Tales from the Road and All That Jazz...

More Exeter Murals

2010-08-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

A continuation of pictures of murals from Exeter, CA.

Exeter CA Murals

2010-08-08T19:25:00.001-07:00

Located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley at the foothills to the Sequoia National Park is Exeter, California. One of the unique things about Exeter is the murals that decorate the town. At the current time there are 27 different murals around town.

Here are just a few of these murals;

Why Music Matters

2010-08-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

Jack Stamp - Why Music Matters

This is a great audio by composer, Jack Stamp, on the importance of music in our schools.

Gastown, Vancouver Canada

2010-08-05T17:51:00.001-07:00

Established the same year Canada became a nation Gastown grew into Canada's third largest city. There is no mistaking Gastown for any other area of Vancouver.

Stroll down the cobble stone streets. Explore historic buildings. Enjoy shopping.

Entrance to Gastown

Steam Clock

To check out the history of Gastown go to http://www.gastown.org/history/index.html

Vancouver Canada

2010-08-04T21:37:00.001-07:00

While in Vancouver for the Sanctuary Experience Convention I did a little sight seeing around Vancouver. It was about a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the water front where we caught the water taxi to Granville Island.

The Sanctuary Experience Raises $90,000 for Charity

2010-08-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

"The Sanctuary Experience" was the first convention for the fans of "Sanctuary". The event was put on by GABIT Events Ltd. It took place in Vancouver BC Canada July 30 - August 1, 2010. Guests at the event included Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler, Martin Wood, Robin Dunne, Christopher Heyerdahl, Ryan Robbins, Agam Darshi, Robert Lawrenson and Chuck Campbell. In keeping with GABIT's main ethos of concentrating their efforts on raising moeny for charity this weekend was all about Sanctuary for Kids.

During the course of the weekend $90,000 was raised for Sanctuary for Kids.

Amanda Tapping & Damian Kindler

Martin Wood, Amanda Tapping & Damian Kindler

Damian Kindler & Ryan Robbins

Christopher Heyerdahl & Robert Lawrenson

Christopher Heyerdahl & Ryan Robbins

Ryan Robbins & Agam Darshi

Robert Lawrenson & Chuck Campbell

Chuck Campbell

GABIT Organizer - John

GABIT Organizer - Julia

For more information on Sanctuary for Kids go to www.sanctuaryforkids.org

Comic Con 2010 a few final pictures

2010-07-28T22:24:00.001-07:00

Today brings the last of my Comic Con 2010 pictures.

Lines waiting to enter the Convention Center

Lines to Ballrooms Upstairs

Legos

Simpsons

More Legos

Green Lantern

Transformers

Avengers

Tearing Down the Exhibit Hall

Comic Con 2010 Convention Floor Photos

2010-07-27T19:15:00.001-07:00

Today I bring you pictures from the Comic Con's Exhibit hall floor 2010. You have everything from Lego's, to costume characters, Muppet's, and Marvel Thor display.

Marvel Thor

Costumes Abound

Lego's

More Costumes

Woody & Buzz in Lego's

Sideshow Collectibles

Costume Superheroes in front of DC Booth

Snoopy

Muppet's

Marvel - Thor Display

Avatar

Comic Con 2010 more Images...

2010-07-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

On Day 5 I finally got a chance to head outside of the convention center during the day. My goal was to visit Cafe Diem and the Hard Rocks gift shop for a Eureka T-shirt.

Here are some images of my trip to Cafe Diem.

Crowds Outside Convention Center

Hotel across the street from Convention Center in Gaslamp District

Hotel Shuttle Bus Arriving

Local News Crew

Crowds waiting to cross the road

My Goal Cafe Diem by Syfy at the Hard Rock

Another Shuttle Bus this one with Dexter wrap

Comic Con 2010 Day 3 & 4

2010-07-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of Comic Con gave use pre-view night. The hall was to open at 5:01 pm but due to some booths not being ready to open and many fork lifts still on the the convention hall floor at 5:00 it was not until 5:38 pm before the convention opened to attendees.

Day 4 was the first full day of activities and panels began. I went to see Danny Elfman first thing before returning to the booth.

Below are pictures from Day 3 & 4 of Comic Con 2010 -

Comic Con 2010 Day 2

2010-07-20T23:28:00.001-07:00

Day 2 of Comic Con is all about setting up your booth in the exhibit hall. Here are a few pictures of what it looked like around our booth today starting early in the morning and progressing through the day as the booths started to take shape. Tomorrow morning everyone will be moving at top speed to finish getting the booths set-up and ready for pre-view night to start at 5:01 PM.

Comic Con 2010 Day 1

2010-07-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

This was the scene today at the Harbor behind the convention center at the site of the 2010 San Diego Comic Con as dealers were unloading there product. Product is unloaded and then placed onto pallets, wrapped and then moved into the convention center by the Freeman. This process all starts the Monday before Comic Con begins. It will continue on Tuesday as dealer begin setting up their booths inside the convention center.

Portait of a Millionaire

2010-04-10T22:55:00.000-07:00

In the first chapter of their book "The Millionaire Next Door" Stanley & Danko ask the questions; Who is the prototypical American millionaire? What would he/she tell you about themselves?

I found some of their answers to be very interesting and a few surprising. Here is a sample of their findings;

I am a fifty-seven-year-old male, married with three children.
About one in five of us is retired. About two-thirds of us who are working are self-employed.
About half of our wives do not work outside the home. The number one occupation for those wives who do work is teacher.
Our household's total annual realized (taxable) income is $131,000, while our average income is $241,000.
We have an average household net worth of $3.7 million.
We live well below our means. We wear inexpensive suits and drive American-made cars.
Most of our wives are planners and meticulous budgeters.
We are fastidious investors. On average, we invest nearly 20 percent of our household realized income each year.

This has been an interesting book to read and can change some of the misconceptions one might have about millionaires or becoming a millionaire. The average millionaire does not ride around in a big fancy car or live in a big mansion. The title of the book really does say it all.

Gerry Mulligan

2010-04-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Gerry Mulligan was born in New York on April 6, 1927. Mulligan first studied piano at the age of seven, and then began studying clarinet. He studied saxophone with Sam Correnti, who encouraged him to begin arranging.

As arranger, composer, saxophonist, and conductor, he has played a vital role in the history of modern jazz and contemporary music. Mulligan has performed with such jazz immortals as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Lester Young, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Jack Teagarden, Dave Brubeck, and Billie Holliday.

Mulligan's pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the more important cool jazz groups.

Check out this Youtube Video of Gerry Mulligan on Baritone saxophone

Wonder Con 2010

2010-04-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

Wonder Con 2010

I attended my first Wonder Con this year to help out a friend working in her booth in the exhibit hall. Wonder Con is run by the same people that run Comic Con International. It is a much smaller convention than Comic Con.

On Saturday we had Claudia Christian in the booth signing autographs. She was very energetic and a lot of fun. The picture below is one she took of the two of us. She took a number of pictures during the day. The booth across the isle from of us was Dantes Inferno and the guy that ran that booth was very cool. That is not a video game I would want to play but I did take a picture of the statue from the booth.

I loved the make-up on the family that was dressed like the planet of the apes so I took a picture of them as well. While I did have a fun weekend I'm glad the weekend is coming to an end and I'm ready to head home tomorrow.

Statue from Dantes Inferno Booth

Planet of the Apes

Claudia Christian

Nat "King" Cole

2010-04-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

Nathaniel Adams Cole known professionally as Nat "King" Cole start his professional musical career as a jazz pianist. He owes most of his musical fame to his baritone voice which he sang with Big Band and jazz genres. He was one of the first black Americans to host a television variety show.

Check out this early video of Nat "King" Cole performing "Caravan" from YouTube

Quote of the Day

2010-03-30T23:14:00.001-07:00

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

CJSF Central Region Spring Conference

2010-03-29T22:36:00.001-07:00

California Junior Scholarship Federation

Founded in 1967, CJSF fosters high standards of scholarship, service and citizenship in the Junior High School grades.

