"Bringing up new ideas is one of the great ways to chase perfection."
A friend of mine was in a group of us who were thinking about ways to welcome new people to the neighborhood. One of his ideas sounded catchy at first, but within a minute or so we realized that there were a couple of practical snags with it. However, another person came up with a related idea that made even more sense. Eventually we came up with a plan that excited most everybody.
What about the first guy? He generously offered an idea when no one else had (to that point), it was picked at and discarded... and someone else got the satisfaction of coming up with the "winning" concept, right? But that's a victim's mentality, not to mention the selfish one. The big flaw in the thinking is that it wasn't "his" idea, but "an" idea or better yet, the "group's" idea. Whether it's a neighborhood meeting, a family deciding what to do for fun this weekend, or a team at the office, some of the most successful and creative ones master the ability to celebrate every new thought as a step to the best one, and forgetting their own ego.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Five Year Old Texas Girl Catches Piranha On First Fishing Trip
How's this for a first time fishing? I like how she seems totally disinterested in the interview. Better tell my nephews to be ready for anything the next time they're angling at grandpa's.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Who Should I Vote For President?
I tend to be a softie for an upbeat, optimistic leader with a vision, and a (non-micro-managing) plan. Lessee. Who should I vote for President next time? Maybe the current guy.
Ooh. He looks kind of angry. Maybe he's too cranky from being in charge all these years. He could need a nap. Who else? Maybe one of the guys who ran last time?
He seems kinda crabby too. Is he still mad about losing? What about the other fella?
Yikes. Can I write myself in?
Ooh. He looks kind of angry. Maybe he's too cranky from being in charge all these years. He could need a nap. Who else? Maybe one of the guys who ran last time?
He seems kinda crabby too. Is he still mad about losing? What about the other fella?
Yikes. Can I write myself in?
Sunday, September 25, 2011
VKCA Cookout 2011
The beanbag toss tourney in full swing.
Russ Schwartz masters the subtleties of ladder ball.
Backyard games for everyone!
That's some spread! Time to eat...
...and eat...
...and eat...
...and eat!
Seconds, anyone?
Future NFL players in bloom!
Isaac going deep...
Now to the live-shot replay.
Should we raise condo fees to widen this sidewalk for next year's cookout?
Time to burn some calories by chatting.
Enough digestion. Time for s'mores! This fire's within the by-laws, uh, right?
Late Night At The Office
Uh oh. When you have a view like this on the way home, work-life balance is a tad askew. Time to re-prioritize!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Beating Adversity
"Adversity will cause some people to break, others to break records." - Anonymous
I can remember a couple of people through the years who made a rough first impression on me (and the feeling was probably mutual).
The problem in these situations is often a matter of distance. The whole of a person's character is broad enough to be easily misjudged by a handful of moments. The person with a touch of arrogance is the same person who cares for his wheelchair-bound wife without complaint. The one who never answers e-mail writes a note of thanks at a tough time.
The more time we spend with others, the more we may warm up. Adversity, in a world of good people, is often temporary unless we let it overcome us. Conflict can lead to a bond, the way that breaking soil can lead to a harvest.
I can remember a couple of people through the years who made a rough first impression on me (and the feeling was probably mutual).
The problem in these situations is often a matter of distance. The whole of a person's character is broad enough to be easily misjudged by a handful of moments. The person with a touch of arrogance is the same person who cares for his wheelchair-bound wife without complaint. The one who never answers e-mail writes a note of thanks at a tough time.
The more time we spend with others, the more we may warm up. Adversity, in a world of good people, is often temporary unless we let it overcome us. Conflict can lead to a bond, the way that breaking soil can lead to a harvest.
Friday, September 23, 2011
U.S. City Mottos
What happens when city councils only allow 15 minutes on the agenda to devise mottos:
A Whole Lotta Texas Goin’ On! (Abilene, TX)
Good For You, Albuquerque (Albuquerque, NM)
Always Turned On (Atlantic City, NJ)
Keep Austin Weird (Austin, TX)
You’re Not Dreamin’, You’re in Beaman (Beaman, IA)
It’s Not the End of the Earth, But You Can See It From Here (Bushnell, SD)
An Unexpected Pleasure (Lyons, KS)
The Hub of the Universe (Marion, IL)
Experience Our Sense of Yuma (Yuma, AZ)
A Whole Lotta Texas Goin’ On! (Abilene, TX)
Good For You, Albuquerque (Albuquerque, NM)
Always Turned On (Atlantic City, NJ)
Keep Austin Weird (Austin, TX)
You’re Not Dreamin’, You’re in Beaman (Beaman, IA)
It’s Not the End of the Earth, But You Can See It From Here (Bushnell, SD)
An Unexpected Pleasure (Lyons, KS)
The Hub of the Universe (Marion, IL)
Experience Our Sense of Yuma (Yuma, AZ)
Pocket Presence
"EVERY problem has a solution. Be creative. Be persistent." - Anonymous
Last weekend I was watching the New England Patriots football team play and win against an outmatched opponent.
I'm used to seeing Jay Cutler, the jittery-footed quarterback of my native Chicago Bears. He has every reason to be that way, since the offensive linemen charged with protecting him too often perform like retired matadors. He's been battered more than a softball.
The Pats' QB Tom Brady faces comparable danger. A couple of years ago a lineman landed on his leg and destroyed it for an entire season. Now he dropped back as 300 men swarmed around him, half of them trying to level him. He couldn't look at them, of course, obligated to scan downfield for open receivers. Three, four, five rapid sideways steps back.
Then, suddenly, he became still.
Calmly as if he were standing in his living room. Looking left to right, then back to left, casually.
With tens of thousands of fans in the stadium, and millions more on television staring at his every move, he stood there as peacefully as on the breezy shores Cape Hatteras.
Whatever's bearing down on us, we won't break a leg, and if we keep cool, our days will shine.
Last weekend I was watching the New England Patriots football team play and win against an outmatched opponent.
I'm used to seeing Jay Cutler, the jittery-footed quarterback of my native Chicago Bears. He has every reason to be that way, since the offensive linemen charged with protecting him too often perform like retired matadors. He's been battered more than a softball.
The Pats' QB Tom Brady faces comparable danger. A couple of years ago a lineman landed on his leg and destroyed it for an entire season. Now he dropped back as 300 men swarmed around him, half of them trying to level him. He couldn't look at them, of course, obligated to scan downfield for open receivers. Three, four, five rapid sideways steps back.
Then, suddenly, he became still.
Calmly as if he were standing in his living room. Looking left to right, then back to left, casually.
With tens of thousands of fans in the stadium, and millions more on television staring at his every move, he stood there as peacefully as on the breezy shores Cape Hatteras.
Whatever's bearing down on us, we won't break a leg, and if we keep cool, our days will shine.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tagline Hall Of Shame
Courtesy of Eric@TaglineGuru.com:
"Bad taglines are typically vague, awkward, pretentious, inane, underwhelming, confusing, complicated, negative, or ambiguous – and often communicate an unintended message. They are also occasionally guilty of using trendy clichés and meaningless business jargon. They tend to devalue a brand.
Here are some examples:
Bacardi Spice: Distilled in hell.
Blockbuster: No more late fees. The start of more.
Enron: Ask why.
Exxon: We're Exxon.
Fortis: Here today, where tomorrow?
Mobil: We want you to live.
Stillwell Ford: We put people in front of cars.
Tyson: We’re chicken.
Washington Mutual: Whoo-hoo!"
"Bad taglines are typically vague, awkward, pretentious, inane, underwhelming, confusing, complicated, negative, or ambiguous – and often communicate an unintended message. They are also occasionally guilty of using trendy clichés and meaningless business jargon. They tend to devalue a brand.
Here are some examples:
Bacardi Spice: Distilled in hell.
Blockbuster: No more late fees. The start of more.
Enron: Ask why.
Exxon: We're Exxon.
Fortis: Here today, where tomorrow?
Mobil: We want you to live.
Stillwell Ford: We put people in front of cars.
Tyson: We’re chicken.
Washington Mutual: Whoo-hoo!"
Selling The Call
I was an umpire for a couple of years, following my buddy Ryan's lead. It was a short-lived adventure, but I did learn lessons about selling a call, whether it be safe, out, ball, strike...
When selling the call, your body language and voice should put oomph behind it. Convey confidence. Leave no doubt. Be emphatic. On a close call you may not be sure, but your actions fail if they communicate "maybe."
At the same time, you can't sell EVERY call. After a while, observers will just consider you to be a yeller. You may be tuned out, you may lose credibility.
It's yet another sports metaphor for life. In work or parenting, effectiveness is weak if you're the kind of person constantly making "I'm right" assertions, raising your voice or refusing to consider other points of view. Pick your spots when your core principles are challenged, or those around you have gone too far. Because never selling a call can ultimately be as weak as selling every one.
When selling the call, your body language and voice should put oomph behind it. Convey confidence. Leave no doubt. Be emphatic. On a close call you may not be sure, but your actions fail if they communicate "maybe."
At the same time, you can't sell EVERY call. After a while, observers will just consider you to be a yeller. You may be tuned out, you may lose credibility.
It's yet another sports metaphor for life. In work or parenting, effectiveness is weak if you're the kind of person constantly making "I'm right" assertions, raising your voice or refusing to consider other points of view. Pick your spots when your core principles are challenged, or those around you have gone too far. Because never selling a call can ultimately be as weak as selling every one.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Small Town Slogans
As a community service for work, Dena traveled to Minier to visit with a group of high school seniors. These students have expressed an interest in learning about banking, and are visited by employees with differing roles each time. As marketing director, Dena came up with an activity to have them each devise a slogan to attract people to their home town. Here are some of the favorites:
Hopedale: Our hospitality is as good as our hospital!
Armington: Nothing might be happening, but it sure is quiet!
Atlanta: Where happy faces meet big dogs!
Stanford: Small-town views with plenty of pews!
Armington: Best pop machine around!
And the winner:
Armington can be trashy but it's still classy!
Hopedale: Our hospitality is as good as our hospital!
Armington: Nothing might be happening, but it sure is quiet!
Atlanta: Where happy faces meet big dogs!
Stanford: Small-town views with plenty of pews!
Armington: Best pop machine around!
And the winner:
Armington can be trashy but it's still classy!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Funny Marketing Blunders
Courtesy of Peter Wise at ezine:
Writing copy or coming up with brand names for international markets is a tricky business. I know - I do it myself. It's essential that a native speaker checks any translated copy before it's let loose on the public. Sometimes, though, even the biggest of brands can get it wrong. Here are the top 20 translation (t)errors I've come across:
1. Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into Chinese became "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave".
2. An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I saw the potato" (la papa).
3. The Big Mac was originally sold in France under the name Gros Mec. In French, that translates as 'big pimp'.
4. Schweppes Tonic Water was translated into Italian as "Schweppes Toilet Water." Oh Scchh*t!
5. The Coors slogan "Turn it loose," in Spanish became "Suffer from diarrhoea."
6. Cars seem to offer a particular blind spot for advertisers. My favourite is the Chevrolet Nova. In the UK, it's the Vauxhall Nova. No problem there, but in Spain the Nova wasn't quite so popular. 'No va' means 'doesn't go'.
7. GM cars: Originally sold in Belgium using the slogan, "Body by Fisher," which translated as "Corpse by Fisher."
8. Not to be outdone, Ford marketed the Ford Caliente in Mexico, until they found out "caliente" is slang for 'streetwalker' and changed its name to S-22.
9. Even as grand a brand as Rolls Royce can make mistakes. The Rolls-Royce Silver Mist never sold well in Germany. Perhaps because In German, mist means "human waste."
10. Clairol fell...erm foul of the same problem when they introduced the "Mist Stick," a curling iron, into Germany.
11. Sometimes you can still get it wrong even when words aren't involved. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the beautiful baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside, since most people can't read English.
12. The US Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention that the Spanish translation read "Are you lactating?"
13. The slogan for Frank Perdue chicken products "it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate."
14. Cue toothpaste was sold in France by Colgate-Palmolive... until they learned that Cue was also the name of a well-known porn magazine.
15. When Parker Pens marketed a ballpoint pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read: "it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you". Unfortunately, the company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ads read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."
16. Still on pens, Parker had a model called The Jotter. This rather bemused consumers in some South American countries, where jotter is slang for 'jockstrap'.
