Good Morning and welcome to a nice, warm Tuesday!

The oldest boy in the household has always been a little shy. He makes a lot of friends, but doesn't really talk about them.
Monday night, Garrettford Elementary school held it's annual Literacy Night. For a variety of reasons, we've never made it to this event, which is held every year.
It's basically to promote the reading of books, something that can become somewhat lost during these Internet times. While we make everybody in the house read a book once a day, I can understand how it can be pushed aside.
It's good the school was able to put together a fun night of reading with the students.
Well, anyway, when I talk to the boy about his friends it's usually a shrug of the shoulders or something like, 'We played.'
Little did I know he was a social animal.
We walked into the building and the principal took to the time out to pat him on the back and call him by name. Several teachers in the hallway did the same. Students walking past said hello. Those in the classroom looked up to to say 'Hi.'
Now, I like to goof around with him a lot. Most of the time he goofs right back. Sometimes, he's more serious.
I thought the serious side was always on during school hours.
It made me proud to see the other side.

Good Morning and welcome to another day without new snow!

So, the Winter Olympics are taking place in Vancouver. USA, USA, USA, or something like that.
Having only caught bits and pieces of the Olympics (that curling again is oh so exciting), I still don't get all the National Pride.
There are no 'bad' Russians any more to root against. It's not like Iran is sending a team of skiers to Canada. Even if they did, the story of their struggle to learn skiing in the desert would make them fan favorites.
Over the years, the hope is anyway, that we've evolved out of this 'Us vs. Them' mentality. You don't hope the German skier falls or the Korean skater hits the wall. You want to see some great competition, let the best win and we can all cheer.
We've advanced that far as a group of people, right? Right?
Oh, never mind:

Good Morning and welcome back to 'The Day After Tomorrow!'

Here are some huge high fives for those who made it to work, home from work and kept the roads plowed during this epic blizzard.
This morning, after digging out the car, the roads proved to be passable. Much more than around 5 p.m. Wednesday, when cars were getting stuck all over the place and life became very scary.

Now, what exactly do we do with all that snow.
The piles were gigantic before that second round hit yesterday. Heck, there was too much out there Tuesday night. Of course, it's all going to go somewhere, like our basements.
You know, even those who profess to 'love snow' have to be hating things right about now. That is, unless you are a student and are getting an extra-long break.
So, I announced last night, I guess we all hate snow right now.
'I love it,' said Liam.
You love it. How can you love this?
'It looks nice,' was the retort.
Sure, it looks great if you get off from school and don't have to shovel. Then, it looks like the seventh level of Armageddon.

Good Morning and welcome to the only place in the world where trucks get stuck under bridges every day!

You know, the request comes every night at about 7, 'Can we take a bubble bath? Can we take a bubble bath? Can we take a bubble bath?'
Most nights, the answer is, 'Well, how about just a quick wash.'
Not that there's anything wrong with a bubble bath. After all, no matter how old (or young), who doesn't like a bubble bath? Really, there's something relaxing and a bit fun about the whole deal.
Bubble baths for a 5-year old, though, is almost better than spending the whole day at a playground. Sure, she gets clean, but so does the whole bathroom.
The bubbles always end up being thrown around the room, get into the hallway and, somehow, even in the kitchen (OK, not really, but it feels that way).
The pure joy of seeing the bubbles grow as the water pours into the tub is something to see. The smile stretches wider than when those chocolate chip cookies come out of the oven.
So, those nights when the bubble bath comes, the reckless abandon begins. Plop into the tub and the laughter starts. Anybody who walks into the room is subject to a bubble attack. Hey, at least the floor is getting clean.
It doesn't matter how cold the water gets, if there's one bubble left, it's too early to get out.
Finally, like two hours later (not really), the bath is done. Sure, she looks like a grape and the shivers start, but the question still comes quickly, 'Can we do that again tomorrow?'
We'll see. We'll see.

Good Morning and welcome to an icy window kind of day!

You know, with the cold air and the early sunsets during the winter, there tends to be a case of melancholy. The air is too cold to breath in deeply. The heat turns on way too often. The cabin fever sets in quickly.
Then, out of nowhere, we get a break like this past weekend.
After a slow rise Saturday, the sun shining down made it a perfect day to get outside.
So, we threw the ball around. Played some tag and then pulled out the bikes. Now, nothing says warm weather like bike riding. Sure, you can do it in the cold, but when it's just warm enough to not have layers and layers of clothes on, well, it just goes a little smoother.
Then came the glory of a day yesterday. With everybody off from school, the cries to visit a playground started before breakfast. After another quick bike ride (well, as quick as it can be with a 5 and 7-year old), the decision was made.
Let the fun begin. Hey, you know it's been a long winter if Mom and Dad are climbing to the top and going down the twisty slide (they would pay for it later, but so what?).
Now, if we can only get another week of this...

