What’s for Breakfast?

What’s for Breakfast?

This was the discussion between my self and two other guys the other evening.

Me? I can remember Saturday mornings with pizza when I was growing up. I didn’t warm it up – just ate it cold. Those were the days before microwaves, so we’d put it in the oven, or toaster oven, or skillet. But more often than not, I’d eat it cold. I was in a hurry!

Typically, we had pizza on Friday nights in my childhood. Detroit has TWO big threes … the big three automakers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and the big three pizza makers (Domino’s, Little Ceasar’s, Hungry Howie’s). Pizza Hut, and Pizza Inn were around then, but not able to compete with not only these three, but also the neighborhood places in the ethnic communities around Detroit. Papa John’s and Cici’s came MUCH later!

Well, there would sometimes be a slice or two left over and many guys I knew thought it was great on Saturday. I developed re-warming pizza into an art … in an electric skillet using some foil or a pie pan; in the toaster oven with a touch of olive oil; on the grill with a some oak wood to flavor it; adding some ingredients like olive salad or cheese; there were LOTS of ways to “salvage” leftover pizza.

I was appalled to find out my neighbors actually threw away the extra pizza. I’m pretty sure it embarrassed my dad when the neighbors would then bring over their left-overs to our back door about 10pm on Friday nights for Mike. Geeeez ... it’s like he didn’t feed me enough. Yes, at one time I made the comment – “we’d have a lot of money if dad didn’t spend it all on food.”

Living in Texas, we decided our favorite quick breakfast has become breakfast tacos. Any kind of meat (bacon, sausage, chorizo), some potatoes, eggs, onions, some cheese … whatever fits into a warm tortilla. YUM.

But then our breakfast discussion got around to the several fast food chains offering chicken and biscuits for breakfast.

“You can’t have chicken for breakfast,” said Chip, a Mississippi native who studied at the University of William Faulkner. “You gotta have PORK for breakfast.”

Indeed, a great Southern breakfast includes pork - either sausage or bacon, maybe ham - and all kinds of other goodies, like maybe pancakes, but surely hash browns, biscuits, grits, cream gravy ... and I like tomatoes with my biscuits and gravy. My dad even made fried cornmeal mush.

The there's Shipley’s Donuts … and kolaches.

Shipley’s is a Houston-based donut company. I did their advertising for a while. Native Houstonians, my wife and daughter included, swear by them. And I can tell you their secret – it’s right on the box. Potato flour. Yep, it was Lawrence Shipley’s idea that mixing some potato flour into the regular wheat flour would make Shipley’s donuts stand up to the humidity of Houston and the Gulf Coast. The chain of Shipley’s throughout Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi is testament that he had the right idea.

Kolaches are a Czech pastry version of donuts. Perhaps the most famous kolache place is West, Texas on I-35. I stop there going to Ft. Worth. But there are Czech bakeries between here and Austin and San Antonio. In the Ft. Bend County area, where a number of Czech’s migrated,  there’s several recipes. The fruit ones, the cheese ones ... and meat filled. Yummmmmmmmmmy.

In Hawai’i, breakfast included rice and Spam … and a blending of Asian and mainland cuisines. Malasadas are Portuguese donuts … and unlike the ones on the mainland, they are maid fresh while you wait, they are not sitting there waiting for you. Hot and fresh is yummy. If you Google “malasadas” the first matches are Honolulu, Oahu, Maui, and Big Island. The best I had were at Tex’s on the Big Island. Tex was short for Teixeria … just like the big leaguer.

So ... what’s for breakfast?

Where were you?

Where were YOU on these special dates in World, US and Texas history ... ???

November 22, 1963 -

I was sitting next to Debbie Reid in Mrs. Worthington’s second grade class. We had two-person desks and we sat in alphabetical order. She came in and announced "President kennedy has been shot from a building in Dallas." I had a vision of Texas, having been there a few years earlier. It was hot and dry. My 8 year old mind wondered what the president of the United States was doing climbing on a building ... ???

April 4, 1968 -

Dad and I were driving home from the First Congregation Church where we had been getting things ready for our annual Boy Scout Fish Fry. Having been so close to the riots the year before, we didn't know what to expect. The Fish Fry was our big money raiser and it went on, quietly, and without any problems.

June 4, 1968 -

I had left the radio on all night as I had fallen asleep listening to Tiger baseball. News of the shooting seemed surreal and just another sad moment in American history.

October 10, 1968 -

We listened and watched the game in various classrooms at Ben Franklin Junior High. I still think back to this experience every time the Astros make the play-offs and know that is why places like Detroit, Chicago, St Louis and Kansas City are great baseball towns and Houston is just another big city. I could run home during the commercial break between innings. I saw Tim McCarver pop-up to Bill Freehan - one catcher to another - as the Tigers because the first team to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series.

