Politicians at it again.

Once again, the presidential election is turning into one big goat rodeo. Yesterday, 4 of the 7 Democratic candidates removed themselves from the Michigan Democratic Primary. They sighted the on going battle between the Michigan Democratic Committee, which moved the primary to January 15th, and the Democratic National Committee who say that New Hampshire, Iowa and South Dakota get to be first. In addition, to punish Michigan (and Florida for a similar move), they are refusing to seat Michigan Delegates at the Convention next year. What a mess!

Bottom line, Michigan has a huge unemployment rate and it's economy is in the toilet. But the money in charge doesn't seem to care what Michigan voters think. Putting states like New Hampshire and South Dakota first makes absolutely no sense when you look at from the perspective of a Michigan Unemployment line. Why should they get to eliminate candidates before others get to vote. All Democrat candidates have pledged to not campaign in Michigan. The last Democrat that was President signed NAFTA into law, which has made it easier to move automotive jobs out of Michigan. I want to hear what all candidates have to say about how they would replace these jobs! Instead, all Democratic candidates have pledged to not campaign in Michigan for the primary.

This is about money and power. Republicans have always been accused of running the government so that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Now it seems as the Democrats are operating on the same rules.

The old rules of primaries spread out over the spring was created because it was deemed to costly for candidates to run in all states at once. This is now bunk. With the money each candidate is raising it should be possible to run national primary campaigns. The solution is a to run a national primary election, all states on the same day. Of course this would make the big suck-up party, known as the national convention, to become mute. That is also about power and money...

Our political system is getting out of control. Money, more than ever, rules. And the sad part is that once again the right answer to who should be the next president, Democrat or Republican, might be "None of the Above".

Out: Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

Still In but not Campagning: Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, and some guy so important he isn't even listed on the AP Wire.

Time Machine

I read somewhere recently that when you feel stressed and angry you should play a game called "Time Machine". How you play is you imagine yourself a year from now and then ask yourself, will the issue that I am fretting over right now matter a year from now, or will I barely remember it if at all. If not, then it isn't worth getting worked up about.

Relax and enjoy yourself!

Blogging is tedious

I have blogged off and on for quite some time now. Over a year and a half. But it can be a tedious task. You have an idea what you want to say, but actually putting the words together takes time and effort.

That is why it is important to comment on a blog when you read it. Any comment really, so that we bloggers know someone is reading our blogs. After all, why post our thoughts if nobody is listenening!

microe

Any volunteers please step forward.

Question - Is it really a sacrifice if you aren't giving up something?



Somebody get a fire extingusher. Major burnout. I feel like I'm going a little crazy. If it isn't a Boy Scout event, it's a Church Youth event, or a band concert, or a middle school choir concert, or a recital or a graduation or a.............................aaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.



I would really like a vacation from it all for a while. But I can't see where. Some say I'm involved in too much, maybe? It would be easy from a selfish stand point to just say the heck with some of it. I quit! You kids, get someone else to take you camping. Get someone else to teach you how to be responsible, have some compassion. I don't need to go to that concert, I've heard that song a 1000 times already! Instead I'm gonna go fishing and boating and partying with my friends......



But I don't. See there is another side to this story. Somebody has got to stand up and do it. Be responsible. Set an example. Make a difference. I can't tell you how many people with issues I've worked with over the years. Kids from patched up families, Mom and Dad divorced, bitter, arguing. Single Moms trying to get their kids (especially boys) exposed frequently with some decent adult male role models. ADHD Kids. Adults with disabilities. Or poor families just looking for a hand with dinner or a ride somewhere.



And there is this responsibility thing as a parent. Being there when they finally play in front of the big audience. When they are confirmed at church. At graduations, or the big game. Showing your interest and being proud of their accomplishments.



You just gotta step up, make that sacrifice, be responsible. And don't take this blog wrong. I enjoy doing most of it, the overwhelming majority of these things. It just that there is so much...