17. When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, it translated its "Fly In Leather" campaign literally. Unfortunately, 'vuela en cuero' translated as 'fly naked'.
18. For some reason, Puffs Tissues failed to clean up in Germany. Then someone realized that Puff is German slang for 'brothel'.
19. The American slogan for Salem cigarettes, 'Salem - Feeling Free', was translated for the Japanese market as: "When smoking Salem, you will feel so refreshed that your mind seems to be free and empty."
20. Finally, here's one just to show how marketers can get it wrong even when dealing with the (supposedly) same language. Following great success with a tagline in the UK, Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux decided to use it in America, not realizing the alternative meaning there of a key word: 'Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.' Well, the sales certainly did....
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3999831
Writing copy or coming up with brand names for international markets is a tricky business. I know - I do it myself. It's essential that a native speaker checks any translated copy before it's let loose on the public. Sometimes, though, even the biggest of brands can get it wrong. Here are the top 20 translation (t)errors I've come across:
1. Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into Chinese became "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave".
2. An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I saw the potato" (la papa).
3. The Big Mac was originally sold in France under the name Gros Mec. In French, that translates as 'big pimp'.
4. Schweppes Tonic Water was translated into Italian as "Schweppes Toilet Water." Oh Scchh*t!
5. The Coors slogan "Turn it loose," in Spanish became "Suffer from diarrhoea."
6. Cars seem to offer a particular blind spot for advertisers. My favourite is the Chevrolet Nova. In the UK, it's the Vauxhall Nova. No problem there, but in Spain the Nova wasn't quite so popular. 'No va' means 'doesn't go'.
7. GM cars: Originally sold in Belgium using the slogan, "Body by Fisher," which translated as "Corpse by Fisher."
8. Not to be outdone, Ford marketed the Ford Caliente in Mexico, until they found out "caliente" is slang for 'streetwalker' and changed its name to S-22.
9. Even as grand a brand as Rolls Royce can make mistakes. The Rolls-Royce Silver Mist never sold well in Germany. Perhaps because In German, mist means "human waste."
10. Clairol fell...erm foul of the same problem when they introduced the "Mist Stick," a curling iron, into Germany.
11. Sometimes you can still get it wrong even when words aren't involved. When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the beautiful baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside, since most people can't read English.
12. The US Dairy Association's huge success with the campaign "Got Milk?" prompted them to expand advertising to Mexico. It was soon brought to their attention that the Spanish translation read "Are you lactating?"
13. The slogan for Frank Perdue chicken products "it takes a strong man to make a tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate."
14. Cue toothpaste was sold in France by Colgate-Palmolive... until they learned that Cue was also the name of a well-known porn magazine.
15. When Parker Pens marketed a ballpoint pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read: "it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you". Unfortunately, the company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ads read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant."
16. Still on pens, Parker had a model called The Jotter. This rather bemused consumers in some South American countries, where jotter is slang for 'jockstrap'.
17. When American Airlines wanted to advertise its new leather first class seats in the Mexican market, it translated its "Fly In Leather" campaign literally. Unfortunately, 'vuela en cuero' translated as 'fly naked'.
18. For some reason, Puffs Tissues failed to clean up in Germany. Then someone realized that Puff is German slang for 'brothel'.
19. The American slogan for Salem cigarettes, 'Salem - Feeling Free', was translated for the Japanese market as: "When smoking Salem, you will feel so refreshed that your mind seems to be free and empty."
20. Finally, here's one just to show how marketers can get it wrong even when dealing with the (supposedly) same language. Following great success with a tagline in the UK, Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux decided to use it in America, not realizing the alternative meaning there of a key word: 'Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.' Well, the sales certainly did....
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3999831
State Farm Next Door
Looks like State Farm has come up with a trendy way to do market research on young adults! It's got the Chicago Tribune's attention.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Amazing Bad Commercial Generator
Dena found this link which considers your input and then generates radio commercials like:
Say!
It's dog kennel season! And Squalor Kennel is your dog kennel headquarters!
Are you looking for a great deal?
Then call us today at 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
Yes, it's clearance time at Squalor Kennel, where you'll find service second to none.
So for all your dog kennel needs, call us at 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
This offer is going on now, and you won't believe our convenient location!
Yes, you've got us where you want us, because we've got to sell the old inventory before the new models arrive.
So hurry on down to Squalor Kennel, where our employees aren't treated nearly as badly as the state Labor Board would like you to believe and with prices so low, you know we're relying on underage slave labor!
So call now at 1-888-SAD-DOGS. That's Squalor Kennel. 1-888-SAD-DOGS.
And remember our motto, "Caveat Emptor!"
That number once again is 1-888-SAD-DOGS! That's 1-888-SAD-DOGS! 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
Say!
It's dog kennel season! And Squalor Kennel is your dog kennel headquarters!
Are you looking for a great deal?
Then call us today at 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
Yes, it's clearance time at Squalor Kennel, where you'll find service second to none.
So for all your dog kennel needs, call us at 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
This offer is going on now, and you won't believe our convenient location!
Yes, you've got us where you want us, because we've got to sell the old inventory before the new models arrive.
So hurry on down to Squalor Kennel, where our employees aren't treated nearly as badly as the state Labor Board would like you to believe and with prices so low, you know we're relying on underage slave labor!
So call now at 1-888-SAD-DOGS. That's Squalor Kennel. 1-888-SAD-DOGS.
And remember our motto, "Caveat Emptor!"
That number once again is 1-888-SAD-DOGS! That's 1-888-SAD-DOGS! 1-888-SAD-DOGS!
American English Concert
The Beatles tribute band American English was back in town this weekend. $15 a pop got us general admission on the lawn outside the Bloomington Performing Arts Center.
The venue was ideal. This acre of green space was bracketed by lightly-used roads and a backdrop of sporadic commercial buildings. It felt like Bloomington's version of Chicago's Grant Park - an oasis of nature in a sea of urbanism. The weather was perfect, with the scent of drying leaves mixed with hot dogs on the grill. And thanks to the support of CEFCU, it featured a trendy stage to house musical acts.
The undercard was a local band, 100 Year Picnic. A self-described family affair, one guitarist is the 14-year old son of another. Also, the drummer is 15. Veteran central Illinois residents might recognize the bald dude on the left as Ed Pierce, the guy who used to make the crazy commercials for Monster Pawn and Monster Deals.
I liked their sound. For you Rush fans, the lead singer had a Getty Lee quality to him (if you can hear past the low-quality, $30 camera sound).
At last it was time for the main act to take the stage!
They got this white bread crowd to shake their thing!
Finally, they changed costume and showed us all why to say "no" to drugs (or at least, not to go shopping afterward).
The venue was ideal. This acre of green space was bracketed by lightly-used roads and a backdrop of sporadic commercial buildings. It felt like Bloomington's version of Chicago's Grant Park - an oasis of nature in a sea of urbanism. The weather was perfect, with the scent of drying leaves mixed with hot dogs on the grill. And thanks to the support of CEFCU, it featured a trendy stage to house musical acts.
The undercard was a local band, 100 Year Picnic. A self-described family affair, one guitarist is the 14-year old son of another. Also, the drummer is 15. Veteran central Illinois residents might recognize the bald dude on the left as Ed Pierce, the guy who used to make the crazy commercials for Monster Pawn and Monster Deals.
I liked their sound. For you Rush fans, the lead singer had a Getty Lee quality to him (if you can hear past the low-quality, $30 camera sound).
At last it was time for the main act to take the stage!
They got this white bread crowd to shake their thing!
Finally, they changed costume and showed us all why to say "no" to drugs (or at least, not to go shopping afterward).
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Self-Motivation
"The single most important element in boosting motivation is everyday progress. Even a small win makes a big difference in how you feel and perform." - Teresa Amabile
Momentum is built, not instantly, but over time. It's an excellent feature of our nature that small accomplishments move us with increasing enthusiasm toward bigger ones. Equally potent is the phenomenon of the small failure. Choose the better route!
Momentum is built, not instantly, but over time. It's an excellent feature of our nature that small accomplishments move us with increasing enthusiasm toward bigger ones. Equally potent is the phenomenon of the small failure. Choose the better route!
Mixed Metaphor Of The Day
"This is the time for me to bounce back with an offense I like through a door the Vikings have been good enough to open for me. I'm looking forward to knocking that door down." - Donovan McNabb
Bachmann Gets No Laughs From Leno
Courtesy of Richard Adams's Blog:
For many celebrities, Jay Leno's Tonight Show is a fairly gentle outlet for publicity. But as Michele Bachmann discovered, Leno can have a sharp edge when he chooses to unsheath it.
If the Republican presidential contender was expecting a few jokes and some good PR, she didn't get it. Instead, the late-night talkshow host asked pointed questions about Bachmann's disputed objections to the HPV vaccine and gay marriage in an awkward encounter that showed Bachmann to be evasive under Leno's probing, while her own attempts at jokes fell flat.
The omens weren't good as Leno announced his line-up of guests, the audience giving big cheers for Jason Statham and Lady Antebellum – but not a single whoop could be heard for Bachmann when her name was mentioned.
After Bachmann came on stage to Walking on Sunshine, Leno dispensed with chit-chat and quickly asked Bachmann about her attacks on Texas governor Rick Perry's support for the HPV vaccine.
"Is that bad? it's a vaccine to prevent to prevent cervical cancer," asked Leno.
"Well I think so," replied Bachmann. "The concern is that there are potentially side effects that can come with something like that. But it gives a false sense of assurance to a young woman when she has that, that if she's sexually active that she doesn't have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases."
Bachmann had denounced Perry's support for mandatory use of the vaccine in the Republican candidates debate on Monday – when she had also made unsubstantiated claims that the vaccine was dangerous.
Pressed by Leno – "I'm not sure it's a sense of assurance. It can prevent cervical cancer," he said – Bachmann again insisted: "It's something that could potentially have dangerous side effects."
Bachmann's claims have been disputed by medical authorities, who say there is no evidence hat the vaccine has serious side-efects.
Leno asked Bachmann about her later claim to have met an unidentified woman following the debate who said her daughter had "mental retardation" as a result of the HPV vaccine. "Do you regret not getting this woman's name and address?"
"I don't know who this person was," Bachmann replied. "I wasn't speaking as a doctor, I wasn't speaking as a scientist, I was just relating what this woman told me."
Leno kept pushing, asking: "So other vaccines you'd be OK with, smallpox and things like that?" But Bachmann ducked the question, saying: "That wasn't even the issue."
Asking about the clinic run by her husband, Leno was even more dismissive: "That whole 'pray the gay away' thing, I don't get that."
"When I heard that I thought it was a mid-life crisis thing, 'prayer raises grey'," was Bachmann's lame attempt at a jokey reply, which drew only an annoyed grunt from Leno.
"You know what I'm saying," he said.
"To me, when I was a kid, they used to try and teach me to write right-handed ... to me that's the same thing if you're gay. I've been married 31 years, first wife, very happy. Two gay guys get married, how does that affect my marriage?"
Bachmann didn't attempt to answer the point, instead replying: "The whole thing is, with clinics, whatever issue anyone has, we don't discriminate, we don't discriminate with people's issues."
But if gay people want to get married, "why is that even an issue?" Leno asked. Bachmann again backed away from an answer: "The family is foundational and marriage between a man and a woman is what the law has been for years," is all she could manage, along with a tight smile.
At one point, Leno told Bachmann: "You seem strident in your views." No, said Bachmann, "I'm convicted." Leno corrected her: "You don't get convicted until after you've been in office."
In his opening monologue, Leno had a gag about Rick Perry's meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday: "That's a good combination: a guy who talks to God and a guy who thinks he's god."
For many celebrities, Jay Leno's Tonight Show is a fairly gentle outlet for publicity. But as Michele Bachmann discovered, Leno can have a sharp edge when he chooses to unsheath it.
If the Republican presidential contender was expecting a few jokes and some good PR, she didn't get it. Instead, the late-night talkshow host asked pointed questions about Bachmann's disputed objections to the HPV vaccine and gay marriage in an awkward encounter that showed Bachmann to be evasive under Leno's probing, while her own attempts at jokes fell flat.
The omens weren't good as Leno announced his line-up of guests, the audience giving big cheers for Jason Statham and Lady Antebellum – but not a single whoop could be heard for Bachmann when her name was mentioned.
