It's an Eat, Sleep, Pee Thing

Dear America,

How to Handle

Stress Like a Dog:

If you Can't Eat It 

Or Play with It,

Then Pee on It

And Walk Away

stress.

we all have it.

some of us a little, some of us a lot.

sometimes it goes away and sometimes we live with it for days, weeks, months, years.  It can eat us up if we let it.

For many, acting out of character becomes the new modus operandi -- we drink too much, we eat too much, we lash out too much --  meanwhile, nothing seems to fit quite right in our life.  And one drama leads seamlessly to the next.

Often I have wished to be my dog. If you could only see him right now -- not a care in the world.  He just had his morning kibble...while even though he has barely been up and around for an hour, there he is, sleeping something off as if he pulled an all-night'r.  For this dog, it is more like 'eat, pee, sleep' all the live long day -- his playtime amounts to one fetch to where he quickly retreats to his crib.  put a fork in it. done.

The thing is, in this foggy San Diego morning,  the stresses of the American life are adding up.  Matter of fact, as I sit here contemplating all things seen and unseen around me, underneath it all, in the hidden shadows of my world, my papa is undergoing surgery right now.  I can't do anything but wait  (and write...look out...if you think I get pretty long winded before...just you wait my little pretties.)

So, last night, I didn't get to sleep at all.

So, did you take five there, and listen to a little Fifth Dimension?

Great song.

So country-wise... these days, these dark days that we are all experiencing together, are keeping us from being our very best, aren't they?  Each and every one of us are walking around with some level of PTSD.  We are trying to function as best we can, but it is so much easier to ignore responsibility, stay in our shell with perhaps a glass of wine to comfort our weary heads, or maybe open that carton of Ben & Jerry's to have all to ourselves, or even take in a ballgame (or soccer, if you are in the Pasadena area...did any of you catch wind of this stunner?)

here's a little kibble and bit of it to wet your appetite: "Why would spectators raise a ruckus during a national anthem, except to manifest contempt for the country whose anthem it was?" -- Pat Buchanan thinks to himself.  ahh poor Pat, just preaching to the choir, preaching to the choir.  Does anyone really care what is happening to us -- the US as a WHOLE, as a COUNTRY, as a NATION -- and clearly in dire need of rebuilding?

Oh sure, America is doing just fine.  No problems here.  We are on the upswing, right?  The housing market was up .7% in April. wow.  hold me back I am so excited;  however, that number, not being adjusted for seasonal flow isn't exactly accurate -- for when you do, you know, pee on it, the number you get is a bare drop of .1%.        really?

Nation building -- how can we expect things to go well in this area, when everything around us is screaming some variation of '...if you can't eat it, or play with it, then pee on it and walk away?'

This sort of thing is even happening at the big house -- you know, that big white house, that beacon of hope, shining on a hill.  And proof is in the plastic cup-- furnished by the AARP and covered under one of a myriad of supplemental plans through nothing less than heartfelt efforts, financial and otherwise, welcoming a new day in America and fully sanctioned by the Affordable Care Act.

I need to go no further than one of my favorite places for shelter in a pee-storm, The Heritage Foundation.

[and if g's too crude it is due to my mood.  bite me]

And all I got to add is that 'the Heritage' must have been reading my mind.  As let's go back to last night -- there I was tossing and turning...like I said, I couldn't get to sleep at all...and I just kept rolling over with the headlines.    The red thread my little head kept returning to was our rise and fall of our Ethics and Standards.

And you say, yo G, what ever gave you that idea?

So -- circumventing the entire Twitter-Twit of late with our dear Anthony Weiner, as that is the least of our worries.  really. trust me. it is -- we move to just the headlines of the last couple of days:

• Blago down for 300 years, ethics violations, trying to sell Obama's seat in Senate
• Laura Richardson (CA-37th, Star Parker's opponent), down, may be thrown in the clinker for ethics violations from 2010 election
• Obama, found walking a very thin line, using the White House for a back drop for a campaign ad

wow.  might I add, we've got ourselves a party just begging for a theme; color scheme and party favors to be decided at a later date; million dollar question, will the lamestream media have the courage to tie this all up in a bow, or what?

