Rise and Shine --- Adventureland

Good Morning and welcome to another Friday in a long line of Fridays!

Sometimes, you need a little adventure to break up 'normal' life. It doesn't matter if that adventure will cost you sleep or even dinner, you just need one.
Thankfully, there is a major adventure seeker living in the house, so, when the call came Monday, it was something to jump upon.
'Il Barbiere di Siviglia is playing at the Met Thursday night. Let's go!'

Sounds great. Let's do it. Of course, being in the middle of the week there was childcare, but since Grandmom and Grandpop jump at any opportunity to take care of the little ones, that was easy.
The hard part (if that really what it is) would happen Thursday afternoon/evening.
So, Grandpop got to the house by 4 p.m. It was time to hop in the car, pick up the true adventurer and hit the road.
Now, it takes about three hours (give or take) to make it to New York City. Still, it's an easy ride up I-95, then over to the turnpikes.
One quick word on the PA Turnpike. We got off I-95 at Bristol, grabbed the pay ticket, then, less than a 100 yards on the road had to pay $1.30. Kind of ridiculous.
So, despite running through rush hour, the ride to New York was relatively smooth. Well, as smooth as it could be until you hit the exit for the Lincoln Tunnel. It took about a half hour to get into the tunnel, then came a laugh. There was a Mercedes with a Florida license plate driving in front of us. Now, that's probably not unusual, but this one had a bumper sticker that read 'I miss Reagan!' Now, how could you miss Reagan and why would you put a bumper sticker on a Mercedes. It takes all kinds.
If you've never been to Lincoln Center (the home of the Metropolitan Opera), I suggest you take a ride up. It's awe-inspiring.
The tickets were waiting and, with plenty of time to relax, we couldn't wait for the show to begin.
Now, not having really listened to any opera before two years ago, I can't be called a big fan. I've learned to appreciate it immensely (Thanks again, to the adventure-seeker).

The show was fantastic. It's really amazing how the voices and music can meld together to tell a story. It doesn't matter if it's all in Italian and you don't understand a word of Italian, it's easy to get caught up in the story.
About three-and-a-half hours later, it was time to make the return trip.
Sure, we were tired, hungry and bit cranky (hey, I'd been up for nearly 24 hours), but, sometimes, the adventure is worth it all.
Even after pulling into the driveway at 3:30 a.m. (the same time my alarm usually goes off every morning), it was worth everything. It was a fantastic night.
After a winter (and so far, 2010) of absolute darkness, it was a fantastic night.
Thanks, adventure-seeker.

Rise and Shine --- Whatever..

Good Morning and welcome to Thursday!

There have been a lot of cool snow creations this winter. We've seen snowpeople in the shapes of Flyers fans and football players. We've seen sculptures that would rival some in art museums. We've seen children building tunnels. We've seen some light up. We've seen many fall down.
Well, a family in New Jersey decided to create a snow Venus de Milo.
It was pretty well done, although not as good as others around the region.
Of course, since we can't do anything anymore without offending somebody, there was a complaint to the police.
The family was forced to dress the sculpture.
Next snow (hopefully not for another 10 years, but that's another story), we should all build naked snow people. Let's give everybody a run.

Rise and Shine --- Opinions are like...

Good Morning and wasn't it better to see the rain instead of the snow?

So, in today's Daily Times, columnist Gil Spencer talks to someone who will be trying to get Joe Sestak's old seat in the U.S. House.
Why Sestak is giving it up is another (head scratcher) opinion in itself, today we wonder about the opinion of one Jim Schneller.
Jim Schneller is one of those (birthers?) who claim Barack Obama is an illegal president because he is not a citizen of the U.S.
Uh. Uh. OK.
Well, even though it's been proven over and over and over again Obama is a legal citizen, well, opinions are like noses (or something like that).
So, let's just get to the bottom line.
The reason Barack Obama shouldn't be president of the United States is because he's really from the planet Zoltron. He came down here to steal the American presidency (because, obviously, if you can travel millions of miles to another planet the first thing you want to do is get the most high-profile job).
Apparently, he brought Jeff Goldblum and Jim Carrey to help facilitate the mission.
Those two, of course, were demoralized by Hollywood, so it was up to Obama to go it alone.
Now, he's going to crush us all by making health care more affordable and pull us out of the economic doldrums.
I say, get back on the space ship.

Rise and Shine --- Wonderment

Good Morning and welcome to the Tuesday before the storm!

So, while driving around last night, the tunes coming from the radio had three children (10, 7 and 5) listening intently.
They closed their eyes. They let the sounds invade their head. They smiled. They didn't argue (which, in itself is a miracle).
Most of the time, the radio, if on at all, is tuned to Jazz or something light so as not to get them too fired up.
Last night, it was opera.
For some, it would mean even more yelling. 'Put something else on,' they might say. 'We hate this. Put on real music.'
It does the heart good when that doesn't happen. Instead, they enjoyed the sounds. They even started picking out how some Mozart (who died in 1791) music has been 'stolen' by today's 'artists' and changed.
Hey, when a 10-year old says he wants the prelude to Carmen for a ring tone, well, maybe there's hope for the new generation.

Rise and Shine --- Comments

Good Morning and welcome to a new week (and a full moon)!

For the last couple of years, we here at delcotimes.com have allowed readers to post comments on stories.
When it started, every comment was reviewed before it was posted. It became a daunting job (nearly a full-time job in itself) to read all the comments. Then, we went to an unmoderated forum. Everything was posted immediately.
As you can imagine, that only made things worse. Finally, we settled on the way things work now. You have to register with a real e-mail address, then you can post.
While most of those in the community use the comments to spur good conversation, there are those out there who just want to spew hate.
Either they think their comments are somehow funny or they need to feel superior, well, we'll never know.
When a story becomes a hot-button issue, it brings out all kinds. There are well thought out arguments (on both sides) about everything from earthquakes to health care to, most recently, teen suicide.
Unfortunately, when there is a big issue it also brings out the hate. For the past week, we've received nearly 40 'report abuse' notifications a day.
Now, we take every comment seriously. We want the conversation to flow.
What we don't want or need is racist or hurtful comments. Those will be gone immediately and the poster will be banned.
If you don't like it, so be it

Rise and Shine --- Party, Hardly

Welcome to a new day that's best spent under the covers!

So, forgetting that stuff all over the place outside, there is some interesting controversy brewing in Canada.
Even though these Olympic Games look a lot like a souped-up version of the X-Games, some stodgy old types don't like what's happening.
Last week, U.S. snowboarder Scotty Lago was sent home after partying too hearty.
Then, last night, after the Canadian women won the gold medal in hockey, they had the audacity to drink Molson and smoke cigars on the ice.
Say it isn't so!
Athletes have fun after the pressure's off. What in the name of Tiger Woods is going on here?
Now, the International Olympic Committee is upset. The powers-that-be want an investigation.
Well, I'll save them the money (or they can send a check here): People drink. People have fun. People laugh.
If you don't like it, go back to the offices in Switzerland and watch the snow fall.
Never mind, just come here and do the same thing.

Rise and Shine --- Oh no, Snow!

Good Morning and is this winter becoming a joke, or what?