After Bachmann came on stage to Walking on Sunshine, Leno dispensed with chit-chat and quickly asked Bachmann about her attacks on Texas governor Rick Perry's support for the HPV vaccine.
"Is that bad? it's a vaccine to prevent to prevent cervical cancer," asked Leno.
"Well I think so," replied Bachmann. "The concern is that there are potentially side effects that can come with something like that. But it gives a false sense of assurance to a young woman when she has that, that if she's sexually active that she doesn't have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases."
Bachmann had denounced Perry's support for mandatory use of the vaccine in the Republican candidates debate on Monday – when she had also made unsubstantiated claims that the vaccine was dangerous.
Pressed by Leno – "I'm not sure it's a sense of assurance. It can prevent cervical cancer," he said – Bachmann again insisted: "It's something that could potentially have dangerous side effects."
Bachmann's claims have been disputed by medical authorities, who say there is no evidence hat the vaccine has serious side-efects.
Leno asked Bachmann about her later claim to have met an unidentified woman following the debate who said her daughter had "mental retardation" as a result of the HPV vaccine. "Do you regret not getting this woman's name and address?"
"I don't know who this person was," Bachmann replied. "I wasn't speaking as a doctor, I wasn't speaking as a scientist, I was just relating what this woman told me."
Leno kept pushing, asking: "So other vaccines you'd be OK with, smallpox and things like that?" But Bachmann ducked the question, saying: "That wasn't even the issue."
Asking about the clinic run by her husband, Leno was even more dismissive: "That whole 'pray the gay away' thing, I don't get that."
"When I heard that I thought it was a mid-life crisis thing, 'prayer raises grey'," was Bachmann's lame attempt at a jokey reply, which drew only an annoyed grunt from Leno.
"You know what I'm saying," he said.
"To me, when I was a kid, they used to try and teach me to write right-handed ... to me that's the same thing if you're gay. I've been married 31 years, first wife, very happy. Two gay guys get married, how does that affect my marriage?"
Bachmann didn't attempt to answer the point, instead replying: "The whole thing is, with clinics, whatever issue anyone has, we don't discriminate, we don't discriminate with people's issues."
But if gay people want to get married, "why is that even an issue?" Leno asked. Bachmann again backed away from an answer: "The family is foundational and marriage between a man and a woman is what the law has been for years," is all she could manage, along with a tight smile.
At one point, Leno told Bachmann: "You seem strident in your views." No, said Bachmann, "I'm convicted." Leno corrected her: "You don't get convicted until after you've been in office."
In his opening monologue, Leno had a gag about Rick Perry's meeting with Donald Trump on Thursday: "That's a good combination: a guy who talks to God and a guy who thinks he's god."
Dena Is Wonderful
It's been a while since I gave Dena some props through Hidden Blog, even though her birthday's passed since then.
There was a stretch there where she was out of work, thanks to the whims of the economy.
Weeks stretched into months without a steady paycheck.
She could have devolved into a couch potato, watching M*A*S*H and Frasier re-runs in between trips to the fridge and grocery store.
I almost laugh writing that last sentence. Her resolve to live a meaningful life is deeper than any crevasse in the Arctic.
After applying for several graphic design jobs, she just started up her own business at www.denamcdonald.com.
She joined the Kiwanis Club, logged scads of volunteer hours, won the member of the year award, joined the board and becomes president in a couple of weeks.
Her Kiwanis connection led to a freelance business client, and then to a part-time job as a marketing director with a bank. She also produces the newsletter for the Illinois-Iowa district and has a dozen other clients.
A few years ago she could hardly run a mile. The other day we ran three, and she chatted the whole time. Yesterday she sprinted away from me in the homestretch (which I took to be a sign of athleticism rather than boredom!).
She's been part of Bible study groups and political groups, Special Olympics and Race for the Cure.
Now if she can just keep that spouse from turning into a couch potato...
There was a stretch there where she was out of work, thanks to the whims of the economy.
Weeks stretched into months without a steady paycheck.
She could have devolved into a couch potato, watching M*A*S*H and Frasier re-runs in between trips to the fridge and grocery store.
I almost laugh writing that last sentence. Her resolve to live a meaningful life is deeper than any crevasse in the Arctic.
After applying for several graphic design jobs, she just started up her own business at www.denamcdonald.com.
She joined the Kiwanis Club, logged scads of volunteer hours, won the member of the year award, joined the board and becomes president in a couple of weeks.
Her Kiwanis connection led to a freelance business client, and then to a part-time job as a marketing director with a bank. She also produces the newsletter for the Illinois-Iowa district and has a dozen other clients.
A few years ago she could hardly run a mile. The other day we ran three, and she chatted the whole time. Yesterday she sprinted away from me in the homestretch (which I took to be a sign of athleticism rather than boredom!).
She's been part of Bible study groups and political groups, Special Olympics and Race for the Cure.
Now if she can just keep that spouse from turning into a couch potato...
Friday, September 16, 2011
Pacing Destiny
Amid the sprawling pavement of the corporate parking lot there's a random plot of green walking path. It makes for a graceful diversion for those who like to shake up the daily walk to the car by meandering through fifty yards of chest-high shrubbery.
The walkway has enough small twists that it's easy to stumble upon a person sitting at one of the benches lining the way. Or in my case the other day, someone pacing back and forth as if in a stupor.
When you happen upon a woman walking in circles, gesturing with her hands and muttering to herself with her head down you're usually between two tenements. Of course, those folks typically aren't smartly dressed in a pantsuit, heels and salon-fresh hairdo.
We were strangers passing in a narrow corridor, and I made sure not to gaze as I walked by. Because I've been there.
Clearly she was rehearsing for a presentation. She looked like she'd been in the working world a few years or less. It took me back to my earliest speeches, back in college. I'd run meetings holding a note card in my hand, written nearly word-for-word what I'd say. Butterflies flapping, identity tightly pinned to this single performance.
Life experience makes such a difference. The frantic pursuit of perfection eases. Doing our best, and trusting the rest, blossoms gradually. Character becomes more important than reputation.
That's what she has to look forward to. To a great degree, so do I, even still. Meanwhile, the kindest thing to do is to let her revel in her zone, inching toward success.
The walkway has enough small twists that it's easy to stumble upon a person sitting at one of the benches lining the way. Or in my case the other day, someone pacing back and forth as if in a stupor.
When you happen upon a woman walking in circles, gesturing with her hands and muttering to herself with her head down you're usually between two tenements. Of course, those folks typically aren't smartly dressed in a pantsuit, heels and salon-fresh hairdo.
We were strangers passing in a narrow corridor, and I made sure not to gaze as I walked by. Because I've been there.
Clearly she was rehearsing for a presentation. She looked like she'd been in the working world a few years or less. It took me back to my earliest speeches, back in college. I'd run meetings holding a note card in my hand, written nearly word-for-word what I'd say. Butterflies flapping, identity tightly pinned to this single performance.
Life experience makes such a difference. The frantic pursuit of perfection eases. Doing our best, and trusting the rest, blossoms gradually. Character becomes more important than reputation.
That's what she has to look forward to. To a great degree, so do I, even still. Meanwhile, the kindest thing to do is to let her revel in her zone, inching toward success.
I'm Getting $500,000!
Oh. My. GOSH!
As soon as my check arrives, retirement begins. How lucky to receive a settlement from the scam victims' relief fund. Before this e-mail I didn't even know that I ever HAD been a scam victim. But when someone sends you a note from overseas filled with spelling errors and promising instant riches at no cost, you don't tempt fate. You gladly obey their sensible instructions to "keep it secret."
Obviously I'll be voting for President Obama at the next election, and saying my prayers to the United Nations every night!
---------------
Greetings to you
SCAMMED VICTIM/ $500,000 BENEFICIARIES.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 $500,000 USD.
On behalf of the Obama's Foundation and UNITED NATIONS, we wish to notify
you as a beneficiary of $500,000 USD in compensation of scam victims.
This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the Obama's
Foundation and UNITED NATIONS in Central Bank to pay 150 victims of scam
$500,000 USD (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) each. You are listed and
approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this
amount.
According to the number of applicants at hand, 114 Beneficiaries has
been paid, over a half of the victims are from the United States, we
still have a pending of 36 compensations left to be paid. Your
particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as
one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to
communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason what so
ever as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other
criminals. So keep it secret till they are all apprehended. Other
victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as
well for scrutiny and possible consideration
Do contact MRS JOY STEVEN who will give you informations and
directives about the release of your $500,000 USD that we have
deposited with the CAPITAL FINANCE BANK,UK. The account log on will be
presented to you by the bank in order to access the funds before
releasing into your nominated bank account.
Please if you are willing to accept the funds, do contact the Secretary
Mrs Joy Steven with the following details below:
You are to fill the appropriate form and submit to Mrs Joy Steven.
[1] Full Names:.............................
[2] Contact address:....................
[3] Direct Telephone:....................
|4| Occupation:.............................
Secretary To Obama Foundation
Name: Mrs. Joy Steven
Private Email: mrsjoysteven17@hotmail.com
Yours Faithfully,
Dr.Majlis Daerah Marang
Coordinator.
OBAMA'S FOUNDATION AND UNITED NATIONS© 2011
As soon as my check arrives, retirement begins. How lucky to receive a settlement from the scam victims' relief fund. Before this e-mail I didn't even know that I ever HAD been a scam victim. But when someone sends you a note from overseas filled with spelling errors and promising instant riches at no cost, you don't tempt fate. You gladly obey their sensible instructions to "keep it secret."
Obviously I'll be voting for President Obama at the next election, and saying my prayers to the United Nations every night!
---------------
Greetings to you
SCAMMED VICTIM/ $500,000 BENEFICIARIES.
REF/PAYMENTS CODE: ECB/06654 $500,000 USD.
On behalf of the Obama's Foundation and UNITED NATIONS, we wish to notify
you as a beneficiary of $500,000 USD in compensation of scam victims.
This is to bring to your notice that we are delegated from the Obama's
Foundation and UNITED NATIONS in Central Bank to pay 150 victims of scam
$500,000 USD (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) each. You are listed and
approved for this payment as one of the scammed victims to be paid this
amount.
According to the number of applicants at hand, 114 Beneficiaries has
been paid, over a half of the victims are from the United States, we
still have a pending of 36 compensations left to be paid. Your
particulars was mentioned by one of the Syndicates who was arrested as
one of their victims of the operations, you are hereby warned not to
communicate or duplicate this message to him for any reason what so
ever as the U.S. secret service is already on trace of the other
criminals. So keep it secret till they are all apprehended. Other
victims who have not been contacted can submit their application as
well for scrutiny and possible consideration
Do contact MRS JOY STEVEN who will give you informations and
directives about the release of your $500,000 USD that we have
deposited with the CAPITAL FINANCE BANK,UK. The account log on will be
presented to you by the bank in order to access the funds before
releasing into your nominated bank account.
Please if you are willing to accept the funds, do contact the Secretary
Mrs Joy Steven with the following details below:
You are to fill the appropriate form and submit to Mrs Joy Steven.
[1] Full Names:.............................
[2] Contact address:....................
[3] Direct Telephone:....................
|4| Occupation:.............................
Secretary To Obama Foundation
Name: Mrs. Joy Steven
Private Email: mrsjoysteven17@hotmail.com
Yours Faithfully,
Dr.Majlis Daerah Marang
Coordinator.
OBAMA'S FOUNDATION AND UNITED NATIONS© 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Good Day Checklist
I got to wondering about the type of small wins that turn up the brightness on a day. If I had a checklist of things to look back on before bedtime with satisfaction of a well-spent day, it'd be items like:
- Exercise/stretch
- Shower/shave/haircut
- Clean/launder/organize
- Shop/pay bills
- Buy only what I need
- Empty in tray
- Teach
- Play
- Eat only what I need
- Learn
- Maintain the car
- Laugh really hard
- Hug/kiss
- Speak only positively
- Plan
- Practice
- Read outdoors
- Volunteer
- Blog!
Some of these are necessities, others niceties. What would your checklist have?
- Exercise/stretch
- Shower/shave/haircut
- Clean/launder/organize
- Shop/pay bills
- Buy only what I need
- Empty in tray
- Teach
- Play
- Eat only what I need
- Learn
- Maintain the car
- Laugh really hard
- Hug/kiss
- Speak only positively
- Plan
- Practice
- Read outdoors
- Volunteer
- Blog!
