This is my 366th blog entry on this site!!! This means, even by leap year's standards. I now have a year's worth of entries on this blog!!!! YES!!!!!
I really feel a sense of being revitalized, powerfully refocused and thriving on a " new birth of freedom" on this May 11Th. I moved to a much better apartment, much more comfortable, desirable and far better maintained apartment on the 29Th of April. I am preparing to go to Mexico to help , as a part of a team, to build a school cafeteria and to minister to the children and adults of The El Florida Colonias , located high above the City of Tecate, Mexico. I will be serving as a member of an 18 person team representing The Grace Community Church of Arlington, Va.
I was a teacher working in Private and Public Schools as well as serving as an instructor in a Home Schooled Cooperative from 1983 to early 2001. Not dealing with my past and deciding to avoid difficult and painful issues from my past led me towards a nervous breakdown that I finally succumbed to in August of 2003.
God has been gracious and has directed me as I've worked to rebuild and reorient my life. I feared, however, that my time as a teacher had come to an end. I tutored briefly in 2006 and enjoyed that- but came to see that as a "Last Hurrah". However, I am now once again tutoring . This is a longer term assignment and I'm getting to lesson plan for this assignment. I am most excited and feeling very renewed !
I am also down to my last 6 weeks serving as a Toastmaster Division Governor, I've learned a lot about creating a vision , motivating others to step forward and working to support individual Toastmaster members. I have struggled at times to do well in this position, but I see great hopes for a confident and positive finish to my term.
Life is not perfect but it is inviting and a great " Field Of Dreams" for me to play upon as I type this!!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
A Crucial Word
Lebron James was frustrated after a recent play -off game where he did not play especially well. He found one of the questions that a reporter asked him to be particularly irksome and off-putting. James referred to The Question as being "ret**ded"
The ARC , a nationwide Mental Health Advocacy and Support Organization, found the use of the word " re***ded" to be egregiously offensive and strongly challenged and chided Lebron James for choosing to use that word.
Mr. James, for his part, apologized for his use of that word. One commentator , in Lebron's defense, said that Lebron did NOT say that any person was ret**ded, but he referred to the QUESTION that was posed to him as being ret**ded !
Is Lebron's defender splitting hairs, or Does he or she have a valid point ?
The ARC , a nationwide Mental Health Advocacy and Support Organization, found the use of the word " re***ded" to be egregiously offensive and strongly challenged and chided Lebron James for choosing to use that word.
Mr. James, for his part, apologized for his use of that word. One commentator , in Lebron's defense, said that Lebron did NOT say that any person was ret**ded, but he referred to the QUESTION that was posed to him as being ret**ded !
Is Lebron's defender splitting hairs, or Does he or she have a valid point ?
The TIPping Point
Albert Haynesworth, the bete noire of The Washington Redskins, seems to be involved in an interesting situation. He has been accused of attacking and sexually harassing a waitress.
Over the last few days, A counter- narrative has developed. It seems that the waitress was not complaining about the attention that she got from Haynesworth until after she saw the tip she was left. She deemed the tip , according to these reports, to be too meager. At that point, she levelled charges of sexual harassment and assault upon Mister Haynesworth.
If the actions of Mister Haynesworth ONLY became offensive to the waitress AFTER the waitress saw the tip she was left, Does that, then, negate or call into question her ability to accuse Albert Haynesworth of treating her improperly?
Over the last few days, A counter- narrative has developed. It seems that the waitress was not complaining about the attention that she got from Haynesworth until after she saw the tip she was left. She deemed the tip , according to these reports, to be too meager. At that point, she levelled charges of sexual harassment and assault upon Mister Haynesworth.
If the actions of Mister Haynesworth ONLY became offensive to the waitress AFTER the waitress saw the tip she was left, Does that, then, negate or call into question her ability to accuse Albert Haynesworth of treating her improperly?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Patience
Is being 56 a reason to demand that my life change and improve at a much more rapid rate? I think I already know the answer but it is one that I wish I could instantly make otherwise!