Now, ya see, this is just the last two days -- and we haven't even touched on the wave of violations from the 2008 elections (voter fraud and intimidation violations... by the Black Panthers at the front door of some polls... dead people and felons casting their vote...)  And we haven't even begun to talk about all the ways this White House is subverting the Constitution, usurping the powers of Congress, and otherwise, making up new law and regulations on the fly -- and basically peeing upon the Rule of Law any chance they get. 

From the perspective of a girl of never a few words: America is getting peed on, left, right, front and center.

And this is where my Heritage boys and girls come in.  Save me...Calgone, take me away.  From people who know way more about this than little old me -- and more specifically, it is Lachlan Markay who writes:

"The Obama Administration generally employs one of two strategies to legislate without—and often in spite of—congressional action: (1) administrative decree establishing a new federal rule, or (2) a refusal to enforce existing federal law. In five separate policy areas, the President and the federal agencies under his command have spurned congressional authority to achieve Obama’s objectives."

Oh yes.  He read my mind, as I was counting sheep and all the ways this administration is doing me and my America wrong.  Talk to me, Lachlan.

Five.  It is the number on the day.  And Lachlan, in turn, went on pontificating the one, the two, the three, four, five, right then and there.  And suddenly, everything was made so clear.

And look, the fog is beginning to lift.

Oh, what?  you think I am going to spoil all your fun.  you really don't know G at all, do you?

No.  This is where you step in and go to Lachlan yourself.  It is grab a bag of cheetos and play nice with Lachlan day.  I have gone as far as I can.  Be engaged.  Know the species -- Know the stain -- and take part in understanding all the ways our ethics and standards have changed.  Scratch that. Make that fundamentally transformed right before our very eyes, in the cover of darkness.

Yes. While lame brains are more interested in Weiner's weinergate -- or making their digs on a potential presidential contender against the chosen one -- or reacting in waves of spontaneous combustion over what ever flits and flutters off the Yahoo! page...all the while, our Rule of Law, America's standard of being, relating, and getting along in this world, is being feverishly radicalized in every way.

Some may think, myself included, we are in this mess because we, the people, have had our head in the clouds, the sand, in la la land, for way too long now; we have not done our part to stay informed and respect our Rule of Law, the law of this land -- and do our duty in order to keep it. 

We are a Republic -- while it demands we honor the checks and balances under three branches of government under the Constitution, it also requires the people to take full responsibility for ourselves, and each other, respective of a collection of natural rights and enumerated duties, and many more even left unsaid.  And creating a body of people engaged, educated, and empowered was key. [G loves her happy place @ smartgirlpolitics, indeed]

The idea of being an 'enlightened electorate' was one of America's cornerstones.  For the founders recognized that we are smart creatures, able to think for ourselves, right?  and smarter than the average pooch.

Unlike the leisure-world of a typical hound, we think, therefore I am.  We think of what is right, and wrong.  We think united -- or we break apart in little tiny itsy bitsy pieces by our differences and illusions of superiority of one ideology over another.  We can get pretty messed up actually.

From The 5000 Year Leap, a montage of Jeffersonian ideals of America's blessed electorate:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be. (Ford, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 10:4)   No other sure foundation can be devised for the preservation of freedom and happiness...Preach...a crusade against ignorance; establish and improve the law for educating the common people.  Let our countrymen know that the people alone can protect us against these evils [of misgovernment].  (Bergh, Writings of Thomas Jefferson, 5:396-97.)"

Maybe a dog gets a free lunch, a fetch, and a nap all day long -- but for us, the happy little people responsible for feeding the happy little canine into oblivion each and every day, the nation expects more, much more.

And indeed, this would be a fine time to expand upon the poetic words uttered of a president one fine Inaugural morning in 1961, begging us to contemplate, 'ask not what your nation can do for you, ask what you can do for your country...but let's not and say that we did.

Our founders, as noted in The 5000, were each and every one well read.  Even though coming from entirely different backgrounds -- religious, economically, politically, philosophically -- they were able to have a meeting of the minds because they were educated, and well versed on world history, civilizations large and small.

"Although the level of their formal training varied...the thinking of Polybius, Cicero, Thomas Hooker, Coke, Montesquieu, Blackstone, John Locke, and Adam Smith salt-and-peppered their writings and their conversations.  They were also careful students of the Bible, especially the Old Testament, and even though some did not belong to any Christian denomination, the teachings of Jesus were held in universal respect and admiration.

