Aidan said, "Bees-Bawwwl" this week.

Norma was getting him a drink in his Sponge Bob cup and said, "Hey Aidan, Sponge Bob is playing baseball." Aidan then said, "Bees-Bawwwl," with a big smile.

He is starting to repeat things. Today he said, "Pop" and "Corn" -- wanted popcorn. He said "Car" and also "Hat."

Pretty exciting. It won't be too long and he'll be stringing some words together.

He is smart! Just like his Mom.

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This is something I am behind 100%. Hillary's words regarding IRAN

It would be a mistake of historical proportion if the Administration thought that the 2002 resolution authorizing force against Iraq was a blank check for the use of force against Iran without further Congressional authorization. Nor should the President think that the 2001 resolution authorizing force after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, in any way, authorizes force against Iran. If the Administration believes that any, any use of force against is necessary, the President must come to Congress to seek that authority.

The President is Commander in Chief, but he does not have unlimited powers of war. To send yet another air craft carrier into the Gulf and threaten Iran troubles me deeply. Diplomacy is the way forward with Iran, not war.

But, what makes anyone believe this President is going to listen to the will of Congress? He hasn't listened to the will of the American people in Iraq with the escalation there.
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The weekend got a lot worse on Sunday morning at about 5am. I woke up and had to run to the bathroom. From that point... it was ON. I had thought that the touch of stomach flu I had on Wednesday was the flu. Especially after Aidan got sick and then Norma, I just figured that for once I got out of the sickness without as much damage. I was actually pretty excited about it. Selfishly, I was happy that maybe for once I was sparred. I was wrong.

The last 15 hours have been hell. The best way I can explain it is to say that I had a hurricane go off in my stomach. It was absolutely terrible. This afternoon I just laid in bed and moaned repeatedly. I know that when I am sick I am a big baby, but this was real. This stomach flu is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

Having just eaten a piece of toast... I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will stay where I put it. I am taking the day off of work tomorrow. There is just no way I could go in when I am still feeling so weak. The only good news is that if I start to feel better I might actually get some correcting finished. We'll see. Just typing this out is draining me.

The baby is feeling a lot better, but still clingy on Mom. Mom is feeling somewhat better and I am trying to convince her just to stay home, but she missed Friday and feels that she has to go in tomorrow.

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We have had a pretty "downer" weekend. The baby woke up very sick on Friday morning at 3am with the stomach flu. Norma took the day off work and stayed home with him. He finally started feeling better late last night and early this morning. It lasted almost exactly 24 hours.

Aidan had never 'spit up' or 'threw up' in his 2 year young life. But, he made up for it over the past day.

I had the same thing, but not as bad on Wednesday.

Today Norma is sick with it. Ouch. Pretty ugly.

We are hanging in there.

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Last Thursday at our Social Studies weekly team meeting my instructional coach mentioned a program that we are going to have at our school next year - AVID.

What AVID is...

*AVID is an acronym that stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination.
*AVID is an in-school academic support program for grades 5-12 that prepares students for college eligibility and success.
*AVID places academically average students in advanced classes.
*AVID levels the playing field for minority, rural, low-income and other students without a college-going tradition in their families.
*AVID is for all students, but it targets those in the academic middle.
*AVID is implemented schoolwide and districtwide.

What AVID isn't...

*AVID isn't a remedial program.
*AVID isn't a free ride.
*AVID isn't a niche program.
*AVID isn't a college outreach program.

At least that is what it says on their website. What AVID sounds like to me is a program that would have helped ME. When I was in high school I was in a single-parent family, low socio-economic situation, and neither of my parents had graduated (or even attended) college. This program helps those kinds of kids by giving them skills needed to succeed in the classroom.

After listening to my IC describe the program I was totally into it. I went to her afterwards to ask when the training was during the summer. It was during the week of June 30th! That's the week of my sister's wedding. Not negotiable. Along with my brother Terry, I am walking my sister down the isle. I am not going to miss that wedding. And it is in Pennsylvania. So it's not like I can just go on the weekend and then jet back to Dallas where the training was scheduled.

So I wrote the counselor that is going to be doing the program, our principals and my IC to explain how I might be uniquely qualified to work in this program because of my background. I explained how excited I was about this opportunity. My reply from the building principal was that he was "looking into an alternate training date" for us. That was really cool to realize that they actually wanted me for the program and that they would consider changing the date of the training for me. Of course, the training would be in San Diego... so maybe that's why they want to change? :)

Regardless, I think it would be a very cool opportunity. The program works like this: You have 20 kids in an AVID class that meets once a day. Next year the plan is for us to have 2 classes and 2 teachers teaching in the program. During AVID class the students are given tools to help them in their advanced college-prep classes. Tools like note taking, advanced writing prep, and opportunities in a small environment with peers like them to voice their opinion and work on discussion techniques. Then when these students are in their advanced classes they will feel capable of keeping up with classmates that may have home life advantages over them.

