The weekend is here! The best posts from some of the best bloggers await you below. Enjoy!

Sara shares the story of meeting her online lover for the first time. Veronica shares some lovely photos.

Laine ponders monogamy. Wanda ponders being frozen (scroll down to “Beam Me Up Scotty”)

Babs discusses her moods and emotions. Maureen discusses her house, siblings, mother, and plumbing.

Caren isn’t obsessive….just ask her! Scorpy isn’t putting up with negative people in her life.

Kathy’s post is for the birds. Please don’t rap Ginger’s post.

Satisfied Spouse pays tribute to her husband. Beautiful post. A.J. pays tribute to bald headed men. I kinda like this post too!

Dawn isn’t crazy about the voting on “American Idol”. Aka Monty wasn’t crazy about the note she got from a dentist with an advice fetish. (scroll to Tuesday, April 26)

Janine has more education in her future. Karen has a lot of DVD watching in her future (April 28)

The bogeyman has been coming to Red’s house and might get more than he bargained for. U2 is coming to Mystic Spirit’s neck of the woods and she is going!

Undergraduate illustrates a lesson on choices. Blogbudsman illustrates a day…Rolling Stones style.

Jack learned how to find girls that were good in bed at a young age. New Wave Gurly learned that avoiding procrastination isn’t ALWAYS efficient.

Mary Lou shares some pictures of the “loneliest road in America”. Tara shares some pictures from her walk.

Vickie discusses what beauty really means. Flax’s mom looks and sounds beautiful to me.

Steph had a kiss that made her cry. The healthcare system makes Thomai want to cry.

Chuck wants to buy the local drive-in movie theater. Sally wants to wish everyone a Happy Friday!

Liz’s baby celebrates one year on Earth. April celebrates her own birthday and it sounds like she is going to have a good time!

Grace points us to the Pope’s blog. Kim points us to a new monthly club.

Stephanie discusses a modern day Casanova. Ellen discusses the side effects from her treatment.

Cetta’s doctor keeps coming up with new diagnoses. T. Marie keeps making lemonade out of those lemons.

Restless Angel got to see her dad. Fly Girl wanted to see her coffee date.

CandyTuft got a call from a special friend. Sue’s best friend got engaged.

Chaotic Serenity isn’t supposed to be typing. A lot of people aren’t supposed to be naked in public…..ask Vince.

Shirazi wonders how much to reveal in his blog. Angel wonders why people shut down their blogs.

Anne wants to go back to her childhood. Dot wants to go to a lot of the concerts that are coming to Ottawa.

Joan has a side blog going. Feisty Girl has a big move coming up.

Sleeping Mommy is struggling with her role in the house. Some Girl is struggling with the idea of packing lunches.

Veronica had a mass dedicated to her. Sallie is dedicated to her friends and is very grateful for them.

Xeno discusses the “seven year itch”. Cyn discusses the anniversary of Columbine.

Students at Cindra’s school found a unique way to set off the smoke alarms. Students in Janet’s class are doing Disney songs.

Joe just keeps singing (scroll to “Life is Simply Good”) Jennifer keeps tuning into “Science Friday”

Inky checked out her karma. Faith is checking out…..another woman!

Mimi and her man talked about sex. Jazzy and her man have a lot in common.

Splendid wonders if its over. Annabel wondered what was up with her phone.

Maddy refuses to be a victim. Lewis used to refuse the pediatrician’s care…and now he’s back.

Shelli’s daughter is the big 10! Monica’s daughter likes to chew gum!

Diana remembers feeling like she was tired of being a girl. Tish remembers a lesson about Snickers bars and sex.

Katriana answers a few questions. Darla finds a few answers.

Edge wants to see your niece naked. Justin wanted to see his wife dance.

Enjoy your weekend and DO try to stay out of trouble. Ok, you don't have to unless you really want to!

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Chuck's post on his worst ever kiss got me to thinking. What makes a good kiss? As a kissing conouisseur and a lover of good kissing, this is a serious question to me! I've been fascinated with kissing since that first one in the refrigerator box with daughter of one of my parent's friends. I don't remember much about it....I was probably eight years old. What was her name anyway?

To me the kiss is perhaps the most intimate, erotic, and personal act of all. There are few things that can stoke my fire like a long, sensual kiss. You know that feeling you have the next morning after you kissed a lot? Your lips feel worn and slightly tingly? I love that feeling. I like kissing before, during, and after sex. I like kissing when no sex is involved. I like playful kissing with laughter mixed in. I like the soft brush of the lips when there is time for nothing more. I just like kissing.

One of the most exciting things about meeting someone new or starting a new relationship is that first kiss. It can be just as exciting when you are in a relationship with someone you are still strongly attracted to. Before you have the kiss there is that moment right before. You know the one I'm talking about. Your eyes meet and lock. The slight lean of the head. You both know at that exact moment what is coming. I love that moment. Its all a blur for a fraction of a second. Then you are kissing. The taste, the sensation, the friction....you are in the moment.

A good kiss starts off soft and sensual. Your lips brush and then lock. You feel her mouth open slightly. Yours opens as well. The tips of your tongues dance and play with each other. You are not in a hurry.....you are savoring the moment. You pull even closer as the kiss intensifies. You don't think its possible to get any closer, but you do. A full French kiss is incredibly exciting. The sensuality becomes frantic. You simply cannot kiss deeply enough. You are as one and time seems to stand still.

I've kissed enough women to know the difference between a good and bad kiss. The worst kiss is perhaps the one that isn't returned. She allows you to kiss her but she doesn't kiss back. She stands there open mouthed and lets you do as you will. Maybe she kisses back but with so little intensity that you are left wanting so much more.

The best kiss? You are in synch together. You know without words what to do next. The fire burns in both at the same level and rises together. It is those kinds of kisses that you never want to end. You don't want to let go. Not for a second. You could hold that moment all day and night. Its to be savored for every possible second.

Thats what I'm talkin about.
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Its the middle of the week....already! I've been sick for a couple of days so it doesn't seem possible that tomorrow is Thursday.

Aubree's science fair project is due tomorrow. We've spent around 12 hours working on her model of the solar system. Picture a big box. The inside is spray painted black. A hole is cut in the front of the box and a flashlight is mounted. The flashlight is the sun. Modeling clay was used to make each of the planets (Saturn was a challenge) and they hang suspended from the top of the box by fishing line. Facts about the planets festoon the outside of the box. Hat tip to my friend "T" for design suggestions!

Speaking of Aubree, this is her latest school picture:

My oh my. She is growing up quickly!

My brother Kerry announced his wedding day.....the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend . Congrats to him and his lovely wife-to-be. He is 38 years old and this is his first marriage.

Patrick received a fishing pole and a tackle box full of fishing gear for his birthday. He's ready to go fishing this summer! Of course, Aubree informed me, "Dad, if you think I'm standing anywhere near Patrick with a fishing pole in his hand...you're crazy!"

He also has a Darth Vader voice changing mask. Do you know how many times I've heard the Darth voice saying, "you don't know the power of the dark side"?

Patrick got to drive my brothers 4-wheeler, with me on the back of course. Just two words describe the experience: rapid acceleration.

In case you didn't know, lawn mower motors are very hot. I have three badly blistered fingers to prove it. Ouch.

Thanks to all for the comments on the previous post. I seriously think I have blogland's best commenters. You all rock!

So how is YOUR week going?
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My divorce becomes official on Friday. I've had this day marked on my mental calendar for months. I've felt its approach. Its been creeping up on me slowly like a dark thief in the night. I'll be "officially single". Again. I never thought I would be. I never wanted to be.

I moved out of our house last August...the house we planned to stay in for a long time. This was the place where we were going to set down roots. Those roots turned out to be pretty shallow. One year ago I wasn't even possibly envisioning that things would be like this.

In one sense its just a legal formality. Documents, paperwork, the seal of the court. The government now knows what the rest of us have known for months. Its all legal-like, all black and white. Words on paper. I'll get a copy of it in the mail. It'll be signed by a judge and have a nice official looking court stamp on it.

Those documents don't begin to tell the story. My life was not about division of property, legal names, and who gets to keep the damn house. This was a fairy tale that turned into a nightmare. It was a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching experience for all concerned. My dream is dead. On Friday it just gets a proper burial.

Had you asked me about my marriage even a year ago I probably would've gotten all smarmy and syrupy on you. We had a great marriage....we told each other so all the time. We had the marriage that other people should be jealous of....just ask us. All the right things were said all the time. We were settled in for the long haul. Yes, there were some cracks in our perfect marriage armor....I wasn't so naive as to not see them. But we loved each other and we would work through those minor little difficulties. Oh yes, we would. I was so fucking naive. (pardon my language)

Lee and I used to play a little word game that dated back to our long-distance relationship days. We would often say, "could you have imagined ____ years ago that.........". "Could you have imagined two years ago that we'd be married?" "Could you have imagined three years ago that we'd be living in Washington?" We'd always chuckle and have a good laugh at how fate had brought us together. Now the game has a new twist. "Could you have imagined two years or even one year ago that we'd be divorced and living thousands of miles apart?"

