And in Dutch: Waarom?

Once again, the local school bond issue failed. Someone on Facebook blamed it on “old people” ruining the town, but that’s not the point. (Census says otherwise, anyway.) ¿Por qué? Pourquoi? Why do people reject improvements for our schools? I break it down as follows:

1. People are mad about lack of school board fiscal stewardship (real or imagined)
2. People are inherently selfish, and they aren’t willing to give up a nickel for something that doesn’t affect them a) in a positive manner, b) personally, and c) right dang now.
3. People fear that they won’t be able to make it with any more taxes piled on (this especially applies to homeowners)
4. People are ignorant of what the passage of the issue will really provide, and how the taxes will be levied
5. People are ignorant, period

I mean, honestly. If the levy was going to provide a new swimming pool/workout complex for faculty….well, I’d still vote for it. Seriously, though: our local middle school was built in 1910. Several of our elementary schools are also over 100 years old. Talk about a money pit. The high school (1964) isn’t much better. The Ohio School Facilities Commission was willing to kick in 39% of the cost of renovating and building new schools. It would have cost me about $150 a year. That’s a deal I could live with.

Apparently, not enough voters agreed with me.

It’s fine to hate government or local leadership and its spendthrift ways. But some people don’t seem to get the fact that new schools are not built on a whim, or because the teachers and kids by-God want air conditioning. These undertakings are far more serious. In other words, this isn’t our daddy’s educational environment, or our granddaddy’s. What was “good enough for me when I was in school” doesn’t play anymore. But that statement and $3 will buy you a cappu at Bux, right?

Then there’s the other huge “pourquoi?” — Cisco Systems laid off our dear BoomR. In this economy, he lost his job. We’re all pulling for you, Boom Boom. Your talent supersedes this quandary; someone will notice that, and soon. Much love to you.

Things are happening on the job front with other RtB family members as well. Hugs all around.

Speaking of jobs…one of my principals wants me to call him. Off I go.

FO

So, whadda we got this morning?

Remember Kwame Kilpatrick, former mayor of Detroit? I’ve referenced him in my posts twice (here and here). Why him more than any other politician? I dunno. Maybe because what he did (texting his mistress using government-supplied — and therefore totally trackable — devices); I have no idea.

Anyhow, he got out today, after serving time for violation of probation. Do some people never learn? That’s what I wonder. I mean, violation of probation has to be the dumbest infraction of all; the judicial equivalent to biting the hand that feeds you, or slapping a generous host in the face. All you have to do is keep your hands clean (and in Kwame’s case, just be honest about how many assets you have squirreled away), and all will be fine. Feh.

But all’s well that ends well. Or at least it’s ended.  He will now go back to being the pride of Grand Prairie (TX). Best wishes to him. And stay outta trouble, slice.

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If Jared Followill of Kings of Leon is truly suffering from “vocal issues,” it’s going to take a lot longer than a month to recover. Jumping back into an international tour schedule after only four weeks of vocal rest is, at the very least, ill-advised. [Ask me how I know this.] But, as the brief article states, it’s more than an issue of the singer not hydrating himself properly. Surprise!

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Well, darn. I would love to know how he pulled it off.

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I was happy to see Gabrielle Giffords’s return to Congress. Yay for her!

Well, off to my Tuesday. I didn’t do half of what I wanted to accomplish yesterday, but choir music for fall is ordered, so that’s out of the way. Today will be a day of productivity, I hope. Onward!

FO

Photo: Newsone.com

…out-of-town meetings on Saturday mornings?

Not complaining, mind. Well, actually I am. If it weren’t the Thriller’s birthday tomorrow (complete with preparations for the feasting and gifts), it would be easier to schlep it to the showers and the car for the 90-minute drive to Columbus.

But since it is his birthday tomorrow…ugh. Many thanks to Simone, who is coming over at 4:00 this afternoon to help with the baking and other make-readies. She is top-drawer!

Have a great Saturnday, fiends. Do something fun.

FO

Wow, what a hoot to read your responses yesterday. I had no idea I knew anyone who has ridden on an elephant! Thanks for playing along.

And speaking of travel, might I interest you in the following?

The Devil’s Pool

Island of the DOLLS!

I think I’ll run away screaming now.

OK, a little survey to start your Wednesday here. It’ll highlight how much indeed we can stuff into a life. From various blog sites, I present this list. I’ve bold-faced the things I have done. What about you?

I have:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch (self-taught guitar player)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Climbed to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when I wasn’t ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (I wish I had! Too expensive for me back then)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise (does Sun Coast count??)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (UK & France)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language 
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (visited, but didn’t climb)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Received flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (my son’s — he was choking)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (VP Dan Quayle, Donald Trump, Tom Netherton!)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

My addition:

101. Stood on the rooftop observation deck of the World Trade Center South Tower

Fun — though I have much to do yet, apparently. How about you? You can copy and paste this list into your comment, then delete the ones you haven’t done, or you can use the tag <strong> at the beginning of an item and close it out with </strong> at the end to boldface your choices. Interesting list — and feel free to add other stuff to it so we can comment.