Baby It's Cold Outside

Well finally we've got some snow on the ground and the thermometer shows a brisk 25 degrees outside with a wind chill of 12 degrees. Yes! I am sipping coffee and watching the snow fall, what a treat!

I'm hoping the white stuff sticks around for the rest of the day. I needs me some snow!

So to celebrate the cold and the snow, a little ditty...

I likes me some white stuff
Falling from the sky
It doesn't stay long enough
For this cold weather guy.
I like to see covered trees
And crystals on the glass
As long as pipes don't freeze
Or I have to get my car gas.
Let it snow my good fellow
We'll toss a snowball or two
Just don't use snow that's yellow
Or smelly snow that sticks to shoes.

Keep warm everyone!

13 Things on my Christmas List

I know you all are just dying to get the Christmas shopping done so here is my list of 13, in no particular order, that will make me ecstatic on Christmas morning...

1. World Peace (while I doubt you can deliver on this one, I thought I would toss it in just to win some points with Santa)
2. Ruger .480
3. Longhorns winning their Bowl Game
4. Complete funding for all the Clubs
5. World Peace (oops, did I already mention that one? See how good I'm being Santa?)
6. A new banjo
7. A blue tooth for my Razor
8. A publisher for my books
9. A check that would pay off all the bills. Better yet, a winning lottery ticket, I'll take care of the rest.
10. Oh, World Peace (why yes Santa, I've been very good)
11. A measure of good health for family and friends
12. All of my loved ones sitting around the tree, sipping hot chocolate or coffee, enjoying each other's company.
13. And #1 on my list... Piece of the World (Just in case you can't deliver on World Peace, I'll take a piece of the world. Bavaria looks good...)

Christmas Parade of Lights

Tonight was the annual Parade of Lights downtown where 100 floats (decorated trailers) promoting nonprofits, businesses, or service clubs weave their way through the throngs of people leading the way for Santa (who arrives in a horse drawn wagon) and kick off the holiday season. I brought twelve kids from one of the clubs to ride on the trailer from my service club and I discovered some interesting truths;

• The words "No, we aren't going to do that" increases the resolve of twelve year old ornery boys to do exactly what was forbidden.
• The fear of children's safety rises exponentially by number of children factored with the number of wheels in motion.
• Flashlights, kids, Santa hats, and suckers are the ingredients for a nice little dish we call "bedlam".
• Telling kids to stop sucking on the straw from the hay will never have the impact of telling them that rats, skunks, raccoons, and snakes use that hay for nests and also for their own personal porta-potties.
• Older folks stop considering kids "cute" about five minutes into the parade.
• Nothing is more fascinating to city kids than watching a horse make social commentary onto the pavement.
• Perhaps the only thing more fascinating to kids than watching horses defecate is watching people walk through the newly produced parade obstacle.
• Kids love to be in parades because it gives them another opportunity to drive adults a little closer to the edge...

It was a great parade and the kids did have a great time. I am thrilled there won't be another one until next year...

A Visit to Al-Anon

Went to an Al-Anon meeting tonight and after an hour was impressed at the personal introspection and healing that takes place through their program. It ain't about fixin' the other person, it's about fixin' yourself.

In my case there isn't even an alcoholic involved but there are so many involved in the lives of the kids I serve so I thought maybe they could give me some insight into how I could help them. Lo and behold, it isn't "them" that needs the help, it is me. It was a great experience and worthy of a second glance.

Post Thanksgiving

The bird's been 'et
The folks have run
Lest we forget
There's dishes to be done.

Mind Sets

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. -Henri Nouwen

After a long discussion with someone I dearly love and would gladly take a bullet for, I was reminded of several truths about relationships and the human mind.

1. The mind is a terrible thing to play games with.
2. Physical injuries heal in days, mental ones take lifetimes and even then, there is no guarantee of healing.
3. A wounded mind = a fragile life.
4. Holding the wounded in your arms while they get through a crises probably does more to sooth the holder than the holdee.
5. There is a helplessness that consumes you when you desperately want to protect/heal/deliver the person who is crying out for release of inner torments.
6. My hurts cannot begin to compare to the hurt I feel from watching a child in anguish.
7. Laying in the dark trying to find the way to help the one you love is a lonely vigil.

