tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36601508472029238122024-03-05T17:39:56.177-08:00A Better WorldLewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-57010741912226943402013-02-23T16:35:00.002-08:002013-02-23T16:38:33.136-08:00Stress the term<br />
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
Wikipedia reports that the term "stress" is derived from <i>stringere, </i><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Latin meaning to constrict. Walter Cannon used it in 1926 as a reference to a disruption to homeostasis. Which simply is equilibrium, and in my view of the stress I'm attempting to eliminate from my life, it is the disruption to the equilibrium of a peaceful mental state. It seems that as we age our equilibrium changes as does our peaceful mental state. In my case, I've noticed I am not at good at handling stress as I once was. However my space for peaceful mental space has expanded significantly from where it was when I was young. When I was young I had paralyzing stage fright, public speaking was not my friend. Now I enjoy it, I like speaking to people and sharing my ideas and opinions on subjects. On the one hand I am stronger than I was young, but I've noticed that when my equilibrium is disrupted now that I feel the harmful affect sooner.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">As I said in an earlier blog, I think it's important to understand where you hold your stress. I believe that we all constrict or draw-in certain parts of our body when we are under stress. If you saw the Caine Mutiny with Humphrey Bogart you noticed when he started to stress, he would hold and continually manipulate steel balls in his hand. And he would even start exhibiting destructive patterns of thought descending into paranoia and delusions. </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">Strawberry's</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> on that I say!! What can we learn from our destructive Captain? I think that there are signs when you start to lose your equilibrium. I've noticed I tense my throat which constricts my breathing, the tensing of the muscles move down my throat ending as knots in the bottom of my lungs. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When I stress it affects my breathing, and when I was young I was diagnosed with childhood asthma. I don't understand the connection but there may be. I don't understand whether it is important or not, just becoming self-aware enough to realize it feels a bit liberating. I've started to catch it, and now rather than diving deeper into whatever is stressing me I focus instead on the physiological changes I'm experiencing. If I work at it I can release the muscles in my throat and feel my breathing ease. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<span style="line-height: 24px;">Feeling all the muscles tighten in my body when something disrupts my equilibrium, helps me to realize that stress is a damaging reaction to me. Stress is helpful when you are in a life-threatening situation or can give you an edge when you are physically competing. However, when dealing with office politics or worrying about who is controlling the remote it is unnecessary. I hope to continue to learn more as this year goes on, hopefully it will be helpful to others. Self-discovery is a powerful tool, I hope to have gained this by the time it is over....</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.4em;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="background-image: none; border-bottom-style: none; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0.17em; padding-top: 0.5em;">
<span class="editsection" style="-webkit-user-select: none; background-color: white; float: right; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 19.1875px; margin-left: 5px;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stress_(biology)&action=edit&section=2" style="background-image: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;" title="Edit section: Biological background">edit</a>]</span><span class="mw-headline" id="Biological_background" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.1875px;"></span></h3>
Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-69930058665234146622013-02-22T16:40:00.002-08:002013-02-22T16:40:51.068-08:00StressI've decided to try to eliminate stress from my life. One thing I've come to understand is, "it's a killer". No matter what our problems are, stress never helps. We all hold fear and worry in some part of our body. I don't mean some magical spot it emanates from, or that it hides in a part of our body. It seems to me that when we stress or worry we tend to tense some part of our body. For me it's my throat, and then down my spine and to my lungs. Literally, when I worry or stress, I feel my throat constrict and start to extend down throughout my body. It is only a thought, often no different than a dream. Funny how much it is like a dream.<br />
<br />
Do you ever have dreams that seem so real that you wake up in a state that feels like you are still in the dream? It seems like you are still fighting demons or enemies, but it was only a moment in time a single thought that arouses and excites your body to a state of strong emotion. In the movie "What the Bleep" they talk about how your body trains itself through behavior to crave certain hormones and enzymes by developing receptors on your cells that favor the chemicals your brain produces. When you have thoughts that cause strong emotions your brain produces hormones and enzymes through the hypothalamus. Many times these can be harmful or damaging to your physical body. Thinking through this, I feel like I should try to eliminate these harmful chemicals. But how do I do it?<br />
