As game week arrives, our friends at Second Wind Creative take a look back at the last 26 days in Sooner football to see how the team has prepared for 2013. This is a MUST WATCH for Oklahoma Football fans (we would recommend the full screen experience). Consider it a happy Boomer Bytes relaunch present from us to you. BOOMER SOONER!! -
http://boomerbytes.tumblr.com/post/59390032437/ou-football-fully-engaged
Monday, August 26, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
New Awareness, New Friends
Growing up as the son of a pastor and being around "church" all my life, I learned early how important it is to grow strong connections with other Christians. Those connections are there for you to celebrate joyous times and to help get through the hard times. Before our last move, we were blessed to have several other couples and families with whom we connected at least once a week for Bible study and fellowship. People who started off as complete strangers became close friends. I knew I could call on them for anything just as they could call on me. Jennifer and I will hopefully always have a close connection with those individuals.
The downside came when we moved. We tried a few churches, but our hesitation to commit was due to our fear of not being able to match a small group like we had before. When exploring new church home options, you consider several things. The pastor is important. The worship is important. The missions are important. You can get a feel of the doctrine from the website. Our biggest issue was the small group options. It is in the small group in the past where we saw our relationship grow in Christ.
After praying about it, we feel like we have found our new church home. We also took a leap and contacted a small group leader. They already had three families. Would we feel like outsiders coming in to mix up their current dynamic and comfort zone? How would they accept us? Exploring small groups is not as easy as it might appear.
We have now met with this group on two separate occasions. I can honestly say that we felt welcomed from the very first handshake. These families are warm and caring. There appears to be a variety of backgrounds, but that is what helps us grow our own cultural awareness. We can never change our past, but we can learn from the past of others that might have taken a different path. I am excited about the opportunity to get to know these people and allow them to get to know us.
While I have already learned that each family has had its own unique set of life-changing events, I am pleased to be able to share the story of one. I hope they do not mind that I share this. This is the story of triumph through extreme difficulty. It shows how focus on God and His plan can overcome circumstances that would cause a lot of people to give up. I am proud to now know these two, and I look forward to getting to know them more in the years to come.
If you do not want to be inspired, DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO. Otherwise, be ready to be proud as an American, a Christian, and a human being. Enjoy....http://youtu.be/YRpeEl2Fzto
The downside came when we moved. We tried a few churches, but our hesitation to commit was due to our fear of not being able to match a small group like we had before. When exploring new church home options, you consider several things. The pastor is important. The worship is important. The missions are important. You can get a feel of the doctrine from the website. Our biggest issue was the small group options. It is in the small group in the past where we saw our relationship grow in Christ.
After praying about it, we feel like we have found our new church home. We also took a leap and contacted a small group leader. They already had three families. Would we feel like outsiders coming in to mix up their current dynamic and comfort zone? How would they accept us? Exploring small groups is not as easy as it might appear.
We have now met with this group on two separate occasions. I can honestly say that we felt welcomed from the very first handshake. These families are warm and caring. There appears to be a variety of backgrounds, but that is what helps us grow our own cultural awareness. We can never change our past, but we can learn from the past of others that might have taken a different path. I am excited about the opportunity to get to know these people and allow them to get to know us.
While I have already learned that each family has had its own unique set of life-changing events, I am pleased to be able to share the story of one. I hope they do not mind that I share this. This is the story of triumph through extreme difficulty. It shows how focus on God and His plan can overcome circumstances that would cause a lot of people to give up. I am proud to now know these two, and I look forward to getting to know them more in the years to come.
If you do not want to be inspired, DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO. Otherwise, be ready to be proud as an American, a Christian, and a human being. Enjoy....http://youtu.be/YRpeEl2Fzto
Friday, August 9, 2013
Perfect Timing
I just had to share this link. These are some great images!
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/03/most-perfectly-timed-photos-ever/
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/03/most-perfectly-timed-photos-ever/
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
It Might Not Be So Bad Starting Off
I was recently directed to a blog entry that talked about teachers being underappreciated. I have no disagreement that teachers are underappreciated. They carry a major responsibility in the education of our children. Unfortunately in some situations, they carry the sole responsibility of education (when parents do not do their parts).
