Musings and Misc. Thoughts

A Commencement!

2012-01-22T09:57:00.000-08:00

I was going to title this blog entry "A New Beginning," but I like the idea of commencement better. Commencement signifies "congratulations for a course successfully accomplished" and "Cheers! Onward and upward!"

On the edge...

This blog has been dormant over most of the past fourteen months while I undertook an administrative credential course of study, which I will complete... tomorrow! I'm presenting a summary PowerPoint of my Fieldwork Project that was required as part of the course of study in educational leadership.

I undertook this course of study for several reasons: 1) to give myself employment options in the future, 2) to ward off the feeling of hopelessness during the course of union contract negotiations, and 3) to feed my soul as I practice the art of being a life-time learner. I'd have to say: Mission accomplished on all three fronts. (And, I'm glad to be done.)

Of a new beginning...

One thing about enrolling in an accredited program is that you are committing a lot of time and energy to following someone else's lead... for a long time. While I'm careful about choosing who I follow, I still like being my own captain (under God). In a way, I still was, for I have learned to "color creatively inside the lines."

I learned a lot over the fourteen month course of studies which was geared (as required by the State of California) towards preparing educators to become educational leaders in general, and principals of schools in particular. Since I do not anticipate becoming a school principal, the course was a bit of a mismatch; however, the course is also required if I choose to become a Program Specialist or Director of Special Education, or most any other title associated with managing in an educational setting.

Like a child on a slip-and-slide!

The credential is mostly just a nice-to-have to be tucked away for possible future use. I don't intend to make any career changes in terms of job titles, but I've already made changes in being a teacher and staff member.

I've been enjoying watching the NFL this season, and commentators often note which players are team leaders. Leadership is not so much about title as it is about vision, collaboration, and contribution. Quite often, unofficial team leaders have more leeway in their undertakings than those who have the obligation to lead by contract. So, I'm enjoying the latest personal transformation as I quietly, unobtrusively commence the next round of my personal POOGI (Process Of On-Going Improvement).

Recently a student passed along a greeting to me from a former student who had taken a creative problem solving class I taught for several years at the junior high. He said, "Tell Mr. Evans -- CPSr's for life!"

Spring comes... at strange times in California!

CPSr was an acronym I had coined and often repeated in class as a sort of battle cry and focusing point. It's meaning? Creative Problem Solvers for life! That's what I've been about for the last fourteen months, being a CPSr and honing my problem solving skills.

And now? I commence again. Upward and onward! Cheers!

Uncertainty...

2011-08-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday, which is traditionally a day of renewal: the start of a new week.

Chollo cacti: Joshua Tree

Today is the last Sunday before my year with students begins in earnest.

Today, I reviewed my set of personal affirmations. In the midst of them, one stood out:

"I choose to happily embrace uncertainty. I have a God."

New beginnings are full of uncertainties. Some call these worries, concerns, possible challenges, or possible problems. I lump them together under the label of "uncertainty."

As I reviewed my affirmations, my personal beliefs and commitments, this one resonated with my current sense of being: "I choose to happily embrace uncertainty. I have a God."

Chollos: 4' to 7' full grown

The future can be faced with a sense of foreboding OR with calm assurance.

The coming year will have trials and triumphs, but mostly it will have routines, ebbs and flows. I know that, but the trials and ebbs tend to scare me. So what do I do?

I trust in God.

A line from one of my favorite hymns is "All the way, my Savior leads me. What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt his endless mercies, who through life has been my Guide? ...here, by faith, in Him I dwell. For I know WHAT ERE befall me... Jesus doeth all things well."

What can life throw at me that will find God insufficient? (Nothing.)

A fading Chollo flower

"I choose to happily embrace uncertainty. I have a God."

What is certain is that I have a God, and that He has promised, "Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you."

One of the names of God is "I am that I am." Some have paraphrased this as "I am becoming all that my people need."

This year I will be in need. There will be times when I am needy. Who will be there for me?

My Heavenly Father. God my Savior. I am that I am.

I read this morning, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Little children have a lot of confidence in their parents. They trust them. They rely upon them. They hold their parents' hand and go forward with assurance.

Today, I choose conversion!

You can look, but don't touch!

"I choose to happily embrace uncertainty. I have a God."

How about you? How will you face the uncertainties before you?

I recommend trusting God. He is faithful. He is able. He is willing to become all we need.

Yeah! (Happy Sunday!)

The last week of (my) summer... I can FLY!

2011-08-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree: Fathers' Day

I go back to work this Friday. I'm a teacher, and I've been on Summer Break: ten weeks of productive relaxation and rejuvenation.

It's been a great summer. For the last month, after my daughter moved into her new home just blocks away, I stumbled across a web-site and "friend" who has changed my life! (FlyLady.net)

With my daughter moving closer, I now have someone to "help" me clean my garage. How does she help? I can show her mementos of our early family life, and she can speak for herself and siblings about getting rid of it, taking it or keeping it.

This exercise of thinning out family memorabilia led me to Google-ing sites that help with organizing your home. It was via that search that I found FlyLady.net. Although most of her program is found on-line for free, I bought her e-book. It allowed me to take a bit of a crash course through her BabySteps. Being off work, I had more free time to implement her suggestions.

My new Fit on its first road trip!

One of her suggestions is breaking your home into Zones, each getting more attention for one week out of the month. I'm on the last zone this week. As I've worked through my home, together with my wife, we've been able to declutter, clean, and ease into a maintenance mode that brought our home to a new state of affairs: visitor ready!

On Saturday, my sister who lives two blocks away, had planned a "Welcome Back to California" picnic for my daughter and her family, my niece and her family, my nephew and his family, plus the son of a cousin who is joining the Marines. There were supposed to be about 20 of us. The twenty showed up, but so did two unexpected visitors from Iowa: my mom and my sister. As I arrived home from a final grocery store run for the picnic, I was surprised to find my mom and sister in my living room.

It was an unexpected surprise and it added a four generation element to the picnic. My mom had all her children, and most of her grand kids present. Her 90+ year old sister was there too! It was memorable.

Vista: California desert

So was the fact that my home was sparklingly ready for unexpected guests!

Later, at the park, it came to my attention that my two-block-away sister had included an "accommodations available" line to the e-invite she had sent out. All the local family homes were full but mine, and my nephew Kevin and his family of four were planning of staying over, somewhere. Well, after a quick check with the wife, we volunteered. Our house was not in CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome). Preparations for Kevin and Company took all of 10 minutes, and that included getting a sleeping bag down out of the garage and warming it in the clothes-dryer as a cozy living-room mattress for his daughters.

It was is great having Jennifer, Kevin, and Joanna back in California. It was very special having my mom and sister Candy surprising us from Iowa. It was a wonderful, wonderful picnic, and it was momentous to have my home ready-for-use on a moment's notice. Thank you FlyLady!

Chollo cactus: Beware!

(Disclaimer: FlyLady's motto is "Your home didn't get dirty overnight, and it won't get cleaned up overnight: BabySteps." My home only got so much better in such a short time because I had the time, energy, and inclination. I still took BabySteps, but I took a lot of them in a fairly short time. End of Disclaimer.) ;-)

Jack of all Trades (with the help of Google)

2011-08-07T09:42:00.000-07:00

Household maintenance can be disheartening, especially when things break. And things do break. What you name the feelings that springs from feeling inadequate may vary, but the thought is the same, "This challenge in greater than my assets... and people are watching!"

Self-doubt is a part of life, my life, but I talk to myself: "Hey, failure is a possible outcome, but so is success, or partial success. Finding out what doesn't work just might lead me to what does!"

Joshua Tree (Big Rocks!)

One of my favorite assets is Google and YouTube. My problems aren't unique, and others have solved them. Some of them make videos!

Yesterday I fixed an ice-maker and a washing machine, both times I was aided by Do-it-yourself videos or threads I found after playing around on Google, searching for clues.

The ice-maker clue came when I found out where ice-makers usually freeze up... at the place where the water enters the ice-maker. A well-placed hairdryer for five minutes melted the clog, and presto! (Ice began to flow!)

The washing machine "broke" back in May. I "fixed" it then by by-passing the lid switch; something I learned via a YouTube video. I tried to buy a replacement part in May, but the parts store (Sears) was closed. (Their web site is woefully inadequate. And they agree.)

A Cave Dweller's View of the World

My "fix" broke yesterday, half-way through a the rinse cycle. I searched my browsing history via Google Chrome, and found my way back to some information I had found in May. After a return trip to Sears Parts Store (open only from 10 to 5 Mon. through Sat.), I followed this step-by-step YouTube video and Voila! (Even now I can hear the washing machine purring through a load.)

I feel empowered. Those nasty voices of self-doubt have been silenced! It's amazing what you can do if you start asking the right questions. It's also amazing how much money you can save by learning how to do-it-yourself.

Problem solving skills are learned by solving problems. It turns out... that life is full of problems, so there are endless opportunities to sharpen your skills. Especially when things break.

Bird in Flight (Looking for lunch?)

Next on my fix-it agenda is replacing some light bulbs: in the microwave and in the stove-vent hood. I've found a video to help with the microwave one, and I'm sure that between on-line manuals, etc. I'll conquer the stove-vent hood light.

With a bit of help from Google, I can be a Jack-of-all-trades (and a-master-of-none)! Wish me luck!

Summer: Week 6 (I might have lost track!)

2011-07-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

To say I'm enjoying my summer vacation would be an understatement. This has been one of my best summers ever, and I've had a lot of good summers.

Fathers' Day in Joshua Tree

I just finished my 13th year of teaching, and with teaching, comes a 10 week unpaid vacation. I have a summer saver account, so I cut my 10 month salary 12 ways, that way, I don't have to work during the summers. I've worked only about three summers in the last 13. I still stay busy, but I have very few time constraints during the summer.

Some summers I've traveled quite a bit, which made them special. But this one? I've stayed home. So what puts this summer in the top 5? Family.

A day hike to... a lovely rock pile!

The first two weeks of summer were spent winding down from school, plus giving the house and yards some attention. I like do to what I call "self-inflicted honey-do's." I also bought a Kindle and I've been doing a lot of reading in the yard. Sweet. (And, I helped my oldest daughter find a home to rent nearby.)

But on July 4th, all that rest and relaxation gave way to some serious summer fun: my daughter and her family arrived to begin a three week stay while they awaited their furniture's arrival from Maryland. Some might flinch at the thought of playing host to a family of six including twin toddlers, but we did the same thing last summer and loved it.

The three weeks flew by. The transition from empty nest to very full nest was helped by lawn chairs. We spent a lot of time in the yard, which supplemented the limited living space I call home.

Picnic among the boulders?

The pace of a young family is very different from that of a middle-aged couple, but Leslie and I embraced the changes joyfully. We are so happy that this summer "trip" won't end with a departure, but a relocation.

Earlier this week, the moving van arrived, and while we babysat, a new home was inaugurated! My sister and her family helped unload boxes. The move-in was accomplished in record time with few if any bumps. Wow.

So my summer seems to be forming into a three phase adventure: prepare for the Haans, host the Haans, and help the Haans adjust to their new home in lovely Fullerton, California.

Self-portrait, with feet.

Me? I got my computer room back: it was a boys' bedroom for most of the summer. So, now I even have time and access to write a blog entry or two.

That's my summer so far. And. I'm. loving. it!

Second Week of Summer Vacation

2011-06-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

School's out for the summer! (I don'g get tired of the refrain. Sorry if you do. I'm not gloating: I'm just reveling.)

One of my affirmations/guiding principals is: I choose to move forward towards my goals at an easy, sustainable pace.

That's been my summer so far. I also listen to my body: "Take a nap." Sometimes, the best thing for rejuvenating is making some deposits into the sleep bank. I've done a bit of that.

Chollo cactus (Don't touch!)

But one of the best things I've done this summer is: Read for entertainment. I haven't done much of that for a while. Buying a Kindle helped. Being ahead of school assignments has helped too, but I've got some stuff due in two days, so no "reading for fun" for me for a couple of days. Regardless, it's been fun.

"Big" desert blooms

I also bought the NY Times Crossword App for Kindle. I've done three puzzles -- the easy ones. It's fun, engaging, and you get to learn stuff! All part of my summer rejuvenation project. (There, I've named it. Now I can loaf, but pretend that I'm working on a project.) ;-)

Desert bloom (understated)

My biggest project(s)? Build a fence. Welcome my daughter and her family on the 4th of July. (They're moving in two blocks away.) Other than those two projects, everything else is minor.

Self-portrait on a rock (with shoes)

So that's my update for week two. Not much going on... how sweet it is.

Beliefs: How is that working for you?

2011-06-22T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm re-reading a book called The Gabriel Method: The Revolutionary Diet-Free Way to Totally Transform Your Body. I read it a year or so ago, and the thoughts have helped me become a better eater: I now tend to eat more nutritious foods. I think that has contributed to my lower blood pressure and some weight loss, despite too much celebratory eating of the "free" food that shows up at work.

Stone-scape at Joshua Tree NP

One theme of the book is cultivating the belief that it is safe to be thin. As I went to bed last night, I rehearsed in my mind some of the Bible verses that give me personal assurance the my Heavenly Father "has my back." I slept very well: the best I've slept since school ended last Friday. Ahhh... thanks, I needed that.

Desert Bloom

Today, I came across this paragraph:

"Beliefs can control our entire reality because they act like reality filters. If we believe something is possible or will happen, we open up a range of possibilities to allow particular realities to occur. On the other hand, if we think that something is difficult or impossible to accomplish, we shut ourselves off from the possibilities, thus almost ensuring that an even will not occur. The harder we think something is to achieve, the harder achieving it will become. As the saying goes, argue for your limitations and sure enough they're yours. However, the easier we thing something is to achieve, the easier we make it for ourselves." (Page 26).

Grow where you are planted?

How's your reality these days? Time for a belief check? To what extent do you monitor and upgrade your beliefs? Something to ponder...

360 Miles in a Day: Joshua Tree Day Trip!

2011-06-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

Each year, when possible, my cousin Dennis visits from his home in eastern Washington. He usually spends the weekend at my sister's who lives nearby. This year, there was a family BBQ on Saturday (with campfire sing-along and ukulele!)

Over pina colada's and BBQ, Dennis and I planned our second annual Fathers' Day road trip: Joshua Tree National Park here we come!

Joshua Tree catching some rays!

Dennis and I comprise two of the three living men who share the name of our ancestors. His dad and my dad were brothers: the only offspring of their parents. Our dads' each had two girls and a boy. I followed that pattern, and Dennis has not yet married. So, in my mind, this road-trip, which fell again this year on Fathers' Day, is a celebration and a bit of a tribute to our fathers. Theirs was a relationship full of cuts and barbs: call it sibling rivalry, or slight dysfunction: either one fits. Dennis and I get along much better. We share a fair amount of family history, we were both residents of Anaheim until Dennis' family moved to northern California when he was in junior high. We also shared a set of grandparents, and we have a common faith (Christian).

Matt from BC on a boulder

With the help of Google maps I gauged and semi-planned our 130 mile (each way) trip. Google estimated a two and a half hour drive to the western edge of the park. (I guessed closer to two.) The park itself is about 45 miles wide. The drive was two hours each way. We left Orange County at 8 am, and returned at 7 pm. By my estimates, that means we spent about 6 or 7 hours in the park, sight seeing, picnicking, and visiting with other park visitors. We also took pictures, each of us having taken up as a hobby, the profession and passion of our grandfather.

