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Thanks, Jim. But, I’m pretty sure it was the “uniforms” that brought you to the cold shower level. That, and your (obviously vivid) imagination.

Amazing, though, how easy it is to forget, while busy all day long, that one is old. Sure thing to be reminded, though, when getting out of a chair after sitting through a whole movie in a theatre (otherwise, who ever sits THAT long?). Then it’s a shock to find that it takes a few steps before all the parts are working reliably again. Good reminder to KEEP MOVING!

01/31/13 06:09 PM

#851

I hear you on the "recovery" problem, Nancy! One reason it's hard to teach 4-5 year olds anymore is that when I sit on the floor with them, it takes a major effort to get back up again. In a couple years a crane will be required. But it sure was fun to "pretend young" for awhile!

01/31/13 07:16 PM

#852

Oh, Terri, I hear you!
When I was in grad school ( in my late 40's) and working as an SLP (early 50's(!), I spent most of my day on the floor with kids. And now I'm FINALLY a grandma, and where am I (again)? You guessed it! We did my mother-in-law a favor and had our first when I was young, so she was also young. Now, here I am, getting up from the floor (repeatedly) in the most ungainly and ungraceful way. Never mind, I'm happy I can still get down there (AND back up!).....even if it ain't pretty!

01/31/13 11:46 PM

#853

I have to tell you that after that depressing thought about the crane, I decided to take advantage of our sunny, 60° day and take a fast walk outside, and enjoy being the youngest I ever will be again!

To think, my grandmother years are still ahead! Time to visit the physical therapist and get some good knee-strengthening exercises.

By the way, I still haven't received my Reunion DVD - they cashed my check in October! I tried calling them today, and one number was disconnected, and the other went to voice mail and took a message; but do you think they called back? Has anyone else not received theirs?

02/01/13 12:09 AM

#854

Karen Gerstl (LeDuke)

Terri......I did not get mine when everyone else did. so I called them, and found out they sent mine to a street name that does not exist in Phoenix. So when I told them the correct Street, they resent it.

I hope you get yours.

02/01/13 07:58 AM

#855

Barbara Blair (Brenzel)

I rec'd my DVD awhile back & have watched it - it was in black & white but as my DVD player is having "issues" I think it was the player that was the problem. It's getting older like I am & we both have "issues". Sooooo glad my daughter had her kids young - my granddaughters are young adults now so I was able to play with them on the floor before I started having "issues". What is funny, when spending time with friends the same age, is the sounds we make when we stand up! Getting older is not for cowards!

02/01/13 11:41 AM

#856

Barbara, you are right on! Thanks for your story Karen- it gives me hope that perhaps mine was also misaddressed. Once I get on a case, I'm relentless. Sally, unfortunately in my teaching experience I still ran into teachers who were "bullies" - i.e. intimidated or used belitting in front of peers as a management technique. We had a great anti-bullying program at my school called "Project Cornerstone" that not only addressed the bullies, but also helped the victims of bullies learn to recognize it, be assertive, and cope with it. I hope all schools would have such a program, now that it has become such a well-known issue.

From what the guys have posted about things their football coach told them, I think the bullying we girls received was tame!

02/01/13 05:58 PM

#857

Bullying is as American as apple pie. We seem to be getting more "in-your-face" almost by the day. It's become a whole new genre of popular entertainment - Toddlers and Tiaras, Dance Moms, Axe-Bering Sea-Repo-Storage Shed-Swamp Men et al.

Your students don't get to go home to "I Remember Mama" any more. Niceness, manners, and the Golden Rule don't sell.

But you tried.

Sally, to answer your question. You are talking on the one hand about a culture with a natural atmosphere of macho (what's the equivalent for women - femacho?) and bravado. On the other hand, military personnel belong to something which gives them a common identity and purpose, they're not just a student in a class or the big kid down the block, they're part of a company, squadron, ship. In a way, that removes some of that self-centered individuality and keeps bullying in check. You are taught from day one in boot camp that every person is equally important, if one fails, everyone may pay for it. In spite of military rank and structure, at the individual level, it becomes all about respect. Every Marine, soldier, sailor, flyboy, private or general has to earn their own respect. The unit operates on that respect. The respected ones will be followed, they stick together and protect each other, and they pull the unit through. Bullies don't get respect. In the military, there are many opportunities for pay-back, it eventually catches up with them. (There's this one Marine captain I had. . .) In today's military, particularly with the integration of women and the reduction in personnel numbers, there is little tolerance for bullying or any kind of misconduct.

02/01/13 08:07 PM

#858

Really, Jim? Any kind of misconduct? There may be some female cadets who take issue with that judgement.

02/01/13 09:18 PM

#859

I talked to the guy on the phone today, and he is sending another DVD - says one was mailed long ago, but I never did get it.

Hey Garry, for your information, teachers don't make up these programs. We feel the same way when we are ordered to participate in some of these programs and they take time and resources away from the majority of students. It was one of my biggest compliants while teaching! The good thing about Project Cornerstone is that it is run in the classroom for all students and conducted by parents. In primary grades they read a story, such as "Simon's Hook" (the idea is kids learn not to "bite" on a hook, such as a taunt). It's funded in our district by some kind of grant, so it doesn't cost us anything. One good thing about all the budget cuts, is that they were forced to look at programs and get rid of the ones that didn't benefit the most.

