This is me posting on my blog . . .

I accept that this post will not be perfect.  It will not be funny and will likely not be intetesting.  But it could just be THE post that restarts my writing habit. 

What could I write about?

How about that guy Rob that stayed at the Mabees when we lived there, and the manly way I confronted his deceipt.  Or how about the list of offenses the exiled chicken has committed, and that in spite of her guilt I can't get the jury to go along with the death sentence.  There are all kinds of great things happening with my kids - and of course with my parenting.  Did you know we have to wipe the dogs feet for them when they come in from the back yard?  But the kids? . . . We keep asking.

Our $500 car is worth zero right now and we're feeling betrayed.  Our luck usually goes so much better than that . . . NOT.  I'm taking a project management class - actually it's a study group for taking the Project Management Professional certification exam.  But I'm dividing my notes into two groups: project management and test taking.  I'm actully really good at test taking.  That explains how I got through college, but this will be more challenging than most multiple choice tests I took in college.  Except Business Law. That stunk.  Have I ever confessed/explained how I really got thru college?

How about my wedding story?  Wendy wrote down the story of our courtship within a couple of months of our marriage, but I haven't done that yet.  I really should.  My memories of that time of my life are unfaded.  But I don't know what happened ten seconds ago.  I think I really do suffer from short-term memory loss or ADD or both.  It makes life very interesting, and allows me to think very creatively, and solve problems well.  What I'm thinking about at any given moment is not likely to be connected with what is going on around me at all, and not likely to stay on the same topic for more than 15 seconds.  Creative opportunities.

I could write about the lessons I've learned in my political experiences over the last six months.  The bicycle shed?  My new slum-lord retirement plan.  MUD.  The concrete sidewalk that isn't.  The whistle I stole when I was five.  (sorry Joe).  How about snow caving?   Hiking, fishing and other activities I wish I were doing.

I could write forever about my jobs, but it wouldn't be enjoyable for you or me.  The task list in my notebook includes pending transactions, an HR profile, iProcuremnet documentation, commitment to change in the PPMC area, testing the database upgrade and a patch, MSDS attachments, a view for Mr Stapleton, MD50 documentation and reimbursements.  Told you.

How about working in Japan?  I did that for seven months after my mission.  Made something like $11K but I don't even know where half of it went.  It would have been worse if I hadn't been budgeting.  In Okinawa as a missionary, we once walked through a very poor farm village.  A kid saw me and ran, screaming, "OKaasan!! Hen na ningen!  Hen na ningen!!" (Mom! A weird human!!).  This was Miyako island, actually.  I was one of two white guys on the island.  My companion was Japanese.

If this list isn't proof of a mental disorder, I don't know what is.   But, on the other hand, disorder or not, it's fodder for a lot of good blogging!

See ya!

BOYACK'S ANNUAL REPORT - 2010

Hello Boyack fans! Wow, what a year!

This letter is about to miss the Christmas deadline, but what can I say? This has been a year of adventure and changes, but one thing stays the same: I’m late wherever I go! Before I start my ramblings about the Oregon Boyacks, I think it’s most important to say in this time of celebrating family, friendships, love, and God’s goodness, that we remember you specifically. This electronic greeting doesn’t come to your door in a crisp bright envelope and stand nicely on your mantle, but it comes with smiles and warm thoughts from my family to yours. We truly wish you a merry Christmas and a joyful new year. May God’s kindness protect and bless you throughout the year.



Lillian and Leah

Lillian (7) is a very busy, independent little lady. She is reading chapter books, like “Charlotte’s Web”, and she is doing well in home school. She has been in swimming and dancing classes this year, and she likes to ride her bike the short distance to class whenever her parents will let her. She tried roller blading to class and I nearly called the police. I gave her a head start and then shadowed her in the car. Short story: I lost her, but it all ended up well. Her favorite programs are Danny Phantom, Clifford, and Martha Speaks. She sings exceptionally well and her voice fills the house. Often. Fills it right to the top and overflowing. And, significantly, she hasn’t climbed into my bed in the middle of the night in the last couple of months. Yes!!!



Rock Stars

 Hannah (12 for one more month) is an amazing young woman. If I start right off by saying how wonderfully she cooks and cleans, I’m going to get in big trouble, so let’s praise her for being responsible and a hard worker. She is in the Jr High school choir – her first participation in public school – and she also sings and plays the piano. I sometimes wonder whether I’m hearing my 12-year old daughter or a professional pop star. OK, so I’m her dad, but seriously, she’s great! She read the Harry Potter series and now she’s working on “Tennis Shoes” book five. She will be your friend for a half gallon of ice cream.