Their historical readings included a broad perspective of Greek, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, European, and English history.  To this writer, nothing is more remarkable about the early American leaders than their breadth of reading and depth of knowledge concerning the essential elements of sound nation building."

to this blogger, ditto.

Do you think this is what our president has in mind for us, when he calls for "nation building"?  Do you think he wants us to run out and become well read on the masterpieces of civilization, history, art and science, questioning with boldness every step of the way?

This is what is wrong with America today.  Besides being glued to reruns of Beavis and Butthead, we have been lulled into believing we can settle down on the lap of the government and do nothing but eat, sleep, and pee, and once in awhile, rollover for a scrap of bacon.  And, just maybe, get our bellies rubbed when we follow along and do what we are told.  Oh my, a certain Jefferson would be so very disappointed with us... as our tail drops between our legs in shame.

finally reached my mama, and pops is in recovery (Thankya Jesus x).  now dare I say, it is time for a nap.

Make it a Good Day, G

It's a Rule of Conduct Thing

Dear America,

we are acting in a "supporting role" only; whatever you think is happening in Libya, make no mistake, "American forces are not facing the hostilities that would require the president to seek such congressional consent under the War Powers Resolution."  see the rest of the post from the Washington Post, here

that, and it is merely Kinetic Military Action.

You can change the name; you can redefine it; we all know what war looks like, sounds like, smells like,  by now.

This is what our Founders envisioned:

"Peace, Commerce, and Honest

Friendship with All Nations -- 

entangling alliances with NONE."

  Thomas Jefferson

and especially, keeping our neutrality in full force was the primary objective.

The only time to take up arms against another country, was in instances where they engaged in hostilities against US.   Under such terms, Libya's War most certainly does not apply.  And at the tune of spending millions of dollars every day, nearing the ONE Billion dollar mark, me thinks this supporting role is misguided, over budget, and against America's best interests.

And then we have, from George Washington, a reminder of the delicate balance of what I like to call, the Frenemy Treaty.  He gives us this (pillaged from The 5000 Year Leap, by W.Cleon Skousen):

"In the execution of such a plan nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be excluded, and that in place of them just and amicable feelings toward all should be cultivated.  The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.  It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest."

and continuing this thought even further:

"So, likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils.  Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.  It leads to concessions to the favorite nation of privileges denied to others, which is apt doubly to injure the nation making the concessions, by unnecessarily parting with what ought to be retained, and by exciting jealousy, ill will, and disposition to retaliate in the parties from whom equal privileges are withheld."

wow. talk to me, George.

how we have strayed, how we have strayed.

But you would think, of all people, the anti-war (especially the one that was not the good war), anti-imperialist president, like Barack Hussein Obama, would take these words and founders intentions to heart and then some,  and be able to communicate such throughout his administration in thought, word, and deed.

I mean, after all, he is the president in receipt of a Nobel Peace Prize, based upon perception alone; he had two weeks under his belt as president when nominated for such a feat.   Just where is the follow through on that?   And if in fact Obama's actions do not deliver on such a promise -- would not the rescinding of such a prize ensue?

How awkward is this?  Or is this just me, being G?

The entanglement in Iraq, or the dis-entanglement thereof, is still, completely, engaged -- the entanglement in Afghanistan (THE GOOD WAR, he said) is becoming totally frayed, with mission creep getting the best of us, while we sit very much confused deciding just when enough is enough  -- and in Libya, after nearly 90 days now, beginning with a so-called mandate to take down an evil dictator (but without the mandate to do whatever it takes to do so) creating an entanglement that keeps making an even bigger knot, with the mission unknown leading the way and with rebel leaders still very much undefined -- to Yemen, the new drone dropping zone, equaling perhaps the un-war in Pakistan, where relations have never been at their worst -- to Syria, only begging for equal protections and attention under the Law of Entanglement as defined by the Obama Doctrine (and clearly, confused, in that he is running on several doctrines at once).  Take a breath, gretch...

Washington unveiled this rule of thumb:

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign relations, is in extending our commercial relations to have with them as little political connection as possible.  So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect faith.  Here let us stop."

