Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Everyone Graduates!

By Justin

Kindergarten graduations...When did this become a standard of our society?  I didn't graduate from kindergarten.  In fact I only went half a day.  Maybe I need to start over.  But honestly Kindergarten graduations make no sense to me.  What did you accomplish?  You completed a year of school that isn't required (in Texas).  Who came up with this?  And now we have robes and ceremonies and cookies and punch.  Oh and pictures.  Don't forget the pictures.  

I have also heard of middle school graduation.  Seriously?  This is getting even more crazy.  What are you celebrating?  Congratulations you still have five or six more years to go.  Oh and you get to 'graduate' to Junior High where bullying and puberty will be oh so much fun.  

High School graduation is odd enough.  Whew you are done, but if you are smart you really aren't done.  So live it up for a night, cause in about three months you start at the bottom of the pool again.  And to show our immense intelligence on this day, what do we do?  Throw our hats with four pointy objects into the air.  Guess we didn't listen in Science class.  What goes up, must come down (eventually approaching terminal velocity). 

College graduation.  Now that is a reason to celebrate.  You are done with your formal education.  You get to join the work force and pay for the baby boomers to retire and have health care.  You are a 'contributing member of society'.  Now go forth and conquer.  But please don't conquer too fast, I don't need some young go getter to take my job.  

Friday, May 20, 2011

Picture update

By Justin

How about a quick picture update:
Easter Family Picture


I'm just helpin' mom...promise














 Just Keep Smiling!














Put your hand up on your hip...


















Just a little snuggle with momma!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Parenting = Auditing

By Justin

I have thought for a long time that parenting is very similar to being an auditor.  While driving home today I finally put some examples in mind.  

1. You spend your life saying No and I'm sorry but the rules don't allow that.  I don't make the rules, I am just in charge of making sure we all follow the rules.

2. Eli likes to count 1,2,3,5,12,49,69,85,12,5.  See dad I counted to Ten!  Clients like to count: 1,2,3,4...I am sure the rest of the inventory is there.  Done!  Sometimes it is the later numbers that are the most important.

3.  Sometimes you have to ask the same question three different ways to see if the answers match.  

to Eli: Eli did you get in trouble at school today? Eli: No
to Eli: Eli did you have to go to time out at school today? Eli: No
to Eli: Eli did  you play nice and share today?  Eli: No.  to Eli: Why not?  Eli: Welllllll, Emily took my car cause I wouldn't share with her so I hit her.  to Eli: Did you get in trouble for hitting? Eli: Yes and I had to go to timeout.

@ Work: Are you aware of any fraud? No
@ Work: Are you aware of any thing that could be considered shady? No
@ Work: Are you aware of any one taking things home they shouldn't?  Well Stephanie does use her credit card to go to Sam's with on occasion, but she always says she pays us back.  Do you make sure she pays us back?  Oh that isn't my job, isn't that your job?

4. No matter what I say or do, I am the bad guy.  Even if I didn't make the rule, I am still in trouble.  Eli doesn't like that I make him go to bed.  The client doesn't like that I can't let them use the petty cash for lunch money.

5. At the end of the day, they both are rewarding in ways that is hard to explain to the outside world.

How is your job like parenting?