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Well, uh, since, uh, well, I guess since this time last year I've changed, uh, jobs within the firm I'm with Uh-huh. and, uh, I now am learning to be a sys admin on, on, not only P C but, uh, uh, professional work stations as well. Wow. All right. And these are the big mamas, i. e. sons, uh, Hewlett Packards, uh uh, uh, oh, the big Solburns and, and so forth. Uh-huh. Yeah. And, uh, and, and, uh, we have, uh, two P C here. We have, uh, an X T and then recently we, we made a, the command decision to go ahead and get, uh, the absolute top of the line because spouse is a, uh, programmer. Uh-huh. And so we got one that, Oh, yeah. Oh, yes. So, uh, I, I get to see all kinds of different applications. Sounds like you're an expert at it, too. No,
no. Learning, I'm learning I'm learning to be, uh, one who knows what's he's doing Yes. but, expert, no Oh, well, well. I frown on that, that term because, uh, too many people, you know, uh, misuse the word but my area, my level of expertise is increasing almost daily. Well, that's great, And, uh, yeah, so, I've got a P C and a work station at work and I Uh-huh. and we have two P C here at home. Right. And the, a lot of the, the, the new mama we're, uh, I've got Aldus and, uh, Micrographics on it as far as, uh, technical publishing and we do a, quite a bit of church work with ours.
Great. And, uh, We do an awful lot of that, too with ours. You know, some, I, I, I've found that, uh, the more we do with it, uh, it seem, and the Lord's just pleased that we're kind of, this is, this is, part of giving back a portion of what He's given to us. So, uh, I don't mind, because seems like the more we do, there's, there's the more stuff that's, uh, available that comes along and so forth. Oh, yes. And, Definitely agree with that. So, uh, rather than being niggardly and, and, chintzy, uh, we've just said, you bet, boss, seeing as he was the one that, uh, enabled us to get the money to buy the Four Eighty-Six. Uh-huh. Because the top of the line we've got, well, we've got a compatible. It, Yeah. Wow, wow,
you got, that's a Four Eighty-Six processor, too? Uh-huh, uh-huh. Wow Like I said That's, Yes. you have to have that to support UNIX. Uh-huh, of RAM. and then, uh, it, it, it likes to live on about a hundred and fifty megabyte hard drive. Right So the next size up was a Two Hundred and Eleven and so rather than just have one, we went ahead and got two. Uh, at some point in time I'm going to do the mirroring, uh, experiment to where one disk mirrors the other for fault tolerance. Yeah. Wow, okay. And, uh, oh, speak, speak of the angel, she just walked in
Well, good for her T I stuff another So, uh, uh, You say she's a programmer also. Yeah, she's, she's a squirrel for, uh, uh, contractor out at American Airlines. Uh-huh. So, Well, great. Well, she probably needs that kind of a powerful type of a machine to do her work. Okay, you ready to discuss the, the topic? What's the topic? Okay, the topic is social changes and discuss social changes in America and how they relate, or how they differ today than they were ten, fifteen or thirty years ago. Okay. You ready for that? You bet. Okay I'll let you lead out.
Pardon me? I'll let you lead out. Okay, well, there's, uh, it's kind of an interesting topic and one that I think is quite fascinating because, uh, couple of years ago, I guess, uh, not very, not very long ago, seemed like the whole world, not just the United States, but the whole world was kind of in a standstill where everyone was basically in, uh, you know, a very comfortable position, so to say, even though the, the cold war was, was in full swing. You know, you had the, the Russians against the Americans, the Communists against the Free World, and in the last couple of years things have changed dramatically, not only on the political front but also on the economic front, where, uh, couple of years ago we had, uh, America was one of the leading powers and one of the strongest nations in the world as far as economics were concerned, and now we're having a very tough time in a recessionary period. We're also have a very humongous trade deficit, and, uh, and that's kind of frightening. Also, you know, a couple of years ago, ten, fifteen, ten, fifteen years ago, an individual going into a career could expect to have that career basically throughout their whole life, and thirty years ago, that was, that was basically it, whereas now we're expected to have a career change every, you know, every couple of years and possibly four to five career changes throughout our lifetime, and so I think, uh, you know, things, there's been an awful lot of social change lately, and and, uh. I think one of the things that's interesting to me is if you look particularly at the political changes is that the, they seem to be social, they seem to be economically driven also. Uh-huh.
Uh-huh. So if you look at Russia and what's happened over there, I think the change in Communism was as a result of the economic problems that they were experiencing. And, of course, I look at the economic problems in the United States right now. One of the things you wonder is what that's going to do to us. True. I think the other kind of changes like job changes and those kinds of things, I mean, I think it's great to even have three or four different careers in your life. Uh-huh. I think it must have been terribly boring to go through, your life doing just one thing for fifty years or forty years. Yes, yes. Some of that opportunity for job change in the fact that, that aspects changing. True, true. And the uncertainty of whether you're going to have a job is not as good, but, the fact that you really can make major changes in your life and jobs. Uh-huh. Well, do, do you think that's good or bad? I think it's great. You think that's great. Oh, yeah.
That's some, yeah, because a lot of people seem to stagnate once they get into position, they, they're very comfortable, they lose the ability to learn, and they in a sense become unteachable. They think they know all there is to know in the area, set path, and you know, come in and put my time in from nine to five, and when that's over with, that's, that's it, without even giving a second thought to , advancing their education or getting extracurricular, um, education, and, and I think that's an excellent opportunity for us to expand ourselves also. I think one of the problems with, with education as it relates to this, though, is that I don't know that education is prepared to help people make those changes. It just seems a lot of the training and education that goes on is gearing people towards a profession and not giving them the skills and whatever those skills are necessary to make those job changes, which I think is going to be a hard thing for, for people to face. Uh-huh. Right. I agree with that, I agree with that. But I believe that, uh, an individual should really learn how to, to learn Yeah. learn how to adapt, learn how to grow in the, in their college or whatever education they might take. Well, that, that's good,
that's good. There probably needs to be some training on how to, to, to adjust to these changes as they come about. I mean if you look at the, the high unemployment rate right now and you look at people who are in those situations, I don't know that they have good coping skills or a lot of them, even ideas of how to make those changes now. Uh-huh. So it seems to me that while those changes are taking place, maybe we're not well preparing people to make the changes with them. Yeah, I, I read a few articles off in the newspaper and some publications where stress, uh, for those people that are laid off and also for those people that are not laid off but were threatened with a layoff and threatened with a reduction in their company is extremely high right now. Uh-huh. That stress is a very prominent factor in the work place and it affects, Well, Nancy, what do you think, um, some of the changes in roles of women are in American society in the past generation or two? Well, of course, working. Uh-huh. That's definitely got to be the biggest thing, is that everybody's out there working including me Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Well, what do you think it is? Um, yeah, I agree.
Yeah. I also think that there are more, um, the people are, women stay single longer it seems like. Yes, they do. Yeah. Yeah, they do. I know my mother and her sister were both married by the time they were twenty Right. and I waited until I was thirty-two, so. Uh-huh, yeah. You know, um, I know that. Yeah, that's true. It's a big change. I'm an O B nurse and so I really do see what you're saying there.
Uh-huh. It used to be that our list ran nineteen, twenty, twenty-one for our patients' ages. And now our care plans look more like thirty-two, thirty-three Uh-huh. and if we get somebody twenty-one, we go, oh, look how young. Yeah. So, yeah, you're right there's a big change, and we have a lot of first time moms in their late thirties and even forties. Uh-huh. So, it's true. Yeah. But again, I guess it probably does go back to the same thing of women having careers. Uh-huh. If they didn't have, if they weren't out there working and having their careers they probably would be married and having their children Yeah. So. Yeah, yeah.
