I Actually Took Tracey to SEE THIS ARTIST LIVE in 96.

If this was not a sign that she was in for the long hall I don't know what is. I remember we were one of the few not wearing black...or a trench coat in 97 degree weather.

We were outside. The guy behind us kept taking off parts of his clothes and lighting them on fire.

By the end of the concert he was down to his underwear-(sponge bob style) and he was wearing a cape. I remember thinking...dude if there is a long encore you are screwed!

Here is to THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS!!

Time To Shift Gears in Music

When I hear these songs I get pumped! I am dating myself but I used to listen to them before any kind of physical activity. Way back in the days of football sure but hell I listened to these before intramural stuff in college. It did not matter...racket ball, basketball, or a game of checkers...it did not matter.

It took a while but Tracey actually likes these songs now. The orchestra softens it up for her a bit. These are great versions of the songs.



This one waste no time to getting to the point!

When I listen to this just stay away from me. I might get so excited I punch myself. I CRANK this one.

Nothing like a song about cocaine to get you going.

Admit it...you like this one...

You can deny it to me if you want...but I know you are like me. When this comes on the radio in your car you crank it up and sing along. I know you do! Especially the backup vocals....HEEEYYYOOO MAAAAMMMMAAA YEAH....

I Have Several Question's about this Video

I am going to start with this one.

Why is he dealing cards to people playing Roulette?

I would love to hear your questions.

I Can't Believe I Like This...Someone HELP ME!!

I don't know why I still like this song. Half of it I can't even tell what the hell they Falco is saying...seriously...what the hell is he saying....all I got is some ooohh's mixed with some Ahhs...with Amadeus, Rock Me Amadeus.....

Why the hell do I like this people????

I Never Get Tired Of This One

There are songs that I like. There are songs that I really like. Then there are songs that are in a special category for me. These songs I seem to never get tired of listening to. When I hear them on the radio I truely get lost in the song. Which I guess can be scary if you are driving. HA! These songs hit this category for me. Both of these are live but for me beautiful versions of their songs.



and

Hook Line and Sinker

Tracey and I have been wondering how much longer Jack would truly believe in Santa. We thought that maybe he was having second thoughts just by some earlier conversations we have had since Thanksgiving. But when the night came there was no question he was hooked.

When we put everthing out for Santa and everyone was going to bed Jack said, "WAIT A MINUTE" He noticed we had a few items by the fireplace. He said we had to move those to give Santa plenty of room to get out of the chimney.

Aha---Good Idea Jack

Then after the kids are in bed Tracey and I are in our room organizing Santa- Well Tracey was I was loafing and just talking...Hey I was tired.

Anyway, there was a knock on our door and it was Jack!

He told us we had to turn our light off NOW and go to bed or Santa might miss us!

yeah...he is hooked

Movie Review TIME!

Okay I wanted to watch a movie today and I wanted something where I did not have think. I wanted to check out mentally and watch a comedy that was easy going. Not stupid funny just funny.

I give you.....FRED CLAUS....now before you laugh at me please let me explain.

This movie was spot on for what I was looking for.

Had some funny parts
Had some cute parts

I cracked up at how disfunctional the Clauses were.

My favorite part of the movie....The Siblings Support Grop.

This scene was full of people who have famous siblings. THAT was a funny to me. I laughed out loud.

Overall I would give it a 3 out of five. It was exactly what I was looking for today. A very cute movie.

That is PATHETIC

That is the most pathetic offensive effort and game plan I have seen in quite some time from the Cowboys.

What a shame to waste that defense.

Oh you have got to be JOKING!!

Okay if you have a pet you will understand this.

We have 3 dogs.

Lilly- 11 years old- Miniature Dachshund
Max- 9 years old- Miniature Dachshund
Maggie 2 years old- Rodesian Ridge Back- Big Dog- 85 pounds. Loves her home and
God help the poor bastard that trys to enter that she does not
know.

