I wake up in the morning and I raise my weary head

I don't think there has ever been a time in my life where I could remember my dreams. I've never woken up terrified because of nightmares. In fact the only time my dreams wake me up are when my body try's to react to my dream as if I'm really there.

I really enjoy listening to other peoples dreams. It give me a glimpse of something that I may never experience myself (remembered dreams).

The last week I think I know what I've been dreaming though. Every morning for about 2 weeks I wake up and my mind is racing with solutions and scenarios of my work. I'm laying in bed in my groggy, waiting for the next snooze alarm state, trying to get those last precious moments of rest before my day begins and my mind is going full speed into my job. The only explanation I can come up with is I must be dreaming about work. I want to scream, "it's too early to be thinking about this". "Leave me alone, five more minutes!"

The worst part is it doesn't stop. I get up and go through my morning routine with my mind still racing. I jump in my car for my half hour drive to work (time I normally take to blissfully enjoy the radio) and my mind is still racing. I get halfway to work before I reallize I haven't even turned on the radio.

Even today, Saturday morning, I woke up thinking about air compressors, rebuilding production lines and safety hazards. Well, I'm off to go look for a distraction so I can think about something besides work.

IRS VS GOLD

People have been trying to beat the tax man since taxes were invented. Al Capone couldn't be convicted for the majority of his crimes but tax evasion got him. Here is a method I bet none of you have ever heard of.

In 1985 Ron Paul was the frontrunner congressman in passing the Gold Bullion Coin Act. This laws states that the US Govt is required to print and place in circulation Gold Coins in denominations of $50, $25, $10, and $5 dollars to meet demand. These coins are made of 91.67% Gold.

In the mid 90's a small businessman decided to compensate his employees using this alternate currency. The method of this madness is thus:
I'll pay you $50 a week with a gold coin with a face value of $50. This equates to an annual income of $2600. This is less than reportable income by IRS Code. However this US Govt minted "$50" coin is really worth $800. Which means if you converted the value of the Gold Coins currency to Federal Reserve Notes (dollars) you just made ~$42,000.

So, "If a coin says it is a $50 gold piece, and it says 'In God We Trust', and the law says that it is legal tender, and it is in circulation, isn't it reasonable for people to think that they can calculate their tax liability based on that?"

So go tell your boss that you want to get paid $100 a week in US Minted Gold currency!

SAFETY

I was approached by my Plant Manager not long ago on a Saturday. "Sean, I was in a meeting the other day and your name popped into my head." -Well Don, usually that means you have more work for me, so what's up? "Well, with Eugenia leaving we need someone to lead safety and I think you'd be perfect for the job. Nobody here understands safety at the floor level better than you." -Oh, because I have so much free time already, Don.

Thus began my latest adventure in life. So Don talked to my boss Sal, and his boss, the VP Bill. Monday morning Bill calls me to his office. We had a good long talk and in the end I said simply, no problem on one condition. You, Don, Sal and myself sit down and discuss our (meaning Sal and I) salaries, because if I'm taking on this extra responsibility so is he. "Sean, are you telling me you won't take this position if we don't have this talk?" -Yes Bill, that is exactly what I'm saying. "Agreed!"

So, Wednesday of that week I was officially made Safety Director. Bill was nice enough to assure me that I'm not in this alone. So why do I feel like I'm moving a mountain of rocks alone and at any moment the whole mountain could come tumbling down on top of me? The very next day Line 1 caught on fire. Destroyed property, evacuated the building, found faulty fire extinguishers, learned we have no fire team, no fire training, no breathing devices and no MSDS sheets for a product we've been making a year. Did I mention all the Corporate Guru's from New York happened to be in the building.

So, my second day as Safety Director I find myself in a Safety Response Review meeting for a fire we just had with Don (plant manager), Bill and all of their bosses. We created a list... THINGS THAT WENT RIGHT and THINGS THAT WENT WRONG. One column we were able to list 2 items. The other column we were able to list 16 items. Who wants to guess which column was which?

I spent the rest of the week dealing with the aftermath. Fire Marshalls, Health Inspectors, Alarm Companies, Fire extinguisher companies, Sprinkler companies, not to mention the damaged line, which is for a very specific customer who tells us he will start running short of product in 10 days. We are his only supplier.

