So this morning I was driving down Rte 12 to pick our boys up from my brothers house who had them overnight for their cousins birthday party. As I was negotiating traffic with my coffee in hand I noticed a vanity license plate for one of those fancy Armada crossovers. The plate read "ARMADA". So are you telling me that you are so boring or unaccomplished in life that you can't find anything to put on your vanity plate that remotely identifies you in any way at all other than what the brand name of your car is?! Why waste the extra money. After all the name is just above the bumper in the lower right hand corner of the hatch.
For all you fans out there this is a great barometer of how perfect my life is. I have nothing more important to think about or let bother me than uncreative people and their license plates. ;)
Back to the Brubaker Utopia!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Little Miss Round Lake 2008!
Most of you know how I feel about this stuff but after realizing how much she wanted this; who could deny her?
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Envirocrite
So as long as some people are surfing definitions and things I figured I would create a new word and definition myself.
Envirocrite - somebody who pretends to have environmental principles, beliefs, or feelings but behaves otherwise.
I was driving up Fairfield road coming home from work on Tuesday afternoon and noticed this lady in front of me smoking. Smoking does not bother me, it is a life choice. But for the 20-25 minutes that we were on the road I watched as she puffed down 3-4 cigs and discarded them out her window. Now this really pisses me off. I can't stand when people throw stuff out their car windows. If anyone knows me, all trash stays in my car, sometimes for months!
So as we approach the intersection of 120 and Fairfield I notice that she is driving one of those new fancy hybrid cars with enviro bumper stickers all over it. Now I just start to laugh. Here she is smoking and littering but in her own little mind is an environmentalist.
Stop at most intersections and look in the gutter. It's a sad state we live in right now. Remember back in the late 70's and early 80's with the "Hoot Hoot don't pollute", smokey the bear stop forest fires and the crying indian commercials?What are we teaching our children?
I'm sure her other car is a Hummer with no catalytic converter.
I recycle, I don't throw trash out my window and I make some level of effort to preserve our world but I own a truck with a Hemi, I have bon fires and have on occasion pee'd outside. I don't claim to be a tree hugger because I choose not to live that life style but people that fool themselves into thinking they do bother me.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
"...one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
This is always a bittersweet holiday. Commemorated every year with family picnics and tons of events with the kids. But at the end of it all the purpose of this weekend is to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our country and those who are on the line now.So when we are out at our picnics this weekend, getting fat eating ribs and BBQ remember the sacrifices our military personnel and their families make everyday. Voluntary or not they are/were there to protect us from things we can't even fathom.
Here is a shout out to the members of our family that did or are serving our country. May God bless your families and bring you peace.
Donal M Brubaker I
Donal M Brubaker II
Charles W Brubaker
Paul Studebaker
Gary Studebaker
John Studebaker
Jeff Studebaker
Jim Studebaker
Roy Haines
Phil Reynolds
Melvin Eugene VanSky
Michael Carlson
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
AMEN!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Athletic Supporters?!
So here is the email from one of our more illustrious HS teachers. It was sent at 11:53am. From what I can tell it was sent to the entire HS staff minus a few select individuals as well as to a few other individuals outside the HS. 5th period ending bell doesn't ring until 11:55am so one has to wonder what class he was blowing off during 5th period to write this email?
Bold emphasis is my comments;
From: Conkling, Howard
Sent: Wed 11/14/2007 11:53AM
To: (removed)
Subject: Thursday’s board meeting
Hello Again!
For most of you this is a reminder that during Thursday night’s board meeting, people will be there to discuss the future of Coach Moss and the High School program. (No tonight is to discuss that we the parents and taxpayers of D116 want our football program fixed. Whether that be with new coaches or equipment or whatever it takes) As many of you know, the president of the Spartan football (our youth program) will be there. (my name is Brian Brubaker and the Spartans are not YOUR youth program nor does the Spartans have anything to do with what is going on. At no time was the Spartan Organization part of any of this.) As you also know, he made a public meeting very private when two supporters of the football program were asked to leave the meeting. (There was no public meeting made private. It was a private meeting of HS parents and incoming freshman parents that kicked your two self proclaimed athletic supports out because of their intimidation tactics and trying to video record the meeting. In fact one of them threatened me while being escorted out of the meeting by the police. These two athletic supports are a class act.)
I’m asking you to show up and support Coach Moss. Many of you know what happened to him last year. It’s happening to him again. (What happened?)
Many of our younger teachers are worried about showing up to the board meeting and being seen. (I doubt they are worried about being seen. It’s more like they are tired of your silly games) I guess times have changed. (YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD HERE! Probably your most prolific statement in this whole thing!) In Coach Mosses first year he went out on strike and put himself in jeopardy by standing out as a first year teacher. That’s a testament of the man. (Nobody will take that away from him. In fact most of us parents actually support the union efforts and continue to do so. It’s only about 6-8 of you that give the union a bad name.)
