Every year I pick a few charities that I think are worth another look. Please investigate and if so moved, please consider making a donation. I'm only selecting two this year. The need is great, there are many fabulous charities making a difference in the world. If these don't do it for you, please do your research and pick a charity to support this year. This is how we keep America great, but supporting and celebrating those who help make this world better for those who need a little help.
Bithiah's House
In their words: "Bithiah’s House is a short-term residential therapeutic program for infants and toddlers in the foster care system. We specialize in medically-fragile cases and strive to offer a loving home-like environment for each child who comes through our doors.
Throughout our 6-bed facility, we offer specific care plans and therapeutic services for babies and toddlers ages 0-4. Bithiah’s House is an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit with the mission to provide safe, temporary housing and treatment for babies with the goal of transitioning to a family."
Why I chose: I learned about this Southern California foster program earlier this year under very sad circumstances. They had fostered a child who came to them when he was 2 years old, malnourished and unable to walk. He lived with them 7 months while they worked on his diet and on helping him to learn how to walk. Sadly, he was eventually placed back with his parents and you don't need to know anymore than that, trust me. But I really love the approach of Bithiah's House and the care they have for the little ones amongst us.
RAICES (The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services)
In their own words: "LEGAL SERVICES: We provide affirmative, defensive, and litigation services to low-income immigrants. With more immigration lawyers than any organization in Texas, in 2018 RAICES managed 37,863 cases at no cost to our clients. Without pro-bono legal services most of our clients, including children of all ages, would have to go to court alone, with zero representation. We believe no child should go to court alone. Our legal services extend from low-cost residency and citizenship services to pro-bono representation for families and children in detention.
SOCIAL SERVICES: We empower the community by offering services to remove barriers of oppression, multiply agents of change, and increase clients’ quality of life. We offer a wide range of services including case management, resettlement assistance, a national hotline to connect migrants with local community resources, and transit support for recently released migrants."
Why I chose: Forever, we have told the world of what a wonderful place America is. We have exported that dream through the entertainment and media we share with the world, the companies that have started here and gone out to sell their products (and set up local shops) around the globe, the aid our country has offered to other countries and the times we have acted to step in and stop conflicts and wars. We haven't always done everything right and there's plenty about America that could be better and there've been times where our meddling has made things worse, but all-in-all, we've sold that "American dream" to the world. So much that people desperate for a better life overcome all kinds of odds to get themselves and their children to our doorstep. But we've changed the rules: You're no longer welcome here, America isn't what it seemed. We've become a land of small-minded, petty people who feel better when we see someone else suffer. Cruelty is the point. But it's not the America I know and love and idealize. When we separate families, randomly move people around the country, incarcerate people for long periods of time, force people (or children!) to navigate the court system with no understanding of how it works (and maybe not even speaking the language necessary to speak for themselves in court) or throw people out of the the only country they've ever known for the lack of some paperwork, that is real and really sad impacts -- and people die. RAICES works to lessen those impacts by helping people understand their rights, what's their obligations are, helps reconnect families and when our government in its infinite wisdom thinks it's smart to dump a kid at a bus stop in the middle of the night, volunteers from RAICES (and other organizations) are there to meet them and help them try to find their families.
Showing posts sorted by date for query dream. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query dream. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Wednesday, January 08, 2020
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Q&A: Dream Vacation
December 20 - What is your dream vacation?
2014 - Somewhere with just Lori and no cell coverage while Lori’s mom and my parents together watch the kids.
2015 - No kids. - entered January 8, 2016
2016 - At home with nothing to do.
2017 - Joni & Friends comes pretty close!
2018 - A week somewhere with a three bedroom suite and minimal things to do. I’m curious if Sedona would fit the bill. - entered December 26
2014 - Somewhere with just Lori and no cell coverage while Lori’s mom and my parents together watch the kids.
2015 - No kids. - entered January 8, 2016
2016 - At home with nothing to do.
2017 - Joni & Friends comes pretty close!
2018 - A week somewhere with a three bedroom suite and minimal things to do. I’m curious if Sedona would fit the bill. - entered December 26
  | Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal |
Monday, October 08, 2018
Q&A: 🛏😴💤💭
October 8 - What is your biggest dream?
2014 - I'd like to not feel pressured/stressed. - entered Oct. 12
2015 - I'd like to be able to have more 2-way verbal communication with Ben. - entered Nov. 9
2016 - Yeah, that. Want to have conversations with Ben. :)
2017 - Yes! I want to talk to Ben. - entered Oct. 9
2018 - That hasn't changed. Praying God will unlock language. We know there's a lot going on in Ben's mind and that he's frustrated at not being understood.
2014 - I'd like to not feel pressured/stressed. - entered Oct. 12
2015 - I'd like to be able to have more 2-way verbal communication with Ben. - entered Nov. 9
2016 - Yeah, that. Want to have conversations with Ben. :)
2017 - Yes! I want to talk to Ben. - entered Oct. 9
2018 - That hasn't changed. Praying God will unlock language. We know there's a lot going on in Ben's mind and that he's frustrated at not being understood.
| Want to track small aspects of your own life over the next five years? Get this book: Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal |
Friday, August 17, 2018
Feed Sift (08/17/2018)
TWISTEDSIFTER.COM -- DARPA Engineers are Reinventing the Wheel with Shapeshifting Tires
-2-
WEBURBANIST.COM -- Summer Houses: 7 Tropical Dream Dwellings by Wallflower Architecture & Design
-3-
LIFEHACKER.COM -- How to Report a Missing Person
-4-
HBR.ORG -- To Use Your Time Better, Track It
-5-
ENGADGET.COM -- Warner Bros. wants to build a sky tram to the Hollywood sign
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Review: The Shack
I don't remember where I got the recommendation from, but The Shack by William Paul Young was on my "To Read" list. When someone then also handed me a copy, I realized "Ok, maybe it's time I read this." I checked out the audiobook from the library and listened to it during my drive.
I would actually call this three books, or at least one book, with a different book in the middle. I'm going to spoil it a little bit, so if you're interested in reading it, don't read this review.
