On the 13th day of Christmas!!

On the 13th day of Christmas!!, originally uploaded by luis847.

This is why happens on the day after Christmas!! My boys are tired, 10 am and still out!! Oh yeah he SNORES!!!!! LOL what a great Christmas this year.....

New storm brewing near the Gulf!!!!!!

New storm brewing near the Gulf!!!!!!, originally uploaded by luis847.

Ok. My kiddos have been here for only a few hours and already my clean house has been turned upside down!!! This storm had been officially upgraded into a Cat 5 storm, Hurricane Palomo!!! There is popcorn, toys, books, you name it and it is strewn all over. Hey boys will be boys and they ate awsome!!! K gotta go I think something is on fire!!!!!!!

My New Office......

Well here is a picture of my new office.

Let me give you some history.....

For the past 10 years my work day has included a very long drive to my office at Sam Houston High School in the Northside. I have served that community in several capacities, recently as an assistant administrator. My role was to develop and implement the Leadership and Character component for all 9th grade students. I enjoy, no I LOVE my job wholeheartedly. I could not see myself serving anywhere else.....yeah that totally changed recently! I was very honored to have received a 150,000 grant this past month. Our teams mission and funding purposes are to continue to develop Leadership Programs within our public school systems.

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM....Although I am very excited about the prospects of this grant that is fundable for up to three years (450,000 dollars in total!!), I would have to leave Sam Houston!! Grant was awarded in September and just three weeks ago I decided to accept grant monies. My new primary office will now be at Fondren Middle School in southwest Houston. Work will continue at Sam Houston, Fonville Middle, Berry Elem. and now Fondren.

I spent almost two months praying and seeking direction as to the timing of my departure from a career long tenure at Sam. Finally with advise and ultimate blessing from my friend and mentor, Max Torres I made the move. I needed that "go ahead" from Max before I entered into this new venture. My first day was Monday November 17, 2008. Tragically my mentor passed way the next day. His untimely death has inspired me to do even more that what we are doing now for students. I am sure this is where I need to be at this time in my life. I'm adjusting at a good pace here in my new office.

About time!!!

Texas Congressman proposes bill to end BCS, force a playoff

02:31 PM CST on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Taking aim at a BCS system he said "consistently misfires," a member of Congress planned to introduce legislation Wednesday that would force college football to adopt a playoff to determine the national champion.

Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, didn't specify what sort of playoff he wants -- only that the BCS should go.

Images: College football

Special section: AP Top 25

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"In some years the sport's national championship winner was left unsettled, and at least one school was left out of the many millions of dollars in revenue that accompany the title," Barton said in a statement released ahead of the bill's introduction.

"Despite repeated efforts to improve the system, the controversy rages on."

He said the bill -- being co-sponsored by Reps. Bobby Rush, an Illinois Democrat, and Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican -- "will prohibit the marketing, promotion, and advertising of a postseason game as a 'national championship' football game, unless it is the result of a playoff system. Violations of the prohibition will be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act as an unfair or deceptive act or practice."

The BCS was created in 1998 by the six most powerful conferences. Since then, the system has been tweaked to make it easier for teams from smaller conferences to qualify for the top games. The sites for the four BCS bowls -- the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Fiesta -- take turns hosting a championship game between the top two teams in the BCS standings, which are based on two human polls and six computer ratings.

This season, Florida (12-1) and Oklahoma (12-1) will meet in the BCS title game Jan. 8 in Miami.

Barton cited Southern California in 2003 and undefeated Auburn in 2004 as examples of worthy teams left out of the national championship game.

"This year, we again have two teams with one loss each playing for the 'championship,' while two undefeated teams and four additional teams with only one loss will play in bowl games, but none can become 'champion,"' he said.

When an Energy and Commerce subcommittee held a hearing about the BCS in 2005, lawmakers said they weren't going to pursue legislation.

"The BCS method of determining who is No. 1 consistently misfires," Barton said Wednesday. "Simply exposing the flaws and subjecting them to discussion ... hasn't led to improvement by those who run the system."

Home made antenna!

Home make antena!, originally uploaded by luis847.

Eli's ingenious modification to his Lightning McQueen power wheels...an antenna! Oh yeah, a Jack antenna ball too. LOL. Man to be a kid again......

The Overgrown Chicken

The Overgrown Chicken, originally uploaded by luis847.

My sister Esther cooked this delicious turkey. Looked like it came right out of a cook book. Mmmmmm

Sean's wreck....

Sean's wreck...., originally uploaded by luis847.

