In life we are graced with Love from many sources. There are family, friends and pets. My family means everything to me, both my immediate and extended family. My friends define me as a person. My pets however, ground me. Love abounds with all the above.
My family includes my wife and daughters along with my mother, brother, two sisters and my wife's entire family. I love them all. I did not leave my father and father-in-law out. Unfortunately they both passed but, not without influencing my life. My father sacrificed so much to make sure that all of his children accomplished whatever they wanted. Truly he is my hero. My father-in-law was an awesome person who made sure his daughters and son moved forward in life. Each of these men were true heroes to the families they left behind. Although my brother, sisters and I weren't very close growing up we are very close now. My wife's family are very close and I enjoy being with them very much. Our being so far away from them is a strain for us all. I have gained a true appreciation of family since my youth. Any of my cousins reading this, let me know that I appreciate all you as well. You guys have seen the very worst of me and some of the good and never judged.
In my life I have been honored to know some very special friends. They have all been there for me when I needed it most. People like Steve, Carl, Billy, Pat, Chris, Harold, Tuna, Leo, Darell, Kipper and Skip came along in my life exactly when I needed them and helped to make who who I am. There is the David's, Pats' and others that helped define me. I ended up where I am with the help and friendship of these people.
Growing up we had many pets. The pet's I identify most with are Pepe a chihuahua, Pfieffer a throwback German Shepherd, Sam a small mutt, Beau an Australian blue tick healer, Phieffer II and Australian shepherd and Fiona a chow chow and golden retriever mix. These dogs were all great companions. Pfieffer I and Fiona are the most memorable dogs for me. My best companions. They both stuck with me during my darkest and saddest moments. Pfieffer used to be with me all the time during long walks to North Gate mall, or play time behind the baseball fields at the YMCA and the mountain trails off Trans Mountain road. Fiona has settled in with my current period of unemployment going to the dog park or just lazing around the house. All the pets have been great in knowing what my moods were and accommodating them.
My thought is this: Family, friends and pets make you who you are. Don't underestimate the power of a pet's companionship in your life.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Politics in America
Politics in America is different than anywhere else on the planet. Although theoretically we vote in the best person for the job, do we really? I think not. It seems that those with the most money and can align themselves with the political powers that be have the best chance of winning elections. All the parties do the same thing they align themselves with a candidate that will tow the party line. This puts the individual that we are electing directly in the pocket of the party. The Media cannot escape criticism for the current political landscape. The media backs individual politicians, where is the objectivity in that. I was always taught that that the media was supposed to report the news and politics objectively. Let us not forget business and social interests that have access to our congressmen and senators. It all comes down to money.
Our media focuses a lot of attention on foreign corruption. They ignore the corruption that is American politics. The media, special interest groups and political parties are all about spending a lot of money to get candidates elected, so that they can further the interests of the group or party. The Parties create platforms and back only those candidates that fully support the platform. The media supports candidates that the media moguls endorse and the special interest groups support only the candidates that support their programs. It really comes down to the money. The money will get better coverage with the media and the full support of both the party and the special interest groups. Why is not corrupt?
Politicians have been forced to go with the money. If you want to be elected you have to support 100% of the platform that the media, party or special interest group supports. The corruption is that if you get elected and don't do as you are told by the money people you are vilified by the media, party or special interest groups. Any power that you had hoped to attain is gone. As a politician you are subjected to supporting a small group of people holding the money rather than your constituents. Our government is not for the people anymore it is for the people who hold the money.
My thought is this: If we don't want to become a third world country known for corruption we need to enact laws that limit the power of special interests, media and political parties.
Our media focuses a lot of attention on foreign corruption. They ignore the corruption that is American politics. The media, special interest groups and political parties are all about spending a lot of money to get candidates elected, so that they can further the interests of the group or party. The Parties create platforms and back only those candidates that fully support the platform. The media supports candidates that the media moguls endorse and the special interest groups support only the candidates that support their programs. It really comes down to the money. The money will get better coverage with the media and the full support of both the party and the special interest groups. Why is not corrupt?