Anyway,when we leave for the day we gate the dogs to a certain part of the house. They have access to one living area and one smaller living area that we use as an office. The dogs have access to a doggy door to go outside if they want or they can lounge in the house on cold or hot days and if they want they can take a nap in their pen's where they sleep at night.

I think they have it pretty good.

With all of this rain we have had we have a few muddy spots in our back yard. I came home the other day and there was muddy paw prints all over the floor. This I expected and it is rather easy to clean. You just have to mop the floor. We have wood floors for one of these exact reasons. But in addition to this they climbed up on the coach. The couch is leather but all over the leather couch was muddy paw prints.

I was not happy about that. I got all three of them together and I told them that this was not acceptable and if they had muddy feet to not get on the couch. I know you are giggling at me but they do UNDERSTAND.

So the next morning comes and it is still muddy outside. As I am letting them out for the day before I leave I remind all three of them (Really 2 of them..Lilly is too short in the pants to get on the couch) about not getting on the couch.

I come home that afternoon and I immediately look at the couch. No dogs are greating me at the door.....not a good sign. They are hanging in the back of the backyard.

The COUCH!- There is nothing on it! The dogs did it! AWESO....oh YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

In the corner I see one of our pumkins from Thanksgiving decorations....let me restate that...what USED to be a pumkin. The pumkin met a very violent and grissly death that day.

Well they did what I said...they stayed off the couch but I said nothing about chewing crap up!

So now who did it?!?!?

I opened the door and in rushes LILLY and MAX- Okay they are innocent

Where is Maggie- MMMMAAAAGGGIIIIEEEEE...I call. She peers around the corner looking me .....ummm you called? was the look I got.

Come on girl I am not mad get in the house!

She walks in but when she gets to the room that locates the scene of the crime she stops. She won't move an inch.

She even plastered to the floor so I could not move her. Finally she got up and I was able to convince her that she was not in trouble.

Lost one pumpkin...but the couch is clean.

Christmas Shopping With Jack

I went shopping with Jack the other day. I bought Tracey's Christmas present along with some other presents that we needed.

Jack asked me this...Daddy, who are we buying presents for again?

My Answer: Well Jack we are buying a present for Mommy from Daddy and another present for Mommy from you and Caroline. We need to get a present for Pa an Grammy from you and Caroline as well.

Jack: Um...Do you see a problem here!

Me: No

Jack: Um we are buying presents for everyone except Jack!

Was that a SWAT Helecopter That Just Flew Over?

As I mentioned before when I was growing up from the time I was born until I was in 5th grade my mom was a stay at home mom. To make extra money my dad did extra jobs with a buddy of his. Eventually they went in together and began building houses together and selling them. My dad took those profits and began building small houses (1000sq. ft.) and renting them. Mom and Dad built up quite a little empire and those houses paid for not only my sister’s education but mine as well.

The FUN part was they were not exactly in the best neighborhoods. It was nothing for building materials to “walk off” in the middle of the night. You live and you learn. My dad started having stuff delivered THE DAY he was putting it on the house. When we sheet rocked he literally took it out of the back of his truck and we carried to the room we would sheet rock and put it on the wall.

On day we were putting siding on the house. I remember I was 13 or 14 years old. I was now getting big enough and strong enough to actually do something other than clean. As we were working I noticed a police car turn off of the main road onto the road that we were building on. The road we were on my dad built 3 houses on and I noticed the police car was turning on the road that ran into ours. My dad had 2 houses on that street.

Dad said nothing and kept going so I did as well. Then a second police car fly’s by. Dad kept going. The third came by. Dad did nothing. When the POLICE HELICOPTER flew over I could not keep my mouth shut. I asked my dad…you think we ought to get out of here? Dad said, why? My thought was …. Oh I don’t know dad….Maybe the SWAT HELICOPTER was a clue.