Some of these are necessities, others niceties. What would your checklist have?
Dissing A Bad Day
"Bad days say more about a person’s character than good days. Nothing matters more than character. " - Anonymous
Moods are tipped one way or the other by the slightest of things sometimes. A couple less-than-ideal results near the end of the work day kicked up one of those mental tornadoes of frustration, the kind where we voluntarily dive into the ditch and roll around in the mud of self-pity. I was a tad on the hungry and tired side when I got home, and Dena asked how the day was.
A big smile crossed my face. "Man, I just got so CRABBY today. What the heck got into me? It was going by just fine, and all of a sudden... here it came..." It feels good to step outside me and look back like a fascinated observer. Bad days are often not as bad as they originally seem, after a little separation.
Moods are tipped one way or the other by the slightest of things sometimes. A couple less-than-ideal results near the end of the work day kicked up one of those mental tornadoes of frustration, the kind where we voluntarily dive into the ditch and roll around in the mud of self-pity. I was a tad on the hungry and tired side when I got home, and Dena asked how the day was.
A big smile crossed my face. "Man, I just got so CRABBY today. What the heck got into me? It was going by just fine, and all of a sudden... here it came..." It feels good to step outside me and look back like a fascinated observer. Bad days are often not as bad as they originally seem, after a little separation.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Class Action
"Athletic success will soon be forgotten–all you have to do is lose a few games. Humbleness, class and dignity will always be remembered." - Tony Dungy
I lost, figuratively speaking, at work the other day. Tried pretty hard to plan something, and due to a misunderstanding by another person it fell to pieces. The muscles in the back of the neck started to tense up when I read the unfortunate e-mail, the urge to condemn rose. And fortunately, my fingers didn't rise to the keyboard to issue a stern or corrective e-mail. The matter was relatively small in the big picture - and the value of a negative note upon the reputation wasn't worth it. Having the right measure of forgiveness in one's personality is the classier move, and as Dungy notes, the more lasting.
I lost, figuratively speaking, at work the other day. Tried pretty hard to plan something, and due to a misunderstanding by another person it fell to pieces. The muscles in the back of the neck started to tense up when I read the unfortunate e-mail, the urge to condemn rose. And fortunately, my fingers didn't rise to the keyboard to issue a stern or corrective e-mail. The matter was relatively small in the big picture - and the value of a negative note upon the reputation wasn't worth it. Having the right measure of forgiveness in one's personality is the classier move, and as Dungy notes, the more lasting.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Notes On Republican Presidential Debate 9/12/2011
What's your plan to balance the budget while protecting seniors?
Gingrich. There's so much waste that if you'd just modernize the federal government, you'd get the savings. I balanced the budget four straight years. Go to Strong America Now, who says that if we modernize the government, we'll save $500 billion per year.
Santorum. I think we have to keep a prescription drug component for Medicare, but we have to pay for it. It initially came out 40% under budget. One-size-fits-all does not work. I trust the American people.
Perry. I would not vote to eliminate the prescription drug benefit. [Note: moderator asked a question a second time to clarify... Perry basically said 'I already answered that.' I get the sense that his irritability meter is always one click away from the red.]
Romney. I wouldn't repeal, I'd reform.
Paul. We spend $1.5 trillion in needless overseas wars. We should cut Department of Education and Energy.
Bachmann. We must emphasize personal responsibility.
Note: This is a highly supportive audience! They applaud just about every other statement. Even the comments about pulling youth out of Social Security drove wild cheers from seniors in the room (it's Florida, so this is pretty much everyone).
What's the first thing you'd do to try to recover the economy?
Huntsman. America is in tragedy, people who've given up looking for works. I've put forward a program that's like my Utah governorship. I want to strip out loopholes and deductions, and corporate subsidies, and lower individual tax rates. Repeal Obamacare and Dodd-Frank. Third, we must reduce foreign oil dependence.
Perry. Said something cockily, then started smirking when the audience applauded.
Bachmann. Said that we shouldn't spend more than we have, then started smirking when the audience applauded.
Note: Stay cool cats! Don't let the bar for ego-stroking get too low, here.
Crain. The economy is on life support. We can't tinker around the edges. We need a bold solution with my 9/9/9 plan. You get the government out of the way, and the American people will get it done.
Romney. Texas is a great state, Perry's lucky to be in his spot.
Perry. We've led the nation in creating jobs.
Gingrich. The American people make jobs, not government.
Out of every dollar that I earn, how much do you think that I should be able to keep?
Huntsman: 8%, 14%, 24% on the individual side. On the corporate side, 25%.
Romney: I'd remove taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains.
Gingrich. There's so much waste that if you'd just modernize the federal government, you'd get the savings. I balanced the budget four straight years. Go to Strong America Now, who says that if we modernize the government, we'll save $500 billion per year.
Santorum. I think we have to keep a prescription drug component for Medicare, but we have to pay for it. It initially came out 40% under budget. One-size-fits-all does not work. I trust the American people.
Perry. I would not vote to eliminate the prescription drug benefit. [Note: moderator asked a question a second time to clarify... Perry basically said 'I already answered that.' I get the sense that his irritability meter is always one click away from the red.]
Romney. I wouldn't repeal, I'd reform.
Paul. We spend $1.5 trillion in needless overseas wars. We should cut Department of Education and Energy.
Bachmann. We must emphasize personal responsibility.
Note: This is a highly supportive audience! They applaud just about every other statement. Even the comments about pulling youth out of Social Security drove wild cheers from seniors in the room (it's Florida, so this is pretty much everyone).
What's the first thing you'd do to try to recover the economy?
Huntsman. America is in tragedy, people who've given up looking for works. I've put forward a program that's like my Utah governorship. I want to strip out loopholes and deductions, and corporate subsidies, and lower individual tax rates. Repeal Obamacare and Dodd-Frank. Third, we must reduce foreign oil dependence.
Perry. Said something cockily, then started smirking when the audience applauded.
Bachmann. Said that we shouldn't spend more than we have, then started smirking when the audience applauded.
Note: Stay cool cats! Don't let the bar for ego-stroking get too low, here.
Crain. The economy is on life support. We can't tinker around the edges. We need a bold solution with my 9/9/9 plan. You get the government out of the way, and the American people will get it done.
Romney. Texas is a great state, Perry's lucky to be in his spot.
Perry. We've led the nation in creating jobs.
Gingrich. The American people make jobs, not government.
Out of every dollar that I earn, how much do you think that I should be able to keep?
Huntsman: 8%, 14%, 24% on the individual side. On the corporate side, 25%.
Romney: I'd remove taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains.
Betty White Snickers Diva Commercial
This is milk-out-your-nose funny, but it's also so true.
One of my shortcomings is failing to pay attention to my own moods. Many times, if I'm on the verge of one of the weaker sins, it's because I'm short on either sleep, drink, food - or air. Just a few deep breaths can do wonders. But it's not nearly as satisfying as a Snickers bar.
Resolve to be unlike Betty White.
The Office
I finally bought my own camera, and I know how to use it! Here's my office.
Be among the first to catch this video before it goes viral. Might even win an award in the "Monotone Tour Of Corporate Office: Under Three Minutes" category.
Be among the first to catch this video before it goes viral. Might even win an award in the "Monotone Tour Of Corporate Office: Under Three Minutes" category.
A Kick In The Backslide
"The uphill climb is slow; but the downhill road is fast." - Anonymous
Work got busy last week and I missed the usual routine of either jogging 3 miles or biking for 30 minutes.
One day, then two, then three slipped by. No doubt the legs got weaker. The backslide had begun.
I recently read about a man who had been a triathlete until being struck in a New York City street while riding his bicycle. The effects of the accident were to severely cripple his gait and make it a challenge to walk. Yet he made up his mind to start living the life he had left. He entered a marathon within a few years, awkwardly covering all but the last 8 miles. He saw it not as falling 8 miles short, but covering 18 miles of success.
All at once, the cross-town trip to the gym doesn't seem so bad. In almost no time, all that was lost will be regained, and all that might have easily been lost has been saved.
Work got busy last week and I missed the usual routine of either jogging 3 miles or biking for 30 minutes.
One day, then two, then three slipped by. No doubt the legs got weaker. The backslide had begun.
I recently read about a man who had been a triathlete until being struck in a New York City street while riding his bicycle. The effects of the accident were to severely cripple his gait and make it a challenge to walk. Yet he made up his mind to start living the life he had left. He entered a marathon within a few years, awkwardly covering all but the last 8 miles. He saw it not as falling 8 miles short, but covering 18 miles of success.
All at once, the cross-town trip to the gym doesn't seem so bad. In almost no time, all that was lost will be regained, and all that might have easily been lost has been saved.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Class Of 1986 Reunion, Part 3
Time to browse the vintage photos around the picnic table under the tent. Theresa and Jeanne Kelly look on.
Doreen Berg, Cindy Haun, Rick Herrera, Beth Nowick, Lynn Obenza, Lynette Summait, Theresa Enders and Kim Glancey discuss the fate of the monkey bars and Maypole.
"So then Father Kilas is sitting there looking at me, and he goes 'Jim... Jim... why do you do this to yourself?' And I say 'I don't know, I just like talking!'"
Planning the Class of 1986's next event!
Doreen Berg, Cindy Haun, Rick Herrera, Beth Nowick, Lynn Obenza, Lynette Summait, Theresa Enders and Kim Glancey discuss the fate of the monkey bars and Maypole.
"So then Father Kilas is sitting there looking at me, and he goes 'Jim... Jim... why do you do this to yourself?' And I say 'I don't know, I just like talking!'"
Planning the Class of 1986's next event!
Class Of 1986 Reunion, Part 2
Ready for prime time... Theresa Enders, Bill Diesing, Lynn Obenza, Jim Nagrant and Beth Nowick graduate to the 5th-8th grade wing.
Henry Nocom and Medaline Santiago are right behind.
The penthouse suite!
Same podium, same timelessly award-winning floor tile pattern...
Laura Monaco shares Mrs. Read's math principles as Jeanne Kelly, Lynn Obenza, Kim Glancey, Kristin Norden, Cindy Haun and Medaline Santiago take notes.
"Okay everyone, back outside to see if we can find Ron Dukes!"
Henry Nocom and Medaline Santiago are right behind.
The penthouse suite!
Same podium, same timelessly award-winning floor tile pattern...
Laura Monaco shares Mrs. Read's math principles as Jeanne Kelly, Lynn Obenza, Kim Glancey, Kristin Norden, Cindy Haun and Medaline Santiago take notes.
"Okay everyone, back outside to see if we can find Ron Dukes!"
Class Of 1986 Reunion, Part 1
Thanks to Laura Monaco for an eye-catching poster!
Tour time at 3:00! Some things never change... like the tile... is all your homework in your backpack?
Jim Nagrant: "Hey, it's Sister Mary Catherine's Office!" Response: "Wasn't it your office?"
Quiet reflection by Oliver Ramiro, Heather Holtz and the Virgin Mary.
Bingo, anyone? Or is it time for a hot lunch?
The computer/science lab was built next to this hall which takes away some room. Still plenty of clearance to have a 50-yard dash, maybe a little crowded for a Jog-A-Thon though.
Plenty of trophies in the last quarter century. Where are all the Class of '86 trophies? Hey, does this tour take us to the deep storage area?
Here are some awards worth keeping - Medaline Santiago and Peter Frew, students of the year.
There we are! All the old class pictures line the 1st-4th grade hall. No close-ups of the hairstyles in this photo, to protect the innocent.
The guys (Jim Nagrant, Henry Nocom, Bill Diesing, Ed Foss, Rick Herrera) discussing social studies. Is that milk or chocolate milk in those glasses?
What, gym class in a GYM? Kids nowadays are spoiled rotten. Pretty sure that's the SAME balance beam we walked on.
Oh great, we all forgot our gym clothes. Thank goodness Ms. Olsen's not giving us the presidential fitness test today.
Tour time at 3:00! Some things never change... like the tile... is all your homework in your backpack?
Jim Nagrant: "Hey, it's Sister Mary Catherine's Office!" Response: "Wasn't it your office?"
Quiet reflection by Oliver Ramiro, Heather Holtz and the Virgin Mary.
Bingo, anyone? Or is it time for a hot lunch?
