At the sight of his grave, Scrooge said to the inexorable Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come “ Before I draw nearer to that stone at which you point, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that will be or are they the shadows of the things that may be, only ?” If there was ever a man who reacted in a proactive way to his own mortality, it is Ebenezer Scrooge. If there was ever a man who famously responded to his own mortality with an unprecedented reserve of grit and dete...
The other day my five year old rushed up to me as I walked in the door and said "Hey Dad, Rosa Parks died. Did you know that?" While I did know this I was certainly impressed that he did. I asked him if he knew what she did to make her famous he replied "she wouldn't get up on the bus". Smart kid. His next sentence contained three words I never thought I would hear from a five year old, civil rights movement . I am pleased to know that his teacher is teaching him something besides shapes an...
How ironic that I chose to start my then and now blog drafts today. I was channel surfing today in pursuit of the perfect Saturday afternoon movie. You know the type: Light and breezy, you've seen it at least ten times and it in no way reminds you of some ex-lover. I was about to cruise the dreaded networks (because they edit and show commercials) when I came across what I consider one of Tom Hanks' better roles. Philadelphia . While this particular movie in no way fits the bill of what I wa...
Be a decent person. While it may sound like a blanket statement, my father's advice became the cornerstone of my approach to life. He always said it to me. Don't worry about how much you don't have, forget your mistakes, things always work out. Just be likeable, someone that others want to be around. Especially to yourself. So early on I adopted the following traits as those that a decent person should possess: Humility A sense of humor A moral compass Perseverance Intelligence Stre...
Just a little aside. I am not a new member, just a revived one. For some unknown reason I have not blogged since September of last year. I just stopped and I shouldn't have. I love to writeand I really enjoy sharing my life with anyone who cares to read me. I love feedback and I am not averse to constructive criticism or opposing viewpoints. A liitle about me. Married. 4 children 10 and under Employed and free to admit that I work way too much Widely considered to be a regular guy P...
No, I'm sorry but that wasn't me. I didn't just say that. It couldn't have been me. That is something my father would say. OK rewind, what just happened? Did I just say "kids today?" What is wrong with me? I used to be such a young guy. Even when some of my friends started acting "mature" I remained young at heart (sure, call it immature and juvenile I prefer to call it young at heart). I played hard, I worked hard, I stayed fit and generally listened to the same music, frequented the same...
No, I'm sorry but that wasn't me. I didn't just say that. It couldn't have been me. That is something my father would say. OK rewind, what just happened? Did I just say "kids today?" What is wrong with me? I used to be such a young guy. Even when some of my friends started acting "mature" I remained young at heart (sure, call it immature and juvenile I prefer to call it young at heart). I played hard, I worked hard, I stayed fit and generally listened to the same music, frequented the same...
"Where were you when..." A common question asked throughout the generations. It is most usually asked in reference to tragedies. History is overfull of great tragedies that bring people back to the very place they were standing when it happened. In my Grandfather's generation it was the crash of Wall Street in '29, the attack on Pearl Harbor, the surrender of Japan. My Father recalls the assassination of JFK as if it were yesterday. He knew where he was, who he was with and what he fel...
I played the last round of golf of the year with my dad today at our favorite course in Maine. While I may play again this year I most likely will not get to play with him until next summer. Golf is the first sport that has bonded my father and I. We have always watched Baseball and Football rabidly and as a kid he coached my baseball teams. But the only sport we play together is Golf. The reason I took up the sport was to find an activity we could do together. If you must hit a silly litt...
I'm really enjoying JoeUSer. There are some great writers out here that I really want to get to know. And eventually I would like some of you to get to know me. But I can' t post at the rate that some of you do. And I'm really not into the whole "about me" thing. If you want to know anything about me just read any post of mine. I unabashedly bare my soul in my posts, I don't care who knows what about me. I live my life that way: be yourself, don't be afraid to show someone your ass, learn fro...
Set the way back machine for Holiday Office Party, December '03. A chance to do my favorite things. Imbibe at an open bar, talk about work incessantly and meet the spouses and significant others of those co-workers who may or not realize that they have become very near and dear to your heart. Two hours, and several cocktails, had passed and I had met some great people. As I am in sales I "worked the room" and shook a lot of hands. I met every employee regardless of employment status or po...
First of all, let me state that the unfettered and unorganized rant that was my last post helped me sort my thoughts a little and ease the transition back into regular blogging. As in exercise, once you cease doing something for an extended period it becomes more difficult to motivate yourself to resume it. The whole "where do I start" thing always comes into play. Well, I got the rants out of the way now it is time to actually create something of worth. An original thought. It all started...
I have found myself in the most unique of situations...creatively stifled. Wanting to write, to vent, to rage and tear. To theoretically expose my ass (as it were) to the world and then get mad when someone notices a pimple. Conversationally starved, emotionally overwhelmed but too tired to write about it...and its killing me. Despite my penchant for discussing, in the most opinionated of ways to anyone who will listen, my thoughts on all issues PC or otherwise it still feels better when I w...
I am so tired of male-bashing. Everywhere I go I listen to women tearing guys apart. We are pigs, stupid, insensitive, clueless as to their needs and incapable of understanding them. And in response to this I have to say that we are not stupid ! With the possible exception of Pepsi vs. Coke there is no longer standing debate than that of the differences between men and women. Many a man who has undertaken the battle to capture lost ground has been left a castrated, emaciated shadow of his...
I am so tired of male-bashing. Everywhere I go I listen to women tearing guys apart. We are pigs, stupid, insensitive, clueless as to their needs and incapable of understanding them. And in response to this I have to say that we are not stupid ! With the possible exception of Pepsi vs. Coke there is no longer standing debate than that of the differences between men and women. Many a man who has undertaken the battle to capture lost ground has been left a castrated, emaciated shadow of his...