Washington did his best to warn us of making the mistake of becoming associated with causes not our own in a very big way; making it clear -- whatever action we take in the direction of preserving another nation's best interests over our own, through "artificial ties" and allegiances, to meet the demand of a current age, would be just plain wrong.

"Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships and enmities...Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interests, humor, or caprice?"   

Yes, why?
It's a simple question.

Of course, maybe even George wasn't expecting things to get so complicated.

And then again, maybe this is exactly what he thought would happen.

The thing is, I really like the part defined by the extending of "as little a political connection as possible."

With a step back, politics has played too big a part in supporting roles all around the globe; and with that comes, a nation appearing nearly completely bi-polar half the time, running entirely dependent upon which way the bough breaks.  We have engaged and disengaged, become entangled and dis-entangled, on the fly and as the political winds blow.  We have spent good money on good wars, bad wars, and wars only defined as "military kinetic action."

We have spent good money after bad politics; dirty money on good intentions; and have allowed America's compassion to dictate the day, or take it away.  It is almost as if, the more you know about the way things were first intended, the more you grow in disgust in the way things have ever since been.

But isn't it the POLITICS of the engagement, no matter foreign or domestic, that gets in the way of true progress in everything!?

No longer can we figure out, on our own, what is really the RIGHT answer, without checking it with our political ideology first.  No longer can we decide, emphatically and on our own, that is wrong and here are all the reasons why, without making sure it does not cross with the partisan bias already firm in place.  No longer do we run on "right is right, even when nobody is doing it; while, wrong is wrong, even when everybody's doing it."

With any given amount of deeper study upon the words and intentions of our Founding Fathers (reminding me of Father's Day come Sunday), it takes about two seconds to figure out we have gone astray; and not only astray, but have grown ignorant, misguided, and shamefully unaware of exactly what makes this country tick and why.

Our alliances can be made oh so simple from this day forward, if only we "here let us stop;" for with certain, would not our politics then, be in there most pure form?  To find our way back to Universal, Natural Law, as according to our founders, gives us the best hope in correcting our course, without politics so much involved.

In short, our attention to the best interests of this fair land should remain the only preservation we must be vitally concerned.   Especially now.

I am trying to catch the last two weeks of Glenn Beck, in his final days of disengagement from his Fox audience...and something he said made me wince in shame, for the proficiency level of our children has become a startling example of just how far off base this nation has become.  Students at, or above, Proficiency Standards, in the 4th grade are at 20%; in 8th grade, at 17%; in 12th grade, at 12%.  (while this easily qualifies for throwing in my bad word of choice running for the week...unfukeenbelievable)

If these numbers don't shock a nation back into submission back to our Founder's best intentions -- in principles, values and goals, especially with regard to entanglements, both foreign and domestic --  then I don't know what will.

It is hard work being a responsible parent these days; and yet, call me crazy,  adding the element of politics into the fray, only makes things all the more convoluted, implicating ourselves with artificial ties which serve no purpose, complicating a relationship to God, Country, and Ourselves, in ways unnecessary and totally unwarranted.

Making a child's education just part of political controversy -- instead of building upon the benefits and best intentions of everything our founders set forth, giving way to all that a truly free market can bear, and thereby making way for a world of possibility and prosperity for all -- becomes so very apparent; both foreign and domestic, we can see exactly what veering from the path has done.   and it ain't pretty.

A closer look at this nation's birth, and the definition set forth by being a Republic, is genius.  EVERYTHING that our forefathers set forth was all about creating a more perfect union in every way -- I have no doubt in my mind.

America IS exceptional in every way -- and no country, on the whole entire earth, is like ours --  NONE.  We do not think we are exceptional just like the German's think, just like the Venezuelan's think, just like Iranian's think, and just like our president believes -- WE REALLY REALLY are.  All things considered, and playing the game of which one of these things doesn't belong?  We don't; we, the people, of The United States of America belong in the category of whole 'nother level of Divine Providence.  Don't believe me, then read this: 

Read The 5000 Year Leap and take a leap a faith in your country for once and for all.  Read it with your children; teach them what the progressives have swiped clean from our history books.  Engage in becoming re-engaged and fully entangled into the heart and soul of who we are as Americans -- not by party -- not by policy -- not by the throws of political power infiltrating our true spirit.

