So I've pretty well decided that next go-round I'm coming back as Jason Bourne. Hey have you seen this kid kick butt in the movies? Seriously, he doesnt even take names he's that much of a bad-arse. I was going to set my sights a little lower and maybe shoot for Antonio Banderas as, "Puss in Boots" but let's be honest, I'm just not THAT latin.
Anyhow, as you can probably tell I've bet at The Net Flix again. Right now I'm watching the Best of Will Ferell (so good they had to have a second volume). I felt that after I went and helped the neighbor for an hour doing sod, that I pretty much needed to reward myself with four hours of TV Time. Just me, and a sippy cup, and my remote. Oh, and couple kids. Anyhow, I'm responsible for children while Stacey gets her nails and toes done in preparation for Ha-va-eee. Going to be great. Seriously. You just can't get lay-ed with your nails un-done. It's decidedly un-posh.
Oh so yeah, yesterday we went to Kohl's and bought Stacey some new shirts and whatever chicks call those things that aren't shorts, but they're not pants? The word escapes me. Capriciousnesses? Anyhow, they look right nice on her. Oh, by the way, dont bring your baby along with you, or she'll ruin your plan to be the perfect husband. I wasn't going to hold her purse I want you to know, but I was there to emotionally support her trying on fourteen shirts and some capriciousnesses. Oh, I also would like to report that from there I supported her on over to the, "Shoe Carnival" which, as it turns out is not an intense thrill ride. After sitting in the lobby blowin' bubbles with Olivia to keep her from climbing the walls it sounded like a good idea to continue my high levels of support throughout the grueling process. I thought for sure that we'd run into some Carnies at the carnival and perhaps there would be a ferris wheel but, turns out they only carry shoes. Additionally, dont go hungry, because there isn't a funnel-cake or a scone stand or even a cotton candy dude there to be seen. Additionally, the guys behind the counter seem decidedly unhappy about their current career field. I imagine that turning out to be like Al Bundy wasn't on the scan-tron sheet their high school guidance counselor provided them. Anyhow, I am not here to judge, heaven knows I filled in the "A" bubble for "Dr. Millionaire" as well as the "D" bubble for, "Famous Handsome Assassin Guy". But here I am, not so famous, and unable to tell you the difference between a tri-cuspid valve and a hole in the ground.
Well, I gotta run. Will is playing Alek Trebek and Burt Renolds and Sean Connery and that dude from 3rd Rock are his guests and I can't focus on whatever you're not sayin'. So, anyhow, you guys have a great day.
I have to get writing a strongly worded email to The Netflix scolding them for not having the Bourne Other Movies on instant demand. How can I be expected to watch the baby sleep and sip down 44 oz of Diet Deliciousness under these austere conditions???!
Anywho, I gotta bounce. Word to your mutha.
Always,
J
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Spam, Spam Spam Spam...Spam, Wonderful Spam...
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday Night Lights
So today, was a pretty great day. I really enjoyed my day today. I started out with a run this morning at seven. Just up the road past the Rec Center past the stake center in Herriman and back down the new 12600 South home. I think it's around six miles but to be honest I'm not really sure. I broke my watch band some time ago and I didnt even have the luxury of an Ipod but I imagine it was just shy of an hour mark.
From there I mowed the front and back lawn, then Stacey and I took the car into the dealership for an oil change. Now, before you lecture me on going to the dealership for a simple oil change, it's part of the built in maintenance plan on the lease. Now...before you lecture me on a lease, it's our second lease and we're very happy with how we've been treated. I absoluty abhor purchasing cars and even going NEAR a dealership makes my skin crawl. However, in our second go-round with Stockton to Malone we're nothing but pleased. We've elected to lease Stacey's cars because of the amount of traveling I do I just feel better with Stacey having a newer vehicle, good tires and zero maintenance. Anyhow, we sat in the waiting room with Olivia and sipped down our soda-pops in relative comfort while Olivia ate M and M's and Skittles. Oh that reminds me, backing up a little to the Maverik this morning. I ran into the store to grab Stacey and I a soda. While I was in there, an older gentleman was getting a soda at the fountain. Well he walks over to the Dr. Pepper, puts a few ounces in, and then backs up like he's lost. Then he goes over and starts filling the rest with Diet Coke. Funniest thing, because I do the same thing.
Anyhow, we went from there over to Costco and walked past the cheesecake (longingly) and looked at a camera for Stacey before our trip. Then we picked up some diapers, a HUGE amount of toilet paper, babywipes, and body wash. (Are you writing this down???) Anyhow, we got out of there $170 lighter than when we went in, and without a camera. Go figure. Anyhow, Stacey sent me off with Olivia to get her a piece of cheese pizza. Well, if you've not been to a Costco on a Friday lately....DON'T! That's all I'm sayin'. Anyhow, so I can't set her down, because she's highly mobile, but I also only have so many hands, so it's her,and pizza, and the drinks have to wait. Anyhow, I then realize that as she starts touching me with her pizza-ey hands that I'd neglected to get nappy-kins. Yeah, so when momma arrived (just in time) I bolted for the napkins and had Olivia sit on my lap and chew the pizza and cheese then spit it right back out on the plate...bite...by otherwise delicious....bite.
From thence we went to get Josh at the "Cowabunga" water park. From the outside it looks just dazzling. And colorful. So then we came home and it was almost five p.m. Then... we watched "The Netflix" and we've been watching it ever since! Oh, the BEST part? Other than spending the one day off this weekend I have (Drill tomorrow)....eating a quart of pralines and caramel with Olivia. I gave her a tea spoon. No, an actual spoon designed for ice tea....and we played sword fight digging out little bite sized morsals of delicousness. We uh...well Stacey helpd with six or eight bites...but we polished off the last...4/5ths of the quart and a half container. I'm not proud of myself, but I had a great time doing it. :D
Anyhow, had a great time today. Not really looking forward to drill today, but it's one more month down. See I'm counting down to September when I change command. That will be two years. Two years of hearding cats at the State Headquarters is just about as much as I can handle.
Anyhow it's going to be a hectic week getting ready for this conference in Hawaii next week. Oh, yeah, I'll be out of the net for a while. Flying out on Sunday and we wont be back till the Sunday of next. Dont expect me to blog during that time-frame. I'll be working my fingers right down to the bone. I'm sure you understand.
Anyhow, hope you're Friday was equally relaxing. You know I want only the best for you and your-en.
Always,
J
From there I mowed the front and back lawn, then Stacey and I took the car into the dealership for an oil change. Now, before you lecture me on going to the dealership for a simple oil change, it's part of the built in maintenance plan on the lease. Now...before you lecture me on a lease, it's our second lease and we're very happy with how we've been treated. I absoluty abhor purchasing cars and even going NEAR a dealership makes my skin crawl. However, in our second go-round with Stockton to Malone we're nothing but pleased. We've elected to lease Stacey's cars because of the amount of traveling I do I just feel better with Stacey having a newer vehicle, good tires and zero maintenance. Anyhow, we sat in the waiting room with Olivia and sipped down our soda-pops in relative comfort while Olivia ate M and M's and Skittles. Oh that reminds me, backing up a little to the Maverik this morning. I ran into the store to grab Stacey and I a soda. While I was in there, an older gentleman was getting a soda at the fountain. Well he walks over to the Dr. Pepper, puts a few ounces in, and then backs up like he's lost. Then he goes over and starts filling the rest with Diet Coke. Funniest thing, because I do the same thing.
Anyhow, we went from there over to Costco and walked past the cheesecake (longingly) and looked at a camera for Stacey before our trip. Then we picked up some diapers, a HUGE amount of toilet paper, babywipes, and body wash. (Are you writing this down???) Anyhow, we got out of there $170 lighter than when we went in, and without a camera. Go figure. Anyhow, Stacey sent me off with Olivia to get her a piece of cheese pizza. Well, if you've not been to a Costco on a Friday lately....DON'T! That's all I'm sayin'. Anyhow, so I can't set her down, because she's highly mobile, but I also only have so many hands, so it's her,and pizza, and the drinks have to wait. Anyhow, I then realize that as she starts touching me with her pizza-ey hands that I'd neglected to get nappy-kins. Yeah, so when momma arrived (just in time) I bolted for the napkins and had Olivia sit on my lap and chew the pizza and cheese then spit it right back out on the plate...bite...by otherwise delicious....bite.
From thence we went to get Josh at the "Cowabunga" water park. From the outside it looks just dazzling. And colorful. So then we came home and it was almost five p.m. Then... we watched "The Netflix" and we've been watching it ever since! Oh, the BEST part? Other than spending the one day off this weekend I have (Drill tomorrow)....eating a quart of pralines and caramel with Olivia. I gave her a tea spoon. No, an actual spoon designed for ice tea....and we played sword fight digging out little bite sized morsals of delicousness. We uh...well Stacey helpd with six or eight bites...but we polished off the last...4/5ths of the quart and a half container. I'm not proud of myself, but I had a great time doing it. :D
Anyhow, had a great time today. Not really looking forward to drill today, but it's one more month down. See I'm counting down to September when I change command. That will be two years. Two years of hearding cats at the State Headquarters is just about as much as I can handle.