I see a disturbing trend. Apathy seems to be on the rise. Less and less people are finding it convenient to volunteer. It doesn't fit into their schedule. They have other plans. It makes it harder and harder for those of us who do volunteer. Fewer, trying to do more. Get a lot of drop and run if you are a volunteer working with youth. "Here are my kids, I'm off, call me when I have to pick them up!". You want to holler "HEY, they are your kids, why don't you spend time with them!" But that is the problem, they aren't and the kids are caught in the middle.

So I keep volunteering, showing up, going to that concert or recital. And it's tough when my adult friends are headed to a party or an adult get away weekend. "Wish you were going with us." they say. Yeah so do I alot of times.

I just wish that some of the organizations that I volunteer in, Boy Scouts, Church Youth Groups, etc. took time to really give there volunteer staff support. Help take care of their needs, keep them from burning out. Somebody has got to step up.... Any volunteers?

Reuben No More.

Hang on tight!

Hang on tight, this rollercoaster is making another loop! Holy cow, what a ride.

Yes, I have been silent for a long time. Much has happened. I've been busy and my life has been on a crazy new route. I thought about blogging about it earlier, but I wanted to be level headed. Not emotional, not bitter, not spur of the moment.

November 1st, about 9:45 am. My boss asks me if I have a minute. Sure I say. We walk down to the HR Conference Room and where we are met by the HR Director. He closes the door. He then reads off of a list of issues, some I agree with, some I don't. Says we have grown apart philosophically on how the IT group should be run (an understatement). Then he drops the bomb, says that it is time to part company. I turn, look him in the eye and say, "So you are firing me?". He looks down, doesn't say a word. The HR Director, a good friend of mine says "Yes". She is almost in tears. The meeting becomes very formal. My boss says very little from this point, he is obviously distressed. I'm stunned, but,,, but it is weird. I'm not angry. Not upset. I think I am less affected than they are. The HR Director finishes explaining the severance agreement. Basically 3 months salary. All vacation that I have coming. They will let me take some stuff from my office and come back after hours to clean it out. I can keep the laptop I have. They will even let me send out a couple of final e-mails. The meeting ends.

I return to my office where the Head of Security is waiting, another good friend. He waits while I send out the e-mails. One to Sweetpea, asking if she would like to go to lunch with her un-employed husband. One to all my personal friends to let them know to not use that e-mail any longer. I get some personal data for Boy Scouts off the computer, gather up some personal belongings and head for the door. The Head of Security helps me to my car. When I get everything loaded we shake hands. He says, "You were a good guy coming in here and you are a good guy going out." I thank him and climb in the Jeep.

On the road to Kazoo, I shut off the radio. I need to think. I feel weird. I'm not upset...... I'm not pissed. It is as if I knew this would happen. Or at least it was a kick in thpants to get me out of a situation that I was not happy with.

3 1/2 weeks have past. I have not been bitter, not been mad. It really is new territory for me. I have not been without a job since I was about 14. about 34 years. And I have been in no hurry to go get one. Don't get me wrong, I have been following a couple of leads, but I'm not panicking. No, I've been enjoying the ranks of the un-employed. Of course the severance helps! Shit why not! I've been taking some time to re-group. To get my head screwed back around straight. And have I been busy!

First there was the finishing of the bar and ceiling in the basement. And then Deer hunting season came along. Sweetpea told me that I was going to go and seriously hunt this year. So I have been. Built a couple of tree blinds with Tolerance. Hunted hard. Had some opportunity. Shot at some deer and missed. Might this be like ever other year? One of my favorite stories is "Escanaba In the Moonlight". Being a Michigan Tech Graduate, I can relate to the yooper humor. But I can also relate to the main character. Reuben, 40 something and never shot a deer. That's me 48 and never brought the venison home. Oh I've made a couple bleed over the years, one with a gun and one with a bow, but never put meat on the table.