Matrix Chad

Chad (15) is going places I’ve never been! He played football again this year and follows NCAA and pro teams. He took a weight lifting class and is stronger than I ever was, even before I dissolved into a puddle of jelly back in 1997. He’s another musician in the family, and possibly the best. He’s a GENIUS on the ukulele. He picked it up from some friends at school starting last December. He got a cheap little thing for Christmas and has not put it down since. He bought himself a high-quality electric/acoustic, complete with amp and pedal, and now he’s a ukulele rocker. He creates chords, progressions, rhythms, and even lyrics.

This year Chad and I went to a concert of the ukulele legend, Jake Shimabukuro. We also had a great time cycling the San Juan islands with 20 guys and dads from church. In this beautiful setting we experienced physical challenge and refreshing relaxation. But better than those, Chad discovered that he could potentially live on twenty dollars a day. We are men of simple needs.

McKay practicing her "blonde" look



McKay (17) is our first teenage driver. She can even drive stick shift, and she runs errands for Mom in a 1986 Toyota Celica. It’s not much to look at, but I think she likes it a lot. Another great singer, her voice melts my heart. She had a couple of solo roles at the high school this year, and sings in the church choir. She is self-driven in school and is learning math I never had to know and studying anatomy. I’m no help to her when she has a question on homework. Her plan is to become a massage therapist, and she is working that plan.

McKay has a new friend. He’s six months old and twelve inches high: the smallest and busiest dog we’ve ever had. If you need your knees scratched or ketchup cleaned off your face, he’s the man for the job. He’s affectionate and playful and a loved addition to the family and THE LAST PET WE WILL BE GETTING FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS. That’s the last time I’m saying that for the last time.



Kimber and Ray . . .



Kimber is almost 20, and getting MARRIED! AAAAAH(I’m officially old)HHHH!!! Ray Jessop is the lucky guy. I know – I could knock you over with a feather, right? Ever since he was Han Solo and she was Princess Leia before they were ten, more than a few people have seen this coming.  Kimber says she had this hope since she was six, but she and Ray have spent so much time together I think she thought he was just an annoying brother. But these things change, don’t they?



. . . have many things in common!



In May he returned from serving a mission in New Jersey, and went to work a’wooing, and won her heart handily. He made his proposal on the beach just this month – only about a month after she had picked the wedding date. They plan to be married in March.

She is still taking classes at Chemeketa and teaching at the Dance Studio. She’s also had some success selling her own artwork in the form of painted shirts. She really is an amazing artist!



Wendy, Shar and Sobe to the rescue!



Wendy has been taking it easy this year. She quit teaching early-morning Seminary and sent our kids to public school so that she can catch more daytime television. Ha Ha! But you didn’t even bite on that little tease, did you?

In addition to Seminary and home school, Wendy still teaches singing lessons. She has spent countless hours volunteering at the high school in their theater and music programs. She has become the de facto technical manager of the school’s beautiful new theater and is training students to use the equipment. She also is sharing her artistic talent as she designs and paints the sets there.


Biking Fashion Expert



For myself, I’ve had a few changes in my life this year. I’m now working at Wah Chang in Albany, OR. It’s a great job and it’s much closer to home. This year I had a concern about a school district issue, and got uncharacteristically involved. I joined the Rebel Alliance and we are taking on the Imperial Senate from a rebel base in the Alderan System.

And this year I became a pet owner farmer . I’m in love with eight beautiful hens the idea of providing for my family with resources in the back yard. Every day I run home from work and spend quality time bonding with these magnificent creatures with wide eyes and an intellect to match my own do the necessary chores to keep my livestock healthy.

So that’s the summary! I hope to share a few more details on my blog before the year is out. Here are links to a few stories I've enjoyed writing this year:

Man's Best Feathered Friends
Driving Mrs Boyack
Bicycling Adventure

Now to find more time for writing! With five active kids and a super active wife, (and lots of hairbrained adventures of my own) I am getting lots of inspiration of things to write about, but I’m trying hard to keep up and not writing much. I figure that day will come.

So Merry Christmas, and we hope to keep in touch!

