Menda's Country Bumpkin Report

STAAR - Teaching to the Test?

2014-02-21T09:13:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, my daughter brought home a math paper with a 50% on it. Once reviewed she actually got a 100% but was given the 50% because she did not use the right strategy. Now, I am no genius but isn't a strategy a way to come up with a plan to solve a problem? According to Merriam Webster dictionary thats what it is.
As a former long term substitute teacher I understand that certain grading guidelines must be meet. However, when a teacher can not see that there is more than one way to reach an answer this make me wonder if the teacher is even qualified. Is the teacher just teaching to the standardize Texas test known as STAAR?

What do you think?
Is this just an over reaction on my part or is the teacher correct in giving this grade to her?

Relay Laundry 30 Second Promo

2014-02-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Below is a 30 second promo for the American Cancer Society of +Kleberg Co. Bishop TX Relay For Life .

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just wash cancer away?

Relay Laundry 30 second Promo

Lazy update

2014-02-06T05:00:00.000-06:00

I've been very lazy updating this blog these past two week. The blog post that I have been working on is still in progress and frankly I don't know if it should be posted. It's about spreading gossip through social media. I mean it is an okay subject to post but does the internet really need another person telling you what to do or not do on social media? Most likely not.

Relay For Life - Laundry

2014-01-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Below is a video that I created for the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life of Kleberg and Bishop Texas. The footage is from 2 years ago. The original idea of the video was to have two shirts fight in the washing machine. One shirt was to be a "cancer" shirt and the other was to be a Relay For Life shirt.

For some reason the editing process was not going the way that I wanted it to be so I just scraped the idea. A few days ago while cleaning my computer folders I came across the video footage and created this new video promo.

http://youtu.be/Ge0GHpM48ug

A New Tribalism - Spotlight on Adrian and Jere Sepulveda

2014-01-23T18:00:00.000-06:00

www.grong.kommune.no

Imagine a world with no smog, clean water, food that is grown without being genetically modified, a world where animals roam free and what is that you hear in the background? Could it be some music? No, it is just the sound of rushing water from a distant river and here you are sitting back, soaking in the sun and enjoying all that is around you.

How can you be so lucky to live like this? It is a decision that must be done intentionally. One has to make the effort to live in the natural world the way that it was intended.

According to wikipedia.org, Daniel Quinn the American writer best known for his novel Ishmael, believes the world and people are of one unity and that

"...Quinn ideas are popularly associated with environmentalism, though he criticizes this term he identifies himself a cultural critic and specifically refers to his philosophy as new tribalism."

This week I had the privilege conducting an e-mail interview with Adrian and Jere Sepulveda who are part of the solution to obtaining a pure and wholesome life. They are part of the "new tribalism" movement. The term "tribalism" refers to an open, cooperative community that states that nature and the laws of man are connected to one another. Therefore man should live in perfect balance with nature.

Below is the e-mail interview:

In one word how would you describe your lifestyle?

Simple

What made you decide to do eat only whole foods and limit processed things?
A love of self which corresponds to a love of the larger self...we take care of our body and we take care of our larger body...the earth. Especially after witnessing family members die of terrible diseases and their link to modern industrial foods. That was the turning point, about 1999 or so. Although, we do partake in some processed organic foods, we strive to keep it to a minimum.

Do you follow a certain religion?

What we believe in, or follow, is not religion perse, but in a word, i would call it..animism. Unlike a religion, animism, is something totally different. It is something woven into our daily life. Something that hums in all of life.

What kind of employment/work do you both do?

We both are master gardeners and permacultural landscapers. But we are skilled in many things. In a simple life, we cultivate what makes us happy, what makes others happy, what makes the land joyful with our work. In this sense, it isn't "work", but just simple living. In modern industrial society, work is something apart from home life, something you "go to", something separate, rather than an integration. We practice something like...mind, body, spirit, all connected and flowing from source. Rather than mind, body, spirit being atomized and institutionalized, or commodified. By its very nature, industrial society is at odds, is contrary, to a simple life.

Growing up what were your parents like?

Adrian...i was raised in an extended family household. I never met my biological father. I did have a stepfather though. My mom was a hardworking woman raising a large family. My grandmother, my great uncle and my uncle Chuy were close knit to me. And rounded out my familial setting. Everyone was caring and loving.

Jere....Growing up my parents were very protective, had high expectations and were very loving. I imagine my mother would be proud of the woman i have become. My grandparents also played a large part in my upbringing.

What is the one thing that you recommend for others to try when changing their lifestyle for the betterment of the world?

