Selective writers block

Nothing to write. Why is it I am overwhelmed with thoughts I feel like sharing throughout the day, but when I get home and finally sit down to do some sharing, I draw a blank? That's been happening alot lately. Annoying.

So long, and thanks for the fishes

Friends are easy to make. Lifelong friends are irreplaceable.

In less than a week my oldest and best friend (outside of my marriage that is) will be moving to Maryland. God has blessed him with a job in a Christian Law firm out there.

For me this is both a joyous and sad event. Joyous in knowing how this will bless his family. Sad in knowing that there is a good chance we may never live in the same city again.

When I came back to California I was blessed with all of my childhood buddies. Soon only three of us will be left. My family is all gone. And LA becomes more of a cesspool everyday. It seems the only thing left to stay here for is the Sunshine.

Of the three remaining I will probably be the only one to leave. The other two have heavy investments in family here. But where shall I go?

I've been contemplating that thought for years. So, will it be CDA, Id; Spokane, Wa; Boulder, Co; Chesapeake, Va; Maryland; New York; Tennessee; Do I have good reason to go to any of these places or to shun them? What is the best move for my family? Alas, only God really knows. All I know is that LA isn't the place to be, nor California for that matter.

Where ever I go, it will hopefully be my last big move. I think my Grandpa had it right when he settled in one place and made it his home. So I guess I better choose wisely.

I bid farewell to a lifelong friend and look forward in great anticipation to the day when I can say to California once and for all "so long, and thanks for the fishes"

Another year has passed!

I woke up this morning and was officially another year older. 33 years since God brought me out the womb.

This is the age the Lord was when he was killed on a cross. Thinking about his knowledge, wisdom, power, and faith at my age, I find myself lacking. He was a carpenter, he could fish, he was self sustaining. He was content to sleep where his head lay. He was a man of prayer, educated and knowledgeable. A man of strength and sacrifice. He inspired men, he confounded scholars, he challenged Rome, he faced his accusers and detractors head on. He was a only 33. Maybe it helped that his father was God.

I'm reading a biography on John Adams. At 15 he passed the Harvard Entrance Exam (which was to translate a passage into Latin) and was a full fledged lawyer by his early 20's. He studied civil law in Greek and Latin. And he was a farmer. Once again, I find myself lacking.

I've often sat with a lawyer friend of mine contemplating what we would do if/when the world as we knew it ended? We are both very intelligent men, educated, husbands and fathers. We both can do well well in a society where we make profit off of our intellect. But if we had to farm; build shelter; fish; hunt; gather; basic survival stuff, could we? What talent do you possess dear reader that will keep you alive when the supply train of instant goods is gone?

I label myself educated, but I can only speak and read one language. I don't know much about woodworking, metallurgy, carpentry, fishing, hunting, plumbing, electrical work, ect. I'm a decent general mechanic, but never had the opportunity to specialize in anything but Nuclear Power.

Most of history is a mystery to me. I've not read most of the "classic authors". I don't know law, or philosophy. I know enough science to know I don't know enough. Biology, health, healing, ect, all mysteries to me. In fact I'm astounded by what I don't know. The list is long.

I have a great potential for learning and understanding. But I seem to have a great void when it comes to the practical application. This thought disturbs me. Can I support and my family on the potential of my mind? Can a non-craftsman survive?

At the same time I look at the world around me and realize I am better educated than most. I am often looked at as a leader, creative thinker, hard worker, ect. Are these qualities that will help me feed my family in the years to come? Will the world still be willing to pay me for my mind, for my ability to organize and plan?

I often feel like the man behind the curtain.

There is no question that I'm a capable man, the question is, what am I capable of?

Boy, I think too much.

The 30 Day Challenge!

I just read an article about a man who, as an experiment, completed a challenge I'm not sure I'm up for. He voluntarily agreed to do whatever his wife asked for 30 days.

He discovered some interesting facts in the month. A lesson we all should learn, is that it's not the big gestures that matter, but the accumulation of small gestures. He learned the "river of minor grievances" his wife has against him. He learned that both he and his wife were full of "sass" at that it was much better to fill their banter with niceness.

