Transformers - They're Back!

I totally let it sneek up on me!

Can we say Whoo Hoo!  Shia

(kind of love him as Mutt)

(come on next Indy)

How about Optimus Prime - kind of hot for a robot...  Big, Strong, Deep Voice...

Or the 88 transformer!

Will I get to go see it this weekend????  I don't know ....  May work....   May travel east ....  May go see Transformers - Dark Of The Moon!

Is it good?  Has anyone seen it yet??  Expect My Review!

Dad, Crazy Kids, A Canal And A Cable

At one point in my childhood we lived in Turlock, CA and we had the best fun in the canals.  This is not something we could do by ourselves, our dad took us there because supervision was required.

Because of the abundant peach orchards in Turlock at the time, the canals were used for irrigation.

As a kid, about 7 or so, they seemed huge and very daunting in my memory.  There were smaller irrigation concrete canals, but there were some that were large, like small rivers.  They had concrete bridges or control systems and as the water went through these, it rushed out the other side into what seemed like a raging river of water headed places unknown at a very fast pace.

We were armed with inner tubes, you know the real ones that you can't just buy at a department store.  The ones that left black smudges on your body after the fun was all done.

Under direction of my father we would stand at the edge of the concrete, gripping the tube we now had around our waist, nervously gazing into what seemed like an impossible precipice and contemplating a seemingly not so intelligent decision to jump.

Dad pushed us as long as I can remember to do things we thought we could not or did not want to do.  I am glad of that now, it bred adventure into us.  A desire to try things we wouldn't normally try, to have the guts to push ourselves and the knowledge to know that when we did, we loved it.

We weren't the only kiddos or persons here at the canal doing this crazy thing, there were lots of people there as I remember.  Dad had not just dreamed this up, he had done it himself and there were times later when he joined us in this feat.  The sight of other kids doing this crazy thing, I knew it wasn't going to kill me.  But the fear was still there to start.  So resolving to not baby out, I took the first jump into the scary rushing water.  It was exhilarating to say the least.  Fun beyond measure but even more than that, I had taken the plunge, I had broken a barrier, I had accomplished something I thought I couldn't.  I overcame fear.

OK, so here is the next seriously scary part.  We are in the rushing water now and we have had the next steps explained to us in great detail.  With a warning that could not be overlooked.  How do we get out of this water that was now carrying us down the river like canal.  Dad had explained with every ounce of you better do what I say or else tone, what we were to do after all the fun of jumping in and floating like crazy fun kids.

He is following us down the side on land, reminding of us now of these details.  Up ahead there was a cable that went across the canal.  (we are going much slower at that point, but scary none the less)  We are to grab that cable as we went under it.  This is how we are going to come out of the canal.  HUH?  I know that my mom was on the sidelines too so I knew I wasn't going to die.  But his warning included things like, "if you miss that cable you will float on down the river and we don't know how you will get out."  Sounds a little mean, but it worked.

He was telling us now from the sidelines, how close we were getting to it.  Giving us the play by play, what to do next, what to expect.  And of course threatening that we had better catch that cable.  Now I know that had one of us missed it, we were not in danger.  He would have jumped in and floated us to safety, but I wasn't thinking that way at the time.  I was now in tunnel vision - the cable!

We got the cable in our sights and I can remember the fear came right back.  It seemed in my mind like a life or death situation.  I was like an athlete in the Olympics, I have one shot at this and I had better ace it!  So we had our eyes riveted on that cable.  Determination abounded.  And I know the first time we did this, we were petrified!

When my hands reached out and grabbed that cable, excitement and relief and pure adulation came over me.  I made it!  We all made it!  We hand walked that cable over to the side, dad pulled us out and immediately we started the run back to the concrete to do it all over again.

We then begged all too often for him to take us to do this thing we now loved over and over and over again.  What an amazing thing to do!

This is not the only irrigation adventure in California, what a playground!

Moody Workin' Blues!

Work Work Work!  I want another Vacation!  or 2 or 3....