Good Morning and Happy Hanukkah!

Most days, the time after school is so intense there isn't a minute to breath.
Pick up the boys and get home by 3:30 p.m. Get out the books and start homework.
While homework is still being done, get dinner ready.
Get them back focused on homework.
Set the table.
Get them focused again on homework.
Put out glasses.
Get them back to the homework table.
Try to get the homework done by dinner (mostly failing miserbably).
Yesterday, though, the intensity was OK.
As a surprise, we went out and picked up a tree. This year, we thought we would go with a small one, but the holiday spirit touched down and we ended up with one bigger than ever.
It was cold and muddy, but it was nice to just drop all the pressures of everyday life and pick one out.
It was fun. We all laughed. We all sang.
Now, since every holiday around the world should be celebrated, we will break out the Menorah and Dreidels tonight. We will decorate the tree.
Can't get much better than that.

Good Morning and welcome to a real December day!

Well, since it is Dec. 1, it has to be a real December day, right?
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot over the last few months (smell something burning?). For too many years I haven't thought about everybody else.
With the holiday season here, that tendency seems to permeate through everybody. We want, we need, we buy. There are too many out there, though, who don't have anything.
They are just happy to have a place to live or a people to call loved ones.
That's the most important thing in the world. It doesn't matter how much money you have. It doesn't matter how much 'stuff' you have. You have to tighten the circle and try to help out those closest to you.
When you get down to it, that's what makes life worth living.

Good Morning as we rapidly fly through September!

You know, ever since we've jumped blindly into this thing called the Internet (invented by Al Gore, perfected by George Bush), there have been some crazy things out there.
What's crazy? Why don't you type these searches into Google (or save the time and click on the links):
Build your own coffin
New York newscaster curses on air
Fountain of mis-information
More mis-information
Even more
How to boil water
Fire Andy Reid
Fire Charlie Manuel
How to buy nothing
Future late-night comedy host
Then again, there is always some real stuff:

The GOP Alternative Health Care Plan - watch more funny videos

Good Morning and take it easy today!
Sometimes, you just have to throw everything out and take a break.
There are pressures all over these days. You have to worry about money, jobs, pain-in-the-butt people, overly aggressive drivers, humidity, eating, shopping, walking, running, getting gas, washing the car, cutting the lawn, just to name a few.
So, some days, it's just better to take a time out. Use the clock. Forget everything. There's no better place to do that than on the beach. Sure, you can hit a park (Ridley Creek, Valley Forge) or the mall (forget it, too much pressure to spend), but the best place is an early evening as the surf crashes against the sand.
It only makes it better when it is accompanied by laughter. After piling the crew into the vehicle Monday evening, it was the perfect time for a surprise visit to Ocean City.
Just duck down, get some ice cream and walk on the beach. Of course, with a 10-year old, 7-year old and 4-year old, things don't always go smoothly.
There were issues about ice cream; issues about who's touching who; issues about toys; issues about music. That went out the window, so to speak, as the beach became closer. Suddenly, there were no more arguments.
There was just running in the sand. Chasing the small waves that hit the sand. Running. Laughing.
If only it could last a little longer than one night.

Good Morning and congratulations to making it to another Friday!

While we continue to wonder about those cool nights (nah, that global warming thing is all hype), it's time to put the whole lemonade thing to rest.
There are plenty of reasons to call the cops on neighborhood children. The least of which (unless, of course, you live in Haverford) is to stop those illegal lemonade sales.
So, to finish out a few days of public service (non-court mandated), here are some reasons to call the police. Start dialing now, 9-1...
1. Those kids are riding their bikes ... in the street. That's right. Get your sirens on right now. Children are supposed to be fat and lazy, not riding bikes and getting exercise. Get the black-and-white out here and chase them back inside. Make them turn the video games back on.
2. The young ones just picked a dandelion off the lawn. Hey, one man's weed might be another's flower, but their my weeks (or flowers). Put it down little girl!
3. They're climbing trees and the parents aren't watching. Back in the day trees were much stronger. They are going to break an arm.
4. McDonald's just shortchanged me a McNugget! Sorry, that slipped in through the back door.
5. Those kids next door are just too nice. They must be planning some mischief. They always say hello and are respectful to others. Potential terrorists! Lock them up!
OK, there's a few to start. I'm sure there are plenty more (anybody from Haverford out there?). Let me know at onlinedelco@gmail.com
Then again, we can just enjoy the summer.