I don't think I'm ready for this challenge. But it did get me thinking. We are called to love our brides as Christ loved the church. It's a hard calling. Christ sacrificed much for his church. He was always giving. Never taking. He was a servant and he called us to be servants. How many of us husbands serve our wives? I'm not saying be submissive robots, like this challenge, but servants. Do we even know what that means? Do we know our wives needs? Do we know her "minor grievances"? Do we treat her with "sass" like she's a drinking buddy?

Next week my Pastor begins a 4 week class on marriage. I've been listening to his advice on Marriage longer than I've been married. I keep coming back because I always learn more. And I'll most assuredly go away with a fresh reminder of the challenge before me and my failings as a husband. My wife will assuredly walk away with the same. It's good to be reminded that we're not perfect. It's good to be reminded that our spouse is not perfect. It is an unreasonable expectation that your spouse be perfect.

As a wise man (my pastor) once told me, "Marriage isn't a 50-50 proposition, it's a 100-100 proposition". You have to give your 100% and you have to do so even when your spouse is giving 10%. Too often we think "I'll start giving, when he/she starts giving". Marriage isn't a give-take agreement. If you don't give unconditionally, you will fail. If you wait until your spouse starts "giving" you will never start.

Choose to full fill your wedding vows regardless of your spouse. The second you make your fulfillment of your vow conditional on your spouses fulfilment of their vow, you begin the road to failure.

Public School from the eyes of a schoolteacher

I have often been criticized for homeschooling my children. They need "socialization". They need "trained" teachers. They need.. well whatever it is they "need" apparently my wife and I as parents, one a college graduate, one trained in Nuclear Power, seem not capable or qualified to give our kids.

I guess that begs the question, what makes one qualified to teach children? Below is a book written by a schoolteacher. I wouldn't ask you to read the whole thing, but read the Prologue. You might find it interesting to see what someone who spent 50+ years in the public school system has to say.

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/prologue.htm

I seriously doubt I will ever regret my decision to home school. The only thing I lose is the benefit of a two income family. What my children and my wife gain is worth far more than money.

What's a man got to do to get arrested these days?

Went shopping today. In front of the store was a black and white just parked in the red zone like he owned the joint. So me being me I decided to look inside and see what cop cars look like these days.

High tech. Camera on the front and rear dash. Two more cameras on top pointing left and right. No shotgun as the cars of old days. No a more lethal weapon in the middle of the car: a computer. The pile of junk in the passenger seat told me he drove solo and was a slob.

After my curiosity was satisfied I proceeded on my way to go shopping. Shortly thereafter the owner of the car approached me. "I've got a witness that you tried to break into my car".

Me: No, I was looking at your car which was paid for with my tax dollars.

Cop: Did you try to open the door?

Me: Why would I try to open the door?

Cop: Did you?

Me: NO!

Cop: So if I fingerprint the door handle your prints won't be on them?

Me: No, and since when is it a crime to look at a car?

Cop: it isn't but tampering with a police vehicle is..

Me: Well than it's a good thing I was only looking than...

Cop: Would you have entered the car if the door was open?

Me: No, it's not my car, and since the door was closed the question is irrelevant

He continued to insist I had tried to break into his car. "So are you calling my witness a liar"

Me: I can't speak for your witness, I've told you what I did. It's up to you to decide who's lying.

He asked me such brilliant questions as
"What are you doing here?"
Me: Uh, I thought the shopping car full of groceries kind of gave me away, but since you asked, I'M SHOPPING!

In retrospect I'm lucky he didn't arrest me just for the hell of it. I was certainly spinning him up. I think he was hoping to arrest the Son of a Bitch who dared to touch his car. Or maybe he was just hoping to intimidate me. It certainly pissed him off that I dared stand toe to toe with him and make fun of his silly questions.

He kept up this agressively rude tone that no normal human talks in. I think he thought it made him sound menacing.

Alas he finally walked away clearly perterbed at me. I'm sure he's at home talking about the smug SOB in the supermarket.

Just another fine example of our tax dollars at work!

Obama's biggest fan is PO'd

Apparently the cash for your junk car program has spun up even the most devout Obama fans. A friend of mine who regularly touts "Obama and me, we're gonna fix everything" is now on the list of Americans the Prez has pissed off.