Anyhow it's going to be a hectic week getting ready for this conference in Hawaii next week. Oh, yeah, I'll be out of the net for a while. Flying out on Sunday and we wont be back till the Sunday of next. Dont expect me to blog during that time-frame. I'll be working my fingers right down to the bone. I'm sure you understand.
Anyhow, hope you're Friday was equally relaxing. You know I want only the best for you and your-en.
Always,
J
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Two Roads...
Today I witnessed probably the saddest thing I’ve ever had to be a part of. Two people within my command have decided to pursue a relationship. One is a female captain, and the other is a male Sergeant. They have been friends for a while and their relationship has grown into one of a romantic nature. So they came forward and asked our mutual supervisor to go to the General for adjudication in their desire to make their relationship public. See, in the military, officers and enlisted are expressly forbidden to date, let alone marry. It’s called fraternization and it actually technically applies to even a friendship between the two. Anyhow, so we had some meetings with the Colonel last week, and he asked for recommendations from us, the section leaders (and me as the unit commander). Then he went to the Chief of Staff, then the one-star general, and then on to the two-star.
Well, today, after our weekly meeting, he held us back. The two individuals and the senior enlisted member, the sergeants supervisor, the deputy G-1 and myself and the Colonel. What he outlined was his discussion with the two-star. Bottom line the general said that since they had not as yet committed an act of fraternization, they could not be “punished” and that foretelling of their punishment would set a precedent. Further on, there is no guarantee as with others in the past, that their getting married would soften the blow. In the active-duty military, it is entirely possible that the captain would actually be courts marshaled for this slight against protocol. See in the military, the traditions for not dating or pursuing relationships of this nature, are imposed for the betterment of good order and discipline. Officers cannot in good conscience, exercise partiality when they are either commanding, or directing subordinates whom they share affections for. Anyhow, I’m really sounding technical, but there is reason behind it. Further along, it was stated that it may be entirely possible they would both have to resign from the military active service. Traditionally in the Active Component, this is not an option. The captain would be forced to resign her commission, and the sergeant would have to serve his remaining service obligation enlistment. However, they would then be free to pursue a romantic relationship.
So, the general’s guidance was that they both stay very clear of each other until they decide what they are going to do. If they roll the dice, they could both be fired, or one be fired, or both receive letters of reprimand, or any combination of the above. I really felt for the captain, as she got very emotional. Her out-pouring of emotion was genuine, and you could see that she valued her relationship with him more than her career. However, she also stated that she would rather resign, or go into the inactive reserves, or some other venue to avoid doing anything to dishonor herself or the uniform as an officer.
I really felt for them today. What incredibly personal things to have shared with others looking on as she broke down. What crippling affects it has for the sergeant whom only wanted to clear the air and make their relationship viable and public. Such a quandary really, nothing they could do or say at that moment would have been the right thing. I could see from her actions, that she was prepared to resign on the spot to pursue her relationship with him. It was obvious to me, that her life was empty without him. She values that one-in-a- million chance to try over the guarantee of a profession which brings her great personal satisfaction. It was clear that she was ready to jump. I actually feared that her level of emotion was so great that she just might do so right here and right now. I could see that her condo, her groceries, her car payment, everything took a back seat to doing the right thing up-front and making a choice that she could stand by with a clear conscience.
I think I learned a lot today. It’s heart-rending to watch someone’s personal life dragged out onto the conference table like it was. We’re supposed to remain professional, and stoic, yet show compassion for their plight, while upholding tradition and good discipline. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. I see that the captain sees only two options. I think the sergeant sees irony and possibly three options. I sincerely hope they weigh it out before they do anything rash. I really like this officer. She’s very professional and extremely conscientious and dedicated. I like this sergeant. He’s likeable and professional and capable. I see they are at a cross-roads. The captain has to abide by the honor of the uniform, and the sergeant has to roll the dice.
I think I have been in similar situations. Well, not this exact one obviously, but one of personal honor in conflict with personal desire. I’ve been there and I believe I made some correct choices, and others I learned from despite making the wrong choices. I think wearing the uniform, and in particular being an officer cannot be over-emphasized. Each and every person that wears the uniform has sworn an oath. Not just to abide and protect the Constitution, but to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner that is befitting the uniform. I personally have been in situations that my personal desires greatly conflicted with what honor demanded. I’ve been on the wrong side of that equation, and I’ve tried most often to get back on the right side.
I suppose what I’m saying is that life isn’t necessarily so cut and dry. Just because these two individuals care deeply about each other doesn’t mean they should jump in both feet. Just because they are in the military, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t either. I think it’s a judgment call. What you might do, is not necessarily what I might do. I think the decisions in life that we make, the ones that define us, we don’t recognize until we’re well past them. These decisive moments have the possibility of sending our lives into much divergent paths. Not all of which are bad of course, but they become who we really are. I think these decisions are predicated on our internal value-set and personal expectations of what is right, what is good, what is honorable and what is just. Some people are much like the Robert Frost poem, the Road Not Taken. Here it is to give you reference:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
I guess what I’m saying today is, I don’t know what these two kids are going to do. What is right for me, is not right for them. I of course can draw on my own personal issues and challenges and make all the judgment calls I want as to which they should pursue. Should they take the safe and secure road, or roll the dice? It’s not that simple of course, the next day, the next week, the next month and years hence, they’ll have to look themselves in the eye and honestly believe that they made the right choice. Honor can be a help, and it can be a hindrance. Honor can bind us to good, it can shield us and protect us from harm. It can also be misunderstood as Pride. Real pride tells us in our heart that we know better, but we’re the exception. Pride tells us that there’s an ethereal force that would pardon us. Honor tells us that despite personal knowledge as to why, we must press forth with what we know to be. Regardless of the internal pain. Regardless of potential loss, regardless of personal understanding in the moment. I honestly don’t know if I’m making any sense right now, but I hope my intent and message is coming across. I really honest-to-goodness don’t know what the future holds, and therefore couldn’t begin to make choices for these too kids. One, the captain wants nothing more than true and complete fulfillment as a person, and the other wants to provide and be an example of strength and right in a shifty world of values. I don’t judge either of these two and my heart goes out to them while they make their unique and challenging decisions.
I learned a lot today. It’s funny how you see a semblance of your own internal issues, things you’ve gone through, similar challenges etc. It’s funny how even in hind-sight, not everything is 20/20. I guess what I know is that I love wearing the uniform. I love that it provides me with a reason to stretch myself beyond what I sometimes believe are my personal capacities. It duly requires sacrifice and dedication. It requires faith and commitment, it also requires judgment and discernment that is not necessarily omnipresent. I suppose that’s why we have the Army Values. I’ve felt as though I’ve broken an Army Value at times, and I’ve really strived to make good on my continuing promise and commitment. I’m not without flaw of course, and I do make mistakes. Sometimes heavy and irreparable mistakes. But I will tell you this, that as I make my decisions, I feel I am guided at times to do something totally outside of my personal desires, in hopes of a greater good. In belief and faith that perhaps the Lord knows a little bit more about me and what he has in store for me than I do. It’s tough to not be selfish. It’s tough to not want yours now. It’s the equivalent of taking a quart of Chunky Monkey ice cream to a Weight Watchers meeting and setting it on the table. Sometimes we just know, unequivocally, that what we want is just, right, and honest with whatever we personally can honestly produce. Other times, we tell ourselves that, in hopes that we’ll be pardoned on intent, rather than action.
I still don’t know if these guys are headed the right direction. Its their call. What I do know is that I understand the plight. I understand the tearing of your personal understanding against what you know is a requirement of you. You can only see the immediate promise of happiness, and the off-chance that doing the right thing may have you miss a singular opportunity is ever in your mind.
Anyhow, I’ll shut up now. All I am saying here is, I guess at the end of the day, we make decisions, good, bad or indifferent, that we live with. They define our true character. I hope at the end of my life, when I look back I can honestly say that I made each and every decision with what I knew to be right at the time. I’ve fallen a little, scuffed a knee or two, heck I’ve even end-oed right into the dirt, but I can say I’ve dusted myself off and tried to renew a personal commitment to following my heart and the guidance I already know to be true.
I hope you have a great day. Sorry I got so deep on you. I gotta go. I am late to take a couch to the Deseret Industries. I am sick of it being in the back of my truck each day that it rains. Have a great day and may God bless you in your endeavors to do what you personally know what to be right, and may he shower you with his affections and understanding when you take that leap of faith.
Faithfully Yours,
J
Well, today, after our weekly meeting, he held us back. The two individuals and the senior enlisted member, the sergeants supervisor, the deputy G-1 and myself and the Colonel. What he outlined was his discussion with the two-star. Bottom line the general said that since they had not as yet committed an act of fraternization, they could not be “punished” and that foretelling of their punishment would set a precedent. Further on, there is no guarantee as with others in the past, that their getting married would soften the blow. In the active-duty military, it is entirely possible that the captain would actually be courts marshaled for this slight against protocol. See in the military, the traditions for not dating or pursuing relationships of this nature, are imposed for the betterment of good order and discipline. Officers cannot in good conscience, exercise partiality when they are either commanding, or directing subordinates whom they share affections for. Anyhow, I’m really sounding technical, but there is reason behind it. Further along, it was stated that it may be entirely possible they would both have to resign from the military active service. Traditionally in the Active Component, this is not an option. The captain would be forced to resign her commission, and the sergeant would have to serve his remaining service obligation enlistment. However, they would then be free to pursue a romantic relationship.