Then you hear these words that always let you know here is a couple that truly love one another…. “THAT’S RIGHT PIGS!!! COME IN AND I WILL KILL HER!

Dad – Um…maybe we should take a break and go get a burger.

SOUNDS GREAT DAD!!!

Am I a Junky?

I think I am becoming a face book junky! I joined face book a while back because a friend of mine was talking to me about some things they had heard regarding our 20 year reunion coming up in a couple of years. I wondered how they had that information because I knew nothing! The answer was???? Face book. He went on about the groups they have and there was a group about our high school reunion.

I decided to take the plunge and get it set up. Then I find all of these groups that I am interested in joining. It is amazing how many people that I have not talked to in YEARS are on this thing.

Many of the old neighborhood kids that I have not seen in 20 or more years are contacting me or I am contacting them. It is pretty neat to see what they are doing.

Things I like?
Some of the games they have on Face book I find addicting…Mob Wars and Poker!
I like the ease of the lay out.
Easy to find people and groups.

One thing that is annoying at times-
All of the updates of what your friends are doing.- Now let me explain….Do I need to know that a friend of mine just bought “bling” or is friends with someone I have no clue is?

I am sure these people hate getting all of my MOB WAR updates. I wonder if I can turn that off?

Bringing Grandpa Home

With all of the stories about my grandfather Jdhteach sounding kind of bad I thought I needed to throw in a different one. I don’t remember the exact year but I think it was the late 80’s. Grandpa had open heart surgery and we were picking him up from the hospital and he was coming home to live with us for a while so that he could fully recoup. We were on our way home and Grandpa was clearly still uncomfortable.

Coming home Dad hit a bad patch in the road and it was very rough. Clearly this was hurting Grandpa. When my dad got off the road my grandfather had this to say.

“ I think I saw one or two pot holes on the right that you missed if you want to go back and try and hit them.”

I started laughing…couldn’t help it. My dad never said a word and just kept driving. Probably was best.

Would Everyone Shut The #$%$# Up! I Can't Hear Him SING!!

Do You See Me? I Am In The Back Row!!

One of My Favorites

This is a beautiful version of this song

Check out The Hair!!

T-Lady Poll

Tracey has a poll on her blogg. 80's Rock Bands...check it out.

Her Link is to the left.

Being a former Principal I Giggle At THIS!!

Umm....Does Anyone Else See This is Wrong?

Man We Took One In The SHORTS!!

So I have been doing my job and making sure we are eating in all week. Tracey and I have really been doing well about not going out so much. So last night we decide to go out to eat as a family. We try to support the locals around our house. We have some very good privately owned places to eat.

Well, last night we went to a place that was pretty good. I will leave it at pretty good. They seem to nickel and dime you (Entree..oh you want a salad? 4.95 more please) The food was okay so I did not complain.

But then came the bill.

3 BUCKS for a COKE?????

Total with tip....over 50 BUCKS!!! Won't go back.

Where are the BANDS?

Saturday morning Tracey and went to see our towns Christmas parade. I have been to the parade probably a half a dozen times since I graduated highschool 18 years ago. I have fond memories of the Christmas parade. In highschool we always had fun marching in the parade.

The song our band director wanted us to play was a little lame and we were known to play other things when we got tired of playing the SAME christmas song. But after the first 15 times you play "Step Along with SANTA" and you still have two miles to go...Sorry Mr. Band Director we are moving on to something else. The funny thing was we knew what song to play by the cadance of the drum line.

The band directors would get pissed but there was nothing they could do about it so they just smiled and waved to the crowd as we did our thing. Trombones would do some head chops...Tuba's would swing around...drumline would get fancy with some moves....

The important thing was the crowd LOVED IT!!!

Each year all of the highschool band, cheerleaders, and drill teams march in the parade.

Two years ago (my last trip) that was still the case. Then the other day we kept waiting...and waiting...and waiting...No bands.