July 20, 1969 - 

My dad and I were in our living room in Wayne watching on a B&W TV. School was out. Donnagail and mom were in West Virginia. Bob Costas asked Marilu Henner what SHE was doing on this date ... uhhh no, she wasn't watching TV.

March 17, 1971 -

This day at the time didn't mean much to me. I was probably playing baseball. But Craig Dix was shot down in Cambodia, along with Bobby Harris, James Hestand, and Richard Bauman. I wore three different POW-MIA bracelets for Craig, a native of Livonia, MI. The last one broke many years ago but I still have the pieces and I remember him every St. Patrick's Day. I finally visited his name on The Wall in November 2008.

April 8, 1974 -

I had turned down a date to go to movie to stay home with my sister and watch a special edition of NBC Sports as they covered Hank Aaron's quest. It happened quickly ... as Milo Hamilton made the call on the radio and Curt Gowdy was the TV voice ... "there's a new home run king of all time, and it's Henry Aaron." I only saw him play one time in person, as a DH for the Milwaukee Brewers versus the Tigers. I have met him on four other occasions. 

August 8, 1974 -

I was working security at Metropolitan Airport, my first summer job after graduating high school. We all knew the resignation was inevitable. I saw it on a small TV in the Northwest baggage claim office. Our long national nightmare was over.

August 16, 1977 -

I was at home in Wayne. I'd taken summer school classes at SHSU and was home briefly and was flying back to Texas for my senior year the next day. I was sitting in the kitchen and listening to WJR when the news came. I had driven past Graceland a few years before and have made several visits since but I haven't taken the the tour - Patty and Carolyn have.

January 25, 1986 -

I had taken a job with Ribnick & Associates and was in their office in Houston. Shuttle launches had been pretty common, and this wasn't covered on regular TV or even radio. Greg walked in and said he just heard it on the radio. We all crowded around the TV that was now on "breaking news" mode. Patty had made one of the initial applications for "Teacher in Space" and I'd help her fill out the application and write a proposal about music in weightlessness. A few days later we were at NASA for the national tribute service.

March 2, 1986 -

With Neal and Sally, Patty and I went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to see Willie Nelson. Who else could perform on this date - the 150th anniversary of the birth of Texas. God Bless Texas!

September 25, 1986 - 

I was there!!!! It was an afternoon game and Patty couldn't go but Sally had gotten free tix and she and Neal and I were in the front row of the mezzanine between home and first. About the sixth inning Neal and I looked at the scoreboard - no hits - and then looked at each other with wide eyes. Shhhh!! Don't talk about it, I told him - bad luck!

September 11, 2001 - 

I had just dropped Carolyn off at Briscoe JH and turned on KTRH radio. I could hear Charlie Gibson reporting and realized the station, then an ABC affiliate, had picked up the Good Morning America feed. I listened as I drove to a meeting with Rose Pena at Borders in Houston and watched the second tower collapse on a TV in her office.

February 1, 2003 -

I was in class at Alief Hastings working on my teaching certification. I heard another student say something about the space shuttle was lost because of a text that interrupted the class (a loud alert sound). I called my mom and mother-in-law and got the news because I knew they’d be watching Fox or CNN. I mentioned it to the teacher and she told me to tell the class what had happened. Terry was watching the the sky in Arlington and say it break up. Pieces of the Columbia fell on my in-law's property in Rusk. The command capsule and bodies were found in Hemphill, where we had lived and worked for 2 years.

June 25, 2009 -

I had just finished watching the Astros beat the KC Royals at Minute Maid Park and I'd walked over the the Inn at the Ball Park and was watching CNN while surfing in the a/c lobby, waiting for Neal to pick me up.

Baseball

I went to my first professional baseball game in 1964 at Tiger Stadium. I forget the exact date or team, but it was our first baseball season it Michigan and we found out that going to "The Corner" of Michigan and Trumbull was something that everyone did - either in person or via WJR radio (The Great Voice of the Great Lakes).

One of the great things about growing up in Detroit is that everyone is a Tiger fan. It was a common bond between us all - regardless of whether we were Wolverines or Spartans, Protestant or Catholic, or Black or White.

Baseball brought Detroit - the city and the SE Michigan region - together in 1967 and 1968 after the race riots that tore it apart in the summer of 1967.

The ball park is a place where generations share memories. Carolyn went to her first game at Arlington Stadium with her Uncle Terry and Aunt Esther. Game two was with Neal and Sally in the Astrodome. Game three was at Tiger Stadium with her Granddad and Mamma Rine. Her fourth different MLB stadium was Royals Stadium in Kansas City with my Aunt June, who was the biggest George Brett fan.

