rain and comments

I complain that I don't get any comments on my blog - If truth be told, I don't relish comments as much as praise for my brilliance.  Apparently, nobody feels the need to lavish praise down upon me.  This is fine because I really don't expect the New York Times to start following this missive proclaiming me heir to a Pulitzer Prize for Literature.  I'll try to suffer in silence.   (Too late.)
.
Yesterday, I did get a comment.  It had absolutely nothing to do with the blog.  Some guy named Steve expounded upon his views on global warming ( if there is such a thing - my words, not his)  and the roll God has in the process.  That's fine.   But it has nothing to do with what I do here.  If this were a blog on all things environment, hey, (in the words of Yoda)  welcome he would be.  It's not.  He's not.  and we move on to bore readers in other areas.  But this Steve is certainly welcome to follow this blog and learn what he may learn.
.
It is raining in Corsicana.  Thursday.  I predicted it would rain on Thursday.  I made the prediction last weekend.  On Richland-Chambers Lake we are under a two day a week  ( I think that should have a hyphen or three   "two-day-a-week" ) watering schedule. We water on Thursday and Sunday.  Thus, naturally, if it is going to rain, it has to do it on Thursday or Sunday.  'Tis a bit akin to washing your car or planning a picnic.
.
My little Liesl is afraid of thunder.  We are having an emotional run-off here inside the mansion.Close time.  More thunder.  More hugs.
.
Later.
mtz

Inservice - a reason to retire early

In Texas we have a band director's Yellow board where directors write in and ask questions or make comments.  I say "we" but I have nothing to do with it.  Some director runs it.  He seems to be very level headed and  runs a tight ship.  I enjoy reading the Yellow Board daily, sometimes adding comments to other questions.
.
My daughter Laura re-enters the teaching world this year.  On Monday she has inservice training. Training is required by the State and local people.  New concepts are introduced - teachers get to meet each other - bosses (not all) get to show their muscles so you won't make waves during the year.  All in all, I have NEVER been to an inservice that amounted to anything good.
.
Some band director posted this comment on the Yellow Board.  I loved the thoughts.  I certainly hope the Yellow Board is not copy writed and  I am breaking any laws by posting this.    His website is listed below.  Go visit it and buy something off their advertisers.
.
She starts Monday. I told her to sit with the band directors on Monday - it might help the day go better. 

website: http://members3.boardhost.com/TexasBands/

=============================================================

worst inservice Posted by bored in Texas on 8/13/2015, 2:46 pm I am sitting through 6 hours of being lectured about testing data....what is the worst inservice you've had to endure?? =====================

Posted by GD on 8/13/2015, 9:16 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " Around 1990, TEA sent a video to all the schools concerning the teacher appraisal system. It was probably 2 hours of a talking head..."now, let's look at indicator 4.12." =======================

Posted by texasoverseas on 8/14/2015, 5:28 am, in reply to "Re: worst inservice " Was that the guy sitting in an easy chair wearing pink socks? ========================= Posted by Lol on 8/13/2015, 5:49 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " My Inservice is fun. We had to lip sync songs in groups and our principal did one to Seussical. =========================

Posted by How about these... on 8/13/2015, 4:50 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " First year of teaching: Eight hours of training on a Saturday about teaching bilingual math. There were over 20 teachers; only one taught math. Years later, I'm with about 100 teachers at an inservice about using computers to teach English and math. Presenter says, "So, how many of you teach English or math?" No one. Not a single soul. Finally, there's coming to school on a work day to discover that you will spend all day learning about Coaching. That happened three times, and it was the same material each time. =============================

Posted by I think... on 8/13/2015, 5:09 pm, in reply to "Re: worst inservice " ....we have a winner here! ================================

Posted by Director 3:16 on 8/13/2015, 4:50 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " Any inservice that I'm forced to sit through, and is completely irrelevant to the band world. For example, this is one that always catches me about every other year. The district brings in an "expert" who talks ad nauseum about classroom strategies. As the rest of the faculty are salivating over how amazing the guy sounds, I raise my hand, and ask them, "How would this need to be modified so it could be implemented in a performance ensemble setting, such as marching band, or string orchestra?" After about 30 seconds of uncomfortable silence, they would say, "I dunno, I don't have a clue." I think to myself, "The 'expert' doesn't know how to work in an unstructured classroom setting? Thank you for wasting my day." =================================

posted by lol on 8/13/2015, 7:49 pm, in reply to "Re: worst inservice " My principal would say "Well we are buying into this as a campus since we want vertical alignment" and then force us to use writing prompts as exit tickets to our class... ================================