Seems like there's. I guess it's a combination. Uh-huh, go ahead. No, go on. Uh, it just seems like there are more single mothers, too. I mean, that's, there're a lot of, either divorced or, um, you know, never been married, Yeah. so. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's a lot of mixed up families, that's for sure. Yeah, I agree. Well what do you think have been the most significant changes in the past generation or so? Well, just that. I think the families,
the, the role in the family, and the mother doesn't stay home and cook the dinner take care of the children, um, Uh-huh. we do it all Yeah. I really think that, and I know that there's a lot more participation by the fathers, but I still think the mothers have the major role. Uh-huh. I really do. I think they're just, they're not doing very much less, I don't think as far as the kids and, and the house and everything are concerned, not from what I see Yeah. Yeah. and, and they're contributing to the income besides. Uh-huh. I think that we're really, really putting a lot of stress on ourselves. Uh-huh, yeah, and it really, it's affecting the families you know, for mothers not, not to be home, and yet, you know, um,
I mean, I, I don't blame anybody when they have to work because, um, yeah. Yeah, it's, it's difficult, and I think that, I live in Plano actually, so Uh-huh. it's a very wealthy town, and we're not part of that, but, it is, you know, and, I think what I see a lot of parents, a lot of mothers working just for bigger and better Uh-huh. and I really hate that you know, Uh-huh. I hate to see that, and I, I've been here for a very long time Uh-huh. but, um, I don't know, now I'm a single parent,
and I don't have a choice any more Uh-huh. but I used to just work occasionally for extra money, but now I have to work all the time Uh-huh. and that's really hard Yeah. and, and I don't know how a mother does just choose to go out to work, and, and leave the kids. In a way it's good, it's very good to get out with adults, and I think that's a good thing, if you can do it part time. Uh-huh. But to just go out there forty hours a week, at least and and work and, and leave your kids to get home from school alone, and that kind of thing, I think that's not very smart. Yeah. I think that's difficult on them. Uh-huh. So. Yeah. Well what do you think's going to happen in the next generation? You think it'll continue? Well, it's going to be interesting.
Yeah. Yeah, I think it will change, but I'm not sure how it's going to, because you see young people today and wonder how in the world they'll ever afford to buy a home and and to raise a family. Uh-huh. I don't know how they're going to do it. Uh-huh. And so I don't know how it can change to where the mother can get back into the home again. I don't that ever will go backwards Uh-huh. but I don't know what effect it's going to have on these kids now when they grow up, how they're going to feel about it. Uh-huh. It, you know, it could lead to another Woodstock type thing, you know, where where there's just too much material things, Yeah. and, and maybe these kids will really resent that their parents are out there working for things Uh-huh. and they might want to do without things rather than do that to their families. Yeah. Uh-huh. It's hard to say.
Yeah, it is. I think some, I don't know how many, you know, what percentage, but some are, will move back toward more traditional lifestyle of staying home with the children. I guess I see that happening already. Uh-huh. Some choosing it, and, and they get, you know, there're, people chide them for it, you know, why aren't you out, Okay. And, I've pressed the button. Okay. Let me tell you. I haven't been too many places You haven't been to too many places. No, no. I haven't.
Well, okay. I have been to Hawaii. See now, that is where I want to go. That is where I have always wanted to go. I have never been there. It is beautiful. I know. Is it, is it, uh, I had an aunt that lived there and she couldn't stand it any more. She moved out because she said the whole island was, uh, you know being taken over by the Japanese. Well, there is, there is a lot of Japanese over there. And they are, Yeah, and she, uh, also told me that, well not her, uh, necessarily, other people that have been there have said that it is too commercialized. Uh-huh. Is it? Uh, well, yeah. There is,
it is commercialized. Yeah. Sure. I don't think I have enough, Oahu naturally has got more people on it than the other islands. Uh-huh. But, it is still beautiful. You have got to see at least once. Oh, well I will. You know, eventually So, Well, what is the most, uh, you know the nicest island? Uh, I like Maui. Maui. I think that is what usually people, uh say they do, they like the best. Yeah. Well, I like it because the beach is nice and white and you know it is like Oahu, you can go over there and lay on the beach Uh-huh.
Yeah. But, uh, Kauai, I mean, the beaches are nice, but I don't know, just not nice as Maui. Yeah. And then, uh, where, where have you been? Well, I have been to California. I've been to San Francisco. Oh you have? I loved it. I absolutely loved it. Oh. Yeah, and, uh, How long ago? Oh, uh, eighty-six. Huh. Okay. My sister lives out there My sister lives in Piedmont.
Oh, yeah. Yes. Uh-huh. So. Oh, well that is right near Piedmont. Yeah, right. Right. Yeah, that is like a suburb or something, whatever. Yes, uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh, yeah. Okay. Well she was in Berkley also and she Uh-huh. lets see I went when she was, uh, was living, well when I went out there she was in, uh, now I can't, oh, Lafayette.
She was living in Lafayette. Oh yeah, right. And then they moved to Piedmont. Uh-huh. So I, uh, I haven't seen, uh, you know, her house in Piedmont but, but I loved San Francisco. I would like to go back. Yeah. Did you go on the cable cars and everything? Oh yeah. Yeah. Isn't that fun? Went to Alcatraz. You know we did the whole bit. And then we went to the wine country. Oh yeah. Up by Napa. Yeah. Yeah.
Oh, beautiful. Yeah. And we went to Carmel. Uh-huh. And we took the eighteen mile drive. Isn't that pretty. I love it down there. Oh, it is beautiful. That is really beautiful. Uh-huh. My girlfriend was down there a few months ago. First time she has been down there and they wanted to take that drive and they had closed the whole road because of, uh, uh, fog, Oh, the weather. Yeah. So they never got to do that. Huh. Well I have also been to the Carribean. Oh, I haven't been there either
You name it, I haven't been there Well I, uh, have been there a couple of times. Uh-huh. I went on a cruise. Oh, that is nice. The last time I went, I went with my two sisters. Uh-huh. And it was over Christmas time. Yeah. And we really had a good time. Uh-huh. Well they, they had this cruise director dress up like Santa Claus, and we went to the beach and they had put a Christmas tree on the beach decorated it up. Uh-huh. It was, it was a lot of fun. Well, that's nice. So. Is, uh, a cruise nicer than, uh, if you just go, on a regular, uh, you know, to a hotel? Oh, yeah.
It is. I have heard it is. Yeah. Yeah, because you don't have to worry about unpacking or anything like that you know. You put your clothes in your room, Uh-huh. Oh, you will have to go on one. You don't get seasick? That is what I am afraid of. No. No, huh. I mean there was, some people did, uh, on that last cruise that we took because they was having a storm come in Uh-huh. but that is unusual. Yeah. Uh, one of my sisters got sick, but the other one didn't
Uh-huh. but, uh, it is really nice and they, they just do so many things for you, you know, to make you enjoy the trip and everything. Right, yeah. So, you will have to do that once. I want to go on another one, but I want to go to Alaska. Oh, yes. Now someone I know was on a cruise to Alaska. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Was it to Alaska? Yeah, I am pretty sure. That is right my hairdresser Oh, really? She went last year. She said she went on a cruise. And I was thinking, you know, cruise I am thinking.
