tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59000392012-02-04T08:37:07.679-08:00An Enigma Wrapped Up In A TieBrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comBlogger14071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-35789850106701535822009-12-24T00:54:00.000-08:002009-12-24T01:07:29.924-08:00

It has been a long time since I have posted for a variety of reasons. For anyone still reading I am not only alive, but doing well!  I am in the final lap of my run for a doctorate degree, and if all goes well I should be done by this time next year. What  a ride that has been!I have had some setbacks, mostly related to nerve problems that have rendered my feet completely numb and often painful.

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-87385221924460789012009-05-25T20:46:00.001-07:002009-05-25T21:00:56.499-07:00

We made our annual visit to the cemetery today, visiting the graves of my father, grandparents, sister, and uncle. Three generations of my family are buried there. We paused at each one for awhile, and of course the memories flowed.So what was I thinking this Memorial Day?I miss them all, what each of them brought to my life. Of course, I miss them all the time, just not today. But today I make

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-66206317538872329972009-04-26T19:31:00.001-07:002009-04-26T19:31:53.056-07:00

*Cough* *Sneeze* It’s a little dusty in here! It has been too long since I posted.   Where to begin?   Much of the past couple of weeks has spent dealing with my mother’s hospitalization. It has been quite a ride.   Two weeks ago my mother called me and a minute into the conversation it was apparent that something wasn’t right. She wasn’t keeping up with the conversation and some of her

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-16918130768516893452009-03-15T22:04:00.000-07:002009-03-15T22:05:55.857-07:00

I read this article with fascination. Has it really been that long?   I purchased my first personal computer in 1996 for $2700. It was a sleek looking black ACER machine with a 28.8 modem, a 2 gig hard drive, and 128 mb of RAM. It wasn’t the top-of-the-line machine, but it was all I could afford at the time.   The internet was something wild and new back then. I had logged on a few times at

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-59278711127343360732009-02-22T20:36:00.001-08:002009-02-22T20:36:42.862-08:00

Wow….it has been too long since I last posted. Time has just flown by.   Things have been busy the past few weeks. I’ll just have time to write about a couple of them.   Aubree turned 14 years old this month. I know everyone says this about their kids, but where did the time go? It is hard to believe that she is turning into a young woman, complete with all the joys and issues that brings. I

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-4619609584029774922009-01-21T16:38:00.000-08:002009-01-21T16:41:32.672-08:00

and the poets dreamed.While watching an inaugural concert over the weekend I took special note of Garth Brooks’ rendition of  “American Pie”.  While I am not a big country music fan, Garth is a good Oklahoma guy and I thought he did a good job with this song as well as “Shout”. He is such a talent. It seems like forever ago when I saw him performing at a honky tonk in Stillwater, Oklahoma. But I

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-45809966659159767652008-12-31T15:02:00.000-08:002008-12-31T15:03:22.845-08:00

We chose not to go out for New Year’s Eve, staying home with the kids and babysitting the adorable Aidan so that his parents can have a night on the town. We have some yummy food, the Wii that the kids got for Christmas, and other things to keep us entertained. Speaking of the Wii, I’ve had quite the fun playing some of the games, especially “Aerosmith Guitar Hero”. Frustrated rock star and all

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-39064852139126609622008-12-25T00:31:00.000-08:002008-12-25T00:33:29.865-08:00

It is late and it is actually Christmas day and not Christmas Eve..but still.The stockings are full, the meal for tomorrow afternoon is made, the presents are wrapped, and Christmas is here.I love Christmas...always have. It is special in so many ways.To all who celebrate it with me...a soulful Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night! :)

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-15723469437895898522008-12-10T19:54:00.000-08:002008-12-11T05:18:40.132-08:00

Its midweek and my car was covered with a layer of ice yesterday. Winter is here. Brrrrr! I am late getting my Christmas shopping done this year. I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do, but just haven’t had the time to make it happen. There is a fine line between getting nice gifts for your kids and being overindulgent. My kids are doing quite well, have most of the techy things today’s

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-88453772782510179482008-11-26T16:48:00.000-08:002008-11-26T16:49:23.199-08:00

It is Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, and all is fine. This is of course the time of year when we are supposed to reflect on those things we are thankful for. I have so much that a complete list is a challenge. I have a wonderful wife and kids and a loving, supportive family. They are simply the best. Their love is life’s most precious gift. I have friends that enhance my life, help me

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-44686248231910884822008-11-12T17:02:00.000-08:002008-11-12T17:04:18.664-08:00

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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-32242284601659090362008-11-02T19:21:00.000-08:002008-11-03T05:05:26.542-08:00

My mom has been doing some fall cleaning. She absolutely insisted that I take a rather large stack of vinyl records out of her house. There is no telling how long she has had them. I can’t even remember the last time I saw them! I can’t even remember the last time I listened to music on a record player. Yet somehow, some way, my vinyl has survived all these years.How old are some of these records

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-50087195331278623202008-10-22T19:48:00.001-07:002008-10-22T19:48:56.848-07:00

