Were They Seeds Or Seedless?

Awwww the latest in the stolen motorcycle saga. Most of you know our house was burglarized a couple of weeks ago. Good news is we know who did it..they were stupid enough to leave their footprints then they we're arrested in possession of my motorcycle on a back road to Cotulla, Texas at 2:00 AM in the morning. I'm having a hard time with getting my bike back though because they were smart enough to scratch out the vin number......that however is the only smart thing they did. I spoke with the DPS officer that made the stop and this is how he described the events unfolding.

"I was northbound on hwy. 97 about 2 in the morning, when I was passed by a newer Ford F-350 with at least a 10 inch lift heading south. However I could see what looked like a motorcycle leaning on its side in the back. I turned around and proceeded to follow, and when they didn't slow down for a speed zone I pulled them over. When the driver got out of the truck he looked like someone you wouldn't suspect of driving that vehicle"....(I think he was getting at that maybe someone who didn't look like a cholo at Easter should have been driving.) The driver wasn't alone, he had another passenger and the driver had a girlfriend tagging along. "Inspecting the bike I noticed the vin number had been scratched out....an immediate red flag!! I had the two (now suspects) unload the bike, because if they could get it up there then they could get it down. And further investigating revealed it to be stolen"

Now here's the reason for my call. My insurance company Progressive has been great to work with, but the adjuster called that there was a problem. My bike was being held and not released because the suspect (the driver or the f-350) was claiming I sold him the bike. That was the reason for the clarifying call to the trooper to ask him about that ridiculous claim. He responded, "yeap they said they bought it from a guy that sells watermelons on the side of the road and that they had been buying from him for a couple of months." That guy was apparently me, and apparently we've become great friends the last couple of months....so upon hearing this the only thing I could answer back with was..."Did they say if I sold melons with seeds or without?" Thanked the now hysterically laughing trooper and hung up the phone.

How does that conversation go on the side of the road? I think maybe it went like this....Hey mister...I need a watermelon...Well take your pic...I've got big ones, little ones, skinny ones, fat ones, and motorcycles!!! What....you sell motorcycles? Oh Jess...real fast ones, real slow ones, real stolen ones..$500 $500 you take...real nice!!! Hmm there's no vin #....don't worry it was dropped? maybe brushed up against a tree...and scratched off...but $500 I help you load! Oh I don't know....I tell you what...since you been such a great customer....you buy the bike then take any three melons you want...Free!!! You mean $500 and I get this beautiful like new bike with just that one scratch that accidentally made the vin # unreadable and.....and I get any three melons I want??? Yes...yes..special price for number one customer....just for you...Well then hell yeah...oh and I want 3 seedless!!

Stay tuned for the results :-)

LB

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Today is our Mom's birthday and we are wishing you a happy one. You're the greatest and we are two of the luckiest guys to have you for our mom. (not sure you can say the same about us sometimes....) Enjoy today and know that we love you and are thankful and blessed that you are a part of our lives.

Hasta

LB and Andrew

p.s. Yes we made the cake.

Schools should watch the Obama address!

Recently the school district I live in and work for decided they would not allow the live viewing of the President Obama address to students. Instead teachers were told they could pick up a burned copy from the librarian and further instructions were given

"The reason for showing the speech on a CD should be for educational purposes ONLY. It is our understanding that President Obama's speech focuses on the importance of education, staying in school, working hard and taking responsibility. A teacher should not present his/her own political views in the classroom to include this speech given by President Obama."

I agree with the instructions, but take a very sincere disagreement with the format, y'all know me I'm not very quiet about something I don't adhere too. I feel like as Americans we don't "adhere" to the things that we all share as rights of being Americans. I also believe that we are too quick to look for other motives or issues when we want to dismiss something we don't particularly care for. (myself included if we're talking about t.u. football, arabian horses, or chickens...yuck) For example, listening to anything from a President of the United States we didn't vote for.(and no I didn't) But, that is the very essence of the problem I'm having with students not being given a greater opportunity to view this address. I even responded to our administration and here is the response I sent.

My response:

I feel that it is a sad choice for us as a district to not allow better access of viewing the President's speech. I can understand if it's because of technology issues not to view it live, but for a district like ours that is so focused on empowering kids, I believe we are missing out on a great opportunity. Maybe I'm wrong and having teachers go and get a copy to show their kids is the only option, but if it's not the only option then we are not serving the best interest of our students. We know, as educators, that by providing this option many of our students will not view the address, and those are probably the ones who would have been inspired most by such an event. Now we also know that if a parent makes a request for their student not to view the speech, then that is perfectly within their rights as a parent. (and we should be thankful to live in a country that allows those choices.) However, I believe we should find a more effective way of ensuring that our students view this address.

For the record, I'm not proactive for this because of any political affiliation but I will give you my view on our kids experiencing the President's speech. (My view that has been shaped by having family roots that trace back to the Alamo, and as a student growing up in this great district, and having witnessed firsthand the many changes and challenges it goes through and will continue to go through long after we're gone. ) First off, I'm a Texan and that comes with lots of responsibility to my family, community, and state. Secondly I'm an American (I know this sounds different than most views but it's mine) and as an American we are obligated to certain responsibilities one of which is being led by an elected official i.e. President Obama. Now, I didn't vote for the man and I have different beliefs on a lot of subjects, but I do respect the office. Our President is the leader of the greatest nation in the world, and that also bares lots of responsibility, but when he takes the time to address the children of this nation. As per his position he should have the respect of that request. I agree that as educators we should not lower ourselves in to the trivial party debates but instead emphasize the message and how the contents relate to our students. As United States citizens and educator's it is our duty to lead by example, and what example are we setting by not presenting a better way to comply with his request? Please reconsider the format that has been outlined and find a better way to have his message heard by our students.

Respectfully,

LB

Many of you would think the guideline of picking up a copy and showing it is fair procedure. However, I know our school life...and as a teacher if I have to go to the ordeal of ordering a copy and coordinating it's delivery then the chances of me showing it to my students greatly diminishes. Ultimately we struggle with kids that don't feel like they have any control over their education. They easily take the path to doing as little as possible, and scrapping by or dropping out. Is that the kind of future we want running our country? If the President's message were made available to a broader range of students that would increase the opportunity of making a difference in a kid's life, then that is worth all the effort.

I fully believe in the office of President of the United States. We know how advantageous FDR's fireside chats were to the "Greatest Generation", and how it helped generate the effort that led to winning WWII. If President Obama's speech generated a 1/10 of that inspiration, I would call it a success. However, the fact is that he is our President, and regardless of political affiliation if he as president wants to address the children of our nation then we should find a way to enable that. If the child's parent or the child themselves do not wish to view it, then that is their choice to make and accommodations should be made. In the meantime, find a way to meet this request in such a way that a majority of the students have access to the contents. Give them a glimpse into the responsibilities of being an American Citizen.

On a side note practice setting the example for a few other American procedures ( honoring moments of silence, observing federal holidays, standing for the national anthem, and taking your hat off for the Pledge of Allegiance). Keep those in mind when we're out and about exercising our American rights and freedoms. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend and be safe in your endeavors.

PS the part in my email referencing me being a Texan first....well I am, and I am damn thankful for it!!

Adios,

LB