If it weren't for the deadlines looming over my head, I wouldn't know what day it was!

But I know too well what day this is and how fast that deadline is zooming its way towards me.  So social life is suffering much!  I definitely don't want to rush that deadline date!  But I cannot wait until it is over and my magnificent creations are delivered and done with!

Of course then starts a new one, but not the same pressure - yet!

So many things I want to be free to do - seeing my family and friends more than 1 second at at time is the first!  Doing some things in my yard, lay out by a pool, get my hair done and a great mani-pedi is on the list!!!  I can't wait to see Cowboys and Aliens - The new Transformers - and I want to see them in the theater!  I rented Sanctum - it was good, but I know it would have been amazing on the big screen!  I want to see Popper's Penguins, Bad Teacher and Bridesmaids too!  There are more new ones coming out but haven't been paying attention lately!  There are even a couple of Omnis I want to see.

And ....   Writing some good Moodies!!!!!  I know I have been falling short in a major way!!  Don't leave me!!

I want to read a new book!!!  Hmmmm which one do I want to read first??  I am soooo behind on reading!  No non-fiction!  I want to go on an adventure, get lost in a mystery or travel to some far away land or let's get the heebie jeebies in a great suspense like Thunderhead!

Can we all say HELLO.... FOOTBALL already!

Needless to say I am working all weekend but about to take a break to go see my Mommie!!!

BE HAPPY PEOPLE - Even if you have to work too much!!!

Let It Rain!

Yeah!  We got rain, actually a storm in the middle of the night last night - I never knew it!  It is very rare that something doesn't wake me during the night if there is any volume to it at all.  I am so surprised I slept through a storm.  But again, Yeah we got rain!

I really love the rain, I love the sounds of it all.  I love the sound as it spatters on the window and when you have it, the way it sounds on a metal roof is just amazing.  I love the rolling distant thunder as it builds on itself as if to announce its intention of coming your way.  The crackling of lightening as it spreads across the sky.  The sights, sounds and smells of thunderstorms in the mountains can't be beat.  All of this to me is healing, it is exciting, it is romantic and calming.  And it gives me a nod from the Lord that He is there and in control.

I love the cleanness of the air after a good rain shower.  I love that it washes away all of my allergens!!

I think I could live in Seattle!!!  Nah, love my Texas, but I would like to visit, I have never been to Washington state!  (making a plan)

There is a storm approaching FW even now as I type and will be again grateful for the rain.  All over Texas, there have been fires again.  My daughter's family deer lease in East Texas burned a few days ago.  And there are many more all over Texas.  I am praying rain keeps popping up all over the state for an extended amount of time!  Whoo Hoo!  Let's have a rainy summer!

The last storm coming through was followed by a cool front :)  In Texas that may mean upper eighties instead 100.  It has been over 100 too many days so far and it is not even the 100+ temps months yet.  So we have a little bit of a breather right now.  God is Good.

I live in a state that usually needs rain, so I am thankful when it comes.  I know storms have caused much terrible harm in the recent months, no one wants that, so I pray no harm comes with the rain I pray for!

Be Happy People!  May it rain blessings on all of you!

Hey Wade And Kelli !

Shout out to my cousins from CA and NC!  Had an amazing and long overdue visit, it was just too short!  Love you all very much and cannot wait til the next visit!

Coffee Anyone?

Don't we just love coffee!  Yum, I like the Columbia flavors mostly, but try to reach out and try a few others along the way, I also like the Kona.  I like it strong and my friends and family don't like it when I make the coffee, hello add hot water :)

First they tell us it is bad for us, then they tell us it is good for us!  Well I don't see stopping soon.  I love the flavor, I like the energy!  It is the first thing I do after waking up, make the coffee!

My mom could drink coffee anytime during the day, I have a hard time drinking hot coffee when it is hot.  I also cannot drink coffee while I am eating a meal.  Coffee is stand alone for me, love it! 

