How scary is that?

On Nov. 19th of this year I honored Jerry Orbach for his work as Detective Lennie Briscoe, on NBC's Law and Order. The caption reads, "Farewell, to a Friend." Little did I know how prophetic that statement was. Jerry died on Tuesday this week, from prostate cancer. You can read about him
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6765565 here. (I know, I need to learn how to do that the cool way, sorry.

The world is definitely a much lesser place without Jerry in it. Let us all take off our hats, cover our hearts, and look to the big "Two-Seven" in the sky, in a moment of silence, to honor the memory, the actor, the man Jerry Orbach, Detective Lennie Briscoe of the 27th precinct. Detective Briscoe was always the first one to make wise cracks. My all time favorite was this one. "Murder isn't just a sin, it's also a felony."

Our prayers are with you big guy. Thanks for making our lives a little easier while you were here with us.

Reflections Before Lunch - I know. . . "The 5 Year Rule"

I have a minute or two before lunch so I thought I would ramble a bit about Christmas Eve. All in all I and my children had a wonderful holiday. I am very blessed with many friends, a good family, a job, a car, food and warm clothes. I frankly, need nothing. Why then do I find myself errked at Christmas?

I'll tell you why. The PC police have invaded my church, yes church. Many of the hymns I grew up with in the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church, I now stumble over in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America's Hymnal. Why you ask? Well, "Good Christian Men Rejoice" is now, "Good Christians All Rejoice." I realize that is in vogue, when writing, to abstain from gender references, but COME ON! These are carols that have been sung for a hundred years or more. They are played on radios, sung at secular concerts, and whose first verses are know by young and old alike, from memory. Never once have I heard any woman say that she is truly hacked off because she feel lefts out, when the church sings, "Good Christian Men Rejoice." Nobody, and I mean, nobody gives a fat rat's behind! Frankly, if they do, they have far more problems than the words of a hymn.

I guess it all boils down to, me not being able to accept change. If it shouldn't mean anything the old way, then it shouldn't bother me the new way, right? Then do I fit into the group with far more problems than the words of a hymn. I'd like to think not, but maybe I should take it under advisement. Then again, what ever happened to "Live and let Live?" Maybe the country that used to be "the land of the free, and the home of the brave," is now the land of the greedy, and the home of the intolerant?" I thought that this country was a melting pot, and that we all embraced diversity. If that is the case then why are we so worried about hurting others feelings that may not even be hurt in the first place?

Case in point, Tom Clancy wrote "Sum of all Fears," the story he wrote had Middle Eastern Terrorist playing the bad guys. However, the movie industry change it to Neo Nazis because it was to close to the 9/11 incident and they didn't want people to think we were making fun of them. Hey, if they stop flying jet liners into our office and government buildings, then we won't have cause to think of them as bad guys. Furthermore, the book was written many years before all of this happened.

It's lunch, I'm hungry, and this crap really isn't worth me harping on.

Christmas - It Ain't Over Yet!

I once again will be heading to my ex-in-laws so that my children can have Christmas with their grandparents. (As if Santa didn't already hook them up!) I will probably need to rent a U-Haul to get home with, if it goes as years past.

Once everything has calmed down I will blog regarding all of the Christmas festivities, but right now I am still in the thick of it. It's a good thing I thrive on stress, or I'd be dead! I wouldn't complain if I could get a nap in on Sunday, "Yeah, Right!"

I hope all of my readers (all two of them) had a joyful Christmas, and I whish them all good things for the year to come.

Wait some more. . .

Well, the interview went great. They still have 2 candidates to speak with, and will make their choice no later than January 15th. I sent an email thank you letter yesterday, since I don't want to leave anything to chance. The interviewer did say that I gave all the answers he wanted to hear, after I asked him where I stacked up with the rest of the interviewees. Hopefully that means that unless someone comes in who can walk on water, I'll have the job, and what a job it will be!

The title is Site Manager III, of which there are no other in the city, for this company. The next step in the career latter is a National Account Manager. (All that means is someone that oversees several accounts at once.) Frankly, it is a job I have dreamed of having for a long time. Now I pray that it is part of God's plan for my life.

I am never good at this part

Yep you guessed it, waiting. . . It is not that I am all that impatient, well actually, yeah it is. I swear I will not make it to my interview on Monday. I know I will but it just feels like I won't.