So, there's another storm hitting us today. Those who are hooked on the word 'warming' in Global Warming like to put out their half-thought out ideas every time it snows.
Now, if you can actually look out the window and say the climate is not changing in a major way, well, I'm happy for you.
When the Easter Bunny comes by for tea, tell him (or her) I said hello.
Look, no matter what the wackos want to say, there is a significant climate change going on across the earth. These huge storms that seem to hit us every few weeks are only part of it.
Hurricanes have been stronger (remember Katrina?), earthquakes have been more devastating (Haiti?) and tidal waves are knocking out whole communities (Thailand?). So, focus on the word 'warming' if you want and don't be surprised if the Easter Bunny brings his buddy the Tooth Fairy.

Rise and Shine --- Huh?

Good Morning and welcome to the calm before the storm!

Now, maybe it's just me, but I have to think there are more important things for the members of Congress to be doing right now than grilling the head of Toyota.
Yeah, they screwed up their cars, but it'll get fixed. The public will keep buying Toyotas (if we ever start buying new cars again) and Japan will survive.
Sounds more like some are trying to take the focus off more important issues.
Want one, how about health care.
Just look around people, we are being bankrupted by big health care companies. One company in California raised their rates 39 percent. Most of us will see at least a 15 percent price hike. Suddenly, you are paying a quarter of your earnings for insurance.
Sure, we need it, but anybody who says we don't need some kind of reform has their head in, well, the sand (I was going to say Rush Limbaugh, but, this is a family Web site, right?)
Now, Republican leaders are saying they are going to to everything to block any kind of health care reform.
So, as we grow sicker because we can't afford care, think about how some 'leaders' are getting their pockets lined.

Rise and Shine --- Now, that's funny

Good Morning and welcome to a wet Tuesday!

So, the first Superman comic book sold for $1 million yesterday.
This kind of thing is always a little strange. First of all, who saves a comic book? You buy it, read it, pass it around and maybe it comes back. Most of the time when it comes back, the pages are torn or cut out.
Somebody, though, saved this comic book since 1938 and apparently it's in perfect condition. It's probably not been in the air for years.
Not only is that strange, but somebody actually had $1 million sitting around and the best they could do was buy a comic book.
Strange days indeed.
I remember back in the day when my grandmother passed along some of my dad's old comic books. At the time, I was just happy to read them. I showed them to my friends. The covers got ripped off. They were drawn on.
Now, I'm thinking I should have taken the books, put them in zip lock bags and stored them in a temperature-controlled room.
Then again, it was more fun to look at them.

Rise and Shine --- Four years later...

Good Morning and welcome to the start of a new week!

Every four years when the Winter Olympics invade our living room, we get to see events we don't see any other time.
Take for instance, curling. Please, take it. Like take it away.
It appears the only real reason curling is part of the Olympics is for viewers to scratch their heads. What the heck is that?
What are they doing with that big thing (rock?) they are are sliding down the ice. If you watched the curling Saturday night, you more likely would be saying, 'What are those guys doing with those brooms?'
OK, there's a skill involved. You have to to sweep (?) the ice to keep the thing moving and try to get it into the circle. Players can also knock off opponent's stones.
Uh, Oh, that one was pushed too fast, it's going to leave the circle.
Whatever?
The only thought while watching the event (and this came from somebody who's never seen it before) is it's borderline obscene. Then again, they probably have a lot of fun at practice.

Rise and Shine --- Hi, it's Tiger...

Good Morning and welcome to end of the week!

So, does anybody really (I mean really beyond the spectacle of the thing) care about what Tiger Woods has to to say today?
By the way, you can watch it BY CLICKING HERE.
He's got a billions in the bank. He's lived a charmed life. He apparently really likes pancakes.
Sure, many will watch it this morning because, well, we like to see stars fall. We like to see those who thought they were somehow better than us scrape their knee (well, in the case of Tiger, something else).
It would probably be more interesting if he stood up today and said: 'Hi, it's Tiger. Uh, I'm available to tape voice mail messages. In fact, I'm going to give up golf to become a dating expert. I really liked that Will Smith movie and it appears to be a lot less stressful than golf. Don't take my number off your phone, in fact, here's the new 800 line."
Maybe he'll come out and say this: "Hi, it's Tiger. Uh, I'm going to become a reality TV star."
Or, he could go the pro wrestling route: "Yeah, I'm Tiger. I can beat you on the dating scene and the golf course. Deal with it."
Here's the music that could be played as he walks to the podium:

Rise and Shine --- What Games?

Good Morning and welcome to another day without new snow!

So, the Winter Olympics are taking place in Vancouver. USA, USA, USA, or something like that.
Having only caught bits and pieces of the Olympics (that curling again is oh so exciting), I still don't get all the National Pride.
There are no 'bad' Russians any more to root against. It's not like Iran is sending a team of skiers to Canada. Even if they did, the story of their struggle to learn skiing in the desert would make them fan favorites.
Over the years, the hope is anyway, that we've evolved out of this 'Us vs. Them' mentality. You don't hope the German skier falls or the Korean skater hits the wall. You want to see some great competition, let the best win and we can all cheer.
We've advanced that far as a group of people, right? Right?
Oh, never mind:

Rise and Shine --- Healing power of music

Good Morning and welcome to a brand-new day!

Ever notice no matter how bad the day is going, you hear a song (whether it be on the radio, iPod or getting gas at Wawa) that turns the mood.
Sure, there are a lot of depressing songs out there, but sometimes all you need is a good tune to turn things around.
It might be a song you previously didn't like or maybe didn't pay much attention when it was playing.
Then, boom, the song touches your soul.
Maybe we all need a good soundtrack for life.

Rise and Shine -- Shopping?

Good Morning and who wasn't annoyed by that snow this morning?

When the first calls for big snow come around, the food stores get packed. Everybody fills up the pantry, just in case they can't get out for a week or so.
Most of the time, this is kind of funny. After all, most of our snows last a day, then everybody gets around. You don't really need all those frozen dinners.
Of course, the snow over the last couple of weeks made the run to the supermarket a good idea. We were snowed in. We needed something to eat, especially after shoveling the mess.
When the roads got cleared this past weekend, though, it appears the mall was was the place to be. Anybody who ventured out Sunday found out they weren't alone.
The malls were packed (if anybody was actually buying something, well, that's another story). There were no parking spots to be found. The little stores were wall-to-wall people.
After sitting in the house all those days, it seemed like a good idea. Head over the King of Prussia and move around a bit. If you have children, though, there's one store you need to hit. That's the Lego store.
Sunday, Valentine's Day, there were so many people in the Lego store you couldn't help but bump into somebody. Children couldn't even run around because there was no space. The line stretched out of the store.
All right, five minutes is up, let's move on.
A quick walk out and the promise of chocolate led to the Godiva store. Even though it was a big candy-buying day, Godiva was not nearly as crowded as Lego.
What does that mean? Maybe You Tube has something to do with it:

Rise and Shine --- Cabin Fever

Good Morning and wasn't it nice to not have to shovel this morning!