Posted by Director 3:16 on 8/13/2015, 9:56 pm, in reply to "Re: worst inservice " That's when I'd say, "Vertical alignment? I'm the ONLY music teacher in the district! Yeah, buying into it as a campus...until next year when we buy into whatever the next schmuck is pedaling." Obviously, I would not recommend saying this out loud unless you have some serious stroke in the district. ===============================

Posted by Good one... on 8/13/2015, 3:39 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " We have Scott Lang coming tomorrow for ours... I am actually looking forward to this inservice. ============================== Posted by Hank Scorpio on 8/13/2015, 3:06 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " My first year teaching the Superintendent read us a children's book in its entirety. ========================

posted by Hmmm on 8/13/2015, 3:04 pm, in reply to "worst inservice " This is a hard one to choose: Bert Simmons Rep that insulted teachers and resulted in teacher arguing with them and getting reprimanded... that one was interesting. I consider everything with John Samara to be right up there... That may count for worse, not sure. Umm... Then you have Kagan Structures... Of course Marzano's is always an enjoyable one... I think I've only ever had one day, maybe, of this crap that I didn't bash my head against the table. Not looking forward to starting these meetings! Very little, if anything pertains to band without doing a lot of BS'ing to make it work. Thank God I have a principal who leaves me alone!

tax - last post

We just went through our State of Texas tax free weekend.  In a post years back I explained that  I buy jeans on this weekend.  My jeans are numbered by date purchased on the inside of the right pocket  - lose you?   I take a marks a lot and write the purchase date on the inside of the pocket.  It doesn't fade with washing.
.
When I retired, I owned one pair of jeans.  I never wore them.  So over the years, I have built a collection of different colored jeans.  I have tried to honor one of my favorite people, but have not been able to find any Green Jeans.  
.
I don't buy any of those holy - oops - wholy - or is it wholie - ones with Holes in them. That seems stupid to buy a new pair of jeans that already has a hole in it.  For years I had a problem buying faded jeans instead of washing my own (my wife does this for me) and let them fade naturally.  So, I have a new pair of black jeans and a pair of faded blue.  I wanted to buy a baby blue faded pair, but couldn't find any.  Maybe next year.
.
This was the year for me to buy socks - 10 pair.   Maybe next year will be the time to buy fresh unmentionables.  I need some undies that are printed with the names of the week.  Then, I wouldn't have to decide which pair to get out of the drawer.  We'll discuss colors later.
.
This tax free weekend is accompanied by a list of products which are free.   School supplies - clothes - backpacks - so forth.  Screwdrivers?  not so much.  Can openers - maybe so if you are attending a cooking school.  
.
I got an email from our local candy factory yesterday.  Russell Stover's candy company.  They try to get people to order chocolate online.  But their premise this time was getting ready for the start of school.  Now that makes sense.  Let's all go stock up on chocolate so we'll be ready for school.

So, So, I was chatting with the spouse about all of this when it came to me that we are missing a bet.  The state of TX needs to install other tax free weekends for different type of products.  It would be a boon to our economy.
.
First of all:   Dark Chocolate tax free weekend.
For the guys:  Tools tax free weekend.
Quilters  (to appease my wife):   Sewing materials tax free weekend.
Senior Citizen tax free weekend.
The possibilities are numerous.
----
aside:  yesterday's post about the scam email - it was legit.  I wrote them, and they replied timely.  good company.
----
Time to take dogs out - good night all.
m

Hover

Very short.
this blog goes through a company called Hover.  I never have problems with them.
I received an email tonight from Hover saying my password had been changed.  So, I came here and signed on.  Nope, it didn't give me a problem - the password hasn't changed - So is it a SPAM or a SCAM.  I don't know.  Over and out.
m

