I learned this week that I passed the CBEST.

I knew I would do well on the reading section.  If they could read my writing I knew I would do well on the writing.  It was the Math that I was worried about.

So, I focused 90% of my study efforts on the Math and got just enough answers right (on the Math section) to pass.

Don’t worry.   I won’t be looking for a Math teaching job anytime soon, so Brother Cecil and Brother Steve have nothing to fear.

We “replaced” the van a few months ago and have been planning to donate it to the church in Mexico.

Our friend from Arlington who died unexpectedly drove the van out here for us two years ago when we moved.

I hadn’t given that van a second thought until Tuesday.

Now, there is a part of me that wants to hang on to that van as a memory and tribute to his servant heart.

We’ll still donate the van but it’s something how the oddest thing can be such a powerful reminder.

We received some really sad news that a great friend of ours died unexpectedly yesterday morning in Arlington.

Our hearts are heavy and we are so far away.

Think of the scene in Christmas Vacation where cousin Eddy is dumping the waste from the RV into the sewer line.

That was descriptive of my joy last night.

The sewer backed up last night (fortunately out in the yard and not in the house) from the clean out to the main line.

I worked for a couple of hours with a hose and a snake trying to get the drain unplugged and let me just say there is nothing quite like . . . actually maybe I won’t say it.

Of course it was after hours so the roto rooter was going to be expensive (don’t these things always happen at night).

The added bonus is we have house guests, a certain family from le Suisse.

When the roto man called at 9PM saying he was running behind we suggested he just wait and come first thing in the morning (which of course also means whenever he feels like it).

But at lease it will save us the $150 “emergency” service fee.

When do you have plumbing / sewer issues that is not an emergency?

It’s been a long tough road for the Roadrunners.

In spite of the athletic terrain the girls kept working hard in practice and learning all those tough lessons that come with loosing at tournament after tournament.

That all changed this weekend as they were forced to learn how to be gracious winners.

I say forced because they demolished the field in their first ever 16U tournament (we are a 14U team moving up to 16U).

They shook off some rust and nerves dropping their first game of the weekend 13 to 7 but went on a bona fide championship run winning the next 5 in a row and outscoring their opponents 53 to 6.

There were moments, on that field, when it looked like we were coaching team USA.

Our girl had a career game going 2 for 2 and pitching a 1 hit shutout for 1 of the 5 wins.

With 1 out and 2 runners on base the championship game was stopped in the 3rd inning because of a mercy run rule.

Final championship score was 15 to 3 but that wasn’t the best score.

The girls didn’t rub it in, they didn’t go wild and crazy and drape themselves in flags and run around the diamond.

During the lineup after the game (where you go through and shake the hands of the other team) our girls (and coaches) congratulated the other team, encouraged them to keep working hard and told them to keep their spirits up.

I continue to be so proud (and honored) to be on the coaching staff of this team because of the character and sportsmanship of these girls.

Best Olympic moment (besides Phelps and the US swim relay team):

The sheer jubilation and ecstatic bliss displayed by certain swimmers over winning silver and bronze.  In the face of “if I don’t win the gold it doesn’t mean anything” these swimmers were truly happy for their accomplishment.  They should be.

Worst (most nauseating) Olympic moment:

The Wide Receivers of Olympic sports, yes, the sprinters on the track.  Would it be possible to win a race without acting like a pompous, flag draped idiot?

Most unnatural Olympic moment:

This thing called Speed walking, seriously, are you kidding me?  Sure they are speed walking 7 minute miles. Yes, I’m jealous that this time is faster than my mile per minute time.  But, have you seen the way they move?  If you have, don’t you find that making duck quack noises just adds to the fun?  This event demands that Bela Karolyi provide the play by play, in depth analysis and color commentary.

The drive to school today was different.

Just the boy and I on the road to school and no girl (she starts earlier).

We pulled into the parking lot and I asked him if he wanted me to go with him to flag salute.

He said, “no need too dad, I’m a big boy now.”

Then, he Looked at me, smiled, patted me on the shoulder and said: “now you be a big boy and hold it together.”

At least Sandra knows what I’m talking about.

Today is the last day of freedom for the kids.

School begins tomorrow.

The boy takes it in stride and signed up for every sport imaginable.

The girl, a bit nervous, as she begins high school (am I really that old) is trying out for the volleyball team.

A plus of making the team is she is exempt from PE which was scheduled for first thing in the morning.

Seeing as she couldn’t make it to orientation the “helpful” office person refused to give her a class schedule.

The expectation was for her to show up tomorrow at 7 get her schedule (which she would have seen for the first time) and find the class in time for a 7:20 class.

As the new high school is huge, this scenario was a source of great anxiety.

Until a teacher stepped in and exercised common sense in the face of bureaucracy.

I simply adore people like this teacher who look out for the best interest of the student instead of trying to protect some inane rule.

I work with a guy who believes (or pretends to believe) that Bigfoot is real.

Since he is a friend of mine I’ll protect his identity and refer to him as Hess Penyon.

Hess alerted me a couple of days ago of a significant find and subsequent press release that would occur today.

Here it it is, knock yourself out.

We made it back and life resumes.

Wouldn’t be nice if the EASY button could extinguish and erase what stresses and distresses?

Save the “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” comments.

As the kind folks at despair.com point out: “That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.“