Job Search Part II

Well, I was knocked over by a feather this morning. I applied for the job I found on www.monster.com last night, on line, before I left work. Then on the way to work this morning my cellphone rings and it is the recruiter for that position. After speaking with me shortly, while I drove, she told me that she would be forwarding my information on. Shortly after I got to work, I was contacted by the person, who I hope will soon be my boss, for an interview on the Monday after Christmas.

The recruiter was in Michigan, which is an hour ahead of Kansas City. I submitted my information Monday at 5:10 PM KC time and she called me less than an hour after she got to work. When the interviewer from Kansas City contacted me he told me that the recuiter was very "impressed" by me and said that she suggested I interview you as soon as I could.

Wooooooo Whoooooooo!

Please don't sell my house yet.

I found a house this fall that I absolutely love. However, financially I am not ready to buy yet. Fortunately for me, and not the sellers, the market is very soft right now. It has been on the market for almost a year. I am hoping and praying that it will stay on the market until early spring so I can buy it.

Plus, it is currently on the market for far less than it is worth, and every month they nibble away at the price to make it more attractive. I just hope there is nobody out there like me looking for a fixer upper, because the house is HUGE and has everything I wanted on my wish list, with the exception of a back yard big enough for a pool.

When it gets down to it, if God wants me to have the house it will be there when I am ready to buy. If not, then he will bring me something even better.

Singing again at eHarmony

Well, if you have been reading my blog for a while now you will know that I have been frustrated because I have not gotten any new matches at www.eharmony.com . I emailed them over the weekend and said, "Hey, what gives? I haven't had a match since Oct." They explained to me that because I selected no smoking and no drinking that it also took out all of the people that only drank or smoked occationally, and only matched me with people that did not ever do either.

They said I was cutting out 85% of the people that could be matched to me. They further said that they did not want me to lessen my standards just to get more matches, if I really didn't want to date people that did either of those things, and in no way were pressuring me to do so. Since I wanted more matches, and don't mind people that drink occationally, and could deal with an occational smoker I changed my settings.

Then wooooo whooooo they started rolling in again. The main reason I was frustrated was, that I was paying for a service and wasn't being served, if you know what I mean. Also, as I said in my earlier post, I am truly pleased with the service and believe it is well worth the money because of the quality of the matches I receive. I am just glad that I am getting matches again!

On Line Job Search

I recently found out that my company's contract, at my account, will be up in Feb. '06. Which means I need to be looking for another job. I did a search at www.monster.com and found a dream job, in my current field, that I believe I am very well qualified for. I applied online, via Monster, and will now wait to see what gives. I also submitted my resume to that company's website for further consideration if this one doesn't work out.

So far my problem has been that my field of expertize carries with it a huge sterotype. If you don't believe me, then tell me what comes to your mind when I say "Mailroom." Thought so. The ironic thing is that most mailrooms are now so automated that idiots can no longer work in them becuase you have to be computer literate to run the equipment. Granted, you don't have to be a Rhode's Scholar either, but it is not what it used to be.

Where this becomes a hinderence is when trying to change fields. Management is not so much what you know about a given field as it is about the soft skills. I don't have to know every little detail about your job to manage you. Yes it would help, but it is not a requirement for the job. Also, just because you know how to do everyone's job, does not make you management matirial either. I have a friend from India. He told me there is a saying there, "A hard working mule, can not become a race horse." I realize that is a bit simplistic, as well as, a huge generalization, but for the most part it is true.

The other thing is that my field is not the best paying either. If I were to do what I am doing right now, with the same number of people working for me, in another field, I would be making at least twice what I am making now.

It's all a catch 22. So I just never stop networking or looking for a better job, and one day I'll hit pay dirt.

Angel Ironing and Battening Down the Hatches

Well, the weather man just said it will be a balmy 13° tomorrow morning. Looks like I might have to dig out those long underwear for Church tomorrow. Also, because of holiday company, I will be scraping windshields assuredly.

On to Angel Ironing. . .

As Dads go, I assume I am much different than the average. Even when I was still married I regularly did things like laundry, ironing, vacuuming, et. all. Now that I am an ex-widower (I guess that's what you call someone like me.) I am doing all of those things even more than before, and I don't mind actually.

