As many of you know, Rian is an assistant Principal in Lubbock. They have the building Principal, who handles primarily administrative duties, an Assistant Principal of Academics, and then Rian, who serves as Assistant Principal for discipline. I was somewhat surprised to learn that LISD still gives "licks" or "swats", of course with the permission of the parents. It seems that at the beginning of the school year, when student files are updated with current parental contact numbers and addresses, the parent can opt for discipline to include or exclude "licks" or "swats". Rian says the majority of the parents say if my child needs or deserves "licks" or "swats", give them. To stop any rumors, Rian doesn't just beat kids in his office all day, he has other tools available like OCS, suspension, or sending them to an alternative campus.

Also, as many of you know, Rian serves as the Associate Youth Minister at Greenlawn. Paul is the full time Youth Minister, but they really have it going on with their young people there. Big numbers participating.

This last Sunday Rian had the opportunity to preach at the small church in Sundown, so he called Paul and he said seize the opportunity! As Rian was driving to Sundown he called me, as is an almost daily ritual. In the course of our conversation Rian told me, "Monday through Friday I bring the wood, and on Sunday I bring the word!"

Amen!

I received a call from one of my truck drivers last evening. Actually he is Pepa's driver, but I seem to have inherited that responsibility in day to day activities. This driver had been listening to a talk radio show about the 819 Billion dollar stimulus plan. The talk show host said if they took all the money from the Wall Street Bailout and added it to the proposed stimulus plan, and divided that total by the number of Americans that filed a tax return in 2007, it would come to a little over $70,000 for every American tax payer. Wow! The talk show hosts continued that if they really wanted to stimulate the economy they need to get the funds in the hands of the end consumers.

Amen!

Lots of talk about how the monies given to Wall Street were to free up credit, but it isn't working. Most of those receiving the funds are wanting to hold on to them to offset future losses. It's hard for the money to trickle down when some asinine executive has his finger plugging the drain!

I loved it when our new President scolded Wall Street firms for 18 Billion dollars in bonuses paid in 2008. The exact word he used was "Shameful".

Amen!

I think we are seeing a much more involved President, one that is passionate about serving. One that is willing to talk and reach across party lines. I think it is going to be a regular process if the need arises he will hop in the car and go to the "Hill".

I have worked pretty hard this week, here at the home office. I have done a lot. Yesterday I got all the W-2's and 1099's in the mail. I am sure the mailman appreciated that. He probably would have appreciated me taking them to the Post Office or going to the closest Mail Box. I have a print out I finished last night of all the employee earnings by quarter. Following the liability guidelines for FUTA, the company had not been required to file a form 940 since the first quarter of 2008. That is nice at the time, but sometimes it is difficult to find where you quit. The only thing I need to do now is transfer the information to the 940 and TWC forms, print pay vouchers and have Krl write checks.

Hey, I'm pretty proud of myself, I have one day before the regular deadline and three before this year's deadline. (Since the 31st falls on a weekend, it rolls to Monday which is the 2nd.).

I have enjoyed getting to spend some concentrated time here at home with Krl. I am sure that she could do without my asking her "where" something is at, multiple times during the day.

This weeks cold weather has really given Krl fits. I don't know if it is arthritis, or something else, but her back (car wreck and surgery in '92), her leg (spiral break in 2007), and feet and ankle (broken in 2008), have really hurt! The other night I looked and she was wrapping her feet and ankles in ace bandages.

One thing I have really enjoyed is getting to cook with Krl. When I am around we tag team our meals, although if it comes to breakfast I usually do that. Yesterday felt like an oatmeal morning, and I fix a mean oatmeal. (Don't ask me why, but I can cook oatmeal and rice and it is never dry or sticky). So we began our day with a piping hot bowl of Old Fashion Quaker Oats, cooked on the stove top, not the microwave, accompanied by dry toast!

I know the dry toast is probably a surprise for many who have dined with me at breakfast. Use to be I would walk into a restaurant and before ordering breakfast I would ask, "Do you serve biscuits?" If they did I would take a table, if not I would leave in search of another restaurant. At some of the chains, I would substitute biscuits for pancakes. To quell some rampant thoughts here, I am from the South, but I don't require gravy with my biscuits (although it is an occasional change from routine).

Krl has noticed I am either becoming very liberated or very daring. I am developing a like for dry toast. I guess I am kin to my Dad after all. For years I never understood how he could prefer toast over biscuits when both were available. I would say it is an acquired taste in my case. Krl and I have discussed how we are both changing in lots of ways. We both love pasta. We have both lamented over Dee's pasta salad at the old family business. Dee was going to give Krl her recipe, but Cancer took her before she ever did. Spaghetti, lasagna, angel hair, penne, flat, elbow. Whatever! When Krl and go to Red Lobster she goes for the crab legs and I order seafood and pasta. We find ourselves cooking with more onion and various kinds of peppers, using a wide variety of spices! Oh, and don't forget the garlic! Lots of garlic!

One thing more just to get it all on the table. I prefer a red, or marinara sauce. I am not liberated enough to go with alfredo sauce.

And finally, Brownwood ISD introduced "Coach's" replacement yesterday, Bob Shipley. It is probably a big relief to the administrators that not much will change. I feel that lots of Coach's and Bob's philosophies will be the same. Some of the Lion supporters may be disappointed there is not going to be more change. I think Brownwood will be good this coming year, and maybe the next two or three. After that, who knows? For me that was one of the things that didn't make sense for Coach to resign on a down note. This past year's 3 and 7 campaign saw a number of key injuries, which cut production on the field. However many underclassmen saw valuable playing time. Coach just told me, "It just felt like the right time".

Some of you are aware, when Coach took the top spot in Brownwood athletics, he had a daily visitor to his office. The legendary Gordon Wood. Gordon became more than a mentor to Coach. They became good friends. I can remember after Coach Wood's passing, Coach Freeman told me people looked at you crazy when you were forty something years old and you told them your best friend was an eighty+ year old retired coach! Brownwood is going to miss what Coach Freeman brought to the community off the field. Lots of facility improvements and additions that were financed through the private sector, not through the school budget or taxes. Coach Freeman and his staff spent a lot of time volunteering above and beyond the call. You have to know Coach Wood would approve.

I don't know what Coach is going to do. I am sure he has a plan in the back of his mind. One thing for sure, I have enough to worry about without worrying about him!

I guess what Coach did was act out what I have been telling Rian.

Rian has talked a lot with me this past year about wanting a bigger house on an acreage, with a shop for his pulling tractor and the other end for his catering business. I told him, there is nothing wrong with wanting nice things. The catch is not to get yourself in a position where you have to pursue the money, and not the job. I have told him that there is always going to be a job that pays more money, but that doesn't make it a better job. This past year Rian was fortunate enough to have two job proposals on the table simultaneously. One at Lubbock Christian Schools as building Principal, the other at LISD as Assistant Principal for discipline. The former was just over half pay of the latter. Rian and Erica had made a choice that if at all possible, Erica would stay home with the boys until all of them are in school, although she is the administrator of Greenlawns pre-school/head start program. They are five years away from that happening at which time they plan on her returning to the classroom. It is a no brainer that LISD pays good. Much more than the smaller surrounding school districts. Rian and Erica's first job was in Idalou and Rian said he would love to have the opportunity to return there. Even though it means less money, he thinks it would be a better job. Keep your options open.

Good luck Coach.

I would like for Wall Street executives to learn that it isn't all about money. It is about integrity, honesty, responsibility, and making good choices.

I hope your choices are good today! Have a day!

FATHER, we are truly blessed. Thank YOU for making good choices available. Help us to make them every time. May our day be filled with YOU!