I also know Henri Nouwen is right but have to admit this part of the phrase saddens and frustrates me...

"...who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares"

I know it is because I want to fix it and make it better that there is such frustration and a sense of helplessness, but just because I know that to be true doesn't make it any easier.

Iraquis Take Healing to a New Level

So we take out your dictator, remove a tyrant, his sons, and give you a chance to run the country in a democracy if you wish. Two years later we have you "healing" like a big dog... Why your Iraqui police are quite adept at keeping the peace... provided they don't have to do more than avert their eyes while the people burn Sunnis alive, or insurgents take electric drills to people before decapitating them.

This is supposed to be a time of healing. You know, let's all get together and put aside differences to experience a little freedom and maybe even enjoy a night or two of sleeping without the fear of Royal Guards busting in and killing your family in the middle of the night. Healing... you know, getting better, improving your lot... changing your world... healing.

Well tan our hides and mount us to a T60 tank 'cause the whole healing concept has seemed to fail to register in your minds. Are you even paying attention? Since when did killing and maiming fall under the heading of TLC? Maybe our concept of liberty and freedom doesn't groove with your idea of the same. Perhaps we have the mistaken idea of liberty being equality distributed among citizens as they respect each other's rights... you know, those rights that include breathing and keeping your head attached to your neck. Hey, I think even the right to keep your innards inside of you would also qualify.

So listen you morons, straighten up or tell us you are quite happy killing each other off and that we should go home. Forget summits and resolutions, get straight to thinking with some part of your body that isn't swollen and itching in the anal region.

You know, a couple of thousand US citizens have died trying to give you freedom and a fresh start. Time for us to leave and let you folks kill each other off in you own little practice of mass insanity.

Oh, lay off the torture and decapitations... cruelty has never been cool in any setting and you just show the world just how backwards and moronic you are.

A frustrating day ends less so...

Worked all day long on Slvr's car today. We started off to work on the master cylinder but she mentioned electrical problems which means you get to chase all sorts of rabbits to finally nail the problem down. We made numerous trips to the autoparts store but the car wouldn't start. Just to give you an idea:

• Change out left tail-light lamp. Busted. Assembly is holding water.
• Unplug drain from light assembly.
• Light works, yeah!
• Pulled battery. Cleaned posts, cables, and box.
• Put battery back in, car won't turn over.
• Shut hood, alarm goes off.
• Disconnect cables.
• Replace the terminal heads on the battery cables. Purchased the wrong ones first, another trip to get the right ones. Still have to modify.
• Pull Starter Relay and check five autoparts stores. No one has it in stock. Will be Monday before they can order it.
• Get to the dealer, no relay in stock but suggested I try the ignition switch instead since relays seldom if ever go out.
• Search for ignition switch after removing underdash to make sure ignition swith won't require special tools. Nope, easily accessible.
• Get to parts store, look at universal switch. Only three wires. Bright light goes off in my thick skull... especially after conversation with sales clerk.
• Get connection splices to reconnect the auto alarm system that I cut to keep the horn from going off. Duh... auto kill switch to the starter!
• Fix splice.
• Try several methods to reset alarm system. None work.
• Slvr looks all over her car and finds a manual to the alarm system.
• Reset the system.
• Car runs perfect. A day has passed.
• Kids want to go to the drive in theatre.
• Take kids to the drive in.
• Watch Happy Feet and Flushed Away. Both excellent.
• Return home to do laundry and wash dishes.
• Ready to go to bed.

This was the first time the kids had ever been to a drive-in movie. They enjoyed the experience! Sort of a dull day, but at least Slvr's car is up and running again. I only feel partially stupid...

I've been tagged

I have been tagged by a couple of folks to do the Meme thing and because it is a holiday, I'm gonna do it 'cause who wants to think on a holiday while licking their wounds? Not me...

I won't tag anyone but feel free to do these. Tubby, still working on the song title one...

One word description- yeah, you can only use one word...for some of us that is almost impossible!