The Indignation of The Terrapin Fans - " You hired WHO??? Is that Really the Best!! you could do?"
Since The University Of Maryland's Division One Men's Basketball team won the Annual Then 64 Team Tournament in 2002, Things have not gone well at College Park, Maryland In the Last Decade, The Terrapins played in two Final Fours, defeated The University of Indiana Hoosiers and won the the Elite ACC Tournament.
Since The 2002 Championship, The Terrapins have struggled . They have registered one trip to the Sweet 16. In Four of The Last & years, They were not selected to go to The Tournament. In the Season that ended last month, They were not even invited to the National Invitational Tournament ( The NIT). Terrapin fans have often complained over the last few years that their Coach, Gary Williams ,recruits very poorly.
Late Last week, Gary Williams announced that he was resigning after 22 years as the team's head coach Many Terrapin fans were both shocked and chagrined. They did not expect Gary Williams to retire NOW and he retired at an awkward time, one that would make replacing him MORE difficult.
Gary Williams is in The National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is a National Championship Coach. It is clear that a number of Terrapin Basketball boosters wanted someone similiar to Williams as his replacement. They wanted a high profile, well-regarded and intensely sought after coach.
The President of Maryland and Kevin Anderson, The School's Athletic Director, then went to work to satisfy their most finicky supporters. Since last Thursday, A number of high profile and big name coaches were contacted, Over the last 5 days,12 coaches have said "NO" to The Terrapins, including Sean Miller, Mike Bray, Jay Wright,Jamie Dixon and Brad Stephens.
Finally One Coach said, " Yes", The Coach of Texas A &M, Mark Turgeon. ESPN recently wrote the following about Coach Turgeon, " Classy, reserved and solid , the kind who speaks softly and lets his coaching talk for him.. He is fundamental and solid." , some Terrapin fans seem most underwhelmed by this hire. He's not someone to intimidate Coach K. He is not one who seems likely, anytime in the near future, to lead the team to an elite status among Division One Men's Basketball Program!
So, Is the hiring an act of Administrative under performance ? Do the Maryland Basketball Fans need to become MORE realistic?
- Johnny -
Since The 2002 Championship, The Terrapins have struggled . They have registered one trip to the Sweet 16. In Four of The Last & years, They were not selected to go to The Tournament. In the Season that ended last month, They were not even invited to the National Invitational Tournament ( The NIT). Terrapin fans have often complained over the last few years that their Coach, Gary Williams ,recruits very poorly.
Late Last week, Gary Williams announced that he was resigning after 22 years as the team's head coach Many Terrapin fans were both shocked and chagrined. They did not expect Gary Williams to retire NOW and he retired at an awkward time, one that would make replacing him MORE difficult.
Gary Williams is in The National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is a National Championship Coach. It is clear that a number of Terrapin Basketball boosters wanted someone similiar to Williams as his replacement. They wanted a high profile, well-regarded and intensely sought after coach.
The President of Maryland and Kevin Anderson, The School's Athletic Director, then went to work to satisfy their most finicky supporters. Since last Thursday, A number of high profile and big name coaches were contacted, Over the last 5 days,12 coaches have said "NO" to The Terrapins, including Sean Miller, Mike Bray, Jay Wright,Jamie Dixon and Brad Stephens.
Finally One Coach said, " Yes", The Coach of Texas A &M, Mark Turgeon. ESPN recently wrote the following about Coach Turgeon, " Classy, reserved and solid , the kind who speaks softly and lets his coaching talk for him.. He is fundamental and solid." , some Terrapin fans seem most underwhelmed by this hire. He's not someone to intimidate Coach K. He is not one who seems likely, anytime in the near future, to lead the team to an elite status among Division One Men's Basketball Program!
So, Is the hiring an act of Administrative under performance ? Do the Maryland Basketball Fans need to become MORE realistic?
