My Favorite School House...School House Rock!

"As your body grows bigger, Your mind grows flowers,

It's great to learn, Cause knowledge is power!

It's Schoolhouse Rocky, That chip off the block
Of your Favorite schoolhouse, Schoolhouse Rock!"

Bring back memories?? How about these?

"I'm just a bill, yes, I'm only a bill,"...."Conjunction Junction, what's your function?"..."Inter-planet Janet, she's a galaxy girl,"..."A man and a woman had a little baby, yes they did. There was three in the family, it's a magic number."

One of my favorite animated cartoons of all time was the educational series, Schoolhouse Rock shown during the late 70's and early 80's. Schoolhouse Rock was created to teach children basic educational facts by using catchy songs and animation. The "school" was divided into 4 sections. There was America Rock, that taught about American History/Government, Grammar Rock, which taught the basic parts of speech and grammar, Multiplication Rock, which taught multiplication, (duh!) up to 12, and finally Science Rock, which taught basic facts about the human body systems, the planets, electricity, gravity, and saving energy.

Many of the lessons I learned from Schoolhouse Rock I still use today. I still use the songs from Multiplication Rock to remember my basic math. When teaching about the U.S. Government, I still sing the song about the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. I learned the order of the planets from Science Rock, and I still remember how to use the parts of speech from Grammar Rock.

In 1998 another addition was added to the Schoolhouse Rock line-up. Money Rock was created to teach kids about basic money facts; like how checks work, how to save money, budgeting, and how savings accounts use interest. Shortly after, a new video was added to the America Rock series. "I'm Gonna Send Your Vote to College" attempts to explain the Electoral College. Later "Scooter Computer and Mr. Chips" became the newest branch of Schoolhouse Rock. These videos explain the basic functions of how computers work.

The Walt Disney Corporation now owns the rights to Schoolhouse Rock and you can buy the entire series on DVD if you wish...(click here!) To read the, now famous, lyrics from the series click here.

Financial Peace University

Tonight my wife and I start a 13 week course to better help us with our family finances. The course is called Financial Peace University and it is guaranteed by its creator, Dave Ramsey, to change your life and your family forever. Through Financial Peace University we will learn: How to put together a spending plan that really works, Step-by-step how to get out of debt, the security of an emergency fund, and how to confidently invest for the future. We will also learn: How to make wise insurance decisions, the value of negotiating big bargains, the best way to buy and sell a home, and the benefits of IRA's , 401k and other retirement plans and how they work. Best of all we will learn the blessing of giving without worrying about the stress it will cause on our financial resources.

Dave Ramsey uses Biblical principles and other common-sense principles to help people find peace with their finances.

My wife and I already use a budget and have rid ourselves of much of our debt, but we are looking forward to getting rid of the rest of debt, creating an emergency fund, and saving for the future. It all starts tonight.

This and That

Not much to write about, but I feel the need to blog about something so here I go.

I have lost a total of 5 pounds in my efforts to eat more healthy and do a little more exercise. I did break down and eat a slice of pizza over the weekend though. My daughter has a couple of friends over to spend the night and the pizza just looked so good. I have not had a soft drink since the day I blogged about giving them up. I have also been very careful not to finish uneaten food off the kids plates. I have been giving them smaller portions to start with, and that helps.

I am also looking forward to Major League Baseball's upcoming playoffs. I am routing for the Indians and the Cubs, with a close series victory by the Cubs. The main reason I want the Cubs to win is I am tired of hearing about their curse. The Red Sox broke their curse, the White Sox broke theirs, now lets end the Cubs' curse and move on and get the Texas Rangers to the World Series. As long as the Yankees don't win. I like the Yankees, I just want to Cubs to win more. For you Mets' fans...I am very sorry about your team. What a bummer end to the season?

My family and I also experimented with a "no television, computer, or video game day" on Sunday. We survived! After a little game withdrawal from my son, he admitted that Sunday was a good day. I am glad we did this day on Sunday, because I don't know if I could miss the baseball playoffs.

I also donated blood (one week ago on Sunday). The blood center did a cholesterol test for me. My cholesterol level was 142. This is lowest it has been in over 3 years. About 2 years ago it was almost 400. What an improvement! I credit, better eating, Lipitor, and a much less stressful job. Don't forget about many prayers to God as well!