Night after I got the kids showered and in bed, I ironed two Angel costumes (Sizes 8 & 14 according to the tags.) for my children's Christmas program tomorrow at church. As I ironed, I thought about all of the daddified men I am friends with, some married and some single, and I just don't see them doing this kind of thing. Of course, the married dads fall back on their wives. But the single ones have to get a little more creative. I am sure that some of them would have taken the costumes to have them laundered and pressed. I do use the laundry for my dress shirts, cause I can't make them as crisp as I want them, but I also am not going to pay to have my kids angel costumes laundered.

Please forgive me if it sounds like I am looking down at the above men I spoke of. That was not my intent at all. Frankly, we all do what we need to in order to get by. My mom taught me how to do all of the things that I have talked about when I was growing up, therefore, I am now able to do for myself, rather than depend on someone else. That does not me that I don't take a short cut or two myself.

At today's rehearsal lunch was provided for the kids. The church bought these new things I thought were awesome. Pre-made PB&Js on white with the crusts cut off. At first I thought, "can anybody be that lazy that they can't even make a PB&J?" Then I got to thinking, "Hey, I am always super rushed in the mornings, it would be so awesome to whip a pre-made PB&J out of the freezer and flip them into the kid's lunches, and that's one less thing I have to do in the morning. I keep telling myself, life isn't like it was when I was a kid, and I just need to get over some things. Do the really important stuff and beg, barrow, and buy pre-made PB&Js for all the rest of the things.

SILENT NIGHT -You heard me all the way over where?

I have yet to brag on myself, and there is no time like the present. Today at work, a group of employees stopped on each floor of the building we occupy and performed several carols. It wasn't your average, "Hey, let's go and sing carols next week. How many people do you think we can round up?" kind of thing. This was basically a company choir that has been meeting since August, and had prepared a program.

When I found this out I was jealous because I have been singing for almost 25 years, and would have loved to participate. I have been told by many people that I am very good, and I sing solos often at the request of others. As I heard the choir start singing on my floor, the 23rd, I headed over to listen. They were actually very good. As they sang most everyone that came to listen was singing too. So I joined in, as I have already sung most of the songs they were performing, and sang the Bass line.

Then the Director said, "Our next song is Peace Peace, in which the second verse all of the listeners will be required to sing Silent Night." Through the years many of the church choirs I have been in have sung this song. It is a wonderfully beautiful piece of music. At the appointed time I began to sing Silent Night.

One thing that you will have to know is that I have a very strong support system and my voice carries, weather I belt out a song or not. It has been quite some time since I have sung in front of people that have never heard me before. When this happens, I love to watch the reactions of those in the room. As soon as I sang the first note everyone around, listeners, choir members, and the director all got whiplash when they snapped the necks to look at me. Each choir member smiled, a few gave the thumbs up. That is all a ham like me needs. I closed my eyes and let'er rip! What I did not realize was that all of the other listeners like myself had stopped singing as soon as they heard me, which meant I once again was doing a solo.

When I opened my eyes, 3 or 4 bars before the end of the song, I saw that there was now a crowd around us that had swelled to 5 times its original size. As soon as the song ended, there was a tumult of applause. The listeners were clapping, the choir was clapping, so what the heck I clapped too, except everyone was looking at me. The Director pointed to me smiling and said, "You sir, are a marked man!" Then everyone laughed.

One of the women that works for me said, "I was standing next to your desk (which is at the other end of the building) and I heard you, so I came to listen. All at the same time everyone in the choir was asking me why I had not signed up to sing. I said I didn't know. To which they replied, the email when out in August. I am a contractor so I am not on the distribution lists for the company. I have a feeling next August, that will not matter. I was then dragged to the last two floors to sing with the group and repeat my solo performance.

For the rest of the day I don't think I touched the ground once as I walked around humming Silent Night, and replaying this all in my head. It is always nice to be told you are a wonderful person, of that I will never ever have enough.

Today I ask 3 cheers for me. Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray!

Tomorrow, I will gladly give someone else a turn, for we all need a pat on the back every now and again, but today is all mine.

HALLIN' BALZ DOWN THE ROAD

Apparently for sometime now there has been more than the "Live Strong" yellow arm band to show your support for testicular cancer. I, however, was totally unaware until this week. It seems that one can go to Yournutz.com and for $25-$30 purchase a pair of rubber nutz to hang just under the plates on your car or truck to show your "support or lack there of" (geeze I crack myself up) for testicular cancer. According the the newspaper article I read half of the money you spend goes towards the cause. Last year the site sold 40,000 pair of nads to supporters all over the country.