1. Yourself: Insightful
2. Your spouse: None
3. Your hair: Leaving
4. Your mother: Happy
5. Your father: Kind
6. Your favorite item: Banjos
7. Your dream last night: None
8. Your favorite drink: Fresca
9. Your dream car: Camero
10. The room you are in: bedroom
11. Your ex: Ha!
12. Your fear: Failing
13. What you want to be in 10 years: Happy
14. Who you hung out with last night: Family
15. What you're not: Dead
16. Muffins: Blueberry
17: One of your wish list items: Funding
18: Time: Morning
19. The last thing you did: Mopped
20. What you are wearing: Smile
21. Your favorite weather: crisp
22. Your favorite book: PrayerforOwenMeany
23. The last thing you ate: Pie
24. Your life: Fun
25. Your mood: Upbeat
26. Your best friend: Fanatstic
27. What you're thinking about right now: Showering
28. Your car: Chevy
29. What you are doing at the moment: Stretching
30. Your summer: Hot
31. Your relationship status: Hopeful
32. What is on your TV: DVD player
33. What is the weather like: Crisp
34. When was the last time you laughed: Yesterday

Whew, made it it. Have a great post Thanksgiving!

It Was Bound to Happen

I checked and all the planets were still in spinning around in orbit, following their ancient celestial paths as they fly around our sun.

Birds woke up the world this morning with their morning songs of celebration.

The sun did come up this morning.

I even checked to see if America was still a free nation, and we are.

You would've thought after such a cataclysmic event as the Geezers losing to the Wheezers for the first time ever....that the universe would be reeling from the shock of it all. Sigh.

It was a great game despite early injuries (Slvr had to leave the game after a pass when someone grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her to the ground as she passed by, twisting her toe, which is now an ugly shade of purple. Okay that someone was me, but seriously, it was unintentional and the simple laws of physics took over... really.) Tied up as the sun is going down and there is a quick agreement that each team gets one play. Whoever makes the most yardage in their one play wins the game. Our quarterback takes the ball and hikes it, we all take to our patterns... then the unthinkable happens. Our quarterback is sacked by Jman. All the Wheezers have to do is catch a pass for positive yardage and the game is over. A quick hike, a soft pass to Jman and history has been made.

Today I think I will sit in a dark room, lick my wounds (jammed three fingers and twisted an ankle) and dream of revenge or maybe dream of a day when the Geezers were younger, faster, and smarter. Congrats to the Wheezers for their victory and for playing an excellent game.

Ode to a Turkey

Oh Mr. Turkey all juicy and fat
Cooking nicely in the roaster.
Surrounded by dressing that goes splat
Made from old bread toasted.

You had such a cute name, I recall
When wrapped in netted white.
We lovingly called you "Butterball"
Looking forward to a feasting delight.

Now you're a gorgeous brown
Smelling like heaven has descended
Folks are starting to gather round
To devour you as intended.

So on this day of giving thanks
I thank you Mr. Turkey
For being there for our hungry ranks
And not being made of tofurkey.

Thursday 13 for Thanksgiving Day, 2006

Thirteen Things I'm Thankful for in no particular order;

1. My kids.
2. My friends.
3. My brothers.
4. My parents.
5. My blogging buddies.
6. Having a job where I can serve others.
7. Living in the US of A.
8. Any talent/gift I might've been blessed with.
9. Hope for the future.
10. A small abatement in my cynical tendencies.
11. Living in the Great State of Texas.
12. Grilled armadillo salad (just seeing if you are paying attention).
13. Freedom and those who served/died giving it to me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

More great recipes

I know everyone is excited about the Raccoon on a Stick recipe so I thought I would post a salad recipe and a dessert today.

Grilled Armadillo Tossed Salad

Harvest an armadillo. (I would suggest you avoid getting a road killed armadillo since the shells tend to be cracked and don't hold the sauce and salad so well.)
Pick some lamb's quarter. (Leaves only, the stalks are waaaay to woody.)
For the really adventurous soul, fresh spinach is a nice touch. (Ecoli is just an urban myth.... besides, grilled armadillo will knock out any little virus that might kill off the faint of heart.)
Grab manderin oranges too.

Dress out your armadillo. Set the now empty shell aside to wash and bleach later. Wash the meat, filet the meat off the bone and grill over a nice heap of mesquite coals. When the meat turns white, take it off the grill, slice it into manageable bites and set aside on a paper towel.

Wash your salad greens. Peel and seperate manderin orange wedges. Mix all of them together in a bowl. Pour on a healthy heaping of your favorite vinegarette sauce, add armadillo, and mix until there is a nice shiny coat to all of it.

