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| I have been less than enthusiastic about getting onto this forum recently. I am not sure why, but it has lost much of its appeal.
I have been listening to a book about Joe Dimaggio. I knew nothing about the man before listening to the book other than he was a great baseball player. What I found out, I really wish I had not found out. He was not a likable person (in my opinion). He did not have friends; instead he had people he woudl associate with who did things for him. If they ever tried to get Joe to do something for them, that was the end of the "friendship". He was a big womanizer; even when married. He married starlets and wondered why they did not want to give up their careers or to fade into the background. His entire life revolved around money...getting it and avoiding spending it. Greed can lead people into trouble and color ever interaction that they have. This certainly did this to him. It was sad.
On top of that he was extremely prideful. Pride in oneself can be a real problem and he was terrified of looking bad to the point that he would not forgive those who made him look bad (such as his son).
I feel for anyone who is so driven by pride and money. Happiness and contentment certainly does not lie in that direction. | | |
| Yesterday I had quite an experience going to work...As I was approaching the next to last turn prior to going onto our company site, the green turn arrow was up which it never is. I sped up so that I would make the green light and then hit the brakes to slow down so that I would be able to turn w/o flipping. My foot went to the floorboard. I had no brakes. I immediately down shifted to slow for the turn and then pulled off the road after going through the intersection on "orange". I had a bit of stopping power remaining (very little) so I drove the rest of the way to work and parked. My heart was beating so fast! I was so lucky that: 1. the light was green (it never is) 2. that there was no traffic in front of me. 3. that this happened on a flat area rather than at home God was watching out for me. I rode home in the tow truck.
The kindness of strangers is really something. As my truck was getting loaded up onto the tow truck in the parking lot, I saw a car pulling out of the lot. I was thinking, "They are having a good laugh". They turned around and parked next to me an asked if I needed a ride home. Amazing!
I contrast that to electronic communication where people are so rude and mean spirited. They insult you and assign the worst motives upon you just because they can and are somewhat anonomous in so doing. I need to watch my email tone. I am sure I am as guilty as anyone else of this.
Today the boy (eldest) got the good citizen award from school. One is given out to a boy in each class each semester!!! Yeah. This is his third award like this in four years. Well done, boy who is reading over my shoulder right now. | | |
| I was informed of the dollar amount of my bonus this year and I was quite happy. The stock options were good too, but the real surprise was I got a 5% raise! I was shocked. When I got promoted I did not get a 5% raise!
I had sent an email to a person (woman I think) who objected to saying that I could not understand how anyone could support the right of someone to have an abortion. I have had that discussion many times with friends, family, co-workers and aquaintences, Many times the person supporting abortion legalization brings up that unless I am in that position I cannot judge what is right. Obviously that is a bogus argument as we make laws and judgement calls all the time for situations that we are never in. However, it got me thinking just how fortunate I am...I have had every advantage growing up...great parents who taught morals and a good work ethic and made schoolwork a priority. My first job rewarded me for my hard work and continued to do so for the 5 years I worked there. I was properly positioned to go to one of the best high schools in America and from there got a good scholarship to college. I somehow avoided many of the pitfalls my classmates got into with drugs, alcohol and sex. A lot had to do with my parents and their role in raising me, but even more had to do with God and his guiding hand. I would be nothing without Him. I have so much trouble even now controlling myself and my thoughts, I can only imagine how evil I would be without His moral compass. I went to the right college and then on to the right graduate school. I had the opportunity to pay off my college in blood via the Army so I did not have huge debts and again was in the right place at the right time to rise through the Army ranks slowly with good mentors. My timing was perfect to avoid serving during wartime (1991-2001). I met my wife at a time when we were both looking and willing to invest the time in a relationship. She has made me a much better person and I see God in her everyday. With her we have had 4 great healthy kids. We also lost three due to miscarriages, but we struggled though that together. Our kids have for the most part been healthy...each has given us a scare: eldest...lymes disease, #2 Pneumonia, #3 Croup (and initial & wrong diagnosis of downs syndrome), #4 is still pretty young. Their smile is the most precious thing in the world. I love to walk in the door to the chorus of "Daddy's home" "Daddy". Nothing is that special and I certainly don't merit it. I wish I could have that kind of reaction to God every time I see Him. I hope that someday I can be God to someone else. It is sometimes hard to gauge our impact on others. This has become a meaningless ramble. I am tired and it is bed time. Good night. | | |
| The kids are in bed and I am tired. We had an all day management meeting to detail what we thought our job was....sigh. I do not think anything really came out of it. It is good to be in a company that values employee input and wants feedback, but I really needed to get in lab today. | | |
| I am worn out! It was a busy weekend. I took a nice long nap and feel much better now.
We have ordered a new dog to be a buddy to our now old dog. It is a shibu Inu. We pick her up in three weeks from near Harrisburg PA. Rather exciting!
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