A candidate I can support...

And a platform I can stand on...



And if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, go here.

Repeat After Me...

“I am retired! I do not need any more teaching supplies.” Say it again!

“I am retired! I do not need any more teaching supplies.”

Dad reminded me to keep saying that after I noticed that there was a new Lakeshore store close to the Arboretum.

Now to really appreciate how much excitement this brought, you have to understand that Lakeshore was my very favorite teacher supply store. It had all kinds of math manipulatives, new and different games that helped build math and language concepts, more neat pocket charts for more purposes than you could ever imagine, and tons of disposable materials that made the art table really enticing. Whenever I went to Dallas for a conference every couple of summers, I always had to go by Lakeshore and buy lots of the newest stuff for the school year to come. And if we had a little extra time on the way to see the Cuevas family, I’d try to persuade Dad to drive into San Antonio at least as far as 410, so we could stop at the Lakeshore there and then go out on I-10 to Boerne.

My first response when I saw it was “Yipee! Gotta go there as soon as possible”. And then I felt a little hurt. “I wonder why they didn’t let me know they’ve opened a store here? I’ve spent lots of money with them over the years.”

I waited a couple of days and thought about how much fun it was going to be. And then I went and I walked all around the store and walked out without being tempted to buy even a single thing.

I guess it’s true. “I am retired! I do not need any more teaching supplies.”

And I think I know one of your probles...

Some things are not worth a lousy four bucks!

"Welcome to the Red Lobster guest satisfaction survey. Your opinions are very important to us and we greatly appreciate your help. To complete the survey, you'll use your telephone keypad to answer a few questions. To express our thanks, we'll give you a code at the end of the survey that validates the offer shown on your receipt."

"Let's get started."

Please!

"To begin, please press 1 on your telephone keypad now. "

Beep.

"Great. Look at the Red Lobster recipt that has the toll-free number for the survey on it. Near where it says "your opinion counts" is a twelve-digit ID number. Please enter that number now. Press the pound key when you've finished entering."

Good grief. Why 12 digits long? Okay, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep... Rats!! Wrong number. Now what?

"I'm sorry, but the ID number you entered is not valid."

I know, I know! I punched the wrong number!

"Be sure your entry is the correct ID number. It's twelve digits long and it's printed on your Red Lobster receipt near where it says your opinion counts."

Yes, I know where the number is, but it's too long!

"If you've located the correct ID number please reenter it now."

If you will give me a break, I will!

"Be sure to press each digit firmly when entering."

Okay! I'm sorry. I made mistake! Can we get past it?

"Then, when you've finished, press the pound key."

Finally!! Okay. Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep... [expletive deleted]!!!

"I'm sorry, but the ID number you entered is not... click!

Yoda you seek

Some how I missed the fact that Yoda is the guy on the right in the banner picture above. Who knew he lived in Austin now?