Hopefully you have taken the time to wash the shell and let a little bleach water set in it. Rinse thoroughly, wash again, rinse again, coat inside of the shell lightly with olive oil. Take your salad fixings and set them inside the shell. Set the shell in the middle of the table so all of your folks can oooh and aaaah at the festive edible centerpiece.

Dessert time folks, I'm thinking pecan pie.

Pecan Pie

Pick up pecans from underneath the trees.
Shell pecans.
Munch on pecans while shelling.
Share shelled pecans with other family members.
Realize you have eaten all of the pecans.
Trot down to your local bakery and purchase a pecan pie.
Serve with coffee.

Easy, huh?

Tomorrow I'll be bringing you some of the more festive side dishes for Thanksgiving. You won't want to miss it!

Let me help you out...

Since Thanksgiving is upon us, I thought I would help you folks out with some killer recipes over the next few days that will surely please the family when they gather around table to feast upon the turkey and dressing.

For my vegetarian friends I thought I would start off with a personal favorite of mine.

Tofu Turkey Joy

Purchase a tofu turkey.
Purchase a case of 9mm rounds.
Place the tofu turkey into an aluminum roasting pan.
Place pan 25 yards from the back porch, preferably on an old tree stump.
Have the family lock and load.
On the given signal, everyone empties their 9mm's into the tofu turkey until nothing is left but miniscule pieces of tofu.
Go inside and eat a real turkey.
(Caution: Be sure when you place the tofu turkey on the stump there are not any houses, animals of worth, or people you care about, behind the roasting pan. However, you can have in-laws you aren't so fond of stand behind the tofu turkey to catch stray bullets...).

Raccoon on a Stick

Catch a small raccoon. Two if you are expecting a large crowd.
Skin the raccoon. Field dress the raccoon (that would be removing the guts and other non-edibles)
Wash the meat.
Get a stick.
Skewer the raccoon.
Baste the raccoon in your favorite pre-smoking sauce.
Place the raccoon and stick into your smoker.
Smoke for six hours.
Pull the raccoon into nice even portions, skewer with smaller sticks
Set on table and step back. Watch the eating frenzy...

Okay, there are your first two. Will post desserts next.

Getting ready for Turkey Day

Slvr and boyfriend showed up around 1 a.m. last night and this morning we made breakfast (pancakes and sausage) and then went to play disc golf. I ended up swimming for a disc but was able to find it. Talk about freezing water...sheesh, I thought I was going to freeze but luckily the sun was warm enough to keep me from shivering.

It is great to have the kids here and even though I have to work part of next week, it feels like the holiday has already begun.

Planning on doing some grocery shopping this evening and then later, hope to knock out some plumbing issues. Another Saturday in paradise.

Making the plunge

I took the plunge and updated to Blogger Beta. I'm not sure if this is better or not but I do like the labels you can attach to your posts. I put them on the November posts and will continue to do so from now on. I saw these on Amy's blog and liked the idea of clicking on the label and reading all her posts centered on her themes. Welpers, here are my current labels and feel free to click on any of them if you have a hankering for;

Life - Just my day to day commentary on my life
Poetry - For those moments you say to yourself, "I haven't read any really bad poetry lately so I think I'll take in some Frustrated poetry."
Songs - Some of Frustrated's favorite lyrics
Ranting - If you want to know what has chapped the ol' Frustrated's hide
Whining - Frustrated whimpering. Sigh.
Great Ideas - Those moments of brilliance when the ol' Frustrated has figured out how to make this place so much better. No, no one will listen to me, but still some great ideas.

Those are all that I have now. I thought of adding labels such as "Women" (but that really falls under Whining or Ranting), Sports (but that is easily a Life category), and "What the ....?" (but I think that is a Life category too as we spend most of our moments walking around observing the absurdities of life and find ourselves thinking, "What the...?"). I might add them later, but for now I am happy with the labels I have.

Enjoy

Ice Skating

They have an outdoor ice rink in our small Texas city and the boy and I went to the grand opening. It was fun but I have to say that ice skating is probably not my thing as I have determined;

• My flailing away trying to keep my balance seems to terrify small children
• My body slamming into the sideboards for some reason makes my innards protest
• Oh my goodness, can you make the arches of my feet hurt any worse?
• Small quick children darting among your feet make be nervouse for several reasons; one which has something to do with falling on them and producing a small stain of squashed child on the ice.
• They will never allow me to drive the zamboni. Sigh.
• People tend to enjoy watch Frustrated falter, fall, and freeze
• I am getting old as my priorities have now become "Let's just get off the ice without breaking anything important."