It is midweek and cold breezes are blowing. It has rained for much of the day and cold winds are whipping around. Brrr!Terri made chicken noodle soup and chili to fit the weather. It hit the spot!Because of new state and federal initiatives our school no longer sells regular soda in the vending machines. The kids can buy diet soda, water, or juice. Its healthier and better for them…we all know

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-79748962870266314762008-10-08T21:51:00.001-07:002008-10-08T21:51:18.782-07:00

It is midweek and all is well!I am preparing to leave for Memphis on Friday to attend a conference. I will be driving myself and three teachers and the trip will take about six hours each way. The last time I was in Memphis was when we were running from Hurricane George! I’ve been to Graceland and don’t think I’ll be going back again on this trip. Hopefully we can find some good barbecue and some

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-87785331951449360622008-09-24T18:57:00.001-07:002008-09-24T18:57:33.182-07:00

It is midweek and things are going pretty darned well!We babysat little Aidan last weekend and it is amazing to see him grow and change so much in a matter of weeks. It has been a long time since I’ve had an infant around and it is very enjoyable. The little guy is spoiled and wants to be held all the time. Of course, many of us are guilty of doing the spoiling!The father of several of my

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-25136818087041065322008-09-10T18:56:00.000-07:002008-09-10T18:57:36.042-07:00

It is midweek and I just need to catch my breath. Busy times!This is perhaps the busiest time of year for me with all of the fall activities going on right now as well as college classwork.With what I spend for gas each week I wish that Ford would sell these in the U.S.Football season is in full swing. My beloved Dallas Cowboys won their first game in convincing fashion. I won’t get too excited

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-78350279190605348322008-08-27T20:54:00.000-07:002008-08-27T20:55:08.636-07:00

It is midweek and we have a new roof!The roofers are gone, the extra materials are stacked up outside, and the roof looks great. I wonder how many nails are hiding in the grass? We will rent a magnet and sweep the yard to try and pick them up.Our roof has a steep pitch and some funny angles. The roofing crew was overheard referring to it as the “nightmare roof”!Aubree was told she was being

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-60354175151217385182008-08-24T17:42:00.001-07:002008-08-24T17:42:31.333-07:00

It has not been the most restful weekend at our place. We had little Aidan for the weekend and apparently sleeping at night is not always his preference. During the day we had a crew putting a new roof on the house. Aaahh….the symphony of a crying baby, hissing air compressors, and the pounding of roofing hammers!I am somewhat blessed by being a sound sleeper. Terri is totally exhausted after

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-56242320565287556142008-08-20T18:04:00.001-07:002008-08-20T18:04:21.014-07:00

It is midweek and I think I’m ready for a weekend!I need to get back into “school shape”. My feet and ankles ache from walking up and down halls and stairs all day long! I enjoy my work but I feel it at the end of the day.Patrick and Aubree had their first day of school today. The word was that the first day went pretty well. Aubree doesn’t like her science teacher’s voice. Patrick thought things

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-46346589204502713272008-08-12T16:55:00.000-07:002008-08-12T16:56:08.061-07:00

Whew! School is back in session. Over 1300 hormonally charged teenagers are swarming up and down the hallways of our school. Most of them are even going to class! I have been inundated with kids who need schedules and those who want schedule changes. Our freshmen are still trying to find their classes and get there on time. I wouldn’t describe it as chaos, but it isn’t exactly a finely tuned

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-2201102280706648752008-08-06T20:36:00.001-07:002008-08-06T20:36:58.636-07:00

It is midweek and I’ve been a very busy guy.With school starting in a few days there are seemingly a million things to do to get the school ready to go. This is the school administrator pre-game prep for the opening kickoff. Rooms? Textbooks? Schedules? Everything needs to be ready to go.Of course you never get to finish what you think you will. People call and come by. Other things pop up. I

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-67705873770132901292008-07-27T08:11:00.000-07:002008-07-27T08:12:58.099-07:00

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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-38208965284108642242008-07-23T22:37:00.000-07:002008-07-23T22:40:32.307-07:00

It is midweek of the last week of my vacation. Can you believe it? I can’t.I took Aubree and her friend to see “Mamma Mia”. They really enjoyed the first part of the film but at one point she turned to me and asked, “Dad, do they HAVE to sing every five minutes?” “Well, it is a musical you know” “That doesn’t mean they have to sing ALL the time!”For some reason it reminded me of the very short

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-59635744543640534712008-07-20T20:45:00.000-07:002008-07-20T20:46:59.590-07:00

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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-59905105675101618122008-07-13T10:28:00.000-07:002008-07-13T14:19:45.222-07:00

I’m back from five days in Nashville!Where to begin?Working in public education has few perks, but one of them is the occasional chance to travel and stay in places you probably couldn’t afford on your own. The Gaylord Convention Center is a beautiful facility with huge lush courtyards.It had to be huge to handle the 7500 people that attended the convention. We spent several days attending

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-3931663453463293512008-07-04T11:45:00.000-07:002008-07-04T11:46:45.716-07:00