So, the biggest offshoot of all this snow is school closings.
You know, it's nice a couple of times a winter (once?), to get that extra snow day. It gives students a chance to regroup and just have some fun in the snow.
When we are stretching into a week off, well, it's way too much.
A Facebook from Lansdale says if there is another snow day tomorrow, she's taking her children and dropping them off on the doorstep of the superintendent.
Now, that might be going too far, but anybody who's been home with school-age children during this epic week, well, you can understand the sentiment.
There are only so many snowmen to be built. There are only so many times you can say 'Read a book' or 'Clean your room!' There are only so many indoor games of tag anybody can take.
It's time to get back to school!
If tonight's snowstorm turns out worse than expected (they are currently calling for about an inch), I forsee a band of parents shoveling a path to school.

Rise and Shine --- Take this snow and shovel it

Good Morning and welcome back to 'The Day After Tomorrow!'

Here are some huge high fives for those who made it to work, home from work and kept the roads plowed during this epic blizzard.
This morning, after digging out the car, the roads proved to be passable. Much more than around 5 p.m. Wednesday, when cars were getting stuck all over the place and life became very scary.

Now, what exactly do we do with all that snow.
The piles were gigantic before that second round hit yesterday. Heck, there was too much out there Tuesday night. Of course, it's all going to go somewhere, like our basements.
You know, even those who profess to 'love snow' have to be hating things right about now. That is, unless you are a student and are getting an extra-long break.
So, I announced last night, I guess we all hate snow right now.
'I love it,' said Liam.
You love it. How can you love this?
'It looks nice,' was the retort.
Sure, it looks great if you get off from school and don't have to shovel. Then, it looks like the seventh level of Armageddon.

Rise and Shine --- Making Winter Bearable

Good Morning and thanks again to the Cold Miser for giving us winter!

The sound started from the kitchen around 6:30 last night. The first snowflakes weren't falling, but, when the music starts playing, we know what's next.
Coming through the sounds of was the crinkle of a bag, then the sound of a measuring cup clipping the side of a metal bowl.
Pretty soon, the singing got louder and the you could hear a spoon mixing flour, baking powder, baking soda and other secret things together.

The 'ding' of the oven when the temperature was just right meant we were only minutes away from the only good thing about winter: Cookies fresh from the oven.
No matter what's going on in the world. No matter how much snow was going to be dumped on us. It didn't even matter that we had to drive to work in the mess the next morning.
No, the baking was starting. The treats were on the way.
The last time, the master baker did her thing, then took half and walked to work so those in the office could feel a bit of the warmth.
Thanks, Kathleen, you make it all better.

Rise and Shine --- On the Radio

Good Morning and it appears about time we all went South!

I used to listen to the radio all the time. Now, not so much.
I might flip around while driving to hear a song I like. If there's nothing on the music side, I'll hit the AM button and catch some talk radio.
That usually means the radio is close to being turned off.
Aside from the racist hate radio that fills the airwaves (Rush, Hannity, et al), sportstalk radio is continually heading into the dark range.
Spend any time around people and you know they like to talk. Some like to throw things out there to get a reaction. Some believe they know everything about everthing and need to let you know it too.
Now that the Super Bowl is over, sportstalk radio is filled with callers and hosts who want changes made to the Eagles. They want the coach fired. They want a new quarterback. They want new ownership.
OK, the Eagles haven't won a Super Bowl, but what would you rather have, the doldrums of the 1980s and 1990s or a chance to win every year? Fire the coach and end up with a Rich Kotite clone (remember how bad that was?). Get rid of the most successful quarterback in franchise history and end up with, what, Bobby Hoying?
Then we can venture into the Phillies. All the team has done is make the last two World Series, winning the first.
Now, they go out and get the best pitcher in the game, but nobody is happy. I actually heard somebody say they would never attend a game again after the deal that brought in Roy Halladay and got rid of Cliff Lee.
It almost makes you pine for the blither blather of Rush and his hatred of everything.
Then again, maybe it's time to pull out the CDs.

Rise and Shine --- Super ... Ouch

Good Morning and welcome to the greatest week Ben Gay ever had!

After a full day of sledding and shoveling, the Super Bowl seemed like it would be the perfect elixer to end the day.
Watching the Big Game (as they like to say when they don't want to pay the NFL) with four non-football fans makes it, well, kind of interesting.
The biggest question of the day wasn't, 'Who's going to win?' It was a tie between 'Is this over yet?' and 'Can we watch Spongebob instead?'
Hey, at least there were some entertaining commercial spots this year to fill in between the boring stuff.
After a couple of years of too much Budweiser, Geccos and talking Babies, there was some imagination out there this time around.
I thought the David Letterman/Oprah/Jay Leno spot and the Careerbuilder.com Casual Friday ad were funny. I also laughed out loud at the Betty White/Abe Vigoda snickers ad.
In highly scientific voting at the Super Bowl party, though, there were three clear winners. So, since the game wasn't as exciting, here you go with the top three:
3. Dorito's Tim's Locker: CLICK here to see it
2. Kia's Toys dream: CLICK HERE to see it
1. Google. CLICK HERE to see it
Now, the three worst (once again, highly scientific voting procedures)
3. Denny's
2. Emerald Nuts
1. Bridgestone
What do you think?

Rise and Shine --- Craziness

Good Morning and welcome to the calm before the storm!

A couple of stories hit close to home yesterday.
First, was the one about the one about the St. Eugene student who took a knife to school.
The other was out of Florida, where a fourth grader was dragged to the principal's office when he was found playing with a Lego figure, which just happened to be carrying a toy gun.
Now, at first glance, these appear to be two different things. A child bringing an Army knife to school, then threatening fellow students (according to the report), is much more disturbing than somebody with an Army Lego man.
The problem, like in all these cases, is where do you draw the line. A threat of violence has to be dealt with to the full extent of the rules. Bring something to school that could hurt somebody else, pay the price.
Bring a one-inch toy to school to show off to your friends, well, that's completely different.
It's up to teachers to know the difference. You can take the toy, put it away and give it back at the end of the day. Even a fourth-grader knows not to bring it in again.
This happens all the time. Parents are now going to have to dump bookbags in the morning to make sure sneaky toys haven't jumped in.
There is a difference.

Rise and Shine --- Just Drive

Good Morning and welcome to a Winter Wonderland!

That snow out there this morning looks nice, but it's not causing many problems. The main streets are just wet.
The big debate out there is the use of cell phones in cars. The state wants to ban the use. You are not supposed to be able to drive and talk in New Jersey or Philadelphia (if you look, though, it doesn't appear anybody is paying attention to that ban).
I try not to use the phone in the car. On the rare exception it does ring, thank you, Caller ID inventor) I let it go through the voice mail.
Now, I know the cell phone has made our life a bit easier. If there is an accident or a problem, it's a lot easier than knocking on doors to make a call.
Driving and talking (or texting!), still doesn't seem right. I know people do it all the time, but we somehow survived all those years without being plugged in.
Then again, pretty soon Apple will no doubt have a phone and lap top right on our dashboard, so better get with the program.

Rise and Shine --- Singing, Dancing

Good Morning and welcome to Groundhog Day!

