He fit the profile

Posted on 10/23/2008 by RLW3

I could tell that something was wrong as soon as I picked my son up from school at 3:50 this afternoon. (My daughter was running the three miles to our apartment!)

This morning he took a flyer that highlighted the SIGNIFICANT moral differences between the two presidential candidates and showed it to the teacher of his “Government” class.

According to my son, the teacher immediately said that McCain is for abortion in the case of rape, incest, and the health of the mother.

My son, thankfully still being very innocent in these matters, responded by saying that if a young woman is hanging out with druggies, alcoholics, etc., then she is responsible. (No, I don’t agree!)

Well, that sent the teacher into a tailspin. He sent my son to the counselor’s office for the NEXT HOUR where she talked with him about his views on rape.

Well, as soon as I learned of this, I called the school. It turns out that tonight is a second night for Parent-Teacher conferences. I immediately made an appointment for 4:30 with this teacher, took a ten minute shower and rushed to the school.

I tried to enter the school through the door closest to the teacher’s room only to find it locked. I then ran around to the front of the school and then all the way back to the room. I imagine that my approach was probably a little intimidating.

The confrontation then began.

1. McCain does not agree with the “health of the mother” excuse. He specifically denounced Obama for that in the last debate. 

2. Less than 1% of rape victims are impregnated.

3. Why did you (the teacher) take the discussion to this relatively minor, contentious point with a student who was presenting information that pertains to your class?

It turns out that two women who were very close to him were violently raped. One of them evidently committed suicide. He said that my son’s response fit a psychological profile that made him concerned about my son’s respect for women.

I said, “Sir, at this school, not California, my son has had girls offer him specific sex acts if would come to a party with them. He has looked them in the eye and told them that he will not even kiss a girl until he marries her. He has then endured months of constant ridicule for being “gay” because of this. I challenge you to find another young man in your class who respects women that much.”

I forgot to tell him that he threatened to beat the crap out of a football player if he ever showed him porn!

I won’t bore you with the rest of the details, but needless to say, I was ready for bear!

Posted in Parenting | Tagged | 1 Comment

You have such good kids

Posted on 10/22/2008 by RLW3

Well, it’s official now. I went to Parent-Teacher conferences tonight and heard how wonderful my children are! If they only knew the real truth…

just kidding.

I have to say that it was rather pleasant hearing their respective teachers compliment them for their character.

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I should have known

Posted on 10/22/2008 by RLW3

I need to toughen up. I mean, sometimes I am such an easy touch…

For example, as I sat in the truck outside of Costco, my wife called and asked if I was already outside waiting.

“Yes.”

“I have to buy a few things. Do you want to wait in the truck or come inside?”

I am a man. The answer should have been OBVIOUS.

“I’ll wait in the truck.”

“All right.”

However, there was some small thing in her voice that told me that she really would rather that I come inside. So, being the softy that I am, much to her delight, five minutes later, I went and found her inside the store.

She took me over to taste this new dip “that I’m not going to buy but you have to taste it because it is sooooo goood!”

I took one bite and immediately realized that this was a BIG problem!

“Do you want me to buy it?!”

“NO! THERE IS NO WAY!”

“You don’t like it?”

“Of course, I like it! But how will I ever keep my weight down with this in the house?”

The 4′ something tall woman behind the table with the big blue food service hairnet said to my wife, “Well, I sure couldn’t tell you!”

I started laughing. She continued…

“I’ve been on every diet there has ever been and haven’t lost any weight.”

I went into second stage laughter.

“I’ve been dieting for 50 years and haven’t lost anything!”

Third stage

“In fact, I’m going to start Slim Fast and I am old enough to qualify for their Silver Program so I’ll get a break on the cost.”

At this point, I was helplessly propping my body up on the refrigerated dip display. It was either that or fall to the ground!

“I’ve gained so much weight since I started here. I’ve gained 25 pounds and I’ve only worked here for a year and a half. At this rate, I’ll weigh 500 pounds in 5 years.”

At this point, I couldn’t see anything because my eyes were welded shut. My stomach was about to succeed in wrestling me to the ground despite the help I was receiving from the dip refrigerator.

She moved in for the kill. “They say fat people are jolly! Well, I’m jolly!”

I lifted my left hand (the cracker was still in my right) in surrender, tried to close my mouth to keep from drooling on the floor and begged her not to say another funny thing. I give up! Please!

After I composed my self, my wife took me over to look at some pants!!!!

I should have known this was a trap. I was suckered in because I was a softy, a little woman reduces me to waving a white flag and now this is turning into SHOPPING! I’ve got to get out of here!

Posted in Marriage | Comments Off on I should have known

You have a chance to change

Posted on 10/21/2008 by RLW3

My youngest daughter has started an exercise program this year. And like most people, she has struggled. She will get inspired, start vigorously, make a few allowances because she doesn’t “feel” like exercising, have a few small changes in her schedule that devour the time that she was going to exercise, and then she feels like she is starting over.

She is in the midst of her third assault on this fortress and I think that she turned a corner a little over two weeks ago.

She and I were going to go to the prayer room. She had planned to exercise after school but the weather was rather inhospitable. Finally, one half hour before we were going to leave, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and the sun broke through.