I've spent much time analyzing how it could've gone so wrong so fast. I wish I could present a nice easy answer and tie it all up together. A friend told me recently that, "closure is a myth." She may be right, at least in this case. Those answers just aren't going to be there. Am I better than I was last August? Much. Am I still sad? Yes. Do I miss her and our life? Of course. Do I still love her? Yes. Do I wish I had been a better husband? God, yes. Am I moving on with my life? Yes, but sometimes it feels glacial. Am I a better person than the guy who drove away from our home last August? I think so, but I have much to learn and improve on. Do I want to love someone that way again? Without a doubt. Am I in hurry to do that? No, I'm scared shitless.

I'm 43 years old and now a twice-divorced man. This is not how I envisioned life and love as a young boy. You fell in love, you got married, and lived happily ever after. Well, I've done the first two. Life is not that fairy tale. You can fall in love, you can make promises and vows, and then the hard part begins. Relationships are hard work, and I think I spent too much time shining the exterior to a fine glean and not nearly enough time under the hood making sure the engine was running smoothly.

This is no time to cast blame. She certainly has her faults and weaknesses and I must forgive the cruelty with how all of this came down. But I too must bear my responsibility for what happened. I wish I was the man that people sometimes think I am. The two of us failed at our most awesome responsibility and many have suffered because of it. Maybe it couldn't be helped. Perhaps what seemed like minor incompatibilities really weren't so minor. Maybe all the "what ifs" that run through my mind wouldn't have made a difference. Maybe. Forever maybe.

I know that you can't see the road ahead if all you do is look in the rear-view mirror. I'll take those papers and file them away. I'll do the things I must to build a future for myself and my children. I'll do what must be done.....I've always done what must be done.

By most life expectancy charts I have a little over 30 years left to make my way in this world. Maybe a little more, maybe a little less. I know its up to me to spend those years in a way that is positive. I can spend the rest of my life hiding in my little house and feeling sorry for myself or I can strike out anew. I can continue living what Thoreau called "a life of quiet desperation" or I can find that elusive peace within myself that has eluded me all these years. I'm not just doing it for myself. My wonderful children haven't deserved this and I owe it to them to make the second half of their childhoods as good as possible. Kids always pay for the sins of their parents and mine are paying my tab right now.

D-Day is coming fast. I can feel it. This marks an end and a beginning. The end of my beloved marriage. The beginning of a new life. A life that I may not have wanted but is out there just waiting for me. Opportunities to be the man I can be, opportunities to love again, opportunities to grow....they are all just waiting for me. Will I have the courage, the initiative, and the drive to seize them?

I was playing a random selection of songs on my jukebox while writing this post. A favorite of mine by the Eagles leapt out of my speakers and it seems to be appropriate. I can remember seeing them perform "New York Minute" in the days after 9/11.

He had a home
The love of a girl
But men get lost sometimes
As years unfold
One day he crossed some line
And he was too much in this world
But I guess it doesn't matter anymore

In a New York Minute
Everything can change

If I've learned anything, I've learned that truth. Everything can change. In a New York minute.

If you find somebody to love in this world
You better hang on tooth and nail
The wolf is always at the door

In a New York Minute
Everything can change

If I am lucky enough to find someone to love me again, I will hang on tooth and nail. If that damn wolf comes to my door again, I'm not going down without a fight. That bastard has got me for the last time if I have anything to say about it. I will do a much better job of nurturing a relationship in the ways that count. I'll be a better lover/boyfriend/husband. I'll take the bitter lessons I've learned so harshly and use them in a positive way. Maybe then, D-Day won't have been such a horrible waste.

So how does a person spend a day like that? Quiet reflective night at home facing it head on? A wild night on the town? Find a project to keep busy so you don't think about it? I don't know...I guess I'll play it by ear. In case you don't know, that is Brian-speak for putting off decisions.

There are many people I'd like to thank for easing my transition to this new life. If the measure of a man is the quality of his friends and family, I am blessed indeed. I want to thank my fantastic parents who were there for me in a way I never expected they would have to be. I'd like to thank my brothers who have been wonderful to me and my children....I am so proud of the men they've become. I'd like to thank Marlane who offered me love and support in the darkest of hours. I'd like to thank Jen who offered me friendship, good times, and more after I arrived here. I want to thank Steph who was always there with supportive words,a quick wit, a set of football tickets, and even a shipment of delicious cookies. My friend "T" has offered me friendship, companionship, a sympathetic ear, and hours of frank talk, and I thank her for all of it. I can't thank Kathy enough for her friendship, her love, her wise words of advice, and her honesty. I have endless gratitude to my universe of blogfriends, too many to list here. So many of you have been there through comments, emails, chats, cards, and phone calls. I won't embarass you, but you know you are. Even though we have never met, you are very special to me. I just hope some day I can possibly repay this avalanche of love and support that I've received.

I quoted someone as saying, "closure is a myth" above. D-Day is about as much closure as I'm going to get. I guess that is something. Its what I have to work with. On Saturday my life begins anew. Patrick Henry was quoted as once saying, "if this be treason, make the most of it". I'd like to paraphrase Mr. Henry. If this be my life, make the most of it. Please raise your glasses and toast with me......here's to making the most of it. *Clink*. Cheers.

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Yesterday I spent most of the day at my family's ancestral farm, about 60 miles from here. The house hasn't been occupied for several years now....since the death of my grandmother. The lawn needs to be mowed, chores need to be done, and maintenace needs to be completed. I loaded up my mom, all the kids, and a trailer full of equipment and headed south.

The lawn had not yet been mowed this year and it was difficult going. The tall grass and weeds made the riding mower work a lot harder than it is used to. But all the work got completed...the yard, barnyard, and corral mowed. The house got power-washed. The inside got cleaned and dusted. The kids ran around playing games.

I always like going to "the farm". It was beautiful with the green of springtime and the sky was clear blue. Its different out there. I feel rooted and connected whenever I am there. I spent thousands of hours as a child playing in those pastures and in those barns. I climbed on the tractors, played games in the hayloft with my brothers, and fished in the nearby ponds. My grandfather and his brother once owned all the land on both sides of the road of this section for as far as you could see. The road is known locally by my last name. My grandfather and his brother started out here almost 80 years ago. You can feel the history everywhere you turn.

My grandfather had a 7th grade education, but was a curious and learned man. He bought boxes of books and his family spent the long winters reading science fiction, literature of all kinds, math and physics, and history. Of the children that grew up on this farm, one became a university math professor, another was a college president, and a third was a world renowned geophyicist. The last one is my dad. I love the combination of real world commonsense farming and a respect for "book knowledge".

My grandfather was a striking figure as I was growing up. He was soft spoken; I don't remember ever hearing him raise his voice. He was out the door at sunrise, came in for lunch, and worked outside until dinnertime...every day. Dinner consisted of beef or chicken grown right there and vegetables from the garden. After desert he would go out one final time to check on the cows. Then he would settle in his ever-so-familiar recliner, read an ever-present book, watch the evening news and turn in for the night. The next day he would repeat it. When I spent summers there I enjoyed the rhythm of life.

I enjoyed riding in his pickup with him through the pastures. He knew every inch of his land. He knew where that missing cow would turn up. He knew when it was safe to drive his pickup through the creek and check things on the other side. He would take us down the "slate bar" and we could look for fossils in the shale. He seemed to know everything about an astonishing variety of subjects. His home was the first in the county to have electricity....the tower he built the windmill on still stands. He knew when the fish were biting and what to use to catch them. He knew when the pecan trees needed extra attention. He was the master of his domain.

Saturday was shopping day. We would go into a nearby town, my grandmother would be dropped at the grocery store, and he would head down the local feed store. It was at the feed store where the locals interacted. He would order a few things, peel some bills from the huge wad of cash he always carried, and chat with the other men about politics, the weather, and cattle prices.

His presence is unmistakable at the farm even though he passed away when I was a young man. The barns and sheds he built are still there as are the tractors I remember him driving. Old car frames, trailer parts and various other mechanical contraptions sit out in the pasture....you never knew when he was going to need them.

I grew up as a suburban kid and going to "the farm" was such a grand adventure. It still is.

(The bad ending to this story is that all the mowing must've stirred up a lot of pollen. My throat and eyes burned while I was there. I woke up early this morning and my eyes were swollen shut and I was totally congested. I ended up calling in sick to work today. My childhood allergies come roaring back to bite me once again. It has been eight years since I've experienced spring pollen in Oklahoma. I can't say that I've missed it!)
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If its Friday evening, so it must be time to work on this edition of the weekend roundup. Please get comfortable and enjoy with me the best from the best.

Restless Angel doesn’t understand why she wasn’t told of her father’s accident sooner. Splendid understands that “being here now” is important.

Susan went to a nudist beach. Joan went out on the boat and her house got burglarized.

Chuck describes his worst kiss ever. Caren describes an effective telephone money solicitation.

Ellen is headed to the States for the weekend. Some Girl is headed for the plastic surgeon’s knife.

Scorpy worries that she’s a “comment killer”. Vince could’ve killed the drunk who kept pursuing her.

Satisfied Spouse is thinking about writing a note to her husband. Fran is thinking about getting some free ice cream.

Monica wants to get physical. Faith wanted to take her clothes off and run around her office.

Red waxes rhapsodically about sushi. T. Marie waxes poetically about “wanting”.

A politician’s office finally listens to Sally. I wonder if Mr. Clean Magic Erasers will listen to Ginger as she points out their shortcomings!

Vickie spreads some love around. Mary Lou spreads around pictures of some lovely lilacs.

Jack describes how Jewish women are in bed. Blogbudsman tries to describe what God looks like.

Vegas Baby shares the latest installment of her “Lampoon Vacation”. April shares the answers to her interview.