Like it really matters if Punxsutawney Phil see his shadow. We are still going to have a cold February and March.
While watching part of the Grammy Awards Sunday night (could only make it through the Pink performance), I got to thinking about music (OK, I had a little help).
Whatever time we are living in, we think we have either the best or worst music ever.
Those in the 1960s rebelled against the Beatles and Rolling Stones because they become 'too corporate.' Whatever that means.
During the 1970s, Disco became huge, then crashed and burned.
The 1980s brought, well, depending on you, some good stuff, some iconic stuff and, well, some forgettable stuff.
The 1990s, well, when Britany, the Backstreet Boys and Celine Dion dominate the charts, it's better left alone.
The last decade is just too early to judge. Although, that Grammy show didn't exactly capture the moment.
So, all these years later, at least the 1980s brought some interesting things to our ears.
Now, let me know, what is your favorite music from the 1980s.

Rise and Shine --- Gaming

Good Morning and welcome to a brand-new week!

A couple of years ago, a Nintendo DS entered our home. Liam's Christmas gift was fun and exciting. After all, we had been able to push off the video game generation a little longer.
Now, as a bit of an aside, we did have about 10 versions of different LeapFrog games, but they are more about learning than playing, something that was learned quickly by a child's mind.
So, loaded down with a couple of games, the Nintendo DS (for those not in the know, it's a hand-held video game) quickly became a reason to argue.
Everybody wanted to play it. Liam wasn't to happy, after all, it is his and his alone. Still, thanks to some parental input, the game became something to share.
So, Liam would play it, then Brendan would get a chance and finally Malena (and sometimes Dad). Soon, though, the amount of time everybody was using the game became an issue.
'He had it longer than me.' 'I never get a chance to play.' 'When is it my turn.'
That's when the timer comes in. Now, everybody has a chance to play for 15 minutes. When the alarm goes off, it's time to switch.
Of course, that comes with its own set of problems. Some of the games take longer than 15 minutes, which means you get to hear a lot of 'just one more minute' or 'I just want to finish this one thing.'
Of course, the arguments come and it's time to put it away. The next day, there's a repeat, so it's time to hide the whole thing.
Or, at least give me a chance to play.

Rise and Shine --- Spring is around the corner

Good Morning and welcome to a cold Friday!

That cold this morning is like a slap in the face. Feel a little tired? Step outside and let the wind do what coffee could never finish.
Still, the sun shining down yesterday did give a bit of a taste of spring. Maybe we can move out the grey winter quickly. Come on, Punxsutawney Phil, give us an early spring next week.
This year, 'Phil' will be giving a forecast via instant messaging and twitter. Who knew the groundhog had an iPhone in that hole?
It is kind of amazing, though, how it's so easy to talk about the weather. Somebody could walk up to you outside school, say hello, then say, 'Gee, it's cold (warm, rainy, snowy) out here today!'
You always have a quick answer for that. 'Well, it's going to get warmer (colder, wetter, icy) tomorrow.'
We all like talking about weather, probably because it's maybe the one thing we can't do anything about. It's not like we can look up to the sky and say, 'Get sunny!'
Well, I guess we can, but it won't do anthing.
See, this is what happens at the end of a long week, nonsensical rambling.
So, just listen:

Rise and Shine --- Gadgets

Good Morning and welcome to a new world!

Well, OK, it's the same old world where hate-mongers throw out misinformation about health care and expect the masses to pick up torches.
Talk about partisan politics. How about offering some solutions when trying to rebuff the president's speach? Nah, we'll just throw out unsubstantiated opinions and see what sticks.
Anyway, the bigger news yesterday seemed to be the new iPad from Apple. It really doesn't appear to be the 'kill-all' that everybody predicted, but, seeing what Apple has done to the cell phone, the next generatiion of iPad will do everything.
Think about the perfect strategy of this company. Create a demand, upgrade the hardware, leave everybody else in the dust.
Pretty soon, the iPad will be everything from an e-reader to a phone. It might even cook your dinner. What's been proven in the past decade is you can't count Steve Jobs out. Now, if the rest of the business world would follow this model.

Rise and Shine --- Not another one...

Good Morning and welcome to a Wednesday in a long line of Wednesdays!

Don't know if you've noticed or not, but we here at delcotimes.com have jumped into video. A few weeks ago, corporate decided we needed to add more video clips to our Web Site. They sent down four Flip video cameras and told us to get with it. (Acutual conversation: 'We are giving you four cameras to add video to your site. Reporters can shoot the video and you can edit it. You know how to edit video, right.' Uh, no not really. 'That's OK, it's not too hard.')
So, there was a learning curve, some backlash, some complaining and even more complaining (hey, it's a newsroom, the only time there's no complaining is around 4 a.m.).
Somehow, probably because most of us know we have to adapt the way we do things to survive. You want video, sure here's video.
Whatever, you have to adapt or die in this 24/7 newsgathering world.
Baby steps? Yeah, of course. We are nothing but slow changers.
So, the editing process isn't so hard. The cameras are easy to use.
Now, when do those Academy Award nominations come out?

Rise and Shine --- Veg Out

Good Morning and welcome to a (hopefully) dry day!

I certainly don't watch as much television as in the past. Part of it has to do with the time my alarm goes off every morning (3:30 a.m.). Part of it is, with three young children, there's not much time to just sit in front of the television.
Well, at least as much time to watch prime time shows. Now, when the television is on, it's usually tuned into Cartoon Network. I know more about 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' and 'Ben 10' than I really ever hoped to know.
I still do try to veg out once in a while, but following any kind of show is a little harder.
I do make time to watch '24' and, starting next Tuesday, 'Lost.'
Now, that's escapism (at least to me).
So, the last couple of weeks I was able to catch the beginning of the new season of '24.' Now, if anybody has watched the show through it's eight years on the air, you know the plot. Keifer Sutherland will have 'the worst day ever' then save the world. Already through the first five hours this year, Jack Bauer's been tasered, beaten while tied to a chair, crashed a car and saved two 'bad guys' so he could get the information.
Just one day, though, it would be interesting to see him eat a meal or take a nap. Then again, the world wouldn't be saved.

Rise and Shine --- Amazing

Good Morning and welcome to a whole new week!

Despite the complaints of three children, I was able to switch away from Cartoon Network Friday night to catch some of the Hope For Haiti telethon.
While the music was good, if not a bit melancholy, it was the stories being told between the performances that was moving.
Whenever there is a great tragedy, there are stories of survival that seem unbelievable. The only thing is, the survivor is sitting there telling the story.
One they showed Friday night was the rescue of a girl who had been trapped under a building for more than a week. Since, everything is on video these days, this is pretty powerful.
There were stories about people with nothing. People pulling others out of rubble with their bare hands.
There was a story this morning about a man who was able to survive thanks to a app on his iPhone. He was able to find out ways to stop bleeding and keep his head together.
There are plenty of cynical people out there who figure 'it's not America, why do we care?'
Well, we're all connected. We should all care. If you aren't moved by these stories, check your pulse.

Rise and Shine --- Building a Car

Good Morning and welcome to Friday!