First, one has to realize the mess were in and come to grips with it, then, one has to realize that another more ecologically sound way is possible. With that in mind, yes, one starts to do what is possible with what one may have presently at their disposal. Gardening, recycling, education, helping others in community, volunteering to clean up ecologically sensitive areas, or helping animals in need (human and non human)...like at a shelter or a runaway hotline, etc. But more importantly, teaching the young ones the truth and how to go about living an ecological life. That's hard, especially with kids raised in the digital world. But its not impossible, get a really charismatic and go get em type of person with kids, and the kids will love it!

As one develops an ecological self, the mind opens up drastically, and what was once hidden, is totally blown open, and one "sees" what one did not before. In other words, its a life journey, not something you turn on and off, once you know, it will be so deep and profound, you'll feel the aliveness and you'll never go back to the "old self".

Kleberg Co. and Bishop Texas Relay For Life

2014-01-21T17:16:00.002-06:00

It is NEVER too early to start getting ready for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. This is one event that we enjoy getting ready for year after year. This is our 13th year in participating in the event in one form or another.
The reason why we participate in Relay For Life is because we want to keep the memory alive of our family members who have lost the fight against cancer. We want to honor the memory of my college professor who encourage me to work on the first Relay For Life video and just recently lost his battle with brain cancer and we do this in honor of our family members who are cancer survivors and kick cancer in the rear!

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society signature event to raise funds and local awareness for all types of cancer.

"Relay For Life teams camp out overnight and take turns walking or running around a track or path at a local high school, park, or fairground. Events are up to 24 hours long, and because cancer never sleeps, each team is asked to have at least one participant on the track at all times." - Relay For Life. org

Our event is on April 11, 2014 and will be held at the Javelina boulevard on the campus of Texas A&M University Kingsville. I am so excited for this year's event because I will be the event co-chair. In years past I have work on the official Kleberg Co. and Bishop Relay for Life videos but will take a step back from that and let someone else shoot the video. Of course I am going to help edit some of the footage but it will be nice to give someone else a chance at creating the majority of it. Honestly the videos need a fresh look and feel so I think this is for this best.

For more information about this event or to donate to the American Cancer Society go to this link here. The link will take you to our family's personal Relay For Life fundraiser page. So far we have raised $130. Our goal this year is $600. Last year we raised a little over $500 and thought that this year we would try to raise a little more.

www.relayforlife.org

Why does Israel have a Prime Pinister?

2014-01-11T09:39:00.001-06:00

I'm glad to see that I am not the only one who makes typos when writing. This was on the front page of the Yahoo! Web news stories for today. This actually gives me some encouragement to keep writing. If professionals can make mistakes then so can I.

Menda's Country Bumpkin Report on Facebook

Hobby House Singer

2014-01-07T14:40:00.003-06:00

The spotlight interviews will have to be delayed for now because I'm still waiting on some e-mail responses to see if the interviews will take place.

In the meantime enjoy this short video about a random girl singing at the Hobby House comic book store.

Be sure to check back here on Thursday for another update and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

http://youtu.be/rNuAYzfS-Yk

Happy New Year!

2014-01-02T15:17:00.002-06:00

fcnetwork.org

A suggestion was made to me in a blog forum that this blog should be more focused on a single topic instead of being a general blog about life. I was asked what is the one thing that I am passionate about and whatever that thing is then that should be the focus of this blog. Easier said than done. My true passion is information gathering and finding out other people's opinions on a variety of topics.

In the next few blog posts I plan on interviewing people that have a unique view on life. This series will be called the "Spotlight on (person name)". They may have a unique job, overcame a major hurdle or maybe just have a unique view on how the world works. This should be a fun project and I can't wait to share it with you. Check back here on Tuesday to see who will be spotlighted first.

Menda's 2013 Country Bumpkin Year

2013-12-31T18:14:00.000-06:00

A short video of our 2013 in South Texas.

http://youtu.be/HbKSmB5Asrs

How to be AWESOME in Life! - written by a 9 year old

2013-12-24T08:47:00.001-06:00

www.hdwallpapersinn.com

My 9 years old daughter has been wanting to write a blog post of her own so today's post is about how to be AWESOME in life according to her.

Step 1: Get a pair of roller skates or ice skates and do an cool trick.
While skating forward try to lift your leg up without falling over. Make sure you practice a lot by staying still in your skates and see if you can lift your leg. Once you do that then try to go move forward very slow.

Step 2: If you like to draw, do it in a cool way.
Draw something that you like. You could draw a butterfly or something else from nature. Next you should post it online so everyone can see it.

