School year 2011-2012 begins

Another school year is about to begin and it is a school year of change. The new high school is finally ready for staff and students. I've still got a few technology things to do but overall, it's ready for the first day Aug. 22.

The other big change this year is that I will be retiring from education at the end of first semester. I've got 25 years in education and now is a good time to make a change and start drawing retirement pay. I'm not sure what I'll be doing after the first of the year but I'm looking at some possibilities although I'm open to suggestions or offers if you have any!

High school football is less that two weeks away and that means time for the best scoreboard show in West Texas. There are some changes with the show also. The TPSN High School Scoreboard show is NOW Friday Night Live Scoreboard Show. Nick Long is still the main host but this year he will be joined by Kelly James. Also, Nick will be in the studios of one of the network affiliates in Lubbock, KTTU-FM 104.3 (better known as Double T 104.3) and Kelly will be in the studios of the flagship station in Amarillo, KGNC-AM 710. Other network affiliates include KGNC-FM in Amarillo, KEYE-FM in Perryton, KLSR-FM in Memphis, KKYN-FM and KREW-AM in Plainview and KSSL-FM in Slaton/Post. Join us on Friday nights from 10 PM to midnight. If you're not in the range of one of these stations, several of them stream it from their website including www.kgncam.com.

Sept. 3 is the first Texas Tech Red Raiders football game when they play host to Texas State. I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen in Coach Tuberville's second year. Seth Doege from Frenship is set to take the helm of the offense at quarterback. Coach Chad Glasgow has taken over the defense so I hope there's marked improvement on that side of the ball, of course after last year, there's no place to go except UP!!! WRECK 'EM TECH!!!!!

My closing thought for the day is: Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. -- Eddie Cantor

“If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures. Job 36:11

Summer 2011

My thought from West Texas today is simple ... IT IS HOT & DRY!!!

We haven't had significant moisture since October and now we had over 25 days of 100 degrees or higher temps!! I'm really looking forward to some time in Ruidoso where it's about 20 degrees cooler.

Of course, this is the summer that Lockney moves into the new High School. Construction is nearly complete and the crew has begun moving furniture into the building. My network electronic installers will be here on July 18 and then I'll begin the process of setting up 65 computers. It's a daunting task but it will get done! The new building is so nice and it will be great to be back in the building. 

Well it's less than seven weeks till high school football starts and less than eight weeks till college football starts. It's always an exciting time of the year and this year is no different. Expectations are hopeful for all the high school and college players as a new season starts. The big thing this year is so far there is no settlement in the NFL lockout so the question is still ... will there be pro football this year?

My closing thought for the day: The man or woman who keeps looking up, will seldom ever feel down. If you walk around with your head down, you will seldom see anything except dirt and other people's rubbish. - David Robinson of Northern Ireland

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Trying to catch up

It's been three months since I've posted here. I guess I've been either too busy or too tired or just without anything to say.

Football season is winding down. High school playoffs started last night with some exciting games around the state. Of the three teams I had personal interest in, Lockney, Petersburg and Rule, only Lockney didn't make the playoffs. Rule lost last night 46-0 to Newcastle so their playoff run is over. Petersburg plays Meadow tonight for the second time this year. The scoreboard show will have it's final 2010 show tonight with 56 games to track down. Texas Tech football has had it's ups and downs this year. I guess it's "getting to know you" kind of year. With three games to go, it would be nice to pull out two wins and that's quite likely. Recruiting for 2011 is looking good but we will see how it comes out in February. I won't even talk about Dallas Cowboy football because there is nothing to talk about. My fantasy team is in the middle of the pack but maybe it can still make the playoffs. I just wished I had a running back to go with Aaron Rodgers.

It sure was fun to watch the Texas Rangers make a run to the World Series. I wished they could have pulled it all out but just making it there made everyone in Texas excited about baseball for a short time.

I've been sitting in a hospital in Lubbock waiting for a myriad of doctors to decide what is wrong with my wife. It appears that it is her gall bladder so maybe today they'll decide when to take it out and life can get back to normal for everyone. I'm kind of glad I'm not going to be outside today as it is raining and cold. I hope anyone going to a playoff game will dress appropriately tonight. Amarillo, which is 120 miles north, has received an inch of snow so far today.