Here is the site I was referring to - http://www.upworthy.com/the-real-number-of-hours-teachers-work-in-one-eye-opening-graphic-3
I take issue with this because of the accuracy. I feel like I have as much authority as anyone who is not a teacher can have on this topic. I have been a son, nephew, grandson, cousin, brother, friend, and husband to people of the teaching profession. I have also worked as a substitute teacher and passed all exams and observation hours toward my teaching certification. I have seen firsthand the number of hours that teachers work outside of the classroom. This article/blog was an extreme exaggeration, though. Yes, there may be days when a teacher works 12-16 hours, but it is not the average. Of course some teachers probably work those hours every day, but this argument is dealing in averages. The number of weeks "working" in the summer was completely off base as well. I do not think any honest teacher would disagree with that. I am sure I will have at least one teacher friend read this and claim that they do work every week during the summer getting ready for the next year. That could be true, but I bet the majority of your co-workers do not. Again, we are dealing in averages. Exceptions can always exist.
Therefore, I decided to compose my own statistics based on the number of new teachers that I see complaining on my Facebook newsfeed about having to go back to work after having time off and about not making enough. Again, you chose the profession, and I am completely grateful for people like you. However, a new teacher should not complain about being underpaid, especially in the North Texas area. These comments are usually made by people who have never worked in a corporate environment and think that everyone makes six figures and works exactly 40 stress-free hours every week.
**I want to remind readers that this is talking about STARTING TEACHERS/RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES. Unfortunately, though, the salaries do not increase very significantly with more years of experience. I am in complete agreement that experienced teachers make less that than of those in other fields with equal years of experience.
Basically my math shows that if you look at a per-week indicator of wages, a new teacher has no room to complain. Wait a few years, then complain. I will give you that.
Again, I appreciate teachers very much. I am well-educated, and I have my teachers (who were mostly my mom's friends) to thank for it. I just wanted to do the math for my own justification. Even though the figures might be off slightly, it shows that given the experience level, teaching is not a horribly paid profession for someone coming right out of college (in some parts of the country).
Here is the site I was referring to - http://www.upworthy.com/the-real-number-of-hours-teachers-work-in-one-eye-opening-graphic-3
I take issue with this because of the accuracy. I feel like I have as much authority as anyone who is not a teacher can have on this topic. I have been a son, nephew, grandson, cousin, brother, friend, and husband to people of the teaching profession. I have also worked as a substitute teacher and passed all exams and observation hours toward my teaching certification. I have seen firsthand the number of hours that teachers work outside of the classroom. This article/blog was an extreme exaggeration, though. Yes, there may be days when a teacher works 12-16 hours, but it is not the average. Of course some teachers probably work those hours every day, but this argument is dealing in averages. The number of weeks "working" in the summer was completely off base as well. I do not think any honest teacher would disagree with that. I am sure I will have at least one teacher friend read this and claim that they do work every week during the summer getting ready for the next year. That could be true, but I bet the majority of your co-workers do not. Again, we are dealing in averages. Exceptions can always exist.
Therefore, I decided to compose my own statistics based on the number of new teachers that I see complaining on my Facebook newsfeed about having to go back to work after having time off and about not making enough. Again, you chose the profession, and I am completely grateful for people like you. However, a new teacher should not complain about being underpaid, especially in the North Texas area. These comments are usually made by people who have never worked in a corporate environment and think that everyone makes six figures and works exactly 40 stress-free hours every week.
**I want to remind readers that this is talking about STARTING TEACHERS/RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES. Unfortunately, though, the salaries do not increase very significantly with more years of experience. I am in complete agreement that experienced teachers make less that than of those in other fields with equal years of experience.
 |
| Your first objection to the math might be that I used a nationwide calculation in one and a local in the other. Yes, but I worked with the information I could find. This is not the Wall Street Journal. It is my blog. I do not have millions of readers or a lot of time to do my research. Therefore, it will have to suffice. |
Basically my math shows that if you look at a per-week indicator of wages, a new teacher has no room to complain. Wait a few years, then complain. I will give you that.
Again, I appreciate teachers very much. I am well-educated, and I have my teachers (who were mostly my mom's friends) to thank for it. I just wanted to do the math for my own justification. Even though the figures might be off slightly, it shows that given the experience level, teaching is not a horribly paid profession for someone coming right out of college (in some parts of the country).
Friday, July 26, 2013
Noodling - Not Just the Preparation of a Lo Mein Dish
Because of my strong views on fishing with live bait, I have had people ask how I feel about noodling. (Some people call it "grappling.") For those unfamiliar, noodling is using only your hands to catch fish. Most of the time, the prey is catfish of the blue or flathead variety. It is only permitted in a handful of states. Texas recently adopted it as a legal activity. Noodling has been gaining popularity for several years in other states, like Oklahoma, due to numerous videos and reality shows on various networks.