The computer/science lab was built next to this hall which takes away some room. Still plenty of clearance to have a 50-yard dash, maybe a little crowded for a Jog-A-Thon though.
Plenty of trophies in the last quarter century. Where are all the Class of '86 trophies? Hey, does this tour take us to the deep storage area?
Here are some awards worth keeping - Medaline Santiago and Peter Frew, students of the year.
There we are! All the old class pictures line the 1st-4th grade hall. No close-ups of the hairstyles in this photo, to protect the innocent.
The guys (Jim Nagrant, Henry Nocom, Bill Diesing, Ed Foss, Rick Herrera) discussing social studies. Is that milk or chocolate milk in those glasses?
What, gym class in a GYM? Kids nowadays are spoiled rotten. Pretty sure that's the SAME balance beam we walked on.
Oh great, we all forgot our gym clothes. Thank goodness Ms. Olsen's not giving us the presidential fitness test today.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
A Tradition Worth Continuing
From Pat, reminiscing about any memory he'd like to, regarding eight years of elementary school, and not directly with me:
"Last, but not least in countless memories provided by the Best Coach & one of my all-time favorite people...Mr. McDonald :-) "
"Last, but not least in countless memories provided by the Best Coach & one of my all-time favorite people...Mr. McDonald :-) "
Friday, September 9, 2011
Triumphant Tragedy
Whether by God or by coincidence, most every path is a good path if one chooses to see it that way.
There's an old story about the man whose son broke his leg riding a horse, which he lamented until there was a draft for a war that could not claim him.
There's a band that I've been on the sub list for, for some time. Two years actually, without a call. Without even a communication. I tend to think that I've been phased out. Grounds for irritation? Sure. But not if there's another opportunity out there that knocks on my door next week, a better one that I'm free to pursue in light of my free time. And naturally, I've been able to pursue coaching and teaching in the interim.
Being a numbers guy, I happen to remember that 20 years ago today was my first kiss and first serious girlfriend. I also remember the date that it ended. In between, I learned a lot about how not to be a good boyfriend. That's helped make me a better husband.
The past with all of its hiccups sets us up for a unique and rewarding future, once we set our mind to making it so.
There's an old story about the man whose son broke his leg riding a horse, which he lamented until there was a draft for a war that could not claim him.
There's a band that I've been on the sub list for, for some time. Two years actually, without a call. Without even a communication. I tend to think that I've been phased out. Grounds for irritation? Sure. But not if there's another opportunity out there that knocks on my door next week, a better one that I'm free to pursue in light of my free time. And naturally, I've been able to pursue coaching and teaching in the interim.
Being a numbers guy, I happen to remember that 20 years ago today was my first kiss and first serious girlfriend. I also remember the date that it ended. In between, I learned a lot about how not to be a good boyfriend. That's helped make me a better husband.
The past with all of its hiccups sets us up for a unique and rewarding future, once we set our mind to making it so.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
White House Wonderland
Besides commander-in-chief responsibilities, is anything more important as president than gaining the trust of Congress? Maybe, just wondering.
In my job, I have a role of "management." It's important to me to attend staff meetings of the supervisor who reports to me.
When I'm in those meetings, the supervisor and I are in effect the "majority party." Whatever I say, goes.
That's why I say little.
More accurately, I exert as little opinion and influence as possible (at least, I try).
It's important to me to be friendly and optimistic, and to learn about these teammates of mine. The simple act of being there is a winner for everyone in the room. I learn their business, and they learn that I care about them.
After going around the table, I chip in any information I have that may be useful to them from elsewhere in the company. I also ask their opinion on larger matters in my control that affect them (staffing levels, workload and development, for instance).
My job as a leader is to use its power to help, not to command. It's to drop my management "party" hat at the door.
There is a time and place for me to be influential. With input from others, I make the call as to our final vision and reap or bear the results. And I find that with time, rather than having to impose the influence of my position (which is brittle, without trust), I am sought out to make decisions.
But this is a seed that sprouts over the course of time, more time than the "first 100 days" in office which is so unfortunately cast upon our presidents.
As I recall (it took me two tries to pass the Constitution exam) there are about 600 reps and senators. That would take a lot of meetings! In the heat of allocating the nation's limited resources, it would also take a person of remarkable ability to behave with poise.
My corporate comfort can't compare to the leadership of a nation. Maybe I'm speaking in fairy tales. Still, I'd be interested to know how well that type of approach would work on Capitol Hill.
600 bright people who trust their president and debate respectfully toward solutions. What could they accomplish? What could stop them, if they do not stop themselves?
In my job, I have a role of "management." It's important to me to attend staff meetings of the supervisor who reports to me.
When I'm in those meetings, the supervisor and I are in effect the "majority party." Whatever I say, goes.
That's why I say little.
More accurately, I exert as little opinion and influence as possible (at least, I try).
It's important to me to be friendly and optimistic, and to learn about these teammates of mine. The simple act of being there is a winner for everyone in the room. I learn their business, and they learn that I care about them.
After going around the table, I chip in any information I have that may be useful to them from elsewhere in the company. I also ask their opinion on larger matters in my control that affect them (staffing levels, workload and development, for instance).
My job as a leader is to use its power to help, not to command. It's to drop my management "party" hat at the door.
There is a time and place for me to be influential. With input from others, I make the call as to our final vision and reap or bear the results. And I find that with time, rather than having to impose the influence of my position (which is brittle, without trust), I am sought out to make decisions.
But this is a seed that sprouts over the course of time, more time than the "first 100 days" in office which is so unfortunately cast upon our presidents.
As I recall (it took me two tries to pass the Constitution exam) there are about 600 reps and senators. That would take a lot of meetings! In the heat of allocating the nation's limited resources, it would also take a person of remarkable ability to behave with poise.
My corporate comfort can't compare to the leadership of a nation. Maybe I'm speaking in fairy tales. Still, I'd be interested to know how well that type of approach would work on Capitol Hill.
600 bright people who trust their president and debate respectfully toward solutions. What could they accomplish? What could stop them, if they do not stop themselves?
Making Change
Courtesy of Lisa:
"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses." - Carl Jung
How well do we accept ourselves? Are we trying to be something we're not? Do we condemn ourselves for it, or hold ourselves back by dwelling on our own limitations?
Whether it's directed internally or externally, condemnation begets itself. Fortunately, so too does praise.
I had a tense confrontation with a co-worker once upon a time. The days that followed still required us to work closely together, and were unpleasant. I had apologized immediately, and received no apology in return for his contribution. That was hard to accept and easy to condemn. However, as best I could, I closed my mind to his opinion of me. It was not quick or easy, but I had to focus on our common task and on being as polite as possible. Over the course of several weeks, a string of shared work successes buried the interaction and soothed the relationship.
Wounds don't heal while we continue to pick at them through condemnation. They heal when we care for them.
"We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses." - Carl Jung
How well do we accept ourselves? Are we trying to be something we're not? Do we condemn ourselves for it, or hold ourselves back by dwelling on our own limitations?
Whether it's directed internally or externally, condemnation begets itself. Fortunately, so too does praise.
I had a tense confrontation with a co-worker once upon a time. The days that followed still required us to work closely together, and were unpleasant. I had apologized immediately, and received no apology in return for his contribution. That was hard to accept and easy to condemn. However, as best I could, I closed my mind to his opinion of me. It was not quick or easy, but I had to focus on our common task and on being as polite as possible. Over the course of several weeks, a string of shared work successes buried the interaction and soothed the relationship.
Wounds don't heal while we continue to pick at them through condemnation. They heal when we care for them.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Notes on Republican Presidential Debate 9/7/2011
Random thoughts.
How many candidates are up there? Eight? Gonna take a while to sort this out.
My first look/listen to Perry!
First words out of Perry's mouth attacks Romney's record.
Moderator tries to go to another person, Romney cuts him off to rebut Perry.
Perry interrupts moderator to rebut Romney. The two attack each other.
Santorum. "My plan is the best plan that can pass the Senate." "We cut corporate tax rate from 35% to 0%." Wha?? Seems energetic and positive.
Cain. Eliminate the current tax code, it's a barrier to the economy. 9% tax on corporate income, personal income, and sales tax. "If 10% is good enough for God, then 9% is good enough for the federal government!"
Huntsman. We (Utah) were the #1 job creator in the nation.
Bachmann. Problematic legislation: Obamacare... small business owner says I had to cut 10 of 60 people. I raised 5 biological children and 23 foster children.
Paul. Didn't understand what he said. Rambled something about regulations being important, but opposed to all (?) federal regulation.
Gingrich. I served during the Reagan campaign and helped pass his jobs program. When I was speaker we added jobs and balanced the budget for 4 straight years. He was legitimately complimentary toward other candidates. Breath of fresh air.
Perry on healthcare: Romney's plan taught America how not to work. This guy's coming across pretty mean!
Romney: On day 1 I'll give an executive order to grant people a waiver from Obamacare. My Massachussetts plan covered 8% of people, Obamacare covered 100%.
Perry: I'd do that too. The reason my state is last in healthcare coverage (25% with none) is because of the federal government! Couldn't follow his explanation, though.
Bachmann. Obamacare took over 1/6 of the national economy. An executive order will not overturn the law. I was the first Congressperson to introduce a bill to repeal it. I'll elect 13 more Republican senators so as to overturn it. (You can elect senators?)
Gingrich. I'm not interested in causing Republicans to fight each other. We all hate Obamacare. Quit trying to bait us!
Now the moderator is defensive! Awesome. Good job Newt!
Cain. The free market should be allowed to control cost.
Moderator. 1 in 7 Americans are "poor." Where do they fit in?
Santorum. No one did more than me! We passed welfare reform because it was creating a culture of dependency. Let's end federal entitlement and create independency. No more means-based welfare. Half the people in this country rolled off the welfare rolls.
Perry. Referred to Santorum as "the last individual." Geez, how long until he shows respect for someone? His fiery statements are met with silence and some pity applause. This guy's an animal.
Romney. We are an energy-rich nation behaving like an energy-poor nation. This president is strangling America by stopping offshore drilling. Where are these "green" jobs?
Paul. He rambled totally off topic and kept invoking Reagan. He's like Ross Perot on amphetamines!
Perry: Another refusal to acknowledge someone (Paul) by name. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme! Young people shouldn't have to pay in to something that's not financially sound.
Romney. Funding SS isn't the issue. We shouldn't commit to opting out of SS, we should be committed to saving SS.
Cain. I like the Chilean model, using personal accounts. Theirs was broken, workers were paying 28% into the system. Now they use individual accounts.
Paul. This guy is a skinny volcano of negative phrasing! His arms are flapping all over the place like a Muppet and he stutters. I'm calling him Gonzo from here.
Perry. "I feel like a pinata." You're the frontrunner dude. Be tough.
Santorum. We created Homeland Security because right after 9/11 we had a lack of coordination. Lame joke about having 7 kids.
Romney. "Obama doesn't have a clue about how to get this country working again." What's he going to say about OTHER nations if elected?
Gonzo. Look at the monstrosities at the airports! Their employees are accused of sexual activity in treating passengers! 9/11 came about because there was too much government. This TSA bureacracy is bad!
Moderator. What about FEMA?
Gonzo. We were fine before 1979 when FEMA was created. People figured out not to live in bad places. We spend 20 billion dollars a year on air conditioning in Afghan. Stop paying it. Our troops would come home, we'd reinvest the money and we'd be happy.
Cain. Let's fix FEMA, let's fix Homeland Security. The federal government shouldn't run Medicare, education, TSA. Empower the states to do more, and limit the federal government.
Huntsman. Homeland Security is too imposing, it's unAmerican. Jobs are the big issue, we're talking about small issues.
Moderator. Texas education is near the bottom of the nation's states.
Perry. We're making progress. We have a unique situation since we share a border with Mexico. We'll continue to have a fine workforce.
Gingrich. I like charter schools. I'm in favor of school choice. I'd like a Pell Grant for K-12 so parents could choose.
Moderator: What would make the Mexican border secure?
Perry. You need boots on the ground, and monitoring from the air. The federal government is responsible. Once the border is secure, then we can discuss about immigration reform.
Romney. We need a fence or technological equivalent to determine where people are. Need patrol agents. And must stop illegal hiring "the magnet." Cannot give amnesty, let the legally waiting immigrants in, and get the illegals out.