For the past few days I have been watching the H.B.O. miniseries “John Adams”. I had tried to watch it when it first premiered, but was unable to. With DVDs in hand I settled down to check it out. I am a history teacher, so I knew the people and the events that were referenced. Still, it is something different to see historical events re-enacted and to get a feel for the people involved, their

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-9619793466992266232008-07-02T18:56:00.001-07:002008-07-03T11:10:42.404-07:00

It is midweek and all is well! Next week I leave for my trip to Nashville while Aubree will be at church camp during the same time period. I’m sure both of us will have a good time. The last time I went to Nashville was also with a group of teachers. We struck up a conversation with a limo driver at the airport. I think he took a fancy to one of the women in our group, because he

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-4153259606932165012008-06-28T22:03:00.000-07:002008-06-28T22:05:09.680-07:00

A most incredible story has unfolded here in the past few days. A local high school teacher and coach has been arrested for the murder of his wife.The story is incredible and very sad. Here is a summary:1) The police are called to John’s house in the wee hours of the morning. His wife is laying in bed with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. He has a gunshot wound to his middle finger.2) He

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-14305622485724610682008-06-25T20:03:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:15:45.909-08:00

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Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-36141540657008458002008-06-22T21:56:00.000-07:002008-06-23T09:25:31.124-07:00

I actually had a serious post on education written, but I think I'll save it for another day. Terri and I were talking and somehow the conversation came around to one of my favorite shows, "Cheers".I loved "Cheers", one of the great ensemble sitcoms of all time. I loved the "Cliff" character. Who among us has not known a Cliff in their life? The know-it-all who seems to have an endless barrage of

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-60695934302872052682008-06-18T18:42:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:15:46.379-08:00

It is midweek and it seems to be raining around here…both raindrops and babies! Last week Terri’s close friend gave birth to her first child. Today it was her son’s girlfriend! The birth of Aidan Paul makes Terri a grandmother and me…gulp…yes, that would make me that “g” word. No worries. I can handle it. He is a very handsome boy who weighed 6 lbs 7 oz and was as good natured as a newborn

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-14481014909891278322008-06-15T08:07:00.000-07:002008-06-15T08:08:36.115-07:00

I miss my dad….and it is Father’s Day. It is also my birthday. How lucky am I? I was thinking about him Friday. I moved offices within the building and was unpacking my things. I have several of his things scattered around my office. A wooden paddle with his name (and mine) painted on it, given to him by a senior class when he was teaching. A golden clock purchased in Europe. A lettermen’s

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-20434582041816489502008-06-11T18:29:00.000-07:002008-06-11T18:30:23.416-07:00

It is midweek and my summer vacation (such as it is) will start in a couple of days. Of course, several weekends during that time will be taken up by classes. Still, I should find a little time to rest and recharge my batteries for a few weeks. I’m excited to be going to Nashville for a conference in a few weeks. I haven’t been there in many years and I’m sure we will find some fun things to

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-30849849030367834312008-06-04T17:13:00.001-07:002008-06-04T17:13:27.446-07:00

It is midweek, windy and balmy in good ole Oklahoma. Thus was not the case a few days ago when a hailstorm left my yard covered in white chunks of hail. There aren’t very many cars around here without the tell-tale dings from recent hailstorms. School is out and the kids are still in England. It is quite at work. It is quite at home. Its just….quiet! I actually sit down in my office to do

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-89508921860410660552008-05-26T07:38:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:15:46.532-08:00

I attended our school’s graduation on Saturday evening. I sat on stage and listened to the short speeches by the valedictorian and salutatorian and other speakers. Then I stood at the bottom of the stairs and shook hands or hugged each one after they received their diploma. Actually, part of my role was to catch them if they fell down the stairs. Thankfully, no one did, even though a couple of

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-23573469532398909282008-05-22T19:29:00.000-07:002008-05-22T19:30:30.985-07:00

It is the day after midweek and all is well. We have four school days left. Ever tried to keep over 1000 teenagers calm when they know summer break is near? The filming at school appears to be going well. I’ve generally been avoiding the cameras although the producers are very nice people. Thomai asked in comments on the previous posts about using minors on TV. They have an eight page

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-56964260123358142122008-05-17T13:28:00.000-07:002008-05-17T13:29:33.644-07:00

A cable network I had never heard of will be at my school next week to film a reality episode of what it is like in the principal’s office. My boss has been instructed to wear the same shirt all week, because they are filming five days and condensing it to look like one day. Other than that, I don’t know much about how it will work. They obviously think there is some public interest about what

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-87853011218564464762008-05-11T14:09:00.001-07:002008-05-11T14:09:56.169-07:00

A few thoughts about moms: Mom was right most of the time. The times she wasn’t right did matter very much. You can’t really fool your mother. You may think you can, but it isn’t true. She knows. Being a mom doesn’t end at 18. It doesn’t really ever end. Mom often goes under-appreciated. We give her a day to honor her but it isn’t enoughStill, its better than nothing.