So on and she is laying on the beach. And I said, well you are not very tan for someone who has been on a cruise She said we went to Alaska Yeah. Right. And, uh, that, that I would like to go, well Hawaii is my, uh, is number one. I would also like to go to Australia and get a, Oh, I think I would like to, too. Yeah. I keep hoping to win the lottery where I can do all these things. You know. Oh, well see, I am, am just in the Publisher's Clearing House and the READER'S DIGEST, because we don't, uh, right now the lottery here, Okay. Well, what do you think about the government providing health insurance for everybody? I think they should. I know I had a job until, let's see, a year ago this past December. I was working for P I E and they closed,
and naturally while I was working for them I had health insurance, but, um, for me to try to get it now, it would cost me like over three hundred dollars a month with the same company that was providing health insurance at, at P I E. Good grief. That's just almost unaffordable, isn't it? Right, it really is, and I think, you know, I think, uh, God, the government should come up with some kind of a health plan, or stop these doctors and hospitals from having their prices so high. Well, I wonder if they couldn't just provide, uh, interim health insurance for people who are between jobs like that. That might be a step in the right direction. I don't know. Well, the thing is, you know, jobs are so hard to find you know, Uh-huh. anyhow in the valley where I live at now, they don't want to pay anything for health insurance at all. No benefits, you know. Um. You mean the, uh, the employers? Yes. Uh-huh. I mean, you get a job now, and the wages are really low and, uh.
Because everybody's competing for jobs. Yeah, and they don't want, uh, to pay any benefits, so you just, you know, pray to God that you don't get sick. Well, I used to think that universal health insurance was probably the right thing to do. I, I have to think about it some more now, because my doctor is, uh, actually he's Canadian Uh-huh. and, uh, he told me that there're a lot of, uh, lot of counts against the Canadian system, which is basically the one people are talking about for here. Uh-huh. I don't understand the arguments, exactly. He says it restricts your choice of doctors, and, and so forth. I'm not quite sure I understand why government health insurance would restrict your choice any more than private insurance does. No, I don't understand that either. I mean we're on a private insurance plan right now, uh Uh-huh. actually I have my own business, and and we, Uh-huh. our health insurance is through my wife's employer,
and, uh, and every year we get another list of what doctor's we can go to, and where we can buy our medicine, and, uh, it changes every year Yeah. It's always so confusing. So. Well, I know the plan that I had with P I E, I could go to any doctor and I could go to any drug store and get my prescriptions filled, you know, then I just sent cards in Uh-huh. and then they would have like a ten dollar deductible per year for my medicine, and then they would just send me a check for what was ever over that, you know. Well, yeah. Of course, the restricted choice in this case is because only certain doctors agree to accept the, uh, the limits of, uh, compensation, Uh-huh. but of course that is restricted choice, so I don't think that the restricted choice really, uh, has to do with the difference between, uh, public and private health insurance. Uh-huh, uh-huh. I think it has to do with the, the, the, uh, attempt to limit cost, doesn't it Um.
and everybody agrees that we need to limit cost some way, Yeah, that's true, that's true there. Well. You, you have to recognize that if you're going to have the very best health care possible and, uh, available on demand whenever and wherever you want it, then it's going to be expensive. Yeah, right. And if you want to pay less, then you're going to have to settle for a health system that is not quite that, uh, lavish. Uh-huh. And, uh. But there's just so many people that can't afford to pay anything, you know, that, people that's on unemployment. Yeah, what happened to Reagan's safety net, anyway? I don't Did he take that back to California with him? Using it for a trampoline now? Yeah,
probably so. I don't know, but it is, it does seem to be a big problem, you know. I don't know what they're going to come up with, but, um, I sure wish they would come up with, with something, and, uh, like I say, and, and I'm at the age, too, where the, I'll be fifty-seven in June, and the people don't want to hire people this age any more. And I worked for my previous company for twenty-six years, you know, so, it's kind of hard, you know, so. Yeah, they'll be needing you in a couple of years, because they're running out of kids down that, the other end. And. Yeah, they'll be calling at my door, huh. But anyhow. Well, if they're smart. Yeah,
now I, I do think the government, though, is going to have to do something, uh, with this problem, because, it, you know, even to go to a little doctor out here, just to ask him anything, costs you forty bucks you know, just for the visit. Uh-huh. And then he, then that's not counting what medicine you're going to buy and everything else, you know. And he might tell you, well, you know, now you're going to have to come back in a week, and then that's another forty bucks, plus whatever else he decides to do to you, Right. Okay, Bill, um, as you think over the plans and so forth that the company you're working with now, who do you work with at this time? Well, I own the company. You own the company. All right. I'm the president and C E O of the company. My goodness. So, uh, I guess, uh, I determine what the benefits are Yeah, I guess you do. But, uh, so what are you asking me, what, what benefits I think are most important?
Well, what, what do you think of the, let's put it this way, what do you think are the most important benefits for those working for you, other than, other than their present salary? Um, I'd say in today's economy, besides basic benefits, uh, such as, um, health insurance and life insurance and the, some type of retirement plan I'd say that, uh, most of the employees, uh, um, that we have really like a, a profit sharing plan. Uh-huh. A profit sharing plan, that's interesting, uh-huh. They like to participate in the profits of the company like they're, you know, because they feel like, well, we're contributing to it, so we'd like to participate in it, and so that means I make a little bit less, but the thing is that really you make a little more, because everybody has a interest in, in it working. Yes, because they they have a specific reason to do so, because they themselves benefit from doing a better job. Right. I think most people, uh, don't want money, um, it's been my experience, most people want, uh, to feel like they're participating in something that, uh, that is not a drudgery, you know, that they enjoy, and that they can get some benefits out of. Uh-huh, And it's a contribution.
Right. Well, Bill, uh, that idea fits me exactly. I just retired from, uh, the university here, and that's been the goal in my life, was to contribute and, to the work that I was doing in my research, and that's what made me happy, and, uh, that's the type of goal I think most people ought to look for, and I'm sure a lot of them don't. You can't stand in front of a counter and do that kind of stuff all day and feel like that you're contributing something to a scientific level of knowledge or so forth. Yeah, well, uh, our people get a lot of satisfaction. Um, we're a financial planning firm. You're a financial planning firm? Yes. How many, uh. You said you retired, I just happen to have a person that I happened to do some planning for this morning, but anyway, uh, uh, we do, we deal with a lot of people that are retired or trying to retire Uh-huh. Uh-huh, well.
and, uh, it's real important, uh, that their benefit plans that they get from their companies and from their work that, where they were, that, uh, uh, that it take care of them. They don't, none of them really want to be rich, but they like to have enough to be comfortable. Well, what, what changes would you, have you considered, uh, in doing it, to, to your company, that might benefit the employees or perhaps the company itself better? Well, um, we, considering instead of tying a profit sharing plan to a, a salary is, uh, is tie, um, uh, a percentage, um of business that, uh, that a person would participate and bring into the company. Uh, pay them, uh, based on the percentage of business they bring, instead of based on their salary. And the When you say bring in, do you mean that they negotiated with people to, to come in and, uh, ask for your support? No, not necessarily. Um, it can be in-house people who help you handle X amount of dollars. Oh, okay. Uh-huh. Even though they didn't bring it in, they help it once it's there. Right well see, we have we have marketing people, Yeah. and then we have financial planners, and, uh, then we have, uh, staff secretaries and administrative assistants,
and these secretaries and administrative assistants, um, you know, if we don't have their cooperation and they're not participating in the profit of the company, they, they can get very dissatisfied very quickly. Uh-huh. And, so, uh, we're thinking about paying them, instead of a percentage on salary, paying them a percentage on the business they handle. So administrative assistant that would handle two million dollars worth of business is a lot more valuable than a person that handles a hundred thousand dollars worth of business. And, uh, Yes, but it, it might not be necessarily because he did a good or bad job, but it might be whether the locality there, those people want that kind of support. Well, and, and, but to, see the thing is that they give support to the financial planner that they're the assistant to, or that they usually have several people they report to that, you know, that they work together with it encourages them not to, uh, complain when they realize that they get a part of the, of the action based on their efforts and not based on being sitting back saying, well make me do it. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. See, we don't want anybody around here that says make me do it. I don't think any Yeah. I think most people want to be, lack of better terminology, they want to be self-employed, but they don't want to take the risk. In other words, they like to control their own future, but they also want to be somewhat content to go and come as they please without some real strict adherence,
That's true. which, that's what we have. Uh-huh. Actually, I'm in, like I said, I'm in Minneapolis and the big thing up here, of course, is the twins. Uh, I imagine you can't escape it No, it's, it's pretty pervasive. It kind of goes into about all aspects of society I think up here. But, uh, actually, I don't know how much of the World Series you caught last year, but that was a lot of fun . Well, of course, it was fun for you Well, to be honest with you, I'm not from Minneapolis. In fact, I've only been up here a few months and I'm going back at the end of next month. To? Uh, Orlando, Florida. Oh, really.