Please consider going to the board meeting. Please consider bringing a friend. I’ll leave you with this thought. If someone from the community can raise this kind of hell, (with insider knowledge), what will happen to the rest of the coaches and teachers Please consider attending the meeting. A good person like Coach Moss should not be treated this way.
Howard Conkling
Now this really gets me. What insider knowledge would that be? Could it be the 27 games you all coached in front of a crowd on Fridays and Saturdays? Could it be the fact that we all took notice when our kids walked in the Homecoming Parade ALONE while the coaches sat at the school and waited for them? Could it be we watched as kids got out of hand in front of you time and time again and not one coached stepped up to control it? Could it be that we were told that the football players were unwilling to come to school early for weightlifting and they are lazy but those same kids show up at 6am to run sprints in the halls for basketball?
The funniest thing is that this had nothing to do with coach Moss. It had everything to do with the program and its lack of competitiveness. We want the program fixed and the fix is left up to the administration and school board. The problem is nobody ever steps up and demands what these kids deserve. We just wanted improvement.
Now the funniest part of his whole email is about the athletic supporters that came to the meeting armed with a video camera and the reference to “insider knowledge”. I have spoken nothing but truth, fact and public knowledge. Let’s see what "insider knowledge" these guys get to use… stay tuned it is almost time to wash the athletic supporters.
Bold emphasis is my comments;
From: Conkling, Howard
Sent: Wed 11/14/2007 11:53AM
To: (removed)
Subject: Thursday’s board meeting
Hello Again!
For most of you this is a reminder that during Thursday night’s board meeting, people will be there to discuss the future of Coach Moss and the High School program. (No tonight is to discuss that we the parents and taxpayers of D116 want our football program fixed. Whether that be with new coaches or equipment or whatever it takes) As many of you know, the president of the Spartan football (our youth program) will be there. (my name is Brian Brubaker and the Spartans are not YOUR youth program nor does the Spartans have anything to do with what is going on. At no time was the Spartan Organization part of any of this.) As you also know, he made a public meeting very private when two supporters of the football program were asked to leave the meeting. (There was no public meeting made private. It was a private meeting of HS parents and incoming freshman parents that kicked your two self proclaimed athletic supports out because of their intimidation tactics and trying to video record the meeting. In fact one of them threatened me while being escorted out of the meeting by the police. These two athletic supports are a class act.)
I’m asking you to show up and support Coach Moss. Many of you know what happened to him last year. It’s happening to him again. (What happened?)
Many of our younger teachers are worried about showing up to the board meeting and being seen. (I doubt they are worried about being seen. It’s more like they are tired of your silly games) I guess times have changed. (YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD HERE! Probably your most prolific statement in this whole thing!) In Coach Mosses first year he went out on strike and put himself in jeopardy by standing out as a first year teacher. That’s a testament of the man. (Nobody will take that away from him. In fact most of us parents actually support the union efforts and continue to do so. It’s only about 6-8 of you that give the union a bad name.)
Please consider going to the board meeting. Please consider bringing a friend. I’ll leave you with this thought. If someone from the community can raise this kind of hell, (with insider knowledge), what will happen to the rest of the coaches and teachers Please consider attending the meeting. A good person like Coach Moss should not be treated this way.
Howard Conkling
Now this really gets me. What insider knowledge would that be? Could it be the 27 games you all coached in front of a crowd on Fridays and Saturdays? Could it be the fact that we all took notice when our kids walked in the Homecoming Parade ALONE while the coaches sat at the school and waited for them? Could it be we watched as kids got out of hand in front of you time and time again and not one coached stepped up to control it? Could it be that we were told that the football players were unwilling to come to school early for weightlifting and they are lazy but those same kids show up at 6am to run sprints in the halls for basketball?
The funniest thing is that this had nothing to do with coach Moss. It had everything to do with the program and its lack of competitiveness. We want the program fixed and the fix is left up to the administration and school board. The problem is nobody ever steps up and demands what these kids deserve. We just wanted improvement.
Now the funniest part of his whole email is about the athletic supporters that came to the meeting armed with a video camera and the reference to “insider knowledge”. I have spoken nothing but truth, fact and public knowledge. Let’s see what "insider knowledge" these guys get to use… stay tuned it is almost time to wash the athletic supporters.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
More on the RLHS Saga
To set this all up it is important to understand the WHOLE scenario of events leading up to the email and other posts that will be posted tomorrow or over the weekend.
