Light Cannon fire on Christmas Eve

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I, like you, am a bit busy today. So, I wish you a good day and hope you get it all done!

Enjoy and take a shot if you wish!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell, So What Big Deal.
I am a conservative. If someone, gay or not wants to die for our great country, so be it, I salute them.
But, why do I have to hear if they or gay or not. If it is not a question, it's not an issue.

I have worked for the district for 22 + years.
The system ignores the most important elements, parents, students and teachers. Parents who read with their children before they attend school learn to read before they get to school. Good students come from involved parents.
I have taught in low preforming schools most of my career. The government usually just screws things up by forcing schools to start all over again every few years, throwing out the baby with the bath  water and forcing teachers and school site administrators to reinvent the wheel.
I have been forced to monitor bathroom usage because "when my child needs to pee you better let him go or I will sue you!" I don't care but when my administrator directs me to waste instructional time to make sure children can pee, I do it. Stupid.
Stupid is as stupid does.

The biggest racist are the left because it is THEIR policies that keep the poor poor and have failed for 40/50 years now. But, people like you keep blaming "racist republicans." What is racist about believing you should keep your own money and take care of your family? What is racist about believing you can find the American dream?

Let me ask you this? When did you become a Democrat? After someone told you,"Those white people don't like you!" You probably got in a fight in middle school because somebody told you someone said something about your mother.

Time to wake up and grow up.

Remember the judges names, Justices Eileen C. Moore, Wiliam F. Rylaarsdam and Richard M. Aronson. If he commits a crime, they should be help responsible and up for termination.

Typical of the propaganda wing of the left also known as la Times.
The truth is how pitiful of the President to take two years to learn how to work with congress (bipartisan) and two years plus a good political a$$ whooping to live up to his "promise to reach across the aisle."
I am only surprised that la Times has not proclaimed his brilliance for remember to brush his own teeth.

Let Arlen Specter be a testimony to all people who represent us. The tea party wanted the likes of Specter out because they don't represent the people who voted them in and they were NOT faithful to the promises they made.
Unlike the foolish "coffee party" the Tea Party stands to call on government officials to be accountable.
Specter came to represent the awful politician who represents themselves, not the public.
If only those on the left would hold their leaders so accountable.

Bad Christmas Memory #1

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I guess Wednesday is as good a day as any to talk about my worse Christmas experience. It was my first year in college but not my first away from home. I had lived and worked on my own for a few years before I started college. I actually had spent a year attending a small Bible School in England called Capernwray. That year I ended up in a Chalet in Switzerland with some pretty fun people. No complaints there. But, it was the next year that I must describe at this time.

Attending school in England led me to a small Bible College in South Carolina named Columbia Bible College. My home and family were on the other side of the country and I didn't have the funds to get home for the break. A friend of mind said his family offered to allow me to stay with them. I applied at UPS to work for the Christmas season. I bought the shoes and uniform. I packed some reading materials and my sleeping bag and was set. 

After arriving in the lovely home and meeting the family I settled in for the first night. Before I went to sleep by friends mom explained to me that everyone got up at 6:00am for breakfast so that "father' could read the scriptures to us before he went to work. I should of grabbed my bags and tried to hitch hike to California. So, I spent six weeks waking at 6am for grits and the scriptures. If you haven't had grits, just go to a beach, start to run and trip with your mouth open. You can add eggs, cheese, milk, whatever. 

I hoped that working would help, but, as luck with have it, UPS never called and when I called they said it was one of their slowest years ever and had not called anyone extra yet. Now, when I was young you could beat me to within an inch of my life and it was like water of a ducks back. But, put me in a room all by myself for longer than 5 minutes...that was torture! 

Now, my friend was a great guy, a model son. But, his mom rode him like he was a possible life time criminal. Every choice that poor kid made was wrong according to his mom. He couldn't pick out a shirt without enduring some harassment and being ridiculed because blue was obviously better than white on a Tuesday (if I was exaggerating that would be funny). I thought to myself that if this poor kid didn't just snap one day and kill everyone in the house I would be surprised. Two years later he quit school, started dressing all dark and decided he was gay. Mom, probably has no clue she drove him insane. 