The Funky Cowboy is off on his cruise. Karen was off to lunch and had a good time…except for bugs attacking her windshield.

Cetta did surgery on her daughter’s room. The hairdresser did a little surgery on Nicole’s daughter and she likes the result.

Anne doesn’t want to be forced to look at a pic of her ex with new mate. Joe didn’t have to be forced to sing karaoke….but he finally did it!

Grace finds inspiration from a now-deceased blogger. I was inspired by this note New Wave Gurly received from one of her students.

Stephanie is thinking about giving dance lessons. Babs got taught a lesson by her seven year old!

Dawn was feeling bitchy. Maureen was feeling like she is on the road back to herself

Cedia wonders if she’s a bad person. Cindra wondered where her sunglasses were!

Chaotic Serenity describes a close encounter of the otter kind. Justin describes memories of a café now long gone.

A.J. vents about her sex life. Linda vents about four way stops.

Thomai shares her smile and it’s a gorgeous one. Sue shares her memories of 1995.

Kathy has the patience of a saint. I don’t know how patient Puglet was when she was trying to chase down the ice cream truck.

Aka Monty thinks she is a flirt (scroll down to Flirty McFliterson). Sara thinks she wants to swap some body parts.

CandyTuft pays tribute to some of her favorite bloggers. Lewis pays tribute to his squirrel-killing falcon.

Pselby left a gel pen in his pocket and it made a mess. Cyn left $100 in the slot machines.

Mystic Spirit wants more. Shirazi wants to know what blogging relationships mean.

Safiyyah discusses domestic violence. Liz discusses compliments that mean a lot to her.

Veronica submits her work to an art show. Inky’s tattoo is a work of art in itself.

Annabel needs to get more sleep, but there are blogs to be read! Rachel needed to step down as Girl Scout leader.

Sleeping Mommy has been doing a little genealogical research. Janet’s in depth research leads her to think she might have a good nominee for Pope.

Veda knows that there are people out there who are happy. Tara knows a lot of people including the boy at the Arby’s drive-up window.

Shelli highlights naked art. Kim highlights the issue of measuring penises.

Steph has a new gadget. Diana once had a new mattress and an intimate moment with the delivery guy.

Andie had a good time at ballet class. Laine was having a really good time until she got busted by the police.

Sallie doesn’t have to shut her blog down. Lisa is blogging when she should be showering.

FlyGirl is ready for the dry spell to be over. Charkey is ready to go to the beach.

Edge celebrates Earth Day. Kristine celebrated her lasagna…tornado or not.

Darla has a nominee for the S.O.S. club. Katriana has a nominee for the cyberstalker club.

“C” shared some of her problems with a coworker. Love Donnaz shares his thoughts about bus riders.

Kathy is taking scuba diving lessons. I'd need a lot of lessons to run the Boston Marathon like John did.

There ya go. That should do you for awhile. Enjoy these posts and leave one or two of them a nice comment…ok? Have a fantastic weekend my friends!

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The last two evenings have been taken up by the James Taylor concert and tonight's awards ceremony. Both were moving and rewarding experiences. I feel blessed and honored this week.

I picked "T" up at her house last night and went to an authentic Mexican restaraunt nearby. We shared a platter of fajitas and sipped on delicious margaritas. This was a perfect way to start the evening! We drove to downtown Tulsa and headed to the Brady Theater, the concert venue. The "Old Lady on Brady" is a historical landmark in Tulsa, seats about 2800 people, and provides for an intimate concert experience. There really isn't a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are very nice.

J.T. didn't disappoint at all. Some singers have voices that fade with age, but his was strong and it was difficult to tell the difference between him and the James Taylor I listened to in the 1970's. He mixed a few songs from his "October Road" album, a handful of folk songs, and most of his classic hits. I loved the live version of the bluesy "Steamroller", rocked to "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), and sang along with every line of "Shower The People". Even though I've heard it a million times, "Fire and Rain" moved me the most. A single tear trickled down my cheek and it felt like the song washed over me.

"Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now"

Fire and rain indeed.

I've received a few honors and awards in my career, but tonight may have been the most meaningful. A year ago I had no idea I'd even be here. I was hired in the summer and began working in a position that didn't exist before I arrived.

I'm a newcomer in my building. Many people have toiled there for years before I arrived to make my school the place that it is. There are teachers, counselors, and administrators that work their hearts out each day trying to make our little corner of the world a great place for kids to learn and grow. I feel a little guilty to be receiving an honor that could go to so many. I just came in and tried to pitch in and do my part.

That I was nominated and chosen by the teachers makes this recognition so rewarding. These are my colleagues that I try to support through my work in the office. To be so honored in a building with such outstanding educators....well, I don't know what to say.

Aubree was my "date"and she spent time doing her hair, picking out a pretty flowery dress, and dabbed some "glitter" on her face. She looked like a little woman. She spent part of the evening sitting with the wife of one of the other honorees and the rest of the time on my lap. She had the camera and was taking great delight in taking pictures of everything that went on.

My principal gave me a flattering introduction by saying that I was, "a talented and gifted administrator, a genuinely nice guy, and quite the man about town." I told her afterward that I loved that last part! I could feel my face burning as the superintendent of schools placed the medal around my neck. As he was draping it over my head he laughed and said, "well, at least I don't have to worry about messing up your hair!". After all the handshakes I started to walk off the stage and the school board president said, "this little girl is trying to take your picture". So I stopped and posed for Aubree and let her snap one off. Aubree met me at the bottom of the stairs, hugged me, and said, "congratulations daddy, I'm proud of you." Gulp. That means more to me than any award.

Afterward, I mingled at the reception and shook a lot of hands and gave a lot of hugs. Quite a few of the teachers came out to support me and the other award winners. Aubree sipped punch and mingled right along with me.

Two nights Two events. I feel wonderful.

I've seen a lot of rain. Its nice to have some fire too.


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Halfway through the work week...how time has flown!

Tonight I am going with my friend "T" to see James Taylor in concert. I've never seen him live, but I've enjoyed his music over the years. It should be fun!

Tomorrow night Aubree is going as my date to the Spring Awards ceremony where I will receive the "faculty member of the year" award for my school. She is way excited to be going with me.

Patrick's 13th birthday is this Saturday. Thats right, I am now officially the parent of a teenager. Geez.

Me to Patrick a couple of nights ago, "Patrick, how could anyone want to live in this room of yours? Its a disaster area!" Patrick's reply? "Someone who doesn't mind living in chaos." Laugh or cry? Sometimes its a toss up. I laughed.

Yesterday I suspended a student for slapping another student in the face without provocation. Her reason? Some of her friends "double dog dared" her. How can you turn down a double dog dare? I said, "what would you have done if they triple dogged dared you...killed him?" She said, "you don't understand, its a thing with our club". My reply...."you've joined another club now. The suspended club". She didn't seem to like that membership nearly as well.

Two days in a row I've had male students pull or let their pants fall all the way to their ankles and then strut their stuff in front of a couple hundred other students. This answer the burning research question. Today's boys prefer boxers.

A girl that I suspended last week told me that her mother said about me, "I'd like to just rub his bald head really slowly until it shines." Thats the best offer I've had in weeks!

Aubree and I have to work on her science fair project this weekend. Now we just have to figure out what the project is. I love how she tells me, "you need to figure out what my project is going to be dad."

Another Aubreeism...after playing Neopets on the computer for almost two hours she headed to bed and told me, "you need to go feed Wendy(her dog) dad." I said, "um, you've been playing with your virtual online pet for two hours and haven't fed your real pet?"She got upset and stormed out of the room. Aaah, kids.

So how is YOUR week going?
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When I was a young boy, my parents used to reminisce about where they were when John F. Kennedy was killed. My grandfather used to tell me about when he heard of the 1929 stock market crash and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Today marked the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. I suspect many of us remember where we were on that day like Monica or Monty do. Tomorrow marks the sixth anniversary of the Columbine school massacre. That day isn't difficult to remember either.

On April 19, 1995 I went to work like any normal day. I was still married to my first wife and was vice principal of the local middle school. Oklahoma City is about 90 miles away. I was sitting in my office talking on the phone when my secretary interrupted. She said, "Mr. S, there is something happening in Oklahoma City. You need to come see this". We had a small television in the storage room in our office, and I crowded in there with her and several others. I was stunned to see images of this building in Oklahoma City with the front shorn off of it. Having spent some time in that area, of course I recognized the building. The federal building?

Someone in the office remarked that one of our teachers had a brother that worked in that building. I sat out to find her and could not locate her in her classroom. Her car was in the parking lot, but she was nowhere to be found. After searching, I found her working on a computer in another teacher's classroom. There was no internet in the classroom in those days....no one in our building yet knew what was happening. I pulled her out, took her to my office, and tried to keep the quiver out of my voice as I informed her what was happening. She burst into tears and asked to use my phone. After a frantic hour or so she was able to talk to her parents and discover that her brother was out of town that day.

The day wore on and all of us were watching TV and trying to keep our teachers informed and the students calm. Facts were very few that day....just scenes of carnage and stories of bravery and heroism. I remember thinking, "what kind of person would do something like this"? This is quiet, dusty, little Oklahoma. The scene of a terrorist bombing? The center of the world's attention?