We went to a Cardinals/Astros game in 1986 in St. Louis with John and Donnagail. Glenn Davis hit a home run to win the game for Houston. We sat in the bleachers next to a couple of guys who had seen Rogers Hornsby and Joe Medwick and Stan Musial play ball. Carolyn, Patty and I went to a Cardinals game with Donnagail, Elizabeth and Alicia ... we all wore red, because you really stand out in St Louis if you don't wear red to the ball park.

I have seen some great games and events ... 

Nolan Ryan’s 5,000 strikeout; George Brett’s last hit; Mike Scott’s no-hitter; Will Clark’s first HR in his first ML at bat (vs Nolan Ryan), Mickey Mantle's 512th HR (at Tiger Stadium versus Denny McLain). I turned down tickets to got to Tiger Stadium versus the Angels and missed seeing Nolan Ryan throw a no-hitter. 

We watched Nolan's 300th win on TV and I have unused tickets from the game. It was played in Milwaukee and broadcast in Houston on Channel 39 as the station was owned by Gaylord and they were the Rangers TV station. We went to his first game after that 300th win in Arlington Stadium. It was Carolyn's first baseball game, and the first time she slept through the night. We Arlington Stadium was torn down, I bought two seats. I haven't been able to get seats from Busch or Tiger Stadium.

I was at last three games game in the Astrodome as well as the last three games at Arlington Stadium; first game at Enron Field; first night game at The Ballpark in Arlington; a game in the last season at County Stadium. I listened to the last game at Tiger Stadium over the internet in 1999 and heard Ernie Harwell and Jim Price read an email from me on the air.

I have attended the games and/or festivities of MLB All Star games in Houston 1986 and 2004, Detroit 2005, Arlington 1995, and St. Louis in 2009.

There have been scores of Astro post season games ... one in 1980, two games in 1986 play-offs including the 16-inning game in 1986 vs. the Mets, and a game each in 98, 99, 01, 02, 04, 05; and game #3 of the 2005 World Series - the first WS game in Houston. I saw the Astros clinch the pennants in 1986, 1998, and 1999.

I saw Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell retire and hope to be in Cooperstown when they are enshrined. I was in St Louis on Ozzie Smith Day and listed to it all on the radio with Jack Buck presiding. Try as we might, we couldn't get a ticket to the game.

Here's my stadium list ...

I have been to a number of stadiums which no longer exist - Cleveland Municipal, Candlestick, Arlington, Busch II, Milwaukee County, Tiger, Kingdome, Jack Murphy, Astrodome, Riverfront, Old Comiskey, Shea, and RFK (okay - it was for soccer, not baseball, but I have a Nationals momento).!!!!

I've been to these which are currently awaiting replacement ... Oakland, Wrigley, and Tropicana.

An there's the newly done ... Minute Maid, Ball Park in Arlington, Busch III (in two weeks), Safeco, Comiskey, and the one which began the retro fad, Camden - it wasn't open but I took a tour and lots of photos.

And I have very fond memories of a very classic park ... Ewing Stadium in Kansas City. I have been there several times through the years and it was the fourth major league park Carolyn visited.

I have also been to a number of minor league parks and spring training sites!

Finally ... it's the FANS who make baseball ... not the parks, the stadiums, the owners or the players. I say that as I watch Tiger Stadium being torn down this week, I'm finally "over" Tiger Stadium.

People I've Met

My students always ask ... who's the most famous person you've met?

I don't know - it depends on YOUR definition of "famous" I suppose. I usually say it's the presidents or vice-presidents ... or actors and actresses ... or singers ... or Olympic gold medalists ... who knows ... ???

I worked at radio stations and in public relations so I've had the good fortune to meet people.

After looking at the list, the students usually vote for Lamb Chomp or Genie. What's your vote?

Here's a list of the people I have met … for a moment, an autograph, shook hands and talked, bought their book, drove them around town, had a meal with them, took their photo … it varies, as does the title “famous”: 