What is your favorite kind of coffee??  Don't you just love walking into the coffee stores with tons of varieties and flavors.  I am not talking starbucks, but the places you buy coffee, bags, beans and all the paraphernalia you could ever want or use!  It always smells so good and they give you taste samples.  People are always asking what flavor we smell brewing.  Really sells the products!

I am not being able to blog much lately - drinking a lot of coffee lately!  I will try to get some creative juices flowing soon!  Got to work for a living and right now, that is what it is all about.

Be Happy People!

The Italian Sauce Nazi!!!!

Well like the soup nazi on Seinfeld, I now have now seen, heard and been the target of the Angry Italian Sauce Nazi!

Wow!  I have never!   Hahahaha and I mean that!  My friend Carra and I went to grab a bite to eat.  We went to a place we have gone to many times before and love their food.  It is call Joe's Italian something, I don't think it is the Joe's chain but maybe it is.  Again, I have been before and it is good.  It is a small place and there may not have been any other customers maybe one table, now I see why!

We ordered what we normally do, I ordered clams and linguine and Carra ordered the shrimp scampi dish.  She does not like the white creamy sauce, so she asked for butter and garlic instead.

When we got our meal, the sauces (not butter and garlic) were something a little greenish yellow and thickish like campbells chicken soup before you add the water.  And worse than that it tasted like a vegetable gravy that was scorched just a tad.  No garlic flavor at all.  It was weird and kind of lumpy creamy.  I have never seen such.  Italian or otherwise.

We tried, we took a few bites and no, wasn't going to happen.  So I do something I can't remember ever doing.  I told Carra "I can't eat it, I am going to send it back ok?"  She agreed.  So we called the server girl over (she has served us many times before) and told her the sauce wasn't good really and we couldn't eat it.  We didn't ask for replacement but she asked if so what did we want.  I didn't really notice at first but she was apprehensive and Carra heard her say something about the person in the back, like she was kind of not looking forward to telling him.

She knew us and she knew we liked eating there.  But what happened next so surprised us, we have been in a state of shock and awe for the past couple of hours.

The cook/owner whatever he was came out front to our table, wanting an explanation and he quickly went from inquiring to griping.  He was focused on Carra and I tried to say something and basically he put his hand up and said, with no kindness at all, for me to stop talking, he was talking to her.  I was a bit surprised, I stopped talking and listened to him start to really tell her what he thought.  He had been there for 3 years and no one has ever complained!!!!  Hahahaha oh my gosh, so weird.

We tried several times calmly to let him know we have been coming longer than 3 years and we like the place, but he wasn't having it.  We were not to speak!  He started yelling at us and it went from chewing on Carra to yelling at her and yelled if we didn't like it to leave and swung his arms towards the door. 

Carra shot up out of her chair and in one split second she was standing in front of the door.  She said something like I am leaving and I will never eat here again.  And she will tell all her friends not to ever come here!

I am still in shock!  But I am up and quickly gathering my stuff!  Wishing I was already at the door too!  By the time I got there, he was yelling that we had given the waitress a hard time and now we were giving him one!!  OK that ticked me off, I proceeded to try to rebut that and adamantly say we had not given the girl a hard time, we like her!  And we didn't have time to give him a hard time... but he was still yelling at Carra, "you will pay for your food first!"  Whoa dude - calm down!  Forget the food and the restaurant, you have serious anger issues!

I am thinking no, no Carra! as she was sprinting to the cashier and the mean guy was practically stomp running to the back!  No Carra don't pay!  I did not go to the cashier.  The two young people, the girl and a guy were practically whispering they were sorry like they were afraid of him.

So we walked out the door in serious disbelief and Carra had not been treated that way since her ex-husband many many years ago.  So we were in shock.  It was like the twilight zone, I got to thinking where are the cameras, maybe we got punked!  I was perplexed and laughing because it was just so bizarre!

There was an IHOP nearby and we stopped and went in and mulled, laughed and continued with our shock and disbelief.  What just happened?  Well what a night!  That guy was nerved out, mean, yelling at customers and seriously needed some prozac!