<br />
I believe the key has to be in training your mind to produce healthy chemicals. When you're happy or feel joy, when at peace or feel full of love. Just as when you are full of worry and produce potentially harmful chemicals, when you are full of joy it's easy to feel the positive impact on your body. So my mission impossible is to try to eliminate stress in my life. We will see how it goes~<br />
<br />Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-64842672697825322922013-02-20T17:06:00.000-08:002013-02-20T17:06:44.938-08:00<div>
Did you ever get to the point of thinking this internet thing is not all it's cracked up to be? There seems to be no way to safely use this for your personal matters. Every time you turn around someone is hacking into something, getting our personal information or stealing money or scamming and on and on. Evidently, the Chinese government has a building full of hackers carrying out financial warfare, a military building. I often wonder if when people are making these choices, whether they ever consider the future this creates.<br />
<br />
Whatever happened to karma? Isn't all the bad you put into the world supposed to come back on you twice as bad? You would think that there has to be some kind of justice in the world. I am not seeing it lately, but maybe the day is coming. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-50727933931609710672013-02-14T17:09:00.002-08:002013-02-14T17:24:37.867-08:00PotluckWhen people gather and each person contributes a dish of food prepared by that person to be shared by the group, they call it a "potluck". Back in the 1500's Thomas Nashe wrote of it used to mean the food for an unexpected guest, they would get the "luck of the pot". In Ireland, woman would gather together during hard times of persecution and famine and put together their stores to help get their communities or families through. Nowadays we tend to shop for a dish at a store, buy candy or sweets and stuff ourselves beyond reason.<br />
<br />
I learned a lesson today, potluck days are dangerous at work. Food is all around and you feel obligated to browse through the maze of dishes and taste a little bit. I noticed that soon I was falling into a repetitive graze cycle through a cyclical path. When you combine that with all of the sugar I consumed, I believe I moved into another dimension. In that world I felt like a little kid eating anything I wanted and it was like Wonderland where everyone smiles at you and offers you more. But you know something is just not right. I became so happy dancing through my happy path, sampling little bits of chocolate and sugar coated goodies. I think I was semi unconscious because I actually started thinking of how lean tools and processes could be applied to my grazing pattern to optimize cyclical potluck-ing.<br />
<br />
After sufficient laps through the sweet trough I began to tire. My stomach felt like a basketball and sweat dripping from my forehead. Well in this case it was from my nose due to the chili with andouille sausage. I knew it was hopeless to resist and struggled to my feet for one final lap.<br />
<br />
The trouble really started about two hours later as the sugar began to wear off. My eyes began to feel heavy and the amped up sugar feeling began to fade. Whereas I had been buzzing happily around like a sprite, everything started to annoy me. People tried to talk to me but I just could not focus. The nodding game began, and whoa! Do you think anyone saw that? I'm falling asleep at work, and you cannot do that, right?<br />
<br />
Made it home in time for a run, it felt good to try to pull myself out of my self-induced coma. And my wife was gracious to not rub it into my nose. I did do better at resisting the gorge-fest than I have in the past. My wife told me to focus on that. Maybe next time I'll opt out, good lord I sound like an addict. My wife the nutritionist would tell me I am. Well for now I'll have to focus on getting better. Day by day...Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-76519221837438801192013-02-12T15:29:00.002-08:002013-02-12T15:29:46.646-08:00Rainy TuesdayRainy Tuesday, a time to reflect. It's rained steadily yesterday, and this morning. It has stayed fairly mild throughout the days and nights but still haven't felt like making my way out for exercise. Maybe Yoga tomorrow night, and a walk in the morning.<br />
<br />
It is my daughter's birthday tomorrow, I am so proud of her and have really enjoyed getting to know my first grandchild. My son-in-law is being a wonderful and loving husband and father, I am thankful for that. I still remember the day of my daughters birth, February 13th at 1:19 pm. My first and only child, I remember the wait was the hardest part. There is nothing that more fundamentally changes your life then the birth of your first child. So much love and hope for the future, for all of the dreams to come. Hope has to be one of the greatest aspects of being human. The ability to believe that it will get better, that everything will work out fine. I have great hopes for Isabella, that she lives her dreams and her hope is fulfilled.<br />
<br />