During the 2006 season many parents began contacting me through mutual friends regarding the RLHS football program. At that time I was asked what I thought was wrong with the program and what was needed to get it on track. Following the 2006 football season I received even more phone calls. I explained that I felt that the high school program needed two things immediately; 1. a mandatory weightlifting and conditioning program for athletes and 2. more accountability or respect for the program from athletes as well as from coaches. I told them to contact the HS Athletic Director and Principal and voice their concerns for the program. As I have posted before the HS administration tried to make some changes and other things to no avail.
During the 2006 season many parents began contacting me through mutual friends regarding the RLHS football program. At that time I was asked what I thought was wrong with the program and what was needed to get it on track. Following the 2006 football season I received even more phone calls. I explained that I felt that the high school program needed two things immediately; 1. a mandatory weightlifting and conditioning program for athletes and 2. more accountability or respect for the program from athletes as well as from coaches. I told them to contact the HS Athletic Director and Principal and voice their concerns for the program. As I have posted before the HS administration tried to make some changes and other things to no avail.
Sometime in 2007, prior to the football season I went to a board meeting and stated that I felt the football program and several other athletic programs and activities were in disarray and in need of improvement. I stated that many parents felt his way but were scared to speak in fear of their kids not starting or making the teams. I stated that I would be their advocate and asked the school board to take notice and help us.
During the 2007 season the calls began again. Parents wanted to know what to do. I told them to go to a school board meeting and voice their concerns. Prior to their attendance several parents approached me in person and let me read their statements they were going to recite at the meeting. They were too specific for a public meeting citing individual coaches, players, etc. I advised them to speak about the PROGRAM and state that they wanted it to be fixed. It is not our job as taxpayers to debate coaching or such but rather let the school board and administration what our expectations are.
I was then asked if I could help them craft such a statement. I told them I would be willing to hold a meeting to discuss what they thought should be said and how. The meeting was organized and attended by several HS football parents as well as many incoming freshman football parents.
Overall it was a good meeting and they were able to get their thoughts concise and hit the core issues and expectations.
Prior to the meeting a former RLHS teacher showed up to attend along with another gentleman that I did not recognize. They were armed with their handy dandy video camera and proceeded to try and video tape the meeting. I asked them to leave several times or turn off the camera which they vehemently declined. At which point the police were called. They were ultimately removed from the premises but did not do so before one of them threatened me verbally.
Why were they there you ask? Simply to intimidate the parents that were attending to educate themselves. Several parents ran out the back door prior to these two clowns entrance because they were afraid that if they were identified their kids would endure some type of retribution.
Sad but true. The returned once the "supporters of the program" left the building.
The parents attended the upcoming school board meeting and remained professional and courteous which was the whole point of the meeting in the first place. The last thing anyone wanted was everyone yelling and screaming at a meeting or listening to the same thing 30 different times.
Prior to the school board meeting there was a fury of emails sent around the HS and school district of which a few were forwarded to me. It is fairly interesting and has a funny ending to the story.
I'll try to make some time tomorrow or over the weekend to post the email and my comments.
During the 2007 season the calls began again. Parents wanted to know what to do. I told them to go to a school board meeting and voice their concerns. Prior to their attendance several parents approached me in person and let me read their statements they were going to recite at the meeting. They were too specific for a public meeting citing individual coaches, players, etc. I advised them to speak about the PROGRAM and state that they wanted it to be fixed. It is not our job as taxpayers to debate coaching or such but rather let the school board and administration what our expectations are.
I was then asked if I could help them craft such a statement. I told them I would be willing to hold a meeting to discuss what they thought should be said and how. The meeting was organized and attended by several HS football parents as well as many incoming freshman football parents.
Overall it was a good meeting and they were able to get their thoughts concise and hit the core issues and expectations.
Prior to the meeting a former RLHS teacher showed up to attend along with another gentleman that I did not recognize. They were armed with their handy dandy video camera and proceeded to try and video tape the meeting. I asked them to leave several times or turn off the camera which they vehemently declined. At which point the police were called. They were ultimately removed from the premises but did not do so before one of them threatened me verbally.
Why were they there you ask? Simply to intimidate the parents that were attending to educate themselves. Several parents ran out the back door prior to these two clowns entrance because they were afraid that if they were identified their kids would endure some type of retribution.
Sad but true. The returned once the "supporters of the program" left the building.
The parents attended the upcoming school board meeting and remained professional and courteous which was the whole point of the meeting in the first place. The last thing anyone wanted was everyone yelling and screaming at a meeting or listening to the same thing 30 different times.
Prior to the school board meeting there was a fury of emails sent around the HS and school district of which a few were forwarded to me. It is fairly interesting and has a funny ending to the story.
I'll try to make some time tomorrow or over the weekend to post the email and my comments.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Quote from a reader
Cautious, careful people, always casting about to preserve their reputation and social standing, never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world's estimation, and publicly and privately, in season and out, avow their sympathy with despised and persecuted ideas and their advocates, and bear the consequences. - Susan B. Anthony
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