Friday, April 8, 2016 – A Rose

 

Friday, April 8, 2016 – A Rose

Flower 2 (800x450)

“What a lovely thing a rose is!” He walked past the couch to the open window and held up the drooping stalk of a moss-rose, looking down at the dainty blend of crimson and green. It was a new phase of his character to me, for I had never before seen him show any keen interest in natural objects.

“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as religion,” said he, leaning with his back against the shutters. “It can be built up as an exact science by the reasoner. Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers. All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are all really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers.” ― Arthur Conan Doyle, The Naval Treaty

Flower 1 (800x450)Flower 3 (800x450)

 

 

Thursday, April 4, 2016 – Ferris Bueller and I Are Taking the Day Off

Thursday, April 4, 2016 – Ferris Bueller and I Are Taking the Day Off

That is true. Today Ferris Bueller and I are taking the day off.

Buddy Glasses

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. I do have a test today, that wasn’t bull-shit. It’s on European socialism. I mean really, what’s the point. I’m not European. I don’t plan on being European, so who gives a crap if they’re socialists. They could be fascist anarchists and it still doesn’t change the fact that I don’t own a car.”

My plans include sitting, watching the first rounds of The Masters and listening to Merle Haggard songs. May you Rest in Peace, Okie from Muskogee. The Silver Wings took you away from this side, but can never take you away from our playlists.

 

Wednesday, April 6, 2016 – “I Got Plenty of Nuttin”

The song expresses a cheerful acceptance of poverty as freedom from worldly cares. The singer says he has the most important things in life, “‘Cause de things dat I prize, / Like de stars in de skies / All are free”. Most of all, he’s “got my gal, got my Lord, got my song”.

Name the composer. Name the folk opera. And why am I singing the song today?

Alaska 2014 Black 2014-09-30 018

  1. George Gershwin
  2. Porgy and Bess
  3. I filed my income tax and have to pay again.

FYI – I am not too cheerful over my poverty, but it could be worse “Could be raining.” YF.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 – The Dreaded Buzzer Beater

Tuesday, April 5, 2016 – The Dreaded Buzzer Beater

And so my dear friends who pulled for North Carolina are in mourning today as the buzzer beater shot gave Villanova the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.  Haven’t you learned the Catholic school always wins? I think the NCAA has some kind of contract with the Catholic schools to ensure victory.

But this leaves one more dribbling show tonight in Women’s NCAA Basketball Finals.  UCONN and Geno and Giants go for a record-breaking four national championships in a row.  Where is my barf bag?

Go Syracuse!!! Go OTTO!

Otto the Orange

And I don’t even like the color orange.

 

Monday – April 4. 2016 – Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Or a Picture of a Pitcher.

Monday – April 4. 2016 – Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Or a Picture of a Pitcher.

It is opening day of America’s pastime – baseball. To celebrate here is a picture of a pitcher. Good luck, Andrew.

Me and Cashner (596x800)

The Pride of Conroe, Texas – Andrew Cashner – Pitcher for San Diego Padres

 

Sunday, April 3, 2016 – Why you should vote. Or Read Who Else is on the Ballot. Mary Lou Brunor

Sunday, April 3, 2016 – Why you should vote. Or Read Who Else is on the Ballot. Mary Lou Brunor

A little something to discuss tomorrow – post STAAR Hangover Monday.

This is long, but if you care about what children learn and what teachers teach then keep reading and know this name – Mary Lou Brunor.

Boat (800x333)

Copyright Delia R. Duffey

This is for those of you who have stated “I do not like the candidates running for president so I am not going to vote.” I would ask that you reconsider especially if you teach and/or have children or grandchildren in school or pay taxes. Here are some reasons why you should exercise your right to vote.

  • It is a right given to us in our democracy.
  • Men and woman across the world have sacrificed their lives and continue to sacrifice daily to ensure our right to vote and to provide and protect this so others are able to vote.
  • When you do not vote, it is a vote of sorts and Candidate Apathy always wins.
  • Another idiot is about to leave her village and make decisions in Austin, Texas about education.

It is these other races on that ballot that should be examined and voted on. Membership on the State Board of Education is an example. One wonders how “we” as an educational institution got into this mess. Not voting is one way of how and why.

The 15-member elected State Board of Education (SBOE) sets policies and standards for Texas public schools. Its primary responsibilities include:

  • setting curriculum standards,
  • reviewing and adopting instructional materials (textbooks and other resources),
  • approving all things assessments and the testing corporations who administer the tests,
  • establishing high school graduation requirements,
  • overseeing the Texas Permanent School Fund,
  • praying and bible thumping, and
  • other duties as defined by the elected governor and the elected legislature.

As said, the SBOE’s responsibilities include all things assessment related. So please put the majority of the STAAR SNAFUS on the State Board of Education , the Texas Legislature and of course the testing company and not the Texas Education Agency.

