Visit us online at http://www.montereybayacademy.org/ Thursday, December 18, 2008 Christmas Concert Dear MBA Family, After many years of research, I've discovered the most fragile thing known to man (no--not woman).  It is....................a string of Christmas lights.  Is it just me or can some of you relate to this?  They just lay there so innocent looking--YEAH RIGHT. Planning to bring some holiday cheer to my office, I recently bought some brand-new lights.  We're talking straight out of the box--directly from China.  By the time I had hung up these 2 measly strands of "brand-new" lights, I'd gone through 2 fuses and 7 burned out bulbs.  Did I mention that these were brand-new?  Shouldn't they have a life-expectancy of longer than 12 minutes?  Of course this does guarantee the need for more lights......    Have you ever hung up lights, only to have the whole strand (or half the strand) quit working?  What about the tedious, yet unsuccessful attempts to remove each light, one by one to locate the culprit?  Or how do the same lights you delicately placed in a box at the end of last year--mysteriously become hopelessly tangled and burned out at the same time?????  Why don't stores sell the same brand/style of lights I bought last year?  There are too many choices, mini-lights, indoor/outdoor lights, C7 lights, C9 lights, LED lights, clear, white, colored, blinking, chasing, straight strands, short strands, long strands, connecting, non-connecting, white cords, green cords, icicle lights, mesh lights, Aaaaaaagh (I'm just getting warmed up).  Then there is the whole other adventure of climbing the ladder and attaching the lights to the house............   How many of you have boxes of old lights in the garage that haven't worked since 1987?  Why do I need a degree in electrical engineering to connect all the necessary extension cords?  Yes--I've discovered that millions of people throughout the world suffer from CLSD (Christmas Light Stress Disorder). It is more common than you may think. CLSD is usually seen in adults (mostly men), often showing up in December. Its symptoms include: yelling at lights, heightened levels of frustration, and feelings of stupidity. Seriously, Jesus is the light of the world.  He will never burn out or stop working.  He is the real Christmas light this season. Past Week It has been a flurry of activity around here with week-end Christmas programs, Career Day, dorm open house and finally semester exams.  The winner of the campus "Festival of Lights" was the Lara family.  2nd place went to the Dunn family and 3rd went to the Nathan Henderson family.  Congratulations!  Now the campus is quiet as your children are home or on their way.  Tonight, we will have our staff Christmas party in the cafeteria. Yearbook Announcement Christmas homeleave is a great opportunity to take senior portraits (deadline: January 19, 2009).  If you'd like someone on campus to take them, Donna Baerg and Shelly Dinning have both done so in the past.  To email your senior portrait or for more information, contact: sdinning@montereybayacademy.org    You might also consider a dedication page for your senior son/daughter in the yearbook??  See attached letter from sponsor, Shelly Dinning (deadline: February 17, 2009).    Looking Ahead The boys and girls varsity basketball teams will be participating in a tournament at Fresno Academy the week-end of January 2-4.  Their first games will be at 2:05pm on Friday (girls) and 3:10pm (boys).  They will return to MBA on Sunday evening along with the rest of our students.  Second semester classes will begin on Monday, January 5.  I hope you all have a terrific Christmas season and vacation.  Take time to rest and cherish your family.  Life is ever-changing and never predictable.  Thank you for entrusting your most precious posession to us--your children. See you in 2009.  Until then, keep looking up, and watch out for those Christmas lights! Sincerely yours, Tim Kubrock Principal principal@montereybayacademy.org If you know of someone who would like to subscribe to this newsletter, please encourage them to sign up via our website, or by sending an email to mbanews-subscribe@montereybayacademy.org. MBA Staff Phone List MBA Staff Email List Yearbook Dedication Form MBA Online Calendar December Home Leave December 18 - January 04 MBA Offices Closed December 25 January MBA Offices Closed January 01 Fresno Basketball Tourn. January 02-04 ASB Progressive Parties January 10 Music Tour (Sonora) January 15-18 CVCA Basketball Tourn. January 16-18 MLAJA JV Basketball January 16-18 ASB Spirit Week January 19-23 PUC Basketball Tourn. January 21-25 Week of Prayer January 26-30 CCC 9-12 Band Festival January 29-February 01 If you are having trouble viewing this email, please use the online version, or contact the MBA webmaster. 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