Into Hell with a Handbasket and Squirtgun..

Yeah, seems like we as a country are headed that way, doesn't it?

I mean, we've got hard-working folks in this great nation.

We've even got good souls willing to help out each other with no thought for their own personal well-being.

Yet for all of this, greed and gluttony seem to be the keys to our economy and society.

We've got financial institutions who can't spend their money correctly, and yet expect us to float them loans or grants to keep them going.

My solution there? Treat them EXACTLY as they'd treat anyone coming off the street for financial assistance..

Look their credit over, check their spending habits, and the give them about a tenth of what they need at an insane interest rate..

We've got people in authority who are trying to make the quick buck, and making headlines with it.

My solution there?

Have them work with the homeless for a while. Keep them down and force them to live like animals with no food or shelter for just 90 days. See how well they adjust to this, and I can guarantee they'll be happy with what they have when they're able to get back. No more greed issues there.

We've got a nation of overweight folks. Fast food, quick and easy right-now meals, get it on the go, don't stop, don't exercise, don't bother..

My solution?

Take the stairs. Eat that carrot. Park a bit further from the store. Play with your kids.


Now, I'm not claiming to be perfect here. The fat issue is one near and dear to my heart, because I'd love to lose some of the extra pounds I've gained. Yet it's so much easier to be spoon-fed than it is to get up and do what's right.. Why is that?

Why are we so willing to enable people to bring us down instead of stand up and do what's right?

Why are we then willing to complain about how screwed up everything is when we're one of the reasons for that problem?

Why are we more than willing to point fingers and blame others when our own shortcomings are just as bad if not worse than the next persons problem?

I don't know.

I do know that I'm going to try to make a change.

I'm going to take those stairs.

I'm going to get my butt out of that gaming chair, and play with my kids.

I'm going to eat that carrot instead of munch on chips and drink soda.

Small steps, but important ones if we're going to make changes.

Start with yourself, then worry about fixing something else.

Take care all!

Dancing with Cinderella

About a week ago, I attended a Father/Daughter ball with my daughter.

We went to dinner, talked, sang to songs while driving in the car, and then had our picture taken and danced for a couple of hours that evening.

A song came on that I'd heard a few times before, but watching the differing ages in the girls dancing with their fathers, it really hit home to me.

The song is called "Cinderella" sung by Stephen Curtis Chapman. Here's the words:

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sitting here wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "Dad, I need you"
"There's a ball at the castle, and I've been invited"
"And I need to practice my dancing"
"Please, daddy please"

So I'll dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
Cause I know something the Prince never knew
Oh I'll dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
Cause all too soon, the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone.

She says he's a nice guy, and I'll be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says "Dad the prom is just one week away"
"And I need to practice my dancing"
"Please, daddy please"

So I'll dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
Cause I know something the Prince never knew
I'll dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
For all too soon, the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Well she came home today
With a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they have planned
She says "Dad, the wedding's still six months away"
"And I need to practice my dancing"
"So please, daddy please"

And I'll dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
Cause I know something the Prince never knew
Oh, I'll dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
For all too soon, the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone.


They grow up so fast, and we have them for such a short time. I'm cherishing these small times when I can make her feel like the center of my world. I hope that with everything that's happening, and all that has gone on before that the teachings and lessons I've given will be enough.

My hope and prayer is that I'll have many more dances with my Cinderella before she's gone.

Tuesday Blues

Well, as some of you know, I work Tuesday through Friday, and have the weekend off, plus Mondays.

So the normal doldrums of Monday really don't seem to affect me as much as others who have to go back to work on Mondays.

However, Tuesdays for me really kind of suck.

As with most things that I plan, nothing really seems to go according to schedule with my weekends.

I had planned on working on the house. It never got done.

I had planned on cleaning up some of my mess outside with brush that I've been trimming. That didn't get done either, because I'm not one for getting soaked outside when it's nice and dry inside.

I'd thought about taking the wife away to the beach for the weekend. That didn't happen because she'd already made plans, and the weather SUCKED this weekend.

So what did I do?

Nothing.

Not ONE thing.