I can only think that at your hour of death that hope is your greatest asset. It's been a hard few months, and today being the anniversary of my mother's death is not making it easy today. I've lost my father and brother and have seen the pain it has brought on my family and friends. I can only rely on my hope at times like these. I hope that my family and friends are comforted in their loss. The hope that this year bring far fewer deaths. I hope for the families that are suffering be granted relief. That the hungry be fed. My hope is that you who are reading this right now be filled with joy, happiness, and your life improves this year.<br />
<br />
I really hope I remember that no matter what our differences or interests are, no matter what our station or situation is, that we are all members of the human family. A community on this mysterious planet, that we barely understand. So much to learn, and so many great things to accomplish. This could be our greatest year!!Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-21266772584536310202013-02-10T08:52:00.001-08:002013-02-10T08:53:35.884-08:00 Taking our Path"It is hard to look at old people<br />
<div>
The lines on their face, their weathered skin</div>
<div>
Betray the beauty once embraced</div>
<div>
We try to deny and avoid the truth</div>
<div>
Although a different path we may take</div>
<div>
We share the same fate to be born, to live, to be born again"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Did you ever think about how odd of a fit we are in this world? We are the only creature that inhabits earth which can so totally dominate and control our environment. We are able to build and terra-shape our living spaces in ways unknown beyond us. If we really wanted to, we could ensure every person in the world lived a healthy, fulfilling, and safe life. It makes you wonder why we do not?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Growing old is one facet of life that seems contrary to what we see in nature. In nature we admire the majestic splendor of our mighty oaks, the beautiful century plant that raises up to the heavens prior to it's demise. In society, the elderly are managed in facilities meant to minimize the cost of patient care while trying to keep them entertained in a fishbowl environment. We do not actively try to integrate the positive affect of elderly people into the community, into our education and public service. It makes you wonder why we do not?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From time to time, I've wondered why a just and loving G-d would let suffering happen in the world. Why wouldn't he come down here and fix everything? But thinking through it, I am starting to understand. For in my life I hardly cared about the fate of the elderly, not until I started to age. And we live at a time when people will strap bombs to small children or themselves just to destroy as many people as they can in the name of religion. We have a policeman who has gone into a rage of vendetta against innocent family members. We have people who would take advantage of their friends, neighbors, and country just for the disease of greed. I could go on and on as you probably are now with savage examples of how we do terrible things to each other and this world. The point I see is our nature prevents us from being able to learn the right choice until we make or see the wrong choice.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe that would be one more valuable experience the elderly could bring into service for our communities. They have made or witnessed countless mistakes that could be shared with our children, perhaps helping the next generation of people from perpetuating our mistakes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We have shining examples of caring and love. Michelle Obama comforting the families of the 15 year old girl shot dead in Chicago. Gabby Gifford who shows such bravery displaying her limitations and disabilities, coming from a place of distinguished position to try to force people to overcome short-term personal interest for the sake of our long-term safety in our homes and communities. George H.W. Bush for his work in support of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Katrina. My mother who quilts to raise money for those less fortunate. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To us all that are aging, we need to take up service to our family, our friends, our community and our country. Whether it is volunteering, speaking, lending a hand, writing, singing, or working in service, we must take our place and shape the world we want to see. </div>
Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-27039758584872335962013-02-03T09:52:00.001-08:002013-02-03T09:59:36.566-08:00It was a beautiful crisp morning, the temperature was in the low 40's but a stiff 15 mph wind made it feel in the low 30's. I still remember the freezing mid-west winters like a bad nightmare it stirs images of sub-zero and winds blowing the snow back in my face, tearing at my skin as I shovel the driveway. Hard to believe I find the 30's cold now, but your body adjusts to its environment. We had decided the night before to go for a run this morning and we found the will and determination to bundle up in the cold weather gear for a run.<br />
We live by the water, surrounded by wildlife and marsh and river settings so it's never an ordinary run. We saw a white crane, an egret or two, and the usual assortment of gulls, ducks and geese. We made our way into Hampton Park, which is a beautiful 60 acre park originally part of the Gibbes plantation. The park is so beautiful with an assortment of beautiful trees and local plants. My favorite tree is the live oaks which often are draped in spanish moss, and have great size and character. They are a treasure around Charleston and seem to come to life with their large branches some comparable to tree trunks. The park was busy this morning, it just had reopened after a brief closure to add a bike and walking lane.<br />
