So as a father who feels overly responsible for things…these next couple months are going to be hard to get through. I want my children to have everything that I was not able to have or experience. My mind immediately goes to the monetary things in life. I didn’t have this, or that…and I want my children to have this or that. Then I look at other children that have everything and I think, “What spoiled BRATS.” I think my children get the things they need, certainly not everything they want. We have frank conversations about needs and wants all of the time. I hope this does not have a “negative” outcome for them. Since I went without quite a bit, I think I want more. That need is hard to temper. I know I am where I need to be professionally, that has been confirmed to be many times. My desires for my children never go away because of the imprint left on me when I was young.
I believe this constant need that people have is wreaking havoc on our society right now. We all are over indulgent. I work in a place where I see this over indulgence too often. Students coming to school in higher education expect the same life style they had when living with their parents. These erroneous expectations cause friction between frugality and extravagance with these youth. It promotes invincibility and potentially all of the ills of society. We are not held accountable for our actions and expect someone to get us out of trouble (I am sounding Republican-esque…EEEEK, this is not meant to offend, this is only my internal speak).
I guess thinking on my desires for my children…I am on track with my deepest beliefs. I should not be conflicted when I want them to have more, but am unable or unwilling to give them everything. That solves the problem on a very small level. How can I make a difference in a larger degree? My time and energy are finite (dedicated spouse, 6 children, job 40 hours+, service to church and community) with an infinite problem (globally). I guess my desires will dictate how far I can take this global need. I need more hours in the day and more sleep!
31.10.08
29.10.08
Civic Duty
I voted today and feel quite relieved! Some colleagues at work warned me that it may take an hour or more to get through the line. It took me 25 minutes. The line moved quickly. The guy standing behind me was a Vietnam Veteran. I thanked him for serving our country and our conversations immediately went to the Iraq war. We talked about who we knew had served. Then we talked about his girlfriend and ballroom dancing. We covered lots of territory in those few minutes. Sweet, nice guy. Good conversation.
I made the mistake of letting people in my office know that I was going to head to the JoCo election office. They had all kinds of suggestions of who to vote for and what initiatives to affirm. I thought I walked into a snake pit! (If you do not know Indiana Jones and I have this one thing in common…we HATE snakes) I just had to smile and nod my head, then say I did not want to get into it. I am not bashing their beliefs but I think that certain individuals need to get outside themselves, see a bit of the world around them and not be so tunnel vision.
One thing that I am extremely grateful for when I grew up (I attribute this to my parents) their beliefs were not imposed upon me. I was able to come to decision by myself and reap the positive or negative consequences. How refreshing it would be if everyone did something outside their comfort zone (legally) often enough to broaden their scope. This is not to liberalize the world, but for individuals to gain a sincere appreciation for others different from themselves. Each of us become so wrapped up in our own self-centered lives and it promotes homogeneity in the wrong sense. This might be the objective of some people, but I think that belief is so misguided.
I am (feeling a bit patriotic today) grateful to be in a free country where we can elect our leaders without fear of recourse. Although my staff may have recourse on me if certain people win in the Presidential election!
I made the mistake of letting people in my office know that I was going to head to the JoCo election office. They had all kinds of suggestions of who to vote for and what initiatives to affirm. I thought I walked into a snake pit! (If you do not know Indiana Jones and I have this one thing in common…we HATE snakes) I just had to smile and nod my head, then say I did not want to get into it. I am not bashing their beliefs but I think that certain individuals need to get outside themselves, see a bit of the world around them and not be so tunnel vision.
One thing that I am extremely grateful for when I grew up (I attribute this to my parents) their beliefs were not imposed upon me. I was able to come to decision by myself and reap the positive or negative consequences. How refreshing it would be if everyone did something outside their comfort zone (legally) often enough to broaden their scope. This is not to liberalize the world, but for individuals to gain a sincere appreciation for others different from themselves. Each of us become so wrapped up in our own self-centered lives and it promotes homogeneity in the wrong sense. This might be the objective of some people, but I think that belief is so misguided.
I am (feeling a bit patriotic today) grateful to be in a free country where we can elect our leaders without fear of recourse. Although my staff may have recourse on me if certain people win in the Presidential election!
28.10.08
Apathy and other annoyances...
Here I go again…
As we are going through the gyrations of an election this Fall I have noticed how down-right negative things have gotten. I am not blaming one or the other of Presidential Candidates, but they are accusatory, demeaning, and dirty at times. I get tired of hearing about this and I get disenfranchised from the process. I would actually love to get involved in politics, but if this is what I would have to endure…forget it!
On to the next subject…
I am generally done with apathy! I belong to a couple service organizations and I cannot get over how some people just don’t care. Then I don’t really wonder why some of the students that come to our campus have this attitude. Some do not have focus, goals, aspirations or plans for the future. This just baffles me. My generation (and some late baby boomers) are raising the next generation. Sometimes I am hopeful, but other times I am thoroughly discouraged.