I told him today, "You're probably the only American on the planet Obama hasn't pissed off yet." He proceeded to correct me. Apparently he's been trying to buy a car under the "we'll give you tax payer dollars for your junk car program". He's realized not only is it a scam, but that it is driving up the price of cars to an outrageous level. It has created a car bubble, to replace the housing bubble. Car dealers are loving it. "That's your man" I told him.

But even the car dealers know they have to milk it while they can. As one of them stated, "the bubble will burst and this well will dry up quickly".

So car buyers beware. There is no negotiating prices. No discounts. The dealers figure the gov't check is all the discount you need. They'll turn you away because they know the next sucker is right behind you waiting to get his gov't handout.

Be smart, keep your old clunker till the bubble bursts and the price of vehicles drops like a rock (kinda like the housing bubble). Then go shopping with the car dealers who will be begging for your business. Because today's dealers will just laugh you out the door if you try to negotiate.

Eternity

Have you ever tried to think about eternity? I've tried. I can't truly fathom it. Just trying to comprehend it is scary.

Trying to imagine eternity in Hell is even worse. Remember your worst week. Remember how long that week seemed at the time. Now imagine it lasting forever. No end in sight ever. No light at the end of the tunnel.

But even when you take hell out of the picture, eternity is daunting. My short life here seems so long. What do you do in eternity? Time with no end.

The Bible says men used to live to be 800 and 900 years old. Even that is hard to imagine. Imagine living through the entire history of America. Movies like highlander have tried to capture that concept.

I know my life on this earth will eventually end. And then I'll be faced with eternity. I guess I'm just not ready to contemplate and accept what that truly means. It's hard enough dealing with the hear and now, without having to face never ending existence.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Finacial freedom is around the corner. At least for me and my family. After years of struggle and debt I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, if all goes well, that light could be upon me as soon as October (if the planets are aligned and the world is in harmony).

It occurs to me that I've spent so much time focusing how to recover from debt that I never learned how to invest. And in todays economy, not sure it's time to take chances.

So what will I do with my newfound wealth? First and foremost SAVE. Need to build up that safety net. And start catching up on my retirement fund.

But there are a few items on my list of wants that would aid in making my life and the life of my family a bit more comfortable.

So I look with great joy at the end of my burden to debt. Hopefully I've learned enough to keep from ever being put under the oppression of owing someone else.

Raging Waters reveals the state of the union

Took the family to Raging Waters. Had a family from church join us. We all had a great time.

However a water park has a way of revealing character. Some observation made by my spouse and I while people watching.

Asian females wore very conservative simple bathing suits

Anglo and Hispanic/Latina women all wore two piece bikinis that cover next to nothing, except for the heavier women who wear very conservative outfits

Black Women only wear bathing suits they fall out of no matter their size.

Black Men all were wearing their shorts around their knees with their boxers showing.

All other men wear your typical swim shorts

I guess I'm a little surprised. I expected the ratio of skimpy to conservative to be more balanced. It seems nobody wears one piece bathing suits unless they are overweight or Asian. And all men but blacks get the concept of swimming shorts. And black women have no worries about their image.

Tattoo's were everywhere. I remember when tattoo's were a rare thing. Now it seems you are the odd man or woman out if you don't have a tattoo.

Maybe I'm just getting old. I remember when the bikini was a rare thing. Women had self respect and covered up in a typical usually colorful one piece. Men all wore your basic swim shorts. Tattoos were for the truly rebellious.

Maybe it's the Dad in me thinking about my two boys and my girl. Will they want to cover their bodies in tattoo's? Will my daughter think it ok to walk around in dental floss bathing suits? Will they get into the body mutilation practices of this generation (ear holes, nose holes, other holes I won't mention here)?

I asked my pastor recently, how in today's world of sin and temptation, do you protect yourself and your children from the flood of bad stuff? There is no short answer. A whole book could be written on it. But since he's not writing a book he'll see what he can do about good advice as he goes through the ten commandments this year.

I just realized I have no closing thoughts... The state of this generation leaves me saddened and worried... This is our future... This is my children's future.. what does the future hold for them? What about my grandchildren?

Guess I'll just have to trust in the Grace of God and his promise to bless generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.