A view from a "window"

Besides the sights, we conversed at length over various topics. Both of us talk for a living: he's a minister and I'm a teacher. We also struck up "instant" friendships with Matt, a rock climber from British Columbia, Canada, and an unnamed family (mom and two teenagers) from the Netherlands. The National Parks is generally populated with a kind and out-going visitors!

Over the course of the next few blogs, I'll be sprinkling in some of the photos from this road trip. Besides the conversations and the pictures, I also brought home a slight sunburn courtesy of the 95 degree sun we enjoyed. (It's a dry heat and there was a pleasant breeze!) ;-)

Where the trees live!

It was a memorable day set against a memorable landscape: enjoy the pictures!

On the Second Day of Summer Vacation... Fathers' Day

2011-06-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

A view from my patio.

"School's out for the summer!" So goes the rock ballad, and so begins my summer break: 10 weeks of time off without pay. (Good thing I save during the year... so those 10 weeks are really a break, not a worry.)

The school year ended smoothly: final duties were fulfilled, parties happened, goodbyes were said, and I left my classroom well situated for a new beginning in the Fall. And summer began.

What lies before me? Summer plans? (I've got a few, but not much I really have to do. It should be a summer of doing-because-I-want-to's -- a mix of relaxation, productivity, and fun.

A view from under mini-patio

I'll be watching DVDs with my wife, taking walks with my dog, working in the yard, building a fence, installing two new screen doors (?), AND helping out my daughter and her family who arrive July 3rd. Grandparents R' Us is about to open for business. (And, I'll be reading on my new Kindle!)

This weekend my cousin Dennis is in town. We had a BBQ and sing-along last night, and today we are trekking 130 miles south to Joshua Tree National Park. He's never been, and I know the way!

Today is Fathers' Day. Last year Dennis and I did a shorter day trip on his annual visit from eastern Washington. I think it's a fitting tribute to our fathers. Dennis' dad and my dad were brothers. Both have passed on, but we, their only sons, are "hanging out" today. It wasn't a big, planned tribute. It just is. And I think that our Dads would be glad. I am.

Heidi: my security system!

A liquid amber: with seating for two.

Geranium blossom

Happy Fathers' Day to those of you who provide positive male role models for youth. As a dad and educator, I know of few other higher callings. Fathers should be in the business of youth development: helping our beloved sons and daughters become the people they choose to be.

A new house?

2011-05-31T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of a rental: exterior only. This is a temporary post for someone special!

Kalana is checking on dishwasher situation.
No fridge.
No washer/dryer. Hookups are in garage. (May be back door access.)
Floors were redone two years ago. (The tenant is moving out... bought a house of is own.)
She has an appraisal with a schematic, if you're interested.
They are a family owned business with 35 or so properties; well kept up, pride of ownership, even in a property management company.

South side

Front door (nice light)

From driveway to front door (sidewalk)

A/C into living room (hidden by palms)

Along driveway to gate

Looking from garage door (nice driveway)

Over the gate to back yard

Over the gate to back corner

Over the gate (patio 2 years old) no patio roof

Front door has rain guards

South side had planters and gate access

Roof has attic fans (2) for cooling

Front yard (auto sprinklers - front & back)

Front door zoom: tenant is the gardener!

A cute cat! (Bonus pic.)

Yes, the appointment was canceled.

Voice recognition software: A trial with a wedcam microphone.

2011-05-31T10:12:00.000-07:00

This blog and entry is being compost using windows seven voice recognition software.

I'm hoping this software will enable all some of my students who has struggled with writing, to create a first draft quality cheeses of writing.

The result may still require editing, but it should enables my students to look smarter on paper. If you also say the considerable amounts of time.

The best part? The software is three! (hits included in windows seven.) New line

A view off the balcony: San Clemente Inn

Now I will edge what I've written.

This blog entry is being composed using Windows 7 voice recognition software.

I'm hoping this software will enable some of my students, who have struggled with writing, to create first draft quality pieces of writing.

The results may still require editing, but it should enable my students to look smarter on paper. It should also save considerable amounts of time.

The best part? The software is free! (It's included in Windows 7.)

Zoom in! A gazebo!

Now I will edit what I've written.

Now I'll try it again, editing as I go...

This log entry is being composed using windows seven voice recognition software. I am hoping this software will enable some of my students, who have struggled was writing, to create a first draft quality piece of writing. A

The results they still require editing, but should enable listings to look smarter on paper we should also save considerable amounts of time.

And the best part? It is freedom! (it is included in windows seven.)

Shuffle board anyone?

(this is still going to require editing!)

That's all for now. Voice Recognition is found on the control panel (Speech Recognition). It includes 1/2 hour or so of tutorials, which I listened to. Not a real steep learning curve, but it still takes some patience and practice. I think I'll try it with a hand held microphone next time.

The School Year is Ending! Summer is Starting!

2011-05-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a great year: ups and downs, but the downs were not as low as the ups were high.

Life has its challenges, and sometimes it has its tragedies. This year... no personal tragedies.

A few big challenges got resolved: things like collective bargaining agreements, under-staffing to support needy students, and doing more with less at school. I'm grateful for reasonable resolutions to difficult problems. It's not always easy, but it's not impossible either. For that I'm grateful.

The ups? A smooth transition to a new co-worker/aide, some meaningful give-and-take in my credential program, but the biggest up? My son-in-law got a job at the local college, and he's bringing my oldest daughter and their children to town. I can't remember ever crying for joy... but I did. Big sobs. Big joy. Awesome up!

There are only twelve working days left in the 2010/11 school year: my thirteenth in the profession. It's been a good year, and summer looks promising.

Savoring the good times... looking forward to new joys. I'm grateful.

But it's not the big events that define a year, it's the daily laughter, the student growth, the meaningful meetings, the small groups, the kids, the moms and dads, the co-workers, the yard, my wife, and my children: scattered but doing fine.

I even got a new car. But look how far down the list that is! It's not the stuff that makes life good, it's a good life that is the stuff. Life is good... especially this year. ;-)

Mothers' Day: My Daughter, the Mom!

2011-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers' Day to all you moms out there. (And all you women out there who provide support and care to children, whether they are your own, or not!) There's more to motherhood than biology.

A special thanks to step-moms, foster moms, adoptive moms, single moms, plus the aunts, grandmothers, and ladies who just love kids!

Here's a video I made to pay tribute to my daughter Joanna: a great mom herself!

A Spring Masterpiece? Please include humor!

2011-04-13T12:36:00.000-07:00

I'm six days in, to a ten-day break from work: so far, so good.

In addition to paying my taxes today, I've been catching up on some correspondence: my son, a co-worker, a former professor, and an old friend -- not necessarily in that order. Actually, I started with who I owed a response to the longest. I was about a month behind. (Last of all, comes this blog. I'm a bit behind here too.)

My writing is often reflective, as I'm sure you've noticed. Someone once said, "I don't know what I really think about something until I write about it." That's what happens when I write: I find out what I think about things.

A co-worker recently wrote this as part of an exchange on FaceBook, after we had established that sometimes I am a royal pain, she wrote: "True, true - (but) I like your talent of caring, working hard, ever learning, knowing scripture and making your co-workers laugh!" My favorite part of her quote is "...and making your co-workers laugh!"

Another co-worker's husband quotes John Wooden on FaceBook: "Make each day your masterpiece."

One of my favorite things about my co-workers is that we make each other laugh.

Recently, a co-worker asked, "Now what are you laughing about?"

I replied, "You. Again."

And we both laughed.

It seems that many of us at work take turns providing comic relief for each other, and most of the time, it's not on purpose.

But that's what makes our daily work at school a masterpiece: We make each other laugh!

Sometimes we chuckle.

Sometimes we just say, Tsssss...

Laughter: it's a wonderful addition to our daily masterpieces.

Laugh on! (Or at least say, Tsssss...)

A Poem inside a Story

2011-03-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

I composed this free-write over at Write with Pictures... (enjoy!)

Strolling through the park, I again looked up at the statue and smiled. There will never be a monument in a park for me, but I never wanted one. I sat down on a bench and composed a poem.

Sitting on a Bench at the feet of Greatness?

I've walked the path marked out for me for well nigh 40 years.

I've seen joys and I've seen sorrows.
I've held babies and I've held my breath.

Passers by don't look up to me,
but my kids do.
My name is not famous in the town,
but my students and colleagues love me.

I've not been instrumental in local history,
but I've been instrumental in a few lives.

I didn't die on a battlefield of glory,
no, I've lived in the trenches of life.

And one of my rewards is this...
I sit on a bench composing verse
until...
I stand and continue on...
walking the path marked out for me.

The Rich Pay No Taxes? (Not!)

2011-03-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article which you may not like. It contains facts. From... experts... experts with track records.

Personally, I like the article. It provides facts to debunk the myth that the rich pay no taxes. In fact, they pay the most, and our dependence on their volatile incomes have helped fuel the current economic crisis.

Big earnings are often tied to bigger risks and that is a recipe for volatility. When the income stream of the states is tied to a volatile funding source... busts happen! (And not the good kind.) ;-)

We don't lack good ideas. We more often lack the humility needed to trade in our myths for the math.

Read on: The Price of Taxing the Rich from the Wall Street Journal.

(On a more local note... flowers are blooming, trees are getting leaves, the lawn is turning greener. Spring arrived a month earlier here than in most places, and it is sweet. (Sorry.)) ;-)

What's up?

2011-03-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

It's been many moons since I've posted here. (Well, really just two.)

Let me do some personal recounting... (Might have to consult a calendar...)

Two weekend classes for my credential class, plus reading and writing for the same.

A long weekend trip (timeshare) in Solana Beach, north of San Diego.

Plus the odds and ends called life.

The odds and ends are often the joys of life: gardening, BBC with Leslie, researching and purchasing things -- new fridge, new car, new electric frying pan, new scanner. (Oh, and a new semi-Smart phone.)

I've also been enjoying the mildish season that passes for winter here. Watching what passes for weather in other parts of the country and world make me enjoy Southern California's "winters" all the more.

I've also discovered a new web-site called CalorieKing. (I've lost 35,000 calories! Go do the math! ;-) )

Now I'm off to the grocery store: Fresh and Easy... another one of the odds and ends that give me pleasure.

Simple joys. A simple life. And I'm grateful.

(No pictures on this post. But the view out my window is lovely: pink bower vine hanging from my patio roof with birds flitting about, the grass is mostly brown, but the geraniums are in bloom. Can you see it?)

An Experiment with Tagul and a Poem

2011-01-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

I'm enrolled in a class to earn a new credential: a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC).

Among other things, a school administrator should be a leader in using technology, so this PASC class includes some how-to sessions on using technology, one being TAGUL.

Tagul allows you to take a body of text and have it analyzed for most often used words. After some edit options, the result is a poster-esque rendition of key words.

The Tuscon tragedy is in the news and on the opinion pages. I thought it would be interesting to try Tagul's analysis on a recent Op-Ed piece by Franck Rich that appeared in the New York Times on January 15th. (After creating the cloud in Tagul... opps... I deleted it.)

Then I did more work; this time on a poem by Robert Frost. I suppressed words like the, and, etc., and added a link so that if you click on a word... it goes to an online dictionary. (Think of the possibilities for teaching a reading lesson to young students who lack all the vocabulary: an easy, visual, exciting way to access the text.) Cool.

Here are the results:

One Year Ends... Another Begins...

2010-12-29T18:10:00.000-08:00

"When I started this letter, I didn't have anything to say. Now I am running out of paper, and need to stop." (A quote from my cousin Denny's Christmas newsletter.)

I haven't written much on this blog of late, in part, because I've been waiting for the dust to settle on a few issues close to my heart. Writing is revealing, and sometimes, one must wait to see how things will play out before commenting or reflecting. Musings take time to formulate. ;-)

I suspect, that like my cousin Dennis, I have more to say than I think.

First of all, I'm grateful that the contract dispute has been settled and settled fairly. It really was quite miraculous in the end, with the District bending to public pressure to offer a fair settlement that was readily accepted. (It didn't need to be that hard, but we were/are dealing with a hard woman.)

Second, I'm enjoying the process of obtaining a Preliminary Academic Service Credential (PASC) via the Orange County Department of Education ( OCDE). We meeting a Friday night and a Saturday day monthly for 14 months. I'm in about month four. Besides the classes, there is outside reading and projects. I aim to live my life in the now, with an eye towards the future. It's too easy to sit and ponder the past. I'm a happier camper when I'm moving forward toward worthwhile goals.

Third, I'm grateful for the Christmas visit of family: my mom, my sister(s), extended family... and my son Joel, and daughter Danielle. Joel lives in British Columbia and has not been "home" in four years. (He is no longer a college student -- masters in hydrology -- and now has more time and money to fund visits home.) Danielle has finished up her latest adventures in leading youth crews in the forest of Oregon, and her work at a vineyard in Northern California. It's been wonderful to have the two adult kids home for 10 days plus. We've not only enjoyed spending time with them, but it's been great to see them enjoying each other as adults. These were golden moments worth waiting for.

Lastly... I'm grateful for some world-shattering news... my world anyways... my son-in-law recently interviewed for a position at a local college... and got an offer. He accepted and this summer, he will move his family... my daughter and four grandchildren to California. They will probably end up living within minutes of me, instead of half a country away.

When I heard the news... we had been waiting to hear since Thanksgiving... I cried. Some longings are so deep, so close to your heart that you don't even entertain them. They represent your deepest longings, hopes, and desires. They are not the must-haves, but the oh-that-would-be-too-wonderfuls.

Some things break your heart, some things bring healing to your heart.

As the one year ends, and another begins, I am both grateful and expectant.

Now, I'm "out of paper."

(Pictures to follow!)

Something to think about...

2010-12-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

Something to think about...

(Created in class tonight, trying to learn Animoto.com.)

Something way better: Malcolm Gladwell: What we can learn from spaghetti sauce!

The key to happiness? Valuing the variability in others.

Too much fret... Let it be easy...

2010-11-12T22:28:00.000-08:00

The same day I wrote the poem in my last post, I wrote the one that appears at the bottom of this post. On the way to work I usually listen to Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California as he preaches his way through the Bible. I used to listen to J. Vernon McGee do the same. They share a lot of Bible verses and personal insights. Sometimes the verses resonate, sometimes the insights. This morning it was a bit of both.

Chuck was talking about the life of the Apostle Paul. Paul was a man who let God call the shots. Paul was a man who walked by faith. In the end, all that matters, is being true to the call of God.

It's not about the impact, the assessments of others, or knowing your five-year plan. What really matters is knowing the will of God and doing it.

The simplicity of walking with God is summed up in a verse that used to hang in my house 25 years ago. It read, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Children keep it simple. And they are happy a lot of the time. They trust their Father's care and guidance.

Enjoy the poem!

(Pictures today were taken by my cousin Dennis, aka Pastor Dennis who comments often. Thanks Dennis!)

Called of God

God called a man to serve him:

he was on the road to Emmaus.

And along the way... life happened.

And then he was taken.

* * * * *

God called a man to serve Him:

he was a student in high school.

And along the way... life happened.

And still happens.

* * * * *

And what was that call?

The same to both...

Simple stuff...

"Follow me."

* * * * *

"It's not complicated."

"Keep it simple."

"Walk with Me."

"Let it be easy."

I once was lost... okay... more than once...

2010-11-07T08:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody! It seems like a while since I've posted. Things are calming down (except for the end-of-the-quarter flurry of activity).

My front yard

The contract settlement is a relief to many in the district, and for sure at my school site. With that unsought "project" behind me... I've turned my thoughts and energies to other activities, including... I read another book: My life in dog years by Gary Paulsen.