My closing thought for the day: Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them–every day begin the task anew. -Saint Francis de Sales

“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”-- Colossians 1:9 (NASB)

August is here and that means ...

August is here and that means that school is about to start again and FOOTBALL is about to start again, High School, College and Professional!!! If it's football, then I'm all for watching it. I really enjoy high school and college most of all. On Friday nights, I will go watch the first half of Lockney's home games but this year I will probably go to Petersburg occasionally to watch some 6-man football (and of course, SEE the Grand daughters!!!) but come 9 PM, I'll be online tracking down football scores from all corners of West Texas. I track down the scores for the TPSN High School Scoreboard Show where my good friends, Nick Long and Adam Cox, host the best scoreboard show in West Texas.

The Scoreboard runs from 10 PM to midnight every Friday night from week zero (Aug. 27) to the first week of the playoffs (Nov.12). The show is produced and broadcast from the flagship station, KGNC-AM 710 in Amarillo and broadcast throughout West Texas on network stations including: KGNC FM - Amarillo; KEYE FM - Perryton; KKYN FM - Plainview; KCTX FM - Childress; KLSR FM - Memphis; KJDL FM - Lubbock; KJDL AM - Lubbock; and KBST FM - Big Spring. The Internet stream can be found at www.kgncam.com.

Texas Tech Football starts Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2:30 PM when the Red Raiders, under new coach Tommy Tuberville, hosts the SMU Mustangs. I'm ready to see what the new coaching staff brings to the table, I know what the returning players can do, but now it's time to see how everything comes together! The big question is who will win the starting QB job: Steven Sheffield or Taylor Potts? It is nice having this problem and I believe it will just make the team better. WRECK 'EM TECH!!!!!

My closing thought for the day: "Life is not about countless days, it's about countless blessings. We are truly blessed!" Written in 2010 by Dimple Singh --- India

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. -- 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Okay, I'm not very consistent

So my daily postings haven't even been weekly postings lately but let's see if I can revive this at least for a couple of weeks until vacation. This week has been one of those weeks. We woke up Monday morning to a flooded sun porch. After going to school and making sure all the servers came back up because of a power outage Sunday night during the electrical storm and 4.25" of rain, I spent 2.5 hours vacuuming up water and barely made a dent in the wetness of the carpet. After working for a few hours, I came back and continued the process. Tuesday I got to work where a clogged drain line on the rooftop A/C was causing it to leak into my office/server room. The A/C company worked on it and it appeared to be solved BUT Wednesday morning I walked in and several ceiling tiles had fell in due to the drain not being completely cleaned out!! What a mess! I really hope it's not leaking Thursday morning.

The most exciting news from the last couple of weeks is that my youngest daughter has been offered and accepted a job with Rule ISD as the Family and Consumer Science teacher and Technology Coordinator. She's excited and ready to get going. We're going to look for a rental housing on Monday and she plans to move down after the first of August.

Twelve days till our Ruidoso vacation with the whole family. My son, who lives in the DFW area figured out it was better to fly into Roswell on a 'puddle jumper' plane than drive for over 10 hours. I hope the weather is good so we can enjoy just sitting around outside. At least, it should be cooler than West Texas.

I got to play and learn about the iPad a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't mind having one but with Cisco introducing the Cius and HP/Microsoft collaborating on a pad device, I may wait for the second generation and the price to come down.

My closing thought for the day: " We are all unique in God's eyes... Don't let anyone change who you are." -- Unknown.

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. — Zechariah 14:9 (NIV)

What a week!!!

Ok, I know it's been a week since I posted but what a week it was. After getting home from San Angelo last Sunday, my wife and I did laundry and began packing for our trip to College Station and 4-H State Roundup. The trip to CS was uneventful except for a back road or two that the GPS took us on. That did make the trip a little more exciting. Of course, the best part of the trip down was lunch at Underwood's in Brownwood! Barbeque steak, orange potato salad and cobbler, it doesn't get any better!!

