About my last post....and some rambling thoughts.

I guess you're never too young to trick or treat. (See my picture in the last post?) We had the fewest kids come by since we moved here 10 years ago. :-(
I felt sorry for Max, cause he loves this stuff and couldn't go out on account of his broken leg.

We have had the nicest weather I can remember for the end of Oct. this weekend. I also think we're over due! It's been non-stop cloudy, and rainy for what seems like two months...blah. We grilled out, and had a great family dinner. I love those.

Have you ever thought about what makes you tic? What's your passion? What do you live for? What makes getting up everyday worth it? These are good questions to ponder now and then...and the answers change as your life changes. I don't buy the "one thing" idea from Urban Cowboy myself, it can be several things. One of mine is my family. I am passionate about my family, being a husband and father, and trying to do it right...loving, teaching, serving, helping kids grow to mature, independent, Godly adults....I'm rambling here...a tangent from the family dinner...yes....family is not my only passion, but is the only one I'll bore you with (if you're still reading this).

I went to the maul today (for new clothes)...Am I the last person to give up cargo pants? I saw only one person all day wearing them, and it was me...everyone was in jeans...and to make matters weirder, there were NO cargo pants for sale, EXCEPT at The Gap on the clearance rack. This puzzles me...cargo pants are far, far more comfortable than jeans...and how about all the extra pockets? I don't get it, I really don't. I finally found a pair in, of all places...Wal-Mart ($15), so I got them. There you go.

I rooted for the Vikings today over Green Bay. I like Brett Farve, and think he got lousy treatment at Green Bay. I know their is plenty of blame to go around, I just think the organization trumped the humanity in this situation...So, I'm glad the Vikings won. And I would love it if they also won the Super Bowl this year...

That's all for now...thanks for reading this silly stuff.

Happy Halloween!

Hi Mom...

Well...my mom read my last post where I thought she suggested I don't love people enough, and that's why I haven't been at church much...she emailed me that she didn'y say that...and I believe her!

So mom says I am "very caring most of the time"...ok then...sorry mom.

I didn't mean anything accusing in the post...I actually thought it was an interesting idea. Maybe it (lack of love) could be why many people blow off church...even me...maybe not. It's worth considering. Why don't I go to church...at least lately? Well, maybe it's lonely, that's what I said in the post. It is also frustrating...

OK, fine, now what is love? It is patient, kind, long suffering...all that and more, right? Does patience, and kindness and long suffering (or better put, living with difficulties) have any application here? I think it does...I just said I thought the idea (not loving) applied to me was not fair because I've tried...maybe I need to try harder, IDK.

It's Rainy...I have nothing to say here..just a little odds and ends deal.

It has rained almost daily for the last month. Living in Oklahoma I've learned to really appreciate a nice, cool, rainy day..which I have...but a nice, cool, rainy month? No...
So I am ready for some sun shine.

The kids are out for fall break. I might have to put them to work, because Grammy, and Granddad are coming to see us. Better clean up some! It's always good to see Grammy and Granddad.

We haven't been making church lately. I'm not sure what to do about that. I know I need to be with other believers, if anything just to contribute something, or encourage someone. That's an important part of life. However, church tends to be the loneliest hour of the week for me. My mom says maybe it's because I don't love people enough. Hmmm. IDK about that...in fact, I don't think that's fair.

Work has been good. The market has had quite a run...most of it quite unexpected...but I'm not complaining!

I'm reading The Secret History....which I understand is a relatively old book...10-15 years old?...I like it. It is well written, and really draws you into the story. I read the other day a section where one main character had to spend a winter in an unheated apartment. I literally felt cold after reading. I expected to look outside and see snow. Funny...Other than that, it is a creepy book about a murder...and I recommend it.

Luke's band opened for Chthonic last week. I found out after the fact this is an award winning, international band...from Taiwan. I wish I had stayed longer.

That's all...I just thought I'd blog something random....this is it.

WHY??

I just spent an hour blogging about health care (check the two posts below, or not... now that you know the subject...! :-)...I think I do this because I can express my opinion without people yelling at me. Out here in Oklahoma I am no doubt a minority.

The truth is I am extremely analytical...to near paralysis at times. I have thought this out personally, economically, morally, spiritually, legally and any other way I can. I have read between the lines, questioned my own bias, and considered opposing views. At the end of the day, I recognize I could be wrong. I've been wrong before...lots of times. So thanks for listening/reading.

Bottom line? If you think a public option is a disaster in the making, I don't think you have anything to worry about. I ramble on about my opinion; but the truth is, there will be no public option...it died when Obama said it was not a central issue for him to sign a bill. Its all just political posturing now.

I do pray we get a bill that starts to fight rising costs, and stops the insurance industry from dropping and excluding people from care...and that's a long shot.

Don't be a hater, vote for Nader

Remember that campaign slogan? HAHA

I'm not sure what underlies the politics of hate and fear, but part of the attitude stems from the lie that government can do nothing competently. I am personally proud to be an American, and am thankful for our form of government. It sure isn't perfect...but let's not throw the baby out with the bath water.

I can offer some examples where our government is competent. First, and most obvious, we have a great military...which at our country's founding was an issue to some. Now it's a given that running the military is a legitimate function of the federal government. Then, some argued it should be a function of the states...yup... :-)
That said, today we have the best run military in the world, bar none.

The Postal System is another example. I'll clarify the key point for me here. The post office is not by any means perfect...but we don't doubt for a minute when we mail a letter that it will not be delivered (almost always) to its destination...(not perfect, but competent).

