Early Summer

In Memphis, that means the next 10 days will be over 90 with no rain. Yay!

Officially re-admitted (again) to University of Memphis to take Advanced Aerospace (sponsored by Tennessee Department of Transportation). It is basically the same class I took two years ago (titled Beginning Aerospace) with the only difference being you have to have taken the first one. It includes 2 hours of flight training, a trip to Huntsville to the Space Museum, various field trips to the airport and Air National Guard wing, FedEx, etc. Lots of fun, it ends before the end of June, and it is FREE and I get graduate credit toward my next pay grade.

That is, if the city decides to fund the schools. For those of you in the "real" world, of which Memphis is not a sub-set, let me explain. The city of Memphis exists within Shelby County. However, Memphis has a completely separate government from the county. Separate schools, mayors, police force, etc. Which means if you live inside Memphis, you pay both Memphis and Shelby County property tax. If you live in the county, you only pay the county.

For the past 70 years (yes, I kid you not), the city has funded a large portion of Memphis City Schools' budget, which on the face of it would make sense, wouldn't it? However this year the city council has solicited opinions from in-house legal staff that could be interpreted in this way - The city has elected to fund schools, but is not REQUIRED to fund schools. That is the county's obligation. Never mind that state law prohibits any government from withholding funding to schools. Never mind that this will precipitate a lawsuit which will cost everyone a ton of money. Never mind that said lawsuit will DEFINITELY not be resolved before August, when school begins.

In my mind, this is a behind-the-scenes powerplay for at least two things. Consolidation of the two school systems (without putting the consolidation to a vote, as is required by law), and allowing current mayor Willie Herenton (also former School Superintendent, who resigned due to a sex-for-promotion scandal) to return to the superintendent position without applying (and therefore increasing his pension to match current salary).

Is that all clear?

Family (without me) leaves for NYC by car on Friday. Plan was to leave on Saturday, but Sunday is the Puerto Rican Day parade in New York, and you really don't want to be traveling then. The next few days promise to be hectic and full of laundry, packing, car care, packing, batteries (multiple Nintendo DS, walkmans, iPods, DVD players, etc.), snack foods, packing, itineraries (don't worry if you haven't been called, I am sure you will be once they know where they will be when) and packing.