Our Family Chronicle

For those of you that don’t know who Art Linkletter is.

So last Saturday night I had the privilege of photographing an event for the Senior Resource Center.  The main attraction (speaker) was Art Linkletter.  Yes he is still alive and well.  When I told people that I would be photographing Art Linkletter – A few said: who?  Others of a certain age, or should I say maturity, said: isn’t he dead.?  No he is not dead and he is an icon and even young people should know him.  It was great to hear him speak and share a few of his stories. The stories of his most memorable interviews with children were great.  He was able to hold the attention of every one with his charm and joy of life.   As to his age he said he has celebrated the 50th anniversary of his 46th birthday.

Tags: new experiences, smart ass by Randall
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I believe it was Thursday when I received a voice mail from one of Alex’s teachers. It was very nice as she said Alex was doing well but he could have a higher grade if he would just finish a couple of assignments. This is great I thought – I will have to get after him to show me what he needs to be finishing but the message kept going on. It was still very positive but she was starting to describe the different assignments and exactly what needed to be completed and why and when it was assigned and on and on. As a man I am looking for a couple of key elements when I am listening to someone. In this case it was a couple of assignments that Alex needed to complete and she described them in detail (in great detail). I believe she said when each assignment was given to him and number of pages and color of pages and brand of pencil used and number of …….. Well you get the point. I had to hang up and ask Pattie to listen. For women that don’t know this, men when spoken to hear the first two or three key elements and that is it. If you are talking to a man about things you want him to know stop at three because if you go past that he will never remember any of it. We are like a juggler that can juggle three balls and only three balls. If you throw him a fourth and fifth and sixth and seventh and an eighth and on and on not only will we not be able to catch the extra balls but we will drop the first three as well. I believe we remember the important elements well (even better than women) but only if there are no more than three.

Tags: parenting, smart ass by Randall
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Emotional, spiritual, attitude diet -to get rid of toxic thoughts.  Don’t believe what people say believe what God says.  God does not say I created a loser.  God does not make losers.  God put a blessing on me.  I will start each day with faith food (interesting way to look at it).  Remove the root of the problem – don’t keep those bad thoughts remove wrong thoughts to make room for good thoughts. I must remember I am blessed, I am good, I am strong, I am victorious, I have the ability…  Today is a new day I am who God says I am.  Clear out the old bad thoughts so there is room for the new diet of good thoughts. Thoughts of faith.

Tags: Joel Osteen (weekly), Religion by Randall
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The kids got to have a great time at the recreational center a few blocks from the house.  I think every one in the neighborhood dropped their kids off around 7:00.  Melinda and some of the other kids made some, made some, made some,  OK I am not sure exactly what it was she made but she had fun making it.  all the kids got to run around playing silly games and Alex was wore out for a change.

Tags: Kid's and animals by Randall
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It becomes frustrating as the kids try to do their homework while watching the television.  I know that is as much my fault as theirs because I will turn on the television for no real reason other than escape.  What ever is on I seem willing to put up with and watch or I will channel surf for an hour (good thing we don’t have cable).  At any rate Alex was allowed to mess around for awhile after coming home from school today and when it was finally time to do his school work the TV was on.  Melinda had been working on her school work for awhile and managed to get it completed.  Alex was not getting finished and was paying to much attention to the show (I should have turned it off).  He asked for help and I could have, should have calmly taken him to the other room and worked with him.  I chose to be frustrated about him watching the show and was quite mad for a few moments, mad that he was not getting the math that I thought he should know.   We worked through it and I think he understands it but I need to not be the bully at home.  He deals with that at school.

Alex brought home a report from his science class with great marks – he is coming along.

Melinda brought home a report about school behavioral and had great marks as well.  She was very proud of it.

Tags: Public education RANT, our reading program, parent guilt, parenting by Randall
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