The book starts with a narrator telling about a story he's going to tell. Then there's the first story - a guy takes his kids camping. It's a plodding story that eventually leads to tragedy - during a mishap involving two of his children, his third children is kidnapped by a serial killer. Let me back up - the family has this unique name for God that no one else uses and no one else outside his family knows about. With me? So then the guy gets this note inviting to the shack where his daughter was killed and it's signed by this unique name his family uses for God.
At this point, I'm screaming "Call the FBI! The killer probably heard the girl crying out to 'Papa' before he killed her. It's a trap!" But, this is Christian fiction, so this line of reasoning doesn't cross his mind. He determines to go, borrowing a car from someone else and also the gun that car-lender offers him. And then he travels to the shack. And that's where we end book 1. I don't recommend book 1. It plods along and the idea of a murdered child is not my idea of a good read.
And that's where we start book 2. The guy spends a long weekend with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who all inhabit corporeal human form for his comprehension. I think for God's first human form the author is thinking of The Oracle from The Matrix. I liked book 2. It dives into a lot of issues of God's relationship with humanity, why bad things happen, stuff like that. I found it to be quite thought-provoking, quite helpful in its examination of some of my own questions about my own relationship with God. I'd recommend book 2. It is a bit long and at times a little confusing, but I think it mostly works.
Eventually the weekend ends and book 1 resumes. It turns out the guy got into a car accident on his way to the shack and was in a coma all weekend long. Was his encounter with God a dream or did it actually happen during his altered conscience? And what about the note? Anyhow, he also, upon waking from the coma, is able to lead people to the cave where they find his daughter's remains and the sheet she's wrapped in provides enough clues that they then are able to identify and arrest the multi-state serial killer and find all of his past victim's bodies. This left a really bad taste in my mouth. It's a nice little bow to wrap everything up, to provide that final justice, to end on as high a note as you can when a six-year-old has been murdered, a bit of false hope that so many families who experience real pain don't get. It's too perfect. It's a cheat and a copout to try to make readers satisfied (if they don't stop to think about it for too long). So I don't recommend that either - well, plus I just explained it to you so now you can skip it. Oh, he also gets to see his daughter and to see his daughter interact with his other children, things that I don't think real parents get to experience after the loss of a child, at least not while they're still here on earth.
Still I do like the part in the middle. I think anyone can get a lot out of the meat, even if they don't eat the stale bread. It makes sense to have the dad be a grieving angry guy, but he's a bit one dimensional, mostly just someone for God (first a large black woman and later an older Native American man), Jesus (a middle-eastern carpenter) and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman) to talk at. Oh, and a weird part involving a Judge who is like some weird honorary Trinity-adjacent something-or-other?
Book link takes you to Amazon. If you buy the book, Amazon might give me a penny.
I would actually call this three books, or at least one book, with a different book in the middle. I'm going to spoil it a little bit, so if you're interested in reading it, don't read this review.
The book starts with a narrator telling about a story he's going to tell. Then there's the first story - a guy takes his kids camping. It's a plodding story that eventually leads to tragedy - during a mishap involving two of his children, his third children is kidnapped by a serial killer. Let me back up - the family has this unique name for God that no one else uses and no one else outside his family knows about. With me? So then the guy gets this note inviting to the shack where his daughter was killed and it's signed by this unique name his family uses for God.
At this point, I'm screaming "Call the FBI! The killer probably heard the girl crying out to 'Papa' before he killed her. It's a trap!" But, this is Christian fiction, so this line of reasoning doesn't cross his mind. He determines to go, borrowing a car from someone else and also the gun that car-lender offers him. And then he travels to the shack. And that's where we end book 1. I don't recommend book 1. It plods along and the idea of a murdered child is not my idea of a good read.
And that's where we start book 2. The guy spends a long weekend with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit who all inhabit corporeal human form for his comprehension. I think for God's first human form the author is thinking of The Oracle from The Matrix. I liked book 2. It dives into a lot of issues of God's relationship with humanity, why bad things happen, stuff like that. I found it to be quite thought-provoking, quite helpful in its examination of some of my own questions about my own relationship with God. I'd recommend book 2. It is a bit long and at times a little confusing, but I think it mostly works.
Eventually the weekend ends and book 1 resumes. It turns out the guy got into a car accident on his way to the shack and was in a coma all weekend long. Was his encounter with God a dream or did it actually happen during his altered conscience? And what about the note? Anyhow, he also, upon waking from the coma, is able to lead people to the cave where they find his daughter's remains and the sheet she's wrapped in provides enough clues that they then are able to identify and arrest the multi-state serial killer and find all of his past victim's bodies. This left a really bad taste in my mouth. It's a nice little bow to wrap everything up, to provide that final justice, to end on as high a note as you can when a six-year-old has been murdered, a bit of false hope that so many families who experience real pain don't get. It's too perfect. It's a cheat and a copout to try to make readers satisfied (if they don't stop to think about it for too long). So I don't recommend that either - well, plus I just explained it to you so now you can skip it. Oh, he also gets to see his daughter and to see his daughter interact with his other children, things that I don't think real parents get to experience after the loss of a child, at least not while they're still here on earth.
Still I do like the part in the middle. I think anyone can get a lot out of the meat, even if they don't eat the stale bread. It makes sense to have the dad be a grieving angry guy, but he's a bit one dimensional, mostly just someone for God (first a large black woman and later an older Native American man), Jesus (a middle-eastern carpenter) and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman) to talk at. Oh, and a weird part involving a Judge who is like some weird honorary Trinity-adjacent something-or-other?
Book link takes you to Amazon. If you buy the book, Amazon might give me a penny.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Don't be a reactionary
Someone on LinkedIn posted a meme that said
Don't live your life in a reactionary mode hostage to outside forces.
Give yourself time to dream, to think, to plan, to strategize and to execute based on what you believe, what you know, what you've learned.
Don't wait for an external catalyst - be your own motivation.
Yes, I must fully recognize two ironic caveats:
Cross-posted to Linkedin.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.I think that statement is nice on the surface, but if you start to think, it's not good enough.
Don't live your life in a reactionary mode hostage to outside forces.
Give yourself time to dream, to think, to plan, to strategize and to execute based on what you believe, what you know, what you've learned.
Don't wait for an external catalyst - be your own motivation.
Yes, I must fully recognize two ironic caveats:
- This post is a reaction to something.
- Now I've told you what to do. Sorry.
