Cheaper Than Therapy

Testing for Orange Belt

Prior to taking his Orange Belt test, Jackson joined the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation. I just hope it’s a Martial Arts organization and not some fringe radical group.

He got a cool packet in the mail with his membership card, complete with the official signature and red seal of the President of the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation.

The test itself was much more demanding than I (or he) had anticipated, going nearly three hours non-stop, without even a break for water. Although we won't know officially until we get the results and scoring back from the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation (I just can’t say that enough. Well, actually I can’t say it at all, but I like the way it looks.), I’m confident that Jackson passed.

He even broke a 5/8” thick board with his palm, and another with his foot, which are requirements to advance to Orange Belt. Breaking the board with his hand took three attempts. It was probably more painful for me than him (though he might argue differently) as he smacked his hand, palm forward, against the unyielding board, his eyes welling with agonized dismay, his confidence momentarily and visibly shaken. But the third time was the charm, as they say. He also learned an important lesson: it doesn’t hurt nearly so much to break it as it does not to break it.

Here are some pictures from the Orange Belt test.

Tales from the Coop

It all started innocently enough.

Then it got ugly. Really ugly. And no, it wasn’t Gerard’s idea (so he says.) Supposedly that fiendish little 10-year-old boy came up with it all on his own.

I found the ransom note on the kitchen counter, written in Crayon. “Give Jackson a bigger allowance or the chicken gets it.”

I made it clear that this mom doesn’t give in to chicken terrorists.

“Where’s the chicken?" I demanded. "What did you do to it? If there's so much as a scratch on that little rubber body, there'll be no video games for a week. But let the chicken go and no one will get hurt.”

The chicken-napper caved immediately.

“He’s somewhere in the house,” came the next clue, also hastily scrawled in Crayon.

It wasn’t long before – out of sheer necessity – I discovered the chicken’s unfortunate location.

With a quick rip of tape, another tragedy was averted. And everything is back to normal in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

As for the chicken, he's just clucky, I guess.

A boy, a plane, and a park

And now, the Governor of California...

For the graduation program, each student in Miss Kelly's 4th grade class came out on stage and said a few lines to describe a famous person, after which the audience would guess who they were. Jackson only got out "Hello Caleeforneea" in the thick Austrian accent he'd been practicing all week before everyone yelled, "Arnold!" He practiced out on our back deck in his governor-looking jacket and tie before we headed over to the school. Click on the Photo Albums button on the left and then the album “2004 6 Graduation/Bday” for more June photos.

Tiny toys for big boys

Austin and Jackson at Ruby's.

Shocking News: Another Jackson Bussard?

Today I Googled to see if Jackson's new website had made him famous (no, not quite yet).

However, it did come up with a U.S. Census report from August 7, 1850 for LaGrange County in Indiana that listed a Jackson Bussard, 21 years old, born in Ohio, occupation - Farmer.

Since Jackson's dad Camron is from Indiana, it makes you wonder...could it be a distant relative? The 1850 Jackson lived with his mom and dad, William and Rachel, and a younger sister Louisa. Amazing. Click here to go to the report itself.

Presenting...www.thejackzone.com

Check out Jackson's new website, www.thejackzone.com. Now he has a platform from which to deliver his unique, nine-year-old perspective on games, game platforms, game characters, and even games that stink and he's already ditched. Be sure to leave a comment so he knows you've been there.

I built it for him for Valentine's day and loaded up all kinds of cute Valentine's messages for him, including a Batman Valentine, a Garfield Valentine, and a Japanese anime-themed Valentine. He made me take them off. "That's so lame, Mom. My friends can't see that."

But he was very appreciative and is really getting into posting new content.

You're never too young to start planning

The other night, my nine year old son Jackson told me about the girl he’ll marry. The subject came up at bedtime, while we were lying on his twin mattress, staring up at the ceiling in between tickling bouts. First he had asked me who I would want to be married to.