Medical

While Monday was fun picking up the dogs, today is not a fun day.
I see my GP  (doctor)  twice a year to have blood test for the A1C  - something diabetics do on a regular occasion.  Today is the day. 
.
He talks.  He prods.  He pokes.  He uses a rubber glove  (once a year only).  We chat.  I have blood drawn.  I really like this doctor.  He is above par.   First of all I believe he could have been a concert pianist or some degree.  His brother was a band director in the HEB area and now teaches trumpet on the side at SMU  (he retired & does this now).  He talks softly and intelligently.
.
I am really not one to cultivate friends.  Somehow, it never seems to work out.  I don't make enemies - not that - and sure, I have friends - some very good ones - but I am awkward when it comes to social settings such as inviting people over for dinner or going out with another couple.  We have done this with one local couple.  But, I am really not good at it.  I want to be.  
.
I believe the good doctor would be someone who would be good to socialize with; but, there is the problem of socialization with someone who knows you - and I really do mean the word "Know."
.
So I move on.  Time to get ready for the prods and the pokes ....
.
While I am here, I would like to mention that my previous next door neighbor, Lelanie Petty, has just been diagnosed with a stage 2 to 4 brain tumor.  She is also our insurance agent.  This whole thing just makes me mad.  Lelanie is holed up at Baylor hospital (Dallas) waiting test results.  They cut open her head yesterday and removed a fist-size tumor.  Why do bad things have to happen to good people?  Makes me mad.

fun day

One might think this was a fun day.  One might not.
We returned last night from San Antonio where we watched the Southwest championship of the DCI - drum corps international ... in the alamodome.  We got to see about 25 different corps from all over the US.  Garfield - no wait - the Cadets from Allentown, PA came in first followed really closely by the Blue Devils.  Those of you into this activity will know what I am reporting.   The Cadets were originally (I think) from Garfield, NJ.  Then, I suppose, when better funding was necessary, they became the Cadets of Bergen County (NJ).  Sometime they made the switch over to Allentown.  Interesting (to me).   
.
We stayed in SA motels for two nights.  I can say that both motels are lacking.  The Best Western Garden something has a problem that I cannot touch here.  The La Quinta on Toepperwein has mold growing in the bathtub and toilet area.  I may touch more on that in a bit.
.
What made the day fun was that we picked up our dogs from the Vet after 3 days of boarding.  I miss the dogs when they go on vacation.  It was fun picking them up and being loved again.  Yes, Oscar & I played ball twice today.  I just gave every dog a new squeaky dog toy - Oscar got a squeaky ball.  We are in Heaven.  As an add-on:  Oscar played with the ball from 4:30 until 10:30 non-stop.  The squeaker has finally died; but, he doesn't care.  Oscar loves the new ball more than food itself.
.
2 asides here:
1.  We have taken Bruno to the Vet twice recently and this time makes #3.   All 3 times, that is ALL THREE TIMES, Bruno "Woos" on the floor of the waiting room.  (If you don't know the word Woo - it is explained in a previous posting  - dogs  wee and woo.   If they do both at the same general time, it is called a Woopee.)   Each time he wooed, the little girl has to come out of the back and pick it up and MOP the floor.  Bruno doesn't care at all.
2.  When they led the dogs out of the back room, Greta and Liesl were first.  I hooked them up and led them to the car.  I picked up Liesl and put her in the back seat (short legged dogs don't jump into cars usually).  I turned around and Greta was squatting on the street, doing her job.  Normally, Greta wets for about 5 seconds - she has a small bladder.  This time she wet and wet and wet - I stood and waited.  Meanwhile the other two dogs were brought out of the building.  Greta was still wetting.  I swear she held the pose with water puddling for a full minute.   I am wondering if she wet even once over the 3 days they were kept.
.
later