Some kind of experience we won't soon forget, after a bit we just laughed about our new memory, while still being completely bumfuzzled.

So People!  Keep making memories!  Good, Bad And Bizarre!  Watch out for the Angry Italian Sauce Nazi!

Mavs Really Are The Good Guys

I am so impressed by all the after game interviews and happenings surrounding the Mavs.  Even Mark!  What a really nice group of guys.

When it was asked to one of the Mavs why they didn't speak up in behalf of Dirk being mocked for his illness by James and Wade, they said:  Dirk told us not to, that it was his and he would handle it.  To keep focus on the game and win.

Watching all of them speak, they really are and acted humble, excited and grateful.

I was impressed and proud.  On twitter I watched after the game all of the tweets congratulating the Mavs, saying all good things about them, it was great!  There was a fun and funny sports guy who is a heat fan and I loved his comments. 

Oh yeah and they rocked that game!!!!!  What a team!!!

Be Happy People!  Goodnight!  Or Good Morning wherever you are!

MAVS TAKE IT!!!! 105 - 95 NBA CHAMPIONS!

HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!!!!!  GAME 6 MAVS TOOK IT AND TOOK IT GOOD.

GREAT BBALL!  MAVERICKS HISTORY MADE!

Mavs up 81 - 72 End Of 3rd!!!

GO MAVS!!!!  

Let's Get This Started! GAME 6!

Here We Go!!!   GO MAVS TONIGHT!!!!

Sports Weekend Watches

CWT Race - Fort Worth TMS!  Friday 8pm C - Speed (Done and gone)

Stanley Cup Friday night - not watching - no Stars!  But Go Bruins!  (Done and gone)

Belmont Stakes Saturday 4pm C - NBC (no chance for Triple Crown, but will Animal Kingdom win 2nd race or will Shackleford?  Neither one of my jockeys are running, what is up with that??? But I haven't made my mind up on the horse I am going for, leaning towards Shackelford again.

IndyCar - Fort Worth TMS! Saturday 6:30pm C - VS

Formula One Gran Prix Canada Sunday 12N - Fox4

Sprint Cup Pocono Sunday 12N - TNT

Mavs Game 6! Sunday 7pm C - ABC  Whoo Hoo Game 6!!  Go Mavs - Beat The Heat In Miami!!

Rangers are playing but can't fit them in, going to the Ballpark for Rangers vs Red Sox in Aug.

Got to work this weekend!  Also dog sitting!

Do I need to get out and go to the movies??  Yes!  But Pirates 4 and Bridesmaids (seriously high numbers from Rotten Tomatoes???) are the only ones for this weekend I might want to see and don't have time this weekend!  Waiting for Cowboys And Aliens, Transformers (3 right?)

So will I get to watch all those listed above - No.  Will I DVR and try? Yes!

Mavs Win Game 5!!! 112-103

Yep and we are headed back to Miami!!!  Go Mavs!  On to game 6.

Sweet Sweet Summertime In Lockford

Besides the Texas heat, I have been noticing the signs of summer.  And of course it reminds me of the good ole days!

When I was in the second grade, we lived on 2 different ranches in Lockford, CA right outside of Lodi.  I have spoken of this place before.  I am going to talk about summertime in Lockford.

When you think of summer, one of the first things that comes to mind is swimming!  I remember taking swimming lessons while living in Lockford.  We, my sister Sue and I embarked on a bus daily for at least a week.  Lil' sis was too young to go with.  That was before they gave babies and toddlers swimming lessons.  I know that I already knew how to swim to some degree, but of course with this I got much better!  And we had so much fun, I liked my instructor, but you know what?  Any excuse to play in the water, I would take it! 

Remember the forbidden pond when I was five!  The one with water moccasins!  Wow what risks we took!  Anytime I griped at my kids and told them I was only thinking of their safety, why didn't they mind me?  I must think back in time to the days of boundless curiosity and imagination of my own childhood.  I don't why we did that!  We're just kids!!!!