Politicians have been forced to go with the money. If you want to be elected you have to support 100% of the platform that the media, party or special interest group supports. The corruption is that if you get elected and don't do as you are told by the money people you are vilified by the media, party or special interest groups. Any power that you had hoped to attain is gone. As a politician you are subjected to supporting a small group of people holding the money rather than your constituents. Our government is not for the people anymore it is for the people who hold the money.
My thought is this: If we don't want to become a third world country known for corruption we need to enact laws that limit the power of special interests, media and political parties.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Time to Play
There are more frustrations and aggravations than there are good times it seems. When I was younger the opposite was true. As I've aged it seems that the good times faded to more and more frustration. Now it is up to me to find the time to play in an already too full of a day. I'm missing the days of my youth when all I did was play and have fun. It seems that now I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to turn aggravation and frustration into something less stressful.
Although it took me a while I finally grew up and quit playing all the time. I started taking my job and my life more seriously. I buckled down and became more engaged in what I was doing. In other words I stopped looking for the fun in my job and started to become more serious about working and living. It is at this point that I started to become more frustrated and aggravated all the time. My mood was somber and I no longer was the happy go lucky guy I had been. People walked on egg shells around me because I was more likely to withdraw and become angry than I was to smile and laugh.
Then I found BBQ contests and life was fun again. People started to like me again. I really enjoyed the play time on the weekends and the concentration on something other than work. I was meeting new people with a like interest. It was the ultimate weekend full of fun. The weekly stress was erased. I was having fun because I was playing. There was stress involved with my hobby but it was mitigated by the rewards and friendships. Life was really good and I was having fun. Alas it came to an end when we aged and I was laid off from my job and had to retire from the BBQ circuit.
I became engrossed in trying to find a job. This became my job and there is no time for fun or, so I thought. I started to become moody and agitated again. Then I found that I could literally blow off steam by going to the shooting range. This has become my hobby and where I go to have fun. I found that the balance between my serious life and my play life. I still to this day do not keep ammunition in the house which is for safety reasons. I do not keep my firearm in the house for protection I keep it here because I have nowhere to keep it. I have a young curious daughter at home and I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I am once again the happy person I once was. A balance achieved.
My thought is this: We all need to be serious about our lives and jobs but, we also need to find an outlet for our frustrations and aggravations. It doesn't matter what it is that you find relaxing as long as it requires some concentration and there are rewards and companionship involved.
Although it took me a while I finally grew up and quit playing all the time. I started taking my job and my life more seriously. I buckled down and became more engaged in what I was doing. In other words I stopped looking for the fun in my job and started to become more serious about working and living. It is at this point that I started to become more frustrated and aggravated all the time. My mood was somber and I no longer was the happy go lucky guy I had been. People walked on egg shells around me because I was more likely to withdraw and become angry than I was to smile and laugh.
Then I found BBQ contests and life was fun again. People started to like me again. I really enjoyed the play time on the weekends and the concentration on something other than work. I was meeting new people with a like interest. It was the ultimate weekend full of fun. The weekly stress was erased. I was having fun because I was playing. There was stress involved with my hobby but it was mitigated by the rewards and friendships. Life was really good and I was having fun. Alas it came to an end when we aged and I was laid off from my job and had to retire from the BBQ circuit.
I became engrossed in trying to find a job. This became my job and there is no time for fun or, so I thought. I started to become moody and agitated again. Then I found that I could literally blow off steam by going to the shooting range. This has become my hobby and where I go to have fun. I found that the balance between my serious life and my play life. I still to this day do not keep ammunition in the house which is for safety reasons. I do not keep my firearm in the house for protection I keep it here because I have nowhere to keep it. I have a young curious daughter at home and I don't want anything bad to happen to her. I am once again the happy person I once was. A balance achieved.
My thought is this: We all need to be serious about our lives and jobs but, we also need to find an outlet for our frustrations and aggravations. It doesn't matter what it is that you find relaxing as long as it requires some concentration and there are rewards and companionship involved.
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