JC's Chicken Comfort Casserole

Serves 6-8 people. 4 if they are really hungry or 2 NFL linebackers.

WARNING: This is southern comfort food and makes no claims on being good for you.
It just taste good. :)

Ingredients

3-4 cups cooked long grain white rice
3 cups chicken broth

1/4 Olive oil
1 Large Onion (diced)
2-3 tbls garlic (minced)
Kosher salt
1-2 tsp black pepper (ground)
1 - 2 tsp paprika
1/4 - 1/2 cup cooking wine

2 pounds chicken (boneless skinless)

1 - 1 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese (finely shredded)
1/2 - 1 pound Montery jack cheese (finely shredded)
2 cans cream of mushroom w/ garlic (condensed)
1 cup sour cream

Panko bread crumbs

Large casserole baking dish ( approx. 9 x 13 x2)

Very large mixing bowl (needs to be capable of holding all ingredients with space to mix)

Non-stick spray

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Before you shop: The things that have a range listed are meant to allow easy variation to suit your tastes and are within the norm of how I make mine.

Rice - Use Arborio for a creamier texture or Basamanti for a little more toothsome rice. This is an easy place to experiment just remember the final quantity of cooked rice determines a large portion of the dish volume.

• Note: I use a rice cooker for my rice so the amount of chicken broth/stock you need will vary depending on your cooking method. (stove top, microwave etc)
  

Meat - I use thighs since they are cheap and flavorful but any chicken pieces will work. Heck any poultry (maybe even pork) could work. If you like livers I imagine a few chopped up chicken livers might work to add a different flare. If you like bacon add four slice of crispy bacon crumbled during last phase of mixing.

• What ever you use it needs to be fully cooked before adding since the cook temp and time may not be long enough to fully cook the meat.

Onion - I prefer the sweet Vidalia onions when I can get them but any will work. For a little bite you can leave them raw.

Spices - Those listed are what I use after a little trial and error. The skies the limit here, anything that you imagine goes well with chicken should work. If you want heat then some minced peppers can also be added or a little chili powder if you would like a southwestern flair.

Wine - I use cooking sherry but any will work. If you have your favorite white then add it here and then serve the remainder with the meal. It will create a nice tie in of flavors. If you are a beer person then try your favorite brew. I would avoid any strong beers (Guinness, etc) as they may over power the other flavors.

Cheese - Any cheese that has a moderate to low melting temperature will work. Keep in mind that the stronger the flavor the more it will dominate the dish. If you want to add a hard cheese (or non melting like caso fresco) just grate or crumble about 1/2 cup and blend in to final mixture before baking to add more punch.

• If you have kids that are finicky eaters but love mac-n-cheese use Velvetta in place of cheddar and jack. You will need to pre-melt the cheese to get it to blend. I haven’t tried this particular twist but it should work and will taste like mac-n-cheese but a little more healthy since you are getting them to eat a grain and protein.

Oil - If you want a little Asian flare use sesame oil vice olive oil.

Directions


1. Set oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit before starting.

   
   
2. Start the rice cooking. Substitute the chicken broth for water to cook. While the rice is cooking proceed with the remainder of preparation.

   
   
3. Place olive oil, diced onion and minced garlic in skillet over medium heat. Season with a large pinch (or 2) of kosher salt, black pepper, paprika. Move on to prep meat while this cooks down. The goal is to have a light browning on the onions but cook slower at first to allow them to sweat. This gives you time to continue your prep.

   
   
4. Cut chicken into roughly 1/2”-1” inch pieces. I remove about 90% of the fat from the thighs I use, leaving enough for a little flavor.

   
   
5. Increase temperature on skillet with the cooking onion & garlic to medium high. Add chicken and cooking wine. Cover skillet and allow chicken to cook until done. Stir occasionally.
   
   
6. In large mixing bowl combine condensed soup, 3/4 of both cheeses, sour cream, cooked rice, and 1/4 cup of chicken broth. Mix thoroughly.

   
   
7. Uncover chicken mixture and reduce liquid down till it just covers the bottom of skillet.

   
   
8. Combine chicken mixture into contents of mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.

   
   
9. Lightly coat casserole dish with non-stick spray then pour contents of mixing bowl into casserole dish. You want no less than 1/2” depth remaining between top of mixture and top of casserole edge to avoid spillage and room for topping.