I grew up where I had to fend for myself and no one was there to help me pick up the pieces. This was my responsibility and it gave me my individuality. I hope my children can learn to work and decide on things in an autonomous manner. I only worry about one child…you guessed it…my daughter. Sometimes I think it is the woman in her, but I shouldn’t make such gross generalities. She can be the most focused and determined individual in our family, yet the most undecided. Sometimes I just throw up my arms in exasperation (I should not try to understand the XX chromosomes).
I still want that book on raising children. I still cannot get over how sugar impacted my church experience on Sunday. Isaac is a great kid, but sugar made him morph into a holy terror. I had a couple of people comment after our service, “Man he is a hand full” “He has a lot of energy”! He is just hopped up on sugar. Oh yeah, we get to go trick or treating again this Friday. I am REALLY looking forward to that.
Some days I think that my 16 year old is too moody, then I remember back to my time at that age and count my blessings! I do love my children and they add so much to my life. My children do care about things generally and are not caught in the apathy game. I guess that is the best I can do right now to combat my anti-apathy campaign. I wonder if I can start throwing dirt in this campaign? :)
As we are going through the gyrations of an election this Fall I have noticed how down-right negative things have gotten. I am not blaming one or the other of Presidential Candidates, but they are accusatory, demeaning, and dirty at times. I get tired of hearing about this and I get disenfranchised from the process. I would actually love to get involved in politics, but if this is what I would have to endure…forget it!
On to the next subject…
I am generally done with apathy! I belong to a couple service organizations and I cannot get over how some people just don’t care. Then I don’t really wonder why some of the students that come to our campus have this attitude. Some do not have focus, goals, aspirations or plans for the future. This just baffles me. My generation (and some late baby boomers) are raising the next generation. Sometimes I am hopeful, but other times I am thoroughly discouraged.
I grew up where I had to fend for myself and no one was there to help me pick up the pieces. This was my responsibility and it gave me my individuality. I hope my children can learn to work and decide on things in an autonomous manner. I only worry about one child…you guessed it…my daughter. Sometimes I think it is the woman in her, but I shouldn’t make such gross generalities. She can be the most focused and determined individual in our family, yet the most undecided. Sometimes I just throw up my arms in exasperation (I should not try to understand the XX chromosomes).
I still want that book on raising children. I still cannot get over how sugar impacted my church experience on Sunday. Isaac is a great kid, but sugar made him morph into a holy terror. I had a couple of people comment after our service, “Man he is a hand full” “He has a lot of energy”! He is just hopped up on sugar. Oh yeah, we get to go trick or treating again this Friday. I am REALLY looking forward to that.
Some days I think that my 16 year old is too moody, then I remember back to my time at that age and count my blessings! I do love my children and they add so much to my life. My children do care about things generally and are not caught in the apathy game. I guess that is the best I can do right now to combat my anti-apathy campaign. I wonder if I can start throwing dirt in this campaign? :)
27.10.08
Home at last!
This was a crazy week! I am glad to be home. Friday night my parents pulled into town to spend the night with us. That is just the perfect timing for my mother. Our active children seem to exhaust her quickly. The 2 youngest boys entertained my parents the whole time they were here. On Saturday our family was busy with church things. Rachel had training early on Saturday. My parents continued on their trip. We were all excited to see them. Paisley and I went to the cross country sectional meet for her high school. Paisley’s best friend was running in the competition and she placed 25th.
We had the yearly Truck-or-Treat at our church on Saturday. Zachary and I made chili for the chili competition (we got 2nd). Rachel made some good corn bread. Here is the list of costumes:
Connor – Cowboy (we think, he really didn’t want to dress up)
Isaac – Cowboy (he had everything goin’ on!)
Kaleb – Secret Service
Ayden – Military guy
Paisley – An Egg
Zachary – Another military guy
Rachel – Sarah Palin (the only thing she was missing was a gun!)
Chris – Ace of Diamonds
We had a fun time doing this. Every year instead of giving out candy, Rachel and I choose to make balloon animals with those long balloons. All of our children were hyped up on sugar (Sunday was a nightmare).
After the trunk-or-treat we attended a Gold and Green Masquerade Ball. We all went home and changed. Rachel had her mother send her one of her prom dresses from high school, she didn’t have to do much altering (she looked great!). I borrowed a cape from a friend and Rachel and I had masks. There was a floor show and someone taught interested parties some formal dance moves. The children had fun watching the floor show then Zachary took the younger ones home and put them in bed. Paisley stayed with Rachel and I and we all learned how to swing dance better. This was a packed full day, but it was fun.
Sunday was a regular church attending day with a 4 year old hopped up on candy. He was somewhat bearable the whole day. He crashed in Paisley’s room (I think). I was asleep by 8pm, I was hopped up on too many activities in a given week. I am thankful for rest!
We had the yearly Truck-or-Treat at our church on Saturday. Zachary and I made chili for the chili competition (we got 2nd). Rachel made some good corn bread. Here is the list of costumes:
Connor – Cowboy (we think, he really didn’t want to dress up)
Isaac – Cowboy (he had everything goin’ on!)
Kaleb – Secret Service
Ayden – Military guy
Paisley – An Egg
Zachary – Another military guy
Rachel – Sarah Palin (the only thing she was missing was a gun!)