The 2010 Central Region Spring Conference was held at Fresno Pacific University on Saturday March 27. The title of the conference was "A Day at the Fair" and included fair themed sessions and events at lunch.

A few of the sessions for the day included: "No Clowns Allowed! Make-up techniques and tips", "FPU Campus Tour", "Your Ticket to the Big Time: College Planning", "It's Magic!"

It was a great mixture of different activities. Lunch was in FPU cafeteria and then after lunch they had cotton candy, popcorn, and snowcones outside on the lawn. While they were serving the treats outside the students had the chance to play a few rounds of a cake walk game. My students walked away with almost all of the prizes from the cake walk. So we had treats to eat in the vans on the way back home after the last event was over.

The closing ceremony included a game of Brain Brawl between two High School CSF teams. My students loved watching that and commented about how they hope to do this when they are in high school. Then the CJSF Huhn nominees were announced. After all 15 nominees were introduced and a short bio read on each one then the five winners were announced. This was followed by the CSF Seymour Award winner being announced. It was then time to say our goodbyes and head home for the day. All the students agreed it was a fun day and the 7th grade students asked if we would be returning again next year. I said we would have to wait and see when the conference is held and were it is held next year but if possible then yes we would return again in the future.

Cake Walk Take

Tenor Giants

2010-03-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

John Coltrane

John Coltrane was always surrounded by music. He started off playing the E flat horn and clarinet and then in high school influenced by the likes of Lester Young and Johnny Hodges he switched to the alto saxophone. He was called to military service during WWII, where he performed in the U.S. Navy Band in Hawaii.

After the war he began playing the tenor saxophone. His work with the Miles Davis Quintet in 1958 would lead to his own musical evolution. " Miles music gave me plenty of freedom," he once said. During that period, he became known for using the three-on-one chord approach, and what has been called the ‘sheets of sound,’ a method of playing multiple notes at one time. By 1960 Coltrane had formed his own quartet which included pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison.

Stan Getz

In 1940 his dad bought him an alto saxophone for $35.00 when Stan was 13 years old. He moved on quickly to play all of the saxophones, as well as the clarinet. But he really loved the sound of the tenor saxophone.

Stan was hired by Stan Kenton and was able to play with his idol Lester Young. He worked with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman.

Check out this YouTube video of John Coltrane and Stan Getz

John Coltrane, tenor; Stan Getz, tenor; Oscar Peterson, piano; Jimmy Cobb, drums.

Julian "Cannonball" Adderley

2010-03-20T23:36:00.000-07:00

Cannonball Adderley was a jazz alto saxophonist from Tampa, Florida (1928 - 1975). He moved to New York in the 1950's and it was at this time that his jazz career began. He joined the Miles Davis sextet in 1957 just prior to John Coltrane returning to the group. After leaving the Miles Davis sextet he formed a group with his brother Nat Adderley.

Check out this YouTube video of the Cannonball Adderley Sextet:

"Work Song" performed by Cannonball Adderley, alto sax and Nat Adderly, trumpet. Also in the group Yusef Lateef, tenor sax, oboe, flute; Joe Zawinal, piano; Sam Jones, bass; Louis Hayes, drums.

Dave Brubeck

2010-03-19T20:10:00.000-07:00

Dave Brubeck

Dave Brubeck is an American Jazz pianist best known for his West Coast Jazz style. In 1951 he formed the Dave Brubeck Quartet with long time partner saxophonist Paul Desmond.

In 1959, the Dave Brubeck Quartet recorded "Time Out", an album their label was enthusiastic about yet hesitant to release. It featured the album art of Neil Fujita. The album contained all original compositions and almost none of them were in common time; 9/8, 5/4, 3/4, and 6/4 were all used. However on the strength of these unusual time signatures it quickly went platinum. The album included "Take Five", "Blue Rondo a la Turk" and "Three To Get Ready".

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Brubeck as a Kennedy Center Honoree in September 2009. The Kennedy Center Honors Gala took place on Sunday December 6 (Brubeck's 89th birthday) and was broadcast nationwide.

Below is a Youtube Video of the Dave Brubeck Quartet playing one of their most famous piece's "Take Five"

Values

2010-03-17T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Handicap - FEAR

The Best Day - TODAY

Easiest Thing To Do - FIND FAULT

Most Useless Asset - PRIDE

The Greatest Mistake - GIVING UP

The Greatest Stumbling Block - EGOTISM

The Greatest Comfort - WORK WELL DONE

Most Disagreeable Person - THE COMPLAINER

Worst Bankruptcy - LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM

Best Teacher - ONE WHO MAKES YOU WANT TO LEARN

Greatest Need - COMMON SENSE

Meanest Feeling - REGRET AT ANOTHER'S SUCCESS

Best Gift - FORGIVENESS

Greatest Knowledge - GOD

Greatest Thing In The World - LOVE

Habit

2010-03-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

I am your constant companion, I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am at your command. Half of the tasks that you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed, you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done; after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people and alas of all failures as well. Those who are great I have made great, those who are failures I have made failures.

I am not a machine, but I work with all the precision of a machine, plus the intelligence of a person. Now you may run me for profit or you may run me for ruin. It makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will lay the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I? I am called Habit.

author unknown

No Child Left Behind

2010-03-13T23:00:00.000-08:00

How Much Can Obama Screw Up Education?

During his radio address on Saturday Obama announced that he would be sending to Congress on Monday his blueprint for sweeping changes to No Child Left Behind. While I agree that changes need to be made in No Child Left Behind when I first read about the news of this today I was not jumping for joy until I heard what was in this blueprint. Will these changes be for the better or will they take a bad plan and make it worse.

Then I read the article in the LA Times and I must say I'm concerned about what this blueprint is going to look like because of a few things stated in the times.

Some teachers' union officials, who have previewed the plan to be unveiled Monday, said it could end up just rewarding the top 10% of schools. Obama did not detail Saturday how his proposal would affect teachers, but education groups were offering comments -- pro and con -- on the role it envisions for teachers.

In an initial review of Obama's plan, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said it made teachers the sole "scapegoat" if students' test scores did not improve -- much more so than principals, school administrators, parents and the students themselves.

"This blueprint places 100% of the responsibility on teachers and gives them zero percent authority," Weingarten said. "For a law affecting millions of schoolchildren and their teachers, it just doesn't make sense to have teachers -- and teachers alone -- bear the responsibility for school and student success."

Weingarten added that the federation was "surprised and disappointed" by the Obama plan and that the group plans to gather input from teachers around the nation before deciding how to officially respond to the proposals.

So if you think teachers are teaching to the test now, you just wait and see what happens if you are going to make the teacher 100% to blame and every thing based on test scores. There will be nothing happening in the class room except teaching what is on the test.

I will wait and reserve my full judgment until Monday when we have a chance to see what is really passed on to Congress. But the early report does not sound good for education.

Old Glory

2010-03-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

A Cut Above

I am your flag. I have been kicked, trampled, burned, and shot full of holes. I have fought battles,but I prefer the untroubled air of a world at peace.

I am your flag. I represent the freedom of humanity, and I shall fly high, thundering in silence for the whole world to hear. My gentle rustling in the breeze sounds out the warning to all who would bury me forever that below stands a population dedicated to liberty.

For those who have perished for my right to freedom of flight, for those who will die, and indeed, for those who will live, I stand as a symbol of freedom-loving people.

I have been carried into battle in faraway lands, always for the cause of freedom. I am bloodstained, torn, and many times wearied and saddened by the thousands who have paid the supreme sacrifice. Do not let it all be for nothing. Tell me the brave have all died for a worthwhile cause. Be proud of what I represent, and display me for all to see.

Whether you call me "Old Glory", "Stars and Stripes" or "Star Spangled Banner", I shall fly forever as a symbol of your freedom, as I did for your ancestor, and as I shall be for your heirs.

I am YOUR flag.

Stand Up For Schools

2010-03-04T21:43:00.000-08:00

In the last two years, $17 billion was cut from schools and colleges.

Entire art, music and PE programs were eliminated.