In his book, Gary tells of some of the dogs who have made a lasting impression upon him. The book is dedicated to Cookie, a dog who saved Gary's life after he fell through the ice and sank. Gary acknowledges that all the accomplishments of his last 18 years are a direct result of Cookie's rescue.

My front yard view: a park

A good reader often makes connections between a book and their own life. I sat at my desk I thought of my own "life savers," especially my wife Leslie, who "saved" me from living in the past, from being alone, and helped launch my new career as a teacher. I am in her debt and in the debt of the One who brought us together. (We saved each other.)

The poem:

In a time of grave danger...

A dog saved a man

who then lived many years.

After 18 years... the man still remembers the dog who saved him... and gave him... 18 years... and counting.

Thanks dog.

God saved a man

who then lived many years.

After 40 years... the man still remembers the God who saved him... and the people God used...

Thanks God.

Thanks people.

Miracles Happen

2010-10-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's - damaged by the "cold"

It is often said, “God moves in mysterious ways…”

What astounds me and fills me with awe is that God moves. An old time prophet put it this way,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

It appears that a settlement has been reached between the teachers and district where I work. We’ve done negotiations, letter writing, speech making, protesting, campaigning for candidates, and some of us got together last week for group prayer.

St. Patrick's Rose

In Jesus’ day, he prayed, and once God answered with a voice from heaven. “The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.”

The state passed a new budget, another local district got results from “fact finding.” Lots of variables changed… it thundered? Yes.

Or was it simply that God moved?

All I know is that once what seemed to be impossible has come to pass: a fair settlement “magically” appeared. Or was it miraculous?

Personally, I’m going with miraculous. And I’m grateful to God… and to those He chose to use in mysterious ways to bring about this miracle.

What do you hear… thunder or the voice of God?

Bird of Paradise

Happy Thursday! (And Friday!)

Allured to the Vista Point...

2010-10-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree National Park

Allured...

Not content with the view from below,
I snapped a picture and made the ascent.

The trek long.
The path always upward.

The view?
Stunning.

Visionary.
Unspeakable.

Ample reward
for the allured.

(A truism I enjoy is this, "Show me someone who is bored, and I'll show you someone who lacks meaningful challenges.")

These days I've got my challenges: some imposed, some chosen. I'll endure the imposed ones, but I aim to enjoy the chosen ones. Some paths are chosen for you, some you get to chose. Regardless, the path is generally upwards with occasional vista points, and at the end... triumph.

Keep climbing!

(I wrote Allured last Friday in response to a photo over here. The picture on this post was of rock climber at Joshua Tree.)

Normalcy anyone?

2010-10-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well, things are getting back to the new normal. Life is full of changes, and most of mine are work related. The majority of them are normal kind of changes: new co-worker, new schedule, missing team members... that sort of thing.

The ill-wind of spiteful negotiating continues, and although my kite-in-the-wind metaphor for the year helps some; I'm still blown about at times.

There are still lots of good things happening at work though: great co-workers, student growth, reasonable parents, and lots of laughs. Much of the sanity at work is a credit to my boss/principal: Kim. She's one of the main reasons I transferred to this campus, and that decision pays dividends daily.

Those of you who follow my other blog know that I've devoted some time to seeking clarity and fairness in the contract negotiations. That's gone pretty well... it's up to the voters now... and time will tell if the families of the district want change and can make it happen by electing a change-prone school board.

In the mean time, I play my part... and live my life.

A good Christmas looms with a planned visit from my son who lives in Canada. Woo-hoo!

I've also started a new credential program: Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC). That's going very well, and that will be a new topic on this blog.

Reading everyone's blogs lately has stirred up my mental juices to post... Now I need to get out and get some pics of So Cal in October!

More to follow...

One Busy Month! (More to follow...)

2010-09-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Well, September sure flew by!

School started August 30th, and I've been busy ever since.

Dani at 13,000 feet (and climbing)

Comparatively speaking, I'm still skating. Many of my co-workers have school age children, and their afternoon and evening schedules make mine look semi-retired.

Never-the-less, between extra union meetings, Board Meetings, and getting back into the swing of a "normal" work week, I have been neglecting this blog.

I've even neglected reading many blogs. But... hopefully... I'm back!

So what's new in my life?

The TV series Bones -- My wife and I have watched most of 4 or 5 seasons: dark humor and great character development surrounding a geeky police procedural.

Joel, enjoying BC's waterways

Changes on campus -- more stress on my co-workers: bigger classes, looming pay gouges instead of pay cuts, new computer programs (and glitches), and a new aide for me.

A great week-long visit from my youngest daughter.

And, I started a new credential program: Preliminary Administrative Services Credential (PASC). It meets one Friday/Saturday a month for 14 months. Last weekend was the beginning. I'm lovin' it.

So that's the mini-update from 36,000 feet. I'm a zoom-out, zoom-in kind of guy... perhaps next post I'll zoom in on something from this big picture: the life of Don.

John and Jo -- enjoying each other

Joanna and an armload of twins

Joanna and her girls

What do you wish for today?

2010-08-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

CSUF Arboretum

I came across this question on a blog today: What do you wish today?

I'm always on the lookout for a good question. Here is how she answered the question:

So today I wish for one day during my vacation that folks are happy and ok around me and that I can let go of the stress and just relax...and read...just for one day this week. That would work for me. What do you wish today?

Often, while watching TV in the evening, my wife will get up and ask me, "Want anything while I'm up?"

Who thinks up these blossoms?

My first answer is "World Peace." (No, I'm not an ex-beauty contestant... but that's what I want!)

My second answer is "Whirled Peas." (I'm a smart alec, and I've already used "World Peace.")

My third answer is usually, "Nothing, honey. I'm good." (I'm generally content just watching the TV.)

But this question is different: What do you wish today?

I read a quote lately on another blog that gave me my wish for today:

Hey, What's going on family?

"Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find."

~William Wordsworth

My wish today: Find me some stray gifts of pleasure and claim them!

Simple pleasures. Simple joys. Simple delights.

My twin grandsons just turned eight months. On a recent visit I watched them flail their arms AND their legs in delight over some "stray gift of pleasure."

I may not go that far, but they've got the right idea!

How about you? Are you in the hunt today for some stray gift waiting to be claimed by you?

Second to the last Sunday of my Summer Vacation!

2010-08-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

My summer vacation is almost over, but the NFL pre-season is in full swing, so all things balance out. (I love AT&T's U-verse and the NFL channel.)

CSUF Arboretum: Going places!

It's been a great summer: one of my best ever.

I wrote to a friend today: The coming school year is full of changes and challenges -- and that's different how?

So much of life is about outlook and attitude. It's not always easy to make sense of things, but if you ponder a bit... or a lot... for a long time... sometimes things make sense...

Or you at least can create a mental game plan. I did that today over on my other blog in a post called Adapt and Thrive!

St. Patrick's rose: a beauty!

That post is really a result of a lot of summer-long pondering over issues at work. But many of the conclusions I reached have broader applications.

I end that post with a quote from a friends FaceBook profile:

"Kites rise highest against the wind -- not with it."

Life is full of problems, challenges, disappointments, etc.

A spider enjoys a lacewing lunch at St. Patrick's

There may be an ill wind blowing, but I don't have to be driven along by it. I can be like the kite and rise up.

That's my plan for the coming school year! (I may even decorate my classroom with a kite or two to stay reminded.)

Da Haan's at da Petting Zoo!

Happy Sunday/Monday.

I read a book by Gerald Weinberg... and it was excellent!

2010-08-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

Flowers rock!

On August 3rd a post showed up in my blogger window from a blog I follow called Weinberg on Writing. The post began, "If any of you are still out there, you're probably aware that I've been absent because I've been battling (and winning) a thymic carcinoma."

I was still "out there" and sent out an e-mail to Jerry. He was kind enough to respond. Jerry is an author, consultant, and much more. Wikipedia describes him thusly: "Gerald Marvin (Jerry) Weinberg (27 October 1933) is an American computer scientist, author and teacher of the psychology and anthropology of computer software development."

He's kind of a nerd with personality and insight. His blog states his life's purpose as, "Helping smart people be happy." He's made mine happier.

I own three of Jerry's works of non-fiction: An Introduction to General Systems Thinking, Secrets of Consulting, and More Secrets of Consulting. (I used to be a Systems Engineer, and Jerry, through his books, helped me become a better one.)

At CSUF Arboretum

Back in December of 2008 I did a post called "Let kindness rule" that mentioned Jerry, and he posted a comment! (I was elated, after I found out it wasn't a prank. I was suspicious!)

As a result of that post, I began to follow one of Jerry's blogs: Weinberg on Writing. And that brings us to the topic of this post: I read a book.

This time a read a work of fiction by Jerry called "First Stringers."

When I heard about Jerry's bout with cancer, I wrote him an e-mail, and he wrote me back. At the bottom of his e-mail there was a line, "Treat yourself to one of my engaging eNovels...

See free sample chapters at: link."

Buster 1 and Buster 2

I read the free chapters, and then I ordered one of Jerry's novels: "First Stringers: Eyes that cannot see." It was captivating. It was enthralling. It absorbed my attention almost non-stop for 36 hours. Dang. (It's a 614 page e-book.)

I could talk about the book: setting, characters, plot, and themes, but I don't want to give too much away. You can read the free chapters and see what you think.

The sub-theme that I most appreciated? Abilities and Disabilities.

Remember Jerry's main theme is "Helping Smart People Be Happy." Jerry's a smart guy. He knows stuff about stuff. But most of all, he knows that smart people, people who think, people who ponder... yes, even people who blog, need help. We need help in learning how to be happy: Learning how to view our gifts, our world, and our part.

Jerry's novel continues in that vein. He has created robust, smart characters, installed them in the present day Southwest (Four Corner States), and has given them meaningful problems to solve. Against that backdrop Jerry continues his quest to help smart people be happy, this time, as we are carried along with the main characters through a suspenseful plot that twists and turns on its way to a satisfying conclusion.

A double delight!

All this... and there is a sequel!

Happy Sunday.

(And thanks Jerry.)

Final Three Weeks of Vacation... Life is good!

2010-08-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

I was thinking, Perhaps having a 10 week summer vacation has spoiled me? because as the final three week mark arrived, I felt sad. "Ahh..., only three weeks left!"

Family fun... for the fit!

But I appreciate my 10 week summer break, so am I spoiled or just... blessed?

I count the summer break as a blessing. It's very nice and I'm grateful.

Back in my life in the business world, I was elated when I hit the longevity mark (5 years) that earned me a third week of vacation. Now I sigh, "Oh, my last three weeks."

That's partially where I get my post's title, "Life is good."

If my biggest problem is "only" three weeks of vacation left, then "Life is good."

I'm happy that life ebbs and flows. I've had periods of my life when things were tough, very tough. But things change, sometimes for the better, and once again, life smooths out.

I'll probably face difficult times again. Job said, "As sure as the sparks fly upward, so man is born for trouble."

But for now, I'm grateful for the blessings I'm enjoying.

Happy Hikers! (Jimmy!)

Each day has its highlights and its troubles. Sometimes the mix is far from 50/50. (And I would be unhappy with 50/50... that's a lot of trouble!)

Happy Hikers! (Danny!)

It's been a great summer: one of the best of my life. Here's the chief blessing I'm grateful for:

Five weeks of bonding with grand-kids (and their parents).

The twins turned eight months while they were here. This was the first time I'd seen them. I wasn't there (Illinois in November) when they were born.

Abby and Rachel are having birthdays in August: I won't be there for the fun. (They're now in Maryland.)

I could be sad and depressed about all that I've missed and will miss in watching these children and their parents mature. But I choose not to.

Mimosa blossom on the trail.

Instead I choose to be grateful for the five weeks we had together: 24/7. That's a huge chunk of time that many grandparents never get to have. But I did, and I savored it.

Hopefully, there will be more time... all in due time.

I think that's been the biggest lesson I've learned this summer: "All in due time."

Projects, relationships, and even problems have a pace. It's a wise man/woman who can adjust to the pace gracefully.

We all have projects, relationships, and problems that weave through the tapestry of our lives. Some are quickly resolved, some... not so much.

If we learn to adjust to the pace (fast or slow), life becomes much easier to navigate and even enjoy.

Looking up... See the red-tailed hawk?

I'm enjoying my summer. I hope you are too!

Happy Saturday!

Tuesday: Summer Part Two begins...

2010-07-27T15:29:00.000-07:00

One advantage of teaching in the public schools is summer vacation. (This is only true if you budget for them, and you don't have to work. Otherwise it's a disadvantage.)

Summer vacation for me runs from June 18th to August 30th... some kind of sweet retreat.

Part 1 of "My Summer Vacation" was playing host to my oldest daughter, Joanna, and her family. They left last Saturday after a five week stay.

On a day hike!

"Five weeks!" you say. "Ouch."

I say, "Five weeks! Awesome!"

My wife and I went to lunch today, and I was asked by a waitress we know how my summer was going. I said, "Great!" and then told this story to illustrate it...

Joanna and her husband John planned a short (4 hour or so) day trip to a local park and small zoo. Irvine Park is the oldest regional park in California. It boasts among other things a small kiddie train, a small lake with paddle boats, ancient oaks and elms, plus the zoo.

I was invited to tag along, so I did. After the 30 minute drive, we arrived. The twins were sleeping so I volunteered to stay in the mini-van while Joanna, John, Abby (7), and Rachel (4) rode the train. They left the van running, the A/C on, and Grand-pa Don in charge of the sleeping twin boys (7 months).

The boys soon awakened, and I spent the next hour entertaining them with smiles, noises, songs, and empty water bottles. You might say, "How boring!" But I say, "Golden moments to treasure."

New sun glasses for the girls!

The rest of our visit to the park included the zoo and a picnic. Both events contained many golden moments. Some men may have been bored to tears. I was almost moved to tears as I recounted to the waitress one small part of the day.

Why?

Because I'm that guy.

Fun on the Slip 'n Slide!

I enjoyed raising my own kids, and now to have the opportunity to get to know them again as grown-ups with their own spouses and families is indeed.... priceless.

That was Part 1 of my summer. Now I'm making to-do lists and getting things to-done. I'm enjoying that too, but I do miss the Haan family bustle.

I mowed the backyard yesterday, and I missed my two helpers who would rake the grass into haystacks and play in the piles. Abby and Rachel are enroute to their new home in Maryland, but the memories of their visit linger...

Good times. Good times.

The Trip to Maryland Begins!

Sunday the 11th of July

2010-07-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

Time for a weekly update?

Life at Camp Evans Summer Resort is chugging along. My oldest daughter and her clan continue to keep us entertained. I have a new appreciation for anyone who has raised twins. The first two years (pre-language and pre-potty training) are killer. The twins turned 8 months on the 15th of July.

My days are filled with tea parties and catch with the 7 and 4 year-olds; plus, holding or entertaining the twin boys (or which ever one is fussing the most). It's all good.

My cousin sent me a link about a virtuoso violinist who played a free concert (incognito) at a DC train station during rush hour. He was mostly ignored.

One moral of that story is that some of the greatest moments available to us go unnoticed and unappreciated. I'm attempting to buck that trend... treasuring the days (now weeks) of quality time with family: daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and wife.

If we miss the golden moments... we'll miss the best that life has to offer.

Happy Sunday!