Cross-posted to Linkedin.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Q&A: Dreams
February 25 - What's the last dream you remember?
2014 - I was buying up all the apartments in a building for all my family members. That was a few days ago. - entered February 26
2015 - I was getting ready to go for a run and I was excited. - entered February 28
2016 - Trying to stop a large spider that might have been fake. - entered May 16
2017 - Starting high school while on vacation from work. - entered March 5
2018 - I was at a church in a room with lots of windows and I was wearing only a towel. I was trying to figure out how to get dressed without flashing anyone. No, I don't need an analysis. :)
2014 - I was buying up all the apartments in a building for all my family members. That was a few days ago. - entered February 26
2015 - I was getting ready to go for a run and I was excited. - entered February 28
2016 - Trying to stop a large spider that might have been fake. - entered May 16
2017 - Starting high school while on vacation from work. - entered March 5
2018 - I was at a church in a room with lots of windows and I was wearing only a towel. I was trying to figure out how to get dressed without flashing anyone. No, I don't need an analysis. :)
 | Sweet dreams are made of cheese / Who am I to dis a Brie / I cheddar the world and a Feta cheese / Everybody's looking for Stilton. Too cheese? Maybe a book instead mayhaps? Q&A A Day: 5 Year Journal |
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Life Goes On
I think one of the cruelest parts of any tragedy is how in an instant, your life stops, comes crashing to a halt, irrevocably and forever changed.
And yet everything else keeps on.
Cars keep moving, people continue about their mundane lives. Bills are due, clouds roll across the sky and people walk by with no idea of what has just happened and you wonder - "how can I move on from this. Do I want to move on from this? Or is it possible for me to sit on this couch until the moving company comes and tips me off of it?"
Today was one of those days that defied reason - in an instant, I learned a piece of news that I couldn't unlearn. No time machine to go back and make changes, no wishing it wasn't so, no "this can't be real." Sure, it's still entirely possible that I could wake up and this was nothing more than a bad dream, but I don't think that's the case. But for me, it was in some ways, nothing more than news - mt life wasn't shattered, but it did knock me about a bit. Yeah, I cried sitting on that couch. And I'm crying now as I type this sitting on a different couch.
Rewind to last Saturday evening. Returning from Date Night, my wife and I remembered a couple we had lost touch with. I don't know if either of us looked for them on Facebook since Saturday, but I know one or both of us had unsuccessfully Googled them in the past month.
But it wasn't my world that stopped. It was theirs. I was merely a bystander, it had probably been close to twelve years since we saw them last but there, today, on all the news websites, it was undoubtedly him. He didn't look like he'd aged a day. And there was no coming back from this, a hopeless, finality. The kind that makes you very carefully say "What the heck, God?" lest you use a different H word or the F word. It's not fair, it's not right and for once for me, it's not a statistic. The story is not mine, I'm barely tangential, not even a footnote. But, these were people who were an extremely vital part of our early marriage - people we dined with, laughed with, studied the Bible with, celebrated holidays and birthdays with. Their life was shattered and I hurt so much for them. Not guilt, but just really deep "not getting off this couch" hurt that I'm struggling to process and am angry that there's no logical explanation because what happened wasn't logical. It was stupid, selfish and cowardly. There's no justice, there's no way to make it right, and at the moment, it must feel quite helpless.
I can't help but imagine the crime scene, about the people arriving at her doorstep to confirm her identity and then break the news, of and her trying to figure out how to tell their children. I'm imagining family trying to rally and friends (like me) who'd lost touch trying to figure out just how (and if) it's at all possible to tell them they're loved and they're being prayed for. How to hurt with them without making it about me. (I'm not entirely sure I've not failed on that last count, but this is part of my grieving process and you, my dear readers, are my therapists.)
My world did need to go on, I needed to go pray with my daughter and get her to bed, the cats needed food and a clean catbox. It may be surreal to hear that the president's been advised on the death of your friend or to read all the idiots ironically or seriously suggest "If only he'd been armed." and think "Nope, I'm not getting up off this couch." But you know what else I heard as I prayed tonight? Birds were singing. Life does go on. It must. And somewhere in it, we must find hope.
And yet everything else keeps on.
Cars keep moving, people continue about their mundane lives. Bills are due, clouds roll across the sky and people walk by with no idea of what has just happened and you wonder - "how can I move on from this. Do I want to move on from this? Or is it possible for me to sit on this couch until the moving company comes and tips me off of it?"
Today was one of those days that defied reason - in an instant, I learned a piece of news that I couldn't unlearn. No time machine to go back and make changes, no wishing it wasn't so, no "this can't be real." Sure, it's still entirely possible that I could wake up and this was nothing more than a bad dream, but I don't think that's the case. But for me, it was in some ways, nothing more than news - mt life wasn't shattered, but it did knock me about a bit. Yeah, I cried sitting on that couch. And I'm crying now as I type this sitting on a different couch.
Rewind to last Saturday evening. Returning from Date Night, my wife and I remembered a couple we had lost touch with. I don't know if either of us looked for them on Facebook since Saturday, but I know one or both of us had unsuccessfully Googled them in the past month.
But it wasn't my world that stopped. It was theirs. I was merely a bystander, it had probably been close to twelve years since we saw them last but there, today, on all the news websites, it was undoubtedly him. He didn't look like he'd aged a day. And there was no coming back from this, a hopeless, finality. The kind that makes you very carefully say "What the heck, God?" lest you use a different H word or the F word. It's not fair, it's not right and for once for me, it's not a statistic. The story is not mine, I'm barely tangential, not even a footnote. But, these were people who were an extremely vital part of our early marriage - people we dined with, laughed with, studied the Bible with, celebrated holidays and birthdays with. Their life was shattered and I hurt so much for them. Not guilt, but just really deep "not getting off this couch" hurt that I'm struggling to process and am angry that there's no logical explanation because what happened wasn't logical. It was stupid, selfish and cowardly. There's no justice, there's no way to make it right, and at the moment, it must feel quite helpless.
I can't help but imagine the crime scene, about the people arriving at her doorstep to confirm her identity and then break the news, of and her trying to figure out how to tell their children. I'm imagining family trying to rally and friends (like me) who'd lost touch trying to figure out just how (and if) it's at all possible to tell them they're loved and they're being prayed for. How to hurt with them without making it about me. (I'm not entirely sure I've not failed on that last count, but this is part of my grieving process and you, my dear readers, are my therapists.)