So the next week (last week) I sign myself up for a three day OSHA training course. Come to find out it is actually a 12 day course, so I still have 8 days to go. By day 2 of the course I am already overwhelmed. It amazes me how far out of compliance we are. The training ended on Thursday and I've had safety nightmares every night since then. It as if my mind wants to work through the mountain I have to move when I'm sleeping. I end up waking up numerous times throughout the night.

Tomorrow is my first day back to work since the training. I think I need a good sit down talk with Don about what he expects and what I expect. Than I need to figure out how to start tearing down the mountain. And I still need to have that talk about salaries. No way I'm keeping this beast at my current pay.

COUNTING THE DAYS!

My wife is visiting NYC for three weeks, which means I'm a bachelor for the moment. Having been a bachelor for many years in a previous life, you would think that would be no problem. Not so. I come home from work and find myself bombarded with silence. No wife to talk to , no son asking questions, no baby crying, nothing but silence. So I sit and wonder what to do with myself. Nothing catches my interest. I try to read but can't get into it. I don't play computer games anymore. I turn on the TV, but there is nothing catching.

In this time of loneliness it has become glaringly obvious that my family IS the center of my world. Without them I'm just an astronaut floating in space drifting farther and farther from anything that means anything to him. And the two shall become one. The longer I'm married the more meaning that has for me. The "independent nomad" I once was, is now a dependant, pseudo grounded family man. My family is no longer a futuristic want, but a current need. Life without them is not even fathomable anymore. This temporary separation is a vivid reminder of how much I enjoy my family. How much a part of me they have become.

I don't think Patty is fairing much better. She's already counting the days till she comes home. I think she is going to need a vacation from her vacation.

Back to silence I go.

IN CUBA, WE KILL GUYS LIKE YOU!!!

When you are in management you see all sorts of things you wouldn't expect. It's a backstage pass to the theatre where you get to see what the audience can't see. The most recent incident still has me stunned.

When you work in the Manufacturing industry, safety is a huge concern. Large machines with lots of torque; slippery surfaces; compressed air, hydraulics, and electricity everywhere. There are lots of places one can hurt oneself. There are lots of people who out of ignorance can be hurt by the carelessness of those who know.

KM (my engineer) walked by an exposed 440 volt electric panel on his way to lunch. Nobody around but the guy cleaning the floor. HMMM.. water and electricity, good mix. After an short investigation we quickly discovered who was responsible for leaving the panel open. We called a meeting of all of our electricians and ran through the importance of electrical safety. AP, the electrician responsible, was given a verbal warning (nothing official) and his response was, "But I waited till nobody was around." Nobody but the guy with the bucket of soapy water washing the floor.

AP felt singled out and "knew" that another electrician had "snitched" to KM. He walked up to the other electrician and flattly said "In Cuba, we kill guys like you!" and walked away.

Up to this point AP had conveyed nothing but a friendly attittude to everyone. I think I'm stunned more by who said it, than by what was said. It's a reminder that the unassuming nice guys aren't always nice. Place Mr. Nice Guy in a defensive posture and the fangs will come out.

AP went on vacation before we were made aware of his comment. When he gets back we'll have to deal with him. I wonder if his hostility will be redirected at us, or burn more fiercly towards the "snitch" who told on him. I wonder what an old Cuban (he's in his 50's) could devise against someone. Will his anger grow to a point of action?

I guess I"ll find out.

THE FUN NEVER ENDS

I've been meaning to blab here since the 4th of July. So much has happened since then.

the fourth was great. Caleb was enthralled by the lights. I thought the loud explosions might bother him but he didn't care. It a joy to just watch him take in life experiences for the first time.

Theresa (my stepmother of over 2 decades) died Friday 13. The battle over the estate seemed to begin before the body was cold. I'm amazed the cops were never called, oh wait, they were called. At one point we had all but one sibling in agreement. Not sure where we stand now, but me, being the "trustworthy responsible one" who happens to still live in LA seems to be bearing all the load of moving forward. An executor needs to be named, an eviction of the current tenent needs to be filed, and than there is probate. I'm not going to give ya'll gory details, but I advize all of you to have a will. Otherwise your children will get to see the worste in each other. Nothing brings out the vulture in man/woman like an fresh estate battle.

This of course happened right in the middle of Angelica's (Patty's neice) visit. She had a good time anyway. We took her to the Sequoias and spent alot of time swimming and doing outdoorsy stuff.