More than 16,000 educators were laid off.

And large California corporations enjoyed tax breaks.

In Exeter, CA the day started off with teachers, Elementary School Board Members, classified staff, and district office personnel all coming together to show their support and stand up for our schools. The next step is to put the pressure of Sacramento that they can not keep making the largest cuts in the state budget to education. In the last several years the largest percentage of the state budget cuts have come to education.

California is now ranked 46th in education spending, $2,400 below the national average. K-12 schools have suffered 60% of the state budget cuts - hurting an entire generation of children. Summer school has been canceled in districts across the state.

Education accounts for the largest part of the state budget so it is the easiest and quickest thing for the legislature to cut when time get tough. Well they have cut and cut and cut the last few years and it is time to find some place else to make those cuts.

It is also time to put someone up there in Sacramento at the top advising what is needed most for education someone that knows education best. Instead of it being some suite it needs to be a seasoned teacher up there that understands education and kids. Maybe then you will have that education reform everyone is always talking but we never get.

Quote of the Day

2010-03-01T00:26:00.000-08:00

Albert Einstein said "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Debt Snowball

2010-02-26T22:55:00.003-08:00

Debt Snowball in Action

I have been selling some things on eBay recently and was able to use the extra money I made to pay off my JC Penney account today. To make it a little sweeter I took a pair of scissors with so after I had written out my check and the lady at the register finished processing the check I cut-up the credit card in front of everyone at the counter. I did this with a BIG smile on my face and said 'I have been ready to do this for months and it sure feels good'.

With Penney's down the next card to go is Best Buy which with added what I was paying normally on Penney's to Best Buy's payment will take 2 months to clear it off the books. I do have some more things to list on eBay so if they sell it could be less than 2 months to knock Best Buy off the books.

Life Is Precious

2010-02-25T23:24:00.000-08:00

Life Is Precious

Life is precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a gift, Every person a treasure.
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.

Life is Precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a chance to show someone you love them
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.

Even when the raindrops fall,
beyond the clouds the sun is rising
Even when the trees are bare,
the bud is there prepare to bloom.

Life is precious, Life is Beautiful,
Everyday a gift, Every person a treasure.
Life is fleeting, Life is fragile,
So live each day as the gift that it is.
So live each day as the gift that it is (Life is Precious)

by Ruth Elaine Schram

Nothing can bring a tear to my eyes faster than the combination of a great song sung by the pure voices of a middle school choir. "Life is Precious" is a piece I have done before with my middle school choir and I pulled it out over the winter break thinking it would be a piece we could use for sight reading when we came back in January. I did not realize how much the students would fall in love with it this year or because of some life circumstances how much the words would speak to me.

Since we have started working on this piece a good friends husband has died in a helicopter crash, another friend has lost her mother, and a third friends dad has had his leg amputated and is still in the hospital.

I learned how precious and fleeting life is 22 years ago after having lunch with my dad not realizing that would be the last time I would see him alive as he was murder in his office a few hours later. I have learned to live each day as a gift and not take people for granted especially family.

Today I was thankful for a wonderful group of middle school students and a composer that gave us such a wonderful piece of music to sing.

I'd encourage you to Check out Ruth Elaine Schram's Web Site to see more music she has to offer

Quote of the Day

2010-02-24T06:35:00.000-08:00

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.

Peter F. Drucker

"The Total Money Makeover" Review

2010-02-22T23:20:00.000-08:00

"The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey

If you will live like no one else,
later you can LIVE like no one else.

Build up your money muscles with America's favorite finance coach.

Okay, folks, do you want to turn those fat and flabby expenses into well-toned budget? Do you want to transform your sad and skinny little bank account into a bulked-up cash machine? Then get with the program, people. There's one sure way to whip your finances into shape, and that's with "The Total Money Makeover!"

This is from the back of the dust jacket of the book and if are thinking it reads more like a self help book than a book on finances well I would agree. The total money makeover reads more like a self help book than your typical book on finance. But that is one of the appeals of this book. You don't get so bogged down in technical jargon like you do in some financial books that you just want throw the book out the window.

The book is filled with stories of other peoples success. How they learned how to get control of their finances and tame the debt beast. The first few chapters cover Debt Myths and Money Myths along with the issue of why we should not try and keep up with the Joneses.

Next Dave covers what he calls his seven step to getting out of debt and financial peace.

1. $1,000 to start an emergency fund - first step is to save $1,000 in an emergency fund because rainy days will come

2. Debt Snowball - Pay off all Debt using the Debt Snowball - pay off the smallest debt first, pay minimum on all accounts expect what you own least amount to and pay as much to that account as possible until paid off - then apply what you have spent on that account to next smallest account

3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in emergency savings - after paying off all debts built emergency savings

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-Tax retirement fund

5. College funding for children

6. Pay off your house early

7. Build wealth and give

If you are looking for a technical guide on how to invest money this is not the book for you. If you are looking for a motivating book on how to get out of debt and stay out of debt in today's World this is the book you want to pick up and read. Dave Ramsey also has a radio show and is well respected in the financial world. He has helped millions of people secede with getting out of debt. I wish I had been turned on to this book 3 years ago when I started working on my debt situation because I think I would be out of debt by know. I changed the way I was paying off my debts when I started reading this book and have shaved off several months on my debt being cleared. So if you are living in Debt pick up this book and give Dave a try.

Concert Etiquette

2010-02-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

Concert Etiquette

While performers do appreciate that you have attended their concerts and hope that you enjoy the performance. Your enjoyment of the performance as well as others is directly impacted by each audience members concert etiquette or behavior.

This was especially highlighted to me last night as I attended the California Band Directors Association All-State Band Junior High Concerts in Fresno. Sitting in the row in front of me was a family with a young child about 3 years old. This child talk, wiggled in his seat, clapped his hands during performances, and tried handing me his gum for than once. It was such a distraction that in between songs during the second bands performance my friend and I got up out of our seats and moved to different seats.

So I would like to list a few basic guidelines for good concert etiquette;

1. Arrive on Time

If you arrive late please enter quietly between selections from the rear of the hall

2. Turn off Cell Phone and Pagers

3. Small Children

Small children and infants, especially, have a difficult time sitting quietly in formal concerts. It is probably best to leave them at home.
If you MUST bring a small child or infant, please sit at the rear of the hall so that a quick, easy and discreet exit may be made if/when necessary. and discreet exit may be made if/when necessary.

4. Do Not Exit the Concert Until Intermission Unless there is an Emergency

5. Applause

Hold applause until the end of multi-movement works
This is a concert not a sport event no yelling, whistle or loud cheering save that for the sport arena.

The Blind Side

2010-02-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Blind Side

Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, virtually homeless, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter's classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael - wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter - come out of the cold. Without a moment's hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds.

Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. And as the family helps Michael fulfill his potential, both on and off the football field, Michael's presence in the Tuohys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

Sandra Bullock has been nominated for her first Oscar for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in the Blind Side and I for one hope she wins as she did a fabulous job in her role in this film. This has been my favorite movie in the last few years. It is due to be released on DVD in March and for me it is a must have for my DVD collection.

This team is your family and you have to protect them…
Tony is your quarterback. You protect his blind side.
When you look at him think of me. How you have my back.
Leigh Anne Tuohy in “The Blind Side”

Quote of the Day

2010-02-17T22:02:00.001-08:00

Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

Mark Twain

If You Could See Me Now

2010-02-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

If You Could See Me Now

Our prayers have all been answered.

I finally arrived.

The healing that had been delayed has now been realized.

No one's in a hurry.

There's no schedule to keep.

We're all enjoying Jesus, just sitting at His feet.

If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold.

If you could see me now, I'm standing tall and whole.

If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen His face.

If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased.

You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place,

If you could only see me now.

My light and temporary trials have worked out for my good,

To know it brought Him glory when I misunderstood.

Though we've had our sorrows, they never can compare.

What Jesus has in store for us, no language can ever share.

If you could see me now, I'm walking streets of gold.

