Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for Recovery Run 3/23/10
1.12.2008
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton: Dynasty or Democracy?
Here's a link to an interesting blog from across the pond.
The Complex Christ | Signs of Emergence: Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton: Dynasty or Democracy?:
How about a blood dynasty?
WH
The Complex Christ | Signs of Emergence: Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton: Dynasty or Democracy?:
How about a blood dynasty?
WH
1.05.2008
Just A UPS Commercial Waiting To Happen
As I was leaving work the other day (as a supervisor at UPS) I was humored to see the following scenario. The FedEx truck had stopped to pick up some packages that someone had thrown in the UPS drop box.
A legitimate reason to stop at the UPS customer counter, but the irony did not escape me.
"Even FEDEX ships UPS" by Macmania Pete
A legitimate reason to stop at the UPS customer counter, but the irony did not escape me.
"Even FEDEX ships UPS" by Macmania Pete
9.24.2007
Plodding Along
One of the best things about "moments of clarity" is that the "clarity" which comes usually requires some attention and work. This way the benefits of the process are valued as much, or even more than, the result.
I have always shied away from "crisis" theology - the belief that we are changed in a moment: at the front of the church, at the hands of person praying for you, at the whisper of your own prayer. I am NOT saying that there is no change in a crisis. This can surely happen. My own experience however is that there are many people who depend on the crisis and live from one crisis event to another - the reality is that there is not usually much change in their lives.
The process however makes more sense to me. This is the fact that change generally requires hard work, determined choices and sweat equity.
A good word picture may be our memory. Some people have a photographic memory - they can read something once or look at something once and remember it without much effort. Most of us are not so fortunate. We had to memorize multiplication tables, words, formulas, directions, etc. It required time and work and we have experienced benefits from the effort.
My "moment of clarity" has required continual effort. Thinking differently. Acting differently. Moving differently. I value the time put in and am glad for the result. Damn it's hard. I keep reminding myself that I put one foot before another and move forward. In our house we call this "plodding." Aptly named after our hound-mix dog, Lily. When she is on a walk, she will go the length of the leash and lean forward, moving toward whatever her intended target is - she is plodding. So am I.
WH
I have always shied away from "crisis" theology - the belief that we are changed in a moment: at the front of the church, at the hands of person praying for you, at the whisper of your own prayer. I am NOT saying that there is no change in a crisis. This can surely happen. My own experience however is that there are many people who depend on the crisis and live from one crisis event to another - the reality is that there is not usually much change in their lives.
The process however makes more sense to me. This is the fact that change generally requires hard work, determined choices and sweat equity.
A good word picture may be our memory. Some people have a photographic memory - they can read something once or look at something once and remember it without much effort. Most of us are not so fortunate. We had to memorize multiplication tables, words, formulas, directions, etc. It required time and work and we have experienced benefits from the effort.
My "moment of clarity" has required continual effort. Thinking differently. Acting differently. Moving differently. I value the time put in and am glad for the result. Damn it's hard. I keep reminding myself that I put one foot before another and move forward. In our house we call this "plodding." Aptly named after our hound-mix dog, Lily. When she is on a walk, she will go the length of the leash and lean forward, moving toward whatever her intended target is - she is plodding. So am I.
WH
9.22.2007
My Monthly Blog:/
Well, it seems that I am getting to post monthly and not every few days as I have planned, or actually done in the past. I'm exhausted just thinking about what has happened in the last month.
Jessie is doing well at school and UGA is a better place with her there. She was able to come back to Aiken last weekend and it was so good to see her. Watching your children grow independent is such rewarding experience.
Jason is going back to Iraq next March. I just recently discovered that he actually volunteered for this which created some confusion for Jen and I. Our hope is that once this last deployment is completed he will be done with the Marine Corp and make the adjustment back to civilian life. I cannot imagine what he has gone through in the past 3 years. He mentioned that he may come visit at the end of October - that would be great. One of my values is that my home is a safe place - emotionally, physically, relationally, etc. I'm glad that my children fell this way.