If that were not bad enough, they come in an assortment of colors, like bright yellow. (I wonder if they glow in the dark?) For years now I have been watching Calvin peeing on automotive emblems. Once I even had Mickey Mouse flip me the bird. Now I think I can say that all has been bared to me, and on the highway no less. I guess, if all your friends know you are crazy, now you can show them your nutz too.

Apparently, America has lost all shame. I can hardly wait for my little girl to see the dangling dingleberries and ask, "What are those Daddy? Maybe the web site should provide answers to the FAQs of kids as they see them for the first time so that parents can tactfully handle the situation.

I have to addmit it is a very clever marketing ploy. I even applaud them for raising all of that money for avery worth while cause. Since magnetic ribbons are all the craze why not have skin toned one for testicular cancer. Of Course, no one would buy them then.

According the my local news station that's not all I have to worry about. Recently a family was driving down the highway at dusk and they pulled along side of an SUV with the ever present flip down DVD screen. When the father glanced over he saw that the "in flight movie" was PORNO! Hey, If you want to watch that crap, I can't stop you. I would, however, greatly appreciate you not affording my children the opportunity, while I am driving them to piano lessons, or the mall. All I can say is I hope that law inforcement comes up with a stiff fine for the offenders. (Yeah I ment to say that too, for shame, I know.)

I CAN'T SLEEP!!!!

It's almost 4 am and I had a dream where all my teeth fell out. I couldn't sleep worrying why I had such an awful dream. Therefore, the first thing I thought of, lying in bed was "Google It". Well I did and of course I am now really awake.

I did find out that having a dream about your teeth falling out usually means you feel powerless about something. Which I do, sort of. I am not entirely powerless in this case, but it does involve many forces outside of my control. At least I don't have to worry anymore.

Why can't it ever mean that I am about to get rich or laid or something else really cool? Bummer eh? Thankfully, I feel drowsiness coming again.

I'M NOT YOUR BABY!!!!!!

Today, I took lunch at the Golden Arches across the street from where I work. This is the second time I have had the pleasure of being helped by a certain new employee. This new employee greets each customer as follows: "Hey baby, can I take your order?" Then she proceeds with, "Baby, can I get your name for the ticket?" Now, having just given her my "Christian Name," one could then assume she would now call me by said "Christian Name." NOT! "Ok baby, stand over there, and we'll call you when your order is ready."

It does not matter if one is male or female, or weather or not one is young or old, everyone gets called, "Baby." Now, in the grand sceam of things, being called "Baby" is really no big deal. Normally, I invoke my "5 Year Rule," which says, "If it will not matter 5 years from now, then let it go!" for things of this nature. However, I feel that I am entitled to at least 2 or 3 pet peaves in this world, and being called "Baby" is my All Time, A-Number-One, Top of the List, pet peave!

Don't ask me why. If you do, you won't get an answer. The reason being, I don't know myself. It just makes me want to loose my religion all over the offending individual every time it happens. Thankfully, I learned long ago to not let the outside world see the great pain I am in. For it does absolutely no good to go around loosing ones religion all over others for such minutia. I think now is when I am suppose to thank God for Blogs, a place where I can rant over the silly things in life, and go on to lead a normal and productive life.

A Stolen Post - But Worth the Read

I cut and pasted this from another site cause it was just too funny. Sorry David over at Tales of a Wandering Mind, I know I just broke several blogging rules.

My good friend brian sent me this yesterday Friday December 10, 12:53 PM

Festive Fisticuffs:

Brawling Santas ArrestedThe world's biggest gathering of Santa Clauses has ended in a mass brawl. CS spray and batons had to be used to break up the fighting Santas.Some 4,200 people dressed as Father Christmas gathered in a small Welsh town for a charity festive fun run.But it turned into festive fisticuffs after some of the Santas headed to the pub for a seasonal tipple.The goodwill evaporated, to be replaced with around 30 Santas swapping punches.Five St Nicks were nicked by police.

A Dyfed Powys Police spokeswoman said: "A very successful Santa Run day was spoilt by the drunken behaviour of a number of local individuals who managed to consume too much alcohol and became involved in a serious public order incident."Police officers had to intervene in an ongoing disturbance in Severn Street and more people then got involved. The police had to draw their batons and use CS gas to quell the disturbance."She added that four police officers had suffered minor injuries."