Lloyd Bentsen, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Tipper Gore, George H.W. Bush, Barbara Bush, Ann Richards, Mark White, Dolph Briscoe, Barbara Jordan, Rosa Parks, John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, Bill Richardson, Ernie Harwell, Milo Hamilton, Loel Passe, Bum Phillips, Tom Landry, Henry Aaron, Al Kaline, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Hal Lanier, Art Howe, Nolan Ryan, Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Cal Ripken, Jr., Luis Gonzalez, Alan Ashby, J.R. Richard, Kevin Bass, Glenn Davis, Dave Smith, Pete Runnells, Calvin Murphy, Rudy Tomjanovich, Robert Reid, McCoy McLemore, Gifford Nielsen, Phil Garner, Sparky Anderson, Pat Sheridan, Monte Irvin, Diron Talbert, Don Talbert, Jaquizz Rodgers, Johnny Rutherford, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Richard Petty, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte, Jimmy Johnson, Elliott Sadler, Mike Skinner, Scott Wimmer, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, Parnelli Jones, Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Paul Prudhomme, Rick Bayless, Ninfa Laurenzo, Damian Mandola, Johnny Carrabba, Nash D’Amico, Emeril Lagasse, Debbie Fields, Rachael Ray, Mario Batali, Ted McGinley, Barbara Eden, Joan Collins, Dom Deluise, Hal Linden, Hal Holbrook, Paul Newman, Ann Rice, Tanya Tucker, Tim McGraw, Reba McIntire, Trisha Yearwood, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey, David Alan Coe, Waylon Jennings, Richard and Karen Carpenter, Duke Ellington, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bob Seger, Jeff Millar and Bill Hinds (aka Tank McNamara), Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Mickey Herskowitz, Leon Hale, Ron Stone, Ray Miller, Marvin Zindler, Don Nelson, Bob Allen, Craig Roberts, Dominque Sachse, Bill Balleza, Steve Smith, Dave Ward, Jan Carson, Lynn Ashby, Neal Farmer, Neal Hohlfeld, Harry Shattuck, Maxine Messinger, Jerry Ribnick, Jack Gallagher, Mary Lou Retton, Shannon Miller, Tara Lipinski, Leroy Burrell, Hayes Jones, Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis, Carol Lewis, Guy V. Lewis, Bill Yeoman, Darrell Royal, Doak Walker, John David Crow, Steve Owens, Chris Everett, Don Gay, Dr. Jonas Salk, Dr. Albert Sabin, Dr. Denton Cooley, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Dr. Ralph Feigin, Bob Crippen, John Young, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Walt Cunningham, Jim Lovell, Michael Collins, Shannon Lucid, Luci Baines Johnson, Susan Ford, Lisa Halaby/Queen Noor ... Renee King - 2x World Dog Agility Champion … and … Shari Lewis (and Lamb Chop and Charley Horse).

Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Beverly Sills, Francois Gilot, Robbie Benson, Anson Williams, Patrick Swayze, Tom Selleck, John Connally, Nellie Connally, Rich Little, Stan Musial, Solly Hemus, Lou Brock, Floyd Tillman, George Strait, Charley Pride, Larry Gatlin, Travis Tritt, Anne Murray, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clint Black, Charlie Wilson, Joanne King Herring, Kerry Strug, Moses Malone, Dave Bing, Hank Aguirre, Bill Freehan, Norm Cash, Don Wert, Tim Hobby, Glenn Wilson, Stan Blinka, Don Nottebart, Larry Dierker, Joe Sambito, Ken Caminiti, Kyle Petty, Adam Petty, Joe Clements, Mark Donohue, Paul Tracy, Ashley Judd, Dario Franchitti, Niki Lauda, Jody Schechter, Chris Amon, Denny Hulme, Jackie Oliver, George Follmer, Eric Dickerson, Gordie Howe, Shirley Muldowney, Connie Kalitta, John Force, Chuck Yeager, George Romney, G. Mennen Williams, William G. Milliken, Robert P. Griffin, Philip A. Hart, Hubert H. Humphrey, Jay Rockefeller, Cecil Underwood, Robert Byrd, Jennings Randolph, Jay Randolph, Jack Buck, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Rich Lord, Anita Martini, Mike Edmonds, Dr. Red Duke.

The Bucket List

Inspired by the movie of the same name. 

One of my students sent this to me on Facebook because they said I was the most interesting person they knew. 


Things you have done during your lifetime:

(x) Gone on a blind date

(x) Skipped school

(x) Been to Canada ... 5 provinces, a few to go

(x) Been to Mexico ... 4 states - haven't been to Acapulco or Cabo.

(x) Been to Florida ... my folks retired there

(x) Been to Hawaii ... 3 islands - 5 to go ... and I need to hike Kilaeua and Mauna Loa

(x) Been to Alaska ... wanna go back

(x) Been to Caribbean Islands ... Cayman, Jamaica, Bahamas ... but not that BIG one - Cuba ... and missing some others.

(x) Been on a plane ... over 500,000 miles

(x) Been on a helicopter ... from JFK to LGA

(X) Been lost

(x) Gone to Washington, DC - twice ... 44 years apart - that's gotta be some kinda record??? The first time I was there JFK was president!!!

(X) Swam in the ocean - Pacific, Atlantic

(x) Played cops and robbers

(x) Recently colored with crayons

(X) Sang Karaoke

(x) Paid for a meal with coins only ... this was before debit cards came along.

(x) Rode to the top of the St. Louis Arch ... kissed 3 different dates at the top - yes, the last one was my wife! Also been to the top of the Space Needle, HemisFair Tower, the Empire State Building and John Hancock Building. Watched my sister turn white on the 65th floor of the Chase Tower in Houston!

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't ... yeah - let's not go there!

(x) Made prank phone calls ... is your refrigerator running?