We are all Americans first and foremost; and if there is any part of you that does not comprehend, understand, or respect that part of you, then you need to leave, or, learn more about who you are, from a place of truth and reason, not politics.  And taking this one step further and applying a phrase we seem to understand, while also following the Obama Doctrine way, please accept this task on the ground as a moral imperative, as the budding arm of the apparent civilian military force that you are [confused? go back to G from just yesterday].

Here's to our founding fathers today and always; may we realize the waywardness of our entanglements large and small, here and over there, foreign and domestic, and recognize our power to change our world back to the way we were.  It is not too late.

This baby goes out to fathers everywhere -- be good, do good, and all else shall be added unto you; and to my own papa, I love you and thank my lucky stars for you everyday.

Make it a Good Day, G

hysterical, really... we are 'not engaged in any hostilities in Libya'...and 'ATM's steal jobs'... and 'shovel ready um ah not exactly shovel ready as we expected'...and 'if it were me, I would resign'...
...and what a week it has been for this president of many words.

happy friday.

Dear America,

"[you're like] a bride without a head!"

Ronny Cammareri

"[you're like] a wolf without a foot!"

Loretta Castorini

Moonstruck.

Duly noting each other's faults, exchanging complimentary jabs, just before they give way to temptation.

They knew it was wrong, but they did it anyway.

And so goes a nation, the "education nation" this week (sponsored by, none other than a shining example of unbiased media and excellence in journalism, NBC); even though we are spending ooodles and oodles of dough each year, we are deteriorating from the bottom up, rising to lower standards overall, making far less  gains to show for it, with a heaping topping of bureaucratic gobbly gook binding the states under federal control to the likes of levels never seen before.  It would be so great  -- if only it were a souffle.

Few Facts:

15,000 school districts
50 Million students later...

Annually, our nation spends approximately 500 billion a year on education -- having only about 8% of that coming from the federal government, to date.

The Department of Education became part of the American bureaucracy, marked with a cabinet post, in 1979.

In the 1860's, the federal response to the pending interest in our children's education, consisted of FOUR people, with an annual budget of $15,000; the primary concern, research and development -- glorified fact finders -- to investigate proven methods and impressive test scores over time, and the tenacity of young minds and those who teach them.  And doink, already it was creeping into areas it didn't belong...

Jump the learning curve forward a hundred years (yes, skipping over years of strange indoctrination and censorship of the early 1900's), we move into the 1960's; here, we find a budget of about 1.5 Billion (adjusted for inflation, about 25 B's), with approximately 2,113 employees.  And this is where the spiral downturn begins to really spin...

While both sides begin to volley for one-ups-manship, the upper hand, the party to which we laud and magnify for their efforts -- the "bride without a head, a wolf without a foot" mentality takes us over and has our way with us; being totally unaware in the moment, the infidelity to the sanctity of local jurisdiction becomes the stranglehold we can't break free from -- and ultimately, it becomes just one small part of our nation's downfall, standing in line with all the rest.

If only it were a movie with a happy ending.

Today, our students rank far below the standards we hit in the 1960's -- which if you are familiar with the McGuffey Readers (we might have to have a lesson or two this week), were even lower than that in the 1860's!

We have reached the pinnacle in departmental deception and disgust, encompassing over 5,000 employees and a budget of 100 BILLION, all in upper case to make my point all the more horrendous.

George W. Bush increased the department spending by 69 % between the years 2002 and 2004, instituting the No Child Left Behind program; but apparently and in spite of good intentions, for all other Americans, we were left in the dust, sucking fumes; and to be fair and balanced, Obama nation education, only accelerates the growth and exasperates local control and decision making, courtesy of a 120 page outline of regulations and expectations -- just go to any link to the DOE.gov and you will find it.

So, with tripling the per pupil monetary disbursements -- one could safely say, we have tripled the liabilities, for the proof is the pudding; and that puddin' is lumpy, uses too much sugar, and leaves a nasty after taste...that is after we have already burned the roof of our mouth trying to gobble it up too soon.