The Corners of My Mind . . .

. . . are dusty.


Yesterday I got a rare privelige of participating in the judicial process that we take so much for granted. Last month my lovely wife and I were witnesses to a bad car accident, in which we saw a red sports car cross Lancaster without enough clearance, and a small pickup T-boned it.

So we were subpoenaed to Salem Municipal Court to testify. It was really quite an honor, and all things were done in the greatest decorum and courtesy.

The police officer, as well as the offending driver, had established for the judge that the red car had attempted to cross from a parking lot. I think the police officer wanted more information from us witnesses as to how the guy entered the intersection. Did he stop and look, or just slow down before entering the road?

When my turn came, I was asked to describe what I saw. We were traveling far behind the pickup when it ran into the red car.

"The first thing I noticed was the cloud of smoke from the airbags deploying, and the pickup truck being shoved to the right. And the red car passing in front of the pickup.”

Policeman: “Did you see the car leave the parking lot and enter the roadway?”

Me: “No, I really wasn’t aware of either vehicle before the collision.”

Policeman, referring to his notes: “So you don’t remember telling me that the red car entered from the parking lot?”

Me, smiling: “Uh, I could have told you that, and if so, it’s probably more reliable than what I can remember today.”

Policeman, rolling his eyes: “No further questions.”

Besides the honor of participating in the greatest justice system in the world, I also got paid eight dollars and twenty cents for that testimony.

I love America!

Encouraging Civility

I have removed an anonymous comment that was made on 9/29. I appreciate this note that came from that commenter:

I would like to publicly retract my statements of Mr Maloney and Hunter from 2 posts ago.  . . .  It was not the appropriate wording for the "opinion" I was trying to get express. ...again, I do not want to go down the road of name calling and take away from the positive discussion at hand. Again, I appoligize to both men for going down that road.

We all need to remember that our voices will be heard best when spoken in careful tones, and our words will be best understood when they are unerringly true.  I found this quote today from Mary Wortley Montagu (I have no idea who she is, hopefully she is nice):

Civility costs nothing, and buys everything.

So I also apologize, for leaving the offending comments up for just over a week.  I am new to this world of controversial writing, and I did not take the needed initiative to monitor the comments.

I Have Been Schooled

Some readers have corrected my assertion that the bond for the 47 Million was in 2006.  I am learning that it was actually 2008, and that a smaller bond was in 2006.  Thank you for pointing this out.  I havent yet found published results for the 2008 election, but will publish a link to them when I do.

Updated: The Ethics of Oversight

The Central School Board has a problem. From their perspective, it may seem small at the moment. Having to deal with a few complaining citizens has probably always been part of the job. But they may not realize that the substance of the complaints is no longer about programs and policies. It’s really not even about education. It’s about ethics and honesty. It’s about money, and it’s about oversight.

Here are some examples of flagrant waste that concern me:

Vacation time reimbursed without authorization

Personal expense budget exceeded without authorization and personal recreational activities paid for by school district funds

Non-bond funding used for items in the original bond description.

Specified and contracted items in the bond not delivered

Concerns are growing amongst staff, teachers and now citizens about district office expenditures as well as the bond fund. And right alongside those questions we are asking where does the buck stop in the Central School District? The board should be the supreme authority, but they don’t seem to be asking questions, pushing back, or demanding accountability from the superintendant.

When the public sees evidence of wrongdoing and mismanagement in the district, and hears that the school board has let this behavior pass, we wonder how many other things have happened that we are not aware of. We wonder how the school board can not be aware. Or, assuming they might be aware, we wonder if they are complicit and approving of wasteful and harmful behavior.

Let me tell you a story. This is a story told by my ethics professor at a business college, many moons ago. It’s a true story about a local manager of a large non-profit organization and his treasurer, and it goes like this: The manager traveled much for his work, and so he got in the habit of signing checks in advance, so that the treasurer could take care of routine business when the manager was out of town.

The treasurer’s family was dealing with some major medical issues. Once when the manager was out of town, a large bill came due to the treasurer. This non-profit organization collects donations for people with medical issues or other needs. The managers have control of the dispersal of this money. So the treasurer, justifying himself by saying that the manager would probably give him the money if he were to apply for it, wrote himself a check for several thousand dollars and paid his bill.