Personally I know the feelings a student goes through while in an honors or AP class as they wonder to themselves, "How am I going to compete with these kids?" It seemed that they had every advantage. I can only imagine how much easier it could have been to have those academic skills that AVID can provide.

It would be a wonderful opportunity to help kids that REALLY need it and would appreciate it. Public high schools are a strange place. There is a place for the gifted and a place for those with special needs. But, there is not a competent spot for the 'average' kid that needs special attention. These are the quiet kids that silently slide through their regular classes and get lost in a big school. AVID would be a great opportunity for them!

Plus, I look forward to learning some new things to use in all of my classes. Much of the AVID game plan revolves around the teacher being more of a facilitator. At this point, I am someone that facilitates from time to time on certain days. However, I am a very traditional teacher. I just use a lot of energy in the classroom, humor and prepare like a mad man to make my classes interesting. It would be great to see my students 'spark' a little more on their own.

As you can probably tell, I am really hoping to hear soon that I will be heading to San Diego to be a part of this program. I am keeping my fingers crossed.


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It is really interesting how newspaper guys are now using the power of the internet to post video articles and discussions. Pretty neat. In this houston chronicle video piece, Richard Justice leads the baseball writers in Houston about a discussion about the every-other-year Ensberg.

Morgan has hit one year and had an off year the next. Luckily for us this year, last year was a down year. Maybe this is the year he bounces back?

With Carlos Lee and Lance Berkman... if Morgan hits this lineup could be potent!

Check out the videos on the Chronicle Astros Page
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Will Ferrell. Enough said.
This looks so stupid that it must be funny:
Movie Trailer: Blades of Glory

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Pretty amazing to realize that the Houston Texans could end up with everyone's pre-season favorite for the Heisman and potential #1 pick overall: Brady Quinn from Notre Dame.

According to Todd McShay from ESPN.com and his very mock draft:
8. Houston (6-10)

Projected pick: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Quinn is the toughest prospect to place on the board right now. He could still be the top overall pick to the Raiders, but it's also feasible he could slip all the way to the Panthers at pick No. 14. David Carr, the 2002 top pick, has clearly fallen out of favor with the Texans, so they would find it tough to pass on Quinn if he's available here.

Carr is just weeks or months from being let go or traded. I just can't imagine the Texans rolling the dice on another QB and one that is slipping so badly down the draft board. It would make more sense for me to see them get the best offensive lineman available. Many people believe that will be Penn State Nittany Lion OT Levy Brown. Rotating QBs doesn't make much sense if they are going to spend so much time on their back.

But, Quinn has talent. He was a four year starter under the bright lights of Notre Dame. In big games he did not perform well. In big games Notre Dame was playing teams that were MUCH better than they were. The 'over ranked' Irish always have that problem. National media expects them to win the National Championship as soon as they have a 2 game winning streak.

I don't know how I feel about the Texans pick just yet. But, I do have great faith in Gary Kubiak and his staff to get the best people in to Houston. The draft last year was a great success, although they get negative points from so many because of the #1 overall pick. Regardless it was a great draft top to bottom and they did have the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2nd round pick Demeco Ryans.

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Finally a haircut for our hippie boy. He is also wearing his very cool Dino PJs that Mom got him... on sale. They are very cool. He loves them.






What a lucky dad I am.
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A few pictures of my crazy boy with his Mom's old teddy bear. :)






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This week will not go down as "The Best Week EVA!"

+ I was diagnosed with bronchitis.
+ I spent $250 on medication at Walgreens, including a breathing machine (nebulizer)
+ I missed Mon/Tue while I was home sick.
+ Wed I spent in a training all day, while my substitute completely screwed giving out my test.
+ Thu I spent $1,000 on a new compressor for my A/C in my honda. Yeah, the same honda that we spent $1,500 on fixing the A/C over the past six months. Lovely.
+ Tonight my ears have so much pressure in them that I can barely hear. The more I speak the worse it gets. (why am i still awake?)

So other than that... everything is great. :)

I haven't posted much because I have just been in a bad mood about things... and real tired and sore (for some reason my legs feel like I have been working out all week - I haven't been).

So maybe this coming week everything will get back to normal and things will rebound for me? Tomorrow we get the little guy's hair cut. It is so long right now. I am going to be soooo happy to see it short again. I haven't been wanting to take pictures of him because his hair is just so goofy looking. I tried to cut it myself and he just rebells too much right now. So we are taking him to the lady that cuts Norma's hair and we'll probably have to hold him down in the chair. We are doing that at 9am... so I really should get to bed.
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+Peyton Manning should not have won the MVP. Why not give it to the two RBs for the Colts - CoMVP was the right call there. I like Peyton and everything, but dude is seriously a ROBOT. He shows about as much emotion as a frog. Sorry, but if I just showed every doubter in America for all of those years... I would be like, "Stick it!" Or at least be so excited I'd be in tears. But, he must have "ice water running through those veins."