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-75082242660678213712008-05-07T18:53:00.000-07:002008-05-07T18:54:27.458-07:00

It is midweek and it feels like we might wash away. Thunderstorms have been lighting up the sky and the rain has been pouring down here. We went to visit my grandmother in the hospital tonight. She was not doing well earlier in the day, but rallied by the time we arrived. She and Aubree have always had a special bond and she was thrilled when Aubree came into the room. I pray she finds the

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-16680003136631386792008-04-30T18:50:00.001-07:002008-04-30T18:50:47.823-07:00

It is midweek and I thought I was going to blow away today. So windy! I don’t know what is in the air, but the kids at school have been acting up a lot the past couple of weeks. We’ve had more fights in that time than any time all year. I don’t quite understand why we have “End of Instruction” tests in April. When we are done testing there is still a month of school left. “End of

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-54423171511517310942008-04-26T20:11:00.001-07:002008-12-09T05:15:47.919-08:00

I spent last night helping supervise my school’s prom. Held at a historic downtown hotel, the decorations were beautiful, and of course the kids showed up in fine style. Most of them stayed for the entire evening and it sure looked like everyone was having a good time. I stood outside for much of the night, making sure that none of them dipped into that six pack they had in the trunk of their

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-35528016206211946032008-04-23T16:46:00.001-07:002008-04-23T16:46:50.579-07:00

It is midweek and spring has sprung! It has been beautiful outside the past few days. Today is Patrick’s birthday and he is sixteen years old! He is celebrating by going to a movie tonight. His birthday present from me? A trip to the hardware store where he can buy parts for his “creations”. Hide your hacksaws and utility knives. Patrick is on the move! I still haven’t found my ring but

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-80997447069382299212008-04-16T17:21:00.000-07:002008-04-16T17:22:08.526-07:00

It is midweek and well…..I’ve probably had better weeks! Both kids, an hour or two apart, woke up in the middle of the night and threw up. Terri also felt very queasy. I ate the same things they did but had no problems. It does make you wonder. I did feel sick in a different way however. Somehow….I don’t know how, I lost my wedding ring. I’ve never taken it all the way off since I slid it

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-31649177558164179442008-04-09T16:48:00.000-07:002008-04-09T16:49:31.594-07:00

It is midweek and I hear the thunder rolling. It is storm season in Oklahoma and there are severe storm alerts for this area tonight. I actually kind of enjoy the storms unless they are knocking out my electricity, dropping golf ball sized hail on my car, or threatening to blow my house away. Patrick is due to compete in the regional Special Olympics this Saturday. This is something that he

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-91632335783952005872008-04-02T17:13:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:15:48.223-08:00

It is midweek and this is one of those crazy weeks. Study session with classmates on Monday night. Parent-teacher evening conferences on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Class on Friday night. This is the only night this week where I’m home at the regular time. No complaints though….I did sign up for this! One area where schools are often behind in policy making is in technology. YouTube,

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-52848793064284146712008-03-26T18:31:00.000-07:002008-03-26T18:32:33.159-07:00

It is midweek and life is returning to a normal ebb and flow. I’m back at work and gearing up for April Madness, the round of state tests that are given next month. I don’t know if anyone can appreciate the logistics of giving many hundreds of tests to students while other students are not testing. Everything has to be exactly right, every test has to be accounted for, all students have to be

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-29148147223873843092008-03-20T10:06:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:15:48.884-08:00

Home sweet home! We are back from our most excellent Vegas adventure. I would love to share some of the details of our trip. We flew out of Tulsa early Monday afternoon. On the way to the airport we stopped and purchased a few toiletries, including a large bottle of Listerine. We got in line at the United Airlines desk where we were instructed to check ourselves in using the automated system.

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-49214424756193842032008-03-15T20:00:00.000-07:002008-03-15T20:03:39.427-07:00

Yes, I’m going to do it again. Terri and I plan to get married during our trip to Las Vegas next week. I really wasn’t sure I would ever get to this point again. There were many times in the past few years where I told myself I was done with the marriage thing. Marriage hasn’t been very good to me and I probably haven’t been all that good to it either. When you’ve been married twice only to

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-12450523942497247102008-03-12T19:19:00.000-07:002008-03-12T19:20:01.172-07:00

It is midweek and ….Spring Break is only two short days away! In the meantime there are still two more days of work. High school right before spring break….you gotta love it! I note the resignation of New York’s governor, the latest in many men to give up their career for a little fun on the side. For $1000 an hour it had better be fun. I suppose he thought he could get by with it, and

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-86632894563737111332008-03-06T20:51:00.001-08:002008-03-06T20:51:55.327-08:00

It isn’t really midweek and I can live with that. That just means tomorrow is Friday and I am ready for a weekend! It also means that as of tomorrow there is only one week until spring break! Terri and I leave for Vegas a week from Monday! These days spring break means a week off before……testing! Much of the month of April will be spent giving state mandated tests. If all goes well the

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-45290402133975142222008-02-29T23:21:00.000-08:002008-02-29T23:22:53.499-08:00

The latest reality TV rage is “Moment of Truth”, a show in which you win money by answering questions truthfully. In the video Lauren reveals infidelity and a preference for her old flame, answering truthfully and moving closer to big money. But she answered affirmatively to the question, “are you a good person?”, an answer that the lie detector found her to be untruthful on. Now it looks as if