Another month of fun

7-10-15
Everytime I come on here, I swear that I will write more frequently.   Everytime, I fail.  Does this mean I am some type of loser - or does it mean, that I have little incentive to write more often - more money, more praise, more acceptance to my brilliance, add other "mores" here.______________________________________________________
.
Lots of water has gone over the bridge since I last wrote during the middle of June.   Most recent first.  I bought a house in Waxahachie.  We are not planning to move there; it will become a rent house.  I calculated (with my phone calculater) that I could bring more cash home with a rental than I could with some of my stocks.  So I cashed some in - bit the bullet so to speak - and became a slum lord.  The rest of the story.....
.
Now I am spending time in Wax-your-hachet working on the place and getting the business taken care of that a rent house demands.   The rest of the story.....
.
My daughter Laura has been hired as the elementary music teacher in Blooming Grove.  She is so excited to get back to teaching.  I am excited that she is returning to her music roots.   But, living in Cisco prior to the hire, requires her to move back to this part of the country.   She raises rabbits, not to eat, but to love.  Her number is down to 10 now. Apparently there are lots of other people doing this cause she can sell a baby rabbit for $30 to $50 or more.  It is hard to believe for an old trumpet player.
.
Her husband Tom works for the post office out there.  He applied for a transfer and will move in another month or so.
.
Where does one live when they have a dog, 10 rabbits and a bunch of rabbit cages.  That is a tough one.  Apartments are not good.  A bunch of soul searching and thankin'  (thinking for those up north) brought me to the rent house idea.  After all, who would be the best FIRST tenant than your own, employed, daughter and son-in-law?  Yeah, if they were bums, it would be a bit different.
.
Thus part of the past month has been in buying the house - moderate work on it - daughter moving ... and, this brings us to Son Roger.
.
Roger and wife Penney have brought their girls up in the soft ball world.  Their oldest Megan, now in high school, plays on a team that signed up for a soft ball tournament in Taylor.   My oldest daughter Christine lives in Round Rock, just down the road from Taylor.  So - if you are following this - we fired up the motorhome and drove to Rd Rk parking in the old Settler's RV park next to Dell Diamond.  It is an RV park.  Not any fancy stuff.   We parked there - Rog and Pen plus the two youngest girls stayed in the RV while wife & I stayed over in Christine's house.
.
And for two days we went to the ballgames.  I missed a couple.  It was a good outing me thinks.
.
If you have kept up with me over the years, you know that we have a Grammy Camp each summer, usually in August.  Since Megan is a marching band member, she begins marching practice in August.  It came to me in a flash (with a little wife help), after the tournament, load the girls up and take them with us - GRAMMY CAMP!!
But, wait, Laura's moving at this time.
Solution:  We took the girls with us - home - on a Sunday.   Monday we helped Laura get settled (all girls and us).  Tuesday, we RV'd the girls to Galveston for a couple of fun days on the beach. They seemed to have a good time on Galveston Island.    Being raised in the Panhandle, the girls had never seen the Ocean (Gulf) and waves and seagulls and shells.  Which reminds me, they had so much fun throwing food in the air for the Gulls.  They would step on the beach - one seagull in sight - throw food up - 30 to 50 seagulls magically appeared out of nowhere.  Amazing.
.
I watched a guy get out of his car on the beach with a big white bucket.  He took a net out of the bucket and walked into the sea up to his waist.  The man threw the hand net out into the water and pulled it back in with the rope.  He turned around, walked out of the water, dumped a fish into his bucket, and drove off.  One throw, One fish.   Amazing.
.
We worked our way home on a Friday meeting Roger and Penney.  Sat., that family was off.  They toured Cowboy Stadium and went to a Ranger's game in the evening - 4th of July Fireworks and all.   They returned to our house between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m.   After sleeping the morning away, they loaded up their car and returned to their home.   I think Grammy Camp was good this year. Next year I am thinking we should take them to Colorado or Arizona or Timbuktu.
.
Last stone.  This week we drove to Waxa and gave moral support to Laura as she test drived - test droved - tested by driving cars.  Her old 1998 Ford Explorer was on its last leg and headed for $4000 and up repairs.  It was time to let it go.  She ended up with a nice Chevy Equinox, red.  Her old car was gone.
.
Our experience in the Waxahachie Ford House was miserable.  The salesman was a nice kid.  His idea of a test drive was:  He drove us down I-35 eventually stopping.  He let Laura turn it around and drive it back to the Ford House.  We thanked him and explained that her husband had to be brought into the conversation.  Fine.  Wham.  Out came his boss.  This clown was aggressive and insulting to any intelligent human.  Finally, I just stopped and told him that he was being too aggressive, and we needed to leave until she could talk to her husband.   The guy was truly a jerk. If I ever buy another Ford, his store won't see my shadow.
.
Other things have happened in the past month.  Those stones will have to wait.  I am going up the hill to get the mail and my newspaper.  See Ya, Guys.
m