My world did need to go on, I needed to go pray with my daughter and get her to bed, the cats needed food and a clean catbox. It may be surreal to hear that the president's been advised on the death of your friend or to read all the idiots ironically or seriously suggest "If only he'd been armed." and think "Nope, I'm not getting up off this couch." But you know what else I heard as I prayed tonight? Birds were singing. Life does go on. It must. And somewhere in it, we must find hope.
I guess if anything, I need to end with two pleas.... one, please pray for this family. Two, if someone comes to mind that you haven't thought of in awhile, please, for me, call them, write them, contact them. You never know when life will change and something you take for granted is no longer something you can get to someday.
Don't want. Don't regret.
 |
| Cheers, B. We love you, M. (thanks, A, for the photo) |
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Question of the Day: Dreaming the night away
What's the last dream you remember?
In 2014 (on Feb. 26), I answered: I was buying up all the apartments in a building for all my family members. That was a few days ago?
What's your most recent dream?
In 2014 (on Feb. 26), I answered: I was buying up all the apartments in a building for all my family members. That was a few days ago?
What's your most recent dream?
Sunday, June 22, 2014
120: Misdirect
"There he is again!" shouted one of my guests.
We turned to look as the guy ducked behind the bushes. But it was quite clear that he was looking in on our party from our neighbor's driveway.
I walked out the front door and shouted for someone to call security. I walked up to the man. He looked down at me, I looked up at him. I shouted "Tan pants, light blue windbreaker" as he started for me. As he got within range, he looked as if to say "Come at me." I continued to shout back descriptions to the guests spilling onto the front porch.
"5 foot 2 inches tall!" I shouted.
He looked puzzled, stopped and sputtered "Hey man, I aint no 5'2" - I'm at least six..."
And that was when I yelled "SWEEP THE LEG!" and kicked him hard in the shin. Sure, I didn't actually sweep the leg, but it knocked him off balance, I pushed him over and lept onto him, twisting his arm behind him as a few of my guests arrived to help subdue him.
"120" is the umbrella under which I place my creative writing (it's been a long time!) - it refers to one of the practices: writing for 120 seconds on a single topic with no chance to go back and edit. This particular effort was the attempt to retell a recent dream I had where I was pretty awesome. Click here to read more 120s.
We turned to look as the guy ducked behind the bushes. But it was quite clear that he was looking in on our party from our neighbor's driveway.
I walked out the front door and shouted for someone to call security. I walked up to the man. He looked down at me, I looked up at him. I shouted "Tan pants, light blue windbreaker" as he started for me. As he got within range, he looked as if to say "Come at me." I continued to shout back descriptions to the guests spilling onto the front porch.
"5 foot 2 inches tall!" I shouted.
He looked puzzled, stopped and sputtered "Hey man, I aint no 5'2" - I'm at least six..."
And that was when I yelled "SWEEP THE LEG!" and kicked him hard in the shin. Sure, I didn't actually sweep the leg, but it knocked him off balance, I pushed him over and lept onto him, twisting his arm behind him as a few of my guests arrived to help subdue him.
"120" is the umbrella under which I place my creative writing (it's been a long time!) - it refers to one of the practices: writing for 120 seconds on a single topic with no chance to go back and edit. This particular effort was the attempt to retell a recent dream I had where I was pretty awesome. Click here to read more 120s.
Friday, April 25, 2014
Influence (7 of 10)
<< Back to day 6
This is day 7 of my look at "Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others" by by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan.
Chapter 7: A Person of Influence Navigates for Other People
It isn't just about coaxing someone across a single rickety bridge or telling someone how to cross an ocean, it's crossing the ocean with them, and perhaps even steering some of the time. You've been here before. You know what to look out for, you know what to anticipate. You show them it's possible. Not just because you're standing on the other shore, but because you're out there in the thick of it with them. They are the trainee and this is on-the-job training. But you have to know the destination and help them to see it. But it's also more than that. It's beyond just showing them a vision, or even getting them to embrace a vision, this is movement towards that vision. This will not happen in a day. It will take time, it will take patience, it will take an investment. It will mean not doing something else. Continuous encouragement is also critical.
That only works when you understand what impacts them:
This will be the difficult part - trying to find that out about people. I suppose this is where lots of time spent with people listening, teasing that out. Not in a checklist, but just listening for it when it's offered, maybe gently guiding the conversation.
Things everyone needs to understand:
Problem solving:
Checklist:
This is day 7 of my look at "Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others" by by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan.
Chapter 7: A Person of Influence Navigates for Other People
It isn't just about coaxing someone across a single rickety bridge or telling someone how to cross an ocean, it's crossing the ocean with them, and perhaps even steering some of the time. You've been here before. You know what to look out for, you know what to anticipate. You show them it's possible. Not just because you're standing on the other shore, but because you're out there in the thick of it with them. They are the trainee and this is on-the-job training. But you have to know the destination and help them to see it. But it's also more than that. It's beyond just showing them a vision, or even getting them to embrace a vision, this is movement towards that vision. This will not happen in a day. It will take time, it will take patience, it will take an investment. It will mean not doing something else. Continuous encouragement is also critical.
That only works when you understand what impacts them:
- What touches their hearts? Where is their compassion? (What do they cry about?)
- What gets their heart-rate up? Where is their passion? (What do they sing about?)
- Where does their heart want to go? Where is their desire? (What do they dream about?)
This will be the difficult part - trying to find that out about people. I suppose this is where lots of time spent with people listening, teasing that out. Not in a checklist, but just listening for it when it's offered, maybe gently guiding the conversation.
"Happiness, wealth and success are by-products of goal-setting; they cannot be the goal themselves." -- John CondryThis can't be a single big leap, it needs to be small steps. The big leap is overwhelming. But the taste of success, a step at a time, builds courage and momentum.
Things everyone needs to understand:
- Everybody faces problems -- You will not reach a point where you have no problems and that cannot be the goal. But, you cannot mentor someone well in an area where you still have those same problems.
- Successful People Face More Problems than Unsuccessful People -- And the more successful, the more challenging. (Like a video game.)
