The rain lightly drizzles as I pulled up on the parking lot.  An older gentleman stands outside.    I am not sure how long he must have been on the front entrance of China harbor but long enough to get soaked.  I slowly walked up and he immediately approaches me for some change and with a very small promise, I said I ‘might’ after I get my order.     

     I felt so blessed.  I thought how unfortunate for him to beg for dinner while I complain on how I did not want to cook dinner.   A man his age, nor any individual for this matter, should not worry where his or her next meal will be nor asks random passersby for money. 

     After a few minutes of waiting, my order was finally ready for pick up.  I thanked the lady behind the counter and I got back with some small change.  I put the small paper bills in my pocket  and thought twice of the half dollars I had on my palm.  I stepped, out to what just a few minutes ago a drizzle, to now heavier pelts of rain drops.   I stand underneath the awning with the homeless man, and I slowly proceed to hand him the change I half-heartedly promised.  Slowly I reached out to his hand when all of a sudden he reached into his jacket and held up his pointing finger at me signaling me to hold.  He had the audacity to put it me on hold while he answers his cell phone.    I thought WTF.  Did he just pull out a ‘side slide cell phone’!? 

Me:  Sir you need to put your dealer in the phone on hold.

 Homeless Man:  Hold up what?

Me:  I want my fitty back!

Homeless Man:  (laughs at me like I’m crazy)  Why you want it back?

Me:  Because you have a cell phone and I want my money back.

Homeless Man:  Well you ain’t getting it back.  This ain’t no refund deal.

Me:  Well yes it is if you’re going to  use it to buy crack or use my money to buy minutes for your cell phone!

Homeless Man:  (nothing)

     I walk away.  But I turned around I hold my two fingers up on  a peace sign but points to my eyes and back to him.  Oh yeah that’s right I’m watching you!

I don’t see no recession here!  I swear this line wrapped around half of the mall strip and the wait was 2 and half hours on a weeknight.  And to think for a second I felt bad for the recession in California their  furlows Fridays and the IOUs but at least they have kick-ass barbecue.  Stop by at Phil’s BBQ

I remember one of the biggest fad in the mid-80s was wearing multiple Swatch Watch. I had on maximum of two and four was just insanely ‘cool’. My fondest memory of Swatch Watch were the vivid colors and its artistic design.   I remember my friend had a scented Swatch. Well today, the “jelly bracelet” pales in comparison on what a middle schooler can have on his or her arm. (read this link: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/us/13bracelets.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss 

A  tween may argue that it’s a fashion statement..really? You be the judge on which looks more fashionableorLast time I checked how much a Swatch Watch from the 80s is valued at $475.00 dollars plus good memories.  Hmm the Jelly Bracelet and its sexuall conotation of message perhaps would be valued at a lifetime of canker sores or unwanted pregnancy. 

Enjoy this old school song ” you can deal with this or you can deal with that…”The Choice is Yours by Black Sheep

HE AIN’T THIS GUY!

I came across this article on WSJ (The Wall Street Journal) and at first I was on the verge of doing a victory dance but decided to finish reading the article.  “Asian-American students showed the most dramatic gains. In math they scored an average of 587 — 72 points better than the general population. Since 2008, their average math score has climbed six points.”  

BUT then the article goes further… “”You can’t look at these results and say that NCLB has been an enormous success,” says Jack Jennings, president of the Center on Education Policy, a nonpartisan research organization in Washington. “The bottom line is the country is changing dramatically. Unless minority kids are educated better, we are going to be in trouble because pretty soon they are going to be the majority.” 

In other words, I can’t justify celebrating because the way I see it we haven’t succeeded at all.

“Noting the gap in achievement between lower-performing minority students and the general population, College Board officials said those who lagged tended to go to school in poorer districts with fewer resources. “As a country, we must do better providing students of every background access to the best education,” Mr. Caperton said.” 

As grade inflation becomes more and more prevalent we must ensure that everyone succeeds or the mantra of No Child Left Behind becomes nothing more than just a vague longing.

We had one-and-a-half hour to board our charter plane. Accompanied by my own entourage: my husband, my two sons and an arsenal of surfboards and we were ’stoked’! We were in Philippines and we’re heading to Cloud 9. One of the world’s best surf spot. Only one caveat – supposedly it’s not safe for ‘foreigners’ I looked at my American husband and two light-haired son then me ,the only one who fits in, and suddenly I’m not so stoked.

On July 1, 2009 IBR (Income Based Repayment) officially became available. “In addition to lowering monthly student loan payments, Income-Based Repayment forgives any remaining debt — including interest — after 25 years of payments. Most borrowers will pay off their debt before then, but under current law, if there’s anything left after 25 years, the amount forgiven would be taxed as income to the borrower. ” Here’s the link: www.ombudsman.ed.gov.

    Seriously at age 16 should you be holding a pole in front of millions of audience whose youngest age is in kindergarten?

Check out Little Miss Sunshine here.  I totally see where the next marketing level is heading  Nintendo Wii will partner with Nickelodeon and bring you “Wii Pole – unleash your inner Stripper”.

     This morning I woke up to a huge gaping hole on my street.  Normally I like a good cup of coffee to kick off my day but this morning I wanted Nyquill. 

  The City of Virginia Beach is in full force replacing the sewage system on my street.  It’s part of the stimulus budget and the project is called “Sewer Defect Find and Fix” under the department  of Public Utilities and the budget is $3,000,000.  I think it’s money well spent.   However there many more repairs and upgrades that got the green light because of the government stimulus plan that seem like a waste.

     Oh by the way if want to know what a “Bridge to nowhere looks like” see the current Pacific Avenue Trail Extension Project, a boardwalk-style trail parallel to Pacific Avenue wrapping around the edge of Lake Holly.  I won’t mention how much but we could have had a couple of brand new or renovated school equipped with solar energy efficient or health care for indigenous families.  But hey, I’m not on the City Council so I’ll lock it up.

 Here’s a list of stimulus projects that got the green light:

A few years ago, this prisoners did a Michael Jackson rendition of “Thriller” now they’ve done it again with “Dangerous”.  Should American justice system  add it on our agenda ‘Dance Rehabilitation’?  Shouldn’t these guys make shanks out of toothbrushes? ( Shawshank Redemption, remember?) Couldn’t some of them fly here in U.S (just like the 15-year old pirate from Somalia) and have the best day ever?  Someone behind the bars is somebody’s Tito Boy and he’s missing his Ate Baby.  Enjoy this video.  Hope your week is off to a good start.