You could see that a lot of the older male Santas were heading for the pub straight after the race," eyewitness Emma Jones told The Times."It is such a pity that a few of them had too much Christmas spirit and spoilt it for everyone else."The fun run set the record for the largest gathering of Santas in one place.The annual event, in Newtown, mid-Wales, raised more than £80,000 last year for charity.

Politically Correct, Anti Lawsuit, or to Hell in a Handbasket?

It hit me this weekend that all of this political correctness has been brought on by hoards of lawsuits being filed against companies just because "Joe Six Pack" is trying to "Get Paid." Just think back to the to the 90's when EEOC was all the rage. Employers used self imposed quotas in order to "CYA" against lawsuits. In the late 90's someone sued the Kansas City Chiefs and the Price Chopper Food Stores because of the advertisement that spawned the "Chiefs and Chopper" Hatchet action, using the big foam hatchets to cheer on the Chiefs. The suit alleged that the action of using ones hand as a hatchet or using a foam hatchet in such a manner was an insult to American Indians (whoops Native Americans) everywhere. Then you guessed it, you can no longer "Chop for the Chiefs" anymore.

So I guess that I am now not so surprised that when I go Christmas shopping that I am greeted with "Happy Holidays" in stead of "Merry Christmas." I am sure that the whole PC thing started in the vain of making sure no one was making fun of anyone else, or defaming them in any way. Unfortunately, it has exploded into what we are all experiencing today because someone started the lawsuit craze and everyone with deep pockets, retailers in particular, are all filling sand bags in hopes of shoring up a front against another land slide of lawsuits.

What I fail to understand, however, is that if everyone is so offend by religion that we can no longer so much as utter the word "Christ-mas", then why are these same people not attacking Jews, and African Americans who chose to celebrate Chanukah and Kuanza in an effort to keep Christians from being affronted? Like my new friend David over at "Tales of a Wandering Mind" blog (See blogs I read on the left, I have yet to figure out how to link within a post.) says, the constitution allows for freedom to practice religion, not separation of church and state.

Warning to Steve...

I know that you and I do not agree in the following statements. I am still your friend, I still respect you and your opinions greatly. We are just going to have to agree to disagree on this one.

Things have gotten so bad now that even religion has jumped on the band wagon. Currently, the ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is pondering weather or not to acknowledge homosexual unions, and or marry homosexual couples, and or allow openly homosexual individuals to be ordained in the Church. I apologize for not having the exact biblical reference from Leviticus, because I am without my Bible at the moment. However, it clearly states that homosexuality is abhorred by God and Punishable by Death. God is also very clear about how he feels regarding unrepentant sin, also punishable by death. Now before my friend Steve's blood pressure rises, the Bible also says that the wages of ALL SIN is death. I also believe that forgiveness is for everyone, with no exceptions. However, to repent is to acknowledge your sin and then do your best not to do it again.

Therefore, and this is only MY opinion, that the church without a doubt should except homosexuals into the church, after all church is just a fancy way to say hospital for sinners. No one is exempt from God's love and forgiveness. That said, to acknowledge homosexual unions, or to marry homosexuals, and finally to ordain them goes directly against God's Word. I also understand that the ELCA views the Bible differently than someone brought up in the LCMS, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, namely me, because it believes that the Bible, while inspired by God was written by sinful men, therefore, open to interpretation.

I guess what irritates me most is that if I were to want to become a pastor in the ELCA and I openly slept around, also against God's word, and planned to make my congregation aware of my life style, and encourage them to do the same, I would be run out on a rail. So then why is it ok for someone who is living an openly homosexual lifestyle (In effect, openly and unrepentantly sinning.) to be allowed to be my spiritual guide and leader?

What a last couple of days!

Well, the 7 year old, mister I'm much too smart for my own good, got suspended yesterday. I called the psychologist and he said it was a med thing and not a behavior thing. I got him into the Dr. this am, and we tweaked the meds some. According to the Dr. the change should take effect quickly.

Just so he doesn't get expelled, (which he is dangerously close to being) I am keeping him home next week. If you are already at a 4th grade level, missing one week of 1st grade isn't going to hurt you a bit. After Christmas we can test him and get him into the Gifted Program.

I have been through every emotion available in the last two days. Frankly, I feel like I have been pulled through a knot whole. I know that we are on the tail end of the bad, and on the very beginning of wonderful things to come. At this point that is the only thing that is keeping me going.