Step 3: Play a cool video game or board game.
I don't know how this would help you be AWESOME but is just something fun to do. It's better to play with friends or your family. It not that fun when you play alone.

Step 4: Get a cute pair of clothes.
I don't know how this would help you be AWESOME but if you are in school it will help you look cool. If you wear a uniform to school just try to look cute by putting a headband in your hair. If your a boy just comb your hair because boys don't comb their hair.

Step 5: If none of these steps help you just be who you are.
Just be who you are. You don't have to follow my rules to have an AWESOME life just be you.

People Wait - Worship Choir Music

2013-12-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

The combined choirs of the Santa Gertrudis Catholic Church and First Baptist Church in Kingsville, Texas sing the song "People Wait".

Soloist-Sarah Garza
Words & Music by Brett & Emily Mills

Art Production by Fudge Creative

Enjoy!

http://youtu.be/t4KxefCcCjY

School Days and the Morning Time

2013-12-17T16:00:00.000-06:00

Every morning during school time my 9 year old daughter does NOT want to get ready for school. We are constantly in a disagreement over what she should do in the morning. Does she not get dress? Refuses to brush her hair? Forgets to eat breakfast?

The answer to that is YES!

She does these things because she is reading. Constantly.

Every morning my daughter will start the day by reading and will immediately forget that she needs to get ready for school. I am constantly reminding...okay yelling at her to get dressed and get ready. I have even gone as far as telling her there will be NO reading until she is finished with everything. That seemed to backfire on me. She will sneak away into the bathroom to read and tell me she is getting dressed.

Don't get me wrong. I love the fact that she is a book worm but there is a time and place for everything.

What can be done to make the morning time better? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Surpise Marriage Proposal at The Hobby House-Extended

2013-12-12T17:00:00.000-06:00

Below is the extended version of the surprise marriage proposal at The Hobby House.

http://youtu.be/gAbWaXCsEvk

Surprise Marriage Proposal at The Hobby House

2013-12-10T08:25:00.001-06:00

Our good friend, Daniel, had planned a surprise marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Elyssa on Saturday December 7th. This took place at his comic book & craft store called The Hobby House.

This is where they meet.

The extended version of this surprise proposal will be posted on Thursday.

http://youtu.be/X4SpLF582fo

Merry Christmas!

2013-12-05T16:29:00.001-06:00

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas is Coming!

2013-12-03T19:05:00.001-06:00

Christmas is Coming! That is the name of the Christmas musical that our church will be performing this week. Once again our whole family will be involved. We are so excited! If your are in the Kingsville area please join us for this free concert. It's going to be awesome!


http://www.firstkingsville.org

Thanksgiving is coming!

2013-11-26T19:06:00.002-06:00

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I have not given any thought to this blog post. Today was a mad house at our local grocery store and like the procrastinator that I am I decided to pick up a few last minute items for our Thanksgiving dinner. Big mistake. There were so many people!

In December I am going to try to add another blog post on Thursdays in addition to the Tuesdays post. Let see how well this goes.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Bob Is Taking Over!

2013-11-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

The latest protest about website change is now coming from YouTube users. YouTube is now requiring that if you want to comment or use YouTube then you have to sign up for Google Plus. Many people like myself have already converted over to the new form to continue using the free service on YouTube. However not everyone is happy about the new change.

You may have seen some of the above posting in the comment section on YouTube.

According to a petition at Change.org YouTube users are claiming that now they can not comment anonymously and because of this they will not be able to give their true feelings about a video. One such user is Aaron Vollhoffer of TRENTON, CANADA and he says on the Google Change Petition that Google Plus and YouTube are now

"Stripping us of our anonymous profiles, forcing outside media and advertizements down our throats, censoring our comments and selectively giving commenters the ability to disable replies and ratings on their comments, among a host of unwarranted changes to the original, much more efficient and streamlined Youtube layout as a whole are just some of the many negative changes that are being made to Youtube. It's ethically wrong to force these changes unto an unwilling userbase as it alienates them while devaluing the quality of the site and tarnishing your credibility. This callous behavior needs to stop."

Really? Callous behavior? Not so sure about that. Instead of creating a petition about the change and still using the service it would be better to stop using the service all together.
Google Plus and YouTube only have as much information as you give them. As you notice I'm known as "Country Bumpkin Reporter" on this site but if you search into my profile you will find my real name. This is the information that I wanted Google Plus and YouTube to have.

I do realized that some people are not like me and do not want internet attention and that they would like to keep the comment form the same way. Yet, here is the truth of it. Nobody is forcing you to use the site. It is free. If you don't like it use another website that you feel more comfortable with. To send a true message to YouTube that you do not like Google Plus you must stop using the service.