So I'm not exactly a real Twins fan from birth or anything. But, I was born and raised in, uh, near Miami and, uh, spent the last twenty years in Dallas uh, where the Rangers played. Oh, yeah. Oh. Uh-huh. And, uh, for the last, uh, what, year, roughly year, I've been in San Francisco where there are two teams. The Oakland A and the San Francisco Giants. Right. Uh, but honestly, you know, I, uh, I do my duty and watch the sports on, uh, the newscasts Oh, okay. but that's about all the exposure I have to sports. Yeah, I haven't followed it real closely at all. Uh, except like I said, last year when the World Series rolled around, I did, I did follow that pretty religiously. Went out into the bars, you know drank a beer, watched the game, had a a good time that way. Uh-huh sure. But, uh, Well, I guess the, uh, San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A were like the leading teams a couple of years ago. Is that right? Well, I
well I don't know. That's sort of what I gather. Uh-huh. Um, and, uh, I don't know. What is the prognosis for, uh, this year? Uh, real good as far as I can tell. People are pretty excited about it. Good. I, I assume that means good for the Minnesota Well yeah Sorry about that, yeah. Uh, as far as the Twins are concerned, it seems to be real good. Uh, my roommate went and saw them play on their season opener a couple of nights ago and they, they won that one seven to one, so, uh, that's pretty good I guess. It looks like they'll be doing pretty well. Are you still there? Yep Okay.
I heard some noise on the line. Didn't know what happened. I think a train went by. Oh, okay. All right. I know a train went by, I don't know what the noise was but I think it probably was the, the train. Yeah. Well, I don't know. I, I, I don't even know, uh, who has been winning in, uh, as far as the, uh, San Francisco Giants and the Oakland A but I think they both won their opener. I, uh, sort of gathered that in my, uh, subliminal memory. Uh-huh Well maybe that has, has good tidings for their, uh, for their season coming up. I've actually got a friend that's living in San Francisco right now. Uh, he's doing the same thing I'm doing which is, basically, uh, an internship. We, we're both doctoral students and he's doing his with I B M Huh.
and I'm doing mine with Honeywell. But, uh, I, I think he kind of follows the sports and I think he's mentioned uh, the Oakland A a couple of times. Uh he may have watched them and seemed to think that they were pretty good. Uh-huh. I guess they are different leagues. Is that right? The A As far as I know, yeah. Yeah . And in the major leagues, I guess there is a couple of different divisions and then, of course, there's the minors. Uh, I don't know. I, I guess I'm one of those people that if I really made a concentrated effort, I could really probably get into baseball. Uh-huh. Uh, but I was talking to my roommate a couple of nights ago, right after that game, and he offered, you know, to take me to one of the games because, apparently, he'd bought, uh, he and four other people from Honeywell had bought a seat, or a row of seats actually, for the home games. Uh-huh, uh-huh.
But the thing is, there's like eighty-six home games per year. So there's no, no way that you can ever use them all. Eighty-six? Eighty-six. I was amazed to hear that. Huh! You know, that's just the home games and I, I thought it was a mistake but he goes no . Well they must play every day then. Yeah. Well just about, yeah. I mean eighty-six times two is a hundred sixty. Yeah. And that's, you know, yeah that's almost, And that's, Lord, that's, uh, over five months worth. That's a lot of baseball.
Even if they play every day, that's over five months worth. Well, you, if you, if you consider it, the season starts, well it's, the season started about a week and a half ago and it ends with the World Series which usually takes place, I believe, in December or January. No. Yeah, I think so. It did last year, didn't it? Or was it November? That was the Super Bowl. Maybe it was November I'm thinking about. I know it was doggone cold up here. Uh, I don't feel so bad. I think you, you don't know all that much more than I do about baseball Well, I know for sure it was, I see, okay. And, and it was at least two months after I got up here. Oh, really,
okay . Yeah, so it had to be November anyway. Well, I, I know, uh, the Super Bowl, Okay. What would you rather have? Or you want salary too plus what? What's most important to you? Well, as far as tangible benefits go I would say that, uh, health insurance of all forms is probably my next most important concern. Right. I feel that a company that can provide good health benefits such as health care, dental and vision as well as good long-term and short-term disability plans, uh, goes a long way toward satisfying my needs. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Well, I'll tell you. I think that is the most important thing I've, uh, I'm not working right at the moment but the company that I did work for excuse me I had health benefits. You know, dental, vision, all that, pension plan, uh, now I don't have that, although I do have a pension that I'm drawing from them which, thank God, I had. Right.
But, uh, man, I think those medical benefits are the most important. Uh, You, you really don't realize how important they are until you find yourself on the other side of the fence without them and having to cover your own medical and, uh, you can quickly see where they become a very important part of your, your compensation package. Right. Uh, I should knock on wood. I haven't, you know, had any serious health problems or anything. I've only probably been to the doctor a couple of times since I left work and it was only for a cold, you know, and they can't really do anything for you anyhow, so you might as well not even go Yeah, they look at you, say, well you're still breathing, so, uh, Yeah. Yeah, right Oh, you've got a cold. Go home and take, uh, liquids and, uh, rest. But, uh, that is definitely, the most important. Uh, pension, I guess, is next. Uh, thank God that I had one.
I don't know what happened to the salary employees when, uh, the company went bankrupt but I was union, so mine was being put into a, like a trust fund, you know. Right. So, but I don't know if they ever got anything or if they lost all of theirs or, I suspect that it just disappeared. Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. I really feel sorry for all those people that spent all that time there, you know. Right. So where, what company do you work for? Uh, I work for a little start-up company here in Pittsburgh called Trans Ark. Uh, Um, uh-huh. Have you heard of them? No. They, we do, uh, distributive system software for Unix based workstations Uh-huh,
uh-huh. Uh-huh. So. No, I, I worked for a trucking company P I E, nation wide. You probably heard of that Ah, yes, yes. In fact, my mom drives trucks so, Oh, does she really? Yes. Oh, how about that. So, yeah, I see, uh, after the merger, uh, you see a lot of Ryder PIE stuff on the road. Well, you did. So, did, did Ryder get out of the business? Is that what happened or? Well Ryder and P I E went together you know,
Right. and then, then that ended it Huh. So that the merger pretty much ended the whole thing. It really did. It's, it started, I think, a little bit before that but that, when P I E and, and Ryder went together, why that was downhill from then on, you know. Yeah, and the, the problem with that is, you know, when you leave a job, you can continue your benefits for some finite period of time. Right. But when, when the company goes bankrupt, I mean, the, they're just cut off completely and you're responsible for your own. Right. And, and that's exceedingly expensive. Yes, it was over three hundred fifty dollars a month if we wanted to continue our own benefits. We could do that for eighteen months. Right. But three hundred and fifty dollars a month.