If anyone does care about my opinion - I have no problem with it as a hobby. I think people that want to stick their hand in a hole and HOPE that a 40-pound catfish bites it might not be playing with a full deck. Their sanity, though, is not the question at hand. I do not consider this "fishing" at all. There is no bait (unless you count fingers that resemble worms). I would definitely place noodling in the "hunting" category. Most of the time, the participants do keep and eat their catches. If they release them, that is fine too. It was fun, and no real harm (to the fish) was done.
I first learned about this "sport" in a class while attending the University of Oklahoma. The course was Geography of Oklahoma. Toward the end of the semester, after we had used lectures and field trips to learn about the state, my professor introduced us to a documentary that, at that time, had been recently produced - Okie Noodling. The documentary explored those who enjoyed noodling and even began an annual tradition of a tournament that I believe is still done today. The documentary also talked about the dangers of noodling. The obvious ones are getting bit by something other than a fish - turtle, snake, beaver (yes, beaver), etc... The catfish itself can do quite a bit of damage to limbs as well. It also talked about a man losing his life by getting caught in shifting concrete and drowning in only a few inches of water. I realize that is a freak accident, but it just shows how unpredictable certain conditions can be.
All in all, I am intrigued by the mindset of individuals that enjoy this. Who knows? Maybe it is something I will try one day. For the time, though, I prefer my fingers and toes just the way they are. Although it should not be considered "fishing", I do respect that noodling has its place as a hobby.
By the way, I purchased the documentary a few years ago and enjoy watching it with people who are not familiar with the activity.
Noodle On Boys & Girls!
If anyone does care about my opinion - I have no problem with it as a hobby. I think people that want to stick their hand in a hole and HOPE that a 40-pound catfish bites it might not be playing with a full deck. Their sanity, though, is not the question at hand. I do not consider this "fishing" at all. There is no bait (unless you count fingers that resemble worms). I would definitely place noodling in the "hunting" category. Most of the time, the participants do keep and eat their catches. If they release them, that is fine too. It was fun, and no real harm (to the fish) was done.
I first learned about this "sport" in a class while attending the University of Oklahoma. The course was Geography of Oklahoma. Toward the end of the semester, after we had used lectures and field trips to learn about the state, my professor introduced us to a documentary that, at that time, had been recently produced - Okie Noodling. The documentary explored those who enjoyed noodling and even began an annual tradition of a tournament that I believe is still done today. The documentary also talked about the dangers of noodling. The obvious ones are getting bit by something other than a fish - turtle, snake, beaver (yes, beaver), etc... The catfish itself can do quite a bit of damage to limbs as well. It also talked about a man losing his life by getting caught in shifting concrete and drowning in only a few inches of water. I realize that is a freak accident, but it just shows how unpredictable certain conditions can be.
All in all, I am intrigued by the mindset of individuals that enjoy this. Who knows? Maybe it is something I will try one day. For the time, though, I prefer my fingers and toes just the way they are. Although it should not be considered "fishing", I do respect that noodling has its place as a hobby.
By the way, I purchased the documentary a few years ago and enjoy watching it with people who are not familiar with the activity.
Noodle On Boys & Girls!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Agree to Disagree
I told you it would not be long before I had another post.
I just had to share my thoughts after a discussion with a co-worker this week. He was sharing with me his political views from a Tea Party perspective. We discussed the Eric Snowden saga and had differing opinions. This co-worker is definitely more informed on worldly events than I am, and I am okay with that.
Basically what I took from the conversation is that I am pleased that I do not spend time trying to keep up with every move that our government and others around the globe are making. Do I feel like it is important to be informed? Yes - to an extent. My reasoning - LIFE IS TOO SHORT. If we spend all of our waking moments and mental energy worrying about government interference and playing watchdog, what time are we using to spend with our families?
I do agree that there can be a happy medium. I could probably take more time to study events around the world. I used to do it as part of a job. Some of my closest friends might say, "You used to work in the media. You should follow current events more closely." Here is a news flash for you. Almost every person I know who worked (past tense) in the media have gotten away from actually following the news. Most of them were in the business a lot longer than me. After getting out of the media industry, it helps to disconnect by doing something you no longer HAVE to do. It would be like a longtime In & Out employee not wanting to eat a burger for a while.