This November there will be a ballot in East Texas, SBOE District 9. This is DEEEEP East Texas behind The Pine Curtain where dueling banjo music can still be heard in the twilight zone and rattlesnakes can be a part of a church service.

https://mlb4sboe.com/

The ballot will have the presidential candidates running for election, local candidates running for local offices and candidates running for state offices. The name Mary Lou Brunor will appear as a candidate to be elected to the State Board of Education. This woman if elected will have significant say in to what the textbooks, policies and standards are used in schools across the nation. This could include public schools, charter schools, home schools, private schools and all other entities that use K-12 educational resources. The chance of her being elected to the SBOE is a distinct probability and possibility.

From her website, let me share some of her beliefs and I really wish I was making this up.

  • George W. Bush is a closet homosexual.
  • Barack Obama worked his way to pay for his drug habit as a gay prostitute.
  • Rick Perry is a closet homosexual.
  • School shootings are a result of The Ten Commandments being removed from school buildings.
  • Global warming is a “Marxist hoax.”
  • Dinosaurs and humans roamed the earth at the same time humans and Noah took dinosaurs on the ark. The dinosaurs were baby dinosaurs and did not live to reproduction age and that is why they are extinct.
  • “Islam is not a religion. Islam is an inhumane totalitarian political ideology with radical religious rules and laws and barbaric punishments for breaking the religious rules. If Islam is a religion it is a cult religion .…The USA should ban Islam and stop all immigration from Muslim countries because Islam’s stated goal is to conquer the USA and kill the infidels (nonbelievers).” From her web page.
  • Terrorists mass murderers are results of Liberals and Democrats.

If you do not vote, your county or parish could send one more of these koo koo birds to join others in making decisions about the content of what children are taught.

Just a reminder to educators in Texas, the current Chair of the SBOE has never taught in the public school system and home schooled her children. The governor appoints the chair of the SBOE. Of course he or she must be approved by the legislature.

The Commissioner of the Texas Education Agency is appointed by the governor. The current commissioner is a proponent of vouchers – known in some circles as “economic busing.” If you have the funds, you can send your child out of those schools that are not performing well, are high minority and have bad football teams. Yes, the football team transfer is true.

If you wonder how we as an educational institution got into this mess, not voting is one of the ways. Please reconsider and exercise your right to vote. Makes you miss the Gablers from Longview, doesn’t it? And we thought they were crazy.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/schooled/2016/03/02/mary_lou_bruner_extremist_who_thinks_obama_was_a_prostitute_heads_to_runoff.html

https://www.tumblr.com/search/mary-lou-bruner

https://www.mlb4sboe.com/about-mary-lou/endorsements.html

April 1, 2016 – My New Part-Time Position

April 1, 2016 – My New Part-Time Position

Here’s What I’m Thinking.

Buddy Glasses

I have been thinking getting a part-time job. I noticed a need in school districts across Texas during the Spring Assessment Periods which began this week called STAAR. This is how springs are now spent in the public education system in Texas. Poor children expressing high levels of anxiety in fear of having to take, then possibility retake the assessment exam as a result of so much Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, I cannot even begin to describe.

Apparently school districts are going to have to keep tract of when, and for how long a student is gone while he or she goes to the bathroom during STAAR testing or as I like to call it – Academic Lockdown. This critically important data point in data analysis is part of the never ending stream of data the TEA is required to collect by the Village Idiots under the Dome as part of the “Let’s make them count the minutes in a school day.” And you thought the end of cursive writing was the downfall of public education.

I updated my resume to include more recent work experience to display my experience in bathrooms and urine. I believe this to make me uniquely qualified for such a position – which by the way – my position is sitting, which I understand is not allowed during test monitoring.

Experience

  • I go to the bathroom. Frequently. Usually when I want to, but on occasion, when I am not ready.
  • TT Toter – worked as temp in an urologist office in Austin, Texas during my unfortunate unemployment that was Perrily induced when $270 million annually generated revenue was taken from school districts, public libraries and institutions of higher education.
    • Responsibilities included: I actually filed files and faxed prescription renewals for Viagra to pharmacies, but there were times I did tote the TT. The TT doesn’t just flow to the lab on its own. Somebody has to walk it down there.
  • Dr. Bathroom Nazi in large urban school district in Central Texas.
    • Responsibilities included, but not limited to: driving to four campuses at 15 minute intervals to relieve the person guarding the bathroom so he or she could go potty. (Please note: I have a PhD and was being paid an exorbitant salary to do this on your dime, Mr. Taxpayer. Given the number of assessments, this was a responsibility for about 20 days each spring.
  • Actually worked for an unnamed assessment company scoring (we do not grade) a bazillion Fifth Graders responses to a single question, making $11.50/hr – also resultant of my unfortunate Perrily induced unemployment.

Non negotiables

  • Must make a very high and impressive salary to waste my time and your tax dollars.
  • Must have an Impressive Title – Examples:
    • Chief of Urine and Ur Not In
    • Number One in Charge of TT
    • Chief Executive Officer of Urine Patrol
    • You’re in Control Patrol
    • The Executive Director of Urinalysis Analysis Data Collector or
    • Something like that that has a certain stream or flow about it.

