A dark alley...

How would you like to run into this guy in a dark alley...or see him pull into your driveway on a quiet 4th of July. I grew up knowing the rumble of a Harley Davidson. Learned that a straight 1200 is never enough, that's why you overbore. I've observed that you don't do 80mph around curves when they're cutting silage, and that there are people who measure the calendar by the accidents that almost took their lives. But I also know that in many ways, they're an aweful lot like you and me. Problems with their kids, a little image conscious, maybe just trying to connect every once in a while. On second thought, I just might want to meet this guy on a dark night, especially if my car is broken down. He's a 1st cousin showing off his $1,700 paint job, and it was great to catch up after so many years. And I'll admit it, I really do like that rumble of of 1,560 overbored cc's of American Steel - how appropriate for the 4th of July!

A book?

Some day I'm going to write a book. It will probobally only be of interest to a couple dozen people, half of those I'm related to ; ) But it will be important to me...and to those people. I'll title it, The men in my life. Don't get it wrong - I'm not referring to anything homosexual - not that there's anything wrong with that (thank you Jerry Seinfeld). I'm thinking more along the lines of Proverbs 27:17 "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." As men, we need others to rely on, to strengthen and to gain strength from. Men to mentor, and men to mentor us. I've been blessed with those men, and someday I'd love to tell their stories. Some of those men have been with me for a lifetime...thanks Dad. Others, only days...thanks Kermet Remele. Others have remained for precisely the amount of time God has wanted them to. Thanks Gary and Chuck and Gene and Chip and Shane and... If you don't understand, you're missing out. And if you do understand, but don't open up to the "men in your life," you're worse than missing out. I know, I'm rambling!

Remembering...It's what I do

I wasn't in Vietnam, too young. Still, I feel connected to this, and any other war memorial - I take time for them. I served proudly and realize now that I was blessed to never see combat. I feel for the men who did, and I try and instill in my children a patriotism appropriate for the future. A respect for those men and women who have blessed us with our freedom at such great a cost. I don't think my youngest yet understands what the Vietnam Wall represents, but she will. What she did understand that day, is that these names are so important. I felt the photo on the left really illustrates what I want them to learn - to know. We may not be familiar with their names, but still we should honor them. Even if with just a fleeting touch of a 7 year old on a warm Memorial Day. And that guy on the right? I'll say a prayer for him tonight...for all of them.

Dance

The picture's fuzzy to protect the innocent, not because the photographer is lousy. All three of my little angels and their mother performed this night. Great coutumes, great routines, absolutely stunning. Michael Jackson has nothing on these girls...

"Green" gone just a little too far

Balloons (or Gavi, what are you doing?)

Breakfast is a tradition in our home. Sometimes in - often out. We often go to this place that after the meal, the children get a choice of a toy or a treat. Hadassah and Eli choose something good or cool, but Gavi - Gavi picked a balloon. "What are you doing? Why did you pick a balloon?" I said, "there are so many things in the box." She was insistent, the balloon. Out the door we went.

I forgot to mention, this particular day was our anniversary...and mom actually joined us. She doesn't usually. When we got home, Gavi disappeared. And like magic, reappeared - balloon in hand, heart print facing forward. "Happy Anniversary!" she said. My heart melted. My middle girly chose her prize for us. What more can I say...

Cool slow motion video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6aerxQPOs

A blue suit faux pas

I was at a conference today. Off white pants, blue shirt (no tie) and dapper sports coat. I walked into the 'executive washroom,' and there they were. Three men, all in identical dark blue suits. 4 spots on the wall, three suits...so I stepped up, careful not to look at anyone...careful not to turn my head more than a degree either direction. But then, I always have this odd sense of humor, I couldn't resist, "Look at you guys in your matching blue suits, I feel under dressed to use the bathroom." Two of them actually laughed, and one said, "as long as you have the right tie - that's what matters." The third guy just left! I've never been one for etiquite...even in the bathroom!

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!