Post Great Snow

I just realized my pictures from last weekends fun, snow and frivolity were never posted.

Here you go.  One big hill, just enough snow, and ton’s of fun.

Tea Party Madness

In Nashville, up until today, the first National Tea Party Convention is being held.

And to much bad press I must add.

The heat is coming because of the amount that was charged for tickets, the Sarah Palin speech, and just about everything else the Tea Party is doing.

But why?

Simple really. Because it is new, gaining popularity and might take some precious news time from other political forums.

Like the Tea Party or not, isn’t this what American Politics is all about? Standing up for what you believe and being heard.

After all, it is what the entire Democratic Campaign to elect President Obama was based on. Being heard. A voice, change, a new direction.

So why the uproar?

One of the biggest pieces covered in the news is about the cost? $550 to attend the convention is being thrown around as a ridiculous amount of money for this event…really? To attend the Democratic National Convention or Republican National Convention it runs about $3500 per ticket. If you can get one. Cost to throw one of the conventions is 10’s of millions of dollars.

The second item is that they are paying Sarah Palin 100k to speak. OK…sounds like a lot but do you know what the going rate is for Clinton, Gore, Bush, Rudy and others? A hole heck of a lot more than 100k. In some cases a speaker can get as much as 1 million or better for a speech. Stupid I know but Palin at 100k is not that far out of whack.

So, like the Tea Party or not, what they are doing is good for American Politics. It is a voice of a portion of our population. You might not agree with the voice but that is OK…they don’t agree with you either.

Thoughts?

Simply Genius

One thing I love is great advertising.  Especially when it is funny.

Saw this last night and, well, see for yourself.

A Friend Of A Friend

Last night while watching some great NFL Football, I looked around the room and thought “I wonder what if I would not have..”

You see, we were hosting a Football and Chili party at our house and it was filled with some of our closest friends.

What dawned on me is how easily it would have been for none of us to have ever met.

As I glanced around the room I could easily recall the circumstances that led to us meeting.   My wife taught their child, we met at a church function, we met through a friend, a parent of my daughters friend and so on.

What was crazy to me is how easily it could have been for me to know none of these people.

What if I would have chosen the promotion in Kentucky in lieu of Nashville?

What if we built our house in a different location?

If either of those decisions had been different, I would not know any of the people who were sitting in my house watching football.

It is mind boggling to think these things but it is absolutely amazing how people come into our lives.

So today I wake up Thankful.  Thankful that I have made all the choices I have, good or bad, and met the people I can now call friends.

How about you?  Are you Thankful today for your friends and the choices you have made to meet them?

It is Simple- Prop Up A Book

My daughter ran through her normal routine the other day.

This usually entails getting up, getting dressed and then making her bed.  Of course a bit of fussing while the hair is being combed through.

Once complete, I double check to make sure the bed is actually made (or close to it), her pants are on the right way and that she is somewhat presentable for school.

On this particular day I entered her bedroom to find this.

She had taken her favorite stuffed animals, got her favorite book, and set them up to read.

When I asked her about it she simply said, “Dad, they get lonely when I am not here.  I thought they might like a story while I am at school.”

I had to sit back and digest this but it really is that simple isn’t it?

Those who need help don’t need something elaborate like a telethon or a fundraising ball…they just need someone to care.

They just need someone to “prop up a book” for them if you will.

So, as we head into this weekend give it some thought.  Do you know someone who you could “prop up a book” for?

Robertson and Limbaugh- SHUT UP

I probably do not need to say anymore than my title for this post.

But you know I am not going to stop there.

I can easily say that the likes of Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh have absolutely pissed me off this week.

First off, Pat Robertson likening the disaster in Haiti to a pact with the devil and then secondly Rush Limbaugh stating to not donate because we already do so through our tax dollars.

I cannot begin to tell you how sick and tired I am of people like this puting a black eye on what GREAT people are doing to help the people of Haiti.  Once more, the black eye they put on the United States.

At this time I cannot believe the 700 Club, CBN, and several other organizations can stand by Pat Robertson and his comments.  People have died, are suffering and need help.  You claim to be Christian but I have yet to see you show faith, hope or love directed from you towards the people of Haiti.  I am not a Reverend or Pastor by any sense of the word but can tell you, it is the basis for what we, as Christians, are supposed to do.

As for Rush, you are a joke.  I do not want to even waste my time on speaking about you.

Now that I have that off my chest…

Friends, Family, anyone who reads this, please find someone or someway to help the folks in Haiti.

There are some amazing groups out there trying to provide help.  Pick one.

$5 is a ton of help right now so if you have to, start there.