   
   
10. Sprinkle remaining cheese over mixture to create a thin layer, then sprinkle enough Panko bread crumbs to barely cover.
    
    
11. Place casserole into 350 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes.

    
    
12. After cooking you can use broiler to add a little more browning to top if you like.

    
    
13. Remove from oven and serve.

    

Tears on a Harley

For you to understand the title I have to jump back a few years and explain how I came to be sitting on my Harley, trying to start it, with tears rolling down my face. (For my biker buddies --- the bike is fine.)


About the time I hit fifteen years in the service I started to wonder what I would do when I grew up. I knew it had to be something with a socially positive purpose and since I was married to a school teacher my mind gravitated to that career as I filtered through the many options. Over the next few years the idea solidified and I set my mind on becoming an elementary school teacher. It was a purely logical decision; well thought out and planned.


I went on terminal leave in December of 2008 and started college full time in January of 2009. My plan was on track and I was working towards my BS in Interdisciplinary Studies with a EC-6 certification. (A fancy way to say elementary school teacher college). But on 16 October 2009 things forever changed for me...I met a little girl named Lilly.
The following text in italics is a quote from my journal that I wrote in my car immediately after leaving the school that day.


16 OCT - Epiphany Moment. I got mad, sad and highly motivated all at the same time. This all thank you, because of a little girl (7 yo) named Lilly. She is struggling with the most basic of words (is, on, of etc). I was helping her with a reading comprehension worksheet and I asked her if she liked to read; she said no. She said she does like stories though. I asked if she didn’t like to read because it was hard? She replied yes. I asked if anyone reads to her at home? “Mom’s to busy and dad is always on the computer.” No wonder she can’t read!!! The pivotal place where she could get one on one time is devoid of help. I sat in my car and cried today. Lilly has become the fire that now stokes my motivation. It is my goal to save all the “Lillys” that I can.


From that moment on I left my logical plan behind and gave myself over to an emotional plan. A plan fueled by my anger, my sadness, my pain, and my desire to place myself directly in the path of the destructive trains that are some of these children’s lives. To stand on the tracks of their lives and run head long into those trains in the hope of derailing it and giving them a chance to learn.


So we whisk back to today...the last day I spent with the class I worked with this semester.


I have spent 14 weeks with these children, and while it was usually just one day a week they were powerful days for me. It was the first time I was allowed to fully interact with the students, to plan and teach lesson. Oh yeah...and fall flat on my face. I got to know these students, to understand some of their needs, to learn how they react to different stimulus and to understand how to help them. They in turn taught me about myself. I learned how I react to these new situations, and some of the most powerful lessons of how NOT to do a few things. These kids got under my skin and found their way into my heart but the semester is coming to a close. With the closing of the semester that means my time with this class is at an end and today was my last day with them.


I spent the last part of the school day helping the students practice for an upcoming math benchmark test. Taking a last chance to help them make those word problem connections before I have to walk away. As the time for dismissal approaches, the class lines up with their backpacks just like everyday, which was when I figured the time was right to let them know that this was my last day with them.


I think a little guy (Xavier) in the class had already sensed that something was up today since he had hugged me when I walked into the room and about three more times since then. Xavier has been one of my special ones, one that I don’t think gets enough attention at home. He was one of those kids that makes you glad to show up each day. Everyday he has a smile for you in the morning. Every morning he greets you with a very sincere “Good Morning”. Every morning he is genuinely happy to be at school and in “my” classroom. No matter how crappy my night was or how little I slept I couldn’t help but smile when I saw him in the morning.


I said my goodbyes and was hugged by many of them as they filed from the room as the final bell of the day rang. It was all I could do not to break down in tears as I said goodbye. I told them I had asked to come back to their school next semester and promised to stop by and see them if I did.



The kids where gone, my backpack loaded, hands shook and goodbyes to the faculty said. I walked out the teacher’s entrance to the school and geared up for my motorcycle ride home.


I felt like crap.


I felt like I was deserting them.


I know logically that I’m not. I did what I was suppose to, it was just part of my class, but they were becoming my kids and I felt like I just let them down.