That was not a great Christmas. The next year I made sure I made it home. There is no place like home for the holidays.

The Gift of Friendship

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To tell you the truth I don't remember many gifts I have received sense reaching adulthood. What I do remember are the people I have broke bread with and enjoyed their company. Often, due to busy schedules and the ever increasing activities of the modern family (sports, scouts, and homework) we don't always get to see everyone as often as we would like and the holidays seems to be the only time families and friends get together. My best memories are of family and friends, not things.

One year I asked two of my friends, Kenny and Matt, where they were going for Christmas. They both shrugged their shoulders and said, "Nowhere." So, I asked them to come with me. I called my parents and asked them to take a few presents that were for me and write "To Kenny" or "To Matt" on them. My sister once said, "You know, you think your family is messed up until you meet someone elses family or hear their stories." Both my friends didn't enjoy Christmas as kids. Their families were a bit disjointed. Matt and Kenny  joined my family that Christmas. It was very fun to watch their faces when they received a gift with their name on it. They actually were in a state of shock that someone had thought of them in even the smallest way. The next year they joined us again and Kenny had a gift for everyone. Kenny then met a beautiful young lady and had a family and now enjoys Christmas with them each year. 

So, I hope your family enjoys the gift of friendships this Christmas season, because one gift we have been given by our Creator is the gift of friendship.

The What's It Gift

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I don't know about your family, but for mine it was Auntie "M". Every Christmas Aunt "M" gave each of us a very thoughtful gift, a gift that made each of us ask, "What is it?" None of Aunt "M's" gifts were thoughtless, mean or picked from the display aisle while waiting in line at the grocery store. No, they were personalized and special, each and every one.

My earliest memory of the "what's it" gift from Aunt "M" was when I was eight years old (to the best of my recollection) and I open my brand new left handed (I was right handed, I think she thought you wore the glove on your writing hand?)baseball glove for maybe a one or two rear old baby. The next year it was a World Atlas! Of course I had told her a NFL approved football would be perfect. One of my "favorites" was the year I open a brand new shiny 1" x 4" metal thing with about a 12" handle. At the other end were my initials. Before I could ask, "What is it?" my mom said (with a firm warning) "If I see ONE dog or ONE cat with your initials on them..." My very thoughtful aunt had given me a custom made branding iron. It was great. But, since I was not allowed to play with matches and we lived in a suburb not a ranch, I never got a chance to fire that baby up and see what it could do. 

As the years rolled by Aunt "M's" gifts were always something to look forward to. I wish she would of lived to see my children's births because I would have loved to have the video camera on to film their first "What is it" look. 

When I was in my early twenties I decided to return the favor to dear Aunt "M". I looked far and wide and finally found what I was looking for in the back pages of a Rolling Stone Magazine. It's name was "Earl, the Dead Cat." He even came with a death certificate! Her face was...priceless. I was, of course, the hero that Christmas because I had given everyone in the family the joy of watching Aunt "M" ask with an exquisitely bewildered look, "What is it?"

Yes, Christmas Approaches

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Yes, it is the Holidays. For most everyone I know it can be a very busy and hectic time of year. I love Christmas. I love waking up on Christmas morning to see my children's faces as they check out what might be under the Christmas tree for them. I love stocking stuffers. When I was young, many moons ago, there would always be a tangerine, a comb, a piece of chocolate, and then maybe a Matchbox car or Hot Wheel car. Not a lot, not expense, just something small. We would play with the stocking stuffers until everyone woke up and moms' special Christmas breakfast was ready.

My wife and I have tried to carry on those traditions and add our own. I believe it is most important to remember the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh coming to save his people. So, we always read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.