If you could see me now, I'm standing tall and whole.

If you could see me now, you'd know I've seen His face.

If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased.

You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place,

If you could only see me now.

The song lyrics above were written by Kim Noblitt in 1992. My favorite line is "If you could see me now, you'd know the pain is erased." What a great promise we have in Christ. If we believe in Him that when this life ends in Heaven we face an eternity that is pain free. I was introduced to this song when teaching by a student that was dying from Leukemia and he wanted this song to be performed at his funeral as an encouragement to those left behind that he was going on to a better place so we should not be sad for him. When someone dies we are sadden because of our lose because we will never get to talk with that person again in this world. But if the person was suffering and they know the Lord then they are going on to a better place they have just left their earthly bodies behind and we can take comfort in this fact and know they are walking the streets of gold.

Quote of the Day

2010-02-16T06:06:00.000-08:00

We too often love things and use people when we should be using things and loving people.

-Reuel L. Howe

Peace be with you

2010-02-14T00:17:00.000-08:00

Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27

What is this peace this peace that passes all understanding? Why is it that some people experience and others never seem to experience it?

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"
John 16:33

As part of the Mass they say this to each other "peace be with you and also with you" why? Again what is this peace thing really all about, why is it so important and how do we know that God really imparts it to us in times of need?

I experienced God's true Peace that passes all understanding the day my mother died. When I got up that day I had this feeling that I should call in sick and spend the day with my mother but as a music teacher at a Catholic school and the fact that we had a student mass that day I knew I need to be at school to lead the choir for mass that more so off to school I went. I don't remember anything about mass that morning. As soon as mass was over and I was walking back to the school I again had the feeling I should leave but I resisted the feeling and went on to teach my next class. Well before that class was over I received a phone call telling me I needed to come to the rehab center that my mother was at as soon as possible. The school canceled the rest of my classes that day and off I went.

When I arrived the nurse said there was not much they could do the doctor had been called but it was only a matter of time my mother was dying. While yes I was sad because here I was about to lose my mother at the same time it was like I was being held up by some invisible force. It is hard to put into exact words but I can say without a doubt that it must have been that Peace that passes all understand. I don't think anyone can fully describe it unless they have experienced.

When my dad was killed I did not believe in God I mean I had gone to church off and on for many years. But it was all head knowledge not heart knowledge. My fathers death almost lead to my own death. I'm lucky I did not kill anyone else in the path of my destructive ways. But thankfully I had some very good friends that prayed for many years for me and I finally woke and opened my heart. The reward is Eternity - the peace well that is just one of the major bonuses.

So in closes let me just say to

"Peace be with you"

My Seven Baby Steps Journey to Finacial Peace

2010-02-12T22:54:00.000-08:00

The Seven Baby Steps

As I have noted is several previous posts I have been reading Dave Ramsey's 'Total Money Makeover'. In this book and on his web site he lists what he call's seven baby steps to financial peace. I will on occasion post updates on my personal progress and journey to along this path. The up's and down's and personal feelings as to whether this is a valuable plan to follow or not in my opinion along the way to freedom from the debt monster.

Baby Step 1. $1,000 to start an emergency fund - This fund is for emergency that life throws our way, such as the water pump goes out on the car or the dryer goes out. This is not to be used for vacations or wants. When I started on Dave Ramsey's program I had already been working hard for months to get out of debt and was over paying on several credit cards but I did not have an emergency fund so I dropped back to making just minimum payments on all credit cards so I could put $1,000 into an emergency fund which took a little over a month. Then went back to paying extra on the credit cards.

Baby Step 2. Paying off all Debt using the Debt Snowball - List all debts in order from smallest to highest. Pay the minimum amount due on all but the smallest and pay the maximum you can on that one. Once it is payed off apply that to the next smallest amount and so on until all debt is payed off. Provided no major emergency's come up I will be out of debt by the end of 2010. It is at that point I will be ready to start step 3.

Baby Step 3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings - You need to have 3 to 6 months in savings in case of emergency. Again a trip to Cancun is not an emergency or in my case a 4 star hotel at Comic Con is not an emergency. I will be ready so to start this step and I look forward to the peace it will bring to my life.

I will cover Steps 4 - 7 later when I'm ready to hit those steps but if you want more information on these steps know then please head on over to Dave Ramsey's Web Site for more information.

Not On The Test

2010-02-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

I ran across this song last year just before we started testing and it struck a chord with me. As a music educator I'm blessed that I teach in a school district that has a school board that believes in having a music program available for students in our schools. Many districts around the state of California have being cutting music programs in recent years with the cut backs in funding for education. One reason, well you will not find any music questions on state tests. Even though NCLB does list the arts as one of its core subject areas because it's not on the test it is easy to cut from a program when budgets get tight.

Not On The Test

by John Forster & Tom Chapin

Go on to sleep now, third grader of mine.
The test is tomorrow but you'll do just fine.
It's reading and math, forget all the rest.
You don't need to know what is not on the test.

Each box that you mark on each test that you take,
Remember your teachers, their jobs are at stake.
Your score is their score, but don't get all stressed.
They'd never teach anything not on the test.

The School Board is faced with no child left behind
With rules but no funding, they’re caught in a bind.
So music and art and the things you love best
Are not in your school ‘cause they’re not on the test.

Sleep, sleep, and as you progress
You’ll learn there’s a lot that is not on the test.

Debate is a skill that is useful to know,
Unless you’re in Congress or talk radio,
Where shouting and spouting and spewing are blessed
'Cause rational discourse was not on the test.

Thinking's important. It's good to know how.
And someday you'll learn to but someday's not now.
Go on to sleep, now. You need your rest.
Don't think about thinking. It's not on the test.

Go to Tom Chapin's Web Site to see the video of the Not on the Test

A Time for Everything

2010-02-10T20:18:00.000-08:00

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Quote of the Day

2010-02-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

"The three hardest tasks in the world are neither physical feats

nor intellectual achievements, but moral acts:

1) To return love for hate;

2) To include the excluded; and

3) To say 'I was wrong.'"

Ernst Heinrich Haeckel

BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2010-02-07T20:52:00.000-08:00

"The Challenge of Radical Love!"

The following are my sermon notes from today's sermon by Pastor Wayne Putman at the Exeter Church of God.

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with Him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of Himself to us. Love like that! -- Ephesians 5:1-2 Message

Agape love is a choice I make through the actions I take.

Choose to respond peacefully -

You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out the tooth of the person who did it.' But I say, don't resist an evil person!If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. -- Matthew 5:38-39 NLT

Choose to forgive freely -

If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive the wrongs you have done. -- Matthew 6:14-15 TEV

Choose to view others gracefully -

Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and He will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. Matthew 7:1-2 TEV

Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get. Matthew 7:12 Msg

The title of today's blog post is a saying I heard a few years ago from a friend about the Bible. That the Bible is really our basic instructions before leaving Earth. I'm going to be using this title for blogs from time to time when I hear a sermon I like and decide to post the notes I take from the sermon of the day.

Edge of Darkness

2010-02-06T23:40:00.000-08:00

"Edge of Darkness" is an emotionally charged thriller set at the intersection of politics and big business. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a veteran homicide detective for the Boston Police Department and a single father. When his only child, twenty-four year-old Emma (Bojana Novakovic), is murdered on the steps of his home, everyone assumes that he was the target. But he soon suspects otherwise, and embarks on a mission to find out about his daughter's secret life and her killing. His investigation leads him into a dangerous, looking glass world of corporate cover-ups, government collusion and murder - and to shadowy government operative Darius Jedburgh (Ray Winstone), who has been sent in to clean up the evidence. Craven's solitary search for answers about his daughter's death transforms into an odyssey of emotional discovery and redemption.

