Ode to a scheduled Power Outage - A Haiku

Soft rain dripping? No!
Cool spring, Generators sing
Swish, spark, click, complete

Diplomacy...A game, or a way of life?

There's a great all day game called Diplomacy. There's also a way of dealing with others...again, it's diplomacy. And sometimes it's time to take a little breather from trying to do all the right stuff for all the right reasons and working hard to keep thing on an even keel. When I'm at that point I rely on my long term hero, Captain James T. Kirk...

Listening...sometimes it's what I do

My bride is one of the worlds best readers aloud. It leaves me in wonder at times how her voice, and inflection, and whatever it is that she does - just brings the pages to life. I love to hear her read. My daughters love to hear her read. So, despite the business of all that goes on these days, it's nice once in a while to just sit back and listen. This particular day it happened to be Max Lucado. If you don't know his work...you should. You'll understand what he means when he says, "No wonder they call him the Savior."

Only small things with great love...

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." -Mother Theresa

She offered such great inspiration for each of us in our daily lives. It's the little things that matter. The consistent small acts of love that make others feel special...make us feel special. "Small things with great love." 8 pounds 9 ounces. Laid in a manger in a filthy stable in an obscure village in the middle east. Though He is not limited like we are, even God chose this example of such a small thing with such great love. And like our small acts, who could have predicted that this 8 pound "small thing" could give the greatest love of all...His life...for our eternal lives. There is a song, Mary did you know. 'Mary did you know this little boy you delivered, will one day deliver you?' There are tears in my eyes as I continue...because I believe she did know. A humble Jewish woman who "pondered these things in her heart," knew she was holding God in her arms. And yet He was so helpless in her arms.

This holiday season, this Christmas, take a quiet moment to consider to consider the humanity of Jesus. Born in a lowly way on a remarkable night (the angels and shepards thing). He lived a pretty normal life as a carpenter - I wonder how many times he smashed his thumb with a hammer? He experienced love and pain and trial. Moments of joy as well as sorrow. And then like Mother Theresa, like Mary, like all of us...he died. In this small package came the greatest gift of all.

Men and memories...it's what I do

I'm a project manager. That means I'm responsible for construction projects, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I like what I do, but my strength doesn't really lie in construction. They have more to do with building a team, assembling the right people and maintaining the right vision, keeping the sandbox safe to build castles in. That sort of stuff. Good construction has so much to do with good relationships, and if those relationships turn into good friendships...all the better. I talked to a friend today - he's an architect. And my other great friend is an engineer. We built this thing together out of bricks, and steel and MAPLE. The buildings are beautiful. Though the process was arduous, one day soon the three of us are going to have to stand between them, Starbucks in hand and just admire our good work...and our great memories. Sometimes that's what I do.

Lots of Love

Today we braved the ice and snow of central NY for the hair salon. Strange place to share love, you might think. Well, not if you know my wife's hairdresser (don't read too much into that)! Today Gavrielle (9) had a significant amount of her gorgeous long hair cut off in order to give it to Locks of Love. For those of you who have not lived this vision for the last 4 years, Locks of Love takes hair and makes wigs for children (and maybe others) who have lost theirs to cancer. It's a noble cause...especially for young ladies. I'm proud of Gavi...who I now call Bob because she insists that's what her new hairstyle is called? I wouldn't know a bob from a bee-hive. ..and Hadassah who will have her red hair cut in February...and Eliana who still has a few years to go. So today or family value of extending "Lots of Love" has manifest itself in "Locks of Love." You go girls!

Managing Engineers

The stuff that really matters

My littlest girl woke up this morning with a sore throat and a belly ache, "It really hurts daddy." Anyways, an hour later we headed for Dunkin Donuts before church. Eli got in the car and Hadassah said (as if she were in charge), "don't you think SHE should stay home - SHE's sick." I lectured her about attitude, and "I'm the dad, and, don't you think I know if she's in any shape to go with us..." She's a natural leader, but the fine art of compassion and diplomacy illude her...a work in progress! Half a mile down the road, Blaaaaaahhhhggggllllrrrrffff. "I told you she was gonna puke (sorry for the graphic) - what were you thinking." I took it in stride. "Hadassah, if you say another word I'm gonna slap your face." I still don't know which I was more upset about. The fact that she was right, or the fact that she was so uncompassionate. No, I know...I'm just not telling.

We skipped sunday school and I just held my little girl for an hour. It was an amazing experience. She was so helpless, so dependent. So sweet. It's the stuff like this that makes it all worthwhile. I love my girls...and yes, I did work it out with Hadassah later! It's amazing what bonding can occur in buying a lawnmower together.

The pursuit of little girls

My oldest daughter is 11. She melted down today. Overtired we think, and maybe missing her daddy. This daddy thing is complex. Women, as least in my belief, are in many ways products of their fathers or most significant man in their young life. And they have a need to be pursued. It's kind of a romantic notion isn't it?! So, she stayed home while her sisters played this afternoon and took a nap. Then she started playing with her house. H is kind of an alone player, and she was enjoying her time without her sisters. I understand this. I asked her to to go desert with me at Zuzu's. It was a struggle for her...alone play time, or time with dad. She was struggling, but what I could clearly see was her desire to go with me, and her need to be pursued...and so I pursued my little girl. I went after her heart, made sure she knew her daddy loved her, valued her, thought she was worth something. She lit up, dropped everything, and scurried for her shoes. We had a great time at Avacolies. Zuzu's was closed - their loss!

Post Script - A great friend of mine warned me about my title...and I appreciate his concern. So let me say this in case anyone is wondering. Until you understand how God pursues us, until you understand the love of Jesus, this pursuing may not make sense. But I assure you, it is the purest of love - a love of a Father for his daughter...a love of a father for his daughter - and his pursuit of her heart.

Rats...it's what I do

A while back I threatened to take my blogsite off the general population list. I was concerned about my daughters and my job. I just took some of the photos down instead. But alas...or perhaps I should just say, OH RATS! Courtesy of Local 435 Laborers Union. It's a long story that makes my head hurt.

Anyway, these are the kind of guys that I really don't want to know a thing about who I am...or what I do. So a big thank you to Shane Deal for saving the day and taking my presence off the web after a frantic cell phone call! I'd love to stay and chat longer, but I gotta go. Rat patrol...It's what I do! I should be back in the Army!

A little spiritual golf humor...

(the inscription, Psalm 31:4, reads: "Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.")

Moses, Jesus and an old man went golfing one beautiful sunny day. On the ninth hole, the green was located at the top of a hill with a pond in front. Moses hit an amazing drive, but the ball was rolling hard toward the water. He quickly raised his arms, the waters parted, and the ball rolled through and onto the green. He was putting from 2' out, and smiling proudly.
Jesus followed suit with an equally unbelievable drive, it too headed for the water. Just as he planned, the ball stepped off the bank and rolled across the top of the water and settled just 6" from the cup. He was beaming with excitement. Finally, after a very long time setting up, the old man took his shot. He duffed it towards the water, but nowhere near the green. Just before the ball splashed in, a large fish jumped out and caught the ball, only to be snagged by an eagle who had been hungerly waiting for this moment. As the eagle was flying over the green, fish now securely in its tallons, a brilliant bolt of lightning streaked down and startled the bird. The eagle dropped the fish to the ground and the ball and the ball rolled from out of its mouth. Seeing the ball and mistaking it for a nut, a squirrel picked it up and ran straight to the cup, hiding it cleverly before scampering away. Nobody said a word for a long moment, as Jesus and Moses just looked at each other in disbelief. Finally it was was Jesus who spoke..."Nice shot Dad!"

"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

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

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 : )