I sat on my bike with my helmet and dark sunglasses unable to bring myself to start it, tears rolling down my face.


It was a couple of hours later, at home, that I started to see through the pain and redirect it. My pain and all those little hugs today are now added to the motivational fire that was set by a little girl named Lilly. All the anger and joy just makes me want it more, drives me harder to be the best teacher I can. I am going to be a teacher and I AM going to save the Lillys and I AM going be there to say good morning to all the Xaviers.

Morgan’s Wonderland: First Impressions

I drove into the parking lot of Morgan’s Wonderland around lunch time on Friday, tasked with observing the park and giving a short report to my professor on the facilities. Standing next to someone’s green Jaguar with oversized chrome rims I surveyed the entrance and parking area; it looked like any other amusement park in any other city...I was so very wrong.

To understand the park you must first understand why, and the why is Morgan. Morgan is a special needs daughter of the Hartman family. Yes, those Hartmans of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. A few facts about Morgan that are posted on a sign near the parks entrance:

• “Morgan was born September 19, 1993.”
• “Her Middle name is Elizabeth.”
• “When the Park opened in 2010, Morgan was 16 years old.”
• “Morgan loves her dog & cat.”
• “Morgan is 6’4” tall and wears a size 13 shoe.”
• “Morgan loves to listen to music & watch videos.”
  

There are a number large pictures of Morgan hanging next to the fact boards and in all her face is alight with a beaming smile...a smile I was soon to see in many faces very similar to Morgan’s.

Upon entering the park you can tell immediately that a parent was involved in designing the place. All members’ of a party are issued coordinated electronic wristbands that allow members of a party to track and locate each other while in the park through any of the Location Stations spread through out the park. There is also only one entrance/exit with attendants on either side to make sure no child wanders out accidentally and to avoid anyone leaving with a child that is not theirs. They actually control the flow of traffic into and out of the entrance foyer to help maintain security and accuracy.


Once past the attendants you are greeted with an open unrestricted environment, a land of joy and experience for those who had no such place. At Seaworld, Six Flags, or any other theme park the designers made accommodations or adaptations, not here. At Morgan’s there are no accommodations or adaptations, they aren’t needed, this park is for those people who usually need modification. This park is their’s!

To the left of the entrance is the Water Works, a tactile and sensory exploratory station. There are small water guns with long handles with large ball ends for easy manipulation, buttons are large and easy to push, and targets are plentiful in many sizes. Everything moves, splashes, twists, slides or squirts. Even an adult could spend an hour playing here, a child with an inquisitive mind could lose them self in this aquatic menagerie.

There are multiple playgrounds in the park with many of the familiar structures but all with a twist. The ramps are wide enough of any mobility device, the slides are made of rollers to allow easier transition, the seats are made to give extra back support, there are multiple textures, and things that make sounds through movement and touch. They even have an item called Sway Fun which is basically a giant family sized see/saw that can hold just about anyone short of a person in a hospital bed. The swings come in all shapes and sizes, up to ones that will handle a chair and occupant with a combined weight of up to 700 pounds.

Morgan’s also has a one of a kind custom made carousel, again complete with seating for anyone short of the hospital bed and I bet that given a few minutes the attendants could even figure that out too.

There is a gymnasium with a full size basketball court, an adventure vehicle ride with little “jeeps”, a sand pit, giant musical instruments, and a sensory village with experiences for everyone. Just around the corner is the fishing pier which extends out over the lake. In the center of the pier is a special fishing spot where the attendants bait and help the kids fish for catfish in the stock pool. Nothing fake here, real fishing poles with real bait and the kids are catching real fish from the lake: strictly catch and release. The squeals and cheers of shear joy from the children who caught a fish was more beautiful than a chorus of a thousand angels.

Not to be forgotten is the Wonderland Express. Yes, they have their own train! I do believe the yells and squeals may have rivaled the fish catching.