02/01/13 10:26 PM

#860

Nancy,

Of course there is still bullying and misconduct. It's not tolerated in the military today, and punishment can be severe. In 2012, 25 Navy ship captains and unit commanders, including 5 women, were let go for misconduct. Dozens more officers and command chief petty officers were axed too. Anything like that is an abrupt end to a career. And that's just the Navy.

My son's in the Coast Guard. The ships executive officer and my son's department chief were recently removed, particularly for their conduct toward the both male and female members of the crew.

Garry,

Your Super Bowl menu left out such California tailgate treats as Johnsonville brats rolled in nice warm tortillas with guacamole or choice of salsa, and of course, washed down with Dos Equis.

02/02/13 08:18 AM

#861

Jim – “zero tolerance” may be the face the military tries to put on the problem of sexual assault among the ranks, but the statistics present another picture. All reporting (including DOD, GAO, the Pentagon, and our outgoing Secretary Leon Panetta) point to a history of under-reporting, poor to non-existent evidence-gathering, failure to follow through to investigate the crime, and minimal to no punishment of the perpetrators. “Zero tolerance” looks more to me like "circle the wagons", “wink-wink”, and “boys will be boys”. Not acceptable.

02/02/13 11:21 AM

#862

Marian Schopp (Bringe)

About bullying. I was bullied from kindergarten through high school graduation. It was more serious in elementary school but continued through 12^th grade. I asked my parents many times to please move to a neighborhood where the kids were nice. Without going into details, that life made me very sensitive to other people’s needs, made me try very hard to be a good person, and made me a little too much of a people pleaser. I now have endless energy to help anyone in need. I am glad I survived bullying and life did not turn out badly.

02/02/13 11:39 AM

#863

Nancy,

We started talking "bullying", not sexual assault. Apples and oranges. If you want to talk about sexual assault, there is no conversation, I totally agree with you.

02/02/13 12:53 PM

#864

I'm sorry Jim; I misunderstood. After I mentioned female cadets, when you said "bullying and misconduct" weren't tolerated in the military, I guess my definition of misconduct encompassed more than bullying. My bad.

02/02/13 01:28 PM

#865

Hey,

All you Bay area folks, if you recently read or saw the news about the Coast Guard cutter Waesche making a big drug bust off Mexico - that's my kids ship. Home ported in Alameda.

02/03/13 10:27 AM

#866

Klara Ruppert (Grigg)

Nancy, I had to chuckle when I read about you on the floor with your granddaughter. Specifically, about getting up from the floor! I have the same issue, and our son calls it "Mom's 4-point get-up" as I have to get on hands and knees before I can hoist myself upwards. Age and the creaking joints. But I'm still getting up and down! Thats what matters.

02/03/13 10:38 AM

#867

Karsten Boerger

Exactly, Klara! It's the 4 points. And, with a knee that doesn't bend so well (ski accident - arthroscopy), what's the first part to rise? Oh, brother, it's "downward dog" every time.

02/03/13 11:23 AM

#868

Garry Sellers

The secret is to only get on the floor with grandkids near handholds for on the way up ... or within rolling distance! LOL ... will you listen to us?

02/03/13 11:30 AM

#869

Garry- as long as we can still get up and then laugh at ourselves, we can be happy.

02/03/13 06:22 PM

#870

And as long as there are plenty of kids around to laugh at US!

I can relate to the 4-point get-up. And you're right Garry - a nearby low shelf or chair is essential.

02/03/13 11:03 PM

#871

So, in our parents time it was Geritol for tired blood.

Today we need Gerit-OIL for senior LOF - Lube, Oil, Function.

02/04/13 08:56 AM

#872

Marian Schopp (Bringe)

About the fun-to-watch super bowl game, I tried to post this Sunday morning but our message forum site was down...................

My Super Bowl prediction

Statistically, the team that wins the Super Bowl is the team that comes from the state with the lowest unemployment rate. Since CA has a higher unemployment rate, and theoretically less fan enthusiasm, I predict Baltimore to win. Sorry CA.

02/04/13 03:51 PM

#873

Marian, if you had been in the SF Bay Area in the weeks since the Niners won the NFC championship, you wouldn't have believed the fan enthusiasm! All you have to do is read Garry's posts to gauge it. We could not open a paper without the regular front page (not just Sports) screaming out a headline about the Super Bowl. You could not walk into a grocery store, restaurant (and even my church!) without being greeted by red & gold - not to mention Niner jackets and jerseys. . Schools had spirit days where kids were dressed in the Colors, if they did not have their own Niners shirt. I did a little research on unemployment rates by county, rather than state; Baltimore Co.: 9.9% (Dec. '12); SFO Co. 6.5% and Santa Clara Co. (adjacent to SF and the future home county of the Niners) 7.5%. I think the cause of loss was that the Niners didn't decide to play until the second half!

02/04/13 06:52 PM

#874