We've heard some complaining around the neighborhood about people violating the new norms of proper direction on the lanes and even some malcontents violating the lane protocol altogether. It was nice to see all of the people out getting exercise and enjoying the beautiful park. We made our way around the road that circles the track which is about a mile and runs the same course as the horse race track that occupied the park area in the pre-civil-war 1800's. We headed out of the park and through the Citadel, which is still a military college. They are also the company that fired the first shots of the civil war on Fort Sumter.<br />
We faced a stiff wind as we rounded the corner and headed toward the RiverDog's stadium.<br />
Brittle-Bank park was breezy but the river was pretty with some geese and ducks fighting some choppy waters. Farther down by the marina we saw a marsh crabber picking up some oysters along the marsh banks, taking advantage of low tide. By that time I was warm enough to loosen the zipper a bit on the wind-breaker. It's a great feeling to run, after you get over the stubborn body part of wanting to quit, it becomes like a drug. The endorphin's bring a focus to your mind. I saw a report yesterday that physical exercise helps your slow wave sleep which could improve your memory. Time to exercise more! Today I was thinking how wonderful this world is, with all of it's flaws we are all blessed to be able to experience this time and this world. I am grateful to have someone who loves me, a wonderful family and truly extraordinary friends.<br />
We ran down to the Battery on Charleston Harbor, the scene of many battles and legends, and even a few pirates. Then up Rutledge to truly one of the best bakeries we've ever experienced. If you get to Charleston you have to go to Wildflour and try one of their cinnamon buns, sticky buns or our favorite the strawberry jam scone. It is frequented by ordinary and celebrities alike. Happened to see Bill Murray in there one day. As always the scone was great, and we even picked up a few cookies for the Super Bowl dessert. It is a neat story two brothers facing off in the Super Bowl, imagine that experiencing the best and worst at the same time in the same family. Hopefully well see some good sportsmanship today, we really do need it. With all of the cheaters and liars popping up in the news due to enhancing drugs, I feel cheated for all of the seasons we didn't see. All of the athletes who would have shaped sports if we'd only had a chance to see them. It might had been completely different. Well, enjoy the game y'all and all y'all have a good day.Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-50386537058028800892013-01-30T17:34:00.001-08:002013-01-30T17:34:20.147-08:00Is there anyone besides me that thinks the earth is going through a rebellious kid phase. These swings in weather are crazy, 70 in Chicago in January? I remember Chicago going into the freezing temperatures in December and just climbing out in March. This is bizarre, although I do get the point of our carbon being a factor in this. In Systems Thinking they talk about tipping points, sometimes I wonder if we've hit a tipping point here. The System Theorists believe that all things are connected in a series of progressively bigger systems. Just think of it as a bunch of interacting parts, and that if the parts get out of balance then a reaction bigger than the sum of the parts can occur. It's a weird counter physics concept that seemingly violates the sum of energy and energy only being transformed not destroyed.<br />
The mind power behind it makes it pretty convincing Meade, Bertanlaffy, Von Neuman, Teller, and so on. Most of the brilliant European Jews chased out of Europe by Hitler's Nazi's. Some of them were actually filled in the details on Einstein's axioms and theorems to help build the nuclear bomb in that beautiful Manhattan bungalow. Anyway in Systems Theory they have these tipping points which can be good or bad.<br />
So if it's bad it can be really bad, or if it's good it could be really good. We really do not know where we are at with the earth. We've all seen the dire predictions about the ice sheets melting and land based ice displacing the sea flooding, well, well my home at least and more. I am not sure that will happen, not because I don't think that the ice sheets won't melt, I believe they will. But because I think that rather than flooding the added pressure on the earth's crust due to the weight of the water will result in extreme underwater volcanic activity. Which could split apart causing who know's what?<br />
Just saying, the weather is weird, and we do not know what's going to come of it. Hopefully it will balance out and our earth will become a fine mature adult. And provide abundance to all it's happy citizens. How's that for an optimistic view?Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-6508606571681924922013-01-28T15:17:00.002-08:002013-01-28T15:17:28.425-08:00A great day at work, you know how it is... Everything seems to line up just right, or maybe it's just you do not care. But however it comes, when you leave work and turn around, you feel it. You just know you did a good job today!<br />
<br />