What do you think? Am I right? Wrong? Or am I just being a push over by still using the service? Let me know in the comment section below.

What is Movember?

2013-11-13T08:32:00.001-06:00

movember.com

Ladies, have you been wondering why some men are deciding not to shave this month?

In the month of November a charity site called the Movember Foundation created the "No shave Movember" to help raise funds for men's health issues such as prostate cancer, depression and yearly medical exams.
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movember the word Movember is a combination of the word moustache and November.

Men are encourage to register at http://us.movember.com then grow a mustache for 30-days in the month of November. Men start clean shaven and grow their "Mo", slang for moustache, and then ask friends and family to donate to their efforts. With their new moustache it is easy to start a conversation about their new look and let people know why they are growing it.

The money that is raised for the Movember Foundation is donated to the Livestrong Foundation and to the Prostate Cancer Research which is part of the Movember Foundation.

When searching for the information about the Livestrong Foundation and the Movember Foundation I could not find the answers to what does each of the foundations do with the money that they are given for the "No Shave November." The only answer that I could find when searching the Movember.com website was a very generic statement such as promoting cancer research and providing awareness.
Yes, but how is this done?

As part of my association with the American Cancer Society-Relay for Life organization I know that a portion of the money that we raise goes to a research center at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas and to our local American Cancer Society chapter in Corpus Christi, Texas. MD Anderson and our local chapter of the American Cancer Society uses the money for cancer research, a local housing unit called the "Hope Lodge" where patients and families can stay when they have to be away from home for cancer treatment and a host of other cancer related patient services.

Maybe my research needs to be a little better when it comes to the Movember Foundation. Can anyone answer the questions that were stated? Maybe you or someone that you know is involved in the Foundation. What is the experience like and how is the money being used through the Foundation?

Please let me know in the comment form below.

Just thinking out loud

2013-11-06T08:05:00.001-06:00

www.picstopin.com

On the previous blog post the topic of my childhood was mentioned. Coming from a multiple childhood divorce culture I wanted to write about something that might be able to help other adults that went through the same thing I did in their childhood. Alas, there are some things that are too painful for me to share. One day I will write about the effects of multiple divorces in childhood and how it can affect a person into their adulthood. Today however, this topic will not be written.

Mom & Dad

2013-10-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's been 2 weeks since my last post. My mom has been in the hospital for a little over a week now. I went to stay with her for a few days. So far the doctors don't know what is wrong. It could be a combination of things. She is over 60, diabetic, takes heart medicines, and has been losing weight very quickly. The last thing to check would be her kidneys. This could be the cause of her weakness but we just don't know.

Next week I plan on writing or creating a video blogging about my relationship with my parents. It is not unique but to me it has always felt a little strange. I mean how many people do you know have their divorced parents living in the same apartment complex?

Check back here next Tuesday to see.

bearcreekguidance.wikispaces.com

Mice can be cute

2013-10-15T21:29:00.001-05:00

A short video about a day at the pet store.

http://youtu.be/4E_MmPBSyIY

Random Things on a Friday Night

2013-10-01T16:47:00.001-05:00

Below is a short video that I upload 2 years ago. At the time my husband and I was going to enter a local radio contest about "What Random things do you do on the Weekends?"

http://youtu.be/cA7O3NkqgyU

I never submitted the video.

Mosquitoes Are Driving Me Crazy!

2013-09-24T08:45:00.001-05:00

We are finally getting a break from the rain. After 2 weeks of raining the sun is starting to shine again. Now we have to deal with the mosquitoes. They are huge! I guess they were not kidding when they said everything is bigger in Texas. What is driving me nuts about them is that every time I go outside it seems like 5 or 6 of them want to be my friend. Buzzing and flying around trying to get my attention and then suck my life's blood. Stand down buggies! I don't want your friendship!

The most annoying part of mosquitoes is the buzzing sound they make. My arms instantly turn into wild monkey arms as I swing them around trying to get them away from me. My daughter reminded me that when mosquitoes make a buzzing sound they are in love and are trying to harmonize with me.

Have you ever noticed that life is like those annoying mosquitoes? Small annoying things buzzing around trying to get your attention? The kids need to go to practice, dinner needs to be made, the clothes need to be washed, the yard needs to be mowed, the list goes on and on. At times it can be overwhelming! Maybe life's little mosquitoes are just trying to be in harmony with us. Maybe they are the small reminders that we need to solve a problem, fix a relationship, or just wash some clothes.

When you are feeling overwhelmed with the everyday routine of chores, school and life how do you cope?