Firefighters and police officers from my hometown raced down the turnpike to help. My school raised money for the victims. As in so many tragedies, people pulled together. I was proud of my state, my people, and my country in the days following. Why does it take a tragedy of this magnitude for that to happen? I was angry at Timothy McVeigh. By what right did he destroy so many families, so many hopes and dreams? To make some political point? It still makes me angry today.

Six years ago I had moved to Louisiana, and for the only time in my adult life I was not working in the education field. I was a supervisor for a national non-profit organization (Volunteers of America) and worked out of the New Orleans office. Once again, a secretary rushed in and told me that something had happened at a school in Colorado. The building was surrounded by police and there had been shooting inside. As details emerged I was horrified. A couple of high school kids did this? Murdered their classmates in cold blood? I knew of previous school shootings but the sheer magnitude of this one left me stunned.

I found myself wishing I was still working in education. Schools across the country were on alert. I felt like an outsider and I wanted to be back on the inside....thinking somehow I should be there to help. I applied for a teaching job the next month and would be back in the education fold that fall.

Columbine changed schools in this country and beyond forever. You can still feel it today. Metal detectors were a hot item. Security guards were hired. School discipline policies were radically changed. "Zero tolerance" policies swept across the country. Students became something to fear in a way they had never been before. No one in my field wants to be the one that misses the next school killer. The relationship between kids and their community schools became different. I regret that. The positive thing that came out of it was an increased awareness in paying closer attention to troubled kids.

This time of year always fills me with sadness. Oklahoma City marked an end of national innocence...it could happen here, it did, and it would again. We weren't immune to the violence we'd seen and heard of in other places. Columbine changed our schools forever.

Where were you?
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Favorite fiction authors

1. John Grisham ("A Painted House" and "A Time To Kill" are my faves)
   
2. Clive Cussler (I'm a Dirk Pitt wannabe)
   
3. Nelson B. DeMille (love "The General's Daughter and "Plum Island")
   
4. Vince Flynn
   
5. Patricia Cornwell (why is it that Kay Scarpetta turns me on?)
   

Favorite non-fiction authors

1. Shelby Foote (the most readable Civil War books ever written)
   
2. Studs Terkel (amazing the imagery he paints by just talking to people)
   
3. Stephen Ambrose (among the best at writing narrative history)
   
4. David McCullough
5. Bruce Catton (can you tell I like reading about the Civil War?)

Favorite sports stars

1. Larry Bird (unstoppable in his prime)
   
2. Michael Jordan (it may be twenty years before we see another one like him)
3. Pete Rose (as a player, not a gambling manager)
4. Brett Favre (one of the gutsiest players I've ever seen)
5. Emmitt Smith (another gutsy player, old school guy)

Favorite actors

1. Sean Connery (we bald guys have to stick together!)
2. Mel Gibson
3. Denzel Washington (check him out in "Glory")
   
4. Robert DuVall
5. Robert DeNiro (one of the most versatile actors ever)

Favorite actresses

1. Kathleen Turner (her "Body Heat" performance still sizzles)
2. Halle Berry (she's hot and she can act too)
3. Nicole Kidman
4. Michelle Pfeiffer (I fell in love with her in "The Fabulous Baker Boys". Be still my heart)
   
5. Jamie Lee Curtis

Favorite American Historical Figures

1. Abraham Lincoln
2. Benjamin Franklin (they don't make them like this anymore)
   
3. Martin Luther King Jr.
4. Andrew Jackson (the first "people's president")
5. Mark Twain

Favorite foods

1. Steak (its whats for dinner!)
2. Beef enchiladas
3. Chilli (the spicier the better)
   
4. Spaghetti
5. Pickles (kosher dills please)

Beverages

1. Dr. Pepper
2. Iced Tea w/lemon (nothing better on a hot day)
   
3. Rum and coke (pour me a double please)
   
4. Mojitos (yum)
5. Strawberry margaritas
   

Albums

1. "Led Zeppelin IV" by Led Zeppelin
2. "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd
3. "Abbey Road" by The Beatles (some prefer "Let it Be", "Sgt. Peppers" or the "White Album", but I like this one. )
   
4. "Hotel California" by The Eagles
5. "Unplugged" by Eric Clapton (one of few who sound better "Unplugged")
   

TV shows

1. Cheers - one of the great ensemble casts ever.
2. Hill Street Blues - I was riveted to it for years
3. West Wing - only show I watch regularly
4. The Honeymooners - "to the moon Alice.....to the moon!"
5. Gunsmoke - corny, but what can I say?

Outdoor activities

1. Grilling food
   
2. Skinny Dipping (its part of my wild side)
   
3. Canoeing
4. Four Wheeling
5. Fishing (give me my favorite spinner baits again please!)

Aromas

1. Bacon cooking (the sound just goes with it)
   
2. Coffee brewing (I drink coffee, but it smells even better than it tastes)
   
3. A woman's scent (use imagination here)
   
4. Pipe tobacco (even though I don't smoke a pipe)
   
5. Movie popcorn

Sounds

1. Train whistles
2. Crickets chirping
3. A soft whisper
4. A school marching band practicing in the morning
5. Water lapping on the beach

That should do it for now! I have another installment in mind that I'll run later.
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One year ago I was teaching at my tiny school in Washington when tragedy struck. A student of mine died in a terrible car wreck. It was utterly devastating to the small town that I worked in. I've been thinking about it a lot the last week.

I can still see Paul walking into my room, grinning at me, at saying, "Hey Mr. S., you STILL think you can beat me one-on-one?", or "can I play with the digital camera when I'm done with my work today?"

Paul wasn't a classically "good student". Most of his grades were in the "C" range. But he was a curious kid....just curious as hell. He loved technology and his face would light up when he got to learn something new about computers. I taught him U.S. History and Yearbook/Journalism and he was easily one of the students I enjoyed the most. The kid couldn't stop smiling if you put a gun to his head. He was a born leader....a natural. He was the best athlete in school. He was warm and genuine. He was mischievous as he could be. The slideshow I put together for his funeral illustrated one of his stories. One day he took the lawn mower out and spelled out his name in the grass of his front lawn. Just for the hell of it.

He kept asking me to be the basketball coach the next year. Who could have imagined that neither of us would be there? I told him that my style of coaching would run everyone off...that I demanded full court pressure and running. He thought that was hilarious and told me, "thats the way I play anyway. You'll have to tell me to STOP running."

In yearbook class, Paul was the camera guy. He loved the digital camera. He learned the nuances of every setting and knew them better than I did. When someone else wanted to use the camera they had to go through Paul. He didn't want them messing up HIS camera. I can remember him saying, "be sure and use this button to turn it off when you're done. I don't want you running the batteries down."

We were facing a yearbook deadline and the track and field page was the last page to be done. No matter how we worked it, we needed at least one more picture! There was no time...we needed a picture right then. We were mailing this installment off right after school was out. Paul was a track athlete and he said, "Mr. S., I'm in track. Why don't we take a picture of me running. That should work...right?" So he and I stepped outside and took the picture below. It took several takes to get it right. We were both laughing hysterically. He said, "c'mon Mr. S, I'm getting tired of all this running!" We snapped the picture below. Thirty minutes later it was in the yearbook digital file.



A month after this picture was taken Paul would be dead. When the oncoming car slammed into his passenger side door he didn't stand a chance. He was gone....just like that.

I worked feverishly on the multimedia slideshow for the next few days. I sat at my desk all day at work surrounded by kids. They helped me sort pictures, select stories, and pick the music. We laughed, cried, and reminisced together. Paul's funeral service was done in the Shaker tradition and our little gymnasium was totally packed. The entire school district dismissed for the afternoon to attend. I sat in a chair with a computer cart in front of me and watched almost 100 pictures of Paul flash by while "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart, "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton, and "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas boomed out of the speakers. His mother, father, and sister sat a short distance away, and I watched them laugh at the silly pictures and stories and hug each other.

We were given a red ribbon to pin to our lapels when we entered the funeral service. At the gravesite we all walked by the whole in the ground and tossed our ribbon on top of the casket. A couple of his classmates tossed basketballs in. Some people tossed in $20 bills. I stood there and looked at that casket for a moment. Inside that wooden box was the body of a boy that was a big part of my life. He was in my class just a few days before. I love all of my kids but I loved Paul in a special way. He got under my skin.

Keep resting in peace my brother and never stop running.
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It’s roundup time again. I’m jamming out to Guns N Roses “Sweet Child of Mine” and Ozzy Osbourne’s “Dreamer”, and my fingers are practically flying across the keyboard as I highlight the week’s best posts by the internet’s best bloggers!

Blogbudsman discusses snooping and privacy. Jack discusses keeping an open mind.

Caren knows what she wants for her birthday. Sallie knows she just wants to feel better.

Faith narrates a slice of her life. Sally narrates a conversation between herself and a very unhelpful legislative aide.

New Wave Gurly gives us a concert review. I’m sure Charkey will get good reviews after she sings at a wedding.

Red Headed Gal is off to Paris. Andie will soon be off on a road trip with her parents.

A church visitor made Monica a little nervous. The guy on the prowl didn’t make Vince nervous. She just ignored him.

Janine talks about her grandparents. Ellen talks about letting experts do their job.

Cindra had to break out the air freshener. “Silent but deadly” required it. At least that didn’t happen on Stacey’s night at the ballet.

Sweety just had an English exam. Tara just discovered that she owes the I.R.S.

Curtis discusses a fish fetish. Mary Lou discusses being prepared.

