Mornin' Cuzzies, Breezy, beautiful day in ole Houston town.....these are the kinds of days it pays to drive around the city because there is very little traffic.....everyone has gone to frolic for the Memorial Day week-end.....hopefully to the beaches while they are still pristine. I have so many friends who live on the Gulf of Mexico's waters from Florida all the way around to Mexico. I hold my breath for them! o : What a world we live in! Front page all over is the textbook fight in Austin, making national headlines. Remember the ole, tall skinny broads w/ the unsmiling faces standing around saying, unyieldingly, that teaching oughta be *this* way or the highway? Well, unfortunately, I've joined the ranks. Whatever happened to "be the very best you can be" rather than what group you belonged to? No wonder test scores have dropped, drop out rates are sky rocketing, and SAT scores have remained the same for decades. The emphasis has been moved away from achievement and aspirations of excellence. Believe me.....my only interest in coaching a brand new baby was what he/she had in his heart and how badly he wanted to be a champion. Considering body size, type, talent, sex, or nationality never entered my mind, nor did I allow it to enter the children's minds. And, we certainly didn't team up and fight over it. Speaking of champions, all of Da Kid's widdo kids did their thing last night and prevailed at the top of the heap. Now they go into all-stars and the great run for a place in Williamsport.....it's tougher to get outta Houston than it is to win in Williamsport at the national championships. And, as I watch from year to year, the favorites often lose because rookie daddy coaches overkill and wear their teams out in practices trying desperately to win it all.....a word to the wise of some of you Daddy coaches: if you haven't taught them everything by now, it's too late.....get off their backs and let them rest. Happened again last night.....a little team that had won 19 lost the whole deal......tired as they could be......coach overworked them the day before the final game. I'm off to do Sattida thingees.....stepping over a bunch of lounge lizzards.....the cat crew who have crashed everywhere Ah want to work! o : Have a good one! Buckette