Another Sunday... and a Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T11:36:00.000-07:00

Twelve years ago, my fiance arrived on a plane from Chicago with my son. She had left Long Island by car to pick him up in Newark, New Jersey. (They were meeting for the 1st time. He was 16.) I had sent my son via airplane to help Leslie drive her car to Champaign, Illinois where she was going to give her car to her future step-daughter. (The car didn't meet California smog requirements, so Leslie decided to give it to Joanna, a student at the University of Illinois.)

Joanna then drove Leslie and Joel to Chicago where they flew to LAX. They arrived July 4th, 1998. That December Leslie and I married. Six months or so later, Joel went away to college. That left Leslie, I, and 11 year-old daughter Danielle to be the new Evans family. Six year later, Danielle left for Florida. She returned a year or so later and lived back at home for about a year before setting off to complete her four year college degree.

Now, all the kids are out and about: Oregon, Maryland, and British Columbia.

Now, it's "just" Leslie and I holding down the home front.

Today, in addition to celebrating the start of a country... I'm celebrating the start of a new life with Leslie: by the grace of God... my second chance. I'm very grateful.

Happy 4th of July!

(Here's some pics of the visiting grand-kids. Oh yeah!)

The Second Sunday of My Summer!

2010-06-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

Woo-hoo! Summer's here.

For me, that includes Summer vacation. As much as I love teaching, I also love the time off... even in gigantic 10 week chunks.

What has made this a great summer so far has been the arrival of my oldest daughter and her family. I had enough time between the students' departure and the family's arrival to take care of most of the preparations for welcoming a family of six into our day-to-day world. The entourage of family includes my daughter, son-in-law, two girls (6 and 4), plus... twin boys (7 months)! Oh, yeah!

The boys, Danny and Jimmy are first time visitors to California and their arrival marked day 20ish of a family road-trip from Illinois to Maryland to California. Yikes!

After the long road trip, the Haan family was ready for some chill time and trying to get the small ones back on some sort of sleeping schedule. My wife and I have enjoyed lots of play-time with the kids, especially enjoying seeing the twins for the first time. Sometimes you think you're seeing double. It's very fun... and double the work. (This is where being a grandparent is a bonus. You can help all you want, but the late nights and crying kids are not really your direct worry.)

I've had to neglect reading everyone's blogs: too much action going on here, and my computer actually lives in the twins "bedroom." I did pen three or four entries over on my other blog, but that was mostly just to free my mind of the information and emotion. Blogging is a lot like journaling, which doctors recommend for relieving stress? Anyway, it's worked for me. I have a few more entries I want to do over there, but I can't totally neglect this blog! (This is my other baby.) ;-)

Hope each of you are enjoying your Summer beginnings, including better weather, more outside time, and a slower pace? (Or two out of three?)

Bucket List Bonuses

2010-06-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

I don't really have a bucket list. I've pretty much done things I've wanted to as life unfolded.

However, just recently I've had two personal highlights that put a grin on my face just thinking about them:

1) Getting to be the "front man" in a school talent show. The teachers put on a dance. Each grade level (all ladies) had nice choreography. I did the intro and refrain and just free styled. We had a laughing and adoring audience of 400 plus elementary school students. It was hilarious and fun. (Did I mention most of us wore wigs?) Me in a dance number? Bucket-list stuff.

2) Grand-slam with two outs... Today was teachers vs. the 6th grade. We're talking big fish in a very small pond. The first few innings were close, but in around the fourth I came to bat with two outs and bases loaded. The stuff of dreams. No real pressure, but what an opportunity. I took a nice high pitch and sent it within two feet of the center fielder's glove. She missed it, and I trotted the bases. I'd be lying if I didn't say that was a kick in the pants.

A few weeks ago I applied for a job in a neighboring district. I didn't even get an interview, and weeks like the last two, make me glad. What fun! (I'm one lucky guy to work with such a great staff and great kids.) I'm also glad I love and live by such songs as "I hope you dance." (And... play ball!)

Two more days and this school year is in the history books for me. ;-)

Visitors are on their way!

2010-06-13T10:52:00.000-07:00

School is almost out. The final week looms with the break of day. What then?

Visitors! (Woo-hoo!) The grand-kids are coming! The grand-kids are coming! (And their parents: that's sweet too.) ;-)

So, I'm doing some fixing, cleaning, emptying drawers and closets in preparation for the Haan clan of SIX: parents, two girls, and 6 month old twin boys!

Oh what fun at the Evans' compound. (It's a small compound, but we're all very flexible and happy to be together.)

So one more busy week... and then... Summer fun with family!

Life is good.

My Other Blog Started Today!

2010-06-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I haven't been posting a lot here lately is that most of my musings lately have been job related. The District and the teachers have been in contract negotiations for several months.

I've worked in the District for 12 years... and things have changed.

Sometimes I fight... sometimes I leave...sometimes I put my head in the sand and let others fight.

I did some fighting, then applied for a position elsewhere.

Elsewhere hasn't worked out, so I'm back to fighting again.

I'm more of a Problem Solver than I fighter, so in addition to speaking at School Board meetings, I've started a blog: Connect the Dots at LJSD.

It may accomplish something; it may not. One thing it has done is give me an opportunity to try my hand at a new genre: satire.

Check it out. (Or not.)

I have just two weeks left in this school year. Things are closing down smoothly, except I might lose my classroom aide to layoffs. We're a good team, so I would be sad. Things may change over the summer, and she may be back. Time will tell.

Often, our dis-appointments are His-appointments. The song writer put it well, "All the way my Savior leads me. What have I to ask beside?"

I don't have to have all the answers. I just need to do what He has called me to do, one day at a time.

That's what I've been up to.

It's all good.

Happy Saturday Night!

Lasting Love: Happy Chance or Commitment?

2010-05-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

Is lasting love the exception, the norm, or even possible?

A week ago Sunday, I came across an insidious quote on My Voice, My View. (I love this blog, follow it, and recommend it. Septembermom makes me think! And it is... Her Voice!)

The quote was from W. Somerset Maugham, an English playwright, novelist and short story writer who died in 1965 at the age of 91.

Here is the quote:

"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person."

Insidious means "harmful but enticing." It is a lovely quote, written by an accomplished author; however, in the quote I found an untruth that took me decades to identify and disallow. Another way of putting this quote is: "Most people in love, fall out of love, unless they are lucky." Therefore... don't bet on love!

The sentiment behind this quote may be why so many men shy away from saying, "I love you," or commit to a relationship. They've bought Maugham's lie.

Today the leading cause of divorce in America is "Irreconcilable differences!" Or, No happy chance: We grew apart!

"There are many reasons for divorce that lead to the dissolution of a marriage. Reasons for divorce in the past had to show blame for the dissolution of the marriage against one of the spouses. Most states today have “no fault” divorce which means that the reasons for divorce do not have to prove fault by any party. Eighty percent of all divorces are granted on the basis of irreconcilable differences."1

In my mid-twenties I learned to trust God for what the future might hold, even in love. I have learned that lasting love is often the result of nurture, commitment, and compromise. (Lasting love is not a happy chance, but a designed outcome.)

On "My Voice, My View" I offered a comment:

I'll take the role of a contrarian here. It is not by "happy chance" we continue to love a changed person. It is by commitment.

When I was younger, hearing heard such a quote, I was reluctant to love. But I've found that on-going love is a choice, a determination, and a commitment. It is not merely "a chance."

I loved a woman who changed... decayed... and died. Love is... "for better or worse, sickness and in health..." not "if by chance..."

The quote is lovely and even is, perhaps, the majority view. But methinks... it gives too much room for giving up, getting out, and excusing a lack of commitment.

I'm not opposing divorce so much as I am defending love. We all change, and hopefully, we all continue to grow, but in a marriage there is plenty of room for change and growth. In fact, most spouses I know are hoping for that.

I'm not the man I was at 20, 30, 40, or even 50. I've changed. I was "becoming" at 20 what I became at 30, and so on. We fall in love with someone who also is "becoming." Together, we become a "new and improved" couple. We are still in love, not by happy chance, but by a sympathetic, earnest commitment.

Love is possible today and tomorrow. Even with the same person... for decades... for a lifetime... or... until God by death shall separate us.

Just some Monday musings.

PS: Wiki-pedia provides us this paragraph, including another quote, "Maugham's love life was almost never smooth. He once confessed: "I have most loved people who cared little or nothing for me and when people have loved me I have been embarrassed... In order not to hurt their feelings, I have often acted a passion I did not feel.""

Wiki-pedia also notes that Maugham did have a 30-year-relationship, "Haxton continued as Maugham's constant companion for 30 years, until he died in an alcoholics’ ward in a New York hospital. Maugham later placed the following dedication in his 1949 compilation, A Writer’s Notebook: In Loving Memory of My Friend Frederick Gerald Haxton, 1892 -1944." William and Frederick were friends and lovers.

New visitors...

2010-05-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

I appreciated the recent visit from Betty. She commented on my last post along these lines:

"Lovely photos! Thank you!
First time here; Your blog is truly interesting!Love it!
Hope you're having a great weekend :)
Betty"

This comment aroused my curiosity, so I meandered over to her blog...

A kindred soul. A Renaissance woman. A fellow philosopher and humorist. How nice.

(I think I found our common link: SeptemberMom. Who had commented on one of Betty's posts regarding Happiness.)

Inspiration is often found in community. Betty's post on happiness led to my free-verse response:

Happiness

is the inward chuckle
inspired by a positive twist,

the half smile
evoked in the presence of beauty, large or small,

and the inner laughter
erupting from a sense of delight.

Happiness is a way of travel.
Happiness is a lens.
Happiness is...

Looking for some inspiration or just some enjoyment... check out her blog.

(These pictures are from the last night of my March get-away to San Clemente. The view from our balcony.)

Travelogue: Dana Point, a Saturday in March

2010-05-15T10:35:00.001-07:00

During a weekend trip to San Clemente, my wife and I set out on a short day trip just up the Southern California coast to a town called Dana Point. Named for Richard Dana, author of Two Years Before the Mast, the city boasts a lovely marina. Little did we know that there was a celebration going on: The Festival of the Whales.

Among the festivities of the weekend festival was an event for the fast growing sport of stand up paddling called the Mickey Muñoz Paddle Surf Fiesta. I snapped a few pictures. Just another lovely day in SoCal (in March).

Travelogue: San Clemente -- Friday Night in March

2010-05-01T12:29:00.000-07:00

Life is a dance, a balancing act, and a whirlwind. Lately, it seems to have had more of a whirlwind quality about it, especially at work. That's par for the course, but it makes weekend getaways a welcome reprieve.

Last Summer I planned ahead for some weekend trips. (Spontaneity is great, but planning ahead gets you a timeshare on the coast of Southern California.)

March 12th and 13th my wife and I took one of those planned trips. After a quick exit from work and a little packing, we made the easy 45 minute drive south the to a town called San Clemente. We stayed, for the second time, at San Clemente Inn in a timeshare unit. San Clemente Inn is nestled just off the freeway where it shares a back fence with San Clemente State Beach. Some people camp: we timeshare.

We arrived early enough in the evening to enjoy the changing view from our balcony. Over the brush that hides the camping sites of San Clemente, we caught a glimpse of the ocean, the clouds, and the sunset.

Mix in a bottle of wine, good conversation, (and no nagging household chores), and you have the start of our relaxing stay.

Life is a dance, a balancing act, and a whirlwind. This weekend was part of the balancing act. Ahh... come, share the view:

Learning to "vacate" on vacation

2010-04-18T09:22:00.000-07:00

One of the things I love about being a teacher is "not teaching", aka vacations!

I spent several decades working 49 to 50 weeks a year, with 8 to 10 extra holidays thrown in. Mostly I worked 8 to 5 type jobs with weekends off. But what we did not have were things like Christmas Vacation, Spring Break, and Summer Vacation.

We were lucky if we got the day after Thanksgiving off, let alone a week around Christmas. In my work unit, those days were doled out on a rotating basis. Each industry is different, as is each country, when it comes to how much vacation one gets.

But when it's vacation time, I was often surprised how long it would take me to "vacate", or leave work behind. It was not unusual for me to take nearly two days to stop thinking about work. It was not unusual for me to start thinking about work again a day or two prior to my return to work.

I wasn't very good at vacating.

I'm better now. Tomorrow I return to work after a week off: Easter vacation came late in our school district, but it came.

Nine months or so prior to this week I reserved a one-bedroom condo/timeshare in Solana Beach, just north of San Diego. That's where I've been. Ahhh...

We left last Saturday about 1 PM for the two hour drive south. Just past the first half hour mark... I was relaxed. I had vacated! (Wow!)

The last month or so has been very busy at work. The school day is generally jam packed. It's loaded with social interactions: teacher-to-students, teacher-to-families, teacher-to-teachers. It's also loaded with meetings, deadlines, reports, and unforseen challenges. The unforseen challenges of the last month left me with little time to enjoy looking forward to vacation. I was swimming hard just to stay afloat. And I did. Barely.

On Thursday night, after a 10 or 12 hour day, I looked at what "needed" to be done before Friday at 3 PM and I decided, "Hmmm... I guess failure is an option."

By end of day Friday I had accomplished the majority of what "needed" to be done. The rest... did. not. get. done. (And no one died.)

Part of vacating has to do with giving myself permission to do less. I recently wrote about being Mr. Good Enough. Interestingly, my daughter recently wrote along a similar vein as a young mom/homemaker/wife.

Leaving the stress behind is a daily skill, not just a vacation-time skill.

I return to work tomorrow. I had one return-to-work bad dream last night. (Not bad.)

During the week I spent some time thinking about the challenges, issues, and priorities of my work. That's normal. That's part of what vacation is too: gaining perspective over the day-to-day routines and recalibrating.

After work on Friday, we went out to dinner. The next day, I washed cars, mowed the lawns, got down suitcases, dropped off the dog, loaded up the car, and headed south.

We had a relaxing week, just the wife and I. We hiked some lagoon trails, visited a museum, shopped at Fresh and Easy for groceries, played gin and cribbage, watched some TV, and talked. We vacated, just about 120 miles away from home.

We got back home yesterday: said, "hello" to the cats, picked up the dog, emptied the car, enjoyed DSL speed, my own shower, and generally just being home.

One of the nice things about a good vacation, is how nice home seems when you get back.

It's good to be home, and it's nice to share a post with my blogging friends. ;-)

The King’s Friend

2010-04-10T11:31:00.001-07:00

I’ve read the Bible cover to cover: 20 times. I haven’t done it in a few years, but I did it for a few years. Why?

Reading the biography of George Mueller as a young man, I was challenged and inspired by his example. In checking just now, Mueller read through the Bible over 200 times during his life. Mueller had a special life with God. He thought Bible reading had something to do with it.

(I also met a woman once who had read the Bible 36 times. Her life wasn’t all that special, so just reading the Bible isn’t enough.)

Mueller became a man of faith. He believed God.

I’m fairly ordinary, but God helps me. Why?

Because I’m willing to put myself in places where I need His help.

About fifteen years ago, I quit using an alarm clock. I trust God to get me up in the morning, and I’m awakened each workday at about 6:30.

I recently met a deadline at work. Some unanticipated time “appeared,” and I was able to get some things done that needed to be done. My co-worker was amazed: again. She said, “Don’s got friends in high places.”

Another co-worker pointed up and said, “He sure does.”

Mini-miracles? You bet.

In reading the Bible, I’ve found another man who’s example inspired me: Hushai, the Arkite.