Following the separation of my parents (my dad left my mom - see two posts ago) I have been trying to get my Mom situated. Mom does not want to stay in the home that they moved into when they came to Aiken. It's too quiet, lonely, and close to where my Dad and his paramour live. She was particularly interested in a local independent living facility called Trinity Lutheran Home here in Aiken. We went and visited a few weeks ago and were prepared to make application and get on the waiting list, usually 6 months to 1 year. Amazingly, they actually had a room available that day.
I was able to get the lawyers on both sides motivated enough to release the necessary funds to secure the room and my Mom will be moving in on October 1st. This is a great relief for her and all of us. Trinity is going to provide a much needed social facet to Mom's life as well as structure and security. I am so thankful that this is going quickly.
Real estate is still making an uphill climb and there are a few big deals in the works. The residential properties I have are not seeing much activity but the commercial is doing well. Additionally, I have bit the bullet (or as I told Jen 'sold my soul') and applied for full-time work at UPS. This is solely a financial decision. If the market makes an upswing and I can leave UPS I will do so in a heartbeat.
Last note - a few weeks ago I had a moment of clarity. I will not go into all of the details but I realized that I had adopted a victim mentality with regard to my circumstances and schedule. I had lapsed into a state of least resistance and allowed a level of mediocrity to creep into my life - my entire life. Following my 'a-ha' experience Jen and I have had some of the most difficult and rewarding discussions of our lives together. I have the most understanding, caring, and beautiful wife in the world. I am of all husbands, most fortunate.
My prayer and hope for you all is that you have someone that you can be real with, and safe.
WH
Jessie is doing well at school and UGA is a better place with her there. She was able to come back to Aiken last weekend and it was so good to see her. Watching your children grow independent is such rewarding experience.
Jason is going back to Iraq next March. I just recently discovered that he actually volunteered for this which created some confusion for Jen and I. Our hope is that once this last deployment is completed he will be done with the Marine Corp and make the adjustment back to civilian life. I cannot imagine what he has gone through in the past 3 years. He mentioned that he may come visit at the end of October - that would be great. One of my values is that my home is a safe place - emotionally, physically, relationally, etc. I'm glad that my children fell this way.
Following the separation of my parents (my dad left my mom - see two posts ago) I have been trying to get my Mom situated. Mom does not want to stay in the home that they moved into when they came to Aiken. It's too quiet, lonely, and close to where my Dad and his paramour live. She was particularly interested in a local independent living facility called Trinity Lutheran Home here in Aiken. We went and visited a few weeks ago and were prepared to make application and get on the waiting list, usually 6 months to 1 year. Amazingly, they actually had a room available that day.
I was able to get the lawyers on both sides motivated enough to release the necessary funds to secure the room and my Mom will be moving in on October 1st. This is a great relief for her and all of us. Trinity is going to provide a much needed social facet to Mom's life as well as structure and security. I am so thankful that this is going quickly.
Real estate is still making an uphill climb and there are a few big deals in the works. The residential properties I have are not seeing much activity but the commercial is doing well. Additionally, I have bit the bullet (or as I told Jen 'sold my soul') and applied for full-time work at UPS. This is solely a financial decision. If the market makes an upswing and I can leave UPS I will do so in a heartbeat.
Last note - a few weeks ago I had a moment of clarity. I will not go into all of the details but I realized that I had adopted a victim mentality with regard to my circumstances and schedule. I had lapsed into a state of least resistance and allowed a level of mediocrity to creep into my life - my entire life. Following my 'a-ha' experience Jen and I have had some of the most difficult and rewarding discussions of our lives together. I have the most understanding, caring, and beautiful wife in the world. I am of all husbands, most fortunate.
My prayer and hope for you all is that you have someone that you can be real with, and safe.
WH
8.18.2007
Moving Jessie To College
Last Monday, Jen, Jessie and I drove to Athens, GA to drop Jessie off. It was a beautiful day, a bit hot at 102 degrees, but whatever.
I lived in Athens, GA back in the early 80's. I wasn't a student at UGA but was actually an "Athenian". I worked on VW's and my business was "The Organic Mechanic". I could never have dreamed that one day my daughter would attend school there.