When the manager returned, the treasurer felt a little too shy to explain what he had done, so he didn’t bring it up. The manager continued to sign blank checks as usual, and was eventually gone out of town again. At the treasurer’s home, another bill came due, and he again took money from the organization without asking by using the signed checks. This happened several times. Eventually, guilt compelled him to confess to the manager what he had done. But by then this poor treasurer had stolen many thousands of dollars.

I don’t know how this story ended for the treasurer. The professor’s point in telling it was to highlight the manager’s unethical behavior. Yes, that’s right. The manager behaved unethically by placing the control of so much money into the hands of one man, without requiring accountability. The checks actually required two signatures, to facilitate accountability, but the manager defeated that system by signing blank checks. The treasurer was guilty of theft, to be sure, but the manager was responsible for creating the environment where theft could easily occur. And an otherwise honest man found the temptation too much to bear.

Is Central School Board, like the manager of this non-profit aid group, signing blank checks? If they are not performing their duty of oversight, they are guilty of creating an environment where a person might begin to think of district funds – given by taxpayers for the purpose of educating students – as completely under his own discretion and answerable to no one else.

The Central School Board’s own policy states that the board “assigns and holds the superintendent responsible for all the administrative functions of the district” (Policy Code BCD). “Holding responsible” means verifying that a task was completed according to the agreement (for example, a budget), and when it wasn’t, requiring the problem to be corrected as soon as possible. Holding responsible can also mean reprimanding, coaching, or terminating a relationship.

To salvage its reputation, the school board should take seriously the concerns that have been brought up, and take immediate and fully-corrective action.

Facts, Opinions, and Dialogue

UPDATE: Some readers have corrected me on the issue of when the 47 million bond was approved. It looks like it was 2008.  The one I saw in 2006 was a smaller bond.  I am still looking for published results of the 2008 election.

Until recently, my blogging has been infrequent and “humorous”. One of the luxuries of writing humor is that I can choose when to stray from the truth for the sake of a laugh. Likewise, the people who tell me that my writing is funny have no obligation to the truth.

But now that I’m writing about community affairs, I try to be very conscious of what’s true – or at least documented, versus what is my opinion. I don’t want to mislead people, or get people charged up emotionally based on only a kernel of truth. I want people to know what’s actually happening, the way I want to know, and make informed decisions. In the best cases I hope more of you will get involved, even if it takes the ugly truth to wake you up, as it did me.

I try to stick to documented facts and separate it from my opinion clearly, so that I can maintain some respect among you readers.

Another reason I need to be very careful about the truth is that I don’t want to ruin someone’s personal reputation through untruths. Though I have never personally spoken with any of them, I have the greatest respect for the individuals on the School Board. They are giving the sacrifice of unpaid public service. I know that if and when we do meet, we can do so respectfully, and maybe even cordially, if I’m diligently honest about how I pluck their feathers.

Also, I don’t want to be sued.

On the other hand, I think they are ruining their own reputation as a board, and I am making it my mission to loudly assist them in that process – by simply reporting what I know – if they don’t take the hint and change their ways.

Here on this blog, you and I can have a public dialogue about these issues, and raise awareness in the community. I appreciate you commenters that have noted my understatements and overstatements in my loud-mouth recommendations. I also appreciate the anonymous commenter today who wanted to set me straight about the history of the bond measure that gave us the school expansion.

I, and at least one other reader, did exactly what we should have done when told of my “inaccuracies.” I went to the source, and confirmed the truth. This is important, because honestly, I was working from memory before I was challenged on this fact. If I had been wrong, I would be posting that correction now.

So, to you commenters, anonymous or otherwise, I say bravo.

So to the specific issue raised today, I can say without a doubt that the bond measure passed in November 2006 with 54% of people who voted on this measure voting Yes. The rest of the figures are: 40% of the people who cast ballots that day in our district voted Yes. 26% of registered voters voted Yes. Here you can read the report yourself.

And the other fact I verified is that unemployment was at 5.1% that month, and it was 10.3%, more than double, last month.

Now, to the good man who was misinformed on these facts, I say, Thank you for reading and beginning to get involved and thinking about these issues. Keep reading, keep talking and listening, and let’s help everyone get the truth.

The other point, good fellow, is that the primary issue I wanted you to get from reading that blog was that YOUR tax money is paying for a 47 million dollar bond, and I’m concerned that this project may have been delivered without your best interests – and maybe not even the kids’ interest – as the top priority.

I really hope I’m wrong on that one.