ChipTalks » Humanity

Keeping My Mouth Shut Too Long

Chip — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:10:39 +0000

First of all, If you have never been a bus driver, then you have no idea what goes on. Make your accusations, make you assumptions, blame who you want to blame. The fact of the matter is, One adult, 60-90 students. Number one priority for a bus driver is the safety of the bus and it’s passengers, meaning that 90% of the time the drivers’ eyes should be on the road.

The other 10% is rotating from left to right or right to left, looking from mirror to mirror. These kids are not stupid, they know when the driver is looking in that mirror!

I say this from experience, I drive a bus! Did you know that if a fight breaks out on a bus that we as drivers are not to intervene? We are not suppose to touch the students. Policy is get on the radio and get some help.

Many times, the kids are screaming and yelling, and you ask them to be quiet, repeatedly! Then you scream SHUT UP! Then the bus is quiet for the rest of the ride. Did you know we aren’t suppose to say shut up to these kids? Why not? It works.

As I am driving, my focus is on the road, when the kids make a sudden noise, or something “out of the ordinary” I look up. If I see something, I take care of it. If I don’t, I take it someone was horseing around, and I carry on about my business.

I have four schools I drive. Two runs at the same elementary schools, one middle and one High. On my elementary run, I have the older kids on one side, the younger ones on the other. On the middle and High runs, I have boys on one side and girls on the other. I’ve been doing this for a few years now for the middle school. I recently started this with the high school.

There are a hundred things that go on during a bus route. The driver can not see everything regardless of that big mirror in front of him.

I do not know all the facts of what happened on February 20th on that bus in Murfreesboro, I do know the driver of that bus, I do know what he has told me, and hearing what he has to say and reading the news stories, I think he did exactly what he was suppose to.

People are wanting to blame the driver. They are wanting answers. Before the blame game starts being played, the facts need to be in order.

Tragedy

Chip — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:06:51 +0000

Not anyone close to me per say, but someone that I’ve heard and listened to on occasion since I was about 15 years old. Have you ever listened to the Rick and Bubba show? As of Saturday, January 19, 2008, Rick lost his two year old son in a drowning.

When you know of or have had someone or something in your life for a good portion, you always feel that persons loss. It’s always sad to hear someone losing a loved one, lets keep this family in our thoughts.

Todays Forcast

Chip — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 16:06:52 +0000

EXPECT LIGHT SNOW TO INCREASE IN INTENSITY THIS MORNING WITH PERIODS OF HEAVY WET SNOW EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY INTO THIS EVENING. SNOWFALL RATES OF ONE INCH OR MORE ARE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION…WINDS GUSTING TO 20 TO 30 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT WILL PRODUCE AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW. HOWEVER…LOCATIONS NORTH OF A LINE FROM SILVER CITY TO MASS CITY MAY SEE SNOW CHANGE OVER TO RAIN BRIEFLY THIS AFTERNOON. NONETHELESS...SNOWFALL TOTALS BY MONDAY MORNING OF 9 TO 18 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE…WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS FROM IRONWOOD INTO THE PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL… KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD…AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Nashville Cares Aids Walk

Chip — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:05:26 +0000

Hello All!

I want to let you know that I am participating in this year’s AIDS Walk and you can help.
Please make a donation today to help me make my goal and show support for this worthy cause.

Donating is easy, just click the link below and use a your debit or credit card. You can even register as a walker yourself and join in on the fun!

This important fundraiser for Nashville CARES helps provide direct services to more than 1,500 people living with HIV/AIDS in the Middle Tennessee community. Annually CARES education department reaches more than 40,000 youth and adults with life saving prevention information. All services free of charge –your donations make this possible.

This is the time, the 2007 AIDS Walk is the place, YOU are the one who can make a difference now. Thank you for your support!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Nashville Cares

******************************************************************************
Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://www.nashvilleaidswalk.com/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=233597&u=233597-60846020

******************************************************************************

Dewayne Thrower

I Remember

Chip — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:15:27 +0000

There is a song that I just absolutely love. It so resembles my feelings towards our great nation. No matter what.

The song is Lee Greenwoods “Proud to be an American” To me it’s like the star spangled banner when I here this song I want to stand and shout to the world how proud I am to be an American.

Today, I ask everyone that reads to stand and take a moment of silence and remember that day 6 years ago. When our lives were so interrupted, when we thought we were under attack, when we thought how dare them. And remember all those men who have died giving us the right to stand for freedom.

They are Celebrating

Chip — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:06:45 +0000

As some of you may know, my mother passed away 7 years ago. Then my grandmother passed about 5 years ago. Well Wednesday night my grandmothers’ sister (my great aunt) passed away.

She had cancer and the doctors tried everything, but they finally just sent her home to spend what little time she had.

Instead of making this a sappy post, I’m excited in the fact that now my mother, her mother, her aunt, our grandpa, and great grandmother are all celebrating the rest of eternity together.

My family was already preparing to come together this next week. They will only have to change plans maybe by one day. I’m glad I got to know my great aunt and wish her family “god speed and blessings”

I Was Just Here

Chip — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:32:03 +0000

June 9th I arrived at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. What wild day of fun it was! We started with the Superman Tower of Power. Then went from one ride to the next. At about 12:30 we stopped for lunch and then hit the water rides. By 4:30pm we were bushed and headed home.

Here’s some news to make me think twice as I get on these amusement park rides

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Police confirmed that a 13-year-old girl’s feet have been cut off at Six Flags’ Kentucky Kingdom

This is the first ride we rode that day. I can only imagine. My thoughts go out to the parents of this child.

Check This Out

Chip — Sun, 13 May 2007 12:03:29 +0000

Happy Mothers Day!

A War is Brewing

Chip — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:00:13 +0000

Friday afternoon as I was taking my high school students home, we passed new construction and noticed a new Mexican restaurant. One student screamed out “Yes! I can walk there”. Another screamed “We will take over and place American flags everywhere”. The hispanic student replied “Do that and we’ll shoot you”.

After a few minutes, the Hispanic student swears he heard someone call him a “Mexican Bitch” The student then asked if he could punch the one that said this. Of course, I did not hear it. I actually thought they were all just having fun. Guess I was wrong.

Apparently we haven’t learned our lesson. All the pain and suffering our parents, grandparents and parents before then went through because of racism or segregation.

Is there an easy solution? What can we do? Why must it come to violence?

I must admit, I would like to see english our native language. Something required to learn to become a citizen. Of course, I’d like to learn Spanish. On my own terms, not be made to.

Happy 50th

Chip — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:56:36 +0000

Four scores, and seven years…..Actually just seven years ago, my mother was taken. Taken to the place in the sky. I miss her so dearly. She was kind and caring and would what she could for just about anyone.

Today is Mom’s Birthday. She’s fifty. Doesn’t she look goof for fifty?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here’s a poem I wrote in html