I don't remember exactly how they all came together. All I remember is every year during Cub Scouts I had a pinewood derby car. One car was basically a block of wood with a King Kong figure glued to the top.
I don't remember winning any races. I don't remember much about the cars (with the exception of the King Kong). I do remember having fun, though. Well, as much fun as a pre-teen can have while losing every race.
This is the fourth year I've helped build a car with a boy that age. The first year, we didn't get through the first round. The second year, we actually won the first race before bowing out in the second round. Last year, well, let's forget about it.
Each car was built by Liam (with the exception of using the power saw to cut the wood). He designed it. He painted it. He put the wheels on. He got upset when it didn't take first (although we have three trophies for the most colorful car).
This year, he wanted a car that was shaped like a carrot. Well, not having the right tools (or any tools really), we set out to shape the square piece of wood into a circle.
Long story short, he now has something that looks like a carrot if it was run over by a monster truck.
He adapted. Painted it with every color in the rainbow. Glued on a driver. It might not be a carrot, but it looks like a race car.
Now, it's pretty obvious every year which parents are more 'involved' in the building of the cars. Some look like something that came right out a Detroit line. Others, look like perfect toys. They are perfectly balanced. They are perfectly painted. They are impressive.
Liam probably won't win the championship this year. Still, though, he will always know it was his hands that did everything.
That's just as impressive.

Rise and Shine --- Absolutely giddy

Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

So, in what many are calling an epic upset, a Republican won a Senate seat in Massachusetts.
That, of course, gave all the hate radio hosts plenty to squawk about yesterday.
In reality, all it really means to the rest of us is more of the same. All these politicians are made from the same cut of slime. They do what's best for them first, their friends second and, only if there's time left, for the rest of us.
Sure, some might have more time on the back end than others, but when you look around and see more people out of work, more people without healthcare and more people struggling to make ends meet, well, there's something broken.
Until everybody works together, well, it's not going to get better.
Or something like that.

Rise and Shine --- Bubble Trouble

Good Morning and welcome to the only place in the world where trucks get stuck under bridges every day!

You know, the request comes every night at about 7, 'Can we take a bubble bath? Can we take a bubble bath? Can we take a bubble bath?'
Most nights, the answer is, 'Well, how about just a quick wash.'
Not that there's anything wrong with a bubble bath. After all, no matter how old (or young), who doesn't like a bubble bath? Really, there's something relaxing and a bit fun about the whole deal.
Bubble baths for a 5-year old, though, is almost better than spending the whole day at a playground. Sure, she gets clean, but so does the whole bathroom.
The bubbles always end up being thrown around the room, get into the hallway and, somehow, even in the kitchen (OK, not really, but it feels that way).
The pure joy of seeing the bubbles grow as the water pours into the tub is something to see. The smile stretches wider than when those chocolate chip cookies come out of the oven.
So, those nights when the bubble bath comes, the reckless abandon begins. Plop into the tub and the laughter starts. Anybody who walks into the room is subject to a bubble attack. Hey, at least the floor is getting clean.
It doesn't matter how cold the water gets, if there's one bubble left, it's too early to get out.
Finally, like two hours later (not really), the bath is done. Sure, she looks like a grape and the shivers start, but the question still comes quickly, 'Can we do that again tomorrow?'
We'll see. We'll see.

Rise and Shine --- Fun in the sun

Good Morning and welcome to an icy window kind of day!

You know, with the cold air and the early sunsets during the winter, there tends to be a case of melancholy. The air is too cold to breath in deeply. The heat turns on way too often. The cabin fever sets in quickly.
Then, out of nowhere, we get a break like this past weekend.
After a slow rise Saturday, the sun shining down made it a perfect day to get outside.
So, we threw the ball around. Played some tag and then pulled out the bikes. Now, nothing says warm weather like bike riding. Sure, you can do it in the cold, but when it's just warm enough to not have layers and layers of clothes on, well, it just goes a little smoother.
Then came the glory of a day yesterday. With everybody off from school, the cries to visit a playground started before breakfast. After another quick bike ride (well, as quick as it can be with a 5 and 7-year old), the decision was made.
Let the fun begin. Hey, you know it's been a long winter if Mom and Dad are climbing to the top and going down the twisty slide (they would pay for it later, but so what?).
Now, if we can only get another week of this...

Rise and Shine --- Stupid is as stupid does

Good Morning and welcome to Friday!

Can't top this amount of stupidity if you tried:

WASHINGTON - The White House is firing back at Rush Limbaugh after the conservative talk-radio host urged people not to donate to relief efforts in Haiti.
Spokesman Robert Gibbs says there are always people who say "really stupid things" during a crisis. He says it's sad that Limbaugh would use the power of his pulpit to convince people not to assist those in need.

Limbaugh said on his radio show yesterday that he wouldn't trust that money donated to Haiti through the White House Web site would actually go to the relief efforts. He said Americans don't need to contribute to earthquake relief because they already donate to Haiti through their income taxes.

And Limbaugh's the voice of the people

Rise and Shine --- Helping out

Good Morning and welcome back to the Internet!

There are political differences, there are economic differences, there are religious differences, but it is kind of amazing how people find a way to band together.
Take the devastaing earthquake in Haiti. It didn't take long before the world community put aside many of their differences and tried to figure a way to help out.
Whether it is trying to get on an airplane to help sort through the rubble or getting the information out there, most people felt the pain. Looking at the photos coming out of there, well, there was no way you couldn't hurt a bit as well.
Most of us want to do more, but know the best we can do is send good thoughts down there and hope more and more poeple will be found alive.
Sure, there are those detractors who find the negative in everything. I actually heard somebody make a statement on hate radio yesterday that it was the Obama administration's fault. Whatever. Those people would be miserable if they they were living in the Garden of Eden.
The rest of us normal thinking people, though, want to help anyway we can.
Maybe there's hope for us yet.

Rise and Shine --- Gone Crazy

Good Morning and welcome to another Wednesday!

Ever notice how some things just happen.
For months now, a 10-year old boy I know has been asking to for a cell phone.
When asked why he needs one, the answer was always the same: 'Everybody else in my class has one' or 'Because.'
Obviously, those aren't the right answers. So, since he rarely has to walk home from school, isn't left at home alone nor does he stay late after school, there was no real need to 'add a line.'
This week, though, maybe because the stars were alligned in such a way or the moon was sending radiation, but he ended up with a cell phone.
How? It's still a blur, but we needed to replace a broken one. Since the actual upgrade date was a couple of months away, the only way to get a new phone (without paying full price) was to add another line to the plan.
Somehow, with the new phone and another line, the bill doesn't go up very much, so that's a plus.
Meanwhile, the 10-year old's line is just a phone. No fancy gadgets. No Internet access.
All I have to say is he better ace that spelling test this week.

Rise and Shine --- 'Roid Rage

Good Morning and welcome to a steroid-free zone!

OK, most of us aren't trying to make millions of dollors playing professional sports, so we don't really know if we would touch steroids to help get that next record or next big contract.
To say you absolutely wouldn't, well, don't fool yourself too much.
Anyway, when former Home Run King Mark McGwire finally came clean about his steroid use Monday, it was greeted in this corner of the world by a big, 'So what?'
Everybody knew McGwire, like Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds and every other slugger of the era, was using steroids. The size of the arms didn't come naturally. There was no way around it.
McGwire went from looking like Shane Victorino to Hulk Hogan virtually overnight. It was obvious he was getting help.
Then again, nobody cared when he was hitting the ball a mile. Nobody cared when he and Sosa were going back-and-forth for the home run record in 1998. Nobody cared if his career was over a few years later when steriods broke down his muscles.
It was fun to watch at the time despite the 'wink, wink, special vitamins' they were using.
You have to remember how the 1990s went for baseball. The Phillies stunk, there was a nasty strike that wiped out the World Series and the games were boring.
McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Brady Anderson, Rafael Palmerio and the like at least made the games fun to watch. Baseball sold it and we bought it.
Sure, looking back now it was probably no more than pro wrestling in uniforms, but, hey, at least they didn't use metal chairs on each other.