- Money Doesn't Solve Problems -- Financial issues are usually a symptom of some other problem.
- Problems Provide an Opportunity for growth
- Retreat into the past
- Daydream about the future
- Retreat within and wait for rescue
- Face the crisis and transform it into something useful
Problem solving:
- Thinking about the problem (make it specific)
- Form theories
- Forecast the consequences of implementing the theories
- Choose the one that best fits the big picture
Checklist:
- Identify the destination of the three people you've decided to enlarge.
- Look ahead - what are the difficulties they are likely to face in the near future?
- Plan ahead - how can I help them navigate these potential problems?
Monday, April 21, 2014
Influence (3 of 10)
<< Back to day 2
Welcome to day three of my look through "Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others" by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan
Chapter 3 - A Person of Influence... Has Faith in People (15p)
Everyone wears an invisible sign that says "Make me feel important.". In today's culture, people are less connected and much busier. Most of what we consider communication at work is action-oriented, requests about what we need. This is definitely something I am guilty of. Having faith in people is a concept I've just kind of generally figured out with my staff, but applied inconsistently. And except in a few cases where I've had the opportunity to mentor someone myself, it's not something I've done with others. This is definitely something I can stand to more intentionally put into more consistent practice.
Having faith in people is believing the best about people, acknowledging it, and helping them to see it themselves. Celebrating success, pointing out what you appreciate and (caution*) projecting the best that you see in people, even if they can't see it themselves. (* This must be genuine, not manipulative. This also must be fair and reasonable or it will be very clear very quickly that it's fraudulent.)
When someone affirms you, it feels good. You want more, so you begin to model the behavior that generated the praise, or which could generate future praise. Ultimately, it helps you to focus on your potential and to "dream big.". To be sure, the only way to avoid failure altogether is to do nothing - it's not about not failing, it's about believing you can succeed.
There are some practical ways to do this: show someone you believe in them before they've succeeded, point out their strengths to them, list their past successes, give them confidence in the midst of failures, experience some successes with them, show them the vision of their future success, let them know you're counting on them for big things.
Next steps for faith:
- find a strength - intentionally let someone know that you recognize a strength of theirs. And not in the context of a need you have for them.
- build on past successes - in a case where you need someone's help - either to support you on an initiative or where you're making a difficult assignment, give them the context of your belief in them and their strengths and successes. Similar to the past one, but just making sure it's not only when you need them that you're affirming them.
- help others overcome defeat - failures happen. How we recover and help others recover is what matters. Give them the time to work through it / talk through it. Help when asked or when appropriate, but don't jump in too quickly to solve for them. Make sure they still feel valued and affirmed and that mistakes are part of growth.
- start off right - suggests for future additions to team, affirm up front, they will seek to live up to it.
For me personally - do more of this, do it intentionally, do it at times when I don't need something. Also, slow down. Too often I do not give adequate time to the clarity/importance of assignments and I rush people. This doesn't give them a chance to really add their own input. And if I'm serious that this is supposed to be a collaborative environment where everyone is encouraged/expected to innovate and participate and make the process better, I'm not allowing that to occur when I dump and run.
Welcome to day three of my look through "Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others" by John C. Maxwell and Jim Dornan
Chapter 3 - A Person of Influence... Has Faith in People (15p)
Everyone wears an invisible sign that says "Make me feel important.". In today's culture, people are less connected and much busier. Most of what we consider communication at work is action-oriented, requests about what we need. This is definitely something I am guilty of. Having faith in people is a concept I've just kind of generally figured out with my staff, but applied inconsistently. And except in a few cases where I've had the opportunity to mentor someone myself, it's not something I've done with others. This is definitely something I can stand to more intentionally put into more consistent practice.
Having faith in people is believing the best about people, acknowledging it, and helping them to see it themselves. Celebrating success, pointing out what you appreciate and (caution*) projecting the best that you see in people, even if they can't see it themselves. (* This must be genuine, not manipulative. This also must be fair and reasonable or it will be very clear very quickly that it's fraudulent.)
When someone affirms you, it feels good. You want more, so you begin to model the behavior that generated the praise, or which could generate future praise. Ultimately, it helps you to focus on your potential and to "dream big.". To be sure, the only way to avoid failure altogether is to do nothing - it's not about not failing, it's about believing you can succeed.
There are some practical ways to do this: show someone you believe in them before they've succeeded, point out their strengths to them, list their past successes, give them confidence in the midst of failures, experience some successes with them, show them the vision of their future success, let them know you're counting on them for big things.
Next steps for faith:
- find a strength - intentionally let someone know that you recognize a strength of theirs. And not in the context of a need you have for them.
- build on past successes - in a case where you need someone's help - either to support you on an initiative or where you're making a difficult assignment, give them the context of your belief in them and their strengths and successes. Similar to the past one, but just making sure it's not only when you need them that you're affirming them.
- help others overcome defeat - failures happen. How we recover and help others recover is what matters. Give them the time to work through it / talk through it. Help when asked or when appropriate, but don't jump in too quickly to solve for them. Make sure they still feel valued and affirmed and that mistakes are part of growth.
- start off right - suggests for future additions to team, affirm up front, they will seek to live up to it.
For me personally - do more of this, do it intentionally, do it at times when I don't need something. Also, slow down. Too often I do not give adequate time to the clarity/importance of assignments and I rush people. This doesn't give them a chance to really add their own input. And if I'm serious that this is supposed to be a collaborative environment where everyone is encouraged/expected to innovate and participate and make the process better, I'm not allowing that to occur when I dump and run.
Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Recent Netflix
Some interesting Science Fiction I've watched recently. Descriptions are mostly from Netflix, click any title to open in Netflix.Upside Down - Adam lives on a poverty-stricken world, while Eden (Kirsten Dunst) is from its affluent twin planet, and their love sparks an interplanetary incident. Social stigma, family and government forces work to keep them apart, but they'll stop at nothing to be together. The two planets revolve around each other with a large corporate building at the center that joins the two, or that each planet has its own incompatible gravity - things from one planet will burn up if you attempt to somehow move them to the other planet.