Wednesday morning we were awaken to the sound of thunder and pouring rain. Our luncheon was scheduled for 11:30 but we had to stop at Roundup Headquarters before going to the conference center at the George Bush Library. It was still pouring rain and by the end of the day, College Station had received close to 7" of rain. At the luncheon, state council members announced the awards that were presented by staff and faculty of the extension service. We were the fourth ones to receive our award and to our total surprise, our son Rusty, walked up on stage to announce our award. He had taken the initiative to go get permission to present our award. He had served on state council when he was on 4-H so he was able to persuade the ones in charge to allow him to surprise us. After our luncheon, we took Rusty to lunch then went to change clothes and go to an award announcement for some of the share the fun acts. Our county had three members participating in two different categories. One of our young ladies won the vocal category. After this, we went back to the hotel to change, then Donna's boss took us to supper at Ninfa's then we went to the general assembly where we were to be announced on stage. Thursday morning, I went to an educational presentation competition where another one of our 4-H'ers was competing. She placed first in her category and of course was very excited. I went back to the hotel, picked up Donna and headed home. As we pulled into Lockney, a thunderstorm was occurring and at that moment, the lights went out all over town. I had to stumble in the house, find a flashlight, find a candle and a lighter so we could see. The power outage lasted about an hour and a half so when the lights came on, I had to go to school to restart all the servers especially since I was leaving Friday morning to take my mom to the Putman family reunion.

Friday morning my mom and I took her dog to Plainview to board, then we headed to Petersburg to pay my daughter and son-in-law's rent deposit and look at the house they rented. We then took the keys to Donna in Floydada and finally hit the road to Mineral Wells. After taking one of her cousins to supper, I went back to the hotel to rest while they went to visit. Saturday morning we got our drinks and veggie trays and headed out to Cool, TX to gather with more of the Putman descendants. About 60 Putman kinfolks showed up for lunch and visiting. We headed home about 2 PM and got back to Lockney about 6:30 PM. From Saturday to Saturday, I traveled nearly 2200 miles and spent four nights in hotels. I'm glad I'll be home for a while, at least until we head to Ruidoso in July!

During all of the traveling, I've been trying to keep up with the crazy happenings in college football. What looked like it was going to be a fruit basket turnover, turned into a very mild rearrangement including Nebraska to the Big 10, Colorado to the PAC 10 and Boise State to the Mountain West. The Big 12 will remain minus NU and CU but rumors have it that they'll invite BYU and Air Force and that the PAC 10 will invite Utah. If those three move, the MWC will go from looking like it's going to get the automatic qualification to a BCS bowl with the addition of Boise State to not amounting to much of a conference. Boise State may end up getting the worst end of the shuffle of 2010.

My closing thought for the day: "A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort." -- Unknown

Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. -- Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

Summer weather made itself known this weekend!!

The weekend in San Angelo went well but man it was HOT!!! At the lake late Saturday afternoon my car thermometer read 109!!! Everyone enjoyed sitting in the shade waiting for the shrimp boil. I did put away my share of shrimp. I didn't count them but it was at least 70. It was nice to go back to the hotel instead of staying in the campers because the campers' a/c was having a hard time keeping them cool. We took the grand daughters to our hotel room so my oldest daughter could get some rest. She had foot surgery on Friday but insisted on going to the shrimp boil.

It was nice to get home Sunday but now we are packing to go to College Station in the morning. My wife and I are receiving an award for leadership at State 4-H Roundup. It's a very nice honor for our roles as leaders the past 13 years.

It's official, my oldest daughter and son-in-law are taking jobs in Petersburg, just 25 miles from us. That means the grand daughters are close to us now!! My daughter will be teaching fourth grade which is out of her comfort zone since she has been teaching second grade for three years but she'll do fine.

Later this week we should all know what's going to happen in college football as far as how the conference alignments will be. Does the Big 12 stay together? Does half the Big 12 join the Pac-10 and the other half join the Mountain West? Do Nebraska and Missouri get invited to join the Big 10? There are lots of "experts" talking and writing about it, but who knows what is actually going to happen. I guess we will all wait and see!!

My closing thoughts for the night: Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves. Scottish Proverb 

My mouth is filled with Your praise And with Your glory all day long. -- Psalms 71:8 (NASB)