. Three of her uncles are Ducks, as are three first-cousins, several first-cousins once removed and her great-grandfather. There are some Oregon State Beavers in the family and come football season we have great fun cheering on our respective schools.
This carries over into my work. The boss is a Beaver Believer. She hired me even though on the day of my interview I was wearing my Duck hat and Duck Dad t-shirt.
I do not miss an opportunity to have the toddler kids yell out, “Go Ducks!” when the boss is in the room. She plays along with the kids and responds with a “Go Beavs!” and then gives me a look that lets me know she is on to my tricks.
My monkey see monkey do kid joins right in with the “Go Ducks!” even though he has no idea what the fun is all about.
Or maybe he does. The other day the cheering started for the boss’ benefit. The young man joined in and proceeded to use a plastic carrot he was holding as a club. He was hitting another child on the head while he was chanting “Go Ducks!” over and over.
None of the other kids were hitting anybody as they chanted so I wondered where my monkey see monkey do kid got the idea to hit somebody on the head. Then I remembered the Boise State game in September. The power of television…
This carries over into my work. The boss is a Beaver Believer. She hired me even though on the day of my interview I was wearing my Duck hat and Duck Dad t-shirt.
I do not miss an opportunity to have the toddler kids yell out, “Go Ducks!” when the boss is in the room. She plays along with the kids and responds with a “Go Beavs!” and then gives me a look that lets me know she is on to my tricks.
My monkey see monkey do kid joins right in with the “Go Ducks!” even though he has no idea what the fun is all about.
Or maybe he does. The other day the cheering started for the boss’ benefit. The young man joined in and proceeded to use a plastic carrot he was holding as a club. He was hitting another child on the head while he was chanting “Go Ducks!” over and over.
None of the other kids were hitting anybody as they chanted so I wondered where my monkey see monkey do kid got the idea to hit somebody on the head. Then I remembered the Boise State game in September. The power of television…
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