Rise and Shine --- Ridiculous

Good Morning and welcome to a brand new week!

This cold just has to go away. I know, it's winter in Pennsylvania, but we usually get a couple of above-temperature days throughout the winter to make it at least bearable. This year, so far at last, it's just dark and cold. Maybe there's some hope at the end of the week.
Speaking of Hope, that's the key word that helped Barack Obama get elected as president. Now, there's a Broadway-type play making a splash in Germany that is, well, just a bit ridiculous.
While waiting for a balmy day, warm yourself up with some dancing (or something like that).

Rise and Shine --- OOH, My Stomach

Good Morning and welcome back to a winter wonderland!

It all started Sunday night. After getting through the holidays virtually healthy (as healthy as can be with this ridiculous cold), the stomach bug invaded the house.
It's like the unwanted guest who won't leave.
First the oldest got the bug, taking out his bed and the bathroom in the process. OK, that happens, just try to sleep. It's the best way to get better.
After a day break, the younger boy's stomach started growling. Another bed gone, another late night of cleanup.
A day later, the princess was hammered. It's like our little den of disease.
The way these things work, though, is you just have to let it run its course. There's no quick cure, or any cure at all really.
Just pump in the fluids and keep everybody as comfortable as possible.
Tonight, we hold an exorcism to cast out the demon.
Or so I hope.
Meanwhile, today's is Elvis' birthday. So, here you go:

Rise and Shine --- Oh, shoot

Good Morning and welcome back to the cold shoulder!

It's interesting the way society has changed. Back in the day, it was't odd for children to dress up like cowboys and have 'shoot outs' in the street with cap guns. Then came B.B. guns, then came air guns. Now we have marshmellow shooters, water cannons and the like.
The unfortunate part of this business, is it desensitizes us (to an extent) to the real damage of firearms.
When I was in high school (again back in the day), a social studies teacher used to always say the biggest threat to our country from an outside force wouldn't be from Russia or China. There were enough people in those countries who know the horrors of war and killings. No, he said, a threat would always come from those who never knew war, but saw it glamorized on the movie (or television) screen.
It's the same with this. Those who carry a gun feel powerful. They see themselves as some kind of modern day gangster. 'Everybody get out of my way.'
Now, you want to brandish a gun, I guess it's your right. Anytime there is an attempt to regulate gun purchases or gun ownership, a group rises up to yell it down.
Sometimes, though, there's nothing wrong with the alternative.

Rise and Shine --- Lawyers, Guns and Money

Good Morning and welcome to Blue Wednesday!

To all those who so kindly threw their guns (so to speak) into the ring yesterday, read this: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
It's the Second Amendment to the Constitution. It's been cited here, there and everywhere as the reason why we need to have an arsenal of guns in every home.
Well, I'm not part of a state militia. I don't know of one in Delaware County or the rest of the state for that matter.
We are not under attack by outside forces. We are in a 'Free State' and nobody is trying to take that freedom away.
So, once again, the only thing guns are good for is killing. Use a gun on somebody else, you are a killer. Just realize that and we can move on.

Rise and Shine ---- What's that argument for guns?

Good Morning and welcome to another warm day on the Internet!

So, a story broke over the weekend that two players on the NBA's Washington Wizards pulled guns on each other in the lockerroom following an argument over a gambling debt.
Last year, New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was arrested after he shot himself in the leg at a nightclub. He's in jail right now, his career pretty much over.
A Philadelphia cop was fired after shooting what he thought was an armed suspect.
Robberies involving guns keep going up. Shootings appear to happen daily around here.
Still, if you check out some of the comments on delcotimes.com or you listen to the hate radio, people (at least those with big mouths) seem to want more people to have guns. What was that old joke about guns and feelings of inadequacy? Can't remember it.
Anyway, I don't see the need for more guns in our society. If anything, we should be talking guns away from everybody except for law enforcement.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the gun nuts will go on about how guns don't kill people. But, if there were less guns on the street, less people would get killed.
Here's an idea, take them all away, melt them down and use the metal to create some art.

Rise and Shine --- Back to the grind

Good Morning and welcome to the worst day of the year!

OK now, the holidays are done. The parties are over. The trees are coming down. The lights are going back into the box.
What do we have to look forward to except the cold, dark winter? That's what makes this Monday the worst day of the year.
It's back to work and to school full force. One day, you're running around with a jolly step, the next, bang, right back to the reality of the usual grind.
Then again, there is enough to be thankful for, so maybe the cold won't feel so bitter. Maybe the dark will have a bit of light.
Hey, yeah. Let's just continue the fun. Don't get bogged down in the mundane of every day.
Then again, that wind is pretty bad again out there this morning.

Rise and Shine --- Remember the good

Good Morning and welcome to the last week of the aughts!

Well, it certainly has been an intersting decade. Fear at the start (Y2K), fear in the middle (terrorism, war), fear at the end (economy, health care). Sure there have been far greater good things than bad, but we, for whatever reason, like to focus on the bad.
Maybe it makes us feel better about any other situation, but, for the last week of the decade, let's all just focus on the good.
Remember the great things that happened in our lives. I have more than a few and that's what I am going to remember this week.
When it comes down to it, the 2000s have treated most of us pretty well. Let's remember the good things, there will be plenty of time for the other stuff next week.

Rise and Shine --- No Bah, No Humbug

Good Morning and welcome to the most hectic day of the year!

Here's hoping the U.S. Senate gives us all a Christmas gift by voting for some measure of health care reform today. When the system is so broken, even a watered-down vote would be better than none.

So, to get you in the mood, here we go:


and...



Finally ...

Rise and Shine --- Crunch time

Good Morning and welcome to the right time to start your holiday shopping!

Doesn't it seem the holiday season comes quicker and quicker every year. Maybe it's just here, but, for some reason, there hasn't been nearly enough time to get everything done this year.
It's time to pull a couple of the college all-nighters. Well, maybe not the same, but how about holiday all-nighters.
Fill up with 'Christmas Cheer,' get out the rolls of funny looking paper, tape, scissors and get to work.
By the way, why do we spend money on wrapping paper? People really don't look at the stuff. Never mind, it looks nice under the tree for about an hour.
Now, I'm sure most out there already have the gifts wrapped, the tree decorated, the house cleaned, the laundry folded (and put away), dinners planned and your children have been going to bed early every night in preparation of Christmas morning.
For the rest of us in the real world, none of that is done (in fact, through a flu-riddled brain, I'm looking at two boxes of Christmas decorations right now).
Somehow, though, we'll pull it all together. It always happens, even if we would like a few more days if only so we could procrastinate a little longer.

Rise and Shine --- Treats

Good Morning and welcome to a flu-riddled Tuesday!

