I saw a piece on the "Today" show yesterday that prompted me to think about rules. It was an interview with a southern teacher who just had a book published with his 55 "Essential" rules. He uses them in his classes, but they are apparently good "life" rules as well. My philosophy on rules is "less is more." The more rules a kid has to remember, the less likely he is to remember or live by them. This philosophy will NOT, however provide me with enough fodder for a New York Times Bestseller! Gary, the good ole boy from the south undoubtedly has just a few BASIC rules as well; he has simply "fleshed them out" with cute and quaint minutia. Case in point: he has a rule with a complete handwashing ritual to use when in a public restroom. Practical? Yes, but "Rule to live by?" No! These types of "rules" diminish the value of truly important issues. His rule to always address people by "ma'am" or "sir", shows a certain element of territorialism, I think. We just don't DO that up here in Michigan! That does NOT mean that our students are disrespectful. Being called "ma'am" all day would grate on me! I think we could probably boil these 55 into the following:
1. Respect and treat others as you would like to be treated.

2. If it's Disruptive, Destructive or Dangerous, Don't Do It.

3. Be prepared.

Random Questions: July 28 - Cleaning Tips
1. Give the kids and/or the spouse the jobs you hate the most.
2. Clean everything you possibly can with a "Swiffer" product.
3. Invite people over as an incentive to clean more frequently.
4. Get a multi-colored sculpted carpet. The dirt doesn't show as well.

1. What one thing do you wish would never have been invented? Why?
2. If you could change the speed limit on the highways, what would you change it to?
3. What word or words do you misspell consistently?
Let's throw in one more again this week................
4. What wealthy person is the least deserving of their fortune? Why?
1. How about the gasoline powered engine??!! Because of the influence the oil industry has on the political scene, We continue to plunder and pollute our environment. Until we can "divorce" the two, there is no incentive to seek and develop alternative forms of power; cleaner, more efficient forms of power. (this should encourage some discussion!)
2. SPEED LIMIT???? I think we should abolish them on the highways. People ignore them anyway. Let's get the cops OFF the highways and INTO the cities where the real crimes occur!
3,. NUN
4. Donald Trump.

1. Do you remember what you dream about; and if so, have you had any recurring dreams?
2. What is the weirdest dream you ever had?
3. Do you think your dreams have anything to do with what food you eat, what mood you're in, or something that's been bothering you at the time?
4. Have you ever been interested in knowing what your dreams mean, to the point of visiting a dream analyst or reading a book about dreams?


1. I have lots of school dreams where I am either lost, late or not fully clothed.
2. When I was a kid my dreams were weird enough that I thought they'd make great short stories. However, I never remembered enough of them when I went to write them down.
3. This is not an opinion question. I did research for a paper in HS, and those things all add texture and content to dreams; sometimes more than others.

I will share an interesting dream/development story in a future blog!!

Summer is flying by too quickly!

Lisa's gone this week. She's at marching band camp. Last year she played in the percussion pit, so she's kind of a "rookie" as far as the marching goes. It seems quiet!

Sunday, July 13, 2003


With summer comes concerts, fairs, carnivals, festivals and all sorts of 'exciting' events. I've decided to make that this week's subject..........(remember, you can always email me with suggestions! On with the questions................
1. Have you ever attended a concert? If so, who; and how old were you when you attended your first concert?
2. What is the biggest ride or rollercoaster that you've ever been on? Were you frightened to go on it?
3. Is there an annual 'festival' that you make sure you never miss? If so, please tell about it; if not, is there any annual event that you like to attend?


1. I have attended many concerts! I've heard the Chicago Synphony, St. Louis Symphony in their home venues as well as..... OH! You mean THOSE OTHER kinds of concerts! The first "Pop" type concert I ever heard was the Carpenters. The only other ones like that were Seals & Crofts (high school) and Three Dog Night, which I heard at the very first "Muskegon Summer Celebration"
2. Roller Coasters? HATE 'EM!! I get enough excitement when I'm driving!
3. There are annual Festivals I make sure to ALWAYS miss! I'm not a fan of crowds! I haven't been to Summer Celebration since they turned it into a big "whoop-de-doo". Another, now NATIONALLY recognized festival-to-miss is the Fremont babyfood festival. Reader's Digest listed it at the very TOP of their "Festival-to-Miss" list! I'm proud to say that I've been missing it for years!!

. Have you ever used duct tape to "quick-fix" something? If so, what?
2. Can you name 5 unique uses for duct tape? (Be nice! Be creative too!) Challenge yourself to try and name some things that other people may not think of.
3. Have you found any product that's a good substitute for duct tape? If so, please share!

1. I use it all the time at school to "Gerry rig" things like music lyres on instruments and the like.
2. A student in my band created an entire homecoming outfit (dress and suit) out of duct tape. She won an honorable mention at a big art competition!
3. There is nothing like duct tape!

Happy 4th everyone! We seem to be celebrating our "freedom" in a time when we seem to be losing them. People are being arrested for wearing "peace" messages on t-shirts. We have a priest at our church who says we're "bad Americans" if we disagree with the president. Excuse me. Isn't freedom of speech one of our most fundamental freedoms?