So, the general’s guidance was that they both stay very clear of each other until they decide what they are going to do. If they roll the dice, they could both be fired, or one be fired, or both receive letters of reprimand, or any combination of the above. I really felt for the captain, as she got very emotional. Her out-pouring of emotion was genuine, and you could see that she valued her relationship with him more than her career. However, she also stated that she would rather resign, or go into the inactive reserves, or some other venue to avoid doing anything to dishonor herself or the uniform as an officer.
I really felt for them today. What incredibly personal things to have shared with others looking on as she broke down. What crippling affects it has for the sergeant whom only wanted to clear the air and make their relationship viable and public. Such a quandary really, nothing they could do or say at that moment would have been the right thing. I could see from her actions, that she was prepared to resign on the spot to pursue her relationship with him. It was obvious to me, that her life was empty without him. She values that one-in-a- million chance to try over the guarantee of a profession which brings her great personal satisfaction. It was clear that she was ready to jump. I actually feared that her level of emotion was so great that she just might do so right here and right now. I could see that her condo, her groceries, her car payment, everything took a back seat to doing the right thing up-front and making a choice that she could stand by with a clear conscience.
I think I learned a lot today. It’s heart-rending to watch someone’s personal life dragged out onto the conference table like it was. We’re supposed to remain professional, and stoic, yet show compassion for their plight, while upholding tradition and good discipline. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. I see that the captain sees only two options. I think the sergeant sees irony and possibly three options. I sincerely hope they weigh it out before they do anything rash. I really like this officer. She’s very professional and extremely conscientious and dedicated. I like this sergeant. He’s likeable and professional and capable. I see they are at a cross-roads. The captain has to abide by the honor of the uniform, and the sergeant has to roll the dice.
I think I have been in similar situations. Well, not this exact one obviously, but one of personal honor in conflict with personal desire. I’ve been there and I believe I made some correct choices, and others I learned from despite making the wrong choices. I think wearing the uniform, and in particular being an officer cannot be over-emphasized. Each and every person that wears the uniform has sworn an oath. Not just to abide and protect the Constitution, but to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner that is befitting the uniform. I personally have been in situations that my personal desires greatly conflicted with what honor demanded. I’ve been on the wrong side of that equation, and I’ve tried most often to get back on the right side.
I suppose what I’m saying is that life isn’t necessarily so cut and dry. Just because these two individuals care deeply about each other doesn’t mean they should jump in both feet. Just because they are in the military, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t either. I think it’s a judgment call. What you might do, is not necessarily what I might do. I think the decisions in life that we make, the ones that define us, we don’t recognize until we’re well past them. These decisive moments have the possibility of sending our lives into much divergent paths. Not all of which are bad of course, but they become who we really are. I think these decisions are predicated on our internal value-set and personal expectations of what is right, what is good, what is honorable and what is just. Some people are much like the Robert Frost poem, the Road Not Taken. Here it is to give you reference:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference
I guess what I’m saying today is, I don’t know what these two kids are going to do. What is right for me, is not right for them. I of course can draw on my own personal issues and challenges and make all the judgment calls I want as to which they should pursue. Should they take the safe and secure road, or roll the dice? It’s not that simple of course, the next day, the next week, the next month and years hence, they’ll have to look themselves in the eye and honestly believe that they made the right choice. Honor can be a help, and it can be a hindrance. Honor can bind us to good, it can shield us and protect us from harm. It can also be misunderstood as Pride. Real pride tells us in our heart that we know better, but we’re the exception. Pride tells us that there’s an ethereal force that would pardon us. Honor tells us that despite personal knowledge as to why, we must press forth with what we know to be. Regardless of the internal pain. Regardless of potential loss, regardless of personal understanding in the moment. I honestly don’t know if I’m making any sense right now, but I hope my intent and message is coming across. I really honest-to-goodness don’t know what the future holds, and therefore couldn’t begin to make choices for these too kids. One, the captain wants nothing more than true and complete fulfillment as a person, and the other wants to provide and be an example of strength and right in a shifty world of values. I don’t judge either of these two and my heart goes out to them while they make their unique and challenging decisions.
I learned a lot today. It’s funny how you see a semblance of your own internal issues, things you’ve gone through, similar challenges etc. It’s funny how even in hind-sight, not everything is 20/20. I guess what I know is that I love wearing the uniform. I love that it provides me with a reason to stretch myself beyond what I sometimes believe are my personal capacities. It duly requires sacrifice and dedication. It requires faith and commitment, it also requires judgment and discernment that is not necessarily omnipresent. I suppose that’s why we have the Army Values. I’ve felt as though I’ve broken an Army Value at times, and I’ve really strived to make good on my continuing promise and commitment. I’m not without flaw of course, and I do make mistakes. Sometimes heavy and irreparable mistakes. But I will tell you this, that as I make my decisions, I feel I am guided at times to do something totally outside of my personal desires, in hopes of a greater good. In belief and faith that perhaps the Lord knows a little bit more about me and what he has in store for me than I do. It’s tough to not be selfish. It’s tough to not want yours now. It’s the equivalent of taking a quart of Chunky Monkey ice cream to a Weight Watchers meeting and setting it on the table. Sometimes we just know, unequivocally, that what we want is just, right, and honest with whatever we personally can honestly produce. Other times, we tell ourselves that, in hopes that we’ll be pardoned on intent, rather than action.
I still don’t know if these guys are headed the right direction. Its their call. What I do know is that I understand the plight. I understand the tearing of your personal understanding against what you know is a requirement of you. You can only see the immediate promise of happiness, and the off-chance that doing the right thing may have you miss a singular opportunity is ever in your mind.
Anyhow, I’ll shut up now. All I am saying here is, I guess at the end of the day, we make decisions, good, bad or indifferent, that we live with. They define our true character. I hope at the end of my life, when I look back I can honestly say that I made each and every decision with what I knew to be right at the time. I’ve fallen a little, scuffed a knee or two, heck I’ve even end-oed right into the dirt, but I can say I’ve dusted myself off and tried to renew a personal commitment to following my heart and the guidance I already know to be true.
I hope you have a great day. Sorry I got so deep on you. I gotta go. I am late to take a couch to the Deseret Industries. I am sick of it being in the back of my truck each day that it rains. Have a great day and may God bless you in your endeavors to do what you personally know what to be right, and may he shower you with his affections and understanding when you take that leap of faith.
Faithfully Yours,
J
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Eddy Raven, Fireworks and Glee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1n9FiD0JMQ&feature=list_related&playnext=1&list=AVGxdCwVVULXeVLt-oBNkv3_Bfg3fEQVbc
So this morning Eddy Raven is playing and I'm just about ready to make some breakfast. I haven't decided, but if there are biscuits in the fridge it's a no-brainer, we're having biscuits and gravy. I've slept just about as long as humanly possible as an Army guy. I dont wanna brag, but I made it all the way to 8:00 am before I just couldnt lay there any longer. Despite that growing little monkey Olivia's desire to be up two or three times (she's started ending up in our bed in the mornings) I've gotten plenty of rest and my mind was starting to make up ridiculous dreams. Yesterday I had a nightmare that a former employer (female type) was riding around some flight-line somewhere in a pickup/motorhome type vehicle and was as dolled-up as was humanly possible for her. In fact, I swear I almost considered her female but alas, her advances went nowhere. I imagine because like some blackwidow spider she'd have just eaten my brain as soon as I consumated our hate-luv relationship. Yeah, my subconscious does some crazy stuff if I over-sleep.
So anyhow, here we are, at the beginning of the end. The weekend that is. I've had a good weekend I think. Josh mowed both lawns, and it only cost me a trip to Kohl's to use HIS money to buy him some workout clothes. I got a run in, two sessions of racquetball, helped the neighbors load a U-Haul...swapped out the front-room couch and one the neighbors were unloading...what else? Oh, I watched about six episodes of Glee. Yeah, I know you're not proud of me, but I just can't tear myself away from the freakishness of their characters. In fact, yesterday night, Stacey and I were talking about fireworks. (wait for it...waaaait for it) So I'm climbing into the shower (feel free to imagine this in slow motion (it's a totally "organic" experience)) and I'm talking to her about how the neighbor's fireworks were boxed up, and how they got them from Wal Mart blah blah blah. So I am thinking (cause my mind does that) that if they lasted fifteen minutes per box, that you could somehow choreograph them and include a CD that you as the consumer could play patriotic music and make the experience that much more enjoyable. Then my marketing genius inside realized we could box up "sets" that could be combined to provide hours of continous enjoyment. You could have Lee Greenwood be Proud to Be an American...heck you could include the Top Gun theme...whatever. I mean, you could make a KILLING differentiating yourself from the competition all for a 50 cent plastic CD! I was in the middle of my intellectual explosion...(still showering, keep it clean) and about the time I got to my 1999th part I shouted out to Stacey..."I've been watching too much Glee havent I? If I'm talking about choreographing fireworks, this is starting to affect me for the negative." So I dropped the subject (along with the soap) immediately and went on talking about guns or motors or something.