Moving on, this was a small town with a lot of country surrounding it.  We lived in a house on a ranch by a main road, probably farm to market road.  We lived about a mile from town in this home.  We had friends that lived a bit aways, also in the country on the outskirts of town.  They had a creek behind their home.  Big enough to have a great swimming hole!

Sue and I would actually don our suits grab a towel and walk that road towards the town and then dogleg over to our friends house without actually going into town.  A bunch of us kids met there at the swimming hole creek to swim and play for hours.  Now good grief, yet another example of the difference between then and now.  The parental person was at the nearby house, but not actually life-guarding us at the creek.  It was so much fun!  A bunch of kids swimming, climbing up on the rocks and jumping off.  Laughing, splashing and having a great old time.

Now, we had our time limit and somehow we knew when to start home!  I am sure I am not alone when I say, you better be back home when you are told or wow, you were in big trouble!  And grounded from going back for awhile...  Thus the beginning of my "I would rather be beat than grounded" mentality!  I didn't want to miss one minute of fun with my friends!

Sue and I would take out walking back home.  By this time the road, the asphalt was seriously hot!  Ok, we were country kids!  No shoes?  No, we weren't wearing shoes, we were in our bathing suits and carrying a towel.  So feet very hot, we would 1, 2, 3 run!  And every so often we would say "stop!"  Throwing down our towel onto the pavement, we would stand on the towels to cool off our feet for a few minutes!  Not really cool, but off the asphalt!  Then we would 1, 2, 3 it again and take off running.  Now that was exercise!

This is yet again a town of many stories, the amazing fun we had as children in the land of ranches, making toys out of the landscape and buildings and just plain using our imagination to the fullest.

Stories that may come out of this place of our living, some I may have already mentioned:
Pepper seeds are the hottest!  Listen to your mother!
Getting lost in the cornfield and why does the cattle keep surrounding me!
Mommy my ponytail is too tight!
House burned while we were gone.
I thought the kitties needed that!
Frog and the dove in the middle of the night.
If you haven't yet choose my link to "Moody Stories" to read older posts like this one!

There were many fun times at the swimming holes and pools in my childhood in many different places.  I will have to tell you about them sometime.  I really think sometimes that I wish children of this day could experience those lazy days of summer that I knew as a child.  Worry free abandonment, imagination galore, seemingly endless places we made our playground and hours upon hours of laughing, smiling and guilt free fun.

There is something very memorable about "you hear my whistle and you better drop everything and hi-tail it back home - if I have to come find you.....!"

I got to raise my kids like that for the better part of their childhood and they have the same reminiscent feelings about it as I do.

I love it!

Be Happy People - enjoy your Sweet Sweet Summertime!

(I will complain about air conditioning and electric bills later!)

Whoo Hoo Mavs Win Game 4!!! 86-83

It was a Yo-Yo game for sure!  Dirk played with a fever, team brought it to help him.  Scores from most of the team!  And he looked weak also, by the end of the game you could tell his legs were weak.  His after game talk was painful to listen to and he looks sick, poor guy, I am so glad we won!

It is amazing when the last 40 seconds is constant back and forth!  But the Mavs kept the lead.  There is no lack of nervous energy even watching these games from your home. 

This whole game was full of missed shots on both teams, some shocking but it was pretty even both ways.  It could have gone either way - but it didn't!!!  Go Mavs!

Edge of your seat game 4!  Facebook was all a'buzz!

Get excited People, this is one way to get the heart pumping!

Pretty much that's all I got!  Whoo Hoo!

Religion - No Duct Tape Update...

Valedictorian gave her speech at the graduation including her own prayer.  She understands and respects the other student's freedom of beliefs but believes banning "words" from her own speech violates her freedom.  Judge, federal appeals court, agreed and overturned decision.

First amendment rights held.

The Other Team Won 88-86 Mavs Missed Too Many Shots!