Delete - A viral threat almost triggers a nuclear meltdown, giving reporter Jessica Taylor and her hacker friend Daniel an inside track on a grim reality: an artificial intelligence has become a conscious entity with the sole purpose of destroying the world. Seth Green in a small role. Really high production values, good acting, great sets and mostly feels like a plausible story, except if an AI really has that much power, it would have employed traffic cameras and satellites sooner and sent more people (not just police) after them. Only when they tried to do a smoke effect did it feel like they weren't able to pull it off.
Invasion: Earth - Earth becomes a battleground in a full-scale intergalactic war when the Royal Air Force erroneously shoots down an unidentified flying object. With the planet's future at stake, can the world work together to protect itself? Still watching this one, haven't fully worked out what's going on here, but it's interesting.
TiMER - In this comedic fantasy, science has facilitated the search for a soul mate via biotechnological implants that count down to the moment one is supposed to meet his or her match. But Oona (Emma Caulfield) is worried: She's nearly 30, and her TiMER isn't ticking yet. Will her dream guy get snatched up by someone else? John Patrick Amedori co-stars in this film from first-time writer and director Jac Schaeffer. This isn't heavily sci-fi, it's just a romantic comedy set in the real world where one additional technological element exists. But I liked it.
Safety Not Guaranteed -
A team of journalists (including Aubrey Plaza and Jake Johnson) are dispatched to find out who's behind a classified advertisement seeking a companion for time travel, with payment on return. After tracking down their oddball prey, the team has to decide how best to approach their subject. Does he actually have a time machine? Do you actually care? An interesting movie that keeps it low-key and doesn't try to be more than it is. It's that low-key approach that makes it feel very relatable.
Battlestar Galactica - Deep in the universe, cybernetic Cylons have all but wiped out the human race, laying waste to the Twelve Colonies of Man. Cast out, the few survivors aboard the Battlestar Galactica search for a so-called 13th colony: the mythical planet Earth. This TV series grabbed me from the start. It's overall uneven (and long!) and leaves some questions, but I liked how completely they had defined this universe.
Caprica - Set on planet Caprica decades prior to the war fought in Battlestar Galactica, this sci-fi series follows the work of tech tycoon Daniel Graystone as he tries to assuage his grief over tragedy by developing cyborgs he dubs Cylons. In the style of BG, this single-season show was filled with twists and turns and constantly shifting alliances.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Guest Post: Letting Go of Dreams (Life with #Autism)
LAST PERSON BLOGGING -- When we found out that Ben had significant delays in nearly every area of development, we went through a grieving process. We had to let go of a lot of our expectations and hopes and dreams for him. We realized that life for and with him would probably not look like what we had thought it would. Growing up and making friends, playing with other boys at recess, having conversations and other things as basic as those are the things that I dream and hope for Ben now. Continue on to my wife's blog...
Thursday, June 28, 2012
#Autism, God and Parenting
It's been too long since I've blogged. Things have been hectic and it's led me to just want to chill in the evenings - Google Reader, Grabatron (an addicting iPhone game) or maybe regular reading, but nothing that's involved actually thinking.
But yesterday I was reading some autism articles and I was thinking about how normally when I become interested in learning more about a subject, I'll find sites about it and put them in my Google Reader. But then I realized that much of what I read about people's experiences with autism is so depressing that I don't want to put more in my life - these aren't things I can learn from and the topic is so foreign that I guess I'm not ready to become well versed in it.
But I've read a couple of posts recently that have bummed me out more than normal - about people who see their autistic children as proof that God doesn't exist, or who, after receiving the diagnosis rejected God and turned their back on their faith.
We received our daughter's ADHD/OCD/ODD and our son's Autism-PDDNOS diagnosis within a few months of each other. It was a crushing blow, but our faith in God is what pulled us through, gave us something to lean on, to focus on, a place to shout "Why????" Answers were not immediately forthcoming, but we knew we were heard.
But yesterday I was reading some autism articles and I was thinking about how normally when I become interested in learning more about a subject, I'll find sites about it and put them in my Google Reader. But then I realized that much of what I read about people's experiences with autism is so depressing that I don't want to put more in my life - these aren't things I can learn from and the topic is so foreign that I guess I'm not ready to become well versed in it.
But I've read a couple of posts recently that have bummed me out more than normal - about people who see their autistic children as proof that God doesn't exist, or who, after receiving the diagnosis rejected God and turned their back on their faith.
We received our daughter's ADHD/OCD/ODD and our son's Autism-PDDNOS diagnosis within a few months of each other. It was a crushing blow, but our faith in God is what pulled us through, gave us something to lean on, to focus on, a place to shout "Why????" Answers were not immediately forthcoming, but we knew we were heard.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Quiet
Today was a good day. I have but one regret - I did not leave work earlier. It meant I haven't seen Lori much today because she had worship team practice tonight.
Did not go to bed early enough last night, had a weird dream where a co-worker complained about all my quirks but then woke up refreshed and feeling good. Weigh-in was the same as yesterday. While I walked, I cleaned up my iPad, deleting apps I don't use and consolidating until now everything fits on one screen.
Got to work and found out the two hour meeting was at 8:30 instead of 8. Got a good seat in overflow. And then someone several levels above me came and say next to me. I thought I wouldn't be able to use my iPad, but he explained he was in two important meetings simultaneously, so I gave him my better seat and he used his iPhone continuously so I figured the occasional peak at my iPad was ok. Another co-worker two down from me on the row was using his laptop. But, since everyone was in the meeting, it was pretty quiet. And then they ended the meeting early, and the speaker was engaging, so that was cool.
And then an hour and a half meeting later in the day got canceled.
Because Ben had been up so late last night (he had been sound asleep until I realized I hadn't put a nighttime diaper on him) Lori decided they wouldn't come for lunch today. So I got a tasty Hawaiian-style burger from the cheaper (barely) of the two Hawaiian places in town. I love Hawaiian food and we just watched this season of Hawaii 5-0, do I guess that I was kind of programmed to go there. The weather was awesome and the iPhone played awesome music and I had the sunroof open and it was nice to get away.
While I ate I cleaned up my contacts on my iPhone. If that doesn't flow over into Google, that will have mostly been a waste of time.
I had a touch-base on a complicated project but I knew I wasn't a blocker on any part, so I didn't even take any paper or my iPad because I knew no one would be expecting anything from me. BEST MEETING OF THE MONTH.