Oh my favorite part about yesterday? Was the second call into Qwest to fix our wireless internet! So, yesterday, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I finally convinced Stacey, that 150 bucks a month for combined internet, Satelite TV and telephone service was just insane. First off, I dont answer the home phone. It's NEVER for me. 9 times out of 10 it's a telemarketer. The tenth time it's one of Lexi or Josh's friends. If you're doing the math at home, the other non-existant .00001 percent of the time it's someone from church wanting something you dont want to do but feel obligated to. (babysteps, I'm changing my attitude one baby at a time). So, also, we watch "The" Netflix almost exclusively. I honest to goodness couldnt remember the last time we watched network TV. You know how I feel about televised sports, I dont watch General Hospital, and all the kids brain-numbing shows are available on, you guessed it, "the Netflix". Plus if I want to watch HLN and get news mixed with sassy attitude and my morning sunshine, I'll watch it at work on the treadmill or the eliptical. So, that left us with internet. Well aparently it cost NINETY bucks a month for JUST the internet when you're not bundled!!!!! WHAT?! SIX HUNDRED bucks a year for internet? I could buy an air-card with unlimmited access for twenty five a month! (Hold on, Operator Operator, could you be so kind? As to reconnect this number, I just spent my last dime. Would you reconnect this number? I got my love on hold and my heart is on the line....sing it Eddy!)
Where were we? Ah, anyhow, so Stacey reluctantly cancelled those and we're left with only the internet. Well, sort of. Because quiet magically our wireless stopped working last night six hours after we broke up with Qwest. Anyhow, Stacey called first but they wanted us to log into the computer with our...wait for it..non-existant internet access. Then they wanted us to dig up a cord which we couldnt find, but did find a USB connection. Blah blah blah...we didnt get off the ground the first time, but the second go-round we located a high-speed yeller cord that looks like a telephone cord but has a big fat head. The name of the cord escapes me and all you computer dorks out there are rolling your eyes. Guess what? I dont care. I have people for that. I'm a macro thinker. I come up with marketing and genius ideas and have board meetings. That's who I am in this scenario. I'm like the Sue Sylvester of this little high school. YOU on the other hand are that annoying Jewish chick with the giant carp mouth that is oddly attractive but repulsive at the same time. She has a name, I dont care what it is.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANY way, I gotta run. I promised Alexia I'd go for a walk with her this morning which probably requires shorts and a shirt or something. I'm sure there around here somewheres. Anyhow hugs and kisses on all your pink parts. I gotta thing. You'll be excusing me *tips his hat*.
Always,
J
So this morning Eddy Raven is playing and I'm just about ready to make some breakfast. I haven't decided, but if there are biscuits in the fridge it's a no-brainer, we're having biscuits and gravy. I've slept just about as long as humanly possible as an Army guy. I dont wanna brag, but I made it all the way to 8:00 am before I just couldnt lay there any longer. Despite that growing little monkey Olivia's desire to be up two or three times (she's started ending up in our bed in the mornings) I've gotten plenty of rest and my mind was starting to make up ridiculous dreams. Yesterday I had a nightmare that a former employer (female type) was riding around some flight-line somewhere in a pickup/motorhome type vehicle and was as dolled-up as was humanly possible for her. In fact, I swear I almost considered her female but alas, her advances went nowhere. I imagine because like some blackwidow spider she'd have just eaten my brain as soon as I consumated our hate-luv relationship. Yeah, my subconscious does some crazy stuff if I over-sleep.
So anyhow, here we are, at the beginning of the end. The weekend that is. I've had a good weekend I think. Josh mowed both lawns, and it only cost me a trip to Kohl's to use HIS money to buy him some workout clothes. I got a run in, two sessions of racquetball, helped the neighbors load a U-Haul...swapped out the front-room couch and one the neighbors were unloading...what else? Oh, I watched about six episodes of Glee. Yeah, I know you're not proud of me, but I just can't tear myself away from the freakishness of their characters. In fact, yesterday night, Stacey and I were talking about fireworks. (wait for it...waaaait for it) So I'm climbing into the shower (feel free to imagine this in slow motion (it's a totally "organic" experience)) and I'm talking to her about how the neighbor's fireworks were boxed up, and how they got them from Wal Mart blah blah blah. So I am thinking (cause my mind does that) that if they lasted fifteen minutes per box, that you could somehow choreograph them and include a CD that you as the consumer could play patriotic music and make the experience that much more enjoyable. Then my marketing genius inside realized we could box up "sets" that could be combined to provide hours of continous enjoyment. You could have Lee Greenwood be Proud to Be an American...heck you could include the Top Gun theme...whatever. I mean, you could make a KILLING differentiating yourself from the competition all for a 50 cent plastic CD! I was in the middle of my intellectual explosion...(still showering, keep it clean) and about the time I got to my 1999th part I shouted out to Stacey..."I've been watching too much Glee havent I? If I'm talking about choreographing fireworks, this is starting to affect me for the negative." So I dropped the subject (along with the soap) immediately and went on talking about guns or motors or something.
Oh my favorite part about yesterday? Was the second call into Qwest to fix our wireless internet! So, yesterday, after much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I finally convinced Stacey, that 150 bucks a month for combined internet, Satelite TV and telephone service was just insane. First off, I dont answer the home phone. It's NEVER for me. 9 times out of 10 it's a telemarketer. The tenth time it's one of Lexi or Josh's friends. If you're doing the math at home, the other non-existant .00001 percent of the time it's someone from church wanting something you dont want to do but feel obligated to. (babysteps, I'm changing my attitude one baby at a time). So, also, we watch "The" Netflix almost exclusively. I honest to goodness couldnt remember the last time we watched network TV. You know how I feel about televised sports, I dont watch General Hospital, and all the kids brain-numbing shows are available on, you guessed it, "the Netflix". Plus if I want to watch HLN and get news mixed with sassy attitude and my morning sunshine, I'll watch it at work on the treadmill or the eliptical. So, that left us with internet. Well aparently it cost NINETY bucks a month for JUST the internet when you're not bundled!!!!! WHAT?! SIX HUNDRED bucks a year for internet? I could buy an air-card with unlimmited access for twenty five a month! (Hold on, Operator Operator, could you be so kind? As to reconnect this number, I just spent my last dime. Would you reconnect this number? I got my love on hold and my heart is on the line....sing it Eddy!)
Where were we? Ah, anyhow, so Stacey reluctantly cancelled those and we're left with only the internet. Well, sort of. Because quiet magically our wireless stopped working last night six hours after we broke up with Qwest. Anyhow, Stacey called first but they wanted us to log into the computer with our...wait for it..non-existant internet access. Then they wanted us to dig up a cord which we couldnt find, but did find a USB connection. Blah blah blah...we didnt get off the ground the first time, but the second go-round we located a high-speed yeller cord that looks like a telephone cord but has a big fat head. The name of the cord escapes me and all you computer dorks out there are rolling your eyes. Guess what? I dont care. I have people for that. I'm a macro thinker. I come up with marketing and genius ideas and have board meetings. That's who I am in this scenario. I'm like the Sue Sylvester of this little high school. YOU on the other hand are that annoying Jewish chick with the giant carp mouth that is oddly attractive but repulsive at the same time. She has a name, I dont care what it is.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAANY way, I gotta run. I promised Alexia I'd go for a walk with her this morning which probably requires shorts and a shirt or something. I'm sure there around here somewheres. Anyhow hugs and kisses on all your pink parts. I gotta thing. You'll be excusing me *tips his hat*.
Always,
J
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Weekend Update...
OK, here goes...so, you know I try to keep you apprised of even the most mundane of goings-on here at Casa de Kenworthy. Today is of course no exception. Let me give you a recap as things have unfolded thus far.
So, nigh on about Thursday we (Stacey and I) went to go see the new movie, "17 Miracles". I'll be honest with you, we were really wanting to laugh at the new movie, "Hangover 2" was aweful appetizing. But we decided on the other one, mostly because the Hangover started over an hour later, but something told me we should go see the churchy movie. I'll be honest with you, I'm sure glad we did. If you go see this movie, make sure you bring a hanky. It's a doosey. It's really very touching to see the sacrifices and challenges made by members of the Willy Martin Handcart Company as they treked West. Also a tad ironic is one of the main characters is named, "Levi" which, coincidentally or not we've seriously considered as the name for our impending arrival here in November. I try to name all my sons after Biblical dudes that have a bit of an attitude and all my daughters after hotties that wouldnt give me the time of day, so...I guess we're on par for where we should be. By the way, I really thought the names: "Giselle, Gabriella, and Raquel" would have been good options, however I'm now, at five children thinking, perhaps my next one should be named, "Vasectomy". Which has an ever-increasingly nice ring to it. I'd like to say it with a heavy smoker voice. "Vasectaahmy, please come sit by daddy. Bring me my leather-bound book and a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice wouldnt you?" I imagine I'm wearing a purple "Heffner" robe and hanging out in my mansion just reading in my leather office chair. Oh and an ottoman would be nice too. Oh, and a Persian rug, and a fernish plant and a big yeller dog that actually sits beside you with wise eyes and watches the fire. Whatever, I'm getting closer to that dream. I have the dog (sorta) and the rug is synthetic, but we're well on our way to freshly squeezed O.J.