Oh well, Jman enjoyed it and is quite a fine ice skater. I spent most of my evening chatting with colleagues, drinking coffee, and taking pictures... off of the ice. Skate on people, skate on. May you avoid the proverbial pain in the tuckus.

My Thursday Thirteen for November 16, 2006

Frustrated's List of the World's 13 Most Dangerous Animals

1. Male Lawyers
2. Sharks
3. Female Lawyers
4. Alligators
5. Lawyers who are breathing
6. Black Mambas
7. Lawyers with time on their hands
8. Cape Buffalo
9. Lawyers without morals (that is most of them, I think)
10. Bears
11. Lawyers with car payments due
12. Tigers
13. Judges who used to be inept lawyers... perhaps the most deadly of all.

Thanksgiving preparations

As Thanksgiving is just a week away, my family is preparing for the annual feast. I've not heard mention about the annual Wheezer vs. Geezer Bowl and it may be a sign the Wheezers have finally accepted their fate of always losing and are conceding to the Geezers. Man, let me savor that thought for a moment... wow, that is truly glorious.

As for the big meal my little brother orchestrates the ordeal as everyone chips in and brings dishes while my grandmom cooks the turkey and dressing. My role in this meal is to provide:

Fumi Salad
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Plastic Ware and Plates
and... if I can find some nice stalks at a reasonable price, my famous pan-seared asparagus.

I did offer to bring Raccoon on a Stick but was turned down. Man, some folks just don't want to try new things.

It will be great to see most of the family and enjoy the stories, playing 42, and hopefully, tossing the football around. I believe this is my favorite holiday of the year. Bring on the turkey!

I've been a baaaaaaaaaaaad boy

Okay, I have not posted for a few days and that means I am delinquint in my writing. My world has been hectic to say the least with preperations for hearings with CPS over licensing issues. The initial hearing is over and we have two weeks to produce recommended policies in order to comply with exemption criteria. No problem. Luckily I already have an additional 8 hours of the day that I am not working in which I can whip those puppies out.

Our annual report is almost finished and my brother is doing an excellent job on the layout. It will be a product worthy of pride!

As for me, I'm just plugging along. Have two grant requests due today, one is finished, one is still being tweaked. No problem, I'll knock 'em out.

I have a narrative to write for the UW today. No problem.

I think I am also supposed to propose a plan for world peace with an additional sidebar addressing world hunger... no problem.

Okay, a bummer of a post. Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

It's tough to win a shoot out without a Colt

Welp, my Longhorns lost.

Goodbye National Championship.

Hello, "Hey, we can still be Big 12 Champs!" Hmm, that seems a little like kissing your sister (okay, I've never had a sister but if I did, I sure wouldn't want to kiss her).

Somehow you knew it was coming. Maybe after Colt McCoy was hurt scoring Texas' first touchdown or maybe when you saw how fired up K State's defense was and the quickness of their secondary.

Either way, the dream has crashed but I am not depressed by any means. If Texas finishes 11-2, then I will be thrilled. I suffered through enough 4-7 years to be joyful at a winning season no matter what.

Okay, enough of the remorse. Time to start thinking about something positive... hey, the Aggies did lose yesterday...

Finishing up in Atlanta

Whoo boy, ten days away from home and I am so ready to get back. The days were packed with all kinds of trainings, late night sessions developing powerpoints and strategies, but last night was graduation and we all received an arm load of goodies including a hand painted certificate of completion.

This morning I am packing and getting ready for an exit interview due in a few moments. Should be fun... right?

So maybe I should list my ten most memorable moments in Atlanta...

1. The Coke Museum. Cheesy but interesting. Okay, I had a blast.
2. Discussions with my colleagues. Some of the best learning opportunities were in these networking sessions.
3. Watching "professionals" lose and go after each other. When the precious little grandma lost it, I thought that was priceless.
4. New friends. I feel as the whole class bonded but there are five folks whose friendship is close enough to invite them to come and stay with me in Abilene, if they are ever in the area.
5. The graduation dinner. Lots of fun.
6. Watching the class howl with laughter at my faux presentation after graduation dinner.
7. Meeting the national headquarters staff.
8. Giving the presentation in front of the National Staff.
9. Spending an hour or so playing with the kids in a local club.
10. Watching people while riding MARTA.