Joe’s little girl is growing up (scroll down to Babygirl aka Princess is growin' up). When Sleeping Mommy’s children grow older she wants to be a homeroom mom.

Stephanie saw “Little Saigon” and loved it. I’m loving Vegas Baby’s saga of her “National Lampoon Vacation”.

Restless Angel has an antisocial hamster. Lewis has a funny streak. Don’t believe me? Just listen to this.

Mystic Spirit discusses sexual triggers. Chuck discusses the phenomenon of women faking orgasms.

Ever wanted to read a Funky Cowboy post? Do it now! Wanna take a quiz…or two? Check out Candytuft.

Feisty Girl’s husband got a promotion. T. Marie will probably get one too once she learns how to swim in the deep end.

Vickie shares how to be a winner. April shares a fortune
Red discusses blog add-ons and offers to let you steal hers. Babs discusses imagination and idle time.

Fly Girl talked to an old flame. Annabel Lee talks to a lot of rabbinical students.

Steph is so ready for her girl to come home. Shirazi isn’t going home. He’s going to Mong.

Satisfied Spouse feels the need to chill. Aka Monty feels the need to ask a few questions.

Chaotic Serenity dealt with a blizzard. Scorpy is trying to deal with her mother and its not easy.

A.J. shares a hilarious story. Cyn shares a tribute to “D”.

Edge ponders a road trip. Leslie ponders a trip to a cabin by the river.

Darla wrote a note to her husband. Joan wrote a note in her diary when she met her husband…43 years ago.

Ginger talks about books. Maureen talks about wanting to take off.

Jazzy sees shades of gray. Laine saw a guy named Joe and is intrigued.

John is running in the Boston Marathon. Diana wasn’t running but she was doing yoga.

Kathy is a material girl and has her price. Kristine is a girl with a loose tooth and innovative way to get it out.

Anne remembers her father the way she wants to. I remember Dawn of course and I’m glad to see her back again!

Rachel was too sexy for her work. Shelli thinks “Pussy Galore” was sexy.

Gladys put her boyfriend on notice. Dwayne put a misbehaving junior high kid on notice.

Inky writes about sex and the prairie. Sara writes about an upcoming school board hearing.

Alithea presents her new film. Wow! C presents a shower picture of herself.

Grace plays the image game. Love Donnaz plays “share that tune”.

Mimi’s mom and her boyfriend discuss marriage. Wanda discusses changing her blog.


Your finger is worn out from clicking but you’ve enjoyed these posts. Have a great weekend my friends!
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I'm in the process of making a major life decision. I'm seriously considering going back and getting a doctorate degree in school administration. I currently have a master's degree plus a few scattered classes. A doctorate would require approximately 70 college credits including..ugh....a dissertation.

Why invest all that time(several years) and money(over $15,000) you ask? I have enough education to get a good job right now. I can be a teacher or administrator anywhere in the state. I take professional development classes and attend conferences to keep me up to date on the latest trends. I can certainly make a living for the rest of my life without taking another class or doing another research paper.

Several things make the idea attractive. I would be in the position to become a school superintendent or some other central office job. The paycheck is considerably larger and more doors would be open to me. I would have the opportunity to have a leadership position that would affect a great many kids. Of course, there is also an ego thing. Having "Dr." appended to your name certainly lends an aura of prestige.

So why hesitate? The time and money commitment would be enormous. Most of my meager resources would go toward paying for my classes and related expenses. I'd be away from the kids more. Even when I'm home I would be spending more time on classwork.

I'm frankly scared at the idea of having to do a doctoral dissertation. Conceiving it, writing it, re-writing it a zillion times, defending it before a college faculty. Me? I'm just a guy who knows a lot of history and is pretty good with kids. Thats rarefied air for me. Could I do it? Would I just fizzle out at the end and fall short?

I'll wrestle with this decision for awhile longer. There is no great hurry. Part of me thinks that if I don't start soon I never will. I'll give it a lot of thought in the next few weeks.

Don't worry though.......I'll still let y'all call me Brian :)
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Its Wednesday already! The week is just flying by and it has been a hectic one.

Testing, testing, and more testing. My week has been consumed with testing. Tomorrow is the makeup day for the state tests. We have around thirty kids that haven't been tested and we simply must get them in school and tested tomorrow. If we don't test "x" number of students it doesn't matter how well we score. Our margin for error is exceedingly small. If those kids don't show up in the morning we will be calling or even paying home visits to get them to school. Its the fourth quarter and the heat is on!

Your Love Style is Eros

For you, love is all about the passion! And chances are, you're currently in love. You have a strong physical response to love... And you are great at committing (As long as the person makes your toes curl!)

I was selected to be one of two members of our faculty honored at the district's Spring Awards ceremony. Support staff, students, and parents will also be honored at a ceremony next week. The fact that I was nominated and elected by the entire faculty is humbling and flattering. There are so many excellent educators that work at our school and I'm honored to be given this award.

Ever used a power washer? I'm stripping the paint off one of my mom's rental houses and the power washer rocks. It is going to save me many hours of stripping paint by hand.

Your Seduction Style: Ideal Lover

You seduce people by tapping into their dreams and desires.And because of this sensitivity, you can be the ideal lover for anyone you seek.You are a shapeshifter - bringing romance, adventure, spirituality to relationships.It all depends on who your with, and what their vision of a perfect relationship is.

Hmmmmm.

The song I couldn't stop singing today? "The Show Must Go On" by Queen. It chronicles Freddy Mercury's battle with AIDS, but I can relate a lot to the lyrics. The show indeed must go on.

Inside my heart is breaking
My make-up may be flaking, but my smile still stays on.
Whatever happens, I’ll leave it all to chance
Another heartache, another failed romance
On and on, does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess I’m learning, I must be warmer now.
I’ll soon be turning, round the corner now
Outside the dawn is breaking
But inside in the dark i’m aching to be free
The show must go on

So how is YOUR week going?
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People who know me well already know this story or at least part of it. I had my own version of "Fatal Attraction" some years ago. It was the strangest involvement I've ever had with a woman, and to this day it haunts me a little.

Rewind to nine years ago. I was months out of my first marriage and was approaching the dating scene again. I was invited to a Valentine's Day dance, set up with a blind date, and double dated with a police officer friend who also had a blind date. Double blind date! I wasn't thrilled by my blind date and spent the evening thinking that I would much rather be with his date. I had known "K" for several years. We'd taken master's degree classes together at night school. She was an administrator in the same school system I worked in. In fact, she was the principal of my son's school. She was very attractive, intelligent, and had a great sense of humor. Whats not to like?

A couple of weeks later I found myself in her office on school business. We talked about the "double date", and by the time the conversation was over I had asked her out on a date. We spent a very nice evening together, laughing and talking until the wee hours of the morning. I also had a long distance dating relationship going with a woman in Louisiana (who I eventually married) and told her about this upfront. She said it wasn't a problem. We were, after all, just old friends who had decided to start dating.

The day after this first date she showed up at my house unannounced. She had bags of gifts in her hands. A stereo for me (I'd mentioned during the conversation that my wife had taken my stereo when she moved out). Sets of clothes for the kids. Toys. Games. I was flattered and grateful but also a bit uneasy. This seemed like way too much. She said, "I just was out shopping and thought I would pick up a few things for you and your kids".

Our second "date" was in the form of a trip to the state basketball championship tournament. A group of administrators from my district were going and we were all going to share a suite in a nice hotel. Shortly after our arrival she whispered to me that she had gotten a room for "just the two of us". I can't deny that I was a bit excited but also a little embarassed. These were my colleagues and direct supervisors we were staying with. But what can you do? We spent the night in the room, attended the basketball tournament the next day, and came home.

Things began to move in many directions that made me uncomfortable and seemed to escalate by the day. She arranged her school's respite program so that I would have babysitting on a weekend night so that we could go out. She called my principal and asked her to send me to out-of-town conferences that she would also be attending. She was waiting at my work each morning I pulled up with breakfast in hand. Cookie and flower boquets began landing on my desk with alarming frequency. She called me at work multiple times a day. She drove 40 miles round trip to surprise me with a take out meal from my favorite restauraunt.

I then began to notice her driving by my house at odd times. I'd look out the window and see her car pass. I lived deep in a residential neighborhood and knew that there was no plausible reason for her to be driving up and down my street. On one occasion she said, "I just happened to be driving by your house last night and saw a red Buick in the driveway". It was my grandmother's car. I didn't like the feeling that I was being watched.

One day she invited me to her school for a meeting of a committee both of us served on. When I arrived in the office her secretary winked at me. I was puzzled but not for long. When I entered her office she told me that the other committee members wouldn't be arriving because they hadn't been invited. She locked both doors and yes....your mind is going in the right direction. She wanted to do the wild thing right there in the office. I could hear kid's voices and footsteps in the hallway. I knew the secretary (whose mother was my secretary!) was in the know. It was a little too much for me and I'm no prude. Repeat it...I'm no prude! She told me about masturbating(and more explicit things) at work. Once again, I'm no prude, but this was a bit much for me. She is the only woman I've ever been with who was more "risque" than I am. That is a strange feeling. Did I mention I'm not a prude? :)

After a few dates, mentions of Las Vegas weddings and children were dropped liberally. She seemed to be everywhere. The flattery I enjoyed and the ego that was enjoying being stroked turned into increasing trepidation. I kept thinking that this lady was fun to go out with...I just needed to dial things back. It didn't work. I started pulling back. She pulled the other direction even harder. This whole little drama playing out right in my hometown.