Again, I am all for informing ourselves, doing everything you can to make a difference, and standing up for what you feel is right. However, sometimes we have to step back and think about if it is worth the time and energy that we could be spending on something closer to home.
My co-worker has my utmost respect for taking individual actions to not only be informed, but for taking steps by contacting those at higher decision levels to make sure his voice is heard. We did agree, though, that we see things differently in regards to what might be worth our time. I jokingly said that he might be better off moving to a smaller town like me, where his voice is bigger and has a higher likelihood of making change. He said he would stay where he is and keep doing what he can. I respect the passion and persistence.
I just had to share my thoughts after a discussion with a co-worker this week. He was sharing with me his political views from a Tea Party perspective. We discussed the Eric Snowden saga and had differing opinions. This co-worker is definitely more informed on worldly events than I am, and I am okay with that.
Basically what I took from the conversation is that I am pleased that I do not spend time trying to keep up with every move that our government and others around the globe are making. Do I feel like it is important to be informed? Yes - to an extent. My reasoning - LIFE IS TOO SHORT. If we spend all of our waking moments and mental energy worrying about government interference and playing watchdog, what time are we using to spend with our families?
I do agree that there can be a happy medium. I could probably take more time to study events around the world. I used to do it as part of a job. Some of my closest friends might say, "You used to work in the media. You should follow current events more closely." Here is a news flash for you. Almost every person I know who worked (past tense) in the media have gotten away from actually following the news. Most of them were in the business a lot longer than me. After getting out of the media industry, it helps to disconnect by doing something you no longer HAVE to do. It would be like a longtime In & Out employee not wanting to eat a burger for a while.
Again, I am all for informing ourselves, doing everything you can to make a difference, and standing up for what you feel is right. However, sometimes we have to step back and think about if it is worth the time and energy that we could be spending on something closer to home.
My co-worker has my utmost respect for taking individual actions to not only be informed, but for taking steps by contacting those at higher decision levels to make sure his voice is heard. We did agree, though, that we see things differently in regards to what might be worth our time. I jokingly said that he might be better off moving to a smaller town like me, where his voice is bigger and has a higher likelihood of making change. He said he would stay where he is and keep doing what he can. I respect the passion and persistence.
New Hobbies on the Horizon - Is There Enough Time?
Yes, it has been over six months since my last post. I have had several ideas for topics about which to write, and I have even written most of them down. You know how it goes, though. "Life gets in the way."
Since January, I have completed construction on a new home, moved, been promoted at work, become a landlord, spent quite a bit of time in hotels for work, and been diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome following an accident in my garage. Needless to explain further, I have had a few things on my plate.
One advantage of the move is that I now have a new testing ground for fishing techniques since my new place has two ponds full of bass. I would expect fishing posts will definitely pop up here and there.
Apparently, I might be tackling a new hobby or three in the very near future. I do look forward to exploring those options and possibly writing about the adventures.
Thanks again for reading. Maybe the next post will not have to wait six months.
Since January, I have completed construction on a new home, moved, been promoted at work, become a landlord, spent quite a bit of time in hotels for work, and been diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome following an accident in my garage. Needless to explain further, I have had a few things on my plate.
One advantage of the move is that I now have a new testing ground for fishing techniques since my new place has two ponds full of bass. I would expect fishing posts will definitely pop up here and there.
Apparently, I might be tackling a new hobby or three in the very near future. I do look forward to exploring those options and possibly writing about the adventures.
- I was recently introduced to golf. Golf is a sport for which I have always had a curiosity. I had worked at several jobs with access to free golf, but I was always afraid it would take away from fishing time and finances.
- When building the new place, I always wanted to have a room with a pool table. Well, I now have that. I am not very good, but I enjoy the pastime. My billiard sessions were limited following the concussion because of the dizziness that came with leaning over to shoot. Symptoms are improving, though, so it should not be too long before my game gets better.
- For the last few years, I have struggled with ups and downs in my weight and fitness. I lost a lot, then I gained a lot (more than once). Last spring, I began the P90X program. It was hard, but I enjoyed the challenge. The visual and capability results are definitely evident. I made it about half way through, but I stopped because of job change and injury. I intend to start back next week after I get back from a work trip. Having done it before should help in being able to modify the program slightly to best fit my abilities and work around a nagging hip injury.
Thanks again for reading. Maybe the next post will not have to wait six months.
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