Oh, there was another meeting earlier in the day where I was supposed to go along but it was someone else's meeting. They couldn't make it but the other person still wanted to meet. It is one of my faves, so sure. We ended up talking for an hour and a half.
Near the end of the day, I had an inspiration and had to quickly code something. That was unfortunately what made me late in leaving but I think I just solved something that's been bugging me for years. I think the proof-of-concept will sell it. Of course, how to fund it?
I also remembered at nearly the last minute that I needed to put in a request for staffing for the project I'm overseeing. We'll see...
So the drive home was aggravating. Tacos for dinner. Then gave the little ones their melatonin and then had an interesting idea... Did they want to go for a walk? It was really nice - I ended up carrying him most of the way and his was very cuddly and close to sleep. We stopped and complimented our neighbor on his yard on the way in. They both went to sleep very quickly once we got home.
I tidied up my side of the bed to get it back to its clean state. I sat for a few minutes in the room. It was nice. Then I went outside and picked up all the flowers that had fallen off a bush and then pulled a bunch of weeds.
Then I came in and did some cleaning and watched some TED Talks. Then tidied the laundry room and now watching TV and doing some walking. Will do some reading later.
There is some repetition to my life, I guess. That feels a little odd, but I guess what's repeating is not bad. :)
Did not go to bed early enough last night, had a weird dream where a co-worker complained about all my quirks but then woke up refreshed and feeling good. Weigh-in was the same as yesterday. While I walked, I cleaned up my iPad, deleting apps I don't use and consolidating until now everything fits on one screen.
Got to work and found out the two hour meeting was at 8:30 instead of 8. Got a good seat in overflow. And then someone several levels above me came and say next to me. I thought I wouldn't be able to use my iPad, but he explained he was in two important meetings simultaneously, so I gave him my better seat and he used his iPhone continuously so I figured the occasional peak at my iPad was ok. Another co-worker two down from me on the row was using his laptop. But, since everyone was in the meeting, it was pretty quiet. And then they ended the meeting early, and the speaker was engaging, so that was cool.
And then an hour and a half meeting later in the day got canceled.
Because Ben had been up so late last night (he had been sound asleep until I realized I hadn't put a nighttime diaper on him) Lori decided they wouldn't come for lunch today. So I got a tasty Hawaiian-style burger from the cheaper (barely) of the two Hawaiian places in town. I love Hawaiian food and we just watched this season of Hawaii 5-0, do I guess that I was kind of programmed to go there. The weather was awesome and the iPhone played awesome music and I had the sunroof open and it was nice to get away.
While I ate I cleaned up my contacts on my iPhone. If that doesn't flow over into Google, that will have mostly been a waste of time.
I had a touch-base on a complicated project but I knew I wasn't a blocker on any part, so I didn't even take any paper or my iPad because I knew no one would be expecting anything from me. BEST MEETING OF THE MONTH.
Oh, there was another meeting earlier in the day where I was supposed to go along but it was someone else's meeting. They couldn't make it but the other person still wanted to meet. It is one of my faves, so sure. We ended up talking for an hour and a half.
Near the end of the day, I had an inspiration and had to quickly code something. That was unfortunately what made me late in leaving but I think I just solved something that's been bugging me for years. I think the proof-of-concept will sell it. Of course, how to fund it?
I also remembered at nearly the last minute that I needed to put in a request for staffing for the project I'm overseeing. We'll see...
So the drive home was aggravating. Tacos for dinner. Then gave the little ones their melatonin and then had an interesting idea... Did they want to go for a walk? It was really nice - I ended up carrying him most of the way and his was very cuddly and close to sleep. We stopped and complimented our neighbor on his yard on the way in. They both went to sleep very quickly once we got home.
I tidied up my side of the bed to get it back to its clean state. I sat for a few minutes in the room. It was nice. Then I went outside and picked up all the flowers that had fallen off a bush and then pulled a bunch of weeds.
Then I came in and did some cleaning and watched some TED Talks. Then tidied the laundry room and now watching TV and doing some walking. Will do some reading later.
There is some repetition to my life, I guess. That feels a little odd, but I guess what's repeating is not bad. :)
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Marriage: Where to Stand
Click over to YouVersion.com for the Bible verses.
Marriage: Where to Stand
Message #2 of "Christian Sticky Wickets" by Pastor Jeff MacLurg, Our Savior's Baptist Church, Federal Way, Wash. -- www.oursaviorsbaptist.org -- My notes from the 9 and 10:45 am services on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. I pray that they will be helpful to you.
----------------------------------------
The Solid Rock
Forever
Great is Thy Faithfulness
How He Loves
Beautiful One
----------------------------------------
Marriage: Where to Stand
What the world says:
Marriage is where man loses his bachelor's degree and woman gains her master's degree.
Marriage is not a word, it's a sentence - a life sentence.
Love is one long sweet dream and marriage is the alarm clock.
--- Why is Marriage a Sticky Wicket? ---
* More people than ever are LIVING TOGETHER rather than MARRYING.
13% increase between 2009 and 2010 in couples living together. Why? Perhaps the recession means cohabitation is cheaper.
Less than half of the country today thinks that living together before marriage is a bad thing.
Pew/Time, November 2010
* Lots of Christians ARE GETTING DIVORCED.
They promise "'til death do us part" but the divorce rate is identical to that of the rest of the United States.
* The move toward ACCEPTING GAY "MARRIAGE" makes biblical perspectives opposed to the mainstream.
We'll probably be asked to vote about it soon. We're called "out of touch" or "unloving hypocrites" if we say we don't believe in gay "marriage." Soon enough, it'll be considered a hate crime to speak against it, people who believe it's wrong will be considered unwelcoming.
--- God's Expressed Intents for Marriage ---
Genesis 1, 2; Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7; Romans 7:1-3
1. God is incredibly HAPPY to give MARRIAGE to us.
"It was very good."
2. In marriage, God wants to us to reflect God's own HAPPINESS through RELATIONSHIP and PROCREATION. (Genesis 2:24-25)
Marriage: Where to Stand
Message #2 of "Christian Sticky Wickets" by Pastor Jeff MacLurg, Our Savior's Baptist Church, Federal Way, Wash. -- www.oursaviorsbaptist.org -- My notes from the 9 and 10:45 am services on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. I pray that they will be helpful to you.