It's definitely excessive. So, but anyhow, uh, and jobs aren't that hard to find, to get another one that does pay your benefits, you know. True. And a lot of them that, if you do get a job, they don't pay benefits. Yeah, they're starting to, to cut back. Especially start-ups. I know here at Trans Ark, we get, uh, we get health care and that's it. Uh-huh. I mean, there's no dental or vision. Uh-huh. And the, the short-term disability policy is, is a ninety day policy and there is no long-term disability policy. Huh. So, you know, at least in the case of this particular company, they tend to scrimp a little bit there. Uh-huh, uh-huh. And, you know, of course, they can use the excuse well, we're start-up.
Yeah, right But you know what's happening is the, disability plan, you know, so many people are lying about their things. God, there's been big articles in the paper about that. Uh, you know, they claim a back injury and then someone goes out and spies on them and they're lifting refrigerators into trucks and and everything else, you know. Right. So I don't know what's happening and what's going to happen. But, uh Well that certainly doesn't help matters any. I mean, you, you get people who are willing to put their neck on the line to get you, you know, these additional benefits, You want to go first Well, uh, no I I don't get as much exercise as I, as I should as, or as I would like to, uh, uh, these days. I, seems to be to easy to get busy with other things. Uh, I have, in the past, uh, jogged and, and run, and every, every January and every September, I start out again
and then it tapers off Really? Uh, what about you? Well, yeah, I do a lot of exercise. Right now, I'm into jazzercise, which I absolutely love. Uh, I started about two years ago because I gained some weight over the past few years and I wanted to get it back off Uh-huh. and I was going through a divorce and I just found that running really made me feel good. Yeah. Got out a lot of aggression. I went to the gym every day and I ran on the treadmill and rode the bike and, uh, I felt really good. I needed to do it and it was really helpful at the time. Now when I do those things, they're boring. I would rather be outside then in the gym doing this in one place.
Uh-huh. And so I just recently discovered jazzercise, about two months ago. And I'm getting to be a good dancer from it and I'm just feeling really good. I love the class, it's real challenging, so I'm really into that, I really like that a lot. Well now that, is that, uh, that's related to the, the aerobic, uh, , It is, it's aerobics but it's with dance steps. Okay. It's an aerobic exercise and it's an hour straight. And it's just, uh, it's a lot of fun. Yeah, yeah. and I'm, I'm getting much better. My stamina is getting great for the dance floor so I mean it's just,
Yeah. there's a lot of positive things with it, so. Well, uh, okay. Now that's inside again, right? It is inside and I've been doing a lot of bike riding outside with the nice weather we've been having But, and I just enjoy that much more too than inside. Do, do you like to do it with other people. I mean like the, the jazzercise would be? I have a thirteen year old daughter and so we go bike riding and it's nice. We get to spend some time together rather than I go to the gym while she does her homework. Yeah. Yeah. So I've enjoyed that part of it. Yeah.
And at the gym, even in the class, uh, I, it's not really a group where you chat a lot. Everybody's on their way to someplace Right. and so, you know, I do have one friend who goes occasionally But, but, basically, I do it by myself in a group of maybe forty so. Yeah, right. Right. But still there are, there are other people there doing the, doing the same thing. There are, there are. It's more motivating that way, I think. Yeah. In terms of motivation and incentive, yeah. You could get a tape probably and do it at home in front of the T V but you probably wouldn't.
Yeah. So. Yeah, uh, that makes a difference doesn't it? Yeah. I, I've, one thing, when, when I have run and jogged, uh, I've always enjoyed doing it by myself and, and, not with the sense that it was, uh, uh, chore or something that I was having to do, I, I've really enjoyed just the activity and, uh, I write software, uh, as far as the job and so getting out and being active, uh, is, uh, uh, helps out. The, it's Yeah, yeah, I can see it'll be a good break. The the the change of pace and just getting out and around
Right. and I find that I can often, you know, often, uh, when I get around to doing it, then I, I feel better when I get back to work Uh-huh and, uh, uh, also that, that, it, my subconscious is working on things while I'm working and I, I go back and I've got new ideas, but still . I think you do. You feel very good after you exercise. I think it's worth making the time for yourself. Yeah. You owe it to yourself Yeah. and I think you do accomplish more after that. Yeah. And I think that it's just is good for your self-esteem, for everything because when you look better, you feel better and it's just, uh, I think it's well worth it. I just demand that time for myself.
Now I've learned to do that Yeah. and, you know, and it's, I think it just benefits you all around. So. Yeah, I think that's, uh, I think that's a good term, demanding the time for yourself. That you've just got to you've just got to You have to. Because there's always more things to do. Right. There is always things that you can make priority to it but I just, I don't demand a lot for myself and so you know, I just feel entitled to it Yeah. and I take it so. Well good, well good. Well, uh, uh, have you, have you done any jogging? I tell you, you said you did on the bike and on the treadmill in, in the, uh, club.
No, I've done some walking with friends in the past. Uh-huh. But I find that when you do that, you do more chatting than you do exercise Yeah. and that's not really beneficial, so, uh I don't have time like that Yeah, yeah. and I spend enough time chatting around everywhere, you know Okay. Uh, read any good books lately? Uh, yes, I, I've read, uh, several good books lately. Uh, lot of them related to, uh, business and financial matters since that's what I do for a living. Oh, okay. Uh-huh. How about yourself? Uh, well I'm in graduate school and so I read a lot of books
but I don't know if I consider very many of them good Uh, I haven't read a book for enjoyment since, I guess, around Christmas. Uh, I received, uh, uh, several books for Christmas and at Christmas break I read, uh, SARUM by, uh, uh, a fellow named Rutherford. Yes. Uh, it's the history of, uh, well it's sort of the the historical fiction about, uh, the Salisbury area in, in England. Uh-huh. And so, I, I really enjoyed that book a lot. Uh, he's not quite as good as, you know, Michener or some of, uh, some of the other historical writers. But he, he did this job well, so. Well, that sounds good. Yeah. Uh, do you find do you find you have much chance to read for, for just pleasure or mostly for business? No, I read for pleasure some also. I read a book recently called IRON JOHN. Uh-huh. Have you seen that by Bly?
I don't think I have seen it. Okay. Well it's a book about, uh, uh, Greek gods and, and Greek, uh, mythology as well as, uh, man and interacting with other men and a book about, uh, men and how they mature through life. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Oh. And how they deal with life itself Okay. I think I have heard about that. Yeah. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Yeah, that sounds great. Did, did it have something to mention about, uh, sort of, uh, cultural rituals of, of manhood? Yes. Okay. Yeah, I have heard of that.
I have, uh, someone suggested that I read it. Is it IRON JOHN? Yes. Okay. Good. By Bly, B L Y, I believe it is. B L Y? Uh-huh. Okay. Great. And, uh, it's a very interesting book. Uh-huh. Uh, what are your favorite, uh, do you have a favorite subject to read, whether it be science fiction or, or history or, Well, it depends again if we're talking about uh, Uh-huh. Uh-huh. And I read a lot of books in the area of, uh, uh, psychology and self-help type, uh, materials.