Not much is written about the man. I get the sense that he was fairly ordinary. But this is what is written about him in 1st Chronicles, “Hushai the Archite was the king's friend…”

Hushai was the friend of King David. Hushai helped David out when David was fleeing from his son, Absolom. This all happens in 2 Samuel, but all that appears in 1st Chronicles is the simple phrase, “Hushai the Archite was the king's friend…”

Jesus is called many things in the Bible, but one of my favorites was an accusation: “…a friend of publicans (tax-collectors) and sinners.” The Friend of sinners was also known as the King of kings.

One of the main aspirations of my life has been to be a friend to One who has befriended me. Hushai was labeled as “the king’s friend.”

Wouldn’t it be great… to be labeled… “the King’s friend”?

I’d say George Mueller was one of the King’s friends. They hung out. They talked. They were involved in each other’s lives. God did miracles in Mueller’s life because Mueller trusted him to. Mueller put himself in spots where he needed God’s help, and God helped.

Once upon a time, a Man walked on water: Jesus.

But what is often not mentioned was another man also walked on water: Peter.

As Jesus was walking on the water, Peter, asked Jesus to “Bid me come.”

“And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Miracles, big and small, happened to the friends of Jesus. They still do.

If only Jesus were still gathering friends! If only he were still saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

If only Jesus were still gathering friends! If only he were still saying, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

If only God had a book and still spoke to ordinary people!

(Pssttt… He does.)

"Toyota hysteria"?

2010-04-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

On March 9th, the Los Angeles Times published an OpEd piece that caught my eye. It was called "Toyota hysteria."

It's been almost a month since the article appeared, and some of the hoopla has subsided. Still, I think the article is relevant to life (and the Toyota "problem.")

I own and drive a Toyota. I've owned a Fiat, several Volkwagens (bugs and buses), a Vega, a Ford Aspire, a Jeep, a Chevy Cavalier, and a Honda CRV. I like my Toyota. It's the first new car I've ever owned.

My Corolla is not one of the many that were recalled, but all the news made me a bit worried.

I try not to over-react to things. I can recall my mom saying, "There are two sides to every story." I still try to get both sides before jumping to a conclusion.

As a result, I've learned to look a bit deeper into current affairs before I form an opinion. Knee-jerk reactions are the norm. Sometimes I prefer not being normal.

Some quotes from the Op-Ed piece I especially liked were:

1) "But what I am worried about, with the current avalanche of unintended-acceleration complaints against the company and the congressional hearings, is the hysteria promoted by sensationalist headlines and pompous government officials."

2) "To err is human; to blame errors on external factors is even more so."

3) ""Nobody wants to minimize any deaths Toyota defects may have caused," says Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "But vehicle defects are just a tiny, tiny part of what leads to crashes.""

4) "So why the emphasis on mechanical defects above all else? Evans says it began with Ralph Nader and his 1965 book, "Unsafe at Any Speed." Today it's perpetuated by trial lawyers seeking the deepest pockets and a media that know it's sexier to crusade against corporations than emphasize individual responsibility."

And so we return again to the less sexy problem of individual responsibility. The author acknowledges Toyota's contribution to the current tragedy, but he also puts it into a larger perspective. It's easier to blame others, than to accept personal blame. It's easier to point a finger than to say, "My bad. Please forgive me."

And what are the author's qualifications for speaking to the Toyota hysteria:

1) He was involved in a serious crash in 1992 that ended in an out-of-court settlement with Toyota.

2) His wife, who was seriously injured in that crash, owns and drives a Toyota.

3) The author, Michael Fumento, "is director of the nonprofit Independent Journalism Project, where he specializes in health and safety issues."

The antidote to hysteria just might be good information from a reliable source.

Perhaps "truth" exists in both sides of a story. Hmmm... Something to think about.

Mr. Good Enough -- That's me!

2010-03-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

I used to be a perfectionist. On a related note, I used to be disillusioned and somewhat depressed. I was idealist. I grew up in the 60's and 70's. But over time, I came to my senses, and I grew up some more.

In various degrees, in various settings, I've learned that "Good enough often is... good enough."

I dated and broke up with some very nice girls. But they weren't "perfect" for me. I'd like to say I wasn't as bad as the characters on Seinfeld, but the end result was the same. I was always finding some reason why they weren't quite "perfect."

Sometimes the girl broke my heart, sometimes, I broke hers. (It was probably more of a bruising than a breaking... it was all "young love." We were learning to love.)

Somewhere along the way, at about 20, I realized that I was looking for too much in a girl. Girls aren't God. They can't be expected to fill the deep emptiness of my soul: that's God's job.

I'm guessing that many women who are looking for Mr. Right suffer from a similar misconception: men aren't the end-all, be-all of existence. That's asking too much. (Not to say some guys aren't doing the same thing.)

I was recently reminded of all this when I came across an interview with the author of a new book called, "Marry Him, the case for settling for Mr. Good-enough." I read the interview, then I read the article in The Atlantic that preceded the book.

At about 20, I changed from looking for Mrs. Perfect, to "I think I need a wife." Within six months of that change of perspective, I'd met the girl. (Actually, I already knew her, I just hadn't recognized her as the one who would willingly commit to walking with me through the journey of life.) We married a year and a half later.

She had been engaged twice before, but had gotten "cold feet." This time, she looked at things differently, and made a commitment summed up in two words: "I do."

Eighteen years and three children later, she passed away after a six year bout with cancer. Did she settle for Mr. Good Enough? Some might say so.

But the night before she died, she said, "I'm so happy." (She also had just told me how much she loved me. We had grown to love each other deeply... over the course of time and life.)

We had "settled" on each other, and it was good.

In work, I was also perfectionist.

My mom used to say, "Good, better, best; never let it rest, until good is better, and better is best."

Then I met Rick Simmons, my computer programming boss. He told me, "Don, not everything needs to be a Cadillac. Sometimes a Chevrolet is good enough." I didn't like it at first, but he was right, and I was liberated: again. Perfection is a cruel task master.

These days, I aim to be "above average" or sometimes just "thoroughly adequate."

Perfection is over-rated and generally unattainable. If you're looking for Perfection, then find God. (That will release the rest of us from an unfair burden.)

A year after being widowed, I met a widow from New York. I was from California. We met via AOL. She was looking for some help in coping with the loss of her husband.

It all started very platonic... but over time... I came to realize that Leslie loved me, and that I loved Leslie. I hadn't even seen her picture yet; hadn't met her face-to-face; hadn't even gone on a date.

We were both in our 40's. We had both enjoyed good marriages. We knew what mattered and what didn't. We both knew Perfection was found in Another (God). We knew that Another could help us find "another," who was "good enough." We settled? (Actually, I proposed marriage, and she accepted!)

In December, Leslie and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary. We're happily married. You might call us, Mr. and Mrs. Good Enough.

* * * * *

My Cousin Buffie wrote us a wedding poem called,

"A Wedding Prayer for Don and Leslie."

As you start your life together
Through the grace of God, a second chance
For the Love and for the Laughter
And for the knowing glance.

May your Love shine bright forever.
Your two souls entwined in dance.
And your happiness be boundless
Through the grace of God, a second chance.

* * * *

I settled on a choice, Leslie. And Leslie settled on a choice, Don.
Mr. and Mrs. Good Enough -- living a life of "good enough" together.
Trying to be "above average" and "thoroughly adequate."
So far, so good -- because often -- Good enough is!

Pushing the envelope: He can dance!

2010-03-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

I came across this video a while ago. I appreciate those who push the envelope. Some do it in sports, some in academia, and some do it in dance.

Here's a little mind boggling fun: He can dance!

Now go push some envelopes!

Sinus Enema Anyone?

2010-03-07T16:25:00.000-08:00

Recently I got a cold. It's the second cold I've gotten this year. I think it's because I started two small reading groups with students. We share a round table. They sneeze, and I sometimes feel the breeze. (That can't be good.)

My colds used to progress into bronchitis. I seem to have halted that progression, but these last two colds have progressed into sinus infections. My body eventually fights these off, but the healing process is painfully slow: three to four weeks.

Some of my co-workers just say, "Do the drugs, Don."

But I'm a bit stubborn. I'm saving anti-bacterial medications for when I really need them.

One co-worker quietly recommended a Neti Pot. What's a Neti Pot? It's the equivalent of an sinus enema.

WebMD puts it this way, "If you're one of the millions of Americans dealing with chronic sinus problems, you know how miserable the headaches, facial pain, and clogged nasal passages can be. In their search for relief, many sinus sufferers have turned to nasal saline irrigation, a therapy that uses a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal cavity."

"Although several methods of nasal irrigation exist, one of the most popular is the Neti pot -- a ceramic pot that looks like a cross between a small teapot and Aladdin's magic lamp. Although nasal irrigation using the Neti pot has been around for centuries, its use is on the rise in the U.S., thanks to an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show and a fair amount of news coverage. The Neti pot originally comes from the Ayurvedic/yoga medical tradition."

Being fairly miserable, I decided to build my own Neti pot before I bought one. eHow told me how. I fashioned on out of a mid-sized, empty mustard squirt bottle. The nozzle-to-nose fit was not quite optimum, but it worked well enough to win me over.

I order a Neti pot called Rhino Horn via Amazon.com. It looks like this:

I've been using my Blue Rhino Horn for about two weeks. My sinus infection is 95% gone. Woo-hoo!

My nasal passages have never felt so clear. Once my infection is completely gone, I'll probably use the Rhino for general maintenance. It's great to have a tool to use once allergy season strikes me next October.

It's amazing what you can learn from people if you just listen to them. My co-worker quietly mentioned the Neti pot, and I'm so glad she did.

(Someone else mentioned ear candling, but that turned out to be a bad idea. I wasted a bit of money, but stopped short of using them. I should have done my research before I made the purchase. Oh well.)

So if you have sinus problems, I recommend a sinus enema, aka nasal saline irrigation. Whatever you call it... it rocks!

(I almost forgot. There are YouTube videos that show you how to use the Neti pot. I just found this one... note the wall behind them!)

Genuine Article or Hypocrite?

2010-02-28T09:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy two weeks. Most of the writing I've done has been the required kind: Educational Histories of Students, Progress Report Summaries, and Individual Education Plans. But on a more interesting note... I came across a quote I liked:

“It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinions;
it is easy in solitude to live after your own;
but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd
keeps with perfect sweetness
the independence of solitude.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pondering the quote for a week or two, I've been challenged to carry more personal serenity and general calmness into my daily busy-ness. (And it has helped.)

I agree with Emerson that part of personal greatness is personal consistency. I admire that trait in others. I think it's a trait worth cultivating in myself as well.

My dad used to say, "Do as I say, not as I do."

This was uttered enough times to make an impact. It was often the final salvo in a match of wits, which he won.

It was not until years later I arrived at a proper rebuttal, "But Dad, that's hypocritical!"

(In my 60's/70's mentality, "Keeping it real" mattered.)

Social conventions and interpersonal skills do require us to use filters and act appropriately, but that still leaves plenty of room for being genuine.

Being fake, two-faced, or phony is not a good thing. (Nor is being rude, hurtful, or overly blunt.) Somewhere between the extremes lies a balance point of civility, reality, and honesty.

There are always pressures to conform in a crowd. Having an opinion is not always welcome, even if the opinion is just different, not contrary. Cultivating a sense of self strong enough to maintain individuality against the tide of conformity is difficult, but commendable.

The personal pendulum may swing occasionally into hypocrisy, but hopefully a little internal alarm goes off.

Recently I began watching "The Big Bang" TV series. At one point, Leonard clearly succumbs to blatant contradiction between personal opinion and voiced opinion. His friends are appalled. Sensing their disapproval, he turns to them and says, "What? You've never seen a hypocrite before?"

We all have. What I try to avoid is seeing one in the mirror.

Progress is a new horse.

2010-02-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'm a teacher. Teachers are supposed to be change agents, that is, we try to get students to change. That's what education is: positive change, improvement. Call it, progress.

But most of us are what I call resistant learners, especially when it comes to trying new ways of doing things, new ways of learning, new processes for progress.

We may be dissatisfied with our rate of improvement, but we like our methods. Our old ways are comfortable, broken in, safe.

So a big part of my job is to entice students to try new ways of doing things: ways that work better than their old ways. It doesn't matter if we're talking about ways to read a book, do long division, or sit at a desk. There are better ways of doing things. Ways that lead to academic progress.

Slow and sure may win the race, but I often work with students who are behind and need to catch up. They need to accelerate their progress. They need help, and often want help. They just don't always want to change.

That's why they need a change agent: a catalyst for improvement.

Recently one of my daily reading groups read a poem by Emily Dickinson. Here it is:

Fame is a bee

Fame is a bee.
It has a song—
It has a sting—
Ah, too, it has a wing.

After several minutes of discussion, I was able to help my students reach personal epiphanies: this poem is not mainly about bees. What?!

They made connections: Britney Spears, for example. It was fun to watch.

Several days later I composed a poem in the general style of "Fame is a bee" that captures a lesson I've taught many times this year. My poem is called, "Progress is a new horse." The kids loved it. They applauded. Ah shucks. Here it is:

Progress is a new horse.

On the road of progress,
I find my old horse is dead.
It doesn’t carry me where I want to go.

But I love my old horse.
It’s the way I’ve always done things.
I hate to admit I’m riding a dead horse.

On the road to progress,
New horses are waiting to be ridden,
Horses recommended by previous owners.

Progress is a choice of horses.

* * * *

(Last weekend my wife and I took a weekend trip to a timeshare called San Clemente Inn. We drove down on a Friday and returned on a Monday. I took pictures.)

Redefining Success...

2010-01-31T09:50:00.000-08:00

Recently I read a quote regarding the true meaning of success. (I can't find the blog, but I remember the quote, so I looked it up. It was written by a woman named Bessie Stanley. It is sometimes attributed to Emerson, but the above link sorts that all out.) The quote is actually a poem:

Success

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded. "

I like pithy sayings: proverbs, axioms, general systems laws, rules-of-thumb. This quote is a bit longer than that, but then success is a complex subject.

I teach kids. I teach kids who struggle to be average in academics. The grades they earn are often less than gratifying. Some work hard just to be below average rather than "failing." Have these kids succeeded? And will they be successful?

Part of what I teach these kids is that their worth and success is not measured by grades on a report card. That's not what matters the most. I inculcate a deeper measure of self-worth or success. Are you kind? caring? pleasant? hard-working? These issues of character are more important than grades now, or dollars earned later. Success in life is measured much differently. But how?

That's why I like the quote. It resonates with me. It also validates my life and beliefs. It validates a life many might think of as inconsequential or ordinary.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "God must have loved the ordinary people. He made so many of them."

Fame and fortune are noticeably missing from Stanley's definition. I like that. But something else is missing from the quote: God's view of success.

One of my favorite sayings from the Bible is a nugget found in the often overlooked book of Micah. It reads, "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you? But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"

Do justly... love kindness (mercy)... and walk humbly with your God? (Not the three top requirements one might guess God would highlight.) The first two correlate to Stanley's poem, but the third transcends it.

At different times in my life I've struggled with the question, "What does God want me to do with my life? What does He want me to become?"

In struggling with that question I often beat myself up for not "making the most" out of my life. I have not striven for notoriety, money, fame, titles, or degrees. Had I aimed too low? Had I sold out for something lesser than what God wanted me to be?

Then I came to a realization: I can quit apologizing to God for why I'm not what He never asked me to be. Most of my self questioning was based on someone else's definition of success, not God's.

Micah gives me some simple direction regarding a more meaningful measure of success. And that helped.

More help was found as I read the New Testament. It provided me an unexpected emphases on what really matters in life. I read...