I think the attitude you take into work has as much to do with it as anything. Lately I've been of the mind that whether you worry or not the future will happen. So much of my life has been wasted trying to control things. I am convinced that worrying is just another attempt to control things. When you look at the people who are remembered for being great human beings, it's like they never worried. They seem so peaceful as if they could float away on their smile. They never worry or get pissed off because someone cut them off in a parking lot and took their parking spot. They just sit there smiling taking it all in. I wonder what they are smiling about? Maybe they are the ones cutting me off in the parking lot and taking my parking space. I wonder how much they'd be frickin smiling if I keyed their car...<br />
<br />
But I am above all of that now, sitting in my home with the one I love, sipping a glass of wine. Life can be so hard it's kind of like golf for me, where 98% of the shots make you wonder why you play the stupid game. But it always happens every game, either a putt or a long drive right down the center of the fairway. You turn around and you feel it, you know you did a good job. Tchau!<br />
<br />
<br />Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-77370781800148808422013-01-27T09:58:00.000-08:002013-01-27T09:58:22.985-08:00<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I’m just thinking today, (always dangerous!) about all of
the layoffs that are about to occur. Lockheed Martin, AMEX, UBS, Disney, Morgan
Stanley, Time Warner, Dow Chemical, 3M, Boeing –El Paso, United Airlines, Bank
of America, Verizon, AT&T, and IBM to just name a few. If I remember
correctly the fairy-tale goes, “…in order to become more competitive and adjust
to the economic climate/business environment… regrettably after serious
consideration”. Not trying to deny the need for business to adjust to the economy,
but a little light bulb seems to be flickering somewhere in the recesses of my
brain. Oh yeah, this is not the first time that I’ve heard of layoffs from
these companies. So having an analytical mind I started tracing the logic that
naturally follows from this course of action.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s hard to get past the deep human suffering that a layoff
causes, affecting the well-being, health and stability of a human being, a
family, a community and beyond. Having personally been through a layoff, I have
empathy for anyone facing it. But I am not focused on that this morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am thinking about the obligation any company issuing
layoffs has to the employees that remain. You see, there is always a promise
that the reduction in force will make the company more competitive and better
able to generate the revenue and profit demanded by the shareholders. There are
employee responsibilities required after a layoff, including an effort to learn
and apply the critical skills, and to contribute to the mental mindset needed to
compete. And there are management responsibilities too. They have the
responsibility to identify what skills are needed and ensure they are
integrated into the work environment, and to help change the culture to
perpetuate growth and improvement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And what about the obligation that the executives have, and
the board of directors when they use layoffs to make the company more
competitive? Does it not require that they contribute to make the company more
competitive? For employees that keep their jobs there is an unwritten agreement
that if they take on additional work and help reduce costs, increase revenues,
increase productivity and improve quality that no one should have to worry
about a job or suffer another layoff. I am not advocating a guarantee of
employment or entitlement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am advocating accountability for all levels of a company.
A competitive company isn’t just one that makes the most money or dominates the
market. A competitive company is one in which its employees have an opportunity
to contribute their full efforts to a shared vision with a culture of trust.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That trust includes leadership, and should require that
there is an aggressive business development effort to expand customer markets,
adjacent markets and services. That trust requires that a company spend a
significant amount of effort on proactive workforce development that prepares
the workforce for the future. As much as it is avoided it should also prepare
people for retirement. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As we age, hopefully we become wiser. There are limits and abilities
in which we decline in later years. We need to have real conversations about
that, conversations built upon preserving dignity and preserving the value of
employees. It must include compensation. This culture should include knowledge
management and knowledge transfer to help perpetuate the company. As we age
there should be the opportunity to move into jobs with the challenges desired
but perhaps with less demand, a job that may pay less. Companies need to put
more effort, thought and education into addressing this problem.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This type of culture is built upon trust, and thinking
through it, seeing record company profits and seeing companies sitting on cash
it seems that many workers have come through on their part. So why are
companies once again resorting to layoffs? It appears that there is a break in
the trust and that someone in the company is not doing their part to contribute.