I decided I wanted to end it but didn't know how. I haven't done many "break ups" and dreaded the thought. I don't like hurting people's feelings and I knew she would be devastated. But I reached the conclusion....this thing just wasn't going to work for me. She couldn't just "date". I gathered up the courage all day and called her one evening. In very gentle tones I told her that things weren't working out, I thought she was wonderful and all, but that I just didn't think it would be wise for us to see each other. She asked if we could be friends and occasionally go out as friends. I said yes and immediately regretted it. The next morning a mega-email was waiting for me with almost desparate pleas. She called my boss and asked her to intercede. She called my close friend. She even called my mom! So I called back and restated what I'd said the night before. God, I hated it. Doing that is just not me. It took one final phone call with me being a lot more brusque than I've ever been with a woman in my entire life to finally end it.

Word spread through my school district that I had "dumped her" and "broken her heart". My own secretary would barely talk to me. I got dirty looks for months from other secretaries and a few teachers. I couldn't explain why I'd done it, so I kept my mouth shut and took the heat. The hard part was that I really liked her and felt bad for how things turned out.

In the ensuing months my relationship with Lee became gradually more serious, and less than a year later I'd be getting married and moving out of state. Now I'm back. I know she is here....she's still employed in the system, but I haven't run into her yet. But I think about it every time I walk into the grocery store or Wal Mart.

Ok, maybe not fatal attraction, but certainly my weirdest ever relationship experience.
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I don't know when it happened, but the word "gay" has become a commonly used perjorative. I hear it all the time at school. "That is soooo gay" is a common refrain. Where did this come from? This bothers me a little more every time I hear it. Why is it acceptable to use a segment of our population as an all-purpose slur?

I wish I could claim that I've always been enlightened when it comes to gay people. When I was growing up the term wasn't even commonly used. As an Oklahoma boy I heard dark references to "homosexuals" or "homos". I didn't actually know anyone that fit that category. "Those people" existed somewhere else....like California. Depending on who you listened to, they were dark, depraved souls or poor, misguided people who went astray. I was an adult before I met anyone who was openly gay. They didn't seem dark or evil to me....they actually seemed like pretty much everyone else.

As a young man I learned to avoid any behavior that might be perceived as "homosexual" or "gay". Patting a teammate on the back in a ballgame was cool. Touching a guy in any other situation was not. Crude talk about girls in the locker room? Better join in lest someone think you were "off". Listen to the wrong kind of music? Look out. God help you if you had a voice that was a little high or had a lilt. Discussion about how disgusting homosexuals were? Think up a few extra adjectives to make sure that you weren't remotely considered "one of them". Girls may not be aware of the unwritten rules of male bathroom behavior. You stand at the urinal and you look at the tiled wall. You don't look to either side if there is another guy there. To do so could lead to school stories about how, "he was looking at my stuff in the bathroom. He's probably gay". This is true even today. I'm so thankful that many restaurants post newspapers above the urinals. A guy can read the baseball scores instead of looking for cracks in the tile.

It is not uncommon for me to see schoolgirls walking down the halls arm-in-arm or even holding hands. They hug and kiss their friends. This is verboten for the guys out there. Most young men, especially, live in fear of being tagged with "being gay". This is the way of the world even though things have improved since my younger days.

I think the biggest revelation for me was to learn that people are not defined exclusively by their sexual behavior. Many people out there engage in various "kinky" behaviors in the bedroom but their identity is not tied to their sexual acts. I would hate to be judged solely by the things I enjoy beind closed doors. I love sex with a beautiful woman and have my own quirks and preferences. Gay people are not given the same luxury. The gay men and women I've met in my life work hard in their jobs, pay taxes, contribute to their community, love their families, and are loyal friends to those they care about. All of us deserve to be judged as individuals. For what we do....for how we treat others.

We are more than who we choose to be with, who we choose to love, and who is in our bed at night. Gay or straight. Rich or poor. Black or white. We all inhabit this little speck of a planet for a very limited time. We should spend that time uplifting each other, respecting each other, and loving each other.
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"Dad, look at this!", Aubree exclaimed excitedly when she hopped into the van Friday afternoon. She waved a piece of paper in front of my eyes as I drove us home. "So what is that?", I asked. She giggled and said, "Its a note from a boy. Its the first time a boy has ever given me a note. It even has his phone number in the note. He's in 5th grade, dad!!"

In fourth grade social circles a girl getting a note from a 5th grade boy is a big deal. This is a boy whose name I've seen and heard before....the honor roll, picture in the paper with the principal, basketball, etc. Apparently he is considered quite the elementary school catch. She told me, "all my friends are soooooooo jealous! I love it that "A" is jealous. She's mean to me and she really likes this boy and he likes me instead".

You know what comes next. "Dad, can I call him please?" I hem-hawed around and she asked, "why couldn't I call him? You call your friends. Why can't I call mine?" I grumbled but relented. First she had to call a girlfriend to get her courage to make the call. Then she sat on my front porch and chatted with young "D" for about 10 minutes.

This may date me a little, but when I was growing up girls just didn't call boys...not good girls anyway. No girl ever called for me at home the entire time I was growing up, not that I had all that many girlfriends. It was understood that making contact was the boy's job. We had to make the call. If you were a shy boy like I was this was a problem. Girls were expected to be demure and wait for those phone calls. Boys and girls learned their respective roles and what was expected from them. I remember my youngest brother receiving phone calls after I was long gone from the home and my mother being outraged by it. "That girl just called here for him. Can you imagine that? Do you think her parents know that she's calling boys?" The times, they were a changin'.

Girls calling boys is widespread and common now. I work with kids and have observed this change over 20 years in teaching/administration. Girls are often the initiators of a relationship now. A high school girl once told me, "if we had to wait for the boys to call, nothing would ever happen. They are too tied up with their computers and video games."

On a personal level I'm not complaining. I've always been attracted to aggressive women and would not be offended at all if a woman called me. Hell, I'd like it. But with my daughter I could feel that upbringing flood back into my head. "You're a girl", I wanted to say. "You don't call boys....they call you". Not to mention the fact that she's only 10 years old. Ten years old! My interest in the opposite sex at that age was limited to finding out if they could play baseball well enough to join our playground games. I attended the same school she attends in 4th grade also. The boys had a "no girls" corner of the playground. The girls of course took great joy in tiptoeing past our chalked lines. We'd yell and chase, and they would giggle and run.

Its not uncommon for her to refer to a guy on TV or in the movies as "hot". Her interest in boys has been steadily and slowly growing right before my eyes. She's so tiny and still seems so young. Is it really time for all this to begin with her?

I know its part of growing up. I guess maybe I'd like to hang on to the little girl that plays with her dolls and video games just a little bit longer.
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Yet another weekend is upon us. Pour a cup of your favorite beverage, lean back in your chair, and enjoy some excellent writing from my favorite bloggers. Sound good? Click ahead!

Cindra wasn’t sure what day it was. Nicole isn’t sure its necessary to shower every day.

Frani was eavesdropping in the hotel lobby. I would’ve liked to have eavesdropped on Faith’s workout session.

Angel was home alone and not sure if she liked it. Caren is pretty sure that she’ll like the next Harry Potter book.

Sally wonders why her senator is so hung up on doggy bag wine. Vince wonders if her sense of smell is TOO good.

Fly Girl has some thoughts about friendship. Chaotic Serenity has some thoughts about her computer breaking down.

Joe Cool has some ambitious projects in mind. Andie’s project? Get rid of those pesky cockroaches.

Grace is supposed to look after herself…its written in the stars. Janine got to look at some awesome sand dunes.

Sallie is learning Macromedia Flash. I wish I could learn to take pictures like Lewis does.

Restless Angel shares a memory about losing a camera while whale watching. Ginger shares some pictures of Scout.

New Wave Gurly has a set of songs that would warm things up. Sounds like a soundtrack for Laine’s latest adventure.

Chuck finishes up his 100 things list. Sleeping Mommy wishes someone would come finish her laundry.

Jack takes my latest post and expands on it. To share or not to share your past with the significant other in your life? I’m glad Liz decided to share some pics of her little one.

Satisfied Spouse thinks about being scrumptious. Gladys thinks about leaving her job.

Erin caught some 8th grade plagiarizers. Ellen wishes she could catch her cats making all those messes! Think hairballs.

Stephanie wonders if there is a ghost in her house. Vegas Baby doesn’t have to wonder how horses drink anymore.

Monica isn’t going to see Pat Green in concert and has a good reason. Blogbudsman has a reason for being skeptical of the prison escapee and the warden’s wife.

Vickie talks about being well grounded. A.J. talks about hitting herself.

Stacey discusses her father’s health. T. Marie discusses her daughter’s procrastination….and her own.

Mary Lou thinks getting older is a gift. Naomi Blue thinks underwriting is boring.

Tara’s blog has a new look. Aka Monty’s house will probably feel different after she gets rid of her stuff in a garage sale.

Babs shares a junior high school memory. Mary wishes she’d remembered her gym bag.

Wanda had some problems with a finicky Jeep. At least it didn’t get broken into like Annabel’s car did.

Phyllis is enjoying the Spring. I enjoyed this childhood pic of Inky.

Anne dreamed of “The One”. Christine dreams of having sex that she wishes she had.

Edge discovered that scars are not all bad…not at all. Shelli discovers that having a bad tooth IS bad.