While I did enjoy Mel Gibson's acting in the film but I found the story weak. This is a very violent film and at times I felt like they went out of their way for the shock value with the violence. Revenge is the dominant theme of this film with Gibson playing a renegade cop. But with a story that just rambles around at times and an ending that does not make much sense for the character of Jedburgh I can only give this film 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Credit and Debt

2010-02-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

The following is from Dave Ramsey's "The Total Money Make Over" workbook. Chapter 3: Debt is not a tool: Debt Myths

In 1910, the Sears catalog stated, "Buying on credit is folly." Nearly a hundred years later, Sears now makes more money on the interest paid on its credit-card accounts than it does on the sale of merchandise.
The founder of JC Penney department stores was a man nicknamed James "Cash" Penney because he personally detested the use of debt or making time payments. Today, Penney's makes millions each year on their customers who use plastic.
Henry Ford thought debt was a lazy man's method of purchasing items. As a result of Ford's belief, the Ford Motor Company did not offer financing plans until ten years after General Motors offered them. Today, however, Ford Motor Credit is one of the most profitable divisions of Ford Motor's operations.
Proverbs 22:7 says, "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."
If you want to know how to get and stay skinny, talk to skinny people. If you want to know how wealthy people get and stay wealthy, talk to wealthy people.

Barring any unexpected emergency I will be completely out of debt by following Dave Ramsey's plan by the end of 2010. This after having flounder for years with trying to get out of debt on my own. It has just taken a plan and focused hard work. http://www.daveramsey.com/

Comfort Food

2010-02-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Our senses such smell and taste can trigger memories both good and bad. On a recent trip to Fresno, CA I stopped at the local Chick-fil-A for lunch. When I walked in the door the smell brought back memories of my days in high school working at a local mall in Jacksonville, Fl. I worked at the McDonald's in the mall at the food court but there was also a Chick-fil-A in the same food court. Growing up in the South I ate lots of chicken as a kid and there are many good memories associated with family meals of chicken.

So when I ordered the other day I ordered my favorite meal from my youth and as I sat enjoying my food I thought of days gone by. I reminisced about my parents who are no longer alive, friends that have passed away, places I have gone and school days gone by. I have moved away from the South and you may be able to take the girl out of the South but you can't fully take the South out of the girl. While Chick-fil-A is not like sitting at home and having a true Southern cooked meal it did bring back loads of memories of good times from days gone by so for me Chick-fil-A will always be a comfort food. As the cow says...

Eat Mor Chikin

Quote of the Day

2010-02-03T23:27:00.000-08:00

Johann von Goethe:

"Treat people as if they were what they should be, and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." When dealing with dishonorable people it's easy but wrong to resort to:"Do unto others before they do unto you." Or "Do unto others as they have done unto you." Treating bad people well can ...help them become better but it also shows you are better.

Florida Gators

2010-02-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Gators pick up Nation's Top Class

The uncertainty of the status of Florida coach Urban Meyer was not enough to keep the Gators from landing the top recruiting class of the nation by the end of signing day on February 3rd.

Urban Meyer and Florida signed a recruiting class for the ages, with 17 players from the ESPNU 150, including 11 in the top 50. The Gators snagged four five-star players — including the nation’s top player, Ronald Powell.

“It’s the best defensive recruiting class I’ve seen in the 10 years that I’ve been doing this,” said Mike Farrell, Rivals.com’s national recruiting analyst.

Meyer is expected to begin his delayed leave of absence within the next several days, but he said he still isn’t sure how much time he will take off.

For a full list of Florida recruits check out ESPNU

Total Money Makeover

2010-02-02T20:45:00.000-08:00

"Total Money Make Over" by Dave Ramsey

I started working on a plan several years ago to get myself out of debt. Things have been going pretty well over the last 3 years and I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Recently a friend told me about Dave Ramsey and his book "The Total Money Make Over". This past Christmas I was give a gift card to Borders and decided to purchase Dave's book with my gift card. I have read a little more than half of the book and I wish someone had told me about this book 3 years ago when I first started working on getting out of debt because there is no doubt in my mind if I had started on Dave plan 3 years ago I would be out of debt at this point. However I have made some changes in my debt management plan and I'm already seeing some progress in my get out of debt plan.

The following are a few notes I have take from the book as I have gone along so far;

Walgreens, Cisco, Microsoft and Harley-Davidson are run debt-free
Sears now makes more money on credit than on teh sale of merchandise
Debt is the symptom of over spending and undersaving
Studies show that the zip codes that spend 4x's what anyone else does on lottery tickets are those in lower - income parts of town.
"A budget is people telling their money where to go instead of wondering where it went" John Maxwell
Cash enables you to say no to yourself
Ignorance is not lack of intelligence; it is lack of know how
Continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity
"You can get anywhere if you simply go one step at a time"

Middle School Choral Gems Part II

2010-02-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

A Few Recommended Middle School Choral Gems Part II...

Yesterday I posted a few unison gems for Middle School choir and today I listing a few two-part gems. These are pieces I have done with my young middle school choir in the last few years and they have all worked very well.


Title	Composer/Arranger	Publisher
All Things Bright and Beautiful	John Rutter	Hinshaw
Angels Watchin' Over Me	Julie Wheeler	BriLee
Ave Verum	Mozart/Eilers	Jenson
Erie Canal, The	DeCormier	Lawson-Gould
Fairest Lord Jesus	Gilbert Martin	Hinshaw
Follow the Drinking Gourd	Valerie Crescenz	BriLee
Music Alone Shall Live	Carlos Lopez	BriLee
Song of Peace/Dona Nobis Pacem	Donnelly/Strid	Alfred Choral
The Gospel Train	Vicki Tucker Courtney	BriLee

Middle School Choral Gems

2010-01-31T20:44:00.001-08:00

A Few Recommended Middle School Choral Gems

This list is intended as a starting place of a few gems that work. I have used these with my own choirs so I know they work. Tonight I'm going to list a few unison works that I have used with beginning groups that are not ready for part work. Often I use these at the beginning of the school year or with my 6th grade choir.

Unison

Agnus De by Mozart/Telfer Published by Kjos

Art Thou Troubled by Handel/Bartell Published by Hinshaw

All the Pretty Little Horses arr. by Earlene Rentz Published by BriLee

Danny Boy arr. by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee

For the Beauty of the Earth by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee

Kyrie Eleison by S. Poorman Published by BriLee

Let There Be Song by Dave and Jean Perry Published by BriLee

Life Is Precious by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee

Oh Shenandoah arr. by Ruth Elaine Schram Published by BriLee

Sleep My Baby by Alec Rowley Published by Boosey & Hawkes

Why Teach?

2010-01-31T00:07:00.000-08:00

A friend once gave me a t-shirt with the saying "Three reasons to be a Teacher June, July and August" on the shirt for Christmas. But if you believe that is why most teachers go into the profession of eduction then you don't know much about teachers. Many educators teach summer school or take part time jobs during the summer to make ends meet. Others spend the summer taking classes themselves to earn needed professional development units for credentials.

Recently Readers Digest ran an article titled '13 Things Your Child's Teacher Won't Tell You' . Here are just a few of those things;

We’re sick of standardized testing and having to “teach to the test.”

Kids used to go out and play after school and resolve problems on their own. Now, with computers and TV, they lack the skills to communicate. They don’t know how to get past hurt feelings without telling the teacher and having her fix it.

Your child may be the center of your universe, but I have to share mine with 25 others.

Guys who dribble a ball for a couple of hours a game can make up to $20 million a year. We educate future leaders and make about $51,000 a year.

From my own personal experience;

I didn't go into teaching for the money.

The coolest thing is when you see that light go on in a kids eye, when he/she finally gets it and understands a new piece of material.

At their heart kids just want their parents attention. All the iPods, PSPs, Xboxs, etc will not make up for the personal contact of spending time with your son/daughter, talk with them, turn off the TV and family time every once in a while.
The school bell schedule may be 8:00 am - 2:50 pm but I arrive most days by 7:00 am and it is rare for me to leave before 5:00 pm. I work most weekends for at least a few hours so please don't tell me how I have such great work hours.

Very early in life I was taught the importance of reading by my mother. Read with your children every day for at least 15 minutes.

Lastly there are days I want to quit, but then that one smile from that one kid, changes it all.

Words to live by...

