Just Another Day In Paradise

Thank you for allowing me to borrow your line, Mr. Phil Vassar. Yesterday I was trying to register for my final semester at California Baptist University, with a graduation target of B.A. in English on May 3, 2008. I was told there was a hold on my account and Student Accounts needed to see me. I went in and spoke to a very sweet, professional woman who explained that tuition had gone up $10 per unit, that I no longer received a $500 per semester scholarship, and my loan covered about 80% of my costs, not including books. So I am sitting in this chair and I feel like I took a cheap shot in the back of the head.

My dilemma, is that I am waiting for transcripts of my college experience to get to Jurupa Unified School District so I can be a substitute teacher for the remainder of this school year until I complete my certification process for teaching in California. Jurupa Unified is one of the only Districts that allow substitutes that are not yet certified, but have completed 90 units toward their B.A. degree. CBU has a policy that they will not release transcripts or diploma until a students balance is ZERO. I can't get this job to make money to pay bills without transcipts being released. As Jane said in "Fun With Dick and Jane", "We're in a bit of a pickle, Dick!"

I am applying for another subsidy loan to cover the balance, and if I am approved, then after a little longer wait I will get the sub job to make enough $ to pay back the short term subsidy loan, and then roll on with my plan of teaching high school and making more of this life I have been blessed with.

Camelot - Not

There are some days when the news is good and positive. These days seem few and far between the muck and yuck of our world today. So I woke this morning and worked on my homework for a couple of hours, attended my first Weight Watchers meeting with my beloved, and spent the afternoon helping my beloved and my two youngest with their homework. Everyday stuff - kind of boring, actually. I listened to my favorite Christian band, Third Day, coming home from school that night.

What could be better? As I await the school district's word on my substitute teaching, I am working diligently on my own school work, but never wanting to fail to be there for my children. Our debt is creeping around us like the weeds in my wife's flower garden. Things within my control, and things completely outside my control are working hard on my self esteem and my confidence, however I have a great feeling in my heart and in my head. What is the cause? Nothing tangible, nothing like the big win by the Rockies in Philadelphia versus the Philllies is at the nucleus of this euphoria. I am really understanding trust in God, I am truly in the zone of God's love, and His grace.

Stuff happens daily. I can be like Thoreau and talk myself up and all others down. I could be Socratic and pick everyone else's ideas apart until there was no answer. I choose to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and while my actions are far from perfection, with a clean and penitent heart I take one step at a time, one day at a time.

ROLE MODEL 7/07

White Ford Bronco on the highway –
The Heisman trophy sold away –
Ranting athletes to be excused -
From the label overused –
“Role model”

Ballplayers spitting on umpires –
Athletes ignore conduct required
Brawling like thugs on the court or stands –
Put a check in their hands –
“Role models” –

Treating women worse than property–
Disgraced and ignored by Disney -
Sports full of gunshots and stab wounds –
Lawyers and court costs boon –
“Role models”

Drugs for profit, for health, or fun –
To forget when competition is done –
Luring them into strong and faster –
Entitlement is the master
“Role model”

Where have they gone, men of my youth?
Humble men who showed No tooth –
Selfless stones of fiber moral –
Pillars all,
“Role models”

“Say Hey” – Hank - Clemente, we love –
Heroes putting others high above
Both on and off the diamond –
“Role Models” with a special bond -

Two men stand at the open door –
Giving of self rather than egos galore –
The Hall opens up to their deeds –
Role Models

What Does Love Have?

Love in any language is a most important word.

I have been remarried for 11 + years. The first one was supposed to be magic, mystical, and super - it was none of those. The second one is my last one. She is my soul mate. In addition, I have learned that marriage is a process of working things out, give and more give, and pure devotion and trust.

I am sad to see so many friends struggling with spouses. The Evil One rejoices when discord is any one's anthem from home. I am not preaching or giving advice, because that would make me the hypocrite of hypocrites. It is an observational muse, only an awful feeling of loss. When a man and woman vow before God and their family and friends to become one "'til death do us part," that vow means something. It does not mean that supernatural forces will fix every fight, that personal baggage will magically disappear and not be an issue with spouses. It means that a married couple will try their best to understand and work out problems.

Even if that working out is giving up self for the sake of the marriage, the bond between a man and a woman is sacred and must not be ignored, disgraced, or deceived. Cooperation, communication, and concentration on the other spouse above yourself is the best recipe for a successful marriage.

I love my wife more than human words can express. Unfortunately, I can't even show her a slight measure of my love by my actions. She shows me every day what real love is. Her ability to give and give, get beaten down by her kids, her work, or by me or my problems, and still continue to give and love unconditionally. She is amazing, and I am so lucky. I need to get myself together on a daily basis. This is why my kids, my nieces, and my friends problems all bring me down so far. I personally know how much work it takes, or conversely, how easy it is to destroy if regular maintenance is not administered.

Homesickness

I miss Denver!

Alleged Bomber Has Family Issues

Heavens to mergatroid! Logic at the college level is slowly eroding - case in point, this week's re-arrest of the alleged bomber at the UCR graduation. This link is the news story about the incident. The report today on the local news is that this young man went through all these troubles (allegedly) to make sure his parents didn't find out he had dropped out of school long ago.

Explain to me how threatening to blow up a commencement, planting bombs to insure said college graduation is postponed, being arrested and spending a great deal of time in jail would be better than having the folks find out you are a dropout, a liar, and chiseler?

Oh yeah, right, branded as a terrorist, having a prison record and being a national laughingstock is far better than college dropout! His lawyer is already negotiating with record companies for his prison rap cd! rimshot!!

Mother's Day Deserves to Be Special

My mom deserves a great mansion, servants at her beck-and-call, a climate of sunny days, balmy breezes, and her grand children and great-grand children coming to visit regularly, not staying too long but being ever ready to brighten her day. The reason my mother deserves such a life is because she raised me, the cause of all those gray hairs. As we come to the day set aside to honor our matriarchs, I can not begin to honor my mom enough. I love her so, and I know for a fact that if I could give her all she deserves, she wouldn't accept it anyway.

She is a giver, and most often when given an opportunity to receive, she sheepishly declines. In other words, mom has a hard time taking ANYTHING from others, but she would be the first or at the least second to give time, energy, supplies, or a loving ear or shoulder to someone in need. In my lifetime, I have rarely seen her need someone (other than dad)'s help, but I watch her almost on a daily basis help her church family (the lucky folks at the Disciples of Christ Church in Fort Morgan, Colorado), her immediate family (mother, two sisters and their families, one brother and his family, dad's family, and her son and daughter plus their families), and her extended family, neighbors, and friends past and present.

Mom, you inspire me. I love you so much, and I owe you more than I could ever give back. Thank you, and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!