One of them, a lawyer, asked him (Jesus) a question, testing him. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

The greatest commandment? the chief requirement? "...love the Lord your God..." and "...love your neighbor as yourself." (Not the commandments anyone was expecting to be highlighted by Jesus, but they were.) Loving your neighbor as yourself certainly covers Stanley's points. Loving the Lord your God covers Micah's. "...walk humbly with you God" -- that's love.

Stanley, Micah, and Jesus all offer words to consider. They offer alternative assessments of what really matters in life and how we need to define success.

The mysteries of womanhood...

2010-01-24T17:28:00.000-08:00

Rawan, over on her picture blog (365), posted a picture with this caption: "Spent most of my day in bed feeling iffy. Days like these, I hate being a girl."

Back in grade school, comments like this would have gone over my head. (As they should at that age.) However, with two older sisters, I remember once glancing in my sister's room and seeing her curled up on her bed in obvious pain. I was grieved at her discomfort.

I asked my all-wise mom about it, and she "explained" to me something about "cramps."

I must not have gotten a very clear picture of the ailment, because my reply to my mom was, "Well, I hope I never get that."

I never did, but Rawan does. And I feel bad for her. I can understand her comment, "Days like these, I hate being a girl."

I had a friend 15 years later who was still a bit fuzzy about girls and women. Here's what he did...

Attending a weekly church prayer meeting, grins and quizzical looks were exchanged after my friend inserted this in a lengthy prayer, "And o Lord, please help the sisters as they encounter the mysteries of womanhood."

What?

One of the dangers of opening your mouth is that you sometimes put your foot in it, or at least provide an unplanned rift of laughter at your goofiness. (Even in a prayer meeting.) We all chuckled at the prayer... but my condolences to Rawan and company as they encounter and deal with the many "mysteries of womanhood." (We never quite figured out what he meant. I guess that's why they are mysteries.)

I am so glad that my public education included a junior high class called "Family Life and Sex Education." The class did a much better job of illuminating my unschooled brain than my mother did. It at least explained some of the gender-related mysteries of anatomy and physiology.

You can catch follow Rawan on her blog: Rawan's Random Thoughts

Happy Sunday!

Here's a video that gives a great slant on improving the world (through one of the mysteries of womanhood?)

I've been burned!

2010-01-17T08:37:00.000-08:00

January 14th, 2010 would have, could have been my 32nd wedding anniversary. But it wasn't.

Part of the traditional wedding vows I recited back in 1978 included these words: "...until God by death shall separate you."

Yesterday, while running some errands, I stopped by the graveyard to pay an anniversary visit to Patti's grave. On the gravestone are two names, separated by a line: Her name and mine. "Til death do us part..."

Fourteen years after her death, there is still love, warmth, and fondness, but there are no new memories. Death put a stop to that.

Besides the names on the gravestone, there are a pair of roses, one on each side. There is also a quote from Hebrews 11:13 -- "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

As I stood, I talked, I prayed, I sang, and I also pondered... What do I feel?

I've used the word heartbroken before, but this time, I found another label: I felt burned. God had burned me. "Til God by death shall separate you..."

Another verse came to mind... "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire..."

And, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you..."

Part of life involves being burned. Whether you aspire to be a man or woman of faith or not, fiery trials come. (Sometimes, instead of heartbreak, we get deliverance. But other times, bad things happen.)

These bad things try our faith in God. "In God we trust" is no longer an absolute, it becomes a question. Will I trust God?

On the cross, as he was expiring, Jesus said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." As he was being burned, by family, friends, townsfolk, countrymen, and foreigners, he choose to believe. Even as he was being "burned" by God.

Pioneers blaze a trail, so that others may follow. "...fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Fiery trials aren't meant to consume, they're meant to refine. What makes the difference? Faith in Another.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth..." These is something more precious than gold: a proven faith.

Another pioneer of faith named the Apostle Paul came to a conclusion about fiery trials: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

A line etched in stone, symbolizes a separation, a loss, a burning. But what goes on?

As I stood at Patti's grave, I was reminded of a question that has echoed in my mind before, "Is it enough that I am your Friend?"

"...because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'"

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Life burns. Sometimes the burnings are small and repeated. Sometimes they seem to be a maelstrom. But in the worst of times, the challenge is to look to Another. "...fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith..."

And what have I discovered in my refining moments? I was never alone.

Just like in days of old when King Nebuchadnezzar threw Daniel's three companions into a real fiery furnace, something amazing happens.

The king "...leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, 'Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?'

They replied, 'Certainly, O king.'

He said, 'Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.'"

No, never alone. Not even in the fire.

When Job was being "burned" by awful circumstances, he made this determination: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..."

Will you?

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

And I left the cemetery with new insights.

Later, that evening, as I was watching TV, a scene included a song, by John Bunyun, a man "burned" in his own time...

Strangely appropriate:

He Who Would Valiant Be

He who would valiant be
'Gainst all disaster
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim

Who so beset him round
With dismal stories
Do but themselves confound
His strength the more is
No foes shall stay his might
Though he with giants fight
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend
Us with Thy Spirit
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit
Then fancies flee away!
I'll fear not what men say
I'll labour night and day
To be a pilgrim

Get 'er done! (or not)

2010-01-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

Saphron, a fellow blogger, recently solved a few household maintenance problems. Her problems weren't huge, but they were still intimidating.

Life is full of problems. Have you noticed?

It's not always the size of the problem that halts us. Often it's just not knowing where to start.

I've been studying Creative Problem Solving for three decades. (I'm not old... I've just been young for a long time.)

Teaching at an elementary school for the last two years, I've learned to distill my 30 years of experience down to a simple six step process for Creative Problem Solving. I call the process: Get 'er done.

"Get 'er done" is a catch-phrase made popular by Larry the Cable Guy. So much of the time we just complain about our problems instead of fixing them. Larry tells us what we need to do: Get 'er done!

But how?

Here are some simple steps that even fourth grade students learn to use... even when I'm not around:

1) What kind of a problem is it? (Read the directions if available.)
2) Do I have a strategy? (Create a plan. Look in your bag of tricks.)
3) What's my first step? (Get going. A rudder only works when the ship is moving.)
4) What's my next step? (Once you start, things become clear: one step at a time. Pretty soon, you've solved the problem.)
5) Check your answer! (Did my solution work? Find a way to check your answer.)
6) Happy Dance! (The performing arts taught me this. Celebrate the victory!)

This process works for math, household projects, relationships, child-training, etc.

Saphron learned to use a screwdriver! Lately I've been learning to use trust.

Problems got you stymied? Maybe you just need to "Get 'er done!"

This summer I re-learned how to wax my cars. I hadn't done it for 15 years or so. They've made it a lot easier. So today, before I settle in for some serious football-on-the-TV time, I'm going to wash and wax a car. I know what kind of a problem it is... I have a strategy... It's time to move on... to Step One. (See before and after pics...)

Have a great week!

It's all about trust.

2010-01-03T19:06:00.000-08:00

In mathematics, three points (in the same plane) determine a line.

In plotting my course in life, I often ask myself the question, "What is God trying to teach me these days?" Then I look for patterns, insights, or three things that line up.

Today I had a mini-epiphany: It's all about trust.

Over the last two days I've been re-reading a book called "The Gabriel Method," by Jon Gabriel. It's a book I first read last July, and it has helped transform my eating habits. I decided that I needed a bit of a refresher course. Jon suggests that one reason a person puts on extra weight is some primal response to freezing to death, starving to death, or being chased and eaten. As I read the book this time around, I asked myself, "What am I afraid of? What do I believe is threatening my personal safety?"

Jon suggests that fear, sadness, anger, longing, and resentment are all threats to safety. It was a good question, and I was able to list a few places where I have nagging fears, lingering sadness, unresolved anger and resentment, and a few unfulfilled longings. I was a bit surprised at some of the issues this simple self-questioning unearthed.

But I'm not one to shrink from issues, I lift them up to God. "What's at the heart of all these issues? Is there a pattern? Are they inter-related?"

If prayer is like talking into a phone, Bible reading is like listening at the ear-piece. I had recently done some reading in Colosians, but I was generally untouched. I contemplated starting in at Matthew, where the New Testament begins, but then I recalled a passage I'd been thinking about the night before.

When I wake up in the night, I do memory work. I mentally recite things I've memorized: 50 US states and their capitals, the provinces of Canada, the 12 signs of the zodiac, the 44 US presidents in order, the countries of Central and South America. Sometimes I recite the names of the 66 books of the Bible. Last night, in addition to a few of the above, I recited what I could of the 23rd Psalm. I only got about 1/2 of it right. It's been some years since I worked on it.

So I pulled out my Bible and read slowly through the 23rd Psalm. It turns out that one theme in the poem is trust. Not unlike US currency, the psalmist proclaims, "In God we trust."

Fear, sadness, anger, longing, and resentment can all be evidences of feeling threatened: of being unsafe.

"The Lord is my Shepherd..." "He leadeth me..." "He restoreth my soul..." "...Thou art with me..."

These words inspired me to trust in God. "Unless you are converted and become like a child, you shall in no wise enter the kingdom of God." A child trusts their Father. A child allows their Father to quiet their fears, calm their anger, resolve their longings and resentments. A child trusts their parent to keep them safe. Hmmm...

Recently at school I've had two sets of parents who were very concerned about how their children were being taken care of academically. One parent came to the realization that she needed to trust the teacher and the school. I've seen a transformation.

The second set of parents is consistently on guard, concerned, and watchful that their child is "protected." This set of parents doesn't trust the teacher nor the rest of the staff. It's not that we are incompetent or unreliable: they just don't trust us. And it shows.

It's the same school, the same teachers, and the same school year: in one situation, trust exists. In the other, it doesn't.

In life, I have a choice, just like these parents: I can live in the calm of informed trust, or in the storm of irrational mistrust.

Today I remembered one of my favorite verses: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5,6)

I'm not abandoning my ability to reason. In Isaiah God says, "Come, let us reason together." Anyone who reads my blog knows that I'm a thinker: an analyst. But ultimately, I'm not trusting in my ability to figure things out and come up with a plan. Instead, I'm going to "trust in the Lord." He will keep me safe. "...and he shall direct thy paths."

Or as the 23rd Psalm says, "I will fear no evil, for Thou are with me."

Today, I lined up three points (two sets of parents, and one set of personal fears). The common issue? Fear or trust. That's what God is trying to teach me these days. That was my mini-epiphany. And I choose trust.

A Rictameter (not): 2010!

2009-12-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Sciptor, a true word lover, offered this nugget of knowledge recently over on his blog: "A rictameter is an unrhymed, 9-line poem with a syllable count of 2/4/6/8/10/8/6/4/2 in which the first and last lines are the same."

Always on the lookout for new forms to try out... I give you...

2010!

2010 commences.
Old: set in stone.
Trip around the sun now complete.
Highs and lows, ebbs and flows: spirals drawn.
One year ends, another begins -- One decade passes, another begins.
Pastels or browns, success or failure: probably both.
Trip around the sun barely begun.
New: unset and open.
2010 commences.

Happy New Year! Carpe anum!

PS:

Being the proof-reader that I am... I discover that I've misread the directions/definitions. Rictameters involve syllable counts, not word counts. So this is not a Rictameter!

As a teacher, I am always amazed at how often my students don't read the directions, and they end up missing the point. As a teacher, I am too often amazed at how often I do the same. The nice thing is... my students catch me! Or sometimes, I catch my own mistrakes. Sometimes I don't. ;-)

Christmas: Tis the Season to be jolly?

2009-12-26T18:08:00.000-08:00

Christmastime means a lot to most people. I think the majority simply enjoy the season with family and friends. There are some general hassles connected with cramming so much into so little time. (And there are expenses.)

There is also a minority who don't particularly like Christmastime. Family isn't always easy. Friends can be bothersome. And some of us have memories that we'd rather not visit. (Some folk simply aren't Christian! How awkward?)

My wife and I went away this year for Christmas. My kids are out of state, and we decided that Palm Springs was a better alternative than hanging out. I have two weeks off, so we'll have some "hanging out" time at home after the 25th.

While in Palm Springs we watched some TV. I saw an episode from Heat of the Night. The main character didn't really like Christmas. Too many bad memories. He got me thinking... of Christmas 1996... The date is recorded on my first wife's tombstone, marking the day of her death and "promotion." Those were sad times: Christmas memories that could easily still haunt me. And sadden me.

While in Palm Springs I also caught part of the movie, "You've Got Mail." It's the story of a man and woman who meet via AOL. This was back before sites like e-Harmony existed. It was a romantic comedy. Once upon a time, I met a widow on AOL. She lived in New York. I lived in California. We exchanged e-mails, support, advice, prayers, and eventually... wedding vows. Our eleventh anniversary was December 19th. We got married over Christmas Vacation my first year of teaching. Christmas memories of happier times.

The last two years children and grandchildren have visited us from out of state. We had some great times, and clogged drains. This year... on November 15th... my oldest daughter had twin boys. No visit this year! (But some nice phone calls.)

Past memories... which are certainly not viewed with 20/20 vision. What I see though is a mixed bag of sad and happy.

Current moments? Two weeks of Christmas vacation! The first three days, I was sick with a cold. This has happened before. I relax from the stress and strain of daily life and my body says, "Good, I've been meaning to tell you... you're sick."

With Kleenex in tow, Leslie and I then spent four days in the Palm Springs area. We got home yesterday. The weather was good. The view was lovely... snow covered mountains rising across the green of a fairway. We took two day-trips to Joshua Tree National Park. It was beautiful, but I had forgotten my camera. Oops. (I do have some great mental slides.)

Christmas is followed by New Year's. I'm glad for that. Not because we have any big plans, but because it stimulates me to look forward. What am I motivated for in the coming year? Enough of contemplating the past, what do I want to fill my current moments with? How will I orchestrate my present to bring me into a pleasant future?

Christmas past is beyond our control. The future is too.

What we have is now. And right now... things for me are pretty good. The dramas and traumas are low-key. My days have lots of bright moments and occasional triumphs!

The tapestry of life is varied. Sometimes the hues are dark, sometimes pastel. That's just the way it is.

Bottom line? For the majority of you... Merry Christmas! (It was ordinary. That's a good thing.)

For some of you... Christmas is over. Yay!

For some of you... who may be in the midst of troubling times... May the God of all consolations lift up your fallen spirits and give you renewed hope for the coming year! (For you... it's not the season to be jolly. But after a bit, the season you are in will change. That's what seasons do! Better times will come.)

Regardless of the type of Christmas you've had, time marches on. The old year is almost over. In fact, the second decade of the New Millennium is upon us!

My wishes for all of you is... Happy New Year! (Look for it.)

Communication : Pitfalls and Potentials

2009-12-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

One of the joys of blogging is discovering (and creating) a far-flung community of like-minded thinkers. Writing is thinking, and only the few are willing to pay the price exacted by regular excursions into the realm of personal thought.

DawnTreader, from Sweden, has a weekly post where she shares a meaningful quote. This week she posted a quote from the book Slow Man by 2003 Nobel Prize winner: J.M. Coetzee --

"There are the words themselves, and then, behind or around or beneath the words, there is the intention. As he speaks he is aware of the boy watching his lips, brushing aside the word-strings as if they were cobwebs, tuning his ear to the intention."

I see in this quote, a potential recipe for madness. Let me explain...

I am a truth seeker and a traveler. I grew up on the tail-end of the hippie generation, graduating high school in 1971. Even back then, I had an analytical bent. I enjoyed math, literature, and sports. But perhaps even more, I longed for deep personal interaction.

One of my sisters once said to me, "Why can't you just be shallow, like the rest of us?"