Welp, that's it.

Will post when I get home.

Now that is tired...

Just realized I posted a Thursday Thirteen on a Wednesday. Sheesh.

Thursday 13 for 11/8/06

Thirteen Slides thoughts you can't put onto a PowerPoint presentation for assessing an underachieving organization

1. This slide represents the level of commitment you have for the organization... hmm, well it is blank, isn't it?
2. This slide is going to be tough as it has your mission on it. Just a second, I know I can do this without laughing... no, really, give me just a minute.
3. After researching your financial plan and the actual dollar allotment, we determined this figure here best represents those findings? What number? Oh look, there it is in the bottom right hand corner. I know, it is a rather small number...
4. The demographics clearly show only 7% of the population within a mile radius is being served. Now put on your rose colored glasses and lookey there, the number has changed to 87!
5. Here is a picture of your facility. Here is a picture of your facility without the grime...
6. This slide represents all of the bacteria we found in your swimming pool. That one is a nasty little bugger, isn't it?
7. This vision slide is blank. What the ...? Oh wait, that is your vision. My bad.
8. Slides 8 and 9 are both pretty blue blank slides to demonstrate how collaboration works without effort...
10. Slide 10 was to start showing you all of your challenges but we realized we didn't have enough memory left on our 320 gig hard drive to encapsulate them all.
11. Recommendations are clearly shown here on slide number 11. That would be a .44 magnum he is blowing his brains out with...
12. Looking to the future will be critical and to show you what your future looks like, I give you slide 13...
13. Hey, what happened to slide 13?

Another NGDB song

For those who are serving far away from home...

Safe Back Home

I put on her colors with honor
And carried them over the sea
To battle at the mouth of the devil's tunnels
Are you safe back home praying for me?

And do you still use the same words you taught me
That you learned at the dear savior's knee
On that sweet morning there in the garden
And are you safe back home praying for me?

How long? How long? How long? How long?
Will the words of this prayer be my hope
It if be His will and I'm delivered for real
We'll say "amen" together I know.

On patrol in the cold of this desert
I tremble as I wait for my relief
I picture our circle of family
Are you safe back home praying for me?

How long? How long? How long? How long?
Will the words of this prayer be my hope
If it be His will and I'm delivered for real
We'll say "amen" together I know.

A late night moment of reflection

It is just now past midnight in Atlanta and we have finished for the day.

I am beat. I am thinking having 18 CEOs in a room trying to come to an agreement over a powerpoint presentation is about as effective as trying to nail jello to a tree. We finally did finish the rough and have another two sessions to gather and fine tune the presentation. The interesting part is the group is highly intelligent, talented, and resourceful. Perhaps what prohibits positive progress is the river of strong personalities and opinions that flood the room.

Oh well, the presentation will be good. I think.

So on this early morning I think I will go to bed with a few lines of randomness...

They tell me this city is full
Of crime and wicked deceit
I'm sure there are men who'll
Kill you on these wet cold streets

Perhaps the cold I feel inside
Isn't from fear of evil or the cold
But is from having to abide
In this city of red and gold.

I'm so tired I can't even think
So weary there's an ache in my bones
I would go home in a blink
Instead of staying here all alone.

So as the fog settles into the mass
Of grey matter called my brain
I am wishing the rain will pass
So I can remain sane.

Happy Wednesday Ya'll!

Atlanta Conflicted

Hotlanta hasn't been living up to its name. It has been in the 50's all week and now it is raining. The buildings of downtown that normally reflect a view of blue skies and bright sunshine are now obsorbing the dreariness of the day and magnifying it tenfold. A rather dreary day it looks like but among the weariness of the city skyline I can see the leaves of green, red and yellow breaking up the forest of granite and glass with a brilliancy giving one a sense that there is a chance of shaking off the shackles of gloominess.