I had really intended to give much more detail. I'm just so tired of it all. It's been a long month. But to any of you nosy people who just have to know, feel free to call me. If you don't have my number, than I probably wouldn't tell you anyway.

Colonial Declaration of Independance day

How do you keep a 5 month olds attention. Sit two-hundred yards from a city sponsored fireworks show. Caleb was mesmorized by the sounds and colors. I thought it might scare him but he was in awe.

I had a good fourth of July. Day off work, barbeque and fireworks show. Threw the ball around with Darrien, got in some reading and ended with bright explosive pyrotechnics. Even got paid that day. Can't complain.

hope ya'll enjoyed your yearly celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independance.

mindless bla......

What to right (my wife wants me to correct this... I think I'll leave it this way just to bug her).. oh the dilema... I have this 20lb chubby entity on my lap who seems thoroughly enthralled by the letters on the screen. If only they were always this easy to entertain.

My house is finally empty. Just in time for the heat of summer. Oh for air conditioning.

Caleb is growing fast. We have to get him a mattress for his bed before he grows out of his bassinet. My wife has a fit every time I mention putting him in another room (she just read this and is wining about it... NNNOOOOOOO). Must be a mommy thing.

Work is chaotic as ever. My boss wants to make me his assistant so he can move on to other things (he wants me to take over his job). I hope that involves a raise. We keep redifining our roles. I think the upper eschalones of my corporation are completely baffled by us. Keeps my life busy. I worked 20 straight hours last week and then woke up three hours later for another 10. My peoples all think I'm crazy.

I'd love to keep rambling about nothing but Caleb seems to think my fingers belong in his hands or his mouth and it's really difficult to type anything, yet alone construct a cohesive thought.

BTW, welcome to SUMMER....

Kaizen

My company is instituting "Lean" training. So for the past week I have been involved in an 8 hour a day class. Joining me in this mandatory training has been Sal (my boss), Richard (my lead electrician), and Juan (one of my lead mechanics). Who has been running maintenance, you might ask? No one!

We've all snuck off to work at every opportunity, but it was too little. We had 4 major break downs this week, that I had to manage while in this training. I ended up working three 13 hour days and a 12 hour day. I think my mechanics were in shock to see me on the floor in coveralls working beside them. We had to fix the problem. The training is a good training for the company as a whole, but it made for a very rough work week.

Oh, and did I forget to mention that my brothers wife and kids have landed back at my house again.

So the weekend is finally here and I'm exhausted. On a brighter note, I enjoyed a really nice evening of coffee and cigarrettes with a good friend last night. It was good to vent and relax and just do nothing.

Off to breakfast with the familia.

I SEE DEAD PEOPLE, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE, THEY DON'T KNOW THEY ARE DEAD

Friday night is guys night. Yesterday me and the boys were sitting in the yard smoking pipes (tabbaco), and tapping the mini-keg as we conversed about everything under the sun. I left that conversation with a keen awareness of where I came from spiritually and where many people I know still are. In short, I was spiritually dead and now I'm spiritually alive.

Why did this leave such an impression on me? I've know this simple truth for years. Well, I've been evangalizing for years. I've never had much success (as far as I know). In 10 years I've managed to get two people to go to church with me (one of them is my wife). I've always thought it was my failure to be theoligically astute and my lack of persuasive skills, which kept friends and family from accepting my invite. But I'm wrong.

The real answer is that the world is filled with the spiritually dead. Nothing I say or do will change them. Only God can change them. The dead can't hear when I speak. They don't even know they are dead. How can the dead be aware of anything. It is only when God gives them back life that they become aware of their former state of death.

So why continue speaking to the spirtually dead who can't hear me? Because God commands it, and it is him who will give them life through my words if he so choses. So, my apparent failure isn't a failure at all. It is simply me doing as God commands, and trusting that he will work through me to accomplish his Good Will.

"I see Dead People, they are everywhere, they don't know they are Dead" Ok, it's a cheesy movie quote, but when applied to the gospel it is a daunting view of the reality of the world in which we live.

Two Years

Today marks two years of marriage for me. My beautiful wife and I spent an evening at Benihana's in Santa Monica and then enjoyed the brisk air on the 3rd Street Promenade.

I asked my wife what the best part of our marriage has been. "Having someone to rely on" was her very quick response. This, from a woman who grew up in the hub of feminism (NYC), was a most welcome and comforting response. It also re-inforced the notion that I am the head of my household and my whole family depends on me. It makes me feel good knowing that my wife feels she can depend on me (even if she has a funny way of showing at times).