I didn't realize until today, that it was the republicans running on empty in 1996, with Bob Dole campaigning on the promise to totally cut the Department of Education, if given a shot; while having not been elected,  in the year 2000,  even the Republican Libertarian Caucus passed a resolution to abolish the department altogether (who knew?) -- and yet, just a few years later, as was just pointed out, the W added nearly seventy percent in federal spending to the pot, like a sorcerer howling to the moon. (as much as I loved the guy, O'Donnell's got nothin' on him on this).  See the Cato review for more.

Okay,  Okay, enough already! (and say it like Loretta would scream it in her fake Brooklynese)

Ooodles and ooodles of dough is not the answer.

No bureaucrat will make a difference, no matter what they say, or who says it, or how much money is thrown at it.  And if you believe that it will, you are moonstruck and stupid.

What will fix it?

Too simple for any one's own good, really.

It gets down to the mama and papa in every home across the nation -- along with the local jurisdiction to hire and fire, including but not limited to, having the right to fire a teacher, with due cause, without litigation, with a simple thank you, this doesn't seem to be working out for you (like every other business in the private sector), now if you could be so kind to simply move on.org, thank you very much (without the rubber rooms, too).

And oh yes, and how could I forget, beginning with doing away with the bureaucracy in charge of it all, and returning to FOUR people in the Department of Education; you know, with the rise of the Internet, much of the information and research is right there at any one's finger tips, many of the services offered by the department are simply duplicated efforts along the way.  Cut 4,996  jobs -- and let the local okles handle it.

And to just to be sure we are clear, let's put it another way -- we've done it before; there was a time when the department allowed for every school district to do their own thing -- and they did a pretty good job at it (proven in the aptitude tests of the last hundred years).

The thing is, the key element to building strong minds into aspiring and inspiring young adults, is found so closely tied to the local jurisdiction, it is just astounding we haven't fallen back to this a long time ago.  The truth is, we need to stop pretending and stop pussy footing around the real crux of the matter; when we say local, it is so neighborly, you can almost smell what's cooking on the stove.

For the resolution is really found under one roof -- and that is none other than our home sweet home.

Without a parent reading to the baby peacefully in the womb at the end of the day;

without a parent reading Dr. Seuss to the toddler who can't get enough of their parent's voice and the time on the lap;

without a parent teaching the ABC's and 123's, and thoughtfully encouraging their child to blossom in school right from the start;

without a parent making sure homework is done, whether it be first grade or twelfth;

without a parent enjoying the responsibility of influencing their child and taking an active part in their education, and demanding that their child show up to school, making an earnest attempt to pay every bit of attention and apply themselves, setting the example to be a good listener, respective of their teachers and administrators;

without a parent at the end the day, letting their child know how much they love them, and how so very proud of them they are...

and we could go on forever...

but without this kind of a parent (one or two, gay or straight) we will continue to exchange barbs and point fingers to the other guy, claiming how, in every which way to Sunday, it is not our fault nor is it our responsibility to fix -- ignorantly giving claim to a government to takeover the luscious little minds of our children, while I'll be, finding ourselves choking down something of all things incredible and non-eatable.  YUCK YOU.

I was just at my girl's open house for the new school year; in her biology class was a sign,

"the words yes and no

are the oldest and simplest words,

yet these two words

require the most thought."

YES, indeed.

Recently, Obama has re energized against the "party of no"  -- claiming it to be reckless, irresponsible, and doomed for failure right from the get go, driving us into a ditch without a leg, let alone just a foot, to stand on. 

Well, I beg to differ. 

I think the party of no takes on a whole new meaning when faced with the facts upon the education of a nation, when addressing the over zealous spending habits of the rich and famous faces of congress, after hundreds of billions in bailouts and stimulus -- enough to stimulate the fed, but leaving the every day family of four in ruins.

In another room, a flyer was handed out to every parent; on it listed "The Smart Student's Credo," taken from What Smart Students Know by Adam Robinson.  Numero Uno:

"Nobody can teach you as well as you can teach yourself."

Well, yes and no, perhaps...but

That,in and of itself, seems to fall in line with the oh so simple recipe of the American way and the making of an American student; the self-reliance born in the United States of America, every day, begins at home with a loving parent making you, "because I said so."

Until then, our goose, with figgie-pudding on the side, is cooked.

Make it a Good Day, G