Wanna know more about tampons? Ask Kim. Wanna know what was on Janet’s report cards? Read about it here.

Charkey has recorded a CD. This playlist of April’s doesn’t sound like it would be a bad CD.

Scorpy had an argument about money. You’d have an argument with the Funky Cowboy if you tried to stop him from going on his cruise!

Kathy was told she needed friends her own age. Steph is headed with a friend to Dallas.

Rachel stays within her safety net. Red Headed Gal is trying to decide whether to keep her children in church.

Wanna know what nutsacks are? Ask Snowball. Wanna know what to do about a paper cut? Ask Veda.

Shirazi discusses dealing with trolls and flamers. Love Donnaz discusses album art.

Spring has sprung. Hopefully our sleep cycles are finally adjusting. Enjoy your weekend my friends. Try not to get into TOO much trouble!
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A friend of mine told me a few months ago, “I don’t think I could be involved in a relationship with someone who had a blog like yours”. She wasn’t crititicizing my content or writing ability. She felt like that someone who shared all their thoughts with the world would have nothing left for the significant other in their life. She felt like that it would take away that special something that couples share. My friend has since recanted that statement, but the question still intrigues me.

I know several types of bloggers out there as it relates to relationships:

The Unattached – People like me. We can write about what we wish without offending the S.O. in our life. We may offend family or friends, but there isn’t a sweetheart out there to object to our words.

Open Books – People whose partners know about their blog. At best they are strong supporters of their mate’s blogging and at worst they are indifferent. I have married couples who are both on my blogroll. Perhaps its just an additional form of communication. Maybe they gain insight by reading what their S.O. writes.

Secret bloggers – their S.O. has no idea their blog exists. Their blog is their domain..their hideout. Perhaps they feel like they can’t write honestly if they know their sweetheart is parsing every syllable. Maybe they want a place to vent.

Of course, there are probably some gray areas in between these.

I know that all of these types of bloggers read this site. I’d be interested in their perspective on this topic.

What if a potential relationship partner feels uncomfortable with your blog? What if they insist that you stop blogging as the price for being involved with them? What if they don’t insist that you stop blogging but just let their displeasure be known? Is personal blogging incompatible with a serious relationship?

What do I think? Writing on my blog has become an important part of my life. I’d hope that if I become seriously involved with someone again that they would respect and encourage that. Is that unfair? Is it being selfish? Or is it reasonable to expect that someone who wants to be involved with you will nurture you in the things you enjoy? I hope that would be the case for me. I wouldn’t want to give this up. I wouldn’t want to be confined to just writing about the weather or world events. I want to share the things that have been roiling about in my mind for the last 40 years. The more I do it, the more I want to do it.

How about the flip side you ask? Would I be ok with having an S.O. who wrote her private thoughts for the world to see? I really think I would. I’d hope I’d be her biggest fan. Perhaps it would be another way to learn from each other and about each other.

Blogging and relationships. How do you make it work? Or do you?

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On Tuesday I headed home from work and drove directly into the middle of a thunderstorm with golf ball-sized hail. Big huge hail chunks pounded on my windshield. KERPLACK! They were hitting so hard that I actually feared my windshield cracking. The rain was pouring down and you could hear the thunder rumbling. I drove through it for about ten minutes....then nothing! Bright sunshine ahead of me and dark storm clouds behind me.

I've been given the task of being responsible for the school wide administration of standardized tests. Yes, it is that time of year. Here's the challenge. The difference between being a school that is "making progress" and a school that is not is a very thin line. A handful of kids can make a huge difference. In order to "pass" the school as a whole has to show an acceptable score. Then multiple subgroups must all show "passing scores" as well. White kids. Native American kids. African American kids. Kids with IEPs. Our school's attendance rate must also "pass". Only then do you get to the promised land of "safe harbor" which means that there are not bureaucrats breathing down the school's neck and more severe consequences if you stay on "the failing list" for multiple years. A handful of kids deciding to play "connect the dots" on their test can cost people their jobs. An administrator like me who allows answer sheets to be sent in that are improperly coded can do the same thing. No pressure at all!

In my early years as a school administrator the solution was simple. Keep the kids who are going to screw up your scores from taking the test. The word came down from high....don't let those kids take the test! A few quiet phone calls to parents did the trick.."don't send Johnny to school for the next couple of days". Alas, the powers that be got wise to this scheme. An extremely high percentage of students MUST take the test. Even the dot-connectors.

I'll be scraping and painting one of my mom's rent houses this weekend for a few extra bucks. I'm a lot cheaper than a professional house painter. Patrick will be my helper. This should be interesting.

Heard in the gym after I hit five jump shots in a row at lunchtime...."Mr. S. has the stroke baby!"

The song that I keep singing to myself lately? The Platters classic "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".

A big melee occurred after school today. Two girls were going to fight! They went a couple of blocks down the street. Dozens of students ran down to see the action. Apparently they just screamed and yelled at each other a lot. Dozens of students ran back to find that they had missed their bus home.

Sometimes I'm guilty of telling the same joke too many times. I told one to the kids as we were pulling into the yard yesterday. They didn't laugh. I said, "you guys getting tired of that joke?". Patrick said, "Dad, it wasn't even funny the first time you told it!"

At the Special Olympics last weekend I sat next to an old family friend who was an assistant principal when I was student teaching about twenty years ago. He was there with his daughter (a few years younger than I am) to see his granddaughter perform. He laughed and told me, "Brian, I remember your first day of student teaching. You didn't have a hair out of place. Now you don't have any hair!" He also told me...twice....that his daughter was single. The second time I saw her roll her eyes. Too funny.

I'm still laughing to myself about a recent conversation with a friend about how mice have sex. Naturally I had to research the subject and came across a website about mouse breeding. Among their recommendations for promoting rodent coupling? Sudden noises can have a detrimental effect on breeding, as can poor air quality. I can understand.

After watching the news, I want to add the Vatican to the places I want to visit before I die. The architecture, the art, the sense of solemnity and history, make this a place that has to go on my list.

Haloscan is being buggy. The post below shows only one comment until you click on comments. Then there are a lot more than one. Whats up with that?

Its pouring down rain outside right now. We used to call storms like this "gully washers". This is definitely a gully washer.

So how is YOUR week going?
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Someone told me recently, "I sense that you have a dark side". Of course she was right. I think most people have a dark side. Not evil. Not sinister. But dark, hidden, unseen by most. That part of us that we don't like others to see. We're ashamed of it. We wish it wasn't there. (Cue up John Cafferty's "On the Dark Side")

So what lurks on my dark side? One thing is anger. It burns deep inside. I don't allow it to come out. I'm angry at my soon-to-be ex wife for what she did to me and these children. Without ignoring my own shortcomings (which are many), I feel the events of last summer were cruel. There are things I just can't write about here. I feel like the history of our marriage and the love I gave to her do not match up with how we were treated. I'm angry that the woman I fell in love with vanished right before my eyes. I can't express this anger. I can't do anything with it. I can't express it to her. Its not my style. So it lurks inside. I feel it burning and I stuff it right back down. I'm ashamed of it. "I'm a nice guy", I tell myself...a "forgive and forget kinda guy". "I'm not a grudge holder", I piously opine to myself. "Just let it go and move on"...I repeat it like a mantra. Most of the time it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

That anger isn't just directed at someone else. Probably more of it is directed at myself. Why couldn't I have done this or that better? Why was I so damn naive? Where is that vaunted intelligence in the area where I needed it the most?

I don't like to admit it, but I'm a brooder. I sometimes need quiet time to think. I feel sorry for myself way too often. That is a trait I don't like in others and I dislike it even more in myself. I have a thirst to understand things that probably can't be understood. I stare out my window for hours at a time. I engage in my fair share of self loathing. I wish I could blame it all on my divorce, but I can't. Its been with me all along. Its not anyone else's fault. Its part of me...a part that I don't much like.

I get out of my car and stride into work a powerful, confident man. I walk out a guy who lacks self confidence. Lack of confidence is part of my dark side. It doesn't come out at work or with the kids. It comes out in relationships. It comes out when I doubt myself as a parent. It comes out in my quiet moments. I hate it but I haven't yet understood how to conquer it. For brief shining moments it goes away. Then it roars back with a vengeance.

The dark side doesn't dominate my life as it did six months ago. I actually have days when it doesn't rear its ugly head. Entire days. Maybe even a couple in a row. Progress in increments....slow steps. I take comfort in that. It probably won't ever go completely away. It never has.

Dark side.....meet the light of day.
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I've been dealing with a situation at work that just baffles me. A female student of mine (lets call her "Student A") saw another girl ("Student B") being friendly with her cousin's boyfriend at a local skating rink. Student A takes umbrage and begins a two week feud of harassing Student B whenever she gets the opportunity. This culminated last week with Student A lying in wait at Student B's bus stop, following her down the street screaming profanities, and finally assaulting her in the front yard of Student B's house. Student B has scratches and bruises all over the place.

Just another girl feud, right? A kid fight? I wish it were so. Student A's mother followed her daughter down the street and into Student B's yard. She stood on the street watching approvingly while her daughter pummeled this other child in her own yard. When another girl tried to pull Student A off of her friend, mom entered the yard screaming and yelling. At first, the girl trying to help thought, "at last, an adult here to help out". Not quite. The mother restrained the other girl from breaking up the fight and repeatedly yelled, "Kick her ass! Kill her!" It took an adult male neighbor to come across the street and pull her daughter off the other girl.