Gingrich. We should require 1st generation immigrants (and all American children) to learn American history.
Huntsman. I agree with Gingrich. I'm the child of immigrants.
Moderator: What would you do with the 11 million illegals?
Huntsman. Dodged the question.
Bachmann. Dodged the question. Twice.
Cain. Secure the border. Promote the current immigration process. Empower the states to solve it.
Gonzo. It's a BIG mess in Texas!! It's the DRUG WARS down there!! People who want barbed wire fences and machine guns... that's not American!! Fences keep bad people out but it might keep us in!!
Romney. I believe in a lot of what the Tea Party believes, but I'm not a "Tea Party" member.
Perry. I'd sign on for a deal with $10 of spending cuts for each $1 of tax increase. At the last debate all the others voted for it.
Bachmann. Remember Ronald Reagan! (Seems like a cheap grab for applause.)
Huntsman. Let's not make pledges, it diminishes the political discussion and weakens the ability to govern once you get there. Look at their record to indicate where they're likely to go.
Romney. We have a crisis in confidence because we have an absence of leadership. Obama is flailing about, he's in over his head. (Mitt, use facts man, not sensationalism!)
Perry. He complimented "this president."
How many candidates are up there? Eight? Gonna take a while to sort this out.
My first look/listen to Perry!
First words out of Perry's mouth attacks Romney's record.
Moderator tries to go to another person, Romney cuts him off to rebut Perry.
Perry interrupts moderator to rebut Romney. The two attack each other.
Santorum. "My plan is the best plan that can pass the Senate." "We cut corporate tax rate from 35% to 0%." Wha?? Seems energetic and positive.
Cain. Eliminate the current tax code, it's a barrier to the economy. 9% tax on corporate income, personal income, and sales tax. "If 10% is good enough for God, then 9% is good enough for the federal government!"
Huntsman. We (Utah) were the #1 job creator in the nation.
Bachmann. Problematic legislation: Obamacare... small business owner says I had to cut 10 of 60 people. I raised 5 biological children and 23 foster children.
Paul. Didn't understand what he said. Rambled something about regulations being important, but opposed to all (?) federal regulation.
Gingrich. I served during the Reagan campaign and helped pass his jobs program. When I was speaker we added jobs and balanced the budget for 4 straight years. He was legitimately complimentary toward other candidates. Breath of fresh air.
Perry on healthcare: Romney's plan taught America how not to work. This guy's coming across pretty mean!
Romney: On day 1 I'll give an executive order to grant people a waiver from Obamacare. My Massachussetts plan covered 8% of people, Obamacare covered 100%.
Perry: I'd do that too. The reason my state is last in healthcare coverage (25% with none) is because of the federal government! Couldn't follow his explanation, though.
Bachmann. Obamacare took over 1/6 of the national economy. An executive order will not overturn the law. I was the first Congressperson to introduce a bill to repeal it. I'll elect 13 more Republican senators so as to overturn it. (You can elect senators?)
Gingrich. I'm not interested in causing Republicans to fight each other. We all hate Obamacare. Quit trying to bait us!
Now the moderator is defensive! Awesome. Good job Newt!
Cain. The free market should be allowed to control cost.
Moderator. 1 in 7 Americans are "poor." Where do they fit in?
Santorum. No one did more than me! We passed welfare reform because it was creating a culture of dependency. Let's end federal entitlement and create independency. No more means-based welfare. Half the people in this country rolled off the welfare rolls.
Perry. Referred to Santorum as "the last individual." Geez, how long until he shows respect for someone? His fiery statements are met with silence and some pity applause. This guy's an animal.
Romney. We are an energy-rich nation behaving like an energy-poor nation. This president is strangling America by stopping offshore drilling. Where are these "green" jobs?
Paul. He rambled totally off topic and kept invoking Reagan. He's like Ross Perot on amphetamines!
Perry: Another refusal to acknowledge someone (Paul) by name. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme! Young people shouldn't have to pay in to something that's not financially sound.
Romney. Funding SS isn't the issue. We shouldn't commit to opting out of SS, we should be committed to saving SS.
Cain. I like the Chilean model, using personal accounts. Theirs was broken, workers were paying 28% into the system. Now they use individual accounts.
Paul. This guy is a skinny volcano of negative phrasing! His arms are flapping all over the place like a Muppet and he stutters. I'm calling him Gonzo from here.
Perry. "I feel like a pinata." You're the frontrunner dude. Be tough.
Santorum. We created Homeland Security because right after 9/11 we had a lack of coordination. Lame joke about having 7 kids.
Romney. "Obama doesn't have a clue about how to get this country working again." What's he going to say about OTHER nations if elected?
Gonzo. Look at the monstrosities at the airports! Their employees are accused of sexual activity in treating passengers! 9/11 came about because there was too much government. This TSA bureacracy is bad!
Moderator. What about FEMA?
Gonzo. We were fine before 1979 when FEMA was created. People figured out not to live in bad places. We spend 20 billion dollars a year on air conditioning in Afghan. Stop paying it. Our troops would come home, we'd reinvest the money and we'd be happy.
Cain. Let's fix FEMA, let's fix Homeland Security. The federal government shouldn't run Medicare, education, TSA. Empower the states to do more, and limit the federal government.
Huntsman. Homeland Security is too imposing, it's unAmerican. Jobs are the big issue, we're talking about small issues.
Moderator. Texas education is near the bottom of the nation's states.
Perry. We're making progress. We have a unique situation since we share a border with Mexico. We'll continue to have a fine workforce.
Gingrich. I like charter schools. I'm in favor of school choice. I'd like a Pell Grant for K-12 so parents could choose.
Moderator: What would make the Mexican border secure?
Perry. You need boots on the ground, and monitoring from the air. The federal government is responsible. Once the border is secure, then we can discuss about immigration reform.
Romney. We need a fence or technological equivalent to determine where people are. Need patrol agents. And must stop illegal hiring "the magnet." Cannot give amnesty, let the legally waiting immigrants in, and get the illegals out.
Gingrich. We should require 1st generation immigrants (and all American children) to learn American history.
Huntsman. I agree with Gingrich. I'm the child of immigrants.
Moderator: What would you do with the 11 million illegals?
Huntsman. Dodged the question.
Bachmann. Dodged the question. Twice.
Cain. Secure the border. Promote the current immigration process. Empower the states to solve it.
Gonzo. It's a BIG mess in Texas!! It's the DRUG WARS down there!! People who want barbed wire fences and machine guns... that's not American!! Fences keep bad people out but it might keep us in!!
Romney. I believe in a lot of what the Tea Party believes, but I'm not a "Tea Party" member.
Perry. I'd sign on for a deal with $10 of spending cuts for each $1 of tax increase. At the last debate all the others voted for it.
Bachmann. Remember Ronald Reagan! (Seems like a cheap grab for applause.)
Huntsman. Let's not make pledges, it diminishes the political discussion and weakens the ability to govern once you get there. Look at their record to indicate where they're likely to go.
Romney. We have a crisis in confidence because we have an absence of leadership. Obama is flailing about, he's in over his head. (Mitt, use facts man, not sensationalism!)
Perry. He complimented "this president."
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
25 Years Later: Where Are They Now?
My 8th grade class is having a reunion at St. Matthew's Catholic Church this Saturday. We'll tour the school at 3:00, and reminisce a bit before and after. I put together a questionnaire and figured that the easiest way to post responses was through Hidden Blog. So here we go, so far:
Jeanne (Kelly) Hamilton
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
I am married to my husband, Brian and have three girls Kelsey (8), Katelin (6) and Lauren (4). We have a family dog - Marley.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
I attended Driscoll High School, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Denver. I have worked for a marketing firm in London, England, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westchester, IL, CCFA in Des Plaines, and Habitat for Humanity in Waukegan.
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
I live in Wadsworth, IL. I have lived in London, England; Denver, CO; Wildwood, IL; Zion, IL.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
For fun, I bike, swim, downhill ski, slalom ski, travel, play with my kids, hike and enjoy gardening.
I have traveled many places: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Canada, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Tennessee, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I remember one science fair project: the affect of baking soda on mold. I grew lots of fun molds.
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
My most memorable teacher was Sr. Janet Marie in 4th grade. She was very disciplined and was very disciplinary. She taught me that life involves a lot of discipline and how to live with it.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
My favorite school subject was history. My favorite playground activity was kickball.
Carolyn Weinbaum (maiden-Diesing)
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband- Aaron
Daughter Hannah 9yrs
Son Ryan 6 yrs
No pets any longer:(
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard East HS/ Farragut HS (Knoxville, TN)
Went to College at University of TN, Knoxville
Worked at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology Research Lab
Now work at Duke as Program Manager for The Duke Center for Science Education
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Durham, NC Lived in Knoxville, TN
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Still sing and compete in quartet competitions. We love to bike as a family and spend time with the kids as much as possible. We have traveled to China, Jamaica, Mexico, & Puerto Rico...and of course a LOT of the states:)
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Yes...try NOT too!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Ms. Vilimek....she taught confidence and acceptance.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Math! Loved when we would play softball with Sister Mary Catherine pitching.
10. Any other favorite memories?
Fr. Quinn getting US citizenship (all in red, white, & blue sweater). Hot Lunch! The eraser cleaner. And going to school before it started to help the teachers decorate the rooms and make copies (before copiers!)
Ron Sport Dukes
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Evan Dukes 18
Emilie Dukes 13
Ethan Dukes 10
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Junior college for the fire service no exciting jobs
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Glendale Hts, IL
Lancaster, MO 3 years
Kaneville IL 5 years
bill diesing
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Linda, mom
deana, older sister
toni, younger sister
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
immaculate conception, elmhurst Loras College
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
addison il, dubuque IA rockford, IL platteville WI
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
made a Manger ashtray, took oriental cooking
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
mrs reade, had a nice heart to heart in 8th grade about my potential
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
softball in our school uniforms
10. Any other favorite memories?
county fair
Heather Holtz Banks
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband James Daughter Charlotte(Charlie) Dogs Dobby 2 year old lab Gracie 1 year old pom
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Lake Park Highschool College of Dupage ISU work The Baby Fold Residential Treatment Center St. Mary's Catholic Grade School now Coal City Public Library District
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Now Coal City, IL Normal, IL Streator, IL
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
For fun I scrapbook and camp and spend time with friends and family We have been all over the USA and to Jamaica
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4h I did Paper Quilling with the Sister in Charge of the library. I also Did Oriental Cooking
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Fuoco we always played that cut throat game when studying for a test. Around the world i Think
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Science
10. Any other favorite memories?
7th Grade field trip to Chicago. the homeless guy peeing outside the McDonalds window while we were eating and the boys getting in trouble for chewing tobacco in the bathroom.
Rick Herrera
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Single
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard north high school... Northern Illinois university
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Glendale Heights
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Music/ guitar ..... Movies/.... Anything eighties Sports... College football/ pro
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I was in a rocketry 4h project... We got to make and launch rockets!!!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I remember something about each teacher... To be discussed later...
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I remember spirit day... And the track meets that we had!!!
10. Any other favorite memories?
8th grade field trip to Milwaukee, miller factory... Riding on the back of the bus!!
Elizabeth Nowick-Ignatius
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband jerry, Ðaughters rebecca (8), penelope (4). 2 parakeets, 1 fish
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
SFHS and Driscoll, UC Irvine. Now work for Carol Stream Police
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Wheaton IL
Mission Viejo,CA
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Gardening, cooking, Art, Concerts
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4H - Painting w/ mr. Lee, cake decorating with mrs. Foss, knitting All of which I still use.
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Sr. Janet Marie - although I spent a lot of time in the hallway copying dictionary pages, she unknowingly fostered my love of language.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I remember liking Mr. Fuoco's science classes. He always made sure we had fun, while yelling at us. I remember when the school got enough "jog a thon" money to get us playground equipment. That Maypole ROCKED!! Probably not the best activity for girls in skirts though.
Joe McDonald
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Dena (married 1998), no children or grandchildren, no pets.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Driscoll HS, Illinois State U.
I work as an actuary for State Farm Life Insurance Company (17 yrs)
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Normal, IL since graduating high school. Lived here longer than the burbs!
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I assistant coach boys' basketball at the local high school, tutor math, play guitar, read and blog.