April Fool! I am not going to back to work.

Too bad the timed urine breaks during assessment and data collection are not part of an April Fool’s joke. One would think it would be, given all of the fools that created this legislatively and politically contrived mess call K-12 public education.

Ship wreck 2 (800x537)

Don’t forget – the only money maker in education is assessment!

Remember: Keep your voter registration card current; vote early and vote often; and God Bless Texas and teachers and school children of the state.

 

 

Thursday, March 31, 2016 – ZIPPITY DOO DAH!

Thursday, March 31, 2016 – ZIPPITY DOO DAH!

It time for the 6th ANNUAL FONDREN’S ZIPPITY DOO DAH® WEEKEND, April 1-2, 2016 and SWEET POTATO QUEENS® CONVENTION March 30-April 3, 2016! to benefit the children of Blair Batson Hospital.

http://zddparade.com/

http://www.sweetpotatoqueens.com/

That is correct queens. It is Sweet Potato Queen Parade Time in Mississippi.

I hope Elf that you have your Queencentric on and that you and Miss Annie will attend this year. I am not able attend this year, but please know that I plan to have my own personal SPQ weekend beginning tomorrow with my pearls and pajamas party. A little music. A little dancing around the room. A few drinks. That sort of thing. Yes, it is a normal Friday night, but during ZIPPITY DOO DAH it is a pearls and pajama party! Wish The Twins were here from last year.

Pajamas & Pearls Twins (800x600)

Saturday evening, I plan to march up and down the street in my crown and boa and my Rodeo Queen outfit. Should I go with the inflatable crown or the diamond one? I hope those glitter boots from Zappos arrive in time. I plan to do this until I see the first police car.

Me and a Queen

Jenny Lee W. – I AM NOT the Queen in drag.

Sunday perhaps I can talk SPQ Ms. Navasota into a bathrobe brunch. I will take the Abuelos’ diablo shrimp and a very large thermos of bloody Marys to her house. Should we desire mimosas, I could also bring a bottle of champagne and a few drops of orange juice.

Meanwhile – some photos from last year’s Zippity Doo Dah. Thank you Jill Conner Browne, for all that you do for all of us.

Me and Jill (600x800)

 

SPQ Float (800x600)Cinco Pelo Grande (800x600)

 

Door decorations

Door Decoration from The Hilton Last Year.

SWEET POTATO QUEENS 2015-03-28 044 (800x600)

Her Royal Highness’ Newest addition to Grit Lit (Literature of the South) is Fat is the New 30 – The Sweet Potato Queens Guide to Coping with the Crappy Parts of Life by Jill Conner Browne.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – You May Never Win a Green Jacket, But

Wednesday, March 30, 2016 – You May Never Win a Green Jacket, But

I will never win the Green Jacket at the Masters Golf Tournament. Heck, I can’t even play there unless Dr. Condoleezza Rice asks me. Even then I am not sure.

But I can wear green pants. This was from the St. Paddy’s Day Tournament.

Green Pants (450x800)

They obviously brought me good luck though. Today concluded the Briarcrest Women Golf Association’s Eclectic Tournament. You play two rounds – one week a part and mark your improvement between rounds. With a Yes Indeedee score of 102 today I improved by 12 strokes – such a magic number in Aggieland.

 

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 – And Then There Were Four – As in Four for UConn

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 – And Then There Were Four – As in Four for UConn

And then there were four teams from the Women’s basketball NCAA Division I. And Then There were four teams on the Men’s basketball NCAA division I. Then there were none – None of the teams of either gender that I care about.

Headed to Women’s Final Four in Indianapolis, Indiana for the UConn Invitational will Geno and the Giants, the Beavers of Oregon State, the Huskies of Washington (Dub is actually an Alaskan Malamute) and the Orange Fluff Ball from Syracuse. Otto the Orange

Should have used last year’s bracket.W Bracket

Headed to the men’s Final Four in Houston are Oklahoma, University of North Carolina, Villanova and the Orange Fluff Ball from Syracuse. FYI  – The Orange Fluff Ball is named – Otto the Orange.

Headed to assist the Baylor softball and baseball teams to assist the pitching coaches will Kim Mulkey. For the sports challenged – in an act of frustration during last evenings Baylor/Oregon State game, Baylor women’s coach Kim Mulkey threw her most beautiful and very expensive gold jacket a good thirty yards in an act of frustration. Next year, Coach Mulkey, since you know going to receive a Technical foul anyway, throw your jacket at the referees. (NCAA Rule Violation Section IX, Paragraph 6, Part B, Sentence one – Jacket Throwing). Apparently the only three people in the arena and across ESPN who did not see the Oregon State player hold on to the Baylor player for good 1.4 seconds were the three referees standing within three feet.

How many days until football season kicks off?Panoramic view (800x284)