Okay. Uh, always trying to understand people better and understand myself in relation to other people and try to understand where the people are coming from because I'm in a people business. Uh-huh. Okay. And, uh, so that, that's, my work is my hobby Uh-huh. That sounds great So I, I enjoy it. Uh, who is your, whose your favorite religious author? Well, I don't know if I have a favorite uh, religious author. Uh-huh. I would have to say that, uh, some of the ones that consistently put out good materials, uh, you know, that, that's difficult because one person might write one book extremely well and some other ones might not write as well. Uh-huh. Uh, I had to stop here and think a second. One of the ones that I've read recently that I've read several of his books and I thought that each one of his books were good. He's the man out of San Antonio. And, uh,
Max Lucado? Max Lucado. Yeah. Max consistently writes good books. Yeah. Uh, he's a great man. I've met him several times. Uh, Yes. I know him, yeah. Huh. But uh, there's other authors also that have uh, uh, that write good books from time to time, but not consistently put out the materials all the time Uh, I'd say another, which is a local writer here in Plano, uh, is, uh, I'm trying to think of his name. He's with the Bible church. And that is, uh, I see his name but I can't, I mean I see him but I can't see his name
But he, uh, he talks about, uh, he talks about a lot of different topics and, Okay, I guess its recording. Um, what kind of hobbies do you have? Do you sing or knit or anything? Well, I, um, I do cross-stitch and I enjoy reading and playing softball. Okay. I, uh, I started knitting awhile ago, I knitted I didn't know, even know what the stitch is called. I just had this, uh, uh, piece of yarn and I wanted to start something so I remembered something I learned I think when I was five years old So I kept doing that, and now I have a little blanket but that's all I've done. Oh, really. Uh.
Well, I know that I learned how to knit one time and, um, made a few things but I haven't done it in so long that I probably wouldn't remember how Do you make sweaters and things or just blankets? Well, if I remember I think we made some, like Christmas stockings, you could make the, like the granny squares or whatever, and sew them together and make Christmas stockings and maybe some slippers or something like that. Uh-huh. Oh. I see. Nothing as big as a blanket. Huh. I know that my husband's grandmother does a lot of that. Uh-huh. And she makes a lot of afghans and all that kind of stuff but, I probably won't make anything beyond this blanket I don't know why. It's just too time consuming. Yeah, do you have any other hobbies? Um, I like to sing.
I've been trying to get some wedding gigs and things like that. Oh, well that's good. Um, right now my actual job is a news reporter. But, uh, if I could do anything I wanted to do, it would be to sing professionally. But um, So are you on the T V then? Yes, uh-huh. Oh. I'm in, uh, I work for channel six in Waco. Oh, okay. And so I do little news reports and things. It's not as exciting as it as it sounds. But, um, So you don't have too much time for hobbies? No, not much, um, my day is usually pretty full. Yeah.
My schedule is like from nine to five thirty, but I could be at work from anytime, you know, from nine until nine at night or ten or whatever, so it's hard to make plans much less, you know, have a hobby. Yeah so. What do you do? Um. Normally. I'm a housewife. Oh, okay. So, unless the kids are asleep I don't get, usually get much done either Uh-huh But I've made a, um, few things, cross-stitch things. I really enjoy doing that. Uh-huh. And um, I made, uh, like stockings for both my children and a Christmas tree shirt and that, type of thing, Oh. and it just takes a long time to get it done but, you know, once you've done something like that it kind of makes you feel good, to, to see it. Right. I I showed mine to my boyfriend
and he was like, you didn't make that. Really? Oh, yeah, it looks, uh, halfway decent actually, first thing I did I guess you can make baby blankets that wouldn't take as long How many children do you have? Two. Oh, okay. I hear them in the background there . Yeah All right, that's a hobby in itself. Not quite A job in itself. It's a fulltime job, yeah. Right now I was just sitting here watching T V, I was getting ready to fall asleep. So, um, have you sang at any weddings yet?
Yeah, I sang at one last summer. Um, it was my first wedding. I've done, um, little commercials and background singing and, um, I sang all through college and things like that but I really haven't done anything really, professional per se. Uh-huh. But I did one wedding last year and, uh, I just now got some cards together, kind of, uh, business cards that say, singer, Uh-huh. and what does it say, a song makes beautiful wedding or something, and I've been passing them out to different wedding shops, I mean when someone comes in, you know, for a wedding, for a wedding dress, and they, they might ask about it. Oh, that's a good place, yeah. Uh-huh. This one woman even wanted me to bring my tape in because I have a demo tape, you know, if any one wants to listen. Yeah. And, uh, she wanted me to bring it in, she's going to play it on Saturday
so that would be great, if someone came and heard it, and they were like, I want that voice, Yeah but, I haven't got any calls, yet Well, that's good. but I only just put them out this week Yeah. and it's the wedding season, I guess. Oh, that's true. Uh-huh. Make your hobby into a business, that would be pretty good, huh? Yeah, that would be great. Then I could be getting paid for something I love to do. Yeah Not that I don't like reporting, but, I'd love it. Did you have training in singing when you were, younger then or, No, I've never, I've never had, uh, formal training.
I've just been singing every chance I get. I try, you know, in school Choirs and that kind of stuff? and, yeah, choirs and, um, when I was at U T, I was in a group called Ensemble One oh Nine, just twelve singers and we did, uh, little conventions and, um, uh, like dinner parties and things like that. Huh. Sing pop music. Well, that's nice. So, that's what got me really, really interested in it. Uh-huh. So I'm trying to be sensible, sensible, too, at the same time. Yeah, not just give up your job and jump right into it Yeah, exactly. My parents would have a fit probably. But, uh, I think, I either have a call or,
yeah, I do have a call, hold on one second. Uh-huh Hello. Yes. Yes, okay that's my mother on the other line, I need to go, Oh. but, um, I think we are suppose to talk for ten minutes are we suppose to hear a beep or anything? I don't know, I've only done this one other time and I thought that the man told me five minutes. Oh, okay, my mother said ten minutes so, I don't know. Oh, okay.
But, uh, okay well, it was nice talking to you and, and good luck with your hobbies It was nice talking to you, too, good luck with your singing. Okay, bye. Thanks, bye. Okay, uh, you want to start by telling me what camping is to you. Do you backpack or hike or, Well, uh, a little bit, uh, nothing overly strenuous. No, the majority of my camping experience is, uh, a tent by the lake type situation or, uh, maybe a canoe trip or something like that. No, I've never done a canoe trip. That sounds interesting.
Oh, it, it's, we've had a lot of fun, uh, I, I moved to Dallas about five years ago and we've made three different trips since I've been here. The group of friends that I run around with, of varying degrees, uh, of difficulty. The, the last one we did, and we haven't had a chance to duplicate was, uh, was a canoe trip in Arkansas and the river was, it was up about three feet so it was, uh, it was it was pretty challenging. Oh, man, I imagine. But, uh, and then we, uh, as far as the camping part of that, we just drag along all our tents and sleeping bags and, uh, find, uh, find a clearing in the woods and go for it. So they'll actually fit in the canoe and then you go for days at a time. Well, yeah, yeah, it's the, that, that particular one was a two day trip so what, uh, there's, uh, there's a outfitter and, uh, they haul you up to the headwaters, come down about halfway and then you get to, you spend the night and then, uh, the second day head on down to the, to the pool at the end of the river.
God, that sounds like fun Yeah it, it really is. Well the camping I grew up with was like tents and Coleman stove type. And, uh, you know, that just either out in the woods, or actually I, I grew up water skiing. I was, uh, from California, Okay. and so we would go up to the Sacramento, uh, river sloughs, the delta there, Okay. and you just pick a campground on the river, Right, right. cooled off, but, uh, when I got married, my husband had always backpacked. Okay. And so we did that, uh, I guess we haven't done it since my kids were born so about three years ago. And that was a new experience for me but I enjoyed it.