My kids LOVE the bands. They hear the music and the drums and they start getting excited. They know Daddy and Aunt Dana did band in high school and have even watched some old performance tapes I have.

This year there was a combined band of ALL 4 highschools. A grand total of about 60 kids. My highschool band had 300 kids in it and that was 18 years ago. It has grown since then. WTF????

Not only that but when the band was playing Rudolph about 1/3 of them were not playing and were just talking. AGAIN I SAY WTF????

All four of this towns highschool bands are EXCELLENT. There is a history of excellent bands in my town. When I was in highschool we placed 9th out of over 400 5A bands in the state of TEXAS. We were (*&E@#'in good! My sister was in the band and they were just as good as we are.

People like to hear the bands at parades.....I am not even going to mention that only ONE of the highschools drill teams showed up. And one highschool did not have ANYONE SHOW except for the handful of kids that marched with the band. No drill team, cheerleaders nothing.

WTF HAPPENED? My wife still works in our hometown district so she did some investigating. It seems that the Christmas parade has become OPTIONAL.

That to me is sad.

Dad Stands Up To Grandpa- The Series Continues

Christmas of 78 or 79 I got a new remote controlled Trans Am AND a remote control Semi-Truck. The truck even came with cones so you could steer it through an obstacle course. I was so stoked! Now I could play SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT!! The day after Christmas dad was going over to see Grandpa H. (From the bar story). Dad asked me if I wanted to go and show Grandpa my new remote controlled truck. Grandpa being a truck driver in his younger days my dad thought my grandpa might enjoy it.

Now I have to describe my Grandpa H. MJP remember's him well. In his later years (last 5 to 7 years)grandpa was very nice. Growing up the only way I can describe him is "rough" I knew he loved me and my sister but he had a very hard time showing it. Now put a six pack of beer in him and he became sweeter.

So we get to Grandpa's house and he is not there. My dad tells me to take my truck and set it up in the bar. When Grandpa gets home he will come and see it.

Now I need to describe the bar- This was an addition onto the back of the house. It was was a large room with a fireplace, a couch, a record player that was as big and long as the couch, a large space for dancing, and a bar that sat eight people. The keg was set up in the fridge and a spout came off the side of the fridge. All you had to do is get your glass and you had beer on the tap!

THE BAR- was my grandfathers SACRED area. Kids were not allowed in there without Grandpa being in there. This was an established law. So maybe you can understand my questioning look to my dad when he told me to go set up in the bar. But I did as my dad said.

So I get set up and am having the time of my life playing with my truck. Grandpa enters the house and he goes into the kitchen and is talking with my dad. Dad tells grandpa to go into the bar because JDHTEACH has something he wants to show me.

My grandfather realizing I was in the bar without supervision got PISSED and marched into the bar. As he enters the room my truck is rounding the corner and grandpa stepped on my truck and crushed it. It was an accident he did not mean to do it but the damage was done. I was just speechless. I said nothing and just ran into the den. Dad seeing this entered the bar to see what happened. He sees my truck and he LIGHTS INTO my grandfather.

It was the first time I ever saw my dad stand up to my grandfathers behavior. He basically told my grandfather what an ASS he was. For the first time in my life and the only time in my life did I see my grandfather get chewed up. My grandfather new he had screwed up so he said absolutely nothing while my dad chewed on him. To this day it is the most upset I have ever seen my dad. I think if my grandfather would have said a word my dad would have punched him. I am not making that up.

When my dad was done with my grandfather he was just sitting in a chair with his head down. My dad walked out of the kitchen and as he opened the door he said, "Get in the truck son." I just got up and did what my dad said. I did not say a word.

On the way home dad stopped off at Toy's R Us and bought me a new truck. I was so amazed at what I had seen. I had a new sence of pride in my dad. From that day on my grandfather was different towards me and my sister. Sure he could still be an ASS to people but when it came to the grandkids he KNEW....THE KIDS WERE OFF LIMITS.