If the company is not competitive, is surprised by the economy, not prepared
for economic downturns, or is not strategically placed in the markets, then who
is to blame? Maybe we need to look for who is responsible for that? It may be a
problem at the top levels of the company. It may be a problem on the board of
directors. Perhaps we the people who own stock, should start voting no
confidence? Perhaps we should stop proxy voting through our investment
companies and vote against retaining the company officers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of us live in communities, buy homes and raise
families. We believe in this country and our fellow citizens. We invest in the
future, and need to understand there is not a sustainable way to get greedy
rich. Most of the people that I know that are shareholders do not expect exorbitant
amounts of return. I think it is a myth that the shareholders are demanding such
a high rate of return. That comes from Wall-Street, and the way the people of
Wall-Street are so intertwined, shuffle in and out of government and shuffle in
and out of board rooms is dizzying. I think it’s time that we start demanding a
different culture, a culture that remembers its country and its citizens; a
culture that truly invests in its countries future.<o:p></o:p></div>
Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-14904866319190622682013-01-27T09:17:00.001-08:002013-01-27T09:17:17.100-08:00Well it's January, right near the end so it's still withing the realm of norms to begin a concerted effort to write more this year. Yes a resolution! We will see how it goes, but it is the year to find my passion. We owe it to ourselves to find our passion. With all changing of the seasons comes new challenges and new opportunities. We shall see!!Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-76858919145492549632007-04-27T18:43:00.000-07:002007-04-27T19:03:22.926-07:00Happy Friday, it's funny how I seem to get happy on Friday. I think it says something when you look so forward to the weekend. Life resumes for a few days and work goes away. Temperature soared today as it reached 97, only shows what is ahead. Time to start the summer habits again, wake up very early, get things done early, enjoy the a/c or the pool the rest of the day. It isn't so bad in the morning and you can get a lot done when there is an incentive.<br />We are headed out for a long run tomorrow or Sunday, hope to get up to 7 miles at least. It is a nice distance to keep. Things did not go well at the Copper Crawl so we need to keep up the distance. Miami was a neat little town and I guess it could be said it is the Copper town formally known as a ghost town or old mining town. It had snowed, do you believe 60 miles from here could snow? So they delayed the start of the run and that was enough for us, we needed to get back. We did get time before we left to check out the town and do the stair climb... twice. It is packed with antiques and antique stores, not bad prices and so prevelant that it is like stepping back in time.<br />We liked the town, the buildings are pretty old and not very good shape. But they do have character and with the copper flowing again, I'm sure the town will pick up. The best building in the town is the old YMCA and is up for sale. Even though we couldn't run the race, we did get the shirt and pancakes. Great pancakes and pretty scenery made for a very nice morning. Only thing missing was good coffee, none to be found. Go see for yourself, it is pretty there. Maybe not for long though. The copper mines are strip mines and that ruins the mountains beauty. They are producing jobs and from what I hear there are 6 active mines now in Arizona.Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-44515150294189980942007-04-25T19:29:00.000-07:002007-04-25T19:40:31.165-07:00Trust... it can be so hard to gain and so easy to lose. As we grow in mind and in wisdom it seems to be a good lesson to learn. Without trust people can not work together it is like a lower branch of Maslov's hierarchy of needs. You need the trust in another that they will be true and will not falter in their commitment to you. Max De Pree writes of a covenant that needs to be developed between employer and employee, and I can see that.<br />An employee needs to believe an employer will reward hard work and dedication with true honest intentions. Employees are not commodities they are assets and need nurturing and appreciation. With this they can do great things, amazing things. Without it, they can do little. They will be so preoccupied by looking for another job or occupation where they can grow and flourish.Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-34505870623317573552007-04-19T18:56:00.000-07:002007-04-19T19:45:11.172-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWPTFD3uCjgO1IYi-xjJ-5fKGZnwEmgZajOS5s7KCnkbzlAjKZFOC9VJlvOnzRI8VYZAS5tLFtCMYaYTUOD5ShluXKqcRJ6S4nEN_C598Bdq60udN7tB6ARhAUJWaGEV0X4CdyC_HvssH/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5055325402993047346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWPTFD3uCjgO1IYi-xjJ-5fKGZnwEmgZajOS5s7KCnkbzlAjKZFOC9VJlvOnzRI8VYZAS5tLFtCMYaYTUOD5ShluXKqcRJ6S4nEN_C598Bdq60udN7tB6ARhAUJWaGEV0X4CdyC_HvssH/s320/19.