So after watching the does dance out of range at the Lesman farm for a few days, I decided to take my Dad up on the offer of going up to Kent County and try and thin the herd that eats his shrubs all winter. Monday, the 20th I went up in the afternoon. Hunted right behind his house. Watched about 7 does run around. Then the buck came in. I got impatient and took a bad shot. The curse of Reuben again. I kicked myself for being such a fool.

The next morning I was up early and walking the log back across the creek to where I hunted the evening before. I took a little extra time to make the spot more comfortable and easier to shoot. Then I waited. First 5 does came in and left, I watched deer playing along the ridge on the edge of the field. 7 does headed down into the corner where the buck had gone the evening before. A doe and a yearling showed up. But then they spooked. Not me? I noticed deer coming out of the corner. 1,2, ..(it was close to 9am and my Dad had said he would head down to the corner and see what he could run out) .. 5, 6, 7, does,,,,, and an 8th deer. Yup it had antlers shining in the sun. I got the gun ready and told myself that I was getting the second chance on that same buck. Now be patient damn it! The were going along higher on the ridge than the night before. But they weren't looking at me. I picked out where I wanted the shot. The buck stepped into the spot. I told myself, make a good shot, Reuben. He paused, and I squeezed the trigger. The 12 gauge Magnum barked an kicked like a mule. The does scattered, the buck stood motion less. I racked in a second shell and and fired again. The buck fell over... Reuben no more!

My Dad came out of the corner. "Well?" he said. "He's on the ridge, didn't even run" I replied. He helped me dress him and carry him across the creek. A 5 point. I called Sweetpea to make sure she knew that she wasn't married to Reuben.

I loaded him in the Jeep and headed to Paw Paw. Got him hung in the garage and headed off to help Tolerence roof R.J. Baker's house. That's my latest job. Roofer's helper. I kind of like it for now. Work outside, physical labor. Swing a hammer. I've got a tool pouch, hooking up some lights, doing electrical work.

The rollercoaster is on another hill.

I don't know what to think sometime. I tell people I'm retired, but I might come out of retirement. The deer hunting thing and finally getting a buck, I don't know. Maybe some kind of omen. Getting terminated, not having a job. I sure am busy! I've done some brief computer work. Life is changing. My Dad said to me that life has ups and downs, yeah I knew that. But what he said was that sometimes you have financial stability and sometimes it seems to disappear. And then it just jumps back in, maybe even better than before. So don't worry about the down time.

I'm not worrying. For the first time in my life I have some down time. My only complaint is that I lost my job and put my boat away on the same day. Well the timing could be better. But then again I wouldn't be shopping for freezers to put venison in. And at Thanksgiving, I have tons to be thankful for. First and foremost, Sweetpea. What a great wife. My kids. My health, with all the weight loss has gotten much better. I've had a pretty good November!

I'm going to hang out my consulting/computer services shingle. Work as a roofer's helper and take some odd jobs. But tomorrow the roofer has an appointment in the morning and I have a doe tag to fill, so back to the deer blind! I could get used to this life. At least until Sweetpea starts calling me Ace......

A philosophical Moment - A break from politics

Discipline - Having the fortitude to do something you don't like because it is the right thing to do.

Sacrifice - Giving up something you like to do so that you have time to do something right.

Parenthood - Making the sacrifice to have the discipline to do the right thing, finding out you enjoy doing it anyway and are proud you did in the end when the end result turns out OK.

It's harder than it sounds!

I hate being disciplined about life. I hate having to sacrifice. But I enjoy parenthood? Something keeps driving me. My schedule is often chaotic. I feel at times I have lost control. But I pull on my boots and keep on trudging. The odd thing is that I find that some of the things I thought I was sacrificing, I really didn't want to do in the first place. Learning to let go and enjoy the ride. Being content with what is instead of what might of been. Life is strange.

Ok that is out of my system, back to the fast lane.