Top Rock Band of All Time?

If you say Led Zepplin or Beatles or Roling Stones..(GAG( you are OUT!!!! LZ was good and I do like them but I think that they are OOOVVVEEERRR RAATTTEEEDDD!!

Crappieraider started me thinking with a post on his blog. Who would be the TOP. Not your favorite...there is a differance here.

You have to consider bands that move across decades.

My favorite band is Queensryche. I love all of their stuff. Their lead singer is as strong vocally as he ever has been. But I am not going to consider them for this category. Why? Because you have think globally. Sure QR was huge in the late 80's and early 90's but now they play 6,000 seat places tops!

I present to you this band for consideration. They have been doing this a long time and can still put 80,000 in a stadium

RUSH! Pull them up on Youtube....Type in Rush Rio Look at that and tell me what you think.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

I hope you take a moment today to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Please take a moment and click on the link below. I would like to thank my Great Uncle Dallas who was at Pearl Harbor on that day. Thanks "Curly"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0EIJ5q_reM

Ah, To Be Productive Again!

For quite some time when it comes to doing extensive work around the house I have either been to tired to do anything because of work or I can't do anything for very long.

Well yesterday I worked with Tracey cleaning out the garage. We needed to do that because for about a month we had not been able to get both cars in the garage. I know it sounds like we are junk people but we are not. We have been moving things around and actually cleaning out the house....kind of a spring cleaning in the fall and we needed to do the same thing in the garage! We took literally EVERYTHING out of the garage and made a keep , donate, and a trash pile. Then we swept out the garage, reorganized the keep the stuff and moved forward.

I then helped Tracey with getting the outside Christmas stuff set up and our house looks GREAT!!!

I even mixed in a run to HOME DEPOT. I only needed one 5 or 10 minute break.

I still had energy to go out to eat with the family and we went to go look at Christmas lights.

It was a red letter day.

A Family Reunion at the Pokey!

I don’t remember exactly how old I was when this story took place. I think I was in about 2nd grade. Late one night or early in the morning you might say my dad comes into my room and says, “Big Fella, I need to go pick up your Grandpa. (My dad’s dad). Do you want to go with me?” I said, sure! Groggily.

Jump in the truck and off we go! I did not understand exactly where we were going to pick Grandpa up at 3:30 in the morning but who cares…I am with dad. We make a lot of small talk and I remember pulling in front of a building in downtown Dallas. It had police cars parked in front of it. We go in and my dad goes to the “receptionist” and tells them that he is there to pick James H up.

Here is how that conversation went.

D- I am here to pick up James H.
R- Looks through her files- (before computers I guess). She can’t find James H. She
Finds a Jimmy H.
D- That is my brother. I will take him.
R.- I have a Jackson H.
D- That is my cousin I will take him
R- I have a Jerry H.
D- (Obviously getting upset) That is my cousin. I will take him
R- Ah, Here he is James H.
D- You would think they were having a family reunion!

Officer escorting a guy in the back in cuffs-CAN I BE YOUR COUSIN??

My dad pulled out a large sum of cash and gave it to the lady. Shortly there after an officer comes out with my dad’s side of the family and hands them over. My dad makes all of them get in the back of the truck and he and I ride in the cab.

Why is that such a big deal? It is January and it was snowing. I remember looking back into the bed of the truck and they were all asleep. That is a serious drunk with it is snowing outside and you are sitting in a wind chill of about 20 below zero and you are sleeping like a baby.

How did this happen? At the time my uncle owned a small bar somewhere in Dallas. At 2:00 they closed the bar and sent everyone home. My uncle shut the door locked it and then the party began. It seems the “family” decided to keep the good times flowing. While this was going on my uncle got into a disagreement with his girlfriend at the time who was also the waitress in the bar and he sent her home. She got mad at him and called the police to inform them that she knew of a bar that was selling alcohol after hours.