(x) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans ... on a bicycle even!

(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose or elsewhere

(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue

(x) Danced in the rain

(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus

(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe

(x) Watched the sunrise with someone ... and the sunset (Mt Rainer and Kona come to mind as the most special recent ones ... through the high rise on the honeymoon was fun, too)!

(X) Blown bubbles

(x) Gone ice-skating (outdoors even, on a pond!!!)

(X) Gone to the movies

(x) Been deep sea fishing

(x) Driven across the United States ... define "across"? Detroit to Houston 5 times ... Houston to Orlando about 20 times! Salt Lake City to Albuquerque

( ) Been in a hot air balloon*

( ) Been sky diving

(x) Gone snowmobiling ... and ice fishing!!!

( ) Lived in more than one country <<<>

So did them all except three. So let's make some comments and add some things that weren't sent ...

*I've tried the hot air balloon several times for anniversary but can't make it happen. Points for trying ... ???

How does riding in a restored B-24 bomber rate? I did that to take photos as a friends ashes were dropped over the Gulf of Mexico. Remember, the camera will take you places!!! I missed flying on the Concorde. Two great aviation thrills were riding the FIRST AA 747 out of Detroit to LAX. Then, we took a 747 transcontinent from JFK to LAX. No, not a member of the Mile High Club.

If you check out another post somewhere, I've ridden in all kinds of goofy things ... Goodyear Blimp, Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, SPAM Bus, Hershey Kissmobile ... but NOT the Batmobile!!! Been in a Chaparral in Midland, TX though.

Standing on the track and in the pits at the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona in 2008 was great. So was taking the tour of it and the Indy Motor Speedway ... even was at IMS for NASCAR tire testing, took a photo and had it published by the Indy Star. I have NEVER been to the Indy 500 - was close on 2 occasions. Gotta make a race at Indy or the 500 at Daytona.

live in another country might not happen ... but on the list is 4-10 weeks along the Mediterranean.

Hmmm ... sing with Neil Diamond, Don Henley or Glenn Frey, or Asleep at the Wheel live ... goodness knows I know the words to their songs. And something besides at a concert. In that regard, I sang the National Anthem with Luciano Pavarotti ... yeah, me, Neal and 37,000 others!!! Yeah, and Neal, Patty, Sally and I were there on Texas Independence Day 1986 - sesquicentennial - to sing Texas, Our Texas with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings! Coolness!

Ohhh ... I wanna sing the Canadian National Anthem before a sports event. I had something worked out with the Astros but then the Expos moved. My wife has sung the N/A at both the Astrodome and Minute Maid park. Yeah, family competition.

Ride the luge or bobsled at the Winter Olympic sites. Let's just set this for North America as I did Salt Lake (Park City) ... but if I get to Italy I'll try Turin and maybe even cross the border to Grenoble ... ???

Go to all 50 states! My folks did this and they've also been to Puerto Rico twice. My in-laws have almost done this, and they've been to the five states I'm currently missing on my list ... Montana, North dakota, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire. There are a few states I need to "re do" ... like it spent maybe 47 seconds in Idaho in 2004 just taking a photo; I drove through Rhode Island and Delaware just to say I was there; the last time I was in NC and SC I was two-years-old - does it count if you don't remember it????

Go to all the MLB ball parks. I've been to a few (another post, another time) but I never made it to OLD Yankee Stadium. And while I have "been" to Camdem Yards, it was in November and there wasn't a game - does that count??? What about visiting the site of past parks that no longer exist? I went to the OLD OLD Busch Stadium and saw a drug deal! (my sister was thrilled!)

Go to all the Race Tracks. Again, something that keeps changing. And define "race track" ... Sprint Cup, Nationwide, defunct, drag strip, race going on, tour, Richard Petty Driving Experience ... ??? I've been to Gateway in STL but they weren't racing, so I'm hoping to go in a few weeks to see the Nationwide Series event.

Finally ... I've walked picket and protest lines ... but that wasn't why I almost got arrested!

The Greening of America

My environmental beliefs come NOT from political leanings, but from growing up in Michigan and West Virginia and Texas ... from being an Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow member ... from what my grandfathers and parents taught me ... and from what I see as the right thing to do to preserve and protect our environment for future generations. 

It's not easy being green ... LOL ... and I'm not proclaiming to be a poster child for it. I love my mini van and wish they made one that got 30 mpg! I don't use my bicycle enough. I haven't replaced my water heater yet nor my air conditioner - but I will when they fail.

But I do recycle all kinds of stuff. I have embarrassed my family by picking up aluminum cans in parking lots. The guys at the Ft Bend Co Recycling Center know me by name and don't have to ask my zip code. I have replaced all the lights in my house with compact fluorescent lighting, and even did so in several lights at my parent's and in-law's houses. We have an automatic thermostat, extra insulation, attic ridge vents, and ceiling fans. 