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-63005053280745942772008-02-27T17:57:00.000-08:002008-02-27T17:58:28.125-08:00

It is midweek and I can’t believe it has been a week since I blogged. Aubree has a school dance this Friday, the only middle school dance of the year. Of course she thinks this means new clothes. After some discussion I think it now means just new shoes. It’s a middle school dance! It lasts for two hours! You don’t need a new outfit just for that! There have been a number of stories in the

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-37982542846139744182008-02-20T18:46:00.000-08:002008-02-20T18:47:20.072-08:00

It is midweek and…..brrrr! A cold wind is blowing and freezing rain/sleet is in the forecast. As long as there is no repeat of the ice storm I can live with it. I will be attending a national conference in Nashville this July. I haven’t been there in many years. The conference is supposed to be an excellent one and I am very much looking forward to the trip. Speaking of trips…why am I

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-33654341436795345492008-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:002008-02-17T19:02:06.887-08:00

In this article in the current edition of Atlantic Monthly the author makes the case for “settling”, giving up on the idea of the perfect man and marrying someone who does not measure up to your previous ideals. She looks at herself and many of her friends and decides that they would have been better off marrying Prince less-than-charming than potentially being alone for the rest of their lives.

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-75937096652827447352008-02-13T18:31:00.000-08:002008-02-13T18:32:13.637-08:00

Midweek? This is one of those slooowwww moving weeks. I got to work this morning and a student was waiting at my door. She said, “I need to talk to you.” I unlocked my door, we both sat down, and I looked at her, raised my eyebrows, and said, “yes?.....” “ I haven’t had my period in a long time. I think I’m pregnant”. “I see. Have you talked to anyone else about this?” “ No.” “Don’t you

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-33980224637819991622008-02-10T08:11:00.000-08:002008-12-09T05:15:50.025-08:00

I was taking Aubree out to spend a night with a friend last weekend. The drive took us past a large colonial house, one that we have been past many times, one that I know well. On the drive back I slowed down as I drove past and I thought back. Thirty years ago I stood in that circle drive with my dad looking at a light blue pickup. The truck’s owner was someone known to us, someone who attended

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-56384639524603822642008-02-06T18:15:00.000-08:002008-02-06T18:16:10.015-08:00

It is midweek and I had to remind myself what day it was. Whew! I accompanied one of our classes on a tour of the local jail. This facility is the size of a large shopping mall, long white hallways with pods. There are no bars to be found anywhere. The pods look like dormitory rooms, with bunk beds, dressers, and common eating and bathroom areas. The deputy explained to us that prisoners were

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-55649214103195525162008-02-03T11:20:00.000-08:002008-12-09T05:15:50.167-08:00

The day has finally come. Aubree is officially a teenager. Of course, she has been thinking she is one for some time now, but today it is official.The little girl I could once hold in one hand is now...gulp...a teenager.The accompanying picture is of her celebrating with birthday money. She definitely knows what to do with that.Happy birthday sweetie!

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-48410682344159893292008-01-30T17:59:00.000-08:002008-01-30T18:00:10.839-08:00

It is midweek and it has been quite a ride. We buried my uncle yesterday, on a sunny day with bitterly cold high winds. The service was nice and tasteful, the minister telling stories about Jimmy gathered from family and friends. The thing that really touched me was a letter he had written a couple of years ago to the family of the person who donated the kidney for his transplant. He wrote

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-84504318794672707272008-01-27T20:06:00.000-08:002008-01-27T20:18:42.533-08:00

Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers regarding my uncle Jimmy. I am saddened to note that he passed away yesterday morning.I remember Jimmy in his 20's getting married and settling down in his job. When my family moved to a larger home during my 4th grade year he bought our old house. I had written, "this was Brian's room" on the wall inside the closet, just above the door and out of sight

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-52428408720980504602008-01-24T21:22:00.000-08:002008-01-24T21:48:20.884-08:00

Aubree turns thirteen shortly and she is dead in the middle of that part little girl/part teenager phase, leaning toward the teenager part more all the time. With that comes all of the growing pains that go with becoming a young woman. Navigating the parenting shoals in these choppy waters is a new task for me. Sure, I can do it with other people's kids at work, but when it is your own it is

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-41918954105696734702008-01-23T16:54:00.000-08:002008-01-23T16:55:28.458-08:00

It is midweek and these three day weekends always throw me off. I’ve been reading about “stimulus packages” designed to jump-start the economy. The government wants to put money in people’s pockets, have them spend it, and keep the economy rolling. Great idea. Of course, if they want to make sure it is effective they will mail those $800 checks to middle school girls around the country. I can

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-87939333461886743712008-01-21T10:09:00.000-08:002008-01-21T10:10:56.808-08:00

Its been all over the television, the grainy black and white footage of Martin Luther King Jr.’s voice echoing across the mall in Washington, D.C. “I have a dream today”, his voice thunders, calling forth a generation to put an end to the odious practices of denying many Americans their basic civil rights. We’ve all heard it so many times and it is important that we did. The smallest children in

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-32885770703838296652008-01-16T18:33:00.000-08:002008-01-16T18:37:41.759-08:00