I took some tough disciplinary action against Student A today. I had spent several days investigating this incident and consulting with the local police department. The school may take disciplinary action against students for "off campus behavior" if such behavior has the potential to cause violence or disruption in the school. This is a gray area of school law, but I believe I have the facts to back up the action. Student A's mother and father screamed, cursed, yelled, and even threatened the other girl in my presence. *Sigh*

In between their yelling and cursing I pointedly told Student A's mother that she was putting herself at legal risk by encouraging and abetting her child to commit illegal acts. Isn't it our job to teach our kids a better way to solve problems? I feel sorry for the child. What is she learning through all this? To me, this borders on child abuse.

Kids are our most awesome responsibility. Our kids grow up with the basic values we inculcate in them. Very close to the top of those values should be the idea of treating others with basic decency and respect. Using our brain to solve problems. Knowing when to walk away. Understanding when its time to ask for help.

What a world we live in, eh?
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Aka Monty has a fun little game going on over at her place. She picks five bloggers from her blogroll, describes them in one word, does an image search on that word, and links to the image. Since she came up with something for me, and I love being called "eloquent", I'll play along here today! Feel free to join in.


Aka Monty- my word is "vivacious". Click here.

Ellen - is inspiring. Click here to see.

Laine is intriguing. You must click here!

Satisfied Spouse is most definitely insatiable. This sums it up.

Red Headed Gal is determined. How bout this?

That was kinda fun. I might do it again soon!
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When Edge speaks, I listen. So I couldn’t pass up this book challenge from him.

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

I think I’d choose “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck. The story of the Joad family’s struggle during the Great Depression has always struck a chord with me. Facing desperate circumstances the Joads never give up their basic human dignity and pride. We saw this in Nazi concentration camps. We saw it during the Cold War. We see it today in people struggling to be free. The lesson is powerful to me….no matter what happens you don’t lose track of who you are and where you came from.

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

I’ve had crushes on many of them. Its not all that uncommon for me to fall for a character in a book or a movie. One that jumps to mind is Darby Shaw in John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief”. I liked her tenacity, intelligence, and determination. I’m not a huge fan of Julia Roberts, but I thought she was sexy playing this role in the movie.

The last book you bought is:

I just bought four on Friday night using my Barnes & Noble gift certificate from Christmas. I chose to indulge in pure fun with these selections

“Emperor, The Death of Kings” by Conn Iggulden – a fictional novel about Julius Caesar
“The Second Chair” by John Lescroart – a courtroom thriller.
“One False Move” by Alex Kava – a story about a mother/son scam team.
“The Last Days” by Joel Rosenberg – a thriller centered on a Middle East peace plan.

The last book you read:

Go ahead and yawn now. I just finished “Exceeding Expectations, A User’s Guide to Implementing Brain Research in the Classroom” by Susan Kovalik. The book focuses on using modern brain research to a teacher’s advantage in classroom instruction.

What are you currently reading?

“Your Nine Year Old” by Louise Bates Ames. A book that focuses on the development, discipline, and understanding of a typical nine year old. I found some good tidbits for dealing with my kids.

Five books you would take to a deserted island…and why?

Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary – If I’m going to be stuck on an island, I might as well improve my vocabulary. I could play Frisbee with the CD Rom

Naughty Stories from A to Z (by Alison Tyler) – It gets lonely on this island and I can at least READ about being with a woman. It could be a comfort. It could also drive me stark, raving mad.

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (by William Shirer) When I’m not stimulating my vocabulary or my libido, I can turn to the greatest account of Hitler’s Germany ever written. Its also very long and I have nothing but time on my hands, right?

Holy Bible, New Living Translation – I’ve never read the Bible in its entirety. The solitude of my little island might be a good time to start. I can think about my spirituality while staring at my navel and drinking coconut juice.

The Unabridged William Shakespeare – I’ve read a lot but I haven’t read them all. Its been a very long time since I’ve read any Shakespeare at all. To be or not to be?

Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

Aka Monty – because I know she’s a reader and she tagged me with her image game. She’s also very cool and has good taste.

Vince – because she’s going to be a librarian and I’m curious whats on HER shelves.

Veronica – because I think her reading list would be interesting.
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I spent the better part of today at the regional Special Olympics in Tulsa. Patrick left early this morning, and Aubree and I drove over a little while later. If you've never been to Special Olympics you don't know what you are missing. I've been before and have never failed to be moved. Today was even more special. My son was a competing athlete.



The sheer enormity of the event is something to behold. There are hundreds of athletes there of all different ages. All of them wear different t-shirts signifying their school or organization. The smell of grilled hamburgers wafts through the air. It was a warm day without a cloud in the sky. A slight breeze made it very comfortable to sit in the bleachers and enjoy the sights.



Patrick competed first in the softball throw. In a field of five he came in 2nd place. Yay! We broke for lunch and I gave Patrick and several of his friends a ride down to Mazzios. We chowed on some pizza and watched a high school slam dunk contest on television. Then it was back to the track for the afternoon competition. The 50 meter dash. I helped him stretch in the bleachers and sent him out to compete. In a field of six he took a 3rd place ribbon.



You can't measure the excitement my son felt today. He's never done anything like this in his life. He was part of a team. He was competing against other kids. He was doing his best. He cheered his teammates on during their races. He was part of something. He carried himself with pride.



Perhaps just as exciting was Aubree's attitude. She wanted to go and spend her day there. She gave Patrick advice on how to run a race. She took his picture and posed for pictures with him. She met and played with his friends. When it came time for his race she yelled, "Go Patrick!" from the sideline and ran the race beside him in the sidewalk parallel to the track.



I felt waves of emotion as I watched heat after heat of young people striving to do their best and the roar of the crowd with each race. The excited parents and friends yelling their hearts out. The looks on the faces of those kids can't be described. There was more heart and soul on that track than I've seen in a very long time.

I was proud of my son today. I wouldn't be any prouder if he were competing for a national championship. Thats my boy!


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The weekend is here. Yay! Hooah! I have a busy weekend ahead as I know many of you do. When you have some quiet time....lets hit some of these posts by the internet's best bloggers:

Janet found some new bloggers. Janine found a new way to print cool pics from her digital camera.

Blogbudsman zeros in on zero tolerance. Stacey was pretty tolerant when her daughter called her a "creep".

Who runs the show at Chaotic Serenity's house? It sounds like the cats do. I wonder if the hamsters will run the show at Restless Angel's house?

Laine is restless and looking for more. FlyGirl was ovulating and didn't have to look far for what she wanted.

Shirazi has a worthy cause to support. Veronica is a supporter of the Pope even if she is no longer a practicing Catholic.

Monica was caught up in the middle of a Catch-22. I got caught up trying to figure out the songs in Red Headed Gal's "Name That Tune".

Cedia reviews some movies. Caren reviews the government's advice about sexuality and finds it lacking.

Cindra went on a road trip. Stephanie might like to send her cyber/gossiping coworker/stalker on a long trip too.

Faith shows off her tatoo. Anne shows off her favorite songs list.

Joe Cool is expanding his horizons. Pselby's horizon never leaves out "West Wing".

Vickie pays tribute to "Steel Magnolias." Charkey pays tribute to cookies.

T Marie wonders where all the knights and cowboys are. New Wave Gurly wonders how Superman pees.

Jack discusses the impact of having children on your sex life. Thomai discusses springtime, fertility, and renewal.

Aka Monty wonders about you if you want to know more about her. Want to know where Sweety is going on vacation? Follow the clues.

Veda got curious about Judaism and went looking for information. Vegas Baby shares some information about dogs.

Frani agreed to a Kirby vacuum sales demonstration. Chuck agreed to share some things about himself including tidbits on monogamy and threesomes.

April doesn't like April Fools Day. Joan doesn't like hugging.

Steph left a ball game early. *Gasp*. Vince might be leaving her job to write about cashmere sweaters.

Love Donnaz has learned to like curling. I hope Dawn likes her new hair color.

Mystic Spirit loves the rain. I love this picture of Mary Lou visiting the Easter Bunny.

Tara's birthday is coming up and she's already excited. I'm excited to see Inky posting in her new digs.

Want more "Name That Tune"? Check out Grace's lyrics. Want to know what turns men and women off? Check out Kim's post. That teeth thing always gets me.

Kathy received some comic relief at a tragic time. I think it might've been comical to see Sleeping Mommy throw a shoe in the Wal Mart parking lot.

Molly wonders where you'd rather work. Shelli wonders what you'll think of her first videoblog. I think its way cool.

Satisfied Spouse is satisfied again. Diana is going to do some spring cleaning...right after she finishes getting some wire for her bead bracelets.

Rachel has a new haircut and got called a "MILF"! Katriana is getting a new piano...among other things.

John considers what the media obsesses on these days. Christine was obsessing over a construction worker. Maybe not obsessing....just lusting.

Gladys hopes she'll have a different job some day. Jennifer is just hoping for any job right now.

Scorpy gives us a Friday feast. Ellen gives us a smile when we read of the generosity of her coworkers.

Darla feels a storm blowing into her life. Rev. Brandy shares her feelings about performing weddings.

Edge enjoys the great wild outdoors. Andie enjoys cooking bacon in the oven.

Babs wonders if anyone still drinks whole milk. Bobby wonders why he got email from his mom....seven years after her death.

Ok my friends....its a weekend and officially springtime. Enjoy every minute of it.
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