For anyone who lives within driving distance of San Antonio it is worth the drive and for those who live farther away, Canada, California, Maryland, and have a child with special needs it is worth the trip if you are looking for a vacation spot. You can enjoy all the other attractions of San Antonio and then spend a day at Morgan’s Wonderland with your special needs kids. The pure joy on there face will make it worth it. I am not the parent of a special needs child and even I could feel the joy in the air from the children. I imagine the emotional level of a parent seeing their child able to play so freely for the first time would be overwhelming. Oh, and don’t mistake it as a place just for kids, there were special needs adults there too and their smiles were just as big. Seeing a father who was in a wheel chair able to chase his kids around a play ground was a wonderful thing.

I could spend many more pages, hell I could probably write a novella describing the wonder that is Morgan’s Wonderland but I will leave you with this small sample and hope that you too will find the time to experience this unique environment and too Morgan and her family I can say simply thank you.

You can view my photos of Morgan's at http://www.flickr.com/photos/anjacot/

Please visit their website at: http://www.morganswonderland.com

You can also find them on Facebook.

The American Revolution Wasn't.

This was written in response to the following question my history teacher posed to us this past week.

"How can the American Revolution be described as a conservative revolution?"

To answer the question one must first understand the question and its parts. The term revolution as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary: “1. a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system. 2. a dramatic and far-reaching change”. Now juxtapose that against the definition for conservative: 1. averse to change and holding traditional values. 2. (in a political context) favouring free enterprise, private ownership, and socially conservative ideas”.

To use the adjective conservative to describe a revolution seems like a contradiction and they should counteract each other yet with the American Revolution it seems to fit. There was no true change of power and the people with the money kept their money. The legislatures of the colonies kept doing business as usual and the land owners still had their land and slaves. No new freedoms were granted and no truly new system was put in place. The only real difference was that the colonies cut ties with Britain. A connection that was really only maintained through taxes and a name. For all intensive purposes the colonies had become independent states long before the first volley was ever fired.

A good example of things stayed the same is a quote a reference Zinn made to Beards work. “Beard applied this general idea to the Constitution, by studying the economic backgrounds and political ideas of the fifty-five men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 to draw up the Constitution. He found that a majority of them were lawyers by profession, that most of them were men of wealth, in land, slaves, manufacturing, or shipping, that half of them had money loaned out at interest, and that forty of the fifty- five held government bonds, according to the records of the Treasury Department.” The founding fathers “new” system was based on the English system and was neither far reaching or dramatic but it was conservative.

In truth you could say they didn’t have a revolution but instead they had the “American Conservation”. The ruling class kept their power intact and even to some degree increased their power. By removing the acceptance of the monarchy as their ultimate ruler and the British Parliament from their chain of command they moved upwards in the power scheme.

The “American Revolution” was only a revolution in the most limited use of the term. Their form of government largely remained intact they simply exchanged a monarch for a president; many argued for a monarchy but luckily they were in the minority.

If you look at the definition from Merriam-Webster’s dictionary the concept of the American Revolution is even less accurate: “1. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed. 2. Sociology. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, esp. one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence. 3. a sudden, complete or marked change in something: the present revolution in church architecture”. By this definition one can not even call what happened in colonial America a revolution. There was no establishment of a new system by the people, no radical sociological change or a “marked” change in really anything they did. It really does fit the definition by Merriam-Webster of conservative: “1. disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change. 2. cautiously moderate or purposefully low: a conservative estimate. 3. traditional in style or manner; avoiding novelty or showiness: conservative suit”.

When I looked at the accepted definition of what a revolution is it becomes very clear that the “American Revolution” was not. The founding fathers put forth an “American Conservation” and they kept the people who had power in power and that scheme has changed very little in the 234 years since they declared their independence from England.

Christopher Columbus - Not A Very Nice Person.

The ugly point of Christopher Columbus (CC) has reared its ugly head again...largely because I reached down and pulled it up from its cold dead grave. I have a tendency to do that and I should write a book about it but many a worthy scholar has already done so. Saves me the effort and gives me the ammo to bitch about him freely. I am not nor do I harbor any fantasy about being a CC expert but I learned enough to know that the happy little picture that was fed to me as a child is almost pure fiction.

A little background on how I came to dislike CC. While stationed in the greater DC area, the school system my wife worked for and our children attended granted a holiday for Columbus Day but not Veterans’ Day. Coming from a family with a long line of service dating back to the revolution this disturbed me greatly so I started to do some digging and learned a bit more about CC than the school system had taught me.