There are plenty of treats this time of year. You have cookies (we luck out with plenty of them in our house), cakes, pies and anything else with sugar.
It gives everybody a chance to indulge their sweet tooth.
There is another kind of treat, though, and it comes from, of all places, the television.
After a long day of shoveling and getting pelted by snowballs Sunday, it figured to be a good time to unwind in front of the 'idiot box' before going to bed.
I figured it would be another night of flipping around cable and stumbling upon nothing before just turning it off and going to bed.
Then, the opening music for 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas' started (not the scary Jim Carrey version, the original cartoon). Now, it might not be the best holiday show of the season, but it was great Sunday because it was unexpected.
Sometimes, it's the little things that make the world better.

Rise and Shine --- That four-letter word

Good Morning and welcome to winter (for real now)!

After all these years of warnings about big snowfalls only to see it turn into rain, Saturday's storm was at least as advertised.
Yeah, it was cold and windy, but, when the potential number of inches kept going up, there was only one thing to do: Grab the shovel.
So, around 11 a.m. we made our first venture into the winter wonderland. Shoveling that first batch wasn't so bad. It moved easily and cleared nicely.
Two hours later, the snow seemed a little heavier, but still moved.
Two hours later, it wasn't the snow that caused a delay.
I dutifully picked up the shovel to move what seemed like the same amount I have all day. Then it came, THUMP. Then another, THUMP. Then a third, THUMP.
That's when the laughter kicked in. It appears while I was trying to stay ahead on the driveway and sidewalk, there was a plot being hatched.
About 100 snowballs were made and at the ready.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
'We got him! Good Shot!'
THUMP.
Great. Target practice. Well, at least it was enjoyable.
I'll take the snowballs over having to drive around in the mess Saturday. While we were shoveling (and trying unsuccessfully to plot revenge), Mom was out working. She slid through the morning, then slid on the way home.
Better than the laughter was when the car pulled safely into the driveway.
That made the snow not so bad.

Rise and Shine --- Take this snow and shovel it

Good Morning and welcome to the last Friday of Fall!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's some kind of weather event coming.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's going to be a mess.
Sure, sure, sure, the roads won't be cleared enough.
Sure, sure, sure, the children will be happy to see it falling.
OK. Now, let's regroup a bit.
It's December.
It's cold.
It's close to Christmas.
Hey, it's snow.
Remember back when snow wasn't such a big deal. It's only been the last few years where snow has become an EVENT.
We haven't had much the last couple of winters, so it all gets blown out of proportion these days.
I've gone back and forth over the last few years.
Hated snow when I had to drive 35 miles to get to work. Loved snow when it came on an off day.
Hated snow when it was mostly ice. Loved snow when you could make a kick-ass snowman on the front lawn.
This one? We'll see. All I know is I got this comment yesterday:
'Dad, can I ask you something.'
Sure, Brendan.
'Is it going to snow.'
That's what the weatherman says.
'Is it going to be 100 inches.'
You never know.
'Cool.'

Rise and Shine --- Making a run

Good Morning and welcome to the week before Christmas!

Now, the fun begins.
That's right, now is the time to get that holiday shopping done.
Sure, some people probably have it finished by now. Some actually have it finished a year in advance (or at least six months).
Then there are the rest of us. A week to go and it's time to get serious.
Now, we can pinpoint what everybody needs (wants?). Now, we can find the best sales as retailers are trying to make their overinflated sales goals (thanks corporate America!).
Ready. Set. Go.
The last few years, I've waited until Dec. 24th to get it all finished. It might not take as long this year. Then again, with work, school, work, dinner, lunch, breakfast ... man, the day gets filled up quickly. Add in a terrible head cold and the last thought may be of holiday shopping.
Then again, there's nothing like deadline pressure (thanks newspapers). The parties start this weekend, so it's finally time to get it done.
Now, what was I supposed to get for everybody?

Rise and Shine --- Baby, it's cold outside

Good Morning and welcome a dark, cold Wednesday!

Now, is there anything that would be more entertaining than an Arnold Schwarzenegger/Sarah Palin debate? Apparently, the Republicans are sparring over global warming.
Schwarzenegger, who really has been a laugh-a-minute as California governor (Governator?), has been on the forefront of environmental issues. His overall politics may be a little questionable, but at least he has tried to get something done.
Palin, on the other hand, seems to be of the opinion there's no such thing as climate change because, hey, it's still cold in Alaska.
For those who don't believe in the global warming debate should think about that the next time we have a 70 degree day this winter (it will come).
Unfortunately, those people programmed by the Rush's of the world, only look at one aspect of the changes in the weather.
As long as it's cold in the winter and warm in the summer, everything is hunky dory. Never mind the major storms that get stronger every year or the Tsunamis that knock out whole cities.
Of course, that's made up, just like the moon landing.

Rise and Shine --- Pass the tissue

Good Morning and watch where you sneeze!

Everything sounds like it's being filtered through an echo chamber. Can't smell a thing. All food tastes like uncooked Tofu (no taste at all). The heat is turned up, but the chills are still there.
Yep, it's officially cold season.
Somehow, we've been able to avoid the cold cycle this season. Usually, it starts out with one, then spreads to the next and so on until the first one gets it back again.
Most winters, the circle continues and continues and continues.
Luckily, everyone else has been able to stay healthy. Now, it's my job to stay away from everybody to keep the germs from spreading.
At least for another week.

Rise and Shine --- Entering the Princess world

Good Morning and welcome to a brand-new week!

Having a 5-year old daughter means anytime anything happens with a Disney princess, you have to get on board.
With the new movie 'The Princess and the Frog' coming out, the princess world was amped up.
Everything was Princess Tiana, Princess Tiana, Princess Tiana. The girls in school talked about it all day. There were trips to the store (it really doesn't matter which in this over-saturated world) where the Princess, the Frog and everybody else in the movie was highlighted.
Heck, there is even 'Princess and The Frog' Spaghetti O's.
Still, it's fun. It's nice to see children excited. Sure, this time of year they are always excited, but that seems a little different.
Anyway, we were dutifully at the movie theater Friday night (along with about 10,000 other little girls and their families).
I was expecting the usual Disney stuff. We'd have a princess, a prince, they'd dance and everything would work out perfectly.
To my shock, though, it was a rather entertaining movie. The music was well done, the story was actually a little out of the Disney box and the characters actually seemed like real people.
The final test was the opinion of the 5-year old's brothers.
Their reaction: Two thumbs up.
Now I have to find prince material.

Rise and Shine --- Up Next

Good Morning and Happy Hanukkah!

Most days, the time after school is so intense there isn't a minute to breath.
Pick up the boys and get home by 3:30 p.m. Get out the books and start homework.
While homework is still being done, get dinner ready.
Get them back focused on homework.
Set the table.
Get them focused again on homework.
Put out glasses.
Get them back to the homework table.
Try to get the homework done by dinner (mostly failing miserbably).
Yesterday, though, the intensity was OK.
As a surprise, we went out and picked up a tree. This year, we thought we would go with a small one, but the holiday spirit touched down and we ended up with one bigger than ever.
It was cold and muddy, but it was nice to just drop all the pressures of everyday life and pick one out.
It was fun. We all laughed. We all sang.
Now, since every holiday around the world should be celebrated, we will break out the Menorah and Dreidels tonight. We will decorate the tree.
Can't get much better than that.

Rise and Shine --- Holiday music

Good Morning and welcome to the No Tiger Woods Zone!