We've traveled to Paris, Los Angeles (honeymoon), and the Grand Canyon.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4-H: Computers. Also woodworking with Mr. Mroz (twice!). Totally bombed at crocheting (come again?).
Science fair: Which battery brand lasts longest?
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Lee, what a character! His dramatic readings/impressions in Social Studies.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Softball in the parking lot. Get Dave Nelson on your team! Monkey bars were fun.
10. Other memories?
Tornado warning... hunched over in the hall while nuns led us in prayers.
Basketball... too many to list. 8 points in 19 seconds to beat St. Joe's 20-19. Pete's buzzer beater hook shot. Six games in one weekend.
Lunch ladies, milk delivered in big plastic trays, cleaning erasers using the machine, hot lunches.
8th grade vs. faculty softball win.
Mr. Pelletier the old janitor.
Blue knit polos and black pants!
Sr. Janet's yardstick, and jumping jacks after lunch.
Mr. Fuoco's bout with hepatitis.
Laura Monaco Fischer
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband Jeff, Twins - daughter Danielle and son Dylan, baby Sean
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard North HS '90, Illinois State University '94, worked for Caterpillar in Joliet, Baxter Healthcare Corporation - Environmental Health & Safety and coached figure skating at Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva, IL and director of FS at Leafs Ice Centre - West Dundee, IL
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Elmhurst, IL currently lived in South Elgin, IL and Geneva, IL
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Still love skating, love being up at the lake in Lake Geneva, golf, movies, dinner club with a chef, NU and UW football games with my family and traveling to university campuses with my family
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Heck ya - rug hooked a sweet dog, made a fantastic cheeseburger and fries with all the fixings, THE BEST cabbage patch cake decorator, but I can't remember my arts and crafts final project (the only 5th grader with all 8th graders in the class)...
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I would have to say that I loved Mrs. Mangini the most in second grade. I have vivd memories of her with her favorites - Ted & Sean. Doreen was one too (she shared her cucumbers and carrots for lunch with them) I was jealous :) But seriously, I just remember how fun her class was, how creative she was, how she read to us Charlie & the Chocolate Factory AND the Great Glass Elevator and she taught cursive unlike any other - it was a true art form. She could put the fear of GOD in you and hug tightly all at the same time.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
My favorite subject was US History and the Constitution exam with Mr. Lee - LOL - enough said - we all now how entertaining that was. My least favorite was ALGEBRA with Mrs. Read - she hated me and thought I was dumb!
10. Any other favorite memories?
1. I remember our 8th grade talent show luau.
2.Theresa Enders always doing flips off the monkey bars
3. Sweaty hands during square dancing
4. Chelsea always had the cutest/perfect hair (still does)
5. David Nelson and Lynn Obenza dating in 8th grade
6. The best sleepovers at Doreen's house
7. Krystina and her love affair with PRINCE
8. Beth Nowak getting busted for make-up and nail polish often
9. Jim Nagrant being pulled by his ear into the office of Sr. Mary Catherine
10. Kim Glancey breaking her leg
11. Hiding inside the playground tires while hanging upside down
12. Being pushed into a large mud puddle by Jason McKenna after school and having my younger brother run out of school, jump on his back, hitting him - while screaming "you hurt my sister"!
13.Hanging out at Medaline's house every summer,
14.Jason McKenna giving me gold earrings for Christmas (yes I still have them),
15. Jason Reyes giving me earrings for Christmas too!
16.Making colored glue rulers in our desk and being ticked that the CCD kids would destroy them each week,
17. I remember Holly Chojnacki always being in trouble - don't quite remember why. Eric, Ron, Ed and a few others were in trouble often too...
18. Does anyone else remember Sean, Ted, Patti, Holly and whom else went to school with us, but didn't graduate?
Theresa Morgan (Enders)
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Chris is my husband, we married in February, 1996. Beth Nowick probably remembers how frigid it was that night , -50 with windchill. My Dad used to say hell would freeze over before I married "that long haired guy"... well? They talk more now when we're together than my Dad and I do:) I am blessed with two wonderful girls, Makayla is 10 years and Isabella is 8 years old. Had no idea how motherhood would forever change me for the better. We have a spunky spirited golden retriever puppy ( he's almost 2yrs, but they act like puppies until they're at least 4yrs old... at least that's what our last golden, Buzz, taught us) We are down to two parrot fish and an algae eater( can't spell that one) Can't say that I'm too sad that our four hamsters are no longer part of our lives~ had no idea how stinky they could be!!!
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
I also went to Driscoll H.S. then went on to N.I.U. and have worked as a nurse ever since. I started at Marionjoy Rehab center in Wheaton. I then went to Elmhurst Hospital and worked there in the operating room and on the heart team for about 12 years. I am now working at Delnor hospital in Geneva and have been there about 7 months now. I am much closer to home now, but miss my old work buddies a lot!
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
I have lived in St. Charles, IL for 7 years, prior to that I lived in Lombard, IL. I am blessed to have most of my family within a 30 minute drive away, so I'm not going anywhere soon.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I love being outdoors. Camping, biking, bumping a volleyball with my daughters. Running with my dog. I like to cook, but am still hoping to get good at it. Luckily my family is forgiving. I've travelled to Mexico & Costa Rica both for family weddings. I've also been to a few states, AZ, NJ, NY, FL, WI, MI, IA. So fun to see our country~ wish I had more vacation time and money to travel more.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I mostly remember my brothers Science fair mouse maze project. I loved watching that mouse try to get to the cheese. I also just loved having a living creature in our home. " animals are for farms, not for inside the house"...you know. Love my Dad!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I also just loved Mr Lee and his dramatic "bows and arrows" descriptions of history...so great! I can picture him now. I also just loved Mr Fuoco. He did yell-teach, but he really did make it fun!!!
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I had so much fun on that maypole too. Many skinned knees, but probably didn't even see those. Hard to see behind those bruised shins from hockey in the gym. That was another one of my favorites!
10. Any other favorite memories?
I had so much fun at volleyball practice....sure volleyball was fun, but jumping off the balcony into the gymnastics crash mat was AWESOME!!! Loved Track...the long jump, hurdles, long runs. Loved Ms. Olsen...tough and funny. Loved wearing my rollerskates to school for Halloween and rollerskating in all the hallways. How did I get away with that one? Loved coming to school in August to " help the teacher" so we could secretly try to get information on which class we and all our friends were in:) I was crazy and loved all those Presidential physical tests we would take. Sounds crazy but St Matts still has the same "smell" in the hallways I remember as a kid. Love that!
Medaline Santiago
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
I got married to Ariel Ibarrientos in 2001. I have a 6 year old daughter Mia, and a 4 year old daughter Allison.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard North High School
Northwestern University for undergrad studies and then medical school Loyola University Medical Center for pediatric residency training
Worked at Victoria's Secret through most of high school.
Currently a pediatrician in Arlington Heights, IL.
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Bartlett, IL is where I currently live. Before that, Evanston, downtown Chicago, Oak Park then circled back to Glendale Heights before moving to Bartlett.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I have traveled to many states (Hawaii, California, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, D.C., New York, New Jersey and nearby midwestern states). Visited the countries of Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Counted cross stitching...my eyesight has never been the same since! The effect of electromagnetism on the growth of a bean seed...such a nerd!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Fuoco- he was a riot. I remember him telling jokes during class and getting busted by the principal who was listening in on the intercom.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
The playground monkey bars. I remember practicing the penny drop and nickel drop off of them, and watching Theresa Enders (?) do back flips off the monkey bars.
10. Any other favorite memories?
When my brother Simon and sister Tish and I just missed the school bus pick up one morning and we saw Eric Meyer and the gang at the back of the bus waving bye to us. Don't think they bothered to tell the bus driver to stop. Oh well, it worked to our advantage cause when we walked back home my dad called us all in sick. We played Atari Space Invaders all day!
Pat Flynn
I won't be there, but here are some memories I wanted to share w/ you Lancers from back in the day.* Oliver Ramiro trying to teach me to DJ in his basement * Henry Nocom & I singing "Shout" by Tears for Fears in that studio recording place in Stratford Square * Ted Novy & I riding bikes to see "Back to the Future" for the 3rd time * Eric Meyer & I walking to the Convenient Store on Friday Night's * Becky Sparks piercing my ear with a safety pin & ice cube * Jim Nagrant's dance to "Conga" by Gloria Estefan in music glass * Asking Laura Simon to be my girlfriend & then only communicating with her through notes because I was too
scared/shy. * My favorite Teacher was the guy with the mustache that worked as a beer vendor at Wrigley for the Cubs in the summer * Last, but not least in countless memories provided by the Best Coach & one of my all-time favorite people...Mr. McDonald :-)
Jeanne (Kelly) Hamilton
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
I am married to my husband, Brian and have three girls Kelsey (8), Katelin (6) and Lauren (4). We have a family dog - Marley.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
I attended Driscoll High School, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Denver. I have worked for a marketing firm in London, England, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Westchester, IL, CCFA in Des Plaines, and Habitat for Humanity in Waukegan.
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
I live in Wadsworth, IL. I have lived in London, England; Denver, CO; Wildwood, IL; Zion, IL.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
For fun, I bike, swim, downhill ski, slalom ski, travel, play with my kids, hike and enjoy gardening.
I have traveled many places: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Canada, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Tennessee, the Caribbean, and Mexico.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I remember one science fair project: the affect of baking soda on mold. I grew lots of fun molds.
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
My most memorable teacher was Sr. Janet Marie in 4th grade. She was very disciplined and was very disciplinary. She taught me that life involves a lot of discipline and how to live with it.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
My favorite school subject was history. My favorite playground activity was kickball.
Carolyn Weinbaum (maiden-Diesing)
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband- Aaron
Daughter Hannah 9yrs
Son Ryan 6 yrs
No pets any longer:(
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard East HS/ Farragut HS (Knoxville, TN)
Went to College at University of TN, Knoxville
Worked at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology Research Lab
Now work at Duke as Program Manager for The Duke Center for Science Education
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Durham, NC Lived in Knoxville, TN
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Still sing and compete in quartet competitions. We love to bike as a family and spend time with the kids as much as possible. We have traveled to China, Jamaica, Mexico, & Puerto Rico...and of course a LOT of the states:)
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Yes...try NOT too!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Ms. Vilimek....she taught confidence and acceptance.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Math! Loved when we would play softball with Sister Mary Catherine pitching.
10. Any other favorite memories?
Fr. Quinn getting US citizenship (all in red, white, & blue sweater). Hot Lunch! The eraser cleaner. And going to school before it started to help the teachers decorate the rooms and make copies (before copiers!)
Ron Sport Dukes
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Evan Dukes 18
Emilie Dukes 13
Ethan Dukes 10
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Junior college for the fire service no exciting jobs
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Glendale Hts, IL
Lancaster, MO 3 years
Kaneville IL 5 years
bill diesing
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Linda, mom
deana, older sister
toni, younger sister
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
immaculate conception, elmhurst Loras College
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
addison il, dubuque IA rockford, IL platteville WI
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
made a Manger ashtray, took oriental cooking
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
mrs reade, had a nice heart to heart in 8th grade about my potential
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
softball in our school uniforms
10. Any other favorite memories?
county fair
Heather Holtz Banks
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband James Daughter Charlotte(Charlie) Dogs Dobby 2 year old lab Gracie 1 year old pom
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Lake Park Highschool College of Dupage ISU work The Baby Fold Residential Treatment Center St. Mary's Catholic Grade School now Coal City Public Library District
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Now Coal City, IL Normal, IL Streator, IL
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
For fun I scrapbook and camp and spend time with friends and family We have been all over the USA and to Jamaica
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4h I did Paper Quilling with the Sister in Charge of the library. I also Did Oriental Cooking
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Fuoco we always played that cut throat game when studying for a test. Around the world i Think
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Science
10. Any other favorite memories?
7th Grade field trip to Chicago. the homeless guy peeing outside the McDonalds window while we were eating and the boys getting in trouble for chewing tobacco in the bathroom.
Rick Herrera
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Single
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard north high school... Northern Illinois university
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Glendale Heights
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Music/ guitar ..... Movies/.... Anything eighties Sports... College football/ pro
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I was in a rocketry 4h project... We got to make and launch rockets!!!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I remember something about each teacher... To be discussed later...
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I remember spirit day... And the track meets that we had!!!