Below are some small bits of the truth about CC that led me to despise our national holiday and would happily vote to remove it from our calendars and provide a more accurate teaching about European expeditions into the Americas. We can find many other reasons or people worth celebrating with a holiday.

An entry from one the surviving journals of CC's voyage states the reason behind his voyage and sets the stage for another Spanish conquering of a native people. (Mind you, other European countries weren’t much better, but the Spanish had a certain flair....just ask the Aztec. Oh wait, you can’t...THEY ARE ALL DEAD) Upon CC setting foot upon the island “before them all, he took possession of the island, as in fact he did, for the King and Queen, his Sovereigns.1” Cortez said something similar when he headed into what is now Mexico.

CC’s entry in reference to the Arawak, who inhabited most of the Caribbean islands, on October 13, 1492 had an even more ominous tones with its last sentence. “I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I pleased.2”

CC returned to Spain with examples of what he had found; parrots, gold trinkets, exotica and the highlight---10-25 of the Arawak.3 Do you think he ask for volunteers? (Numbers are a bit vague because only eight made it to Spain alive)

Izzy and Fergy were impressed and they gave CC seventeen new ships, 1200-1500 men, cavalry, cannons, crossbows and attack dogs.3 The dogs may have been the Spanish Mastiff, a huge beast which can reach up to 36” in height and weight 265lbs. Whip and beat them, starve them for a few days then turn them lose on the local populace. Not fiction, but a very common tactic back in the day.

CC returned in 1493 and made demands of goods and gold from the locals, to include their women. When they didn’t comply a villager was selected, disfigured by cutting off ears, nose or fingers, then sent back to their people as an example. The locals weren’t war-like people and they tried passive resistance but the Spaniards were a stubborn lot and just kept whacking off appendages. After a time (around 1495) the locals attempted to rise up in rebellion but they had sticks and stones (literally) and CC and the Spaniards had armor, guns, cavalry, cannons, and don’t forget the big fluffy doggies.3

This attempt to stand up gave CC an excuse to “whoop up on” the locals and get his way and on 24 March 1495 he commenced to “whooping” on the Arawaks. As described by Las Casas “Since the Admiral perceived that daily the people of the land were taking up arms, ridiculous weapons in reality...he hastened to proceed to the country and disperse and subdue, by force of arms, the people of the entire island ...For this he chose 200 foot soldiers and 20 calvary, with many crossbows and small cannon, lances, and swords, and still more terrible weapon against the Indians, in addition to the horses: this was 20 hunting dogs, who were turned loose and immediately tore the Indians apart.4” and quoting CC’s son (Ferdinand) from the biography he wrote about his father, “The soldiers mowed down dozens with point-blank volleys, loosed the dogs to rip open limbs and bellies, chased fleeing Indians into the bush to skewer them on sword and pike, and ‘with God’s aid soon gained a complete victory, killing Indians and capturing others who were also killed.4’”

In 1496 he wrote to Izzy and Fergy “In the name of the Holy Trinity, we can send from here all the slaves and brazil-wood which could be sold.” and his view on the Indians death rate “Although they die now, they will not always die. The Negroes and Canary Islanders died at first.4”

The atrocities continued unabated with CC and when he left finally for Spain, his brother Bartholomew took a census in 1496 there were an estimated 1.5 - 3 million Arawak (down from an estimate of over 8 million in 1492). Today there is only an estimated 5,000 Arawak decedents left mostly in South America where they probably escaped from the bloodshed and sickness.


1) The Journal of Christopher Columbus, translated by Cecil Jane (New York: Bonanza, 1989)

2) The Log of Christopher Columbus’s First Voyage to America in the Year 1492, as copied out in brief by Las Casas (Hamden, CT: Linnet, 1989)

3) The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy, Kirkpatrick Sale (New York: Plume, 1991)

4) The Conquest of Eden, 1493-1515, Michael Paiewonsky (Chicago: Academy 1991)

Props are given to Lies My Teachers Told Me, James W. Lowen (New York: Touchstone, 1995) for parting the curtains and letting me peak at the truth.

O! Canada - EH!

A Canadian buddy of mine sent this to me. He is basking in the winter warmth of central Texas, well...it's warm compared to British Columbia.