It doesn't take much to get me in the holiday spirit. I fight it, but when those decorations show up in September, I have to take a look.
Sure, I would rather wait until Thanksgiving, but it appears that's no longer allowed.
Last night was all about the holiday season.
The Upper Darby School District gets a bum rap (much of it deserved) mostly because of the large classes. The school year is more about testing and reaching those state scores than it is about learning and challenging. Of course, that's probably the case in most public schools these days (Thanks, GWB, that 'No Child Left Behind' is a stroke of genius).
The Upper Darby music program, though, is second to none. The teachers really seem to to care about the students. They get the children involved in music in first grade and keep it going through the years.
After taking in our fourth Winter Music Festival at Garrettford Elementary Wednesday night, I was more impressed with the music program than ever.
Several students were able to carry solos, be it violin, flute or whatever. The holiday songs crossed all lines from classical, to hanukkah, to the standards.
The stereotype of children banging on musical instruments to smiling parents is not the case in Upper Darby. These students really can play, from the front of the room to the back.
Teachers too often get a bad rap, but here's a big thumb's up to music teachers Martin Hyde and Linda Pennington.
It almost makes me wish I was back in grade school.
Well, except for the tests.

Rise and Shine --- Cupcakes

Good Morning and welcome to the middle of the week!

Have you ever noticed just how perfect is a cupcake?
It's compact, so you can carry it out the door in the morning. It's small enough to satisfy and you don't feel bad about having a second (or third). Most of all, it's fun.
Who doesn't think of smiling and laughing while eating a cupcake?
I've lucked out having an expert baker in the house who likes to experiment with different things. We've had peanut-butter cookies, oatmeal-peanut butter cookies, chocolate cakes, vanilla cakes, german chocolate cakes, peppermint cakes, name it, we've eaten it (and eaten it and eaten it).
Now, it's on to cupcakes. Just this week, we've been treated to vanilla with buttercream frosting and lidsor tort with jelly in the middle and chocolate ganache on top.
Needless to say, they didn't last a day. Now there is a promise of new ones tonight.
It can't get here fast enough.

Rise and Shine --- Ideas

Good Morning and welcome to Tuesday!

Sometimes while driving around I'll flip around the radio. Most of the time it's music stations, but once in a while I'll venture into the world of AM. It's a place where opinions flow (and more often than not 'hate' is the key word).
Most of the time when I hit that station, it's good for a laugh. The radio hosts bemoan the fact that their people are no longer at the head of the government. No matter what this new administration does, it's wrong.
Somebody actually said it was ironic that yesterday was 'Pearl Harbor Day' because we were under attack in this country again.
Whatever. Everybody, I guess, has their right to an opinion (no matter how off base it might be). We have been taught through the years this country gives us the right to throw our opinions out there. You have to respect that.
When it starts getting too much, I can quickly change the channel and forget the vitriol.
This morning, there were television reports about a gay marriage proposal in New Jersey. It's headed to the Governor's desk.
Once again, this is getting some loud mouth people up in arms. One person actually said it will damage their children if gay marriage becomes law in the state.
For the life of me, I don't see how that is possible.
No matter where you stand on the issue, how does it really affect you. Just because two people of the same gender want to be married, shouldn't really matter. If they want to do it, it is their God-given right.
If two people love each other and want to get married, they should be allowed. Those who protest this need to find something else to yell about.
We have also been taught through the years to treat people as we would want to be treated.
Opinions are just voices. Throw it out there and more on. If you don't like something, that doesn't mean it's wrong.

Rise and Shine --- It doesn't take long

Good Morning and welcome to a brand-new week!

The best thing about celebrities getting into trouble is how quickly the jokes and parodies start.
Before Tiger Woods even got out of that smashed SUV last week, they were already staring. Here are a couple of the best:
Tiger Woods is so rich that he owns lots of expensive cars. Now he has a hole in one.
What's the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
Now, though, it's not just jokes. Now, there are full-fledged videos and songs about Tiger Woods.
Heard this one on the way home late Friday night:

Finally, sometimes Saturday Night Live is still relevent:

Rise and Shine --- Jobs

Good Morning and welcome to Friday!

The big talk yesterday was about jobs. The government is trying to find a way to spur job growth. People out on the street need jobs.
If we can't work, how will the economy ever get better?
The problem is, at least the view from this corner of the world, is companies have found out they can survive with less workers.
Those who have jobs are happy to have them and take on increased workload to keep the job. Companies make money by cutting salaries, health care, people.
Now, an expert I know says job growth is always the final thing to come back after a recession. Hopefully, that can happen quicker.
People need to work. Companies need to see they are a part of the community and need to let people work.
For the most part, workers want to get the job done. They want to do the best they possibly can to not only survive with a paycheck but get a sense of accomplishment.
All the talk is great, but until there is some kind of forceful push for hiring, the circle will continue.
It needs to happen now.

Rise and Shine --- That red-nosed reindeer

Good Morning and welcome to a good day to fly a kite!

It used to be an event when those holiday shows came on television.
As it got closer to the end of the year, you could count on singing along with the Grinch or getting sad when Yukon Cornelius fell over the cliff. Even though those shows are now available on DVD, you can pop them in any time and laugh at the Miser brothers.
Even with the technology, though, there is something special when they pop up on the small screen.
So, even though Wednesday's are all about running around, at 8 last night it was time to sit down with Rudolph, the dentist and a Bumble. Thankfully, there were some fresh-baked cookies to enhance the show.
Even after all these years, the quality of these shows still hold up. The stop-motion animation is so unlike everything else that it's almost like there really are talking reindeer.
The key to quality, though, is how it holds the interest of its target audience.
If three children sit quietly during the show, it's pretty good. If they start throwing things, jumping around or bothering each other, well, it stinks.
There are a million cartoons out there now thanks to the ever-expanding television universe. Somehow, though, gathering for an hour with Frosty and Friends is still pretty cool.

Rise and Shine --- Tiny dancer

Good Morning and welcome back to another day!

There is a little girl I know who can't stop dancing. It doesn't matter the type of music (or if there is any music at all), she just keeps moving.
She picks up her dolls and has them dance. She dances in the car. She dances in the living room. She dances in the kitchen. She dances during dinner. She dances at school. She dances at the supermarket. She wants to dance with Mom. She wants to dance with Dad.
It is pretty amazing, really.
While the boys would rather wrestle or have Star Wars battles, the little girl just dances away.
She puts on shows for the family. She makes sure everybody is watching.
With all the problems in this wide, wide world, it's nice to have that in your life.
While her Dad may have two left feet and couldn't hold a rhythm if his life depended on it, this tiny dancer is turning us all into ballroom fans.
So, I just wanted to say thanks.

Rise and Shine --- Help

Good Morning and welcome to a real December day!

Well, since it is Dec. 1, it has to be a real December day, right?
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot over the last few months (smell something burning?). For too many years I haven't thought about everybody else.
With the holiday season here, that tendency seems to permeate through everybody. We want, we need, we buy. There are too many out there, though, who don't have anything.
They are just happy to have a place to live or a people to call loved ones.
That's the most important thing in the world. It doesn't matter how much money you have. It doesn't matter how much 'stuff' you have. You have to tighten the circle and try to help out those closest to you.
When you get down to it, that's what makes life worth living.