That's where I'm coming from. Our government is not perfect...but nothing is perfect. Not the government, or the company you work for, or your family, or even you, right?
(yes...this esp. goes for me :-)

So, much of the hate/fear atmosphere we live with is generated from an irrational demand that government be perfect. An associated point, and I can't state this strongly enough is that government should be transparent, and accountable (for and by the people).

But government has a function, and a place, as a solution to help, not hurt. A good example...I work in the banking system. We have a huge level of government regulation...and it's needed in our case because there is so much potential for abuse.

Health care has become the same kind of animal. It has enormous potential for abuse. A major corporation announced this week that retirees in their plan will no longer have health coverage starting next year. These people have no recourse...none at all. Are you next? Am I? If you were sick, and dependent on that plan you might consider this decision a form of abuse...no appeal, no (public?) option...just tough luck for you. You paid your premiums, you kept your end of the bargain, but they couldn't make a buck off you...

When health care was carried out by the town doc, private care was fine. Now that is just not the case. Health care is complex, and costly. We need a safety net. Will it be perfect? No, it will not. I favor it, knowing full well it will be messy...but the option is needed...

Sorry, I got away from trying to say let's not all hate each other, or our leaders over this (or any other issue). The atmosphere depresses me.

Many world governments are not competent, our is. It will never; however, be perfect.
We should be thankful for what we have, while keeping government accountable....and not letting hate, or fear drive our thinking.

To The Honorable John Boehner....

I tried to email him from his website; but he has considerable hoops to do so. I'm glad he's not my congressman. That would not fly here in Oklahoma. So maybe he searches the net for anything with his name. It's a long shot, but here goes...a brief comment congressman.

Dear Sir,
Today you said you have yet to hear from one American who is for government run health care (ie public option). Frankly, I find that hard to believe; however...I want to let you know I'm an American, and would like to see a public option offered. There you go...one American.
Best Regards,
Jim (Sameasthem)

The Lost Symbol

I finished Dan Brown's new book...It is a typical Dan Brown novel; another page turner. I wish more authors were as "fun" to read. That said, I was disappointed in the book. I'm not recommending it to anyone. The plot and story structure draw heavily from The Da Vinci Code (a better read for sure). There is a museum type setting. A crazed, religious fanatic murderer. Bob Langdon, and a pretty, (as well as intelligent) female to share the ride. Mr. Brown also may have had a movie deal in mind because some of the story feels more like a movie than a novel. I'm not sure about that, but you get that sense as you read.

The story takes place in Washington, DC, so I learned quite a bit of trivia about DC architecture, which was interesting. Brown builds his plot to a surprising climax, then spends the last 50 (or so) pages of the book sharing his personal theology. This through the eyes of another respectable, highly intelligent, prominent character in the story, Peter Solomon. I am not at all interested in Dan Brown's personal world view myself (and I suspect I'm not alone).

He presents a mostly pop theological view that sees all religions leading to the same one God; and more importantly to Brown, they lead to man's enlightenment, and evolution (a "quantum leap" in our humanity). It's presented as something of an intellectual absolute truth. However, the real truth is that this thinking is inconsistent, and based on very sketchy theology, as well as fringe science (Noetics). It was a boring, and unnecessary end to the mostly predictable book (if you read Da Vinci Code).

It seemed like Mr. Brown felt so successful in his Da Vinci Code work (which had weird theology as well, I know...but was easily refutable) that he thought we would all be dieing to hear what he thinks of the seen and unseen world. No thanks on that for me... :-) It would have been a fun, interesting (in many respects), exciting (although predicable) read if he had stopped at the climax of the story; because he smuggled in enough of his worldview in the body of the story for discussion, and provocation(?) purposes.

Around the world health care...

I found this on my brother Charlies FB page...

Obama plans a speech to kids at school...so...that's nice...

I heard about this on the news, because there is apparently an uproar from parents about the speech. The complaint is that Obama is indoctrinating kids, brainwashing, and interfering in their lives.
If you look past the pundits (who sell commercial time if they get us to watch and get worked up) to the official release...it is just a speech about the importance of education, and the need to take responsibility for your life. No gov. questionnaire, no demand for community service (as if that's bad)...just a speech.

This anti Obama speak looks personal (not political) to me...

Now the census...that's another story...talk about invasive! It doesn't stop with how many people are in your family. Its...how many people are in each bedroom, who are they, how many toilets in your house, income levels, number of prescriptions you have...the document is pages and pages long. We have to fill it out completely by law...we can go to jail for refusing...What!...Why are we bitching about a Presidential speech, when we should be really bitching loud about this thing...

Weekend Issue...... :-)

A productive weekend, and the weather couldn't be better.

I turned on the TV yesterday and my HS football team was on ESPN. They were getting killed, so I just watch a few minutes. Then we turned a reality show on...called "My Antonio"....have you seen this? It is about a handsome, former actor/model who is searching for love by having twenty gorgeous women compete for his attention. A dream come true? Noooo! The show looked to me as if it was about a level headed gentleman locked up with a bunch of crazy, premenstrual chicks...and to make matters worse his over protective mother, and ex-wife are there too! Hilarious!...but I felt sorry for "Antonio", I really did...anyhow, that was not the productive part of my weekend, but it was funny!

Here is what was productive...I got lots of exercise in (walking, and chin-ups..there's a chin-up bar in my BR door now, so I do 5-6 every time I go in the room...I recommend it), did my Leukemia Society volunteer work (I'm a neighborhood coordinator), spent good time with Sydney, and the kids, and had a strong/meaningful prayer time Sunday morning in lew of attending church (sorry mom)...All that's left is paying the bills...

I think we'll have a family meal tonight. I'm glad we did these when the kids were younger cause it gets harder all the time...college, work, friends...all compete. Since it's beautiful out, we'll grill.