My sister did and does perhaps represent the majority opinion and life-style. For many, and perhaps most, life is rarely deep and meaningful. Usually it's just there.

Against this back-drop of shallowness, an analytical, caring, seeking, listening person is out-of-place. Coetzee's character, who brushed "aside the word-strings as if they were cobwebs, tuning his ear to the intention..." reminds me of an earlier self, a self who nearly drove himself crazy.

Back in the day, often during parties, hanging out with friends, or even playing chess with a friend, I would listen for the meaning behind the words. "What do they really mean..."

This not only led to isolating speculation, it led to alienation... I was often at least one step removed from a conversation. I was listening to the words, but at the same time searching for the intention, the motivation, the true meaning of what was being said.

It was maddening. Like a computer caught in an infinite loop, my brain and psyche would thrash upon itself fruitlessly.

I think this went on for several months, and I grew in despair. Some of my friends became worried. But one of them set me free!

"Don, what if people were just saying what they mean, and meaning what they say?"

"What?"

After processing that profundity for a while, I tested it, and he/she was right. (I say he/she because I can't remember who said it to me. Surely a Zen master in disguise. I think her name was Ann.)

Since then I have learned that most people, most of the time simply say what they mean and mean what they say. If I have any doubt, I just ask a simple follow-up question. How liberating!

I have also learned that some people, some of the time, cloak what they mean in what they say. These people are in touch with a depth inside of themselves.

These are the people where "brushing brushing aside the word-strings as if they were cobwebs, tuning his ear to the intention..." is an appropriate response. With these people, deep, meaningful conversation is possible.

One meaning of converse, is to share views by talking. It involves give and take, questions and answers, regarding and being regarded. Like a dance it has beauty and grace.

Conversation of this graceful sort reminds me of another quote from SeptemberMom's blog: "In life as in dance: Grace glides on blistered feet." Alice Abrams, the author of that quote, implies that artistry requires "blistered feet."

The Art of Conversation is no different. Done poorly, it can lead to misunderstanding and pain. Done well, it can lead to friendship, community, insight, and growth.

In conversation, one size does not fit all. Not all who walk, dance.

December Reflections

2009-12-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

Recently I began to visit a daily photo blog. DawnTreader, the blogging photographer lives in southern Sweden. (How cool is that?)

Her pictures and post titles often invite fiction or, sometimes, poetry.

Today her picture inspired me to "pen" a brief poem.

DawnTreader's post is entitled: Tuesday Blue: December Reflections. Here is her picture:

Here is my poem:

December Reflections

Everything seems a bit blue
and upside down.

Nothing is clear
but strangely blurred.

Life is such a riddle.

But then...

I discover I'm looking down
instead of up!

I'm not even seeing what's real,
just some doubly reversed image.

No more December distortions!

Coffee capers!

2009-12-12T14:55:00.000-08:00

I like to laugh. Sometimes I laugh at myself, and sometimes I laugh at my friends. Lots of times, my friends laugh at me. We seem to take turns.

Three days in the past week we've had rain here in SoCal. We get a lot more sunshine than rain, so we are unaccustomed to the simple things rain brings, like carrying an umbrella.

My morning routine was thrown off this week simply because my hands were a bit more full: an umbrella requires a whole hand!

As I left the house, I had an umbrella in one hand, a lunch pail, soft briefcase, coffee mug, and keys in the other. I have large hands, so I was able to navigate everything to the car. The difficulty came at open-the-car-door time.

I put the mug on the car roof and pried open the driver's rear door. Slipping my lunch pail and briefcase in, I then closed the umbrella, shook it off, tossed it in the back, and slid myself into the driver's seat. My glasses were slightly speckled, but I was otherwise not the worse from the light sprinkles.

I performed a three-point turn-about and started up the block. Several houses down I reached carefully for my coffee cup which was... not in the cup holder. Oops.

Realizing my mistake I slowed the car. The coffee mug was metal, and I expected that it lay in the road in front of my house. Just then I saw a silvery shape pass in front of the windshield, I heard a thump, and I watched coffee splash all over the front hood of my car.

Completing my stop, I jumped out of my car to retrieve my mug and its cover from the roadway. I was greeted by the strong smell of fresh coffee. Looking at my car, I also saw steam rising as the coffee freed itself into the atmosphere.

I shook my head, looked around for traffic, and climbed back into the car, mug in hand. I put the car in reverse and returned to the front of my house. I pulled out the garden hose and rinsed the fresh coffee off of my car. Duh!

Slightly wet, I turned off the hose, returned to my car and completed the journey to work... ooffee-less.

Later in the day, a coworker called me on my cell. My wife answered it, since I'd left it on the kitchen counter, next to my wallet. My coffee caper was not my only morning foible.

Who knew that umbrellas were so disconcerting? Or maybe it's just me.

* * * *

Later in the week as I was recounting my mishap with a co-worker for her amusement, she shared her own coffee caper.

During her morning routine she was putting together lunches, making coffee, and feeding her dogs. Her mother-in-law had passed away earlier in the week, and she was still in a bit of a fog. Duty called, even though part of her was processing the loss.

Whatever upsets our routines, umbrellas or bereavement, mishaps happen. That explains why she noticed, just in time, that instead of filling the coffee filter with coffee, she had filled it with dry dog food. Oops.

* * * *

Sometimes I laugh at myself, and sometimes I laugh at my friends. My bereaved friend found comfort in the laughter, and I was reminded that God must have a sense of humor seeing that we are so funny.

My coworker friend pointed out, "We were made in God's image. Is it so strange to think that we and God should share something so human as a sense of humor?"

I hadn't thought of that. Until then.

Perhaps that explains why, I like to laugh.

Time marches on! And so do we.

2009-12-06T11:29:00.000-08:00

I enjoy keeping up with my friends who blog. Chase is one of them.

TS Kuhn, author of Structure of Scientific Revolutions, suggested that scientific communities progress as a unit. (The current Climate-gate saga serves as an example.)

I think blogging communities do the same. We get each other thinking.

Chase recently returned from a year in Taiwan. He's been home about two months. He notes that his experiences seem to have happened a lifetime ago.

As I pondered his post... I waxed poetic:

If Yoda wrote poetry…

Russian nesting dolls are we?
Old me’s contained in new?

Pearls are we?
A grain of earth at core…
building coat after coat of living splendor…
one day at a time?

Travelers are we?
Old journeys wrapped in new?
Early days encased in present?

And what of tomorrow?
Then who will we be?

Answer me that!

* * * * * * * * * *

Via the wonder of the internet, we can build communities that stretch across the globe. How cool is that!

And together... we step forward... and grow.

Travel: Witches in the Woodwork - 3 (final)

2009-11-30T14:40:00.000-08:00

The last Wiccan I met on my travels was on a Greyhound bus.

After two years in college, I took a year off. It wasn't a well thought out year off, but it was full of adventures.

It started by car, my '67 Fiat Coupe. I had just a little money, and two possible destinations: Norwood, Mass. (for a Halloween Party), and Long Island to visit boyhood friends. (The boyhood friends were not from my boyhood, but from the fellow I was traveling with. The Halloween Party... that was with my friends -- one was a former co-worker from my days at Baskin-Robbins. Her name was Toni.)

That road trip lasted about two or three months. We left in mid-September, and I returned in early December. I almost didn't come back. I almost stayed in Norwood, Mass., but that's another story.

I had a job lined up in Norwood, and I had roommates lined up too. But at the last minute, we scuttled our plans. I decided to travel back to California, while my traveling buddy continued his journeys with the aim of working the ski lifts of Vermont. (His plans didn't anticipate a nearly snow-less and jobless winter in Killington.)

My plans involved traveling by bus from Norwood, Mass. to Anaheim, California.

Currently you can buy a non-refundable, one-way ticket from Greyhound to make the 3,325 mile trek from Boston to Anaheim for about $250 dollars. The trip would take 3 days, 2 hours, and 10 minutes. (The trip would also involve 4 or 5 transfers.)

To most of my readers, that doesn't sound like a great trip. It's not.

But that's where I met Wiccan #3. She was a senior in high school and just getting into her studies of Wiccan.

Memory is funny. The first thing I remember about my bus trip was a 35 to 45 year old woman who sat next on the first leg of my trip. She wore a wig and heavy make-up. She had a really sad story. I don't remember the story, but I remember giving her some (if not all) of the little money I had left.

People are like fish. Different kinds of fish live in different kinds of water and at different depths. The fish that travel the Greyhound are different from those who fly. They are poorer and a bit rougher. (A similar contrast can be found in various department stores?)

There is no reserve seating on buses. It's a crap-shoot. My next seat mate was much more to my liking: closer to my age too. (I was 19ish; she was 17ish.)

I don't recall her name, though I've tried. She lived in Overland Park, Kansas. I know that because we exchanged letters for a while. I even visited her while on another road-trip. I stopped by the day she was loading her moving van. (That was a short visit.)

On the bus, we chatted, conversed, discoursed, shared our histories, shared our interests, and perhaps even flirted a bit. We had the time. Plenty of it. We slept, leaning on each other -- sitting up. It was a long bus ride.

24 hours into my trip, I was in Chicago. We had a short layover and transfer in Chicago. She accompanied me out onto the streets. I was trying to find a bank, so I could cash a refund check from Cal State, Fullerton. (I had paid my fees, but withdrawn from school in order to hit the road. They refunded my fees, and now I needed a bank to cash the check.)

We ran into some difficulty: First, I couldn't get anyone to make eye contact. Partly the problem was that in the big city you don't look at strangers; and partly, I looked strange. (I really couldn't blame them.)

Secondly, I was suffering from too long on a bus. It was affecting my mind. Here's how I knew:

I finally got someone to look at me and I blurted my question, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I can find a...., uh, a..... uh..."

They walked away.

I couldn't remember the word for bank! Too long on a bus! Too long on the same side of a bus.

The girl and I gave up and got back on the bus. I got a nice neck rub to sooth my sore neck and fevered brain. (My dad was a banker, and I had drawn a blank. Ouch.)

About twelve hours later, we had reached her departure point.

Perhaps we had developed a bit of the Stockholm Syndrome, only not for our captors, but for our fellow-prisoners -- I mean travelers. (Or each other.)

However it happened, I ended up staying a day or two with her and her sister. Her sister was older, probably early 20s, and she was a dancer, a ballerina. (She had the legs to prove it! Buff.) She also had a boyfriend. The two sisters shared a house. Their mom was... out of the picture... and their dad was overseas working for an oil company.

My Wiccan friend was a senior at an all girls' school. She took me to school the next day: kind of an unorthodox show-and-tell project. Or... look at the young hippie I found on the bus coming from New York! Isn't he cute?

I didn't see her perform any of the spells using special candles she had told me about, but I did meet the German Shepherd her dad had left to protect his girls. The dog had flunked out of police dog academy. The dog could do everything (including attack on command), but could not scale a six-foot wall. The dog tolerated me. I was more suspect than welcomed. (I remember the dog sleeping beside the bed I slept in... quietly growling in the night. -- I kept my feet in bed until daylight!)

For whatever reason, I got back on the bus to continue my trip home. I'm guessing it had to do with limitations on the ticket.

A day and a half later I arrived at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California. I think one of my sisters drove over to pick me up. We made the five minute drive to our parents' house: I was glad to be home.

One of the first things I remember doing after getting home was taking a walk. It had rained, but it was still warm enough and dry enough to go walking... in... flip-flops. I smiled. Ahhh... California winters...

* * * * *

So what did I learn about witches?

They're not all bad. The ones I met were people. Most, like me, were seekers. I respected that then, and I still do.

Too often I suspect we need to ask ourselves, "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"

We condemn things that are alien to us, like witches, but ignore things that are close to us, like __________. (Fill in the blank... for you.)

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." (I've read that in the Bible!)

I've also read, "All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way..."

It's too easy to judge others in order to excuse ourselves. Too easy to pick at splinters in others and ignore planks in us.

Like the religious folk who presented Jesus with the woman (and not the man) taken in adultery, we need to hear Jesus say, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

What happened to those religious folk? "At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first..." (The older ones are sometimes more aware of personal failure(s). Hey, but I'm older...)

I'm reminded of the words of a song:

It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer;
It's me, it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

Not my brother, not my sister
But it's me, oh Lord
Standing in the need of prayer.

* * * *

There may be Wiccans in the Woodwork; that's okay. That's not my direct concern. One thing I learned on my travels was that people are people. Needy people. People like me. Many of them Seekers... many still "on the road to find out."

When I was a Seeker, I read this, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

And so I sought, and so I found.

How about you?

(And to be honest... I'm still asking... seeking... and knocking...
I believe that life is not about arrival, but about travel.)

PS: In an earlier post I mentioned that I didn't carry a camera (or wear a watch). But one of my cousins had a camera. From my trip up the coast two years earlier (Wiccans #1), Dennis took this picture of Nick and I.

Travel: Witches in the Woodwork - 2

2009-11-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

I went to Cal State Fullerton in the early 70s. I went to college because I was expected to. I was an undeclared major for my first two years. After two years, I took a semester (or two) off.

It began with a road-trip.

I had already paid my fees for the semester, but somehow a friend and I decided that driving my black '67 Fiat Sport Coupe to the East Coast to visit his home town on Long Island was a good idea. (Better than college?) It certainly was a memorable trip, even if it wasn't very smart.

One of our first destinations was a garage in Las Vegas. It seems that I had cracked an engine mount and my engine was sagging. (Falling out a bit?) I think I might have cracked it that time I accidentally got my car airborne. (Who knew that the gas station I was cutting through in a late-night car race didn't have a driveway onto the street I wanted to exit on? Off the curb I went -- into the air -- and two years it landed me in a Las Vegas repair shop.)

On the way into Vegas, we had pulled off the road, hiked into the desert and admired the night sky. It was awesome. Away from the city lights, you see things. That's what this trip was about: seeing things.

After the garage in Vegas, we headed to the Grand Canyon. Most people visit the south rim, but we were on the north rim. It's about 8,500 feet above sea level and gets snow in the winter. We there in late September, just a few weeks before the campground would close for the winter.

"What's at the Grand Canyon North Rim?

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon offers everything the visitor could ask for; mule rides down into the canyon to Roaring Springs, river tours, the lodge, restaurant, saloon, gift shop, deli, visitors center and campgrounds.

How far is the South Rim from the Grand Canyon North Rim?

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is only eleven miles away from the North Rim if one could fly, but by car it is 215 miles. For the avid hiker there is a grueling rim to rim trail combining the North Kaibab Trail and the Bright Angel Trail or South Kaibab Trail."

We camped for a few days, and then hiked down into the canyon for two nights. Grueling but beautiful.

Before we left we enjoyed the Lodge. "The original Grand Canyon Lodge was built in 1928 and burned down in 1932. The new lodge was built in 1937 and this time with a grand window that overlooks Bright Angel Point."

That's where I met my second set of Wiccans. They didn't actually come out of the woodwork, they were on the scenic balcony, enjoying the few. In their mid-twenties, the women were ordinary looking. But as we were co-enraptured with the beauty of the view, they mentioned that they were developing powers that enabled them to manipulate some of Nature's grandeur. The biggest accomplishment to date for these new witches? Conjuring up a small storm some weeks before. (Or so they said.)

Being open-minded -- and a bit naive -- I took this all in as if it were normal. For them it probably was.

It was just a chance encounter. I didn't see them again. The next day my friend and I loaded up our sleeping bags and day packs. We hadn't planned to do any hiking. We went any way. (We left the Fiat and tent top-side.) Here's what we did...

