Mr. C.’s Random Thoughts

Go here to find pictures of Duncan’s first birthday party.

Yesterday as my wife Heather and I sat watching news updates on the television on the shooting at Virginia Tech, we asked each other how we would handle it if it were our kids at the VT campus.  How would we react if our children were in such a horrible situation half a continent away?

Before we had kids, I never gave much thought to questions such as these.  I never really understood why my mom always asked me to call when I arrived at a destination.  I never really comprehended why so many times my dad would wait up to make sure that I got home safely after going out on a weekend.  At the time, I just thought Dad liked late-night television.

When I was in high school I would often inwardly wonder why they couldn’t just let me have my space.  Didn’t they realize that I was competent?  That I didn’t need someone to wait up for me?  What was it with them and their unyielding need to control my every move?

Of course, now I realize it wasn’t about controlling me.  It was about a parent’s concern and love for their son.  So the next time your mom is waiting at the kitchen table reading a book as your come in on Friday night and asks what you’ve been up to, be patient.  The next time your dad tell you to buckle up and be safe, just listen.

And the next time my mom asks me to call when I get home, I’ll do it thankfully.

…always be prepared for a lockdown. The students and faculty at Virginia Tech had no idea when today began that over thirty people would be dead at the end of the day. Take drills seriously (even when they’re the result of a prank or a malfunctioning sensor).

And say a prayer for the people affected by the shootings in Virginia.

Click here for a photo gallery of the shooting on Amarillo.com’s website

I’ve worked with several of these as I’ve developed websites.  Several of these types of clients also correlate to types of students.

Congratulations to Will Walker, who was elected the Texas-Oklahoma District Governor at the T-O Key Club Convention in Wichita Falls!  Will served this year as Division 33’s lt. governor and we are all very proud of him!

Congratulations to Kevin Elliott, who placed 2nd in the UIL Computer Applications contest at Regionals at Odessa College on Saturday.  Kevin will compete in the state meet in Austin during the first weekend in May!  Kevin is the first Canyon HS student ever to advance to the state meet in the Computer Applications contest.
Congratulations also go to the following students who qualified to compete at the state meet:

• Matt Hadley-1st News Writing
• Krislyn Wurtz-1st Feature Writing
• Kylee Olson-1st Debate and 4th/alternate to state in feature writing
• Blaze Bulla-2nd Poetry Interpretation
• Tyler Mahan-3rd Extemporaneous Informative

Canyon HS’s One-Act Play has also advanced to the state meet.  Matt Hinders was selected Best Actor, Blaze Bulla was named to the All-Star Cast, and Amanda Say was named to the Honorable Mention All-Star Cast.

Canyon HS’s Journalism team placed 1st and the overall academic team placed 3rd at the meet.

Happy Birthday to my son Duncan on Wednesday!

From NPR’s Talk of the Nation…click here.

Just in case you’re keeping count…25.

DAEP - 3 absences
ISS - 1 absence
Athletics (Tennis, Golf, Softball) - 14 absences
Everything else - 7 absences