To me one of the best memories of the holidays is being with family and friends. One friend of mine has a party of year that he ans his family decide to throw and invite everyone with two days notice the week before Christmas. You know, "I don't know if we are going to do it this year..." So, I am anticipating a call in a day or two. It usually is a lot of fun. They regifting game (some call it the Red Elephant game)  is always great because someone always brings one really goofy one and it gets passed around until the end.

I hope your town has a special Christmas lights area. I love seeing how much effort someone else put into their decorating. I always wonder where they keep it all.

I wish you all a great Christmas. Signing off for now,
PTVoice

Parenting and Scouting, Pop Tarts and Smiles

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The problem with being an A Type personality is it is next to impossible to just to a little of anything. My dad once bought 2 shopping carts full of Pop Tarts, because they were good. I have never bought 2 shopping carts of any one item, but, I find myself diving in head first and going full boar or not going at all. 

I have been consumed by my sons' Cub Scout Pack as of late. I shared on an earlier post how I was volunteered as a leader. I don't  mind. I like working with people and more importantly I want to see my son have a great experience as a Cub Scout. The former leader was a man of many words with little action. I know I can be a man of MANY words but, I hope I back them up with actions a plenty. 

I rechartered our pack. I attended the University of Scouting. I called a parents planning meeting. I sent out flyers to schools in the area (my wife actually did the bulk of the work, she's awesome). I am learning all the things we should of been doing. 

I am blessed to have some great parents in the Pack. Some are beginning to step up and help. And you know what? That really is what being a parent is all about, doing what you need to do so your child can have a great scouting experience. My philosophy of parent involvement is that if you want your child to enjoy something or be successful at it, it is up to you. I want my son to enjoy scouting, so I am doing what I need to do to make that happen. Now as an A Type personality, I have dove in and found myself knee deep in Cub Scouting and to be honest, I am having a great time. More importantly, my son is enjoying being  a Cub Scout too. Two weeks ago, one of the fathers, a member of the Coast Guard arranged for the pack to visit the hanger where the Coast Guard helicopters are housed and repaired. If you could of seen the smile on my sons face when he was being lifted up in the rescue basket and into the helicopter...I swear if he was eating cake the frosting would of been on his ears...that is what scouting is about. 

Just a Little Cannon Fire

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It has been a horrible time for Californians.
A foolish group of State legislatures who legislated over 1.2 million jobs out of California in the last 5 years alone.
A Democrat in Republican clothing of a Governor.
Next, a clueless populace that votes in the same group that put them into the mess they are in.
And we voted for a simple majority to eliminate the check and balance of legislature.
Schwarzenegger AND the legislature have been lame all around.



Until we have a President and a Congress that understands that America needs to produce products and that the governments jobs is to make that not only possible but probable, we will just become a has been nation.
Why is China doing well? Their government understands that to make money they must produce. And produce they do.
Who is lending to who?



After 22 years in education from Compton and Vernon to San Pedro, Elementary to High School, parents make the school. Yes, good teachers and administrators are helpful,but, if the parents are not insistent that their children succeed, educational success will just be a mirage. Parents must read with their children and monitor their school work.
My children attend a decent school district. The teachers are OK. But, it is still the parents that do what they must to ensure success, whether that means going over homework with their children or getting them a tutor.
Going charter will not change anything unless the parents change.



"We are looking at a $25-billion deficit," Leno said. "Voters need to understand what damage would be done if it were resolved with cuts alone."
Here we go my fellow Californians. Damage to what? The legislature moronic budgets that do nothing but create debt and drive businesses and jobs out of state?
Revenue for the state, less money in the taxpayers' pockets, the way of the liberal, that is Jerry's plan.



The La Habra teachers  are pretty gutsy striking in this political and financial climate.
They should take the furlough days but avoid the pay cuts and be very careful of the pay for "some of the health benefits" stuff.  
I went through a strike and pay cuts in LA. It took over ten year to get our pay back up to what it was before the cuts.
By-the-way, teachers salaries should make up the bulk of the budget because they do the work of teaching (a bit obvious).