Friday, May 30, 2008

Boys Night Out - Captain Morgan gets a promotion

Boys night out. Yes, ladies and gentlemen it happened. Me and a couple of friends went out for a little fishing and some fellowship. You know the catch fish and tell lies about the amount and size of the fish.

We then went to a local watering hole for some appetizer's and a few frosty adult beverages and some pool playing. Just goofing around with the boys.

Actually we had enough beverages to get Captain Morgan a promotion to Admiral. (For those worrying we did the responsible thing.) Before we went out we set up transportation home. Yep! doesn't sound like the days of the wild and crazy guys. More like dads with responsibility, spouses, and little ones.



We are looking forward to the next decade when all of the calendars, events, and permissions line up so we can play again.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Memorial Day and The National Moment of Rememberance





Today is a special day in America’s culture. For many it is seen as a long three day weekend, to some it is the unofficial start to the summer season, to the fashion conscience this is the day you can begin to wear white shoes again. For others today is the opening of pools, parks, barbeques, and too many school kids the last big push before school ends. However, Memorial Day has a different origin and it wasn’t even an official National holiday until May of 1971. (In preparing the post I learned we can’t really agree on where it started and who did it.) The National Moment of Remembrance was added in 2000. Today is Memorial Day and the time for the National Moment of Remembrance.

To understand the purpose of this day you have to go back in history to when this country was divided not by Red and Blue states but Blue and Gray states. Originally celebrated as Decoration Day, as ordered by, Union General John A. Logan. (General Order No. 11) in 1868, a Blue state resident, paraphrasing his order; a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service and the widow and orphan of the deceased.

As mentioned before there is some disagreement in the historical origin of this day since the female residents of the Gray states have historical proof that without needing official prompting they were already performing such remembrances during and after the “War Between the States.” As usual the Blue states take credit for the work of the Gray. (Look, history is again repeating itself)

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The ultimate purpose of the day is to set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.
Please take time as you go about your day to honor and remember those who have given so much, paying the ultimate price. Take time to remember those who have fallen and the families and children that are without that member of their family. Remember, these people who gave so that we can have the freedom, liberty and independence each and every day.
Join me in remembering and honoring them at 3:00 p.m. today!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

School is out for Summer

Yep, it has happened in our neighborhood. The school year has ended! Final exams have been completed, awards presented, and report cards have been filled in and distributed. We have three kids moving on to the next grade. Two with straight A's and one A & B honor roll. (Applause, these are grades I didn't see often as a kid.)

Congratulations to the kids and Lieber for all of the hard work for the year. When the report cards came in Lieber was all excited because she works hard to make sure the kids are prepared for school. She has taught them all how to prepare and study. I always joke that going through the grades the second or third time through each child makes the work easier! This draws a laugh and a look.

I asked the kids their plans for the summer. Having some fun I asked about Math Camp, the reading lists that would be consumed, what would be done too keep the mental muscles in tone over the summer. The responses were both fun and a learning experience for me. Our eldest wants to travel and go places. Boodles just wants to hang out and my son really does want to go to Math camp. He likes Math so much he wants to study it, alot, even on Summer vacation! (Where did these kids come from? I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything in the world. But, study math on summer vacation?

I'm thinking let the sleeping in begin. You would think?! But, nope. The same kids that can't get out of bed in the morning to get ready for school and catch the bus without some prompting....are up at the butt crack of dawn. (This I do understand. I use to do the same thing.)

There will be summer program, a neat session held by the schools to encourage kids life long learning. This runs for a couple of weeks. For each day the kids don't miss at the end of the week they are paid $5.00. Then at the end of the program they have a chance to win bigger prizes. Where was this when I was a kid?

There will be travels, friends, Vacation Bible School, and sporting events. In between all of this we will try and squeeze in some family time and relaxation. But, yes, School is out for the summer! (Starting next week we will begin counting the days till it starts again!)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A Degree of Rhymes




Yes, Sam I am, Graduate I can. In a gown without a frown. Play my music sing on key that's the plan. Watch me graduate, yes I can. Princess Dabba has graduated from Mom's Day out to Kindergarten.
She was beautiful. Can you see the proud parents? It was fun to see the dress rehearsal for high school, college, and medical school. She announced when she grows up she wants to be a doctor.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Big Brown Goes for a Big Run!