+Phil Simms is retarded.

+Super Bowl Commercials were not very good, but I liked the Coke ads the best. By far. They were imaginative and eye catching. The video game one was really well done.

+Rex Grossman is a spazz.

+The Texans are the #2 team in the NFL (we were the last to beat the Colts)

+Thank God for TiVo. It enabled me to catch the opening KO Return for a TD because we were just coming home from shopping and barely missed it. I saw 7-0 Bears with 14:50 left in the quarter and I said, "Hester took it the distance, ALREADY!" I really thought the Bears special teams would be a big difference. But that was the only play that haunted the Colts.

+Rain Super Bowl was interesting. The back-to-back fumbles (twice) was unique. But, I wonder what things would have been like on a fair field for both teams. Would it have changed the outcome? Grossman was lost in the slop. He couldn't throw it downfield at all. The week before he zipped some great long passes in the cold.

+The better team won. "TEAM" being the key word. Those Colts aren't great individually (except for at WR and QB) but you add up their teamwork, coaching, and spirit and that makes a Champion.


TOP 5 WAYS YOU KNOW FOOTBALL SEASON IS FINALLY OVER!
1. Your husband starts thinking about taking down the Christmas lights
2. That big lump on your couch is gone
3. Your husband starts learning the names of the kids all over again
4. Your husband discovers new qualities of your life that he never noticed before... like your new boyfriend!
5. Your husband just found out you had a baby last month!
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I am home sick and was cruising some blogs. A few of the ones I rather enjoy reading also have a podcast. Which is basically audio or video of the blogger with some comments. I am messing with this, so it's inherently stupid and a test. But, here goes:


Download our latest podcast
or copy the address in the field below to your podcast software:

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Super Bowl Sunday. It's a national holiday. The combination of food, football, and very expensive commercials make for a fun evening. All the hype that 2 weeks of national spotlight can place on an event and then they play football.

Who will win?

My head tells me that a team with a great running game (da Bears), a dominant defense (da Bears), and that has incredible special teams units (da Bears) should win. But, my heart says Colts. Manning. It seems storybook.

Plus, the last team to beat the Colts this year was the Texans. So if Indy wins, the Texans would by 'default' have to be 2nd in the NFL, right? (smile) I wish.

I think the MVP will be Thomas Jones, RB for the Bears. And not just because I owned him in my two (Championship) Fantasy Football teams this year. Well, yeah,... it's pretty much because I "owned him in my two (Championship) Fantasy Football teams this year." :) That and I just think the guy is gutty and tough. And the Bears running game could be the difference. They have a big advantage vs. the Colts run D.

Rex Grossman will have to make enough big plays to make up for his lack of consistency. He will also have to avoid the big huge turnover that he is prone to. Either Rex has a great day and the Bears win big... or Rex has a terrible day and the Colts will win big. I am rolling the dice that he will come up big.

My final score: Bears 37, Colts 17.

That's with my head.

My heart tells me: Colts 31, Bears 24. At least that is the score my heart will be rooting for. It would be nice to see the AFC stand tall again.
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Everyone in Houston seems to be getting sick this week. I am no exception. Went to see the doctor today and he says I have bronchitis. He pretty much ordered me to stay home from work for a couple of days. We'll see how it goes, but I am pretty depressed about it.

At least I went through almost the entire month of January without being sick.

Norma and Aidan were sick this week, too... but both are doing real well this weekend.

In fact, Aidan is eating us out of house and home. The boy is growing like a bean stalk.

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I have hated Madden for a long time. I have tried my best to convert to it this year because it is the only football game in town. But, it has done nothing but frustrate me. This is the best video game news I have heard in a LONG, LONG time:2KSports announces ALL-PRO Football 2K8

Many sports game fans likely remember the date as one where the landscape of the football gaming world dramatically changed. On that date the announcement was made that Electronic Arts had secured exclusive video game rights to the NFL, effectively cutting the NFL 2K series out of the race. Despite predictions of doom and gloom, and the series' two-year absence from store shelves, it seems you can't keep a good football series down. Today's official announcement of All-Pro Football 2K8, a game long-rumored to be in the works, confirms that the team at 2K Sports is back on the virtual gridiron, preparing a football game that looks to make up for what it lacks in officially licensed teams and logos with the kind of hard-hitting, authentic gameplay the series has built its reputation on.

I am pumped! Great News.

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