I lost what we were talking about??? Oh yes, so this movie. Yeah, much better choice than the Rated R one we wanted to see. Dont get me wrong, we're well aware that Rated R shows are no-no's but you can rationalize a lot of things when you just want to cut loose and relax. But, the past few years being as challenging as they have been, we've elected instead to stand in a little more holy places. Which, actually is a nice segue into Friday.
So Friday night, we went to the Jordan River Temple. Stacey's mom, dad and sisters were there and I was asked to be a witness for the sealing of Stacey's now deceased sister Michelle. I dont think it's appropriate for me to go into in great detail, but suffice it to say, we were absolutely in the right place, doing the right thing last night. We took some photo's after, which if you're into that sort of thing, you can check Stacey's blog for within the coming week. Anyhow, what I will tell you, is that the sealer, was an older gentleman with an extremely heavy German accent whom happens to live around the corner from my in-laws. I really felt the importance of what was going on there and I'll just leave it at that. It was a beautiful way to spend an evening and has ever-lasting significance to my lovely wife, her parents, and consequently me as I am sealed to Stacey.
So, from there, we've jumped head-long into Saturday. (It's a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday...) So this morning, which was more like early afternoon, Josh and I ran on down to my dad's. No, literally, I jogged, and Josh rode his sister's scooter. Josh has some new duds by the way. He got a fifty dollar gift certificate for having a birthday and we went to Kohl's yesterday to pick out some exercise gear for him. Flash back to Friday, Josh and I went and played racquetball for his very first time, and I am happy to report I have finally "won" a game. So we'll be going back again today at two. Dont tell him, but the reason we went on a run first thing this morning, is because thus far, he's not exactly requiring me to run a whole lot around the court. Granted, he's 11, but dont rob me of my victory. It was real, and it was tangible, and it was mine. I dont shave points for anyone. Least wise a little joke-cracking whipper-snapper!
OK, well, hey, I better let you guys go. I gotta thing. Stacey's going to get her nails done and I'm late for a 44 oz dripping plastic container of Diet Luv. You guys enjoy the remainder of the weekend and just know I think the absolute world of you.
OK, we'll see you on the flip-side,
J
So, nigh on about Thursday we (Stacey and I) went to go see the new movie, "17 Miracles". I'll be honest with you, we were really wanting to laugh at the new movie, "Hangover 2" was aweful appetizing. But we decided on the other one, mostly because the Hangover started over an hour later, but something told me we should go see the churchy movie. I'll be honest with you, I'm sure glad we did. If you go see this movie, make sure you bring a hanky. It's a doosey. It's really very touching to see the sacrifices and challenges made by members of the Willy Martin Handcart Company as they treked West. Also a tad ironic is one of the main characters is named, "Levi" which, coincidentally or not we've seriously considered as the name for our impending arrival here in November. I try to name all my sons after Biblical dudes that have a bit of an attitude and all my daughters after hotties that wouldnt give me the time of day, so...I guess we're on par for where we should be. By the way, I really thought the names: "Giselle, Gabriella, and Raquel" would have been good options, however I'm now, at five children thinking, perhaps my next one should be named, "Vasectomy". Which has an ever-increasingly nice ring to it. I'd like to say it with a heavy smoker voice. "Vasectaahmy, please come sit by daddy. Bring me my leather-bound book and a nice glass of freshly squeezed orange juice wouldnt you?" I imagine I'm wearing a purple "Heffner" robe and hanging out in my mansion just reading in my leather office chair. Oh and an ottoman would be nice too. Oh, and a Persian rug, and a fernish plant and a big yeller dog that actually sits beside you with wise eyes and watches the fire. Whatever, I'm getting closer to that dream. I have the dog (sorta) and the rug is synthetic, but we're well on our way to freshly squeezed O.J.
I lost what we were talking about??? Oh yes, so this movie. Yeah, much better choice than the Rated R one we wanted to see. Dont get me wrong, we're well aware that Rated R shows are no-no's but you can rationalize a lot of things when you just want to cut loose and relax. But, the past few years being as challenging as they have been, we've elected instead to stand in a little more holy places. Which, actually is a nice segue into Friday.
So Friday night, we went to the Jordan River Temple. Stacey's mom, dad and sisters were there and I was asked to be a witness for the sealing of Stacey's now deceased sister Michelle. I dont think it's appropriate for me to go into in great detail, but suffice it to say, we were absolutely in the right place, doing the right thing last night. We took some photo's after, which if you're into that sort of thing, you can check Stacey's blog for within the coming week. Anyhow, what I will tell you, is that the sealer, was an older gentleman with an extremely heavy German accent whom happens to live around the corner from my in-laws. I really felt the importance of what was going on there and I'll just leave it at that. It was a beautiful way to spend an evening and has ever-lasting significance to my lovely wife, her parents, and consequently me as I am sealed to Stacey.
So, from there, we've jumped head-long into Saturday. (It's a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday...) So this morning, which was more like early afternoon, Josh and I ran on down to my dad's. No, literally, I jogged, and Josh rode his sister's scooter. Josh has some new duds by the way. He got a fifty dollar gift certificate for having a birthday and we went to Kohl's yesterday to pick out some exercise gear for him. Flash back to Friday, Josh and I went and played racquetball for his very first time, and I am happy to report I have finally "won" a game. So we'll be going back again today at two. Dont tell him, but the reason we went on a run first thing this morning, is because thus far, he's not exactly requiring me to run a whole lot around the court. Granted, he's 11, but dont rob me of my victory. It was real, and it was tangible, and it was mine. I dont shave points for anyone. Least wise a little joke-cracking whipper-snapper!
OK, well, hey, I better let you guys go. I gotta thing. Stacey's going to get her nails done and I'm late for a 44 oz dripping plastic container of Diet Luv. You guys enjoy the remainder of the weekend and just know I think the absolute world of you.
OK, we'll see you on the flip-side,
J
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Daily Rant...
OK, so here it is. I wanted to stay home today. I really did. My wife held on to me this morning (I mean, why WOULDN’T she??? I’m adorable after all.) and asked if there was any way I could stay home. I told her there wasn’t because I had to get some orders done for some kids mobilizing out this week. So, imagine my frustrations today, in trying to get into the program to cut orders, only to find that my “Java Enabler” was on a coffee break at….(checks his watch) 0715.
Yeah, so I called down to the “Help Desk”, I was Numero Uno in the queue. Good deal, I have a lot to do. Well the really cheery guy on the other end answered about eight minutes later and commenced to hooking me up with my morning Java. (Dad this is all computer talk. Mom, never mind, skip to the next blog entry). Anyhow, so Help Desk guy is SUPER cheery at first light so I let him ease me into this. So I let him take over my computer remotely. Which is kind of scary actually. Not that I have anything weird on here, other than pictures of me and a goat and some visqueen and a tub of orange jello, but other than that, pretty soft-core stuff really. So, Help Desk Guy, says, “Oh no problem, should update in about four minutes,” and off he drops the line. So four or five minutes transpire and of course, here we are again. It wants me to install some, “Add-on” with a really long number and “jsb” and blah blah blah. So I try to click on the program again, and I get the same error. Well about that same time, I had a conversation with my co-workers (see also, “subordinates”) as to who might be responsible for the Selena Gomez (teen idol) poster affixed to my door. It’s really nice and she looks hot and all, but she turned 18 about seventeen minutes ago, so I look like a weird old man. I mean, I’m practically old enough to be her distant friend from Utah with no familial ties or weirdness other than our modest age gap.
So I ring up the Help Desk, and of course I’m number tres in the queue now. So, fifteen minutes transpire, and I’m forced to do actual work on stuff I have been putting off to the last minute. So, about that time, someone calls with a question for the First Sergeant, and since I have his cell, and he’s required by law and honor to answer, we work through this other little issue.
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave, I’ve forgotten to scan and email the pay off for our second mortgage to the new first mortgage pukes. Yeah, they saved us about a point and over the next 30 years (we only had 24 left!!!) we could save upwards of 350 bucks. We could waste that on dance lessons for my son, or E-books that I’ll never have time to read, or hell, maybe even air conditioning for the truck that I drive to work in the 90 degree weather! (I’m a sacrificer. Not to mention a whiner and a showboat.) Heck, I’m such a good husband; I haven’t fixed the tie-rod ends on the truck, so that when I make a hard deceleration it pulls over into the lane immediate my left. Not exactly safe of course, but as long as momma never has a car over three years old, all is well in Zion. (I am laying it on thick here, this is hyperbole folks, and I love that dame and everything she stands for. Not to mention everything she lays down for. But that doesn’t concern you kids.)