2010-01-29T23:59:00.000-08:00

HANDBOOK for 2010

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 8 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past.
That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

I did not write the above but received it from a friend via facebook with the message to pass it on. I have been working on making some big changes in my own life for the better. But as the saying goes you eat the elephant one bit at a time. Change takes time you can't expect to do it all in one day. But I like this list of basic life principals to live by.

A few random quotes and thoughts...

2010-01-26T23:20:00.000-08:00

90% of solving a problem is realizing there is one

80% of graduating college seniors have credit-card debt before they even have a job!

It is human nature to want it and want it now; it is also a sign of immaturity

If you tell a lie often enough, loudly enough, and long enough, the myth will become accepted as fact.

"There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going." Beverly Sills

Book of Eli

2010-01-25T23:06:00.001-08:00

The Book of Eli

In a post apocalyptic world Eli walks across the wasteland that once was America. Empty cities and broken highways are the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes or an ounce of water.

But they are no match for this traveler.

A warrior not buy choice but by necessity, Eli (Denzel Washington) seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. Nothing and no one can stand in his way. He must keep moving to fulfill his destiny.

It has been a long time since I saw a movie especially an action film that had a surprise twist at the end that I did not see coming long before it got there. 'The Book of Eli' is a violent graphic movie and is not appropriate for anyone under the age of 17 due to the violence. Yet even with the violence of the movie I still enjoyed the movie and would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Avatar

2010-01-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

Avatar

I have been putting off going and seeing what many people have been saying is the current must see SciFi movie "Avatar". The movie by directed by James Cameron with new state of the art technology is a visual wonder. As a friend of mine says true 'eye candy'. I made sure I went to a movie theater that has digital projectors and was showing it in 3D. The special effects were amazing and I have no doubt it will be receiving many nominations and awards for effects and cinematography, which the film does deserve.

But this is were my enjoyment of the film stops. I found the 2 hours and 40 minutes to be way to long for the story. It could have been trimmed by at least 30 - 40 minutes and been a much tighter story. I felt like I was watching 'Dances with Wolves' in space. James Cameron was impressed with his new technology that he forgot the storyline.

James Horner wrote a great musical score to go with the movie. So the music is not a disappointment. It is just to bad the story did not live up to the music and visual end of the movie.

Just on visuals and music strength I would rate 'Avatar' 3 1/2 stars out of 5

USS Pampanito

2010-01-23T20:05:00.000-08:00

USS PAMPANITO

Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, CA

USS Pampanito (SS-383/AGSS-383), a Balao-class submarine, was a United States Navy ship, the only one named for a variety of the pompano fish.She completed six war patrols from 1944 to 1945 and served as a Naval Reserve Training ship from 1960 to 1971. She is now a National Historic Landmark, preserved as a memorial and museum ship in the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association located at Fisherman's Wharf.

Below are pictures taken outside of the USS Pampanito in December of 2009;

Decked out with a tree for Christmas

Fisherman's Wharf....

2010-01-22T21:50:00.001-08:00

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf is a world famous tourist attraction. As the home of San Francisco's fishing fleet, docked along Jefferson Street, Fisherman's Wharf is the important center of our city's historic fishing industry. The Wharf area is also the launching point for Bay cruises and charters.

Family entertainment is a neighborhood specialty. With the famous sea lions, Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, The Aquarium of the Bay at PIER 39 and the World War II submarine, USS Pampanito, Fisherman's Wharf is the perfect place to bring the kids. Specialty shops and restaurants line the Wharf--including PIER 39, Anchorage Square and THE CANNERY shopping complexes. The world famous Ghirardelli Square has been converted to an open-air center filled with fun shops and restaurants. Here you can even see the company's original chocolate-making machines.

Below are some pictures taken along Fisherman's Wharf in December 2009;

Mr.Toad's Wild Ride?

Mr. Toad playing the Sax

One of many ways to tour San Francisco

Crabs - Yum!

A little street dancing/performing

Christmas Time at Pier 39

Sea Lions

Golden Gate Bridge from Pier 39

The Rock

Character Does It Count?

2010-01-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

Many schools in the United States have a adopted a program called "Character Counts". The CHARACTER COUNTS! approach to character education doesn't exclude anyone. There are six pillars taught in the Character Counts program; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

I want to talk about RESPECT. This what the Character Counts program says about Respect;

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements

Recently I have been thinking a lot about respect and what does that really mean. I grew up in the Southern United States and was taught to treat people older than me and those in a higher position than me with respect. Lately I have been bothered by the way young people and even people friends of mine treat family their parents, co-works, and bosses. There is a term I hear people use more and more that I find offensive "parental units". I when I hear "unit" I think of a thing or an object. If I had ever called my mom and dad parental units my mother would have washed my mouth out with soap, that is if I was still living at home. If I was over 18 my dad would have said hit the road if you are not going to treat us with respect it is time to move out.

I even have friends that call their parents by their first name and yes these are the biological parents not step-parents. I was shocked the first time I heard that happen. Again I do realize part of this is my Southern up bringing were you would often call the adults of your parents close friend Aunt ____ and Uncle ____ instead of the more formal Mr. & Mrs. but you would never use just the first name. Depending on the age of the person and how close they were to the family you might call them Mrs. ______ using the first name but you would always put Mr. or Mrs. in front of the name.

I have a couple of friends that still live at home that are always complaining about their parents. In many countries extended families live together and in parts of the US this same practice is common. But if all you are going to do is complain about you parents and how hard it is to live with them because mom or dad is so hard to deal with well them maybe you ask yourself why is that you are living there? Is it time to move and find a place of your own? If you are staying so some respect to your folks because one day they will be gone and you don't want to regret treating them bad.

Going back to what Character Counts says it's following the Golden Rule, treat others they way you want to be treated. I don't have children but if I did I would be very offended if they called me a parental unit. So I would never use the term. I will always call some one older than me or in a position of higher authority by their proper title just as I would want to bee refereed to in the work place.

Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, CA

2010-01-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

Hyde Street Pier
San Francisco, California

The Hyde Street Pier is a historic ferry pier located on the northern waterfront of San Francisco, California. The pier is in the tourist zone of Fisherman's Wharf.

Prior to the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, it was the principal automobile ferry terminal connecting San Francisco with Marin County by way of Sausalito to the north, and the East Bay by way of Berkeley.

Today, the pier is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

Below are some pictures of Hyde Street Pier taken in November 2009;

The Golden Gate Bridge from Hyde Street Pier

A Swimmer in the waters off the pier

Ghirardelli from Hyde Street Pier

Tower Bridge

2010-01-19T20:22:00.000-08:00

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways which are designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower.

HISTORY of TOWER BRIDGE

Below are pictures taken of the Tower Bridge in November 2009

Millennium Bridge, London

2010-01-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Millennium Bridge
London, England

The Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge crossing the river Thames in London, England. It links the Bankside with the City. Construction of the bridge began in 1998, with the opening in June 2000.

Londoners nicknamed the bridge the Wobbly Bridge after participants in a special event to open the bridge (a charity walk on behalf of Save the Children) felt an unexpected (and, for some, uncomfortable) swaying motion on the first two days after the bridge opened. The bridge was closed later that day, and after two days of limited access the bridge was closed for almost two years while modifications were made to eliminate the wobble entirely. It was reopened in 2002.

Below are pictures take in November 2009 of the Millennium and the surrounding area

Guarding the Bridge

Reminder the Bridge is just for Pedestrians

St.Paul's Cathedral from the Bridge

City of London School

Looking across the Thames at the Tower Bridge

City of London School and St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower Bridge

St. Pauls, London

2010-01-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

St. Paul's Cathedral

A cathedral dedicated to St. Paul has stood at this location since 604AD. The current Cathedral, the fourth to occupy this site,was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.The cathedral is one of London's most famous and most recognizable sights.

Generation Gap...

2010-01-17T22:51:00.000-08:00

Back in the fall I attended a dinner and the guest speaker Jason Dorsey spoke on the difference between generations and how that can lead to conflicts in the work place. But how being aware of these difference can lead to understand and help resolve conflict maybe fore they even happen. He was say how on some school campuses for the first time we have 4 different generations working together and that is presenting some unique challenges.