Good Morning and welcome to the favorite day of the IRS!

By midnight tonight, taxes are supposed to be done. They are supposed to be put in the mail. Numbers have been crushed. Checks have been written.
Then again, if you do it all online (which, by the way, is the least painful way), it only takes a couple of clicks.
Meanwhile, there's some kind of Republican-backed thing called 'Tax Day Tea Party' going on around the country as well today. Don't know what the protest is all about, but it sounds like it gives some people something to do on another damp, wet day.
Hey, it beats listening to Rush all morning.
Speaking of rush, is there ever a time in our lives we don't rush around. It's work, school, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Cub Scouts, baseball, whatever. We probably lose a bit of ourselves in the process. Maybe it's time to slow down.
How about having a real tea party? That sounds like fun.
Then there's this bit of fun:

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

Good Morning Mr. and Mrs. Delaware County and all the ships at sea!

Well, here we are a week and change into the Summer Olympics and, once again, the 'experts' have been proved wrong.
For weeks leading up to the Games, there was a lot of talk about how everything is going stale. How the Games don't matter any more. How China can't possibly get everything together.
Well, thanks to Michael Phelps, some inspired gymnasts and ferocious back-and-forth in beach volleyball, the Games do matter.
When you see an 9-year old boy, who up until last week had never seen a swim meet or a volleyball game, jumping up and cheering, well, the perspective has changed.
There are always going to be be nice stories and the like at the Olympic games. When you have so many people gathered in one spot for an extended period of time, that's bound to happen.
While the national pride thing may not be as big as it once was, it's fun to watch the best athletes in the world going head-to-head.
With Tiger Woods not playing golf, the Phillies doing an August swoon and the NFL not really relevant for a couple of weeks, the Olympics have really saved the summer.
It's not only fun to watch, but really inspiring.


If you have any cool links or photos, send them along to onlinedelco@gmail.com

GOOD MORNING, DELAWARE COUNTY!

OK, I have a confession to make, I told a third-grader not to worry about the PSSA tests. This, of course, will be a shock to the system.
The PSSAs are government-mandated tests that will be given over the next couple of weeks and schools are into an all-out push.
There have been daily letters home to parents. There was even a 'contract' sent home telling parents it was their duty to make sure there are no activities after school during the week the PSSA will be administered.
Some schools even hold pep rallies and all-day study sessions to get ready for the 'test.'
Hogwash!
In fact, I thing we'll stay up late every night and maybe even take in a movie or two.
Sure, it's probably a dumb protest, but there is enough pressure on young students these days without adding any more.
The PSSA tests are now the complete focus of the public school system. Instead of teaching to learn, teachers are teaching for the test. There is extra homework, extra time spent during class and extra pressure on the teachers, adminstrators and students.
I'm not blaming the schools. Our President has set this 'No Child Left Behind' bull. The states have no choice but to follow along, which leads to pressure on the school districts, individual schools, principals, teachers, finally, the students.
You know what they say runs downhill.
We should be giving students a reason to love learning, love going to school, instead of adding more and more onto their heads.
The biggest problem is the tests are standardized throughout the state.
Now, let's just look at the school districts in the county. There is no sane way to argue the students in the Radnor School District and the students in the Upper Darby School District get the same education.
This is not to say the teachers, at least some, don't try and that there aren't some talented teachers in both school districts. The plain truth is it's not the same education, yet they are held to the same standards.
When a third grader is walking home and believes the PSSA tests could potentially keep him out of fourth grade, that's just plain wrong.
If that's the message schools are sending, they should be held accountable.
Instead of getting all the students together to 'pump' them up for another test (really, aren't there enough regular tests throughout the year) gather them in the gym to sing or listen to some stories or ... whatever.
So, take the tests because you have no choice, but think about baseball the whole time.
Here's a quick history lesson: When I was in school there were standard tests given each year. We always thought they were very important to our advancement.
By the time we reached sixth grade, it was obvious the tests had no real meaning. So, we took the No. 2 pencils and created designs in the little circles, barely reading the test questions.
We all made it into seventh grade.

If you have any cool links or photos, send them to onlinedelco@gmail.com