Anyhow, so where was I??? ah yes. So the THIRD time that Cheery Help Desk guy calls me back, I am transferred over to Sergeant C____. Anyhow, he remotely looks through my files and pictures of your mom and my truck and then commences to fixing the Java deal. Well, it’s about 1030 now, and I get hungry exactly at 1100 hours. I’m like a clock that way. Anyhow, I hadn’t seen Stacey in almost 4 hours so I really thought lunch together would help her get through the rest of her day without me. Well, as it turns out, she does just fine without me, it’s more that the kids are at home and off track and she was seriously thinking about taking my son out back and thrashing him by 800 am.
So, we had some lunch at this BBQ Pit place here in town and I know she really enjoyed the view. Mostly because she was watching the door, and I was watching the bathroom door. Anyhow, so I get back and there’s a message on my machine …well, phone. So I ring it up and low and behold, the Help Desk Guys have handed me off to the, “Security Guys” for a closer look at my particular problem. So, Sergeant Z_____ calls me up and decides he wants to do a face-to-face and get down into brass tacks. Oh, it’s important also to note that I tried three machines on both scanner and fax options, but all of them had “Kerbo” errors, which means absa-smurfly NOTHING to me. So I can “Contact My Administrator” if I feel like it would do a damn bit of good on my own time. Anyhow so I brushed my teeth…yeah, I brush my teeth at work, what of it? Good oral hygiene is not just a good idea, it should be the law….anyhow, Sergeant Z starts in on my computer and just shy of 1430 (2:30 pm) he’s got her up and running! Turns out, and man are you gonna just laugh here….turns out that the Java they ‘pushed’ was for Java 24, whereas I had…*snicker* Java 23! I had the old version! Oh man, good times…gooooood times. Oh how fun they must be at parties these basement dwelling florescent light loving computer types!
Anyhow, so then I get into my “program” to start cutting orders. FINALLY at 1535 in the afternoon we are a, “go” and ready to just tear IT UP with this stuff. Yeah, no can do, they are in the wrong unit. Seems in the SIBX program the UIC that they were in hadn’t effected the transfers to the hoooji-whatsit and so-and-so isn’t in today so tomorrow would be a better option all the way around.
So, I actually accomplished about zip.point.shiz today and spent all day a doin’ it. I can’t win. But I did end up with a sweet autographed Selena Gomez poster and made one colonel happy. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I also had BBQ Brisket, AND hush puppies (put your mind BACK in the gutter!) and…well I just feel darn good about trying it on anyhow. Well, in about 24 minutes, (who’s counting) I’m going to walk out into the heat of the afternoon and drive Big Green home and try not to kill a bus-load of nuns. Safety is my main concern. I know, it’s a habit of mine…(waaaaait for it…waaaaaaaaiiiit for it….) habit? Habit of mine…*ahem* anyhow, I just want to get home and see what destruction has taken place at Casa de Kenworthy. I imagine by now Olivia is taped to the ceiling fan and oscillating at an unhealthy rate. I imagine the cat has walked its way over the top of the plumb colored 2011 Honda Pilot, and I could almost guarantee that I’ll be asked to get Lexi off of Netflix because Selena Gomez and her crew are driving my wife insane with their ridiculous pre-teen humor.
I wonder if Suite Life of Zach and Cody is on later??? Anyhow, I gotta run. You kids try and find me on the Bangerter Highway. I’ll be the one drifting into the left inner-most lane each time the light changes. I can’t wait for the (W)Rec(k) Center today. I got some frustrations to get out. I sincerely hope, “Twenty Treadmills to Choose from but I Choose the Squeaky One Guy” is there. Friggin’ idiot. I should snap his little neck and put him in the small package for being so oblivious to his surroundings. Either that or I’ll hand him over to, “The Medicine Ball and Basketball Confusion Twins”. They too are oblivious to their annoyance and perhaps the three of them could get together and talk Mona Vie or Amway options.
I gotta go. Dont wait up.
Jon OUT.
Yeah, so I called down to the “Help Desk”, I was Numero Uno in the queue. Good deal, I have a lot to do. Well the really cheery guy on the other end answered about eight minutes later and commenced to hooking me up with my morning Java. (Dad this is all computer talk. Mom, never mind, skip to the next blog entry). Anyhow, so Help Desk guy is SUPER cheery at first light so I let him ease me into this. So I let him take over my computer remotely. Which is kind of scary actually. Not that I have anything weird on here, other than pictures of me and a goat and some visqueen and a tub of orange jello, but other than that, pretty soft-core stuff really. So, Help Desk Guy, says, “Oh no problem, should update in about four minutes,” and off he drops the line. So four or five minutes transpire and of course, here we are again. It wants me to install some, “Add-on” with a really long number and “jsb” and blah blah blah. So I try to click on the program again, and I get the same error. Well about that same time, I had a conversation with my co-workers (see also, “subordinates”) as to who might be responsible for the Selena Gomez (teen idol) poster affixed to my door. It’s really nice and she looks hot and all, but she turned 18 about seventeen minutes ago, so I look like a weird old man. I mean, I’m practically old enough to be her distant friend from Utah with no familial ties or weirdness other than our modest age gap.
So I ring up the Help Desk, and of course I’m number tres in the queue now. So, fifteen minutes transpire, and I’m forced to do actual work on stuff I have been putting off to the last minute. So, about that time, someone calls with a question for the First Sergeant, and since I have his cell, and he’s required by law and honor to answer, we work through this other little issue.
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave, I’ve forgotten to scan and email the pay off for our second mortgage to the new first mortgage pukes. Yeah, they saved us about a point and over the next 30 years (we only had 24 left!!!) we could save upwards of 350 bucks. We could waste that on dance lessons for my son, or E-books that I’ll never have time to read, or hell, maybe even air conditioning for the truck that I drive to work in the 90 degree weather! (I’m a sacrificer. Not to mention a whiner and a showboat.) Heck, I’m such a good husband; I haven’t fixed the tie-rod ends on the truck, so that when I make a hard deceleration it pulls over into the lane immediate my left. Not exactly safe of course, but as long as momma never has a car over three years old, all is well in Zion. (I am laying it on thick here, this is hyperbole folks, and I love that dame and everything she stands for. Not to mention everything she lays down for. But that doesn’t concern you kids.)
Anyhow, so where was I??? ah yes. So the THIRD time that Cheery Help Desk guy calls me back, I am transferred over to Sergeant C____. Anyhow, he remotely looks through my files and pictures of your mom and my truck and then commences to fixing the Java deal. Well, it’s about 1030 now, and I get hungry exactly at 1100 hours. I’m like a clock that way. Anyhow, I hadn’t seen Stacey in almost 4 hours so I really thought lunch together would help her get through the rest of her day without me. Well, as it turns out, she does just fine without me, it’s more that the kids are at home and off track and she was seriously thinking about taking my son out back and thrashing him by 800 am.
So, we had some lunch at this BBQ Pit place here in town and I know she really enjoyed the view. Mostly because she was watching the door, and I was watching the bathroom door. Anyhow, so I get back and there’s a message on my machine …well, phone. So I ring it up and low and behold, the Help Desk Guys have handed me off to the, “Security Guys” for a closer look at my particular problem. So, Sergeant Z_____ calls me up and decides he wants to do a face-to-face and get down into brass tacks. Oh, it’s important also to note that I tried three machines on both scanner and fax options, but all of them had “Kerbo” errors, which means absa-smurfly NOTHING to me. So I can “Contact My Administrator” if I feel like it would do a damn bit of good on my own time. Anyhow so I brushed my teeth…yeah, I brush my teeth at work, what of it? Good oral hygiene is not just a good idea, it should be the law….anyhow, Sergeant Z starts in on my computer and just shy of 1430 (2:30 pm) he’s got her up and running! Turns out, and man are you gonna just laugh here….turns out that the Java they ‘pushed’ was for Java 24, whereas I had…*snicker* Java 23! I had the old version! Oh man, good times…gooooood times. Oh how fun they must be at parties these basement dwelling florescent light loving computer types!
Anyhow, so then I get into my “program” to start cutting orders. FINALLY at 1535 in the afternoon we are a, “go” and ready to just tear IT UP with this stuff. Yeah, no can do, they are in the wrong unit. Seems in the SIBX program the UIC that they were in hadn’t effected the transfers to the hoooji-whatsit and so-and-so isn’t in today so tomorrow would be a better option all the way around.
So, I actually accomplished about zip.point.shiz today and spent all day a doin’ it. I can’t win. But I did end up with a sweet autographed Selena Gomez poster and made one colonel happy. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I also had BBQ Brisket, AND hush puppies (put your mind BACK in the gutter!) and…well I just feel darn good about trying it on anyhow. Well, in about 24 minutes, (who’s counting) I’m going to walk out into the heat of the afternoon and drive Big Green home and try not to kill a bus-load of nuns. Safety is my main concern. I know, it’s a habit of mine…(waaaaait for it…waaaaaaaaiiiit for it….) habit? Habit of mine…*ahem* anyhow, I just want to get home and see what destruction has taken place at Casa de Kenworthy. I imagine by now Olivia is taped to the ceiling fan and oscillating at an unhealthy rate. I imagine the cat has walked its way over the top of the plumb colored 2011 Honda Pilot, and I could almost guarantee that I’ll be asked to get Lexi off of Netflix because Selena Gomez and her crew are driving my wife insane with their ridiculous pre-teen humor.