A Light At The End Of The Tunnel For A Very Proud Father

My 7 year old has had adjustment problems his whole life. He was moved from one day care to another for bad behavior. He even went to more that one Kindergarten. While there are many issues at play here, some of which I am not at liberty to talk about here, we knew that a large part of the problem was that he was very intelligent. (Just like is Dad, but he can spell better than I can.) LOL

Well, today, I found out just how right I was. The principal called me to give me the results of a test they give to each student at the beginning of the year to find out were they are academically. My son, who is in 1st grade, placed in the 98 percentile, for the NATION! He actually tested better than all of the 4th graders at his school. (This includes his sister who is in the 4th grade.) I knew he was very smart, but now that it has been verified, you could have knocked me over with a feather.

This test was given the very first week of school, which means he was at a 4th grade level when he walked in the door. Also meaning that, among other things, he taught himself to read. Now, that we have this figured out we can move on, and hopefully we will be able to get to the bottom of the other issues more easily now.

Tis the Season to be flat and off beat

Today, the management company that owns the high rise I work in downtown brought in area Jr. High School bands and choirs to treat us with Christmas music as we ate in the food court. As a former Jr High band member myself I remember the concerts all to well. For 12 to 15 year olds it was quite good, however, the French Horn sections was entirely flat! BAAAAH

The choir, on the other hand, was fabulous! I have been a choir member for over 20 years now and am currently in a 60 member choir, so when I say these kids were good, I have the experience to back up what I say. It is very possible that the Choir was from the High School, which would jive with the quality of their performances, respectively. The really sad part was that the Jr. High band got much more applause than the High School Choir. (Ironic that they were the worse of the two groups.) I believe that this was because there were more people in the food court when the band was playing, than when the choir was singing. I would have clapped for the choir, but I was engrossed in my Tom Clancy Novel, and didn't want to stop every page or so, in order to recognize the group. That is why I am praising them here in my blog.

Who farted? It must have been the sheep.

This weekend I took my kids to "A Journey To Bethlehem". We have gone for the last 8 years to the same place and decided that this year we would go to a different church offering the program to spice things up a bit.

Even though I like the one we usually go to better, this one had some things that were worth attending for. The big difference was that there were real live livestock in the church. However, since I can smell almost nothing unless it totally reeks, and is right under my nose for at least a week prior, so I had no idea that as we rounded the corner that there were sheep in the stable with Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

I had eaten a large dinner over an hour and a half before, and being male my stomach was rolling as the gas there in build up. Since I was in the middle of the group I could hardly let things take there course as we all walked to the next location. I was being as polite as I could by squeezing my cheeks together as I walked, but for all the effort some snuck out silently, thank the Lord. Just at that same time some of the people behind me caught the sent of the sheep in the next room, even though I did not, and commented that they could smell livestock.

Well, I almost turned around and said, "I know it stinks, but it's not that bad is it?" when I realized there was actually livestock in the next room. I made up my mind then, if anyone pointed at me for the errant sent, I would just point at the sheep. Thankfully, no one noticed.

3 cheers for bah bah black sheep and her friends!

Clarification of the last post or BRING ME PROOF

After the comment I received from my dear friend Steve on my Last post, I realized I should have been more specific. (I do apologize for my generality.)

The people I spoke of in my last post were first of all, not from Johnson County, and secondly not even remotely as educated as Steve or I. Next, and most frustrating of all, I know for a fact that several of these very outspoken people did not vote, nor have they ever been registered to do so.

I am also aware that the economy in general sucks. Kansas City's job market is circling the bowl, and has been for some time now. However, my point was that these things are not directly related to, or can be indirectly related to any president, Bush, Clinton or otherwise.

I worked for Sprint for 7 years myself, and my office was located in the Head Quarters Building for 5 of the 7. Each year I watched as literally thousands of people lost their jobs, every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most recently, Kansas City suffered greatly from Sprint's ION layoff. I personally know one of the head engineers who's job it was to test the feasibility of ION and report the findings to the CEO Bill Esrey. After much deliberation the team relayed to upper management, that given Sprint's current infrastructure it would not be able to make ION work. Furthermore, they relayed that their research told them that Sprint would not be able to build the needed infrastructure fast enough to make ION a success. The team was told that the CEO, Bill Esrey, wanted ION to happen and that they were to make it work no matter what. After sevral years of doing their best the decision was made to end the project, meaning that thousands more Sprint employee's would loose their jobs.