The heavy task of leading a household is one that men continue to fail at. Lord willing I will continue for many years to come to hear the resounding voice of my wife saying, "Because I can rely on you."

So to my Beloved Wife of TWO years I say, I LOVE YOU and am ever grateful that you are in my life. Thank you for the all you give me.

How long can the media ignore him?

Ron Paul is in the running, but I bet most of you outside of my comments have never heard of him. You see stories in the news about all the Presidential Candidates and even hopefulls, but for some reason Dr. Paul is "overlooked". Here are some links to a few gentlemen who think they know why the media (and all lobbyist) stear clear of Ron Paul.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods63.html

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig5/galles6.html

or you can click on my link to Ron Paul's archives and read his speaches to congress and articles on life and then decide for yourself.

SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE OF UNITY

By Paul Viggiano

When God set out to confound men's efforts at building their own tower to heaven, he simply confused the language so they couldn't understand one another's speech. Apparently the easiest way to scatter and disassemble a people is to make communication difficult.

When Alexander the Great sought to unify his entire conquered territory, which spanned nine time zones, he made Greek the only allowable commercial language. People could speak their native languages in their own communities, but if they were going to do business, they had to learn Greek.

Healthy and unified nations have a specific language, and there are good reasons for it.
Perhaps you've encountered a language difficulty while placing an order at your local drive-through. It's an inconvenient, moderately laborious and ineffective process when the two people don't speak the same language. No big deal. You end up with the chicken instead of beef -- who can tell the difference?

But what if you're on the phone seeking information on bills you owe or work that needs to be done on your car or house? Business becomes tricky when you can't understand each other. Still, it might be considered a minor inconvenience. Eventually things get done.

It's a little more perilous when you come upon an automobile accident. When someone says, "Call an ambulance!" and all you get are blank stares, with no opportunity to press two for the alternative language, the victim might bleed to death.

And how about the military -- assuming people are living in a country they love and are willing to defend. What happens when lives are on the line and orders are given in the nation's language? Are we comfortable with the idea of people dying because no one understands the commanding officer?

It should be obvious that we need to pick a language and have everybody learn it. It will strengthen our nation. People are xenophobic by nature. We tend to fear what we don't understand. A healthy conversation where we all understand what's being said will foster an esprit de corps among the people.

Those who oppose a unified language are either ignorant of what unifies a nation or they simply don't care about unity -- maybe they're only concern is to build a constituency. Either way, having multiple languages when it comes to commerce, health, safety and national security is divisive and dangerous.

And I don't oppose the glorious American melting pot. I view myself as a spicy Mediterranean addition. The multiculturalism of our country is splendid and exciting. All the foods, styles, music and diversity make our country electrifying. But it is a melting pot, not a rotating Lazy Susan where all the individual bowls form segregated courses having no common point of contact with each other.

The melting pot as originally suggested by Pierre Eugene DuSimitière is e pluribus unum -- out of the many, one. For this to work, there are things that need to contribute to the unum. And one of the non-negotiables of the unum is the language. Our current trend is heading us toward e pluribus pluribus. We're celebrating the many, but we're losing the one -- one flag, one language and one indivisible nation under one God.

There are things unique about the United States that have always attracted people from other countries. It might be a worthwhile pursuit to understand what specific and unique attributes helped to make this country great and cling to them.

The Rev. Paul Viggiano is pastor of the Branch of Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Torrance. His e-mail address is pastorpaul@integrity.com.

And the Cat's in the Cradle and the Silver Spoon

I'm sure ya'll are familiar with the song. It's theme has been ringing in the ears of this Dad lately. I was raised very differently from my father, yet lately I see how much like him I have grown to be. I love my father, but I pray constantly that I can be a better father than he was. I pray I can change the trends in myself I see which are a reflection of him. Makes my Dad sound like this horrible father. I guess he was a horrible father. Not that he was abusive per say, just neglectful. Even he recognizes his failings and has been trying hard the past few years to make up for it.

I don't want my children to end up like me. I want what every father wants.. I want my kid's to grow up to be better men than I ever could be. I want them to succeed where I have failed. When they reach the crossroads of their lives I want them to choose the paths I didn't choose. I want to prepare them for the world nobody prepared me for.