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Got some great pictures of the Netherlands from Andy. Him, the children and his wife moved to a nice country house. I think I'd enjoy living in Europe, but not sure. The novelty would wear off, but at least I wouldn't have as much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TV</span> to choose from. What a pretty back yard... </div><div>The neat part in Amsterdam are the canals, they divide the city into small islands. It's fun to walk the streets and see buildings over 30 years old. Many very, very old. There are a lot of stories there I saw where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis for all those days and nights. They had lived well in Amsterdam until the Germans started to decide Jews needed a solution. That would have been a frightening experience. As you go through the little rooms they occupied in the attic and walk through their halls, you can picture their life. I liked looking out into the backyard and thought Anne probably did too. There are carvings on the walls the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hieroglyphics</span> of the Holocaust. It is Hitlers birthday tomorrow with all the bad events that seem to occur lately in association with it, I think it is just the perpetual bad kharma.</div><div>I noticed the Dutch have a real sensitivity to the German invasion and the Nazi occupation. It has a connection to the bikes you see all over Amsterdam. Evidently, the people there are still very upset over the Nazis stealing their bikes when they fled Amsterdam. I was told they took most of the cities bikes as they were trying to flee from the allies. I think my friend Shawn would understand the way resentment can simmer when someone messes with your bike. He's had repeated problems with someone vandalizing the light on his bike.</div><div>It is off to the Copper Boomtown festival in Miami AZ this weekend. Some fun events, like lugging my butt 13K with a 1200 ft elevation gain. The good part though is the pancake breakfast afterward. Pancakes are my favorite and it ties back to Amsterdam, because they have the best pancakes. Except they should not be called pancakes, more of a cross between a crepe and a pancake. And they put regular food on them, like chicken, cheese, veggies and all sorts of great stuff. </div>Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-87624906982907057312007-04-16T18:55:00.000-07:002007-04-16T19:39:02.280-07:00Virginia TechBlacksburg VA, what a terrible thing that happened there today. 33 young lives ended far, far before they should have. There are those who believe that all things happen for a reason and that something good might be found from this. I don't think so... I don't think any of those poor families, the mothers, the fathers, brothers, sisters, friends, loves, any who knew or cared for any of those people would find the good from this. There is probably pain and sadness, a deep sadness, maybe numbness flowing through their body. They might imagine it is a dream or hope it is one, or maybe a mistake and that their loved one will walk through that door at any time.<br />Any of us who care for someone we lose in this world can relate, there is that aching in your heart. The part of your life that feels empty or missing, and why can't it be restored? We are a society, a family, friends, and we all feel it now. I saw a door mat I liked this weekend, it said: "Friends are the family you choose" There were a lot of friends taken today, it will take a long time for healing. Probably a long time before they will feel safe. Now more than ever they will need patience, love, space, time... time to heal. Safety was taken from all of us in a more or less sense.<br />We have this silent agreement between us all, it is a basis of trust we build between us. We agree we won't kill each other. That trust has been damaged, and we will all need time to heal from this. It is always a selfish self-centered act, someone putting there own emotional needs above anothers existence. Now when we need each other the most, we will be a little less trusting. We will be more protective over the people we care for, which limits how we care for each other. I mean no criticism, because I feel it too. If my daughter was here with me, I'd hold her hug a little longer, I'd tell her I love her a little more, I'd hound her to be careful. We do not want any of the sadness we know the ones who loved those people in Blacksburg are feeling.<br />I can only pray for those that lost someone, that they will be healed. I pray that we will all be healed. That we can rebuild the trust we lost today. We need to restore the trust we have in each other. That trust is what allows us to work together, to participate in our communities, to help each other. With trust we can obtain peace, which helps even more to strengthen our communities and build stronger relationships. The Dalai Lama says,<br />"Peace starts within each one of us. When we have inner peacee we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is at a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities"<br />Blacksburg, I pray that peace will come to you and wish you all peace. God bless all those who lost their lives there today.Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-25127754086734965772007-03-27T18:34:00.000-07:002007-03-27T19:07:47.453-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPpKHU_ZMsQX8eydAX3Bznwid-iSX00WzU1vsvtKPgUrWYHNBPjfpnavOvvk_aXIBRimvoHk_lF-NUCDK1fSy6CycFg4rlC_RdXRodVf_gu8AZZF5vCP0my6p7_mszf5jo7LChgp7ihc9/s1600-h/sm.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046786738147877186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPpKHU_ZMsQX8eydAX3Bznwid-iSX00WzU1vsvtKPgUrWYHNBPjfpnavOvvk_aXIBRimvoHk_lF-NUCDK1fSy6CycFg4rlC_RdXRodVf_gu8AZZF5vCP0my6p7_mszf5jo7LChgp7ihc9/s320/sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Weather has improved, it is much more livable now. It even rained! The temperature was in the 70's today and a very windy day. Winds were gusting to 40, for the most part it was steady in the 20's.