I personally fail to see how a boneheaded CEO's decisions can be blamed on George Bush. I know that many jobs are also being sent to India. From the four companies that I have had experience with, in as many years, all have outsourced their customer service and support jobs. I don't know too many customer support employees that are making 50 to 80k a year. I quess my point is that many people spout off non fact based over generalizations to prove that George W. Bush is the Anti-Christ, and that if the Messiah, John Kerry, had been elected we would all be saved from the fiery depths of hell.

If anyone can show me hard fact, which can be documented, and directly linked to W himself, I will be more than happy to discuss it with them. If they can also prove, with out a doubt that W is that true cause of all this pain then I will jump on the wagon with them. Until then, I will put my rain coat on to protect myself from all of the mud being slung from both sides.

In closing, I would like to again reference my employee who said that the economy was bad, because she and her spouse did not have a boat and an RV, later told me that if they stopped going on their Mexico vacation for a few years they would more than likely be able to get the RV she wanted. I do not see then how she, or anyone else, can then blame G. W. B. for decisions they themselves have made regarding their life and their finances.

Poor Economy, HUH? Must Be Bush's Fault!

Man, I just did some more Christmas shopping this afternoon, and if we are experiencing a poor economy because of Bush, then bring it on baby! My God, the stores were packed. My aunt has an expression for when it gets this bad, T&E (t*ts and elbows, cause that's all there is.) I have seen less activity on large ant hills. Not to mention carts with several large ticket items in them. It took everything I had the day after Thanksgiving to find a PlayStation2 for my son and that is a $200 item.

One of my employees and I were talking about the economy after the election. When it got down to it she said that the economy was bad, and it was all Bush's fault, because she and her husband didn't have a boat and an RV in their driveway. To which I replied, "Clinton was in office for 8 years, who's fault was it then?"

Futhermore, Greenspan has been in charge of the nation's economic status for several presidents, if you want to bitch slap anyone, hit him. Really, the economy ebs and flows, it always has. The President, has far less power over most things than everyone gives him credit for.

At work, all I here from the Blue Staters (misplaced in a Red State) is how bad the economy is, and out of the other corner of their mouth, they are telling me about the loads and loads of things they are buying for their kids, wives, other relatives and friends. If they could only see how foolish they look and sound. I guess if you look in Webster's under CONTRADICTION, you will find a picture of a DEMOCRAT.

Better Living Through Chemistry

This morning I packed the kids in the car for piano lessons, weekend errands and a little Christmas shopping. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring our meds. (for A.D.D.) After lunch things got a little crazy in the department store, but we all survived. The thing with A.D.D. is, if they are having a bad day, then I am usually having a bad day also. Which makes it all the more fun to try and handle them. A friend of mine, who is also the parent of children with A.D.D., aptly labeled it "Cat Herding." I just wish my kids had tales, then I would have a better chance of catching them.

Never Try To Rape A 72 Year Old Woman!

Yesterday, in Kansas City, one very stupid and very unlucky homeless man tried to rape a 72 year old woman and got way more than he bargained for. Just the day before he had offered to do some work of the elderly woman to earn money to eat. Feeling sorry for the man she found something for him to do and paid him when he finished.

The next night the man returned to rape the old woman, but she had other ideas. While struggling with the homeless man she screamed at him, asking why he would want to rape such an old lady. She put up such a fight that the man finally hit her in the face. At this point she offered him more money if he would leave. The idea sounded good to him and he took her money. As he was leaving, the woman told him she was very thirsty from the struggle and that he needed to bring her a drink of water, which he did.

Not long after the police arrived they dusted the water glass for finger prints and, miracle of miracles, the homeless man was already in the system. Later that evening when asked why he had tried to rape the old lady for money, he stated that he was very drunk. Sounds like he was also hit with a serious case of the stupids, if you ask me. Too bad the police aren't this lucky more often.

Just the AVERAGE day from. . .

Well you know where. Luckily, while the day was average, it at least it went by quickly. Since the holidays are upon us, my employees are all trying to use up their non transferable vacation days, despite the fact that I have been preaching all year long to use them up so that you don't loose them at the end of the year cause there are too many others off already.

Anyway, since there are at least 2 employees off at the same time from now until the end of the year, I have to roll up my sleeves and pitch in. I don't mind really, plus like I said it makes the days go by much quicker.

Either later this evening or tomorrow, I will be ranting on the downtown parking issues in Kansas City. Just have to get it off my chest. Then maybe not, we will have to see.