The police show up and sure enough drinks are “ a flowin”. They arrest everyone in the bar. This is obviously a bogus arrest. The police are arresting everyone who is drinking after the 2:00am shut off. This is obviously PROFILING!

My dad dropped them all off at my grandpa’s and we go home. Now before you think…why would my dad bring me? Remember what I said in my opening….I cherished getting to spend time with dad. I had no idea of the reality of what was happening. In my world we were picking up Grandpa and others as it turned out from some building where they were obviously sleepy and the police were kind enough to look after them. Had no clue why dad was giving them money. Turns out that little trip cost dad about $1,000. I am sure he never saw that money paid back.

Father and Son Bonding....THE SERIES

I am going to start a new “series” for my blog. It is a series that centers on some of the father and son time that I shared with my dad that led to some pretty interesting stories. I have told some of these stories to people before and they just shake their head. This is not the only thing I am going to blog about but I will sprinkle in the stories.

When I was growing up my parents made the decision that my mother would be a stay at home mom. This meant that if my dad was not a school function in the evenings he was doing some spare job to make extra money. So there were many times I saw dad at breakfast and that was it until the next breakfast. So ANY time I got to spend with dad I took it. It did not matter really what we were doing or the time of day we were doing it. Many times I was too young to really understand what or why we were doing it but who cared…I was with dad.

I say this so that when you read about some of these stories you don’t think that my childhood was scarred in any way!

I hope you enjoy the stories.

NEW BLOG IN LINKS

CRAPPIERAIDER- Check this blog. This is one that I check out on a regular basis. I know this person and I know you will enjoy it.

ALSO-

ajbprin1.blogspot.com

Another one of my friends. She just started blogging Life and Times of an Educator

Flying Trash Magnet

My car has become a flying crap magnet! I spend probably a total of an hour and a half to two hours on the highway a day. Grand total of about 55 miles a day round trip. With my new position I drive probably an additional 10 miles running from school to school. Not every day but most days.

It seems over the last month as I am traveling on the road my car has become a magnet for flying crap to land on or hit and fly by. For instance:

1. I was driving down the highway last week and a truck that was ahead of me and in another lane hit something in the road and it kicked up ….flew OVER the car in front of me and it my car right on the passenger headlight. HARD! So hard that I was convinced I just got my front head light busted out. When I got to work I looked over my car and it (whatever it was…it looked like chunks of concrete) did not bust out my headlight but it scraped the paint pretty good- to the point that it was down to the medal in two parts. I might be able to buff out most of the scratches but the two biggies are there to stay.

2. I got out of my car yesterday and noticed I have a noticeable white scuff mark on the passenger side mirror. I don’t know if this is from a different instance or more damage from the flying chunk of mystery material from last week.

3. Today, I am traveling to another campus and the road is made up of very small gravel. The speed limit is 25 miles an hour. I get to the stop sign and stop. I start to go and I see a county sheriff is behind me. No big deal. He then TAKES OFF from the stop sign. He passes me (ON A ONE LANE ROAD) and as he is passing me here comes another car coming down the road……DECISION TIME!!! This sheriff’s car is a Dodge Charger. V8 Hemi engine. He has many horse power and he FLOORS IT to get past me….not hard considering I have 4 cylinder Camry . As he passes me he hits the gravel and yes…SPRAYS IT ALL OVER MY CAR!!!

I am not going to say what I said but I had some choice words for ROSCOE P. COLETRAIN!!!

Sure enough I got to where I was going and there I had some marks on the grill of my car from the sheriff.

I would not mind this if he were going to an emergency as bad but come to find out I was just moving slowly when he was breaking the law and needed to get passed me so he could go HOME!!!

I have had my car for 2 and ½ years. I like to keep my cars looking nice. I only have 40K on it and I would like to keep it until at least 100K….The engine will make it…the body may be beat all to you what by the time I get there.

So if you hit crap in the road would you please quit hitting me!!!!