“Dad, should I go run?”

I hesitated. In my mind this is about so much more than just exercise. I think that she is in the midst of changing her character. She is changing the way she views herself, what she expects of herself.

“Cakes, I think that if you run, you will experience a big breakthrough. Not because you are running, but because you are changing from looking for an excuse to taking advantage of an opportunity. I think you that you will look back at this decision and be glad that you chose to run.”

And, so she did. And she has not been the same since.

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What are you worth?

Posted on 10/20/2008 by RLW3

My son is a good looking young man. He gets that from his mother. However, he is going through a little test right now.

As you probably have read, he is a wrestler. Wrestling requires close physical contact. Unfortunately, at the very end of the season, he came in contact with some bad stuff.

First, he picked up scalp ringworm. He was very diligent to apply the medicine and the disease faded away.

Then, while wrestling at Nationals, he picked up a staff infection. He applied the medicine and it seemed to fade away…

but it didn’t. It morphed into another skin condition.

Back to the doctor. After 3-4 weeks, it became obvious that the prescribed medicine was ineffective.

Next, we went to a dermatologist. For the last week, he has been using the new treatment and it looks like it is working but boy does he look bad!

The medicine causes the infected area of the skin to erupt and scab over. The entire front of his neck is infected! He does not look good!

I feel for him. However, I hope that it is bringing home a point that I have tried to impress upon all of my children:

Your value and/or worth is not based on your physical appearance. It is based upon your character; who you are! Your physical appearance could change in a moment.

He has to walk out that value every day in front of all of his peers at high school!

Posted in Children | Tagged , | 1 Comment

What could I say?

Posted on 10/16/2008 by RLW3

My wife introduced me to one of her Costco friends tonight named Ashley. The two of them like to talk politics. Ashley is voting for Obama.

I asked her what her primary reason for voting for him.

“I’m for abortion and for gay marriage.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Inside, thoughts about the foundations of human society swirled around in my brain.

“I don’t mind socialism. I grew up in Italy. At least you are taken care of.”

Thoughts on the value and meaning of freedom swirled through my head. I knew that there was nothing that I could say that would changer her mind so I said, “Then you have chosen the right man!”

Posted in Friends | Tagged | 1 Comment

Finally, a possibility

Posted on 10/10/2008 by RLW3

As you know, I have not been having much success in my search for a job here in my new hometown. I am either over qualified or not qualified enough. It seems that my choices are either working at Home Depot or applying for jobs that require 20 years experience in 15 different IT acronyms, a security clearance just under the president and multiple doctoral degrees!

However, there might have been a break in the logjam today. I interviewed for a job at the end of 2006 with a small company in KC. He really like me and wanted to hire me but it took so long to finish my house that he had to hire someone else.

I called him to see if he knew of any other companies in the area. He said he would be glad to but he wants to hire me himself. He wants me to take over someone’s responsibilities so they can devote more time to sales.

I will have to wait to hear back from him as the man that I will likely replace is out on his honeymoon all of next week.

Posted in Work | Comments Off on Finally, a possibility

A young lady blossoms

Posted on 10/09/2008 by RLW3

I am really blessed with GREAT children. I mean that-GREAT children.

I first started talking to my youngest daughter about developing the character trait of self-control and the importance of setting goals when she came out to help me pack up our house in March.

Over the past six months, she has really been making an effort to change her character.

She has been learning to control her eating, embarked on a running program and begun to write out some goals. In the past few weeks, she has even made up an Excel spreadsheet to keep herself accountable to carry out the plans that she has made to reach her goals. Aaah! A girl after my own heart.

She is really beginning to enjoy the sweet taste of success. Slowly but surely, she is losing weight. Her consistent exercise is slowly changing the shape of her body. She is developing a consistent devotional life and she beginning to excel in school! Most importantly, she is becoming more more confident.

I have told her that she looks great. But, I have told her that I am far more proud of who she is becoming. She is changing from someone who adopts the first available excuse to someone who takes action.

I am so happy for her. She is growing up!

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A manly decision

Posted on 10/08/2008 by RLW3

This morning, my wife told me my son got home at 3 IN THE MORNING!!!

He was pretty frustrated when he learned that he had to work last night. He was looking forward to a very busy and productive night of homework. (he studies/worships at The Prayer Room)

Well, when work was over at 8:00, he drove straight over and studied until 3:00 A.M.!

I am proud that he pressed through and didn’t use the changes to his plans as a reason to fall behind in school or fail a test.

Posted in Children, Masculinity | Tagged | Comments Off on A manly decision

Pretty cool

Posted on 10/08/2008 by RLW3

I just finished my morning run. It did not feel great. From about the halfway point, I was giving myself a pep talk.

“Just keep going. You can do it. You can make it. You’ve done it before.”

Imagine my surprise when I hit the button on my watch at the end of the run and discovered that I ran my second fastest time of the year! And I felt like trash.

I am beginning to think that I might have been entertaining a vain hope in thinking that I would eventually enjoy running. Today was just as challenging to my will as it was 3 months ago.

It is, however, very rewarding to feel the benefits to my body. I feel more energetic. My body is steadily getting more firm. I even have some muscles returning. Pretty cool!

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