I like being able to go back into the mountains, or, you know, where the trail didn't necessarily lead, and where you couldn't necessarily, pitch a tent Boy, I bet, yeah. Uh-huh. But, uh, that, that was interesting. I, I have always wanted to do some white water rafting and so your canoeing kind of made me think of that. Yeah, that's, that was, uh, that's always been our next step. Our, our little group of friends here, we've been kind of getting married off and what not but, uh, Don't let that stop you Yeah, that, well, it, it just puts a damper on things for a little while. I know. But we're, we're starting to get everybody back together. Yeah, we'd like to do a float trip down, uh, oh, like Big Bend area or something like that. Yeah,
so you haven't done that before. No, no, we haven't made that trip yet. My parents, uh, were sailing, uh, this last year down off, uh, Costa Rica and they took about two weeks and went into, I don't even know the name of the river there, but they went white water rafting and Mom said it was absolutely just a wonderful experience. She said it was truly incredible. I'll bet, yeah. And, you know, I, there's that sense of it, you know, you're kind of scared, that risk of like gosh, what could happen and then the thrill of, you know, the excitement of doing it, so. Uh-huh, yeah, exactly. Well, do you have anything planned for this summer? Um, not really just yet.
We've, uh, well I, I do have, uh, a little bit of property, I grew up in South Dakota, Oh, okay. and I've got a piece of property in Minnesota that is completely undeveloped as of yet. There's, uh, there's a little lake up there and, uh, a group of friends that I, I went to college with, um, got together and we basically own all the land around this little lake, there, it's divided up into ten lots. Oh, I imagine. So, we've got a private lake, and it's completely undeveloped at this point, so, that's a possibility. And the weather is typically always nice up there in the summertime. It, it's, it's about two hours north of Minneapolis. Oh that doesn't, that sounds good. So, uh, yeah, in fact, uh, uh, well I got married last summer and, uh, that's, that's,
we ended up there for a couple days, uh, on our honeymoon. We kind of took, uh, a tour of the United States for about a week, and, uh, up through that area. That sounds, But, uh, my wife's real excited about it, so, we're, uh, we're going to hope to get up there sometime early last year it was the end of July and it was a little too late for the fish but, uh, hopefully get up there early enough to, to get into some of the, some of the fish and, uh, the, the good weather and what not. We've been wanting to start camping again this year too. Uh, my oldest child is a girl, was born three years ago, three and a half. Uh-huh. And then I have a little one that just turned two and we are in the process of potty training. I didn't want to go camping with diapers, you know. Oh gosh, yeah, yeah. I, and, and, you know at a time when they're afraid of their shadow all they need is, you know, some skunk or something to rub up the outside of the tent, they'd be awake all night.
That's right. So, but I think with him almost potty trained and, you know, she's not afraid of her shadow anymore, that I'm, I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that we'll be able to go, uh, this summer, you know, even if it's like over to Rio Dosa for a couple of days, or something to get them used to it and get them started, uh, with little back packs of their own, and, you know, things like that. Sure. Right. You bet, yeah, we'll that, you know and there's a lot of places with, uh, like nature trails, things like that where they could learn a lot, too. Uh-huh. Well that's true. You know, it's like, okay, this, this is, this is what, uh, a pheasant looks like, you know, and okay, now we'll go look for one. Ugh, I would need that before I could teach them Well, yeah, that's, everybody might learn something that way, but, uh, but yeah that's, there is, there's an awful lot of things set up, you know, just any, anything you want to do. Like, like you say it can be, uh, a water ski trip, or fishing trip or just a sightseeing, bird watching, you know, hunt, hunt with a camera type of thing
or, there's a lot of different opportunities for things like that. It's a lot of fun, it really is. Hello. I've kind of gotten out of the habit of doing this. It's been down this weekend. V in Well, I haven't tried, but this is, I haven't called in a couple of days, but education in public schools. I have a son who's graduating, uh, in May, and there's some interesting problems of, of, of how you, how do you challenge the kids today. And I have some real hang-ups. I think that, uh, if your, if your kid's not ambitious, he can sure get lost. In the school systems? Yes. That's right. What school system does he go to? In North Garland, he goes
Okay. What school system are you familiar with? Okay, my children go to Garland, and I teach in Dallas. oh, okay, well, I have a daughter that's in the, in, in the I B program at Garland. In the, are you familiar with the International Baccalaureate program. Well, yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh, do your kids go to Garland High, you said? No, no, they're still in elementary. Oh, okay. So, yeah. Well, there's a,
it's, um, she went from Austin Academy when it opened up, over to, uh, to North Garland for ninth grade. Uh-huh. But at North Garland, the, the difficulty I see with the education system is that, uh, is that, you can, you can, you can get some masses, but unless, if the kid's really dedicated, it seems like they do all right. But if, if, if your child is just pressing along, uh, I, I'm firmly convinced that teachers aren't being paid enough. Would you, argue with that? I'm definitely not, are you kidding? No. Well you know the, the, the thing that I don't see, and maybe you would take issue with it is that if, if we went to, if there was an opportunity for teachers to teach year around. No, I want that Well would, I think it would be better for the teachers and for the children, because we would do away with so much of the burn-out that we have. I know when you get the kids that have gone the summer being out of school, then it's like they've lost so much ground, we spend at least the first six weeks just backing up, reteaching what they had the year before. You know. Well how do we how do we get that? Well, we're starting pilot schools. It's
Dallas is doing it I know. I think Plano, don't they have some, and Richardson's supposed to start some pilot schools, going to school year around. Yeah. And then we, you know, we investigated this by flying some people out from Dallas to observe some of the schools in California that already had it. Does it work well out there? Yeah, it seems to, and one thing, it'll save us money, because we've got the buildings sitting there, right, and we might as well use them. Well, what about the, what about the issue of air conditioning. Isn't that a an area of concern in the cost of air conditioning? Well, air conditioning, what's, and, and heating. Oh, yeah. Isn't air conditioning less than heating, because we have to, just up like, if we get in the thirties, we raise it up to the seventies, right, that's forty degrees. Yeah.
Isn't it less? Yeah, it's, it's less degree days, you're right. But I think, I think, And it's not like the kids are going to go a lot longer, really, if you go year around there's not thirty days difference. Yeah. well how do they do it? Do they put, uh, long, do they put two or three week breaks between? There's different ways to do it. Like I, I think going two six weeks and then having two, two weeks off, each after a two six weeks period is one way. Is that, from, from what you've seen, is that the desirable way to do it? See, I don't know, because I've never seen it in action. Oh, you said you had some people from California. Oh I thought you, No, the school system in Dallas has sent people there to do that.
Oh, okay. No. But you didn't go. But I think I'd like it, and I know a lot of teachers that would like to try it. Well, the, the other issue has to, that I hear that the local commentator I listen to some the idea that the numbers of administration and the fact that the principal, do you see that the principals aren't really in charge? The principal's, their hands are tied, by all the administrators, and I heard that in Dallas, it's one out of every three is actually in the classroom of the educators that were hired Well I had heard that one of the comments when they, when they brought it, It's just, you don't even know who all your bosses are. It's ridiculous. Um. Then why the, the one they brought in, the new superintendent for Dallas schools, the um, can't think of his name, but the idea yeah, that he had suggested that, that maybe they could reduce the number of administrators and, and some of the people who were administrators saying, that, that, uh, that's not what he was hired for. Marvin Edwards. But they resented the fact that he would try to save some costs there. Well, you know he did, supposedly cut administrators,
but what they've done is create other offices for those same people, and just renamed their jobs and, you know, opened up other other things. Um. One thing we've got going is called reading and initiative, and they've hired all these administrators in on that, you know. Well, you know, the other thing that bothers me is the amount of money that it that it took to contest the, the football, um, issue. Pass or no fail, what is it? Yeah but the No play. I can't think of the name of the school, that, that, uh, No play. but in any event they, they, they kept arguing. Carter High School. Yeah. Yeah. And they went to court, I mean, you know, guess I, I'm sympathetic with the kids, but, but how much money did that cost Dallas to, to, to fight that in court. And all the things that Dallas fights, costs thousands, probably millions of dollars, I bet you.