That's all I got say bout that...

Heat Hugger

I cannot believe I have to listen to the heat hugger announcer all the way through this game.

His jubilation and praise for james and wade is more than I can stand, muting... sad.

See This Show ... Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011

It is called Witness: Tornado Swarm 2011.

3 days in April.  It is just videos of the tornadoes that moved across the country.  Videos only, show is not narrated except to tell dates and location information, just the voices of the many persons videoing and persons in presence of.  You can hear some of the real emergency warning audios.  Some tornado chasers, but mostly personal videos and cell phone videos. I don't think I had seen of these on any of the news.

Personal video from inside the airport that was hit.  Very, very informative, especially if you live in tornado alley.

This is not graphic of victims, but the audio is real and mostly unedited, not for kiddos.  It is too scary for young kiddos.  It is contains several of the most  awesome video of tornadoes I have seen.

I was mesmerized.

I cannot believe how close some of these people were, with these huge, I mean huge tornadoes coming straight towards them.  I am awe struck watching this as I write.  I am like thinking (maybe yelling) "run!" while I am watching it.  Amazing videos, the biggest are more than half way through the show.  I rewound and watched again.  I didn't catch the beginning of this just happened on it, I am DVR'ing one of the upcoming repeats to get the beginning.

There are 3 more viewings, Sunday morning, Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon, on NGC channel.  National Geographic, DVR it.  If it is in a class of some kind, it would win award for documentary.

Just A Few Items Of No Particular Interest!

1.  Cleaning house, doing laundry - making a dent!  Going to see mom later with sister Bren!

2.  Bounce dryer bar is great!  Decided to try it, it is working great, no need for sheet per load!  Have no idea how long it is going to last but it has been weeks and still going great!  Also love the softener ball!

3.  Got the new shredder a couple of weeks ago, the cross kind, catching up on the shredding!

4.  Liking twitter, I don't tweet much but I am watching tweets from people and news and groups I am interested in, very good!

5.  Lots of work and deadlines at my work, so I am not very creative on blogs right now!  Using all my creativity to create training videos instead!  I will get better after deadlines!

6.  Hope, hope, hope Mavs win game 3!  Love even more to root for your team when you are facing the Heat and their moonstruck announcers!

7.  Races in Chicago and Kansas this weekend, Whoo hoo!  Go Dale Jr!

8.  I am totally psyched that Cowboys And Aliens movie is coming soon, also Transformers!

9.  I enjoyed very much watching the WWII movies playing for Memorial Day.  Love those old movies and all the actors they threw into each movie!

10. It is very hot, very fast here in Texas right now - good grief we are already pushing 100!

11. Did I mention Yard Man came while I was gone on vacation?  Whoo hoo welcome back yard man!

12. Odd - doing a load of towels, opened the washer and right on top of clean towels is an unbroken light bulb!  It went through the wash and did not break!  I had changed light bulb in the room and laid the old bulb on the dryer, must have forgotten it and it dropped into towels before I put them in washer!

MAVS WIN GAME 2 - 95-93 The Come Back Mavs!

Dirks hits the winning shot with his hurt left finger hand!

What a comeback win!  OOOORAH!

ESPN TWEETS:  Wow, Mavs steal one from the Heat. "One of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history" - Mike Breen

Changed their biased tune just a tad!!!!!

Way to Go MAVS - on their way back to big D for Game 3!  News announcer in Miami says crowd is stunned - what just happened to us!!!

Goodnight People!  or Good Morning if you didn't stay up!

Go Mavs!! GAME 2 Win And Bring It Home

Good grief who would have thought a finger could change the game?  Heat better not hurt it again!

And now I am looking at the finger sitting out.

And hearing how gifted Wade is :P  It is really funny, if I walk or look away, I can tell who did something great just by the tone in the announcer's voice.  He is so starstuck or is he getting paid for his adoration or something?  As I was writing I heard him twice about wet himself with awesome excitement over W and J!

Good thing James travels and good thing they call it.