So what are the generations and the characteristics? Here is a list of the four generations along with one or two of there characteristics. This is by no means an extensive detailed list but should be read as more a general overview.

1) Mature Generation - Pre 1945

Strong Military Contection
Loyal to company

2) Baby Boomers - 1945 - 1964

No short cuts to success
Loyal to company

3) Generation X - 1965 - 1976

Prove it to me
Loyal to Individual

4) Generation Y - 1977 - 1995

Feeling of entitlement
Loves instant gratification
known for having big expectations
Tech dependent

At this point we don't have a name for the next generation yet. The name given to a generation is usually a reflection of a unifying characteristic.

Recognizing characteristic of another generation can help with dealing with them. Understanding that a Gen-Y'er is going to want instant gratification and is so dependent on technology that when the server goes down they get stressed out and don't know what to do because their lesson involves the computer. These are the teachers that get out of the car with headphones in the ears and walk into the staff room listening to the ipod. They don't understand why texting during
class would be seen as a problem to another teacher.

Iron Man & Transformers at Comic Con...

2009-07-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Comic Con 2009
San Diego, CA

While Comic Con started as a comic book convention 40 years ago today TV and movie studios turn out in large numbers every year to show off new products to thousands of fans. Most of the major TV and movie studios had booths on the exhibit hall floor displaying current shows or upcoming movies. Syfy channel was missing from the exhibit hall this year choosing to instead take up space in the Hard Rock Hotel across the street from the Convention center. They took over the cafe and re-branded it Cafe Diem after the cafe from "Eureka". Fox, Warner Bros and MGM held signing in their booths on the exhibit hall floor.

MGM's Stargate

Hasbro Booth
GI Joe

Marvel Booth
Iron Man

Hasbro Booth
Transformers

Comic Con Costumes and More....

2009-07-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Comic Con 2009

San Diego, CA

The following pictures are a look around the exhibit hall at this years Comic Con. Comic Con sold out 3 months before the con with over 125,000 people in attendance.

Comic Con Logo
Hanging in the main hall way of the San Diego Convention Center

Michael Shanks
moderated the Burn Notice panel and then was at the Fox
booth in the exhibit hall signing autographs later in the day

BBC America Dalek

DC had a line of costume characters
lined up behind their booth

Star Wars Costumes

Storm Trooper posing for a picture

Dragon Rider

Stargate Universe does Comic Con...

2009-07-28T21:09:00.001-07:00

Stargate Universe Panel
Comic Con 2009

MGM new show in the Stargate series Stargate Universe made it's Comic Con premiere in Hall 20 on Friday July 24th to a near capacity crowd of 4,200 people. While yes there were people there to see some of the panels scheduled in the hall later that day such as "24" judging by the fact that close to half the people in the room left after the Stargate panel ended it would be safe to say that many of those in attendance were there to get a first look of the new Stargate product.

Stargate Universe premieres on Syfy on October 2nd. The Comic Con panel started with a a brand new never before seen trailer. At which point Brad Wright came on stage to moderate the panel and introduce the stars.

Alaina Huffman
Alaina described her character T.J. as strong
and intelligent but also has flaws and weaknesses.
That's what makes her a whole woman.

Alaina Huffman, David Blue, and Robert Carlyle

Brian J Smith -
Brian did a lot of research on the military
for his role of Matthew Scott.

Elyse Levesque

David Blue
David has seen all episodes of Stargate SG1 & Atlantis.
Brad Wright said that with David they not only got and actor
but a technical adviser

Jamil Walker Smith and Alaina Huffman

Ming - Na
described Camille Wray as a strong,
intelligent lesbian

Robert Cooper
“Big things are going to happen very quickly,” Cooper said, as in the first 10 episodes. “You are going to find that if you do skip an episode you might miss something huge. There will be major revelations in terms of what’s going on with these characters and the storylines."

Robert Carlyle
said the only time he saw sets as high a quality as what the SGU
sets was on the Bond movies. The SGU sets are that good.

Robert Carlyle & Ming-Na

Brad Wright & Robert Cooper
Both Brad and Robert said that SGU would
be accessible to new fans.

Brad Wright
Had Jamil Walker Smith and Elyse Levesque tell a story about their first visit to the Stargate booth upon their arrival in San Diego, at which point they were approached by a booth worker and offered a chance to enter the contest to win a guest appearance on Stargate Universe! Brad said they both WON!

General Patton...

2009-07-20T21:23:00.001-07:00

General Patton Memorial Museum

Chiriaco Summit, CA

Off on I-10 in Southern California sits a museum opened in 1988 to honor all veterans. Named after General George Patton and with a statue of Patton out front. I found the museum by chance when I pulled off the Interstate to get something to drink on my way home a few weeks ago. I arrived just after the museum closed at 4:30 pm. However there are several parts of the exhibit that are outside and therefore available to see.

Entrance and Main Building

General Patton Statue

West Coast Vietnam Wall

Tank Yard Exhibit

For more information on the Museum and its location go to the General Patton Memorial Museum web site.

Astronauts favorite soft drink...

2009-07-19T23:03:00.001-07:00

World of Coca-Cola
Atlanta, Georgia

Coke an astronauts favorite soft drink. In yesterday's post is a picture from the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, of a coke for astronauts. If you go to the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, GA you can see the machine that fills cokes for astronauts.

While in Atlanta recently I visited the World of Coca-Cola. They currently have a pop art special exhibit. At the museum you can taste over 60 different coke products from around the World. You will see a fully-functioning coke bottling line and take home an 8 ounce bottle of Coke. Plus see Coke memorabilia from the past and present.

For more information on The World of Coca-Cola check out their web site, better yet next time you are in Atlanta check out the museum.

Coca-Cola Store Sign

Entrance to The World of Coca-Cola

Dr. John S Pemberton invented
Coca-Cola in 1886

Pemberton Statue in front of The World of Coca-Cola

The Eagle has Landed...

2009-07-18T23:03:00.000-07:00

Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

NASA is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the first landing on the Moon. On July 20, 1969 Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar module and took "one small step" in the Sea of Tranquility.

Check out NASA's web site for detailed information on the Apollo Space Program.

Modules of NASA Space ships

Space Shuttle and Apollo Rocket

Apollo Engine

Space Suit

Astronauts favorite soft drink (COKE)

Project: Apollo

Lunar Module

"I believe we should go to the Moon."
John F Kennedy

Inside the Lunar Module

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind"
Neil Armstrong

Mission Control Panel

Splash Down
Apollo Command Module

Museum of Science and Industry...

2009-07-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

I went to the Museum of Science and Industry while in Chicago this past June primarily to see the Harry Potter Exhibit. As cool as it was to see over 200 items from the Potter films the museum itself was a fun fascinating place to visit. Cameras are not allowed in the Potter exhibit but as for the rest of the museum there are no restrictions on photography. So below you will find a few pictures I took at the museum.

Check back in a day or two for pictures of the NASA portion of the museum.

Mailbox outside the museum

R2D2 the mailbox

Harry Potter Exhibit Banner outside the museum

Potter Exhibit Banner inside the museum

The one Potter exhibit that was in the main
hall of the museum where pictures are allowed

Hall outside the entrance to the Potter Exhibit

Transportation Hall

Door outside Potter Exhibit

Spirit of America
Jet propelled, record breaking car

Plane, Trains and Automobile?

Underside of German Plane

Texaco Plane

Steam Train

Train whistle

Inside the Steam Train

What a BIG BEAN....

2009-07-16T20:28:00.000-07:00

Millennium Park
Chicago, IL

What is now Millennium Park was first conceived in 1998. It was built to transform the railroad tracks and parking lots along the lakefront.

Cloud Gate

Cloud gate was designed by British artist Anish
Kapoor. The 110 ton elliptical sculpture is made of
seamless series of highly polished stainless steel plates.

I loved watching how children are fascinated with Cloud Gate.

