Village Oaks Holiday Sing-a-long

What a great time!

Miria'ms Holiday Program Pre-game pics

For Mike.

Miri loves her sister~!

Burning Down The House: What Caused Our Economic Crisis? V2

Read it an weep.
Now I'm not saying the blame falls solely on the dems . . but they didn't put a stop to it when they could.
Who's responsible? Greedy borrowers who knew they couldn't afford a house and greedy mortgage lenders who though they could get some cash before passing on a bad deal.

The Political Machine Express Released!

Great game! Now a few version available!
Go get it!

Political machine 2008 trailer E3
Uploaded by Cyberstratege

Hmm . . looks like rain.

I'm easing from status {aware} towards {concern}.
Still miles away from {worry} and {panic}

Worst. Vegetarian. Ever,

The family and I are at the bird house at the Houston zoo. 

A ladybug lands on my hand. 

So cute! 

Down below, two workers are letting out a BAG of ladybugs. They are to eat pests on plants but are safe because birds won't eat the foul tasting ladybugs. 

I ask Gwendolyn and Miriam to eat one. I offer a dollar.

I ask the workers 

They decline. 

As the bidding moves up to $10 the ladybug on my hand FLIES into my mouth and I swallow. 

Worst vegetarian ever.

This is the picture my wife took to capture the moment. 

Laughing, crying, coughing, trying not to puke.

Gwen's last day at Girl Scout Camp

20080703 - Camp Agnes Arnold - Day 4

Gwen's Firt day at camp.

Independence Day vs. Fourth of July

As July approaches, I am again disheartened to see the anniversary of our country’s birth regulated to just another day of the month by so many people who call it the “4th of July” instead of “Independence Day”.

Conversely, no one calls "Christmas" “December 25th”, right? Of course not, because the reason for the season is right there in the name! The name, "Christmas" reinforced the meaning.

If we were to use “Independence Day” we would reinforce to each other that it’s not just a day to have barbecue with friends and watch fireworks.

 
Independence Day becomes a day to remember where we came from and what the founders did. It gives us incentive to talk to our kids about what those fireworks represent and how we are a part of the process. Independence Day can be a constant, teachable moment about America that "4th of July" fails to do.

DDR makes all things good

I wish my library did this. I owe $12 for DVDs I forgot about.

MILFORD – Library users with unpaid fines had a chance to redeem themselves Thursday during the annual Patron Appreciation Day at the Wadleigh Memorial Library.

Instead of a scolding when they arrived, delinquent patrons were received like party guests.

Patrons were invited to make good on unpaid fines by donating canned and packaged foods for the local soup kitchen or by entering a dance competition, “Dance Dance Revolution.”

To sweeten the pot, during most of the day the library served coffee, bagels, pastries and ice cream, donated by area businesses.

By midafternoon, the cans and packages were piling up on a table inside library director Michelle Sampson’s office while circulation assistant Katie Spofford was setting up the video dance game on a PlayStation in a carpeted room upstairs.

Making Roll-up Rolls

Well, the Christmas season is finally upon the Kingwood Klenke family. This weekend I successfully attempted to make my Great Grandmother Rose's traditional Christmas cookie.
The little girls and I had a blast.

This I believe Redux

In 2005, on my birthday, I recompiled my "Today is a good day" post and submitted it to "This I Believe", a series for NPR.

Today I got the following email:

Greetings Mr. Klenke,

As you probably know, 88.7 FM, KUHF-Houston Public Radio is partnering with NPR on many projects. We're now teaming up with NPR to present local segments of "This I Believe".
NPR has forwarded the essay you submitted and I'd like to schedule a time when you can come to the KUHF Studios and record your "This I Believe" essay for our local radio series.

I think your essay is great and believe it would be a great radio piece for our listeners to enjoy.
I'm truly looking forward to meeting you and recording your essay for our listeners.

All the best.

Paul Pendergraft
Senior Producer, News & Public Affairs
88.7 FM, KUHF-Houston Public Radio
4343 Elgin Street
Houston, Texas 77204-0887
www.kuhf.org

How cool is that? "Today is a good day" has changed my life. Maybe it can change more.

Wincustomize Charity / Subscription drive

You'll notice banners on the site today.

A PC customization site I moderate at (wincustomize.com) is having a Subscription/Charity drive.
It's a great charity (Childs Play). Pop on over and take a look.

Thanks

Gwen and Alyssa at the Talent Show

Gwendolyn and her Friend Alyssa choreographed a dance routine and performed it at the Elm Grove Talent Show this past week.

They were so very cute.

Video here:

20071109 - Talent Show

Miriam dances with the stars

Miriam is in dance class. Based on the video here, she might be ready to move up from "shuffle, shuffle, tap, tap".

Dancing With the Stars

Texas Legislator voting needs attention

Time to call my Rep. Joe Crabb, you've been a bad boy. I believe in one person one vote.
All my Texan friends . . maybe you could call too?

New wallpaper posted

I've added a new wallpaper to my gallery at Wincustomize.com. It's a light-hearted attempt at what it would be like if I tried to make a windowblind. The colors work well together I think.

Things to remember as a juror

1. Bring music for the bus ride
2. Bring a pen to take notes on random and not so random thoughts
3. Grab the bus schedule
4. Bring a longer book
5. Get up earlier and make coffee
6. Have breakfast

Today was a good day as a juror. I ended up not being called but I was there to do my part.

God Bless America

Gregorius: NMKY (Finnish YMCA cover)

There are not words to convey how odd this is. I thought the Village people were weird . . but this takes it too a new level. Now . . every time I am at a Y function with the wife or kids . . I'll think of this and be creeped out just a little bit more.