Borrowing a line from a well known package and logistic company, “What can Brown do for you?” The answer,..Big Brown, can run like a scalded dog.

Big Brown is the name of the horse that was draped with the blanket of Black-Eyed Susan’s in the State of Maryland on Saturday afternoon for winning the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes. The horse race of a mile and three sixteenths run annually on the 3rd Saturday of May in Baltimore, Maryland.

The owner and trainer received the Woodlawn Vase, from Maryland Governor O’Malley, for winning The Preakness Stakes. The best political line of the year came from the Governor as he presented the trophy. “I’m a Big Brown fan.” An easy call after the horse runs the race.huh Governor? Being fair and balanced the horse, the owner and the jockey are all from Maryland so the Governor was genuine in his excitement.

Big Brown ran a great race. It was great to watch a talented athlete go for a run, then a jog, then a high step across the finish line. There appears to be plenty of run in that horse based upon the performance today.

The excitement around Big Brown is that there just might be a chance for a winner of the Triple Crown. The name triple-crown, wins three major races or crowns, The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three has a guaranteed bonus for the owner, trainer and jockey. Affirmed was the most recent Triple Crown winner when he completed the sweep in 1978. That is 30 years ago.
The Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and Jockey, Kent Desormeaux were very excited about the success of Big Brown. We are all interested to see the results of the Belmont Stakes race that will be run June 6. Could this be the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years?

Friday, May 16, 2008

Happy Birthday!

I have hijacked Busy Dad's blog to leave him this photo card from his children. Please leave him your Birthday Wishes!!

Happy Birthday honey! I love you!!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Wonders of Math Homework

Its the night before a test. The semester and the school year end in less than two weeks. My daughter was out sick for a day and she learns that tomorrow on Friday she has a test that will be given.

Being a Stepford kid she has achieved a level of academic prowess that surely didn't come from her father. Anyway, Little Miss nothing lower than a 95 in all of her classes is stressed out about her performance on the test tomorrow.

When I come through the door the first I hear is there is a big math test tomorrow. So, I rush in to kiss the wife and kids then dash into my room where I get to put on my superhero costume, I mean, cape and thinking cap. (Here is Boodles in her's)


Together Boodles and I are working through the world of fractions, decimals, and percentages. At first the stress of not being in class for the review seemed tough to overcome. Then we worked on pizza examples, age, and some percentage examples from the newspaper. There was some frustration. I could see the look in her eye that there didn't seem to be a connection. Some review, then some questions. Then time for bed. Math lessons over.
The next morning there were some discussions about the test. A couple of review questions. Then I headed out the door for work and Boodles caught the bus.


P.S. I get a call at work today. Boodles would like to talk to me about some news she has and wanted me to know before I got home. "Dad, you know the test, ah, well, I tried hard." I could just predict the next words from her mouth. As a parent you don't want your children to fail. But, it does happen. "Dad, my grade was a.....94." WHAT? I was stunned. She is very talented and works hard. But, after last night's study session this sounded impossible. Boodles said she waited to tell me the score just to make me nervous. Well, it worked.



It was the student. She did a fine job. This should be the last math test of the year.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

There is a Teenager in My House



I can't believe it. The young lady in the picture is a teenager. Its not that she can't handle it. I'm the one who is having to believe that many years ago this little tiny thing joined us at 2:47 p.m. in the hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

Happy B-day Sweety.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

This is a great day when we honor our Mother's. (That's my Mom on the right) The ladies that gave us life, love, band-aids, wiped our noses, and regions further south, and worked with us on homework and loved us through the stages of life.

We can't survive without them and life just wouldn't be the same.