<br />It is hard to make out South Mountain in the picture but that's what happens when the wind kicks up the sand. You get a gritty feeling in your mouth and nose. Not the most pleasant, kind of builds that Arizona character.<br /><br />In Arizona we dream on windy days like today that we are close to the ocean. At least I can deceive myself to turn the dust swirled by the wind into mist slowly carried from the ocean to our shore. I try to make out a distant ship on the waters and imagine what it would be like on the sea. I like this poem:<br /><br />I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.<br /><br />I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tideIs a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.<br /><br />I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,And quite sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.<br /><br />By John Masefield (1878-1967)<br /><br />Time to get back to work John....Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3660150847202923812.post-50109245346371050092007-03-16T19:35:00.000-07:002007-03-16T20:38:31.803-07:00SpringIt has been very hot this spring, it is only March and has gone over 95. It seems so different than the midwest, no blankets of snow, no bone chilling winds, no aches in my chest from the cold air rushing into my lungs. The heat has it's own challenges. The sun is so powerful and the rays quickly heat your skin. It is like this ball of fire scorching your soul. We do not talk about it much, at least not directly. We say things like thank goodness it's only spring... 95 degrees and we are thankful it is only spring. So different than Chicago or to the northwest of Chicago where I grew up. Lately there has been a lot of conversation about the lights we've seen in the night sky over Phoenix.<br />They have had a lot of coverage in the press and on tv. The lights are in horizontal line on a straight axis about 15-20,000 feet up. It is even more of a subject of discussion due to them appearing about 10 years to the day that similar lights appeared in the southwestern Phoenix skies. There seems to be a polarization in the views in what is causing this phenomena. There are some who believe it is aliens and others that they are caused by military top secret weapons.<br />The UFers (believe it is UFOs) are certain it is the ten year return of the aliens to collect another sample of humans for examination and analysis. Most of them believe this has really gone on for some time and have a kind of abduction family tree that traces the alien visits coinciding with some acquantance or family member meeting an uncertain fate. Some also have matrices that show a deeper correlation to world events or catastrophes.<br />One told me of an Aunt Edith who dissappeared to never be heard from again. A beautiful, free spirited young woman. So alive so full of life in her prime, just gone and then the lights. It seemed so sad, but they preferred to think the best, that she was in a happier place. Some thought she had gone to Los Angeles or New York to find her place in the world. But she knew her Aunt Edith would never leave her and not return, no she was certain that the lights had something to do with it all. Even with the military taking credit, she seemed unmistakably sure.<br />The military claimed that the lights were simply flares dropped from aircraft for night excercises being conducted outside of town. Night excercises indeed thought the UFers, it only boldened their confidence. It also fed the belief of those who knew the truth that the lights were top secret military experiments. I don't know who is right, I look at the lights and try to make out what they are. They don't seem to move and I tire quickly from it. I have seemed to be very tired this spring due to the heat. I look for ways to take my mind from it, maybe the lights help me. I remember the summers in the midwest.<br />I remember my grandfather and how we'd share a love of ice cream after a long hot summer day. My grandfather was a kind gentle man, and we would spend the summers with him at his cottage. It was on an island in Pistakee lake in McHenry. I have so many fond memories of my time there and life there. At the end of the day we'd gather on the screened porch and he would tell us stories as we would rock in cane Kennedy rockers and watch beautiful sunsets over the lake. There were funny stories and dramatic stories and stories of the Chicago gangsters. It never seemed scary, always more important to get lost in the way he'd tell them. More important to lick the ice cream dripping from the cone.<br />I saw Vice President Gore's movie on global warming, it was scary. He seem like a nice man, and I think he does care about us. I will try to help to... I like to walk, and ride my bike, and run, and do yoga. Those things do not seem to hurt the earth too much. I hope we can fix this warming, the earth is really a pretty place. At the cottage I did not fear global warming or carbon poisoning the air. I always thought the best for the future, kind of like how my friend hoped the best for his Aunt Edith. Maybe the lights are from aliens, I hope that they like us. Do you think they prefer Americans? I know in the movies and on tv the aliens always seem to prefer Americans. I hope it's not because they have good taste. I really do not know what to think about them. I know they help me take my mind off the heat. It has been very hot here this spring.Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16633516580347898141noreply@blogger.com0