• The beautiful fall weather… perfect temperature, colorful leaves and the dogs lazily staying close buy.

• The smell and the warmth of a campfire. (Yea – I have one burning at 10:30 am)

• The leadership of FCA in their academic program, sports program and the dedicated families who are so organized and make everyone feel welcome. A special thanks to Coach Daub and all of the other coaches including Craig Carpenter and Dr. Scott and Sue Johnson. You are all such a blessing and great role models for our children. Thank you.

• My son being part of an awesome new varsity football program that is only 3 years old and undefeated this season. (We are so proud of our “little” freshman.) Record now 8 and 0 as of yesterday’s game! Go knights.

• The leadership of St. Mary’s school that is rich in tradition and culture. My daughter is having an awesome year academically and sports wise her 6th grade volleyball team is also undefeated!

• The awesome team we have at BSSI. I am so blessed to have such a dedicated, quality team working in this business. They are all rock superstars!

• The vision and passion that has been placed upon me to help businesses; it is not a responsibility that I take lightly.

• The awesome clients that BSSI is blessed with. We are so proud to have clients like each and every one of you. To those of you who volunteered to be part of our focus group, thank you!

• For my healthy, beautiful children.

• To be living in the United States and to have such freedoms and liberties.

It is just one of those days where words cannot express the thankfulness and gratefulness that I am feeling. I am so blessed. May peace be with you today.

Greg turned 40

Greg turned 40 this past weekend! I am not sure if you can see, but it is the grim reaper on his cake! (I also bought some black balloons, but they flew out of the sunroof of the car! — Happy Monday to me.)

Be sure to wish Greg a happy birthday!

You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello, and too old to REALLY understand computers, to fully appreciate this. For those of us who sometimes get flustered by our computers, please read on….
If Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their infamous sketch, ‘Who’s on First?’ might have turned out something like this:
COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks, I’m setting up an office in my den and I’m thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don’t own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name’s Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don’t know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let’s just say I’m sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue ‘W’.
COSTELLO: I’m going to click your blue ‘w’ if you don’t start with some straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That’s right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What’s bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn’t it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(A few days later)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on ‘START’……………

I found a great article on cyber bullying & how to protect your children. It can be found at the Kim Komando Site: http://ow.ly/1HFat

Also, Kim has put together a great contract that should be signed between you and your child regarding use of the Internet. It serves as a great document to begin the dialogue with your child. If you are in education, it may even be a great tool to use as an educational activity in a classroom setting. The contract can be found at Kim Komando – http://ow.ly/1HF4V

Below is a couple of excerpts from her contract.

May you and your children “surf” smart!

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(1) Gadgets, phones and the Internet can be used in unsafe ways. I am making this agreement with my parents to help keep me, my family and my friends safe.

(2) My parents and I will decide when I am allowed to use the computer, cell phone, gaming systems and the Internet. I promise not to ask or fight for more time. I will only do things and visit places that they say I can.

(3) I will never tell anyone in text messages or post online that I am home alone. I won’t give out my last name, my home address or phone number, the name of my school or teachers, where my parents work or their phone numbers without getting my parents’ permission. I will never give out my friends’ screen names, e-mail addresses, names, addresses and phone numbers, and I will remind them to keep mine a secret.

(4) If anyone does anything that bothers me, I will tell my parents. I will never use bad language, say bad things about other people, or send mean messages in an e-mail, text or instant message, chat room, blog, or on a Web site. I will tell my parents if someone does that to me. If I use “secret” or “code” words online, I will tell my parents what they mean.

(5) When I use instant messaging, e-mail, chat rooms, or Web sites where people put information about themselves, I will never send or post a picture of my family or me. If I set up a blog or an online profile, I will tell my parents where it is and how they can read it.

(6) I WILL NEVER, EVER MEET WITH ANYONE I’VE TALKED TO ONLINE WITHOUT FIRST TALKING WITH MY PARENTS.

(7) If my parents ask me for my password, I will give it to them. I will NEVER give out my passwords or any of our family’s passwords to anyone, not even my friends’ or other family members.

(8) If I want to download any apps, games, movies, music, or programs, I will ask for permission. I know I must pay for most of these things. If I take them, that is stealing.

(9) I will not try to win free things or buy things on my phone or on the Internet without my parents’ permission. If I get a message that I won something, I will show it to my parents. If I get an e-mail or text asking for passwords or other secret stuff, I will ask my parents. I will not forward any e-mail or messages that tell me bad stuff will happen to me if I do not.

(10) I will not open any of my parents’ files. I will not change any settings or install any new software without my parents’ permission.

(11) I give my parents’ permission to look on the computer and my phone to see where I have gone on the Internet, the e-mail and text messages I have sent and received, the things I downloaded or what I do. If my parents installed programs that track what I do on the computer or limit where I go online or on my cell phone, I promise not to turn those programs off.

CHILD’S SIGNATURE

I have read the above and agree to follow these rules. If I do not, my parents can take away my privileges.

PARENT’S SIGNATURE

I agree to let my child use electronics so long as these rules are followed.

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