I sat around the house like a lump, and wondered what I was going to do.


I hate weekends like that.

Usually, I solve that problem by going and playing video games (as I've said before, I'm a gamer!) And because of this, games are an end-all solution to problems.

However, I've also noticed that my excessive game playing has caused problems with the family, so I'm trying to "detox" with the excessive gaming, and work on other constructive ways of dealing with things.

So I was able to do this by just sitting around and watching paint dry.

Yeah. I don't think my idea is working too well yet.

Weekends when my kids are gone to my ex's house are really kind of tough on me. When my kids are at the house, it's kind of easy to forget about the games because I can fill my time with things other than the computer or game system. There are young bodies to tickle, wrestle with, and have fun with.

But when they're gone, the house just seems so empty. There's always a mess or two that didn't get taken care of before they left, and so I'm reminded that they're gone (temporarily) and that I'm alone.

Since getting custody of my kids, there's been one major problem that I've had to face. The toughest part about being a divorced father is trying to stabilize my kids with rules and regulations for my home, but those rules can directly clash with the things my ex will enforce.

My wife and I have tried numerous times to talk with my ex, and get us all on the same page. Yet for all of our efforts, things don't change. Sure, she'll (my ex) give us all of the yes-man attitude, and claim that she'll do her part, but when it comes down to basics, she's always done her own thing, regardless of the problems it may cause not only me, but the kids as well.

I had to face this problem when they got back home this weekend.

My oldest is 13. He's feeling his age, and is trying to learn how to mentally grow. I've encouraged his thinking, and I've tried to instill in him a need to provide stability when he can. Yet for all of my effort, there's a side of his personality that I admire, yet find difficult to deal with when he gets back from his mom's house.

That part is what I tend to call his "lawyer" side.

I encourage his questions. I love seeing his mind work through things, and figure out the next step. I don't love it when he argues an issue to death, and even when proven incorrect, will still argue some points that he feels are valid and warrant special attention.

Take this example:

I, as a gamer, have been persuading (read nagging) my wife for an XBox 360. I have friends who play, and I'd love to get some serious multiplayer Halo or Call of Duty going without having to go over to his house each and every time we'd want to play. My son knows this. He's in favor of the idea mainly because he'd love to be able to play along at some point. After all, playing games with the "big boys" means that he's growing up, right?

So this weekend when he got home, he proceeded to argue with my wife about how we needed to get this gaming system, and the valid reasons for it. I personally don't care if we get this system anytime soon, because I've got other things that can fill my attention span, and keep me occupied. My wife doesn't want another game system in the house, as we've already got a Wii and a "regular" XBox, so the two game consoles are plenty for her.

My son wouldn't let up. He argued. He pleaded, and he begged.

I've tried to teach him that when a parent says "no" that it's final. End of discussion. However, while at his mom's house, I know for a fact (because I've seen it) that the other kids in the house don't abide by these rules. They question, the complain, and they outright defy their parents.

How can I set any kind of ground rules for my family when those rules are completely tossed aside each weekend that they leave my house? How can I instill values that are going to be ignored and rejected by the authority figures my children are living with?

I'm not sure.

All I can hope to do right now is keep the faith.

I give them my unconditional love, my promise of safety and security, and my undying support.

My hope and prayer is that they'll see the good, and want to keep the lessons and things I've taught, and mostly block those things that aren't as constructive that they see and live with at their mom's house.

This is the prayer of a divorced father.

Friday recipe.

Because she's asked so nicely, Veronica (better known as Another Suburban Mom)..((Is it just me, or do you picture the Archie's spoiled little rich girl??)) Is getting her wish, and I'm sharing one of my "special" recipes with you.

She's been jonesing for some of my appetizer foods, and with her special request, I'm going to share with you a sauce that can be used to make wings, ribs, and steaks.

My recipe? Jack Daniel's BBQ.