Churches all over the country have set up ways to give through good, viable organizations.  Even if you do not attend church, feel free to stop by and offer help.  I promise your help will be appreciated.

I wish to show the world what Americans, Christians and People from all countries are truly about.

And yes I know, you do not even have to send me comments about it.  I should not be slamming others within this post and I more than likely have not acted as I should.  Fair enough.  I stand by my comments though, and I will gladly take the heat.

All that on a Sunday.

Easy Being Green

New Kid On The Block

This last week I left Nashville for Marco Island, Florida.

It was the time that I would move from an old, comfortable career, into a new and challenging role. But not just any new role, a new role in a new division.

This weekend as it is would put me on stage as the “New Kid On The Block”.

I have not been the new kid in a very long time. In most recent years I have been just the opposite. I have hosted the new kid, exposed them to job, the people, the challenges. But now the roles have been reversed.

As my meetings started I found it easy to kind of hide in the crowd, sit at the back of the room or head to the room in lieu of hanging out at the restaurants or bar.

It was in the midst of late on the first full day, two counterparts reached out with a simple invitation to dinner. “Join us”.

That “join us” led to great conversations about where I came from, people, the new role and even families.

The next day, the two counterparts introduced me to others and it kept expanding.

I started to get acquainted with the team, their personalities, spouses and even a kiddo or two. By the end of the conference I was still the new kid, but I knew some people. I felt more comfortable.

This is how life goes isn’t it?

At times we find ourselves the “new kids”.

What this has all made me think about though is how do I reach out to new people?

At Church? At Starbucks? At a game?

The new kids often go through life invisible and ignored when all it takes is one person simply saying “join us”.

That “join us” can lead to amazing new relationships that endure a lifetime.

It can lead to great conversations where much is learned or problems solved.

It can lead to improving the bottom line of a company or starting a new one.

It can lead wherever you let it take you.

At the same time the invisible become clear and the ignored become heard.

So, the next time you see that “new kid” at church, work, the gym, Starbucks or at a party with friends, are you going to ask them “Join Us”?

My System For Travel

My System For Travel

1)  Pull Suit, Slacks, Shirts and Ties.

2)  Pull one pair of jeans, two casual shirts, workout clothes and shoes.

3)  Refill kit bag with toothpaste, shaving cream etc.

4)  Load Suitcase- Pack undies, socks and tees at bottom to level out the bag.  Then suits, shirts, tie holder and finally workout clothes and shoes.

5)  Pack Briefcase- (See above-Actual Briefcase) Files, agenda and travel plans in back pocket, Laptop in the middle, Magazines in front.  Current book being read (Servant Leadership) in front right pocket and in front left pocket charging cables, wireless mouse and glasses.

Done.

I have a travel system.  It does not change or vary much ever.  It starts with the suitcase and briefcase, and continues all the way to parking, checking in bags and getting through security.  Once through security, it moves onto a stop at the Starbucks for an iced-coffee, a quick grab of wireless to check email and/or blog and then to the gate.

My system never fails.  It has been tried and true to me.  Or so I think.

What would happen if my system would fail?  I don’t really have a backup system or plan B if you would.

You are laughing at my system more than likely but if you really look st it this system tends to be a metaphore for life.  The scary part is that we think the system is tried and true but it can and will fail us at some point.

We get up each and everyday, get the kids ready for school, have breakfast and generally go about our day in the same manner we did the day before.  Don’t think so, log your activities for a week and see how many of the same things you do over and over again.  It is why the girl at the local coffee house knows what you are going to order or why the guy at the Parking Spot knows my name when I park my vehicle there for travel.

But what happens when you wake up and your child has a fever?  You car doesn’t start?  There is an accident on the interstate and you cannot get to the airport to catch your flight?  There is a new person working at Starbucks and you actual have to tell them what you drink?  Your system or plans fail you.

How do you deal or cope with a change in plans or a failure in your system?

The Final Weigh In-Pledges Raised Are ?

Pledging for Weight Loss is over.

The final results are in:

Final weight: 185

Inches Lost in waist: 3

Total weight lost: 19.4

It wasnt the 30 I had originally wanted or at least the 20, although close.

I will say this though, I feel a ton better and I am far from done.

Now, the best part.

Through all of this we raised some money for charity.  $135 heading to charity.

The first is Mo.  An amazing missionary in Tel Aviv.  If you feel led to donate on this new year outside of pledging for weight loss, here is the link.

Donate to Maureen.

The second is YCAP.  A local youth group and home in Nashville, TN.  If you have interest in donating to them, please drop me an email and I will forward the information to you.

Thanks a million for all your support as this went along.  It was truly a help.

And in turn, thanks for supporting a couple great causes.

Happy New Year!