Religion - No Duct Tape!

When you are reading this, pretend that I am of your faith, whatever that faith is.

I really don't know what to think about this.  A school in the area has had to stop not only prayer at their graduation, but any mention of any kind of any religious words by anyone at the ceremony.  One child who is graduating is agnostic.  And his family took it to court that any prayer or mention of religion at his graduation infringes upon his rights.  No prayer is not my issue here, I understand that in a way, more than stopping the students from saying what they want to say in their speeches.

One student might say in their speech I thank God, another Buddha, Allah, the Mother Earth, the gods of the pharaohs or even I don't believe in a god so I thank myself.  That is the students right, right?  To each their own, it will not insult me or infringe on my own rights if that takes place.

One of the graduates is speaking at the graduation who does believe in God, whoever her God is, she now feels that she is the victim of losing her own right to free speech.  They cannot say what they want because of the ruling.  So you have say 600 people in a place at a ceremony and they all are subject to this ruling?  It is now said that no one can speak of any religion, belief or even say "religious" words... huh?

So I am thinking, what of freedom of speech, how does this fit in?  And freedom of religion, how does this fit into this situation?  So let's talk democracy, take a vote, right?  I don't know how many, but what if you let all the graduates take a vote and let the results stand?

I cannot help but wonder what the parents were thinking when they make such a stand and now their children are taking the heat.  Not them, who do not have to attend the school everyday with such a burden on them.  The graduate has younger siblings.  I would never condone repercussions to them, but we all know those kids will suffer.  In other words think about picking your fights in a venue that you as adult parents take the heat, not your kiddos.  That is the "mommie" in me talking.

My point being, I cannot stop the world from saying something in my presence, but they cannot make me say it. 

I truly believe that people have the right to believe as they choose.  Done deal.  I do not ever want to be "in your face" with my beliefs.  But I will and do talk about it.  I also know that I have and will be in the presence of people that do not believe like I do.  I do not want to stop them, nor do I want them to stop me.  I totally understand and support not teaching religion in schools.  Let me re-phrase that, teaching about religions in history or sociology, yes, but leading into or promoting students to believe or join specific religions in school, no.  But I do not understand stopping a student making a speech, from speaking.  Or stopping a person from saying Amen, Voo Doo, or Abra Cadabra!, when they robustly agree with what is being said.

There is a fine line here for sure.  There are all kinds of beliefs, opinions, people taking all kinds of stands all over my TV.  What I don't agree in, I have the right to not agree, walk out of the room, not listen, turn the channel and even put on my own show about how I believe, feel or want to share.  It is our right.

I believe in raising my children the way I decide to.  I also believe in teaching my children all about the diversity of the world, of our own country.  About personal tolerance and how I want them to act towards others who are not like them in many, many ways.  If you don't want to have your own mouth taped shut, then don't rail to have other's mouths taped shut.

I just didn't get it, that's all.

My disclaimer:  The above talks about speech, as a human being, I will never agree with any belief that abuses, maims, tortures, or kills people in the name of any religion.  Being mean, bullying, hatred, rude, angry and harmful are never acceptable, in my opinion.

My disclaimer#2:  I am very proud of my belief, I want to shout it from the mountain tops as I am sure you are of yours.  I have spoken of it in my blogs.  But in this blog it is the protection of our beliefs and freedom of speech and religion that is my point.  I don't want anyone to have to hide beliefs in a basement with fear of persecution.  Being able to speak of my belief is the exact reason for this blog.

Be kind people, that is universally good advice no matter what your belief is.

Go Mavs!

I remember why I don't watch basketball all the time.  Late nights and nail biters.  Not to mention now listening to all the overwhelming praise for the other team.  Muting is a good thing!

Only one game down, I am hearing it will go all 7.  So Mavs show 'em your stuff!  I will be watching and rooting for you and griping at the announcers.  There is a lot of Mav Pride!  Shoot more, score more and forget about the heat lovers, just kick it like you have been kicking it all along!