My in-law's have planted Texas loblolly pine trees on 30 acres of their land and it has been recognized by the Texas Forestry Association as a Certified Tree Farm and part of the American Tree Farm System. I love pine trees!!!

My parents participated in an energy assessment program by their local utility to monitor and cut costs. They have solar panels to heat their swimming pool.

Both sets of parents work to recycle their glass, paper, plastic, steel and aluminum.

I am working on developing a rain-water harvesting system for my house and drip irrigation for watering landscape plants. The plants will be native Texas and tropical plants, as well as herbs and edibles. I have started composting. Next up is higher SEER ducting in the attic and thermal windows. Like many energy saving measures, they won't happen over night. They will take time, effort and money. I have looked into gray water recycling, an improved septic system (the new ones water your yard with pop up sprinklers), and alternative energy for the house (a wind turbine and solar panels. It won't be a cheap way out. But in the long term, they will pay for themselves in decreased energy costs and will result in energy savings for the regions and planet.

In 1988, I was making calls on behalf of recycling in Houston - it was new at the time - and was on the radio with Jon Matthews. He said "... this is just too much work and too expensive ... you're just one of those 'radical environmentalists' like Al Gore."

Well, thank you, Jon.

"That was not intended as a compliment," he said.

Really? Well, I'll take it as one.

Full disclosure ... I have worked with Al Gore since 1987. I rode on a campaign bus with Tipper for 3 days as he was campaigning for President. We talked about photography and I apologized to her for opposing her on the music lyric labeling act. We laughed. I was mad when he dropped out of the 1988 race before the Texas primary!!! Yes, I was involved in 1992, 1996, and 2000. (I'll post more about my political campaign involvement later.)

I am involved with rePower America, headed by former vice-president Al Gore. I'm also involved with other organizations ...  walden.org and caddolakeinstitute.us (a national and a Texas group - both supported by Don Henley), RiverKeeper.org and WaterKeeper.org (both headed by Bobby Kennedy, Jr. with impact locally, nationally and world wide), and specifically in Houston - the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and the Hermann Park Conservancy. 

I had the opportunity, through rePower America, to be part of the conference call by Al Gore to concerned citizens across the nation regarding the Waxman - Markey Climate Bill. It wasn't like it was a small, select group (sorry to disappoint) ... over 11,500 numbers on the call -WOW. And in some cases there were rePower America House Parties. It lasted about 15 minutes. 

After Mr. Gore's comments and call to action, here's the letter I wrote to my congressman, the Hon. Pete Olson of Texas' 22nd Congressional District:

Congressman Olson,  

I would like to encourage YOUR support of the the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. It should come up for a vote on Friday.  

I know it may be difficult for you to reach across party lines on this matter, but a vote of support will be good for our district, good for southeast Texas (and the rest of our state), and good for the entire country.  

Texas leads the nation in wind power. We need to continue to do so and work with others on this. Texas takes the lead in developing alternative energy, even though we are an oil producing state. Texans have the vision to know that oil will dry up and they want to have something to replace that income and jobs.  

The costs we incur now will be MORE than offset by the energy and monetary savings we will have in the future.  

Congressman, thanks for your hard work in Washington on behalf of the folks of Ft. Bend County and SE Texas.  

Cordially, 

Mike

I'm SPAM ... ???

So for some weird reason, Google, the parent of Blogger, has labeled me as SPAM. 

WTF???

In the world of full disclosure - I'm a Google shareholder ... hahaha ... only three shares. That was all they would sell me on the IPO and I haven't added to that. My original purchase price was $80. Today it's $400 a share, so yeah, a good deal.

I like Google stuff. Like Macs, it just works. They keep adding what I would label as intuitive features. They have Picasaweb for photos (I have 8 accounts for varying subjects), Gmail (again, 8 accounts - with more to come), and Google maps (almost always right). Those are my faves.

I have been a Googler since early on. Neal Scott suggested it to me at a HAAUG meeting, and then when David Pogue recommended it on CBS Sunday Morning. I was there (and still am).

Google's my home page, the first thing I see when I launch safari (sorry Apple.com, chron.com, Astros.com ... all were previous opening pages).

So I'm just a little perturbed they have labeled my blog as SPAM.

Did you know the people of Hawai'i consume more Spam than any other state or area? They even have Spam Musubi. Not to mention, if you go to the McDonald's in Kona, you can have your Egg McMuffin made with Spam!

Carolyn said she never ate it when she was there. I did ... kinda like sushi but different.

Well, I'll wait for a real human to come here and find out I'm real. Okay, so the first two posts were copied from my Facebook notes and reposted for a larger audience (yeah - full disclosure, with a little editing and updating). Some will be in the future as well.