Ingredients:


Jack Daniels, about 1/2 to 3/4 cup, or to taste
1/2 cup chopped onion
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup vinegar
3 tablespoons
Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
3/4 cup molasses
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke
1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to taste

Now here's how to make it:

First, combine the onion, garlic and Jack Daniels in a 3 quart saucepan. cook these until they're clear (about 10 minutes). Add all the remaining stuff and bring it to a boil. Simmer uncovered until reduced and thickened, about 15 to 25 minutes. Add more Jack Daniels if a stronger flavor is desired.

Now, I tend to make REALLY big batches of this sauce, because it's actually quite versatile. I'll sometimes add honey to this and maybe some hickory flavoring to add a more smokey taste.. It really all depends on the mood I'm in..

Now for the goodies.

ASM wanted wings.

Me, I buy two bags of flash-frozen chicken wings from the store, and I'll boil these in a nice, big pot for about an hour.

Once boiled down, I take them out, and let them cool.

Then I separate them. Take the larger part of the wing off at the joint, and fold the smaller part over. This gives you two pieces per wing.

Dump this batch into your crock pot, and slather the entire thing with the BBQ sauce. Once done, cook it for about 2 hours on a medium heat. Add garlic if you want (or whatever seasoning you're in the mood for).

Take wings out of the pot, and lay out on a shallow baking tray and bake in the oven at 425 for 15 minutes. Then return to crock pot to simmer and stew for serving.

Now, the baking actually seals the flavor and taste of the sauce into the meat. I don't recall exactly how I came around to find this out, but it's the KEY step in making nearly each and every appetizer that has to do with meat for me. Ribs, Wings, even meatballs!

Hope this whets your appetite, and thank ASM for the idea!

Yarrrr!

Yeah, I really didn't know what else to title this, so I figure that if I just put some kind of piratey-type of growl up there, it might attract some folks.

Have you ever wondered how some people got the jobs that they have today?

I'll give you an example:

Here at my work, we have an HR person. HR = Human Resources.

Now, by my understanding, this person should posess inter-personal relationship skills. You know, be a kind of "people person".

However, this lady doesn't have anything close to resembling people skills.

Yesterday was a great case in point.

I'm the network administrator for our warehouse's computer systems. I have to get authorization for any kind of software installs that are done on the computers, as they are all tied into the corporate network, and could potentially disable the entire company network if something weren't quite right with the software.

A couple of weeks ago my safety manager asked to install some software onto her computer for some tracking reports that were given to her by a supplier. These disks aren't company approved, and so I told her that I'd have to get permission from the corporate network executives before I could make any decision on whether I could install the software or not. I also warned her that because of the time she was making the request, it was probably going to take a back burner to other projects until the start of the new fiscal calendar year. She agreed, and we parted.

However, since that time, she has made a point to send me at least one email a week asking about this software. I have kept her in the loop regarding the request, and have copied and forwarded each and every response I get from my bosses over their decisions. They are just too busy right now with other matters affecting the company to look over some software to see if they don't mind it being added to a computer. This isn't a priority for them, so they blow it off.

Apparently this means that I fall into this same category of person, and so my safety person got my HR manager involved.

Now, I'm not management. I refuse to be a manager. I prefer working my hourly rate, and I really enjoy the job I do. I make the management team look competent and efficient, and since they look good, that reflects well on me for those who know where to look. (Read my bosses!)

Anyway, I was then called into the HR office to "talk".

I was informed that since I, being a "lowly" associate, needed to follow instructions, I was to obey this manager, and install the software. No questions, no reservations, I was to do as I've been told.

I nodded, asked if there were any other instructions I needed to follow, and got the fish-eye.

Apparently sarcasm when being taken down a notch isn't a good idea.

I was informed that my tone and attitude were bordering on insubordination, and that it could cost me my job.

When threatened like this, I tend to get confrontational, so I asked if I needed to bring in my General Manager, and make this a "formal" meeting.

She proceeded to tell me that it wasn't necessary, and that this discussion would be "Between the two of us".

I nodded, left her office, and walked directly over to my General Manager's office to inform him about what had happened.

Now, I'm going to install the software.

However, I've got a serious CYA clause going on right now, because she did the silly thing of sending me my escape clause.

She wrote me an email explaining to me that I would install the software, and then inform her when the install was done. No questions.