Now that Vancouver is hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, these are some questions people from all over the world are asking.

Obviously the answers are a joke; but the questions were really asked!

Q: I have never seen it warm on Canadian TV, so how do the plants grow? (England)
A. We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around and watch them die.

Q: Will I be able to see Polar Bears in the street? (USA)
A: Depends on how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Vancouver to Toronto - can I follow the Railroad tracks? (Norway)
A: Sure, it's only Four thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Canada ? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATM's (cash machines) in Canada ? Can you send me a list of them in Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton and Halifax ? (England)
A: No, but you'd better bring a few extra furs for trading purposes.

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Canada ? (USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Ca-na-da is that big country to your North...oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every Tuesday night in Calgary -- Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Canada ? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Canada ? (England)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-t ri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Vancouver and Calgary, straight after the hippo races -- Come naked.

Q: Do you have perfume in Canada ? (Germany)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Where can I sell it in Canada ? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in British Columbia where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada ? (USA)
A: Only at Thanksgiving.

Q: Are there supermarkets in Toronto and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of Vegan hunter/gathers. Milk is illegal.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Canada, but I forget its name. It's a kind of big horse with horns. (USA)
A: It's called a Moose. They are tall and very violent, eating the brains of anyone walking close to them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you will have to learn it first.

This week I got to go to the “big boy school” aka Texas A&M San Antonio. The maturity level did seem to be a bit higher than the junior college where I got my AA. I am not sure if there is that much of a leap between 20 & 21 years of age or it's just the type of student that moves on to an upper level university.

Many of students at the JC seemed one step removed from juvenile hall. They were often late to class, if they even showed up. The youngsters seemed to always be scrambling at the last minute to complete assignments we had for weeks. Then inevitably a few would be begging the instructor for more time and they always had some lame excuse...if all the family members of these students had died as they claimed, the local population would have decreased by at least 20%.


The JC seemed more like an extension of high school than a college campus. There were chatty little gossip groups, students more worried about how they looked than what was being discussed in class. In a lit class I took, most of the students had a habit of not doing the weekly readings. In a class with 20 students there were only 3-4 of us who actually did the readings, so instead of having a lively discussion about a good piece of literature we would sit in class and take turns reading what should have been homework. It was like being back in elementary school with each student reading a paragraph. I often felt sorry for the instructor, who was nice lady, that was working on her doctorate in english while supporting herself by teaching at the JC. That of course was when I wasn’t suppressing the urge to beat my classmates in the head with our text book for not doing the reading. I actually had one classmate claim that he didn’t have time to read nine pages in the week since assigned....NINE FREAKING PAGES, and he didn’t have time. He could have read nine pages while waiting for his video game to load or while waiting for pizza to arrive. I wanted to slap the crap out of him just for being a moron. I see a long career in minimum wage jobs for that young person.


Another stark difference is the cars the students drive. Seems like an unrelated item when comparing the quality of students at two institutions but there is an underlying truth. At the JC there were many nice cars: BMW, Mercedes, Cadillac etc, while I don’t think I have noticed a single luxury car in the lot of TAMSA. The cars at TAMSA are a wide variety of “average joe” cars. Cars that belong to hard working people who are trying to do better. When you see a college parking lot with expensive cars, you can presume that there are some spoiled rich kids wasting their parents money. That is not to make the conclusion that all of them are wasting but having witnessed enough of them in their designer clothes texting in class and failing tests I would bet I am right more often than I am wrong.


The first week at TAMSA was so different. The classes were quiet when the instructor walked in and everyone was attentive and focused. Everyone in the classes seemed so intent, like what they were doing actually meant something, that they were serious about getting an education and making a good life for themselves. Some were younger, typical college age and others where like me, starting over and working toward a second career. I would bet that most of them are putting them self through school which kind of proves the old saying about how something means more if you earn it.


The work load has gone up, the classes are more serious since they relate directly to my degree and it is going to be a long semester but it will be an improvement. I am delving into childhood development, literature in schools, exceptional students and english language learners and it’s going to be great.


I do have one class I am taking still at the JC but it’s with an uber-cool teacher who could make watching paint dry interesting, so putting up with the silliness will be ok.