Now, it's off to enjoy cooking.

http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/04/tutorial-how-to-make-hawaiian-spam-musubi-sushi.html

Why is Spam so popular in Hawai'i ... ???

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-is-spam-so-popular-in-hawaii.htm

http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/hawaiian_food05.asp

Teachers

I jokingly say I became a teacher just so I could stay up late with my wife and daughter during the summer time. We're all night owls. But I have come to enjoy working with students. I learn from them. They teach me as much as I teach them.

When someone asks "What do you teach?" I always hesitate a moment. Hmmm ... do they want my class, or WHAT I teach???

One student said ... "Mr Rine, your class was easy and I learned a lot ... and not just about photography." Another said ... "I learned a lot from you and I wasn't even officially your student."

So, what do I teach? Life.

Simply put ... Be nice to others. Give advice. Share experiences. The effort and the thought is more important than the grade. Learn from your mistakes - and the mistakes of others. Courage and integrity count - a lot! Manners are ALWAYS important (Please and thank you, yes ma'am, and no sir)! Treat others as you'd like for them to treat, not you - but your mother! Frown a little and laugh a lot!!! Forgive others. Apologize whether you were wrong ... or not. Ask, because the worst that can happen is they say "no."

Finally - the day you stop learning is the day you die!

The teachers I credit with my success(es) are:

Ruth van Wagoner (3rd grade – stocks), Alan Hershberger (6th grade – photography), Wally Skinner (8th grade – history and trivia), Carrie Olson 10th and 11th grade – speech and debate), Marianne Weiss (12th grade – speech), Jim Chronowski (11th grade – history and HS baseball coach), Bill Hawley (HS Athletics – basketball coach), Cheryl Cooke (12th grade – English), Robert Eike (JH Band), Jim Hargett (HS Band).

In college, Joe Beck, Betty Dunlap, Bob Summers, and Bob Eubanks for Radio/TV, Doug Ferdon, Cassy Burleson Jordan and Roy Clark in Journalism, Dr. J. Madison Wolfe in Photography, Ralph Pease in English, Richard Bennett in Speech, and some lady who taught business communications.

When I went into teaching, Susan Pinto and Carolyn Wessels came into my life as part of the Region IV Alternative Certification Program. "How many think your main job as a teacher is to teach the 'Three R's' ... ?" All our hands went up. "Wrong! Your job is to give your students a safe and structured place to visit every day, give them 30 minutes for lunch, and for God's sake, get them out the right door in the evening. If you do THAT, the 'Three R's' will take care of themselves!" There were two others, and I can't recall their names. But one said, "Do your research in the summer so you know how to relate to your kids all year long ... learn the music, the books, the shows, the singers, the phrases, the brands, the lingo, the culture."

Jim Smith was one of the first teachers for whom I subbed when I started my ACP course ... he's been a friend and mentor and great example on dealing with HS kids. Amber Barbee was one of my wife's students at Meyer Elementary and she taught me a lot about how to run a classroom - Harry Wong come to life. Mrs. T took me under her wing and hired me for summer school because " ... I knew I wouldn't have to worry." Tom Rowland gave me my first full-time job - he complimented me when I did good and kicked my behind when I messed up. But it was always professional, never personal. He also said I was the only person who brought a poster (not just a letter - a poster) of recommendation from Mario Andretti with him!

My mother was a teacher and I had her as a sub for only one day (whew). I have learned a lot from her through the years. My dad was an "Instructor of Ground Passenger Service Personnel" and one of my Boy Scout leaders ... and even signed off on a merit badge for me. I'll count him as one of the best teachers as well.

My wife has now taught school for 31 years. She's taught me a LOT about teaching and classroom management. About presentations and dealing with others. The biggest lesson - when asking a student to conference with you, say "Johnny, I need to speak with you - you're not in trouble" ... unless, of course, they ARE in trouble. Her comment - think about it. When your boss calls you in, you're running through your mind "what did I do?" Just alleviate that with the student right up front.

And then there were the aunts and uncles and cousins who have taught for years! Reno, Sissie, Uncle Bob, Debbie Fox, Dr. Sherry Ireland ... it runs in both sides of the family.

I have just in the past few months reconnected with Carrie Olson and Cassy Burleson. What a joy!

The possibility that 30 – 40 years from now someone will say that I had an impact on their lives is truly humbling.

Mikeology

Here's some stuff about me ... some you knew ... some you are thinking "he made that up, didn't he?"

***********FOODOLOGY***************

What is your salad dressing of choice? The House Dressing at Collina's in Houston - or Ken's Lite Ceasar.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Collina's on Richmond in Houston.

What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? Pizza ... pizza ... pizza (or salmon/fish/seafood).

What are your pizza toppings of choice? everything in the house ... all at once or in tasty combinations.

