In my job I deal with very personal issues with people.  I could write a book.  Sometimes I’m in the middle of something with another person that gets so crazy I just want to spill out, but I can’t.  Confidentiality is top importance.  When I think I’ve heard it all someone does something that tops it.  There are many issues that I can’t tell another soul, even my wife.  I’m there right now. 

Question:  Can you keep secrets?  

Family Feud Question: What is one thing people fear?

Word of the Day – Savant
I want to be savant.
Psalms 18:38-42
Family

I had a discussion with a day care provider.  She was telling me that she wanted Yankton to make all day cares be licensed.  I’m not against that.  My wife has been a licensed day care provider for many years.  What bothers me is the next part of the argument.  She said that no one should be able to care for another child unless they are city certified.  The City Council is trying to make that a reality.  That means if Grandma wants to watch the kids she would have to be certified by the city before doing it.  I guess I have problems with that.  The argument is that parents don’t care enough about their children and are having anyone watch the child.  Thus the government needs to do it.  I don’t see how the government can continually get bigger and take over what the parents are suppose to be doing.  Thoughts?

Do you think parents should be able to pick who they want to watch their kids without government intervention?
or   Do you think the government should be able to say who watches kids?

I was talking to kids (4th, 5th and 6th graders). 
I asked this question:   Is it OK for boys to act like girls?  They all said no, some louder than others.
I then asked this question: Is is OK for girls to act like boys?  Many of them answered it was ok for girls to act like boys.  Some of them even told me of girls they knew that did that. 

My question: Is it OK for boys to act like girls?
                    Is it OK for girls to act like boys?
Give me the first response that comes to you. Why or why not?  And why is there a difference?

Family Feud Question: Name a young woman’s value

Word of the Day – enigma
I like an author that creates a good enigma character.  It keeps me reading.
Psalms  18:31-36
Family

We’re staying in a motel right now.  I had interesting conversations with teens at the pool last night.  I was watching my 2 year old grandson.  One teen boy came over and said the F word.  I looked at him and said,  “Whoops”.  He quickly covered his month and said sorry.  I asked him what he had on his ankle.  He told me it was an ankle bracelet (electronic – for those on probation).  I asked him if it was water proof.  He told me no and that he wasn’t suppose to get it wet.  -as he jumped into the pool.  Ummm – electronics and water?    The other conversation was with a couple of the girls that were with the guys.  (Guys took off and left the girls alone.) One of the girls told me my grandson was cute.  I asked her, “When do they not become cute?”  She looked at me as a deer would in headlights.  I asked her again.  She said when they become teenagers. I wondered if she was referring to the ankle bracelet kid?  I so wanted to have a father/daughter talk with the girls but the guys interrupted when they came back.  One thought I wanted to scream to them was: “Don’t show your outer beauty, without a inner commitment – meaning marriage.” 

What would you like to say to the teens of today?

Family Feud Question:  At what age should a child be given the “sex” talk?

In the book I’m reading, Relational Intelligence, a chapter talks about learning about other people.  The chapter suggests asking the right questions that go beyond, How you doing? or Weather is nice. The questions should discover the dream within the other person and their passion.


What type of questions would you ask in order to find out about someones dream or passion?  

Family Feud Question:  How many times do you eat per day (Include snacks)?

Word of the Day -nonplus
There are people that I wish were nonplus.  Just saying.
Psalms Study  18:30
Family Update

He was a philosopher, diplomat, inventor, architect and musician.  But Thomas Jefferson was awful at managing his money.  All his life he spent more than he took in, even as President.  After his presidency, his debts piled up to astronomic heights.  He didn’t have enough money to pay for household items.  He persuaded that state of Virginia to pass a special law allowing him to hold a lottery to raise money.  Very few people bought tickets.  When Jefferson died his debts exceeded 1 million dollars in today’s money.  His heirs had to sell his beloved Monticello to pay them off.  Jefferson died broke.

Are you good, fair or bad at handling money? 

More video while Alicia was in China

Family Feud Question: Complete: The gift of __________________

I actually worked in a prison for 12 years.  I work with children now.  The inmates were so childish so it was my training ground –lol.  I learned how to deal with oppositional defiance.  I learned how to direct verses command.  I learned how to serve those that didn’t deserve it.  When I took that position of serving, I found the inmates wanted to follow. 

What one lesson has your job taught you?

Here is Alicia going up the Great Wall of China and the next video is her going down.

I’m appreciative of xanga and your comments.  I learn about people.  I enjoy it.  One thing I’ve noticed is some people like to debate, while others would rather just hold their opinions.  As a young man I avoided conflict, until I blew up. Now,  I don’t really like it now but I see the value in conflict.  It’s good as long as it has boundaries.  An irrational argument goes no where.  Name calling goes no where.   

What’s your thoughts on conflict?  Do you head straight into it or are you cautious? Are you more of a peacemaker and hate conflict?  How do you fight?

Family Feud Question: What is the perfect age to marry?  Comments put this between 25-30

Word of the Day – Billion
There are a hundred billion stars in each of the hundred billion galaxies. 
Psalms

My daughter Alicia went to China a few years ago to teach English.   She climbed
the great wall.  Here is a short video of her going down the Great Wall slide.
She played a joke on me yesterday.  She called me at work and asked, “Is this
Randy?”  Yes, “I was told to call you.”  OoooK  “A person told me to call you.”
(I get a lot of referrals.) And? “Remember, I was suppose to call you?”  Refresh
my memory “A person told me that you’ld know where the city dumb was.” Is this
a practical joke – I said very cautiously.  Alicia started laughing.  She got my wife
also yesterday acting as a representative from the Medical Center.  She said her organization
was collecting used feminine products, Did she have any?  -  Alicia is at my
older daughters house decorating the outside because it’s Kristina’s birthday.

There are times I want to complement someone but refrained in fear of what could have been perceived.  There are ladies that I’ll tell them I like their new hair style because it’s just that.  I sometimes wonder if we live in a super sensitive society or if I’m just too sensitive.  I’ve gone on some xanga sites and didn’t comment because I didn’t want to be perceived with a wrong intention.  I’m happily married and never want that questioned. 

Should guys give gals compliments without regard to perception?  Or should guys always be careful when giving complements to avoid the wrong message being sent.   Too sensitive? 
Ladies:  Compliment from a guy – What is your first impression? 

Family Feud Question: What is the perfect age to marry?


The above picture is when we dedicated Alisha & Austin.  We celebrated their adoption.  Alisha is a great runner. She loves being a waitress at Yesterdays and wants to wear her bedroom slippers to school. -lol 

Word of the Day – Impugn
Do you impugn the news media or do you believe them?
Psalms