But just think of all the, the, all the lawyers you've kept employed, see. Yeah, I know. And psychologists and stuff. That's right, That's right. and, and all these other people are out running around. I guess that's the only problem with jobs being relatively scarce, so. But you need to keep all these people employed, right? No, we do not. And, and No You mean, you mean, we need a little more of our tax money, like maybe, uh, We need more of the tax money to actually get down to the students, because it's pretty frustrating when you see you don't even have paper, and you're trying to ration it, you know, now that's sad, when there's supposed to be what, you know, one thousand, what, sixty-five dollars, something like that, spent on each pupil. Yeah.
Um, it's, it's wrong. Anyway, I was thinking about one thing that's wrong with schools is that we're not teaching to the children's modalities, and I think in nineteen, uh, ninety-three we're supposed to begin that. If, if a child is a visual learner, we're supposed to present him with all these visual things, and if he has to learn just by kinesthetic, we're supposed to teach whatever way that that child has to have it, learns the best way. And that's going to be quite a problem. Oh that's, But if we could do something like that I'm sure it would certainly help. Um, that's interesting, and how many administrators is that going to take? I don't know, no telling, I don't know. And, you know, at nongraded schools. They've had one in Gladewater for years and years and years. If we could just let these kids go at their own rate. I have children even, I, I teach Chapter One, and it's for kids that have fallen behind in their reading according to, like I T B S scores.
Yeah. And some of the kids, really they shouldn't be in there, and they're, you know, they're not being challenged, and they're not being challenged in their home, and we always have to teach toward the middle of the road. Yeah, well, that's, that's part of where my son is, um, would like to go to Rice, but I don't think he's, well, the, the difficulty is, is, is the people that get in are, are, are overachievers. Uh-huh. And he's not an overachiever. But the same time, everybody can't go, but it, the question of, of, you know, of how far should you take a kid in the motivation, I'm not sure, I think maybe there's too much responsibility put on the teachers to motivate these kids. I had a, a friend that was administrator in Richardson said if the parents read books, then the kids probably would read books. Right. But that a lot of the schools I would think the kids you're talking to, question of, of how much reading do those kids' parents do. My children's parents aren't even there at night most of the time to do anything with them.
Well. Well, but that's the point, as I would say, uh Yeah. and that is, that's what makes, there's a lot of problems. But anyway, um, I'm trying to think how much longer. I had a conversation, week or so ago and we got carried away, and they cut, it beeps in at ten minutes. I know it, I know it I went for a couple and I didn't know that there was even a cut off or anything. Oh another things that's wrong with schools, this is big, there's too much emphasis on test. We're spending the first hour of every day teaching for the test at my school, and we're going to do that until at least the first part of May. Huh.
Well see, that's in the Garland schools, the numbers, they, I don't think they have to do that because most everybody passes. But see, they're not in Dallas. Well, opportunity, right? If you get graded on percent improvement. But see, that. Yeah, we're not working with the same type of students that most of these kids in Garland are. Yeah. And unfortunately, the, uh, that's, that's tough, that's a real challenge though. But, uh. But see, what we're doing is we're turning these kids off to school even more than they are. Yeah. And we're not teaching toward the test, we're teaching, you know, I always objected, you know, it's like there's not a whole lot of, you know, fun time like we used to have in school.
Like our principal says, I want every child to be on task all the time. Yeah. And you can't do that as adults. But we're expecting kids to. And like after, after recess, play Yeah. we don't get that. Okay. Yeah. If they finish before their thirty minutes is up, then they can go out and play for like maybe five or ten minutes, probably be the most. Yeah. But we always got that, didn't you? Well, yeah, you know, our son had that, he was, had an attention deficit disorder, and they were keeping him from recess and in reality that's, uh, that's one of those really tough situations. I think the kids need some time to play. Yeah.
But, people like, if more people like you though that understand the problems get in and and change some education so. Uh, I got some background noise there but I guess ... Well, I, uh, before I was married, I used to play a lot of sports. Uh-huh. And, uh, but when I got married and had children and everything, it seems like I keep all my activity just chasing around fulfilling my obligations so I haven't done a lot of, uh, exercise on purpose. Uh-huh. What about you? Well, it's funny, this week, yesterday I started exercising seriously. Oh, really? This weekend I cleaned out my closets and, uh, a couple years ago I, too, got married. I haven't have any children yet, but this weekend I cleaned out some closets and I found a bathing suit that I had bought. Uh-huh. Tried it on and decided I really did not like how it looked on me.
Oh no, that can be awful. So yesterday I went to, uh, a spa. I belong to a private spa and went in and, and got with a trainer and, uh, he checked body fat content Uh-huh. and we set up a program for me to work on, and I went back tonight also. So I've been two nights in a row and I, I'm going to take it pretty seriously. I'm going to start going every night just, you know, even if I, I, like tonight I only went for thirty minutes, but I at least did something. Do you work out on, like, is it the weight machines or aerobics or what is it? Last night I did about thirty minutes of riding a bike and a few, like, three different types of, uh, uh, weight lifting for my legs and, and my hips Uh-huh. Uh-huh. and then I did a hour of aerobics.
Uh-huh. And that was really tough Oh, I bet. And I was sore this morning when I got up, but then tonight I got into a, a, it's sort of like an aerobics class Uh-huh. but it's only thirty minutes and it's for your abdominals your thighs, and your butt. Uh-huh. Um. So, and that was, thirty minutes was definitely plenty. So, Doesn't sound like low impact. No, it was a lot of sweat Well. Well that's good. So,
So are you Have you started exercising at home or, Well, I, like, I am undisciplined in the sense that I can't just go and do exercise, but I like to, uh, play tennis and play racquetball Uh-huh. I, I like to get exercise when I'm playing a game of some sort, and so that's always been the way that I have kept myself in, uh, the shape that I was satisfied with at least. And, uh, then I have given that up, but, uh, I would really like to start that again, because I am now, you know, not in a position that I like myself. Uh-huh. I don't feel good and I get, you know, when you get out of shape and you don't, if, you're easily tired Uh-huh. and so that has made me, but I, I'm not the kind of person that could go to a spa and work out, Yeah.
I just, if something like, uh, I mean I have so many chores and so many obligations every day for, to add another obligation would make me feel stressed. Uh-huh. Yeah. Uh-huh. And I wouldn't enjoy it. But if I have something, some team sport or some activity, then it's kind of like having fun, playing Yeah. and then you, then you get some of the, uh, good exercise and some of the desired results, but you, you're doing it for fun. Uh-huh. Yeah. But I really admire people who can go and work out Well, I don't, you know, a lot of people, I have a girlfriend that goes for the social aspect of it and she walks around, talks to people and and, I don't really get into that. Naturally I'm married
Uh-huh. so my husband goes a lot and we'll go and, and just do what we want to do and then leave. Well, that's nice. But, yeah, and swimming is a, is a part that I, I'd like to get into as far as my you know, just aerobic activity they say that swimming is real good, Uh-huh. so I'd like to try that as well. And that's probably something that, that you could do, you know family, included. Yes. It is kind, It is family, and it's fun. Uh-huh. It's a fun thing and kids enjoy that and and all. And also, the nice thing about belonging to a club is that you can have some of the relaxation, you know, like saunas, or you know, uh, hot Jacuzzis or whatever, they have that kind of is, kind of makes it fun and stuff, you know, Yeah. Right.

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