What do you like to put on your toast? REAL butter

***********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many televisions are in your house? two .. but only one will work after June 12 (update - we got a second converter box, but lost the remote for the first - I wonder if the cat hid it?).

What color cell phone do you have? black with silver trim

Do you have an iPod? a very old one (it got stolen ... or it's misplaced ... IDK)

What computer do you use? I've been on a Mac since 1987. I am also an Apple shareholder. My current computer is a MacBook Pro laptop. 

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed? mostly right handed but I do some things left-handed

Have you ever had anything removed from your body? wisdom teeth

What is the last heavy item you lifted? Honey, the indoor cat

Have you ever been knocked unconscious? thankfully, NO!

************DUMBOLOGY******************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own? none.

Last time you had a run-in with the cops? OMG - last Friday night, 70 in a 55.

Last person you talked to? Carolyn on the phone

Last person you hugged? Patty was the last person but the cats got the last hugggz (yeah, I was home alone all day.

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
Season? Spring ... when things begin to become new again.

Holiday? Christmas and Easter. best family holidays!

Day of the week? Saturday ... all the food shows on PBS

Month? February - Daytona 500, birthdays, Valentine's Day (engagement), Spring Training begins, Sports Illustrated Swim Suit issue.

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone? Nope, they're all asleep

Mood? stressed

What are you listening to? celing fans and air conditioner

Worrying about? trying to get my website back on line and my name re-registered.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went this morning? should have been to the shower but was, sadly, kitchen to get a drink and then to the lap top

What's the last movie you saw? IDK ... something with Patty last Fall

Do you smile often? Yes, I think so ... and I laugh out loud

Sleeping Alone Tonight? never ... if not the wife, the cat ... or three pillows!

***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************

1) Do you always answer your phone? if I know the caller

2) It's four in the morning and you get a text message. Who is it? Carolyn forgetting the 4-5 hour time difference from Hawai'i to Houston.

3) If you could change your eye color what would it be? I'd keep it ... blue doesn't look good with black hair

3b) If you could change your hair color, what would it be? Nope ... wouldn't change

4) What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? cherry ... cherry ... cherry

5) Do you own a digital camera? well, duhhhhhhh. Two actually. Three if you count the one that doesn't work.

6) Have you ever had a pet fish? No, but I had a turtle and a Chameleon.

7) Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night

8) What's on your wish list for your birthday? It's a long way off now ... 

9) Can you do a chin up? a couple

10) Can you do pushups? a few more than chin ups

11) Does the future make you more nervous or excited? excited!!! wondering ... ???

12) Do you have any saved text? bazillions!

13) Ever been in a car wreck? yes, two major ones - thanks for seat belts!!!

14) Do you have an accent? depends on who's listening

15) What is the last song to make you cry? Three songs ALWAYS do because they were played at funerals ... Because He Lives (my cousin's wife), In the Garden (my Granddad's), Bridge Over Troubled Water (at a friend from HS who was murdered).

16) Plans today? Give blood

17) Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? yeah. Drugs are good, tho!!!

18) Name 3 things you bought yesterday? gas ... sodas ... and Pizza for to feed the ladies!

19) Have you ever been given roses? I did have some students give me carnations on Valentine's Day -, ohh and Sandra Bullock!

20) Current worry? will the water well and pump keep working? Certification test on Saturday .. am I registered.

21) Current hate right now? the Verizon Wireless Card constantly unplugging itself even when it's sitting still.

22) Met someone who changed your life? a number of them ... 

23) How did you bring in the New Year? umm.. sitting on a couch watching tv. not the best time.

24) What song represents you? I Hope You Dance

25) Last song you bought? Boys of Summer by Don Henley on iTunes

26) Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? Nope ... try as I might to fix something I'd probably just mess up something else, so I'll just stay right here, thank you.

27) Have you ever dated someone longer than a year? yes, 3 people ... the last one I married.

28) Do you have any tattoos/piercings?

29) Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now? I hope so!!! LOL Depends if I get things accomplished!!!

30) Does anyone love you? several ... in various ways for various reasons.

31) Would you be a pirate? just for the food on the cruise ship - arrrrrgh!!!

32) What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower

33) Ever had someone sing to you? not really

34) When did you last cry? at a funeral 

36) Do you like to cuddle? I never get enough hugggz and kisses

37) Have you held hands with anyone today? do paws count?????

38) Who was the last person you took a picture of? 22 sweaty soccer players and 3 lady photojournalists

39) What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school? The Beatles ... Roy Rogers

40) Do you believe in staying close with your ex's/prospects? I have ... my wife has ... it's weird

41) Are most of the friends in your life new or old? both ... thanks to Facebook for the old ones back in my life.

42) Do you like pulpy orange juice? oh yeah!

43) What is something your friends make fun of you for? "windahs"

44) If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? No way!

45) If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Kelly Green

46) Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce? No ... but Carolyn tried!!! LOL