Looking at Caleb today, I kept saying in my head, "Please don't end up like me, son". As Patty likes to point out to me, Darrien is already mimicking me. The way I talk, walk, my mannerism, my "witty" responses. I see it too and maybe that is what is bothering me. As I'm saying "Darrien, that's not how you respond" or "Don't do that" I know I'm hearing and seeing myself through him.

I have little doubt that my children will turn out better than me. I have given (and continue to give them) a better environment that I could have dreamed of as a child. But I also know what God says. "And I will visit the iniquities of the father to the children of the third and fourth generation." Which of my iniquities shall be passed on to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

I'm so dramatic sometimes (Patty always tells me so). Part of what brought this particular bought of dramatascim on is just my current life. This month has been a rollercoaster of neverending stress. So just a few prayer requests.
-My newborn (I love him dearly but boy can he sap the life out of you)
-My Mother, who's delusions have left her temporarily homeless (currently she's living on my sofa)
-My wife who on top of dealing with new mommyhood and post partum depression is dealing with my Mom.
-My job which seems to be both a great blessing and great curse all at once.

My wife and I had a moment alone together (rare these days) and she says, "Sean, you look stressed out!"

"Well my Dear," I reply,"I average 12 hour days at work, my 7 year old is jealous of his very dependent brother, his very dependent brother is very dependent, my wife is exhausted and depressed, my crazy mother is sleeping on my sofa and I haven't been laid in at least a month. I've had better times." Of course she just laughed hysterically.

Well, enough ranting. I need to get back to my mother, my wife and my two kids.

IT'S A BOY!!!!!!

OK! Most of you already knew that, but what you didn't know is that CALEB ALESSANDRO O'BRIEN was born this morning at 8am after 28 very long hours of labor. The last 8 were the hardest.

He wieghs in at 7lbs 2.5oz and a length of 19 inches. Not bad considering he was 1 to 4 weeks early (the doctors are confused on that issue).

Complications during delivery caused his whole face to be bruised. So I have a very pink baby with a very black and blue face. Swollen too, poor kid. He has my wife's nose and my monkey toes.

So instead of going to church and then to a friends pool to enjoy the nice warm beautiful winter day we had, I spent the day reading to my wife, watching the super bowl and waiting for the hard labor to start. The kid has great timing. Once it started.. all I can say is I'm glad God made me a male. Just being the supportive husband all night wore me out. My wife's pain and misery was readilly apparant all night. Luckily she is already suffering the post-partum amnesia that is so common among women.

Ehud, thanks for the early congrats. Gotta go. Have a wife and kid who are in need of some attention at the hospital.

President Who?

For the first time in my voting life I am excited about a prospective Presidential Candidate. Who is he? None other than Mr. Ron Paul (congressman extraordinaire). You will find a link to his LEWROCKWELL.COM archives (where he posts his congressional speeches as well as his articles) to the right of the current text. My friend, Dan, believes the rest of the Republican Party is going to try to squash him, because he is actually a conservative (what a novel idea for a Republican). So spread the word. There is a REAL CONSERVATIVE actually running for president. The more people we tell, the less his campaign manager has to raise to pay for advertising. The internet is free (almost).

AIRWOLF

My son has been walking around the house humming the theme to "AIRWOLF". :-) See, through Netflix, I am able to rent entire seasons of TV shows, and I am methodically introducing him to all the essential classics. So the next time you see Darrien, shake the hand of the worlds newest Airwolf fan.

Thomas Jefferson and the Koran

A big deal was made out of the fact that a Koran owned by Thomas Jefferson was used to swear in a Muslim Official. We have been led to believe that TJ would have approved this useage. The truth of why good old Mr Jefferson had a Koran in his library is far from what we have been led to believe.

http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm

How you like them apples?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

It's a new year. And since last year was so rough (the last year of my 20's.. snff), I'll not reminisce, instead I'm looking forward to the New Year. Things I have to look forward to:

- A baby boy on the way, so diaper changing, sleepless nights, baby drool, lots of crying, ect, ect, ect. (oh I can't forget the wife in labor trying to beat me over the head with a bedpan)
- hopefully a raise at my job
- beginning to get out of debt ..... I have a plan.. it will work.. I have faith..
- A new clunker car to replace my old clunker car (hopefully).
- my 2 year anniversary

not a complete list, but it's a good start.

well, I'm off to live my hopes and dreams with my family, or maybe just vegetate on the sofa and watch 24...