Because of the shape of Cloud Gate you often hear
people refer to it as "The Bean".

The Chicago Skyline as seen in Cloud Gate.

Looking up under Cloud Gate.

The Crown Fountain

Like their fascination with Cloud Gate, children love
playing in the water under the Crown Fountains.

Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Frank Gehry designed this outdoor concert venue.

The Crescent House

2009-07-15T18:51:00.001-07:00

The Crescent House
Valdosta, GA

The Crescent House is currently
the Garden Center of Valdosta

The Crescent is a landmark home built in 1898
by Col. William S West

Three ladies in the garden club saved the house from being
demolished in 1951. It then became the home of all
Garden Clubs in Valdosta

The house is named for its semicircular portico
supported by 13 massive columns.
Each column represents the 13 original colonies.

Moat, Boats, Bridge and Fort

2009-07-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Castillo de San Marcos
St. Augustine, FL

The Castillo de San Marcos is unique in North American architecture. As the only extant 17th century military construction in the country and the oldest masonry fortress in the United States it is a prime example of the "bastion system" of fortification, the culmination of hundreds of years of military defense engineering.

It is also unique for the material used in its construction. The Castillo is one of only two fortifications in the world built out of a semi-rare form of limestone called coquina (The other is Fort Matanzas National Monument 14 miles south)

Close up of Coquina

Given its light and porous nature, coquina would seem to be a poor choice of building material for a fort. However the Spanish had few other options; it was the only stone available on the northeast coast of La Florida. However, coquina's porosity turned out to have an unexpected benefit. Because of its conglomerate mixture coquina contains millions of microscopic air pockets making it compressible.

A cannon ball fired at more solid material, such as granite or brick would shatter the wall into flying shards, but cannon balls fired at the walls of the Castillo burrowed their way into the rock and stuck there, much like a bb would if fired into Styrofoam. So the thick coquina walls absorbed or deflected projectiles rather than yielding to them, providing a surprisingly long-lived fortress.

After the British established colonies in Georgia and the Carolinas, Spain authorized the building of a stone fort to protect St. Augustine as assaults from the north became more frequent. The Castillo de San Marcos took twenty-three years to build but, once in place, stood as the town's stalwart defender. Major attacks were made against her in 1702 by Governor James Moore of South Carolina and in 1740 by General James Oglethorpe of Georgia. Neither seige was successful, however, and to this day, the fort has never fallen to enemy attack.

It was not until 1763 that Spain ceded Florida to England in order to regain the capital of Cuba, ushering in twenty years of British rule in Florida. This period coincided with the American Revolution, during which Florida remained loyal to the Crown. In 1783, under the Treaty of Paris, Florida was returned to Spanish rule for a period of thirty-seven years. The Spanish departed for the last time when Spain sold Florida to the United States of America. At a colorful military ceremony on July 10, 1821, US troops took possession of the territory and Spain relinquished control of Florida forever.

In 1845, Florida became the twenty-seventh state admitted to the Union. The Castillo de San Marcos was renamed Fort Marion in honor of a Revolutionary War hero, and the capital of East Florida was moved from St. Augustine to become part of the state capital in the new town of Tallahassee.

The town had finally begun to prosper when the American Civil War broke out in 1861. Although Florida had seceded with the rest of the Confederacy, St. Augustine was occupied by Union troops throughout most of the conflict. When the war ended in 1865, the town was three centuries old. The war's end brought speculators and land developers to Florida along with the beginnings of the visitor industry.

Lightner Museum...

2009-07-12T21:24:00.001-07:00

The Lightner Museum
St. Augustine, FL

The Lightner Museum is housed in the former Hotel Alcazar, built in 1887 in the Spanish Renaissance style. Railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler commissioned architects Carrere and Hastings to design the Alcazar and the Ponce de Leon Hotel (across the street). The two young architects later designed the New York Public Library and the U.S. Senate office building.

Chicago publisher, Otto C. Lightner, purchased the building to house his extensive collection of Victoriana in 1946 and opened the museum two years later.
He gave the museum to the city of St. Augustine.

Mummy Child

Alligator -
Hanging from the ceiling

Lion -
This stuffed lion was once owned by Winston Churchill

Antique Cameras

Edison Recording Devices

School Days Statue

Music Room

Desk designed like an Organ

Confederate Money

Couch from India

Desk from India

Outside the Lightner -
the Hotel Alcazar

Fountain of Youth...Ponce de Leon

2009-07-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

St. Augustine, FL
The oldest city in the US

The mainland of the North American continent was first sighted by the Spanish explorer and treasure hunter Don Juan Ponce de Leon on Easter, March 27, 1513. He claimed the land for Spain and named it La Florida, meaning "Land of Flowers". Between 1513 and 1563 the government of Spain launched six expeditions to settle Florida, but all failed. the French succeeded in establishing a fort and colony on the St. Johns River in 1564 and, in doing so, threatened Spain's treasure fleets which sailed along Florida's shoreline returning to Spain. As a result of this incursion into Florida, King Phillip II named Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Spain's most experienced admiral, as governor of Florida, instructing him to explore and to colonize the territory. Menendez was also instructed to drive out any pirates or settlers from other nations, should they be found there.

Welcome Sign to St. Augustine

Gates leading to the "Fountain of Youth"

Cross -

204 foot-high cross – the “Beacon of Faith”
built for the 400th Anniversary of St. Augustine

Statue of Don Juan Ponce de Leon

Carriages along the water front

Visitor Center

Flagler College

The Lightner Museum

Statue of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles

When Menendez arrived off the coast of Florida, it was August 28, 1565, the Feast Day of St. Augustine. Eleven days later, he and his 600 soldiers and settlers came ashore at the site of the Timucuan Indian village of Seloy with banners flying and trumpets sounding. He hastily fortified the fledgling village and named it St. Augustine.

Utilizing brilliant military maneuvers, Menendez destroyed the French garrison on the St. Johns River and, with the help of a hurricane, also defeated the French fleet. With the coast of Florida firmly in Spanish hands, he then set to work building the town, establishing missions to the Indians for the Church, and exploring the land.

Thus, St. Augustine was founded forty-two years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent.

Lightner Museum

The Lightner Museum is in the Alcazar Hotel

London Bridge is falling down...

2009-07-08T00:32:00.000-07:00

London Bridge

London Bridge is falling down,
falling down, falling down
London Bridge is falling down
my fair lady.

I remember the song from my childhood. On my way to Flagstaff, AZ today I stopped at Lake Havasu, AZ which is were the London Bridge is located in the US. The bridge was constructed in 1831 in London, England. By 1962, the bridge was not structurally sound enough to support the increased load created by the level of modern traffic crossing it, and it was sold by the City of London. The purchaser, Robert McCulloch, was the founder of Lake Havasu and the chairman of McCulloch Oil Corporation.

The bridge facing stones were carefully disassembled and each piece was numbered. These were shipped to the bridge's present location and re-assembly began in 1968. The reconstruction took slightly over three years and was completed in late 1971. Today, it serves as a popular tourist attraction for the city.

Below the bridge is an English Village with shops and restaurants. The village has changed over the years and parts of it have been torn down.

London Gates -
Entrance to English Village

British - American Friendship Plaque

Dedication Plaques

Plaque about city founders

City founders statue

London Bridge just before dusk

Birds, Dogs and more Vilano Beach...

2009-07-06T22:45:00.001-07:00

Vilano Beach, Florida

A few weeks ago I visited a friend that built a home at Vilano Beach, Florida a few years ago. It's a nice quite beach just 3 minutes from downtown St. Augustine, Florida. Although I was staying with friends Vilano Beach has a number of vacation rental properties available. If you are looking for a nice serene beach in Florida for a vacation check out Vilano.

Vilano Beach

Path leading to the beach

Lots of birds out the day I walked
down to the beach to take pictures

My footprints in the sand

A dog running after the birds

of course the birds took flight from the dog

Dead Crab

Chillin' at the beach

Must be some good 'ol boys living here
- check out the flags

Dolphin mail box

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