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July 25, 2004
Welcome Back to School
It is that time of year and everyone is excited. I do believe the parents are most happy. :-) Seventh grade is a huge year with the Writing Test, Reading and Math EOG’s, and preparation for the North Carolina Technology Skills Test the kids take in eighth grade.
I wanted to take just a minute to make you aware of some of the items that are available to make sure that communication is a constant two way process. I have built this website, with the generous help of an outside sponsor, so that students are more organized in their studies and parents are more aware of the goings on of class.
In the Classroom Calendar section of the page, homework will be listed out everyday, upcoming school wide events will be posted, and important dates will be maintained. This is an excellent way for students to make sure they are in step to achieve their maximum potential and for parents to make sure they stay informed and connected at school. Everything is color-coded – Social Studies is blue and Language Arts is green. Make sure you click items that are underlined; they will open up another window with even more information.
In the Norwayne Middle Section I have scanned every worksheet that correlates with our Social Studies and Literature books. This way, if a sheet is lost, misplaced, messed up, or a student is absent – the assignments are posted in the calendar and available online. You do need Acrobat Reader to get access. Acrobat is a free resource to download. Some of the files are large and dial up browsers might be a little slow.
I want to provide every available resource for the students to be successful and the parents to be kept informed. This site gives us a great start. With the energy of the students, the determination of the teacher, and the expectations of the parents, we can not help but achieve our goals.
I look forward to an exceptional year!
Posted by hlperson at 10:14 PM | Comments (2)
July 22, 2004
A Remarkable Gesture
As of today, I have learned a lesson in what it means to be a gentleman. Richard Vinroot, the former Mayor of Charlotte, stepped aside in the Republican nomination for Governor, allowing Patrick Ballentine to focus on Governor Mike Easley. Mr. Vinroot has served North Carolina well over the years, but he will be remembered for this noble gesture. Even if he is not “your kind of Republican”, respect is in order for the man and his decision.
In my experiences in political life and public service, I have spent time with both of these admirable men. Vinroot was a collegiate basketball player and the former mayor of Charlotte. He is an exceptionally tall gentleman, but today his stature is a little more impressive. Mayor Vinroot could of called for a runoff election. This would of drug out the primary process for another month allowing Governor Easley to raise more money and better organize his campaign. It would of also cost the taxpayers of North Carolina over one million dollars to staff the election and print the ballots. But he decided, "I believe the right choice, the right thing to do is to get our party behind the person who won the most votes Tuesday night as soon as possible."
Patrick is a young lawyer with a beautiful wife, Lisa and a precious daughter, Wilker. He has served as a North Carolina State Senator for the last ten years and as Minority Leader in the Senate for the last five years. This was his first statewide race and the results are impressive. I was able to attend a gathering (a $100 per couple gathering) at Representative Leo Daughtry’s house a couple months ago with my good friend Pamela Johnson and Alvin Phillips and his beautiful fiancée (commonly referred to online as “she who shall remain nameless”). I was struck at how positive and issue oriented Patrick was in his remarks. It was evident then, that he had decided to run a positive, issue oriented campaign, and the results are loud and clear across the great state of North Carolina. Patrick Ballentine was quoted as saying, "I told him off the top of my head I can't think of anyone who has made a decision like this, maybe except for George Washington, the father of our country, who really could have been king, who stepped down from power for the good of the country."
Congratulations to two great public servants, and may they both enjoy many more years of service to The Old North State.
Posted by hlperson at 11:02 PM | Comments (1)
July 15, 2004
Baby Cakes
This is NOT the real Baby Cakes! Baby Cakes has the bluest eyes and a very high-pitched Meow! The real one lives at Temple’s house. I had to crawl under a bunch of those pointy bushes that people have all across the front of their house to get baby cakes (Mitchell and Megan named her) out from under them. Now imagine this picture, ME on my hands and knees under some pointy bushes, yes I have the scratches to prove it.
She is less than a week old and just barely able to walk, which she has not had much practice at as the kids and I have not set her down much today. Angie (maiden name is Wiggs and forgive me I can not remember her married name) and Temple had to hold baby Cakes on her back and drop milk into her mouth from an eyedropper because she is so small.
Mitchell is pretty comfortable picking her up and holding her but Megan is still pretty hesitant. Mitchell assures me this is because, “He is 6 years old and he’s done a lot more stuff than Megan and he’s not scared.” He also asked me if I “was born when they had wagons”. He meant covered wagons. Dag on how old do I look?
Tlangston was adamant that she would not have a cat in her house and that she was going to get rid of it before the kids got home. After she held her and Baby Cakes crawled all over her, she started to soften up a little. Right now Baby Cakes is living in the garage enjoying the company of a rather large stuffed animal. The Langston’s are going to the Beach tomorrow and I might have to take care of her for a couple days. How much do think this is going to bother Lu, the 80 pound American Bull Dog who is an only child….?
Posted by hlperson at 11:44 PM | Comments (1)
July 04, 2004
Wrecked Cadillac
This is the 1988 Buick LeSabre that ran into the back of the Cadillac at 45 miles an hour. Believe it or not the Cadillac looks a whole lot better than this car. If she had swerved it would of totalled the Cadi and really made me have a bad day.
I have been x-rayed last Monday and Tuesday. Got a bone chip floating in my shoulder blad area. Had my teeth x-rayed Wednesday and the first stages of getting them fixed up. Thursday I had my CAT scanned and an ultrasound to see why I had blood in my pee (could of been torn kidneys or a ruptured spleen or tears in my abdomine) and Friday was a day of rest.
Everything continues on Tuesday with a low back adjustment, it was crazy out of whack. Then I go get a treatment on the teeth and another peeing in the cup experience and find out what the radiologist thought about my ultrasound adn CAT scan. Probably will be in Doctor's Offices a lot more for the next few weeks than I have been in a lot of years but luckily no needles so far.
The Cadillac is in the shop and expected out about July 19th. Haven't decided if I want it painted Carolina blue or stick with the White Diamond... Ideas?
Posted by hlperson at 01:16 AM | Comments (7)