Because of this, I can now claim that I was ordered to do this by my upper management staff, and there wasn't anything else but to follow the orders given by a duly represented manager of my corporation. All responsibility for this action are now on her shoulders, and if my bosses decide that this program ISN'T necessary and shouldn't be installed on the PC, well she's going to have to explain to them why she wouldn't wait for their decision.

All of this, and she's so proud of her schooling and certifications.

Me? My pride comes from knowing that when assigned a job that I get in, get it done, and get out as quickly as possible to allow the smallest timeframe of down-time in a production setting.

This means that even though I have to get in and stall the line, I'll get done as quickly as I can, and get the line moving again to make the smallest impact possible in the total day's work.

You can tell when I've done my job right when there aren't calls for me going on around the radio systems in the building. The only real time my name gets called out too much is when there's something outside the facility that's causing trouble with our network mainframes.

Tell me about some of your experiences.

Do you have people that completely baffle you as to how they were able to get their position?

Something I Really Don't Understand

Ok.

I've gotta be ignorant or something, but feel free to explain this to me.


What's with all of the hype with Obama?

Yeah, for the first 30 days of coming into office each and every President has been looked at under a microscope.

However, I don't think there's been ONE day since he was elected that we haven't seen something he's been doing..

Here he is signing his name to a check for take-out after a long campaign.

Here he is in PJs getting ready for his first night in the White House.

Here he is reading something, and not really sure what it is, but it's gotta be interesting!


Now? He's being compared to FDR. Yeah. He was compared to Lincoln while trying to get elected, and now with the economy crisis, he's being compared to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

What's next? Is he going to be compared to George Washington because Geroge was the first white president, and Obama's the first colored president?

Give. Me. A. Break.

How can you actually compare a man to an historical figure when he hasn't even had enough time in office to really make changes?

I also find it quite comical that the two former presidents that he's been compared to were totally HATED while they were in office.

Why?

Because they did what was needed, regardless of the public opinion.

Lincoln stood against slavery when it was a very popularthing to do in the States. Because of this stance, half the nation seceeded from the Union, and began a nasty war.

FDR began the "New Deal" whil the US was in the middle of a HUGE depression. This wasn't a very popular move, because folks kept thinking that things were going to even out eventually, and they'd be able to get back on track. Most resented Roosevelt's meddling in their affairs, and popular opinion was that this "New Deal" idea wasn't going to work at all.

Now, many years later, we see that these men did what was needed, and are now considered two of the most important and popular figures of our political history.

But we've got this newly-elected man Obama who is allowing his publicity advisors compare him to these men.

So far, I don't see the similarities.

He's a popular vote. People like his policies. He's doing what folks want.

From everything I've seen, he's more willing to go with the demand, than to stand up and do what's needed.

That's not to say that he's not going to be effective, or do a good job in office.

I just don't see the need to compare him to great men who have held the office until he's done something that really deserves that honor.

Give him some time in office, LEAVE him to do his job, and let's see what he can do.

What do you all think??

Through the Looking Glass...

It’s during times like these, when life’s trials and pain want to wear you down that I tend to refocus my attention on other things.

This is when I noticed something that I think I’ll cherish more than any other thing my grandparents taught me.

What did I notice?

I’m glad you asked.

I noticed the undying love and affection in my children’s eyes as they tried to understand my depression and sadness.

The sparkle of their eyes and the inherent glow about them as they thought up ways and things to brighten my day just seemed to make everything fade into the mist of forgetfulness.

The chiming peals of laughter as they wrestled and played with one another, in hopes that the big gruff daddy bear would join in and create serious fun and havoc with their game.

The gentle love and care given to me by my wife, as she tried to let me have my space and yet was close enough to be on hand when things were too serious to handle.

Overall, I think that the best gift given to me was the understanding that even though the people who raised me are now gone, their love, their way of life, and the teachings that they gave to me will still live on no only in my life, but in the lives of my children and family as I continue to raise and teach my kids in the way that I was raised.

In love.

In hope.

Thank you all for your support while I was dealing with some tough times.

I’ll write more tomorrow.