- Johnny -
Moms and Military
This Past Sunday, May 8th, was Mother's Day here in the USA! It is also a day in a month where we remember the past sacrifices of those who have sacrificed on our behalf as members of the US Military!
Great Moms and The Most Outstanding Military Leaders have many things in common! They set examples that we can follow- the examples they set before us are ones of excellence, dedication and noble and beneficial purpose. They show us that celebrating the idea of delayed gratification and striving to be our best constantly are ideas of vital merit. We also are shown that sharing, and caring- knowing that others absolutely matter and are worth supporting and investing in!
The best military leaders and mothers also are committed to teaching that the path of selfishness is one that isolates and diminishes the one who decides to follow it. Teamwork and being a teammate because you desire to be a teammate will build a child or a new military member into someone with a strong conscience and a large heart.
Great Military Leaders and Great Mothers devote themselves to training their babies and new recruits with skill and passion! They are committed to turning that baby or new military member EVENTUALLY, on a moment by moment and day by day basis into a leader that others will eagerly desire to follow!
- Johnny -
Great Moms and The Most Outstanding Military Leaders have many things in common! They set examples that we can follow- the examples they set before us are ones of excellence, dedication and noble and beneficial purpose. They show us that celebrating the idea of delayed gratification and striving to be our best constantly are ideas of vital merit. We also are shown that sharing, and caring- knowing that others absolutely matter and are worth supporting and investing in!
The best military leaders and mothers also are committed to teaching that the path of selfishness is one that isolates and diminishes the one who decides to follow it. Teamwork and being a teammate because you desire to be a teammate will build a child or a new military member into someone with a strong conscience and a large heart.
Great Military Leaders and Great Mothers devote themselves to training their babies and new recruits with skill and passion! They are committed to turning that baby or new military member EVENTUALLY, on a moment by moment and day by day basis into a leader that others will eagerly desire to follow!
- Johnny -
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Some Fascinating Confluences on May First
The Night of 05/01/2011 will be known next year as well as 684 years from now, as the night we learned of the Death of Usama Bin Laden. I discovered this news while I was listening to WMAL Radio- 630 AM- broadcasting in the GREATER Washington DC Area.
The program that I was listening to is a favorite of mine- The John Bachelor Show. John was broadcasting from Krakow, Poland, covering march of remembrance made to honor the victims of The Nazi Death Camps such as Auschwitz, which is about an hour's drive from Krakow. Survivors take place in this march, Jewish Young People come from all over the world to take part in this march as do other young people from all over the world. This event also reminds all of our need to commit ourselves to remember that we will act to never permit such an outrage to occur again.
As this was going on the news of The Death of Mister Bin Laden was becoming common knowledge. John Bachelor was consulting a number of Israeli sources to keep us abreast of what was going on. Where he was he was cut off from other sources. He also reminded us of Bin Laden's commitment to mass murder and using the death of innocents to weaken and break Western Resistance towards his goals.
Few Broadcasters can weave together such treads of complimentary and well-matched data seamlessly and effectively. John Bachelor is one who does so most well!
The program that I was listening to is a favorite of mine- The John Bachelor Show. John was broadcasting from Krakow, Poland, covering march of remembrance made to honor the victims of The Nazi Death Camps such as Auschwitz, which is about an hour's drive from Krakow. Survivors take place in this march, Jewish Young People come from all over the world to take part in this march as do other young people from all over the world. This event also reminds all of our need to commit ourselves to remember that we will act to never permit such an outrage to occur again.
As this was going on the news of The Death of Mister Bin Laden was becoming common knowledge. John Bachelor was consulting a number of Israeli sources to keep us abreast of what was going on. Where he was he was cut off from other sources. He also reminded us of Bin Laden's commitment to mass murder and using the death of innocents to weaken and break Western Resistance towards his goals.
Few Broadcasters can weave together such treads of complimentary and well-matched data seamlessly and effectively. John Bachelor is one who does so most well!
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