I wonder if Suite Life of Zach and Cody is on later??? Anyhow, I gotta run. You kids try and find me on the Bangerter Highway. I’ll be the one drifting into the left inner-most lane each time the light changes. I can’t wait for the (W)Rec(k) Center today. I got some frustrations to get out. I sincerely hope, “Twenty Treadmills to Choose from but I Choose the Squeaky One Guy” is there. Friggin’ idiot. I should snap his little neck and put him in the small package for being so oblivious to his surroundings. Either that or I’ll hand him over to, “The Medicine Ball and Basketball Confusion Twins”. They too are oblivious to their annoyance and perhaps the three of them could get together and talk Mona Vie or Amway options.
I gotta go. Dont wait up.
Jon OUT.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Independence Day
So, you can imagine it's been a heckuva weekend kids. We left the big city for higher altitudes on Thursday of last week and just arrived home today, Monday the 4th day of July, 2011. So, I gotta tell ya, it's been an awesome weekend. I didnt have cell service and it was everything I dreamed it could be. No Crackberry, no email, no work calls, no texts, no spam, nada! Oh man, and when I got down into cell range there were only about 39 emails waiting. WHO emails work stuff on the 4th of JULY anyhow???!
Anyhow, you're probably thinking I am going to write about our trip to Currant Creek. Well, yes and no. Let me sum it up this way, veni, vidi, vici. There? Questions? Comments? Concerns. Yeah, we swam, we fished, we ATV'duh, we ate, we slept, (we loved. *wink wink*), a good time was had by all. I let Josh drive the boat. Not just with me sittin' there either. I let him drive it around at the boat dock waiting for me to get the truck and trailer. His mom about had a conniption fit (is, "conniption" an actual word? It looks funny staring back at me). Anyhow, the kids rode the ATV, at more popsicles than humanly possible, downed cobbler, s'mores, played badmitten, Geezer Golf, just plain wore us out.
Worst part about the trip is I hadn't had time to recharge the airconditioner in Big Green, so we had to use the 2-60 Air conditioner most everywhere we went. But when you're only traveling at 20 mph, it just leaves you desiring more. Anyhow the dog got a haircut from me with scissors and she just looks horrendous. I ain't gonna lie to you. But it was hot and craft scissors or not, it was time. I even have a missing section of skin on my middle finger from cutting her hair with sub-par scissors.
So, now the best part of the weekend. No, not the "Gold" touch-car wash that I splurged on to wash the Creek off of Big Green, it was the fireworks tonight. See they're actually still going on. They are all around us. I guess the State of Utah lifted the moratorium on air-burst fireworks and people's patriotism has just plain grown exponentially as a result. We watched out our back window about seven major undertakings of private fireworks which would rival most small city productions. There are fireworks going off all around us. In the circles and burrows that are at the cardinal points of interest. These are nothing to shake a stick at either. These things really make a wallup and really send your heart to thumping.
So it started out with us doing our el Cheap-o fireworks ($20) in the front yard here. Yeah, the boring poppers and little whispy baby-girl ones. They're so sweet and delicate these little fireworks. But thankfully we didnt end up with snakes. Gosh I hate snakes. They're the dumbest fireworks ever. You pretty much end up stacking them into different shapes and lighting them just to get rid of them and try and make a four headed multi-color dragon snake thing. Anyhow, so then we did sparklers, which I hate even more than snakes. Mostly because it takes about seventeen matches to start the first one, then you're using the one to light the other, and six kids (did we somehow gain two???) are pawing at you for their now half-gone sparkler so they can write their names in the air before burning themselves on the leg.
So it was about this time when the big-boys and non-cheapo's started in. Also the firefighters began responding all around us. The sirens have pretty much gone non-stop. You know, that's what I actually wanted to write about, firemen. See, my dad was a volunteer firemen. He actually joined the fire department after ironically starting the ditch on fire in his back yard and it got a little out of hand. It took them so long to respond, that when he complained about it, (after having put it out mostly already with the hose) he felt compelled to just join the ranks. Well, my dad actually made it up to the Assistant Chief of Riverton City. Which, pretty much comprised all of my formative years between about 1979 and 1989. Well he was also a paramedic since they pulled double duty. He used to carry around this red pager about the size of four of my CrackBerries stacked up and all it would do would make this two-toned pitch. "Eeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......" And then you would hear a loudspeaker that would come on. At least I think there was a loudspeaker. Perhaps his pager in later years actually talked. But I distinctly remember. "Riverton respond, grass fire....12231 South 2240 West...." And off he'd go.
See he had this old white Chevy Scottsdale, yeah, you thought it should have skipped a generation...but it didnt. Anyhow, "Betsy" had a fireman sticker on the bumper which somehow allowed you to speed to the scene of the fire/incident. More often than not, he'd go right to the scene. If it was a fire, he'd have to go to the firestation and get his hurry-ups and coat and stuff. But usually the truck would already be on the road to wherever so he would end up at the house-fire in Ol' Bets'. Anyhow, I think he made five bucks a call. He'd probably waste that 25 dollar a month check on silly stuff like...puffed rice cereal, or a couple tanks of gas to take us deer hunting. I aint gonna lie to you, I think we were probably worse off than I thought growing up. I dont ever remember my dad wanting anything more than a sliding rear window for his truck. That's about the extent of his selfishness to be honest with you.
Anyhow, back to fireworks. So, I remember as a kid, for years and years riding the big red truck in the Riverton City parade. Oh it was great. Sitting up there on that hose bed, just watching people, the siren going, throwing taffy out to other kids. It was pretty much the life. But, once in a while, there would be a need to respond, and they'd toss all us kids off onto another truck and away they'd go.
So, Riverton used to have the volunteers put on the 4th of July fireworks show too. I still remember the first time they put it to music. Not exactly choreographed perfectly, but what do you want... Stadium of Fire? They had like a ten thousand dollar a year budget and that mostly went to selfish things like...well masks and oxygen tanks and stuff for the firefighters. I remember never sitting with my dad during the fireworks shows. Not until we were much older. Mostly because they'd be setting up and shooting off the fireworks, and there would be a call out. Half the guys would take off to the fire, and half would try and keep the show going. Once I remember the whole shootin' match was postponed an hour so they could go put out some house.
Dont get me wrong, I think that the fact that my dad was involved in civic responsibilities made me more appreciative and cognizant of my own. I will remember till the day I die the day he met us at the, "La Fonda's Restaurant" A little place on Redwood Road next to Sharon's TV and Appliance. Now a Jim's Family Restaurant is there. Anyhow, Sharon's had a backroom with naughty movies and I'd sneek a look in there as we went past the door trying to catch a glimpse...where were we??? Oh, anyhow so my dad met us at the restaurant. We were having the, "Nachos Grande" mostly because it was five bucks and my mom would get it and one large soda for all of us to share. Probably a, "Tab" to date this. Anyhow my dad came in. He'd been on a call. Seems two boys found a gun. It belonged to their dad. One boy, the younger one shot his older brother in the leg playing with it. The boy died and I remember my dad somberly saying, "I actually feel worse for the brother, it was an accident, and he'll have to live the rest of his life thinking about how he killed his brother." It really set in for me then. I remember him telling me how they'd responded to a call where a family excavation business had an accident. A trench caved in and the father cut his son's head off with the backhoe trying to dig him out to save him. Real rough stuff. Stuff I probably should have heard about. But it set in real well for me. These firefighters and paramedics really deserve a lot of credit. They do day in and day out what you wish you had the heart for every day.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I really thought I was going to be a firefighter when I graduated school. I took the written exam and scored a 94% and wasn't even in the top 200 applicants (of the 2000 that took it that year). So I didnt even get to take the physical exam. But, I was 18 and had my sights set on joining the Navy anyhow. That just sealed the deal. But anyhow, I think while I was sitting there tonight, watching the going's on I was thinking about a couple of things. Number one of course, God Bless America. No, I really mean that. I've been to 27 different countries and there ain't a one that comes remotely close. No matter how backward we're getting at times. Number two, was the pride when I hear those sirens. I know that some other kids' dads aren't going to be there to watch them do sparklers. They'll be full-time with the County Fire now of course, but those guys work hard so they can respond within minutes to your miss dialed 911 call when you're toddler finds you're phone unattended. Better yet, they'll be there when you're wife smells gasoline coming from the garage while you're on a long one hour run. It's a lot of fun by the way watching the fire truck pull out of the neighborhood and jogging in to find your wife in the circle on the phone.
Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment and just get some of this out. I was so proud of my dad's service. I remember at the Riverton Town Days how the various teams of firemen would come to the parks throughout the valley and have competitions of skill. Like a relay race but with fire gear. They even had a keg suspended on a wire than they played reverse tug of war with. Shooting it with the two-inch hose. Four men on each side pushing a keg towards the opposing side. Silly, but oddly fun at the same time.
Anyhow, I gotta go now. It's good to be back in town. I'm so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. I know it's trite, it's been said a thousand times, but I do believe it. I love this nation. I love the way that American's are and think. I love how their selfishness melts away when their neighbors are in need. I had a great weekend. I have a great life. I love this community which I am a part of. I love that I have neighbors that are willing to do their part and ensure the safety and security of my family here while I may do so for them abroad.
OK, seriously, I have to shower now. I'll try and write again when the mood strikes. All the best to you and your's. Enjoy your night and hug your little ones. We'll see you sooner than later.
Always,
J
Anyhow, you're probably thinking I am going to write about our trip to Currant Creek. Well, yes and no. Let me sum it up this way, veni, vidi, vici. There? Questions? Comments? Concerns. Yeah, we swam, we fished, we ATV'duh, we ate, we slept, (we loved. *wink wink*), a good time was had by all. I let Josh drive the boat. Not just with me sittin' there either. I let him drive it around at the boat dock waiting for me to get the truck and trailer. His mom about had a conniption fit (is, "conniption" an actual word? It looks funny staring back at me). Anyhow, the kids rode the ATV, at more popsicles than humanly possible, downed cobbler, s'mores, played badmitten, Geezer Golf, just plain wore us out.
Worst part about the trip is I hadn't had time to recharge the airconditioner in Big Green, so we had to use the 2-60 Air conditioner most everywhere we went. But when you're only traveling at 20 mph, it just leaves you desiring more. Anyhow the dog got a haircut from me with scissors and she just looks horrendous. I ain't gonna lie to you. But it was hot and craft scissors or not, it was time. I even have a missing section of skin on my middle finger from cutting her hair with sub-par scissors.
So, now the best part of the weekend. No, not the "Gold" touch-car wash that I splurged on to wash the Creek off of Big Green, it was the fireworks tonight. See they're actually still going on. They are all around us. I guess the State of Utah lifted the moratorium on air-burst fireworks and people's patriotism has just plain grown exponentially as a result. We watched out our back window about seven major undertakings of private fireworks which would rival most small city productions. There are fireworks going off all around us. In the circles and burrows that are at the cardinal points of interest. These are nothing to shake a stick at either. These things really make a wallup and really send your heart to thumping.
So it started out with us doing our el Cheap-o fireworks ($20) in the front yard here. Yeah, the boring poppers and little whispy baby-girl ones. They're so sweet and delicate these little fireworks. But thankfully we didnt end up with snakes. Gosh I hate snakes. They're the dumbest fireworks ever. You pretty much end up stacking them into different shapes and lighting them just to get rid of them and try and make a four headed multi-color dragon snake thing. Anyhow, so then we did sparklers, which I hate even more than snakes. Mostly because it takes about seventeen matches to start the first one, then you're using the one to light the other, and six kids (did we somehow gain two???) are pawing at you for their now half-gone sparkler so they can write their names in the air before burning themselves on the leg.
So it was about this time when the big-boys and non-cheapo's started in. Also the firefighters began responding all around us. The sirens have pretty much gone non-stop. You know, that's what I actually wanted to write about, firemen. See, my dad was a volunteer firemen. He actually joined the fire department after ironically starting the ditch on fire in his back yard and it got a little out of hand. It took them so long to respond, that when he complained about it, (after having put it out mostly already with the hose) he felt compelled to just join the ranks. Well, my dad actually made it up to the Assistant Chief of Riverton City. Which, pretty much comprised all of my formative years between about 1979 and 1989. Well he was also a paramedic since they pulled double duty. He used to carry around this red pager about the size of four of my CrackBerries stacked up and all it would do would make this two-toned pitch. "Eeeeeeee ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......" And then you would hear a loudspeaker that would come on. At least I think there was a loudspeaker. Perhaps his pager in later years actually talked. But I distinctly remember. "Riverton respond, grass fire....12231 South 2240 West...." And off he'd go.
See he had this old white Chevy Scottsdale, yeah, you thought it should have skipped a generation...but it didnt. Anyhow, "Betsy" had a fireman sticker on the bumper which somehow allowed you to speed to the scene of the fire/incident. More often than not, he'd go right to the scene. If it was a fire, he'd have to go to the firestation and get his hurry-ups and coat and stuff. But usually the truck would already be on the road to wherever so he would end up at the house-fire in Ol' Bets'. Anyhow, I think he made five bucks a call. He'd probably waste that 25 dollar a month check on silly stuff like...puffed rice cereal, or a couple tanks of gas to take us deer hunting. I aint gonna lie to you, I think we were probably worse off than I thought growing up. I dont ever remember my dad wanting anything more than a sliding rear window for his truck. That's about the extent of his selfishness to be honest with you.
Anyhow, back to fireworks. So, I remember as a kid, for years and years riding the big red truck in the Riverton City parade. Oh it was great. Sitting up there on that hose bed, just watching people, the siren going, throwing taffy out to other kids. It was pretty much the life. But, once in a while, there would be a need to respond, and they'd toss all us kids off onto another truck and away they'd go.
So, Riverton used to have the volunteers put on the 4th of July fireworks show too. I still remember the first time they put it to music. Not exactly choreographed perfectly, but what do you want... Stadium of Fire? They had like a ten thousand dollar a year budget and that mostly went to selfish things like...well masks and oxygen tanks and stuff for the firefighters. I remember never sitting with my dad during the fireworks shows. Not until we were much older. Mostly because they'd be setting up and shooting off the fireworks, and there would be a call out. Half the guys would take off to the fire, and half would try and keep the show going. Once I remember the whole shootin' match was postponed an hour so they could go put out some house.
Dont get me wrong, I think that the fact that my dad was involved in civic responsibilities made me more appreciative and cognizant of my own. I will remember till the day I die the day he met us at the, "La Fonda's Restaurant" A little place on Redwood Road next to Sharon's TV and Appliance. Now a Jim's Family Restaurant is there. Anyhow, Sharon's had a backroom with naughty movies and I'd sneek a look in there as we went past the door trying to catch a glimpse...where were we??? Oh, anyhow so my dad met us at the restaurant. We were having the, "Nachos Grande" mostly because it was five bucks and my mom would get it and one large soda for all of us to share. Probably a, "Tab" to date this. Anyhow my dad came in. He'd been on a call. Seems two boys found a gun. It belonged to their dad. One boy, the younger one shot his older brother in the leg playing with it. The boy died and I remember my dad somberly saying, "I actually feel worse for the brother, it was an accident, and he'll have to live the rest of his life thinking about how he killed his brother." It really set in for me then. I remember him telling me how they'd responded to a call where a family excavation business had an accident. A trench caved in and the father cut his son's head off with the backhoe trying to dig him out to save him. Real rough stuff. Stuff I probably should have heard about. But it set in real well for me. These firefighters and paramedics really deserve a lot of credit. They do day in and day out what you wish you had the heart for every day.
I'm not gonna lie to you. I really thought I was going to be a firefighter when I graduated school. I took the written exam and scored a 94% and wasn't even in the top 200 applicants (of the 2000 that took it that year). So I didnt even get to take the physical exam. But, I was 18 and had my sights set on joining the Navy anyhow. That just sealed the deal. But anyhow, I think while I was sitting there tonight, watching the going's on I was thinking about a couple of things. Number one of course, God Bless America. No, I really mean that. I've been to 27 different countries and there ain't a one that comes remotely close. No matter how backward we're getting at times. Number two, was the pride when I hear those sirens. I know that some other kids' dads aren't going to be there to watch them do sparklers. They'll be full-time with the County Fire now of course, but those guys work hard so they can respond within minutes to your miss dialed 911 call when you're toddler finds you're phone unattended. Better yet, they'll be there when you're wife smells gasoline coming from the garage while you're on a long one hour run. It's a lot of fun by the way watching the fire truck pull out of the neighborhood and jogging in to find your wife in the circle on the phone.
Anyhow, I just wanted to take a moment and just get some of this out. I was so proud of my dad's service. I remember at the Riverton Town Days how the various teams of firemen would come to the parks throughout the valley and have competitions of skill. Like a relay race but with fire gear. They even had a keg suspended on a wire than they played reverse tug of war with. Shooting it with the two-inch hose. Four men on each side pushing a keg towards the opposing side. Silly, but oddly fun at the same time.
Anyhow, I gotta go now. It's good to be back in town. I'm so thankful for the freedoms we enjoy. I know it's trite, it's been said a thousand times, but I do believe it. I love this nation. I love the way that American's are and think. I love how their selfishness melts away when their neighbors are in need. I had a great weekend. I have a great life. I love this community which I am a part of. I love that I have neighbors that are willing to do their part and ensure the safety and security of my family here while I may do so for them abroad.
OK, seriously, I have to shower now. I'll try and write again when the mood strikes. All the best to you and your's. Enjoy your night and hug your little ones. We'll see you sooner than later.
Always,
J
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