"The North Kaibab Trail is a strenuous, 14.5 mile one-way backpack. This is the only North Rim trail leading to the Colorado River. The trail descends beneath the rim, through the forest, for the first 5 miles, to Roaring Springs. Roaring Springs is a waterfall created by water pouring from a muav cave into Bright Angel Creek. The trail continues along Bright Angel Creek and on to Phantom Ranch."

Wiki-pedia offers some geographic clues: "Phantom Ranch's elevation is 2,550 feet; that is about 4,600 feet lower than the South Rim and about 5,800 feet lower than the North Rim."

We hiked down from the North Rim, and then, back up to the North Rim. It. was. strenuous.

More on that... another time.

PS: Back in the day, I didn't carry a camera. I didn't wear a watch. All the pictures are mental, and they are lovely.

PPS: Saving the best for last... pics of my grand-kids!

Travel: Witches in the Woodwork - 1

2009-11-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

"Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, I've got seven women on my mind...", so goes the song from the 1972 by the Eagles.

About the same time this song was gaining airplay, I took a few road-trips. Along the way I met some interesting people.

I'm a talker. I like people. I find them interesting, so it's not unusual for me to engage in conversations with strangers during my travels. I've been doing it for years.

A week or so ago I watched a BBC production called Dr. Who. My wife spent some time in her youth in Scotland, and the Dr. Who series is part of her personal culture. I was just tagging along. In one particular episode, The Shakespeare Code, three unique extraterrestrials play key roles in the unfolding drama. Two of the three look very much like our Halloween witches. The third is a pretty, but conniving, blond. The third was more typical of the witches I've met.

The story line suggests that maybe these women were the prototypes for the witches that appear in some of Shakespeare's works. The story suggested to me that there are witches in the woodwork: real life practitioners of wicca who lurk at the edges of our awareness.

I've met a few.

Wika-pedia defines wicca as a neopagan, nature-based religion. If political correctness applied to witches, then we'd call them Wiccans.

Wiki-pedia informed me that Wiccans "typically worship a Goddess (traditionally a Triple Goddess) and a God... Other characteristics of Wicca includes the ritual use of magic, a basic code of morality, and the celebration of eight seasonally based festivals."

The Wiccans I met seemed nice: misunderstood nature lovers perhaps?

The first two appeared on my radar while I was on a month long motor trek up the West Coast. Starting out from my hometown of Anaheim, the home of Disneyland, Nick and I headed north. Mostly we camped out along the way. Mostly we stayed in state parks. It was beautiful.

We weren't great planners, so we had no reservations. That was only a problem the first night when our targeted state park was full. For a slightly higher fee we were able to camp out in an adjacent privately owned campground.

An LA Times writer provides a description of the area, "Waves splash over the tide pools at Carpinteria State Beach, a popular coastal camping spot southeast of Santa Barbara. When day trippers leave, campers can enjoy empty stretches of sand and the sounds of crashing surf. There are hiking and biking trails with beautiful views of the Santa Ynez Mountains on one side and the Channel Islands on the other."

We camped next to that. One of the features of our campground was an open recreational pasture-like area. Nick and I enjoyed a game of Frisbee until a youth group from a local Baptist church set up a volleyball net. They invited us to play. I joined them, and Nick retreated to our campsite to relax.

When I returned an hour or so later to the campsite, Nick was not alone. He had attracted the attention of two slightly "older" ladies. Nick was probably 19; I was 18. The girls appeared to be in the mid-20's. Go Nick.

In the course of the ensuing conversation, I discovered that our guests were Wiccans. They too were enjoying the beauty of the beach. They had moved to Santa Barbara, drawn in part by the Wiccan community that lived in the area. They were saving up their money to buy some land. They wanted to plant a grove. (Add eerie music here.)

I left Nick to the converse with the witches while I meandered over to the youth group's campfire. They had invited us for dessert and some singing. I opted for the fire, Nick opted for the shadows. (Truth be told, the girls were more interested in Nick anyway. Had the positions been reversed, I might have stayed in the shadows as well.)

For me the night was a bit of a fork in the road. At the campfire, I heard for the first time the stirring lyrics of "For Those Tears I Died." I was left pondering the question, "What if God really is real? What if Jesus is really alive and cares about my tears?"

Nick and I were pilgrims of sort. Like the title of the Cat Stevens' song of that era, we were "On The Road to Find Out."

Little did I know the reality of the lyrics of another Christian hymn that says, "I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew he moved my soul to seek him, seeking me;it was not I that found, O Savior true; no, I was found of thee."

Regardless of that watershed night of Wiccans and Christians, Nick and I continued our journey up the Coast.

It was several years later, on another road-trip that I met my next pair of Wiccans.

More on that... next time!

Here's Cat Steven's singing the anthem of my heart at that time: On The Road To Find Out.

Here's the compare/contrast to the song I heard at the youth group's campfire:

Was it the 70's or was it just the time of early adulthood? Or maybe both?

Twins! (and other blessings)

2009-11-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

A special bulletin: Today, in central Illinois, a set of twins were born. Mom and identical twin boys are doing fine.

I have no pictures yet... but here is a "before" of their mom, my daughter: Joanna.

Joanna is and has been an athlete. That paid dividends at delivery. (The boys are welcome additions to her family: Abby, Rachel, and husband John.)

My son, Joel, who lives, works, and plays in British Columbia is also active. Here are two pics I unearthed of him online. (In the PS to a post I almost missed, was a link to a race called Phantom Run. He won the 12k mountain trail race on November 14th. An hour and seven minutes to cover seven plus miles of trail.) The other picture of him, in better weather, is from the Mountain Madness website that sponsors these "fun" runs.

The last two pics are of my youngest daughter. (She's in Illinois to help out the new mom!) She worked this summer in the Sierra Nevada mountains repairing and building back country trails, including parts of the John Muir Trail in Kings Canyon National Park. Here are a couple of pics from her summer job. (She's the one in the blue bandana.)

Kids and grand-kids: the dividends of a life invested in family.

The highlight of my birthday on Saturday, was hearing my two granddaughters sing Happy Birthday over the phone. Good times. Great blessings.

Happy Birth-day Twins!

PS: Just as I was getting ready to post this... I got an e-mail... with an attachment. (Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... Ain't they cute?!!!!)

Travel Stories Anyone?

2009-11-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

One of my fellow bloggers, Chase, has been after me for some time to recount a few stories from my various travels. (He just spent a year in Taiwan.)

I'm writing today on my 56th birthday.

At my age, I have lots of stories. (Many of them I repeat. Just ask my family.)

I have purposefully refrained from reminiscing on this blog. I've worked hard to stay in the moment, to spend time looking forward, and to explore rather than rest.

But after 200 plus blog entries, I feel okay about exploring another set of topics: my past.

I am a traveler. One of my favorite books is called, The Universal Traveler, but it's not a book about travels. It's a book about problem solving. Travelers solve problems. They encounter strange places and strange people. They do it on purpose. Strange only means different, unusual, not customary.

I have encountered many non-customary people in my travels. I converse with people. I "interview" them, and I learn.

One non-customary group of people I've met in my travels are witches.

I was reminded of them while watching an episode of a British sci-fi drama series called Dr. Who. My wife has visited Scotland several times in her life. As a result she has some interest in things British, like their TV.

Here's a taste of Dr. Who and some witches he encountered. (Next post... I'll talk about some that I've met on my travels.)

PS: The eucalyptus trees are in bloom.

Risk Management?

2009-11-14T19:00:00.000-08:00

Driving to work a week or so ago, I saw a road worker standing in the middle of a very busy intersection. He was holding the stick for a survey team.

The intersection had nine lanes on one road (Imperial Highway) and six lanes on the other (Idaho).

The hard-hatted worker had four orange cones surrounding him and his tripod.

He was attentive.

I marveled at him from my safe, red-light vantage point.

As he looked around at the 18 wheelers and assorted vehicles driving by at 50 miles an hour, he lifted his hand to his shirt pocket... pulled out a pack of cigarettes... and lit up... eyes still scanning the traffic...

"Of course he's a smoker," I thought to myself and laughed.

The cars may never get him... but the cigarettes probably will!

PS: Took a walk today at Cal State Fullerton. The next few posts will feature pictures from my November 14th walk in SoCal.

Misdiagnosis!

2009-11-09T07:24:00.000-08:00

My bathroom faucet had a stroke, but it took me several weeks to correctly diagnose the problem. Let me explain...

A month or so ago my bathroom sink (and shower) drains began to show signs of slowing. Usually I attach a Drain King to my garden hose and blast out the clog.

I used to use hand powered snakes, but I discovered the Drain King a decade or so ago. They have saved me hundreds of dollars.

Unfortunately, I decided to try something a bit different this time. I shoved a brake cable from a bicycle down the bathroom sink drain. The cable didn't break the blockage, so I tried the casing of the cable. That didn't work either, but I did pop a pea-sized hole in the bottom of the P-trap under my pedestal style sink.

Ouch.

Pedestal sinks are pretty, but they don't leave much room for working on the plumbing. They generally require a de-installation. We're talking $500 plus in plumbing bills, plus some tile work.

To make matters worse, we are a one bathroom family. Ouch.

We limped along for a week or two, thanks to my wife's patience, before I figured out a way to fix the P-trap myself, without the aid of a plumber or uninstalling the sink.

Unfortunately, in the process of repairing the P-trap, the water pressure in the sink plummeted. I diagnosed the problem as two failed turn-off valves that I had used during the P-trap fix.

Another week or two passed until I got up the nerve to attempt a double valve replacement. At least the valves were more accessible than the P-trap. However, they refused to get fixed. I took apart the cold water turn off valve four or five times, simply trying to install the valve wide open. Still nothing but a trickle.

A visit to the hardware store yielded nothing more than a clearer picture of what the inside of a valve looked like. I wasn't messing up the valve fix-it job. It's just that the valves weren't the problem.

Then what was?

I did a little more investigation. Tried a few things. Mopped up a few quarts of water. And then... I had an idea: maybe the valves are bad; maybe the faucet is.

I've never had a faucet go bad. I've had them start leaking, but generally they don't stop spouting out water.

I investigated. I was going to operate on the faucet's valves, but they were inacessible. As a last resort, I used some pliers to remove the screen that covered the spout. These screens are generally in place to aerate the water and catch any big hunks of sediment.

My home has soft water and copper. We don't get sediment.

I twisted off the screen only to find a flow-inhibitor behind the screen. The flow inhibitor is a solid piece of plastic with a hole in it about the size of a BB. This hole was plugged with a piece of sediment that had come loose from the valves when I turned off the water to fix the P-trap. (Oh. I guess we do have sediment.)

I had misdiagnosed the problem. The valves were fine. It was a clogged flow-inhibitor. Dang! That mistake cost me two or three hours.

Once I had properly diagnosed the problem, I was able to fix it in about two minutes. I removed the sediment, but then I decided to just remove the flow-inhibitor.

Water pressure was restored! (Now I understood why both the cold and hot water flows had been affected. Now I understood why the bathroom sink seemed to take so long to heat up. I didn't know I had a flow inhibitor!)

A simple piece of sediment broke loose (like plaque off an artery) and caused my faucet to have a stroke.

Go figure.

This misadventure caused me to ponder, "How often do we waste time and effort on solutions that aren't addressing the real problem?"

Too often I fear.

Sometimes it takes an unrelated problem to make me rethink some of my other persistent problems. Maybe you can learn from my mistakes and re-diagnose some persistent problems of your own.

Here's hoping!

(After I fixed the water flow problem, I reverted back to my Drain King and hand powered snake to clear the drains without further mishap. Keep the cables on the bike and out of the drains!)

California: Home Sweet Home

2009-11-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

I grew up in Anaheim, California, just about one mile from Disneyland. Summer nights, we'd go out and stand at the end of the driveway and watch the fireworks. Back then, they went off at 9 pm. Nowadays, I'm closer to five miles from Disneyland, and I can hear the fireworks... 9:30 pm, almost every night.

I'm glad I live in California, but I'm a bit surprised that I do.

Somewhere in my mid-teens I concluded that all the world wasn't like Orange County. Disneyland is called "The happiest place on earth." The track of homes I grew up in each had a tile on the front porch that said, "Enchanted Homes." Somehow, it didn't seem quite real -- not quite true. I was all about truth... so I decided to do some traveling when the chance came.

My first big trip (not counting childhood trips to Iowa, Arizona and Washington) was a month long road trip up the West coast. I was in my first or second year of college. It was summer and a guy I kind of knew from high school was looking for someone to join him on a road trip. He had the car. We bought a large, four man tent, and started up the coast. We worked the state parks all the way up into British Columbia, Canada.

We met lots of interesting people, saw some beautiful places, and spent two days in Legget, California waiting for a new radiator. Good times. I also remembering driving back into the LA area during a smoggy rush hour. And you know what? We were glad to be "home."

My next road trip was a year or two later. I took a year off of college. My friend Craig and I drove my Fiat as far as Council Bluff, Iowa. That's where the engine died. We had hiked the Grand Canyon, camped in the Rockies, and sang at the top of our lungs to Chuck Berry on the open road.

I had enough money to fix the car and head home, or... sell the car and hitch-hike the rest of the way. I opted for "sell the car." We wish we'd done it sooner. Our first 8 or 9 rides were like a traveling party. Not only did people give us rides, they took us into their homes. (Yes, we did spend one night under some bushes along the river, but... hey.) In Pennsylvania, the people who had picked us up, lent us their tent and they slept in their van because it was raining. I still remember seeing several deer standing on a slope leading to a fog covered river the next morning. Good times.

Our trip ended in Long Island where Craig had lived until he was ten. Later, we hitched down to Cape Cod (Chatham) where we spent a couple of weeks with some high school buddies. Our only "appointment" on the trip was a Halloween party in Norwood, Mass. In Norwood, we almost rented a house with some girls I knew from California. I had worked at 31 Flavors with one of them. At the last minute, our plans fell through. I decided to take the bus home (a three day, mind-numbing trip) while Craig traveled to Vermont where he nearly starved due to a lack of jobs. (No snow.)

Once I got home, in late November, I remember putting on a light jacket, my flip-flops, and taking a walk in the park. Ahhh... California.

The last big road trip of my youth was a month long trek from Anaheim to Orlando to Nova Scotia to Spokane (and the World's Fair.) The trip went full circle back to Anaheim. That too was a trip to remember. Many places, many people, many states.

After all this exploration, one would think I might have ended up somewhere else. I really thought I would, and I did, sort of. I moved five miles north to Fullerton.

What happened? After all my wanderings I got reacquainted with God. One day I prayed, "O Lord, I'll live anywhere you want me to live." Within six months I found a new home... five miles north. I've been here ever since.

For years I simply thought God had a good sense of humor. Now, I think He just had good sense.

Over the last decade, my wife and I have traveled in many of the US states as well. We did a month long road trip from Fullerton to Mason City, Iowa. We took the southern route on the way there, and the northern route on the way back. We saw the sights of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, (Nebraska), and Iowa. We followed the Lewis and Clark trail west after visiting Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, eventually hitting the Pacific Coast at the Columbia River. Then we took Highway One south, all the way to San Francisco visiting the Oregon Coast, the coastal Redwoods, and Mendicino. We traveled the 101 from San Francisco to Los Angeles, then 30 miles south to Fullerton.

Each place had its own charms, but our own home and locale seems to have a magic which captures us more and more each time we return.

I think Joni Mitchell, a Canadian, captured some of the magic in her song: California. (Enjoy!)