Car got rear-ended. Need I say more?

Gas

Gas, originally uploaded by luis847.

Wait is over 1 1/2 hours for gas.

Now power

Now power, originally uploaded by luis847.

Here is a great indicator as to how long the city will be without power. This light pole and about 10 others right next to of where just snaped in half! It gonna be a while.

Rain In my house.

Rain on my house., originally uploaded by luis847.

During the height of the storm it started raining inside my house.
Ceiling came down it was actually really scary. It was around 6 am or
so. It just made the wind sound so much more louder. Good thing I put
tile in a few months ago.

My backyard.

This is what the storm did to my poor bananas :( I fared pretty good due to the fact that my house is a one story structure nestled in between three two story houses. Pretty much they shielded most of the wind...they had tons of damage...I had minor....

My backyard., originally uploaded by luis847.

Power of the wind!

Power of the wind!, originally uploaded by luis847.

Check this out. .... Wind was so hard that it blew my gate to the
opposite side of the fence. I took me forever to pushed back to it's
regular side.

No tuning back!!!

No tuning back!!!, originally uploaded by luis847.

Home depot.

Home depot., originally uploaded by luis847.

Long line to get in and most supplies are out already.

Hurricane Ike.

Hurricane Ike., originally uploaded by luis847.

I've decided to ride out this storm. I live far enough inland that I
feel relativly safe. We expect winds to peak at about 90 miles per
hour sustained. Worried about trees near house.

Fonville feeder team building

Fonville feeder team building, originally uploaded by luis847.

A group of profesionals going through a course designed to create a working bond between them. Participants usually leave with a renewed sense of collaboration. I truly enjoy facilitating these groups, plus I get out of the office and I can enjoy the great outdoors!

Staff inservice

Staff inservice, originally uploaded by luis847.

We had the challenge of building a school from the ground up in just a
little under 2 months! These are a few of the new staff members at an
inservice.

2.31 cents for gas!!!!

2.31 cents for gas!!!!, originally uploaded by luis847.

I don't know if you can make out the price or not....cheap gas! Two gas stations got into a bidding war. I waited in line for about an hour and 30 min. I know, I know but I really had nothing else to do that day and 2 dollar gas, come on!

Lost River.....

DSC04038.JPG, originally uploaded by luis847.

Here is a pic of a dried up river bed (ok there is still a significant stream running through it.). What makes this river bed extraordinary is that just two years ago it was a roaring river! Enormous white rapids and all! In 2006 an avalanche deposited so much fill that it totally altered this rivers course. It now runs in another direction that is not readily accessible without a decent hike. This picture was taken over a bridge that spanned over 100 feet.

Snow in JULY!!!

DSC04093.JPG, originally uploaded by luis847.

I know it is like 1000000 degrees in Texas...but up in the Pacific Northwest...there is still stinking snow on the ground!! Christmas in July or what?

Mt. Rainier from plane.

Mt. Rainier from plane., originally uploaded by luis847.

What a sight. I guess you had to be at the foot of this behemoth to appreciate it's grandure.

Snoqualamie Falls

DSC03947.JPG, originally uploaded by luis847.

A spectacular waterfall. By far the tallest one I have seen. Notice people at base of falls to get a good perspective. WOW!!! To add to the beauty and grandure the weather was and unbeliavable 69 degrees! Sorry to my envious friends in Texas' 100 degree weather ;)

Mount SI

DSC03913, originally uploaded by luis847.

We hiked for about 2.5 hours and ascended over 4000 feet! Dang i am sore!! Spectacular views.....

Pikes Market

Pikes Market, originally uploaded by luis847.

This is where they throw fish around. Not sure if I understand their
reasoning but it is entertaining.....

Nuff said.......

Nuff said......., originally uploaded by luis847.

Starbucks #1

Starbucks #1, originally uploaded by luis847.

What started it all!!!

My Babies

DSC03589.JPG
Originally uploaded by luis847

Meet my kiddos. Olivia, Sean, Elijah and Zackie......

P Patch

My brother, dad and nephews watering the garden.

P Patch
Originally uploaded by luis847

This is the boys old room. As you can see it will now me my home office...

This is how my entire house looks like!! This is my living room with all (ok half) of my office contents. I am almost done...........

Room was designed to have flames originating from one corner and wrap around the entire room. I hope to get a web cam view of the whole room. It looks great....

Boys Room

Our new project. We are turning the boys room into Optimus Prime flame decked truck. Transformers is the current fad @ my house. We will keep progress posted...








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