It is midweek and it doesn’t seem like. The week is draaaggging along. Thanks to all of you who responded to the previous post. My uncle is doing better, is off the respirator, and his prognosis is much improved. The doctors think they have isolated the infection and he is getting stronger. Is it already time to get ready for Special Olympics? Patrick brought home the permission slip

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-66203129374407465532008-01-14T16:05:00.000-08:002008-01-14T16:06:16.441-08:00

Many of us have a favorite uncle, aunt, grandparent, cousin, etc. Right at the top of the list would be my uncle Jimmy, my mom’s younger brother. A soft-spoken genial man, a sports fanatic, a hard-working guy, and a genuinely nice human being, I always liked being in the presence of my uncle. Jimmy is slight in build, has curly hair, and wears thick glasses. He has a college degree in

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-10733930021892742432008-01-09T16:45:00.000-08:002008-01-09T16:46:28.248-08:00

Its midweek and all is well! I took note of this story which reported high school students in Texas being suspended for refusing to cut their hair. School dress codes are a controversial and evolving issue. My district has no policy regarding the length of student hair. For this I am glad because it would be something of a pain to enforce and I don’t see the point. Make me king and I would

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-75474721726069890922008-01-06T18:53:00.000-08:002008-01-06T18:54:56.659-08:00

I watched a certain political candidate give a victory speech in Iowa, a speech which focused on unifying the country. He appealed to the idea that there are no red states, no blue ones, only American states and the people, and that a political leader should seek to unify the people behind common interests and a higher purpose. This kind of rhetoric is appealing to me because I believe much is

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-30624188059454481322008-01-02T13:54:00.000-08:002008-01-02T13:55:01.309-08:00

It is midweek and it is time to go back to work. The kids and I return to school tomorrow. I think I’m ready. There is only so much hanging around the house a guy wants to do. I’m typing this while viewing it on my big Christmas present, a spiffy 22’ monitor that Terri gifted me. I LOVE this monitor! Of course it is only fair that she will probably read this on her big Christmas present, a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-33016510020387588082007-12-31T15:49:00.001-08:002007-12-31T15:49:48.817-08:00

There is something to be said for this concept of a year, the idea of a new period of time to work with every 365 days. It comes along often enough to be meaningful, not so often as to be repetitive, and at a time when we are celebrating another major holiday. A new year. A new beginning. Another chance. Time for reaffirming what is right. Time for changing what is wrong. Time to glance

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-25792488465955368862007-12-28T22:55:00.000-08:002007-12-28T22:57:50.199-08:00

Although you can’t always tell it from this blog, I am something of an avid observer of politics and world events. I was saddened by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the past and possible future prime minister of Pakistan. It is a stark reminder of the harsh world out there, what some are willing to do to someone with a different opinion, and devastating news for a country whose stability has

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-55976334690897048782007-12-25T05:44:00.000-08:002008-12-09T05:15:50.624-08:00

Guess who is awake before anyone else in the house? Guess who just went and looked at everyone peacefully sleeping? The coffee is brewing and I await everyone else waking up to join the fun. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!The lyrics to this song struck me as we enjoyed our Christmas morning. My Grown Up Christmas ListDo you remember meI sat upon your kneeI wrote to youWith

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-32186811051733865732007-12-23T19:56:00.000-08:002007-12-23T20:11:37.105-08:00

A few pre-Christmas thoughts: I like buying gifts a lot better than I like wrapping them. Actually, I don’t mind wrapping them as long as they are fairly rectangular. But many things are packaged in those funky plastic enclosures with protrusions sticking out here and empty spaces over there. It makes them frustrating to wrap and it looks like crap no matter what you do. Well, no matter

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-52717744236673612122007-12-19T19:50:00.000-08:002007-12-19T19:51:21.350-08:00

It is midweek and things are slowly starting to return to normalcy around here. The number of people without power in this area is down to four digit numbers. Two of my co-workers finally got their power back on yesterday. Generators are selling briskly now. The questions is….how often would you use it? We don’t have ice storms like this every year or even every ten years. I still have a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-48053148609101202052007-12-16T21:25:00.000-08:002007-12-16T21:29:19.920-08:00

I didn't send one out, but if I had it would've read something like this: Dear Friends and Family, This time of year always makes one reflect on the events of the past year and on what our friends and family mean to us. Reflection is something we often do not have time for in our busy lives, something that slides to the back burner, simmering and waiting for us to get around to it. Our

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-42597496704000562852007-12-12T11:34:00.001-08:002008-12-09T05:15:50.903-08:00

It is midweek and we are digging out from ice damage.This is my front yard.This is my front yard on ice.That tree has been there for a very long time. It split like a matchstick under the weight of the ice.There was no school today for me or for the kids. The roads are clear but much of the surrounding area is without power. If you don't have power you can't have school. If trees are blocking the

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-75088741888668126912007-12-11T13:09:00.000-08:002007-12-11T13:10:50.446-08:00