There seems to be a subtle insurgency from the trees to take one last stand for nature against the concrete monster called civilization. A gathering of the minority standing in a vigil proclaiming their worth among a noisy throng of man made machines marching menacingly among them. They are our reminder that beyond these city streets there is a pastoral peace awaiting those who choose to escape who wish to soak in the beauty and quiet of the country.

Rainy and dreary days make me sad.

Brightly colored trees of autumn give me hope.

Midnight Meltdown

Part of the Executive Leadership training is analyzing and assessing the validity of a local club's programming, facilities, staff, boards, resource development, and financial management. Long hours of classes, interviews, and then late night sessions of teams putting together presentations.

During the early part of the week everyone was cordial and teamwork oriented.

Let me emphasis the early part of the week.

It is obvious there are two of the team who enjoy partying, sleeping in, and have chosen not to participate. For my part they are better off getting tanked than wasting our time of rushing projects and not being focused on the task at hand. I think most of us have been thinking that but last night the inner city came out in one of my colleagues, an athletic female who has been fairly quiet throughout the training.

"I won't be letting them disrespect me! The don't like my club computer, well where is their @#^%%#($@ computer? Where the @#^#$+*# are they when we meet? Name we one *^$##^ thing they have contributed? Do you see us _#$*^^%_& leaving early? Did we )&(^(&)^%( sleep in? I say we vote them out of the group. Take video and send back to their CVOs or better yet, let's kill 'em." (Okay, I added in the last one...)

I think it was at this point most of us thought, "Hmm...."

I can understand her frustration. I think whoever paid the bucks for their training would be disappointed in their behaviors and participation. Oh well, back to editing and rearranging powerpoint slides. Wonder what Tuesday holds for our little group... who will be the next to meltdown? This could be a great reality show. I could think of some fun ways to do the giving them the boot ceremony...

Hanging with Saddam

Folks gather in the courtroom
Smile at Saddam and say
"What is sweeter than a desert bloom?
Could it be your execution day?"

Saddam smiles and shakes a finger
Holds the Koran high and shouts
"Allah is good, he won't make me linger
And I hope he kills you louts."

Judge man giggles and slaps his gavel
"Saddam you are one funny guy!
'Cause when that rope has unravelled
You gonna break your neck and die!"

Shites applaud with delight while saying
"Saddam is gone, he's toast!
Deliverance came from all our praying
Saddam can go to hell and roast!"

Saddam looks startled and maybe mad
Realizing they don't want to hang
With the one and only king of Bahgdad
And be considered as one of his gang.

"I can see you're not so inclined
To hang with Iraq's own Adolph
So your kind offer I think I'll decline
I'll just go to the desert and golf."

Poor Saddam doesn't quite get it
His ruling days are really through
There's a bucket and he's gonna kick it
He's gonna dance with Satan's crew.

Group Norms

So the group of directors decided on the first day that certain group norms would be put in place and if you violated them you would have to pay a dollar.

If you are late... a dollar.
If you cuss... a dollar.
If you interrupted someone... a dollar.
If you fell asleep in class... a dollar.
If you failed to get your assignment... a dollar.

You get the idea.

Maybe we should do this in real life.

I would be glad to police the world around me.

Oh, I would also be happy to hold the money.

Goodbye to Mike

My friend Mike has stepped down from a most important position to take on a new challenge in life. I know the guys he served will miss him but I also know he had spent 18 years playing those political games that burn you out.

Such transitions as this in life are inevitable but they always seem to take us by surprise when they do occur. Change isn't bad but it does make us leave our comfort zones and that is scary enough as it is. I know his faith and beliefs will get him and his family through the seas of change. He will be sorely missed by all of his colleagues.

I wish him the best and know that he will be kickin' butt and takin' names in whatever job he performs. Good luck man!

It's a New Day by the NGDB

I know of a friend who has had more than their share of life changing events lately and like most of us who have been down that path, is feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thought I would post these lyrics from the Nitty Gritty Cd Welcome to Woody Creek.