Here is her dorm:
The Quad from Jessie's window:
Jessie sitting on her loft with some Uganda stuff on the wall:
Things are so different that when many of us went to college...as Jessie says, "get good grades kiddies". Her grades have allowed her to live in one of the most beautiful freshman dorms I have seen. They have just renovated the entire place and it is amazing.
I am so happy for her and this wonderful stage of her life.
WH
I lived in Athens, GA back in the early 80's. I wasn't a student at UGA but was actually an "Athenian". I worked on VW's and my business was "The Organic Mechanic". I could never have dreamed that one day my daughter would attend school there.
Here is her dorm:
The Quad from Jessie's window:
Jessie sitting on her loft with some Uganda stuff on the wall:
Things are so different that when many of us went to college...as Jessie says, "get good grades kiddies". Her grades have allowed her to live in one of the most beautiful freshman dorms I have seen. They have just renovated the entire place and it is amazing.
I am so happy for her and this wonderful stage of her life.
WH
8.15.2007
Time To Catch You Up
A long lull has taken place for personal reasons. Some of what I will soon write about could not be shared until my daughter returned from Africa.
Her stay in Uganda was amazing. She returned home August 2nd and had so much to share. Tons of pictures and videos (which are being made into a presentation), drawings and notes from her students, and other things were among the recorded memories. There is no doubt that she has been affected for ever. She really WORKED while she was there. She taught school students from 8 - 5 each day. Weekends were for fun, which she had.
She was home for 10 days and we then took her to college! Back in the early 80's I lived in Athens, GA as a resident. It is now where Jessie attends school. UGA was her top pick ever since. They accepted her and she starts classes tomorrow. Jen and I took her up on Monday to avoid the Sunday deluge of students moving in. Her dorm is so much nicer than she expected and she is set. How exciting! I am so proud of her and glad that she is following her dreams and plans.
Now for the reason I haven't posted for so long:
You may remember that I mentioned that my parents moved down to Aiken back in March. My Dad is 81 and my Mom 77. Well, it turns out that a few months after moving in my dad met a single woman in the same neighborhood and has decided to divorce my Mom. He moved out a few weeks ago and in with his paramour. Both my parents have secured lawyers and are in the process of legal separation and ultimately divorce. As you can imagine, my Mom is devastated. My role in this has been to be a support for my Mom and help this process go as smoothly as possible. It is hard. I won't say much more in a public forum.
Since Jessie was in Africa I could not tell her this. That would be too big of a bombshell to drop with her being out of the country.
Additionally, my Son is getting a divorce from his wife Candace.
My world is a bit fraught right now. Hopefully, I can write more frequently. Thanks for stopping by and checking in.
WH
Her stay in Uganda was amazing. She returned home August 2nd and had so much to share. Tons of pictures and videos (which are being made into a presentation), drawings and notes from her students, and other things were among the recorded memories. There is no doubt that she has been affected for ever. She really WORKED while she was there. She taught school students from 8 - 5 each day. Weekends were for fun, which she had.
She was home for 10 days and we then took her to college! Back in the early 80's I lived in Athens, GA as a resident. It is now where Jessie attends school. UGA was her top pick ever since. They accepted her and she starts classes tomorrow. Jen and I took her up on Monday to avoid the Sunday deluge of students moving in. Her dorm is so much nicer than she expected and she is set. How exciting! I am so proud of her and glad that she is following her dreams and plans.
Now for the reason I haven't posted for so long:
You may remember that I mentioned that my parents moved down to Aiken back in March. My Dad is 81 and my Mom 77. Well, it turns out that a few months after moving in my dad met a single woman in the same neighborhood and has decided to divorce my Mom. He moved out a few weeks ago and in with his paramour. Both my parents have secured lawyers and are in the process of legal separation and ultimately divorce. As you can imagine, my Mom is devastated. My role in this has been to be a support for my Mom and help this process go as smoothly as possible. It is hard. I won't say much more in a public forum.
Since Jessie was in Africa I could not tell her this. That would be too big of a bombshell to drop with her being out of the country.
Additionally, my Son is getting a divorce from his wife Candace.
My world is a bit fraught right now. Hopefully, I can write more frequently. Thanks for stopping by and checking in.
WH
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