Our power went out yesterday at about 5:00 p.m. and was restored around noon today. We are fortunate. Hundreds of thousands of people in this area are without power as I type these words. The temperatures are not severe, but there are still many risks out there. The danger on the roads is not ice but fallen tree branches and electrical lines. They are everywhere. We did fine during our

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-21339473709268389622007-12-09T17:04:00.000-08:002008-12-09T05:15:51.170-08:00

We are in the midst of a winter ice storm, with icy streets and accumulations of ice on trees, power lines, and roofs. Many area school districts have already cancelled classes for tomorrow (although, not my school or that of my kids!). Thousands have been left without power and treacherous conditions can be found throughout the area. So far we are all safe, warm, and sound. This is the first

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-87580879367171623282007-12-05T18:51:00.000-08:002007-12-05T18:52:07.702-08:00

It is midweek and I’m ready for the weekend! With the high school football season over for a week it is time for basketball. We opened up with wins last night in our first game. Both teams are highly ranked and it should be a fun year of hoops. Of course, for school administrators basketball season means a lot of nights away from home. I enjoy supporting the kids and watching the games but

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-65839954965418606052007-12-03T16:59:00.000-08:002007-12-03T17:00:09.369-08:00

The case of Megan, a 13 year old girl who committed suicide after being dumped by an online “boyfriend” is a sad and familiar one. They My Space boyfriend turned out to be a creation of another girls’ mother who created the character to find out what Megan was “saying about her daughter”. She created the boy to woo Megan, gain her confidence, and then find out what she was saying. Then the “

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-46409379444808287362007-11-28T17:48:00.000-08:002007-11-28T17:49:18.603-08:00

It is midweek and it sure doesn’t seem like it! The newest member of our household, Aubree’s ferret “Trish”, seems to have settled in nicely. The little creature is very curious and wants to look in every nook and cranny. Aubree has become more comfortable with her and is really enjoying her company. Ordering stuff online is easy. Making sure the kids don’t open the packages? A little more

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-79046245889205385932007-11-24T20:44:00.000-08:002007-11-24T20:46:51.958-08:00

We shivered and shivered some more, watching our team lose in the state quarterfinals to a very fine team, led by one of the highest recruited high school football players in the nation. Our kids played hard but were clearly outplayed by the other guys. This is how it goes. Someone has to lose and go home, while someone else gets to play for the state title. I walked the sidelines after the

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-46875134783448390312007-11-21T17:37:00.001-08:002007-11-21T17:37:38.092-08:00

It is midweek and Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow. I always enjoy Thanksgiving! Christmas has come early to Aubree this year due to a variety of factors. She is now the proud owner of a ferret! She has wanted another pet for a long time now and this seems to be one that fits with our household requirements and the sensibilities of the members therein. There is just one problem. She is still

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-44314855767189751822007-11-18T09:16:00.000-08:002007-11-18T09:17:29.949-08:00

It is that time of year again. I would enjoy exchanging holiday cards with those of you who would like to participate. I have done this for several years now and I enjoy both sending and receiving cards! If you are interested, please email me your physical address and I will send you mine. Lets spread some holiday cheer around!

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-67018684246091055062007-11-14T20:00:00.001-08:002007-11-14T20:00:46.152-08:00

It is midweek and it sure doesn’t seem like it! There must be something in the air. We have had a lot of student behavior issues to contend with the past few days. These things tend to come and go in spurts. It will be calm for awhile and then there will be a torrent of contentious issues to deal with. This was one of those weeks to deal with contentious issues. My uncle recently underwent

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-59888548752762150712007-11-11T21:27:00.000-08:002008-12-09T05:15:51.428-08:00

Later this week the state of Oklahoma celebrates its 100th anniversary of statehood. When I taught Oklahoma history I talked to students of the major events that shaped the destiny of our state…..Spanish exploration, Lewis & Clark, the Louisiana Purchase, the Trail of Tears, the creation of Indian Territory, the Five Civilized Tribes and their settlement in this land, the Civil War, the land

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-74549913993980376622007-11-07T16:48:00.001-08:002007-11-07T16:48:41.139-08:00

It is midweek and cool winds are blowing. We had our first frost this morning and the days are crisp and cool. The cold weather seems to send rodents running for cover. Terri found a mouse in the dishwasher and her voice could be heard throughout the house! We have mouse poison out and occasionally will come across one…just not in the dishwasher! Aubree is going on a church youth retreat

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-55628157906683472552007-11-05T16:16:00.000-08:002007-11-05T16:17:17.834-08:00

There has been much in the news recently about Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and the arrest and conviction of his adult sons on drug charges. The judge leveled some criticism at Reid for allowing such activity to go on in his home and under his nose. I don’t know if Andy Reid is a good or bad parent but I do know that this is a struggle for many parents out there. Mr. Reid is a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-53373596759977208882007-10-31T17:09:00.000-07:002008-12-09T05:15:51.623-08:00

It is midweek and it is Halloween! Scary eh? I think Aubree is forgoing her planned trip to France in order to visit her mother in England instead. She wants to go to Paris, but not at the expense of not visiting her mom in England. So it looks like she and Patrick will be flying to England this summer. The challenge? Finding a nonstop flight to London that originates somewhere within a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-84010811359530120412007-10-28T18:46:00.000-07:002007-10-28T18:47:20.613-07:00

