Category Archives: Parenting

Leave It To Beaver

I have been laid up this past week with a terrible sinus infection, including a dreadful sore throat. While convelescing, I have been enjoying Netflix instant viewing, and got caught up in episodes of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. The main … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Family Life, Humor, Movies, Parenting, The Haasienda | Tagged | Leave a comment

My son and Racial Profiling…

This morning, I read this post on Elwood’s internet site. This particular post read:   In response to Obama’s complaint that FOX News doesn’t show enough Black and Hispanic people on their network, FOX Network has announced that they will … Continue reading

Posted in Barak Obama, Family Life, Indiana, Music - Marching Band, NACAC, Parenting, Politics, School, Single Parent, The Haasienda, U.S. History | Leave a comment

Woodland Cemetery… a wonderful place!

Yesterday, Jose wanted to hike through historic Woodland Cemetery. We grabbed Flyer, the camera and set off on the 5 minute ride. A beautiful day, and tons of gorgeous photos!

Posted in Family Life, Family Pets, Inspiration, Parenting, The Haasienda, U.S. History | Leave a comment

A Friday night…

At 12:05am the five buses carrying the marching band passed in front of the house. I was standing on the front steps smoking my pipe and letting Flyer explore the symphony of smells in the front yard when they passed. … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Eleanor Roosevelt, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Family Pets, First Ladies, Music - Marching Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, White House, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

All in a day…

It is 11:35pm on a Wednesday night and I am finally winding down after a full, productive day. After thinking through all I have accomplished I feel like I have competed with my cousin, Dana, who seems to cram four … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Entertainment, Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Family Pets, Inspiration, Music - Marching Band, NACAC, Parenting, Playwright, School, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theatre, U.S. History, Wright Brothers | 1 Comment

The DMV… and Weekend…

When you finish reading this, you must read my friend’s blog… Jeff Carter had a fun time at his own license branch. Saturday I searched in vain on the internet to find the DMV’s hours. I could not even locate … Continue reading

Posted in Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, School, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

Reunions & Football Game

Another enjoyable week. Monday I reunited with a former student with whom I lost contact 20 years ago. His family was wonderful to me during my Muncie days, and Nathan was always one of my favorite former students. In short, … Continue reading

Posted in Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Daily Briefs…

People are always asking me to describe what I mean when I mention, “Daily Briefs.” In the Haasienda, the Daily Brief is our communication system for each day. I am generally teaching when Jose arrives home from school, and this … Continue reading

Posted in Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

Gotcha Day!

Despite the heaviness of knowing many of our dear friends and neighbors, literally several houses away, are without power, I am going to continue celebrating the day. It is a beautiful day here in Kettering, Ohio, and the schools are … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Family Pets, Friends, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | 1 Comment

This Weekend & Gone With The Wind…

What a busy, and then exciting weekend…   FRIDAY Jose was with the marching band for the game against Lebanon, and we won. He got home around 11:30pm. I ran some errands and worked on writing for a few hours.   … Continue reading

Posted in Fairmont High School, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, School, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

Another Week Come and Gone…

What a short, but long week. Recovery from a three day weekend is always a little tough, but this year was a little easier. I set up a new system with my private teaching studio: if there are five Mondays … Continue reading

Posted in Broadway, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Music - Marching Band, Musical Theatre, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Labor Day Weekend – Part One

What a wonderful, wonderful weekend! Saturday morning, the house was all cleaned, and smelling fresh, the yard looked great, and the fence was adorned with red, white and blue bunting banners – a gift from my darling neighbor, Kay. I … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Fairmont Marching Firebirds, Family Life, Friends, Indiana, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

What Can I Do?

This is a message I posted on one of my hometown’s websites, WILLKIE’S PRIDE. This morning, my sixteen year old son came into my study before leaving for school and said he was really frustrated with something in marching band. … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, First Ladies, Indiana, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, Politics, Politics - 2008 Election, Single Parent, The Haasienda, Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. History, U.S. Presidents, White House | Leave a comment

Beethoven, Bach, Broadway and… Bon Jovi?

When I was a teenager in high school, and throughout college, I did listen to rock music, but preferred the music of the late 1960’s and early to mid-1970’s. There was some incredible music written during that era. I was … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Humor, Music - Band, Music - Show Choir, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

This week…

Sunday I delivered Jose to Wright State’s campus for marching band camp. He has a neat roommate, a sophomore who just moved her from Vandalia Butler High School. I spent a few minutes chatting with the chaperones – all friends … Continue reading

Posted in Entertainment, Family Life, Family Pets, Friends, Indiana, Music - Marching Band, Parenting, The Haasienda | 1 Comment

Mousetrap

Mouse Trap Late one Saturday night I heard a pair of footsteps bounding up the basement stairs. I looked up at the clock and figured a commercial had propelled them from the depths of TV Land. “Dad,” my sons cried. … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, Family Pets, Humor, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment

Underwear!

You Sexy Thang… When Matthew first arrived in 2002 as a little scrawny 12 yo boy, I helped him unpack his clothes from foster care, most of which were faded or dingy, and put them away. Between my mother, Aunt … Continue reading

Posted in Family Life, NACAC, Parenting, Single Parent, The Haasienda | Leave a comment