Thursday, August 30, 2007

"Gather up as many good experiences as possible. It increases your chances of being a pleasant old person."

-Quote on the wall in the Red Robin

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Four...it's what I do

The pre-game banter really is what the game is all about. Two foursomes. A roudy bunch of architects, engineers, and project managers. We eye each other suspiciously dressed in our shirts and ties 364 days of the year, but not tomorrow. Tomorrow is the grudge match day! Tomorrow started more than a month ago...reminding each other who won and who lost, and predicting who will win and lose this year. There are threats, insults, just a little off color humor from time to time...and a whole lot of fun. In fact, the pre-game antics really are what it's all about - at least half of what it's all about!

We work hard, think hard and play the politics. We lead our teams toward common goals that usually end with something brick and concrete, or pipe and rising hot air at the end. The stress is often high. I think it's the venting of the stress that makes it all worth it...it's the reason it's so fun. Oh...there's the trophy too. I'd insert a photo, but since lost last year, it's our turn to "improve it," and I don't want to give away the upgrade. Tune in tomorrow late for that.

And unless you think we're uncultured, may I offer a poem written just for the game.

A Golf Haiku
Golf, summer wind blows
Air whiffs past Ron's missed ball
Pink skivies scream HELP

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

I have no life...

...or, I'd rather be building a lighthouse. The students return to college in 1 week. For the last month, it's been a mad dash to get the place ready for them. Building, renovating, coordinating, coercing, motivating, praying...lot's of praying! That is my life these days. But if you ask me where I'd rather be? See below : )



Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Prayer

I got a call last week. It took me three days to get to it. My loss. My friend picked up - he was struggling to deliver a message. I thought, 'he's changed jobs - he's off my project and he's just letting me know that I'm now hosed, but that I can still run my job however I want to' (the hosed part was a joke). And then the beans spilled, "It's my wife's mom. They found something. Do that thing you do..." We hung up and I prayed. Then I called my wife and girls and they prayed. We pray every night. I don't know what the Lord will do - but I know prayer always helps. Sometimes that's all we can do...and it makes all the difference in the world. Sometimes that's what I do.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

42...

I'm up to 83 posts and 1824 visits. 61 parachute jumps. 3 Children. And my oldest turned 11 yesterday. I don't feel old. But I do feel nostalgic. I toured a Frank Lloyd Wright house last week. It was an amazing thing...it left an impression. But the impression was not him or his work - it was something much deeper. Though perhaps misguided, his life had purpose and clarity and direction. He created something that would live on beyond him. I know the legacy I will leave must have to do with my children, but sometimes there is a longing for more. It is not valid or legitimate, but still it is an emotion to be embraced and taken captive. I'm not a grand architect, an artist, a legend. But still I find that it's important to me to assign value to what I will contribute. To define the goal and strive to achieve it to the best of my ability. I am a father of daughters. A diplomat. A mentor and a leader of men. It's taken too long for me to come to terms with those things - but that makes them no less true. Though the Meyer May house taught me about compression and release, about horizontality, about muted prarie colors...what Frank Lloyd Wright really taught me last Monday was how to become who I am.