"It's A New Day" (M. Berg/T. Krekel)

Sleep deprived and falling apart
Staring down your demons
Out there in the dark
At the end of the tunnel
You can see a light
Well if that ain't a train
You made it through the night

And it's a new day in the morning
Anything is possible
It's all good
For a brief shining moment
Everything is wonderful
Knock on wood (knock on wood)

You get knocked down
And you get back up
You get knocked down again
Well it's just your luck
It's just one of those years
That you gotta get through
And you wake up and find
It's made a man out of you

And it's a new day in the morning
Anything is possible
It's all good
For a brief shining moment
Everything is wonderful
Knock on wood

It's a little humbling
Down on your knees
Ah, but if you say please
And it's a new day in the morning
Anything is possible
Yeah, it's all good
For a brief shining moment
Everything is wonderful
Knock on wood (knock on wood)

Street Preacher

A sermon heard on the subway delivered by a "touched" preacher who quite frankly made more sense than some of the ones I've heard lately...

"The city wants your body. It can kill the body but not the spirit. You got any spirit on you sister?"

"Sister, don't be listening to the devil, stand up here at the altar and sing a song. Singing makes your soul happy and stop its frowning. Might as well smile now as you sing sister. Smiles let people know you have a soul. Frowns just scare the people off. (I almost questioned this point as the whole car was frowning at him and he sure wasn't scaring off that easy)"

"Folks, you all need to come to the Lord before we get to the airport. No need flying home without the Lord."

"I think we really need a song. You over there, come up here and sing for us. Lead us in a song about the Lord riding MARTA."

"Careful sister, no need in selling yourself for some deviled joy."

As we left the subway I heard him say to the young teenaged "sister" who was intently plugged into her Ipod, "Carelful now. Don't let the airport fall on you."

Good advice. I have a feeling any airport that falls on you would be a bit painful.

When did the Underground get so trendy?

I went to visit Atlanta
Hoping to capture a childhood dream
But land sakes, pass the Mylanta
'Cause the Underground has gone extreme.

Historical arcades and ancient cafes
Are replaced by stores with themes
Surrounding a brightly colored array
Of kiosks peddling the dream.

I miss the old ceiling of steel supported asphalt
Now replaced by preformed beams of concrete.
I am not sure what fiend is at fault
At removing the soul of the place complete.

When did the Underground become so trendy
And why did they kill the joy of the place?
I long for the Underground that was windy
With the city's character etched on its face.

Reporting in from Atlanta

They have been working us hard and we have been putting in long hard hours. The practical side of this training has been an eye opener and given me an opportunity to take a moment of reflection for my own operations and compare them against a different model of a urban unit. It has been an eye opener.

I love the accents of Atlanta. My first true pleasure was listening to my cabbie who was from Canada and had a bit of a French accent. But perhaps the accent that caught my attention was the one from a club director who gave the following speech.

"I ben workin' de club fo 22 year. I don mine tellin my story bout billin up chillin an don mine finnin way of showin you howl I think bout de movement."

Now if you have had a hard time following that speech I should let you know it went down hill from there. We heard his experiences about "howl de staft hadda hannel boiled up chillun who had no schoolin. Deese chillun pend on de staft to hep dem wid hommin work an reliationship." I have to tell you the whole speech was an experience in itself but I did find de man wid goodly cham.

I am missing home.

Atlanta Bound

Off to see the big city. I know there is a ton of stuff to do in Atlanta but since they have us busy from 8 in the morning until 9:30 at night, I'm thinking there won't be much time to do much of anything. Oh well.

I am taking the ol' lap top so if I get a chance to post, I will. If you don't hear from me much over the next ten days, you will know why.

Hope everyone has a good hump day.

Just for grins... Ten Reasons I Don't Enjoy Flying as much as I Should...

1. Large pressurized aluminum tube at 30,000 ft. Oh the possibilities are all bad.
2. Leaving my life in the hands of pilots who sometimes look like they've come off a two day drunk.
3. Flight attendents who look scared.
4. The bathrooms are oh sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo convenient.
5. Landing. Sheesh, I still cringe
6. Taking off. So how does a multi-ton aircraft slip the coils of gravity?
7. Garlic breathing passengers who have a sudden intense desire to share their life's story with you.
8. Flatulance Fanny who seems to always sit right in front of you.
9. The fact they really think if we crash into water we will have time to use the teeny weeny little flotation devices formally called seat cushions.
10. Snack packs of pretzels. Come now, you're potentially carrying me to my death, shouldn't our in flight snack be something wonderful? I'd go for beef jerky. Perhaps chocolates for those who prefer something sweet.

I'm through complaining so I guess I'll go hit it a lick. Have a great day.