Chris – Ace of Diamonds
We had a fun time doing this. Every year instead of giving out candy, Rachel and I choose to make balloon animals with those long balloons. All of our children were hyped up on sugar (Sunday was a nightmare).
After the trunk-or-treat we attended a Gold and Green Masquerade Ball. We all went home and changed. Rachel had her mother send her one of her prom dresses from high school, she didn’t have to do much altering (she looked great!). I borrowed a cape from a friend and Rachel and I had masks. There was a floor show and someone taught interested parties some formal dance moves. The children had fun watching the floor show then Zachary took the younger ones home and put them in bed. Paisley stayed with Rachel and I and we all learned how to swing dance better. This was a packed full day, but it was fun.
Sunday was a regular church attending day with a 4 year old hopped up on candy. He was somewhat bearable the whole day. He crashed in Paisley’s room (I think). I was asleep by 8pm, I was hopped up on too many activities in a given week. I am thankful for rest!
22.10.08
Travel Log
I have been motivated by a friend to update my blog (Thanks AH!)
I have been traveling for a few days and will not be back home until Friday. As I have been traveling I have found a couple things to write about...I arrived at the Sioux Falls SD airport and, was immediately surrounded by hunters. This one older gentleman followed me the whole way to the gate. He was looking around kind of lost, "Sir can I help you," he did not know how to get through the gate. I told him to take is shoes off, coat, belt and send all of these things through the x-ray machine. He was thankful.
My next experience happened as I boarded the plane. I was in seat 2F (I like sitting by the window). 2 men (older) were sitting in 2 E&F. I indicated that my seat was 2F. They looked up at me and said "We are in the right seats, we are in 3 E&F." I told them that there was only one row in front of them and that they were sitting in row 2. "Oh we did not see that," they indicated. My concern is how can 2 people not see that they were in the 2nd row, all they needed to do was count. They were a little put out that I made them move. Then I had to listen to their uneducated, belittling, insensitive comments the whole way to Chicago (yuck).
I arrived in Chicago and waited for my next flight to Orlando.
I boarded by Orlando flight. Boarded on the first call at 7pm. Again I sat against the window. I picked up a pillow because I knew that I would probably be sleeping. The flight was supposed to be from 730pm to 1050pm (with the 1 hour change). We did not take off from Chicago until 930pm. There was a gas discrepancy. It took them 2 hours to figure out that more gas needed added, what a bureaucracy!!!! During that time, I was dozing in and out of consciousness, then I realized that the pillow I was using was rip out from underneath my head. I thought is odd, turned around and the women behind me had her eyes closed and her head on my pillow!!! I did not want to be confrontational, cleared my throat, but she did not acknowledge me.
We took off at 930pm, I did not attempt to get my pillow back and arrived in Orlando by 130am. I did see the lady that stole my pillow asked if the pillow helped, she still did not respond. I wanted to scream at her, but didn’t.
This has been the weirdest traveling experiences I have had, and thought I would write about them.
Other things, my regional financial aid conference was good. The conference in Orlando is interesting. I am able to visit individually with other financial aid director at community colleges, this has been the most useful.
I have been traveling for a few days and will not be back home until Friday. As I have been traveling I have found a couple things to write about...I arrived at the Sioux Falls SD airport and, was immediately surrounded by hunters. This one older gentleman followed me the whole way to the gate. He was looking around kind of lost, "Sir can I help you," he did not know how to get through the gate. I told him to take is shoes off, coat, belt and send all of these things through the x-ray machine. He was thankful.
My next experience happened as I boarded the plane. I was in seat 2F (I like sitting by the window). 2 men (older) were sitting in 2 E&F. I indicated that my seat was 2F. They looked up at me and said "We are in the right seats, we are in 3 E&F." I told them that there was only one row in front of them and that they were sitting in row 2. "Oh we did not see that," they indicated. My concern is how can 2 people not see that they were in the 2nd row, all they needed to do was count. They were a little put out that I made them move. Then I had to listen to their uneducated, belittling, insensitive comments the whole way to Chicago (yuck).
I arrived in Chicago and waited for my next flight to Orlando.
I boarded by Orlando flight. Boarded on the first call at 7pm. Again I sat against the window. I picked up a pillow because I knew that I would probably be sleeping. The flight was supposed to be from 730pm to 1050pm (with the 1 hour change). We did not take off from Chicago until 930pm. There was a gas discrepancy. It took them 2 hours to figure out that more gas needed added, what a bureaucracy!!!! During that time, I was dozing in and out of consciousness, then I realized that the pillow I was using was rip out from underneath my head. I thought is odd, turned around and the women behind me had her eyes closed and her head on my pillow!!! I did not want to be confrontational, cleared my throat, but she did not acknowledge me.
We took off at 930pm, I did not attempt to get my pillow back and arrived in Orlando by 130am. I did see the lady that stole my pillow asked if the pillow helped, she still did not respond. I wanted to scream at her, but didn’t.
This has been the weirdest traveling experiences I have had, and thought I would write about them.
Other things, my regional financial aid conference was good. The conference in Orlando is interesting. I am able to visit individually with other financial aid director at community colleges, this has been the most useful.
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