I spent most of the afternoon today listening to an attorney discuss how to fire school employees without getting into trouble. I have heard all of this before, but a refresher in school law never hurt anyone! Firing a teacher or even a bus driver can be tricky and you can mess yourself up if you are not careful. Hopefully this is something I will rarely have to do, but you never know! The

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-61633782744487668232007-10-24T19:03:00.001-07:002007-10-24T19:03:58.658-07:00

It is midweek and the weather is changing. It has been cooling down and fall weather is upon us. A couple of days ago it was rainy and cold. There is definitely a chill in the air just in time for Halloween and the end of football season! I start my next class this weekend. The subject? Personnel administration. I do have a lot of personnel to administrate. Even with teacher evaluations

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-69367516177569746182007-10-20T20:45:00.001-07:002007-10-20T20:45:39.416-07:00

I decided to take a mini-vacation, combining fall break with this weekend. The four of us piled in my little car and drove south, the kids not knowing where we were headed. I kept it a mystery to them, something that drove them crazy! We headed south and stopped by Robber’s Cave, somewhere I have been many times but the kids have never visited. Aubree loved climbing the rocks and squeezing

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-34262132067558124692007-10-16T19:00:00.001-07:002007-10-16T19:00:54.188-07:00

A local lawsuit which has grown into a national story contains allegations of impropriety against Oral Roberts University president Richard Roberts and his wife. The allegations range from using university funds for their daughter’s senior trip on a private plane, to extensive home remodeling, lavish clothing purchases, and other financial improprieties at university and ministry expense, to

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-2178720384188818662007-10-14T07:19:00.000-07:002007-10-14T07:20:08.969-07:00

I am embarrassed to say how long it has been since I took Terri out for a “date night”. Despite both of us acknowledging how important such nights are, a combination of my weekend classes, school events, fatigue, child care, and just plain laziness have kept us from spending much time out of the house and away from the kids. We had to make up for some lost time last night! We decided to spend

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-90324534050445738792007-10-10T18:56:00.001-07:002007-10-10T18:56:39.021-07:00

It is midweek and the winds of autumn are blowing. The mornings have been cool here and the afternoons have been beautiful. I so enjoy this time of year. I have spent the past two weeks working on my school’s “Site Improvement Plan”. I could’ve made this a lot easier on myself, but perfectionist that I am; I want it to be just exactly right. I’m a little bleary eyed from writing goals

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-78615397021261537872007-10-06T21:48:00.000-07:002007-10-07T20:21:20.572-07:00

The 2007 Okie Blogger Award winners were announced this evening and I am humbled to be among the selections. Stop by and check out the entire list here.Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, and a special thanks to Mike at Okie Doke who gives of his time each year to coordinate these awards on behalf of all Oklahoma bloggers. I am proud of the community of bloggers in this state which

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-29870940886262147692007-10-05T22:28:00.000-07:002007-10-05T22:35:23.558-07:00

I received word that one of my students from last year was killed in a drive-by shooting. This saddened me a great deal as I knew this young man quite well and had frequent conversations with him. He wasn’t a bad kid, but he lived in a bad situation and spent way too much time on the streets. There was always an argument, a grudge, something going on, and he lived by that creed. It is such a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-41403332182335307662007-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:002007-10-03T18:52:57.895-07:00

It is midweek and we’re just rolling along. I attempted to mow my lawn this past weekend, but the deck drive belt was damaged and needed to be replaced. I visited three stores here in my little hamlet in search of a belt. None of them had it. I ended up having to order it directly from the manufacturer. Luckily, one of my brothers came by and mowed right before the big rainstorm last night.

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-63120829545886163612007-09-30T17:43:00.000-07:002007-09-30T17:44:35.458-07:00

I woke up Friday morning a little under the weather and suffered through a day of sneezing and coughing. As a result I did not feel like going to the fair as planned. Too bad…I was looking forward to it and really wanted to see Kansas in concert. Alas, this was not to be. Perhaps my favorite Kansas song is the tune “Hold On”. I listened to this song quite a bit in the past few years. It is a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-31681139052033405042007-09-29T20:13:00.000-07:002007-09-29T20:14:24.407-07:00

I was chatting with a police officer the other day, and she mentioned that the police department would soon send officers to training to learn to deal with a terrorist attack on a school. Most police training now is focused on a crazed shooter (student or non-student) who just walks around blasting away at random. What if there was a meticulously planned, methodical, terrorist takeover of a

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5900039.post-14482407701000927562007-09-26T18:06:00.000-07:002007-09-26T18:07:16.278-07:00

It is midweek and the world continues to turn. It is that time of year. The state fair is town and of course my kids are raring to go. Ok, maybe I’m raring to go as well. In spite of the parking and the crowds, I enjoy the fair. I’ve always liked the thrill rides. I like whatever the food is on a stick. I enjoy looking at all the exhibits. I also like the idea of seeing Kansas Friday night,

Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16987036519898152355noreply@blogger.com