----------------------------------------
The Solid Rock
Forever
Great is Thy Faithfulness
How He Loves
Beautiful One
----------------------------------------
Marriage: Where to Stand
What the world says:
Marriage is where man loses his bachelor's degree and woman gains her master's degree.
Marriage is not a word, it's a sentence - a life sentence.
Love is one long sweet dream and marriage is the alarm clock.
--- Why is Marriage a Sticky Wicket? ---
* More people than ever are LIVING TOGETHER rather than MARRYING.
13% increase between 2009 and 2010 in couples living together. Why? Perhaps the recession means cohabitation is cheaper.
Less than half of the country today thinks that living together before marriage is a bad thing.
Pew/Time, November 2010
* Lots of Christians ARE GETTING DIVORCED.
They promise "'til death do us part" but the divorce rate is identical to that of the rest of the United States.
* The move toward ACCEPTING GAY "MARRIAGE" makes biblical perspectives opposed to the mainstream.
We'll probably be asked to vote about it soon. We're called "out of touch" or "unloving hypocrites" if we say we don't believe in gay "marriage." Soon enough, it'll be considered a hate crime to speak against it, people who believe it's wrong will be considered unwelcoming.
--- God's Expressed Intents for Marriage ---
Genesis 1, 2; Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7; Romans 7:1-3
1. God is incredibly HAPPY to give MARRIAGE to us.
"It was very good."
2. In marriage, God wants to us to reflect God's own HAPPINESS through RELATIONSHIP and PROCREATION. (Genesis 2:24-25)
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
In Defense of Epsilon (A Work-Related Post)
Like most people at this point, you're probably asking "Who's Epsilon and why do they have my information?" And if you're reading normally credible sources like MSNBC or CNET News, you're actually becoming more misinformed the more you read, and it's quite disappointing.
I read today of someone who got an email from US Bank about the breach and immediately drove to their local bank and demanded of the teller why his bank had given his information to Epsilon. Of course, that went nowhere so he made his way up to harassing a manager. A fruitless waste of everyone's time, to be sure.
So, I feel compelled to explain what Epsilon really is. And I think it's easiest to start with an analogy.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
I Will Not Go Quietly
Last night, I decided that I wanted to drink coffee and contemplate this morning, so I hurried through getting ready this morning. On the drive in, I was really wanting to hear "I Will Not Go Quietly" by Don Henley. I'm not ready to think about whether that means anything. It wasn't on the iPhone so I (shoot... I had an iPod with me that had it on it and I didn't even think of that until just now). Anyhow, I ended up listening to "I Want Everything" by Hope 7. It's a bit anthemic and I guess it had to do.
So I got to work early, got my oatmeal and coffee made and then sat at the table in my pod so that I could just sit. Except for a couple of time checks (before deciding to just set a timer) I didn't look at my iPhone. No computer, no iPad. Just me. Alone with my thoughts. Have to admit I wasn't sure I liked it. If I can, I'll do it again tomorrow, maybe it'll be a new thing. Maybe I'll grow tired of it. Not sure yet.
But it's hard to know... did my need (or plans) for solitude produce my need for the Henley song, or are they coming from that same area I don't want to confront? I am reading a book that's a bit challenging (no, not Moby Dick. That's a lot challenging in how much it's boring me.)... the first part of the book I really liked. But the second part is way out there. I may buy the book and only regularly re-read the first part while ignoring the last part.
I ended up listening to Airplanes by B.o.B. feat. Haley Williams...
Yep...
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night
So I got to work early, got my oatmeal and coffee made and then sat at the table in my pod so that I could just sit. Except for a couple of time checks (before deciding to just set a timer) I didn't look at my iPhone. No computer, no iPad. Just me. Alone with my thoughts. Have to admit I wasn't sure I liked it. If I can, I'll do it again tomorrow, maybe it'll be a new thing. Maybe I'll grow tired of it. Not sure yet.
But it's hard to know... did my need (or plans) for solitude produce my need for the Henley song, or are they coming from that same area I don't want to confront? I am reading a book that's a bit challenging (no, not Moby Dick. That's a lot challenging in how much it's boring me.)... the first part of the book I really liked. But the second part is way out there. I may buy the book and only regularly re-read the first part while ignoring the last part.
I ended up listening to Airplanes by B.o.B. feat. Haley Williams...
Singing
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Rapping
Yeah
I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you're staring at that phone in your lap
And you hoping but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel
And they sayin' what would you wish for
If you had one chance
So airplane airplane sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night
Singing
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Rapping
Somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Yeah back when I was tryin' to get into the subway
And back when I was rappin' for the hell of it
But now a days we rappin' to stay relevant
I'm guessin that if we can make some wishes outta airplanes
Then maybe yo maybe I'll go back to the days
Before the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain't nobody listened to my mix tape
And back before I tried to cover up my slang
But this is for the Cada, what's up Bobby Ray
So can I get a wish to end the politics
And get back to the music that started this [...]
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hopin' we can make some wishes outta airplanes
Singing
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars
I could really use a wish right now (wish right now, wish right now)
Yep...
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Bacon or Ewok
I was standing on the bridge(?) of an AT-AT, up in the head(?) part. We were just standing still. It was cold and snowy. I guess we were supposed to be guarding some area or something. I was just standing there looking out the window. Bored. Every so often another person would some in to the cockpit(?), or I'd leave the cabin (seriously... what is this called?) to go back into the body of the vehicle to talk to someone. But we were definitely not moving. Oh, and the machine had a much smoother, glass head so when you stood in the front you had an expansive view. Must have been some pretty strong armored material that was transparent.
I was standing there looking out and I could see just in front and below was an Ewok curled up in a tree like a koala, sleeping. And it was annoying me because here we were in this massive beast of a machine and it was just sleeping as if it didn't even know we were there or worse yet, wasn't afraid of us. I knew it would be wrong to shoot it, and besides, I wouldn't be able to maneuver the guns around without moving the entire vehicle, but as I stood there drinking my coffee and looking at the cold terrain, its very presence in the tree was mocking me.
Finally I sat down at the controls, brought the engines online, and lowered the head and then shook it back and forth, shaking the tree and dislodging the Ewok.
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