10. Any other favorite memories?
8th grade field trip to Milwaukee, miller factory... Riding on the back of the bus!!
Elizabeth Nowick-Ignatius
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband jerry, Ðaughters rebecca (8), penelope (4). 2 parakeets, 1 fish
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
SFHS and Driscoll, UC Irvine. Now work for Carol Stream Police
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Wheaton IL
Mission Viejo,CA
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Gardening, cooking, Art, Concerts
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4H - Painting w/ mr. Lee, cake decorating with mrs. Foss, knitting All of which I still use.
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Sr. Janet Marie - although I spent a lot of time in the hallway copying dictionary pages, she unknowingly fostered my love of language.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I remember liking Mr. Fuoco's science classes. He always made sure we had fun, while yelling at us. I remember when the school got enough "jog a thon" money to get us playground equipment. That Maypole ROCKED!! Probably not the best activity for girls in skirts though.
Joe McDonald
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Dena (married 1998), no children or grandchildren, no pets.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Driscoll HS, Illinois State U.
I work as an actuary for State Farm Life Insurance Company (17 yrs)
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Normal, IL since graduating high school. Lived here longer than the burbs!
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I assistant coach boys' basketball at the local high school, tutor math, play guitar, read and blog.
We've traveled to Paris, Los Angeles (honeymoon), and the Grand Canyon.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
4-H: Computers. Also woodworking with Mr. Mroz (twice!). Totally bombed at crocheting (come again?).
Science fair: Which battery brand lasts longest?
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Lee, what a character! His dramatic readings/impressions in Social Studies.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
Softball in the parking lot. Get Dave Nelson on your team! Monkey bars were fun.
10. Other memories?
Tornado warning... hunched over in the hall while nuns led us in prayers.
Basketball... too many to list. 8 points in 19 seconds to beat St. Joe's 20-19. Pete's buzzer beater hook shot. Six games in one weekend.
Lunch ladies, milk delivered in big plastic trays, cleaning erasers using the machine, hot lunches.
8th grade vs. faculty softball win.
Mr. Pelletier the old janitor.
Blue knit polos and black pants!
Sr. Janet's yardstick, and jumping jacks after lunch.
Mr. Fuoco's bout with hepatitis.
Laura Monaco Fischer
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Husband Jeff, Twins - daughter Danielle and son Dylan, baby Sean
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard North HS '90, Illinois State University '94, worked for Caterpillar in Joliet, Baxter Healthcare Corporation - Environmental Health & Safety and coached figure skating at Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva, IL and director of FS at Leafs Ice Centre - West Dundee, IL
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Elmhurst, IL currently lived in South Elgin, IL and Geneva, IL
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
Still love skating, love being up at the lake in Lake Geneva, golf, movies, dinner club with a chef, NU and UW football games with my family and traveling to university campuses with my family
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Heck ya - rug hooked a sweet dog, made a fantastic cheeseburger and fries with all the fixings, THE BEST cabbage patch cake decorator, but I can't remember my arts and crafts final project (the only 5th grader with all 8th graders in the class)...
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I would have to say that I loved Mrs. Mangini the most in second grade. I have vivd memories of her with her favorites - Ted & Sean. Doreen was one too (she shared her cucumbers and carrots for lunch with them) I was jealous :) But seriously, I just remember how fun her class was, how creative she was, how she read to us Charlie & the Chocolate Factory AND the Great Glass Elevator and she taught cursive unlike any other - it was a true art form. She could put the fear of GOD in you and hug tightly all at the same time.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
My favorite subject was US History and the Constitution exam with Mr. Lee - LOL - enough said - we all now how entertaining that was. My least favorite was ALGEBRA with Mrs. Read - she hated me and thought I was dumb!
10. Any other favorite memories?
1. I remember our 8th grade talent show luau.
2.Theresa Enders always doing flips off the monkey bars
3. Sweaty hands during square dancing
4. Chelsea always had the cutest/perfect hair (still does)
5. David Nelson and Lynn Obenza dating in 8th grade
6. The best sleepovers at Doreen's house
7. Krystina and her love affair with PRINCE
8. Beth Nowak getting busted for make-up and nail polish often
9. Jim Nagrant being pulled by his ear into the office of Sr. Mary Catherine
10. Kim Glancey breaking her leg
11. Hiding inside the playground tires while hanging upside down
12. Being pushed into a large mud puddle by Jason McKenna after school and having my younger brother run out of school, jump on his back, hitting him - while screaming "you hurt my sister"!
13.Hanging out at Medaline's house every summer,
14.Jason McKenna giving me gold earrings for Christmas (yes I still have them),
15. Jason Reyes giving me earrings for Christmas too!
16.Making colored glue rulers in our desk and being ticked that the CCD kids would destroy them each week,
17. I remember Holly Chojnacki always being in trouble - don't quite remember why. Eric, Ron, Ed and a few others were in trouble often too...
18. Does anyone else remember Sean, Ted, Patti, Holly and whom else went to school with us, but didn't graduate?
Theresa Morgan (Enders)
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
Chris is my husband, we married in February, 1996. Beth Nowick probably remembers how frigid it was that night , -50 with windchill. My Dad used to say hell would freeze over before I married "that long haired guy"... well? They talk more now when we're together than my Dad and I do:) I am blessed with two wonderful girls, Makayla is 10 years and Isabella is 8 years old. Had no idea how motherhood would forever change me for the better. We have a spunky spirited golden retriever puppy ( he's almost 2yrs, but they act like puppies until they're at least 4yrs old... at least that's what our last golden, Buzz, taught us) We are down to two parrot fish and an algae eater( can't spell that one) Can't say that I'm too sad that our four hamsters are no longer part of our lives~ had no idea how stinky they could be!!!
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
I also went to Driscoll H.S. then went on to N.I.U. and have worked as a nurse ever since. I started at Marionjoy Rehab center in Wheaton. I then went to Elmhurst Hospital and worked there in the operating room and on the heart team for about 12 years. I am now working at Delnor hospital in Geneva and have been there about 7 months now. I am much closer to home now, but miss my old work buddies a lot!
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
I have lived in St. Charles, IL for 7 years, prior to that I lived in Lombard, IL. I am blessed to have most of my family within a 30 minute drive away, so I'm not going anywhere soon.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I love being outdoors. Camping, biking, bumping a volleyball with my daughters. Running with my dog. I like to cook, but am still hoping to get good at it. Luckily my family is forgiving. I've travelled to Mexico & Costa Rica both for family weddings. I've also been to a few states, AZ, NJ, NY, FL, WI, MI, IA. So fun to see our country~ wish I had more vacation time and money to travel more.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
I mostly remember my brothers Science fair mouse maze project. I loved watching that mouse try to get to the cheese. I also just loved having a living creature in our home. " animals are for farms, not for inside the house"...you know. Love my Dad!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
I also just loved Mr Lee and his dramatic "bows and arrows" descriptions of history...so great! I can picture him now. I also just loved Mr Fuoco. He did yell-teach, but he really did make it fun!!!
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
I had so much fun on that maypole too. Many skinned knees, but probably didn't even see those. Hard to see behind those bruised shins from hockey in the gym. That was another one of my favorites!
10. Any other favorite memories?
I had so much fun at volleyball practice....sure volleyball was fun, but jumping off the balcony into the gymnastics crash mat was AWESOME!!! Loved Track...the long jump, hurdles, long runs. Loved Ms. Olsen...tough and funny. Loved wearing my rollerskates to school for Halloween and rollerskating in all the hallways. How did I get away with that one? Loved coming to school in August to " help the teacher" so we could secretly try to get information on which class we and all our friends were in:) I was crazy and loved all those Presidential physical tests we would take. Sounds crazy but St Matts still has the same "smell" in the hallways I remember as a kid. Love that!
Medaline Santiago
3. Tell us about your immediate family and pets.
I got married to Ariel Ibarrientos in 2001. I have a 6 year old daughter Mia, and a 4 year old daughter Allison.
4. Where have you gone to school or worked since St. Matthew?
Glenbard North High School
Northwestern University for undergrad studies and then medical school Loyola University Medical Center for pediatric residency training
Worked at Victoria's Secret through most of high school.
Currently a pediatrician in Arlington Heights, IL.
5. Where do you live now? Where else have you lived since St. Matthew?
Bartlett, IL is where I currently live. Before that, Evanston, downtown Chicago, Oak Park then circled back to Glendale Heights before moving to Bartlett.
6. What do you do for fun? Have you traveled outside of Illinois?
I have traveled to many states (Hawaii, California, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, D.C., New York, New Jersey and nearby midwestern states). Visited the countries of Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.
7. Do you remember any of your 4-H fair or science fair projects?
Counted cross stitching...my eyesight has never been the same since! The effect of electromagnetism on the growth of a bean seed...such a nerd!
8. Who's your most memorable teacher, and why?
Mr. Fuoco- he was a riot. I remember him telling jokes during class and getting busted by the principal who was listening in on the intercom.
9. What was your favorite school subject or playground activity?
The playground monkey bars. I remember practicing the penny drop and nickel drop off of them, and watching Theresa Enders (?) do back flips off the monkey bars.
10. Any other favorite memories?
When my brother Simon and sister Tish and I just missed the school bus pick up one morning and we saw Eric Meyer and the gang at the back of the bus waving bye to us. Don't think they bothered to tell the bus driver to stop. Oh well, it worked to our advantage cause when we walked back home my dad called us all in sick. We played Atari Space Invaders all day!
Pat Flynn
I won't be there, but here are some memories I wanted to share w/ you Lancers from back in the day.* Oliver Ramiro trying to teach me to DJ in his basement * Henry Nocom & I singing "Shout" by Tears for Fears in that studio recording place in Stratford Square * Ted Novy & I riding bikes to see "Back to the Future" for the 3rd time * Eric Meyer & I walking to the Convenient Store on Friday Night's * Becky Sparks piercing my ear with a safety pin & ice cube * Jim Nagrant's dance to "Conga" by Gloria Estefan in music glass * Asking Laura Simon to be my girlfriend & then only communicating with her through notes because I was too
scared/shy. * My favorite Teacher was the guy with the mustache that worked as a beer vendor at Wrigley for the Cubs in the summer * Last, but not least in countless memories provided by the Best Coach & one of my all-time favorite people...Mr. McDonald :-)
Monday, September 5, 2011
Screwing It Right
Two months ago I opened the courtyard screen door. It resisted my push due to a phone book lying outside of it. The weight of the phone book snagging the bottom frame caused it to dislodge. Now the frame was loose enough that whenever I opened the door, it would slip downward, turning into a bizarro doorstop. I got adept at bending over, pinning the frame with my hand, and slowly inching it closed.
Still, I couldn't help but wonder if there was another solution besides permanently curving my spine or ripping the door from its hinges and doing without.
Using all the brain cells cultivated during the week designing complex spreadsheets, I studied the frame.
It had a small screw. I twisted it for a while. It seemed like it was stripped. It used to press the frame tightly against the door. Now it just sat there looking useful but exerting zero force. (Insert joke here about movie ticket-takers or clothing store security guards.)
I began asking Dena about drills. Wisely, she presented an alternative.
"What about using a bigger screw?"
(Insert lewd joke here.)
She produced a small drawer of screws of varying sizes. I crawled to the door, removed the old one, and rooted around the drawer for a slightly larger one. Put some muscle behind a screwdriver.
And so it was that a two-month problem was solved in five minutes. Yet somehow I feel like I just balanced Illinois' budget.
(Insert top 100 jokes about Illinois politics here.)
Still, I couldn't help but wonder if there was another solution besides permanently curving my spine or ripping the door from its hinges and doing without.
Using all the brain cells cultivated during the week designing complex spreadsheets, I studied the frame.
It had a small screw. I twisted it for a while. It seemed like it was stripped. It used to press the frame tightly against the door. Now it just sat there looking useful but exerting zero force. (Insert joke here about movie ticket-takers or clothing store security guards.)
I began asking Dena about drills. Wisely, she presented an alternative.
"What about using a bigger screw?"
(Insert lewd joke here.)
She produced a small drawer of screws of varying sizes. I crawled to the door, removed the old one, and rooted around the drawer for a slightly larger one. Put some muscle behind a screwdriver.
And so it was that a two-month problem was solved in five minutes. Yet somehow I feel like I just balanced Illinois' budget.
(Insert top 100 jokes about Illinois politics here.)
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