I am very lucky, today we will celebrate my Mom of 40 plus years, my Wife's mom, my wife's mothership, an adopted grandmother, and the mothership of two of my wife's grandmothers. My 6 sister-in-laws, my two sisters, and a number of friends who are Mom's, the fellow bloggers who read this who have a Mom or are a Mom. That's alot of Mothering. (I wonder how many times they said, sit down, play nice, flush and wash,and I love you over their time of mothering. I can't imagine the volume of laughter, worry, hugs, looks, prayers and that sound that Mom's make when they are happy with what you do....you know the one, I'm not sure how to spell it. But, it starts with AAAAhhhhhhhh. Then they do the head tilt. Do you see your Mom doing it?


We will do our best to honor our Mother's today with cards, projects, drawings, phone calls, e-mails and gifts. Breakfast in bed, lunch, pampering, more gifts, hugs, comments about "Happy Mother's Day", more hugs, prayers, and stories. This is like trying to thank whoever invented air. You know it is very important, you do your best on this one day to show appreciation, but there is no way to possibly approach the level of appreciation and gratitude to match the contribution. We know we should show more appreciation and thanks everyday. Today is just a continuation.

Since my dad was in the Army I am use to seeing medals and awards given for valor, courage, going above and beyond. In the Military it is version of your resume right on your chest so your peers know your accomplishments. Could you imagine what your Mom would look like with all of the ribbons, if they gave them for things like, completed Johnnie's school project on time, and made the bus? First, the Mom's couldn't wear all of those to the Airport, the TSA, people would go crazy due to the volume. Second, there would have to be so many desciptions to explain the role of Mom. WoW!

I have seen the award presented by fellow Mom's to each other. It is that look they give each other to recognize those in the special Fraternal Order of Motherhod. They pass it to each other in stores, church, the playground, the hospital,at little league, and just when they are getting together. The number of kids one or 16, it doesn't matter. They are all Mothers.

So, from those of us outside the Fraternal Order of Motherhood we say thank you to you for all the work, love, (fill in the attributes), pampering, nurturing, guidance, encouragement, you give. We love you, we appreciate you, and the world is a better place because of you.
Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Penquins Win in Five - Bring on the Flyers

Today, Game Five was played out between the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh, Penquins, the winner of this crucial playoff game was THE PENQUINS. Conference Finals here we come. Another step closer to the Stanley Cup.

Hockey season is getting interesting. Getting to play the flyers will be interesting.

Let's celebrate! Cinco de penqins......

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Bowling for Big Brothers/Big Sisters




I have been invited by a team at work to raise money for Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a bowler. This should be fun. The object is to raise money to assist a community program.

Since I have never bowled a 300 I will have to raise money the traditional way, by asking, family, friends, fellow bloggers, and anyone I come in contact with for funding.

My eight year old thought he had hit the jackpot when he heard about this project. He has always wanted a Big Brother so bowling to get one, he was all for it. Then he was willing to give some of his own money to get a Big Brother. This is an accomplishment since getting money from this gentlemen is akin to getting blood from a turnip. The nice way to say it is he is very frugal. So his donation is still pending.

Boodles, our beautiful 10 year old has a heart the size of Texas, and I'm not sure Texas is that big, listened to the project. A few minutes later she came walking into my room with 3 dollars. She explained that is all the money she has right now and would like to donate. She mentioned that she would be babysitting and would contribute more later.

Not to be out done Princess Dabba, four and half years old, came walking into my room with $1.00. She wanted to get into the act of contributing. When she had a chance to support her dad and be like her older sister she was thrilled.

Then J Designs, thanks to lovely wife, made a $25 contribution. In 1o minutes I had $29 dollars in contributions. This is going well.

I'm asking for your help. If you are interested in supporting Big Brothers and Big Sisters please e-mail me, wkwiv@aol.com the level of contribution you are willing to make. Over the Internet I will send you a PayPal invoice and/or give you the address to send the check, via snail mail. I will be sure to send you the receipts for your taxes when we get them on Tuesday evening, May 6, from Big Brothers and Big Sisters. No donation is to large or to small. All are welcome.

Your support is appreciated. I will be sure to blog about the results of the bowling and the fund raising. Watch the meter on Busydad Mumbles, my blog site, to follow the progress.